cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Blame and Avoidability: A Reply to Otsuka

In a fascinating recent article, Michael Otsuka seeks to bypass the debates about the Principle of Alternative Possibilities by presenting and defending a different, but related, principle, which he calls the “Principle of Avoidable Blame.” According to this principle, one is blameworthy for performing an act only if one could instead have behaved in an entirely blameless manner. Otsuka claims that although Frankfurt-cases do undermine the Principle of Alternative Possibilities, they do not undermine the Principle of Avoidable Blame. In this brief paper, we offer a critical discussion of the core of Otsuka’s argument, especially the claim that his favored principle cannot be refuted by Frankfurt-cases. We do not believe that Otsuka has offered good reason to suppose that the Principle of Avoidable Blame—and the related incompatibilism—fares any better than the original Principle of Alternative Possibilities.
Differentiation of MC3T3-E1 Osteoblasts is associated with temporal changes in the expression of IGF-I and IGFBPs

We examined the relationship between osteoblast maturation and temporal changes in the secretion of IGF-I and the IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) in the MC3T3-E1 model of osteoblast development. IGF-I was present at low levels in conditioned media in proliferating preosteoblasts (3.7 +/- 1.7 ng/micrograms DNA and 3.9 +/- 0.6 at culture (days 3 and 9) and increased progressively in postmitotic differentiating osteoblasts, reaching a maximal concentration of 13.1 +/- 1.5 ng/micrograms DNA by day 25 of culture. We also observed an increase in IGF-I mRNA expression. Using Western ligand blot and immunoblot techniques, we found that IGFBP-2, -4, and -5 also displayed temporal differences in expression during MC3T3-E1 development. We observed a sustained increase in IGFBP-2, -4, and -5 mRNA expression between days 10-14, coincident with the onset of differentiation. IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-4 protein concentrations increased in parallel with IGFBP mRNA expression, but IGFBP-5 levels peaked between days 8-14 of culture, and declined thereafter in spite of persistent IGFBP-5 mRNA levels. These findings suggest complex transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of IGFBP metabolism during osteoblast development. Thus, IGF-I and IGFBP production are regulated during osteoblast development. In turn, time-dependent changes in IGF-I and modulation of IGF-I bioavailability by IGFBPs may regulate the osteoblastic developmental sequence.
Aortic arches in the chick embryo: Origin of the cells as determined by radioautographic mapping

The origin of the cells which form the aortic arches in the chick embryo was determined by tracing the movements of tritiated thymidine-labeled grafts excised from medium streak (MS) to head process (HP) stage embryos and transplanted to the epiblast, streak and endoderm-mesoderm layers of similarly staged recipient embryos. Between the MS and HP stages, the preaortic arch cells migrate in epiblast to the primitive streak, invaginate, and move anteriorly and laterally from the streak into mesoderm; at the HP stage they are lateral to the cells which will form the anterior parts of the dorsal aortae, and medial to the heart-forming regions. The most anterior prearch cells form the first arch and the more posterior cells form the more posterior arches. The prearch cells are closely associated during migration with the endoderm cells which will form the adjacent branchial arches and clefts. Cells which will form the posterior end of the aorta are still in the epiblast layer at the late medium streak (LMS) stage, but have moved to the primitive streak at the HP stage; they migrate from the streak into mesoderm posterior and medial to the mesoderm destined for the heart and aortic arches.
PriME: A parallel and distributed simulator for thousand-core chips

Modern processors are integrating an increasing number of cores, which brings new design challenges. However, mainstream architectural simulators primarily focus on unicore or multicore systems with small core counts. In order to simulate emerging manycore architectures, more simulators designed for thousand-core systems are needed. In this paper, we introduce the Princeton Manycore Executor (PriME), a parallelized, MPI-based, x86 manycore simulator. The primary goal of PriME is to provide high performance simulation for manycore architectures, allowing fast exploration of architectural ideas including cache hierarchies, coherence protocols and NoCs in thousand-core systems. PriME supports multi-threaded workloads as well as multi-programmed workloads. Furthermore, it parallelizes the simulation of multi-threaded workloads inside of a host machine and parallelizes the simulation of multi-programmed workloads across multiple host machines by utilizing MPI to communicate between different simulator modules. By using two levels of parallelization (within a host machine and across host machines), PriME can improve simulation performance which is especially useful when simulating thousands of cores. Prime is especially adept at executing simulations which have large memory requirements as previous simulators which use multiple machines are unable to simulate more memory than is available in any single host machine. We demonstrate PriME simulating 2000+ core machines and show near-linear scaling on up to 108 host processors split across 9 machines. Finally we validate PriME against a real-world 40-core machine and show the average error to be 12%.
Synthesis of derivatized amino acids for the study of electron transfer

Abstract The synthesis of a new electron transfer donor and two new ruthenium chromophores are described based on coupling to derivatized proline residues for the purpose of constructing molecular assemblies capable of undergoing photoinduced electron transfer.
Self-assembly of palladium nanoparticles: synthesis of nanobelts, nanoplates and nanotrees using vitamin B1, and their application in carbon–carbon coupling reactions

An environmentally friendly one-step method to synthesize palladium (Pd) nanobelts, nanoplates and nanotrees using vitamin B1 without using any special capping agents at room temperature is described. This greener method, which uses water as a benign solvent and vitamin B1 as a reducing agent, can be extended to prepare other noble nanomaterials such as gold (Au) and platinum (Pt). Depending upon the Pd concentration used for the preparation, Pd crystallized in different shapes and sizes. A lower Pd concentration yielded a plate-like structure where thickness of these plates varied from 100 nm to 250 nm with a length of several microns. An increase in concentration of Pd resulted in the formation of tree-like structures. The Pd plates are grown on a single Pd nanorod backbone mimicking the leaf-like structures. Upon further increase in Pd concentration, Pd nanoplates started becoming thicker by vertically aligning themselves together to form ball-like structures. The synthesized self-assembled Pd nanoparticles were characterized using, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV spectroscopy. The Pd nanoparticles showed excellent catalytic activity for several C–C bond forming reactions such as Suzuki, Heck and Sonogashira reactions under microwave (MW) irradiation conditions.
The Value of the Medical Home for Children Without Special Health Care Needs

Objective: Although the medical home is promoted by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Affordable Care Act, its impact on children without special health care needs is unknown. We examined whether the medical home is associated with beneficial health care utilization and health-promoting behaviors in this population. Methods: This study was a secondary data analysis of the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health. Data were available for 70 007 children without special health care needs. We operationalized the medical home according to the National Survey of Children’s Health design. Logistic regression for complex sample surveys was used to model each outcome with the medical home, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Overall, 58.1% of children without special health care needs had a medical home. The medical home was significantly associated with increased preventive care visits (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.32 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22–1.43]), decreased outpatient sick visits (aOR: 0.71 [95% CI: 0.66–0.76), and decreased emergency department sick visits (aOR: 0.70 [95% CI: 0.65–0.76]). It was associated with increased odds of “excellent/very good” child health according to parental assessment (aOR: 1.29 [95% CI: 1.15–1.45) and health-promoting behaviors such as being read to daily (aOR: 1.46 [95% CI: 1.13–1.89]), reported helmet use (aOR: 1.18 [95% CI: 1.03–1.34]), and decreased screen time (aOR: 1.12 [95% CI: 1.02–1.22]). Conclusions: For children without special health care needs, the medical home is associated with improved health care utilization patterns, better parental assessment of child health, and increased adherence with health-promoting behaviors. These findings support the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Affordable Care Act to extend the medical home to all children.
MR imaging of therapy-induced changes of bone marrow

MR imaging of bone marrow infiltration by hematologic malignancies provides non-invasive assays of bone marrow cellularity and vascularity to supplement the information provided by bone marrow biopsies. This article will review the MR imaging findings of bone marrow infiltration by hematologic malignancies with special focus on treatment effects. MR imaging findings of the bone marrow after radiation therapy and chemotherapy will be described. In addition, changes in bone marrow microcirculation and metabolism after anti-angiogenesis treatment will be reviewed. Finally, new specific imaging techniques for the depiction of regulatory events that control blood vessel growth and cell proliferation will be discussed. Future developments are directed to yield comprehensive information about bone marrow structure, function and microenvironment.
Special Issues in Psychotherapy with Minority Deaf Women

Abstract Minority Deaf women have been traditionally underserved by mental health professionals, and specifically, therapists are unaware of issues unique to this population. It would be highly unlikely for a minority Deaf woman to have a therapist who matches her in racial background, hearing status, and communication mode. Therefore, the therapy process will be completely cross-cultural. Therapists who provide psychotherapy services to minority Deaf women need to be aware that their clients are members of a community where deafness is a culture and not a disability. Minority Deaf women are also likely to report feeling forced to choose between competing identities in order to get important needs met. In the following article, case examples are provided which illustrate some of the major issues that are likely to arise in therapy with minority Deaf women. These issues include: access to important information; communication, support and level of involvement with biological families; competing cultural dem...
Synthesis and degradation of aromatic polyamides containing nitro groups

Various aromatic polyamides (aramids) which contain a nitro group at the amino substituted ring were synthesized and their thermal properties and degradation mechanisms were studied. Our present work showed that the nitro group in ortho position to the amide bond acts as an excellent leaving group for intramolecular nucleophilic displacement via the enol form to yield poly-(benzoxazole)s. Thermal decomposition of ortho-substituted aramids proceeds via a two-stage mechanism, whereas unsubstituted aramids decompose in one step. The first step represents the loss of HNO2 and the second step is due to degradation of the resulting benzoxazole polymer. Model compound and high-temperature FT-IR studies of these materials also give supportive evidences for the cyclization reaction.
H. D. and the Victorian Fin de Siecle: Gender, Modernism, Decadence

H. D and the Victorian Fin de Siecle argues foremost that H. D. eluded the male modernist flight from Romantic 'effeminacy' and 'personality' by embracing the very cults of personality in the Decadent Romanticism of Oscar Wilde, A. C. Swinburne, Walter Pater and D. G. Rossetti that her male contemporaries most deplored: the cult of the demonic femme fatale and of the 'effeminate' Aesthete androgyne. H. D., Laity maintains, used these sexually aggressive masks to shape a female modernism that freely engaged female and male androgyny, homoeroticism, narcissism and maternal eroticism. Focusing on the early Sea Garden, the plays and poetry of the 1920s and her late epic Trilogy, H. D. and the Victorian Fin de Siecle demonstrates H. D.'s shift from the homoerotic 'white', vanishing tropology of the male androgyne fashioned by Pater and Wilde to the 'abject' monstrously sexual body of the Pre-Raphaelite and Decadent femme fatale.
Surface-consistent phase decomposition in the log/Fourier domain

In the log/Fourier domain, decomposing the amplitude spectra of seismic data into surface‐consistent terms is a linear problem that can be solved, very efficiently, one frequency at a time. However, the nonunique definition of the complex logarithm makes it much more difficult to decompose the phase spectra. The instability of phase unwrapping has previously prevented any attempt to decompose phase spectra in the log/Fourier domain. We develop a fast and robust partial unwrapping algorithm, which makes it possible to efficiently decompose the phase spectra of normal moveout‐corrected (NMO‐) data into surface‐consistent terms, in the log/Fourier domain. The dual recovery of amplitude and phase spectra yields a surface‐consistent deconvolution technique where only the average reflectivity is assumed to be white, and only the average wavelet is required to be minimum‐phase. Each individual deconvolution operator may be mixed‐phase, depending on its estimated phase spectra. For example, surface‐consistent tim...
Adaptive digital beamforming for preserving monopulse target angle estimation accuracy in jamming

The monopoulse technique for target angle estimation fails when there is sidelobe and/or mainlobe jamming. If not effectively encountered, electronic jamming prevents successful radar target detection and tracking. We have developed a technique which cancels one mainlobe jammer and multiple sidelobe jammers in such a way that enables both target detection and unbiased monopulse angle estimation. Our technique makes use of adaptive digital beamforming for sidelobe jamming cancellation followed by a mainlobe canceller for mainlobe jamming cancellation. A constrained adaptation is imposed to maintain the mainbeam in the sidelobe cancellation process.
Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus Encodes a Self-Regulatory RNA Export Protein and Is a Complex Retrovirus

Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) has been classified as a simple retrovirus with two accessory genes, dut and sag. Cloned MMTV proviruses carrying a trimethoprim (trim) cassette in the envelope gene were defective for Gag protein production and the nuclear export of unspliced gag-pol RNA. Complementation experiments indicated that a trans-acting product was responsible for the Gag defect of such mutants. Analysis of MMTV-infected cells revealed the presence of a novel, doubly spliced RNA that encodes a putative product of 301 amino acids. Overexpression of cDNA from this RNA increased Gag levels from env mutant proviruses or reporter gene expression from unspliced mRNAs and allowed detection of a 33-kDa protein product, which has been named regulator of export of MMTV mRNA, or Rem. The Rem N terminus has motifs similar to the Rev-like export proteins of complex retroviruses, and mutation of the nuclear localization signal (NLS) abolished RNA export and detection within the nucleus. The Rem C terminus has few identifiable features, but removal of this domain increased Rem-mediated export, suggesting an autoregulatory function. A reporter vector developed from the 3' end of the MMTV provirus was Rem responsive and required both the presence of the MMTV env-U3 junction and a functional Crm1 pathway. The identification of a third accessory protein from a doubly spliced transcript suggests that MMTV is the first murine complex retrovirus to be documented. Manipulation of the MMTV genome may provide mouse models for human retroviral diseases, such as AIDS.
Racial Disparities in Receipt of Secondary Stroke Prevention Agents Among US Nursing Home Residents

Background and Purpose— Although medications can significantly reduce the risk of recurrent stroke, little is known about the extent to which such therapies are given to nursing home residents. We sought to evaluate the extent to which people of color were less likely to receive pharmacological agents in the treatment of recurrent stroke while living in US nursing homes. Methods— We identified 19 051 residents with a recent hospitalization and primary discharge diagnosis of 434 or 436 in 5 states from 1992 to 1996; of these, 7053 had concomitant conditions indicating anticoagulant therapy. We considered aspirin, dipyridamole, ticlopidine, or warfarin alone or in combination as secondary drug prevention. Generalized linear models provided estimates of the absolute difference in prevalence estimates of the receipt of agents used for the prevention of recurrent stroke between each race-ethnicity group adjusted for potential confounders. Results— Variability in use of any treatment was observed by race-ethnicity ranging from 58% of American Indians receiving therapy to only 39% of Asian/Pacific Islanders. Among residents with an indication for anticoagulant therapy, the absolute estimated crude differences indicated that residents of color were less likely than non-Hispanic whites to receive warfarin. After controlling for confounding, Asian/Pacific Islanders, blacks, and Hispanics eligible for anticoagulant therapy received warfarin less often than non-Hispanic white residents. Conclusions— Overall, only half of our elderly population received any pharmacological agent for secondary prevention of stroke. Interventions designed to improve the pharmacological management of recurrent stroke regardless of race are needed in the nursing home setting.
Simplifying the diagnosis of 4 common voiding conditions using uroflow/electromyography, electromyography lag time and voiding history.

Purpose: Noninvasive uroflowmetry with simultaneous electromyography is useful to triage cases of lower urinary tract symptoms into 4 urodynamically defined conditions, especially when incorporating short and long electromyography lag times in the analysis. We determined the prevalence of these 4 conditions at a single referral institution and the usefulness of uroflowmetry with simultaneous electromyography and electromyography lag time to confirm the diagnosis, guide treatment and monitor response.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 100 consecutive normal children who presented with persistent lower urinary tract symptoms, underwent uroflowmetry with electromyography as part of the initial evaluation and were diagnosed with 1 of 4 conditions based on certain uroflowmetry/electromyography features. The conditions included 1) dysfunctional voiding—active pelvic floor electromyography during voiding with or without staccato flow, 2a) idiopathic detrusor overactivity disorder-A...
Photoacoustic microscopy of bilirubin in tissue phantoms

Determining both bilirubin's concentration and its spatial distribution are important in disease diagnosis. Here, for the first time, we applied quantitative multiwavelength photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) to detect bilirubin concentration and distribution simultaneously. By measuring tissue-mimicking phantoms with different bilirubin concentrations, we showed that the root-mean-square error of prediction has reached 0.52 and 0.83 mg∕dL for pure bilirubin and for blood-mixed bilirubin detection (with 100% oxygen saturation), respectively. We further demonstrated the capability of the PAM system to image bilirubin distribution both with and without blood. Finally, by underlaying bilirubin phantoms with mouse skins, we showed that bilirubin can be imaged with consistent accuracy down to >400 μm in depth. Our results show that PAM has potential for noninvasive bilirubin monitoring in vivo, as well as for further clinical applications.©2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). (DOI:
Theology, Faith, Universities: From Specialization to Specification in Theology

The issue of hyper-specialization within the various academic fields has often been raised in the context of recent discussions concerning the purpose or end of the modern university. Theology, one such field in which continual specialization seems prevalent, is further complicated by questions regarding the relationship between faith and the scientific character of theology, as well as the role of the university with regard to that relationship. Though seemingly diverse, a resolution to both of these questions may be found by giving an account of how the sciences, like theology, are specified. It is the purpose of the present article to explore the classical Thomistic position on this subject, and to apply its principles to the case of theology. It is shown that the specification of a science can be understood in terms of both the “formal object which” is known in a given science and the “formal object under which” it is known. The former can provide a correct starting point for managing the multiplicity of “sub-fields” and various specializations within the science of theology, while the latter can help to answer the question of the interrelation between faith and theology as a science in a university setting.
Pluralistic Ignorance and the Flexibility Bias: Understanding and Mitigating Flextime and Flexplace Bias at Work:

Workers who request flexibility are routinely stigmatized. The authors experimentally tested and confirmed the hypothesis that individuals believe others view flexworkers less positively than they ...
Critical and Higher Order Thinking in Online Threaded Discussions in the Slovak Context

This article describes and analyzes efforts to use collaborative asynchronous discussion forums in a three semester online education program for NGO leaders and managers in Slovakia. Slovakia, as a country with autocratic styles of teacher-centered education, presents strong barriers to the implementation of collaborative learning activities. The authors used Garrison’s four stage cognitive processing categories to analyze some of the online discussions in the program. The two higher order critical thinking categories – integration and solution – appeared in student discussions only when prompted by specific instructional techniques.
Extremal Edge A Powerful Cue to Depth Perception and Figure-Ground Organization

Extremal edges (EEs) are projections of viewpoint-specific horizons of self-occlusion on smooth convex surfaces. An ecological analysis of viewpoint constraints suggests that an EE surface is likely to be closer to the observer than the non-EE surface on the other side of the edge. In two experiments, one using shading gradients and the other using texture gradients, we demonstrated that EEs operate as strong cues to relative depth perception and figure-ground organization. Image regions with an EE along the shared border were overwhelmingly perceived as closer than either flat or equally convex surfaces without an EE along that border. A further demonstration suggests that EEs are more powerful than classical figure-ground cues, including even the joint effects of small size, convexity, and surroundedness.
Patterns of Infant Mortality from Armenian Parish Records: A Study from 10 Countries of the Diaspora, 1737–1982

Using parish records from 10 different countries with small Armenian communities, this study compared patterns of infant mortality in these countries over a period of 245 years. Deaths registered as aged < or = 1 year were used to estimate the numerator for the infant mortality rates (IMR) while the denominator was estimated from births in the same year based on baptisms in the appropriate registers. To check on the validity of using the baptisms as the denominator for the IMR, records of infant deaths were linked with the baptismal records. Thus, from a sample of 273 infant deaths 78.4% had a baptismal record in the registers of the same church in which the death was recorded. Of the deaths 60% had a recorded cause of death. Over the past 245 years, IMR have fallen substantially in all parishes. However, there were notable exceptions to this general pattern of declining IMR over time. For example, the IMR was tripled in Palestine during the decade of the First World War, possibly as a result of the influx of refugees deported from Turkey. A study of the seasonal occurrence of the deaths revealed peaking of deaths between May and August, a pattern influenced by the relative importance of gastroenteritis as a cause of death during the summer months in Egypt where the majority of these infant deaths were recorded. A review of the most important causes of death helped identify an outbreak of undetermined cause in Belgrade in 1737 and an outbreak of dysentery deaths in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1909.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Learning dynamics: system identification for perceptually challenged agents

From the perspective of an agent, the input/output behavior of the environment in which it is embedded can be described as a dynamical system. Inputs correspond to the actions executable by the agent in making transitions between states of the environment. Outputs correspond to the perceptual information available to the agent in particular states of the environment. We view dynamical system identification as inference of deterministic finite-state automata from sequences of input/output pairs. The agent can influence the sequence of input/output pairs it is presented by pursuing a strategy for exploring the environment. We identify two sorts of perceptual errors: errors in perceiving the output of a state and errors in perceiving the inputs actually carried out in making a transition from one state to another. We present efficient, high-probability learning algorithms for a number of system identification problems involving such errors. We also present the results of empirical investigations applying these algorithms to learning spatial representations.
Flow cytometric analysis of myelomonocytic cells by a pattern recognition approach is sensitive and specific in diagnosing myelodysplastic syndrome and related marrow diseases: Emphasis on a global evaluation and recognition of diagnostic pitfalls

Abstract Published data on flow cytometry (FCM) in diagnosing myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) varies greatly in analytic methods and interpretational approaches. We tested the diagnostic utility of the pattern recognition approach by a retrospective review of 180 MDS, 31 myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disease (MDS/MPD), 37 non-MDS cytopenia and 20 myeloproliferative disease (MPD) cases. Cases were placed into “positive”, “intermediate”, and “negative” FCM categories based upon the antigenic aberrations observed on myelomonocytic cells. By exclusion or inclusion of the intermediate category as indicative of MDS or MDS/MPD, the overall sensitivity and specificity were 84% and 97% or 98% and 78%, respectively. The overall abnormalities detected by FCM correlated with the severity of morphological dysplasia and clonal cytogenetic abnormalities. MPD also demonstrated immunophenotypic aberrancy. Based on a global evaluation of myelomonocytic abnormalities, and recognition of diagnostic pitfalls and caveats, the pattern recognition approach of FCM is sensitive and reliable in diagnosing MDS and related myeloid diseases.
The Muncy Way: The Reformatory Ideal at the End of the 20th Century

Despite efforts to bring parity to women's prisons, the reformatory ideal still played an important role in shaping the daily routines of incarcerated women in Pennsylvania at the end of the 20th c...
Beyond phrenology: brain and language in the next millennium.

“Postgenomic thinking” refers to the serious conceptual work that molecular biologists know they will soon have to do, once they have fully sequenced the human genome and still do not understand how it works. A similar fate faces those of us who study brain and language: In the next few years, we will have to engage in “postphrenological thinking,” formulating a new view of brain organization for language to replace the 19th-century perspective that has held sway for most of the 20th century. In both cases, the need for a new conceptual framework is the product of technological breakthroughs. In molecular biology, advances in gene sequencing have brought the goal of genomic description much closer than anyone would have predicted a few years ago. In cognitive neuroscience, new neural imaging techniques have given many investigators a golden opportunity to locate and characterize the discrete phrenological “faculties” or “mental organs” responsible for language, mathematics, social reasoning, etc. And herein lies a great historical irony: Neural imaging is destroying phrenology. In genetics, as in cognitive neuroscience, our newfound ability to identify and visualize functional substrates has shown that it is fruitless to assume a one-to-one mapping between structure and function. Two examples come from “knockout” studies of genes associated with neural development. Early knockout studies of the ephrinB2 oncogene were conducted with the confident expectation that specific neural defects would follow. Instead, this knockout caused cardiovascular defects; neural development appears to be affected only when ephrinB2 is knocked out in tandem with other ephrinB oncogenes, suggesting substantial redundancy for neural development but (in this case) not for the cardiovascular system. In the same vein, Hoxa1 knockout mice lack part of the hindbrain, while Hoxb1 mice lack certain hindbrain nuclei; neither gene by itself causes large changes outside the nervous system, but their combined
Assessment of Obese Children and Adolescents: A Survey of Pediatric Obesity-Management Programs

This article provides descriptive information on the assessments conducted in stage 3 or 4 pediatric obesity-management programs associated with National Association of Children's Hospital and Related Institutions hospitals enrolled in FOCUS on a Fitter Future. Eighteen institutions completed a survey that considered the following assessments: patient/family medical history; physical examination; blood pressure; body size and composition; blood chemistry; aerobic fitness; resting metabolic rate; muscle strength and flexibility; gross motor function; spirometry; sedentary behavior and physical activity; dietary behavior and nutrition; and psychological assessments. Frequency distributions were determined for each question. Overall, the results indicate that most programs that participated in this survey were following 2007 Expert Committee assessment recommendations; however, a variety of measurement tools were used. The variation in assessment tools, protocols, etc is partially caused by the program diversity dictated by personnel, both in terms of number and duties. It also shows the challenges in standardizing methodologies across clinics if we hope to establish a national registry for pediatric obesity clinics. In addition to providing a better understanding of the current assessment practices in pediatric obesity-management programs, the results provided herein should assist other clinics/hospitals that are developing pediatric obesity programs.
Vortex shedding and heat transfer in rotationally oscillating cylinders

Wake formation and heat transfer from a rotationally oscillating circular cylinder in cross-flow at are studied. Two aspects, the effect of cylinder forcing on vortex shedding and the effect of the wake structures on convective heat transfer, are studied. Cylinder forcing conditions range between , where is the peak-to-peak oscillation amplitude in radians and , where is the ratio of forcing frequency to natural shedding frequency. Digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) is used to obtain quantitative wake structure information. Wake modes, and regions of the parameter space in which they occur, are identified for both heated and unheated cylinders. For the heated cylinder, cylinder forcing is found to affect the convective heat-transfer rate. Certain wake modes, including newly discovered wake modes synchronized over multiple oscillation cycles, are found to correlate with significant heat-transfer enhancement. Cylinder tangential velocity is also found to affect the heat-transfer rate in certain regions of the parameter space.
Avidity Maturation of Antibody to Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib) after Immunization with Diphtheria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertussis-Hib-Hepatitis B Combined Vaccine in Infants

Antibody avidity to Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) polysaccharide (PS) was assessed in infants vaccinated with diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) combined with Hib-PS conjugated to tetanus toxoid (PRP-T) and hepatitis B (HB) (DTaP-PRP-T-HB) and after a PRP-conjugate (CRM197-OS) booster 3-7 months later. Avidity differed between infants with anti-Hib-PS IgG antibody 1 microg/mL postprimary series (avidity index [AI], 42%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 35%-49%, and 68% and 63%-72%, respectively; P<.0001). For infants with <1 microgram/mL anti-Hib-PS IgG antibody, mean AI rose by the time of preboost immunization to 61% (95% CI, 57%-65%), even though total IgG antibody levels fell. Spontaneous Hib-PS antibody rises after primary series DTaP-PRP-T-HB vaccination were followed by high postboost anti-Hib-PS IgG antibody levels and avidity. The DTaP-PRP-T-HB combination vaccine studied elicits high avidity antibody, and affinity maturation appears to occur in the absence of further antigen exposure even in those with very low anti-Hib-PS antibody.
Studies of Malagasy Eugenia (Myrtaceae) — II: Four New Species, Including One Eaten by Black Lemurs on Nosy Be

Abstract Four species of Eugenia are newly proposed for Madagascar. Eugenia ardyceae and Eugenia louisae occur in the southeast region near Tolagnaro; Eugenia nosibensis is restricted to Nosy Be off of the northern coast; and E. lacerosepala occurs in the northeast. Eugeina ardyceae and E. nosibensis each are known from several gatherings, E. louisae is known from two collections, and E. lacerosepala is known only from the type collection. Eugenia nosibensis is relatively common in the Lokobe Reserve Integrale, and its fruits are eaten by black lemurs (Eulemur macaco). The recommended conservation status for the species based on the IUCN criteria is Endangered for Eugenia lacerosepala and E. louisae, and Vulnerable for E. ardyceae and E. nosibensis. The importance of noting and reporting the local relative abundance of species when they are collected is discussed, particularly in remote, biodiversity-rich areas that are rarely visited. Such information helps later workers formulate conservation recommenda...
Glastic composite prototypes: A materials alternative for recycling plastic and glass waste

Multiple plastic compositions containing polyethylene, polystyrene, PVC, ABS, Nylon, polypropylene, with various particle morphologies and a narrow range of sizes and size distributions were mixed with similar size brown glass into “glastic” composites having glass compositions of 15, 30, and 45 wt%. These prototypes were molded in a form similar to standard clay bricks at 235°C and were compression tested to more than double the fracture stress of clay bricks at temperatures ranging from 20 to 50°C. These prototypes illustrate the prospects for utilizing waste plastics and glass in simple commercial materials applications and the relief of land fill problems which are now world-wide.
Techniques for realtime viewing and manipulation of volumetric data

Visualizing and manipulating volumetric data is a major component in many areas including anatomical registration in biomedical fields, seismic data analysis in the oil industry, machine part design in computer-aided geometric design, character animation in the movie industry, and fluid simulation. These industries have to meet the demands of the times and be able to make meaningful assertions about the data they generate. The shear size of this data presents many challenges to facilitating realtime interaction. In the recent decade, graphics hardware has become increasingly powerful and more sophisticated which has introduced a new realm of possibilities for processing volumetric data. This thesis focuses on a suite of techniques for viewing and editing volumetric data that efficiently use the processing power of central processing units (CPUs) as well as the large processing power of the graphics hardware (GPUs). This work begins with an algorithm to improve the efficiency of a texture-based volume rendering. We continue with a framework for performing realtime constructive solid geometry (CSG) with complex shapes and smoothing operations on watertight meshes based on a variation of Depth Peeling. We then move to an intuitive technique for deforming volumetric data using a collection of control points. Finally, we apply this technique to image registration of 3-dimensional computed tomography (CT) images used for lung cancel treatment, planning.
A γ-amino acid that favors 12/10-helical secondary structure in α/γ-peptides.

H-bonded helices in conventional peptides (containing exclusively homochiral α-amino acid residues) feature a uniform H-bonding directionality, N-terminal side C═O to C-terminal side NH. In contrast, heterochiral α-peptides can form helices in which the H-bond directionality alternates along the backbone because neighboring amide groups are oriented in opposite directions. Alternating H-bond directions are seen also in helices formed by unnatural peptidic backbones, e.g., those containing β- or γ-amino acid residues. In the present study, we used NMR spectroscopy and crystallography to evaluate the conformational preferences of the novel γ-amino acid (1R,2R,3S)-2-(1-aminopropyl)-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (APCH), which is constrained by a six-membered ring across its Cα–Cβ bond. These studies were made possible by the development of a stereoselective synthesis of N-protected APCH. APCH strongly enforces the α/γ-peptide 12/10-helical secondary structure, which features alternating H-bond directionality. Th...
III–V Nanocrystals Capped with Molecular Metal Chalcogenide Ligands: High Electron Mobility and Ambipolar Photoresponse

In this work, we synthesized InP and InAs nanocrystals (NCs) capped with different inorganic ligands, including various molecular metal chalcogenide complexes (MCCs) and chalcogenide ions. We found that MCCs and chalcogenide ions can quantitatively displace organic ligands from the surface of III–V NCs and serve as the inorganic capping groups for III–V NC surfaces. These inorganic ligands stabilize colloidal solutions of InP and InAs NCs in polar solvents and greatly facilitate charge transport between individual NCs. Charge transport studies revealed high electron mobility in the films of MCC-capped InP and InAs NCs. For example, we found that bridging InAs NCs with Cu7S4– MCC ligands can lead to very high electron mobility exceeding 15 cm2/(V s). In addition, we observed unprecedented ambipolar (positive/negative) photoresponse of MCC-capped InAs NC solids that changed sign depending on the ligand chemistry, illumination wavelength, and doping of the NC solid. For example, the sign of photoconductance ...
Structural transitions of CTAB micelles in a protic ionic liquid.

Micellar solutions of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in a protic ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), are studied by shear rheology, polarizing optical microscopy (POM), conductivity measurements, and small angle neutron scattering (SANS). Three concentration regimes are examined: A dilute regime (with concentrations [CTAB] < 5 wt %) consisting of noninteracting spherical micelles, a semidilute regime (5 wt % ≤ [CTAB] ≤ 45 wt %) where micelles interact via electrostatic repulsions, and a concentrated regime (45 wt % < [CTAB] ≤ 62 wt %) where a reversible, temperature-dependent isotropic (L1) to hexatic (Hex) phase transition is observed. The L1–Hex transition, which has been predicted but not previously observed, is characterized by (1) a sharp increase in the shear viscosity, (2) the formation of focal conical birefringence textures (observed by POM), and (3) enhancement of the crystalline order, evidenced by the appearance of Bragg reflections in the SANS profiles. Ionic conductivity is...
H-K-ATPase activity in PNA-binding intercalated cells of newborn rabbit cortical collecting duct

Functional and immunocytochemical studies indicate that intercalated cells in the adult rabbit cortical collecting duct (CCD) possess an H-K-adenosinetriphosphatase (H-K-ATPase). Because growing subjects must retain K+ and excrete H+, we sought to determine whether H-K-ATPase is present in the CCD early in life and, if so, to assess its activity and polarity. H-K-ATPase activity was defined as the initial rate of Sch-28080-inhibitable K+-dependent cell pH (pHi) recovery observed, in the absence of Na+, in response to an in vitro acid load. Transporter activity was assayed in intercalated cells labeled with the pH-sensitive dye 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein and apical cell surface marker rhodamine peanut lectin (PNA) in split-open CCDs isolated from neonatal and adult New Zealand White rabbits. In Na+-free N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid-buffered solutions (nominal absence of CO2/HCO3-), the rate of K+-dependent pH(i) recovery from a NH4Cl-induced acid load was similar in newborn (0.056 +/- 0.015 pH U/min, n = 9) and adult (0.060 +/- 0.019 pH U/min; n = 9, P = not significant) cells. This rate of K+-dependent pH(i) recovery was significantly reduced by 10-20 pM Sch-28080, an inhibitor of gastric H-K-ATPase, in both newborns (0.009 +/- 0.003 pH U/min, n = 7) and adults (0.013 +/- 0.007 pH U/min, n = 9) (P < 0.05 compared with rates in absence of inhibitor). To determine whether the location of the transporter is consistent with a role in K+ absorption and H+ secretion, pH(i) recovery of acutely acid-loaded intercalated cells in neonatal CCDs (n = 7) microperfused and bathed in the absence of Na+ and K+ was monitored after selective addition of K+ to either the luminal or basolateral membrane. Addition of 5 mM K+ led to a significantly greater rate of pH(i) recovery when it was added to the luminal rather than the peritubular solution (0.049 +/- 0.005 vs. 0.018 +/- 0.005 pH U/min, P < 0.05). We conclude that PNA-binding intercalated cells of the neonatal CCD possess H-K-ATPase activity, predominantly located in the apical membrane. This provides a mechanism for H secretion and K+ retention, processes required for growth.
Mathematical Model for Identifying Wells and Layers with Ineffective Injection-production for Heterogeneous Oilfield

For multi-layer sand reservoir,high permeability channel would be formed between oil well and water well at the later stage of water flooding.This caused the injected water circulates with no efficiency and thus decreased the oil wells' production.Measures of profile control and/or water shutoff must be taken in order to improve the effect of water driving oil.The key problem is to identify the wells and layers having ineffective circulation.In this paper,the indexes have been determined for identifying ineffective injection-production circulation and corresponding mathematical model was constructed with fuzzy theory.
Do Delinquents Really Drift

This article is concerned with determining if in fact juvenile delinquents are committed to breaking laws. There is discussion of the views of crimin ologists who have asserted that youths who commit crimes are members of a subcultural group committed to delinquency. Then follows a summary of David Matza's views in Delinquency and Drift ; he sets forth a theory that proposes that juvenile delinquents appear to be committed, but they are really " sounding " each other out so that a state of" pluralistic ignorance " occurs where no real communication exists, and each delinquent pretends to be " bad " to gain the esteem of fellow group members. Delinquents are thus in actuality " drifting " between the values of their gang and those of society. Due to these factors, and to the splitting up of these sub-cultural groups, few juvenile delinquents become adult criminals. There is much clarification of Matza's theory (and of studies done to test his ideas) in order to understand the series of eight questions that I devised to check his theory. They deal with these issues : ( i ) Is criminal behaviour required in a member of a delinquent gang ? (2) Do the youths feel that their peers are committed ? (3) Do juvenile delinquents think before committing crimes? (4) Do they distinguish between " good " and " bad " people, protecting the former group?; (5) Do delinquents love their families? (6) Do youths justify their law-breaking activities? (7) What do juvenile delinquents think of court officials? (8) Do they understand legal proceedings, such as the difference between a crime and a tort ? The purpose of this article then is to test the validity of Matza's theory and to propose revisions of the present American juvenile-judicial and punitive systems based upon the findings. If the drift theory holds valid, it would raise serious objections to the present methods courts have of processing delinquents.
Analysis of uncertainty of saccharin sodium in food detected by High performance liquid chromatography

ObjectiveTo find out the influencing factors of uncertainty in instrumental analysis and provide a scientific basis for evaluating measurement results.MethodsUsing the standard solution confected by National Standard Research Center for CRM,the saccharin standard solution was preparated by stepwise dilution method. After Treatment,the samples were detected according to GB/T5009.28 by Agilent/DAD high performance liquid chromatograph instrument. ResultsThe factors which influence uncertainty in instrumental analysis mainly come from five aspects:standard solution,sampling amount,standard peak area,peak area of sample solution,total volume of sample dilution. The uncertainty form the five factors were 0.0075、0.000403、0.00128、0.00427、0.0076 separately. And the results show the combined standard uncertainty was 1.50×10-2,the expanded uncertainty was 4.50×10 -2. ConclusionStandard solution and total volume of sample dilution were the main factors in the five factors to influence combined standard uncertainty. And the uncertainties resulted from the allowable error of the two were 0.0075,0.0076 separately.
Aristotle’s Method in the Politics

Having considered Aristotle’s general opinions about what nature is, we would now find it necessary to look more deeply into the question concerning his method of carrying out a proper study of it. By “method” I refer to Aristotle’s procedure when he identifies and classifies objects; in effect, method refers to the principles that underlie and guide these two processes. Thus understood, “method” is in part descriptive and in part explanatory. It is descriptive insofar as it results in an enumeration of the variety of political entities (constitutions) and suggests an order among them; it is explanatory insofar as it attempts to give a reasoned account of why these entities are as they are and why they exhibit the order they do. This chapter takes up only the former of these two concerns; I examine the latter in Chapter 5.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: A Measure for Individuals and Groups

This brief description of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) gives the interested counselor an overview of the history, characteristics, and uses of the MBTI.