cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The theory and practice of measuring broad-range recombination rate from marker selected pools

Recombination is the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes via physical crossovers. Pioneered by T. H. Morgan and A. Sturtevant over a century ago, methods to estimate recombination rate and genetic distance require scoring large number of recombinant individuals between molecular or visible markers. While high throughput sequencing methods have allowed for genome wide crossover detection producing high resolution maps, such methods rely on large number of recombinants individually sequenced and are therefore difficult to scale. Here, we present a simple and scalable method to infer near chromosome-wide recombination rate from marker selected pools and the corresponding analytical software MarSuPial. Rather than genotyping individuals from recombinant backcrosses, we bulk sequence marker selected pools to infer the allele frequency decay around the selected locus; since the number of recombinant individuals increases proportionally to the genetic distance from the selected locus, the allele frequency across the chromosome can be used to estimate the genetic distance and recombination rate. We mathematically demonstrate the relationship between allele frequency attenuation, recombinant fraction, genetic distance, and recombination rate in marker selected pools. Based on available chromosome-wide recombination rate models of Drosophila, we simulated read counts and determined that nonlinear local regressions (LOESS) produce robust estimates despite the high noise inherent to sequencing data. To empirically validate this approach, we show that (single) marker selected pools closely recapitulate genetic distances inferred from scoring recombinants between double markers. We theoretically determine how secondary loci with viability impacts can modulate the allele frequency decay and how to account for such effects directly from the data. We generated the recombinant map of three wild derived strains which strongly correlates with previous genome-wide measurements. Interestingly, amidst extensive recombination rate variation, multiple regions of the genomes show elevated rates across all strains. Lastly, we apply this method to estimate chromosome-wide crossover interference. Altogether, we find that marker selected pools is a simple and cost effective method for broad recombination rate estimates. Although it does not identify instances of crossovers, it can generate near chromosome-wide recombination maps in as little as one or two libraries.
Unraveling the Signaling Balance of Activation and Exhaustion of CAR T Cells

CAR T cells with different costimulation domains have proven clinical efficacy in leukemia and lymphoma but have different kinetics of activation, antigen sensitivity, and susceptibility to exhaustion. Two recent studies identified that these functions are shaped by a balance among opposing signaling complexes and transcription factors competing for binding motifs.
Serum sex hormone and lipids change and its significance in postmenopausal women with coronary heart disease

Objective To investigate serum sex hormone and lipids change and its significance in postmenopausal women with coronary heart disease(CHD). Methods In 35 postmenopausal women with CHD and 33 normal subjects, the levels of E2,P, FSH,PRL,LH, TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C were measured and compared. Results Compared with control group, the serum level of E2 in postmenopausal women with CHD decreased significantly ( P＜ 0.05 ), levels of serum TC, TG and LDL-C increased significantly ( P＜0.05 or P＜0.01 ), while HDL-C decreased significantly ( P＜ 0.01 ). Conclusion The increase of serum lipids are closely related to the decrease of serum E2 in postmenopausal women with CHD, and they are involve in the genesis and progression of CHD in postmenopausal women. Key words: Postmenopausal women; Coronary heart disease; Sex hormone; Serum lipids
Just electrification: Imagining the justice dimensions of energy access and addressing energy poverty

Abstract Billions of people live without access to modern energy services around the world, the majority of whom are in sub-Saharan Africa. In order to address this issue, efforts to increase energy access, especially in electrification for the energy-poor, have increased globally. However, current electrification planning largely relies on techno-economic criteria and fails to incorporate ethical and fairness considerations. These deficiencies in the planning phase result in the construction of energy infrastructure that fails to provide energy services to those who need them the most further exacerbating energy access inequalities at a local level. This paper aims to consider an approach for a justice-based electrification planning framework that reevaluates the electrification planning and decision-making process.
CAUGHT UP: GIRLS, SURVEILLANCE, AND WRAPAROUND INCARCERATION: by Jerry Flores, Oakland, CA, University of California Press, 2016, $22.95-$26.95 (paperback)

Recent research on the impact of the School to Prison Pipeline (STPP) has revealed the ways in which girls’ experiences differ from boys’ (Morris, 2015). The intersection of race, class, gender, cu...
Embracing Risk: Cyber Insurance as an Incentive Mechanism for Cybersecurity

Abstract This book provides an introduction to the theory and practice of cyber insurance. Insurance as an economic instrument designed for risk management through risk spreading has existed for ce...
On-chip electrically driven 780 nm frequency-shifting optical isolation

We demonstrate a 780 nm frequency-shifting optical isolator in a silicon nitride and aluminum nitride integrated photonics platform. The device uses non-reciprocity in a racetrack resonator through the action of electrically driven Rayleigh acoustic waves.
Dealing with Endogeneity to Understand the Societal Impact of the Third Sector: Why Should We Care and What Can We Do about It?

Endogeneity is often regarded as a key barrier in establishing the causal relationship between the third sector and its societal impact in empirical research. Through a systematic literature review of the quantitative studies on the third sector’s impact in the last two decades, we find that most quantitative studies of the third sector’s societal impact are published in journals outside main third sector journals. We also offer specific examples of how recent methodological advancements in addressing endogeneity help third sector researchers better solve this problem. Based on the analysis of this literature review, we recommend that third sector scholars should (1) refocus on the big question of the third sector’s impact on society, (2) catch up with the methodological advancement in addressing endogeneity, (3) be creative and transparent about addressing endogeneity, and (4) build better theories to link the third sector to broad societal outcomes.
Surgical Drain Fluid as a Novel Liquid Biopsy Analyte to Measure Postoperative Minimal Residual Disease in HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Postoperative risk stratification of patients undergoing surgery for HPV+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is controversial. While pathologic staging and extranodal extension (ENE) are established criteria for adjuvant radiotherapy+/-chemotherapy in HPV-negative head and neck cancer, their prognostic significance in HPV+ OPSCC is less clear. Moreover, pathologic interpretation can be variable, especially in the community setting. We propose an objective measure of postoperative minimal residual disease (MRD) using HPV DNA in surgical drain fluid (SDF). Unlike plasma, this novel liquid biopsy analyte provides a proximal, site-specific measure of locoregional MRD. We hypothesize that elevated HPV viral load in SDF predicts the presence of established pathological features crucial to adjuvant radiotherapy decision-making. MATERIALS/METHODS Thirty-two SDF specimens were collected from the surgical wound bed of 24 HPV+ OPSCC patients undergoing transoral resection and neck dissection. Each specimen was collected 24 hours after surgery and was treated independently in cases of bilateral neck dissection. DNA was isolated to compare HPV16 load as measured by TaqMan quantitative PCR (qPCR) to pathological diagnosis of ENE, number of positive lymph nodes, and positive lymph node size. Paired plasma samples were obtained from 21 node+ patients at the time of SDF collection, to compare HPV DNA detection between biofluid types. Serial dilutions of the HPV16 E6T2aE7 plasmid were used to establish the limit of detection (LOD) for our assay. Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Spearman correlation, and Fisher's exact test. AJCC 8th edition criteria were used for nodal staging. RESULTS TaqMan qPCR revealed a lower LOD of 20 HPV copies/µL. The median HPV copies/µL was 43-fold higher in ENE+, compared to ENE- necks (P = 0.003). Moreover, 67% of ENE+ necks had detectable HPV in SDF, indicative of MRD, compared to only 26% of ENE- necks (P = 0.0049). Additionally, the number of positive nodes correlated with HPV copies/µl measured in SDF (ρ = 0.45, P = 0.0098), with N1/N2 necks harboring 7.5-fold higher HPV copies/µl than N0 necks (P = 0.0003). Size of largest metastatic deposit also correlated significantly with HPV levels in SDF (ρ = 0.75, P < 0.0001). Only 1 paired plasma sample from an ENE+ patient had detectable HPV by TaqMan, illustrating the importance of proximal biofluid sampling to most sensitively detect MRD after surgery. CONCLUSION Postoperative TaqMan qPCR of SDF enables MRD detection of HPV+ OPSCC, which is highly enriched compared to plasma, and correlates significantly with aggressive pathologic features including nodal stage and ENE. If confirmed, SDF-based HPV quantitation could become a useful and automated adjunct to traditional pathology for personalized adjuvant radiotherapy decision-making.
Compounding Pearls -- Wound Care: Drugs and Formulations for Dermal Healing, Part 4. Insulin.

The doses, dosage forms, and compositions of pharmaceutical compounds are as numerous and varied as the conditions for which they are prescribed. Although many patients in the U.S. have access to standardized medications that are effective, people who experience adverse effects from preservatives, dyes, or fillers; rely on nonstandard chemotherapy protocols; or must be treated with atypical routes of therapy often benefit from medicines designed to meet their specific medical needs and personal preferences. Among the conditions that often prove refractory to standardized therapies are dermal injuries, which, if inadequately or inappropriately treated, can severely compromise overall health and well-being. In this article, the use of insulin to treat such lesions, especially in diabetic patients, is discussed, and a formulation for a topical compounded preparation containing that agent is provided.
Schedule Planning and Timetable Construction for Commuter Railroad Operations

This paper describes a set of techniques developed to assist in planning the operations of a commuter railroad and similar types of public transportation systems. Computer models are used for generating information and processing data with the planner making the value judgment decisions regarding the degree to which the various objectives are achieved. The method attempts to balance the objectives of the user (travel time and comfort), the system operator (operating cost), and the owner-financier (capital investment). The first portion of the method deals with schedule planning, in which the overall trade offs between quality of service and costs are addressed, and the general plan of operations (such as whether or not to include express service) is developed. Once the general plan has been (tentatively) set, then the detailed construction of a specific timetable, including equipment and crew assignments, is addressed.
Religious Organizational Freedom and Conditions on Government Benefits

More and more legal disputes about church and state in the coming years will involve conditions on government benefits - social services grants, educational vouchers, tax exemptions - that conflict with the tenets or practices of religious organizations that would otherwise be eligible for the benefits. The prospects for constitutional challenges to such conditions are uncertain: the Supreme Court has recognized that conditions on benefits can intrude on constitutionally protected decisions, but recently it has more and more upheld conditions on the ground that government is not penalizing an activity but is simply refusing to subsidize it. This Article makes the case that religious organizations ought to be able to challenge, in a number of important situations, conditions that exclude them from generally available benefits because of their religious character or practices important to their religious identity. Such exclusions implicate two important Religion Clause values: they pressure the organization to forego its choices in religious matters, and they undercut the ideal, based in church-state separation, of a religious sector operating without government interference or favoritism. The best understanding of church-state separation, I argue, calls not for excluding religious schools or social services from generally available aid, but for allowing them to receive aid for the services they provide without pressuring them to change their religious character. Conditions on benefits can place presumptively impermissible burdens on organizations' religious choices, and they can intrude on core organizational decisions protected by a proper understanding of church-state separation. I apply these arguments to challenge three actual or proposed conditions on benefits: (1) rules that bar government-funded education or social-service programs from considering religion in hiring staff; (2) restrictions on a tax-exempt organization's intervention in political campaigns to the extent they bar a clergy member from expressing moral-political views in her capacity as religious leaders; and (3) proposals, advanced by some commentators, to deny tax exemptions or funding to organizations that restrict clergy positions based on sex or other disapproved grounds.
Computational Multi-Scale Modeling of the Microstructure and Segregation of Cast Mg Alloys at Low Superheat

It is well known that casting at low superheat has a strong influence on the solidification structures of the cast alloy. Recent studies on casting magnesium AZ alloys at low superheat using the Magnetic Suspension Melting (MSM) process have shown that the cast alloy exhibit a fine globular grain structure, and the grain size depend on the cooling rate. This paper describes a stochastic mesoscopic model for predicting the grain structure and segregation in cast alloys at low superheat. This model was applied to predict the globular solidification morphology and solute redistribution of Al in cast Mg AZ31B alloy at different cooling rates. The predictions were found to be in good agreement with the observed grain structure and Al segregation. This makes the model a very useful tool for optimizing the solidification structure of cast magnesium alloys.
Bone Health and Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to decreased bone strength and an increased risk of low-energy fractures. Central dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements are the gold standard for determining bone mineral density. Bone loss is an inevitable consequence of the decrease in estrogen levels during and following menopause, but additional risk factors for bone loss can also contribute to osteoporosis in older women. A well-balanced diet, exercise, and smoking cessation are key to maintaining bone health as women age. Pharmacologic agents should be recommended in patients at high risk for fracture.
Heterostructure band engineering of type-II InAs/GaSb superlattice based longwave infrared photodiodes using unipolar current blocking barriers

We report heterojunction bandgap engineered long wave infrared (LWIR) photodetectors based on type-II InAs/GaSb strained layer superlattices (SLS) which show significant improvement in performance over conventional PIN devices. For this study, a device with unipolar barriers but same absorber region as PIN has been studied and compared. Unipolar barriers reduce the tunneling currents and SRH recombination current in the active region due to reduced electric field drop across the active region, while maintaining the photocurrent level. Moreover, they also reduce the diffusion current by blocking the minority carriers from the two sides of the junction. We report three orders of magnitude reduction in the dark current with the use of unipolar barriers. The reduction in the dark current results in significant improvement in signal to noise ratio, resulting in measured specific detectivity of 2×10 10 (cm-√Hz)/W and dark current density of 8.7 mA/cm 2 at -0.5 V applied bias, for the 50% cutoff wavelength of 10.8μm.
On the nature of degradation of calcitonin by mammalian cells.

SummaryBy the use of immunological reactivity as an indicator, the degradation of synthetic human calcitonin was measured with cells isolated from rat kidney and bone after partial digestion with 0.3% crude collagenase. The degradation of the hormone by bone cells was undetectable (with up to 9 × 105 cells per 0.5 ml). In contrast, renal cells degrade HCT readily. The degradation activity in renal cells appear to be cell bound. Measurement by specific radioimmunoassay of the degradation of HCT in the presence of SCT or PCT suggests competition between three different species of calcitonins for a possible common site of degradation not shared by other peptide hormones tested.
Clustering of randomly advected low-inertia particles: a solvable model.

Measurements and simulations indicate that the particle-pair radial distribution function in isotropic turbulence is a power law in a range of length scales below the Kolmogorov scale for Stokes number $\mathrm{St}⪡1$. In this range, the exponent is proportional to ${\mathrm{St}}_{1}{\mathrm{St}}_{2}$ for unlike particles (1 and 2) in a bidispersion, hence ${\mathrm{St}}^{2}$ for a monodispersion. Here, this result is derived from a model of particle response to random advection. The analysis generalizes a geometrical interpretation of clustering to polydispersions and suggests an economical Monte Carlo simulation method.
A sensitivity assessment of uncertainty in infrastructure expansion

Under and overdesign is a major consideration in public infrastructure expansion. Traditional engineering economies of scale leading to overdesign errors must be counterbalanced by greater attention to high cost financing. Uncertainty in demand forecasting and in financial markets make decision tools which incorporate measures of information imperfection increasingly important. Further issues of overall social welfare make the question of short term and intergenerational equity major concerns. A rational expectations stochastic-analog of the conventional, present value, infrastructure expansion model has optimal overdesign properties. The problem is restated as a two-person, planner vs. future, social welfare game in a simple capital loss model. Sensitivity analysis shows the game-theoretic model which favors expansion underdesign is relatively less sensitive to greater demand forecast uncertainty than the rational expectations model.
Ethics perceptions of American Farmers: An empirical analysis

A 123 item survey of ethics perceptions of Farmers had 796 respondents. Of these, 517 (64.9%) felt that farm ethics had gotten worse. A discriminant analysis employed to offer insight into the extent and nature of group differences produced 22 independent variables along with an adequate increase in classification results above expectations due to chance. These variables reflect a division between the outside business and political world and the concerns of farmers. The responses suggest an appreciation by the respondents of the interdependence of their business actions with their neighbors. The results are also suggestive of both an absolute and a relative ethics component. Further research on the relevance of communitarian ethics is suggested.
Impact of localization errors on wireless channel prediction in mobile robotic networks

In this paper we are interested in understanding and mathematically characterizing the impact of localization errors on wireless channel prediction in mobile robotic networks. We take the increase of the channel prediction error variance due to localization errors as our metric and analyze it in different communication environments. In particular, we show that this metric is monotonically increasing with respect to the path loss exponent and/or the standard deviation of shadowing, and is monotonically decreasing with respect to the standard deviation of multipath. Moreover, this metric is monotonically increasing with respect to the decorrelation distance of shadowing when it (the decorrelation distance of shadowing) is small, and is monotonically decreasing with respect to it when it is large. We also briefly discuss how the localization errors in the positioning of the channel a priori samples affect the estimation of the channel underlying parameters. Finally, we verify our mathematical analysis in a simulation environment.
Semiconductor superlattices by MBE and their characterization

Abstract The deposition of semiconductor superlattices of GaAs − Ga 1− x Al x As and In 1− x Ga x As − GaSb 1− y As y by molecular beam epitaxy is described. Their evaluations by high-energy electron diffraction and X-ray measurement are presented. Properties obtained from transport, optical and magneto experiments are summarized to characterize the electronic subband structure.
Twelve shells: learning by leading cross-disciplinary faculty self-study of professional practice

I begin my self-study of facilitating a cross-disciplinary faculty self-study group in the same manner I introduced myself to this group by sharing reflections of an artifact that represented my self-study which I titled ‘Twelve Shells’. I wanted to model the very practice I was asking of participants − bring an artifact that represents your self-study research interest. I laid out 11 sea shells collected from my beach walks and reflected how shells, like individuals, are transformed by their interactions with the world. Then I placed my shell with the others not knowing what the change would be for us.
The estimation of genetic divergence

Consideration is given to the criticism of Nei and Tateno (1978) of the REH (random evolutionary hits) theory of genetic divergence in nucleic acids and proteins, and to their proposed alternative estimator of total fixed mutations designated X2. It is argued that the assumption of nonuniform amino acid or nucleotide substitution will necessarily increase REH estimates relative to those made for a model where each locus has an equal likelihood of fixing mutations, thus the resulting value will not be an overestimation. The relative values of X2 and measures calculated on the basis of the PAM and REH theories for the number of nucleotide substitutions necessary to explain a given number of observed amino acid differences between two homologous proteins are compared, and the smaller values of X2 are attributed to (1) a mathematical model based on the incorrect assumption that an entire structural gene is free to fix mutations and (2) the assumptions of different numbers of variable codons for the X2 and REH calculations. Results of a repeat of the computer simulations of Nei and Tateno are presented which, in contrast to the original results, confirm the REH theory. It is pointed out that while a negative correlation is observed between estimations of the fixation intensity per varion and the number of varions for a given pair of sequences, the correlation between the two fixation intensities and varion numbers of two different pairs of sequences need not be negative. Finally, REH theory is used to resolve a paradox concerning the high rate of covarion turnover and the nature of general function sites as permanent covarions.
Future‐biased search: the quest for the ideal

Decision-makers with ideal candidates already in mind often extend search beyond optimal endpoints when searching for the best option among a sequential list of alternatives. Extended search is investigated here using three laboratory experiments; individuals in these tasks exhibit future-bias, delaying choice beyond normative benchmarks. Searchers' behavior is consistent with setting high thresholds based on a focal ideal outcome without full attention to its probability or the value of second-best alternatives; the behavior is partially debiased by manipulating which outcomes are in the searchers' focal set. Documenting future-bias in sequential search tasks offers new insights for understanding self-control and intertemporal choice by providing a situation in which thresholds may be set too high and myopic behavior does not prevail. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Corrections to the theory of screening and antiscreening in collisions with hydrogen atoms

Abstract By comparing with exact plane-wave-Born calculations of K-shell ionization in H + H collisions, a proposed correction to the theory of electron screening and antiscreening using the closure approximation is investigated.
Preparation and Properties of Polymeric Intercalated Dichalcogenides

THERE has been considerable interest in the properties of the intercalation complexes of Lewis bases and layered sulphides, such as TaS2 (pyridine)1/2 which represent a large new class of superconductors1 and several systematic investigations of structural variations in the Lewis base and the dichalcogenide have been carried out2,3. The organic layers formed are subject to two-dimensional constraint by the expanding chalcogenide lattice and it occurred to us that attempting to polymerise a monomeric Lewis base in the chalcogenide matrix might yield two useful results: the formation of more stable intercalates, since many such compounds have proved to be unstable and difficult to handle4; and the formation of two-dimensionally oriented polymers, such as has been attempted in montmorillonites, adsorbed monolayers, or liquid crystal matrices. (For a review on polymerisation in pre-oriented media, see ref. 5.)
Reassessing the type I dehydroquinate dehydratase catalytic triad: Kinetic and structural studies of Glu86 mutants

Dehydroquinate dehydratase (DHQD) catalyzes the third reaction in the biosynthetic shikimate pathway. Type I DHQDs are members of the greater aldolase superfamily, a group of enzymes that contain an active site lysine that forms a Schiff base intermediate. Three residues (Glu86, His143, and Lys170 in the Salmonella enterica DHQD) have previously been proposed to form a triad vital for catalysis. While the roles of Lys170 and His143 are well defined—Lys170 forms the Schiff base with the substrate and His143 shuttles protons in multiple steps in the reaction—the role of Glu86 remains poorly characterized. To probe Glu86′s role, Glu86 mutants were generated and subjected to biochemical and structural study. The studies presented here demonstrate that mutant enzymes retain catalytic proficiency, calling into question the previously attributed role of Glu86 in catalysis and suggesting that His143 and Lys170 function as a catalytic dyad. Structures of the Glu86Ala (E86A) mutant in complex with covalently bound reaction intermediate reveal a conformational change of the His143 side chain. This indicates a predominant steric role for Glu86, to maintain the His143 side chain in position consistent with catalysis. The structures also explain why the E86A mutant is optimally active at more acidic conditions than the wild-type enzyme. In addition, a complex with the reaction product reveals a novel, likely nonproductive, binding mode that suggests a mechanism of competitive product inhibition and a potential strategy for the design of therapeutics.
Design and Fabrication of a UV-Visible Coded Aperture Spectral Imager (CASI)

CASI is a snapshot capable UV-visible spectral imager for measuring bird plumage. Near apochromatic UV-visible optics were designed and built with an MTF for a 4Mpx detector. Wide-spectral bandwidth data from CASI is then presented.
Consumer knowledge structures: Background issues and introduction

Consumer researchers have long assumed that consumers' knowledge about product concepts is organized in an associative network structure. Recent advances in conceptual cognition have raised issues beyond the classical versus prototype or exemplar controversy by identifying theory-based concepts. This article reviews the current issues in conceptual cognition of frame theory, conceptual functions other than categorization, domain-specific kinds of concepts, feature centrality, and perceptual representation of concepts. In addition, the role of spatial diagrams is implicated in the problem of describing consumer knowledge structures. The articles in this special issue are introduced in this context. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthetic cornea: biocompatibility and optics

Purpose. Experimentally find a method to provide a safe surgical technique and an inexpensive and long lasting mesoplant for the restoration of vision in patients with bilateral corneal blindness due to ocular surface and stromal diseases. Methods. Identify the least invasive and the safest surgical technique for synthetic cornea implantation. Identify the most compatible biomaterials and the optimal shape a synthetic cornea must have to last a long time when implanted in vivo. Results. Penetrating procedures were deemed too invasive, time consuming, difficult and prone to long term complications. Therefore a non-penetrating delamination technique with central trephination was developed to preserve the integrity of Descemet's membrane and the anterior segment. Even though this approach limits the number of indications, it is acceptable since the majority of patients only have opacities in the stroma. The prosthesis was designed to fit in the removed tissue plane with its skirt fitted under the delaminated stroma. To improve retention, the trephination wall was made conical with the smallest opening on the anterior surface and a hat-shaped mesoplant was made to fit. The skirt was perforated in its perimeter to allow passage of nutrients and tissues ingrowths. To simplify the fabrication procedure, the haptic and optic were made of the same polymer. The intrastromal biocompatibility of several hydrogels was found superior to current clinically used PMMA and PTFE materials. Monobloc mesoplants made of 4 different materials were implanted in rabbits and followed weekly until extrusion occurred. Some remained optically clear allowing for fundus photography. Conclusions. Hydrogel synthetic corneas can be made to survive for periods longer than 1 year. ArF excimer laser photoablation studies are needed to determine the refractive correction potential of these mesoplants. A pilot FDA clinical trial is needed to assess the mesoplant efficacy and very long-term stability.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Decay of the 55 min and 12 min 133Te isomers

Abstract Gamma rays emitted in the decay of the 133 Te isomers, 55.4 min 133m Te and 12.5 min 133g Te, have been observed with Ge(Li) detectors. Sources were prepared by separating Sb from fission products, allowing several minutes for decay of 2.7 min 133 Sb and then separating the Te daughter activities. A total of 29 γ-rays between 312 and 2541 keV were attributed to decay of 133g Te and 30 from 74 to 2050 keV to that of 133m Te. Gamma-gamma coincidences in the decay of 133g Te were observed with a NaI(Tl) Ge(Li) set-up. The decay scheme of 133g Te was constructed, involving placement of 25 of the γ-rays emitted. The decay of 133g Te populates levels in 133 I at 0, 312, 720, 787, 1313, 1333, 1374, 1565, 1718, 2137, 2194 and 2541 keV. The decay of 133m Te is very complicated, and we have not attempted construction of a complete decay scheme for it; however, levels at 913 and 1561 keV in 133 I are definitely populated in 133m Te decay. The value for Q β of 133 Te was measured as 3.52±0.10 MeV. The low-lying levels of the odd-mass iodine isotopes vary smoothly through the series 125 I through 133 I. The levels of 133 I are fitted rather well by predictions based on quasi-particle-phonon coupling.
Presentation Rate in Comprehension of Natural and Synthesized Speech

This study examined the effect of four presentation rates (approximately 130, 150, 170, and 190 words per minute) on the comprehension of natural and synthesized speech by having 96 subjects [1 man, 95 women ranging in age from 18 to 40 years (M = 21.0)] perform a sentence-verification task. Analysis showed that, while their response latencies were significantly faster to natural than to synthesized speech, presentation rate did not have a significant effect on response latencies when sentences were presented at rates within the average speaking range (approximately 130 to 190 words per minute). Implications diese findings may have for the use of synthesized speech in human factors applications are discussed.
The Influence of Quantity of Thick Albumen on Internal Egg Quality Measurements

Abstract A GREAT deal of attention is given to the internal quality of eggs because of economics, appearance and consumption. In the past there have been many discussions as to whether internal quality as measured by U.S.D.A. scores or Haugh units is directly related to the percent of thick albumen or due to the placement of the thick white. There isn’t enough information in the literature to accurately make a decision on the influence of amount of firm albumen on internal egg quality. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Lorenz et al. (1931) found that the amount of thick white was an inherited factor. They also stated that eggs with high original percent firm white were superior for storage purposes. Knox et al. (1931) showed that Leghorns as a breed produced more thick albumen in their eggs than did Rhode Island Reds. They found that egg weight was correlated with thick albumen weight but. . .
Dynamic all-optical tuning of transverse resonant cavity modes in photonic bandgap fibers.

Photonic bandgap fibers for transverse illumination containing half-wavelength microcavities have recently been designed and fabricated. We report on the fabrication and characterization of an all-optical tunable microcavity fiber. The fiber is made by incorporating a photorefractive material inside a Fabry–Perot cavity structure with a quality factor Q>200 operating at 1.5??m. Under short-wavelength transverse external illumination, a 2 nm reversible shift of the cavity resonant mode is achieved. Dynamic all-optical tuning is reported at frequencies up to 400 Hz. Experimental results are compared with simulations based on the amplitude and kinetics of the transient photodarkening effect measured in situ in thin films.
Raman tomography of tissue phantoms and bone tissue

We report tomographic reconstruction of objects located several millimeters below the surface of highly scattering media. For this purpose we adapted proven software developed for fluorescence tomography with and without the use of spatial priors1. For this first demonstration we acquired Raman spectra using an existing ring/disk fiber optic probe with fifty collection fibers2. Several illumination ring diameters were employed to generate multiple angles of incidence. Tomographic reconstruction from Raman scatter was tested using a 9.5 mm diameter TeflonAÂ® sphere embedded in a gel of agarose and 1% Intralipid. Blind reconstruction of the sphere using the 732 cm-1 C-F stretch yielded an accurate shape but an inaccurate depth. Using the known shape and position of the object as spatial priors, a more accurate reconstruction was obtained. We also demonstrated a reconstruction of the tibial diaphysis of an intact canine hind limb using spatial priors generated from micro-computed tomography. In this first demonstration of Raman tomography in animal tissue, the P-O stretch of the bone mineral at 958 cm-1 was used for the reconstruction. An accurate shape and depth were recovered.© (2008) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Multimedia: is it always better?

As with almost every new medium and technology, we become enchanted with it and very easily take the proclaimed benefits of the new creation for granted. Slide presentation tools are one example. Since they became available, most of the presentations in the technical and professional communities have transitioned into using it. One of the reasons is that they make the preparation ("production") of presentations and presenting it seem easy. Making the content of the presentation understood and getting its messages across, however, is another matter. The big question with presentation tools is- when is it better to use it and when other modes of presentation are more appropriate? Now that almost everyone can produce a multimedia presentation, a similar trend might be developing. This mindless transition, I feel, must be stopped. First and foremost, we need to understand what are the advantages and, yes, the disadvantages of multimedia. Since multimedia use and production are human centered activities, practical knowledge of how humans beings perceive, process information, and understand is essential to understanding these advantages and disadvantages of this medium. Once we know the advantages and disadvantages of multimedia, we should use it only when it offers advantages to a particular presentation over other media. Sometimes, we might find out that a simple oral (or even audio) presentation without a single visual might do the trick. Sometimes- not. As Neal Postman pointed out, for example, it could be more difficult to effectively present a series of logical arguments using video than with text or oral deliberations. On other occasions, we might find out that a silent presentation of pictorial slides might deliver the message quite effectively. Multimedia is not only about presentation. It is also about production and thinking. As with writing or drawing, composing a multimedia vignette could help the creative and critical thinking process about a topic. This too needs an understanding of when multimedia is appropriate and when it's not. The developer community is not exempt from the need to develop this type of understanding. Without it, the tools will not be very useful. All of these communities, the multimedia users, the production crowd, and the multimedia developer community need to become more multimedia literate through training in school, college, and work or through a personal transformative quest. This, I believe, is essential yet possible.
Evidence for telomeric fusions as a mechanism for recurring structural aberrations of chromosome 11 in giant cell tumor of bone

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a benign but often aggressive tumor with a tendency toward local recurrence. Telomeric associations (tas) or telomeric fusions are common cytogenetic findings that have been implicated in the initiation of chromosome instability and tumorigenesis. We performed cytogenetic studies on 5 cases of GCTB to further characterize chromosome aberrations in these tumors. Four of the 5 cases showed abnormal karyotypes with clonal telomeric fusions involving chromosome 11. In 3 cases, the telomeric fusions of 11pter were apparently the precursor lesions to the progression of sub-clones with structural chromosome aberrations of 11p. Two tumors demonstrated a similar pattern of progression resulting in whole arm losses of 11p, including sub-clones with both whole-arm unbalanced translocations and whole-arm deletions. A third tumor with clonal tas of 11pter showed 2 additional subclones, one with ring chromosome 11 and the other with an extra copy of 1q. To our knowledge, the 2 cases with del(11)(p11) represent the first report of a recurring structural chromosome aberration in GCTB. These findings support the concept that telomeric instability is responsible for a large degree of intratumor heterogeneity and serves as a precursor lesion to subsequent clonal structural aberrations of chromosome 11 in GCTB.
Marked elevation of serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate in Cushing’s disease with macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia

A 30-year-old man presented with longstanding hypercortisolism and biochemical studies typical of pituitary-dependent Cushing’s disease. After unsuccessful transsphenoidal surgery, plasma ACTH transiently became undetectable and adrenal computed tomography (CT) was consistent with macronodular hyperplasia. Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) exceeded 10,000 ng/ml (normal 2,000–3,350 ng/ml). Despite either transient adrenal autonomy or variable adrenocortical ACTH hyperresponsiveness, urinary cortisol normalized within eight months following pituitary irradiation alone. Serum DHEA-S fell progressively but remained mildly elevated (4,000 ng/ml). Follow-up CT showed minimal residual adrenal nodularity. Given these findings and a review of the literature, we propose that chronic cosecretion of non-ACTH proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides may have stimulated both hyper-secretion of DHEA-S and adrenocortical macronodularity in this patient.
Comparison of a new pressurized saline canister versus syringe irrigation for laceration cleansing in the emergency department

Study objective: Studies have documented the efficacy of normal saline irrigation in decreasing wound infection rates. Wounds traditionally are irrigated using a syringe and needle with manual injection of fluid, a time- and labor-intensive method. We compared irrigation times and infection rates for wounds cleansed with syringe irrigation versus a new, single-use canister of pressurized (8 psi) sterile normal saline. Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled. Setting: Two Level I emergency departments in tertiary care hospitals, both with emergency medicine residency programs. Participants: Patients with lacerations requiring closure were eligible. Exclusion criteria were wounds above the clavicle more than ten hours old, wounds below the clavicle more than six hours old, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or antibiotic or steroid therapy. Patients (550) were entered between August 1, 1990, and January 31, 1991. Characteristics of the two treatment groups were similar for patient age, age of the wound, size and depth of the laceration, and number of sutures. Interventions: Lacerations were irrigated with 250 mL saline in a syringe or 220 mL saline in a pressurized canister for each 5 cm of laceration. At follow-up or suture removal, patients were evaluated for signs of wound complications (cellulitis, ascending lymphangitis, purulent discharge, or dehiscence). Main results: The mean irrigation time for the pressurized canister group (281) was 3.9 minutes versus 7.3 minutes in the syringe irrigation group (254) ( P P = .50). Only three of the 20 total complications required antibiotics (two in the pressurized canister group, one in the syringe irrigation group). Conclusion: Syringe irrigation times were nearly twice as long as the pressurized canister irrigation times. Use of the pressurized canister facilitates ease of irrigation and markedly decreases the time involved in this traditionally labor-intensive activity. In addition, delivery of the saline is no longer operator dependent, ensuring generation of pressures appropriate for wound cleansing. The pressurized canisters may be useful in standardizing irrigation in wound management research.
29: Medication Management Among Adolescents With Perinatally Acquired HIV Infection

Purpose: Although most immunizations in the United States are provided by office-based physicians, there is limited published data of office-based immunization rates of adolescents. This study assesses documented immunization rates among adolescents aged 11 through 21 years within 30 private pediatric practices in 2001 and 2004. Methods: Chart reviews of patients aged 11 through 21 years who had been seen in one of 30 practices within the previous 2 years. The Clinic Assessment Software Application program from the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was used to assess immunization rates by a predetermined selection protocol. Methods: Clinically-integrated private pediatric practices in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. Practices within an Independent Practice Association (30 practices/138 pediatricians). In 2001, 4,837 charts were reviewed, and in 2004, 4,862 charts were reviewed. Patients included uninsured, commercially-insured and government-insured adolescents. Direct feedback to pediatricians, continuing education and peer interaction. Documented rates of “No records”, Td, Hepatitis B x 3, MMR x 2, Varicella/Varivax, and “All Complete (Td, MMR, Hepatitis B and Varicella/Varivax)”. Results: Charts with “No records” dropped 13.0% from 499 (10.3%) to 434 (8.9%) (p 0.020). “All Complete” increased 129.6% from 1,160 (24%) to 2,663 (54.8%) (p 0.001). MMR x 2 increased by 11.3% from 3,670 (75.9%) to 4084 (84.0%) (p 0.001). Hepatitis B x 3 increased by 23.2% from 3,066 (63.4%) to 3,777 (77.7%) (p 0.001). Varicella/Varivax documentation increased by 46.6 % from 2,678 (55.4%) to 3,926 (80.7%) (p 0.001). Td increased by 50.9% from 2,125 (43.9%) to 3,206 (65.9%) (p 0.001). Conclusions: Documentation of specific adolescent immunizations by a group of clinically-integrated private practices improved between 2001 and 2004 surveys by percentages ranging from 11.3% to 50.9%. Adolescent’s charts with no recorded immunizations decreased by 13.0%. Sources of Support: American Academy of Pediatrics Private Practice Research Fund, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Kids Health First Pediatric Alliance.
Stellar Augmented Inertial Guidance for Ballistic Missiles

The principle of correcting for inertial guidance error by means of star sighting has been successfully incorporated in automatic inertial navigators for aircraft such as the MK-1 guidance system for the SM62A pilotless bomber. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the application of stellar sighting techniques to the augmentation of inertial guidance for ballistic missiles.
Dynamic micro-fracture of metals under shock loading by electric gun

Des specimens d'aluminium, cuivre OFHC et alliage titane Ti-6Al-4V sont charges par un canon electrique de deux etages. Le procede de nucleation et croissance de micro-vides dans les specimens est decrit avec le model NAG, la relation constitutive et la simulation numerique. Il est predit que l'intensite de spallation d'aluminium pur monte avec le taux formatique volumique unchargeant plus que 6 × 10 4 s −1
Flavor and oxidative stability of hydrogenated and unhydrogenated soybean oil: Effect of tertiary butyl hydroquinone

The efficacy of tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) treatment for enhancement of the storage stability of soybean oil has been studied by flavor evaluation and chemical analysis. Soybean oils (I) unhydrogenated (IV=137.7; % linolenate=8.3), (II) hydrogenated with nickel catalyst (IV=109.1; % linolenate=3.3), and (III) hydrogenated with copper-chromium catalyst (IV=112.8, % linolenate=0.4) were each deodorized. In the cooling stage of the deodorizer, each oil was treated with citric acid plus TBHQ. These freshly deodorized oils were compared to separate batches of each oil treated with citric acid alone or with citric acid plus butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene. An analytical taste panel performed sensory evaluations by a paired sample test using an intensity rating scale system. The oils were also evaluated after being subjected to accelerated storage tests (4 days and 8 days at 60 C) and a fluorescent light exposure test (4 hr, ambient temperature). Peroxide development during storage was beneficially reduced in oils treated with TBHQ. The flavor stability of the three oils was not enhanced by treatment with TBHQ under any test conditions.