cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gender Differences in Negative Affect During Acute Tobacco Abstinence Differ Between African American and White Adult Cigarette Smokers

Author(s): Pang, Raina D; Bello, Mariel S; Liautaud, Madalyn M; Weinberger, Andrea H; Leventhal, Adam M | Abstract: IntroductionPrior studies have found heightened negative affect following tobacco abstinence in women compared to men. However, experimental work addressing whether these findings generalize across racial groups is scarce. This study investigated whether race (non-Hispanic White vs. non-Hispanic African American) moderated gender differences in abstinence-induced negative affect and smoking behavior.MethodsData were collected from 2010 to 2017 from two separate laboratory studies investigating experimentally manipulated tobacco abstinence. Following a baseline session, adult daily smokers (≥10 cigarettes/day; women: n = 297, 83.8% non-Hispanic African American; men: n = 492, 86.2% non-Hispanic African American) attended two counterbalanced lab sessions (16 hours abstinent vs. non-abstinent) and completed self-report measures of negative affect followed by a laboratory analogue smoking reinstatement task.ResultsWe found a gender × race interaction for several negative affect states and composite negative affect (βs = -.12 to -.16, Ps l .05). Analyses stratified by race showed that non-Hispanic White women compared to non-Hispanic White men exhibited greater abstinence-induced increases in anger, anxiety, and composite negative affect (βs = -.20 to -.29, Ps l .05). No significant gender differences in abstinence-induced negative affect were found for non-Hispanic African American smokers (βs = .00 to - .04, Ps g .05).ConclusionThese findings suggest that negative affect during acute tobacco abstinence may be a clinically important and intervenable factor that can inform cessation interventions specifically for non-Hispanic White women smokers. Further empirical exploration of mechanisms underlying interactions of gender and race in tobacco addiction may benefit smoking cessation efforts in non-Hispanic African American women smokers.ImplicationsThis study contributes to a scant body of research examining the intersectional influence of race and gender on abstinence-induced negative affect-a central, motivationally prepotent feature of tobacco withdrawal. Using a laboratory-based design to experimentally manipulate abstinence, we provide evidence of a gender × race interaction on negative affect-related withdrawal. Our findings suggest that gender differences in abstinence-induced negative affect observed among non-Hispanic White smokers may not generalize to non-Hispanic African American smokers, highlighting the need for future work to address potential mechanisms underlying the racially discrepant impact of gender on affective tobacco withdrawal.
Reading beyond research results: The hidden curriculum in a college and urban high schools partnership

The article draws from a study of a Gear Up partnership between a college and four urban high schools. Teacher education candidates participated in community engagement through Gear Up at four urban high schools. The study showed that both college and high school students benefitted from the partnership. The article complicates the results of the study by examining the hidden curriculum promulgated by a partnership between the college and four urban high schools.
Prognosis of childhood migraine

The long term prognosis of adolescents with migraine has not been well studied. Five to seven year follow up studies revealed that 20–25% of adolescents originally diagnosed with migraine have remission of symptoms, 50–60% have persistence of their migraine with aura and 25% converting to TTH. Of those originally with TTH, 20% converted to migraine [121,122]. Monastero et al. evaluated 55 adolescents with migraine who were available for ten year follow up and found that 42% had persistent migraine, 38% had experienced remission, and 20% had transformed to TTH. Interestingly, only migraine without aura persisted through the ten year follow up whereas other migrainous disorders and nonclassifiable headaches did not [123]. The longest follow up available came from Brna et al, with 20 year information on 60 out of an original cohort of 95 from 1983. Of the 60, 27% were headache free, 33% had TTH, 17% had migraine and 23% had both TTH and migraine. Of those with persistent headache, 80% described their headaches as moderate to severe, although an overall improvement was described in 66%. TTH was more likely to remit. Headache severity at diagnosis was the most predictive of headache outcome at 20 years [124]. These data indicate that female gender, migraine severity at diagnosis, and longer duration from time of onset of headache until time of initial medical examination tended toward unfavorable prognosis.
The Future of Training and Credentialing in Group Psychotherapy

High-quality group psychotherapy training is seen as more important than ever in the current health care environment. The training opportunities available at present are assessed. It is argued that there is a body of knowledge about generic group psychotherapy that can and should be taught, and that there are appropriate people to teach it. Credentialing is discussed, and it is suggested that the assessment of actual work in clinical situations must be emphasized if such efforts are to be meaningful.
Applying Probabilistic Model to Quantify Influence of Rainy Weather on Stochastic and Dynamic Transition of Traffic Conditions

AbstractThis study used a time-varying Markov chain (TMC) assumption to develop an empirical probabilistic model that evaluates the influence of rainy weather and traffic volume on the dynamic tran...
Does “100% renewable” trump concern for spatial impacts?

Abstract I live in Burlington (pop. 43,600), state of Vermont (pop. 624,000), USA (pop. 326,000,000). We are the first U.S. city to become 100% renewable in electricity. We get hydro electricity from as far away as 700 km. (in Quebec, Canada) and as close as 1 km. Our wind electricity comes from sources 25–250 km distant. Our 50 MWe biomass plant burns forestry residues harvested within 160 km. Burlington now plans to become a “net-zero energy” city by 1. providing this renewable electricity (more) locally, and 2. extending coverage to present uses of fuel oil, petrol, and natural gas, with the notable exception of airplane fuel. This spatial reach has historically been de-emphasized in waves of enthusiasm for energy efficiency, sustainability (often loosely defined), and now renewability-especially in confronting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. I briefly review this history, and then present quantitative spatial impacts of Burlington's plans.
The impact of sun protective behavior and vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D level in melanoma patients.

e19025 Background: Vitamin D (VitD) is synthesized in the skin as a result of exposure to sunlight and its deficiency is common in the general population as well as in cancer patients. Sun protecti...
Effects of Deepwater Horizon oil on feather structure and thermoregulation in gulls: Does rehabilitation work?

Abstract Impacts of large-scale oil spills on avian species are far-reaching. While media attention often focuses on lethal impacts, sub-lethal effects and the impacts of rehabilitation receive less attention. The objective of our study was to characterize effects of moderate external oiling and subsequent rehabilitation on feather structure and thermoregulation in gulls. We captured 30 wild ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) and randomly assigned each individual to an experimental group: 1) controls, 2) rehabilitated birds (externally oiled, rehabilitated by washing), or 3) oiled birds (externally oiled, not rehabilitated). We externally oiled birds with weathered MC252 Deepwater Horizon oil (water for controls) and collected feathers and thermography imagery (FLIR) approximately weekly for four weeks to investigate feather structure (quantified using a barbule clumping index) and thermoregulatory ability (characterized by internal body temperature and external surface temperature). Post-oiling feather clumping was significantly higher in oiled and rehabilitated birds compared to controls, but steadily declined over time in both groups. However, feather microstructure in rehabilitated birds was indistinguishable from controls within three weeks of washing whereas the feathers of oiled birds were still significantly clumped a month post oiling. Internal body temperatures didn't differ in any of the groups, suggesting birds maintain thermoregulatory homeostasis in spite of moderate external oiling. External temperatures for rehabilitated birds didn't differ from controls within a week of rehabilitation. Overall, rehabilitation procedures were effective and washed birds were in better condition compared to non-rehabilitated, oiled birds. This study provides evidence that the benefits of rehabilitation for moderately oiled birds likely outweigh the costs with regard to feather structure and thermoregulation. While feather preening and time were insufficient to reestablish baseline fine scale feather structure in moderately oiled birds, the significant clumping reduction over time may indicate that rehabilitation of lightly oiled birds may not be necessary and deserves further study.
Research and Application of Microservice in Power Grid Dispatching Control System

With the in-depth development of smart grid, the traditional grid scheduling control system based on SOA architecture can not meet the requirements of system reliability and performance. In order to enhance the load performance and stability of the system, the distributed architecture of the power grid dispatching control system is transformed by using the microservice technology architecture, and the system upgrading maintenance without perception is realized by using the logic decoupling design of microservice. Based on the analysis of the current situation of power grid control business and system, this paper puts forward the design scheme of system microservice architecture, expounds the key technologies of microservice, and verifies through experiments that the throughput, fault tolerance, maintainability and scalability of power grid dispatching control system can be greatly improved by adopting the proposed technical scheme.
Stalin & Mao: A Comparison of the Russian and Chinese Revolutions: Lucien Bianco, . Translated by Krystyna Horko. Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press, 2018. xxv + 448 pp. $65 (Cloth). ISBN 978-988-237-065-4

The Russian and Chinese revolutions, long celebrated by their claqueurs as trailblazing events leading to what Karl Marx asserted would be the inevitable worldwide victory of socialism, were linked...
Microstructurally flexible high entropy alloys: Linkages between alloy design and deformation behavior

Abstract Development of multicomponent alloys, popularly known as high entropy alloys (HEAs) provides abundant compositional space for designing a variety of HEAs, including equiatomic, dual phase and microstructurally flexible (MF-HEAs). Among them, the design of MF-HEAs further extends the HEA domain in terms of understanding adaptive phase evolution with respect to change in alloy chemistry and processing parameters. This responsive phase evolution enabled near single phase e (h.c.p., 95%) or γ (f.c.c., 90%) dominant microstructures, depending on imposed processing strain, strain rate and temperature for a selected alloy chemistry. The γ-phase dominated HEAs showed slower yet sustained work hardening (WH) rates (~ 2000 MPa) owing to transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) effect whereas e-phase dominated microstructure showed exceptionally high and sustained work hardening rates (2300–2700 MPa) due to formation of nano plates or twins in e-phase upon deformation. Therefore, MF-HEA design leads to exceptional strength–ductility synergy (1100-1250 MPa, 30-43%) irrespective of the dominance of either γ- or e-phase in the starting microstructure owing to selective operation of deformation mechanisms in the dominant phase.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors Across the Life Course and Cognitive Decline: A Pooled Cohort Study

Background: Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) are associated with increased risk of cognitive decline, but little is known about how early adult CVRFs and those across the life course might influence late-life cognition. To test the hypothesis that CVRFs across the adult life course are associated with late-life cognitive changes, we pooled data from four prospective cohorts(n=15,001, ages 18-95). Methods: We imputed trajectories of body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose (FG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and total cholesterol (TC) for older adults. We used linear mixed models to determine the association of early adult, mid-life, and late-life CVRFs with late-life decline on global cognition (Modified Mini-Mental State Exam (3MS)) and processing speed (Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST)), adjusting for demographics, education, and cohort.Results: Elevated BMI, FG, and SBP (but not TC) at each time period were associated with greater late-life decline. Early life CVRFs were associated with the greatest change, an approximate doubling of mean 10-year decline (an additional 3-4 points for 3MS or DSST). Late-life CVRFs were associated with declines in early late-life ( Conclusions: We found that imputed CVRFs across the life course, especially in early adulthood, were associated with greater late-life cognitive decline. Our results suggest that CVRF treatment in early adulthood could benefit late-life cognition, but that treatment in very late-life may not be as helpful for these outcomes.
The Wellbeing of Women

This chapter discusses happiness, subjective wellbeing, and positive mental health of women compared to men. Quality of life for women is defined in terms of positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, and psychological wellbeing and several measures are described. The wellbeing research literature point to several explanations of how women experience wellbeing: biological, psychological, cultural, psychographic, healthcare, socio-economic, and social role explanations. The literature also suggests important factors influencing women’s level of wellbeing. These include family and cultural factors, economic and work-related factors, residential factors, sexual and relationship factors, health-related factors, and factors related to the feminist movement.
A Framework for Multiple Objective Co-Optimization of Switched Reluctance Machine Design and Control

A new modeling and optimization approach is proposed for co-optimization of both switched reluctance machine (SRM) design and control across the entire speed range. A unique method uses static finite element analysis (FEA) results to determine a set of current profiles for discrete speeds, torques, and torque ripple levels, and the associated voltage profiles are computed using steady state equations without time-domain simulations. Particle swarm optimization is implemented to determine optimal current profiles with the consideration of voltage limits, torque ripple, and other system parameters. Further, a machine design optimization method is proposed that leverages outputs from current profile optimizers and determines quality metrics for each design based on the torque requirements and torque ripple limits across the operation region of the targeted application.
Maternal Energetics and the Developmental Origins of Prostate Cancer in Offspring

In 2014, Prostate cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the Western world, but few modifiable risk factors exist for this disease. Many studies have examined the association between obesity and prostate cancer incidence, producing conflicting results. However, maternal energetics during periconception and gestation has barely been considered as a potential risk factor, despite the fact that prostate tissue patterning and early development occur in utero. Maternal diabetes and obesity dramatically affect health at the time of pregnancy, and rodent and human studies demonstrate that the effects manifest in a variety of noncommunicable conditions in offspring, including early initiation of mammary tumors. Importantly, maternal diabetes and obesity directly alter the health of the early embryo and the maternal germ cell, or oocyte. Obesity-exposed oocytes exhibit alterations in size, gene expression, chromosome structure, and metabolism, and adult offspring present with defects including hyperplastic prostate tissues. We propose here that maternal obesity alters epigenetic and metabolic functions in the oocyte, which are passed to offspring, sensitizing them to precancerous conditions. Such an in utero environment could provide a “first hit” for prostate cancer development and should be considered when making dietary recommendations for expectant mothers.
Pharmacogenetics and Drug Metabolism of Newer Antidepressant Agents

A wide variety of drugs are metabolized by the human cytochrome P450 system, including antidepressants such as tricyclic antidepressants and serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Each P450 isoenzyme is the product of a separate gene; a number of genes have multiple alleles that result in genetic polymorphism in the population. Both CYP2D6 and CYP2C gene families are polymorphic; both families are important in antidepressant metabolism. A number of polymorphisms result in dysfunctional or inactive enzymes. The clinical importance is highly dependent upon the patient's clinical state, coadministered drugs, therapeutic index, and the relative importance of the defective pathway in the total process of drug elimination. In addition, a number of drugs can also act as P450 enzyme inhibitors, which have the potential of causing drug interactions. In patient management, it is important to consider the fact that most antidepressants can also act as enzyme inhibitors. A number of adverse reactions resulting from coadministration of tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs have been described. Such drug interactions can be minimized or avoided by following simple clinical logic
Predictors of Right Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in Compensated and Decompensated Heart Failure

©2012 Wiley Periodicals Inc. Current understanding of the mechanisms of right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction in heart failure (HF) is limited. The authors analyzed a limited access dataset from the Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization Effectiveness (ESCAPE) provided by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). RV systolic function was measured by echocardiography at baseline and at 3-month follow-up using fractional area change. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed with linear regression. Of 433 patients enrolled in the ESCAPE trial, 190 had RV systolic function measured at baseline (decompensated HF) and 147 had it measured at 3-month follow-up. On both occasions, parameters of congestion were associated with RV systolic function. Interestingly, lower hematocrit level was also associated with better RV systolic function. In multivariate analysis, only wedge pressure remained a statistically significant predictor of RV dysfunction. In summary, cardiac diastolic pressures and corresponding echocardiographic parameters, as well as hematocrit level, predicted RV systolic function in both compensated and decompensated systolic HF.
Progress on Educational Digital Libraries: Current Developments in the National Science Foundation's (NSF) National Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Digital Library (NSDL) Program

Technological advances in computing and communication continue to challenge the “why, where, and when” of the educational enterprise. Policymakers and advocates from organizations such as EDUCAUSE2, the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI)3, the European Schoolnet partnership4, and UNESCO5 have long argued for the potential that information technology has to transform education by improving access — both spatially (“anyplace”) and temporally (“anytime”), by redefining the nature of the classroom and learning, and in some cases by changing cost structures. In recent years various consortia of higher education institutions have formed to explore international collaborations in distance learning, for example: Universitas 21 (http://www.universitas.edu.au/) and the Global University Alliance (www.gua.com) both of which involve institutions from Asia, Europe, and the United States. Many individual institutions have also embarked on distance education ventures and efforts in the K-12 sector are growing as well (see http://chronicle.com/indepth/distance/ players.htm#virtual). Development of online course management systems continues to progress on the commercial front, e.g. WebCT (www.webct.com) and Blackboard (www.blackboard.com), and more recently an open-source effort called the Open Knowledge Initiative (http://web.mit.edu/oki/) has begun.
How well do drivers understand their own headlights

The current research represents an initial investigation of drivers’ understanding of high beam and low beam headlight patterns in a nighttime driving environment. Fifty-four university students used a highlighter to indicate on a paper diagram of a roadway scene the portion of the scene that they felt their headlights would illuminate. Although the headlight patterns produced by participants varied more than expected, several consistent patterns emerged. Classification and evaluation of these drivers’ responses revealed that many drivers misunderstand the area of the roadway that is illuminated by their headlights. These misunderstandings fall into fairly distinct patterns. The results indicate many drivers possess an incomplete understanding of the pattern of illumination provided by their headlights. These results are consistent with earlier evidence that many road users fail to appreciate the visibility challenges that exist at night.
Instructional technology for cross-disciplinary learning

Advances in computer technology and multimedia systems have led to widespread interest in computer-based instruction and learning environments. presentation of material in realistic contexts, thus promoting constructive and generative learning. However the true potential and benefits of these systems are yet to be realized. Significant benefits will be realized when instructional technologies are systematically incorporated into a system of tools that support ongoing thinking and learning activities. This paper discusses one such effort, "Anchored Learning Environments" (ALE), an emerging architecture for integrated curricula instruction and learning. ALE extend well-developed theories of educational practice into the domain of interactive computer-assisted instruction. The resulting computer-supported environments facilitate sustained learning by active learners. A major goal of the ALE architecture is to help students understand the kinds of problems and opportunities that exist in complex, real world environments. A related goal is to help students integrate their knowledge through the repeated exploration of the same situation (macrocontext) from multiple points of view. This paper discusses a series of relates ALE spanning the disciplines of mathematics, physics, history, and geography. The research described provides a blueprint for an interactive teaching program that bridges multiple departments, introducing students, educators, and faculty to the possibilities of technology-supported integrated curricula learning.
Three Schools of Thought on “Public Opinion” Measures

Responses to my article in the August 2011 issue of Survey Practice, “Contemporary Issues with Public Policy Polls,” suggest there are possibly three general schools of thought with respect to measuring opinion. These are somewhat arbitrary classifications, and I don’t hold to them tenaciously, but I think they may be useful as a heuristic device to stimulate discussion about the various views that scholars and practitioners have about “public opinion.”
Demonstrating the Scalability of a Molecular Dynamics Application on a Petaflops Computer

The IBM Blue Gene/C parallel computer aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a cellular architecture computer with millions of concurrent threads of execution. One of the major challenges in this project is showing that applications can successfully scale to this massive amount of parallelism. In this paper we demonstrate that the simulation of protein folding using classical molecular dynamics falls in this category. Starting from the sequential version of a well known molecular dynamics code, we developed a new parallel implementation that exploited the multiple levels of parallelism present in the Blue Gene/C cellular architecture. We performed both analytical and simulation studies of the behavior of this application when executed on a very large number of threads. As a result, we demonstrate that this class of applications can execute efficiently on a large cellular machine.
Why (and How to) Define Securitization? A Sur-Reply to Professor Schwarcz

This brief essay is a reply to Professor Steve Schwarcz's essay, "What is Securitization? And for What Purpose?" Professor Schwarcz's essay is a response to my article, "Re: Defining Securitization," 85 S. Cal. L. Rev. 1229 (2012). My reply explores the strengths and weaknesses of Schwarcz's critique. Among other things, I point out that Professor Schwarcz would defer excessively to market actors to define important legal terms at the expense of clarity and uniformity. Moreover, he at times appears to contradict his own definitions of what is (and is not) a securitization. As a leading authority on securitization (however defined), I am nevertheless grateful for Professor Schwarcz's thoughtful contribution to this discussion.
Handelman’s Theorem on Polynomials with Positive Multiples

For a polynomial p in several variables and a face F of its Newton polytope, let PF denote the polynomial consisting of the terms of P that lie in F , with the coefficients given by p. Handelman’s theorem states that p has a polynomial multiple with positive coefficients if and only if no PF has a zero with strictly positive coordinates. We give a short and self-contained account of its proof.
The Dual Role of Morally Ambiguous Characters: Examining the Effect of Morality Salience on Narrative Responses

Using social comparison theory as a framework, 2 experiments examined the effects of a person's self-perception on responses to characters who display varying levels of morality. Study 1 found that individuals whose vices were made salient felt more positive affect and enjoyment after reading a narrative featuring a morally ambiguous character (MAC) than one featuring a bad character. Study 2 found that individuals whose virtues were made salient felt more positive affect and enjoyment after reading a narrative featuring a good character than one featuring a MAC. Findings thus indicate that morality salience is an important factor determining responses to different character types. Avenues for future research and theoretical implications of the dual role of MACs are discussed.
PARSYNTH: a case study on implementing a real-time digital audio synthesizer

Current real time systems with heavy computation loads and unpredictable event sequences are being constructed with mechanisms and policies that permit them to adjust to new environmental conditions. We present a framework for the real time synthesis of multimedia artifacts and an application PARSYNTH, which utilizes the libraries specified in the framework. Our results indicate that PARSYNTH generates digital audio artifacts within real time constraints.
Building multiclass classifiers for remote homology detection and fold recognition

Background: Protein remote homology detection and fold recognition are central problems in computational biology. Supervised learning algorithms based on support vector machines are currently one of the most effective methods for solving these problems. These methods are primarily used to solve binary classification problems and they have not been extensively used to solve the more general multiclass remote homology prediction and fold recognition problems. Results: We present a comprehensive evaluation of a number of methods for building SVM-based multiclass classification schemes in the context of the SCOP protein classification. These methods include schemes that directly build an SVM-based multiclass model, schemes that employ a secondlevel learning approach to combine the predictions generated by a set of binary SVM-based classifiers, and schemes that build and combine binary classifiers for various levels of the SCOP hierarchy beyond those defining the target classes. Conclusion: Analyzing the performance achieved by the different approaches on four different datasets we show that most of the proposed multiclass SVM-based classification approaches are quite effective in solving the remote homology prediction and fold recognition problems and that the schemes that use predictions from binary models constructed for ancestral categories within the SCOP hierarchy tend to not only lead to lower error rates but also reduce the number of errors in which a superfamily is assigned to an entirely different fold and a fold is predicted as being from a different SCOP class. Our results also show that the limited size of the training data makes it hard to learn complex second-level models, and that models of moderate complexity lead to consistently better results.
Combining Top-down and Bottom-up Techniques in Inductive Logic Programming

Abstract This paper describes a new method for inducing logic programs from examples which attempts to integrate the best aspects of existing ILP methods into a single coherent framework. In particular, it combines a bottom-up method similar to GOLEM with a top-down method similar to FOIL. It also includes a method for predicate invention similar to CHAMP and an elegant solution to the “noisy oracle” problem which allows the system to learn recursive programs without requiring a complete set of positive examples. Systematic experimental comparisons to both GOLEM and FOIL on a range of problems are used to clearly demonstrate the advantages of the approach.
Asymmetric ketone reduction with immobilized yeast in hexane: biocatalyst deactivation and regeneration.

There is a need to develop methods for producing enantiomerically pure pharmaceuticals because the racemic mixtures made today will probably not be allowed in the future. Synthetic chiral catalysts are being developed for this purpose, as well as new product separation techniques. Another possible option is to use biocatalysts, such as purified enzymes or whole microbial cells, since these can result in the production of mostly a single enantiomer. This study emphasizes the use of alginate-entrapped yeast cells to catalyze the reduction of ketones as a model system. The emphasis is on the factors that might limit the reactivity of such cells, such as equilibrium conditions, substrate or product inhibition, solvent toxicity, loss of cell viability, or the degradation of intracellular levels of enzymes or cofactors.It was found that there was a progressive loss of catalytic activity of the immobilized yeast cells, which appeared to be mainly associated with a loss of cell viability and a decline of intracellular NAD(H) levels during the reaction. The other factors investigated did not have a large effect. A regeneration scheme was developed in order to replenish the intracellular NAD(H) lost during the reaction, which involved removing the biocatalyst from the reaction and supplying the cells with a nutrient source. This resulted in an increase in the NAD(H) to initial levels and also resulted in a maintenance of the ketone reduction rate over time.
Modeling a micromanufactured open recess-tip oxygen microelectrode

The authors' interest is to micromanufacture an oxygen microelectrode capable of measuring oxygen in a volume (on the order of a cubic micron or less). The open-tipped needle electrode is intended for measuring oxygen tension in biological media where it may be inserted into a biological system such as heart or brain with minimal disturbance to the specimen. The prototype design is based on an etched glass needle and is the result of a study of several possible manufacturing methods using different micromanufacturing technologies available at the Institute for Micromanufacturing at Louisiana Tech. University. Guiding the design are species mass transport and electrical system models. These help quantify the critical dimensions necessary to minimize oxygen depletion in the tissue region of the electrode and stabilize the polarization voltage at it's catalytic surface. The models also lead the authors to electrode design parameters which will help minimize response time while maximizing output of the electrode. The multi-region species mass transport model of the oxygen transport includes both the tissue and the recess region of the electrode while the electrical model is a study the effects of the electrode instrumentation design on the electrode and its output. Modeling efforts have demonstrated the importance of design of the electrode in achieving reliable oxygen measurements and also demonstrating the sensitivity of the design to small changes in the critical dimensions of recess length and radius. Also, the characteristics of the tip potential, which is known to influence the performance of other types of glass electrodes, is suggested to have an influence on the performance of this type of electrode.
Adolescent Health Care Maintenance in a Teen-Friendly Clinic

Adolescence is marked by complex physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development, which can be stressful for families and adolescents. Before the onset of puberty, providers should clearly lay the groundwork for clinical care and office visits during the adolescent years. This article addresses the guidelines and current legal standards for confidentiality in adolescent care, the most frequently used psychosocial screening tools, and current recommendations for preventive health services and immunizations. Through the creation of teen-friendly clinics, primary care providers are well positioned to offer guidance and support to teens and their parents during this time of transition and growth.
Genital tract HIV-1 RNA shedding among women with below detectable plasma viral load

Objective:Few studies have assessed longitudinal genital tract HIV-1 shedding. We determined patterns of genital tract HIV-1 RNA shedding over time among women with suppressed plasma viral load (PVL) on antiretroviral treatment.Methods:Paired plasma and genital tract HIV-1 RNA were measured every 4
Isolation of mannose-binding C-type lectin from sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) plasma and binding to Aeromonas salmonicida

Abstract The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is a parasitic cartilaginous fish of the North American Great Lakes and a predator of many bony fish species of commercial importance to the fishing industry. Mannose-binding C-type lectin (MBL) was isolated by mannan–agarose affinity chromatography from sea lamprey plasma. Mannose-binding lectin has not before been identified and quantitated in the plasma of this sea lamprey species. The affinity-purified and 2-ME reduced lamprey MBL showed two bands of 35 kDa and 65 kDa by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting using guinea pig anti-MBL IgG as the primary antibody. Amino acid composition analysis (mol%) of the purified lamprey MBL found high amounts of histidine, threonine, tyrosine and phenylalanine present when compared with three other vertebrate MBLs. N-terminal amino acid sequencing by Edman degradation for the first 10 residues gave XXXTKGCPDA. Lamprey plasma contained 261 μg of MBL/ml of plasma. Plasma protein concentration was 40.1 mg/ml. Lamprey MBL was present then in plasma at 6.5 μg MBL/mg total protein. The sea lamprey MBL also specifically binds to mannose on the surface of the pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida. The presence of MBL in high concentration in lamprey plasma could be important in their innate immunity and resistance to infection. This study describes the presence of MBL in sea lamprey plasma and evidence for a C-type lectin complement pathway of innate immunity.
Inter-Rater Reliability of 3D Polygonal Reconstructions From CT Scans

Computed tomography (CT) scans have long been used as a diagnostic tool in many areas of medicine. With advances in computer image analysis methods, it is now possible to generate 3-D polygonal reconstructions from CT scans, which provide an accurate representation of the muscles and skeleton of the patient. The Mimics program (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium) is one of several available software packages that through user dependent interactive techniques can create these 3-D reconstructions of body parts from CT scans.© 2009 ASME
Topology of the invariant manifolds of period-doubling attractors for some forced nonlinear oscillators

Abstract A numerical investigation of the spatial structure of some continuous dynamical systems undergoing period doubling reveals the twisted nature of the invariant manifolds of the attractors. The number of these twists for the n th periodic attractor before bifurcation is [(3m + 2)2 n−1 + (−1) n−1 ] 3 with m twists for the first attractor at birth.
Computer-generated rotation analyses reveal a key three-dimensional feature of the nucleus of the solitary tract

The dendritic processes of neurons within the nucleus of the solitary tract are oriented in the horizontal plane and often extend unusually long distances along the long axis of the brainstem. This preferred orientation is not predictable from a knowledge of the cytoarchitectonic organization of their somata within the various subnuclei of the nucleus of the solitary tract. Incoming peripheral afferent fibers, their collaterals and end-terminal ramifications are also oriented in the horizontal plane and are in alignment with the dendrites of second order neurons. These features enable single neurons to be influenced by a variety of widely distributed inputs that are related to vital autonomic functions and ingestional behavior.
Segmentation of color images for image data analysis

The work described here discusses the analysis of images in port settings. As cargo containers are of specific colors, the hue information is being exploited to segment, identify and compress such video streams. A novel scheme using multiple processes has been developed. The first process is obtaining the vector angle between the RGB components which is used to segment images based on the color. The second process is the Hough transformation that is carried out on the vector angle result as well as a Laplacian of the saturation image. Using the Hough transform result on both the vector angle result and the Laplacian, various broken segments are connected effectively without adding redundancy. This information can then be used to detect corners and perform compression.
Isotopic evidence for the origin of sulfur in the Herrin (no. 6) coal member of Illinois

Abstract The sulfur isotopic composition of the Herrin (No. 6) Coal from several localities in the Illinois Basin was measured. The sediments immediately overlying these coal beds range from marine shales and limestones to non-marine shales. Organic sulfur, disseminated pyrite, and massive pyrite were extracted from hand samples taken in vertical sections. The δ 34 S values from low-sulfur coals ( 0 for organic sulfur, +1.8 to +16.8% 0 for massive pyrite, and +3.9 to +23.8% 0 for disseminated pyrite. In contrast, the δ 34 S values from high-sulfur coals (> 0.8% organic sulfur) underlying marine sediments were more variable: organic sulfur, −7.7 to +0.5% 0 , pyrites, −17.8 to +28.5% 0 . In both types of coal, organic sulfur is typically enriched in 34 S relative to pyritic sulfur. In general, δ 34 S values increased from the top to the base of the bed. Vertical and lateral variations in δ 34 S are small for organic sulfur but are large for pyritic sulfur. The sulfur content is relatively constant throughout the bed, with organic sulfur content greater than disseminated pyrite content. The results indicate that most of the organic sulfur in high-sulfur coals is derived from post-depositional reactions with a 34 S-depleted source. This source is probably related to bacterial reduction of dissolved sulfate in Carboniferous seawater during a marine transgression after peat deposition. The data suggest that sulfate reduction occurred in an open system initially, and then continued in a closed system as sea water penetrated the bed. Organic sulfur in the low-sulfur coals appears to reflect the original plant sulfur, although diagenetic changes in content and isotopic composition of this fraction cannot be ruled out. The wide variability of the δ 34 S in pyrite fractions suggests a complex origin involving varying extents of microbial H 2 S production from sulfate reservoirs of different isotopic compositions. The precipitation of pyrite may have begun soon after deposition and continued throughout the coalification process.
T cell ALL presenting as seropositive rheumatoid arthritis: case report and review of the literature on seropositive paraneoplastic arthritis

We present the case of a 61-year-old female with an acute onset of polyarthritis involving the wrists, hands, knees, and ankles. Associated systemic symptoms included fever, weight loss, and lymphadenopathy. Serologic workup revealed positive rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated protein (anti-CCP) antibodies. Radiograph imaging of her bilateral hands and wrists showed erosive joint disease and lymph node, and bone marrow biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of T cell lymphoblastic leukemia. Our case demonstrates a unique clinical phenotype of paraneoplastic arthritis and is only the second reported case of RF, anti-CCP-positive arthritis related to a hematological malignancy. We review the only three published cases of seropositive paraneoplastic arthritis. In each case, systemic symptoms or a poor response to steroid treatment triggered additional workup. These cases highlight the importance of careful clinical assessment and vigilance to rule out secondary causes of inflammatory arthritis, even in patients with seropositive erosive arthritis.
Application Of Vanishing Points To 3-D Measurement

Perspective transformation is one of many cues to 3d spatial information about objects in a 2d image. We can de-termine some 3d information such as the directions of lines or orientation of surfaces based on vanishing points(VP's) or vanishing lines(VL's) in the image. This note describes an analysis of errors in 3d measurements caused by errors in VP or VL detection. We will calculate the range of error in surface orientation when VP or VL location is determined within a certain error. First we will make clear the role that the location of the VP or VL plays in the 3d measurements. We will consider the computation of length of line segments and surface orientation. Then, we will calculate the range of the error of these 3d measurements as a function of VP or VL errors. Finally we will show how to use constraints based on real world knowledge of the relationships between surface orientations to increase the precision of the error analysis.
Ontogenetic relationships between cranium and mandible in coyotes and hyenas

Developing animals must resolve the con- flicting demands of survival and growth, ensuring that they can function as infants or juveniles while develop- ing toward their adult form. In the case of the mamma- lian skull, the cranium and mandible must maintain functional integrity to meet the feeding needs of a juve- nile even as the relationship between parts must change to meet the demands imposed on adults. We examine growth and development of the cranium and mandible, using a unique ontogenetic series of known-age coyotes (Canis latrans), analyzing ontogenetic changes in the shapes of each part, and the relationship between them, relative to key life-history events. Both cranial and man- dibular development conform to general mammalian pat- terns, but each also exhibits temporally and spatially localized maturational transformations, yielding a com- plex relationship between growth and development of each part as well as complex patterns of synchronous growth and asynchronous development between parts. One major difference between cranium and mandible is that the cranium changes dramatically in both size and shape over ontogeny, whereas the mandible undergoes only modest shape change. Cranium and mandible are synchronous in growth, reaching adult size at the same life-history stage; growth and development are synchro- nous for the cranium but not for the mandible. This syn- chrony of growth between cranium and mandible, and asynchrony of mandibular development, is also charac- teristic of a highly specialized carnivore, the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), but coyotes have a much less protracted development, being handicapped relative to adults for a much shorter time. Morphological develop- ment does not predict life-history events in these two carnivores, which is contrary to what has been reported for two rodent species. The changes seen in skull shape in successive life-history stages suggest that adult func- tional demands cannot be satisfied by the morphology characterizing earlier life-history stages. J. Morphol. 272:662-674, 2011. 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Carbon monoxide in biology and medicine

Carbon monoxide (CO), a product of organic oxidation processes, arises in vivo during cellular metabolism, most notably heme degradation. CO binds to the heme iron of most hemoproteins. Tissue hypoxia following hemoglobin saturation represents a principle cause of CO-induced mortality in higher organisms, though cellular targets cannot be excluded. Despite extreme toxicity at high concentrations, low concentrations of CO can confer cytoprotection during ischemia/reperfusion or inflammation-induced tissue injury. Likewise, heme oxygenase, an enzyme that produces CO, biliverdin and iron, as well as a secondary increase in ferritin synthesis, from the oxidation of heme, can confer protection in vivo and in vitro. CO has been shown to affect several intracellular signaling pathways, including guanylate cyclase, which generates guanosine 3':5' cyclic monophosphate and the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). Such pathways mediate, in part, the known vasoregulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of this gas. Exogenous CO delivered at low concentrations is showing therapeutic potential as an anti-inflammatory agent and as such can modulate numerous pathophysiological states. This review will delve into the biological significance and medical applications of this gas molecule.