cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Medication Adherence in Pediatric Patients with Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review

Objectives: Pediatric bipolar disorder is a severe disabling condition affecting 1%-3% of youth worldwide. Both acute and maintenance treatment with medications are mainstays of treatment. It is well established in adult literature that adherence to medications improves outcomes and many adult studies have examined factors impacting adherence. This systematic review set out to identify the current state of research examining adherence to medications and characteristics influencing adherence in pediatric bipolar disorder. Methods: We performed a systematic literature review in the Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, Wiley Clinical Trials, and Cochrane databases. New research regarding characteristics and measurement of adherence to psychotropic medication for bipolar disorder (I, II, or not otherwise specified) in patients ≤18 years old were included for review. Exclusion criteria included no bipolar diagnosis, inclusion of patients >18 years old, no pharmacologic treatment, and lack of adherence measurements. Results: Initial search generated 439 articles after duplicate removal. One hundred thirty-three full-text articles were reviewed, 16 underwent additional review and 6 were selected for final inclusion. The majority of articles were excluded for patients >18 years old. Included articles were extremely heterogeneous for multiple measures, including methodology, determination of adherence, adherence rates, and characteristics influencing adherence. Of medications evaluated, 6/6 studies included mood stabilizers, 4/6 antidepressants, 3/6 antipsychotics, and 2/6 psychostimulants. Three out of six articles included patients <12 years old. Some significant factors affecting adherence included polypharmacy, comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, socioeconomic status, sex, family history and functioning, side effects, race, stability of bipolar diagnosis, and number of follow-up visits attended. Conclusions: Pediatric-specific information on medication adherence in bipolar disorder is very limited. Information on patient characteristics that may influence adherence rates is critical to target interventions to improve adherence. No articles reported on interventions to improve adherence. Given the different psychosocial situations of pediatric patients versus adults, it is likely that targets for improving adherence differ in pediatric patients.
Considerations of variability and power for long-term monitoring of stream fish assemblages

Little attention has been given to optimizing statistical power for monitoring stream fish assemblages. We explored the relationship between temporal variability and statistical power using 34 metr...
Solid-state nanopore analysis of human genomic DNA shows unaltered global 5-hydroxymethylcytosine content associated with early-stage breast cancer.

Abstract 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), the first oxidized form of the well-known epigenetic modification 5-methylcytosine, is an independent regulator of gene expression and therefore a potential marker for disease. Here, we report on methods developed for a selective solid-state nanopore assay that enable direct analysis of global 5hmC content in human tissue. We first describe protocols for preparing genomic DNA derived from both healthy breast tissue and stage 1 breast tumor tissue and then use our approach to probe the net abundance of the modified base in each cohort. Then, we employ empirical data to adjust for the impact of nanopore diameter on the quantification. Correcting for variations in nanopore diameter among the devices used for analysis reveals no detectable difference in global 5hmC content between healthy and tumor tissue. These results suggest that 5hmC changes may not be associated with early-stage breast cancer and instead are a downstream consequence of the disease.
Identification of suitable grapevine reference genes for qRT-PCR derived from heterologous species.

Identification and validation of suitable reference genes that exhibit robust transcriptional stability across many sample types is an absolute requirement of all qRT-PCR experiments. Often, however, only small numbers of reference genes, validated across limited sample types, are available for non-model species. This points to a clear need to assess and validate a wider range of potential reference genes than is currently available. We therefore looked to test and validate a large number of potential reference genes across a wide range of tissue types and treatments to determine the applicability of these reference genes for use in grapevine and other non-model plant species. Potential reference genes were selected based on stability of gene transcription in the model plant species Arabidopsis or due to their common use in the grapevine community. The selected reference genes were analyzed across two datasets consisting of a range of either ‘Sauvignon blanc’ or ‘Pinot noir’ tissues. A total of 11 potential reference genes were screened across the two datasets. Gene stability was analyzed by GeNorm, a widely used Excel application, or an ANOVA-based method developed in red clover. Both analysis methods showed that all 11 potential reference genes are stably expressed in the datasets tested, but the rankings of gene stability differed based on the datasets and analysis method used. Furthermore, the transcript stability of these genes, initially identified in Arabidopsis and now validated in grapevine, suggests applicability across a wide range of non-model plant species in addition to their utility in grapevine.
How to Give a Meaningful Interpretation to the Efficiency Defence in European Competition Law

The role of the efficiency defence in competition law, particularly in European Union competition law was always heavily debated since the adoption of the first merger regulation in the European Community, later the European Union. According to the current interpretation of the notion of dominance by the ECJ it is not possible to justify a merger creating or strengthening a dominant position based on efficiency justification. Moreover, the structural presumptions underlying the system of merger control prevail in such situations. If the merged undertaking does not have a dominant position, efficiency gains can outweigh the harm to competition on the condition that the benefits reach the consumers. This approach is not only consistent with past case law, but is also reflecting the traditions of the Harvard- and Freiburg Schools. Oligopoly theory suggests that concentration on the market is a very relevant factor and this is reflected in the SIEC test.This a revised version of the previous working paper under the same title.
Effect of Display Color on Pilot Performance and Describing Functions

A study has been conducted with the full-spectrum, calligraphic, computer-generated display system to determine the effect of chromatic content of the visual display upon pilot performance during the landing approach maneuver. This study utilizes a new digital chromatic display system, which has previously been shown to improve the perceived fidelity of out-the-window display scenes, and presents the results of an experiment designed to determine the effects of display color content by the measurement of both vertical approach performance and pilot-describing functions. This method was selected to more fully explore the effects of visual color cues used by the pilot. Two types of landing approaches were made: dynamic and frozen range, with either a landing approach scene or a perspective array display. The landing approach scene was presented with either red runway lights and blue taxiway lights or with the colors reversed, and the perspective array with red lights, blue lights, or red and blue lights combined. The vertical performance measures obtained in this experiment indicated that the pilots performed best with the blue and red/blue displays. and worst with the red displays. The describing-function system analysis showed more variation with the red displays. The crossover frequencies were lowest with the red displays and highest with the combined red/blue displays, which provided the best overall tracking, performance. Describing-function performance measures, vertical performance measures, and pilot opinion support the hypothesis that specific colors in displays can influence the pilots' control characteristics during the final approach.
Advancing the Deoxyribozyme-Based Logic Gate Design Process

We previously described a tic-tac-toe playing molecular auto- maton, MAYA-II, constructed from a molecular array of deoxyribozyme- based logic gates, that uses oligonucleotides as inputs and outputs. We are now developing an ensemble modeling tool for high-throughput oligonucleotide input and logic gate designs. The modeling tool is based on exhaustive reconstruction of both intended and unintended reactions between MAYA-II gates and inputs, and seeks to correlate empirical observations with computational predictions. We present results from computational analysis of the MAYA-II Yes logic gate and input interactions. Results indicate that in silico modeling correlates with experimental results, creating a predictive value and benchmark. These studies serve purpose towards our goal of constructing a generalized oligonucleotide library for expansion of molecular computation networks beyond hundreds, to millions of potential interactions, conferring greater functionality in terms of both reliability and complexity.
Towards automated evaluation of trust constraints

In this paper we explore a mechanism for, and the limitations of, automation of assessment of trustworthiness of systems. We have implemented a system for checking trust constraints expressed within privacy policies as part of an integrated prototype developed within the EU Framework VI Privacy and Identity Management for Europe (PRIME) project [1]. Trusted computing information [2,3] may be taken into account as part of this analysis. This is the first stage of ongoing research and development within PRIME in this area.
Abstract 16491: Predictors of Incident Conduction System Disease in the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT)

Introduction: Left and right bundle branch block (L and RBBB) have been associated with heightened morbidity and mortality, but risk factors for incident conduction disease remain unknown. Understanding factors that accelerate or delay conduction abnormalities could help identify therapies to treat or prevent this condition. Hypothesis: Clinical variables associated with myocardial fibrosis will increase conduction system disease risk while treatment with lisinopril (an anti-fibrotic) will reduce this risk. Methods: The Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial was a double-blind clinical trial that randomized 33,357 hypertensive participants ≥ 55 years of age with at least one other cardiovascular risk factor to treatment with amlodipine, lisinopril, or chlorthalidone. An electrocardigram (ECG) was obtained at study enrollment and at every two years of follow up. Conduction system disease was defined as LBBB, RBBB, intraventricular conduction delay, or 1st degree AV bloc...
Chemical activation of the mechanotransduction channel Piezo1

Within our bodies, cells and tissues are constantly being pushed and pulled by their surrounding environment. These mechanical forces are then transformed into electrical or chemical signals by cells. This process is crucial for many biological structures, such as blood vessels, to develop correctly, and is also a key part of our senses of touch and hearing. In 2010, researchers discovered a group of ion channels—proteins embedded in the membrane that surrounds a cell—that open up when a force is applied and allow ions such as calcium, potassium, and sodium to flow. This movement of ions generates the electrical response of the cell to the applied force. However, not much is known about how these ‘Piezo’ ion channels work. To investigate this, it is important to be able to precisely control how and when the Piezo channels open. Many other ion channels are studied by using small chemical compounds to activate them, but there were none that were known to act on Piezo proteins. Syeda et al.—including some of the researchers involved in the 2010 work—screened over three million compounds for their ability to cause calcium ions to flow into human cells to try to identify chemicals that activate the Piezo channels. This revealed one promising candidate named Yoda1, which specifically activated Piezo1: a Piezo protein that had previously been linked to a role in blood vessel development in embryos. To investigate how Yoda1 activates Piezo1, Syeda et al. placed Piezo1 in an artificial cell membrane that did not contain any other cellular components. When Yoda1 was added to this set up, the Piezo1 channels opened up. This suggests that Piezo1 and Yoda1 interact in a manner that does not require additional cellular components other than a cell membrane. Separate work by Cahalan, Lukacs et al. uses Yoda1 to reveal that Piezo1 helps to control the volume of red blood cells, showing that in the future, Yoda1 could be valuable in research that investigates the roles of Piezo1.
Liquid Chromatographic–Tandem Mass Spectrometric Method for the Determination of 5-Hydroxyindole-3-acetic Acid in Urine

5-Hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), the primary metabolite of the neurotransmitter serotonin, is one of the biochemical markers measured in urine by different methods [colorimetric, fluorometric, HPLC, gas chromatography, and immunoassay (1)(2)] in the identification and surveillance of intestinal carcinoid syndrome (3). Usually, 1–3% of dietary tryptophan is metabolized to serotonin. However, as much as 60% of tryptophan is converted to serotonin in patients with the intestinal carcinoid syndrome. Modestly increased urinary 5-HIAA has been seen in Whipple disease, celiac disease, tropical sprue, and some noncarcinoid pancreatic islet tumors. Diet is also a factor affecting urinary excretion of 5-HIAA (4)(5). Our laboratory is actively involved in the conversion to tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) of assays currently based on other chromatographic technologies to improve quality and to reduce turnaround time, supply costs, and personnel needs in a high-volume testing environment (6)(7)(8)(9)(10). We directed our efforts toward developing a liquid chromatography (LC)-MS/MS method to replace an interference-prone HPLC procedure currently used for the routine determination of urinary 5-HIAA (2). We purchased 5-HIAA from Sigma. HIAA-d6 was custom-synthesized by Cambridge Isotope Laboratories (Andover, MA). Working solutions of 5-HIAA (0.5–150 mg/L) were prepared in acetic acid (10 mL/L) from an aqueous stock solution (1 g/L). A working solution of HIAA-d6 (10 mg/L) was prepared in acetic acid (10 mL/L) from a methanol stock solution (1 g/L). Bond-Elut® C18 solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges were obtained from Varian Inc. All other chemicals and solvents were of the highest purity available from commercial sources and were used without further purification. We mixed 0.5 mL of urine …
Comparative Politics and the Arab Uprisings

How have scholars working in the political science subfield of comparative politics approached the Arab uprisings in their analyses? Two dominant trends have been to explore the uprisings through the literatures on robust authoritarianism and on social movements. While each of these has produced rich and lively debates, scholars of Middle East politics have mostly drawn comparisons at the national level: for example, explaining variation between those state that experienced uprisings and those that did not, or between those uprisings that turned violent and those that did not. I suggest that adopting “states” and “movements” as objects of analysis can obscure some of the more unique dynamics of the uprisings—dynamics that might be leveraged in contributing new ideas to broader theoretical debates. I illustrate the ways in which research designs that focus on identifying and explaining variation between and across cases tend to assume discrete objects of study (i.e., regimes and movements) in ways that obscure other fascinating processes and practices at both the micro-level and in terms of the complex interconnections across states and regions. This focus has in turn led to a deficit in studies of in-case variation: how mobilization and state repression varied, for example, between Cairo, Alexandria, the Suez, rural regions, and other locations outside of Tahrir Square. Finally, I applaud and encourage the continuation of the lively and open debates within the field about the strengths and weaknesses of our earlier scholarship and the potential of various future research agendas.
Sacred Dialectic: The Centrality of Paradox in the Worldview of Rollo May

This article explores the fundamental significance of paradox to the worldview of Rollo May. The theme and concept of paradox is seen as constituting the essence of his thought and is believed to have strongly influenced his conception of the human psyche, health and dysfunction, and socio-cultural dynamics. Through an analysis of primary sources in May's writings, it is demonstrated that his philosophical worldview is most accurately represented by the principle of paradox, or dialectic. Specifically, both the basic characteristics of this principle, as well as its many manifestations in the form of particular paradoxes, are discussed. This discussion emphasizes the value of paradox to May's worldview and its role in shaping his critique of psychology and culture. The article concludes with an emphasis on the importance of May's view of paradox as a vital contribution to the field of psychology and broader culture, as well as its specific applicability to our own individual struggles to achieve integrati...
Bioactive compounds or metabolites from black raspberries modulate T lymphocyte proliferation, myeloid cell differentiation and Jak/STAT signaling

Bioactive phytochemicals from natural products, such as black raspberries (BRB; Rubus occidentalis), have direct anticancer properties on malignant cells in culture and in xenograft models. BRB components inhibit cancer progression in more complex rodent carcinogenesis models. Although mechanistic targets for BRB phytochemicals in cancer cells are beginning to emerge, the potential role in modulating host immune processes impacting cancer have not been systematically examined. We hypothesized that BRB contain compounds capable of eliciting potent immunomodulatory properties that impact cellular mediators relevant to chronic inflammation and tumor progression. We studied both an ethanol extract from black raspberries (BRB-E) containing a diverse mixture of phytochemicals and two abundant phytochemical metabolites of BRB produced upon ingestion (Cyanidin-3-Rutinoside, C3R; Quercitin-3-Rutinoside, Q3R). BRB-E inhibited proliferation, and viability of CD3/CD28 activated human CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes. BRB-E also limited in vitro expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and their suppressive capacity. Pre-treatment of immune cells with BRB-E attenuated IL-6-mediated phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) and IL-2-induced STAT5 phosphorylation. In contrast, pre-treatment of immune cells with the C3R and Q3R metabolites inhibited MDSC expansion, IL-6-mediated STAT3 signaling, but not IL-2-induced STAT5 phosphorylation and were less potent inhibitors of T cell viability. Together these data indicate that BRB extracts and their physiologically relevant metabolites contain phytochemicals that affect immune processes relevant to carcinogenesis and immunotherapy. Furthermore, specific BRB components and their metabolites may be a source of lead compounds for drug development that exhibits targeted immunological outcomes or inhibition of specific STAT-regulated signaling pathways.
The Application of Collaboration Models to Family Group Conferencing

This article analyzes models of collaboration and family group conferencing. As the public sector tries to improve its service delivery, innovations are occurring in child protection and child welfare services. Family group conferencing uses many elements of collaboration to empower families, improve social work practice and keep children safe. Collaborative theories note that efforts to align goals, build trust and mutual respect, be transparent, share resources, and understand the issues of interdependence are essential to success. Social work administrators and practitioners can improve child protection practice with attention to these concepts.
Long-term recovery course after traumatic brain injury: a comparison of the functional independence measure and disability rating scale.

Objectives:To study group changes over time after traumatic brain injury (TBI).Design:Prospective cohort.Setting and Participants:TBI Model System Database with 1160 subjects using cohort with complete data.Main Outcome Measures:Functional Independence Measure (FIM™) and Disability Rating Scale (DRS
Atherosclerotic plaque imaging by carotid MRI.

Carotid MRI (CMRI) is a valuable technique to examine the state of carotid atherosclerotic plaque in vivo. This article examines CMRI’s current and future directions. These include technical requirements for implementing CMRI, as well as applications of CMRI, such as visualizing lesion types, plaque components, dynamic contrast imaging, comparison of stenosis and other measures of plaque burden, and ongoing knowledge gained from serial studies. Also, future directions of CMRI and how CMRI techniques can be transitioned into clinical practice are addressed.
Balance Functions at RHIC

The balance function is based on the principle that charge is locally conserved when particles are pair produced. Balance functions have been measured for all charged pairs, identified pion pairs, and identified charged kaon pairs in Au+Au collisions at GeV and p+p collisions at GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider using STAR. Balance functions for all charged particles from Au+Au scale smoothly with centrality to the p+p value. Balance functions for charged particles and pions are narrower in central collisions than in peripheral collisions consistent with trends predicted by models incorporating the concept of late hadronization. Balance functions for kaon pairs represent a strangeness balance. Balance functions for kaons are narrower than those for pion pairs and may show less dependence on centrality.
Extending MC-SURE to denoise sensor data streams

We propose a method to adaptively denoise sensor data streams corrupted by noise that can be approximated as additive white Gaussian. This on-line filtering method is based on the Monte-Carlo Stein's Unbiased Risk Estimate (MC-SURE) algorithm, which enables a blind optimization of the denoising parameters for a wide class of filters. We first identify the challenges that arise as the MC-SURE algorithm is adapted to on-line data processing. We then propose a framework to address these challenges and demonstrate the application of the algorithm using real-world datasets.
Vulvar Basal Cell Carcinoma: Two Unusual Presentations and Review of the Literature

Abstract Background. Basalcell carcinoma (BCC) of the vulva comprises 2–4% of all vulvar cancers. In general, vulvar BCCs tend to grow at slow rates. Nonetheless, they may be locally invasive and destructive if they are neglected. Eight cases of vulvar BCC metastatic to regional lymph nodes have been documented in the literature. Cases. Two unusual cases of vulvar BCC are presented. Case 1 is an 86-year-old white woman who presented with vulvar BCC metastatic to the femoral head. This is the first report of hematogeneous metastasis of vulvar BCC. The patient was treated with palliative vulvar resection and radiation to the femoral metastasis. At 6 months, she progressed with multiple bony and intraperitoneal metastases and died with disease. Case 2 is vulvar BCC in a 90-year-old African-American woman. She was managed by wide local excision and remains disease free to date. Conclusion. Vulvar BCCs are rare tumors with an unclear etiology. They can be aggressive and are capable of causing significant morbidity and occasional mortality if they are neglected or improperly treated. Hematogeneous metastasis at presentation appears to result in rapidly progressive disease. The literature regarding the pathogenesis, biologic behavior, and treatment of vulvar BCC is reviewed.
Detection of ovaries by transvaginal sonography in postmenopausal women.

A total of 230 apparently healthy postmenopausal women underwent transvaginal sonography and pelvic examination. The mean ovarian volume was 3.1 cm³ with a range of 0.4–57.4 cm³ and fewer than 5% (4.8%) of the subjects had a mean volume exceeding two standard deviations of the sample mean. Transvaginal sonography successfully imaged 64% of reported ovaries overall, although the proportion of ovaries imaged varied by sonographer. The poorer imaging rates found in this study, as compared with some previous investigations using transabdominal sonography, could be due to several factors including the type of sonography, the type of sample, the scanning time, and/or the criteria used to identify an ovary. Transvaginal sonography offers practical advantages over transabdominal sonography, but the potential loss in sensitivity, due to non-visualization of a substantial proportion of ovaries, must be formally assessed before adopting transvaginal sonography more widely as the primary screening modality. Copyright © 1993 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Using the generalized F distribution to model limnetic temperature profile and estimate thermocline depth

Abstract A reasonably precise estimate of the thermocline depth (or other well-defined boundaries) in the temperature profile of a lake is of interest to the limnological community. In this article, we propose an empirical model based on the generalized F distribution to describe the temperature profile. Using the model, the thermocline depth can be easily estimated. We also discuss the Gauss–Newton method to fit the model to the profile data. The model fitting procedure is illustrated using data from Lake Whatcom, WA, USA.
A silicon budget for an Alaskan arctic lake

The cycling of dissolved reactive silicate (DRS) and sedimentary biogenic SiO2 has been examined in ultraoligotrophic Toolik Lake, Alaska. Watershed output of DRS (∼ 7 mmol m − 2 yr −1) is similar to other arctic study sites, but a short water residence time results in the poor retention of DRS (∼17%) within the lake. Biogenic SiO2 concentrations in surficial sediments average 123 mg g−1 with the highest concentrations arising from the production of benthic diatoms in the littoral zone. Lake water DRS concentrations are highest prior to spring flow and photic zone concentrations exceed 23 µmol 1−1 at the time of greatest primary production. Wintertime increases in watercolumn DRS concentrations and spring and summer pore water DRS flux estimates indicate that internal cycling within the lake may supply an amount of DRS equivalent to that which biologically utilized.
Depth perception camera for autonomous vehicle applications

An imager that can measure the distance from each pixel to the point on the object that is in focus at the pixel is described. Since it provides numeric information of the distance from the camera to all points in its field of view it is ideally suited for autonomous vehicle navigation and robotic vision. This eliminates the LIDAR conventionally used for range measurements. The light arriving at a pixel through a convex lens adds constructively only if it comes from the object point in focus at this pixel. The light from all other object points cancels. Thus, the lens selects the point on the object who's range is to be determined. The range measurement is accomplished by short light guides at each pixel. The light guides contain a p - n junction and a pair of contacts along its length. They, too, contain light sensing elements along the length. The device uses ambient light that is only coherent in spherical shell shaped light packets of thickness of one coherence length. Each of the frequency components of the broad band light arriving at a pixel has a phase proportional to the distance from an object point to its image pixel.
Detection of Edges in Spectral Data

We are interested in the detection of jump discontinuities in piecewise smooth functions which are realized by their spectral data. Specifically, given the Fourier coefficients, { fk 5 ak 1 ibk}k51 N , we form the generalized conjugate partial sum S N s @ f #~x! 5 ¥ k51 N sS ND~aksin kx 2 bkcos kx!. The classical conjugate partial sum, SN [ f ]( x), corresponds to s [ 1 and it is known that 2p log N SN@ f #~x! converges to the jump function [ f ]( x) :5 f ( x1) 2 f ( x2); thus, 2p log N SN@ f #~x! tends to “concentrate” near the edges of f. The convergence, however, is at the unacceptably slow rate of order 2(1/log N ). To accelerate the convergence, thereby creating an effective edge detector, we introduce the so-called “concentration factors,” sk,N 5 sS ND . Our main result shows that an arbitrary C[0, 1] nondecreasing s(z) satisfying *1/N 1 s~x! x dxOi N3 ` 2p leads
Effect of chromium thickness on AuCr–nSi Schottky and AuCr–n–p+ Si BARITT diodes

The effect of chromium thickness on the barrier height of AuCr–nSi Schottky diodes and the current/voltage characteristics of AuCr–n–p+Si BARITT diodes is reported. The barrier height varies from 0.81 to 0.59 eV as the chromium thickness increases from zero (no chromium) to more than 200A
Design of Poly(ethylene Glycol)-Functionalized Hydrophilic Carbon Clusters for Targeted Therapy of Cerebrovascular Dysfunction in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) involves the elaboration of oxidative stress that causes cerebrovascular dysfunction, including impairment of autoregulation of cerebral blood flow. Currently, there is no clinically effective antioxidant treatment for these pathologies. Most currently available antioxidants act through mechanisms in which the antioxidant either transfers the radical or requires regeneration, both of which are impaired in the toxic post-TBI environment. We previously reported that single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and ultrashort SWCNTs possess antioxidant activity, and their characteristics suggest that radical annihilation is the major mechanism. We have now developed a biologically compatible class of carbon-based nanovectors, poly(ethylene glycol)-functionalized hydrophilic carbon clusters (PEG-HCCs) that can be further functionalized with antibodies, and hence show promise as targeted drug delivery platforms. Here we report that PEG-HCCs possess innate antioxidant activity a...
The Stream of Consciousness: XXVIII. Does Consciousness Exist? (First Part)

I address W. James's intentions in “Does ‘Consciousness’ Exist?” (DCE), and raise critical questions about the direction his theory takes after The Principles of Psychology. My article starts with consideration of a few of James's later statements on what he was trying to do in DCE, and then I closely examine his article for what it tells us concerning his new conception of the consciousness stream. James holds it to be constituted of “pure experiences” that are neither mental nor physical but that may be taken to be either mental or physical. An essential feature of his new conception is one's direct acquaintance with one's experiences. James treats consciousness, in this basic sense, as a crucial part of how one knows anything one does know. For example, knowledge of the sun has a basis in direct acquaintance with certain experiences; one takes some of one's experiences to be a certain physical object, the sun itself, because of their occurrence in a context consisting of certain other experiences that,...
Development of a wide field spherical aberration corrector for the Hobby Eberly Telescope: design, fabrication and alignment

A 4-mirror prime focus corrector is under development to provide seeing-limited images for the 10-m aperture Hobby- Eberly Telescope (HET) over a 22 arcminute wide field of view. The images created by the spherical primary mirror are aberrated with 13 arcmin diameter point spread function. The University of Arizona is developing the 4-mirror wide field corrector to compensate the aberrations from the primary mirror and present seeing limited imaged to the pickoffs for the fiber-fed spectrographs. The requirements for this system pose several challenges, including optical fabrication of the aspheric mirrors, system alignment, and operational mechanical stability. This paper presents current status of the program which covers fabrication of mirrors and structures and pretest result from the alignment of the system.
Finite-element time-domain analysis of axisymmetrical radiators

A method of analysis which permits the computation of electromagnetic fields directly in the time domain using the finite element method (FEM) is presented. The method considers coaxially-driven axisymmetrical structures. A new way of implementing absorbing boundary conditions for the coaxial feed is discussed. The method has been successfully used to model coaxially-driven axisymmetrical monopole antennas for a Gaussian pulse excitation. Generally, the results obtained show good agreement with previously published numerical and experimental data. >
Properties of β-Adrenergic Receptors on Porcine Corpora Lutea and Granulosa Cells*

The nature of β-adrenergic binding by swine corpora lutea and granulosa cells was examined with the specific β-adrenergic radioligand, (±)3-[125I]iodocyanopindolol (ICYP). Saturation analyses revealed the presence of high affinity (Kd = 15.2 ± 2.1 pm; n = 8 experiments) and low capacity (6.7 ± 0.8 fmol/mg protein) β-adrenergic receptors on porcine corpora lutea membranes. The properties of β-adrenergic binding were determined by computer modeling of competition studies with a variety of compounds selective for β-adrenergic subtypes. These studies disclosed predominantly β1-adrenergic receptors on pig luteal membranes. This inference from radioligand binding studies was corroborated functionally by the approximately equipotent biological effects of l-norepinephrine and l-epinephrine on cAMP production by luteal tissue (respective EC50s of 282 ± 31 and 187 ± 66 nm; n = 3 experiments). Physiological regulation of specific β-adrenergic receptor content in the swine ovary was indicated by prominent (up to 9-fo...
Environmental factors affecting seed germination in Myriophyllum spicatum L.

Myriophyllum spicatum L. is a submersed aquatic macrophyte that has colonized aquatic habitats across North America. Vegetative propagation is prevalent in M. spicatum and is highly visible, because of the extraordinary capacity of this plant to spread by fragmentation. Because of this, sexual propagation has been considered of limited importance and little is known about in situ seed germination of this species. Laboratory studies were conducted on seeds of M. spicatum to determine the light and temperature requirements necessary for maximum seed germination. Seed germination was also examined in situ at depths of 1, 3 and 5 m in two bays at Lake George, New York (USA). Significant germination of seeds was observed in the northern bay of the lake, but not in the southern, probably because of increased sedimentation in the latter. Temperatures higher than 15°C were found to be necessary for successful seed germination in laboratory studies; however, light was determined not to be a limiting factor on its own. Seeds buried under more than 2 cm of sediment were shown to experience significant decreases in germination.
Supersonic Retropropulsion Validation Experiment in the NASA Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel

The development of supersonic retropropulsion, an enabling technology for heavy payload exploration missions to Mars, is the focus of the present paper. A new experimental model, intended to provide computational fluid dynamics model validation data, was recently designed for the Langley Research Center Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel test section 2. Pretest analyses using modern computational fluid and thermal analysis tools were instrumental for sizing and refining the model, over the Mach number range of 2.4–4.6, such that tunnel blockage and internal flow separation issues would be minimized. A 5-in.-diam 70 deg sphere-cone forebody, which accommodates up to four 4∶1 area ratio nozzles, followed by a 9.55-in.-long cylindrical aftbody, was developed for this study based on the computational results. The model was designed to allow for a large number of surface pressure measurements on the forebody and aftbody. Supplemental data included high-speed schlieren video and internal pressures and temperatures. The r...
Selective DNA Binding of (N-alkylamine)-Substituted Naphthalene Imides and Diimides to G+C-rich DNA

Abstract Alkylamine-substituted naphthalene imides and diimides bind DNA by intercalation and have applications as anticancer agents. The unique structures of these imides in which two adjacent carbonyl groups lie coplanar to an extended aromatic ring system allow the possibility of sequence-selective interactions between the intercalated chromophore and guanine amino groups situated in the DNA minor groove. The binding affinities of N-[3- (dimethylamino)propyl amine]-1,8-naphthalenedicarboxylic imide (N-DMPrNI) and N, N′- bis[3,3′-(dimethylamino)propylamine]-naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic diimide (N- BDMPrNDI) for natural DNAs of differing base composition were determined spectroscopically and by equilibrium dialysis. In agreement with the above proposition, binding studies indicated that both the naphthalene imide and diimide strongly prefer to intercalate into steps containing at least one G:C base pair. The dependencies of association constants on DNA base composition are consistent with a requir...
When the New Application Smell Is Gone: Traditional Intranet Best Practices and Existing Web 2.0 Intranet Infrastructures

With the growth of Web 2.0 library intranets in recent years, many libraries are leaving behind legacy, first-generation intranets. As Web 2.0 intranets multiply and mature, how will traditional intranet best practices—especially in the areas of planning, implementation, and evaluation—translate into an existing Web 2.0 intranet infrastructure? This article explores traditional intranet theories and best practices in relation to the two generations of the Web 2.0 intranet at the Technical Services Department at the Miami University Libraries. The case study explores the evaluation of the first-generation Web 2.0 intranet (implemented in 2005) and the planning and implementation of the second-generation Web 2.0 intranet in 2008. While the technologies are different, the case study shows many of the best practices established for traditional intranets still hold true for the Web 2.0 intranets in the case study. Following many of the traditional best practices helped the second Web 2.0 intranet to succeed, w...
Optimization and automation of fluorescence‐based DNA hybridization for high‐throughput clone mapping

Large-scale hybridization-based genome mapping projects, such as the production of sequence-ready physical clone maps, call for robust and cheap DNA labeling techniques that are amenable to automation. We routinely use a high-throughput protocol based on fluorescence detection. DNA probes are labeled via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with primers that are digoxigenin-modified at their 5′ ends. Alternatively, digoxigenin-labeled dUTP is incorporated in a random hexamer priming reaction. Hybridization takes place in small volumes by sandwiching the probe between filters and plastic sheets. A fluorescence signal is produced by the activity of alkaline phosphatase attached to an anti-digoxigenin antibody upon the addition of AttoPhosTM substrate. Signals are directly detected with a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and scored by an image data analysis system. DNA filters can be reused at least 40 times without loss of data quality. Significant advantages compared to radioactive techniques are the reduced health risk, enabling highly parallel processing; the production of spot signals uniform in size and intensity, which is essential for efficient image analysis; and a cost reduction of about 70%.
Making the SIGUCCS experience last year-long; how a regional conference became a local chapter

In 1997, as a result of conversations that started during a SIGUCCS conference, several NY state schools formed a regional conference called NYCHES (New York Computing in Higher Education Symposium). SIGUCCS attendees from these schools wanted to continue the 'SIGUCCS dialogs' throughout the year, so NYCHES has met a few times a year since 1997, with participation increasing to include dozens of schools across central and western NY state. Schools would volunteer to host the day-long meeting, and provide food for the attendees. There was no membership fee to be involved in NYCHES, so costs to attendees were minimized to travel expenses. Cost containment, particularly in the face of constricting travel budgets for many schools, made a regional conference an attractive option for schools that could not afford to send many people to national conferences. Even so, based on their experiences in NYCHES many members became active SIGUCCS attendees, and conversations started during SIGUCCS would continue on in NYCHES meetings through the year. On March 19 2012, NYCHES became the first local chapter for SIGUCCS. SIG Chapters, and their membership, receive considerable benefits from the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) including website hosting, membership tools, mailing list hosting, recruitment tools, ACM email addresses, subscriptions to ACM publications, and access to the ACM Distinguished Speakers Program. Chapter members are not required to pay for membership, unless they wish to serve on the Board of the Chapter, so despite the substantial benefits, costs to their respective institutions are still minimized. This paper will discuss how NYCHES was successful as a regional conference, and how this format could be duplicated in other parts of the country. It will also discuss how the members of a regional conference would benefit from a formal association with both ACM and SIGUCCS.
A different type of vertebrate thalamic organization.

Abstract The presence of a reptilian thalamic reticular nucleus was investigated in Caiman crocodilus . Injections of horseradish peroxidase made into the dorsal thalamus produced retrogradely labeled neurons in the nucleus ofthe dorsal peduncle of the lateral forebrain bundle. A separate population of thalamic neurons located in the nucleus of the dorsal pedncle of the lateral forebrain bundle with morphology different from those neurons projecting to the dorsal thalamus were found to be immunoreactive for glutamic acid decar☐ylase. Taken together, these findings suggest that Caiman , like mammals, contain a thalamic reticular nucleus but that thalamic organization in Caiman differs significantly from that of mammals.
A novel particle filtering framework for 2D-TO-3D conversion from a monoscopic 2D image sequence

This paper presents a novel 2D-TO-3D conversion approach from a monoscopic 2D image sequence. We propose a particle filter framework for recursive recovery of point-wise depth from feature correspondences matched through image sequences. We formulate a novel 2D dynamics model for recursive depth estimation with the combination of camera model, structure model and translation model. The proposed method utilizes edge-detection-assisted scale-invariant features to avoid lack of edge features in scale-invariant features (SIFT). Furthermore, the depths in the depth map are computed and interpolated using 2D Delaunay triangulation. Finally, a stereo-view generation algorithm is presented for multiple users that uses proposed dynamics model and particle filter framework. Experimental results show that our proposed framework yields superior results.
The man who executed "imagined" movements: evidence for dissociable components of the body schema.

Abstract We examined the nature of representations underlying motor imagery and execution in a patient (CW) with bilateral parietal lesions. When imagining hand movements, CW executed the imagined motor act but was unaware of the movements. These movements were significantly more accurate than volitional movements for the left but not right hand. CW also exhibited preserved motor imagery for the left but not right hand. Consistent with previous accounts, these findings suggest that motor imagery may normally involve the inhibition of movements. CW’s unawareness of movements during motor imagery may reflect inattention or misattribution of the unexpected sensory feedback. Furthermore, in line with current models of motor control, motor imagery may depend on the integrity of a “forward model” derived from motor outflow information to generate a prediction of the consequences of a motor command. Such predictions appear to be preserved for imagery of left but not right hand movements in CW. Action may additionally depend on precise updating of effector position derived from the comparison of predicted and actual sensory information. We propose that CW’s impaired volitional movements may be attributable to the degradation of such an updating mechanism.
Discrimination of thermophilic and mesophilic proteins

There has been considerable interest in the physical basis for the increased thermostability of thermophilic proteins with respect to their mesophilic counterparts since the discovery of highly thermo-tolerant organisms. We have systematically studied a large set of protein structures in order to find those properties with the most power to discriminate mesophilic proteins from their thermophilic orthologs. Most of the structure-based descriptors used in our discrimination and classification experiments were derived from the Delaunay tessellations of the protein structures.
Management of chronic rhinosinusitis

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a prevalent inflammatory disorder of the paranasal mucosa, which encompasses a complex and heterogeneous disease population with variable pathophysiologic, host, and environmental etiologies. Due to this variability and an evolving understanding of its underlying etiology, successful medical and surgical management cannot be standardized and remains challenging. Medical management remains the first line strategy for this chronic condition with no known cure. Surgical therapy remains an important adjunct intervention when medical therapy fails to control the disease adequately. An up-to-date review of evidence-based recommendations, as well as emerging treatment strategies in the management of CRS follows.
Specifying the Determinants of Neighborhood Satisfaction: A Robust Assessment in 24 Metropolitan Areas

Using a sample of households nested in census tracts in 24 metropolitan areas over four time points, this study provides a robust test of the determinants of neighborhood satisfaction, taking into account the census tract context. Consistent with social disorganization theory, the presence of racial/ethnic heterogeneity and single-parent households consistently reduced neighborhood satisfaction. Those perceiving more social or physical disorder were considerably less satisfied with the neighborhood, and perceiving more crime showed an accelerating negative effect on satisfaction. Furthermore, the effect of perceiving crime was exacerbated in tracts with a distressed labor market or the presence of disengaged youth. There was consistent evidence that those with more economic investment (homeowners) or social investment (married residents and parents) in the neighborhood are more satisfied. On the other hand, longer-term residents did not report more satisfaction, nor did general residential stability in the tract increase satisfaction.