cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Voice disorders in Sjögren's syndrome: Prevalence and related risk factors

Objectives/Hypothesis Sjogren's Syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease that causes sicca (dryness) symptoms by affecting secretions most notably of the lacrimal and salivary glands. Voice disorders have been documented in patients with SS, but the true prevalence and relationships among possible contributing factors remain unknown. This preliminary epidemiological investigation examined prevalence and risk factors for voice disorders in SS. Study Design Self-report epidemiological questionnaire. Methods One hundred and one (101) patients with SS (94 females, 7 males; M age = 59.4 years; standard deviation [SD] = 14.1 years) completed an extensive interview using a previously validated questionnaire involving the patient's medical, family, occupational, psychosocial, social/lifestyle, voice use, and general health histories. Summary statistics, chi-squares, risk ratios, and multiple logistic regression were used to determine the frequency and severity of voice disorders in individuals with SS, as well as associations with demographic, lifestyle, health, disease severity, and voice use factors. Results The prevalence of a current voice disorder in individuals with SS was 59.4%. In general, voice disorders began gradually; were chronic; and correlated with SS disease severity independent of age, sex, duration of the disease, comorbid autoimmune conditions, and use of SS-related medication. Specific voice symptoms including chronic throat dryness and soreness were significantly associated with SS disease severity. Conclusions Voice disorders are relatively common in SS and are more frequent as disease severity worsens. These findings have important implications for evaluation and treatment of patients with SS. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 125:1385–1392, 2015
Modeling of non-contact thermoacoustic imaging

Microwave-induced thermoacoustic imaging (TAI) has been actively researched in the past decade and shown to be a promising non-ionizing technology for various applications, such as breast cancer imaging, brain imaging, renal calculi detection, and foreign body detection. TAI develops an image exhibiting internal structures of a lossy sample by exploiting generated acoustic waves from absorbed pulsed microwave energy in the sample owing to thermoacoustic effect (R. A. Kruger et al, Radiology, 216, 279–283, 2000).
Roles for Cell Death in Zinc Deficiency

Studies of zinc deficiency (ZD) have become important for demonstrating that nutritional imbalances can readily induce programmed cell death (PCD) or apoptosis in a variety of kinds of cells. In mice, ZD caused a 300% increase in the amount of apoptosis among pre T-cells, which was a major cause of thymic atrophy that alters host defense. Embryogenesis was significantly altered in ZD mice due to increased apoptosis in the neural crest, optic, and head regions. Insufficient zinc initiated PCD in hepatocytes, glioma, kidney, monocytes, fibroblasts, and testicular cells, demonstrating the scope of this phenomenon. New forms of cell death continue to emerge. For example, autophagy is initiated by starvation and various nutritional and metabolic imbalances. Autophagy is a form of PCD whereby the cell digests some of its own organelles to provide needed nutrients. Understanding the interplay between these different forms of cell death and nutritional imbalances is very important because of their profound impact on development, growth, immune function, and health.
Ion-beam-enhanced adhesion of iron films to sapphire substrates

Abstract The effect of implantation of different ion species on the adhesion of iron films to sapphire substrates was investigated. The implantation energies were adjusted to ensure that the ion concentration profiles, damage profiles, and recoil distributions were the same for each species. For all implantations, the peak ion concentration was at the film-substrate interface. The adhesion of the films was measured by a pull test and a scratch test. For a fluence of 1 × 10 15 ions cm -2 , implantation of chromium (300 keV) and iron (320 keV) increased the bond strength whereas implantation of nickel (340 keV) did not. The effect is proposed to be due to changes in the interfacial energy resulting from the presence of the ion species at the interface. Only a narrow zone is affected; the mixing at the interface is less than 10 nm.
Nonsuicidal self-injury in adolescence : Longitudinal course, trajectories, and intrapersonal predictors

Although prevalence rates of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been established throughout adolescence, little is known about the progression of NSSI, and consequently, about the risk factors for youth NSSI engagement. This study aimed to describe the overall longitudinal course of NSSI and the latent trajectory classes of NSSI in a population-based sample of adolescents using multi-wave data. Moreover, this study examined whether sex, lifetime history of depression, rumination, and negative attributional style predicted the longitudinal course of NSSI and trajectory group membership. Participants were 617 Chinese adolescents in Grades 10 through 12 (51.4 % girls). NSSI was assessed across eight waves of data. History of depression, rumination, and negative attributional style were assessed at baseline. Latent growth curve modeling revealed that only lifetime depression predicted the longitudinal course of NSSI from Grades 10 to 12, with depressed adolescents showing greater and more stable NSSI engagement over time than non-depressed adolescents. Group-based trajectory modeling yielded three distinct trajectory classes of NSSI engagement: low (69.2 %), moderate (26.1 %), and chronic (4.7 %). Negative attributional style distinguished adolescents in the chronic vs. low and moderate NSSI trajectory classes. Sex, rumination, and lifetime depression predicted membership in the chronic and/or moderate vs. low NSSI trajectory class. NSSI trajectory classes, based on frequency of NSSI, exist and are differentiated by sex, depression history, rumination, and negative attributional style. This study suggests that during this period of adolescence NSSI may be a relatively stable behavior, especially for some adolescents. Negative attributional style may be a salient risk factor for chronic NSSI engagement.
A novel method for quantitative measurement of a biomarker in the presence of a therapeutic monoclonal antibody directed against the biomarker

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) have become important tools in the treatment of numerous diseases. Many of these MoAb are present in the blood at very high levels due to high dosing and long half-lives. Quantification of biomarkers bound by these therapeutic MoAb can be an important factor in determining efficacy and dosing requirements. However, quantitation of these biomarkers with reasonable accuracy can be very difficult to accomplish due to concomitant binding of the therapeutic MoAb. We describe here a novel method for quantifying total (free plus bound) biomarker concentration in the presence of high levels of therapeutic MoAb using a single non-competing MoAb in a capture/elution format. This assay has the capability to accurately detect and quantitate circulating ng/ml biomarker levels in the presence of 200 microg/ml or more of therapeutic MoAb.
Ion induced adhesion via interfacial compounds

Strong, stable adhesion of Cu thin films deposited on Al 2 O 3 (sapphire) can be obtained by presputtering the substrate surface with 500 eV Ar + ions before deposition of copper. The existence of a well-defined optimum fluence of sputtering ions suggests that the interface atomic configuration can be optimized to favor the formation of Cu-Al-O chemical bonding. The existence of a ternary bonding environment is inferred independently from a new dominant peak in the XPS spectrum from interface copper, whose occurrence is correlated with the optimized adhesion conditions.
Bacteriophage T4 short tail fibers are the product of gene 12.

Abstract The baseplate of wild-type T4 phage carries a small number (probably 6) of short tail fibers in addition to the well known long tail fibers and tail pins. Short tail fibers are missing from defective T4 particles (12 − particles) lacking only the product of T4 gene 12 and are restored by in vitro complementation. Phage are neutralized by an antiserum swept with 12 − particles; that neutralizing activity is in turn quantitatively blocked exclusively by soluble 12P or by particles that carry 12P. 12 − particle-swept antibody aggregates phage through their short tail fibers. It can be concluded that these fibers are the product of gene 12 . Antibody blocking experiments and in vitro complementation confirm the pleiotropic role of gene 57 product in phage T4 morphogenesis: 57 − particles are deficient in 12P as well as in long tail fibers.
Change in boron coordination in alkali borate glasses, and mixed alkali effects, as elucidated by NMR

Abstract NMR with substantial enhancement in signal-to-noise ratio (primarily from gisnal averaging and fast passage techniques) and thermal analysis are utilized to reinvestigate binary alkali borate glasses. The experimental results for the Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs borate glasses at various alkali contents show a strong dependence of the fraction, N4, of 4-coordinated borons on the particular alkali ion. NMR and thermal analysis experimental results for half-and-half mixed LiNa, LiK, LiRb and LiCs borate glasses at different total alkali content are also presented in this paper. It was found that the measured N4 for the mixed alkali glass is less than the value expected from a simple superposition of the values of the constituent alkalis, and in some cases is even less than either of the N4 values for the relevant single alkali glasses. 11B and 133Cs nuclear magnetic resonance results and Tg measurements are used to strengthen the evidence supporting the pairing model suggested by several workers for the mixed alkali effect.
A plasmid cloning vector for KpnI-cleaved DNA

Abstract A plasmid cloning vector containing a single site for KpnI has been generated by insertion of a 3.5-kb EcoRI/HindIII fragment of pCR1 into the EcoRI/HindIII sites of pBR322. KpnI cleavage yields 3′ rather than 5′ “sticky ends” which allows reconstitution of the recognition site after cloning by a homopolymer joining procedure. This is an advantage shared with only one or two other commercially available restriction enzymes.
Sensitization and tolerance to the discriminative stimulus effects of mu-opioid agonists

The discriminative stimulus effects of several mu-opioid agonists were examined under conditions of opioid sensitization or tolerance, i.e., before and after 1-week SC infusions of naloxone or mu-opioid agonists. Rats were trained to discriminate 3.0 mg/kg morphine from saline using a two-lever, discrete trial, shock-avoidance/escape procedure. The rats generalized completely to morphine, fentanyl, meperidine, buprenorphine, and etorphine, and partially to pentazocine. A 7-day infusion of naloxone (0.3 mg/kg per h) potentiated the discriminative stimulus effects of all of these drugs. The magnitude of the increased potency varied indirectly with the efficacy of the mu-opioid agonists; potency ratios (pre-infusion ED50/post-infusion ED50) ranged from 1.58 (etorphine) to 3.58 (pentazocine). Stimulus generalization to morphine, fentanyl, and meperidine also was examined following infusions of equieffective doses of each of these three drugs. Differences among drugs were generally small, and failed to reach statistical significance. Nonetheless, the induction of mu-opioid tolerance did seem to vary with the efficacy of the three mu-opioid agonists. Thus, meperidine (6.25 mg/kg per h), which has the lowest efficacy of the drugs infused, produced the greatest shift to the right of the stimulus-generalization curves of these three drugs; the post-meperidine PR ranged between 0.40 and 0.61. Fentanyl (0.1 mg/kg per h), a drug with a higher efficacy at mu-opioid receptors, did not produce tolerance to the discriminative stimulus effects of morphine, fentanyl, or meperidine; potency ratios ranged from 0.50 to 0.75. Potency ratios for buprenorphine, etorphine, fentanyl, meperidine, and morphine after 7-day morphine infusions (0.75 mg/kg per h) ranged from 0.38 (buprenorphine) to 0.80 (etorphine). Morphine induced significant tolerance only to the discriminative stimulus effects of fentanyl. Our results suggest that different cellular mechanisms underlie the development of tolerance and sensitization to the discriminative stimulus effects of mu-opioid agonists.
A Cytological Analysis of Differentiation Without Cleavage in Cytochalasin B- and Colchicine-Treated Embryos of Chaetopterus pergamentaceus

Chaetopterus eggs undergo characteristic ooplasmic rearrangements during development. Ooplasmic rearrangement in the absence of cell division is called differentiation without cleavage. Treatment of fertilized eggs with cytochalasin B allowed the continuation of nuclear divisions in the absence of cytoplasmic division. The ooplasmic rearrangements in uncleaved cytochalasin B-treated fertilized eggs closely paralleled those of normal development. Colchicine treatment, which blocks mitosis, arrested ooplasmic movements at a stage comparable to that of normal embryos at first cleavage. Neither drug eliminated the segregation between hyaloplasm and endoplasm, even though colchicine prevented the later rearrangements. Localizing movements are therefore dependent upon normal microtubule function, but not on microfilament function. The maintenance of localized materials does not seem to depend exclusively on either of these organelles.
Impact of previous midline laparotomy on the outcomes of laparoscopic intestinal resections: a case-matched study

The effectiveness of laparoscopic intestinal resection in patients with previous midline laparotomy (PML) is controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of laparoscopic surgery and identify possible factors associated with postoperative outcomes in patients with PML. Patients with PML (at least an infraumbilical incision or longer) undergoing elective laparoscopic intestinal resection between 1997 and 2011 were case matched with patients without PML undergoing laparoscopic surgery based on age, gender, body mass index, ASA score, surgical procedure, and diagnosis. Fifty patients with PML undergoing laparoscopic intestinal resection were well matched to 50 counterparts. Conversion to open surgery (n = 8 vs. n = 4, p = 0.22), operating time (211 vs. 192 min, p = 0.22), and estimated blood loss (158 vs. 184 ml, p = 0.95) were similar between the groups. Intraabdominal adhesions (either disease related or from previous operations) were significantly more common in patients with PML (n = 24 vs. n = 11, p = 0.01). Intraoperative complications included inadvertent enterotomy and hemorrhage and were comparable between the groups (n = 1 vs. n = 0, p = 1 and n = 1 vs. n = 2, p = 1 for PML vs. no PML, respectively). One patient without PML died postoperatively from aspiration pneumonia. Overall morbidity (n = 26 vs. n = 10, p = 0.001) and particularly postoperative ileus (n = 10 vs. n = 3, p = 0.04) were significantly increased in the PML group when compared to laparoscopy without PML, unlike the respective differences in postoperative return of bowel function (4 vs. 3 days, p = 0.15), reoperations (n = 5 vs. n = 3, p = 0.72), length of hospital stay (9 vs. 6 days, p = 0.09), and readmissions (n = 5 vs. n = 4, p = 0.73). Intestinal resections in patients with PML can be frequently completed laparoscopically but are associated with worse postoperative outcomes when compared to laparoscopy on a virgin abdomen.
Frequency of atrioventricular valve dysfunction after radiofrequency catheter ablation via the atrial approach in children.

Abstract Unlike the retrograde approach, the atrial approach has not been associated with significant postprocedure valvular dysfunction. Given equal efficacy of both methods, this study might indicate that the atrial approach would be preferable.
Software quality assurance through prototyping and automated testing

Abstract Software testing is an important aspect of software quality assurance. As commonly practised software testing is often superficial and inadequate, not because the principles of testing are poorly understood, but because testing simply requires too much time and expertise. If testing is to be performed adequately, much of it must be automated. The paper explores the potential that prototypes offer for software testing and quality assurance and outlines an automated testing strategy that employs prototypes effectively. The automated testing strategy is appealing because it allows prototyping, already widely used, to serve multiple purposes. To illustrate the strategy's viability, a software development effort is described in which the strategy has been successfully employed.
Field Guides in Academe: A Citation Study.

Field guides are common in libraries but are generally not considered scholarly. This study examines citations to fifty field guides to determine how they were used in scholarly publications, finding that field guides are frequently cited as a source of data on the ranges, habits, and descriptions of plants and animals.
Modeling short-range contributions to hydration energies with minimal parameterization

Abstract A novel model of short-range contributions to hydration free energies is introduced for use with dielectric continuum treatment of long-range bulk electrostatics. The empirical model invokes extrema of the solute normal electric field at the cavity surface that nominally separates solute from solvent. It involves only a small handful of adjustable parameters, which are fitted to experimental data on a large collection of neutral and ionic solutes. The results show mean unsigned errors from experiment of only 0.9 kcal/mol for neutrals and 2.4 kcal/mol for ions, which are comparable to the best analogous previous efforts that utilize many more parameters.
Elevated Levels of Antibodies to Polyuridylic Acid Detected and Quantitated in Systemic Scleroderma Patients by Solid Phase Radioimmunoassay

A solid support radioimmunoassay has been developed to detect immunoglobulin specific circulating antibodies to polyuridylic acid (Poly U), single-stranded RNA (ss RNA), and single-stranded DNA (ss DNA) in scleroderma and other connective tissue diseases. The assay system uses flex-vinyl microtiter plates on which bovine methyl albumin, the respective polynucleotide, a 1:80 dilution of patient serum, and tritiated high affinity anti-IgG, -IgA, or -1gM are layered. The individual wells containing the sandwich assay are then counted for the presence of labeled immunoglobulins and the results are reported in μ g/ml. Of the 30 sclerodenna patients tested, only patients with diffuse systemic scleroderma had antibody levels reactive to Poly U >4.0 μ g/ml and to ss RNA μ g/ml. Patients with linear scleroderma or morphea had anti-body levels to Poly U μ g/ml and very little antibody to ss DNA or ss RNA in their sera. Partial cross reactivity to Poly U was found only in SLE patients with high levels of Ab to ss DNA. Insignificant levels of Poly U antibody were found in patients with other connective tissue diseases and in normal controls. High levels of serum antibody in patients which reacted with Poly U suggest active diffuse systemic scleroderma.
Vesical Neck Reconstruction in Patients with the Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex

AbstractPurpose: We evaluated the factors critical in achieving urinary continence in patients with the exstrophy-epispadias complex.Materials and Methods: A total of 51 patients with epispadias and 33 with classic bladder exstrophy underwent vesical neck reconstruction. Patient records were reviewed to identify factors associated with the achievement of continence, including timing of bladder closure and urethroplasty, effect of bladder capacity before and after vesical neck reconstruction, and effect of enterocystoplasty.Results: Complete urinary continence was achieved in 42 of the 51 patients with epispadias (82 percent) and in 23 of the 33 with exstrophy (70 percent). Delayed bladder closure did not affect the ability to gain continence but increased the likelihood of subsequent enterocystoplasty (12 of 19 patients, 63 percent) compared to early bladder closure (5 of 14 patients, 36 percent).Conclusions: Preliminary urethroplasty did not enhance urinary control or reduce the need for enterocystoplast...
Effect of Three Concentrations of Intracervical Prostaglandin E2 Gel for Cervical Ripening

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of three concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) gel for preinduction cervical ripening. Two hundred ninety-one patients with an unfavorable cervix scheduled for induction of labor were eligible to participate in a prospective, randomized, double-blind study of one or two doses of intracervical PGE2 gel. Group 1 received a dose of 0.125 mg/2 ml; group 2 received 0.25 mg/2 ml; and group 3 received 0.5 mg/2 ml. Outcome variables included change in Bishop score, uterine tachysystole, oxytocin use, route of delivery, and maternal and neonatal complications. Two hundred twenty-nine patients were included in the study, 79 in group 1, 70 in group 2, and 80 in group 3. Among the three groups, no statistically significant differences were noted for change in Bishop score, uterine tachysystole, oxytocin use, route of delivery, or incidence of maternal or neonatal complications. Subsequent labors were frequently complicated by fetal heart rate abnormalities (24.3%) and uterine t...
Pressure-temperature stability studies of FeOOH using X-ray diffraction

The Mie-Gruneisen formalism is used to fit a Birch-Murnaghan equation of state to high-temperature (T), high-pressure (P) X-ray diffraction unit-cell volume (V) measurements on synthetic goethite (alpha-FeOOH) to combined conditions of T = 23-250o C and P = 0-29.4 GPa. We find the zero-pressure thermal expansion coefficient of goethite to be alpha0 = 2.3 (+-0.6) x 10-5 K-1 over this temperature range. Our data yield zero-pressure compressional parameters: V0 = 138.75 (+- 0.02) Angstrom3, bulk modulus K0 = 140.3 (+- 3.7) GPa, pressure derivative K0' = 4.6 (+- 0.4), Gruneisen parameter gamma0 = 0.91 (+- 0.07), and Debye temperature Theta0 = 740 (+- 5) K. We identify decomposition conditions for 2alpha-FeOOH --> alpha-Fe2O3 + H2O at 1 - 8 GPa and 100-400oC, and the polymorphic transition from alpha-FeOOH (Pbnm) to epsilon-FeOOH (P21mn). The non-quenchable, high-pressure epsilon-FeOOH phase P-V data are fitted to a second-order (Birch) equation of state yielding, K0 = 158 (+- 5) GPa and V0 = 66.3 (+- 0.5) Angstrom3.
Time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy of the photointermediates involved in fast transient H+ release by proteorhodopsin.

Proteorhodopsin (pR) is a homologue of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) that has been recently discovered in oceanic bacterioplankton. Like bR, pR functions as a light-driven proton pump. As previously characterized by laser flash induced absorption spectroscopy (Krebs, R. A.; Alexiev, U.; Partha, R.; DeVita, A. M.; Braiman, M. S. BMC Physiol. 2002, 2, 5), the pR photocycle shows evidence of light-induced H+ release on the 10−50 μs time scale, and of substantial accumulation of the M intermediate, only at pH values above 9 and after reconstitution into phospholipid followed by extensive washing to remove detergent. We have therefore measured the time-resolved FTIR difference spectra of pR intermediates reconstituted into DMPC vesicles at pH 9.5. A mixture of K- and L-like intermediates, characterized by a 1516 cm-1 positive band and a 1742 cm-1 negative band respectively, appears within 20 μs after photolysis. This mixture decays to an M-like state, with a clear band at 1756 cm-1 due to protonation of Asp-97. The 5...
Energy levels of /sup 2/39U observed with the (d,p) reaction

Energy levels of /sup 2/39U up to an excitation energy of 1.6 MeV have been studied with the /sup 2/38U(d,p) /sup 2/39U reaction at a bombarding energy of 12 MeV. Angular distributions 75/sup 0/ < or = theta/sub L/ < 150/sup 0/ provided information on the l values transferred. Level assignments based on the (d,p) data are suggested which partially corroborate recent studies of /sup 2/39U with neutron-capture ..gamma.. rays.
Solvent treatment for β-d-galactosidase release from yeast cells

Abstract A method is presented for the release of β- d -galactosidase (β- d -galactoside galactohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.23) from yeast cells. Enzyme release is attained by mixing yeast cells with concentrated solvents (20 to 95%) and subsequently suspending and agitating the cells in buffer. Many solvents, including isopropanol, ethanol and methanol, were found to be effective. Enzyme release into buffer was relatively slow: 10–20 h was required for maximum yields. The release of protease and β- d -galactosidase was monitored. β- d -Galactosidase solubilization was achieved in high yield: 90% of the intracellular enzyme was released into the buffer. Because this method exhibits resistance to yield loss due to microbial degradation and is not sensitive to small changes in solvent in buffer concentration or treatment time, it is particularly suited to industrial-scale enzyme recoveries.
Azobenzene-functionalized polyimides as wireless actuators

Abstract Wireless transduction of light into mechanical work manifested as shape-changing surfaces, adaptive structures, or actuators is a topic of considerable recent interest. In the work reported here, the photomechanical responses of a new series of crosslinked azobenzene-functionalized polyimides prepared with increasing backbone rigidity over a range of crosslinker concentrations are examined. The baseline properties of the materials were characterized with X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and photomechanical examination including cantilever bending experiments and tensile tests. Increasing the rigidity of the backbone repeat unit reduces the magnitude of the shape change (observed as cantilever deflection) but increases the magnitude of photogenerated stress (in tensile tests). The promise of these materials as wireless actuators was examined in photoinitiated snap-through experiments.
The influence of sex on the development of lateralization of speech.

Abstract Younger and older right-and left-handed children participated in verbal and nonverbal auditory tasks. The results of these experiments demonstrate that there are sex-related changes in lateralization of linguistic processing with age. Boys and girls both show left-hemisphere specialization for speech in early childhood. However, by late childhood the adult pattern of greater language lateralization in males than in females is established.
Impacts of Invasive Oyster Drills on Olympia Oyster (Ostrea lurida Carpenter 1864) Recovery in Willapa Bay, Washington, United States

ABSTRACT The Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida)‡ was historically abundant in Willapa Bay, WA, but populations were decimated by overexploitation in the mid to late-1800s and have failed to recover. We investigated the potential role of two introduced predatory gastropods, the Japanese drill (Ocinebrina inornata) and the eastern drill (Urosalpinx cinerea), in limiting Olympia oyster recovery. We quantified the bay-wide distribution, local abundance, and per capita effects of drills, and asked how each of these three components of total invasion impact might be influenced by another dominant introduced species, the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas). Bay-wide sampling revealed differences in spatial distribution of the two drill species, with U. cinerea more abundant toward the head of the estuary and O. inornata more abundant toward the mouth. Individual feeding trials indicated that both drill species preferred Pacific oysters to Olympia oysters of similar size, and preferentially attacked smaller oysters. W...
Application dependency discovery using matrix factorization

Driven by the large-scale growth of applications deployment in data centers and complicated interactions between service components, automated application dependency discovery becomes essential to daily system management and operation. In this paper, we present ADD, which extracts dependency paths for each application by decomposing the application-layer connectivity graph inferred from passive network monitoring data. ADD utilizes a series of statistical techniques and is based on the combination of global observation of application traffic matrix in the data center and local observation of traffic volumes at small time scales on each server. Compared to existing approaches, ADD is especially effective in the presence of overlapping and multi-hop applications and resilient to data loss and estimation errors.
A method for the assessment of sensitivity to touch in the monkey.

Abstract An avoidance paradigm for assessing touch perception over skin surfaces in the monkey is described. Training is rapid and the response both reliable and resistant to extinction, making this test appropriate for immediate as well as long-term evaluation of animals with various interventions, including nervous system lesions.
Children of Homosexual Parents Report Childhood Difficulties

Referenced as both supporting and weakening the case for parenting by homosexuals, 57 life-story narratives of children with homosexual parents published by Rafkin in 1990 and Saffron in 1996 were subjected to content analysis. Children mentioned one or more problems or concerns in 48 (92%) of 52 families. Of the 213 scored problems, 201 (94%) were attributed to the homosexual parent(s). Older daughters in at least 8 (27%) of 30 families and older sons in at least 2 (20%) of 10 families described themselves as homosexual or bisexual. These findings are inconsistent with propositions that children of homosexuals do not differ appreciably from those who live with married parents or that children of homosexuals are not more apt to engage in homosexuality.
Stage-specific protein and mRNA synthesis during morphogenesis of the polyembryonic parasitoid Copidosoma floridanum (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

Changes in protein and mRNA synthesis during embryonic morphogenesis of the polyembryonic parasitoid Copidosoma floridanum were characterized by 1- and 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and quantified by scanning densitometry. Analysis of protein synthesis at different developmental stages indicated that embryonic molecular changes occurred at 36 h of the host's fourth stadium. These changes included decreased expression of 51 and 104 kD (D) proteins and increased expression of 22, 22.5, and 24 kD (D) proteins. Similarly, analysis of in vitro translation products indicated increased transcription of mRNA encoding 16 and 49 kD proteins in embryos dissected at 36 h of the host's fourth stadium. The stage-specific changes in transcription and translation corresponded to the blastula stage of embryonic development and arose several hours before the initiation of embryonic morphogenic events associated with larval pattern formation. Application of the JH analogue methoprene at times that block morphogenesis but not blastula formation did not block the stage-specific synthesis of any proteins. In contrast, neck ligation of hosts at times that block blastula formation and morphogenesis inhibited the synthesis of the 24 kD protein that was normally expressed at the blastula stage.
GurunGo: coupling personal computers and mobile devices through mobile data types

Networked devices like desktop computers and mobile phones make it possible for people to access any of the billions of web pages available on the Internet. However, mobile devices are fundamentally different from desktop PCs in terms of input speeds, screen size, and network speeds, making it harder in practice to find information when on the go. In this paper, we introduce GurunGo, a system that monitors a person's activities on their PC for mobile data types---kinds of data likely to be useful to a person when mobile---and then proactively copies these snippets of data onto his mobile device, thus making it easier to find that information when mobile. Our initial prototype finds and extracts mobile data types from web pages that are browsed on a desktop computer, annotates it with additional relevant information, and copies it to a mobile device in the background. We discuss the design and implementation of GurunGo, as well as some of the tradeoffs and design rationale.
Increased risk of mortality associated with hip fracture in the dialysis population

Background: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are at increased risk of bone loss and hip fracture. Although it is well known that hip fracture in the general population is associated with increased mortality, this relationship is not well elucidated in the ESRD population. The authors studied the association between hip fracture and mortality in dialysis patients. Methods: The authors used data from the United States Renal Data System to identify patients initiating dialysis between May 1, 1995, and December 31, 2000. Patients with hip fractures were identified using Medicare claims data. Each patient who experienced a hip fracture was matched to 3 nonfracture controls by age, history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and dialysis duration. Proportional hazards models were used to estimate the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality associated with hip fracture stratified by CVD history. Results: A total of 7,636 patients with a hip fracture and 22,896 matched controls were identified. Median survival time for patients with hip fracture was 289 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 275, 302) compared with 714 days (95% CI: 697, 732) for those without a hip fracture. The average relative risk of mortality associated with hip fracture was 1.99 (95% CI: 1.91, 2.07; P Conclusion: Hip fracture is associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in the dialysis population.
Methane flux from northern peatlands

The concentration of methane (CH4) in the global troposphere is increasing. Ambient air measurements document an approximate rate of increase of 1–2% yr−1 over the past decade1–4. Measurements of CH4 in air bubbles trapped in polar ice indicate that tropospheric concentrations of CH4 several hundred years ago may have been ∼45% of present levels5–7. To understand and assess possible causes of the atmospheric CH4 increase requires improved quantitative knowledge of global sources and sinks of CH4. Previous attempts to estimate sources of atmospheric CH4, based on very few measurements, have suggested that natural and agricultural wetlands are major sources8,9. The major wetland regions of the world are in boreal, low Arctic and tropical ecosystems10. It is these regions, particularly in peatland habitats where major accumulations of organic materials occur under anaerobic conditions, that should be significant sources of global tropospheric CH4. The most extensive peatlands in the world occur in the boreal taiga zone between ∼45° and 65° N latitude. More than 95% of world peat resources occur in the Soviet Union, Canada, the United States, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the United Kingdom10. We report here the first survey of CH4 flux from northern peatlands of the United States. Emission rates ranged from 0.003 to 1.94 g CH4 m−2 day−1, with half of these values between 0.1 and 0.4 g CH4 m−2 day−1. The frequency distribution is log normal (Fig. 1) and the mean emission rate is 0.337 g CH4 m−2 day−1. Such fluxes are higher than most values reported for other ecosystems, suggesting that northern peatlands may be an important source of global tropospheric CH4.
Differential abundance of superoxide dismutase in interneurons versus projection neurons and in matrix versus striosome neurons in monkey striatum

To investigate whether differences in vulnerability to free radicals might underlie differences among striatal neurons in their vulnerability to neurodegenerative processes such as occur in ischemia and Huntington's disease, we have analyzed the localization of superoxide free radical scavengers in different striatal neuron types in normal rhesus monkey. Single- and double-label immunohistochemical experiments were carried out using antibodies against the enzymes copper, zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1), or manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2), and against markers of various striatal cell types. Our results indicate that the striatal cholinergic and parvalbumin interneurons are enriched in SOD1 and/or SOD2, whereas striatal projection neurons and neuropeptide Y/somatostatin (NPY+/SS+) interneurons express only low levels of both SOD1 and SOD2. We also found that projection neurons of the matrix compartment express significantly higher levels of SOD than those in the striosome compartment. Since projection neurons have been reported to be more vulnerable than interneurons and striosome neurons more vulnerable than matrix neurons to neurodegenerative processes, our results are consistent with the notion that superoxide free radicals are at least partly involved in producing the differential neuron loss observed in the striatum following global brain ischemia or in Huntington's disease.
Studies on the Bi2Te3–Bi2Se3–Bi2S3 system for mid-temperature thermoelectric energy conversion

Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) and its alloys have been widely investigated as thermoelectric materials for cooling applications at around room temperature. We report a systematic study on many compounds in the Bi2Te3–Bi2Se3–Bi2S3 system. All the samples were fabricated by high energy ball milling followed by hot pressing. Among the investigated compounds, Bi2Te2S1 shows a peak ZT ∼0.8 at 300 °C and Bi2Se1S2 ∼0.8 at 500 °C. The results show that these compounds can be used for mid-temperature power generation applications. The leg efficiency of thermoelectric conversion for segmented elements based on these n-type materials could potentially reach 12.5% with a cold side at 25 °C and a hot side at 500 °C if appropriate p-type legs are paired, which could compete well with the state-of-the-art n-type materials within the same temperature range, including lead tellurides, lead selenides, lead sulfides, filled-skutterudites, and half Heuslers.
Automated segmentation and characterization of ion-abrasion scanning electron microscopy fuel cell images

This paper presents a method for semi-automatically segmenting ion-abrasion scanning electron microscopy (I-A SEM) images of fuel cell anodes into discrete regions representing the metal, ceramic, and empty space components of a given volume of a fuel cell anode. Segmentation is accomplished by the use of the fast marching method (FMM) proceeding from multiple automatically-generated seeds. Statistical region merging (SRM) is used to consolidate similar segments. Final consolidation of regions is accomplished using simple global thresholding of the merged regions and manual correction, if necessary. Following segmentation of a stack of images representing a complete anode, we convert the fuel cell volume into a connected graph representation. Characterization of many of the fuel cell's geometric properties can then be accomplished by graph algorithmic methods. As an example, we find the proportion of active and inactive triple-phase boundary (TPB) points using an A* graph search algorithm.
Study of the control of crocodilian respiration by anesthetic dissection.

Abstract This paper seeks to elucidate controlling mechanisms of the crocodilian respiratory pattern by observing changes in the pattern during anesthetic induction and recovery. Both chloroform and pentobarbital anesthesia produce a sequential loss of components of the respiratory pattern present in the waking animal. Typical breath groups disappear early. Breath holding ability is lost gradually, but both expiratory and inspiratory activity remain strong for some time. The loss of breath holding ability is due to gradual failure of the mechanisms controlling closure of the glottis. Expiratory activity disappears later, often involving a great prolongation of the act, leaving only periodic inspiratory activity under very deep anesthesia. There is no evidence for an apneustic center or a specific gasping center in crocodilians.
Elicitation studies and the theory of planned behavior: a systematic review of exercise beliefs

Abstract Background: Elicitation studies are recommended when using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to establish the cognitive foundation of a population’s salient exercise beliefs. The TPB is frequently used to explain exercise intention and behavior, and its predictive utility is well-established. Limited research, however, has examined people’s salient behavioral, normative, and control beliefs for exercise—and the relative contribution of these beliefs for explaining attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. Thus, to extend the explanatory utility of the TPB, a review of exercise elicitation studies is warranted. Purpose: To review TPB and exercise studies that conducted an elicitation study. Methods: A comprehensive literature search yielded 47 TPB studies that had conducted an elicitation study, spanning 22 yr (range: 1975–2002; 59.6% from the 1990s). Results and conclusions: We found that: (a) the most salient behavioral, normative, and control beliefs were that exercise improves physical/psychological health, family members have the strongest normative influence on exercise, and physical limitations obstruct exercise, respectively; (b) the effect size for behavioral beliefs-attitude, normative beliefs-subjective norm, and control beliefs-perceived behavioral control were large; (c) the beliefs explained between 34% and 56% of the variance in attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control; and (d) insufficient information was reported for the elicitation studies’ methods. The study findings illustrate the importance of conducting elicitation studies as a mechanism for understanding exercise behavior. Future researchers are encouraged to conduct elicitation studies, and to report more detailed information regarding their methods to aid in replication and interpretation.
High efficiency CdTe cells using manufacturable window layers and CdTe thickness

Abstract Record cells typically use high sheet-resistance transparent conducting oxide (TCO), ultra-thin CdS, and thick CdTe layers to achieve high efficiencies. In this paper, the path to high efficiencies using manufacturable film thicknesses is discussed, demonstrating > 15% cells on commercially available TCO and > 16% cells on non-commercially available TCO. The biggest impact on the performance has been the use of a non-commercially available TCO, which allows the use of 80 nm thick CdS layers to get a performance of above 16%, due to the higher fill-factor as compared with typical world-record devices.
Regional tilt patterns of late Cenozoic basin-range fault blocks, western United States

Large regions in which major late Cenozoic basin-range fault blocks are consistently tilted are recognized in the western United States. The pattern of tilt domains is characterized by transverse zones or boundaries, parallel to the extension direction, and by antiformal (tilts away from) and synformal (tilts toward) boundaries at right angles to the extension direction. Tilting of ranges averages about 15° to 20° in Nevada and Utah and indicates extension of about 20% to 30% for-the entire Great Basin region, using the model proposed by Morton and Black (1975) that relates dip of beds and extension. The regional tilt pattern may be related to stress relief extending outward from antiformal boundaries that are interpreted as initial sites of rupture during late Cenozoic extension.
The relationship between adherence and weight loss in a behavioral treatment program for overweight children

The adherence to programmatic assignments and its relationship to weight change were evaluated among families enrolled in a child weight-loss program. Overall adherence, as well as the contribution of subcategories (completing food intake and activity records, nutrition summaries, staying below calorie limits, meeting activity goals, and following cue control rules), were assessed. The results revealed that overall adherence as well as all subcategories of adherence were related to success during treatment. There was one exception to this finding-meeting one's activity goals was not related to weight change during intensive treatment. Monitoring of food intake emerged as the best predictor of immediate success. These findings are discussed in the context of limitations on the degree of prediction achieved and in terms of a general construct of adherence. Relationships between some aspects of initial adherence and weight change during follow-up also emerged and within treatment weight loss did not add to the predictive value of these variables.
Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Thick, Cu2+-Chelating Films

Layer-by-layer adsorption of protonated poly(allylamine) (PAH) and deprotonated poly(N,N-dicarboxymethylallylamine) (PDCMAA) yields thick films with a high density of iminodiacetic acid (IDA) ligands that bind metal ions. When film deposition occurs at pH 3.0, PAH/PDCMAA bilayer thicknesses reach 200 nm, and Cu2+ binding capacities are ∼2.5 mmol per cm3 of film. (PAH/PDCMAA)10 films deposited at pH 3.0 are 4–8-fold thicker than films formed at pH 5.0, 7.0, or 9.0, presumably because of the low charge density on PDCMAA chains at pH 3.0. However, with normalization to film thickness, all films bind similar amounts of Cu2+ from pH 4.1 solutions of CuSO4. In micrometer-thick films, equilibration of binding sites with Cu2+ requires ∼4 h due to a low Cu2+ diffusion coefficient (∼2.6 × 10–12 cm2/s). Sorption isotherms determined at several temperatures show that Cu2+ binding is endothermic with a positive entropy (binding constants increase with increasing temperature), presumably because metal-ion complexation ...
Graft survival and immune regulation of pancreas allograft recipients induced with thymoglobulin, sirolimus, and cyclosporine.

Abstract Background Our objective was to determine the impact of thymoglobulin–sirolimus–cyclosporine immunosuppression on the alloimune response of pancreas–kidney transplant recipients. Methods Thirty-six pancreas transplant recipients received an induction protocol of thymoglobulin, sirolimus, reduced-dose cyclosporine, and corticosteroids. A subset of 10 recipients were also enrolled in a study to measure immune responsiveness. Flow PRA–determined HLA antibody, donor-specific flow cytometry crossmatching (FCXM), T-cell subset, and suppressor cell assays were performed at various timepoints during the first posttransplant year. Results One-year patient, kidney, and pancreas survivals were 97%, 94%, and 92%, respectively. There was 1 death due to sepsis, and 1 kidney and 2 pancreas graft losses. There were no acute rejection episodes. Recipients in the immune-monitoring study displayed depression of CD3, CD4, and CD8 counts ( 80% flow PRA. At transplant 1 patient was FCXM-positive, whereas, by 3 months posttransplant, 2 of 10 patients demonstrated a positive FCXM. There were no clinical consequences to either the presence of HLA antibody or the positive FCXMs. By 6 months, 7 of 9 patients expressed immunoregulatory suppressor cell activity. Conclusions The absence of acute rejection events was likely due to inhibition of donor-specific immunity. Seventy percent of patients demonstrated an early non–donor-directed HLA antibody response that had no adverse effect on graft function and 78% of the patients displayed immunoregulatory suppressor cell function, probably contributing to the successful clinical outcome.
Inhibiting carbonic anhydrase in brain tissue increases the respiratory response to rebreathing CO2.

Abstract To determine the respiratory effects of inhibiting carbonic anhydrase in brain tissue, we infused acetazolamide (ACZ) into the cisterna magna in anesthetized rats. Three concentrations, 4.5, 45 and 450 μM in artificial cerebrospinal fluid, were infused continuously at 2 μl/min for 20 min and the responses to CO2 rebreathing trials were compared to sham CSF infusions without ACZ. Baseline, steady-state respiration during room air breathing was not affected by these doses of ACZ, but the two higher doses increased the minute ventilation rebreathing response. We conclude that inhibition of carbonic anhydrase in brain tissue increases the respiratory response to rebreathing CO2.