cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Young Adolescents' Perceptions of the Family Environment:

The physical, cognitive, and social changes associated with early adolescence may have implications for the nature of family relationships. However, little information is available regarding the family context of early adolescent development. The purpose of this study is to provide preliminary descriptive data on the family environment during early adolescence. A sample of 335 youngsters from middle to upper-middle class families were interviewed twice a year during the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. Responses to selected questions were used to examine four domains of family relationships: family affect and closeness, satisfactions and dissatisfactions with the family, family time and activities, and conflict and discipline. Results indicate that overall, as perceived by young adolescents, the family environment is characterized more by harmony than by discord. Boys and girls consistently reported good to excellent relationships with their parents, with mothers emerging as particularly important sourc...
Role of formate in the biosynthesis of chlorophyll a.

WHEN cultures of Chlorella vulgaris were incubated with formate-14C it could be demonstrated that the carbon atom of formate may serve as a precursor of the methyl ester carbon atom of chlorophyll a, without contributing extensively to the biosynthesis of the dihydroporphyrin ring. The procedure for growing Chlorella vulgaris as well as the preparation of methyl-phaeophorbide a has been described1. However, in the place of inert acetate and glycine added previously, inert sodium formate (2.44 × 10−3 M) as well as 8.6 mgm. (33 μc.) of sodium formate-14C (2.1 × 107 c./m.) were added to the growing medium. Methyl phaeophorbide a was converted to chlorin e6 according to the method of Willstatter2, and both degradation products of chlorophyll a were subjected to paper chromatography. Methyl phaeophorbide a was chromatographed twice in decane/4-methyl-2-pentanone, 2 : 1 (v/v) and once in n-decane/1-propanol, 6 : 1 (v/v). Repeated chromatography did not significantly alter the specific activity. Chlorin e 6 was chromatographed once in the lutidine/water/ammonia system of Falk et al. 3. The separated pigments were cut out and eluted with acetone and acidified acetone, respectively. Details of this chromatographic procedure will be published elsewhere. The concentration of methyl phaeophorbide a or chlorin e 6 in the respective eluate was determined spectrophotometrically, applying the absorption coefficients reported by Holt and Jacobs4 and Stern and Wenderlein5. The solvents of the eluates were evaporated and the solid material deposited as an infinitely thin layer on glass planchettes. The carbon-14 activity was then determined with a windowless methane gas-flow counter operated in the proportional region. The experimental results are shown in Table 1.
Biological responses of two soybean cultivars exposed to enhanced UVB radiation

A UVB exposure and monitoring system has been established at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Global Climate Change Research Facility. The system consists of a power supply, and data acquisition and exposure equipment to accomplish controlled, elevated exposure of terrestrial plants to UVB. Plant biomass, selected compounds that absorb UV radiation, and DNA integrity/damage were measured for two soybean cultivars [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] Forrest and Essex exposed to elevated UVB (32% above ambient) in this system. The biomass of each major plant organ was observed to be less in soybean cultivar Forrest upon exposure to enhanced UVB with the greatest response in seed pods and stems. In contrast, soybean cultivar Essex showed no biomass response to elevated UVB. Enhanced UVB caused significant (P < 0.1) changes in concentrations of UV-absorbing compounds in both soybean cultivars. The Essex cultivar had an increase in UV-absorbing compounds, whereas a decline was observed for soybean Forrest. There was a decrease in the integrity of DNA, as measured by strand breaks, from both cultivars at 30 and 52 days to exposure. DNA pyrimidine dimers in isolated plant DNA were measured with Micrococcus luteus UV endonuclease. DNA from soybean Forrest exposed to UVB and sampled at 30 and 52 days of exposure had significantly greater (P<0.05) pyrimidine dimer concentration (dimer frequency ≈ 1 dimer per 28,000 DNA bases) than either cultivar exposed to UV treatment for 1 day or Essex at days 30–52 (dimer frequencies < /1 per 120,000 bases of DNA). Decrease in DNA integrity and biomass production in Forrest under elevated UVB may be related to the inability to maintain high concentrations of UV-absorbing compounds in leaves. The tolerant cultivar Essex increased the concentratio of UV-absorbing compounds while maintaining biomass production and DNA integrity under elevated UVB.
Endurance time is joint-specific: A modelling and meta-analysis investigation

Static task intensity-endurance time (ET) relationships (e.g. Rohmert's curve) were first reported decades ago. However, a comprehensive meta-analysis to compare experimentally-observed ETs across bodily regions has not been reported. We performed a systematic literature review of ETs for static contractions, developed joint-specific power and exponential models of the intensity-ET relationships, and compared these models between each joint (ankle, trunk, hand/grip, elbow, knee, and shoulder) and the pooled data (generalised curve). 194 publications were found, representing a total of 369 data points. The power model provided the best fit to the experimental data. Significant intensity-dependent ET differences were predicted between each pair of joints. Overall, the ankle was most fatigue-resistant, followed by the trunk, hand/grip, elbow, knee and finally the shoulder was most fatigable. We conclude ET varies systematically between joints, in some cases with large effect sizes. Thus, a single generalised ET model does not adequately represent fatigue across joints. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE: Rohmert curves have been used in ergonomic analyses of fatigue, as there are limited tools available to accurately predict force decrements. This study provides updated endurance time-intensity curves using a large meta-analysis of fatigue data. Specific models derived for five distinct joint regions should further increase prediction accuracy.
Integrated Manufacturing and Development (IMaD)

This article describes an IBM-developed parallel software methodology called Integrated Manufacturing and Development (IMaD). IMaD is a super-scalable AIX application written in the C programming language and makes use of the Message Passing Interface (MPI). It is built specifically to support Product Engineering (PE) for full-scale integrated circuits (IC), like microprocessors, and encompasses failure, yield, and reliability design and analysis. Because an IC is constructed of smaller building-block circuits, many aspects of its behavior are learned from a local analysis of some subset of the IC. However, there are global aspects of an IC-such as its power-grid electrical distribution that require a full-scale formulation, solution, evaluation, and visualization. This sets the stage for some very large problems that demand enormous computational and memory resources. In answer to these demands, IMaD provides a parallel processing solution that incorporates novel methods of both topographic partitioning of the IC and of solving the global electrical simulation equations.
Osteomyelitis: Clinical overview and mechanisms of infection persistence

Abstract Osteomyelitis is a progressive infection of bone, that results in inflammatory destruction of the bone, bone necrosis, and new bone formation and may progress to a chronic and persistent state. The major categories of osteomyelitis are based on the source of infection (hematogenous or secondary to a contiguous focus of infection) and whether vascular insufficiency (either local or systemic) exists. While large-organism inoculation and/or host compromise can predispose patients to the development of osteomyelitis, the virulence of the infecting pathogen also has a significant role. One species in particular, Staphylococcus aureus , is able to cause an acute bone infection even with a low inoculum in a healthy host. In addition, through the timed expression of its arsenal of virulence factors and aided by its ability to develop antibiotic resistance rapidly, S. aureus progresses to a chronic, biofilm-mediated infection. Once a chronic infection develops, bacterial clearance cannot be attained by the host immune system or antimicrobial therapy. At this point, surgical removal of the nidus of infection is usually necessary for complete infection resolution.
Designing 3D test wrappers for pre-bond and post-bond test of 3D embedded cores

3D integration is a promising new technology for tightly integrating multiple active silicon layers into a single chip stack. Both the integration of heterogeneous tiers and the partitioning of functional units across tiers leads to significant improvements in functionality, area, performance, and power consumption. Managing the complexity of 3D design is a significant challenge that will require a system-on-chip approach, but the application of SOC design to 3D necessitates extensions to current test methodology. In this paper, we propose extending test wrappers, a popular SOC DFT technique, into the third dimension. We develop an algorithm employing the Best Fit Decreasing and Kernighan-Lin Partitioning heuristics to produce 3D wrappers that minimize test time, maximize reuse of routing resources across test modes, and allow for different TAM bus widths in different test modes. On average the two variants of our algorithm reuse 93% and 92% of the test wrapper wires while delivering test times of just 0.06% and 0.32% above the minimum.
Statistical Gate Sizing for Yield Enhancement at Post Layout Level

The aggressive scaling of technology parameters in deep submicron (DSM) circuits has led towards an increased impact of process variations on delay and crosstalk noise. In this work, we develop a new post-layout gate sizing algorithm for simultaneous reduction of delay uncertainty and crosstalk noise under the impact of process variations. The problem of post-layout statistical gate sizing is modeled as a 2-player stochastic game and solved using Nash equilibrium theory. Due to process variations, the gate sizes are no longer deterministic, but rather behave as a probabilistic distribution over a range. Stochastic games allow the modeling of probabilistic distribution of gate size space and also effectively capture the conflicting nature of the problem. The authors implemented two different strategies in which the games are ordered according to (i) the noise criticality, and (ii) the delay criticality of nets. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed methodology by improving both delay and crosstalk noise violations, resulting in improved yield when compared to the deterministic approach without area overhead or the need for rerouting.
Influence of two breakfast meals differing in glycemic load on satiety, hunger, and energy intake in preschool children

Background Glycemic load (GL) is the product of glycemic index of a food and amount of available carbohydrate in that food divided by 100. GL represents quality and quantity of dietary carbohydrate. Little is known about the role of GL in hunger, satiety, and food intake in preschool children. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two breakfast meals differing in GL on hunger, satiety, and subsequent food intake at lunch in preschool children aged 4-6 y.
Efficient delivery of gold nanoparticles by dual receptor targeting.

Targeted delivery of inorganic nanoparticles, particularly of gold, may find wide utility in a number of biomedical applications due to their unique physicochemical and optoelectronic properties. [1-6] However, efficient delivery of a threshold amount of such particles is required for successful biomedical applications including imaging, detection/diagnosis and therapy. [7, 8] Efficient delivery of gold nanoparticles may be achieved by simultaneous targeting of multiple receptors on the cancer cells. [9] Hence, selection of appropriate targets is crucial for successful application of multiple/dual receptor targeted drug delivery system. Herein, we demonstrate the fabrication and characterization of gold nanoconjugates containing EGFR (epidermal receptor growth factor) and FR (folate receptor) antibodies on a single gold core, as a proof of principle study, to enhance the loading of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to EGFR and FR expressing cancer cells. We further demonstrate that the dual receptor targeted system (DRTS) is more efficient in delivering AuNPs to EGFR and FR expressing cancer cells than their corresponding single receptor targeting systems (SRTS). Such selective delivery of GNPs could be utilized in numerous biomedical applications such as detection, diagnosis and therapy. The folate receptor α (FRα) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is known to be overexpressed in a number of malignancies including ovarian cancer. [10] Farletuzumab, a monoclonal antibody to FRα is in Phase III clinical trials both alone or in combination with platinum/taxane chemotherapy for the patients experiencing recurrence. [11] Several monoclonal antibodies directed against EGFR (trastuzumab, cetuximab, pertuzumab, and panitumumab) and small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (erlotinib and gefitinib) have been investigated and are currently in different phases of clinical trials in ovarian cancer. [12] Thus, FR and EGFR represent important targets for tumor-specific delivery of anticancer drugs. Herein, we demonstrate, as a proof of principle study, fabrication and characterization of a dual receptor targeted system (DRTS) and demonstrate that it is much more efficient in delivering AuNPs to EGFR and FR expressing ovarian cancer cells Skov3-ip and OVCAR-5 than their corresponding single receptor targeting systems (SRTS). Such selective delivery of AuNPs has the potential to be used in numerous biomedical applications including detection, diagnosis and therapeutics.
Contemporary analysis of outcomes following lower extremity bypass in patients with end-stage renal disease.

This study was designed to compare outcomes following infrainguinal bypass between patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and patients with normal renal function (NRF). Sixty-three patients with ESRD undergoing 78 infrainguinal bypasses from 1990 to 1999 were compared with a concurrent group of 132 age-, race-, and gender-matched patients with NRF undergoing 148 bypasses. Limb salvage and survival were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Markov decision analysis was used to calculate expected quality-adjusted life years (QALY) with intervention. Mean follow-up was 25 months (range 1–116). The results of our study show that infrainguinal bypass in patients with ESRD and tissue necrosis appears to provide a measurable, but marginal, degree of improvement in quality of life.
Trade Liberalization and Policy for Media Industries: A Theoretical Examination of Media Flows

Abstract: The recently developed microeconomic model of one-way international flows in films and television programs is shown to be a specific application of a more general model of trade in media products. Predictions of the general model are consistent with observed international flows for other media, geographic flows of media products within countries, and intertemporal flows of media products across distribution channels. The general tendency is for product to flow from large to small markets unless impeded by policy-created barriers. Earlier explanations for one-way international flows do not similarly generalize, but cultural explanations and the microeconomic model are complementary to each other. The role of market size in determining media trade flows and the effect of domestic media policies on the growth and relative sizes of national media markets should be considered in the formation of trade policies for media industries. Resume: Dans cet article, nous discutons du modele micro-economique recemment developpe sur la circulation internationale unidirectionnelle de films et d'emissions de television. Nous montrons que ce modele est l'application specifique d'un modele plus general d'echanges en produits mediatiques. Ce modele plus general explique davantage que le cinema et la television. En effet, il s'applique aux circulations internationales observees pour d'autres medias, a la circulation a l'interieur d'un pays, et aux fluctuations temporelles dans les echanges de produits mediatiques entre pays. En general, les produits tendent a circuler des grands marches aux petits, dans les cas ou il n'y a pas de politiques pour faire obstacle a de tels echanges. Des explications anterieures a la notre pour la circulation internationale en sens unique ne generalisent pas de la meme maniere. Nous croyons que les explications culturelles et le modele micro-economique sont tres complementaires. Avant de formuler des politiques d'echange pour les industries mediatiques, il est ainsi necessaire de tenir compte de certaines questions; il faut notamment etre conscient de la grandeur du marche, et des effets que les politiques domestiques ont produits sur les marches mediatiques nationaux.
A self correcting clock recovery circuit

Conventional approaches to the problem of extracting clock from NRZ data do not automatically hold the clock in the center of the data eye. Other means must be used to keep the clock properly centered in the eye at the decision flip-flop. A new approach to the problem is described. The circuit is both simple and self correcting.
Beneath the veil: Plant growth form influences the strength of species richness-productivity relationships in forests

Aim Species richness has been observed to increase with productivity at large spatial scales, though the strength of this relationship varies among functional groups. In forests, canopy trees shade understorey plants, and for this reason we hypothesize that species richness of canopy trees will depend on macroclimate, while species richness of shorter growth forms will additionally be affected by shading from the canopy. In this study we test for differences in species richness–productivity relationships (SRPRs) among growth forms (canopy trees, shrubs, herbaceous species) in small forest plots. Location We analysed 231 plots ranging from 34.0° to 48.3° N latitude and from 75.0° to 124.2° W longitude in the United States. Methods We analysed data collected by the USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis program for plant species richness partitioned into different growth forms, in small plots. We used actual evapotranspiration as a macroclimatic estimate of regional productivity and calculated the area of light-blocking tissue in the immediate area surrounding plots for an estimate of the intensity of local shading. We estimated and compared SRPRs for different partitions of the species richness dataset using generalized linear models and we incorporated the possible indirect effects of shading using a structural equation model. Results Canopy tree species richness increased strongly with regional productivity, while local shading primarily explained the variation in herbaceous plant richness. Shrub species richness was related to both regional productivity and local shading. Main conclusions The relationship between total forest plant species richness and productivity at large scales belies strong effects of local interactions. Counter to the pattern for overall richness, we found that understorey herbaceous plant species richness does not respond to regional productivity gradients, and instead is strongly influenced by canopy density, while shrub species richness is under multivariate control.
Two-stage polymer embossing of co-planar microfluidic features for microfluidic devices

Abstract A two-stage embossing technique for fabricating microchannels for microfluidic devices is presented. A micromachined aluminum mold is used to emboss a polyetherimide (PEI) substrate with a relatively high glass transition temperature (Tg). The embossed PEI is then used as a mold for embossing an amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (APET) substrate with a lower Tg. The resulting APET substrate has the same features as those of the aluminum mold. Successful transfer of features from the aluminum mold to the APET substrate was verified by profilometry, and an application of this method in production of a microfluidic device is presented.
Is there an "unhealthy volunteer effect" in mental health outpatient research?

Abstract The ability to generalize clinical research findings depends on whether patients who agree to participate in studies have more or less severe illness than applicable clinical populations. We analyzed data from standardized clinical interviews given to patients seeking outpatient mental health treatment to determine whether there were differences between those who were willing to consider research participation and those who were not. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted using measures of demographics, symptom and illness severity, and social environment. Factors associated with increased likelihood of willingness to consider research participation in the multivariable analysis were: moderate to severe depressive symptoms (OR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.07,1.48), hazardous drinking (OR = 1.44, 95%CI: 1.19,1.75), having 1–15 days of partial disability due to mental illness (OR = 1.19, 95%CI: 1.00,1.42), having any mental health outpatient visits in the last 2 years (OR = 1.24; 95%CI: 1.09,1.42), and having a family member with mental illness (OR = 1.57, 95%CI: 1.37,1.79). These results suggest an “unhealthy volunteer effect”—that patients interested in volunteering for outpatient mental health research have more severe illness, longer treatment history, and possibly greater genetic loading for mental illness than those not included in research trials. The possibility of such an effect should be considered when conducting and interpreting clinical trials.
Antioxidative effect of dietary Camelina meal in fresh, stored, or cooked broiler chicken meat

Camelina sativa is an oilseed crop of the Brassica (Cruciferae) family that has gained increased popularity as a biofuel source. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding C. sativa meal to broiler birds on phenolic compounds, tocopherols, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, and lipid peroxidation in chicken thigh meat during short (4°C for 2 or 7 d) or long-term (-20°C for 90 d) storage and cooking. One hundred sixty 1-d-old Cobb chicks were fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet with added Camelina meal at 0% (control), 2.5% (CAM2.5), 5% (CAM5), and 10% (CAM10). The experimental diets were fed for a period of 42 d. Feeding Camelina meal at 5 or 10% led to a 1.6-fold increase in γ-tocopherols in the thigh meat when compared with control birds (P 0.05). Antioxidant activity measured as 2,2-azino-bis [3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid] radical scavenging capacity in the thigh meat from CAM2.5, CAM5, and CAM10 was higher than control birds (P < 0.05). In the breast meat, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt radical scavenging capacity was highest in CAM10 (P < 0.05). Feeding Camelina meal at 5 or 10% led to reductions in thigh TBA reactive substances (TBARS) during short-term (2 d) and long-term storage (P < 0.05). The TBARS of thigh meat from CAM5 and CAM10 were reduced up to 49 or 36% during 2- or 90-d storage, respectively, when compared with control (P < 0.05). However, no effect of diet on thigh meat TBARS at 7 d of storage was observed among treatment groups. Overall, TBARS were highest in the thigh meat from control and CAM2.5 birds (P < 0.05). Upon cooking, TBARS were lowest in thigh meat from CAM10 birds, which was over 48% lower than in meat from birds fed the control diet (P < 0.05). The current study showed that Camelina meal could be effective in inhibiting lipid oxidation and enhancing antioxidant capacity. However, the effect was more prominent in the thigh than breast meat.
Transmission of Cryptococcus neoformans by Organ Transplantation

Background. This article describes transmission of Cryptococcus neoformans by solid organ transplantation. Methods. We reviewed medical records and performed molecular genotyping of isolates to determine potential for donor transmission of Cryptococcus. Results. Cryptococcosis was diagnosed in 3 recipients of organs from a common donor with an undifferentiated neurologic condition at the time of death. Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis was later diagnosed in the donor at autopsy. The liver and 1 kidney recipient developed cryptococcemia and pneumonia and the other kidney recipient developed cryptococcemia and meningitis; 2 patients recovered with prolonged antifungal therapy. We tested 4 recipient isolates with multilocus sequence typing and found they had identical alleles. Conclusions. Our investigation documents the transmission of Cryptococcus neoformans by organ transplantation. Evaluation for cryptococcosis in donors with unexplained neurologic symptoms should be strongly considered.
Student Mobility and Identity-Related Language Learning.

This paper reviews some recent studies problematizing various aspects of identity in relation to mobile students’ encounters with the social interactive and pragmatic dimensions of language. The paper will examine several salient demographic categories represented in the literature: nationality, ‘foreigner’ status, gender, age, and sexuality. These studies clearly demonstrate that student sojourners abroad may encounter challenges not only to their language skills, but also to their identities. Furthermore, these challenges can influence both the overall quality of study or residence abroad as an environment for language learning and the particular aspects of language that students choose to appropriate or reject. In light of these findings, it would appear that simply enjoining language learners to become more engaged or less judgmental may not be sufficient. Rather, what is in order is a renewed emphasis on awareness of language and culture as well as approaches helping students to understand how lingui...
Long buccal nerve block injection pain in patients with irreversible pulpitis

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the pain associated with needle insertion (with or without topical anesthetic) and solution deposition for the long buccal nerve block injection in patients with irreversible pulpitis. Initial pain and any differences by age and gender were also studied. Study design One hundred twelve emergency patients with irreversible pulpitis received long buccal nerve block injections using 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine. The patients recorded pain of needle insertion and solution deposition on a Heft-Parker visual analog scale (VAS). Results Moderate-to-severe pain occurred from 41% to 46% of the time with the long buccal nerve block. The use of topical anesthetic did not statistically decrease the pain of needle insertion. Conclusions In conclusion, 41% to 46% of patients presenting with irreversible pulpitis have the potential for moderate-to-severe pain with the long buccal nerve block.
SEMIOTICS AND INDEXING: AN ANALYSIS OF THE SUBJECT INDEXING PROCESS

This paper explains at least some of the major problems related to the subject indexing process and proposes a new approach to understanding the process, which is ordinarily described as a process that takes a number of steps. The subject is first determined, then it is described in a few sentences and, lastly, the description of the subject is converted into the indexing language. It is argued that this typical approach characteristically lacks an understanding of what the central nature of the process is. Indexing is not a neutral and objective representation of a document’s subject matter but the representation of an interpretation of a document for future use. Semiotics is offered here as a framework for understanding the “interpretative” nature of the subject indexing process. By placing this process within Peirce’s semiotic framework of ideas and terminology, a more detailed description of the process is offered which shows that the uncertainty generally associated with this process is created by the fact that the indexer goes through a number of steps and creates the subject matter of the document during this process. The creation of the subject matter is based on the indexer’s social and cultural context. The paper offers an explanation of what occurs in the indexing process and suggests that there is only little certainty to its result.
Studies on limb morphogenesis. V. The expression of Eudiplopodia and its experimental modification.

Embryos homozygous for the autosomal recessive gene (eu) develop supernumerary distal limb parts on the dorsal surface of wings and legs. These from from ectopic ectodermal thickenings which appear a day or more after the primary ectodermal ridge (AER). In addition, a large proportion of the mutant embryos exhibit twinning or more extensive duplications of primary flight feathers in one or more follicles. The expression of eudiplopodia is variable with the postaxial digits being duplicated most frequently. Morphological abnormalities are confined to the limbs and these result from changes in the mutant ectoderm. The apical ridge regenerates when it is removed from eudiplopod leg buds as late as stage 20 while in normal limbs it fails to regenerate after stage 18. Accessory ridge still froms on eudiplopod limbs at stage 22–23 if ectoderm is removed from the dorsal surface of the limb prior to this time. The results suggest that the development of the accessory ridge is independent of that of the apical ridge. Eudiplopod limb ectoderm can from ridge for several stages after normal ectoderm loses this capacity. This characteristic may be partly suppressed by exposing developing mutant embryos to low incubation temperature in the interval between normal ridge formation and the appearance of accessory ridge.
Large nonlinear refraction in InSb at 10 μm and the effects of Auger recombination

Narrow bandgap semiconductors exhibit very large optical nonlinearities in the infrared owing to large two-photon absorption that scales as the inverse cube of the bandgap energy and the large losses and refraction from two-photon generated free carriers. Except for extremely short pulses, the free-carrier effects dominate the nonlinear losses and nonlinear refraction. Here we develop a method for the calculation of the free-electron refraction cross section in InSb. We also calculate the Auger recombination coefficient in InSb and find it to be in good agreement with existing experimental data. In all the calculations we rely on Fermi-Dirac statistics and use a four-band k⋅p theory for band structure calculations. Experiments on the transmission of submicrosecond CO2 laser pulses through InSb produce results consistent with the calculated parameters.
Cortical choline transporter function measured in vivo using choline-sensitive microelectrodes: clearance of endogenous and exogenous choline and effects of removal of cholinergic terminals

The capacity of the high-affinity choline transporter (CHT) to import choline into presynaptic terminals is essential for acetylcholine synthesis. Ceramic-based microelectrodes, coated at recording sites with choline oxidase to detect extracellular choline concentration changes, were attached to multibarrel glass micropipettes and implanted into the rat frontoparietal cortex. Pressure ejections of hemicholinium-3 (HC-3), a selective CHT blocker, dose-dependently reduced the uptake rate of exogenous choline as well as that of choline generated in response to terminal depolarization. Following the removal of CHTs, choline signal recordings confirmed that the demonstration of potassium-induced choline signals and HC-3-induced decreases in choline clearance require the presence of cholinergic terminals. The results obtained from lesioned animals also confirmed the selectivity of the effects of HC-3 on choline clearance in intact animals. Residual cortical choline clearance correlated significantly with CHT-immunoreactivity in lesioned and intact animals. Finally, synaptosomal choline uptake assays were conducted under conditions reflecting in vivo basal extracellular choline concentrations. Results from these assays confirmed the capacity of CHTs measured in vivo and indicated that diffusion of substrate away from the electrode did not confound the in vivo findings. Collectively, these results indicate that increases in extracellular choline concentrations, irrespective of source, are rapidly
The ins and outs of algal metal transport

Metal transporters are a central component in the interaction of algae with their environment. They represent the first line of defense to cellular perturbations in metal concentration, and by analyzing algal metal transporter repertoires, we gain insight into a fundamental aspect of algal biology. The ability of individual algae to thrive in environments with unique geochemistry, compared to non-algal species commonly used as reference organisms for metal homeostasis, provides an opportunity to broaden our understanding of biological metal requirements, preferences and trafficking. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is the best developed reference organism for the study of algal biology, especially with respect to metal metabolism; however, the diversity of algal niches necessitates a comparative genomic analysis of all sequenced algal genomes. A comparison between known and putative proteins in animals, plants, fungi and algae using protein similarity networks has revealed the presence of novel metal metabolism components in Chlamydomonas including new iron and copper transporters. This analysis also supports the concept that, in terms of metal metabolism, algae from similar niches are more related to one another than to algae from the same phylogenetic clade. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cell Biology of Metals.
Game-theoretic probability and defensive forecasting

In 2001, Vladimir Vovk and I demonstrated how game theory can replace measure theory as a foundation for classical probability theory, discrete and continuous (Probability and Finance: Its Only a Game!, Wiley 2001). In the game-theoretic framework, classical probability theorems are proven by betting strategies that make a player rich without risking bankruptcy if the theorem's prediction fails. These strategies can be specified explicitly, and so the theory has a constructive flavor that lends itself to applications in economics and statistics. Defensive forecasting is one of the most interesting of these applications. It identifies a comprehensive betting strategy, which becomes rich if the probabilities fail in a relevant way (say by being uncalibrated or having poor resolution), and it chooses probabilities to defeat this comprehensive betting strategy. The fact that this is possible gives us new insight into the very meaning of probability.
A comparison of 30-day surgical outcomes for minimally invasive and open sacrocolpopexy.

Aims Minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy (MISC) has gained widespread acceptance without randomized or population-based data to support its use. This study compares 30-day outcomes after MISC and open sacrocolpopexy (OSC) using population-based data. Methods The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was used to acquire 1,786 sacrocolpopexy operations (659 OSC and 1,127 MISC) performed from 2005 to 2011. A propensity-weighted comparative analysis of perioperative morbidity was performed. Results Among women undergoing sacrocolpopexy, the proportion of MISC procedures increased from 7.1% in 2006 to 68.8% in 2011. Women undergoing OSC were older (P < 0.001) and had somewhat higher American Society of Anesthesiologists classifications (P = 0.11). Unadjusted comparisons between groups revealed higher rates of superficial (P < 0.001) and deep surgical (P = 0.009) site infections in the OSC group. There was also a higher rate of blood transfusions (P = 0.02), a longer length of hospitalization (P < 0.001), and a shorter operative time (P < 0.001) among patients undergoing OSC. In the propensity-weighted analysis, MISC was associated with lower rates of wound infections (1.1% vs. 3.0%; P = 0.01), lower blood transfusion rates (0.7% vs. 2.3%; P = 0.01), a shorter mean hospitalization (1.4 vs. 3.0 days; P < 0.001), and a longer mean operative time (224.8 vs. 188.6 min; P < 0.001). No differences were noted among renal, infectious, or neurologic complications, although pulmonary complications were higher in the OSC group (0.3% vs. 1.0%; P = 0.08). No differences in 30-day mortality were noted (0.1% vs. 0.2%; P = 0.61). Conclusions MISC was associated with lower perioperative morbidity in this propensity-weighted analysis. Neurourol. Urodynam. 34:151–155, 2015. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A RETHINKING OF CONFUCIAN RATIONALITY

Etude de la conception confuceenne de la rationalite qui fonde le paradigme de l'action et de la pensee rationnelles chez Confucius, Mencius, Xunzi, les freres Cheng, Zhu Xi et Wang Yangming. Examinant la nature et la logique interne des quatre presupposes de la rationalite confuceenne que sont l'affirmation de l'etre humain, de la morale universelle (droiture), de la culture et de l'histoire (propriete), de la connaissance et de la comprehension (sagesse), l'A. confronte la notion confuceenne aux debats recents sur la rationalite scientifique, les droits individuels et la liberte, d'une part, et a la problematique actuelle de la modernite et de la postmodernite, d'autre part
The Indonesian Throughflow and the Global Climate System

Abstract The role of the Indonesian Throughflow in the global climate system is investigated with a coupled ocean–atmosphere model by contrasting simulations with realistic throughflow and closed Indonesian passages. The Indonesian Throughflow affects the oceanic circulation and thermocline depth around Australia and in the Indian Ocean as described in previous studies and explained by Sverdrup transports. An open throughflow thereby increases surface temperatures in the eastern Indian ocean, reduces temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, and shifts the warm pool and centers of deep convection in the atmosphere to the west. This control on sea surface temperature and deep convection affects atmospheric pressure in the entire Tropics and, via atmospheric teleconnections, in the midlatitudes. As a result, surface wind stress in the entire Tropics changes and meridional and zonal gradients of the tropical thermocline and associated currents increase in the Pacific and decrease in the Indian Ocean. The respo...
Autoregressive Hidden Markov Model and the Speech Signal

Abstract This paper introduces an autoregressive hidden Markov model (HMM) and demonstrates its application to the speech signal. In this variant of the HMM the observed signal is assumed to be Gaussian autoregressive and the probability density function is derived based on an approximation of the linear prediction error. A Baum-Welch style set of re-estimation formulas are then derived and used to infer the model parameters for a given data set, which correspond to linguistic structure in the context of speech data. The new set of re-estimation formulas are then applied to speech data and experimental results demonstrate inference of broad phonetic categories without prior knowledge of linguistic information. The experimental results and stability of this model are then briefly contrasted with historic experiments wherein phonetic information has been inferred directly from the speech signal using a similar autoregressive model.
Abstract #LB-300: Integrated analysis of aCGH, gene expression and miRNA profiling identifies miR-189 as a negative prognostic marker in medulloblastomas with activated SHH signaling

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 18-22, 2009; Denver, CO Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. In order to identify molecular markers that can predict clinical outcome, we generated expression profiling and microRNA profiling data of 71 MBs. For 55 of these MBs, we also generated the SNP array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) data . Failure of clinical variables and most prognostic markers reported by others in outcome prediction is consistent with the hypothesis that MB is a highly heterogeneous disease possibly originating from various cell lineages with different mechanisms of pathogenesis, marked by activation of certain signaling pathways. To date the best characterized pathway in MB is the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway. Constitutive activation of SHH signaling, leading to failure of proper migration and differentiation of granule neuron progenitor cells, accounts for nearly 30% of sporadic MBs. Through unsupervised hierarchical clustering based on our expression profiling data, we identified a subset of 21 MBs with activated SHH signaling, marked by elevated expression level of target genes of this pathway, including GLI3, SFRP1, and CXCR4. A frequent genomic aberration in this subset of MBs is the loss of chromosome 9q, which harbors PTCH1, a key regulator of the SHH pathway. Nine out of 10 patients with 9q abnormality had activated SHH signaling. Among those 17 patients with activated SHH signaling for which we have aCGH data, 7/9 patients bearing 9q loss or LOH survived (median follow-up 95 months) while 7/8 patients without 9q abnormalities died. This strongly suggested that 9q loss or LOH is associated with a favorable outcome in MB patients with activated SHH signaling (P = 0.015). To further elucidate molecular markers on 9q that may be associated with clinical outcome, we identified differentially expressed genes and miRNAs on 9q that were associated with copy number loss and then assessed their correlation with patient\#8217;s survival. This analysis revealed that the expression of miR-189 is a negative prognostic marker of OS or EFS, independent of clinical variables (residual tumor size, metastasis status, and treatment, P = 0.008 for OS and 0.005 for EFS, cox proportional hazard model). MiR-189 is expressed from the same precursor hairpin as miR-24, which can inhibit the expression of tumor suppressor genes p16 and ACVR1B. In summary, we identified miR-189 as a novel negative prognostic marker in a subgroup of MBs with activated SHH signaling. This result may facilitate the stratification of MB patients and provide insights into the development of novel therapeutic targets. These data also highlight the utility of genomic profiling for molecular classification of MBs and potential stratification of patients to personalized treatment based on outcome prediction. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr LB-300.
Notes on the occurrence of some petalodont shark fossils from the Upper Pennsylvanian rocks of northeastern Kansas

Abstract Three Petalodus teeth are described from the Upper Pennsylvanian rocks of northeastern Kansas. Specimens from the Merriam Limestone Member of the Plattsburg Limestone (Lansing Group, Missourian) and the Brownville Limestone Member of the Wood Siding Formation (Wabaunsee Group, Virgilian) are assigned to P. ohioensis. The third specimen, too fragmentary to assign beyond genus level, was recovered from the Ervine Creek Limestone Member of the Deer Creek Limestone (Shawnee Group, Virgilian). Previous references to petalodonts from Kansas are cited, and the reported occurrences of P. ohioensis document its range throughout almost the entire Upper Pennsylvanian Series of Kansas.
Risk and the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage

This article analyzes the risks involved with reverse mortgage insurance and explains the pricing model developed for the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) demonstration. The paper demonstrates how borrower longevity, interest rates, and property value changes all affect pricing and why the HECM model focuses on property value as the primary source of uncertainty. It goes on to explain why a random walk specification was chosen to forecast property values and how the principal limit factors, which determine cash payments to borrowers in the HECM program, are calculated.
A Difference in Complexity Between Recursion and Tail Recursion

There are several ways to understand computability over first-order structures. We may admit functions given by arbitrary recursive definitions, or we may restrict ourselves to "iterative," or tail recursive, functions computable by nothing more complicated than while loops. It is well known that in the classical case of recursion theory over the natural numbers, these two notions of computability coincide (though this is not true for all structures). We ask if there are structures over which recursion and tail recursion coincide in terms of computability, but in which a general recursive program may compute a certain function more efficiently than any tail recursion, according to some natural measure of complexity. We give a positive answer to this question, thus answering an open question in Lynch and Blum (Math. Syst. Theory. 12(1), 205-211 [5]).
Enhanced Phosphorus Fertilizer (Carbond P®) Supplied to Maize in Moderate and High Organic Matter Soils

Carbond P (CBP) fertilizer often increases P uptake and crop yields in low P and organic matter soils. A glasshouse study was conducted with maize (Zea mays L.) grown in moderate or high organic matter soil with 0, 5, 15, 45, or 135 kg phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) ha−1 applied as either ammonium polyphosphate (APP) or CBP. In the high organic matter soil, both CBP and APP fertilization resulted in similar increases in biomass yield and P concentration and uptake. This was also observed in the moderate organic matter soil for maize P concentration, but biomass yield and total P uptake were significantly greater for CBP than APP at the two lowest P rates of fertilization and significantly higher for APP than CBP at the highest P application rate. The presence of high organic matter in the soil seemed to negate the effects of the organic acid bonded P found in CBP.
Phase Diagram and Electronic Structure of Praseodymium and Plutonium

Several $f$-electron materials undergo sudden changes in equilibrium density and lattice structure, with simultaneous $f$-electron localization or delocalization, given changes in pressure or temperature. New calculations allow a closer look than previously possible at the electronic structure of two such materials, plutonium and praseodymium
Discussion of learning assessments in postgraduate teaching and learning curricula.

We were very interested to read the excellent article by Wright and colleagues[1][1] describing their recommendations for standardizing postgraduate Teaching and Learning Curriculum (TLC) programs. During my (MJH) postgraduate year 1 and year 2 residencies, I participated in and observed the
The Principle of Indifference and Inductive Scepticism

AbstractMany theorists have proposed that we can use the principle of indifference to defeat the inductive sceptic. But any such theorist must confront the objection that different ways of applying...