cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sign Language, Disorders of

Deaf and hearing persons who routinely use a signed language to communicate are subject to many of the same communication impairments that befall hearing users of spoken language. However, the expression of sign language impairment is poorly understood. Here we examine the effects of aphasia, apraxia, and Parkinson's disease on sign language use. We observe that the effects of these disorders are largely homologous to those found in spoken languages. We then consider childhood developmental disorders, and focus on autism spectrum disorder and stuttering. We discuss how the well-known communicative impairments associated with severe autism is expressed in signers with autism. We discuss how errors in copying limb movements seen in children with autism, is realized in sign language. Finally we turn to a discussion of stuttering, a common trait in speech development, which we claim is largely absent in sign language. Taken together the examination of language disorders in users of signed and spoken languages provides a powerful means to understand the common neural substrates of human communication while leaving in stark relief those properties of human communication that are specific to its modality of expression.
Beta-Amyloid, Phospho-Tau and Alpha-Synuclein Deposits Similar to Those in the Brain Are Not Identified in the Eyes of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease Patients

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the two most common neurodegenerative disorders, and are characterized by deposition of specific proteins in the brain. If similar abnormal protein deposits are present in the eye, it would facilitate noninvasive diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression. We therefore evaluated expression of proteins associated with AD and PD pathology in postmortem eyes and brains in a case-control study. Eyes from 11 cases of AD, 6 cases of PD or PD with dementia, and 6 age-matched controls were retrieved from the autopsy archives of The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Immunostains for β-amyloid, phospho-tau and α-synuclein and Congo red stains were performed in the same laboratory in both brains and eyes. No amyloid deposits or abnormal tau accumulations were detected in the lens, retina or other structures in the eyes of AD patients. Eyes also lacked definite Lewy bodies or Lewy neurites in either PD or AD cases. Patchy cytoplasmic α-synuclein positivity was seen in the retina of AD, PD and control cases, but did not correlate with the presence or extent of Lewy body pathology in the brain. Abnormal protein aggregations characteristic of AD and PD are thus not commonly present in the retinas or lens of affected patients when assayed using the same protocols as in the brain. This suggests that β-amyloid, phospho-tau and α-synuclein either do not deposit in the eye in a manner analogous to brain, or are present at lower levels or in different forms.
The SF-36 physical and mental health factors were confirmed in cancer and HIV/AIDS patients

Abstract Background and Objective This study assesses the extent to which the RAND-36/SF-36 items measure physical and mental health (PH and MH), as implied by existing summary scoring systems. Methods A total of 1,714 heterogeneous cancer and HIV/AIDS patients were recruited from five institutions. Of these, 56% were women; 81% Caucasians; and about 10% were from each of the major cancer types and HIV/AIDS. Results Analyses of the SF-36 confirmed the two dimensions of health namely physical and mental. However, item fit statistics and residual factor analysis revealed that some items intended to represent the PH dimension fit better with the MH dimension. Conclusion This paper demonstrated the value of Rasch residual factor analysis for understanding and enhancing interpretation of health.
Interprocedural dependence analysis and parallelization

We present a method that combines a deep analysis of program dependences with a broad analysis of the interaction among procedures. The method is more efficient than existing methods: we reduce many tests, performed separately by existing methods, to a single test. The method is more precise than existing methods with respect to references to multi-dimensional arrays and dependence information hidden by procedure calls. The method is more general than existing methods: we accommodate potentially aliased variables and structures of differing shapes that share storage. We accomplish the above through a unified approach that integrates subscript analysis with aliasing and interprocedural information.
Single-image separation measurements of two unresolved fluorophores.

Measuring subdiffraction separations between single fluorescent particles is important for biological, nano-, and medical-technology studies. Major challenges include (i) measuring changing molecular separations with high temporal resolution while (ii) using identical fluorescent labels. Here we report a method that measures subdiffraction separations between two identical fluorophores by using a single image of milliseconds exposure time and a standard single-molecule fluorescent imaging setup. The fluorophores do not need to be bleached and the separations can be measured down to 40 nm with nanometer precision. The method is called single-molecule image deconvolution – SMID, and in this article it measures the standard deviation (SD) of Gaussian-approximated combined fluorescent intensity profiles of the two subdiffraction-separated fluorophores. This study enables measurements of (i) subdiffraction dimolecular separations using a single image, lifting the temporal resolution of seconds to milliseconds, while (ii) using identical fluorophores. The single-image nature of this dimer separation study makes it a single-image molecular analysis (SIMA) study.
Large-scale atomistic density functional theory calculations of phosphorus-doped silicon quantum bits

We present density functional theory calculations of phosphorus dopants in bulk silicon and of several properties relating to their use as spin qubits for quantum computation. Rather than a mixed pseudopotential or a Heitler-London approach, we have used an explicit treatment for the phosphorus donor and examined the detailed electronic structure of the system as a function of the isotropic doping fraction, including lattice relaxation due to the presence of the impurity. Doping electron densities (${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{doped}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{bulk}}$) and spin densities (${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\ensuremath{\uparrow}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\ensuremath{\downarrow}}$) are examined in order to study the properties of the dopant electron as a function of the isotropic doping fraction. Doping potentials (${V}_{\mathrm{doped}}\ensuremath{-}{V}_{\mathrm{bulk}}$) are also calculated for use in calculations of the scattering cross sections of the phosphorus dopants, which are important in the understanding of electrically detected magnetic resonance experiments. We find that the electron density around the dopant leads to nonspherical features in the doping potentials, such as trigonal lobes in the (001) plane at energy scales of $+$12 eV near the nucleus and of \ensuremath{-}700 meV extending away from the dopants. These features are generally neglected in effective mass theory and will affect the coupling between the donor electron and the phosphorus nucleus. Our density functional calculations reveal detail in the densities and potentials of the dopants which are not evident in calculations that do not include explicit treatment of the phosphorus donor atom and relaxation of the crystal lattice. These details can also be used to parametrize tight-binding models for simulation of large-scale devices.
Easy Glide in Molybdenum Crystals

Easy glide in electron-beam, zone-refined molybdenum crystals observed by use of direct shear
The chromatic difference sequence of the Cartesian product of graphs. Part II

Abstract This paper is a continuation of our earlier paper under the same title. We prove that the normalized chromatic difference sequences of the Cartesian powers of a Cayley graph on a finite Abelian group are stable; and that if the chromatic difference sequence of a Cayley graph on a finite Abelian group is achievable, then the chromatic difference sequences of its Cartesian powers are achievable too.
Collisional family structure within the Nysa–Polana complex

Abstract The Nysa–Polana complex is a group of low-inclination asteroid families in the inner main belt, bounded in semimajor axis by the Mars-crossing region and the Jupiter 3:1 mean-motion resonance. This group is important as the most likely source region for the target of the OSIRIS-REx mission, (101955) Bennu; however, family membership in the region is complicated by the presence of several dynamically overlapping families with a range of surface reflectance properties. The large S-type structure in the region appears to be associated with the parent body (135) Hertha, and displays an ( e P , a P ) correlation consistent with a collision event near true anomaly of ∼180° with ejecta velocity v ej ∼ 285 m / s . The ejecta distribution from a collision with these orbital properties is predicted to have a maximum semimajor axis dispersion of δ a ej = 0.005 ± 0.008 AU , which constitutes only a small fraction (7%) of the observed semimajor axis dispersion, the rest of which is attributed to the Yarkovsky effect. The age of the family is inferred from the Yarkovsky dispersion to be 300 - 50 + 60 My. Objects in a smaller cluster that overlaps the large Hertha family in proper orbital element space have reflectance properties more consistent with the X-type (135) Hertha than the surrounding S-type family. These objects form a distinct Yarkovsky “V” signature in ( a P , H ) space, consistent with a more recent collision, which appears to also be dynamically connected to (135) Hertha. Production of two families with different reflectance properties from a single parent could result from the partial differentiation of the parent, shock darkening effects, or other causes. The Nysa–Polana complex also contains a low-albedo family associated with (142) Polana (called “New Polana” by Walsh et al. (Walsh, K.J. et al. [2013]. Icarus 225, 283–297)), and two other low-albedo families associated with (495) Eulalia. The second Eulalia family may be a high- a P , low- e P , low- i P component of the first Eulalia family-forming collision, possibly explained by an anisotropic ejection field.
Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes: Properties and Applications

Carbon nanotubes can be functionalized via amidation and esterification of the nanotube-bound carboxylic acids. The solubility of these functionalized carbon nanotubes makes it possible to characterize and study the properties of carbon nanotubes using solution-based techniques. Representative results concerning the solubility, dispersion, defunctionalization, and optical properties of the functionalized carbon nanotubes are presented. Several examples for the use of functionalized carbon nanotubes in the fabrication of polymeric carbon nanocomposites, the probing of nanotube-molecule interactions, and the conjugation with biological species are highlighted and discussed.
Perceived Communication Barriers to Learning with Computer Simulation

The authors contend that computer simulation in the classroom causes communication barriers. In a study with a broad cross-section of students, 14 barriers are determined and assessed for reliability and magnitude. The greatest concern to students are doubts about their own capabilities or subject matter interest and suspicions about the instructor. Next in importance are problems believed to arise from team interpersonal dynamics. Credibility differences, defensiveness, and emotional reactions are perceived as among the least serious barriers. Some differences are apparent between students, particularly working versus non-working students and various majors. Suggestions for dealing with the more serious communication barriers are offered.
Anabolic/androgenic steroid abuse and thrombosis: Is there a connection?

Anabolic/androgenic steroid abuse is an increasing medical and public health problem. The uncontrolled use of these agents has been associated with numerous toxic side-effects including deleterious cardiovascular changes. The most widely reported to these latter changes include the development of adverse lipid profiles and hypertension. Acute thrombosis has only recently been linked to androgen abuse. Such a causative link has been proposed in reports of acute myocardial infarction and stroke in several athletes using androgens. Unfortunately, there exists no direct evidence that androgens are thrombogenic in humans. However, indirect experimental data suggests that androgens affect platelet aggregation, coagulation proteins and the vascular system in ways that facilitate thrombosis. Androgens also increase several anticoagulant and fibrinolytic proteins. However, they have not been shown to protect from thrombosis in high risk patients. Existing data supports a possible thrombogenic effect of exogenous androgens. Further studies are needed to clarify the hemostatic influence associated with androgen abuse in weightlifters. The abuse of these agents may diminish if acute thrombosis becomes clearly and scientifically associated with their uncontrolled use.
Infliximab efficacy in pediatric ulcerative colitis

Background: The effects of infliximab, a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antibody, have been well established in adult patients with inflammatory and fistulizing Crohn's disease. This study evaluates short- and long-term efficacy of infliximab in children with ulcerative colitis. Methods: All pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis who received infliximab between July 2001 and November 2003 at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center were identified. Short- and long-term outcomes and adverse reactions were evaluated. Results: Twelve pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis received infliximab for treatment of fulminant colitis (3 patients), acute exacerbation of colitis (3), steroid-dependent colitis (5), and steroid-refractory colitis (1). Nine patients had a complete short-term response, and 3 had partial improvement. The mean per patient dose of corticosteroid after the first infliximab infusion decreased from 45 mg/day at the first infusion to 22.2 mg/day at 4 weeks (P = 0.02) and 7.8 mg/day at 8 weeks (P = 0.008). Eight patients were classified as long-term responders with a median follow-up time of 10.4 months. Of the 4 long-term nonresponders, 3 underwent colectomy, and the fourth has ongoing chronic symptoms. Three of 4 long-term nonresponders were steroid-refractory compared with 1 of 8 long-term responders. Patients receiving 6-mercaptopurine had a better response to infliximab. Conclusion: Infliximab should be considered in the treatment of children with symptoms of acute moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.
The fit between the organization structure and its cultural setting: aspects of Islamic cultures

Abstract It is argued that the efficiency of an organization structure is determined by how well it fits into the culture in which it is set. What a fit is, and what makes it good or bad is discussed in terms of those decision rules and rewards in organizations that make them efficient in the context of the beliefs and values in Islamic cultures. The kinds of organization structure decision rules that fit well the decision rules of Islamic cultures are derived. Also identified are the bases of organization rewards that fit well with Islamic beliefs about man's control over transformations and the relation of work to earthly and heavenly rewards.
Monocyte Function in Preterm, Term, and Adult Sheep

The preterm infant has functionally immature monocytes. The effects of common clinical interventions and exposures that might modulate inflammation were evaluated using monocytes isolated from blood of preterm lambs [130 d gestational age (GA)], near-term lambs (141 d GA), and adult sheep. Endotoxin stimulated hydrogen peroxide production by adult monocytes, but monocytes from 130-d and 141-d GA lambs had a reduced and delayed hydrogen peroxide production. Endotoxin did not decrease apoptosis of monocytes from 130-d and 141-d GA lambs but decreased apoptosis of adult monocytes. Dexamethasone increased the phagocytosis of bacteria and apoptotic cells by adult monocytes by 35% but not by monocytes from 130-d and 141-d GA lambs. Synthetic and natural surfactants and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine increased phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by monocytes from preterm, term, and adult sheep. Monocytes from preterm and term lambs differ from adult monocytes in tests of both the initiation and the resolution of inflammation. The reduced phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by monocytes from the preterm may contribute to prolonged inflammation in diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
PATIENT RIGHTS, PROVIDER RIGHTS: BALANCING THE CONFLICT

A federal appeals court decision in an HIV discrimination case raises tough questions about the rights of providers vs. the rights of patients.
Use of spontaneous electromyography during revision and complex total hip arthroplasty

Intraoperative peripheral nerve injury is a serious potential complication of orthopaedic surgery and various intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring techniques have been used to avoid this complication. Although somatosensory evoked potentials have been used effectively in spinal surgery, the efficacy of this technique has not been demonstrated in total hip arthroplasty. Spontaneous electromyography is a promising, alternative nerve monitoring technique. This technique was used in 44 consecutive revision and complex hip arthroplasty procedures. Five cases demonstrated sustained electromyography activity during surgery that subsided after retractors were removed and the limb brought into an anatomic position. In none of these five cases was there any evidence of clinical neurologic dysfunction after surgery. One patient developed causalgia without any motor deficit, but had no sustained electromyography activity during surgery. Spontaneous electromyography provides real-time monitoring of nerve function that allows immediate corrective action to be taken before nerve injury occurs.
The evolution of under-ice melt ponds, or double diffusion at the freezing point

In an experimental and theoretical study, we model a phenomenon observed in the summer Arctic, where a fresh-water layer at a temperature of 0°C floats both over a sea-water layer at its freezing point and under an ice layer. Our results show that the ice growth in this system takes place in three phases. First, because the fresh-water density decreases upon supercooling, the rapid diffusion of heat relative to salt from the fresh to the salt water causes a density inversion and thereby generates a high Rayleigh number convection in the fresh water. In this convection, supercooled water rises to the ice layer, where it nucleates into thin vertical interlocking ice crystals. When these sheets grow down to the interface, supercooling ceases. Second, the presence of the vertical ice sheets both constrains the temperature T and salinity s to lie on the freezing curve and allows them to diffuse in the vertical. In the interfacial region, the combination of these processes generates a lateral crystal growth, which continues until a horizontal ice sheet forms. Third, because of the T and s gradients in the sea water below this ice sheet, the horizontal sheet both migrates upwards and increases in thickness. From one-dimensional theoretical models of the first two phases, we find that the heat-transfer rates are 5–10 times those calculated for classic thermal diffusion.
County Service Delivery: Does Government Structure Matter?

Very little systematic research has been conducted to determine the policy effects of changing the form of county government. The findings of this study suggest that efforts to modernize county government structure may enable county officials to respond successfully to increasing citizen demands for a higher level of current services as well as expand the menu of services. Specifically, there is a strong association between the type of county government (non-charter commission, non-charter commission/appointed administrator or elected executive, or charter commission/appointed administrator or elected executive) and county spending for all types of services. In addition, there is a strong linkage between type of county government and three categories of county services representative of the service roles of the modern American county—that is, traditional, local, and regional services.
Surface Roughness Effects on Heat Transfer in Microscale Single Phase Flow: A Critical Review

There has been increasing interest in research regarding microscale transport phenomena over the past decade. The increased surface area to volume ratio of a microchannel presents enhanced heat transfer characteristics when compared to conventional channels. For this reason, there has been heightened interest in the use of microchannels to meet the high heat dissipation demands of electronics. The fundamental understanding of microscale transport phenomena is an increasingly important area of research, and one area where such understanding is lacking is the effects of surface roughness on transport phenomena. There is very little published literature discussing the effects of surface roughness on the heat transfer characteristics of microchannels, and what literature exists exhibits discrepancies between experimental results. This paper serves as a critical review of literature from 2000 to the present, both experimental and theoretical, involving surface roughness effects on heat transfer in microscale transport phenomena.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
A new linear model‐based approach for inferences about the mean area under the curve

Outcome versus time data are commonly encountered in biomedical and clinical research. A common strategy adopted in analyzing such longitudinal data is to condense the repeated measurements on each individual into a single summary statistic such as the area under the response versus time curve. Standard parametric or non-parametric methods are then applied to perform inferences on the conditional area under the curve distribution. Disadvantages of this approach include the disregard of the within-subject variation in the longitudinal profile. We propose a general linear model approach, accounting for the within-subject variance, for estimation and hypothesis tests about the mean areas. Inferential properties of our approach are compared with those from standard methods of analysis using Monte Carlo simulation studies. The impact of missing data, within-subject heterogeneity and homogeneity of variance, are also evaluated. A real working example is used to illustrate the methodology. It is seen that the proposed approach is associated with a significant power advantage over traditional methods, especially when missing data are encountered.
Fall Prevention in Community Settings: Results from Implementing Stepping On in Three States

Stepping On is a community-based intervention that has been shown in a randomized controlled trial to reduce fall risk. The Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging adapted Stepping On for use in the United States and developed a training infrastructure to enable dissemination. The purpose of this study is to: (1) describe the personal characteristics of Stepping On participants; (2) quantify participants' functional and self-reported health status at enrollment, and (3) measure changes in participants' functional and self-reported health status after completing the program. Both survey and observed functional status [timed up and go (TUG) test] data were collected between September 2011 and December 2013 for 366 participants enrolled in 32 Stepping On programs delivered in Colorado, New York, and Oregon. Paired t-tests and general estimating equations models adjusted for socio-demographic factors were performed to assess changes over the program period. Among the 266 participants with pre-post survey data, the average participant age was 78.7 (SD ± 8.0) years. Most participants were female (83.4%), white (96.9%), and in good health (49.4%). The TUG test scores decreased significantly (p < 0.001) for all 254 participants with pre-post data. The change was most noticeable among high risk participants where TUG time decreased from 17.6 to 14.4 s. The adjusted odds ratio of feeling confident about keeping from falling was more than three times greater after completing Stepping On. Further, the adjusted odds ratios of reporting "no difficulty" for getting out of a straight back chair increased by 89%. Intended for older adults who have fallen in the past or are afraid of falling, Stepping On has the potential to reduce the frequency and burden of older adult falls.
Power Spectral Analysis of Mammographic Parenchymal Patterns for Breast Cancer Risk Assessment

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of power law spectral analysis on mammographic parenchymal patterns in breast cancer risk assessment. Materials and Methods: Mammograms from 172 subjects (30 women with the BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutation and 142 low-risk women) were retrospectively collected and digitized. Because age is a very important risk factor, 60 low-risk women were randomly selected from the 142 low-risk subjects and were age matched to the 30 gene mutation carriers. Regions of interest were manually selected from the central breast region behind the nipple of these digitized mammograms and subsequently used in power spectral analysis. The power law spectrum of the form was evaluated for the mammographic patterns. The performance of exponent β as a decision variable for differentiating between gene mutation carriers and low-risk women was assessed using receiver operating characteristic analysis for both the entire database and the age-matched subset. Results: Power spectral analysis of mammograms demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the 30 BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutation carriers and the 142 low risk women with an average β values of 2.92 (±0.28) and 2.47(±0.20), respectively. An Az value of 0.90 was achieved in distinguishing between gene mutation carriers and low-risk women in the entire database, with an Az value of 0.89 being achieved on the age-matched subset. Conclusions: The BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutation carriers and low-risk women have different mammographic parenchymal patterns. It is expected that women identified as high risk by computerized feature analyses might potentially be more aggressively screened for breast cancer.
Brönsted Acidic Ionic Liquid 1-(1-Propylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium-Chloride Catalyzed Hydrolysisof D-Cellobiose in Aqueous Medium

Bronsted acidic ionic liquid 1-(1-propylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium chloride (PSMIMCl) shows a higher catalytic activity than sulfuric acid in the hydrolysis of D-cellobiose to D-glucose in water at 90–120°C. This catalytic activity enhancement is more significant at higher temperatures, and at 120°C, PSMIMCl produced 64.5% glucose yield, whereas H2SO4 produced only 42.2% after 40 min. reaction, and this is a 52.8% enhancement of catalytic activity due to the alkylimidazolium group attached to the sulfonic acid group. 1H NMR monitoring of the D-cellobiose hydrolysis in PSMIMCl and sulfuric acid mediums failed to reveal intermediates in the hydrolysis reaction, and this is probably due to rapid conversion of the intermediate(s) to a mixture of D-glucose anomers with .
Thrombin Receptor Activation Stimulates Astrocyte Proliferation and Reversal of Stellation by Distinct Pathways: Involvement of Tyrosine Phosphorylation

: Treatment of cultured type-1 astrocytes with thrombin leads to cell proliferation and reversal of stellation. The half-maximal concentrations of thrombin required for each response are 500 and 2 pM, respectively. To test whether they might be mediated by different receptors, we examined the contribution of the G protein-coupled thrombin receptor to these responses in purified rat astrocytes by using the agonist peptide SFLLRNP. In the absence of added growth factors, SFLLRNP fully mimicked the effects of thrombin at half-maximal concentrations of 30 µM for an increase in cell number and DNA synthesis and 100 nM for the reversal of stellation. The role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in these events was investigated using antiphosphotyrosine antibodies. Thrombin and SFLLRNP at concentrations at least 10-fold greater than those required for half-maximal reversal of stellation but below those required for mitogenesis induced an identical pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation on several proteins of 55–65, 106, 110–115, and 120–130 kDa. The response was rapid (<1 min) and transient with a peak response after ∼2 min. The specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A did not affect thrombin- or SFLLRNP-mediated reversal of stellation at concentrations of up to 1 µM. In contrast, 1 µM herbimycin fully inhibited the ability of thrombin and SFLLRNP to increase cell number and stimulate DNA synthesis. Furthermore, this inhibition by 1 µM herbimycin A corresponded to inhibition of receptor-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. Thus, cell proliferation but not reversal of stellation is dependent on thrombin receptor-activated tyrosine kinase activity. These observations support the hypotheses that the thrombin receptor mediates the actions of thrombin in these cells and that activation of the thrombin receptor leads to multiple second messages that stimulate distinct cellular responses.
EFFECTS OF VOLATILE ANAESTHETIC AGENTS ON EEG ACTIVITY RECORDED IN LIMBIC AND SENSORY SYSTEMS

As part of a systematic study of the effects of anaesthetic agents on cortical and subcortical activity of experimental animals, diethyl ether, halothane, methoxy-flurane, and enflurane (Ethrane) were administered to cats with chronically-implanted electrodes sterotaxically placed in selected nuclei of the sensory system (centrum medianum, ventralis posterior lateralus, and mesencephalic reticular formation) and in representative areas of the limbic system (pes hipoccampi and nucleus amygdalae). Skull electrodes were placed over frontal, parietal and/or temporal cortex.
Fracture toughness of Widmanstatten colonies of an α-β titanium alloy

Abstract The fracture toughness behavior of individual α+β Widmanstatten colonies of the Ti-8Al-1Mo-1V alloy in sheet form was investigated. Crack extension occurs predominantly across the α-β lamellae under conditions of plane stress and on planes which are inclined to both the thickness and the width of specimens. Crack tip plasticity in both single-colony and polycrystalline material is dominated by through-thickness deformation involving slip and often twinning. In the single-colony specimens the crack tip plasticity was characterized experimentally by identifying the active slip/twinning planes and by calculating the distribution of shear stresses on the possible deformation systems using shear criteria as defined on both microscopic and macroscopic scales. As suggested by the fracture behavior of the polycrystalline specimens, the fracture plane across individual colonies is near that slip or twinning plane that experiences the largest shear stress when the shear stress is a maximum on a macroscopic scale. The plane stress fracture toughness of individual colonies depends on colony orientation and on the nature of the deformation at the crack tip. High toughness of a colony is associated with multiple slip and twinning and with the absence of low energy fracture along or near interfaces such as twin boundaries or α-β interfaces. Conversely, slip localization into coarse basal slip bands coplanar with the crack results in the extension of the crack along such bands and thus in the lowest fracture toughness observed. Such fracture behavior can be readily understood in terms of an elastic-plastic model for crack advance along slip bands coplanar with a crack.
New approaches to the quantum-mechanical treatment of charge polarization in intermediate-energy electron scattering

Two new approaches to the inclusion of target charge-polarization effects in electron-scattering calculations are presented and tested. The first approach is an energy-dependent polarization potential based on an ${r}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ nonadiabatic correction to the adiabatic polarization potential. The second approach is a matrix effective potential which includes the nonadiabatic dynamics of the polarization effect at all $r$. The two approaches are tested by comparing them to accurate phase shifts and differential cross sections for electron-helium scattering for impact energies 12-400 eV.
Life-threatening status asthmaticus treated with inhaled nitric oxide.

Abstract Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) was administered to 5 consecutive children with life-threatening status asthmaticus who required mechanical ventilation and did not respond to maximal medical management. Four showed a >20% decrease in baseline PaCO 2 (median PaCO 2 = 154 mm Hg, range = 95 to 229 mm Hg) occurring rapidly after the administration of inhaled NO. Three children, in addition to the index case, received continuous inhaled NO therapy, ranging from 5.5 to 21.5 hours. Systemic hypotension was not observed, and the maximum methemoglobin level was 1.9%. Four children survived to hospital discharge. Although the precise mechanism of action is not known, it appears that inhaled NO merits further study and may represent a life-saving therapy in this select patient population. (J Pediatr 2000;137:119-22)
Sedimentary bed evolution as a mean‐reverting random walk: Implications for tracer statistics

Sediment tracers are increasingly employed to estimate bed load transport and landscape evolution rates. Tracer trajectories are dominated by periods of immobility (“waiting times”) as they are buried and reexcavated in the stochastically evolving river bed. Here we model bed evolution as a random walk with mean-reverting tendency (Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process) originating from the restoring effect of erosion and deposition. The Ornstein-Uhlenbeck model contains two parameters, a and b, related to the particle feed rate and range of bed elevation fluctuations, respectively. Observations of bed evolution in flume experiments agree with model predictions; in particular, the model reproduces the asymptotic t−1 tail in the tracer waiting time exceedance probability distribution. This waiting time distribution is similar to that inferred for tracers in natural gravel streams and avalanching rice piles, indicating applicability of the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck mean-reverting model to many disordered transport systems with tracer burial and excavation.
Crashes and crash-surrogate events: Exploratory modeling with naturalistic driving data

There is a need to extend and refine the use of crash surrogates to enhance safety analyses. This is particularly true given opportunities for data collection presented by naturalistic driving studies. This paper connects the original research on traffic conflicts to the contemporary literature concerning crash surrogates using the crash-to-surrogate ratio, π. A conceptual structure is developed in which the ratio can be estimated using either a Logit or Probit formulation which captures context and event variables as predictors in the model specification. This allows the expansion of the crash-to-surrogate concept beyond traffic conflicts to many contexts and crash types. The structure is tested using naturalistic driving data from a study conducted in the United States (Dingus et al., 2005). While the sample size is limited (13 crashes and 38 near crashes), there is reasonable correspondence between predicted and observed crash frequencies using a Logit model formulation. The paper concludes with a summary of empirical results and suggestions for future research.
Modeling for modeling's sake?

Although this is an impressive piece of modeling work, I worry that the two models that Wright & Liley have created do not yet provide us with useful empirical information regarding brain processing.
Exotic σ commutators

Abstract We wish to identify σ commutators, σ αβ = [Q 5 α , [Q 5 β , H ′]] (α,β = 1 to 8) , sufficient in number to couple to the s-wave scattering among all pairs of pseudoscalar mesons. Exotic σ commutators occur, corresponding to the exotic configurations ππ(T = 2), K π(T = 3 2 ) and KK (T = 1) . To obtain these the symmetry breaking Hamiltonian H ′ must be constructed from operators additional to those of the (3, 3 ) + ( 3 , 3) model. We adjoin supplemetary symmetry breaking of (8, 8) form and construct all the σ commutators, listing them according to the pseudoscalar meson pairs to which they are coupled. We consider the SU(2) × SU(2) properties of the operators ∂μAμa and σab (a, b = 1 to 3) which couple to pions and constrain the (8, 8) piece of H ′ so that these operators are dominantly ( 1 2 , 1 2 ) and have only a (1, 1) impurity. Given this constraint on the pion-related operators, σαβ becomes decoupled from KK s-wave scattering. The resulting H ′ then accommodates exotic s-wave phase shifts for ππ(T = 2) and K π(T = 3 2 ) which are more weakly coupled to σαβ than are their non-exotic counterparts, and predicts KK(T = 1) to be the weakest scattering of all to use as a probe of exotic σ commutator phenomena.
Dysphagia Management in Stroke Rehabilitation

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a frequent occurrence following stroke. The length of acute care hospitalization, however, has decreased over time with many individuals weak and frail upon admission for rehabilitation and possibly with continued dysphagia upon discharge. It is imperative that the swallowing therapist have a thorough understanding of evidence-based compensatory and exercise management strategies at all stages of recovery for patients with dysphagia following stroke.
Motor Function of the Pharynx, Esophagus, and Its Sphincters

Deglutition or a swallow begins as a voluntary act in the oral cavity and proceeds autonomously in the pharynx and esophagus. It is one of the most elaborate motor functions in humans, and it requires coordination and bilateral sequenced activation and inhibition of more than 25 pairs of muscles of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. A single swallow elicits a stereotypic response, that is, peristalsis in the pharynx and esophagus along with relaxation of upper and lower esophageal sphincters. Multiple swallows, at closely spaced time intervals, elicit the fascinating phenomenon of deglutitive inhibition during which upper and lower esophageal sphincters remain relaxed during the entire period and only the last swallow elicits peristaltic contraction in the esophagus. Closure of the laryngeal inlet (airway protection) during the oropharyngeal phase of swallow is crucial; its failure can lead to pulmonary aspiration. During swallow, oropharynx is converted from a breathing space into a swallowing space. Swallow reflex is mediated primarily through the brain stem; however, supramedullary and cortical influences play important roles. The upper esophageal sphincter, along with the proximal one-third of the esophagus is made up of skeletal muscles, the middle esophagus a mixture of skeletal and smooth muscle, and the lower esophagus including the lower esophageal sphincter is comprised of smooth muscles. Sphincters maintain tonic closure; neuromuscular mechanisms that cause tonic closure in the upper and lower esophageal sphincters are different. Peristalsis progresses in a seamless fashion from the proximal skeletal to the distal smooth muscle in spite of distinct neural control mechanisms. Peristalsis in the skeletal muscle is related to sequential neuronal discharges from the swallow center (central program generator). On the other hand, in the smooth muscle esophagus, peristalsis is due to the latency gradient of smooth muscle (longer in the distal as compared to proximal esophagus). Both circular and longitudinal muscle layers of the esophagus contract synchronously during peristalsis. There are distinct patterns of contractions in the circular and longitudinal muscles during aboral (swallow) and oral transport (belching and vomiting). Relaxation of the upper esophageal sphincter is caused by the cessation of ongoing neuronal discharge, but the lower esophageal sphincter relaxation is related to the activation of inhibitory motor neuron located in the myenteric plexus. Upon activation, inhibitory motor neurons release nitric oxide to cause relaxation of the myogenic tone of the lower esophageal sphincter. Transient relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, a key step for belching, regurgitation, and vomiting, is mediated through the swallow center. Disordered control of lower esophageal sphincter relaxation leads to difficulty swallowing and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Adult-onset asthma is associated with increased carotid atherosclerosis among women in the atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) study

Some studies have suggested that asthma may be a risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke, particularly in women. Child and adult-onset asthma differ according to inflammatory characteristics and gender distribution. We examined whether childhood-onset and adult-onset asthma were associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) in men and women in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. In unadjusted analyses, the weighted mean far wall IMT thickness for women with history of adult-onset asthma was significantly greater than that of women without history of asthma (0.731 mm versus 0.681 mm; p<0.0001) while IMT for women with history of childhood-onset asthma (IMT=0.684 mm) did not differ substantially from non-asthmatic women. Mean IMT did not differ significantly according to asthma history among men. When the data were fitted to a linear model, the interaction between asthma status and gender was significant (p=0.006). After adjusting for age, race, BMI, smoking status, smoking pack years, diabetes, hypertension, physical activity, education level, and high and low density lipoprotein levels, the mean IMT difference between women with adult-onset asthma and no history of asthma was attenuated but remained significant (0.713 mm versus 0.687 mm, p=0.008). In conclusion, adult-onset asthma but not child-onset asthma is associated with increased carotid atherosclerosis among women but not among men.
Resveratrol worsens survival in SCID mice with prostate cancer xenografts in a cell-line specific manner, through paradoxical effects on oncogenic pathways.

BACKGROUND Resveratrol increases lifespan and decreases the risk of many cancers. We hypothesized resveratrol will slow the growth of human prostate cancer xenografts. METHODS SCID mice were fed Western diet (40% fat, 44% carbohydrate, 16% protein by kcal). One week later, human prostate cancer cells, either LAPC-4 (151 mice) or LNCaP (94 mice) were injected subcutaneously. Three weeks after injection, LAPC-4 mice were randomized to Western diet (control group), Western diet plus resveratrol 50 mg/kg/day, or Western diet plus resveratrol 100 mg/kg/day. The LNCaP mice were randomized to Western diet or Western diet plus resveratrol 50 mg/kg/day. Mice were sacrificed when tumors reached 1,000 mm3. Survival differences among groups were assessed using Cox proportional hazards. Serum insulin and IGF axis were assessed using ELISAs. Gene expression was analyzed using Affymetrix gene arrays. RESULTS Compared to control in the LAPC-4 study, resveratrol was associated with decreased survival (50 mg/kg/day—HR 1.53, P = 0.04; 100 mg/kg/day—HR 1.22, P = 0.32). In the LNCaP study, resveratrol did not change survival (HR 0.77, P = 0.22). In combined analysis of both resveratrol 50 mg/kg/day groups, IGF-1 was decreased (P = 0.05) and IGFBP-2 was increased (P = 0.01). Resveratrol induced different patterns of gene expression changes in each xenograft model, with upregulation of oncogenic pathways E2F3 and beta-catenin in LAPC-4 tumors. CONCLUSION Resveratrol was associated with significantly worse survival with LAPC-4 tumors, but unchanged survival with LNCaP. Based on these preliminary data that resveratrol may be harmful, caution should be advised in using resveratrol for patients until further studies can be conducted. Prostate 73: 754–762, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
What to Disclose? Revisiting Informed Consent

Background The requirement of obtaining informed consent before medical procedures is well established. With patients having greater access to information through information technology and owing to other factors, disclosure that goes beyond the traditional elements of the risks, benefits, and alternatives to an intervention is demanded from physicians.
Bone mineral and body composition measurements: cross-calibration of pencil-beam and fan-beam dual-energy X-ray absorptiometers

Pencil-beam dual-energy X-ray absorptiometers (DXA) are being replaced with instruments that rely solely on fan-beam technology. However, information has been lacking regarding the translation of bone mineral and body composition data between the two devices. We have compared total body scans using pencil-beam (Hologic QDR-2000W) and fan-beam (Hologic QDR-4500A) instruments for 33 children (ages 3-18 years) and 14 adults. Bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), fat, lean, and body fatness (%fat) values were highly correlated (r2 = 0.984-0.998) between the two DXA instruments. The mean differences between the paired measurements were: deltaBMC = 7.5 +/- 73.6 g, deltaBMD = 0.0074 +/- 0.0252 g/cm2, delta lean = 1.05 +/- 1.8 kg, delta fat = -0.77 +/- 1.7 kg, and delta%fat = -0.94% +/- 2.5%. The BMC and BMD values were not statistically different, whereas the differences for the body composition values were significant (p < 0.02-0.005). Regression equations are provided for conversion of bone and body composition data between pencil-beam and fan-beam values for the whole body. To test the performance of these equations for a second group (23 subjects), predicted values were compared with the measured data obtained using the fan-beam instrument. The mean differences were -1.0% to 1.4%, except for body fat mass, where the difference was 6.4%. For cross-sectional studies, the two DXA technologies can be considered equivalent after using the translational equations provided. For longitudinal studies in which small changes in body composition for the individual are to be detected, we recommend that the same DXA instrument be used whenever possible. For example, transition from a pencil-beam to a fan-beam instrument could, in extreme cases, result in differences as large as 19% for the estimate of body fat mass.
A nonlinear parameter dependent boundary value problem in one space dimension

J. A. Goldstein and C. Y. Lin [8] proved that a general one dimensional quasilinear parabolic operator with appropriate nonlinear boundary conditions generates a nonlinear semigroup. This work was later continued and extended by G. R. Goldstein in [7]. Recently this topic was again examined in A. Favini et al. [6] with the consideration of a more general boundary condition. In this paper we show that a similar boundary value problem involving a parameter can result in a solution which is continuous with respect to the parameter. We show that this result applies to nonlinear problems such as those addressed in [9] and [4] concerning nonlinear heat conduction. We first recall results and definitions concerning abstract nonlinear operator equations in Banach space. See, for example, [3], [2], [5] and [10]. Let X be a real Banach space with the norm ‖ · ‖ . A is a (nonlinear) operator A: D(A) ⊆ X → X . Definition 1.1. If A is an operator in X and ω ∈ R , then A + ωI is accretive (or for short, A ∈ A(ω)) if the following equivalent conditions hold 1. (1− αω)‖x− x‖ ≤ ‖x− x+ α(y − ŷ)‖ for y ∈ Ax , ŷ ∈ Ax and α ≥ 0. 2. If y ∈ Ax and ŷ ∈ Ax , then there is an x∗ ∈ J(x−x) such that x∗(y−ŷ) ≥ −ω‖x− x‖ , where J(x) = {x∗ ∈ X∗ : x∗(x) = ‖x‖2 and ‖x∗‖ ≤ 1 } is the duality map J : X → X∗ . 3. If α > 0 and αω < 1, then (I+αA)−1 is single-valued and has (1−αω)−1 as a Lipschitz constant.