cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: isolation of a virus encephalitogenic for ferrets.

A preliminary report [1] described encephalitis in ferrets injected intracerebrally with suspensions of brain tissue obtained at biopsy of 3 patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). This encephalitis, characterized by abnormal electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns and histologic lesions, was successfully transmitted serially in ferrets by intracerebral subinoculation of suspensions of ferret brain tissue. Subsequent to this report, several laboratories, including our own, succeeded in establishing cultures of brain cells from biopsies of patients with SSPE. These tissue cultures, after serial cell transfers, showed the presence of syncytia and giant cells. Cells in these cultures contained intranuclear
Two novel quantitative trait linkage analysis statistics based on the posterior probability of linkage: application to the COGA families

In this paper we apply two novel quantitative trait linkage statistics based on the posterior probability of linkage (PPL) to chromosome 4 from the GAW 14 COGA dataset. Our approaches are advantageous since they use the full likelihood, use full phenotypic information, do not assume normality at the population level or require population/sample parameter estimates; and like other forms of the PPL, they are specifically tailored to accumulate linkage evidence, either for or against linkage, across multiple sets of heterogeneous data. The first statistic uses all quantitative trait (QT) information from the pedigree (QT-posterior probability of linkage, PPL); we applied the QT-PPL to the trait ecb21 (resting electroencephalogram). The second statistic allows simultaneous incorporation of dichotomous trait data into the QT analysis via a threshold model (QTT-PPL); we applied the QTT-PPL to combined data on ecb21 and ALDX1. We obtained a QT-PPL of 96% at GABRB1 and a QT-PPL of 18% at FABP2 while the QTT-PPL was 4% and 2% at the same two loci, respectively. By comparison, the variance-components (VC) method, as implemented in SOLAR, yielded multipoint VC LOD scores of 2.05 and 2.21 at GABRB1 and FABP2, respectively; no other VC LODs were greater than 2. The QTT-PPL was only 4% at GABARB1, which might suggest that the underlying ecb21 gene does not also cause ALDX1, although features of the data complicate interpretation of this result.
Emergence of new classes of recreational drugs-synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones.

Designer drugs represent an increasingly popular form of recreational substance abuse, especially amongst young adults. The two classes of designer drugs that have recently risen to prominence are the synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones. These substances are not detected by conventional drug screening methods and can often be associated with serious health consequences, including seizures, renal failure and death. Thus, clinicians should be familiar with the signs, symptoms, and toxicities associated with the use of these substances, and maintain a high level of suspicion for synthetic drugs as an alternative means of “getting high.” We present a case of a 20-year-old college student who presented to the emergency department with altered mental status and severe agitation who later admitted to using bath salts. The goal of this article is to raise awareness about these new designer drugs, their clinical presentation, and management of their intoxication.
Energy flux and convergence patterns in the lower and middle stratosphere during the IQSY

The vertical and horizontal fluxes of energy by large-scale standing waves have been estimated on a monthly basis for the IQSY for the 100–10 mb region. A large upward flux into the region occurs in winter some of which passes into the atmosphere above 10 mb, where it may exceed the energy generated there by radiative processes. The meridional wave energy flux diverges from the 40°–60°N region and converges in both high and low latitudes in winter. The total energy flux convergence pattern shows that the polar night jet in the lower stratosphere in winter is a source of kinetic energy; when the jet collapses in the spring the same region turns into a strong sink and it is noted that while this was a gradual process in 1965 and occupied three months, there was a large absorption in March 1964 that dominated the energetics pattern in spring. The largest energy absorption occurs with the largest energy flux into the region, thus supporting previous suggestions that the spring warming is ultimately dependent on tropospheric events. The adiabatic approximation was used in the flux computations and the role of radiative processes in the observed events is briefly discussed.
Evidence for genetic heterogeneity in Dent's disease.

Evidence for genetic heterogeneity in Dent's disease. Background Dent's disease (X-linked nephrolithiasis) is a proximal tubulopathy that has been consistently associated with inactivating mutations in the CLCN5 gene encoding the ClC-5 chloride channel expressed in tubular epithelial cells. Methods We performed mutation analysis of the coding region of CLCN5 by DNA sequencing in 32 unrelated males, all of whom met the following three clinical criteria for the diagnosis of Dent's disease: ( 1 ) low-molecular-weight (LMW) proteinuria; ( 2 ) hypercalciuria; and ( 3 ) at least one of the following: nephrocalcinosis, kidney stones, renal insufficiency, hypophosphatemia, or hematuria. Results Sixteen mutations (ten missense, four nonsense, two frameshift) were found in 19 patients. Mutations were confirmed by restriction analysis or allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), segregated with disease in the families, and were not polymorphisms. In the other 13 patients with Dent's disease, the coding sequence of CLCN5 was normal. In these 13 patients, we also sequenced two regions of the CLCN5 promoter (626 and 586bp, respectively, 2.1 and 1kb upstream of exon 2) containing regulatory sites [activating protein-1 (AP-1)-like, AP-4, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-receptor element binding protein (CREB)] and primary and secondary transcription start sites. We found no mutations in these promoter sequences in any of the 13 patients. In one three-generation family, the absence of mutation was confirmed by sequencing in two additional affected family members, and in this family haplotype analysis excluded linkage to the region of the CLCN5 gene. There were no differences between the 19 patients with CLCN5 mutations and the 13 without mutations with regard to any clinical features of Dent's disease. Conclusion These findings suggest that mutation in other gene(s) may be responsible for the phenotype of Dent's disease in some patients.
Broadband uniplanar hybrid ring coupler

A new uniplanar hybrid ring coupler using coplanar waveguide (CPW) and slotline is presented. This new coupler provides substantially improved amplitude and phase characteristics over a broad bandwidth compared with the conventional microstrip hybrid ring couplers. Experimental results show that the new coupler has a bandwidth of approximately one octave from 2 to 4 GHz with ±0.25 dB power dividing balance and ±1° phase balance.
Effects of intravesical instillation of resiniferatoxin on bladder function and nociceptive behavior in freely moving, conscious rats.

Purpose: A new animal model in which to concurrently evaluate bladder function and nociceptive behavior was developed using freely moving, noncatheterized, conscious rats to assess the nociceptive behavior responses induced by intravesical instillation of resiniferatoxin (Sigma®) and its relationship with bladder dysfunction.Materials and Methods: In female Sprague-Dawley rats resiniferatoxin (0, 0.3 and 3 μM) was instilled via a catheter that was temporarily inserted into the bladder through the urethra. After removing the catheter the incidence of nociceptive behavior (lower abdominal licking and freezing) was scored. Voided urine was collected continuously to measure bladder capacity. In some rats the pudendal nerves were transected bilaterally to eliminate the activation of urethral afferents by resiniferatoxin.Results: Intravesical instillation of resiniferatoxin induced decreased bladder capacity and increased nociceptive behaviors, such as licking and freezing, which were blocked by the transient r...
Induction of heme oxygenase in intestinal epithelial cells: studies in Caco-2 cell cultures

Enterally administered, heme is a good source of iron in humans and other animals, but the metabolism of heme by enterocytes has not been fully characterized. Caco-2 cells in culture provide a useful model for studying cells that resemble small intestinal epithelium, both morphologically and functionally. In this paper we show that heme oxygenase, the rate-controlling enzyme of heme catabolism, is present in abundance in Caco-2 cells, and that levels of its mRNA and activity can be increased by exposure of the cells to heme or metal ions (cadmium, cobalt). Caco-2 cells also contain biliverdin reductase activity which, in the basal state, is similar to that of heme oxygenase (approximately 40 pmole of product per mg protein per minute); however, when heme oxygenase is induced, biliverdin reductase may become rate-limiting for bilirubin production.
A method for reverse engineering of material microstructure for heterogeneous CAD

Integration of material composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties with geometry information enables design and analysis of materials and products in a computer-aided design (CAD) environment. In this paper, we propose a method for the construction of material models from microstructure images, that can be integrated into a heterogeneous CAD representation. The method utilizes Radon and wavelet transforms to compute a surfacelet representation. A novel feature recognition method was developed to identify microstructure features, including embedded fibers and grain boundaries, from the surfacelet representation. The models and methods were demonstrated with examples of synthetic and engineered polymer nanocomposites, a metal alloy, and a medical dataset of human feet.
Teachers Explore Knowledge Management and E-Learning as Models for Professional Development

It is interesting to report that the educators who took part in this look at KM and e-leaming have a great expectation of the development of online communities of learning. As one said in an e-mail message three days after the end of the course, “I just keep logging back on looking for interesting ideas and discussions with my extended family—I guess I’m addicted.” The model of resource gathering, resource sharing, collaboration and responsibility for learning which seems natural in an online course may be training the students to expect these same elements in professional development. Knowledge management and e-learning may provide additional conceptual models to build professional development to match these expectations.
Satisfaction with life for patients undergoing hemodialysis and patients suffering from osteoarthritis.

Two groups of chronically ill patients, alike in some respects of psychological stress and physical limitations but differing in degrees of physical threat to life because of treatment, were compared in terms of quality of life. Twenty patients undergoing hemodialysis at a satellite center and 20 patients with severe osteoarthritis receiving care at a hospital clinic, ranging in age from 40 to 60 years, were randomly selected and asked to rate themselves on Cantril's self-anchoring scale in relation to pase, present, and future life satisfaction. An ANOVA for simple main effects indicated that patients undergoing hemodialysis viewed present life satisfaction significantly higher, F = 4.81, p less than .05, than did patients with arthritis. Expectation for greater life satisfaction tended to be slightly better for dialysis patients, but not significantly so; past life satisfaction was the same for both groups. Dialysis patients viewed their present life better than past life, whereas arthritis patients had the opposite viewpoint. The increased life satisfaction among dialysis patients may be the result of an increased sense of physical well-being because of the dialysis procedure, and chronic pain may be a factor in the decreased life satisfaction among arthritis patients.
Mechanical Properties of Au Films on Silicon Substrates

This paper presents the results of recent studies of the effects of film thickness on the mechanical properties of electron-beam (e-beam) deposited Au films on silicon substrates. Following a brief description of film microstructure and surface topography, film mechanical properties (Young's modulus and hardness) are determined using nanoindentation techniques. The effects of stiff silicon substrates on the Young's modulus are analyzed within the framework established by King [6 8]. The effects of indentation size on film hardness are also explained within the context of strain gradient plasticity theories and substrate effects. The plasticity length scale parameters are shown to scale with film thickness. The amount of material pile up is also shown to increase with decreasing film thickness, for a given ratio of indentation depth to film thickness. The implications of the work are discussed for applications of Au films on silicon substrates.
Differential scanning calorimetry studies on coal. 1. Pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere

Abstract Results of thermal changes involved during the pyrolysis of twelve US coals of various ranks in a helium atmosphere at 5.6 MPa (gauge) and temperatures up to 580 °C are reported. Thermal effects during pyrolysis of coals ranging in rank from anthracite to HVC bituminous are endothermic in nature over the temperature range investigated. Exothermic heats are observed only in the case of sub-bituminous and lignitic coals. The net thermal effects, that is the resultant of endothermic and exothermic heats, go from endothermic to exothermic with increase in carbon content, a transition occurring around 66% carbon and another in the reverse direction at about 75% carbon. A maximum in exothermicity occurs around 71% carbon and in endothermicity at about 81% carbon. Results have been compared with published DTA data on coals. The fallacy in the interpretation of published DTA thermograms of coals, where weight changes accompany thermal effects, is discussed.
Life cycle analysis of algae biodiesel

Algae biomass has great promise as a sustainable alternative to conventional transportation fuels. In this study, a well-to-pump life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to investigate the overall sustainability and net energy balance of an algal biodiesel process. The goal of this LCA was to provide baseline information for the algae biodiesel process. The functional unit was 1,000 MJ of energy from algal biodiesel using existing technology. Systematic boundary identification was performed using relative mass, energy, and economic value method using a 5% cutoff value. Primary data for this study were obtained from The USLCI database and the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy use in Transportation model. Carbohydrates in coproducts from algae biodiesel production were assumed to displace corn as a feedstock for ethanol production. For every 24 kg of algal biodiesel produced (1,000 MJ algae biodiesel), 34 kg coproducts are also produced. Total energy input without solar drying is 3,292 and 6,194 MJ for the process with filter press and centrifuge as the initial filtering step, respectively. Net CO2 emissions are −20.9 and 135.7 kg/functional unit for a process utilizing a filter press and centrifuge, respectively. In addition to the −13.96 kg of total air emissions per functional unit, 18.6 kg of waterborne wastes, 0.28 kg of solid waste, and 5.54 Bq are emitted. The largest energy input (89%) is in the natural gas drying of the algal cake. Although net energy for both filter press and centrifuge processes are −6,670 and −3,778 MJ/functional unit, respectively, CO2 emissions are positive for the centrifuge process while they are negative for the filter press process. Additionally, 20.4 m3 of wastewater per functional unit is lost from the growth ponds during the 4-day growth cycle due to evaporation. This LCA has quantified one major obstacle in algae technology: the need to efficiently process the algae into its usable components. Thermal dewatering of algae requires high amounts of fossil fuel derived energy (3,556 kJ/kg of water removed) and consequently presents an opportunity for significant reduction in energy use. The potential of green algae as a fuel source is not a new idea; however, this LCA and other sources clearly show a need for new technologies to make algae biofuels a sustainable, commercial reality.
Study of a Novel High-Strength Antibacterial Dental GIC Restorative

We have developed a novel high-strength antibacterial dental glass-ionomer cement (GIC). The functional quaternary ammonium salt (QAS)-constructed polymer (PQAS) was synthesized, characterized and formulated into the experimental high-strength cements. Compressive strength (CS) and S. mutans viability were used to evaluate the mechanical strength and antibacterial activity of the formed cements. Fuji II LC cement was used as control. The specimens were conditioned in distilled water at 37 °C for 24 h prior to testing. All the PQAS-containing cements showed a significant antibacterial activity, accompanying with an initial CS reduction. Increasing chain length, loading, grafting ratio significantly enhanced antibacterial activity but reduced the initial CS. Under the same substitute chain length, the cements containing QAS bromide were found to be more antibacterial than those containing QAS chloride although the CS values of the cements were not statistically different from each other, suggesting that we can use QAS bromide directly without converting bromide to chloride. The experimental cement showed less CS reduction and higher antibacterial activity than Fuji II LC. The long-term aging study suggests that the cements may have a long-lasting antibacterial function.
Treatment with different chemicals and their effects on the digestibility of maize stalks. 1. In vitro studies

Ground maize stalks (60% moisture) were treated with different chemical reagents to study their effects on in vitro organic matter disappearance (IVOMD). Urea (6.6%), urea (6.6%) + Ca(OH)2 (5.0%), Ca(OH)2 (5.0%), NaOH (1%) + Ca(OH)2 (5.0%), SO2 (5.0%) and urea (6.6%) followed by SO2 (5.0%) were the chemicals used. The treated maize stalks were incubated at 45 °C for 0, 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 10 and 14 days. In addition to these, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was used in different H2O2: substrate ratios (0:1, 1:20, 1:15, 1:10, 1:8, 1:6, 1:5 and 1:4) to react with alkaline maize stalks. Ca(OH)2 was used as an alkaline reagent. The IVOMD of treated maize stalks was improved by 21.97%, 19.21% and 46.81% when treated with urea, SO2 and urea + SO2 respectively. Using H2O2 to react with alkaline maize stalks in a ratio of 1:5 (H2O2: substrate) improved the IVOMD by 29.01%.
The relationship of olfactory receptor stimulation to stimulus-environmental temperature

Abstract Olfactory discrimination thresholds for ethyl alcohol were measured as a function of stimulus-air stream temperature on four adult human subjects. The apparatus provided control of temperature, humidity, flow rate and odor vapor concentration. A continuous forced flow system delivered air and odorant to the subject through nosepieces inserted in the nostrils. Threshold measures were taken at 5-deg intervals from 15 to 45 C. Over this range log threshold was a linear function of temperature; group mean thresholds were reliably different (P
The Use of a Three-Zone Combustion Model to Determine Nitric Oxide Emissions From a Homogeneous-Charge, Spark-Ignited Engine

Nitric oxide emissions were estimated for a homogeneous-charge, spark-ignited automotive engine using a cycle simulation which employed three zones for the combustion process: (1) unburned gas, (2) adiabatic core region, and (3) boundary-layer gas. The use of the adiabatic core region has been shown to be especially necessary to capture the production of nitric oxides which are highly temperature dependent. The effects of major engine parameters such as equivalence ratio, spark timing, inlet manifold pressure, and engine speed on nitric oxide emissions are examined. In particular, the detail reasons for the effects of these engine parameters on the nitric oxide emissions are presented. Comparisons are completed between the computed values and a set of published measurements for the nitric oxide concentrations. Although not all engine parameters were known, reasonable agreement is demonstrated for most cases. In particular, the variations of nitric oxide concentrations as engine speed increased were duplicated. As an example, four operating conditions are examined in detail to help explain the measured results. Nitric oxide emissions are shown to be mainly the net result of gas temperatures, oxygen concentrations, and residence times.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Ethiopian rift and plateaus: Some volcanic petrochemical differences

Volcanism on the Arabo-Ethiopian swell has accompanied the development of the three traversing spreading zones conjoining at Afar: the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and African rift systems. The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden floors are formed by oceanic tholeiites, but Afar and the main Ethiopian rift show a wider range of more alkaline volcanics. related to slower crustal spreading rates. The high plateaus between the rifts have had a strongly alkaline volcanism. The plateau basalts and especially the intermediate lavas are much more undersaturated than their rift equivalents, and are enriched in potash and Al/Fe. The silicic volcanics of the rift are soda-iron enriched relative to the plateau silicics. Magmatic composition can be equated with depth of melting, but the voluminous silicic volcanics are not the products of fractionation, direct partial melting, or anatexis of continental crust: the accretion hypothesis of Battey is supported and developed.
Determination of trimethoprim in low-volume human plasma by liquid chromatography.

Abstract Trimethoprim is an anti-infective agent used in the treatment of urinary and respiratory tract infections and mild to moderate pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Trimethoprim is also a selective in vitro inhibitor of cytochrome P450 2C8 and may have utility as an in vivo inhibitor of this enzyme. A simplified high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to determine trimethoprim in human plasma. Samples are processed by protein precipitation with perchloric acid and chromatographic separation is achieved on a Synergi Polar-RP column (4 micron, 150 mm ×4.6 mm) using a mobile phase consisting of 50 mM ammonium formate-acetonitrile-methanol (pH=3.0; 90:6:4 (v/v/v)). Detection is monitored at 280 nm. Intra- and inter-day precision ranged from 1.1 to 1.9 and 0.9 to 4.1%, respectively. The assay is simple, economical, precise, and is directly applicable to human studies involving steady state trimethoprim pharmacokinetics.
A novel member of the RING‐finger gene family associated with reproductive tissues of the mosquito, Aedes aegypti

The RING finger is a zinc-binding domain that is found in proteins from viruses, plants and animals. Here we report the characterization and tissue-specific expression of a mosquito gonadal protein gene, mgp, from the mosquito, Aedes aegypti. The putative gene product, MGP, contains two RING fingers, a B-box, and a hydrophobic core. These mosquito MGP structural motifs are highly conserved in proteins found in mouse and nematode. Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization demonstrated the presence of multiple mgp RNA transcripts in male and female reproductive tissues. Expression of mgp in the ovary is constitutive, but an increase in message was observed in the ovaries of female mosquitoes previously exposed to a blood meal. These results suggest that MGP is a protein that might play a role(s) in mosquito gametogenesis.
Interest on reserves and reserve interest elasticity: Evidence and macroeconomic implications

Abstract Federal Reserve Banks do not pay interest on bank reserve deposits. This study offers evidence that an effect of such payments would be to increase the absolute interest elasticity of bank reserve ratios. The implications of the effect for macroeconomic stability and macroeconomic policies are noted.
Sensitive Serum Calcium Procedure Using ZnEGTA/5-Br-Paps

Abstract An analytical procedure for the determination of serum total calcium concentration utilizing displacement methodology is described. Zinc liberated by calcium from a Zn-EGTA chelate reacts with 5-Br-Paps to form a red complex whose absorbance is measured at 552 nm against a reagent blank. Its calibration curve is linear to a calcium concentration of 4 mmol/liter and the procedure is free from interference from hemolysis, icterus, and magnesium. Although copper, iron, and zinc are potential interfering metals, they would not be expected to interfere with the determination under normal circumstances. Interference by hypertriglyceridemia, a significant optical disturbance, is eliminated by the incorporation of enzymic clearing into the procedure. The proposed method correlates well with a commercial o-cresolphthalein complexone calcium procedure (y = 0.98x − 0.036, r = 0.936, n = 50).
Selective Deposition of a Cross-Linked Low-Permittivity Polycarbosilane on Copper

Differential scanning calorimetry studies of the reaction of a cyclolinear polycarbosilane [cyclo-(CH3Si(CH2)2SiCH3)-(CH2)6]n on air-exposed Cu surfaces reveal a substantial enhancement of the cros...
Image Quality: Two Current Issues

Some of the controversies surrounding the possible standardization fo an MTFA- type image quality predictor equation for VDTs were discussed. For instance, the metric treats display system spatial modulation transfer and observer contrast threshold as continuous functions of spatial frequency, the unitary image quality criterion being related to the area between the functions.
MASON--Frequency-response program for continuous and discrete control systems

MASON is a frequency-response computer program useful in the design and analysis of linear control systems. Complex signal flow graphs involving either Laplace- or z -transform transmittances are reduced via a computational algorithm based on Mason's Gain Formula. Continuous-time systems are evaluated with s = jw , and discrete-time systems use z = \exp(sT) . The transmittances may include polynomial expressions, transport lags, or actual gain/ phase data from experimental testing. The input structure is user-oriented, providing for simple transfer-function representation between nodes. Frequency response, resonant peak, resonant frequency, and gain and phase margins are calculated where appropriate, and form the program output.
Effects of manganese toxicity on leaf CO2 assimilation of contrasting common bean genotypes

Parameters related to leaf photosynthesis were evaluated in three genotypes of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with contrasting tolerance to Mn toxicity. Two short-term studies in solution culture were used to assess the effect of excess Mn on CO 2 assimilation in mature and immature leaves. Mn toxicity decreased total chlorophyll content only in immature leaves, with a consequent reduction of leaf CO 2 assimilation. Mature leaves that showed brown speckles characteristic of Mn toxicity, did not suffer any detriment in their capacity to assimilate CO 2 , at least in a 4-day experiment. Stomatal conductance and transpiration were not affected by the presence of high levels of Mn in leaf tissue. Lower stomatal conductance and transpiration rates were observed only in leaves with advanced chlorosis. Differences among genotypes were detected as increased chlorosis in the more sensitive genotype ZPV-292, followed by A-283 and less chlorosis in the tolerant genotype CALIMA. Since CO 2 assimilation expressed per unit of chlorophyll was not different between high-Mn plants and control plants, we conclude that the negative effect of Mn toxicity on CO 2 assimilation can be explained by a reduction in leaf chlorophyll content.
The context for development work in student affairs

This chapter reviews the circumstances in which fundraising in student affairs has evolved and the ways in which development work is well suited for student affairs operations.
A Comparison Study of EOF Techniques: Analysis of Nonstationary Data with Periodic Statistics

Abstract Identification of independent physical/dynamical modes and corresponding principal component time series is an important aspect of climate studies for they serve as a tool for detecting and predicting climate changes. While there are a number of different eigen techniques their performance for identifying independent modes varies. Considered here are comparison tests of eight eigen techniques in identifying independent patterns from a dataset. A particular emphasis is given to cyclostationary processes such as deforming and moving patterns with cyclic statistics. Such processes are fairly common in climatology and geophysics. Two eigen techniques that are based on the cyclostationarity assumption—cyclostationary empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) and periodically extended EOFs—perform better in identifying moving and deforming patterns than techniques based on the stationarity assumption. Application to a tropical Pacific surface temperature field indicates that the first dominant pattern and ...
Spectrally resolving and scattering-compensated x-ray luminescence/fluorescence computed tomography

The nanophosphors, or other similar materials, emit near-infrared (NIR) light upon x-ray excitation. They were designed as optical probes for in vivo visualization and analysis of molecular and cellular targets, pathways, and responses. Based on the previous work on x-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT) and x-ray luminescence computed tomography (XLCT), here we propose a spectrally-resolving and scattering-compensated x-ray luminescence/fluorescence computed tomography (SXLCT or SXFCT) approach to quantify a spatial distribution of nanophosphors (other similar materials or chemical elements) within a biological object. In this paper, the x-ray scattering is taken into account in the reconstruction algorithm. The NIR scattering is described in the diffusion approximation model. Then, x-ray excitations are applied with different spectra, and NIR signals are measured in a spectrally resolving fashion. Finally, a linear relationship is established between the nanophosphor distribution and measured NIR data using the finite element method and inverted using the compressive sensing technique. The numerical simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and merits of the proposed approach.
Insights Into Selected Genetic Diseases Affecting the Female Reproductive Tract and Their Implication for Pathologic Evaluation of Gynecologic Specimens

Abstract Context.—Recent advances in the understanding of genetic conditions involving the female genital tract and mechanisms of carcinogenesis in this setting affect patient management and thus n...
Silica, diatoms, and Cenozoic radiolarian evolution

Siliceous plankton have been an important component of the oceanic silica cycle since the evolution of Radiolaria during late Precambrian or early Paleozoic time. Diatoms did not enter the cycle until Jurassic time, but now account for as much as 90 percent of the suspended silica in the oceans. It is postulated that the tremendous evolutionary success of the diatoms is responsible for evolutionary trends observable in the Cenozoic fossil record of the Radiolaria. Such trends include decrease in test weight, as well as structural changes such as increased pore size, decreased bar width, reduction or loss of test processes, and more regular alignment of pores–all changes that result in less silica uptake per test. Natural selection, mediated by the role of the diatoms in the silica cycle, apparently favors radiolarian phenotypes which use less silica in test construction.
“El Sexo no es Malo”: Maternal Values Accompanying Contraceptive Use Advice to Young Latina Adolescent Daughters

In this study, we utilized observational methods to identify maternal values and concerns accompanying contraceptive use advice in Latina mother–daughter sexuality conversations. The sample included non-sexually active early adolescents around 12 years of age and their mostly Spanish-speaking Latina mothers. Videotaped conversations were coded for the prevalence of messages related to four sexual values (abstinence, delay sex until older, sex is “normal”, sex is “improper”) and concerns about pregnancy and STD transmission. We examined whether the duration of time spent conversing about these messages was associated with participant characteristics, general communication openness, and the amount of time the dyads spent discussing contraceptive use. Results indicated that Latina mothers who had fewer years of education and lower family income talked longer to their daughters about the need to delay sex, avoid risky situations that would increase their chances of getting pregnant or acquiring an STD, and engage in self-protective practices. Less perceived openness in general communication as reported by both the mothers and the daughters was associated with increased time discussing that sex is improper. Although the duration of contraceptive use messages was brief, mothers and daughters who discussed the fact that sex is normal, and who communicated more about the importance of delaying sex, talked longer about contraceptive use practices compared to mothers and daughters who engaged in minimal discussion of these sexual values.
Thematic clustering of text documents using an EM-based approach

Clustering textual contents is an important step in mining useful information on the web or other text-based resources. The common task in text clustering is to handle text in a multi-dimensional space, and to partition documents into groups, where each group contains documents that are similar to each other. However, this strategy lacks a comprehensive view for humans in general since it cannot explain the main subject of each cluster. Utilizing semantic information can solve this problem, but it needs a well-defined ontology or pre-labeled gold standard set. In this paper, we present a thematic clustering algorithm for text documents. Given text, subject terms are extracted and used for clustering documents in a probabilistic framework. An EM approach is used to ensure documents are assigned to correct subjects, hence it converges to a locally optimal solution. The proposed method is distinctive because its results are sufficiently explanatory for human understanding as well as efficient for clustering performance. The experimental results show that the proposed method provides a competitive performance compared to other state-of-the-art approaches. We also show that the extracted themes from the MEDLINE® dataset represent the subjects of clusters reasonably well.
Suppression of stimulated Brillouin scattering in a photonic/phononic crystal fiber

Analytical model has been developed, which predicts significant suppression of stimulated Brillouin scattering in a fiber structure, which provides photonic-bandgap guidance for optical waves and, simultaneously, phononic-bandgap suppression of electrostrictively driven acoustic waves.
The Effect of the Shoe-Surface Interface in the Development of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Strain

The shoe-surface interface has been implicated as a possible risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The purpose of this study is to develop a biomechanical, cadaveric model to evaluate the effect of various shoe-surface interfaces on ACL strain. There will be a significant difference in ACL strain between different shoe-surface combinations when a standardized rotational moment (a simulated cutting movement) is applied to an axially loaded lower extremity. The study design was a controlled laboratory study. Eight fresh-frozen cadaveric lower extremities were thawed and the femurs were potted with the knee in 30 deg of flexion. Each specimen was placed in a custom-made testing apparatus, which allowed axial loading and tibial rotation but prevented femoral rotation. For each specimen, a 500 N axial load and a 1.5 Nm internal rotation moment were placed for four different shoe-surface combinations: group I (AstroTurf-turf shoes), group II (modern playing turf-turf shoes), group III (modern playing turf-cleats), and group IV (natural grass-cleats). Maximum strain, initial axial force and moment, and maximum axial force and moment were calculated by a strain gauge and a six component force plate. The preliminary trials confirmed a linear relationship between strain and both the moment and the axial force for our testing configuration. In the experimental trials, the average maximum strain was 3.90, 3.19, 3.14, and 2.16 for groups I-IV, respectively. Group IV had significantly less maximum strain (p<0.05) than each of the other groups. This model can reproducibly create a detectable strain in the anteromedial bundle of the ACL in response to a given axial load and internal rotation moment. Within the elastic range of the stress-strain curve, the natural grass and cleat combination produced less strain in the ACL than the other combinations. The favorable biomechanical properties of the cleat-grass interface may result in fewer noncontact ACL injuries.
Validation in information systems research: a state-of-the-art assessment

Over 10 years ago, the issue of whether IS researchers were rigorously validating their quantitative, positivist instruments was raised (Straub 1989). In the years that have passed since that time, the profession has undergone many changes. Novel technologies and management trends have come and gone. New professional societies have been formed and grown in prominence and new demands have been placed on the field's research and teaching obligations. But the issue of rigor in IS research has persisted throughout all such changes. Without solid validation of the instruments that are used to gather data upon which findings and interpretations are based, the very scientific basis of positivist, quantitative research is threatened. As a retrospective on the Straub article, this research seeks to determine if and how the field has advanced in instrument validation. As evidence of the change, we coded positivist, quantitative research articles in five major journals over a recent three year period for use of validation techniques. Findings suggest that the field has advanced in many areas, but, overall, it appears that a majority of published studies are still not sufficiently validating their instruments. Based on these findings, approaches are suggested for reinvigorating the quest for validation in IS research via content/construct validity, reliability, and manipulation validity.
A visual language for representing and explaining strategies in game theory

We present a visual language for strategies in game theory, which has potential applications in economics, social sciences, and in general science education. This language facilitates explanations of strategies by visually representing the interaction of playerspsila strategies with game execution. We have utilized the cognitive dimensions framework in the design phase and recognized the need for a new cognitive dimension of ldquotraceabilityrdquo that considers how well a language can represent the execution of a program. We consider how traceability interacts with other cognitive dimensions and demonstrate its use in analyzing existing languages. We conclude that the design of a visual representation for execution traces should be an integral part of the design of visual languages because understanding a program is often tightly coupled to its execution.
Palm Tocotrienols Protect ApoE +/− Mice from Diet-Induced Atheroma Formation

We evaluated the effects of vitamin E and beta-carotene on apolipoprotein (apo)E +/- female mice, which develop atherosclerosis only when fed diets high in triglyceride and cholesterol. Mice were fed a nonpurified control diet (5.3 g/100 g triglyceride, 0.2 g/100 g cholesterol), an atherogenic diet alone (15.8 g/100 g triglyceride, 1.25 g/100 g cholesterol, 0.5 g/100 g Na cholate) or the atherogenic diet supplemented with either 0.5 g/100 g (+)-alpha-tocopherol (mixed isomers); 0.5 g/100 g palm tocopherols (palm-E; 33% alpha-tocopherol, 16.1% alpha-tocotrienol, 2.3% beta-tocotrienol, 32.2% gamma-tocotrienol, 16.1% delta-tocotrienol); 1.5 g/100 g palm-E; or 0.01 g/100 g palm-carotenoids (58% beta-carotene, 33% alpha-carotene, 9% other carotenoids). Compared with mice fed the control diet, plasma cholesterol was fourfold greater in mice fed the atherogenic diet. Mice fed the 1.5 g/100 g palm-E supplement had 60% lower plasma cholesterol than groups fed the other atherogenic diets. Mice fed the atherogenic diet had markedly higher VLDL, intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) and LDL cholesterol and markedly lower HDL cholesterol than the controls. Lipoprotein patterns in mice supplemented with alpha-tocopherol or palm carotenoids were similar to those of the mice fed the atherogenic diet alone, but the pattern in mice supplemented with 1. 5 g/100 g palm-E was similar to that of mice fed the control diet. In mice fed the atherogenic diet, the hepatic cholesterol plus cholesterol ester concentration was 4.4-fold greater than in mice fed the control diet. Supplementing with 1.5 g/100 g palm-E lowered hepatic cholesterol plus cholesterol ester concentration 66% compared with the atherogenic diet alone. Mice fed the atherogenic diet had large atherosclerotic lesions at the level of the aortic valve. With supplements of 0.5 g/100 g palm-E or 1.5 g/100 g palm-E, the size of the lesions was 92 or 98% smaller, respectively. The 0.5 g/100 g alpha-tocopherol and palm carotenoid supplements had no effect. Supplements did not alter mRNA abundance for apolipoproteins A1, E, and C3. The beneficial effect of tocotrienols on atherogenesis, the plasma lipoprotein profile and accumulation of hepatic cholesterol esters cannot be attributed to their antioxidant properties.
Building a model of commitment to the natural environment to predict ecological behavior and willingness to sacrifice

We examined the connection between individuals’ relationships with the natural environment and their environmental behaviors with a focus on commitment to the environment, defined as psychological attachment and long-term orientation to the natural world. Commitment is theorized to emerge from structural interdependence with the environment and to lead to pro-environmental behaviors. Close relationships research has identified three key antecedents to commitment (satisfaction, alternatives, and investments). We developed environment-specific measures of these constructs, and factor analysis verified three distinct factors. A path analysis revealed that satisfaction with the environment and investments in the environment, but not alternatives to the environment, predicted commitment to the environment. Moreover, commitment mediated the effects of satisfaction and investments on general ecological behavior and willingness to sacrifice for the environment. In regression analyses, commitment predicted general ecological behavior and willingness to sacrifice for the environment, even when controlling for ecological worldview, inclusion of nature in the self, connectedness to nature, and environmental identity. Individuals who are satisfied with and invested in the natural world are likely to be committed to the environment and act with the well-being of the environment in mind.
The multiple discrete-continuous extreme value (MDCEV) model : Role of utility function parameters, identification considerations, and model extensions

Abstract Many consumer choice situations are characterized by the simultaneous demand for multiple alternatives that are imperfect substitutes for one another. A simple and parsimonious multiple discrete-continuous extreme value (MDCEV) econometric approach to handle such multiple discreteness was formulated by Bhat (2005) [Bhat, C.R., 2005. A multiple discrete-continuous extreme value model: formulation and application to discretionary time-use decisions. Transportation Research Part B 39(8), 679–707]. within the broader Kuhn–Tucker (KT) multiple discrete-continuous economic consumer demand model of Wales and Woodland (1983) [Wales, T.J., and Woodland, A.D., 1983. Estimation of consumer demand systems with binding non-negativity constraints. Journal of Econometrics 21(3), 263–85]. This paper examines several issues associated with the MDCEV model and other extant KT multiple discrete-continuous models. Specifically, the paper proposes a new utility function form that enables clarity in the role of each parameter in the utility specification, presents identification considerations associated with both the utility functional form as well as the stochastic nature of the utility specification, extends the MDCEV model to the case of price variation across goods and to general error covariance structures, discusses the relationship between earlier KT-based multiple discrete-continuous models, and illustrates the many technical nuances and identification considerations of the multiple discrete-continuous model structure through empirical examples. The paper also highlights the technical problems associated with the stochastic specification used in the KT-based multiple discrete-continuous models formulated in recent Environmental Economics papers.
Evolution of the H-mode edge pedestal between ELMs

The evolution of edge pedestal parameters between edge-localized modes (ELMs) is analyzed for an H-mode DIII-D (Luxon 2002 Nucl. Fusion 42 612) discharge. Experimental data are averaged over the same sub-intervals between successive ELMs to develop data that characterize the evolution of density, temperature, rotation velocities, etc over the interval between ELMs. These data are interpreted within the context of the constraints imposed by particle, momentum and energy balance, in particular in terms of the pinch–diffusion relation for radial particle flux that is required by momentum balance. It is found that in the edge pedestal there is an increase in both inward (pinch) electromagnetic and outward (diffusive) pressure gradient forces over the inter-ELM interval.