cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reverse targeting in a media-promoted breast cancer screening project.

BACKGROUND The American Cancer Society has sponsored community-based, low-cost, Breast Cancer Detection Awareness Projects throughout the United States. The authors hypothesized that these projects tend to exclude minorities and women of lower socioeconomic status--groups with a higher incidence of late-stage disease. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was performed of participants in the 1990 Breast Screening Project in Tampa, Florida. The demographic profile of participants was compared with that predicted by 1990 census data. RESULTS There were 13,920 women who called phone banks for additional information. Of these, 13,215 were deemed eligible and 6640 completed mammographic screening. Forty percent of participants were having mammography for the first time. Comparisons with census data indicated that elderly people, members of minority groups, and women of lower educational levels were underrepresented. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study support the concept that "reverse targeting" occurs with these breast cancer screening projects, and recommendations for recruiting underrepresented groups are given.
Comment on Garde: Retrofitting Suburbia: Is It About Image or Form?

The recent forecast that the U.S. built environment will double between 2000 and 2025 (Nelson, 2006) presents fundamental challenges and policy choices for planning and urban design. After decades ...
Coexistence of competing parasitoids on a patchily distributed host: local vs. spatial mechanisms

I investigated mechanisms of parasitoid coexistence in a spatially structured host-multiparasitoid community (harlequin bugs (Murgantia histrionica) and two specialist parasitoids (Trissolcus murgantiae and Ooencyrtus johnsonii)). I tested both local and metapopulation hypotheses. The local hypothesis, intraguild predation, predicts coexistence if the inferior larval competitor is superior at finding unparasitized hosts. Hence, the superior larval competitor should be absent from patches of low host productivity. The metapop- ulation hypothesis, dispersal-competition trade-off, predicts coexistence if the inferior com- petitor is a superior disperser. Hence, the superior larval competitor should be absent from patches isolated by distance. Manipulative experiments demonstrate that coexistence does not require a dispersal advantage to the inferior larval competitor. Field surveys show that patches from which the superior larval competitor is absent are not the most isolated, but the least productive. In a natural experiment, loss of the superior larval competitor was not associated with habitat loss or fragmentation that increases distance among occupied patch- es, but with a large reduction in host productivity. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that parasitoid coexistence occurs via local interactions rather than spatial processes. This study provides the first empirical evidence of the role of spatiotemporal variation in host productivity on parasitoid coexistence. The results have implications for multiparasitoid food webs in patchy environments and offer practical insights regarding the release of multiple parasitoid species in pest control.
Integration of multidimensional archaeogeophysical data using supervised and unsupervised classification

When multiple geophysical methods are used to survey an archaeological site, an integrated approach to interpreting the data is often pursued. The use of supervised and unsupervised classification methods are tested using ground-penetrating radar, magnetometry and magnetic susceptibility data sets from a site in the American Southwest. Pueblo Escondido was a large prehistoric village associated with the Mogollon culture in southern New Mexico, with peak occupation during the transition between pithouse and pueblo architectural periods (ca. 1280–1290 AD). Image classification has the benefit of producing unambiguous discrete maps and capitalizes on the multivariate relationships between data sets. Theoretically, unsupervised classification could identify new archaeological classes that were not anticipated but no such classes were identified. The K-means cluster analysis succeeded only in identifying weak, moderate and strong positive anomalies found in the original data sets. Supervised classification utilizing Mahalanobis distance produced much better results. Training sites based on archaeological excavations were used to classify all locations in the survey area, yielding a predictive model of archaeological features in three classes, plus a background class. The result shows features that were not easily identified in the original data sets but are made visible by the multivariate model. The model could be used for guiding future excavations and arguably leads to a better understanding of the site’s subsurface content and spatial organization.
Analysis of total-internal-reflection phase-conjugate mirror

The geometry of a total-internal-reflection (TIR) phase-conjugate mirror is investigated in the framework of a two-dimensional model, based on the solution of nonlinear material equations and the parabolic equations for electromagnetic radiation. The model self-consistently describes the evolution of incoherent scattering into the spatial structure of light corresponding to the operation of the TIR mirror. We analyze the dynamics of nonlinear reflectivity and conjugation fidelity and their dependence on parameters of the problem, the spatial structure of fields and the nonlinear refractive index, and the typical distortions in the phase-conjugate output of the TIR mirror. Theoretical predictions are confirmed experimentally.
Inner models with many Woodin cardinals

Abstract We extend the theory of “Fine structure and iteration trees” to models having more than one Woodin cardinal.
National study of the relation of primary care shortages to emergency department utilization.

Background: Emergency department (ED) visit volumes are increasing nationwide. Objectives: To determine whether states with primary care shortages have higher rates of ED use. Methods: Populations residing in primary care shortage areas were abstracted from the Health Resources and Services Administration Geospatial Database. Annual ED visit volumes were available from the 2001 National ED Inventory. Population data and potential confounders were abstracted from federal data sets. All analyses were conducted at the state level. Results: Primary care shortage densities varied greatly across states, ranging from 3 (New Jersey) to 28 (Mississippi) medically underserved individuals per 100 people. States also varied in their annual ED visit densities, ranging from 23 visits (Hawaii) to 65 visits (Washington, DC) per 100 people. Of the 17 states in the top tertile for primary care shortage, 7 also were in the top tertile for ED visits. Primary care shortage density was positively associated with ED visit density. An increase of 10 medically underserved individuals per 100 people was associated with an annual increase of 4.2 ED visits per 100 people (p = 0.04). The association remained after controlling for six factors, with an increase of 10 medically underserved individuals per 100 people associated with an annual increase of 3.3 ED visits per 100 people (p = 0.04). Nevertheless, five states had high ED visit densities despite comparatively low primary care shortage densities (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont), whereas five others had low ED visit densities despite high primary care shortage densities (Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and South Dakota). Conclusions: A positive association between primary care shortage densities and ED visit densities was found. Although most states adhere to this pattern, some states do not. Further investigation of this dissociation may yield additional explanations for rising ED visit volumes.
Design representation in CAD tools (session overview)

Design is an evolutionary process which transforms a set of requirements into a working, manufacturable product. To mechanically assist this process, a design must be represented in one or more formal languages which unambiguously convey the intent of the engineer to (and between) the design tools. This session addresses the relationship of computer aided design (CAD) tools for digital systems and design representation. There are three papers in this session and each discusses a facet of the representation problem.Drongowski. A qualitative theory for design representation is presented which provides an overview for the other papers. The discussion focuses on the importance of formal semantics for representation and problems in the translation from one representation to another.Bammi. In this work, a behavioral hardware description language, ISP', is extended to include structural information (e.g., the interconnection of registers, combinatorial logic, control, etc.) The application of the language to synthesis is discussed.Iyengar. Representation is an especially critical issue in the application of expert systems to CAD. This paper explores the representation and rule base for an expert system that synthesizes combinational logic.This work is being applied to the development of a logic synthesis system called Agent which takes a register transfer level description to a control graph and coarse grain datapath network.
A finite element analysis of metal forming processes with thermomechanical coupling

Abstract A finite element analysis is presented for warm forming problems. Thermomechanical coupling is included and an elastic-viscoplastic material model is used. This formulation is capable of using any of a class of combined creep-plasticity constitutive models with state variables for the description of material behavior. The specific problem considered is plane strain extrusion using the constitutive model originally proposed by Hart. Numerical results are presented for sample problems and the important effects of extrusion speed and friction (at the die-workpiece interface) on the residual stresses and temperature fields are investigated. The computer program developed here is quite general and can be modified to analyze other manufacturing processes like rolling, sheet metal forming, etc. as well. It can also be modified to use other similar constitutive models for the description of material behavior.
Neural Network Approach To Stereo Matching

A method for matching stereo images using a neural network is presented. We first fit a polynomial to find a smooth continuous intensity function in a window and estimate the first order intensity derivatives. Combination of smoothing and differentiation results in a window operator which functions very similar to the human eye in detecting the intensity changes. Since natural stereo images are usually digitized for the implementation on a digital computer, we consider the effect of spatial quantization on the estimation of the derivatives from natural images. A neural network is then employed for matching the estimated first order derivatives under the epipolar, photometric and smoothness constraints. Owing to the dense intensity derivatives a dense array of disparities is generated with only a few iterations. This method does not require surface interpolation. Experimental results using natural images pairs are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of our method.
Possible power source of Seyfert galaxies and QSOs

The possible presence of massive black holes in the nuclei of galaxies has been suggested many times. In addition, there is considerable observational evidence for high stellar densities in these nuclei. I show that the tidal breakup of stars passing within the Roche limit of a black hole initiates a chain of events that may explain many of the observed principal characteristics of QSOs and the nuclei of Seyfert galaxies.
Regulation of differentiated cell-specific functions

The demand theory of gene regulation predicts that regulated cell-specific functions in high demand (i.e., high level of gene expression frequently required) are under the influence of a positive regulatory element whereas those in low demand (i.e., high level of gene expression not frequently required) are under the influence of a negative regulatory element. Furthermore, during differentiation, when the demand regimen for cell-specific functions changes, a switch in the regulatory mechanism itself is predicted. For the case in which a function is regulated in both demand regimens, the mode of regulation will switch from positive (high demand) to negative (low demand) or vice versa. These predictions are compared with published experimental evidence and found to be in good agreement.
The association between orthodontic treatment with removal of premolars and the angulation of developing mandibular third molars over time

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess changes in mandibular third molar angulation during orthodontic treatment in subjects having either first or second premolars or neither removed. Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study approved by the institutional review board, right and left mandibular third molar angulations were compared to the vertical axis of adjacent second molars before and at the end of orthodontic treatment. The sample included 25 subjects with first premolars removed, 25 subjects with second premolars removed, and 24 subjects with no premolars removed. A decrease in angulation over time of at least 5°, so that the third molar became more vertical, was considered clinically favorable. Data were assessed by a linear mixed effect model and a proportional odds model with significance set at P < .05. Results: Prior to treatment, the average mandibular third molar angulation did not differ significantly among the three study groups (P = .97). The average change during treatment was not s...
Synthetic aperture sonar for small unmanned underwater vehicles

The shallow water and very shallow water environment is a very hostile region for sonar operations, however it is still considered one of the best options for mine detection and classification in this region. The water depth and small vehicle size demands that the sonar be small and low power. A conflicting need exists for very high-resolution sonar, which implies a very large aperture, that can discriminate between small mines and natural or benign manmade objects. Resolution cells of approximately 1/16 the size of the targets smallest dimension are generally considered necessary to classify a target with high confidence level and low false classification rate. The synthetic aperture sonar concept can meet the requirement for small size and high resolution. This paper will review the development of the SAS technology at CSS from a simple, single channel first generation SAS to the present real-time dual frequency multi-channel SAS. All these system were designed to be compatible with small underwater vehicles. The SAS signal processing evolved from a very simple delay and sum beamformer to a more complex motion error modulated beamformer. This paper will show images of these systems as they evolved from the earlier 15-cm resolution SAS to the present system producing 2.5 cm and 7.5-cm resolution from a dual high/low frequency SAS, respectively. The present system operates in real-time and has generated the current images using a physical array that is less than 0.6 meters in length and 0.15 meters in height.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Reaction of hydroxyfullerene with metal salts: a route to remediation and immobilization.

Hydroxylated fullerene reacts rapidly and irreversibly (across a wide pH range) with Fe(NO3)3, Al(NO3)3, CaCl2, CoCl2, CuCl2, KMnO4, Ag(NO3), and ZnCl2 under ambient aqueous conditions to produce insoluble metal−hydroxyfullerene cross-linked polymers (M−fullerenol). Materials have been characterized by SEM, TEM, AFM, XPS, and UV−visible spectroscopy. Molecular mechanics calculations on the model systems, [Fe(C60O2)2] and [Fe(C60O2)3], show that both tetrahedral and octahedral coordination are possible. The rate of precipitation reaction is proportional to the concentration of both reagents. The interaction of hydroxyfullerenes with metals is an important issue with regard to waste treatment, fullerene exposure in the environment, and fullerene-based pharmaceutical agents.
KB–PJX—A streaked imager based on a versatile x-ray microscope coupled to a high-current streak tube (invited)

A re-entrant, highly adaptable, x-ray streaked imager has been developed for OMEGA to increase the sensitivity and spatial resolution in hydrodynamic-stability experiments. It is based on a four-mirror Kirkpatrick–Baez (KB) microscope, coupled to a high-current streak tube. The unique mechanical assembly of the KB optic allows a choice between single- or multi-image modes and one- or two-dimensional imaging. Currently, the optic uses an Ir coating at a grazing angle of 2.1°. The incidence angle has been optimized to maximize throughput in the chosen energy band, centered at 1.5 keV with a full width at half maximum of about 0.4 keV. A calculated resolution of better than 5 μm over the central 200 μm of the field of view was verified in inertial confinement fusion experiments. New multilayer mirror elements for high-energy or multiband imaging, take advantage of the flexible mechanical design. Some important features of the PJX streak tube are described.
Effective Feedback Strategies for Teaching in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology

The clinical setting of pediatric and adolescent gynecology poses complex tasks for the physician with its numerous procedures and the communication demands of interacting with an adolescent and/or guardian. Needless to say, teaching within this setting is highly demanding. Regardless of the level of learner or the professional role (e.g., nurse, medical student, resident, physician assistant) represented, clinical teaching requires that the instructor provide feedback in ways that benefit the student. Recent research on feedback suggests a more complex understanding of feedback than in the past. This article highlights key research and its implication for effective feedback by presenting a three part framework; know your learner, understand what is to be learned, and plan for improvement.
Body Mass Index and the Impact of a Health Promotion Intervention on Health Services Use and Expenditures

Objective: To examine the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the impact of a health promotion intervention on health services use and expenditures among Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities. Method: We analyzed data from 452 Medicare beneficiaries who participated in a Medicare demonstration. The intervention included the following components: patient education, health promotion coaching, medication management, and physician care management. We performed the analysis by using generalized linear models (GLM) to examine the impact of BMI and the intervention on total health care expenditures. Results: The intervention was cost neutral over the 2-year study period. Participants in the intervention group used less home health aide services (p = .03) and had fewer nursing home days (p = .05). The intervention appeared to have smaller effects on expenditures as BMI level increased. Discussion: The findings suggest that a health promotion intervention may achieve better beneficiary outcomes without an increa...
Enzymatic softening of connective tissue sheaths to aid microelectrode penetration

Abstract 1. 1. Collagenase and elastase allow routine penetration of the visceral ganglion cells of Aplysia vaccaria, which is otherwise impossible due to the toughness of the connetive tissue sheaths. Pronase is equally effective. 2. 2. Pronase, a non-specific proteolytic enzyme, does not stop synaptic activity. This implies that macromolecules in the external medium do not have access to any proteins involved in synaptic functions. 3. 3. The electrical properties of these viscerla ganglion cells are simlar to those of Aplysoa californica. 4. 4. These enzyme techniques are also useful for other neurophysiological' preparations.
Exploiting die-to-die thermal coupling in 3D IC placement

In this paper, we propose two methods used in 3D IC placement that effectively exploit the die-to-die thermal coupling in the stack. First, TSVs are spread on each die to reduce the local power density and vertically aligned across dies simultaneously to increase thermal conductivity to the heatsink. Second, we move high-power logic cells to the location that has higher conductivity to the heatsink while moving TSVs in the upper dies so that high-power cells are vertically overlapping below the TSVs. These methods are employed in a force-directed 3D placement successfully and outperform several state-of-the-art placers published in recent literature.
Women, Land-Struggles and Globalization: An International Perspective

Despite a systematic attempt by colonial powers to destroy female systems of farming, across the planet women today constitute the bulk of agricultural workers and are in the forefront of the struggle for a non-capitalist use of natural resources (land, forests, waters). The article examines these struggles, arguing that by defending subsistence agriculture, communal access to land, and opposing land expropriation, women internationally are building the way to a new non-exploitative society, and one in which the threat of famines and ecological devastation will be dispelled.How can we ever get out of poverty if we can't get a piece of land to work? If we had land to plant, we wouldn't need to get food sent to us all the way from the United States. No. We'd have our own. But as long as the government refuses to give us the land and other resources we need, we'll continue to have foreigners running our country.—Elvia Alvarado (Benjamin 1987: 104)
Some eddy current effects in solid core magnets

Abstract Analysis of eddy currents in solid core magnets shows that for the two extremes of large and small field level changes, very different consequences of the eddy currents are of concern for the user. It is shown that in the former case, irreproducibility and deterioration of magnet performance can be caused by the eddy currents, and it is indicated what steps can be taken to prevent this from occuring. In the latter case, the main concerns are field inhomogeneities that decay with time. This may necessitate long waiting periods before the magnet can be used again to its full capability, and it is shown how that waiting time can be reduced.
SU‐E‐T‐17: A Mathematical Model for PinPoint Chamber Correction in Measuring Small Fields

Purpose: For small field dosimetry, such as measuring the cone output factor for stereotactic radiosurgery, ion chambers often result in underestimation of the dose, due to both the volume averaging effect and the lack of electron equilibrium. The purpose of this work is to develop a mathematical model, specifically for the pinpoint chamber, to calculate the correction factors corresponding to different type of small fields, including single cone-based circular field and non-standard composite fields. Methods: A PTW 0.015cc PinPoint chamber was used in the study. Its response in a certain field was modeled as the total contribution of many small beamlets, each with different response factor depending on the relative strength, radial distance to the chamber axis, and the beam angle. To get these factors, 12 cone-shaped circular fields (5mm,7.5mm, 10mm, 12.5mm, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm, 30mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, 60mm) were irradiated and measured with the PinPoint chamber. For each field size, hundreds of readings were recorded for every 2mm chamber shift in the horizontal plane. These readings were then compared with the theoretical doses as obtained with Monte Carlo calculation. A penalized-least-square optimization algorithm was developed to find out the beamlet response factors. After the parameter fitting, the established mathematical model was validated with the same MC code for other non-circular fields. Results: The optimization algorithm used for parameter fitting was stable and the resulted response factors were smooth in spatial domain. After correction with the mathematical model, the chamber reading matched with the Monte Carlo calculation for all the tested fields to within 2%. Conclusion: A novel mathematical model has been developed for the PinPoint chamber for dosimetric measurement of small fields. The current model is applicable only when the beam axis is perpendicular to the chamber axis. It can be applied to non-standard composite fields. Further validation with other type of detectors is being conducted.
Thermal design considerations in the packaging of GaN based light emitting diodes

The temperature distribution of a dual Multi-Quantum Well (MQW) light emitting diode (LED) has been investigated using both infrared imaging and micro-Raman Spectroscopy; mean values over the device yielded temperatures ranging from 30-75°C. The InGaN/GaN based LED, grown by Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD), was also studied using the 3ω method in order to determine an effective thermal conductivity of the MQW stack in the temperature range from 300-540K. The LED structure under investigation showed effective thermal conductivities in the range from 82-140 W/mK with the peak conductivity occurring at 440K, well above room temperature. Using temperature dependent properties determined experimentally, a numerical model of the LED structure was developed in order to study the effect that the package thermal resistance and input power has on the temperature of the device.
Simultaneous assessment of sperm chromatin condensation and morphology before and after separation procedures : effect on the clinical outcome after in vitro fertilization

Abstract Objective: To look for correlations between acridine orange (AO) staining and semen parameters before and after sperm separation procedures and to assess whether the AO test predicts fertilization or pregnancy outcomes after standard IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Design: Prospective study that simultaneously assesses sperm morphology and nuclear protein maturity on a cell-by-cell basis before and after preparative procedures. Setting: University teaching hospital. Patient(s): Men (n = 140) undergoing diagnostic semen analysis. Main Outcome Measure(s): Acridine orange fluorescence of sperm nuclei, semen parameters, IVF outcome. Result(s): In unprocessed samples, 90% of sperm with normal heads displayed green fluorescence (mature nuclear protein); significantly lower percentages of green fluorescence were observed in sperm with abnormal heads. The percentage of mature normal sperm in the specimen correlated with motility. Sperm maturity after swim-up or Percoll gradient was significantly improved for sperm with normal or abnormal heads. The percentage of mature normal sperm correlated with motility after either Percoll or swim-up. Neither the percentages of mature nuclei nor mature normal nuclei correlated with fertilization or pregnancy outcome. Conclusion(s): Nuclear protein maturation correlates with sperm motility and morphology. Because morphologically normal and motile sperm are more mature, separation procedures should generate a population of sperm with the highest fertilization capacity. Acridine orange staining, however, did not predict fertilization efficiency or pregnancy outcome in IVF cycles.
Sensor, User, Mission (SUM) Resource Management and Their Interaction with Level 2/3 Fusion

Revisions to the JDL model by the current DFIG team (Data Fusion Information Group) include definitions for model usefulness that stressed various control functions of sensor, user, and mission (SUM) management. The purpose of the paper is to highlight issues and challenges to real world separation of control actions. This position paper highlights: 1. Addressing the user in system management / control, 2. Determining a standard set of metrics for optimization, 3. Evaluating fusion systems to deliver timely info needs, 4. Dynamic updating for planning mission time-horizons, 5. Designing interfaces to support impact assessments
A multi-arm hand-held robotic system for transurethral laser Prostate surgery

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the most common symptomatic disease in men. A new transurethral surgical intervention is available that has been shown to reduce bleeding, catheterization time, and hospitalization time in comparison to traditional Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP). However, this new procedure, Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP), is so challenging to accomplish that only a small number of expert surgeons are able to offer it. Toward facilitating broader use of HoLEP, we propose a new hand-held robotic system for the purpose of making the surgery easier to perform. In current HoLEP, the only way to aim the laser and/or manipulate tissue is to move the entire endoscope, stretching a large quantity of tissue. In contrast, our new robotic approach provides the surgeon with two concentric tube manipulators that can aim the laser and manipulate tissue simultaneously. The manipulators are deployed through a 5 mm working channel in a 26 French (8.66 mm) endoscope clinically used for transurethral procedures. This paper describes the design of the robot and experiments illustrating its ability to perform the motions expected to be useful in HoLEP.
Advocacy for methadone treatment.

After Drs. Nyswander and Dole initially reported their research findings with methadone treatment at the Rockefeller University in 1965 (1), its applicability on a very broad scale was quickly demo...
Cross-linking interferes with assessing sulfur mustard-induced DNA damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes using the comet assay.

Sulfur mustard (SM) is a blistering agent that produces DNA strand breaks. To detect SM-induced DNA single strand breaks in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), cells were exposed to various concentrations of SM (10 to 1000 μM), and the comet assay (single-cell gel electrophoresis) was performed. We observed a SM concentration- and time-dependent increase in detectable DNA damage. To test whether SM-induced DNA cross-linking inhibits DNA migration in the comet assay, PBL were exposed to a) SM alone (10 to 1000 μM), b) H2O2 (0.001%), which produces DNA single strand breaks with no cross-links, or c) SM followed at 2, 4, or 6 h by H2O2. With H2O2 alone, a large amount of strand breakage was detected. With H2O2 plus SM, detectable H2O2-induced strand breaks decreased as SM concentration increased up to 30 μM; at 30 μM and above, the response with H2O2 plus SM was similar to that with SM alone. Interference with the detection of H2O2-induced DNA strand breaks appears to be SM concentration-dependent up t...
Microbeam channeling studies of epitaxial titanate films

Abstract PbTiO 3 films grown by MOCVD on SrTiO 3 substrates were analyzed for epitaxy as a function of thickness by microbeam channeling. Micro RBS/PIXE analysis indicated all films had reasonable stoichiometric composition. The channeling minimum yield ( χ min ) was close to 5% of the substrate value for very thin films indicating good epitaxial growth. Thicker films exhibited higher χ min values. Comparison of the experimental and simulated channeling spectra indicates higher defect density in thicker films. Channeling contrast microscopy (CCM) was used to get elemental maps of the surface and interface regions of the epitaxial films. Surface defects were found both in thin and thick films.
White matter microstructural abnormalities of the cingulum bundle in youths with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: Associations with medication, neuropsychological function, and prodromal symptoms of psychosis

article i nfo Background: The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is regarded as an etiologically homogenous model for understanding neuroanatomic disruptions associated with a high risk for schizophrenia. This study utilized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to analyze white matter microstructure in individuals with 22q11.2DS. We focused on the cingulum bundle (CB), previously shown to be disrupted in patients with schizophrenia and associated with symptoms of psychosis. Methods: White matter microstructure was assessed in the anterior, superior, and posterior CB using the tractography algorithm in DTIStudio. Neuropsychological function, presence of prodromal symptoms of psychosis, and medication history were assessed in all participants. Results: Relative to controls, young adults with 22q11.2DS showed alterations in most DTI metrics of the CB. Alterations were associated with positive prodromal symptoms of psychosis. However, when individuals with 22q11.2DS were divided by usage of antipsychotics/mood stabilizers, the medicated and non-medicated groups differed significantly in axial diffusivity of the anterior CB and in fractional anisotropy of the superior CB. DTI metrics did not differ between the medicated group and the control group. Conclusions: Results suggest that the microstructure of the CB is altered in individuals with 22q11.2DS, and that those alterations may underlie positive prodromal symptoms of psychosis. Our findings further provide preliminary evidence that antipsychotic/mood stabilizer usage may have a reparative effect on white matter microstructure in prodromal 22q11.2DS, independent of the potential effects of psychosis. Future studies of white matter pathology in individuals with 22q11.2DS should test for potential effects of medication on white matter microstructure.
Radiation pyrometry on semitransparent sheets. II: Media with wavelength dependent absorption coefficient

The apparent temperature of nonisothermal sheets with a wavelength dependent absorption coefficient was investigated. A polypropylene sheet with a parabolic temperature distribution across its thickness was used as an illustration of apparent temperature calculations. It was found that the variation of the apparent temperature of polypropylene with thickness was different from that of gray media (with absorption coefficient independent of wave length). This difference was attributed to the effect of thickness on the spectral distribution of the radiation emitted by the sheet.
Initiation of Haemoglobin Synthesis by Methionyl-tRNA

The synthesis of haemoglobin in a cell free system containing yeast tRNA is initiated by a specific methionine tRNA. Another methionine tRNA responds to internal codons in the messenger. The initiating methionine is removed from the nascent protein to leave valine as the terminal amino-acid, but cannot be removed when its amino group is blocked as in formylmethionine.
Mental health service quality control: An idea whose time has come

Abstract One of the battlegrounds in the war to provide adequate mental health services for every American is the area of service quality control. The advance guards are already present on the field and have such names as peer review, utilization review, cost control, and limitations on reimbursement. The remarkable increase in medical malpractice suits is also an indication of impending battle. Such suits can be successful only with changes in relationships between physicians and patients and in attitudes regarding their respective rights and roles. Although up to this point the preliminary skirmishing has been mainly between physicians and their representatives on the one side, and purchasers and users of medical service on the other side, clearly the number and variety of the warriors is about to increase. For example, as the distinction between treatment by psychiatrists and by other kinds of mental health professionals breaks down, all the mental health professions will likely become involved. As health insurance firms increase their coverage of treatment for mental illness, they and all those who purchase their policies will become more concerned. It is important then for all of us as mental health professionals, as citizens, taxpayers, insurance purchasers, and as occasional users of mental health services to examine the background of this battle, consider what its results may be, and see whether there may not be an opportunity for constructive intervention.
Single-gene resistance to Septoria tritici blotch in the spring wheat cultivar ‘Tadinia’

Resistance to Mycosphaerella graminicola causal agent of Septoria tritici blotch, was identified in progenies of crosses with European winter wheat cultivars, Tadorna and Cleo. This resistance was used to develop the resistant spring wheat cultivar Tadinia, selected from 'Tadorna'/ 'Inia 66', released in 1985. Evaluation of the progeny of intercrosses between 'Tadorna', 'Cleo', 'Tadinia', and two short-statured resistant lines derived from hybrids with 'Tadinia' as one parent indicate the resistance was inherited as a single gene showing partial to strong dominance. The gene in 'Tadinia' was designated Stb4. Crosses between another resistant cultivar, 'Bulgaria 88', and 'Tadinia' suggest that 'Bulgaria 88' does not have Stb4. Successful introgression of Stb4 into Rht1+Rht2 short-statured lines revealed that plant stature and resistance to M. graminicola segregated independently. The Stb4 gene has been effective since 1975 against M. graminicola extant in California. A high positive correlation between seedling and adult plant disease scores, based on scoring of lesions producing pycnidia, indicated that the Stb4 gene is expressed throughout the life cycle under both field and greenhouse conditions, confirming that disease screening can be carried out on seedling plants. Separate assessment of necrotic lesions with and without pycnidia indicated that leaf necrosis without pycnidia, observed, especially under greenhouse conditions, can confound disease evaluations and lead to inaccurate genotype classification.
Assay of protein-quinone coupling involving compounds structurally related to the active principle of poison ivy.

Abstract An experimental procedure, employing the techniques of column chromatography, has been developed by which the reactivity of waterinsoluble o -quinones toward protein can be evaluated semiquantitatively. This procedure has been used to study the effect of ring methylation on the ability of 3-pentadecyl- o -quinones to react to form protein conjugates. In this way it has been found that 3-pentadecyl- o -quinone is most reactive of all the compounds tested, whereas 4,5-dimethyl- and 4,5,6-trimethyl-3-pentadecyl- o -quinones, in which both of the normal sites for nucleophilic attack by the protein are blocked, do not react to any appreciable extent. The reactivity of all three monomethyl-3-pentadecyl- o -quinones has been found to be similar to that of the unblocked quinone, but the data for these compounds also indicate that there is some loss of reactivity resulting from steric interference by the lone methyl group in each case.
Localization and off-diagonal disorder☆

Abstract The question of localization is examined in the framework of a tight-binding Hamiltonian with randomness in the off-diagonal matrix elements. It is shown that the mobility edges, although they may move initially inwards into the band with increasing off-diagonal randomness, eventually move outwards leaving always a region of extended states around the middle of the band.
Approximate distance oracles with constant query time

An approximate distance oracle is a succinct data structure that provides fast answers to distance queries between any two nodes of a given graph. In this paper we consider approximate distance oracles for general undirected graphs with non-negative edge weights with constant query time. We present a distance oracle of size O(kn1+1/k), with 2k --- 1 stretch and O(1) query time. This improves the O(log k) query time of Wulff-Nilsen's distance oracle [SODA '13], which in turn improved the O(k) query time of Thorup and Zwick's distance oracle [J. ACM '05].
Limits of localized heating by electromagnetically excited nanoparticles

Based on an analysis of the diffusive heat flow equation, we determine limits on the localization of heating of soft materials and biological tissues by electromagnetically excited nanoparticles. For heating by rf magnetic fields or heating by typical continuous wave lasers, the local temperature rise adjacent to magnetic or metallic nanoparticles is negligible. However, heat dissipation for a large number of nanoparticles dispersed in a macroscopic region of a material or tissue produces a global temperature rise that is orders of magnitude larger than the temperature rise adjacent to a single nanoparticle. One approach for producing a significant local temperature rise on nanometer length scales is heating by high-power pulsed or modulated lasers with low duty cycle.
OCCURRENCE OF DIAPHORINA CITRI (HEMIPTERA: LIVIIDAE) IN AN UNEXPECTED ECOSYSTEM: THE LAKE KISSIMMEE STATE PARK FOREST, FLORIDA

SUMMARY The current investigation describes the capture of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri, in an unexpected ecosystem, the Lake Kissimmee State Park forest. In this forest, occurrence of citrus is particularly rare, and no Rutaceae were found within the trapping locations or in nearby (≈500 m) areas. In addition to trap capture data, complementary laboratory no-choice feeding bioassays suggest that ACP may have a broader alternative plant feeding range than previously thought, which may allow for significant dispersal even through dense forests in Florida up to 2.3 km from large-area plantings of citrus.
Long astral microtubules uncouple mitotic spindles from the cytokinetic furrow

Astral microtubules (MTs) are known to be important for cleavage furrow induction and spindle positioning, and loss of astral MTs has been reported to increase cortical contractility. To investigate the effect of excess astral MT activity, we depleted the MT depolymerizer mitotic centromere-associated kinesin (MCAK) from HeLa cells to produce ultra-long, astral MTs during mitosis. MCAK depletion promoted dramatic spindle rocking in early anaphase, wherein the entire mitotic spindle oscillated along the spindle axis from one proto-daughter cell to the other, driven by oscillations of cortical nonmuscle myosin II. The effect was phenocopied by taxol treatment. Live imaging revealed that cortical actin partially vacates the polar cortex in favor of the equatorial cortex during anaphase. We propose that this renders the polar actin cortex vulnerable to rupture during normal contractile activity and that long astral MTs enlarge the blebs. Excessively large blebs displace mitotic spindle position by cytoplasmic flow, triggering the oscillations as the blebs resolve.
Psychological gender, hand preferences, and sex differences in book-carrying styles.

Individuals with stronger sex-role identities may be expected to show greater conformity to sex-typed behaviors. Proceeding from this assumption, the sex-role status and sex of students using diffe...
The Local Politics of 'Going Global': Making and Unmaking Minneapolis -St Paul as a World City

Summary. Minneapolis– St Paul is a good candidate for ‘world city’ status. The metropolitan area ranks 15th in the US in population; ranks 8th in total exports; hosts the headquarters of some of the largest transnational corporations in the world including 3M, General Mills, Target and Cargill; is home to the largest Somali and Hmong populations in the US; and has hosted major global spectacles such as the International Special Olympics and the Super Bowl. At the same time, Minneapolis –St Paul is far from embracing a world city identity. Although seen largely as beneficiaries of globalisation, residents of the Twin Cities routinely elect politicians to both the local and national levels who oppose free trade. Local efforts to make the metropolitan area into a world city, backed mainly by boosters in city and state government as well as large locally based corporations, have met with inconsistent political leadership, a lack of broad business support, and a strong democratic local politics which has limited the power of corporate interests both to direct the region’s economic development and to define the content of its international ties. In other similarly sized cities (such as Atlanta or Cleveland) corporate and political leaders have for the most part done as they pleased in building the city’s international character, but in Minneapolis –St Paul these actors have been largely defeated by populist politics. The case of the Minneapolis –St Paul world city project demonstrates the ability of a
Effect of polyimide processing on multichip glass ceramic module fabrications

This paper discusses the yield analysis of the thin film wiring layers fabricated on the 127 mm multichip glass ceramic modules (MCM-D), currently used on the IBM Enterprise System/9000 family of computer processors. To select a suitable polyimide (PI) for the thin film wiring layer, modules were fabricated with either the 3,3',4,4'-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride-1,3-bis(3-aminophenoxy)benzene (BTDA-APB) or the pyromellitic dianhydride-oxydianiline (PMDA-ODA) polyimide. By keeping all other processing parameters and structures the same, the wiring layers fabricated with the PMDA-ODA polyimide exhibited significantly better yield than those made of the BTDA-APB PI. The yield loss in the modules fabricated with the BTDA-APB PI occurred during thermal processing, where some of the transmission lines fabricated atop the PI were found cracked. Further investigations indicate that, during lift-off processing, the presence of a small contaminant, such as a fiber, metal flake, a particle, or polishing scratches can expose the PI to the hot N-methylpyrollidinone (NMP) solvent. Depending on the polyimide used for thin film processing, the diffusion and swelling of the PI by the low molecular weight organic solvent can potentially produce significant damage to the polyimide/Cu wiring structure and the consequent yield loss of the modules due to line opens. The magnitude of the damage was found to depend on the rate of solvent diffusion, process temperature, lift-off time and the amount of PI swelling during processing. To understand these important process parameters in detail, in-plan solvent diffusion and PI swelling in the PMDA-ODA and BTDA-APB films were quantitatively measured. It was found that the rate of in-plane (X-Y plane) solvent diffusion in BTDA-APB is D=0.0617 /spl times/ex-(-9.4 Kcal/RT) cm/sup 2//s versus D=0.00155/spl times/exp(-10.24 Kcal/RT) cm/sup 2//s for the PMDA-ODA film. Both types of PI films were fully imidized at 375/spl deg/C in nitrogen for 1 h. Thus, the rate of lateral diffusion of NMP in BTDA-APB is approximately 150 times faster than that of the PMDA-ODA film at 85/spl deg/C. Furthermore, the swelling of PMDA-ODA PI in the 85/spl deg/C NMP bath is 45% versus 82% for the BTDA-APB PI. The poor elongation property of the BTDA-APB film (strain at break /spl sim/4-7% versus 90-130% for the PMDA-ODA PI) further aggravated the solvent problem, BTDA-APB was always found cracked or crazed after being exposed to the NMP solvent, making it very vulnerable to the lift-off process. Consequently, by selecting the PMDA-ODA polyimide for module manufacturing, along with an improved clean room manufacturing facility, the glass ceramic MCM-D has become an extremely reliable product with excellent manufacturing yield.
Wittgenstein and the conditions of musical communication

If Wittgenstein's later account of language is applied to music, what seems to follow is a version of musical formalism. This is to say that the meaning of music is constituted by the rules of a given system of music, and the understanding of music is the ability to follow these rules. I argue that, while this view may seem unattractive at the outset, Wittgenstein actually held this view. Moreover, his later notion of a rule gives us resources to answer some of the traditional criticisms directed against formalism.