cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental and kinetic study of NO oxidation on model Pt catalysts

Abstract Modeling and experimental studies on model Pt/Al 2 O 3 and Pt/BaO/Al 2 O 3 catalysts are performed to elucidate the kinetics of NO oxidation, which is a key step during the lean phase of NO x trap operation. Experiments show that a steady-state is never truly achieved during NO oxidation; a continuous decrease in the reaction rate with time is observed on both the catalysts. This decrease is distinct from and beyond the prompt inhibition of the NO oxidation reaction observed with NO 2 in the feed or product. NO oxidation carried out after catalyst pretreatments with H 2 , O 2 , and NO 2 indicates that NO 2 is responsible for the deactivation while NO 2 storage plays a negligible role. Experiments with NO 2 as the feed elucidate its role in the production of NO, either by storage or by decomposition, for a wide range of temperatures. The highly oxidizing nature of NO 2 suggests that the Pt surface could be covered with oxygen, either as chemisorbed O or as Pt oxides, which results in slow poisoning of the catalyst. Microkinetic analysis of the NO oxidation reaction shows O 2 adsorption as the rate-determining step and predominant surface species to be adsorbed NO and O. Based on the microkinetic studies, a global kinetic model is proposed which includes the inhibiting effect of NO 2 on the NO oxidation reaction. The importance of including coverage of NO in the global model at low temperatures is shown, which is neglected in the current literature global models. The model predicts the experimental observations for a wide range of temperatures within acceptable error limits. However, prediction of the transient data requires modeling of NO 2 storage, decomposition and the complex NO 2 inhibition chemistry in addition to other surface reactions.
Comments on “Anonymous reviews”

I would like to add the triple perspective of a now-retired editor (GRL, 1993–19997), a reviewer and author to the ongoing debate in Eos about anonymous versus signed reviews. As an editor, I did not keep precise statistics, but my recollection would be that a little under (perhaps 40%) of the more than 3000 reviews I handled were signed. While some sort of "trend" expectedly existed between glowing reviews and signed ones, the correlation would probably not have passed a statistical test. By and large, my reviewers, whether or not they waived anonymity, were a professional and responsible pool, and the kind of personal and potentially unethical antagonisms described by Myrl Beck was the rare exception, rather than the rule, among anonymous reviews. The careful editor should be able to recognize this attitude in the tone and style of the review, and through comparison with other reviews of the same paper.
Basilic Vein Thrombosis Near an Arterial-Venous Access Graft Resulting in a Symptomatic Upper Extremity A Case Report

Deep venous thrombosis of the upper extremity is a relatively uncommon condition that normally produces few if any symptoms. However, when this occurs in a patient with hemodialysis access in the same upper limb, significant sequelae may result. Although these may be remedied by the elimination of the arterial-venous loop, the critical importance of vascular access for most patients with end-stage renal disease and the difficulties associated with creating new access make it essential to preserve existing sites.Described is a patient with a left forearm access graft and symptoms in the same extremity arising from outflow occlusion proximal to the venous anasto mosis of the graft. An arteriogram was used to diagnose and locate the occluded area, revealing thrombosis of the basilic vein as the likely cause. This was then bypassed by using saphenous vein, thus salvaging the hemodialysis access. The patient did well postoperatively and was discharged without symptoms and with a functional arterial-venous loop.
Developmental Changes in the Regulation of Contractions in Human Fetal Cardiac Myocytes. † 100

Developmental Changes in the Regulation of Contractions in Human Fetal Cardiac Myocytes. † 100
Effects of Anisotropic Viscosity and Texture Development on Convection in Ice Mantles

[1] Convection may occur in the ice shells of satellites in the outer solar system. The style of convection, rate of heat transport, and resulting surface features depend on the rheology of ice, which in turn depends on temperature, grain size, stress, and crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO). Here we study the effect of CPO development and anisotropic viscosity on convection by coupling a model of polycrystalline ice deformation with a macroscopic flow model. Despite having a first-order effect on velocities and heat transport in a convecting ice shell, fabric development is unlikely to be observable either directly by spacecraft-based radar or indirectly based on changes in the wavelength or amplitude of dynamic topography.
Prohibido Tocar Este Cenote: The Archaeological Basis for the Titles of Ebtun

Ebtun, Kaua, Cuncunul, Tekom, and Tixcacalcupul are a group of related communities on the Yucatan peninsula described in the corpus of Maya-language documents known as The Titles of Ebtun. In this paper I explore transformations in agrarian practice and material expressions of identity after the Spanish invasion by analyzing archaeological variation in the life histories of places over the last 500 years. As new plants, animals, and technologies were adopted, landscape organization changed, and locales took on new meanings. Ebtun’s landscape reflects a historically contingent process that has transformed place and identity, fostering autonomy of cultural practice and renewal of tradition.
Phase shifts and Per gene expression in mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus

In mammals, circadian rhythms controlled by the suprachiasmatic nuclei are entrained by photic stimuli. To investigate the molecular mechanism of photic entrainment, we examined light-induced behavioral phase delays and associated changes in mPer1 and mPer2 gene expression in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of two mouse lines artificially selected for nest-building behavior. Big nest-builders show larger phase delays than small nestbuilders. Light-induced mPer1 and mPer2 expression was examined in individual mice previously tested for phase shifting at circadian time 16. Light-induced mPer2 expression was significantly higher in big compared to small nest-builders. No difference was found between lines in light-induced mPer1 expression. The results suggest a more important role for mPer2 than for mPer1 gene expression in behavioral phase delays. NeuroReport 14:1247‐1251 & 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Prostaglandin E2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α production is elevated following traumatic injury to sciatic nerve†

Sciatic nerve explants cultured either alone or in the presence of peritoneal macrophages were used to study prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) production following traumatic peripheral nerve injury. Although barely detectable at early time points (1-3 h in vitro), the production of PGE(2) and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) by sciatic nerve explants increased significantly after 18 h and remained elevated for up to 96 h. The cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitor, NS-398, inhibited PGE(2) and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) production by injured sciatic nerve in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with the observed effect of NS-398, peripheral nerve explants, as well as Schwann cells and perineural fibroblasts cultured from neonatal sciatic nerve, each contained COX-2 immunoreactivity after 24 h in vitro. Both Schwann cells and perineural fibroblasts produced significant amounts of PGE(2) and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha); but only in the presence of arachidonic acid. As observed for injured sciatic nerve, the production of PGE(2) and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) by primary Schwann cells and perineural fibroblasts was completely inhibited by NS-398. Compared to macrophages cultured alone, macrophages cultured in the presence of sciatic nerve explants produced large amounts of PGE(2), whereas the level of 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) was unchanged. In contrast, macrophages treated with adult sciatic nerve homogenate did not produce significant amounts of either PGE(2) or 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) during the entire course of treatment. We conclude that injured sciatic nerves produce PGE(2) and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) by a mechanism involving COX-2 activity and that macrophages produce large amounts of PGE(2) in response to soluble factors produced by injured nerve but not during the phagocytosis of peripheral nerve debris.
Negative Brechung in Ferromagnet-Supraleiter-Multilagen

Ein negativer Brechungsindex, der viele Gesetze der klassischen Optik vollstandig invertiert und lange Zeit als praktisch nicht realisierbar galt, wurde in letzter Zeit in Metamaterialien und Photonischen Kristallen verwirklicht. Nun hat unsere Gruppe ein weiteres Material mit negativer Brechung entwickelt: Multilagen aus ferromagnetischen und supraleitenden Dunnschichten. Hier ist der Supraleiter fur negative dielektrische Permittivitat verantwortlich, wahrend im Ferromagneten negative magnetische Permeabilitat in externen magnetischen Feldern erreicht wird. Negative Permittivitat und negative Permeabilitat sind die Grundvoraussetzungen negativer Brechung.
Myth 1: The Gifted and Talented Constitute One Single Homogeneous Group and Giftedness Is a Way of Being that Stays in the Person over Time and Experiences.

Can a field that prides itself on promoting creativity and innovation in young people handle these processes itself? Deep-seated values, attitudes, and beliefs about the meaning of giftedness and how we should identify students for gifted programs have been slow to change because the evidence leading to this change conflicts with long-standing attitudes from outdated research, personal beliefs, and an education system that places more emphasis on administrative expediency than recent evidence about human potential. Tidiness and efficiency are important to the operation of any enterprise but should never take the place of responsibility to do the right thing for the young people we serve. Einstein, the personification of scientific giftedness across ages and cultures, said, “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” After having spent more than seven decades of our collective lives in the field of gifted education as teachers, school psychologist, coordinator, researchers, and university professors interested in the nurturance of gifts and talents, we believe there is no more potentially dangerous and false myth than the one above. Let us, therefore, begin this response with the following resounding statement: There is no single homogeneous group of gifted children and adults, and giftedness is developmental, not fixed at birth. Our work (Reis, 2005; Renzulli, 1978, 2005), as well as the collective work of others, some of whom we briefly mention, has contributed unequivocally to a robust research base that enables us to point convincingly to the heterogeneity of the group labeled “gifted” and the certainty we hold about giftedness as a developmental concept. More than a decade ago, a task force of psychologists and educators spent 2 years reviewing all the extant research on the social and emotional characteristics and needs of gifted and talented children and young adults resulting in an edited volume (Neihart, Reis, Robinson, & Moon, 2002). While completing that summary, we read hundreds of articles about gifted and talented children and adolescents, and in our executive summary, we stated,
Lower respiratory rates without decreases in oxygen consumption during neonatal synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that synchronization to patient effort during intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV), when compared to conventional unsynchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV), will decrease energy
Lifetime of the 6793-keV state in 15O.

The energy derived from the CN cycle at low stellar temperatures is regulated by the 14N(p,gamma)15O reaction. A previous direct measurement of this reaction has been interpreted as showing evidence for a subthreshold resonance which makes a major contribution to the reaction rate at low temperatures. This resonance, at E(c.m.) = -504 keV would correspond to the known Ex = 6793-keV state in 15O. We have measured a mean lifetime of 1.60(+0.75)(-0.72) fs (90% C.L.) for this state using the Doppler-shift attenuation method. This lifetime is a factor of 15 longer than that inferred from the (p,gamma) data and implies that the contribution of the subthreshold resonance is negligible.
The Continua of Biliteracy and the Bilingual Educator: Educational Linguistics in Practice

The continua model of biliteracy offers a framework in which to situate research, teaching, and language planning in linguistically diverse settings; bilingual teacher education represents a conjunction of all three of these and hence, a good candidate for applying the continua model. This paper uses selected experiences in language teacher education as practised at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education to illustrate the potential of the continua model as heuristic in continually (re)writing the bilingual or language educator's knowledge base in response to the demands of educational policy and practice. A series of vignettes serves as a means for exploring dilemmas confronting bilingual (and language) educators and ways in which the continua model might shape a response: the global/local dilemma – global social, cultural, and political trends as contexts for biliteracy; the standard/nonstandard dilemma – media of biliteracy as reflected in evolving views of language and literacy in ...
Setups and effective capacity: the impact of lot sizing techniques in an MRP environment

Abstract This study investigates how lot sizing techniques influence the profit performance, inventory level, and order lardiness of an assembly job shop controlled by MRP. Four single-level lot sizing techniques are compared by simulation analysis under two levels of master schedule instability and two levels of end item demand. A second analysis investigates the influence of a multilevel lot sizing technique, the generalized constrained-K (GCK) cost modification, on the four single-level techniques at low demand and low nervousness. The analyses reveal a previously unreported phenomenon. Given the same inventory costs, the single-level lot sizing techniques generate substantially different average batch sizes. The lot sizing techniques maintain the following order of increasing average batch size (and decreasing total setup time): economic order quantity (EOQ) period order quantity (POQ) least total cost (LTC) Silver-Meal heuristic (SML) The causes for different average batch sizes among the lot sizing ...
Behavior of Mn2+ ions in the trapping process of SrMg(SiO3)2:Mn,Dy

Abstract Persistent phosphorescence of SrMg(SiO 3 ) 2 :Mn,Dy was found to present two broad bands in the red and blue regions, respectively, accompanied by a 4f→4f emission from Dy 3+ . The red band was attributed to the Mn 2+ emission, and the blue one was due to the defects induced by Dy 3+ . The phosphorescence of singly doped sample SrMg(SiO 3 ) 2 :Dy also exhibits the blue band and Dy 3+ emissions, which enable one to optically investigate the trapping mechanism in the Dy co-doped phosphors. A comparison of Mn 2+ ions with the co-doped Eu 2+ ions in phosphorescence emission was made to examine the behavior of Mn 2+ ions in binding the delocalized carriers for the subsequent phosphorescent recombination. A reversed detrapping process was proposed to explain the phosphorescent properties of SrMg(SiO 3 ) 2 :Mn,Dy.
The Effects of Localized Blade Endwall Suction on Secondary Flows and Heat Transfer

Two methods of flow control were designed to mitigate the effects of the horseshoe vortex structure (HV) at an airfoil/endwall junction. An experimental study was conducted to quantify the effects of localized boundary layer removal on surface heat transfer in a low-speed wind tunnel. A transient infrared technique was used to measure the convective heat transfer values along the surface surrounding the juncture. Particle image velocimetry was used to collect the time-mean velocity vectors of the flow field across three planes of interest. Boundary layer suction was applied through a thin slot cut into the leading edge of the airfoil at two locations. The first, referred to as Method 1, was directly along the endwall, the second, Method 2, was located at a height ∼1/3 of the approaching boundary layer height. Five suction rates were tested; 0%, 6.5%, 11%, 15% and 20% of the approaching boundary layer mass flow was removed at a constant rate. Both methods reduced the effects of the HV with increasing suction on the symmetry, 0.5-D and 1-D planes. Method 2 yielded a greater reduction in surface heat transfer but Method 1 outperformed Method 2 aerodynamically by completely removing the HV structure when 11% suction was applied. This method however produced other adverse effects such as high surface shear stress and localized areas of high heat transfer near the slot edges at high suction rates.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Stimulant medications for the treatment of ADHD: Efficacy and limitations

A large literature exists on the use of stimulant medications to treat children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In 1993, we summarized this literature in a “review of reviews” for the U.S.Department of Education, as part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)—inspired changes in regulations about the identification and treatment of ADHD students in public schools. Ten critical issues were identified by panels of experts, and based on the literature consensus, views were identified for each topic, which provided an evaluation of strengths and weaknesses of stimulant pharmacotherapy. In this article, we provide an update of the “review of reviews” by identifying new investigations relevant to critical areas that might change the consensus views. We also summarize the recent presentations of the initial results of the MTA Study (Multimodality Treatment study of children with ADHD), which addresses many of the critical issues. We draw conclusions about the current views on strengths and weaknesses of stimulant pharmacotherapy based on this historical approach and selective review of recent research. MRDD Research Reviews 1999;5:215–224. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Central sleep apnea and complex sleep apnea in patients with epilepsy

We sought to examine the prevalence of central sleep apnea (CSA) and complex sleep apnea (CompSA) in patients with epilepsy and to examine their clinical profile, with respect to epilepsy type, etiology, medication use, and EEG abnormalities. We undertook a retrospective analysis of 719 consecutive patients with epilepsy who underwent polysomnography (PSG) at our institution between 2004 and 2011. Of the 458 patients with complete data, we excluded 42 patients with congestive heart failure or left ventricular ejection fraction <40 %. Comparison of clinical and PSG variables between the three groups were conducted with Fisher exact test and analysis of variance. Out of 416 patients tested, 315 (75 %) had obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), 16 (3.7 %) had CSA, 33 (7.9 %) had CompSA. There were more males in the CSA and CompSA groups than in the OSA group (81.2, 81.8, and 59.6 %, respectively, p = 0.04). Focal seizures were more prevalent in patients with CSA than in patients OSA or CompSA (62.5, 265, and 21.1 %, respectively, p = 0.02). About 11 % of epilepsy patients have sleep-breathing disorders with central apneas, which is not higher than that in a general population. These data should be expanded with future research investigating the role of interictal, ictal, and postictal central apneas in epileptogenesis and epilepsy.
Caspase-12 mediates carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatocyte apoptosis in mice

AIM: To investigate the role of caspase-12 and its downstream targets in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatocyte apoptosis. METHODS: The role of caspase-12 was determined by using caspase-12 knock-out (-/-) mice. CCl4 (300 μL/kg body weight) or vehicle (corn oil) was administered to caspase-12+/+ or caspase-12-/- mice as a single intraperitoneal injection. The animals were sacrificed 24 h after the CCl4 treatment. Blood was collected to evaluate liver function by the measurement of the activity of alanine aminotransferase. Liver samples were used for the measurements of reactive oxygen species using plasma malondialdehyde as biomarker, hepatocyte apoptosis was evaluated via terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling and controlled by morphologic study, and cytochrome C release and caspase activations were measured by Western blotting. RESULTS: Administration of a low dose of CCl4 resulted in hepatocyte apoptosis and acute liver injury in wild-type mice. CCl4 also induced the generation of reactive oxygen species and induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the liver followed by activations of caspase-12, -9 and -3 as well as release of small amounts of cytochrome C. However, in the CCl4-treated caspase-12-/- mice, activation of caspase-9 and -3 were significantly attenuated (P < 0.05); no effect was seen in cytochrome C release. CCl4-induced apoptosis and liver damage was markedly reduced in caspase-12-/- mice compared to caspase-12+/+ mice (P < 0.05). The active form of caspase-8 was not detected in either caspase-12+/+ or caspase-12-/- mice. There was no significant different in the formation of reactive oxygen species in the livers of caspase-12+/+ and caspase-12-/- mice treated with CCl4. CONCLUSION: Caspase-12 plays a pivotal role in CCl4-induced hepatic apoptosis through the activation of the downstream effector caspase-3 directly and/or indirectly via capase-9 activation.
Characterization of transition temperature behavior of HY130 steel by the JIc fracture toughness parameter

Abstract The objectives of this study were to determine whether the J-R curve approach could be used to evaluate the ductile to brittle temperature performance of a high yield strength structural steel (HY130) and to demonstrate that the single specimen unloading compliance method is applicable to evaluate J Ic values and J-R curves for compact specimens tested at temperatures from −192 to 150°C. The major conclusions of this work are that J Ic and the complete J-R curve can be obtained using the single specimen method over the above temperature range and that J Ic does define a ductile to brittle transistion temperature for HY130 steel which should be more valuable for structural design than that found from Charpy V or dynamic tear specimens because it is based on a fracture toughness parameter. The comparison of the Ic transition temperature and that from Charpy V specimens shows that the Charpy V transition temperture is more conservative for the HY130 steel tested. In transitional J I specimens which demonstrated a ductile crack tearing followed by a brittle failure, scanning microscope stereo pair fractography showed that the transition from ductile to brittle behavior was very gradual in comparison to the distinct crack tips obtained on ductile specimens broken in a brittle fashion at a cryogenic temperature.
High-density percolation: Exact solution on a Bethe lattice

A new percolation problem is posed where the sites on a lattice are randomly occupied but where only those occupied sites with at least a given numberm of occupied neighbors are included in the clusters. This problem, which has applications in magnetic and other systems, is solved exactly on a Bethe lattice. The classical percolation critical exponentsβ=gg=1 are found. The percolation thresholds vary between the ordinary percolation thresholdp c (m=1)=l/(z − 1) andp c(m=z) =[l/(z − 1)]1/(z−1). The cluster size distribution asymptotically decays exponentially withn, for largen, p ≠ p c .
Comparison between mechanical cleaning and an antimicrobial rinse for the treatment and prevention of interdental gingivitis

Abstract This study compared the efficacy of an antimicrobial mouthrinse (0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate) plus toothbrushing (mouthrinse group), mechanical interdental cleaning plus toothbrushing (mechanical group), and toothbrushing alone (control group), at reducing and preventing interdental gingival inflammation. 92 male subjects were examined for interdental inflammation using the Eastman interdental bleeding index at baseline, then monthly for 3 months after using one of the above oral hygiene regimens. The mechanical cleaning group had significant reductions in bleeding sites compared to baseline at 1 month (56.90% versus 13.17%) that persisted throughout the study (2 months = 6.65%, 3 months=5.70%). The other regimens showed no significant bleeding reduction at any time point in the study. The mechanical interdental cleaning group showed improvement over baseline at 1 month with the full benefit apparent after 2 months. The effect of location in the mouth on bleeding reduction was also assessed. The % of posterior sites which bled was always higher than anterior sites. Analysis of maxillary versus mandibular, and buccal versus lingual sites showed no significant differences. Additional observations of the data demonstrated that sites which bled at baseline were more likely to stop bleeding in the mechanical cleaning group. Also, sites which did not bleed at baseline were unlikely to bleed subsequently when mechanical cleaning was used. Neither of these observations were true for the other cleaning regimens. These data show that only mechanical interdental plaque removal combined with toothbrushing is effective at reducing or preventing interdental inflammation. This underscores the importance of instituting mechanical interdental cleaning to eliminate interdental inflammation.
Autoradiographic analysis of nuclear estrogen binding sites during postnatal development of the genital tract of female mice

Autoradiographic analysis of [3H]-estrogen nuclear binding sites was performed on developing genital tracts (uterus, cervix and vagina) of mice 1 to 90 days postpartum. During days 1 to 15 postpartum, nuclear estrogen binding sites were observed exclusively within mesenchymal cells; epithelial cells did not exhibit nuclear labelling. At 18 days postpartum vaginal and cervical epithelial cells exhibited nuclear estrogen binding sites for the first time, whereas the initial appearance of estrogen receptor activity in the epithelium of the uterus was detected at 20 days postpartum. Thereafter, nuclear estrogen binding sites were maintained in both epithelial and stromal cells into adulthood. The acquisition of nuclear binding sites within epithelium of female genital organs at 18 days is discussed in terms of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and the acquisition of growth responsiveness.
THE FUNCTION OF THE THERAPIST'S AFFECT IN THERAPEUTIC CONFLICT IN GROUPS

Group psychotherapy theory and technique are presented with the goals of helping group practitioners working with difficult clients: 1) develop a treatment plan; 2) create a therapeutic alliance; 3) foster a responsive group climate; and 4) utilize the therapist's countertransferential reactions in dealing with therapeutic conflict. Historical modifications of the analyst's role in the development of group psychotherapy are noted. Emphasis is give to the recognition of therapist-client identifications in order to separate feelings induced in the therapist from countertransferential reactions, to enable the practitioner to respond appropriately to the affective and inspirational substratum of therapeutic groups.
Relationship between Effect of Activated Charcoal on Drug Absorption in Man and Its Drug Adsorption Characteristics In Vitro

Parallel in vivo and in vitro determinations of the adsorption characteristics of activated charcoal were carried out with three drugs having a different pKa: aspirin, salicylamide, and phenylpropanolamine. In vitro adsorption isotherms at pH 1 and 8.2 and the effect of increasing pH on drug desorption characteristics suggested that, as these drugs pass from stomach to intestine, the in vivo adsorption of: (a) aspirin will be reversed significantly due to change in pH, (b) salicylamide will be decreased only slightly except for possible competitive effects of normal intestinal contents, and (c) phenylpropanolamine may be increased slightly unless intestinal content exerts a displacing effect. Absorption studies in human volunteers yielded results that are consistent with these predictions and that demonstrate the effect of dose and mode of charcoal administration on the efficacy of this adsorbent. These studies suggest that it may be possible to make reasonable predictions concerning the relative antidotal effectiveness of activated charcoal in man on the basis of appropriate in vitro adsorption studies.
Atoh1, an essential transcription factor in neurogenesis and intestinal and inner ear development: function, regulation, and context dependency.

Atoh1 (also known as Math1, Hath1, and Cath1 in mouse, human, and chicken, respectively) is a proneural basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factor that is required in a variety of developmental contexts. Atoh1 is involved in differentiation of neurons, secretory cells in the gut, and mechanoreceptors including auditory hair cells. Together with the two closely related bHLH genes, Neurog1 and NeuroD1, Atoh1 regulates neurosensory development in the ear as well as neurogenesis in the cerebellum. Atoh1 activity in the cochlea is both necessary and sufficient to drive auditory hair cell differentiation, in keeping with its known role as a regulator of various genes that are markers of terminal differentiation. Atoh1 is known in other fields as an oncogene and a tumor suppressor involved in regulation of cell cycle control and apoptosis. Aberrant Atoh1 activity in adult tissue is implicated in cancer progression, specifically in medullablastoma and adenomatous polyposis carcinoma. We demonstrate through protein sequence comparison that Atoh1 contains conserved phosphorylation sites outside the bHLH domain, which may allow regulation through post-translational modification. With such diverse roles, tight regulation of Atoh1 at both the transcriptional and protein level is essential.
Retrospective and Prospective Performance Assessments during the 2004 Election Campaign: Tests of Mediation and News Media Priming

According to many theoretical accounts of the vote choice, distal determinants (e.g., party identification) influence proximal determinants (e.g., perceptions of candidates), which in turn shape candidate preferences. Yet almost no research on voting has formally tested such mediational hypotheses. Using national survey data collected between February and September of 2004, this paper begins by illustrating how to conduct such investigations. We explored whether public approval of President Bush’s handling of a series of specific national problems (e.g., the Iraq war) influenced overall assessments of his job performance and evaluations of his likely future performance versus John Kerry’s, which in turn shaped vote choices. The results are consistent with the claim of mediation and shed additional light on the impact of various issues on the 2004 election outcome. We also tested what we term the “dosage hypothesis,” derived from news media priming theory, which posits that changes in the amount of media coverage of an issue during the course of a campaign should precipitate changes in the weight citizens place on that issue when evaluating the president’s overall job performance, particularly among citizens most exposed to the news. Surprisingly, this analysis did not yield consistent support for the venerable dosage hypothesis, suggesting that the conditions under which priming occurs should be specified much more precisely in future work.
“Cultural literacy” in criminal justice: A preliminary assessment

Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of commissioned articles in which distinguished criminal justice scholars address the question of criminal justice “literacy.” These articles are intended to provoke discussion and debate about the core ideas and foundational scholarship in our field. Readers' comments and reactions to these articles are welcome and encouraged.
Distributed Spatiotemporal Gesture Recognition in Sensor Arrays

We present algorithms for gesture recognition using in-network processing in distributed sensor arrays embedded within systems such as tactile input devices, sensing skins for robotic applications, and smart walls. We describe three distributed gesture-recognition algorithms that are designed to function on sensor arrays with minimal computational power, limited memory, limited bandwidth, and possibly unreliable communication. These constraints cause storage of gesture templates within the system and distributed consensus algorithms for recognizing gestures to be difficult. Building up on a chain vector encoding algorithm commonly used for gesture recognition on a central computer, we approach this problem by dividing the gesture dataset between nodes such that each node has access to the complete dataset via its neighbors. Nodes share gesture information among each other, then each node tries to identify the gesture. In order to distribute the computational load among all nodes, we also investigate an alternative algorithm, in which each node that detects a motion will apply a recognition algorithm to part of the input gesture, then share its data with all other motion nodes. Next, we show that a hybrid algorithm that distributes both computation and template storage can address trade-offs between memory and computational efficiency.
The clinical impact of vertebral fractures: Quality of life in women with osteoporosis

Osteoporosis has obvious physical and functional consequences such as kyphosis, restricted range of motion, and pain. What are not so obvious are the psychosocial sequelae that result from this metabolic bone disease. Many patients in the initial phases of the disease express substantial anxiety, especially about the possibility of future fractures and physical deformity. As the disease progresses, depression can become profound for those who experience hip or multiple vertebral fractures. The effects of the chronicity of osteoporosis, its disabling and disfiguring aspects, and the chronic postural pain that develops as time passes challenge even the most stable individuals. In addition, osteoporosis has substantial impact on interpersonal relationships and social roles. The dependency created by this disease affects close relationships, because the patient with osteoporosis cannot reciprocate in social support. Today's older women find the restrictions of the disease socially devastating. These women, unlikely to work in the labor force, took pride in their roles of housekeeper and cook. Unfortunately, severe osteoporosis can force women to relinquish even these social roles, leaving them with no source of self-esteem or accomplishment. In all, osteoporosis is devastating both psychologically and socially.
The relationship of placental grade, fetal lung maturity, and neonatal outcome in normal and complicated pregnancies

Ultrasonically diagnosed maturity changes in the placenta, Grades 0 to III, have been previously shown to correlate with fetal lung maturity. In a prospective study of 230 term and preterm complicated pregnancies, we compared the relationship between sonographic placental grading, amniotic fluid phospholipids, and neonatal outcome. The frequencies of gestational age
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAP kinase) immunoreactivity in the rhesus monkey brain

Extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERKs) are a recently cloned family of genes that encode the MAP kinase protein kinases. They are highly expressed in brain and are believed to play an integral role in neural cellular responses to receptor activation. A role for ERKs has been postulated in Alzheimer's disease, where they have been implicated in phosphorylation of tau in neurofibrillary tangles. We explored the neuroanatomic distribution of ERK immunoreactivity in the rhesus monkey brain. The hippocampal formation, especially the mossy fiber zone and the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus are the most heavily immunostained areas. Cerebral cortex is, in general, more intensely stained in the supragranular layers. The caudate, putamen, and substantia nigra contain more immunoreactivity than the claustrum, globus pallidus, or thalamus with the exception of midline thalamic structures. These results suggest a marked regional and laminar distribution of ERKs in the primate brain.
Efficient secure image transmission: compression integrated with encryption

Due to the ease with which digital data can be manipulated and due to the ongoing advancements that have brought us closer to pervasive computing, the secure delivery of video and images has become a challenging problem. Despite the advantages and opportunities that digital video provide, yet, the illegal copying and distribution as well as plagiarism of digital audio, images, and video is still ongoing. In this paper we describe a technique for securing digital images based on combining image compression and encryption. The underlying idea in this is to combine encryption with rate scalable image compression such as EZW or SPIHT. EZW or SPIHT compresses image in such a way that the present coding state of a wavelet coefficient is dependent on the current coding of the coefficient’s parent and on prior coding states of the coefficient and its parent. A consequence of this within a bit stream of length N is that if we obscure the first M leading bits of the bit stream and leave the remaining N-M bits unchanged then the trailing N-M bits reveal “very little information” about the original image. Thus, by exploiting this inter-data dependency we can selectively encrypt part of the data stream and hence, reduce the computational burden and bandwidth requirement for transmitting images securely.
Nature of the "Griffiths" Singularity in Dilute Magnets

The nature of the singular behavior pointed out by Griffiths for $H=0$ in dilute magnets is investigated. It is argued that for concentration $p$ less than that for formation of an infinite cluster, all derivatives of $M(H)$ are finite. The nonanalyticity in $M(H)$ is due to a branch cut along the imaginary $H$ axis having weight $\mathrm{exp}[\frac{\ensuremath{-}(\mathrm{const})}{|H|}]$ for $|H|\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$, and is thus too weak to be experimentally observable. Some numerical and exact analytic results for the dilute magnet on a Bethe lattice are presented.
Light-scattering models for spheres on a conducting plane: comparison with experiment.

Three models have been developed to describe light scattering from a sphere in contact with a mirror. With two of the models the mirror was replaced with an image sphere. Light scattering from each sphere is assumed to follow the Mie theory: no further interaction between the sphere and mirror is assumed. The models differ in their consideration of the interaction of scattered fields from the spheres. The results of the models are compared to experimental values obtained for polystyrene spheres, 0.984 μm in diameter, with incident radiation λ = 0.6328 and 0.4416 μm. The comparison indicates that a best fit can be obtained by assuming that the real sphere and its image sphere are coherent light sources with a phase difference of π.
Large Dispersion of Silicon Directional Couplers Obtained via Wideband Microring Parametric Characterization

Using the measured transmission spectrum of a waveguide-coupled silicon microring, we develop an algorithm for determining the wavelength dependencies (i.e., the dispersions) of the coupling coefficients and loss of the ring. Our analysis reconstructs the measured spectrum without use of Lorentzian fitting, covers 15 free spectral ranges (FSR), and was performed from ~ 1520 to 1570 nm, covering all of and extending past the C-band. We demonstrate that the dispersion of the coupling coefficient of a silicon-waveguide directional coupler considerably exceeds (by a factor of ~ 10) the modal refractive-index dispersions of its constituent waveguides.
Genetic considerations in the prenatal diagnosis of overgrowth syndromes

Large (>90%) for gestational age (LGA) fetuses are usually identified incidentally. Detection of the LGA fetus should first prompt the provider to rule out incorrect dates and maternal diabetes. Once this is done, consideration should be given to certain overgrowth syndromes, especially if anomalies are present. The overgrowth syndromes have significant clinical and molecular overlap, and are associated with developmental delay, tumors, and other anomalies. Although genetic causes of overgrowth are considered postnatally, they are infrequently diagnosed prenatally. Here, we review prenatal sonographic findings in fetal overgrowth syndromes, including Pallister-Killian, Beckwith-Wiedemann, Sotos, Perlman, and Simpson-Golabi-Behmel. We also discuss prenatal diagnosis options and recurrence risks.
Self-report of delivery of clinical preventive services by U.S. physicians. Comparing specialty, gender, age, setting of practice, and area of practice.

Abstract Objectives: To summarize national survey results for key clinical preventive services provided by primary care physicians, characterize the results by demographic and practice attributes of the respondents, and compare the results to those obtained in other studies. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: A total of 3881 clinicians who provided primary care at least 50% of their time, randomly sampled from the professional associations representing family practitioners, pediatricians, internists, and OB-GYNs. Measures: The Primary Care Providers Survey instrument of 1992, administered through the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, designed to assess the provision of clinical preventive services by primary caregivers. Main Results: Few of the physicians surveyed reported providing most indicated clinical preventive services more than 80% of the time. For the purposes of this paper, >80% provision of preventive services is considered adequate. Female physicians reported providing more preventive services involving exercise, diet, alcohol/drugs, seatbelts, sexual activity, family planning, immunizations, and screening procedures. Physicians aged Conclusions: Small differences in the self-report of provision of clinical preventive services between specialties and demographic subgroups did exist. At the time of this survey, however, no group of primary care physicians reported providing clinical preventive services to their patients at adequate levels.
Antibodies Elicited by Inactivated Propionibacterium acnes-Based Vaccines Exert Protective Immunity and Attenuate the IL-8 Production in Human Sebocytes: Relevance to Therapy for Acne Vulgaris

Propionibacterium acnes is a key pathogen involved in the progression of inflammation in acne vulgaris. We examined whether vaccination against P. acnes suppressed P. acnes-induced skin inflammation. Inactivation of P. acnes with heat was employed to create a P. acnes-based vaccine. Intranasal immunization in mice with this inactivated vaccine provoked specific antibodies against P. acnes. Most notably, immunization with inactivated vaccines generated in vivo protective immunity against P. acnes challenge and facilitated the resolution of ear inflammation in mice. In addition, antibodies elicited by inactivated vaccines effectively neutralized the cytotoxicity of P. acnes and attenuated the production of proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 in human sebocyte SZ95 cells. Intranasal immunization using heat-inactivated P. acnes-based vaccines provided a simple modality to develop acne vaccines. These observations highlight the concept that development of vaccines targeting microbial products may represent an alternative strategy to conventional antibiotic therapy.
Vibrational spectrometry of pesticides and related materials on thin layer chromatography adsorbents

Methods of measuring the vibrational spectra of species adsorbed on thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates have been studied by Fourier transform infrared (FT-ir) and Raman spectrometry. Previous measurements of the transmittance spectra of species separated by TLC (with the adsorbent deposited on AgCl plates) showed poor signal/noise ratio at high frequency due to scattering by the adsorbent. Scattering has been minimized in these experiments by treating the TLC plate with Fluorolube, an infrared mulling oil whose refractive index closely matches that of the adsorbent. Spectra of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides on silica gel and alumina adsorbents measured in this way show differences which can be correlated with the mechanism of adsorption. FT-ir spectra of compounds on TLC plates can be obtained from microgram quantities of sample but Raman spectrometry is not as sensitive, requiring at least 200 μg of sample. The Raman bands of adsorbed pesticides are weak and considerably broadened with respect to the corresponding bands in the spectra of the pure samples.
Mixed-mode dialogue information access for the visually impaired

This paper describes mixed tactile and speech input modes implemented on a PDA as a solution to various problems of information access for the visually impaired. A prototype of the mixed-mode input dialogues has been developed in a non-visual news browser on a desktop computer. A pilot study is being conducted on this computer to determine how best to mix speech and touch input for visually impaired users. With the knowledge gained from the pilot study, a mixed-mode input environment will be built on PDA. Once the PDA prototype is operational a field study conducted on visually impaired subjects using this input environment will extend our understanding of how to effectively design mixed touch and speech input for various tasks and input contexts.
Climate policy: a new foundation of stability and prosperity

The art of successful government matches policy to the demands of the time so that nations may be stable and prosper together in an increasingly globalized world. No country would fail to include n...
Modeling Electrically Active Viscoelastic Membranes

The membrane protein prestin is native to the cochlear outer hair cell that is crucial to the ear's amplification and frequency selectivity throughout the whole acoustic frequency range. The outer hair cell exhibits interrelated dimensional changes, force generation, and electric charge transfer. Cells transfected with prestin acquire unique active properties similar to those in the native cell that have also been useful in understanding the process. Here we propose a model describing the major electromechanical features of such active membranes. The model derived from thermodynamic principles is in the form of integral relationships between the history of voltage and membrane resultants as independent variables and the charge density and strains as dependent variables. The proposed model is applied to the analysis of an active force produced by the outer hair cell in response to a harmonic electric field. Our analysis reveals the mechanism of the outer hair cell active (isometric) force having an almost constant amplitude and phase up to 80 kHz. We found that the frequency-invariance of the force is a result of interplay between the electrical filtering associated with prestin and power law viscoelasticity of the surrounding membrane. Paradoxically, the membrane viscoelasticity boosts the force balancing the electrical filtering effect. We also consider various modes of electromechanical coupling in membrane with prestin associated with mechanical perturbations in the cell. We consider pressure or strains applied step-wise or at a constant rate and compute the time course of the resulting electric charge. The results obtained here are important for the analysis of electromechanical properties of membranes, cells, and biological materials as well as for a better understanding of the mechanism of hearing and the role of the protein prestin in this mechanism.