cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plume Structure and Ion Acceleration of a Helicon Plasma Source

Helicon plasma sources are capable of efficiently ionizing propellants and have been considered for application in electric propulsion. The literature suggests that the ion acceleration mechanism is a current-free double layer. Previous work shows that single-stage helicon thrusters can produce thrust in the range of 1–6 mN, but it is unknown whether the thrust contribution is due to direct ion acceleration versus thermal expansion. The ion energy and current density profiles in the plume of a helicon plasma source are measured across a range of operating conditions: 343–600 W RF power at 13.56 MHz, 50–350 G, and 1.5-mg/s Ar at a pressure of $1.6\times 10^{-5}$ torr-Ar. The plasma potential, electron temperature, and ion number density are also measured inside the discharge chamber and in the plume up to 60 cm downstream of the exit plane and 45-cm radially outward from the device axis. Ions are found to have energies in the range of 20–40 V, with total beam currents in the range of 7–47 mA. The plume has an average divergence half angle of 82°, either evenly distributed across all angles or focused at large angles to the centerline. From these measurements, it is found that the estimated thrust due to ion acceleration is far less than what has been directly measured on the same device in previous work.
The Scope of Our Country: Expanding Access to Higher Education through Community Partnerships with Texas Tech University

The geographical scale of West Texas provides a uniqueopportunity to demonstrate active engagement between TexasTech University and the residents of this vast region. The institutionresponded to community requests and collaborated todevelop four new, rural off-campus teaching and research sitesand expand the presence of an existing site. These initiativesfocused on expanding access to higher education, engaging inoutreach research and scholarship, and enhancing early childhoodthrough 12th grade school partnerships. Technology networksand distance-delivered academic resources were leveragedto achieve these goals. State guidelines for the developmentof new off-campus sites provided limited guidance forrural educational delivery of research partnerships. As a consequence,the institution’s engagement with rural communitiesyielded increased understanding of these institution-communitypartnerships, their symbiotic benefits, and the constraints thatshould guide them.
Removal of Iodine from Reactor Fuel Solutions as Insoluble PdI2

Removal of iodine from reactor fuel solutions by addition of hydroxylamine nitrate to cause precipitation of insoluble PdI2 has been demonstrated. Iodine removals of ∼99% from reactor fuel solution...
Student consultants: an under utilized resource

Graduate and undergraduate student consultants are providing support in the technology transfer/commercialization process at both its initial and on-going stages through the Small Business Institutes at 500 colleges and universities in the United States. The SBI programs probably function more effectively if there is already a prototype or a product or service which may need to be adapted to specific markets or the company needs to figure out if it should produce the product itself, license it, or form an alliance.
Protein kinase C (PKC) isoform peptide activator/inhibitors exert cardioprotective effects in polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) induced ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury

Introduction Myocardial I/R injury is characterized by endothelial dysfunction, enhanced PMN infiltration into the myocardium, that results in sustained cardiac contractile dysfunction [1,2]. Enhancement of endothelial basal nitric oxide (NO) release or inhibition of PMN superoxide (SO) release reduces endothelial dysfunction and attenuates PMN/endothelial interaction. PKC is a key enzyme that regulates endothelial NO release and PMN SO release [1,2]. However, selective PKC isoforms mediating these responses are not well understood. Myristoylated PKC isoform peptides (MW=1130 to1928; Genemed Synthesis, Inc.) penetrate into cells by simple diffusion. The PKC beta II (βII) (N-MyrSLNPEWNET) and delta (δ) isoform (N-Myr-HDAPIGYD) inhibitors bind to its receptor-activated C kinase region attenuating PKC translocation. By contrast, the PKC δ peptide activator (N-Myr-MRAAEDPM) augments translocation. The PKC zeta (ζ) peptide inhibitor (N-Myr-SIYRRGARRWRKL) binds to the pseudosubstrate domain, attenuating interaction with cell membrane substrates, eNOS and NADPH oxidase [1,2]. We hypothesized that selective PKC peptide isoforms would attenuate PMNinduced contractile dysfunction (i.e., left ventricular developed pressure; LVDP) after I/R when given separately or in combination (i.e., βII /ζ) during reperfusion in the isolated perfused rat heart. We also wanted to determine the mechanism of action to account for any potential cardioprotective effects following I/R.
Isosurface Visualization of Data with Nonparametric Models for Uncertainty

The problem of isosurface extraction in uncertain data is an important research problem and may be approached in two ways. One can extract statistics (e.g., mean) from uncertain data points and visualize the extracted field. Alternatively, data uncertainty, characterized by probability distributions, can be propagated through the isosurface extraction process. We analyze the impact of data uncertainty on topology and geometry extraction algorithms. A novel, edge-crossing probability based approach is proposed to predict underlying isosurface topology for uncertain data. We derive a probabilistic version of the midpoint decider that resolves ambiguities that arise in identifying topological configurations. Moreover, the probability density function characterizing positional uncertainty in isosurfaces is derived analytically for a broad class of nonparametric distributions. This analytic characterization can be used for efficient closed-form computation of the expected value and variation in geometry. Our experiments show the computational advantages of our analytic approach over Monte-Carlo sampling for characterizing positional uncertainty. We also show the advantage of modeling underlying error densities in a nonparametric statistical framework as opposed to a parametric statistical framework through our experiments on ensemble datasets and uncertain scalar fields.
Delineation of the catalytic components of the NADPH-dependent O2− generating oxidoreductase of human neutrophils☆

Abstract Four catalytic components of the NADPH-dependent O 2 − generating oxidoreductase of human neutrophils have been identified. DCIP reductase, cytochrome c reductase and a chromophore 450–455 reductase are present in phorbol myristate acetate stimulated neutrophils and absent in resting cells and phorbol myristate acetate stimulated chronic granulomatous disease cells. Quinol dehydrogenase activity has also been demonstrated in activated and resting cells. Furthermore, a chromophore absorbing in the reduced state at 450–455 nm participates in superoxide production. This chromophore is reduced by NADPH or duroquinol and is missing in cell lysates derived from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease.
Mother-infant, father-infant interaction and involvement in childcare and household labor among Taiwanese families

Abstract Mother-infant and father-infant interactions were observed in the home, and parents provided estimates of their involvement in caregiving and household activities in 25 Taiwanese families. Observations indicated that mothers held infants more than did fathers and were more likely to feed, smile at, vocalize to, and engage in object play with than were fathers. Fathers engaged in more rough play with infants than did mothers. There were no gender-of-parent differences in soothing infants or displaying affection to them. Mothers and fathers treated males and females quite similarly. Infants smiled at, vocalized to, approached, and were more distressed in the presence of mothers than in the presence of fathers. The questionaire data revealed a markedly gender-differentiated pattern of involvement in chidcare and household activities. The results were hypothesized to reflect Taiwanese societal rigidity in gender roles and filial piety.
PROTON-COUPLED ELECTRON TRANSFER FROM ELECTRODES TO MYOGLOBIN IN ORDERED BIOMEMBRANE-LIKE FILMS

Voltammetry and visible and infrared spectroscopy were used to explore protonation equilibria coupled to electron transfer between electrodes and the heme protein myoglobin (Mb) in thin liquid crys...
Adaptive misbeliefs are pervasive, but the case for positive illusions is weak

It is a foundational prediction of evolutionary theory that human beliefs accurately approximate reality only insofar as accurate beliefs enhance fitness. Otherwise, adaptive misbeliefs will prevail. Unlike McKay & Dennett (M&D), we think that adaptive belief systems rely heavily upon misbeliefs. However, the case for positive illusions as an example of adaptive misbelief is weak.
Allocation of warehouse inventory with electronic data interchange and fixed order intervals

This paper considers the problem of allocating warehouse inventory to retailers where retailer orders and the replenishment of warehouse inventory occur periodically on a fixed schedule. We assume that the warehouse and the retailers have the opportunity to exchange demand information through Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). At the warehouse level, for instance, the available information on the retailer's demand may be utilized in determining the shipment quantities needed to meet the desired service level to the retailers. Unlike similar models focusing primarily on optimizing systems wide performance measures, in this paper we focus on the service level furnished to the retailers by the warehouse. To this end, three different allocation policies are considered: static, myopic, and dynamic rules characterizing the impact of available demand information on the resulting service levels. Numerical illustrations exemplify the allocation rules considered. An interesting though counter intuitive observation is that the existence of additional demand information cannot, a prior, be assumed superior.
Information content is more important than sensory system or physical distance in guiding the long-term evolutionary relationships between signaling modalities in Sceloporus lizards

Long-term signal evolution is shaped by a variety of selective pressures including the need to convey additional information or to improve message transfer to specific receivers or through multiple environments. Here, we test the relative importance of information and sensory modality in shaping the long-term evolution of multimodal signals in Sceloporus lizards. To broadcast identity at territorial boundaries, male Sceloporus use both visual motion (headbob) and chemical signals, whereas they use color (blue belly patches) to signal aggression. Using modern phylogenetic comparative methods, we found a negative correlation between evolutionary changes in visual motion (headbobs) and chemical (femoral pore) signals, but only indirect ties between the evolution of color and motion signals (both of which are perceived visually) through viviparity, and no evidence of an evolutionary link between color and chemical signals. We also find a negative correlation between arboreality and chemical signals. Thus, information content (in this case, broadcasting individual identity versus signaling aggression) appears to play a more important role than sensory modality or physical distance in guiding long-term signal evolution. Additional insights into the underlying evolutionary processes are described, illustrating the utility of a phylogenetic approach.
Heat transfer through the turbulent incompressible boundary layer in the presence of moderate pressure gradient

Abstract From the assumption that the “universal law of the wall” is applicable to the turbulent boundary layer for moderately accelerating and decelerating flows along a wall it is shown that the thickness and the eddy diffusivity variation through the thickness can be derived at any Reynolds number. With the additional assumption that the eddy diffusivities for momentum and heat are equal solutions were carried out to the energy equation to obtain Stanton number variations with Reynolds number for both uniform wall temperature and uniform wall heat flux. Two Reynolds number values were considered at which the heating commenced, Prandtl numbers of 0.01, 0.7 and 10 were used and these cases were examined for a number of arbitrarily chosen uniform pressure gradient parameters corresponding to one dimensional diverging or converging ducts.
Linewidth narrowing and luminescence enhancement in photonic crystal cavities and plasmonic gratings on an Er-doped silicon nitride platform

Light emission at 1.54 μm from an Er-doped amorphous silicon nitride layer coupled to photonic crystal resonators and plamonic arrays is studied. We observe the cavity resonances at cryogenic and room temperatures and under varying optical pump powers. The results demonstrate that small mode volume, high quality factor resonators enhance Er absorption rates dramatically at the cavity resonance. Photonic crystal cavity resonances exhibit linewidth narrowing with pump power at cryogenic temperatures, signifying absorption bleaching and partial inversion of the Er ions. In addition, we fabricate periodic metal-insulator-metal plasmonic structures with a simple bottom-up fabrication technique. We observe a factor of 10 increase of Er emission coupled to plasmonic structures.
Frictional Characteristics of Microchannel Gas Flow

The improved rates of heat transfer in microchannel gas flows are promising for the design and development of microfluidic systems. This research focuses on the flow characteristics of air in rectangular micro/minichannels at moderate velocities (∼100 m/sec). The 50.8 mm long channels vary from approximately 266 μm to 1090 μm in hydraulic diameter, and the aspect ratio ranges from 0.1 to 0.75. The value of Re ranged from 250 to 4300, with the intention of studying the transition to turbulence. The friction factor is found to be higher than predicted values for Re 1400 suggesting earlier transition to turbulence.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Psychopathology and drug abuse: An MMPI comparison of polydrug abuse patients with psychiatric inpatients and outpatients

Abstract Clinical evidence suggest that individuals who misuse a variety of non-opiate drugs (polydrugs) are experiencing psychological disturbance rather than manifesting sociopathy. This investigation compared MMPI profiles of polydrug abuse patients with three groups of traditional psychiatric patients who varied in psychopathology (inpatient psychiatric patients, traditional outpatients and patients attending a behavioral/educational oriented program). Findings suggest that the polydrug abusing patients are most similar to impatients and support the hypothesis that they are a severely disturbed population. The degree of psychopathology among the polydrug patients raises questions regarding the efficacy of treatment which primarily focuses on the drug use and suggests the need to consider more broadly based treatment approaches.
Antifeedant and Oviposition Deterrent Activity of an Aqueous Extract of Tanacetum vulgare L. on Two Cabbage Pests

In laboratory choice and no-choice tests, an aqueous extract of tansy, Tanacetum vulgare L. (Compositae), reduced feeding on cabbage leaf disks by imported cabbageworms, Artogeia (= Pieris ) rapae (L.). Imported cabbageworms reared on cabbage leaves treated with tansy extract took longer to develop to pupation, and pupae weighed less than insects reared on control leaves. In oviposition choice tests, imported cabbageworms laid three times as many eggs on control (water-sprayed) cabbage plants as on tansy-treated plants. Diamondback moths, Plutella xylostella (L.), laid more than twice as many eggs on control as on tansy-treated plants. In both spring and fall cabbage field trials, 1 and 5% tansy treatments reduced insect numbers significantly on at least some dates. Insect damage ratings at harvest were significantly lower for tansy-treated plants than for plants treated with either water or water plus surfactant, although higher than damage ratings for Bacillus thuringiensis -treated plants. The surfactant used with the tansy treatments, 1% (vol/vol) Triton B-1956 (now Latron B-1956), reduced cabbage head weights substantially in water plus surfactant control treatments compared with the water-only treatment.
Microresonators for Optical Switching: Single versus Multiple Coupled

We compare performance of single and multiple microresonators in optical switching schemes and show that depending on required speed and material parameters different schemes hold competitive advantages.
On optimality of decentralized control for a class of nonlinear interconnected systems

Abstract A decentralized control law for a class of nonlinear interconnected systems is proposed. This control law is derived by solving a local optimal control problem for each isolated subsystem with an appropriate performance index. It is shown that the proposed decentralized control law is the unique asymptotic stabilizing solution of an optimal control problem for the global system with an appropriate performance index. Hence our proposed decentralized control strategy results in centrally optimal systems having robust stability properties.
Some relations between the specificity of antibody and delayed hypersensitivity

Abstract Comparisons were made of the specificity of delayed reactions in guinea-pigs sensitized to arsanilate and phosphanilate conjugates. It was found that sensitization to the phosphanilate group resulted in good cross reactivity with o-Cl-phosphanilate as well as arsanilate conjugates, while sensitization to the arsanilate group was very specific for the homologous group. These results parallel similar findings for antibody, and suggest that the binding site for the phosphanilate group is directed to the highly hydrated, doubly ionized form, while that for the arsanilate group is specific for the less hydrated singly ionized form.
Sonographic Evaluation of Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is a high-risk condition that occurs in 1.9% of reported pregnancies. Although the clinical triad of pain, bleeding, and amenorrhea is considered very specific for an ectopic pregnancy, ultrasound plays important role in detecting the exact location of the ectopic pregnancy and also in providing guidance for minimally invasive treatment. This article discusses the main sonographic features of ectopic pregnancy at various common and unusual locations. In addition, it provides insight into the role of hormonal markers in the diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy.
Acute loss of spatial navigational skills in a case of a right posterior hippocampus stroke

The ability to accurately navigate within an environment (known or new) is not fully understood but involves a number of highly complicated cognitive process related to both central and peripheral nervous system structures and neuronal networks. We describe a patient who developed loss of his spatial navigational skills associated with an acute ischemic right posterior hippocampal lesion. Neuropsychological assessment displayed clear evidence of impaired visuospatial/visuoconstructional abilities with relative preservation of many other cognitive functions involving orientation, language, and verbal memory. The underlying anatomy responsible for the navigational impairment seen in our patient could be due to impairment in the function of the right hippocampus to form, store, and retrieve new 'cognitive/spatial maps'. To our knowledge this is one of the few documented cases demonstrating impaired navigational abilities with a relatively discrete right-sided, posterior hippocampal lesion.
Partitioning of population genetic variance under multiplicative-epistatic gene action

Determining the way in which different QTLs interact (epistasis) in their effects on the phenotype is crucial to many areas in population genetics and evolutionary biology. For example, in the founder event, a separated population readapts to a new environment through the release of cryptic gene-gene interactions. In hybrid zones, hybrid speciation must be subjected to natural selection for epistasis resulting from genomic recombinations between different species. However, there is a severe shortage of relevant methodologies to estimate epistatic genetic effects and variances. A statistical model has recently been proposed to estimate the number of QTLs, their genetic effects and allelic frequencies in segregating populations. This model is based on multiplicative gene action and derived from a two-level intra- and interspecific mating design. In this paper, we formulate a statistical procedure for partitioning the genetic variance into additive, dominant and various kinds of epistatic components in an intra- or mixed intra- and interspecific hybrid population. The procedure can be used to study the genetic architecture of fragmented populations and hybrid zones, thus allowing for a better recognition of the role of epistasis in evolution and hybrid speciation. A real example for two Populus species, P. tremuloides and P. tremula, is provided to illustrate the procedure. In this example, we found that considerable new genetic variation is formed through genomic recombination between two aspen species.
Chimps don't just get mad, they get even

Humans are the most cooperative species on the planet, and the most punitive. This is no coincidence. When I promise to take a friend to the airport to catch an early-morning flight, I have to overcome the temptation to sleep an extra couple of hours. My motivation to follow through on my promise is influenced by my awareness of the consequences: my friend will miss her plane, and I will feel guilty. My friend will probably be angry with me, and she may refuse to help me the next time I ask. Worse yet, she may tell other people what I did, and they may share her outrage and anger. The threat of these kinds of sanctions helps to sustain cooperation within dyads and larger groups (1–4). There is now considerable interest in the evolution of cooperation and punishment in human societies, and there have been a number of efforts to explore the phylogenetic origins of cooperative motives in other primates (4–8). Virtually all of the work on other primates has focused on the willingness to provide benefits to conspecifics. In this issue, Jensen et al. (9) turn the tables and examine chimpanzees' propensity to impose sanctions on familiar group members who commit transgressions.
Is the periodic health examination worthwhile? Some perspectives

Periodic health examinations is a primary tool in the practice of preventive medicine. It has been identified as such and promoted for health maintenance and disease control since the early 1900s. And yet, it has never been proved cost-effective. In fact, recently is has become fashionable for certain physicians to challenge the professional time and public money spent on examinations of asymptomatic adults as nonproductive and wasteful, urging medical care only in the presence of complaints suggesting illness. A balanced assessment of the value of periodic health examinations requires definition of the content and method of the examination, the individuals to be examined, and the frequency with which the examination is performed. Some procedures have no or very little yield under any circumstances. Most procedures will be more effective for certain groups of examinees, particularly with reference to age and family and environmental factors. During the past decade, methods for health hazard or risk factor analysis have been developed which enable design of more efficient periodic health examination programming, targetting those population subgroups most apt to be harboring presymptomatic disease. It can be anticipated that refinement of risk-related examination methods in the next decade will firmly establish the value of periodic health examination as a basic tool in medical practice.
A Comprehensive Enzyme Kinetic Exercise for Biochemistry.

This article describes a comprehensive treatment of experimental enzyme kinetics strongly coupled to electronic data acquisition and use of spreadsheets to organize data and perform linear and nonlinear least-squares analyses, all in a manner that promotes development of important reasoning skills. Kinetic parameters are obtained for the stable enzyme bovine alkaline phosphatase by fitting the dependence of velocity on substrate and inhibitor concentration using regression algorithms of Excel.
Characterization of fibrillatory rhythms by ensemble vector directional analysis

Recent studies have demonstrated that fibrillatory rhythms are not random phenomena but have definable patterns. However, standard mapping techniques may have limitations in their ability to identi...
The Effect of Managerial Ownership on Stock Split‐Induced Abnormal Returns

This paper tests the proposition that split announcements are informative signals that play a greater information role for widely held firms. We present evidence for an inverse relationship between managerial ownership and the magnitude of stock split-induced abnormal returns. After controlling for industry and firm size, we find that splitting firms have lower managerial ownership, on average, than nonsplitting firms. We also find no evidence that managers trade on inside information prior to announcing splits.
A Study of Termite Feeding Relationships, Using Radioisotopes

Food exchange relationships of large ( N ) and small ( N ) nymphs were studied in a dry wood termite, Cryptotermes brevis (Walker), the food transfers being traced by means of radioisotopes. Nymphs of both sizes were allowed to feed for 5 days on wood that had been labelled with either strontium-85 or cobalt-57, and were then confined as “donors” with nonradioactive N and N recipients in nonradioactive termitaries. After 2 days together the termites were measured for radioactivity, and comparisons were made of relative amounts acquired by N and by N recipients when confined with N as opposed to N donors. Large and small nymphs appeared to feed at approximately the same rate when relative size was taken into account. Soldiers and supplementary reproductives had smaller feeding capacities than had nymphs of the same weight, judging from relative amounts of radioactivity acquired, but differences may also have reflected relative numbers of microorganisms in the hindgut. Termite size did not appear to influence feeding relationships in the experimental situation. Strontium-labelled donors lost a much larger percentage of their nuclide via pellets than did cobalt-labelled donors; the strontium tended to be concentrated in the malpighian tubules, the cobalt in the hindgut. It is suggested that the symbiotic protozoa and bacteria concentrated the cobalt. Pellet production was at the rate of about 0.65 pellet per termite per clay. Tests showed that soldiers confined in radioactive termitaries did not become radioactive unless a nymph was also present, supporting past observations that soldiers are entirely dependent on colony mates for food. The molting phase, as expected, affected the amount of radioactivity acquired and donated, and caused cessation of pellet production.
The panc 3 score: a rapid and accurate test for predicting severity on presentation in acute pancreatitis.

GoalThe goal of our study was to develop a simple rule that could rapidly identify those at risk for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in the ER.MethodsWe identified all published studies reporting risk factors for SAP. We identified 3 risk factors which had been shown to predict SAP. The risk factors
Cognitive Differentiation and Communication Behavior The Role Category Questionnaire

This article explores the validity and reliability of Crockett's (1965) Role Category Questionnaire (RCQ) measure of cognitive differentiation as a predictor of communication ability. The RCQ is a “free response” measure that has been shown in previous research to be a valid indicator of social cognitive and communication abilities. This review concludes that the RCQ may prove especially useful in exploring and predicting individual differences in managerial writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication in organizations.
Analysis of large urban fires

Fires in urban areas caused by a nuclear burst are analyzed as a first step towards determining their smoke-generation chacteristics, which may have grave implications for global-scale climatic consequences. A chain of events and their component processes which would follow a nuclear attack are described. A numerical code is currently being developed to calculate ultimately the smoke production rate for a given attack scenario. Available models for most of the processes are incorporated into the code. Sample calculations of urban fire-development history performed in the code for an idealized uniform city are presented. Preliminary results indicate the importance of the wind, thermal radiation transmission, fuel distributions, and ignition thresholds on the urban fire spread characteristics. Future plans are to improve the existing models and develop new ones to characterize smoke production from large urban fires. 21 references, 18 figures.
Physical Basis for Separation of Rice Starch using Various Density Gradient Systems and its Effect on Starch Recovery, Purity, and Pasting Properties

A 32% waxy and non waxy rice flour slurry containing starch-protein agglomerates was physically disrupted in presence of water by use of high pressure homogenizer called Microfluidizer®. Microfluidized rice flour slurry from passes 2 and 4 was collected followed by isolation of starch using three different density gradient solutions/systems (CeCI, NaCI/sucrose and ZnSO 4 .7H 2 O). Complete deagglomeration was obtained after passing the rice flour slurry four times through the Microfluidizer®. The recovery of isolated starch varied from 76.28% to 91.20% for different density gradient systems. The degree of deagglomeration did not seem to affect recovery but affected the purity of the isolated starches. All starches produced from pass 4 rice slurry resulted in starches with residual protein below 0.5%. Higher density of the gradient solution resulted in higher recovery and purity of starch. The isolation method had a significant effect on the pasting properties of the isolated starch. Residual protein in isolated starch had a negative correlation with peak viscosity and setback of pass 2 waxy and non-waxy starches. The salts were retained in purified starch despite rigorous washing (at least 75 times greater than the control) and could affect starch properties.
Intensity normalization improves color calling in SOLiD sequencing

In the SOLiD system, the proportions of color-calls across sequencing cycles are extremely variable (Fig. 1a), even though they should be equal across sequencing cycles and proportional to the dinucleotide content of the library (Supplementary Methods). This bias can be traced to the fluorescence intensity measurements used to make the color-calls (Supplementary Fig. 1). The distributions of intensities are similar across channels in early sequencing cycles but a color-bias starts to appear in later cycles. The Rsolid method uses a simple and computationally efficient procedure to normalize the color-channel intensity distributions while taking into account dinucleotide frequencies (Supplementary Methods). This ensures that the intensity distributions across channels are comparable in later cycles, as they are in earlier cycles (Supplementary Fig. 1), removing a substantial amount of the color-call bias seen in later cycles (Fig. 1a). Figure 1 Effect of normalization on color proportions and SNP calling We report results on E. coli and H. sapiens genomic DNA samples, processed by independent laboratories and machines. Mapping and accuracy statistics before and after normalization (Table 1 and Supplementary Tables 1-4) reveal a substantial improvement. We observed a 2-6% reduction in the rate of valid adjacent color errors, which is particularly important since SOLiD’s two-base encoding is not able to correct for this type of error. This manifests as a substantial reduction in the number of false-positive SNP calls made (Fig. 1b). Table 1 Improvement in accuracy and mapping provided by normalization. These samples were processed on two different labs, with independent library preparations and sequencing machines. The recently released SOLiD 3plus system, using smaller beads, produces as much as 10 times more intensity data. Data from this new system has similar statistical properties (data not shown) and our normalization algorithm scales as expected (Supplementary Methods). While increased yield is less of a concern with the new system, the need for accurate color-calls are still of paramount importance in applications such as genotyping, bisulfite sequencing and assembly, where single base-resolution data is required. There is still a need for accurate color calls to avoid false positive variant calls even at high coverage (Fig. 1b). Rsolid is publically available from http://rafalab.jhsph.edu/ Rsolid and runs on the R computing environment making it straightforward to include in existing data pipelines.
Empirically derived Symptom Checklist 90 subgroups of chronic pain patients: A cluster analysis

Four hundred fifty-three chronic pain patients completed a Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) and a comprehensive pain evaluation questionnaire. All patients were evaluated by a physician and rated on degree of pain pathology and pain behavior. The SCL-90 data were analyzed using two clustering procedures and replicated over two similar samples. Three distinct profiles emerged and represented high, medium, and low scores on the SCL-90. No differences were found between subgroups on demographic characteristics, compensation status, pain duration, or pain ratings. Patients in the high-profile subgroup showed the most emotional distress, reported that their pain interfered the most with all activities, and were most often judged to have high pain behavior. Little evidence was found to support a “denial” profile, as previously predicted. Further support was found for using the SCL-90 in assessing chronic pain patients.
Logarithmic Spire in Planktonic Foraminiferida: Its Use in Taxonomy, Evolution, and Paleo-ecology: ABSTRACT

Studies of several species of planktonic Foraminiferida indicate that the spire of the generated coil is an important measure of species. The spire is easily measured and is logarithmic. Test and chamber growth dimensions measured in relation to the spire show that all species thus far studied exhibit nearly perfect geometric growth. Growth measurements taken in this manner allow the growth plan of individuals or assemblages of species to be compared statistically. Such studies lead to a better understanding of variation within species and of the distinguishing morphologic characteristics of a species. Evolutionary change is better understood by investigating changes in growth dimensions with respect to the logarithmic spire. In paleoecologic studies of species populations, geographic variation can be quantified to yield a more precise analysis of paleoenvironmental parameters. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1697------------
Aminoglycoside pharmacokinetics in African-Americans with normal renal function

Objective To compare aminoglycoside pharmacokinetics in African-Americans with normal renal function with published adult population values. Design An Institutional Review Board approved concurrent study. Setting The study was conducted at Howard University Hospital, Washington DC. Subjects All subjects had serum creatinine levels of 1.5mg/dl or less and were receiving aminoglycoside for suspected or documented Gram-negative infection, had no obvious underlying disease condition that could influence aminoglycoside pharmacokinetics and were aged 18 years or older. Main outcome measures Volume of distribution (Vd), half-life (t1/2), elimination rate constant (Ke) and total body clearance (Cl) were calculated using a one-compartment, open, linear pharmacokinetic model. Using an unpaired Student's t-test, the pharmacokinetic values of our patients were compared with general population values. Interventions Patients receiving aminoglycosides were identified by the pharmacist through the hospital's standard antibiotic order sheet. Twenty-five patients were enrolled after they met the inclusion criteria. Pharmacists made recommendations for dose change as part of standard of care when inappropriate doses were ordered. In collaboration with medical and nursing staff, the amount and time of dose administration, and steady-state peak and trough serum drug levels were stringently measured, documented on a data collection form and used to calculate pharmacokinetic values for our patients. The form was also used to document demographic information. Results The following values were obtained: Vd 0.27+/-0.15 litres/kg, t(1/2) 1.93+/-1.38h, Ke 0.31+/-0.134/h (gentamicin), Ke 0.22 +/- 0.10/h (tobramycin), Cl 103.95+/-62.98ml/kg/h (gentamicin) and Cl 118.96+/-84.83ml/kg/h (tobramycin). These values are not significantly different from general population values. Following a mean tobramycin or gentamicin dose of 1.32+/-0.32mg/kg ideal body weight (IBW)/ dose or 1.11+/-0.33 mg/kg actual body weight (ABW)/ dose every 8h, patients achieved a mean peak and trough serum drug levels of 6.6+/-3.86mg/litre and 1.03+/-0.68mg/litre, respectively. Wide interpatient pharmacokinetic variability was also observed. Conclusions We conclude that aminoglycoside pharmacokinetics in African-Americans seem to be consistent with the published general population values. Thus, initiating aminoglycoside regimens using population dosing guidelines appears to be appropriate. However, due to the observed wide interpatient pharmacokinetic variability, individualized dosing is required with very close monitoring, to avoid or minimize toxicity.
Estradiol increases pre- and post-synaptic proteins in the CA1 region of the hippocampus in female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

The role of estrogen (E) in promoting learning and memory in females has been well studied in both rodent and primate models. In female rats, E increases dendritic spine number, synaptogenesis, and synaptic proteins in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, an area of the brain that mediates learning and memory. In the present study, we used radioimmunocytochemistry to examine whether E and progesterone were capable of modulating the levels of pre- and postsynaptic proteins in the CA1 region of the female nonhuman primate hippocampus. It was found that E increased syntaxin, synaptophysin (presynaptic), and spinophilin (postsynaptic) levels in the stratum oriens and radiatum of the CA1 region, whereas combined E and progesterone treatment decreased these synaptic proteins to the levels found in untreated, spayed controls. Furthermore, progesterone treatment alone significantly increased synaptophysin levels in the stratum oriens and radiatum of the CA1 region. The levels of these synaptic proteins were unaltered by hormone treatment in the dentate gyrus, suggesting that this steroid-induced plasticity is hippocampal region specific. As these synaptic proteins are important components of the synaptic apparatus and reliable markers of synaptogenesis, it appears that E-induced increases in cognitive function of higher order mammals may be mediated in part by the effect of E on hippocampal synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity. (Endocrinology 144: 4734 – 4738, 2003)
Novel fabrication technology for three-dimensional high surface area pyrolized structures

High specific surface area structures are used in a variety of applications including production of highly sensitive biosensors, fabrication of separation membranes, manufacturing of high throughput catalytic microreactors, and development of efficient electrodes for batteries and fuel cells. In many electrochemical applications (i.e. sensors and batteries) it's also critical to have good conductive properties of the fabricated high surface area structures. For energy harvesting technologies such as batteries and fuel cells, careful design of surface-to-volume ratio of the electrode surface is important, because while high specific surface area facilitates electrochemical reaction rates, it also increases overall electrode resistance. Thus, it is desirable to construct electrodes with a range of hierarchical features (for example with fractal structures). We invented a novel fabrication technology for creating three-dimensional conductive high surface area structures based on the deposition and subsequent processing of the electroactive polymers (EAP). The proposed fabrication technique is capable of fast and inexpensive production of high surface area structures with the designed geometry, porosity, and conductivity.
Commentary to “Laparoscopy for the impalpable testes: Experience with 80 intra-abdominal testes”

Caveat Lector means let the reader beware; in this publication the authors report a 3-month follow up for their patients which may be inadequate to safely state that the testes are viable. Having been involved in performing laparoscopic orchiopexy almost from its inception, I can safely say that I have been more than once surprised to find an atrophic testis at the 1-year follow-up visit, when at the 4-month visit it felt normal. It can take several months for the edema that is associated with the non-viable testis to recede. The examiner cannot differentiate a viable testis from one that is about to involute. The size of the testis may feel similar to the contralateral side but the examiner is confounded by wishful thinking. This tendency to make decisions based on what we wish were true is what Croskerry [1] calls an ‘‘affective error’’. In this instance, it can make the examiner miss the subtleties of the examination that would hint that the testis is non-viable. There have
Total unimodularity and the Euler-subgraph problem

We give a short treatment (including proofs) of all known characterizations by way of forbidden structures of totally unimodular matrices, i.e. matrices whose square minors have determinants of 0, +1, or -1 only. A generalization of a known topological characterization gives rise to a new combinatorial optimization problem which is introduced here and called the Euler-subgraph problem.
Language socialization in Japanese elementary schools: Attentive listening and reaction turns☆

Abstract As opposed to the Western ideal of the speaker's responsibility for clarity of speech, the Japanese concept of successful interaction mainly rests on the responsibility of the listener (Clancy, 1986). This implies that for Japanese, the skill of attentive listening is a significant part of communicative competence. This paper investigates how Japanese children acquire this skill in classroom interaction from the perspective of language socialization (e.g., Ochs and Schieffelin, 1984; Schieffelin and Ochs, 1986a, 1986b; Ochs, 1988), which assumes that children acquire language and culture through interactional routines. The data demonstrate that teacher-student interaction in Japanese classrooms differs significantly from that of the traditional American classrooms (e.g., Mehan, 1979) in terms of ‘participant structure’, the teacher's role, and the source of knowledge. The paper argues that because this Japanese specific classroom interactional pattern requires students to learn to a great degree from peer students and relate their opinions to their peers, it serves as a major socialization resource for Japanese children in acquiring the skill of attentive listening.
New measurements of the thermochemistry of SF5− and SF6−

Abstract Energy-resolved collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments using a flowing afterglow-tandem mass spectrometer (MS) have been performed on SF 5 − and SF 6 − , two key components of SF 6 -based plasmas. G3/B3LYP and G3(MP2) calculations have also been performed on these systems. The results are compared to other experimental and computational determinations of the thermochemistry of these species. CID of SF 5 − gives a 0 K bond energy of D (SF 4 F − )=2.38±0.10 eV (230±10 kJ mol −1 ). This is in good agreement with the high-level computational results. The threshold for dissociation of SF 6 − (into SF 5 − +F) of 1.85±0.12 eV (178±12 kJ mol −1 ). This dissociation appears to have a barrier greater than the endothermicity, although the barrier is much smaller than that for photodetachment of the same ion.
LKB1 destabilizes microtubules in myoblasts and contributes to myoblast differentiation.

Background Skeletal muscle myoblast differentiation and fusion into multinucleate myotubes is associated with dramatic cytoskeletal changes. We find that microtubules in differentiated myotubes are highly stabilized, but premature microtubule stabilization blocks differentiation. Factors responsible for microtubule destabilization in myoblasts have not been identified. Findings We find that a transient decrease in microtubule stabilization early during myoblast differentiation precedes the ultimate microtubule stabilization seen in differentiated myotubes. We report a role for the serine-threonine kinase LKB1 in both microtubule destabilization and myoblast differentiation. LKB1 overexpression reduced microtubule elongation in a Nocodazole washout assay, and LKB1 RNAi increased it, showing LKB1 destabilizes microtubule assembly in myoblasts. LKB1 levels and activity increased during myoblast differentiation, along with activation of the known LKB1 substrates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and microtubule affinity regulating kinases (MARKs). LKB1 overexpression accelerated differentiation, whereas RNAi impaired it. Conclusions Reduced microtubule stability precedes myoblast differentiation and the associated ultimate microtubule stabilization seen in myotubes. LKB1 plays a positive role in microtubule destabilization in myoblasts and in myoblast differentiation. This work suggests a model by which LKB1-induced microtubule destabilization facilitates the cytoskeletal changes required for differentiation. Transient destabilization of microtubules might be a useful strategy for enhancing and/or synchronizing myoblast differentiation.
Accumulation and fate of tri-n-butyltin cation in estuarine bacteria.

The accumulation and possible metabolic transformation of tri-n-butyltin cation by tin-resistant estuarine bacteria was studied. The bacterial isolates accumulated tributyltin to 3.7–7.7 mg tin per g dry weight of cells by a nonenergy requiring process, probably by adsorption to the cell envelope. Chemical speciation of cell extracts and culture media by combined liquid chromatography-atomic absorption spectrophotometry and tin-selective purge and trap flame photometric gas chromatography for possible tributyltin degradation products revealed no significant biotransformations of tributyltin cation by the tributyltin-resistant isolates. Apparently the isolates accumulate, but do not metabolize tributyltin.
HIERARCHICAL GENERAL DIAGNOSTIC MODELS

This paper introduces multilevel extensions for the general diagnostic model (GDM) following recent developments on extensions of latent class analysis (LCA) to hierarchical models. The GDM is based on LCA as well as discrete latent trait models and may be viewed as a general modeling framework for confirmatory multidimensional item response models. The multilevel extensions presented in this paper enable one to check the impact of clustered data, such as data for students within schools in large scale educational surveys, on the structural parameter estimates of the GDM. Moreover, the multilevel version of the GDM allows study of differences in skill distributions across these clusters.