cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neo-sex chromosome inheritance across species in Silene hybrids.

Neo-sex chromosomes, which form through the major restructuring of ancestral sex chromosome systems, have evolved in various taxa. Such restructuring often consists of the fusion of an autosome to an existing sex chromosome, resulting in novel sex chromosome formations (e.g. X1X2Y or XY1Y2.). Comparative studies are often made between restructured sex chromosome systems of closely related species, and here we evaluate the consequences of variable sex chromosome systems to hybrids. If neo-sex chromosomes are improperly inherited across species, this could lead to aberrant development and reproductive isolation. In this study, we examine the fate of neo-sex chromosomes in hybrids of the flowering plants Silene diclinis and Silene latifolia. Silene diclinis has a neo-sex chromosome system (XY1Y2) that is thought to have evolved from an ancestral XY system that is still present in S. latifolia. These species do not hybridize naturally, and improper sex chromosome inheritance could contribute to reproductive isolation. We investigated whether this major restructuring of sex chromosomes prevents their proper inheritance in a variety of hybrid crosses, including some F2 - and later-generation hybrids, with sex chromosome-linked, species-specific, polymorphic markers and chromosome squashes. We discovered that despite the differences in sex chromosomes that exist between these two species, proper segregation had occurred in hybrids that made it to flowering, including later-generation hybrids, indicating that neo-sex chromosome formation alone does not result in complete reproductive isolation between these two species. Additionally, hybrids with aberrant sex expression (e.g. neuter, hermaphrodite) also inherited the restructured sex chromosomes properly, highlighting that issues with sexual development in hybrids can be caused by intrinsic genetic incompatibility rather than improper sex chromosome inheritance.
Major Anthropogenic Causes for and Outcomes of Wild Animal Presentation to a Wildlife Clinic in East Tennessee, USA, 2000–2011

To determine the reasons for presentation and outcome of wildlife cases in East Tennessee, a retrospective analysis was performed using 14,303 records from cases presented to the wildlife clinic of the University of Tennessee Veterinary Teaching Hospital between 2000 and 2011. The cases were first categorized into amphibian/non-avian reptile, mammal, or avian and then classified into groups based on the primary admitting/presenting sign. There are a variety of reasons animals were presented to the clinic, and some were directly or indirectly anthropogenic in origin, including cat related, dog related, hit by automobile, and other human encounters leading to trauma; of the cases reviewed, 4,443 (31.1%) presented for one of these 4 reasons. Overall case fatality risk in regard to these 4 admitting/presenting signs was 0.519 for the amphibian/non-avian reptile cases, 0.675 for mammal cases, and 0.687 for avian cases. This study confirms the importance of monitoring wildlife morbidity and mortality and of focusing efforts to reduce the anthropogenic threat on native habitats and resident wildlife populations.
The Numerical Simulation of Ice-Age Climate with a Global General Circulation Model.

Abstract The global distribution of July climate has been simulated with a two-level atmospheric general circulation model using the surface boundary conditions of sea-surface temperature, ice-sheet topography and surface albedo assembled by CLIMAP for 18 000 years before present. These conditions respresent an approximate doubling of the ice-covered surface area of the earth, a 1°C decrease of the average sea-surface temperature, and an increase of the average surface albedo from 0.14 to 0.22. Compared with the simulation of present July conditions, the ice-age atmosphere is found to have been substantially cooler and drier, especially over the continents of the Northern Hemisphere, corresponding to an enhanced anticyclonic circulation over the major ice sheets and a general weakening of the summer monsoonal circulation. The midlatitude westerlies are strengthened and systematically displaced southward in the vicinity of the major ice sheets, along with an equatorward shift in the zones of maximum eddy a...
Body image treatment for a community sample of obligatory and nonobligatory exercisers.

Objective Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was used to treat body dissatisfaction in obligatory and nonobligatory exercisers within a community sample of normal weight women. Method Ninety-four women (36% obligatory exercisers, 64% nonobligatory exercisers) were assigned randomly to CBT or the waiting-list (WL) control group. Results The hypotheses that obligatory exercisers would show poorer pretreatment body image and greater compulsivity than nonobligatory exercisers were supported partially. The prediction that obligatory exercisers would respond less favorably to treatment was not supported. Overall, CBT participants evidenced significantly better body image outcomes than the WL at posttreatment, but many effects were lost by the follow-up. Discussion Treatment response is considered in light of the unique characteristics of this ethnically diverse, older community sample when compared with the young students in earlier body image intervention studies. The high rate of physical activity among even the nonobligatory exercisers is highlighted for its mood-regulation properties and its treatment implications. © 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 30: 375–388, 2001.
Motionless Movies of Myocardial Strain‐Rates using Stimulated Echoes

We present methods to acquire and analyze NMR movies of myocardial strain rates in which cardiac motion is suppressed and the histories of strain rates are accurately defined for each voxel of myocardial tissue. By means of stimulated echoes, the myocardial strain-rate tensor is phase-encoded at progressive delays in the cardiac cycle while the slice-select and spatial encoding of the image acquisition are performed at a constant cardiac delay. In these data, every image shows the identical myocardial tissue, and the anatomic configuration of the heart appears motionless. The myocardial strain-rate data, however, indicate the state of motion which existed in this slice at the time of the velocity phase-encoding, and these data evolve with the progressive delay as a movie. Using echo-planar MRI, motionless movies of myocardial strain rate of four to eight cardiac delays are obtained in a breath-hold. As an application, a quantitative characterization of cardiac mechanical synchrony is accomplished by principal component analysis (PCA) of the time series of strain rates.
Comparative field permeability measurement of permeable pavements using ASTM C1701 and NCAT permeameter methods.

Fully permeable pavement is gradually gaining support as an alternative best management practice (BMP) for stormwater runoff management. As the use of these pavements increases, a definitive test method is needed to measure hydraulic performance and to evaluate clogging, both for performance studies and for assessment of permeability for construction quality assurance and maintenance needs assessment. Two of the most commonly used permeability measurement tests for porous asphalt and pervious concrete are the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) permeameter and ASTM C1701, respectively. This study was undertaken to compare measured values for both methods in the field on a variety of permeable pavements used in current practice. The field measurements were performed using six experimental section designs with different permeable pavement surface types including pervious concrete, porous asphalt and permeable interlocking concrete pavers. Multiple measurements were performed at five locations on each pavement test section. The results showed that: (i) silicone gel is a superior sealing material to prevent water leakage compared with conventional plumbing putty; (ii) both methods (NCAT and ASTM) can effectively be used to measure the permeability of all pavement types and the surface material type will not impact the measurement precision; (iii) the permeability values measured with the ASTM method were 50–90% (75% on average) lower than those measured with the NCAT method; (iv) the larger permeameter cylinder diameter used in the ASTM method improved the reliability and reduced the variability of the measured permeability.
Vaccinia Virus Mutants with Alanine Substitutions in the Conserved G5R Gene Fail To Initiate Morphogenesis at the Nonpermissive Temperature

The initial characterization of the product of the vaccinia virus G5R gene, which is conserved in all poxviruses sequenced to date, is described. The G5 protein was detected in the core fraction of purified virions, and transcription and translation of the G5R open reading frame occurred early in infection, independently of DNA replication. Attempts to delete the G5R gene and isolate a replication-competent virus were unsuccessful, suggesting that G5R encodes an essential function. We engineered vaccinia virus mutants with clusters of charged amino acids changed to alanines and determined that several were unable to replicate at 40°C but grew well at 37°C. At the nonpermissive temperature, viral gene expression and DNA replication and processing were unperturbed. However, tyrosine phosphorylation and proteolytic cleavage of the A17 membrane protein and proteolytic cleavage of core proteins were inhibited at 40°C, suggesting an assembly defect. The cytoplasm of cells that had been infected at the nonpermissive temperature contained large granular areas devoid of cellular organelles or virus structures except for occasional short crescent-shaped membranes and electron-dense lacy structures. The temperature-sensitive phenotype of the G5R mutants closely resembled the phenotypes of vaccinia virus mutants carrying conditionally lethal F10R protein kinase and H5R mutations. F10, although required for phosphorylation of A17 and viral membrane formation, was synthesized by the G5R mutants under nonpermissive conditions. An intriguing possibility is that G5 participates in the formation of viral membranes, a poorly understood event in poxvirus assembly.
Acute paradoxical embolic cerebral ischemia secondary to possible May-Thurner syndrome and an atrial septal defect: a case report

May-Thurner syndrome is an anatomic abnormality that predisposes patients to increased risk of paradoxical embolism and stroke. It consists of chronic compression of the left common iliac vein by the overlying right common iliac artery which may predispose to local thrombus formation, which in turn may be the nidus of a paradoxical embolus leading to cerebral ischemia in patients with a right-to-left shunt secondary to an atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale. We report the case of an embolic cerebral ischemic event in a 53-year-old Caucasian woman whose investigations revealed findings suggestive of possible May-Thurner syndrome coupled with an atrial septal defect. Her atrial septal defect was closed, she was placed on aspirin therapy, and has not had any recurrent events. May-Thurner syndrome is an important consideration in patients with paradoxical embolic cerebral ischemia and atrial septal defects.
Altered olfactory receptor neuron responsiveness in rare Ostrinia nubilalis males attracted to the O. furnacalis pheromone blend.

Abstract Three percent of E-strain Ostrinia nubilalis males fly upwind in response to the Ostrinia furnacalis pheromone blend [a 40:60 ratio of ( E )-12-tetradecenyl acetate to ( Z )-12-tetradecenyl acetate (E12-14:OAc to Z12-14:OAc)], in addition to their own pheromone blend [a 99:1 ratio of ( E )-11-tetradecenyl acetate to ( Z )-11-tetradecenyl acetate) (E11-14:OAc to Z11-14:OAc)]. We assessed the olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) responses of these behaviorally “rare” males versus those of normal males. For the three ORNs housed within each sensillum, we tested responsiveness to Z12-14:OAc, E12-14:OAc, Z11-14:OAc, E11-14:OAc, and the behavioral antagonist ( Z )-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14:OAc). Z11-14:OAc, E11-14:OAc, and Z9-14:OAc stimulated ORNs exhibiting distinct small, large, and medium spike sizes, respectively. For rare and normal males, both Z12-14:OAc and E12-14:OAc usually elicited responses from the largest-spiking ORN. In many ORNs of normal males, Z12-14:OAc or E12-14:OAc stimulated the smaller-spiking ORN that is responsive to Z11-14:OAc. In rare males, detectable ORN responses from the smaller-spiking ORN in response to Z12- and E12-14:OAc were virtually non-existent. These differences in ORN tuning in rare males will tend to create an ORN firing ratio between the large- and small-spiking ORNs in response to the O. furnacalis blend that is similar to that elicited by the O. nubilalis blend.
What constitutes commercial bias compared with the personal opinion of experts

Introduction: The presence of commercial messages in continuing medical education (CME) is an ongoing cause of concern. This study identifies actions perceived by CME participants to convey commercial bias from CME faculty. Methods: A questionnaire listing actions associated with CME activities was distributed to 230 randomly selected participants from 7 CME activities designated for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. The activities were held over an 8-month period. Participants were asked to complete the questionnaire before participating in the live activity. Results: Nine actions identified by over 50% of all respondents were perceived to convey commercial bias. The most critical ones reflecting commercial bias were speaking about only one agent, not providing a balanced presentation of all agents, and faculty relationships with commercial supporters. Ten actions identified by over 50% of the respondents were perceived to convey personal opinion of the faculty. The most prevalent actions were the influence of mentors or teachers, relating general practice habits from the faculty member's own experience, and cultural differences among patient populations. More than half the respondents who indicated they perceived commercial bias in certified activities attributed this perception to an overall impression, instead of 1 or 2 specific actions. Discussion: Actions were identified that conveyed differences between commercial messages and personal opinion. CME providers should define commercial bias for participants, faculty, and planners and provide education about that definition.
Deformable segmentation of 3-D ultrasound prostate images using statistical texture matching method

This paper presents a novel deformable model for automatic segmentation of prostates from three-dimensional ultrasound images, by statistical matching of both shape and texture. A set of Gabor-support vector machines (G-SVMs) are positioned on different patches of the model surface, and trained to adaptively capture texture priors of ultrasound images for differentiation of prostate and nonprostate tissues in different zones around prostate boundary. Each G-SVM consists of a Gabor filter bank for extraction of rotation-invariant texture features and a kernel support vector machine for robust differentiation of textures. In the deformable segmentation procedure, these pretrained G-SVMs are used to tentatively label voxels around the surface of deformable model as prostate or nonprostate tissues by a statistical texture matching. Subsequently, the surface of deformable model is driven to the boundary between the tentatively labeled prostate and nonprostate tissues. Since the step of tissue labeling and the step of label-based surface deformation are dependent on each other, these two steps are repeated until they converge. Experimental results by using both synthesized and real data show the good performance of the proposed model in segmenting prostates from ultrasound images.
Experimental ulcers alter voltage-sensitive sodium currents in rat gastric sensory neurons

Abstract Background & Aims: Voltage-dependent Na + currents are important determinants of excitability. We hypothesized that gastric inflammation alters Na + current properties in primary sensory neurons. Methods: The stomach was surgically exposed in rats to inject the retrograde tracer 1.1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3,'3-tetramethylindocarbocyanine methanesulfonate and saline (control) or 20% acetic acid (ulcer group) into the gastric wall. Nodose or thoracic dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were harvested after 7 days to culture neurons and record Na + currents using patch clamp techniques. Results: There were no lesions in the control and 3 ± 1 ulcers in the ulcer group. Na + currents recovered significantly more rapidly from inactivation in nodose and DRG neurons obtained from animals in the ulcer group compared with controls. This was partially a result of an increase in the relative contribution of the tetrodotoxin-resistant to the peak sodium current. In addition, the recovery kinetics of the tetrodotoxin-sensitive current were faster. In DRG neurons, gastric inflammation shifted the voltage-dependence of activation of the tetrodotoxin-resistant current to more hyperpolarized potentials. Conclusions: Gastric injury alters the properties of Na + currents in gastric sensory neurons. This may enhance excitability, thereby contributing to the development of dyspeptic symptoms. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2002;122:394-405
Sterile syringe access and disposal among injection drug users newly enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: We sought to assess injection practices, means of acquiring and disposing of syringes, and utilization and knowledge of harm reduction resources among injection drug users (IDUs) entering methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Methods: Interviews with 100 consecutive patients, including 35 IDUs, entering a MMT program in the Bronx, NY. Results: Utilization of unsafe syringe sources was reported by 69% of IDUs in our sample. Most (80%) IDUs reused syringes, and syringe sharing was also common. Fewer than half knew that nonprescription pharmacy purchase of syringes was possible. The most common means of disposing of injecting equipment were the trash (63%) and syringe exchange programs (49%). Conclusions: These findings indicate that drug users entering treatment under-utilize sanctioned venues to obtain sterile syringes or safely dispose of used injection equipment. Programs providing services to drug users should adopt a proactive stance to address the safety and health issues faced by injectors.
Oriented Concretions, Ionian Coast, Italy: Evidence of Groundwater Flow Direction

ABSTRACT Highly elongate, aligned, calcite-cemented concretions are present in exposed shallow-marine Pleistocene sands and gravels along the Basilicata coast of the Ionian Sea, southern Italy. Concretions are shaped like rods (pencils and cigars, 0.5-3 cm in diameter) and thin blades (031 cm thick and 1-5 cm wide). Most have aspect ratios greater than 5 and some reach 30. Most concretions are in parallel-laminated beds, but a few are in cross-stratified and ripple-cross-laminated beds. Concretions cut across foresets and inclined laminae. The standard deviations of long axes at each of six localities with more than eight measurements are less than 7° the standard deviation of the orientation of concretions from 30 localities over a 400 km2 area is less than 17°. Previous interpretations for elongate carbonate concretions in sandstones include growth in the direction of groundwater flow, growth parallel with current-oriented grains and/or paleocurrents, and selective cementation in the troughs of wave ripples. The Basilicata concretions are oriented perpendicular to the local coastline and parallel with the direction of present-day groundwater flow. The groundwater flow direction was probably the same during the Pleistocene. The evidence indicates that the concretions grew parallel with groundwater flow and were not influenced by sedimentary structures or grain fabric. The isotopic values (13C and 18O) range from 10 to -1 [PDB] and from -5 to -3 [PDB], respectively, and textures of calcite cement in the concretions indicate that the calcite was precipitated from meteoric groundwater. Nannobacteria may have mediated precipitation of calcite.
Efficacy of ceftriaxone plus tazobactam in a rat model of intraabdominal abscess due to Bacteroides fragilis

Using a rat model of intraperitoneal abscess due to Bacteroides fragilis, we evaluated therapy with the combination of ceftriaxone plus the beta-lactamase inhibitor tazobactam in comparison with ceftriaxone or cefotaxime alone. When treatment was begun five hours after bacterial challenge, final bacterial counts within abscesses at 3.5 days of treatment were as follows (mean +/- S.D., log10 cfu/g): ceftriaxone plus tazobactam, 4.15 +/- 1.25; cefotaxime, 4.77 +/- 1.80; ceftriaxone alone, 5.68 +/- 1.04; untreated controls, 9.14 +/- 1.13. In spite of pharmacokinetic differences between the two drugs, coadministration of tazobactam significantly enhanced activity of ceftriaxone in this model.
An Observational Analysis of Twin Births, Calf Sex Ratio, and Calf Mortality in Holstein Dairy Cattle

A data set of Holstein calving records from January 1996 to September 2004 comprising 4,103 herds with 2,304,278 calving events representing 1,164,233 cows and 96,069 twin births was extracted from Minnesota Dairy Herd Improvement Association archives to assess reported twinning trends and calf mortality across time. Overall, the reported twinning rate was 4.2%, and twinning increased with parity [1.2% for nulliparous vs. 5.8% for multiparous cows; odds ratio (OR) = 4.9], and with time (3.4% in 1996 to 4.8% in 2004), with a parity by time interaction. Independent of parity, the greatest twinning rate was observed when conception occurred from August to October compared with other seasons (OR = 1.2). Calf mortality was greater after twin births, with 28.2% of twin calving events reporting one or both calves as dead, compared with 7.2% for singleton births (OR = 6.5). Calf mortality for primiparous and multiparous cows was 5.0% after a single birth and 25.5% after twin births, whereas for nulliparous heifers, mortality was 10.4% for singletons and 38.0% for twins (OR = 3.4). Calf sex ratio (male, M; female, F) was 53.3% M and 46.7% F for singleton calves, and 30.1% MM, 43.6% MF, and 26.3% FF for twin calves. Although specific factors cannot be implicated, the increase in twinning across time suggests a concurrent change in one or more causative factors associated with twinning during the 9-yr study period.
Solidarity and Difference: A Contemporary Reading of Paul’s Ethics – David G. Horrell

Book reviewed: Solidarity and Difference: A Contemporary Reading of Paul’s Ethics, David G. Horrell, T&T Clark International 2005 (0-5670-4322-3), xvi + 338 pp., pb £49.95
Effects of Anger, Disgust, and Sadness on Sharing with Others

Although scholars have suggested that emotions are important for social dilemmas, extant research has neither documented, nor directly studied the influence of anger, disgust, or sadness on choices that involve social dilemmas. What is more, research that looks at social dilemmas typically examines public good dilemmas (e.g., giving resources to a group) and resource dilemmas (e.g., taking resources from a group) separately. Rarely are both dilemmas examined simultaneously, a potential oversight considering research on decision-making implicates give-and-take differences. In this paper, we propose that an important part of cooperating in different social dilemmas involves emotionally guided goals, termed emotivations. For example, emotivations include: in anger, wanting to antagonize others; in disgust, wanting to expel objects and avoid taking anything new; and in sadness, wanting to change one’s situation. We suggest that the amount of shared group resources that people give and take is associated with ...
Consumers' Reports: Management by Customers in a Changing Economy

Under recent conditions of economic competition, customer/worker interactions increasingly are a source of profitability in service firms. Companies may employ refined methods for making these inte...
Predictors of quality of life after resective extratemporal epilepsy surgery in adults in long-term follow-up.

Purpose: To present long-term outcome and predictors of the health related quality of life (HRQOL) in a large group of patients operated for refractory extratemporal epilepsy. Methods: A German QOLIE-31 questionnaire and additional questions has been mailed for all adult patients operated for extratemporal epilepsy in the Bethel Epilepsy Centre, between 1992 and 2003, 87 patients were eligible for this study. Results: Seizure freedom, intake of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), presence of AEDs side effect medical comorbidities and driving a car were significantly correlated to HRQOL in all subscales of QOLIE-31. Gender, age at epilepsy onset, the presence of a partner, psychiatric disease, the presence of auras and tumour pathology have a correlation to QOL in some subscales. Stepwise regression for all patients revealed that seizure freedom and medical comorbidities were highly predictive for most of the subscales of QOLIE-31. Intake of anti-epileptic drugs and AED side effects had a modest effect on QOL. The need for psychiatric treatment predicted poor cognitive function scores. Epilepsy onset at an older age predicted a minimal increase in the overall health scores. An aura at the last follow-up predicted poor medication scores. Regarding the importance of the predictors, seizure freedom and medical comorbidities were the most important predictors of QOL after surgery. AED intake and side effects had an intermediate effect on QOL; however, the gender of the patient and age at epilepsy onset had a minimal effect on QOL. Conclusions: HRQOL after extratemporal epilepsy surgery has multiple determinants. Medical comorbidities should be considered a negative risk factor for QOL during preoperative and postoperative evaluation process.
Computer Simulation of the Microstructure Developed in Reaction‐Sintered Silicon Nitride Ceramics

A simulation model of the microstructure developed during the reaction sintering of ultrafine silicon powders is presented. The model employs interactive subroutines that describe particle compaction, sintering, and nitridation. The particle compaction model is based on a random particle packing model, whereas the sintering and reaction sintering models are based on the modified grain model and the sharp interface model (SIM). Microstructural changes due to the competition between chemical reaction and sintering are taken into account in the model. The results predicated by this model show good agreement with experimental data from previous studies.
The Poetics of Professionalism Among Dialysis Technicians

The vast majority of care for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients is provided by skilled (but not formally educated) paraprofessional technicians. Using Goffman's (1959) framing of the performance of self in everyday discourse, this study examines discourse from dialysis technicians and technical aides to explore these paraprofessionals' construction and performance of professional identity and professional communication within the context of an outpatient dialysis clinic. Themes of professionalism--individualized care, vigilance, teamwork, and emotion management--are illustrated via poetic transcription of interviews with technicians. I contend that such representation offers validity equal to that of traditional research accounts while embodying alternative representational strengths.
How to be an E³ librarian

Embedded librarianship is a relatively new term but is a fairly well-established stance in academic librarianship. While the terminology has certainly spawned new activities and vigorous new channels of communication, few are talking about the strategies for expanding and enhancing the position of the librarian and libraries organizationally once embedded in a course, department, or college. A brief literature review of embedded librarianship provides context for this case study, which focuses on strategic hooks for both establishing and enhancing embedded positions in a major university's College of Education.
Behavioral concomitants of the relationship between baseline slow wave sleep and carry-over of tolerance and dependence in alcoholics.

Once functional tolerance to and physical dependence on alcohol have been acquired, they are more readily reacquired (Mendelson et al., 1966, Branchey et al., 1971 and Kalant, 1973). Kalant (1973) designated this effect “carry-over” indicating a residual effect of the preceding alcohol tolerance and dependence.
Reframing the Issue and Cultivating U.S.-based Muslim Humanitarian Relief Organizations

Funded by Muslim-American donors, legitimate U.S.-based Muslim charities for decades provided crucial funds and services in geographic areas ravaged by natural disasters, many with Muslim populations. These charities’ humanitarian aid, offered directly or through local non-governmental organizations, benefited the affected people, winning their gratitude and allegiance during the rescue, relief, recovery, and reconstruction operations following tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, and other such catastrophes. Their assistance also conserved and expanded opportunities to provide development aid to these same regions and individuals, not only to improve their communities and lives but also to secure their hearts and minds. The U.S. government’s “war on terror” dramatically impacted these constructive influences and relationships. The post-9/11 counterterrorism laws and their stern enforcement fomented fear and anger among Muslim-Americans, substantially diminishing their goodwill toward the government. The government’s actions also engendered an inhospitable philanthropic environment for Muslim-Americans. These resulted in a significant reduction in Muslim-Americans’ charitable giving to legitimate U.S.-based Muslim charities for humanitarian relief and development aid abroad without a commensurate expansion in their giving to U.S.-based secular charities. The chilling effect on legal overseas assistance efforts to extremely needy Muslim populations has increased opportunities for foreign terrorist organizations, including those with dual militant and social welfare purposes, to obtain funding through unregulated or under-regulated channels. These conniving organizations then provide post-disaster and development aid to these especially vulnerable people, capturing new adherents. For years, the Muslim-American community has asserted without apparent success that the relevant counterterrorism laws and the government’s actions violate their rights protected by the First Amendment’s Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses. This article advocates that new strategies to address these pressing issues should be considered. It first suggests reframing the underlying issue for “the court of public opinion” and policymakers as a governmental denial of a specific core human right: human dignity. It then proposes that a step toward restoring such human dignity could be for the government and the Muslim-American community to collaboratively work to cultivate new legitimate U.S.-based Muslim humanitarian relief organizations as responders to natural disasters affecting Muslims abroad. Implementation of these approaches might help reclaim the hearts and minds of disaffected Muslim-Americans, as well as set the stage for rebuilding the longer-term loyalty of Muslims assisted overseas.
Benzothiazole and Pyrrolone Flavivirus Inhibitors Targeting the Viral Helicase

The flavivirus nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) is a protease and helicase, and on the basis of its similarity to its homologue encoded by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), the flavivirus NS3 might be a promising drug target. Few flavivirus helicase inhibitors have been reported, in part, because few specific inhibitors have been identified when nucleic acid unwinding assays have been used to screen for helicase inhibitors. To explore the possibility that compounds inhibiting NS3-catalyzed ATP hydrolysis might function as antivirals even if they do not inhibit RNA unwinding in vitro, we designed a robust dengue virus (DENV) NS3 ATPase assay suitable for high-throughput screening. Members of two classes of inhibitory compounds were further tested in DENV helicase-catalyzed RNA unwinding assays, assays monitoring HCV helicase action, subgenomic DENV replicon assays, and cell viability assays and for their ability to inhibit West Nile virus (Kunjin subtype) replication in cells. The first class contained analogues of NIH molecular probe ML283, a benzothiazole oligomer derived from the dye primuline, and they also inhibited HCV helicase and DENV NS3-catalyzed RNA unwinding. The most intriguing ML283 analogue inhibited DENV NS3 with an IC50 value of 500 nM and was active against the DENV replicon. The second class contained specific DENV ATPase inhibitors that did not inhibit DENV RNA unwinding or reactions catalyzed by HCV helicase. Members of this class contained a 4-hydroxy-3-(5-methylfuran-2-carbonyl)-2H-pyrrol-5-one scaffold, and about 20 μM of the most potent pyrrolone inhibited both DENV replicons and West Nile virus replication in cells by 50%.
Polymeric nursery bed stabilization to reduce seed losses in forest nurseries

A Polymerization treatment using Geotech, a copolymer of acrylate and vinyl acetate monomers, was used to stabilize forest nursery beds to substantially reduce wind and water erosion. Such treatment did not affect either the temperature of the seed zone in the soil or germinant emer- gence. Seed losses were reduced by the treatment, resulting in increased nursery yield.
Calculation of oil droplet size distribution in an underwater oil well blowout

ABSTRACTIn deepwater oil well blowouts, accurate calculations of droplet sizes are important in predicting the fate and transport of oil. The current knowledge limits the ability of available models to calculate the wide range of droplet sizes that exist in deepwater oil jets and plumes. In this paper, an improved model (Oildroplets) is introduced to calculate the droplet size distribution in underwater oil jets. Breakup and coalescence are the key processes in controlling the droplet sizes calculated in Oildroplets. New theoretical modifications were made to the droplet breakup and coalescence closures in an existing framework that works for a wide range of release conditions. The model Oildroplets is used to predict the droplet size distribution in field and laboratory experiments, where the droplet sizes vary from very small (µm) to large (mm). The comparison of model-computed results with experimental data shows good agreement.
Olfactory bulb resection and water intake in the white rat

Bilateral transection of the olfactory bulbs in rats abolishes drinking in response to sodium loads but does not afect ad lib water intake, body weight, urine output, sodium chloride preference, or increased sodium intake with desoxycorticosterone treatment.
PROGRESS AND PROBLEMS IN RECENT TRADE BEAD RESEARCH

Thirty years have passed since the late Richardo. Conn pre­ sented this paper at the conference of the Canadian Archaeo­ logical Association in Winnipeg, March 8-9, 1968. It is presented here to show us how far we have come and how far we still have to go. All over North America, glass beads continue to accumulate in archaeological collections, in museums and seemingly in everybody's laboratory. Although the volume of this material is growing, as is the recognition of its possible significance to archaeology, there is still comparatively little definite information available. What about glass trade beads? Can they be dated? Is anyone studying them? If so, who and what have they learned? I would like to answer all these questions, but considering the time available today and limitations of my own information, this report will be concerned with the latter two: who is studying the problem and with what results. Although many people have found glass beads in the course of fieldwork and, therefore, have reason to be interested in the material, only a handful of people concern themselves closely with the subject and conduct research in it. Of these few, I will discuss those who have published significant studies within the last ten years or those who are now conducting important research projects. This choice is admittedly selective and reflects the information available to me. In no sense is there a qualitative judgement. The principal European contributor to recent bead research is W.G.N. van der Sleen of The Netherlands. This man has spent upwards of thirty years in study and world-wide travel pursuing his subject. Van der Sleen's interests are far broader than those of most of his colleagues, as they include bead types from all time periods, geographical regions, and even beads made of materials other than glass. His treatise, A Handbook on
Application of spectral karyotyping in diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis of the marker chromosome

Objective To determine the value of spectral karyotyping(SKY)in identification of the marker chromosome.Methods Selected six cases that could not be identified in clinic were studied,using samples of peripheral blood from four cases,and samples of amonic fluid and fetal cord blood for prenatal diagnosis in two cases were investigated.All cases were analyzed with the routine SKY method.and the results with the SKY View software.The SKY results were identified by using fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH).And C-banding technique was used to help diagnose the heterochromatin.Results SKY wag successfully performed on all of 6 cases.The origin of all marker chromosomes was identified by SKY.Except case No.4,the others were confirmed by FISH.It helped determine the pregnancy outcome in two cases of prenatal diagnosis:one case of genetic marker chromosome continued the pregnancy,and another case of de novo marker chromosome was terminated of the pregnancy.Conclusion SKY may be a vahable tool to diagnose the marker chromosome with rapidness,direct-viewing and sensitiveness.It can be used to assess the prognosis and the pregnancy outcome. Key words: Spectral karyotyping; Genetic markers; Prenatal diagnosis; Pregnancy outcome
Neuropsychological Factors and Rorschach Performance in Children

Abstract. This study uses an archival data set to correlate Rorschach scores with measures of cognitive functioning in youth, and extends the literature in three ways. First, although Wechsler-based scales of intellectual ability are criteria in the primary sample, correlates with specialized measures of neuropsychological functioning are provided in smaller subsamples, with a focus on tests of perceptual accuracy and perceptual synthesis. Second, absolute levels of cognitive ability are examined, rather than age-adjusted scores, in order to match with the non-age adjusted Rorschach scores. Third, the results expand the relevant research literature on Comprehensive System scores and provide novel data for scores in the Rorschach Performance Assessment System. Findings showed an expected pattern of correlations for Rorschach scores of organizational activity, synthesized responses, perceptual accuracy, conceptual complexity, and complex perceptual representations. The Rorschach scores most correlated with ...
Nanomechanics of Type I Collagen

Type I collagen is the predominant collagen in mature tendons and ligaments, where it gives them their load-bearing mechanical properties. Fibrils of type I collagen are formed by the packing of polypeptide triple helices. Higher-order structures like fibril bundles and fibers are assembled from fibrils in the presence of other collagenous molecules and noncollagenous molecules. Curiously, however, experiments show that fibrils/fibril bundles are less resistant to axial stress compared to their constituent triple helices-the Young's moduli of fibrils/fibril bundles are an order-of-magnitude smaller than the Young's moduli of triple helices. Given the sensitivity of the Young's moduli of triple helices to solvation environment, a plausible explanation is that the packing of triple helices into fibrils perhaps reduces the Young's modulus of an individual triple helix, which results in fibrils having smaller Young's moduli. We find, however, from molecular dynamics and accelerated conformational sampling simulations that the Young's modulus of the buried core of the fibril is of the same order as that of a triple helix in aqueous phase. These simulations, therefore, suggest that the lower Young's moduli of fibrils/fibril bundles cannot be attributed to the specific packing of triple helices in the fibril core. It is not the fibril core that yields initially to axial stress. Rather, it must be the portion of the fibril exposed to the solvent and/or the fibril-fibril interface that bears the initial strain. Overall, this work provides estimates of Young's moduli and persistence lengths at two levels of collagen's structural assembly, which are necessary to quantitatively investigate the response of various biological factors on collagen mechanics, including congenital mutations, posttranslational modifications and ligand binding, and also engineer new collagen-based materials.
TH-CD-202-07: A Methodology for Generating Numerical Phantoms for Radiation Therapy Using Geometric Attribute Distribution Models

Purpose: A persistent challenge for the quality assessment of radiation therapy treatments (e.g. contouring accuracy) is the absence of the known, ground truth for patient data. Moreover, assessment results are often patient-dependent. Computer simulation studies utilizing numerical phantoms can be performed for quality assessment with a known ground truth. However, previously reported numerical phantoms do not include the statistical properties of inter-patient variations, as their models are based on only one patient. In addition, these models do not incorporate tumor data. In this study, a methodology was developed for generating numerical phantoms which encapsulate the statistical variations of patients within radiation therapy, including tumors. Methods: Based on previous work in contouring assessment, geometric attribute distribution (GAD) models were employed to model both the deterministic and stochastic properties of individual organs via principle component analysis. Using pre-existing radiation therapy contour data, the GAD models are trained to model the shape and centroid distributions of each organ. Then, organs with different shapes and positions can be generated by assigning statistically sound weights to the GAD model parameters. Organ contour data from 20 retrospective prostate patient cases were manually extracted and utilized to train the GAD models. As a demonstration, computer-simulated CT images of generated numerical phantoms were calculated and assessed subjectively and objectively for realism. Results: A cohort of numerical phantoms of the male human pelvis was generated. CT images were deemed realistic both subjectively and objectively in terms of image noise power spectrum. Conclusion: A methodology has been developed to generate realistic numerical anthropomorphic phantoms using pre-existing radiation therapy data. The GAD models guarantee that generated organs span the statistical distribution of observed radiation therapy patients, according to the training dataset. The methodology enables radiation therapy treatment assessment with multi-modality imaging and a known ground truth, and without patient-dependent bias.
Patterns of Reasoning about Ecological Systemic Reasoning for Early Elementary Students

Systems and system models are recognized as a crosscutting concept in the newly released framework for K-12 science education (NRC (National Research Council), 2012). In previous work, I developed a learning progression for systemic reasoning in ecology at the elementary level. The learning progression captured five levels of students' reasoning patterns across four progress variables—dimensions of ecological systemic reasoning. In this study, I used the rank correlation and qualitative examples to investigate the extent to which students used the same level of reasoning across the various progress variables. The results showed a wide range of students' reasoning patterns, some of which used the same level consistently across the four progress variables, while others did not. The results have practical implications for curriculum and instruction. I recommend using specific strategies to teach each progress variable, and providing students with opportunities to reason within and across the progress variables.
What’s Happening in Reserach Ethics? Commentary on Brody

The title of Baruch Brody’s essay, “Whatever Happened to Research Ethics?,” suggests that research ethics, having once held a visible and powerful place in bioethics, has now disappeared, or virtually disappeared, from public view. Brody’s discussion centers on identifying significant and weighty topics in the ethics of research that are not being scrutinized and on proposing why bioethicists have neglected these issues. After commenting on the issues Brody develops, I will present a supplementary and contrasting perspective in the form of a brief survey of what is being scrutinized in the research ethics literature. Brody argues that, after emerging as a major topic of public concern and discussion in the late 1970s and early 1980s, research ethics began to be virtually ignored by “the bioethics community.” He adds the proviso that certain areas (“especially reproductive, fetal, and genetic research”), individuals (e.g., Robert J. Levine) and journals (namely, IRB: A Review of Human Subjects Research that Levine edits) continue to focus on the ethics of research, but that “important and fundamental questions in research ethics are not receiving the attention from bioethicists which they deserve.”