cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic ultrasound imaging of cervical spine intervertebral discs

The health of the cervical spine is commonly evaluated by static X-Ray, CT or MRI images; however, they are unable to reveal its dynamic performance and functionality. Ultrasound is introduced as a non-invasive, real-time quantitative tool to assess the dynamic biomechanics and integrity of C-spine. We developed a dual ultrasound system capable of measuring C-spine kinematics and intervertebral disc deformation stereographically. To demonstrate the feasibility of using ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for evaluating C-spine functionality.the system hardware and software were validated using PMMA bone phantoms at frequencies 1–8 Hz and human cadaveric C-spine to derive the dynamic biomechanical properties of functional spinal units.
Chlorine K-Edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy as a Probe of Chlorine−Manganese Bonding: Model Systems with Relevance to the Oxygen Evolving Complex in Photosystem II†

For a series of Mn−Cl coordination complexes the chlorine K-edge X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) have been measured to probe chloride−manganese bonding. Results show that in a series of mononuclear (single Mn) compounds with Cl covalently bound to Mn, the intensity of the pre-edge feature increases in the order MnII < MnIII < MnIV. For a series of distorted cubane complexes (containing 4 Mn) with bridging and terminal Cl ligands, three pre-edge features are seen. The pre-edge peak at lowest energy increases in intensity as more terminal Cl are included in the compounds. The origin of these features in the edge spectra is described in terms of the symmetry and ligand field splittings expected for the Mn complexes. The Mn model systems studied here have potential application to the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) in Photosystem II (PSII), where direct structural evidence for a halide binding site on the Mn cluster in one or more S-states of the Kok cycle would be informative.
Predicting range performance of LRG imagers in the presence of natural illumination

Laser Range-Gated (LRG) imagers provide high contrast images of targets at extended ranges because the laser light scattered by the intervening atmosphere is gated out. Atmospheric backscatter of the laser light does not degrade the contrast of LRG imagery. Natural illumination helps range performance by increasing overall target illumination. However, natural illumination of the intervening path degrades target to background contrast, and this hurts range performance. This paper provides a model for predicting the influence of natural illumination on LRG performance.
HAPPY AGEING (AAL-2008-1-113) project overview: solutions for independent living and technology acceptance

The aim of this paper is to present the "HAPPY AGEING" project (AAL-2008-1-113), A Home based APProach to the Years of AGEING, in the framework of The 4th International Conference on PErvasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments, held in Crete on 25th--27th May, 2011. The project aims at developing a new device, the HAPPY AGEING system, for the support of older people daily activities, following the user-centred design paradigm. An overview of the main aspects of the project (technical, management and end-user perspective) are reported below, in order to give an exhaustive presentation of the project and its future goals.
Effect of government actions on technological innovation for SO2 control.

The relationship between government actions and innovation in environmental control technology is important for the design of cost-effective policies to achieve environmental goals. This paper examines such relationships for the case of sulfur dioxide control technology for U.S. coal-fired power plants. The study employs several complementary research methods, including analyses of key government actions, technology patenting activity, technology performance and cost trends, knowledge transfer activities, and expert elicitations. Our results indicate that government regulation appears to be a greater stimulus to inventive activity than government-sponsored research support alone, and that the anticipation of regulation also spurs inventive activity. Regulatory stringency focuses this activity along particular technical pathways and is a key factor in creating markets for environmental technologies. We also find that with greater technology adoption, both new and existing systems experience notable efficiency improvements and capital cost reductions. The important role of government in fostering knowledge transfer via technical conferences and other measures is also seen as an important factor in promoting environmental technology innovation.
RADIATION CROSSLINKING STUDIES ON BRANCHED POLYVINYL ACETATE.

Abstract Crosslinking and chain scission caused by gamma radiation in branched polyvinyl acetate have been studied. Gel fraction was measured as a function of radiation dose in five well-characterized samples, ranging in structure from almost linear to approximately 1.7 branch points per molecule. Apparent Gvalues (events per 100 eV of energy absorbed) from random scission and cross-linking, G(S) and G(X) respectively, were obtained from the solubility behaviour at high doses, and G(X) was separately evaluated at low doses from gel point measurements. For each sample the values of G(X) were similar at high and low doses, but they decreased from sample to sample as the branching density increased. All observations were consistent with the supposition that approximately 15 per cent of the branch points are sensitive to radiation and break preferentially prior to the gel point. Several types of branches are known to exist in polyvinyl acetate, which may account for the apparent differences in radiation sensitivity among branches.
Spatial pattern of languages in India: A culture-historical analysis

Though Indian languages have roots in five racial groups — Negroids, Austrics, Mongoloids, Caucasoid Dravidians and Caucasoid Aryans — it is the last two groups that dominate the country. Sanskrit based Aryan languages of the North and Dravidian languages of the South have derived their scripts from a common source — the 3rd and 2nd century BC Brahmi. Hindi and Urdu core areas in the ‘Linguistic Heartland of India’ are nationally spread though their use in the southern plainlands is minimal. Marathi, Tamil and Bengali with existing cores in the former Presidency towns are widely spread out in outer areas, whereas, Assamese and Kashmiri have thrived in linguistic isolation. Punjabi and Sindhi were dwarfed because of historic-geographical factors. Sindhi does not have any core in India. There is a general dominance of single languages by districts. Districtwise diversity index shows that India has a linguistic homogeneity at the micro-level. If the nation is considered as one unit, India is linguistically diverse.
Satisfaction with Home-Based Employment

Using data from nine state regional research project on at-home income generation, the relationships of three satisfaction variables to demographic and work situation variables of 899 household managers in households with home-based employment are investigated. The satisfaction variables include quality of life, family income, and control over everyday life. The majority of households are satisfied with their quality of life and control over life although only moderately satisfied with income. One variable is related to the three satisfaction variables, the wage earner's control over the amount of work done in a day.
Unstable angina: Relationship of clinical presentation, coronary artery pathology, and clinical outcome

Patients with unstable angina are heterogeneous with respect to presentation, coronary artery morphology, and clinical outcome. Subclassification of these patients based on clinical history has been proposed as a means of identifying individuals at increased cardiac risk. We applied such a classification system to 129 patients discharged from a coronary care unit with a diagnosis of acute myocardial ischemia. Patients were then assessed for cardiac events (recurrent angina requiring revascularization, myocardial infarction, death) 12 months following hospital discharge. Patients were classified as recent onset unstable angina preinfarction (n = 42), crescendo unstable angina preinfarction (n = 48), and unstable angina postinfarction (n = 39). Within each of these groups, the patients were further subclassified based on the occurrence of angina on effort, at rest, or both. No attempt was made to subset patients taking anti-ischemic drugs at the time of clinical presentation to the physician. Coronary angiographic pathology (morphology and number of vessels involved) was similar in the subgroups, but coronary artery thrombus was statistically more likely to be found in patients with crescendo rest angina preinfarction or with frequent anginal episodes at rest postinfarction. Mortality was significantly higher for patients with unstable angina postinfarction (7.7%) than preinfarction (1.1%). No statistical differences were noted between the subgroups with respect to the occurrence of myocardial infarction or recurrent unstable angina requiring revascularization. These data suggest that subclassification of unstable angina patients based on clinical characteristics at presentation is not useful to predict subsequent myocardial infarction or recurrent angina requiring revascularization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Bibliographic notes on H. Stansbury's Exploration and survey of …/ Expedition to the valley of the Great Salt Lake

ABSTRACT Howard Stansbury's classic work is bibliographically complex, with two true editions as well as multiple issues of the first edition. The first edition was printed in Philadelphia; its 487 stereotyped pages were issued in 1852 under two different titles with three variant title-pages (an official US government issue and two trade issues). A second edition was printed in Washington in 1853 and had 495 typeset pages (with corrections and additions in the appendices). The issue of 1855 is identical to the 1852 trade issue, except for the change of the date on the title-page. Each issue and edition, with its bindings and plates, is described.
Coordinate regulation of virulence gene expression in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

腸管出血性大腸菌（EHEC）が染色体上に保有する病原性遺伝子領域LEE（locus of enterocyte effacement）は，3型蛋白質輸送装置など宿主細胞への初期接着に必要な約40もの遺伝子から構成されている。LEEは腸管出血性大腸菌のプロトタイプと考えられている腸管病原性大腸菌で最初に同定され，両者はほぼ同じ遺伝子セットを保有しているが，これらの機能や発現制御機構にはいくつかの違いが見られる。LEE遺伝子の発現は富栄養条件下では抑制され，至適環境条件下で誘導が起こる。この発現誘導には，複数の制御因子による正または負の発現調節が必要であると考えられていたが，EHECにおいてその詳細は不明な点が多かった。本研究では，遺伝学的手法を用いてEHECにおけるLEEの発現を統括的に制御する因子を同定すると共に，様々な発現制御因子欠損株の解析から，LEEの遺伝子発現制御がべん毛やヘモリシンなどのLEE以外にコードされる蛋白質輸送装置の遺伝子発現制御と協調的に行われていることを明らかにした。
Binocular information summation and the serial processing model

An experiment was performed to ascertain whether a particular member of the class of sequential processing models (Estes & Taylor, 1964; Townsend, 1966) should be further developed in terms of the contributions of information from the separate eyes. Using the detection paradigm (Estes & Taylor, 1964), nine Ss were each run 576 trials under each of three viewing conditions: (a) monocular left, (b) monocular right, and (c) binocular, after four days of practice and calibration. The serial processing model was used to make predictions for three possible cases of binocular information summation: (a) complete independence of the monocular channels, (b) partial independence of the monocular channels and (c) complete dependence in the monocular channels. Complete dependence provided the best fit to the data with a possible stress on use of a “best” eye, but a marginal level of significance was obtained between a simple average of monocular performance and binocular performance with transformed scores. Thus, although there seems to be little or no information summation in terms of the present model of multi-symbol perception, follow-up experiments were suggested to further delineate monocular-binocular relationships in the detection paradigm.
Apportionment of Ambient Primary and Secondary PM2.5 During a 2001 Summer Intensive Study at the NETL Pittsburgh Site Using PMF2 and EPA UNMIX

Apportionment of primary and secondary pollutants during a July 2001 intensive study at the National Energy Technology Laboratory is reported. PM2.5 was apportioned into primary and secondary contributions using PMF2, and results were compared with apportionment based on UNMIX 2.3. Input to PMF2 included PM2.5 mass data from four per 24 hour PC-BOSS filters and TEOM, NOx, NO2, O3, non-volatile, semi-volatile, and volatile organic material, elemental carbon, sulfate, and PIXE determined trace metals. Nine factors were identified in the PMF analysis. Six factors were associated with primary particles from crustal, mobile (gasoline and diesel), and three local sources high in trace metals. Three factors were associated with secondary sources. Two were associated with local emissions dominated by organic material, one was dominated by transported ammonium sulfate. UNMIX was able to identify the two major mobile sources, major local secondary source and transported secondary source. The three major sources of ...
Two-dimensional Eshelby's problem for two imperfectly bonded piezoelectric half-planes

Abstract General solutions are derived to the two-dimensional Eshelby’s problem of an inclusion of arbitrary shape embedded in one of two imperfectly bonded anisotropic piezoelectric half-planes. The inclusion undergoes uniform eigenstrains and eigenelectric fields. In this work four different kinds of imperfect interface models with vanishing thickness are considered: (i) a compliant and weakly conducting interface, (ii) a stiff and highly conducting interface, (iii) a compliant and highly conducting interface, and (iv) a stiff and weakly conducting interface. Furthermore the obtained general solutions are illustrated in detail through an example of an elliptical inclusion near the imperfect interface. It is observed that the full-field expressions of the three analytic function vectors characterizing the electroelastic field in the two piezoelectric half-planes including the elliptical inclusion can be elegantly and concisely presented through the introduction of an integral function. We also present the tractions and normal electric displacement along a compliant and weakly conducting imperfect interface induced by the elliptical inclusion. It is found that the imperfection of the interface has no influence on the leading term in the far-field asymptotic expansion of the tractions and normal electric displacement along the compliant and weakly conducting interface induced by an arbitrary shaped inclusion. The far-field expansions of the analytic function vectors in the two imperfectly bonded half-planes for an arbitrary shaped inclusion are also derived. Some new identities and structures of the matrices N i and N i ( - 1 ) for anisotropic piezoelectric materials are obtained.
Highly accelerated dynamic contrast enhanced imaging.

ment of multiple pathologies. Current acquisition methods provide limited spatial-temporal resolution and field-of-view, often preventing characterization of the entire pathology and precluding measurement of the arterial input function. We present a method for highly accelerated dynamic imaging and demonstrate its utility for dynamic contrast-enhanced modeling. Methods: We propose a novel Poisson ellipsoid sampling scheme and enforce multiple spatial and temporal l1-norm constraints during image reconstruction. Retrospective and prospective analyses were performed to validate the approach. Results: Retrospectively, no mean bias or diverging trend was observed as the acceleration rate was increased from 3� to 18� ; less than 10% error was measured in K trans at any individual rates in this range. Prospectively accelerated images at a rate of 36� enabled full brain coverage with 0.94 � 0.94 � 1.9 mm 3 spatial and 4.1 s temporal resolutions. Images showed no visible degradation and provided accurate K trans values when compared to a clinical population. Conclusion: Highly accelerated dynamic MRI using compressed sensing and parallel imaging provides accurate permeability modeling and enables full brain, high resolution acquisitions. Magn Reson Med 71:635–644, 2014. V C 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
War, Self-Defense, and Defense of Others

Robert Holmes was one of my teachers, and I have long admired him for both his philosophical and his human excellences. I am thus delighted to contribute to a symposium that quite properly places his recent book at the center of attention for a discussion of the moral issues of war and peace.
The Role of Dietary Supplementation with Plant Sterols and Stanols in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

Several studies have shown that increased levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol predict cardiovascular events. The Adult Treatment Panel II (ATP II) introduced the principle of therapeutic lifestyle changes, including plant sterols/stanols for the management of LDL cholesterol. Plant sterols and stanols in fat matrices effectively lower LDL cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic, diabetic, and healthy human volunteers. Recent studies also show that sterols (2 g/d) lower LDL cholesterol even when incorporated in nonfat matrices. In addition, they may reduce biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Plant sterols and stanols exert their hypocholesterolemic effects possibly by interfering with the uptake of both dietary and biliary cholesterol from the intestinal tract. Present evidence is accumulating to promote their use for lowering LDL cholesterol levels, as a first line of therapy (as well as adjunctive therapy) in patients on statin therapy.
Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptors and NAD(P)H mediate Ca2+ signaling required for hypoxic preconditioning of hippocampal neurons

Abstract Exposure of neurons to a non-lethal hypoxic stress greatly reduces cell death during subsequent severe ischemia (hypoxic preconditioning, HPC). In organotypic cultures of rat hippocampus, we demonstrate that HPC requires inositol triphosphate (IP3) receptor-dependent Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) triggered by increased cytosolic NAD(P)H. Ca2+ chelation with intracellular BAPTA, ER Ca2+ store depletion with thapsigargin, IP3 receptor block with xestospongin, and RNA interference against subtype 1 of the IP3 receptor all blunted the moderate increases in [Ca2+]i (50–100 nM) required for tolerance induction. Increases in [Ca2+]i during HPC and neuroprotection following HPC were not prevented with NMDA receptor block or by removing Ca2+ from the bathing medium. Increased NAD(P)H fluorescence in CA1 neurons during hypoxia and demonstration that NADH manipulation increases [Ca2+]i in an IP3R-dependent manner revealed a primary role of cellular redox state in liberation of Ca2+ from the ER. Blockade of IP3Rs and intracellular Ca2+ chelation prevented phosphorylation of known HPC signaling targets, including MAPK p42/44 (ERK), protein kinase B (Akt) and CREB. We conclude that the endoplasmic reticulum, acting via redox/NADH-dependent intracellular Ca2+ store release, is an important mediator of the neuroprotective response to hypoxic stress.
Vision-guided exploration: a step toward general motion planning in three dimensions

An approach to solving the path planning problem for a mobile robot operating in an unknown, three dimensional environment containing obstacles of arbitrary shape is presented. The main contributions are an analysis of the type of sensing information that is necessary and sufficient for solving the path planning problem in such environments, and the development of a framework for designing a provably correct algorithm to solve this problem. Working from first principles, without any assumptions about the environment of the robot or its sensing capabilities, the analysis shows that the ability to explore the obstacle surfaces (i.e., to make all their points visible) is intrinsically linked to the ability to plan the motion of the robot. It is argued that current approaches to the path planning problem with incomplete information simply do not extend to the general three-dimensional case, and that qualitatively different algorithms are needed. >
Effects of RNA and Protein Synthesis Inhibitors on Preinduced Levels of Rat Uterine Glucose–6–Phosphate Dehydrogenase

Estradiol initiates an increase in total uterine glucose–6–P dehydrogenase activity when administered to the ovariectomized mature rat. A plateau of enzyme activity which is 8 times the basal level is reached by the third day of daily injections and the enzyme levels begin to decrease by day 4 even though the estradiol injections are continued. Intrauterine administration of 10 µg of actinomycin D with estradiol during the increasing phase (day 2) or the early plateau phase (day 3) results in a “superinductionlike” response which is characterized by a marked increase in the enzyme beginning 12 hr after administration of the antibiotic and hormone. Actinomycin D administered by itself on day 2 or day 3 results in a decrease in enzyme activity that is identical to that which occurs if only saline is given at these times. Intrauterine administration of NADP+ can replace the hormone in the “superinduction—like” response. The “superinduction—like” response is inhibited by cycloheximide. These observations sugg...
NG-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester : a muscarinic receptor antagonist?

The effect of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N G -Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) towards muscarinic receptors was studied in vitro and in vivo. L-NAME displaced the antimuscarinic ligand [ 3 H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([ 3 H]QNB) from its specific binding sites in rat cerebral cortex and cerebellum homogenates with a more than 10,000 fold lower affinity than atropine, pirenzepine and AFDX 116. Data for L-NAME binding were best fit according to a two-site model (K d 7.2 nM and 3,000 nM) in the rat cerebellum, whereas in rat cortex a one-site model (K d 1670 nM) was superior. In anesthetized rats and rabbits L-NAME (7.5-185 μmol/kg) attenuated a hypotensive response to Acetyl β-methyl-choline (Ac β-Me Ch)(6.25 nmol/kg) in a dose related fashion, but this effect was negligible as compared to that of atropine (8.8 and 17.7 nmol/kg). Furthermore, the effect of L-NAME was not specifically antimuscarinic since its attenuating effect against ATP- or histamine-induced responses was not statistically different from that of Ac β-Me Ch. A vagus stimulation induced bradycardia was entirely uninfluenced by L-NAME (37 μmol/kg). In isolated bladder experiments (rabbit) we demonstrated a complete lack of efficacy of L-NAME against Ac β-Me Ch induced contractions. In the pithed rat preparation L-NAME was ineffective against the McN-A-343 induced pressor responses. In summary, we demonstrated that the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME shows very weak affinity at M 1 - and M 2 -receptors in the rat brain in vitro, but appears to have no significant antimuscarinic properties against M 1 -, M 2 - and M 3 -receptor mediated effects in rats and rabbits in vivo.
Do women who choose to become surrogate mothers have different psychological profiles compared to a normative female sample

Abstract Background Surrogate mothers are routinely assessed for their suitability to function in the role of surrogacy. Such assessments often include psychological testing including the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Revised (MMPI-2). There has been a paucity of research detailing the personality structures of these women, especially with the MMPI-2. Research objective The current study examined the validity and clinical profiles of surrogate mothers (N = 43) compared to a non-patient, normative reference sample of women (N = 40) using their MMPI-2 results. Method This study examined between group differences among the 68 scales of the MMPI-2. Independent-sample t-tests were conducted for each of the scales, with those violating homogeneity of variance assessed with a non-parametric, Mann–Whitney U test. Findings The findings demonstrated that surrogate mothers produce profiles with lower values than normative samples across several MMPI-2 scales. For this unique group, elevations were observed on scales that assess profile validity, views on traditional gender roles, repression, ego strength, social obligation and duties, and contained hostility, relative to the normative group. Conclusion The findings provide an initial examination of the profiles of surrogate mothers on the MMPI-2. The findings revealed that the psychological suitability of surrogate mother candidates appear to be a composite of being both tough-minded and sensitive, sufficiently resilient to manage the role of surrogacy, and aware of the importance of emotional boundary-setting related to pre-natal attachment.
An LXR–NCOA5 gene regulatory complex directs inflammatory crosstalk‐dependent repression of macrophage cholesterol efflux

Abstract LXR–cofactor complexes activate the gene expression program responsible for cholesterol efflux in macrophages. Inflammation antagonizes this program, resulting in foam cell formation and atherosclerosis; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this antagonism remain to be fully elucidated. We use promoter enrichment‐quantitative mass spectrometry (PE‐QMS) to characterize the composition of gene regulatory complexes assembled at the promoter of the lipid transporter Abca1 following downregulation of its expression. We identify a subset of proteins that show LXR ligand‐ and binding‐dependent association with the Abca1 promoter and demonstrate they differentially control Abca1 expression. We determine that NCOA5 is linked to inflammatory Toll‐like receptor (TLR) signaling and establish that NCOA5 functions as an LXR corepressor to attenuate Abca1 expression. Importantly, TLR3–LXR signal crosstalk promotes recruitment of NCOA5 to the Abca1 promoter together with loss of RNA polymerase II and reduced cholesterol efflux. Together, these data significantly expand our knowledge of regulatory inputs impinging on the Abca1 promoter and indicate a central role for NCOA5 in mediating crosstalk between pro‐inflammatory and anti‐inflammatory pathways that results in repression of macrophage cholesterol efflux.
Enhanced Stability of Electrochemical Detection with Surfactant Containing Mobile Phases in Liquid Chromatography and Flow Injection Analysis

Abstract The use of surfactant containing mobile phases to prevent or reduce the effects of adsorptive fouling of glassy carbon electrodes is reported. Both cationie and antonic surfactants are studied at concentrations above and below the critical micelle concentration. For the oxidative reactions studied here, anionic surfactants have little effect on the fouling problem, likely because of electrostatic attraction of the generated cattonic intermediate to surfactant adsorbed on the electrode surface. Cationic surfactants, however, have the desired effect. Two cationic surfactants, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride and n-decylamine were studied with solutes p-nitrophenol, phenylenediamine and chlorpromazine. With these surfactants present in the mobile phase there was generally no loss of electrochemical response after up to 55 sequential injections. Adsorption of the electroactive specie prior to the electron-transfer process is shown to be a significant cause of poor chromatographic efficiency for some s...
A new model based tracking controller for robot manipulators using the trajectory pattern inverse dynamics

A novel inverse-dynamic model-based tracking controller is presented. The inverse dynamics models are derived using the trajectory pattern method. The path of motion is divided into a number of relatively large segments, along which the motion is described by a selected trajectory pattern. The resulting inverse dynamics models are in the form of a summation of a fundamental sinusoidal time function and a number of its harmonics with constant coefficients. The coefficients are computed offline using analytical expressions that are derived for the selected trajectory pattern. The controller permits ultra-high-speed generation of the desired trajectory and feedforward signals. The online computations are minimal and can all be performed in parallel. The inverse-dynamic model of a spatial 3R manipulator is derived for a specified trajectory pattern. The controller structure and simulation results indicating its effectiveness are presented. >
The Relationship of Milk Somatic Cell Count to Milk Yields for Holstein Heifers After First Calving

Abstract The contribution of a dilution effect to the relationship between milk yield and milk SCC was investigated using data from 24 Holsteins during the first 75 d after first calving. Bucket and quarter milk SCC were collected at weekly intervals. Individual milk weights were obtained at milking, and samples were obtained for determination of SCC. The milk weights at the corresponding a.m. milking on the following day were also obtained. A dilution effect was assumed to cause the regression of milk yield on milk SCC to diminish when adjustment was made for milk yield on the day following sampling for SCC. Regressions of milk yield on various functions of SCC decreased by about one-half when adjustment was made for the next day's milk yield, but the regressions remained significant. The observed negative relationship between milk yield and SCC may partly reflect both the true biological effects of udder inflammation and a dilution effect. The carry-over effect of SCC on milk yields measured 1 wk after cell counting was investigated, but no effect was significant.
Amplitude and Phase of Tightly Focused Laser Beams in Turbid Media

A framework is developed that combines electric field Monte Carlo simulations of random scattering with an angular-spectrum representation of diffraction theory to determine the amplitude and phase characteristics of tightly focused laser beams in turbid media. For planar sample geometries, the scattering-induced coherence loss of wave vectors at larger angles is shown to be the primary mechanism for broadening the focal volume. This approach for evaluating the formation of the focal volume in turbid media is of direct relevance to the imaging properties of nonlinear coherent microscopy, which rely on both the amplitude and phase of the focused fields.
Public health preparedness and response in the USA since 9/11: a national health security imperative

The terrorist attacks on Sept 11, 2001 (9/11) uncovered weaknesses in the US national public health infrastructure. Response e orts did not have the integrated communications and uni ed command needed for a large-scale response, and information crucial for decision making was not shared among agencies.1 First responders were poorly trained and equipment for their roles was inadequate; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high rates of respiratory illness in rescue workers in New York City 1 year after the attacks could be linked to inadequate use of personal protective equipment.2
Cellular organisation of the Arabidopsis thaliana root

The anatomy of the developing root of Arabidopsis is described using conventional histological techniques, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The root meristem is derived from cells of the hypophysis and adjacent cells of the embryo proper. The postembryonic organization of the root is apparent in the mature embryo and is maintained in the growing primary root after germination. Cell number and location is relatively invariant in the primary root, with 8 cortical and endodermal cell files but more variable numbers of pericycle and epidermal cells. The organisation of cells in lateral roots is similar to that of the primary root but with more variability in the numbers of cell files in each layer. [3H]thymidine labeling of actively growing roots indicates that a quiescent centre of four central cells (derived from the hypophysis) is located between the root cap columella and the stele. This plate of four cells is surrounded by three groups of cells in, proximal, distal and lateral positions. The labeling patterns of these cells suggest that they are the initials for the files of cells that comprise the root. They give rise to four sets of cell files: the stele, the cortex and endodermis, the epidermis and lateral root-cap and the columella. A model of meristem activity is proposed based on these data. This description of Arabidopsis root structure underpins future work on the developmental genetics of root morphogenesis.
There are Infinitely Many Williams Squares with Circular Structure and Order a Multiple of 4

Williams squares, also known as row quasi-complete Latin squares, that have circular structure are used in repeated measurements designs where error terms are correlated. They are known to exist for all orders that are not multiples of 4 and also order 8; there is no such square of order 4. We use a variation of the generating array method to construct a Williams square of order 12 with circular structure. We also give a product theorem that produces Williams squares of orders 8r and 12s, where the smallest prime divisor of r is at least 11 and the smallest prime divisor of s is at least 13, that have circular structure.
CPT Coding in Dermatopathology

Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding in dermatopathology can be a challenge, although it is simple in the majority of cases. The presented case studies and examples show possible mistakes that can be the reason for overcharge or unnecessary loss of revenue. The table method is used as a CPT coding methodological educational tool in surgical pathology by taking dermatopathology as an example. The material is divided into two groups: coding situations clearly defined in the CPT manual and clinical situations that can have different interpretations while coding. The incorrect coding in the first group is determined by different “masks” during accession. The second group requires definite justification of the coding choice in the pathology report.
Inhibitory effects of particulate materials in growing cultures of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

Particulate materials (flowers of sulfur, fluorapatite, glass beads, and pyrite) inhibited the growth of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans on ferrous iron at pH 1.5. The degree of inhabitation varied with the type of the particulate and culture conditions. The inhibition caused by pyrite involved a soluble toxic component. The inhibition caused by sulfur particles and glass beads was alleviated by incubation under static culture conditions (i.e., no shaking) but oxidation rates declined because of lack of aeration an increase in the pH above 2 also relieved the inhibition. The nature of inhibition. The nature of inhibition by different particles varied from declined iron oxidation rates to prolonged lag periods depending on the concentration of the test material. Thus, the results indicate that the bacterial activity at the liquid-solid interface is different from that in the bulk liquid phase and is influenced by the proton concentration and by the physiochemical properties of the solids.
Longitudinal development of wideband reflectance tympanometry in normal and at-risk infants.

Abstract Purpose The goals of this study were to measure normal characteristics of ambient and tympanometric wideband acoustic reflectance, which was parameterized by absorbance and group delay, in newborns cared for in well-baby and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurseries, and to characterize the normal development of reflectance over the first year after birth in a group of infants with clinically normal hearing status followed longitudinally from birth to one year of age. Methods Infants were recruited from a well-baby and NICU nursery, passed newborn otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and automated auditory brainstem response (ABR) tests as well as follow-up diagnostic ABR and audiometry. They were tested longitudinally for up to one year using a wideband middle ear acoustic test battery consisting of tympanometry and ambient-pressure tests. Results were analyzed for ambient reflectance across frequency and tympanometric reflectance across frequency and pressure. Results Wideband absorbance and group delay showed large effects of age in the first 6 months. Immature absorbance and group delay patterns were apparent in the low frequencies at birth and one month, but changed substantially to a more adult-like pattern by age 6 months for both ambient and tympanometric variables. Area and length of the ear canal estimated acoustically increased up to age 1 year. Effects of race (African American and others compared to Caucasian) were found in combination with age effects. Mean and confidence intervals are provided for use as a normative longitudinal database for newborns and infants up to one year of age, for both well-baby and NICU infants.
Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Case Series

Presenting features, co-morbid conditions, treatment, and outcome of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) in a consecutive series of children are reported from Department of Paediatric Neurology, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, UK.
Breed Distribution and Clinical Characteristics of B Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in Dogs.

Background B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is the most common hematopoietic malignancy in humans in the developed world and the primary risk factor is genetic. Dogs also develop B-CLL, but there is no systematic description of the disease in dogs. Understanding the epidemiology of B-CLL in dogs may help practitioners recognize the disease and position the dog as a model for future genetic studies. Objectives To describe B-CLL presentation in dogs, its clinicopathologic findings, and breed predisposition. Animals Four hundred and ninety-one dogs with B-CLL and 5,673 control dogs with suspicion of a lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD). Methods Retrospective cross-sectional study of dogs for which samples were submitted to the Colorado State University Clinical Immunology Laboratory for immunophenotyping between 2010 and 2014. To assess breed predilection, dogs with B-CLL were compared to those with suspicion of other LPDs using logistic regression. Results The median age was 11 years with no sex predilection. Half of the dogs presented with peripheral lymphadenopathy or splenomegaly and 26% had anemia. Eleven small-breed dogs had significantly increased odds of B-CLL. In addition, English Bulldogs had an increased risk and a unique presentation: these dogs were diagnosed at a median of 6 years and expressed lower class II MHC and CD25. Conclusions B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia is overrepresented in small-breed dogs. Future genetic studies of these breeds may identify genetic risk factors. The unique presentation of English Bulldogs provides evidence of multiple forms of this disease. Additional studies are necessary to determine whether presenting signs are associated with survival.
The Wizard of Oz, the United States Constitution, and Corporate Governance

Article II Section 2 of the United States Constitution requires that a majority of the Senate confirm Presidential nominees. It forces the President to negotiate with the Senate in order to obtain the necessary Senatorial approvals. A similar advice and consent mechanism can be replicated in corporate America. Shareholders can be cast in the role of the Senate. The incumbent board can be cast in the role of the Executive. The board can be required to obtain approval of a majority of the shareholder base before a director is allowed to serve. Indeed, there are at least eight substantial reasons to prefer such a system of advice and consent to the variety of proxy access proposals currently advocated by many shareholder rights organizations. Significantly, at least 63 percent of the S&P 500 have already adopted bylaws or board guidelines that either implement or come reasonably close to implementing just such a regime. The SEC can, if it desires, and consistent with the D.C. Circuit's decision in Business Roundtable v. SEC, adopt regulations that impose additional disclosure requirements and filing liabilities on corporations that fail to implement effective advice and consent regimes. These regulations would provide an incentive for all publicly traded corporations to adopt irrevocable advice and consent mechanisms that conform to minimal SEC requirements. These regulations could also serve as an effective substitute for the two controversial proxy access proposals that the Commission now recognizes as ineffective solutions to the battle over proxy access.
Stochastic Optimal Control Through Simulation With An Example In Portfolio Analysis

It is recognized in the literature that stochastic control models whether discrete or continuous become unwieldy when equations and state variables are more than just a few. Needless to say, when the optimizing models are nonlinear, problems are compounded. This fact has made the use of stochastic control inadvisable as a tool in portfolio theory. This paper proposes the use of a recently developed algorithm (Hall and Stephenson, 1988; Becker and Rustem, 1994 for stochastic control to the question of portfolio allocations. Up to the present date, the algorithm has been used principally in the optimal solution to large macroeconomics models, but this paper suggests its applicability in a much wider range of situations. The algorithm iterates around two basic steps: optimizing what is essentially a deterministic problem which has been modified by stochastic elements of the model calculated from Monte Carlo runs. Results from a simple example, using one of the Latin American funds listed on the New York Stock Exchange, demonstrate the ability of the algorithm to enhance the practical application of portfolio theory to the stock market.
A STUDY OF ALTITUDINAL RACES IN RANA PIPIENS

Of all the Mexican Amphibia only one species, Rana pipiens, is found in all the biotic zones of Mexico. It inhabits the high mountains, the deserts, and the tropical lowlands. The only general factor that limits its distribution is the absence of sufficient water. The overall range of Rana pipiens is from north central Canada to Panama, and consequently the unique distribution within Mexico is but a reflection of the adaptability of the species over its entire range. The work of Moore (1946, 1947 and 1949) has demonstrated that local populations of Rana pipiens in Canada, eastern United States, and in lowland Mexico differ from each other with respect to a number of embryonic features. The differences between the populations were demonstrated to be correlated with environmental temperatures and thus of direct adaptive significance. It was further shown that when frogs from different localities are crossed there is an increase in hybrid abnormalities as the north-south distance between the parental populations increases. Later work by Moore (1950) demonstrated that male Rana pipiens from the mountains of Costa Rica, when crossed with females from northeastern United States produced very slight hybrid abnormalities. This was an unexpected result inasmuch as the north-south distance between these two parental populations is greater than that of any other cross. Since only male Costa Rica frogs were available for the experiments no embryological data were obtained. The work reported here is a study of a number of populations of Rana pipiens from Mexico. The populations studied are from the highlands of the Mexican Central Plateau, the lowland tropics, and intermediate altitudes. The purpose of this study was to determine some of the embryonic features that characterize each of these populations, and to study further their genetic structure by means of crossing frogs from the different localities with each other and with frogs from the northeastern United States. By the use of these methods some aspects of the adaptations of this species to the various altitudes may be ascertained, and a picture of the genetic differentiation of each population and of the gene flow between the populations is also provided. By analogy it was believed that this work on Mexican populations of Rana pipiens would provide some insight into the paradoxical results obtained with the Costa Rican frogs. Furthermore, it was hoped that this type of data would provide some evidence concerning the historical zoogeography of Rana pipiens.
Design and Control of a Maneuverable Towed Aerial Vehicle

This paper discusses the design, modeling and control of a towed ight vehicle that is used in an aerial recovery system. The towed vehicle is controlled to allow for mid-air rendezvous of a trailing aircraft. A design method for the vehicle airframe is described and validated through equilibrium solutions used to verify the reachable locations of the towed vehicle. A nonlinear control law is described for relative position control. The vehicle design and control law are tested in a nonlinear simulation. Simulation results show that the towed vehicle maintains the desired position.
Borodino, Seima and their Contemporaries: Key Sites for the Bronze Age Chronology of Eastern Europe

The hoard from Borodino, north-west of the Black Sea, and the cemetery of Seima in central Russia are the best known names in the literature dealing with the Bronze Age of eastern Europe. On the alleged dates of Borodino and Seima the whole structure of the Bronze Age chronology of Russia and even Siberia is built.Tallgren in his Pontide Prescythique (1926) and in his earlier publications dated the Borodino and Seima finds to the period from 1300–1100 B.C. This date was used by many other archaeologists. Tallgren based his views on analogies between Borodino and Koban axes (Tallgren 1926, 140) which actually do not exist. Koban axes are different; they belong to the Koban culture of the early Iron Age in the central Caucasus around the end of the second millennium B.C. The Borodino hoard is definitely earlier than the Koban culture. Another indication of a more or less absolute date of the Borodino hoard is the similarity of the ornamental motifs executed on the Borodino pin with those on the gold buttons from Shaft-Graves Nos. IV and V of Mycenae. This relationship was already indicated by Spitsyn (1916).
Is it Time to Quit Thinking of Income Classes

Engel's Laws and the concept of social class developed by Pierre Martineau have in recent years become increasingly important to those concerned with segmenting markets. In this article, the author...
Cutaneous myiasis: devils in the flesh.

Travelers to tropical climes are fair game for maggot infestations, which are unfamiliar in the United States. Manifestations and therapeutic measures are discussed.
Involving incarcerated individuals in the research process: Perspectives of key stakeholders

Given the considerable potential for participatory action research in correctional settings, this study gathered stakeholders’ perspectives on involving adults in custody throughout the research process. Using mixed methods, the study identified participants’ level of interest in involving prisoners in the research process to inform educational efforts to increase correctional participatory action research. Qualitative data were gathered from 94 prison administrators, Institutional Review Board throughout the Abstract section.] members, prisoner representatives, research ethicists, and correctional researchers; quantitative data were collected from 1228 correctional and noncorrectional mental health researchers, correctional and noncorrectional Institutional Review Board members, and prisoner representatives. Qualitative data revealed lack of understanding of participatory action research concepts and advantages along with disagreement about whether prisoner involvement is desirable. Quantitative data rev...