cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Qualitative description of dental hygiene practices within oral health and dental care perspectives of Mexican-American adults and teenagers.

Objectives The objectives of this study were to identify dental hygiene themes voiced by adults and teenagers of Mexican origin [or Mexican Americans (MAs)] and place these themes within the larger landscape of oral health and dental care perceptions. Methods Interviews with urban-based MAs were analyzed to identify barriers, beliefs, and behaviors influencing engagement in dental hygiene practices. Results Adult (n = 16, ages 33–52) and teenage (n = 17, ages 14–19) MAs reported themes pertaining to structural factors (financial and economic-related barriers, the dual challenges of reduced access to care vis-a-vis successfully navigating the dental care system, and the effects of reduced social support derived from migration) and to individual factors (different agendas between MAs and health systems for dental care utilization and indications for oral self-care, including limited dental hygiene instruction from professionals and larger impacts from school-based and mass media). Also, prior experiences with dental hygiene, prevention, and associated themes were characterized by a range of attitudes from fatalistic to highly determined agency. Good family upbringing was instrumental for appropriate dental hygiene, anteceding good oral health; and outlining a loose structure of factors affecting oral health such as diet, having “weak” teeth, or personal habits. Conclusions Themes from adults and teenagers in the Midwest United States were generally similar to other groups of MA parents and younger children. Dental hygiene was not salient relative to other oral health and dental care matters. Several opportunities for improvement of knowledge and enhancing motivation for dental hygiene practices were identified, both within and outside professional resources.
A Monoclonal Antibody Against a Symbiont-Synthesized Protein in the Cytosol of Symbiont-Dependent Amoebae1

A monoclonal antibody was obtained against a 29-kD polypeptide in the cytosol of a symbiont-bearing strain (xD) of Amoeba proteus and was used to determine the distribution of the antigen in amoebae. The 29-kD polypeptides (xD protein) are produced by bacterial endosymbionts that are necessary for the survival of host xD amoebae. Results of indirect immunofluorescent and electron-microscopic immunogold-labeling studies showed that the xD protein was present diffusely in the amoeba cytoplasm as well as in the symbiotic bacteria. The native protein containing 29-kD polypeptides was purified using an immunoaffinity column prepared with the monoclonal antibody and its molecular weight was determined to be 87,000.
Strain Mapping of LV Myocardium and its Correlation With Activation of Apoptotic Molecular Pathways Post Infarction

The American Heart Association reported that in 2004 alone, myocardial infarction (MI) related mortality rate was as high as 38% among the 1.2 million reported MI cases [1]. After an MI, the self-repair capability of the infarcted heart is limited. As a result, the heart undergoes a remodeling process, characterized by progressive weakening of contractile function. It is believed that increased left ventricular (LV) loading to survival myocytes post-MI activates the apoptotic pathways in the cells, leading to progressive loss of cardiomyocytes.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Neuromodulation and Mitochondrial Transport: Live Imaging in Hippocampal Neurons over Long Durations

To understand the relationship between mitochondrial transport and neuronal function, it is critical to observe mitochondrial behavior in live cultured neurons for extended durations(1-3). This is now possible through the use of vital dyes and fluorescent proteins with which cytoskeletal components, organelles, and other structures in living cells can be labeled and then visualized via dynamic fluorescence microscopy. For example, in embryonic chicken sympathetic neurons, mitochondrial movement was characterized using the vital dye rhodamine 123(4). In another study, mitochondria were visualized in rat forebrain neurons by transfection of mitochondrially targeted eYFP(5). However, imaging of primary neurons over minutes, hours, or even days presents a number of issues. Foremost among these are: 1) maintenance of culture conditions such as temperature, humidity, and pH during long imaging sessions; 2) a strong, stable fluorescent signal to assure both the quality of acquired images and accurate measurement of signal intensity during image analysis; and 3) limiting exposure times during image acquisition to minimize photobleaching and avoid phototoxicity. Here, we describe a protocol that permits the observation, visualization, and analysis of mitochondrial movement in cultured hippocampal neurons with high temporal resolution and under optimal life support conditions. We have constructed an affordable stage-top incubator that provides good temperature regulation and atmospheric gas flow, and also limits the degree of media evaporation, assuring stable pH and osmolarity. This incubator is connected, via inlet and outlet hoses, to a standard tissue culture incubator, which provides constant humidity levels and an atmosphere of 5-10% CO(2;)/air. This design offers a cost-effective alternative to significantly more expensive microscope incubators that don't necessarily assure the viability of cells over many hours or even days. To visualize mitochondria, we infect cells with a lentivirus encoding a red fluorescent protein that is targeted to the mitochondrion. This assures a strong and persistent signal, which, in conjunction with the use of a stable xenon light source, allows us to limit exposure times during image acquisition and all but precludes photobleaching and phototoxicity. Two injection ports on the top of the stage-top incubator allow the acute administration of neurotransmitters and other reagents intended to modulate mitochondrial movement. In sum, lentivirus-mediated expression of an organelle-targeted red fluorescent protein and the combination of our stage-top incubator, a conventional inverted fluorescence microscope, CCD camera, and xenon light source allow us to acquire time-lapse images of mitochondrial transport in living neurons over longer durations than those possible in studies deploying conventional vital dyes and off-the-shelf life support systems.
Maritime security and the law: a new piracy statute for the 1990s

The question of updating maritime law concerning piracy is considered in depth. A description of the origins of each article in Chapter 81 of the United States is given. The problems which exist with these laws in their present form and some suggested corrective provisions are also considered. This article addresses itself to all marine professionals, whatever their field of expertise. The macro-view presented hopefully: 1) will convince people that piracy is a contemporary maritime reality, 2) define the general problems with America's piracy law as it now exists, 3) suggest requirements for a new piracy statute, which must deal with the realities of contemporary piracy and the weaknesses in United States law, and 4) offer one view on how such a change in the law can be brought about.
Asymptotic ray theory and synthetic seismograms for laterally varying structures: theory and application to the imperial valley, California

The interpretation of refraction profiles that traverse laterally varying velocity structures has been hindered by lack of a practical algorithm for computing synthetic seismograms to compare with observations. However, a modification of zero-order asymptotic ray theory to incorporate the amplitudes of rays that turn in a velocity gradient, as well as reflected waves, allows the computation of high-frequency synthetic seismograms for laterally varying velocity structures. The method is general in that synthetic seismograms may be computed for any structure through which rays can be traced. We have modeled seismic refraction data from the Imperial Valley, California, by applying this method. A major feature of our model is a sedimentary column that thickens from -4 km at the Salton Sea to -5.5 km at the United StatesMexico border. To approximate the observed amplitude behavior, a dipping velocity discontinuity was modeled near 13-km depth, but velocity gradients were found to be more appropriate than sharp boundaries in the rest of the model.
Plum Curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Adult Mortality and Associated Fruit Injury After Exposure to Field-Aged Insecticides on Tart Cherry Branches

Plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), adults were exposed to field-aged residues of thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, thiacloprid, indoxacarb, or azinphos-methyl on tart cherry, Prunus cerasus L. variety Montmorency. At 1, 3, 7, and 14 d postapplication, fruit were sampled for chemical residues, and bioassays were used to assess beetle mortality and plant tissue injury. Azinphos-methyl had lethal activity within 1 d of exposure at all postapplication intervals and significant fruit protection extended to 14 d postapplication. All of the neonicotinoids had lethal activity at 3 d posttreatment, with acetamiprid activity extending to 7 d. Antifeedant and oviposition deterrent effects were seen with thiamethoxam and thiacloprid; damage incidence was significantly reduced in the absence of significant beetle mortality or intoxication. Thiamethoxam and acetamiprid penetrated into leaf and fruit tissue and were detected in the interior tissues at 14 d postapplication, but interior thiacloprid residues were not detected after day 1. Indoxacarb provided some fruit protection out to 7 d postapplication, and 14-d-old residues intoxicated beetles, but the slow action of this compound allowed significant damage to occur before beetles were incapacitated. Indoxacarb was only detected as a surface residue after the first day postapplication. These data on the plant-insect-chemistry interactions will support use and management decisions as compounds with acute contact activity are phased out.
Effects of Special Olympics International on social competence in persons with mental retardation

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the social and emotional goals of Special Olympics International, specifically whether Special Olympics facilitates social competence and self-esteem in persons with mental retardation. Method Findings were "triangulated" across three studies on the social competence, adaptation, and self-perceptions of 104 athletes from 1993 Team USA (mean age=22 years; mean IQ=59). Study 1 related behavior to athletes' length of time in Special Olympics. Study 2 compared Team USA to an appropriately matched group of non-Special Olympians. Study 3 assessed Team USA before and 4 months after their participation in the World Games held in Salzburg, Austria. Results Relative to age and IQ, length of time in Special Olympics was the most powerful predictor of social competence. Special Olympics athletes had higher social competence scores and more positive self-perceptions than the comparison group. Team USA's behavioral data remained stable over time, suggesting that high pre-Game scores were not simply a function of parental or athlete pre-Game excitement. Conclusions Based on the most conservative meaning of triangulation, more support was found linking Special Olympics to social competence than to remaining behavioral domains.
Biomechanics of the lower thoracic spine after decompression and fusion: a cadaveric analysis

Abstract Background context Few studies have evaluated the extent of biomechanical destabilization of thoracic decompression on the upper and lower thoracic spine. The present study evaluates lower thoracic spinal stability after laminectomy, unilateral facetectomy, and unilateral costotransversectomy in thoracic spines with intact sternocostovertebral articulations. Purpose To assess the biomechanical impact of decompression and fixation procedures on lower thoracic spine stability. Study design Biomechanical cadaveric study. Methods Sequential surgical decompression (laminectomy, unilateral facetectomy, unilateral costotransversectomy) and dorsal fixation were performed on the lower thoracic spine (T8–T9) of human cadaveric spine specimens with intact rib cages (n=10). An industrial robot was used to apply pure moments to simulate flexion-extension (FE), lateral bending (LB), and axial rotation (AR) in the intact specimens and after decompression and fixation. Global range of motion (ROM) between T1–T12 and intrinsic ROM between T7–T11 were measured for each specimen. Results The decompression procedures caused no statistically significant change in either global or intrinsic ROM compared with the intact state. Instrumentation, however, reduced global motion for AR (45° vs. 30°, p=.0001), FE (24° vs. 19°, p=.02), and LB (47° vs. 36°, p=.0001) and for intrinsic motion for AR (17° vs. 4°, p=.0001), FE (8° vs. 1°, p=.0001), and LB (12° vs. 1°, p=.0001). No significant differences were identified between decompression of the upper versus lower thoracic spine, with trends toward significantly greater ROM for AR and lower ROM for LB in the lower thoracic spine. Conclusions The lower thoracic spine was not destabilized by sequential unilateral decompression procedures. Addition of dorsal fixation increased segment rigidity at intrinsic levels and also reduced overall ROM of the lower thoracic spine to a greater extent than did fusing the upper thoracic spine (level of the true ribs). Despite the lack of true ribs, the lower thoracic spine was not significantly different compared with the upper thoracic spine in FE and LB after decompression, although there were trends toward significance for greater AR after decompression. In certain patients, instrumentation may not be needed after unilateral decompression of the lower thoracic spine; further validation and additional clinical studies are warranted.
Finding Shortest Paths With Computational Geometry

We present a heuristic search algorithm for the Rd Manhattan shortest path problem that achieves front-to-front bidirectionality in subquadratic time. In the study of bidirectional search algorithms, front-to-front heuristic computations were thought to be prohibitively expensive (at least quadratic time complexity); our algorithm runs in O(n logd n) time and O(n logd−1 n) space, where n is the number of visited vertices. We achieve this result by embedding the problem in Rd+1 and identifying heuristic calculations as instances of a dynamic closest-point problem, to which we then apply methods from computational geometry.
The emperor has no clothes! long live the emperor! A critique of family systems thinking and a reductionistic proposal

Abstract Family systems thinking is too abstract to be testable and too discontinuous to be related to the field of psychology as a science and as a profession. Its basic untestability might be necessary, but it remains insufficient to account for behavior in the family. After a detailed discussion of these and other shortcomings, a reductionistic proposal submits three major dimensions of family behavior. The major dependent one is development, which is a function of two process functions: the ability to love and the ability to negotiate power. Much published evidence tends to support the present proposal; however, it will be the purpose of future research to question whether two major process functions are necessary to describe behavior in the family or whether additional and/or different functions will be necessary.
American Catholic Historical Societies

Soon after Pope Leo XIII's pastoral letter on historical studies, Saepenumero considerantes, was published on August 18th, 1883, a renewed interest in the field of Catholic historical research became apparent. Once again, great scholars came forward “to undertake the writing of history for the purpose of showing what is true and genuine” in the drama of international ecclesiastical development.
Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications

Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications. STANLEY WASSERMAN and KATHERINE FAUST. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1994. xxxi + 825 pp., illustrations, tables, appendixes, references, indexes.
Universal thermal and electrical transport near the superconductor-metal quantum phase transition in nanowires

The Wiedemann-Franz law relates the low temperature (T) limit of the ratio W ≡ κ/(σT) of the thermal (κ) and electrical (σ) conductivities of metals to the universal Lorenz number L0 = (π 2 /3)(kB/e) 2 . This remarkable relationship is independent of the strength of the interactions between the electrons, relates macroscopic transport properties to fundamental constants of nature, and depends only upon the Fermi statistics and charge of the elementary quasiparticle excitations of the metal. It has been experimentally verified to high precision in a wide range of metals [1], and realizes a sensitive macroscopic test of the quantum statistics of the charge carriers. It is interesting to note the value of the WiedemannFranz ratio in some other important strongly interacting quantum systems. In superconductors, which have low energy bosonic quasiparticle excitations, σ is infinite for a range of T > 0, while κ is finite in the presence of impurities [2], and so W = 0. At quantum phase transitions described by relativistic field theories, such as the superfluid-insulator transition in the Bose Hubbard model, the low energy excitations are strongly coupled and quasiparticles are not well defined; in such theories the conservation of the relativistic stress-energy tensor implies that κ is infinite, and so W = ∞ [3]. Li and Orignac [4] computed W in disordered Luttinger liquids, and found deviations from L0, and found a non-zero universal value for W at the metal-insulator transition for spinless fermions. The present paper will focus on the quantum phase transition between a superconductor and a metal (a SMT). We will consider quasi-one dimensional nanowires with a large number of transverse channels (so that the electronic localization length is much larger than the mean free path (l)) which can model numerous recent experiments [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]. We will describe universal deviations in the value of W from L0, which can serve as sensitive tests of the theory in future experiments. The mean-field theory for the SMT goes back to the early work [14] of Abrikosov and Gorkov (AG): in one of the earliest discussions of a quantum phase transition, they showed that a large enough concentration of magnetic impurities could induce a SMT at T = 0. It has since been shown that such a theory applies in a large variety of situations with ‘pair-breaking’ perturbations: anisotropic superconductors with non-magnetic impurities [15], lower-dimensional superconductors with magnetic fields oriented in a direction parallel to the Cooper pair motion [16], and s-wave superconductors with inhomogeneity in the strength of the attractive BCS interaction [17]. Indeed, it is expected that pair-breaking is present in any experimentally realizable SMT at T = 0: in the nanowire experiments, explicit evidence for pairbreaking magnetic moments on the wire surface was presented recently by Rogachev et al. [13].
Design and evaluation of a phonological phrase parser for Spanish text-to-speech

The paper presents and evaluates a phonological phrase parser for a Spanish text to speech system. The parser consists of three stages: 1) lexical lookup, using a small dictionary (428 words); 2) preliminary phrase boundary placement, using a modification of M.Y. Liberman and K.W. Church's (1992) function group parser; and 3) readjustment of phrase boundaries, using syllable count and punctuation. A corpus of 382 hand parsed sentences (1691 phrases) was used to evaluate the parser. The parser generated almost the same number of phrases (1692) as the hand parsed sentences with 70% (1186) agreement. Suggestions for improving the parser's performance include the expansion of the verb lexicon performing simple morphological analysis for verbs, and relaxing the syllable count in phrases before verb forms.
A Tympanic Membrane Temperature Measurement Technique for Birds

Abstract Since the reliability of rectal temperature as a true indicator of rapid changes in body temperature has been questioned, the tympanic membrane has been proposed to be a more appropriate site for temperature measurement. The tympanic membrane is relatively close to the hypothalamus which is considered to be the location of the thermoregulatory center. A technique for continuously measuring tympanic membrane temperature of birds over an extended period is described.
Chromatic-dispersion compensator using virtually imaged phased array

A new method for chromatic-dispersion compensation is proposed and demonstrated. This method can produce a chromatic dispersion practically in a wide range from -2000 to +2000 ps/nm and can compensate simultaneously for the dispersion of over 60 wavelength channels with 100-GHz spacing in a wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) system that has a total bandwidth of over 50 nm. This method has further attractive features such as very small polarization-state dependence, mechanically variable chromatic dispersion, and potential for small packaging. It was experimentally confirmed that this method compensated for the chromatic dispersion accumulated through 110 km standard single-mode fiber (SMF) at 1.55-/spl mu/m wavelength and that 10-Gb/s signal quality was clearly recovered after the 110-km transmission.
Masking level differences encountered in clinical populations.

Methods for measuring masking level differences (MLDs) at 500 Hz and for spondees were used with 290 subjects: 50 persons with normal hearing and 240 patients with various diseases. Of particular interest was whether techniques currently in clinical use could be used with ease, dispatch, and profit in determining MLD size. The methods selected, which were variations of Bekesy audiometry and speech reception threshold procedures, proved clinically feasible. Results revealed differences in behavior from one group of subjects to another. Although MLDs were not affected by cortical lesions, they were very often abnormally small for patients with eight-nerve tumor, Meniere's disease, or multiple sclerosis. The high incidence of abnormally small MLDs in populations with normal sensitivity to pure tones and speech but with evidence of subcortical central lesions, such as patients with multiple sclerosis, suggests that the MLD tasks can be of diagnostic value in detecting retrocochlear lesions. However, in persons with hearing loss or significant interaural differences in threshold sensitivity, or both, the MLD tests are not always reliable in differentiating cochlear from retrocochlear disease.
Habermas's Sociological and Normative Theory of Law and Democracy: A Reply to Wirts, Flynn, and Zurn

In "Between Facts and Norms" (1996) Habermas presents the more straightforward normative discourse theory of law and democracy, in terms of contemporary legal orders, and then examines, in terms of social theory, whether the theory is plausible, given the complex nature of today’s conditions. The following article focuses in particular on Habermas’ social theory. It is critical of Habermas’ idea of ‘the lifeworld’ and discusses whether the circulation-of-power model might be mapped onto the system – lifeworld model.
Abstract 3817: Nitric oxide-donating aspirin induces G2/M phase cell cycle arrest in human cancer cells by regulating phase transition proteins

NO-aspirin (NO-ASA), consisting of aspirin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and a nitric oxide (NO)-releasing group, is reportedly safer than aspirin and effective in colon cancer chemoprevention. NO-ASA reduced the growth of several cancer cell lines much more potently than aspirin, with IC50 values at 24-h as follows: (a) colon (HT-29, SW480, HCT-15, and LoVo) 174 to 257 µM; (b) pancreas (BxPC-3), 175 µM; (c) skin (A431), 133 µM; (d) cervix (Hela), 240 µM; and (e) breast (MCF-7), 268 µM. In all instances, the IC50 values for the parent compound were >1,000 µM. To assess NO-ASA9s mechanism of action, we studied in vitro its effect on colonocyte kinetics. In all cell lines examined, the growth inhibitory effect of NO-ASA was accompanied by cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase transition. This inhibition directly correlated to altered expression of G2/M transition related proteins. Specifically, NO-ASA had a time- and concentration-dependent effect on the expression of cyclin D1. Here we propose that NO-ASA-mediated G2/M arrest is probably caused by ROS generation. This conclusion is based on (a) treatment with NO-ASA generates ROS in SW480 and (b) the G2/M arrest induced by NO-ASA is abolished on pretreatment with the antioxidant NAC. Thus, NO-ASA9s superior effectiveness compared to traditional aspirin is due in part to its ability to induce G2/M phase cell cycle arrest in human cancer cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3817. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3817
Density functional theory investigation of titanium-tungsten superlattices: Structure and mechanical properties

Titanium (Ti) exhibits the body-centered crystal structure only at high temperatures. The temperature range of this so-called $\ensuremath{\beta}$-Ti phase can be expanded by alloying Ti with tungsten (W). Rather than placing the W atoms in the $\ensuremath{\beta}$-Ti crystal at random, this work applies density functional theory calculations to explore the consequences of an orderly placement in Ti/W superlattice structures. In all examples the W layer remains bcc-like. The stacking direction of the Ti/W superlattice drives the core of the Ti layer toward either a locally hcp- or $\ensuremath{\omega}$-Ti structure, though the latter is mechanically unstable for all but the thinnest W layers. The relative thicknesses of the W and Ti layers as well as the stacking direction influence the formation energies, which consistently fall within a range corresponding roughly to room temperature. Superlattices allow a choice of stacking direction and layer thicknesses, both strongly influencing the material's strength, though not improving the mechanical properties as observed for Ti with randomly placed W particles.
Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status as Sources of Participation: The Case for Ethnic Political Culture

Many studies undertaken in recent decades have documented the effects of socioeconomic status (SES) on political participation. As consensus has grown on the role of socioeconomic status, other factors, like ethnicity, have been relegated to secondary importance. However, variations in levels of participation can be traced, in part, to differences in ethnic political culture. Furthermore, the findings presented in this article indicate that holding socioeconomic status constant does not eliminate the independent impact of ethnicity on political attitudes that affect participation. Ethnicity is shown to have a greater effect than socioeconomic status on levels of participant political culture. How these findings might influence our understanding of social and political inequality is discussed, and students of participation are urged to give more serious attention to the ethnic factor.
Reproducibility of Brachial Vascular Changes with Alterations in End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide

The purpose of this study was to examine the reproducibility of the peripheral vascular response to hypercapnia. Healthy college-aged men (n = 7) and women (n = 10) underwent an iso-oxic 10-mm Hg increase in PetCO2 for 12 min. Brachial artery diameter changes were measured using ultrasound imaging. Two tests were completed on day 1 with 15 min of rest between tests. Tests were repeated on day 2. Paired t-tests, Bland-Altman plots and intra-class correlations (ICCs) determined reproducibility. There were no significant differences in peak dilation within day (5.33 ± 3.73% vs. 4.52 ± 2.49%, p = 0.378). The within-day ICC was poor (0.213). Within-day time-to-peak dilation did not significantly differ (660.0 ± 231.8 s vs. 602.7 ± 259.9 s, p = 0.379), and the ICC was fair (0.416, p = 0.113). Between-day peak dilation did not significantly differ (5.24 ± 3.84% vs. 4.71 ± 3.17%, p = 0.123), and the ICC was fair (0.419). Hypercapnia-induced brachial artery dilation is similar within day and between days. The ICC for peak dilation suggests the methodology is not reproducible.
Group theoretical analysis of the H3++H2↔H5+ reaction

Abstract The H 3 + + H 2 → H 2 + H 3 + proton transfer reaction is complicated due to the proton scrambling from the large amplitude motions in the H 5 + intermediate. In order to understand this reaction, high-resolution spectroscopic studies are necessary for the reactants/products and the intermediate, and the group theoretical analysis is an essential aspect in the prediction and interpretation of these spectra. With five indistinguishable protons, H 5 + is characterized using the G 240 complete nuclear permutation-inversion (CNPI) group. For most of the configurations sampled by the reaction path, the feasible permutations depend on the distance between the H 3 + and H 2 fragments. Subgroups of G 240 can be used to describe these feasible permutations. Specifically, we consider two limits of the molecular configurations. The equilibrium structure of H 5 + , i.e., [ H 2 - H - H 2 ] + , can be described using the G 16 molecular symmetry group, while the dissociation products, i.e., H 3 + ⋯ H 2 , require the G 24 molecular symmetry group. In the present study, a group theoretical analysis is performed for both limits, providing the symmetries for the nuclear spins and rovibrational wave functions. Also, spectroscopic properties for [ H 2 - H - H 2 ] + , particularly rovibrational couplings and electric dipole selection rules, as well as correlations of energy levels between [ H 2 - H - H 2 ] + and H 3 + ⋯ H 2 , are obtained.
Forensic Accounting and Fraud Auditing and Historical Evolution of Auditor's Responsibility

This paper focuses on the relation between forensic accounting and fraud auditing and evolution of auditor's responsibility.The author first analyzes historical evolution of several important auditing reports and standards,and concludes that forensic accounting and fraud auditing and evolution of auditing are closely inter-related.The phenomenon has its social and historical background.And finally,auditors should bear the responsibility in this regard.
Therapeutic Renal Artery Occlusion with a Detachable Balloon

AbstractThe use of a new detachable balloon for renal artery occlusion is described. Successful treatment of renal lesions in 5 patients, including 2 tumors, 2 arteriovenous fistulas and 1 case of malignant hypertension with renal failure, is reported.
Predictors of Children's Self-Care Performance: Testing the Theory of Self-Care Deficit

Orem's theory of self-care deficit proposes relationships between self-care performance and (a) basic conditioning factors, (b) self-care agency, and (c) dependent-care agent performance. The purpose of this study was to examine these proposed relationships in children. The study sample was composed of 414 students in grades 4 through 12, ages 9 through 18 years. Using regression analyses, study findings were that the variables chosen to represent the basic conditioning factors together accounted for 19% of the variance in children's self-care performance. Separately, both age and health state were significant predictors. Additionally, when self-care agency was added to the regression model, the combination accounted for 36% of the variance. A correlational analysis showed a moderate relationship between a child's self-care performance and her or his mothers' dependent-care agent performance. Future research should continue to investigate Orem's theories and the operationalization of the concepts.
Karyotype analysis of the plant-parasitic nematode Heterodera glycines by electron microscopy. 1. The diploid.

Heterodera glycines is a diploid amphimictic nematode with n = 9 chromosomes. Nine normal synaptonemal complexes (SC) were detected following 3-dimensional reconstruction of pachytene nuclei from electron microscopy of serial sections. Regions of unique ‘modified synaptonemal complexes’ (MSC) were observed along 2 SCs. These consist of a heterochromatic knob within which the SC appears either disorganized or stacked in layers of lateral elements. Its function is not known. Recombination nodules and ‘cylindrical granular complexes’, were not observed in H. glycines.
Hidden challenges: Sex offenders legislated into homelessness

SummaryZoning laws that prevent sex offenders from living within close proximity to schools and other places where children congregate have proliferated over the past 10 years. In many communities, few dwellings are compliant with these laws, causing sex offenders to become homeless. First, a brief history of residence restriction laws will be provided and then the research around their impact and effectiveness will be summarized, followed by empirically supported recommendations for reform.FindingsLegislating individuals into homelessness is not sound social policy, nor is it humane. These laws do not conform to what is known about patterns of sexual perpetration and victimization, and thus do little to prevent recidivistic sexual violence. In fact, these policies may undermine the very factors shown by research to be associated with positive reentry and reduced recidivism.ApplicationsThe grand challenge of social justice requires social workers to advocate on behalf of those who are marginalized in our ...
Bolt tension monitoring with reusable fiber Bragg-grating sensors

Bolted/mechanical fastening is one of the oldest and most widely used joining techniques. While it has many advantages such as ease of assembly and repair, it also has some important limitations. One such concern is bolt clamping load control and monitoring during and after joint assembly. Conventionally used torque wrenches can provide only an approximation of the clamping load and cannot be used for load monitoring. Clamping force transducers are bulky, expensive, and cannot usually be incorporated into the bolted joint for continuous load monitoring in the field. In this work, a novel implementation of a transducer device, called here for convenience the “bolt tension monitor,” is described and tested. It utilizes removable and reusable fiber Bragg-grating sensor(s) embedded in a bolt shaft for preload and retained clamping force measurements. While the inherent small size of the fiber Bragg-grating provides precise monitoring without significant effect on the intrinsic properties of the bolt, the embe...
A comprehensive flexoelectric model for droplet interface bilayers acting as sensors and energy harvesters

Droplet interface bilayers have found applications in the development of biologically-inspired mechanosensors. In this research, a comprehensive flexoelectric framework has been developed to predict the mechanoelectric capabilities of the biological membrane under mechanical excitation for sensing and energy harvesting applications. The dynamic behavior of the droplets has been modeled using nonlinear finite element analysis, coupled with a flexoelectric model for predicting the resulting material polarization. This coupled model allows for the prediction of the mechanoelectrical response of the droplets under excitation. Using the developed framework, the potential for sensing and energy harvesting through lipid membranes is investigated.
Investigating cellulose derived glycosaminoglycan mimetic scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering applications.

Articular cartilage has a limited capacity to heal and currently, no treatment exists that can restore normal hyaline cartilage. Creating tissue engineering scaffolds that more closely mimic the native extracellular matrix may be an attractive approach. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which are present in native cartilage tissue, provide signaling and structural cues to cells. This study evaluated the use of a GAG mimetic, derived from cellulose, as a potential scaffold for cartilage repair applications. Fully sulfated, sodium cellulose sulfate (NaCS) was initially evaluated in soluble form as an additive to cell culture media. Human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) chondrogenesis in pellet culture was enhanced with 0.01% NaCS added to induction media as demonstrated by significantly higher gene expression for type II collagen and aggrecan. NaCS was combined with gelatin to form fibrous scaffolds using the electrospinning technique. Scaffolds were characterized for fiber morphology, overall hydrolytic stability, protein/growth factor interaction and for supporting MSC chondrogenesis in vitro. Scaffolds immersed in phosphate buffered saline for up to 56 days had no changes in swelling and no dissolution of NaCS as compared to day 0. Increasing concentrations of the model protein lysozyme and transforming growth factor-beta 3 (TGF-β3) were detected on scaffolds with increasing concentrations of NaCS (p < 0.05). MSC chondrogenesis was enhanced on the scaffold with the lowest NaCS concentration as seen with the highest collagen type II production, collagen type II immunostaining, and expression of cartilage-specific genes. These studies demonstrated the feasibility of cellulose sulfate as a scaffolding material for cartilage tissue engineering.
Data Management Essentials Using SAS and JMP

SAS programming is a creative and iterative process designed to empower you to make the most of your organization's data. This friendly guide provides you with a repertoire of essential SAS tools for data management, whether you are a new or an infrequent user. Most useful to students and programmers with little or no SAS experience, it takes a no-frills, hands-on tutorial approach to getting started with the software. You will find immediate guidance in navigating, exploring, visualizing, cleaning, formatting, and reporting on data using SAS and JMP. Step-by-step demonstrations, screenshots, handy tips, and practical exercises with solutions equip you to explore, interpret, process and summarize data independently, efficiently and effectively.
Resource Management with Deep Reinforcement Learning

Resource management problems in systems and networking often manifest as difficult online decision making tasks where appropriate solutions depend on understanding the workload and environment. Inspired by recent advances in deep reinforcement learning for AI problems, we consider building systems that learn to manage resources directly from experience. We present DeepRM, an example solution that translates the problem of packing tasks with multiple resource demands into a learning problem. Our initial results show that DeepRM performs comparably to state-of-the-art heuristics, adapts to different conditions, converges quickly, and learns strategies that are sensible in hindsight.
Multi-scale object detection by clustering lines

Object detection in cluttered, natural scenes has a high complexity since many local observations compete for object hypotheses. Voting methods provide an efficient solution to this problem. When Hough voting is extended to location and scale, votes naturally become lines through scale space due to the local scale-location-ambiguity. In contrast to this, current voting methods stick to the location-only setting and cast point votes, which require local estimates of scale. Rather than searching for object hypotheses in the Hough accumulator, we propose a weighted, pairwise clustering of voting lines to obtain globally consistent hypotheses directly. In essence, we propose a hierarchical approach that is based on a sparse representation of object boundary shape. Clustering of voting lines (CVL) condenses the information from these edge points in few, globally consistent candidate hypotheses. A final verification stage concludes by refining the candidates. Experiments on the ETHZ shape dataset show that clustering voting lines significantly improves state-of-the-art Hough voting techniques.
Myc Induces Acute Myeloid Leukemia by Conferring Self-Renewal Activity to Committed Myeloid Progenitor Cells That Resist Apoptosis Via Endogenous Mcl-1.

Ectopic expression of Myc in most primary cell types induces apoptosis, and cancer development typically requires additional, anti-apoptotic mutations. We reported previously that ectopic expression of Myc in unfractionated murine bone marrow cells induced rapid onset acute myeloid leukemia (AML) without detectable anti-apoptotic mutations. We hypothesized that AML developed in our model because a subset of normal primary bone marrow cells were inherently resistant to Myc-induced apoptosis. Consistent with this model, seven days of Myc activation in the bone marrow of mice caused the reduction of B-lineage cells while at the same time inducing the expansion of myeloid lineage cells. We sought to determine the mechanism by which myeloid progenitor cells evaded Myc-induced apoptosis, and found that Myc -induced AML cells exhibited a distinct profile of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, including high levels of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member Mcl-1. To prioritize apoptosis genes, we examined AML patient microarray data and found MCL1 to be uniformly expressed at high levels in human AML (94/94, 100%). We used Mcl1 heterozygous mice ( Mcl1 F/null ) as bone marrow donors for transduction-transplantation experiments and found that, compared with Mcl1 wild-type (median survival=60 days), haploinsufficiency for Mcl1 completely protected mice from Myc -induced AML (median survival not reached). Mice transplanted with Mcl1 F/null cells co-expressing Myc and Bcl2 succumbed rapidly to disease (median survival 25 days). In wild-type mice, defined hematopoietic stem and myeloid progenitor cell populations were not significantly increased by Myc activation. However, Myc transduction conferred serial replating ability to sorted hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells including lineage-committed (Lin+Kit+) progenitors cells. These data demonstrate a critical role for Mcl1 in our AML model and suggest that dysregulation of MYC in MCL1 -expressing progenitor cells may mediate AML pathogenesis in humans.
Buccal viral DNA as a trigger for brincidofovir therapy in the mousepox model of smallpox

Orthopoxviruses continue to pose a significant threat to the population as potential agents of bioterrorism. An intentional release of natural or engineered variola virus (VARV) or monkeypox viruses would cause mortality and morbidity in the target population. To address this, antivirals have been developed and evaluated in animal models of smallpox and monkeypox. One such antiviral, brincidofovir (BCV, previously CMX001), has demonstrated high levels of efficacy against orthopoxviruses in animal models and is currently under clinical evaluation for prevention and treatment of diseases caused by cytomegaloviruses and adenoviruses. In this study we use the mousepox model of smallpox to evaluate the relationship between the magnitude of the infectious virus dose and an efficacious BCV therapy outcome when treatment is initiated concomitant with detection of ectromelia virus viral DNA (vDNA) in mouse buccal swabs. We found that vDNA could be detected in buccal swabs of some, but not all infected mice over a range of challenge doses by day 3 or 4 postexposure, when initiation of BCV treatment was efficacious, suggesting that detection of vDNA in buccal swabs could be used as a trigger to initiate BCV treatment of an entire potentially exposed population. However, buccal swabs of some mice did not become positive until 5 days postexposure, when initiation of BCV therapy failed to protect mice that received high doses of virus. And finally, the data suggest that the therapeutic window for efficacious BCV treatment decreases as the virus infectious dose increases. Extrapolating these findings to VARV, the data suggest that treatment should be initiated as soon as possible after exposure and not rely on a diagnostic tool such as the measurement of vDNA in buccal cavity swabs; however, consideration should be given to the fact that the behavior/disease-course of VARV in humans is different from that of ectromelia virus in the mouse.
Postnatal MRI for CDH: A pictorial review of late-presenting and recurrent diaphragmatic defects

Late-presenting or recurrent diaphragmatic defects can pose a diagnostic challenge due to varying clinical presentations. Current diagnostic approaches include plain film radiograph for initial assessment, with other imaging modalities such as fluoroscopy, ultrasound, CT and MRI mainly utilized for troubleshooting. As a radiation-free modality, MRI can provide a more definitive diagnosis in particular cases due to its ability to visualize discontinuity of the diaphragm, distinguishing it from eventration. MRI can also accurately characterize hernia contents, defect location and size. We present our MRI technique and review cases of different hernia types with relevant discussion of the imaging findings and correlation with intraoperative findings. MRI can be a useful diagnostic tool in the assessment of late presenting or recurrent diaphragmatic hernias.
Low-dose methotrexate in the treatment of severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and sarcoid iritis

Objective: To assess the efficacy of low-dose oral methotrexate (MTX) therapy for children with severe iritis. Methods: MTX in a weekly dose of 7.25 to 12.5 mg/m 2 was administered orally to four patients (two with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis [IRA] and two with sarcoidosis) with severe iritis not adequately controlled by topical and systemic corticosteroid therapy. The treatment was initiated with half of the total dose and increased every 2 weeks until the final dose was reached. Iritis was graded from 0 to +4 according to the density of cells in the anterior chamber of the eye. Results: There were three girls and one boy with a mean age of 10.5 years. Two patients were African American and two were Caucasian. The mean age at onset of iritis was 6 years. The mean duration of MTX therapy was 28.8 months. Significant improvement was noted in two of the four patients in ocular inflammation, demonstrated by reduction of cell density from +4 to +1. Two patients had a mild improvement of the iritis. However, corticosteroids were significantly reduced in all patients. One patient was completely off steroids within 30 months of MTX therapy. In the remaining three cases, the steroid dose was successfully tapered from 0.82 mg/kg/d to 0.15 mg/kg/d (mean doses) within a mean duration of 20 months. No side effects were observed with MTX therapy. Conclusion: Low-dose MTX therapy was effective and safe, and displayed steroid-sparing properties in four children with severe iritis.
The Affordable Care Act Appears to Have Narrowed Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Insurance Coverage and Access to Care Among Young Adults.

Prior to the Affordable Care Act, one in three young adults aged 19 to 25 years were uninsured, with substantial racial/ethnic disparities in coverage. We analyzed the separate and cumulative chang...
Standardising Mediocrity: The Use of Student Evaluations to Measure Quality Assurance in Australian Universities

Unsophisticated Likert scale type data collected from students at the end of each unit in their degree program is being used inappropriately by senior managers in Australian universities to measure the "quality" of academic programs. Data such as this has the potential to undermine academic standards and the rigour of curriculum design and assessment tasks by entrenching standards based on the fact that designing and delivering "likeable" and "easy" teaching content to students is a measure of the quality of unit content. Using such data as a way in which senior managers and Heads of Schools in universities then censure or reward individual academics further reinforces mediocrity in an industry sector that is already buried in bureaucratic processes forced upon it by both state and federal governments.