cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurement of Relative Nerve Fiver Layer Surface Height in Glaucoma

Abstract A new parameter of structural optic nerve damage from glaucoma is reported, the relative nerve fiber layer surface height (RNFLH). Relative nerve fiber, layer surface height is calculated from magnification-corrected surface contour measurements of the peripapillary retina made with computerized image analysis of stereoscopic videographic images. The technique measures the average height of the nerve fiber layer surface within a circumference 200 ,cm from the disc edge, as detected with narrow-band green light, with respect to a standardized reference plane. This parameter was examined in a group of 36 glaucoma patients with early to moderate visual field loss, and in 33 age-matched normal controls. The measured surface of the peripapillary nerve fiber layer was, on the average, 74 μm lower in glaucomatous eyes than in normal eyes, a statistically significant difference ( P = 0.000). The ability of RNFLH to distinguish glaucomatous eyes from normal eyes was tested by its sensitivity (83%) and specificity (88%), which were greater than the sensitivities and specificities of computerized measurements of cup-disc ratio, disc rim area, and cup volume. This approach represents a step toward the identification of quantitative structural parameters to reflect the number of retinal ganglion cell axons that enter the optic nerve. Such measurements may facilitate the early diagnosis of glaucoma and provide important information on rates of ganglion cell death in aging and disease.
Monocyte rolling in early atherogenesis: vital role in lesion development.

The process of atherosclerotic lesion formation represents a complex interaction of a number of circulating blood cells with cells that reside within the arterial wall. Understanding the cellular mechanisms involved in this process is vital for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for prevention and treatment of coronary and carotid occlusive disease. In this issue of Circulation Research , Ramos and colleagues1 describe a novel in vitro model system for visualization and quantification of mononuclear cell rolling in large arteries that are prone to development of atherosclerotic lesions in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)–deficient mice. This novel model system was used to define the contribution of different adhesion molecules to monocyte rolling along atherosclerotic lesions. Their findings are important and should be considered relative to the existing body of published data on leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions in atherosclerosis. Data generated from animal models of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis suggest that circulating leukocytes (ie, monocytes) contribute to the development of atherosclerotic lesions.2 3 Previous studies have demonstrated that the expression of both leukocyte and endothelial cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) is enhanced in the setting of hypercholesterolemia.4 5 6 7 Furthermore, atherosclerotic lesions in both animals and humans are a rich source of several endothelial CAMs, including P-selectin, intracellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1).8 9 10 11 More recently, gene-targeted mice that are deficient in leukocyte (CD18) or endothelial (P-selectin or ICAM-1) CAMs have been placed on a high-fat diet and the extent of atherosclerosis compared with that produced in their wild-type counterparts placed on the same diet.12 It was noted that mice deficient in ICAM-1, P-selectin, or CD18 exhibited a 50% to 75% reduction in atherosclerotic fatty streak …
Characterization of the major plasma protein of the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, and a proposed role in host defense

Abstract The major plasma protein of the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, was purified, characterized and named dominin. SDS-PAGE analyses revealed that dominin consistently made up more than 40% of eastern oyster plasma and extrapallial fluid proteins. Three different forms of dominin were observed under non-reducing conditions. PCR and RACE primers designed from partial amino acid sequences obtained by tandem mass spectrometry of purified dominin identified 720 bp of complete cDNA encoding 192 amino acid residues. Based on the deduced amino acid sequence of mature dominin, its molecular mass was calculated to be 19,389 Da and was lower than the molecular mass of purified dominin measured by MALDI. This difference is likely due to post-translational modifications of dominin as the purified protein was found to be glycolysated, phosphorylated and likely sulfated. The amino acid sequence showed high similarity to the major plasma protein of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), cavortin, and of the green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus), pernin, and to a recently described protein labeled as an extracellular superoxide dismutase from the Sydney rock oyster Saccostrea glomerata. While dominin was found to possess a Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) domain, the domain was not completely conserved which explained why purified dominin lacked SOD activity. Dominin mRNA was detected in hemocytes by in situ hybridization and its expression measured by quantitative real time RT-PCR was significantly higher in winter than summer. Although the function(s) of dominin and homologous proteins is uncertain, the reported ability of cavortin to sequester iron and possibly limit the availability of this essential metal to pathogens suggests a potential role in host defense for this group of dominant plasma proteins. Other possible functions of dominin in antioxidation, wound repair, metal transport and shell mineralization are discussed leading us to conclude that dominin is likely a multifunctional protein.
Thermodynamics of polyisobutylene solutions. i. Interaction parameters from osmotic pressure data

Abstract The Maron theory of nonelectrolyte solutions was used to analyze available osmotic pressure data for solutions of polyisobutylene in benzene, chlorobenzene, toluene, and cyclohexane and to evaluate the interaction parameters, μ, for these systems. The results obtained show that for the benzene and chlorobenzene solutions the μ's are linear functions of volume fraction and temperature, but they are not dependent on molecular weight. On the other hand, the solutions of polyisobutylene in toluene and cyclohexane show a dependence of μ on molecular weight and, in all probability, also on volume fraction and temperature. However, the data available are insufficient to establish the exact dependence of μ on v2 and T for the latter two systems.
Waiting for the evidence: VEMP testing and the ability to differentiate utricular versus saccular function

The advent of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (CVEMPs) marked a milestone in clinical vestibular testing because they provided a simple means of assessing human otolith function. The availability of air-conducted (AC) sound and bone-conducted vibration (BCV) to evoke CVEMPs and development of a new technique of recording ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (OVEMPs) have increased the complexity of this simple test, yet extended its diagnostic capabilities. Here we highlight the evidence-based assumptions that guide interpretation of AC sound- and BCV-evoked VEMPs and the gaps in VEMP research thus far.
A two-step calcination method for preparing YBa2Cu3O7−x powders

Abstract A two-step calcination method for preparing superconducting YBa2Cu3O7−x powders was developed. In this method, a single-phase BaCuO2 powder was first prepared by calcining a stoichiometric mixture of BaCO3 and CuO. After being wet-milled and sedimentation classified, the BaCuO2 powder was calcined with Y2O3 and CuO to generate the YBa2Cu3O7−x powder. At temperatures above 930°C, a single-phase YBa2Cu3O7−x powder was obtained in less than 2 h. In contrast to the conventional one-step calcination approach, the two-step calcination method completely separates the BaCO3 decomposition process, which is very slow, from the YBa2Cu3O7−x formation step. While the total time of the process for both methods is approximately the same, the calcining time for the formation of the YBa2Cu3O7−x compound in the two-step method is significantly shorter. As a result, the YBa2Cu3O7−x powders prepared via the two-step method have narrower particle size distributions, smaller particle sizes, and the sintered pellets have superior superconducting properties than those prepared via the conventional calcination method.
Resurgence of submersed aquatic macrophytes in the tidal Potomac River, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia

A 1978–81 survey of submersed aquatic macrophytes in the tidal Potomac River showed that there were virtually no plants in the freshwater tidal river between Chain Bridge and Quantico, Virginia, decades after the disappearance of plants in the late 1930’s. Plant populations were monitored in subsequent years (1983–85) using qualitative shoreline surveys and quantitative resampling of the original 1978–81 transects. In 1983, 12 species of submersed aquatic macrophytes were found in the tidal river. Population increases were dramatic; by fall 1985, plants had colonized all shallow areas between Alexandria and Gunston Cove, Virginia.Hydrilla verticillata dominated in Dyke Marsh-Hunting Creek and Swan Creek. Most other areas contained a variable mixture ofHeteranthera dubia, Myriophyllum spicatum, Ceratophyllum demersum, Vallisneria americana, Najas guadalupensis andHydrilla verticillata. No plants were found along the main river or in tidal embayments in the reach between Gunston Cove and Quantico, Virginia. Total dry weight collected in the upper tidal river in fall 1985 was 14.5 times that of spring 1985, and four times that of fall 1984.
Alterations in metaphase durations in cells derived from human tumours.

With the use of time-lapse cinemicrography, we previously found that metaphase durations were significantly prolonged in SV40-transformed human fibroblasts when compared to untransformed controls. This was consistent with some earlier reports and suggested that prolonged metaphases could account for high metaphase/prophase ratios and possibly, in part, for increased mitotic indices seen in advanced tumours. However, there are inconsistencies in the literature and no comparable data available from malignant carcinomas. Presented in this paper are data from two cervical dysplasias, two cases of carcinoma in situ, nine malignant carcinomas and several other types of human cells. the results show that mean metaphase durations were prolonged in cells derived from most of the carcinomas but not from the other cell types. On the other hand, cytokinesis appears to progress more rapidly than normal in most of the tumour-derived cells. These and other findings indicate that the changes are a result of some metabolic alteration common to many but not all tumour cells. For reasons presented, we suggest as a working hypothesis that the alterations may be due to changes in calcium regulation, possibly resulting from alterations in mitochondrial metabolism.
Conceptually and methodologically vexing issues in teacher knowledge assessment

The purpose of this article is to describe the vexing issues that arise as researchers try to define and assess the knowledge teachers need to teach reading and writing effectively in the primary grades. Over the past several years, the authors of this article have developed and tested an assessment system of teacher knowledge under a grant titled The Primary Grade Reading & Writing Teacher Knowledge Project. The research team developed and tested 2 subscales: a traditional multiple-choice test that measures the inert or “in the head” knowledge teachers possess about reading and writing instruction, and an accompanying classroom observation instrument that measures the enacted or “classroom teaching” knowledge teachers use to teach reading and writing to young students. This article reports on 6 conceptually and methodologically vexing issues that arose as the authors developed and tested the assessment system. Issues revolved around the specific knowledge to measure, the evidence needed by various stakeh...
Closed-loop control of a tube-type cylindrical IPMC

Ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) are one of the most widely used types of electro-active polymer actuator, due to their low electric driving potential and large deformation range. In this research a tube type IPMC was investigated. This IPMC has a circular cross section with four separate electrodes on its surface and a hole through the middle. The four separate electrodes allows for biaxial bending and accurate control of the tip location. One of the main advantages of using this type of IPMC is the ability to embed a specific tool and accurately control the tool tip location using the large deflection range of the IPMC. This ability has widespread applications including in the biomedical field for use in catheter procedures. In this paper the results of the bending and force experiments were examined to validate the performance of this actuator obtained from the theoretical three dimensional COMSOL Multipysics model. An electromechanical model of the IPMC was developed and integrated into a closed loop control system. To improve functionality and the user interface the control system was designed to work on a laptop touchpad. This will provide a more familiar and intuitive interaction and cut down on operator training time.
Laparoscopic resection of an intradiaphragmatic pulmonary sequestration: A case report and review of the literature

Extralobar pulmonary sequestrations have been occasionally described in the abdomen but rarely in the diaphragm. We present the case of a 10 month old girl with an intradiaphragmatic pulmonary sequestration. The minimally invasive operative technique is outlined in detail, including the combine use of laparoscopy and thoracoscopy. The case is discussed and the literature is reviewed.
Multifractal comparison of the painting techniques of adults and children

ABSTRACT Statistical analysis of art, particularly of the abstract genre, is becoming an increasingly important tool for understanding the image creation process. We present a multifractal clustering analysis of non-representational images painted by adults and children using a pouring technique. The effective dimensions (D 0 ) are measured for each, as is the associated multifractal depth 'D = D 0 - D f . It is shown that children create paintings whose dimensions D 0 are less than those created by adults. The effective dimensions for adult painters tend to cluster around 1.8, while those for children assume typical values of 1.6. In a similar fashion, the multifractal depths for images painted by adults and children show statistically-significant differences in their va lues. Adult paintings show a relatively shallow depth ( u D ~ 0.02), while childrens paintings show a much greater depth ( u D ~ 0.1). Given that the  pouring technique reflects the body motions of the artist, the results suggest that the differences in the paintings fractal characteristics are potential indicators of artist physiology. Keywords: Multifractal, art, motion
Bowel injury by the suction-irrigator during operative laparoscopy

Bowel injury is common during operative laparoscopy, yet injury by the suction-irrigator has never been reported to our knowledge. Any injury to the sigmoid colon by suction-irrigator occurred during intestinal retraction. Primary repair was performed through minilaparotomy incision. In addition to the potentially damaging effect of the instrument, a firm, distended, and unprepared bowel was a leading factor in this injury. We recommend that all patients have bowel preparation before operative laparoscopy, and that great care be taken for all surgical manipulations, even when employing traditionally atraumatic instruments.
The use of impression management to promote 'starve the beast' policies

This study explores the use of impression management techniques promoting tax policy consistent with starve the beast (STB) policies. We employ thematic content analysis to examine how the 'independent' Federal Reserve Board (FRB) under Alan Greenspan used impression management tactics mimicking Bush's White House in promoting the 2001 Economic Growth & Revenue Reconciliation Act. Results confirm impression management technique use to market STB policies undermining society's interests. Results suggest Greenspan's advocacy failed to preserve FRB independence by taking a political position using impression management techniques mirroring White House strategies. Greenspan's stance was inconsistent with the FRB's charter, setting a dangerous precedence that erodes the FRB's independence. This suggests the FRB's lack of regulatory oversight blamed for snowballing the 2008 economic crisis was potentially driven by attempts to align the FRB with the neoconservative White House. This partisan activity threatens long-term foundations of US monetary policy, which has significant global implications.
What is a microsatellite: a computational and experimental definition based upon repeat mutational behavior at A/T and GT/AC repeats

Microsatellites are abundant in eukaryotic genomes and have high rates of strand slippage-induced repeat number alterations. They are popular genetic markers, and their mutations are associated with numerous neurological diseases. However, the minimal number of repeats required to constitute a microsatellite has been debated, and a definition of a microsatellite that considers its mutational behavior has been lacking. To define a microsatellite, we investigated slippage dynamics for a range of repeat sizes, utilizing two approaches. Computationally, we assessed length polymorphism at repeat loci in ten ENCODE regions resequenced in four human populations, assuming that the occurrence of polymorphism reflects strand slippage rates. Experimentally, we determined the in vitro DNA polymerase-mediated strand slippage error rates as a function of repeat number. In both approaches, we compared strand slippage rates at tandem repeats with the background slippage rates. We observed two distinct modes of mutational behavior. At small repeat numbers, slippage rates were low and indistinguishable from background measurements. A marked transition in mutability was observed as the repeat array lengthened, such that slippage rates at large repeat numbers were significantly higher than the background rates. For both mononucleotide and dinucleotide microsatellites studied, the transition length corresponded to a similar number of nucleotides (approximately 10). Thus, microsatellite threshold is determined not by the presence/absence of strand slippage at repeats but by an abrupt alteration in slippage rates relative to background. These findings have implications for understanding microsatellite mutagenesis, standardization of genome-wide microsatellite analyses, and predicting polymorphism levels of individual microsatellite loci.
Prey location, biomechanical constraints, and motor program choice during prey capture in the tomato frog, Dyscophus guineti.

This study investigated how visual information about prey location and biomechanical constraints of the feeding apparatus influence the feeding behavior of the tomato frog, Dyscophus guineti. When feeding on prey at small azimuths (less than ± 40°), frogs aimed their heads toward the prey but did not aim their tongues relative to their heads. Frogs projected their tongues rapidly by transferring momentum from the lower jaw to the tongue. Storage and recovery of elastic energy by the mouth opening muscles amplified the velocities of mouth opening and tongue projection. This behavior can only occur when the lower jaw and tongue are aligned (i.e., within the range of motion of the neck). When feeding on prey at large azimuths (greater than ± 40°), frogs aimed both the head and tongue toward the prey and used a muscular hydrostatic mechanism to project the tongue. Hydrostatic elongation allows for frogs to capture prey at greater azimuthal locations. Because the tongue moves independently of the lower jaw, frogs can no longer take advantage of momentum transfer to amplify the speed of tongue projection. To feed on prey at different azimuthal locations, tomato frogs switch between alternative strategies to circumvent these biomechanical constraints.
Assessment of chemical effects on neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells using high content screening

Identification of chemicals that pose a hazard to the developing nervous system is the first step in reducing human exposure and preventing health risks to infants and children. In response to the need for more efficient methods to identify potential developmental neurotoxicants, the present study evaluated the utility of an automated high content screening system to detect chemical effects on neurite outgrowth in Neuroscreen-1 cells (NS-1), a subclone of PC12 cells. Plating 2000 NS-1 cells per well with 100 ng/ml nerve growth factor for 96 h produced optimal neurite growth in a 96-well format. Using this protocol, five chemicals that had been previously shown to inhibit neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells were examined. Inhibition of neurite outgrowth (assessed as total neurite length per cell) was observed for all five chemicals. For three of the chemicals, inhibition was associated with decreased cell viability. To demonstrate the utility of this approach for screening, a further set of chemicals (eight known in vivo developmental neurotoxicants and eight chemicals with little evidence of in vivo neurotoxicity) were tested over a wide concentration range (1nM‐100mM). Trans-retinoic acid, dexamethasone, cadmium, and methylmercury inhibited neurite outgrowth, although dexamethasone and cadmium only affected neurite outgrowth at concentrations that decreased viability. Amphetamine facilitated neurite outgrowth, whereas valproic acid, diphenylhydantoin, and lead had no effect. Of the chemicals that were not neurotoxic, there were no effects on cell viability, but two (dimethyl phthalate and omeprazole) increased neurite outgrowth at the highest concentration tested. These results demonstrate that a high content screening system can rapidly quantify chemical effects on neurite outgrowth in vitro. Concentrationresponse data for both neurite outgrowth and cell viability allowed for the determination of the specificity of chemical effects on a neurodevelopmental endpoint. Further studies will examine the utility of other in vitro preparations for cell-based assays of neurite
Common Developmental Requirement for Olig Function Indicates a Motor Neuron/Oligodendrocyte Connection

The oligodendrocyte lineage genes Olig1 and Olig2 encode related bHLH proteins that are coexpressed in neural progenitors. Targeted disruption of these two genes sheds light on the ontogeny of oligodendroglia and genetic requirements for their development from multipotent CNS progenitors. Olig2 is required for oligodendrocyte and motor neuron specification in the spinal cord. Olig1 has roles in development and maturation of oligodendrocytes, evident especially within the brain. Both Olig genes contribute to neural pattern formation. Neither Olig gene is required for astrocytes. These findings, together with fate mapping analysis of Olig-expressing cells, indicate that oligodendrocytes are derived from Olig-specified progenitors that give rise also to neurons.
The Status of Conservation of Serpentinite Sites in North America

Habitats supporting novel floras often have been created by geologic processes. Distinctive landforms and lithologies are the major sources of such habitats. However their conservation has been uneven (Kruckeberg, 2002). Unique landforms fare best in gaining preservation: e.g., yosemite and Grand Canyon National Parks in the United States. Less successful has been the preservation of unique lithologies, like serpentines, that often harbor endemic taxa. In eastern North America, conservation of serpentine areas has been poor; the best of the few preserves there include the Gaspe Peninsula (Mt. Albert National Park) in Canada. Some progress in recent years has been made to preserve serpentine habitats in the Pacific Coast states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Examples are cited. The level of protection varies as does the type of agency (local, state, or federal) enforcing the preservation status.
Fast Mapping and Word Learning by Preschoolers With Specific Language Impairment in a Supported Learning Context: Effect of Encoding Cues, Phonotactic Probability, and Object Familiarity

Purpose To investigate whether phonological or semantic encoding cues improved the fast mapping or word learning performance of preschoolers with specific language impairment (SLI) or typical devel...
WITHDRAWN: Global CO2 Storage Potential of Self‐Sealing Marine Sedimentary Strata

Injection of CO2 below the seafloor into sedimentary strata where pressures and temperatures would trap the CO2 through “self-sealing” gravitational and hydrate-formation mechanisms has received little interest after analyses of a selection of deep-sea sediment cores suggested that such storage would not likely be feasible. Attention with respect to offshore CO2 storage has since shifted to the possibility of injecting CO2 into sub-seafloor basalt layers embedded within impermeable strata. Here we re-examine the storage potential of self-sealing marine sedimentary strata using a more comprehensive, global dataset of deep-sea sediment cores, heat flow measurements, bathymetry, and sediment thickness maps. In contrast to previous reports, we find the CO2 storage potential of these strata to be abundant. We map out the worldwide distribution and thicknesses of self-sealing marine sedimentary strata, which we estimate to have a total bulk sediment volume of 63 million cubic kilometers. Of this, roughly 1.3–2.7% may prove suitable for CO2 storage. This storage is unevenly distributed where it lies within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of the world's largest CO2 emitting economies. The United States and India respectively release 16% and 62% of their annual CO2 emissions (or 1 Bt/y and 800 Mt/y) within 500 km of self-sealing strata located in their EEZs, while only 6% of the annual emissions from China and the European Union (or 330 Mt/y and 250 Mt/y, respectively) occur within this distance.
The New Science of Learning: Active Learning, Metacognition, and Transfer of Knowledge in E-Learning Applications

This article examines the key concepts of active learning, metacognition, and transfer of knowledge, as put forth by the National Research Council's approach to the new science of learning, in rela...
Flight Validation of a Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Flux-Pinning Spacecraft Model

The Flux-Pinned Interface for spacecraft is a maturing technology that offers unique benefits to a number of close-proximity spacecraft operations such as on-orbit reconfiguration and servicing, formation flying, and rendezvous and docking. As a part of this research effort, Cornell University’s RAGNAR (Robust Autonomous Grappler for Noncontacting Actuation and Reconfiguration) team performed a series of microgravity experiments on Sept. 30 th and Oct. 1 st , 2010 via NASA’s Facilitated Access to the Space environment for Technology (FAST) flight program. The goals of this project were to experimentally test a design of a CubeSat-scale flux-pinned interface for spacecraft and gather data that could validate the frozen-image model currently being used to develop simulations and controllers for this interface. This paper summarizes the experimental setup and frequencyand timedomain results of the flight experiment, and compares the empirically derived data against a set of simulations. The paper concludes with a summary of weaknesses and strengths of the model as a predictor for actual flight dynamics and lessons learned regarding the flux-pinned interface design.
Filtration Characteristics of Shirasu

Shirasu is a kind of volcanic ash covering widely the area of South Kyushu. The mineral components of Shirasu consist of 60-80wt% volcanic glass and 40-20wt% crystalline minerals. The volcanic glass is porous and irregular and has small apparent density.For the purpose of using the volcanic glass contained in Shirasu as filter aid and filter medium, the authors carried out the compression permeability tests and measurement of porosity in case of loose and tight packings and surface factor on three samples: Shirasu A, B and C. The range of particle size of Shirasu B and C was 1190-37μ. Shirasu A was obtained by crushing Shirasu B and the particle size was in less than 44μ.The experimental results obtained are as follows.1) Shirasu B which is raw volcanic glass powder, has much porosity and irregularity in the region of more than about 300μ, and Shirasu C which is crushed volcanic glass powder, has the same properties in the region of more than about 200μ. Furthermore, Shirasu C is more porous and irregular than Shirasu B.2) Shirasu B and Shirasu C are more porous and irregular than sand. Therefore, it is considered that Shirasu is superior to sand as a filter medium.3) The compression permeability characteristics of Shirasu A are between those of Kaolin and Cement material and those of filter aids.The experimental equations of equilibrium porosity, ex, and permeation resistance, αx, are as follows.ex=0.613-0.578ps0.0536 αx=0.280×1011+0.337ps1.28Where ps is compressive pressure.
Light-Harvesting Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs): Efficient Strut-to-Strut Energy Transfer in Bodipy and Porphyrin-Based MOFs

A pillared-paddlewheel type metal–organic framework material featuring bodipy- and porphyrin-based struts, and capable of harvesting light across the entire visible spectrum, has been synthesized. Efficient—essentially quantitative—strut-to-strut energy transfer (antenna behavior) was observed for the well-organized donor–acceptor assembly consituting the ordered MOF structure.
Political conservatism, religion, and environmental consumption in the United States

The role of political conservatism and religion in shaping attitudes toward environmental consumption in the US is examined. Previous research suggests that while there is a mixed relationship between religiosity (measured in various ways) and environmentalism, political conservatives are unlikely to support pro-environment measures. Using nationally representative survey data, mixed results are found regarding the relationship of religiosity and environmental consumption: religious attendance and religious identity are positively related to environmental consumption, while belief in an involved God and biblical literalism are negatively related. Increased levels of religiosity, however, mute the otherwise strong negative effect of political conservatism. This suggests, surprisingly, that Green marketers and activists are likely to face less conservative resistance to environmental consumption among religious Americans.
A Fault-Tolerant Strategy Based on Fundamental Phase-Shift Compensation for Three-Phase Multilevel Converters With Quasi-Z-Source Networks With Discontinuous Input Current

This paper proposes a new fault-tolerant strategy for a multilevel converter with an integrated impedance-source network. The proposed fault-tolerant strategy leverages the flexibility provided by the impedance-source network to implement the fundamental phase-shift compensation (FPSC) method in order to restore operation of a multilevel converter with one or more faulty switches to the prefault conditions. In case of a fault occurrence, the proposed fault-tolerant strategy makes the most use of the remaining converter capacity and generates balanced line-to-line voltages, while evenly distributing an inevitable voltage stress increase, over all converter switches. In this paper, first, a brief background about an impedance-source based cascaded H-bridge converter and a suitable modulation method for it is provided. Then, the FPSC method is explained and the proposed fault-tolerant strategy based on this method is introduced. Finally, several experimental results from a prototype converter are provided to validate the operation of the proposed strategy.
Spectrometer sensor using patterned nano-structure plasmon resonance grating(Conference Presentation)

Localized surface plasmon resonance has been extensively investigated for biochemical sensor applications. In traditional localized surface plasmon resonance biosensors, resonance spectra were measured in the reflection or transmission from the nanostructure devices. In this work, we demonstrate a new surface plasmon resonance sensor platform with which the localized surface plasmon resonance and shift were measured by using a CCD imager instead of using an optical spectrometer. In additional to the metal nanostructures which support localized plasmon resonance, we pattern the nanostructures into diffraction gratings with super-wavelength grating periods. The nanostructure diffraction gratings support localized plasmon resonance and also diffract localized plasmon resonance radiations into non-zeroth order diffractions. Plasmon resonance spectrum and shift are measured with a CCD imager in one of the diffraction orders. The new plasmon resonance spectrometer sensor combines the functions of sensing and spectral analysis into one apparatus and is capable of real-time visualization of the biochemical bonding process with an imager.
460 UNRAVELING THE INTERACTIONS OF ENDOGENOUS NEUROSTEROIDS AND ANTIDEPRESSANTS WITH IONOTROPIC GLUTAMATE RECEPTORS.

Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), a family of ligand-gated ion channels, are responsible for the majority of fast excitatory neurotransmission in the central nervous system and play an integral role in cognition, learning, and neural plasticity. Misregulation of these receptors is implicated in the ischemic stroke cascade, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer9s, Huntington9s, and Parkinson9s disease. In addition, the main excitatory neurotransmitter of iGluRs, glutamate, has been shown to be involved with depression. Although antidepressants have been prescribed for more than 40 years, the pathophysiology of depression and the action of antidepressants are not completely understood. Studies are now suggesting a possible link between iGluRs, depression, and antidepressant action. While the soluble extracellular S1S2 natural agonist binding domain of the GluR2 subunit of the (S)-2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole) propionic acid (AMPA) receptor is well characterized, the binding sites of regulators of the receptor have yet to be structurally determined. We have previously shown that the binding sites of two endogenous neurosteroids, pregnenolone sulfate (PS) and 3α-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one sulfate (PregaS), reside in the S1S2 domain of the GluR2 subunit. The studies presented here show that PS and PregaS, both of which down-regulate AMPA receptors, have distinct binding sites on the GluR2-S1S2 domain. In addition, this work provides the first evidence that the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) trimipramine, imipramine, nortriptyline, and maprotiline bind to the GluR2-S1S2 domain, thereby suggesting a direct interaction between TCAs and iGluRs. Interestingly, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine does not bind to the GluR2-S1S2 domain. Using intrinsic fluorescence emission spectroscopy in conjunction with competition binding assays and Stern-Volmer analyses, it is shown that trimipramine, imipramine, nortriptyline, maprotiline, and desipramine have distinct binding sites on the GluR2-S1S2 domain and all five elicit unique conformational changes upon binding. Together these results ultimately suggest the possibility of differential regulation of AMPA receptors by TCAs.
Alcohol Advertising Exposure Among Middle School-Age Youth: An Assessment Across All Media and Venues.

Objective:The purpose of this study was to quantify middle school youth’s exposure to alcohol advertisements across media and venues, determine venues of greatest exposure, and identify characteristics of youth who are most exposed.Method:Over a 10-month period in 2013, 589 Los Angeles–area youth ages 11–14 from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds completed a short paper-and-pencil survey assessing background characteristics and then participated in a 14-day ecological momentary assessment, logging all exposures to alcohol advertisements on handheld computers as they occurred.Results:African American and Hispanic youth were exposed to an average of 4.1 and 3.4 advertisements per day, respectively, nearly two times as many as non-Hispanic White youth, who were exposed to 2.0 advertisements per day. Girls were exposed to 30% more advertisements than boys. Most exposures were to outdoor advertisements, with television advertisements a close second.Conclusions:Exposure to alcohol advertising is frequent among m...
It's Time for a Change in the Way We Educate Physiology PhD Candidates.

Graduate students in physiology programs today are faced with a job market that is significantly different from that which many of us faced 25, 10, or even 5 years ago. As a result, physiology educators need to change the content and style of their programs to prepare graduates for their futures. Programs must continue to prepare graduates for research postdoctoral positions, but they also should prepare them for employment at smaller institutions that have higher teaching demands and that encourage, but do not require, research. Changes are suggested in the way PhD candidates are taught and in the way professors mentor students seeking employment at smaller institutions.
Tribute to the Honorable Rex E. Lee Solicitor General of the United States 1981-85

Appellate advocacy is rarely a solo practice. Trial lawyers' intimate knowledge of the record often makes them invaluable in preparing a case for appeal. Rex E. Lee's ability to work with other lawyers made him an exceptional appellate advocate. In addition, his appreciation for teamwork influenced how he ran the office of the Solicitor General. Lee required every legal assistant to advise lawyers about every edit or change to arguments and briefs that the assistants found necessary. Lee treated the offices under the Solicitor General as clients rather than subordinates.
Advancing Research on Structural Stigma and Sexual Orientation Disparities in Mental Health Among Youth

Psychological research on stigma has focused largely on the perceptions of stigmatized individuals and their interpersonal interactions with the nonstigmatized. This work has been critical in documenting many of the ways in which stigma operates to harm those who are targeted. However, this research has also tended to overlook broader structural forms of stigma, which refer to societal-level conditions, cultural norms, and institutional policies and practices that constrain the lives of the stigmatized. In this article I describe the emerging field of research on structural stigma and review evidence documenting the harmful consequences of structural stigma for the mental/behavioral health of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. This research demonstrates that structural stigma represents an important, but thus far largely underrecognized, mechanism underlying mental health disparities related to sexual orientation among youth. I offer several suggestions to advance research in this area, including (a) adopting a life-course approach to the study of structural stigma; (b) developing novel measures of structural stigma; (c) expanding both the range of methods used for studying structural stigma and the sequelae of structural stigma that are evaluated; (d) identifying potential mediators and moderators of the structural stigma-health relationship; (e) examining intersectionalities; and (f) testing generalizability of structural stigma across other groups, with a particular focus on transgender youth. The implications of this research for preventive interventions and for public policy are also discussed.
Sclera and Retina Suturing Techniques

The materials and techniques for retinal surgery have undergone continued refinement over the past 40 years. This has resulted in a relatively high rate of retinal reattachment. Further understanding of the pathophysiology of retinal detachment together with pharmacologic and instrument advances should contribute to even further success in the future, with even less patient morbidity. Recently, advances in sutureless primary vitrectomy have been introduced. Although these techniques clearly have some advantages, they are unlikely to completely eliminate the need for sutures and excellent suturing technique.
Continued improvement in reduced-mode (REM) diodes enable 272 W from 105 μm 0.15 NA beam

High-power, high-brightness diode lasers from 8xx nm to 9xx nm have been pursued in many applications including fiber laser pumping, materials processing, solid-state laser pumping, and consumer electronics manufacturing. In particular, 915 nm - 976 nm diodes are of interest as diode pumps for the kilowatt CW fiber lasers. Thus, there have been many technical efforts on driving the diode lasers to have both high power and high brightness to achieve high-performance and reduced manufacturing costs. This paper presents our continued progress in the development of high brightness fiber-coupled product platform, elementTM. In the past decade, the amount of power coupled into a single 105 μm and 0.15 NA fiber has increased by over a factor of ten through improved diode laser brilliance and the development of techniques for efficiently coupling multiple emitters into a single fiber. In this paper, we demonstrate the further brightness improvement and power-scaling enabled by both the rise in chip brightness/power and the increase in number of chips coupled into a given numerical aperture. We report a new x-REM design with brightness as high as 4.3 W/mm-mrad at a BPP of 3 mm-mrad. We also report the record 272W from a 2×9 elementTM with 105 μm/0.15 NA beam using x-REM diodes and a new product introduction at 200W output power from 105 μm/0.15 NA beam at 915 nm.
Characterization of electrical properties of organic-rich shales at nano/micro scales

Abstract A new experimental protocol is explored to characterize electrical properties of hydrocarbon-bearing mudrocks at nano/micro scales. Two current flow regimes of peak force - tunneling atomic force microscopy (PF-TUNA) have been used: (1) the vertical out-of-plane current regime with hundred micrometer diameter top electrodes obtains homogenized conductivity quantitatively, (2) the horizontal in-plane current regime was shown powerful to visualize the conductive paths (related to connectivity and tortuosity) for heterogeneous and anisotropic shales. Results show that the approach works well with one to two layers of adsorbed water (25–55% relative humidity) under low frequency (0.5–20 Hz) for shale rocks. Current maps with sub-nanometer resolution emphasize the dominant role of hydrated ions associated with the hydrophilic clay minerals in driving the dielectric response of shales, while conductivity of pyrite and kerogen cannot be neglected for mature organic-rich shale conductive network. The acquired I-V curves at microscale provide a reliable mean to evaluate homogenized conductivity of such multiscale multi-component heterogeneous material under controlled environmental conditions. The procedure discussed herein serves as a complement for fine grained rocks and minerals of ionic-electronic hybrid conductive mechanism under partially water saturation. These results can be used to develop accurate electrical models, specifically for shale rocks with heterogeneous and sophisticated microstructure. The methodology can be also extended to other micro- or meso-porous geomaterials such as cementitious and bituminous nanoporous media.
First-principles equation of state and shock compression predictions of warm dense hydrocarbons

We use path integral Monte Carlo and density functional molecular dynamics to construct a coherent set of equations of state (EOS) for a series of hydrocarbon materials with various C:H ratios (2:1, 1:1, 2:3, 1:2, and 1:4) over the range of 0.07-22.4gcm^{-3} and 6.7×10^{3}-1.29×10^{8}K. The shock Hugoniot curve derived for each material displays a single compression maximum corresponding to K-shell ionization. For C:H = 1:1, the compression maximum occurs at 4.7-fold of the initial density and we show radiation effects significantly increase the shock compression ratio above 2 Gbar, surpassing relativistic effects. The single-peaked structure of the Hugoniot curves contrasts with previous work on higher-Z plasmas, which exhibit a two-peak structure corresponding to both K- and L-shell ionization. Analysis of the electronic density of states reveals that the change in Hugoniot structure is due to merging of the L-shell eigenstates in carbon, while they remain distinct for higher-Z elements. Finally, we show that the isobaric-isothermal linear mixing rule for carbon and hydrogen EOS is a reasonable approximation with errors better than 1% for stellar-core conditions.
Impacts of developing on Bt maize-intoxicated hosts on fitness parameters of a stem borer parasitoid

Transgenic Bt maize cultivars are widely used in U.S. agriculture. Control of target pests by these cultivars is not complete, and non-target pests are usually tolerant of the toxic activity of these cultivars. Sublethally intoxicated pest individuals may become hosts for parasitoids, but their quality as hosts may be affected as a result of intoxication. This study addresses the effects on various fitness parameters in parasitoids that develop on intoxicated hosts. The parasitoid used in this study was Parallorhogas pyralophagus (Marsh), a gregarious, external idiobiont, and the host was Eoreuma loftini Dyar, a subtropical stemborer. Results showed that ingestion of Bt maize tissue by E. loftini larvae negatively affected some fitness components in P. pyralophagus, whereas other components were not affected. Specifically, immature stage developmental mortality was greater, adult longevity was approximately 1 d shorter in females, and developmental times were approximately 2 d longer in both males and fem...
Uprooted: Identity and illegality among return migrants in Mexico

Este articulo analiza las experiencias de migrantes mexicanos que llega- ron como ninos a los Estados Unidos, pero regresaron a Mexico como adultos jovenes, y muestra como las identidades estatales y nacionales son moldeadas por los contextos culturales y legales de recepcion tanto en los Estados Unidos como en Mexico. En los Estados Unidos, su identidad nacional como “americanos” se logra a traves del proceso de socializa- cion, pero su relacion con el estado es determinada por su estatus legal. Mientras que, en Mexico, su relacion con el estado es informada por su condicion de ciudadanos, pero su identidad nacional es complicada por su falta de conocimiento de la cultura mexicana. Las identidades nacio- nales y estatales fragmentadas, tanto en Estados Unidos como en Mexico, configuran las experiencias de reincorporacion de estos migrantes como “mexicanos americanizados” en Mexico. Este articulo se basa en entrevistas y observaciones recogidas en Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, entre julio de 2009 y agosto de 2010.
Central Neurocytoma and Extraventricular Neurocytoma

A low-grade (WHO 2007, grade II) ventricular (central neurocytoma) or extraventricular tumor composed of a monomorphic population of uniform round neurocytic cells. More common in the lateral and third ventricles but may occur in the fourth ventricle and extraventricular sites including the cerebral hemispheric parenchyma and spinal cord. Occurs predominantly in young adults with a peak incidence in the third and fourth decades, and with a low incidence in the first and second decades.