cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cochlear nerve projections to the small cell shell of the cochlear nucleus: The neuroanatomy of extremely thin sensory axons

Labeling cochlear nerve fibers in the inner ear of chinchillas with biotinylated dextran polyamine was used to trace the thin fibers (Type II), which likely innervate outer hair cells. These axons, 0. 1-0.5 microm in diameter, were distinguished from the thicker Type I, fibers innervating inner hair cells, and traced to small-cell clusters in the cochlear nucleus. This study provided two major new insights into the outer hair cell connections in the cochlear nucleus and the potential significance of very thin axons and synaptic nests, which are widespread in the CNS. 1) EM serial reconstructions of labeled and unlabeled material revealed that Type II axons rarely formed synapses with conventional features (vesicles gathered at junctions). Rather, their endings contained arrays of endoplasmic reticulum and small spherical vesicles without junctions. 2) Type II axons projected predominantly to synaptic nests, where they contacted other endings and dendrites of local interneurons (small stellate and mitt cells, but not granule cells). Synaptic nests lacked intrinsic glia and, presumably, their high-affinity amino acid transporters. As functional units, nests and their Type II inputs from outer hair cells may contribute to an analog processing mode, which is slower, more diffuse, longer-lasting, and potentially more plastic than the digital processors addressed by inner hair cells.
7-Caffeoylsedoheptulose from Nyssa sylvatica

7-Caffeoylsedoheptulose has been isolated from the wood of Nyssa sylvatica, along with two ellagic acid derivatives and scopoletin. Its structure was established by chemical and spectral evidence.
Plasma Concentration of Progesterone and Estradiol during the Ovulatory Cycle of the Turkey

Radioimmunoassays were used to estimate concentrations of progesterone and estradiol in the peripheral plasma of hens in relation to the first (C1) or second (C2) ovulation in a sequence. Peak concentrations of progesterone were found at 6--3 hr. before ovulation. There were no consistent changes in estradiol concentrations. When blood samples were taken at 2-hr. intervals for 24--48 hrs., estradiol concentrations peaked at 18 hours before C1 ovulation and during the same time of day (2--6 p.m.) during the period of no ovulation between sequences, but no estradiol peak preceded C2 ovulation. When blood samples were taken from a second population of hens at 1-hr. intervals during the 12 hr. period before expected C2 ovulation, a significant rise in estradiol (P less than 0.01) was associated with the preovulatory peak of progesterone. The preovulatory peak of estradiol in these hens may be linked to a seasonally high rate of secretion of both estradiol and progesterone. As estimated indirectly by hypophysectomy, release of an ovulatory amount of LH in the turkey coincided with the rise of progesterone to the preovulatory peak.
Biochemical evaluation of serum and flexor tenosynovium in carpal tunnel syndrome.

In total, 41 consecutive patients with “idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome” and abnormal electrophysiologic findings who underwent carpal tunnel release were studied prospectively. The focus of this investigation was the evaluation of the levels of specific chemical mediators within the serum and flexor tenosynovium of these patients. Blood was collected from these patients within 1 week prior to carpal tunnel release, and flexor tenosynovium was obtained at time of surgery. Specimens were then analyzed to determine the levels of interleukins 1 and 6, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and malondialdehyde bis diethyl acetal. These values were compared to those of controls who had no evidence of carpal tunnel syndrome. A significant increase was noted in the serum malondialdehyde and tenosynovial levels of malondialdehyde, interleukin 6, and prostaglandin PGE2 compared to controls. The elevated levels of these biologic factors and the absence of interleukin 1 elevation support a noninflammatory ischemia-reperfusion etiology for so-called “idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome” that causes progressive edema and fibrosis of the tissues within the carpal canal. These findings correlate with previous histopathology reports. We believe that “idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome” is an “-osis” not an “-itis.” © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. MICROSURGERY 22:378–385 2002
Positive inotropic and lusitropic effects of intravenous flosequinan in patients with heart failure.

Objectives. This shudy was designed to assess the direct effects of flosequinan on myocardial function. Background. Flosequinan has been shown to improve symptoms and exercise tolerance in patients with heart failure. Although previous studies have established that flosequinan is a vasodilator, it is not known to what extent direct actions of the drug on myocardial contractility or diastolic properties contribute to its beneficial hemodynamic effects. Methods. Nitroprusside and intravenous flosequinan were administered sequentially to 18 patients with severe heart failure (New York Heart Association functional class III or IV, left ventricular ejection fraction 0.14 ± 0.02). Micromanometer left ventricular pressure and radionuclide volume data were combined to construct pressure-volume loops during 1) a baseline period, 2) nitroprusside infusion, 3) a second baseline period, and 4) flosequinan infusion. Results. The peak rate of left ventricular pressure development increased from 899 ± 84 to 1,070 ± 94 mm Hg/s (p < 0.05) with flosequinan. The baseline left ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume relation was constructed in 15 patients from the two baseline pressure-volume loops and from that obtained during afterload manipulation with nitroprusside. During flosequinan administration, the relation between end-systolic pressure and volume was shifted upward and leftward, indicating enhanced contractility. in 14 of 15 patients (p < 0.001). The maximal rate of decrease in left ventricular pressure during isovolumetric relaxation increased in magnitude with flosequinan from 882 ± 63 to 1,026 ± 68 mm Hg/s (p < 0.05). Conclusions. These results indicate that intravenous flosequinan has positive inotropic and lusitropic effects in patients with heart failure. Further studies are needed to assess the direct myocardial effects or oral flosequinan.
Obesity, Children, Medications, and Pharmacy

Childhood obesity is an epidemic in America. From 1999 to 2005, the number of hospitalizations for children aged 2 to 19 years nearly doubled. In 2000, the total cost of obesity was $117 billion. Causes of obesity include diet, lifestyle, food advertisements, and genetics. Complications include heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, respiratory problems and cancer. Obesity can also hinder social growth. Although the government has established standards for school lunch menus, these are often not met due to government subsidized pork, beef, and dairy products sold to schools at discounted prices. Children are sometimes prescribed medications, such as metformin and orlistat, for weight loss. The American Academy of Pediatrics stated that more children should be taking medications for obesity. Many experts, though, do not agree with this view. Pharmacists are in an ideal position to provide help to children and parents, because they are readily available and knowledgeable.
Electron density and temperature in the pulsed-orbitron-maser glow discharge

In order to better understand the pulsed-glow discharge that provides the feed electrons for a pulsed-orbitron maser, the authors report using penetrating microwave beams and radially inserted Langmuir probes to make bulk and radial measurements of the number density in the plasma. The Langmuir probe was also used to measure the electron temperature across the plasma radius, and to investigate the effects of an externally applied magnetic field on the RF output of the orbitron. It was found that the emitted frequency is apparently not related to the electron plasma frequency by any simple linear relationship, and that an externally imposed magnetic field of as little as 70 G is required to kill the instability. >
Paraprofessional versus professional drug counselors: Diverse routes to the same role

The backgrounds and roles of ex-addict ( EXA ) and non-ex-addict (NEA) paraprofessional methadone maintenance and drug-free out-patient counselors were contrasted with those of degreed professional counselors (PRO). There was no evidence of differential assignment of clients to counselors based on drug use, drug treatment, criminal, educational, and employment histories. The three counselor groups were remarkably similar in their participation in 11 areas of job activities ranging from counseling duties per se through administrative support functions. The only reliable difference was the greater involvement of EXAs in counseling and community education activities which took them outside the program.
Flow of ponded water into drain tubes in soil overlying an impervious layer

On the assumption that uniform, water-saturated soil covered by ponded water, and overlying an impervious layer is drained by equally spaced circular drain tubes at equal depth, two sets of expressions for the velocity potential, stream potential, the drain flux, and the surface inflow distribution are derived. Each alternate expression yields the same result, one set of results being useful in numerical work when the impervious layer is at shallow depth, the other when the impervious layer is at great depth. Parameters are soil permeability, drain depth, drain spacing, drain radius, depth to the impervious layer, and depth of ponded water. The method of complex variable is used. The results are of practical interest in the problem of artificial drainage of land and in the problem of leaching.
Embedded metallic nanopatterns for enhanced optical absorption

Novel metallic nanopatterns integrated with semiconductor films form optical metamaterials that can enable enhanced absorption. When employed in photovoltaics, such integrated nanostructures may facilitate significant increases in power conversion efficiency. Here, we show that metal nanopatterns embedded within a semiconductor, as opposed to being situated at/on the surface(s), exhibit absorbance enhancements that exceed those yielded by surface patterns. We show in computer simulations and experiments that absorbance in amorphous silicon can be enhanced many-fold for embedded metal nanopatterns (EMN) in ultrathin silicon films in particular wavelength regimes. Compared to plane α-Si films of comparable thickness, a several hundred percent enhancement is observed. This represents a potential route to high efficiency solar power with ultrathin absorbers enhanced by EMN-based optical metamedia.
Potassium Phenyltrifluoroborate1,2

[153766-81-5] C6H5BF3K [MW 184.00] InChI = 1S/C6H5BF3.K/c8-7(9,10)6-4-2-1-3-5-6;/h1-5H;/q-1;+1 InChIKey = DVAFPKUGAUFBTJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N (air stable, nucleophilic coupling partner in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling;3-7 rhodium-catalyzed 1,2- and 1,4-additions;8-10 and copper(II)-catalyzed carbon-heteroatom coupling; 11, 12 precursor of phenylboron difluoride13) Physical data: white crystalline solid, mp 250 °C (dec.). Solubility: soluble in acetone, slightly soluble in acetonitrile. Form supplied in: white solid, commercially available. Analysis of Reagent Purity: 1H, 13C, 19F, and 11B NMR. Preparative Methods: prepared by treating phenyl boronic acid with KHF2.14 Purification: purified by dissolving in hot acetone and precipitating with diethyl ether; also can be recrystallized from acetonitrile.14 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: corrosive.
Polyuria Among Patients With Psychosis

Using the criterion of early morning urinary specific gravity (SPGR) of 1.008 or less to define the presence of polyuria, we identified 26 of 72 male (36 percent) and 14 of 31 female (45 percent) institutionalized chronically psychotic patients as polyuric during a comprehensive survey of one of the chronic care units at a State mental hospital. Factors including diagnosis, sex, age, weight, and serum sodium did not distinguish the polyuric from the nonpolyuric patients. For men, administration of lithium was associated with polyuria. Urinary creatinine concentration (UCR) correlated well with SPGR, and UCR may provide an alternate index to separate polyuric from nonpolyuric patients. The clinical implications of our findings are discussed.
Differential facilitation of high- and low-output nerve terminals from a single motoneuron.

In the crayfish opener neuromuscular preparation, regional differences in synaptic transmission are observed among the terminals of a single motoneuron. With a single stimulus, the high-output term...
Effects of breathing on neck volume during supine position

Objective: Fluid which accumulates in the lower extremities during the day may redistribute towards the head (rostral fluid shift) during sleep, and so may play a role in restricting the upper airway leading to sleep disordered breathing (SDB). In this pilot study, six healthy men and women were recruited to test the hypothesis that the transition to a recumbent position results in a significant increase in neck fluid volume. Methods: Change in neck volume (NV) was measured using air plethysmography during 30 minutes of sitting (Sit) and 45 minutes following transition to a supine position (Supine). Each subject was assessed four times on separate days. Linear regression and spectral analysis were undertaken to characterize NV changes. Results: Three men and three women (two each in their 20 s, 40 s, and 60 s) participated. BMI averaged 24.45 ± 3.9 kg/m2. Both average Sit and Supine NV shifts were significantly greater than zero, +4.33 ml/hr ± 1.63; 95% CI [1.07, 7.59]; +1.51 ml/hr ± 0.55; 95% CI [0.41, 2.61] ( p < .05), respectively, however there was no significant difference between Sit and Supine. Spectral analysis of NV recordings revealed peaks at ~0.25 Hz and ~1.2 Hz, consistent with respiration and heart contraction rates, respectively. Average respiratory NV shift was 0.03 ml ± 0.01; 95\% CI [0.01-0.05] (Sitting) and 0.08 ml ± 0.02; 95% CI [0.04, 0.12] (Supine), both significantly greater than zero ( p < .05), with supine fluid shifts significantly greater than during sitting ( p < .01). Conclusions: These results suggest that respiratory activity may have the dominant influence on NV when supine, potentially contributing to SDB. Further study of neck fluid shifts during respiration and its influence on sleep quality in persons with SDB is proposed.
Binocular Helmholtz stereopsis

Helmholtz stereopsis has been introduced recently as a surface reconstruction technique that does not assume a model of surface reflectance. In the reported formulation, correspondence was established using a rank constraint, necessitating at least three viewpoints and three pairs of images. Here, it is revealed that the fundamental Helmholtz stereopsis constraint defines a nonlinear partial differential equation, which can be solved using only two images. It is shown that, unlike conventional stereo, binocular Helmholtz stereopsis is able to establish correspondence (and thereby recover surface depth) for objects having an arbitrary and unknown BRDF and in textureless regions (i.e., regions of constant or slowly varying BRDF). An implementation and experimental results validate the method for specular surfaces with and without texture.
Specific heat contributions of the ferromagnetic transition in nickel and nickel-copper alloys☆

Abstract The specific heat contribution due to magnetic order in pure nickel was determined by subtracting the theoretical specific heat, computed on the basis of no magnetic effects, from recently determined experimental values. The energy and entropy changes associated with the ferromagnetic transition were calculated. These data furnished evidence that the nonintegral number of unpaired spins per atom in nickel may be considered to be distributed such that a given atom has either two (parallel spin) holes or none, corresponding to the 3d8 and 3d10 configurations. Similar calculations were made for alloys containing 10 and 25 per cent copper, although in these cases the probable error was comparatively large because of difficulties in estimating the electronic and structural contributions to the high-temperature specific heat.
Media Consumption and Support for Capital Punishment

Theoretically, the media influences public perceptions of crime and criminality and helps shape perceptions of how the crime problem should be managed. Using a 2010 survey in Washington state, this...
Segmentation and grouping of object boundaries

A method is presented to detect curvilinear structures in 2D images. The approach is based on a generalization of the Hough transform that is different from its traditional, template-based generalizations. With this method, global interaction of edge elements is reduced through the use of the Delaunay graph in utilizing the Hough transform. The algorithm as it is currently implemented needs to be extended. One suggested extension is to perform a connected component analysis of the groups obtained from current algorithm and use the distribution of the set of bins in Hough space to further group these larger components. Another extension would be to use the Hough space information to perform contour completion for occluded objects. >
Analytical Approximation to the Probability Distribution of Electricity Marginal Production Costs

This paper proposes an analytical approximation to calculate the probability distribution of the marginal production cost of an electric power system. This information is expected to benefit both buyers and sellers of electricity in the upcoming deregulated environment. Since the exact computation of the probability distribution is prohibitive for large systems, we propose to use a combination of the Edgeworth expansion and the large deviation approximation. The results show that the Edgeworth expansion is accurate for computing probabilities at the center of the distribution and the large deviation approximation for computing tail probabilities. Monte Carlo simulation is used as a benchmark to verify and assess the performance of the approximation method in a large power system. In our stochastic model of the system marginal production cost, the load is represented by a normal distribution and the generating unit availability is characterized by its forced outage rate. It is found that the proposed approximation provides accurate estimates at a reasonable computational time.
The Big Idea: the coxib crisis Iron, aspirin and heart disease risk revisited

Kuhn1 used the term ‘crisis’ for the chaotic situation provoked by an unresolved anomaly (i.e. a finding not explainable by a prevailing scientific paradigm). As a crisis evolves, the rules by which the old paradigm are applied to new findings become increasingly blurred. Kuhn's description of a paradigm in crisis1 applies accurately to recent discussions of the cardiovascular risks of the coxibs.2,3 Recognition of paradigm crises is problematic in all scientific fields; however, in medical science, failure to recognize and resolve an ongoing crisis can put lives at risk by delaying a necessary paradigm shift. There had been a ‘working paradigm’, reviewed by Antman et al.2 in a paper that aptly presents the current crisis. Their account of the ‘tsunami of events’ following withdrawal of rofecoxib in 2004 suggests an ongoing paradigm crisis. By the early 1990s, the prevailing paradigm involved ‘the recognition that there are two different cyclooxygenases (COXs), which ‘led to the straightforward view that COX-2 is responsible for the adverse pro-inflammatory effects of prostanoids and that non-specific COX inhibitors cause bleeding by inhibiting COX-1 in platelets’.2 The paradigm encouraged development of COX-2 selective inhibitors to isolate an assumed anti-inflammatory mechanism of aspirin from the mechanism causing haemorrhage. Which of the direct and indirect effects of long-term aspirin use is responsible for cardioprotection remains fundamentally a matter of speculation. There is no reliable proof that the mechanisms under most intense discussion are responsible for prevention of coronary events with regular use. The ‘working paradigm’2 has been overtaken by a paradigm crisis. The mechanism of benefit could be an unexpected effect of aspirin or it could be hidden within one of the known harmful effects of aspirin.
Congenic Mapping and Sequence Analysis of the Renin Locus

Renin was the first blood pressure (BP) quantitative trait locus mapped by linkage analysis in the rat. Subsequent BP linkage and congenic studies capturing different portions of the renin region have returned conflicting results, suggesting that multiple interdependent BP loci may be residing in the chromosome 13 BP quantitative trait locus that includes Renin . We used SS-13 BN congenic strains to map 2 BP loci in the Renin region (chr13: 45.2–49.0 Mb). We identified a 1.1-Mb protective Brown Norway region around Renin (chr13: 46.1–47.2 Mb) that significantly decreased BP by 32 mm Hg. The Renin protective BP locus was offset by an adjacent hypertensive locus (chr13: 47.2–49.0 Mb) that significantly increased BP by 29 mm Hg. Sequence analysis of the protective and hypertensive BP loci revealed 1433 and 2063 variants between Dahl salt-sensitive/Mcwi and Brown Norway rats, respectively. To further reduce the list of candidate variants, we regenotyped an overlapping SS-13 SR congenic strain (S/ren rr ) with a previously reported BP phenotype. Sequence comparison among Dahl salt-sensitive, Dahl R, and Brown Norway reduced the number of candidate variants in the 2 BP loci by 42% for further study. Combined with previous studies, these data suggest that at least 4 BP loci reside within the 30-cM chromosome 13 BP quantitative trait locus that includes Renin .
Biological information processing as cloud computing

What distinguishes biological complexity is that it is an information based complexity. Bioinformatics deals with genetic configurations of limited information content. It seems problematical that separate directives of several thousand symbols could be responsible for the whole richness of living systems. It is unrealistic to exempt biological systems from the requirements of information processing and expect them to function with inadequate amount of instructions. Recent findings of epigenetic effects bring the problem of information deficiency of the genetic configurations to the forefront. Analyzing the results of our Information theoretic analysis performed on biological sequences, and a survey of recent developments in the epigenetic research, we propose a novel approach to explain how biological systems function and achieve complexity where we consider the possibility that biological information processing can be organized in analogy with the emerging cloud computing paradigm. Such organization depicts great prospects to solving biology's most enigmatic puzzles.
Dietary Sugars Intake and Cardiovascular Health A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

High intakes of dietary sugars in the setting of a worldwide pandemic of obesity and cardiovascular disease have heightened concerns about the adverse effects of excessive consumption of sugars. In 2001 to 2004, the usual intake of added sugars for Americans was 22.2 teaspoons per day (355 calories per day). Between 1970 and 2005, average annual availability of sugars/added sugars increased by 19%, which added 76 calories to Americans' average daily energy intake. Soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages are the primary source of added sugars in Americans' diets. Excessive consumption of sugars has been linked with several metabolic abnormalities and adverse health conditions, as well as shortfalls of essential nutrients. Although trial data are limited, evidence from observational studies indicates that a higher intake of soft drinks is associated with greater energy intake, higher body weight, and lower intake of essential nutrients. National survey data also indicate that excessive consumption of added sugars is contributing to overconsumption of discretionary calories by Americans. On the basis of the 2005 US Dietary Guidelines, intake of added sugars greatly exceeds discretionary calorie allowances, regardless of energy needs. In view of these considerations, the American Heart Association recommends reductions in the intake of added sugars. A prudent upper limit of intake is half of the discretionary calorie allowance, which for most American women is no more than 100 calories per day and for most American men is no more than 150 calories per day from added sugars. (Circulation. 2009; 120:1011-1020.)
Sonographically observed echogenic response during intraoperative radiofrequency ablation of cirrhotic livers: pathologic correlation.

OBJECTIVE. We performed a study to determine the correlation between the diameter of the echogenic response observed with intraoperative sonography during radiofrequency ablation of the cirrhotic liver and the mean diameter of tissue necrosis.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. A total of 22 intraoperative radiofrequency ablations were created in 11 cirrhotic livers. The largest diameter of the sonographically observed echogenic response surrounding and perpendicular to the radiofrequency probe was measured. The subsequent zone of necrosis observed at pathology in the hepatectomy specimens after liver transplantation was measured in three planes and compared with the measured diameter of the echogenic response.RESULTS. During all except three ablations, a hyperechoic region was visualized surrounding the radiofrequency probe. The diameter of the echogenic response correlated significantly with the mean diameter of necrosis (correlation coefficient, 0.84). However, the echogenic response overestimated the minimal diamet...
Resisting Market Disorder and Ensuring Public Trust: Reimagining National Registers for Legal Interpreters in the United States and the European Union

This article aims to describe the current state of affairs as regards national registers of legal interpreters and translators (LITs) in the United States and the European Union. After a brief overview of what translation and interpreting studies researchers and EU project participants recommend about their construction and utilization, a case will be made for the use of national registers as essential tools in two important struggles: professionalizing legal translation and interpreting and building public trust. Based on current models and recommendations by researchers, a proposal will be put forth for minimum characteristics of a national register of LITs. Rather than an afterthought, the interpreter register merits scrutiny and careful elaboration precisely because of an ever more ubiquitous need for states and countries to implement measures which are fair, transparent, cost-effective, which guarantee due process, and which provide users with ways to make an objective value judgment regarding the competence of the interpreters they commission.
Circumnutation Rhythms And Light Regulated Movements In Plants

Of all Charles Darwin’s contributions to the study of plant movements, none is more fundamental than his suggestion that circumnutation is the basic process underlying the tropistic responses of stems and roots to unilateral stimuli such as light and gravity. Like Pfeffer before him (1), Darwin appreciated that cells around the perimeter of cylindrical organs do not all grow at the same rate, and that the rhythmic changes in these patterns of unequal growth cause the organs to oscillate around the vertical as they grow up and down, respectively. Observing the displacement of stem and root tips relative to a fixed point, Darwin was able to plot on a horizontal glass plate the approximately elliptical pattern described by the tips of such asymmetrically growing organs (2). The true three-dimensional pattern described by the growing tip was of course that of an elliptical spiral; Darwin’s use of a flat recording surface fixed above the tip precluded recording in the vertical plane.
PLACENTA AS PACEMAKER

![][1] Placentas provide nutrients to, and remove waste from, developing offspring. Though straightforward in their purpose, they are surprisingly morphologically diverse. Two key ways that placental morphology can vary are in the amount of surface area available for exchange between
Predicting the Rate Constant of Electron Tunneling Reactions at the CdSe–TiO2 Interface

Current interest in quantum dot solar cells (QDSCs) motivates an understanding of the electron transfer dynamics at the quantum dot (QD)-metal oxide (MO) interface. Employing transient absorption spectroscopy, we have monitored the electron transfer rate (ket) at this interface as a function of the bridge molecules that link QDs to TiO2. Using mercaptoacetic acid, 3-mercaptopropionic acid, 8-mercaptooctanoic acid, and 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid, we observe an exponential attenuation of ket with increasing linker length, and attribute this to the tunneling of the electron through the insulating linker molecule. We model the electron transfer reaction using both rectangular and trapezoidal barrier models that have been discussed in the literature. The one-electron reduction potential (equivalent to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) of each molecule as determined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to estimate the effective barrier height presented by each ligand at the CdSe-TiO2 interface. The electron transfer rate (ket) calculated for each CdSe-ligand-TiO2 interface using both models showed the results in agreement with the experimentally determined trend. This demonstrates that electron transfer between CdSe and TiO2 can be viewed as electron tunneling through a layer of linking molecules and provides a useful method for predicting electron transfer rate constants.
Rapid Discrimination of Polymorphic Crystal Forms by Nonlinear Optical Stokes Ellipsometric Microscopy

The use of nonlinear optical Stokes ellipsometric (NOSE) microscopy for rapid discrimination of two polymorphic forms of the small molecule d-mannitol is presented. Fast (8 MHz) polarization modulated beam-scanning microscopy and a recently developed iterative, nonlinear least-squares fitting algorithm were combined to allow discrimination of orthorhombic and monoclinic crystal structures of d-mannitol with data acquisition times of <7 s per field of view with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of ∼300. Discrimination between polymorphic forms within the 99.99% confidence interval was achieved by standard statistical tests of the recovered probability density functions for the measured observables following two class linear discriminant analysis. These measurements target bottlenecks in small-volume, high-throughput solid form screening experiments for polymorph discovery in the development of emerging active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Aereo, Unlicensed Television Retransmissions, and Emerging Technologies: The Case for Congressional Action

In American Broadcasting Companies v. Aereo, the Supreme Court addressed a growing split among lower federal courts regarding the copyright liability of a business that retransmitted broadcast television programs to its subscribers for a monthly fee without obtaining a license or paying royalties. In holding that Aereo violated exclusive public performance rights guaranteed to copyright holders by the Copyright Act, the Court overturned the Second Circuit’s interpretation of the Copyright Act’s Transmit Clause. The Court’s holding relied on Aereo’s substantial similarity to cable television to conclude Aereo’s system “performed” “to the public” under the Transmit Clause. This Note argues that the Court’s decision in Aereo provided little guidance regarding other service providers and could threaten the development of new technologies. The uncertain state of the law after Aereo requires action by Congress to provide more guidance. A comprehensive overhaul of the Copyright Act would best address the problems in applying the Copyright Act to modern technology exemplified by the Aereo litigation.
Constructing the Outside School Practice Bases for Applied Chemistry Specialty and Cultivating the High-quality Innovative Talents

This paper dissertated the outside school practice bases' impact on cultivating the students' innovative spirit and their practicing ability, and on implementing the education of overall quality according to constructing applied chemistry specialty. It then introduced its specific implementation principles and the acquired results. Finally, the prospect of the practice bases was anticipated.
Problem-focused discussions in digital contexts

Discussing problems online inhibited information exchange and problem rehashing.Discussing problems online enhanced perceived similarity and self-disclosure.Discussing problems online led to less positive affect through less self-expression.Discussing problems online led to less closeness through less information exchange.Discussing problems online led to higher closeness through higher similarity. To understand the effects of information and communication technologies (ICTs; e.g., texting, instant messaging) on conversational processes and socioemotional well-being, researchers have often relied on experimental designs in which unfamiliar adults engage in relatively superficial conversations. This paradigm limits our understanding of ICTs, as individuals rely primarily on ICTs to converse with close others, in more intimate discussions. To address this limitation, this study examines the use of ICTs by friends engaging in problem-focused discussions. Fifty-three female friend pairs engaged in problem-focused discussions in an ICT-mediated or face-to-face context. Observers rated the degree to which individuals exchanged information, dwelled on negative affect, rehashed problems, and speculated about problems. Participants provided ratings of perceived self-expression, similarity, self-disclosure, positive and negative affect and closeness with the friend. Participants in the ICTs condition reported less positive affect after the conversation than those in the face-to-face condition. Although participants interacting through ICTs exchanged less information, rehashed problems less, and reported lower levels of perceived self-expression, they experienced higher levels of perceived similarity and self-disclosure. Discussing problems through an ICT was indirectly related to dampened closeness through observed information exchanged and enhanced closeness through perceived similarity. Implications for the study of ICTs are discussed.
Basic considerations in the rehabilitation of foreign workers

Rehabilitation involves executive duties, the patient must actively cooperate with the rehabilitation team, and both sides must set clear goals. In the case of rehabilitation of foreigners, it is difficult to set goals because of language and cultural differences. The rehabilitation clinic in Bellikon hospitalizes so many foreigners that it decided to comply with their demands by choosing a specific personnel. In fact, with the purpose of improving the basis for communication, the clinic employs therapists and nursing staff that come from other countries and cultures, offering them further vocational training, too. Not only should misunderstandings and feelings of frustration be avoided as far as possible, but interactive therapy should become the foundation stone for a successful treatment and rehabilitation. The conference on rehabilitation that was organized by the SAR in autumn 1991 made up a part of these efforts.
To Qizil Su and Beyond (1869–1876)

In the autumn of the same year as their arrival on Ashuradeh, in 1840, the Russians had secured the submission of the Uzbek khan of Khiva and two years later they were eyeing an expedition to the Afghan city of Kabul in order to assist the ruler of that territory in beating back the rumored advance of a British force from India. The British attack did not materialize, however, and the khan soon jilted the Russians. Undeterred, year after year, the Russians worked to inch their way to the Aral Sea. In 1844, they surveyed the Aral and in 1847 they occupied the mouth of the Sir Darya River.1 As a part of this drive, in 1846, they established Fort Alexandrovski, later renamed Fort Shevchenko, on the tip of a prominent peninsula on the northeastern shore of the Caspian in a straight line from Astrakhan and the mouth of the Volga. Later, the Russians established a settlement to the south, and it, too, eventually bore the name Shevchenko, presently called Aktau.
Abstract 4069: The carcinogenic effects of electronic cigarettes in oral cancer

Alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and human papillomavirus infection have been well-established as the primary risk factors for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the surge in popularity of e-cigarettes (e-cigs) has prompted speculation of e-cig use potentially emerging as a new risk factor. With previous research on the safety of e-cigs still collectively inconclusive, a comprehensive study of the carcinogenicity of these devices remains urgently necessary. We therefore investigated the potential genotoxic, cytotoxic, and invasive and migratory effects of e-cig vapor exposure on human epithelial cells. A panel of normal epithelial and head and neck cancer cell lines was treated with 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% by volume e-cig vapor from two popular e-cig brands, over periods ranging from 24 hours to 4 weeks. Neutral comet assay and immunostaining for γ-H2AX foci revealed significant induction of DNA double-stranded breaks (up to 3-fold increase, p Citation Format: Avinaash Korrapati, Vicky Yu, Maarouf A. Saad, Mehran Rahimy, Yinan Xuan, Angela Zou, Aswini Krishnan, Kevin Brumund, Weg M. Ongkeko. The carcinogenic effects of electronic cigarettes in oral cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4069.
Violent Video Games Exposed: A Blow by Blow Account of Senseless Violence in Games

Violent video game (VVG) use has repeatedly been found to be associated with hostile expectations about others, desensitization to violence, decreased empathy and prosocial behavior, and aggressive thoughts and behaviors. Although these research findings have been widely publicized, VVGs remain the most extensively played games and represent a multi-billion dollar industry. Although VVGs are typically rated "mature," indicating they are not suitable for youths, they are often purchased for youths. This may be in part because there is currently no system available to consumers that thoroughly describes the content of video games, and much of the public is unaware of the types of violence that characterize game play. The purpose of this paper is to describe the violent content of some of the top VVGs, based on sales. For the purposes of this issue, acts of senseless, unprovoked violence will be described in detail.
Envisioning Utopia: Transcendentalist and Fourierist Landscapes at Brook Farm, West Roxbury, Massachusetts

Brook Farm, Massachusetts, is perhaps the most famous of the 19th-century utopian communities in America. When it was founded in 1841, its guiding vision was provided by the distinctive New England philosophy known as Transcendentalism. Yet, only three years later, in 1844, it publicly embraced Fourierism and became known as the Brook Farm Phalanx. Archaeological work is providing new information on how these ideologies were inscribed in the landscape, showing that the architectural features built during the Transcendentalist period helped create certain habits of thought and action that actively resisted the complete transition from Transcendentalism to Fourierism.
The Intersection of Pulmonary Hypertension and Solid Organ Transplantation

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complication and marker of disease severity in many parenchymal lung diseases. It also is a frequent complication of portal hypertension and negatively impacts survival with liver transplant. Pulmonary hypertension is frequently diagnosed in patients with end-stage renal disease who are undergoing dialysis, and it has recently been demonstrated to adversely affect posttransplant outcome in this patient population even though the mechanism of PH is substantially different from that associated with liver disease. The presence of PH in patients with heart failure is frequent, and the necessity for PH therapy prior to heart transplant has evolved in the last decade. We review the frequency of and risk factors for PH in recipients of and candidates for lung, liver, heart, and renal transplants as well as the impact of this diagnosis on posttransplant outcomes.
Chapter 18 – Artificial Neural Networks for Predictive Modeling in Prostate Cancer

This chapter describes the theory behind artificial neural networks (ANNs), how they function, and how they have been used to develop predictive models for prostate cancer outcomes. A number of multifactorial analysis methods are available to investigators to develop predictive models. The majority of predictive models for prostate cancer has been developed by using traditional statistical techniques, such as multivariate logistic regression. There are advantages as well as disadvantages of using ANNs in predictive modeling. A powerful advantage of ANNs over other techniques is their ability to automatically resolve non-linear complex relationships between variables without the requirement of prior assumptions about the nature of these relationships. A prime disadvantage to ANNs is that they are prone to overfitting. ANNs have been used in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of prostate cancer. The ultimate role of ANNs in predictive modeling for prostate cancer has not yet been fully determined. A critical approach that combines ANNs in a complementary fashion with other techniques will most likely be the long-term role for ANNs.
Air Pollution and Lung Cancer

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the evidence on outdoor air pollution and lung cancer. Exposures to inhaled carcinogens, which may cause lung cancer, take place in a variety of settings, including the home, the workplace, and other public and commercial locations, and outdoors. Additionally, tobacco smoke contains more than 50 documented carcinogens and, for most smokers, the exposures received through active smoking are the dominant determinant of lung cancer risk. The heightened cancer risk of the active smoker may increase risk from other exposures through synergistic combined effects. Nevertheless, carcinogens in indoor and outdoor air are projected to contribute to the burden of lung cancer in both smokers and nonsmokers. Epidemiologic research shows evidence of effects of indoor and outdoor air pollution on lung cancer risk, albeit weak for some agents. On the other hand, levels of exposure to many agents would not be expected to greatly increase risk, and the multifactorial etiology of lung cancer lowers the signal-to-noise ratio.
Electron Irradiation of Samsung 8-Gb NAND Flash Memory

This paper reports the results of electron irradiations at various energies of the Samsung 8-Gb single-level cell nand flash memory. The percentage of bit errors from electron exposure is compared to results from 60Co total ionizing dose (TID) measurements. Electron irradiation at low energies (below 2 MeV) causes more bit upsets than 60Co gamma exposures at the same TID level when TID refers to equilibrium dose (as opposed to local dose). Bit upsets increase when electron energy decreases if comparisons are made at the same equilibrium dose level. In particular, 60-MeV electrons are less damaging than 60Co gamma exposures at the same equilibrium dose level while 1-MeV electrons are more damaging. However, all radiation sources produce virtually identical results when comparisons are made at the same local dose level, indicating that charged-particle equilibrium is violated during electron irradiations.
The knowing of monstrosities: necropower, spectacular punishment and denial

This study examines how newspaper accounts of criminality conceal and illuminate particular types of monstrosity in the postbellum United States. The paper offers an analysis of Gothicism—which typically frames the criminality of marginalized groups—as a technique of racial domination in narrative sites that construct knowledge on criminality and punishment. Analysis reveals a paradoxical lens of Gothicism in which oppressive groups can conceal monstrosity within a colonial context. The analysis of gothic accounts of criminality challenges the ways in which denial shapes modern monstrosity.
Clothing selection motivations and the meaning of possessions for tweens in a foster care group home

Abstract It is important for foster caregivers to understand children's basic and psychological needs in order to provide better life experiences, and minimize the risk and vulnerability they previously experienced. Thus, this study is designed to understand clothing selection motivations and the meaning of possessions for foster tweens and how these are related to their life experiences in foster care group homes. We conducted qualitative in-depth focus group interviews with 18 tweens in a foster care group home in the Southwest region in the U.S. Thematic interpretation was used to analyze the interview data. Six themes emerged from the data including social acceptance, self-expression, family connection, independence, ownership, and respect. Participants expressed their individual character by the clothing they chose and expressed various needs of self-expression and social interaction. We also found that clothing and possessions play an important role in giving meanings to social interactions for tweens in the foster home. Furthermore, the findings of this study emphasize the need for proper education of foster care parents and tweens regarding ownership of property and respect in a foster care group home.
Loss-Framed Financial Incentives With a Wearable Device for Secondary Prevention of Ischemic Heart Disease: Stepping Up to the Challenge?

Market surveys suggest wearable device sales exceeded 16 billion dollars in 2016 and are projected to exceed 44 billion dollars in 2020.[1][1] Spawned by growth in the commercial technology sector, these devices have become increasingly affordable and less obtrusive, all while promising consumers
Sweetpotato Insects: Identification, Biology and Management

Sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas originated in northwestern South America around 8000–6000 Bc (Austin, 1988). Sweetpotato ranks seventh among all food crops worldwide, with an annual production of 115 million MT (FAO, 1980). Approximately 92% of the world’s sweetpotato is produced in Asia and the Pacific islands; 89% is grown in China. The United States produces 1 million MT valued at $200 million. Sweetpotato is used as a staple food, vegetable (fleshy roots, tender leaves and petioles), snack food, animal feed, for industrial starch extraction and fermentation, and for processed products. The major insect pests of sweetpotato in Java, Africa, and the Caribbean have been described. Over 100 arthropod pest species are listed (West, 1977) and most are leaf feeders, followed by stem, vine, root, and flower feeders. All but three species were insects. The biology and management of the major insect pests worldwide have been reviewed. Most recently, 270 insect and 17 mite species were listed as pests of sweetpotato in the field and in storage around the world, with weevils Cylas formicarius formicarius, C. f. elegantulus, and C. puncticollis being most damaging. Since most sweetpotatoes are produced in low-input agricultural systems, insect losses reach 60–100%. The report entitled Ecology and Management of Sweetpotato Insects (Chalfant et al., 1990) provides an excellent review of the status of research on insect pests of sweetpotato, including the major insect pests in the Western Hemisphere, their biology and distribution, damage, sampling approaches, management programs, and includes the future of integrated pest management programs in developed and developing countries. It also contains a holistic list of references and is an invaluable resource used extensively in this chapter.