cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 26 Psychiatric insomnias

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses psychiatric insomnias. Sleep and psychiatric disorders are associated in several ways. From the perspective of sleep disorders, many cases of insomnia are associated with a psychiatric disorder that may cause insomnia complaints. From a psychiatric perspective, a large number of psychiatric disorders are associated with disruptions in sleep. These are recognized both at the subjective level, as well as at the polysomnographic level. Many of the medications used to treat sleep disturbances overlap with those that treat psychiatric disorders. Many of the interventions used to treat psychiatric disorders have distinct effects on sleep, either subjectively or objectively. Depression is among the most common of the psychiatric disorders that has been associated with insomnia. The majority of patients with mood disorders describe difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and early morning awakenings. While insomnia characterizes middle age and elderly unipolar depression, younger patients and bipolar depressed patients often describe a difficulty getting up in the morning and hypersomnia during the daytime.
A three-region intertemporal model of energy, international trade and capital flows

This paper reports on the formulation and solution of a three-region intertemporal equilibrium model of energy, international trade and capital flows. In order to focus upon international energy issues, the market economies are aggregated into three broad regional groupings: OECD, OPEC and NODC (non-OPEC developing countries).
Incorporating human expertise in computer algorithms for biomedical applications

The author emphasizes the paradigm of humans solving very complex control problems in real time. Good examples include trauma care or anesthesiology. The goal is to gain information about how humans solve these problems and to develop concepts applicable to autonomous machine prostheses for problems like orthostatic hypotension. There are basically two main issues. First, what kinds of human expertise can be brought to bear on the design of intelligent computer systems? Second, what kinds of problems arise in successfully gleaning the desired expertise in a form which can be useful? Since humans regularly deliver care to patients with a great deal of success, it would seem logical that computer algorithms designed to assist in patient care could profit from the inclusion of human expertise. The author discusses practical constraints arising in such an approach. >
Frontal Motor Cortex Activity During Reactive Control Is Associated With Past Suicidal Behavior in Recent-Onset Schizophrenia.

Abstract. Background: Suicide is prevalent in schizophrenia (SZ), yet the neural system functions that confer suicide risk remain obscure. Circuits operated by the prefrontal cortex (PFC) are altered in SZ, including those that support reactive control, and PFC changes are observed in postmortem studies of heterogeneous suicide victims. Aims: We tested whether history of suicide attempt is associated with altered frontal motor cortex activity during reactive control processes. Method: We evaluated 17 patients with recent onset of DSM-IV-TR-defined SZ using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale and functional magnetic resonance imaging during Stroop task performance. Group-level regression models relating past suicidal behavior to frontal activation controlled for depression, psychosis, and impulsivity. Results: Past suicidal behavior was associated with relatively higher activation in the left-hemisphere supplementary motor area (SMA), pre-SMA, premotor cortex, and dorsolateral PFC, all ipsilateral t...
Phase-field methods for interfacial boundaries

A Landau-Ginzburg approach to an interface with finite thickness incorporates surface tension, anisotropy, curvature, and dynamics of the interface along with supercooling. Various aspects are rigorous.
Quark mass matrices and flavor mixing.

We discuss a class of mass matrices reflecting the three hierarchical families of quarks and their predictions for the Kobayashi-Maskawa mixing matrix. According to the particular mass matrix, consistency with data occurs provided either that the t-quark current mass at low energy lies between 20 and 80 GeV/c/sup 2/ or that this mass is around 80 GeV/c/sup 2/.
NGF depletion reduces ipsilateral and contralateral trigeminal satellite cell reactions after inferior alveolar nerve injury in adult rats.

Following peripheral nerve injury, neuronal cell functions in sensory ganglia shift from normal maintenance and neurotransmission toward survival and regeneration. A rapid modulation of glial cell activity, which is related to changes in neuronal-support cell interaction, also occurs after nerve injury. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is required for the survival and maintenance of specific populations of sensory and sympathetic neurons, and changes in neuronal gene expression after axonal injury are due in part to a loss of NGF retrograde transport from the periphery to the cell body. A similar role for NGF in modulating support cell responses to peripheral nerve injury, however, has not been demonstrated. Using an autoimmune model, we assessed the effects of NGF depletion in adult rats on the injury-induced expression of glial fibrillary acid protein immunoreactivity (GFAP-IR) in the ipsilateral and contralateral trigeminal ganglia (TG). Unilateral inferior alveolar nerve crush resulted in a bilateral, NGF-dependent trigeminal satellite cell response. In control rats there was a widespread induction of GFAP-IR in the ipsilateral as well as the contralateral TG. In contrast, GFAP-IR was reduced to the mandibular division of the ipsilateral TG in NGF-depleted rats, and the contralateral up-regulation of GFAP-IR was entirely abolished. Bilateral sympathectomy failed to mimic the effects of autoimmunization. Our results provide evidence that NGF depletion inhibits injury-induced satellite cell responses, independent of its effects on sympathetic nerve function.
Synthesis and dopamine receptor binding of bridged tricyclic dopamine analogues

Abstract The bridged tricyclic dopamine analogues exo -2-( N-n -propylamino)-6,7-dihydroxybenzonorbornene, exo -2-( N,N -di- n -propylamino)-6,7-dihydroxybenzonorbornene, and exo -2-amino-6,7-dihydroxybenzobicyclo[2.2.2]octene have been synthesized and assayed for their effects on the binding of [ 3 H]spiperone and [ 3 H]apomorphine to rat striatal membranes. The inactivity of these compounds is rationalized on the basis of proposed topographical models of dopamine receptors.
Stromatolitic bioherms and microphytolites from the late proterozoic draken conglomerate formation, spitsbergen

Abstract The late Proterozoic Draken Conglomerate Formation (Akademikerbreen Group) in eastern Spitsbergen displays several prominent stromatolitic bioherms in its lowermost beds. The dolomitic bioherms are comprised principally of columnar stromatolites (cf. Gymnosolenoides), but include cross-bedded microphytolitic grainstones. The excellent exposures of the bioherms and microphytolitic grainstones along the margin of Petrovbreen (glacier) and the exquisite preservation of structural and microscopic details permit the documentation and interpretation of these sedimentary and biological associations. Locally favorable ecologic circumstance or chance colonization initiated stromatolitic mat development which then became self-perpetuating to form bioherms until rapid siliciclastic influx overwhelmed the mat-building populations. Intermediate energy conditions in concert with microbial activity and inorganic processes generated the microphytolitic grainstones. The interpretation of the biological and sedimentological interactions within these biohermal carbonates, microphytolitic grainstones, and siliciclastic rocks affords new insights into Proterozoic paleoenvironments.
The evaluation of 15% ethyl ether/hexane as the extracting solvent for BIS(2‐Chloro‐)ethers in water

Abstract The use of 15% ethyl ether/hexane as the extracting solvent for BIS(2‐chloro‐)ethers in aqueous samples is evaluated using the p‐value approach to liquid‐liquid extraction. The evaluation supports the choice of solvent and largely accounts for diminished recovery of the BIS(2‐chloro‐)ethers in terms of losses that occur during solvent enrichment, particularly as affected by nitrogen blow‐down from 8 ml to 1 ml.
Disciplinary reach: Investigating the impact of dataset reuse in the earth sciences

In the realm of scholarly communication, scientific datasets are becoming more widely recognized for their scholarly and reuse value. However, given the investment toward maintaining and storing research data for long-term access, there is no clear strategy or metric for determining the reuse of research datasets. This study proposes a novel approach to track use and measure the impact of publically accessible datasets in scholarly publications through disciplinary reach- the number of unique journals and related subject categorizations in which articles are published. Using affiliated publication(s), described by the author as the works identified by the dataset creator or curator related to a dataset, the principles underlying the bibliometric technique of citation analysis are leveraged and applied. Preliminary results show that for earth science datasets, affiliated publications were primarily cited in physical science and multidisciplinary journals, indicating these datasets may have an impact on a number of different research areas. Continued refinement of these approaches, measures, and the design will serve to broaden our understanding of the reuse potential of scientific data and their influence on advancing scholarship.
Prospects for the Therapeutic Use of Antigene Oligonucleotides

An outgrowth of classic nucleic acid interaction studies, oligonucleotide-directed triple helix formation is a unique method for creating highly specific chemical ligands that recognize and bind to particular sequences of duplex DNA. Under permissive conditions, these oligonucleotide-based compounds can approach or exceed the binding affinity and sequence specificity of natural DNA-binding proteins. Triple helix recognition has been found to be useful in certain cell-free applications including precise chromosome fragmentation. It has been proposed that such oligonucleotides could also form the basis for gene-targeted (antigene) drugs that might repress transcription from undesired genes in living cells. However, current strategies for oligonucleotide-directed triple helix formation suffer from important constraints involving requirements for stabilizing binding conditions, restrictions on permitted target sequences, and inefficient nuclear delivery of oligonucleotides. Implementation of oligonucleotide-d...
Matrix and vector operations on hypercube parallel processors

Abstract We describe a library of parallel vector and matrix operations for hypercube multiprocessors that supports both full and sparse matrices. The library includes operations such as vector arithmetic, innerproducts, matrix transpose, matrix-vector and matrix-matrix multiplication and rank one updates. The library should be generally applicable to a wide range of architectures. Performance of the library routines depends on the ability to map various topological graphs onto the processor network. In the case of hypercubes we have used such mappings for binary trees, hierarchies of rings and rectangular grids. We describe algorithms for the solution of elliptic and hyperbolic equations on parallel computers, and present results of several implementations. The library is a fundamental tool in the development of the PDE solution algorithms and all machine dependencies of these algorithms are hidden in the linear algebra package. We show that these algorithms perform at high computational efficiency on both the Caltech and Intel hypercubes. Solution methods involved include preconditioned conjugate gradient, multigrid methods, and for hyperbolic problems, both explicit finite differences and the random choice method. These algorithms implement substantial parts of many fluid dynamics calculations.
Facilitation of performance in paired-associate learning by distributed practice

Summary The purpose of the present experiment was to investigate the effects of massed and distributed practice on high vs. low similarity and a large vs. a small number of available responses. The task to be learned consisted of pairing eight nonsense syllables with numbers by the anticipation method. The Ss were 120 high school students, with 15 Ss in each of the eight conditions, consisting of all the combinations of low and high similarity, eight and sixteen available responses, and massed and distributed practice. The most notable result of the experiment was the superiority of distributed practice in all conditions. Both degree of similarity and number of available responses were found to influence rate of performance, with high similarity and a large number of available responses retarding performance. There was no evidence of interaction. A second study corroborated the above findings which suggest that the influence of intertrial interval is on the associative phase of learning and not just on the response-learning phase.
Improving Reading to Improve Math

Reading provides information across the curriculum. Thus, to the extent that fundamental (i.e., generalizable) reading comprehension strategies can be taught, the benefits should be found in multiple domains. To test this claim, children in the third and fourth grades read by simulating text content using the two-part, embodied Moved by Reading intervention. While reading six initial texts, children literally manipulated pictures on a computer screen to simulate sentence content; next, for additional texts the children imagined the manipulation of the pictures. These additional texts were in the form of mathematical story problems. Compared to a control condition, children using Moved by Reading solved more problems correctly, and this improvement is mainly attributed to a 35% reduction in the use of irrelevant numerical information in solution attempts. Thus, Moved by Reading teaches a fundamental strategy that encourages the sense-making that can aid mathematical story problem solution.
EVALUATION OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE TRANSATLANTIC ABORT LANDING ATMOSPHERIC SOUNDING SYSTEM

A study was conducted to determine the quality of thermodynamic and wind data measured by or derived from the Transatlantic Abort Landing (TAL) Atmospheric Sounding System (TASS). The system has Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking capability and includes a helium-filled latex balloon that carries an instrument package (sonde) and various ground equipment that receives and processes the data from the sonde. TASS is used to provide vertical profiles of thermodynamic and low-resolution wind data in support of Shuttle abort landing operations at TAL sites. TASS uses GPS to determine height, wind speed, and wind direction. The TASS sonde has sensors that directly measure air temperature and relative humidity. These are then used to derive air pressure and density. Test flights were conducted where a TASS sonde and a reference sonde were attached to the same balloon and the two profiles were compared. The objective of the testing was to determine if TASS thermodynamic and wind data met Space Shuttle Program (SSP) accuracy requirements outlined in the Space Shuttle Launch and Landing Program Requirements Document (PRD).
Distinct Roles of the Active-site Mg2+ Ligands, Asp882 and Asp705, of DNA Polymerase I (Klenow Fragment) during the Prechemistry Conformational Transitions

DNA polymerases catalyze the incorporation of deoxynucleoside triphosphates into a growing DNA chain using a pair of Mg2+ ions, coordinated at the active site by two invariant aspartates, whose removal by mutation typically reduces the polymerase activity to barely detectable levels. Using two stopped-flow fluorescence assays that we developed previously, we have investigated the role of the carboxylate ligands, Asp705 and Asp882, of DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment) in the early prechemistry steps that prepare the active site for catalysis. We find that neither carboxylate is required for an early conformational transition, reported by a 2-aminopurine probe, that takes place in the open ternary complex after binding of the complementary dNTP. However, the subsequent fingers-closing step requires Asp882; this step converts the open ternary complex into the closed conformation, creating the active-site geometry required for catalysis. Crystal structures indicate that the Asp882 position changes very little during fingers-closing; this side chain may therefore serve as an anchor point to receive the dNTP-associated metal ion as the nucleotide is delivered into the active site. The Asp705 carboxylate is not required until after the fingers-closing step, and we suggest that its role is to facilitate the entry of the second Mg2+ into the active site. The two early prechemistry steps that we have studied take place normally at very low Mg2+ concentrations, although higher concentrations are needed for covalent nucleotide addition, consistent with the second metal ion entering the ternary complex after fingers-closing.
Analysis of video codec buffer and delay under time-varying channel

In this paper, we analyze the effect of time-varying channels to video codec buffer specially for low-delay applications. We derive the sufficient conditions under which an encoder can design a bitstream for any time-varying channel without decoder buffer overflow and underflow. We then apply those conditions to design a bandwidth adaptive rate control in x264 and test it under LTE simulator. Our test results show significant improvement of delay and delay jitter over traditional leaky bucket models.
The maturation of corticocollicular neurons in mice

The location and development of the neurons that give rise to the corticocollicular projection were studied in C57BL/6J and 129SV/CPorJ anophthalmic mice. The first neurons that project to the superior colliculus appear in the subplate zone at E13 in C57BL/6J mice. Cortical plate neurons reach the colliculus about 2 days later. The appearance and development of these neurons are delayed by about 2 days in the anophthalmic strain.
RESTRICTED TESTS FOR AND AGAINST THE INCREASING FAILURE RATE ORDERING ON MULTINOMIAL PARAMETERS

Abstract We consider the likelihood ratio tests for (i) testing a constant failure rate (truncated geometric) against the alternative of increasing (nondecreasing) failure rate ordering of a collection of multinomial parameters, and for (ii) testing the null hypothesis that this parameter vector satisfies increasing failure rate ordering against all alternatives (unrestricted). For both tests the asymptotic distribution of the test statistic under the null hypothesis is shown to be of the chi-bar square type. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the procedure.
Temporal patterns of anxious and depressed mood in generalized anxiety disorder: A daily diary study

Research suggests that anxiety disorders tend to temporally precede depressive disorders, a finding potentially relevant to understanding comorbidity. The current study used diary methods to determine whether daily anxious mood also temporally precedes daily depressed mood. 55 participants with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and history of depressive symptoms completed a 21-day daily diary tracking anxious and depressed mood. Daily anxious and depressed moods were concurrently associated. Daily anxious mood predicted later depressed mood at a variety of time lags, with significance peaking at a two-day lag. Depressed mood generally did not predict later anxious mood. Results suggest that the temporal antecedence of anxiety over depression extends to daily symptoms in GAD. Implications for the refinement of comorbidity models, including causal theories, are discussed.
Strategies to Reduce Nitrate Leaching into Groundwater in Potato Grown in Sandy Soils: Case Study from North Central USA

There is increasing public concern to reduce nitrate pollution to groundwater, especially in sandy soils. Strategies to reduce nitrate leaching are developed to increase N use efficiency, reduce groundwater pollution, and increase tuber yield. A growing interest in N management should consider management strategies for N supply, soil moisture for transport, and crop N demand that are economical and compatible with local production systems. We present a review of the literature on conventional and innovative strategies for N, irrigation, and crop management for potato production in reducing N leaching in sandy soils. The amount of fertilizer-N should be decided based on an integrated evaluation of soil organic matter content, soil texture, residual soil N, crop residues, credit to organic N sources, crops to be grown including varieties and crop physiological needs, cropping systems, yield potential, water management, and N concentrations in irrigation water. Research advances have no quick fix for controlling NO3 leaching to groundwater. However, the best combination of proven strategies can reduce leaching potential significantly.
The Effects of the Crack Surfaces Interaction and the Crack Tip Plasticity on the Dynamic Response of the Circumferentially Cracked Turbo Generator Shafts

Turbo generator shafts are often subjected to complex dynamic torsional loadings, resulting in generation and propagation of circumferential cracks. These cracks can severely affect the vibration characteristics of the shafts. The effects of a circumferential crack, its size and location on the torsional dynamic response of a shaft is obtained, considering the local energy loss at the crack tip due to the cyclic plasticity and the crack surfaces interaction. The crack is taken to be normal to the shaft axis and the shaft is subjected to a harmonic torsional load. The shaft material is assumed to be elastic perfectly plastic. The local flexibility is calculated by evaluating the resistance of the un-cracked region of the shaft to the rotational displacement. The effective damping constant is evaluated by considering the frictional energy loss due to the crack surfaces interaction and energy loss due to the plasticity at the crack tip. The energy loss due to the crack surfaces interaction is evaluated by assuming a pressure distribution between mating fracture surfaces. The pressure distribution parameters are obtained by considering the fracture surface roughness (asperities height and width), and crack opening displacements in Modes I and III. The Energy loss due to the plasticity at the crack tip is related to the plastic zone size. The effects of the applied Mode III stress intensity factor on the energy loss due to the friction and the energy loss due to the plasticity at the crack tip are investigated. The results show that depending on the amplitude of the applied Mode III stress intensity factor, one of these energy losses may dominate the total energy loss. The results further indicate that the vibration characteristics of the shaft are significantly affected by considering these two sources of the local energy loss.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Investigating substrate promiscuity in cyclooxygenase-2: the role of Arg-120 and residues lining the hydrophobic groove

The cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) generate prostaglandin H2 from arachidonic acid (AA). In its catalytically productive conformation, AA binds within the cyclooxygenase channel with its carboxylate near Arg-120 and Tyr-355 and ω-end located within a hydrophobic groove above Ser-530. Although AA is the preferred substrate for both isoforms, COX-2 can oxygenate a broad spectrum of substrates. Mutational analyses have established that an interaction of the carboxylate of AA with Arg-120 is required for high affinity binding by COX-1 but not COX-2, suggesting that hydrophobic interactions between the ω-end of substrates and cyclooxygenase channel residues play a significant role in COX-2-mediated oxygenation. We used structure-function analyses to investigate the role that Arg-120 and residues lining the hydrophobic groove play in the binding and oxygenation of substrates by murine (mu) COX-2. Mutations to individual amino acids within the hydrophobic groove exhibited decreased rates of oxygenation toward AA with little effect on binding. R120A muCOX-2 oxygenated 18-carbon ω-6 and ω-3 substrates albeit at reduced rates, indicating that an interaction with Arg-120 is not required for catalysis. Structural determinations of Co3+-protoporphyrin IX-reconstituted muCOX-2 with α-linolenic acid and G533V muCOX-2 with AA indicate that proper bisallylic carbon alignment is the major determinant for efficient substrate oxygenation by COX-2. Overall, these findings implicate Arg-120 and hydrophobic groove residues as determinants that govern proper alignment of the bisallylic carbon below Tyr-385 for catalysis in COX-2 and confirm nuances between COX isoforms that explain substrate promiscuity. Background: Cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 have isoform-specific substrate preferences and interactions. Results: Mutations to residues in the COX-2 cyclooxygenase channel individually have no significant effect on high affinity binding of fatty acid substrates. Conclusion: Proper bisallylic carbon positioning drives efficient substrate oxygenation by COX-2. Significance: Our results confirm nuances between isoforms that explain the ability of COX-2 to oxygenate a broad spectrum of substrates.
Imaging in scoliosis

Recent advances in imaging technology have resulted in a better understanding of the complexities of the scoliotic spine. Plain radiography remains the usual method of measuring curvature progression, but use of multiplanar imaging techniques, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance, have resulted in a greater understanding of the three dimensional nature of scoliosis and enabled underlying abnormalities to be detected with confidence.#### Key messages Painful scoliosis Congenital abnormalities Despite the advances in imaging capabilities, the initial detection of scoliosis relies on clinical skills. The prevalence of scoliosis is quoted as approximately 1–3% for curves of greater than 10°.1 A few are detected through school screening, some will be found incidentally when imaging is performed for other reasons, such …
The Joy of Bioresources: Sustainable Forest-Recreation Connections

Forests have long-standing relationships with humanity beyond the material aspects. Recreation is an essential human need, and forests possess intrinsic values to support such a need in direct, authentic, and emotional ways. Quality recreation experiences can lead to a greater appreciation of bioresources and deeper support for forest conservation. The forest-recreation connections should be celebrated and sustained in this age of rapid social, environmental, and technological changes.
Role of basal insulin in maintenance of intracellular glucose metabolic pathways in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Impairments of both basal and insulin-stimulated oxidative (Gox) and nonoxidative (Nox) glucose metabolism are documented to exist in non—insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Although these defects have been well characterized during insulin stimulation, little is known about the effects of basal insulin or its deficiency on intracellular glucose metabolism in NIDDM. To determine the physiological significance of basal insulin in the maintenance of glucose metabolism in NIDDM, we studied nine subjects with NIDDM in the basal and insulin-deficient state produced by 3 hours of somatostatin (SRIF) infusion (0.08 pmol/kg/min). Glucose turnover rates were quantified by [3-3H]glucose turnover, and substrate oxidation was assessed by a combination of indirect calorimetry and urinary nitrogen measurements. Skeletal muscle glycogen synthase (GS) and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activities were also measured in the basal state and during SRIF infusion. Basal glucose levels were maintained during SRIF infusion by exogenous glucose infusion (12.5 ± 0.9 mmol/L in the basal state v 12.8 ± 0.8 during SRIF infusion, P = NS). During the last hour of SRIF infusion, plasma C-peptide levels declined by 88% from 0.73 ± 0.11 to 0.09 ± 0.02 nmol/L (P < .001), and serum insulin concentrations were undetectable (<14 pmol/L). During insulinopenic conditions, rates of glucose uptake (GU) were decreased by 12% from basal level of 2.26 ± 0.13 to 1.99 ± 0.12 mg/kg/min (P < .05), and were entirely accounted for by reduced rates of Gox (1.01 ± 0.10 to 0.65 ± 0.14 mg/kg/min, P < .01). Corresponding measurements of active PDH (PDHa) activity in skeletal muscle were similarly decreased from 0.50 ± 0.14 to 0.31 ± 0.09 nmol/min/mg protein (P < .05) during insulinopenia, whereas rates of fat oxidation (Fox) were increased from 0.87 ± 0.05 to 1.05 ± 0.07 mg/kg/min (P < .01). The reduction in energy expenditure (EE) from lower Gox was completely offset by increased energy from enhanced Fox and resulted in unchanged total EE (1.42 ± 0.10 v 1.41 ± 0.11 kcal/min, P = NS). Although skeletal muscle GS activity was significantly decreased (2.6% ± 0.7% to 1.8% ± 0.8%, P < .05), calculated rates of Nox remained unchanged (1.24 ± 0.17 to 1.34 ± 0.21 mg/kg/min, P = NS) and were significantly correlated with non—insulin-mediated GU (NIMGU) during insulinopenia (r = .76, P < .05). In conclusion, approximately 35% of basal Gox in NIDDM was dependent on basal insulin action. Basal Nox was independent of basal insulin and was determined by the rate of NIMGU. Basal insulin regulates intracellular glucose oxidation by multiple mechanisms that include effects on glucose uptake, free fatty acid (FFA) substrate availability, and PDH enzyme activity.
A multimodal learning interface for sketch, speak and point creation of a schedule chart

We present a video demonstration of an agent-based test bed application for ongoing research into multi-user, multimodal, computer-assisted meetings. The system tracks a two person scheduling meeting: one person standing at a touch sensitive whiteboard creating a Gantt chart, while another person looks on in view of a calibrated stereo camera. The stereo camera performs real-time, untethered, vision-based tracking of the onlooker's head, torso and limb movements, which in turn are routed to a 3D-gesture recognition agent. Using speech, 3D deictic gesture and 2D object de-referencing the system is able to track the onlooker's suggestion to move a specific milestone. The system also has a speech recognition agent capable of recognizing out-of-vocabulary (OOV) words as phonetic sequences. Thus when a user at the whiteboard speaks an OOV label name for a chart constituent while also writing it, the OOV speech is combined with letter sequences hypothesized by the handwriting recognizer to yield an orthography, pronunciation and semantics for the new label. These are then learned dynamically by the system and become immediately available for future recognition.
“I don't think I'm a racist”: Critical Race Theory, teacher attitudes, and structural racism

This article is an ethnographic examination of teacher attitudes towards race, racism, and White privilege in response to anti‐bias in‐service trainings in two major U.S. urban school districts through the theoretical lens of Critical Race Theory. We employ the analytic tools of Whiteness as property to make sense of the messages teachers perceived and developed about race and racism. Further, we examine what teacher attitudes reveal about the structural dimensions of racial inequity in schooling and achievement. We argue that the racial attitudes expressed by teachers in this study are illustrative of larger structural racism that both informs and is reinforced by these attitudes and their manifestation in practice.
Developmental alterations in the sensitivity of hippocampal NMDA receptors to AP5.

Abstract Changes in the properties of the N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptor are proposed as a factor in the decrease in synaptic plasticity during maturation of the brain. Alterations in the hippocampal NMDA receptor population were studied during development by comparing competitive antagonist efficacy during a window characterized by hyperexcitability and active synaptogenesis to that seen in a more mature period. A developmental change in the sensitivity of the N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) evoked response to the competitive antagonist d (−)2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid ( d -AP5) was observed by whole-cell mode voltage-clamp, intracellular and extracellular recordings in hippocampal slices. These differences were observed in the portions of the hippocampus that contain the terminal axon arbors of the CA3 pyramidal neurons, the synaptic fields of the Schaffer collateral, associational and commissural pathways. The apparent antagonist efficacy was 2–3 times greater in immature slices obtained on postnatal day (PND) 10–16 than that observed in more mature tissue (> PND38). Given the possible role of the NMDA receptor in network plasticity, these observations could indicate a role for the molecular diversity of this important receptor subtype family in the maturation of hippocampal pathways.
A method to confine thin solid organic films between flat rigid walls

Abstract A procedure for the vapor deposition of a thick layer of silicon oxide was developed to confine thin polymer films between two rigid flat walls. For silicon oxide overlayers thicker than ∼ 1.5 μm the deposited silicon oxide layer is mechanically stable against heating above the glass transition temperature of the polymer. Neutron reflectivity measurements show that the interface between the polymer and the deposited silicon oxide is sharp, having a characteristic width of 1.5 nm.
Detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in free-ranging bison (Bison bison) by PCR.

Abstract Bacterial culture is the ‘gold standard’ for detecting Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection, but is time consuming, laborious, and recovery of organism varies with species of animal tested. PCR has been used for detection of MAP DNA in feces and tissues. We used PCR to detect MAP DNA isolated from tissues from 25 free-ranging North American bison ( Bison bison ), each with clinical signs compatible with Johne's disease. We report the performance of PCR to detect MAP DNA in both frozen and paraffin‐embedded ileum, jejunum, and ileocecal lymph node samples collected at the time of slaughter. Specific oligonucleotide primers for PCR amplification were derived from 16S rRNA sequence M. avium subspecies (MAs) and insertion elements IS 1245 (MAs avium ), IS 901 (MAs avium ), IS 900 (MAP), and hsp X (MAP). Genomic DNA samples were prepared three different ways; crude DNA from frozen tissues, crude DNA from paraffin-embedded tissues, and purified DNA from paraffin‐embedded tissues. An animal was considered infected if MAP DNA was detected in at least two separate tissues using the IS 900 primer set. Using these criteria, 25 of 25 bison tested were positive for MAP. The data indicate that these free-ranging bison have been infected by MAP.
The Spanish experience of public-private partnerships with the drinks and food industries

Gornall shows how the drinks industry strongly influences public health policy.1 It seems that the public health responsibility deal favoured corporations by giving them privileged access to the health policy table and the opportunity to co-finance government health promotion campaigns. The Spanish government may be following a similar path. On 19 December 2013 the Ministry of Health launched an underage drinking prevention campaign funded by the Spanish Spirits Federation. …
LINEAR ELECTRIC-DIPOLE POLARIZABILITIES

This article reviews the main theoretical methods and experimental techniques for determining electric-dipole polarizabilities. This review only considers the lowest-order polarizability which describes the linear response of a particle to an electric field, i.e. the induced electric-dipole moment depends linearly on the applied electric field. The scope of the review is broad: it encompasses atomic, molecular and cluster polarizabilities. Both static and dynamic polarizabilities are covered. Calculational techniques discussed in detail include variational perturbational theory, the local density approximation, and semi-empirical additivity methods. Special attention is paid to basis sets used in polarizability calculations—especially the increasingly popular Gaussian basis sets. Extensive tabulations of polarizability calculations are provided for helium and sodium atoms, the diatomic nitrogen molecule, the fullerene C60, and sodium and potassium clusters. For each of these cases, the most reliable experimental results are also provided for comparison to theory. Many traditional experimental techniques are reviewed including dielectric constant, refractive index, Rayleigh scattering, electro-optic Kerr effect, beam deflection, E—H gradient balance, and the beam resonance technique. New experimental methods for determining polarizabilities such as the light-force method and atom interferometry are also extensively discussed. In addition, a novel detection scheme that is elegant and universal—the position-sensitive time-of-flight spectrometer—is thoroughly described.
Don't forget family planning.

This letter stresses the importance of contraceptives as a proven cost-effective way to reduce mortality substantially and is shocked by the absence of contraceptives on the "first ever priority medicines list" to save the lives of mothers and children launched by WHO UNICEF and UNFPA.
Postnatal closure of membranous ventricular septal defects in Sprague-Dawley rat pups after maternal exposure with trimethadione.

BACKGROUND: Congenital membranous ventricular septal defects (VSD) have been shown to close during postnatal development in rats [Solomon et al., Teratology 55:185–194, 1997]. Although they may differ in size, spontaneous and treatment-related VSD are histologically similar; however, the postnatal fate of treatment-induced VSD is not known. The objective of this study was to determine if treatment-induced VSD persist throughout postnatal development. METHODS: Groups of 40 female rats were given oral doses of trimethadione (TMD) at 400 mg/kg/day (200 b.i.d.) or 600 mg/kg/day (300 b.i.d.) on Gestation Days (GD) 9 and 10. Twenty dams in each group were designated for Cesarean section and 20 were allowed to deliver and rear their offspring to Postnatal Day (PND) 21. The integrity of the ventricular septum was evaluated in fetuses (GD 21) and pups (PND 21). RESULTS: The incidence of membranous VSD was 0.6, 7.6, and 49.8% per litter in the Control, 400, and 600 mg/kg groups, respectively, on GD 21. Both the incidence and severity of VSD increased with dose. The VSD at 400 mg/kg were small in size and initially detected by the presence of blood flowing through the defect from the closed right ventricle. In the 600 mg/kg dose group, the VSD, although still membranous, were larger and more readily detected without the need to examine the blood flow. At 600 mg/kg, not only were the VSD larger than those in the Control or the 400 mg/kg group, 10.1% per litter of the affected fetuses had other vessel anomalies associated with the VSD, which were incompatible with pup survival. On PND 21, VSD was noted in 0.3, 0, and 6.4% per litter evaluated in the Control, 400, and 600 mg/kg groups, respectively. This demonstrates that the small, isolated treatment-related VSD can resolve postnatally; however, the closure of the larger or more severe VSD may be prolonged or may not occur at all. Although TMD exposure reduced group mean fetal weights at both dose levels, there was no difference between the mean weight of fetuses with VSD and those fetuses without VSD in the same group. CONCLUSION: Treatment-induced VSD close postnatally, and appears to be a delay in cardiac development not associated with fetal weight. The timing of closure and survivability during closure is dependent on the severity of the VSD. Further characterization of the two sizes of VSD may provide diagnostic clarity; however, the current data support the smaller VSD as a variation with no significant impact on viability and growth, and the more severe VSD to be a malformation. Birth Defects Res B 71:185–190, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Personality and Character

This is such a great month for me! Ravi Athale is the new permanent electro-optics program officer at the Office of Naval Research (ONR), which means I get to work with him more often. I've known Ravi for the last 15 years or so, and when I talk with him, it's like talking to one of those brothers who you have not seen for a few years, but it feels like you just picked up from your previous discussion yesterday. Ravi started his career at the Naval Research Laboratory, then he was a professor at George Mason University, then he was at DARPA, then MITRE, and now he is back with the U.S. Navy.
Intermediate care programs to reduce risk and better manage inmates with psychiatric disorders

Intermediate Care Programs were jointly established by the New York State Office of Mental Health and Department of Correctional Services to reduce risk and better manage inmates with psychiatric disorders. In an earlier study, we collected data from the mental health and corrections records of 209 inmates who were admitted to Intermediate Care Programs. Our analysis of those data showed there were significant reductions in the mean number of serious problem behaviors, correctional restrictions, and mental health crisis services during the six months before and after admission. In the present study, we used Wilcoxon tests to assess changes in the distribution of scores on variables assessed by the earlier study. The Wilcoxon tests showed there were significant changes in the distribution of scores on most of the variables. We then focused on inmates who scored positive on the respective variables, either before admission or after admission, and determined the percentage who improved, stayed the same, or worsened on those variables. The highest reductions occurred in mental health observations (65%), suicide attempts (63%), and emergency medications (43%). Lower reductions occurred in correctional infractions and restrictions (26% to 31%). Overall, the data from this study and our earlier one suggest that Intermediate Care Programs are effective in reducing risk and managing inmates with psychiatric disorders. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en
Internal structure of the postcapillary high‐endothelial venules of rodent lymph nodes and Peyer's patches and the transendothelial lymphocyte passage

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows that the postcapillary high-endothelial venules of lymph nodes and Peyer's patches consist of two segments each with a different surface relief: a proximal segment with a cobblestone surface pattern and a distal segment of interlacing cytoplasmic plates. Both segments have deep adluminal crevices in which lymphocytes are lodged. The internal structural configuration of this endothelium has been examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of serial sections of lymph nodes and Peyer's patches of mice, rats, and guinea pigs. The serial sections revealed that the endothelial cell bodies and their cytoplasmic extensions were disposed in a direction generally lateral to the luminal surface and intruded into the intercellular spaces of similarly disposed neighboring endothelial cells, resulting in a complex interlacing cellular pattern. Lymphocytes penetrated the endothelial cell body and secondarily followed an intracellular pathway through which they entered the extravascular compartment. At the exposed surfaces of the adluminal venule wall, recirculating lymphocytes were seen in SEM images to enter the endothelium by penetrating the endothelial cell body. The mode of migration of lymphocytes lodged in the endothelial crevices could be determined by SEM and has been examined by TEM of serial sections. At these locations as at the exposed surfaces, lymphocytes also entered the venule by penetrating the endothelial cell body. At both sites this transcellular pathway was followed by lymphocyte entry into the intercellular spaces from which they migrated into the extravascular compartment.
Connections of the pretectum in the cat

The connections of the pretectal complex in the cat have been examined by anatomical methods which utilize the anterograde axonal transport of tritiated proteins or the retrograde axonal transport of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase. Following injections of tritiated amino acids into the eye, label can be seen in the contralateral and ipsilateral nucleus of the optic tract and olivary nucleus where it appears as two or three finger-like strips. Following large injections of tritiated amino acids into the pretectal complex transported label accumulates ipsilaterally in a region dorsolateral to the red nucleus, the central and pericentral divisions of the tegmental reticular nucleus, the intermediate layers of the superior colliculus, the nucleus of Darkschewitch, the thalamic reticular nucleus, zona incerta and fields of Forel, the central lateral nucleus, the pulvinar nucleus and the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus. Contralaterally label accumulates in the nucleus of the posterior commissure, the interstitial nucleus of Cajal, the anterior, posterior and medial pretectal nuclei, and the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus From smaller injections, more or less well confined to single nuclei, the following patterns of connections are demonstrated. The nucleus of the optic tract projects to the ipsilateral ventral lateral geniculate nucleus and pulvinar nucleus and to the contralateral nucleus of the posterior commissure. The anterior pretectal nucleus projects to the ipsilateral central lateral nucleus, the reticular nucleus, zona incerta, fields of Forel, the region dorsolateral to the red nucleus and to the contralateral anterior pretectal nucleus. The posterior pretectal nucleus seems to project only to the ipsilateral reticular nucleus and zona incerta. The central tegmental fields deep to the pretectum project to the tegmental reticular nucleus of the brainstem. When the injection involves the nucleus of the posterior commissure label is seen in the ipsilateral nucleus of Darkschewitch, and in the contralateral nucleus of the posterior commissure and interstitial nucleus of Cajal but no nucleus of the pretectum could be positively identified as projecting to any of the motor nuclei of cranial nerves III, IV, and VI. Following large injections of horseradish peroxidase into the pretectal complex, labeled cells are seen in the superficial layers of the ipsilateral superior colliculus, in the ipsilateral ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, reticular nucleus and zona incerta and in the contralateral anterior, medial and posterior pretectal nuclei, nucleus of the optic tract and ventral lateral geniculate nucleus.
Producing high sugar concentrations from loblolly pine using wet explosion pretreatment

Abstract We present quantitative analysis of pretreatment for obtaining high conversion and release of sugars from loblolly pine. We use wet explosion (WEx): wet oxidation followed by steam explosion and enzymatic hydrolysis (EH) at high dry matter to solubilize sugars. WEx was conducted at 25% (w/w) solids in presence of oxygen at pressures 6.5–7.2 bar, temperatures 170–175 °C and residence time from 20 to 22.5 min. EH of pretreated samples was performed by Cellic® Ctec2 (60 mg protein/g cellulose) and Cellic® Htec2 enzymes (10% of Ctec2) at 50 °C for 72 h. At the optimal WEx condition 96% cellulose and nearly 100% hemicellulose yield were obtained. The final concentrations of monomeric sugars were 152 g/L of glucose, 67 g/L of xylose, and 67 g/L of minor sugars (galactose, arabinose and mannose). Compared to previous work WEx seems to be superior for releasing high concentrations of monomeric sugars.