cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ontogeny of biogenic amine systems and modification of indole levels upon adult sexual behavior in the rat

Abstract Male, female and androgenized female rats treated on Days 9, 10 and 11 after birth with either 5-HTP or saline were tested for female sexual behavior in adulthood. It was hypothesized that such pharmacological manipulations of the developing serotonergic system in which Day 12 sex differences have been reported might have an influence on the expression of lordosis behavior. No effect of 5-HTP was found in either normal or androgenized females, even though fluormetric analysis indicated a marked increase in endogenous levels of 5-HT at Day 12. However, males treated with 5-HTP has significantly higher 5-HT levels than 5-HT treated control or androgenized females. In addition, fluorometric analysis of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin from hypothalamus, mesencephalon and cortex was performed on male and female rats on Days 8, 10, 12 and 14 postnatally to examine the development of various transmitter systems during the early postnatal period.
Should There Be “Privilege” in the Relationship Between Reference Librarian and Patron?

SUMMARY Certain professional-client relationships fall under the legal umbrella of “privilege,” an evidentiary rule which protects the client from unauthorized disclosure of confidential information by the professional, and which shields the professional from demands to reveal such information in court. The reference librarian-patron relationship does not currently enjoy any such protection, although it shares many characteristics with those professional relationships which do. Some of the possible reasons for this exclusion are explored, and the question of whether or not privilege should be extended to the reference librarian-patron relationship is considered.
TU‐D‐332‐01: Mapping of Viable Tumor Regions Using Gd‐DTPA DCE‐MRI

Purpose: To establish a criterion for distinguishing viable and necrotic tumor cells using the initial relative slope of the Gd‐DTPA DCE‐MRI and to apply this criterion to optimize the specificity of tumor hypoxia imaging based on 18 F‐FMISO PET.Method and Materials: Three nude rats with Dunning R3327‐AT prostate adenocarcinoma xenografts were imaged by dynamic MRI following tail vein injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine, with imaging parameters of 1‐mm slice thickness, 0.5‐mm spacing, and 0.13mm × 0.13mm voxel size. The time‐intensity curve of each voxel was obtained at 1‐min interval to 25‐min post‐injection. Histologic (standard H&E stain and high‐power microscopy) examination was performed of 8‐μm thick slices parallel to the DCE‐MRI imaging axis and the necrotic regions were identified. The initial relative slope, ( I ( t )− I 0 )/ I 0 where I0 and I(t) are MR image intensity before injection and at time t, was calculated for different times and compared with the pathologically defined necrotic region to determine the threshold that best distinguishes viable and necrotic cells. This criterion was then used to study the specificity of FMISO PET with the same xenografts scanned with DCE‐MRI and 18 F‐FMISO PET.Results: The optimal criterion for identifying viable and necrotic tumor regions was that a DCE‐MRI voxel was necrotic if ( I ( t )− I 0 )/ I 0 at 2 minutes after contrast injection. When this criterion was applied to the 18 F‐FMISO PETimages of three xenografts, necrotic region was found to have a wide range of image intensities, which is inconsistent with the hypothesis that high image intensity exclusively identifies hypoxic viable tumor. Among the 319 hypoxic voxels determined from the three animals' 18 F‐FMISO PET, only 75% corresponded to viable cells. Conclusion: A criterion was established to identify necrotic/viable tumor cells using DCE‐MRI. Using 18 F‐FMISO PET alone for hypoxia imaging is problematic because the specificity might be compromised by necrotic regions with high PETimage intensity.
Determining empirically based self-reported cognitive change: development of reliable change indices and standardized regression-based change norms for the multiple abilities self-report questionnaire in an epilepsy sample.

Abstract Purpose Reliable change indices (RCIs) and standardized regression-based (SRB) change score norms were calculated for a measure of self-reported cognitive function, the Multiple Abilities Self-Report Questionnaire (MASQ), in patients with complex partial seizures. Establishment of such standardized change scores could be useful in determining the magnitude and direction of self-appraised cognitive change after epilepsy surgery or other treatment interventions. The primary study objective was to calculate RCI and SRB values for the MASQ. A secondary objective was to report SRB change scores in patients who had undergone anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) and to assess relationships between self-reported cognitive change, seizure outcome, objective memory test performance, and mood. Methods The MASQ was administered to 36 patients with complex partial seizures on two occasions (mean test–retest interval, 6 months). This group did not have major psychopathology and were on stable antiepileptic drugs. RCI and SRB change scores were calculated. Adjustments for baseline ratings, age, education, gender, age at seizure onset, and seizure duration were made with the SRB method. A confidence interval cutoff score (90% level) was calculated for the five MASQ cognitive domains (Language, Visual Perception, Verbal Memory, Visual–Spatial Memory, Attention/Concentration). MASQ SRB scores were computed for a second sample of 50 patients who had undergone ATL. Results Test–retest reliabilities for the MASQ domains ranged from a low of 0.63 (Attention/Concentration) to a high of 0.87 (total score). Baseline MASQ score was the single largest contributor to the regression equations. Left and right ATL groups demonstrated similar magnitudes of self-reported cognitive change across all five MASQ domains. Individual base rate change distributions were similar across four of the five domains. with a higher proportion of right ATL patients reporting worsening attention function. Both postoperative mood and SRB-based verbal memory outcome were significantly correlated to self-reported cognitive change in the patients who had undergone ATL. Conclusions SRB methodology provides a standardized technique with which to establish patient perception of cognitive change and may be of use when examining change across individual- and group-level ratings of cognitive functioning in clinical and research settings. These techniques also provide a common metric for direct comparison between subjective self-report ratings of cognitive function and objective cognitive test instruments.
Electrical and Thermal Conductivities of Carbon Nanotube-Epoxy Composites: Modeling and Characterization

The motivation of this work is to develop adhesive layers from epoxy based nanocomposites using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for use in thermal management applications in microelectronic devices. The focus of the experimental characterization is to measure the enhancement of electrical and thermal conductivities of polymeric nanocomposites consisting of XD grade CNTs as a function of a range of weight percentages. Comparison of the results obtained for these CNT-epoxy nanocomposites are made with other nanocomposite results from the literature and with initial micromechanics modeling efforts. The micromechanics model is centered on the use of the generalized self-consistent composite cylinders method in conjunction with multi-phase averaging methods, and is employed to predict the effective electrical and thermal properties of nanocomposites with randomly oriented CNTs, where the hollow nature of the CNTs and the possible presence of interphase regions precludes the direct use of the Eshelby solution. Interphase regions are identified to phenomenologically introduce nanoscale effects such as the thermal Kapitza resistance and electron hopping. It is observed that, as a result of the different character of the nanoscale effects associated with electrical and thermal properties, nanotube-polymer nanocomposites demonstrate a percolation behavior in electrical conductivity not observed in thermal conductivity.© 2007 ASME
Intensity diffraction tomography with a novel scanning protocol

Intensity diffraction tomography (I-DT) is an imaging method that reconstructs the complex-valued refractive index distribution of a weakly scattering object without explicit knowledge of the wavefield phase. In this work, a novel scanning protocol for I-DT is proposed that involves the use of plane-wave and spherical wave probing wavefields. A useful feature of the scanning protocol is that two in-line intensity measurements are acquired on a detector-plane whose distance from the object remains fixed. Accordingly, the translation of the detector that is required in classic in-line measurement geometries is avoided. A reconstruction algorithm that exploits tomographic symmetries is developed and demonstrated by use of computer-simulation studies.
First Report of Macrophomina phaseolina Causing Leaf and Stem Blight of Tropical Soda Apple in Florida

Leaf necrosis was observed in tropical soda apple plants in Fort Pierce, FL. A fungus was isolated from symptomatic stem tissue and from numerous excised pycnidia. Identity was confirmed by analysi...
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans biofilm killing by a targeted ciprofloxacin prodrug.

A pH-sensitive ciprofloxacin prodrug was synthesized and targeted against biofilms of the periodontal pathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa). The dose required to reduce the viability of a mature biofilm of Aa by ∼80% was in the range of ng cm−2 of colonized area (mean biofilm density 2.33 × 109 cells cm−2). A mathematical model was formulated that predicts the temporal change in the concentration of ciprofloxacin in the Aa biofilm as the drug is released and diffuses into the bulk medium. The predictions of the model were consistent with the extent of killing obtained. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the strategy to induce mortality, and together with the mathematical model, provide the basis for design of targeted antimicrobial prodrugs for the topical treatment of oral infections such as periodontitis. The targeted prodrug approach offers the possibility of optimizing the dose of available antimicrobials in order to kill a chosen pathogen while leaving the commensal microbiota r...
Identification of drosophila YIN and PEPT2 as evolutionarily conserved phagosome-associated muramyl-dipeptide transporters

NOD2 (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2) is an important cytosolic pattern recognition receptor that activates NF-kappaB and other immune effector pathways such as autophagy and antigen presentation. Despite its intracellular localization, NOD2 participates in sensing of extracellular microbes such as Staphylococcus aureus. NOD2 ligands similar to the minimal synthetic ligand muramyl dipeptide (MDP) are generated by internalization and processing of bacteria in hydrolytic phagolysosomes. However, how these derived ligands exit this organelle and access the cytosol to activate NOD2 is poorly understood. Here, we address how phagosome-derived NOD2 ligands access the cytosol in human phagocytes. Drawing on data from Drosophila phagosomes, we identify an evolutionarily conserved role of SLC15A transporters, Drosophila Yin and PEPT2, as MDP transporters in fly and human phagocytes, respectively. We show that PEPT2 is highly expressed by human myeloid cells. Ectopic expression of both Yin and PEPT2 increases the sensitivity of NOD2-dependent NF-kappaB activation. Additionally, we show that PEPT2 associates with phagosome membranes. Together, these data identify Drosophila Yin and PEPT2 as evolutionarily conserved phagosome-associated transporters that are likely to be of particular importance in delivery of bacteria-derived ligands generated in phagosomes to cytosolic sensors recruited to the vicinity of these organelles.
Automated method for detection and quantification of building damage and debris using post-disaster lidar data

There is a growing need for rapid and accurate damage and debris assessment following natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and other crisis situations. This research enhances existing algorithms for LiDAR point classification (ground/non-ground), feature classification (buildings, vegetation, roads, etc.), and seeks to develop new algorithms for building damage and debris detection and quantification-work evaluated using LiDAR data of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, collected by RIT just days after the January 12, 2010 earthquake. Normalized height, height variation, intensity, and multiple return information are among the parameters being used to develop rules for building extraction and vegetation removal. Various approaches are being explored to perform damage assessment, with a focus on the slope and texture of roof planes. Initial results show a general over-segmentation in a 457x449 m region-of-interest (ROI)-the building detection algorithm autonomously identified 206 buildings, while only 98 buildings actually exist in the ROI. Further, four buildings went completely undetected. The accuracy of the damage detection algorithm was assessed only in regions where the building detection algorithm results overlapped actual building locations. The overall damage detection accuracy was 73.40%, but with a low Kappa accuracy of k = 0.275. The algorithms will be implemented in a common programming language where the processing will be optimized for large data sets. The goal is for the operational tool to be implemented in the field, using available equipment in a close to real-time environment.
Autism cornered: network analyses reveal mechanisms of autism spectrum disorders

Despite a wealth of behavioral, cognitive, biological, and genetic studies, the causes of autism have remained largely unknown. In their recent work, Snyder and colleagues (Li et al, 2014) use a systems biology approach and shed light on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying autism, thus opening novel avenues for understanding the disease and developing potential treatments.
CONTROL OF CHUA'S CIRCUIT

This paper considers the control of a polynomial variant of the original Chua's circuit. Both state space techniques and input-output techniques are presented. It is shown that standard control theory approaches can easily accommodate a chaotic system. Furthermore, it is shown that a harmonic balance approach could predict the period doubling phenomenon and onset of the double scroll chaos, as well as providing a control approach.
Abstract 425: Targeting embryonic signaling pathways in melanoma

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Melanoma incidence is quickly rising and the average survival for a patient with metastatic disease is less than one year. Novel targeted therapies, such as B-Raf mutant kinase inhibitors, have shown dramatic initial responses, but resistance to single agent therapy inevitably ensues. We hypothesize that melanoma stem-like cells may be important in melanoma progression and may play a role in chemoresistance to targeted therapy. We have profiled melanoma cell lines as well as metastatic melanoma tissue for activation of embryonic stem cell pathways via microarray and quantitative RT-PCR. We observed upregulation of the Hedgehog pathway in a subset of cell lines and in human melanoma tissue and found that Smoothened (SMO) expression was associated with significantly shorter recurrence-free survival in metastatic melanoma patients. We also found that small molecule inhibition or genetic silencing of Smoothened (SMO) decreased melanoma cell proliferation and migration in vitro and identified overexpression of GLI2 as a marker of resistance to SMO inhibition. These findings suggest that inhibitors of hedgehog pathway signaling, already in clinical trials in other tumor types, may be a novel strategy for advanced melanoma. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 425. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-425
Estimated Prevalence of Caprine Paratuberculosis in Boer Goat Herds in Missouri, USA

The objective of this study was to estimate true animal-level and herd-level prevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) antibodies in Missouri Boer goat herds. Sera harvested from blood samples collected from goats ≥24 months of age in 25 Missouri Boer goat herds were tested for presence of MAP antibodies using a commercial ELISA kit. Herds were declared positive for MAP if one or more goats in the herd tested positive for MAP antibodies. True animal, within-herd, and between-herd prevalences were calculated using the Rogan-Gladen estimator and were 1.4% (95% CI = 0.1 to 3.6%), 3% (95% CI = 0 to 6%), and 54.7% (95% CI = 28.2 to 86.2%), respectively. Findings in this study confirmed that MAP infection is endemic in Missouri Boer goat herds.
The linearized spacetime of superconducting cosmic strings

Abstract The external metric of straight superconducting cosmic strings is derived in linear approximation in terms of the current and integrals over string fields. Three parameters in an axial magnetic field geometry of L. Witten are expressed in terms of string parameters. The effect of current on the deflection of light is also derived.
WE‐G‐214‐06: Pulmonary Ventilation and Perfusion Imaging Using 4DCT

Purpose: To develop a functional imaging technique that can simultaneously detect changes in lung ventilation and lung perfusion using 4D‐CT. This high‐resolution functional information can be incorporated in a treatment planning to minimize the dose to highly functional areas of the lung, and can also be used to assess the efficacy of treatment post radiation therapy. Methods: Recently, a technique was presented to estimate lung ventilation using 4DCT by detecting the changes in CT characteristics of the pulmonary parenchyma. We go a step further and develop the theory to extract not only regional fractional changes in ventilation but also fractional changes in mass that may be indicative of blood flow. Changes in lung ventilation are estimated by applying a mass correction that is estimated using the ratio of the global inhale‐mass and end‐exhale mass. Changes in lung perfusion are indicated by changes in “apparent mass”. Changes in “apparent mass” are estimated by applying a volume correction that is estimated using the ratio of global inhale volume and end‐exhale volume. In both the cases a subtraction of the corrected images is performed by spatially matching the images at each phase of the respiratory cycle. Spatial matching is carried out using a deformable image registration algorithm. Results: Preliminary studies indicate a linear relationship between the mass‐corrected fractional changes in volume and global measurement of tidal volume changes (slope = 1.01, R‐square = 0.97). A similar slightly linear relationship is observed between the volume‐corrected fractional changes in “apparent mass” and global measurement of mass (slope = 1.21, R‐square = 0.75). Conclusions: The technique presented above can extract both changes in ventilation and “apparent mass” that maybe indicative of perfusion simultaneously from a single set of 4DCT images. It however remains to the shown that these changes correspond to perfusion (future studies).
Radio pulsars observed at X-ray energies by the X-ray timing explorer

Abstract The Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer observed a number of X-ray emitting radio pulsars soon after launch on 30 Dec. 1995. These included two plerionic systems formed in recent supernova events, the Crab Nebula with its 33 ms pulsar PSR 0531+21 and MSH 15-52 with its 151 ms pulsar PSR 1509-58. Observations of these sources for 20–30 ksec with both the PCA and HEXTE allowed precision phase resolved spectroscopy for the Crab Nebula, confirmation of the light curve and pulsed spectrum for PSR 1509-58, and separation of the Nebular emissions from the pulsed X-rays over the 18–250 keV range for both sources. Within statistical uncertainties, a power law spectrum fits all the observations over this limited energy range. The nebular region for both sources has a photon index of about −2.1, while the pulsed spectra are considerably harder. Significant differences in spectral index are observed for the first pulse, the second pulse, and the interpulse of PSR 0531+21.
B-Type Natriuretic Peptide as a Biomarker Beyond Heart Failure: Speculations and Opportunities

Cardiac secretion of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) increases with the progression of heart failure (HF), and plasma measurement of BNP has emerged recently as a useful, cost-effective biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of HF. The diagnostic utility of BNP is complemented by its therapeutic use in decompensated HF. Although clinical use of BNP as a biomarker in HF is increasing, the specificity of BNP for HF is not robust, suggesting that other mechanisms beyond simple ventricular stretch stimulate BNP release. Several studies have shown that BNP levels increase in other cardiovascular disease states including ischemia, arrhythmias, fibrosis, cardiac hypertrophy, and coronary endothelial dysfunction. Furthermore, 2 important studies revealed recently that moderate elevations in BNP level, well below the HF range, have prognostic value for future cardiovascular events. Specifically, BNP levels greater than 20 pg/mL were associated with significantly increased risk of HF and atrial fibrillation. These observations increase speculation that elevated BNP levels represent a final common pathway for many cardiovascular pathologic states and that BNP can be used as a biomarker for non-HF mechanisms, preclinical disease, and other pathologic states of myocardial disease.
Computational Methods in Drug Discovery

Computer-aided drug discovery/design methods have played a major role in the development of therapeutically important small molecules for over three decades. These methods are broadly classified as either structure-based or ligand-based methods. Structure-based methods are in principle analogous to high-throughput screening in that both target and ligand structure information is imperative. Structure-based approaches include ligand docking, pharmacophore, and ligand design methods. The article discusses theory behind the most important methods and recent successful applications. Ligand-based methods use only ligand information for predicting activity depending on its similarity/dissimilarity to previously known active ligands. We review widely used ligand-based methods such as ligand-based pharmacophores, molecular descriptors, and quantitative structure-activity relationships. In addition, important tools such as target/ligand data bases, homology modeling, ligand fingerprint methods, etc., necessary for successful implementation of various computer-aided drug discovery/design methods in a drug discovery campaign are discussed. Finally, computational methods for toxicity prediction and optimization for favorable physiologic properties are discussed with successful examples from literature.
Effects of Dietary Protein on Renal Ischemia Induced Tubular Necrosis

Previously we have shown that the amount of protein in a dietary regimen prior to the induction of renal ischemia will significantly affect the degree of postischemic acute renal failure (Andrews PM, Bates SB: Kidney Int 30:299–303, 1986). The present investigation was undertaken to determine what effect dietary protein regimen has on the histopathology of renal ischemia. Rats were pair-fed for 2 weeks on either 0% or 5% (restricted), 20% (normal), or 60% (high) purified protein isocaloric diets. Ischemia was induced by 45 min of renal pedicle clamping. Light and electron microscopic evaluation of kidney morphology immediately following renal ischemia (prior to blood reflow) revealed that the extent of morphological damage to cells lining proximal convoluted tubules and the thick ascending segments of Henle's loop increased with increasing concentration of dietary protein. However, all dietary protein groups also exhibited heterogeneity in the extent of damage to different nephrons within the same kidney.
Achieving optimal care for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in Canada.

For patients in Canada, 2 strategies may be initiated in the emergent treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI) — primary percutaneous coronary intervention or fibrinolytic drug therapy. Regardless of which strategy is chosen, the successful reperfusion of the infarct-related
Correlations between Reduction Strategies and Settlement Patterns

This paper describes the relationships observed between reduction sequences, distances to raw material sources, and settlement mobility. Alternative economizing measures are discussed. The traditional measure based upon a “distance decay” model is contrasted with economizing behaviors that were linked to finishing tools more completely near raw material sources and to curating blanks and tools. It is suggested that prehistoric groups selected these alternative means of economizing their use of raw material dependent upon the ultimate size contraints of the finished tools. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques for establishing the ranges of reduction sequences are described. Data sets from Epipaleolithic sites in southern Jordan and from Late Prehistoric sites in Oklahoma are used to define relationships between settlement patterns and lithic reduction strategies.
Astigmatic-waist TEMoo-output dye laser design

An interesting optical design problem is to design a laser cavity which will couple an astigmatic waist to a TEMoo output. The astigmatic waist is used to reduce the thermal effects introduced in a dye laser when pumped at high power levels. The use of components which are inexpensive and readily available was one of the requirements in the design. We looked at the problem from an aberration stand point. We present two designs for a dye laser cavity which couples an astigmatic waist to a TEMoo output. Each design uses a tilted spherical mirror to introduce the astigmatism needed to produce the astigmatic waist. A second mirror tilted in an orthogonal direction is used to remove the astigmatism. The tilted mirrors also introduce coma into the system. One design uses symmetry to remove the coma. The second design uses an asymmetric design which removes the coma and requires fewer elements.
Hypergraph partitioning with fixed vertices

We empirically assess the implications of fixed terminals for hypergraph partitioning heuristics. Our experimental testbed incorporates a leading-edge multilevel hypergraph partitioner and IBM-internal circuits that have recently been released as part of the ISPD-98 Benchmark Suite. We find that the presence of fixed terminals can make a partitioning instance considerably easier (possibly to the point of being "trivial"): much less effort is needed to stably reach solution qualities that are near best-achievable. Toward development of partitioning heuristics specific to the fixed-terminals regime, we study the pass statistics of flat FM-based partitioning heuristics. Our data suggest that with more fixed terminals, the improvements in a pass are more likely to occur near the beginning of the pass. Restricting the length of passes-which degrades solution quality in the classic (free-hypergraph) context-is relatively safe for the fixed-terminals regime and considerably reduces run time of our FM-based heuristic implementations. We believe that the distinct nature of partitioning in the fixed-terminals regime has deep implications (i) for the design and use of partitioners in top-down placement, (ii) for the context in which VLSI hypergraph partitioning research is pursued, and (iii) for the development of new benchmark instances for the research community.
Ipsilateral motor dysfunction from unilateral stroke: Implications for the functional neuroanatomy of hemiparesis

Background: Motor dysfunction in the contralateral hand has been well characterised after stroke. The ipsilateral hand has received less attention, yet may provide valuable insights into the structure of the motor system and the nature of the recovery process. By tracking motor function of both hands beginning in the acute stroke period in patients with cortical versus subcortical lesions, we sought to understand the functional anatomy of the ipsilateral deficit. Methods: We examined 30 patients with first-ever unilateral hemiparetic stroke, 23 with subcortical lesions affecting the corticospinal tract, seven with cortical involvement. Patients performed hand dynamometry and the 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT) with each hand at 24–48 h, 1 week, 3 months and 1 year after stroke. Linear regression was used to compare the two different motor tasks in each hand. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare recovery rates of the two tasks in the first 3 months. Results: Ipsilateral 9HPT scores averaged z = −7.1, −3.6, −2.5 and −2.3 at the four time points whereas grip strength was unaffected. The initial degree of impairment of grip strength in the contralateral hand did not correlate with the degree of impairment of 9HPT in either the contralateral or ipsilateral hand (r = 0.001, p = 0.98), whereas the initial degree of impairment of 9HPT in the contralateral hand correlated with the degree of impairment of 9HPT in the ipsilateral hand (r = 0.79, p = 0.035). The rate of recovery also differed for the two tasks (p = 0.005). Conclusion: Ipsilateral motor deficits are demonstrable immediately after stroke and extend into the subacute and chronic recovery period. Dissociation between grip strength and dexterity support the notion that dexterity and grip strength operate as anatomically and functionally distinct entities. Our findings in patients with subcortical lesions suggest that the model of white matter tract injury needs to be refined to reflect the influence of a subcortical lesion on bi-hemispheral cortical networks, rather than as a simple “severed cable” model of disruption of corticofugal fibres. Our data have implications for both stroke clinical trials and the development of new strategies for therapeutic intervention in stroke recovery.
Finite difference time domain algorithm development for Maxwell's equations for computational electromagnetism

An algorithm has been developed for solving Maxwell's equations for the electromagnetic field. It solves the equations in the time domain with central, finite differences. The time advancement is performed implicitly, using an alternating direction implicit procedure. The space discretization is performed with finite volumes, using curvilinear coordinates with electromagnetic components along those directions. Sample calculations of scattering from a metal square and a metal circle are presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the new algorithm. >
Prenatal marijuana exposure, age of marijuana initiation, and the development of psychotic symptoms in young adults.

Background Studies have demonstrated that an early age of onset of marijuana use (EAOM) is associated with a higher risk of developing psychotic symptoms (PS) compared to initiating marijuana use at a later age or not at all. Research has also found that prenatal marijuana exposure (PME) predicts EAOM. This report evaluates the relationships among PME, EAOM, and PS. Method Subjects were initially interviewed in their fourth prenatal month. Women and offspring who completed the birth assessment (n = 763) were selected for follow-up. Women and their offspring were followed until the offspring were 22 years of age: 596 offspring were evaluated. At age 22, PS were assessed in the offspring with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule using DSM-IV criteria. Analyses controlled for significant covariates including other prenatal substance exposures, race, gender, and offspring substance use at 22 years. Results PME and EAOM significantly predicted increased rates of PS at 22 years controlling for other significant covariates. The direct effect of PME on PS was marginally significant (p = 0.06) when EAOM was entered into the model and other covariates were fixed. In the mediation analysis, EAOM did not significantly mediate the association between PME and PS, controlling for significant covariates, nor was the indirect pathway significant when structural equation modeling was used. The total effect of the direct and indirect pathways was significant. Conclusions In addition to EAOM, PME may also play a role in the association between marijuana use and the development of PS. This could highlight a new area for prevention.
The reliability of rainfall intensity-frequency determinations

In studies of rainfall and runoff two distinct types of rainstorms, each having characteristic size, shape, internal structure, and behavior-patterns, must be considered. The first is of rather short duration (one to three hours), covers 1000 square miles or less, and has centers of high rainfall-intensity with rates often exceeding five inches an hour. The second type is of wide areal extent, sometimes as much as 400,000 square miles, and of several days duration, is gentle and continuous, and contributes large amounts of water to the storm-area. Not infrequently in connection with the wide-spread continuous type of rain, local areas will experience for short periods the high intensities of the first type.
Elastic crack growth in finite elements with minimal remeshing

A minimal remeshing finite element method for crack growth is presented. Discontinuous enrichment functions are added to the finite element approximation to account for the presence of the crack. This method allows the crack to be arbitrarily aligned within the mesh. For severely curved cracks, remeshing may be needed but only away from the crack tip where remeshing is much easier. Results are presented for a wide range of two-dimensional crack problems showing excellent accuracy. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fabrication and characterization of an inkjet-printed DNA biopolymer-based UV photodetector

An ultraviolet (UV) photodetector utilizing an inkjet printable , UV photoconducting biopolymer was fabricated and the performance of the photodetector was characterized for varying thickness layers of the biopolymer. The biopolymer was formed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the Clevios P formulation of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)- poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and hexadecyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride (CTMA); this was then combined with phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl (PCBM) to form the printable, UV photoconducting biopolymer. Using a 260-nm source, the highest measured responsivity of the photodetectors is 1.2 mA/W at 20 V bias.
Partitioning of pi-electrons in rings of polycyclic conjugated hydrocarbons. 5. Nonalternant compounds.

All possible nonalternant hydrocarbons with a total of two, three, or four 5-, 6-, and 7-membered rings have been examined for the partition of their π-electrons by averaging over all Kekule struct...
Similarities and Differences in Financial Analysis Between Not-For-Profit and For-Profit Analysts

This behavioral research investigates if the financial assessments made by an analyst concerning the financial condition of the business firm may be affected by the professional employment group of the analyst. Two professional employment groups were studied. The two groups were analysts for state public service commissions who regulate the public electric utilities industry and professional financial analysts who track stocks of public utility companies. We asked members of each of the groups by way of a mailed survey, to analyze multi-year comparative financial statements of a business enterprise using variables related to liquidity, long term debt, cash flow, and profitability. The paper describes the data collection process, statistical analysis, and results of the research as well as limitations and a call for additional research.
Retinal changes in the toxemias of pregnancy. I. History, vomiting of pregnancy, mild and severe pre-eclampsia, and eclampsia.

Abstract The etiological factors responsible for the toxemias of pregnancy have not been revealed despite extensive researches during the past century. Most workers in this problem agree that the maternal vascular bed is extensively involved in this condition. Because of these changes, either gradual or sudden, in the arteriolar system, many of the symptoms and findings of toxemia make their appearance. The vessels may be readily observed by direct visualization of the fundi oculi. Since the New York Lying-In Hospital opened at its present location in 1932, a careful examination of the retinal vascular findings in all patients with toxemia has been recorded. This was possible because of close collaboration between the departments of Obstetrics and Ophthalmology. The purpose of this communication is to review these observations and correlate them with the other findings in the toxemias. Some of the more pertinent reports concerning retinal abnormalities in the toxemias, present standards for retinal changes, and the classification of the toxemias will be briefly reviewed. It is hoped that certain refinements in the management of the toxemias may result following the evaluation of these data.
EPISTASIS AS A SOURCE OF INCREASED ADDITIVE GENETIC VARIANCE AT POPULATION BOTTLENECKS.

The role of epistasis in evolution and speciation has remained controversial. We use a new parameterization of physiological epistasis to examine the effects of epistasis on levels of additive genetic variance during a population bottleneck. We found that all forms of epistasis increase average additive genetic variance in finite populations derived from initial populations with intermediate allele frequencies. Average additive variance continues to increase over many generations, especially at larger population sizes (N = 32 to 64). Additive-by-additive epistasis is the most potent source of additive genetic variance in this situation, whereas dominance-by-dominance epistasis contributes smaller amounts of additive genetic variance. With additive-by-dominance epistasis, additive genetic variance decreases at a relatively high rate immediately after a population bottleneck, rebounding to higher levels after several generations. Empirical examples of epistasis for murine adult body weight based on measured genotypes are provided illustrating the varying effects of epistasis on additive genetic variance during population bottlenecks.
Doing and Proving: The Place of Algorithms and Proofs in School Mathematics

(1998). Doing and Proving: The Place of Algorithms and Proofs in School Mathematics. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 105, No. 3, pp. 252-255.
Processing Polypropylene Nanocomposites with Silylated Organoclays: Coupling at Edges versus Gallery Faces

Polymer nanocomposites with layered silicates have two different types of interface sites: edges with hydroxyl groups and gallery faces with oxygen atoms. The polymer–particle interface at either site may be strengthened by silane coupling agents. The objective of this work was to investigate the morphology and rheology in the melt-compounded state and the reprocessed state of polypropylene-layered-silicate nanocomposites with reactive coupling by the silane and a long chain polymeric compatibilizer at different interface sites. Two different organically modified layered silicates with different aspect ratios and surfactants were treated with an aminoalkyldimethoxysilane; in one case, the silanols reacted only at the nanolayer edges while in the other case, the silanes entered the interlayer galleries. The effect of reactive coupling in both cases was noticeably improved dispersion with thinner stacks of nanolayers. The uniaxial extensional viscosity of these melts displayed greater strain hardening and m...
Study on the preparation process and the antioxidant capacity of deer blood polypeptide

The extraction of deer blood polypeptide was studied using trypsin hydrolysis with resh deer blood as aw material.This article took the degree of hydrolysis as index.The optimum conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis was determined on the basis of single factor and orthogonal experiment.The optimum conditions were the amount of enzyme 6%,pH9,the hydrolysis temperature 37℃,reaction time 4h,which the degree of hydrolysis reached46.72% ± 0.11% under this condition.And determination of antioxidant capacity of the peptides were performed.The high concentration of deer blood polypeptide had strong hydroxyl radicals scavenging ability and DPPH radical scavenging ability.
Tongue Image Retrieval Method Based on Color-Texture Features of Tongue Manifestation

To explore the underlying characteristics of the Tongue Image with Chinese Medicine Tongue Diagnosis as senior semantic mapping relations,the paper based on clinical experience,Content-Based Image Retrieval Technology,Tongue Diagnosis through data analysis,tongue samples choice,Color quantization and Texture analysis of Tongue Images,and based on the tongue color and tongue texture as indexing,retrieval results were consistent with Syndrome Differentiation requirements.This research finding was conducive to whitening the Intelligent Pattern Identification and Treatment Gray System.In order to further explore the Chinese medicine clinical experience with the intervention because of the underlying characteristics with theory of mechanism of disease mapping provided the conditions established.
A database of georeferenced nutrient chemistry data for mountain lakes of the Western United States.

Human activities have increased atmospheric nitrogen and phosphorus deposition rates relative to pre-industrial background. In the Western U.S., anthropogenic nutrient deposition has increased nutrient concentrations and stimulated algal growth in at least some remote mountain lakes. The Georeferenced Lake Nutrient Chemistry (GLNC) Database was constructed to create a spatially-extensive lake chemistry database needed to assess atmospheric nutrient deposition effects on Western U.S. mountain lakes. The database includes nitrogen and phosphorus water chemistry data spanning 1964–2015, with 148,336 chemistry results from 51,048 samples collected across 3,602 lakes in the Western U.S. Data were obtained from public databases, government agencies, scientific literature, and researchers, and were formatted into a consistent table structure. All data are georeferenced to a modified version of the National Hydrography Dataset Plus version 2. The database is transparent and reproducible; R code and input files used to format data are provided in an appendix. The database will likely be useful to those assessing spatial patterns of lake nutrient chemistry associated with atmospheric deposition or other environmental stressors. Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data (ISA-Tab format)
Microglial confetti party

Microglia are highly heterogeneous and plastic. However, the dynamics of their turnover have been difficult to visualize. A new multicolor reporter system reveals a plastic but stable network of microglia during health and disease.
A sentimental reeducation: Postwar West Germany's intimate geographies

Abstract Can a population or community be “taught” to feel and act differently through an externally imposed politico-cultural paradigm? What kinds of unexpected feelings (at odds with behavioral norms and expectations of the educator/observer) emerge from the collision of different political histories and cultural orientations? This paper examines American and West German social theories concerned with democratizing West Germany in the context of the Cold War and in the wake of initial US-Allied attempts at “reeducation” in the postwar period. Based on an analysis of Theodor W. Adorno's radio broadcasts and writings on the possibility of an “education to autonomy” after Auschwitz, this paper explores how West Germans came to “feel differently” through the gradual and contradictory negotiation of a democratic “habitus”, ultimately demonstrating the agonistic and ambivalent processes constitutive of substantial democracy.
The Day of the Young Combatant, generational struggles in the memory field of post-dictatorship Chile:

This article explores the multilayered struggles within the memory field in post-dictatorship Chilean society by investigating the Day of the Young Combatant, a commemoration of the murder of two y...
Development of a Non-isothermal Forging Process for Hollow Axle Shafts

Abstract This paper presents a novel non-isothermal forging process for a hollow axle shaft. The process consists of three operations: i) partially heat the initial tubular stock via induction heating, ii) deform the heated section into a solid, rod-like structure by upsetting the workpiece, and iii) shape the new ‘solid’ section into a flange by further upsetting the workpiece. The commercial finite element software Deform 2D is used to simulate the process and evaluate its feasibility. It is determined that the non-isothermal forming process does not require excessive forming loads and can be completed using the presses that are currently employed for axle shaft forging. Furthermore, the strains encountered in the process are reasonable for a hot forming process and the dimensional accuracy of the final product is acceptable. Future optimization of this process may lead to improved strain distributions and forming loads.
Enough, the Action Heroine, and the Limits of Violence

This chapter analyzes the contradictions and ambivalence of Enough’s post-aware, postfeminist fantasy of victim empowerment in the form of a female action heroine whose sexualized, Latina body is both objectified and reconfigured, leading to a highly artificial conclusion in the form of the abuser’s death and the abused mother’s exoneration.
Dry-spinning of cellulose nanocrystal/polylactic acid composite fibers

In the present study, the authors explored the viability of dry-spinning to produce cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) and polylactic acid composite fibers from dimethylformamide solutions. Fiber surface ...
Smart water-sharing methods for farms in semi-arid regions

We present smart water-sharing methods that aim to optimize the water distribution among farms in semiarid regions, where the availability of water is limited. Each farm uses wireless sensors (e.g., temperature, moisture) to locally determine the irrigation needs in the different parts/sectors of the farm and send this information to a community controller, which regulate the overall water distribution. The proposed water-sharing algorithms take as input the available water level/flow of the source and the irrigation need of the different farms; and determine the irrigation time and the amount of water that should be used by the different farms. Similarly, excess water information (e.g., non irrigation based water) is communicated between the farms and community controllers.