cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insulin and IGF-I receptor tyrosine kinases in neural tissue

Abstract Insulin and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) represent a new class of growth or trophic factors involved in the development of the central nervous system. Since tyrosine kinase activation is critical for the biologic effects of many growth factors, we examined the regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation by insulin and IGFs in the CNS using antibodies against phosphotyrosine in an immunoblot assay. This technique has proven successful for detecting ligand-stimulated changes in tyrosine phosphorylation in fetal neuronal cultures and may be potentially useful for detecting tyrosine phosphorylation in the adult brain after infusion of peptide growth factors. Results indicate that both insulin and IGF-I receptors are active tyrosine kinases in fetal neurons. Activation of these receptor kinases leads to the transient tyrosine phosphorylation of a 70-kDa protein that may be involved in the signal transduction pathway mediating the neurotrophic effects of insulin and IGFs.
Lightfield photography: theory and methods (Copyright restrictions prevent ACM from providing the full text for this article)

Computational photography is based on capturing and processing discrete representations of all the light rays in the 3D space of a scene. Compared to conventional photography, which captures 2D images, computational photography captures the entire 4D 'lightfield', (the full 4D radiance). To multiplex the 4D radiance onto conventional 2D sensors, light-field photography demands sophisticated optics and imaging technology. Two-dimensional image rendering is based on creating 2D projections of the 4D radiance.This course presents lightfield analysis in a rigorous yet accessible, mathematical way, which often leads to surprisingly direct solutions. The mathematical foundations are used to develop computational methods for lightfield processing and image rendering, including digital refocusing and perspective viewing. While emphasizing theoretical understanding, the course also explains technical approaches and engineering solutions to practical problems in computational photography.The course includes demonstrations of a number of working lightfield cameras that implement different methods for radiance capture, including the integral approach of Lippmann and the plenoptic camera, the focused plenoptic camera, the Adobe lens-prism camera, the heterodyning camera, and a camera that uses a 'mosquito net' mask. Various computational techniques for processing captured radiance are also demonstrated, including the focused plenoptic camera rendering, artifact reduction, and real-time GPU rendering of refocused stereo 3D.
Racial, Gender, and Socioeconomic Status Bias in Senior Medical Student Clinical Decision-Making: A National Survey

Research suggests stereotyping by clinicians as one contributor to racial and gender-based health disparities. It is necessary to understand the origins of such biases before interventions can be developed to eliminate them. As a first step toward this understanding, we tested for the presence of bias in senior medical students. The purpose of the study was to determine whether bias based on race, gender, or socioeconomic status influenced clinical decision-making among medical students. We surveyed seniors at 84 medical schools, who were required to choose between two clinically equivalent management options for a set of cardiac patient vignettes. We examined variations in student recommendations based on patient race, gender, and socioeconomic status. The study included senior medical students. We investigated the percentage of students selecting cardiac procedural options for vignette patients, analyzed by patient race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Among 4,603 returned surveys, we found no evidence in the overall sample supporting racial or gender bias in student clinical decision-making. Students were slightly more likely to recommend cardiac procedural options for black (43.9 %) vs. white (42 %, p = .03) patients; there was no difference by patient gender. Patient socioeconomic status was the strongest predictor of student recommendations, with patients described as having the highest socioeconomic status most likely to receive procedural care recommendations (50.3 % vs. 43.2 % for those in the lowest socioeconomic status group, p < .001). Analysis by subgroup, however, showed significant regional geographic variation in the influence of patient race and gender on decision-making. Multilevel analysis showed that white female patients were least likely to receive procedural recommendations. In the sample as a whole, we found no evidence of racial or gender bias in student clinical decision-making. However, we did find evidence of bias with regard to the influence of patient socioeconomic status, geographic variations, and the influence of interactions between patient race and gender on student recommendations.
Involvement of Hofbauer cells and maternal T cells in villitis of unknown aetiology

Aims: The nature of villitis of unknown aetiology (VUE) is intriguing in terms of its aetiology, origin of inflammatory cells and immunophenotype of T cells involved. The aim was to determine the origin of macrophages and the immunophenotype of T lymphocytes in VUE associated with various complications of pregnancy. Methods and results: Placentas with VUE (n = 45) were studied by chromogenic in-situ hybridization (CISH) for Y chromosome (DYZ1) and immunohistochemistry for CD14, CD68, Ki67 (n = 10; all from male neonates) and a panel of T-cell antigens (CD3, CD4 and CD8) (n = 35). All of the placentas from male neonates showed CISH+ signals from Y chromosomes in the majority of macrophages, but not in lymphocytes, indicating that the macrophages were of fetal origin. Many macrophages of the affected chorionic villi were Ki67+, suggesting that they are hyperplastic Hofbauer cells. Among the lymphocytes, CD8+ T cells outnumbered CD4+ T cells in all placentas with different obstetrical conditions. Conclusions: We define primary components of VUE as maternal CD8+ T cells and hyperplastic Hofbauer cells. We propose that VUE is a unique inflammatory reaction where the leucocytes from two hosts are key partners, analogous to either allograft rejection or graft-versus-host disease.
PDM-ENLOR for segmentation of mouse brain gene expression images

Abstract Statistical shape models, such as Active Shape Models (ASMs), suffer from their inability to represent a large range of variations of a complex shape and to account for the large errors in detection of (point) landmarks. We propose a method, PDM-ENLOR (Point Distribution Model-based ENsemble of LOcal Regressors), that overcomes these limitations by locating each landmark individually using an ensemble of local regression models and appearance cues from selected landmarks. We first detect a set of reference landmarks which were selected based on their saliency during training. For each landmark, an ensemble of regressors is built. From the locations of the detected reference landmarks, each regressor infers a candidate location for that landmark using local geometric constraints, encoded by a point distribution model (PDM). The final location of that point is determined as a weighted linear combination, whose coefficients are learned from the training data, of candidates proposed by its ensemble’s component regressors. We use multiple subsets of reference landmarks as explanatory variables for the component regressors to provide varying degrees of locality for the models in each ensemble. This helps our ensemble model to capture a larger range of shape variations as compared to a single PDM. We demonstrate the advantages of our method on the challenging problem of segmenting gene expression images of mouse brain. The overall mean and standard deviation of the Dice coefficient overlap over all 14 anatomical regions and all 100 test images were ( 88.1 ± 9.5 ) % .
Real-time detection of chamber condition by observing the plasma spectrum intensity

Chamber leakage, transfer shift and particle on lower electrode are the major causes of yield loss during plasma etch process. However, there is still no effective tool for real-time detecting these abnormal chamber conditions. The experiment result demonstrate that the plasma spectrum intensities are strongly correlated to the chamber conditions. One can real-time monitor the chamber conditions by comparing the plasma spectrum intensity with specific control rules. This paper provides an effective method to detect the chamber condition by observing the plasma spectrum intensity.
Presence of Nonlinear Excitations in DNA Structure and Their Relationship to DNA Premelting and to Drug Intercalation

We propose that collectively localized nonlinear excitations (solitons) exist in DNA structure. These arise as a consequence of an intrinsic nonlinear ribose inversion instability that results in a modulated βalternation in sugar puckering along the polymer backbone. In their bound state, soliton-antisoliton pairs contain β premelted core regions capable of undergoing breathing motions that facilitate drug intercalation. We call such bound state structures -- β premeltons. The stability of a β premelton is expected to reflect the collective properties of extended DNA regions and to be sensitive to temperature, pH, ionic strength and other thermodynamic factors. Its tendency to localize at specific nucleotide base sequences may serve to initiate site-specific DNA pre-melting and melting. We suggest that β premeltons provide nucleation centers important for RNA polymerase-promoter recognition. Such nucleation centers could also correspond to nuclease hypersensitive sites.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN MICROSCALE THERMOPHYSICAL ENGINEERING

The past decade has registered a rapid expansion of research effort focused on microscale thermophysical engineering. The increased technological demand for the miniaturization of devices requires a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental phenomena that govern thermal transport at short length and time scales. A substantial amount of microscale research has been devoted to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and ensuing design challenges. Improved fabrication, processing, and measurement and analysis tools have been critical to new technological achievements. This paper reviews the recent progress in microscale thermophysical engineering as seen in fast-developing areas such as thermal transport phenomena, experimental and computational techniques, thermal microdevices and laser applications. Promising research directions in these areas are also highlighted.
Theorizing Punishment: Reflections on Wacquant’s Punishing the Poor:

In this essay, I consider how Loic Wacquant’s Punishing the Poor adds to the diverse and growing body of scholarship about contemporary penal change. I begin with an overview of Wacquant’s major arguments and elucidations, then I focus in on how this work fits specifically within theorizations about, and empirical examinations of, late modern punishment. In so doing, I describe the ways in which this work seems to contribute to an ongoing conversation about penality, and then conclude with a discussion of how the arguments in Punishing the Poor might be complicated by attending to recent scholarship that looks at micro-level jurisdictional penal change, and the differences across place.
The role of neuropeptides and neuropeptide‐degrading enzymes in wound healing

Thirty to 40% of diabetic patients develop sensory neuropathy. Neuropathy is a major causal factor in diabetic ulcers. Only 31% of neuropathic diabetic ulcers heal in 20 weeks. Patients with neuropathy have a 15.5-fold excess risk of amputation. Diabetic patients with neuropathy particularly lose epidermal and papillary dermal sensory nerves which release neuropeptides such as substance P (SP). Neutral endopeptidase (NEP), the enzyme that degrades SP, is dramatically over expressed in patients with diabetic neuropathy. SP has positive effect on wound healing. Treatment strategies related to the nervous system for prevention and treatment of diabetic ulcers currently being studied include prevention of neuropathy with tight control of blood glucose, application of neuropeptides, nerve growth factors (NGF), and antagonists of NEP.
Dependence of the Electric Strength on Thickness Area and Volume of Polypropylene

A dependence of the electric strength on thickness, area and volume of dielectric is demonstrated for polypropylene film. It is found that the electric strength of theoly polymer film decreases with volume. It is shown that theunc function of electric strength is not simply dependent on the volume as obtained from theory of extreme values, but that an increase of the volume by increasing the thickness of the dielectric is much more significant than the same increase of the dielectric volume caused by an increase in area.
Measurement of the B1-B2 transition pressure in NaCl at high temperatures.

The phase boundary and kinetics of the B1-B2 transition in NaCl are documented between 298 and 670 K by visual observation into an externally heated diamond cell. We find an equilibrium (reversed) transition pressure ${P}_{\mathrm{tr}=26.8}$ GPa at room temperature, with a Clapeyron slope ${\mathrm{dP}}_{\mathrm{tr}/\mathrm{dT}=\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}8.9}$ MPa/K at elevated temperatures; the corresponding entropy change is 7.4 J/mol K. An apparent activation energy of 5.3 kJ/mol is obtained from the observed decrease in transition hysteresis with temperature. Previous determinations of the NaCl B1-B2 transition pressure have been biased upward by 3 GPa or more due to kinetic hindrances. Extrapolating our results to 0 K, however, we find good agreement (\ensuremath{\sim}12% difference) with the transition pressure derived from ab initio pseudopotential calculations.
Influence of the focal length of the laser beam focusing lens on MPI yield

Abstract For a multiphoton ionization (MPI) process which follows an n th-order laser power law ( n ⩾ 2), the ionization yield at any given value of the laser power depends upon the focal length, f , of the the focusing lens. For a spherical lens it is shown that, for any fixed laser power, the MPI intensity is proportional to f 4−2 n . Thus it is possible to determine the power law index, n , from the slope, s , of a log-log plot of the ion signal versus f (at constant laser power) via the equation n = 2 − s /2. Confirmatory experiments have been carried out using a MPI time-of-flight mass spectrometer with two series of laser beam focusing lenses, with f in the range 17–50 cm. Results are presented for the MPI of triethylenediamine (DABCO) at 532 nm (a 2 + 2 REMPI process), for Hg at 553.88 nm (a 2 + 3 REMPI), Hg at 532 nm (non-resonant, n = 5), and Hg at 280.39 nm (a 2 + 1 REMPI). The f 4−2 n relationship is independent of the laser beam profile (uniform, gaussian or annular). The importance for MPI of coherence of the laser radiation is demonstrated.
Analysis and comparison of morphological reconstructions of hippocampal field CA1 pyramidal cells.

Morphological reconstructions have become a routine and valuable tool for neuroscientists. The accuracy of reconstructions is a matter of considerable interest given that they are widely used in computational studies of neural function. Despite their wide usage, comparisons of reconstructions obtained using various methodologies are lacking. We reviewed reconstructions of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells from five published studies and found marked differences in some of the most basic measurements. For four of the five studies means of total cell length clustered in the 11,479–13,417-μm range. The remaining study had a significantly larger value for this index at 16,992 ± 5,788 μm. Surface area means varied more than 4-fold from 16,074 to 67,102 μm2. Volume means varied more than 8-fold from 3,828 to 30,384 μm3. Simulated passive input resistance means varied from 38.0 to 172.1 MΩ, reflecting the variability in cell dimensions. Estimates of the electrotonic length varied from 1.26 to 1.56. In two reconstructions used in previously published studies, simulated somatic excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) varied 2–4-fold in amplitude, time to peak and half-width, for synaptic inputs at similar locations. Substantial jitter on the z-axis was identified as one likely source of the discrepancy in total cell length, while substantial differences in diameter measurements across studies, and sometimes within the same study, accounted for the variability in surface area and volume. While some part of the observed variability is surely due to the diversity of CA1 pyramidal cells, our analysis suggests that a substantial portion stemmed from methodological inconsistencies and from technological limitations. Suggestions are made for improving the quality and usefulness of morphological reconstructions. We conclude that reconstructions across studies have substantial variability in measures that are very relevant to neuronal function. Consequently, modelers are advised to use more than just one reconstructed cell in their simulations of neural function. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Neuronal localization of pseudocholinesterase in the rat cerebellum: sagittal bands of Purkinje cells in the nodulus and uvula.

Abstract The histochemical distribution of pseudocholinesterase was studied in the rat cerebellum using Koelle's copper-thiocholine method. Throughout the cerebellum, pseudocholinesterase is uniformly localized in the endothelial cells of blood vessels and in the cell bodies and processes of the Bergmann glia. In addition, we demonstrate that exclusively in the ventral uvula and in the modulus (lobules IXc and X of Larsell) pseudocholinesterase is localized in a small subpopulation of Purkinje cells. The cell bodies and dendrites of these labeled Purkinje cells form at least 4 distinct parallel bands extending along the sagittal plane of each of the lobules. Two broad bands on either side of the midline, approximately 800–900 μm wide and composed of 15–20 Purkinje cells, on the lateral aspects of the lobules have Two narrower bands, approximately 160–300 μm wide and composed of 5–7 Purkinje cells, on the lateral aspects of the lobules have been designated as B bands. The unique distribution of pseudocholinesterase in a small and anatomically restricted population of neurons suggests that in the cerebellum this enzyme may play a role in the metabolism of neuroactive substances.
Multiplex Holographic Filtering Through Contact Screens.

The basic principle of applying a specific contact screen for performing multiplex holographic filtering in a real-time coherent optical correlator is described.*© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Wildfire effects on plant species richness at multiple spatial scales in forest communities of the southern Appalachians

Summary 1 We fitted species-area curves to the power function and examined changes in the parameters to quantify changes in species richness of all plants together, trees only and non-trees over five scales of magnitude (0.01 m2 to 400 m2) after a wildfire in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, North Carolina, USA. 2 Increases in species richness of all plants together occurred after the fire at all scales and increased in magnitude as scale increased. However, a lack of change in the slopes (z-values) of species-area curves indicates that proportional changes were independent of scale of observation below 400 m2. Changes in species richness were predominantly driven by immigration, which was significantly related to fire severity. Survival of species present pre-fire was greater than local extinction, but neither was related to severity. 3 Species richness of trees increased at all scales but proportional increases were smaller at larger scales and slopes of species-area curves decreased after the fire. Local seedling recruitment increased species richness at small scales, but low rates of immigration due to dispersal limitation in most species limited increases at larger scales. 4 Directional changes in species richness of non-trees were not always consistent at fine scales but both absolute and relative changes were positive at scales ≥ 1 m2 and increased with increasing scale. Slopes of species-area curves increased post-fire because localized patterns of immigration within plots resulted in little mixing of species at small scales but large changes in species richness at larger scales. 5 Fire in the southern Appalachians increases plant species richness within local communities, but rates of species turnover and patterns of beta diversity are maintained by local recruitment of tree seedlings at small scales and immigration of herb, shrub and vine species at larger scales. 6 Although decreased levels of competition after disturbance promote species coexistence at small scales, changes in species richness at larger scales are determined by the degree that the local community is linked to the species pool of the surrounding landscape through processes related to dispersal, particularly mass effects.
The core dry-season diet of yellow baboons (Papio hamadryas cynocephalus)in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania.

Core dry-season foods consumed by free-ranging, adult male yellow baboons (Papio hamadryas cynocephalus) in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania are described. For each food I provide (1) the total number of grams consumed, (2) the total number of minutes used and (3) the estimated grams obtained per minute of handling. I hypothesize purposeful encounter for predictable foods that either use a relatively large proportion of feeding time or provide a relatively high number of grams per minute handling.
Monte-Carlo simulation of a coded aperture SPECT apparatus using uniformly redundant arrays

Coded apertures are used in tomographic imaging systems to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the apparatus with a larger aperture transmissions area while maintaining the spatial resolution of the single pinhole. Coded apertures developed from uniformly redundant arrays (URA) have an aperture transmission area of slightly over one half of the total aperture. Computer simulations show that the spatial resolution of a SPECT apparatus using a URA generated coded aperture compared favorably with theoretical expectations and has a SNR that is approximately 3.5 to 4 times that of a single pinhole camera for a variety of cases.
Treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: new therapeutic avenues and blind alleys

Despite rapid accumulation of knowledge about complex immune dysregulation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and major primary lupus syndromes, and a plethora of promising new treatments reaching preclinical and early clinical studies, advanced-phase trials of new biologic agents have repeatedly failed to achieve their clinical end points. It is possible that none of these agents work, but the accuracy of this suggestion is as unclear as the case for efficacy, owing to issues in the design of studies and the opacity of the data that have resulted. Disease heterogeneity and complexity might be a hurdle that is simply too high to overcome by existing methodological approaches, and the way forward to interpretable trial results remains unclear. Nonetheless, well-characterized patterns of immune pathology are shared by substantial subsets of patients, and selective targeting of one or more relevant immune system molecules seems to offer the promise of safer and more effective treatments. Evolution dictates a more personalized approach to therapy and trial design, but this option seems challenging in the current economic, regulatory and scientific environment. This Review addresses these concerns by considering the progress of some of the investigational treatments targeting key physiological abnormalities in lupus.
Fluorometric quantitation of amino sugars in the picomole range.

Abstract A fluorometric method has been developed for the convenient and quantitative assay of amino sugars over the concentration range of 10 n m to 6 m m . Linear results are obtained for reaction mixtures containing 6 pmol to 60 nmol hexosamine. The procedure involves the condensation of amino sugars with the fluorogenic reagent o -phthalaldehyde, at alkaline pH in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. Relative fluorescence intensities are then determined using excitation and emission wavelengths of 340 and 455 nm, respectively. The presence of 2-mercaptoethanol in reaction mixtures not only enhanced sensitivity of the assay, but also defined the excitation/emission spectra. Under the conditions described, amino acids were also found to react with o -phthalaldehyde, yielding fluorescence intensities similar to those of amino sugars. These results suggest the applicability of fluorescence techniques in automated amino sugar analyses, as well as the potential interference of other compounds containing primary amines.
Far-ultraviolet astronomical narrowband imaging

We describe an all-reflective system for narrowband imaging suitable for imaging emission lines in the far ultraviolet. The system, which we call a monochromatic imager, combines a pupil plane grating monochromator with a telescope and camera to image a scene in one or more very narrow bands. The monochromator uses physical stops at its input and output apertures, and, as a result, the system has excellent rejection of out-of-band and off-axis light.
On the Properties of Convex Multilayered Cyclofusene

Cyclofusene is a corona-condensed benzenoid whose graph-theoretic representation consists of hexacycles each having exactly two non-adjacent shared edges. Multilayered cyclofusene is a fused hexacylic system which can be partitioned into successive layers of cyclofusene. In such systems, an edge shared by two consecutive hexacycles in the same layer is termed radial. We present upper bounds for the number of radial π-bonds in a convex k-layered cyclofusene.
Is there a case for extended interventions for alcohol and drug use disorders

Aims To determine whether there is evidence to support the implementation of extended interventions (i.e. longer than 6 months) for individuals with alcohol or other drug use disorders. Methods Literature on extended behavioral and pharmacotherapy interventions was reviewed, along with findings from studies of extended monitoring and monitoring paired with adjunctive counseling. Studies were identified through database searches, citations in prior reviews and examinations of recent volumes of relevant journals. Key terms were defined, and a theoretical rationale was presented for extended treatment. Several adaptive treatment studies that made use of stepped care or continuation protocols were also described. Measurements The primary outcomes that were considered were alcohol and drug use during the intervention and post-intervention follow-ups. Other outcomes were examined when they were included in the articles reviewed. Findings Most of the studies in the review provided support for the effectiveness of extended interventions for alcohol and drug abusers, whether the extended care was delivered through face-to-face contact or via the telephone. These findings held across all types of interventions that were examined (e.g. behavioral treatment, pharmacotherapy and monitoring). However, only a few studies directly compared extended and standard length version of the same intervention. New developments in addiction treatment with implications for extended care models were also described and discussed. Conclusions The findings of the review indicate that maintaining therapeutic contact for extended periods of time with individuals with alcohol and other drug disorders appears to promote better long-term outcomes than ‘treatment as usual’, although more studies are needed that compare extended and standard versions of interventions. Achieving good compliance and successful disease management with extended interventions will probably require adaptive protocols in which the intensity of treatment can be adjusted up or down in response to changes in symptoms and functioning over time. Future directions in research on extended interventions were discussed.
Theory of pion photoproduction in 12C

Abstract Differential and total cross sections for the photoproduction of charged pions on 12C are calculated utilizing the Helm model and pion optical-model wave functions, and are compared to recent experimental data. The data are found to be described by our modeli¨n a satisfactory manner.
Measurement of high-temperature thermal conductivity of Lucalox /Al2O3/ using a heat pipe technique.

The thermal conductivity of Lucalox, a high‐purity form of aluminum oxide, has been measured over the temperature range 870–1400°C. The technique employed is a novel one using a lithium‐filled heat pipe in series with a gas gap variable heat conductance unit as a heat source. The procedure enables one to measure heat flux through the sample directly. The measurements indicate that the thermal conductivity of high‐purity aluminum oxide has a minimum value of about 0.05 W/cm°C at 950°C and increases with higher temperatures to values in the range of 0.3 W/cm°C at 1400°C.
A double base change in alternate base pairs induced by ultraviolet irradiation in a glycine transfer RNA gene

The glyUsu AGA mutation affects Escherichia coli tRNA GGG G1 y , changing it to an AGA missense suppressor tRNA. Sequence studies have shown that the mutation involves a double base substitution at the first and third positions of the tRNA anticodon, the result being a change in the anticodon from CCC to UCU. A system has been developed to facilitate the detection of this novel mutation, and we have shown that ultraviolet irradiation and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) are effective in causing the double base change. A single observation of the mutation occurring spontaneously has been made also. The frequency of MNNG-induced glyUsu AGA mutations is compatible with their being caused by two separate mutagenic events. The frequency of UV-induced glyUsu AGA mutations, however, strongly suggests that the occurrence of one base substitution strongly enhances the chance of finding the second substitution at the alternate position. In addition to the double change in the anticodon, the glyUsu AGA tRNA differs from tRNA GGG G1 y in that it bears a modification of the A adjacent to the 3′ position of the anticodon. Most likely, this modified base is N-[9-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-purin-6-ylcarbamoyl] threonine.
Reliability of Budner's intolerance of ambiguity scale in medical students.

Intolerance of ambiguity is the perception of ambiguous situations as threatening. It has often been measured using Budner's 1962 intolerance of ambiguity scale in studies of medical students and physicians. To examine the test-retest reliability of the scale among that population, we administered it to all 171 entering medical students at one medical school immediately prior to beginning classes and readministered it to them six to nine weeks later with an 81% follow-up rate. The Pearson correlation between the first and second administrations was .64, showing moderate reliability during this stressful period in medical socialization. The internal reliability of the scale remained constant; the alpha was .64 at the first administration and .63 at follow-up. These data indicate moderate reliability of Budner's intolerance of ambiguity scale when respondents are medical students.
Compiling programs for distributed-memory multiprocessors

We describe a new approach to programming distributed-memory computers. Rather than having each node in the system explicitly programmed, we derive an efficient message-passing program from a sequential shared-memory program annotated with directions on how elements of shared arrays are distributed to processors. This article describes one possible input language for describing distributions and then details the compilation process and the optimization necessary to generate an efficient program.
Soil enzyme activities during the 2011 Texas record drought/heat wave and implications to biogeochemical cycling and organic matter dynamics

Abstract Extreme droughts and heat waves due to climate change may have permanent consequences on soil quality and functioning in agroecosystems. During November 2010 to August 2011, the Southern High Plains (SHP) region of Texas, U.S., a large cotton producing area, received only 39.6 mm of precipitation (vs. the historical avg. of 373 mm) and experienced the hottest summer since record keeping began in 1911. Several enzyme activities (EAs) important in biogeochemical cycling were evaluated in two soils (a loam and a sandy loam at 0–10 cm) with a management history of monoculture (continuous cotton) or rotation (cotton and sorghum or millet). Samplings occurred under the most extreme drought and heat conditions (July 2011), after precipitation resulted in a reduction in a drought severity index (March 2012), and 12 months after the initial sampling (July 2012; loam only). Eight out of ten EAs, were significantly higher in July 2011 compared to March 2012 for some combinations of soil type and management history. Among these eight EAs, enzymes key to C (β-glucosidase, β-glucosaminidase) and P cycling (phosphodiesterase, acid and alkaline phosphatases) were significantly higher (19–79%) in July 2011 than in March 2012 for both management histories regardless of the soil type ( P > 0.05). When comparing all sampling times, the activities of alkaline phosphatase, aspartase and urease (rotation only) showed this trend: July 2011 > March 2012 > July 2012. Activities of phosphodiesterase, acid phosphatase, α-galactosidase, β-glucosidase and β-glucosaminidase were higher in July 2011 than July 2012 in at least one of the two management histories. Total C was reduced significantly from July 2011 to March 2012 in the rotation for both soils. Only the activities of arylsulfatase (avg. 36%) and asparaginase showed an increase from July 2011 to March 2012 for both soil types, which may indicate they have a different origin/location than the other enzymes. EAs continued to be a fingerprint of the soil management history (i.e., higher EAs in the rotation than in monoculture) during the drought/heat wave. This study provided some of the first evidence of the adverse effects of a natural, extreme drought and heat wave on soil quality in agroecosystems as indicated by EAs involved in biogeochemical cycling.
Reduced Epidermal Cyclic Amp Accumulation Following Prostaglandin Stimulation: Its Possible Role In The Pathophysiology Of Psoriasis

Since prostaglandins are known to be one of the modulators of cyclic AMP, a study of the role of prostaglandins and their relation to the regulation of the nucleotide in psoriasis was initiated. Guinea-pig epidermal preparations were incubated with prostaglandins (PGs) in the presence of theophylline. PGE 1 increased cyclic AMP levels 3.5-fold whereas a 2-fold increase was seen with PGE 2 and PGA 1 . The increase in cyclic AMP accumulation was linear with increasing concentration of PGE 1 , from 10 -11 to 10 -5 M. PGE 1 significantly increased cyclic AMP in psoriatic epidermis in vitro; however, the stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation was significantly less in involved epidermis as compared with uninvolved tissue. The specificity of this stimulation, its occurrence at physiologic levels, and the decreased responsiveness of the cyclic AMP system in psoriatic epidermis to PGE 1 stimulation suggest that the altered response of epidermis to PGs may be one of the factors in the pathophysiology of psoriasis.
Rate-dependent behavior of Sn alloy-Cu couples: Effects of microstructure and composition on mechanical shock resistance

Abstract Solders serve as electrical and mechanical interconnects in electronic packaging. The mechanical shock behavior of a Pb-free solder joint is quite complex, since the influences of solder microstructure, intermetallic compound (IMC) layer thickness, and strain rate on the overall dynamic solder joint strength need to be quantified. Dynamic solder joint strength is hypothesized to be controlled by two factors. At low strain rates it should be controlled by the bulk solder, whereas at high strain rates it may be controlled by the brittle intermetallic compound layer. In this paper, the dynamic solder joint strength of Sn–3.9 Ag–0.7 Cu solder joints was experimentally measured over the strain rate range 10−3–12 s−1. The influences of changes in solder microstructure and IMC layer on dynamic solder joint strength were quantified, and visualized in three dimensions. Fracture mechanisms operating in the solder-controlled and IMC layer-controlled dynamic strength regimes are discussed. Finally, qualitative numerical simulations were conducted, which accurately depict the experimentally observed fracture behaviors.
The Global Impact of Surgical Volunteerism

The significance of volunteer surgical outreach extends beyond the results achieved between individual physician and patient. Thus importance of the clinical, societal, political, educational, and economic impact of volunteerism is becoming better understood. This article examines the breadth and significance of such efforts.
An analytical model of multihop connectivity of inter-vehicle communication systems

Taking advantage of the proliferation of wireless communication devices, we could well develop advanced transportation information systems based on inter-vehicle communication (IVC), in which drivers can have faster response to incidents and are able to communicate critical information in wake of disasters. Whether such IVC systems are feasible or not is highly related to the performance of multihop connectivity. Existing analytical studies of multihop connectivity, however, usually assume Poisson distribution of communication nodes or uniform distribution of vehicles on a road, and simulation-based studies are not suitable for real-time applications with computationally costly traffic simulators. In this paper, we present an analytical model for multihop connectivity of IVC in a traffic stream, in which positions of vehicles are all known through observations, traffic simulators, or traffic theories. After introducing most-forwarded-within-range communication chains and node- and hope-related events, we derive a recursive model of node and hop probabilities and further define a number of performance measures of multihop connectivity. We then apply the model to study multihop connectivity of IVC in both uniform and non-uniform traffic and obtain results consistent with those in literature. The new analytical model is efficient without repeating traffic simulations while capable of capturing the impact of arbitrary distribution patterns of vehicles. Thus it is suitable for evaluating connectivity of IVC for different traffic congestion patterns and extended for studies of other situations.
Comparative evaluation of seminal, vaginal, and rectal bacterial flora in the cheetah and domestic cat

To determine the status and potential impact of microorganisms on reproductive health, bacterial cultures were evaluated from cheetah seminal, vaginal, and rectal swabs and the results compared to those from clinically healthy, domestic cats. Aerobic bacteria were isolated in the semen from 26 of the 40 (65.0%) cheetahs and 25 of the 27 (92.6%) domestic cats. Gram-negative organisms predominated in the electroejaculates of both species, accounting for >70% of the total bacterial isolates. The most common seminal organism in both species was hemolytic Escherichia coli. Bacteria were isolated from vaginal samples obtained from 49 of the 67 (73.1%) cheetahs and 46 of the 49 (93.9%) domestic cats. Gram-negative organisms dominated, representing >63% of the vaginal bacteria, and again hemolytic E. coli was the most prevalent isolate in both species. None of the cheetah or domestic cat vaginal cultures contained Mycoplasma spp. or Ureaplasma spp. Numerous gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria were identified in rectal cultures of 73 cheetahs and 60 domestic cats, but hemolytic E. coli clearly was the most common isolate. Within each species, a comparison between electroejaculates that were positive vs. negative for hemolytic E. coli growth revealed no differences in sperm concentration, sperm motility ratings, or the proportion of structurally abnormal spermatozoa. Neutrophils were not detected in any of the 67 felid ejaculates, and the presence of seminal hemolytic E. coli was unrelated to fertility, on the basis of past ability to sire young or fertilize oocytes in vitro. Vaginal cytologic evaluations in both the cheetah and domestic cat indicated that hemolytic E. coli was not associated with a pathologic inflammatory response. Overall fecundity and proven ability to produce young were similar between females producing positive or negative vaginal cultures for E. coli. These findings indicate that commensal bacteria exist in the reproductive tract of the cheetah and domestic cat, and these organisms constitute normal, apparently innocuous bacterial microflora in the semen and vagina. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
East Meets West: Chinese and U.S. College Students’ Views on Formal and Informal Crime Control

Both formal and informal crime control are used to deter people from engaging in criminal behavior that is harmful to the well-being of society. Formal criminal justice control uses the law and official government agencies to promote compliance, whereas informal criminal justice control uses morals and social institutions to encourage people to be law abiding. This study examined survey data to determine the importance of each form of social control among Chinese and U.S. college students. Chinese students were more likely to view formal and informal crime control as important mechanisms. Furthermore, Chinese students ranked the blending of formal and informal crime control as being more important.
Analysing Transient Thermoreflectance Data Using Network Identification by Deconvolution

Network Identification by Deconvolution (NID) method is applied to the analysis of the thermal transient pulsed laser heating. This is the excitation used in many optical experiments such as the Pump-Probe Transient Thermoreflectance experiment. NID method is based on linear RC network theory using Fourier’s law of heat conduction. This approach is used to extract the thermal time constant spectrum of the sample after excitation by either a step or pulsed heat source at one surface. Furthermore, using network theory mathematical transformations, the details of the heat flux path through the sample can be analyzed. This is done by introducing the cumulative and differential structure functions. We show that the conventional NID method can be modified to analyze transient laser heating experiments. The advantage is that the thermal resistance of the top material layers and the major interface thermal resistances can be extracted without the need of assuming a specific multilayer structure. Some of the limitations due to the finite thermal penetration depth of the transient heat pulse will be discussed.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Factors Influencing the Efficacy of Dormancy-Breaking Chemicals

Seed dormancy is advantageous for the survival of wild species but presents serious obstacles for the evaluation of seed performance, stand establishment, and efficient control of weeds necessary for cost-efficient agricultural practices. Significant time and effort have been invested in attempts to derive simple and uniform chemical dormancy- breaking treatments with only limited success.
Co-pollinators and specialization in the pollinating seed-consumer mutualism between senita cacti and senita moths

Specialization of a plant on a particular pollinator may not evolve if co-pollinators are effective and abundant. This is particularly evident if fruit set is resource limited and cannot be increased above the levels produced by the actions of co-pollinators. The pollinating seed-consuming interaction between senita cacti and senita moths in the Sonoran Desert presents a paradox because it exhibits many traits resembling those of the highly specialized yucca/yucca moth system, but also involves co-pollinators. For 6 years, we studied how contributions of nocturnal senita moths and diurnal co-pollinating bees to fruit set depended on resource and pollen limitation, time of flower closing, and the onset and phenology of flowering. Fruit set was typically resource limited. Fruit set of flowers exposed only to senita moths was not different from resource-limited fruit set of control flowers. When only co-pollinating bees were allowed to visit flowers, however, fruit set became pollen limited. Only in one year when fruit set was pollen limited were bees able to increase fruit set beyond the level resulting from senita moth pollination. High temperatures commonly induced flowers to close before sunrise so that diurnal bees were unable to visit flowers. This was particularly important from 1998 to 2000, when flowering did not begin until late in spring when temperatures were already high enough to induce flowers to close before sunrise. Bees were typically functionally redundant with senita moths; excluding bees from visiting flowers did not alter fruit set. Nevertheless, extreme specialization of floral traits to exclude co-pollinators has not evolved in senita, possibly because there are times when bees do increase fruit set. This can occur when senita moths are rare, fruit set is pollen limited, cool temperatures prevent flowers from closing before sunrise, and flowering begins early in spring.
Some characteristics of ventillation and coughing in the bluegill Lepomis macrochirus rafinesque

Abstract Simultaneous measurement of buccal water-pressure changes verified the presence of coughing manoeuvres on strip-chart recordings of bioelectric potentials associated with respiratory movements and sensed with non-contact electrodes from cannulated bluegills. Additional recordings, here called ‘electrobrachiograms’ (EBGs), showed that non-cannulated and well-acclimated bluegills normally display an arrhythmic respiratory pattern similar to Biot's breathing, in which pauses in breathing (apnea) characteristically alternate with groups of ventilating cycles. Three types of bluegill coughing manoeuvres were identified: type I, the most common form, were large amplitude coughs due to an interruption and momentary reversal of developing bioelectric potential of a ventilating cycle followed by a substantial burst in potential; type II, a quick spike-like cough, occurred as a momentary pause in potential followed by a burst and type III coughs were an interruption and reversal, usually near the peak of a ventilating cycle and without the accompanying burst in potential. The cough occupied from about one-seventh to one-fifth of a normal ventilating cycle as seen on an EBG and occurred 1·2 ± 0·6 times a minute in well-rested fish. Enhanced amplitude relative to adjacent ventilatory cycles ( = 1·5 timestimes) was the most important factor in determining when acclimated bluegills coughed, but coughing amplitude often diminished during exposure to zinc sulphate even though the depth of ventilation appeared to increase substantially.
Electrospinning of Collagen Type II: A Feasibility Study

Collagen is the natural scaffolding found in all tissues and has been explored extensively for use as a tissue engineering scaffold with limited success. In this feasibility study, the electrospinning of collagen type II and subsequent chondrocyte seeding was investigated for potential use in cartilage tissue engineering. The electrospinning process utilized lyophilized, chicken sternal cartilage collagen type II suspended in 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexaflouro-2-propanol and demonstrated that collagen type II could be electrospun to form nonwoven fibrous mats composed of type II fibers that ranged from 110 nm to 1.8μm in diameter. The fiber diameter was dependant on the type II concentration in solution with a higher concentration producing the larger diameters. The preliminary chondrocyte seeding study demonstrated that electrospun collagen type II scaffolds support cell growth and are readily infiltrated. In conclusion, the feasibility of collagen type II electrospinning has been demonstrated and the novel scaffold...