cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Visible light induced changes in the immune response through an eye-brain mechanism (photoneuroimmunology)

Abstract The immune system is susceptible to a variety of stresses. Recent work in neuroimmunology has begun to define how mood alteration, stress, the seasons, and daily rhythms can have a profound effect on immune response through hormonal modifications. Central to these factors may be light through an eye-brain hormonal modulation. In adult primates, only visible light (400–700 nm) is received by the retina. This photic energy is then transduced and delivered to the visual cortex and by an alternative pathway to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN is a part of the hypothalamic region in the brain believed to direct circadian rhythm. Visible light exposure also modulates the pituitary and pineal gland which leads to neuroendocrine changes. Melatonin, norepinephrine and acetylcholine decrease with light activation, while cortisol, serotonin, gaba and dopamine levels increase. The synthesis of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in rat SCN has been shown to be modified by light. These induced neuroendocrine changes can lead to alterations in mood and circadian rhythm. All of these neuroendocrine changes can lead to immune modulation. An alternative pathway for immune modulation by light is through the skin. Visible light (400–700 nm) can penetrate epidermal and dermal layers of the skin and may directly interact with circulating lymphocytes to modulate immune function. However, even in the presence of phototoxic agents such as eosin and rose bengal, visible light did not produce suppression of contact hypersensitivity with suppresser cells. In contrast to visible light, in vivo exposure to UV-B (280–320 nm) and UV-A (320–400 nm) radiation can only alter normal human immune function by a skin mediated response. Each UV subgroup (B, A) induces an immunosuppressive response but by differing mechanisms involving the regulation of differing interleukins and growth factors. Some effects observed in humans are: inhibition of allergic contact dermatitis; inhibition of delayed hypersensitivity to an injected antigen; prolongation of skin-graft survival and induction of a tumor-susceptible state. The following article will review much of the progress in this field and explore possible areas of future research.
Reversible deafferentation of the adult zebrafish olfactory bulb affects glomerular distribution and olfactory-mediated behavior

The olfactory system is a useful model for studying central nervous system recovery from damage due to its neuroplasticity. We recently developed a novel method of deafferentation by repeated exposure of Triton X-100 to the olfactory organ of adult zebrafish. This long-term, reversible method of deafferentation allows both degeneration and regeneration to be observed in the olfactory bulb. The aim of the present study is to examine olfactory bulb innervation, glomerular patterns, and olfactory-mediated behavior with repeated Triton X-100 treatment and the potential for recovery following cessation of treatment. Olfactory bulbs of control, chronic-treated, and recovery animals were examined for the presence or absence of glomeruli that have been identified in the zebrafish glomerular map. Following chronic treatment, the number of glomeruli was dramatically reduced; however, partial innervation remained in the lateral region of the bulb. When animals were given time to recover, complete glomerular distribution returned. A behavioral assay was developed to determine if innervation remaining correlated with behavior of the fish. Chronic-treated fish did not respond to odorants involved with social behavior but continued to react to odorants that mediate feeding behavior. Following recovery, responses to odorants involved with social behavior returned. The morphological and behavioral effects of chronic Triton X-100 treatment in the olfactory system suggest there may be differential susceptibility or resistance to external damage in a subset of sensory neurons. The results of this study demonstrate the remarkable regenerative ability of the olfactory system following extensive and long-term injury.
Surgical management of apical pelvic support defects: the impact of robotic technology.

Introduction and hypothesis Our aim was to determine what effect access to robotic technology had on our approach to managing apical pelvic support defects.
What to Do With Incidental Thyroid Nodules on Imaging? An Approach for the Radiologist

The incidental thyroid nodule is a common finding on cross-sectional imaging of the neck and chest. Although the majority of nonpalpable incidental nodules are benign, the radiologist must assess the risk of malignancy, intelligently report the finding, and potentially direct the subsequent workup. To do so, the radiologist requires an understanding of issues around thyroid cancer, costs of thyroid nodule workup, and suspicious findings for malignancy. This article describes the problem of the incidental thyroid nodule, reviews the imaging findings of malignancy, and discusses an approach to reporting the incidental thyroid nodule.
Seismic images of the Brooks Range, Arctic Alaska, reveal crustal-scale duplexing

An integrated set of seismic reflection and refraction data collected across the Brooks Range, Arctic Alaska, in 1990, has yielded a composite image of this Mesozoic and Cenozoic fold-and-thrust belt that reveals duplexing to lower-crustal depths. Interpretations from this image are as follows. (1) Many terranes and subterranes that were amalgamated in the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous extend no deeper than the upper crust (3–10 km). (2) In contrast, crustal duplexing, extending to nearly 30 km depth above a south-dipping basal decollement, has produced latest Cretaceous to Cenozoic antiforms, including the Doonerak antiform in the central Brooks Range and anticlinoria near the northern range front. (3) The duplexing occurs in basement rocks of the North Slope subterrane, which core the antiforms. (4) North-dipping structures in the middle crust of the Yukon-Koyukuk basin and southern Brooks Range may postdate Mesozoic terrane amalgamation and predate or coincide with the duplexing. (5) The thickest crust, 50 km, occurs beneath the north-central Brooks Range, north of the root zone of the basal decollement. The position of the thickest crust may indicate that either the duplexed crust above the decollement was thrust onto and depressed the plate beneath the North Slope or the protracted tectonic history of the Brooks Range has left structures not simply explainable in terms of a single collisional event.
The place of aesthetics and perception in a paradigm of interpretation

(1970). The place of aesthetics and perception in a paradigm of interpretation. Western Speech: Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 274-287.
Optical, electrical and structural study of metallic nano-structured thin films fabricated by oblique angle deposition

Various metallic nano-structured thin films were fabricated by oblique angle deposition. Their optical, electrical and structural properties were investigated to explore potential applications in optoelectronic field. The shape, size and density of metal films were discussed based on SEM images and their thermal characteristics. The optical reflectance, transmittance, and absorptance measurements showed unique optical properties of each metallic nano-structured films. Indeed, ellipsometry measurement and resistance measurement were performed to investigate directivity of nanocolumnar films depending on polarization properties, and conductivity, respectively.
Thrombus formation after the Fontan operation.

Abstract Background . Thrombus formation is common after a Fontan operation. We investigated the frequency and location of thrombus in our population of children based on the type of Fontan operation performed. Methods and Results . Between January 1987 and January 1999, 592 patients underwent echocardiography after Fontan operation and 52 (8.8%) had intracardiac thrombus. Median age at Fontan operation was 1.9 years (range 0.8 to 35.1). Freedom from thrombus was 92%, 90%, 84% and 82% at 1, 3, 8, and 10 years after Fontan operation, respectively. There was no difference in freedom from thrombus, based on type of operation (atriopulmonary vs. lateral tunnel) or presence of fenestration. Thrombus was detected in the systemic venous atrium in 26 (48%), in the pulmonary venous atrium in 22 (44%), in both atria in 1 (2%), in the hypoplastic left ventricular cavity in 2 (8%), and in the ligated pulmonary artery stump in 1 (2%). Conclusions . Thrombus formation occurs with equal frequency in all types of modifications and is seen in the pulmonary, as well as the systemic venous atria. Our study suggests that thrombus formation is inherent to the physiology after Fontan operation and is not related to the type of modification performed.
Reproductive maturation in the slug,Limax maximus, and the effects of artificial photoperiod

Maturation of the reproductive tract ofLimax maximus was studied in a natural population using a reproductive organ-to-body weight index. Male-phase maturation, denoted by enlargement of the hermaphrodite gland (gonad), took place mainly in June and July. Female-phase maturation, signaled by growth of the albumen gland, occurred primarily in September. When slugs were subjected to artificial photoperiods consisting of long (LD 16∶8) or short (LD 8∶16) days, female-phase maturation was not found to be significantly affected by photoperiod (Fig. 4). In contrast, male-phase maturation appeared to be induced by a short-day to long-day transition (Fig. 7). Implications of this finding for normal seasonal maturation are discussed and a maturation sequence involving both photoperiodic and endocrine control mechanisms is suggested.
A Conceptual Approach to Calculus Made Possible by Technology

Calculus reform and using technology to teach calculus are two longtime endeavors that appear to have failed to make the differences in student understanding predicted by proponents. We argue that one reason for the lack of effect is that the fundamental structure of the underlying curriculum remains unchanged. It does not seriously consider students’ development of connected meanings for rate-of-change functions and accumulation functions. We report an approach to introductory calculus that takes coherence of meanings as the central criterion by which it is developed, and we demonstrate that this radical reconstruction of the ideas of calculus is made possible by its uses of computing technology.
Comparative changes in ventilatory dead space following micro and massive pulmonary emboli.

Ventilatory dead space measurements have been described and used as a simple, rapid, and reliable method to diagnose pulmonary vascular obstruction [3]. Robin [9, lo] was one of the first to suggest the utilization of ventilatory dead space as a physiologic approach to the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism. However, cardiac failure, emphysema, chronic obstructive lung disease, and any lung disease that produces ventilation perfusion abnormalities will usually alter the normal ventilatory dead space [7]. Therefore, the perfusion lung scan and pulmonary arteriogram remain the primary means of objectively diagnosing pulmonary embolism. In previous studies using small emboli, the correlation between ventilatory dead space and the arterial partial pressure of oxygen (P,OZ) showed that ventilatory dead space was an even more reliable index of pulmonary arterial obstruction than the P,O, alone [3]. In subsequent experiments, it was found that the changes in V were not as impressive with massive pulmonary emboli as they were with small emboli. The present work was undertaken to evaluate the changes in I/ following massive, mediumsized, and micro pulmonary emboli.
Identification of colorants as used in watercolor and oil paintings by UV laser desorption mass spectrometry

Abstract Laser desorption mass spectrometry (LDMS), operating in both positive and negative ion modes, is being developed for the non-destructive analysis of artists’ colorants. Two commercial pigments, sold as Prussian blue, were examined. One was identified as Prussian blue and the other as copper phthalocyanine, showing the technique’s ability to identify pigments. A commercial green pigment was found to be a mixture of a blue pigment (Prussian blue) and a yellow pigment (lead chromate), showing the technique’s ability to analyze mixtures of pigments. A lake, carmine alum lake, was shown to contain the dye, carminic acid, and its mordant, alumina, thereby demonstrating the unique ability of the technique to identify both pigments and dyes.
SUPPRESSION OF RANDOM VIBRATION IN PLATES USING VIBRATION ABSORBERS

In the work presented here, a method to predict the effectiveness of application of damped dynamic vibration absorbers to suppress stationary random vibration of rectangular simply supported plates is given. Numerical examples of two different spatial distributions of the random-in-time forcing function are explored and optimal absorber parameters are presented.
Polymer-based ion-selective electrodes modified with naphthalene sulfonates

Miniaturization of the ion-selective electrodes (ISES) is of growing research interest these days, because ISEs are being used in clinical as well as microanalytical applications [l]. To this attempt, coated wire electrodes and WET electrodes are being developed. Another possibility is to form an ion-sensing layer on a small tip of materials (electron conductors) by chemical methods. In this work, electrodes arc modified with pyrrole polymers containing ion exchangers, to establish a method for preparing polymer-modified ISEs [2, 31. The conformation of charged groups in ion exchangers is manipulated using several kinds of naphthalene sulfonate derivatives.
Varying Energy in a Complete Feed for High-Producing Cows

Abstract Twelve lactating Holstein cows which had been in production for at least 40 days were used in a series of four (3×3) Latin squares to determine the comparative effects of three complete feeds of varying energy (A-60, B-65, and C-70 Mcal estimated net energy per 45.45kg dry matter). Grain sorghum silage was the only source of roughage. The daily means for rations A, B, and C were: dry matter intake–17.8, 19.9, and 21.6kg; estimated net energy intake–22.8, 28.5, and 33.1 Meal; 4% fat-corrected milk yield–19.1, 20.9, and 22.6kg; and solids-corrected milk yield–18.6, 20.8, and 22.7kg. Milk constituents also increased with increased energy in the ration; the means for rations A, B, and C were: milk fat 3.5, 3.4, and 3.6%; total solids 11.8, 11.9, and 12.2%; solids-not-fat 8.3, 8.5, and 8.8%; and protein 3.0, 3.1, and 3.2%. No differences were significant in the molar percentages of rumen volatile fatty acids. As the energy of the ration increased, efficiency of energy utilization decreased.
Undergraduate Teaching Environments: Normative Orientations to Teaching Among Faculty in the Higher Educational System*

This paper illustrates that higher education is a system integrated by shared values and is also differentiated according to institutional teaching orientations. This illustration is accomplished through a “visual display” of shared and differentiated teaching goals as faculty reported these in a national survey conducted in 1973. Using these teaching goals, six normative teaching orientations are derived. The six orientations associated with higher educational institutional variation reduce to four types of teaching environments. Relating these environments to each other refiects a system according to the Parsonian AGIL framework.
Does differential prophylactic aspirin use contribute to racial and geographic disparities in stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD)

Abstract Context Aspirin use may reduce the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease. Differential use for vascular prophylaxis may contribute to racial and geographic disparities in stroke and coronary heart disease morbidity or mortality. Objective To assess the prevalence and predictors of aspirin use for primary prophylaxis of stroke in the general population free of clinically diagnosed stroke or coronary heart disease. Design and setting Cross-sectional analysis of 16,908 participants (age 45 or greater), from a population-based national cohort study ( RE asons for G eographic A nd R acial D ifferences in S troke) enrolled from February 2003–August 2006 with oversampling from the southeastern Stroke Belt and African Americans. Individuals with a prior stroke or coronary heart disease, or regular use of aspirin for pain relief were excluded from analyses. Main outcome measures Aspirin use and reasons for use were assessed using a computer-assisted telephone interview. Results Prophylactic aspirin use was substantially higher among whites (34.7%) than African Americans (27.2%; p p = 0.07). After adjustment for measures of socio-economic status, the odds ratio of aspirin use in the rest of the nation compared to Stroke Belt was 0.90 (95% CI 0.84–0.97). There was a higher likelihood of prophylactic aspirin use among participants who were white, male, older, past cigarette smokers, or of higher socio-economic status (higher income or education). Conclusions In this study, aspirin use to prevent stroke and coronary heart disease was higher among whites than African Americans, raising the possibility that differential aspirin use could contribute to the racial disparities in vascular disease mortality. Counter to our hypothesis, aspirin use was more common in the Stroke Belt than the rest of the country, so differential aspirin use in the Stroke Belt is unlikely to contribute to geographic disparities in stroke.
A simple technique for observing periodic nonlinearities in Michelson interferometers

Abstract We describe a simple, convenient method for measuring nonlinearities in displacement-measuring Michelson interferometers. Nonlinearities with a spatial periodicity of one optical fringe are a well-known source of error in precision interferometry. Our experimental technique for observing these errors is most immediately applicable to commercial interferometer systems for which the cube-corner retroreflectors can be attached directly to the faces of a beamsplitter cube, creating a monolithic interferometer optic with excellent noise immunity. The optical path difference in this bolted-together interferometer can be changed slightly by rotating the interferometer relative to an external laser. It should be noted that the basic principle described here—generating small path differences through a rotation of the optics relative to the laser—may itself be a source of significant errors in certain length measurements. The validity of our method has been demonstrated by measuring optical mixing errors of calculable magnitude. We describe a matrix method suitable for modeling optical mixing errors in both single-pass and double-pass (plane mirror) interferometers. Also, we report experimental measurements of periodic nonlinearities for two representative interferometers and conclude that, in the majority of engineering metrology applications, these errors are of only minor importance.
Saturation broadening and narrowing in solids

Abstract The dependence of the NMR line width on the rf field amplitude, H1, is calculated for an experiment in which the lock-in absorption mode is detected. It is shown that when T 1 Z T 1 D > 6 , saturation broadening of a Gaussian line is expected for intermediate rf field intensities (T1Z and T1D are, respectively, the spin-lattice relaxation times for the Zeeman and dipolar energy). When the rf field is very large, saturation narrowing is predicted. For T 1 Z T 1 D ⩽ 6 , only saturation narrowing of a Gaussian line is predicted. The calculated results are in qualitative agreement with lock-in absorption mode data for CaF2 and for lithium metal at 77 and 215 K. The importance of careful monitoring of saturation is discussed.
Progress and challenges in multimodal data fusion

Abstract Independently, different brain imaging methods provide compromised spatial and temporal resolutions. Anatomical MRI provides highly accurate information about the individual cortical anatomy. In functional imaging, fMRI is temporally limited by the slow time course of the hemodynamic response, but can provide spatial sampling on a millimeter scale. EEG and MEG in turn provide a temporal resolution of milliseconds, but the localization of sources is more complicated because of the electromagnetic inverse problem. Combining information provided by both anatomical and functional MRI with EEG/MEG data thus facilitates the elucidation of the spatial distribution and temporal orchestration of human brain activity.
Non-rigid Registration of 3D Ultrasound Images of Brain Tumours Acquired during Neurosurgery

Intraoperative brain deformation is one of the most contributing factors to the inaccuracy of image-guided neurosurgery systems. One option for correcting for this deformation is to acquire 3D ultrasound images during surgery and use these to update the information provided by the preoperatively acquired MR. To compare ultrasound volumes at different stages of surgery, non-rigid registration techniques are necessary. We present the results of applying a non-rigid registration algorithm, based on free-form deformations using B-splines and using normalized mutual information as a similarity measure, to 3D ultrasound volumes of two patients with brain tumours. For these two patients we registered an ultrasound volume acquired prior to opening the dura with an ultrasound volume acquired after opening the dura, but prior to surgery. When comparing the segmented tumours after affine registration plus free-form registration with a control point spacing of 4 mm to the segmented tumour volumes after registration with the image-guided surgery system, the volume overlap increased from approximately 76% to 96% for both patients.
TLR5-mediated activation of p38 MAPK regulates epithelial IL-8 expression via posttranscriptional mechanism

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) activate antimicrobial gene expression in response to detection of specific bacterial products. Relatively little is known about TLR5, the only TLR thought to be preferen...
Test models for improving filtering with model errors through stochastic parameter estimation

The filtering skill for turbulent signals from nature is often limited by model errors created by utilizing an imperfect model for filtering. Updating the parameters in the imperfect model through stochastic parameter estimation is one way to increase filtering skill and model performance. Here a suite of stringent test models for filtering with stochastic parameter estimation is developed based on the Stochastic Parameterization Extended Kalman Filter (SPEKF). These new SPEKF-algorithms systematically correct both multiplicative and additive biases and involve exact formulas for propagating the mean and covariance including the parameters in the test model. A comprehensive study is presented of robust parameter regimes for increasing filtering skill through stochastic parameter estimation for turbulent signals as the observation time and observation noise are varied and even when the forcing is incorrectly specified. The results here provide useful guidelines for filtering turbulent signals in more complex systems with significant model errors.
Estimating maximum performance: effects of intraindividual variation.

Researchers often estimate the performance capabilities of animals using a small number of trials per individual. This procedure inevitably underestimates maximum performance, but few studies have examined the magnitude of this effect. In this study we explored the effects of intraindividual variation and individual sample size on the estimation of locomotor performance parameters. We measured sprint speed of the lizard Sceloporus occidentalis at two temperatures (20°C and 35°C), obtaining 20 measurements per individual. Speed did not vary temporally, indicating no training or fatigue effects. About 50% of the overall variation in speed at each temperature was due to intraindividual variation. While speed was repeatable, repeatability decreased slightly with increasing separation between trials. Speeds at 20°C and 35°C were positively correlated, indicating repeatability across temperatures as well. We performed statistical sampling experiments in which we randomly drew a subset of each individual's full set of 20 trials. As expected, the sample's maximum speed increased with the number of trials per individual; for example, five trials yielded an estimate averaging 89% of the true maximum. The number of trials also influenced the sample correlation between mean speeds at 20°C and 35°C; for example, five trials yielded a correlation coefficient averaging 90% of the true correlation. Therefore, intraindividual variation caused underestimation of maximal speed and the correlation between speeds across temperatures. These biases declined as the number of trials per individual increased, and depended on the magnitude of intraindividual variation, as illustrated by running sampling experiments that used modified data sets.
Transcripts associated with Prdx6 (Peroxiredoxin 6) and related genes in mouse

PRDX6 is a cytosolic member of the peroxiredoxin family of antioxidant proteins, which protect cells from oxidative damage by reducing cellular peroxides. Knockout studies and transgenic overexpression of Prdx6 in mice have demonstrated an important role for this protein in the defense against oxidative stress. Using Northern blotting with various Prdx6 probes, we have revealed the existence of multiple transcripts with distinct tissue distributions and regulation, including the major 1.4-kb transcript highly expressed in liver and lung, and two additional transcripts expressed primarily in liver. We hypothesized that these additional transcripts correspond either to alternative Prdx6 mRNAs or to highly related genes such as the intronless genes Aop2-rs1 and Aop2-rs2. A combination of Northern blotting, RACE, and EST and genomic sequence analysis has determined that all three liver transcripts are derived from the Prdx6 gene, as they are absent in Prdx6-null mice and differ in their 3' UTRs, suggesting the utilization of different transcription termination signal sequences which we have identified by sequence analysis. We found the Aop2-rs1 gene to be exclusively expressed in testis as a 1.2-kb transcript and have identified putative regulatory elements in its promoter. In contrast, Aop2-rs2 appears not to be expressed in any tissues, although we have evidence for the existence of other related genes that are expressed in a tissue-specific manner. Since the Prdx6 transcripts exhibit differential regulation in response to growth and oxidative stress, further investigation may reveal their distinct roles in the cell and mechanism of regulation.
Weak Lensing by Two z ~ 0.8 Clusters of Galaxies

We report the detection of weak gravitational lensing of distant background galaxies by two rich, X-ray-luminous clusters of galaxies, MS 1137+66 at z=0.783 and RXJ 1716+67 at z = 0.813. We detect a shear signal in each cluster over the radial range 100≤r ≤ 700 h−1 kpc. Assuming that the background galaxies lie in a sheet at z = 2, we measure a mass of 2.45 × 1014 h−1 M☉ and M/LV = 270 at 500 h−1 kpc radius for MS 1137+66 and a mass of 2.6 × 1014 h−1 M☉ and M/LV = 190 for RXJ 1716+67 at the same radius. Both the optical light maps and the weak lensing mass maps of RXJ 1716+67 show two spatially distinct subclusters, as well as a long filamentary structure extending out of the cluster to the northeast. In contrast, MS 1137+66 is an ultracompact massive cluster in both mass maps and optical light maps and contains a strongly lensed arc system in the cluster core. These data add to the growing number of massive clusters at z 0.8.
Shelter competition between resident male red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard) and conspecific intruders varying by sex and reproductive status

The shelter defense dynamics of reproductively active (Form I) male red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard) were investigated by staging serial intrusions by male, maternal or non-maternal female conspecifics after one day of residence. The male residents showed a direct contest advantage only against non-maternal females, and won a significantly higher proportion of the encounters against non-maternal females than against either male or maternal female intruders. However, there was no significant difference in success against male or maternal female intruders. Further experiments against male intruders showed that increasing male prior residence to either 2 or 4 days did not significantly improve the residents’ proportion of successful encounters. A final experiment revealed extremely low shelter fidelity in male P. clarkii, the most likely reason why male shelter defense against conspecific males and maternal females is not successful. These results, combined with those of past research, suggest...
Relative timing of ontogenetic events in primates

Heterochrony is commonly proposed as a mechanism producing evolutionary changes, and some researchers identify two ways that heterochrony may be conceptualized. ‘Growth heterochrony’ examines ancestor-to-descendant differences in the ontogeny of size relative to shape, while ‘sequence heterochrony’ focuses on differences in the order of occurrence of events during ontogeny. Methods introduced here are allied with sequence heterochrony in that ontogeny is modelled as if it were a sequence of events; however, events are differently defined in this study. Using data from 16 primate species, I demonstrate that discriminant function analysis of data on developmental timing provides an additional tool for exploring the relationship between ontogeny and phylogeny. Patterns in the timing of tooth eruption, craniofacial sutural closure, and postcranial epiphyseal fusion can be used to classify individuals of all ages to their correct taxon. Taxon differences in these patterns can be characterized and described by interpreting correlations between discriminant functions and developmental events. Discriminant analysis has the advantages of: (1) being applicable to taxa for which there are too few individuals to be able to reconstruct ontogenetic sequences, including fossil species; (2) preserving intraspecific developmental variation during analysis; (3) being sensitive to very subtle differences in ontogenetic timing.
What Makes it Easy or Hard for You to Do Your Homework? An Account of Newcomer Immigrant Youths' Afterschool Academic Lives

While substantial research has focused on homework in the lives of native-born English-speaking students, research on immigrant students’ homework experiences remains scarce. A goal of this study was to describe the homework experiences of newcomer immigrant students, drawing from a project on how individual, family, and school characteristics shape these youths’ homework experiences. Focus groups and surveys were conducted with newcomer students (N=192) in an urban high school. Survey data were used to determine the prevalence of homework facilitators and impediments students experienced; focus group data were examined to develop an enhanced understanding of the contexts in which students encounter various facilitators and impediments. Understanding course materials, i.e. having academic English proficiency to comprehend course contents, was a key determinant in whether students experienced homework as easy or difficult. Results can inform ways in which home, school, and after-school settings may be structured to facilitate immigrant youths’ homework completion.
Nanocone Tip–Film Solar Cells with Efficient Charge Transport

Nanojunctions promise to provide higher charge transport efficiencies and less costly solar cell fabrication methods. We report a three-dimensional (3D) solar cell structure based on interdigitated nanojunctions formed with the tips of n-type ZnO nanocones embedded in a p-type polycrystalline (PX) CdTe film. This 3D nanocone tip-film cell, without optimization, enabled 3.2% power conversion efficiency, higher than that produced by a planar solar cell fabricated using the same materials. Reducing CdTe grain size and enriching the grain boundaries with chlorine improved the conversion efficiency for the tip-film structure. This higher conversion efficiency is attributable to improved charge transport in the nanojunction due to a combination of the high electric field generated in the CdTe and the utilization of the small junction area. The high field facilitates the extraction of minority carriers from the photoactive layer to the small junction region, while the use of the small junction area reduces the total electron recombination loss. The improved carrier transport in the nanocone tip-film junction implies that nanocone-based photovoltaic solar cells are capable of tolerating the imperfect materials produced using low-cost fabrication methods.
The Development of the Amharic Definite Article and an Indonesian Parallel

The definite articles of Amharic and some other Ethiopian languages derive from possessives rather than demonstratives, and the origin of these articles has never been convincingly explained. The development of a possessive into a definite article in Indonesian provides a clue to the origin of the definite articles in Ethiopic.
Doctor-patient communication patterns in breast cancer adjuvant therapy discussions.

Objective To identify variables within the patient-oncologist communication pattern that impact overall patient comprehension and satisfaction within the breast cancer adjuvant therapy (AT) setting. Setting and participants Fifty patients were recruited from a number of academic and community-based oncology practices. Fifteen oncologists participated. Main variables Three communication variables were identified: percentage of total utterances spoken by the patient, percentage of total physician utterances that were coded as affective (i.e. emotional), and total number of questions asked by the patient during the consultation. Knowledge and satisfaction were assessed by a variety of outcome measures, including knowledge items and satisfaction as measured by VASs, the satisfaction with decision scale and the decisional conflict scale. Results The level of patient knowledge about breast cancer and satisfaction with the clinical encounter showed a tendency to correlate with the variables measuring aspects of patient-physician communication style. Patients who spoke more or asked more questions tended to be more knowledgeable whilst patients whose physicians used more affective language tended to know less but to be more satisfied with their clinical encounter. Conclusions In order to optimize patients’ degree of comprehension and satisfaction with their breast cancer adjuvant therapy, physicians need to increase their affective participation in clinical encounters whilst encouraging patients to ask questions and to actively participate in the decision-making process.
A pilot study on the effects of testosterone in hypogonadal aging male patients with Alzheimer's disease

The male aging process brings about declines in hormonal function including a gradual decline in bioavailable testosterone levels. Animal studies suggest that testosterone modulates cognitive function through enhancing acetylcholine release and up-modulation of nicotinic receptors. Tau protein deposition is also affected by androgen supplementation in animals. We hypothesize that testosterone replacement in elderly hypogonadal males may improve cognition, in particular the visual-spatial domain. Thirty-six male patients with a new diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease had their total and bioavailable testosterone levels measured. None of the patients had been on acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Ten of the 36 patients (28%) were deemed biochemically hypogonadal (total testosterone < 240 ng/dl or 7 nmol/l). Five of the hypogonadal patients were randomized to testosterone and five to placebo. Initial Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (ADAScog) and Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) ranged from 31 to 19 and from 17 to 22, respectively. The clock drawing test (CDT) and the pentagon-tracing portion of the MMSE were used as measures of visual-spatial abilities. Normal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were essential before treatment with intramuscular testosterone, 200 mg every 2 weeks. Measurement of testosterone, complete blood count, lipids, PSA and neuropsychological cognitive tests were repeated at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of treatment. In the testosterone-treated group, levels of total testosterone increased from a mean of 126.4 ng/dl to 341 ng/dl or 3.6 nmol/l to 9.7 nmol/l (p = 0.11). Bioavailable testosterone also increased from a mean of 48.7 ng/dl to 142 ng/dl or 1.39 nmol/l to 4.05 nmol/l (p = 0.10). PSA levels were also elevated from a mean of 0.98 to 1.37 ng/ml (p = 0.07). ADAScog improved from a mean of 25 to 16.3 (p = 0.02); MMSE improved from a mean of 19.4 to 23.2 (p = 0.02), CDT also improved from 2.2 to 3.2 (p = 0.07). One patient stopped treatment because of hypersexual behavior. The placebo-treated group deteriorated gradually. This small pilot study performed in aging male patients suggests that testosterone could indeed improve cognition, including visual-spatial skills in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Studies on the nenitzescu synthesis of 5-hydroxyindoles

Abstract The efficiency and convenience of the title synthesis are significantly enhanced by using methyl β-aminocrotonates in nitromethane as a reaction medium. A bimolecular face-to-face electron transfer complex is a key intermediate in the mechanism of this reaction.
Distributions Defined by Divergent Integrals

In the previous chapters we have defined various singular distributions. One of them is Pf(1/x), defined in Example 4 of Section 2.4. The function 1/x is not integrable on any neighborhood of the origin. We succeeded in regularizing this function by defining the functional Pf(1/x) by the principal value of the singular integral defined by the quantity \(\left\langle \phi ,1/x \right\rangle\). The aim of this chapter is to extend this idea and to regularize various singular integrals and thereby define the coresponding distributions. Let us start with a simple example.
Alcohol treatment for women in rural areas

Abstract Alcohol abuse problems are as prevalent in rural areas as they are in more urban settings. Despite the similarity in incidence, providing alcohol abuse treatment services is more challenging in rural versus urban settings. There are unique barriers to offering treatment to women in rural locations that are not present in metropolitan locales. These barriers are related to economics, existing health care providers and services, environmental considerations, cultural norms, and personal perceptions. In this article, treatment challenges that are specifically relevant to women in rural areas are explored along with a new three-tiered treatment delivery model. (J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc [2002]. 8, 37-43.)
Labor Market Conditions and US Teen Birth Rates, 2001–2009

Using unemployment rates as the sole labor market explanatory variable, most previous studies have concluded that employment conditions do not systematically influence teen birth rates. By contrast, this study found that birth rates were positively correlated with male employment rates (20–24 years old) and negatively correlated with the real minimum wage. Teen birth rates were also positively correlated with teen gonorrhea infection rates; and for the older teens (18–19 years old), by a measure of illegal drug use. By contrast, alcohol use was negatively correlated with teen birth rates. Finally, teen female employment rates were positively correlated with teen birth rates in weak labor market areas, suggesting that better job opportunities might increase teen birth rates among disadvantaged youth. Given the persistence of young adult birth rates among disadvantaged youth, policy recommendations to eliminate the marriage penalty they face are offered.
Interleukin (IL)-1A and IL-6: Applications to the predictive diagnostic testing of radiation pneumonitis

Purpose: To explore the application of interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-6 measurements in the predictive diagnostic testing for symptomatic radiation pneumonitis (RP). Methods and materials: In a prospective protocol investigating RP and cytokines, IL-1α and IL-6 values were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from serial weekly blood samples of patients receiving chest radiation. We analyzed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) over selected threshold values for both cytokines in the application to diagnostic testing. Results: The average coefficient of variation was 51% of the weekly mean IL-1α level and 39% of the weekly mean IL-6 value. Interleukin 1α and IL-6 became positively correlated with time. Specificity for both cytokines was better than sensitivity. IL-6 globally outperformed IL-1α in predicting RP, with higher PPV and NPV. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate the feasibility of applying IL-1α and IL-6 measurements of blood specimens to predict RP. Interleukin-6 measurements offer stronger positive predictive value than IL-1α. This application might be further explored in a larger sample of patients.
Several properties of short LDPC codes

In this paper, we present several properties on minimum distance(d/sub min/) and girth(G/sub min/) in Tanner graphs for low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes with small left degrees. We show that the distance growth of (2, 4) LDPC codes is too slow to achieve the desired performance. We further give a tight upper bound on the maximum possible girth. The numerical results show that codes with large G/sub min/ could outperform the average performance of regular ensembles of the LDPC codes over binary symmetric channels. The same codes perform about 1.5 dB away from the sphere-packing bound on additive white Gaussian noise channels.
Deeply buried, Early Cretaceous paleokarst terrane, southern Maracaibo Basin, Venezuela

Cretaceous carbonate rocks formed an extensive passive-margin section along the northern margin of the South American plate and are now found in outcrops in elevated and deformed ranges like the Mrida Andes and Sierra de Perij. Regional seismic profiles correlated with well data show that a 300-m (984-ft)-thick Cretaceous carbonate platform underlies all of the Maracaibo Basin of western Venezuela. We examined the Cretaceous carbonate section beneath the southern Maracaibo Basin using a 1600-km2 (617-mi2) area of three-dimensional (3-D) seismic reflection data provided by Petrleos de Venezuela, S. A., along with wells to constrain the age and environments of seismic reflectors. Well data allow the identification and correlation of the major lithologic subsurface formations with formations described from outcrop studies around the basin edges. Seismic reflection time slices at a depth range of 3.7–4.5 s (5–7 km; 3.1–4.3 mi) reveal the presence of a prominent, irregular reflection surface across the entire 3-D study area that is characterized by subcircular depressions up to about 600 m (1968 ft) wide and about 100 m (328 ft) deep. We interpret the subcircular features as sinkholes formed when the Lower Cretaceous carbonate platform was subaerially exposed to weathering in a tropical climate. The scale of the observed circular features is consistent with dimensions of limestone sinkholes described from modern karst settings. Correlation of the inferred karst horizon with well logs shows that the paleokarst horizon occurs within the shallow-water carbonate rocks of the Aptian Apn Formation. We infer that the karst formed during an Aptian eustatic sea level fall described from Aptian intervals in other parts of the world, including the Gulf of Mexico. The Aptian paleokarst zone provides a previously unrecognized zone of porosity for hydrocarbons to accumulate beneath the Maracaibo and perhaps other basins formed above the extensive passive margin of northern South America.
Double-gate fully-depleted SOI transistors for low-power high-performance nano-scale circuit design

Double-gate fully-depleted (DGFD) SOI circuits are regarded as the next generation VLSI circuits. This paper investigates the impact of scaling on the demand and challenges of DGFD SOI circuit design for low power and high performance. We study how the added back-gate capacitance affects the circuit power and performance; how to trade off the enhanced short-channel effect immunity with the added back-channel leakage; and how the coupling between the front- and back-gates affects circuit reliability. Our analyses over different technology generations using MEDICI device simulator show that DGFD SOI circuits have significant advantages in driving high output load. DGFD SOI circuits also show excellent ability in controlling leakage current. However, for low output load, no gain is obtained for DGFD SOI circuits. Also, it is necessary to optimize the back-gate oxide thickness for best leakage control. Moreover, threshold variation may cause reliability problem for thin back-gate oxide DGFD SOI circuits operated at low power supply voltage.
Porous SiC Preparation, Characterization and Morphology

The production and investigation of porous semiconductors began in the 1950s at Bell Laboratories with work by Uhlir Jr [1] and Turner [2] on Si and Ge and at the Westinghouse Research Laboratories by Faust Jr [3] for SiC. Technological interest began with the discussion of the process of insulation by porous oxidized Si in the 1970s [4]. Interest in porous Si exploded in 1990 when Canham [5] at RSRE in the UK discovered that highly porous layers of Si excited by a blue laser emit readily visible red light at room temperature. The origin of this above band gap luminescence was a topic of heated controversy for several years. We became interested in the possibility of blue shifted luminescence into the ultraviolet (UV) in porous SiC, and began to collaborate with Joseph Shor and colleagues, who were actively investigating electrochemical etching
Dimensions of Formal Fibers of Height One Prime Ideals

Let T be a complete local (Noetherian) ring with maximal ideal M, P a nonmaximal ideal of T, and C = {Q 1, Q 2,…} a (nonempty) finite or countable set of nonmaximal prime ideals of T. Let {p 1, p 2,…} be a set of nonzero regular elements of T, whose cardinality is the same as that of C. Suppose that p i ∈ Q j if and only if i = j. We give conditions that ensure there is an excellent local unique factorization domain A such that A is a subring of T, the maximal ideal of A is M ∩ A, the (M ∩ A)-adic completion of A is T, and so that the following three conditions hold: (1) p i ∈ A for every i; (2) A ∩ P = (0), and if J is a prime ideal of T with J ∩ A = (0), then J ⊆ P or J ⊆ Q i for some i; (3) for each i, p i A is a prime ideal of A, Q i ∩ A = p i A, and if J is a prime ideal of T with J ⊈ Q i , then J ∩ A ≠ p i A.
Drug-induced QT interval prolongation in cancer patients

Cancer patients are at an increased risk for QT interval prolongation and subsequent potentially fatal Torsade de pointes tachycardia due to the multiple drugs used for treatment of malignancies and the associated symptoms and complications. Based on a systematic review of the literature, this article analyzes the risk for prolongation of the QT interval with antineoplastic agents and commonly used concomitant drugs. This includes anthracyclines, fluorouracil, alkylating agents, and new molecularly targeted therapeutics, such as vascular disruption agents. Medications used in the supportive care can also prolong QT intervals, such as methadone, 5-HT3-antagonists and antihistamines, some antibiotics, antifungals, and antivirals. We describe the presumed mechanism of QT interval prolongation, drug-specific considerations, as well as important clinical interactions. Multiple risk factors and drug–drug interactions increase this risk for dangerous arrhythmias. We propose a systematic approach to evaluate cancer patients for the risk of QT interval prolongation and how to prevent adverse effects.