cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mindfulness, anxiety, and high-stakes mathematics performance in the laboratory and classroom

Mindfulness enhances emotion regulation and cognitive performance. A mindful approach may be especially beneficial in high-stakes academic testing environments, in which anxious thoughts disrupt cognitive control. The current studies examined whether mindfulness improves the emotional response to anxiety-producing testing situations, freeing working memory resources, and improving performance. In Study 1, we examined performance in a high-pressure laboratory setting. Mindfulness indirectly benefited math performance by reducing the experience of state anxiety. This benefit occurred selectively for problems that required greater working memory resources. Study 2 extended these findings to a calculus course taken by undergraduate engineering majors. Mindfulness indirectly benefited students' performance on high-stakes quizzes and exams by reducing their cognitive test anxiety. Mindfulness did not impact performance on lower-stakes homework assignments. These findings reveal an important mechanism by which mindfulness benefits academic performance, and suggest that mindfulness may help attenuate the negative effects of test anxiety.
Estimating Situational Effects on OPS

`What is the offensive value of Player A?´ Of all the metrics that sabermetricians have developed to attempt to answer that question, OPS (on base percentage plus slugging percentage) has been one of the first for the mainstream media to slowly embrace as an alternative to batting average. Looking at statistics for each team on ESPN.com, one sees that the batting statistics are sorted by OPS as the default sort. What if the question asked was `What is the offensive value of Player A in Situation B versus Situation C?´ In 1994, Jim Albert used the Gibbs sampler to estimate the effect different in-game situations had on batting average. One example of such a situation is a player's breakdown statistics in home and away games. By employing the Gibbs sampler on each component of OPS, one can compute the situational effect on a player's OPS. The data will consist of the hitting performance of major league regulars during the 2006 season who qualified for the batting title. Part of the appeal of OPS is that it is simpler to calculate than other more complicated metrics developed by sabermetricians; however, the raw value of OPS does have limitations such as not taking into consideration ballpark effects or the differences between the two leagues.
4,6‐Dimethylcoumalin

4,6-Dimethylcoumalin product: 4,6-dimethylcoumalin Keywords: decarboxylation; catalysts, metal, copper chromite; copper powder
Nosological and Genetic Aspects of Asperger Syndrome

The validity of Asperger syndrome (i.e., apart from high-functioning autism) continues to be the topic of considerable debate. Consistent with Asperger's original description of the condition there appear to be some important potential differences from autism if both conditions are strictly defined. Although the importance of genetic factors in the transmission of autism is increasingly clear it also appears that genetic factors may play an even more important role in Asperger syndrome (AS). The nosological validity of this condition and its relation to the various PDD spectrum disorder remains an important topic for future research. Well-designed and carefully controlled studies are needed in which patterns of comorbidity and associated problems in family members can be carefully assessed. Such studies will contribute to our understanding of the relationship of AS and autism and may clarify important genetic mechanisms of relevance to autism.
External-National TV News Networks' Way to America: Is the United States Losing the Global "Information War"?

Hillary Clinton declared in 2011 that the United States is losing the global “information war.” Her principal concern was with what she perceived as declining U.S. news media hegemony overseas, and she specified Al Jazeera, CCTV, and RT as examples of threats. Drawing upon the history of these networks, the U.S. market’s reception, and their recruiting strategies, we find that the limited reception of these networks renders them of only marginal significance. While they exhibit some variation from the U.S. mainstream, their potential for diversity or even challenge to hegemonic narratives is considerably constrained by the goal and perceived economic necessity of gaining acceptance within the mainstream, coupled with substantial reliance on Western media information resources. These features appear to be a characteristic, not simply of these channels’ U.S. initiatives, but also of their foreign market orientation globally. They are therefore better seen as exemplifying a continuity of, not an alternative to, the dominant status of the Anglo-American model in the global news landscape.
The emotional labor of playing cool: How Black male transracial adoptees find ways to cope within predominately White settings

This article is concerned with the efforts used by Black male adoptive children to cope with systemic White racial oppression when raised by White adoptive families, specifically the emotional labor expended through the use of cool pose. Drawing from theoretical concepts and frameworks from the social and behavior sciences, this article analyzes the “cool” element as a protective factor and posits this phenomenon is more than esthetic, but instead a fundamental aspect of Black male survival no matter the context. The central aim of this paper is to provide information to White adoptive parents, social workers, psychologist, academics, and other childcare advocates or professionals with cognitive tools to understand the behavior of Black male adoptees, as they search for meaning in their lives and find ways to manage the pain and frustration they often hide deep beneath the skin.
Influence of murine leukemia proviral integrations on development of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced thymic lymphomas in AKR mice.

Abstract The AKR mouse strain is characterized by a high incidence of spontaneous thymic lymphoma that appears in older animals (greater than 6 months of age) and is associated with novel provirus integrations of ecotropic and recombinant murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs). Treatment of 4- to 6-week-old AKR/J mice with the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) results in thymic lymphomas that arise as early as 3 to 4 months of age and contain novel somatically acquired MuLV provirus integrations. The AKR/J strain develops MNU-induced lymphoma with a higher incidence and shorter latency than has been observed for other inbred mouse strains. To determine whether provirus integrations of endogenous MuLV account for the enhanced susceptibility of the AKR strain, the incidence and latency of MNU-induced lymphoma development was compared in AKR/J and AKR.Fv-1b mice. The restrictive b allele of the Fv-1 locus restricts integration and replication of endogenous N-tropic MuLV; therefore, AKR-Fv-1b mice have a very low incidence of spontaneous lymphoma. In contrast, AKR.Fv-1b mice develop MNU-induced lymphomas with an incidence and latency similar to those of the AKR/J strain. Furthermore, thymic lymphomas from both strains express an immature CD4-8+ phenotype, indicating neoplastic transformation of the same thymocyte subset. Southern blot analysis confirmed that lymphoma DNA from AKR.Fv-1b mice did not contain somatically acquired provirus integrations. These results demonstrate that provirus integration does not contribute to the predisposition of AKR mice to develop a high incidence of early MNU-induced lymphomas. Nevertheless, MNU treatment stimulated high-level expression of infectious ecotropic MuLV in AKR.Fv-1b as well as in AKR/J mice, suggesting that viral gene products might enhance lymphoma progression.
Influence of Dietary Methionine on the Metabolism of Selenomethionine in Rats

To determine the influence of methionine on selenomethionine (SeMet) metabolism, weanling male rats were fed for 8 wk a basal diet marginally deficient in sulfur amino acids, containing 2.0 micrograms selenium (Se)/g as DL-SeMet and supplemented with 0, 0.3, 0.6 or 1.2% DL-methionine. Increased dietary methionine caused decreased selenium deposition in all tissues examined but increased glutathione peroxidase activity in testes, liver and lungs. A positive correlation was found between dietary methionine and the calculated percentage of selenium associated with GSHPx. In a second experiment, {sup 75}SeMet was injected into weanling male rats which had been fed the basal diet containing 2.0 micrograms selenium as DL-SeMet with or without the addition of 1.0% methionine. The selenoamino acid content of tissues and the distribution of {sup 75}Se in erythrocyte proteins were determined. In comparison to the rats fed the basal diet without added methionine, significantly more {sup 75}Se-selenocysteine was found in liver and muscle, more {sup 75}Se was found in erythrocyte GSHPx and less {sup 75}Se was found in erythrocyte hemoglobin of rats fed 1.0% methionine. These data suggest that methionine diverts SeMet from incorporation into general proteins and enhances its conversion to selenocysteine for specific selenium-requiring proteins, such as GSHPx.
Comment, with reply, on 'Hot-electron hardened Si-gate MOSFET utilizing F implantation' by Y. Nishioka, et al

For original paper see ibid., vol.10, p.141-3 (Apr. 1989). The commenters point out that the authors of the original paper were not, as they have claimed, the first to show the technique and benefits of implanting and diffusing fluorine. They raise a number of questions about their experimental method and interpretation of results. The authors reply that they did not make the claim attributed to them, and they defined their method and findings at length. >
Progressive image transmission based on joint source-channel decoding using adaptive sum-product algorithm

A joint source-channel decoding method is designed to accelerate the iterative log-domain sum-product decoding procedure of LDPC codes as well as to improve the reconstructed image quality. Error resilience modes are used in the JPEG2000 source codec making it possible to provide useful source decoded information to the channel decoder. After each iteration, a tentative decoding is made and the channel decoded bits are then sent to the JPEG2000 decoder. The positions of bits belonging to error-free coding passes are then fed back to the channel decoder. The log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) of these bits are then modified by a weighting factor for the next iteration. By observing the statistics of the decoding procedure, the weighting factor is designed as a function of the channel condition. Results show that the proposed joint decoding methods can greatly reduce the number of iterations, and thereby reduce the decoding delay considerably. At the same time, this method always outperforms the nonsource controlled decoding method by up to 3 dB in terms of PSNR.
WORD RETRIEVAL LATENCIES AS A FUNCTION OF FREQUENCY AND AGE-OF-ACQUISITION PRIMING, REPEATED TRIALS, AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

Over three immediately succeeding trials using different randomized orders of stimuli, 45 young adults, mostly males, named 50 pictures of objects, each as rapidly as possible; latencies were measured for each item. Fifteen of the subjects were tested in a control condition; before each of 5 blocks of 10 items in a trial, subjects in a second group (N = 15) were given information as to the word frequency (WF) level of the items' names, and a third group (N = 15) were given information as to the typical age of acquisition (AOA) level of the names, the pictures and names having been selected such that the WF and AOA levels had a correlation as low as possible. Under all conditions, the previous finding (Carroll & White, 1973a) that AOA was a stronger predictor of latencies than WF was confirmed. Scores on a psychometric test of speed of picture naming were highly correlated (within-group r = .69) with mean reciprocals of latencies in the experimental picture-naming situation. “Priming” of responses by prior information on AOA was more facilitative than WF information, but as compared to the control condition such information had a retarding effect. Speed of naming improved over trials in all conditions, but AOA levels of the names, as well as the lags between successive presentations of an item, affected the amount of improvement in a complex manner. It is suggested that retrieval of an item from TLTM (“truly long-term memory”) places it in an immediate memory buffer.
Fusion of a fluorescent protein to the pUL25 minor capsid protein of pseudorabies virus allows live-cell capsid imaging with negligible impact on infection

In order to resolve the location and activity of submicroscopic viruses in living cells, viral proteins are often fused to fluorescent proteins (FPs) and visualized by microscopy. In this study, we describe the fusion of FPs to three proteins of pseudorabies virus (PRV) that allowed imaging of capsids in living cells. Included in this study are the first recombinant PRV strains expressing FP–pUL25 fusions based on a design applied to herpes simplex virus type 1 by Homa and colleagues. The properties of each reporter virus were compared in both in vitro and in vivo infection models. PRV strains expressing FP–pUL25 and FP–pUL36 preserved wild-type properties better than traditional FP–pUL35 isolates in assays of plaque size and virulence in mice. The utility of these strains in studies of axon transport, nuclear dynamics and viral particle composition are documented.
Acquired Hemolytic Anemia, Exposures to Insecticides and Positive Coombs Test Dependent on Insecticide Preparations*

Summary A case of acquired hemolytic anemia has been presented in a patient who had multiple exposures to insecticides and whose serum displayed a positive indirect Coombs test which was dependent on insecticide preparations. Evidence has been presented which shows differences between the insecticide dependent serum factor and the factors coating the patient's erythrocytes. The clinical syndrome in this case was similar to that of two other cases demonstrating a positive indirect Coombs test which was drug dependent. Resume Presentation d'un cas d'anemie hemolytique acquise chez un malade qui avait ete expose a plusieurs reprises a des insecticides. Le test de Coombs indirect avec le serum du malade etait positif, mais seulement en presence de preparations d'insecticide. Le facteur serique responsable de ce phenomene et le facteur adherent aux erythrocytes du malade et causant un test de Coombs direct fortement positif ne semblaient pas etre entierement identiques. Le syndrome clinique dans le cas presente ressemblait a celui de deux autres cas dans lesquels le test de Coombs indirect etait egalement positif en presence de medicaments. Zusammenfassung Es wird uber eine erworbene hamolytische Anamie bei einem Patienten, welcher wiederholt mit Insektiziden in Beruhrung kam, berichtet. Das Patientenserum zeigte bei Zugabe von Insektiziden einen positiven indirekten Coombstest. Derjenige Serumfaktor, welcher mit den Insektiziden reagierte, envies sich als nicht identisch mit denjenigen Faktoren, welche die Patientenerythrozyten blockierten. Das klinische Bild dieses Falles deckte sich weitgehend mit demjenigen von zwei andern Fallen, bei welchen ein an die Anwesenheit von Arzneimitteln gebundener positiver indirekter Coombstest festgestellt worden war.
Using behavioral simulations to study strategic processes

Behavioral simulations are well suited for the study of the processes that underlie strategy formulation and implementation. The authors defend this claim by describing five challenges often confronted in attempts to study strategic processes: (a) measuring variables at multiple levels of analysis, (b) controlling or measuring the context, (c) dealing with history effects, (d) capturing process differences across issues, and (e) linking processes to outcomes. The article describes seven behavioral simulations that are currently available and then discusses the capacity of behavioral simulations for addressing the challenges facing strategic processes researchers. Theoretical and research choice points for selecting among behavioral simulations are identified along with the implications of using behavioral simulations in studies of strategic processes. Limitations of behavioral simulations are also discussed.
Planar velocity and scalar concentration measurements in shock-accelerated unstable fluid interfaces

We report applications of several high-speed photographic techniques to diagnose fluid instability and the onset of turbulence in an ongoing experimental study of the evolution of shock-accelerated, heavy-gas cylinders. Results are at Reynolds numbers well above that associated with the turbulent and mixing transitions. Recent developments in diagnostics enable high-resolution, planar (2D) measurements of velocity fields (using particle image velocimetry, or PIV) and scalar concentration (using planar laser-induced fluorescence, or PLIF). The purpose of this work is to understand the basic science of complex, shock-driven flows and to provide high-quality data for code validation and development. The combination of these high-speed optical methods, PIV and PLIF, is setting a new standard in validating large codes for fluid simulations. The PIV velocity measurements provide quantitative evidence of transition to turbulence. In the PIV technique, a frame transfer camera with a 1 ms separation is used to image flows illuminated by two 10 ns laser pulses. Individual particles in a seeded flow are tracked from frame to frame to produce a velocity field. Dynamic PLIF measurements of the concentration field are high-resolution, quantitative dynamic data that reveal finely detailed structure at several instances after shock passage. These structures include those associated with the incipient secondary instability and late-time transition. Multiple instances of the flow are captured using a single frame Apogee camera and laser pulses with 140 ?s spacing. We describe tradeoffs of diagnostic instrumentation to provide PLIF images.
Observation of Tunable Optical Parametric Fluorescence

Optical fluorescence, thermally tunable over significant portion of visible and near IR SPECTRUM, from phase-matched parametric system
OCS: An effective caching scheme for video streaming on overlay networks

Video streaming is vital for many important applications such as distance learning, digital video libraries, and movie-on-demand. Since video streaming requires significant server and networking resources, caching has been used to reduce the demand on these resources. In this paper, we propose a novel collaboration scheme for video caching on overlay networks, called Overlay Caching Scheme (OCS), to further minimize service delays and loads placed on an overlay network for video streaming applications. OCS is not a centralized nor a hierarchical collaborative scheme. Despite its design simplicity, OCS effectively uses an aggregate storage space and capability of distributed overlay nodes to cache popular videos and serve nearby clients. Moreover, OCS is light-weight and adaptive to clients' locations and request patterns. We also investigate other video caching techniques for overlay networks including both collaborative and non-collaborative ones. Compared with these techniques on topologies inspired from actual networks, OCS offers extremely low average service delays and approximately half the server load. OCS also offers smaller network load in most cases in our study.
Business Cycles: Theory, Evidence and Policy Implications

This paper looks at recent advances in the study of aggregate fluctuations. The emphasis is on three prominent areas of research: the stochastic growth model, economies which exhibit macroeconomic complementarities and models that emphasize heterogeneity. Each section of the paper outlines the theory, examines relevant empirical evidence and then discusses some policy implications of the analysis.
Minimal sequence requirements for the regulated expression of rbcS-3A from Pisum sativum in transgenic tobacco plants

RbcS-3A, the most highly expressed member of the pea multigene family encoding the small subunit of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, is expressed in a light-dependent and organ-specific manner. In order to further delineate the sequences which mediate this complex pattern of regulation, putative regulatory sequences were assayed for function in transgenic tobacco plants in the context of an inactive 5' deleted rbcS-3A test gene. We have identified a minimal functional unit of 58 bp which is able to confer organ-specific transcriptional activity. It contains two sequences conserved among the pea rbcS family members, namely box II (-151 to -138; GTGTGGTTAATATG) and box III (-125 to -114; ATCATTTTCACT). These sequences bind the nuclear factor termed GT-1 in vitro. Substitution mutations within this 58 bp element have demonstrated that sequences upstream of, or located between, boxes II and III are not required for the transcriptional activity conferred by this element. Distance and orientation of these sequences from the gene are not critical for activity within the limits tested. DNA fragments upstream of nucleotide -170 of rbcS-3A that contain other GT-1 binding sites can also confer regulated expression upon the rbcS-3A promoter deleted to -50. Multimers of individual motifs, namely four tandem copies of boxes II and III, are unable to drive expression of the deleted promoter. These observations suggest that while GT-1 binding is necessary for promoter activity it is by itself not sufficient.
Phenylephrine-modulated cardiopulmonary blood flow measured with use of X-ray digital subtraction angiography

Abstract Introduction Cardiopulmonary blood flow is an important indicator of organ function. Limitations in measuring blood flow in live rodents suggest that rapid physiological changes may be overlooked. For instance, relative measurements limit imaging to whole organs or large sections without adequately visualizing vasculature. Additionally, current methods use small samples and invasive techniques that often require killing animals, limiting sampling speed, or both. A recently developed high spatial- and temporal-resolution X-ray digital subtraction angiography (DSA) system visualizes vasculature and measures blood flow in rodents. This study was the first to use this system to measure changes in cardiopulmonary blood flow in rats after administering the vasoconstrictor phenylephrine. Methods Cardiopulmonary blood flow and vascular anatomy were assessed in 11 rats before, during, and after recovery from phenylephrine. After acquiring DSA images at 12 time points, a calibrated non-parametric deconvolution technique using singular value decomposition (SVD) was applied to calculate quantitative aortic blood flow in absolute metrics (mL/min). Trans-pulmonary transit time was calculated as the time interval between maximum signal enhancement in the pulmonary trunk and aorta. Pulmonary blood volume was calculated based on the central volume principle. Statistical analysis compared differences in trans-pulmonary blood volume and pressure, and aortic diameter using paired t -tests on baseline, peak, and late-recovery time points. Results Phenylephrine had dramatic qualitative and quantitative effects on vascular anatomy and blood flow. Major vessels distended significantly (aorta, ~ 1.2-times baseline) and mean arterial blood pressure increased ~ 2 times. Pulmonary blood volume, flow, pressure, and aortic diameter were not significantly different between baseline and late recovery, but differences were significant between baseline and peak, as well as peak and recovery time points. Discussion The DSA system with calibrated SVD technique acquired blood flow measurements every 30 s with a high level of regional specificity, thus providing a new option for in vivo functional assessment in small animals.
Idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis diagnosed by reflected ultrasound

Abstract The echocardiographic findings in 16 patients with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis are described and compared with those in 25 patients with valvular aortic stenosis. A cluster of septal echoes of varying thickness impinging on the echoes of the anterior mitral leaflet during early diastole in 13 of 16 patients with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis was the typical finding. A similar finding was present in only 1 patient with valvular aortic stenosis. It is suggested that this pattern indicates interference with the normal anterior mitral leaflet motion by the severe septal hypertrophy during early diastole. The pattern of decreased slope with normal configuration seen in some patients with aortic stenosis (group C) and in 3 with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (group B) may indicate a lesser degree of interference. The decreased left ventricular compliance present in both conditions is probably an important underlying factor.
Tin-containing zeolite for the isomerization of cellulosic sugars

Abstract Isomerization reactions starting with dihydroxyacetone (DHA), xylose, and glucose in water were catalyzed by Sn-MFI and Sn-BEA zeolites. Sn-BEA was more active than Sn-MFI for glucose, while both catalysts were able to isomerize dihydroxyacetone and xylose. After 210 min at 90 °C, the yields of lactic acid, xylulose, and fructose using Sn-BEA were 54%, 24%, and 34%, respectively, at conversions of 93%, 81%, and 65%, respectively. Using Sn-MFI, the yields were 65%, 19%, and 4%, respectively, at conversions of 98%, 40%, and 9%, respectively. Pore size limitations, substrate sizes, and catalyst surface area all contribute to the strong activity of Sn-BEA for all three sugars; however, Sn-MFI is easier to make and may be suitable for reactions involving smaller molecules.
RL-SAGE and microarray analysis of the rice transcriptome after Rhizoctonia solani infection

Sheath blight caused by the fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani is an emerging problem in rice production worldwide. To elucidate the molecular basis of rice defense to the pathogen, RNA isolated from R. solani-infected leaves of Jasmine 85 was used for both RL-SAGE library construction and microarray hybridization. RL-SAGE sequence analysis identified 20,233 and 24,049 distinct tags from the control and inoculated libraries, respectively. Nearly half of the significant tags (≥2 copies) from both libraries matched TIGR annotated genes and KOME full-length cDNAs. Among them, 42% represented sense and 7% antisense transcripts, respectively. Interestingly, 60% of the library-specific (≥10 copies) and differentially expressed (>4.0-fold change) tags were novel transcripts matching genomic sequence but not annotated genes. About 70% of the genes identified in the SAGE libraries showed similar expression patterns (up or down-regulated) in the microarray data obtained from three biological replications. Some candidate RL-SAGE tags and microarray genes were located in known sheath blight QTL regions. The expression of ten differentially expressed RL-SAGE tags was confirmed with RT-PCR. The defense genes associated with resistance to R. solani identified in this study are useful genomic materials for further elucidation of the molecular basis of the defense response to R. solani and fine mapping of target sheath blight QTLs.
Prescribing sensate focus without proscribing intercourse

Abstract This paper challenges the need in sex therapy to routinely proscribe or forbid intercourse, viewing it as an excessive restriction for many couples, with side effects frequently causing a flight from treatment and other treatment failures. An alternative, more moderate proposal is presented which emphasizes the couple's doing sensate focus not as a prelude to orgasm or intercourse and not explicitly forbidding spontaneously occurring sexual activity. Cases illustrate how it retains the original purposes of the former total prohibition with fewer side effects. Additional advantages arising from the gentler “proscription” are elucidated. Factors influencing selection of proscription are cited.
Heteroallelism at the het-c Locus Contributes to Sexual Dysfunction in Outcrossed Strains of Neurospora tetrasperma

Neurospora tetrasperma is naturally heterokaryotic, with cells possessing haploid nuclei of both a and A mating types. As a result, isolates are self-fertile (pseudohomothallic). Occasional homokaryotic ascospores and conidia arise, however, and they produce strains that are self-sterile and must outcross to complete sexual reproduction. Invariably, laboratory crosses employing sibling a and A strains from the same parental heterokaryon restore the pseudohomothallic, heterokaryotic state. In contrast, outcrosses employing a and A strains from different wild isolates typically result in sexual dysfunction. Diverse sexual dysfunction types have been observed, ranging from complete sterility to reduced viability. We report that one type of dysfunction, characterized by spontaneous loss of the heterokaryotic state upon ascospore germination, can result from the interaction of incompatible alleles at heterokaryon incompatibility loci. Specifically, we demonstrate that homoallelism at the het-c locus in N. tetrasperma is required for heterokaryon stability. Heterokaryon incompatibility therefore provides an obstacle to outcrossing in this species, an observation with important implications for fungal life-cycle evolution.
Hepatic gene expression profiling reveals perturbed calcium signaling in a mouse model lacking both LDL receptor and Apobec1 genes

Atherosclerosis is a complex disease that gene and environment interaction influences the progression of atherosclerotic lesion development. Our laboratory used mice lacking both the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor and Apobec1 genes (LDLR-/-Apobec1-/-, designated LDb) to investigate gene-gene interaction and the influence of an environmental factor (high-fat diet) on gene networks. LDb mice (males and females) at 5 months of age were fed a chow or high fat diet for 3-month. The mice on a chow diet had elevated plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels and developed atherosclerosis. Feeding a high-fat diet accelerated the development of lesions >1.5-fold. We performed microarray analysis of the expression of 12442 murine genes in the livers of these animals, which identified 54 genes in males and 77 genes in females were significantly perturbed by the high-fat diet. Moreover, most of these genes (>70%) were upregulated. The results suggested that glycolysis, fat transport, and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways were upregulated, probably to compensate for the high fat intake. Furthermore, a batch of stress-responsive genes was upregulated. The study also shows a dynamic cellular communication network including T cells, neutrophils, and monocytes/macrophages, which related to inflammatory and immune/complement responses. Importantly, this study discovered that many genes involved in calcium signaling and bone formation were up regulated. Alizarin Red S staining was used to detect calcium deposits in the region of atherosclerotic lesions. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analyses provided verification of the gene expression levels. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the global differential gene expression profiles, which are influenced by feeding a high fat diet to LDb mice. The results of the study provide new insights into the significance of calcification in atherogenesis.
Clovis Type-Site, Blackwater Draw, New Mexico: A History, 1929-2009

A brief history is presented along with new archival images of archaeology over the past 80 years at Blackwater Locality No.1, New Mexico, also known as the Clovis “type-site.” Despite a wealth of published information, frequently this site is perceived mainly as a Paleoindian kill/butchery locale. In fact, at Clovis are discrete clusters of occupational debris, including camps, caches, and hand-dug wells around an early post-Pleistocene pond. This spatial diversity is contained in a deeply stratified alluvial/aeolian sequence with well-preserved animal and plant remains spanning the entire Paleoindian period. The Blackwater Draw provided one of the first research venues for geoarchaeology and paleoecology in America. Explorations at Clovis often took place alongside destructive gravel mining. Today, the Clovis site is a model of conservation, research, and public education.
Combining Forces to Combat Infectious Diseases

Because the threat of infectious diseases can cause widespread fear in a community, these diseases receive much public attention. Collaborations that bring together industry, academia, regulators, and the public can lead to improved and accelerated drug development. The collaborations must be grounded in strong science and expertise in clinical trials. Development of drugs to treat infections caused by resistant bacteria, drugs to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV), and drugs to prevent HIV is taking advantage of these collaborations. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2014); 96 2, 123–126. doi:10.1038/clpt.2014.119
Physicochemical changes in whey protein concentrate texturized by reactive supercritical fluid extrusion

Abstract The mechanisms of interactions in whey protein concentrate (WPC) texturized by reactive supercritical fluid extrusion and pH modifications were evaluated in terms of protein solubility in different extraction buffers, electrophoresis, free sulfhydryl (SH) groups, and apparent viscosity. The soluble protein content and free SH groups of the texturized WPC (tWPC) produced at pH 2.89 decreased by ∼20% and 16% relative to the unextruded control. It was completely soluble in the presence of urea and SDS, indicating the importance of non-covalent interactions in maintaining the structure of this product. Its dispersion (20% w/w) yielded a creamy texture with a particle size in the micron-range (mean diameter ∼5 μm) and contributed ∼258 times higher viscosity compared to the unextruded control. The tWPC produced at pH 8.16 was soluble only in the presence of a reducing agent. It yielded a grainy texture with a high proportion of large particles due to an extensive aggregation via intermolecular disulfide formations.
Analyses of age, gender and other risk factors of erythropoietin resistance in pediatric and adult dialysis cohorts

Previous studies often report lower responses to erythropoietin (EPO) therapy in pediatric patients on chronic dialysis than those of adults. Because of the greater capacity for hematopoiesis in the younger population, these studies may be confounded by poorly identified variables. Thus, we made parallel studies of pediatric and adult cohorts to explore the relationship between age, gender and other risk factors with EPO resistance. Thirty pediatric subjects (aged 8–20 years) and 66 adult subjects (aged 22–85 years) on chronic hemodialysis and EPO were enrolled. After stratification by 50th percentile of EPO response, the best predictive model was identified by backward elimination of the risk factors with the least contribution to the regression. Relationship between age, gender and EPO resistance was examined by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The most predictive model of EPO response for the pediatric cohort had, as the major variables, urea clearance × dialysis duration/total body water (Kt/V), urea reduction ratio (URR), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), blood loss, normalized protein catabolic rates (nPCR) and indices of malnutrition and inflammation, whereas adults had iron and folate deficiencies as the dominant variables. Although EPO resistance was more common in female subjects than in male subjects, relationship with neither age nor gender was significant. Furthermore, the prescription of a larger (initiating) EPO dose by pediatric physicians compared with adult nephrologists confounded the interaction between age and EPO resistance. In summary EPO resistance in the pediatric dialysis cohort was predicted by nutritional deficits, inflammation, poor dialysis, and hyperparathyroidism, while iron and folate deficits were the major determinants in adults. Although confounded by the pattern of EPO prescription, neither age nor gender was predictive of EPO resistance in the two study groups.
Development of metrological NDE methods for microturbine ceramic components

In this work, X-ray computed tomographic imaging technology with high spatial resolution has been explored for metrological applications to Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} ceramic turbine wheels. X-ray computed tomography (XCT) data were acquired by a charge-coupled device detector coupled to an image intensifier. Cone-beam XCT reconstruction algorithms were used to allow full-volume data acquisition from the turbine wheels. Special software was developed so that edge detection and complex blade contours could be determined from the XCT data. The feasibility of using the XCT for dimensional analyses was compared with that of a coordinate-measuring machine. Details of the XCT system, data acquisition, and dimensional comparisons will be presented.
Graylevel Images Encrypting Based on the n-Graylevel Encoding Method and the Lowest Common Multiple Technique

This paper proposes an encoding method to encrypt multiple covert images into a host image to form an overt image. The codes encoded in the overt image are classified into seven groups. Identification codes are used to determine whether the overt image contains codes proposed in this paper or not, image number codes are used to indicate the number of covert images encoded in the overt image, base codes are used to indicate the base value which returns pixel gray values of every covert image as a string, digit codes are used to indicate the number of digit that produces pixel gray values of every covert image as a string, gray level codes are used to indicate the gray level numbers of every covert image, dimension codes are used to determine the sizes of every covert image, information codes are used to decode covert images. All the reconstructed covert images do not contain any distortion when the proposed encrypting method is used. Moreover, the overt image looks almost the same as the host image.
Parent-child interaction in the laboratory: effects of role, task, and child behavior pathology on verbal response mode use.

Fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-grade children identified as aggressive, withdrawn, or nondeviant by a consensus of teacher and peer ratings interacted with one of their parents in a modified revealed difference task. Transcripts of the interactions were coded according to a taxonomy of verbal response modes (VRMs). Comparison of VRM profiles showed small and equivocal differences between trait groups. However, differences between roles (parent and child) and differences between two phases of the task (“reach agreement” on a problematic situation and “tell you how you feel” in that situation) were large and highly significant. Results support the hypothesis that intersubjective coding categories, such as VRMs, are sensitive to role, task, and relationship variables but relatively insensitive to enduring individual differences in personality or behavior pathology.
The critical frequency curve for rotating nuclei at finite temperature

Abstract At finite temperatures the crossing frequency ωc is equal to the slope of the line which is tangent to the isothermal free-energy curve F(I), where F = E − TS. The crossing frequency is also given by the isothermal crossing point in F′(ω), where F′ = F − ωI. The critical frequency curve ωc(T) for heated rotating nuclei displays a critical point at T = Tc. For T Tc there is a second-order phase transition from superfluid to normal. This is illustrated by the finite-temperature HFB cranking approximation to the two-level model. A Clausius-Clapeyron equation shows that dω c d T = 0 when T = 0 .
Response of Schwann Cells to Action Potentials in Development

Sensory axons become functional late in development when Schwann cells (SC) stop proliferating and differentiate into distinct phenotypes. We report that impulse activity in premyelinated axons can inhibit proliferation and differentiation of SCs. This neuron-glial signaling is mediated by adenosine triphosphate acting through P2 receptors on SCs and intracellular signaling pathways involving Ca2+, Ca2+/calmodulin kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate response element binding protein, and expression of c-fos and Krox-24. Adenosine triphosphate arrests maturation of SCs in an immature morphological stage and prevents expression of O4, myelin basic protein, and the formation of myelin. Through this mechanism, functional activity in the developing nervous system could delay terminal differentiation of SCs until exposure to appropriate axon-derived signals.
COOPER INSTABILITY FOR A GIVEN FIELD IN A QUIESCENT FERMI GAS

The Cooper instability in a Fermi gas is examined using the perturbative diagram approach. A graphical functional derivative technique based on Ward's identity is developed to obtain two-particle interactions and then to calculate the vertex part. The pairing instability for a given interaction, such as a phonon (plasmon, etc.) field, occurs in a quiescent Fermi sea, i.e. without exciting or involving background particles (holes), only if the interaction is attractive, as first proposed by Cooper and adopted in the BCS (Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer) theory. The consequence from this technique provides a way to evaluate the effect of the vertex corrections and responses of the Fermi gas in both charge and spin channels incorporating the backward scattering process. The significance of the methodology presented in the present work lies in the fact that it can both reproduce the known results, and, more importantly, be extended to investigate the intermediate or strong coupling case, such as nuclear interactions, where a neglect of vertex corrections may not be a good approximation.
Multiple-Frequency Heterodyne Correlation Radiometry

A heterodyne correlation radiometer is proposed for the sensitive detection of radiating species whose Doppler shift is known, but whose presence we wish to affirm. Such radiation (which may be actively induced) can arise, for example, from remote molecular emitters, impurities and pollutants, trace minerals, chemical agents, or a general multiline source. A radiating sample of the species to be detected is physically made a part of the laboratory receiver, and serves as a kind of frequency-domain template with which the remote radiation is correlated, after heterodyne detection. The system is expected to be especially useful for the detection of sources whose radiated energy is distributed over a large number of lines, with frequencies that are not necessarily known. Neither a stable nor a tunable local oscillator is required. It is shown that the minimum detectable power is expressible in a form similar to that for conventional heterodyning (for both quantum-noise-limited and Johnson-noise-limited detectors). The notable distinction is that the performance of the proposed system improves with increasing number of remotely radiating signal lines and increasing locally produced radiation power. Performance degradation due to undesired impurity radiation is considered and shown not to be a problem in general. The technique should be applicable over a broad frequency range from the microwave to the optical, with its most likely use in the infrared.
Postoperative orthopaedic neurovascular monitoring in the pediatric population.

Background: Many orthopaedic procedures carry risks of neurovascular compromise. We hypothesized that risk factors for neurovascular compromise and for its delayed detection exist in the pediatric orthopaedic population. Methods: We searched our institution's pediatric patient database from January 2004 through December 2006, randomly selecting (arbitrarily choosing every 20th patient) 286 patients, 34 of whom went to the operating room twice for 320 procedures. We retrospectively reviewed their records for these potential risk factors: altered communication ability (for age), abnormal baseline neurovascular status, imprecise documentation of neurovascular baseline status, nonspecific or inappropriate postoperative monitoring orders, and monitoring not carried out by nursing staff. Outcomes were analyzed via Fisher exact test (P Results: Ten patients (3%) had new postoperative neurovascular events, and 4 (1%) were recognized to have neurological deterioration detected on a delayed basis. Fifty-seven (18%) had impaired communication ability (significant correlation with increased risk for neurovascular events), 97 (30%) had abnormal neurovascular preoperative status, and 21 (22%) had no specific documentation of neurovascular condition in the perioperative chart. Insufficient documentation of abnormal neurovascular baseline correlated significantly with an increased risk for delayed detection of postoperative neurovascular events. Although all written orders for neurovascular checks were carried out and specific with respect to timing, 133 patients (42%) had neurovascular monitoring orders that were nonspecific about the functions to be checked. All patients with delayed deficit detection had impaired ability to communicate, abnormal baseline values, or improperly written orders. Conclusions: The risk of postoperative neurovascular events is significantly higher in patients with impaired communication ability, and the risk for delayed detection of such events is significantly higher in patients without proper documentation of an abnormal neurovascular baseline. Clear documentation of baseline function may avoid delayed detection, and more specific monitoring processes may improve patient safety. Level of Evidence: Retrospective study, level II.
A spectral notion of Gromov–Wasserstein distance and related methods

Abstract We introduce a spectral notion of distance between objects and study its theoretical properties. Our distance satisfies the properties of a metric on the class of isometric shapes, which means, in particular, that two shapes are at 0 distance if and only if they are isometric when endowed with geodesic distances. Our construction is similar to the Gromov–Wasserstein distance, but rather than viewing shapes merely as metric spaces, we define our distance via the comparison of heat kernels. This allows us to establish precise relationships of our distance to previously proposed spectral invariants used for data analysis and shape comparison, such as the spectrum of the Laplace–Beltrami operator, the diagonal of the heat kernel, and certain constructions based on diffusion distances. In addition, the heat kernel encodes a natural notion of scale, which is useful for multi-scale shape comparison. We prove a hierarchy of lower bounds for our distance, which provide increasing discriminative power at the cost of an increase in computational complexity. We also explore the definition of other spectral metrics on collections of shapes and study their theoretical properties.