cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abnormal cell detection using the Choquet integral

Automated Giemsa-banded chromosome image research has been largely restricted to classification schemes associated with isolated chromosomes within metaphase spreads. In normal human metaphase spreads, there are 46 chromosomes occurring in homologous pairs for the autosomal classes 1-22 and the X chromosome for females. Many genetic abnormalities are directly linked to structural and/or numerical aberrations of chromosomes within metaphase spreads. Cells with the Philadelphia chromosome contain an abnormal chromosome for class 9 and for class 22, leaving a single normal chromosome for each class. A data-driven homologue matching technique is applied to recognizing normal chromosomes from classes 9 and 22. Homologue matching integrates neural networks, dynamic programming and the Choquet integral for chromosome recognition. The inability to locate matching homologous pairs for classes 9 and 22 provides an indication that the cell is abnormal, potentially containing the Philadelphia chromosome. Applying this technique to 50 normal and to 48 abnormal cells containing the Philadelphia chromosome yields 100.0% correct abnormal cell detection with a 24.0% false positive rate.
Abbatial Elections at Saint Florent-de-Saumur (ca. 950–1118)

Research into the origins of bishops is not new, but it has taken on increasing importance within the last twenty years. In 1965 an important introductory study of the social origins of French bishops between the years 1150 and 1350 appeared under the auspices of the Institut de Droit Canonique de Strassbourg. Since then, other studies on the origins of the French episcopate have followed. Despite the fact that these studies possess intrinsic value as manifestations of interest in the family and social origins, the method employed in them raises questions. It is the scope of the studies—not so much in terms of chronology as in numbers of bishops considered—that is problematic. The large numbers of candidates considered render scrutiny of individual candidates and electoral processes impossible.
Intergenerational differences in values and dioxin risk perceptions in South Korea

Purpose – The objectives of the research are to examine the differences among generations in South Korea in values or worldview (measured by the feeling of Connectedness‐to‐Nature Scale (CNS)) and the intervening effects of the worldview on perceptions and behaviors in relation to and in response to the complex risk of dioxins – the unpleasant by‐products of the modern wasteful cultures.Design/methodology/approach – A quasi‐experimental survey method was designed based on the content analysis of the media coverage on dioxin risk in Korea. The variables examined for this research include awareness, risk knowledge, the affective connectedness to nature worldview, opinion of management methods, and willingness‐to‐act (WTA) behaviors. An in‐person‐type survey administration was conducted on individuals from different social backgrounds in the city of Jeonju, Korea.Findings – The findings show that there are no significant effects of age on one's awareness and knowledge of dioxin risk. However, the older respo...
Golgi-canalicular reticulum system in ion transporting fibrocytes and outer sulcus epithelium of gerbil cochlea.

BACKGROUND Five types of highly specialized fibrocytes have been identified in the spiral ligament of the gerbil cochlea. Type I, II, and IV fibrocytes function in cycling back to the stria vascularis K+ effluxed from outer hair cells and nerves during auditory transduction. Thus, evidence exists for a transcellular path of K+ movement from outer sulcus cells through fibrocytes to the strial interstitial space, but a mechanism for facilitating such ion flow within the cells has not been elucidated. METHODS The spiral ligament of glutaraldehyde-osmium tetroxide-fixed and Epon-embedded gerbil cochlea was examined by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS Ultrastructural examination disclosed an extensive membrane limited reticulum in the cytoplasm of type I, II, IV, and V fibrocytes of the lateral wall and in outer sulcus cells and their root processes. This system resembled the tubulocisternal endoplasmic reticulum present in some ion-transporting epithelia but appeared more to constitute a network of canaliculi and is referred to as the canalicular reticulum (CR). Many typical small Golgi complexes invariably accompanied the CR in the fibrocytes and sulcus cells, as we have found to be true of other epithelia known to contain CR and function in ion transport. Numerous mitochondria populated cytosol-containing CR. CONCLUSIONS The data support the concept of transcellular K+ flux in type I, II, IV, and V fibrocytes and outer sulcus cells in the cochlea and lend credence to the view of CR as functioning in the movement of ions through cells. The constant and precise association of Golgi complexes with CR in the different cell types implies a functional relationship possibly concerned with biosynthesis of CR by Golgi elements, and the abundance of mitochondria near CR indicates an energy requirement for function of the reticulum or its biosynthesis.
Identification of single and multiple teeth damage in a gear transmission system

Abstract The main objective of this article is to identify single and multiple gear teeth damage based on vibration signatures analysis of experimental results and their comparison with those by numerical simulations. In this study, vibration signals are experimentally acquired for the case with no tooth damage to cases with multiple teeth damage using the controllable wear/damage gear sets in the 75-HP gear test rig. Vibration signatures for cases similar to the experimental studies are numerically simulated based on a two-spool rotor-bearing model connected by a set of meshing gears. The effects of the wear on the gear tooth surface are numerically represented by the phase change in the gear teeth mesh stiffness during both gear mesh engagement and disengagement. Results from both experimental studies and numerical simulations are examined and compared in the time domain, the frequency domain, and the joint time-frequency domain using the Wigner-Ville distribution (WVD). Based on results of this compara...
In vitro formation of the "S" layer, a unique component of the fertilization envelope in Xenopus laevis eggs.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of unfertilized Xenopus laevis eggs consists of an elaborate filamentous network in the perivitelline space (PS) and a thick fibrillar vitelline envelope (VE), with a thin layer of horizontal filaments (HF) separating the two. At fertilization this ECM is converted into the fertilization envelope (comprised of the fertilization (F) layer and altered VE), and a third layer, the smooth (S) layer, is formed at the upper boundary of the PS (Larabell and Chandler, 1988). In this report, we use quick-freeze, deep-etch, rotary-shadow electron microscopy to show that an intact S layer can be formed in vitro by incubation of unfertilized eggs in an exudate obtained from cortical granules. Within 5 min numerous 36-nm-diameter particles assemble in a highly ordered array at the microvillar tips. These particles appear to “melt” and to form patches of smooth material and within 10 min one continuous sheet has formed. The presence of the VE is required for formation of the S layer, and we suggest that the HF layer is the site of assembly.
Tracking daily travel; Assessing discrepancies between GPS-derived and self-reported travel patterns

Abstract Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technologies have been used in conjunction with traditional one- or two-day travel diaries to audit respondent reporting patterns, but we used GPS-based monitoring to conduct the first assessment to our knowledge of travel reporting patterns using a seven-day travel log instrument, which could reduce response burden and provide multiple-day, policy-relevant information for evaluation studies. We found substantial agreement between participant-reported daily travel patterns and GPS-derived patterns among 116 adult residents of a largely low-income and non-white transportation corridor in urbanized Los Angeles in 2011–2013. For all modes, the average difference between daily GPS- and log-derived trip counts was only about 0.39 trips and the average difference between daily GPS- and log-derived walking duration was about −11.8 min. We found that the probability that a day would be associated with agreement or discrepancies between these measurement tools varied by travel mode and participant socio-demographic characteristics. Future research is needed to investigate the potential and limitations of this and other self-report instruments for a larger sample and a wider range of population groups and travel patterns.
Numerical Study of Vortex Shedding From a Circular Cylinder in Linear Shear Flow

A three-dimensional numerical simulation of linearly sheared flow past a circular cylinder has been performed for a shear parameter β of 0.02 and a mean Reynolds number of 131.5. A cylinder of 24 diameters span is considered. A second-order accurate finite volume scheme is used to integrate the unsteady Navier-Stokes equations. Present computations confirm both qualitatively and quantitatively, the aspects of cellular shedding as reported by several investigators through experimental studies. Up to five constant frequency cells of obliquely shedding vortices are observed. The nondimensional frequencies of these cells are observed to be lower than those given by parallel shedding correlations at the equivalent Reynolds numbers. It is also observed that the cell boundaries continuously move in time. Detailed distributions of vorticity and velocity components are presented to describe the flow. The influence of end-wall boundary conditions is studied by computing two cases, one with free-slip condition, and the other with no-slip condition on disks of radius of five cylinder diameters
Aerosol optical depth assimilation for a size-resolved sectional model: impacts of observationally constrained, multi-wavelength and fine mode retrievals on regional scale analyses and forecasts

Abstract. An aerosol optical depth (AOD) three-dimensional variational data assimilation technique is developed for the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) system for which WRF-Chem forecasts are performed with a detailed sectional model, the Model for Simulating Aerosol Interactions and Chemistry (MOSAIC). Within GSI, forward AOD and adjoint sensitivities are performed using Mie computations from the WRF-Chem optical properties module, providing consistency with the forecast. GSI tools such as recursive filters and weak constraints are used to provide correlation within aerosol size bins and upper and lower bounds for the optimization. The system is used to perform assimilation experiments with fine vertical structure and no data thinning or re-gridding on a 12 km horizontal grid over the region of California, USA, where improvements on analyses and forecasts is demonstrated. A first set of simulations was performed, comparing the assimilation impacts of using the operational MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) dark target retrievals to those using observationally constrained ones, i.e., calibrated with AERONET (Aerosol RObotic NETwork) data. It was found that using the observationally constrained retrievals produced the best results when evaluated against ground based monitors, with the error in PM 2.5 predictions reduced at over 90% of the stations and AOD errors reduced at 100% of the monitors, along with larger overall error reductions when grouping all sites. A second set of experiments reveals that the use of fine mode fraction AOD and ocean multi-wavelength retrievals can improve the representation of the aerosol size distribution, while assimilating only 550 nm AOD retrievals produces no or at times degraded impact. While assimilation of multi-wavelength AOD shows positive impacts on all analyses performed, future work is needed to generate observationally constrained multi-wavelength retrievals, which when assimilated will generate size distributions more consistent with AERONET data and will provide better aerosol estimates.
Profiling neurotransmitter receptor expression in the Ambystoma mexicanum brain.

Abstract Ability to regenerate limbs and central nervous system (CNS) is unique to few vertebrates, most notably the axolotl (Ambystoma sp.). However, despite the fact the neurotransmitter receptors are involved in axonal regeneration, little is known regarding its expression profile. In this project, RT-PCR and qPCR were performed to gain insight into the neurotransmitter receptors present in Ambystoma. Its functional ability was studied by expressing axolotl receptors in Xenopus laevis oocytes by either injection of mRNA or by direct microtransplantation of brain membranes. Oocytes injected with axolotl mRNA expressed ionotropic receptors activated by GABA, aspartate + glycine and kainate, as well as metabotropic receptors activated by acetylcholine and glutamate. Interestingly, we did not see responses following the application of serotonin. Membranes from the axolotl brain were efficiently microtransplanted into Xenopus oocytes and two types of native GABA receptors that differed in the temporal course of their responses and affinities to GABA were observed. Results of this study are necessary for further characterization of axolotl neurotransmitter receptors and may be useful for guiding experiments aimed at understanding activity-dependant limb and CNS regeneration.
MODELING DUST CONCENTRATION DISTRIBUTION IN A SWINE HOUSE UNDER ISOTHERMAL CONDITIONS

A macroscopic model (Nazaroff and Cass, 1989) was used to predict dust concentration distribution in a mechanically ventilated swine nursery room under isothermal flow conditions. Four particle diameter size ranges, 0.5 to 0.9, 0.9 to 1.6, 1.6 to 2.8, and 2.8 to 5.0 µm, were considered. Effects of dust generation rate, source location, and presence/absence of obstructions (mock pigs) on dust concentration distribution were evaluated. Predicted results were compared with experimental data from full-scale laboratory tests. Based on the ASTM (1995) criteria, predicted values for the 0.5 to 0.9, 0.9 to 1.6, and 1.6 to 2.8 µm particle size ranges and total dust (0.5 to 5.0 µm) agreed well with measured values; however, measured values for the 2.8 to 5.0 µm size range were higher than predicted values. Source location significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the dust concentration distribution, whereas dust generation rate and presence/absence of the mock pigs did not significantly (p < 0.05) influence the dust distribution.
Gene conversion and splice-site slippage in the argininosuccinate lyases/δ-crystallins of the duck lens: members of an enzyme superfamily

Abstract Argininosuccinate lyase(ASL)/δ-crystallin is a prominent example of an enzyme-crystallin with roles as both a catalyst and a major structural component of the eye lens in birds and reptiles. In chicken it appears that gene duplication and separation of function may have occurred with one gene product acting primarily as a crystallin and one primarily as an enzyme. However, two δ-crystallin-encoding genes are abundantly expressed in the lens of the embryonic duck ( Anas platyrhynchos ) which has extremely high ASL activity. Here the isolation and sequence analysis of full length cDNA clones for both duck δ-crystallins are described. The two δ-crystallins are highly similar (94% identical in predicted aa sequence), probably as a result of gene conversion. However, the cDNA for duck δ2-crystallin contains an in-frame insertion of two codons, probably the result of a recent intron boundary slippage. ASL/δ-crystallin belongs to a superfamily of lyases, including fumarases, aspartases and adenylosuccinate lyase which possess some highly conserved blocks of aa sequence. There may be some clues to the tertiary structures of these conserved motifs in otherwise unrelated proteins for which three-dimensional structures are known.
The anti-biofouling effect of polyphenols against Streptococcus mutans

Biofouling is a process of surface colonization by microorganisms through cell adhesion and production of extracellular polymers (polysaccharides and proteins). It often causes serious problems in the chemical, medical and pharmaceutical industries. Recently, it was demonstrated that some natural phenolic compounds found in plants and vegetables have an antibiofouling effect, reducing formation of biofilm by Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, Streptococcus mutans, a Gram-positive bacterium was investigated for the antibiofouling effect of polyphenols. It was hypothesized that the two enzymes, glucosyltransferase and fructosyltransferase, produced by S. mutans, would be inhibited by the natural phenolic compounds. When these two enzymes were inhibited, less (or no) biofilms were formed. Enzymes were separated from a S. mutans culture medium, and their activities were measured with five different polyphenols using microtiter-plates and high-performance liquid chromatography. The results of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were used to determine the enzyme inhibition effect of polyphenols on biofilm formation without killing the cells. Most of the polyphenols used showed considerable reduction of biofilm formation. Gallic acid and tannic acid showed significant enzyme inhibition effects below their MICs.
Normal fibroblast mitochondrial malic enzyme activity in Friedreich's ataxia.

Mitochondrial and cytoplasmic malic isoenzymes were assayed fluorometrically in digitonin-fractionated fibroblasts from three patients with Friedreich9s ataxia (FA). Normal activity was found, failing to verify an earlier report of reduced fibroblast mitochondrial malic enzyme activity in FA. The previously reported disturbance in fibroblast mitochondrial malic enzyme may be an epiphenomenon in patients with the FA phenotype. Further studies are necessary to define the primary genetic defect in this inherited disorder.
Amitriptyline and Scopolamine in an Animal Model of Depression

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to acute (95 dB white noise) or chronic stress, or their combination. In comparison with unstressed controls, stressed rats were more active upon several measures of open field activity. A history of chronic stress eliminated the acute stress induced activation. Concurrent treatment of chronically stressed rats with amitriptyline or scopolamine, or with a combination of both drugs resulted in selective behavioral improvement (i.e., in motor activity, latency, defecation) for amitriptyline and combined treatment rats, with significant restoration of the normal behavioral response. Scopolamine however was only marginally effective. A higher dose of scopolamine proved effective, but only with a marked disruption of baseline activity. Examination of plasma corticosterone titers indicated that chronic stress induced an elevation of basal levels and that this was reversed by amitriptyline, scopolamine, and combined drug treatment. Thus while behavioral depression and elevated corticosteroids may covary they are not identically mediated.
Asymmetry of analogue levels and other doorway states

Abstract The S-matrix description of the energy-asymmetry of isobaric analogue states is reviewed in a model-independent way, in order to emphasize its relation to unitarity and its very simple Argand-diagram representation. As de Toledo Piza and Kerman have pointed out, this same type of asymmetry can occur in any resonance superimposed on a non-elastic background, and so can be expected in other types of doorway states, as well.
The infrared spectrum of the (N2)2 van der waals molecule

Abstract The infrared spectrum of gaseous nitrogen has been examined at 77°K using a long path absorption cell. The spectrum shows a relatively strong diffuse band which can be assigned as collision-induced absorption. Weak but discreate features atop the collision-induced band are assigned to vibration-rotation absorption by (N2)2 van der Waals molecules. The interpretation of these absorption features provides an estimate of 3.7A for the (N2)2 van der Waals bond length. It has a floppy structure with a barrier to internal rotation of N2 within (N2)2 estimated to be 15-30 cm−1. The equilibrium Configuration is believed to be “T” shaped.
Efficient gradient estimation using finite differencing and likelihood ratios for kinetic Monte Carlo simulations

While many optimization and control methods for stochastic processes require gradient information from the process of interest, obtaining gradient information from experiments is prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. As a result, such information is often obtained from stochastic process simulations. Computing gradients efficiently and accurately from stochastic simulations is challenging, especially for simulations involving computationally expensive models with significant inherent noise. In this work, we analyze and characterize the applicability of two gradient estimation methods for kinetic Monte Carlo simulations: finite differencing and likelihood ratio. We developed a systematic method for choosing an optimal perturbation size for finite differencing and discuss, for both methods, important implementation issues such as scaling with respect to the number of elements in the gradient vector. Through a series of numerical experiments, the methods were compared across different time and size regimes to characterize the precision and accuracy associated with each method. We determined that the likelihood ratio method is appropriate for estimating gradients at short (transient) times or for systems with small population sizes, whereas finite differencing is better-suited for gradient estimation at long times (steady state) or for systems with large population sizes.
Origin of the black hole in Cyg X-1

THE evidence that Cygnus X-1 is a black hole of mass ≳ 9M⊙ (ref. 1) is not conclusive, but is sufficient to warrant some consideration of the implications of such an object for the late stages of stellar evolution. We argue here that such a black hole must form directly by implosion of a star of mass ≳ 30M⊙ rather than by accretion on to a neutron star. The Galaxy may contain ∼ 107 such massive black holes.
Reactivity of Cysteine Residues in the Protease from Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Identification of a Surface-Exposed Region Which Affects Enzyme Function

Abstract The protease encoded by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is essential for the processing of viral polyproteins encoded by the gag and pol genes into mature viral proteins. The 99-residue protease from HIV-1 contains two cysteine residues (Cys-67 and Cys-95), both of which are usually conserved in viruses isolated from patients. Despite this conservation, neither residue is required for enzymatic activity. Certain site-specific cysteine mutants of HIV-1 protease are catalytically active, and the protease from HIV-2 lacks both cysteines. Copper is a potent inhibitor of HTV-1 protease, but not of mutants lacking cysteine (A. R. Karlstrom and R. L. Levine, 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88, 5552-5556). The addition of copper to the protease at pH 5.5 induced aggregation of the protein, providing a possible basis for the inhibitory action of copper. However, addition of both copper and dithiothreitol still led to inhibition of activity but did not cause aggregation. These findings led to a study of the reactivity of the cysteine residues to 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (Eliman′s reagent), a sulfhydryl compound which reacts with the ionized form of cysteine residues. At p11 6.2 in 6 M guanidine, no derivatization of cysteine residues occurred, consistent with the typical p K a of cysteine expected for the denatured protein. However, in the same buffer without guanidine, the native protease reacted rapidly with concomitant loss of proteolytic activity. Peptic mapping demonstrated that both Cys-67 and Cys-95 were derivatized. A catalytically active fusion protein of protease with protein A domains was then studied with the expectation that access to Cys-95 would be hindered. This was confirmed, with only Cys-67 reacting rapidly with Eliman′s reagent. Enzymatic activity was again lost, indicating that derivatization of the surface-accessible Cys-67 was sufficient to inactivate the enzyme. The reactivity and accessibility of these residues suggest an interesting approach for the development of protease inhibitors which are not directed to the substrate-binding site.
Understanding Douglss North in Game-Theoretic Language

This is a contribution to the Journal Symposium on Douglass North's book on Understanding the Process of Economic Change by Structural Change and Economic Dynamics. It tries to understand his dynamic theory as that of the belief-institution co-evolution process and applies contributions of recent theories of game and knowledge by Aumann and others to this understanding. It specifically identifies three different meanings of the word beliefs used by North to distinguish the roles of culture and political and economic entrepreneurs in institutional and economic change. It also suggests ways to apply the game theory to respond to his call for inter-disciplinary studies of institutional and economic change.
Performance of Serial, Matched-Filter Packet Acquisition using a Preamble-Sequence Acceptance Criterion

In this paper, we introduce a simple method to improve the performance of threshold-based serial, matched-filter acquisition in packet radio communications. Each packet transmission includes a fixed-length acquisition preamble, and the preamble sequence used in packet transmissions is changed at predetermined times based on a sequence-generation algorithm. Two classes of sequence-generation algorithms are considered: random sequence generation, and preamble sequence generation based on m-sequences. Both are used in conjunction with a sequence-acceptance criterion based on the sidelobe energy of the preamble sequence. The tradeoff between the acquisition performance and the stringency of the acceptance criterion is examined for each sequence-generation algorithm. The computational burden of the search for an acceptable preamble sequence is also considered. It is shown that the use of the m-sequence generation algorithm results in much poorer acquisition performance for a given percentage of accepted candidate preamble sequences than is predicted using the model of a random sequence generator. Moreover, it is shown that that the tradeoff between acquisition performance and the computation required to find an acceptable preamble sequence is comparable for all of the m-sequence generators considered. Thus within the class of m-sequence generation algorithms, the use of a longer-period m-sequence generator results in a larger number of acceptable preamble sequences for a given level of acquisition performance and sequence-search computation.
Chemical retention during dry growth riming

[1] Partitioning of volatile chemicals among the gas, liquid, and solid phases during the conversion of liquid water to ice in clouds can impact distributions of chemicals in precipitation and in the poststorm troposphere. In this paper, we extend a theoretical scaling model of chemical retention during hydrometeor freezing to all dry growth riming conditions. We account for spreading of drops upon impact with an ice-phase hydrometeor using the spread height as the mass and heat transfer length scale. To account for heat loss to the ice substrate, we use an iterative solution to calculate the total freezing time. Using this augmented development, we calculate a theoretical dimensionless retention indicator λ under the conditions of several experimental studies and compare the retention indicator to the measured retention fraction Γ. Experimental retention compares well with the retention indicator. Empirically fitting the retention indicator to the experimental data provides the first parameterization for the retention coefficient, Γ = 1 − exp (−0.002λ), that is applicable to a range of chemicals and dry growth riming conditions. The analysis and model presented in this paper can be used to improve experimental design and parameterization of retention in cloud models.
Regulation of extracellular matrix degradation by cell—extracellular matrix interactions

An appropriate balance of extracellular matrix synthesis and degradation is required for normal morphogenesis and maintenance of tissue architecture. Extracellular matrix molecules and their receptors, as well as proteinases and their inhibitors, are all involved in matrix remodeling. In this report we show that signal transduction through extracellular matrix receptors regulates matrix remodeling.
Sons of Low-ranking Female Rhesus Macaques Can Attain High Dominance Rank in Their Natal Groups

Five adult and subadult sons of middle- and low-ranking female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were observed to hold high dominance rank in their natal groups during a 12-month study at Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. Three of these males also experienced high mating success during at least one mating season. These findings contrast with all previously published accounts of rank acquisition by natal male rhesus macaques in provisioned colonies, and they present a challenge to the hypothesis that natal transfer functions to increase male access to fertile females.
Eccrine syringofibroadenoma (Mascaro): an ultrastructural study.

To confirm the eccrine acrosyringeal differentiation of eccrine syringofibroadenoma (ESFA) and to elucidate the histogenesis of its angiofibrotic stroma, a case of ESFA from a 45-year-old man was examined by light and electron microscopy. Histologically, the parenchyma featured anastomosing, slender epithelial cords containing small cuboidal cells and occasional duct-like structures. The stroma had increased numbers of mast cells, increased capillaries with swollen endothelial cells, and prominent fibrosis. Ultrastructurally, the following findings were characteristic of ESFA: a) abundant glycogen particles in epithelial cells, b) numerous intracytoplasmic and extracellular spaces lined with microvilli, c) intraepithelial duct formation, consisting of microvilli, vesicles, rod-shaped dense bodies, multivesicular dense bodies, and peripheral network of tonofilaments, and d) large numbers of mast cells, closely associated with fibroblasts, surrounding increased numbers of capillaries containing swollen endothelial cells. These ultrastructural features support the acrosyringeal differentiation of ESFA. We hypothesize that mast cell hyperplasia and degranulation may play an important role in the formation of the angiofibrolic stroma.
Test Anxiety Level and Test Format Preference

Summary.-Responses of 100 students to the Test Anxiety Scale were used to classify subjecu by level of anxiety. Order of perceived difficulty of test formats from easiest to hardest was multiple-choice, true-false, problem-solving, completion, interpretive exercise, and essay. Preferences for formats were different for groups high and low in anxiety, but no differences in perceived difficulty were noted. The present study examined whether preferences for different test formats, e.g., essay, true-false, etc., and perceptions of difficulty associated with various test formats differed systematically for students high and low in anxiety. While several studies (Heim & Watts, 1967; Benson & Crocker, 1979) have found differences in performance with varying item formats, few data are available concerning preferences for test formats. Fuqua (1977) found students preferred multiple-choice to completion items. A proposed explanation of test preference (Heim & Watts, 1967) is that students will prefer the format with which they have had past success. This study extends Fuqua's by comparing preferences for true-false, essay, problem-solving, and interpretive exercise formats as well as multiple-choice and completion. See Sax (1980) for definition and discussion of these item formats. The available research provides no evidence of a relationship between test anxiety and test format when performance is used as the dependent measure (Rowley, 1974; Wolff, 1976; Bajtelsmit, 1978). Consistent with Heim and Watts' (1967) explanation that preference depends upon performance, it was hypothesized that no differences in preferences would be found between groups of students high and low in anxiety. The 25-item Test Anxiety Scale (Sarason, 1978) was used to assess test anxiety. Format preference and perceived difficulty were assessed using a form requiring students to rank order each of the six formats listed above on each of the two criteria, preference and perceived difficulty. Subjects were 100 students enrolled in three classes at the University of Washington. All instruments were administered during class time. Completion was voluntary and anonymous. Scores on the Test Anxiety Scale were used to group subjects into anxiety groups: high (12-25), average (7-11.9), and low (0-6.9). There were 32, 34, and 33 subjects per group, respectively. The preference order of test formats (mo~t to least preferred) was: multiple-choice, problem-solving, essay, interpretive exercise, completion, and truefalse. Mean ranks on a scale of 1 to G were, respectively, 2.96, 3.19, 3.35,
Through The Camera’s Eye: The Intergenerational Transmission of Loss

The intergenerational transmission on of trauma has been examined through the lens of attachment theory, infant studies, and psychoanalytic writings. In the following literature review, I summarize the impact of interpersonal trauma on early attachment patterns and dream content along with the implications for treatment. A case vignette presented to illustrate the intergenerational impact of unresolved loss within a relational treatment framework and the process of reconstruction and integration of intergenerational traumatic loss within a relational treatment paradigm.
In Search of Ras Inhibitors

Membrane binding is essential for the biological activity of Ras proteins, the key regulators of diverse signaling pathways whose malfunction accounts for more than 15% of all human tumors and up to 90% of cases in specific tumor types. However, decades of effort has to date failed to yield selective Ras inhibitors. We hypothesize that disrupting the dynamic coupling between the nucleotide-binding and membrane-interacting regions of Ras by small molecule ligands may have better therapeutic potential. As part of an effort to test this hypothesis, we applied a variety of existing and new ligand binding site identification schemes on ensembles of Ras conformers generated by extensive molecular dynamics simulations in solution and membrane environments. We will discuss the discovery of new pockets that have the potential to bind small molecule ligands, along with alternative strategies for Ras drug design emerging from interactions between various computational and experimental approaches.
Modulation Recognition In Fading Channels Using Higher Order Cyclic Cumulants

In this paper, we investigate the performance of a cyclic cumulant (CC) based modulation classifier for digital communication signals in flat fading channels. The proposed system assumes no a priori information regarding the signal's carrier frequency, symbol rate, or phase. For this reason, the classifier employs cyclic cumulants (CC) of different orders which are shown to be insensitive to unknown signal statistics. To capitalize on the relative strengths of different orders of CC, a hierarchical design is implemented. To further increase performance in fading channels, several multi-antenna combining schemes are investigated and compared, and are shown to provide significant performance gains over the single antenna case.
Levels of Enterprise Integration: Study Using Case Analysis

A primary objective of ERP is to integrate the various parts of a company. The articles proposes a six-level taxonomy of enterprise integration and discusses the ability of ERP to satisfy each of the six levels. We analyzed six well-known industry case studies that included IBM, Cisco, Tecktronic, Vandelay, China Holdings, and APD Manufacturing. We found evidence of the six levels of integration among the sample. APD and China Holding did not exhibit evidence of global integration, while the others did. System user (Level II) integration was missing from all except APD. Islands-of-technology integration seems no longer the dominant integration issue it was in the â€™80s. The dominant integration issues are functional integration, customer relationship management, and supply chain management.
Polarization calculations for synchrotron radiation using integral representations of modified bessel functions of fractional order

Abstract This paper presents calculations of synchrotron radiation flux corresponding to both horizontal and vertical polarization of the electric field for different values of the vertical angle.
Laser probes for noninvasive coagulation of subsurface tissues

Previous ex vivo tissue studies utilizing deep laser heating combined with contact cooling of the tissue surface produced noninvasive thermal destruction of subsurface tissue structures in skin and liver samples. This study describes the design and preliminary in vivo testing of two integrated laser/cooling probes for simultaneous Nd:YAG laser irradiation and sapphire contact cooling of liver and skin tissues in an in vivo, acute porcine model for potential use in laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery. Nd:YAG laser radiation with a wavelength of 1.06 μm, power of 20 W, 7.5-mm-diameter spot, 500-ms pulse length, and repetition rate of 0.625 Hz, was delivered to the tissue with a total irradiation time of 16 s. The tissue surface was continuously cooled with a sapphire plate maintained at -5 oC, and with pre- and post-ablation cooling times measuring 120 s and 30 s, resulting in a total operation time of 166 s per a lesion. Thermal lesions were created in liver and skin at a 1-mm depth below the tissue surface and with a 3-4 mm diameter. The laser parameters and lesion dimensions were comparable to previous ex vivo tissue studies. Preliminary in vivo animal studies demonstrate noninvasive creation of subsurface thermal lesions in tissue using Nd:YAG laser irradiation in conjunction with sapphire contact cooling. Chronic wound healing studies will be necessary to optimize the laser and cooling parameters. Potential clinical applications include endoscopic laser treatment of female stress urinary incontinence and thermal coagulation of early stage bladder tumors.© (2006) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Non-linear oscillations under multifrequency parametric excitation

Abstract A system of second-order equations with weak quadratic and cubic non-linearities is considered. It contains a parametric excitation which has multiple harmonic components. A general analysis is carried out using the method of multiple scales. A study is then made of the resonance in which the sum of two excitation frequencies ( λ s , λ t ) is near twice a natural frequency ( ω q ) of the linearized system, i.e. λ s + λ t ≈ 2ω q . The influence of an internal resonance of the form ω q ≈ 3ω r or 3ω q ≈ ω r is also investigated. Results are presented as plots of response amplitudes as functions of a detuning parameter, an excitation amplitude, and a measure of the relative values of λ s and λ t .
Thermally-anomalous Holocene molluscan assemblages from coastal Peru: evidence for paleographic, not climatic change

Abstract Holocene marine mollusks, many in situ, are found in great numbers on anemergent coastal plain north of the Rio Santa, on the north-central coast of Peru. Samples of the mollusks were collected, identified, and grouped into assemblages of recurring species. The surficial sedimentology and geomorphology of the coastal plain were studied to determine the paleoecological significance of the molluscan shells, many of which belong to species now restricted to a biogeographically transitional zone north of Bayovar, Peru, 200 km north of the study of the area. Radiocarbon dates, mostly obtained from shells in natural deposits and middens, were used to track the Holocene development of the coastline. The warm-water mollusks lived within a shallow lagoon of about 29 km2 between 4300–6500 yr B.P. Free tidal exchange with the Pacific Ocean was impeded by partially-drowned beach ridges within the lagoon and by a barrier-forming beach ridge that joined the mainland with an offshore island. Contemporaneus, in situ, cold-water faunas were discovered at the mouth of the lagoon and in washover deposits landward of the barrier beach ridge. The association of contemporaneous and adjacent assemblages of warm-water and cold-water mollusks shows that the thermally-anomalous molluscan assemblage (TAMA) at Santa is a consequence of local coastal paleographyy, not regional or global mid-Holocene climate change.
Activation Analysis of Certain Arsenic and Antimony-Containing Pharmaceuticals and the Effect of Beta-Emitting Isotopes

Slow neutron activation analysis has been applied successfully to the analysis of pure samples of arsenic trioxide, carbarsone, oxophenarsine, antimony potassium tartrate, and stibophen, the average error being between 4 and 5 per cent. Sample processing and chemical separations were not required in the procedures. The effect of beta-emitting isotopes on the gamma-ray scintillation spectrometer was investigated and the detection levels of phosphorus-32 determined with and without shielding.
ACCOMPLISH trial findings: combination benazepril-amlodipine or hydrochlorothiazide is effective for treating hypertension. Commentary.

Practice PearlThis study demonstrates a clinically important difference between 2 combination-therapy antihypertensive regimens.
Accurate measurement of streamwise vortices using dual-plane PIV

Low Reynolds number aerodynamic experiments with flapping animals (such as bats and small birds) are of particular interest due to their application to micro air vehicles which operate in a similar parameter space. Previous PIV wake measurements described the structures left by bats and birds and provided insight into the time history of their aerodynamic force generation; however, these studies have faced difficulty drawing quantitative conclusions based on said measurements. The highly three-dimensional and unsteady nature of the flows associated with flapping flight are major challenges for accurate measurements. The challenge of animal flight measurements is finding small flow features in a large field of view at high speed with limited laser energy and camera resolution. Cross-stream measurement is further complicated by the predominately out-of-plane flow that requires thick laser sheets and short inter-frame times, which increase noise and measurement uncertainty. Choosing appropriate experimental parameters requires compromise between the spatial and temporal resolution and the dynamic range of the measurement. To explore these challenges, we do a case study on the wake of a fixed wing. The fixed model simplifies the experiment and allows direct measurements of the aerodynamic forces via load cell. We present a detailed analysis of the wake measurements, discuss the criteria for making accurate measurements, and present a solution for making quantitative aerodynamic load measurements behind free-flyers.
The Psychologic Fallout From Chernobyl

An epidemic of monumental proportions has stricken the children of the Ukraine—a direct aftermath of the nuclear power plant accident at Chernobyl on April 25, 1986. As many as 75% of the children of the Kiev area were affected. The result is considerable anxiety, multiple clinic visits, and prolonged hospitalizations (2 to 6 weeks). The general population is outraged, politicians are calling for action, physicians are responding with countless diagnostic tests and therapeutic maneuvers, parents are sick with worry, and, as usual, the children are suffering the most. Despite all of this concern and activity, the epidemic shows no sign of abating and, instead, is getting worse. What disease is this, where did it come from, what is its cause, and what is its cure? The disease, according to the Ukrainian doctors, is "vegetative dystonia." Its origin is said to be the nuclear power plant accident, which released low levels
Early Gesture Predicts Language Delay in Children with Pre- Or Perinatal Brain Lesions.

Does early gesture use predict later productive and receptive vocabulary in children with pre- or perinatal unilateral brain lesions (PL)? Eleven Children with PL were categorized into 2 groups based on whether their gesture at 18 months was within or below the range of typically developing (TD) children. Children with PL whose gesture was within the TD range developed a productive vocabulary at 22 and 26 months and a receptive vocabulary at 30 months that were all within the TD range. In contrast, children with PL below the TD range did not. Gesture was thus an early marker of which children with early unilateral lesions would eventually experience language delay, suggesting that gesture is a promising diagnostic tool for persistent delay.
Metal ions as selective triggers for removing oligodeoxynucleotide phosphotriester protecting groups

Abstract The o-bromophenyl group was successfully tested as a phosphotriester protecting group for internucleotide bonds. This protecting group can be readily and selectively removed using various transition metal salts in aqueous pyridine.
Esterification of acetic acid with ethanol in carbon dioxide

Simply applying CO2 pressure on a liquid phase, reversible, equilibrium-limited reaction can enhance its equilibrium conversion. In particular, we show that the equilibrium conversion of the esterification of acetic acid with ethanol can be shifted from 63% in neat solution to 72% in CO2 at 333 K and 58.6 bar.
Bartonella henselae Endocarditis in a Child

14-year-old white male with a past medical history of congenital bicuspid aortic valve, Streptococcus viridans endocarditis, and pulmonary valve homograft presented with culture-negative endocarditis. Molecular studies identified the causative organism as Bartonella henselae and subsequent serologic studies supported this diagnosis. This rare cause of endocarditis may be under recognized in children. Bartonella henselae endocarditis should be considered in all children with culture-negative endocarditis, and molecular studies using a polymerase chain reaction-based assay should be routinely utilized in the evaluation of all endocarditis cases that are culture negative to rapidly diagnosis this treatable cause of endocarditis.
Challenges and trends in analyses of electric power quality measurement data

Power quality monitoring has expanded from a means to investigate customer complaints to an integral part of power system performance assessments. Besides special purpose power quality monitors, power quality data are collected from many other monitoring devices on the system (intelligent relays, revenue meters, digital fault recorders, etc.). The result is a tremendous volume of measurement data that is being collected continuously and must be analyzed to determine if there are important conclusions that can be drawn from the data. It is a significant challenge due to the wide range of characteristics involved, ranging from very slow variations in the steady state voltage to microsecond transients and high frequency distortion. This paper describes some of the problems that can be evaluated with both oine and online analyses of power quality measurement data. These applications can dramatically increase the value of power quality monitoring systems and provide the basis for ongoing research into new analysis and characterization methods and signal processing techniques.