cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Building Blocks of the Outer Membrane: Calculating a General Elastic Energy Model for β-Barrel Membrane Proteins.

The outer membranes of Gram negative bacteria are the first points of contact these organisms make with their environment. Understanding how composition determines the mechanical properties of this essential barrier is of paramount importance. Therefore, we developed a new computational method to measure the elasticity of transmembrane proteins found in the outer membrane. Using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of these proteins, we apply a set of external forces to mechanically stress the transmembrane β-barrels. Our results from four representative β-barrels show that outer membrane proteins display elastic properties that are approximately 70 to 190 times stiffer than neat lipid membranes. These findings suggest that outer membrane β-barrels are a significant source of mechanical stability in bacteria. Our all-atom approach further reveals that resistance to radial stress is encoded by a general mechanism that includes stretching of backbone hydrogen bonds and tilting of β-strands with respect t...
The cosmopolitan potential of urban England?: Jon McGregor’s If nobody speaks of remarkable things.

This chapter examines how Jon McGregor’s If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things reads the contemporary British city in terms of its cosmopolitan potential and the inherent tensions at play. Rather than simplistically embracing a utopian cosmopolitan ideal, McGregor’s text highlights an oscillation between a movement toward such an ideal, through the representation of a day in the life of a racially and ethnically mixed city street, and recognition of the myriad difficulties that stand in the way of its fulfillment, through a separate alternating narrative highlighting the loneliness of and gaps in communication between urban dwellers within a society that remains overly atomistic. This oscillation reveals the ways in which Britain in the new millennium continues to struggle to remake its national identity post empire.
Emotions and Political Limitations: Working Through the Broken Middle with Chris Brown

The chapter advances four arguments: First, that one of Brown’s legacies for International Political Theory (IPT) is the precise art of engaging both sides in a discussion in nuanced and careful ways. Second, that Brown’s middle-ground position with its faith in (violent) liberal power is occasionally mismatched by our contemporary ‘moment’ (stretching back through the previous decade). Third, that we might navigate this middle ground via a more nuanced, and likely more skeptical, sensibility. Fourth, that centralizing the struggles of the Broken Middle has its own limitations (including, namely, exhaustion), and thus should be considered as complementary to Brown’s approach to IPT going forward.
Utility of the laminin immunohistochemical stain in distinguishing invasive from noninvasive urothelial carcinoma

Background: To study the utility of the laminin immunostain in distinguishing invasive from noninvasive urothelial carcinoma (UC). The distinction is difficult but clinically significant as it can affect the decision to administer intravesical Bacillus Calmette–Guerin or can even lead to cystectomy. Materials and Methods: Representative sections of the transurethral resection of bladder tumor specimens from 25 cases of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded invasive UCs and 25 cases of noninvasive UCs were selected for immunohistochemical (IHC) staining with laminin (Ventana, Oro Valley, AZ, USA). These cases were selected using a computer-assisted search of our laboratory information system (Cerner CoPath). Tissue from five paraffin-embedded tissue blocks containing unremarkable urothelial-lined bladder parenchyma was chosen as controls. Results: All five control cases demonstrated crisp linear staining of the basement membrane underlying the unremarkable urothelium. Similar findings were also noted in the 25 cases of noninvasive UC. All 25 cases of the invasive UC demonstrated a complete absence of the staining around invasive and malignant urothelial cells. Laminin staining was also noted in both the muscularis mucosae and the detrusor muscle, although the pattern of staining in these areas was granular and was distinguishable from the crisp linear staining of the basement membrane. Conclusion: Laminin IHC staining can be useful in differentiating invasive from noninvasive UC.
A naturalistic study exploring mental health outcomes following trauma-focused treatment among diverse survivors of crime and violence.

Abstract Background Although considerable research has tested evidence-based practices in clinical trials, research is needed on the use of trauma-focused treatments by victims of crime and violence in naturalistic settings. This study investigated four trauma-focused treatments, prolonged exposure therapy (PE), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), eclectic therapy, and person-centered therapy (PCT), and assessed treatment dropout and symptom improvement over five assessment time-points. Methods Descriptive comparisons and pattern mixture multigroup growth models were used to assess differences between treatments on time in treatment, rate of dropout, and improvement in posttraumatic stress (PTSD) and depression symptoms in an outpatient sample of 526 clients seeking routine clinical care. Results PCT was significantly associated with the highest number of therapy sessions completed and the lowest rate of dropout (41.75%) compared to CBT and eclectic treatments. All treatment groups reported PTSD symptom improvement with no significant differences based on therapy type. For depression, the rate of improvement for clients in PCT who dropped out of treatment after session 3 was significantly steeper than the rate of improvement for clients in eclectic treatment who dropped out of treatment after session 3. Clients who stayed in treatment longer generally had larger decreases in symptoms compared to those who dropped out earlier. Limitations The small sample size in each of the treatment groups may have limited power to detect change. Conclusions Several trauma-focused treatments offered in a community-based setting may result in significant symptomatic improvement.
Feminized Power and Adversarial Advocacy: Levelling Arguments or Analyzing Them?

(1989). Feminized Power and Adversarial Advocacy: Levelling Arguments or Analyzing Them? The Journal of the American Forensic Association: Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 226-230.
State of the Art in Artificial Wrists: A Review of Prosthetic and Robotic Wrist Design

The human wrist contributes greatly to the mobility of the arm/hand system, empowering dexterity and manipulation capabilities. However, both robotic and prosthetic research communities tend to favor the study and development of end-effectors/terminal devices (hands, grippers, etc.) over wrists. Wrists can improve manipulation capabilities, as they can orient the end-effector of a system without imparting significant translational motion. In this paper, we review the current state of the art of wrist devices, ranging from passive wrist prostheses to actuated robotic wrist devices. We focus on the mechanical design and kinematic arrangements of said devices and provide specifications when available.
Untethered Lecture Capture: A Qualitative Investigation of College Student Experiences.

Untethered Lecture Capture (ULC), a technology-enhanced teaching strategy, permits faculty to be freely mobile in the classroom (untethered) while simultaneously teaching and creating audiovisual m...
Impact of Breakfast in the Classroom on Participation and Food Waste

Abstract Objective To investigate differences in school breakfast participation and food waste in 1 school district before and after the adoption of Breakfast in the Classroom. Methods Using a pretest-posttest design, participation and food waste were measured from 7 elementary schools in a rural area of southwest Virginia during the 2014–2015 school year. Participation and waste were measured on 4 days in each school (twice before and twice after Breakfast in the Classroom implementation) using the quarter-waste method. Results Across all schools, food waste decreased from 43.0% to 38.5% with Breakfast in the Classroom, with significant decreases for entree items, juice, and savory snack foods (P Conclusions and Implications Breakfast in the Classroom may be an effective tool to decrease food waste while improving dietary intake. Future research is needed among more diverse populations.
Calculation of the density profile of a system of hard spheres near a hard wall using the Henderson-Plischke and related approximations

The first Born-Green equation for an inhomogeneous fluid, which relates the density profile and an integral of the pair distribution of the fluid, is solved for the particular case of a system of hard spheres near a hard wall. The recent approximation of Henderson and Plischke, which is constructed from the Kirkwood superposition approximation and the Percus shielding approximation, is used for the pair distribution function. The results for the density profile are in reasonably good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations; they are very good near the wall but at larger distances are slightly worse than earlier analytic results obtained from the less sophisticated singlet theory which does not involve the inhomogeneous fluid pair correlation function.
LISTENING TO HYBRID IDENTITIES IN MEDICAL CONTEXTS

The importance of listening in health care is not a novel notion, although it is often ignored in practice. This essay describes an individual experience with listening (and nonlistening) during on...
Increased Optic Nerve Head Capillary Blood Flow in Early Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Purpose Blood flow in the optic nerve head (ONH) is known to be reduced in eyes with advanced glaucoma. However, experimental results from non-human primates suggest an initial increase in ONH blood flow at the earliest stages of damage. This study assesses flow and pulsatile hemodynamics across a range of severities to test the hypothesis that this also occurs in human glaucoma. Methods Laser speckle flowgraphy was used to measure average mean blur rate (MBRave) within ONH tissue (a correlate of capillary blood flow) and the pulsatile waveform in 93 eyes with functional loss and 74 glaucoma suspect/fellow eyes without functional loss. These were compared against results from 92 healthy control eyes. Parameters produced by the instrument's software were age-corrected, then compared between groups using generalized estimating equation models. Results The mean MBRave in the control eyes was 12.5 units. In glaucoma suspect/fellow eyes, the mean was 16.4 units, higher with P < 0.0001. In eyes with functional loss, the mean was 13.8 units, lower than eyes without functional loss with P < 0.0001, although still higher than control eyes with P = 0.0096. Analysis of the pulsatile waveform suggested that the deceleration in flow as it approaches its maximum across the cardiac cycle was delayed in glaucoma. Conclusions Blood flow within ONH capillaries was higher in glaucoma suspect eyes than in healthy controls. It was less elevated in eyes that had developed functional loss. The mechanisms causing these changes and their relation to concurrent changes in pulsatile hemodynamics remain under investigation.
Data Safety Monitoring Boards

The overall purpose of the Data Safety Monitoring Board, or Data Monitoring Committee, is to insure the integrity and safety of clinical trial research. Federal guidelines have been established by the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health regarding when a board or committee is required for federally funded research. These boards or committees serve to advise the sponsor and/or researchers of the study on the safety of the trial, the continuing validity of the trial, and the scientific merit of the trial. A data safety monitoring board charter is typically created prior to initiation of a clinical trial to explicitly address the mission and operating procedures for the committee. Committees can terminate trials early for either futility or reaching an early conclusion from interim analysis showing clear benefit. Even if a Data Safety Monitoring Board is not required, most clinical research trials should have a data safety monitoring plan.
TMS alters multivoxel patterns in the absence of overall activity changes

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has become one of the major tools for establishing the causal role of specific brain regions in perceptual, motor, and cognitive processes. Nevertheless, a persistent limitation of the technique is the lack of clarity regarding its precise effects on neural activity. Here, we examined the effects of TMS intensity and frequency on concurrently recorded blood-oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals at the site of stimulation. In two experiments, we delivered TMS to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in human subjects of both sexes. In Experiment 1, we delivered a series of pulses at high (100% of motor threshold) or low (50% of motor threshold) intensity, whereas in Experiment 2, we always used high intensity but delivered stimulation at four different frequencies (5, 8.33, 12.5, and 25 Hz). We found that the TMS intensity and frequency could be reliably decoded using multivariate analysis techniques even though TMS had no effect on overall BOLD activity at the site of stimulation in either experiment. These results provide important insight into the mechanisms through which TMS influences neural activity.
A novel SUMOylation site in the influenza a virus NS1 protein identified with a highly sensitive FRET assay

Nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of the influenza A virus is a major contributor to the virulence of the seasonal influenza A viruses, in part because it interferes with host viral defense mechanisms. SUMOylation regulates NS1 activity, and several residues of NS1 have been identified with traditional biochemical approaches as acceptor sites for SUMOylation. In this study, we developed a novel FRET assay to assess SUMOylation. Using this assay, we demonstrated that the lysine residue K131 in the effector domain of NS1 is a previously unidentified SUMO acceptor site. A recombinant H1N1 influenza A virus (A/PR/8/34) expressing a K131 SUMOylation-deficient NS1 had a significantly lower growth rate than the wild-type virus. These results suggest that NS1 SUMOylation at K131 is required for the rapid replication of H1N1 influenza viruses. The interaction between the NS1 protein and the host SUMOylation components may serve as a novel target for the development of anti-influenza A drugs.
Youth Mental Health First Aid (Y-MHFA) Trainings for Educators: A Systematic Review

There’s an increase in mental health concerns with youth, making it imperative to address developing educators’ capacity for identifying and delivering mental health supports. Youth Mental Health First Aid (Y-MHFA) aims to provide the tools for adults to offer aid to youth in need or in crisis. This review examined outcomes associated with Y-MHFA when implemented in school settings. Eight relevant studies were identified through a comprehensive systematic review of online databases, such as PsychINFO and ERIC, and related references. Published studies specifically about Y-MHFA written in English that report educator and/or college student outcomes were included. Overall, findings from the review illustrate promising gains in youth mental health literacy in educators and college students. However, there was a lack of control groups, long-term follow-ups, and cultural and diverse considerations to fully support Y-MHFA. Mental health awareness, strategies, and skills gained after Y-MHFA have implications for educators providing mental health supports to adolescent students and, therefore, increasing future student success. Further implications and areas for future research are discussed.
Measuring the Impact of Monetary Policy on Mortgage Rates

This study examines the impact of United States monetary policies on domestic mortgage rates, incorporating a holistic set of macroeconomic variables in its analysis. Two obstacles have prevented t...
Explaining the differential application of non-symmetric relations

Non-symmetric relations like loves or between can apply to the same relata in non-equivalent ways. For example, loves may apply to Abelard and Eloise either by Abelard’s loving Eloise or by Eloise’s loving Abelard. On the standard account of relations (Directionalism), different applications of a relation to fixed relata are distinguished by the direction in which the relation applies to the relata (e.g., from Abelard to Eloise rather than from Eloise to Abelard). But neither Directionalism nor its most popular rival, Positionalism, offer accounts of differential application that generalize to relations of arbitrary symmetry structure. Here, I develop an alternative account, Relative Positionalism, which distinguishes different applications of a relation to fixed relata in terms of the ways in which the relata are characterized relative to one another. In presenting and defending Relative Positionalism, this paper covers some of the same ground as my [2016], but avoids the latter’s algebraic approach and focuses on interpretative issues—in particular, how to make sense of relative property instantiation—that were not addressed in the earlier paper.
Fundamentals of Point of Care Ultrasound Applications in Perioperative Settings

In anesthesiology, the use and application of ultrasound have expanded beyond conventional and sonoanatomical boundaries of vascular access, placement of invasive monitors, and placement of neuraxial and peripheral nerve blocks into more modern diagnostic arenas in the perioperative period. Ultrasound has emerged as an immensely valuable tool in guiding anesthesiologists in making significant practice changing decisions on treatment and therapeutic interventions. Ultrasound has far reaching influences regarding resuscitation, patient selection for surgery, and patient safety. Ultrasound has been hailed as the “21th century stethoscope” as it provides immediate, bedside, accessible, real-time, dynamic, and non-invasive data that echoes with rapid changes in clinical contexts or hemodynamic parameters (Gillman and Kirkpatrick, Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 20:18, 2012). This chapter will highlight brief overviews of ultrasound applications and developments in various perioperative settings and their relationships with focused clinical contexts. These include: gastric ultrasound and preoperative fasting, lung ultrasound and concerns for oxygenation and ventilation, focused cardiac ultrasound and hemodynamic instability, as well as other applications such as airway or FAST exams in airway and trauma management.
Convolutional and generative pairing for SAR cross-target transfer learning

Machine learning systems are known to require large amounts of data to effectively generalize. When this data isn’t available, synthetically generated data is often used in its place. With synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, the domain shift required to effectively transfer knowledge from simulated to measured imagery is non-trivial. We propose a pairing of convolutional networks (CNNs) with generative adversarial networks (GANs) to learn an effective mapping between the two domains. Classification networks are trained individually on measured and synthetic data, then a mapping between layers of the two CNNs is learned using a GAN.
Leadership, Organizational Climate, and Perceived Burden of Evidence-Based Practice in Mental Health Services

The use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) is associated with favorable client outcomes, yet perceived burden of using EBPs may affect the adoption and implementation of such practices. Multilevel path analysis was used to examine the associations of transformational leadership with organizational climate, and their associations with perceived burden of using EBPs. Results indicated significant relationships between transformational leadership and empowering and demoralizing climates, and between demoralizing climate and perceived burden of EBPs. We found significant indirect associations of leadership and perceived burden through organizational climate. Findings suggest that further research is needed to examine the extent to which improving leadership and organizational climate may reduce perceived burden and use of EBPs with the ultimate goal of enhancing quality of care.
Tidal Characteristics from Harmonic Constants

Harmonic analysis of tide observations determines harmonic constants (amplitudes and epochs) of harmonic constituents of tide; formulas for using constants to obtain various ranges are furnished and techniques for obtaining typical curves are illustrated for various ports; these are compared with predicted curves.
Endocytosis of androgen-binding protein, clusterin, and transferrin in the efferent ducts and epididymis of the ram.

: The amount of androgen-binding protein (ABP) In luminal fluid from the central caput epididymidis of the ram, on a per sperm basis, remains the same as that in rete testis fluid (RTF) entering the ductuli efferentes, although >85% of the testicular protein is absorbed in proximal sites. To determine if ABP is spared from endocytosis in proximal sites and if proteins are differentially and selectively absorbed at specific sites in the excurrent ducts, we studied the endocytosis of ABP, clusterin, transferrin, and a 26/35-kd dimer isolated from ovine RTF. Each protein was labeled with colloidal gold and microinjected into the lumen of a ductulus efferens and five specific sites in the ductus epididymidis; uptake was quantified by electron microscopy. Endocytosis of each protein, including ABP, was substantially greater in the ductuli efferentes than in any site in the ductus epididymidis. More ABP was endocytosed in proximal regions of the epididymis than any other protein studied. Endocytosis of the 26/35-kd dimer, like ABP, was greater in proximal sites of the epididymis, whereas endocytosis of clusterin and transferrin was greater in distal sites. Thus, there was a differential absorption, since proteins were endocytosed in one or another specific region of the epididymis, depending on the protein. ABP was endocytosed in the ductuli efferentes and caput epididymidis in amounts similar to or greater than other major testicular proteins, and was not spared from endocytosis in the proximal excurrent ducts. Previously reported maintenance of a similar amount of ABP, on a per sperm basis, throughout the ovine caput epididymidis probably results from recycling of endocytosed ABP or from epididymal secretion of ABP.
How Children Learn Language: What sentences mean

In the preceding chapter, we focused on the form of sentences – whether the words are in the right order, whether any parts are missing, whether the right pronoun is used, and so on. But that's only half the story, at best. We also need to think about how sentences convey meaning. We'll begin by looking at children's early one-word and two-word utterances to see what types of meanings they express and what they tell us about children's early linguistic abilities. We'll then move on to consider a series of more advanced constructions, each of which provides valuable clues about children's emerging abilities to understand and to communicate. What a word can do From the day they say their first word, children are amazingly good at finding ways to express themselves and at interpreting what adults say to them. Children's first utterances usually consist of just a single word, but it's often used to express a sentence-like meaning. A child who points to her father and excitedly says “Dada, Dada!” is doing more than naming the person who just entered the room – she's trying to express the meaning “Here's Daddy.” And a child who looks at her mother's gloves and says “Mama” is not confusing the gloves with her mother – she's trying to say something like “Those are Mommy's gloves.” Single-word utterances are often called holophrases (literally “whole sentences”).
Speech: The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights is a much more fortuitous addition to the Constitution than many people imagine. The tired delegates at Philadelphia were unable to make the final effort to frame a bill of rights, and their failure nearly caused the collapse of ratification. When the First Congress met, James Madison took responsibility for making the new government live up to the implied pledge made during ratification to provide a partial list, drawn from the historic rights on English subjects. Not all Madison's proposed amendments were adopted however. The work of adumbrating the full scope of liberty under the Constitution goes on.
Compound Port Fuel Injector Nozzle Droplet Sizes and Spray Patterns

The goal of this research was to determine an empirical method of relating the droplet sizes and the spray patterns to the parameters and the geometries of the compound nozzles. Two different types of compound nozzles were studied, the compound silicon micro machined nozzle and the compound metal disk nozzle. Several different orifice geometries of each nozzle type were examined. The injector components upstream of the compound nozzle of two different types of injectors were also studied. A nondimensional characterization of the droplet sizes and the mass flow rates was proposed. The results of this study show that there exists optimum geometric features that will provide sprays with the minimum steady state and dynamic Sauter mean diameter. The spray of a compound nozzle can be characterized by the atomization efficiency and the discharge coefficient. Nozzle testing results show that many flow characteristics are developed in the compound nozzle. The compound silicon micro machined nozzles produce similar droplet sizes in both of the injectors studied. The compound metal disk nozzles produce sprays with droplet sizes similar to the compound silicon micro machined nozzles. The spray pattern is determined by the direction of the velocity vectors developed inside the compound nozzle. Amore » split spray can be produced by controlling the direction of these velocity vectors and enhanced with modifications to the cavity geometry.« less
Definition of pancreatic cysts within pancreatic calcification: report of two cases.

Pancreatic calcification, pancreatic lithiasis, and pancreatic cysts (most frequently pseudocysts), have been reported frequently in the medical litera­ ture and in various text books, but there has been little mentioned of the possibility of diagnosing cystic lesions of a calcific pancreas on the basis of the defect produced by these cysts in the pre-existing calcification within the gland. Recently we have observed two cases with pancreatic calcification in which definite spherical defects were noted in the calcification. On the basis of these findings the presence of a cyst was predicted in each of these cases and con­ firmed at operation. CASE REPORTS Case No.1. L. L. This 42-year old white male was admitted August 18, 1950 with an 8-year history of intermittent epigastric pain, relieved inconstantly by Sippy powders and milk. This had been diagnosed while in military service as "duo­ denal ulcer" in 1943. During the period 1945 to 1947 he took six "shots" of whiskey daily to relieve the pain. For seven weeks prior to admission the pain became more severe and constant, with radiation to the back. He lost 19 pounds in weight in the preceding year, the weight on admission being 134 pounds. On examination the patient was found to be undernourished. A firm, indurated, tender mass, moving with respiration, was palpable in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Routine laboratory studies were normal. Film of abdomen (Fig. 1) showed calcification conforming with the anatomic location of the pancreas Radiographic study of the gastrointestinal tract showed evidence of extrinsic pres­ sure within the duodenal loop, and outlined a spherical defect within the calcifica­ tion (Fig. 2). There was also evidence of extrinsic pressure on the posterior aspect of the first segment of the duodenum. Interpretation was offered that the spherical defect within the duodenal loop represented a cyst, but the extrinsic impression on the posterior aspect of the first segment of the duodenum was considered as suggestive of neoplasm. At operation September 27, 1950, the pancreas was found to be hard and nodular, with multiple calcific foci. A large cyst of the head of the pancreas was found and 300 cc. of brownish fluid removed by aspiration. The gall bladder and common bile duct were tremendously dilated. A mass of enlarged lymph nodes were defined superiorly. The cyst was anastomosed to a loop of jejunum. On exploration of the common bile duct, a probe could not be passed through the sphincter of Oddi. * Reviewed in the Veterans Administration and published with the approval of the Chief Medical Director. The statements and conclusions published by the authors are the result of their own study and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of the Veterans Administration.
Photoconductivity of intrinsic and doped a‐Si:H from 0.1 to 1.9 eV

The photoconductivity of intrinsic and doped a‐Si:H was investigated from 0.1 to 1.9 eV by the use of a fourier‐transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) with a‐Si:H as the detector. The photoconductivity spectra of intrinsic a‐Si:H consist of two broad peaks. One, at 1.8 eV, is the band‐to‐band transition and the other is the subband at 0.9 eV. The peak position of the subband does not show a temperature dependence. Doping with PH3 increases the intensity of the subband photoconductivity and shifts the peak to 1.2 eV, which is the only peak observed in the photoconductivity spectra for highly doped a‐Si:H. For B2H6 doping, the subband spectrum becomes broader and merges into the tail part of the band‐to‐band transitions with a bump at 1.3 eV. From these results the impurity levels in a‐Si:H are discussed.
Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow in a Furnace Using the Non-Boussinesq Approximation

Heat transfer and flow field distributions inside a furnace used for manufacturing carbon aircraft brakes are investigated by using non-Boussinesq equations. These equations, unlike their Boussinesq counterpart, enable us to account properly for the large variation of properties with temperature. Radiation between the furnace wall and the porous brake substrates is modelled by taking these surfaces as gray and diffuse, while the gas is considered to be a non-participating medium. A non-Darcian model is used for the flow in the porous brakes. We have implemented the equations within FIDAP, a commercial finite element code. The accuracy of the solution is validated by using well-established numerical solutions for laminar flows.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Detailed nuclear structure studies far from stability

State-of-the-art spectroscopy of nuclei far from stability has achieved an extraordinary level of sophistication and detail in the last ten years. In principle, if a state can be populated, it can be characterized by its energy, spin, parity, and major decay paths. Sometimes its lifetime can be measured. In practice, one is confronted with enormous complexity. To convert raw spectroscopic data into nuclear structure data involves a complex process of disentangling gamma rays and conversion electrons into decay schemes. Specifically, coincidence techniques, especially coincidence intensities, play a crucial role in this process. Recent examples and methods from work done at UNISOR are presented.
TAT need achievement and need affiliation in minimally brain-injured and normal children an their parents.

The families of 16 minimally brain-injured children were compared in need for achievement and need for affiliation with 16 families of normal children. The families were matched on age, sex, and birth order of the children, and on education of the fathers. Needs were measured by means of TAT type cards for both parents and children. The data indicated that the minimally brain-injured children and their mothers were lower in achievement motivation than the normal children and their mothers (rho less than .05). Results on the fathers were in the same direction, but were not significant. In addition, parents of minimally brain-injured children seemed to have a different pattern of influence on their offspring than parents of normal children. The achievement needs of the mothers in the former group were positively related to their children's behavior (rho less than .05), and the achievement needs of the fathers in the latter group were negatively related to their children's behavior (rho less than .05). Finally, there were no differences or relationships found for affiliation motivation.
Interaction of Tamoxifen and noise induced damage to the cochlea

Tamoxifen has been used extensively in the treatment of breast cancer and other neoplasms. In addition to its well-known action on estrogen receptors it is also known to acutely block chloride channels that participate in cell volume regulation. Tamoxifen's role in preventing cochlear outer hair cell (OHC) swelling in vitro suggested that OHC swelling noted following noise exposure could potentially be a therapeutic target for tamoxifen in its role as a chloride channel blocker to help prevent noise-induced hearing loss. To investigate this possibility, the effects of exposure to tamoxifen on physiologic measures of cochlear function in the presence and absence of subsequent noise exposure were studied. Male Mongolian gerbils (2-4 months old) were randomly assigned to different groups. Tamoxifen at ∼10 mg/kg was administered to one of the groups. Five hours later they were exposed to a one-third octave band of noise centered at 8 kHz in a sound-isolation chamber for 30 min at 108 dB SPL. Compound action potential (CAP) thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) levels were measured 30-35 days following noise exposure. Tamoxifen administration did not produce any changes in CAP thresholds and DPOAE levels when administered by itself in the absence of noise. Tamoxifen causes a significant increase in CAP thresholds from 8 to 15 kHz following noise exposure compared to CAP thresholds in animals exposed to noise alone. No significant differences were seen in the DPOAE levels in the f(2) = 8-15 kHz frequency range where maximum noise-induced increases in CAP thresholds were seen. Contrary to our original expectation, it is concluded that tamoxifen potentiates the degree of damage to the cochlea resulting from noise exposure.
Energy-dispersive surface X-ray scattering study of thin ceria overlayer on zirconia: Structural evolution with temperature

Abstract We have studied the structure of ultra-thin CeO 2 overlayer on single crystals of Y stabilized cubic zirconia (ZrO 2 ) by energy dispersive surface X-ray scattering. The overlayers were formed by depositing cerium metal and annealing in oxygen atmosphere. Three different crystallographic surfaces, (0 0 1), (0 1 1) and (1 1 1), were examined. We observed formation of CeO 2 overlayer with thickness of 10–40 A and lateral coherence length of 20–70 A depending on the sample. In addition, we performed in situ temperature study of a sample with (0 0 1) surface. A zirconia crystal with cerium metal deposited on the surface was placed on a substrate heater and was annealed in air during in situ surface X-ray diffraction. We observed the formation of a ceria epitaxial film at 420°C followed by a preferential grain growth at higher temperatures and finally the diffusion of Ce into the bulk above 700°C.
Synthesis and Molecular Structure of a Plutonium(IV) Coordination Complex: [Pu(NO3)2{2,6-[(C6H5)2P(O)CH2]2C5H3NO}2](NO3)2•1.5H2O•0.5MeOH

The trifunctional ligand 2,6-[(C6H5)2P(O)CH2]2 C5H3NO (1), in a mixed EtOH/MeOH solvent system, when combined with an aqueous nitric acid solution of Pu(IV), produces a 2:1 coordination complex, [Pu(1)2(NO3)2](NO3)2. A single crystal of [Pu(NO3)2{2,6-[(C6H5)2P(O)CH2]2C5H3NO}2](NO3)2•1.5H2O•0.5MeOH was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal is monoclinic, space group P21/n, with a = 19.1011(9) A, b = 18.2873(9) A, c = 21.507(1) A, α = γ = 90°, β = 108.64(1)°, and Z = 4. Two neutral ligands (1) are bonded to the Pu(IV) ion in a tridentate fashion. Two nitrate ions also occupy inner sphere coordination positions, while two additional NO3- ions reside in the outer sphere. Comparison of the solution optical absorbance and solid diffuse reflectance spectra shows the same Pu(IV) chromophore exists in both solid and solution states.
Pulsed Cavitational Ultrasound: A Noninvasive Technology for Controlled Tissue Ablation (Histotripsy) in the Rabbit Kidney

Purpose: The optimal minimally invasive treatment for small renal masses continues to evolve. Current ablative technologies rely on thermal mechanisms for tissue destruction. However, the creation of precise lesions is limited by inhomogeneous heating/cooling due to tissue variability, perfusion effects and tissue charring. We hypothesized that nonthermal mechanical effects of ultrasound (cavitation) can be used to progressively homogenize tissue in controlled fashion with predictable results.Materials and Methods: We developed a focused annular array ultrasound system capable of delivering high intensity (greater than 20 kW/cm2) short pulses (20 microseconds) of energy to a target volume. This system operates at a repetition frequency of 100 Hz, resulting in a low time averaged power output (approximately 5 W total acoustic output). Following approval from the institutional animal care committee a series of transcutaneous ablations were performed in the normal kidneys of 10 rabbits.Results: Lesions creat...
Experimental vitamin B12 deficiency: its effect on tissue vitamin B12-coenzyme levels and on the metabolism of methylmalonyl-CoA.

Abstract Vitamin B12-coenzyme levels have been measured in the liver, kidney, and brain of normal and vitamin B12-deficient rats, and in the liver, kidney, and heart of deficient and nondeficient pigs. In all cases, dietary restriction of vitamin B12 resulted in a decrease in coenzyme levels. In all cases the levels of coenzyme was significantly higher in rats than pigs. Methylmalonyl-CoA mutase activity was found in rat liver, brain, and kidney as well as in pig liver. In the livers of deficient animals this activity was significantly reduced. However, apoenzyme activity, i.e., isomerase activity measured in the presence of added vitamin B12-coenzyme, was increased approximately two-fold in the rat and four-fold in the most deficient pig. The ability of rat liver homogenates, deficient, and nondeficient, to catalyze hydrolysis of methylmalonyl-CoA was also demonstrated. A spectrophotometric assay for methylmalonyl-CoA is described.
Performance Comparison of Automated Induction-Based Algorithms for Landmine Detection in a Blind Field Test

Wideband Electromagnetic Induction (EMI) data provides an opportunity to apply robust statistical signal processing techniques to potentially mitigate false alarm rates in real-time landmine detection. This paper explores the application of matched subspace detectors (MSDs) and Support Vector Machines (SVMs) to this problem. A library of landmine responses is generated from a set of calibration data and a bank of matched subspace detectors, each designed to detect a specific mine type, is developed. Support vector machines are also considered for target/clutter discrimination. These are developed based on landmine signatures, decay rate estimates, and the outputs of matched subspace filter banks. Synthetic data sets are generated and matched subspace detectors and support vector machines are trained using this synthetic data. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROCs) for matched subspace detectors and support vector machines are presented for both experimental and simulated data sets. The results indicate that substantial reductions in false alarm rates can be achieved using these techniques, but that simulated data sets may not provide accurate predictors of performance.
Off-axis tensile properties and fracture in a unidirectional graphite/polyimide composite (Celion 6000/PMR 15)

Tensile properties of unidirectional Celion 6000 graphite/PMR 15 polyimide composites prepared by hot molding and cold molding processes were measured at room temperature and 316 C, the upper use temperature of the polyimide resin, at both 45 and 90 deg to the fiber axis. The resulting fractures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and materialographic techniques. Variation in tensile properties with processing history occurred in the elastic modulus and strain to failure for specimens loaded at 90 deg at 316 C, and in the fracture stress, and hence the in-plane shear stress, for those loaded at 45 deg at room temperature. Significant plastic deformation was observed in the 45 deg orientation at 316 C for material produced by both processing methods. In general, fracture occurred by both failure within the matrix and at the fiber-matrix interface; the degree of interfacial failure increased with temperature. Secondary cracking below the primary fracture surface was also observed.
Telomeres Limit Cancer Growth by Inducing Senescence: Long-Sought In Vivo Evidence Obtained

Cellular senescence triggered by telomere dysfunction has long been hypothesized to constitute a tumor suppression mechanism. The evidence has come primarily from in vitro cell culture studies, and more indirectly from analysis of tumor specimens. Two recent studies, published in the current issue of Cancer Cell and online at EMBO Reports, provide direct mechanistic evidence in cleverly manipulated mouse cancer models. This work shows that telomere-induced senescence is as effective as apoptosis in reducing cancer incidence and is mediated by the tumor suppressor p53.
Parallel Transient Dynamics Simulations

Transient dynamics simulations are commonly used to model phenomena such as car crashes, underwater explosions, and the response of shipping containers to high-speed impacts. Physical objects in such a simulation are typically represented by Lagrangian meshes because the meshes can move and deform with the objects as they undergo stress. Fluids (gasoline, water) or fluid-like materials (soil) in the simulation can be modeled using the techniques of smoothed particle hydrodynamics. Implementing a hybrid mesh/particle model on a massively parallel computer poses several difficult challenges. One challenge is to simultaneously parallelize and load-balance both the mesh and particle portions of the computation. A second challenge is to efficiently detect the contacts that occur within the deforming mesh and between mesh elements and particles as the simulation proceeds. These contacts impart forces to the mesh elements and particles which must be computed at each timestep to accurately capture the physics of interest. In this paper we describe new parallel algorithms for smoothed particle hydrodynamics and contact detection which turn out to have several key features in common. Additionally, we describe how to join the new algorithms with traditional parallel finite element techniques to create an integrated particle/mesh transient dynamics simulation. Our approach to this problem differs from previous work in that we use three different parallel decompositions, a static one for the finite element analysis and dynamic ones for particles and for contact detection. We have implemented our ideas in a parallel version of the transient dynamics code PRONTO-3D and present results for the code running on the Pentium-based Intel Teraflop machine at Sandia.
New World, New Learning: Trends and Issues of E-Learning

Abstract The rapid technological change and proliferation of information resources are lineaments of our contemporary society. Multimedia on the Internet, telecommunications, wireless applications, handheld electronics, social network software, Web 2.0, and so forth are all radically redefining the way people obtain information and the way to teach and learn. Particularly, the widespread Web 2.0 applications have the capacity for educational institutions and corporations involved in training to extend the possibilities of e-learning. Consequently, e-learning has become one of the most exciting, dynamic, and yet challenging fields that we have been facing. What is the e-learning? Where are we now? Where has progress been made? What will the future bring? What are the key elements of e-learning we need to focus on? How will we face and rise to new opportunities and challenges? In order to shed light on these questions, this study intends to look at e-learning from historical, conceptual, pedagogical and empirical perspectives. It includes: from web to e-learning and e-learning 2.0; opportunities and practices in e-learning; and related concerns and discussions.
Alteration of the enzymatic properties of smooth muscle myosin by a monoclonal antibody against subfragment 2

A monoclonal antibody against subfragment 2 (S-2) of smooth muscle myosin, designated MM-9, was generated and characterized. MM-9 potently inhibited subfragment 1 (S-1) release by papain proteolysis of myosin, suggesting that the epitope of MM-9 is at or very close to the S-1/S-2 junction. The depression of Ca2+ - and Mg2+-ATPase activities of myosin at low ionic strength was significantly reduced by MM-9. MM-9 increased the acto dephosphorylated HMM ATPase activity about 3-fold. On the other hand, the antibody had no effect on the KCl-dependence of viscosity of monomeric myosin. These results suggest that the folding of the myosin rod is not the direct determinant of enzymatic activity, and that the subtle conformational change at the S-1/S-2 junction (head-neck region) plays a critical role in determining enzymatic activities.
An image analysis system for dietary assessment and evaluation

There is a growing concern about chronic diseases and other health problems related to diet including obesity and cancer. Dietary intake provides valuable insights for mounting intervention programs for prevention of chronic diseases. Measuring accurate dietary intake is considered to be an open research problem in the nutritions and health fields. In this paper, we describe a novel mobile telephone food record that provides a measure of daily food and nutrient intake. Our approach includes the use of image analysis tools for identification and quantification of food that is consumed at a meal. Images obtained before and after foods are eaten are used to estimate the amount and type of food consumed. The mobile device provides a unique vehicle for collecting dietary information that reduces the burden on respondents that are obtained using more classical approaches for dietary assessment. We describe our approach to image analysis that includes the segmentation of food items, features used to identify foods, a method for automatic portion estimation, and our overall system architecture for collecting the food intake information.
Il10 Deficiency Rebalances Innate Immunity to Mitigate Alzheimer-Like Pathology

Summary The impact of inflammation suppressor pathways on Alzheimer's disease (AD) evolution remains poorly understood. Human genetic evidence suggests involvement of the cardinal anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 ( IL10 ). We crossed the APP/PS1 mouse model of cerebral amyloidosis with a mouse deficient in Il10 ( APP/PS1 + Il10 −/− ). Quantitative in silico 3D modeling revealed activated Aβ phagocytic microglia in APP/PS1 + Il10 −/− mice that restricted cerebral amyloidosis. Genome-wide RNA sequencing of APP/PS1 + Il10 −/− brains showed selective modulation of innate immune genes that drive neuroinflammation. Il10 deficiency preserved synaptic integrity and mitigated cognitive disturbance in APP/PS1 mice. In vitro knockdown of microglial Il10-Stat3 signaling endorsed Aβ phagocytosis, while exogenous IL-10 had the converse effect. Il10 deficiency also partially overcame inhibition of microglial Aβ uptake by human Apolipoprotein E. Finally, the IL-10 signaling pathway was abnormally elevated in AD patient brains. Our results suggest that "rebalancing" innate immunity by blocking the IL-10 anti-inflammatory response may be therapeutically relevant for AD.