cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Digital Optical Logic Using A Pulsed Sagnac Interferometer Switch

The use of a new Sagnac interferometer switch (SIS) to perform digital optical logic is described. The optical logic switch consists of a Sagnac interferometer with an optical nonlinear material in its loop. Both the SIS input and output logic variables are optical pulses. The output SIS state is a function of the initial mirror alignment and the state of the inducing light beam. Using various SIS interconnections, all 16 two-variable binary logic functions can be implemented. Parallel logic processing of different logic functions can be performed using a single Sagnac interferometer. Since SIS elements are cascadable, sequential operation is also possible. As an example, an implementation of the SIS optical binary full adder is illustrated. If one input is a cw analog signal and another input is an ultrafast optical pulse train, the SIS can also be used as an ultrafast optical sampling device. Conditions for proper optical sampling frequency are presented.
Factors in interprocess communication protocol efficiency for computer networks

This paper considers the efficiency of interprocess communication protocols for distributed processing environments such as computer networks. Previous research has emphasized system performance at lower levels, within the communication medium itself, while this work examines requirements and performance of protocols for communication between processes in the Host computers attached to the communication system. Efficiency primarily concerns throughput and delay achievable for communication between remote processes. Various aspects of protocol operation are analyzed, and protocol policies concerning retransmission, flow control, buffering, acknowledgment, and packet size emerge as the most important factors in determining efficiency. Several graphs showing quantitative performance results for representative situations are included.
The effects of hyperthermia on polyribosomes and amino acid levels in infant rat brain

Abstract Brain polyribosomes prepared from infant rats exposed to elevated ambient temperatures (39.5°C for 45 min) are highly disaggregated. Disaggregation is evident 15 min after the animals have entered the hot environment and is nearly maximal after 25 min. Substantial recovery of polyribosomes is seen 20 min after the hyperthermic rats are transferred from 39.5 to 33°C ambient temperature, indicating that heat-induced disaggregation is quickly reversible. During hyperthermia the levels of certain amino acids in the brain, particularly essential amino acids, rise markedly. The increases in amino acid levels are reversed within 1 h after the rats are transferred from the hot environment to 33°C ambient temperature. The levels of amino acids in blood plasma also rise during hyperthermia; however, the increases are relatively smaller and less selective than in the brain but are also reversed by returning the animals to 33°C ambient temperature. Injection of phenylalanine into infant rats causes hyperphenylalaninemia, elevated brain phenylalanine levels, and brain polyribosome disaggregation ( Aoki & Siegel , 1970 ). The present observations show that elevated brain amino acid levels and polyribosome disaggregation are also linked in hyperthermic infant rats, but it is not yet clear if the two phenomena are causally related. Although the mechanisms of the increases of blood and brain amino acid levels remain to be elucidated, they may have a significant bearing on the functional status of the protein synthetic machinery of the brain, on the levels of neurotransmitter substances in the brain which are derived from amino acid precursors, and on the intermediary metabolism of the brain.
Quantification of High-Resolution 1H-[13C] NMR Spectra from Rat Brain Extracts

NMR spectroscopy in combination with 13C-labeled substrate infusion is a unique technique to obtain information about dynamic metabolic fluxes noninvasively in vivo. In many cases, the in vivo information content obtained during dynamic 13C studies in rodents can be enhanced by high-resolution 1H-[13C] NMR spectroscopy on brain extracts. Previously, it has been shown that 1H NMR spectra from rat brain extracts can be accurately quantified with a spectral fitting routine utilizing simulated basis sets using complete prior knowledge of chemical shifts and scalar couplings. The introduction of 13C label into the various metabolites presents complications that demand modifications of the spectral fitting routine. As different multiplets within a given molecule accumulate various amounts of 13C label, the fixed amplitude relationship between multiplets typical for 1H NMR spectra must be abandoned. In addition, 13C isotope effects lead to spectral multiplet patterns that become dependent on the amount of 13C la...
Management of Symptomatic BPH in the US: Who Is Treated and How?

Objective: To review the contemporary management of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in North America. Methods: Information was obtained from publis
On the use of hierarchical models in engineering analysis

Abstract We discuss the use of hierarchical mathematical models in finite element analysis. The use of such models is demonstrated in the analysis of a simply-supported plate and the analysis of a folded plate/shell structure. As the mathematical models are refined, new phenomena are predicted (such as boundary layers) that need careful interpretation. We conclude that the use of hierarchical models can be an important ingredient of a reliable engineering analysis.
Concerns About STEM Education Restructure

Several education experts told Eos that they generally favored some improvements in U.S. federal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, but they also expressed concern about the Obama administration's proposed STEM reorganization plan as it affects the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). John Farrington, chair of the U.S. National Research Council (NRC) panel that issued a review of the NOAA education program in 2010, told Eos that he is confident that a considerable amount of thought went into this proposal to consolidate the K–12 STEM efforts, that consolidation could make for greater efficiencies, and that a positive aspect of having the Department of Education (ED) as a lead is that STEM education should not be considered as separate from the education of the student as a whole.
Examining the evidence from small-scale societies and early prehistory and implications for modern theories of aggression and violence

This paper attempts to evaluate theoretical positions concerning the causes of violence among human societies using data from small-scale, radically non-Western societies and archaeological evidence from early hominids. The paper begins by observing that the almost exclusive focus on violence in industrial societies misses a wide range of variability presented by non-industrial groups, in the present as well as the past. It is argued that this narrow focus represents a significant bias within many of the social sciences. The paper also examines evidence of an evolutionary basis for violence and aggression by looking at the early hominid archaeological record. The paper finds significant evidence for some evolutionary basis for violence given its ubiquity in both the present as well as the deep archaeological past. The paper closes by proposing a synthetic model combining evolutionary theory and interactionist perspectives on the inputs leading to aggression and violence in human social groups.
Toxicity ranking of heavy metals with screening method using adult Caenorhabditis elegans and propidium iodide replicates toxicity ranking in rat

The utility of any model system for toxicity screening depends on the level of correlation between test responses and toxic reactions in humans. Assays in Caenorhabditis elegans can be fast and inexpensive, however few studies have been done comparing toxic responses in this easily cultured nematode with data on mammalian toxicity. Here we report that a screening assay for acute toxicity, using adult C. elegans grown in axenic liquid culture, replicated LD50 toxicity ranking in rat for five metals. This assay utilized the COPAS Biosort and propidium iodide (PI) as a fluorescent indicator of morbidity and mortality after 30-h exposures. We found that chronic toxicity assays of 2-week treatment duration, followed by analysis of PI induced red fluorescence levels, produced less consistent results than the acute assays. However, other chronic toxicity endpoints were compound and concentration specific, including changes in vulval and gonadal morphology, intestinal thickness and integrity, and the presence of retained internal eggs in post-reproductive animals. Some of these endpoints reflect similar findings in mammals, indicating that measurements of morbidity and mortality in conjunction with morphology analyses in C. elegans may have the potential to predict mammalian toxic responses.
Resting hemodynamics and oxygen transport in unanesthetized adult cats.

Abstract Characteristics of blood oxygen transport were determined in seven adult female cats with inlying catheters in the pulmonary artery and a carotid artery. Measurements were made without anesthesia. Cardiac output averaged 167 ml · kg −1 · min −1 . Blood oxygen capacity averaged 11.6 ml · dl −1 . Mean arterial oxygen saturation was 94% and mixed venous oxygen saturation was 49%. Mean oxygen tensions were 97.3 and 36.9 mm Hg in arterial and mixed venous blood, respectively. Mean arteriovenous oxygen concentration difference was 5.1 ml · dl −1 , yielding a calculated oxygen consumption of 8.4 ml · kg −1 · min −1 , 5% higher than the value obtained by spirometric measurements on four of the animals. These data, when compared with previously reported values from species ranging widely in body size, show that the increased oxgen consumption per kg associated with decreasing body size is provided by progressive increases in cardiac output per kg and in arteriovenous oxygen concentration difference. Mixed venous oxygen tension is held within narrow limits in resting, unanesthetized animals.
Complexes of trialkylaluminum compounds with polyfunctional ethers

Abstract Triethyl-, triisobutyl-, and tri-n-hexylaluminum form complexes with monoglyme, diglyme, and triglyme in which the alkylaluminum compounds are involved in rapid chemical exchange. The monoglyme complexes undergo little, or no, measurable dissociation as determined by 1 H NMR studies, whereas those of diglyme and triglyme dissociate more extensively. Low-temperature NMR studies in cyclopentane of the triethylaluminum-diglyme complex in the presence of excess triethylaluminum result in an activation energy of 6.1 kcal/mol for the exchange of complexed and free triethylaluminum. This comparatively low value suggests that exchange in this system may be occuring by a bimolecular displacement mechanism rather than a simple bond-breaking dissociation process.
The effect of limestone application on the availability and form of phosphorus in Davidson clay loam

The effect of limestone application on the P supplying power of Davidson clay loam, a soil high in free iron, was investigated by laboratory and greenhouse procedures. The soil under study did not receive fertilization for a 17-year period prior to the investigation. Application of dolomitic limestone to the soil increased both yield and P uptake of 3 successive cuttings of alfalfa. A comparison of inorganic P fractions in the soil before and after growth of each alfalfa crop showed that mineralized organic P and Ca-P supplied P to the first cutting of alfalfa and that Fe-P supplied P to the second and third cuttings. Application of limestone increased the availability of the Fe-P fraction to the second and third crops of alfalfa. The P availability of the inorganic P fractions was explained on the basis of chemical properties of the soil.
Preliminary cytogenetic characterization of an AZT-resistant subclone, clone 5, of the human colon tumor cell line, HCT-15

Stage II human trials have indicated that the combination of 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin has improved efficacy in the adjuvant chemotherapy of colorectal cancer. The development of resistance to AZT has been well documented in viral metabolism, but has not been fully described in human cells. This renders the drug clinically unpredictable, limiting its chemotherapeutic utility. In order to better study the mechanism of AZT-resistance, we have developed an AZT-resistant colon cancer cell line in culture to serve as a model system. The human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, HCT-15 (American Type Culture Collection #CCL225), has been previously characterized by conventional cytogenetic studies and by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). We have measured the concentration of AZT necessary to inhibit growth by 50% over 5 days (IC50) to be approximately 30 μM. AZT-resistant cell lines were derived by serial passage of HCT-15 cells in increasing concentrations of AZT until stable growth was achieved in 1000 μM AZT. The surviving cell colonies were then subcloned in soft agar. One such cell line, clone 5, was found to have eighty-fold increased resistance to AZT, with an IC50 of approximately 2500 μM AZT. We now report a preliminary characterization of the clone 5 cell line in comparison to its parent HCT-15 cell line, using conventional G-banding techniques.
Adsorption of trichloroethene at the vapor/water interface.

Aqueous solution surface tension (pressure) as a function of vapor-phase trichloroethene (TCE) pressure isotherms were measured at atmospheric pressure at 287.2, 291.2, 297.2, 303.2, and 315.2 K using a flow-through vapor adsorption method. Solute (i.e., TCE)-induced surface tension variations were quantified using Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis-Profile (ADSA-P); vapor-phase TCE pressures were measured using automated gas chromatograph analysis. Surface tension reductions of 5−10% from neat water at saturated TCE vapor pressure were noted. Measured surface tension (pressure) isotherms were used to estimate vapor/water interface adsorption as a function of vapor-phase TCE pressure using the Gibbs relative interface excess (i.e., adsorption) equation and a nonideal two-dimensional equation of state. Complete isothermal adsorption profiles were nonlinear, with accelerated adsorption at increasing vapor-phase TCE pressures. Comparison to other studies of adsorption at infinite dilution (i.e., linear partiti...
Comparative analysis of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and operation for renal revascularization

0 Contemporary patients requiring renal revascularization often have diffuse atherosclerosis, and increasingly undergo intervention for salvage of renal function rather than control of hypertension alone. Risk-benefit analyses and outcome data are difficult to obtain, since few reports have analyzed a modern, unselected series of consecutive patients subjected to renal revascularization by surgical as well as interventional techniques. We reviewed our y hypertension, 24% (n = 15); renal salvage, 9.5% (n = 6); and other, 6.5% (n = 4). Ninety-four percent (n = 59) of patients had atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the renal arteries. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was initially performed on 18 renal arteries in 16 patients, of whom 56% (n = 9) subsequently required surgical reconstruction. Fifty-eight surgical reconstructions were performed in 56 patients and consisted of aortorenal bypass (n = 27), aortorenal endarterectomy (n = 18), and extra-anatomic bypass (n = 13). Concomitant aortic replacement was required in 57% (n = 32) of patients. Preoperative risk factors and operative indications did not differ between the PTA and surgical reconstruction groups. Morbidity and mortality rates associated with PTA were 33% and 4.8%, respectively, while for surgical treatment the morbidity rate was 7% and the mortality rate 5.3% (f = NS). Functional improvement was achieved in 74% of surgically treated patients compared with 22% of PTA-treated patients (P 0.05). The results of surgical reconstruction are excellent, offering more durable patency and functional improvement than PTA, without increased risk. The operation should be tailored to fii the individual patient’s disease, since the results of endarterectomy and bypass procedures are equivalent. 0 1996 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.
Supercritical fluid extraction strategies of aqueous based matrices

Developpement de methodes d'extraction liquide liquide utilisant du CO 2 a l'etat supercritique pour eliminer des composes polaires dans l'eau
Atypical mycobacterial infections in children.

AbstractDuring the period 1964–1968, 8 children with atypical mycobacterial infections have been seen at the Children's Memorial Hospital, University of Oklahoma Medical Center. The presenting complaint in all of the patients, who ranged in age from 2 to 13 years, was cervical lymphadenitis. None of the patients showed evidence of pulmonary or disseminated disease. One patient was considered to have concomitant infection with an atypical mycobacterium and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In all of the patients the intradermal reaction to one or more of the atypical mycobacterial antigens—PPD-B (Battey), PPD-Y (Kansasii), and PPD-A (Avian)—was positive and larger than the reaction to PPD-S (human). Group II scotochromogens were isolated from 3 patients. Different treatment regimens were used. Certain aspects of atypical mycobacterial infections are reviewed.
Anesthesia considerations for patients with de Barsy syndrome

Abstract Study Objective To determine anesthetic considerations for patients with de Barsy syndrome, a rare complex whose hallmark findings include cutis laxa, progeria, and multiple orthopedic and ophthalmologic abnormalities. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Medical center. Measurements A search of Mayo Clinic medical records from 1968 to 2007 identified two patients with de Barsy syndrome who underwent a combined total of 35 anesthetics for diagnostic and surgical procedures. Data collected included: age, gender, ASA physical status, relevant comorbidities, surgical procedures, airway management, vascular access, monitoring, anesthetic induction, maintenance, and other observations. Main Results A wide range of anesthetics and techniques were used. Apart from 4 episodes of intraoperative hyperthermia and postoperative tachycardia, no complications were noted. These episodes may be similar to the nonmalignant hyperthermia reported in osteogenesis imperfecta and Costello syndrome patients. Conclusions While the safety of any anesthetic technique cannot be established or extrapolated from a small series, given the extreme rarity of the syndrome, these cases suggest the relative safety of anesthesia in de Barsy syndrome patients.
Kinetics of phosphate uptake by aquatic microorganisms: Deviations from a simple Michaelis-Menten equation 1

The uptake kinetics of dissolved inorganic phosphate (/sup 31/P/sub 1/) by lake water microorganisms and a green alga (Selenastrum capricornutum) were determined as a function of uptake rates of radiophosphate (/sup 32/P/sub 1/) at added /sup 31/P/sub 1/ levels greater than or equal to 0. The data did not follow a simple Michaelis-Menten equation.
EFFECT OF ENDOEPICARDIAL PERCUTANEOUS LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE LIGATION (LARIAT) ON ARRHYTHMIA BURDEN IN PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Left atrial appendage is a very common non Pulmonary venous source of triggered activity. Electrical isolation of LAA seems to be effective in improving outcomes of RF ablation. It is not clear how ligation of the LAA impacts arrhythmia burden in patients with AF We prospectively followed AF
Predictors of the Need for Critical Care After Total Joint Arthroplasty: An Update of Our Institutional Risk Stratification Model

Based on our previously published risk stratification model, 295 (19%) of a consecutive series of 1594 TJA patients were triaged to the ICU. However, only 67 patients (22%) required intensive care interventions. We identified 5 independent multivariate predictors (P 1000 mL, and intraoperative vasopressors (2 points each) to form the Penn Arthroplasty Risk Score (PARS). Patients with a score of 0 through 7 had a probability of requiring critical care of 7.0%, 13.2%, 23.5%, 38.1%, 55.4%, 71.4%, 83.4%, and 91.1% respectively. Based on these results, our previous risk stratification protocol is overly sensitive and non-specific. Any risk stratification algorithm for ICU admission should include intraoperative risk factors in order to be fully predictive.
TiO2-loaded Cr-modified molecular sieves for 4-chlorophenol photodegradation under visible light

Abstract Here we report the aqueous photodegradation of 4-chlorophenol under visible light (wavelength > 400 nm ) with three kinds of mesoporous molecular sieves (MCM-41, MCM-48, and SBA-15) incorporated with Cr and TiO2 (TiO2/Cr-MS). The Si/Cr atomic ratios in the synthesized materials are 80, 40, and 20, respectively. These materials are characterized with BET surface area, pore size distribution, X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet–visible light (UV–vis) spectra, and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). UV–vis and TPR results indicate that the Cr is present as Cr6+ in all Cr-MS and TiO2/Cr-MS samples. The TPR results further indicate that an Si O Cr O Si bond structure is formed in the MCM-41 matrix, bulk Cr oxide exists outside the MCM-48 matrix, and Cr interacts mainly with silica on the surface of SBA-15. The incorporation of Cr extends the light absorption edge of TiO2/Cr-MS to 550 nm. The activities of TiO2/Cr-MS with different molecular sieves are compared for aqueous photodegradation of 4-chlorophenol under visible light. It is found that the molecular sieve plays an important role in photocatalyst activity and that MCM-41 is the support producing the best photocatalyst. The interaction of Cr6+ and TiO2 allows for a special transition under visible light, Cr6+ O2− → Cr5+ O1−, and is essential for the activity of a photocatalyst under visible light.
The Effect of Imagery on Information Processing Strategy in a Multiattribute Choice Task

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of imagery instructions on information processing in a multiattribute choice task. Subjects were instructed to imagine owning and using alternatives or to avoid the use of imagery and to evaluate alternatives in a more analytical manner. Instructions to use imagery produced relatively more processing by alternative. In addition, imagery instructions appeared to encourage subjects to gather more information per alternative and to gather a constant amount of information per alternative. The data also support the claim that level of familiarity affects processing strategy.
Are C-tests valid measures for L2 vocabulary research?

Second language (L2) researchers (Singleton and Little, 1991) have sug gested that C-tests, developed as norm-referenced measures for proficiency and placement testing (Klein-Braley, 1985), can be ...
Inoperability input-output modeling of disruptions to interdependent economic systems

In this study, the Inoperability Input-Output Model (IIM) is deployed for assessing the impacts of disruptive events on interconnected economic systems. The IIM is based on Wassily Leontief's input-output model which is capable of describing the ripple effects of disruptions to interdependent systems. Besides describing economic impact in financial terms, the “inoperability” metric is also used in the IIM to quantify the percentage of a system's production that is affected relative to the desired level. To analyze the magnitude and extent of system linkages, an interdependency matrix based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is constructed. The study highlights four key features of the IIM. First, demand patterns in the aftermath of such events are modeled and analyzed using available sector-based performance data. Second, the NAICS-based capital flow data released for the first time in 2003 by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis enable applying a dynamic IIM to describe the temporal behavior of economic impacts associated with disruptive events. Third, a discussion on utilizing other sources of data, such as consumer confidence for forecasting system-specific demand disruptions, is presented. Fourth, a visualization tool is presented for conducting a multi-criteria ranking of the most-affected systems using both economic loss and inoperability metrics. Ultimately, the study offers insights on describing the sensitivity of economic systems to various classes of disruptions. In the broader perspective, this can provide guidance toward policymaking activities. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 9: 20–34, 2006
Prologue: Sport in the Cultures of the Ancient World

This special issue brings together contributions from active researchers in the field of ancient sport. [1] The study of ancient sport is as old as the study of the Classical and Near Eastern civil...
Relative quantum yields for O1D production in the photolysis of ozone between 301 and 336 nm: evidence for the participation of a spin-forbidden channel

Abstract Relative quantum yields for the formation of O1D from the photolysis of ozone have been measured between 301 and 336 nm. O1D was monitored indirectly, using laser induced fluorescence detection of vibrationally excited OH. The OH was produced by the reaction of O1D with H2. The observation of ‘blue-shifted’ laser induced fluorescence provided high detection sensitivity and eliminated probe laser interference effects. The results confirm that there is a significant quantum yield for O1D production at wavelengths longer than 320 nm. A measurable yield is observed out to 336 nm providing evidence for spin-forbidden production of O1D.
Disseminated aspergillosis after fungemia in a patient with extragonadal germ cell tumor undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation

In a 40-year-old man with extragonadal germ cell tumor, Aspergillus fumigatus disseminated hematogenously from a skin infection at a Hickman catheter exit site after autologous bone marrow transplantation. A notable aspect of this case was the absence of neutropenia.
3D intensity and phase imaging from light field measurements in an LED array microscope

Realizing high resolution across large volumes is challenging for 3D imaging techniques with high-speed acquisition. Here, we describe a new method for 3D intensity and phase recovery from 4D light field measurements, achieving enhanced resolution via Fourier ptychography. Starting from geometric optics light field refocusing, we incorporate phase retrieval and correct diffraction artifacts. Further, we incorporate dark-field images to achieve lateral resolution beyond the diffraction limit of the objective (5× larger NA) and axial resolution better than the depth of field, using a low-magnification objective with a large field of view. Our iterative reconstruction algorithm uses a multislice coherent model to estimate the 3D complex transmittance function of the sample at multiple depths, without any weak or single-scattering approximations. Data are captured by an LED array microscope with computational illumination, which enables rapid scanning of angles for fast acquisition. We demonstrate the method with thick biological samples in a modified commercial microscope, indicating the technique’s versatility for a wide range of applications.
Trichomonas vaginalis P16 Immunoreactivity in cervicovaginal Pap tests: a diagnostic pitfall.

Detection of p16 is emerging as a useful biomarker for Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-related dysplastic and malignant lesions of the cervix, and as such has potential application to cervicovaginal Papanicolaou (Pap) specimens. While evaluating p16 immunocytochemistry in our laboratory we observed one Pap test in which Trichomonas vaginalis stained positively for p16. We therefore proceeded to determine the frequency of T. vaginalis immunoreactivity for p16 in 10 consecutive, satisfactory, liquid-based Pap tests diagnosed as negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy in which T. vaginalis was present. For each case, a ThinPrep™ slide prepared from residual vial material was immunostained with p16. In an additional case, a prepared cell block was stained with p16. T. vaginalis were consistently p16 positive. We document, for the first time, p16 immunoreactivity of T. vaginalis that, on a Pap slide and cell block, may be morphologically misinterpreted as small dysplastic or malignant epithelial cells. The presence of this parasite in Pap tests may also potentially hinder the use of p16 as an adjunct to liquid-based cervical screening cytology. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2005;33:210–213. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
African American Adolescents’ Academic Persistence: A Strengths-Based Approach

African American adolescents are faced with the challenge to be successful academically, even though they may experience racial discrimination within school settings. Unfortunately, relatively little scholarship explores how African American adolescents draw on personal and cultural assets to persist and thrive in the face of discriminatory experiences. Additionally, little research has explored the buffering role of assets (e.g., racial pride, self-efficacy, and self-acceptance) on the relationship between school-based racial discriminatory experiences and the academic persistence of African American adolescents. Participants in the current study included 220 (58 % girls) socioeconomically diverse African American adolescents. Latent class analysis was utilized to identify clusters based on participants’ racial pride, self-efficacy, and self-acceptance. Three cluster groups were identified. The majority of the students belonged to the average group in which adolescents reported average levels of the three study assets. Adolescents in the higher group reported higher assets relative to their peers in the study and those in the lower group reported lower strength-based assets relative to their peers. Results indicated that school-based racial discrimination was associated with lower levels of academic persistence. Additionally, adolescents in the higher assets group reported higher academic persistence in comparison to the average and low group. Our model reflected a promotive but not protective influence of adolescents’ assets on their academic persistence.
From DQ to EQ: understanding data quality in the context of e-business systems

A fix for irrelevant information, cognitive overhead, and disorientation---common gremlins endured by every e-business system user.
NUTRITIONAL ASPECTS OF FOOD IRRADIATION: AN OVERVIEW

When foods are exposed to ionizing radiation under conditions envisioned for commercial application, no significant impairment in the nutritional quality of protein, lipid and carbohydrate constituents was observed. Irradiation was no more destructive to vitamins than other food preservation methods. Protection of nutrients is improved by holding the food at low temperature during irradiation and by reducing or excluding free oxygen from the radiation milieu.
Apoptosis in heart transplantation

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a mechanism of cell death that plays a major role during development, homeostasis, and in many disease states. The interaction of the cell membrance protein, Fas, with its ligand, Fas ligand, induces apoptosis in Fas-bearing cells. Several factors induce apopt
Informed by nature's light

Color and Light in Nature David K. Lynch D. K. William Livingston Cambridge University Press: 1995. Pp. 254. £40, $69.95 (hbk); £17.95, $29.95 (pbk).Optics in the Age of Euler: Conceptions of the Nature of Light, 1700-1795. Casper Hakfoort Cambridge University Press: 1995. Pp. 243. £35, $64.95.
Additive risk model for current status data with a cured subgroup

Current status data arise when the exact timing of an event cannot be observed, and the only available information is whether or not the event has occurred at a random censoring time point. We consider current status data with a cured subgroup, where subjects in this subgroup are not susceptible to the event of interest. We model the cure probability using a generalized linear model with a known link function. For subjects susceptible to the event, we model their survival hazard using a partly linear additive risk model. We show that the penalized maximum likelihood estimate of the parametric regression coefficient is $${\sqrt{n}}$$ consistent, asymptotically normal and efficient. The nonparametric cumulative baseline function and nonparametric covariate effect can be estimated with the n 1/3 convergence rate. We propose inference using the weighted bootstrap. Simulations study is employed to assess finite sample performance of the proposed estimate. We analyze the Calcification study using the proposed approach.
Cerebral gigantism (Sotos' syndrome). A rare cause of delayed walking and awkward gait

A case history of an 8-year-old girl with cerebral gigantism (Sotos' syndrome) has been presented. Throughout her life, this child has demonstrated all of the common features of Sotos' syndrome including large size at birth, excessive growth during childhood, dysmorphic craniofacial features, delay in motor and speech development, generalized clumsiness, and awkward gait. Family history was contributory with delays in early language development and the possibility that the child's father had Sotos' syndrome. When evaluating a pediatric patient for pes planus, delayed walking, and gait problems, the practitioner should consider the entire clinical profile and unusual etiologies.
A novel electroless process for embedding a thin film resistor on the benzocyclobutene dielectric

To realize embedded resistors on multilayer benzocyclobutene (BCB) either on-chip or on-board, a low-cost large format electroless process for deposition of NiP and NiWP thin-film resistors using both low-temperature (25°C) and high-temperature (90°C) baths has been developed. The electroless process exhibits uniform resistor thickness in the submicron range and offers low profile and excellent adhesion to the BCB dielectric layer. The resistor films also act as a seed layer for direct electroplating of copper traces. The NiP alloys can also be tailored to a variable temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) with different alloy compositions. The electroless process can be adopted in the PCB manufacturing industries with no additional investment. This article is the first report on electroless plated thin film resistors on low loss BCB dielectric.
Ultrafine particle concentrations in and around idling school buses

Abstract Unnecessary school bus idling increases children's exposure to diesel exhaust, but to what extent children are exposed to ultrafine particles (UFPs, diameter 2.5 mass concentration inside and near school buses. Near the school buses, total particle number concentration increased sharply from engine off to engine on under all scenarios, by a factor of up to 26. The impact of idling on UFP number concentration inside the school buses depended on wind direction and window position: wind direction was important and statistically significant while the effect of window positions depended on wind direction. Under certain scenarios, idling increased in-cabin total particle number concentrations by a factor of up to 5.8, with the significant increase occurring in the size range of 10–30 nm. No significant change of in-cabin PM 2.5 mass concentration was observed due to idling, regardless of wind direction and window position, indicating that PM 2.5 is not a good indicator for primary diesel exhaust particle exposure. The deposition rates based on total particle number concentration inside school bus cabins varied between 1.5 and 5.0 h −1 across nine tested buses under natural convection conditions, lower than those of passenger cars but higher than those of indoor environments.
The effect of photocoagulation on the oxygenation and ultrastructure of avascular retina.

Panretinal photocoagulation has been shown to raise preretinal oxygen tension in cats and monkeys breathing 100% oxygen. However, in normoxia, there is no significant difference between normal and photocoagulated areas. This is thought to be due to autoregulatory vasoconstriction of the retinal circulation. In avascular rabbit retina, photocoagulation effects on retinal oxygenation can be studied without the influence of retinal vascular autoregulation. We measured normoxic preretinal oxygen tension of normal and photocoagulated rabbit retina at 1, 7, 14 and 28 days after photocoagulation using polarographic oxygen electrodes. For all time points, preretinal oxygen tension of photocoagulated retina (42 +/- 14 torr; mean +/- S.D.) was higher than untreated retina (14 +/- 10 torr; mean +/- S.D., P less than 0.001). Light and electron microscopy of lasered retina showed that the improved oxygenation corresponded to loss of mitochondria-rich inner segments of the photoreceptors.
Adjuvant radiotherapy delays recurrence following subtotal resection of spinal cord ependymomas

Background. Ependymoma is the most common glial tumor of the adult spinal cord. Current consensus recommends surgical resection with gross total resection (GTR) whenever possible. We performed a comprehensive review of the literature to evaluate whether adjuvant radiotherapy after subtotal resection (STR) has any benefit. Methods. A PubMed search was performed to identify adult patients with spinal cord ependymoma who underwent surgical resection. Only patients who had clearly defined extent of resection with or without adjuvant radiotherapy were included for analysis. Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression survival analyses were performed to determine the effects of adjuvant radiotherapy on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results. A total of 348 patients underwent surgical resection of spinal cord ependymomas, where GTR was obtained in 77.0% (268/348) of patients. Among those who received STR, 58.8% (47/80) received adjuvant radiotherapy. PFS was significantly prolonged among those who received adjuvant radiotherapy after STR (log rank; P , .001). This prolonged PFS with adjuvant radiotherapy remained significant in multivariate Cox regression analysis (STR versus STR + RT group; hazard ratio (HR) ¼ 2.26, P ¼ .047). By contrast, improved OS was only associated with GTR (GTR versus STR + RT group; HR ¼ 0.07, P ¼ .001) and benign ependymomas (HR ¼ 0.16, P ¼ .001). Conclusions. Surgery remains the mainstay treatment for spinal cord ependymomas, where GTR provides optimal outcomes with longest PFS and OS. Adjuvant radiotherapy prolongs PFS after STR significantly, and OS is improved by GTR and benign tumor grade only.
A LMS and RLS look-ahead adaptive array for spread spectrum signals

The output signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) performance of an adaptive array in a frequency-hopped (FH) environment is examined. The combined effect of the array's interference nulling ability and the interference protection of FH signals results in a more robust interference rejection communication system. However, frequency hopping degrades the output SINR and thus increases the bit error probability. A look-ahead system that minimizes this variation in the output SINR is proposed. The least mean square (LMS) algorithm and the recursive least squares (RLS) algorithm are discussed. The objective is to compare the performance of the look-ahead adaptive system operating under the control of these algorithms in a frequency-hopping environment. >
Shipboard interior communication needs for men-on-the-move

The use of walkie-talkie radios to supplement fixed wire interior communications systems on ships is discussed. Electrical and acoustical noise interference problems were studied on replenishment ships, and the use of FM at VHF together with noiseproofed acoustic transducers was found necessary for many operations and/or for men in certain locations. RF signal penetration tests showed VHF to be superior to HF for reliable communications between certain interior spaces and the weather decks. In some cases antennas with coaxial lead-ins had to be provided to maintain adequate communications. These and many other problems were found to exist when alternate interim solutions to a man-on-the-move communication (MOMCOM) problem were tried on the U.S.S. Mars (AFS-1). In addition to finding a workable interim system, many problems and some answers were uncovered that will lead to a better integrated MOMCOM system for future ships.
New paradigm in protein function prediction for large scale omics analysis

Biological interpretation of large scale omics data, such as protein–protein interaction data and microarray gene expression data, requires that the function of many genes in a data set is annotated or predicted. Here the predicted function for a gene does not necessarily have to be a detailed biochemical function; a broad class of function, or low-resolution function, may be sufficient to understand why a set of genes shows the observed expression pattern or interaction pattern. In this Highlight, we focus on two recent approaches for function prediction which aim to provide large coverage in function prediction, namely omics data driven approaches and a thorough data mining approach on homology search results.
Identification of the Human Aldolase A Gene as the First Induced Target for the TR2 Orphan Receptor, a Member of the Steroid Hormone Receptor Superfamily

Abstract The human TR2 orphan receptor (TR2) is a member of the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor superfamily that regulates the transcription of complex gene networks and subsequently controls diverse aspects of growth, development, and differentiation. In the present study, we have found that the TR2 is one of the M1 site (nucleotide numbers 2017-2034, 5′-AAAAGGGCAGGGGTCATT-3′) binding proteins of the muscle-specific pM promoter in the human aldolase A gene. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed a specific binding with high affinity (dissociation constant = 4.6 nM) between the TR2 and the M1 element. Circular permutation assay revealed a localized DNA flexibility induced by the TR2 binding, and the bend angle was estimated to be 73 ± 2°. Furthermore, a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay demonstrated that the TR2 may enhance the expression of luciferase activities via the wild-type M1 site but not the mutant M1 element in human QM7 muscle myoblasts. In conclusion, our data represent the first case of demonstrating that the TR2 may serve as a transcriptional inducer in muscle-specific aldolase A gene expression.
Mapping the epistatic network underlying murine reproductive fatpad variation.

Genome-wide mapping analyses are now commonplace in many species and several networks of interacting loci have been reported. However, relatively few details regarding epistatic interactions and their contribution to complex trait variation in multicellular organisms are available and the identification of positional candidate loci for epistatic QTL (epiQTL) is hampered, especially in mammals, by the limited genetic resolution inherent in most study designs. Here we further investigate the genetic architecture of reproductive fatpad weight in mice using the F10 generation of the LG,SM advanced intercross (AI) line. We apply multiple mapping techniques including a single-locus model, locus-specific composite interval mapping (CIM), and tests for multiple QTL per chromosome to the 12 chromosomes known to harbor single-locus QTL (slQTL) affecting obesity in this cross. We also perform a genome-wide scan for pairwise epistasis. Using this combination of approaches we detect 199 peaks spread over all 19 autosomes, which potentially contribute to trait variation including all eight original F2 loci (Adip1-8), novel slQTL peaks on chromosomes 7 and 9, and several novel epistatic loci. Extensive epistasis is confirmed involving both slQTL confidence intervals (C.I.) as well as regions that show no significant additive or dominance effects. These results provide important new insights into mapping complex genetic architectures and the role of epistasis in complex trait variation.
Optimal strategy for graceful network upgrade

One of the critical aspects of network management that has not received much attention is network upgrade. This paper addresses the question of "how to add new nodes and links into an operational network in a graceful manner so that the perceived network performance from the perspective of existing customers does not deteriorate?". We propose a two-phase framework to find the optimal upgrade strategy: first, deciding what nodes should be added and how they should be connected to existing topology, and second, deciding the ideal sequence to add these new nodes and links. We formulate the first phase as a non-linear optimization problem and the second phase as a multistage dynamic programming problem. Through a numerical example, we show the feasibility of this framework and demonstrate the advantages of our multistage approach in determining an ideal upgrade sequence. The results also highlight the significance of incorporating network performance (for ex, service availability) into the two-phase framework to achieve minimal impact to existing customers.
Sensitivity and specificity of fluid-blood levels for coagulopathy in acute intracerebral hematomas.

PURPOSE To characterize the imaging features of intracerebral hemorrhages in coagulopathies that alter prothrombin time or partial thromboplastin time. METHODS A fluid-blood level was defined as a horizontal interface between hypodense bloody serum layered above hyperdense settled blood. The prevalence of fluid-blood levels in acute intracerebral hemorrhages was determined on third-generation CT scans in 32 patients with elevation in prothrombin time or partial thromboplastin time. This was compared with the frequency of fluid-blood levels in 185 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage in which there was no laboratory evidence of coagulopathy. RESULTS The probability of finding a fluid-blood level in an intracerebral hemorrhage of a patient with abnormal prothrombin time or partial thromboplastin time was 59% (sensitivity). The probability that there will be no fluid-blood level in a patient with a normal prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time was 98% (specificity). CONCLUSION Fluid-blood levels in acute intracerebral hemorrhage are moderately sensitive to the presence of coagulopathy (ie, abnormal prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time) and highly specific for this condition. Thus, an intracerebral hemorrhage with a fluid-blood level should prompt a thorough search for coagulopathy because early treatment of this condition may improve the 40% mortality in these patients. Caution should be used to distinguish the horizontal interface of a fluid-blood level from a clot with a flat top. A decubitus CT is useful in these rare instances.
Association of Disease, Adolescent, and Family Factors with Medication Adherence in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Objective To examine factors associated with adolescent and parent-reported adherence to prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications in a cross-sectional sample of youth with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Method Ninety adolescents and their parents completed measures of medication adherence and disease, individual, and family factors while attending an outpatient gastroenterology appointment. Results Longer time since diagnosis, greater perceived disease severity, and a lack of autonomous motivation to adhere predicted adolescent report of lower adherence to prescription medications. Similarly, longer time since diagnosis predicted adolescent report of lower adherence to OTC medications. Less time since diagnosis, greater maternal involvement in the medical regimen, higher perceived disease severity, and less perceived conflict predicted better parent-reported adherence to OTC medications. Conclusions Interventions for improving adherence in adolescents with IBD should address disease, individual, and family factors with special attention given to adolescents who have been diagnosed longer.