cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dental students' perceived and actual knowledge of elder abuse: An online training curriculum.

AIMS Elder abuse, defined as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect, is a growing problem. Dental professionals have the unique opportunity to identify elder abuse. However, elder abuse awareness training, targeting dental students, is insufficient and research is limited. This knowledge gap prompted the research team at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) to develop, implement, and evaluate an online Elder Abuse Awareness Professional Education Training (EAAPET) program, designed to educate dental and other health professionals to recognize, respond to, and report elder abuse. METHODS AND RESULTS Ninety-six dental students, attending the UTHSC College of Dentistry during the fall semester of 2018, were enrolled. Pre- and post-assessments, designed to assess changes in students' perceived and actual knowledge, were conducted. Paired sample t-test results indicate that the EAAPET program significantly improved students' perception of their abilities to identify, respond to, and report elder abuse. Improvement was also demonstrated within students' actual knowledge of how to appropriately interact with suspected elder abuse victims. Qualitative assessment suggested the training was well received by the students. CONCLUSIONS Based on these findings, the authors recommend that dental schools integrate elder abuse awareness education into their curriculums.
Provision of Orientation and Mobility Services in 1990

Current Statistics on the legally blind population in the United States and those projected for 1990 are reviewed. According to the number of legally blind people who received orientation and mobil...
Two-Year Experience of 14 French Pigtail Catheters Placed by Procedure-Focused Hospitalists

Background Recent studies show small-bore chest tubes, commonly 14 French pigtail catheters (PCs), are noninferior to large-bore chest tubes for treating various conditions, and they are associated with better patient comfort. The Medical College of Wisconsin implemented a bedside procedure service (BPS) that has been trained in the placement of PCs as an adjunct to its interventional radiology department. Methods The data regarding consults for PC placement was collected by the BPS over a 2-year period. Primary outcomes reviewed were insertion-related complications (IRCs), unsuccessful attempts (UAs), and adverse outcomes (AOs) because the authors believe these represent the safety and effectiveness of the group. It was determined which services consulted the BPS for PC placement, the indications for consults, and a brief review of declined PC consults. Results Of the 124 accepted consults, the service had 3 IRCs (2.4%), 2 UAs (1.6%), and 3 AOs (2.4%). A total of 18 consults were declined. The BPS was consulted by 12 services with 8 primary reasons for PC placement. Conclusions At high-volume, tertiary care centers, and with the support of cardiothoracic surgical and interventional radiology services, procedure-focused hospitalists can safely serve as an adjunct service for PC placement in selected hospitalized patients.
Relationship between selected percentiles and return periods of extreme events

This paper investigates the relationship between selected percentiles, return periods and the concepts of rare and extreme events in climate and hydrological series, considering both regular and irregular datasets, and discusses the IPCC and WMO indications. IPCC (Annex II: Glossary. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. IPCC, Geneva, 2014) establishes that an extreme event should be rare and exceed selected upper and lower thresholds (10th and 90th percentiles); WMO (Guidelines on the definition and monitoring of extreme weather and climate events—TT-DEWCE WMO 4/14/2016. World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, 2016) suggests thresholds near the ends of the range, but leaves them undetermined. The concept of “rare” relates the extreme events to the time domain and is typically expressed in terms of return period (RP). The key is to find the combination between “rare”, percentile and return period. In particular, two crucial items are analysed: (1) how the return period may vary in response to the choice of the threshold, in particular when it is expressed in terms of percentiles; (2) how the choice of producing a regular or irregular dataset may affect the yearly frequency and the related return periods. Some weather variables (e.g. temperature) are regular and recorded at fixed time intervals, while other phenomena (e.g. tornadoes) occur at times. Precipitation may be considered either regular, all-days being characterized by a precipitation amount from 0 (no precipitation) to the top of the range, or irregular (rainy-days only) considering a precipitation day over a selected instrumental or percentile threshold. These two modes of interpreting precipitation include a different number of events per year (365 or less) and generate different return periods. Every climatic information may be affected by this definition. The 90th percentile applied to observations with daily frequency produces 10-day return period and the percentiles necessary to get 1 year, 10 years or other return periods are calculated. The general case of events with selected or variable frequencies, and selected percentiles, is also considered with an example of a precipitation series, two-century long.
Modular design and self-assembly of multidomain peptides towards cytocompatible supramolecular cell penetrating nanofibers

The discovery of cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) with unique membrane activity has inspired the design and synthesis of a variety of cell penetrating macromolecules, which offer tremendous opportunity and promise for intracellular delivery of a variety of imaging probes and therapeutics. While cell penetrating macromolecules can be designed and synthesized to have equivalent or even superior cell penetrating activity compared with natural CPPs, most of them suffer from moderate to severe cytotoxicity. Inspired by recent advances in peptide self-assembly and cell penetrating macromolecules, in this work, we demonstrated a new class of peptide assemblies with intrinsic cell penetrating activity and excellent cytocompatibility. Supramolecular assemblies were formed through the self-assembly of de novo designed multidomain peptides (MDPs) with a general sequence of Kx(QW)6Ey in which the numbers of lysine and glutamic acid can be varied to control supramolecular assembly, morphology and cell penetrating activity. Both supramolecular spherical particles and nanofibers exhibit much higher cell penetrating activity than monomeric MDPs while supramolecular nanofibers were found to further enhance the cell penetrating activity of MDPs. In vitro cell uptake results suggested that the supramolecular cell penetrating nanofibers undergo macropinocytosis-mediated internalization and they are capable of escaping from the lysosome to reach the cytoplasm, which highlights their great potential as highly effective intracellular therapeutic delivery vehicles and imaging probes.
Increasing the Energy Efficiency of NiTi Unimorph Actuators With a 3D-Printed Passive Layer

This work demonstrates two strategies to reduce the energy required for actuation of thin film NiTi unimorph actuators with 3D printed polymeric passive layers. First, by taking advantage of 3D printing, a low mass and high stiffness passive layer can be used to achieve faster heating/cooling rates. This ultimately reduces the time and energy required to achieve a threshold temperature. The second approach uses higher currents for shorter periods of time to reach a predefined operational temperature with less energy. Using a well-designed 3D printed passive layer combined with pulsed actuation results in a decrease in the required input energy per cycle of approximately 83 % while improving the mechanical work output by about 50 % when compared to actuators with a solid passive layer driven at a lower current. The actuators were tested using currents up to 19 mA, aiming for a 95 °C change in the temperature of the NiTi layer. The proposed strategies have been shown to enhance the energy efficiency of the electrothermally heated NiTi unimorph microactuators by up to 803 %. [2020-0204]
Phenotypic diversity in ALS and the role of poly-conformational protein misfolding

In many types of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS), mutations cause proteins to gain toxic properties that mediate neurodegenerative processes. It is becoming increasingly clear that the proteins involved in ALS, and those responsible for a host of other neurodegenerative diseases, share many characteristics with a growing number of prion diseases. ALS is a heterogenous disease in which the majority of cases are sporadic in their etiology. Studies investigating the inherited forms of the disease are now beginning to provide evidence that some of this heterogeneity may be due to the existence of distinct conformations that ALS-linked proteins can adopt to produce the equivalent of prion strains. In this review, we discuss the in vitro and in vivo evidence that has been generated to better understand the characteristics of these proteins and how their tertiary structure may impact the disease phenotype.
Radio Observations: An Introduction to Fourier Transforms, Convolution, Observing Through Earth’s Atmosphere, Single Dish Telescopes, and Interferometers

This chapter presents an introduction to crucial concepts, terminology, and equations relevant to both single dish radio telescopes and interferometers. First, an introduction is presented regarding Fourier transforms, including the theory regarding these transforms as well as some commonly encountered examples. Angular resolution and challenges in observing radio waves from astronomical sources are discussed next, followed by major concepts associated with a single dish radio telescopes relevant to sensitivity. Finally, the concept of interferometry is introduced, first beginning with an example of a two-element interferometer and following with a description about how the Fourier transform of the measured visibilities may be converted into an image. The chapter concludes with a description of multi-element interferometers, coverage in the (u, v) plane, and considering observations of a source made with multiple configurations of antenna spacings to maximize coverage in this plane and to obtain the most faithful image of the source at all angular scale.
Comparison of percutaneous ethanol injection and radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to compare overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) following percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Material and Methods: This is a single-institution retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent PEI or RFA between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009, for HCC were included in this study. Patient data were collected from the time of their procedure to October 31, 2017. One hundred and twenty-five patients received RFA or PEI during the study period. Twenty-one patients were excluded from the study because they received RFA or PEI for non-HCC cancers, leaving 47 patients in the PEI group and 57 patients in the RFA group. Primary endpoints were OS and DFS following PEI or RFA. Secondary endpoints included rates of secondary intervention and liver transplant. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS Enterprise Guide 7.13 (Cary, NC). Results: One-hundred and four patients are included in this study: 47 in the PEI group and 57 in the RFA group. At 9-year follow-up, the OS rates were not statistically significant between the RFA and PEI groups, 23.9% and 22.8%, respectively (P = 0.25). However, at earlier time points, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups with higher rates of OS in the RFA group (Wilcoxon, P = 0.04). Patients in the RFA group had OS rates of 56.1%, 43.9%, and 35.1% at 3, 5, and 7 years, respectively, compared to the PEI rates of 36.4%, 27.3%, and 25.1% at those same time points (P = 0.0035). The RFA group had 29% decreased risk of death at 5 years compared to PEI based on the Cox proportional hazards model. The DFS was not significantly different between the two groups at all-time points (P = 0.96). The PEI group showed DFS rates of 32.4% at 3 years and 29.5% at 5, 7, and 9 years. The RFA group demonstrated DFS rates of 32.2% at 3 years, 26.3% at 5 years, 23.4% at 7 years, and 19.5% at 9 years. Conclusion: RFA and PEI have comparable 9-year OS and DFS in patients with HCC. However, at earlier time points, RFA has superior OS.
Pendulum-based measurements reveal impact dynamics at the scale of a trap-jaw ant.

ABSTRACT Small organisms can produce powerful, sub-millisecond impacts by moving tiny structures at high accelerations. We developed and validated a pendulum device to measure the impact energetics of microgram-sized trap-jaw ant mandibles accelerated against targets at 105 m s−2. Trap-jaw ants (Odontomachus brunneus; 19 individuals, 212 strikes) were suspended on one pendulum and struck swappable targets that were either attached to an opposing pendulum or fixed in place. Mean post-impact kinetic energy (energy from a strike converted to pendulum motion) was higher with a stiff target (21.0–21.5 µJ) than with a compliant target (6.4–6.5 µJ). Target mobility had relatively little influence on energy transfer. Mean contact duration of strikes against stiff targets was shorter (3.9–4.5 ms) than against compliant targets (6.2–7.9 ms). Shorter contact duration was correlated with higher post-impact kinetic energy. These findings contextualize and provide an energetic explanation for the diverse, natural uses of trap-jaw ant strikes such as impaling prey, launching away threats and performing mandible-powered jumps. The strong effect of target material on energetic exchange suggests material interactions as an avenue for tuning performance of small, high acceleration impacts. Our device offers a foundation for novel research into the ecomechanics and evolution of tiny biological impacts and their application in synthetic systems.
Mission COVID: Low-Cost, Scalable Technology for Hybrid Learning

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many institutions talked about hybrid learning models for both fall 2020 and spring 2021. For the most part, hybrid instruction is a variation of the HyFlex model - synchronous instruction of faculty and students both remote and in class. Institutions are approaching configuration of these rooms through many different methods. The question is “How does one create these rooms, at scale, across an entire campus?” This kind of flexibility and cost-control is necessary when trying to balance having enough rooms available to cover the majority of classes, but not so many that one breaks the bank. CSU Northridge (CSUN) has approached this, with support from a CSU System mini-grant, with an eye towards cost control and the ability to expand across potentially 350 classrooms or more. Come to this presentation to learn more about not on the HyFlex model of teaching but also the thinking that happened behind the scenes to build this proposal.
Permitted and restricted steps of human kinetochore assembly in mitotic cell extracts.

This work represents the first systematic analysis of kinetochore assembly in human mitotic cell extracts. Using recombinant and native proteins, we show that only a few assembly steps are permitte...
Arthroscopic-Assisted Removal of Proximal Humerus Locking Plates With Capsular Release Significantly Improves Range of Motion and Function.

Purpose To investigate the clinical outcomes following the arthroscopic removal of proximal humerus locking plates for symptomatic hardware after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of proximal humerus fractures. Methods Patients who underwent arthroscopic removal of hardware (ROH) with capsular release due to pain and/or immobility after receiving locking plates to treat proximal humerus fractures from 2009 to 2016 were identified. Operative and clinic records were reviewed to obtain demographic information, concomitant procedures during ROH, and pre- and postoperative active shoulder range of motion. Postoperative patient-reported outcomes included the QuickDASH, PROMIS Pain Intensity, Constant, and University of California, Los Angeles shoulder rating scale. Results In total, 88 patients were included. Patients were evaluated at a minimum of 6 weeks postoperatively after ROH. Patients with pre- and postoperative active range of motion values demonstrated significant improvements in mean forward elevation (n = 69; 78.4%; 115.1° to 152.1°, P < .001), abduction (n = 29; 33.0%; 70.9° to 138.7°, P < .001), external rotation (n = 49; 55.7%; 43.7° to 58.6°, P = .012), and internal rotation (n = 45; 51.1%; 25.7° to 61.9°, P < .001). Patients also reported positive patient-reported scores, including the QuickDASH (4.1 ± 7.8), PROMIS Pain Intensity (3.5 ± 0.9), Constant (84.6 ± 10.7), and University of California, Los Angeles shoulder rating scale (33 ± 2.9), which were measured 70.6 ± 26.6 months postoperatively. There were no surgical complications, no arthroscopic cases were converted to open, but 2 reported refractures (2.3%). Conclusions Arthroscopic-assisted removal of proximal humerus locking plates significantly improves motion and function while allowing for management of concomitant shoulder pathology and potentially avoiding open surgery complications. Given that patients undergoing this procedure frequently have multiple comorbidities, arthroscopic-assisted removal with smaller incisions may minimize risks while restoring shoulder mobility. Therefore, arthroscopic ROH for patients experiencing symptomatic hardware after ORIF is recommended. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Medical biophotonics: from lasers to biochips

This lecture discusses the development and application of advanced biomedical photonics, molecular spectroscopy, biosensors and biochips for environmental and biomedical diagnostics.
Design of a pedagogy course for graduate students and beginning faculty

Results are given of a survey of pedagogy courses in SMET disciplines (predominantly engineering) for graduate students and beginning faculty. Summary of syllabi from numerous courses around the US are given. Elements of a new course designed to focus not only on informing participants but also on transforming them is discussed.
Hedge Funds and the SEC: Observations on the How and Why of Securities Regulation

This short Essay addresses three topics on one aspect of the hedge fund industry - the SEC's recent efforts to regulate hedge funds. First, this Essay summarizes the regulation of hedge funds under U.S. federal securities laws insofar as protecting hedge funds is concerned. The discussion highlights four basic choices facing the SEC: (1) do nothing; (2) substantively regulate hedge funds directly; (3) regulate hedge fund managers; and (4) regulate hedge fund investors. Second, this Essay addresses the boundary between market discipline and government intervention in hedge fund regulation. To what extent should hedge fund investors be left to fend for themselves? Third, this Essay highlights two factors impacting regulatory decision making that help explain why the SEC pivoted in 2004 to regulate hedge funds when it had abstained from doing so in the past. These two factors are politics and psychology.
Current status of EUV optics and future advancements in optical components

An essential component for the success of extreme ultraviolet lithography is realization of an all-reflective optical imaging system with a total wavefront error approaching 0.25 nm rms and total flare of 5-10%. The current thinking in the EUVL community is to produce beta-class tools with a numerical aperture of about 0.25 and operate them at an EUV wavelength of about 13 nm. If a system with these parameters and wavefront quality can be achieved, then an EWL camera will print lithographic-quality features with 30 nm dense lines and spaces. While no such system has been assembled to date, all the prototype systems fabricated thus far indicate that the final goal will be reached within the next one- to two-years. While the final success of EUVL depends on many factors beyond the optical system, this paper will concentrate on EUVL imaging optical components and the technologies necessary to support their commercial manufacture and use.
Electrical essays: Motionally induced electromotive force — Part I

Jack, the physicist, has agreed to give a lecture to Alter-Ego and his friends, explaining how electric motors work. Of course, Alter Ego is a most attentive listener. Jack has just described the slide-wire experiment of Figure 1.
Properties of the molybdenum domain of nitrate reductase

Abstract Partial reduction of the complex metalloflavoprotein nitrate reductase resulted in the appearance of a triad of Mo(V) EPR signals with a g av of approximately 1.97. The precise g values and lineshapes were dependent upon the pH of the medium and the presence of anions. Potentiometric titrations reveales that midpoint potentials for both the Mo(VI)-Mo(V) and Mo(V)-Mo(IV) redox couples were pH-dependent. Treatment of the native enzyme with a specific inactivating protease from corn yielded two fragments of M r , 280,000 amd 28,000. The large fragment contained Mo and heme whereas the small fragment contained FAD.
Compact adaptive-grid scheme for high numerical resolution simulations of isotachophoresis

In a previous publication we demonstrated a fast simulation tool for solution of electrophoretic focusing and separation. We here describe the novel mathematical model and numerical algorithms used to create this code. These include the representation of advection-diffusion equations on an adaptive grid, high-resolution discretization of the equations (sixth order compact), a new variational-based approach for controlling the motion of grid points, and new boundary conditions which enable solution in a moving frame of reference. We discuss the advantages of combining a high-resolution discretization with an adaptive grid in accurately resolving sharp interfaces in isotachophoresis, and provide verification against known analytical solutions and comparison with prevailing exiting numerical algorithms.
SOME GEOMETRICAL ASPECTS OF BREAKDOWN OF SODIUM BETA ALUMINA

Abstract The breakdown of single and polycrystalline sodium beta alumina was studied at 300°C and at room temperature. The breakdown in polycrystals involves a propagation of a highly-branched sodium-filled crack network. In single crystals the fracture surface could be studied directly. It was found that the crack network is filled with sodium from the crack faces rather than the crack tip.
Comparison of the antibody response to streptococcal cellular and extracellular antigens in acute pharyngitis

The antibody response to the group A carbohydrate moiety of the streptococcal cell wall is of special interest because of its postulated role in the pathogenesis of rheumatic valvulitis. The immune response to this somatic antigen was measured in 159 children with culture-proved group A streptococcal pharyngitis and was compared with that to two extracellular antigens of the group A streptococcus: streptolysin O and streptococcal DNase B. The data suggest that the maximum anti-A-carbohydrate rise occurs soon after the onset of streptococcal pharyngitis in a fashion similar to the response to some streptococcal extracellular antigens. However, the anti-A-carbohydrate antibody response appeared to be a less sensitive indicator of streptococcal upper respiratory tract infection.
Afterburning of solid rocket exhaust

AN EQUILIBRIUM CALCULATION of the solid fueled rocket exhaust of the proposed NASA Space Shuttle has been carried out and parameterized in terms of oxidant/fuel ratio. Results comparing the equilibration times with experimentally determined dilution times show that Hz and CO are completely burned to H20 and CO2, whereas HC1, although thermodynamical ly usable, is not oxidized to C12. NO formation is less certain, but an upper limit of HCI/NO > 5 can be determined. Studies to date on exhaust product reactions by Susko and Kaufman[1] and Nybakken and Harris [2] either include an assumption of intense afterburning of H2 and CO, or use as an arbitrary parameter zero or complete afterburning [3]. In this paper a simplified model is used to estimate the extent of afterburning. Data are parameterized in terms of oxidant/fuel ratio (derived from the work of Rhein[4]). Effluent f rom the proposed Space Shuttle is fuel (F) and oxidant (O) is air. The lifetime (z) of several key reactions in the afterburning equilibria are compared to the time rate of change of species concentration. When reaction lifetimes (~-) become long compared to cloud dilution times then the equilibria will clearly be frozen. An inventory of exhaust products HCI, H20, CO, CO2, N2 and N204 at -r = 13 sec after ignition (solid particles are excluded) results in 1932 moles of products assumed evenly distributed throughout a cloud volume of 1.25 x 106 m 3 (Hart [5]). This gives an oxidant-to-fuel ratio of 26.9 at ~" = 13 sec, which increases logarithmically through O/F = 1100 at 40 sec. Applying cloud rise and growth factors f rom Nybakken and Harris[2] one finds an O/F ratio of 7000 at ~= 150 sec. This curve enables one to set an approximate dilution time. Equilibrium analysis was carried out by the minimization of Gibbs free energy with mass balance constraints. The thermodynamic state of the gas mixture was specified by a given pressure and enthalpy. Our model makes use of two main assumptions: (a) that stagnation enthalpy is constant throughout the mixing region
Relative Scintillation Intensity of Some Cerenkov Counter Media

Selected transparent media were bombarded with the 40 mev alpha particle beam from the 60-inch cyclotron. The ratio of the photomultiplier output current to the alpha particle beam current was taken as a measure of the relative scintillation intensity. The output current from an RCA type 6342 photomultiplier was read on a 50 microampere (full scale) meter. The alpha particle beam current was monitored by counting alpha particles elastically scattered from a 0.005-inch gold foil. Preliminary results on the light output from some media relative to that for distilled water are tabulated in Table I. Background appeared to give negligible contribution to the scintillation intensity. The background measurement was made by stopping the alpha beam with a 1/16-inch aluminum plate inserted ahead of the substance studied.
NearCoM-TVD — A quasi-3D nearshore circulation and sediment transport model

article i nfo The newly developed nearshore circulation model, SHORECIRC, using a hybrid finite-difference finite-volume TVD-type scheme, is coupled with the wave model SWAN in the Nearshore Community Model (NearCoM) sys- tem. The new modeling system is named NearCoM-TVD and the purpose of this study is to report the capability and limitation of NearCoM-TVD for several coastal applications. For tidal inlet applications, the model is verified with the semi-analytical solution of Keulegan (1967) for an idealized inlet-bay system. To further evaluate the model performance in predicting nearshore circulation under intense wave-current interaction over complex bathymetry, modeled circulation patterns are validated with measured data during RCEX field experiment (MacMahanetal.,2010). Forsedimenttransport applications,two sedimenttransportmodelsare applied topre- dict three sandbar migration events at Duck, NC, during August to October 1994 (Gallagher et al., 1998). The model of Kobayashi et al. (2008) incorporates wave-induced onshore sediment transport rate as a function of the standard deviation of wave-induced horizontal velocities. The modeled beach profile evolution for two off- shore events and one onshore event agrees well with the measured data. The second model investigated here combines two published sediment transport models, namely, the total load model driven by currents under the effect of wave stirring (Soulsby, 1997) and the wave-driven sediment transport model due to wave asymmetry/skewness (van Rijn et al., 2011). The model study with limited field data suggests that the parame- terization of wave stirring is appropriate during energetic wave conditions. However, during low energy wave conditions, the effect of wave stirring needs to be re-calibrated.
The development of the quartz crystal oscillator industry of World War II

This paper offers a history of a critical episode in military and electronics history-the difficult creation of quartz crystal frequency control units for radio communications during World War II. As a means of controlling the frequencies of radio transmitters and receivers, amateur radio hobbyists quickly accepted the quartz crystal oscillator after its initial development in the late 1920s. The military, however, declined to adopt this technology until just prior to World War II. Due to the small market for crystal oscillators, no mass production industry had ever developed to produce this extremely high precision electronic component. As war engulfed the nation, the U.S. Army Signal Corps found itself in the dangerous position of having gambled the integrity of its communications equipment on a component that could not possibly be produced in the quantities immediately needed. This paper looks at the challenges the United States faced in building a crystal manufacturing capability and in supplying this industry with sufficient supplies of raw quartz. A fairly specialized component of communications technology emerged from spare beginnings in prewar amateur radio to become the very foundation of a wide range of electronic devices today.
Use of the light–dark box to compare the anxiety-related behavior of virgin and postpartum female rats

Female rodents undergo complex behavioral changes during the peripartum period, including decreased fear- and anxiety-related behaviors that may be prerequisite for dams’ heightened maternal responsiveness to neonates and aggression toward intruders (Fleming and Leubke, 1981; Hard and Hansen, 1985). Recently parturient females exhibit less anxiety behavior in many paradigms when compared to pregnant or virgin females (for reviews see Lonstein, 2007; Neumann, 2003), but the light-dark box has been surprisingly under-utilized to study postpartum anxiety given its simplicity and frequent use for studying anxiety in male rodents. Only three studies have compared the light-dark box behaviors of postpartum and virgin female rodents and they report contradictory results. Lactating female house mice were shown to be less anxious than virgin females in this apparatus (Maestripieri and D’Amato; 1991), but a more recent study suggests no difference in light-dark box behavior between postpartum and virgin mice (Gammie et al., 2008). One study of female rats also found no significant difference between postpartum and diestrous virgins in light-dark box behavior (Zuluaga et al., 2005). Convergence of results among multiple behavioral paradigms would increase assurance about the most relevant influences on postpartum anxiety, as opposed to often indefinable aspects of anxiety idiosyncratically revealed by a single paradigm (Ramos, 2008). The usefulness of such convergence, in addition to the wealth of evidence demonstrating low postpartum anxiety in most behavioral paradigms (for some exceptions see Lonstein, 2007) and discrepancies among the existing studies using light-dark boxes to compare anxiety across female reproductive states, we here re-examined the effect of motherhood on light-dark box behaviors in female rats. In a second experiment, we tested if recent contact with pups is required for dams’ reduced anxiety-related behavior in a light-dark box, as we have found in an elevated plus-maze (Figueira et al., 2008; Lonstein, 2005; Smith and Lonstein, 2008). In a final experiment, we investigated the influence of GABAA receptor activity on light-dark box behavior in both postpartum and virgin female rats. Similar to anxiety in non-postpartum animals (Millan, 2003), elevated postpartum GABAA neurotransmission is strongly implicated in dams’ low anxiety behavior in other paradigms (Hansen, 1990; Hansen et al., 1985; Miller et al., 2010). To pinpoint which GABAA receptor binding sites may be particularly involved in suppressing dams’ anxiety behavior in the light-dark box, in separate groups of subjects we targeted the GABA site with (+)-Bicuculline [(+)-Bic], the benzodiazepine site with FG-7142, and the picrotoxin site with pentylenetetrazol [PTZ].
Improving the responsiveness of internet services with automatic cache placement

The backends of today's Internet services rely heavily on caching at various layers both to provide faster service to common requests and to reduce load on back-end components. Cache placement is especially challenging given the diversity of workloads handled by widely deployed Internet services. This paper presents TOOL, an analysis technique that automatically optimizes cache placement. Our experiments have shown that near-optimal cache placements vary significantly based on input distribution.
KEL6 and KEL7 genotyping with sequence-specific primers.

BACKGROUND: Although antibodies to Jsa and Jsb are clinically significant, reagent-quality anti-Jsa and anti-Jsb are not readily available. A sequence-specific primer–polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) genotyping assay was tested that makes use of two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at positions 1910 and 2019 of KEL. These SNPs distinguish the gene encoding Jsa, KEL6; and Jsb, KEL7. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Four primer sets that selectively amplified KEL6 and KEL7 from genomic DNA were developed. Two sets detected the SNP at bp 1910 and two sets detected the bp 2019 SNP. KEL6 and KEL7 genotyping and Jsa and Jsb phenotyping results were compared among 64 subjects. RESULTS: The SSP-PCRs were specific for KEL6 and KEL7 when testing DNA for three donors of known Js phenotype: Js(a+b–), Js(a–b+), and Js(a+b+). Genotyping results for the 1910 SNP were identical to the phenotyping results in all 64 subjects, but for the 2019 SNP, the genotyping and phenotyping results were identical for only 49 subjects. In 12 subjects with the Js(a–b+) phenotype, the 2019 SNP was heterozygous KEL6, KEL7; in 2 with Js(a–b+) and in 1 with Js(a+b+), the 2019 SNP was homozygous KEL6. CONCLUSION: KEL 2019-bp SNP does not always correlate with the Js phenotype owing to the presence of an atypical KEL gene with a KEL7 polymorphism at 1910 and a KEL6 polymorphism at 2019. The KEL polymorphism at 2019 is silent and this allele yields a Js(a–b+) phenotype. Only analysis of the 1910-bp SNP can be used to genotype KEL6 and KEL7.
Digoxigenin modification of adenovirus to spatially control gene delivery from chitosan surfaces

To spatially control the delivery of multiple viral vectors from biomaterial scaffolds, digoxigenin (DIG) was conjugated to adenoviral capsid proteins as an antigenic determinant for antibody immobilization. The infectivity, toxicity, specificity and immobilization stability of DIG-modified adenovirus were examined to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of this viral surface modification. Anti-DIG antibody conjugated on chitosan surfaces was able to immobilize DIG-modified adenovirus and could be stably bound on the material for at least two weeks, yet the modification was mild enough that viral infectivity was maintained. To immobilize two different adenoviruses, wax masking was applied to conjugate anti-DIG and anti-adenovirus antibodies in two discrete regions of a chitosan film. The distribution of these two viral vectors expressing different reporter genes was examined after cell culture. Fluorescent protein expression from transduced cells illustrated that the infection distribution could be controlled: one gene was delivered to the entire region of the biomaterial, and another was only delivered to defined regions. Compared to three other cardiac glycosides, ATPase inhibition was undetectable when DIG was conjugated on the adenovirus, suggesting that the method may be safe for in vivo application. This dual viral vector delivery system should be capable of generating distinct interfaces between cell signaling viruses to control tissue regeneration from a range of different biomaterials.
Scleral rigidity and macular degeneration: pathophysiologic or epiphenomenon?

t d HE RECENT EVIDENCE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF COMplement factor H in the genetics of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been a major step orward, but a large gap still remains between the emerging enetic knowledge and the method of ultimate vision oss.1–3 It appears that in predisposed individuals, several enetically based factors interact with environmental facors, for instance, smoking, thus causing loss of vision.4 he puzzle of how this occurs still needs to be solved, ecause the Holy Grail in macular degeneration research is ot the treatment of the resultant neovascularization but he prevention of the late stages of AMD. Several pathophysiologic models have been developed, nd a determination of the validity of each model is mportant because therapies based on these distinct models re being developed. The oxidative damage hypothesis osts that light causes the formation of oxidative products hat harm and accumulate under the retinal pigment pithelium. The inflammatory hypothesis considers that rusen causes an aggressive inflammatory response in redisposed individuals, and the inflammation then causes econdary damage to the retinal pigment epithelium. The iffusion hypothesis posits that there are substances that re deposited in Bruch’s membrane that prevent proper ransport to and from the retinal pigment epithelium and uter retina. This causes secondary degeneration of the hotoreceptors, choriocapillaris, and retinal pigment epihelium.5 The ischemia model postulates that damage by ardiovascular risk factors to the choriocapillaris and verlying retinal pigment epithelium causes release of ngiogenic factors.6 Finally, another ischemia model, cleral rigidity, suggests that with age, scleral rigidity allows or less flow through the choroidal vessels by increasing cleral resistance to venous outflow and, thereby, according o Starling’s law, decreasing perfusion.7 This decreased erfusion then causes an ischemic response by the retinal igment epithelium and photoreceptors. These hypotheses re not mutually exclusive, and elements of each may be mportant.
The non-perturbative β-function and scaling for the SU(3) lattice gauge theory

Abstract We present a detailed analysis of the non-perturbative β -function along the Wilson axis for the SU(3) pure gauge theory using the Monte Carlo renormalization group method. The scaling behavior of the string tension, the deconfinement transition temperature and the 0++ glueball mass obtained from published data are compared. The results show that there is no asymptotic scaling K F ≡ 6/g 2 . We also estimate the renormalized action generated by the 3 block transformation for use in future calculations.
Genesis of diamicton in the Oak Creek Formation of south‐east Wisconsin, USA

The clayey diamicton of the Oak Creek Formation was deposited by the Lake Michigan Lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet during the late Wisconsin deglaciation. Rapid changes in the position of the ice margin may have been facilitated by a subglacial deforming bed. However, although it is difficult to find proof either for or against a subglacial deforming bed, most observations from this investigation are more easily explained by transportation within and deposition from the ice itself. Good exposures of the diamicton units, especially of the lower contacts, along the shore of Lake Michigan, are the basis for the interpretation of basal till genesis. Basal deposition occurred mainly by stagnation and stacking block by block followed by melting out, as opposed to lodgement grain by grain. This interpretation of basal deposition is applicable in other areas and in most topographic environments.
Triple arthrodesis in young children: a salvage procedure after failed releases in severely affected feet.

A total of 19 triple arthrodeses were performed in 13 children aged 10 years or less for severe hindfoot deformities after failure of soft tissue releases. This was considered a salvage procedure and an alternative to talectomy. The average age at surgery was 8.4 years and average follow-up was 4 years. There were 68% excellent and good results, 16% fair, and 16% poor results. The nonunion rate was 7% of joints. Average shortening of the foot was 0.81 in but was not significant when compared with a group of clubfoot control patients. Except for one infection, fair and poor results were due to residual rather than recurrent deformity.Triple arthrodesis may be indicated in the young child for residual hindfoot deformity as an alternative to talectomy. The potential problems of increased nonunion, severe compromise of foot length, and recurrence of deformity were not observed in this series.
Coherent model of L band radar scattering by soya bean fields using analytic methods and Monte Carlo simulations

We use the coherent model for L band radar remote sensing of soya bean fields. Analytic methods and Monte Carlo simulations are used. The novel feature of the analytic model consists of introducing mutual exclusion functions to eliminate the overlap effects of branches in the former branching model. To validate the new results, Monte Caro simulations are also used by generating samples of soya bean fields and calculating the scattered field for each sample. The Monte Carlo simulations are in good agreement with proposed analytic model. Backscattering coefficients are illustrated for a variety of scenarios with varying VWC and soil moisture conditions. The results show that HH are significantly different based on the coherent model versus that of the distorted Born approximation or first order radiative transfer model. The results are compared with experimental data measured at SMAPVEX 12 field campaign in both the absolute values of backscattering as well as the polarization ratio between VV and HH.
Analyses of surface degradation of nano-filled polypropylene films through partial discharges & surface study

Literature indicates that introduction of Nano fillers into PP films will improve its electrical characteristics, such as the PD resistance, breakdown strength and loss factor [1]. Some dielectric properties of Nano filled polymers have shown remarkable improvements such as permittivity and space charge accumulation [2]. This research work investigates the effect of Nano fillers content on the PD resistance and Breakdown strength of the polypropylene films with 0%, 2% and 6% organoclay Nano fillers when the samples are subjected to Surface Discharges. The degree of erosion is quantified through microscopic and surface profilometer measurements that will help to figure out the resistance of the sample to surface discharges.
Nitric oxide regulates spike frequency accommodation in nodose neurons of the rabbit

A Ca(2+)-dependent slow spike after hyperpolarization (AHPslow) is present in about 35% of the neurons in the nodose ganglion. Although the AHPslow profoundly affects spike frequency accommodation of these neurons, the mechanisms that control the generation and the duration of the AHPslow are unclarified. N omega-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10 microM), a specific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), reduced the AHPslow by more than 92%. The L-NAME block of the AHPslow was antagonized by application of 50 microM S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), a nitric oxide donor. The fast, Ca(2+)-dependent, spike after hyperpolarization preceding the AHPslow and the elevation of intracellular Ca2+ accompanying the AHPslow were unaffected by L-NAME treatment. These findings indicate that products of NOS activity might directly or indirectly activate the AHPslow K+ channels at a step beyond Ca2+ influx or intracellular Ca2+ mobilization.
Asthma due to Central American walnut (Juglans olanchand) dust

Summary The purpose of our study was to describe a case of asthma due to Central American walnut (Juglans olanchand) dust and to ascertain whether an IgE antibody mechanism was implicated. The subject was a 48-year-old man who developed asthma following exposure to Central American walnut dust. Although intradermal testing with an aqueous extract of walnut dust produced no response, inhalation challenge with the extract produced significant bronchoconstriction. Another asthmatic person exposed to the wood dust had a positive skin test, but did not respond to the bronchial challenge. A direct radioallergosorbent test (RAST) on both subjects showed no evidence of serum IgE antibodies to Central American walnut dust. Consequently, the mechanism responsible for the sensitivity to the walnut dust remains unknown.
Comment on ``Spin and excitation energy dependence of fission survival for the 19 F+ 175 Lu system''

In a recent paper Hui et al. fit their evaporation residue data with CASCADE calculations equally well with and without nuclear viscosity by scaling the fission barrier with different scaling factors. I find that the need for scaling the fission barrier is an artifact of the level density calculation incorporated into the original CASCADE code. Contrary to the findings of Hui et al. the evaporation residue cross section is a very sensitive measure of the nuclear viscosity, if the calculations are done without scaling the fission barrier using a more recent level density method.
Visions of the City of London: mechanical eye and poetic transcendence in Wordsworth's Prelude, Book 7

Scholarship on Wordsworth's Prelude has often remarked, paraphrasing the poet, that the sensational overkill of book 7 represents a critical moment in the autobiographical narrative. Instead of a failure of vision, however, I would speak of the verses depicting the city of London as an extraordinary mimetic rendition of urban fragmentation that pushes the boundaries of what constituted a spectacle worthy of artistic representation. In doing so, this section parallels the innovative styles of painting that were beginning to emerge in Great Britain as well as the contemporary attempts at studying, capturing and reproducing movement through fragmentation in scientific research on sight and in popular forms of pre‐cinematic entertainment. In this sense, Wordsworth's poetics of juxtaposed, fragmented “takes” seen by the “eye‐I” of the poet inaugurates a new aesthetics of urban modernism that may proleptically give the impression of reality made possible by the technology of film. Wordsworth's representation, t...
Thin film temperature sensor for real-time measurement of electrolyte temperature in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell

Abstract This paper describes a technique for the measurement of the electrolyte temperature in an operating polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). A patterned thin film gold thermistor embedded in a 16 μm thick parylene film was laminated in the Nafion® electrolyte layer for in situ temperature measurements. Experimental results show that the sensor has a linear response of (3.03 ± 0.09) × 10−3 °C−1 in the 20–100 °C temperature range and is robust enough to withstand the electrolyte expansion forces that occur during water uptake. An electrolyte temperature increase of 1.5 °C was observed in real-time when operating the fuel cell at 0.2 V and a current density of 0.19 A/cm2. The temperature sensitivity of the present sensor is in an order of magnitude better than the conventional micro-thermocouples that have been reported. Additionally, use of micro-fabrication techniques allows for an accurate placement of the temperature sensor within the fuel cell. Simulation results show that the sensor has no significant effect on the local temperature distribution.