cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two parasitoids of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) have shared, stage-specific preference for host nymphs that does not impact pest mortality rates.

Assessing the oviposition preference and offspring performance of 2 parasitoid species being used to establish classical biological control of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) infesting citrus may provide important insight into their potential coexistence in California, USA. Tamarixia radiata (Waterston) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), an ectoparasitoid, preferred fourth and fifth instar D. citri nymphs for oviposition in both choice and no-choice experiments. Larval development and adult longevity of T. radiata offspring were positively correlated to female oviposition preference. Oviposition preferences of T. radiata were unaffected by conspecific and heterospecific competitors. Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis (Shafee, Alam & Agarwal) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), an endoparasitoid, preferred third and fourth instar hosts in choice experiments and fourth instar hosts in nochoice experiments. Parasitoid larvae that developed in these instars performed better than larvae that developed in second and fifth instars. The oviposition preferences of D. aligarhensis were unaffected by competitors in choice arenas, but were affected in no-choice experiments. Populations of T. radiata and D. aligarhensis from Pakistan, where they exist in sympatry and used in the experiments reported here, demonstrated a shared preference for fourth instar D. citri nymphs, which has not been documented previously for populations of D. aligarhensis from other geographic regions. This shared preference did not affect D. citri mortality rates, but it may affect the ability of D. aligarhensis to establish in areas of California where T. radiata is currently present.
Organizing Practices to Combat Supply Chain Security Breaches

Supply chain security (SCS) breaches are torturing supply chains and they have the potential to inflict acute pain on society at large. To cope with such breaches, international bodies, nations, societies, industries, and leading firms have instituted several countermeasures in the form of standards and respective practices. Identifying SCS practices suitable to a firm's specific needs from a laundry list of practices is a difficult task. Relying on the risk management literature and interactions with professionals, we categorize SCS management practices into four classes based on their intent—detection, prevention, response, and mitigation. We consider here their differences and their complementary effects. Our classification can be used to diagnose a firm's supply chain security status. Managers can benchmark their company against their peers using this classification. Equipped with such knowledge, managers, and organizations can ascertain specific gaps and undertake a targeted approach to bridge those gaps. Our results suggest that security-oriented practices have differential effects on SCS performance. We also found that firms who deploy practices in a more integrated approach realize better SCS performance. Thus, firms are advised to adopt the practices as a system to take advantage of the reinforcing characteristics of these practices on each other.
Implementing recovery resources in trauma care: impact and implications.

Objectives To identify resources that patients perceive as helpful to their recovery and to characterize the impact of the Trauma Survivor Network (TSN), a program committed to enhancing recovery through education and engagement. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Level 1 trauma center. Patients/Participants Four hundred eighty-five patients with musculoskeletal injuries. Two hundred eleven were exposed to TSN resources (Group 1). One hundred thirty-five patients were treated during the same period with no exposure (Group 2, control). One hundred thirty-nine patients were treated 1 to 3 months prior to TSN implementation (Group 3, control). Intervention TSN resources including educational materials, family classes, peer survivor visits, coaching, online services, and support groups. Main outcome measure A survey to assess hospital experience and perceptions about recovery. Results On a Likert scale from 0 to 5, patients were highly satisfied (mean 4.24), with no differences based on TSN exposure. Patients exposed to TSN programming reported greater perceived likelihood of recovery: mean 3.73 vs 3.41 vs 3.38, Group 1 vs Group 2 vs Group 3 (P = .05) and regarding return to daily activities: 3.69 vs 3.49 vs 3.10, P = .003. Fifty-three percent of Group 1 patients exposed to TSN programming utilized peer relationships and 42% read the educational materials provided. Support groups were also popular, with 26% of patients attending at least 1 session. Patients who recalled utilization of TSN services were overall highly satisfied with these services, mean 4.42. Conclusion Patients were overall highly satisfied with their hospital stay, with those exposed to TSN services reporting greater perceived likelihood of recovery and return to daily activities. Development of nontraditional services, including peer visitation and support groups, appears to enhance expectations about recovery.
Race and Gender Differences in Awareness of Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests and Guidelines Among Recently Diagnosed Colon Cancer Patients in an Urban Setting.

The purpose of this study was to first characterize the prevalence of recall, recognition, and knowledge of colon cancer screening tests and guidelines (collectively, “awareness”) among non-Hispanic black (NHB) and NH white (NHW) urban colon cancer patients. Second, we sought to examine whether awareness was associated with mode of cancer detection. Low awareness regarding colon cancer screening tests and guidelines may explain low screening rates and high prevalence of symptomatic detection. We examined recall, recognition, and knowledge of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tests and guidelines and their associations with mode of cancer detection (symptomatic versus screen-detected) in 374 newly diagnosed NHB and NHW patients aged 45–79. Patients were asked to name or describe any test to screen for colon cancer (recall); next, they were given descriptions of stool testing and colonoscopy and asked if they recognized each test (recognition). Lastly, patients were asked if they knew the screening guidelines (knowledge). Overall, awareness of CRC screening guidelines was low; just 20% and 13% of patients knew colonoscopy and fecal test guidelines, respectively. Awareness of CRC screening tests and guidelines was especially low among NHB males, socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, and those diagnosed at public healthcare facilities. Inability to name or recall a single test was associated with reduced screen-detected cancer compared with recall of at least one test (36% vs. 22%, p = 0.01). Low awareness of CRC screening tests is a risk factor for symptomatic detection of colon cancer.
Weak Neutral Current Axial Form Factor Using $(\bar{\nu})\nu$-Nucleon Scattering and Lattice QCD Inputs

We present a determination of the neutral current weak axial charge $G^Z_A(0)=-0.654(3)_{\rm stat}(5)_{\rm sys}$ using the strange quark axial charge $G^s_A(0)$ calculated with lattice QCD. We then perform a phenomenological analysis, where we combine the strange quark electromagnetic form factor from lattice QCD with (anti)neutrino-nucleon scattering differential cross section from MiniBooNE experiments in a momentum transfer region $0.24\lesssim Q^2 \lesssim 0.71$ GeV$^2$ to determine the neutral current weak axial form factor $G^Z_A(Q^2)$ in the range of $0\lesssim Q^2\leq 1$ GeV$^2$. This yields a phenomenological value of $G^Z_A(0)=-0.687(89)_{\rm stat}(40)_{\rm sys}$. The value of $G^Z_A(0)$ constrained by the lattice QCD calculation of $G^s_A(0)$, when compared to its phenomenological determination, provides a significant improvement in precision and accuracy and can be used to provide a constraint on the fit to $G^Z_A(Q^2)$ for $Q^2>0$. This constrained fit leads to an unambiguous determination of (anti)neutrino-nucleon neutral current elastic scattering differential cross section near $Q^2=0$ and can play an important role in numerically isolating nuclear effects in this region. We show a consistent description of $G^Z_A(Q^2)$ obtained from the (anti)neutrino-nucleon scattering cross section data requires a nonzero contribution of the strange quark electromagnetic form factor. We demonstrate the robustness of our analysis by providing a post-diction of the BNL E734 experimental data.
Drosophila heart 3D segmentation using LSTM neural network in optical coherence microscopy (Conference Presentation)

We developed a custom convolutional neural network combined with long short-term memory , named FlyNet 2.0, to achieve accurate drosophila heart segmentation in the cross-sectional videos of drosophila heart acquired by optical coherence microscopy system. Our first version of FlyNet uses regular CNNs to only extract 2D spatial information from individual frames of drosophila heart OCM videos. LSTM utilizes both spatial and time information to further improve the drosophila heart segmentation performance. 500 thousands fly heart OCM images were employed to train and test with FlyNet 2.0. Drosophila heart OCM videos through multiple heartbeat cycles and different heartbeat dynamic recovery situations were tested with an intersection over union accuracy at 92%. With increased segmentation accuracy, dynamical cardiac parameters, like heart area, end diastolic diameter, and end systolic diameter, can be quantified more accurately for the study of drosophila cardiac disease.
Treatment Complications and Survival Among Children and Young Adults With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

PURPOSE:We previously demonstrated lower early mortality for young adults (YAs) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who received induction treatment at specialized cancer centers (SCCs) versus ...
The Software-Defined Radio (SDR)

Regardless of its modulation, a radio signal can be looked upon as an alternating current (AC), granted a very small one. This alternating current is therefore an analogue signal.
On the Low and High Frequency Correlation in Quasi-periodic Oscillations among White Dwarf, Neutron Star, and Black Hole Binaries

We interpret the correlation over 5 orders of magnitude between high frequency νhigh and low frequency νlow in quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) found by Psaltis, Belloni, & van der Klis for black hole (BH) and neutron star (NS) systems and then extended by Mauche to white dwarf (WD) binaries. The observed correlation strongly constrains theoretical models and provides clues to understanding the nature of the QPO phenomena at large. We argue that the observed correlation is a natural consequence of the Keplerian disk flow adjustment to the innermost sub-Keplerian boundary conditions near the central object that ultimately leads to the formation of the sub-Keplerian transition layer (TL) between the adjustment radius and the innermost boundary (the star surface for the NS and WD and the horizon for the BH). In the frameworks of the TL model, νhigh is related to the Keplerian frequency at the outer (adjustment) radius νK, and νlow is related to the magnetoacoustic oscillation frequency νMA. Using a relation between νMA, the magnetic and gas pressure, and the density and the hydrostatic equilibrium condition in the disk, we infer a linear correlation between νK and νMA. Identification of νhigh, νlow with νK, νMA, respectively, leads us to the determination of H/rout = 1.5 × 10-2 and β = 0.1 (where H is the half-width of the disk and β is a ratio of magnetic pressure to gas pressure). We estimate the magnetic field strength near the TL outer radius for BHs, NSs, and WDs. The fact that the observed high-low frequency correlation over 5 orders of magnitude is valid for BHs, NSs, and down to WDs strongly rules out relativistic models for QPO phenomena. We come to the conclusion that the QPO observations indicate the adjustment of the geometrically thin disk to sub-Keplerian motion near the central object. This effect is a common feature for a wide class of systems, starting from WD binaries up to BH binaries.
Grumpy Old Men: reconsidering Rational Choice & Political Power

A new, expanded edition of Keith Dowding’s Rational Choice & Political Power (PC&PP) provides an opportunity to examine the uses of game theoretic models in political inquiry. Specifically, it rais...
Population Codes Enable Learning from Few Examples By Shaping Inductive Bias

Abstract The brain can learn from a limited number of experiences, an ability which requires suitable built in assumptions about the nature of the tasks which must be learned, or inductive biases. While inductive biases are central components of intelligence, how they are reflected in and shaped by population codes are not well-understood. To address this question, we consider biologically-plausible reading out of an arbitrary stimulus-response pattern from an arbitrary population code, and develop an analytical theory that predicts the generalization error of the readout as a function of the number of samples. We find that learning performance is controlled by the eigenspectrum of the population code’s inner-product kernel, which measures the similarity of neural responses to two different input stimuli. Many different codes can realize the same kernel; by analyzing recordings from the mouse primary visual cortex, we demonstrate that biological codes are metabolically more efficient than other codes with identical kernels. We demonstrate that the spectral properties of the kernel introduce an inductive bias toward explaining stimulus-response samples with simple functions and determine compatibility of the population code with learning task, and hence the sample-efficiency of learning. While the tail of the spectrum is important for large sample size behavior of learning, for small sample sizes, the top eigenvalues of the spectrum govern generalization. We apply our theory to experimental recordings of mouse primary visual cortex neural responses, elucidating a bias towards sample-efficient learning of low frequency orientation discrimination tasks. We demonstrate this emergence of this bias in a simple model of primary visual cortex, and further show how invariances in the code to stimulus variations affect learning performance. Finally, we demonstrate that our methods are applicable to time-dependent neural codes. Overall, our study suggests sample-efficient learning as a general normative coding principle.
An approach for fatigue life prediction based on external heating

Abstract An approach is presented to predict fatigue life and energy dissipation based on the measurement of the electrical power consumption of an external heat source. In this method, the steady-state temperature profile of a specimen experiencing cyclic fatigue test is reproduced simply by externally heating the specimen with an electric coil with a DC source. The results show a direct relationship between the electric power consumption of heating coils and the fatigue plastic energy dissipation. This relationship is used as a tool to predict fatigue life.
Low-dose desoxycorticosterone pivalate treatment of hypoadrenocorticism in dogs: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background Desoxycorticosterone pivalate (DOCP) is a commonly used mineralocorticoid replacement for dogs with primary hypoadrenocorticism (HA), but manufacturer-recommended dosing protocols can be cost-prohibitive. Recent reports also have raised concerns that label dose protocols could be excessive. Objective To investigate the relative efficacy and adverse effects of 2 DOCP dosages in dogs with primary glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid deficient HA. Animals Thirty-seven dogs, including 19 test population dogs and 18 controls. Methods Randomized controlled double-blinded clinical trial. Dogs with newly diagnosed primary HA were assigned to standard (2.2 mg/kg q30d, control population) or low-dose (1.1 mg/kg q30d, test population) DOCP treatment. Clinical and laboratory variables were assessed 10 to 14 days and approximately 30 days after each DOCP treatment for 90 days. Results Mean serum sodium to potassium ratios at reevaluations were ≥32 in both populations throughout the study. No dog developed electrolyte abnormalities warranting medical treatment, although hypokalemia occurred on at least 1 occasion in 9 controls and 6 test population dogs. Urine specific gravities (median, interquartile range) were lower in control dogs (1.022, 1.016-1.029) as compared to test population dogs (1.033, 1.023-1.039; P = .006). Plasma renin activity was overly suppressed on 84 of 104 (80.8%) assessments in control dogs whereas increased renin activity occurred on 23 of 112 (20.5%) assessments in test population dogs. Conclusions and clinical importance Low-dose DOCP protocols appear to be safe and effective for treatment of HA in most dogs. Standard-dose protocols are more likely to result in biochemical evidence of overtreatment.
Structural Intersectionality as a New Direction for Health Disparities Research

This article advances the field by integrating insights from intersectionality perspectives with the emerging literatures on structural racism and structural sexism-which point to promising new ways to measure systems of inequality at a macro level-to introduce a structural intersectionality approach to population health. We demonstrate an application of structural intersectionality using administrative data representing macrolevel structural racism, structural sexism, and income inequality in U.S. states linked to individual data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to estimate multilevel models (N = 420,644 individuals nested in 76 state-years) investigating how intersecting dimensions of structural oppression shape health. Analyses show that these structural inequalities: (1) vary considerably across U.S. states, (2) intersect in numerous ways but do not strongly or positively covary, (3) individually and jointly shape health, and (4) are most consistently associated with poor health for black women. We conclude by outlining an agenda for future research on structural intersectionality and health.
Bureaucracy for democracy: administration in support of legislatures

If legislatures are to be effective rulemaking organisations, they require information and advice, usually provided by legislative staff. The levels of staffing varies markedly across countries, although most legislatures in European democracies have relatively small staffs. This article discusses the importance of different forms of staffing for assisting legislatures, and supporting democracy.
Eine Analyse der Kuhn-Tucker-Bedingungen stochastischer Programme unter dem Gesichtspunkt der Schätzung von Kalkulationszinsfüßen und Risikoabschlägen

Die Anwendung kombinatorischer Entscheidungsmodelle der Investitions- und Finanzplanung in der Praxis steckt immer noch in den Anfangen. Deshalb besteht nach wie vor ein reges Interesse an der Verwendung von einfachen Vorteilhaftigkeitskriterien fur Investitionsentscheidungen wie dem Kapitalwert, dem internen Zinsfus, der Amortisationsdauer und anderen. Auch im Schrifttum last sich angesichts des nur zogernden Vordringens der analytischen Planungsverfahren eine verstarkte Hinwendung zu heuristischen Verfahren im allgemeinen und zur Verfeinerung und besseren theoretischen Durchdringung von Naherungslosungen im Investitions- und Finanzierungsbereich im besonderen feststellen.
Porous Media Rheology of Emulsions in Tertiary Oil Recovery

Emulsions containing 5 wt % TRS 10-410, 3 wt % isobutanol, sodium chloride (X %), water and equal volume of dodecane oil were prepared by sonication and by hand-shaking. The coalescence behavior of emulsions was studied for hand-shaken as well as sonicated systems. In general, sonicated emulsions required a longer time for phase separation as compared to hand-shaken systems. It was observed that for both the cases, the coalescence rate at room temperature (25°C) was maximum at the optimal salinity (1.5% NaCl) while interfacial tension was minimum at this salinity.
AEROGEL: A TRANSPARENT INSULATOR FOR SOLAR APPLICATIONS*

ABSTRACT Aerogel is a transparent, low density, insulating material suitable for a variety of solar applications. Significant energy savings can be realized by using aerogel for a window glazing material. Other possible applications include solar collector covers, transparent insulating jackets for direct gain passive solar devices, and situations that require both transparency and good insulation. Because silica aerogel has a low density (2-10% solid), it has a thermal conductivity as low as 0.014 W/m°K without evacuation, and if evacuated, lower than 0.006 W/m°K. It provides a clear view with only slight coloring due to its weak and nearly isotropic scattering of light. This paper describes significant progress made in the past year at our laboratory in the development of aerogel. We have improved the transparency, developed new preparation methods using less toxic materials, and initiated successful experiments in drying alcogels at near ambient temperature. Optical transmission, light scattering, and electron microscopy data show that CO2 supercritical drying of alcogels produces aerogels similar in quality to those produced by high temperature supercritical drying. These advances make the commercial production of aerogel much more feasible.
A 5 GHz high efficiency and low distortion InGaP/GaAs HBT power amplifier MMIC

An InGaP/GaAs two-stage HBT power amplifier for 5 GHz Wireless-LAN applications was developed. By using a self-aligned base contact formation process and an external base region side etching process, a high gain HBT was realized. A small-sized via hole fabrication process was developed. The gain of multi-finger HBT was improved by locating via holes between each finger. Linearity was also improved by developing a new variable negative feedback circuit. A power amplifier MMIC utilizing this technology was fabricated, and 19.7 dBm output power, 22 dB gain, 22.5% power-added-efficiency (PAE), 5.0% error vector magnitude (EVM) were obtained at 54 Mbps transmission under a supply voltage of 3.3 V. These state of the art data represent the highest PAE reported for a the power amplifier MMIC in the 5 GHz Wireless-LAN application.
Gambierdiscus species exhibit different epiphytic behaviors toward a variety of macroalgal hosts

Abstract Ciguatera fish poisoning is a common form of seafood poisoning caused by toxins (ciguatoxins) that accumulate in demersal (reef) food webs. The precursors of ciguatoxins are produced by dinoflagellates of the genus Gambierdiscus, and enter the food web via herbivory and detritivory. The Gambierdiscus genus was recently revised and new research on the physiology and ecology of the revised species is needed. While it has been demonstrated that Gambierdiscus spp. are predominately epiphytic, the variability in epiphytic behavior among the various Gambierdiscus species is not known. Five Gambierdiscus species isolated from the Greater Caribbean Region were the focus of this study (G. belizeanus, G. caribaeus, G. carolinianus, G. carpenteri, and G. yasumotoi). Cells of Gambierdiscus were grown in wells with algae fragments from eight different macroalgal host genera (Acanthophora, Caulerpa, Dasya, Derbesia, Dictyota, Laurencia, Polysiphonia, and Ulva) where the epiphytic behavior and growth of the different Gambierdiscus species were monitored over 29 days. The results of this experiment demonstrate that epiphytic behavior (growth and attachment) differs among the Gambierdiscus species toward the various macroalgal hosts. Results tended to be specific to Gambierdiscus – host pairings with few commonalities in the way a particular Gambierdiscus species interacted across hosts or how the various Gambierdiscus species responded to a particular host. The Gambierdiscus – host pairings that resulted in the highest growth and attachment combinations were examined in terms of known cellular toxicity and host palatability to determine which pairings could represent the most likely vectors for the transfer of ciguatoxins (or precursors) into the demersal food web. Two pairings, Gambierdiscus belizeanus – Polysiphonia and G. belizeanus – Dictyota, best met these criteria, providing a hypothetical approach to better focus sampling and monitoring efforts on such potential vectors in the benthic environment.
Can Relaxation of Beliefs Rationalize the Winner's Curse?: An Experimental Study

We use a second-price common-value auction, called the maximal game, to experimentally study whether the winner's curse (WC) can be explained by models which retain best-response behavior but allow for inconsistent beliefs. We compare behavior in a regular version of the maximal game, where the WC can be explained by inconsistent beliefs, to behavior in versions where such explanations are less plausible. We find little evidence of differences in behavior. Overall, our study casts a serious doubt on theories that posit the WC is driven by beliefs.
Enhanced synthesis and accumulation of proteoglycans in cholesterol-enriched arterial smooth muscle cells

To determine the effects of lipid accumulation on proteoglycan synthesis, we studied proteoglycan biosynthesis in rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells in culture. Cholesterol-enrichment was accomplished by incubating confluent smooth muscle cells with cationized low-density lipoprotein. Control and cholesterol-enriched cells were incubated with [35S]sulphate, [3H]glucosamine, or [3H]serine. Metabolically labelled proteoglycans in the cell layer and medium were quantified. During a 20 h incubation period, proteoglycan synthesis in cholesterol-enriched cells increased by 40-50% above that in control cells. A similar increase in precursor incorporation into proteoglycans was also noted following a short 15 min pulse. The cholesterol-enriched cells also showed a 45-50% increase over control rates in the intralysosomal accumulation of a large chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan and a small dermatan sulphate proteoglycan. The enhanced synthesis of proteoglycans in cholesterol-enriched cultures was inhibited by cycloheximide and actinomycin D, which are inhibitors of protein synthesis and transcription respectively. Proteoglycan turnover was investigated by pulse-chase analysis. Following a 2-h pulse, intracellular proteoglycans in cholesterol-enriched cells disappeared, having a half-life of 26.5 h compared with 2.8 h for those in the control cells. The amount of trypsin-releasable proteoglycan was significantly reduced in cholesterol-enriched cells. In addition, the degradation of proteoglycans was severely retarded in cholesterol-enriched cultures. The activities of three acid hydrolases, N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase, beta-glucuronidase and cathepsin C, were significantly reduced in cholesterol-enriched cells compared with activities in control cells. The results indicate that proteoglycan metabolism is altered in cholesterol-enriched smooth muscle cells.
The envelope probability plot as a goodness-of-fit test

An envelope plot is a modification of the familiar probability plot that compares a set of data to a probability distribution. Simulation is used to assess and display the variability inherent in a probability plot. The resulting plot has been used as an informal check of the hypothesis that the data were sampled from the distribution. This paper examines the properties of the envelope plot as a formal goodness-of-fit test. Advantages include its versatility and graphical nature. However, it is shown that commonly used numbers of simulations lead to rather high Type I error rates; when the significance level is controlled, the power of the test may be low.
Vibration of an elastic tensegrity structure

The dynamic behavior of a simple elastic tensegrity structure is examined, in order to validate observations that the natural damping of the elastic elements in such a structure is poorly mobilized, due to the natural flexibility of the equilibrium position of the structure. It is confirmed, analytically and numerically, that the energy decay of such a system is slower than that of a linearly-damped system.
Oxidation of the Natural Amino Acids by a Ferryl Complex: Kinetic and Mechanistic Studies with Peptide Model Compounds

Kinetic and mechanistic studies detailing the oxidation of substrates derived from the 20 natural amino acids by the ferryl complex [FeIV(O)(N4Py)]2+ are described. Substrates of the general formula Ac-AA-NHtBu were treated with the ferryl complex under identical conditions ([Ac-AA-NHtBu] = 10 mM, [Fe] = 1 mM, 1:1 H2O/CH3CN), and pseudo-first-order rate constants were obtained. Relative rate constants calculated from these data illustrated the five most reactive substrates; in order of decreasing reactivity were those derived from Cys, Tyr, Trp, Met, and Gly. Second-order rate constants were determined for these substrates by varying substrate concentration under pseudo-first-order conditions. Substrates derived from the other natural amino acids did not display significant reactivity, accelerating decomposition of the ferryl complex at a rate less than 10 times that of the control reaction with no substrate added. Ferryl decomposition rates changed in D2O/CD3CN for the Cys, Tyr, and Trp substrates, givin...
New Observations on Vitiligo and Ocular Disease

We examined 223 consecutive patients with vitiligo for ocular disease and 154 consecutive patients with uveitis for vitiligo to better determine the nature of the relationship between vitiligo and ocular disease. Of the 129 patients whose uveitis had an unknown cause, seven (5.4%) had cutaneous depigmentation, poliosis, or early graying of hair. The incidence is 0.5% in the general population (P
All Things Being Equal: The Two Roads of Piaget and Vygotsky

Abstract The relationship between researchers and theorists who identify themselves as primarily Piagetian and researchers and theorists who identify themselves as primarily Vygotskian has been tumultuous. By contrast, Piaget and Vygotsky seemed to have a mutual admiration for each other′s work. The major argument over egocentric speech was more the result of misunderstanding than real opposition. The real disagreement between the two theorists concerns whether you must identify a primary cause in the developmental scheme. This difference should not be underplayed and has led to some true differences between the two theoretical perspectives in terms of emphasis and analysis of development. In spite of this difference the theories of Piaget and Vygotsky are remarkably similar, especially at their central core. It is just that Piaget focused on the natural laws of intellectual development while Vygotsky concentrated on the impact of culture. This paper explores the complimentary relationship between Vygotsky′s sociohistorical development and Piaget′s equilibration theory. The argument is made that both theorists start from basically the same place in developing their contributions to the study of development. New and important theoretical contributions may be possible through a dialectical integration of the two.
Design and implementation of a generic nonconformance tracking and recovery (GINTR) system

Nonconformance tracking and recovery remains a major issue in large complex manufacturing systems due to the complexity of manufacturing processes, diversity of parts, high density of nonconformances, and fuzziness of nonconformance information. In addition, the existing nonconformance tracking and recovery systems are usually special purpose systems. They lack the capabilities to migrate to new working domains and integrate with other systems. This research proposes a comprehensive approach to nonconformance tracking and recovery. In conjunction with the soft computing and case-based reasoning (CBR) technologies, a generic intelligent system is designed to address the nonconformance tracking and diagnosis problem. A system built under such a comprehensive approach can track the nonconformance with multiple causes as well as limited knowledge and provide timely diagnostic recovery. A prototype of the GINTR system has been developed using the Microsoft .NET technology, which is considered as the next generation distributed computing paradigm. The prototype system developed is generic, fault tolerant, and agile. It can be adapted to diverse complex manufacturing environments with minimum difficulty.
Physical properties of ribosomal protein S1 and its interaction with the 30 S ribosomal subunit of Escherichia coli.

Ribosomal protein S1 behaves in solution like a 10:1 prolate ellipsoid. Its tertiary structure is stabilized by considerable β-sheet and little α-helix (∼10% α-helix, ∼40% β-sheet). S1 bound to 30 S subunit is freely exchanged both with S1 free in solution and between subunits. Activated 30 S subunits (Zamir et al., 1971) bind one equivalent of S1 per particle; unactivated preparations can bind two.
SU‐FF‐T‐470: Head Leakage, Collimator Scatter, and Patient Scatter Contributions to Out‐Of‐Field Dose

Purpose: Head leakage, collimatorscatter, and patient scatter all contribute to dose outside of the treatment field during radiation therapy, which may lead to sequelae such as second cancers. In order to minimize out‐of‐field dose, it is essential to quantify the sources of this undesired radiation, particularly in the era of evolving radiation therapy.Method and Materials: The out‐of‐field dose was calculated with a previously benchmarked model of a Varian 2100 linac that was equipped with a 120 leaf MLC and was developed in MCNPX. The total out‐of‐field dose was calculated as a function of distance from the field edge for different field sizes, treatment energy, and linac configurations. In particular, the impact of removing the MLC, removing the flattening filter, and modulating the treatment field (IMRT) were evaluated. For each field and linac configuration, the head leakage, collimatorscatter, and patient scatter components were resolved by repeating simulations but eliminating particles either leaving the MLC opening (thereby isolating for head leakage), or entering the phantom within the primary field (thereby isolating for head leakage plus collimatorscatter).Results: In general, patient scatter dominated within ∼20 cm of the treatment field, while head leakage dominated at distances beyond ∼20 cm from the field edge. Collimatorscatter typically made up 20% of the out‐of‐field dose, regardless of distance from the field edge. Removal of the MLC increased head leakage, while removal of the flattening filter decreased head leakage and collimatorscatter, but increased patient scatter. Field modulation increased head leakage and collimatorscatter, while patient scatter was unchanged. Conclusion: Different linear accelerator configurations changed the relative importance of head leakage, collimatorscatter, and patient scatter contributions to the out‐of‐field dose. These differences should be considered when evaluating the out‐of‐field dose and techniques to reduce the out‐of‐field dose.
Alterations in the Ah Receptor Level after Staurosporine Treatment

Abstract Toxicity of 2,3,7 ,8-tetrachlorodibenzci- p -dioxin (TCDD) is known to be mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The ligand-receptor complex mediates the induction of CYP1A1 (cytochrome P 1 450) gene transcription through interaction with an Ah-responsive element. Staurosporine, a potent inhibitor of protein kinases inactivates the TCDD-induced CYPlAl gene transcription. This study was initiated to study binding capacity, capability to translocate, and levels of the AhR in Hepa 1 cells after staurosporine treatment. Levels of the AhR were quantitated in Hepa 1 cells by sandwich type radioimmunochemical method using Rpt 1 (AhR monoclonal antibody) as the primary antibody and [ 125 I]goat anti-mouse as the secondary antibody. Staurosporine treatment caused a time- and concentration-dependent decrease in the intracellular concentration of AhR. At 8 h, the EC 50 for the staurosporine-dependent decrease in AhR was 75 nM. Although the receptor levels decreased significantly, it did not affect the properties of the receptor as judged by its ligand binding capacity and functional nuclear translocation of the existing AhR. The iso-electric point of the receptor was essentially unaltered after staurosporine treatment, an indirect indication that the degree of AhR phosphorylation did not change. There could be a variety of explanations for these results such as the decrease in the AhR levels may be due to either an increase in proteolytic activity caused by the imbalance of kinase/phosphatase levels or a decrease in de novo receptor synthesis.
Analysis of inter-sensor interference for wireless SAW sensors

This paper presents a theoretical development of the effects of inter-sensor interference applicable to surface acoustic wave (SAW) multi-sensor systems. An approach is presented that statistically estimates desired wireless sensor signal degradation due to interference from other sensors in the system. A simple theoretical model is developed to estimate the inter-sensor interference. Simulations are performed that model the overlap of SAW signals, with consideration given to single frequency, single chip sensors as well as OFC SAWsensors. The simulations predict the degradation of the desired signal to noise due to other sensor responses moving into the desired time window. Results presented in this paper show that the SNR degrades rapidly as undesired sensors move into the desired sensor time window. The model is applicable to a broad range of possible sensor embodiments.
Post CMOS Nanoelectronics Research for the Next Generation Logic Switches

Electron charge has been the computational state variable for decades. The industry has benefited by scaling charge-based devices to provide better performance per unit cost. However, a new switch is urgently needed because scaling may fail to keep providing benefits at the historical rate. We discuss charge switch thermal dissipation limits, the nanoelectronics research initiative (NRI) effort, and emerging technologies in this paper.
The Library Liaison Toolkit: Learning to Bridge the Communication Gap

SUMMARY SUNY New Paltz established a library liaison program in 2001, long after such programs were commonplace at many U.S. college and university libraries. The program emerged, not simply from a desire to enhance library service, but because library faculty came to view it as a multi-faceted mechanism capable of addressing multiple concerns. The new library-wide initiative demanded high-level communication skills, an in-depth understanding of library policies and collection development practices, and increased knowledge about individual departments and the college. A collection of campus information resources and liaison training sessions, collectively called The Library Liaison Toolkit, was developed to build liaison expertise in these areas.
Urgency, uncertainty, and innovation: Building jet engines in postwar America

Organizational history and theory have in recent years begun to integrate the non rational dimensions of action, relationships, and problem-solving with foundational under-standings of rationality.This study demonstrates that when insufficient knowledge bases and extreme urgency are involved, conditions underlying Cold War business- government technological innovations, rational approaches to management and plan ning can prove more metaphorical and confusing than helpful.The case of aircraft jet engine design and fabrication indicates the significance of theoretical frameworks fash ioned by Brunsson and Weick, including the notion of impressionistic management, for situations where innovation is undertaken at the edges of technical and scientific knowl edgeability.
Birth Cohort Differences in Self-Esteem, 1988–2008: A Cross-Temporal Meta-Analysis:

Three meta-analyses find increases over the generations in Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale (RSE) scores between 1988 and 2008 among American middle school (d = 0.78, n = 10,119), high school (d = 0.39,...
Serum lipoproteins of rats bearing transplanted Morris hepatoma 7777.

The serum lipoprotein patterns of Buffalo-strain rats bearing hepatoma 7777 were determined in the 2nd, 4th and 5th weeks after transplantation of the tumor. The result indicated the presence of a slow-moving HDL component which was similar to that observed previously in Holtzman rats given 0.03% N-2-fluorenylacetamide. Five weeks after transplantation of the tumor, the serum lipoproteins were isolated ultracentrifugally and quantified by chemical analyses and by disc electrophoresis using a protein stain. These results have confirmed the increase in serum lipoproteins, especially the high density lipoprotein, HDL2, in these tumor-bearing rats. The serum total lipid, cholesterol and phospholipid were considerably increased while the total serum proteins were only slightly elevated in rats with tumors as compared to control rats. A new α1-globulin component was observed in the serum protein patterns in the tumor-bearing rats.
Water quality monitoring—Some practical sampling frequency considerations

Water quality monitoring involves sampling a “population,” water quality, that is changing over time. Sample statistics (e.g., sample mean) computed from data collected by a monitoring network can be affected by three general factors: (1) random changes due to storms, rainfall, etc.; (2) seasonal changes in temperature, rainfall, etc.; and (3) serial correlation or duplication in information from sample to sample. (Closely spaced samples will tend to give similar information).
Linking genetically-defined neurons to behavior through a broadly applicable silencing allele

Tools for suppressing synaptic transmission gain power when able to target highly selective neuron subtypes, thereby sharpening attainable links between neuron type, behavior, and disease; and when able to silence most any neuron subtype, thereby offering broad applicability. Here, we present such a tool, RC::PFtox, that harnesses breadth in scope along with high cell-type selection via combinatorial gene expression to deliver tetanus toxin light chain (tox), an inhibitor of vesicular neurotransmission. When applied in mice, we observed cell-type-specific disruption of vesicle exocytosis accompanied by loss of excitatory postsynaptic currents and commensurately perturbed behaviors. Among various test populations, we applied RC::PFtox to silence serotonergic neurons, en masse or a subset defined combinatorially. Of the behavioral phenotypes observed upon en masse serotonergic silencing, only one mapped to the combinatorially defined subset. These findings provide evidence for separability by genetic lineage of serotonin-modulated behaviors; collectively, these findings demonstrate broad utility of RC::PFtox for dissecting neuron functions.
ACADEMIA AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

In recent years a revolutionary shift has occurred in the federal goovernment—-higher education relationship. Why didn't higher education resist more vigorously federal encroachment in its autonomy? First, academia focused its attention on the wrong kind of threat. Second, federal involvement was useful for solving problems on campus and often was in keeping with objectives and values supported in academia institutions. Third, the rise of public institutions altered the receptivity of higher education to accepting federal funds and pursuing direct solutions to society's problems, i.e. to being “involved” at the expense of autonomy. Finally, higher education's traditional strategy of being aloof from partisan politics kept it from vigorously defending its interests. Alternatives for the future appear to be: 1) a reorganisation of higher education to make it a clear, systematic agent of national policy, or 2) a successful effort by higher education to convert itself into an effective national interest group.
THE PREPARATION OF SAMARIUM BORIDES AND THEIR INTERACTION WITH BORON NITRIDE, MOLYBDENUM AND TUNGSTEN

Abstract A simple equation does not describe the reaction of samarium sesquioxide and boron, since the products vary with both temperature and length of time at temperature. Metals such as molybdenum and tungsten react with samarium boride phases at elevated temperatures forming delta molybdenum boride and tungsten diboride, respectively, and liberate gaseous samarium. Tetraboride specimens of volatile lanthanide elements may of prepared free of the hexaboride by heating the elements in a bomb.
Efficient image compression algorithm for computer-animated images

An image compression algorithm is described. The algorithm is an extension of the run-length image compression algorithm and its implementation is relatively easy. This algorithm was implemented and compared with other existing popular compression algorithms and with the Lempel-Ziv (LZ) coding. The Lempel- Ziv algorithm is available as a utiilty in the UNIX operating system and is also referred to as the UNIX uncompress. Sometimes our algorithm is best in terms of saving memory space, and sometimes one of the competing algorithms is best. The algorithm is lossless, and the intent is for the algorithm to be used in computer graphics animated images. Comparisons made with the LZalgorithm indicate that the decompression time using our algorithm is faster than that using the LZ algorithm. Once the data are in memory, a relatively simple and fast transformation is applied to uncompress the file.
Lethal oxygen levels at different temperatures and the preferred temperature during hypoxia of the Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L.

The behavioural thermoregulation of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua L. was investigated in a shuttlebox at normoxia and at three levels of hypoxia: 30, 20 and 15% oxygen saturation. The preferred temperatures at normoxia, 30, 20 and 15% oxygen saturation were 13·9, 13·1. 10·0 and 8·8° C, respectively. A decrease in metabolism and an increased blood oxygen affinity are among the physiological advantages of selecting a lower temperature during hypoxia. Furthermore the chances of surviving low oxygen saturations are better at low temperatures. In natural environments, this behaviour may result in habitat shifts of fish living in heterothermal environments with changing oxygen saturations, especially in coastal areas with eutrophication, as for example the Baltic Sea.
Prospective surveillance of hospitalisations associated with varicella-zoster virus infections in children and adolescents

Our goal was to determine the epidemiology of severe varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections in hospitalised paediatric patients. Admissions associated with VZV infection of patients aged 0–16 years were reported by all 38 paediatric units in Switzerland to the Swiss Paediatric Surveillance Unit (SPSU) during 3 consecutive years (4/2000–3/2003). We verified completeness of reporting by capture-recapture analysis with patient records identified by ICD-10 codes. Outcome of illness was assessed 6 months after hospitalisation. A total of 335 cases (235 identified by SPSU reports, 100 by ICD-10 code) were included in this study. Mean age of patients was 4.1 years (median 3.5 years, range 0–16 years); 54% were male. Some 293 (87%) patients presented with chickenpox, 42 (13%) with herpes zoster and 291 (87%) patients were not immunocompromised. A total of 319 complications occurred in 237 (71%) patients: secondary bacterial infections (n =109); central nervous system involvement (n =76); VZV pneumonitis (n =7); others (n =127). Eleven (3%) patients required intensive care and three died. On follow-up, 303 (96%) of 315 patients had completely recovered; sequelae were present in 12 (4%) patients. The calculated hospitalisation rate was 13 per 104 cases. Conclusion:This study describes a sizeable hospitalisation and complication rate of varicella-zoster virus infections and provides a solid basis for future immunisation recommendations in Switzerland.
Temporal polarization preservation in human breast tissue: a method for optical imaging

The degree of polarization of polarized light as it propagates through breast tissues depends on the type of tissue and light wavelength. This feature was used to image cancerous tissue where tumor was clearly distinguished from the normal tissue.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.