cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Negative Mood Induction Procedure With Efficacy Across Repeated Administrations in Women

Although several experimental techniques are effective in inducing negative mood, none has established efficacy over repeated testing. The lack of mood induction tools validated across repeated administrations impedes study of emotional changes in the same individual over time. A brief, sad mood induction combining music and an autobiographical memory was administered to 17 women on 6 occasions (two 3-day sets over a 2-week period of time). Mood was measured before and after the induction procedure. Repeated measures ANOVAs showed that the induction produced a large increase in POMS depression (d = 1.48) that recurred consistently across all testing days. A brief negative mood induction combining music and autobiographical memory appears suitable for use in studies that involve repeated administrations.
The neuropsychology of REM sleep dreaming

RECENT PET imaging and brain lesion studies in humans are integrated with new basic research findings at the cellular level in animals to explain how the formal cognitive features of dreaming may be the combined product of a shift in neuromodulatory balance of the brain and a related redistribution of regional blood flow. The human PET data indicate a preferential activation in REM of the pontine brain stem and of limbic and paralimbic cortical structures involved in mediating emotion and a corresponding deactivation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortical structures involved in the executive and mnemonic aspects of cognition. The pontine brainstem mechanisms controlling the neuromodulatory balance of the brain in rats and cats include noradrenergic and serotonergic influences which enhance waking and impede REM via anticholinergic mechanisms and cholinergic mechanisms which are essential to REM sleep and only come into full play when the serotonergic and noradrenergic systems are inhibited. In REM, the brain thus becomes activated but processes its internally generated data in a manner quite different from that of waking.
A systematic review of language intervention research with low-income families: A word gap prevention perspective

Abstract This systematic review sought to document the corpus of language intervention research with low-SES children and help the field move forward. Low-SES children (birth to 8) are at increased risk for infrequent language input from parents (30-Million Word Gap), delays in vocabulary/language, readiness for school, and later school problems. From a repository of 1494 articles published between 1980 and 2016, we identified 513 rigorous intervention reports. We reviewed the 140 studies that included low-SES children in terms of ecological validity, trustworthiness, and readiness for scale-up given a future goal of population-level prevention. Results indicated a relatively high degree of trustworthiness, a moderate degree of ecological validity, and a low degree of readiness for scale-up. All studies used experimental or quasi-experimental designs, the majority being the gold standard, randomized-control trial. Parents and/or other caregivers in authentic settings were the intended intervention implementers (ecological validity). However, research staff implemented the majority of interventions. Most studies were early- to mid-stage, none directly investigated scale-up. Weaknesses in scale-up readiness were infrastructure (i.e., manuals), community engagement (i.e., social validity), and progress monitoring/evaluation (i.e., technology), among others (i.e., cost). We identified 37 areas of improvement in future research with implications for preventing the Word Gap.
Family structure, economic pressure, and community disorganization as determinants of adolescent adjustment problems

iv CHAPTER ONE. INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER TWO. LITERATURE RE VIEW 4 CHAPTER THREE. METHODS 17 CHAPTER FOUR. RESULTS 29 CHAPTER FIVE. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 63 APPENDIX A. MEASURES USED IN THE STUDY 74 APPENDIX B. FREQUENCY TABLES FOR DELINQUENCY AND DEPRESSION ITEMS BY FAMILY TYPE AND GENDER 82 REFERENCES 104 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 110 VITA 111
Complete Genome Sequence of Xanthomonas Phage Pagan.

ABSTRACT The T7-like podophage Pagan infects Xanthomonas sp. strain ATCC PTA-13101, which was isolated from rice. The 44-kbp Pagan genome contains direct terminal repeats and contains 59 genes, 27 of which have a predicted function. Pagan is most closely related to Xanthomonas phage phi Xc10 and Xylella phage Prado.
Pd/C catalyzed room-temperature, atmospheric pressure hydrogenation of furanic bio-oils from acidic ionic liquid catalyzed liquefaction of biomass in acetone

Abstract Furanic bio-oils were produced from liquefaction of corn cobs and switchgrass using 1-(3-propylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium chloride catalyst in acetone at 120 °C, 5 h. The biomass conversions to bio-oils for corn cobs and switchgrass were 43.8 ± 1.9 and 40.2 ± 1.4% (w/w) respectively. The bio-oils were then catalytically hydrogenated in water: methanol 3:1 (v/v) at room-temperature and atmospheric pressure using 5% Pd-C catalyst to give hydrogenated bio-oils and analyzed using GC–MS to identify the products. GC–MS analysis revealed that majority of the products in hydrogenated bio-oils is C4-C17 alcohols, ethers and furans. A total of 64 products were observed in GC–MS and 61 were identified with the use of mass spectroscopy. These products are arising from the partial reduction as well as deoxygenation of biomass derived furan aldehyde - acetone cross aldol products and acetone self condensation products. In addition, NMR analysis was used to quantify the effect of catalytic hydrogenation. 1H NMR spectra peak integration for the alkene-furan region (6.0–8.0 ppm) showed reductions of 19.0 to 1.8% and 19.1 to 2.6% due to the catalytic hydrogenation of bio-oils from corn cobs and switchgrass, confirming the effect of Pd-C catalyzed, 1 Atm., room temperature hydrogenation.
Discovery of the PTEN Tumor Suppressor and Its Connection to the PI3K and AKT Oncogenes

PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog on chromosome 10) was discovered over 20 years ago in 1997 and linked to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and AKT oncogenes the following year. The discovery of PTEN emerged from the linked concepts of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that cause and prevent cancer and the fields of tumor viruses and human cancer genetics from which these two concepts arose. While much has been learned since, the initial discovery and characterization, including the discovery that PTEN is a regulator of PI3K and AKT, provide the foundation on which we continue to build our knowledge. To provide the context in which these cancer genes were discovered, background information that led to their discovery will also be discussed, which will hopefully be a useful guide for readers seeking to build on the work of others.
Sticking points: Sites for developing capacity to enact socially just instruction

Abstract Preparing preservice teachers (PSTs) to enact socially just instruction, especially in fieldwork contexts, remains a challenging, understudied goal addressed by this research. Analysis of data from two qualitative studies reveals how Daybook conversations served as pedagogical and discursive spaces that helped PSTs negotiate conflicts, or sticking points, which emerged in their fieldwork. Their rehearsals during these conversations enabled PSTs to create space for instructional experimentation to enact socially just instruction. The article offers possibilities for modeling with and for PSTs how their teaching can work to disrupt systems of inequity across relationships, diverse teaching contexts, and time.
Transcriptome analysis uncovers distinct modes of epigenetic gene changes in early versus late stages of amyloid-β induced Alzheimer's disease pathology

Alzheimer9s disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder hallmarked by amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque accumulation, neuronal cell death, and cognitive deficits that worsen during disease progression. Histone acetylation dysregulation, caused by an imbalance between the histone acetyltransferases (HAT) Tip60 and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), can directly contribute to AD pathology. Nevertheless, early and late-stage regulatory epigenetic alterations remain to be characterized. Here we profile Tip60 HAT/HDAC2 dynamics and transcriptional changes across early and late stage AD pathology in the Drosophila brain produced solely by human amyloid-β42. We show that early Aβ42 induction leads to disruption of Tip60 HAT/HDAC2 balance during early neurodegenerative stages preceding Aβ plaque accumulation that persists into late AD stages. Correlative transcriptome studies reveal alterations in biological processes we classified as transient (early-stage only), late-onset (late-stage only), and constant (both). Increasing Tip60 HAT levels in the Aβ42 fly brain protects against AD functional pathologies that include Aβ plaque accumulation, neural cell death, cognitive deficits, and shorter life-span. Strikingly, Tip60 also protects against Aβ42 induced transcriptomic alterations via distinct mechanisms during early and late stages of neurodegeneration. Our findings provide new insights into distinct modes of epigenetic gene alterations and Tip60 neuroprotection during early versus late stages in AD progression.
Towards prediction of microstructure during laser based additive manufacturing process of Co-Cr-Mo powder beds

Abstract Processing parameters during laser based additive manufacturing affect the fluid flow, heat transfer and solidification characteristics in the melt pool, leading to microstructural variants of texture, grain size, and morphology. A finite volume based Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model coupled with solidification physics has been developed to predict melting, flow, solidification, and resulting microstructural characteristics during such processes. The variation of texture, grain size and columnar/equiaxed morphology of the grains with laser power and speed has been verified against experiments. The difference in cooling curves and evolution of temperature gradients and cooling rates during solidification leading to a difference in each microstructural variant has been identified. Lower laser power and higher scan rates lead to “unconstrained” solidification with small variation of solidification times across the melt pool depth leading to finer grain structure with lower grain boundary (GB) misorientations. On the other hand, higher power and lower scan rates lead to “constrained” solidification, with huge variations in solidification times, coarser grains and highly misoriented grain boundaries. The desirable microstructure has been found to be predominantly fine grained based on mechanical strength measured using nanoindentation tests. Hunt's criterion-based processing maps for understanding the morphological variants has been prepared for systematic design of microstructure during the process.
The role of suction thrust in the metachronal paddles of swimming invertebrates

An abundance of swimming animals have converged upon a common swimming strategy using multiple propulsors coordinated as metachronal waves. The shared kinematics suggest that even morphologically and systematically diverse animals use similar fluid dynamic relationships to generate swimming thrust. We quantified the kinematics and hydrodynamics of a diverse group of small swimming animals who use multiple propulsors, e.g. limbs or ctenes, which move with antiplectic metachronal waves to generate thrust. Here we show that even at these relatively small scales the bending movements of limbs and ctenes conform to the patterns observed for much larger swimming animals. We show that, like other swimming animals, the propulsors of these metachronal swimmers rely on generating negative pressure along their surfaces to generate forward thrust (i.e., suction thrust). Relying on negative pressure, as opposed to high pushing pressure, facilitates metachronal waves and enables these swimmers to exploit readily produced hydrodynamic structures. Understanding the role of negative pressure fields in metachronal swimmers may provide clues about the hydrodynamic traits shared by swimming and flying animals.
Abstract #5224: Cytogenetic evaluation and biochemical analysis of malathion induced toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats

Malathion is a commonly used organophosphate pesticide that is considered relatively safe due to its low mammalian toxicity. Malathion functions by inhibiting cholinesterase (ChE) enzymes of the nervous system in both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. The inactivation and modulation of these enzymes is therefore a useful indicator of exposure. The main objective of this study was to further elucidate the in vivo genotoxic potential of malathion using chromosome aberration, mitotic index, and modulation of enzyme activity as toxicological endpoints in bone marrow cells and blood serum of Sprague-Dawley rats. Four groups of four male rats each weighing approximately 60±2g, were injected intraperitoneally once a day for five days with doses of 2.5, 5, 10 and 20mg/kg BW of malathion dissolved in 1%DMSO. The control group was given 1%DMSO. All the animals were sacrificed at the end of the treatment period. Chromosome preparation was obtained using standard protocols. Blood specimens were immediately collected using heparinized syringes; cholinesterase, aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, alkaline and acid phosphatase (ChE, AST, ALT, ALP, ACP) were detected and quantified in serum samples by spectrophotometry (405nm). The mean frequency of induced structural chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells were 1.33±0.57, 5.3±2.5, 7.6±2.1, 11.3±1.5, and 17±2 for malathion doses of 0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20mg/kg BW, respectively. It was also found that the mitotic index significantly decreased as the malathion dose increased. Mitotic indices of 18.4±0.75, 16.1±0.98, 14.1±0.96, 8.87±0.4, and 5.87±0.66 were recorded for malathion doses of 0, 2.5,5,10 and 20mg/kg BW, respectively. Further findings indicated a depression in ChE activity due to malathion treatment. ChE activity of 1376±119, 1286±119, 1286±159, 792±460, 747±506, and 628±97 U/L were recorded for malathion doses 0, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20mg/kg BW, respectively. There was also a significant increase in AST, ALT, ALP and ACP enzyme activity in the blood specimens. In summary, malathion exposure significantly increased the number of structural chromosome aberrations (CA), decreased mitotic index (MI), initiated a depression in ChE activity, and caused the modulation of enzyme activities (AST, ALT, ALP, ACP) in treated groups when compared with control groups. Biochemical analysis was further proven to be an accurate technique to determine the toxic effects of malathion, therefore acting as important biomarkers of effect to this compound. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 5224.
Downside risk and the performance of volatility-managed portfolios

Abstract Recent studies find mixed evidence on the performance of volatility-managed portfolios. We show that strategies scaled by downside volatility exhibit significantly better performance than strategies scaled by total volatility. The improved performance is evident in spanning regressions, direct Sharpe-ratio comparisons, and real-time trading strategies. A decomposition analysis indicates that the enhanced performance of downside volatility-managed portfolios is primarily due to return timing, i.e., downside volatility negatively predicts future returns. We find that employing fixed-weight strategies significantly improves the performance of volatility-managed portfolios for real-time investors. Our results hold for nine equity factors and a broad sample of 94 anomaly portfolios.
Bacteroides osteomyelitis of the mandible: A report of two cases

Abstract Anaerobic Bacteroides infections are being noted more often. Two patients were seen at Harbor General Hospital within the last year with osteomyelitis of the mandible secondary to Bacteroides infections. They were treated successfully with clindamycin.
Protein Structure and Function

The relationship between protein structure and function is the key interface between chemistry and life. The forces that dictate dynamic biochemical reactions inside cells more often involve transient weak molecular interactions than changes in covalent bonding. Just as two Lego’s are held together by collective weak forces that work synergistically because of the complementary shape of the bocks, biological macromolecules use specific shapes to organize their collective weak chemical forces to direct molecular interactions. Thus, molecular shape is a principal determinant of biochemistry. The class of biomolecules called proteins provide an extremely diverse set of shapes, which form structures conferring activities ranging from chemical catalysis to the scaffolding that structures cells (Fig.3.1). The diversity of protein structures is a direct result of the large variation in amino acid content and polymer length dictated by the coding regions of our genomes. This chapter will introduce amino acid polymerization and the forces that drive protein folding and structure.
1,2‐Divinylethylene carbonate (mixture of dl‐ and meso‐isomers)

[15896-04-5] C7H8O3 (MW 140.13) InChI = 1S/2C7H8O3/c2*1-3-5-6(4-2)10-7(8)9-5/h2*3-6H,1-2H2/t5-,6+;5-,6-/m.0/s1 InChIKey = HNKYJIYIHLVODW-PJDCGEHMSA-N (efficient electrophile used in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation reactions;1 precursor for the asymmetric synthesis of bioactive molecules1-4 and the synthesis of chiral diene ligands5) Alternate name: 4,5-divinyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one. Physical Data: bp = 64 °C (0.2 mm). Solubility: most organic solvents. Form Supplied in: colorless oil. Analysis of Reagent Purity: IR and 1H NMR analysis. Preparative Methods: prepared in two steps from acrolein; not commercially available. Purification: Flash chromatography on silica gel or distillation. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: Indefinitely stable when stored in a refrigerator under a nitrogen atmosphere. There are no known hazards, but the use of proper personal protective equipment is highly recommended.
A 400-year isotopic record of seabird response to eastern tropical Pacific productivity

Seabirds play an important role in coastal environments, serving as key indicators of marine ecosystem variability as well as biovectors that influence terrestrial productivity and carbon storage. Long-term estimates of seabird populations remain rare, but lakes that support large seabird populations in their watersheds can archive a history of seabird activity in their sediment records. Here we present a seabird guano-influenced sediment record from Genovesa Crater Lake, Galapagos Islands, home to the world's largest reported colony of red-footed boobies (Sula sula) and smaller populations of other species. Influx of seabird guano into Genovesa Crater Lake produces high sedimentary δ15N values, and temporal variability in sediment δ15N primarily reflects changes in guano influx through time. Two abrupt increases in sedimentary δ15N occurred at 1835 AD and 1965 AD, and variance increased following the 1965 AD shift. The largest of these abrupt shifts at 1835 AD coincided, within age model error, with an abrupt increase in marine productivity indicators in sediment records off the coast of Peru and Chile. In the latter part of the twentieth century, δ15N values increased during periods of higher landings of Peruvian anchoveta and sardines. We hypothesise that seabird presence and activity on Genovesa increased during periods of higher regional marine productivity. Enhanced variance in Genovesa δ15N following the 1965 AD shift may reflect a modern population more susceptible to climate and environmental variability than at any other time in the last 400 years.
Modeling Breast Cancer Progression in 4-D

Cell culture is among the most utilized techniques in biomedical research. The ability to grow mammalian cells in a dish has provided researchers with a tool to study the many mechanisms of biological function. The in vivo interactions in which cells participate, such as extracellular matrix adhesion, breakdown and deposition, along with cell to cell communications are key processes that need to be understood. Three-dimensional (3-D) cell culture has proved amenable to analysis of these interactions. Therefore, we have established a 3-D culture system, which utilizes co-culture of human breast epithelial cells with tumor-associated cells such as macrophages and/or fibroblasts. This unique 3-D model, which we have designated Mammary Architecture and Microenvironment Engineering or MAME, allows us to examine cellular function and mechanisms in a context more comparable to the in vivo microenvironment. In addition, we are able to visualize dynamic cellular processes such as proteolysis and invasion as they occur over time. In this manner we have taken cell cultures from 2-D to a multifaceted 4-D setting.
Categorization strategies across different domains.

A set of 7 items dealing with attitude-relevant issues were added to the Pettigrew (1958) Category Width Scale. The combined scale, together with an object-sorting test and a quantity-width-estimat...
AN UNUSUAL FORM OF LOCAL REACTION TO HYPOSENSITIZATION INJECTIONS.

Abstract Two women, aged 12 and 51, developed an unusual local, chronic, persistent, granulomatous, and suppurative reaction after repeated subcutaneous injections for allergic hyposensitization with polyvalent pollen, food, dust, and bacterial extracts. Histologically, the reactions were consistent with "tuberculoderm" or "foreign body reaction." The onset of local symptoms was seven and two months after injections, respectively. The reactions were confined to sites of subcutaneous inoculation of the antigens and occurred almost simultaneously. There were no constitutional symptoms. Both patients experienced improvement of their allergic symptoms during hyposensitization. No bacterial or fungal microorganism could be found in the antigen solutions or in the cutaneous lesions. Special attention was given to search for acid-fast organisms. Search for particulate matter was also negative. A review of the literature failed to disclose reports of similar reactions to hyposensitization with nonrepository, aqueous antigens. The time of appearance of the lesions and their simultaneous development, as well as the failure to recover viable organisms, suggest that they probably were due to an allergic reaction to an unidentified substance, and the skin lesions may be best described as "allergic granulomas."
Notes on the Egersund anorthosite, Norway

Located in the extreme southern part of Norway, the region has been described in part by F. K. Kolderup, and is now under investigation by Professor Tom. F. W. Barth of Oslo. Among the outstanding features of the rock are straight, sharp dikes of massive medium-grained anorthosite, the rocks of which are indistinguishable from their wall-rocks, but they cut the foliation of the wall-rocks at high angles. Equally remarkable are discordant dikes, up to three feet thick, of coarse, pegmatitic texture, composed megascopically of plagioclase (probably calcic andesine), pyroxene, and ilmenite. Preliminary examination by Barth and the writer in the field failed to reveal any hydroxyl-bearing minerals or quartz. Some dikes are so rich in ilmenite that they constitute commercial ore. These dikes raise the question as to what volatiles are capable of precipitating the above mineral associations.
GROWTH INHIBITION IN BONE AND BONE MARROW FOLLOWING TREATMENT WITH ADRENOCORTICOTROPIN (ACTH)

The action of ACTH on the tibia of immature rats has been studied by Becks, Simpson, Li and Evans (1944) and by Becks, Simpson, Marx, Li and Evans (1944). These workers observed retardation of chondrogenesis and osteogenesis to follow treatment of immature rats with ACTH. Likewise, ACTH antagonized the action of growth hormone when both were injected inbo hypophysectomized rats. The experiments now being reported supplement these observations by adding information regarding the action of ACTH on the bones of (1) adult rats, (2) under varied dietary conditions controlled by tube feeding and (3) at higher dose levels. In addition, the effect of ACTH on the bone marrow and vertebrae will be discussed. materials and methods The general plan of attack for these experiments has been outlined in detail elsewhere (Baker, Ingle, Li and Evans, 1948). Adult male rats (Sprague-Dawley strain) were force-fed diets high in carbohydrate, fat or protein.
Extracranial vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm presenting as subarachnoid hemorrhage.

True aneurysms of the extracranial vertebral artery are rare. The usual pathogenesis of aneurysms in this location is either penetrating or blunt trauma with resultant pseudoaneurysm formation. We report a postpartum patient with a presumed traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the extracranial vertebral artery presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage.A 41-year-old woman had three episodes of neck stiffness 1 month after an uncomplicated vaginal delivery. The last episode, 3 days before admission, was accompanied by intense neck and head pain and paresthesias that extended into the left arm, thumb, and forefinger.Lumbar puncture showed subarachnoid hemorrhage. Angiography revealed a left vertebral artery dissection from C6-7 to C3 with pseudoaneurysm at C5-6. Computed tomography demonstrated impingement of the C6 root at the foramen by this lesion. The lesion was successfully treated by balloon occlusion of the vertebral artery.We present a patient with an extracranial vertebral pseudoaneurysm with subarachnoid hemo...
Wavelet Transform for Feature Extraction to Improve Volume Adjustment Factors for Rural Roads

Wavelet transform is a powerful technique for feature extraction from data that are characterized by frequent and large-scale fluctuations. This technique has been studied in recent years for incident detection and intelligent transportation systems data aggregation. Because of its attractive properties, such as time frequency localization, multirate filtering, and scale-space analysis as well as multiresolution analysis, this research explores the potential application of the technique to improve the accuracy of monthly and weekly adjustment factors in rural annual average daily traffic estimation. The technique was applied to data collected from automatic traffic recorder stations in northern Ohio, and the application showed that the technique could separate and filter out the high-frequency data oscillations and trace the changes in the fundamental pattern of traffic. The test results illustrated an impressive improvement, ranging from 10% to 20%, over conventional data estimation at those stations. This success shows that the proposed approach is feasible, and future improvements of the application of the technique can make it an effective tool for traffic volume estimation for rural highways.
Human Resources Management in Japanese Large-Scale Industry

Current interest in Japanese business and industry has produced an outpouring of 'learning-from-Japan'prescriptions for meeting the Japanese challenge (e.g. Ouchi 1982, Pascale and Athos 1982, Vogel 1980; also a veritable flood of newspaper and magazine articles). But learning from Japan requires a good deal of learning about Japan, about Japanese history, tradition and culture, the economy-aspects of Japan that are hardly expressed in prescription contributions offered to either prac titioners or scholars. It is the purpose of this paper to selectively examine basic elements of Japan's industrial relations system in an historic and cultural context as well as contemporary arrangements. The discussion is limited to a composite depiction of essential aspects of human resources management in typical Japanese firms employing 500 or more workers. Overwhelmingly, this is the pool from which knowledge has been generated by both Japanese and foreign scholars studying this topic.
Time trends in the prevalence of birth defects in Texas 1999-2007: real or artifactual?

BACKGROUND: Few studies have reported time trends for total birth defects or for a comprehensive range of phenotypes. METHODS: We examined data from the Texas Birth Defects Registry (TBDR) from 1999 through 2007. Poisson regression was used to fit trend lines to birth prevalence over time for total birth defects (each infant/fetus counted once), for every birth defect collected by the TBDR, and for subsets of cases or defects grouped various ways. RESULTS: From 1999 through 2007, birth prevalence of total birth defects in Texas increased 3.6% per year. Increases were observed in all population groups, persisted after adjustment for demographic characteristics, and were strongest in regions of Texas that were more urban. There was a wide variety of different defects showing significant increases. The trends of several defects were driven by their mild cases. Perhaps the most compelling finding was that larger upward trends were observed in defects that had been rated as more susceptible to diagnostic variation. One notable exception to that was gastroschisis, which showed an average increase of over 5% per year, the total birth defects rate in TBDR increased at 3.6% per year, similar to 3.7% per year in birth certificate check boxes. CONCLUSIONS: In our opinion, the weight of evidence in our study suggests that the observed increase over time in total birth defects and in many specific birth defects is artifactual. This likely reflects increased awareness, referral, detection, or documentation in health care facilities visited by TBDR staff, resulting in more complete ascertainment by the registry, rather than a true change over time in the occurrence of most birth defects. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 91:902–917, 2011. 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Gaussian beam formulas from diffraction theory.

A simple, single-mode, coherent Gaussian laser beam with wavefronts that are spherical as they pass through a reference plane is assumed, and then by using only the Huygen’s principle and scalar diffraction theory, the propagation characteristics are found, and the formulas for the beam at a distance from the reference plane are derived. The action of a lens on a wavefront is discussed, and the lens formula is derived.
Urethral and Bladder Current Perception Thresholds: Normative Data in Women

Purpose: Given increased evidence of sensory dysfunction in lower urinary tract pathology, we determined normative current perception threshold values in the lower urinary tract of asymptomatic women.Materials and Methods: After receiving institutional review board approval women without lower urinary tract symptoms underwent current perception threshold testing of the urethra and bladder using a Neurometer® constant current stimulator. Current perception threshold values were determined at 3 frequencies, including 2,000 Hz (corresponding to A-β fibers), 250 Hz (corresponding to A-δ fibers) and 5 Hz (corresponding to C fibers).Results: A total of 48 women with a mean age of 38 years (range 23 to 67) underwent current perception threshold testing. Normative values were established for the urethra and bladder at 2,000, 250 and 5 Hz. Median urethral current perception thresholds at 2,000, 250 and 5 Hz were 1.2 (IQR 0.76–1.5), 0.45 (IQR 0.33–0.56) and 0.11 mA (IQR 0.07–0.24), respectively. Median bladder curr...
Megakaryocyte-derived microvesicles, please stand up!

In this issue of Blood , Flaumenhaft and colleagues report that circulating MVs isolated from murine blood express markers that suggest their megakaryocytic origin. They also report that MegMVs are CD62 − LAMP-1 − and express full length filamin in contrast to PMVs that are CD62 + LAMP-1 + filamin − .
Creative Expression and Resilience Among Holocaust Survivors

Positive psychologists and gerontologists are increasingly interested in how artistic experience may contribute to resilience across the life course. This article presents vignettes from the lives of three visual artists who survived the Holocaust in Hungary and now live in the Los Angeles area. It discusses the intersection of their creativity and resilience and how these creative expressions have enhanced personal and community well-being. Implications for research on the use of images are discussed, along with the possibilities for utilizing creative expressions in social work practice.
Quantification of model uncertainty in environmental modeling

The last few decades have seen considerable progress in the quantification of environmental model uncertainty. Initially the emphasis has been on uncertainty in model parameters. A more recent trend has been to consider uncertainties in both model structure and parameters, most commonly by analyzing jointly predictions generated by several alternative models of the environment. This has been motivated by a growing recognition that the open and complex nature of environmental systems renders them suitable to multiple conceptualizations and mathematical descriptions. Predictions generated by a single model are prone to statistical bias (by reliance on an invalid model) and underestimation of uncertainty (by under-sampling the relevant model space) (Neuman 2003; Neuman and Wierenga 2003). Some multimodel approaches blend or average statistical results generated by a set of alternative models. A common approach to model averaging is to (1) postulate several alternative models for a site, (a) associate each model with a weight or probability, and (c) generate weighted average predictions and statistics of all the models. Ways to accomplish this have varied; some are included in a public-domain code (Multimodel Analysis or MMA by Poeter and Hill 2007) recently reviewed by Ye (2010). This special issue of SERRA focuses on such and other emerging methods of model and parameter uncertainty quantification. The special issue contains seven papers devoted to model averaging. Diks and Vrugt compare model averaging methods that weigh models in different ways, without always requiring that the weights sum up to unity. The methods are applied to two sites and compared in term of their predictive performance measured by out-of-sample root mean squared prediction error. Sain and Furrer estimate weights based on variation and correlation of alternative hierarchical models. They use a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate correlation between models and the impact of parameter estimation uncertainty on the weights. Ajami and Gu use the Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) approach of Raftery et al. (2005) to assess uncertainty in a suite of biogeochemical models having various levels of complexity to simulate the fate and transport of nitrate at a field site in California. Their results demonstrate that whereas single models, regardless of their complexity levels, are incapable of representing all active processes at the site, the 95% uncertainty bounds of BMA bracket 90% to 100% of the observations. Tsai use a variance-window (Tsai and Li 2008) version of Maximum Likelihood (ML) BMA (MLBMA; Neuman 2003; Ye et al. 2004) to quantify model uncertainty in managing groundwater within a thick sandy aquifer in Louisiana where saltwater intrusion is of concern. Alternative models are postulated to reflect uncertainty in conceptualizing hydraulic head boundaries and geostatistical parameterization through variogram models. The results M. Ye (&) Department of Scientific Computing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA e-mail: mye@fsu.edu
Risk of Death Among Chronic Dialysis Patients Infected With Hepatitis C Virus

Abstract Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is highly prevalent among chronic dialysis patients (10% to 40%) and is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. However, there are no studies estimating the risk for death among dialysis patients infected with HCV compared with those not infected. We conducted a prospective cohort study to estimate the risk for death among chronic dialysis patients infected with HCV compared with those not infected. In 1992, 200 patients (91%) who had been undergoing dialysis therapy for at least 6 months consented to be screened for HCV infection by enzyme immunoblot assay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Information about potential confounders and potential risk factors for death and HCV infection was obtained from the dialysis center database. Patient outcomes collected included death, transplantation, and loss to follow-up. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the odds of death among dialysis patients who were positive for the HCV antibody and HCV RNA compared with negative patients. Forty-four patients (22%) were HCV antibody positive. Thirty-four patients (17%) were HCV RNA positive. Patients in the HCV RNA-positive group were more likely to be younger (51.8+/-12.6 v 57.2+/-17.3 years of age), men (77% v 54%), and black (65% v 37%). None of the home hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis patients were HCV RNA positive, whereas one of the home hemodialysis and one of the peritoneal dialysis patients were HCV antibody positive. Two patients became infected with HCV during the follow-up period. Patients who were HCV RNA positive and those who were HCV antibody positive were at increased risk for death compared with patients who were negative (adjusted relative risk [aRR]=1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 3.14; P=0.045; and aRR=1.97; 95% CI, 1.16 to 3.33; P=0.012, respectively), after adjusting for time on dialysis, race, transplantation, and age. We conclude that HCV infection increased the risk for death during the study period compared with those not infected. Further studies should assess the measures used to prevent and treat HCV infection. (Am J Kidney Dis 1998 Oct;32(4):629-34)
Alkenoxy radicals in gas-phase reactions of alkenes with oxygen atoms or ozone

Abstract Observations in the O 3 + trans-2-butene reaction system and in the O + trans-2-butene + O 2 reaction system suggest the intermediacy of alkenoxy radicals. A mechanism is proposed for the production of C n and C m ( m n ) alkenoxy radicals by the reaction of C n H 2 n alkenes with oxygen atoms or with ozone.
Successful strategies for IPv6 rollouts.: Really.

The design of TCP/IP began in 1973 when Robert Kahn and I started to explore the ramifications of interconnecting different kinds of packet-switched networks. We published a concept paper in May 19...
Mutations of bacteriophage P2 which prevent activation of P2 late genes by satellite phage P4

Abstract Satellite phage P4 multiplies only in the presence of its helper P2 and requires each morphogenesis function of P2 for phage maturation. The helper phage P2 can be present either as prophage or as a co-infecting phage. We have isolated mutant P2 lysogens unable to support P4 growth. These carry mutations lying in the region of P2 early genes. Measurement of P2 lysozyme synthesis indicates that in these mutants, P2 late genes are activated inefficiently during P4 infection. Complementation tests show that the P4 stimulation function, which is absent in the defective lysogens, can be provided in trans by another prophage. This function cannot be assigned to either of the two known early genes of P2 which are required for late gene transcription during P2 vegetative growth; P4 multiplies normally when both P2 early genes A and B are inactivated by amber mutations. A dominant mutation of P2 has been isolated which makes repressed P2 incapable of supporting P4 multiplication. The mutation prevents derepression of the P2 prophage and may alter the P2 repressor. We propose that two different pathways exist for activation of P2 late genes: (1) a pathway dependent on P2 replication and (2) a pathway activated by satellite P4. One component of the P4-dependent pathway is a diffusible P2 early gene function under the control of P2 repressor. This function acts to stimulate the P2 late gene transcription in the P4-dependent pathway.
Cbfa1-dependent expression of an interferon-inducible p204 protein is required for chondrocyte differentiation

Cbfa1-dependent expression of an interferon-inducible p204 protein is required for chondrocyte differentiation
Isolation and characterization of the tandemly repeated U6 genes from the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.

Abstract The tandemly repeated U6 genes were isolated from the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus . Each 1.8 kb repeat unit contains a single U6 RNA sequence. There are no sequence similarities between the U6 promoter and other sea urchin snRNA genes, other than a long polypyrimidine tract 3′ of the U6 sequence.
Numerical Analysis of Self-Pierce Riveting of Magnesium Alloys

Regulations all over the world have been pushing vehicle manufacturers to increase fuel economies and decrease green house gas emissions. An effective way to meet these new regulations is to reduce automobile weight through the use of lightweight metals. Magnesium alloys have received recent interest due to its high strength-to-weight ratio. However, conventional fusion joining methods such as resistance spot welding are not effective for magnesium alloys. As such, an attractive joining technique for these lightweight metals is self-pierce riveting (SPR) which is fast, fumeless and does not melt the material. However, SPR must be performed at elevated temperatures because of the low ductility of magnesium alloys at room temperature. Even though the SPR joining process has been established on magnesium alloys, this joining process is not optimized. As such, this study establishes the first attempt at simulating the SPR of magnesium alloys through the use of the finite element method. An internal state variable (ISV) plasticity and damage material model was employed and comparison to experimental results show good results. The results of this study show that the ISV material model is ideally suited for modeling the SPR in magnesium alloys.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, and Gambling

Patients in an alcoholism and drug dependency treatment facility were questioned about their gambling behavior in order to find out what percentage of them were abusing alcohol and/or drugs and gambling. In order to do this, a pathological gambling signs index was constructed according to a modification of DSM III criteria and validated using independent procedures. Out of 458 patients interviewed, 40 (9%) were diagnosed as pathological gamblers and an additional 47 (10%) showed signs of problematic gambling. These patients showed clear signs of emotional, financial, family and occupational disruption, and illegal behavior in connection with their gambling which compound the disruption induced by alcohol and/or drugs. Five per cent of the patients abusing only alcohol, 12% of those with alcohol and another drug in combination, and 18% of those with other drug abuse problems without an alcohol component showed clear signs of pathological gambling; 11 1/2% of males and 2% of females were classified as pathological gamblers. The index was also significantly associated with parental gambling (38% of the children of pathological gamblers were pathological gamblers themselves). Gambling by siblings, alcoholism in the father (but not in the mother), gambling prior to age 20, greater amounts of gambling for more money, and "chasing losses in order to get even" were also positively correlated with the index. The implications for study and treatment of these individuals are discussed in terms of the study of addictions.
DESIGN AND MICROCONTROLLER IMPLEMENTATION OF A THREE PHASE SCR POWER CONVERTER

A single processor controls a three phase silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) power converter. An inexpensive, dual optoisolator interface to the power line provides noise rejection and an improved measure of the zero crossing. A dynamic digital phase-locked loop (PLL) algorithm implemented in an Intel 87C196KD-20 processor achieves frequency tracking, dynamically changing characteristics for improved performance. Dynamically modifying the PLL characteristics permits independent capture and locked dynamics. A feedforward method provides command tracking for improved response without loss of performance. This three-component design (processor, optoisolator, and SCR gate drivers) represents a minimal implementation with potential for closed loop voltage and current control. High speed input and output resources included on the 87C196KD processor make an efficient single-device implementation possible. The processor is less than 1% utilized allowing for additional functions to be added in the future. This system operates on both 50 Hz and 60 Hz power systems without modification or loss of performance.
Engaging communities to develop and sustain comprehensive wellness policies: Louisiana's schools putting prevention to work.

BACKGROUND Tobacco use, obesity, and physical inactivity among Louisiana's youth pose a serious public health problem. Given the potential of school environments to affect student well-being, the Louisiana Tobacco Control Program developed and tested a pilot program, Schools Putting Prevention to Work. The objective was to assist school districts in developing a comprehensive school wellness policy and engaging their school community to generate environments that support healthful choices and behaviors. COMMUNITY CONTEXT The pilot was implemented in 27 school districts, reaching an estimated 325,000 people across the state. Demographics of participating students were similar to all Louisiana's public school students. METHODS A school wellness project state team advised project development. A subgroup that included contractors and partners implemented and modified the pilot. Sites were selected though an application process. Site representatives received trainings, technical assistance, and funding to organize school-based support-building activities and coordinate a school health advisory council to develop policy and sustain healthy school environments. Project sites reported progress monthly; evaluation included data from sites and project administrators. OUTCOME Twenty-five comprehensive school wellness policies (covering 100% tobacco-free schools and daily physical activity and healthier cafeteria items) were approved by school boards. Environmental changes such as physical activity breaks, healthier vending options, and tobacco-free campuses were adopted. INTERPRETATION This pilot demonstrated a successful approach to achieving policy and environmental change. The state team engaged and guided school districts to motivate students, parents, faculty/staff/administration, and businesses to establish and maintain opportunities to improve lifestyle health.
Low energy electron diffraction studies of the surface structures of adsorbed hydrocarbons (n-heptane, toluene, benzene, ethylene, and cyclohexane) on stepped (high miller index) platinum surfaces

Abstract The chemisorption of hydrocarbons (n-heptane, toluene, benzene, ethylene and cyclohexane) was studied by LEED on four different stepped crystal faces of platinum, the Pt(S)−[9(111) × (100)], Pt(S)−[6(111) × (100)], Pt(S)−[7(111) × (310)], and Pt(S)−[4(111) × (100)]. The first three surfaces exhibit thermal stability (25–1000°C) in vacuum and in the presence of hydrogen and hydrocarbons, while the last face is unstable and facets. The chemisorption of hydrocarbons produces carbonaceous deposits whose characteristics depend on the substrate structure, the type of hydrocarbon chemisorbed, the rate of adsorption and the surface temperature. Hydrocarbons on the [9(111) × (100)] and [6(111) × (100)] crystal face, form mostly ordered structures, while disordered carbonaceous layers are formed on the [7(111) × (310)] surface, which has a high concentration of kinks in the steps. The distinctly different chemisorption characteristics of these platinum surfaces can be explained by considering the interplay of four competing processes: (1) the nucleation and growth of ordered carbonaceous surface structures, (2) dehydrogenation, (3) decomposition of the organic molecules, and (4) rearrangement of the substrate (faceting). On the [9(111) × (100)] and [6(111) × (100)] crystal faces, processes (1) and (2) predominate. On the [7(111) × (310)] face, process (3) is predominant, while process (4) is the most important on the [4(111) × (100)] face. The effect of varying partial pressure of hydrogen on the chemisorption and ordering characteristics of hydrocarbons are also discussed.