cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pumping potential of a two-layer left-ventricle-like flexible-matrix-composite structure

The pumping potential, defined as the amount of relative volume reduction engendered by an applied load (relative input stroke), is an important criterion for flexible-body pumps. It is introduced as a measure of the volumetric efficiency of pumping. The PP of many flexible-matrix-composite (FMC) structures has been considered in the literature. Most recently, the PP of a single-layer left-ventricle-like FMC structure, based on the helical ventricular myocardial band hypothesis, has been investigated. A PP of 1.67–1.9 has been achieved. Though reasonably high, it is much smaller than that of the actual left ventricle of the heart (3.33–4.0). In here this work is extended to a two-layer left-ventricle-like FMC structure, which adopts a more accurate fiber orientation. The PP of the two-layer left-ventricle-like FMC structure is determined experimentally and analytically. A FMC flat band is created then twisted and looped to form the flexible-body structure. The analytical investigation using the ANSYS software engenders a PP of 2.5, and the experimental one using a PU/SMA (shape memory alloy) FMC renders a PP of 2.85. These higher values of PP indicate that accurate fiber-orientation in heart-mimicking flexible-structural pumps is very important.
Quadriceps tendon autograft for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a comprehensive review of current literature and systematic review of clinical results.

Purpose The autograft of choice for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction remains controversial. Recently, there has been an increase in interest in the quadriceps tendon as an autologous graft option for ACL reconstruction. The purposes of this study were to provide an in-depth review of quadriceps tendon anatomy, histology, and biomechanics and to synthesize reported clinical outcomes of ACL reconstructions using quadriceps tendon autografts. We hypothesize that (1) published studies on the anatomic, histologic, and biomechanical data regarding the quadriceps tendon support its use as a graft option for ACL reconstruction and (2) clinical outcomes of ACL reconstruction using quadriceps tendon autograft have similar clinical outcomes to bone–patellar tendon–bone autografts with less donor-site morbidity. Methods We performed a comprehensive review of the literature regarding the anatomy, histology, and biomechanical studies of the quadriceps tendon, as well as a systematic review of clinical studies (Level of Evidence I-III) evaluating outcomes after ACL reconstruction using quadriceps tendon autograft. Stability outcomes, functional outcomes, range of motion, patient satisfaction, morbidity, and complications were comprised. Results Fourteen studies were included in the review of clinical results, including 1,154 ACL reconstructions with quadriceps tendon autograft. Six studies directly compared quadriceps tendon autografts (n = 383) with bone–patellar tendon–bone autografts (n = 484). Stability outcomes (Lachman, pivot-shift, and instrumented laxity testing), functional outcomes (International Knee Documentation Committee and Lysholm scores), overall patient satisfaction, range of motion, and complications were similar between quadriceps tendon and other graft options. Less donor-site morbidity was seen in patients who underwent quadriceps tendon ACL reconstructions. Conclusions Use of the quadriceps tendon autograft for ACL reconstruction is supported by current orthopaedic literature. It is a safe, reproducible, and versatile graft that should be considered in future studies of ACL reconstruction. Level of Evidence Level III, systematic review of Level I, II, and III studies.
Structure modulation of helix 69 from Escherichia coli 23S ribosomal RNA by pseudouridylations

Helix 69 (H69) is a 19-nt stem-loop region from the large subunit ribosomal RNA. Three pseudouridine (Ψ) modifications clustered in H69 are conserved across phylogeny and known to affect ribosome function. To explore the effects of Ψ on the conformations of Escherichia coli H69 in solution, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to reveal the structural differences between H69 with (ΨΨΨ) and without (UUU) Ψ modifications. Comparison of the two structures shows that H69 ΨΨΨ has the following unique features: (i) the loop region is closed by a Watson–Crick base pair between Ψ1911 and A1919, which is potentially reinforced by interactions involving Ψ1911N1H and (ii) Ψ modifications at loop residues 1915 and 1917 promote base stacking from Ψ1915 to A1918. In contrast, the H69 UUU loop region, which lacks Ψ modifications, is less organized. Structure modulation by Ψ leads to alteration in conformational behavior of the 5' half of the H69 loop region, observed as broadening of C1914 non-exchangeable base proton resonances in the H69 ΨΨΨ nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, and plays an important biological role in establishing the ribosomal intersubunit bridge B2a and mediating translational fidelity.
ANTITHYRDGLOBULIN (ATG) PRODUCTION BY PERIPHERAL BLOOD LEUKOCYTES IN VITRO

ABSTRACT Antithyroglobulin is produced in vitro by pokeweed mitogen stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients whose serum contains the autoantibody. Antithyroglobulin synthesis requires T lymphocyte help but is suppressed by larger numbers of T lymphocytes. T cells from both patients and normals perform both of these functions.
Detection of Bacillus anthracis spores and a model protein using PEMC sensors in a flow cell at 1 mL/min.

Abstract Piezoelectric-excited millimeter-sized cantilever (PEMC) sensors of 4 mm 2 sensing area were immobilized with antibody specific to Bacillus anthracis (anti-BA) spores or bovine serum albumin (anti-BSA). Detection of pathogen ( Bacillus anthracis (BA) at 300 spores/mL) and BSA (1 mg/mL) were investigated under both stagnant and flow conditions. Two flow cell designs were evaluated by characterizing flow-induced resonant frequency shifts. One of the flow cells labeled SFC-2 (hold-up volume of 0.3 mL), showed small fluctuations (±20 Hz) around a common resonant frequency response of 217 Hz in the flow rate range of 1–17 mL/min. The total resonant frequency change obtained for the binding of 300 spores/mL in 1 h was 90 ± 5 Hz ( n = 2), and 162 ± 10 Hz ( n = 2) under stagnant and flow conditions, respectively. Binding of antibodies, anti-BA and anti-BSA, were more rapid under flow than under stagnant conditions. The sensor was repeatedly exposed to BSA with an intermediate release step. The first and second responses to BSA were nearly identical. The total resonant frequency response to BSA was 388 ± 10 ( n = 2) Hz under flow conditions. Kinetic analysis is carried out to quantify the effect of flow rate on antibody immobilization and the two types of detection experiments.
Stress in Student Teaching

(1980). Stress in Student Teaching. Action in Teacher Education: Vol. 2, Stress in the Teaching Profession, pp. 57-62.
Urinary leukocyte esterase screening for asymptomatic sexually transmitted disease in adolescent males

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of urinary leukocyte esterase on random urine specimens as a screening test for chlamydial and gonococcal urethral infections in asymptomatic males. Random urine specimens were obtained on 106 consecutive asymptomatic adolescent males during intake physical examination at a residential vocational training program. Results of urinary leukocyte esterase were compared to those of urethral cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Five subjects had positive chlamydia cultures, three subjects had positive gonococcal cultures, and one patient had positive cultures for both organisms. Sixteen subjects had leukocyte esterase tests reported as "trace" or greater. When compare to positive culture results for either Chlamydia or gonorrhea, urinary leukocyte esterase activity had a sensitivity of 78%, specificity of 91%, and positive predictive value of 44%. A random urine specimen for urinary leukocyte esterase activity is a cost-effective screening method for chlamydial and gonococcal urethral infections in asymptomatic adolescent males.
Problems on the pathway from risk assessment to risk reduction

Assessment of risk and reduction of risk are well-accepted responsibilities of the physician. The pathway from assessment of risk to reduction of risk basically involves three steps: (1) measurement of risk factors and collection of clinical data relevant to patient risk; (2) interpretation of risk-related data with estimation of risk in absolute terms (eg, risk of an event per year) as well as relative terms (ie, low, intermediate, or high compared with others of the same age and sex); and (3) on the basis of risk estimation results, intervention to minimize disease risk or to prevent risk factor development in the future. Although the process seems reasonably straightforward, problems occur at each step that weaken the link between risk assessment and risk reduction. Such problems occur in assessment of CVD risk estimation and reduction just as in most other areas of medical practice in spite of the availability of excellent data relating to CVD risk estimation from the Framingham Heart Study and other similar data sets.1 Periodic measurement of CVD risk factors in healthy people (step 1) is routinely recommended by the AHA, the ACC, and the NHLBI, in addition to other authorities on disease prevention.2 3 4 Blood lipid measurements, blood pressure readings, age, sex, cigarette smoking and diabetic status, ECG findings, and other risk …
Seebeck coefficient for the Anderson model

The single-site Anderson model with degeneracy ${N}_{f}$ is solved for the case in which the lowest eigenstate contains $L$ electrons in the $f$ orbital, where $0lLl{N}_{f}.$ The noncrossing approximation is used to find the density of states including the Kondo resonance. The Seebeck coefficient is calculated as a function of temperature for every value of $L$. We find that the Seebeck coefficient is largest for $L=1$ and declines in value as $L$ increases. This suggests that large Seebeck coefficients are not possible in mixed-valent systems besides those of cerium or ytterbium.
Multi-modular, tris(triphenylamine) zinc porphyrin–zinc phthalocyanine–fullerene conjugate as a broadband capturing, charge stabilizing, photosynthetic ‘antenna-reaction center’ mimic

A broadband capturing, charge stabilizing, photosynthetic antenna-reaction center model compound has been newly synthesized and characterized. The model compound is comprised of a zinc porphyrin covalently linked to three units of triphenylamine entities and a zinc phthalocyanine entity. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of zinc porphyrin complemented that of zinc phthalocyanine offering broadband coverage. Stepwise energy transfer from singlet excited triphenylamine to zinc porphyrin, and singlet excited zinc porphyrin to zinc phthalocyanine (kENT ∼ 1011 s−1) was established from spectroscopic and time-resolved transient absorption techniques. Next, an electron acceptor, fullerene was introduced via metal–ligand axial coordination to both zinc porphyrin and zinc phthalocyanine centers, and they were characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. An association constant of 4.9 × 104 M−1 for phenylimidazole functionalized fullerene binding to zinc porphyrin, and 5.1 × 104 M−1 for it binding to zinc phthalocyanine was obtained. An energy level diagram for the occurrence of different photochemical events within the multi-modular donor–acceptor conjugate was established from spectral and electrochemical data. Unlike the previous zinc porphyrin–zinc phthalocyanine–fullerene conjugates, the newly assembled donor–acceptor conjugate has been shown to undergo the much anticipated initial charge separation from singlet excited zinc porphyrin to the coordinated fullerene followed by a hole shift process to zinc phthalocyanine resulting in a long-lived charge separated state as revealed by femto- and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopic techniques. The lifetime of the final charge separated state was about 100 ns.
The uses of ambivalence: Pornography and female heterosexual identity

(1997). The uses of ambivalence: Pornography and female heterosexual identity. Women's Studies: Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 73-88.
Further development of generalized constitutive relations for metal deformation

A set of constitutive equations is presented to describe the history dependent plastic deformation behavior of anisotropic metals under multiaxial loading conditions. The primary variables that characterize the material behavior with increasing deformation are the effective flow strength,k; the residual or back stress vectorαi; and the anisotropy matrix,Mtj. The strain rate is given in terms of an equivalent plastic strain rate, the gradient of a plastic potential, which incorporates key material variables and the stress state. All the material parameters have been determined for a recrystallized Zircaloy-2 from 25 to 450 °C and a solution treated 304 stainless steel from 25 to 650 °C based on experiments that included monotonic, load reversal, and load relaxation tests. The analytical model has been used to simulate the deformation behavior of both metals under a variety of testing conditions, including cyclic and plane strain loading conditions. The general form of the constitutive relation is shown to be consistent with experimental data obtained for various material orientations under different loading conditions.
The Economics of Seinfeld

URL: http://yadayadayadaecon.com/ The television show Seinfeld aired from 1990 through 1999. As a “show about nothing,” it allowed viewers to follow the antics of Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer ...
A Window on the ‘New’ Sociology of Childhood

This article is intended as a window on the body of research that has come to be known as the ‘new sociology of childhood’. To elucidate its underlying tenets I identify three major weaknesses that scholars in the ‘new’ sociology find in the ‘old’ conceptualization – socialization – and discuss implications for doing research on children and childhood. I suggest that scholars in the United States are on a somewhat different path than their colleagues in other Western countries. Finally, I argue that the view that children are not yet members of their societies is one that is difficult to undermine.
Aerosol dynamics using the quadrature method of moments: comparing several quadrature schemes with particle-resolved simulation

The method of moments (MOM) is a statistically based alternative to sectional and modal methods for aerosol simulation. The MOM is highly efficient as the aerosol distribution is represented by its lower-order moments and only these, not the full distribution itself, are tracked during simulation. Quadrature is introduced to close the moment equations under very general growth laws and to compute aerosol physical and optical properties directly from moments. In this paper the quadrature method of moments (QMOM) is used in a bivariate test tracking of aerosol mixing state. Two aerosol populations, one enriched in soot and the other in sulfate, are allowed to interact through coagulation to form a generally-mixed third particle population. Quadratures of varying complexity (including two candidate schemes for use in climate models) are described and compared with benchmark results obtained by using particle- resolved simulation. Low-order quadratures are found to be highly accurate, and Gauss and Gauss-Radau quadratures appear to give nested lower and upper bounds, respectively, to aerosol mixing rate. These results suggest that the QMOM makes it feasible to represent the generallymixed states of aerosols and track their evolution in climate models.
Effects of violent movies and trait hostility on hostile feelings and aggressive thoughts

The General Affective Aggression Model [Anderson CA, Deuser WE, DeNeve KM (1995): Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 21:434-448; Anderson CA, Anderson KB, Deuser WE (1996): Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 22:366-376] suggests that violent movies may increase aggression by increasing hostile feelings and the accessibility of aggressive thoughts, It also suggests that trait hostility may similarly influence affect and cognition. Experiment 1 explored the effects of viewing violent movie clips on affect and cognition. Participants who viewed a violent movie clip later reported higher levels of state hostility than did those who viewed a nonviolent clip, Experiment 2 added trait hostility to the design as a potentially important individual difference variable. The state hostility results of Experiment 1 were replicated. In addition, the relative accessibility of aggressive thoughts was increased by the violent clip, but only for low irritable participants. Discussion focused on the relevance to aggressive behavior.
Genetics of atherothrombotic and lacunar stroke

Identifying new risk factors for ischemic stroke occurrence could help improve prevention strategies and identify new therapeutic targets. Genetic risk factors are particularly interesting, because they can offer a direct clue to the biological pathways involved. Ischemic stroke is a heterogeneous disorder, and this must be considered in the search for genetic susceptibility factors. In Western countries, most ischemic strokes can be attributed to large-artery atherosclerosis (atherothrombotic stroke) and small-artery occlusion (lacunar stroke), the rest being due to cardioembolism, vasculitis, monogenic disorders, undetermined causes, or rare etiologies such as cervical artery dissection. According to the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment criteria, an ischemic stroke is classified as atherothrombotic (or due to large-artery atherosclerosis) if it is associated with a >50% stenosis of an appropriate intracranial or extracranial artery1 and as lacunar (typically due to lipohyalinosis and microatheroma) if a brain stem or subcortical infarct of ≤1.5-cm diameter can be demonstrated and large-artery atherosclerosis and cardioembolism can be excluded.1 In the present study, we reviewed published data on the genetic risk factors underlying atherothrombotic and lacunar strokes. Our reasons for focusing on these 2 subtypes are that (1) extensive reviews exploring the genetic risk factors for total ischemic stroke already exist,2–4 (2) there is some evidence that genetic susceptibility factors may differ according to stroke subtype, and (3) atherothrombotic and lacunar stroke may have a greater genetic component than cardioembolic stroke.5–7 Several monogenic disorders can cause large-artery and small-vessel stroke. Overall, they are responsible for a very small proportion of these strokes, probably <1%,8 and should mainly be considered when stroke occurs at a young age in individuals with little or no exposure to conventional vascular risk factors. The mechanisms by which these monogenic disorders result in stroke are varied. ### Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy, Subcortical Infarcts, and Leukoencephalopathy Cerebral autosomal dominant …
Tribology of Amorphous Alloys Formed With Ion Beams

The changes in friction and wear properties (i.e., tribology) of steels due to thin surface alloys formed by ion beams are surveyed, and considered in light of their microstructures. Amorphous alloys containing both Ti and C are found to give superior performance in comparison to alloys with N, B, C, P or Ti. All the amorphous layers reduce friction, but the duration of benefits and wear resistance at high loads vary with composition. By examining similar amorphous alloys with Ti alone or C alone, the critical roles played by each in resisting wear are demonstrated. Amorphous alloys with Ti and C appear to be quite hard.
Polymers containing 12‐hydroxymethyltetrahydroabietanol

12-Hydroxymethyltetrahydroabietanol has been polymerized with hexamethylene diisocyanate and a low molecular weight polyurethane produced. Low molecular weight polyurethanes have also been prepared from 12-hydroxymethyltetrahydroabietyl chloroformate, hexamethylenediamine, and sym.-dimethylethylenediamine. 12-Hydroxymethyltetrahydroabietanol has been “end-capped” with tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate and hexamethylene diisocyanate. The resulting diisocyanates have been polymerized with polytetramethylene glycol, hexamethylenediamine and hydrazine.
Distortion-invariant pattern recognition with Fourier-plane nonlinear filters

The use of nonlinear techniques in the Fourier plane of pattern-recognition correlators can improve the correlators' performance in terms of discrimination against objects similar to the target object, correlation-peak sharpness, and correlation noise robustness. Additionally, filter designs have been proposed that provide the linear correlator with invariance properties with respect to input-signal distortions and rotations. We propose simple modifications to presently known distortion-invariant correlator filters that enable these filter designs to be used in a nonlinear correlator architecture. These Fourier-plane nonlinear filters can be implemented electronically, or they may be implemented optically with a nonlinear joint transform correlator. Extensive simulation results are presented that illustrate the performance enhancements that are gained by the unification of nonlinear techniques with these filter designs.
Induction of Lactoferrin Expression in Murine ES Cells by Retinoic Acid and Estrogen

Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein present in high concentrations in milk and exocrine fluids such as bile and tears. Many functions have been attributed to lactoferrin, including antimicrobial and antiviral activities, immunomodulation, and cell growth regulation. Lactoferrin expression is controlled by different regulators, including retinoic acid and estrogen. However, the expression pattern of lactoferrin in mammalian early development has not yet been reported. Murine embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells that can contribute to all tissues and were used for this study. We show here that while no lactoferrin protein or mRNA was detected in untreated murine embryonic stem cells, retinoic acid and estrogen can induce high levels lactoferrin expression in these cells. Expression, demonstrated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, immunofluorescence, and ELISA assay, was dose and time dependent. Our study provides an in vitro model for examining lactoferrin expression in early development and differentiation.
Left‐Right Differences in Cerebral Blood Flow and Cognition

This study presumed that when a person drinks ice water, circulation of the blood will carry cooling to the head, causing a slight temperature drop on each side proportional to the blood flow on that side. Data from right and left handed subjects showed greater temperature drop on the nonverbal side of the head, consistent with radiological findings that the nonverbal side receives more blood. Exploratory data from English and architecture students suggest more blood may go to the side embodying the subject's major talent.
Lifestyle Changes and Coping Patterns Among Caregivers of Stroke Survivors

Although caregiving has been a major focus for research, little is known about the day-to-day changes in lifestyle faced by caregivers. Yet lifestyle, developed over time, manifests an individual's very identity. Using a multimethod approach, we assessed the perceptions of lifestyle changes and coping patterns of 20 caregivers of first-time stroke survivors in the early poststroke period. An outcome-oriented matrix was employed for qualitative analysis, and findings were expanded by additional quantitative analysis. Three themes emerged: pervasiveness of lifestyle change, cohort differences in the perception of lifestyle change and coping patterns, and primary issues of time and confinement. Findings suggest that strains relative to caregiving may not be confined to direct caregiving activities, but may be related to established patterns of daily life.
Picture Yourself at the Polls Visual Perspective in Mental Imagery Affects Self-Perception and Behavior

The present research demonstrates that the visual perspective—own first-person versus observer's third-person—people use to picture themselves engaging in a potential future action affects their self-perceptions and subsequent behavior. On the eve of the 2004 U.S. presidential election, registered voters in Ohio were in- structed to use either the first-person or the third-person perspective to picture themselves voting in the election. Picturing voting from the third-person perspective caused subjects to adopt a stronger pro-voting mind-set corres- pondent with the imagined behavior. Further, this effect on self-perception carried over to behavior, causing subjects who were instructed to picture voting from the third-per- son perspective to be significantly more likely to vote in the election. These findings extend previous research in auto- biographical memory and social judgment linking the ob- server's perspective with dispositional attributions, and demonstrate the causal role of imagery in determining future behavior.
Firm mantle plumes and the nature of the core–mantle boundary region

Recent tomographic imaging of thick plume conduits in the lower mantle, when combined with plume buoyancy flux based on hotspot swell topography, indicates a very high plume viscosity of 1021–1023 Pa s. This estimated plume viscosity is comparable or may even be greater than the viscosity of the bulk lower mantle, the estimate of which ranges from 2×1021 to 1022 Pa s. Here I show that both very high viscosity and large radii of lower-mantle plumes can be simultaneously explained if the temperature dependency of lower-mantle rheology is dominated by the grain size-dependent part of diffusion creep, i.e., hotter mantle has higher viscosity. Fluid-dynamical scaling laws of a thermal boundary layer suggest that the thickness and topography of the D″ discontinuity are consistent with such mantle rheology. This new kind of plume dynamics may also explain why plumes appear to be fixed in space despite background mantle flow and why plume excess temperature is only up to 200–300 K whereas the temperature difference at the core–mantle boundary is likely to exceed 1000 K.
Terazosin therapy for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A randomized, placebo controlled trial

ABSTRACTPurpose: We evaluate terazosin therapy for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.Materials and Methods: The study included 100, 20 to-50-year-old subjects who met the consensus criteria for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and had not received previous α-blockers. Subjects were randomized to receive terazosin with dose escalation from 1 to 5 mg. daily or placebo for 14 weeks. The primary criterion for response was scoring 2 or less (“delighted-to-mostly satisfied”) on the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) quality of life item. The secondary criterion for response was greater than 50% reduction in NIH-CPSI pain score at 14 weeks. Other outcomes included total and NIH-CPSI domain scores, International Prostate Symptom Score, peak urinary flow rate, post-void residual urine and adverse effects.Results: Using the primary criterion 24 of 43 evaluable subjects (56%) responded in the terazosin group compared to 14 of 43 (36%) in the plac...
Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor Type II Is a Receptor for Growth Differentiation Factor-9

Growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) is a glycoprotein secreted by the oocyte that is capable of stimulating granulosa cell proliferation and inhibiting differentiation. GDF-9 is a member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily of ligands known to signal through type I and II serine/threonine kinase receptors. In the sequenced human genome, seven type I and six type II receptors have been identified. Based on phylogenetic and sequence analyses, we predicted that GDF-9 likely interacts with known type I and type II receptors. We obtained soluble chimeric proteins with the ectodomains of candidate receptors fused to the Fc portion of immunoglobin and tested their ability to act as functional antagonists. Addition of bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II (BMPRII) ectodomain was most effective in blocking GDF-9 stimulation of granulosa cell proliferation and GDF-9 suppression of FSH-stimulated progesterone production. In addition, the ectodomains of bone morphogenetic protein receptor type IA, bone morphogenetic protein receptor type IB, and activin receptor type IIA were partially effective in blocking GDF-9 action. Furthermore, the BMPRII ectodomain directly interacted with GDF-9 in a coprecipitation study demonstrating the role of the BMPRII ectodomain as a binding protein for GDF-9. To demonstrate the role of BMPRII in GDF-9 signaling in follicular cells, the expression of this protein was blocked in cultured granulosa cells using specific BMPRII antisense oligomers. Inhibition of BMPRII biosynthesis completely prevented the GDF-9 induction of granulosa cell thymidine incorporation. GDF-9 expression is essential for early follicle development, and the presence of the type II and type I receptors in the neonatal rat ovary was verified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. These results demonstrate the important role of BMPRII in mediating GDF-9 action in granulosa cells from small antral follicles and indicate that the effects of GDF-9 might be transduced by binding to BMPRII and one or more type I receptors.
Parenting efficacy, aggressive parenting and cultural connections

This paper describes an exploratory study examining parenting efficacy, behaviours related to child–parent conflict and cultural connection. Fifty-four low-income mothers from diverse cultural backgrounds responded to a questionnaire that included the Parental Locus of Control Scale, the Conflict Tactic Scale, and a composite scale measuring the degree that mothers were connected to their self-identified culture. Non-parametric statistical measures were used to analyse study data. Results indicate differences between ‘high’ and ‘low’ culturally connected mothers on parenting measures. Mothers with ‘high’ cultural connection were less aggressive parents and felt more responsible for their child’s behaviour.
Efficient inducible Cre-mediated recombination in Tcf21cell lineages in the heart and kidney

Tcf21 is a Class II bHLH family member with essential roles in the formation of the lungs, kidneys, gonads, spleen, and heart. Here, we report the utility of a mouse line with targeted insertion of a tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase, MerCreMer at the Tcf21 locus. This mouse line will permit the inducible expression of Cre recombinase in Tcf21-expressing cells. Using ROSA26 reporter mice, we show that Cre recombinase is specifically and robustly activated in multiple Tcf21-expressing tissues during embryonic and postnatal development. The expression profile in the kidney is particularly dynamic with the ability to cause recombination in mesangial cells at one time of induction and podocytes at another time. These features make the Tcf21-driven inducible Cre line (Tcf21(iCre) ) a valuable genetic tool for spatiotemporal gene function analysis and lineage tracing of cells in the heart, kidney, cranial muscle, and gonads.
Performance evaluation of GaAs based MODFETs

Three key aspects of AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs MODFETs, namely current-handling capability, signal delay, and saturated output regime, are experimentally evaluated and correlated with the heterostructure configuration. Gate lengths down to 0.1 mu m and corresponding cutoff frequencies above 140 GHz are employed. The three aspects are found to be closely interrelated. By the incorporation of an InGaAs quantum well the two-dimensional-electron-gas (2DEG) density of the materials system can be considerably extended. However, this results in only limited improvement for the FET current-handling capability above a 2DEG density of 2*10/sup 12/ cm/sup -2/. The main effect on the MODFET current gain cutoff frequency is through the reduction of the input delay as demonstrated with 0.1- mu m-gate-length devices. Extracting the same intrinsic delay time means that the electron dynamics in the channel of AlGaAs/GaAs and pseudomorphic MODFETs is very comparable. This is consistent with the fact that there is no significant change in the effective electron mass, although changes in the intervalley scattering dynamics are still expected. Open-circuit voltage gain and output conductance are strongly related to the space-charge-layer configuration on top of the channel. This is related to the recess configuration; however, for a large voltage gain a high structural aspect ratio is generally needed. >
Evolutionary assembly of island faunas reverses the classic island–mainland richness difference in Anolis lizards

Aim Islands are widely considered to be species depauperate relative to mainlands but, somewhat paradoxically, are also host to many striking adaptive radiations. Here, focusing on Anolis lizards, we investigate if cladogenetic processes can reconcile these observations by determining if in situ speciation can reduce, or even reverse, the classical island-mainland richness discrepancy. Location Caribbean islands and the Neotropical mainland. Methods We constructed range maps for 203 mainland anoles from museum records and evaluated whether geographical area could account for differences in species richness between island and mainland anole faunas. We compared the island species-area relationship with total mainland anole diversity and with the richness of island-sized mainland areas. We evaluated the role of climate in the observed differences by using Bayesian model averaging to predict island richness based on the mainland climate-richness relationship. Lastly, we used a published phylogeny and stochastic mapping of ancestral states to determine if speciation rate was greater on islands, after accounting for differences in geographical area. Results Islands dominated by in situ speciation had, on average, significantly more species than similarly sized mainland regions, but islands where in situ speciation has not occurred were species depauperate relative to mainland areas. Results were similar at the scale of the entire mainland, although marginally non-significant. These findings held even after accounting for climate. Speciation has not been faster on islands; instead, when extinction was assumed to be low, speciation rate varied consistently with geographical area. When extinction was high, there was some evidence that mainland speciation was faster than expected based on area. Main conclusions Our results indicate that evolutionary assembly of island faunas can reverse the general pattern of reduced species richness on islands relative to mainlands.
Degrees of Deception: Are Consumers and Employers Being Duped by Online Universities and Diploma Mills?

The advent of the Internet has opened the door for a record-breaking number of consumers to obtain legitimate online higher education. However, using deceptive practices, unscrupulous individuals have harnessed the power of the Internet and spam mail to provide consumers with an easy way to obtain dubious bachelor's and graduate degrees. Some online schools require their students to complete academic work to earn their degrees but lack any accreditation recognized by the United States Department of Education. Other degree providers are nothing more than diploma mills, that is, fake schools that sell "authentic-looking" degrees to consumers without requiring them to complete any academic work. While federal and state enforcement agencies have limited ability to use their jurisdictional powers to criminally prosecute fake degree providers, these agencies have no effective legal mechanism to deal with inferior-quality, unaccredited schools or to protect consumers who are deceived into believing their unaccredited degrees are legitimate. To curb the supply of bogus and substandard unaccredited degrees, this article proposes a model federal statute, the Authentic Credentials in Higher Education Act, that imposes criminal liability on operators of fake and substandard unaccredited schools, and civil liability on schools with un-recognized degree programs if they fail to make certain disclosures. To deter the demand for fake and unaccredited degrees, this article proposes amendment to a federal statute to permit supervisors to discipline current employees with such degrees. A mass media awareness campaign is also proposed to empower consumers and employers to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate degrees.
Hydroelectric Energy: An Agent of Change in Amazonia (Northern Brazil)

Perceptions of the Amazonian resource base are changing, accompanying unprecedented energy development. Government policies are directed toward the integration of Amaz onia into the national economy. Infrastructure formation is a fundamental step toward this objective, and hydroelectric energy forms an essential part of such a program. The costs of hydroelectric development in Amazonia, as well as Brazilian perceptions of the region, complicate resource management. Without hydroelectric development, Amazonia would continue as a resource-yielding region without any return to the national economy. Hydroelectric power may draw different kinds of industries into the region and may gradually redraw the economic map of Brazil.
Inelastic Neutron Scattering and Molecular Simulation of the Dynamics of Interlayer Water in Smectite Clay Minerals

The study of mineral–water interfaces is of great importance to a variety of applications including oil and gas extraction, gas subsurface storage, environmental contaminant treatment, and nuclear waste repositories. Understanding the fundamentals of that interface is key to the success of those applications. Confinement of water in the interlayer of smectite clay minerals provides a unique environment to examine the interactions among water molecules, interlayer cations, and clay mineral surfaces. Smectite minerals are characterized by a relatively low layer charge that allows the clay to swell with increasing water content. Montmorillonite and beidellite varieties of smectite were investigated to compare the impact of the location of layer charge on the interlayer structure and dynamics. Inelastic neutron scattering of hydrated and dehydrated cation-exchanged smectites was used to probe the dynamics of the interlayer water (200–900 cm–1 spectral region) and identify the shift in the librational edge as ...
Infant mortality among racial/ethnic minority groups, 1983-1984.

The author analyzes infant mortality in the United States among racial or ethnic minority groups for the period 1983-1984. "For this report infant mortality rates (IMRs) are based on the 1983 and 1984 linked birth and infant-death files and mothers race and Hispanic origin are reported in accordance with information shown on the birth certificates. Overall Asians have somewhat lower infant mortality rates than whites but the rates vary from 6.0/1000 among Japanese mothers to 9.0/1000 among other Asian mothers. Hispanic mothers show even wider variation: from 7.8/1000 among Cubans to 12.9/1000 among Puerto Ricans. Blacks have an IMR twice as high as that for whites and the rate for American Indians is nearly 60% above the rate for whites....Mexicans have approximately the same IMR (9.0/1000) as non-Hispanic whites." (EXCERPT)
Comparing multiple imputation methods for systematically missing subject‐level data

When conducting research synthesis, the collection of studies that will be combined often do not measure the same set of variables, which creates missing data. When the studies to combine are longitudinal, missing data can occur on the observation-level (time-varying) or the subject-level (non-time-varying). Traditionally, the focus of missing data methods for longitudinal data has been on missing observation-level variables. In this paper, we focus on missing subject-level variables and compare two multiple imputation approaches: a joint modeling approach and a sequential conditional modeling approach. We find the joint modeling approach to be preferable to the sequential conditional approach, except when the covariance structure of the repeated outcome for each individual has homogenous variance and exchangeable correlation. Specifically, the regression coefficient estimates from an analysis incorporating imputed values based on the sequential conditional method are attenuated and less efficient than those from the joint method. Remarkably, the estimates from the sequential conditional method are often less efficient than a complete case analysis, which, in the context of research synthesis, implies that we lose efficiency by combining studies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gain-saturation properties of a polarization-insensitive semiconductor amplifier and polarization-encoded wavelength conversion

A semiconductor structure with both tensile and compressively (T/C) strained quantum wells (QWs) is a novel gain medium that has been used to demonstrate two-polarization lasers' and polarization-insensitive amplifiers.2 and it holds promise as a nonlinear optical element for polarization control. We have investigated the polarization dependence of the gain saturation in a polarization-insensitive traveling-wave amplifier (TWA) implemented with such a gain medium to determine whether the polarization insensitivity is retained as the amplifier saturates. We have used these devices to demonstrate polarization-encoded wavelength conversion. A modulation on a TM-polarized 1.319-μm control beam was transferred to a TE-polarized 1.316-μm signal beam with an unoptimized contrast ratio of 6 dB. In wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) applications such signal and control beams can be easily separated and redirected on the basis of polarization, thereby alleviating the problem of filtering two closely spaced optical frequencies.
Abstract MS3-2: Advances in Breast Cancer Risk Assessment, Screening and Prevention: Adapting the Lessons to an Underserved Latina Population

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in Latina women. Mutations in BRCA genes are associated with 5% of all BC and a larger proportion of young women with BC. Genetic cancer risk assessment (GCRA) has the potential to identify persons at increased risk for cancer prior to the onset of disease, when early detection or prevention strategies would be most effective. Despite clinical studies documenting the efficacy of cancer risk reduction measures in high-risk individuals, low-income, underinsured or ethnic minority individuals have a disproportionate burden of cancer and limited access to GCRA. City of Hope Cancer Screening & Prevention Program Network outreach clinics were established in two regional indigent healthcare delivery systems. Consultations are facilitated by an experienced bilingual cancer risk counselor/physician team and risk management recommendations are given based on BRCA test results or empiric risk estimates. We observed a high prevalence of deleterious BRCA mutations (25–34%) among Latinas seen in a large network of high-risk clinics from Texas to Northern California, and also identified a unique recurrent large BRCA1 rearrangement of presumed Mestizo origin. We also established that the BRCA1 185delAG detected in several independent Latina families shared a common ancestral origin with Jewish carrier families. The presence of additional recurrent mutations led us to pursue ancestry informed strategies for more cost-effective BRCA analyses in underserved Latina populations. Our clinical studies indicate that underserved patients embrace the opportunity for GCRA services, attend their scheduled consultations, have a high level of participation in follow-up surveys and show a positive impact on cancer screening and prevention behaviors. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr MS3-2.
Characteristics of oncocytic lipoadenoma of the submandibular gland: a case report

AbstractOncocytic lipoadenoma is an extremely rare benign salivary gland tumor with few reported cases. We provide a comprehensive description of key radiographic features suggesting the diagnosis of oncocytic lipoadenoma and review its clinical and pathologic features. We present a case of a 70-year-old woman with a slowly enlarging submandibular mass. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a heterogeneous fat-containing lesion without aggressive features. The solid components enhanced with gadolinium. Fine needle aspiration biopsy showed oncocytic cells. After surgical resection, histology showed a well-encapsulated mass with a mixture of oncocytes and adipocytes consistent with oncocytic lipoadenoma. While the usual differential diagnosis of oncocytes in a salivary gland aspirate includes oncocytoma, Warthin’s tumor, oncocytic carcinoma, and oncocytic metaplasia/hyperplasia, specific radiographic features on MRI of a well-circumscribed soft tissue and fat-containing mass, can direct preoperative diagnosis a...
Analysis and Study on the Vibration of Transformer Core

The vibration signal of transformer core is correlative with the conditions of corecompression and insulation. In this paper,the vibration signals of different types of transformer cores are measured,time-domain waveform and spectrum waveform data is obtained,and the characteristics of vibration of transformer core and the factors effecting vibration are described. The results show that different types of transformer cores have similar frequency characteristics,the fundamental frequency is 100 Hz,and harmonic attenuate to 0 after 1 500 Hz,but the two different frequency. Affected by the size of the no-load voltage applied,the amplitudes of the fundamental frequency of vibration acceleration signals have linear relation with the square of the voltage. The analysis results offer favorable ground work for on-line monitoring and fault diagnosis of large power transformer.
Detection of interleukin-6 in human follicular fluid * †

Objective To determine if interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a normal constituent of human follicular fluid (FF) after ovarian hyperstimulation and to assess whether IL-6 levels differ in conditions associated with immunological causes of infertility. Design After ovarian hyperstimulation for an in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment cycle, FF samples were obtained at the time of oocyte retrieval. Setting Referral center at a tertiary care hospital. Patients Thirty women referred for IVF, including 10 patients with significant titers (>40%) of antisperm antibodies and 10 with pelvic endometriosis. Ten patients with tubal infertility without antisperm antibodies or endometriosis served as controls. Main Outcome Measures Analysis of FF levels for IL-6 using both bioassay and immunoassay. Results Bioactive (range 0.32 to 32.2 U/mL) and immunoreactive (range 0.34 to 13.6ng/mL) IL-6 levels were detected in FF of all subjects after ovarian hyperstimulation. Follicular fluid IL-6 levels were substantially higher (3 to 30-fold) than that reported in serum. There was no difference in the mean concentrations of IL-6 levels between patients with antisperm antibodies, endometriosis, or tubal infertility. Conclusions Bioactive and immunoreactive IL-6 are present in human FF after ovarian hyperstimulation, supporting a potential autocrine or paracrine role within the follicular microenvironment.