cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distinguished Lecture on Economics in Government: The New Economy: Post Mortem or Second Wind?

There was an acceleration of U.S. productivity after 1995. Investment in information technology hardware and software contributed importantly to this, but was not its sole cause. In part, heavy IT investment, perhaps overinvestment, was the result of the booming economy and cheap capital. Besides IT, the expansion of productive firms boosted productivity, together with the competitive pressure this put on other firms to innovate and improve. Productivity growth has been surprisingly strong in 2001, and the likely trend for the future is in the range of 2.2 to 2.7 percent a year. The economy should get a second wind.
Sp1 transcription factor expression is regulated by estrogen-related receptor α1

Abstract The current study examines the relationship between ERRα1 and the Sp1 transcription factor. The transfection of ERRα1 enhances Sp1–DNA complex formation as visualized by electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA). In addition, luciferase activity under the control of three consensus sites for Sp1 binding is activated by ERRα1 transfection. By looking further upstream from this point we have found that ERRα1 stimulates the upregulation of Sp1 protein expression by activating its transcription. Indeed, human Sp1 promoter-dependent luciferase activity is activated by ERRα1 transfection and a DNA–protein complex is observed by EMSA using oligonucleotides encompassing the putative ERRα1 binding site on the human Sp1 promoter (−1444/−1433: 5′-AGGACATGACCT-3′). In addition, activation of Sp1 promoter-dependent luciferase activity depends on the A/B and C domains of ERRα1 as shown with truncated ERRα1 cDNAs. This report is the first to demonstrate that ERRα1 promotes Sp1 activity through upregulation of Sp1 expression at the transcriptional level.
CStream: neighborhood bandwidth aggregation for better video streaming

Despite the popularity of watching videos online, challenges still remain in video streaming in many scenarios. Limited home broadband and mobile phone 3G bandwidths mean many users stream videos at compromised quality. To provide additional bandwidth for streaming, we propose CStream, a system that aggregates bandwidth from multiple cooperating users in a neighborhood environment for better video streaming. CStream exploits the fact that wireless devices have multiple network interfaces and connects cooperating users with a wireless ad-hoc network to aggregate their unused downlink Internet bandwidth. CStream dynamically generates a streaming plan to stream a single video using multiple connections, continuously adapting to changes in the neighborhood and variations in the available bandwidth. CStream is developed and evaluated on a test bed of computers, allowing for a detailed, controlled evaluation of performance. Analysis of the results shows a linear increase in throughput over single-connection streaming and improved video quality as the number of cooperating users in a neighborhood increase.
Moment singularities at angular corners in liquid crystals of nematic type

A linear theory of axial plane reorientation in liquid crystals of nematic type is utilized to examine principal moment singularities which may occur at the vertex of corner boundaries. Reorientation free, moment free, and mixed boundary conditions are considered, and the order of the singularity as a function of the corner angle for these three cases is obtained.
Incidence of cataract surgery in the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy

Purpose We studied the incidence of cataract extraction in people with diabetes of long duration to determine which factors are associated with higher risk of surgery. Methods We recruited a probability sample of all persons receiving care for diabetes in an 11-county area of southern Wisconsin for a prevalence study of diabetic retinopathy. All 2,366 subjects were examined between September 1980 and June 1982. During the slit-lamp examinations, presence of the lens, whether natural or prosthetic, was noted. The subjects were reexamined four and ten years after the initial prevalence study. Occurrence of cataract extraction in the interim between examinations was recorded. Results In the younger-onset group there was an 8.3% (95% confidence interval, 6.2%, 10.8%) cumulative incidence, and in the older-onset group there was a 24.9% (95% confidence interval, 21.3%, 28.5%) cumulative incidence of cataract surgery in the ten-year interval. Characteristics statistically significantly related to cataract surgery in the younger-onset group in multivariate analysis were age, severity of diabetic retinopathy, and proteinuria. In the older-onset group, age and use of insulin were associated with increased risk. Conclusions These data indicate that cataract surgery is a relatively frequent occurrence in people with diabetes. This finding needs to be considered to plan for health care for people with diabetes.
METHOD FOR QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF DRAMATIC PLAY

Summary.-A method for the quantitative analysis of dramatic play is presented based on narrative case records in which the following items were isolated: dramatic units, involvement of 0 requested by S, longest dramatic unit. The longest dramatic units were further analyzed for amount of time, sub-units introduced, intensity, and themes expressed. This method appears potentially useful for intensive study of dramatic play. While the role of dramatic play in the development of young children has been dealt with in the literature (Axline, 1947; Erikson, 1950; Isaacs, 1932, 1950; Lowenfeld, 1935; Slavson, 1948), much of this material has been based on a qualitative description of children's play. In an attempt to probe more deeply into dramatic play and to introduce quantitative analysis, data gathered in a previous study of the play behavior of blind children (Tait, 1972) were further analyzed. The number of Ss who engaged in dramatic play was limited, and the results were based on a smaller than desirable sample to be truly representative, however, the method used to analyze the raw data appears potentially useful for the quantitative study of dramatic play. The data for quantitative analysis were collected from narrative records developed as follows. The investigator led each child into a portable enclosure where he was presented with fundamental play objects (a large cardboard box, a wooden dowel, a yard of cloth, and a nondescript hat) with the statement, "Let me see you play with these." The ensuing 15-min. session was tape recorded and brief notations made. A more detailed description of the procedure has been published (Tait, 1972). The narrative records of those Ss who engaged in dramatic play (play in which a role was assigned, or implied, by the child, to the objects, to himself, or to the observer, coupled with an indication of some action) were subjected to the analysis presented here.
JUDGMENT OF EMOTIONAL FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AS A FUNCTION OF MANIFEST ANXIETY AND SEX.

The prediction of greater projection of threat on the part of highly-anxious Ss as compared with Ss of low anxiety (Ns = 20) was not verified. However, an interesting sex difference emerged. Female...
Distribution of Mass in the Spontaneous Fission of Fm 256

The distribution of mass in the spontaneous fission of $^{256}\mathrm{Fm}$ has been investigated by the radiochemical determination of the fission yields for 28 mass chains. The mass distribution is asymmetric with a peak-to-valley ratio of \ensuremath{\sim}12. The average masses of the light and heavy groups are 111.9 and 141.0, respectively. The fission-yield data indicate a value of 3 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 1 for $\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}$, the average number of neutrons emitted per fission. A comparison of the characteristics of the mass distribution for low-energy fission of nuclides ranging from $^{227}\mathrm{Th}$ to $^{256}\mathrm{Fm}$ is given.
The floor in the solar wind: status report

Cliver & Ling (2010) recently suggested that the solar wind had a floor or ground-state magnetic field strength at Earth of ~2.8 nT and that the source of the field was the slow solar wind. This picture has recently been given impetus by the evidence presented by Schrijver et al. (2011) that the Sun has a minimal magnetic state that was approached globally in 2009, a year in which Earth was imbedded in slow solar wind ~70% of the time. A precursor relation between the solar dipole field strength at solar minimum and the peak sunspot number (SSNMAX) of the subsequent 11-yr cycle suggests that during Maunder-type minima (when SSNMAX was ~0), the solar polar field strength approaches zero - indicating weak or absent polar coronal holes and an increase to nearly ~100% in the time that Earth spends in slow solar wind.
A Puzzle in Lewis's Theory of Memory

21 Ibid., 401. 2 Ibid. ' Notice the discussion of "justice" in Lewis, op. cit., p. 482. In an earlier article Lewis "explicates" the concept of "liberty" in such a way as to arrive at rather specific rules such as that which prescribes that any individual has the right to secede from a group or community whose laws he disapproves. Cf. La Revue Internationale de Philosophie, Vol. II (1946). 2 An Analysis of Knowledge and Valuation, Preface, p. vii.
Vertex directed segmentation of handwritten numerals

Abstract A new algorithm is described for segmenting handwritten numeral strings that contain pairs of simply connected numerals. The algorithm identifies the location of a connection through analysis of the vertices that are formed by the convergence of vertically oriented edges of adjacent strokes. The connected numerals are then partitioned by a cut based at the vertices associated with the connection. A complete partitioning path is constructed by extending the cut to the top and bottom of the numerals. The algorithm has proved to be fast, effective, and relatively insensitive to the presence of dropouts and variations of size and baseline.
Optical imaging of cortical networks via intracortical microstimulation

Understanding cortical organization is key to understanding brain function. Distinct neural networks underlie the functional organization of the cerebral cortex; however, little is known about how different nodes in the cortical network interact during perceptual processing and motor behavior. To study cortical network function we examined whether the optical imaging of intrinsic signals (OIS) reveals the functional patterns of activity evoked by electrical cortical microstimulation. We examined the effects of current amplitude, train duration, and depth of cortical stimulation on the hemodynamic response to electrical microstimulation (250-Hz train, 0.4-ms pulse duration) in anesthetized New World monkey somatosensory cortex. Electrical stimulation elicited a restricted cortical response that varied according to stimulation parameters and electrode depth. Higher currents of stimulation recruited more areas of cortex than smaller currents. The largest cortical responses were seen when stimulation was delivered around cortical layer 4. Distinct local patches of activation, highly suggestive of local projections, around the site of stimulation were observed at different depths of stimulation. Thus we find that specific electrical stimulation parameters can elicit activation of single cortical columns and their associated columnar networks, reminiscent of anatomically labeled networks. This novel functional tract tracing method will open new avenues for investigating relationships of local cortical organization.
“40 & Forward”: Preliminary Evaluation of a Group Intervention to Improve Mental Health Outcomes and Address HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Older Gay and Bisexual Men

We examined the initial efficacy of “40 & Forward,” a manualized group intervention developed to reduce HIV sexual risk for gay and bisexual men age 40 and older who self-report problems with depression, isolation/loneliness, and social anxiety. A retrospective evaluation of program data from 84 participants (mean age = 51; 26% HIV infected) across four groups compared within-person change in mental health and sexual risk outcomes between baseline and post-intervention assessments. Participants who completed the intervention demonstrated statistically significant reductions across all mental health outcomes, including depressive symptoms, social anxiety symptoms, loneliness, and fear of negative evaluation, as well as increased condom use self-efficacy. Current findings offer a promising approach for additional research and intervention development with this population of aging sexual minority men.
Peritz' F test: Basic program of a robust multiple comparison test for statistical analysis of all differences among group means

Peritz' F test has previously been found to be the most robust statistical multiple comparison test able to hold all comparisons among group means to a given experimentwise error rate. A BASIC program which will perform this test quickly on a desk-top microcomputer, needing fewer than 11 kbytes of RAM memory, is presented. The program is run in the author's laboratory using an inexpensive VIC-20 computer.
SAR image quality using advanced pulse compression noise (APCN)

This work demonstrates the feasibility of using the advanced pulse compression noise (APCN) radar waveform for synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Using a simple image formation process (IFP), we not only show that we can successfully form images using the APCN waveform, but we grow our understanding of how different combinations of APCN waveforms and side lobe weighting functions impact SAR image quality. In this paper, an analysis is presented that compares the target range point spread function (PSF) for several simulated SAR images.
Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism in women with vulvar vestibulitis.

Abstract Objective: Vulvar vestibulitis is a chronic inflammatory syndrome of unknown cause and pathogenesis. We examined the relation between vulvar vestibulitis and polymorphisms in the gene coding for the interleukin 1 receptor antagonist, a naturally occurring down-regulator of proinflammatory immune responses. Study Design: Cells from the lower genital tract of 68 women with vulvar vestibulitis, 343 women with no history of vulvodynia, and 40 women with human papillomavirus cervical infection were tested by polymerase chain reaction for the different alleles of the gene encoding for interleukin 1 receptor antagonist. The presence of human papillomavirus in the specimens was determined by polymerase chain reaction with the use of degenerate consensus primers to the conserved L1 gene. Results: Allele 2 of the gene encoding the interleukin 1 receptor antagonist was present in homozygous form in 52.9% of women with vulvar vestibulitis. In marked contrast only 8.5% of the control women and 2.5% of women with human papillomavirus were homozygous for this allele ( P ≤ .0001). Among the women with vulvar vestibulitis, 57.5% of those without human papillomavirus, as well as 52.2% of those with human papillomavirus, were homozygous for allele 2 of the gene encoding interleukin 1 receptor antagonist. Conclusion: The unique distribution of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist alleles among women with vulvar vestibulitis suggests that polymorphism in this gene may be a factor influencing susceptibility to this syndrome, severity of symptoms, or both. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;182:283-5.)
What Does “Work” Mean? Reopening the Debate About Clinical Significance

[Clin Psychol Sci Prac 17: 48–51, 2010] Researchers and practitioners have long debated the meaning and measurement of clinical significance. Shearer-Underhill and Marker (2010) offer a valuable contribution to this discussion by drawing the psychotherapy research community’s attention to an additional statistical method for measuring clinical significance—the number needed to treat. After a decrease in publication rates in the last 5 years on methods for measuring clinical significance, the article by Shearer-Underhill and Marker represents a renewed interest in the construct of clinical significance of treatment outcome results. This commentary discusses the importance of the article by elaborating on the theoretical and methodological issues that cut across measures of clinical significance. Strengths and weaknesses of specific statistical methods are reviewed and a call is made for continued pursuit of conceptual clarity and methodological rigor for measures of clinical significance.
Preservation of left ventricular function after degenerative mitral valve repair: Refocusing on timing, techniques, and teaching.

Changes in left ventricular (LV) size and function are expected after correction of severe chronic degenerative mitral regurgitation. Although it was previously thought that a postoperative decrease in ejection fraction (EF) was relatedtoinadequatemyocardialprotection,itisnowrecognized that elimination of regurgitant volume after mitral valve repair is often associated with an increase in LV end-systolic volume, producing a decline in EF while maintaining normal or increased LV stroke volume. 1-4 The report by Imasaka and colleagues 5 investigated differences in myocardial performance after repair in relation to whether chordal replacement versus leaflet resection was used to correct posterior mitral leaflet prolapse in 72 consecutive patients. In addition to EF, end-systolic elastance, effective arterial elastance, and ‘‘ventricular efficiency’’ were assessed by echocardiography before and approximately 1 month after mitral valve repair. The authors suggest that chordal replacement resulted in significantly less reduction in LV EF and greater increases in end-systolic elastance than leaflet resection. They further posit that postoperativeventricular efficiency in the chordal replacement group was ‘‘superior’’ to that after leaflet resection, with multivariate analysis suggesting that LV EF and ratio of stroke work to pressure-volume area were better in patients undergoing neochordal repair. Thisinterestingworkraises important questions.First,do the reported differences make sense physiologically? Second, are the echocardiographic parameters assessed robust enough to support the intended conclusion? Third, where does this work take us? The notion that the resection of leaflet tissue itself alters ventricular performance to a greater degree than neochordal insertion is difficult to understand unless it relates to the authors’ preference for large quadrangular resection plus sliding leaflet plasty. In fact, it is unclear why a limited removal of a triangular segment of unsupported posterior leaflet tissue could have any impact on myocardial performance at all. The need for large resections in the report does lead us to suspect that baseline lesions within this small population (n ¼ 72) may not have been similar, with more extensive removal of tissue required for thosewith diffuse myxomatous disease and neochordal implantation preferred for those with fibroelastic deficiency. The distinction is important, because these 2 pathologic extremes of the degenerative mitral disease spectrum also may be associated with differing ventricular-valvar complex physiology 6 and may affect
Evaluations of Shorter Exposures of Contact Lens Cleaning Solutions against Fusarium oxysporum species complex and Fusarium solani species complex to Simulate Inappropriate Usage

An outbreak of Fusarium keratitis in contact lens users resulted in withdrawal of ReNu with MoistureLoc solution, although the exact cause of the outbreak remains enigmatic. We evaluated current and discontinued multipurpose cleaning solutions (MPSs; MoistureLoc, Equate, MultiPlus, and OptiFree Express) against plankton- and biofilm-derived cells of Fusarium oxysporum species complex (FOSC) and F. solani species complex (FSSC). The methods included a traditional assay based on CFU counts and a novel flow cytometry (FC) assay based on percent cell subpopulation (PCS) stained with two fluorochromes (Sytox Red and 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate). The tests were done with the respective manufacturers' recommended cleaning regimens (240 to 360 min) and under shorter exposures (15 to 60 min) to simulate inappropriate usage by the customers. FC assay measured PCS, which was available rapidly, in 5 to 7 h, whereas 24 to 48 h was needed for CFU counts, and there was good correlation between the two methods (r2 = 0.97). FC assays allowed identification of injured fungal cells, which are likely to be missed with growth assays. In general, a time- and inoculum-dependent survival pattern was seen for both FOSC and FSSC cells, and biofilm-derived cells were more resistant than plankton-derived cells. MultiPlus and Equate produced 100% sterilization of fungi even under shorter exposures. However, biofilm FOSC and FSSC cells survived for up to 4 h in MoistureLoc solution and up to 6 h in OptiFree Express solution under shorter exposure times. This finding was enigmatic, as OptiFree Express is not associated with any outbreak of Fusarium keratitis. This study provides additional support for possible roles that improper lens cleaning regimens and fungal biofilms could play as predisposing factors for Fusarium keratitis.
Control of observation systems with application to radar

We formulate the problem of managing sensors as one of optimal control of the resulting state estimator covariance matrix. Originally posed in the early days of optimal control, this problem has received little attention, despite the proliferation of active sensing systems and sensor networks and the resulting need to target observations to obtain useful state estimates while minimizing energy expenditure. We consider the problem where the parameters of an observation system, to be selected from an given set, are controlled in-the-loop. We give a necessary condition for optimality and a numerical scheme for finding these solutions. Finally, using a convenient parametrization of the ambiguity function for a certain class of pulsed radar systems, we apply this theory to optimal tracking of a target with known dynamics.
Context and Causal Mechanisms in Political Analysis

Political scientists largely agree that causal mechanisms are crucial to understanding causation. Recent advances in qualitative and quantitative methodology suggest that causal explanations must be contextually bounded. Yet the relationship between context and mechanisms and this relationship's importance for causation are not well understood. This study defines causal mechanisms as portable concepts that explain how and why a hypothesized cause, in a given context, contributes to a particular outcome. In turn, it defines context as the relevant aspects of a setting in which an array of initial conditions leads to an outcome of a defined scope and meaning via causal mechanisms. Drawing from these definitions is the argument that credible causal explanation can occur if and only if researchers are attentive to the interaction between causal mechanisms and context, regardless of whether the methods employed are small-sample, formal, statistical, or interpretive.
An Evolutionary Approach to Network Self-Organization and Resilient Data Diffusion

Data diffusion techniques enable a distributed system to replicate and propagate data across a potentially unreliable network in order to provide better data protection and availability. This paper presents a novel evolutionary computation approach to developing network construction algorithms and data diffusion strategies. The proposed approach combines a linear genetic program with a cellular automaton to evolve digital organisms (agents) capable of self-organizing into different types of networks and self-adapting to changes in their surrounding environment, such as link failures and node churn. We assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach by conducting several experiments that explore different network structures under different environmental conditions. The results suggest the combined methods are able to produce self-organizing and self-adaptive agents that construct networks and efficiently distribute data throughout the network, while balancing competing concerns, such as minimizing energy consumption and providing reliability.
Modeling the solidification of functionally graded materials by centrifugal casting

A numerical investigation of the solidification process during centrifugal casting of functionally graded materials (FGMs) is conducted. Focus is placed on the interplay between the freezing front propagation and particle migration. A one-dimensional solidification model, with particle transport taken into account, was developed based on the general multiphase model by Wang (1994). The model equations were solved numerically using a fixed-grid, finite-volume method. The model predictions of temperature and particle volume fraction distributions during solidification were validated against the experimental results of a water/glass-bead system solidified in a rectangular ingot under gravity. The validated model was then applied to centrifugal casting of Al/SiC FGMs in a cylindrical mold. The model shows that there exists a particle-free zone in the inner region of the centrifugally cast ingot, followed by a graded particle distribution region towards the outer wall. The mechanisms for the gradient formation were identified to be the geometry and the angular velocity of the cylindrical mold, and the solidification rate. The effects of the initial particle concentration, particle size, rotational speed, cooling rate and superheat were explored.
A novel RSK2 (RPS6KA3) gene mutation associated with abnormal brain MRI findings in a family with Coffin-Lowry syndrome.

Coffin–Lowry syndrome (CLS) is an X-linked mental retardation syndrome caused by defects in the RSK2 gene. We have identified a CLS family with four patients in two generations. The patients in this family, a mother and her three children (a male and two females), all have severe mental retardation with the typical CLS phenotype. In addition, brain MRI studies on the three siblings revealed abnormalities in deep subcortical white matter, thinning of the corpus callosum, hypoplastic cerebellar vermis, and asymmetry of the lateral ventricles. The degree of severity of the MRI findings correlated with the severity of mental retardation in the patients. Extensive mutation screening was performed on the entire RSK2 gene in this family. Twenty-two exons including the intron/exon junctions were amplified by PCR and subsequently sequenced on both strands. A novel mutation, a two-nucleotide insertion (298 ins TG), was identified. The insertion creates a stop codon at codon 100, resulting in a 99 amino acid truncated RSK2 protein. All patients tested have the same mutation, and no other mutation could be found in the RSK2 gene from the proband. The mutation was confirmed by PCR/RFLP. X-chromosome inactivation assay on the female patients revealed significant skewing toward inactivation of the normal RSK2 allele. Thus, this novel mutation is likely to be responsible for the unusual clinical presentation in this family, which includes full phenotypic expression in females and unique brain MRI abnormalities. The pathological function of the mutation and genotype/phenotype correlation between the mutation and this unusual clinical presentation await further clarification. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Novel Strategy for Cell-Autonomous Gene Knockdown in Caenorhabditis elegans Defines a Cell-Specific Function for the G-Protein Subunit GOA-1

We developed a novel knockdown strategy to examine cell-specific gene function in Caenorhabditis elegans. In this strategy a null mutation in any gene is replaced with a genetically stable transgene that contains a wild-type copy of the gene fused to a 3′ tag that targets the mRNA transcript for degradation by the host nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) machinery. In NMD-defective animals, tagged transgene mRNA is expressed at levels similar to the endogenous gene it replaced and is translated into wild-type protein that fully rescues gene function. Cell-specific activation of NMD cell autonomously knocks down transgene expression in specific cell types without affecting its expression or function in other cells of the organism. To demonstrate the utility of this system, we replaced the goa-1 gene, encoding the pan-neuronally expressed G-protein subunit GOA-1, with a degradation-tagged transgene. We then knocked down expression of the transgene from only two neurons, the hermaphrodite-specific neurons (HSNs), and showed that GOA-1 acts cell autonomously in the HSNs to inhibit egg-laying behavior.
Passive acoustic detection of a small remotely operated vehicle

This paper presents an experimental assessment of the feasibilities of the passive acoustic detection of a small remotely operated vehicle (ROV). We report the results of a series of underwater detection trials, both in the laboratory and in the field, to quantify passive detection of a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) small ROV. We also measure the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the ROV signature as a function of distance between the ROV and acoustic receivers in a shallow water environment. Based on the experimental results, we find that the most significant contributions for ROV acoustic detection are the electric motor signals with the frequency range of around 400–500 Hz. The maximum detectable distance with ambient noise at 116 dB re 1 uPa is 22 m away from the ROV in a noisy littoral environment. Finally, we present a comparison between predicted sound pressure levels of the ROV and the experimental measured results.
The permissive role of hyperthermia in the disaggregation of brain polysomes by L-dopa or D-amphetamine.

—l-DOPA or d-amphetamine administration disaggregates brain polyribosomes in animals maintained in an environment warm enough (26°C) so that the drugs concurrently elevate their body temperatures to above 39°C. The production of equivalent hyperthermia (by keeping control rats at ambient temperatures of 40–44° C) does not cause similar disaggregation of brain polysomes. Hence, the role of hyperthermia in the drug-induced disaggregation is permissive.
Early Changes by (18)Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography coregistered with computed tomography predict outcome after Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in cynomolgus macaques.

Cynomolgus macaques infected with low-dose Mycobacterium tuberculosis develop both active tuberculosis and latent infection similar to those of humans, providing an opportunity to study the clinically silent early events in infection. (18)Fluorodeoxyglucose radiotracer with positron emission tomography coregistered with computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) provides a noninvasive method to measure disease progression. We sought to determine temporal patterns of granuloma evolution that distinguished active-disease and latent outcomes. Macaques (n = 10) were infected with low-dose M. tuberculosis with FDG PET/CT performed during infection. At 24 weeks postinfection, animals were classified as having active disease (n = 3) or latent infection (n = 6), with one "percolator" monkey. Imaging characteristics (e.g., lesion number, metabolic activity, size, mineralization, and distribution of lesions) were compared among active and latent groups. As early as 3 weeks postinfection, more pulmonary granulomas were observed in animals that would later develop active disease than in those that would develop latent infection. Over time, new lesions developed in active-disease animals but not in latent animals. Granulomas and mediastinal lymph nodes from active-disease but not latent animals consistently increased in metabolic activity at early time points. The presence of fewer lesions at 3 weeks and the lack of new lesion development in animals with latent infection suggest that innate and rapid adaptive responses are critical to preventing active tuberculosis. A greater emphasis on innate responses and/or rapid recruitment of adaptive responses, especially in the airway, should be emphasized in newer vaccine strategies.
Transient effects in SIMS analysis of Si with Cs+ at high incidence angles: Secondary ion yield variations

Abstract Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) depth profile analysis of Si wafers using 1 keV Cs + primary ions at large incidence angles (80°) is plagued by unusually strong transient effects (variations in both sputter and ion yields). Analysis of a native oxide terminated Si wafer with and without the aid of an O 2 leak, and an Ar + pre-sputtered wafer revealed correlations between the implanted Cs content and various secondary ion intensities consistent with that expected from a resonance charge transfer process (that assumed by the electron tunneling model). Cs concentrations were defined through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the sputtered surface from SIMS profiles terminated within the transient region. These scaled with the surface roughening occurring under these conditions and can be explained as resulting from the associated drop in sputter rates. An O induced transient effect from the native oxide was also identified. Characterization of these effects allowed the reconstruction of the XPS derived Cs concentration profiles, which in turn, allowed enhancement effects resulting from O and Cs to be approximated.
Video resolution enhancement

With the advent of High Definition Television, it will become desirable to convert existing video sequence data into higher-resolution formats. This conversion process already occurs within the human visual system to some extent, since the perceived spatial resolution of a sequence appears much higher than the actual spatial resolution of an individual frame. This paper addresses how to utilize both the spatial and temporal information present in a sequence in order to generate high-resolution video. A novel observation model based on motion compensated subsampling is proposed for a video sequence. Since the reconstruction problem is ill-posed, Bayesian restoration with a discontinuity-preserving prior image model is used to extract high-resolution image sequences will be shown, with dramatic improvements provided over various single frame interpolation methods.
Human lactoferrin protects against Streptococcus mutans-induced caries in mice.

Objectives The objective of this study is to evaluate the importance of human lactoferrin (hLF) in an experimental caries induced by Streptococcus mutans in a lactoferrin-knockout (LFKO(-/-)) mouse model compared with C576J/BL wild-type (WT) mice. Materials and methods The WT and LFKO(-/-) mice were infected with S. mutans (1 × 10(8) cells) and/or sham infection. Furthermore, the effect of hLF administration was evaluated in LFKO(-/-) mice infected with S. mutans. Mice were assessed for colonization, salivary pH, and caries development. Results The results showed that the lactoferrin-knockout infected (LFKO(-/-) I) mice had significantly higher colonization with S. mutans (P = 0.02), lower salivary pH (P = 0.01), and more carious lesions (P = 0.01) when compared to wild-type infected (WTI) mice. In addition, the administration of hLF did not show any evidence of S. mutans colonization as well as carious lesions (P = 0.001) in LFKO(-/-) I mice when compared to untreated LFKO(-/-) I mice. Conclusion These results show that endogenous LF protects against S. mutans-induced caries and that exogenous hLF can exert a protective effect against caries development.
Vulcanization. Part IV. The Effects of Compounding Variables on the Nature of Rubber Networks

Abstract It is generally accepted for sulfur vulcanizates of natural rubber that the crosslinks consist of monosulfidic and polysulfidic links between polymer chains. There is indication in the lit...
OS068. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and angiogenic factors in early-onset severe preeclampsia.

Introduction: Alterations in proand anti-angiogenic factors have been demonstrated to precede the clinical onset of preeclampsia. Objectives: The objective of this investigation was to understand the possible relationship of maternal vitamin D status and angiogenic factors at the diagnosis of early onset, severe preeclampsia (EOSPE). Methods: This prospective case-control study enrolled patients with EOSPE or healthy pregnancy. Plasma samples were obtained at the time of diagnosis of EOSPE and from a contemporaneous healthy control patient. 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) was assayed using radioimmunoassay. PlGF, VEGF, and s-Flt1 were assayed using ELISA. Results were analyzed with Kruskal–Wallis test between groups and Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated for 25-OH-D and angiogenic factors. Results: Fourty patients with EOSPE and 40 healthy controls were enrolled. Patients with EOSPE were noted to have greater deficiency of 25-OH-D (16.9 vs. 33.2 ng/mL; p < 0.001). PlGF and VEGF were significantly decreased while s-Flt1 was significantly increased in EOSPE relative to controls(table). Significant negative correlations were observed between plasma 25-OH-D and s-Flt1 ( 0.38; p < 0.001) and s-Flt1/PlGF ratio ( 0.32; p = 0.003). Significant positive correlations were noted between plasma 25-OH-D and PlGF (0.27; p = 0.02) and VEGF (0.25; p = 0.001). Vitamin D and angiogenic factors in EOSPE vs. control (median (IQR)).
Electrochemical deposition of germanium sulfide from room-temperature ionic liquids and subsequent Ag doping in an aqueous solution.

A facile room-temperature electrochemical deposition process for germanium sulfide (GeSx) has been developed with the use of an ionic liquid as an electrolyte. The electrodeposition mechanism follows the induced codeposition of Ge and S precursors in ionic liquids generating GeSx films. The electrodeposited GeSx films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). An aqueous-based Ag doping method was used to dope electrochemically grown GeSx films with controlled doping compared to the conventional process, which can be used in next-generation solid-state memory devices.
Application of a finite element algorithm for the solution of steady transonic Euler equations

A finite element algorithm for the solution of two-dimensional, steady Euler equations is presented which, through a Clebsch-type transformation for the velocity vector, solves the conservation of mass equation with one primary variable and two additional equations for the convection of two new variables. The accuracy and efficiency of this scheme is discussed, and the second-order accuracy attained in the analysis of the convection of the vorticity is demonstrated together with the efficient treatment of rotational and irrotational flow subregions. A sample problem is used to show the accuracy of the numerical scheme and its convergence characteristics.
Reclaiming the Prison Boom: Considering Prison Proliferation in the Era of Mass Imprisonment

While mass imprisonment is a central topic of investigation within the sociology of punishment, less is known about the prison boom – the period beginning in 1970 during which the number of US prison facilities tripled. Surprisingly, our understanding of prison impact on rural communities is minimal despite nearly 70 percent of the new facilities being constructed in rural areas. With little fanfare, prison proliferation has severely altered the physical, social, economic, and political landscape of rural America. With few exceptions, scholars fail to consider where and why prisons are built, and how these places are impacted economically, or local perceptions of these impacts. As the next steps for this research agenda have not been clearly defined, this paper serves two purposes: (i) to differentiate and redefine the contours of the prison boom from mass imprisonment and then (ii) to explore the causes and consequences of the prison boom in building a framework to conduct future research into these critical issues.
Commentary by Steven L. Bressler

The purpose of this short chapter is to advance our understanding of the functional actions that occur between different areas of the mammalian neocortex. This topic is of immense importance to the question of the neural basis of cognition, both in animals and humans. For example, one conceptual framework that has emerged over many years describes cognitive function in terms of actions between areas in large-scale networks of the neocortex, or neurocognitive networks Bressler Neurocogn Netw Schol, 3:1567, 2008, [37], Mesulam, Brain, 121:1013–1052, 1998 [38], Bressler, Neurocogn Netw Schol, 3:1567, 2008 [12], Meehan T, Bressler, Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 36:2232–2247, 2012 [36]. It posits the neocortical area as a computational processing entity in the brain, and the large-scale structure of anatomical pathways connecting those areas as the connectivity matrix that determines the interareal actions underlying the cortical computations of a species. The inhomogeneity of the large-scale cortical connectivity suggests that the neocortex is not a homogeneous computational medium and that interareal cortical connectivity is important for cortical function. The neurocognitive network framework is directly linked to the idea that cognition is a collective phenomena that emerges from the actions exerted between cortical areas. In short, the nature of cognition in the human brain is intimately tied to an understanding of how cortical areas act upon one another, and how those actions lead to emergent neurocognitive phenomena.
KINETICS STUDING ON CYANIDE DESRUCTION BY HYDROLYSIS

It is presented that the kinetics experiments of cyanides destruction by hydrolysis.Determined the relationship between hydrolytic speed and solution temperature.At the sometime a mathematic model showing the cyanogens removal rate related with solution temperature and hydrolytic time has been established.
Megaesophagus and pneumonia associated with Mycobacterium chelonei. A case report and a literature review

The case of a 37-year-old woman who developed a subacute, bilateral, noncavitary pneumonia 5 years after a colon interposition esophagoplasty is presented. Mycobacterium chelonei, subspecies abscessus, was assigned a pathogenic role based on the findings of (1) a clinical and roentgenographic picture consistent with tuberculosis, (2) sputum smears showing acid-fast bacilli, (3) repeated sputum cultures yielding heavy growths of Mycobacterium chelonei, subspecies abscessus, and (4) a 12-mm by 12 mm-skin test response to homologous antigen (purified protein derivative-CL) with no response to an equivalent dose of purified protein derivative-S. The patient recovered fully without significant antituberculous chemotherapy. A survey of the literature revealed 11 similar case reports featuring a documented association between megaesophagus and pulmonary infection with rapidly growing mycobacteria.
The Examination of the Animate in Light of the Inanimate: Or, the Argument for the Autonomy of the Zoological Inquiry

It should not be surprising that Aristotle concerned himself with questions of the mechanics of material and functional explanations. PA II beautifully illustrates this two-parted investigation. Aristotle’s PA II falls into two parts, marked by the announcement of a “new beginning” in II.10. The best way to understand the move from the first to the second half is to note the status of the animate whole, the organism, and its relation to the inanimate.
Granulocyte aggregometry: a sensitive technique for the detection of C5a and complement activation

We have previously shown that complement (C) activated plasma causes granulocyte (PMN) aggregation in vitro and that C5a is responsible. The C-induced aggregation of PMNs treated with cytochalasin-B (CB) is markedly enhanced and irreversible, and the magnitude of the response is proportional to the log (concentration of activated plasma), allowing use of this technique to detect C5a and hence C-activation. To compare the sensitivity of granulocyte aggregometry to that of more standard methods of detecting C-activation, we produced graded C-activation in vitro by treating fresh serum with varying amounts of zymosan. Aggregometry was the most sensitive index of C-activation, detecting C-activation, produced by 0.02 mg zymosan/ml of serum--1/10 that required to produce C-activation detectable by C3 immunoelectrophoresis (the next most sensitive technique). Granulocyte aggregometry may also be used to detect in vivo C-activation. We have found aggregating activity in plasmas from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, immune vasculitis, transfusion reactions, and other conditions associated with in vivo C-activation, but not in the plasmas of normal subjects.
Differentiation between early rheumatoid and early psoriatic arthritis by the ultrasonographic study of the synovio-entheseal complex of the small joints of the hands.

Objectives To determine whether ultrasonographic findings of the synovio-entheseal complex of the hand small joints could be used to differentiate between early rheumatoid and early psoriatic arthritis. Methods Thirty-four early rheumatoid and 26 early psoriatic arthritis patients with a prevalent involvement of the hands were examined with ultrasound (US). All exams were performed at the first visit by evaluating synovitis, peritendon extensor digitorum tendon oedema, enthesitis of the central slip of extensor tendon, flexor tenosynovitis and soft tissue oedema. In the same patient, the two most clinically involved joints, if possible of the same digit, were evaluated. Results Sixty-eight clinically involved joints were evaluated in 34 early rheumatoid arthritis patients and 52 joints in 26 early psoriatic arthritis patients.Synovitis was significantly more frequently detected in early rheumatoid arthritis compared to early psoriatic arthritis patients (p=0.0001), in 91.1% joints of the former and in 59.6% joints of the latter. At metacarpohalangeal joint, the presence of peritendon extensor digitorum tendon inflammation was observed in 2.5% of the joints in the early rheumatoid arthritis group and in 54.1% of the joints in the early psoriatic arthritis group (p=0.0001). At PIP joints, central slip enthesitis was exclusively observed in EPsA (p=0.0045). When considering the most clinically involved finger per patient, soft tissue oedema was detected almost exclusively in psoriatic arthritis (p=0.0002). Conclusions The US involvement of synovio-entheseal complex and US extrasynovial features may be helpful in the differential diagnosis between early rheumatoid and early psoriatic arthritis.
Chronic Pain of Childhood: A Pharmacologic Approach

The authors provide the reader with the pharmacologic tools useful in managing chronic pain in children. The agents discussed include the analgesics, the psychotropics, and miscellaneous anticonvulsants, antihistamines, steroids, and skeletal muscle relaxants.