cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cancer Mortality Rates in Appalachia: Descriptive Epidemiology and an Approach to Explaining Differences in Outcomes

Cancer is a leading cause of death in the Appalachian region of the United States. Existing studies compare regional mortality rates to those of the entire nation. We compare cancer mortality rates in Appalachia to those of the nation, with additional comparisons of Appalachian and non-Appalachian counties within the 13 states that contain the Appalachian region. Lung/bronchus, colorectal, female breast and cervical cancers, as well as all cancers combined, are included in analysis. Linear regression is used to identify independent associations between ecological socioeconomic and demographic variables and county-level cancer mortality outcomes. There is a pattern of high cancer mortality rates in the 13 states containing Appalachia compared to the rest of the United States. Mortality rate differences exist between Appalachian and non-Appalachian counties within the 13 states, but these are not consistent. Lung cancer is a major problem in Appalachia; most Appalachian counties within the 13 states have significantly higher mortality rates than in-state, non-Appalachian counterparts. Mortality rates from all cancers combined also appear to be worse overall within Appalachia, but part of this disparity is likely driven by lung cancer. Education and income are generally associated with cancer mortality, but differences in the strength and direction of these associations exist depending on location and cancer type. Improving high school graduation rates in Appalachia could result in a meaningful long term reduction in lung cancer mortality. The relative importance of household income level to cancer outcomes may be greater outside the Appalachian regions within these states.
Effectiveness of flexible routing control

Flexibility in part process representation and in highly adaptive routing algorithms are two major sources for improvement in the control of flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs). This article reports the investigation of the impact of these two kinds of flexibilities on the performance of the system. We argue that, when feasible, the choices of operations and sequencing of the part process plans should be deferred until detailed knowledge about the real-time factory state is available.
Catheter confocal fluorescence imaging and functional magnetic resonance imaging of local and systems level recovery in the regenerating rodent sciatic nerve.

Abstract The goal of the present work was to develop minimally invasive imaging techniques to monitor local regeneration of peripheral nerves and to determine the extent of return to function of brain cortical regions associated with that nerve. The sciatic nerve crush model was applied to Sprague–Dawley rats and conventional histological staining for myelin, axons and cell architecture was carried out, as well as traditional behavioral testing, to verify that nerve regeneration was occurring. The rate of sciatic nerve regeneration was measured by determining the distance a lipophilic, fluorescence probe (DiO) would move along the nerve's membrane following a direct injection into the sciatic nerve. This movement was monitored using a catheter based, confocal fluorescence microscope. Two to five days after the crush, the dye moved 1.4 + 0.6 mm/day, as compared to a distance of 5.3 + 0.5 mm/day in the normal nerve. Between 9 and 13 days following the crush, the distance the dye moved increases to 5.5 + 0.5 mm/day, similar to the control, and by 15 days following the crush, the distance increased to 6.5 + 0.9 mm/day. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) measurements were performed on α-chloralose anesthetized rats to monitor the return of somatosensory cortical functions, which were activated by the stimulation of the lesioned peripheral nerve. fMRI results showed the return of cortical activation around 15 days following the crush procedure. However, the somatosensory cortical region activated by stimulating the crushed hindpaw was significantly smaller in extent than the intact hindpaw stimulation. These findings demonstrate that fluorescence imaging and fMRI can integrate local and system level correlates of nerve regeneration in a non-destructive manner, thus enabling serial imaging of individual animals.
Preparation and spectroelectrochemical characterization of silicon electrodes modified with molybdenum dinitrogen complexes

The electrodes were modified with a polymer-bound molybdenum dinitrogen complex prepared from CH/sub 3/-(CCH/sub 2/)/sub x/-CO-NHR,:2 equiv of R/sub 1/-(CH/sub 2/)/sub 3/PPh/sub 2/, 1 equiv of R/sub 3/-(CH/sub 2/)/sub 3/P((CH/sub 2/)/sub 2/PPh/sub 2/)/sub 2/; and 1 equiv of Mo(N/sub 2/)/sub 2/(PPh/sub 2/Me)/sub 4/. (Ph is phenyl, Me is methyl). These electrodes were characterized by cyclic voltametry and Fourier-transform-infrared spectroscopy. 2 figures.
Bioavailability of selenium from raw and cooked ground beef assessed in selenium-deficient Fischer rats.

The literature on the bioavailability of selenium (Se) from meats, especially beef, is meager, and that which existed when this research began suggested that Se was not highly bioavailable. In addition, much of the analytical values for Se in beef predated the Food and Drug Administration's 1973 approval of Se as an additive to feeds and mineral premixes of livestock.One hundred and thirty-six weanling female Fischer 344 rats were divided into two dietary groups: the selenium deficient group in which animals were fed a torula yeast (TY) basal diet which contained 0.008 mg/kg Se and the control group in which animals were fed the TY diet to which was added 0.10 mg/kg Se as sodium selenite.After 6 weeks of dietary treatment liver glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity had fallen in the Se-deficient rats to 2.4% of that of control rats. At this time (week 6) rats from the Se-deficient TY diet were refed diets containing 0.10 mg/kg Se as selenite, selenate, raw or cooked ground beef that had been freeze-drie...
Selective growth inhibition in BRAF mutant thyroid cancer by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 inhibitor AZD6244.

Context: Activating mutations in the BRAF gene, primarily at V600E,areassociatedwithpooreroutcomesinpatientswithpapillary thyroid cancer. MAPK kinase (MEK), immediately downstream of BRAF, is a promising target for ras-raf-MEK-ERK pathway inhibition. Objective:Theobjectiveoftheinvestigationwastostudytheefficacy of a MEK1/2 inhibitor in thyroid cancer preclinical models with defined BRAF mutation status. Experimental Design: After treatment with the potent MEK 1/2 inhibitor AZD6244, MEK inhibition and cell growth were examined infourBRAFmutant(V600E)andtwoBRAFwild-typethyroidcancer cell lines and in xenografts from a BRAF mutant cell line. Results: AZD6244 potently inhibited MEK 1/2 activity in thyroid cancer cell lines regardless of BRAF mutation status, as evidenced by reduced ERK phosphorylation. Four BRAF mutant lines exhibited growth inhibition at low doses of the drug, with GI50 concentrations ranging from 14 to 50 nM, predominantly via a G0/G1 arrest, comparable with findings in a sensitive BRAF mutant melanoma cell line. In contrast, two BRAF wild-type lines were significantly less sensitive, with GI50 values greater than 200 nM. Nude mouse xenograft tumors derived from the BRAF mutant line ARO exhibited dosedependent growth inhibition by AZD6244, with effective treatment at 10 mg/kg by oral gavage. This effect was primarily cytostatic and associated with marked inhibition of ERK phosphorylation. Conclusion: AZD6244 inhibits the MEK-ERK pathway across a spectrum of thyroid cancer cells. MEK inhibition is cytostatic in papillary thyroid cancer and anaplastic thyroid cancer cells bearing a BRAF mutation and may have less impact on thyroid cancer cells lacking this mutation. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 92: 4712–4718, 2007)
Reverse stratified flow in duct fires: A two-dimensional approach

In ventilated duct fires, smoke and other combustion products may form a layer near the ceiling and flow in the direction opposite to the ventilation flow. Previous workers have shown that backing of hot combustion products occurs if the ratio of the buoyancy head H Δ T/T to the velocity head V 2 / g is greater than unity. A two-dimensional mathematical model of the phenomenon is developed based upon the interaction of a steady-state fire plume with a cross ventilation flow. The objective of the analysis is to gain some understanding of the behavior of the hot gas layer flow and its response to changes at the fire source and in the ventilation current. Through the present mathematical treatments it appears possible to predict the effects of ventilation speed, duct inclination, mass flux of fire plume, etc., on the critical length of the reverse flow layer. The detailed flow behavior of plumes and gas layers can also be studied with the model.
The Cesàro operator on the Bergman space $ A^{2} (\mathbb{D}) $

The Cesaro operator is shown to be subdecomposable on the Bergman spaces \( A^{p} (\mathbb{D}) \) for \( p \geqq 2 \), extending a result of [12] to the case that p < 4. For \( A^{2} (\mathbb{D}) \), we show that Cesaro operator is in fact subscalar, but in contrast to the situation in the Hardy space, \( C |_{A^2} \) fails to be hyponormal.
The effects of behaviorally relevant doses of chlorpromazine and molindone on cardiac adenylate cyclase and on myocardial contractility

Abstract Doses of chlorpromazine and of molindone that inhibit conditioned avoidance behavior of rats were tested for their abilities to inhibit cardiac adenylate cyclase. In untreated rats, basal levels of enzyme activity were 201 pinole c-AMP mg −1 5 min −1 . Pretreatment of rats either acutely (30–100 min) or chronically (7 days) with either chlorpromazine or molindone (both 10 mg/kg, i.p.) did not alter basal levels of cardiac adenylate cyclase. In vitro , both drugs inhibited the enzyme at concentrations greater than 10 −4 M. At concentrations below 10 −4 M, neither drug appreciably inhibited basal levels or β-agonist-induced changes in cardiac adenylate cyclase. In related experiments, pithed rats were treated with various doses of chlorpromazine or molindone. Neither drug, at behaviorally relevant doses, depressed cardiac contractility or inhibited β-agonist-induced changes in contractility. At toxic doses, both drugs tended to depress contractility.
Innovation speed and radicalness: are they inversely related?

Purpose – The objective in this study is to examine the relationship between innovation speed, and radical product and process innovations.Design/methodology/approach – A survey of firms in the high‐tech (semiconductor, audio video equipment and computer hardware) industries was conducted. Hypotheses were tested using a hierarchical multiple regression analysis.Findings – The results revealed a significant positive relationship between innovation speed and both radical product and radical process innovations. Radical product and process innovations were highly correlated in the sample.Research limitations/implications – Response rate was relatively low to the survey, however, control variables were included to ensure accuracy of results. This study empirically tested inter‐innovation relationships within the high‐tech industry.Practical implications – Findings suggest that firms should not avoid radical innovations with the fear of being late to market. In addition, based on these results, product and pro...
Post-stroke autonomic nervous system function: Palmar sympathetic skin responses thirty or more days after cerebrovascular accident

Abstract We studied sympathetic nervous system (SNS) function after cerebrovascular accident (CVA) by measuring hypothenar sympathetic skin responses (SSR) to normal or hemiplegic arm electrical stimulation. We anticipated SNS function after CVA to be asymmetric and selected null hypotheses of bilaterally symmetric SSR latencies and amplitudes irrespective of side of stimulation and/or recording. Thirteen patients between ages 44 and 77 years (median 59) were tested between 1 and 72 months (median 15) after CVA. Hypothenar recording and dorsal reference surface electrodes were used. Amplifier bandwidth was set from 0.5 to 100Hz. Gain was adjusted to allow adequate recognition of the waveforms. Sweep speed was set to 500ms/div. Stimulus width was set to 0.2ms and intensity was increased stepwise from 10mA initially until optimum responses were obtained. Nonparametric statistics were used to analyze the data. SSRs were present in all patients on both the normal and the hemiplegic sides irrespective of the side of stimulation. Median SSR latency recorded homolaterally to the stimulus site was found to be 80ms shorter than median SSR latency recorded heterolaterally. Median SSR latency in left hemiplegics was found to be 16% longer than in right hemiplegics. Otherwise, neither side of hemiplegia, side of stimulation, side of recording nor any paired combination thereof were found to be significant. Our finding of bilaterally obtainable SSRs after CVA diverges from that of Uncini and colleagues but presumably only reflects the difference in poststroke chronology between the respective samples.
Regulation of chondrocyte maturation by fibroblast growth factor-2 and parathyroid hormone

Fibroblast growth factor-2 and parathyroid hormone are strong modulators of the maturation process of chondrocytes during endochondral ossification. To clarify whether and how these agents may exert stage-specific effects during this process, we analyzed the responsiveness and phenotypic consequences of treatment with fibroblast growth factor-2 or parathyroid hormone on chondrocytes at different stages of maturation. Populations of immature lower sternal, maturing upper sternal, and hypertrophic tibial growth plate chondrocytes were isolated from day 18-20 chick embryos and were allowed to resume the maturation process by growth in standard monolayer cultures. Treatment of immature lower sternal cultures with as little as 0.1 ng/ml of fibroblast growth factor-2 or 10(-10) M parathyroid hormone prevented both the emergence of mature type-X collagen-synthesizing chondrocytes and the ensuing enlargement of cells that occurred in control (untreated) cultures. Similarly, the treatment of cultured early maturing upper sternal cells with these factors severely reduced the synthesis of type-X collagen and alkaline phosphatase activity and the levels of their respective mRNAs. In sharp contrast, when the cultured upper sternal cells were allowed to grow and mature further before treatment, the responsiveness to fibroblast growth factor-2 was markedly reduced and the responsiveness to parathyroid hormone remained strong and largely unchanged. Cultures of hypertrophic tibial growth plate cells displayed a similar reduced sensitivity to fibroblast growth factor-2, as also indicated by the lack of mitogenic effects, and strong sensitivity to parathyroid hormone. The phenotypic changes induced by treatment with either of these factors were fully reversible when cultures that had been treated were placed in control medium. The results demonstrate that fibroblast growth factor-2 and parathyroid hormone are equally potent in affecting the early stages of maturation but exert differential effects as the cells progress along the maturation pathway. The factors appear to be part of sequentially acting mechanisms to ensure normal progression of chondrocyte maturation during endochondral ossification.
Anxiety and sex role in body landmark functions

Abstract Two hypotheses were evaluated. One proposed that the more prominent a body landmark the less anxiety will be evoked by a theme linked to that landmark. The relation was determined between landmark prominence and anxiety evoked by a taped message appropriate to the landmark-linked theme. Two female samples were studied. The findings supported the hypothesis. A second hypothesis proposed that enhancing awareness of body landmarks under threat conditions is positively related to degree of masculinity and negatively related to degree of femininity. Changes in landmark awareness during appropriate taped messages were studied in two male and two female samples. Masculinity-femininity was also measured. The findings were particularly supportive of the hypothesis relating masculinity to mobilization of landmarks.
Competitive kinetics of 1,2-carbon and hydride shifts in cyclobutylchlorocarbene

Abstract Cyclobutylchlorocarbene undergoes competitive 1,2-carbon and 1,2-hydride intramolecular rearrangements with (approximate) absolute rate constants of 4.6 x 107 and 2.1 x 107 s−1, respectively, at 21°C.
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF QUALITY OF LIFE

Data are reported on 2278 public middle school students in South Carolina, U.S.A. Levels and demographic effects on their satisfaction with their overall lives as well as five specific domains (family, friends, self, school, and living environment) were assessed. Similar to findings with adults and high school students, most middle schoolers reported positive levels of global and domain-specific life satisfaction. Although statistically significant in some cases, the practical significance of the demographic variables was limited. Many middle schoolers reported particular dissatisfaction with their school experiences.
Managing Electronic Resources: Contemporary Problems and Emerging Issues: edited by Pamela Bluh and Cindy Hepfer. Chicago: Association for Library Collections and Technical Services, American Library Association, 2006. (ALCTS Papers on Library Technical Services and Collections, no. 13). 138 p. $52.00. ISBN: 0838983669.

There seem to be two types of books about electronic resource management (ERM) being published: how-to-do-it manuals, such as Vicki Gregory’s Selecting and Managing Electronic Resources: A How-To-D...
Shintani lifting and real-valued characters

We study Shintani lifting of real-valued irreducible characters of finite reductive groups. In particular, if G is a connected reductive group defined over $${\mathbb{F}_q}$$ , and ψ is an irreducible character of G( $${\mathbb{F}_{q^m}}$$ ) which is the lift of an irreducible character χ of G( $${\mathbb{F}_q}$$ ), we prove ψ is real-valued if and only if χ is real-valued. In the case m = 2, we show that if χ is invariant under the twisting operator of G( $${\mathbb{F}_{q^2}}$$ ), and is a real-valued irreducible character in the image of lifting from G( $${\mathbb{F}_q}$$ ), then χ must be an orthogonal character. We also study properties of the Frobenius–Schur indicator under Shintani lifting of regular, semisimple, and irreducible Deligne–Lusztig characters of finite reductive groups.
A representation for human gesture recognition and beyond

A highly general and centralized reasoning framework which combines first-order-logic with Markov networks proposed to recognize both simple and complex activities. The generality and systematicity of the reasoning framework is characterized by a newly defined set of spatio-temporal and spatial semantic free low level event predicates(LLEs). With the new low level event predicates any human activity represented by trajectories can be described without domain knowledge thus can be applied across domains. High-level events (HLEs) of interest across different domains can be described by encoding the newly defined HLEs and temporal logic (Allen's interval logic) in a first-order-logic presentation. The main contribution is the proposed reasoning framework represented by a new set of semantics free LLEs which can be utilized across different domains. The human action Kinect dataset from Microsoft Research(MSR) is used to evaluate the proposed gesture representation and recognition framework. The capacity of performing across different domains is validated on both MSR dataset and one synthetic interation dataset.
Effects of Aging on the Toughness of Human Cortical Bone: A Study from Nano to Macro Size-Scales

Age-related deterioration of both the fracture properties and the architecture of bone, coupled with increased life expectancy, are factors leading to the increasing incidence of bone fracture in the elderly. In order to facilitate the development of treatments which counter this increased fracture risk, a thorough understanding of how fracture properties degrade with age is required. The present study describes ex vivo fracture experiments to quantitatively assess the effects of aging on the fracture toughness of human cortical bone in the longitudinal direction. Because cortical bone exhibits rising crack-growth resistance with crack extension, we depart from most previous studies by evaluating the toughness in terms of resistance-curve (R-curve) behavior, measured for bone taken from donors 34 to 99 years old. Using this approach, both the crack-initiation and crack-growth toughness are determined and are found to deteriorate with age; the initiation toughness decreases ~40% from 40 to 100 years, while the growth toughness is effectively eliminated over the same age range. Evidence from x-ray synchrotron tomography is provided to support the hypothesis that the reduction in crack-growth toughness is associated primarily with a degradation in the degree of extrinsic toughening, in particular involving crack bridging at the microstructural level in the wake of the crack. Atomic force microscope-based nanoidentation of individual collagen fibers revealed changes at the collagen fibrillar level and deep-ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy showed that the cross-linking at the nanostructural level also changes with age. These results should provide for a better mechanistic understanding of the increased propensity for bone fracture with age.
The effect of experimentally induced generalized medial arteriosclerosis on the oral vessels of the rat

Abstract The oral arterial vasculature was investigated histologically in 14 male albino rats which developed generalized medial arteriosclerosis when fed a diet of skim milk powder. The findings were compared and contrasted with those of a control group of 14 animals fed a stock diet throughout the experimental period. Degenerative changes in the tunica media of the large muscular arteries of the tongue and buccal region were found in each of the animals given the experimental diet and in none of the animals in the control group. The degenerative process did not extend into the thin walled arteries and arterioles of the tongue, buccal region, gingivae and periodontium. No structural changes were found in the oral tissues supplied by the sclerosed arteries.
Determinants of psychological distress over time among older Korean immigrants and Non-Hispanic White elders: Evidence from a two-wave panel study

The purpose of this study is to examine racial/ethnic differences in the change of psychological distress as measured by CES-D over time and its associated factors between older Korean immigrants and non-Hispanic White elders, based on a social stress perspective. Data come from a two-wave panel survey of 172 older Korean immigrants and 157 non-Hispanic White elders, with a follow-up period of 12 to 15 months. The sample was drawn from a three-stage probability sampling method. Ordinary least square regressions in a hierarchical process and change score method were used to analyze the two-wave panel data. Older Korean immigrants reported higher levels of psychological distress than the non-Hispanic White elderly at both Time 1 and Time 2. Changes in self-assessed health status and functional limitations were significantly associated with change in psychological distress for both ethnic groups. Increased social support significantly decreased psychological distress at Time 2, for older Korean immigrants only. This study discusses practice and policy implications for service and interventions for older immigrants to assist their adjustment to a host society.
Direct measurement of quantum phase gradients in superfluid 4He flow.

We report a new kind of experiment in which we generate a known superfluid velocity in a straight tube and directly determine the phase difference across the tube's ends using a superfluid matter wave interferometer. By so doing, we quantitatively verify the relation between the superfluid velocity and the phase gradient of the condensate macroscopic wave function. Within the systematic error of the measurement ({approx}10%) we find {nu}{sub s}=({Dirac_h}/2{pi})/m{sub 4}{nabla}{phi}.
Femoral nerve injury following inguinal hernia repair

Insidious leg pain and weakness followed inguinal hernia repair. Despite the temporal relationship of the surgery and the symptoms, the diagnosis proved elusive, in part, because of the rarity of the complication.
The nature of conditioned anti-analgesia: spinal cord opiate and anti-opiate neurochemistry

Abstract The central nervous system contains circuitry that inhibits pain sensitivity (analgesia), as well as circuitry that opposes pain inhibition (anti-analgesia). Activation of analgesia systems and anti-analgesia systems can each be brought under environmental control using classical conditioning procedures. Analgesia can be produced by cues present before and during aversive events such as electric shock, while active inhibition of analgesia comes to be produced by cues never present immediately before or during shock and therefore signal safety. We have recently reported that these analgesia and anti-analgesia systems interact at the level of the spinal cord. A series of 3 experiments were performed to examine how such interactions occur. First, potential opioid mediation of conditioned analgesia was investigated using systemic and intrathecal (i.t.) delivery of opiate antagonists. Conditioned analgesia was found to be mediated by activation of spinal μ and δ opiate receptors. Second, analgesia produced by each of these receptor subtypes was challenged by environmental signals for safety. Analgesias produced by μ and δ opiate agonists were each abolished by safety signals. Third, antagonists/antisera directed against several putative anti-opiate neurotransmitters were tested i.t. to identify which mediate conditioned anti-analgesia at the level of the spinal cord. A cholecystokinin antagonist abolished conditioned anti-analgesia. In contrast, neuropeptide FF antiserum and a κ opiate antagonist were without effect.
Inhibition of neurotropic mouse retrovirus replication in glial cells by synthetic oligo(2'-O-methyl)ribonucleoside phosphorothioates

Synthetic oligo(2'-O-methyl)ribonucleoside phosphorothioate, FS-25, which is complementary to the splicing acceptor site of neurotropic mouse retrovirus (FrC6 virus), and non-complementary analogs including 2'-O-methylinosine homo oligomer (MIS-25), both inhibited viral infection in glial cells. In addition, FS-25 and MIS-25 partially suppressed viral production of glial cells persistently infected with FrC6 virus. Both FS-25 and MIS-25 potently inhibited reverse transcriptase activity of the FrC6 virus in a cell-free system. Addition of these compounds before or after second-round infection of the FrC6 virus inhibited the accumulation of unintegrated viral DNA. These results indicate that these compounds fundamentally inhibit retrovirus production in glial cells in the same manner in which they inhibit HIV production, by blocking several viral replication pathways including fresh infection, second-round infection, and reverse transcription of the viral genome. Our novel neurotropic retrovirus is a useful experimental model for the development of drugs against HIV infection.
Trends in Department of Defense hospital efficiency

This study employs a simple cross sectional design using longitudinal data to explore the underlying factors associated with differences in hospital technical efficiency using data envelopment analysis (DEA) in the Department of Defense (DOD) sector across three service components, the Army, Air Force and Navy. The results suggest that the services do not differ significantly in hospital efficiency. Nor does hospital efficiency appear to differ over time. With respect to the efficient use of input resources, the services experienced a general decline in excessive usage of various inputs over the three years. Analysis of the returns to scale captures opportunities for planners of changing the relative mix of output to input slacks for increasing a hospital's efficiency. That is, policy makers would get more immediate "bang per buck" with emphasis on improving the efficiencies of hospitals with higher returns to scale than other hospitals. Findings also suggest a significant degree of comparability between the DEA measure and these measures often used to indicate efficiency.
Chemically mediated sexual attraction in Trichinella spiralis.

Abstract Sexual attraction was studied in adult Trichinella spiralis with the use of a linear experimental test channel for a series of in vitro migration experiments. A permeable barrier placed near one end separated the channel into two regions. Seventy to ninety sexed worms were placed in one chamber, and after 6–8 hours worms of the opposite sex were placed 2.5 cm from the barrier. After 5 hours the location of each worm was recorded, relative to the starting point. Tests were made of the responses of both male and female worms to the same and opposite sex; both sexes were also tested against a blank chamber. Data obtained under these conditions demonstrated a statistically significant two-way attraction between males and females, with females being more strongly attracted to males. Both homosexual and untreated experiments were statistically insignificant.
A practical aid in colonoscopy.

The efficient performance of colonoscopy, as well as colonoscopic biopsy, polypectomy and even photography, can be enhanced by use of the colonoscope holder/stabilizer. Moreover, with the gastroenterology nurse “set free”, she or he can now focus attention to the all-important patient monitoring. Colonoscopic procedures can be done more expeditiously with the instrument described here.
An On-Line Multiway Approach to In-Situ NDI Looking at the PZL-130TCII

Abstract Providing a reliable and universal Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system allowing for remote aircraft inspections and a reduction of maintenance costs is a major challenge confronting the aerospace industry today. SHM based on guided Lamb waves is one of the approaches capable of addressing the issue while satisfying all the associated requirements. This paper presents a holistic approach to the continuous real time damage growth monitoring and early damage detection in aircraft structure. The main component of the system is a piezoelectric transducers (PZT) network. It is complemented by other SHM methods: Comparative Vacuum Monitoring (CVM TM ) and Resistance Gauges at selected aircraft hot spots. The paper offers the description of damage detection capabilities including the analysis of data collected from the PZL-130 Orlik aircraft full-scale fatigue test. Keywords: Structural Health Monitoring, PZT Sensor Network, Fatigue Crack Detection, Full Scale Fatigue Test
Estimates of daily di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP) intake calculated from urinary biomonitoring data.

Abstract Biomonitoring of chemical species in biologic media can be a valuable tool in risk assessment since it informs directly on aggregate exposures. While advances in the analytical techniques required for biomonitoring have resulted in increased sensitivity for the detection of chemical species, the detection of a chemical substance in a biological medium (such as blood, urine or breast milk) does not mean that the chemical causes or is associated with an adverse health outcome. In this paper, intake estimates for di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP), a high molecular weight general purpose plasticizer, were calculated from urinary biomonitoring data representing various population segments and geographic locales. From these data, intake estimates converge on a mean that is
Non-classical Features in the Three-level Jaynes-Cummings Model

Abstract The eigenfunctions and eigenenergies of the system composed of a cascade three-level atom and bichromatic or monochromatic field with arbitrary detunings are presented. The development of the state vector of the system with arbitrary initial conditions is obtained. The development of the quantum fluctuations and the second-order coherence degree for the field is calculated. The dependence of the squeezing and antibunching on the detunings, initial intensities and initial squeezing is studied. The contribution of single-photon and two-photon transitions to, and the influence of, the a.c. Stark effect on the squeezing are discussed.
Modeling and characterization of damping in carbon nanofiber/polypropylene composites

Abstract The objective of this paper is to summarize recent analytical and experimental investigations of the dynamic mechanical properties of carbon nanofiber/polypropylene composites. In this case, the carbon nanofibers are vapor grown carbon fibers (VGCF) which are grown catalytically from gaseous hydrocarbons using metallic catalyst particles. The mechanical damping and storage modulus of these materials are measured by using a Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analyzer (DMTA). For the analytical model, the elastic–viscoelastic correspondence principle is used to transform the elastic Halpin–Tsai equations to complex form. The model is then validated for the prediction of the damping and stiffness of carbon nanofiber/polypropylene composites having a preferential fiber orientation in the direction of injection. Good agreement between measured and predicted storage values is found over the range of fiber volume fractions investigated. Although predicted and measured damping values are in the same range, the predicted values do not show the measured decrease in damping with increasing fiber volume fraction. Predictions show that composites having very low fiber aspect ratios should have higher damping than those having high fiber aspect ratios, and that the carbon nanofiber aspect ratios of approximately l/d=19 are in the range which yields the highest predicted damping.
Tying academia to state government: A model for human resource development in mental health

The training, recruitment, and retention of staff for public mental health systems continue to be problematic at the state and local levels. Academic training programs offer a valuable resource to address these workforce requirements. One model of maintaining a publicacademic collaboration is the “linchpin” person who works in both academic and service or administrative institutions and can assist in finding solutions to these problems.
Computing correspondence based on regions and invariants without feature extraction and segmentation

The problem addressed is the matching of corresponding regions in two images, even when the image intensity may be smoothly varying without distinctive edges. Corresponding small regions are assumed to be related by affine transformations. The matching is done by using a new class of low computational cost affine invariants. This approach also computes the affine transformation, and is ideal for applications to 3-D motion estimation and 3-D surface reconstruction, image alignment, etc. No feature extraction, segmentation or epipolar constraint is required. The advantage of the authors' approach over area matching is that it handles large baselines, i.e., the distance between camera positions, where the differences in orientation and linear distortion of two areas being compared is large. >
A continuous longitudinal control signal via the low frequency excitation of helical transmission lines

A method of generating a continuous position reference signal for use in the longitudinal control of automated ground transport systems is presented. The technique utilizes two specially excited four-wire helically wound transmission lines. The method of excitation, the signal detection and processing schemes necessary to obtain the control signal, and the results of preliminary laboratory tests are presented. The technique should provide a highly accurate, easily implementable and environmentally impervious means of generating a longitudinal reference signal.
The Impact of Rainfall Error Characterization on the Estimation of Soil Moisture Fields in a Land Data Assimilation System

AbstractThis study presents a numerical experiment to assess the impact of satellite rainfall error structure on the efficiency of assimilating near-surface soil moisture observations. Specifically, the study contrasts a multidimensional satellite rainfall error model (SREM2D) to a simpler rainfall error model (CTRL) currently used to generate rainfall ensembles as part of the ensemble-based land data assimilation system developed at the NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office. The study is conducted in the Oklahoma region using rainfall data from a NOAA multisatellite global rainfall product [the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) morphing technique (CMORPH)] and the National Weather Service rain gauge–calibrated radar rainfall product [Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D)] representing the “uncertain” and “reference” model rainfall forcing, respectively. Soil moisture simulations using the Catchment land surface model (CLSM), obtained by forcing the model with reference rainfall, are rand...
Stomatal response to nonhydraulic root-to-shoot communication of partial soil drying in relation to foliar dehydration tolerance

Abstract This paper culminates a series of works to: (1) compare stomatal response of several temperate, deciduous tree species to nonhydraulic root-to-shoot signals of soil drying; and (2) test whether sensitivity to nonhydraulic signaling is allied with drought avoidance/tolerance tendencies of species. Saplings were grown with roots divided between two pots. Three treatments were compared: half of the root system watered and half droughted (WD); half of the root system watered and half-severed (WS); and both halves watered (WW). Drying about half of the root system caused marked nonhydraulically induced declines in stomatal conductance (gs) in Nyssa sylvatica and Acer saccharum but only slight declines in Quercus alba, Q. rubra, Q prinus and Q. acutissima. Declines in gs were significantly correlated with declining soil matric potential (Ψm) in three species. Soil Ψm when gs of WD plants was 80% of WS controls varied from a high of −0.03 MPa in A. saccharum to a low of −0.18 MPa in Q. alba. Neither lethal leaf water potential nor osmotic adjustment was significantly correlated across all species with any measure of stomatal sensitivity to the nonhydraulic root-to-shoot signal. However, species showing considerable osmotic adjustment also tended to show little inhibition of gs. Additionally, species showing little or no foliar osmotic adjustment also showed high stomatal sensitivity to nonhydraulic drought signaling, as indicated by relatively large changes in gs per unit change in soil Ψm. Stomatal sensitivity to nonhydraulic drought signaling appears mechanistically linked to a limited extent with characteristics that define relative species drought tolerance.
Contrast sensitivity predicts age-related differences in highway-sign discriminability

This study was conducted to determine if contrast sensitivity could predict age-related differences in the ability to discriminate simple road signs, as these differences have not been predicted by Snellen visual acuity. Contrast sensitivity, Snellen visual acuity, and discrimination distances for projected images of highway signs were measured for 7 older observers, ages 55 to 79, and 13 younger observers, ages 19 to 30. All subjects had 20/20 visual acuity or better, but the older group had significantly lower contrast sensitivity than did the younger group at three spatial frequencies: 3, 6, and 12 cycles/deg of visual angle. The older group required a significantly larger sign symbol in order to determine if it denoted a + or T intersection. Correlations between measures showed that highway-sign discrimination distance was significantly related to contrast sensitivity at two spatial frequencies, 1.5 and 12 cycles/deg, but discrimination distance was not related to visual acuity. Implication for highway-sign design and driver vision standards are discussed. (Author abstract)
An Alternative Model for Sound Signals Encountered in Reverberant Environments; Robust Maximum Likelihood Localization and Parameter Estimation Based on a Sub-Gaussian Model

In this paper we investigate an alternative to the Gaussian density for modeling signals encountered in audio environments. The observation that sound signals are impulsive in nature, combined with the reverberation effects commonly encountered in audio, motivates the use of the Sub-Gaussian density. The new Sub-Gaussian statistical model and the separable solution of its Maximum Likelihood estimator are derived. These are used in an array scenario to demonstrate with both simulations and two different microphone arrays the achievable performance gains. The simulations exhibit the robustness of the sub-Gaussian based method while the real world experiments reveal a significant performance gain, supporting the claim that the sub-Gaussian model is better suited for sound signals. GEORGIOU AND KYRIAKAKIS AN ALTERNATIVE MODEL FOR SOUND SIGNALS
Perinatal Dyadic Psychotherapy: Design, Implementation, and Acceptability

Maternal postpartum depression (PPD) and mother-infant relationship dysfunction have reciprocal effects on each other and thus an integrated approach that addresses both problems simultaneously may lead to improved outcomes. This study aimed to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a new intervention, Perinatal Dyadic Psychotherapy (PDP), for the early treatment of maternal PPD. PDP is designed to promote maternal mental health and facilitate optimal mother-infant relationships via (a) a supportive, relationship-based, mother-infant psychotherapeutic component, and (b) a developmentally based infant-oriented component focused on promoting positive mother-infant interactions. This paper describes the pilot use of PDP with six acutely depressed postpartum women. Nurses delivered the intervention over eight home visits. Results indicate that PDP is a feasible, acceptable, and safe intervention with this population. All participants achieved remission of depression with significant reduction of depression and anxiety symptoms, suggesting that PDP is a promising treatment for PPD.
Novel “Breath Figure”‐Based Synthetic PLGA Matrices for In Vitro Modeling of Mammary Morphogenesis and Assessing Chemotherapeutic Response

Biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) porous films are developed to support mammary cell growth and function. Such porous polymer matrices of PLGA are generated using the easily implemented water-templating "breath-figure" technique that allows water droplets to penetrate the nascent polymer films to create a rough porous polymer film. Such breath figure-based micropatterned porous films show higher epithelial differentiation and growth than the corresponding flat 2D films, and represent the first instance of using them for tissue culture. Specifically, the breath figure morphology supports robust acinar growth with almost double the number of lobular-alveolar units compared to the 2D cultures. Gene profile analysis indicates that the cells grown on porous polymer films show enhanced expressions of mammary differentiation genes (GATA3, EMA, and INTEGB4) but lower the expression of mesenchymal gene (CALLA). Hormonal stimulation of these cultures dramatically increases expression of progenitor marker gene Notch1. Importantly, cells grown on porous PLGA films exhibit an enhanced resistance to doxorubicin treatment in comparison to 2D cultures. Breath-figure PLGA films show promise in mimicking in vivo mammary functions and can potentially be used to screen chemotherapeutic drugs. The simplicity and ease of fabrication of these polymer films is especially appealing to the development of effective biomaterials to support cell culture and differentiation.
Estrogen regulates histone deacetylases to prevent cardiac hypertrophy

The development and progression of cardiac hypertrophy often leads to heart failure and death, and important modulators of hypertrophy include the histone deacetylase proteins (HDACs). Estrogen inhibits cardiac hypertrophy and progression in animal models and humans. We therefore investigated the influence of 17-β-estradiol on the production, localization, and functions of prohypertrophic (class I) and antihypertrophic (class II) HDACs in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. 17-β-Estradiol or estrogen receptor β agonists dipropylnitrile and β-LGND2 comparably suppressed angiotensin II-induced HDAC2 (class I) production, HDAC-activating phosphorylation, and the resulting prohypertrophic mRNA expression. In contrast, estrogenic compounds derepressed the opposite effects of angiotensin II on the same parameters for HDAC4 and 5 (class II), resulting in retention of these deacetylases in the nucleus to inhibit hypertrophic gene expression. Key aspects were confirmed in vivo from the hearts of wild-type but not estrogen receptor β (ERβ) gene-deleted mice administered angiotensin II and estrogenic compounds. Our results identify a novel dual regulation of cardiomyocyte HDACs, shown here for the antihypertrophic sex steroid acting at ERβ. This mechanism potentially supports using ERβ agonists as HDAC modulators to treat cardiac disease.
Issues in Travel Aid Design

I wish to comment on several basic issues of design for mobility aids for the blind pedestrian. It may be constructive, to begin with, to consider a nonelectronic travel aid, the long cane. The long cane is, by far, the best inanimate travel aid we know anything about. What could be the reason for the success of a tool as simple as the cane? I propose that, although the cane’s field of view is limited, and although it does not afford enough perceptual anticipation (1), it does examine the surface over which the pedestrian will soon walk, and that pedestrians who have advance notice of surface features have a substantial portion of the information they need for safe travel. In other words, the cane works in part because it looks where the information is. This, then, should be a guiding principle in travel aid design.
Representation and Reasoning for Deeper Natural Language Understanding in a Physics Tutoring System

Students’ natural language (NL) explanations in the domain of qualitative mechanics lie in-between unrestricted NL and the constrained NL of “proper” domain statements. Analyzing such input and providing appropriate tutorial feedback requires extracting information relevant to the physics domain and diagnosing this information for possible errors and gaps in reasoning. In this paper we will describe two approaches to solving the diagnosis problem: weighted abductive reasoning and assumption-based truth maintenance system (ATMS). We also outline the features of knowledge representation (KR) designed to capture relevant semantics and to facilitate computational feasibility.
The effect of haloperidol on aldosterone secretion

Haloperidol (0.02 mg/kg, intravenous) did not stimulate aldosterone secretion in six normal controls or in six schizophrenic subjects. This is contrary to our hypothesis, which was based on the finding that peripheral D2 receptor antagonists stimulate aldosterone secretion, including haloperidol in rats and chlorpromazine in man. We speculated that a different dose of haloperidol would stimulate aldosterone in man. As expected, prolactin release was markedly stimulated in both groups of subjects, but no difference was found between groups.