cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In-Flight Emergency

Last month I was called to assist a passenger on a flight from Boston to San Francisco, who was reported to be behaving strangely. I encountered an elderly man, washing his cell phone with a napkin soaked in orange juice. He was alert and spoke fluently, but his speech was incoherent and he followed no commands. According to seatmates, his condition had deteriorated steadily since takeoff. Heart rate, blood pressure, and respirations were normal. A brief neurological exam, performed while I knelt in the aisle, was intact except for altered mental status. 20 grams of sugar dissolved in juice produced no improvement. Because he was traveling alone and could not communicate, I had no information about him. I was unsure of the diagnosis but considered the possibility of acute stroke, causing a Wernicke aphasia. The copilot and I discussed whether to divert the flight to Minneapolis. The patient’s life did not appear in danger, so we decided to continue on to San Francisco. The plane was met by paramedics who transported the patient to a local hospital emergency room. The next day I received a phone call from the patient, who was completely back to normal after a night in the hospital. He explained, apologetically, that he had taken zolpidem 10 mg to help him sleep on the plane. Possible stroke and altered mental status account for 4.4% of in-flight emergencies.1 It is unknown what percentage of passengers uses sleeping pills on airplane flights, but the general use of sedative hypnotics has escalated sharply.2 Zolpidem can produce paradoxical alertness, confusion, and automatisms.3 It accounts for 21% of emergency rooms visits for drug reactions to psychiatric medications in adults 65 years or older – more than any other medication.4 Physicians should caution patients, especially those traveling alone, about the potential risks of taking hypnotics when traveling by airplane.
Metabolic acidosis in patients with the carcinoid syndrome: Treatment with parachlorophenylalanine

Four of 46 patients with carcinoid tumors and the carcinoid syndrome developed severe life-threatening diarrhea. Although only 11% of the patients in this series had bronchial carcinoid tumors, three only the four patients with severe diarrhea had this type of tumor. Three of the patients with severe diarrhea developed metabolic acidosis while the fourth patient had severe hypokalemia. In the three patients in which it was used, parachlorophenylalanine, an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis, improved the life-threatening diarrhea.
Negotiating culture and dollars: The politics of corporate sponsorship in Puerto Rico

This study discusses the involvement of commercial interests in Puerto Rican cultural politics through an analysis of the corporate sponsorship of grassroots cultural festivals. It examines how corporate funding affects what is included or excluded and recognized as “culturally relevant” in such festivals. By exploring these issues, this article presents a case study of the dual nature of global processes as mediated in a local context where corporate sponsors are helping both to reproduce and challenge dominant standards about national identity.
The Maltese touch of evil: Film noir and potential criticism

by Shannon Scott Clute and Richard L. Edwards Hanover, NH: Dartmouth College Press, 2011, 336 pages, 148 illustrations ISBN: 978-1-61168-047-8 (paperback) Price $39.95 Reviewed by Judith R. Halasz,...
Acoustic droplet vaporization-induced cellular sonoporation

Sonoporation - the use of ultrasound to transiently perforate cells - is a promising avenue for intracellular drug delivery, but current methods are compromised by cytotoxicity and low molecular uptake. Acoustic droplet vaporization is proposed as an alternative method of sonoporation. Perfluorocarbon microdroplets are vaporized on top of a monolayer of HeLa cells, causing transient cell perforation. Sonoporation and cytotoxicity post-procedure are measured through fluorescent dyes. Preliminary results point to high cell viability and more efficient drug uptake.
Teacher Ratings of DSM-III-R Symptoms for the Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Ratings were collected on a rating scale comprised of the DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria for disruptive behavior disorders. Teacher ratings were obtained for 931 boys in regular classrooms in grades K through 8 from around North America. Means and standard deviations for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD) scales are reported by age. Frequencies of DSM-III-R symptoms are reported by age, and suggested diagnostic cutoffs are discussed. A factor analysis revealed three factors: one reflecting ODD and several CD symptoms, one on which ADHD symptoms of inattention loaded, and one comprised of ADHD impulsivity/overactivity symptoms. Conditional probability analyses revealed that several hallmark symptoms of ADHD had very poor predictive power, whereas combinations of symptoms from the two ADHD factors had good predictive power. Combinations of ODD symptoms also had very high predictive power. The limited utility of teacher ratings in assessing symptoms of conduct disorder in this age range is discussed.
Social Justice and the Philosophical Foundations of Critical Peace Education: Exploring Nussbaum, Sen, and Freire.

The purpose of this paper is to philosophically explore a ‘realization-focused’ capabilities theory of social justice, as articulated by AmartyaSen and Martha Nussbaum, as foundational to a theory of critical peace education. Paulo Freire’s philosophy of critical pedagogy has had and continues to have a profound influence on the theory and practice of peace education. It is argued that the basic premises of Freire’s philosophy point to a realization-focused theory of justice and can serve as a robust organizing foundation for critical peace education theory and practice. This conclusion constitutes a hypothesis that calls for further research.
Isolation and genetic characterization of temperature-sensitive mutants that define five additional recombination groups in simian rotavirus SA11

Abstract Nineteen independent temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants were isolated from SA11 following mutagenesis with proflavin or 5-azacytidine. Fourteen of the ts mutants fell into one or another of five mutant groups previously defined by recombination. Five of the ts mutants defined five recombination groups (F, G, H, I, and J) that had not been previously identified. Thus, 10 of the 11 expected mutant groups have been identified in SAIL The prototype mutants of the 10 mutant groups were tested for recombination at nonpermissive temperature to determine if any group had a lesion affecting recombination. Most mutant pairs recombined efficiently; however, the ts H mutant was restricted in its recombination with the ts B and ts I mutants and the ts G and ts J mutants failed to recombine at detectable levels at nonpermissive temperature. The mutants of groups F-J did not complement, or did so inefficiently, and interfered with the growth of wild type at both permissive and nonpermissive temperatures. The growth properties of the mutants of groups F-J are described.
IDENTIFICATION OF TWO ELECTRON-TRANSFER SITES IN ASCORBATE PEROXIDASE USING CHEMICAL MODIFICATION, ENZYME KINETICS, AND CRYSTALLOGRAPHY

Chemical and mutagenic modification combined with X-ray crystallography has been used to probe the ascorbate binding site in ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Chemical modification of the single Cys residue in APX with Ellman's reagent (DTNB) blocks the ability of APX to oxidize ascorbate but not other small aromatic phenolic substrates. DTNB-modified APX (APX-TNB) exhibits only 1.3% wild-type activity when ascorbate is used as the substrate but full activity when aromatic substrates, guaiacol or pyrogallol, are used. Stopped-flow studies show that APX-TNB reacts normally with peroxide to give compound I but that the rates of reduction of both compounds I and II by ascorbate are dramatically slowed. Conversion of Cys32 to Ser leads to ≈70% drop in ascorbate peroxidase activity with no effect on guaiacol peroxidase activity. These results indicate that uncharged aromatic substrates and the anionic ascorbate molecule interact with different sites on APX. The 2.0 A X-ray crystal structure of APX-TNB shows clear el...
Association of a protein structure of probable membrane derivation with HeLa cell mitochondrial DNA near its origin of replication

Almost all (about 95%) of the mitochondrial DNA molecules released by Triton X-100 lysis of HeLa cell mitochondria in the presence of 0.15 M salt are associated with a single protein-containing structure varying in appearance between a 10-20 nm knob and a 100-500 nm membrane-like patch. Analysis by high resolution electron microscopy and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after cleavage of mitochondrial DNA with the endonucleases EcoRI, HindIII, and Hpa II has shown that the protein structure is attached to the DNA in the region of the D-loop, and probably near the origin of mitochondrial DNA replication. The data strongly suggest that HeLa cell mitochondrial DNA is attached in vivo to the inner mitochondrial membrane at or near the origin of replication, and that a membrane fragment of variable size remains associated with the DNA during the isolation. After sodium dodecyl sulfate extraction of mitochondrial DNA, a small 5-10 nm protein is found at the same site on a fraction of the mitochondrial DNA molecules.
Forward with Osmosis: Emerging Applications for Greater Sustainability

Many conventional practices in the production and use of water, energy, and food are unsustainable. Existing technologies and concepts can be improved with the integration of forward osmosis, a membrane-based technology that uses osmosis as its driving force. This Feature highlights five emerging applications of forward osmosis that elegantly bypass the difficult step of draw solution regeneration and make common processes more sustainable. These applications enhance the efficiency of the production and use of water, energy, and food; utilize wastes and abundant, low value resources; and better protect the environment.
WISDOM IN THE JOSEPH STORY

G. von Rad's thesis that the Joseph story is a didactic text intended to exemplify and inculcate the ideals of Wisdom literature requires a fresh assessment, one that proceeds from a more nuanced understanding of the meaning of wisdom and revelation in the texts being compared. The Joseph story is found to reflect significantly diverent attitudes and assumptions from those characteristic of didactic wisdom. The concept of wisdom in the Joseph story is ayliated with the pietistic and inspired wisdom of Daniel rather than with the ethical and practical wisdom of Wisdom literature.
Detecting random-effects model misspecification via coarsened data

Mixed effects models provide a suitable framework for statistical inference in a wide range of applications. The validity of likelihood inference for this class of models usually depends on the assumptions on random effects. We develop diagnostic tools for detecting random-effects model misspecification in a rich class of mixed effects models. These methods are illustrated via simulation and application to soybean growth data.
Pearn Peter Niiler (1937–2010)

[1] Peter Niiler, great friend, valued colleague, and AGU Fellow since 1986, will be remembered for his scientific achievements and as one of the most colorful physical oceanographers of his generation. Indeed, the Tropic Heat experiment's colors of mauve on pink, complete with Peter's matching ensemble, remain a vivid memory of that otherwise orthodox 1980s program championed by Peter to target equatorial Pacific mixing. Peter always sought understanding: to get things right for the right reason. Therefore, he held a healthy skepticism of numerical modeling and remote sensing, while utilizing both satellites and his own brand of diagnostic modeling. Peter's science motives were noble and would lead him to fight the good fight when necessary, especially when advocating his views on the Gulf Stream path, trapped inertial currents, heat and vorticity balances, and other subjects evoking his passion.
Composing molecular music with carbon

What musical notes can a molecule play? Carbyne is a chain of atoms that vibrates similar to an elastic string. Like the tuning of a guitar string, this vibration can be predicted based on length and tension. Using atomistic simulation, we determine the vibrational response of carbyne. We further produce audible notes, enabling specific musical composition with prescribed molecular conditions (pre-strain and length) and combine single chains into multi-chain systems to form molecular chords. Since the tension of a molecular chain is relatively low (<nN), such “strings” can potentially be developed for signaling and detection with high resolution.
Using Positional Data from Vessel Monitoring Systems to Validate the Logbook-Reported Area Fished and the Stock Allocation of Commercial Fisheries Landings

Abstract Stock allocations derived from vessel monitoring system (VMS) positional data from northeastern U.S. fisheries were compared with those obtained from mandatory vessel trip report (VTR) logbooks. A gear-specific speed algorithm was applied to VMS positions collected in 2005 from otter trawl, Atlantic sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus dredge, sink gill-net, and benthic longline fisheries to estimate the locations of fishing activity. Estimated fishing locations were used to reallocate the stock area landings of eight federally managed groundfish species. The accuracy of the VMS method relative to that of the mandatory logbooks was assessed using haul locations and catch data recorded by at-sea observers. The VMS algorithm tended to overestimate the number of statistical areas fished, such that when a trip's fishing activity occurred in a single statistical area, logbooks more accurately reflected the true fishing location. However, when fishing activity occurred in multiple statistical areas, th...
Application of regression analysis to hypoglycemic activities of 12 piperidinesulfamylsemicarbazides and activity predictions for 12 analogs.

A regression analysis is applied to the hypoglycemic activity data for a series of 12 piperidinesulfamylsemicarbazides. The results are used to estimate the hypoglycemic activity for 12 untested analogs. The following seven untested compounds are predicted to have greater hypoglycemic activity than chlorpropamide: 1, 1-pentamethylene -4- (4-ethyl -4- methyl -1- piperidinesulfamyl) semicarbazide; 1, 1-pentamethylene-4- (4-methoxy-4-methyl-1-piperidinesulfamyl) semicarbazide; 1, 1-pentamethylene-4-(4, 4-diethyl -1- piperidinesulfamyl) semicarbazide; 1, 1- penta-methylene-4-(4-ethyl-4-methoxy -1- piperidinesulfamyl) semicarbazide; 1, 1-penta-methylene-4-(4, 4-dimethoxy -1-piperidinesulfamyl) semicarbazide; 1, 1-hexamethylene-4-(4-methoxy-4-methyl-1-piperidinesulfamyl) semicarbazide; 1, 1-hexamethylene-4-(4-ethyl-4-methoxy-1-piperidinesulfamyl) semicarbazide.
Identification of process related trace level impurities in the actinide decorporation agent 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO): Nozzle-skimmer fragmentation via ESI LC-QTOFMS.

Abstract 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO) is a chelating ligand and decorporation agent that can remove radioactive lanthanides and actinides from the body. Identification of trace impurities in drug samples is gaining much interest due to their significant influence on drug activity. In this study, trace impurities were detected in manufactured lots of 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO) by a developed method of liquid chromatography coupled with photo-diode array UV detection and electrospray ionization–quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (LC–QTOFMS), via induced-in-source or collision-induced mass fragmentation (nozzle–skimmer fragmentation). Molecular ions were fragmented within the nozzle–skimmer region of electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometer equipped with a Time of Flight detector. Eight major (detected at levels higher than a 0.1% threshold) and seven minor trace impurities were identified. The respective structures of these impurities were elucidated via analysis of the generated fragment ions using mass fragmentation and elemental composition software. Proposed structures of impurities were further confirmed via isotopic modeling.
Development and clinical implementation of an enhanced display algorithm for use in networked electronic portal imaging.

Abstract Purpose: To introduce and clinically validate a preprocessing algorithm that allows clinical images from an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) to be displayed on any computer monitor, without loss of clinical usability. The introduction of such a system frees EPI systems from the constraints of fixed viewing workstations and increases mobility of the images in a department. Methods and Materials: The preprocessing algorithm, together with its variable parameters is introduced. Clinically, the algorithm is tested using an observer study of 316 EPID images of the pelvic region in the framework of treatment of carcinoma of the cervix and endometrium. Both anterior–posterior (AP/PA) and latero-lateral (LAT) images were used. The images scored were taken from six different patients, five of whom were obese, female, and postmenopausal. The result is tentatively compared with results from other groups. The scoring system, based on the number of visible landmarks in the port, is proposed and validated. Validation was performed by having the observer panel score images with artificially induced noise levels. A comparative study was undertaken with a standard automatic window and leveling display technique. Finally, some case studies using different image sites and EPI detectors are presented. Results: The image quality for all images in this study was deemed to be clinically useful (mean score > 1). Most of the images received a score which was second highest (AP/PA landmarks ≥ 6 and LAT landmarks ≥ 5). Obesity, which has been an important factor determining the image quality, was not seen to be a factor here. Compared to standard techniques a highly significant improvement was determined with regard to clinical usefulness. The algorithm performs fast (less than 9 seconds) and needs no additional user interaction in most of the cases. The algorithm works well on both direct detection portal imagers and camera-based imagers whether analog or digital cameras. Conclusions: We have demonstrated that it is possible to preprocess EPIs in such a way that the clinically relevant landmarks are easily detected on a generic computer screen. The algorithm is system-independent and fast. This allows for the encoding of EPIs in more generalized commercial formats so that distribution of images is facilitated.
Characterization of the compaction and sintering of hydroxyapatite powders by mercury porosimetry

Abstract Mercury porosimetry was used to measure the bulk and real densities, pore volumes and pore size distributions of compacts of hydroxyapatite before and after sintering. The hydroxyapatites were prepared by two different methods and had widely different surface areas. The properties were determined as a function of compaction force and sintering temperature. Densities from porosimetry were in good agreement with geometric densities. A linear relation was found between pore volume and log of the applied force. There was also a linear relationship between bulk volume and pore volume of the compacts. A bimodal pore size distribution was observed for the high surface area hydroxyapatite which disappeared with increasing compaction loads. Pressurization and depressurization measurements indicated that the main body of the pores in the compacts attained a more regular “spherical” shape with increasing compaction force than did the “necks”. The pore volume, percent porosity, and bulk density of the compacts remained unchanged up to 600°C; however, the surface area and the average pore diameter changed at 400°C. The distribution of pores became more uniform, narrower in distribution, and larger in size as the sintering temperature increased. The change in pore area with pore volume indicated that two mechanisms were operating during sintering. The pore area proved to be the most sensitive indicator of changes during sintering.
Discrimination of tropical vegetation types using SPOT multispectral data

Abstract Vegetation types were discriminated using SPOT multispectral data on Miti'aro, a tropical oceanic island in the Cook Islands, Polynesia. Vegetation categories included undisturbed and disturbed forest on limestone, scrub, marsh, and other forest vegetation (including secondary upland forest and agroforestry). Most category pairs had high separability as measured by Jeffries‐Matusita distance and Euclidean distance for training site data. However, there was some class overlap as illustrated by unsuperaised clustering and assigning spectral clusters to vegetation classes using a reference map. Cloud cover was a problem encountered in optical imaging of this maritime tropical study area.
Role of phosphorylation, gene dosage and Dax-1 in SF-1 mediated steroidogenesis.

The mechanisms by which SF-1 (Steroidogenic Factor-1) and Dax-1 (Dosage-sensitive sex reversal-Adrenal hypoplasia congenita critical region on the X chromosome) dictate adrenal-specific transcriptional programs are the focus of this laboratory. SF-1-mediated transcription is upregulated by phosphorylation of serine 203 located in the hinge region of SF-1. An SF-1S203A mutant attenuates SF-1 activation, while substitution of S203 with a charged aspartate (SF-1S203D) results in a dose dependent increase in SF-1 mediated transcription. Ser203 serves as a substrate for Erk2 in vitro and is critical for activation of SF-1 by multiple components of the MAPK pathway. Isoelectric focusing demonstrates multiple immuno-reactive SF-1 species in mouse adrenal and NCI-H295A cell extracts. We propose that differential phosphorylation of SF-1 by various mitogens serves to couple extracellular signals to adrenal-specific transcriptional programs. Mouse studies utilizing SF-1 heterozygous mice explore the in vivo role of ...
Chemical binding affinity estimation using MSB

Binding affinity can be estimated in several ways in the laboratory but there is no viable way to estimate binding affinity in vivo without assumptions on the number of binding sites. Magnetic spectroscopy of nanoparticle Brownian motion, MSB, measures the rotational Brownian motion. The MSB signal is affected by nanoparticle binding affinity so it provides a mechanism to measure the chemical binding affinity. We present a possible mechanism to quantify the binding affinity and test that mechanism using viscous solutions.
Convolution estimation of spill-down and scatter in dual isotope (99mTc/111In) SPECT

ABSTRACT Accurate attenuation correction in dual isotope single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) requires spilldown and scatter correction. Convolution methods that allow such correction were investigated. Three energywindows were used: 1) a Compton scatter window placed below the 99m Tc photopeak window, 2) the 99m Tc photopeak,and 3) both 111 In photopeaks. Spilldown of 111 In into the 99m Tc window was measured using a small source of 111 In atdepths of 5, 7, 9, and 11cm. From these data, the convolution kernel relating the 111 In image and the 99m Tc windowspilldown image was computed for each depth. Using a small 99m Tc source at the same depths, the convolutionkernels describing its spilldown into the Compton window were computed. A factor to scale the 99m Tc spilldownestimate by for obtaining the selfscatter estimate was determined from the total counts in the 99m Tc photopeak vs. theCompton scatter window when primary photons were blocked with a small lead disk. Depths of 5 and 9cm wereoptimal for spilldown and
Surgical Applications of Ultrashort Pulse Laser Technology

The Laser Program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is developing the technology and applications for high average power, sub-psec, solid state lasers. In this instance, we will describe our latest efforts to develop some of this technology into useful medical devices. The short pulse laser removes tissue through pure photoablation, which affords a means to carefully control excision and collateral damage. We have observed removal rates of order 1 micron/pulse with only a weak dependence on tissue color. Tissue heating and collateral damage are also significantly minimized when using such short pulse interactions thus providing an important opportunity to develop some of the medical applications such as dental drilling, nerve resection and delicate spinal surgery. We will also discuss the current technology hurdles which must be overcome in order to successfully deploy such lasers within the Health Care industry.
Adaptation of Asymptotic Close-Coupling Methods to Massively Parallel Computers

A standard asymptotic close-coupling method based on a perturbation technique is adapted for use on massively parallel computers. The calculation of K-matrices and cross sections is partitioned over the processors according to incident electron energy. Use of external disk during the calculation is eliminated. Linear scaling with the number of processors is achieved for a 128-node Intel iPSC/860 and a small farm of Sun Sparc 10 workstations.
Changing College Students’ Financial Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior through Seminar Participation

This pilot study examined the influence of Credit Wise Cats, a financial education seminar presented by Students in Free Enterprise, on the attitudes, knowledge, and intentions toward financial responsibility of college students (N = 93). Findings suggest that the seminar effectively increased students’ financial knowledge, increased responsible attitudes toward credit and decreased avoidant attitudes towards credit from pre-test to post-test. At post-test, students reported intending to engage in significantly more effective financial behaviors and fewer risky financial behaviors. Finally, demographic factors (e.g., gender and employment status) predicted students’ financial knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. These results suggest that a seminar format may be useful in reaching a wider audience of college students and, thus, warrants future longitudinal evaluation.
Classroom-based assessment: Changing knowledge and practice through preservice teacher education

Abstract In this paper, the author investigates how the working assessment theories and practices of preservice teachers change in the enactment of those theories and practices in a mentored learning environment. Following 38 secondary English teacher candidates across time, the author tracks preservice teacher growth in knowledge about classroom-based assessment and assessment-driven planning. Teacher candidates reported they were strongly influenced by professional dialogue about planning and assessment in both campus classes and mentored field experiences. Although most teacher candidates grew to accept alternative assessments as valuable evidence sources indicating student learning, they recorded concerns that fell into five overlapping categories: designing goals; rubrics, grading and fairness; grading and motivation; validity of assessments; and time required to plan this way.
A strategy of rapid cardioversion minimizes the significance of early recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias after ablation for atrial fibrillation.

A Strategy of Rapid Cardioversion. Background: The significance of early recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is unclear. Atrial remodeling driven by these tachyarrhythmias can result in electrical, contractile, and structural changes that may impair long-term therapy success. Aggressive attempts to restore sinus rhythm in the temporal period of healing after ablation might improve outcomes. Methods: A total of 1,759 AF ablations were performed at Intermountain Medical Center or LDS Hospital. A total of 455 of those were among patients requiring repeat ablations. Patients were instructed to take their pulse daily and, if greater than 100 bpm or irregular, present the following business day fasting to the clinic for evaluation and cardioversion if AF or atrial flutter (AFL) were present. Results: Of the ablations performed, a total of 515 (29%, age: 65.6 ± 11.2 years, male: 57.9%) developed AF/AFL that required cardioverison. The majority of these arrhythmias first occurred in the initial 90 days (63.7%) postablation. During this period, 62.8% were on an antiarrhythmic drug (AAD). Only 25.1% were using an AAD at 3 months. The majority of ablations (75.6%) who experienced AF/AFL within the first 90 days after ablation were in sinus rhythm with no AAD at 1 year. Further, 48% of those with the first recurrence from 90 to 180 days were in sinus rhythm with no AAD at 1 year. Conclusions: The time at which the first recurrence of AF/AFL occurs impacts long-term outcomes. An aggressive strategy of rapid cardioversion postablation reduces the significance of recurrent AF/AFL during the first 6 months. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 22, pp. 761-766, July 2011)
Bayesian Finite Element Model Updating for Crack Growth

This paper describes a probabilistic structural health monitoring framework to determine crack growth on structural members using model updating. The framework uses Bayesian inference to estimate crack lengths. On the proposed framework data from embedded piezoelectric wafer sensors (PWAS) and acoustic emission sensors is used for model updating. This paper presents preliminary results obtained using simulated data of a steel specimen. As a first step, the crack length is estimated using calculated displacements at the tip of the specimen. Results show that Bayesian inference can be used to estimate crack lengths on structural members.
External cardiac programmed stimulation for noninvasive termination of sustained supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia

To examine the feasibility of using a noninvasive temporary pacemaker for termination of well-tolerated supraventricular (SVT) and ventricular tachycardia (VT), a standard external demand pacemaker was modified to allow stimulation with single or multiple extrastimuli and overdrive pacing. To evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerance of external cardiac programmed stimulation, a standard arrhythmia termination protocol was used in 223 tachycardias in 22 patients. The technique of external cardiac programmed stimulation was used in 209 episodes of SVT in 13 patients. It terminated 95% of the episodes with success in 19 of 20 episodes of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia and 179 of 189 episodes of atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia. Of 198 episodes of SVT terminated by the technique 168 (85%) were terminated by a single extrastimulus and 28 (14%) by double extrastimuli. Only 2 episodes of SVT required overdrive pacing for termination. External cardiac programmed stimulation did not result in atrial fibrillation or arrhythmia acceleration. Of 14 episodes of sustained monomorphic VT 5 were terminated by external cardiac programmed stimulation. One tachycardia was terminated by a single extrastimulus, 1 by double extrastimuli and 3 by overdrive pacing. Arrhythmia acceleration occurred once and was terminated by endocardial pacing. On 27 separate occasions patient evaluation of maximal discomfort included 4 ratings of mild, 10 of moderate, 11 of severe and 2 of intolerable discomfort. External cardiac programmed stimulation is effective and safe in patients with well-tolerated sustained supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias.
Monoamine oxidases: from tissue homogenates to transgenic mice.

The regulation, structure and function of monoamine oxidases (MAO’s) have been a subject of my research for many years. Studies of the enzyme have moved from early biochemical experiments, where different forms were biochemically characterized, to the molecular biology revolution where the genes for MAO A and MAO B were cloned and sequenced. Analyses of the signal pathways of gene regulation and specific transcriptional repression of MAO gene expression followed, as did the elucidation of the role of MAO in apoptosis. And importantly, MAO’s impact on behavioral states of both mice and human beings was discovered. It is fulfilling and humbling to see how our early experiments with tissue homogenates and MAO A and MAO B gene cloning built a foundation for so much subsequent understanding of the molecular and genetic components underlying certain behaviors.
Interleukin 12: Basic Biology and Potential Applications in Cancer Treatment.

Interleukin 12 is a heterodimeric cytokine that has potent effects on innate and adaptive immunity. Interleukin 12 induces interferon γ secretion by T cells and natural killer cells, enhances the proliferation of activated T cells and natural killer cells, augments the cytolytic activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells, and supports the differentiation of Th1 helper effector cells. Interleukin 12 stimulates in vitro antitumor activity of lymphocytes from patients with cancer and in vivo antitumor activity in many murine tumor models. Current data indicate that CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, natural killer cells and interferon γ may contribute to the antitumor effects of interleukin 12 therapy. However, further investigation is required to elucidate the precise mechanisms involved in the antitumor activity of interleukin 12. The Oncologist 1996;1:88-97
Evaluating the Experience of GAPS—A Methodology for Improving Quality of Mass Immunization Campaigns in Developing Countries

The existence of pockets of under-vaccinated persons has allowed outbreaks of disease in countries that have achieved high levels of vaccination coverage. A field-based methodology—GAPS (Geographic Assessment of Planning and Services)—was developed to predict, in advance of an immunization campaign, the sites of which are most likely to have a pocket of unvaccinated persons and then use this information to improve planning, supervision, and evaluation of the campaign. At this time, there have been two applications of GAPS (Nepal and Ethiopia). The purpose of this paper was to evaluate these two applications of GAPS and make recommendations regarding its future use. Structured, expert interviews were conducted with at least three campaign organizers to evaluate each application of GAPS using purposive sampling. An evaluation of an individual campaign was considered positive when at least two of the three campaign organizers considered GAPS to be useful and worthwhile. The three campaign organizers interviewed following the GAPS application in Ethiopia responded that GAPS was useful and worth the effort. In Nepal, all four campaign organizers responded that GAPS was useful and worth the effort. Some suggestions for improvement were also identified. Although this evaluation was limited in the number of applications evaluated, GAPS appears to have promise as a practical method to help improve the quality of mass immunization campaigns. And even if no pockets of unvaccinated persons are found, the method may serve as a rapid quality-check of administrative estimates of coverage. Further applications in different settings are needed to confirm these findings or under what circumstances GAPS might best be used. GAPS may also be considered for improving other types of health campaigns, such as distribution of insecticide-treated bednets, vitamin A capsules, and deworming medications.
A 9-Bit configurable current source with enhanced output resistance for cochlear stimulators

This paper presents a configurable current source for cochlear stimulators. A switchable multi-bias active-cascode architecture is developed to provide a 9-bit output current in a small implementation area. A stacking MOS structure enables the current source to achieve high output resistance and large voltage compliance. Implemented in a standard 0.35 mum CMOS process, the current source can source a maximum 1 mA current, provide ges4.77 V voltage compliance under a 5 V supply and achieve >50 MOmega output resistance in 0.26 mm2.
An image sensor as an undergraduate VLSI project chip

We have used an image sensor as a multi-year project chip for undergraduates. With this project, students experience VLSI through an entire design cycle from start to finish. Students are involved in the design, simulation, testing i.e. all aspects of the project. The curriculum at Alfred is such that Juniors and Seniors can both take courses in VLSI emphasizing such topics as systems level design, analog design as well as other advanced topics. Students who take VLSI courses in their junior year are then allowed to work on the project chip during their senior year. Sensors constructed are based on the silicon retina, using transistors in subthreshold to produce signal compression at the pixel level.
Active and passive problem solving: moderating role in the relation between depressive symptoms and future suicidal ideation varies by suicide attempt history.

Objective Research suggests that being unable to generate solutions to problems in times of distress may contribute to suicidal thoughts and behavior, and that depression is associated with problem-solving deficits. This study examined active and passive problem solving as moderators of the association between depressive symptoms and future suicidal ideation among suicide attempters and nonattempters. Method Young adults (n = 324, 73% female, mean age = 19, standard deviation = 2.22) with (n = 78) and without (n = 246) a suicide attempt history completed a problem-solving task, self-report measures of hopelessness, depression, and suicidal ideation at baseline, and a self-report measure of suicidal ideation at 6-month follow-up. Results Passive problem solving was higher among suicide attempters but did not moderate the association between depressive symptoms and future suicidal ideation. Among attempters, active problem solving buffered against depressive symptoms in predicting future suicidal ideation. Conclusions Suicide prevention should foster active problem solving, especially among suicide attempters.
Family Environment: Sibling Constellation and Social Class Correlates

Eleven-year-old boys and their parents from southern Ontario, Canada, were used to examine relations among sibling constellation variables, social status indicators and a set of parent-sibling interaction variables which were highly predictive of mental ability performance. A two-term equation including father's occupation and either sibsize or the inverse of sibsize parsimoniously accounted for as much significant variance in the parent-sibling variables as complex many-termed equations. Within each socioeconomic group the amount of parent-sibling interaction decreased as the family size increased. It was also found that in high social status groups the amount of interaction in large families was greater than in small families from lower social status groups. By using refined environmental measures the study provides an increased understanding of the relations between social status, sibling constellation variables, family environment and cognitive performance.
Aliveness: perceived instability from a passive haptic texture rendering system

This paper reports new findings of our ongoing research on perceived instability that human users frequently experience from interacting with virtual textures rendered with a force-feedback haptic interface. Our work is aimed at a better understanding of a new type of perceived instability called "aliveness", which was discovered during our previous psychophysical experiments performed using a popular texture rendering method (spring model with fixed force directions) and a common texture model (position-based sinusoidal grating). We first examine the perceptual and physical characteristics of the proximal stimuli that cause the perception of aliveness in virtual textures. It leads to the hypothesis that the virtual environment model used for computing texture-perturbing forces, not the traditional control-related instabilities of the haptic texture rendering system, is responsible for aliveness perception. We show that this conjecture is true by applying passivity-based stability theory to the position and force data measured during user interaction with virtual textures. Examples of the data where the haptic texture rendering system is passive (therefore stable) and aliveness is perceived are provided to substantiate our conclusions. Our results point to the importance of designing haptic texture rendering methods and models that are free of perceptual artifacts.
Spillover Effects of an Uninsured Population

A lack of health insurance has long been associated with negative effects on individual and family health due to access barriers. However, we know little about how a lack of health insurance affects wider communities beyond health care. Based on in-depth interviews in two Los Angeles communities, we report how a lack of health insurance affects the functioning of religious institutions and schools from kindergarten to 12th grade. We find a negative spillover effect at the individual and institutional levels for schools experiencing greater absenteeism due to health insurance problems of pupils. However, we find that religious organizations are little affected by a lack of health insurance of adherents. Instead, churches offer health programs as a means to engage their communities. Besides documenting a negative and a positive spillover effect, we offer a conceptual framework for the qualitative study of health spillover effects and examine the policy implications of our findings.
Linkages between silviculture and ecology: examination of several important conceptual models

Responses to most silvicultural practices result from their influence on the amount of resources potentially available for growth, the ability of crop trees to acquire those resources, and the distribution of resources among components of the population. We review several conceptual models useful in accounting for important tree- and stand-level responses to a variety of silvicultural treatments. These conceptualizations of stand dynamics and production ecology do not directly associate growth response to resources, such as water and nutrients; but they facilitate the use of leaf area as an integrator of the ecological processes being silviculturally manipulated. We discuss several common silvicultural practices, including early competition control, soil manipulation, thinning, and fertilization, in the context of their influence on the amount, distribution, and net efficiency of leaf area.
Short cellulose nanofibrils as reinforcement in polyvinyl alcohol fiber

Short cellulose nanofibrils (SCNF) were investigated as reinforcement for polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers. SCNF were mechanically isolated from hard wood pulp after enzymatic pretreatment. Various levels of SCNF were added to an aqueous PVA solution, which was gel-spun into continuous fibers. The molecular orientation of PVA was affected by a combination of wet drawing during gel spinning and post-hot-drawing at a high temperature after drying. A maximum total draw ratio of 27 was achieved with various SCNF contents investigated. The PVA crystal orientation increased when small amounts of SCNF were added, but decreased again as the SCNF content was increased above about 2 or 3 %, likely due to SCNF percolation resulting in network formation that inhibited alignment. SCNF fillers were effective in improving PVA fiber tensile properties (i.e., ultimate strength and elastic modulus). For example, the ultimate strength and modulus of PVA/SCNF
Notes on the Historical Study of Social Mobility

In recent years sociological work in the field of stratification and social mobility has become, in at least one sense of the term, impressively cosmopolitan. National sample surveys which include data on inter-generational occupational mobility have been carried out in every major Western nation and in a good many non-Western societies as well, and those have inspired some ambitious comparative analyses of social mobility. This development, as S. M. Miller puts it, has had the virtue of making "the study of mobility one of the few fields of sociology which has overcome national parochialisms”. True as this is, however, it must be said that there are forms of parochialism other than national. Much contemporary research into social mobility suffers from one of these - a parochialism of time rather than of place, as it were, the parochialism of presentism. My purpose here is to suggest what is lost as a result of that parochialism, and to argue that a sense of the past, an ability to see his subject in historical depth, is not a luxury but a necessity for the student of social mobility.
“You Comfort Yourself and Believe in Yourself”: Exploring Lived Experiences of Stigma in HIV-Positive Kenyan Women

HIV-related stigma has a negative effect on women's health and can hinder interventions aimed at eradicating HIV. In Kenya, women withstand the worst of HIV-related stigma, because they are the most affected. In this longitudinal qualitative study, we explored experiences of stigma among 54 HIV-positive Kenyan women. Using Goffman's stigma definition and Foucault's social construction of stigma to analyze women's narratives, two main themes emerged: (1) women's experience of socially constructed HIV-related stigma and (2) women's resistance of socially constructed HIV-related stigma. Even though women are creative in resisting HIV-related stigma, psychological impact of stigma can hinder HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support. Interventions that empower women are critical in reducing HIV-related stigma.
A Nontranscriptional Role for HIF-1α as a Direct Inhibitor of DNA Replication

Cell cycle arrest in response to hypoxia is a fundamental physiological mechanism to maintain a balance between O(2) supply and demand. Many of the cellular responses to reduced O(2) availability are mediated through the transcriptional activity of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). We report a role for the isolated HIF-1α subunit as an inhibitor of DNA replication, and this role was independent of HIF-1β and transcriptional regulation. In response to hypoxia, HIF-1α bound to Cdc6, a protein that is essential for loading of the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex (which has DNA helicase activity) onto DNA, and promoted the interaction between Cdc6 and the MCM complex. Although the interaction between Cdc6 and the MCM complex increased the association of the MCM proteins with chromatin, the binding of HIF-1α to the complex decreased phosphorylation and activation of the MCM complex by the kinase Cdc7. As a result, HIF-1α inhibited firing of replication origins, decreased DNA replication, and induced cell cycle arrest in various cell types. These findings establish a transcription-independent mechanism by which the stabilization of HIF-1α leads to cell cycle arrest in response to hypoxia.
Optimal model predictive control of plasma pipe welding process

This paper addresses the development of an optimal model predictive control system for quasi-keyhole arc pipe welding process (QAPWP). To this end, a single input two output (SITO) linear discrete model structure is proposed through mechanism analysis. Its parameters are identified offline and updated online. An optimal model predictive control (MPC) algorithm is designed to control the process. Closed-loop control experiments verified the effectiveness of the developed controller despite the variations in the manufacturing conditions.
Differential inhibitors of tRNA methylases.

The enzymes that methylate tRNA have qualitative and quantitative differences among different species. Inhibitors of these enzymes with three different specificities have been found: some restricted to bacterial enzymes, some to mammalian enzymes, and some with dual potencies.