cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hard T: the Stressful Nature of Incarceration for Women

This descriptive, correlational study explored the stressful life event of incarceration for women prisoners and examined its relationship to selected health outcomes. Interviews with 55 women during their first week of incarceration and after 6 months in prison provided the data for analysis. Specific stresses of incarceration identified by the women included separation from families, worry about their children, and loss of control of their own lives. Psychological stress at time of incarceration was found to be positively related to depression and weight gain after 6 months of incarceration. Strategies to decrease the stressful nature of incarceration and improve the health status of incarcerated women are recommended.
Children with Disabilities Need a Head Start Too

Recently, the US Head Start program has been expanded to Early Head Start, which targets pregnant women and children under 3 years. Head Start is mandated to enroll children with disabilities as at least 10 percent of their population, and such children comprise approximately 13 percent of the programs in Massachusetts. However, the majority of these children have speech and language problems; less than 1 percent are diagnosed with more severe or complex disorders. To further clarify service patterns, a mail survey was conducted with directors of Head Start programs in New England. Fifty surveys were completed and analyzed. The results are consistent with previous findings that Head Start is underused as a service for children with more than mild disabilities. Specific issues are discussed and recommendations made.
Dependence on Temperature of the Interlayer Spacing in Carbons of Different Graphitic Perfection

IN a previous communication1, attention was directed to important inconsistencies and gaps in the literature concerning thermal expansion in graphitic carbons perpendicular to the hexagonal layer-planes. Preliminary experiments were reported, and, while these clarified the picture to some extent, the need for further experiments at higher (above 1,200° C.) and lower (below 20° C.) temperatures was indicated. Special diffractometer techniques required for these measurements have now been developed and will be described elsewhere : meanwhile, the extended results are reported.
Wellens' Syndrome or Inverted U-waves?

This report describes an example of a patient with chest pain and classic electrocardiographic changes consistent with ischemia in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) territory. This electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormality is known as Wellens' syndrome. However, the same abnormality is also described as inverted U-waves. The significance of this abnormality and the controversy of describing this syndrome is reviewed and discussed.
The Moderating Effect of the Boundary Spanning Role on Perceived Supervisory Support: A Meta-Analytic Review

Abstract This article is a meta-analytic study examining the moderating effect the boundary spanning role has on the relationship between perceived supervisory support (PSS) and other important constructs within the marketing domain, including: job satisfaction, organizational commitment, performance, and turnover intentions. There was a positive relationship between PSS and every construct except turnover intentions, which was negative. Along with this, three out of the four relationships were stronger for boundary spanners as compared to non-boundary spanners. Overall, managers aimed at meeting organizational objectives (e.g. performance; turnover) should provide supervisory support to boundary spanning employees.
Chiari I malformation and cloacal exstrophy: Report of a patient with both defects of blastogenesis

We report on child with Chiari I malformation (CIM) and cloacal exstrophy, a combination of findings that has not been reported previously. CIM and cloacal exstrophy both demonstrate abnormalities that represent maldevelopment of the midline field. This combination of anomalies in this patient suggests an impairment of midline development during blastogenesis.
An explanation for varying views about digitalis efficacy in congestive heart failure

The issue is no longer whether digitalis exerts an inotropic effect in heart failure or whether one can demonstrate a sustained hemodynamic or clinical response to the drug, but whether the same favorable effect can now be achieved equally well by another agent that might not be as dangerous as digitalis.
Photodynamic action of merocyanine 540 on erythrocyte membranes: structural perturbation of lipid and protein constituents.

Abstract erocyanine 540 (MC540) is a membrane-directed photosensitizing dye with antileukemic and antiviral properties. In this study, biophysical and biochemical techniques have been used to examine MC540-sensitized photooxidative damage in the lipid and protein compartments of a test membrane, the human erythrocyte ghost. Irradiation of MC540-sensitized ghosts with white light resulted in oxidative damage to proteins, as manifested by (i) loss of sulfhydryl groups; (ii) intermolecular cross-linking of major polypeptides; and (iii) loss of Mg2+-ATPase and Na+,K+-ATPase activities. Photooxidation also produced a rapid and progressive increase in general protein motion, as measured by electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry (EPR) with the sulfhydryl spin label MAL-6. In addition to these effects, ghosts exposed to MC540 and light underwent lipid peroxidation. EPR with two lipophilic spin probes, 5-doxylstearate and 16-doxylstearate, showed that lipid peroxidation is accompanied by a progressive decrease in bilayer fluidity (motional freedom). At a given dye concentration, structural perturbations of proteins were detected at much lower light fluences than those of lipids. When photoreactions were carried out in the presence of ascorbate and iron, there was a strong stimulation of lipid peroxidation (attributed to free radical chain reactions), with a concommitant greater decrease in lipid mobility. Thus, the deleterious effects of photoperoxidation on lipid structure and motional freedom were greatly exacerbated by ascorbate and iron. Membrane damage similar to that described here may play a role in the phototherapeutic activity of MC540.
The Effects of Erosion on Archaeological Sites along the Upper Oahe Reservoir, South Dakota

Shoreline erosion of archaeological sites along Lake Oahe, North and South Dakota since the late 1960s has resulted in substantial destruction to many significant and potentially National Register eligible archaeological sites. Using aerial photographs dating to the late-1930s, site maps, and recent aerial photographs, we document the effects of erosion at three major village sites located in the Northern Cannonball region of South Dakota. As a result of a prolonged drought, erosion of archaeological sites has been minimal since the late 1990s. When the current drought cycle ends, erosion will likely resume at pre-drought rates of 3 to 5 meters per year.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin α-Subunit from Cultured Choriocarcinoma (JEG) Cells: Comparison of the Subunit Secreted Free with That Prepared from Secreted Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

The cultured human choriocarcinoma cell line, JEG-clone 3, secretes both biologically active hCG (JEG-hCG) and substantial quantities of free a-subunit (JEG-α). This study is concerned with a comparative characterization of the a-subunits of three distinct origins: 1) standard hCG-α obtained after dissociation of urinary (pregnancy) hCG, 2) JEG-α freely secreted by the JEG-3 cells, and 3) JEG-hCG-α obtained after dissociation of secreted JEG-hCG. Comparison of these a-subunits was made by gel exclusion chromatography, isoelectric focusing, and ability to form a radioreceptor assay-active hCG when incubated with standard hCG-β subunit. The freely secreted JEG-α exhibits an apparent molecular weight larger than that of standard hCG-a and JEG-hCG-α, whose apparent molecular weights are similar. The majority of JEG-α is represented by a component with acidic isoelectric pH (pI 4.8), and this component is virtually absent in standard hCG-α and JEG-hCG-α. When incubated with β-subunit, JEG-hCG-α forms a radiore...
OPPOSING ART: REJECTION AS AN ACTION TENDENCY OF HOSTILE AESTHETIC EMOTIONS*

One of Berlyne's many intriguing ideas was that aesthetic feelings have implications for behavior, particularly actions associated with approach, avoidance, and exploration. Later models of aesthetic emotions, however, have not addressed the implications of aesthetic emotions for action. Using controversial contemporary photography, two experiments examined the behavioral implications of negative emotions. Feelings of anger and disgust predicted self-reported indicators of rejection (Experiment 1) and the probability of choosing to receive a controversial postcard as a gift (Experiment 2). These findings illustrate relationships between appraisal, emotions, and action tendencies, and they expand the evidence for the appraisal approach to aesthetic emotions.
Hope for a Cause as Cause for Hope: The Need for Hope in Environmental Sociology

Hope is a crucial component of agency involving the setting of goals, visualization of obstacles, and increasing willpower in the effort of achieving a desired goal. This hope is not simply optimism and is potentially a bridge between structure and agency. Yet, the powers of hope in sociology have been greatly unexplored including the ability of collective hope to create social change. This lack of hope is particularly poignant in environmental sociology as the sub-discipline looks for solutions to some of the greatest challenges humanity and the planet faces. This article discusses the undercurrent of pessimism in environmental sociology and calls for the integration of hope as it is necessary for generating potential social environmental change.
Social Support and Neighborhood Stressors Among African American Youth: Networks and Relations to Self-Worth

Although neighborhood stressors have a negative impact on youth, and social support can play a protective role, it is unclear what types and sources of social support may contribute to positive outcomes among at-risk youth. We examined the influences of neighborhood disadvantage and social support on global self-worth among low-income, urban African American youth, both concurrently and longitudinally. We examined social support from both a structural and functional perspective, and tested the main-effects and the stress-buffering models of social support. Participants included 82–130 youth, in 6th–8th grade, who completed self-report measures. Network support results suggest participants received emotional, tangible, and informational support most often from mothers and other female relatives, with friends, fathers, and teachers also playing important roles. Model testing accounted for neighborhood stressors and support from various sources, revealing support from close friends was associated with concurrent self-worth; whereas, parent support predicted self-worth longitudinally, above and beyond initial levels of self-worth. The findings provide evidence for the main-effects model of social support and not the stress-buffering model. Our findings illustrate the importance of extended family networks and the types of support that youth rely upon in African American impoverished communities, as well as how support contributes to global self-worth. Implications and suggestions for future research and intervention are discussed.
Two-dimensional vortex dynamics in a stratified barotropic fluid

We show that two-dimensional ‘point’ vortex dynamics in both a polytropic fluid of y = 3/2 and an isothermal fluid stratified by a constant gravitational field can be written in Hamiltonian form. We find that the formulation admits only one constant of the motion in addition to the Hamiltonian, so that two vortices are the most for which the motion is generally integrable. We study in detail the two-vortex problem and find a rich collection of behaviour: closed trajectories analogous to the circular orbits of the uniform-fluid two-vortex problem, open trajectories for which the self-propelled vortices scatter off each other, and both unstable and stable steadily translating pairs of vortices. Comparison is made to the case of two vortices in a uniform-density fluid bounded by a wall.
Spherical Gravitational Waves

The field equations of the general theory of relativity are solved in the linear approximation for all cases of spherical waves with quadrupole symmetry. Energy is radiated outward by all these waves as determined by the canonical expression for the energy flux. A qualitative check of the validity of this method of calculation is made by the application of the same approximation to cylindrical gravitational radiation, for which an exact solution is known. In this case the exact and the linearized calculations lead to corresponding results.
Toward Evidence-Based Treatment: Child-Parent Psychotherapy with Preschoolers Exposed to Marital Violence

ABSTRACT Objective Treatment outcome for preschool-age children exposed to marital violence was assessed, comparing the efficacy of Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) with case management plus treatment as usual in the community. Method Seventy-five multiethnic preschool mother dyads from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds were randomly assigned to (1) CPP or (2) case management plus community referral for individual treatment. CPP consisted of weekly parent-child sessions for 1 year monitored for integrity with the use of a treatment manual and intensive training and supervision. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist and participated in the Structured Clinical Interview for DC:0-3 to assess children's emotional and behavioral problems and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Mothers completed the Symptom Checklist-90 and the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale interview to assess their general psychiatric and PTSD symptoms. Results Repeated-measures analysis of variance demonstrated the efficacy of CPP with significant group × time interactions on children's total behavior problems, traumatic stress symptoms, and diagnostic status, and mothers' avoidance symptoms and trends toward significant group × time interactions on mothers' PTSD symptoms and general distress. Conclusions The findings provide evidence of the efficacy of CPP with this population and highlight the importance of a relationship focus in the treatment of traumatized preschoolers.
From commodity to community in nursing homes: an impossibility?

Ever since Erving Goffman (1962) discovered unexpected social bonding and elaborate social networks among the ‘inmates’ of total institutions, researchers and policy makers have used ‘community’ to refer to those very persons (nursing-home residents, in-patients in psychiatric hospitals, and others incarcerated for diverse disabilities) believed to be ‘its principal victims’ (Hazan 1995: 211). The concept ‘community’ was built upon Tonnies's (1955/1887) concept of Gemeinschaft, which depicted homogeneous groups integrated through multiple social linkages and face-to-face relations. By the 1970s, scholars of community studies called into question the conceptual underpinnings and potentially negative implications of the concept. They reframed ‘community’ as a concept that addressed more refined questions concerning locality, and reserved the term for the social networks that reflected group interests and provided symbolic evidence of identity formation or belonging (Davies 2003). Nonetheless, the term retains prominence for the institutions that provide residential care for people with various disabilities.
Do Classroom Experiments Increase Learning in Introductory Microeconomics

Abstract: Interest in using classroom experiments to teach economics is increasing whereas empirical evidence on how experiments affect learning is limited and mixed. The author used a pretest-posttest control-group design to test whether classroom experiments and grade incentives that reward performance in experiments affect learning of introductory microeconomics. The author measured the partial effects of experiments independently of instructor quality and teaching methods using Test of Understanding in College Economics scores. Experiments without incentives are associated with higher posttest scores and greater improvement over pretest scores, but grade incentives may offset benefits of experiments. Controlling for student aptitude and other characteristics, limiting influence of potential outliers, or adjusting for potential selection bias from incomplete observation of test scores does not alter the conclusion that experiments increase learning whereas grade incentives do not.
Mechanistic Studies on Thiaminase I: Identification of the Product of Thiamin Degradation in the Absence of the Nucleophilic Cosubstrate

Abstract Thiaminase I catalyzes the decomposition of thiamin under basic conditions in the absence of the nucleophilic cosubstrate. The product of this reaction was identified as the adduct resulting from the displacement of the thiazole moiety of thiamin by the ring opened form of thiamin.
On the notion of weak stability and related issues of hybrid diffusion systems

This work is concerned with the weak stability of hybrid diffusion systems, which consist of a number of diffusions modulated by a jump process. First, we show that when the jump component is nearly completely decomposable into a number of ergodic jump processes, the overall system is still weakly stable (or positive recurrent). Next we show that even if the process contains transient states, the positive recurrence can still be preserved. Then, we examine the asymptotic distribution when only one ergodic group of states is involved in the jump process and the state space of the continuous state belongs to a compact set. Our attention is devoted to asymptotic distribution in this case. The distribution is obtained by utilizing a spectrum gap property of the underlying process.
Reading skill and the minimum distance principle: A comparison of listening and reading comprehension☆

Abstract Experiment I compared the listening and reading comprehension of sentences which follow the Minimum Distance Principle, e.g., John tells Bill to bake the cake , and of those which do not, e.g., John promises Bill to bake the cake . Third, fourth, and fifth graders were tested. Support for Chomsky's Stage analysis of mastery of the Minimum Distance Principle was found for the listening but not for the reading task. Reading skill level was found to be positively correlated with Stage and a significantly better predictor of promise performance than was age or IQ. Experiment II investigated the effect of the composition of the experimental presentation list on performance by comparing comprehension when the list contained only promise or tell sentences with that obtained when the list contained both types of sentences. For half the subjects, performance differed as a function of the list composition: Implications of these findings for the assessment of the development of language competence are discussed.
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography accurately detects common bile duct stones in resolving gallstone pancreatitis

Background There is controversy about the optimal method to detect common bile duct (CBD) stones in patients with mild resolving gallstone pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in detecting choledocholithiasis in this group of patients. Study design A prospective randomized trial was conducted. Patients randomized to group 1 (n = 34) underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and intraoperative cholangiography (IOC). Those randomized to group 2 (n = 29) had preoperative MRCP, of these, patients with negative MRCP underwent LC and IOC, patients with positive MRCP had preoperative ERCP followed by LC. Results Sixty-three patients were randomized (34 to group 1 and 29 to group 2). CBD stones were found in 5 patients in group 1. CBD exploration was performed in 2 patients, preoperative ERCP in 1, and postoperative ERCP in the other 2. MRCP showed CBD stones in 4 patients in group 2. There were two false-positive MRCPs. Four patients with a negative MRCP did not have IOC or ERCP, the remaining 21 patients with a negative MRCP had a negative IOC. The MRCP sensitivity was 100% (95% CI, 16–100%), specificity 91% (95% CI, 72–99%), positive predictive value 50% (95% CI, 7–93%), negative predictive value 100% (95% CI, 84–100%), and accuracy 92% (95% CI, 74–99%). Conclusions Patients with resolving gallstone pancreatitis and a negative MRCP do not need preoperative ERCP or IOC. Only patients with a positive MRCP will require preoperative ERCP.
Design of multiple description scalar quantizers

The design of scalar quantizers for communication systems that use diversity to overcome channel impairments is considered. The design problem is posed as an optimization problem and necessary conditions for optimality are derived. A design algorithm, a generalization of S.P. Lloyd's (1962) algorithm for quantizer design, is developed. Unlike a single channel scalar quantizer, the performance of a multiple description scalar quantizer is dependent on the index assignment. The problem of index assignment is addressed. Good index assignments, performance results, and sample quantizer designs are presented for a memoryless Gaussian source. Comparisons are made with rate distortion bounds for the multiple description problem. >
Experimental evaluation and computational modeling of the effects of encapsulation on the time-profile of glucose-stimulated insulin release of pancreatic islets

In type 1 diabetic patients, who have lost their ability to produce insulin, transplantation of pancreatic islet cells can normalize metabolic control in a manner that is not achievable with exogenous insulin. To be successful, this procedure has to address the problems caused by the immune and autoimmune responses to the graft. Islet encapsulation using various techniques and materials has been and is being extensively explored as a possible approach. Within this framework, it is of considerable interest to characterize the effect encapsulation has on the insulin response of pancreatic islets. To improve our ability to quantitatively describe the glucose-stimulated insulin release (GSIR) of pancreatic islets in general and of micro-encapsulated islets in particular, we performed dynamic perifusion experiments with frequent sampling. We used unencapsulated and microencapsulated murine islets in parallel and fitted the results with a complex local concentration-based finite element method (FEM) computational model. The high-resolution dynamic perifusion experiments allowed good characterization of the first-phase and second-phase insulin secretion, and we observed a slightly delayed and blunted first-phase insulin response for microencapsulated islets when compared to free islets. Insulin secretion profiles of both free and encapsulated islets could be fitted well by a COMSOL Multiphysics model that couples hormone secretion and nutrient consumption kinetics with diffusive and convective transport. This model, which was further validated and calibrated here, can be used for arbitrary geometries and glucose stimulation sequences and is well suited for the quantitative characterization of the insulin response of cultured, perifused, transplanted, or encapsulated islets. The present high-resolution GSIR experiments allowed for direct characterization of the effect microencapsulation has on the time-profile of insulin secretion. The multiphysics model, further validated here with the help of these experimental results, can be used to increase our understanding of the challenges that have to be faced in the design of bioartificial pancreas-type devices and to advance their further optimization.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN SAME‐GENDER RELATIONSHIPS

Physical violence occurs in 11–12% of same-gender couples, which suggests that domestic violence is an abuse of power that can happen in any type of intimate relationship, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Although incidents of violence occur at the same rate in same-gender couples and cross-gender couples, the violence appears to be milder in same-gender couples and it is unclear what percentage of same-gender violence should be characterized as abuse or intimate terrorism. Same-gender victims also suffer from the additional stress of severe isolation and the abuser's threats to expose the victim's sexual orientation in a hostile manner.
The Effects of Low-Cost Wheelchair Cushions and Body Type on Dynamic Sitting Pressure in Nursing Home Residents

A high incidence of pressure sores in the non-ambulatory geriatric patient population indicates the need for research on pressure distribution of wheelchair cushions. This pilot study was implemented to determine if four low-cost (under $200) wheelchair cushions had different effects on dynamic sitting pressure, and if the dynamic pressure-distributing qualities of each wheelchair cushion varied among participants with different body types. Results indicated no significant difference between a participant'S four average peak pressure readings (mm Hg) for each of the four wheelchair cushions; however, a qualitative analysis revealed trends that may be significant for future research.
R-Curve Behavior of In-Situ-Toughened Al2O3:CaAl12O19 Ceramic Composites

The mechanical behavior of reaction-sintered alumina: 30 vol% calcium hexaluminate (Al2O3:CaAl12O19,or A12O3: CA6) composites was evaluated using the indentation strength in bending technique. A composite in which the hexaluminate (CA6) phase possessed a platelike morphology showed more-pronounced R-curve behavior than a composite in which the CA6 phase consisted of equiaxed grains. Toughness curves derived from the indentation-strength data exhibited a “crossover,” such that the platelet composite exhibited the lower toughness at small flaw sizes, but the higher toughness at large flaw sizes. Incorporation of the platelet CA6 resulted in enhanced toughening, compared to single-phase alumina of comparable grain size, thus demonstrating the viability of the in-situ-toughening approach. A simple grain-pullout model was used to estimate the toughening increment due to bridging by the platelet grains; the value obtained was in good agreement with toughness curves derived from indentation-strength measurements. Finally, fabrication of trilayer specimens, whereby outer layers of equiaxed A12O3:CA6 composite were strongly bonded to the platelet A12O3:CA6 composite, demonstrated high strength over the range of tested flaw sizes.
Transition to fatherhood: Literature review

A literature review of the impact of fatherhood on new fathers is presented. Stress factors in the prospective father's changing role are discussed. Research is reviewed that examines past and present‐day fathering behaviors. Implications are given for changing the practice of health care professionals, and further research is encouraged.
Cross-Examination of Datacenter Workload Modeling Techniques

Data center workload modeling has become a necessity in recent years due to the emergence of large-scale applications and cloud data-stores, whose implementation remains largely unknown. Detailed knowledge of target workloads is critical in order to correctly provision performance, power and cost-optimized systems. In this work we aggregate previous work on data center workload modeling and perform a qualitative comparison based on the representativeness, accuracy and completeness of these designs. We categorize modeling techniques in two main approaches, in-breadth and in-depth, based on the way they address the modeling of the workload. The former models the behavior of a workload in specific system parts, while the latter traces a user request throughout its execution. Furthermore, we propose the early concept of a new design, which bridges the gap between these two approaches by combining some features from each one. Some first results on the request features and performance metrics of the generated workload based on this design appear promising as far as the accuracy of the model is concerned.
Oxidation and characterization of AlInP under light-soaked, damp heat conditions

AlInP commonly serves as the window layer in high bandgap III–V solar cells where it is responsible for reducing surface recombination by reflecting minority carriers. It must be optically transparent and conductive to majority carriers, and so is typically thin, 25 nm, and doped. It is the semiconductor layer most exposed to the environment during operation, which consists of high temperature and concentrated light in a terrestrial concentrating system. In this paper, the oxidation of AlInP was studied as it relates to III–V terrestrial solar cells. The effects of heat, humidity, and light were investigated. Undoped AlInP samples in a light-soaked, damp heat condition grew more than 20 nm of oxide in 2400 hours, as compared to 3 nm of oxide when in the same damp heat condition without light. Under the light-soaked, damp heat condition, n-type material oxidized faster than p-type material. These effects are indicative of a photoelectrochemical oxidation reaction between the semiconductor and an electrolyte, which is provided by the humidity in this case. The removal of UV light by the use of UV absorbing glass reduced much of this additional oxidation. The removal of humidity and UV limited oxide growth to 1.2 nm after 700 hours exposure. Although direct exposure of AlInP caused oxidation, GaInP solar cells utilizing n-AlInP windows were directly exposed to light and damp heat for over 2800 hours and found stable, an effect attributed to differences between n-AlInP window layers and n-AlInP epilayers.
Phototoxic effects of hematoporphyrin derivative and its chromatographic fractions on hormone-producing human malignant trophoblast cells in vitro.

There is a growing interest in developing model systems for studying the phototoxic effects of hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) (Bellnier and Lin, 1984; Bernes et al., 1983; Christensen et al., 1983, Henderson et al., 1983; Kessel and Chou, 1983; Kreimer-Birnbaum et al., 1984). Our studies in this area involve cultured cells that secrete the hormone marker, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The availability of this marker protein opens up new possibilities for examining HPD photodamage vis a vis cancer phototherapy. For example, (1) large numbers of samples can be evaluated quickly and efficiently by sensitive radioimmunoassay procedures; (2) cell cultures need not be sacrificed for counting cells or determining DNA synthesis, since viability is directly related to the amount of hCG secreted; (3) the system we describe is amenable to eventual in vivo investigation using hCG-secreting cells transplanted into animals; and (4) nonmalignant hCG-secreting cells are readily available for use as normal counterparts of malignant cells.
Werner's syndrome with a report of two cases

Abstract Two cases of Werner's syndrome are presented, with a discussion of the important clinical features of this entity which include short stature, premature senility, juvenile cataracts, scleroderma-like changes, skin ulcers over the feet and ankles, and certain endocrine abnormalities. The diagnosis depends upon the physician's awareness of this entity and can usually be made by general inspection of the patient. The etiology of Werner's syndrome is unknown. Hereditary factors seem to be important. Although endocrine abnormalities are usually present, they are variable in their occurrence and probably are of no etiologic significance. An endocrine evaluation of our patients revealed that both had a decrease in glucose tolerance. One patient had clinical hypogonadism and both had osteoporosis. There was no evidence of primary thyroid, parathyroid or pituitary abnormality. In both cases there was evidence of arteriosclerosis. The S f 12–20 and S f 20–100 values of the sera were normal in one patient and elevated in another. Treatment is not specific and is directed toward manifestations such as cataracts, diabetes mellitus, skin ulcers and hypogonadism.
A synthetic peptide initiates Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker (GSS) disease in transgenic mice.

The molecular basis of the infectious, inherited and sporadic forms of prion diseases is best explained by a conformationally dimorphic protein that can exist in distinct normal and disease-causing isoforms. We identified a 55-residue peptide of a mutant prion protein that can be refolded into at least two distinct conformations. When inoculated intracerebrally into the appropriate transgenic mouse host, 20 of 20 mice receiving the β-form of this peptide developed signs of central nervous system dysfunction at ∼360 days, with neurohistologic changes that are pathognomonic of Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease. By contrast, eight of eight mice receiving a non-β-form of the peptide failed to develop any neuropathologic changes more than 600 days after the peptide injections. We conclude that a chemically synthesized peptide refolded into the appropriate conformation can accelerate or possibly initiate prion disease.
Bipropellant engine plume analyses for the Mars Observer scientific spacecraft

This paper discusses the methodology utilized to characterize exhaust plume expansion of the 490 N bipropellant engine and provides an analysis of exhaust plune impingement effects on the Mars Observer oxidizer tank structure. Nozzle and plume continuum flowfields are computed with a method of characteristics solution while transitional and rarefied regions of the exhaust gas flow were defined by a direct simulation Monte Carlo method. Results of this study provide sufficient data for an assessment of spacecraft thermal impacts due to plume heating effects and thrust losses from exhaust plume impingement.
Nonlinear investigation of the effect of primary suspension on the hunting stability of a rail wheelset

The mathematical model of a single railway wheelset moving with constant speed on a smooth, level, and tangential track is used to numerically investigate the nonlinear dynamics of the wheelset. Nonlinearities in the wheelset model include the nonlinear wheel-rail profile and the friction-creep characteristics of the wheel-rail contact geometry. Wheelset numerical simulations consider single-point and two-point wheel-rail contact scenarios. Sensitivity of the critical hunting velocity to primary stiffness and damping parameters is examined. Results of the lateral stability study indicate that the critical hunting velocity of the wheelset is most sensitive to the primary longitudinal and lateral stiffness. Methods involving semi-active and active control of the primary longitudinal stiffness are developed to raise the critical velocity of hunting. These approaches are seen to considerably increase the wheelset critical hunting velocity.
Marginal Shell of the Anteroventral Cochlear Nucleus: Acoustically Weakly-Driven and Not-Driven Units in the Unanesthetized Decerebrate Cat

The ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) of the cat is encapsulated by a marginal shell which is anatomically distinct from the central core of the VCN. Physiologically, little is known about the marginal shell. We report here a new finding that the marginal shell of the anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) in the unanesthetized decerebrate cat contains neural units which were weakly driven or not driven acoustically. The locations of the single units were histologically determined. Our observations also included other neural units of the marginal shell which were strongly driven acoustically; the latter results will be reported separately. The present physiological findings, together with previous anatomical findings of vestibular and somatosensory inputs to the AVCN marginal shell, suggest that some neurons of the AVCN marginal shell receive non-auditory sensory inputs besides weak auditory inputs and that these may play a role in multi-sensory processing.
Thermal Decomposition of Neodymium Amide Complexes

The decomposition of NdCl3 L(L = N,N-dimethylformamide [DMF] or N,N-dimethyacetamide [DMA]) compounds has been investigated by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA and DTA) coupled with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. When heated in air, the NdCl3L compounds decompose by a mechanism involving oxidation of the amide ligand to CO2 and HCl. Some free armide is also released in the thermal decomposition in air. However, when heated under nitrogen, clean release of DMA or DMF is observed. In both cases, the amide is released two steps. From 30 to 40% of the amide is initially released with little or no associated enthalpy as measured by DTA. As the temperature is increased, the remaining 60 to 70% of the amide is released via an endothermic process. The enthalpy for this release is 53.1 - 3.8 kJ/mole for DMF and 40.9 - 1.1 kJ/mole for DMA, suggesting that DMF binds more strongly to Nd(III) than does DMA. Steric effects caused by the additional methyl group in DMA might be re...
Reduction of Echo Decorrelation via Complex Principal Component Filtering

Ultrasound motion estimation is a fundamental component of clinical and research techniques that include color flow Doppler, spectral Doppler, radiation force imaging and ultrasound-based elasticity estimation. In each of these applications, motion estimates are corrupted by signal decorrelation that originates from nonuniform target motion across the acoustic beam. In this article, complex principal component filtering (PCF) is demonstrated as a filtering technique for dramatically reducing echo decorrelation in blood flow estimation and radiation force imaging. We present simulation results from a wide range of imaging conditions that illustrate a dramatic improvement over simple bandpass filtering in terms of overall echo decorrelation (< or =99.9% reduction), root mean square error (< or =97.3% reduction) and the standard deviation of displacement estimates (< or =97.4% reduction). A radiation force imaging technique, termed sonorheometry, was applied to fresh whole blood during coagulation, and complex PCF operated on the returning echoes. Sonorheometry was specifically chosen as an example radiation force imaging technique in which echo decorrelation corrupts motion estimation. At 2 min after initiation of blood coagulation, the average echo correlation for sonorheometry improved from 0.996 to 0.9999, which corresponded to a 41.0% reduction in motion estimation variance as predicted by the Cramer-Rao lower bound under reasonable imaging conditions. We also applied complex PCF to improve blood velocity estimates from the left carotid artery of a healthy 23-year-old male. At the location of peak blood velocity, complex PCF improved the correlation of consecutive echo signals from an average correlation of 0.94 to 0.998. The improved echo correlation for both sonorheometry and blood flow estimation yielded motion estimates that exhibited more consistent responses with less noise. Complex PCF reduces speckle decorrelation and improves the performance of ultrasonic motion estimation.
Linear forms, algebraic cycles, and derivatives of L-series

In this note, we state some refinements of conjectures of Gan-Gross-Prasad and Kudla concerning the central derivatives of L-series and special cycles on Shimura varieties. The analogues of our formulation for special values of L-series are written in terms of invariant linear forms on autormorphic representations defined by integrations of matrix coefficients.
Design of electrostatic microcolumn for nanoscale photoemission source in massively parallel electron-beam lithography

Microcolumns are widely used for parallel electron-beam lithography because of their compactness and the ability to achieve high spatial resolution. A design of an electrostatic microcolumn for our recent nanoscale photoemission sources is presented. We proposed a compact column structure (as short as several microns in length) for the ease of microcolumn fabrication and lithography operation. We numerically studied the influence of several design parameters on the optical performance such as microcolumn diameter, electrode thickness, beam current, working voltages, and working distance. We also examined the effect of fringing field between adjacent microcolumns during parallel lithography operations.
Conducting a fully mobile and randomised clinical trial for depression: access, engagement and expense.

Importance Advances in mobile technology have resulted in federal and industry-level initiatives to facilitate large-scale clinical research using smart devices. Although the benefits of technology to expand data collection are obvious, assumptions about the reach of mobile research methods ( access ), participant willingness to engage in mobile research protocols ( engagement ), and the cost of this research ( cost ) remain untested. Objective To assess the feasibility of a fully mobile randomised controlled trial using assessments and treatments delivered entirely through mobile devices to depressed individuals. Design Using a web-based research portal, adult participants with depression who also owned a smart device were screened, consented and randomised to 1 of 3 mental health apps for treatment. Assessments of self-reported mood and cognitive function were conducted at baseline, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Physical and social activity was monitored daily using passively collected phone use data. All treatment and assessment tools were housed on each participant9s smart phone or tablet. Interventions A cognitive training application, an application based on problem-solving therapy, and a mobile-sensing application promoting daily activities. Results Access : We screened 2923 people and enrolled 1098 participants in 5 months. The sample characteristics were comparable to the 2013 US census data. Recruitment via Craigslist.org yielded the largest sample. Engagement : Study engagement was high during the first 2 weeks of treatment, falling to 44% adherence by the 4th week. Cost : The total amount spent on for this project, including staff costs and β testing, was $314 264 over 2 years. Conclusions and relevance These findings suggest that mobile randomised control trials can recruit large numbers of participants in a short period of time and with minimal cost, but study engagement remains challenging. Trial registration number NCT00540865.
Population genomic analysis of gibberellin-responsive long non-coding RNAs in Populus

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in a wide range of biological processes, but lncRNAs in plants remain largely unknown; in particular, we lack a systematic identification of plant lncRNAs involved in hormone responses. Moreover, allelic variation in lncRNAs remains poorly characterized at a large scale. Here, we conducted high-throughput RNA-sequencing of leaves from control and gibberellin (GA)-treated Populus tomentosa and identified 7655 reliably expressed lncRNAs. Among the 7655 lncRNAs, the levels of 410 lncRNAs changed in response to GA. Seven GA-responsive lncRNAs were predicted to be putative targets of 18 miRNAs, and one GA-responsive lncRNA (TCONS_00264314) was predicted to be a target mimic of ptc-miR6459b. Computational analysis predicted 939 potential cis-regulated target genes and 965 potential trans-regulated target genes for GA-responsive lncRNAs. Functional annotation of these potential target genes showed that they participate in many different biological processes, including auxin signal transduction and synthesis of cellulose and pectin, indicating that GA-responsive lncRNAs may influence growth and wood properties. Finally, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based association analysis showed that 112 SNPs from 52 GA-responsive lncRNAs and 1014 SNPs from 296 potential target genes were significantly associated with growth and wood properties. Epistasis analysis also provided evidence for interactions between lncRNAs and their potential target genes. Our study provides a comprehensive view of P. tomentosa lncRNAs and offers insights into the potential functions and regulatory interactions of GA-responsive lncRNAs, thus forming the foundation for future functional analysis of GA-responsive lncRNAs in P. tomentosa.
Equidistribution in homogeneous spaces and number theory

We survey some aspects of homogeneous dynamics | the study of alge- braic group actions on quotient spaces of locally compact groups by discrete subgroups. We give special emphasis to results pertaining to the distribution of orbits of explicitly describable points, especially results valid for the orbits of all points, in contrast to re- sults that characterize the behavior of orbits of typical points. Such results have many number theoretic applications, a few of which are presented in this note. Quantitative equidistribution results are also discussed.
Effect of branching density on avidity of hyperbranched glycomimetics for mannose binding lectin.

Hyperbranched glycopolymers containing mannose units in the branch point were synthesized through the copolymerization of a mannose inimer and mannose acrylate via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Incorporating a saccharide residue at the branch point results in a closer analogue to natural branched polysaccharides. Gel permeation chromatography characterization of the polymers qualitatively indicates branching in samples from polymerizations utilizing the mannose inimer. Deprotection of the acetate protecting groups from the hyperbranched mannose polymers yields water-soluble polymers that interact with mannose binding lectin (MBL), a key protein of the innate immunity complement system. MBL interaction increases with increasing polymer molecular weight and increasing branching density. Notably, incorporating mannose into the branching repeat unit also increases the interaction of the glycopolymers with MBL compared with glycopolymers with the same branching density but with no mannose at the...
Adipose tissue mTORC2 regulates ChREBP-driven de novo lipogenesis and hepatic glucose metabolism

Adipose tissue de novo lipogenesis (DNL) positively influences insulin sensitivity, is reduced in obesity, and predicts insulin resistance. Therefore, elucidating mechanisms controlling adipose tissue DNL could lead to therapies for type 2 diabetes. Here, we report that mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) functions in white adipose tissue (WAT) to control expression of the lipogenic transcription factor ChREBPβ. Conditionally deleting the essential mTORC2 subunit Rictor in mature adipocytes decreases ChREBPβ expression, which reduces DNL in WAT, and impairs hepatic insulin sensitivity. Mechanistically, Rictor/mTORC2 promotes ChREBPβ expression in part by controlling glucose uptake, but without impairing pan-AKT signalling. High-fat diet also rapidly decreases adipose tissue ChREBPβ expression and insulin sensitivity in wild-type mice, and does not further exacerbate insulin resistance in adipose tissue Rictor knockout mice, implicating adipose tissue DNL as an early target in diet-induced insulin resistance. These data suggest mTORC2 functions in WAT as part of an extra-hepatic nutrient-sensing mechanism to control glucose homeostasis.
A Microgrid Control Strategy Based on Adaptive Drooping Coefficient Adjustment

For conventional droop control,it is difficult to keep rated frequency or voltage amplitude within small deviations in island operation mode when the load changes,and it is also difficult to keep constant power output in the grid-connected operation mode when the frequency or voltage amplitude of the grid fluctuates.To address these problems,a droop controller with adaptive drooping coefficient adjustment is designed to remove static deviations in frequency and maintain small deviations in voltage amplitude in island mode and to maintain constant power output in grid-connected mode.Moreover,a multiple master-slave control strategy is proposed based on the droop controller to overcome the shortcomings of the master-slave microgrid system control and the multiple master microgrid system control based on V/f.MATLAB/Simulink simulation shows that the proposed droop controller and multiple master-slave control strategy are feasible and effective.