cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Postnatal Human Cytomegalovirus Infection in Preterm Infants Has Long-Term Neuropsychological Sequelae

Objective To evaluate whether an early postnatal infection poses a long-term risk for neuropsychological impairment to neonates born very prematurely. Study design Adolescents born very preterm (n = 42, 11.6-16.2 years, mean = 13.9; 15 girls; 19 with and 23 without an early postnatal human cytomegalovirus [CMV] infection) and typically developing, term born controls (n = 24, 11.3-16.6 years, mean = 13.6; 12 girls) were neuropsychologically assessed with the German version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale and the Developmental Test for Visual Perception. Results As expected, the full cohort of adolescents born preterm had significantly lower scores than term born controls on IQ (preterm: mean [SD] = 98.43 [14.83], control: 110.00 [8.10], P = .015) and on visuoperceptive abilities (95.64 [12.87] vs 106.24 [9.95], P = .016). Furthermore, adolescents born preterm with early postnatal CMV infection scored significantly lower than those without this infection regarding overall cognitive abilities (92.67 [14.71] vs 102.75 [13.67], P = .030), but not visuoperceptive abilities (91.22 [10.88] vs 98.96 [13.45], P > .05). Conclusions In our small but well-characterized group, our results provide evidence for adverse effects of early postnatal CMV infection on overall cognitive functions in adolescents born preterm. If confirmed, these results support the implementation of preventive measures.
Identification of indels in next-generation sequencing data

Background The discovery and mapping of genomic variants is an essential step in most analysis done using sequencing reads. There are a number of mature software packages and associated pipelines that can identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a high degree of concordance. However, the same cannot be said for tools that are used to identify the other types of variants. Indels represent the second most frequent class of variants in the human genome, after single nucleotide polymorphisms. The reliable detection of indels is still a challenging problem, especially for variants that are longer than a few bases.
Linear stability analysis of the solidification of a supercooled liquid in a half-space

Abstract The instability of the solidifying front of a supercooled liquid in a half-space is investigated by introducing a small disturbance at the solid–liquid interface. A relationship between the thermal properties of the material and the disturbance growth rate is obtained using the heat balance equation at the interface, including the effects of surface curvature on the equilibrium temperature. The heat balance equation is solved numerically and compared to the analytical solution obtained by neglecting the effects of surface curvature. The results show that the thermal gradients increase the growth rates of disturbances at the solid–liquid interface and that the effect of surface curvature results in a decrease in the disturbance growth rates. Further analysis shows that marginal stability occurs in both the longer wavelength and capillary regions.
A wireless batteryless piezoresistive pressure sensing system

A wireless batteryless piezoresistive pressure sensing system was presented. The sensing system adapts RFID operation principles including a transponder and a reader. The transponder device includes an energy harvesting circuit, force sensing resistors, a resistance-to-frequency converter, and an antenna. The reader provides radio frequency power to the device remotely and measures the sensor values in terms of frequency shift simultaneously. The performance of the system was characterized form 0 to 10 psi while the corresponding modulated frequency shift by the reader was between 7.35 kHz and 8.55 kHz. A pressure sensor array was arranged to identify high pressure points dynamically for long-term usage.
Gene Expression Profiling of Intrinsic Thermotolerance in Escherichia coli

DNA microarrays were employed to compare gene expression in a thermotolerant, nalidixic acid–resistant mutant of Escherichia coli with that of the parental strain. When grown at 37°C, up-regulated genes in the mutant included those coding for multiple antibiotic resistance proteins and enzymes for the degradation of small molecules, whereas among the down-regulated genes were those coding for fimbrial, flagellar, and outer membrane proteins as well as sigma38. When the mutant grown at 42°C was compared to the mutant grown at 37°C, enhanced expression of several genes coding for flagellar proteins was detected. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis of selected genes confirmed results obtained with microarrays.
A Gauss sum estimate in arbitrary finite fields

Abstract We establish bounds on exponential sums ∑ x ∈ F q ψ ( x n ) where q = p m , p prime, and ψ an additive character on F q . They extend the earlier work of Bourgain, Glibichuk, and Konyagin to fields that are not of prime order ( m ⩾ 2 ) . More precisely, a non-trivial estimate is obtained provided n satisfies gcd ( n , q − 1 p ν − 1 ) p − ν q 1 − e for all 1 ⩽ ν m , ν | m , where e > 0 is arbitrary. To cite this article: J. Bourgain, M.-C. Chang, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 342 (2006).
Modelling bubble clusters in compressible liquids

We present a new model for bubbly cavitating flows. Based on volume-averaged equations, a subgrid model is added to account for a bubble, or multiple bubbles, within each computational cell. The model converges to the solution of ensemble-averaged bubbly flow equations for weak oscillations and monodisperse systems. In the other extreme, it also converges to the theoretical solution for a single oscillating bubble, and captures the bubble radius evolution and the pressure disturbance induced in the liquid. A substantial saving of computational time is achieved compared to ensemble-averaged models for polydisperse mixtures.
Lipid Lateral Diffusion in Dilauroylphosphatidylcholine/Cholesterol Mixed Monolayers at the Air/Water Interface

Binary monolayers of l-α-dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC) and cholesterol were formed at the air/water interface by the successive addition method with chloroform as the spreading solvent at 296 K. Translational diffusion of a probe lipid in the monolayers as a function of cholesterol fraction was examined by the technique of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching in conjunction with epifluorescence microscopy and the Wilhelmy plate method. A transition from biphasic morphology to a visually homogeneous uniphasic monolayer occurred at surface pressures between 13 and 20 mN·m-1, depending on the cholesterol fraction in the monolayer. The lateral diffusion coefficient was found to decrease when surface pressure and/or cholesterol fraction were/was increased. The diffusion coefficients of the probe lipid in the homogeneous monolayers were analyzed on the basis of the free area model. The observed retardation of the diffusion is ascribed to an increase in the in-plane surface viscosity of monolayers. I...
High‐temperature dissociation of ethyl radicals and ethyl iodide

The decomposition of ethyl iodide and subsequent dissociation of ethyl radicals have been investigated behind incident shock waves in a diaphragmless shock tube by laser-schlieren (LS) densitometry (1150–1870 K, 55 ± 2 Torr and 123 ± 3 Torr). The LS density-gradient profiles were simulated assuming that the initial dissociation of C2H5I proceeded by 87% C–I fission and 13% HI elimination. Excellent agreement was found between the simulations and experimental profiles. Rate coefficients for the C–I scission reaction were obtained and show strong falloff. Gorin model RRKM (Rice, Ramsperger, Kassel, and Marcus) calculations are in excellent agreement with the experimental data with E0 = 55.0 kcal/mol, which is in very good agreement with recent thermochemical measurements and evaluations. However, E0 is approximately 2.7 kcal/mol higher than previous estimates. First-order rate coefficients for dissociation of C2H5I were determined to be k55Torr = 8.65 × 1068T−16.65 exp(−37,890/T) s−1, k123Torr = 3.01 × 1069T−16.68 exp(−38,430/T) s−1, k∞ = 2.52 × 1019T−1.01 exp(−28,775/T) s−1. Rates of dissociation for ethyl radicals were also obtained, and these are in very good agreement with theoretical predictions (Miller J. A. and Klippenstein S. J. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2004, 6, 1192–1202). The simulations show that at low temperatures ethyl radicals are consumed through recombination reactions as well as dissociation, whereas at high temperatures, dissociation dominates. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 433–443, 2012
Experimental studies with frozen soil in an “ice sandwich” permeameter

Abstract An “ice sandwich” apparatus can be used in a dilatometer mode to obtain data for unfrozen water content and in a permeameter mode to obtain apparent hydraulic conductivity data for a frozen soil. Measurements on a 4–8 μm silt fraction confirmed expectations of strong hysteresis effects in both functions in the range 0 to −0.15°C. In the ice sandwich mode (no soil), an imposed hydraulic gradient induced regelation and a measurable temperature gradient. With frozen soil (permeameter mode), however, the induced gradient, if present, was too small to be detected with present apparatus. In the ice sandwich mode, flow along grain boundaries in polycrystalline ice was negligible, compared to regelation transport, at −0.040°C.
A quick-turn 3D structured ASIC platform for cost-sensitive applications

This paper presents a novel 3D structured ASIC platform that lowers the development effort required to deploy 3D integration technologies in cost sensitive, low-volume applications. The key advantage of this structured 3D ASIC architecture, over custom 3D ASICs, is a fixed vertical interconnect pattern that is programmed by a single 2D metal-via mask, allowing individual die levels to be rapidly designed, fabricated, and assembled. The first silicon realization of this architecture is a 3D-stackable 12×12mm structured ASIC die with 42K interconnects, which is resource compatible with an existing 2D structured ASIC device of the same size. 3D die stacks built using this platform are also intended to be a less costly and more flexible replacement for a large 20×20mm monolithically integrated structured ASIC device. This 3D structured ASIC platform was des igned and fabricated in Sandia's 0.35-μm foundry, and high-density front-end-of-line through silicon vias (TSVs) were developed to implement the 3D vertical interconnects1.
Consideration of the APA practice guideline for the treatment of patients with panic disorder: Strengths and limitations for behavior therapy

The need to disseminate information about empirically supported treatments is becoming paramount in the current cost-minimizing health care climate. Cognitive-behavioral treatments are clearly effective for panic disorder, and yet the majority of persons suffering from panic disorder do not receive this treatment. Publications like the American Psychiatric Association's “Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Panic Disorder” (1998) potentially have a widespread influence on mental health-care practitioners, and therefore it is essential that the guideline be accurate and up-to-date. In this paper, we critique the guideline's presentation of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in terms of scientific basis, clinical practice, training of behavior therapists, and diversity issues. Although the guideline appropriately highlights CBT as a primary treatment for panic disorder, the discussions of its breadth, techniques, and utility are understated.
Getting acquainted with support and self-help groups on the Internet

Abstract The combined influence of the consumer health care movement, economics, and the communications revolution (specifically the Internet) promise to radically influence the manner in which the health care industry provides services to the American public. These forces are expected to spawn a more sophisticated consumer who will ask questions, collaborate in treatment options, and readily explore all the alternatives before making a decision. The near limitless possibilities for consumers to network using the electronic resources of the Internet are in the earliest stages of development. The purpose of this article is to briefly define the purpose of support or self-help groups, provide information on how to access them through the Internet, and offer suggestions for criteria that consumers may want to consider in determining the quality and value of these groups.
Effects of State Postsecondary Education Structures on Public University Prices and Spending

Public universities located in states with systems that enhance political control and universities whose trustees are selected by nonacademic stakeholders charge significantly lower prices than universities located in states with decentralized systems and those whose trustees are selected by academic stakeholders.
McCauley, The Maturational Natural, and Current Limits of the Cognitive Science of Religion

Every place in the city is full of them: the alleys, the crossroads, the forums, the squares. Garment sellers, money changers, food vendors—they are all at it. If you ask for change, they philosoph...
RELIABILITY AND THE NONEQUIVALENT GROUPS WITH ANCHOR TEST DESIGN

This study evaluated the impact of unequal reliability on test equating methods in the nonequivalent groups with anchor test (NEAT) design. Classical true score-based models were compared in terms of their assumptions about how reliability impacts test scores. These models were related to treatment of population ability differences by different NEAT equating methods. A score model was then developed based on the most important features of the reviewed score models and used to study reliability in a simulation study across a total of 45 measurement conditions (= 5 test and anchor reliability combinations × 3 population ability difference conditions × 3 sample sizes). Ten equating methods were considered: chained linear, chained equipercentile with raw and smoothed frequencies, Tucker, frequency estimation equipercentile with raw and smoothed frequencies, Levine observed using Angoff-estimated and the “correct” reliabilities based on the data generation model used in this study, and Levine true using Angoff-estimated and correct reliabilities. The results were consistent with what is known about equating functions and their variability. Unequal and/or low reliability inflates equating function variability and alters equating functions when population abilities differ.
Prenatal expectations in Mexican American women: Development of a culturally-sensitive measure

Prenatal expectations describe various domains a woman envisions in preparation for her role as a new mother and influence how women transition into the maternal role. Although the maternal role is strongly influenced by the prevailing familial and sociocultural context, research characterizing prenatal expectations in ethnic minority and low-income women is lacking. As part of the largest growing minority group in the USA, Latina mothers represent an important group to study. Two hundred and ten low-income Mexican American women were administered the Prenatal Experiences Scale for Mexican Americans (PESMA) that was adapted to capture specific cultural aspects of prenatal expectations. Measures of current support, prenatal depressive symptoms, and other sociodemographic characteristics were also completed to assess validity. Exploratory factor analysis identified three underlying factors of prenatal expectations: paternal support, family support, and maternal role fulfillment. Associations among these subscales and demographic and cultural variables were conducted to characterize women who reported higher and lower levels of expectations. The PESMA demonstrated good concurrent validity when compared to measures of social support, prenatal depressive symptoms, and other sociodemographic constructs. A culturally sensitive measure of prenatal expectations is an important step towards a better understanding of how Mexican American women transition to the maternal role and identify culturally specific targets for interventions to promote maternal health.
Radioimmunoassay for Urinary Free 19-Nor-Deoxycorticosterone: Effects of Adrenocorticotropin and Sodium Depletion

A RIA for urinary free deoxycorticosterone (DOC) and 19-nor-deoxycorticosterone [21-hydroxy-19-nor-4- pregnene-3,20-dione (19-nor-DOC)] was developed and used to measure urinary free DOC and 19-nor-DOC in rats kept on normal and low sodium diets and before and after ACTH administration. The RIA required a preliminary high performance liquid chromatography purification using a Lichrosorb diol column before the eluates were assayed using highly specific antibodies. The intraassay variability was 9.8% for DOC and 10% for 19-nor-DOC; the interassay variabilities were 19% and 16%, respectively. Urinary free DOC excretion was 0.71 ± 0.15 ng/day (mean ± SD) in rats maintained on a normal sodium diet and 1.42 ± 0.46 ng/day after 3 days of a sodium-restricted diet. Urinary free 19- nor-DOC was 10.5 ± 5.5 ng/day in rats kept on the normal sodium diet and 28.6 ± 11.5 ng/dl after 3 days of a sodiumrestricted diet. ACTH increased the excretion of urinary free DOC from 0.72 ± 0.2 to 4.62 ± 2.3 ng/day and that of 19-nor...
Radioactive Antiglobulin Testing with 125I Anti‐C4 and Anti‐C3

The report describes methods for quantitating C4 and C3 coating of red blood cells using 125I anti-C4 and anti-C3. Two methods of preparing antisera were used; one involving absorption and elution from complement coated cells, and the other employing IgG fractions of antisera prepared on DEAE cellulose. White-cell-free red blood cells were used in the test procedure. Both the labeled antisera and the test cells were diluted in cold carrier proteins, initially bovine serum albumin, but more recently normal rabbit serum. We have found that normal rabbit serum is particularly effective in reducing the high uptake of nonspecific counts on normal cells, which had previously been a major technical problem for the radioactive antiglobulin technique. These methods are highly reproducible and relatively easy to perform once the labeled antisera are prepared. Furthermore, the use of labeled antisera permits analysis of specificity by the highly sensitive technique of radioimmunoelectrophoresis. One problem with the technique is that results indicate uptake of labeled antisera, rather than amounts of coating substances. Nonetheless, the ease of performance and the reproducibility of the method, make the procedure very useful in comparative studies of uptake of C4 and C3 by red blood cells.
A Comparison of the Different Methods of Calculating Yearly Milk and Butterfat Records

Summary 1.One hundred yearly Holstein and Jersey records were computed by various present-day methods of estimating their actual amounts. The standard records used for comparisons were based on actual daily milk weights and forty-eight butterfat tests during the year. 2.Centering-the-testing-day method showed only slight advantages over the monthly method (testing date not centered) in mean differences from the standard and its records failed in all comparisons to be as highly correlated with the standard as were the monthly records. 3.A systematic irregularity in testing dates tended to overcome some of the bias shown with regular testing dates and did not lower the correlation with standard records. 4.The use of daily milk weights tended to reduce the variability of the records when compared to the standard. 5.Bi-monthly tests and the use of daily milk weights resulted in records which were practically as accurate as were records from monthly and centering methods not utilizing daily milk weights. 6.Results of the study show only small differences between the accuracy of various methods now used by breed associations, agricultural colleges, and the Bureau of Dairy Industry, and indicate that uniform testing rules could be profitably adopted by all parties concerned.
Dynamic phase imaging for in vitro process monitoring and cell tracking

This paper describes a new, novel quantitative interference microscope system and presents images, videos and data of live biological samples. The specially designed optical system enables instantaneous 4-dimensional video measurements of dynamic motions within and among live cells without the need for contrast agents. This "label-free", vibration insensitive imaging system enables measurement of biological objects in reflection using harmless light levels with a variety of magnifications and wavelengths with fields of view from several hundred microns up to a millimeter. At the core of the instrument is a phase measurement camera (PMC) enabling simultaneous measurement of multiple interference patterns utilizing a pixelated phase mask taking advantage of the polarization properties of light. Phase values are converted to optical thickness data enabling volumetric, motion and morphological studies. Data from organisms such as flagellates and rotifers will be presented, as will measurements of human breast cancer cells with the addition of various agents that break down the cells. These data highlight examples of monitoring different biological processes and cellular motions.
A Signal Simulator for Strain Gauge Type Pressure Transducer Amplifiers

A simulator circuit is presented which permits the introduction of external electrical signals mto both dc and carrier type strain gauge amplifiers.
Hybrid fuzzy logic committee neural networks for recognition of swallow acceleration signals

Biological signals are complex and often require intelligent systems for recognition of characteristic signals. In order to improve the reliability of the recognition or automated diagnostic systems, hybrid fuzzy logic committee neural networks were developed and the system was used for recognition of swallow acceleration signals from artifacts. Two sets of fuzzy logic-committee networks (FCN) each consisting of seven member networks were developed, trained and evaluated. The FCN-I was used to recognize dysphagic swallow from artifacts, and the second committee FCN-II was used to recognize normal swallow from artifacts. Several networks were trained and the best seven were recruited into each committee. Acceleration signals from the throat were bandpass filtered, and several parameters were extracted and fed to the fuzzy logic block of either FCN-I or FCN-II. The fuzzified membership values were fed to the committee of neural networks which provided the signal classification. A majority opinion of the member networks was used to arrive at the final decision. Evaluation results revealed that FCN correctly identified 16 out of 16 artifacts and 31 out of 33 dysphagic swallows. In two cases, the decision was ambiguous due to the lack of a majority opinion. FCN-II correctly identified 24 out of 24 normal swallows, and 28 out of 29 artifacts. In one case, the decision was ambiguous due to the lack of a majority opinion. The present hybrid intelligent system consisting of fuzzy logic and committee networks provides a reliable tool for recognition and classification of acceleration signals due to swallowing.
Finite Element Charts and Active Vibration Suppression Schemes for Smart Structures Design

This article employs a finite element method to introduce Displacement-Load-Sensor voltage-Actuator voltage (DLSA) Design Charts and associated vibration suppression schemes; namely, Constant Voltage (CV), Optimum Voltage (OV), Corresponding Voltage (COV), and Truncated Corresponding Voltage (TCOV), to develop actuator control voltages with amplitude and phase information for the design of smart structures with piezoelectric sensors and actuators for active vibration suppression. These techniques can be used to (a) design the location, size, and number of actuators without resorting to complex control strategies or formal optimization techniques, (b) investigate the actuation effectiveness of surface-mounted versus embedded piezoelectric patches in similar composite structures, and (c) determine actuator control voltages analogous to a feedforward open-loop control technique. Guidelines are presented for the development of DLSA Design Charts. In addition, closed form analytical equations that can replace DLSA Design Charts, are developed and presented due to their ease of use. An Active Composite Panel (ACP) with a surface-mounted piezoelectric patch actuator for lateral vibration suppression and an Active Composite Strut (ACS) with a piezoelectric stack actuator for axial vibration suppression are considered. The ACP and ACS are employed to demonstrate the applications of the introduced DLSA Design Charts and the vibration suppression schemes for vibration suppression and actuator placement optimization. The vibration suppression of both ACP and ACS is significant over a frequency range encompassing several resonances, and is indicated by the Suppressed Vibration Energy (SVE) index. This investigation shows that the optimum location of the actuator depends on the structural mode shape, based on the criteria of maximum SVE and minimum actuator power. In general, the actuator should be placed on the panel on a sub-area, where the sum of normal strains is maximum. However, a preferred location can be determined over a range of frequencies that encompass more than one natural frequency.
Environmental factors correlated to dichlorophenol dechlorination in anoxic freshwater sediments

The reductive dechlorination of three dichlorophenol (DCP) isomers was studied in anoxic sediments collected every other month for a year from five sites in one pond. Several physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics of the sediments also were determined to identify correlations with DCP dechlorination that may be used to predict the persistence of these compounds in anoxic sediments. Stepwise regression indicated that for 2,5- and 3,4-DCP, sediment pH, redox potential (Eh), and concentration of sulfate and nitrate accounted for 83% of the variation in T50 values (time for dechlorination of 50% of a DCP to a monochlorophenol). Although the number of sediment microorganisms that dechlorinate 2,4-DCP varied two orders of magnitude in sediments collected during the study year, regression analysis indicated that neither this nor any other variables could account for greater than 50% of the variation in T50 values for 2,4-DCP. Chlorine was preferentially removed from the aromatic ring in the order ortho > para > meta; however, the influence of chlorine position on the ring on the persistence of the DCPs was generally not statistically significant.
Effect of selected amino acids on ethanol toxicity in rats.

The effects of L-lysine, L-arginine, L-ornithine, and glycine on acute ethanol intoxication, and the degree of ethanol-induced CNS depression, were investigated. Amino acid treatment was shown to prolong the onset of ataxia, reduce the duration of sleeping time, and decrease the number of rats losing the righting reflex, but it did not alter the LD50 values in response to ethanol. The protective actions of the amino acids are attributed to the formation of an amino acid-acetaldehyde complex, although other possible interactions are discussed.
Do topical anesthetics reduce periareolar injectional pain before sentinel lymph node biopsy

Abstract Background Topical anesthetics have been used in various procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate efficacy of lidocaine/prilocaine cream in decreasing the pain of injection for sentinel lymph node biopsy. Methods A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted on female breast cancer patients undergoing periareolar injection for sentinel lymph node isolation. Subjects applied lidocaine/prilocaine cream or a placebo cream before injection and completed a survey postoperatively. Results Twenty treatment and 19 control patients were studied. There was a trend for control subjects to indicate that the injection was “painful” or “extremely painful” more often than treatment subjects (52.6% vs 25.0%, respectively, P = .074). The treatment group was more likely to recommend the cream to other cancer patients (70.0% vs 42.1%), with a trend toward significance (P = .076). Conclusions This study showed no statistically significant reduction in pain scores in subjects receiving the topical anesthetic. Further studies targeting patients with low pain tolerance may prove more effective.
The Incidence of Foot-Pad Dermatitis in Young Turkeys Fed High Levels of Soybean Meal

Abstract INTRODUCTION Considerable research effort has been directed toward the turkey leg weakness and foot-pad dermatitis problem in the last two years. Patrick et al. (1942) were the first to report that a biotin deficiency in chicks and poults resulted in perosis and foot-pad dermatitis. Interest in these problems increased greatly when poults on commercial farms were observed to have typical biotin deficiency symptoms (Richardson and Wilgus, 1967; Johnson, 1967). Jensen (1969) reported a foot-pad dermatitis in turkey poults which was not related to a simple biotin deficiency. This foot-pad dermatitis was reported to be related to factors in the feces from birds fed diets containing a high level of soybean meal. It was reported that poults fed diets containing 40% or more of soybean meal exhibited a high incidence of foot-pad dermatitis, while birds fed diets containing little or no soybean meal had little or no such dermatitis. The purpose…
Variability of ciliary ultrastructure in normal dogs

The incidence of abnormal tracheal cilia from each of seven normal healthy dogs was estimated using samples prepared for TEM and SEM from the dorsal, lateral, and ventral aspects of the 3rd, 12th, and 24th tracheal rings. Some samples were demembranated with Triton X-100 and stained with tannic acid to visualize microtubular protofilaments. From each region of each ring of each dog on which TEM was done, 500 transversely sectioned cilia were observed, 27,000 cilia overall. Abnormal numbers of central microtubules and abnormal numbers of peripheral microtubules occurred in all samples in about 2% of all cilia. Compound cilia were consistently observed in samples from the 3rd ring and were not observed in any samples from the 24th ring. Therefore, before abnormal ciliary ultrastructure may be associated with disease, the rate of occurrence must exceed that in appropriate control individuals. Additionally, compound cilia, which have previously been associated with a variety of diseases, obviously occur in normal individuals; however, their observation may be a function of biopsy site selection.
The acidity of zirconium phosphates in relation to their activity in the dehydration of cyclohexanol

Three samples of zirconium phosphate varying in crystallinity from amorphous to highly crystalline were prepared and characterized as to surface area, surface acidity, and activity in cyclohexanol dehydration. The number of strong acid groups was found to increase with increased temperature of pretreatment of the solids, except for the amorphous exchanger. For that solid condensation of hydroxyl groups is significant at temperatures of 200–400 °C reducing the surface acidity. The dehydration reaction was found to be first order in alcohol concentration and to increase in rate with increase in the number of strong acid groups. The reaction was poisoned by the exchange of surface protons with Cs+ or introduction of quinoline into the feed stream. Thus, the active sites must be the monohydrogen phosphate protons. However, a small amount of activity is due to a second site probably of the Lewis acid type.
The double-kink model for low-temperature deformation of B.C.C. metals and solid solutions

Abstract The energy of formation of a double kink was calculated as a function of stress, for various boundary conditions, values of elastic constants, and for different dislocation lengths. Once a double kink has formed, its lateral motion is an athermal process. The interaction energies between the kinks and between the kinks and the remaining portions of the dislocations were found to be small compared to the formation energy of the double kink. There is agreement between the calculated activation energies and the experimental values. The potential energy versus displacement curve for the formation of successive double kinks was calculated for a dislocation of finite length. The potential energy was found to go through a series of local maxima and minima before decreasing to an absolute minimum and then increasing monotonically as the displacement increases. This potential energy profile was used to explain low-temperature internal friction data. The means by which solute atoms can effect the Peierls' stress, and the resulting change in activation parameters and yield and flow stress were examined. The significant effect of the change in the Peierls' stress due to solute atoms is the occurrence of solid solution softening effect.
Risk factors for nocturnal reflux in a large GERD cohort.

BackgroundNocturnal gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been associated with severe complications including erosive esophagitis, peptic stricture, and even esophageal adenocarcinoma and is known to cause a decreased health-related quality of life. However, there is limited information on inde
Shapiro–Francia test compared to other normality test using expected p-value

The Shapiro–Francia (SF) normality test is an important test in statistical modelling. However, little has been done by researchers to compare the performance of this test to other normality tests. This paper therefore measures the performance of the SF and other normality tests by studying the distribution of their p-values. For the purpose of this study, we selected eight well-known normality tests to compare with the SF test: (i) Kolmogorov–Smirnov (KS), (ii) Anderson–Darling (AD), (iii) Cramer von Mises (CM), (iv) Lilliefors (LF), (v) Shapiro–Wilk (SW), (vi) Pearson chi-square (PC), (vii) Jarque– Bera (JB) and (viii) D'Agostino (DA). The distribution of p-values of these normality tests were obtained by generating data from normal distribution and well-known symmetric non-normal distribution at various sample sizes (small, medium and large). Our simulation results showed that the SF normality test was the best test statistic in detecting deviation from normality among the nine tests considered at all ...
Tolerance of the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to pH, Salinity, and Hardness in Aquatic Media

The toxicity of many chemicals depends on the physical conditions of the test environment, and any change or adjustment made to the tests can alter the results. Therefore it is important to establish the sensitivity of the test organism over a range of test conditions to determine when it is necessary to make adjustment and to what extent. In this study, we established the tolerance range of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans for pH, salinity and hardness using 24- (without food source) and 96-h (with food source) aquatic toxicity tests. The tests were performed in two media: K-medium and moderately hard reconstituted water (MHRW). C. elegans has high tolerance under these test conditions. In K-medium worms survived a pH range of 3.1 to 11.9 for 24 h and 3.2 to 11.8 for 96 h without significant (p > 0.05) lethality. In MHRW the pH range was 3.4 to 11.9 for 24 h and 3.4 to 11.7 for 96 h. Salinity tolerance tests were approximated with NaCl and KCl individually. Up to 15.46 g/L NaCl and 11.51 g/L KCl were tolerated by C. elegans in K-medium without significant lethality (p > 0.05). In MHRW higher salt concentrations were tolerated; about 20.5 g/L NaCl and 18.85 g/L KCl did not show any adverse effect compared to control. Hardness tolerance was tested by adding NaHCO3. The nematode could tolerate 0.236 to 0.246 g/L of NaHCO3. The high tolerance of C. elegans to these test conditions (pH, salinity, and hardness) allows more versatility than other organisms commonly used in aquatic toxicity tests. It also allows the monitoring of effluents and receiving waters from freshwater or estuarine sources without dilution or adjustment.
Clinical elements that predict outcome after traumatic brain injury: a prospective multicenter recursive partitioning (decision-tree) analysis.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often presents clinicians with a complex combination of clinical elements that can confound treatment and make outcome prediction challenging. Predictive models have commonly used acute physiological variables and gross clinical measures to predict mortality and basic outcome endpoints. The primary goal of this study was to consider all clinical elements available concerning a survivor of TBI admitted for inpatient rehabilitation, and identify those factors that predict disability, need for supervision, and productive activity one year after injury. The Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) database was used for decision tree analysis using recursive partitioning (n = 3463). Outcome measures included the Functional Independence Measure™, the Disability Rating Scale, the Supervision Rating Scale, and a measure of productive activity. Predictor variables included all physical examination elements, measures of injury severity (initial Glasgow Coma Scale score, duration of ...
8-methoxyingol esters from the latex of Euphorbia hermentiana

Abstract Two new ingol esters, 3,12- O -diacetyl-7- O -benzoyl-8-methoxyingol and 3,12- O -diacetyl-7- O -tigloyl-8-methoxyingol, were isolated from an acetone-soluble fraction of the latex of Euphorbia hermentiana . These macrocyclic diterpenes were identified on the basis of their spectroscopic parameters, as well as those of their hydrolytic derivatives. A third methoxylated ingol ester and a fourth new compound were tentatively identified as 3,12- O -diacetyl-7- O -angeloyl-8-methoxyingol and 3,7,12- O -triacetyl-8- O -benzoyl-18-hydroxyingol, respectively. All four new compounds, and three further ingol ester constituents of known structure, were found to be easily separable using a newly developed isolation procedure involving droplet counter-current chromatography.
Developmental Decline in the Acquisition of Spatial Language

We asked whether there is a developmental decline in the ability to learn the spatial terms of a second language, similar to the age-related decline in mastery of phonology and morphosyntax. Although the semantics of spatial terms may appear to be straightforwardly grounded in spatial cognition and therefore relatively simple, they are known to differ significantly across languages, packaging geometric and functional relationships in different ways, and relying on culture-specific representation of objects. Previous observations suggest that adults learning spatial semantics in a second language do face considerable difficulties (e.g., Ijaz, 1986). To explore why and how learners might find it difficult to learn spatial semantics in a second language, we asked adult native speakers of Spanish and Korean to produce and judge applicability of English spatial prepositions that describe relationships of support, containment, and vertical displacement. The age at which spatial terms were first learned in Engli...
Complementary, holistic, and integrative medicine: Crohn disease

Although the use of CAM in pediatric CD is common, quality evidence-based research is limited. There is clearly a need for further randomized controlled trials. The role of psychosocial distress in children with CD should not be overlooked and thus biobehavioral techniques should be considered and incorporated when possible. Considering the potential for growth failure and need for surgical intervention in CD, any CAM therapies that are not harmful should be used only in combination with conventional medical treatment. The importance of all health care providers partnering with their patients and asking about CAM use, as well as maintaining an awareness of efficacy, safety, harm, drug-supplement interactions, and appropriate referral sources, should be kept in mind when caring for those afflicted with this chronic disease.
Beliefs and practices resulting in female deaths and fewer females than males in India

A preference for sons and the low status of females are implicated in the preponderance of males over females as reported in each census of India from the first one taken in the 19th century. A number of cultural practices, some of which are quite ancient, are involved in this sexual imbalance, namely, maternal mortality due to unhygienic lying-in and postpartum conditions and practices, female infanticide, female feticide, Sati, murder, dowry murder, and suicide. This discussion is based both on 19th and 20th century sources and on fieldwork conducted in the North Indian village of Shanti Nagar in 1958–59 and 1977–78.
Chapter 12 Gene expression for behaviorally relevant peptides in hypothalamic neurons

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the gene expression for behaviorally relevant peptides in hypothalamic neurons. Analogies among hormone effects on neurons and those in classical peripheral target organs offer the neurobiologist hypotheses to test when investigating synthetic events in the complicated tissue that directs behavioral responses. The steroid hormone-binding in brain indicates that some aspects of the mechanisms consequent to nuclear receptor occupation by estrogens or androgens involve RNA and protein synthesis. After determining the circuit that activates lordosis behavior, estrogen and progesterone dependent, it is concluded that the interruption of hormone effects on this behavior by actinomycin D or protein synthesis inhibitors require studies of messenger RNA and protein synthesis. The chapter discusses the use of in situ hybridization for measuring RNA levels in individual neurons and also presents the studies of protein synthesis in hypothalamic neurons altered by estrogen treatment.
An Algebraic Coding Scheme for Wireless Relay Networks With Multiple-Antenna Nodes

We consider the problem of coding over a half-duplex wireless relay network where both the transmitter and the receiver have respectively several transmit and receive antennas, whereas each relay is a small device with only a single antenna. Since, in this scenario, requiring the relays to decode results in severe rate hits, we propose a full rate strategy where the relays do a simple operation before forwarding the signal, based on the idea of distributed space-time coding. Our scheme relies on division algebras, an algebraic object which allows the design of fully diverse matrices. The code construction is applicable to systems with any number of transmit/receive antennas and relays, and has better performance than random code constructions, with much less encoding complexity. Finally, the robustness of the proposed distributed space-time codes to node failures is considered.
Analytical router modeling for networks-on-chip performance analysis

Networks-on-chip (NoCs) have recently emerged as a scalable alternative to classical bus and point-to-point architectures. To date, performance evaluation of NoC designs is largely based on simulation which, besides being extremely slow, provides little insight on how different design parameters affect the actual network performance. Therefore, it is practically impossible to use simulation for optimization purposes. In this paper, a generalized router model was first presented and then utilized this novel model for doing NoC performance analysis. The proposed model can be used not only to obtain fast and accurate performance estimates, but also to guide the NoC design process within an optimization loop. The accuracy of our approach and its practical use is illustrated through extensive simulation results
Learning New Information from Text: The Role of Prior Knowledge and Reading Ability

This study was designed to examine children's ability to learn new informa- tion from textual materials. It investigated the extent to which equally intelligent average and poor readers could recognize and recall information from expository texts. Two types of explicit and four types of inferential information were tested through recognition items. Subjects recognized more explicit than inferential information, although some inference types were more difficult than others to recognize. In addition, the study examined the extent to which acquisition of new information was a function of prior knowledge. The probability of a correct response was computed for three dif- ferent prior knowledge conditions: 1) correct, 2) wrong, or 3) unknown. This permitted investigation of the effect of prior knowledge on subjects' acquisition of new informa- tion, as well as subjects' ability to correct old information. Prior knowledge was a powerful factor in reading comprehension for both average and poor readers. Both groups were better at acquiring totally new information than at correcting old informa- tion that was inaccurate. Even when prior knowledge was contradicted by the text, sub- jects used it, rather than textual information, for item recognition. Only when they did not, or believed they did not, possess the necessary prior knowledge did they resort to text—with a consequent improvement in recognition. When we say that individuals have good comprehension of textual material, we generally mean that they have successfully integrated the information from text with their existing knowledge and also that they have learned any new information presented. However, the issue of comprehension as the acquisition of new information has been skirted in the literature. Most researchers have concerned themselves only with measures of post-reading comprehension.
The influence of mountain pine beetle outbreaks and drought on severe wildfires in northwestern Colorado and southern Wyoming: A look at the past century

Outbreaks of bark beetles and drought both lead to concerns about increased fire risk, but the relative importance of these two factors is the subject of much debate. We examined how mountain pine beetle (MPB) outbreaks and drought have contributed to the fire regime of lodgepole pine forests in northwestern Colorado and adjacent areas of southern Wyoming over the past century. We used dendroecological methods to reconstruct the pre-fire history of MPB outbreaks in twenty lodgepole pine stands that had burned between 1939 and 2006 and in 20 nearby lodgepole pine stands that were otherwise similar but that had not burned. Our data represent c. 80% of all large fires that had occurred in lodgepole pine forests in this study area over the past century. We also compared Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and actual evapotranspiration (AET) values between fire years and non-fire years. Burned stands were no more likely to have been affected by outbreak prior to fires than were nearby unburned stands. However, PDSI and AET values were both lower during fire years than during non-fire years. This work indicates that climate has been more important than outbreaks to the fire regime of lodgepole pine forests in this region over the past century. Indeed, we found no detectable increase in the occurrence of high-severity fires following MPB outbreaks. Dry conditions, rather than changes in fuels associated with outbreaks, appear to be most limiting to the occurrence of severe fires in these forests.
Interdisciplinary team training on the information superhighway

CMC (Computer-Mediated Communication) offers a new way of thinking about networking, collaboration and the definition of interdisciplinary health care teams in rural areas. As part of a federally funded project, an innovative two-semester graduate course is currently underway in rural Maine. By integrating problem-based learning, real case scenarios, and student projects with the ‘electronic classroom’, future allied health professionals acquire critical thinking and life-long, self-directed learning skills imperative to meet the ever-changing environment of health care delivery in rural areas. Through purposeful use of enhanced communication technology and informatics, health care professions students participate in a community of inquiry (peer learning community) reducing rural provider isolation and increasing retention. In this way the structured use of new communication mediums carries its own message about the meaning of interdisciplinary—to help change the way health professionals think about their...