cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distributive justice in Northern Mexico and the US: a cross‐cultural comparison

A comparison of distributive justice strategies was made between a collectivistic culture, i.e., Mexico, and an individualistic culture, i.e., the United States. This study is the first to include the effect of ingroup/outgroup on the distribution strategies as Fischer and Smith (2003) called for in their extensive meta‐analysis of the topic. Distributive justice was operationalized as the monetary rewards given by Northern Mexicans and Americans in sixteen different allocation vignettes. The results showed that the two groups were significantly different in only one of the allocation vignettes. These results indicate a convergence between the cultures of the northern maquiladora region of Mexico and of the United States. Northern Mexicans and Americans were not significantly different in their distributive justice strategies.
Atmospheric Trace Gases in Antarctica

Trace gases have been measured, by electron-capture gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques, at the South Pole (SP) in Antarctica and in the U.S. Pacific Northwest (PNW) ( approximately 45 degrees N) during January of each year from 1975 to 1980. These measurements show that the concentrations of CCl(3)F, CCl(2)F(2), and CH(3)CCl(3) have increased exponentially at substantial rates. The concentration of CCl(3)F increased at 12 percent per year at the SP and at 8 percent per year in the PNW; CCl(2)F(2) increased at about 9 percent per year at both locations, and CH(3)CCl(3) increased at 17 percent per year at the SP and 11.6 percent per year at the PNW site. There is some evidence that CCl(4) ( approximately 3 percent per year) and N(2)O (0.1 to 0.5 percent per year) may also have increased. Concentrations of nine other trace gases of importance in atmospheric chemistry are also being measured at these two locations. Results of the measurements of CHClF(2)(F-22), C(2)Cl(3)F(3)(F-113), SF(6), C(2)-hydrocarbons, and CH(3)Cl are reported here.
Conceptual Framework for Coordinated Great Lakes Monitoring

Abstract The utility of conceptual models is discussed as a basis for effective development of coordinated monitoring efforts on the Great Lakes. The use of conceptual models is illustrated in two ways: (1) the development of a methodology for specifying monitoring objectives of the Great Lakes, based on a conceptual model, and (2) presentation of a comprehensive method for defining resource needs to achieve monitoring objectives.
A longitudinal study of human age-related ribosomal RNA gene activity as detected by silver-stained NORs

The relative frequencies of silver-stained nucleolar organizing regions (Ag-NORs) as a function of age have been analyzed in skin fibroblasts derived from eight adult individuals participating in the Gerontology Research Center (GRO) Longitudinal Study, NIA, Baltimore, MD. Since silver staining of NORs is correlated with rRNA gene activity, we used this cytological method to examine the pattern of rRNA gene activity in specific individuals, each at two different ages. Our results show that the average number of Ag-NORs/cell decreases significantly with advancing age of each individual, presumably indicating a general pattern of age-related decline/alteration in rRNA gene activity and this pattern is individual-specific. The findings of our longitudinal study is consistent with the results of previous cross-sectional (population) studies on rRNA gene activity as detected by Ag-NORs. However, it appears that the relative rate in the age-related decline of rRNA gene activity, as evidenced by lower Ag-NOR frequencies with age, is variable from person to person.
Social construction of communication technology

According to social constructivist theories of communication technology in organizations, work group members share identifiable patterns of meaning and action concerning communication technology. E...
Removing the Snare From the Pair: Using Pictures to Learn Confusing Word Pairs

The extant picture-learning research does not address confusing word pairs that are not concrete (e.g., in and into). In this study, university students viewed 11 timed Web pages containing information on confusing word pairs. Each page addressed one word pair and distinguished the words with examples (example group), examples and rules (rule group), examples and pictures (picture group), or examples, rules, and pictures (picture/rule group). On a concept test, all groups outperformed the example group, and the picture group outperformed the rule group. All groups outperformed the example group on a skill test. These results were consistent with the picture hypothesis and extend the previous research to include the use of pictures with paired words that are not concrete.
Bimodal regulation of adrenal opiate peptides by cholinergic mechanisms

Physiologic stressors increase trans-synaptic impulse activity and result in adrenal catecholamine release and biosynthesis. To determine the effects of stress on the co-localized opiate peptide system, rats were cold stressed at 4 degrees C. While cold stress slightly decreased enkephalin levels, a more severe stress (wetting and cold) increased enkephalin levels by 95%. Examining trans-synaptic-cholinergic mechanisms, treatment with either nicotinic or muscarinic agonists alone resulted in no change in adrenal enkephalin content. However, treatment with both nicotinic and muscarinic agonists together resulted in a three-fold rise in enkephalin levels. To further examine cellular mechanisms, medullae were explanted in the presence of agents that increase second messenger cyclic nucleotide levels. Treatments that increase the levels of cAMP, the cyclic nucleotide associated with nicotinic receptor activation, prevented the rise in medullary enkephalin relative to control explants. In contrast, treatments that increased cGMP levels, the cyclic nucleotide associated with muscarinic receptor activation, had no effect on enkephalin content compared to control explants. However, in the presence of both forskolin (10 microM) plus db-cGMP (5 mM), enkephalin content rose three-fold over control explants. These data suggest that, distinct from catecholamine pathways, enkephalin levels can be positively or negatively regulated by the severity of a stressful stimulus, by cholinergic receptor mechanisms and by an interaction of cyclic nucleotide second-messenger pathways.
Structural and chemical analysis of grain boundaries and tellurium precipitates in commerical Cd1-xZnxTe

The structure and chemistry of grain boundaries in commercial Cd1-xZnxTe, prepared by the high- pressure Bridgman technique, have been analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, infrared-light microscopy and visible-light microscopy. These analyses show that the grain boundaries inside the Cd1-xZnxTE materials are decorated with tellurium precipitates. Analysis of a tellurium precipitate at a grain boundary by transmission electron microscopy and selected-area electron diffraction found the precipitate to consist of a single, saucer-shaped grain. Electron diffraction from the precipitate was consistent with the trigonal phase of tellurium (space group P3,21), which is the equilibrium phase at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. This precipitate was found to be aligned with one of the adjacent CZT grains such that the tellurium (0111) planes were nearly parallel to the CZT (111) planes. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy of the Te/Cd1-xZnxTe interface showed no tertiary phase at the interface. The structures of the grain boundaries and the Te/Cd1-xZnxTe interface are discussed and related to their possible implications on Cd1-xZnxTe gamma-ray detector performance.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Notch1 inhibition targets the leukemia-initiating cells in a Tal1/Lmo2 mouse model of T-ALL

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive malignancy largely caused by aberrant activation of the TAL1/SCL, LMO1/2, and NOTCH1 oncogenes. Approximately 30% of T-ALL patients relapse, and evidence is emerging that relapse may result from a failure to eliminate leukemia-initiating cells (LICs). Thymic expression of the Tal1 and Lmo2 oncogenes in mice results in rapid development of T-ALL; and similar to T-ALL patients, more than half the leukemic mice develop spontaneous mutations in Notch1. Using this mouse model, we demonstrate that mouse T-ALLs are immunophenotypically and functionally heterogeneous with approximately 1 of 10 000 leukemic cells capable of initiating disease on transplantation. Our preleukemic studies reveal expansion of Notch-active double-negative thymic progenitors, and we find the leukemic DN3 population enriched in disease potential. To examine the role of Notch1 in LIC function, we measured LIC activity in leukemic mice treated with vehicle or with a γ-secretase inhibitor. In 4 of 5 leukemias examined, Notch inhibition significantly reduced or eliminated LICs and extended survival. Remarkably, in 2 mice, γ-secretase inhibitor treatment reduced LIC frequency below the limits of detection of this assay, and all transplanted mice failed to develop disease. These data support the continued development of Notch1 therapeutics as antileukemia agents.
Off-centered stagnation flow towards a rotating disc

Abstract Stagnation flow towards an off-centered rotating disc is studied. A three dimensional similarity transform reduces the Navier–Stokes equations to a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations which are integrated numerically. It is found that the non-alignment complicates the flow field and surface shear, but does not affect the torque. Similarity equations for convective heat transfer with dissipation are also obtained.
UTEX modeling of radioxenon isotopic fractionation resulting from subsurface transport

The underground transport of environmental xenon (UTEX) model is a finite-difference code that was developed at the University of Texas at Austin to simulate the transport of radioxenon from an underground nuclear detonation to the surface. UTEX handles a time dependent source term and includes the effects of radioactive decay to determine isotopic signatures of the various radioxenon species as a function of release time. The model shows that significant perturbations in the isotopic signatures are possible under some geologic conditions. Transport of radioxenon gas in UTEX is driven in large part by atmospheric pumping. A study was undertaken to characterize the dependence of resulting isotopic signatures on the various geologic and physical parameters that define the system model. Additionally, the model was used to roughly simulate isotopic measurements at various depths and position; the potential dependence of isotopic radioxenon fractionation on sampling depth and lateral position between fractures was examined.
NMR studies of polymer solutions. II. Polyethylene

The intramolecular structure of polyethylene in solution was studied by a high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance technique. Highly purified n-alkanes (99.5%) from C5H12 to C36H74 were used as its oligomers. The NMR spectra of the polyethylenes (oligomers) are very sensitive to the solvents used. The internal methylene protons of all polyethylenes of various chain length resonance at an identical frequency in carbon tetrachloride. A sharp transition in the NMR spectrum of polyethylene in α-chloronaphthalene at 35°C. was observed at n-C17H36, above which there exist two distinguishable NMR peaks for internal methylene protons, and below which (fewer carbons) only a single peak was seen. The NMR spectra of the internal methylene protons of the polyethylenes (oligomers) taken in benzene are very similar to those taken in pyridine. They are not as easily resolved as those NMR spectra taken in α-chloronaphthalene solutions. The effect of the size of the aromatic solvent molecule on the NMR spectra of the internal methylene protons of the polyethylenes (oligomers) in solutions was demonstrated by using aromatic solvents of various sizes, such as chlorobenzene, α-chloronaphthalene, and 9-chloronathracene. The results indicate that the formation of polymeric structure of the internal methylene groups in the polyethylene chain is very sensitive to the size of the solvent used. The interaction of the solvent with the methylene groups of the polyethylenes varies as a function of chain length; it is stronger for those low member n-alkanes and decreases gradually to an asymptotic value.
Photopolymerization of epoxides with platinum(II) bis(acetylacetonato)/silane catalysts

Photopolymerization of epoxides in the presence of silanes RSi3H and platinum(II) bis(acetylacetonato) complexes is reported. The catalytic reactivity of the platinum complexes depended on the concentration ratio of silane/platinum complex to monomer and the molecular structure of the silanes, as well as the structure of the platinum complexes. A mechanism is proposed.
Bilateral responses of prefrontal and motor cortices to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation as measured by functional near infrared spectroscopy

Simultaneously acquiring cortical functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) during repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) offers the possibility of directly investigating the effects of rTMS on brain regions without quantifiable behavioral changes. In this study, the left motor cortex and subsequently the left prefrontal cortex were stimulated at 1 Hz while fNIRS data was simultaneously acquired. Changes in hemodynamic signals were measured on both ipsilateral and contralateral sides. In each cortex, a significantly larger decrease in the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin and a smaller increase in the concentration of deoxygenated hemoglobin during the stimulation periods were observed in both the motor and prefrontal cortices. The ipsilateral and contralateral changes showed high temporal consistency. Same experiment was repeated for each subject 2 or 3 days later. The hemodynamic responses associated with the stimulation showed good reproducibility in two sessions. To our knowledge, this is the first report of simultaneous fNIRS measurement of ipsilateral and contralateral changes of either the motor or prefrontal cortex during rTMS stimulation.
Isomerization and dissociation in competition — The two-component dissociation dynamics of energy-selected C3H6O2+ isomers

The dissociation dynamics of three C 3 H 6 O 2 + isomers (methyl acetate, acetol, and ethyl formate) are compared. Photoelectron photoion coincidence (PEPICO) mass spectrometry is used to energy select these ions above their dissociation limits. The dissociation rates are derived from the ion time of flight distributions. All three ions dissociate via two-component decay rates which provides proof that these ions dissociate by competitive isomerization and dissociation steps. In each case a number of lower energy isomers are involved in the dissociation mechanism. However, it is interesting that these three ions do not share a common set of lower energy isomers. The conditions necessary for the observation of two-component decay are described and the shapes of the resulting ion TOF distributions are illustrated.
Current Perspectives on Systemic Hypertension in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Hypertension is a major contributor to the development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Our understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of HFpEF in relation to hypertension has increased considerably in recent years. We now know that the pathophysiologic relationship between hypertension and HFpEF is more complex than simply the development of left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction and that there are multiple ways in which hypertension interacts with other comorbidities, the vasculature, and the heart to predispose to HFpEF. Although the treatment of HFpEF has been challenging, there is widespread agreement that control of systemic blood pressure is important in the management of these patients. Here we review the relationship between hypertension and HFpEF, focusing on (1) epidemiology and (2) pathophysiology of HFpEF in relation to hypertension; (3) prevention of HFpEF by controlling hypertension; and (4) established and novel therapeutics for hypertension in the setting of HFpEF.
A reassessment of the phylogenetic relationships of Oreopithecus bambolii gervais

In recent years there have been renewed attempts to elucidate the phylogenetic affinities and taxonomic status of Oreopithecus bambolii from the late Miocene of Europe. The majority of previous workers who have studied the material have concluded that it represents a hominoid primate, albeit a rather specialized one. Several recent workers have revived the earlier suggestion that Oreopithecus may be a cercopithecoid primate, based mainly on presumed synapomorphies of the dentition. Although there are some general structural similarities between the cheek teeth of Oreopithecus and those of Old World monkeys, comparisons indicate that this resemblance is likely to be due to functional convergence, related to dietary similarities, rather than due to a close phyletic relationship. The cranio-dental features of Oreopithecus appear to be a combination of primitive catarrhine characters and autapomorphies. Much more informative evidence for determining the phyletic affinities of Oreopithecus is provided by the postcranial skeleton. Oreopithecus shares with the living hominoids a unique range of derived catarrhine features of the postcranium that are so detailed that there seems little possibility that they could have been developed independently in the two taxa. The present evidence best supports the conclusion that Oreopithecus has its closest affinities with the living hominoids. However, the relationships of Oreopithecus to taxa within the Hominoidea have proved difficult to ascertain, owing to a lack of synapomorphies with living representatives of the superfamily. In view of the uniquely derived facial characteristics of Oreopithecus bambolii, the species clearly warrants inclusion in a distinct hominoid family, the Oreopithecidae.
Sonic Hedgehog Inhibits the Terminal Differentiation of Limb Myoblasts Committed to the Slow Muscle Lineage

The proliferation, differentiation, and fusion of a small number of myogenic precursor cells must be precisely regulated during development to ensure the proper size, organization, and function of the limb musculature. We have examined the role of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) in these processes by both augmentation and inhibition of the Shh-mediated signaling pathway. Our data show that Shh regulates muscle development by repressing the terminal differentiation of early myogenic precursor cells and does not function as a myoblast mitogen. Shh function in hypaxial muscle appears to be spatially restricted to the early myoblast population within the ventral muscles of the posterior region of the limb. Furthermore, Shh appears to act as a permissive, rather than an inductive, signal for slow MyHC expression in myoblasts. Our data thus provide the foundation for a new hypothesis for Shh function in hypaxial skeletal muscle development.
Effect of Clenbuterol on Recovery of Muscle Mass and Carcass Protein Content Following Dietary Protein Depletion in Young and Old Rats

There is a need for new therapeutic agents designed to prevent or restore skeletal muscle loss in frail, elderly subjects resulting from injury or disease and associated catabolic stresses such as malnutrition. Since the beta 2-adrenergic agonist clenbuterol increases skeletal muscle mass in rats, the effect of this agent on recovery of muscle mass and carcass protein content following protein malnutrition was studied in young and old rats. The 3-week period of severe dietary protein restriction reduced body weight 21%, hind-limb muscle weight 24 and 15%, and carcass protein content 31 and 19%, respectively, in 3- and 24-month-old rats. During the 3-week recovery period induced by feeding a complete diet, 10 mg clenbuterol per kg diet increased hind-limb muscle weight 34 and 30% and carcass protein content 27 and 25%, respectively, in 3- and 24-month-old rats. Restoration was complete in animals of both ages fed clenbuterol and incomplete in animals fed the control diet. These observations suggest that clenbuterol or similar beta 2-adrenergic agonists may be useful in hastening the recovery of muscle mass and body protein stores lost because of malnutrition in frail, elderly humans.
X-ray diffraction studies of kappa carrageenan-tara gum mixed gels

Abstract X-ray fibre diffraction has been used to probe the molecular structure of tara gum-kappa carrageenan mixed gels. The patterns obtained for all mixed gels studied are qualitatively and quantitatively the same as the patterns obtained for pure kappa carrageenan. The results obtained show no evidence for a discrete molecular interaction between the two polysaccharides. Fluorescence microscopy of mixed gels containing tara gum tagged with fluorescein revealed no evidence for gross phase separation at resolutions of ∼ 1 μm.
Design and implementation of an agent-based simulation for emergency response and crisis management

This paper introduces the simulation component of the WIPER system [22]. The Wireless Integrated Phone-based Emergency Response (WIPER) system is a Dynamic Data-Driven Application System (DDDAS) that uses a stream of cellular network activity to detect, classify and predict crisis events. The WIPER simulation is essential to classification and prediction tasks, as the simulations model human activity, both in movement and cell phone activity, in an attempt to better understand crisis events. These Agent-Based simulations are parameterized with agent location data from the cellular service provider and agents inhabit a GIS space representative of the urban area. Simulations include models for normal and crisis behaviors in an urban setting. Simulations generate call activity and agent locations, similar to that generated by the observation of cell phone users in an urban setting. We present an overview of the design and implementation of the WIPER simulation along with validation and verification of the system and an evaluation of runtime characteristics.
Investigations on the quality of polysilicon film-gate dielectric interface in polysilicon thin film transistors

Abstract The effective electron mobility was measured as a function of surface field in polysilicon thin film transistors having the following three types of gate dielectrics; silicon dioxide deposited by low temperature (350 °C) plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), low temperature (400 °C) nitrogen-rich PECVD silicon nitride and high temperature (1050 °C) thermally grown silicon dioxide. At low surface fields, the maximum true effective electron mobility was 40 ± 3 cm 2 V −1 s −1 in all devices independent of the type of gate dielectric, indicating that the quality of the interface is the same. However, at high surface fields a stronger degradation of the mobility was observed in devices having the thermally grown silicon dioxide as gate dielectric, indicating the presence of surface roughness within the interfacial region. The polysilicon structure was studied by transmission electron microscopy in order to ensure that our electrical results were not influenced by variations in polysilicon grain size. It was found that the grain size was the same in all devices including those that were oxidized at high temperature.
Integrated surface-groundwater flow modeling: A free-surface overland flow boundary condition in a parallel groundwater flow model

Abstract Interactions between surface and groundwater are a key component of the hydrologic budget on the watershed scale. Models that honor these interactions are commonly based on the conductance concept that presumes a distinct interface at the land surface, separating the surface from the subsurface domain. These types of models link the subsurface and surface domains via an exchange flux that depends upon the magnitude and direction of the hydraulic gradient across the interface and a proportionality constant (a measure of the hydraulic connectivity). Because experimental evidence of such a distinct interface is often lacking in field systems, there is a need for a more general coupled modeling approach. A more general coupled model is presented that incorporates a new two-dimensional overland flow simulator into the parallel three-dimensional variably saturated subsurface flow code ParFlow [Ashby SF, Falgout RD. A parallel multigrid preconditioned conjugate gradient algorithm for groundwater flow simulations. Nucl Sci Eng 1996;124(1):145–59; Jones JE, Woodward CS. Newton–Krylov-multigrid solvers for large-scale, highly heterogeneous, variably saturated flow problems. Adv Water Resour 2001;24:763–774]. This new overland flow simulator takes the form of an upper boundary condition and is, thus, fully integrated without relying on the conductance concept. Another important advantage of this approach is the efficient parallelism incorporated into ParFlow, which is exploited by the overland flow simulator. Several verification and simulation examples are presented that focus on the two main processes of runoff production: excess infiltration and saturation. The model is shown to reproduce an analytical solution for overland flow, replicates a laboratory experiment for surface–subsurface flow and compares favorably to other commonly used hydrologic models. The influence of heterogeneity of the shallow subsurface on overland flow is also examined. The results show the propagation of uncertainty due to subsurface heterogeneity to the overland flow predictions and demonstrate the usefulness of our approach. Both the overland flow component and the coupled model are evaluated in a parallel scaling study and show to be efficient.
Lipid and Lipoprotein Factors Associated With Variation in Lp(a) Density

Abstract To determine the facets of lipoprotein metabolism associated with variation in lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] density, we examined by density gradient ultracentrifugation 246 plasma samples exhibi...
Utilizing the Chemical Mass Balance and Positive Matrix Factorization models to determine influential species and examine possible rotations in receptor modeling results

Abstract Data from two of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Speciation Trends Network fine particulate matter sites within Chicago, Illinois were used to examine the influence that the results and profiles of the Chemical Mass Balance (CMB) receptor model have on the source contributions and profiles of the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model. This was accomplished using the target shape technique, which utilizes a priori information from the CMB source profiles inputted into the PMF model. The target shape methodology involves inputting specific information for the source profiles into the PMF model as it is resolving source profile and contribution matrices. The target shape results demonstrated it is possible to determine in both the CMB and PMF source profiles those species, which do not influence the solutions of either model. A second method utilizing information from the CMB results was used to impose a condition where the Motor Vehicles source never had a zero contribution as was applied to the CMB model. This involved utilizing an edge rotation to rotate the PMF results to yield a different solution without worsening the fit of the original results. The purpose of this work is to achieve a rotation, which produced a PMF solution where all of the Motor Vehicles contributions were greater than zero. Comparing the rotated Motor Vehicles and Sulfates source contributions in PMF to those obtained from CMB showed a better correlation between the PMF Motor Vehicles contributions to the original CMB results than those prior to rotation.
Single drop liquid-liquid-liquid microextraction of methamphetamine and amphetamine in urine.

Abstract Single drop liquid–liquid–liquid microextraction (LLLME) combined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)–UV detection was investigated for the determination of a popular drug of abuse, methamphetamine (MAP), and its major metabolite, amphetamine (AP), in urine samples. The target compounds were extracted from NaOH modified sample solution to a thin layer of organic solvent membrane, and back-extracted to an acidic acceptor drop suspended on the tip of a 50-μL HPLC syringe in the aforementioned organic layer. This syringe was also used for direct injection after extraction. Factors affecting extraction efficiency were studied. At optimal conditions, the overall enrichment factor (EF) was 500-fold for AP and 730-fold for MAP, respectively. The method exhibited a wide linear range (1.0–1500 μg/L), low detection limit (0.5 μg/L), and good repeatability (RSD
Correlation of99mTc-HMPAO SPECT with EEG monitoring: prognostic value for outcome of epilepsy surgery in children

Abstract Sixteen children who had focal cortical resections for medically intractable epilepsy were preoperatively evaluated with 99m technetium-labelled hexamethylpropyleneamineoxime single photon emission computed tomography ( 99m Tc-HMPAO SPECT). Video-EEG monitoring was performed in all patients. Outcome was assessed according to the criteria of Engel et al. [1], at a mean follow up length of 13.4 ± 8.7 months, in all patients. Interictal SPECT showed appropriate localization in 11/15 cases, of whom nine had a class 1 outcome and two had class 2 and 4 outcomes. Interictal SPECT did not correlate with ictal EEG in 4/15 patients, of whom two had a class 1 outcome, and two had class 3 and 4 outcomes. Two postictal studies obtained in group I showed good correlation with the area of ictal EEG onset, and both patients had a class 1 outcome. Interictal HMPAO SPECT imaging, when positively correlated with the ictal EEG focus or with the site of surgery determined by other means, may have prognostic value for outcome of cortical resections for epilepsy in children. The use of ictal and post-ictal studies shows promise for further improving prognostic information in this population.
Soil landscape models at different scales portrayed in virtual reality modeling language

Most state-of-the-art manipulations and visualizations of soil data use geographic information systems to portray soil landscapes in two dimensions (2-D). Nevertheless, soil attributes are distributed continuously in three dimensions (3-D) across landscapes. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML), a 3-D graphics language suitable for stand-alone or browser-based interactive viewing, to create 3-D soil landscape models at different scales. Four different locations in southern Wisconsin were selected to represent pedon, catena, catchment, and soil region scales. Soil data, including texture, cone index, and depth of soil layers, were used in conjunction with topographic attributes to create 3-D soil landscape models. Spatial modeling techniques comprised 2-D and 3-D ordinary kriging. We used Environmental Visualization Software (EVS) to export the geometry of 3-D objects, which were enhanced to include: (i) viewpoints, (ii) Munsell colors, (iii) texture maps, (iv) 3-D cross-section animation, (v) animations such as zooming and rotation, and (vi) primitive shapes to highlight areas of interest. Virtual reality modeling language is capable of describing and visualizing extremely complex shapes, such as complex soil layers or terrain. Visualization of Munsell soil colors was difficult to implement because there is no hardware or software independent color-management system available in VRML. Animation techniques were valuable to high-light specific characteristics of each model. The accessibility of interactive VRML models via the World Wide Web and the portability of these models across platforms facilitate the entry of soil science into the virtual world of cyberspace.
The Engineering Science of Industrial Engineering: A Viewpoint of the Industrial Engineering Curriculum

Abstract This paper outlines the scientific underpinnings of Industrial Engineering and proposes an approach to educating the Industrial Engineer based on this engineering science. The proposed definition of the “Industrial Engineering science” rests on the premise that IE is made up of three main functional areas: (1) production engineering, (2) operational science, and (3) ergonomics/human factors engineering. This paper outlines the various IE activities that fall into these three functional categories, and attempts to show the relationships of those areas to six underlying science bases; namely, (1) Industrial Engineering sciences, (2) general engineering sciences, (3) life sciences, (4) physical sciences, (5) behavioral and social sciences, and (6) mathematics.
Switchable surface traps for injectable bead-based chromatography in PDMS microfluidic channels

We report here a reversible microchannel surface capture system for stimuli-responsive grafted bioanalytical beads. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) was grafted onto polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces by a UV-mediated graft polymerization from a photoinitiator that was preadsorbed in the channel wall. The surface grafting density and resulting switchable hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties were controlled by varying the photo-illumination times and/or the initiator concentration. At limiting PNIPAAm-graft densities, the surfaces demonstrated minimal contact angles of 35° below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and maximal contact angles of 82° above it. These contact angles could be varied depending on the graft density. The surface grafts are spatially limited to the photo-illuminated region to define where the trap is constructed. The surface traps capture PNIPAAm-grafted nanobeads uniformly above the LCST and facilitate their rapid release as the temperature is reversed to below the LCST. This dual surface trap and injectable chromatography system could be useful in many applications, such as affinity separations, immunoassays, and enzyme bioprocesses, by providing for the controlled capture and release of chromatography beads.
Interaction between two mitogen‐activated protein kinases during tobacco defense signaling

Plant mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) represented by tobacco wounding-induced protein kinase (WIPK) have unique regulation at the level of transcription in response to stresses. By using transcriptional and translational inhibitors, it has been shown previously that WIPK gene expression and de novo protein synthesis are required for the high-level activity of WIPK in cells treated with elicitins from Phytophthora spp. However, regulation of WIPK expression and the role(s) of WIPK in plant disease resistance are unknown. In this report, we demonstrate that WIPK gene transcription is regulated by phosphorylation and de-phosphorylation events. Interestingly, salicylic acid-induced protein kinase (SIPK) was identified as the kinase involved in regulating WIPK gene expression based on both gain-of-function and loss-of-function analyses. This finding revealed an additional level of interaction between SIPK and WIPK, which share an upstream MAPKK, NtMEK2. Depending on whether WIPK shares its downstream targets with SIPK, it could either function as a positive feed-forward regulator of SIPK or initiate a new pathway. Consistent with the first scenario, co-expression of WIPK with the active mutant of NtMEK2 leads to accelerated hypersensitive response (HR)-like cell death in which SIPK also plays a role. Mutagenesis analysis revealed that the conserved common docking domain in WIPK is required for its function. Together with prior reports that (i) WIPK is activated in NN tobacco infected with tobacco mosaic virus, and (ii) PVX virus-induced gene silencing of WIPK attenuated N gene-mediated resistance, we concluded that WIPK plays a positive role in plant disease resistance, possibly through accelerating the pathogen-induced HR cell death.
Analysis of deformable image registration accuracy using computational modeling

Computer aided modeling of anatomic deformation, allowing various techniques and protocols in radiation therapy to be systematically verified and studied, has become increasingly attractive. In this study the potential issues in deformable image registration (DIR) were analyzed based on two numerical phantoms: One, a synthesized, low intensity gradient prostate image, and the other a lung patient's CT image data set. Each phantom was modeled with region-specific material parameters with its deformation solved using a finite element method. The resultant displacements were used to construct a benchmark to quantify the displacement errors of the Demons and B-Spline-based registrations. The results show that the accuracy of these registration algorithms depends on the chosen parameters, the selection of which is closely associated with the intensity gradients of the underlying images. For the Demons algorithm, both single resolution (SR) and multiresolution (MR) registrations required approximately 300 iterations to reach an accuracy of 1.4 mm mean error in the lung patient's CT image (and 0.7 mm mean error averaged in the lung only). For the low gradient prostate phantom, these algorithms (both SR and MR) required at least 1600 iterations to reduce their mean errors to 2 mm. For the B-Spline algorithms, best performance (mean errors of 1.9 mm for SR and 1.6 mm for MR, respectively) on the low gradient prostate was achieved using five grid nodes in each direction. Adding more grid nodes resulted in larger errors. For the lung patient's CT data set, the B-Spline registrations required ten grid nodes in each direction for highest accuracy (1.4 mm for SR and 1.5 mm for MR). The numbers of iterations or grid nodes required for optimal registrations depended on the intensity gradients of the underlying images. In summary, the performance of the Demons and B-Spline registrations have been quantitatively evaluated using numerical phantoms. The results show that parameter selection for optimal accuracy is closely related to the intensity gradients of the underlying images. Also, the result that the DIR algorithms produce much lower errors in heterogeneous lung regions relative to homogeneous (low intensity gradient) regions, suggests that feature-based evaluation of deformable image registration accuracy must be viewed cautiously.
Robust Replication of Genotype-Phenotype Associations across Multiple Diseases in an Electronic Medical Record

Large-scale DNA databanks linked to electronic medical record (EMR) systems have been proposed as an approach for rapidly generating large, diverse cohorts for discovery and replication of genotype-phenotype associations. However, the extent to which such resources are capable of delivering on this promise is unknown. We studied whether an EMR-linked DNA biorepository can be used to detect known genotype-phenotype associations for five diseases. Twenty-one SNPs previously implicated as common variants predisposing to atrial fibrillation, Crohn disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or type 2 diabetes were successfully genotyped in 9483 samples accrued over 4 mo into BioVU, the Vanderbilt University Medical Center DNA biobank. Previously reported odds ratios (ORPR) ranged from 1.14 to 2.36. For each phenotype, natural language processing techniques and billing-code queries were used to identify cases (n = 70–698) and controls (n = 808–3818) from deidentified health records. Each of the 21 tests of association yielded point estimates in the expected direction. Previous genotype-phenotype associations were replicated (p 1.25, and in 0/7 with lower ORPR. Statistically significant associations were detected in all analyses that were adequately powered. In each of the five diseases studied, at least one previously reported association was replicated. These data demonstrate that phenotypes representing clinical diagnoses can be extracted from EMR systems, and they support the use of DNA resources coupled to EMR systems as tools for rapid generation of large data sets required for replication of associations found in research cohorts and for discovery in genome science.
The effects of dietary myoinositol on lung tumor development in tobacco smoke-exposed mice

The purpose of these experiments was to investigate whether a diet containing myoinositol could prevent the development of tobacco smoke-induced lung tumors in strain A/J mice. In a positive control experiment, 1% and 3% of myoinositol in AIN-93 diet reduced the development of lung tumors induced by NNK [4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone] by 69% and 75%. In animals exposed for 5 mo, 6 h/day, 5 days/wk, to a mixture of tobacco sidestream and mainstream smoke, and then fed myoinositol-containing diets once smoke exposure had ceased, no chemopreventive effect was observed. When animals were fed myoinositol during both tobacco smoke exposure and the recovery period, a slight but statistically not significant reduction in tumor multiplicities was found. It was concluded that myoinositol has less chemopreventive activity against the full complex mixture of tobacco smoke than it has against selected constituents such as NNK or benzo[a]pyrene.
A "flight data recorder" for enabling full-system multiprocessor deterministic replay

Debuggers have been proven indispensable in improving software reliability. Unfortunately, on most real-life software, debuggers fail to deliver their most essential feature --- a faithful replay of the execution. The reason is non-determinism caused by multithreading and non-repeatable inputs. A common solution to faithful replay has been to record the non-deterministic execution. Existing recorders, however, either work only for datarace-free programs or have prohibitive overhead.As a step towards powerful debugging, we develop a practical low-overhead hardware recorder for cachecoherent multiprocessors, called Flight Data Recorder (FDR). Like an aircraft flight data recorder, FDR continuously records the execution, even on deployed systems, logging the execution for post-mortem analysis.FDR is practical because it piggybacks on the cache coherence hardware and logs nearly the minimal threadordering information necessary to faithfully replay the multiprocessor execution. Our studies, based on simulating a four-processor server with commercial workloads, show that when allocated less than 7% of system's physical memory, our FDR design can capture the last one second of the execution at modest (less than 2%) slowdown.
Effects of Salt, Tripolyphosphate and Sodium Alginate on the Texture and Flavor of Fish Patties Prepared from Minced Sheepshead

An attempt was made to develop an acceptable fish patty using minced sheepshead flesh. Deboned and washed sheepshead flesh was mixed with varying proportions of sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) and sodium alginate (NaAlg). The texture quality of cooked patties was determined by measuring breaking force and sensory acceptability. A regression analysis, performed to measure the effects of NaCl, TPP, and NaAlg as well as to try to determine the optimum combination of ingredients that produced the most acceptable product, showed that all texture responses were significantly influenced by the TPP level (α < 0.05). The breaking force and sensory firmness were strongly influenced by the NaAlg concentration (α < 0.01) which also influenced texture-preference (α < 0.05).
Potential Demand for Drought Insurance in Burkina Faso and Its Determinants

The objectives of this paper are twofold: (a) to estimate demand for formal drought insurance using farm household data in Burkina Faso and (b) to find what determines insurance demand. The following findings are salient. First, effective demand is found in all zones, which implies inadequacies in households' current self-insurance strategies. Second, there is much heterogeneity in the strategies to self-insure even within zones. Third, the expectation of public food aid decreases demand for drought insurance, which suggests that food aid is causing moral hazard. Fourth, households with large livestock holdings can reduce the size of herd by substituting drought insurance for livestock holdings.
A health care program for homeless children using Healthy People 2010 objectives.

Children in homeless shelters have urgent and chronic health needs, with limited access to health care services. A health care program based on Healthy People 2010 objectives provides screening and treatment to these children through a nursing center in a homeless shelter. The nursing center provides service using intervention protocols based on levels of prevention and national standards for care; outcomes of interventions are measured and recorded through a software tracking system. Education modules in nutrition, oral, and dental care focus on primary prevention; secondary prevention includes lead, hearing, vision, and mental health screening, and assessment of environmental tobacco smoke exposure. Health problems, identified through physical assessment, are treated or referred for further follow-up, and chronic problems are managed in collaboration with community agencies. Outcome measures provide information regarding the ability of the child health program to meet health needs of homeless children who have no regular source of health care or who are unable to use this care. Aggressive screening, effective treatment of health problems, and preventive health care offer the possibility of improving the health status and well-being of homeless children through a nursing clinic at a homeless shelter [1]. Children who are homeless have adverse health consequences because of their complex health problems, and health care systems are limited in their ability to address the health and social needs of these children and their families [1]. A comprehensive child health program, using Healthy People 2010 objectives, national standardsofhealthcare,clinicalguidelines,andpolicyrecommendationsbyAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Academy of Family Practice, is being implemented to target the unique needs of these children. The program includes screening, anticipatory guidance, case management, transitional
Analysis of ionization processes in low pressure electrodischarge detectors

The analysis of plasma chemical reactions in nitrogen-oxygen plasma with low pressure (p ≥ 1 Pa) is presented. There has been proposed a set of equations to find the VAC. It is shown to be possible to determine identically the pressure in some gas through measuring the AC.
CHAPTER 13 – Nucleic Acid Probe Technology

Nucleic acid probes can be either homogeneous or heterogeneous. Homogeneous and heterogeneous probes may be either DNA or RNA molecules. In a hybridization solution, a probe preparation is said to be homogeneous if all probe molecules are the same. For example, in an experiment to assess the prevalence of c-fos transcripts in the samples, every probe molecule is a labeled human c-fos oncogene complementary DNA (cDNA). Heterogeneous probes consist of mixtures of two or more sequences that may be closely related in nucleotide sequence or completely dissimilar. The key considerations in the selection of a probe labeling system are required sensitivity and resolution, method of label incorporation, probe stability after labeling, type of hybridization, and desired method of detection. There are three basic methods for labeling nucleic acids: (1) radiolabeling; (2) hapten incorporation that will support nonisotopic detection by chemiluminescence, chemifluorescence, or chromogenic techniques; and (3) direct enzyme labeling. These techniques are compatible with the labeling of DNA, RNA, and (usually) oligonucleotides for most applications.