cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative transport mapping (QTM) of the kidney with an approximate microvascular network

Purpose Proof-of-concept study of mapping renal blood flow vector field according to the inverse solution to a mass transport model of time resolved tracer-labeled MRI data. Theory and methods To determine tissue perfusion according to the underlying physics of spatiotemporal tracer concentration variation, the mass transport equation is integrated over a voxel with an approximate microvascular network for fitting time-resolved tracer imaging data. The inverse solution to the voxelized transport equation provides the blood flow vector field, which is referred to as quantitative transport mapping (QTM). A numerical microvascular network modeling the kidney with computational fluid dynamics reference was used to verify the accuracy of QTM and the current Kety's method that uses a global arterial input function. Multiple post-label delay arterial spin labeling (ASL) of the kidney on seven subjects was used to assess QTM in vivo feasibility. Results Against the ground truth in the numerical model, the error in flow estimated by QTM (18.6%) was smaller than that in Kety's method (45.7%, 2.5-fold reduction). The in vivo kidney perfusion quantification by QTM (cortex: 443 ± 58 mL/100 g/min and medulla: 190 ± 90 mL/100 g/min) was in the range of that by Kety's method (482 ± 51 mL/100 g/min in the cortex and 242 ± 73 mL/100 g/min in the medulla), and QTM provided better flow homogeneity in the cortex region. Conclusions QTM flow velocity mapping is feasible from multi-delay ASL MRI data based on inverting the transport equation. In a numerical simulation, QTM with deconvolution in space and time provided more accurate perfusion quantification than Kety's method with deconvolution in time only.
The Feasibility and Efficacy of a Multi-Institutional Urology Boot Camp for Incoming Urology Residents

ABSTRACT Objectives To determine the feasibility and perceived usefulness of a pre-residency urology boot camp for first and second year urology residents. Methods First and second year urology residents attended a multi-institutional boot camp in July 2019, which consisted of lectures, a hands-on practical, patient simulation session, and networking social event. Attendees completed a pre-course survey where they rated their comfort level in managing interpersonal, post-operative, and urology-specific scenarios on a Likert scale of 0-5. Participants completed follow-up surveys immediately and 6 months after the course regarding confidence in managing the same scenarios and the impact of boot camp on their training. Results 6 urology PGY1s (55%) and 5 PGY2s (45%) from 4 institutions attended the boot camp. On the precourse survey, PGY2s had higher average comfort scores compared to PGY1s for all post-operative scenarios besides hypotension but just 2 urology-specific scenarios, difficult Foley troubleshooting (4 vs 3, P Conclusion A pre-residency boot camp is both feasible and valuable for first- and second-year urology residents for gaining practical medical knowledge and professional networking.
Partisanship, policy options, and risk: Perceived influence of political partisanship on health emergency preparedness

The 21st century has seen the emergence of two novel coronaviruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and COVID-19 (coronavirus infectious disease of 2019) In the wake of the 9/11 attacks in 2001, Republicans and Democrats were united in their concerns regarding SARS and the potential threat of biological weapons That united front was not to be seen during the 2016 debate over supplemental funding for Zika The primary focus of this study is whether the perception of partisanship in the public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) area affects attitudes about policy options regarding PHEP To investigate these issues, a Qualtrics online survey of members of hospital preparedness coalitions was conducted The survey questions covered issues such as the level of governmental priority placed on fighting infectious disease, respondents' level of confidence that the essential functions of government are being managed, the role of partisanship in PHEP decision making, and support for proposals to reform the government's infectious disease response A statistically significant association was found between respondents' reporting that partisanship in PHEP presents a risk of injury or death and support for all the proposed reforms, indicating a desire to decentralize PHEP activities and a need to reinvigorate PHEP bipartisanship © 2021 Policy Studies Organization
Sex-Based Impact of Creatine Supplementation on Depressive Symptoms, Brain Serotonin and SSRI Efficacy in an Animal Model of Treatment-Resistant Depression.

Background: Rates of major depressive disorder (MDD) increase with living at altitude. In our model, rats housed at moderate altitude (in hypobaric hypoxia) exhibit increased depression-like behavior, altered brain serotonin and a lack of antidepressant response to most selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). A forebrain deficit in the bioenergetic marker creatine is noted in people living at altitude or with MDD. Methods: Rats housed at 4500 ft were given dietary creatine monohydrate (CRMH, 4% w/w, 5 weeks) vs. un-supplemented diet, and impact on depression-like behavior, brain bioenergetics, serotonin and SSRI efficacy assessed. Results: CRMH significantly improved brain creatine in a sex-based manner. At altitude, CRMH increased serotonin levels in the female prefrontal cortex and striatum but reduced male striatal and hippocampal serotonin. Dietary CRMH was antidepressant in the forced swim test and anti-anhedonic in the sucrose preference test in only females at altitude, with motor behavior unchanged. CRMH improved fluoxetine efficacy (20 mg/kg) in only males at altitude: CRMH + SSRI significantly improved male striatal creatine and serotonin vs. CRMH alone. Conclusions: Dietary CRMH exhibits sex-based efficacy in resolving altitude-related deficits in brain biomarkers, depression-like behavior and SSRI efficacy, and may be effective clinically for SSRI-resistant depression at altitude. This is the first study to link CRMH treatment to improving brain serotonin.
Three-dimensional magnetic stripes require slow cooling in fast-spread lower ocean crust

Earth’s magnetic field is recorded as oceanic crust cools, generating lineated magnetic anomalies that provide the pattern of polarity reversals for the past 160 million years1. In the lower (gabbroic) crust, polarity interval boundaries are proxies for isotherms that constrain cooling and hence crustal accretion. Seismic observations2–4, geospeedometry5–7 and thermal modelling8–10 of fast-spread crust yield conflicting interpretations of where and how heat is lost near the ridge, a sensitive indicator of processes of melt transport and crystallization within the crust. Here we show that the magnetic structure of magmatically robust fast-spread crust requires that crustal temperatures near the dike–gabbro transition remain at approximately 500 degrees Celsius for 0.1 million years. Near-bottom magnetization solutions over two areas, separated by approximately 8 kilometres, highlight subhorizontal polarity boundaries within 200 metres of the dike–gabbro transition that extend 7–8 kilometres off-axis. Oriented samples with multiple polarity components provide direct confirmation of a corresponding horizontal polarity boundary across an area approximately one kilometre wide, and indicate slow cooling over three polarity intervals. Our results are incompatible with deep hydrothermal cooling within a few kilometres of the axis2,7 and instead suggest a broad, hot axial zone that extends roughly 8 kilometres off-axis in magmatically robust fast-spread ocean crust. A record of Earth’s magnetic field constructed from near-bottom magnetization observations and oriented samples provides three-dimensional imaging of magnetic stripes in fast-spread crust, and suggests slow cooling off-axis, as opposed to deep hydrothermal cooling close to the spreading ridge.
Additively Manufactured Hollow Conductors for High Specific Power Electrical Machines: Aluminum vs Copper

The objective of this paper is to compare two materials available for additive manufacturing (AM) of hollow conductors – aluminum and copper alloys. The specific types of aluminum and copper alloys used in this comparison are AlSi10Mg and CuCr1Zr, which can be processed through direct metal laser sintering (DMLS). Compared to pure aluminum or copper in terms of additive manufacturing, AlSi10Mg and CuCr1Zr parts have better mechanical properties, and manufacturability despite their lower electrical conductivities (ECs). The comparison has been focused on manufacturing limitation (price, built area, tolerances, etc.), electrical properties and thermal performance, highlighting the feasibility of using them for building stator windings with integrated direct cooling. A 250 kW, 5000 r/min high-specific-power permanent-magnet (PM) machine is adopted to highlight the pros and cons of the two approaches. Coil trials and manifolds are manufactured and assembled to show the feasibility of the design. Finally, material characterization is performed to verify the material properties of the additively manufactured coils.
On the Development of Wall-Bounded Turbulent Flows

Three mechanisms leading to non-equilibrium behavior in boundary layers are identified, and examined using mean-flow characteristics such as the Coles’ wake parameter Π. Well-understood criteria are realized for design and analysis of experiments and computations of “fully-developed” zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers in equilibrium.
Solving the combined modular product scheduling and production cell reconfiguration problem: a GA approach with parallel chromosome coding

A genetic algorithm (GA) with parallel chromosome coding scheme is proposed to solve the integrated modular product scheduling and manufacturing cell configuration problem in reconfigurable manufacturing systems (RMSs). In the proposed GA, each chromosome contains two parallel sets of genes. The first set of genes represents job sequences and the second stands for cell configurations. The job sequence dependent work-in-process (WIP) cost and cell configuration dependent manufacturing cost are minimized to enhance the performance of a RMS. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated by comparing the computational results with that achieved using LINGO and by applying it to both small size and large size problems.
Navigating Difference through Multicultural Service Learning.

This chapter explores the design and implementation of service learning as a multicultural initiative. The author shares considerations for multicultural service-learning practice using an example from a course project focused on leadership skill development in public service.
Study of Science Teachers' Attitudes Toward and Beliefs about Collaborative Reflective Practice

(2003). Study of Science Teachers' Attitudes Toward and Beliefs about Collaborative Reflective Practice. Journal of Science Teacher Education: Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 75-96.
Phase I study of topotecan in combination with cyclophosphamide in pediatric patients with malignant solid tumors: a Pediatric Oncology Group Study

PURPOSETo determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicity of topotecan when combined with cyclophosphamide in pediatric patients with recurrent or refractory malignant solid tumors.PATIENTS AND METHODSA total of 33 patients received cyclophosphamide (250 mg/m2/dose) followed by topotecan in escalating doses (0.6 to 0.75 mg/m2/dose), each given as a 30-minute infusion daily for 5 days. A total of 154 fully assessable treatment courses were given to these patients.RESULTSNeutropenia was the dose-limiting toxicity of the therapy at both topotecan dose levels. The addition of filgrastim allowed escalation of the topotecan dose to the 0.75-mg/m2 level with acceptable neutropenia. Other significant toxicities were anemia and thrombocytopenia. Nonhematopoietic toxicity of grades > or = 3 was not observed. Responses were reported in patients with Wilms' tumor (one complete response [CR], one partial response [PR]), neuroblastoma (one CR, one PR), rhabdomyosarcoma (one PR), and osteosarcoma (...
Good News, Bad News, and Consumer Confidence

Objectives We test for asymmetric reactions of consumer confidence and the news media to changes in economic fundamentals. We examine the relationship between media reporting and consumer confidence. Methods Using data from the University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment and a new data set on media coverage constructed by ourselves, we estimate time series regressions that explain changes in consumer confidence and media coverage of economic news. Results We find evidence of asymmetric reactions by consumers to changes in economic fundamentals; however, we find no evidence of a systematic negativity bias. We also find no evidence of bias in the media. The findings of asymmetric reactions are strengthened when we control for expectations. Conclusion Asymmetric reactions in consumer confidence depend on the nature of the economic fundamental that is changing. Reference points are important in determining consumer reaction, but they do not explain asymmetric responses.
Disabling of the erbB Pathway Followed by IFN-γ Modifies Phenotype and Enhances Genotoxic Eradication of Breast Tumors

Reversion of the malignant phenotype of erbB2-transformed cells can be driven by anti-erbB2/neu monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which disrupt the receptor's kinase activity. We examined the biologic effects of IFN-γ alone or after anti-erbB2/neu mAb treatment of erbB2-positive cells. IFN-γ had no effect on its own. Treatment of the tumors with anti-erbB2/neu mAbs followed by IFN-γ led to dramatic inhibition of tumor growth in vitro and in vivo with minimal mAb dosing. Sequential therapy enhanced the effects of chemotherapy. Moreover, IFN-γ with mAb treatment of mice with IFNγR knockdown tumors did not demonstrate marked synergistic eradication effects, indicating an unexpected role of IFN-γ on the tumor itself. Additionally, mAb and IFN-γ treatment also induced immune host responses that enhanced tumor eradication. Biochemical analyses identified loss of Snail expression in tumor cells, reflecting diminution of tumor-stem-cell-like properties as a consequence of altered activity of GSK3-β and KLF molecules.
Child Race and Gender as Moderators of the Association between Teacher-Child Relationships and School Adjustment.

This investigation examines teacher and child perceptions of teacher–child relationships and early school adjustment among children (N = 157) in low-income urban schools. Consistent with prior research, findings indicated that teacher–child relationships were associated with early school adjustment; however, the strength of this association varied depending on perspective (i.e., teacher vs. student) and by student characteristic. Associations between predictor and criterion variables were stronger for within-rater perspectives than across raters. Children's race moderated the association between teacher–child relationships and early school adjustment when examining data from the same source (i.e., teacher) and across raters (i.e., teacher and student). Gender did not moderate these associations. The implications of these findings for future research focused on understanding teacher–child relationships are discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Compassion, conviction, commitment. Creed for quality hospice care, core of hospice burnout.

Burnout in hospice personnel may result in a significantly impaired quality of care. A search of the literature has been cornbined-with the results of clinical observations to identify a number of ...
Response‐ability: therapist's ‘I’ and role

The professional therapist, like an actor, has a role. Inside, in between, and beyond the role is a person without a clearly defined script in the therapeutic interview. This paper looks at the interplay between the therapist's role and personhood. As with the professional actor, the T can be an effective consultant to the role. The ‘I’ or visceral responses of the therapist can increase the therapist's sensitivity to the family members' emotional experience in the familial and therapeutic relationships. This information can help the therapist be more ‘response-able’– a position where the therapist is more flexible and ‘able to respond’ to the emotional experience of the family interview. Thus, by increasing therapeutic options, the interface between the ‘I’ and the role can help the therapist be more professionally ethical and ‘responsible’.
The Efficacy of Assertive Community Treatment to Treat Substance Use

Individuals with co-occurring severe mental illness and substance use disorders represent a particularly vulnerable population whose treatment poses special challenges. The dually diagnosed are at disproportionately high risk for homelessness (Drake, Bartels, Teague, Noordsy, & Clark, 1993) and more frequent hospitalizations (Fletcher, Cunningham, Calsyn, Morse, & Klinkenberg, 2008), in addition to health problems (Green, Drake, Brunette, & Noordsy, 2007) and HIV infection (Rosenberg et al., 2001). Effective treatment that targets both mental health and substance abuse is needed to prevent these adverse outcomes. Integrated treatment programs use interdisciplinary teams to deliver substance use, psychiatric, medical, and other treatments in a coordinated fashion. Integrated treatment is the accepted standard of care for dually diagnosed patients (Green et al., 2007; Ziedonis et al., 2005). Case management, in which patients receive help with the logistics and day-to-day problems of living in the community, has been identified as one of several ways to provide integrated treatment to people with co-occurring disorders (Vanderplasschen, Wolf, Rapp, & Broekaert, 2007). Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) differs from simple case management in that it is provided in conjunction with small case loads, multidisciplinary teams, 24-hour availability of services, an emphasis on maintaining functioning in the community, and the provision of services in the community as opposed to in clinicians’ offices. In the past, mental health and substance abuse services were often separate and patients would have different providers and even attend different facilities for each. The early ACT model created by Stein and Test (1980) did not address substance use specifically. However, it has been updated over the past decade, and most ACT teams now offer some form of individualized substance abuse counseling (Drake, 1998). The integration of ACT with substance use counseling is often referred to as Integrated ACT. Over the years, ACT has been tested extensively among persons with severe mental illness. ACT treatment has been associated with significant reductions in psychiatric hospitalization (Wasmer & Pinkerton, 1999), improved housing conditions (Lehman, Dixon, Kernan, DeForge, & Postrado, 1997), and increased adherence to prescribed medications (Dixon, Weiden, Torres, & Lehman, 1997). However, there are limited data concerning ACT’s impact on substance abuse (Green et al., 2007). In this article, we will describe the efficacy of ACT in treating substance use by first reviewing clinical trials in which ACT’s impact on substance use (alcohol or drugs) was determined. Second, we will consider modifications to ACT that might further reduce substance use.
Intrinsic stress fracture energy measurements for PECVD thin films in the SiOxCyNz:H system

Abstract The fracture energies of a series of tensile plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited low dielectric constant (low- k ) SiO x C y :H, SiO x N y :H and SiN x :H thin films were calculated by determining the critical thickness at which spontaneous cracking occurred. The fracture energies determined for the SiO x C y :H films were in the range of 2–3 J/m 2 , whereas for the SiO x N y :H and SiN x :H films, the calculated fracture energies were higher and ranged from 5 to 14 J/m 2 . For the SiO x N y :H and SiN x :H films, the addition of nitrogen was not found to significantly increase the fracture energy of the SiON films relative to pure SiO 2 . The fracture toughness, however, was improved due to the increase in modulus from the addition of nitrogen. Overall, the fracture energies determined by this method were found to be consistent with those determined by other techniques.
Karyotyping twins in early pregnancy loss: a novel approach of obtaining specimens to avoid maternal contamination.

Objective To test for chromosomal abnormalities in a missed abortion involving a twin gestation. Design Case report. Setting University-based infertility practice. Patient(s) A 37-year-old G3P0030 with recurrent abortions presented with a fourth missed abortion involving a twin gestation in the first trimester. Intervention(s) Under anesthesia, hysteroscopy was performed and specimens obtained for karyotyping from each twin. Main Outcome Measure(s) Karyotype of each twin. Result(s) The karyotype of the conceptus on the left was 46,XY and that on the right was 46,XX. Conclusion(s) Direct hysteroscopic biopsies can successfully differentiate the karyotypes of each twin of a missed abortion.
Radical Theology and the Reorganization of the US-American Religious System

In his article "Radical Theology and the Reorganization of the US-American Religious System," Philippe Codde uses the example of the highly popular movement of death-of-God theology in the 1960s to demonstrate the wide applicability for cultural research of Itamar Even-Zohar's polysystem theory and to illustrate the validity of Even-Zohar's assertion that peripheral elements in any system can yet occasion a dramatic shift in the system's central repertoires. Although Richard Rubenstein's reality model never made it to the center of the US-American religious system, his radical theology did impel the more traditional theologians in the center of the system finally to grapple with the subject of the Holocaust. The paper is an excerpt from Philippe Codde, The Jewish American Novel. West Lafayette: Purdue UP, 2007. Philippe Codde, "Radical Theology and the Reorganization of the US-American Religious System" page 2 of 11 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 9.2 (2007):
Effect of Surface Roughness on Heat Transfer from Horizontal Immersed Tubes in a Fluidized Bed

Experimental results of the total heat transfer coefficient between 12.7 mm dia copper tubes with four different rough surfaces and glass beads of three different sizes as taken in a 0.305 m x 0.305 m square fluidized bed as a function of fluidizing velocity are reported. The comparison of results for the rough and technically smooth tubes suggests that the heat transfer coefficient strongly depends on the ratio of pitch (P/sub f/) to the average particle diameter (d/sub p/), where P/sub f/ is the distance between the two corresponding points on consecutive threads or knurls. By the proper choice of (P/sub f//d/sub p/) ratio, the maximum total heat transfer coefficient for V-thread tubes (h/sub w/fb) can be increased by as much as 40 percent over the value for a smooth tube with the same outside diameter. However, for values of (P/sub f//d/sub p/) less than 0.95, the maximum heat transfer coefficient for the V-thread rough tubes is smaller than the smooth tube having the same outside diameter. The qualitative variation of the heat transfer coefficient for rough tubes with (P/sub f//d) is explained on the basis of the combined effect of contact geometry between the solid particles and the heatmore » transfer surface, and the solids renewal rate at the surface. The present findings are critically compared with somewhat similar investigations from the literature on the heat transfer from horizontal or vertical rough tubes and tubes with small fins.« less
Title VII Funding and Physician Practice in Rural or Low-Income Areas.

Context: Whether Title VII funding enhances physician supply in underserved areas has not clearly been established. Purpose: To determine the relation between Title VII funding in medical school, residency, or both, and the number of family physicians practicing in rural or low-income communities. Methods: A retrospective cross sectional analysis was carried out using the 2000 American Academy of Family Physicians physician database, Title VII funding records, and 1990 U.S. Census data. Included were 9,107 family physicians practicing in 9 nationally representative states in the year 2000. Findings: Physicians exposed to Title VII funding through medical school and residency were more likely to have their current practice in low-income communities (11.9% vs 9.9%, P less than or equal to .02) and rural areas (24.5% vs 21.8%, P less than or equal to .02). Physicians were more likely to practice in rural communities if they attended medical schools (24.2% vs 21.4%; P = .009) and residencies (24.0% vs 20.3%; P = .011) after the school or program had at least 5 years of Title VII funding vs before. Similar increases were not observed for practice in low-income communities. In a multivariate analysis, exposure to funding and attending an institution with more years of funding independently increased the odds of practicing in rural or low-income communities. Conclusions: Title VII funding is associated with an increase in the family physician workforce in rural and low-income communities. This effect is temporally related to initiation of funding and independently associated with effect in a multivariate analysis, suggesting a potential causal relationship. Whereas the absolute 2% increase in family physicians in these underserved communities may seem modest, it can represent a substantial increase in access to health care for community members.
Suppression of synaptic transmission may allow combination of associative feedback and self-organizing feedforward connections in the neocortex

Selective suppression of synaptic transmission during learning is proposed as a physiological mechanism for combining associative memory function at feedback synapses with self-organization of feedforward synapses in neocortical structures. A computational model demonstrates how selective suppression of feedback transmission allows this combination of synaptic function. During learning, sensory stimuli and the desired response are simultaneously presented as input to the network. Feedforward connections form self-organized representations of input, while suppressed feedback connections learn the transpose of the feedforward connectivity. During recall, suppression of transmission is removed, input activates the self-organized representation, and activity settles into a learned solution to the problem. This computational model can be used for learning of problems which are not linearly separable, including the negative patterning task (the XOR problem). Experiments in brain slice preparations of the rat somatosensory cortex tested whether the combination of self-organization and associative memory function could be provided by cholinergic suppression selective for feedback versus feedforward synapses. The cholinergic agonist carbachol selectively suppressed synaptic potentials elicited by stimulation of layer I (which contains a high percentage of feedback synapses), while having no effect on synaptic potentials elicited by stimulation of layer IV (with a high percentage of afferent and feedforward synapses).
Stress management skills, neuroimmune processes and fatigue levels in persons with chronic fatigue syndrome

Objectives Stressors and emotional distress responses impact chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) symptoms, including fatigue. Having better stress management skills might mitigate fatigue by decreasing emotional distress. Because CFS patients comprise a heterogeneous population, we hypothesized that the role of stress management skills in decreasing fatigue may be most pronounced in the subgroup manifesting the greatest neuroimmune dysfunction.
Serial profiles of electrostatic potential in five New Mexico thunderstorms

[1] Profiles of electric potential (V) integrated from balloon-borne electric field (E) measurements are used to investigate the electrical evolution of thunderstorms over the mountains in central New Mexico. With sequential soundings through multiple storms, the time skew associated with obtaining V from a noninstantaneous sounding is also studied. The data show that a basic V profile, with a maximum above a minimum, forms in the early stage of the storm and is maintained throughout its mature stage. Series of soundings from individual storms show only a gradual evolution in the V profile from the early through the mature stage, as the extrema descend in altitude and become shallower and vertically closer together. More evolution occurs in the late stage, when the shape of the V profile reverses to have a minimum above a maximum. The 17 V(z) profiles from the mature stage of five different storms are also very similar in overall shape, suggesting that the basic shape is not significantly affected by differences in lightning flash rate among these storms. The findings indicate that the potential profile during a typical sounding in the mature stage is relatively stable, and the overall shape of the mature stage V profile does not change markedly on the time scale of a particular balloon sounding (10–30 min) through New Mexico mountain storms. Thus time-skew problems in the V profiles are minor during a storm's mature stage.
Autoxidation products of 2,4-decadienal

2,4-Decadienal was autoxidized by purging a purified sample with oxygen. An analysis of the autoxidative degradation products was made with tandem gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Additional information was obtained from the determination of the melting point of the dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives and IR absorbency data. Pentane, furan, ethanal, hexanal, acrolein, butenal, 2-heptenal, 2-octenal, benzaldehyde, glyoxal,trans-2-buten-1,4-dial, acetic acid, hexanoic acid, 2-octenoic acid, 2,4-decadienoic acid and benzene were identified.
Improved modified embedded-atom method potentials for gold and silicon

The modified embedded-atom method interatomic potentials for pure gold and pure silicon are improved in their melting point and latent heat predictions, by modifying the multi-body screening function and the equation of state function. The fitting of the new parameters requires rapid calculations of melting point and latent heat, which are enabled by efficient free-energy methods. The results provide the basis for constructing a cross-potential that will be fitted to the binary gold–silicon phase diagram.
BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR AS A MODEL SYSTEM FOR EXAMINING GENE BY ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS ACROSS DEVELOPMENT

There has been a dramatic rise in geneenvironment studies of human behavior over the past decade that have moved the field beyond simple nature versus nurture de- bates. These studies offer promise in accounting for more variability in behavioral and biological phenotypes than stud- ies that focus on genetic or experiential factors alone. They also provide clues into mechanisms of modifying genetic risk or resilience in neurodevelopmental disorders. Yet, it is rare that these studies consider how these interactions change over the course of development. In this paper, we describe research that focuses on the impact of a polymorphism in a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, known to be involved in learning and development. Specifically we present findings that assess the effects of genotypic and environmental loadings on neuroanatomic and behavioral phenotypes across development. The findings illustrate the use of a genetic mouse model that mimics the human poly- morphism, to constrain the interpretation of gene-environ- ment interactions across development in humans. © 2009
Suppression of cellular immune responses following transfer factor: report of a case.

Abstract A girl with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and recurrent staphylococcal infections had abnormal cellular immunity and defective granulocyte chemotaxis. Administration of dialyzable transfer factor caused conversion of the candida skin test and MIF production by candida-stimulated lymphocytes but had no effect on granulocyte chemotaxis and produced no clinical benefit. Nine months later, while her cellular immunity was still intact, she received four additional doses of dialyzable transfer factor. Following these injections, the delayed skin tests and antigen-induced lymphocyte transformation and lymphokine production temporarily became negative. There were no effects on granulocyte chemotaxis. These observations suggest that transfer factor may have both suppressive and activating immunologic activities.
Retrospective evaluation of the incidence and severity of hemosiderosis in a large captive lemur population

Significant concern has been generated about the susceptibility of captive lemurs to iron storage disease, which has led some researchers to propose husbandry changes regarding dietary iron. In the current study we sought to determine the history, severity, and prevalence of iron storage disease within a large captive lemur population. Iron concentration and hemosiderin accumulation in a target organ, the liver, were assessed in necropsy specimens from 15 different species (n=153) of lemurs over a 12-yr period at the Duke University Primate Center. Banked liver tissue was used to quantify liver iron concentration (LIC) via neutron activation analysis (NAA). Prussian blue staining was used to accentuate the presence of liver iron for evaluation using an established scoring system. Of the 153 reports examined, 49 (32%) of the animals were considered positive for the presence of hemosiderin in the liver, lymph node, duodenum, and kidney, with 36 of the 49 (73%) showing deposition of iron in the liver. Total iron scores (TIS) ranged from 0.3 ± 0.3 in Lemur catta to 33.3±1.7 in Cheirogaleus medius. The mean LIC ranged from 209±1.4 µg/g wet weight in L. catta to 2957±414 µg/g in C. medius. Management practices may have contributed to some of the results observed in this study. Although evidence of excess iron deposition in the liver was present across several species studied, the levels were not as pervasive as previously reported in other captive lemur populations. Hemochromatosis was not observed, and excess iron was not related to the cause of death in any of the animals studied. The current findings suggest that iron overload in lemurs may be more complex than was previously believed. Am. J. Primatol. 68:369–381, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Wavelength Determinations on Ebert Plates

The precise measurement of the wavelengths of emission or absorption bands on spectrographic plates is a vexing and difficult problem. The usual commercial microphotometer when coupled with a strip chart recorder does not give accurate results because the rate of plate travel is not constant. This error may be traced ultimately to the plate drive mechanism which operates by means of a screw or by means of a friction clutch arrangement.
Effect of phenol and acidic side chains on the protonation sites of b2 ions confirmed by IRMPD spectroscopy

Abstract Infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy was used to identify the chemical structures of b2 fragments formed by collision induced dissociation (CID) from the protonated tripeptides YGG, GYG, EGG and GEG. The IR spectra in the hydrogen stretching region (2670–3800 cm−1) were obtained by photodissociating the mass-selected b2 ions with a tunable benchtop optical parametric oscillator (OPO). On weaker bands, the photodissociation yield was boosted by simultaneously irradiating with a fixed wavelength CO2 laser. A comparison of the OH and NH stretching vibrations of these b2 ions to cyclo(GY)H+ and cyclo(GE)H+ reference compounds confirms that “head-to-tail” diketopiperazine structures are not formed. While the comparison of the experimental results to computed linear absorption spectra is more challenging in these systems, the trends in the NH stretching modes still allow a distinction between oxazolone structures protonated at the N-terminal N or the oxazolone ring N. It is shown that proton attachment at the oxazolone ring N is often preferred, but that an aromatic or acidic side chain can stabilize protonation at the N-terminus.
Extended Lifetimes of Gold(III) Chloride Catalysts using Copper(II) Chloride and 2,2,6,6‐Tetramethylpiperidine 1‐Oxyl (TEMPO)

The turnovers of a gold(III) chloride catalyst were increased by 3,300% with the addition of several equivalents of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPO) and catalytic amounts of copper(II) chloride. A three-component coupling reaction between piperidine, phenylacetylene, and benzaldehyde yielded a propargylic amine in quantitative conversions and isolated yields when gold(III) chloride was added in catalytic amounts, but the gold catalyst decomposed and had little to no reactivity when a second set of piperidine, phenylacetylene, and benzaldehyde was added after the reaction was complete. Thus, only one cycle was possible with gold(III) chloride. The addition of TEMPO and copper(II) chloride to reactions with gold(III) chloride maintained the catalytic activity of gold for up to 33 cycles. This result demonstrates a new way to greatly increase the turnovers of a gold(III) chloride catalyst with the addition of inexpensive, commercially available reagents.
Biochemical differentiation of aggregating cell cultures of different fetal rat brain regions

Rotation-mediated aggregating cell cultures of mechanically dissociated fetal rat brains divided into three (telencephalon, mesencephalon-diencephalon and rhombencephalon), or two (telencephalon and mesencephalon-diencephalon plus rhombencephalon) parts were examined for their biochemical differentiation by measuring the specific activities of choline acetyltransferase, acetylcholinesterase, glutamic acid decarboxylase, tyrosine 3-monooxygenase, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, catechol methyltransferase and monoamine oxidase. The results showed that such parts yielded cultures that were relatively enriched for acetylcholine-synthesizing (telencephalon) or catecholamine-synthesizing (mesencephalon-diencephalon and mesencephalon-diencephalon plus rhombencephalon) enzymes. For cultures which were derived from two brain divisions, the sum of the total activity for each enzyme in the parts after 30 days equalled that in whole brain cultures derived from the same group of embryos, suggesting that development of these enzymes was unaffected by division of the brain in two. In experiments to determine the effects of culture conditions on this development, chronic administration of certain drugs was found to selectively influence the specific activity of certain neurotransmitter metabolizing enzymes. Thus, in cultures of whole brain, ascorbic acid (0.2 mM) decreased tyrosine 3-monooxygenase and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase while other enzymes were slightly increased; and in cultures of telencephalon and mesencephalon-diencephalon plus rhombencephalon, N6, O2'-dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate (0.2 mM) decreased the specific activities of choline acetyltransferase acetylcholinesterase, glutamic acid decarboxylase and monoamine oxidase. These results demonstrate the feasibility of growing these cultures for pharmacological studies in developmental neurobiology.
RUSHING TO REVOLUTION? A SECOND LOOK AT GLOBALIZATION AND JUSTICE

In Globalization and Justice, Kai Nielsen brings his distinctive and passionate voice and considerable philosophical abilities to one of the pressing issues of our time: Is justice possible in our increasingly globalized world? Nielsen argues that it is, though the demands of justice are great, the challenges substantial, and the odds very long. Without a clear philosophical understanding of justice and a firm and focused political will, Nielsen maintains, we are likely to have globalization without justice. This is surely correct.
Fast converging approach for blind constant modulus interference suppression

Abstract The convergence behavior of the constant modulus algorithm (CMA) is examined in the proper initialization condition of locking onto the desired signal. An improved CMA converging approach is proposed that has the advantage of suppressing multiple access interference without explicit knowledge of interference parameters for synchronous DS‐CDMA systems. Simulation results demonstrate that the method overcomes the slower convergence of the CMA in the sudden birth of the number of users and outperforms the CMA detector and matched filter.
The effect of a pelvis-concentrated exercise program on male college students’ body alignment and foot base pressure

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a pelvis-concentrated exercise program and walking on the changes in body shape and foot base pressure. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty adults from K University in Busan, Republic of Korea, were randomly divided into the Swiss-ball exercise group and McKenzie exercise group, and they conducted exercise for 40 min 3 times a week for 6 weeks. [Results] Global postural system results and foot base pressure significantly decreased in both groups. A comparison of foot base pressure after the intervention between the two groups revealed that the Swiss-ball exercise group exhibited a greater reduction than the McKenzie exercise group. [Conclusion] The results of this study indicated that the Swiss-ball exercise may improve posture and foot base pressure in male adults.
Automated DNA sequencing and the analysis of the human genome.

The Human Genome Initiative is a complex, multifaceted, international effort to establish a massive data base of map and sequence information for humans and other organisms. The success of this ini...
Recycling of pathogenic microbes through survival in ice

Viable microorganisms (e.g. fungi, bacteria, Archaea and viruses) are distributed by wind over great distances, including globally. Microbes may settle out of the atmosphere or may be incorporated into fog, rain, sleet, hail, or snow. These organisms fall into lakes, streams, oceans, or onto the land or glaciers. When they become incorporated into environmental ice (e.g. glaciers, ice sheets, and snow), those that survive freezing and thawing may persist for years, centuries, millennia, or longer. Once they melt from the ice, they may enter contemporary populations. This mixing of ancient and modern genotypes (i.e. temporal gene flow, or what we term "genome recycling") may lead to a change of allele proportions in the population, which may have effects on mutation rates, fitness, survival, pathogenicity and other characteristics of the organisms. Pathogenic microbes that survive freezing and thawing (e.g. influenza viruses, polioviruses, caliciviruses and tobamoviruses) can remain in these icy reservoirs long enough to avoid resistance mechanisms of the hosts, thereby conveying a selective advantage to these pathogens over those that cannot survive in ice. Ice is an abiotic reservoir of microbes that has been ignored in surveillance activities for human diseases.
Assessing Impact of Weight on Quality of Life

This paper is a preliminary report on the development of a new instrument, the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life (IWQOL) questionnaire, that assesses the effects of weight on various areas of life. We conducted two studies utilizing subjects in treatment for obesity at Duke University Diet and Fitness Center. The first study describes item development, assesses reliability, and compares pre- and post-treatment scores on the IWQOL. In the second study we examined the effects of body mass index (BMI), gender, and age on subjects' perceptions of impact of weight on quality of life. Results indicate adequate psychometric properties with test-retest reliabilities averaging .75 for single items, and .89 for scales. Scale internal consistency averaged .87. Post-treatment scores differed significantly from pre-treatment scores on all scales, indicating that treatment produced positive changes in impact of weight on quality of life. The results of the second study indicate that the impact of weight generally worsened as the patients' size increased. However for women there was no association between BMI and impact of weight on Self-Esteem and Sexual Life. Even at the lowest BMI tertile studied, women reported that weight had a substantial impact in these areas. There were also significant gender differences, with women showing greater impact of weight on Self-Esteem and Sexual Life compared with men. The impact of age was a bit surprising, with some areas showing positive changes and others showing no change.
Absolute differential cross sections for electron capture and loss by kilo-electron-volt hydrogen atoms

This paper reports measurements of absolute differential cross sections for electron capture and loss for fast hydrogen atoms incident on H2, N2, O2, Ar, and He. Cross sections have been determined in the 2.0- to 5.0-keV energy range over the laboratory angular range 0.02-2 deg, with an angular, resolution of 0.02 deg. The high angular resolution allows observation of the structure at small angles in some of the cross sections. Comparison of the present results with those of other authors generally shows very good agreement.
Characteristics of a "High Solids" Nebulizer for Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Studies are presented to characterize a new nebulizer developed for direct atomic absorption analysis of extremely complex clinical and environmental materials. Important parameters are described concerning the design and performance of "high solids" spectrochemical nebulizers based on the Babington principle. A new simplified design is presented and mechanisms of undesirable sample wastage are considered. Data are presented concerning the effect of impaction on conventional and "high solids" aerosol generation.
Dynamics of organizational communities and technological bandwagons: An empirical investigation of community evolution in the microprocessor market

In industries characterized by positive network externalities, the market success of a technology or design arises not simply because of its technological superiority, but from the level of organizational support that the technology attracts. Understanding the rate at which competing technologies gain organizational support is quite important because it yields insight into the factors that start technological bandwagons rolling or, correspondingly, bring them to a stop. I investigate this issue using data on all merchant producers of microprocessors from 1971 to 1989. I find that a community-level framework is useful in understanding this bandwagon phenomenon and I explore strategic and theoretical implications for industries characterized by network externalities and increasing returns.
Self-organizing search lists using probabilistic back-pointers

A class of algorithms is presented for maintaining self-organizing sequential search lists, where the only permutation applied is to move the accessed record of each search some distance towards the front of the list. During searches, these algorithms retain a back-pointer to a previous probed record in order to determine the destination of the accessed record's eventual move. The back-pointer does not traverse the list, but rather it is advanced occasionally to point to the record just probed by the search algorithm. This avoids the cost of a second traversal through a significant portion of the list, which may be a significant savings when each record access may require a new page to be brought into primary memory. Probabilistic functions for deciding when to advance the pointer are presented and analyzed. These functions demonstrate average case complexities of measures such as asymptotic cost and convergence, similar to some of the more common list update algorithms in the literature. In cases where the accessed record is moved forward a distance proportional to the distance to the front of the list, the use of these functions may save up to 50 percent of the time required for permuting the list.
On Kähler-Einstein metrics on certain Kähler manifolds with C1(M)>0

On demontre qu'il existe une metrique de Kahler-Einstein sur une hypersurface de Fermat a m dimensions de degre superieur a m-1