cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Total cross section measurements for electron scattering on CH4 from 4 to 300 eV

Abstract Total cross sections have been measured for electron scattering on CH 4 in the 4–300 eV energy range utilizing a linear attenuation technique. The present results are compared with existing experimental data of other groups in this energy range. Generally, a good agreement with other experimental data is found except with those of Barbarito, Basta and Caliechio and Sueoka and Mori. The total electron scattering cross sections below 10 eV are inconsistent with available integral elastic scattering cross sections. It is suggested that the elastic data are in error and should be remeasured.
Virtual worlds as meeting places for formal systems

Over the last seven years, we have been exploring the use of collaborative virtual environments called Virtual Worlds (VWs) as a new type of testbed for experimenting with ways of organizing and integrating diverse types of computational and human processes. In other papers, we have discussed a wide variety of applications to fields as diverse as education and software engineering. In this paper, we focus on some of the mathematical experiments we are currently building in these environments.
Seeding of intracoronary stents with immortalized human microvascular endothelial cells

Intracoronary stents are effective in decreasing the complications associated with acute closure during coronary angioplasty. A major complication associated with the use of coronary stents is acute thrombotic occlusion. It has been postulated that the stent loses its thrombogenic potential after it becomes covered with a layer of endothelial cells. Human dermal microvascular endothelial cells were transfected with a plasmid containing the simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene. Stents were placed in culture media with cells for 2 weeks. Seeding efficiency of the stent with the endothelial cells was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Balloon-expandable coronary stents placed in cell culture with immortalized human microvascular endothelial cells showed near-complete coverage after 2 weeks. After balloon inflation, persistence of cells on the stent was noted only on the lateral aspect of the balloon-expanded stents. If these stents were placed in culture, complete recovery of the monolayer was noted after 3 days. Stents were then covered with endothelial cells and frozen for 4 days. After thawing, the cells adhered to the devices and divided to form a monolayer in tissue culture. Seeded balloon-expandable stents were frozen for 4 months, thawed, and then implanted in a pig coronary artery. Human endothelial cells were identified on the stent 4 hours after deployment. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of using a human microvascular endothelial cell line to seed an uncoated metal stent. The cells remain adherent to the stent, are functional after freezing, and remain on the stent at least 3 hours after intracoronary implantation.
The auriculotemporal syndrome beginning in infancy.

prising the circle of Willis appeared to be of normal configuration. Coronal sections taken at approximately 1.5 cm. revealed prominence of the capillaries of the cortex and subcortical white matter. The ventricular system was remarkable in that the occipital horn on the left side was larger than the one on the right and had a coarctation at approximately 2 cm. from its posterior tip. Sections through the brainstem and cerebellum did not reveal any additional significant findings. Microscopic examination revealed acute thrombophlebitis involving superficial cortical veins. Widespread neuronal degeneration with marked capillary proliferation, increase in astrocytes, and extracellular mineral deposition characterized the cortical gray ribbon. Subcortical white matter showed diffuse extensive demyelination, decrease of oligodendroglia, and mineral deposits in the neuropil. SUMMARY A 7-year-old Mexican boy with a con
Chemical indicators of sulfate sensitivity to nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds

[1] The formation of aerosol sulfate (SO42−) in eastern North America is chemically linked to the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) through oxidation of the gaseous precursor, sulfur dioxide (SO2). The response of sulfate production to controls in NOx and VOC emissions depends, in part, on the resulting changes in oxidant levels and the competition that naturally exists between the gas- and aqueous-phase pathways for SO2 oxidation. We propose the use of a combination of concentrations of nitric acid, particulate nitrate, hydrogen peroxide, and ambient sulfate as a nondimensional indicator of the effectiveness of VOC or NOx controls in decreasing SO42− abundance. The concentrations of these indicator species were calculated from a series of photochemical model simulations with varying rates of NOx and VOC emissions using a three-dimensional Eulerian model (MODELS-3) that covers the northeastern United States. This study shows that ambient sulfate concentrations are likely to decrease more effectively as VOC emissions are reduced, when the nondimensional indicator is less than a certain threshold. However, a higher value of the indicator identifies a regime in which NOx emissions reductions are more effective for reducing sulfate than are VOC emissions. In addition, a description of the sulfate-formation pathways, along with a theoretical analysis of the transition between NOx- and VOC-sensitive regimes, provides a strong rationale for the use of the sulfate sensitivity indicator.
Current Materials For Gradient-Index Optics

Many papers have been written on the design of gradient-index optical systems. The purpose of this paper is to review current technology in gradient-index materials research and to review the types of materials that are currently available. These include glass, materials made by ion exchange, chemical vapor deposition, sol-gel, and phase-separated techniques, gradient-index germanium, zinc-selenide/zinc sulfide, and gradients in plastics.
Selenium and glutathione peroxidase activity in maternal and cord plasma and red cells.

Summary: Paired samples of maternal and cord plasma and erythrocytes, as well as samples from nonpregnant adult females, were assayed for selenium and for glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Per) activity. Fetal selenium levels, both in red cells (0.39 ± 0.08 μg/ml) and in plasma (0.13 ± 0.03 μg/ml), were significantly lower than the respective levels in either pregnant (P < 0.001) or nonpregnant (P < 0.001) female adults. GSH-Per activity in fetal red cells (576 ± 131 U/100 ml) and plasma (10.3 ± 4.0 U/100 ml) were similarly significantly lower than the respective levels of activity in each group of adult samples (P < 0.001). Erythrocyte selenium levels were similar in nonpregnant (0.52 ± 0.05 μg/ml) and pregnant (0.52 ± 0.07 μg/ml) adult females; but there was a significant difference in erythrocyte GSH-Per activity between the nonpregnant (832 ± 165 U/100 ml) and the pregnant (990 ± 207 U/100 ml) groups (0.02 < P < 0.03). The plasma levels of selenium in the nonpregnant females (0.21 ± 0.03 μg/ml) were significantly higher than in the pregnant group (0.19 ± 0.03 μg/ml) (0.01 < P < 0.02); similarly, plasma enzyme activity in the nonpregnant group (19.5 ± 4.4 U/100 ml) was significantly higher than in the pregnant group (14.0 ± 3.2 U/100 ml) (P < 0.001). A close positive correlation was found between selenium levels and GSH-Per activity, both in plasma and in red cells (r = 0.86). The mothers' values for enzyme activity and for selenium, both in plasma and in erythrocytes, were almost invariably higher than the comparable values in her own fetus. Speculation: Selenium has a biologic role as a component of GSH-Per. Low activity of this enzyme in the fetus is probably an adaptation to a low requirement for antioxidant protection. After birth the continuation of the intrauterine developmental phase may contribute in part to the increased oxidant sensitivity of neonatal red cells. Prolonged inadequate dietary intake of selenium, especially in small premature infants, may further increase sensitivity to oxidant stress.
Unfinished business: The united states and Franco's Spain, 1944–47

‘Unfinished Business’ examines American and British postwar policy toward the regime of Francisco Franco in Spain. Although the emergence of the cold war eventually altered that policy from one of strenuous opposition to one of grudging acceptance, the continuing desire of the Western allies to alter or remove the Franco regime illustrates the persistent influence of anti‐fascism after World War II. In retrospect, the eventual alignment of Franco with the West seems a foregone conclusion, but in the fluid context of the years immediately after World War II policy makers on both sides of the Atlantic struggled to determine their interests in a world no longer defined by the war and not yet in the grip of the cold war.
Gender and Intrauterine Position Influence Saccharin Preference in Mice

Gender differences in saccharin preference in adult Rockland-Swiss mice were examined in Experiment 1. Separate groups of male and female mice received tap water and one of five concentrations of saccharin solution (either 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, or 1.00%). A significantly higher preference score was obtained for females vs. males that received the 0.25% solution. Other concentrations did not yield a significant sex difference. The purpose of Experiment 2 was to examine prenatal influences on preference patterns of adult males. Mice were delivered by cesarean section and classified as having resided between two male (2M), two female (0M), or one male and one female (1M) fetuses. Saccharin preference was then examined in separate groups of adult males that received either a 0.25 or a 0.75% solution. A significantly higher preference score was obtained for 0M vs. 2M males that received the 0.25% concentration; no difference was obtained with the 0.75% solution. Differences between 2M and 0M males may be due to the actions of prenatal steroids.
A Stochastic Control Program to Predict Outcome and to Support Therapeutic Decisions: A Preliminery Report

Background and Objectives. Early noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring with an outcome predictor and a therapeutic decision support system may be useful to identify and correct hemodynamic deficiencies in emergency patients. The first aim was to apply a stochastic (probability) search and display model to predict outcome as early as possible. The second aim was to explore the usefulness of a therapeutic decision support system to evaluate the relative effectiveness of various therapies. Methods. A stochastic control and display program based on noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring was applied in 100 consecutive critically ill patients admitted to the emergency department of an inner city public hospital. The program continuously displayed the noninvasive hemodynamic data and the patient's predicted survival probability (SP) that was based on the patient's diagnosis, covariates, and hemodynamic data. The accuracy of the SP at the initial resuscitation on admission to the emergency department (ED) was evaluated by the actual outcome at hospital discharge. The therapeutic decision support program evaluated the relative effectiveness of various therapies on based on their hemodynamic and SP responses and outcome of patients with similar clinical-hemodynamic states. Results. The cardiac index, mean arterial pressure, arterial saturation, transcutaneous oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions were appreciably higher in survivors than in nonsurvivors in the initial resuscitation. Heart rate was higher in the nonsurvivors. The calculated Survival Probability (SP) of survivors averaged 81 ± 1.4% in the first 24-hour observation period. It was 58 ± 2.2% for nonsurvivors during this period. Misclassifications were 10/100 or 10%.
Nurse practitioners' and physicians' care activities and clinical outcomes with an inpatient geriatric population.

OBJECTIVE Less is known about nurse practitioners' (NPs') effectiveness in acute care than about their effectiveness in outpatient settings. This study investigated care activities and clinical outcomes for hospitalized geriatric patients treated by NPs compared with those treated by intern and resident physicians. DATA SOURCES A descriptive comparative research design involved random selection of 100 inpatient geriatric patients and a convenience sample of 17 professional providers who staffed three hospital units. A 1-month study period produced retrospective and prospective data for analysis. CONCLUSIONS Self-reports concerning 10 primary activity categories indicated that NPs spent a higher percentage of time doing progress notes and care planning than did physicians (28% versus 15%, p = .011) and that physicians spent more time on literature reviews (5% versus 1%, p = .008). When prioritizing care activities, NPs ranked advance directive discussion higher than did physicians (2nd versus 7th, p = .036), a difference confirmed by medical record documentation. Physicians were more attentive to functional status (1st versus 3rd, p = .023), but medical record documentation showed NPs to be more attentive to physical and occupational therapy referrals (p = .001). Analysis of 13 independent organ areas revealed that NPs cared for more musculoskeletal (p = .036) and psychiatric (p = .005) problems. Physicians cared for more cardiac patients (p = .001). NPs' patients were older (p = .022) and sicker at admission (p < .001) and discharge (p < .001). Charges per length of stay were lower (p < .001) for the physician provider group, and patients in that group had shorter stays (p < .001). Readmission and mortality rates were similar. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE NPs provide effective care to hospitalized geriatric patients, particularly to those who are older and sicker.
Osteogenic sarcoma of the jaws and facial bones.

Abstract Observations on forty-four osteogenic sarcomas of the jaws and facial bones demonstrate that surgical treatment affords a reasonable chance of cure. A tendency to late systemic spread and a relatively low average degree of malignancy are among the factors that contribute to successful therapy. In the present series vague symptoms were commonly present and led to many dental and minor surgical procedures prior to establishment of the correct diagnosis. This fact emphasizes that a relatively painless non-ulcerating mass occurring in the upper or lower jaw, particularly about the alveolus, should suggest the possibility of osteogenic sarcoma. In the antral and ethmoid regions, early symptoms are lacking. Roentgenographic examination is extremely helpful in most instances, but definitive diagnosis depends on histologie studies. Four of the sarcomas in this series arose in regions previously radiated for benign conditions of bone or soft tissue. More alertness on the part of dentists and physicians would favor earlier correct diagnosis and treatment of osteogenic sarcoma of the jaw.
High-throughput computing versus high-performance computing for groundwater applications.

Introduction High-throughput computing (HTC) is the deployment of resources to tackle a large computational burden where the individual computations do not need to interact while running (Beck 1997). HTC differs from high-performance computing (HPC), where rapid interaction of intermediate results is required to perform the computations. Parallel computing is often equated with HPC and supercomputers, associated with high costs and inaccessibility for those not working at national laboratories or other large institutions. As HPC supercomputing evolved to link many processors in a single facility in 1984, researchers at the University of Wisconsin—Madison took a different approach. They sought to take advantage of idle central processing unit (CPU) cycles (often called “cycle scavenging”) on desktop machines spread throughout a single campus department or company or beyond (Thain et al. 2005). The tool they developed was originally called Condor, now called HTCondor (HTCondor Team 2014, http://research.cs.wisc.edu/htcondor/). HTCondor is widely employed in the theoretical physics realm including being used to confirm discovery of the Higgs boson (Ahronovitz 2013). The software is designed to be flexible and general and thus can be used for many other applications. HTC is best suited for problems that are embarrassingly (also called “pleasingly” parallel; Livny 2011)—those that can be divided among CPUs without the need for communication of intermediate results between CPUs while they run. Beowulf clusters (Becker et al. 1995) build on fast networking of inexpensive
Response Latencies of Female Rats during Sexual Intercourse

A female rat, by operating a lever, causes the presentation of a potent male rat and subsequent sexual contact. The female shows contact-response latencies that vary according to the nature of the contact. Latencies after ejaculations are longer than those after intromissions, which in turn exceed those after mounts.
Application of Heated-Film Velocity and Shear Probes to Hemodynamic Studies

A constant-temperature heated-film anemometer system has been adapted for the detailed study of in-vivo aortic velocity fields. Two types of sensing probes were developed: a velocity probe and a velocity-gradient or fluid shear stress probe. These probes were evaluated for steady and pulsatile flow in rigid circular tubes using both a glycerin-water mixture and blood. Measurements using both devices agreed closely with the values predicted by well established theory. Moreover, the integrated velocity profiles that were measured correlated well with the simultaneously recorded flow values using orifice meter and electromagnetic flowmeter techniques. In-vivo studies were made along the thoracic aortas of anesthetized dogs and pigs. Velocity measurements along the aorta indicated that the velocity profiles are blunt. The flow-pulse forms obtained by the heated-film technique in vivo were also similar in magnitude and contour to those obtained simultaneously from an electromagnetic flowmeter. Fully developed ...
The vagus nerve alters the pulmonary dendritic cell response to injury.

Abstract Background We have shown previously that vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) protects against burn-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Although the mobilization and activation of immune cells is central to tissue injury caused by the systemic inflammatory response, the specific inflammatory cell populations that are modulated by VNS have yet to be fully defined. The purpose of this study was to assess whether VNS alters inflammatory cell recruitment to the lung after severe burn injury. Materials and methods Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 30% total body surface area steam burn with and without electrical stimulation of the right cervical vagus nerve. The relative levels of pulmonary dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages were compared at 4 h versus 24 h after burn injury. Lung tissue injury was characterized by histology to assess changes in lung architecture, and measure the protein levels of interleukin 6 and transforming growth factor-β1. Results Severe burn caused an increase in pulmonary DC recruitment at 4 h after injury that persisted at 24 h after severe burn, whereas there was no change in the number of pulmonary macrophages. In contrast, VNS limited the burn-induced recruitment of pulmonary DC. VNS prevented histologic lung injury and attenuated the release of interleukin 6 and transforming growth factor-β1 in the lung after burn injury. Conclusions VNS is an effective method to limit pulmonary DC recruitment to the lung and prevent ALI after burn injury. Identifying strategies to limit inflammatory cell recruitment to the lung may have clinical utility in preventing ALI in severely burned patients.
Appearances may not be deceiving: Calculation deficits due to a brain structure abnormality in neurologically normal children

Calculation is an essential function learned in childhood that humans use in everyday life for many purposes. Calculation deficits typically occur in adults after left parietal lobe lesions (Grafman et al ., 1982). Historical evidence suggested that, more specifically, the region of the left angular gyrus was crucial for the mediation of calculation, but more recent research using functional neuroimaging and patient studies indicates that the left intraparietal sulcus may be even more important for the representation of specific calculation processes (Levy et al ., 1999; Rickard et al ., 2000; Rueckert et al ., 1996). Regardless of the exact location in the parietal lobe(s) of the key cortical structures concerned with supporting the computational mechanisms needed for aspects of calculation, significant advances have occurred regarding our knowledge about the cognitive architecture of calculation over the last two decades (Grafman and Rickard, 1997). These advances have allowed for more precise mapping of cognitive processes to brain sectors. Dyscalculia is as prevalent as literacy problems in very low birthweight pre-term children. In this issue of Brain , Isaacs and colleagues used a new analytic technique, voxel-based morphometry, to identify a local region in the left parietal cortex where there was less grey matter in very low birthweight children who had dyscalculia …
4-Alkylated monobactams : Chiral synthesis and antibacterial activity

Abstract The synthesis of 4-alkylated monobactams by a variety of procedures is described. Two complementary procedures have been developed for the chiral synthesis of rnonobactams. (1) sulfonation of 4-alkyl-3-(protected)amino-2-azetidinones with vanous complexes of SO3, and (2) cyclization of β mesyloxyacyl sulfamates derived from β-alkyl-β-hydroxy-α-amino acids The most general procedure involves introduction of the alkyl group via a Grignard reaction on 6-APA-derived sulfones 23 or 24 followed by sulfonation. For the specific case of (3S,trans)-3-amino-4-methylmonobactamic acid (48). cyclization of the β-mesyloxyacyl sulfamate 40 derived from (L)-threonine is the preferred route. The introduction of 4-alkyl groups into monobactams results in a decrease in activity against gram-positive bacteria, an increase in activity against gram-negative bacteria, and an increase in β-lactamase stability. Increasing the size of the alkyl group beyond methyl results in diminished intrinsic antibacterial activity. 4β-Alkylmonobactams display better β-lactamase stability than their 4α-counterparts.
Is there a general structure for grammars

Summary form only given. Linguists have proposed dozens of formalisms for grammars and now vision is weighing in with its versions based on its needs. Ulf Grenander has proposed general pattern theory, and has used grammar-like graphical parses of "thoughts" in the style of AI. One wants a natural, simple formalism treating all these cases. I want to pose this as a central problem in modeling intelligence. Pattern theory started in the 70's with the ideas of Ulf Grenander and his school at Brown. The aim is to analyze from a statistical point of view the patterns in all "signals" generated by the world, whether they be images, sounds, written text, DNA or protein strings, spike trains in neurons, time series of prices or weather, etc. Pattern theory proposes that the types of patterns-and the hidden variables needed to describe these patterns - found in one class of signals will often be found in the others and that their characteristic variability will be similar. The underlying idea is to find classes of stochastic models which can capture all the patterns that we see in nature, so that random samples from these models have the same "look and feel" as the samples from the world itself. Then the detection of patterns in noisy and ambiguous samples can be achieved by the use of Bayes' rule, a method that can be described as "analysis by synthesis".
Continuation Rates for Contraception in Adolescents

Background Previous study has indicated low continuation rates for depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera R , DMPA) and oral contraceptives (OC's) in adolescents. Our aim was to determine continuation rates for various forms of hormonal contraception in our adolescent clinic population. Methods We performed chart review for 490 girls enrolled over 3 years who selected one of 3 contraceptive methods: OC, n = 231. DMPA, n = 191; and levonorgestrel implants (Norplant R , NP), n = 69. Demographic background was 64% black, 34% white, and 2% other; mean age was 16 (± 1.3 SD) years. Prior pregnancies were reported by 16%, with OC selectees reporting fewer previouc pregnancies than girls choosing DMPA or NP (p Results : continuation rates for initial selection were generally low: Method 12 mos 24 mos 36 mos DMPA 45 % 21 % 10 % NP 81 % 57 % 37 % OC 13 % 5 % 2 % However, many adolescent discontinuers switched without a break to another hormonal method; combining the duration on second method with the original continuation rates, “continuous protection rates” were much higher: Initial Method 12 mos 24 mos 36 mos DMPA 83 % 42% 21 % NP 96 % 86 % 76 % OC 49 % 23 % 16 % Conclusion Estimating continuation rates for a single hormonal method underestimates the continued protection resulting from switching to a second form of contraception.
Restoring unassisted natural gait to paraplegics via functional neuromuscular stimulation: a computer simulation study

A computer simulation of functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS)-assisted bipedal gait shows that it is difficult, but possible, to attain undisturbed, level gait at normal speeds provided the electrically stimulated ankle plantarflexors exhibit near-normal strengths or are augmented by an orthosis, and at least seven muscle groups in each leg are stimulated. A combination of dynamic programming and an open-loop, trial-and-error adjustment process was used to find a suboptimal set of discretely varying muscle stimulation patterns needed for a 3-D, 8 degree-of-freedom dynamic model to sustain a step. An ankle-foot orthosis was found to be especially useful, as it helped to stabilize the stance leg and simplified the task of controlling the foot during swing. It is believed that the process of simulating natural gait with this model will serve to highlight difficulties to be expected during laboratory and clinical trials. >
Reducing costs through the use of Special Purpose Automatic Test Equipment (SPATE)

Special Purpose Automatic Test Equipment (SPATE) addresses the need for lower costs of acquisition, development and ownership while providing easy maintainability, parallel path testing, and flexible, rapid response to meet future test requirements. >
Dynamic Memory Design for Low Data-Retention Power

The emergence of data-intensive applications in mobile environments has resulted in portable electronic systems with increasingly large dynamic memories. The typical operating pattern exhibited by these applications is a relatively short burst of operations followed by longer periods of standby. Due to their periodic refresh requirements, dynamic memories consume substantial power even during standby and thus have a significant impact on battery lifetime. In this paper we investigate a methodology for designing dynamic memory with low data-retention power. Our approach relies on the fact that the refresh period of a memory array is dictated by only a few, worst-case leaky cells. In our scheme, multiple refresh periods are used to reduce energy dissipation by selectively refreshing only the cells that are about to lose their stored values. Additional energy savings are achieved by using error-correction to restore corrupted cell values and thus allow for extended refresh periods. We describe an exact O(nk-1)-time algorithm that, given a memory array with n refresh blocks and two positive integers k and l, computes k refresh periods that maximize the average refresh period of a memory array when refreshing occurs in blocks of l cells. In simulations with 16Mb memory arrays and a (72, 64) modified Hamming single-error correction code, our scheme results in an average refresh period of up to 11 times longer than the original refresh period.
Corn husk oil lowers plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations by decreasing cholesterol absorption and altering hepatic cholesterol metabolism in guinea pigs.

To test the hypocholesterolemic mechanisms of corn husk oil (CoHO), male Hartley guinea pigs were fed diets containing increasing doses of CoHO, either 0 (control), 5, 10, or 15 g/100 g, and 0.25 g/100 g cholesterol. A positive control group (LC) with low dietary cholesterol (0.04 g/100 g) was also included. Fat was adjusted to 15 g/100 g in all diets by the addition of regular corn oil. Plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations were 32, 55, and 57% (P < 0.0005) lower with increasing doses of CoHO. In addition, intake of CoHO resulted in 32 to 43% lower hepatic total and esterified cholesterol and 55 to 60% lower triacylglycerol concentrations compared with the control group (P < 0.01). CoHO intake resulted in plasma and hepatic cholesterol concentrations similar to those in guinea pigs from the LC group. The number of cholesteryl ester and free cholesterol molecules was higher in LDL from the control group than in LDL from the CoHO or the LC groups. Hepatic β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase activity was not modified by CoHO intake whereas cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase was up-regulated by 45 to 49% (P < 0.01) in the 10 and 15 g/100 g CoHO groups. Hepatic acyl coenzyme A cholesterol acyltransferase activity was down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner by 54, 58, and 63% with increasing doses of CoHO. CoHO intake resulted in increased fecal cholesterol excretion by 40 to 55% compared with the control and LC groups. Total fecal neutral sterol excretion was enhanced 42 to 55% by CoHO compared with the control group and by 59 to 68% compared with the LC group. The data from these studies suggest that CoHO has its hypocholesterolemic effect by decreasing cholesterol absorption and increasing bile acid output. These alterations in the intestinal lumen alter hepatic cholesterol metabolism and may affect the synthesis and catabolism of lipoproteins.
A four-SNP NAT2 genotyping panel recommended to infer human acetylator phenotype

A letter in response to: Suarez-Kurtz G, Vargens DD, Sortica VA, Hutz MH. Accuracy of NAT2 SNP genotyping panels to infer acetylator phenotypes in African, Asian, Amerindian and admixed populations. Pharmacogenomics 13(8), 851–854 (2012).
Comparison of Cheeses Made from Milk Having Normal and High Oleic Fatty Acid Compositions

Calcium salts of high-oleic sunflower oil (> 86% oleic acid) were prepared and fed at 0% and 7.5% of diet dry matter weight to 8 Holstein cows in early- to mid-lactation in a cross over experimental design. Oleic acid content of milk fat increased from 26% to over 40% and cholesterol-raising saturates were reduced from 41% to 33%. Latin American white cheese, queso blanco, was produced from modified and normal milk. No differences in firmness were found between cheeses using penetration-compression testing with an Instron machine. Sensory difference tests indicated no significant differences between cheeses. Latin American white cheeses made with high oleic milk are similar to traditional cheese.
Some aspects of tail regeneration in the lizard, Anolis carolinensis. I. A description based on histology and autoradiography.†,‡

The histology of the tail and its autotomy planes in Anolis carolinensis follows the same basic plan as that described for other lizards. Variations in detail which are of importance to the present paper are described. The normal regeneration process was studied using histologic and autoradiographic techniques. These studies suggest: (1) that the muscle makes little if any contribution to the regenerate, (2) that the source of cells for the regenerate is primarily from the various connective tissue elements and (3) that the tail has no apical accumulation blastema. It is proposed that the term blastema as applied in amphibian limb regeneration cannot be applied in lizard tail regeneration. The growth of a normal regenerate results from extensive interstitial growth in the differentiating tissues and from subapical growth in the less differentiated areas of these tissues.
A Recursive Model-Reduction Method for Approximate Inference in Gaussian Markov Random Fields

This paper presents recursive cavity modeling - a principled, tractable approach to approximate, near-optimal inference for large Gauss-Markov random fields. The main idea is to subdivide the random field into smaller subfields, constructing cavity models which approximate these subfields. Each cavity model is a concise, yet faithful, model for the surface of one subfield sufficient for near-optimal inference in adjacent subfields. This basic idea leads to a tree-structured algorithm which recursively builds a hierarchy of cavity models during an ldquoupward passrdquo and then builds a complementary set of blanket models during a reverse ldquodownward pass.rdquo The marginal statistics of individual variables can then be approximated using their blanket models. Model thinning plays an important role, allowing us to develop thinned cavity and blanket models thereby providing tractable approximate inference. We develop a maximum-entropy approach that exploits certain tractable representations of Fisher information on thin chordal graphs. Given the resulting set of thinned cavity models, we also develop a fast preconditioner, which provides a simple iterative method to compute optimal estimates. Thus, our overall approach combines recursive inference, variational learning and iterative estimation. We demonstrate the accuracy and scalability of this approach in several challenging, large-scale remote sensing problems.
Molecular evolution of shattering loci in U.S. weedy rice

Cultivated rice fields worldwide are plagued with weedy rice, a conspecific weed of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.). The persistence of weedy rice has been attributed, in part, to its ability to shatter (disperse) seed prior to crop harvesting. In the United States, separately evolved weedy rice groups have been shown to share genomic identity with exotic domesticated cultivars. Here, we investigate the shattering phenotype in a collection of U.S. weedy rice accessions, as well as wild and cultivated relatives. We find that all U.S. weedy rice groups shatter seeds easily, despite multiple origins, and in contrast to a decrease in shattering ability seen in cultivated groups. We assessed allelic identity and diversity at the major shattering locus, sh4, in weedy rice; we find that all cultivated and weedy rice, regardless of population, share similar haplotypes at sh4, and all contain a single derived mutation associated with decreased seed shattering. Our data constitute the strongest evidence to date of an evolution of weeds from domesticated backgrounds. The combination of a shared cultivar sh4 allele and a highly shattering phenotype, suggests that U.S. weedy rice have re-acquired the shattering trait after divergence from their progenitors through alternative genetic mechanisms.
Brassicaceae Cover Crops Affect Seed Germination and Seedling Establishment in Cucurbit Crops

SUMMARY. Field and laboratory bioassay studies were conducted to determine the impact of Brassicaceae cover crops on cucurbit germination percentages and stand counts. A 2-yearfield study insouthwestern Michigan examinedthe effect of oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus var. oleiferus), oriental mustard (Brassica juncea), and yellow mustard (Sinapis alba) green manures on muskmelon (Cucumis melo Group reticulatus) stand. All three cover crops reduced direct-seeded muskmelon stand count as well as transplant survival. Stand count for direct- seeded muskmelon was greater than 85% for control and methyl bromide treatments and less than 41% for cover crop treatments. Oilseed radish had the greatest effect with 0% muskmelon stand in both years. The use of transplants improved muskmelon stand establishment. However, stand count (less than 45% to 50%) was still unacceptable. In bioassays, muskmelon, cucumber (Cucumis sativus), and honeydew melon (Cucumis melo Group inodorus) seeds were exposed to either non-lyophilized or lyophilized root and shoot aqueous extracts of oilseed radish. Germination percentages and radicleelongationmeasurements showed bothextracts impactedall three crops to varying degrees. Muskmelon germination was least sensitive to the extracts, followed by cucumber, then honeydew. Cucumber and muskmelon root growth was equally inhibited by non-lyophilized shoot extract, while honeydew growth was mildly stimulated at 5% and 12.5% concentrations. Overall, nonlyophilized root extract showed stronger inhibition on seed germination than nonlyophilized shoot extract, while the reverse was true of lyophilized extracts. In general, non-lyophilized extracts had far greater impact on germination percentages and radicle elongation than lyophilized extracts. These results suggest species and tissue dependent toxicity of the cover crops as well as differential susceptibility of thecucurbit cropstested.Therefore, aplant-backperiod longerthanthe8daysused in this study should be observed after cover crop incorporation before cucurbit seeding or transplanting.
A comparison of the Bactec 9000MB system and the Septi-Chek AFB system for the detection of mycobacteria

Abstract The Bactec MB9000 (MB) continuous monitoring system was compared to the Septi-Chek AFB (SC) for the detection of Mycobacterium species from all patient sources. A total of 1485 specimens were evaluated. Two hundred forty-eight specimens grew mycobacteria in one or both systems. The isolates recovered were 18 Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), 109 M. avium complex (MAC), 59 M. fortuitum-chelonae complex (MFC), 51 pigmented mycobacteria (PGM), and 11 nonpigmented mycobacteria, not MTB/MAC (NP). Of the 248 positive specimens, 157 were positive in both systems; 73 in the SC only; and 18 in the MB only. The mean times to detection for specimens were 11.5 days for MB versus 16.4 days for SC. The false positivity rate in the MB was 5.8%. Contamination rates for the MB and the SC were 12.7% and 19.8%, respectively. These data suggest that the automated MB system has clear advantages over the manual SC system in terms of earlier time to detection of significant mycobacteria, less technical hands-on time, and a lower contamination rate.
Design and Performance of a Thermal Neutron Imaging Facility at the North Carolina State University PULSTAR Reactor

A thermal neutron imaging facility has been set up at the North Carolina State University PULSTAR reactor. The PULSTAR is an open pool light water moderated 1 MWth research reactor with six beam tubes. The present facility is set up on beam tube # 5 of the reactor. The facility is intended to have radiographic and tomographic capabilities. The design of the neutron collimator was performed using MCNP5. The collimator includes a 4-in bismuth filter followed by a 6-in single-crystal sapphire filter. Thermal neutron scattering cross-section libraries for sapphire and bismuth were generated and used in the MCNP simulation of the system. Based on the current design, the L/D of the facility ranges between 100 and 150. The neutron flux at the image plane can be varied from 1.8times106 to 7times106 n/cm2middots with a Cd-ratio of ~450. The resolution of the system for different imaging media was also estimated and found to be ~33 mum for conventional radiography film and ~110 mum for digital image plates. Initial measurements, using ASTM standards, show that the imaging facility achieves a beam quality classification of IA
From Unconscious Deficit Views to Affirmation of Linguistic Varieties in the Classroom: White Preservice Teachers on Building Critical Self-Awareness About Linguicism's Causes and Consequences

In this article the author investigates how 20 White preservice teachers, who successfully completed a semester-long diversity course for teacher licensure, developed a critical self-awareness regarding the causes and consequences of linguicism in school settings. The conceptual framework draws from Nieto's 2006 five-level model of Multicultural Education Support to illuminate how White preservice teachers' views toward language diversity shifted from Level 1/Monocultural and Deficit or Level 2/Tolerance mindsets, to frameworks that minimally embraced Level 3/Acceptance of linguistic varieties in the classroom. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study drew from data including a demographic survey, focus groups, instructor-generated reflective journals, one-on-one interviews, and student work samples. This article also offers sample course activities that actively engaged preservice teachers in critical conversations and ongoing reflection about the causes and consequences of linguicism in U.S. schools a...
Characterization of a spermine/spermidine transport system reveals a novel DNA sequence duplication in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

During infection, Neisseria gonorrhoeae , the causative agent of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea, comes into contact with numerous host compounds including polyamines (e.g. spermine and spermidine). Here, we show that spermine and spermidine concentrations in the growth medium decrease to undetectable levels in the presence of gonococci over time, but not when proteins of the putative polyamine transport system are lost due to mutation. We propose that gonococci have a functional and sole polyamine transport system (PotFGHI) that specifically imports spermine and spermidine. Bioinformatics and molecular analyses showed that the transporter's potGHI genes are organized as an operon while the gene encoding the necessary cognate periplasmic polyamine-binding protein (PotF) is located elsewhere on the chromosome. Interestingly, within the potGHI locus, we identified a novel duplicated sequence, which we term the Pot-Gene-Associated-Duplication-Element, present in variable copy numbers in different gonococcal strains that was likely formed from the 5′ and 3′ ends of the coding sequences of the tandemly linked potH and potG genes, respectively.
The Coming of the Telegraph to Western Pennsylvania

THE sonorous bass resounding through archways of sky: that was its immemorial spe ch. But electricity in the late 1830*8 learned an American-invented argot of dots and dashes, of spaced impulses. A half-amused Congress in the last hour of its session voted $30,000 for a highway of copper thread between Washing ton and Baltimore ; and Samuel F. B. Morse, lately a professor of the arts of design, within fourteen hectic months saw the channel of his hopes spanning the forty miles. On May 24, 1844, in the Supreme Court room of the national capitol, a cluster of spectators surrounded an odd little machine with the inventor presiding at its key. Annie Ellsworth made her inspirational choice of the first message; and instantly in Baltimore a strip of tape was spelling out, "What hath God wrought!" In 1845 the line was extended to Philadelphia; and late in 1846 the magnetic keys were talking to Pittsburgh.1 The optimist who built the first trans-Allegheny strand, from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, was one Henry O'Rielly,2 an Irish born firebrand, sometime journalist and postmaster, a promoter of far-reaching vision but of myopic finances. Electricity was some thing that happened when wires were attached to a Grove battery ?a group of cells containing nitric and sulphuric acid. O'Rielly
Foss 101: engaging introductory students in the open source movement

Can engaging students in free and open source software(FOSS) pique their interest in computer science? This paper describes an introductory computer science course that introduced students to using FOSS, to contributing to a humanitarian FOSS project, and to studying the broader impact of FOSS on our society. Students learned basic webprogramming skills (PHP/MySQL) and made small but significant contributions to a global FOSS project. Mistakes were made and opportunities were missed. But overall theexperiment was a success and the experience was enjoyable and educational for students and instructor alike. By building on what worked well, this course could serve as a model for incorporating study of FOSS into the introductory computing curriculum.
Bidirectional effects of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion on E. coli-induced TNF-alpha gene expression

We tested the hypothesis that gram-negative bacteremia (GNB) and brief (30 min) reductions in the hepatic O2 supply by low-flow ischemia differentially modulate tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene expression owing to sequence-specific activation of cyclooxygenase vs. complement (C) pathways. Buffer-perfused Sprague-Dawley rat livers (n = 82) were studied over 180 min after intraportal 10(9) live E. coli serotype 055:B5 (EC) or 0.9% NaCl (NS) at t = 0. Compared with EC and NS controls receiving constant-flow perfusion, sequential GNB and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) were studied in EC + 30 I/R and NS + 30 I/R livers, in which 30 min of ischemia (I) beginning 0.5 h after EC or NS was followed by 120 min of reperfusion (R). This sequence was reversed in 30 I/R + EC and 30 I/R + NS groups. Bacterial clearance, bioactive and antigenic TNF-alpha, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and hepatic O2 uptake and performance were serially assessed. Venous TNF-alpha increased in EC controls to peak at 155 +/- 29 U/ml after 180 min (P < 0.001 vs. NS controls) as did hepatic TNF-alpha mRNA. Both TNF-alpha transcripts and protein levels were markedly attenuated in EC + 30 I/R (P < 0.001 vs. EC) despite equivalent EC clearance by Kupffer cells. Indomethacin (10(-5) M) decreased I/R-induced PGE2 secretion and restored TNF-alpha to control levels. In contrast, TNF-alpha levels in 30 I/R + EC perfusates exceeded those of EC + 30 I/R livers (P < 0.05) and were indistinguishable from EC controls. Allopurinol pretreatment but not heat inactivation of C or infusion of soluble human complement receptor type 1 inhibited TNF-alpha production in 30 I/R + EC organs. These results identify a novel sequence-dependent interaction whereby hepatic O2 deprivation after GNB downregulates TNF-alpha via generation of cyclooxygenase metabolites, whereas ischemia preceding GNB increases cytokine expression via reactive O2 species but not C activation.
Book Review (Reviewing Wrongful Conviction: Law, Science and Policy , by James R. Acker & Allison D. Redlich (2011))

James R. Acker and Allison D. Redlich are the first scholars to publish a casebook focused on wrongful convictions. Wrongful Conviction: Law, Science and Policy is an important contribution and a comprehensive resource for those interested in better understanding why innocent people are convicted of crimes and how to reform the criminal justice system to decrease its rate of error. The casebook can readily be adopted for undergraduate or law seminars on wrongful conviction, criminal justice or criminal procedure. Professors teaching innocence project clinics can use the casebook to supplement the instruction students receive on litigating post-conviction claims of innocence in the framework of their particular jurisdiction. Beyond the academy, it should be read by policymakers, legislators, judges, attorneys, law enforcement officers and citizens seeking to understand why our criminal justice system makes errors and what we can do to decrease miscarriages of justice.
Fusion methods vs. Kofler-Mikro-Methoden

To summarize briefly it seems obvious that theKofler school has used the Mikro-Methoden as tools principally for characterization and identification while the American microscopists have used the analogous fusion methods to study crystallographic and other physical chemical problems. Both groups have benefited consciously and unconsciously from the brilliant work ofLudwig andAdelheid Kofler who are mainly responsible for the practical application of these techniques to everyday research problems. It is hoped that this review of the field may increase interest in these techniques.