cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Qigong Mind-Body Exercise as a Biopsychosocial Therapy for Persistent Post-Surgical Pain in Breast Cancer: A Pilot Study:

Purpose: To assess the feasibility, safety, and preliminary effectiveness of a 12-week multimodal Qigong Mind-Body Exercise (QMBE) program for breast cancer survivors with persistent post-surgical pain (PPSP). Methods: This was a single-arm mixed-methods pilot study. Primary outcome measures were feasibility (recruitment, adherence) and safety. Validated self-report questionnaires were used to evaluate a constellation of interdependent symptoms, including pain, fatigue, mood, exercise, interoceptive awareness, and health-related quality of life at baseline and 12 weeks. A subset of the instruments was administered 6 months postintervention. Shoulder range of motion and grip strength were objectively assessed at baseline and 12 weeks. Qualitative interviews were conducted at baseline and 12 weeks. Results: Twenty-one participants were enrolled; 18 and 17 participants, respectively, completed the 12-week and 6-month outcome assessment. No serious adverse events were reported. Statistically significant improvements were observed at 12 weeks in pain severity and interference, fatigue, anxiety, depression, perceived stress, self-esteem, pain catastrophizing, and several subdomains of quality of life, interoceptive awareness, and shoulder range of motion. Changes in pain, fatigue, pain catastrophizing, anxiety, depression, and quality of life were clinically meaningful. Postintervention effects were sustained at 6 months. Conclusions: QMBE is a safe and gentle multimodal intervention that shows promise in conferring a broad range of psychosocial and physical benefits for breast cancer survivors with PPSP. Results support the value of future studies evaluating the impact of QMBE on multiple outcomes relevant to breast cancer survivors with PPSP.
Oral Health Problems and Solutions in High-Risk Children and Young Adults.

Purpose: The Coordinated Healthcare for Complex Kids (CHECK) project targets publically insured children and young adults with chronic diseases. The CHECK oral health program intervenes at individual, family, and community levels. This paper describes the baseline oral health status of CHECK patients. Methods: CHECK patients older than 18 years of age and caretakers of younger patients were asked about their oral health. Medicaid claims data were used to determine diagnoses and level of risk. Attendance data from the Chicago Public Schools was obtained to assess absenteeism. Results: Of the 5,509 CHECK patients, 1,122 (20.4%) reported some type of oral health problem in the last six months. The most common issue was a history of dental caries (N=753, 13.7%). The odds of oral health problems increased significantly in adolescents (odds ratio [OR]=1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.02 to 1.40) and young adults (OR=1.55; 95% CI=1.31 to 1.85) compared with children. Males were less likely than females to have oral health problems (OR=0.83, 95% CI=0.73 to 0.95). Worse general health was significantly associated with oral health problems. Conclusion: CHECK is implementing a multilevel comprehensive approach to address oral health problems.
Metahuman systems = humans + machines that learn:

Metahuman systems are new, emergent, sociotechnical systems where machines that learn join human learning and create original systemic capabilities. Metahuman systems will change many facets of the...
Exaggerated postnatal surge of orexin and the effects of elimination of excess orexin on blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats in postnatal development

Abstract It has been established that an overactive orexin (OX) system is associated with neurogenic hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). However, the chronology and mechanism of such association between orexin system and hypertension is unclear. We hypothesized that an aberrant surge of OX neurons in SHRs precedes the aberrant increase of arterial blood pressure (ABP) during postnatal development, which was primarily contributed by the exaggerated postnatal OX neurogenesis. We found that (1) SHRs experienced a greater surge in the number of orexin neurons than normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats before P16, which led to significantly more OX neurons than age-matched controls by P15-16 (3680±219 vs 2407±182, respectively, P=0.002). (2) Exaggerated OX neurogenesis, marked by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), was the primary contributor to excessive OX neurons in SHRs during development. (3) In contrast, SHRs and normotensive control rats have similar mean arterial blood pressure (ABP) at P15, and a significantly higher ABP in SHR than WKY emerges at P20 (74.8 ± 2.5 vs 66.9 ± 4.4 mmHg in wakefulness, respectively, P New Findings What is the central question of this study? Excess orexin neurons have been associated with hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats, however, the association and mechanism between developing excess orexin neurons and high blood pressure are unknown. What is the main finding and its importance? Using spontaneously hypertensive rats in anatomical and physiological studies, we provided evidence showing that the excess OX neurons, primarily via exaggerated OX neurogenesis, may be necessary in developing a higher ABP in SHRs during development, and modulation of the overactive orexin system may be beneficial in treating hypertension.
Outcomes following use of a standard antibiotic protocol in the management of maxillofacial trauma patients.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of a standard antibiotic regimen protocol in the management of maxillofacial trauma patients. Materials and methods The study sample included patients with at least one facial fracture and managed by either closed (CR/MMF) or open reduction (ORIF) by the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery service. A standardized antibiotic administration protocol based on type of treatment performed and timing of surgical intervention was used in the management of all patients. The primary predictor variable was antibiotic usage. The primary outcome measured was postoperative surgical site infection. Bivariate analysis was performed to assess the association between antibiotic exposure and postoperative surgical site infection. A p value of less than or equal to .05 was deemed to be significant. Results The study sample comprised of 392 patients (102 midface and 290 mandible fractures). The mean age of the study group was 35 years and 89% of the patients were male. Postoperative infection was encountered in 18 patients (all with compound mandible fractures). The infection rates were 3.6% after CR/MMF and 8.7% after ORIF. No patient with midface fractures developed an infection. Chi-square test showed no statistically significant difference in postoperative infection rate in mandible fractures treated either by CR/MMF (p = 0.91) or ORIF (p = 0.94). Conclusions Use of this antibiotic administration protocol limits antibiotic usage and standardizes their administration in the management of maxillofacial trauma without increasing the rate of postoperative surgical site infections.
Association between leniency of anesthesiologists when evaluating certified registered nurse anesthetists and when evaluating didactic lectures.

Daily evaluations of certified registered nurse anesthetists’ (CRNAs’) work habits by anesthesiologists should be adjusted for rater leniency. The current study tested the hypothesis that there is a pairwise association by rater between leniencies of evaluations of CRNAs’ daily work habits and of didactic lectures. The historical cohorts were anesthesiologists’ evaluations over 53 months of CRNAs’ daily work habits and 65 months of didactic lectures by visiting professors and faculty. The binary endpoints were the Likert scale scores for all 6 and 10 items, respectively, equaling the maximums of 5 for all items, or not. Mixed effects logistic regression estimated the odds of each ratee performing above or below average adjusted for rater leniency. Bivariate errors in variables least squares linear regression estimated the association between the leniency of the anesthesiologists’ evaluations of work habits and didactic lectures. There were 29/107 (27%) raters who were more severe in their evaluations of CRNAs’ work habits than other anesthesiologists (two-sided P < 0.01); 34/107 (32%) raters were more lenient. When evaluating lectures, 3/81 (4%) raters were more severe and 8/81 (10%) more lenient. Among the 67 anesthesiologists rating both, leniency (or severity) for work habits was not associated with that for lectures (P = 0.90, unitless slope between logits 0.02, 95% confidence interval −0.34 to 0.30). Rater leniency is of large magnitude when making daily clinical evaluations, even when using a valid and psychometrically reliable instrument. Rater leniency was context dependent, not solely a reflection of raters’ personality or rating style.
Detection of uncompensated magnetization at the interface of an epitaxial antiferromagnetic insulator

We have probed directly the temperature and magnetic field dependence of pinned uncompensated magnetization at the interface of antiferromagnetic ${\mathrm{FeF}}_{2}$ with Cu, using ${\mathrm{FeF}}_{2}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Cu}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Co}$ spin valves. Electrons polarized by the Co layer are scattered by the pinned uncompensated moments at the ${\mathrm{FeF}}_{2}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Cu}$ interface giving rise to giant magnetoresistance. We determined the direction and magnitude of the pinned uncompensated magnetization at different magnetic fields and temperatures using the angular dependencies of resistance. The strong ${\mathrm{FeF}}_{2}$ anisotropy pins the uncompensated magnetization along the easy axis independent of the cooling field orientation. Most interestingly, magnetic fields as high as 90 kOe cannot break the pinning at the ${\mathrm{FeF}}_{2}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Cu}$ interface. This proves that the pinned interfacial magnetization is strongly coupled to the antiferromagnetic order inside the bulk ${\mathrm{FeF}}_{2}$ layer. Studies as a function of ${\mathrm{FeF}}_{2}$ crystalline orientation show that uncompensated spins are only detected in a spin valve with (110) crystal orientation, but not in valves containing ${\mathrm{FeF}}_{2}(100)$ and ${\mathrm{FeF}}_{2}(001)$. This observation is in agreement with symmetry-related considerations which predict the equilibrium boundary magnetization for the ${\mathrm{FeF}}_{2}(110)$ layer.
Incubation Method for Loading Lonidamine in Oxygen Microbubbles for Targeted Drug Delivery

Lonidamine (LND) has been widely explored due to its ability to target metabolic glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration in tumors [4]. However, clinical translation has stalled due to poor bioavailability after oral administration. In this study, we explored three incubation time points of loading oxygen-filled microbubbles with LND (SE61O2-LND) for radiotherapy sensitization by modifying our published methods for creating surfactant-shelled oxygen microbubbles (SE61 O2). Acoustic enhancement and stability were quantified in vitro in a continuously insonated sample holder using a 5 MHz single element transducer which generated a peak positive pressure of 0.69 MPa and a peak negative pressure of 0.25 MP at a PRF of 100 Hz and in a pulsatile flow phantom insonated at a single point using a C1-6 transducer on a GE Logiq E9 system (GE Healthcare) operating at 4.0 MHz at a mechanical index of 0.12. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze the total bubble count for each incubation time point. Lonidamine encapsulation was determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), the loading approach consisted of incubating the LND and TPGS at 37°C at 0, 24, and 48 hours. Bubbles incubated for 24 hours had an average encapsulation of 2.64 ± 0.32 µg LND/ mL MB, and those incubated for 48 hours had an average of 2.97 ± 0.36 µg LND/ mL MB, while non-incubated micelles had an average of 1.51 ± 0.05 µg LND/ mL MB, both TPGS micelle methods that were incubated showed a statistically significant improvement p < 0.001 compared to non-incubated. This work demonstrates the feasibility of fabricating lonidamine-loaded microbubbles and an improved approach for increasing drug encapsulation. The microbubbles retained their acoustic properties, and by incubating the lonidamine with the TPGS to form micelles, drug loading was increased.
SPARQ-SGD: Event-Triggered and Compressed Communication in Decentralized Optimization

In this paper, we propose and analyze SPARQ-SGD, an event-triggered and compressed algorithm for decentralized training of large-scale machine learning models over a graph. Each node can locally compute a condition (event) which triggers a communication where quantized and sparsified local model parameters are sent. In SPARQ-SGD, each node first takes a fixed number of local gradient steps and then checks if the model parameters have significantly changed compared to its last update; it communicates further compressed model parameters only when there is a significant change, as specified by a (design) criterion. We prove that SPARQ-SGD converges as $O\left( {\frac{1}{{nT}}} \right)$ and $O\left( {\frac{1}{{\sqrt {nT} }}} \right)$ in the strongly-convex and non-convex settings, respectively, demonstrating that aggressive compression, including event-triggered communication, model sparsification and quantization does not affect the overall convergence rate compared to uncompressed decentralized training; thereby theoretically yielding communication efficiency for ‘free’. We evaluate SPARQ-SGD over real datasets to demonstrate significant savings in communication bits over the state-of-the-art.
Rethinking treatment of mercury poisoning: the roles of selenium, acetylcysteine, and thiol chelators in the treatment of mercury poisoning: a narrative review

We reevaluate the treatment of mercury poisoning, incorporating recent advances in understanding of mercury toxicity and the mercury:selenium interaction. This review focuses on: 1) the role, limit...
Autobiografia e a necessária incompletude das histórias de professores

This article is an invitation to interrogate my work on autobiography, gender and curriculum. In dialogue with the work of Maxine Greene, especially with “The shapes of childhood recalled”, I revisit my interest in autobiography as both genre and method in educational research. The issues that compel my attention are the poststructural, psychoanalytic, postcolonial and queer theory challenges to the unity and coherence of the intact and fully conscious “self” of Western autobiographical practices and to the limits of its representation. I am arguing that autobiography as one form of educational inquiry be regarded as literature, assuming the potential of imaginative literature to disrupt rather than reinforce static and essentialized versions of our “selves” and our work as educators. This may be, in my opinion, the only reason to use autobiography as a form of educational inquiry.
The Impact of MDO on Airway Outcomes in Patients with Pierre Robin Sequence

Background: Pierre Robin sequence (PRS), characterized by the triad of retrognathia, glossoptosis, and airway obstruction, remains challenging to treat and no standard treatment protocols exist. In...
On-Demand Virtual Highways for Dense UAS Operations

The methods and protocols for coordinating airspace access can impact a number of metrics that are important to operators and system designers. For example, the time when an operator would like to fly a particular trajectory may be delayed if there are many intersecting trajectories by other aircraft. From a system-level perspective, it would be helpful to know how the number of simultaneous operations affects this measure of delay. Regarding the method of coordination, it is also important to consider what information must be shared in order to provide safe access - it may be undesirable to share detailed trajectory information. This paper describes a method for building on-demand airspace networks and applies Lane-Based Strategic Deconfliction (LBSD) to support dense airspace operations.
Attentional Pyramidal Neural Mechanisms

While some models for visual attention represent computational models of human attention and are directly based on biological evidence24,11,10,31,1, other systems focus more on the computational aspects of the simulation and have been recognized as important components for tackling practical problems and for analyzing real images (e.g. 35,19,36). These attentional systems, thanks also to the increasing interest in neural networks research, have been largely implemented by Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). There are some practical considerations that encourage to use ANNs, most of which are related to their speed and flexibility. Commonly used Artificial Neural Networks have been widely demonstrated to be tolerant to noise, some scaling rotation and translation factors. They involve phases to dynamically adapt the network to the environment (plasticity). ANNs are also characterized by the intrinsic capability of processing simultaneously different sources of information such as edges and regions, so as to overcome the difficult problem of integrating the results produced by different algorithms, each one working on a different kind of information.
Abstract 017: Spironolactone Improves Insulin Secretion In Metabolic Syndrome Subjects

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade reduces the incidence of type 2 diabetes in clinical trials. We previously demonstrated that aldosterone impairs insulin secretion via a direct beta-cell effect in mice. To test the hypothesis that aldosterone and the mineralocorticoid receptor contribute to impaired insulin secretion in humans, we enrolled subjects with metabolic syndrome treated with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.5 mg daily for 4 weeks (baseline) followed by either Spironolactone 25 mg daily (SPL, n=16) versus Aliskiren 150 mg daily (ALI, n=19) for 4 weeks. We assessed insulin secretion and sensitivity using hyperglycemic clamps during sodium controlled diet (160 mmol Na). During HCTZ alone, plasma aldosterone correlated inversely with the initial insulin response and disposition index (Figure A), but not with insulin sensitivity index. Plasma aldosterone decreased during aliskiren (-1.5±0.78 ng/dL) and increased during spironolactone treatment (+4.0±0.8 ng/dL; p<0.001 between treatment). Blood pressure, serum potassium, and insulin sensitivity index were unchanged. The acute insulin response increased compared to baseline during SPL compared to ALI (+11.6±7.9 vs -10.7±7.7 μU/mL; p=0.048), whereas insulin sensitivity index was unchanged. We conclude that aldosterone is inversely associated with the initial phase insulin secretory response, the earliest detectable change in impaired glucose tolerance. Treatment with spironolactone could improve glucose homeostasis by restoring insulin secretion in subjects with metabolic syndrome. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
SitCom: Virtual Smart-Room Environment for Multi-modal Perceptual Systems

In this paper we present a novel approach for building intelligent services in smart rooms - i.e. spaces equipped with different sets of sensors, including audio and visual perception. Designing such multi-modal perceptual systems is a non-trivial task which involves interdisciplinary effort dealing with integration of voice and image recognition technologies, situation modeling middleware and context-aware multi-user interfaces into robust and self-manageable software framework. The inherent complexity associated with building such systems aiming at perception and understanding of behavior of people in smart spaces makes it a very difficult undertaking. Hence this fresh research arena currently suffers with immature architectural models, weak system testability, and challenging component maintainability. In addition, traditional methodologies of design lifecycle such as "bottom-up" or "top-down" fall short because of the aspects mentioned.
Modelling of ultrasonic consolidation using a dislocation density based finite element framework

A dislocation density based constitutive model has been developed and implemented into a crystal plasticity quasi-static finite element framework. This approach captures the evolution of dislocations and grain fragmentation at the bonding interface when boundary conditions pertaining to the Ultrasonic Consolidation process (UC) are prescribed. The model is initially calibrated using experimental data from published refereed literature for simple shear deformation of a single crystal pure aluminum and uniaxial tension of a polycrystalline Aluminum 3003-H18 alloy. The model has then been extended to predict the results of an Al 3003- H18 alloy undergoing UC. Good agreement between the experimental and simulated results has been observed for the evolution of linear weld density and embrittlement due to grain substructure evolution. For computational time efficiencies, a novel time homogenisation approach has been followed which significantly reduces the computational overhead.
Allograft outcomes in outbred mice

Inbreeding depression and lack of genetic diversity in inbred mice could mask unappreciated causes of graft failure or remove barriers to tolerance induction. To test these possibilities, we performed heart transplantation between outbred or inbred mice. Unlike untreated inbred mice in which all allografts were rejected acutely (6-16 days posttransplantation), untreated outbred mice had heterogeneous outcomes, with grafts failing early ( 75 days). Blocking T cell costimulation induced long-term graft acceptance in both inbred and outbred mice, but did not prevent the early graft failure observed in the latter. Further investigation of this early phenotype established that it is dependent on the donor, and not the recipient, being outbred and that it is characterized by hemorrhagic necrosis and neutrophilic vasculitis in the graft without preformed, high titer antidonor antibodies in the recipient. Complement or neutrophil depletion prevented early failure of outbred grafts, whereas transplanting CD73-deficient inbred hearts, which are highly susceptible to ischemia-reperfusion injury, recapitulated the early phenotype. Therefore, outbred mice could provide broader insight into donor and recipient determinants of allograft outcomes but their hybrid vigor and genetic diversity do not constitute a uniform barrier to tolerance induction.
Myometrial changes in postpartum uterine involution

Abstract The tissues used in this study were obtained from guinea pig uteri in the first 5 days of the postpartum period. Myometrial tissues were processed for electron microscopy. Cells which have the characteristics of macrophages increased gradually in number and in size and spread between the smooth muscle cells. Vesicular and dense-body lysosomes appeared early in their cytoplasm. Concurrently, collagenous fibrils, either free or membrane-bound, were also seen in these cells. Later, phagolysosomal structures containing various cytoplasmic components and collagenous fibrils in various stages of degradation occupied a large area of the cytoplasm. The smooth-muscle fibers of the myometrium seem to participate in the removal of intercellular material as well as in the degradation of their own organelles as evidenced by the presence of collagenous fibrils and various phagolysosomal structures in their cytoplasm. Numerous multivesicular bodies and phagolysosomes containing fibrillar material were also seen in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells of myometrial vessels. The significance of these cellular changes and the role of these mesenchymal cells in postpartum uterine involution are discussed.
Formal Characterization of Active Databases

In this paper we take a first step towards characterizing active databases. Declarative characterization of active databases allows additional flexibility in studying the effects of different priority criteria between fireable rules, different actions and event definitions, and also to make claims about effects of transaction and prove them without actually executing them. Our characterization is related but different from similar attempts by Zaniolo in terms of making a clear distinction between actual and hypothetical execution of actions and allowing non-determinism. We use the ‘choice’ construct [SZ90] to characterize the non-determinism that arises when several rules can fire at the same time and the preference between them is not specified. We show through examples how our language allows us to express features of different active database systems.
Update of CPM/PERT Glossary of Terms

In the last decade, hundreds of speecialized journal articles, reports, books, and computer user manuals have been published in the field of project planning scheduling and control. For a better understanding and a unique language, a multilingual glossary of terms is proposed. There are more than 100 entries in English with commentary organized in alphabetical order related to CPM. Project planning, scheduling, and control are presented in the Appendix.
Inclusion Principle for the Rayleigh-Ritz Based Substructure Synthesis

According to this substructure synthesis, the motion of every substructure is modeled in terms of quasicomparison functions, which are linear combinations of admissible functions capable of satisfying all the boundary conditions.
Phase/State Transitions of Confectionery Sweeteners: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Aspects

Abstract: It has been said that the key to making high-quality candy is understanding and controlling the transitions of sugar. Whether found as crystal, glass, or fluid solution, sugars impart the texture necessary to distinguish one confection from another and to provide a unique experience to the consumer. In principle, the phase/state transitions of sugars are best understood through careful application of the phase diagram. However, many, if not all, confections are not at equilibrium, meaning that the phase diagram is simply a starting point for understanding and controlling the state of sugars. An understanding of the thermodynamic driving forces that push a confection towards equilibrium and the kinetic constraints that control the rate of approaching that equilibrium are key elements to creating products with the desired texture, quality, and shelf life. In this review, we summarize the thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of controlling phase/state transitions in sweeteners, with particular emphasis on applications to confectionery products.
The effect of psychoactive drugs on beta-adrenergic receptor binding sites in rat brain.

Abstract The effect of a variety of psychotropic drugs, given to rats repeatedly over 16 days, on the number of beta-adrenergic receptor binding sites in cerebral cortex was measured. Labelled dihydroalprenolol, [ 3 H]-DHA, was used to measure beta-adrenergic binding sites. Both tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, chlorimipramine, desmethylimipramine and nortriptyline) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (nialamide and tranylcypromine) lowered [ 3 H]-DHA binding significantly. Repeated treatment of rats with the antidepressant. iprindole. produced the same effect as did treatment with bupropion. However, the experimental antidepressant mianserin did not reduce [ 3 H]-DHA binding nor did 11 other psychoactive compounds including chlorpromazine, diazepam, l -DOPA, tripelennamine and cocaine. The reduction in [ 3 H]-DHA binding produced by nialamide or iprindole treatment was due to a reduction in the maximum number of beta-adrenergic receptor binding sites. Drug treatment-induced lowering of [ 3 H]-DHA binding sites in cerebral cortex appears to have utility as a pre-clinical test for antidepressant drugs.
Structural Instability and the Production-Smoothing Model of Inventories

The production-smoothing model of inventories implies that inventories, labor inputs, sales, and factor input prices are cointegrated if sales and factor prices are I(1) with one cointegrating vector for each state variable held. These propositions are tested in six nondurable-goods industries. All industries provide evidence of cointegration. Fewer quasi-fixed factors are found than previous research often assumed. Estimates of cointegrating vectors provide implausible parameter estimates. Rank stability tests, with fixed or seqentially chosen breakpoints, indicate that the cointegrating matrix has unstable rank. Parameter estimates of cointegrating vectors do not provide much support for the production-smoothing model of inventories.
Integration of Electrical Stimulation together with Electrochemical Measurement of Quantal Exocytosis on Microchips

We are developing microfabricated devices consisting of arrays of electrochemical electrodes in order to increase the throughput of single-cell measurements of quantal exocytosis from neuroendocrine cells and to develop technology that allows simultaneous electrochemical detection and fluorescence imaging of single fusion events. One component of this effort is to develop on-chip methods for stimulating exocytosis from select cell population on the chip. Here we describe our efforts to use the same electrode to electrically stimulate the adjacent cell and subsequently measure exocytosis using amperometry. Voltage pulses were applied to planar electrodes while recording the membrane potential of an adjacent cell using a patch clamp pipette in current-clamp mode. We found that the threshold for eliciting action potentials is typically between 2.0 and 3.0 V for cells that are well adhered to Au electrodes (2.23 + 0.49 V, 0.2 ms pulse, n=20 cells). Trains of stimuli, however, often lead to electroporation of the cell membrane, therefore we turned our attention to designing stimuli to promote efficient cell electropermeabilization to trigger exocytosis upon Ca2+ influx from Ca2+-buffered bath solutions. The amplifier was modified to allow it to transiently pass large currents to enable electroporation, yet record pA amperometric currents with low noise. We found that trains of voltage pulses of 5-8 V of 0.2-0.5 ms duration can reliably elicit Ca2+-dependent exocytosis lasting for tens of seconds, presumably by eliciting electroporation of the cell membrane. Preliminary experiments with transparent electrodes and the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-4F demonstrate a rise in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) upon electrical stimulation. Experiments are in progress to determine if this method allows one to clamp [Ca2+]i to the Ca2+ level of the buffered bath solution.Supported by NIH grant NS048826.
Some computational properties of tree adjoining grammars

Tree Adjoining Grammar (TAG) is a formalism for natural language grammars. Some of the basic notions of TAG's were introduced in [Joshi, Levy, and Takahashi 1975] and by [Joshi, 1983]. A detailed investigation of the linguistic relevance of TAG's has been carried out in [Kroch and Joshi, 1985]. In this paper, we will describe some new results for TAG's, especially in the following areas: (1) parsing complexity of TAG's, (2) some closure results for TAG's, and (3) the relationship to Head grammars.
Kinetic impedance and depairing in thin and narrow superconducting films

We use both Eilenberger-Usadel and Ginzburg-Landau (GL) theory to calculate the superfluid's temperature-dependent kinetic inductance for all currents up to the depairing current in thin and narrow superconducting films. The calculations apply to BCS weak-coupling superconductors with isotropic gaps and transport mean-free paths much less than the BCS coherence length. The kinetic inductance is calculated for the response to a small alternating current when the film is carrying a dc bias current. In the slow-experiment/fast-relaxation limit, in which the superconducting order parameter quasistatically follows the time-dependent current, the kinetic inductance diverges as the bias current approaches the depairing value. However, in the fast-experiment/slow-relaxiation limit, in which the the superconducting order parameter remains fixed at a value corresponding to the dc bias current, the kinetic inductance rises to a finite value at the depairing current. We then use time-dependent GL theory to calculate the kinetic impedance of the superfluid, which includes not only the kinetic reactance, but also the kinetic resistance of the superfluid arising from dissipation due to order-parameter relaxation. The kinetic resistance is largest for angular frequencies $\ensuremath{\omega}$ obeying $\ensuremath{\omega}{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{s}g1$, where ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{s}$ is the order-parameter relaxation time, and for bias currents close to the depairing current. We also include the normal fluid's contribution to dissipation in deriving an expression for the total kinetic impedance. The Appendices contain many details about the temperature-dependent behavior of superconductors carrying current up to the depairing value.
Low-lying levels of 79Br

Abstract The properties of the low-lying levels of 79 Br were investigated by means of the Coulomb excitation process which was effected by the bombardment of a thick target of PbBr 2 (isotopically enriched to 95.1% in 79 Br) with 2.5 to 7.0 MeV alpha particles and with 36 MeV oxygen ions. In the ensuing singles and coincidence gamma-ray spectra, peaks attributed to 79 Br were observed at 43±3, 136.1±1.1, 208.4±0.6, 217.3±0.3, 238.6±0.4, 261.5±0.3, 299.4±0.7, 306.4±0.3, ≈ 307 or ≈ 216, 389.1±0.6, 397.2±0.3, 522.8±0.3, 544.0±0.4, 605.4±0.5 and 760.5±0.8 keV. The changes in gamma-ray yields with alpha-particle energy were compatible with those predicted for E2 Coulomb excitation. The ifB(E2) ex values were determined from these yields. Angular anisotropies were measured for the stronger transitions to aid in the assignment of spins. Additional information was obtained about the 79 Br level properties through an investigation of gamma rays following the decay of 79 Kr. The energies, spins, parities and reduced E2 transition probabilities for the levels of 79 Br consistent with this investigation are E Iπ B( E 2) ex (KeV) (e 2 fm 4 217.2±0.3 5 2 − 395± 33 261.4±0.3 3 2 − 70± 6 306.4±0.3 1 2 , 3 2 − 211± 18 397.2±0.3 3 2 − 33± 5 522.8±0.3 5 2 − 950± 90 605.9±0.2 3 2 − 152± 23 761.2±0.4 5 2 , 7 2 − 1280±220 831.6±0.4 1 2 , 3 2 − 1332.3±0.3 3 2 − The B (M1) values which were estimated for 16 of the gamma-ray transitions, had values ranging from 0.002 to ≈ 0.5 (e h /2Mc) 2 .
Helix unfolding and intramolecular hydrogen bond dynamics in small α-helices in explicit solvent

The dynamics of folding and unfolding of secondary structural motifs found in proteins is crucial to understanding the protein folding problem. In this paper we study the short-time dynamics of loop unfolding and hydrogen bond formation and breaking in the alanine pentapeptide at room temperature, using several constant-energy molecular dynamics simulations of about 4 ns of duration. We analyze the results in terms of time histories of “core” α-carbon dihedral angles. We also perform a principal component analysis of the data. We find that the time scale for a considerable deformation of the dihedral angles formed by the α-carbons is on the order of 1 ns whereas hydrogen bonds seem to break and form on a shorter time scale.
Visuospatial deficits in patients with early left-hemispheric lesions and functional reorganization of language: consequence of lesion or reorganization?

Abstract Introduction Patients with early left-hemispheric lesions have repeatedly been reported to show spared language functions (which are then mediated by the right hemisphere), but exhibit deficits in visuospatial functions. The “crowding hypothesis” explains these deficits by a neuronal scarcity in the right hemisphere for the original right hemispheric functions. An alternative hypothesis suggests direct lesion effects as the sole reason for the visuospatial impairments. The scope of this study was to examine the relations between visuospatial skills and hemispheric preference for language, and between visuospatial skills and cerebral lesion size. Methods In a sample of young adults with pre- or perinatally acquired focal lesions of the left hemisphere and unilateral spastic cerebral palsy on the right side, we assessed intelligence and neuropsychological functions in the verbal and visuospatial domains. The behavioural data was correlated with structural MRI information and language preference as assessed using fMRI. Results Patients with right hemispheric language production were impaired in visuospatial functions, compared not only to normal controls, but also to patients without right hemispheric language preference. Additionally, the degree of right hemispheric language correlated negatively with performance in visuospatial tasks. Lesion size correlated negatively only with performance IQ, which again correlated negatively with motor impairment of the patients and thus does not seem to reflect true cognitive deficits. Conclusion Visuospatial deficits in patients with early left-hemispheric lesions are a consequence of lesion-induced right hemispheric language organization, thus lending further support to the “crowding hypothesis”.
Hyperbaric and Transcorneal Delivery of Oxygen to the Rabbit and Monkey Anterior Segment

When delivered to the corneal surface of rabbits for 30 minutes, 100% oxygen can significantly increase the mean (+/- SD) partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) in the aqueous humor (from 63.5 +/- 12.3 mm Hg [n = 12] to 139.5 +/- 32.4 mm Hg [n = 8]). Similar elevations were seen in monkeys. Under hyperbaric conditions (2 atm) for 30 minutes the aqueous PO2 in rabbits breathing room air can be increased to 295.2 +/- 132.4 mm Hg (n = 7) by exposing the rabbit cornea to 100% oxygen for 30 minutes. The high PO2 under these hyperbaric conditions is mediated by both vascular and transcorneal delivery of oxygen. The increase of PO2 in the rabbit aqueous can prevent or reverse sickling of intracameral human erythrocytes containing sickle hemoglobin. The exposure of rabbit eyes to 100% oxygen at the corneal surface is followed by autoregulation (constriction) of the iris vasculature. Transcorneal or vascular delivery of oxygen to the eye under normobaric or hyperbaric conditions may possibly benefit patients with hypoxic diseases of the anterior segment such as anterior segment necrosis, rubeosis iridis, or sickle cell hyphema.
Language model adaptation for statistical machine translation with structured query models

We explore unsupervised language model adaptation techniques for Statistical Machine Translation. The hypotheses from the machine translation output are converted into queries at different levels of representation power and used to extract similar sentences from very large monolingual text collection. Specific language models are then build from the retrieved data and interpolated with a general background model. Experiments show significant improvements when translating with these adapted language models.
The Selective Modulation Interferometric Spectrometer

This paper reviews the theory and the practical implementation of the selective modulation interferometric spectrometer (the SIMS). This spectrometer has an extremely large optical throughput, and it can scan the spectrum in real time while requiring no more signal processing than a chopped radiometer. Equations are presented which describe the relationship between design parameters and spectrometer performance. Practical design problems are identified, and some solutions to these problems are given.
Isotopic composition of precipitation in central Iowa

Abstract The isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen have been used extensively as indicators of groundwater age (3H) and paleotemperature of groundwater recharge (18O/16O, 2H/1H); however, comparisons of values in groundwater with those in recent precipitation are few. This study describes and interprets the isotopic composition of precipitation in central Iowa for the year 1992. An unusually mild winter driven by south-westerly flow of the jet stream was followed by an unusually cool and predominantly dry summer that was caused by a persistent northwesterly flow in the upper atmosphere. Temperature was below normal (9.0°C); precipitation was above normal (868.4 mm) and was mostly derived from a Gulf of Mexico moisture source. Fifty-one precipitation samples were collected from 37 events and analyzed for hydrogen and oxygen isotopes. Tritium activities ranged from 0 to 44 tritium units (TU) and the weighted mean 3H activity was 11.02 TU, a value consistent with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) data. Anomalously high 3H activities suggested input of technogenic 3H. Weighted mean values of δ18O and δ2H were −8.02‰ and −53.62‰, respectively, and the equation of the local Meteoric Water Line was δ2H=9.26δ18O + 4.65. Weighted mean δ18O and δ2H values from the Gulf-Pacific moisture source (−10.80‰, −74.82‰) were more depleted than those ascribed solely to a Gulf of Mexico moisture source (−7.24‰, −47.39‰). Seasonal differences in temperature primarily controlled these differences in isotopic composition.
Instanton contribution to the pion electromagnetic form factor at Q 2 > 1 GeV 2

We study the effects of instantons on the charged pion electromagnetic form factor at intermediate momenta. In the single instanton approximation (SIA), we predict the pion form factor in the kinematic region ${Q}^{2}=2--10{\mathrm{GeV}}^{2}.$ By developing the calculation in a mixed time-momentum representation, it is possible to maximally reduce the model dependence and to calculate the form factor directly. We find the intriguing result that the SIA calculation coincides with the vector dominance monopole form, up to a surprisingly high momentum transfer ${Q}^{2}\ensuremath{\sim}10{\mathrm{GeV}}^{2}.$ This suggests that vector dominance for the pion holds beyond low energy nuclear physics.
The Effects of Different Models of All-Day Kindergarten on Children's Developmental Competence.

In this investigation, two approaches to all‐day kindergarten were studied to determine their differential effects on children who participated in them. In one approach, no additional support or training was provided for teachers (ADK‐C), while in the other approach (ADK‐E), both training and material support were provided. 41 children from the ADK‐C program and 73 children from the ADK‐E program were part of the study. The children were selected randomly from each of the two approaches. Teachers rated children on developmental competencies, prosocial classroom behaviors, and academic achievement. Children who participated in the ADK‐E approach were rated as more developmental competent, exhibiting more prosocial classroom behaviors, and higher achieving.
Is Class Appreciation Just a Click Away?: Using Student Response System Technology to Enhance Shy Students' Introductory American Government Experience

Do individual-level student characteristics affect appreciation for, and benefit from, the use of student response system technology? We investigate the usefulness of in-class electronic student response systems (“classroom clickers”) to understand if it benefits some college students more than others. Specifically, we investigate whether shyer students benefit more from the use of the student response system, with the expectation that shyer students will appreciate using the system more and consequently make more positive gains in attitudes about the class, knowledge of politics, and political engagement. Utilizing original survey data collected from Fall 2009 and Fall 2010 introductory American Government courses, we find that shyer students show greater attitude improvement over the course of the semester, exhibit more knowledge about politics and engage in more outside-of-class political discussions than less shy students when electronic student response systems are utilized, but no such difference em...
Electro-optic, linear, and nonlinear optical properties of KDP and its isomorphs

Abstract The electro-optic, linear, and nonlinear optical properties of KDP and its isomorphs are reviewed. Figures of merit for doubling and tripling by sum-frequency generation are presented and used to compare and contrast these crystals for nonlinear optics devices. Current research areas, such as high-average-power applications, and optical damage resistance are reviewed.
Neutrino magnetic moment in the SU(3)L×U(1) model

Abstract We discuss the prospect and difficulties of having a neutrino with a large magnetic moment and a naturally small mass in the SU(3) L ×U(1) model.
The growth of homogeneous mixed crystals of zinc cadmium sulfide

Abstract Homogeneous mixed crystals of zinc cadmium sulfide have been grown from the vapor phase using the self-sealing method of Piper and Polich. Single crystals of approximately 25mm 3 in volume have been obtained, for zinc to cadmium ratios from about 0.4 to 0.7. The optimum growth parameters are given and interpreted in terms of the corresponding parameters for undoped zinc sulfide.
Predictors of Secondary Abstinence in U.S. College Undergraduates

This study examined (1) the percentage of participants who practiced secondary sexual abstinence and (2) factors associated with its practice among a sample of U.S. college students. College undergraduate men and women (n = 1,133) in Texas completed a web-based survey assessing abstinence status and predictors of abstinent behavior. Results revealed that 12.5% of participants practiced secondary abstinence. Of eight variables, five significantly predicted secondary abstinence (following sexual initiation). Predictors were positive attitude toward abstinence, subjective norm supporting abstinence, greater religious ties, and previous negative sexual experiences. The fifth variable, participation in abstinence education, however, was associated with a significantly reduced likelihood of secondary abstinence. Fewer perceived barriers, less environmental manipulation (efforts to make physical and social environments supportive of abstinence), and greater religious ties significantly predicted self-efficacy for secondary abstinence. Findings provide an estimate of the percentage of participants who practiced secondary abstinence and suggest focal points for future research.
Face detection and eyeglasses detection for thermal face recognition

Thermal face recognition becomes an active research direction in human identification because it does not rely on illumination condition. Face detection and eyeglasses detection are necessary steps prior to face recognition using thermal images. Infrared light cannot go through glasses and thus glasses will appear as dark areas in a thermal image. One possible solution is to detect eyeglasses and to exclude the eyeglasses areas before face matching. In thermal face detection, a projection profile analysis algorithm is proposed, where region growing and morphology operations are used to segment the body of a subject; then the derivatives of two projections (horizontal and vertical) are calculated and analyzed to locate a minimal rectangle of containing the face area. Of course, the searching region of a pair of eyeglasses is within the detected face area. The eyeglasses detection algorithm should produce either a binary mask if eyeglasses present, or an empty set if no eyeglasses at all. In the proposed eyeglasses detection algorithm, block processing, region growing, and priori knowledge (i.e., low mean and variance within glasses areas, the shapes and locations of eyeglasses) are employed. The results of face detection and eyeglasses detection are quantitatively measured and analyzed using the manually defined ground truths (for both face and eyeglasses). Our experimental results shown that the proposed face detection and eyeglasses detection algorithms performed very well in contrast with the predefined ground truths.