cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plasma steroid concentrations in relation to size and age in juvenile alligators from two Florida lakes

a Abstract Previous studies have reported a number of physiological differences among juvenile alligators from two well-studied populations (Lake Apopka and Lake Woodruff) in north central Florida. These studies obtained alligators of similar size from each lake under the assumption that the animals were of similar age. Lake Apopka is a hypertrophic lake with a 50-year history of contamination from agricultural and municipal operations, whereas Lake Woodruff is a eutrophic lake and part of a National Wildlife Refuge that receives little point source pollution. If growth rates differ among these areas, it could be argued that differences in endocrine parameters reported previously (e.g. steroid or thyroid hormone concentrations) could be the result of differences in the animals' ages. Using growth annuli in cross-sections of femurs, we estimated the ages of juvenile alligators and compared the relationship of estradiol-17 b (E ) and testosterone (T) to 2 size and age within each lake and sex. No differences were detected in the relationship between size and age between the two areas indicating similar growth rates between lakes. Plasma E was positively related to size in females from 2 Lake Apopka, and age in Woodruff females. Males from Lake Apopka had elevated plasma E compared with Lake 2 Woodruff males and did not differ from Woodruff females. No significant relationships were detected for T from either lake, and no differences in plasma T were detected among lakes or sexes. Our data indicate that both size and age can have a significant relationship with steroid concentrations. However, the relationship between steroid concentrations and size or age differed between lakes. We suggest both factors should be considered when conducting physiological studies where there is evidence to suggest growth rates may differ among populations. 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
Manufacturing process optimization of phase plates for depth extension microscopy systems

Extended depth of field (EDoF) technology can be applied to imaging systems by merging phase-coding design and digital signal processing. This paper presents an application of EDoF to the microscope platform and shows the capability to capture EDoF images in a single shot. Ultra-precision machining conditions for a phase-coding component were compared the peak-to-valley (P-V) error of the cubic surface with the performance of the EDoF. For the phase variation is very small for this phase plate, determining the optimal cutting condition at which the quality of phase plate is stabilized is very important. Therefore, the single point diamond turning (SPDT) was used to manufacture the optical components for its high precision. And the results are as following, the accuracy of non-symmetric phase plate found between 0.4 μm and 1μm had better performance of the EDoF image. Overall, the depth of field of the new objective could be increased more than five times compared to an objective having no such phase plate. The purpose of this study is to compare the relationship between PV error of phase plate surface and imaging restoration quality, which maybe a good benchmark in this field.
Nazi documentaries of intimidation: ‘Feldzug in Polen’ (1940), ‘Feuertaufe’ (1940) and ‘Sieg im Westen’ (1941)

(1996). Nazi documentaries of intimidation: ‘Feldzug in Polen’ (1940), ‘Feuertaufe’ (1940) and ‘Sieg im Westen’ (1941). Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television: Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 485-514.
S-nitrosohemoglobin deficiency: A mechanism for loss of physiological activity in banked blood

RBCs distribute oxygen to tissues, but, paradoxically, blood transfusion does not always improve oxygen delivery and is associated with ischemic events. We hypothesized that storage of blood would result in loss of NO bioactivity, impairing RBC vasodilation and thus compromising blood flow, and that repleting NO bioactivity would restore RBC function. We report that S-nitrosohemoglobin (SNO-Hb) concentrations declined rapidly after storage of fresh venous blood and that hypoxic vasodilation by banked RBCs correlated strongly with the amounts of SNO-Hb (r(2) = 0.90; P < 0.0005). Renitrosylation of banked blood during storage increased the SNO-Hb content and restored its vasodilatory activity. In addition, canine coronary blood flow was greater during infusion of renitrosylated RBCs than during infusion of S-nitrosothiol-depleted RBCs, and this difference in coronary flow was accentuated by hypoxemia (P < 0.001). Our findings indicate that NO bioactivity is depleted in banked blood, impairing the vasodilatory response to hypoxia, and they suggest that SNO-Hb repletion may improve transfusion efficacy.
Wigner function of a two-dimensional electron gas in a magnetic field

Abstract The Wigner function of a two-dimensional electron gas in an arbitrary magnetic field perpendicular to the plane in which the electrons are confined is constructed rigorously. The function is useful in taking various statistical averages and illuminates the roles played by the hyperbolic functions of the field which appear in the expressions of the susceptibility and other physical quantities.
Relation of viral proliferation and antibody formation in mice exposed to roentgen radiation.

X radiation administered prior to Coxsackie virus inoculation increased and prolonged the yield of virus from selected tissues, particularly the pancreas. X radiation administered prior to virus inoculation inhibited the specific immune response. The deleterious effects of irradiation on antibody formation were not long lasting, in that virus reinoculated 30 days after x-ray exposure evoked a prompt secondary response equal to that of control mice. X-radiation exposure prior to a second inoculation of virus inhibited the secondary response in both the previously irradiated and control mice. These data are compatible with the hypothesis that increased viral proliferation in x-radiated animals is due to the inhibition of the antibody response.
Triple play: Deconstructing jewish lives

Following the lead and example of Marshall Sklare, this paper uses the tools of quantitative and qualitative social science analysis along with literary analysis to explore changing behaviors and attitudes of Jewish women, and manifestations of connectedness to and alienation from Judaism, the Jewish people, and Jewish institutions among them.
The proper treatment of measuring out, telicity, and perhaps even quantification in English

The notions of ‘measuring out’ (Tenny 1987, 1992) and ‘incremental theme’ (Dowty 1991) have been widely invoked as aspectual criteria involved in verbal argument selection. However, the full range of relevant data suggests that the role of arguments in determining aspectuality has little to do with argument selection. Rather, the relation between an argument and time found in ‘measuring out’ and ‘incremental theme’ phenomena is more properly viewed as a relation between the dimensional structure of the argument, the time interval, and the event in which they take part. Such a relation, here called structure-preserving binding, arises from an interaction between the lexical structure of the verb and pragmatic factors. This approach extends naturally to other situations in which time is not implicated, for example, covering and filling relations. It also extends to plurals, yielding a novel formalization of distributive quantification. I am grateful to James Pustejovsky, Joan Maling, Piroska Csuri, and Henk Verkuyl for important discussions on this topic, and to Verkuyl, Manfred Krifka, Carol Tenny, and Fritz Newmeyer for detailed remarks on earlier versions of the paper. This is not to say that they endorse the present version. This research was supported in part by NSF Grant IRI 92-13849 to Brandeis University, in part by Keck Foundation funding of the Brandeis Center for Complex Systems, and in part by a Fellowship to the author from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.
Workload-aware anonymization

Protecting data privacy is an important problem in microdata distribution. Anonymization algorithms typically aim to protect individual privacy, with minimal impact on the quality of the resulting data. While the bulk of previous work has measured quality through one-size-fits-all measures, we argue that quality is best judged with respect to the workload for which the data will ultimately be used.This paper provides a suite of anonymization algorithms that produce an anonymous view based on a target class of workloads, consisting of one or more data mining tasks, as well as selection predicates. An extensive experimental evaluation indicates that this approach is often more effective than previous anonymization techniques.
Homologous interactions of λ repressor and λ Cro with the λ operator

Abstract Lambda repressor and lambda Cro bind to the same six sites on the phage chromosome but with different relative affinities. Nucleotides at certain positions in the operator are conserved in all sites, as are amino acids at certain positions in the recognition α-helices of repressor and Cro. Here we focus on one of the conserved amino acids, a serine found at position 2 of each recognition helix. We show that, contrary to a previous model, both serines contact the same conserved position in the operator, position 4. We suggest a simplified view of how repressor and Cro recognize similar operator sites but distinguish differently among them.
Transdural metastasis from adenocarcinoma of the prostate mimicking subdural hematoma: case report.

BACKGROUND Metastasis of prostatic adenocarcinoma to the nervous system is extremely rare and has been infrequently reported over the last several years. We describe the presentation, evaluation, and surgical intervention of a case of metastatic prostate carcinoma to the dura. CASE DESCRIPTION This patient presented with symptoms and physical findings consistent with a subacute subdural hematoma in the setting of recently diagnosed adenocarcinoma of the prostate. He underwent a craniotomy for presumed subdural hematoma. The pathologic diagnosis was consistent with metastatic prostatic carcinoma. CONCLUSION This case report demonstrates the need for broad differential diagnosis in the evaluation and treatment of patients presenting with seemingly straightforward subacute subdural hematomas.
Lagged manpower relationships in development projects

Given several important assumptions, this paper suggests that the time phasing of the various skills utilized on a development project result in reasonably stable manpower relationships. The author establishes guidelines intended to sharpen, not replace, management's forecasts of its manpower needs throughout the life of a development program. For the study, he selects five development programs from a single aerospace firm. He discusses the relationships that exist between manpower from the firm's engineering operation and two other operations “downstream” in the development sequence: 1) manufacturing, and 2) quality control and testing. Using simple correlation analysis, the author explores both the time lags present in the application of manpower from the three operations to a development program and the comparative manpower requirements among the operations for given time lags.
The decline in serum albumin after conversion to high flux, high efficiency dialysis.

: Hypoalbuminemia among chronic hemodialysis patients is recognized as a poor prognostic sign. We observed that many of our chronic patients had a progressive decrease in their plasma albumin concentrations after they were converted to high flux, high efficiency dialysis from conventional dialysis mode. This change occurred in the absence of changes in the KTIV and protein catabolic rate (per) normalized to body mass. When nitrogen losses were measured, we found no difference in the dialysate concentrations of urea, alpha amino nitrogen, uric acid, or total nitrogen when high flux polysulfone was compared with high efficiency Cuprophan. While urea was the predominant nitrogen solute in all dialysate samples, there were some with a large gap between total and urea nitrogen. Alpha amino nitrogen losses, expressed as leucine equivalents, were substantial, ranging from 8. 4 to 9. 8 g/3. 5 h dialysis treatment. We believe that the increased losses of nitrogen experienced by patients after their conversion to a more efficient method of dialysis and not compensated for by a spontaneous increased intake of protein led to the observed fall in plasma albumin. Both urea and amino acid nitrogen losses need to be accounted for when achievement of higher KTIV dialysis is pursued.
Structure of Class-I MHC Molecules: HLA-B27 and Disease

In this introductory article, the structure and function of HLA class-I molecules is discussed. The differences between HLA-B27 and the other class-I molecules are described. It is suggested that HLA-B27 contributes to autoimmune phenomena, but little is known about the actual autoimmune mechanisms that cause the B27-associated disease.
Gastric cancer: laboratory bench to clinic.

Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide and the 14th overall cause of death. Detection of disease usually occurs at an advanced stage and overall survival rates for gastric cancer are poor. Our current model for gastric cancer progression clearly maintains Helicobacter infection as the primary inducer of gastric metaplastic and neoplastic disease. Helicobacter pylori is a ubiquitous organism, infecting more than half the world's population. It has been suggested that this infection directly contributes to the formation of gastric cancer in up to 80% of cases; however, gastric malignancy develops in only a subset (< 1%) of infected patients. Therefore, predisposition to Helicobacter-associated gastric cancer is most likely multifactorial, including the interaction of bacterial, host and environmental components. Our understanding of how the organism interacts with the gastric mucosa and synergizes with dietary and other environmental factors to induce malignant mucosal changes is evolving. Indeed, H. pylori has direct effects on the gastric mucosa, but the major factor in disease progression appears to be a robust host Th1 immune response in the setting of a permissive environment. In combination, these factors predispose to the formation of atrophy, metaplasia and gastric cancer. Understanding the interaction of the bacterium with the host and the environment can potentially identify patients most at risk. Identifying potentially removable factors (in addition to H. pylori infection) in the acquisition and progression of neoplastic disease may provide targets for early intervention and prevention strategies.
Effect of Health Information Technology Expenditure on Patient Level Cost

Objectives This study investigate the effect of health information technology (IT) expenditure on individual patient-level cost using California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) data obtained from 2000 to 2007.
Copy number variants are a common cause of non-syndromic hearing loss

Copy number variants (CNVs) are a well-recognized cause of genetic disease; however, methods for their identification are often gene-specific, excluded as ‘routine’ in screens of genetically heterogeneous disorders, and not implemented in most next-generation sequencing pipelines. For this reason, the contribution of CNVs to non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) is most likely under-recognized. We aimed to incorporate a method for CNV identification as part of our standard analysis pipeline and to determine the contribution of CNVs to genetic hearing loss. We used targeted genomic enrichment and massively parallel sequencing to isolate and sequence all exons of all genes known to cause NSHL. We completed testing on 686 patients with hearing loss with no exclusions based on type of hearing loss or any other clinical features. For analysis we used an integrated method for detection of single nucleotide changes, indels and CNVs. CNVs were identified using a previously published method that utilizes median read-depth ratios and a sliding-window approach. Of 686 patients tested, 15.2% (104) carried at least one CNV within a known deafness gene. Of the 38.9% (267) of individuals for whom we were able to determine a genetic cause of hearing loss, a CNV was implicated in 18.7% (50). We identified CNVs in 16 different genes including 7 genes for which no CNVs have been previously reported. CNVs of STRC were most common (73% of CNVs identified) followed by CNVs of OTOA (13% of CNVs identified). CNVs are an important cause of NSHL and their detection must be included in comprehensive genetic testing for hearing loss.
Differential Regulation of Primary and Memory CD8 T Cell Immune Responses by Diacylglycerol Kinases

The manipulation of signals downstream of the TCR can have profound consequences for T cell development, function, and homeostasis. Diacylglycerol (DAG) produced after TCR stimulation functions as a secondary messenger and mediates the signaling to Ras-MEK-Erk and NF-κB pathways in T cells. DAG kinases (DGKs) convert DAG into phosphatidic acid, resulting in termination of DAG signaling. In this study, we demonstrate that DAG metabolism by DGKs can serve a crucial function in viral clearance upon lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection. Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells from DGKα(-/-) and DGKζ(-/-) mice show enhanced expansion and increased cytokine production after lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection, yet DGK-deficient memory CD8(+) T cells exhibit impaired expansion after rechallenge. Thus, DGK activity plays opposing roles in the expansion of CD8(+) T cells during the primary and memory phases of the immune response, whereas consistently inhibiting antiviral cytokine production.
Overlayer Strain Relief on Surfaces with Square Symmetry: Phase Diagram for a 2D Frenkel-Kontorova Model

Overlayers on surfaces with square symmetry exhibit a huge variety of strain relief mechanisms. I present a simple 2D Frenkel-Kontorova model and calculate the associated zero temperature phase diagram which shows a transition from overlayers with square symmetry (and possible square dislocation patterns) to hexagonal symmetry. The phase diagram includes the experimentally observed clock-rotated phase. Local density approximation calculations suggested by the model show that a clean Ni(100) surface reconstructs from a bulk-terminated to a clock-rotated structure at biaxial compressive strains above 2.5%.
A step towards adaptive multimodal virtual social interaction platform for children with autism

Recent advances in computer and robotic technology are enabling the application of such technology in assisting traditional intervention in developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A number of research studies indicate that many children with ASD prefer technology and this preference can be explored to develop systems that may alleviate several challenges of traditional treatment and intervention. The current work proposes to develop an adaptive virtual reality-based social interaction platform for children with ASD. It is hypothesized that endowing a technological system that can detect the feeling and state of the child and adapt its interaction accordingly is of great importance in assisting and individualization of traditional intervention approaches. The proposed system employs sensors such as eye trackers and physiological signal monitors and models the context relevant psychological state of the user from combination of these sensors together with the performance of the participant.
Cortical plasticity: A proposed mechanism by which genomic factors lead to the behavioral and neurological phenotype of autism spectrum and psychotic-spectrum disorders

Crespi & Badcock (C&B) hypothesize that biases toward expression of paternally or maternally imprinted genes lead to the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and psychotic-spectrum disorders (PSD), respectively. We suggest that such genetic risk factors may act by inducing abnormalities in developmental and learning-related plasticity. We provide preliminary evidence of abnormal plasticity in ASD and suggest transcranial magnetic stimulation as a useful tool to investigate as well as influence cortical plasticity.
Myofascial trigger points: pathophysiology and correlation with acupuncture points

Summary A review is made of recent studies on myofascial trigger points (MTrP) and their mechanism is discussed. Clinical and basic science studies have shown that there are multiple MTrP loci in a MTrP region. A MTrP locus contains a sensory component (sensitive locus) and a motor component (active locus). A sensitive locus is a point from which tenderness or pain, referred pain, and local twitch response can be elicited by mechanical stimulation. Sensitive loci (probably sensitised nociceptors) are widely distributed in the whole muscle, but are concentrated in the endplate zone. An active locus is a site from which spontaneous electrical activity can be recorded. Active loci appear to be dysfunctional endplates since spontaneous electrical activity is essentially the same as the electrical activity reported by neurophysiologists as that recorded from an abnormal endplate. A MTrP is always found in a taut band which is histologically related to contraction knots caused by excessive release of acetylcholine in abnormal endplates. Both referred pain and local twitch response are mediated through spinal cord mechanisms, as demonstrated in both human and animal studies. The pathogenesis of MTrPs appears to be related to integration in the spinal cord of response to the disturbance of nerve endings and abnormal contractile mechanism at multiple dysfunctional endplates. There are many similarities between MTrPs and acupuncture points including their location and distribution, pain and referred pain patterns, local twitch responses (de qi), and possible spinal cord mechanism.
Characteristics of a photoacoustic air pollution detector at CO(2) laser frequencies.

The characteristics of a photoacoustic detection system for measurement of ambient trace atmospheric pollutants at CO2 laser frequencies are analyzed and described. Several photoacoustic variables are optimized in this study. An alternate-traverse acoustic cell to eliminate cell window signals is described. An ac biased 16-cm2 microphone is used. The observed modulation frequency dependence of the acoustic signal and a theoretical analysis are also presented. Trace gas interferents limit the practical sensitivity of the system, however, even with interferents present, a minimum measurable pressure change of 2.43 × 10−9 atm, and apparent absorptivity of 8.42 × 10−9/cm was obtained. Techniques to minimize effects of interferents are reported along with the methodology of the photoacoustic technique in trace gas measurements.
cDNA Cloning of the Basement Membrane Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan Core Protein, Bamacan: A Five Domain Structure Including Coiled-Coil Motifs

Basement membranes contain several proteoglycans, and those bearing heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans such as perlecan and agrin usually predominate. Most mammalian basement membranes also contain chondroitin sulfate, and a core protein, bamacan, has been partially characterized. We have now obtained cDNA clones encoding the entire bamacan core protein of Mr = 138 kD, which reveal a five domain, head-rod-tail configuration. The head and tail are potentially globular, while the central large rod probably forms coiled-coil structures, with one large central and several very short interruptions. This molecular architecture is novel for an extracellular matrix molecule, but it resembles that of a group of intracellular proteins, including some proposed to stabilize the mitotic chromosome scaffold. We have previously proposed a similar stabilizing role for bamacan in the basement membrane matrix. The protein sequence has low overall homology, apart from very small NH2- and COOH-terminal motifs. At the junctions between the distal globular domains and the coiled-coil regions lie glycosylation sites, with up to three N-linked oligosaccharides and probably three chondroitin chains. Three other Ser-Gly dipeptides are unfavorable for substitution. Fusion protein antibodies stained basement membranes in a pattern commensurate with bamacan, and they also Western blotted bamacan core protein from rat L2 cell cultures. The antibodies could also specifically immunoprecipitate an in vitro transcription/translation product from a full-length bamacan cDNA. The unusual structure of this proteoglycan is indicative of specific functional roles in basement membrane physiology, commensurate with its distinct expression in development and changes in disease models.
MO‐E‐M100F‐03: A Projection Point Tracking Method for Gated 4DRT Validation

Purpose: To test the use of projection point tracking as an alternative to strain gauges for respiratory phase determination. Method and Materials: Projection point tracking uses 2D projection images acquired for the localization MV cone‐beam CT. A point, e.g. the top of the diaphragm under the ipsilateral lung, can be identified in each projection. In views where the top point of a surface is on a plateau, it is difficult to determine such points. By identifying the tracking point in two projections, near full exhale, separated by about 90 degrees, the location of the point in the patient can be calculated and subsequently projected onto every view, providing guide points. The tracking points on full exhale views are the guide points. Since tracking points have minimal motion between adjacent views, the tracking point on a view can be inferred from the one on the previous view and the view's guide point. A plot of the tracking point's coordinates versus view angle provides the projection track. For constant gantry rotation speeds, the projection track provides a plot of the respiratory phase. Results: An examination of projection tracks for a trained patient revealed 1) good agreement with strain gauge measurements, 2) inter‐fraction variation of tumor range of motion, and 3) inter‐fraction reproducibility of phase cycle. Two of the fractions were 180 degrees out of phase, raising the possibility of combining “near‐full‐exhale” projections to reconstruct a “full‐exhale” MV CT. With enough projection sets, it may be possible to reconstruct a 4D MV CT. The projection tracks could be used to select the appropriate views for each phase. Conclusion: Compared to strain gauges that only provide phase, projection point tracking is a more powerful method of characterizing respiration, since the amplitude of motion is also determined.
EDITH WHARTON'S SICK ROLE

In this article, we conduct a textual analysis of Edith Wharton's 1911 novel, Ethan Frome. We offer three readings. The first presents Wharton's account of illness through a framework developed four decades later by Talcott Parsons. Wharton's sick role was less medico-centric than Parsons; it emphasized the importance of class, gender and community in defining and legitimizing the sick role. Our second reading explores the socially constructed nature of roles in illness. The sick role as portrayed by Wharton is not the social fact later conceived by Parsons, but a social construct with no determinate reference beyond that which the local community is willing to grant it. Our third reading examines the social context, particularly the power relations, within which this story of illness has been constructed.
Megakaryocyte Progenitors Are the Main APCs Inducing Th17 Response to Lupus Autoantigens and Foreign Antigens

In search of autoantigen-presenting cells that prime the pathogenic autoantibody-inducing Th cells of lupus, we found that CD41(+)CD151(+) cells among Lineage(-) (Lin(-)) CD117(+) (c-Kit(+)) CX3CR1(-) splenocytes depleted of known APCs were most proficient in presenting nuclear autoantigens from apoptotic cells to induce selectively an autoimmune Th17 response in different lupus-prone mouse strains. The new APCs have properties resembling megakaryocyte and/or bipotent megakaryocyte/erythroid progenitors of bone marrow, hence they are referred to as MM cells in this study. The MM cells produce requisite cytokines, but they require contact for optimal Th17 induction upon nucleosome feeding, and can induce Th17 only before undergoing differentiation to become c-Kit(-)CD41(+) cells. The MM cells expand up to 10-fold in peripheral blood of lupus patients and 49-fold in spleens of lupus mice preceding disease activity; they accelerate lupus in vivo and break tolerance in normal mice, inducing autoimmune Th17 cells. MM cells also cause Th17 skewing to foreign Ag in normal mice without Th17-polarizing culture conditions. Several molecules in MM cells are targets for blocking of autoimmunization. This study advances our understanding of lupus pathogenesis and Th17 differentiation biology by characterizing a novel category of APC.
Locke on the Idea of Substratum

Locke's treatment of substratum is notoriously difficult. Accordingto one commentator, ‘nothing else in the writings of any philosopher matches the doubleness of attitude of the passages about substratum in Locke's Essay’ (Bennett 1987, 197). The aim of the present paper is to render consistent Locke's seemingly divergent strands on the subject. My efforts are organized around three levels of apparent duplicity. At each level, I argue that the doubleness of attitude in Locke's treatment is merely apparent. I argue further that Locke means to ground an empiricist-friendly idea of substratum in the customary experience of simple ideas that ‘go constantly together.’
Tree Swallow Frugivory in Winter

Abstract - This study assesses, through the first systematic field observations of winter foraging of Tachycineta bicolor (Tree Swallow), whether swallow foraging on the fruits of Morella cerifera (Southern Wax Myrtle) is correlated to air temperature. We observed Tree Swallows in central Florida for 53 days between 3 November 2011 and 14 January 2012. Tree Swallows foraged on Southern Wax Myrtle more often on colder days, producing a statistically significant negative relationship between maximum daily temperature and foraging on Southern Wax Myrtle. Our results also indicated that Tree Swallows ate Southern Wax Myrtle fruit over a broad range of temperatures at which flying insects are also available.
Personality Profiles of Intimate Partner Violence Offenders With and Without PTSD

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious forensic and clinical problem throughout the United States. Research aimed at defining and differentiating subgroups of IPV offenders using standardized personality instruments may eventually help with matching treatments to specific individuals to reduce recidivism. The current study used a convenience sample of court-ordered IPV offenders to explore whether the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can reliably differentiate this population in terms of personality characteristics and clinical symptoms. Profile analysis showed meaningful differences between PTSD (n = 22), non-PTSD (n = 43), and nontrauma (n = 13) groups on a variety of Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory and Personality Assessment Inventory personality and clinical scales. The PTSD group reported significantly less IPV than the non-PTSD and nontrauma groups, as well as endorsing greater overall distress, greater symptoms of anxiety, and greater symptoms of depression across instrum...
The impact of the impact factor

This paper provides a brief introduction to the impact factor (IF), a number that judges the importance of a scientific/engineering journal. Using a simple equation, the IF can be determined and used to indicate the importance of a journal. While a correlation exists between the journal IF and the quality of the journal, comparing IF between two disciplines may not be fair. Nevertheless, the IF is gaining popularity among college presidents who are determined to improve their school's status in the US News and World Report college rankings.
Determination of As(III), As(V), monomethylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid and arsenobetaine by HPLC-ICP-MS: analysis of reference materials, fish tissues and urine.

Abstract In this study, a rapid and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (HPLC–ICP–MS) determination of primary As species in fish tissues and urine is reported. The separation was achieved on an Altima C18 column with a mobile phase containing citric acid and hexanesulfonic acid (pH 4.5). As(V), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), As(III), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and arsenobetaine (AsB) were separated in less than 4 min with retention times of 83, 99, 130, 166 and 208 s, respectively. This separation of five species in less than 4 min should be attractive to those interested in As speciation. The quantification limits were 44, 56, 94, 64, 66 ng l−1 and the relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) for day-to-day injections of As at 2 μg l−1 were 2.0, 3.1, 2.4, 3.8 and 4.0%. The procedure was tested using two reference materials (DORM-2 dogfish muscle tissue, NIST SRM 2670 Freeze-dried Urine, normal level) and then applied to real-world samples. The results obtained demonstrate the suitability of the procedure for screening and quantification at physiological levels of primary As species in biological samples.
A local-analytic-based discretization procedure for the numerical solution of incompressible flows

An Erratum has been published for this article in International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids 2005, 49(8): 933. We present a local-analytic-based discretization procedure for the numerical solution of viscous fluid flows governed by the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. The general procedure consists of building local interpolants obtained from local analytic solutions of the linear multi-dimensional advection–diffusion equation, prototypical of the linearized momentum equations. In view of the local analytic behaviour, the resulting computational stencil and coefficient values are functions of the local flow conditions. The velocity–pressure coupling is achieved by a discrete projection method. Numerical examples in the form of well-established verification and validation benchmarks are presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the formulation. The discretization procedure is implemented alongside the ability to treat embedded and non-matching grids with relative motion. Of interest are flows at high Reynolds number, (105)–(107), for which the formulation is found to be robust. Applications include flow past a circular cylinder undergoing vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) at high Reynolds number. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
"A pace not dictated by electrons": an empirical study of work without email

We report on an empirical study where we cut off email usage for five workdays for 13 information workers in an organization. We employed both quantitative measures such as computer log data and ethnographic methods to compare a baseline condition (normal email usage) with our experimental manipulation (email cutoff). Our results show that without email, people multitasked less and had a longer task focus, as measured by a lower frequency of shifting between windows and a longer duration of time spent working in each computer window. Further, we directly measured stress using wearable heart rate monitors and found that stress, as measured by heart rate variability, was lower without email. Interview data were consistent with our quantitative measures, as participants reported being able to focus more on their tasks. We discuss the implications for managing email better in organizations.
Is there a managerial life cycle? Evidence from the NFL

We use data from the NFL over 1920–2004 to examine the relationship between age and managerial performance controlling for other relevant influences. Our results indicate that age enhances performance up to a point at which increasing age predicts diminished performance—a managerial life cycle. Moreover, rates of change in the life cycle are relatively gradual, which is consistent with gradual changes in the marginal product of human capital and depreciation rates for human capital rather than levels that are fixed for long periods. With a lag of about 7–10 years, the effects are very similar to those found between age and athletic performance in previous studies by Fair. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Friction and Wear of Ceramics for Magnetic Recording Applications—Part II: Friction Measurements

Friction and wear experiments have been conducted under lightly loaded conditions (less than 0.1 MPa) on a number of single crystal and polycrystalline ceramics in sliding contact against magnetic thin-film hard disk and against themselves in order to compare their tribological behavior. The ceramics studied range from single crystal diamond and sapphire to polycrystalline engineering ceramics such as manganese-zinc ferrite, alumina-titanium carbide, and zirconia. The results are analyzed in the context of earlier work on the friction and wear of these ceramics under lightly loaded conditions which has been recently reviewed by Chandrasekar and Bhushan (1990).
Metadamping: An emergent phenomenon in dissipative metamaterials

Abstract Using a generalized form of Bloch's theorem, we derive the dispersion relation of a viscously damped locally resonant metamaterial modeled as an infinite mass-in-mass lumped parameter chain. For comparison, we obtain the dispersion relation for a statically equivalent Bragg-scattering mass-spring chain that is also viscously damped. For the two chains, we prescribe identical damping levels in the dashpots and compare the damping ratio associated with all propagating Bloch modes. We find that the locally resonant metamaterial exhibits higher dissipation throughout the spectrum which indicates a damping emergence phenomena due to the presence of local resonance. This phenomenon, which we define as “metadamping”, provides a new paradigm for the design of material systems that display both high damping and high stiffness. We conclude our investigation by quantifying the degree of metadamping as a function of the long-wave speed of sound in the medium or the static stiffness.
Mechanics of thrust faulting in crystalline basement, Sevier erogenic belt, Utah

Archean and Proterozoic basement was involved in foreland thrust faulting during the Sevier orogeny in northern Utah. Mesozoic structures in the Farmington Canyon Complex provide evidence for the mechanics of crystalline thrust plate transport and emplacement. Structures formed during the last stage of transport of the Farmington Canyon Complex over folded but mostly unmetamorphosed Paleozoic strata occur in the upper plate of the Ogden thrust fault, which was emplaced by cataclastic flow. Intraplate strain was accommodated by brittle faulting, and new greenschist facies minerals formed during hydro-thermal alteration. The Paleozoic strata directly below the thrust fault were ductilely deformed. The upper thrust plate was buckled into an anticline-syncline fold pair as it moved eastward along the Ogden thrust fault. The fold axes were oriented subparallel to the eastward direction of tectonic transport. Shortening at a high angle to the fault plane and eastward extension occurred in the cataclastic gneiss of the upper plate and the underlying sedimentary tectonites. These strains developed as the result of progressive simple shear during overthrusting. Strain due to buckling of the upper plate was superimposed on the simple shear strains in the cataclastic gneiss and caused lateral variations in the three-dimensional strain field within the thrust plate. Constrictional strain developed in the anticlinal hinge area of the thrust plate, whereas flattening strain occurred in the synclinal hinge zone.
Time-dependent buckling phenomena of polysilicon micro beams

Abstract Time-dependent buckling phenomena of polysilicon micro beams have been demonstrated and reported. These beams are suspended 2 μm above the silicon substrate with dimensions of 100 μm (length)×2 μm (width)×2 μm (thickness). When a constant input current is supplied at or above a threshold value, electro-thermally induced buckling occurs. It is observed and recorded that the beams exhibit time-dependent elongation. Three types of time-dependent material behaviors have been identified, including pure elastic buckling, time-dependent elastoplastic deformation and the combination of melting and irreversible plastic damage.
Lessons from the injured brain: a bioethicist in the vineyards of neuroscience.

I would like to share some reflections on how bioethics fosters dialogue between the sciences and humanities by talking a bit about my work as a physician-ethicist collaborating with neuroscientists studying severe brain injury and mechanisms of recovery. If I am successful in this Pilgrim's Progress, I hope I will convince you that the injured brain can teach us much about ourselves. It is not something I was prepared to believe as a medical student, when I was more certain of things than I am now.
In Vivo Monitoring of Microcirculation in Burn Healing Process with Optical Microangiography.

Objective: Optical microangiography (OMAG)-based optical coherence tomography is a noninvasive technique capable of imaging functional microvasculature innervating scanned tissue volume. In this study, we utilize OMAG to investigate dynamic changes of microcirculation during the healing process of a burn. Approach: A soft-contact superficial burn injury was induced on a mouse ear with 1 μL 70°C hot water. Microangiograms were generated by using OMAG before and after the burn. Results: Vessel recruitment and remodeling were observed in the healing process. Burn injury reached to the worst extent within the first 24 h and had no expansion thereafter. The interrupted microcirculation in the mouse ear was progressively recovered in the consequent postburn days and completely healed on postburn day 7. Innovation: OMAG provides a novel way for noninvasive visualization and quantification of vasculature changes over time after burn injuries. The high resolution achieved by the imaging system reveals microvascula...
Significance and Functions of Silicon in Warm-Blooded Animals. Review and Outlook

Some earlier research and the developments which led to the discovery of the essentiality of silicon for warm blooded animals are reviewed, and pitfalls in the methodology of silicon determination in biological material are described with special reference to germanium as an interfering factor in the ammonium molybdate reaction. Previous work from our laboratory on the occurrence of bound silicon in connective tissue components such as glycosaminoglycans is reviewed. It was based partially on results obtained with materials which were contaminated by silica or polysilicic acid. The total amount of silicon in ground matrix and connective tissue is smaller than assumed earlier. Thus, the hypothesis that silicon acts as a cross-linking agent in the ground matrix may have to be modified. Silicic acid derivatives may function in this fashion in special organelles such as base membranes, micro-tubules, etc. In the formation of organic silic acid derivatives, i.e., silanolates or silicic acid esters, not only the hydroxyl groups of carbohydrate derivatives, but also the hydroxyamino acids or other hydroxyl groups may serve as potential carriers of the silicic acid residue. In such structures, donation of electrons by amino N, leading to penta- or hexa-coordinated derivatives may have a stabilizing effect.
A Review of the Economics of Information Security Literature

In the last ten years economists have become interested in the role of online security in promoting online commerce. This paper reviews the literature, with a focus on the role of incentives in creating and solving security problems, as well as discussion of the scale of the problem, and implications for the future of the internet, including cloud computing.
Identification and improvement of design issues of a sales management system for VOIP wholesaler

VOIP (Voice over IP Protocol) is an emerging field including a lot of wholesale companies in market striving to give cost effective wholesale VoIP termination and business VoIP services to its clients. The VOIP wholesaler processes bulk of calls per day therefore, have to manage a large amount of data i.e. calls, clients, contracts and its account managers. Sales Management Systems are used to manage such records. This research focuses on one of such systems i.e. a sales management system for VOIP wholesaler. The system is deployed by a software house in Islamabad, Pakistan to a VOIP wholesaler to manage his business. The end user of the system faced difficulties while using the system. The system has different design issues. The purpose of this research is the identification and correction of these design issues to improve usability and user's experience. The design issues are highlighted after interviewing client, project manager and general issues which are not in accordance with HCI's (Human Computer Interaction) principles. The design issues are related to the interface of the system its color scheme and information display. The objective is to provide the most relevant and important information to the client on minimum clicks.
Seniority of the f 7 2 4 Levels in Cr 52

The seniorities of recently observed levels in ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{52}$ are considered. The energies as well as $M1$ transition rates agree rather well with a ${{f}_{\frac{7}{2}}}^{4}$ assignment. On the other hand, there is not enough experimental information about the possible operation of the $E2$ selection rule ($\ensuremath{\Delta}v=2$ but no $\ensuremath{\Delta}v=0$) for this configuration.
Vitamin D-responsive rickets in neonatal lambs

An unusual clinical presentation of rickets in nursing lambs is described. Two sets of twin nursing lambs were presented for enlarged joints and mild angular deformity. Rickets was suspected, based on radiographic evidence. Vitamin D deficiency was determined to be the cause, based on serum concentration and response to therapy.
Study on synthesis and characterization of L-lactide with different catalysts

Using lactic acid as monomer,L-lactide was synthesized by condensation polymerization and consequent depolymerization steps.First,effects of synthesis parameters on the yield were investigated by orthogonal experiments,such as catalyst types and dosage,dewater temperature and decomposition temperature. Then,effects of the purification method on the yield and content of impurities(lactic acid and water)were studied. Finally,the molecular structure of prepared L-lactide was characterized by infrared spectroscopy,thermal analysis and nuclear magnetic resonant techniques in detail.Results indicated that the yield of L-lactide can reach 80% when dewater and decomposition temperature are 130℃and 190℃respectively.After four times recrystallization in ethyl acetate,high purity product can be obtained successfully.
Fundamentals of cancer metabolism

Tumors reprogram pathways of nutrient acquisition and metabolism to meet the bioenergetic, biosynthetic, and redox demands of malignant cells. These reprogrammed activities are now recognized as hallmarks of cancer, and recent work has uncovered remarkable flexibility in the specific pathways activated by tumor cells to support these key functions. In this perspective, we provide a conceptual framework to understand how and why metabolic reprogramming occurs in tumor cells, and the mechanisms linking altered metabolism to tumorigenesis and metastasis. Understanding these concepts will progressively support the development of new strategies to treat human cancer.