cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY EVALUATION FOLLOWING FLEXOR TENDON INJURY

This article describes the indications for and the purpose and performance of the upper limb functional capacity evaluation (FCE) for persons who have sustained flexor tendon injury. It begins with the essential foundation concepts such as the U.S. Department of Labor Physical Demand Characteristics of Labor that clinicians use worldwide. The article explains how the clinician forms the plan for each FCE and the essential components that each FCE includes. While variation in the impact of upper limb injury makes a set format for performing the upper limb FCE impossible, even with a specific diagnosis, a general FCE outline with multiple options is presented. A discussion about relevant modifications to maximise function follows the identification of the critical factors to evaluate with flexor tendon injury. Importantly, the article provides insight into controversial issues such as assessment of endurance and inconsistent or sub-maximum effort. It addresses the challenge of documentation and report writing, and concludes with the issue of FCE validity.
Pathophysiology of chest pain in patients with nutcracker esophagus.

Abstract OBJECTIVES: Nutcracker esophagus is a manometric pattern that is commonly seen in patients with functional (noncardiac) chest pain. However, this pattern is often unassociated with pain. Consequently, the pathophysiology of chest pain in these patients is unclear. METHODS: We prospectively examined the sensory perception and biomechanical properties of the esophagus in 10 patients with chest pain and a nutcracker esophagus, along with those properties in 12 healthy controls using impedance planimetry. RESULTS: Stepwise balloon distentions reproduced typical chest pain in 9/10 (90%) patients. The threshold for chest pain was lower (p CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a nutcracker esophagus demonstrate a hypersensitive and stiff esophagus. Because balloon distention reproduced their chest pain, visceral hyperalgesia of the esophagus may be relevant to the pathogenesis of their pain. Balloon distention test may be more useful in the evaluation of patients with functional chest pain and a nutcracker esophagus.
New method for shielding electron beams used for head and neck cancer treatment

Shields and stents of metals with high atomic number, which are custom cast in molds from the melt, are the materials most widely used to protect surrounding tissues during treatment of skin or oral lesions with therapeutic electron beams. An improved fabrication method is to mix a polysiloxane-metal composite, which is readily cast at room temperature by combining a metal-powder/polysiloxane resin mixture with a hardening catalyst. The purpose of the present study is to compare the shielding effectiveness of two different metal-polysiloxane composites with that of conventional cast Lipowitz metal (50.1% Bi, 26.6% Pb, 13.3% Sn, 10% Cd). Also, a 2(3) factorial experiment was run to investigate the effects and interactions of metal particle size (20-microns vs 100-microns diameter), the atomic weight of the metal (304 stainless steel vs 70% Ag, 30% Cu alloy), and the presence or absence of a layer of unfilled polymer added to the forward-scatter side of the shield. The composites of different thicknesses were made by blending 90% (w/w) metal powder separately with 10% polysiloxane base and catalyst. A thin GafChromic dosimeter film was placed between the shielding material and a polystyrene base to measure the radiation shielding effect of composite disc samples irradiated with a 6-MeV electron beam normal to the flat surface of the disc. The results show that composite shields with the metal of higher atomic weight and density (Ag-Cu) combined with an additional unfilled layer are more effective than the stainless-steel composite with a similar additional unfilled layer, in terms of diminishing the dose at the surface of the polystyrene backing material.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Quasi-Fuchsian Seifert surfaces

Let $K \subset S^3$ be a non fibered knot with hyperbolic complement. Given a Seifert surface of minimal genus for $K$ , we prove that it corresponds to a quasi-Fuchsian group, by showing it has no accidental parabolics. In particular, this shows that any lift of the Seifert surface to the universal cover is a quasi-disk and its limit set is a quasi-circle in the sphere at infinity.
Vacancy defects in aluminum formed during aqueous dissolution

Abstract Aqueous dissolution of aluminum is accompanied by extensive absorption of hydrogen, along with formation of hydride and voids. We used in situ stress measurements to discriminate between absorption mechanisms leading to either interstitial or vacancy defects, and to relate defect formation to surface chemistry. Large tensile shifts of the stress–thickness product, approaching 35 N/m, were found during the initial exposure of Al thin films to aqueous NaOH solutions at pH 12–13. The time dependence of the stress–thickness product correlated with mass of metal dissolved, as determined with the quartz crystal microbalance. The observed relationship between stress and mass change was consistent with a significant fraction of dissolved Al atoms forming vacancies or vacancy-hydrogen defects. Electrochemical potential transients indicated that the onset of the tensile stress change corresponds to the presence of aluminum hydride at the metal surface. We propose mechanisms in which vacancy-hydrogen defects form either due to hydride, or because of the elevated hydrogen chemical potential at the Al surface.
RNA polymerase subunits encoded by the plastid rpo genes are not shared with the nucleus-encoded plastid enzyme

Plastid genes in photosynthetic higher plants are transcribed by at least two RNA polymerases. The plastid rpoA, rpoB, rpoC1, and rpoC2 genes encode subunits of the plastid-encoded plastid RNA polymerase (PEP), an Escherichia coli-like core enzyme. The second enzyme is referred to as the nucleus-encoded plastid RNA polymerase (NEP), since its subunits are assumed to be encoded in the nucleus. Promoters for NEP have been previously characterized in tobacco plants lacking PEP due to targeted deletion of rpoB (encoding the beta-subunit) from the plastid genome. To determine if NEP and PEP share any essential subunits, the rpoA, rpoC1, and rpoC2 genes encoding the PEP alpha-, beta'-, and beta"-subunits were removed by targeted gene deletion from the plastid genome. We report here that deletion of each of these genes yielded photosynthetically defective plants that lack PEP activity while maintaining transcription specificity from NEP promoters. Therefore, rpoA, rpoB, rpoC1, and rpoC2 encode PEP subunits that are not essential components of the NEP transcription machinery. Furthermore, our data indicate that no functional copy of rpoA, rpoB, rpoC1, or rpoC2 that could complement the deleted plastid rpo genes exists outside the plastids.
Cement Paste Microstructure in Concrete

An understanding of the microstructure of cement paste in actual field concrete is considered to be the primary objective of cement microstructural studies. Cement paste in concrete is shown to consist of narrow ribbons of the order of 80 to 150 µm separating sand and coarse aggregate grains, and interrupted by frequent air voids. Individual cement grains form shells around themselves early in the hydration process. In subsequent hydration they either deposit dense layers of internal hydration product or empty out in a hollow-shell mode and precipitate hydration products in the empty spaces between nearby shells. Analogous shells are similarly formed around fly ash particles, which then react by progressive etching from within the shells. Interfacial zones around aggregates are pictured as having a complex characteristic structure including at least four different forms of calcium hydroxide particles with various preferred orientations. It is suggested that the conventional picture of the “aureole de transition” derived from successive x-ray diffraction measurements may have been misinterpreted.
Multispectral polarimetric system for glucose monitoring

In this preliminary investigation, a two wavelength optical polarimetric system was used to show the potential of the approach to be used as an in vivo noninvasive glucose monitor. The dual wavelength method is shown as a means of overcoming two of them ore important problems with this approach for glucose monitoring, namely, motion artifact and the presence of other optically chiral components. The use of polarized light is based on the fact that the polarization vector of the light rotates when it interacts with an optically active material such as glucose. The amount of rotation of the light polarization is directly proportional to the optically active molecular concentration and to the sample path length. The end application of this system would be to estimate blood glucose concentrations indirectly by measuring the amount of rotation of the light beam's polarization state due to glucose variations within the aqueous humor of the anterior chamber of the eye. The system was evaluated in vitro in the presence of motion artifact and in combination with albumin, another interfering optical rotatory chemical component. It was shown that the dual wavelength approach has potential for overcoming these problems.
Growth characteristics of a continuous cell line from the velvetbean caterpillar,Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The cell line UFL-AG-286 was established from the embryos ofAnticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The cell line was characterized by isozyme analysis and from molecular weight determination of the restriction endonuclease bands of the mitochondrial DNA. Cells seeded in 24-cluster wells had a doubling time of 5.9 d when seeded at 2×105 cells ml and 6.7 d when seeded at 3×105 cells/ml.
Geometry versus optical performance of micromirrors and arrays

This paper describes the design, fabrication, surface characterization, and adaptive optics simulation of advanced surface micromachined micromirror devices. Design considerations and fabrication capabilities are presented. Various shapes and array distributions of unique Flexure- Beam Micromirror Devices are simulated for adaptive optics performance against several typical optical aberrations. These devices are fabricated in the state-of-the-art, four- level, planarized, ultra-low-stress polysilicon process available at Sandia National Laboratories known as the Sandia Ultra-planar Multi-level MEMS Technology (SUMMiT). This enabling process permits the development of micromirror devices with near-ideal characteristics that have previously been unrealizable in standard three-layer polysilicon processes. The advanced capabilities of this process along with customized layout tools have permitted the fabrication of highly advanced and often irregular shapes of mirror surfaces that can be uniquely distributed to minimize wavefront error across the pupil.
Fracture surface work measurements on glassy polymers by a cleavage technique. II. Effects of crosslinking and preorientation

It has recently been postulated that viscous flow, or plastic deformation, occurs near the tip of an advancing crack in glassy amorphous polymers such as Plexiglas, and this results in molecular orientation at the fracture surface. The evidence for this has been the appearance of colors on fresh fracture surfaces of Plexiglas and the extremely high measured surface work which is 1000 times greater than the theoretical surface energy. The effect of crosslinking has been studied by measuring the surface work of crosslinked forms of Plexiglas and highly crosslinked thermosetting polymers. The surface work decreases as the degree of crosslinking in Plexiglas increases. Colors are absent on the fracture surface of the highly crosslinked Plexiglas, and the surface is mirror-smooth. The effect of crosslinking is to inhibit viscous flow or plastic deformation at the tip of the crack. The surface work of polyester and epoxy resins have been measured and found to be a factor of 10 smaller than the linear polymers, but still remain much higher than the theoretical estimates. Preorienting Plexiglas or polystyrene reduces the surface work of a crack propagating parallel to the orientation and increases the surface work of a crack normal to the orientation. The colors on the fracture surfaces of preoriented Plexiglas samples either disappear or change to colors of shorter wavelengths if the crack is propagated parallel to the orientation. This is a good indication that orientation occurs at the tip of a crack and is responsible for the appearance of colors on Plexiglas fracture surfaces. The surface work of 150% hotstretched polystyrene is 7000 erg/cm.2, and the fracture surface is mirror-smooth. This surface work is greater by only a factor of 10 than the theoretical estimate and suggests that only a small amount of molecular motion has taken place.
Image coding with optimal reconstruction

The optimal reconstruction is an advanced decoding technique for the transform-quantization image coding schemes such as JPEG. From the same encoded data, the image decoded by the optimal reconstruction has better quality than the conventional one. In particular, the optimal reconstruction does not suffer from the Gibbs artifact. The optimal reconstruction is formulated as a constrained optimization problem and solved by an evolution-projection algorithm.
An iterative algorithm for partitioning and scheduling of area constrained HW-SW systems

We present a technique for integrated partitioning and scheduling of hardware-software systems. The tool takes a task graph and area constraint as input and obtains a mapping and schedule such that the execution time is minimized. The algorithm differs from other approaches which either obtain the mapping during the partitioning stage or the scheduling stage. We use an iterative approach where the partitioner assigns the mapping of only some of the tasks and the remaining tasks are assigned by the scheduler with an objective of minimizing the execution time. The technique takes both the time and area overheads due to inter-processor and intra-processor communication into account. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated by the experimental results.
A Quantum Approach to Entrepreneurial Marketing Strategy and Firm Entropy

Great marketing strategy is essential to the success of an entrepreneurial firm. However, choosing effective marketing strategies is a very difficult task for most entrepreneurs. This is because entrepreneurial firms operate in a complex, open systems environment where entropic forces cause the its systems to deteriorate, disorganize, and progress toward maximum disorder and chaos (Bailey 1994; Bertalanffy 1972; Laurie 1999). Hawking (2001) describes entropy as "nothing more than a measure of the total information contained in a system" (p. 64). Entropic forces resulting from this information can cause excess energy within the firm to be used inefficiently. This unused energy, or resources, typically result in additional slack and/or decay within the firm's structure (Bailey 1994; Scott 2003; Scott et al. 1967). Many resource surpluses and deficiencies are the result of poor marketing strategies. Inadequate marketing strategies leave the firm with excess resources as a result of diminished sales while excessive marketing strategies leave the firm with insufficient resources to adequately meet demand. Thus, the marketing strategies employed by an entrepreneurial firm have the potential to significantly impact the organization's structural integrity and must be an integral part of the company's strategic planning process. The quantum model developed in this paper can be used as both a performance measurement tool and/or as a tool for developing marketing strategies that mitigate structural entropy and enhance structural integrity.
The petrogenesis of felsic calc-alkaline magmas from the southernmost Cascades, California: origin by partial melting of basaltic lower crust

The majority of felsic rocks from composite centers in the southernmost INTRODUCTION Cascades have geochemical and Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic ratios Despite the importance of felsic magmas in calc-alkaline that suggest derivation by partial melting of lower crust that is rock suites, as both the end of the compositional spectrum compositionally similar to calc-alkaline basalts observed in the region. of lavas and as a potential assimilant or mixing endOnly a few felsic rocks have d 18 O and Pb isotopic compositions member, most petrogenetic studies have focused on bathat indicate interaction with the upper crust. Mineralogical and saltic magmas. This stems from the fact that sparsely geochemical diVerences among the felsic magmas result primarily crystalline basaltic lavas are usually the most primitive from melting under variable f(H2O) and temperature conditions. lavas within a given suite of rocks, and therefore have Partial melting under low f(H2O) and high temperature conditions compositions that are most indicative of magma sources. leaves an amphibole-poor residuum, and produces magmas that In contrast, felsic rocks have high incompatible element have orthopyroxene as the most abundant ferromagnesian phenocryst, abundances and are often highly crystalline, and may relatively low silica contents, and straight rare earth element patterns. therefore have been extensively modified by fractional Partial melting under higher f(H2O) and lower temperature con- crystallization and assimilation fractional crystallization ditions leaves an amphibole-rich residuum, and produces magmas (AFC). This study focuses on sparsely crystalline felsic that have amphibole ‐ biotite phenocrysts, relatively high silica (SiO2 > 68 wt %) volcanic rocks erupted in the southcontents, and pronounced middle rare earth element depletions. These ernmost Cascades that demonstrate evidence for only a conclusions are consistent with published thermal models that suggest minor amount of diVerentiation. We use mineralogy, that reasonable volumes of basaltic magma emplaced beneath large major and trace element geochemistry, and isotopic compositions of felsic rocks erupted from composite cencomposite centers in the southernmost Cascades can serve as the ters to constrain their petrogenesis. These felsic rocks heat source for melting of the lower crust. Melting of the lower provide new insights into petrogenetic processes that crust under variable f(H2O) conditions is likely to result from generate felsic arc magmas.
Functionalized BF2 Chelated Azadipyrromethene Dyes

Fluorescent molecules that emit in the near infrared are potentially useful as probes for biotechnology. A relatively under-explored design for probes of this type are the aza-BODIPY dyes; this study was performed to enhance our understanding of these materials and ways in which they may be used in dye cassette systems. Thus, the aza-BODIPY dyes 1aeg were prepared. An advanced intermediate toward an eighth compound in the series, 6h, was made but it could not be complexed with boron effectively to give 1h. Spectroscopic properties of these compounds were recorded, and correlations between substituent effects, UV absorbance, fluorescence emissions, and quantum yields were made. Compound 1a was coupled with a fluoresceinealkyne derivative to give the energy transfer cassettes 2 and 3. Both these compounds gave poor energy transfer and the possible reasons for this were discussed. ! 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Estimation of the accuracy of a robot manipulator

In order to select high-accuracy robots for precise assembly tasks, a method for estimating the robot's accuracy is needed. Based on the developed error model [1]-[3] describing the accuracy of a robot manipulator resulting from the kinematic errors, a statistical estimation procedure for robot accuracy is developed. By calculating the Cartesian errors at many different arm positions in the known world, the robot accuracy can be estimated by using the maximum likelihood estimate for the covariance matrix of these Cartesian errors.
Structural Assessment of a Transparent Wall Panel with Load-Bearing Backup Framing and Polycarbonate Sheathing for Residential Construction

AbstractA new type of wall system for use in light-frame construction has recently been developed at Penn State University to allow for maximum daylighting and the use of glazing integrated photovoltaics to generate electricity. One structural option of the proposed wall system employs structural steel tubing to form the gravity load-bearing frame and polycarbonate sheets to perform the sheathing function. The exterior skin of the wall consists of a glazing system, which includes aluminum framing and glass panes that incorporate photovoltaics. Preliminary structural tests are presented to show the gravity load carrying capacity of the steel framing and in-plane lateral load carrying capacity of the polycarbonate sheathing. Similar tests were also carried out on conventional wood-frame panels to serve as benchmarks for evaluation of the proposed system. This paper mainly focuses on the structural system and provides a summary of the structural test results, which show that the proposed system can provide g...
Fence: protecting device availability with uniform resource control

Applications such as software updaters or a run-away web app, even if low priority, can cause performance degradation, loss of battery life, or other issues that reduce a computing device's availability. The core problem is that OS resource control mechanisms unevenly apply uncoordinated policies across different resources. This paper shows how handling resources - e.g., CPU, memory, sockets, and bandwidth - in coordination, through a unifying abstraction, can be both simpler and more effective. We abstract resources along two dimensions of fungibility and renewability, to enable resource-agnostic algorithms to provide resource limits for a diverse set of applications. We demonstrate the power of our resource abstraction with a prototype resource control subsystem, Fence, which we implement for two sandbox environments running on a wide variety of operating systems (Windows, Linux, the BSDs, Mac OS X, iOS, Android, OLPC, and Nokia) and device types (servers, desktops, tablets, laptops, and smartphones). We use Fence to provide systemwide protection against resource hogging processes that include limiting battery drain, preventing overheating, and isolating performance. Even when there is interference, Fence can double the battery life and improve the responsiveness of other applications by an order of magnitude. Fence is publicly available and has been deployed in practice for five years, protecting tens of thousands of users.
Neuropsychological Risk Indicators for Schizophrenia: A Review of Family Studies

We reviewed potential neuropsychological risk indicators for schizophrenia by addressing two broad questions about neuropsychological performance in biological relatives of schizophrenia patients: (1) Is there evidence of deficits, and, if so, (2) are those deficits similar to deficits found in schizophrenia patients themselves? There has not yet been adequate validation of most neuropsychological risk indicators, but promising leads have emerged from studies of relatives of persons with schizophrenia. The strongest evidence of impairment in relatives was in sustained attention, perceptual-motor speed, and concept formation and abstraction; to a slightly lesser extent, mental control/encoding (primarily with distraction) was implicated as well. Impairments in verbal memory and verbal fluency were also found, although these have been less well studied. The pattern of deficits paralleled that found in schizophrenia patients, thus suggesting dysfunction in prefrontal, temporal-limbic, and attentional systems. Findings were similar for children and adult relatives of schizophrenia patients. It is suggested that future studies (1) emphasize comprehensive test batteries, (2) develop composite neuropsychological measures, (3) use profile and deviant-responder analyses, (4) include psychiatric comparison groups, and (5) integrate neuropsychological assessments with brain imaging techniques.
Safety and efficacy of intrathecal drug delivery for pain.

SUMMARY The practice of delivering analgesic drugs into the intrathecal space has evolved over the past several decades from a ‘last-ditch’ therapy for intractable pain in patients with terminal cancer to a more widely applied strategy for treating patients with chronic nonmalignant pain as well. This review discusses the available safety and efficacy data of intrathecal drug delivery with a focus on device- and user-related safety issues.
Temporal Scale of Dynamic Networks

Interactions, either of molecules or people, are inherently dynamic, changing with time and context. Interactions have an inherent rhythm, often happening over a range of time scales. Temporal streams of interactions are commonly aggregated into dynamic networks for temporal analysis. Results of this analysis are greatly affected by the resolution at which the original data are aggregated. The mismatch between the inherent temporal scale of the underlying process and that at which the analysis is performed can obscure important insights and lead to wrong conclusions. In this chapter we describe the challenge of identifying the range of inherent temporal scales of a stream of interactions and of finding the dynamic network representation that matches those scales. We describe possible formalizations of the problem of identifying the inherent time scales of interactions and present some initial approaches at solving it, noting the advantages and limitations of these approaches. This is a nascent area of research and our goal is to highlight its importance and to establish a computational foundation for further investigations.
Coping With Trauma and Hardship Among Unaccompanied Refugee Youths From Sudan

The purpose of this study was to explore how unaccompanied refugee youths from Sudan, who grew up amid violence and loss, coped with trauma and hardship in their lives. The author used a case-centered, comparative, narrative approach to analyze the narratives of 14 male unaccompanied refugee youths from Sudan recently resettled in the United States. She analyzed narratives for both content and form and identified four themes that reflect coping strategies used by the participants: (a) collectivity and the communal self, (b) suppression and distraction, (c) making meaning, and (d) emerging from hopelessness to hope. The findings underscore the importance of understanding the cultural variations in responses to trauma and are discussed in relation to the concept of resilience.
Effect of Excessive Potassium on Muscular Strength: A Case Report

Purpose: To describe the hyperkalemia (excessive potassium) caused muscle weakness that was apparent in a nursing home patient.Case Description: An 86-year-old woman with diagnosis of congestive heart failure was referred to physical therapy because of generalized muscle weakness. The patient's physical status indicated increased proximal (trunk) weakness during the first three weeks of physical therapy treatment.Intervention and Outcome: Hyperkalemia-caused weakness due to Spironolactone (AldactoneR) and Ramipril (AltaceR) was suspected and confirmed by laboratory tests. Spironolactone was removed from the medication list, and Ramipril dosage was reduced. After nine more weeks of intervention, mainly focusing on muscle strengthening around the shoulder and pelvic girdles, the patient met her goals and returned to her prior functional independence.
The association between rejection and depression in the context of women's relationships with their parents

The relation between rejection and depression was examined in the context of college students' relationships with their parents. Female college students (n = 183) provided self-reports of how rejected they felt by their parents, and parents provided self-reports of how rejecting they were of their daughters. In father—daughter dyads, we found that fathers' reports of rejection moderated the relation between women's reports of rejection and depression. In mother—daughter dyads, we found that daughters' reports of rejection, but not mothers' reports of rejection, was associated with depression. These findings suggest that relationship factors may be critical for understanding depression, and that the role of rejection in depression can only be understood by taking into account the nature of the relationship.
Teleological Software Adaptation

We examine the use of teleological metareasoning for self-adaptation in game-playing software agents. The goal of our work is to develop an interactive environment in which the game designer generates requirements for a new version of a game, and the legacy software agents from previous versions of the game adapt themselves to the new game requirements. We are developing and testing our metareasoning technique for adapting game-playing agents in Freeciv, a mature program in the domain of turn-based, multi-player strategy games (www.freeciv.wikia.com). In this paper, we first present an analysis of adaptations to FreeCiv, next describe our general approach, and then describe a specific adaptation scenario.
Evoked responses and perception: stimulus content versus stimulus structure.

These experiments tested whether waveform changes in evoked responses to visual stimuli could be produced by changes in stimulus content independent of changes in stimulus structure. Ambiguous figures were employed to manipulate content without changing structure. To manipulate structure without changing content, stimuli were presented in original and mirror image versions or versions varying in size. The results indicated that evoked responses can be modified by content differences independent of any structural changes, but it was suggested that content related changes might reflect the operation of more general psychological processes such as attention and emotion.
Computing interaural differences through finite element modeling of idealized human heads

Acoustical interaural differences were computed for a succession of idealized shapes approximating the human head-related anatomy: sphere, ellipsoid, and ellipsoid with neck and torso. Calculations were done as a function of frequency (100–2500 Hz) and for source azimuths from 10 to 90 degrees using finite element models. The computations were compared to free-field measurements made with a manikin. Compared to a spherical head, the ellipsoid produced greater large-scale variation with frequency in both interaural time differences and interaural level differences, resulting in better agreement with the measurements. Adding a torso, represented either as a large plate or as a rectangular box below the neck, further improved the agreement by adding smaller-scale frequency variation. The comparisons permitted conjectures about the relationship between details of interaural differences and gross features of the human anatomy, such as the height of the head, and length of the neck.
Comparative effects of oral aromatic and branched-chain amino acids on urine calcium excretion in humans

In 30 adults, increasing intake of aromatic amino acids increased calcium excretion and serum IGF-1, but not indices of bone turnover, when compared with similar increases in intake of branched-chain amino acids. The mechanisms involved are not certain but these findings suggest a role for the calcium sensor receptor. In contrast to branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), aromatic amino acids (AAAs) bind to the calcium sensing receptor (CaR) and thus have an increased potential to affect calcium homeostasis. In this study we compare the effects of increased intake of AAAs versus BCAAs on calcium excretion, serum IGF-1, markers of bone turnover, and 4-hr calcium excretion after an oral calcium load. After two weeks on low-protein metabolic diets, 30 healthy subjects were randomized to a fivefold increase in intake of AAAs or BCAAs for two weeks. Changes in calcium excretion and other measures were compared in the two groups. With the increase in amino acid intake, 24-hr calcium excretion (P = 0.027), IGF-1 (P = 0.022), and 4-hr calcium excretion after an oral load (P = 0.023) increased significantly in the AAA relative to the BCAA group. Group changes in turnover markers did not differ significantly. In comparison with BCAAs, AAAs promoted calcium excretion. The calciuria does not appear to result from increases in bone resorption and may occur by increasing calcium absorption. The AAAs also increased circulating levels of IGF-1. Collectively these findings raise the possibility that AAAs may selectively influence calcium homeostasis through their interactions with the CaR.
Sediment preferences and size‐specific distribution of young‐of‐the‐year Pacific halibut in an Alaska nursery

A combination of laboratory experiments and field surveys was used to test the hypotheses that responses to sediments change with fish size and that sediment grain-size is the predominant environmental factor affecting small-scale distribution in young-of-the-year (yoy) Pacific halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis. Laboratory tests showed that the smallest fish (31-40 mm L T ) chose fine sediments (muddy and fine sands), fish 51-70 mm had high selectivity (primarily medium sand), and the largest fish (80-150 mm) were not selective although they avoided the largest grain-sizes (pebbles and granules). Sediment preferences were correlated with size-dependent burial capabilities. Beam trawl collections were made over a 6 year period in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, to examine the distribution of yoy Pacific halibut (14-120 mm L T ) using small size classes (e.g. 10 mm intervals). Canonical correlation analysis showed that the per cent of sand in the sediment was a highly significant variable for all but one size and date combination. Catch per unit of effort (CPUE) for newly settled fish (<30 mm L T ) was highest on very fine sand, fish 41-80 mm were most abundant on fine sand, and the largest yoy fish (81-120 mm) were abundant over a range of sediments from fine sand to mud. Except for the smallest fish, Pacific halibut in the field were associated with sediments somewhat finer than predicted from the laboratory experiments; however, virtually all were captured where they could bury easily. The ability of flatfish to bury and shelter in sediment is related to fish size; consequently, habitat associations shift rapidly during the first year of life. Habitat models for yoy flatfishes should consider size-dependent shifts in capabilities and preferences.
Measurement of launching efficiency into multimode optical fibers using semiconductor laser diodes

The launching efficiency of light from semiconductor laser diodes into graded-index multimode optical fiber waveguides has been systematically studied. Four different terminations of the fibers were investigated: plane ends (PE), hemispherical ends (HE), taper-with-hemisphere ends (TE) and roof-top (RT) ends. Besides launching efficiency, the parameters of interest are the various misalignments, such as axial, lateral and angular, between laser and fiber, and the effect of these to produce a reduction in the launching efficiency. For the RT end, this reduction with angular rotation of the fiber about its axis has also been investigated. It has been found that RT fibers increase the launching efficiency from semiconductor lasers considerably, but rotational optimization of the fiber about its axial is essential. This is a considerable disc advantage as most of the other techniques do not require this optimization. >
Stress Urinary Incontinence: Comparative Efficacy Trials

Women seeking relief from symptoms of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) may choose from a broad array of treatment options. Therapies range from lifestyle/behavioral modification to surgical interventions, and differ in terms of both effectiveness and risk. Individualized treatment plans can be developed to address a patient's expectations and goals for treatment, as well as her tolerance for potential adverse events. This article reviews the highest-quality clinical trials comparing contemporary treatment options for women with SUI. Clinicians and patients can use this compendium to inform their treatment selection.
Prevalence of Capitellar Osteochondritis Dissecans in Children With Chronic Radial Head Subluxation and Dislocation

OBJECTIVE. An abnormal radiocapitellar articulation may play a role in the development of capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of capitellar OCD in pediatric patients with chronic radial head subluxation (RHS) or radial head dislocation (RHD). MATERIALS AND METHODS. We searched the radiology reports generated at a large pediatric hospital between 2004 and 2012, to identify patients 8–18 years old with chronic RHS or RHD. Patients with underlying bony abnormalities that could obscure, be confused with, or increase the risk of OCD of the elbow were excluded. Two pediatric radiologists assessed images of the elbow, grading radiocapitellar alignment as follows: normal, subluxed, dislocated, or intermittently subluxed and dislocated. Readers also reviewed images to detect capitellar OCD. The differences in the prevalence of OCD noted in elbows in each category of radiocapitellar alignment were assessed. RESULTS. A total of 118 cases of chronic R...
Honey Bees (Hyntenoptera: Apidae) in the United States That Express Resistance to Varroa jacobsoni (Mesostigmata: Varroidae)

The purposes of this study were to select honey bees, Apis Mellifera L., for resistance to varroa mites, Varroa jacobsoni Oudemans, and to find a probable cause for this resistance. As a genetic source, we assembled 8 colonies that we thought had potential for resistance to varroa. Queens and drones were propagated from this group to produce 43 instrumentally inseminated queens, each queen mated to only 1 drone. Colonies from 27 of these queens were tested in Louisiana and 16 were tested in Michigan. Each colony in the Louisiana test began with 986 ± 13 g (mean ± SD) of bees and =290 mites; Michigan colonies began with 3,212 ± 171 bees and =51 mites. The populations of mites and bees were measured 10 wk later. Three of the 43 colonies had fewer mites at the end of the test than at the beginning. During the experiment, we evaluated each colony for grooming behavior, hygienic behavior, the duration of the postcapping period, and the frequency of nonreproducing mites in brood cells. of these 4 characteristics, only nonreproduction of mites was highly related to a change in the mite population. The duration of the postcapping period was marginally related, and the other 2 characteristics were apparently unrelated to the growth of the mite population. This study showed that resistance to varroa mites is present in the honey bee population in the United States, nonreproduction of mites was highly correlated with the growth of a mite population, and nonreproduction of mites may be a valuable characteristic for selecting bees for resistance to varroa mites.
The porphyrin of Harder's gland.

SummaryA pigment from Harder's gland has been identified as a protoporphyrin. It is this pigment and not blood that appears in choline-induced chromodacryorrhea.
The Mode of Action of Aldrin and Dieldrin In Periplaneta americana (L.).

Although aldrin and dieldrin have been widely used as insecticides for several years, little significant information has been developed concerning their mode of action in insects. It is the purpose of this paper to develop information in this regard, particularly as to their comparative toxicities, sites of toxic action, and metabolism in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.).
Vascular variations of the transverse upper gracilis flap in consideration for breast reconstruction.

The transverse upper gracilis flap (TUG) is an excellent source of autologous breast reconstruction in patients with contraindications for abdominally based reconstruction. A proximal segment of the gracilis and transversely oriented skin paddle of thigh makes up the flap bulk. Its viability is dependent on the perforator course and pedicle anatomy. The main pedicle is typically a large caliber vessel that branches from the profunda femoris artery. However, variations may occur and include double pedicles or split pedicles. It is important for the microsurgeon to anticipate these variations and develop methods to choose the optimal pedicle for harvest. In this chapter, we present the general technique in harvesting the TUG flap, different pedicle configurations that may be encountered and a decision making algorithm to optimize flap survival.
Effect of pregnancy and lactation on granuloma tissue formation and joint permeability in rats.

Summary1. Pregnancy and lactation in the rat markedly influenced the formation of granuloma tissue induced by subcutaneously implanted cotton pellets. During pregnancy there was a progressive reduction in the amount of granuloma tissue formed, the least amount being formed at about the time of parturition. After parturition there is a pronounced increase, followed by a reduction to values approximately like those obtained during late pregnancy. 2. The injurious effect of formaldehyde on the synovialis of the knee joint as measured by the clearance of sodium para-amino hippurate (PAH) is like-; wise progressively decreased as pregnancy proceeds, injury being almost completely absent at about the time of parturition. After parturition the PAH clearance quickly returned to the non-pregnant or early pregnancy levels. Lactation did not provide the synovialis with i any measurable protection against formaldehyde. 3. The inhibition of granuloma formation and the protection of the synovialis against the injurious...
Feeding Behavior of First-Stage Tobacco Budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Three Cotton Cultivars

Feeding behavior and histological-histochemical studies of newly hatched tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), larvae feeding on cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. revealed that first-stage larvae avoided consuming glands which contains gossypol, a dimeric sesquiterpenoid aldehyde. Between 48 and 72 h of age, larvae molt and then nonselectively consume the glands. Histological studies show that gossypol glands are surrounded by an envelope; histochemical procedures indicate that the envelope contains anthocyanins which differ from gossypol. We suggest that the allelochemics present in these glands act as feeding deterrents or as antifeedant compounds to first-stage larvae.
Glucocorticoid upregulation of interleukin 1 receptor expression in a glioblastoma cell line

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is a multifunctional cytokine produced by numerous cell types, including cells of the central nervous system (CNS). In the CNS, IL-1 produced by glia is thought to support trophic functions after brain injury. However, little is known about whether the IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) is expressed in brain cells and how these receptors might be regulated. Analysis of IL-1R expression in the human glioblastoma cell line U-87 MG indicated the presence of a specific, saturable, and high-affinity (dissociation constant = 104 +/- 14 pM) binding site, which was of moderately high density (1,228 +/- 156 sites/cell). Incubation of U-87 MG cells with cortisol or dexamethasone for as little as 6 h resulted in an upregulation of IL-1R expression, which could be blocked by coincubation with cycloheximide or actinomycin D. IL-1 beta downregulated the expression of its own binding site. Upregulation of the IL-1R by glucocorticoids (GCs) appeared to be coupled to the release of interleukin 6 (IL-6), since IL-1 was significantly more potent in inducing IL-6 release in U-87 cells that were preincubated in the presence of GCs compared with cells incubated in the absence of GCs. These results suggest that IL-1 acts on glial cells via a high-affinity receptor and indicate that GCs may amplify or prolong the actions of IL-1 in the CNS.
Language Delays and Child Depressive Symptoms: the Role of Early Stimulation in the Home

The present study investigated the role of early stimulation in the home and child language delays in the emergence of depressive symptoms. Data were from a longitudinal study of at-risk children in Hawaii (n = 587). Low learning stimulation in the home at age 3 and language delays in first grade both significantly increased risk for child depressive symptoms in third grade. Structural equation modeling supported the hypothesized path models from home learning environment at age 3 to depressive symptoms in third grade controlling for a host of correlated constructs (maternal depression, child temperament, and child internalizing symptoms). Total language skills in the first grade mediated the effect of home learning environment on depressive symptoms. The study and findings fit well with a nurturing environment perspective. Implications for understanding the etiology of child depression and for designing interventions and prevention strategies are discussed.
Facing a Bloody Past Discourses and Practices of Transitional Justice

Countries with bloody pasts attempting to reinvent their national ethos have found hope in the idea of transitional justice. The restorative practices of reconciliation, reparation programs, and memorialization are the typical means by which countries attempt to address issues of responsibility and accountability. Using a variety of national experiences, this chapter distinguishes between restorative and retributive genres, with focus on how restorative discourses and practices inform the forensic rhetoric of transitional justice. It also sheds light on the political and ethical limitations of non-retributive approaches to justice and the challenges of achieving any kind of justice in cases of large-scale atrocities. In sum, this chapter provides an overview of and a rhetorical framework for engaging in scholarship about transitional justice.
Sexual stereotypes about ethnic minorities in the United States

Sexual stereotypes about ethnic minorities in the United States are negative assumptions about sexual behavior and activity based on real or imagined racial and ethnic differences. Sexual stereotypes in the United States continue to influence the way we think about race and sexuality, and serve to “Other” those who are not white, heterosexual, or male. What all these stereotypes have in common is the fear of miscegenation, as well as the supposed threat to white male hegemony in the United States. Keywords: sexuality; sexual stereotypes; hypersexualization
State-of-the-Art Report on Alkali Silica Reactivity Mitigation Effectiveness Using Different Types of Fly Ashes

Use of fly ash by percent replacement of cement is considered as one of the most economical and effective methods for mitigating alkali-silica reaction (ASR) related distress in the concrete. However, fly ash has been proven to be somewhat variable in its effectiveness in inhibiting alkali-silica reactivity, principally because its composition depends on the coal properties from which it is derived. Typically class C fly ashes are not as efficient as class F ashes due to their higher calcium oxide content. Nevertheless, it is important to find out whether the lime content in the fly ash has linear effect on ASR distress mitigation and if the dosage of fly ash is more influential than type of fly ash. This research conducted extensive testing with nine different types of fly ashes with three in each category of fly ashes, class C, class F, and intermediate class. The results indicated that the effect of increased dosage of fly ash on ASR mitigation is linear for both low-lime and high-lime fly ashes and the dosage effect is more significant with rapid effect with high-lime fly ashes compared to low-lime fly ashes.
Comparison of the fundamental and monetary models of the Canadian dollar/US dollar exchange rate

This paper finds that a higher real interest rate differential, a higher output ratio and a higher differential of the government deficit as a percent of GDP cause the Canadian dollar to depreciate whereas a higher stock price ratio, a higher productivity ratio, and a higher commodity price cause the Canadian dollar to appreciate. In comparison, the fundamental model performs better than the monetary models in both the in-sample and out-of-sample forecasts.