cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distinct Neurochemical Profiles of Spinocerebellar Ataxias 1, 2, 6, and Cerebellar Multiple System Atrophy

Hereditary and sporadic neurodegenerative ataxias are movement disorders that affect the cerebellum. Robust and objective biomarkers are critical for treatment trials of ataxias. In addition, such biomarkers may help discriminate between ataxia subtypes because these diseases display substantial overlap in clinical presentation and conventional MRI. Profiles of 10–13 neurochemical concentrations obtained in vivo by high field proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) can potentially provide ataxia-type specific biomarkers. We compared cerebellar and brainstem neurochemical profiles measured at 4 T from 26 patients with spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA1, N = 9; SCA2, N = 7; SCA6, N = 5) or cerebellar multiple system atrophy (MSA-C, N = 5) and 15 age-matched healthy controls. The Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) was used to assess disease severity. The patterns of neurochemical alterations relative to controls differed between ataxia types. Myo-inositol levels in the vermis, myo-inositol, total N-acetylaspartate, total creatine, glutamate, glutamine in the cerebellar hemispheres and myo-inositol, total N-acetylaspartate, glutamate in the pons were significantly different between patient groups (Bonferroni corrected p < 0.05). The best MRS predictors were selected by a tree classification procedure and lead to 89% accurate classification of all subjects while the SARA scores overlapped considerably between patient groups. Therefore, this study demonstrated multiple neurochemical alterations in SCAs and MSA-C relative to controls and the potential for these neurochemical levels to differentiate ataxia types. Studies with higher numbers of patients and other ataxias are warranted to further investigate the clinical utility of neurochemical levels as measured by high-field MRS as ataxia biomarkers.
Neuroendocrine alterations in the somatotropic and lactotropic axes in uremic men

To investigate the pathophysiology of altered growth hormone (GH) and prolactin secretion in endstage renal disease, we sampled blood at 10-min intervals for 24 h and applied deconvolution analysis to calculate hormone half-lives and pulsatile secretion rates. Two-site immunoradiometric assays were employed to quantitate presumptively intact GH and prolactin in nine middle-aged men with chronic renal failure and 14 gender-, age-, body weight- and community-matched controls. We observed that the half-lives of endogenous GH and prolactin were prolonged significantly in uremia: for GH, control 17 +/- 1.4 versus uremia 21 +/- 1.3 min (p < 0.05); for prolactin, control 66 +/- 9.3 versus uremia 112 +/- 10 min (p < 0.01). Daily GH secretion rates exceeded sex-, age- and weight-predicted values in eight of nine uremic individuals, while values for prolactin were variable but on average twofold higher in uremia. In both the somatotropic and lactotropic axes, the frequency of secretory bursts was increased significantly (for GH, control 11 +/- 1.1 versus uremia 15 +/- 0.84 secretory events/24 h: for prolactin, control 20 +/- 0.90 versus uremia 27 +/- 1.3 pulses/24 h, p < 0.05). Although there were no significant alterations in the mean amplitude, duration or mass of GH secretory bursts, prolactin secretory burst amplitudes were elevated threefold in uremia (p < 0.01). These distinctive mechanisms brought about higher 24-h mean serum concentrations of GH (0.70 +/- 0.17 control versus 1.22 +/- 0.32 micrograms/l uremia) and prolactin (7.3 +/- 2.4 control versus 26 +/- 6.1 micrograms/l uremia, p < 0.05). Lastly, serum concentrations of estradiol were increased but those of unconjugated estriol decreased in uremia. We conclude that hypersomatotropinemia and hyperprolactinemia in uremic men result from prolonged hormone half-lives combined with increased frequencies of secretory events driven by unknown stimuli within the respective axes, and/or by defects in their negative-feedback regulation. We postulate that the latter may arise from partial tissue resistance to hormone action in hemodialyzed men.
CO, NO, and H2Adsorption on Ceria-Supported Pd

Abstract We have examined the adsorption of CO, NO, and H2on modelPd/ceria catalysts, formed by vapor deposition of Pd metal ontoa flat, polycrystalline ceria support, using temperatureprogrammed desorption. For CO adsorption on freshly deposited Pdfilms, a substantial fraction of the CO reacts to CO2in TPD,between 450 and 550 K, indicating that oxygen from ceria can react with CO onPd. Prereduction of the catalyst by heating in CO or H2results inTPD curves which are virtually identical to that observed forPd/α-Al2O3(0001), suggesting that electronicinteractions between ceria and Pd have a negligible effect onthe adsorption properties. For NO, there are differences betweenPd/ceria and Pd/α-Al2O3(0001). Asignificantly higher fraction of the NO on Pd/ceria reactsto N2and N2O, and prereduction of thePd/ceria increases the amount of NO that can adsorb. Both ofthese results are interpreted as indicating that NO can adsorbon reduced ceria sites which are formed when lattice oxygen atthe Pd-ceria interface is transferred to the Pd. For H2, thedesorption curves are similar to that observed onPd/α-Al2O3(0001),except that the low-temperature feature assigned to the bulkhydride is less well resolved. If water is formed upon H2adsorption, it apparently readsorbs on the ceria. Theimplications of these results for reactions involving NO and COon Pd/ceria are discussed.
Best Bilinear Approximations for the Classes of Functions of Many Variables

We obtain upper bounds for the values of the best bilinear approximations in the Lebesgue spaces of periodic functions of many variables from the Besov-type classes. In special cases, it is shown that these bounds are order exact.
Variability of the pancreatic islet beta cell/liver (GLUT 2) glucose transporter gene in NIDDM patients.

The purpose of these experiments was to test the hypothesis that impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in NIDDM is due to mutations in the islet beta cell/liver glucose transporter (GLUT 2) gene. Using oligonucleotide primers flanking each of the 11 exons, the structural portion of the gene was studied by PCR-SSCP analysis. DNA from African-American females (n=48), who had gestational diabetes but developed overt NIDDM after delivery, was studied. Each SSCP variant was sequenced directly from genomic DNA. Two amino acid substitutions from the previously reported sequence were found, one in exon 3 and the other in exon 4 B. Four additional silent mutations in the coding region, and six intron mutations outside the splice junction consensus sequences, were also identified. The mutation GTC x ATC in exon 4B substituted Val197 to Ile197. This amino acid substitution was found in only one NIDDM patient in a single allele, and was not found in 52 control subjects. This residue exists in the fifth membrane spanning domain, and Val at this position is conserved in mouse and rat GLUT 2, and human GLUT 1 to GLUT 4. The other codon change in exon 3, ACT x ATT, substituted Thr110 to Ile110 in the second membrane spanning domain. To determine the frequency of this non-conservative amino acid substitution, a PCR-LCR assay was developed. This assay was simple and highly specific for detection of this single nucleotide substitution. The allelic frequency of the ATT (Ile110) in NIDDM patients (39.6%, n=48) and that in controls (47.1%, n=52) did not differ (p=0.32, Fisher's exact test). In conclusion, we identified two variant GLUT 2 glucose transporters in a subset of NIDDM patients. The rare variant in exon 4 B may contribute to the diabetic susceptibility and awaits further investigation. However, structural abnormalities of the GLUT 2 transporter associated with NIDDM appeared to be rare and were not likely to be a major determinant of genetic susceptibility to this type of diabetes in the population studied.
Chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancers.

Objective To determine whether chemotherapy drugs elicit programmed cell death (apoptosis) in ovarian cancer cells Methods Monolayers of immortalized ovarian cancer cell lines and primary ovarian cancer cells obtained from ascites were grown in the presence of cisplatin, 4-hydroxyperoxycyclophosphamide (the active metabolite of cyclophosphamide) or paclitaxel. Next, DNA was extracted from the cells and subjected to electrophoresis to determine if DNA laddering characteristic of apoptosis was present. Results In three of six immortalized cell lines (OVCA 420, 429, and 433), apoptosis was not seen in response to any of the three drugs. In contrast, in OVCAR-3 and OVCA 432, DNA laddering consistent with apoptosis was observed in response to all three drugs. In the DOV 13 cell line, apoptosis was seen only with 4-hydroxyperoxycyclophosphamide. Among three primary ovarian cancers, cisplatin elicited apoptosis in one case. Both cell lines with mutant p53 genes (OVCAR-3 and OVCA 432) underwent apoptosis in response to all three drugs, whereas among three cell lines known to have normal p53 genes, one underwent apoptosis in response to 4-hydroxyperoxycyclophosphamide and two were unaffected. Conclusion Ovarian cancer cell death in response to commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs involves the induction of a genetically programmed sequence of events (apoptosis) rather than simply necrosis
Interfering with mineralocorticoid receptor activation: the past, present, and future

Aldosterone is a potent mineralocorticoid produced by the adrenal gland. Aldosterone binds to and activates the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in a plethora of tissues, but the cardiovascular actions of aldosterone are of primary interest clinically. Although MR antagonists were developed as antihypertensive agents, they are now considered to be important therapeutic options for patients with heart failure. Specifically, blocking only the MR has proven to be a difficult task because of its similarity to other steroid receptors, including the androgen and progesterone receptors. This lack of specificity caused the use of the first-generation mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists to be fraught with difficulty because of the side effects produced by drug administration. However, in recent years, several advances have been made that could potentially increase the clinical use of agents that inhibit the actions of aldosterone. These will be discussed here along with some examples of the beneficial effects of these new therapeutic agents.
Relocating Class: Ex-Miners and Neoliberalism in Bolivia

■ This article examines the changing life circumstances of former Boli vian tin miners, who, following the closure of state-operated tin mines, settled on the periphery of the Bolivian capital, La ...
Clinical Manifestations of Prejudice in Psychotherapy: Toward a Strategy of Assessment and Treatment

Social bias is an issue of concern to both practitioners and clinical researchers. This article considers race and ethnic prejudice as a prominent clinical feature in three psychotherapy cases. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) diagnoses, General Adaptive Functioning ratings, and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventoy scores are considered in terms of the level of patient disturbance and severity of outgroup prejudice. Two cases exemplify chronic adverse outgroup ideation, decting a constellation of traits of personality disturbance, disinhibition, and adverse behavioral response (e.g., panic, hostility, and/or aggression) to integroup contact, while one case evidences prejudicial ideation as a transitory, conditioned response to traumatic victimization by a member of a racial outgroup. Prejudice is considered as a clinical syndrome, with treatment strategy considered in terms of the severity and chronicity of prejudicial ideation.
L’influence de l’anglais sur la syntaxe du français : une étude de cas concernant la voix passive

Cette etude vise a determiner si le contact contemporain avec l’anglais entrainera des changements linguistiques au niveau syntaxique en francais. Il a ete souvent suggere que des structures telles que la position de l’adjectif et la construction passive subiront des changements sous l’effet du contact entre ces deux langues. Pourtant, en depit de la frequence de telles hypotheses, on constate un manque presque total de recherches approfondies portant sur le francais metropolitain. D’ou l’incertitude vis-a-vis de la question de l’emprunt syntaxique en francais aujourd’hui. Dans une description recente de l’effet du contact avec l’anglais, par exemple, Rowlett (2006 : 625) reste prudent : « Le franglais aurait eu une influence au-dela du lexique » (souligne par nous). L’etude menee ici s’interesse a l’emprunt syntaxique en francais metropolitain et a pour but d’introduire une methodologie rigoureuse qui permettra un examen detaille de la question. La traduction journalistique est souvent citee comme source probable de l’emprunt syntaxique en francais contemporain donc l’analyse se base sur un corpus de depeches d’agence de presse en francais qui ont ete traduites de l’anglais. Nous presentons les resultats d’une analyse de l’usage de la voix passive dans le corpus et nous essayons d’offrir des reponses a trois questions. Nous voulons d’abord etablir si la traduction dans ce domaine peut effectivement mener a l’emprunt syntaxique. Nous voulons ensuite determiner si la voix passive est touchee par l’influence de l’anglais dans le corpus. Enfin, nous analysons une serie de variables independantes qui pourraient influer la frequence de l’emprunt. Nos resultats montrent que les constructions passives sont effectivement touchees par l’influence de l’anglais dans le corpus, et que la traduction journalistique pourrait conduire a des changements syntaxiques en francais. Mais nous soulignons un decalage important entre nos resultats et les predictions precedentes, ce qui montre l’importance potentielle du contact avec l’anglais comme sujet de recherche en linguistique francaise.
Effect of signal delay on auditory detection with gated uncorrelated noise

An uncorrelated noise more effectively masks a monaural signal when the noise is gated simultaneously with the signal than when the noise is continuous. As the onset of the signal is delayed, detection in gated noise does not differ from that found with continuous noise. This is in agreement with an earlier study on the effect of signal delay on detection with gated monaural and correlated noise. The results are interpreted in terms of Jeffress’ classical approach to signal detection theory.
Self‐, teachers', and mothers' perceptions of the behaviorally disordered child

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference between the self-perceptions of the behaviorally disordered child and the perceptions of the child by his/her teacher and mother. A related purpose was to determine if there are specific areas (factors) with greater discrepancies. Normal and behaviorally disordered children, matched by grade and sex, were evaluated using the Piers-Harris Children's Self-concept Scale. There were significantly lower scores given by the three evaluator groups for the behaviorally disordered. The teachers evaluated the behaviorally disordered children significantly lower than did the other evaluators. For the normal children, there were no significant differences between the three evaluator groups. The pattern of evaluations was the same for all factors. The only exception in each of these findings was Factor III—Physical Appearance and Attributes—in which both normal and behaviorally disordered children evaluated themselves lower than did their teachers and mothers. Implications of these findings for school personnel are discussed.
The Contributions of Early Health-Insurance Programs to Mortality Declines in Pre-World War I Europe: Evidence from Fixed-Effects Models☆☆☆

Abstract The causes of the historical decline in European mortality rates are still vigorously debated. Our contribution is to examine a previously neglected aspect, the role of the early government-sponsored health-insurance programs in widening access to medical care. We construct and test fixed-effect models of mortality rates, using data for a panel of five European countries over the 1878–1913 period. After diagnostic tests of our results, we conclude that the expanding population coverage of these health-insurance programs contributed significantly to the observed declines in mortality.
Decreased incidence of vaginal cuff dehiscence after laparoscopic closure with bidirectional barbed suture.

Abstract Study Objective To estimate whether a new surgical technique is associated with lower incidence of postoperative breakdown of the vaginal cuff after laparoscopic hysterectomy or trachelectomy, compared with previous methods of closure. Design Retrospective cohort study, Canadian Task Force Classification II-3. Setting Tertiary-care university-based teaching hospital. Patients Patients who underwent laparoscopic vaginal closure after removal of the uterus and/or cervix by members of a subspecialty gynecologic laparoscopy division from January 2007 to January 2010 (n = 387). Interventions Use of bidirectional barbed suture for laparoscopic vaginal cuff closure. Measurements and Main Results A total of 387 patient records were reviewed. The incidence of vaginal cuff dehiscence among those with other methods of closure was 4.2%, while there were no cases of dehiscence among those who had closure with bidirectional barbed suture (p = .008). Postoperative bleeding (OR 2.3, 95% C.I. 1.3–3.9), presence of granulation tissue (OR 1.9, 95% C.I. 0.92–3.9), and cellulitis (OR 4.6, 95% C.I. 1.0–21.1) all occurred more frequently in patients without barbed suture closure. Conclusion Dehiscence of the vaginal cuff after laparoscopic closure is a rare but important complication in gynecologic surgery. Use of bidirectional barbed suture eliminated the problem in our first year of experience with the technique. We also observed a decreased incidence of other common problems of the vaginal cuff. This method is easy to learn and inexpensive and does not require advanced skills such as laparoscopic knot-tying.
PS2-59: It Takes a Village to Raise a VDW Data Set: Creating Partnerships to Improve Research Data

Background Healthcare data is highly complex, and considerable effort is required to create rich data resources that are reliable, user-friendly and represent valid utilization. Challenges include identifying appropriate sources, interpreting the data in a given source, matching data between sources, and transforming source data to meet desired specifications. These challenges are shared by all healthcare analytic groups, including research, finance, HEDIS reporting, care delivery and membership management. Creating partnerships for data development both within and across institutions could make the process more efficient by pooling specialized knowledge and providing opportunities to share both development strategies and data products. Objective: Within KPMAS, our goal was to facilitate development of the Virtual Data Warehouse (VDW) by tapping into existing knowledge about source data and strategies for validating and refining data. Across KP sites, our goal was to reduce the effort required to build and use the VDW by sharing code and analytic infrastructure among sites using highly similar data sources.
TO LIVE OR DIE: A LOOK AT ELDERLY SUICIDE

The elderly are at higher risk for suicide than any other age group. Characteristics of this high‐risk population are examined, along with a number of factors that appear to be related to suicide among older persons. Strategies for intervention and lowering the suicide rate are discussed.
Donors and higher education partners: a critical assessment of US and Canadian support for transnational research and sustainable development

Linking key policy themes of interest in the published literature on development studies and comparative education, the article initially explores the potential benefits and risks of partnering transnationally for contextually informed research and sustainable development from the perspective of Southern and Northern higher education institutions. Higher education partnerships recently supported by the development-assistance agencies of Canada and the United States are compared and critically assessed according to the internationally relevant themes of external and internal funding, the involvement of additional partners and funders, and project duration. Comparative analysis of datasets compiled from AUCC- and HED-managed sources that encompass 74 CIDA-supported and 186 USAID-supported university partnerships active during 2007–2009 shows that CIDA awards tend to be substantially larger in amount and longer in duration than most USAID awards and that participating universities have contributed impressive...
Rational use of rotational atherectomy in calcified lesions in the drug-eluting stent era: Review of the evidence and current practice

Percutaneous coronary interventions of calcified coronary lesions are associated with worse clinical outcomes compared with noncalcified lesions and are still considered a technical challenge for interventional cardiologists. Rotational atherectomy (RA) can effectively optimize lesion preparation through plaque modification of heavily calcified coronary lesions. However, in conventional balloon angioplasty and bare metal stent eras, the use of RA was not associated with a significant improvement in restenosis and target lesion revascularization in patients with calcified lesions. Drug-eluting stents (DES) dramatically reduced the rates of restenosis and major adverse cardiac events. In the DES era, the need for RA is therefore questionable. Recently, some studies have reported clinical outcomes of patients with calcified lesions treated with DES and RA. In this article, we aim to critically review results from these randomized and observational clinical studies assessing the use of RA in the DES era.
Degussa ag and its holocaust legacy

This case is designed to help students analyze decision making from various ethical perspectives and to use stakeholder analysis. The case perspective is that of the CEO of Degussa AG, a multispecialty chemical company, headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany. Degussa is considering whether to submit a bid to supply its anti-graffiti coating, Protectosil®, for a new Memorial to the Murdered Jews in Europe being planned for Berlin. Degussa’s ethical dilemma is that a former Degussa subsidiary, Degesch, manufactured and supplied the Zyklon B nerve gas used by the Nazis to kill Jews in the concentration camps during World War II. Although Degussa has made attempts both to acknowledge and to atone for its war-time Nazi collaboration, public disclosure of its bid has the potential to engulf Degussa in controversy when activists and Jewish leaders learn of it. Students are asked to evaluate the bid’s benefits and costs to Degussa’s stakeholders, to consider the relevance of a company’s historical legacy to contemporary decision making, and to explore how German corporate history during and after the Holocaust has parallels to human rights issues in other countries.
Experimental Investigation of Separation Control Part 1: Baseline and Steady Suction

Low-speed flow separation over a wall-mounted hump, and its control using steady suction, were studied experimentally in order to generate a data set for the development and evaluation of computational methods. The baseline and controlled data sets comprised time-mean and unsteady surface pressure measurements, flowfield measurements using particle image velocimetry, and wall shear stress obtained via oil-film interferometry. In addition to the specific test cases studied, surface pressures for a wide variety of conditions were acquired for different Reynolds numbers and suction rates. Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry and oil-film flow visualization indicated that the baseline time-averaged separated flowfield was two-dimensional. With the application of control, mild three-dimensionality was evident in the spanwise variation of pressure recovery, reattachment location, and spanwise pressure fluctuations.
Simulating urban population density with a gravity-based model

Abstract Theoretical justifications for the negative exponential urban density function were first proposed by urban economists, although some of their foundations have been criticized. From the geographer's perspective, the gravity-based model reported in this research uses a well-known concept (the “potential”) to offer an alternative explanation. Using numerical analysis techniques, the model simulates various urban density patterns. By varying the model's parameters (the distance friction coefficient β and the city size), the numerical simulations do confirm two important empirical findings: the flattening of density gradients over time owing to transportation improvements, and flatter gradients in larger cities. The observed relationship between the β value and the urban density gradient, as established by this research, opens an avenue for empirical testing.
Valuing Exclusivity from Encroachment in Franchising

Abstract Conflict is created when business format franchisors penetrate existing markets with new outlets that increase system-wide sales, but negatively affect the sales and profits of existing franchisees. Territorial exclusivity contracts are used to manage channel conflict in such situations. We present a model to value territorial exclusivity from the perspective of both the franchisor and the franchisee. We show that under certain circumstances there is positive value to the franchisor by including the exclusivity clause in the contract and to the franchisee by purchasing this exclusivity. When this happens, the likelihood of franchisor–franchisee encroachment-related conflict is reduced.
ACCESS TO THE FRONTAL SINUS WITH A MINI OSTEOPLASTIC FLAP

Abstract Techniques to successfully access the frontal sinus lesions in a minimally invasive remain elusive. We describe a method to access the frontal sinus in which a small osteoplastic flap is made through an extended Lynch incision. Use of this mini osteoplastic flap provides the surgeon with effective access to the frontal sinus and may avoid the development of postoperative morbidities associated with the traditional hemi- and bi-coronal incisions in patients. This technique is applicable to many posterior table frontal sinus lesions.
To The Raider Goes The Surplus? A Reexaminationof the Free‐Rider Problem

This paper reexamines Grossman and Hart's (1980) insight into how the free-rider problem excludes an external raider from capturing the increase in value it brings to R firm The inability of the raider to capture any of the surplus depends critically on the assumption of equal and indivisible shareholdings–the one-share-per-shareholder model In contrast, we show that once shareholdings are large and potentially unequal, a raider may capture a significant part of the increase in value Specifically, the free-rider problem does not prevent the takeover process when shareholdings are divisible.
Intestinal Dehydroascorbic Acid (DHA) Transport Mediated by the Facilitative Sugar Transporters, GLUT2 and GLUT8

Intestinal vitamin C (Asc) absorption was believed to be mediated by the Na+-dependent ascorbic acid transporter SVCT1. However, Asc transport across the intestines of SVCT1 knock-out mice is normal indicating that alternative ascorbic acid transport mechanisms exist. To investigate these mechanisms, rodents were gavaged with Asc or its oxidized form dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), and plasma Asc concentrations were measured. Asc concentrations doubled following DHA but not Asc gavage. We hypothesized that the transporters responsible were facilitated glucose transporters (GLUTs). Using Xenopus oocyte expression, we investigated whether facilitative glucose transporters GLUT2 and GLUT5–12 transported DHA. Only GLUT2 and GLUT8, known to be expressed in intestines, transported DHA with apparent transport affinities (Km) of 2.33 and 3.23 mm and maximal transport rates (Vmax) of 25.9 and 10.1 pmol/min/oocyte, respectively. Maximal rates for DHA transport mediated by GLUT2 and GLUT8 in oocytes were lower than maximal rates for 2-deoxy-d-glucose (Vmax of 224 and 32 pmol/min/oocyte for GLUT2 and GLUT8, respectively) and fructose (Vmax of 406 and 116 pmol/min/oocyte for GLUT2 and GLUT8, respectively). These findings may be explained by differences in the exofacial binding of substrates, as shown by inhibition studies with ethylidine glucose. DHA transport activity in GLUT2- and GLUT8-expressing oocytes was inhibited by glucose, fructose, and by the flavonoids phloretin and quercetin. These studies indicate intestinal DHA transport may be mediated by the facilitative sugar transporters GLUT2 and GLUT8. Furthermore, dietary sugars and flavonoids in fruits and vegetables may modulate Asc bioavailability via inhibition of small intestinal GLUT2 and GLUT8.
Circadian rhythms of Macaca mulatta: Sleep, EEG, body and eye movement, and temperature.

EEG, EOG, EMG, gross activity, and temperature were continuously recorded over 24 hours from 38 maleMacaca mulatta monkeys. EEG, EOG, and EMG were translated into standard Sleep Stages. The EEG also was automatically filtered, rectified, integrated, digitized, and plotted. Results are presented first as 24-hour plots for temperature, Sleep Stages Awake, 1–2, 3–4, and REM, for EMG, gross motion, EOG, and for the occurrence of EEG bands delta, theta, alpha, sigma, and beta. Twenty-four-hour cosine curves were fitted to the data by least squares, demonstrating and quantifying with confidence intervals a circadian rhythm in each function. During the 12-hour dark span the acrophases, or peaks of the cosines fitted to the data, appeared in the following clockwise order: Stage 3–4, delta, Stage 1–2, Stage REM, total EEG, and theta. The clockwise order of acrophases appearing in the light span was: alpha, gross motion, sigma, beta, EMG, EOG, temperature, and Stage Awake. Circadian amplitudes are given for each rhythm. Three of these measures of brain function had circadian rises or falls which appeared to be influenced by the daily times of light-on or -off. Lighting acted as circadian phase-synchronizing stimulus for temperature and the EEG bands beta and sigma. The data demonstrate circadian rhythms for certain parameters associated with sleep—delta, theta, Stage REM, and Stage 3–4 and important differences in phase. This finding constitutes another line of evidence that sleep is not unitary, consisting rather of related but separately controlled rhythmic functions. Considerable phylogenetic constancy appears when these data on circadian phasing are compared with similar data from other primates, including man.
Comparison of Classification Methods for Detecting Emotion from Mandarin Speech

It is said that technology comes out from humanity. What is humanity? The very definition of humanity is emotion. Emotion is the basis for all human expression and the underlying theme behind everything that is done, said, thought or imagined. Making computers being able to perceive and respond to human emotion, the human-computer interaction will be more natural. Several classifiers are adopted for automatically assigning an emotion category, such as anger, happiness or sadness, to a speech utterance. These classifiers were designed independently and tested on various emotional speech corpora, making it difficult to compare and evaluate their performance. In this paper, we first compared several popular classification methods and evaluated their performance by applying them to a Mandarin speech corpus consisting of five basic emotions, including anger, happiness, boredom, sadness and neutral. The extracted feature streams contain MFCC, LPCC, and LPC. The experimental results show that the proposed WD-MKNN classifier achieves an accuracy of 81.4% for the 5-class emotion recognition and outperforms other classification techniques, including KNN, MKNN, DW-KNN, LDA, QDA, GMM, HMM, SVM, and BPNN. Then, to verify the advantage of the proposed method, we compared these classifiers by applying them to another Mandarin expressive speech corpus consisting of two emotions. The experimental results still show that the proposed WD-MKNN outperforms others.
DIAGNOSTIC RULE EXTRACTION FROM TRAINED FEEDFORWARD NEURAL NETWORKS

This paper describes a method of extracting diagnostic rules from trained diagnostic feedforward neural nets that are constructed to recognise different mechanical faults using automated weight and structure learning algorithms. The rule extracting method is based on an interpretation that considers hidden neurons as partitions in the input space. An initial set of rules is then generated from the training data and the subspaces defined by the partitions. A procedure consisting of a number of algorithms is then used to simplify and reduce the set of initial rules step by step. To demonstrate and evaluate the rule extraction method, diagnostic rules for detecting a high-pressure air compressor's (HPAC) suction and discharge valve faults were extracted from static measurements including temperatures and pressures of various stages of the compressor.
Hydrothermal Alteration of a Rhyolite Flow Breccia near San Luis Potosi, Mexico, to Refractory Kaolin

A deposit of kaolin clay, the site of the General Zaragosa Mine, located about 50 km northwest of San Luis Potosi, S. L. P., Mexico, has produced more than 250,000 tons of refractory clay by room and pillar mining methods during the last 32 years. The clay was formed by hydrothermal argillation of part of a fault block of rhyolite flow-breccia and probably welded tuff, presumably lower Tertiary in age. A silica-rich gossan now exposed at the surface caps the clay deposit.
An icy partnership.

Knowledge of the world9s polar regions--Antarctica and the Arctic--is of international interest for economic, environmental, territorial, and security reasons. Studying these environments has been a cooperative activity among countries for half a century. Icebreaker ships have played a critical role. Unfortunately, the U.S. icebreaking capability has deteriorated substantially. Of the world9s roughly 50 high-capability icebreakers (at least 10,000 horsepower and capable of steaming steadily through ice 4 to 8 feet thick), Russia possesses 15. Canada operates six. The U.S. government owns three, two of which are at the end of their 35-year service lives. This not only threatens U.S. access to these regions but also jeopardizes the ability of the U.S. research community to conduct solo and international research missions. A long-lived successful partnership between the polar research community and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), which operates the government icebreakers, has been built over decades. That partnership is unhealthy now and should be revitalized.
The double midset conjecture for continua in the plane

Abstract A metric space X is said to have the double midset property if the set of all points equidistant from any given two points of X itself consists of two points. For example, a circle or any simple closed curve in the plane that bounds a convex disk has the double midset property. The conjecture that a continuum with the double midset property must be a simple closed curve is established for continua lying in the Eucledean plane.
(Non)Compliance with Disease Prevention and Control Messages: Communication Correlates and Psychological Predictors

This article argues that while compliance with disease prevention and control messages should be high given the unique characteristics of this persuasive situation, the data indicate that non compliance is a major social problem. Two communication theories, Language Expectancy Theory and Reinforcement Expectancy Theory, offer promising new conceptualizations of how more compliance can be obtained with health-related messages. Both theories are supported by empirical evidence. Also, ongoing research programs with three psychological predictors (misanthropy, acculturation and sensation-seeking) show promise in providing evidence on how to tailor health-related, compliance-gaining messages to subgroups within the general population.
Family structure and obesity in early childhood

This study informs family and child health research by using longitudinal Fragile Families data to assess how family structure and transitions are associated with changes in children's BMI and weight status between ages three and five. Concerns in family structure literature about biases due to selectivity are reduced through the use of change score models and by controlling for parental BMI. The findings indicate unhealthy BMI gain and an increased risk of becoming overweight/obese among children living with a mother who recently dissolved a union or had been living without a partner for at least 2years compared with those in stable married parent families. Children with single mothers who entered a new union had significantly healthier BMI trajectories than those whose mothers remained single or recently became single. These results suggest the importance of two-parent family contexts for children's healthy physical development, and that single mothers may need additional support to better manage their children's BMI.
Thermal behavior and structure of clay/nylon-6 nanocomposite synthesized by in situ solution polymerization

This article discusses the effect of increasing mass percentage of nanoclay on the thermal, structural and morphological properties of nanoclay/nylon-6 nanocomposite. Polymerization of e-caprolactam conducted in the presence of clay resulted in increased d-spacing and expansion of the clay galleries. A combination of differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy was used to study the structure–property relationship. The effect of clay on the melting behavior of nylon-6 was studied by using quenched and normally cooled samples. The clay particles acted as external nucleating agents, and a dramatic effect on the crystallization behavior of nylon-6 was observed. The nylon-6 crystals formed are predominantly of the γ-type in the presence of clay. The presence of up to 1 % of clay lead to an increase in the heat of fusion. For nylon-6 samples containing greater than 1 % clay, the heat of fusion decreased significantly.
Divided By Faith: Religious Conflict and the Practice of Toleration in Early Modern Europe – By Benjamin J. Kaplan

With this book, the author makes a significant, original contribution to scholarship on religion in early modern Europe and the history of Western religious toleration. He covers the early sixteent...
Biography, Identity, and Inquiry: The making of teacher, teacher educator, and researcher

This is a self-study of my professional and cultural biography and identity, a history which directed me first toward the work of urban teaching and then into teacher education and research into comparative educational issues of racial and national identity. I use this inquiry to demonstrate how biography and identity influences the lived experience of teaching and the researcher's stance. I also examine areas where preservice urban teacher education programs must improve. My personal recommendations describe experiences that would have better prepared me for urban teaching. Suggestions include expanding coursework in the historical, political, and sociocultural influences on urban education and in designing culturally responsive curricula. I also recommend restructuring field experiences to offer richer classroom-based learning opportunities for preservice teachers and extending fieldwork into urban communities. Finally, I suggest ongoing inservice teacher education in learning-community models that resp...
Accuracy and usefulness of BMI measures based on self-reported weight and height: findings from the NHANES & NHIS 2001-2006

The Body Mass Index (BMI) based on self-reported height and weight ("self-reported BMI") in epidemiologic studies is subject to measurement error. However, because of the ease and efficiency in gathering height and weight information through interviews, it remains important to assess the extent of error present in self-reported BMI measures and to explore possible adjustment factors as well as valid uses of such self-reported measures. Using the combined 2001-2006 data from the continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, discrepancies between BMI measures based on self-reported and physical height and weight measures are estimated and socio-demographic predictors of such discrepancies are identified. Employing adjustments derived from the socio-demographic predictors, the self-reported measures of height and weight in the 2001-2006 National Health Interview Survey are used for population estimates of overweight & obesity as well as the prediction of health risks associated with large BMI values. The analysis relies on two-way frequency tables as well as linear and logistic regression models. All point and variance estimates take into account the complex survey design of the studies involved. Self-reported BMI values tend to overestimate measured BMI values at the low end of the BMI scale ( 28. The discrepancies also vary systematically with age (younger and older respondents underestimate their BMI more than respondents aged 42-55), gender and the ethnic/racial background of the respondents. BMI scores, adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, tend to narrow, but do not eliminate misclassification of obese people as merely overweight, but health risk estimates associated with variations in BMI values are virtually the same, whether based on self-report or measured BMI values. BMI values based on self-reported height and weight, if corrected for biases associated with socio-demographic characteristics of the survey respondents, can be used to estimate health risks associated with variations in BMI, particularly when using parametric prediction models.
Evaluation of host range and larval feeding impact of Chrysolina aurichalcea asclepiadis (Villa): considerations for biological control of Vincetoxicum in North America.

ABSTRACT A biological control program has been initiated against European swallow-worts Vincetoxicum nigrum (L.) Moench. and V. rossicum (Kleopow) Barbar., which are invasive in North America. A population of the leaf beetle Chrysolina aurichalcea asclepiadis (Villa) originating from the western Alps has been under evaluation as a part of this program. The preliminary host range of C. a. asclepiadis was determined among 37 potential host plants. In addition, a prerelease impact study was conducted to determine the effect of larval feeding on the performance of V. nigrum. Under no-choice conditions beetle larvae completed development on nine plant species within the genera Artemisia and Tanacetum (Asteraceae) and Asclepias and Vincetoxicum (Apocynaceae). The host range of adults is broader than larvae (f 3 plant species within five genera received sustained feeding). Three of the six nontarget species supporting larval development are native to North America, however in separate oviposition tests, female b...
A minimally invasive breast biopsy clinic: an innovative way to teach breast fellows how to perform breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast procedures.

Abstract Background The ability to perform breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast procedures are increasingly important skills for breast surgeons. Breast fellowship programs must develop programs to ensure adequate ultrasound training for breast fellows. Methods A Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsy Clinic was established at the Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center to provide breast fellows with comprehensive, hands-on, "live-patient" breast ultrasound training. Results From December 2004 though February 2005, 5 breast fellows received training in the Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsy Clinic. Each fellow received a minimum of 18 weeks of "live-patient" experience. Although the learning curve varied among the fellows, all showed proficiency in performing breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided core biopsies by the 12th week. A total of 39 patients with fibroadenomas underwent 62 ultrasound-guided procedures, including 30 vacuum-assisted percutaneous excisions, 16 cryoablations, and 16 core biopsies. Conclusion The Minimally Invasive Breast Clinic model provided breast fellows with sufficient "live-patient" experience to enable confident performance of breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast procedures. The selection of patients with fibroadenomas facilitated safe and efficient training without interfering with the management of cancer patients.
Macronutrient Intake Influences the Effect of 25-Hydroxy-Vitamin D Status on Metabolic Syndrome Outcomes in African American Girls

The objectives were to determine the effect of macronutrient modification on vitamin D status and if change in 25-hydroxy-vitamin D concentration influences components of metabolic syndrome in obese African American girls. Methods. Five-week intervention using reduced CHO (43% carbohydrate; 27% fat: SPEC) versus standard CHO (55% carbohydrate; 40% fat: STAN) eucaloric diet. Subjects were 28 obese African American females, aged 9-14 years. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and meal test were performed at baseline and five weeks. Results. Approximately 30% of girls had metabolic syndrome. Serum 25OHD increased in both groups at five weeks [STAN: 20.3 ± 1.1 to 22.4 ± 1.1 (P < 0.05) versus SPEC: 16.1 ± 1.0 to 16.8 ± 1.0 (P = 0.05)]. The STAN group, increased 25OHD concentration over five weeks (P < 0.05), which was positively related to triglycerides (P < 0.001) and inversely associated with total cholesterol (P < 0.001) and LDL (P < 0.001). The SPEC group, had increase in 25OHD (P = 0.05), which was positively related to fasting insulin (P < 0.001) and insulin sensitivity while inversely associated with fasting glucose (P < 0.05). The contribution of vitamin D status to metabolic syndrome parameters differs according to macronutrient intake. Improvement in 25OHD may improve fasting glucose, insulin sensitivity, and LDL; however, macronutrient intake warrants consideration.
Global optimization in an electricity market environment

The competitive market environment for the power industry has resulted in new optimization problems that need to be solved such as bidding, pricing, risk management, and market clearing. These problems are complicated by the fact that power systems are nonlinear and some aspects of the problem are ill-formulated. In this paper, we report our formulation of a market clearing optimization problem that maximized the social welfare. The market optimization is solved for cases where the market participants have private information about their generation costs. The proposed formulation incorporates the nonlinear nature of the MW power flows on the transmission grid. The IEEE 30-bus system is modified and used for testing of the proposed techniques.
Multivariate Discrimination and Description of a New Species of Tapinoma from the Western United States

The ant Tapinoma sessile (Say) 1836 is one of the most widely distributed ants in North America; yet, it has received very little attention from biologists apart from its ability to infest houses. The original species description does not adequately account for the phenotypic variation present in this species of typically darkly concolored ant. In California, a bicolored morph was discovered that superficially resembles T. sessile; hence, its species status was questioned. Comparative morphometric analysis indicates that the bicolored ants are consistently distinguishable across a range of characters, and allometric techniques conclusively demonstrate that these two morphs are divergent. Based on the analysis of morphological data it was concluded that the bicolored ant is not T. sessile and is described as a new species, Tapinoma schreiberi. A neotype of T. sessile also is designated in this article, and measurement data are presented to assist taxonomists and delimit the morphological boundaries of T. sessile.