cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stretching biological cells with light

The radiation pressure of two counter-propagating laser beams traps and stretches individual biological cells. Using non-focused laser beams, cells stay viable when irradiated with up to 1.4 W of 780 nm Ti-sapphire laser light for several minutes. Fluorescence microscopy has demonstrated that the essential features of the cytoskeleton, excluding stress fibres, are maintained for stretched cells in suspension. The optical stretcher provides accurate measurements of whole cell elasticity and thus can distinguish between different cells by their cytoskeletal characteristics. A model has been derived for the forces on the surface of a spherical cell that explains the observed deformations. The peak stresses on the surface of cells are 1-150 Pa for light powers of 0.2-1.4 W and depending on the refractive index of the cell trapped. Precursors of rat nerve cells exhibit a homogeneous Young's modulus E of 500±25 Pa, whereas for osmotically inflated, spherical red blood cells (RBCs) the homogeneous Young's modulus is E = 11.0±0.5 Pa. Thus, PC12 cells are about 40-50 times more elastic than RBCs.
Influences on cognitive engagement: epistemological beliefs and need for closure.

Background. Research indicates that achievement goals influence cognitive engagement, which, in turn, influences academic achievement. We believe that there are other individual difference variables in the realm of personal epistemology that may also directly or indirectly influence cognitive engagement; specifically, epistemological beliefs and epistemological motives (e.g. need for closure). Aims. This study proposed and tested a conceptual model of relationships among epistemological variables (epistemological beliefs and need for closure), achievement goals (mastery, performance-approach, performance-avoidance) and cognitive engagement. Sample. Two hundred and fifty-nine students attending university in the US volunteered to participate in the study. Students represented a variety of academic disciplines and ranged from 18 to 58 years. Methods. The participants completed three paper-and-pencil surveys: the Epistemological Beliefs Inventory; the Attitudes, Beliefs, and Experiences Inventory (a measure of need for closure); and the Approaches to Learning Survey (a measure of achievement goals and cognitive engagement). Results. Structural equation modelling supported the model in general, although not all proposed paths were significant. Correlational analyses further indicated that epistemological beliefs and need for closure are both potentially important variables for understanding learners' treatment of knowledge in instructional settings. Conclusions. There are individual differences in epistemological beliefs and motives that may influence the goals students pursue in learning settings and the nature of their cognitive engagement.
GPS constraints on vertical crustal motion in the northern Basin and Range

[1] We estimated vertical velocities using an array of 12 continuous GPS stations forming part of the PBO NUCLEUS network. We analyzed data spanning the period 1996 through 2006. The array has an aperture ∼400 km and crosses a major active intracontinental normal fault system in the northern Basin and Range province. The root-mean-square (RMS) of vertical rates relative to a local “no net vertical” frame is 0.3 mm/yr, indicating high relative rate precision. The RMS difference between rates based on Δt ≤ 7-year sub-strands of the total data set and the full ∼10-year rate estimates varies as 2.4 Δt−1.3 mm/yr. The net vertical rate observed across the greater Wasatch fault zone is consistent with the predictions of elastic half-space dislocation models only when the deep slipping part of the fault has very shallow dip (<30°).
The use of high centrifugal force in separating plasma calcium into its protein-bound and protein-free fractions

Abstract The method of obtaining protein-free calcium in plasma using the Spinco/ Beckman Model L Preparative Ultracentrifuge was investigated. It proved to be a simple procedure of high precision requiring the minimum of manipulation. The pH and temperature were easily and effectively controlled throughout the procedure. Equilibration with CO 2 was eliminated. The protein-free calcium in 14 normal subjects was 53.5% of the total plasma calcium as compared with 60% in 3 cases of hyperparathyroidism.
In situ spectroscopic ellipsometry in molecular beam epitaxy for photonic devices

Abstract In situ spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) has been shown to be a versatile technique for monitoring growth in ultrahigh vacuum epitaxial growth systems. For instance, typical MBE parameters of substrate temperature, growth rate, alloy composition and thickness of growing layers have been measured during the growth of heterostructures in solid-source and gas-source MBE. The growth of AlAs/GaAs quantum wells has also been investigated in studies where the growth was monitored in real time with and without growth interruption. The difference in interfacial abruptness of the heterojunction was then determined. This paper first discusses some practical considerations of implementing an SE onto a gas-source MBE. Examples of monitoring substrate temperature, oxide desorption, surface smoothing and heterojunction growth of a test structure will then be presented followed by a demonstration of quantum well growth and growth interruption. The first use of high-temperature GaAs and AlAs optical constants for thickness and alloy composition determination at the MBE growth temperature is presented which enabled the growth and calibration of distributed Bragg reflectors for use in vertical cavity lasers and modulators.
Abundance Estimates of Skates (Rajidae) on the Continental Shelf of the Northeastern United States Using a Video Survey

Abstract Fishing pressure is increasing on the seven skate species on the continental shelf of the northeastern United States. We provide the first abundance estimate for this skate complex by using data from an annual video survey (2003–2009) at depths of 40–120 m from Georges Bank through the Middle Atlantic Bight. Average annual skate densities were 0.014 individuals/m2 on Georges Bank and 0.009 individuals/m2 in the Middle Atlantic Bight; total skate abundance estimates averaged around 410 and 210 million fish, respectively. Coefficients of variation in density were low, averaging 9% for Georges Bank and 12% for the Middle Atlantic Bight. Abundance was relatively constant between 2003 and 2009 on Georges Bank and in the Middle Atlantic Bight except for a significant increase in 2006 within the latter area. These abundance estimates can be used for detailed population studies, analysis of harvest strategies, and community studies necessary for ecosystem-based management.
“Pocket filaments” and specifications for the semmes-weinstein monofilaments

T he value of Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments (S-W monofilaments) for testing and monitoring touch sensibility is being increasingly recognized. The test can successfully map out otherwise undetectable nerve distribution areas with diminished function, can demonstrate pathologic changes not always detected by other forms of testing, and can be predictive of what a patient can and cannot "feel." It can demonstrate changes in nerve status that can be correlated with treatment, and has been shown to have instrument reliability if calibrated correctly. Despite these numerous advantages, the traditional filament kit in its present form is cumbersome to carry, time-consuming to use, and expensive. Although in recent years its manufacture has undergone improvements, reports regarding difficulties in obtaining testing kits continue, particularly from outside the U.S. The expense makes even a mini-kit of five filaments prohibitive for the third world. The small market for the instrument in the past has been one reason for its limited availability and high manufacturing cost. This paper explores some recent information that has surfaced regarding the test, clarifies some physical characteristics of the material used in its manufacture, and suggests ways the instrument can be improved to be more useful and cost effective in this age of cost containment and need for validation of clinical instruments used in objective clinical tests.
Polymer-Supported Reagents with Enhanced Ionic Recognition

Abstract Polymer-supported reagents with ligands designed for ion-specific interactions are reviewed. Applications in separations science are especially relevant though such polymers can be applied as catalysts and to the preparation of chemical sensors. Ligands covlently bound to polymers which display unique metal ion selectivities include macrocycles, glycols, imines, quinolines, and heterocycles.
SU‐FF‐J‐82: Improving Soft Tissue Contrast in 4D CT Images of Liver Cancer Patients Using Deformable Image Registration Method

Purpose: To investigate image quality improvement in 4DCT images of livercancer patients by using deformable image registration. The low soft‐tissue contrast in liverCTimages is always a challenge for accurate target delineation. Method and Materials: Ten patients with livercancers were selected in this study. These patients received 4DCT scans for radiotherapy treatment planning using 120kVp and 150mA on a GE PET/CT system. The 4DCT images were retrospectively sorted and binned into 10 equispaced phases. The end‐expiration phase was chosen to be a reference phase, and the images from the other 9 phases were co‐registered to the reference phase using an intensity‐based, automatic deformable image registration algorithm. Then the 10 matched 4DCT images were averaged to give a single, high quality reference‐phase CTimage for tumor target delineation. The image quality enhancement was quantified relative to the original CT by calculating the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) inside the liver region. The incremental improvement in image quality was also studied by combining fewer 4DCT data sets. Results: The imagecontrast in the soft tissue region is noticeably improved. SNRs inside the liver increased for all patients by a factor of at least 2.3 (average at 3.0). The improvement in image quality is not linearly proportional to the number of images averaged. Averaging 6 CTs can achieve 85% of the SNR enhancement obtained by averaging all 10 CTs of different phases. Conclusion: We developed an effective method to improve soft tissuecontrast in the liver by co‐registering and combining multiple CTs within the 4DCT data set using a deformable image registration method. The resultant, high‐quality, single‐phase CT could be used for better delineation of tumor target volume and critical avoidance structures. The deformable image registration method can also map these contoured structures back to each individual phases for motion‐compensated 4DCT planning.
A stochastic model for quantifying the impact of PHEVs on a residential distribution grid

This paper presents a methodology for modeling and controlling the load demand in a residential distribution grid due to plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) battery charging and discharging. To take the stochastic nature of start charging time, charging during and initial state of charge (SOC) into consideration, this paper built a stochastic model for PHEV in a residential distribution grid close to real-world scenarios. The authors proposed a smart charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) strategy based on particle swarm optimization algorithm. The objective of this control strategy is to improve the power quality and flatten the load demand in the studied system. Then simulations are carried out at different PHEV penetration levels for three different charging scenarios: the uncoordinated charging, the proposed smart charging without V2G and the proposed smart charging with V2G. The results show that uncoordinated charging will seriously increase the peak load and cause large voltage deviation, while the proposed smart charging method can effectively reduce the voltage deviation and flatten the load demand curve. It is found that when V2G is considered in the proposed smart charging method, the peak load will decrease and the voltage deviation will be smaller too at a low PHEV penetration level, but with the increase of PHEV penetration level, the advantages of V2G will decrease.
Clinical and molecular impact of inhibition of IMP dehydrogenase activity by tiazofurin.

Abstract The impact of tiazofurin on inhibition of IMP dehydrogenase was discussed at the clinical and molecular levels. 1. 1. Evidence was provided for the role of IMP dehydrogenase and guanylates in the expression of the neoplastic program in cancer cells with particular relevance to human leukemic cells. 2. 2. The argument for expecting an impact of tiazofurin in human myelocytic cells was provided. 3. 3. Similarity of the kinetics of human leukemic cell IMP dehydrogenase to the rat hepatoma enzyme was documented. 4. 4. New evidence was provided for the role of salvage in chemotherapy and the function of hypoxanthine in inhibiting guanine salvage. 5. 5. The action of tiazofurin and retinoic acid was reported in HL-60 leukemic cells. 6. 6. The effect of tiazofurin and retinoic acid on proliferation and cytotoxicity was outlined for hepatoma 3924A cells. 7. 7. The effect of guanine on induced differentiation by tiazofurin and retinoic acid was examined. 8. 8. Biochemical basis was provided for the lack of development of resistance in patients treated with tiazofurin. 9. 9. Presumptive evidence was provided that tiazofurin treatment induced differentiation of leukemic cells in the patients. 10. 10. The molecular biology of tiazofurin-induced differentiation in K-562 cells was reviewed with the possible relevance to clinical treatment that tiazofurin might also act through down-regulation of ras oncogene.
Diagenetic Changes in Ultrastructure of Skeletal Carbonates from Pleistocene of South Florida: ABSTRACT

Scanning electron micrographs of skeletal carbonates (mollusks, corals, barnacles, polychaete annelids, bryozoans) from the Miami and Key Largo Limestones (south Florida) provide unequivocal evidence for in situ conversion of skeletal aragonites. Many of the petrographic criteria for such conversion have been regarded as uncertain; presence of inclusions reflecting former skeletal structures is more reliable evidence of direct conversion than solution-infill mosaics. In converted aragonites, coarse calcite mosaics contain submicroscopic remnant crystallites of the original aragonitic ultrastructure. These remnant crystallites are in original orientation, as solid inclusions in the calcite grains. Partially altered shells traversed by advancing diagenetic fronts demonstrat the continuity of orientation of the crystallites in the unaltered aragonitic shell layers with the aragonitic solid inclusions in the calcite mosaic behind the front. Mineralogy of the respective grains and crystallites was verified by means of Feigl solution, an aragonite-specific stain. Calcite ultrastructures are commonly little affected, but in Schizoporella floridana (Bryozoa) from the Miami Limestone, the calcitic primary skeleton is recrystallized, End_Page 651------------------------------ although the calcite mosaic of converted superficial frontal aragonite layer still contains solid inclusions of the original aragonite. The presence of such aragonite inclusions, or the numerous pits which result when they are dissolved (e.g., during etching or Feigl solution treatment), may be useful in recognition of older examples of in situ conversion of aragonites. End_of_Article - Last_Page 652------------
American Socialism's Flood and Ebb: The Rise and Decline of the Socialist Party in America, 1901–1912*

BETWEEN 1901, WHEN the new Socialist Party was established in the United States, and 1912, the tide of socialism seemed to be reaching a swell here and in Europe, and many were predicting that in a short time all industrial nations would be engulfed. From very meager beginnings, the American party grew into an organization with 150,000 affiliated members and with a voting strength of nearly one million. In 1910 Victor Berger became the first socialist ever to win election to Congress, and by 1912, socialists held 56 important city offices, including the mayoralties of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Butte, Montana; Schenectady, New York; and Berkeley, California. Socialists held 1,039 offices in more than 300 municipalities.' Yet almost in a matter of months this spectacular advance was halted and the Socialist Party was in ruins. Although the successes and failures of the socialist parties have been treated before, the rapid rise and decline of the Socialist Party from 1901-12 remains a major historical mystery. Recently this subject has reappeared in the literature of the social sciences. In Volume III of his A History of Socialist Thought, G.D.H. Cole states, "Evidently it is of the greatest importance to discover why these things happened-both why American Socialism appeared to be making such swift headway during the early years of the present century, and why it suffered eclipse."2 This article will have the following objectives: (1) to survey briefly the growth of socialism in America; (2) to present and analyze the Marxian position on the role of the socialists, and (3) to discuss the institutional and economic factors retarding the growth of socialist parties in the United States.
Emergency sclerotherapy for control of acute oesophageal variceal bleeding using 3% aqueous phenol: a 15‐year experience

Background: The purpose of the present study was to compare the efficacy of emergency endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy (EVS) using 3% aqueous phenol as an initial procedure to control acute oesophageal variceal bleed. Methods: One hundred and ninety-five consecutive patients presenting with acute variceal bleed were included in the study. Protocol based endoscopic sclerotherapy and management of bleeding oesophageal varices was done. Immediate cessation of bleeding, re-bleeding within the first 72 h, success of first injection, final success of EVS, short-term mortality, influence of aetiology of portal hypertension and severity of liver disease on these results were studied. Results: Immediate cessation of bleeding was obtained in 191 out of 195 patients (97.9%). Twenty-seven (13.8%) patients re-bled within 72 h. On re-injection final success of EVS was 87.2% (170/195 patients). There was no significant difference between final success rate in cirrhotic versus non-cirrhotic patients (103/118 (87.3%) vs. 67/77 (87%)). Success of first sclerotherapy session was significantly higher than that of second sclerotherapy session. Surgical rescue was required in 25 (12.8%) patients. Mortality was 3.6%. Failure of EVS and mortality was significantly higher in Child's C group (P = 0.04, Relative risk = 0.5, confidence interval 0.22−1.16). Conclusion: EVS remains an effective and cost effective modality of treatment to control acute variceal bleeding irrespective of aetiology of portal hypertension provided strict protocol based management is followed. With timely surgical rescue for the failures, the overall mortality can be reduced to less than 5%.
Increased leptin expression selectively in the hypothalamus suppresses inflammatory markers CRP and IL-6 in leptin-deficient diabetic obese mice

Low-grade systemic inflammation, as indicated by increased circulating levels of inflammatory markers CRP and IL-6, is linked to increased risks for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes mellitus in obese subjects. Whereas hyperleptinemia in obesity are associated with increased CRP and IL-6 release, the hypothalamic versus peripheral site of leptin action has not been ascertained. The effects of increased leptin supply selectively in the hypothalamus by gene therapy on pro-inflammatory CRP and IL-6 levels and on markers of diabetes in the circulation of ob/ob mice displaying either age-related or dietary obesity were assessed. A recombinant adeno-associated viral vector encoding either green-fluorescent protein (control) or leptin gene was injected intracerebroventricularly. Five weeks later, one-half of each of the vector groups was switched to high-fat diet consumption and the other half continued to consume regular low-fat chow diet. Body weight and visceral white adipose tissue were drastically reduced and hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia were abrogated by leptin gene therapy, independent of the dietary fat content. The elevated plasma CRP and IL-6 levels seen in obese ob/ob mice receiving the control vector, regardless of the fat content of the diet, were markedly suppressed by increased hypothalamic leptin in both groups. The results show for the first time that leptin deficiency elevates and reinstatement of leptin selectively in the hypothalamus suppresses the release of pro-inflammatory biomarkers, a response likely to alleviate CVD associated with obesity.
The functional matrix hypothesis revisited. 3. The genomic thesis

Although the initial versions of the functional matrix hypothesis (FMH) theoretically posited the ontogenetic primacy of "function," it is only in recent years that advances in the morphogenetic, engineering, and computer sciences provided an integrated experimental and numerical data base that permitted recent significant revisions of the FMH--revisions that strongly support the primary role of function in craniofacial growth and development. Acknowledging that the currently dominant scientific paradigm suggests that genomic, instead of epigenetic (functional) factors, regulate (cause, control) such growth, an analysis of this continuing controversy was deemed useful. Accordingly the method of dialectical analysis, is employed, stating a thesis, an antithesis, and a resolving synthesis based primarily on an extensive review of the pertinent current literature. This article extensively reviews the genomic hypothesis and offers a critique intended to remove some of the unintentional conceptual obscurantism that has recently come to surround it.
What the Marketplace Has Brought Us: Item-by-Item Teaching with Little Instructional Insight.

School districts across the country have adopted interim and benchmark assessments in response to NCLB pressures to raise student achievement, despite the lack of a research base. Thus, it is especially important that well-conceived, empirical studies of the effects of such programs be carried out. Various theoretical frames can help understand how teams of teachers might begin to use data to reflect upon and adjust their instructional practices. At issue is whether an idealized data-based decision-making theory of action will play out in practice. Or, will teaching-the-test practices instead be exacerbated? What we learn from the empirical studies reviewed here is that positive examples, where assessment results were coherently linked to curriculum and instruction, were facilitated by highly committed principals and teacher leaders. But, these examples were rare. More frequently, interim assessments results appeared to be used, item by item, to reteach steps in problems that were missed without attending...
Reframing the Fields

The conception of metaphoric process elaborated by Mary Gerhart and Allan Russell illuminates a key mechanism often involved in the most significant advances in science and religion. Attention to this conceptual device provides a productive way to reframe the relationships and dialogues between the fields. The theory has compelling implications for reframing the understanding of theology and its task.
Scaling of hemolysis in needles and catheters.

Hemolysis in clinical blood samples leads to inaccurate assay results and often to the need for repeated blood draws. In vitro experiments were conducted to determine the influence on hemolysis in phlebotomy needles and catheters of pressure difference, cannula diameter, and cannula material. Fresh blood from five human volunteers was forced from a syringe inside a pressurized chamber through 14, 18, and 22 gauge 304 stainless steel needles and polyurethane and Teflon® catheters, all 40 mm long. Hemolysis was measured in the samples by a spectrophotometer. It was found that hemolysis increased with increases in pressure difference and cannula diameter and no consistent trend could be identified with regard to cannula material. The pressure differences required for significant hemolysis were above those typical of clinical venipuncture blood draws. While there was substantial variability among individuals, the hemolysis values scaled with exponent S=(t/t0)[(τ /τ 0)−1]2, where t is the characteristic duration of shear, t0 is a time constant, τ is the wall shear stress, and τ 0 is the wall shear stress threshold below which no hemolysis occurs. A hemolysis threshold including both time and shear stress was also defined for S=constant. The threshold implies that a threshold shear stress exists below which erythrocytes are not damaged for any length of exposure time, but that red cells may be damaged by an arbitrarily short period of exposure to sufficiently large shear stress. © 1998 Biomedical Engineering Society.
Thymidylate synthase as a target enzyme for the melanoma-specific toxicity of 4-S-cysteaminylphenol and N-acetyl-4-S-cysteaminylphenol.

The rationale for melanoma-specific antitumor agents containing phenolic amines is based in part on the ability of the enzyme tyrosinase to oxidize these prodrugs to toxic intermediates. The phenolic amine compounds 4-S-cysteaminylphenol (4-S-CAP) andN-acetyl-4-S-cysteaminylphenol (N-Ac-4-S-CAP) inhibited in situ thymidylate synthase activity in pigmented melanoma cell lines but had little or no effect on nonpigmented and nonmelanoma cell lines. Theophylline, a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) phosphodiesterase inhibitor, increased tyrosinase activity and potentiated the inhibition of in situ thymidylate synthase by N-Ac-4-S-CAP. The inhibition of in situ thymidylate synthase by both drugs in pigmented melanoma cells correlated with the inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell growth and was not due to an indirect effect caused by inhibition of the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase. 4-S-CAP inhibition of thymidylate synthase activity in cell free extracts required oxidation of the drug. In the presence of tyrosinase, the concentration causing a 50% inhibition of thymidylate synthase activity (IC50) in cell-free extacts was <10 μM, but no inhibition was observed in its absence, even at a drug concentration of 500 μM. Two reducing agents, dithioerythritol and glutathione, effectively blocked the inhibition of thymidylate synthase by oxidized 4-S-CAP. In pigmented melanoma cells containing the enzyme tyrosinase, the quinone-mediated mechanism of inhibition of DNA synthesis via inhibition of thymidylate synthase may be uniquely important in the expression of phenolic amine cytotoxicity.
25. Prenatal stress, depressive and fatigue symptoms in women with CMV seropositive titers

Psychosocial stress is a predictor of prenatal mood disorder. CMV has been indicated as a cell-mediated immune function marker and is linked to stress. Prenatal fatigue symptoms may be associated with herpes viral reactivation. The purpose of this study was to analyze relationships among prenatal stress, depressive, fatigue symptoms, and herpes viral titers. Participants ( N = 380) were between 16 and 25 gestational weeks. The data included Perceived Stress Scale, Profile of Mood States scores, herpes viral titers (HSV-1, HSV-2, HHV-6, CMV, EBV), and nitrite, neopterin, tryptophan, kynurenine, phenylalanine, and tyrosine. The depressive symptoms were correlated with fatigue symptoms ( r = .546, p = .000). The perceived stress score was highly correlated ( r = .426, p = .000) with fatigue symptoms and predicts fatigue symptoms ( β = .459, p = .000) after controlling for depressive symptoms. Women with CMV seropositive titers significantly predicted fatigue symptoms ( β = .142, p = .009). Women with higher CMV seropositive titers had greater fatigue symptoms. Phenylalanine/tyrosine ratios were lower and neopterin higher in women with CMV seropositive titers. The associations of perceived stress or fatigue symptoms with HSV-1, HSV-2, HHV-6 or EBV were not statistically significant. Prenatal perceived stress is related to CMV reactivation, which may involve neuroendocrine interacts differ from those of other herpes viruses, and trigger fatigue symptoms. CMV could be an objective biomarker to assess fatigue symptoms in future study.
Characteristics of processed shales affecting oil yield loss to coke

Abstract The objective of this research was to further examine coking during hot-solid recycle retorting. Specifically the relationship between process-induced macroporosity and the reactivity of the shale mineral matrix was investigated. Photomicrographs support a direct relation between coking and the development of macroporosity in oxidized substrates. As access to the mineral matrix increases, the effect of processing on its reactivity becomes more important. The coking activity of illite, the major mineral component of the shale used, increased slightly when heat-treated to 973 K, but further heat treatment to 1323 K decreased its reactivity. Coke deposited on combusted shale and illite either blocked access to and/or deactivated coking sites, significantly reducing substrate reactivity. Carbon removal from the illite by oxidation at 773 K increased reactivity threefold over untreated illite. Combusted shale had fewer active coking sites, as measured by temperature-programmed desorption analysis, than gasified shale. This was consistent with deactivation of the mineral matrix with increased temperature treatment. Results also indicated that deactivation of the mineral matrix was possible by heat and steam treatments. The data provided further evidence that the amount of oil yield loss to coke was primarily controlled by process-induced macroporosity, allowing access to a reactive mineral matrix.
Factors influencing the risk of infection after trauma

Infection after injury is characterized by the degree of contamination, the duration of attendant hypotension, and the delay in definitive surgical treatment. Factors further influencing this outcome include the age of the patient and, in most U.S. urban centers, the general health of the patient. Current antibiotic treatment of such patients may soon be assisted by selective and sequential immunostimulants, which are increasingly more specific for defined defects in host defenses after injury. An ever more significant contribution to morbidity and mortality on trauma services is pneumonia, which is often caused by gram-negative aerobes. The design of clinically significant trials with respect to infection in the injury patient will be more difficult and complex.
Impact of empiric nesiritide or milrinone infusion on early postoperative recovery after Fontan surgery: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background—We sought to determine whether empirical nesiritide or milrinone would improve the early postoperative course after Fontan surgery. We hypothesized that compared with milrinone or placebo, patients assigned to receive nesiritide would have improved early postoperative outcomes. Methods and Results—In a single-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-arm parallel-group clinical trial, patients undergoing primary Fontan surgery were assigned to receive nesiritide, milrinone, or placebo. A loading dose of study drug was administered on cardiopulmonary bypass followed by a continuous infusion for ≥12 hours and ≤5 days after cardiac intensive care unit admission. The primary outcome was days alive and out of the hospital within 30 days of surgery. Secondary outcomes included measures of cardiovascular function, renal function, resource use, and adverse events. Among 106 enrolled subjects, 35, 36, and 35 were randomized to the nesiritide, milrinone, and placebo groups, respective...
Is there an ironic tone of voice

Research on nonverbal vocal cues and verbal irony has often relied on the concept of an ironic tone of voice. Here we provide acoustic analysis and experimental evidence that this notion is oversimplified and misguided. Acoustic analyses of spontaneous ironic speech extracted from talk radio shows, both ambiguous and unambiguous in written form, revealed only a difference in amplitude variability compared to matched nonironic speech from the same sources, and that was only among the most clear-cut items. In a series of experiments, participants rated content-filtered versions of the same ironic and nonironic utterances on a range of affective and linguistic dimensions. Listeners did not rely on any set of vocal cues to identify verbal irony that was separate from other emotional and linguistic judgments. We conclude that there is no particular ironic tone of voice and that listeners interpret verbal irony by combining a variety of cues, including information outside of the linguistic context.
A necessary and sufficient condition for transform optimality in source coding

It is well-known for transform coding of multivariate Gaussian sources, that the Karhunen Loeve transform (KLT) minimizes the mean square error distortion. However, finding the optimal transform for general non-Gaussian sources has been an open problem for decades, despite several important advances that provide some partial answers regarding KLT optimality. In this paper, we present a necessary and sufficient condition for optimality of a transform when high resolution, variable rate quantizers are employed. We present not only a complete characterization of when KLT is optimal, but also a determining condition for optimality of a general (non-KLT) transform. This necessary and sufficient condition is shown to have direct connections to the well studied source separation problem. This observation can impact source separation itself, as illustrated with a new optimality result. Finally, we combine the transform optimality condition with algorithmic tools from source separation, to derive a practical numerical method to search for the optimal transform in source coding.
Joint Dimension Assignment and Compression for Distributed Multisensor Estimation

We consider distributed estimation of a random vector parameter by a wireless sensor network (WSN). To meet stringent power and bandwidth budgets in WSN, local data compression is performed at each sensor to reduce the number of messages sent to a fusion center (FC). Under the constraint of a given total number of messages, our problem is to jointly determine the number of messages sent by each senor (a.k.a. dimension assignment) and design the corresponding compression matrix. The problem is formulated as a constrained optimization problem that minimizes the estimation mean-square error (MSE) at the FC. We analyze the problem using a subspace projection technique, which yields an efficient iterative solution. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Maximum life span strategy for target tracking in mobile sensor networks

In this paper, an energy-efficient technique is proposed for tracking a target in a field using a network of mobile sensors while maximizing the life span of the network. The most important energy consumption sources in a mobile sensor network (MSN) are sensing, communication and movement of the sensors. In the proposed technique, first the field is divided into a grid of arbitrarily small cells. This grid is then used to obtain a graph with properly weighted edges. The weight assignment is done in such a way that it results in a close estimate of the maximum lifetime for the network. Finally, using a shortest path algorithm, an efficient route is found to transfer information from the target to destination.
The influence of gold surface texture on microglia morphology and activation

Microglial cells play a critical role in the propagation of neuroinflammation in the central nervous system. Microglia sense and respond to environmental signals including chemical, physical and biological cues from the surrounding cell/tissue components. In this project, our goal was to examine the effects of surface texture on BV-2 microglia morphology and function by comparing flat and nanoporous gold (np-Au) surfaces to the more conventional glass. The biocompatibility of np-Au with microglia was evaluated using functional cell assays and high resolution imaging with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microglia seeded on glass, ultra-flat gold (UF-Au), ultra-thin (UT) np-Au and np-Au monolith were adherent to all surfaces and their viability was not compromised as assessed by multiple toxicity assays. SEM revealed detailed morphological characteristics of adherent microglia and indicated few dramatic changes as a result of the different surfaces. Microglia proliferation was hampered by np-Au monolith but less by UT np-Au and not at all on UF-Au or glass. Microglial activation, measured by tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) production, was fully functional (and equivalent) on all gold surfaces compared to glass. The present findings should help further the understanding of basic microglia biology on textured surfaces and more fully evaluate np-Au as a multi-functional biocompatible material. The knowledge obtained and technology developed will have a significant impact in the fabrication of nanoelectronic devices, chemical sensor development, porous nanostructured materials for BioMEMs/NEMs integration, and functional biomaterial coatings for drug delivery.
The effect of predeformation on the β″ and β′ precipitates and the role of Q′ phase in an Al–Mg–Si alloy; AA6022

Abstract The precipitation of metastable phases during differential scanning calorimetry experiments of cold deformed AA6022 is investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy. It is found that β″ precipitates are replaced by β′ and Q′ in the predeformed samples. The results show that at higher temperatures only Q′ precipitates are present in the microstructure of the predeformed samples.
Damping of spurious wave reflections from coarse-fine adaptive mesh refinement grid boundaries

Adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) is an efficient technique for solving systems of partial differential equations numerically. The underlying algorithm determines where and when a base spatial and temporal grid must be resolved further in order to achieve the desired precision and accuracy in the numerical solution. However, propagating wave solutions prove problematic for AMR. A wave traveling from a finely resolved region into a coarsely resolved region encounters a numerical impedance mismatch, resulting in spurious reflections off of the coarse-fine grid boundary. These reflected waves then become trapped inside the fine region.
Matched information rate codes for binary ISI channels

We propose a coding/decoding strategy to approach the channel capacities for binary intersymbol interference (ISI) channels. The proposed codes are serially concatenated codes: inner matched information rate codes and outer irregular low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. The whole system is iteratively decodable.
Practical approach to the pathologic diagnosis of gastritis.

Abstract Context.—Most types of gastritis can be diagnosed on hematoxylin-eosin stains. The most common type of chronic gastritis is Helicobacter pylori gastritis. Reactive or chemical gastropathy, which is often associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use or bile reflux, is common in most practices. The diagnosis of atrophic gastritis can be challenging if few biopsy samples are available and if the location of the biopsies in the stomach is not known, such as when random biopsies are sampled in one jar. If the biopsy site is not known, immunohistochemical stains, such as a combination of synaptophysin and gastrin, are useful in establishing the biopsy location. Objective.—To demonstrate a practical approach to achieving a pathologic diagnosis of gastritis by evaluating a limited number of features in mucosal biopsies. Data Source.—In this article, we present several representative gastric biopsy cases from a gastrointestinal pathology practice to demonstrate the practical application of basi...
When people shed religious identity in Ireland and Austria: Evidence from censuses.

Abstract BACKGROUND Disaffiliation from religion is an important factor behind the rapid rise in persons claiming no religious affiliation in many advanced industrial countries. Scholars typically think of disaffiliation as a life course process that is confined to young adults, with little change occurring among older adults, yet few studies have examined this assumption outside the United States and Great Britain. OBJECTIVE We evaluate whether the young-adult model of disaffiliation from religion applies in Ireland and Austria, two historically Catholic-majority countries with different levels of non-affiliation growth. METHODS We use census data on religious affiliation in Ireland (1971-2011) and Austria (1971-2001) to track aggregate changes in the percentage reporting no religious affiliation over the life course for successive birth cohorts. RESULTS We find support for the young-adult model in Ireland. However, recent cohorts in Austria exhibit a distinct pattern of disaffiliation that continues into middle adulthood. Our analysis suggests that mid-life disaffiliation in Austria is connected to a religious tax, which we argue spurs nominally affiliated adults to disaffiliate themselves, as their income rises and the costs of religious affiliation increase.
Receiver-Operating Characteristic Analysis for Evaluating Diagnostic Tests and Predictive Models

Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was originally developed during World War II to analyze classification accuracy in differentiating signal from noise in radar detection.1 Recently, the methodology has been adapted to several clinical areas heavily dependent on screening and diagnostic tests,2–4 in particular, laboratory testing,5 epidemiology,6 radiology,7–9 and bioinformatics.10 ROC analysis is a useful tool for evaluating the performance of diagnostic tests and more generally for evaluating the accuracy of a statistical model (eg, logistic regression, linear discriminant analysis) that classifies subjects into 1 of 2 categories, diseased or nondiseased. Its function as a simple graphical tool for displaying the accuracy of a medical diagnostic test is one of the most well-known applications of ROC curve analysis. In Circulation from January 1, 1995, through December 5, 2005, 309 articles were published with the key phrase “receiver operating characteristic.” In cardiology, diagnostic testing plays a fundamental role in clinical practice (eg, serum markers of myocardial necrosis, cardiac imaging tests). Predictive modeling to estimate expected outcomes such as mortality or adverse cardiac events based on patient risk characteristics also is common in cardiovascular research. ROC analysis is a useful tool in both of these situations. In this article, we begin by reviewing the measures of accuracy—sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC)—that use the ROC curve. We also illustrate how these measures can be applied using the evaluation of a hypothetical new diagnostic test as an example. A diagnostic classification test typically yields binary, ordinal, or continuous outcomes. The simplest type, binary outcomes, arises from a screening test indicating whether the patient is nondiseased (Dx=0) or diseased (Dx=1). The screening test indicates whether the patient is likely to be diseased or not. When >2 categories are used, the test data can be on an ordinal rating …
Jean-Paul Sartre and the HOT Theory of Consciousness

Jean-Paul Sartre believed that consciousness entails self-consciousness, or, even more strongly, that consciousness is self-consciousness. As Kathleen Wider puts it in her terrific book The Bodily Nature of Consciousness: Sartre and Contemporary Philosophy of Mind, ‘all consciousness is, by its very nature, self-consciousness.’ I share this view with Sartre and have elsewhere argued for it at length. My overall aim in this paper is to examine Sartre's theory of consciousness against the background of the so-called ‘higher-order thought theory of consciousness’ (the HOT theory) which, in turn, will shed light on the structure of conscious mental states as well as on Sartre's theory of (self-) consciousness and reflection. Another goal of this paper is, following Wider, to show how Sartre's views can be understood from a contemporary analytic perspective. Sartre's theory of consciousness is often confusing to the so-called ‘analytic Anglo-American’ tradition, but I attempt to show how this obstacle can be overcome against the backdrop of a specific contemporary theory of consciousness.
METABOLIC EFFECTS OF ACUTE EXPOSURE TO METHOPRENE IN THE AMERICAN LOBSTER, HOMARUS AMERICANUS

Abstract Methoprene was a constituent of the pesticide cocktail applied to the Western Long Island Sound (WLIS) watershed area during the summer of 1999. Subsequently, the seasonal lobster catches from the WLIS have decreased dramatically. We have been engaged in ongoing studies of the effects of methoprene on larval, juvenile and adult lobsters. Most recently, we found that Stage IV larvae exposed to 50 ppb methoprene experience >90% mortality rate after 3 days. Bioaccumulation studies on adult lobsters showed that methoprene concentrated against the gradient of the surrounding seawater (50 ppb) in hepatopancreas (1.55 ppm), gonad (5.18 ppm), epithelial tissue (6.17 ppm) and, most significantly, the eyestalks (28.83 ppm). Exposure to methoprene altered the expression of the stress proteins and the pattern of ubiquitinylation of cytosolic proteins by Day 1 Stage I larvae and by epithelial tissue of postmolt juvenile lobsters. Postmolt juvenile animals also demonstrated an altered pattern of protein phosph...
“General Coldness of Climate Models” and the Second Law: Implications for Modeling the Earth System

Abstract Motivated by the circumstantial evidence of the pervasive nature of the “general coldness” of climate model simulations, a theoretical analysis is made of the model response expected from the presence of both physical and aphysical sources of entropy under the joint conditions that the net flux of energy through the upper and lower boundaries of the atmosphere and the isentropic temporally, areally integrated entropy source must vanish. These joint conditions are essential for a simulated global climate state to be without drift. The application of these conditions in the presence of positive definite aphysical entropy sources leads to the conclusion that the model-simulated climate state will be characterized by a general coldness, in particular in the upper polar troposphere and lower tropical troposphere as observed in 104 out of 105 possible outcomes from 35 different simulations by 14 climate models. In assessing the magnitude of this effect, a 10°C bias in mean temperature corresponds with ...
Negotiating Peril The Lived Experience of Rural, Low-Income Women Exposed to IPV During Pregnancy and Postpartum

This qualitative study of 10 rural women examines their lived experience of intimate partner violence during pregnancy and the first 2 postpartum years. In-depth interviews occurred during pregnancy and 4 times postpartum. A Heideggerian approach revealed “negotiating peril” as the overarching theme; sub-themes were unstable environment, adaptive calibration, primacy of motherhood, and numb acceptance. Some incremental shifts in severity of abusive situations were observed. Results elucidate the ambivalence with which these women view institutions that are designed to help them. Findings highlight factors that may explain why interventions designed to help often do not appear efficacious in facilitating complete termination of an abusive situation.