cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identifying the physical demands of Army Reserve personnel during deployable medical systems training

The purpose of this investigation was to (1) assess the physical demands of soldiers involved in Deployable Medical Systems (DEPMEDS) activities, and (2) evaluate the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries among reserve military personnel involved in these tasks. The primary study group consisted of 190 soldiers participating in a 2-week annual field training exercise. Information regarding the DEPMEDS construction was obtained by performance of an ergonomic analysis, administration of a physical exertion questionnaire, and collection of injury data reported during daily sick call. The neck, shoulders, and low back were the most frequently reported sites of musculoskeletal injury. Soldiers involved in DEPMEDS construction were 7.6 times more likely to sustain a musculoskeletal injury than soldiers not involved in this aspect of the field training exercise. Current methods of DEPMEDS construction that utilize medical personnel for erecting and dismantling equipment may reduce the unit's mission readiness.
Vector Reliability: A new Approach to Epistemic Justification

Critics of reliability theories of epistemic justificationoften claim that the `generality problem' is an insurmountabledifficulty for such theories. The generality problem is theproblem of specifying the level of generality at which abelief-forming process is to be described for the purposeof assessing its reliability. This problem is not asintractable as it seems. There are illuminating solutionsto analogous problems in the ethics literature. Reliabilistsought to attend to utilitarian approaches to choices betweeninfinite utility streams; they also ought to attend towelfarist approaches to social choice situations that donot demand full aggregation of individual welfares.These analogies suggest that the traditional `single number'approach to reliability is misguided. I argue that a newapproach – the `vector reliability' approach – is preferable.Vector reliability theories associate target beliefs withreliability vectors – that is, structured collections ofreliability numbers – and construct criteria of epistemicjustification that appeal to these vectors. The bulk of thetheoretical labor involved in a reliability account of epistemicjustification is thus transferred from picking a uniquereliability number to constructing a plausible criterionof epistemic justification.
Formaler Aufbau der Syntax der Sprache I

Wir haben bisher unterschieden zwischen der Objektsprache und der Syntaxsprache, in der die Syntax der Objektsprache formuliert wird. Sind dies notwendig zwei verschiedene Sprachen ? Wenn man diese Frage bejaht (wie es z. B. Herbrand in bezug auf die Metamathematik tut), so wird zur Formulierung der Syntax der Syntaxsprache eine dritte Sprache benotigt, usf. ins Unendliche. Nach einer anderen Auffassung (Wittgenstein) gibt es nur Eine Sprache; was wir Syntax nennen, kann nach dieser Auffassung uberhaupt nicht ausgesprochen werden, sondern „zeigt sich“. Im Unterschied zu diesen Auffassungen wollen wir zeigen, das man tatsachlich mit Einer Sprache auskommt; aber nicht durch Verzicht auf die Syntax, sondern dadurch, das die Syntax dieser Sprache in dieser Sprache selbst formuliert werden kann, ohne das dadurch ein Widerspruch entsteht. In jeder Sprache S kann die Syntax irgendeiner beliebigen Sprache — gleichviel ob die einer ganz andersartigen Sprache oder die einer Teilsprache von S oder die von S selbst — in demjenigen Umfang formuliert werden, der durch den Reichtum der Sprache S an Ausdrucksmitteln gegeben ist.
Arginine–Phosphate Recognition Enhanced in Phospholipid Monolayers at Aqueous Interfaces

Due to the growing world population, there is an ever-increasing need to develop better receptors to recover and recycle phosphate for use in agricultural processes. This need is driven by agricultural demand and environmental concerns because phosphate eutrophication has a damaging effect on fresh water supplies by fueling algal blooms. The air/water interface provides a unique region with a dielectric constant (e) that diminishes from high in bulk water (e = 80) to significantly lower (e.g., e < 40) near the monolayer surface to potentially enhance affinities during molecular recognition. The work presented here uses a model system of phosphate binding to an amino acid, arginine, and utilizes the interfacial properties of the phospholipid monolayer, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidic acid, as the phosphate source to quantify binding. Employing arginine as a probe molecule allows for the evaluation of its guanidinium moiety for phosphate chelation. Surface pressure–area isotherms from Langmuir mon...
Neuropalliative Care: A Practical Guide for the Neurologist

Neuropalliative care is a new and growing field within neurology that focuses on improving the quality of life of patients with serious neurologic illnesses. While specialty-level palliative care training is available to interested neurologists, all neurologists can strive to provide primary palliative care for their patients. In this review, we will describe the scope of neuropalliative care, define patient populations who may benefit from palliative care, and explore the communication and symptom management skills essential to palliative care delivery.
Automatic stereology of mean nuclear size of neurons using an active contour framework

Abstract The use of unbiased stereology to quantify structural parameters such as mean cell and nuclear size (area and volume) can be useful for a wide variety of biological studies. Here we propose a novel segmentation framework using an Active Contour Model to automate the collection of stereology from stained cells and other objects in tissue sections. This approach is demonstrated for stained brain sections from young adult Fischer 344 rats. Animals were perfused in-vivo with 4% paraformaldehyde and sectioned by frozen microtomy at an instrument setting of 40 μm. For each rat brain, a systematic-random set of sections through the entire substantia nigra pars compacta (SN) were immunostained to reveal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunopositive neurons. The novel framework applied an active contour (modified balloon snake) model with non-constant balloon force to automatically segment and quantify neuronal cell bodies by stereological point counting (SPC). Several contours were initialized in the image and based on the contour fit after 200 iterations classified as immunopositive (signal) or background contours in a sequential manner. Cell contours were determined in four steps based on several criteria, e.g., area of contour, dispersion measure, and degree of overlap. The image was automatically segmented according to the final contours. Using a point grid automatically generated at systematic-random orientations over the images, points hitting the segmented neural cell bodies were automatically counted. The final values from the automatic framework were compared with findings for ground truth (manual SPC). The results of this study show a strong agreement between data collected by the automatic framework and the ground truth (R2 ≥ 0.95) with a 5× gain in time efficiency for the automatic SPC. These findings give strong support for future applications of pattern recognition for assessing stereological parameters of biological objects identified by high signal:noise stains.
SWAD: The effect of pixel geometry on the spatial uniformity of avalanche gain

Photon counting detectors (PCDs) have the potential to improve x-ray imaging, however current crystalline materials are still hindered by high production cost and performance limitations. We are developing a novel direct conversion amorphous Selenium (a-Se) based field-Shaping multi-Well Avalanche Detector (SWAD) for photon counting breast imaging applications. SWAD’s multi-well Frisch grid design creates separate absorption and sensing regions capable of depth independent avalanche gain. The improved temporal response from unipolar time-differential (UTD) charge sensing combined with tunable avalanche gain within the well region attains the fast timing and energy resolution necessary for successful photon counting under clinical settings. The avalanche gain in a-Se sensors varies rapidly as a function of electric field, which may affect the overall energy resolution of the detector. The goal of this work is to investigate the uniformity of avalanche gain as a function carrier position within the a-Se bulk region for different SWAD design parameters. Our simulation results show that for the geometries modeled, the variation in avalanche gain along different field lines across the multi-well region can be kept below 4.2% by using multi-well pillars with a high aspect ratio. Additionally, the variation in avalanche gain was evaluated for charge clouds generated by incident x-rays with energies of 20, 40 and 60 keV. In all cases the variation in avalanche gain was found to decrease with increasing charge cloud size. For an optimized SWAD geometry, the variation in gain was negligible for each incident x-ray energy simulated.
Genetic and transcriptomic dissection of the fiber length trait from a cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) MAGIC population

Improving cotton fiber length without reducing yield is one of the major goals of cotton breeding. However, genetic improvement of cotton fiber length by breeding has been a challenge due to the narrow genetic diversity of modern cotton cultivars and negative correlations between fiber quality and yield traits. A multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) population developed through random mating provides an excellent genetic resource that allows quantitative trait loci (QTL) and causal genes to be identified. An Upland cotton MAGIC population, consisting of 550 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from eleven different cultivars, was used to identify fiber length QTLs and potential genes that contribute to longer fibers. A genome wide association study (GWAS) identified a cluster of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome (Chr.) D11 that is significantly associated with fiber length. Further evaluation of the Chr. D11 genomic region among lines of the MAGIC population detected that 90% of RILs have a D11 haplotype similar to the reference TM-1 genome (D11-ref), whereas 10% of RILs inherited an alternative haplotype from one of the parents (D11-alt). The average length of fibers of D11-alt RILs was significantly shorter compared to D11-ref RILs, suggesting that alleles in the D11-alt haplotype contributed to the inferior fiber quality. RNAseq analysis of the longest and shortest fiber length RILs from D11-ref and D11-alt populations identified 949 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that different functional categories of genes were over-represented during fiber elongation between the four selected RILs. We found 12 genes possessing non-synonymous SNPs (nsSNPs) significantly associated with the fiber length, and three that were highly significant and were clustered at D11:24-Mb, including D11G1928, D11G1929 and D11G1931. The results of this study provide insights into molecular aspects of genetic variation in fiber length and suggests candidate genes for genetic manipulation for cotton improvement.
Sentiment Analysis of the News Media on Artificial Intelligence Does Not Support Claims of Negative Bias Against Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic in digital health, as automated systems are being adopted throughout the health care system. Because they are still flexible, emerging technologies can be shaped significantly by media representations as well as public engagement with science. In this context, we examine the belief that negative news media coverage of AI-and specifically, the alleged use of imagery from the movie Terminator-is to blame for public concerns about AI. This belief is identified as a potential barrier to meaningful engagement of AI scientists and technology developers with journalists and the broader public. We name this climate of risk perception the "Terminator Syndrome"-not because of its origins in the movie of the same name per se, but because such unchecked beliefs can terminate broad public engagement on AI before they even begin. Using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, this study examined the hypothesis that the news media coverage of AI is negative. We conducted a sentiment analysis of news data spanning over six decades, from 1956 to 2018, using the Google Cloud Natural Language API Sentiment Analysis tool. Contrary to the alleged negative sentiment in news media coverage of AI, we found that the available evidence does not support this claim. We conclude with an innovation policy-relevant discussion on the current state of AI risk perceptions, and what critical social sciences offer for responsible AI innovation in digital health, life sciences, and society.
Choice Architecture and Simplifying: Alternatives to Incentives for Increasing Healthy Behaviors.

This issue’s article “Medicaid and CHIP Child Health Beneficiary Incentives: Program Landscape and Stakeholder Insights” by Moseley et al1 nicely summarized the characteristics of 82 initiatives designed to improve the health of publicly insured children. More importantly, these authors provided a well-balanced perspective on the strengths and limitations of the incentives. Such beneficiary incentive programs have a compelling rationale. These incentives are directed toward lower-income families who may be highly motivated to save money and/or obtain much-needed tangible assistance. In addition, incentives may signal to families the importance of particular health behaviors. Furthermore, short-run incentives may have lasting effects because some target behaviors either confer long-term health benefits or become more habitual. Despite their intuitive appeal, beneficiary incentive programs may not produce intended benefits. There is slim empirical evidence supporting the use of such incentives for the distal pediatric outcomes of decreasing morbidity, mortality, or health care expenditures. Moseley et al1 did cite some studies demonstrating that incentives increased proximal health behaviors for youth, such as well-child visits.2–7 However, most incentive programs lack published and/or conclusive … Address correspondence to Jack Stevens, PhD, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University of Pediatrics, Faculty Office Building 3rd Floor, Columbus, OH 43205. E-mail: jack.stevens{at}nationwidechildrens.org
Wait times, health care touchpoints, and nonattendance in an academic pediatric dermatology clinic

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Timely access to pediatric dermatology care remains a challenge. While awaiting appointments, many patients and families utilize so-called health care touchpoints outside of the dermatology clinic such as primary care or emergency department visits to address dermatologic concerns. Long waiting periods also factor into nonattendance rates at pediatric dermatology appointments. This observational retrospective study investigated wait times, relevant health care touchpoints, and factors related to nonattendance at a pediatric dermatology clinic. METHODS We reviewed demographic, health care touchpoint, and nonattendance data for patients referred by a primary care affiliate to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) pediatric dermatology clinic from February 2016 to May 2017. Descriptive statistics were used to identify trends among analyzed variables. RESULTS We reviewed 250 patient records. The average number of touchpoints per patient was 0.56, and factors that significantly correlated with increased numbers of touchpoints included younger patient age and longer wait time while payer, primary diagnosis, and time of year were not associated. The nonattendance rate was 26%, and factors significantly associated with increased nonattendance rate included longer wait times and winter and spring appointments. CONCLUSION Long wait times impact numbers of touchpoints and appointment attendance rate when referring to pediatric dermatology. A platform such as teledermatology may represent an opportunity to improve access to care by allowing for earlier input from the pediatric dermatologist.
The Unfolded Protein Response Is a Determinant of Disease Actvity in Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia (WM).

The unfolded protein response (UPR) maintains the quality of newly synthesized secretory and transmembrane proteins such as immunoglobulins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of eukaryotic cells. The most proximal sensors of the UPR are the ATF6, IRE1a-Xbp1, and PERK proteins. Bip, an ER stress-induced pro-survival molecular chaperone, controls the trafficking of Atf6 and is considered as an indicator of the onset of the UPR. EDEM, downstream of Xbp1 splicing, regulates the extraction of misfolded proteins into the cytosol for proteasome-mediated destruction. Ultimately, the initially cytoprotective UPR triggers an apoptotic cascade if ER stress is not corrected. We studied the UPR stress system in patients with Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia (WM), a B-cell disorder characterized by excess secretion of IgM. As part of these efforts, we examined the UPR genes Bip-Atf6, Ire1a-Xbp1, Perk, as well as genes downstream of the UPR pathway including Xbp1 spliced-Edem, eIF2a and Gadd34 using semi-quantitative PCR analysis of CD19 + selected bone marrow lymphoplasmacytic cells (LPC) from 46 patients with the consensus panel diagnosis of WM. We found that UPR gene expression was highly heterogeneous with 16 (35%) patients expressing all genes, whilst 11 patients (24%) expressed only Xbp1 and Edem. Among patients expressing all UPR genes, median serum IgM (p=0.025) and B 2 M (p=0.05) levels, as well as bone marrow involvement (p=0.06) were higher, with levels of Bip showing greatest correlation to serum IgM and B 2 M levels, and BM involvement (p=0.01). These results confirm that UPR gene expression is related to disease activity in WM, and suggest a particular role for Bip as a prognostic factor in this disease.
Parallelized RSA Algorithm: An Analysis with Performance Evaluation using OpenMP Library in High Performance Computing Environment

RSA algorithm is an asymmetric encryption algorithm used to maintain confidentiality and integrity of data as it is transported across networks. As time has gone on, security and confidentiality has grown in importance leading to more data requiring encryption. Parallelization has become an important aspect in improving the speed and efficiency of processing for encryption algorithms. Improvements in parallel implementations of the RSA algorithm lead to better security and efficiency for parallel systems utilizing the algorithm. In this study, we present a comprehensive survey of methods proposed by researchers for parallelization of the RSA algorithm from 1978 till date. This survey aims to provide a deeper understanding of the possible avenues that can be considered to obtain better performance of the RSA algorithm in parallel environments. To demonstrate the improvements, this paper presents a parallel CPU-based implementation of the RSA algorithm using the OpenMP library. This implementation focuses on parallelizing the exponentiation operation of the algorithm. To provide a robust analysis, the study makes use of a High Performance Computing environment to illustrate results for different scenarios in terms of parallel processing units. Through experimental analysis, the implementation is shown to have greatly improved execution times when compared against serial implementation.
Folding trees gracefully

When a graceful labeling of a bipartite graph assigns the smaller labels to the vertices of one of the stable sets of the graph, the assignment is called an α-labeling. Any graph that admits such a...
3D DATA GENERATION USING LOW-COST CROSS-VIEW IMAGES

Abstract. 3D data generation often requires expensive data collection such as aerial photogrammetric or LiDAR flight. In cases such data are unavailable, for example, areas of interest inaccessible from aerial platforms, alternative sources to be considered can be quite heterogeneous and come in the form of different accuracy, resolution and views, which challenge the standard data processing workflows. Assuming only overview satellite and ground-level go-pro images are available, which we call cross-view data due to the significant view differences, this paper introduces a framework from our project, consisting of a few novel algorithms that convert such challenging dataset to 3D textured mesh models containing both top and facade features. The necessary methods include 3D point cloud generation from satellite overview images and ground-level images, geo-registration and meshing. We firstly introduce the problems and discuss the potential challenges and introduce our proposed methods to address these challenges. Finally, we practice our proposed framework on a dataset consisting of twelve satellite images and 150k video frames acquired through a vehicle-mounted Go-pro camera and demonstrate the reconstruction results. We have also compared our results with results generated from an intuitive processing pipeline that involves typical geo-registration and meshing methods.
Metrics of neonatal antibiotic use.

Abstract Responsible use of antibiotics is critical to preserve their effectiveness and to minimize adverse outcomes associated with overuse and misuse. Newborn infants are a unique population with high rates of antibiotic exposure. In order to improve neonatal antibiotic use, accurate and meaningful metrics are required. In this review, we highlight and compare existing antibiotic use metrics in detail, including definitions, current applications, advantages, and limitations of each metric, with a focus on applicability to neonatal populations. We explore future directions for identification of accurate and meaningful metrics that will allow hospitals and stakeholders to pinpoint antibiotic utilization practices that should be emulated or avoided, and ultimately improve the safety and quality of neonatal care.
ACE: Just-in-time Serverless Software Component Discovery Through Approximate Concrete Execution

While much of the software running on today's serverless platforms is written in easily-analyzed high-level interpreted languages, many performance-conscious users choose to deploy their applications as container-encapsulated compiled binaries on serverless container platforms such as AWS Fargate or Google Cloud Run. Modern CI/CD workflows make this deployment process nearly-instantaneous, leaving little time for in-depth manual application security reviews. This combination of opaque binaries and rapid deployment prevents cloud developers and platform operators from knowing if their applications contain outdated, vulnerable, or legally-compromised code. This paper proposes Approximate Concrete Execution (ACE), a just-in-time binary analysis technique that enables automatic software component discovery for serverless binaries. Through classification and search engine experiments with common cloud software packages, we find that ACE scans binaries 5.2x faster than a state-of-the-art binary analysis tool, minimizing the impact on deployment and cold-start latency while maintaining comparable recall.
Infusing Computational Thinking in an Integrated STEM Curriculum: User Reactions and Lessons Learned

This study describes the design and implementation of an integrated STEM + computational thinking (CT) curriculum, which was guided by project-based learning, for integrating CT in after-school programs. The study examined teachers and students’ reactions to the curriculum and the challenges in implementing such a curriculum. Results show that most students and teachers reacted positively toward the curriculum. Main challenges to implementing such a curriculum were also identified. Lessons learned from the curriculum implementation are discussed. The study contributes to the integration of CT and development of CT in students. It also contributes to teacher professional development regarding CT integration.
Not All Databases are Created Equal, A Comparison of Administrative Data and Quality Improvement Registries for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Abstract Objective Databases are essential in evaluating surgical outcomes and gauging the implementation of new techniques. However, there are important differences in how data from administrative databases and surgical quality improvement (QI) registries are collected and interpreted. Therefore, we aim to compare trends, demographics, and outcomes of open and endovascular aortic abdominal aneurysm (AAA) repair in an administrative database and two QI registries. Methods We identified patients undergoing open and endovascular repair of intact and ruptured AAAs between 2012 and 2015 within the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP), and the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI). We described the differences and trends in overall AAA repairs for each dataset. Moreover, patient demographics, comorbidities, mortality and complications were compared among the datasets using Pearson’s χ 2 test. Results A total of 140,240 NIS patients, 10,898 NSQIP patients and 26,794 VQI patients were included. Rupture repairs comprised 8.7% of NIS, 11% of NSQIP, and 7.9% of VQI. EVAR rates for intact repair (range: 83-84%) and ruptured repair (range: 51-59%) were similar in the three databases. In general, rates of comorbidities were lower in NIS than in the QI registries. Following intact EVAR, in-hospital mortality rates were similar in all three databases (NIS: 0.8%, NSQIP: 1.0%, and VQI: 0.8%, P=.06). However, after intact open repair and ruptured repair, in-hospital mortality was highest in NIS and lowest in VQI (Intact open: NIS: 5.4%, NSQIP: 4.7%, and VQI: 3.5%, P Conclusion NIS had the largest number of patients as it represents the nationwide experience and is an essential tool to evaluate trends over time. The lower in-hospital mortality seen in NSQIP and VQI questions the generalizability of the studies that use these QI registries. However, with a growing number of hospitals engaging in granular quality improvement initiatives, these QI registries provide a valuable resource to potentially improve the quality of care provided to all patients.
Reorganized Atmospheric Circulation During the Little Ice Age Leads to Rapid Southern California Deoxygenation

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2021. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Geophysical Research Letters 48(15), (2021): e2021GL094469, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094469.
Bioethics and the Future of Stem Cell Research

Despite years of heated social controversy over the use of human embryos in embryonic stem cell research, the caravan of stem cell science continues to proceed at an unrelenting pace all around the world. Bioethics and the Future of Stem Cell Research urges readers to look beyond the embryo debate to a much wider array of ethical issues in basic stem cell science and clinical translational research, including research involving adult and induced pluripotent stem cells. Insoo Hyun offers valuable insights into complex ethical issues ranging from pre-clinical animal studies to clinical trials and stem cell tourism, all presented through a unique blend of philosophy, literature and the history of science, as well as with Dr Hyun's extensive practical experiences in international stem cell policy formation. This thoughtful book is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the science of stem cells and the practical and philosophical elements of research ethics.
Amenability to Treatment

Amenability to treatment is a critical concept for psychology and psychiatry. To date, however, there have been very few specific efforts to define the term, and few studies have determined what factors predict amenability to treatment or have determined if indicators of an individual's level of amenability to treatment can be altered with intervention. This entry covers six specific issues regarding treatment amenability. First, we examine what is known about the definition of the term. Second, individual characteristics that predict amenability are explored, such as age, socioeconomic status, and mental disorders. Third, amenability to treatment is examined in terms of its legal definition. Fourth, we more specifically discuss treatment amenability of juveniles. Fifth, we cover the current assessment technology used to tap treatment amenability. Finally, we provide concluding comments and future directions for research on amenability that will help mental health professionals better understand the term in the coming years. Keywords: psychotherapies; amenaibility; anti-social behavior; rehabilitation; self-awareness; treatment; treatment readiness; treatment responsiveness
Extending OSPFv3 to provide multi-class routing using multiple dynamic link metrics

As optical and RF links are deployed on airborne platforms, they will be integrated into networks. These networks will have links with metrics such as capacity, delay, and packet loss rates that may exhibit significant variation with time. To route traffic over such infrastructure, a routing system will need to be adaptive and efficient. Service requirements will differ among different classes of traffic. To address these challenge, we integrate new capabilities into the OSPF framework: continuous collection and distribution of multiple time-varying link metrics. We support multiple traffic classes by evaluating multiple cost functions and running multiple path selection procedures at each node.
When “Aha Moments” Make All the Difference:

What makes a seasoned group of faculty members sit up straight and learn something remarkable? It happens when the members go through a process to develop a new product and realize that what (shoul...
CALPAIN ACTIVITY IN THE RETINAS OF NORMAL AND RCS RATS

Calpains are calcium-activated proteinases which have been implicated in tissue differentiation and degeneration. The aims of the present study were: (1) to determine the relationship between postnatal age and calpain activity in the rat retina; (2) to test if calpain activity was aberrant in the RCS retina at different postnatal ages. Calpain activity was measured by a standard in vitro assay in fractions of retinas of rats, ranging in postnatal age of 2 to 42 days. Most retinal calpain activity was in the cytosolic fraction. Specific calpain activity declined with age. In the Long Evans rat, it was 8-fold higher on postnatal day 2 than on postnatal day 42. Comparison between RCS rats and their congenic controls showed that calpain activity was lower in the retinas of neonatal RCS rats. Specific calpain activity in RCS rat retinas was 46% lower on postnatal day 2 and 22% lower on postnatal day 3. It is concluded that during postnatal development of the retina, marked changes occurred in calpain activity....
Taking care of the caretakers to enhance antiretroviral adherence in HIV-infected children and adolescents.

nesta revista relata os importantes resultados com relac¸aoa adesao a tratamentos antirretrovirais combinados, encon-trados em um grande estudo multicentrico em crianc¸asinfectadas pelo HIV no periodo perinatal e adolescentescom HIV, em cinco centros de referencia geograﬁcamentedistintos no Brasil. Apesar de avanc¸os signiﬁcativos no diag-nostico, tratamentoeacessoamedicamentosantiviraisparacrianc¸as e adolescentes com HIV, o resultado desejado deuma vida longa e saudavel e limitado pela capaci-dade de a crianc¸a/adolescente e o cuidador aderir deforma consistente a necessidade diaria de ingestao de variosmedicamentos antirretrovirais.
An improved micro spectrofluorometric assay for determining isoniazid in serum

Abstract A highly sensitive micro modification of a fluorometric procedure for measuring isoniazid levels in serum is described. This modification permits the use of as little as 25 μl of serum and simplifies the measurement of isoniazid in infants, primates, and small laboratory animals.
FINE STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE JUNCTIONAL ZONE OF THE RAT PLACENTA WITH INCREASING GESTATIONAL AGE.

Chorionic trophoblast of the rat has been examined electron microscopically at the following developmental stages: 10 days following insemination (from the implanting chorionic vesicle), and at 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 days (from the placental junctional zone). In 10- and 12-day tissues only trophoblast giant cells and smaller, parenchymatous cells have been identified. Both appear undifferentiated. Giant cells appear actively phagocytic. By 14 days, giant cells have attained their definitive structure and no longer phagocytose. Concomitantly, cells of the parenchyma are seen to differentiate into trophospongium and glycogen cells. Both these cell types appear fully differentiated by 16 days. In subsequent stages, trophospongium is observed to undergo ultrastructural changes that are regarded as degenerative. An attempt is made to correlate fine structural changes in the junctional zone which are associated with increasing gestational age with variations in probable functions of this placental region, viz., “extralabyrinthine transport,” appositional growth, and production of a luteotropic hormone.
Some cytological aspects of antagonism in synthesis of nucleic acid

The effects of solutions of benzimidazole and 5-aminouracil onAllium cepa root meristems immersed in them have been studied cytologically. Benzimidazole and 5-aminouracil, analogues of purines and pyrimidines respectively, reduce the number of nuclear divisions being initiated. A marked decline in frequency of cells in mitosis occurs at the beginning of treatment with benzimidazole (300 p.p.m.) but not until 6 or more hours later with 5-aminouracil (125 p.p.m.).
MRI feature extraction using a linear transformation

We present development and application of a feature extraction method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), without explicit calculation of tissue parameters. We generate a three-dimensional (3-D) feature space representation of the data, in which normal tissues are clustered around pre-specified target positions and abnormalities are clustered somewhere else. This is accomplished by a linear minimum mean square error transformation of categorical data to target positions. From the 3-D histogram (cluster plot) of the transformed data, we identify clusters and define regions of interest (ROIs) for normal and abnormal tissues. There ROIs are used to estimate signature (feature) vectors for each tissue type which in turn are used to segment the MRI scene. The proposed feature space is compared to those generated by tissue-parameter-weighted images, principal component images, and angle images, demonstrating its superiority for feature extraction. The method and its performance are illustrated using a computer simulation and MRI images of an egg phantom and a human brain.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Late-winter generation of spiciness on subducted isopycnals

The origins of density-compensating anomalies of temperature and salinity (spice) are investigated using a model forced with the most realistic surface products available over the 40 years 1958‐97. In this hindcast, the largest interannual spiciness anomalies are found in the Pacific Ocean near the isopycnal s 0 5 25.5, where deviations as great as 1.28C and 0.6 psu are generated equatorward of winter outcropping in the eastern subtropics in both hemispheres. These source regions are characterized by very unstable salinity gradients and low mean density stratification in winter. Two related signatures of winter mixing in the southeast Pacific (SEP) are density that is well mixed deeper than either temperature or salinity and subsurface density ratios that approach 1. All ocean basins in the model are shown to have regions with these characteristics and signatures; however, the resultant spiciness signals are focused on different isopycnals ranging from s 0 5 25.0 in the northeast Pacific to s 0 5 26.5 in the south Indian Ocean. A detailed examination of the SEP finds that large positive anomalies are generated by diapycnal mixing across subducted isopycnals (e.g., s 0 5 25.5), whereas negative anomalies are the result of a steady isopycnal advection, moderated by vertical advection and heave. There is considerable interannual variability in the strength of anomalies and in the density on which they occur. Historical observations are consistent with the model results but are insufficient to verify all aspects of the hindcast, including the processes of anomaly generation in the SEP. It was not possible to relate isopycnal anomaly genesis to local surface forcing of any kind. A complex scenario involving basinwide circulation of both the ocean and atmosphere, especially of surface water through the subtropical evaporation zones, is put forward to explain the decadal time scale evident in SEP salinity anomalies on s 0 5 25.5. Pacific anomalies generated on s 0 5 25.5 can be traced along mean geostrophic streamlines to the western boundary, where decadal salinity variations at 78S are about 2 times as large (order 60.1 psu) as at 128N, although there may be more variance on shallower isopycnals in the north. At least portions of the s 0 5 25.5 signals appear to continue along the boundary to a convergence at the equator, suggesting that the most robust sources of Pacific spiciness variance coincide with equatorial exchange pathways.
D-Glucuronic acid: a non-inhibitor of the concanavalin A system

Abstract D-Glucuronic acid is demonstrated not to inhibit the concanavalin A system; previous claims to the contrary are shown to be due to a pH effect. Concanavalin A does not precipitate biopolymers containing nonreducing, terminal α-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid residues.
Viscous-Gravity Spreading of an Oil Slick

The problem examined in this paper is that of a two-dimensional oil slick spreading under the influence of gravitational and viscous forces. The primary concern in this paper was to derive, with no ad hoc assumptions, an explicit expression for the size of the slick as a function of time. To this end, an exact analytical and numerical description of the flow is obtained in a certain rational asymptotic limit. The expression for the size of the slick contains no free parameters which need to be empirically determined. Comparison by the author of theorectical results with experimental results for the time-dependent slick size show good agreement. The author conjectures that the discrepancy between theoretical and experimental results may be in the assumption of a laminar boundary layer as applied in the formulation of the problem rather than the possibility of a turbulent boundary layer.
PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL AND TERMINATIONS: A REVIEW OF COURT DECISIONS SINCE BRITO V. ZIA WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR PERSONNEL PRACTICES

Court cases since the classic Brito v. Zia (1973) decision dealing with terminations based on subjective performance appraisals are reviewed. Professional interpretations of Brito v. Zia are also examined and criticized in light of professional practice and subsequent court decisions. Major themes and issues are distilled from the review of cases, and implications and recommendations for personnel practices were discussed.
Plasma-Broadened Cesium Lines

Profiles of isolated plasma-broadened lines have been calculated and measured for the fundamental series ($5D\ensuremath{-}nF$) of cesium. The calculations used the static theory for the ion interactions and the classical path, nonadiabatic impact approximation for the electron interactions. The necessary matrix elements have been obtained from wave functions specially determined for this purpose. The calculations were made for plasma ion densities in the range from 3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{13}$ to 1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{16}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ and temperatures from 2000\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 10 000\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. A scanning monochromator was used to measure profiles of lines emitted from a hot-cathode low-voltage discharge. Plasma densities and electron temperatures were determined from continuum intensity measurements. Line intensities were also measured. Observations were made at ion densities from 3.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{13}$ to 1.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{15}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ with temperatures between 2300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 6000\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Experimental and theoretical widths are presented and compared. The ratio of measured to calculated width averaged over the data points is 0.99\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.18. The widths are nearly proportional to ion density and are insensitive to temperature. Predicted values of line shift are also given.
The reality of collaboratories

Abstract Advances in data acquisition and dissemination technologies, together with several other computer science technologies, provide an opportunity to define new environments for remote access to scientific instruments and collaboration between researchers at remote sites. These environments, called “collaboratories” (V.G. Cerf, National Collaboratories: Applying Information Technologies for Scientific Research (National Academy Press, D.C. Washington, 1993)), are intended to provide complete location-independent collaborative access to instruments, data acquisition and analysis resources, as well as to collaborating researchers. Over the past two years we have built a prototype collaboratory at the Spectro-Microscopy Facility of the Advanced Light Source (ALS) Beamline 7.0 at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The scientists who use the Beamline are based at different cities around the world. Before the introduction of the collaboratory, experiments at the Beamline required that multiple researchers travel to Berkeley, CA. With the collaboratory, scientists can now discuss experiments with other scientists around the world and at the Beamline, “walk” around the Beamline using remotely controlled cameras, access data as it is taken, monitor instrument parameters, and do limited control of the experiment from their offices. This paper presents the design of the prototype Spectro-Microscopy Collaboratory, and the lessons learned in providing remote access to the facility. It also presents the software architecture and components that are being developed to provide a toolkit for bringing future experimental equipment on-line.
Ejaculatory pattern in female rats without androgen treatment

Adult female rats receiving long-term estrogen treatment displayed the species-typical motor pattern of ejaculation during copulation. This hormone treatment produced pituitary hypertrophy and concomitant pressure damage to brain areas dorsal to the pituitary, but did not cause clitoral hypertrophy. The demonstration of the ejaculatory pattern in perinatally untreated female rats indicates that the potential for the expression of the ejaculatory or "orgasmic" pattern is not dependent on exogenous androgen at any stage of development and is more widely represented among female mammals than previously believed.
Upper atmosphere wind observations of waves and tides with the UNH Meteor Radar System at Durham 43°N (1977, 1978 and 1979)

Abstract Meteor wind data obtained during the years 1977–1979 have been processed to obtain prevailing 12h, 24h, and pseudo 2 day components. These results are presented and compared with winds measured at other sites. Monthly wind values at various heights show regularity for the semi diurnal tide in both amplitude and phase. The average properties of the semi diurnal tide agree well with classical tidal theory. There is considerable energy present in the diurnal and pseudo 2 day components, their amplitudes and phases are quiteirregular. The prevailing wind is consistent with that observed at other locations. During the summer, the meridional component is equatorward at all levels (4–12 ms−1) and the zonal component is eastward at all levels (15–30 ms−1).
NG2 Glial Cells Provide a Favorable Substrate for Growing Axons

NG2 cells (polydendrocytes) comprise an abundant glial population that is widely and uniformly distributed throughout the developing and mature CNS and are identified by the expression of the NG2 proteoglycan at the cell surface. Although recent electrophysiological studies suggest that they are capable of receiving signals from axon terminals, other studies, based on the finding that the NG2 molecule itself induces growth cone collapse, have led to a widely held speculation that NG2 cells themselves also repel and inhibit growing axons. In this study, we have examined the effects of rat NG2 cells on growing hippocampal and neocortical axons in vitro and in vivo. NG2 cells did not repel growing axons but promoted their growth in vitro, and axonal growth cones formed extensive contacts with NG2 cells both in vitro and in the developing corpus callosum. Punctate immunoreactivity for fibronectin and laminin was found to be colocalized with NG2 on the surface of NG2 cells. Altering the level of cell surface NG2 expression had no effect on the growth-promoting effects of NG2 cells on growing axons. Thus, our study indicates that NG2 cells are not inhibitory to growing axons but provide an adhesive substrate for axonal growth cones and promote their growth even in the presence of elevated levels of the NG2 proteoglycan. These findings suggest a novel role for NG2 cells in facilitating axonal growth during development and regeneration.
Direct electrical stimulation of the somatosensory cortex in humans using electrocorticography electrodes: a qualitative and quantitative report.

Objective. Recently, electrocorticography-based brain–computer interfaces have been successfully used to translate cortical activity into control signals for external devices. However, the utility of such devices would be greatly enhanced by somatosensory feedback. Direct stimulation of somatosensory cortex evokes sensory perceptions, and is thus a promising option for closing the loop. Before this can be implemented in humans it is necessary to evaluate how changes in stimulus parameters are perceived and the extent to which they can be discriminated. Approach. Electrical stimulation was delivered to the somatosensory cortex of human subjects implanted with electrocorticography grids. Subjects were asked to discriminate between stimuli of different frequency and amplitude as well as to report the qualitative sensations elicited by the stimulation. Main results. In this study we show that in humans implanted with electrocorticography grids, variations in the amplitude or frequency of cortical electrical stimulation produce graded variations in percepts. Subjects were able to reliably distinguish between different stimuli. Significance. These results indicate that direct cortical stimulation is a feasible option for sensory feedback with brain–computer interface devices.
Microwave processing of gustatory tissues for immunohistochemistry

We use immunohistochemistry to study taste cell structure and function as a means to elucidate how taste receptor cells communicate with nerve fibers and adjacent taste cells. This conventional method, however, is time consuming. In the present study we used taste buds from rat circumvallate papillae to compare conventional immunohistochemical tissue processing with microwave processing for the colocalization of several biochemical pathway markers (PLCβ2, syntaxin-1, IP3R3, α-gustducin) and the nuclear stain, Sytox. The results of our study indicate that in microwave versus conventional immunocytochemistry: (1) fixation quality is improved; (2) the amount of time necessary for processing tissue is decreased; (3) antigen retrieval is no longer needed; (4) image quality is superior. In sum, microwave tissue processing of gustatory tissues is faster and superior to conventional immunohistochemical tissue processing for many applications.