cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rater Methodology for Stroboscopy: A Systematic Review

Summary Objectives Laryngeal endoscopy with stroboscopy (LES) remains the clinical gold standard for assessing vocal fold function. LES is used to evaluate the efficacy of voice treatments in research studies and clinical practice. LES as a voice treatment outcome tool is only as good as the clinician interpreting the recordings. Research using LES as a treatment outcome measure should be evaluated based on rater methodology and reliability. The purpose of this literature review was to evaluate the rater-related methodology from studies that use stroboscopic findings as voice treatment outcome measures. Study Design Systematic literature review. Methods Computerized journal databases were searched for relevant articles using terms: stroboscopy and treatment. Eligible articles were categorized and evaluated for the use of rater-related methodology, reporting of number of raters, types of raters, blinding, and rater reliability. Results Of the 738 articles reviewed, 80 articles met inclusion criteria. More than one-third of the studies included in the review did not report the number of raters who participated in the study. Eleven studies reported results of rater reliability analysis with only two studies reporting good inter- and intrarater reliability. Conclusion The comparability and use of results from treatment studies that use LES are limited by a lack of rigor in rater methodology and variable, mostly poor, inter- and intrarater reliability. To improve our ability to evaluate and use the findings from voice treatment studies that use LES features as outcome measures, greater consistency of reporting rater methodology characteristics across studies and improved rater reliability is needed.
Effect of fornix lesions on shock-induced aggression, muricide and motor behavior in the albino rat.

Abstract The role of the fornix in aggressive and motor behavior was assessed in three experiments. In Experiment 1 a substantially lower fighting frequency was observed in shock-induced aggression in the fornix lesioned group as compared to sham operated control animals. Experiment 2 attempted to relate this low fighting frequency to a lesion-induced decrease in motor responsivity and also to determine whether another form of aggressive behavior, muricide, was affected by damage to the fornix. A battery of motor tests revealed a deficiency in motor responsivity which coexisted with low shock-induced fighting frequencies in lesioned animals. However, muricidal behavior was not affected. In Experiment 3 no change in shock-induced fighting frequencies were found in animals which had previous experience with this form of aggression, despite significant changes in motor responsivity. The results were interpreted to indicate that the hippocampus affects motor behavior through the extrapyramidal motor system and plays a substantial role in shock-induced fighting behavior. It is concluded that the effects of fornix lesions on aggressive behavior and motor ability are independent phenomena.
Observation of an unusual amine oxidation reaction during the oxidation and hydrolysis of [: molecular structures of [ and (OPPh3) ☆

Abstract Reaction of [(tBu)2Ga(μ-Cl)]2 with Li(o-C6H4NMe2) yields [ ( t Bu ) 2 Ga (o- C 6 H 4 NMe 2 )] 2 (1). The atmospheric oxidation/hydrolysis of 1 results in the isolation of ( t Bu ) 2 Ga (o- C 6 H 4 Me 2 ] (2). The structure of compound 2 (as determined by X-ray crystallography) consists of a gallium dimer in which one of the ortho-(dimethylamino)phenyl ligands is oxidized and the other exhibits strong intramolecular O3·N hydrogen bonding ( ΔG ‡ = 57.3 kJ mol −1 ) to the hydroxide bridge. A pathway for the formation of 2 is proposed. Reaction of compound 1 with OPPh3 results in the formation of the Lewis acid-base complex [ ( t Bu ) 2 Ga (o- C 6 H 4 NMe 2 )(OPPh3) (3), whose structure has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography.
Causality Is Logically Definable—Toward an Equilibrium-Based Computing Paradigm of Quantum Agent and Quantum Intelligence (QAQI) (Survey and Research)

A survey on agents, causality and intelligence is presented and an equilibrium-based computing paradigm of quantum agents and quantum intelligence (QAQI) is proposed. In the survey, Aristotle’s causality principle and its historical extensions by David Hume, Bertrand Russell, Lotfi Zadeh, Donald Rubin, Judea Pearl, Niels Bohr, Albert Einstein, David Bohm, and the causal set initiative are reviewed; bipolar dynamic logic (BDL) is introduced as a causal logic for bipolar inductive and deductive reasoning; bipolar quantum linear algebra (BQLA) is introduced as a causal algebra for quantum agent interaction and formation. Despite the widely held view that causality is undefinable with regularity, it is shown that equilibrium-based bipolar causality is logically definable using BDL and BQLA for causal inference in physical, social, biological, mental, and philosophical terms. This finding leads to the paradigm of QAQI where agents are modeled as quantum ensembles; intelligence is revealed as quantum intelligence. It is shown that the ensembles formation, mutation and interaction of agents can be described as direct or indirect results of quantum causality. Some fundamental laws of causation are presented for quantum agent entanglement and quantum intelligence. Applicability is illustrated; major challenges are identified in equilibrium based causal inference and quantum data mining.
Relationships of aeolian erosion and deposition with LiDAR-derived landscape surface roughness following wildfire

The reduction of vegetation by wildfire can subject stable soil surfaces to increased aeolian transport. Vegetation and associated microtopography function as surface roughness elements that influence the entrainment, transport, and deposition of sediment by wind in burned and unburned semiarid shrublands. We examined whether surface roughness derived from LiDAR can explain variability in aeolian surface change following wildfire in loess soils of a cold desert shrub steppe in SE Idaho, USA. Erosion bridges were installed in Fall 2007, following a late summer wildfire to monitor soil surface change at sites in burned and downwind unburned areas. Surface elevation measurements were made when the erosion bridges were installed and again in Fall 2008. Surface change was determined from the difference in relative elevation between the two dates. Airborne LiDAR data were acquired in Fall 2007 following erosion bridge installation. Surface roughness was calculated at 2-m raster resolution using the standard deviation of all LiDAR elevations within the 2-m cells, after elevations were detrended to remove the effects of topographic slope. Surface change varied as a function of surface roughness among burned and unburned surfaces, with net erosion occurring on the relatively smooth, burned surfaces and net deposition occurring on the rough, unburned surfaces. Site mean surface change decreased linearly as a function of the inverse of site mean surface roughness (r2 = 0.77, p < 0.00). Quantile regression analysis indicated that changes in surface roughness were related to proportionally greater changes in erosion compared to deposition. Analysis of surface change at finer spatial scales suggested that aeolian processes occurred with strong spatial patterns on burned, but not unburned surfaces. Future research to examine relationships between aeolian transport and fine spatial resolution topographic variability, for example from ground-based LiDAR systems, is recommended.
Variation of the ion-temperature gradient along field lines in the outer plasmasphere

Ion temperature gradient along magnetic field lines in outer plasmasphere by thermal diffusion equations compared with electron temperature observations
Towards multidimensional x-space magnetic particle imaging for improved resolution

In this work,a method to achieve higher, more isotropic resolution for x-space MPI through analyzing various FFP trajectories and developing multidimensional transmit/receive hardware was presented. However, many parameters remain to be optimized for this technique, including the various tradeoffs between pFOV coverage, scanning speed, and resolution. Additional hardware challenges include precise control of the FFP through controlling the phase of the transmit fields and compensating for received particle signal based the anisotropic sensitivity profiles of the transmit and receive coils.
Tails in the probability distribution of stochastic processes with power law multiplicative noise

Abstract We study a one-dimensional stochastic differential equation with linear damping, in the presence of both additive and multiplicative noise. We consider the case in which the additive noise is white and the multiplicative noise has a power law spectrum. It is shown that for negative values of the exponent in the multiplicative noise spectrum all the moments of the solution to the stochastic equation diverge, while for positive values the moments are all finite. When the exponent is zero, corresponding to white multiplicative noise, the moments are finite when their order is smaller than the ratio of the dissipation to the multiplicative noise strength.
The Anatomy Murders: Being the True and Spectacular History of Edinburgh's Notorious Burke and Hare and of the Man of Science Who Abetted Them in the Commission of Their Most Heinous Crimes – By Lisa Rosner

In this fascinating, thoroughly researched study, the author takes a fresh look at a gruesome piece of Edinburgh lore that continues to intrigue writers, filmmakers, and tourists. The notorious Bur...
Taxing Purchases of Home Tape Recorders and Supplies to Compensate for Copyright Infringements: An Econometric Analysis of the Role of Economic and Demographic Factors

Faced with a sharp decline in sales in the early 1980's, the music industry looked for an explanation which could be converted into windfall gains for itself. The explanation proposed by the industry was increased home taping of prerecorded music. Through the introduction of federal legislation, the industry hoped to realize gains at the expense of the consumer of home taping equipment and media. The analysis presented here indicates that the independent effect of taping on prerecorded music sales may not have been as high as the recording industry has claimed, so that consumers may end up paying more than their fair share toward the windfall.
A Multiple Streams Model of U.S. Foreign Aid Policy

This study builds an interactive, quantitative model to explain U.S. foreign aid allocations. We develop an explanation based on Kingdon's multiple streams model to argue that aid decisions are the result of trade ties, socialist orientation, human needs, and the political ideologies of the administration and the senate interacting with adjustments to baseline funding. We find that there are significant conditional relationships between economic and security-related assistance and our external and domestic variables with external variables generally being more important. The findings have implications for the study of public policy, the future of the foreign aid program, and theoretical attempts to develop more generalizable explanations of policy that encompass foreign and domestic issues.
Noninvasive, quantitative assessment of left ventricular function in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background Coronary artery disease characteristically impacts left ventricular (LV) function on a regional basis, although ultimately global function may be affected as well. Echocardiography is commonly clinically used for the assessment of regional function; however, it is only semiquantitative and in its current iteration is only two-dimensional in nature. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with tissue tagging offers the possibility for noninvasive, three-dimensional (3D) assessment of transmural and segmental left ventricular strain and, thereby, function. Accordingly, we have explored methodologies to accurately and quantitatively characterize regional systolic function in three dimensions in patients with ischemic heart disease using MRI. Materials and methods MRI radiofrequency tissue tagging was performed at rest and during dobutamine administration (10 mg/kg/min) on 10 normal volunteers (age: 26 ± 6) and 8 patients with severe ischemic cardiomyopathy (age: 60 ± 5, EF 26 ± 11%). Three-dimensional global and regional systolic strain calculations were made based on 3D myocardial point displacements and compared with conventional measures. Results Global left ventricular strains were significantly decreased in ischemic patients at rest (0.14 ± 0.04 versus 0.25 ± 0.02, P < 0.001) and with dobutamine (0.14 ± 0.03 versus 0.29 ± 0.03, P < 0.001). In the regional analysis (216 LV wall segments) this methodology accurately differentiated normal from abnormally contracting regions. Conclusions Noninvasive dobutamine MRI tissue tagging with calculation of 3D regional strains has significant promise as a clinical tool which is capable of the identification, quantification, and display of regionally varying ventricular function.
Bioreceptor-conducting polymer multilayer assemblies for biosensing

This research focuses on the organized integration of biological receptors and polymers into thin film architectures for biosensing applications. Layer-by-layer electrostatic adsorption was used for the first time to form alternating protein-conducting polymer multilayers. The light-harvesting, phycobiliproteins and the enzyme, alkaline phosphatase were the bioreceptors investigated and sulfonated polystyrene, poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) and a new enzymatically polymerized, water soluble, polyaniline were the polymer counterions used for deposition. Spectroscopic characterization was used to determine both multilayer formation and biosensing function of the final bioreceptor-polymer assemblies. These techniques have proven to be simple, chemically mild, and versatile and are expected to find application in the fabrication of ultrathin films for biosensors, opto- electronic devices and biomedical applications.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A positivity result applied to difference equations

where a and b ( > a) are integers and t is a discrete variable. Here P(t) and Q(Z) are m x m matrix functions defined for t E [a, 61. Further, k E { 1, . . . . n 1 }, A, A are scalar parameters, A is the difference operator defined by Ay( t) = ~(t + 1) -y(t), and a solution y(t) of (1) (or (2)) is an m-dimensional vector function defined on [a, b + n]. Ly(t) = 0 is the nth order difference equation defined by
Performance evaluation of disk subsystems

Mainframe Central Processor Unit (CPU) speed/performance has increased by more than two orders of magnitude since the 1970's. However, the I/O subsystem performance has only quadrupled in the same period of time. There is a need for a computer architecture with an effective storage hierarchy to complement improvements made in the CPU performance.This paper presents a technique to calculate the I/O performance of disk subsystems with and without disk cache buffers. Through a series of calculation it is shown that the best way to improve I/O performance is to increase the number of data paths and use disk memory caching.
Electromyographic studies of the reconstructed lower eyelid after a modified Hughes procedure.

Purpose We evaluated quantitatively, with electromyography, the function of orbicularis oculi muscle flaps in modified Hughes reconstructions of the lower eyelids. Methods A modified Hughes procedure with a bipedicle orbicularis oculi flap was used to reconstruct large left lower eyelid defects after tumor excision in six consecutive patients. Standard needle electromyography and facial nerve conduction studies were performed on each reconstructed lower eyelid, and results were compared with those of the unoperated-on right lower eyelid. Electromyographic studies were performed between 143 and 517 days after division of the tarsoconjunctival flap. Results Blink reflexes and results of facial nerve studies were normal and similar on both sides. All operated-on eyelids demonstrated electromyographic activity during voluntary orbicularis contraction. The functional and cosmetic results were satisfactory in all patients. No complications of reconstruction, such as eyelid retraction, ectropion, tissue necrosis, or abnormal contour or thickness, occurred. Conclusions A modified Hughes procedure using a bipedicle orbicularis oculi flap provides viable, electrically active muscle to the reconstructed lower eyelid and may enhance the functional results.
Advanced gate CDU control in sub-28nm node using poly slot process by scatterometry metrology

Scatterometry-based metrology is a well proven method to measure and monitor the critical dimensions of interest in advanced sub-28nm process development and high volume manufacturing [1][3][4][6][7]. In this paper, a proposed solution to control and achieve the optimal gate critical dimension uniformity (CDU) was explored. The proposed solution is named a novel scatterometry slot gate CDU control flow. High performance measurement and control during the slot gate step is critical as it directly controls the poly line cut profile to the active area which then directly impacts the final device performance. The proposed flow incorporates scatterometry-based CD (SCD) measurement feedback and feed forward to the Automation Process Control (APC) system, further process recipe fine tuning utilizing the data feedback and forward, and two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) scatterometry-based CD (SCD) measurement of gate after developer inspection (ADI) and after etch inspection (AEI) [1]. The methodologies and experiment results presented in this study started from the process development through the SCD model optimization of the DOE wafers, to the final implementation of the process control flow and measurement loop into the production line to evaluate its capability for long term in-line monitoring in high volume manufacturing environment. The result showed significant improvement in the gate CD uniformity that met the sub-28nm process manufacturing requirement.
Self-consistent linearized-augmented-plane-wave-method determination of electronic structure and surface states on Al(111)

The self-consistent linearized-augmented-plane-wave method of Krakauer, Posternak, and Freeman for treating the electronic structure of thin films has been generalized to treat (111) films of cubic crystals and applied to the determination of the electronic structure and surface states of a nine-layer Al(111) film. Results presented include a work function in good agreement with experiment, layered projected density of states, layer by layer integrated charge densities, film normal direction planar charge densities, and surface-state charge densities. We find surface states at $\overline{K}$ (found earlier in a pseudopotential study by Chelikowsky et al.) and another set near 3/4 $\overline{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}\overline{M}$ in very good agreement with the position and the $\overline{k}$ dispersion observed in the photoemission experiments of Hansson and Flodstrom.
MRI assessment of myocardial global function by tei index - a comparison to echocardiographic tei index

The Tei index is an echocardiographic measure of global ventricular function, calculated as ((isovolumic contraction time) + (isovolumic relaxation time)) / (ejection time). This may be calculated as ((time of atrioventricular valve closure) - (time of arterial valve closure)) / (time of arterial valve closure). Used as a measure of systolic as well as diastolic function, the Tei index has been validated for use in the left heart and right heart, in normal patients and those with a variety of pathologies. Measures of systolic and diastolic function by MRI, with few exceptions, are not directly comparable to echocardiographic measures.
Differentiation of haptic exploration in two age groups

Eight adults and eight children (8-10 years) were tested in a haptic matching-to-sample procedure in which the criterial attribute was size in half of the trials and angle in the other half. Before testing on each half, the criterial attribute was verbally designated by the experimenter. Adults’ exploration was different depending on the criterial attribute; the children showed no such differentiation of exploratory behavior as a result of verbal direction.
The role of dopaminergic systems in the mediation of tonic immobility (animal hypnosis) in chickens

To further investigate the role of the catecholamines in the mediation of tonic immobility (TI), three groups of 10 cockeral chicks were injected with distilled water or with 50 or 100 mg/kg of L-DOPA (L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine) before testing for TI duration. Results indicated that chicks injected with 100 mg/kg of L-DOPA had longer durations of TI than those injected with distilled water. These results suggest a mediating role of dopaminergic pathways in TI.
High-temperature elastic constants of AgBr

The three independent adiabatic second-order elastic constants of AgBr have been measured from 20 to 400 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C using the McSkimin pulse-superposition technique. A single crystal with a [110] axis was used for the measurements. Over this temperature range, the longitudinal elastic constant ${C}_{11}$ decreased by 61%, the constant ${C}_{12}$ decreased by 43%, and the shear constant ${C}_{44}$ decreased by 23%. The decreases in the elastic constants are linear, as expected, until approximately 200 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C, whereupon they all begin to decrease more rapidly than linearly. The variations from linearity range from 4 to 31 % at 400 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. This anomalous behavior near the melting point is similar to the variation in other silver halide physical properties and may be attributed to the unusually high defect concentration near the melting point. Similar elastic constant changes are seen in superionic conductors near the transition into the superionic state, indicating that the silver halides may be starting the transition to a superionic state when the halide sublattice melts and the transition is frustrated.
Methionine restriction induces apoptosis of prostate cancer cells via the c-Jun N-terminal kinase-mediated signaling pathway

Tumors are relatively more sensitive to methionine restriction than corresponding normal tissues, a phenomenon known as methionine auxotrophy. The current studies were undertaken to elucidate the molecular mechanisms for methionine auxotrophy of prostate cancer cells. We found that the activity of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) increased dramatically in response to methionine restriction. Over expression of wild type JNK1 by transient transfection enhanced apoptosis in response to methionine restriction, whereas over expression of a kinase inactive mutant of JNK1 protected PC-3 human prostate cancer cells from apoptosis. We conclude that JNK1 plays a critical role in signaling cancer cells to undergo apoptosis in response to methionine restriction.
THE UPPER BOUNDARY OF THE VAN ALLEN RADIATION BELTS

THREE measurements have now been made of the intensity and extent of the Earth's upper radiation belt and of the primary cosmic-ray intensity beyond. These were made by: (1) the American space probe, Pioneer III (December 6–7, 1958, ref. 1), (2) the Russian cosmic rocket, Mechta (January 2–4, 1959, ref. 2), and (3) the American space probe, Pioneer IV (March 3–6, 1959, ref. 3). Since the radiation belts vary with time, the three experiments give different results for the intensity of the belts, but the measurements of cosmic-ray intensity beyond the belts ought to be comparable. Nevertheless, preliminary results of the Pioneer tests seemed to indicate a difference in cosmic-ray intensity of almost a factor of 2. This communication discusses the resolution of this discrepancy and some new data bearing on the spatial extent of the trapped radiation.
Pattern recognition with surface EMG signal based wavelet transformation

EMG based input device is a natural means of human computer interface (HCI) because the electrical activity induced by the human's arm muscle movements can be interpreted and transformed into computer's control commands. In this paper, we describe an approach for classifying electromyography (EMG) signals using a multilayer perceptron neural network (MLP) and Bayesian classifier (BC) with the wavelet transformation technique for feature selection to discriminate 6 classes of motions to control a mouse. Wavelet Transformation (WT) was applied to raw EMG data and in order to decrease the dimension of the feature sets, principle component analysis (PCA) and sequential forward selection (SFS) were utilized.
Hume's Theory of Pity and Malice

This article describes, and proposes a solution to, an interpretive conundrum at the heart of Hume's theory of the passions. Hume tells us explicitly that pity and malice are indirect passions. But there is strong textual evidence suggesting that Hume takes pity and malice to be direct passions. Indeed, some of this evidence points to (1) the identification of pity with a kind of grief and malice with a kind of joy, while the rest of the evidence points to (2) the identification of pity and malice with different combinations of desire and aversion. Here, I argue that option (1) is the one that Hume would have chosen upon careful reflection.
Electro-Optic Behavior Of Thin Nematic Liquid Crystal Cells

Electro-optic properties of thin liquid crystal cells are found to deviate significantly from those of thick cells. Results on the liquid crystal thickness dependent phase retardation, effective birefringence, threshold voltage, and decay time of thin E-7 cells are presented. A simple model which is based on the partially disordered surface layers is developed to explain the observed phenomena.
Synergistic stimulation of MUC1 expression in normal breast epithelia and breast cancer cells by interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

The MUC1 gene encodes a transmembrane mucin glycoprotein that is overexpressed in human breast cancers. Persistent stimulation by proinflammatory cytokines may contribute to increased MUC1 transcription by tumor cells. We demonstrate that MUC1 expression in T47D breast cancer cells and normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) is enhanced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the presence of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). MUC1 responsiveness to these cytokines was modest in T47D cells and robustly induced in HMEC. Transient transfection of T47D cells with mutant MUC1 promoter constructs revealed that a kappaB site at -589/-580 and the STAT-binding element at -503/-495 and were required for cooperative stimulation by TNFalpha and IFN-gamma. Binding of NFkappaB p65 to the MUC1 kappaB site was induced by TNF-alpha treatment, as demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Specific mutation of the kappaB site prevented binding of NFkappaB p65 and blocked TNF-alpha stimulation of MUC1 promoter activity. Collectively, these studies demonstrate synergistic stimulation of MUC1 expression by TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma that is mediated by independent actions of NFkappaB p65 and STAT1alpha upon kappaB and STAT sites, respectively, in the MUC1 promoter. Strong induction of MUC1 expression by these proinflammatory cytokines is clearly evident in normal mammary epithelium. In contrast, breast tumor cells appear to override normal regulatory responses via as yet undefined cis-elements.
The effects of listening while reading and repeated reading on the reading fluency of adult learners

Much research has validated procedures to enhance reading fluency in children and adolescents, but more is needed to determine whether such procedures work with adults who have deficits in reading skills. A within-subjects design was used to evaluate and compare the effects of listening while reading (LWR) and repeated readings (RR) on reading fluency in adults reading at about fourth- or fifth-grade level. Results confirmed previous studies with children and adolescents that showed LWR and RR did increase reading fluency, but neither was more effective than the other. This study suggests that the opportunity to read with LWR caused the adult participants' increases in rereading fluency. Although adults and adolescents had similar responses to LWR and RR interventions, the adults' reading fluency appeared to increase more. This finding supports the need for more studies on whether strategies that have been empirically validated with children produce similar effects in adults.
Change in Biochemical Composition in the Ovary of Snow Crab, Chionoecetes opilio, During Seasonal Development

Abstract Snow crabs, Chionoecetes opilio, were obtained approximately bimonthly from the eastern Bering Sea and sampled for biometric information and biochemical analysis of ovaries, which included determination of moisture, ash, total lipid, protein content, fatty acid and lipid profiles. Development of the ovary during the reproductive cycle largely followed the pattern seen in other crustaceans, namely an increase in size and lipid content. However, the increase in lipid content occurred early in the development cycle and was stable thereafter. Both the lipid and fatty acid profiles were relatively stable throughout development. The fatty acid profile of the ovary of C. opilio differs from other crustaceans by having relatively high percentages of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and low percentage of arachidonic acid (ARA). Forward stepwise general discriminant analysis of fatty acid profile indicated that it can be used to classify the development of ovaries at least during the ...
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction by Monitoring Enzymatic Activity of DNA Polymerase

Nucleic acid amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a very powerful technique in terms of sensitivity but is limited in terms of ability to perform accurate quantitation. While there is a theoretical correlation between copies of input target sequence and those of PCR product, the quantitative nature of this relationship is obscured by unpredictable variations in reaction conditions and by inhibitory and/or stimulatory substances which might be present in sample preparations, especially those derived from biological fluids. To reliably estimate copies of input DNA target from PCR product, we designed a combination of internal and external control systems coupled to DNA/RNA hybridization and enzymatic immunodetection techniques. The internal control system served to monitor amplification efficiency and to correct for the effects of inhibitors or stimuli on the efficiency of the DNA amplification. The assay is quantitative, nonisotopic, and can be widely applied to assessment of the quantity of DNA present in a wide range of preparations.
What counts as farming: how classification limits regionalization of the food system

Regionalization is offered as a solution to the challenges that both communities and farmers face in our globalized food system. However, our research reveals that farmers' willingness and ability to adapt to a regionalized food system are tempered by social meanings of and social relationships with agriculture--or what farmers classify as 'farming'. These classifications are developed and reinforced over time and are reflective of the regional commodity history, infrastructure and policy. In essence, the 'region' simultaneously provides a space of opportunity and constrains the possibilities for adaptation. Therefore, without having an understanding of the regional commodity history and embedded classifications of farming, it is difficult for communities to assist with transforming a food system. Copyright 2010, Oxford University Press.
Demonstration of Functional Requirement of Polypyrimidine Tract-binding Protein by SELEX RNA during Hepatitis C Virus Internal Ribosome Entry Site-mediated Translation Initiation

Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB) has been previously shown to physically interact with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA genome at its 5′- and 3′-noncoding regions. Using high affinity SELEX RNA molecules, we present evidence for the functional requirement of PTB during HCV internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-controlled translation initiation. This study was carried out in rabbit reticulocyte translation lysates in which the HCV IRES-driven reporter RNA was introduced along with the PTB-specific SELEX RNA molecules. The SELEX RNAs specifically inhibited the HCV IRES function in the context of mono- and dicistronic mRNAs. The cap-dependent translation of a reporter (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) RNA or naturally capped brome mosaic virus RNA, however, was not affected by the presence of SELEX during in vitro translation assays. The SELEX-mediated inhibition of the HCV IRES is shown to be relieved by the addition of recombinant human PTB in an add-back experiment. Thein vivo requirement of PTB was further confirmed by cotransfection of Huh7 cells with reporter RNA and PTB-specific SELEX RNA. The HCV IRES activity was inhibited by the SELEX RNA in these cells, but not by an unrelated control RNA. Together, these results demonstrate the functional requirement of cellular PTB in HCV translation and further support the feasible use of SELEX RNA strategy in demonstrating the functional relevance of cellular protein(s) in complex biological processes.
Drug addiction and pregnancy: policy crossroads.

The medical and lay press have lately written extensively about drug use by pregnant women. Evidence suggests a significant increase in maternal drug use during pregnancy during this decade. In New York City, for example, the proportion of birth certificates indicating maternal illicit substance use tripled between 1981 and 1987.* Prevalence data indicate that, at least in certain hospitals, many women have used illicit drugs within hours of delivery. Anonymous urine toxicology surveys of women in labor and of neonates in several New York City inner-city hospitals revealed 11-20 percent positive for illicit drugs (mostly cocaine/ crack).l'**, *** The medical consequences for mother and infant can be severe. In addition to the well-known roster of ills related to intravenous administration such as hepatitis B, endocarditis, abcesses, etc., illicit drugs have become increasingly associated with sexually transmitted diseases2,3 and AIDS.4 The sequelae for infants can include abstinence symptoms, low birthweight, developmental problems, and increased risk of infant death.5.6 Society has responded to this problem in three different ways: criminal prosecution of the mother; allegations of child neglect against the mother with interruption of maternal custody; and drug treatment. The purpose of this article is to explore each of these policy approaches in an effort to ascertain whether each furthers the goal of reducing drug use during pregnancy and improving maternal and infant health and well-being.
VCSELs bonded directly to foundry fabricated GaAs smart pixel arrays

This letter reports the flip-chip bonding of an 8/spl times/8 array of free standing VCSELs to a foundry fabricated GaAs metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFET) smart pixel array. The VCSELs have oxide defined apertures and are co-planar bonded directly to smart pixels which perform the selection function of a data filter. The V/sub th/ and series resistance of the VCSELs were on average approximately 2.1 V and 250 /spl Omega/, respectively, which indicates that good electrical contact was obtainable with this process. The I/sub th/ ranged between 2-4 mA, with a corresponding output power of between 400 /spl mu/W and >1.0 mW depending on aperture size.
Pollen Analysis of a Late-Glacial and Holocene Sediment Core from Mono Lake, Mono County, California

Pollen analysis of a 752-cm core from Mono Lake, Mono County, California indicates generally high lake levels 11,600–7000 14C yr B.P., moderate lake levels until ca. 4000 14C yr B.P., and fluctuating levels to the present. Drying events, with lake levels near or below the historic minimum are dated ca. 8800, 4000, 2400, and 1100 14C yr B.P. Chronologic control is provided by six radiocarbon dates and six volcanic ashes. The rate of upland vegetation change is greatest 11,000, 4000, and 1130 14C yr B.P. Juniperus and Sequoaidendron pollen declines 11,000 yr B.P., marking the transition from late-glacial juniper woodland to Holocene steppe. High values (5–20%) of Sequoaidendron pollen are unique to this study and may indicate the presence of these trees east of the Sierra crest. The pollen-based reconstructions of climate are generally cooler and wetter than today, with relatively dry but cool climate during the early Holocene. The contrast between higher lake levels and more arid vegetation during the early Holocene can be explained by insolation-driven seasonality. Greater summer insolation produced summer drought, but lower winter insolation led to greater snowpack, greater spring runoff, and higher lake levels. Increased Artemisia and other Compositae pollen percentages mark the establishment of modern vegetation ca. 2000 14C yr B.P. During the late Holocene, the pollen-based reconstructions of climate generally match the Mono Lake fluctuations proposed by Stine (1990), but fewer fluctuations are recorded.
Introduction of software engineering concepts in an Ada-based introductory computer science course

An Ada-based introductory computer science course is described. This course attempts to introduce some basic software engineering concepts such as abstraction, information hiding, object-oriented development, and software reuse.
Perceptions of Racism in Hurricane Katrina‐Related Events: Implications for Collective Guilt and Mental Health Among White Americans

Perceptions of racism against African Americans can result in negative mental health outcomes among African Americans (e.g., Klonoff, Landrine, & Ullman, 1999); however, it is less clear how perceptions of racism against African Americans affect White Americans. The present study examines the relationship between perceptions of racism against African Americans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and negative mental health outcomes among a sample highly impacted by the disaster—White community residents of New Orleans. Perceptions of racism against African Americans were associated with negative mental health outcomes, even after controlling for demographic variables and disaster exposure. Furthermore, feelings of collective guilt mediated the relationship between perceptions of racism and negative mental health outcomes.
DYSEXECUTIVE AGRAPHIA: A MAJOR EXECUTIVE DYSFUNCTION SIGN

Different types of writing disorders associated with brain pathology have been described. Limited mention the writing disturbances associated with prefrontal pathology, however, is found. Clinical observations of patients not only with focal prefrontal pathology but also with other conditions affecting the frontal system (e.g., traumatic head injury, dementia) confirm the assumption that these patients present an overt decrease in the ability to express ideas in writing. It is proposed that complex aspects of writing, such as planning, narrative coherence, and maintained attention, are significantly disturbed in cases of impairments of executive functions. Frontal lobe patients not only have difficulties in keeping the effort required for writing, but also to organize the ideas in the written texts. The term dysexecutive agraphia is proposed to refer to this writing disorder. Three illustrative cases are presented. It is finally suggested that questions regarding the ability to write should be included in dementia questionnaires and executive functioning testing.
Moment-matching method for extracting beam jitter and boresight in experiments with satellites of small physical cross section

The boresight and atmospheric jitter errors in a satellite tracking experiment are currently estimated by matching the probability density function (PDF) of the received signal counts with a set of PDFs of the signal for several combinations of jitter and boresight errors and then the best choice of jitter and boresight error is accepted via the χ-square test. Here a technique that can estimate atmospheric beam jitter and boresight error directly in a satellite active tracking experiment using the moments of the returns off the satellites is proposed. That is, we use the theoretical PDF for the signal return from a small target and compute the corresponding theoretical PDF moments. We can then form a few equations from these moments with only two unknowns, namely, the jitter and boresight. Solving for the unknowns is then unambiguous and very rapid. The method is valid for small physical cross-section targets and has been verified by using simulation and experimental data. Extending the case to asymmetric jitter and asymmetric boresight is possible.
Influence of Hot and Cold Boning on the Palatability, Textural and Economic Traits of Restructured Beef Steaks

Steaks containing 0.01% BHA, 0.75% NaCl and 10% fat were fabricated from hot- and cold-boned sides of four U.S. Standard, seven U.S. Good and one U.S. Choice steer carcasses. Carcasses were electrically stimulated (550 volts, 2.2 amps) ca 37 min postmortem. One side from each carcass was boned 4 hr postmortem (HB) while the other was placed in a 5°C cooler and boned 96 hr postmortem (CB). Hot boned sides required 29% less time to bone and yielded more (P<0.01) restructurable meat, less (P<0.05) lean trim and a heavier boneless loin. Cold-boned steaks had higher (P<0.05) bonding strength than hot boned steaks. No differences were found in juiciness, tenderness, flavor desirability, amount of connective tissue or cooking loss due to boning time. Restructured steaks produced from HB sides had a lower breakeven cost than steaks from the CB side. This was attributed to the higher yield of restructurable meat and more expedient boning.
Get off my lawn: Territorial civil wars and subsequent social intolerance in the public

It is argued that threat related to territorial civil wars generates negative interpersonal attitudes that are both more intense and more broadly oriented than previously thought. That is, civil wars fought over issues of autonomy or secession foment social intolerance, a broad orientation that extends well beyond members of former enemy groups to an aversion to interpersonal differences in general. The expectation that the issue the civil war is fought over is consequential is tested with data from the World Values Survey and the UCDP/PRIO Armed Conflict Dataset. The empirical domain consists of over 130,000 individuals across 123 surveys in 69 countries over the 1989–2008 period. Results from multilevel models indicate a positive and statistically significant relationship between domestic territorial conflicts and subsequent social intolerance. Substantively, territorial civil wars have a far greater impact on individuals’ attitudes than do ‘standard’ correlates of social intolerance that are well estab...
Vasopressin response to hyperosmotic stimulus: blood pressure effect in normal subjects and patients with impaired sympathetic system.

We have investigated the interaction of plasma vasopressin and plasma catecholamines in quadriplegic patients (with severed sympathetic tracts) and compared them to others with intact sympathetic system following I.V. administration of a hyperosmolar radiocontrast agent during a routine diagnostic pyelography. Baseline systolic and diastolic pressure as well as plasma norepinephrine were significantly lower in the quadriplegic subjects. At 5 minutes after administration of the hyperosmolar solution, systolic and diastolic pressure as well as plasma vasopressin rose in the quadriplegic subjects but not in normal subjects despite a significant and equal rise in serum osmolality occurring in both groups. These results demonstrate that an interaction between the two systems exists in humans: an intact sympathetic nervous system attenuates the vasopressin response to hyperosmolar stimuli and in its absence vasopressin may function as a pressor agent.
Antimicrobial Activity of Cefamandole Against Salmonella typhi

A patient with Salmonella typhi bacteremia was sucessfully treated with cefamandole, a new cephalosporin derivative. Infection has not recurred during 6 months of follow-up observation. Minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations of cefamandole, cephalothin, ampicillin, and chloramphenicol were compared against 26 strains of S. typhi. All the strains were susceptible to cefamandole in vitro. Seven of the strains were resistant to chloramphenicol, and another seven were resistant to both chloramphenicol and ampicillin. Cefamandole appears to warrant further clinical trial for the treatment of typhoid fever.
Isolierung und Charakterisierung der Bis(anthracen)metallkomplexe [Ti(η6‐C14H10)(η4‐C14H10)(η2‐dmpe)] und [Ti(η4‐C14H10)(η2‐C14H10)(η5‐C5Me5)]−

Je zwei unterschiedlich koordinierende Anthracenliganden enthalten die beiden ersten strukturell charakterisierten Bis(anthracen)komplexe eines Metalls der 4. Nebengruppe. Kristallstrukturanalysen brachten die ungewohnlichen und vollig unterschiedlichen Strukturen von [Ti(η6-C14H10)(η4-C14H10)(η2-dmpe)] (dmpe = 1,2-Bis(dimethylphosphino)ethan) und [Ti(η4-C14H10)(η2-C14H10)(η5-C5Me5)]− (siehe rechts) zutage.
Muslim Women - Adapting Culture To The Modern Western World

Numerous messages of cross-cultural cooperation are shaping the global image of Muslim women worldwide – reaching communities with roots in hundreds of nations.
A Multidialectal Parallel Corpus of Arabic

The daily spoken variety of Arabic is often termed the colloquial or dialect form of Arabic. There are many Arabic dialects across the Arab World and within other Arabic speaking communities. These dialects vary widely from region to region and to a lesser extent from city to city in each region. The dialects are not standardized, they are not taught, and they do not have official status. However they are the primary vehicles of communication (face-to-face and recently, online) and have a large presence in the arts as well. In this paper, we present the first multidialectal Arabic parallel corpus, a collection of 2,000 sentences in Standard Arabic, Egyptian, Tunisian, Jordanian, Palestinian and Syrian Arabic, in addition to English. Such parallel data does not exist naturally, which makes this corpus a very valuable resource that has many potential applications such as Arabic dialect identification and machine translation.
Continuously relaxing over-constrained conditional temporal problems through generalized conflict learning and resolution

Over-constrained temporal problems are commonly encountered while operating autonomous and decision support systems. An intelligent system must learn a human's preference over a problem in order to generate preferred resolutions that minimize perturbation. We present the Best-first Conflict-Directed Relaxation (BCDR) algorithm for enumerating the best continuous relaxation for an over-constrained conditional temporal problem with controllable choices. BCDR reformulates such a problem by making its temporal constraints relaxable and solves the problem using a conflict-directed approach. It extends the Conflict-Directed A* (CD-A*) algorithm to conditional temporal problems, by first generalizing the conflict learning process to include all discrete variable assignments and continuous temporal constraints, and then by guiding the forward search away from known infeasible regions using conflict resolution. When evaluated empirically on a range of coordinated car sharing network problems, BCDR demonstrates a substantial improvement in performance and solution quality compared to previous conflict-directed approaches.