cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
QUANTIFYING THE RISK OF ABNORMAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY AS A RESULT OF SUB-CONCUSSIVE BLOWS IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ATHLETES

Background Recent work suggests that repetitive sub-concussive head impacts may contribute to long-term neurodegeneration; however, the risk thresholds for sub-concussive injury are unknown. Objective To evaluate the risk of developing abnormal neurophysiology due to repetitive impacts to the head. Hypothesis: the number of head impacts is predictive of neurological impairment. Design ImPACT, fMRI, and head impact telemetry (HIT) was employed in baseline tests, pre-season and in-season. The number and magnitude of head impacts were collected for practices and games. Setting American high school football. Participants 13 high school American football players age 14–18. Those diagnosed with a concussion were excluded. Risk factor assessment The number of head impacts during the season. Main outcome measurements Pre-season and in-season ImPACT, MRI, and fMRI. Results The players experienced an average of 17.7 to 45.5 hits/week with a mean and standard deviation of 71.7±39.3. The corresponding cumulative number of hits for the season ranged from 86 to 1996 with a mean and standard deviation of 582.8±444.3. Twenty-two in-season ImPACT tests were administered during the season. Twelve (54.5%) showed a minimum of one composite score flagged, the fMRI analysis showed 16 (72.7%) in-season assessments flagged, and seven subjects were flagged by both the ImPACT and fMRI. Groups were divided based on number of head impacts; those above & below 500 cumulative hits/season and above and below 65 hits/week. Above 500 cumulative hits/season and 65 hits/week, all examinations were flagged. Conclusions A number of asymptomatic athletes exhibited neurophysiological changes. The number of head impacts is a risk factor for the development of neurophysiological changes. The medical staff should monitor players who are taking large numbers of hits, consider using neurocognitive testing on an annual basis, and promote proper technique and skill development for the players.
Family expectations and transition experiences for young adults with severe disabilities: does syndrome matter?

The differential impact of young adult diagnosis on families during the period of transition from school to adult life was examined. Participants were parents of 246 young adults with severe learning disability aged 18‐26. Young adults were classified into four diagnostic groups: autism (N = 30), Down's syndrome (N = 68), cerebral palsy (N = 95) and an undifferentiated learning disability group (N = 53). Research questions pertained to parent expectations about their young adults' transition to living and working environments post high school. Parental satisfaction and worries were also assessed. The results indicated more community expectations of work for young adults with Down's syndrome, and more restrictive expectations for young adults with autism, including more expectations that young adults with autism would move out of the family home into a residential environment. Parents of young adults with autism also worried significantly more about various aspects of transition than other parent groups.
IOLSTAT—a program for comprehensive intraocular lens equation comparison with statistical analysis

A computer program that will simultaneously solve five of the major intraocular lens (IOL) equations predicting the primary implant power required for emmetropia or ametropia is presented. The program can, alternatively, predict the degree of ametropia given the power of an IOL. The resultant predictions are analyzed using weighted and unweighted statistics, predicting a mean and a standard deviation. The results are displayed in a table which lists the prediction and the percent deviation from the weighted mean for each equation. The program features automatic averaging of keratometer readings, ultrasound axial length corrections, and an algorithm for estimating postoperative anterior chamber depth.
The evolutionary origination and diversification of a dimorphic gene regulatory network through parallel innovations in cis and trans.

The origination and diversification of morphological characteristics represents a key problem in understanding the evolution of development. Morphological traits result from gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that form a web of transcription factors, which regulate multiple cis-regulatory element (CRE) sequences to control the coordinated expression of differentiation genes. The formation and modification of GRNs must ultimately be understood at the level of individual regulatory linkages (i.e., transcription factor binding sites within CREs) that constitute the network. Here, we investigate how elements within a network originated and diversified to generate a broad range of abdominal pigmentation phenotypes among Sophophora fruit flies. Our data indicates that the coordinated expression of two melanin synthesis enzymes, Yellow and Tan, recently evolved through novel CRE activities that respond to the spatial patterning inputs of Hox proteins and the sex-specific input of Bric-a-brac transcription factors. Once established, it seems that these newly evolved activities were repeatedly modified by evolutionary changes in the network’s trans-regulators to generate large-scale changes in pigment pattern. By elucidating how yellow and tan are connected to the web of abdominal trans-regulators, we discovered that the yellow and tan abdominal CREs are composed of distinct regulatory inputs that exhibit contrasting responses to the same Hox proteins and Hox cofactors. These results provide an example in which CRE origination underlies a recently evolved novel trait, and highlights how coordinated expression patterns can evolve in parallel through the generation of unique regulatory linkages.
Effect of Powder Characteristics on Gas-Pressure Sintering of Si3N4 With Rare Earth Additives

Several Si3N4 powders, synthesized by various methods and having different surface areas, oxygen contents and impurity levels, were examined. During early stage densification, all powders showed similar shrinkage with the diimide derived powder exhibiting delayed α/β transformation compared to the other powders. The diimide and gas-phase derived powders achieved the highest final densities. Improved densification was observed by increasing the oxygen content and this also resulted in high toughness for some materials with rare earth apatite additives. However, the increased oxygen resulted in reduced high temperature strength. Fracture toughnesses (KIc) up to 10 MPa✓m were obtained for some compositions.
Validity of the Threat Index

The validity of the Threat Index was examined in a study of 42 students and 15 HIV + clients. When completing the Threat Index, subjects rate the self and death on 30 bipolar adjectives. A count is made of the number of times the same adjective poles are used to describe the self and death. Uses of the same poles are called matches, while uses of different poles are called splits. The Threat Index is based on the assumption that splits indicate threat. Analysis showed that neither splits nor matches were usually threatening and that neither was necessary or sufficient for the experience of threat. These results did not support the validity of the Threat Index.
Concurrent etonitazene and water intake in rats: Role of taste, olfaction, and auditory stimuli

Etonitazene and water were concurrently available to four rats during daily 1 h sessions in operant conditioning chambers equipped with two levers and two liquid dippers. A food-induced training procedure was used whereby etonitazene drinking was rapidly established by presenting rats with gradually increased drug concentrations with their daily food ration. When food was subsequently removed from the session and given post-session, etonitazene responding persisted. The rats were subsequently trained on fixed-ratio (FR) schedules with concurrent access to etonitazene and water. The number of dipper presentations compared with etonitazene concentrations (0.078–10.0 μg/ml) resulted in a typical inverted U-shaped function while etonitazene intake (μg/kg) increased directly with concentration. After drinking large quantities of etonitazene the rats showed ataxia, hyper-activity, and stereotypy. Extinction tests demonstrated that rats could discriminate between etonitazene and water on the basis of one dipper full of each liquid; the amount of etonitazene in one dipper was 0.0078 μg. Further tests showed that this discrimination was based on taste or immediate post-ingestional feedback rather than olfactory cues. An auditory stimulus was presented concurrently with responses on the drug lever; however, there was no difference in responding for the drug in the presence or absence of this stimulus except at the lowest concentration. After the extinction tests, when the lowest drug concentration was again available with concurrent water, responding was substantially higher in the presence of stimulus associated with availability of etonitazene. The results extend previous work on oral narcotic intake to a lever-press concurrent choice procedure which is sensitive to reinforcing effects of the drug at low concentrations.
IT alleviates health care's "healing crisis".

Information technology (IT) can help keep nurse leaders focused and optimistic about health care's long-range outlook.
Model-Based Nonlinear Control of a New Active Tilting-Pad Bearing

This paper introduces a new type of active fluid-film bearing and its feedback control. In particular, we propose to actively adjust the angular velocity of the pads of a tilting-pad bearing in response to changes in the operating conditions of the rotating machine. This is motivated by the observation that there is more control authority in the pad tilt motion than in its radial translation. To this end, we first develop a dynamic model for the bearing system, inclusive of the nonlinear hydrodynamic force for the infinitely-short bearing case. A model-based controller is then constructed, based on measurements of the journal position and velocity and pad tilt angles, to ensure that the journal is asymptotically regulated to the bearing center. Numerical simulations illustrate the performance of the active bearing under the proposed control in comparison with the bearing’s standard passive mode of operation.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Use of Ag(II) as a removable template in porphyrin chemistry: diol cleavage products of [meso-tetraphenyl-2,3-cis-diolchlorinato]silver(II)

Abstract The use of AgII as a removable template in synthetic porphyrin chemistry is described. Mild procedures for the insertion of AgII into chlorins and the demetallation of the [chlorinato]AgII complexes are delineated. The UV–vis spectra of the novel [chlorinato]AgII complexes are discussed. The diol cleavage products of [meso-tetraphenyl-2,3-diolchlorinato]silver(II) under a number of conditions are characterized and compared to those resulting from the cleavage of the corresponding free base diol chlorin or its NiII complex, highlighting the unique templating effect of AgII. The scopes and limits of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) for the analysis of AgII chlorins is described. The use of AgII as a templating metal is superior over NiII or ZnII for the preparation of free base pyrrole-modified porphyrins along metal templated pathways.
The effective direct correlation function, an approach to the theory of liquid solutions: A new definition of the effective solute potential

Abstract A Mayer graph analysis of the solute effective direct correlation function c00eff(1,2) for a binary fluid mixture is presented. The function c00eff(1,2) is defined in terms of the solute pair correlation function h00(1,2) by a one-component effective Ornstein-Zernike relation. The graphical series for c00eff(1,2) is shown to be identical to the series for the direct correlation function of a pure fluid except that pure fluid f-bonds are replaced by effective f-bonds f00eff(1,2) which exactly include the effects of solvent-solute interaction. An effective solute-solute potential W00(1,2) is defined by the relation f00eff(1,2) = exp[-βW00(1,2)] - 1. A graphical series for W00(1,2) is presented. This single effective solute pair potential plays a role in the present formulation analogous to the role the infinite set of n-particle solute potentials plays in the McMillan-Mayer theory.
Lymph node microscopic tumor burden quantified in vivo with dual tracer receptor-targeted imaging

A non-invasive fluorescence imaging approach is presented to quantify metastatic tumor burden in lymph nodes. The approach employs dual-tracer kinetic modeling to estimate concentrations of cancer-specific molecular markers
The Advising Workbench: Participation-Based Development of a Software Environment to Support Student Advising

This paper describes the development, design, and evaluation of the Advising Workbench (AWB), a software development environment being developed at University of Illinois to support students, faculty, and professional advisors in the advising process. A participatory design strategy is being used with human factors design students taking part in the development of the AWB as researchers, designers, evaluators and, of course, as eventual users. Various systems-oriented conceptual tools have been used during the development of the AWB, such as hierarchical task analysis (HTA) and link analysis. Most notably, the AWB accesses University of Illinois course information from the World Wide Web (WWW). The AWB represents a test of many concepts, such as (1) the viability of tying student advising support to sources on the WWW, (2) the effectiveness of a large-scale participatory design exercise with human factors undergraduate students, and (3) the adequacy for naive users of our interpretation of the standard Ma...
Methods used to quit smoking by people with physical disabilities.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE People with mobility impairments (MIs) have higher smoking rates than the general population. We evaluated the use of psychosocial and pharmacological methods to quit smoking and readiness to quit smoking in this population in a cross-sectional study. RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN Current and former smokers with MIs who needed equipment to ambulate (e.g., cane, wheelchair; n = 152, 53.3% female, 86.2% current smokers) were recruited from the community and interviewed by telephone regarding their lifetime use of various quit methods and readiness to quit smoking. RESULTS Results indicated that 57.3% reported a quit attempt in the past year, and 62% and 88.4% were planning on quitting in the next 30 days and six months, respectively. A minority of smokers with MIs reported using any type of counseling (5.3%; 3.3% in-person counseling and 2.6% phone counseling) or tablet medication (8.6%); 75% had made a "cold turkey" quit attempt (e.g., without any assistance). 36.8% and 19.7% reported using the nicotine patch and gum, respectively. Regression analyses indicated that greater nicotine dependence was associated with lower use of psychosocial treatments (p < .05), greater education was associated with greater tablet medication use (p = .051), and higher income was associated with both greater nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and tablet medication use (p < .05). Minorities with MIs were significantly less likely to use NRT than non-Hispanic Whites (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS Individuals with MIs are motivated to quit smoking but underuse some empirically validated cessation treatment options.
Global transcriptional analysis delineates the differential inflammatory response interleukin-15 elicits from cultured human T cells.

Objective Interleukin 15 (IL)-15 controls proliferation and survival of T cells, but its effects and the underlying cellular regulation are not well understood. Previous studies have focused on its effects on short-term T-cell cultures. In view of the potential problems associated with using IL-2 alone in adoptive immunotherapy protocols, we investigated the impact of IL-15 on T-cell cultures and the global transcriptional effects it elicits in such cultures. Materials and Methods DNA microarrays and flow cytometry were used to examine the differential effect of 20 ng/mL IL-15 on primary serum-free T-cell cultures activated and cultured in the presence of IL-2. Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction confirmed select microarray data. Results IL-15 significantly increased ex vivo expansion of primary human T cells over the entire 11-day expansions without affecting viability. The 1133 genes were consistently differentially expressed among three donor samples. Ontological analysis demonstrated that IL-15 increases expression of genes involved in inflammatory response (e.g., tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, Oncostatin M, CD40L, and CD33) and apoptosis (e.g., TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand). IL-15 also induced expression of four suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family genes (SOCS1–3, cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein), which are classical negative regulators of cytokine signaling. IL-15 strongly suppressed the expression of inhibitory natural killer cell receptor genes, including three C-type lectins (KLRB1, KLRC1, and KLRD1), as well as IL-7Ra and Granzyme H. Finally, IL-15 induced differential expression of TNF receptor superfamily members (CD27 and CD30). Conclusion These findings suggest that exogenous IL-15 may have a potential role in adoptive immunotherapy by both enhancing proliferation and modulating functionality during ex vivo T-cell expansion.
RETROTRANSPOSON MYS IS CONCENTRATED ON THE SEX CHROMOSOMES: IMPLICATIONS FOR COPY NUMBER CONTAINMENT.

Chromosomal distribution of the mys retrotransposon was examined by in situ hybridization with a biotinylated probe. Thirty-six mice from four species of the Peromyscus leucopus/maniculatus complex were examined. Mys hybridized to every chromosome in all individuals examined. However, the pattern of hybridization was nonrandom. Mys elements were excluded from C-banding regions of the autosomes, and hybridized preferentially to G-bands. The most prominent feature of these hybridizations was the preferential accumulation of mys on the X and Y chromosomes of all four species examined. Accumulation of mys on the X is incompatible with the hypothesis that selection acting on deleterious mutations is the major mechanism regulating the copy number of this element. Rather, this supports the Langley model for containment of transposable element copy number by unequal exchange during meiosis.
Controversies in surgical therapy for APUDomas

Location of gastrinomas by means of portal venous sampling is a technique in which venous blood from various sites in the portal system around the pancreas and duodenum is obtained and assayed for gastrin levels. A gradient of 50% or greater compared to systemic gastrin levels from a given location regionally identifies the site of gastrin overproduction, thereby locating the tumor. The only area in which venous sampling may help, in the authors' opinion, is in the small subset of patients who have occult gastrinoma not imaged with any other modality, in the body or tail of the pancreas that cannot be found with intraoperative ultrasound or palpation. It is considered that a secretin angiogram is equally effective and is a simpler procedure. Similarly, in insulinoma regional location of the tumor by means of a calcium angiogram has eliminated the usefulness of portal venous sampling. Controversial areas of surgical treatment of APUDomas often reflect a balance between the risks and benefits of aggressive surgery, as data to support an aggressive surgical approach to obtain improved survival often do not exist. For example, if patients with occult MTC can undergo cervical reexploration with minimal or no morbidity the potential benefit of removing malignant disease, warrants this approach. Similarly, if patients with MEN-1 can be explored safely with resection of pancreatic and duodenal tumors, then this position can be defended. On the other hand, if a subgroup of patients with MEN-2 and pheochomocytomas can be spared bilateral adrenalectomy without compromising their long-term outcome in terms of disease-free survival, then this conservative approach is warranted. For all of these controversial areas long-term follow-up of these patients with relatively indolent malignancies may support other current therapeutic recommendations.
Secondary and Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism: The Utility of ioPTH Monitoring

The aim of the present study was to examine the utility of intraoperative parathyroid hormone (ioPTH) monitoring in patients with secondary (2) and tertiary (3) hyperparathyroidism (HPT). We identified 105 patients with 2HPT (n = 33) and 3HPT (n = 72) who underwent ioPTH monitoring during parathyroidectomy. Data are reported as mean ± SEM. The 2HPT patients underwent 17 subtotal, 10 total, and 6 re-exploratory parathyroidectomies, whereas the 3HPT patients underwent 54 subtotal, 15 limited, and 3 re-exploratory parathyroidectomies. The percent decrease from the baseline ioPTH level at 5, 10, and 15 min after parathyroid resection, respectively, were 72% ± 3%, 76% ± 3%, and 76% ± 3% in patients with 2HPT, and 52% ± 6%, 60% ± 4%, and 69% ± 4% in patients with 3HPT. IoPTH levels failed to drop >50% from baseline in 5 patients (2HPT: n = 2, 3HPT: n = 3) who were normocalcemic at last follow-up. IoPTH did not alter the surgical approach in any 2HPT patients, but did alter management in 25% of 3HPT patients (15 limited resections and 3 supernumerary glands). Normocalcemia was achieved in 97% of 2HPT patients and 99% of 3HPT patients; 2 patients developed recurrent disease. Intraoperative PTH levels fell by >50% in nearly 95% of patients with 2HPT and 3HPT, and the PTH level reliably predicted postoperative cure. Although the use of ioPTH did not alter surgical management in any patient with 2HPT, this rapid PTH assay affected the surgical care of a quarter of the patients with 3HPT, and it may prove to be a useful adjunct in this group of patients.
Evidence against a presynaptic mechanism for kainate neurotoxicity in the cochlear nucleus.

Abstract Kainic acid produces a selective pattern of degeneration in the cochlear nucleus of the guinea pig. This pattern is not altered by destruction of the putative glutamatergic primary afferent innervation, even with minimal doses of kainic acid. Thus, kainate neurotoxicity does not require intact presynaptic terminals in the cochlear nucleus.
Evaluation of size in prognosis of oral cancer

Greatest surface diameter of a cancer, together with suspicion of regional node metastasis, forms the basis for prognosis through the clinical TNM staging system for many cancers. In oral cancer, however, surface size sometimes fails to correlate, or sometimes inversely correlates, with tumor aggressiveness. To shed light on the value of measuring size per se, 155 consecutive oral squamous cancers, treated by surgery, radiation, or a combination, were analyzed to find the degree of correlation between greatest surface measurement and pathologic nodal spread and control of cancer. In tumors less than 2 cm, size correlated with very few nodal metastases and with good prognoses; in tumors greater than 2 cm, increasing size did not show a corresponding increase in pathologic node metastasis or significantly worsening outcomes except for a few very large cancers invading adjacent structures. In conclusion, greatest surface diameter of an oral cancer, when greater than 2 cm, is an unreliable predictor of tumor behavior per se. A small pilot study suggests that tumor thickness may be a better predictor. A formal study of this is planned.
Arbitrary elementary landscapes & AR(1) processes

Neighborhood specification is a dominant consideration in assuring the success of a direct search approach to a difficult combinatorial optimization problem. Previous research has shown the efficacy of imposing an elementary landscape upon the search topology. Barnes et al. [J.W. Barnes, S. Dokov, B. Dimova, A. Solomon, A theory of elementary landscapes, Applied Mathematics Letters 16 (2003)] generalize the notion of elementary landscapes to embrace arbitrary neighborhood digraphs. Stadler [P.F. Stadler, Landscapes and their correlation functions, Journal of Mathematical Chemistry 20 (1996)] shows, for the special case of symmetric-regular neighborhood digraphs, that the autocorrelation function associated with a smooth elementary landscape is consistent with an AR(1) time series. In this paper, we extend this idea to arbitrary neighborhood digraphs.
Fascial and muscular abnormalities in women with urethral hypermobility and anterior vaginal wall prolapse

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to assess the structural integrity of individual elements of the urethral and anterior vaginal wall support system. Study Design: Notes were made during retropubic operations for cystourethrocele and stress incontinence in 71 women aged 52 ± 12.4 (SD) years. Vaginal support was assessed with the Baden-Walker system with the following average findings: urethra 1.9 ± 0.6, bladder 1.9 ± 1.0, apex 0.8 ± 1.1, upper posterior wall 0.3 ± 0.8, and rectocele 1.1 ± 0.7. The presence of the following features was noted: paravaginal defect, integrity of the pubic and ischial attachments of the arcus tendineus fascia pelvis (ATFP), appearance of the ATFP on the sidewall, and abnormalities in the pubococcygeal muscle. Results: Paravaginal defects were present in 87.3% on the left and in 88.7% on the right. Detachment of the ATFP from the pubic bone was present in 1.4% (left) and 2.8% (right). The ATFP was detached from the ischial spine in 97.6% (left) and 95.1% (right). Remnants of the ATFP were present on the sidewall in 62% (left) and 63% (right). Of these, 9% extended one fourth the distance to the spine, 21% one half the distance, 3% three fourths the distance, and 17% all the way to the spine. The pubococcygeal muscle was visibly normal in 45% (left) and 39% (right). It showed localized atrophy in 22% (left) and 30% (right) and generalized atrophy in 22.5% (left) 30.0% (right). Conclusion: The ATFP usually detaches from the ischial spine, but not from the pubis; slightly less than half of these women have visibly abnormal levator ani muscles. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;187:93-8.)
Improving connectivity of wireless ad hoc networks

A fully connected network topology is critical to many fundamental operations in wireless ad hoc networks. We study the problem of deploying additional wireless nodes to improve the connectivity of an existing wireless network. Given a disconnected network, we consider the connectivity improvement (CI) problem, i.e., how to deploy as few additional nodes as possible so that the augmented network is connected. We first prove the NP-completeness of CI, and then present a Delaunay triangulation-based algorithm, connectivity improvement using Delaunay triangulation (CIDT). We discuss several variations of CIDT, and propose two additional optimization techniques to further improve the performance. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of CIDT, and compare the performance of its variations via J-Sim simulation.
Modeling of fluid-structure interactions with the space-time finite elements: contact problems

Fluid–structure interaction computations based on interface-tracking (moving-mesh) techniques are often hindered if the structural surfaces come in contact with each other. As the distance between two structural surfaces tends to zero, the fluid mesh in between distorts severely and eventually becomes invalid. Our objective is to develop a technique for modeling problems where the contacting structural surfaces would otherwise inhibit flow modeling or even fluid-mesh update. In this paper, we present our contact tracking technique that detects impending contact and maintains a minimum distance between the contacting structural surfaces. Our Surface-Edge-Node Contact Tracking (SENCT) technique conducts a topologically hierarchical search to detect contact between each node and the elements (“surfaces”), edges and other nodes. To keep the contacting surfaces apart by a small distance, we apply to the contacted nodes penalty forces in SENCT-Force (SENCT-F) and displacement restrictions in SENCT-Displacement (SENCT-D). By keeping a minimum distance between the contacting surfaces, we are able to update the fluid mesh in between and model the flow accurately.
Expanding the Role of Program Evaluation in Social Welfare Policy Analysis

Program evaluation is integral to the policy analysis process in social services. Increasingly, program administrators and policymakers rely on program evaluation results for making micro- and macro-level decisions about client services. This article examines the role of program evaluation in relationship to several dimensions of policy analysis and suggests that program evaluation is most persuasive as a component of the policy process when its role is clearly understood. Such clarity can be achieved by using the program mandate to guide evaluation activity and including frontline practitioners in developing program evaluation models.
Mutual coupling, gain and directivity of an array of two identical antennas

It is shown that there is an optimum nonzero value of mutual coupling and passive reflection coefficient that is a function of only the embedded element pattern and element spacing. Optimum is defined as yielding maximum array gain. For closely spaced arrays, the optimum mutual coupling and passive reflection coefficient are quite large, but tend to cancel in the active mode to produce a low active reflection coefficient. A smaller value of mutual coupling would give lower gain than the optimum case. This again demonstrates that mutual coupling is a natural and desirable effect in array behavior. It is well known that it is possible to achieve array superdirectivity, in the sense that the directivity of an array of " N " elements is greater than " N " times the embedded element directivity; however, in this case the mutual coupling and passive reflection produce an active reflection coefficient that results in an array gain lower than " N " times the embedded element gain. In fact, higher superdirectivity always implies lower gain, relative to embedded element gain.
The Makers of Meaning: National Public Radio and the New Long Journalism, 1980-2000

U.S. news media have seen the simultaneous shrinking of political sound bites and audience ratings in the past quarter century. The news also shifted away from event-centered coverage, instead emphasizing reporters and their opinions in what has been called the new long journalism. To observe the depth of these trends, this case study looks at a potential exception to the rule: National Public Radio. Since the late 1970s, its flagship news programs, "All Things Considered" and "Morning Edition," have evolved from an alternative source of opinion and information, based on lengthy sound features, into a primary news service. Content analysis of election-year samples reveals a fundamental change affecting most aspects of NPR reports and sound bites. Although insulated somewhat from the market, the programs became more--not less--centered on journalists and their opinions. The coverage did not provide more of the background and information needed to make sense of political events, despite the NPR mission to i...
Determination of Ibogaine and 12-Hydroxy-Ibogamine in Plasma by Gas Chromatography-Positive Ion Chemical Ionization-Mass Spectrometry

Ibogaine, an indolamine derivative, is currently being investigated as a potential agent in the treatment of stimulant and opiate addiction. We developed a rapid, sensitive, and specific method for the analysis of ibogaine and its putative active metabolite, 12-hydroxy-ibogamine (12-OH-ibogamine). This assay employs a one-step basic extraction with n-butyl chloride-acetonitrile (4:1), followed by derivatization of the metabolite using N-methyI-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide. The
Regulation of histone deposition on the herpes simplex virus type 1 genome during lytic infection.

During lytic infection by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), histones are present at relatively low levels on the viral genome. However, the mechanisms that account for such low levels—how histone deposition on the viral genome is blocked or how histones are removed from the genome—are not yet defined. In this study, we show that histone occupancy on the viral genome gradually increased with time when transcription of the viral immediate-early (IE) genes was inhibited either by deletion of the VP16 activation domain or by chemical inhibition of RNA polymerase II (RNAP II). Inhibition of IE protein synthesis by cycloheximide did not affect histone occupancy on most IE promoters and coding regions but did cause an increase at delayed-early and late gene promoters. IE gene transcription from HSV-1 genomes associated with high levels of histones was stimulated by superinfection with HSV-2 without altering histone occupancy or covalent histone modifications at IE gene promoters. Moreover, RNAP II and histones cooccupied the viral genome in this context, indicating that RNAP II does not preferentially associate with viral genomes that are devoid of histones. These results suggest that during lytic infection, VP16, RNAP II, and IE proteins may all contribute to the low levels of histones on the viral genome, and yet the dearth of histones is neither a prerequisite for nor a necessary result of VP16-dependent transcription of nucleosomal viral genomes.
Effect of participant motivation on rapid dietary changes in an intervention trial.

Background Dietary intervention research with free-living subjects relies on the ability of study participants to meet their dietary goals within the study timeframe. Little is known about underlying factors affecting compliance. Method Here, we examined whether motivation to enrol in a trial of low-fat and/or energy-reduced diets influenced the ability of healthy women to reach their dietary goals quickly. Results Of the women who had energy-reduction goals (n=43), the 18 with an altruistic reason for participation had a much higher energy reduction success rate at 4 weeks (83%) than the 25 who gave self-rewarding reasons (48%). Conclusions Education, body weight, family history of cancer and previous diet experience did not appreciably affect dietary outcomes. This observation suggests that the societal importance of the research should be stressed in strategies that seek to affect rapid reduction of energy intake in clinical trials.
Nutritional Studies on Xanthan Production by Xanthomonas campestris NRRL B1459

The nutritional requirements of Xanthomonas campestris NRRL B1459 for optimal xanthan production were studied in a chemically defined medium. Of the carbon sources tested, a 4% sucrose or glucose medium yielded the highest xanthan titers. The further addition of certain organic acids, such as succinate, pyruvate, and α-ketoglutarate, stimulated xanthan production; excess concentrations of these organic acids inhibited xanthan formation. Certain amino acids (e.g., glutamate) and nitrate salts were superior to ammonium salts for xanthan production. Concentrations of these nitrogen sources higher than the optimal levels inhibited xanthan production while stimulating growth. Xanthan production was also sensitive to high concentrations of inorganic phosphate. High xanthan potencies, up to 30 g/kg of broth, were achieved in these shake-flask studies, in which completely defined media were used.
Corticospinal tract integrity correlates with knee extensor weakness in chronic stroke survivors

highlights � We assessed corticospinal tract integrity and muscle weakness in stroke patients. � Profound quadriceps weakness and activation deficits were observed. � Knee extensor weakness was strongly related to motor pathway integrity. � Neural impairment of the non-paretic leg was evident many years after stroke. abstract Objective: Muscle weakness develops rapidly after stroke, adversely affecting motor performance, and contributing to reduced functional ability. While the contributions of structural and functional alterations in skeletal muscle to post-stroke weakness have been well described, the relationship between motor pathway integrity, measured using both radiological and electrophysiological techniques, and post- stroke muscle weakness is not clear. This study sought to determine the role of corticospinal tract (CST) integrity on knee extensor weakness in chronic stroke survivors. Methods: Knee extensor strength and activation testing were performed at 90 of knee flexion using an interpolated triplet technique. CST integrity was evaluated using data obtained from Diffusion Tensor Imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Results: Recordings in nine stroke subjects indicated substantial knee extensor weakness and activation deficits in the paretic legs of the stroke survivors. Regression analysis revealed that asymmetry in CST integrity was strongly related to between-leg differences in knee strength. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest a strong link between CST integrity and lower extremity strength, and add to the growing evidence of substantial knee extensor weakness and activation impair- ments in stroke survivors. Significance: The findings from this study further our understanding of the anatomical and neurophysi- ological contributions to motor impairments after stroke, which may benefit clinicians and researchers in the field of stroke rehabilitation.
Resilience Within the Family Networks of Lesbians and Gay Men: Intentionality and Redefinition

This article reviews the literature on gay and lesbian family networks as a way to identify the resilience processes that enable members to create and strengthen their family networks. Two processes, intentionality and redefinition, were identified. Intentionality refers to behavioral strategies that legitimize and support relationships. Redefinition refers to meaning making strategies that create linguistic and symbolic structures to affirm one's network. Brief comparisons are made to the literature on resilience in ethnic minority families, and careful study of the similarities and differences between gay and lesbian family networks, and other marginalized families, is urged.
IMAGE-GUIDED ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY

This report describes the history and current use of image-guided sinus surgery. We describe the use of an electromagnetic-based intraoperative image-guided system, the use of preoperative computed tomography scanning, the instrumentation, and the intraoperative setup. We also present 2 cases in which the system was used. Finally, we describe the emphasis of image-guided sinus surgery in the educational curriculum at our institution.
Inviscid flows over a cylinder

In this paper, we simulate steady inviscid flows over a cylinder using potential and stream functions, including entropy and vorticity corrections for incompressible, subsonic, transonic and supersonic flows. The present hierarchical formulation is equivalent to Euler equations satisfying conservation of mass, momentum and energy. Standard numerical schemes and iterative algorithms are used for the mixed type potential (or stream function) equation and for the convection equations of entropy and vorticity augmented with the proper artificial dissipation necessary for stability of computations. Typical results for a cylinder in uniform and shear flows are presented and the merits of the present approach are briefly discussed.
Determination Of Atmospheric Properties From Lidar Measurements

Differential absorption lidar techniques for determining basic atmospheric properties to high accuracy are described. The theory of a two-wavelength lidar temperature measurement is given with simulation results that show accuracies of 0.5 to 1 K for measurements from ground-based and satellite platforms. The theory of measurements of the atmospheric pressure profile using absorption troughs, broad regions of nearly uniform absorption, is also described with simulation results that show accuracies of 0.1 to 0.3 percent. Recent measurements which confirm the accuracy of these techniques are reviewed.
The Media, the War in Vietnam, and Political Support: A Critique of the Thesis of an Oppositional Media

The issue of the relation of the media to political authority has been approached by political scientists mainly in terms of the effects of news content on individual attitudes toward government. This article addresses the institutional side of the question. It offers a critique, based on a case study of television coverage of Vietnam, of the thesis that the media shifted during the 1960s and 1970s toward an oppositional relation to political authority. It concludes that while there was a substantial increase in critical news content during the Vietnam War, changes in the professional norms and practices of journalism, including the norms of "objective journalism" and journalists' relation to official sources, were much less dramatic. A model for explaining changes in the level of critical coverage is offered, emphasizing media response to the degree of consensus or dissensus among political elites.
In Vivo Time-Lapse Imaging of Synaptic Takeover Associated with Naturally Occurring Synapse Elimination

During development, competition between axons causes permanent removal of synaptic connections, but the dynamics have not been directly observed. Using transgenic mice that express two spectral variants of fluorescent proteins in motor axons, we imaged competing axons at developing neuromuscular junctions in vivo. Typically, one axon withdrew progressively from postsynaptic sites and the competing axon extended axonal processes to occupy those sites. In rare instances when the remaining axon did not reoccupy a site, the postsynaptic receptors rapidly disappeared. Interestingly, the progress and outcome of competition was unpredictable. Moreover, the relative areas occupied by the competitors shifted in favor of one axon and then the other. These results show synaptic competition is not always monotonic and that one axon's contraction in synaptic area is associated with another axon's expansion.
Changes in the toxicity of three pesticides as a function of environmental pH and temperature.

Accurate predictions of pesticide fate and toxicity in aqueous environments are hindered by lack of information on how site-specific water quality parameters affect the biological activity of these compounds. At present, there is a small data base which describes the effects of individual water quality parameters such as pH temperature and water hardness on pesticide fate. Indeed, where possible, the USEPA water quality criteria are based on pH or temperature adjusted measurements. However, there is little information on what influence simultaneous changes in two or more parameters in nature, it is important to have some estimate of what influence these parameters will exert when varied in concert. In the present study, the influence of simultaneous variation in pH and temperature on the toxicity of three pesticides, pentachlorophenol (PCP), aldicarb and benzene hexachloride (BHC), is considered.
Minimizing color degradation in blush wines

Abstract Minimization of color degradation in blush wines was investigated. Cabernet Sauvignon wines produced with sulfur dioxide (SO2) at different levels (0, 30, 60, and 120 mg/L) added at crush and bottling were evaluated during 12 months of storage at 16C. Addition of SO2 at crush did not affect browning (absorbance at 420 nm) but increased red color (absorbance at 520 nm). As SO2 levels at bottling increased, browning and red color decreased. Prefermentation treatments (hyperoxidation, nitrogen sparging, and SO2 addition) and tannic acid addition at bottling in Cabernet Sauvignon, Delaware, and Noble blush wines stored at 16 and 37C were evaluated. Prefermentation treatments did not affect red color. Browning differences were observed in Cabernet Sauvignon but not in Delaware and Noble wines. In blush wines from all cultivars, as tannic acid levels increased, browning and red color increased. The prefermentation treatments can be used to minimize color degradation in the cultivars evaluated.
Mastectomies for malignancy: a DRG-based hospital utilization analysis

The study identified hospital utilization patterns by diagnosis-related group (DRG) produced by mastectomies for malignancy in Sacramento, California, and Syracuse, New York, for the years 1981-1984. A total of 3,449 discharges were included. Total and subtotal mastectomy discharges per capita increased in both areas. The proportion of mastectomy discharges attributed to total mastectomies increased in Sacramento and decreased in Syracuse. Mean stays for mastectomy DRGs declined by 13.72 to 56.38%. In 1984 mean stays ranged from 4.79 to 7.49 days for total mastectomies and 1.88 to 5.44 days for subtotal mastectomies. A major problem identified by the study was the lack of DRG sensitivity to differences in types of procedures. Under DRGs, radical and simple mastectomies are combined in one type of category, while subtotal mastectomies, quadrant resections, and breast biopsies are combined in another.
Evaluation of intrinsic respiratory signal determination methods for 4D CBCT adapted for mice.

Purpose: 4D CT imaging in mice is important in a variety of areas including studies of lung function and tumor motion. A necessary step in 4D imaging is obtaining a respiratory signal, which can be done through an external system or intrinsically through the projection images. A number of methods have been developed that can successfully determine the respiratory signal from cone-beam projection images of humans, however only a few have been utilized in a preclinical setting and most of these rely on step-and-shoot style imaging. The purpose of this work is to assess and make adaptions of several successful methods developed for humans for an image-guided preclinical radiation therapy system. Methods: Respiratory signals were determined from the projection images of free-breathing mice scanned on the X-RAD system using four methods: the so-called Amsterdam shroud method, a method based on the phase of the Fourier transform, a pixel intensity method, and a center of mass method. The Amsterdam shroud method was modified so the sharp inspiration peaks associated with anesthetized mouse breathing could be detected. Respiratory signals were used to sort projections into phase bins and 4D images were reconstructed. Error and standard deviation in the assignment of phase bins for the four methods compared to a manual method considered to be ground truth were calculated for a range of region of interest (ROI) sizes. Qualitative comparisons were additionally made between the 4D images obtained using each of the methods and the manual method. Results: 4D images were successfully created for all mice with each of the respiratory signal extraction methods. Only minimal qualitative differences were noted between each of the methods and the manual method. The average error (and standard deviation) in phase bin assignment was 0.24 ± 0.08 (0.49 ± 0.11) phase bins for the Fourier transform method, 0.09 ± 0.03 (0.31 ± 0.08) phase bins for the modified Amsterdam shroud method, 0.09 ± 0.02 (0.33 ± 0.07) phase bins for the intensity method, and 0.37 ± 0.10 (0.57 ± 0.08) phase bins for the center of mass method. Little dependence on ROI size was noted for the modified Amsterdam shroud and intensity methods while the Fourier transform and center of mass methods showed a noticeable dependence on the ROI size. Conclusions: The modified Amsterdam shroud, Fourier transform, and intensity respiratory signal methods are sufficiently accurate to be used for 4D imaging on the X-RAD system and show improvement over the existing center of mass method. The intensity and modified Amsterdam shroud methods are recommended due to their high accuracy and low dependence on ROI size.
Hypoinsulinemia is not critical to glucose recovery from hypoglycemia in humans

To test the hypothesis that glucose recovery from hypoglycemia can occur in the absence of decrements in insulin below baseline, we studied nine normal humans on six occasions. In a control study, ...