cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Mechanical Strain on Solute Diffusion in Human TMJ Discs: An Electrical Conductivity Study

This study investigated the effect of mechanical strain on solute diffusion in human TMJ discs (mean cadaver age 77.8) using the electrical conductivity method. The electrical conductivity, as well as small ion diffusivity, of male and female TMJ discs was determined under three compressive strains. In the male group, the average disc electrical conductivity (mean ± SD) at 0% strain was 5.14 ± 0.97 mS/cm, decreased to 4.50 ± 0.91 mS/cm (−12.3%) at 10% strain, and 3.93 ± 0.81 mS/cm (−23.5%) at 20% compressive strain. Correspondingly, the average disc relative ion diffusivity at 0% strain was 0.44 ± 0.08, decreased to 0.40 ± 0.08 (−8.9%) at 10% strain, and 0.36 ± 0.08 (−16.7%) at 20% compressive strain. In the female group, the average disc electrical conductivity at 0% strain was 5.84 ± 0.59 mS/cm, decreased to 5.01 ± 0.50 mS/cm (−14.2%) at 10% strain, and 4.33 ± 0.46 mS/cm (−25.8%) at 20% compressive strain. Correspondingly, the average disc relative ion diffusivity at 0% strain was 0.49 ± 0.05, decreased to 0.43 ± 0.04 (−11.3%) at 10% strain, and 0.39 ± 0.04 (−19.9%) at 20% compressive strain. The results indicated that mechanical strain significantly impeded solute diffusion through the disc. This mechanical strain effect was larger in the female than in the male human TMJ disc. This study may provide new insights into TMJ pathophysiology.
A Factor Analytic Study of the Construct Validity of the Pictorial Test of Intelligence

High intercorrelations among the six subtests of the Pictorial Test of Intelligence (PTI) raise questions regarding the construct validity of the instrument. An analysis of past research, through an examination of convergent and discriminant validity using a multitrait-multimethod design to compare PTI subtests and subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, failed to provide evidence for the adequacy of PTI subtests as measures of discrete mental functions. On this basis, it was hypothesized that a single factor could be found to account for the variation in PTI subtest scores. Forty- two male and forty-eight female kindergarten and second grade public school children were tested and retested on the PTI. A factor analysis was performed using the common factor model to test the hypothesis. A single factor with stable factor loadings emerged on both test and retest, providing support that a general factor of intelligence may be tapped by the PTI, and that individual subtests do not assess dis...
Discovery of an excited pair state in superfluid 3 He

Collective modes are the fingerprint of a condensed phase. The spectroscopy of these modes in superfluid 3He and unconventional superconductors can provide key information on the symmetry of the condensate as well as the microscopic pairing mechanism responsible for the ground state and excitation energies. Here, we use interferometry within an acoustic cavity—which is very sensitive to changes in the velocity of transverse sound—to reveal a new collective mode in the B phase of superfluid 3He (3He-B). We identify the mode as an excited bound state of Cooper pairs, which is weakly bound with an excitation energy within 1% of the pair-breaking edge. On the basis of the selection rules for coupling of transverse sound to a collective mode in 3He-B, combined with the observation of acoustic birefringence near the collective mode frequency, we infer that the new mode is most likely a spin-triplet (S=1), f-wave pair exciton (orbital momentum L=3) with total angular momentum, J=4. The existence of a pair exciton with J=4 suggests an attractive, subdominant, f-wave pairing interaction in liquid 3He. Superfluid 3He is a quantum condensate in which the He atoms are paired in an unconventional way. Yet despite extensive research on the collective modes of superfluid 3He, one mode has remained undiscovered, until now.
Targeted delivery of a cisplatin prodrug for safer and more effective prostate cancer therapy in vivo

Targeted delivery and controlled release of inactive platinum (Pt) prodrugs may offer a new approach to improve the efficacy and tolerability of the Pt family of drugs, which are used to treat 50% of all cancers today. Using prostate cancer (PCa) as a model disease, we previously described the engineering of aptamer (Apt)-targeted poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-b-PEG) nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulating a Pt(IV) prodrug c,t,c[Pt(NH3)2-(O2CCH2CH2CH2CH2CH3)2Cl2] (1) (Pt-PLGA-b-PEG-Apt-NP), which target the extracellular domain of the prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), for enhanced in vitro cytotoxicity. Here we demonstrate enhanced in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK), biodistribution, tolerability, and efficacy of Pt-PLGA-b-PEG-Apt-NP (150±15 nm encapsulating ∼5% wt/wt Pt(IV) prodrug) when compared to cisplatin administered in its conventional form in normal Sprague Dawley rats, Swiss Albino mice, and the PSMA-expressing LNCaP subcutaneous xenograft mouse model of PCa, respectively. The 10-d maximum tolerated dose following a single i.v. injection of Pt-PLGA-b-PEG-NP in rats and mice was determined at 40 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg, respectively. PK studies with Pt-PLGA-b-PEG-NP revealed prolonged Pt persistence in systemic blood circulation and decreased accumulation of Pt in the kidneys, a major target site of cisplatin toxicity. Pt-PLGA-b-PEG-Apt-NPs further displayed the significant dose-sparing characteristics of the drug, with equivalent antitumor efficacy in LNCaP xenografts at 1/3 the dose of cisplatin administered in its conventional form (0.3 mg/kg vs. 1 mg/kg). When considering the simultaneous improvement in tolerability and efficacy, the Pt-PLGA-b-PEG-Apt NP provides a remarkable improvement in the drug therapeutic index.
Discovering and visualizing patterns in EEG data

Brain activity data is often collected through the use of electroencephalography (EEG). In this data acquisition modality, the electric fields generated by neurons are measured at the scalp. Although this technology is capable of measuring activity from a group of neurons, recent efforts provide evidence that these small neuronal collections communicate with other, distant assemblies in the brain's cortex. These collaborative neural assemblies are often found by examining the EEG record to find shared activity patterns. In this paper, we present a system that focuses on extracting and visualizing potential neural activity patterns directly from EEG data. Using our system, neuroscientists may investigate the spectral dynamics of signals generated by individual electrodes or groups of sensors. Additionally, users may interactively generate queries which are processed to reveal which areas of the brain may exhibit common activation patterns across time and frequency. The utility of this system is highlighted in a case study in which it is used to analyze EEG data collected during a working memory experiment.
Fluid temperature measurements inside metal foam and comparison to Brinkman–Darcy flow convection analysis

Abstract Actual air temperatures were locally measured inside commercial aluminum foam cylinder heated at the wall by a constant heat flux, and cooled by forced air flow. The specially-developed experimental technique for such measurements is described in detail, and is shown to produce reasonably good data. Air speeds were in the Darcy regime. The permeability of the foam was directly determined from experimental pressure drop points that were obtained using the same experimental set-up. The experimental air temperatures are compared to their analytical counterparts. The volume-averaged analytical formulation employed the Darcy-extended Brinkman model for momentum, and the non-thermal-equilibrium two-energy-equation model for the temperatures of the solid and the fluid phases inside the foam. The solution steps, which are not new, are summarized. A comparison shows good agreement between the experimental and the analytical air temperatures, given the complexity of the foam’s morphology and the rounding nature of the volume-averaging technique. However, the analysis seems to under-predict the fluid temperature over most of the cross section. The experimental technique can be used for validation of other analytical solutions, numerical models and heat-exchange engineering designs based on metal foam and similar porous media.
ELASTIC ELECTRON SCATTERING FROM 12C AND 16O.

Abstract : Electron scattering cross sections for Carbon and Oxygen between q = 1 F to the minus 1 power and 4 F to the minus 1 power are given. The data are analyzed in terms of a phenomenological charge distribution and new information concerning the tail and the center of the charge distribution are obtained. The presence of dispersion effects appears to be necessary to explain the cross sections in the first diffraction minimum. The effect of a finite potential and short range correlations on the form factor are discussed. (Author)
Wave-CISK in a Baroclinic Basic State

Abstract Prefrontal squall lines are mesoscale convective systems that often cannot be linked to any preexisting organizing mechanism. This suggests the possibility that they are manifestations of a mesoscale instability involving the interaction between convective and larger scales. To investigate this hypothesis, a wave-CISK model is developed for two-dimensional disturbances in a baroclinic basic state with constant vertical wind shear. The governing equations are the linearized Boussinesq equations for an inviscid and hydrostatic fluid on an f-plane. The model domain is infinite in the horizontal and consists of two layers in the vertical representing the troposphere and the stratosphere. The model stratosphere has a larger static stability and no wind shear. The convective heating is confined to the troposphere. Normal mode solutions are assumed, and the convective heating is parameterized in the standard simple fashion its vertical structure is specified, and it is set proportional to the low-level ...
Further Development of the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory‐Revised

Objectives To describe the newly developed item coding and computation of the total score for the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory‐Revised along with recommended cutoff points. Design Methodologic research. Setting Obstetrician and gynecologist offices in the Pacific Northwest. Participants This longitudinal study included 139 women; the study began in the participant's third trimester of pregnancy and ended at 8 months after childbirth. Methods The participants completed the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory‐Revised in their third trimester of pregnancy and again at 2 and 6 months after childbirth. Postpartum depression symptoms were measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and psychiatric nurse practitioner interview at 2 and 6 months after childbirth. Main Outcome Measures Sensitivity and specificity of the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory‐Revised at three points: prenatal and 2 and 6 months after childbirth. Results The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the Prenatal Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory‐Revised performed well and explained 67% of the variance of postpartum depressive symptomatology as measured by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores. The Prenatal Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory‐Revised yielded a sensitivity of .76 and a specificity of .54 at a cutoff score of 10.5. Conclusions A cutoff score of 10.5 is recommended when using the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory‐Revised during pregnancy. Further research needs to be conducted on recommended cutoff scores for use of the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory‐Revised during the postpartum period. JOGNN, 35, 735‐745; 2006. DOI: 10.1111/J.1552‐6909.2006.00094.x
The Growth of an Agile Coach Community at a Fortune 200 Company

Adopting Agile takes courage, perseverance, and continued reinforcement. To meet these needs, a community of Agile coaches organically emerged at capital one to provide support and mentoring for projects and organizations seeking to adopt Agile. The community has evolved into an influential body of change agents, which routinely meets to address team or organizational initiatives in Agile projects across the enterprise. By creating an environment where true community can exist and grow, we have added sustainability to our Agile adoption processes and enabled continuous innovation of practices and principles.
A Port Injection Process for Improved Resin Delivery and Flow Control in Vacuum-Assisted Resin Transfer Molding

Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) is used to produce high quality composite parts at lower cost than other manufacturing methods. However, traditional VARTM injection methods are incapable of accounting for variations in preform permeability within a mold. As a result, creating complex components is a labor intensive and expensive process often requiring a trial and error approach to insure complete infusion of the preform fibers. To address this limitation, a new system for delivering resin to a VARTM mold using a series of ports in the tooling surface rather than traditional injection lines has been developed. A port injection process has been designed that utilizes a closed loop control system of ports and sensors built into the mold. Finite element models of this new process indicate complete infusion can consistently be achieved, even for mold lay-ups with large variations in permeability. Results indicate the system is capable of identifying and accounting for preform variability, and correctly delivering resin to low permeability regions usually unfilled with conventional VARTM. In addition, this new technique significantly reduces lay-up time and total time to infuse a part. Experiments with a prototype lab-scale mold have been used to validate the performance of this new injection process. Unlike a conventional VARTM setup, the innovative port injection process can deliver resin to any location within the mold, thus reducing the potential for dry regions and improving part quality and consistency.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
A THz-range planar NDR device utilizing ballistic electron acceleration in GaN

Abstract A planar and ultra-short gallium nitride (GaN) diode structure is investigated as a potential Terahertz (THz) range negative differential resistance (NDR) diode. An empirical velocity-field relation, exhibiting a peak electron velocity as high as 7 × 10 7 cm/s, is employed to characterize the high-field transport in the simulations, accounting for ballistic electron acceleration and velocity reduction due to phonon build up. The resulting device operation is in accumulation-layer transit-time mode and large-signal circuit simulation results are reported along with discussions. Conversion efficiencies up to ∼3.4% at ∼1.5 THz are shown to be possible.
Leaving group dependent stereochemistry of thiollene formation with phenylthiocopper phosphine complexes

Abstract A Chiral secondary propargylic triflate (5) reacts with phenylthiocopper phosphine complexes (1) and (2) to give propargyl and allenic sulphides with complete inversion of configuration, but the corresponding mesylate (4) reacts with both complexes to give racemic products.
Understanding Chemical Equilibrium Using Entropy Analysis:: The Relationship Between ΔStot(syso) and the Equilibrium Constant

Entropy analyses as a function of the extent of reaction are presented for a number of physicochemical processes, including vaporization of a liquid, dimerization of nitrogen dioxide, and the autoionization of water. Graphs of the total entropy change versus the extent of reaction give a visual representation of chemical equilibrium and the second law of thermodynamics. The mathematical relationship between the total entropy change for the system under standard-state conditions and the equilibrium constant is derived exclusively from entropy analysis.
Influence of broken cloud fields on reflectance retrievals

Surface solar radiation forecasting permits to predict photovoltaic plant production for a massive and safe integration of solar energy into the electric network. For short-term forecasts (intra-day), methods using images from meteorological geostationary satellites are more suitable than numerical weather prediction models. Forecast schemes consist in assessing cloud motion vectors and in extrapolating cloud patterns from a given satellite image in order to predict cloud cover state above a PV plant. Atmospheric motion vectors retrieval techniques have been studied for several decades in order to improve weather forecasts. However, solar energy forecasting requires the extraction of cloud motion vectors on a finer spatial- and time-resolution than those provided for weather forecast applications. Even if motion vector retrieval is a wide research field in image processing related topics, only block-matching techniques are operationally used for solar energy forecasts via satellite images. In this paper, we propose two motion vectors extraction methods originating from video compression techniques (correlation phase and optical flow methods). We implemented them on a 6-day dataset of Meteosat-10 satellite diurnal images. We proceeded to cloud pattern extrapolation and compared predicted cloud maps against actual ones at different time horizons from 15 minutes to 4 hours ahead. Forecast scores were compared to the state-of-the-art (block matching) method. Correlation phase methods do not outperform block-matching but their computation time is about 25 times shorter. Optical flow based method outperforms all the methods with a satisfactory time computing.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ACHIEVEMENT AND AFFILIATION NEEDS AND SEX-ROLE ORIENTATION OF COLLEGE WOMEN WHOSE FATHERS WERE ABSENT FROM HOME

This study examined the influence of fathers' absence on the gender-role orientation, achievement, and affiliation of middle-class, college-aged women and whether these effects operate similarly for white and black women. The subjects were classified as father-absent (34 between 0 to 6 years of age, early absence; 29 between 7 to 12 years of age, late absence) or father-present, based upon written descriptions of their households. Over-all, 80 father-absent subjects were not higher in achievement and lower in affiliation than 191 father-present women; however, black women whose fathers died had significantly higher daydream achievement scores than those with fathers present or white women. Father-absent women were not significantly more masculine and androgynous than father-present women. However, 12 black women whose fathers were dead had significantly higher masculinity scores than the other three groups. The implications of these results are discussed.
The driven equilibrium fourier transform NMR technique: An experimental study

Abstract The Driven Equilibrium Fourier Transform (DEFT) technique for signal enhancement in pulsed 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been investigated for several small 60%-enriched molecules. The experimental results demonstrate that enhancements in signal/noise over the conventional repetitive single-pulse method are indeed obtainable but are much lower than originally predicted. The principal reason is the fact that T2
Cryomicroscope investigation and thermodynamic modeling of the freezing of unfertilized hamster ova.

Abstract Thermodynamic computer modeling was used to predict the freezing response of single-celled unfertilized hamster ova. The cell membrane transport characteristics were investigated, using a microscope diffusion chamber system. The mean osmotically inactive cell volume was determined to be 21.6% of the initial cell volume. An overall mean value of 0.8 ± 0.1 μm 3 /gmm 2 · min · atm ( 18 ± 2.5 μm/sec) was determined for the membrane hydraulic coefficient, L p . The effect of the extracellular solute concentration on L p . was determined at room temperature (~23 °C). A thermodynamic computer model was used to predict the cell response to freezing. The predicted response was compared to the actual volumetric response observed during freezing on a temperature-controlled cryomicroscope conduction stage. The effect of the cooling rate on the nucleation temperature of unprotected ova and protected ova suspended in a 1.5 M DMSO solution was investigated. Overall mean nucleation temperatures of −13 and −57.1 °C were observed for unprotected and protected ova, respectively, where the mean nucleation temperature for protected ova was strongly cooling rate dependent.
Personal history, training, and worksite as predictors of back pain of nurses

Back pain among nurses is a common problem. Prior studies of this problem have been based on cross-sectional or retrospective data. This 18-month prospective study involving nurses newly graduated from nursing school investigated personal, worksite, and training factors associated with future risk of back pain. Each nurse underwent a preliminary interview and periodic follow-ups to identify those with back injuries. Contingency tables and logistic regression analyses demonstrated that prior significant back pain episodes (evidenced by previous job changes because of back pain, frequent medication use, etc.) were associated with increased future risk. Training at nursing school or on the job did not have a protective effect. This pilot study therefore suggests factors useful in placement and counseling of new nurses and indicates the need for further implementation of mechanical lift assist device use. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
In situ spectroscopic and solution analyses of the reductive dissolution of MnO2 by Fe(II).

The reductive dissolution of MnO2 by Fe(II) under conditions simulating acid mine drainage (pH 3, 100 mM SO42-) was investigated by utilizing a flow-through reaction cell and synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy. This configuration allows collection of in situ, real-time X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra and bulk solution samples. Analysis of the solution chemistry suggests that the reaction mechanism changed (decreased reaction rate) as MnO2 was reduced and Fe(III) precipitated, primarily as ferrihydrite. Simultaneously, we observed an additional phase, with the local structure of jacobsite (MnFe2O4), in the Mn XANES spectra of reactants and products. The X-ray absorbance of this intermediate phase increased during the experiment, implying an increase in concentration. The presence of this phase, which probably formed as a surface coating, helps to explain the reduced rate of dissolution of manganese(IV) oxide. In natural environments affected by acid mine drainage, the formation ...
Solvent effects on the dissociation of weak acids of three charge types in water/ N -methylacetamide media

In order to elecidate the role of charge type on the change of dissociation constant with increasing polarity of the solvent medium, the pK values and associated thermodynamic quantities for an uncharged acid (acetic acid), a cationic acid (protonated tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane), and two ampholytes (MOPS and Tricine) were determined in mixtures of water andN-methylacetamide (NMA). Electromotive-force measurements of cells without liquid junction containing hydrogen electrodes and silver-silver bromide electrodes were used to determine the pK at nine temperatures from 5 to 45°C. The solvent compositions varied from pure water to a mixture containing a mole fraction of NMA of 0.25 (57.5 mass % NMA). The solvent effects are compared with similar data for water/methanol solvents of decreasing polarity. They reflect both the reduction in interionic energy accompanying the elevation in dielectric constant and also the greater protophilic character of NMA as compared with methanol.
Tidal variation of seismic travel times in a Massachusetts granite quarry

Conflicting results on tidal variation of seismic travel times exist in the literature. With improved methods, we have conducted a seismic survey at a Massachusetts granite quarry. The survey was conducted in the intervals (230d 23h, 231d11h) and (231d22h, 233d10h), 1983 (U.T.) along a 148 m baseline situated in nearly flat topography. The source for the present experiment was an air gun placed in a mud-filled pit. Travel times for the first five body wave extrema were analyzed. The results are: I. The 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th extrema show travel time variations; the 3rd extremum remains constant throughout the experiment. The magnitude of the fractional travel time variation, Δt/t, ranges from 0.5 to 0.9%. II. Changes in travel times of the 1st and 2nd extrema correspond to opposite changes in travel times of the 4th and 5th extrema. III. Two sets of nearly orthogonal joint systems are observed in the granite; the theoretical tidal strain in the direction perpendicular to the nearly vertical joints matches the travel time variations of the 1st and 2nd extrema whereas the tidal strain in the direction perpendicular to the nearly horizontal sheets matches the travel time variations of the 4th and 5th extrema, when a 4-hr delay is introduced for all the tidal strains. These results are interpreted in terms of the velocity changes of seismic rays as the two joint systems open and close due to the tidal stress.
Advances in the Management of Low-Grade Gliomas

Low-grade gliomas (LGGs) represent the most common childhood brain tumors and are a histologically heterogenous group of tumors. Most LGGs are surgically resectable with excellent 10-year overall survival outcomes of more than 90 % with surgery alone. Tumors not amenable to surgical resection and those with an aggressive biology are more challenging to treat. Conventional radiotherapy is a more efficacious method of long-term tumor control than chemotherapy. However, radiation is associated with significant cognitive, endocrine, and cerebrovascular late effects, making chemotherapy an often-preferred modality over radiotherapy, especially in younger children. Multiple chemotherapy regimens have been evaluated over the past few decades with comparable survival outcomes and differing toxicity profiles. Newer regimens containing antiangiogenic agents also show promise. Recent molecular studies have implicated the BRAF oncogene, a key regulator of the MAPK pathway, and the AKT/mTOR pathway in pediatric LGG tumorigenesis. This has opened up promising new avenues for targeted therapy, with many agents currently under investigation.
Poly(ethylene-co-propylene macromonomer)s: Synthesis and Evidence for Starlike Conformations in Dilute Solution

By use of two sequential coordination−insertion polymerizations, a series of ethylene-co-propylene-based comb polymers was synthesized. First, poly(ethylene-co-propylene) macromonomers featuring on...
Genitourinary manifestations in boys and girls associated with genetic diseases

Abstract Many genetic disorders have many genitourinary manifestations. This article provides a succinct overview of the genetic disorders seen in the pediatric population that have genitourinary manifestations and should assist health practitioners in assessing and treating these children as well as in counseling parents and expecting parents.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Amygdala-Dependent Learning

The neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has recently emerged as a possible molecular mediator of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity underlying learning and memory. Long-term potentiation (LTP) within the hippocampus and hippocampally dependent behaviors has been the primary model for examining the role of BDNF in learning and memory. However, these studies are limited by an incomplete understanding of the complex behavioral function of hippocampal circuitry, making it difficult to unravel the molecular machinery responsible for the formation and storage of these memories. In contrast, the amygdala and its role in Pavlovian fear conditioning promise to provide us with new insights into the mechanisms of BDNF-mediated synaptic plasticity during the learning and memory process. This article reviews the different levels of research on BDNF in learning and memory. The focus is primarily on the use of Pavlovian fear conditioning as a learning model that allows for the examination of the role of BDNF in the amygdala, following a single learning session and within a well-understood neural circuit.
Delineating the anti-metastatic potential of pentoxifylline in combination with liposomal doxorubicin against breast cancer cells

Breast cancer remains the second most prevalent cancer worldwide. Several anticancer drugs are being currently used in the treatment of breast cancer. However, owing to high cytotoxicity, induced resistance and cost ineffectiveness, there is an urgent need to develop newer therapeutic regimens that limit the current problems. One of the approaches in this regard is the formulation of combination therapies whereby multiple drugs are being delivered at relatively lesser dose that surely confines the aforesaid problems. In this purview, we had evaluated the effects of pentoxifylline, a methylxanthine derivative and liposomal doxorubicin (Lipodox), an anthracycline in combination to evaluate their anti-metastatic activities both in vitro and in vivo against breast cancer cells. The combination regime exhibited synergistic activity and inhibited cellular proliferation to a greater extent with regard to each drug used alone.
Calculated ground-state properties of heavy nuclei

Abstract Ground-state distortions and single-particle corrections are calculated fornuclei with Z ≧ 68 and N ≧ 106 by use of the macroscopic-microscopic method as developed by Strutinsky. The microscopic part is calculated primarily by use of the folded Yukawa single-particle potential. Its parameters are redetermined to fit a actinide data. The modified oscillator potential is also used in some of the studies. Two methods for calculating the macroscopic energy are investigated. One is the droplet model of Myers and Swiatecki, and other is a modified liquid-drop model in which the surface-energy term is modified to take into account the finite range of the nuclear force. Single-particle level diagrams for the folded Yukawa potential are also presented. They are plotted as functions of the distortion parameters ϵ, ϵ 4 and ϵ 6 . Theoretical and experimental single-particle levels at the ground state for actinide nuclei are also compared.
The eddie scissons syndrome and fictionalized public confessionals : Embellishment, storytelling, and affecting audience in recall narrative

The "Eddie Scissons Syndrome," a term coined by fiction writer W. P. Kinsella, describes a phenomenon wherein people exaggerate their personal histories for their own personal gain. In this article, the phenomenon is first explored in two ways: as a trope in which fiction writers demonstrate and advance character, and as an object of academic discourse, primarily through the work of Crepeau and Scheinkopf. Furthermore, the Eddie Scissons Syndrome phenomenon is used to explore some current public exaggerations, in particular the United States' governmental justification for a preemptive strike on Iraq, and to advance concerns about both private and public truth claims.
Race at the Top: How Companies Shape the Inclusion of African Americans on Their Boards in Response to Institutional Pressures

Abstract Drawing on institutionalist theory, we conceptualize the racial composition of the boards of directors of large American companies as shaped in response to social and political norms. We use new longitudinal and cross-sectional data to test hypotheses about factors that shape the degree of racial inclusion on boards of directors among large public corporations, and we draw upon in-depth interviews with key participants to gain insights into the mechanisms that are likely to have generated the patterns we detect in our statistical models. We find evidence suggesting that large American corporations manage the racial composition of their elite leadership groups in response to these norms.
Lethal toxin is a critical determinant of rapid mortality in rodent models of Clostridium sordellii endometritis

The toxigenic anaerobe Clostridium sordellii is an uncommon but highly lethal cause of human infection and toxic shock syndrome, yet few studies have addressed its pathogenetic mechanisms. To better characterize the microbial determinants of rapid death from infection both in vitro and in vivo studies were performed to compare a clinical strain of C. sordellii (DA-108), isolated from a patient who survived a disseminated infection unaccompanied by toxic shock syndrome, to a virulent reference strain (ATCC9714). Rodent models of endometrial and peritoneal infection with C. sordellii ATCC9714 were rapidly lethal, while infections with DA-108 were not. Extensive genetic and functional comparisons of virulence factor and toxin expression between these two bacterial strains yielded many similarities, with the noted exception that strain DA-108 lacked the tcsL gene, which encodes the large clostridial glucosyltransferase enzyme lethal toxin (TcsL). The targeted removal by immunoprecipitation of TcsL protected animals from death following injection of crude culture supernatants from strain ATCC9714. Injections of a monoclonal anti-TcsL IgG protected animals from death during C. sordellii ATCC9714 infection, suggesting that such an approach might improve the treatment of patients with C. sordellii-induced toxic shock syndrome.
Effect of paraoxon on the hypnotic action of chloral hydrate

Abstract Paraoxon decreased induction time (IT) and increased the duration of the loss-of-righting-reflex time (LORRT) of chloral hydrate (CH) and trichloroethanol (TCE) in mice. Atropine sulfate, but not the peripherally acting agents atropine methylnitrate and pralidoxime, prevented these effects of paraoxon on the activity of CH, suggesting that such effects may be mediated through a central cholinergic mechanism. Mice treated with paraoxon showed higher concentrations of CH and lower concentrations of TCE in brain and plasma 15 min after CH. However, paraoxon treatment of animals did not affect the rate of metabolism of CH by homogenates of their livers. Paraoxon treatment increased the permeability of the blood brain barrier to TCE at 5 min, but not at 30 min, after the administration of CH. The increased brain permeability to TCE may partially explain the shortened IT of CH in animals. Decreased brain concentrations of CH and TCE at both the loss and return of the righting reflex indicated that paraoxon increased the sensitivity of the brain to the depressant action of these hypnotics. Paraoxon, known to cause hypoxia, also caused hypothermia. The paraoxon-induced hypothermia, but not the effects on IT and LORRT, was prevented at 36°C ambient temperature. A single dose of sodium nitrite produced effects similar to those of paraoxon on the hypnotic activity of CH and TCE. It is suggested that a decreased rate of metabolism and an increased sensitivity of the central nervous system due to hypoxia is the primary mechanism by which paraoxon shortens the IT and prolongs the LORRT of CH and TCE.
Gay and lesbian issues in u.s. Psychiatry training as reported by residency training directors.

This study reports the results of a survey of U.S. residency training directors that explored the training milieu of gay and lesbian psychiatric residents. Of the 198 training directors surveyed, 134 (67.7%) completed the questionnaire. All but four of the directors reported the inclusion of gay and lesbian issues in the curriculum, most frequently in PGY-3. Using a 5-point rating scale, 47.3% reported that homosexuality was regarded at their programs as “normal” or “somewhat normal,” 51.2% as “neutral,” and 1.5% as “somewhat pathological” or “pathological.” In general, the directors’ overall assessment of departmental attitudes about homosexuality paralleled the findings previously reported by lesbian and gay residents, with some discrepancy concerning the disclosure of sexual orientation to psychotherapy patients. In the earlier study, nearly one-third of gay and lesbian residents reported such disclosure; in the current study, only three training directors (2.5%) regarded this practice favorably. The results of the present study reflect the diversity of opinion found among residency training directors on the topic of gay and lesbian issues.
Navier-Stokes solutions for laminar incompressible flows in forward-facing step geometries

Two-dimensional laminar flow of an incompressible fluid through channels with symmetrical and asymmetrical sudden constrictions formed by a semi-infinite step change in width, and flow through a cascade formed by an infinite stack of finite-thickness flat plates, is investigated using a finite-difference method. The NavierStokes equations in conservation form and body-fitted coordinates are solved up to a critical Reynolds number beyond which the flow may become unsteady. The numerical scheme is related to a second-order-accurate, artificial diffusion-free scheme previously developed by the present authors. Results are obtained that resolve the separated flowfield upstream and downstream of the step.
Evaluation of micro-electrocorticographic electrodes for electrostimulation

Chronic neural recording and stimulation on the surface of the cortex with macroelectrodes has been shown to be promising for treating a wide range of neurological deficits. To enhance the specificity of these devices, dense arrangements of small area electrodes have been microfabricated for precise recording and control of neural populations. In this study micro-electrocorticographic (µECoG) electrodes were evaluated for electrostimulation. Surface modification with electrodeposited iridium oxide (EIrOx) resulted in lower impedance, higher charge carrying capacity, and lower, more linear voltage excursions during current controlled stimulation.
Applying developmental science in the 21st century: International scholarship for our times:

Applied developmental science (ADS) is scholarship that seeks to advance the integration of developmental research with actions that promote positive development and/or enhance the life chances of vulnerable children, youth, young and old adults, and their families. The ADS perspective challenges the validity of decontextualised knowledge and the legitimacy of isolating scholarship from the pressing human problems of our world. This orientation emphasises the importance of scholar/university-community partnerships as an essential means of fostering bidirectional relationships between research and practice, wherein developmental research both guides and is guided by the outcomes of social interventions.
Frontline Worker Responses To Domestic Violence Disclosure In Public Welfare Offices

Although substantial numbers of women seeking Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) report domestic violence, few receive mandated services through the Family Violence Option (FVO). This study used transcripts ofinterviews between welfare caseworkers and their clients to identify and classify the responses made by workers to client disclosures of abuse and to assess the match or mismatch of these responses with FVO policy requirements. Only 22 of 782 client interviews involved the disclosure of abuse to the welfare caseworker. A typology of worker responses was created, from least to most engaged. This typology shows that only half of those who disclosed abuse received assistance from the welfare worker, despite policy mandates that clients receive information on TANF waivers and community resources. This study suggests that problems with implementation of the FVO reflect a systemic reluctance to address issues of violence with women rather than problems of individual workers.
A comparison of missing data methods for hypothesis tests of the treatment effect in substance abuse clinical trials: a Monte-Carlo simulation study

Missing data due to attrition are rampant in substance abuse clinical trials. However, missing data are often ignored in the presentation of substance abuse clinical trials. This paper demonstrates missing data methods which may be used for hypothesis testing. Methods involving stratifying and weighting individuals based on missing data pattern are shown to produce tests that are robust to missing data mechanisms in terms of Type I error and power. In this article, we describe several methods of combining data that may be used for testing hypotheses of the treatment effect. Furthermore, illustrations of each test's Type I error and power under different missing data percentages and mechanisms are quantified using a Monte-Carlo simulation study. Type I error rates were similar for each method, while powers depended on missing data assumptions. Specifically, power was greatest for the weighted, compared to un-weighted methods, especially for greater missing data percentages. Results of this study as well as extant literature demonstrate the need for standards of design and analysis specific to substance abuse clinical trials. Given the known substantial attrition rates and concern for the missing data mechanism in substance abuse clinical trials, investigators need to incorporate missing data methods a priori. That is, missing data methods should be specified at the outset of the study and not after the data have been collected.
Transition Discovery of Sequential Behaviors in Email Application Usage Using Hidden Markov Models

Requirements monitors provide high-level feedback on software usage in real-time. Herein, we show how low-level monitoring can identify behavioral transitions that can be interpreted as learning transitions by a post-clinical team. One monitoring technique is to apply stochastic modeling to the software's event stream. Herein, we show how dynamically generated hidden Markov models (HMMs) characterize sequence patterns in a software's user-interface event-stream. We show how this is used to dynamically model a user's usage of an emailing application. By differencing the resulting sequence of generated HMMs, the technique can identify transitions in software usage. This is important for identifying usage transitions, which occur with user learning. Herein, we show how the approach applies to monitoring an email application that has been simplified for users having cognitive impairments. The identified transitions provide the post-clinical team feedback on a user's emailing progress. The team then uses the feedback to make adjustments to the emailing environment to further aid learning.
Liquid plasma use during "super" massive transfusion protocol

Background A massive transfusion protocol (MTP) presents a logistical challenge for most blood banks and trauma centers. We compare the ratio of packed red blood cells (PRBC) and plasma transfused over serial time points in those requiring MTP (10-30 U PRBC/24 h) to those requiring "super" MTP (S-MTP; >30 U PRBC/24 h) and test the hypothesis that changes in allocation of blood products with use of readily transfusable liquid plasma (LP) improves the ratio of PRBC and plasma during S-MTP. Materials and methods All transfused trauma patients (n = 1305) from January 01, 2009-April, 03, 2015 were reviewed. PRBC:plasma ratio was compared for MTP (n = 277) and S-MTP (n = 61) patients, before and after the availability of LP at our institution. Data are reported as mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range). Results Age was 41 ± 19 y, 52% blunt mechanism, injury severity score 32 ± 16, and 46.3% mortality. In 24 h, requirements were 17 (14) U PRBC and 10 (11) U plasma, with a PRBC:plasma of 1.6 (0.8). Within the first hour, PRBC:plasma for S-MTP versus MTP was 2.1:1 versus 1.7:1 (P = 0.017). With LP, S-MTP patients received significantly lower PRBC:plasma at the first hour (P Conclusions Within the first hour of transfusion, units of PRBC transfused positively correlated with PRBC:plasma, and patients receiving S-MTP had higher PRBC:plasma than those receiving MTP. Changes in our institution's MTP protocol to include LP improved the early PRBC:plasma transfused in patients requiring S-MTP.
The effects of phase constraint approaches on the spectrum of shaped M-PSK waveforms

As coded modulation techniques become prevalent in the industry, higher order signaling constellations will be used more often. The need to contain bandwidth and constant envelope simultaneously in these waveforms often requires that transitions between signal states occur around the unit circle over a period of time. The length of the path around the unit circle has effects on the bandwidth of the signal. Approaches to minimizing these transition paths are explored and their effects on signal bandwidth are presented.
Multiple Hereditary Exostosis, EXT Genes, and Skeletal Development

Multiple hereditary exostosis is an autosomal dominant inherited disease in which osteochondral growths occur on the periphery of bones. These growths are comprised of bone surrounded by a cap of cartilage. A small number of these exostoses proceed to a low-grade chondrosarcoma1,2. Although the disease can occur spontaneously, it has been estimated that 80% of affected individuals have a positive family history2. Research on the genetics of multiple hereditary exostosis over the past thirty years has been productive. Advances in the understanding of the disease have paralleled the methodological advances that have occurred in the field of molecular genetics. Initially, it was recognized that multiple hereditary exostosis is often inherited and that large families were available for genetic mapping. As techniques for gene mapping improved, regions of the chromosomes involved were identified, localized, and eventually subjected to DNA sequencing. The genes identified, the exostosins, were found to encode known enzymes whose function within the disease could be reasonably predicted. Mouse models were created, and the hypothesized function of these genes was verified. Many surprises were encountered along the way, which served to uncover important biological principles. The understanding of human multiple hereditary exostosis is a paradigm for the power of combining modern molecular biology, genetics, and clinical science. In the early 1990s, the clearly autosomal dominant inheritance of multiple hereditary exostosis was recognized by clinicians and DNA techniques became available to localize the inheritance patterns in the DNA. By genetic linkage analysis, Hecht et al. and Le Merrer et al. were able to localize the inheritance patterns of these families to three chromosomal locations: 8q24.1, 11p11-13, and 19p2,3. These genes were identified as tumor-suppressor genes, and loss of heterozygosity in these regions was associated with transformation into chondrosarcoma2, …
EFFECT OF OVARIAN SUPPRESSION WITH GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE AGONIST ON GLUCOSE DISPOSAL AND INSULIN SECRETION

Several lines of evidence suggest that ovarian hormones influence glucose homeostasis, although their exact role in humans has not been clearly defined. In the present study, we sought to test the ...