cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Moral Tribes: Emotion, Reason, and the Gap Between Us and Them

Our brains were designed for tribal life, for getting along with a select group of others (Us), and for fighting off everyone else (Them). But modern life has thrust the world's tribes into a shared space, creating conflicts of interest and clashes of values, along with unprecedented opportunities. As the world shrinks, the moral lines that divide us become more salient and more puzzling. We fight over everything from tax codes to gay marriage to global warming, and we wonder where, if at all, we can find our common ground. A grand synthesis of neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy, Moral Tribes reveals the underlying causes of modern conflict and lights a way forward. Our emotions make us social animals, turning Me into Us. But they also make us tribal animals, turning Us against Them. Our tribal emotions make us fight, sometimes with bombs, sometimes with words, and often with life-and-death stakes. Drawing inspiration from moral philosophy and cutting-edge science, Moral Tribes shows when we should trust our instincts, when we should reason, and how the right kind of reasoning can move us forward. Joshua Greene is the director of Harvard University's Moral Cognition Lab, a pioneering scientist, a philosopher, and an acclaimed teacher. The great challenge of Moral Tribes is this: How can we get along with Them when what they want feels so wrong? Finally, Greene offers a surprisingly simple set of maxims for navigating the modern moral terrain, a practical road map for solving problems and living better lives.
CD9, a major platelet cell surface glycoprotein, is a ROCA antigen and is expressed in the nervous system

We previously generated a monoclonal antibody (mAb), ROCA1, which binds preferentially to rostral versus caudal sympathetic ganglia and intercostal nerves. Two other mAbs, ROCA2 and B2C11, bind to the same structures but not in rostrocaudal gradients. All three mAbs recognize a 26 kDa cell surface protein. Amino acid sequence data obtained from the affinity purified 26 kDa protein showed some homology with human CD9, a tetraspan protein implicated in intercellular signaling in hematopoietic cells. Using the PCR, we obtained cDNA clones representing the entire rat CD9 coding sequence from sciatic nerve and sympathetic ganglia. ROCA1, ROCA2, and B2C11 each immunoprecipitate a 26 kDa protein from CHO cells stably transfected with one of the clones, demonstrating that the ROCA cell surface antigen is indeed rat CD9. We find that CD9 mRNA is widely expressed, with particularly high levels present in a number of neural tissues. In situ hybridization demonstrates that peripheral neurons and Schwann cells, as well as adrenal chromaffin cells express CD9 mRNA. Consistent with immunoblot analyses showing that, unlike the ROCA1 epitope, the 26 kDa protein is not expressed in a rostrocaudal gradient, we find similar levels of rat CD9 mRNA in rostral and caudal intercostal nerves. In developing postnatal rat sciatic nerve, CD9 mRNA levels are coordinately regulated with the expression of myelin genes. These results provide another example of a cell surface protein expressed by both hematopoietic and neural cells, and suggest a role for CD9 in intercellular signaling in the nervous system.
Automatic Approaches for Gene-Drug Interaction Extraction from Biomedical Text: Corpus and Comparative Evaluation

Publications that report genotype-drug interaction findings, as well as manually curated databases such as DrugBank and PharmGKB are essential to advancing pharmacogenomics, a relatively new area merging pharmacology and genomic research. Natural language processing (NLP) methods can be very useful for automatically extracting knowledge such as gene-drug interactions, offering researchers immediate access to published findings, and allowing curators a shortcut for their work. We present a corpus of gene-drug interactions for evaluating and training systems to extract those interactions. The corpus includes 551 sentences that have a mention of a drug and a gene from about 600 journals found to be relevant to pharmacogenomics through an analysis of gene-drug relationships in the PharmGKB knowledgebase. We evaluated basic approaches to automatic extraction, including gene and drug co-occurrence, co-occurrence plus interaction terms, and a linguistic pattern-based method. The linguistic pattern method had the highest precision (96.61%) but lowest recall (7.30%), for an f-score of 13.57%. Basic co-occurrence yields 68.99% precision, with the addition of an interaction term precision increases slightly (69.60%), though not as much as could be expected. Co-occurrence is a reasonable baseline method, with pattern-based being a promising approach if enough patterns can be generated to address recall. The corpus is available at http://diego.asu.edu/index.php/projects
A new integral formula for Heckman–Opdam hypergeometric functions

Abstract We provide Harish-Chandra type formulas for the multivariate Bessel functions and Heckman–Opdam hypergeometric functions as representation-valued integrals over dressing orbits. Our expression is the quasi-classical limit of the realization of Macdonald polynomials as traces of intertwiners of quantum groups given by Etingof and Kirillov Jr. in [10] . Integration over the Liouville tori of the Gelfand–Tsetlin integrable system and adjunction for higher Calogero–Moser Hamiltonians recovers and gives a new proof of the integral realization over Gelfand–Tsetlin polytopes which appeared in the recent work [4] of Borodin and Gorin on the β -Jacobi corners ensemble.
Awakening is not a metaphor: the effects of Buddhist meditation practices on basic wakefulness

Buddhist meditation practices have become a topic of widespread interest in both science and medicine. Traditional Buddhist formulations describe meditation as a state of relaxed alertness that must guard against both excessive hyperarousal (restlessness) and excessive hypoarousal (drowsiness, sleep). Modern applications of meditation have emphasized the hypoarousing and relaxing effects without as much emphasis on the arousing or alertness-promoting effects. In an attempt to counterbalance the plethora of data demonstrating the relaxing and hypoarousing effects of Buddhist meditation, this interdisciplinary review aims to provide evidence of meditation's arousing or wake-promoting effects by drawing both from Buddhist textual sources and from scientific studies, including subjective, behavioral, and neuroimaging studies during wakefulness, meditation, and sleep. Factors that may influence whether meditation increases or decreases arousal are discussed, with particular emphasis on dose, expertise, and contemplative trajectory. The course of meditative progress suggests a nonlinear multiphasic trajectory, such that early phases that are more effortful may produce more fatigue and sleep propensity, while later stages produce greater wakefulness as a result of neuroplastic changes and more efficient processing.
Degradability of Dental Ceramics

The degradation of dental ceramics generally occurs because of mechanical forces or chemical attack. The possible physiological side-effects of ceramics are their tendency to abrade opposing dental structures, the emission of radiation from radioactive components, the roughening of their surfaces by chemical attack with a corresponding increase in plaque retention, and the release of potentially unsafe concentrations of elements as a result of abrasion and dissolution. The chemical durability of dental ceramics is excellent. With the exception of the excessive exposure to acidulated fluoride, ammonium bifluoride, or hydrofluoric acid, there is little risk of surface degradation of virtually all current dental ceramics. Extensive exposure to acidulated fluoride is a possible problem for individuals with head and/or neck cancer who have received large doses of radiation. Such fluoride treatment is necessary to minimize tooth demineralization when saliva flow rates have been reduced because of radiation exposure to salivary glands. Porcelain surface stains are also lost occasionally when abraded by prophylaxis pastes and/or acidulated fluoride. In each case, the solutes are usually not ingested. Further research that uses standardized testing procedures is needed on the chemical durability of dental ceramics. Accelerated durability tests are desirable to minimize the time required for such measurements. The influence of chemical durability on surface roughness and the subsequent effect of roughness on wear of the ceramic restorations as well as of opposing structures should also be explored on a standardized basis.
The homeobox gene bozozok promotes anterior neuroectoderm formation in zebrafish through negative regulation of BMP2/4 and Wnt pathways

The neuroectoderm of the vertebrate gastrula was proposed by Nieuwkoop to be regionalized into forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain and spinal cord by a two-step process. In the activation step, the Spemann gastrula organizer induces neuroectoderm with anterior character, followed by posteriorization by a transforming signal. Recently, simultaneous inhibition of BMP and Wnt signaling was shown to induce head formation in frog embryos. However, how the inhibition of BMP and Wnt signaling pathways specify a properly patterned head, and how they are regulated in vivo, is not understood. Here we demonstrate that the loss of anterior neural fates observed in zebrafish bozozok (boz) mutants occurs during gastrulation due to a reduction and subsequent posteriorization of neuroectoderm. The neural induction defect was correlated with decreased chordino expression and consequent increases in bmp2b/4 expression, and was suppressed by overexpression of BMP antagonists. Whereas expression of anterior neural markers was restored by ectopic BMP inhibition in early boz gastrulae, it was not maintained during later gastrulation. The posteriorization of neuroectoderm in boz was correlated with ectopic dorsal wnt8 expression. Overexpression of a Wnt antagonist rescued formation of the organizer and anterior neural fates in boz mutants. We propose that boz specifies formation of anterior neuroectoderm by regulating BMP and Wnt pathways in a fashion consistent with Nieuwkoop's two-step neural patterning model. boz promotes neural induction by positively regulating organizer-derived chordino and limiting the antineuralizing activity of BMP2b/4 morphogens. In addition, by negative regulation of Wnt signaling, boz promotes organizer formation and limits posteriorization of neuroectoderm in the late gastrula.
Relationships between obesity, functional exercise capacity, physical activity participation and physical self-perception in people with schizophrenia.

Vancampfort D, Probst M, Sweers K, Maurissen K, Knapen J, De Hert M. Relationships between obesity, functional exercise capacity, physical activity participation and physical self-perception in people with schizophrenia. Objective: This study compared differences in functional exercise capacity between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. Physical self-perception and physical activity variables contributing to the variability in the distance achieved during a walk test were identified. Method: A total of 25 normal weight, 25 overweight and 10 obese patients and 40 healthy volunteers were included. Functional exercise capacity was explored with a 6-minute walk test. Level of physical activity was assessed using the Baecke questionnaire and physical self-perception using the physical self-perception profile. Results: Obese patients walked a significantly shorter distance than overweight and normal weight patients (450.6 ± 97.7, 580.2 ± 116.0 and 615.8 ± 92.4 m resp., P < 0.001). All patients walked a shorter distance than healthy controls (710.6 ± 108.4 m, P < 0.001). Dyspnoea was only prevalent in schizophrenia (28.3%, P < 0.001) and especially in obese patients (90% vs. 40% in overweight and 27.3% in normal weight patients, P < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, 59% of the variance in walking distance was explained by body mass index, perceived sports competence and condition, physical self-worth, level of sports participation and smoking behaviour. Conclusion: Functional exercise capacity in patients with schizophrenia is reduced not only by obesity, perceived discomfort and pain but also by a sedentary, unhealthy life style and a reduced physical self-perception.
Enzyme‐Catalyzed Inorganic Precipitation of Aluminum Basic Sulfate

Particles of aluminum basic sulfate were synthesized from homogeneous solutions of aluminum acetate, sodium sulfate, urea, and the enzyme urease at room temperature. The urease was used to decompose the urea. The decomposition provided a controlled increase in the pH of the solution, from 5 to 9.
Final-State Interactions in the π − + p → K + K ¯ + N Reaction

Author(s): Alexander, Gideon; Dahl, Orin I.; Jacobs, Laurance; Kalbfleisch, George R.; Miller, Donald H.; Rittenberg, Alan; Schwartz, Joseph; Smith, Gerald A.
Compound Heterozygosity for a Recurrent 16.5-kb Alu-Mediated Deletion Mutation and Single-Base-Pair Substitutions in the ABCC6 Gene Results in Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a systemic heritable disorder affecting the elastic structures in the skin, eyes, and cardiovascular system, with considerable morbidity and mortality. Recently, mutations in the ABCC6 gene (also referred to as “MRP6” or “eMOAT”) encoding multidrug-resistance protein 6 (MRP6), a putative transmembrane ABC transporter protein of unknown function, have been disclosed. Most of the genetic lesions delineated thus far consist of single-base-pair substitutions resulting in nonsense, missense, or splice-site mutations. In this study, we examined four multiplex families with PXE inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. In each family, the proband was a compound heterozygote for a single-base-pair–substitution mutation and a novel, ∼16.5-kb deletion mutation spanning the site of the single-base-pair substitution in trans. The deletion mutation was shown to extend from intron 22 to intron 29, resulting in out-of-frame deletion of 1,213 nucleotides from the corresponding mRNA and causing elimination of 505 amino acids from the MRP6 polypeptide. The deletion breakpoints were precisely the same in all four families, which were of different ethnic backgrounds, and haplotype analysis by 13 microsatellite markers suggested that the deletion had occurred independently. Deletion breakpoints within introns 22 and 29 were embedded within AluSx repeat sequences, specifically in a 16-bp segment of DNA, suggesting Alu-mediated homologous recombination as a mechanism.
Cabin Noise Levels in Single Engine General Aviation Aircraft

Sound level measurements were made on several of the most popular general aviation aircraft produced. Measurements were taken at various flight milestones such as; run up, taxi, climb, cruise power and descent. For each of the aircraft a time weighted mission sound level was obtained, using three different mission scenarios, varying only in flight time. For each of the three scenarios, and for all aircraft, the time weighted noise values obtained were an or exceeded the 85 dBA limit recommended by NIOSH. The results of this study indicate that a substantial percentage of general aviation pilots will show some loss of hearing due to the high noise levels present in their cabins. Recommendations are made for protection of occupants of general aviation aircraft.
HLA-DR3 restricted T cell epitope mimicry in induction of autoimmune response to lupus-associated antigen SmD

Abstract Although systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multigenic autoimmune disorder, HLA-D is the most dominant genetic susceptibility locus. This study was undertaken to investigate the hypothesis that microbial peptides bind HLA-DR3 and activate T cells reactive with lupus autoantigens. Using HLA-DR3 transgenic mice and lupus-associated autoantigen SmD protein, SmD 79–93 was identified to contain a dominant HLA-DR3 restricted T cell epitope. This T cell epitope was characterized by using a T–T hybridoma, C1P2, generated from SmD immunized HLA-DR3 transgenic mouse. By pattern search analysis, 20 putative mimicry peptides (P2–P21) of SmD 79–93, from microbial and human origin were identified. C1P2 cells responded to SmD, SmD 79–93 and a peptide (P20) from Vibro cholerae . Immunization of HLA-DR3 mice with P20 induced T cell responses and IgG antibodies to SmD that were not cross-reactive with the immunogen. A T–T hybridoma, P20P1, generated from P20 immunized mice, not only responded to P20 and SmD 79–93 , but also to peptides from Streptococcus agalactiae (P17) and human-La related protein (P11). These three T cell mimics (P20, P11 and P17) induced diverse and different autoantibody response profiles. Our data demonstrates for the first time molecular mimicry at T cell epitope level between lupus-associated autoantigen SmD and microbial peptides. Considering that distinct autoreactive T cell clones were activated by different microbial peptides, molecular mimicry at T cell epitope level can be an important pathway for the activation of autoreactive T cells resulting in the production of autoantibodies. In addition, the novel findings reported herein may have significant implications in the pathogenesis of SLE.
Landscape-level variation in temperature sensitivity of soil organic carbon decomposition

Abstract We examined landscape-level variation in temperature sensitivity of labile SOC across 71 sites at a central North American grassland. The observed range in activation energy of decomposition ( E a ), an index of temperature sensitivity, was as great at the landscape scale as has been observed at the continental scale. E a was lower for soils with more labile C, consistent with the ‘Carbon quality-temperature’ hypothesis. Soil pH explained 67% of the variation in E a . Although there are strong environmental correlates with the E a of SOC decomposition at landscape scales, the amount of variation within landscapes could confound regional- to global-scale predictions of the response of soil C to warming.
An analysis of flow and mass transfer during the solution growth of potassium titanyl phosphate

The first fully three-dimensional solution flow and solute transport simulations are performed to model the potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) growth system of Bordui et al. Steady flows and supersaturation fields for two crystal mounting geometries are computed using a stabilized finite element method implemented on a data-parallel supercomputer. Our results present a mechanistic picture of solute transport which is consistent with inclusion formation patterns obtained in experiments. The simulations also explain beneficial outcomes, in terms of better global mixing and more uniform surface supersaturation, observed for a crystal mounting geometry which strongly breaks cylindrical symmetry in the system.
Chenodiol and Gallstones

Excerpt To the editor: The National Cooperative Gallstone Study Group report (1) concluded that "chenodiol has a role in the treatment of selected patients with gallstones." A review of the data fr...
Effects of various submucous resection techniques of septal cartilage on nasal tip projection

Background There is little research which determines whether septoplasty affects nasal projection. Objectives To assess the effect of various septoplasty (submucous resection, SMR) techniques on nasal tip projection in a fresh cadaver model. Methods The nasal tip projection was measured on 6 fresh cadaver heads and compared postoperatively after a sequence of submucous septoplasty maneuvers. Five different septoplasty techniques were performed in the same sequence on each cadaver. After each technique, measurements were performed. Results Removal of a central square piece of quadrangular cartilage resulted in a loss of projection in 3 in 6 (50%) heads, with average loss of 7.76%. Removal of additional cartilage along the bony cartilaginous junction resulted in no loss of projection. Removing more septum along the floor resulted caused a change loss in nasal projection in 1 in 6 (17%) cadavers. Removing the remaining septum, except for the L-strut resulted in a loss of projection in 2 in 6 (33%) heads with an average percent change in tip projection of 9.08%. Swinging door technique resulted in a loss of projection in 1 cadaver (17%), with loss of 6.25%. All 6 cadavers experienced loss of nasal projection. When all maneuvers were taken in total, there was a statically significant average decrease in projection of 8.93% (range, 5.00–13.04%, p = 0.008). Conclusion Primary septoplasty carries a risk of nasal tip projection, with certain maneuvers carrying higher risk. © 2011 ARS-AAOA, LLC.
Is all space created equal? Uncovering the relationship between competing land uses in subdivisions

Abstract Evaluating the importance of different forms of open space to households requires an evaluation of the service flows provided by each type of open space. For many non-market goods, these flows occur over multiple spatial scales and require analysis that simultaneously accounts for capitalization at each scale. To meet this often overlooked need, we apply a newly developed extension to the Hausman-Taylor model that treats multiple housing transactions occurring in a spatial location as a panel. This methodology allows us to account for omitted variables within a subdivision while instrumenting for variables identified through differences between subdivisions. We measure capitalization of open space at three distinct spatial extents: adjacency, walkability, and subdivision-wide. We find that the interactions between subdivision open space and private open space in the form of lot size change from complementarity at small scales to substitutability at large scales. These results confirm much of the intuition developed by ecologists and public planners on the likely service flows associated with open space and show how our approach to accounting for multiple spatial scales of capitalization in the evaluation of non-market goods could be beneficial to other areas of applied research.
Lumped Parameter Analysis of an Enclosed Incompressible Squeeze Film and a Central Gas Bubble

A lumped-parameter dynamic model for an enclosed incompressible squeeze film with a central gas bubble has been derived. A new approach was applied to derive closed-form expressions for the lumped-parameter mass and damping coefficients caused by liquid motion. It was assumed that plate motions were small and the fluid behaved as a continuum. The values of the lumped-parameter mass and damping were found to depend on the aspect ratio and nondimensional squeeze-film thickness. The nondimensional thickness was given by the ratio of the actual squeeze-film thickness to the viscous penetration depth of the liquid. A nondimensional squeeze-film thickness of a value of 5 was found to divide between categories of thick and thin incompressible squeeze films. Amplification of the liquid mass and damping over and above squeeze films open to the atmosphere at the edges was found. The amplification was attributed to converging flow caused by enclosed boundaries. Comparisons between the lumped-parameter model predictions and finite-element computations showed a surprising degree of accuracy for the lumped-parameter model despite large liquid velocities in the squeeze film.
Quantifying Protein Interface Footprinting by Hydroxyl Radical Oxidation and Molecular Dynamics Simulation: Application to Galectin-1

Biomolecular surface mapping methods offer an important alternative method for characterizing protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions in cases in which it is not possible to determine high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) structures of complexes. Hydroxyl radical footprinting offers a significant advance in footprint resolution compared with traditional chemical derivatization. Here we present results of footprinting performed with hydroxyl radicals generated on the nanosecond time scale by laser-induced photodissociation of hydrogen peroxide. We applied this emerging method to a carbohydrate-binding protein, galectin-1. Since galectin-1 occurs as a homodimer, footprinting was employed to characterize the interface of the monomeric subunits. Efficient analysis of the mass spectrometry data for the oxidized protein was achieved with the recently developed ByOnic (Palo Alto, CA) software that was altered to handle the large number of modifications arising from side-chain oxidation. Quantification of the level of oxidation has been achieved by employing spectral intensities for all of the observed oxidation states on a per-residue basis. The level of accuracy achievable from spectral intensities was determined by examination of mixtures of synthetic peptides related to those present after oxidation and tryptic digestion of galectin-1. A direct relationship between side-chain solvent accessibility and level of oxidation emerged, which enabled the prediction of the level of oxidation given the 3D structure of the protein. The precision of this relationship was enhanced through the use of average solvent accessibilities computed from 10 ns molecular dynamics simulations of the protein.
Compliant substrates: A comparative study of the relaxation mechanisms of strained films bonded to high and low viscosity oxides

Relaxation of compressively strained heteroepitaxial Si0.7Ge0.3 films bonded to high and low viscosity glass compliant layers was investigated. These structures were formed by transferring Si0.7Ge0.3 films to Si substrates covered with thermal SiO2 and borophosphorosilicate glass (BPSG) films. Relaxation was studied through thermal annealing experiments. For the low viscosity BPSG, relaxation was observed near 800°C and was accompanied by buckling of the Si0.7Ge0.3 film. At this temperature, no change in the Si0.7Ge0.3 film bonded to thermal SiO2 was observed, and through this comparison relaxation on BPSG is interpreted as the result of viscous flow of the glass. Finally, film buckling was successfully avoided by patterning the strained films into small areas prior to annealing, and is an indication that film expansion must be considered for elastic strain relaxation on compliant media.
A formal language approach for multi-sensor Wearable Health-Monitoring Systems

Wearable health-monitoring systems (WHMS) promise to revolutionize health care by providing real-time unobtrusive monitoring of patientspsila physiological parameters through the deployment of several on-body and even intra-body biosensors. Although several technological issues regarding WHMS still need to be resolved, in order for them to become more applicable in real-life scenarios, it is expected that continuous ambulatory monitoring of vital signs will enable pro-active personal health management and better treatment of patients suffering from chronic diseases, of the elderly population and of emergency situations. In this paper a novel formal language based model for multi-sensor data fusion and early-detection of various conditions is presented. Patterns or even signal states indicating pathological symptoms that are presented in the signals, which can be collected from on-body distributed biosensors, are modeled as symbols of the Prognosis context-free formal language, whose grammar and production rules define the prognosis-words. The proposed approach is based on a described generic WHMS model and on a simple but at the same time efficient method for characterizing body-signalpsilas patterns and/or states. Finally, we provide several illustrative examples for better comprehension of the proposed model.
Occupancy Based Map Searching Using Heterogeneous Teams of Autonomous Vehicles

In typical search missions, the environment and the targets are not stationary and previous observations become less reliable as time progresses. In addition, the search is often initiated with only a rough idea of target location. In this work we consider a strategy for searching using a team of heterogeneous autonomous vehicles. The team members maintain a world model which includes the estimate of possible target states. The issue of compelling agents to converge on targets and to search unexplored regions is formulated as a model predictive control problem. The world model is propagated in time and strategic decisions are made autonomously based on its prediction. Agents formulate control decisions by optimizing an objective function which allows for control and timing constraints. Individual agents in the team are coupled to one another through the centralized occupancy based map. This coupling, in combination with the outlined search strategy, leads to an e‐cient, autonomous, and cooperative search.
Localization of ectopic pheochromocytomas by magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was utilized to localize ectopic pheochromocytomas in two patients. In both cases, MRI proved superior to computer tomography. Differentiation from surrounding tissue was excellent. MRI permits spatial localization and by assessment of signal contrast intensity provides a suggestion as to the characteristics of the tumor without the use of invasive procedures or intravenous injections. MRI should be considered as an alternative to computed tomography when evaluating patients with a suspected pheochromocytoma.
Structure-analysis method for electronic cleansing in cathartic and noncathartic CT colonography

Electronic cleansing (EC) is an emerging method for segmentation of fecal material in CT colonography (CTC) that is used for reducing or eliminating the requirement for cathartic bowel preparation and hence for improving patients’ adherence to recommendations for colon cancer screening. In EC, feces tagged by an x-ray-opaque oral contrast agent are removed from the CTC images, effectively cleansing the colon after image acquisition. Existing EC approaches tend to suffer from the following cleansing artifacts: degradation of soft-tissue structures because of pseudo-enhancement caused by the surrounding tagged fecal materials, and pseudo soft-tissue structures and false fistulas caused by partial volume effects at the boundary between the air lumen and the tagged regions, called the air-tagging boundary (AT boundary). In this study, we developed a novel EC method, called structure-analysis cleansing, which effectively avoids these cleansing artifacts. In our method, submerged soft-tissue structures are recognized by their local morphologic signatures that are characterized based on the eigenvalues of a three-dimensional Hessian matrix. A structure-enhancement function is formulated for enhancing of the soft-tissue structures. In addition, thin folds sandwiched between the air lumen and tagged regions are enhanced by analysis of the local roughness based on multi-scale volumetric curvedness. Both values of the structure-enhancement function and the local roughness are integrated into the speed function of a level set method for delineating the tagged fecal materials. Thus, submerged soft-tissue structures as well as soft-tissue structures adhering to the tagged regions are preserved, whereas the tagged regions are removed along with the associated AT boundaries from CTC images. Evaluation of the quality of the cleansing based on polyps and folds in a colon phantom, as well as on polyps in clinical cathartic and noncathartic CTC cases with fluid and stool tagging, showed that our structure-analysis cleansing method is significantly superior to that of our previous thresholding-based EC method. It provides a cleansed colon with substantially reduced subtraction artifacts.
Chinese Circulations: Capital, Commodities, and Networks in Southeast Asia. Edited by Eric Tagaliacozzo and Wen-Chin Chang . (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2011. Pp. xi, 534. $27.95.)

This collection of essays offers the most comprehensive and updated examination of the flow of commodities, capital, and people between China and Southeast Asia. Wen‐Chin Chang and Eric Tagaliacozz...
The Potential Benefits and Risks of Identifying as a Tomboy: A Social Identity Perspective

Although many girls may call themselves tomboys, little is known about the consequences of these self-perceptions. Seventy-six 5- to 13-year-old girls were interviewed and asked to identify their tomboy status (35 traditional girls, 20 tomboys, and 21 “in-betweens”). Tomboyism was associated with potentially negative gender identification (i.e., feeling less like a typical girl and less content with their gender), but more egalitarian perceptions of others (i.e., lower intergroup biases and greater acceptance of others’ gender-norm transgressions). To further develop the foundational tomboy literature, we first established that tomboyism was associated with more male-typical play preferences, examined the developmental course of tomboyism, and how girls describe this identity. Implications for theories of gender development are discussed.
STOCHASTIC DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING FOR OPTIMUM RESERVOIR OPERATION

. For a multipurpose single reservoir a deterministic optimal operating policy can be readily devised by the dynamic programming method. However, this method can only be applied to sets of deterministic stream flows as might be used repetitively in a Monte Carlo study or possibly in a historical study. This paper reports a study in which an optimal operating policy for a multipurpose reservoir was determined, where the optimal operating policy is stated in terms of the state of the reservoir indicated by the storage volume and the river flow in the preceding month and uses a stochastic dynamic programming approach. Such a policy could be implemented in real time operation on a monthly basis or it could be used in a design study. As contrasted with deterministic dynamic programming, this method avoids the artificiality of using a single set of stream flows. The data for this study are the conditional probabilities of the stream flow in successive months, the physical features of the reservoir in question, and the return functions and constraints under which the system operates.
Transduction of rabbit saphenous artery: A comparison of naked DNA, liposome complexes, and adenovirus vectors

The methods and efficiency of gene transfer into rabbit saphenous artery were examined in this study. The purpose was to develop an animal model capable of evaluating the use of angiogenic gene therapy to revascularize necrotic bone more rapidly and completely than by surgical implantation of blood vessels alone. The success of transduction using adenovirus vectors, liposome/DNA complexes, and naked DNA was evaluated with delivery to both intra-luminal and adventitial sites. Intra-luminal and adventitial (extra-luminal) application was used for the viral and liposome methods. Naked DNA was evaluated only in the intra-luminal site, based upon previous reports. Relative transduction success was expressed as the percentage of total cells with beta-galactosidase activity. A 20-mm length of saphenous artery exposed surgically was targeted for lacZ gene transfer. Two days after transduction, the arteries were harvested and stained with X-gal for beta-galactosidase activity. The percentage of endothelial, media and adventitial cells with beta-galactosidase activity was determined. Intra-arterial injection of adenovirus vector transduced the largest amount of cells in all three areas of the vessel (endothelium, media and adventitia). The adenovirus vectors when applied to the adventitia only transduced adventitial cells. Following intra-arterial injection of liposome/DNA complexes transduction was detected only in endothelium. Extra-luminal liposome and intra-arterial naked DNA delivery resulted in no detectable gene transfer. Intra-arterial delivery of an adenovirus vector would likely provide optimal gene transfer for possible angiogenic gene therapy.
Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Fear Questionnaire phobia subscale items in two normative samples

Normative data for the Fear Questionnaire (Marks & Mathews, 1979), a popular self-report instrument measuring phobic concerns, were collected from both a community and a collegiate sample. The covariation and internal consistency of the blood-injury phobia (BI), social phobia (SO), and agoraphobia (AG) subscales were assessed in each sample, and the factor structure of the items from these three subscales was examined. Results indicated that, in general, community subjects reported more phobic concerns than did collegiate subjects, and females reported greater phobic concerns than did males. Results from confirmatory factor analyses suggest that the three factors of BI, SO, and AG did not emerge from either data set. Follow-up exploratory factor analyses did identify the general factors of blood-injury phobia and agoraphobia. Normative data from the present study are compared to those obtained previously, and directions for future research are provided.
A Prospective Assessment of Psychosocial Factors Among Bariatric Versus Non-bariatric Surgery Candidates

Background Psychological factors are considered potential contraindicators to bariatric surgery, but inconsistently predict surgical outcomes. We examined biomedical and psychosocial predictors of future bariatric candidacy in a population of veterans enrolling in a multidisciplinary weight management program.
Effects of intradermal foot and forearm capsaicin injections in normal and vulvodynia-afflicted women

Cutaneous response to capsaicin has been used to assess central sensitization in pain research. This study compared the response to intradermal capsaicin in the forearm and foot of vulvar vestibulitis (vestibulodynia)-afflicted cases and controls. We hypothesized that cases will experience greater spontaneous pain, larger cutaneous areas of punctate hyperalgesia and dynamic allodynia, and greater vascular flow than controls. We also hypothesized enhanced post-injection pain in the foot compared to the forearm based on dermatome proximity of the foot and vulva. Methods. Ten vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS) cases and 10 age and ethnically matched controls underwent two randomized, cross-over trials with intra-dermal injections of capsaicin or a saline placebo in the forearm and foot. Outcome measures included spontaneous pain level, surface area of punctate hyperalgesia, surface area of dynamic allodynia, cutaneous blood flow, regional skin temperature and vital signs. Results. VVS cases experienced greater spontaneous pain, punctate hyperalgesia and dynamic allodynia than pain-free controls. Within the VVS group, post-capsaicin spontaneous pain, punctate hyperalgesia and dynamic allodynia were similar in the forearm and foot. Post-capsaicin blood flow did not differ between cases and controls by anatomic site. Measures of depression and anxiety correlated with spontaneous pain intensity but did not correlate with measures of hyperalgesia, allodynia, or blood flow. VVS cases had higher resting pulse rates and lower resting systolic blood pressures than in controls. Conclusion. VVS patients show enhancement of post-capsaicin pain response extending far beyond the anatomic location of the primary complaint.
Differences in the reactivity of short and giant ragweed with immunoglobulin E antibodies.

Abstract Currently, the allergens in extracts of SRW and GRW are regarded as equivalent in their ability to react with IgE antibodies. We investigated whether IgE antibodies might recognize differences between these allergens. First, sera from individuals with positive skin tests to both RWs showed higher reactivity with solid-phase SRW in the RAST. Second, immunosorption of 24 sera showed that more than 90% of the IgE antibodies were removed by either SRW or GRW Sepharose. However, all of the sera contained IgE antibodies specific for SRW and six sera contained antibodies specific for both SRW and GRW. Third, the presence of IgE antibodies preferentially reactive with SRW was tested by neutralization of the P-K test. Two individuals were passively sensitized with a serum pool containing IgE antibodies specific for SRW; skin sites were challenged repetitively with an extract of GRW until they no longer reacted with GRW. Challenge of these sites with SRW showed an immediate wheal-and-flare reaction, indicating that antibodies were present in the serum pool which could not be neutralized by GRW and, thus, were specific for SRW. These results indicate that the sera of all RW-sensitive individuals in this study contained IgE antibodies specifically reactive with SRW and many sera contained antibodies specific for GRW. Overall, however, most of the IgE anti-RW reactivity was removed by either GRW or SRW.
Making inflexible investment decisions with incomplete information

Abstract This paper presents an application of the Principle of Maximum Entropy to business investment decision making under uncertainty. This principle is derived explicitly from a set of axioms for rational inference, one of these axioms being the weak form rational expectations hypothesis (REH): that agents use all the available information efficiently. This set of assumptions are weaker than those embedded in the strong REH. It is demonstrated that the Maxent algorithm leads to rotional decision solutions when the information set available to agents is very limited-so limited that there is no orthodox solution to the problem. Thus, we obtain a solution without the extreme informational assumptions necessary to obtain a strong REH solution.
Menaquinone (vitamin K2) biosynthesis: localization and characterization of the menE gene from Escherichia coli.

Abstract In Escherichia coli , the biosynthesis of the electron carrier menaquinone (vitamin K 2 ) involves at least seven identified enzymatic activities, five of which are encoded in the men cluster. One of these, the conversion of o -succinylbenzoic acid to 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, requires the formation of o -succinylbenzoyl-CoA (OSB-CoA) as an intermediate. Formation of the intermediate is mediated by OSB-CoA synthetase encoded by the menE locus known to be located either 5′ of menB , or 3′ of menC . A DNA fragment overlapping the 3′ end of menC is shown by enzymatic complementation to elevate OSB-CoA synthetase activity. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the fragment identified a 1.355-kb open reading frame (ORF) which, when deleted at either the 5′ or 3′ end, failed to generate increased enzymatic activity. The ORF is preceded by a consensus ribosome-binding site, but no apparent σ 70 promoter. An oppositely transcribed unidentified gene cluster follows the menE ORF. The region 5′ of menB contains an additional ORF of unknown function ( orf241 ) and establishes the order of genes in the men cluster as menD, orf241, menB, menC and menE . All loci are transcribed counter-clockwise.
Electro-Mechanically Robust, Flexible Carbon Nanotube-PDMS Composite for High Performance Field Emission

We present a method for fabricating flexible multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)-polymer (poly-dimethylsiloxane, PDMS) composites for high performance field emission devices and other flexible electronic applications. The polymer matrix isolates individual nanotubes on its surface, reducing mutual [1] and give rise to impressive field emission properties. The MWNT-PDMS composites are extremely flexible and electro-mechanically robust since they remain electrically conducting under large strains. The above mentioned features make these MWNT-PDMS composites suitable for future applications as multifunctional flexible devices such as pressure and gas sensors as well as flexible sensors and display devices.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Development of A Tactical Guidance Research and Evaluation System (TiGRES)

The development of a simulation tool for tactical guidance research and the evaluation of systems performance in a tactically significant environment is described. The objective of the tool is to provide a means by which researchers can explore and exploit enhancements to airplane agility. The completed tool will include high-fidelity batch and piloted simulation capabilities, an advanced tactical guidance logic and a user-friendly interface. While the tool is being developed for the purpose of studying airplane agility, its modularity should make it easily adaptable to the analysis of other technologies and thus be of interest to a number of potential users.
A microscale collagen-fibrin interacting network model with comparison to experimental results

Many native and bioengineered soft tissues are composed of two or more types of biopolymer networks that mechanically define and support the material [1]. Modeling the response of multi-network soft tissues to mechanical loading can be difficult due to the heterogeneous nature of these materials and the large strains (>1) involved. As tissues deform, the different biopolymer networks interact with one another and determine the overall stress-strain outcome for the tissue. Capturing this interaction could help improve the accuracy of a computer model to simulate the microscale behavior of soft tissues under load. We have developed a two-network model to reflect interactions between collagen and fibrin biopolymer networks loaded in uniaxial extension. The model can help improve our understanding of native and engineered tissue mechanics.© 2012 ASME
The dropping gallium electrode in fused LiNO3-KNO3 eutectic

Abstract A study was made of the properties of the dropping gallium electrode (DGE) in fused LiNO 3 -KNO 3 eutectic at 180°, and the properties compared to those of the dropping mercury electrode (DME) at the same temperature in the same melt. A reduction wave at −0.4 V vs . Pt was noted on both gallium and mercury for a melt species which was probably NO 2 . No direct reduction of the many metal ions studied was observed on gallium. Pb(II) gave a reduction wave on gallium, but the wave diminished with time and disappeared in a few hours. The Heyrovsky-Ilkovic plot of the wave indicates that this is an enhanced NO 2 wave. The oxidizing properties of the melt seem to impair the usefulness of the gallium electrode in nitrate melts since gallium appears to become oxide-coated. This oxide layer may cause the metal-ion reduction potentials to be more negative than can be obtained in this melt.
From the Roots to the Shoots: A Hawaiian Case Study of Language Revitalization and Modes of Communication

Throughout history, multiple indigenous groups have had their cultural, linguistic, and communicative identities supplanted by the norms of dominant groups. Nonetheless, the communication discipline has given minimal attention to the preservation and revitalization of minority languages. This article begins to redress this oversight by means of a case study of the Hawaiian language. In the last 200 years, the Hawaiian Islands have been significantly affected by Western influence, a process that has severely endangered the Hawaiian language. Beginning in the 1980s, scholars and community activists developed language immersion education programs to reverse this decline. In light of globalization forces and interview data, and drawing on the ethnolinguistic vitality framework, our integrative analysis uniquely assesses the history and status of the Hawaiian language as it is currently being revitalized through demographic support, media, and educational immersion programs. In addition to discussing future ch...