cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Utility of a smartphone-enabled otoscope in the instruction of otoscopy and middle ear anatomy.

To present the utility of a smartphone-enabled otoscope as a teaching adjunct in pre-clinical otoscopy training. 60 pre-clinical medical students were randomized into either a control group using a conventional otoscope or an experimental group using a smartphone-enabled otoscope. Participants in each group were trained to use their assigned device and were given time to practice on a colleague’s ear. Participants then completed a questionnaire indicating their ability to visualize anatomical landmarks of the middle ear as well as their confidence in performing a middle ear examination using their device. Compared to participants using the conventional otoscope, significantly more students using the smartphone-enabled otoscope identified the umbo (93% versus 63%, P = 0.005), the short process of the malleus (67% versus 33%, P = 0.008), the cone of light (100% versus 70%, P = 0.001), and the pars flaccida (60% versus 33%, P = 0.03). Furthermore, participants who used the smartphone-enabled otoscope reported significantly increased confidence in performing otoscopy compared to those who used a conventional otoscope (4.1 ± 0.7 versus 2.8 ± 0.9, P < 0.001). Finally, participants rated the smartphone-enabled otoscope as an excellent teaching aid for otoscopy training. The smartphone-enabled otoscope serves as a valuable teaching tool for pre-clinical otoscopy education. After using the device, pre-clinical students were more confident in performing a middle ear examination and in identifying important anatomical landmarks of the middle ear.
Dementia Risk Elevates Brain Activity During Memory Retrieval: A Functional MRI Analysis of Middle Aged and Older Adults

Longitudinal research suggests that genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors enhance one's risk for developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). However, it is not known how an accumulation of such factors impact brain functioning. One barrier to this research is that increased risk for ADRD affects the cerebrovascular system and, therefore, alters the link between neural activity and the fMRI BOLD signal. To better interpret fMRI findings, several steps were taken to adjust fMRI activity thereby reducing such cerebrovascular effects. We hypothesized that as the number of ADRD risk factors increase, brain regions within the medial temporal lobes and the default mode network would exhibit altered brain activity during an episodic memory retrieval task. Middle-aged and older adults (aged 50-74) free of dementia were recruited with varying levels of risk and underwent a neuropsychological battery and fMRI. In the memory task, participants viewed a pair of pictures. In an alternative-forced-choice test, participants viewed a picture cue and had to determine which of four pictures was paired with the cue. Increased dementia risk was positively associated with brain activity in regions of interest within the default mode network, the hippocampus, and the entorhinal cortex during memory retrieval. Whole-brain analyses revealed additional positive associations in prefrontal and occipito-temporal cortices. Risk factors most contributing to these elevated levels of brain activity included hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cholesterol. We also ruled out confounds due to in-scanner performance and premorbid ability. Cumulative risk might represent early signs of burnout in brain regions underlying episodic memory.
The Influences of Locus of Control, Debt, and Framing on Retirement Contributions

This study evaluates locus of control, debt, and framing effects as potential drivers of retirement savings decisions. We administer an online survey analyzing how much an individual will save for retirement upon graduating college. The study finds that individuals with an external locus of control contribute significantly less to their retirement savings than individuals with an internal locus of control. Interestingly, this study finds no significant relationship between debt overhang and initial contributions. To measure framing effects, participants were given the choice to change their initial contribution rate after seeing the estimated increased future amount of their account balance based on an annual contribution increase for each 1% of salary (percentage frame group) or $500 (dollar frame group). The survey results show that individuals that were given the percentage frame increase their initial contribution to their retirement account significantly more than the group receiving the dollar frame.
Synthesis of Nanostructured Garnets

The garnet-type Li+ ion conductor Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) is a promising solid electrolyte for all-solid-state lithium batteries. Numerous synthesis methods have been developed as alternatives to the conventional solid-state reaction first used to prepare LLZO. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the research progress that has been made on synthetic methods to obtain nanostructured LLZO, with a focus on the synthesis of materials prepared using sol–gel/combustion, electrospinning, cellulose templating, spray pyrolysis, co-precipitation, and molten salt methods, as well as to highlight some unique properties of fine-grained and nanostructured LLZO.
Polyhedron of Powers, Displacements, Socio-Spatial Negotiations and Residents’ Everyday Experiences in a “Pacified” Favela

This article discusses longitudinal ethnographic research conducted in Rio de Janeiro from 2011 to 2018. I draw on Foucault’s concept of dispositif and employ his term polyhedron to analyze three different facets of the longitudinal data with the aim of contributing to the debate on everyday urban politics and peripheral urbanization: (1) genealogies of the so-called favela problem; (2) residents' everyday experiences and practices related to space and tactics; and (3) the socio-spatial aspects of citizenship. These sides are all highly relevant in understanding the everyday experiences of residents living in a “pacified” favela over time. Although residents tended to emphasize the positive aspects of implementing UPPs (Police Pacification Units) and the “pacification-programme” during its first years, the analysis reveals that inhabitants were living through multi-faceted and changing relationships encompassing power, negotiation, displacement, everyday uncertainty, and resistance in the context of increased urban militarization. I argue that the analytic form of the polyhedron in combination with longitudinal ethnography allows for reflection on critical intersections and the constant changes of spatial strategies, everyday practices and tactics, and how actual people living in the city contribute to the shaping and re-shaping of new forms within the polyhedron of powers, interfacing with urban regeneration and (in)security politics.
At the Heart of a Teacher : Schooling in a Pandemic

In a time of great crisis, teaching and lerning has become personal. This essay examines what every and any teacher's heart has to be.
Abstract 276: Gender Disparity in the Treatment of Aortic Stenosis-an Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample 2009-2015

Background: It is well known that there is a significant gender gap in both the referral and outcomes of patients eligible for cardiac surgery. The impact of transcatheter aortic valve replacement ...
From Dropsy to Testilying: Prosecutorial Apathy, Ennui, or Complicity?

Most criminal law practitioners and scholars agree that police perjury is persistent and pervasive, yet there has been scant attention to the prosecutor’s role in permitting, encouraging, let alone addressing, this ongoing reality. This essay attempts to identify the causes for prosecutorial apathy, ennui or complicity and to suggest potential solutions. More specifically, the essay argues that prosecutors must eschew the extant hand-in-glove relationships most prosecutor offices have with their local police departments and take a deliberately confrontational stance toward police officer witnesses. In the climate of the current “progressive prosecutor” movement, greater consideration over charging decisions should be given to community groups and others outside of and independent from the prosecutor’s office.
High Phosphate Induces and Klotho Attenuates Kidney Epithelial Senescence and Fibrosis

Cellular senescence is an irreversible cell growth arrest and is associated with aging and age-related diseases. High plasma phosphate (Pi) and deficiency of Klotho contribute to aging and kidney fibrosis, a pathological feature in the aging kidney and chronic kidney disease. This study examined the interactive role of Pi and Klotho in kidney senescence and fibrosis. Homozygous Klotho hypomorphic mice had high plasma Pi, undetectable Klotho in plasma and kidney, high senescence with massive collagen accumulation in kidney tubules, and fibrin deposits in peritubular capillaries. To examine the Pi effect on kidney senescence, a high (2%) Pi diet was given to wild-type mice. One week of high dietary Pi mildly increased plasma Pi, and upregulated kidney p16/p21 expression, but did not significantly decrease Klotho. Two weeks of high Pi intake led to increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, and decrease in kidney Klotho, but still without detectable increase in kidney fibrosis. More prolonged dietary Pi for 12 weeks exacerbated kidney senescence and fibrosis; more so in heterozygous Klotho hypomorphic mice compared to wild-type mice, and in mice with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on high Pi diet compared to CKD mice fed a normal Pi diet. In cultured kidney tubular cells, high Pi directly induced cellular senescence, injury and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and enhanced H2O2-induced cellular senescence and injury, which were abrogated by Klotho. Fucoidan, a bioactive molecule with multiple biologic functions including senescence inhibition, blunted Pi-induced cellular senescence, oxidation, injury, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and senescence-associated secretary phenotype. In conclusion, high Pi activates senescence through distinct but interconnected mechanisms: upregulating p16/p21 (early), and elevating plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and downregulating Klotho (late). Klotho may be a promising agent to attenuate senescence and ameliorate age-associated, and Pi-induced kidney degeneration such as kidney fibrosis.
Endovascular Retreatment of Previously Ruptured Coiled Cerebral Aneurysm Remnants Significantly Reduces Rebleed Rate.

Objective Treatment of ruptured cerebral aneurysms by endovascular coiling is associated with a better neurologic outcome when compared with neurosurgical clipping but has a higher risk for target aneurysm rebleeding after treatment. We hypothesize that aggressive retreatment of coiled aneurysms will lead to fewer recurrent hemorrhages as compared with historical values of 2.3%–3.0%. Methods All first-time Guglielmi detachable coil–embolized cerebral aneurysms were retrospectively reviewed at a single institution from 2004 to 2015. Aneurysm retreatment after first-time embolization was recorded as well as time to retreatment. Retreatment at our institution is routinely performed for incomplete coiling with etiologies including incomplete initial coiling, coil compaction, and aneurysmal dilatation. Aneurysm rerupture was treated with additional coiling. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to evaluate embolization durability. Results There were 214 aneurysms that met inclusion criteria. Mean (standard deviation) follow-up was 2.74 (2.24) years. Aneurysms that were patent or recanalized were retreated. Mean (standard deviation) time to retreatment was 9 (9) months. Overall, 46 (21.5%) aneurysms required retreatment. Retreatment was performed for coil compaction/remnant growth, recanalization, persistent remnant, and rebleed. Two (0.9%) patients had recurrent aneurysm hemorrhage and both were treated with additional coil embolization. There were no new long-term neurologic deficits caused by aneurysm retreatment. Conclusions Aggressive retreatment of previously ruptured, coiled cerebral aneurysms for persistent aneurysm patency reduces the recurrent hemorrhage risk to that historically seen in neurosurgically clipped aneurysms with minimal additional morbidity. This study validates a large body of literature demonstrating the significance of post-treatment aneurysm remnants and their association with recurrent hemorrhage.
Limit equilibrium analysis of drilling mud loss into an inclined natural fracture

Abstract A theoretical model is presented for the worst case scenario of drilling mud loss when an inclined wellbore intersects an arbitrarily oriented natural fracture. The fracture is assumed to have a constant aperture and be bounded by rigid walls. The ultimate invasion profile when cessation of mud flow eventually occurs is solved based on limit equilibrium conditions. Effects of the fluid yield stress and the wellbore and fracture orientations upon the mud loss behaviors are analyzed. In the special case when a horizontal natural fracture is intersected by a vertical wellbore, our analysis shows that the commonly used late time limit solution for radial flow of a yield stress fluid needs to be revised. Excellent agreement is achieved when our theoretical solution is compared with experimental data in the literature in determining the fluid yield stress based on the ultimate invasion radius. The theoretical model can also be applied to provide the lower bound estimates of the fracture aperture and permeability based on the mud loss data from the field.
Design Thinking to Create a Remote Patient Monitoring Platform for Older Adults' Homes

How might clinicians collect the vitals needed for effective scheduled video visits for older adults? This challenge was presented by AARP to graduate students in a Digital Health course at Tufts University School of Medicine. The design thinking process was used to create a product that would meet this need, keeping the needs and constraints of older adults, especially those with chronic conditions or other barriers to health, central to the solution. The initial steps involved understanding and empathizing with the target audience through interviews and by developing personas and scenarios that identified barriers and opportunities. The later steps were to ideate potential solutions, design a prototype, and define product success. The design thinking process led to the design of Home Health Hub, a remote patient monitoring (RPM) platform designed to meet the unique needs of older adults. Additionally, Home Health Hub can conceivably benefit all users of telehealth, regardless of health status-an important need during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in general due to increased use of virtual visits. Home Health Hub is one example of what can be achieved with the dedicated use of design thinking. The design thinking process can benefit public health practice as a whole by encouraging practitioners to delve into a problem to find the root causes and empathize with the needs and constraints of stakeholders to design innovative, human-centered solutions.
Interruption of endolysosomal trafficking leads to stroke brain injury.

Abstract Background and purpose Dysfunction of the endolysosomal system can cause cell death. A key molecule for controlling the endolysosomal trafficking activities is the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) ATPase. This study investigates the cascades of NSF ATPase inactivation events, endolysosomal damage, cathepsin release, and neuronal death after focal brain ischemia. Methods A total of 62 rats were used in this study. They were subjected to sham surgery or 2 h of focal brain ischemia followed by 1, 4, and 24 h of reperfusion. Confocal microscopy and Western blot analysis were utilized to analyze the levels, redistribution, and co-localization of key proteins of the Golgi apparatus, late endosomes, endolysosomes, and lysosomes. Light and electron microscopy were used to examine the histopathology, protein aggregation, and endolysosomal ultrastructures. Results Two hours of focal brain ischemia in rats led to acute neuronal death at the striatal core in 4 h and a slower type of neuronal death in the neocortical area during 1–24 h reperfusion periods. Confocal microscopy showed that NSF immunoreactivity was irreversibly and selectively depleted from most, if not all, post-ischemic penumbral neurons. Western blot analysis further demonstrated that NSF depletion from brain sections was due to its deposition into dense inactive aggregates that could not be recognized by the NSF antibody. Commitantly, the Golgi apparatus was completely fragmented and cathepsin B (CTSB)-containing endolysosomal structures, as well as p62/SQSTM1- and EEA1-immunopositive structures were massively accumulated in the post-ischemic penumbral neurons. Ultimately, CTSB was released into the cytoplasm and extracellular space, causing stroke brain injury. Conclusion Stroke Inactivates NSF, resulting in disruption of the reforming of functional endolysosomal compartments, blockade of the endocytic and autophagic pathways, a large scale of CTSB release into the cytoplasm and extracellular space, and stroke brain injury in the rat model.
Surveillance of Meeting the Youth Physical Activity Guideline: Impact of Including Vigorous-Intensity and Bone-Strengthening Activities.

PURPOSE The US youth physical activity guideline recommends participation in four types of physical activity: moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic (MVPA), vigorous-intensity aerobic (VPA), muscle-strengthening, and bone-strengthening physical activity. Current national prevalence estimates of meeting the youth physical activity guideline are typically based on measures of the MVPA and muscle-strengthening components. This study sought to examine differences in prevalence estimates using this current approach and then including measures of all four components. METHODS Data from US high school student respondents to the 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey were analyzed (n = 10,596). Prevalence of students meeting the youth physical activity guideline were assessed and compared using 1) measures of MVPA and muscle-strengthening components only and 2) also including measures of the VPA and bone-strengthening components. RESULTS Overall, 15.2% students met the MVPA, 50.7% met the muscle-strengthening, 70.6% met the VPA, and 80.7% met the bone-strengthening components. In total, 12.1% (95% confidence interval: 10.9, 13.3) of students met both the MVPA and muscle-strengthening components, and 11.2% (95% confidence interval: 10.0, 12.4) met all four components. CONCLUSIONS Incorporating additional measures of VPA and bone-strengthening activity into current surveillance systems may not meaningfully impact national estimates of meeting the youth physical activity guideline.
Stem Cell–Soluble Signals Enhance Multilumen Formation in SMG Cell Clusters

Saliva plays a major role in maintaining oral health. Patients with salivary hypofunction exhibit difficulty in chewing and swallowing foods, tooth decay, periodontal disease, and microbial infections. At this time, treatments for hyposalivation are limited to medications (e.g., muscarinic receptor agonists: pilocarpine and cevimeline) that induce saliva secretion from residual acinar cells as well as artificial salivary substitutes. Therefore, advancement of restorative treatments is necessary to improve the quality of life in these patients. Our previous studies indicated that salivary cells are able to form polarized 3-dimensional structures when grown on growth factor-reduced Matrigel. This basement membrane is rich in laminin-III (L1), which plays a critical role in salivary gland formation. Mitotically inactive feeder layers have been used previously to support the growth of many different cell types, as they provide factors necessary for cell growth and organization. The goal of this study was to improve salivary gland cell differentiation in primary cultures by using a combination of L1 and a feeder layer of human hair follicle-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hHF-MSCs). Our results indicated that the direct contact of mouse submandibular (mSMG) cell clusters and hHF-MSCs was not required for mSMG cells to form acinar and ductal structures. However, the hHF-MSC conditioned medium enhanced cell organization and multilumen formation, indicating that soluble signals secreted by hHF-MSCs play a role in promoting these features.
Managing Co-occurring Conflicts in Teams

This study extends prior research on conflict in teams by showing that a team’s chances of appropriately managing one type of conflict depends on what other types of conflicts are co-occurring. We interviewed 44 managers from different industries who had recently participated in a negotiating team, asking about within-team conflicts and how those conflicts were managed. The data showed that task conflict increased the likelihood that teams managed co-occurring procedural conflicts appropriately, but that procedural conflicts decreased the likelihood that teams managed co-occurring task conflicts appropriately. These results explain why some teams fail to realize the theorized benefits of task conflict and why procedural conflict does not always have a deleterious impact on team performance: The co-occurrence of these different types of conflict can alter what strategy a team uses to manage conflicts.
Importancia de las variables conductuales y organizacionales en la fusión de empresas como estrategias de desarrollo corporativo

Aun cuando una de las estrategias de desarrollo corporativo mas populares de las ultimas dos decadas ha sido la adquisicion y fusion de empresas, los resultados logrados no siempre han sido alentadores, ya que muchas veces los dividendos obtenidos son menores a los esperados. Este problema, que pareciera ser meramente financiero y operacional, involucra una serie de dimensiones organizacionales y conductuales propios de la psicologia organizacional que pueden favorecer o limitar la efectividad de la adquisicion y fusion de empresas como estrategia de desarrollo corporativo. Este articulo es una invitacion a los psicologos organizacionales para involucrarse en el campo de la estrategia de la administracion de empresas, de modo de construir marcos conceptuales interdisciplinarios que permitan comprender los mecanismos que afectan la implementacion de estrategias de desarrollo corporativo. En este articulo, luego de contextualizar las dimensiones involucradas en las adquisiciones y fusiones de empresas, se identifican variables propias del area de la psicologia organizacional que afectan los procesos de fusion de empresas, y se revisa aquellos mecanismos mediante los cuales influyen en el exito de la adquisicion y fusion de empresas como estrategia de desarrollo corporativo.
ENERGIZATION OF IONS BY BIMODAL INTERMITTENT FLUCTUATIONS

Abstract Sporadic and localized interactions of coherent structures in magnetized plasmas can be the source for the observed broadband, low frequency electric field fluctuations composed of nonpropagating spatiotemporal oscillations and propagating modes. We demonstrate that the particle interactions with this type of bimodal intermittent turbulence can lead to the efficient energization of the auroral ions. For intermittent turbulence, the probability distributions of the fluctuations are non-Gaussian and the effects of the intermittency can manifest in the higher order correlations beyond the second order diffusion coefficient. We have performed global auroral conic simulations to study the effect of intermittency on particle energization processes.
High resolution proton NMR studies of gangliosides. Structure of two types of GD3 lactones and their reactivity with monoclonal antibody R24

Ganglioside GD3 was converted at room temperature to two stable lactones, denoted as GD3 lactones I and II. The reaction sequence was presumed to be GD3----GD3 lactone I----GD3 lactone II based on the time course of their production. Lactone I behaved as a monosialoganglioside and lactone II as a neutral species. The two lactones were isolated by DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography. The positions of the inner ester linkages were investigated by two-dimensional J-correlated proton NMR spectroscopy. An ester linkage was most likely formed between the carboxyl group of the external sialic acid residue and C9-OH of the internal sialic acid residue in lactone I. In addition to this ester linkage, a second ester linkage between the carboxyl group of the internal sialic acid and C2-OH of the galactose residue was likely formed in lactone II. The structural changes induced by lactonization were further examined by their reactivity with the monoclonal antibody R24 (Puckel, C. S., Lloyd, K. O., Travassos, L. R., Dippold, W. G., Oettgen, H. F., and Old, L. J. (1982) J. Exp. Med. 155, 1133-1147), which reacted with GD3. R24 was found to bind weakly to GD3 lactone I, but not to GD3 lactone II. The results suggest that the monoclonal antibody requires both sialic acid residues for high affinity binding, and the complete lactonization results in a loss of negative charges and/or a change in the overall conformation of the oligosaccharide moiety which may account for the loss of binding.
Amenorrhea and galactorrhea: Results of therapy with 2-Brom-α-ergocryptine (CB-154)

Abstract Administration of Brom-ergocryptine (CB-154 ∗ ) has a dramatic effect on breast secretion. Inhibition of lactation occurs within three to four weeks in women with amenorrhea and galactorrhea. Resumption of normal ovulatory function was documented by serum progesterone levels, as well as pregnancy, in three of four women attempting to conceive. Serum prolactin levels become normal following initiation of Brom-ergocryptine. Discontinuation of Brom-ergocryptine was found to result in a return of both inappropriate lactation and elevation of serum prolactin in this study. No deleterious side effects of Brom-ergocryptine have been found in any of the volunteers either clinically or on the basis of sequential laboratory studies.
Possible consequences of the asymmetric development of the ring current belt

Abstract The consequences of an asymmetric injection of protons into the magnetosphere are investigated. A guiding center Vlasov equation is solved by a perturbation method with the solution being given in terms of an electric potential. The electric potential is determined by the condition that the drift currents plus the ionosphere currents be divergenceless. The effect of the Earth's rotation also is included. The electric potential and ionsopheric currents are seen to be critically dependent upon the ring current particle energy and ionospheric conductivity. The computations indicate substantial transfer of charge between the magnetosphere and ionosphere in auroral zone locations. The computations suggest that the ring current may have an important role in auroral processes.
Comparative effects of NG-monomethyl-d-arginine and MK-801 on the abstinence syndrome in morphine-dependent mice

Abstract The effects of NG-monomethyl- l -arginine ( l -NMMA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase and MK-801, an NMDA receptor antagonist on abrupt and naltrexone-precipitated abstinence symptoms were determined in male Swiss-Webster mice rendered dependent on morphine by subcutaneous implantation of a pellet containing 75 mg of morphine base for 3 days. Mice which served as controls were implanted with placebo pellets. Six hours after pellet removal, mice were injected intraperitoneally with either the vehicle or MK-801 (0.03, 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg). Thirty minutes later the animals were injected with naltrexone subcutaneously (50 μg/kg) and the intensity of abstinence symptoms were determined. Of the three doses of MK-801 used, only 0.1 mg/kg dose inhibited the jumping behavior precipitated by naltrexone in morphine-dependent mice. Whereas the lower dose (0.03 mg/kg) of MK-801 increased, the higher doses of MK-801 (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg) displayed a decrease in the formation of fecal boli. Administration of MK-801 did not affect the body weight loss observed during abrupt withdrawal (induced by removal of the pellets) in morphine-dependent mice. MK-801 at 0.1 mg/kg dose further decreased the body temperature during abrupt withdrawal in morphine-dependent mice. Other two doses of MK-801 (0.03 and 0.3 mg/kg) did not modify the hypothermia observed during abrupt morphine withdrawal. On the other hand, l -NMMA (0.02 to 4.0 mg/kg) injected intraperitoneally 15 min prior to the naltrexone administration blocked the stereotyped jumping response in a dose-dependent manner. Higher doses of l -NMMA 2.0 and 4.0 mg/kg also decreased the number of fecal boli formation. l -NMMA (0.2 to 4.0 mg/kg) also significantly reduced the abrupt withdrawal-induced body weight loss in morphine-dependent mice. Thus MK-801 has very little effect, which is not dose-dependent, on abrupt and antagonist-precipitated withdrawal in morphine-dependent mice. However, the l -NMMA has more profound dose-dependent effects on both the abrupt and antagonist-precipitated withdrawal in morphine-dependent mice. It is concluded that the inhibitors of NO synthase may be more beneficial than NMDA receptor antagonists in managing the symptoms of morphine abstinence syndrome.
Magnetic Resonance in Near Infrared Region of Gold Nanoparticle Cluster Metamaterial

We present a new nanocluster-based metamaterial fabricated by template-directed self-assembly. Gold nanoparticles were self-assembled on template to form clusters. Experimental results were in good agreement with theoretical prediction of magnetic resonance in near infrared region.
Classification of osteoporosis and osteopenia in men is dependent on site-specific analysis.

Abstract To examine the diagnosis of osteoporosis and osteopenia in men based on bone density measurements at single or multiple sites using central and peripheral measurements, we studied 206 ambulatory, community-dwelling men over age 50. Bone mineral density of the hip, PA spine, forearm, and finger were assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry. The diagnosis of osteoporosis based on a single measurement ranged from 1% using the trochanter to 39% using Ward's triangle. Twenty-one percent of men had osteoporosis when the diagnosis was based on at least one osteoporotic value at three central sites (PA spine, total hip, femoral neck). Among these men, using T-scores provided by the manufacturers, 51% of osteoporotic patients would be misclassified as normal using the accuDEXA® (finger), and 37% of osteoporotic men would be misclassified as normal using the PA spine. We conclude that depending on the number and selection of sites, there is considerable variability in the classification and misclassification of osteoporosis and osteopenia in men.
Chemical and structural effects on the electronic states of (Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi)-based cuprate superconductors

The electronic energy bands have been calculated for the new single-layer and triple-layer Hg-based superconductors, HgBa2CuO4 and HgBa2Ca2Cu3Oy, for the analogous Tl-and Bi-based materials, and for hypothetical Pb-based materials. As one moves across the last row of the periodic table, from Hg to Bi,s- andp-derived bands pass below the Fermi energy, to influence hole doping of the copper oxide planes and transport in the other layers of the material. The dispersion of these bands is significantly affected by the crystal structure. The calculations were performed with a simple chemical model.
Larval period and its influence on post-larval life history: comparison of lecithotrophy and facultative planktotrophy in the aeolid nudibranch Phestilla sibogae

The variable duration of the pelagic phase of metamorphically competent larvae of benthic marine invertebrates is set by an interaction between environmental factors and larval traits that together influence the chance that a larva will encounter and respond to a suitable settlement site. In the Hawaiian aeolid nudibranch Phestilla sibogae Bergh, an extended competent larval phase resulted in a cascade of negative effects on larval and post-larval life-history traits. When raised as fed (i.e., facultatively planktotrophic) larvae, an extended larval period resulted in lower larval survival, slightly lower metamorphic success, and delayed reproduction. When raised as unfed (i.e., lecithotrophic) larvae, an extended larval period resulted in lower larval and post-larval weights, survival, metamorphic success, and reproductive output, and also resulted in a longer juvenile period and delayed reproduction. The chance nature of locating a settlement site generally spreads these negative effects over all larvae of a cohort, and so balances the relative fitness of the genetic lineages within a population.
A novel t(6;13)(q15;q34) translocation in a giant cell reparative granuloma (solid aneurysmal bone cyst)

Aneurysmal bone cyst is a rapidly growing and locally aggressive lesion that commonly affects children and young adults. Initially regarded as a reactive process, primary aneurysmal bone cyst is now widely accepted as a neoplasm owing to recent findings of recurrent clonal chromosomal alterations, mostly t(16;17)(q22;p13). However, other infrequent chromosomal rearrangements have also been reported. Giant cell reparative granuloma, previously regarded as a nonneoplastic process and histologically indistinguishable from the solid variant of aneurysmal bone cyst, is frequently seen in the gnathic bones and the short tubular bones of the hands and feet. Here we present such a case of giant cell reparative granuloma (solid aneurysmal bone cyst) in the finger of a 63-year-old white man. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a novel alteration involving a reciprocal translocation between 6q and 13q, with a karyotype of 46,XY,t(6;13)(q15;q34),del(20)(q13.1).
Prognostic and neurophysiological implications of concurrent burst suppression and alpha patterns in the EEG of post-anoxic coma.

Abstract Concurrent burst suppression and alpha pattern coma developed in the EEG of a 2-year-old child who suffered a cardiac arrest secondary to hypoxemia from Haemophilus influenza epiglottitis. The neurophysiological implications of this association are discussed and the literature pertaining to the role of barbiturates in the production of post-anoxic coma with an alpha pattern and experimental post-resuscitative alpha frequencies is reviewed.
Combinatorial Construction of Some Near Polygons

We give a construction which takes a rank two incidence geometry with three points on a line and returns a geometry of the same type, i.e., with three points on a line. It is also demonstrated that embeddings of the original geometry can be extended to the new geometry. It is shown that the family of dual polar spaces of type Sp(2n, 2) arise recursively from the construction starting with the geometry consisting of one point and no lines. Making use of this construction we inductively construct projective embeddings for these geometries, in particular the embedding in the spin module for the group Sp(2n, 2). We also show that if we apply the construction to a classical near polygon which is isometrically embedded in the near 2n-gon of type Sp(2n, 2) the resulting space is a near polygon. Examples of such classical, isometrically embedding spaces are near 2n-gon of Hamming type on a three letter alphabet and the product of dual polar spaces of types Sp(2k, 2) and Sp(2l, 2) withk+l=n.
The Yb Body, a Major Site for Piwi-associated RNA Biogenesis and a Gateway for Piwi Expression and Transport to the Nucleus in Somatic Cells

Despite exciting progress in understanding the Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway in the germ line, less is known about this pathway in somatic cells. We showed previously that Piwi, a key component of the piRNA pathway in Drosophila, is regulated in somatic cells by Yb, a novel protein containing an RNA helicase-like motif and a Tudor-like domain. Yb is specifically expressed in gonadal somatic cells and regulates piwi in somatic niche cells to control germ line and somatic stem cell self-renewal. However, the molecular basis of the regulation remains elusive. Here, we report that Yb recruits Armitage (Armi), a putative RNA helicase involved in the piRNA pathway, to the Yb body, a cytoplasmic sphere to which Yb is exclusively localized. Moreover, co-immunoprecipitation experiments show that Yb forms a complex with Armi. In Yb mutants, Armi is dispersed throughout the cytoplasm, and Piwi fails to enter the nucleus and is rarely detectable in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, somatic piRNAs are drastically diminished, and soma-expressing transposons are desilenced. These observations indicate a crucial role of Yb and the Yb body in piRNA biogenesis, possibly by regulating the activity of Armi that controls the entry of Piwi into the nucleus for its function. Finally, we discovered putative endo-siRNAs in the flamenco locus and the Yb dependence of their expression. These observations further implicate a role for Yb in transposon silencing via both the piRNA and endo-siRNA pathways.
A New Approach for Modeling of Fatigue Crack Growth in Welded Cruciform and Curve T Joint Structures

A new approach for the simulation of fatigue crack growth in welded joint has been developed and the concept has been applied to welded cruciform and curve T-joints. The phenomena of crack propagation and interface debonding can be regarded as the formation of new surface. Thus, it is possible to model these problems by introducing the mechanism of surface formation. In the proposed method, the formation of new surface is represented by interface element based on the interface potential energy. The properties of this interface element represent the bonding strength of the material. As the cyclic load continues, the bonding strength decreases between the interacting surfaces and the crack propagates slowly. Based on this concept, an ANSYS code has been written for the simulation of crack propagation. Using this code, fatigue crack growth rate and fatigue crack propagation life of 2-D FEM models of welded cruciform and curve T-joints for different stress/load ratios have been analyzed and presented in this paper. The method is relatively simple compared to other conventional FEM method and save computer time significantly. The predicted results are compared with experimental results and good agreement has been achieved.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
The ionizing potential of an X-ray tube

THE following is a brief account of a research undertaken by the writer to obtain further information regarding the ionizing potential of an X-ray tube . For a long time various German and American authorities have been asserting that the ionization potential of a Rbntgen tube was higher than the running potential ; or, in other words, that it takes a much higher voltage to break down the gap between the electrodes, so to speak, and start the ionizing currents flowing than it does to maintain this flow, once started . As to the real basis for this belief very little information can be found . Tt seems, in many respects, to be another case of ` Newton said it is so, and so it must be ." To quote from several sources, we find that " Once the path is rendered conducting, the flow through the tube is accomplished more easily. The resistance of the tube falls off and the drop across the tube decreases . A current now flows through the tube on account of the diminished resistance, until finally the voltage has decreased so much that the flow stops " (Dessauer 1 ) . " The flow of current-after the breaking down of the tube-does not cease even if the voltage drops considerably below the breakdown potential . If one excites a R6ntgen tube with an alternating current, the flow of current does not start at the same instant that the potential passes through zero value, but delays in starting until the attainment of the break-down potential . The current starts as soon as this point is reached . and also continues after the voltage has fallen below it " (Fiirstenau 2) . " Finally, the current falls again rather suddenly and apparently at the same time as the potential until the slowly-decreasing voltage of the transformer is no longer sufficient to pierce the tube vacuum . The value of this potential, however, is considerably less than that
Getting Shut Out of the International Capital Markets: It Doesn't Take Much*

We use a simple model of international lending to show that an emerging market borrower who might default can be shut out of international capital markets without warning. A modest haircut on obligations, for example, can shut down lending.
Organizational Learning and Public Policy: Towards a Substantive Perspective

The concept of organizational learning has gained increasing attention as an important approach to administrative theory and practice. This article examines some of the major models of organizational learning and argues that these different approaches, to one extent or another, have obscured the importance of learning's substantive meaning as applied to public policy and public affairs in general. We propose an approach called substantive learning which challenges public administrators to reflect upon the intended and unintended outcomes of policies in an intersectoral environment.
The test-retest reliability of user involvement instruments

Abstract It is almost an axiom of the MIS literature that user involvement is a necessary condition for successful development of information systems. Despite this acceptance, Ives and Olson have observed that, hampered by conflicting findings and weak measures, over two decades of research has not convincingly demonstrated the benefits of user involvement. They contend that there is a need to develop reliable and valid measures of user involvement and system success. This paper reports on the extends a program to develop standard user involvement instruments that can measure end-user developed applications as well as others using more traditional methodology. The short-range and long-range stability of instruments that measure percieved involvement, desired involvement, and involvement congruence is assessed via the test-retest method. The results suggest that these instruments are internally consistent, stable, and can be used with confidence in user involvement research without concern about a reactivity effect.
Grafting Poly(ethylene glycol) Epoxide to Amino-Derivatized Quartz: Effect of Temperature and pH on Grafting Density

Microparticle capillary electrophoresis was used to characterize the surface of quartz capillaries grafted with the glycidyl ether of poly(ethylene glycol) (E-PEG). Site dissociation modeling of capillary electrokinetic behavior provided estimates of surface group pK and density, plus the distance (d) from the surface to the hydrodynamic plane of shear. Native quartz appeared to possess silanol groups of pK 3.6 and 6.9 whose surface densities varied with quartz treatment. Aminopropylsilane derivatization of quartz silanol groups in toluene yielded a coating which was stable (>6 h) at pH 10.3 and 60 °C. Aqueous grafting of E-PEG to this surface was relatively independent of pH (7.3−10.3) and reaction time (6−24 h) but was significantly influenced by reaction temperature (25−95 °C) and salt composition. PEG-grafted capillaries exhibited greatly reduced electroosmosis from pH 2 to 11. Significant grafting could be obtained under mild conditions (6 h, 35 °C, 0.4 M K2SO4, pH 6.9). These results suggest that PE...
Damage Pattern Recognition for Structural Health Monitoring Using Fuzzy Similarity Prescription

: Structural health monitoring (SHM) is a systematic method for non-destructive evaluation of a structure's performance by sensing, extracting, patterning, and recognizing features of the structural response. Most SHM approaches focus on statistical analysis for damage identification considering only random uncertainties. This article introduces a method that allows accommodating other types of uncertainties due to ambiguity, vagueness, and fuzziness which are statistically non-describable. The proposed method deals primarily with epistemic uncertainty. The method improves damage identification by performing damage pattern recognition using fuzzy sets. In this approach, healthy observations are used to construct a fuzzy set representing healthy performance characteristics. Additionally, the bounds on the similarities among the structural damage states are prescribed. Thus, an optimal group of fuzzy sets representing damage states such as little, moderate, and severe damage can be inferred as an inverse problem from healthy observations only. Piecewise linear functions are used as fuzzy membership functions representing the states of healthy and damaged. The optimal group of damage fuzzy sets is used to classify a set of observations at any unknown state of damage using the principles of fuzzy pattern recognition based on maximum approaching degree. A case study for damage pattern recognition of a model steel bridge is presented and discussed. The approach is capable of identifying damage patterns accurately.
Differential activation of spinal cord dynorphin and enkephalin neurons during hyperalgesia: evidence using cDNA hybridization.

A unilateral experimental inflammation of the hindlimb produces hyperalgesia to both mechanical and radiant thermal stimuli that is rapid in onset. During this period, parameters of dynorphin biosynthesis are elevated to a much greater degree than those of the enkaphalin system. An increase in the content of the peptide dynorphin A(1–8) occurs in the spinal cord segments that receive sensory input from the affected limb. This is accompanied by a rapid (within 24 h) and pronounced increase in the levels of mRNA coding for the dynorphin protein precursor. Maximum elevations (6- to 8-fold) of preprodynorphin mRNA are observed between days 2 and 5 subsequent to the induction of inflammation. Compared to the increase in mRNA, the increase in dynorphin A(1–8) peptide was appreciably delayed and proportionately less; maximal increases in peptide (3-fold) were seen at day 5 of inflammation. Dorsal spinal cord preproenkephalin mRNA is elevated to a lesser degree (50–80%). However, the increase in preproenkephalin mRNA is apparently not enough to yield a measurable increase in the proenkephalin-derived peptide met5-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8, the levels of which showed no significant change during the 14-day inflammatory period. These data suggest the active participation of opioid neurons, especially those containing dynorphin, at the spinal level, in the modulation of sensory afferent input during peripheral inflammatory pain states.
Modeling sucrose hydrolysis in dilute sulfuric acid solutions at pretreatment conditions for lignocellulosic biomass

Agricultural and herbaceous feedstocks may contain appreciable levels of sucrose. The goal of this study was to evaluate the survivability of sucrose and its hydrolysis products, fructose and glucose, during dilute sulfuric acid processing at conditions typically used to pretreat lignocellulose biomass. Solutions containing 25g/l sucrose with 0.1-2.0% (w/w) sulfuric acid concentrations were treated at temperatures of 160-200 degrees C for 3-12min. Sucrose was observed to completely hydrolyze at all treatment conditions. However, appreciable concentrations of fructose and glucose were detected and glucose was found to be significantly more stable than fructose. Different mathematical approaches were used to fit the kinetic parameters for acid-catalyzed thermal degradation of these sugars. Since both sugars may survive dilute acid pretreatment, they could provide an additional carbon source for production of ethanol and other bio-based products.