cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THERMAL RESPONSE AND TORQUE RESISTANCE OF FIVE CORTICAL HALF-PINS UNDER SIMULATED INSERTION TECHNIQUE

A model was developed that can quantitate heat generation during placement of half-pins in cortical bone. Five half-pins were tested to assess differences in insertion torque, heat generation, and micro-damage at the pin-bone interface. Thin thermocouple probes were placed 0.5 mm from the track of the pin and within the pin to measure its temperature during insertion. Scanning electron microscopy was used to view the pin-bone interface to assess the microdamage during placement. The design of the tip of the pin influenced insertion torque and heat generation. Higher heat generation was measured when a thermocouple was placed within the pin itself and less was measured when thermocouple probes were placed within bone samples 0.5 mm from the impending pin track. Furthermore, insertion torque and thermal responses were related, but there were no significant differences in microdamage to bone when different pins and drilling/tapping techniques were used. Due to the significant heat generation at the pin-bone interface, proper cooling with saline irrigation should be applied during pin insertion regardless of the design of the pin. The microdamage observed at the surface of the pin track may have significant implications with regard to loosening of pins, but such effects must be studied with in vivo models.
Eliminating Cultural Oppression in the School Curriculum

Colquit identifies the components implicit within the school curriculum that he believes tend to foster cultural oppression and ethnic deprivation of black students. He also points out how schools ...
Efficacy of postoperative chemotherapy using cisplatin plus etoposide in young children with brain tumors.

Neuraxis radiation therapy (RT) for primary intracranial tumors is associated with major late effects if administered to very young children. To control residual tumor and to delay RT, we treated eight young children (median age 6.5 months) with primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors using combination chemotherapy: cisplatin, 20 mg/M2/day plus VP-16, 75 mg/M2/day i.v. for 5 days, given q. 3-6 weeks for 8 cycles. The tumors were medulloblastoma (one), malignant ependymoma (two), primitive neuroectodermal tumor PNET (two), malignant glioma (two), astrocytoma (one). Six had measurable disease; three had positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytopathology. All patients with measurable tumor had initial objective responses (three) complete response [CR], one partial response [PR], two minor response [MR], including cytopathology (three CR of three) and metastatic deposits (two CR of two). One patient relapsed during chemotherapy. Median time to disease progression was 17.5 months; median survival was 34 months. Three patients, none of whom received RT, have prolonged progression-free intervals of 47-67 months to date. Neurodevelopmental progress continued during and after chemotherapy. Chemotherapy toxicity was mild. Median neutrophil nadir was 312/mm3, platelets 72,000. Fever during neutropenia occurred in six of 61 courses. Moderate high-frequency auditory losses were detected in three patients, and mild renal injury (GFR less than 70 ml/min) was detected in two of seven evaluable children. This pilot study demonstrates the apparent efficacy and mild toxicity of 5 day courses of cisplatin plus VP-16, with delayed RT, in young children with CNS neoplasms. A POG treatment protocol that incorporates cisplatin plus VP-16 is evaluating primary chemotherapy with delayed radiotherapy in larger numbers of pediatric brain tumor patients.
M-mode photoacoustic flow imaging

Recently, there has been a growing interest in the development of photoacoustic flow measuring methods aimed to study microvascular blood flow in deep tissue. Here, we describe a method of M-mode photoacoustic flow imaging, where a photoacoustic microscope equipped with a high repetition rate pulsed dye laser is used. As a demonstration, we studied the flow of a diluted suspension of carbon glassy particles in a small tube, and extracted the flow profile. Potentially, the method can be applied to detect the blood flow in microvessels either directly or by injecting optically absorbing particles.
Binary model for two-dimensional magnetic anomalies

Abstract As a tool to search for short geomagnetic polarity events recorded in the oceanic crust, a new computer algorithm has been devised to model oceanic magnetic anomalies. The main departure of the present approach from earlier analyses is to impose an additional constraint on the model: The blocks representing the magnetic layer all have the same intensity of magnetization except for a binary multiplier of plus or minus unity. This constraint permits the use of blocks with very small widths. Different magnetic profiles can be correlated by simple stacking of models so that real events will reinforce each other. The technique has been applied to the East Pacific Rise with reasonable results.
Excitation of inclinations in ring-satellite systems

Resonant gravitational interactions between a ring and a satellite produce secular variations of their orbital inclinations. Interactions at vertical resonances, analogous to Lindblad resonances but involving inclinations instead of eccentricities, excite inclinations. There is no inclination analog of the corotation resonance. An equatorial ring changes the inclination of a nearby satellite in qualitatively the same way that a satellite in an equatorial orbit changes the inclination of a nearby ring. Viscous dissipation in a ring leads to an equilibrium value of its inclination. These results provide a basis for discussing the origins of the inclinations of planetary rings.
Effects of several antimalarials and phenothiazine compounds on the formation of coat structure from clathrin

Abstract We have evaluated the effects of two phenothiazine and several antimalarial drugs on the rates of polymerization of 8S clathrin molecules to 300S coat structures. Most of the drugs investigated have been shown in other studies to inhibit receptor-mediated endocytosis through the coated pit regions of plasma membranes. The two types of drugs were found to accelerate the polymerization rate without having much effect on the size distribution of the polymer species. The activities of the drugs appear to depend on a dibasic moiety and a large, hydrophobic aromatic ring in their structures.
Photoactivated methods for enabling cartilage-to-cartilage tissue fixation

The present study investigates whether photoactivated attachment of cartilage can provide a viable method for more effective repair of damaged articular surfaces by providing an alternative to sutures, barbs, or fibrin glues for initial fixation. Unlike artificial materials, biological constructs do not possess the initial strength for press-fitting and are instead sutured or pinned in place, typically inducing even more tissue trauma. A possible alternative involves the application of a photosensitive material, which is then photoactivated with a laser source to attach the implant and host tissues together in either a photothermal or photochemical process. The photothermal version of this method shows potential, but has been almost entirely applied to vascularized tissues. Cartilage, however, exhibits several characteristics that produce appreciable differences between applying and refining these techniques when compared to previous efforts involving vascularized tissues. Preliminary investigations involving photochemical photosensitizers based on singlet oxygen and electron transfer mechanisms are discussed, and characterization of the photodynamic effects on bulk collagen gels as a simplified model system using FTIR is performed. Previous efforts using photothermal welding applied to cartilaginous tissues are reviewed.
Correlation between thermal electron transfer in solution and photoelectron emission

The activation free energy for electron transfer in solution or at electrodes is correlated to the corresponding Franck—Condon determined reorganization free energy Rm for photoelectron emission. Excellent to fair agreement is obtained between the activation free energies predicted from Rm and experimental values. Data are given for V2+, Cr2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, and Fe(CN)4−6 in aqueous solution.
Coupling continuum to molecular-dynamics simulation: Reflecting particle method and the field estimator

We propose a method to induce microchannel (Poiseuille) flow in a molecular-dynamics simulation by introducing a partially reflecting ``membrane'' as a means of driving the fluid flow while conserving particle number and total energy. We also develop a method to estimate various continuous macroscopic fields from particle data, based on maximum likelihood inference. A general statistical approach is discussed for coupling the continuum with molecular-dynamics simulation with emphasis on minimal disturbance to particle dynamics, which is to be fully developed later.
Ultra Low-Loss 50-70 GHz SPDT Switch in 90 nm CMOS

This paper presents an ultra-low-loss 50-70 GHz single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch built using a standard 90 nm CMOS process. The switch is based on λ/4 transmission lines with shunt inductors at the output matching network. The SPDT switch results in a measured insertion loss of 1.5-1.6 dB at 53-60 GHz and 25 dB, and the output port-to-port isolation is > 27 dB at 50-70 GHz. The measured P1dB is 13.5 dBm with a corresponding IIP3 of 22.5 dBm at 60 GHz. The return loss is better than -8 dB at 50-70 GHz. The active chip area is 0.5 × 0.55 mm2 and can be reduced in future designs by folding the on λ/4 transmission lines. To our knowledge, this paper presents the lowest insertion loss 60 GHz SPDT in any CMOS technology.
Hindbrain catecholamine neurons contribute to control of daily food intake during chronic leptin treatment.

Chronic leptin treatment sufficient to cause profound reduction of food intake and body weight does not suppress glucoprivic feeding, a control of feeding that requires hindbrain catecholamine neurons. Therefore, we speculated that hindbrain catecholamine neurons may function during leptin treatment to avert brain glucose deficit. If so, elimination of these neurons would potentiate reduction of food intake during chronic leptin treatment. To test this hypothesis, we microinjected the immunotoxin, anti-dopamine beta-hydroxylase saporin (DSAP) or IgG-saporin control (SAP), into the PVH to retrogradely destroy catecholamine neurons with projections to the hypothalamus. This DSAP lesion selectively abolishes the glucoprivic control of feeding, but does not cause anorexia or loss of body weight during ad libitum access to food. Beginning 2 weeks after injections, we administered leptin into the lateral cerebroventricle daily and measured food (standard chow) intake, body weight and plasma metabolic fuels. We found that leptin treatment caused clear changes in plasma NEFA, glycerol and triglyceride levels, but these did not differ between DSAP and SAP rats. However, DSAP lesions significantly reduced food intake during leptin treatment and potentiated leptin-induced weight loss. DSAP-lesioned rats also had lower plasma glucose levels than SAP rats beginning on day 8 of leptin treatment. Results reveal a contribution of hindbrain catecholamine neurons to control of feeding and energy homeostasis during chronic leptin. Catecholamine neurons and/or the glucoprivic control may play a more prominent role in control of daily food intake in the absence of body fat stores.
Dietary Factors Influencing Zinc Absorption

Marginal zinc deficiency and suboptimal zinc status have been recognized in many groups of the population in both less developed and industrialized countries. Although the cause in some cases may be inadequate dietary intake of zinc, inhibitors of zinc absorption are most likely the most common causative factor. Phytate, which is present in staple foods like cereals, corn and rice, has a strong negative effect on zinc absorption from composite meals. Inositol hexaphosphates and pentaphosphates are the phytate forms that exert these negative effects, whereas the lower phosphates have no or little effect on zinc absorption. The removal or reduction of phytate by enzyme (phytase) treatment, precipitation methods, germination, fermentation or plant breeding/genetic engineering markedly improves zinc absorption. Iron can have a negative effect on zinc absorption, if given together in a supplement, whereas no effect is observed when the same amounts are present in a meal as fortificants. Cadmium, which is increasing in the environment, also inhibits zinc absorption. The amount of protein in a meal has a positive effect on zinc absorption, but individual proteins may act differently; e.g., casein has a modest inhibitory effect of zinc absorption compared with other protein sources. Amino acids, such as histidine and methionine, and other low-molecular-weight ions, such as EDTA and organic acids (e.g., citrate), are known to have a positive effect on zinc absorption and have been used for zinc supplements. Knowledge about dietary factors that inhibit zinc absorption and about ways to overcome or remove these factors is essential when designing strategies to improve the zinc nutrition of vulnerable groups.
Oxindoles and Spirocyclic Variations: Strategies for C3 Functionalization

This chapter provides an overview of emerging strategies for the selective introduction of functionality at oxindole C3. Specific emphasis has been devoted toward asymmetric methods for the introduction of C3 quaternary centers and spirocyclic ring systems. The chapter has been divided into two sections on general methodology for the stereoselective synthesis of oxindoles and spirooxindoles, respectively. A third section is devoted toward efforts in natural product total synthesis involving oxindole or spirocyclic variants as targets or key intermediates.
Localization of immunoreactive transthyretin (prealbumin) and of transthyretin mRNA in fetal and adult rat brain

Abstract We used a combination of immunohistochemical and molecular-biological techniques to investigate the localization of transthyretin (TTR) in the brains of adult and fetal rats. The immunohistochemical studies employed antibodies purified by immunosorbent affinity chromatography, permitting the specific staining and localization of TTR using the unlabeled peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. TTR mRNA levels were measured by Northern-blot analysis of poly (A+) RNA, followed by hybridization to 32 P-labeled TTR cDNA; TTR mRNA was localized in brain tissue sections by in situ hybridization. Immunoreactive TTR was found to be specifically localized in the choroid plexus epithelial cells of adult rat brain. High levels of TTR mRNA were found in poly (A+) RNA samples obtained from the choroid plexus. In addition, the specific localization of TTR mRNA in the epithelial cells of the choroid plexus was demonstrated by in situ hybridization. Neither immunoreactive TTR nor TTR mRNA were found in other regions of adult rat brains. The levels of TTR mRNA in the choroid plexus were at least 30 times higher than those observed in the adult liver. Immunoreactive TTR was observed in the brains of fetal rats on as early as the 11th day of gestation. This immunoreactive TTR was localized in the tela choroidea, the developmental forerunner of the choroid plexus. Immunoreactive TTR was also observed in the fetal choroid plexus as it began to form (14th day of gestation) as well as in the more completely developed choroid plexus (18th day of gestation). Finally, TTR mRNA was detectable in the brain of fetal rats at 16 days of gestation, and in the head of fetal rats at 14 days of gestation. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that the choroid plexus epithelium synthesizes TTR de novo and secretes it into the cerebrospinal fluid, and that TTR synthesis begins in the developing fetal rat brain before the formation of the choroid plexus (in the tela choroidea). The role that TTR plays in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of the developing and adult rat remains to be determined.
Health services utilization during terminal illness in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Objectives We describe modern and alternative health services use in terminal illness of adults, and assess whether utilization patterns of TB/AIDS patients are distinct from those of patients suffering from other illnesses. Methods Data are from post-mortem interviews with close relatives or caretakers of the deceased. We provide descriptive statistics of health care utilization in adults and discuss their covariates in multivariate analyses. Results Over 85% of terminally sick patients visited a modern medical facility, but less than 40% spent more than 24 hours in a medical facility and only 25% died in one. Traditional healer (11%) and holy water (46%) visits offer a common treatment and healing alternative, but these visits do not co-vary in any consistent manner with the utilization of modern medical services. In terms of the cause of death, we find a higher contact rate with both modern and alternative medical service providers among TB/AIDS patients compared with those suffering from other medical conditions. The duration of illness seems to account for a good share of that variability. Other covariates of health services utilization are socio-economic status, education and age. Conclusions The contact rate of adults with modern medical facilities in terminal illness is almost universal, but their usage intensity is rather low. Alternative curative options are less commonly used, and do not exclude modern health services use. This suggests that both types of services are considered complements rather than alternatives for each other. Because the contact rate with health service providers is greatest for TB/AIDS patients, it is unlikely that HIV/AIDS-related stigma is an impediment to seeking care. We cannot exclude, however, that it delays health-seeking behaviour.
Obesogenic Dietary Practices of Latino and Asian Subgroups of Children in California: An Analysis of the California Health Interview Survey, 2007–2012

Objectives. We examined obesogenic dietary practices among Latino and Asian subgroups of children living in California.Methods. We analyzed 2007, 2009, and 2011–2012 California Health Interview Survey data to examine the differences in dietary practices among Mexican and non-Mexican Latino children and 7 ethnic subgroups of Asian children. We used multivariable regression to examine the sociodemographic factors associated with specific dietary practices.Results. Latino subgroups of children had few differences in obesogenic dietary practices, whereas Asian subgroups of children exhibited significant differences in several obesogenic dietary practices. Korean and Filipino children were more likely than Chinese children to consume fast food and have low vegetable intake. Filipino children, followed by Japanese children, had the most obesogenic dietary practices compared with Chinese children, who along with South Asian children appeared to have the least obesogenic dietary practices. In general, income, edu...
Modulation by swell of waves and wave groups on the ocean

Two of the simpler nonlinear wave systems on water of uniform depth are permanent waves and wave groups of permanent envelope. The interaction of each of these wave systems with swell of much smaller amplitude and greater wavelength, propagating in the same direction, is investigated analytically and numerically. A linear-stability analysis of the modulation of these systems by swell shows that they are unstable over short times. Calculations of their evolution over longer times confirms that the initial exponential growth of the modulations is not sustained, and that cyclic recurrence of the modulations occurs in some cases. The modulation of a wave train by swell is found to concentrate the energy of the wave train into single waves in turn, a process which may cause irreversible nonlinear changes such as wave breaking. In contrast, the only observable effect in the modulation of a wave group by swell is a small slow oscillation of the envelope of the group as it propagates. The conclusion is that wave trains on the ocean, generated for example by a wind system of long fetch and duration, disintegrate under the modulation of swell. Wave groups, however, either wind-generated or resulting from the breakdown of wave trains, propagate almost unchanged by the presence of swell.
What-Where-When memory in the rodent Odor Span Task

Abstract While the Odor Span Task (OST) was developed to assess working memory in rodents, it appears that odor (“What”) and time since an odor was last reinforced (“When”) jointly control responding in the OST. The OST uses an incrementing non-match to sample procedure such that the number of stimuli to remember increases during the session; the rodent is trained to remember stimuli within a session but not between sessions. We used a variation of the OST to add a “Where” dimension to the task to examine whether rodents could learn to respond to scents based on contextual cues as well. In Experiment 1, six rats well-trained on the OST procedure were exposed to four target scents in a holding cage before the OST session began [What-Where-When (WWW) condition]. When these target scents appeared in the OST, rats treated them as novel scents despite their being previously encountered that day; WWW responding was comparable to baseline (BL) responding. Controls were implemented to account for relative familiarity: frequency of target presentation and time since the target odor was presented. On both types of control probes, rats typically responded to target scents less than during WWW or BL conditions, took longer to make a response, and visited more comparison stimuli. In Experiment 2, the study was replicated adding reinforcement delivery for responding to pre-session presentation of target stimuli. Subjects were the same six rats plus two additional rats also well-trained on the OST. Results were similar to those from Experiment 1. These data indicate that the variables controlling performance on the OST task include What stimulus is presented, Where (i.e., in which location) it was presented, and When it was presented. Thus, the OST-probe methodology may provide a useful vehicle for the study of episodic-like memory processes in non-humans.
Stiffness and neuromuscular reflex response of the human spine to posteroanterior manipulative thrusts in patients with low back pain

Abstract Background: Studies investigating posteroanterior (PA) forces in spinal stiffness assessment have shown relationships to spinal level, body type, and lumbar extensor muscle activity. Such measures may be important determinants in discriminating between patients who are asymptomatic and those who have low back pain. However, little objective evidence is available concerning variations in PA stiffness and their clinical significance. Moreover, although several studies have assessed only load input in relation to stiffness, a more complete assessment based on dynamic stiffness measurements (force/velocity) and concomitant neuromuscular response may offer more information concerning mechanical properties of the low back. Objective: To determine the stiffness and neuromuscular characteristics of the symptomatic low back. Study Design: This study is a prospective clinical study investigating the in vivo mechanical and muscular behavior of human lumbar spinal segments to high loading rate PA manipulative thrusts in research subjects with low back pain (LBP). Methods: Twelve men and 10 women, aged 15 to 73 years (mean age of 42.8 ± 17.5 years) underwent physical examination and completed outcome assessment instruments, including Visual Analog Scale, Oswestry Low Back Disability Index, and SF-36 health status questionnaires. Clinical categorization was made on the basis of symptom frequency and LBP history. A hand-held spinal manipulation device, equipped with a preload control frame and impedance head, was used to deliver high-rate (
The Timing Hypothesis and Hormone Replacement Therapy: A Paradigm Shift in the Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Women. Part 1: Comparison of Therapeutic Efficacy

The long-held belief that outcome data from intervention trials in men are generalizable to women has created the framework in which the primary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) in women is viewed, but over the past decade, data have accumulated to refute such a supposition of generalizability. These lines of evidence concern the sex-specific efficacy of CHD primary prevention therapies and timing of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) initiation according to age and time since menopause as modifiers of efficacy and risk. Although the standard primary prevention therapies of statins and aspirin reduce CHD in men, neither therapy reduces CHD and, more importantly, mortality in women under primary prevention conditions. Nonetheless, HRT significantly reduces CHD and mortality in primary prevention when it is initiated in women who are younger than 60 or are less than 10 years since menopause. Herein, the efficacy of the commonly used therapies for the primary prevention of CHD in women, statins, aspirin, and postmenopausal HRT is discussed. The comparative risks of these therapies will be discussed in Part 2 of this series.
Quantitative polarized infrared analysis of trace OH in populations of randomly oriented mineral grains

Use of infrared spectroscopy as an accurate, quantitative method to measure concentrations of hydrous species in minerals requires consideration of the interactions of anisotropic crystals with infrared light. Ensuring that contributions are identified from species at all orientations in the crystal requires combining three measurements, taken with the electric field polarized along three mutually perpendicular directions. This is typically accomplished by determining the orientation of a crystal in advance, and then sectioning it perpendicular to its principal axes. In many instances, however, natural or experimental samples are not suitable for such handling. Here we demonstrate a method that instead uses at least three randomly sectioned grains, considered to be multiple samples of a homogeneous population. We explain the theory whereby: (1) the orientations of the polarization vectors of measurements taken on these grains are determined by comparison to oriented standards of the same mineral, and (2) the principal-axis spectra of the sample are synthesized from the randomly oriented spectra. By comparison to complementary electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) data, we demonstrate that determination of orientations using the silicate overtone bands in Fourier-Transform infrared (FTIR) spectra is accurate and precise, with typical angular errors of 6°. We show that this precision is sufficient for the synthetic principal-axis spectra to be essentially indistinguishable from X-ray oriented standard spectra. We demonstrate the application of this technique to determining the OH concentrations in a population of hydrated olivine grains recovered from a high-pressure, high-temperature multi-anvil experiment.
Contribution of the second stage of labour to pelvic floor dysfunction: a prospective cohort comparison of nulliparous women.

Objective Maternal expulsive efforts are thought to damage the pelvic floor. We aimed to compare pelvic floor function and anatomy between women who delivered vaginally (VB) versus those with caesarean delivery (CD) prior to the second stage of labour. Design Prospective cohort. Setting University Hospital Midwifery practice. Population Nulliparas. Methods Pregnant nulliparas were recruited during pregnancy and women who underwent CD prior to the 2nd stage of labour at birth were recruited immediately postpartum. Both groups were followed prospectively to 6 months postpartum. Main outcome measures POPQ, perineal ultrasound (U/S) and Paper Towel Test (PTT), an objective measure of stress incontinence; Incontinence Severity Index (ISI), Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7), Wexner Fecal Incontinence Scale (W) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Results 336/448 (75%) VB and 138/224 (62%) CD followed up. The VB group was younger (23.9 ± 4.9 versus 26.6 ± 6.1 years, P 0.05). At follow-up, urinary incontinence (UI) (55 versus 46% ISI > 0, P = 0.10), fecal incontinence (FI) (8 versus 13% FI on W, P = 0.12), sexual activity rates (88 versus 92%, P = 0.18) and PFIQ-seven scores were similar. Positive PTT tests (17 versus 6%, P = 0.002) and ≥ Stage 2 prolapse (22 versus 15%, P = 0.03) were higher with VB; differences were limited to points Aa and Ba. U/S findings were not different between groups. Stepwise multivariate analyses controlling for age, body mass index, and non-Hispanic White race for prolapse of points Aa and Ba did not alter conclusions (all P < 0.004). Conclusions VB resulted in prolapse changes and objective UI but not in increased self-report pelvic floor dysfunction at 6 months postpartum compared with women who delivered by CD prior to the second stage of labour. The second stage of labour had a modest effect on postpartum pelvic floor function.
Interplanetary gas. XXVII - A catalog of disconnection events in cometary plasma tails

A catalog of 72 disconnection event (DES) in cometary plasma tails is presented as a basic data source for cometary and solar wind analysis. The events span the period 1892-1976, and are characterized on the basis of photographic observations. From the observed kinematics of rejected tails, methods are derived to calculate an estimated time of tail disconnection for each DE, either from the average law of motion for DEs lacking velocity measurements, or from the observed velocities. The geometric circumstances of each DE at the times of separation and observation are also tabulated, and a brief description of each event is presented.
Distribution of the Balsam Woolly Aphid Predator, Leucopis obscura, in Maine

Leucopis obscura Haliday is a native of Europe where it attacks many aphids of conifers including the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae Ratzeburg (McLeod et al. 1962). This host relationship prompted the introduction of L. obscura into the Province of New Brunswick balsam woolly aphid infestation near Fredericton, by the Canada Department of Agriculture in 1933 and 1934 (McLeod et al. 1962). During the next few years the predator became numerous in the area (Balch 1952) and releases of it were made in other parts of the Maritimes from the Fredericton source (McLeod et al. 1962, Smith and Coppel 1957). By 1947 and 1948 L. obscura was considered to be established throughout most of the area in Canada where A. piceae occurred (Brown and Clark 1957).
How to Fail as a Therapist: 50 Ways to Lose or Damage Your Patients

Bernard Schwartz & John V. Flowers. (2006). How to Fail as a Therapist: 50 Ways to Lose or Damage Your Patients.
Direct speech feature estimation using an iterative EM algorithm for vocal fold pathology detection

The focus of this study is to formulate a speech parameter estimation algorithm for analysis/detection of vocal fold pathology. The speech processing algorithm proposed estimates features necessary to formulate a stochastic model to characterize healthy and pathology conditions from speech recordings. The general idea is to separate speech components under healthy and assumed pathology conditions. This problem is addressed using an iterative maximum-likelihood (ML) estimation procedure, based on the estimation-maximization (EM) algorithm. A new feature for characterizing pathology, termed enhanced-spectral-pathology component (ESPC), is estimated and shown to vary consistently between healthy and pathology conditions. It is also shown that the mean-area-peak-value (MAPV) and the weighted-slope (WSLOPE) indexes, which are obtained from the ESPC estimate, are meaningful measures of speech pathology conditions. For classification purposes, a five-state hidden-Markov-model (HMM) recognizer was formulated, based on the MAPV, WSLOPE, and ESPC spectral features. A set of log Mel-frequency filter bank coefficients were used to parameterize the ESPC feature. An evaluation of the HMM-based classifier was performed using speech recordings from healthy and vocal fold cancer patients of sustained vowel sounds. It is shown that while both MAPV and WSLOPE are useful features for vocal fold pathology detection, superior performance was achieved using a finer spectral representation of ESPC (e.g., a detection rate of 88.7% for pathology and 92.8% for healthy condition). One main advantage of the proposed method is that it does not require direct estimation of the glottal flow waveform. Therefore, the limitation of the inability to characterize vocal fold pathology, due to incomplete glottal closure, is no longer an issue. The results suggest that general analysis of the ESPC feature can provide a quantitative, noninvasive approach for analysis, detection, and characterization of speech production under vocal fold pathology.
Reliability in grid computing systems

In recent years, grid technology has emerged as an important tool for solving compute-intensive problems within the scientific community and in industry. To further the development and adoption of this technology, researchers and practitioners from different disciplines have collaborated to produce standard specifications for implementing large-scale, interoperable grid systems. The focus of this activity has been the Open Grid Forum, but other standards development organizations have also produced specifications that are used in grid systems. To date, these specifications have provided the basis for a growing number of operational grid systems used in scientific and industrial applications. However, if the growth of grid technology is to continue, it will be important that grid systems also provide high reliability. In particular, it will be critical to ensure that grid systems are reliable as they continue to grow in scale, exhibit greater dynamism, and become more heterogeneous in composition. Ensuring grid system reliability in turn requires that the specifications used to build these systems fully support reliable grid services. This study surveys work on grid reliability that has been done in recent years and reviews progress made toward achieving these goals. The survey identifies important issues and problems that researchers are working to overcome in order to develop reliability methods for large-scale, heterogeneous, dynamic environments. The survey also illuminates reliability issues relating to standard specifications used in grid systems, identifying existing specifications that may need to be evolved and areas where new specifications are needed to better support the reliability. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the U.S.A.
Global Capitalism: What's Race Got to Do With It?

This article addresses the relationship between nationalist projects of subject making and capitalist political economy. Using the United States as an illustrative case, I suggest that the capitalist project of labor-force creation articulates with nationalist projects in the ethnoracial construction of workers and national subjects. Taking the situations of U.S. Jews and women as my main window, I propose that anthropologists should think of race as a relationship to the means of production and racial constructions of manhood and womanhood as the corporeal embodiments of that relationship.[race, nationalism, class, gender, Jews, capitalism]
HIV protease inhibitors acutely impair glucose-stimulated insulin release.

HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) acutely and reversibly inhibit the insulin-responsive glucose transporter Glut 4, leading to peripheral insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance. Minimal modeling analysis of glucose tolerance tests on PI-treated patients has revealed an impaired insulin secretory response, suggesting additional pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. To determine whether β-cell function is acutely affected by PIs, we assayed glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in rodent islets and the insulinoma cell line MIN6. Insulin release from MIN6 cells and rodent islets was significantly inhibited by the PI indinavir with IC50 values of 1.1 and 2.1 μmol/l, respectively. The uptake of 2-deoxyglucose in MIN6 cells was similarly inhibited (IC50 of 2.0 μmol/l), whereas glucokinase activity was unaffected at drug levels as high as 1 mmol/l. Glucose utilization was also impaired at comparable drug levels. Insulin secretogogues acting downstream of glucose transport mostly reversed the indinavir-mediated inhibition of insulin release in MIN6 cells. Intravenous infusion of indinavir during hyperglycemic clamps on rats significantly suppressed the first-phase insulin response. These data suggest that therapeutic levels of PIs are sufficient to impair glucose sensing by β-cells. Thus, together with peripheral insulin resistance, β-cell dysfunction likely contributes to altered glucose homeostasis associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.
The Electromagnetic Articulography Mandarin Accented English (EMA-MAE) Corpus of Acoustic and 3D Articulatory Kinematic Data

There is a significant need for more comprehensive electromagnetic articulography (EMA) datasets that can provide matched acoustics and articulatory kinematic data with good spatial and temporal resolution. The Marquette University Electromagnetic Articulography Mandarin Accented English (EMA-MAE) corpus provides kinematic and acoustic data from 40 gender and dialect balanced speakers representing 20 Midwestern standard American English L1 speakers and 20 Mandarin Accented English (MAE) L2 speakers, half Beijing region dialect and half are Shanghai region dialect. Three dimensional EMA data were collected at a 400 Hz sampling rate using the NDI Wave system, with articulatory sensors on the midsagittal lips, lower incisors, tongue blade and dorsum, plus lateral lip corner and tongue body. Sensors provide three-dimensional position data as well as two-dimensional orientation data representing the orientation of the sensor plane. Data have been corrected for head movement relative to a fixed reference sensor and also adjusted using a biteplate calibration system to place the data in an articulatory working space relative to each subject’s individual midsagittal and maxillary occlusal planes. Speech materials include isolated words chosen to focus on specific contrasts between the English and Mandarin languages, as well as sentences and paragraphs for continuous speech, totaling approximately 45 minutes of data per subject. A beta version of the EMA-MAE corpus is now available, and the full corpus is in preparation for public release to help advance research in areas such as pronunciation modeling, acoustic-articulatory inversion, L1-L2 comparisons, pronunciation error detection, and accent modification training.
Cone-and-Plate Shear Stress Adhesive Test

Abstract A test geometry is described which will produce a state of essentially pure constant shear stress in an adhesive bond. The adherends are fabricated from two cylindrical elements, one with a convex conical end section and the other with a flat plate end section. The axes of these two cylinders are aligned and the two end sections are bonded together with the test adhesive. The adhesive test volume is a disk with conical indentation. An analysis of the state of stress in the adhesive, with torsional loading of the adherends, shows that a single component of shear stress is present and this shear stress is essentially constant throughout the adhesive volume for small values of the cone angular opening. The advantages of a constant shear stress adhesive test are many and one of the most significant is the ability to accurately measure in-situ material properties. Preliminary test results are reported.
Forest Society: A Social History of Petén, Guatemala.

Forest Society: A Social History of Peten, Guatemala. NORMAN B. SCHWARTZ. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1990. 363 pp. $30.95 (cloth), $13.95 (paper). ISBN 0-8122^8248-5, ISBN 0-8122-1316-5.
Comparison of Pneumatic and Automatic Spout Samplers to Determine Grade of Farmers Stock Peanuts

Abstract There were significant differences in performance of the pneumatic sampler (PS) and automatic spout sampler (ASpS) as determined by differences in mean values or variability for several grade factors. Significant differences in mean were found for loose shelled kernels (LSK), foreign material (FM), sound mature kernels (SMK) and other kernels (OK). Significant differences in variability were also found for LSK, sound mature kernels plus sound splits (SMK+SS) and total kernels (TK). The mean LSK averaged 1.6 percentage points higher for samples taken with the PS than for those taken with the ASpS. Evidently the PS shelled out a small percentage of the peanuts during the sampling process. This shelling action of the PS may have contributed to the slightly higher estimations of foreign material (FM) and other kernels (OK) and the slightly lower estimation of total sound mature kernels (SMK+SS) than obtained with the ASpS. When applying 1988 quota prices to the average grade for these 14 loads of pea...
Chronic Stress, Depressive Symptoms, Anger, Hostility, and Risk of Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background and Purpose—This study investigated chronic stress, depressive symptoms, anger, and hostility in relation to incident stroke and transient ischemic attacks in middle-aged and older adults. Methods—Data were from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a population-based cohort study of 6749 adults, aged 45 to 84 years and free of clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline, conducted at 6 US sites. Chronic stress, depressive symptoms, trait anger, and hostility were assessed with standard questionnaires. The primary outcome was clinically adjudicated incident stroke or transient ischemic attacks during a median follow-up of 8.5 years. Results—One hundred ninety-five incident events (147 strokes; 48 transient ischemic attacks) occurred during follow-up. A gradient of increasing risk was observed for depressive symptoms, chronic stress, and hostility (all P for trend ≤0.02) but not for trait anger (P>0.10). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals indicated significantly elevate...
Multi-sectorial collaboration on child passenger safety promotion

Background: Traffic injury is a major risk factor among children  Traffic injury is a leading cause of injuries among Chinese children aged 0 to 14.1  Nowadays, family car ownership has reached 60 million in China2 Objectives:  Raise the public awareness on child passenger safety and correct usage of car seats, especially among parents through multi-sectorial collaboration Methods:  Introduce global evidence-based safety messages and technology into China  Maximize limited resources to enhance the program impact by collaboration with multi-sectors Results:  Public Awareness - Launched an ad by collaboration of Shanghai Police and had the ad aired on all the bus lines in Shanghai - Held media events with a private sector support, advocating in-and around the car safety for children, which gained 121 media reports  Education to parents and children - Educational curriculum was developed for education to parents and children by a support from a private sector - The curriculum was delivered to over 100...
An Exploration into Fern Genome Space

Ferns are one of the few remaining major clades of land plants for which a complete genome sequence is lacking. Knowledge of genome space in ferns will enable broad-scale comparative analyses of land plant genes and genomes, provide insights into genome evolution across green plants, and shed light on genetic and genomic features that characterize ferns, such as their high chromosome numbers and large genome sizes. As part of an initial exploration into fern genome space, we used a whole genome shotgun sequencing approach to obtain low-density coverage (∼0.4X to 2X) for six fern species from the Polypodiales (Ceratopteris, Pteridium, Polypodium, Cystopteris), Cyatheales (Plagiogyria), and Gleicheniales (Dipteris). We explore these data to characterize the proportion of the nuclear genome represented by repetitive sequences (including DNA transposons, retrotransposons, ribosomal DNA, and simple repeats) and protein-coding genes, and to extract chloroplast and mitochondrial genome sequences. Such initial sweeps of fern genomes can provide information useful for selecting a promising candidate fern species for whole genome sequencing. We also describe variation of genomic traits across our sample and highlight some differences and similarities in repeat structure between ferns and seed plants.
Future distribution of cotton and wheat in Australia under potential climate change

The present study applies refined and improved scenarios for climate change to quantify the effects of potential alterations in climatic factors on localities for wheat and cotton production, which are two crops important to Australia's economy. The future distributions of Gossypium (cotton) and Triticum aestivum L. (wheat) were modelled using CLIMEX software with the A2 emission scenario generated by CSIRO-Mk3·0 and MIROC-H global climate models. The results were correlated to identify areas suitable for these economically important crops for the years 2030, 2050, 2070 and 2100 in Australia. The analysis shows that the areas where wheat and cotton can be grown in Australia will diminish from 2030 to 2050 and 2070 through to 2100. While cotton can be grown over extensive areas of the country until 2070, the area grown to wheat will decrease significantly over the period.
Cancer therapy and survivorship.

The problem of disparities in medical care and clinical outcomes affecting people of color and those living in poverty is convincingly documented by a growing body of evidence from many fields of medicine [(1)][1] . Cancer care is no exception [(2][2] [, 3)][3] . An often neglected question is what
Issues of Raising the First Children in Space

A list of issues about “Raising Children in Space Settlements” is presented. General topics include: What physical support is needed to raise children in space? What robotic and remote support from Earth might be provided? What is a minimum number of adults to raise children? Is a nuclear family the best family model? Is it ethical to raise children in a (possibly) unsafe environment? Is it ethical to raise children who might not be able to live on Earth? What about genetic diversity in an early space settlement? What impact would children in space have on financial/political support of that space project? What impact would children in space have on Earth’s society, especially impact on Children on Earth? The list of issues was developed as talking-points for a series of formal discussion groups which I have run at various local meetings and national space related conferences. During these discussions, I display numerous images of children or families in future space settlements, science fiction, or similar situations. These images have been omitted, but they are currently available in a powerpoint presentation at MarsHome.org/docs : “First Families in Space Presentation” This will be of interest to anyone who wishes to present the concepts of permanent settlement of space, to the general public.