cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling and Simulation of Shoulder-Humerus Complex via Multibody Dynamics

In this paper, a multibody dynamics model of the shoulder-upper arm complex is presented. Three major bones clavicle, scapula, and humerus in the shoulder-upper arm complex are represented by rigid bodies. The soft tissues such as tendons, ligaments, and muscles are modeled as springs and dampers respectively attached to the rigid bodies. The joints between the bones are expressed as ideal kinematic joints. Kane’s equations are then used to derive equations of motion of this multibody system.Based on the model, a person’s stand-up motion, aided by shoulder-upper arm complex force for lifting his/her upper body weight is analyzed. Commercial computer software is used to create the multibody shoulder-upper arm complex computational model and then carry out simulation. The model may be utilized in motion analysis of elderly people and sports medicine to study fatigue mechanism and prevent injuries of the shoulder-upper arm complex.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
ISOLATED REARING AND HEBB-WILLIAMS MAZE PERFORMANCE'

Summary.-48 male hooded rats were reared from weaning to adulthood either individually in small opaque-walled cages or together in larger, open cages containing various objects. Following rearing, Ss' "emotionaliry" and their efficiency at solving maze problems wece measured. Consonant with other studies, Ss reared in isolztion wece more "emotional." Unlike previous reports, Ss of the isolated rearing condition were as efficient at solving maze problems as Ss of the "enrichment" condition. It is concluded that the problem-solving efficiency of the two groups was equalized by reducing the effects of the emotionality by harsh deprivation for the incentive, by greater pretraining habituation, and by reducing the possibility for direct positive transfer from the training of enrichment to maze solving. Hebb ( 1949) argued :hat differential early experience is an important variable determining individual differences in aptitude, suggesting "that early learning tends to be permanenr, that ic has generalized transfer effects, and chat it is not specific to particular siruations" (p. 296). These contentions received support from the studies of Hebb (1947), Hymovitch ( 1952), Forgays and Forgays (1952), and Bingham and Griffiths (1952) with demonstrations of maze performance superiority by rats reared in complex, large-cage, open environments compared to that of rats reared in small, enclosed, simple environments. No one questions the more general contention that the history of the organism is a major determinant of individual differences in problem solving efficiency. Woods, Fiske, and Ruckelshaus (1961) did question whether the differences seen between groups of rats reared in complex and simple environments indicated a permanent difference in intellectual ability to solve problems. Woods, et al. (1961) found that differences berween the rwo groups in solving maze problems could be nearly eliminated by increasing S's deprivation of the incentive and by punishing errors. They attributed the difference in problem-solving efficiency between the groups to motivational factors rather than problem-solving abiliry. Gill, Reid, and Porter (1966) found rhac rats reared in these widely disparate situations performed equally well when forced by Lashley-stand procedures to form a visual discrimination. When the consequences of not attending to the relevant features of the proSlem were harsh, both groups performed equally. Gill, et a/. (1966) suggested that the critical difference between Ss of "en
Deformation and energy absorption of polymer foams as a function of 2-D indenter and absorber geometries

Two-dimensional indenters (flat plate and cylinder) were used to compress rectangular and trapezoidal foam energy absorbers as a function of polymer, foam density, and thickness. An increased deformation volume formed when the indenter contact area was less than the foam absorber area, resulting in both increased energy absorption and stress transmitted to the indenter (i.e., “load spreading”). The deformation volume was trapezoidal, not prismatic, and was characterized by the indenter geometry, dimensions, and foam thickness. Conservative energy absorber design can be achieved by using “energy absorption diagrams” that account for the indenter (i.e., product) and absorber geometry and degree of load spreading.
Communicative intent: a framework for understanding social-communicative behavior in autism

Abstract The autistic syndrome is characterized by pervasive impairments in social, cognitive, and communicative development. The construct of communicative intent , which has been discussed in recent literature on normal communication development, has great potential in furthering research and clinical efforts in autism. This is because the acquisition of intentional communication involves synergistic development in social, communicative, and cognitive domains. This report scrutinizes the issue of communicative intent with reference to how it may contribute to a greater understanding of the social impairment in autism. Current applications to the autistic syndrome and implications for diagnosis and future research are discussed.
Bioreactor magnetic fields do not affect growth and antibody productivity of GAP-A3 hybridomas

GAP-A3 hybridoma cells grown in T-flasks exposed to the rotating magnetic field of a spinner flask stirrer base show no effect of stirrer speed in the range 0–150 rpm on their growth rate or antibody productivity. Similarly mechanically and magnetically driven spinner flasks at 48 and 70 rpm show no difference in these rates that may be attributed to the magnetic field.
The behavior of steel perimeter columns in a fire

This study investigates the thermal and structural effects of fire protection, the slab, and the connection fixity on the thermal and structural behavior of perimeter columns in a common steel-framed high-rise building exposed to fire. A model is developed based on a tall steel building (of common construction) that was subject to conflagration in the last decade. The progression of the fire from floor to floor as it moved up the building is considered in developing the time-temperature curves for the analyses. Structural analyses therefore consider that some floors are cooling down while others are heating up. Results show that the beams framing into perimeter columns expand significantly and induce large moments in the perimeter columns, which may lead to the development of plastic hinges. The development of many plastic hinges in a frame could lead to overall structural instability. This phenomenon is essentially independent of the beam-to-column connection fixity and the presence/absence of a slab; therefore fire protection designs for perimeter columns should consider the beams framing into them, which are integral to structural stability.
Generating Elastic, Biodegradable Polyurethane/ Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) Fibrous Sheets with Controlled Antibiotic Release via Two-Stream Electrospinning

Damage control laparotomy is commonly applied to prevent compartment syndrome following trauma but is associated with new risks to the tissue, including infection. To address the need for biomaterials to improve abdominal laparotomy management, we fabricated an elastic, fibrous composite sheet with two distinct submicrometer fiber populations: biodegradable poly(ester urethane) urea (PEUU) and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), where the PLGA was loaded with the antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride (PLGA-tet). A two-stream electrospinning setup was developed to create a uniform blend of PEUU and PLGA-tet fibers. Composite sheets were flexible with breaking strains exceeding 200%, tensile strengths of 5–7 MPa, and high suture retention capacity. The blending of PEUU fibers markedly reduced the shrinkage ratio observed for PLGA-tet sheets in buffer from 50% to 15%, while imparting elastomeric properties to the composites. Antibacterial activity was maintained for composite sheets following incubation in bu...
Internal Consistency and Test-Retest Stability of the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form in African American Older Adults

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is one of the most widely used self-rated mood questionnaires for older adults. It is highly correlated with clinical diagnoses of depression and has demonstrated validity across different patient populations. However, the reliability of the GDS among African American older adults remains to be firmly established. In a baseline sample of 401 African American adults age 51 and over, the GDS-15 item short form demonstrates good internal consistency (KR20 = .71). Stability over a 15-month interval in a retest sample of 51 adults is deemed adequate (r = .68). These findings support the use of the GDS-15 item short form as a reliable mood questionnaire among African American older adults.
Femtosecond electronic dephasing in large molecules in solution using mode suppression

Abstract The femtosecond electronic dephasing of large molecules in solution is measured using a three-pulse photon echo mode cancellation technique. We have demonstrated the suppression of the quantum interference in the echo decay caused by the dominant ring breathing mode at 590 cm −1 found in oxazine dyes. We have calculated the echo decay including the entire manifold of vibronic levels and have determined the dephasing time T 2 to be in the range of 30 to 70 fs for the dye molecules nile blue and LD690.
Adhesion Enhancement of Polyimide on Copper by Ar Ion-Beam Etching of Copper

Ar ion beam etching (IBE) can be used to roughen a Cu surface and thus improve the adhesion of subsequently spin-coated polyimide (PI) films. During Ar IBE, the surface morphology of sputter-deposited Cu changes from round bumps to a rough cone structure. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the PI/Cu interface is increased for certain specific beam conditions. Under optimal conditions, the UTS of the etched PI/Cu interface (6.2 MPa) is twice that of the unetched PI/Cu interface (3.1 MPa). Cu is detected in the deposited PI by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS). The amount of Cu at the top surface of the 2.5 μm thick PI film is 0.1 at. %; this is determined by RBS and XPS. While the Cu is dissolved by polyamic acid and diffuses into the PI, an oxygen-rich region is formed in the Cu. The oxygen-rich region in Cu grows from 50 A (approximately Cu2O) before PI deposition to more than 2000 A (where the oxygen concentration is about 5 at. %) after PI deposition. The oxygen source is not the PI itse...
Quasidifferentiability and canonical forms of linear nonstationary observation systems

We suggest a new method for constructing the Frobenius canonical form for linear nonstationary observation systems. In this method, the conditions imposed on the coefficients are substantially weakened. This is achieved by the use of the technique of quasidifferentiation of the output variables.
Heterogeneous Expression of Invasive and Metastatic Properties in a Prostate Tumor Model.

Cellular heterogeneity of neoplasia is well demonstrated in the Dunning R-3327 rat prostate adenocarcinoma. In this study, we measured the differential expression of invasive and metastatic properties of this prostate model by cloning from a heterogeneous parental cell line. Four cell clones were derived and characterized by morphological studies, E-cadherin expression, and invasive and metastatic potential. Three of the clones (clones 5′A, 5′C, and 5′D) demonstrated a fibroblastic morphology and were anchored to the substrate by loose microvillous processes. The fourth clone (clone 5′B) grew in tight clusters and displayed many closely spaced microvilli, long overlapping cytoplasmic regions with well-defined junctional complexes. The parental line (R3327-5′) demonstrated a combination of both these growth patterns. E-cadherin expression was absent in clones 5′A, 5′C, and 5′D and very prominent in clone 5′B, when compared to the parental line. The absence of E-cadherin expression correlated with increased invasiveness, as measured in an in vitro invasion assay. Subcutaneous injections of clones 5′A, 5′C, and 5′D yielded lung metastases and no primary tumors at the site of inoculation while clone 5′B was tumorigenic and produced fewer lung metastases in vivo. These clones, therefore, provide a potential for studying a variety of molecules involved in prostate cancer invasion and metastasis, especially for the direct testing of the significance of E-cadherin expresssion in prostate cancer progression.
Steepest-descent determination of occupation numbers and energy minimization in the local-density approximation.

A method based on steepest-descent algorithms is described for calculating one-electron occupation numbers in finite-atomic-cluster calculations. Unlike zero-temperature Fermi-Dirac statistics, the technique can be used to determine fractional occupation numbers in those cases where they give the lowest self-consistent-field energy. Applications to the iron atom and an iron-aluminum cluster illustrate the principles of the method.
Homoeotic gene transcripts in the neural tissue of insects

Homoeotic mutations, studied primarily in the fruit fly Drosophila , transform one body segment or part into another. The molecular analysis of some of the genes in which such mutations occur has led to the surprising finding that the most abundant, though not exclusive, accumulation of homoeotic gene RNA transcripts is in neural tissue. The transcripts are localized specifically in certain ganglia, corresponding to the body segments which previous genetic and developmental studies had shown to be the sites of gene function. The questions now being asked are how is the positional specificity of transcription achieved and how does the expression of homoeotic genes guide particular tissues into particular developmental pathways?
Phosphopeptide elution times in reversed-phase liquid chromatography.

Elution time shifts between 33 different peptides and their corresponding phosphopeptides ranging from 4 amino acid residues to 35 amino acids in length were systematically investigated using high-resolution reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis with trifluoroacetic acid as the ion pairing agent. Observed peptide elution time shifts for a single phosphorylation ranged from −5.28 min (for pYVPML) to +0.59 min (for HRDpSGLLDSLGR). Peptides containing a phosphotyrosine residue displayed a significant decrease in elution time following phosphorylation compared to their similar-sized peptides with phosphoserine or phosphothreonine residues. While peptide phosphorylation generally led to a decrease in the observed elution time, five peptides displayed increased elution times as a result of phosphorylation. For large peptides (= 18 amino acids), the elution time shifts due to single phosphorylation were limited (ranging between −0.48 min and +0.03 min), while the elution time shifts for small peptides (< 18 amino acids) were characterized by a larger deviation (ranging between −5.28 min and +0.59 min). The predictive capability for the observed RPLC elution time change due to phosphorylation has been suggested, which will aid in assigning confident phosphopeptide identifications and their subsequent confirmation.
Familial, demyelinating sensory and motor polyneuropathy with conduction block

Both multifocal, demyelinating features and prednisone responsiveness are rare in Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. We report a mother and son with a prednisone-responsive, multifocal, demyelinating, predominantly sensory polyneuropathy that was associated with an isoleucine92valine polymorphism of lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-alpha factor (LITAF). The mother had a multifocal, acquired, demyelinating sensory and motor polyneuropathy (MADSAM)-like presentation. The son developed left peroneal neuropathy during acute Lyme disease with a subsequent relapsing, MADSAM-like illness, despite antibiotic treatment. Both shared prednisone responsiveness and multifocal, demyelinating features electrophysiologically. MADSAM may be familial (FaDSAM) and respond to prednisone.
Genetic transformation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with single-stranded circular DNA vectors.

Abstract We asked if single-stranded vector DNA molecules could be used to reintroduce cloned DNA sequences into a eukaryotic cell and cause genetic transformation typical of that observed using double-stranded DNA vectors. DNA was presented to Saccharomyces cerevisiae following a standard transformation protocol, genetic transformants were isolated, and the physical state of the transforming DNA sequence was determined. We found that single-stranded DNA molecules transformed yeast cells 10- to 30-fold more efficiently than double-stranded molecules of identical sequence. More cells were competent for transformation by the single-stranded molecules. Single-stranded circular (ssc) DNA molecules carrying the yeast 2 μ plasmid-replicator sequence were converted to autonomously replicating double-stranded circular (dsc) molecules, suggesting their efficient utilization as templates for DNA synthesis in the cell. Single-stranded DNA molecules carrying 2 μ plasmid non-replicator sequences recombined with the endogenous multicopy 2 μ plasmid DNA. This recombination yielded either the simple molecular adduct expected from homologous recombination (40% of the transformants examined) or aberrant recombination products carrying incomplete transforming DNA sequences, endogenous 2 μ plasmid DNA sequences, or both (60% of the transformants examined). These aberrant recombination products suggest the frequent use of a recombination pathway that trims one or both of the substrate DNA molecules. Similar aberrant recombination products were detected in 30% of the transformants in cotransformation experiments employing single-stranded and double-stranded DNA molecules, one carrying the 2 μ plasmid replicator sequence and the other the selectable genetic marker. We conclude that single-stranded DNA molecules are useful vectors for the genetic transformation of a eukaryotic cell. They offer the advantage of high transformation efficiency, and yield the same intracellular DNA species obtained upon transformation with double-stranded DNA molecules. In addition, single-stranded DNA molecules can participate in a recombination pathway that trims one or both DNA recombination substrates, a pathway not detected, at least at the same frequency, when transforming with double-stranded DNA molecules
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation does not augment combined spinal epidural labour analgesia.

Purpose The spinal portion of the combined spinal epidural technique (CSE) provides dramatic but limited labour analgesia. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) has been noted to modulate pain,1 in part by the frequency of stimulation chosen.2 Because nerve action potentials are blocked by local anesthestics in a frequency dependent manner,3 we speculated that a TENS unit could increase the quality and duration of the spinal portion of a CSE.
Homooligomerization of the cytoplasmic domain of the T cell receptor zeta chain and of other proteins containing the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif.

Antigen receptors on T cells, B cells, mast cells, and basophils all have cytoplasmic domains containing one or more copies of an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM), tyrosine residues of which are phosphorylated upon receptor engagement in an early and obligatory event in the signaling cascade. How clustering of receptor extracellular domains leads to phosphorylation of cytoplasmic domain ITAMs is not known, and little structural or biochemical information is available for the ITAM-containing cytoplasmic domains. Here we investigate the conformation and oligomeric state of several immune receptor cytoplasmic domains, using purified recombinant proteins and a variety of biophysical and biochemical techniques. We show that all of the cytoplasmic domains of ITAM-containing signaling subunits studied are oligomeric in solution, namely, T cell antigen receptor ζ, CD3e, CD3δ, and CD3γ, B cell antigen receptor Igα and Igβ, and Fc receptor FceRIγ. For ζcyt, the oligomerization behavior is best ...
Evaluation of telemedicine use for clinical genetics services in Iowa

Clinical genetics services in Iowa are delivered to 16 clinic sites with over 87 clinics/year by the Regional Genetics Consultation Services (RGCS)/ Univ. of Iowa, Dept. of Peds Univ of Iowa has an extensive telecommunications network, which connects 11 hospitals in Iowa using the interactive video system, TeleDoc with a digital exam camera, otoscope and electronic stethoscope. We recently completed a 15-month pilot project, which integrated the resources of Univ of Iowa's telemedicine program with the RGCS to evaluate the use of telemedicine for delivery of clinical genetics services. We evaluated the effectiveness of telemedicine for follow-up genetics visits by examining the following parameters: 1) patient satisfaction and compliance; 2) physician satisfaction and productivity, 3) utility (advantages and disadvantages) in different types of genetics consultations, 4) ease of use; 5) cost-effectiveness, and 6) access. These parameters were compared with the regular RGCS clinics. Each patient and his/her family, referring physician, consulting physician, and the genetic nurse counselor completed surveys regarding demographics, access, cost & satisfaction. Forty-seven patients were seen in 12 clinics. Attendance rate was 87% compared to 90% in RGCS clinics. The patient group included 24 males and 23 females. Ages ranged from 7 months to 37 years. Of the 47 patients, 36 (76%) had pre-established diagnoses, 11(23 1%) did not. Diagnoses included a variety of genetic conditions such as, chromosomal, single gene disorders, FAS, and MCA syndromes Assessment of the suitability and clarity of telemedicine to visualize the many varied clinical exam findings was completed. The survey results revealed scores ranging from 3 62 to 3.92 on a 1-5 scale with 5 being excellent. Responses from patient satisfaction surveys showed that most families (44/47) were very satisfied with the health care they received and quality of telemedicine interaction We also evaluated costs: one six-hour clinic was slightly less ($450) than the regular RGCS clinic (-$500), and was similar to other telemedicine clinics held at UIHC (avg cost $487), excluding physician professional fees. Potential advantages of telemedicine included similar clinical productivity for number of patients seen per time slot, but elimination of travel time to and from the clinic site, and ability of physician to complete work/answer calls Potential disadvantages included occasional interruptions in transmission, inability to palpate or completely assess neurological exam, and time to adjust camera position We will review further survey results and demonstrate the quality of the transmission
Estimation of Mode Using Auxiliary Information

In this article, we propose naive estimator, ratio estimator, and difference estimator of the mode of a study variable by using the known mode of an auxiliary variable. The asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are studied analytically as well as empirically for different situations. The proper use of auxiliary information is found to result in efficient ratio and difference estimators than the naive estimator.
An empirical examination of visual analysis procedures for clinical practice evaluation

ABSTRACT There has been a resurgence of interest in single-subject research designs and analytic tools to help clinicians detect treatment effects. The present study investigates Nugent's (2000) visual analysis procedures, which were designed to aid practitioners in detecting clinical change for the purposes of practice evaluation. The ability of the visual procedures to detect real change in short auto-correlated data streams and the ability of the procedures to help clinicians discern cases when no actual change has occurred were evaluated. Monte Carlo analyses indicate that the power of the visual procedures is acceptable for effect sizes of 2.25 or greater when there are at least 14 data points (7 baseline and 7 treatment) in the data set. The procedures, however, frequently lead to erroneous decisions that effects are present in data streams when, in fact, there are none. The mean type I error rate across various N's and levels of auto-correlation was .66. As they are currently designed, Nugent's vis...
Polarization opposition effect and second-order ray-tracing: cloud of dipoles

We develop a second-order ray-tracing model of the light scattered by a cloud of randomly positioned dipoles and consider only the second-order effects. In the near backward scattering direction, a sharp asymmetric negative polarization results from the constructive interference of reciprocal rays. From our simulations, the shape of this branch of negative polarization has little dependence on the mean free path of rays through the scattering system. Implications of this are that the symmetric branch of the negative polarization seen in the near-backward scatter direction of many naturally occurring, random systems are due, like the asymmetric branch, to constructive interference of reciprocal rays, and that a symmetric negative branch is not the result of interacting dipole-like particles.
Comparison and evaluation of in situ and filter carbon measurements at the Fresno Supersite

[1] The Fresno Supersite in Fresno, California, USA, acquires in situ 5- to 60-min average PM2.5 organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and total carbon (TC) measurements by the following methods: (1) thermal evolution carbon analyzer for organic, elemental, and total carbon; (2) single-wavelength and seven-color aethalometer for black carbon (BC); and (3) photoionization for particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Twenty-four-hour average PM2.5 filter-based measurements include (1) nondenuded quartz filters with no backup filter in a PM2.5 Federal Reference Method (FRM) sampler; (2) quartz filters behind an organic carbon denuder with a quartz backup filter in a Reference Ambient Aerosol Sampler (RAAS); (3) nondenuded quartz filters with backup filter in a RAAS; and (4) nondenuded quartz filters with no backup filter in a sequential filter sampler. Filter samples are analyzed after sampling by the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) thermal/optical reflectance carbon analysis protocol. Collocated measurements are examined for year 2000. Measurement equivalence is found for PM2.5 mass, light transmission, and TC between the FRM and RAAS speciation samplers. The average ratios of front filter carbon between the denuded and nondenuded channels in the RAAS sampler are 0.83 ± 0.19 for TC, 0.81 ± 0.20 for OC, and 1.01 ± 0.33 for EC. The average differences for TC and OC are low (1.2 to 1.4 μg m-3) and are comparable to the measurement uncertainties. Continuous thermal evolution carbon measurements are not comparable to filter measurements. Aethalometer BC and filter EC are highly correlated, but filter EC is consistently 20–25% higher than continuous aethalometer BC. Pairwise comparisons show filter EC measurements acquired in this study are predictable from aethalometer BC measurements.
CS modality effects in one-trial backward and forward excitatory conditioning as assessed by conditioned suppression of licking in rats

Rats received a single 4-sec 1-mA grid-shock US either preceded or followed by a 4-sec tone or light CS. Conditioning was later assessed by comparing the amount of lick suppression evoked by the forward- or backward-paired CS versus an explicitly unpaired CS. The backward-paired CS produced more suppression than the unpaired CS only when both were tone; the light evoked strong suppression whether paired or not. In the forward procedure, tone produced more suppression when paired and less when unpaired than did light; conditioning thus appeared stronger with the tone. In one experiment, observations showed that rats froze during the forward-paired tone but not during the light. Increasing CS duration from 4 to 12 sec had no effect for the forward-paired light but increased freezing to the forward-paired tone. Another experiment showed similar unconditioned suppression to tone and light but faster habituation to tone. Problems that these results create for interpreting evidence for excitatory backward conditioning in the conditioned suppression procedure are discussed.
Paternal and Maternal Information and Communication Technology Usage as Their Very Low Birth Weight Infants Transition Home From the NICU

Little is known about how differently mothers and fathers of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants use information and communication technology (ICT), especially during the vulnerable transition from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to home. This study aims to qualitatively compare and contrast the two groups’ usage of technology. In-depth, semistructured phone interviews were conducted with 25 parents of 16 VLBW infants who had been hospitalized in the NICU. Grounded theory facilitated the understanding of interview data. This article discusses the patterns that emerged around the use of ICT between the two groups and discusses the implications for health information seeking, privacy and misinformation, online social networking, learning technology, choosing a health care provider, and health care communication.
Echocardiographic measurements in normal subjects: Evaluation of an adult population without clinically apparent heart disease

In order to determine normal echocardiographic values for older subjects, we studied 136 adults (78 men and 58 women, 20 to 97 years of age) without evidence of cardiovascular disease. When patients were subdivided into six age groups, progressive changes were found in mean normal values for various parameters. Specifically, when the oldest group (over 70 years) was compared with the youngest group (21-30 years), significant (p less than 0.01) increases in aortic root (22 percent) and left atrial (16 percent) dimensions, in ventricular septal (20 percent) and left ventricular free-wall (18 percent) thicknesses, and in estimated left ventricular mass (15 percent) were noted. In addition, a significant (p less than 0.01) decrease in mean mitral E-F slope (43 percent) and slight decreases in mean left ventricular systolic and diastolic internal dimensions (5 and 6 percent, respectively; p less than 0.05) were noted. Left ventricular ejection fraction and percentage fractional shortening were found to be independent of age. These data have been used to derive regression equations that are related to both age and body surface area. The regression equations can be used to calculate mean normal values and 95 percent prediction intervals for echocardiographic measurements in adults.
Cross-cultural colour–odour associations

Associations between colour and odour are likely culturally specific. Exposure to a new culture’s cuisine and food customs however may alter these associations. Here we test for cultural colour–odour association differences and whether exposure to a new culture impacts upon these associations. Participants were given 14 odours and choose from a chart of 36 randomly presented colours which of 3 colours they most associated with each odorant, and which of 3 colours was least associated with each. Data collection was done on Android and Apple iPod devices using Xperiment software (see www.xperiment.mobi). In the first study, we tested equal numbers of Dutch and Chinese participants living in the Netherlands (n = 20 per group). In the second study we tested equal numbers of Malay and Malaysian-Chinese participants living in Malaysia (n = 20 per group). Preliminary results indeed indicate that the cultures in both studies did differ from each other in terms of colour–odour pairings. Further analyses are ongoing.
Surgical management of neurogenic bladder

Abstract The neurogenic bladder provides many challenging problems in its treatment. Causation, proper urologic evaluation, and treatment of neurogenic bladder are discussed with emphasis on surgical techniques, such as relieving distal obstruction, alternative measures of urinary diversion, and the use of vesical stimulators. Preservation of renal function is the prime objective of all modes of therapy.
Social Competence Intervention Program (SCIP): A pilot study of a creative drama program for youth with social difficulties

Abstract This study explored the effects of participation in the Social Competence Intervention Program (SCIP), an innovative creative drama-based group intervention, of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), nonverbal learning disability (NLD) and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Eighteen participants in SCIP were compared to a clinical control group of 16 on changes in measures of social perception, social competence, and naturalistic observed social behavior. Hierarchical multiple regression model was used for all primary quantitative analyses. Interviews were conducted post-treatment to provide qualitative data. The treatment group showed significant improvement in key domains of observed social behavior in a natural setting compared to the clinical control group. Parents and children in the SCIP condition reported multiple positive changes in social functioning. These findings provide preliminary support for the use of a creative drama program for children with social competence deficits related to social perception problems.
Plutonium-238 Alpha-Decay Damage Study of A Glass-Bonded Sodalite Ceramic Waste Form

An accelerated alpha-decay damage study of a glass-bonded sodalite ceramic waste form has been completed recently. The study was designed to investigate the physical and chemical durability of the waste form after exposure to 238Pu alpha decay. The alpha-decay dose at the end of the four year study was approximately 1.0 × 1018 decays/gram of material. The ceramic waste form (CWF) was developed to immobilize fission products accumulated during the treatment of spent nuclear fuel from the Experimental Breeder Reactor II performed at Argonne National Laboratory-West in Idaho. Small quantities of actinide elements are also found in the waste form. The CWF is currently undergoing qualification testing and characterization for acceptance by the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management for geologic disposal. Methods used to monitor the 238Pu-loaded CWF material in this study included: immersion density determination to measure possible macroscopic swelling, chemical durability by leach testing, microstructural analysis by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and phase composition and stability by powder X-ray and electron diffraction. After four years of exposure to alpha decay, the investigation observed little alteration to the CWF. Specifically, the 238Pu-loaded CWF maintained its physical integrity, the density remained constant, no cracking or phase debonding was observed by microscopy, and the material's chemical durability did not change significantly over the duration of the study. The only significant measured change was an increase of the unit-cell lattice parameters of the plutonium oxide and sodalite phases of the material, but these were very small and did not lead to any loss of waste form durability.
The mechanochemistry of cardiac muscle. I. The isometric contraction.

The utilization of creatine phosphate (CP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was studied in the iodoacetate (IAA) and nitrogen (N2)-treated cat papillary muscle. Under these conditions the net production of ATP does not occur, and the net utilization of ATP is reflected in a fall in CP concentration. The rate of energy utilization of the IAA-N2-treated cat papillary muscle resting without tension was 0.68 µmole CP/g/min. This rate was increased to 1.07 µmole/g/min when muscles were passively stretched with 2 g of tension. In a series of isometrically contracting muscles CP utilization was found to be proportional to the number of activations and the summated contractile element work. These rates of CP utilization were 0.083 µmole/g/activation and 0.0059 µmole/g-cm of work. The calculated mechanochemical coupling efficiency was 33%.
Association of Pyridoxine Deficiency and Convulsions in Alcoholics.

Summary1. Increased xanthurenic acid excretion after 10 g dl-tryptophane was demonstrated in 3 of 5 patients with rum fits. This metabolic defect was corrected by Vit. B6 in a second tryptophane load test. 2. Patients with alcoholism and associated epilepsy, acute and chronic alcoholism, cirrhosis, acute hallucinosis-tremulousness, acute peripheral neuropathy, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, and a non-alcoholic, healthy individual did not demonstrate significant Vit. B6 deficiency by this test. 3. It is postulated that Vit. B6 deficiency is etiologically related to rum fits.
Characterization of the SECIS binding protein 2 complex required for the co-translational insertion of selenocysteine in mammals

Selenocysteine is incorporated into at least 25 human proteins by a complex mechanism that is a unique modification of canonical translation elongation. Selenocysteine incorporation requires the concerted action of a kink-turn structural RNA (SECIS) element in the 3′ untranslated region of each selenoprotein mRNA, a selenocysteine-specific translation elongation factor (eEFSec) and a SECIS binding protein (SBP2). Here, we analyze the molecular context in which SBP2 functions. Contrary to previous findings, a combination of gel filtration chromatography and co-purification studies demonstrates that SBP2 does not self-associate. However, SBP2 is found to be quantitatively associated with ribosomes. Interestingly, a wild-type but not mutant SECIS element is able to effectively compete with the SBP2 ribosome interaction, indicating that SBP2 cannot simultaneously interact with the ribosome and the SECIS element. This data also supports the hypothesis that SBP2 interacts with one or more kink turns on 28S rRNA. Based on these results, we propose a revised model for selenocysteine incorporation where SBP2 remains ribosome bound except during selenocysteine delivery to the ribosomal A-site.
Improved thresholds for rank minimization

Nuclear norm minimization (NNM) has recently gained attention for its use in rank minimization problems. In this paper, we define weak, sectional and strong recovery for NNM to succeed at finding the low rank solution. We find tight conditions for these and analyze them for the case where the linear measurement operator consists of i.i.d. Gaussian entries. Finally we calculate the so called weak, sectional and strong thresholds for the success of nuclear norm minimization. To obtain our results, we generalize the notion of sign and support from sparse vectors to low rank matrices, and achieve a weak threshold which is much closer to the empirical phase transition curve of nuclear norm minimization than the existing bounds available in the literature.
Coronary CT angiography offers further risk stratification in the management of patients with normal SPECT results

Risk stratification strategies used in the diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease (CAD) aim to identify patients with intermediate to high likelihood of significant CAD that might benefit from coronary revascularizations and/or aggressive medical therapy. Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) has been an integral part of the traditional risk stratification algorithm for more than two decades. While the presence of significant ischemia on MPI usually necessitates further evaluation with coronary catheterization, patients with normal or low risk scans are mostly managed medically. Even though a normal MPI result generally indicates a benign prognosis, the ‘‘warranty period’’ of such result could be substantially shorter in patients with certain clinical risk factors such as adenosine stress (due to inability to exercise), increasing age, diabetes, female gender in diabetics, and history of known CAD indicating a lower negative predictive value for MPI in this
Soil carbon mapping using on-the-go near infrared spectroscopy, topography and aerial photographs

Abstract Efficient tools for accurate soil carbon (SC) mapping are imperative for large scale assessment of total SC stocks and their changes in time as well as for site-specific tailoring of agricultural management practices. On-the-go near infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy has been used recently in aid to the conventional, laborious and expensive soil analyses, since NIR measurements are taken in-situ quickly and non-destructively. However, NIR spectrum data need to be effectively calibrated with conventionally measured SC. Our objectives are to compare calibration approaches, including pre-processing transformations (Savitzky–Golay derivatives, standard normal variate and mean centering) and multivariate statistical methods (principal component regression, partial least squares, partial least squares leaving one-outlier-out) for using NIR spectra data as SC predictor, to evaluate NIR reliability in predicting SC under low carbon contents typical for Midwest Alfisols; and finally to compare predictions of SC by using three sources of auxiliary information (NIR spectral data, visible-NIR reflectance obtained from aerial photographs and topographical features). No improvements in calibration accuracy were observed when using pre-processing transformations. Partial least squares (RMSE = 1.90) tended to perform better than principal component regression (RMSE = 1.96); especially when spectral-NIR outliers are dropped (RMSE = 1.68). Our results suggested that visible-NIR data from aerial photographs used along with topographical attributes outperformed on-the-go spectral NIR data. Topographical data improved prediction in the models with aerial photograph visible-NIR data; however no improvement was noticed when used with spectral-NIR data. Though, NIR spectral data is frequently used as a proxy for SC prediction, we notice that this auxiliary information is not well suited under all scenarios. Particularly, when SC levels are low and the range of SC data is narrow, as in this study, NIR was only moderately successful in predicting SC.
Extending the database relational model to capture more meaning

During the last three or four years several investigators have been exploring “semantic models” for formatted databases. The intent is to capture (in a more or less formal way) more of the meaning of the data so that database design can become more systematic and the database system itself can behave more intelligently. Two major thrusts are clear. (1) the search for meaningful units that are as small as possible—atomic semantics; (2) the search for meaningful units that are larger than the usual n-ary relation—molecular semantics. In this paper we propose extensions to the relational model to support certain atomic and molecular semantics. These extensions represent a synthesis of many ideas from the published work in semantic modeling plus the introduction of new rules for insertion, update, and deletion, as well as new algebraic operators.
IMMUNOLOGICAL TOLERANCE IN BONE MARROW-DERIVED LYMPHOCYTES III. TOLERANCE INDUCTION IN PRIMED B CELLS BY HAPTEN CONJUGATES OF UNRELATED IMMUNOGENIC OR NONIMMUNOGENIC CARRIERS

The present studies were designed to probe the role(s) of T cells in preventing or altering tolerance induction in hapten-specific B cells. This was accomplished by using hapten conjugates of normally immunogenic heterologous carriers to selectively inhibit 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP)-primed B cells in adoptive transfer experiments in vivo. The data provide strong indications that one critical role of T-cell participation in humoral responses to antigens is to circumvent the development of a tolerogenic signal that, in the absence of such T-cell function, might otherwise ensue after binding of the antigenic determinants by specific precursor B lymphocytes.
Questions for Surveys Current Trends and Future Directions

We begin with a look back at the field to identify themes of recent research that we expect to continue to occupy researchers in the future. As part of this overview, we characterize the themes and topics examined in research about measurement and survey questions published in Public Opinion Quarterly in the past decade. We then characterize the field more broadly by highlighting topics that we expect to continue or to grow in importance, including the relationship between survey questions and the total survey error perspective, cognitive versus interactional approaches, interviewing practices, mode and technology, visual aspects of question design, and culture. Considering avenues for future research, we advocate for a decision-oriented framework for thinking about survey questions and their characteristics. The approach we propose distin- guishes among various aspects of question characteristics, including question topic, question type and response dimension, conceptualization and operationalization of the target object, question structure, question form, response categories, question implementation, and question word- ing. Thinking about question characteristics more systematically would allow study designs to take into account relationships among these characteristics and identify gaps in current knowledge.
Evidence against the stability of orthoenstatite above ∼1005°C at atmospheric pressure in CaO‐MgO‐SiO2

Reversals locating the equilibrium orthoenstatite = protoenstatite + diopside in CaO-MgO-SiO2 demonstrate that orthoenstatite cannot exist stably above 1005±10°C at one atmosphere pressure. This in turn suggests that the orthorhombic low-Ca phase found near 1400°C at atmospheric pressure in this system (formerly identified as orthoenstatite) is in fact a previously unrecognized pyroxene polymorph.
Dynamics of three coupled limit cycle oscillators with vastly different frequencies

A system of three coupled limit cycle oscillators with vastly different frequencies is studied. The three oscillators, when uncoupled, have the frequencies ω1=O(1), ω2=O(1/e) and ω3=O(1/e2), respectively, where e≪1. The method of direct partition of motion (DPM) is extended to study the leading order dynamics of the considered autonomous system. It is shown that the limit cycles of oscillators 1 and 2, to leading order, take the form of a Jacobi elliptic function whose amplitude and frequency are modulated as the strength of coupling is varied. The dynamics of the fastest oscillator, to leading order, is unaffected by the coupling to the slower oscillator. It is also found that when the coupling strength between two of the oscillators is larger than a critical bifurcation value, the limit cycle of the slower oscillator disappears. The obtained analytical results are formal and are checked by comparison to solutions from numerical integration of the system.
Measurement of Landau damping and the evolution to a BGK equilibrium.

Linear Landau damping and nonlinear wave-particle trapping oscillations are observed with standing plasma waves in a trapped pure electron plasma. For low wave amplitudes, the measured linear damping rate agrees quantitatively with linear Landau damping theory. At larger amplitudes, the wave initially damps at the Landau rate, then regrows and oscillates, approaching a steady state, as predicted by O'Neil in 1965 [Phys. Fluids 8, 2255 (1965)]. This BGK equilibrium is observed to decay slowly due to external dissipation.