cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The dangling diaphragm sign: sensitivity and comparison with existing CT signs of blunt traumatic diaphragmatic rupture

The objectives of our study were to describe a new CT sign of diaphragmatic injury, the "dangling diaphragm" sign, and assess its comparative utility relative to other signs in the diagnosis of diaphragmatic injury resulting from blunt trauma. CT scans of 16 blunt trauma patients (12 men and four women, mean age 36.6 years old) with surgically proven diaphragmatic injury and 32 blunt trauma patients (24 men and eight women; mean age 37.4 years old) without evidence of diaphragmatic injury at surgery were blindly reviewed by three board certified radiologists specializing in body imaging. Studies were evaluated for the presence of established signs of diaphragmatic injury, as well as the dangling diaphragm sign, in which the free edge of the torn hemidiaphragm curls inward from its normal course parallel to the body wall. The sensitivity and specificity of each sign were determined, as were the correlation between the signs and the interobserver agreement in evaluation of these findings. The radiologists' overall impression as to whether rupture was present was also recorded. In select cases, coronal and/or sagittal reformatted images were available, and they were reviewed following evaluation of the original axial images. Any change in interpretation due to these images was noted. The sensitivity of the radiologists' overall impression for detection of diaphragmatic injury was 77%, with 98% specificity. Individual signs of diaphragmatic injury had sensitivities ranging from 44% to 69%, with specificities of 98% to 100%. The dangling diaphragm sign had a sensitivity of 54% and a specificity of 98%, similar to the other signs. Multiple signs were present in most cases of diaphragmatic injury, and coronal and sagittal reformatted images had little impact. Diaphragmatic injury remains a challenging radiographic diagnosis. The dangling diaphragm is a conspicuous sign of diaphragmatic injury, and awareness of it may increase detection of diaphragmatic injury on CT studies.
Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of 2-aminothiazoles with antiprion activity in mice.

Purpose To discover drugs lowering PrPSc in prion-infected cultured neuronal cells that achieve high concentrations in brain to test in mouse models of prion disease and then treat people with these fatal diseases.
Pressure derivatives of the elastic properties of polycrystalline quartz and rutile.

Elastic properties of hot pressed polycrystalline quartz and rutile as function of pressure, obtaining pressure coefficients of compressional and shear wave velocities
Qualitative Point-of-Care Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Testing: Can We Defuse This Ticking Time Bomb?

Qualitative point-of-care (POC)2 human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) testing is routinely performed on urine samples obtained in the Emergency Department (ED) or before surgery to rule out pregnancy and prevent fetal injury or death. Because potentially harmful treatments are allowed to proceed on the basis of a negative hCG test result, false-negative results can have disastrous consequences. We recently evaluated the performance of 11 common qualitative POC hCG devices and determined that 9 of the 11 devices were susceptible to false-negative results caused by hCG β core fragment (hCGβcf) (1). Although that study highlighted important limitations of these devices in a research laboratory setting, it was unclear whether users experience false negatives in clinical practice. We performed a search of the FDA's Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database using the search term “MAUDE pregnancy false negative” (2). Our findings are shown in Figure 1. Seven hundred seven reports described false-negative POC hCG results in women shown to be pregnant at the time of testing. Ninety-one different POC hCG devices were described from 14 manufacturers, including 10 of the 11 devices evaluated in our initial screening study. Fig. 1. Results from a search of the FDA's MAUDE database with the search term “MAUDE pregnancy false negative”. 1 Search performed September 2, 2014. 2 Determined to be false-negative POC hCG results in women found to be pregnant at the time of testing or who were later shown to be pregnant by ultrasound or quantitative serum hCG measurement. 3 Not applicable due to false-positive result with a qualitative hCG device; false-negative result with other type of (non-hCG) device; false-positive or -negative result with a quantitative serum hCG device. 4 Several MAUDE reports documented false-negative results in multiple patients, resulting in a larger number of patients affected than number of reports. 5 Probable limit of detection was defined as last menstrual period 4–6 weeks before false-negative test; gestational age 4–6 …
Leptin enhances the effect of transforming growth factor β in increasing type I collagen formation

Hepatic fibrosis produced by carbon tetrachloride and by Schistosoma masoni is markedly decreased in leptin deficient ob/ob mice as compared to control mice. Leptin is present in activated rat stellate cells, which are the principal collagen producing cells in the liver. The purpose of this study was to identify the leptin receptor and to determine the effects of leptin on type I collagen expression in the human stellate cell line, LX-1. Leptin protein was detected in the LX-1 cells. The leptin receptor (OB-R) was demonstrated by immunofluorescent staining and confocal microscopy. However, only the short forms (Ob-R(s)), but not the long forms (Ob-R(l)), of leptin receptor mRNA expression were detected. Leptin increased alpha(1)(I) collagen mRNA and type I collagen production. Leptin did not increase TGFbeta1 mRNA or protein in the cultured LX-1 cells. Leptin, however, increased TGFbeta type II receptor mRNA and protein and augmented the effect of TGFbeta1 on collagen production. In conclusion, this study shows that the effect of leptin in increasing type I collagen production in stellate cells is mediated by actions of leptin in increasing the effectiveness of TGFbeta on fibrogenesis by means of an enhancement of the TGFbeta type II receptor.
Noise reduction in EPR discharge-flow studies.

In discharge‐flow systems employing electron paramagnetic resonance detection, intense spectrometer noise is present under certain conditions. This noise is due to free electrons produced in the discharge and can be eliminated by the addition of an electron scavenger to the flow. Using SF6 to suppress the noise, EPR spectroscopy can be used to identify and study transient species within a millisecond after their formation in an electrical discharge.
Activation of the MAP kinase cascade by exogenous calcium-sensing receptor

In Rat-1 fibroblasts and ovarian surface epithelial cells, extracellular calcium induces a proliferative response which appears to be mediated by the G-protein coupled calcium-sensing receptor (CaR), as expression of the nonfunctional CaR-R795W mutant inhibits both thymidine incorporation and activation of the extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) in response to calcium. In this report we utilized CaR-transfected HEK293 cells to demonstrate that functional CaR is necessary and sufficient for calcium-induced ERK activation. CaR-dependent ERK activation was blocked by co-expression of the Ras dominant-negative mutant, Ras N17, and by exposure to the phosphatidyl inositol 3' kinase inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002. In contrast to Rat-1 fibroblasts, CaR-mediated in vitro kinase activity of ERK2 was unaffected by tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin in CaR-transfected HEK293 cells. These results suggest that usage of distinct pathways downstream of the CaR varies in a cell-type specific manner, suggesting a potential mechanism by which activation of the CaR could couple to distinct calcium-dependent responses.
Spectra of ions in the fluorine I isoelectronic sequence from Sc XIII to Cu XXI.

Spectra study and line classification of ions in fluorine I isoelectronic sequence from Sc XIII to C XXI
Prevention of cardiac allograft vasculopathy with Certican (everolimus): the Stanford University experience within the Certican Phase III clinical trial.

A large Phase III clinical trial with the novel proliferation signal inhibitor, Certican ® (everolimus), has shown this agent to be associated with lower rates of acute rejection, cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection when compared with azathioprine (AZA) at 12 months post-transplant. Given that CAV is the main risk factor for mortality after the first year post-transplant, and that acute rejection and CMV infection play a key role in the development of this disease, the findings suggest that everolimus has an important role as part of the primary immunosuppression of this population. Consideration of the presentation and outcome of patients from Stanford University who were enrolled in the pivotal trial with everolimus in heart transplantation has highlighted the efficacy of everolimus in this setting. Analysis of the angiographic outcome data of these patients demonstrates that the efficacy of everolimus observed in the large, multicenter trial involving heart transplant patients was replicated in the findings of a single center. This finding is important for the interpretation of clinical trial data, offering reassurance that data from large trials are applicable to an individual center. The results from Stanford also reveal an important difference between everolimus and AZA with regard to intimal thickening and the incidence of abnormal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), suggesting that everolimus may improve left ventricular function. Because abnormal LVEF has been associated with greater risk of vascular rejection and allograft vascular disease, use of everolimus could well improve long-term outcomes in heart transplant recipients.
Effects of surface treatment on the velocity–field characteristics of AlGaN/GaN heterostructures

AlGaN/GaN test structures were fabricated with an etched constriction. A nitrogen plasma treatment was used to remove the disordered layer, including natural oxides on the AlGaN surface, before the growth of the silicon nitride passivation film on several of the test structures. A pulsed voltage input, with a 200 ns pulse width, and a four-point measurement were used in a 50 Ω environment to determine the room temperature velocity–field characteristic of the structures. The samples performed similarly over low fields, giving a low-field mobility of 545 cm2 V−1 s−1. The surface treated sample performed slightly better at higher fields than the untreated sample. The highest velocity measured was 1.25 × 107 cm s−1 at a field of 26 kV cm−1.
Anatomic variation of depth‐dependent mechanical properties in neonatal bovine articular cartilage

Articular cartilage has well known depth-dependent structure and has recently been shown to have similarly non-uniform depth-dependent mechanical properties. Here, we study anatomic variation of the depth-dependent shear modulus and energy dissipation rate in neonatal bovine knees. The regions we specifically focus on are the patellofemoral groove, trochlea, femoral condyle, and tibial plateau. In every sample, we find a highly compliant region within the first 500 µm of tissue measured from the articular surface, where the local shear modulus is reduced by up to two orders of magnitude. Comparing measurements taken from different anatomic sites, we find statistically significant differences localized within the first 50 µm. Histological images reveal these anatomic variations are associated with differences in collagen density and fiber organization. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31: 686–691, 2013
Numerical Methods for Nonlinear Optimal Control Problems: Application to Abnormal Problems

Abstract New, efficient, accurate numerical methods are given for general classes of optimal control problems. It is seen that these results satisfy an a priori maximum pointwise component error of O ( h 2 ) with a Richardson error of O ( h 4 ). The foundation for these results is the corresponding results for the m -dependent-variable problem in the calculus of variations and the use of multipliers to convert the optimal control problems to the calculus of variations setting.
Radioimmunoassay measurement of arginine vasopressin in serum: development and application.

ABSTRACT The present report describes the development of a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay system (RIA) for measurement of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in serum or plasma. The RIA has a sensitivity of 0.3–0.5 μU/ml and employs an extraction procedure utilizing the diatomaceous earth Bentonite. This procedure also permits AVP measurements in maternal and fetal blood in the presence of elevated levels of vasopressinase. Serum AVP concentrations were measured in normal adult subjects in various states of hydration and in selected patients with abnormalities of AVP metabolism. The RIA results are in good agreement with previously reported bioassay results.
Learning to care: A positive approach to child training and discipline

This paper is addressed to the relevance of an empathy training program for school children as an alternative to the use of corporal punishment for the management of aggressive behavior in the classroom. After reviewing the theoretical relationship of empathy and aggression, the training procedures and findings from field studies concerned with Empathy Training are presented. The educational and developmental implications of using skill‐oriented training programs in the classroom are discussed.
Protein-metal interactions of calmodulin and α-synuclein monitored by selective noncovalent adduct protein probing mass spectrometry

The metal binding properties of proteins are biologically significant, particularly in relationship to the molecular origins of disease and the discovery of therapeutic pharmaceutical treatments. Herein, we demonstrate that selective noncovalent adduct protein probing mass spectrometry (SNAPP-MS) is a sensitive technique to investigate the structural effects of protein-metal interactions. We utilize specific, noncovalent interactions between 18-crown-6 ether (18C6) and lysine to probe protein structure in the presence and absence of metal ions. Application of SNAPP-MS to the calmodulin-Ca2+ system demonstrates that changes in protein structure are reflected in a substantial change in the number and intensity of 18C6s, which bind to the protein as observed by MS. In this manner, SNAPP is demonstrated to be a sensitive technique for monitoring ligand-induced conformational rearrangements in proteins. In addition, SNAPP is well-suited to examine the properties of natively unfolded proteins, where structural changes are more difficult to detect by other methods. For example, α-synuclein is a protein associated in the pathology of Parkinson’s disease, which is known to aggregate more rapidly in the presence of Al3+ and Cu2+. The 18C6 SNAPP distributions for α-synuclein change dramatically in the presence of 3 µM Al3+, revealing that Al3+ binding causes a significant change in the conformational dynamics of the monomeric form of this disordered protein. In contrast, binding of Cu2+ does not induce a significant shift in 18C6 binding, suggesting that noteworthy structural reorganizations at the monomeric level are minimal. These results are consistent with the idea that the metal-induced aggregation caused by Al3+ and Cu2+ proceed by independent pathways.
The Link between High-Impact Practices and Student Learning: Some Longitudinal Evidence.

The current paper used data from the Wabash National Study of Liberal Arts Education—a longitudinal, pretest/posttest design—to estimate the effects of participation in the ten “high-impact” educational practices put forth and endorsed by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) on a variety of liberal arts educational outcomes. The high-impact practices included in the study were: first-year seminars, academic learning communities, writing-intensive courses, active and collaborative learning, undergraduate research, study abroad, service learning, internships, and capstone courses/experiences. Findings from ordinary least squares regression analyses suggested that active and collaborative learning as well as undergraduate research had broad-reaching positive effects across multiple liberal arts learning outcomes, such as critical thinking, need for cognition, and intercultural effectiveness. Several other high-impact practices—including study abroad, internship, service learning, and capstone course/experience—had more narrowly focused positive effects on student learning. Overall, this study’s findings support AAC&U’s advocacy of high-impact practices as pathways to student success.
Catching up with Professor Scarry [AP-S Turnstile]

Readers of this column may remember Elaine Scarry, a Harvard English(!)professor, whose theory of how electromagnetic interference (EMI) might have caused the explosion and crash of TWA Flight 800 011 July 17, 1996, off Long Island, New York, was discussed in this space in August, 1998 [l]. After Professor Scarry published a long article, "The Fall of TWA 800: The Possibility of Electromagnetic Interference," in the April 9, 1998, issue of The New York Review of Books, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) "allocated several hundred thousand dollars for fresh research into EMI," and "Scarry's work was cited on the first page of a NASA study of EM1 commissioned by TWA 800 investigators."
Requirement of a stable secondary structure for the antiviral activity of polynucleotides.

Several polyribonucleotides, both as single species and when annealed in pairs, are able to induce interferon production in mammalian cells and cellular resistance to virus infection. These studies suggest that a stable secondary, presumably multistranded structure is required for this activity.
Organizational/Environmental Interchange: A Model of Boundary Spanning Activity

A theoretical framework is developed for analyzing determinants and functions of activity at the boundaries of organizations. The process of boundary spanning, based on internal and external organizational factors, is conceptualized. A model of the organizational/environmental information interchange process suggests relationships between organizational, environmental, and individual aspects of boundary activity.
Propagation of Higher-Order Coherence Functions in Random Media*

In this paper, a general result is given for the coherence of any order of a wave propagating through a random medium, provided that the phase and the logarithm of the amplitude are gaussian random variables. Because theoretical and experimental work concerned with optical waves propagating through the atmosphere are in good agreement with the prediction of a gaussian random variable for these quantities, such an assumption appears reasonable. For this case, all higher-order coherence functions can be expressed in terms of the autocovariance and cross-covariance functions of log amplitude and phase. The general expression for the higher-order coherence function is shown to agree with the results of other workers for the mutual coherence function and the fourth-order coherence function for a plane monochromatic wave in a homogeneous random medium. However, the general expressions given may be applied for any case in which the covariance functions of log amplitude and phase are known, e.g., spherical-wave or beam-wave propagation, or propagation through a random medium with smoothly varying characteristics as a function of space.
Simplification of MUSIC and ESPRIT by exploitation of cyclostationarity

It is shown that for the problem of multiple-source location using antenna arrays, the algorithms MUSIC and ESPRIT can be simplified by use of the property called cyclostationarity, which is exhibited by modulated signals. The advantages of the modified algorithms are reduction in the required number of array elements and associated reduction in the SVD (singular-value-decomposition) computations. The disadvantages are the requirement of either knowing or measuring frequency parameters, such as carrier frequency or baud rate, and the requirement of longer integration time for correlation measurement, as well as the requirement of measuring a different correlation matrix for each signal of interest. >
Developmental aspects of activating voluntary and involuntary memory processes during reading

Abstract The synthesis of Western and Soviet views of memory-related performance is given. Based on this synthesis, it was hypothesized that middle childhood-aged students would comprehend better with involuntary (meaning-based) strategies due to the importance of a semantic focus while adolescent-aged students would comprehend well with voluntary (memory-oriented) strategies based on their ability to use deliberate memory strategies. Two experiments investigated these hypotheses by comparing the effects of inducing involuntary and voluntary processing strategies during reading of narrative texts. Fifth, seventh, and ninth grade students served as subjects. Experiment 1 assessed the effects of the two strategies on factual comprehension, free recall, structural events of the story recalled, and the amount of elaboration and reconstruction in recall protocols. Experiment 2, using a different story, examined the relationship between voluntary and involuntary strategies on free recall and story event structure. In addition, this second experiment included a self-report questionnaire about the types of strategies used while reading. Both experiments demonstrated that older children in the voluntary memory treatment group were significantly better than younger children in the voluntary group on factual comprehension, delayed free recall, and number of story events represented in recall. The experiments also revealed that instructions inducing involuntary remembering of text produced significantly better performance than voluntary remembering for younger students on structural events in recall, free recall and factual comprehension (Experiment 2 only), and elaboration (Experiment 1 only). The results are discussed in relationship to memory development, reading comprehension, and Soviet developmental theory.
Possible identification of quantitative trait loci affecting iron efficiency in soybean

Abstract Iron (Fe)‐deficiency in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] may cause yield reductions when certain genotypes are planted on 4 calcareous soil. This research was conducted to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for Fe‐efficiency in a set of lines (set 1), and to test these associations in another set of lines of the same population (tester set). The population was formed by crossing a Glycine max experimental line (Fe‐inefficient) and a C. soja plant introduction (Fe‐efficient). Set 1 was used to construct a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) linkage map using 272 markers for the analysis. The tester set was developed to check the results obtained from set 1. Iron‐efficiency was measured using 13 F2‐derived lines of both sets in field plantings on calcareous soils. Set 1 and and the tester set were evaluated over two and one years, respectively. The lines were grown each year at two locations per year, with three replications per location in Iowa. Three markers were significantly (P<0.01)...
Exposure to paternal alcoholism does not predict development of alcohol-use disorders in offspring: evidence from an offspring-of-twins study.

Objective: Using an offspring-of-twins design, we tested the hypothesis that exposure to paternal alcoholism during the child's first 12 years will increase offspring risk for subsequent alcohol-use disorders (AUD). Method: Structured psychiatric interviews assessed history of psychiatric and substance-use disorders in Vietnam Era Twin Registry fathers (n = 512), their offspring (n = 877), and mothers of the offspring (n = 507). Exposure was defined as the fathers' endorsement of any Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), Fourth Edition, AUD symptom, according to the Lifetime Drinking History assessment (administered in 1999), at any time between off- spring ages 0-12 years; all fathers had satisfied DSM, Third Edition, Revised (DSM-III-R), criteria for alcohol dependence in a 1992 diagnostic interview. Cox proportional hazards models were fit to predict time to first symptom of abuse/dependence in offspring. Results: Off- spring exposed to paternal alcoholism were significantly more...
TNF receptor type 1 regulates RANK ligand expression by stromal cells and modulates osteoclastogenesis.

TNFα is a major osteoclastogenic cytokine and a primary mediator of inflammatory osteoclastogenesis. We have previously shown that this cytokine directly targets osteoclasts and their precursors and that deletion of its type-1 receptor (TNFr1) lessens osteoclastogenesis and impacts RANK signaling molecules. Osteoclastogenesis is primarily a RANK/RANKL-dependent event and occurs in an environment governed by both hematopoietic and mesenchymal compartments. Thus, we reasoned that TNF/TNFr1 may regulate RANKL and possibly RANK expression by stromal cells and osteoclast precursors (OCPs), respectively. RT-PCR experiments reveal that levels of RANKL mRNA in WT stromal cells are increased following treatment with 1,25-VD3 compared to low levels in TNFr1-null cells. Expression levels of OPG, the RANKL decoy protein, were largely unchanged, thus supporting a RANKL/OPG positive ratio favoring WT cells. RANK protein expression by OCPs was lower in TNFr1-null cells despite only subtle differences in mRNA expression in both cell types. Mix and match experiments of different cell populations from the two mice phenotypes show that WT stromal cells significantly, but not entirely, restore osteoclastogenesis by TNFr1-null OCPs. Similar results were obtained when the latter cells were cultured in the presence of exogenous RANKL. Altogether, these findings indicate that in the absence of TNFr1 both cell compartments are impaired. This was further confirmed by gain of function experiments using TNFr1- null cultures of both cell types at which exogenous TNFr1 cDNA was virally expressed. Thus, restoration of TNFr1 expression in OCPs and stromal cells was sufficient to reinstate osteoclastogenesis and provides direct evidence that TNFr1 integrity is required for optimal RANK-mediated osteoclastogenesis. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Modeling sporulation decisions in Bacillus subtilis as optimal evolutionary decision-making

The decision by the bacterium Bacillus subtilis to produce spores has been an area of intense study in the molecular cell biology field. Though mechanisms describing how the decision is made are becoming better understood, the reasons why the decision is made are still nebulous. Spore formation is known to be a survival mechanism, but the circumstances under which it is preferred over other mechanisms have not been carefully examined. In an attempt to address this issue quantitatively, we introduce simple models and a control framework to compare two bacterial survival strategies: sporulation and a simple reduction in metabolic activity. Our findings provide evidence that the decision to sporulate may be the outcome of an underlying optimal control problem to contend with expected future environmental challenges.
Auditory Sensitivity and the Prelinguistic Vocalizations of Early-Amplified Infants

Purpose Vocalization development has not been studied thoroughly in infants with early-identified hearing loss who receive hearing aids in the 1st year of life. This study sought to evaluate the relationship between auditory sensitivity and prelinguistic vocalization patterns in infants during the babbling stage. Method Spontaneous vocalizations of 15 early-identified infants with varying degrees of hearing sensitivity, from normal to profound hearing loss, were audiotaped and perceptually transcribed. Associations between the infant’s unaided pure-tone average and the following vocalizations were explored: canonical babbling ratio, percentage of utterances containing canonical syllables, canonical syllable shapes, number of syllable sequences, and consonant-onset patterns in canonical syllables. Results Hearing sensitivity was significantly associated with the percentage of utterances containing canonical syllables, the vocalization types used in utterances, and canonical syllable shapes used by the infa...
Granzyme M Is a Regulatory Protease That Inactivates Proteinase Inhibitor 9, an Endogenous Inhibitor of Granzyme B

Abstract Granzyme M is a trypsin-fold serine protease that is specifically found in the granules of natural killer cells. This enzyme has been implicated recently in the induction of target cell death by cytotoxic lymphocytes, but unlike granzymes A and B, the molecular mechanism of action of granzyme M is unknown. We have characterized the extended substrate specificity of human granzyme M by using purified recombinant enzyme, several positional scanning libraries of coumarin substrates, and a panel of individual p-nitroanilide and coumarin substrates. In contrast to previous studies conducted using thiobenzyl ester substrates (Smyth, M. J., O'Connor, M. D., Trapani, J. A., Kershaw, M. H., and Brinkworth, R. I. (1996) J. Immunol. 156, 4174–4181), a strong preference for leucine at P1 over methionine was demonstrated. The extended substrate specificity was determined to be lysine = norleucine at P4, broad at P3, proline > alanine at P2, and leucine > norleucine > methionine at P1. The enzyme activity was found to be highly dependent on the length and sequence of substrates, indicative of a regulatory function for human granzyme M. Finally, the interaction between granzyme M and the serpins α1-antichymotrypsin, α1 -proteinase inhibitor, and proteinase inhibitor 9 was characterized by using a candidate-based approach to identify potential endogenous inhibitors. Proteinase inhibitor 9 was effectively hydrolyzed and inactivated by human granzyme M, raising the possibility that this orphan granzyme bypasses proteinase inhibitor 9 inhibition of granzyme B.
The Impact of Anonymity on Perceptions of Source Credibility and Influence in Computer-Mediated Group Communication: A Test of Two Competing Hypotheses:

As scholars and practitioners have endeavored to develop computer-based tools that foster effective communication and collaboration in groups, anonymity has played a key role. Anonymity purportedly minimizes status differences, liberates team members from a fear of retribution, and makes members feel more comfortable contributing to discussions. Yet these benefits may be outweighed by the impact of anonymity on receiver perceptions and behavior. Two competing hypotheses, drawn from adaptive structuration theory, were tested in this study to determine the impact of anonymity on receiver perceptions of sources and messages in computer-mediated group communication. The results of the multilevel models offer evidence in support of the discounting hypothesis and suggest that anonymity provided by electronic meeting systems may undermine source credibility and influence.
An Exact Operator Solution of the Quantum Liouville Field Theory

Exact, closed form results are given expressing the quantum Liouville field theory in terms of a canonical free pseudoscalar field. The classical conformal transformation properties and Baechlund transformation of the Liouville model are briefly reviewed and then developed into explicit operator statements for the quantum theory. This development leads to exact expressions for the basic operator functions of the Liouville field: partial/sub ..mu../Phi, and e/sup n/phi. An operator product analysis is then used to construct the Liouville energy-momentum tensor operator, which is shown to be equal to that of a free pseudoscalar field. Dynamical consequences of this equilvalence are discussed, including the relation between the Liouville and free field energy eigenstates. Liouville correlation functions are partially analyzed, and remaining open questions are discussed.
Temporizing endovascular repair of a ruptured mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysm

Ruptured mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysms (MAAAs) present a significant treatment challenge requiring emergency attention to control hemorrhage and hemodynamic compromise, surgical evacuation of the nidus of infection, and restoration of flow to compromised organs. We present a rare case of a MAAA with a contained rupture into the inferior vena cava in the setting of phlegmasia alba dolens of the bilateral lower extremities, sepsis, and significant hemodynamic compromise. A staged, hybrid approach with temporizing endovascular aneurysm repair, followed by extra-anatomic bypass and surgical resection of the MAAA, was performed.
The “Western Land Business:” The Story of Easley & Willingham, Speculators

Were frontier land investments during the nineteenth century as unprofitable as most scholars have surmised? The history of one of the most significant land-investment firms serves as a useful case study in suggesting an answer.
The effect of cooking on the survivorship of jackrabbit skeletons (Lepus californicus) presented to desert scavengers of the eastern Great Basin, North America

In order to study the effects of human processing decisions on consumption and destruction of small animal skeletons by scavengers, twenty-six blacktailed jackrabbits were dry roasted or boiled and their skeletons presented to scavengers at various locations throughout the Sevier Desert of Utah. Skeletons of all samples were quickly and substantially destroyed, with roasted animals surviving at one-half to one-third the rate of their boiled counterparts. Survivorship of elements was unrelated to skeletal density in either case, but rather to the amount of adhering tissue, marrow, and fat. Axial elements tended to be preferentially destroyed, particularly in the case of roasting. These effects echo ethnographic and ethnoarchaeological observations on the relationship between cooking, length of site occupation, and small animal survivorship and carry clear implications for how we use the relative frequencies of large and small animals to interpret prehistoric subsistence. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MicroRNA‐mediated somatic cell reprogramming

Since the first report of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), much focus has been placed on iPSCs due to their great therapeutic potential for diseases such as abnormal development, degenerative disorders, and even cancers. Subsequently, Takahashi and Yamanaka took a novel approach by using four defined transcription factors to generate iPSCs in mice and human fibroblast cells. Scientists have since been trying to refine or develop better approaches to reprogramming, either by using different combinations of transcription factors or delivery methods. However, recent reports showed that the microRNA expression pattern plays a crucial role in somatic cell reprogramming and ectopic introduction of embryonic stem cell-specific microRNAs revert cells back to an ESC-like state, although, the exact mechanism underlying this effect remains unclear. This review describes recent work that has focused on microRNA-mediated approaches to somatic cell reprogramming as well as some of the pros and cons to these approaches and a possible mechanism of action. Based on the pivotal role of microRNAs in embryogenesis and somatic cell reprogramming, studies in this area must continue in order to gain a better understanding of the role of microRNAs in stem cells regulation and activity.
Variation in Recruitment and Early Demography in Pinus Rigida Following Crown Fire in the Pine Barrens of Long Island, New York

Summary 1 Following severe, stand-replacing fires in 1995, we quantified emergence, growth and survival in Pinus rigida seedlings in eight stands in three areas of the pine barrens of Long Island, New York, USA, and examined factors contributing to spatial and temporal variation in recruitment. 2 We followed 6431 marked seedlings in the first cohort following fire, as well as additional cohorts in subsequent years, for 7 years to assess the effects of fire intensity, soil characteristics, intraspecific density, interspecific competition and facilitation on variation in early demography at three different scales. We found substantial variation in many of the demographic parameters measured between plots within stands (10‐50 m apart), among stands within areas (600‐1500 m apart), and among forest areas (5‐30 km apart), as well as among years. 3 Almost all adult P. rigida in most of the stands studied were killed by the 1995 fires and population recovery therefore depended upon recruitment from seed. Initial recruitment appears to be largely determined by seed limitation, which was affected by fire intensity combined with serotiny and other factors. 4 Subsequent seedling survival and growth were determined largely by inherent differences among areas and sites in factors including cover of the shrub Quercus ilicifolia and soil texture and composition. 5 Initial seedling density, and subsequent survival and growth, varied among plots within sites, among sites within areas, and among areas. Early survival was negatively correlated with intraspecific seedling density, but was enhanced by neighbouring Q. ilicifolia , although these shrubs inhibited later seedling growth. Early demographic variation may determine many of the differences observed among mature populations in this landscape. 6 Variation in demographic parameters across space and time, and over a hierarchy of scales, may have critical consequences at the population, community and landscape levels. A comprehensive evaluation of the nature and extent of such demographic variation across different systems would have major implications for understanding vegetation patterns at the population, community and landscape levels.
Whole-genome resequencing of Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 undergoing short-term laboratory evolution in lactate minimal media reveals flexible selection of adaptive mutations

Background: Short-term laboratory evolution of bacteria followed by genomic sequencing provides insight into the mechanism of adaptive evolution, such as the number of mutations needed for adaptation, genotype-phenotype relationships, and the reproducibility of adaptive outcomes. Results: In the present study, we describe the genome sequencing of 11 endpoints of Escherichia coli that underwent 60-day laboratory adaptive evolution under growth rate selection pressure in lactate minimal media. Two to eight mutations were identified per endpoint. Generally, each endpoint acquired mutations to different genes. The most notable exception was an 82 base-pair deletion in the rph-pyrE operon that appeared in 7 of the 11 adapted strains. This mutation conferred an approximately 15% increase to the growth rate when experimentally introduced to the wild-type background and resulted in an approximately 30% increase to growth rate when introduced to a background already harboring two adaptive mutations. Additionally, most endpoints had a mutation in a regulatory gene (crp or relA, for example) or the RNA polymerase. Conclusions: The 82 base-pair deletion found in the rph-pyrE operon of many endpoints may function to relieve a pyrimidine biosynthesis defect present in MG1655. In contrast, a variety of regulators acquire mutations in the different endpoints, suggesting flexibility in overcoming regulatory challenges in the adaptation.
Radiation Risks in Lung Cancer Screening Programs

The National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST) demonstrated that screening with low-dose CT (LDCT) scan reduced lung cancer and overall mortality by 20% and 7%, respectively. The LDCT scanning involves an approximate 2-mSv dose, whereas full-chest CT scanning, the major diagnostic study used to follow up nodules, may involve a dose of 8 mSv. Radiation associated with CT scanning and other diagnostic studies to follow up nodules may present an independent risk of lung cancer. On the basis of the NLST, we estimated the incidence and prevalence of nodules detected in screening programs. We followed the Fleischner guidelines for follow-up of nodules to assess cumulative radiation exposure over 20- and 30-year periods. We then evaluated nuclear worker cohort studies and atomic bomb survivor studies to assess the risk of lung cancer from radiation associated with long-term lung cancer screening programs. The findings indicate that a 55-year-old lung screening participant may experience a cumulative radiation exposure of up to 280 mSv over a 20-year period and 420 mSv over 30 years. These exposures exceed those of nuclear workers and atomic bomb survivors. This assessment suggests that long-term (20-30 years) LDCT screening programs are associated with nontrivial cumulative radiation doses. Current lung cancer screening protocols, if conducted over 20- to 30-year periods, can independently increase the risk of lung cancer beyond cigarette smoking as a result of cumulative radiation exposure. Radiation exposures from LDCT screening and follow-up diagnostic procedures exceed lifetime radiation exposures among nuclear power workers and atomic bomb survivors.
Concept-based classification for multi-document summarization

Documents often contain inherently many concepts reflecting specific and generic aspects. To automatically generate a short summary text of documents on similar topics, it is imperative that we discover general aspects in documents because summaries usually contain general rather than specific concepts. This paper presents a semi-supervised extractive summarization model based upon latent concept classification that can differentiate between the two types of aspects as hidden concepts being mentioned in documents. A classifier is trained on hidden concepts discovered from documents and their corresponding human-generated summaries using a probabilistic Bayesian model: the summary-focused topic model. Experimental results based on ROUGE evaluations indicate that ranking sentences to be included in summary text based on the latent summary concept classification has improvements on the quality of the generated summaries.
Femtosecond laser machining of multi-depth microchannel networks onto silicon

Direct writing of multi-depth microchannel branching networks into a silicon wafer with femtosecond pulses at 200 kHz is reported. The silicon wafer with the microchannels is used as the mold for rapid prototyping of microchannels on polydimethylsiloxane. The branching network is designed to serve as a gas exchanger for use in artificial lungs and bifurcates according to Murray's law. In the development of such micro-fluidic structures, processing speed, machining range with quality surface, and precision are significant considerations. The scan speed is found to be a key parameter to reduce the processing time, to expand the machining range, and to improve the surface quality. By fabricating a multi-depth branching network as an example, the utilization of femtosecond pulses in the development of microfluidic devices is demonstrated.
The Initiating Heterosexual Contact Scale: A Factor Analysis

Recent studies of college women’s initiation of heterosexual contact have focused on the relationships among predictors of women's heterosexual initiating behaviors, initiating strategies, and theories concerning sexuality and indicate the importance of establishing the psychometric properties of the research measurements. The present study of 212 college women (mean age =22.3 years) investigated the factor structure underlying one of these tools, the Initiating Heterosexual Contact Scale (IHCS). The IHCS was developed to assess behaviors and motives relative to initiating heterosexual contact. subjects were administered a survey that included their self-report of initiating sexual contact with men. Factor analysis of the 26-item scale revealed a 19-item scale comprised of six factors—Sexual Arousal, Hidden Motives, Verbal Pressure, Retaliation or Gain, Physical Force, and Exploitation—accounting for 59.8% of the response variance. The internal reliability of the subscales ranged from .43 to .75. Recommendations for further refinement of the IHCS and areas of future research are suggested.
Childhood Adversity and Men’s Relationships in Adulthood: Life Course Processes and Racial Disadvantage

Objectives Prior U.S. population studies have found that childhood adversity influences the quality of relationships in adulthood, with emerging research suggesting that this association might be especially strong for black men. We theorize psychosocial and behavioral coping responses to early life adversity and how these responses may link early life adversity to strain in men's relationships with their indeterminate partners and children across the life course, with attention to possible racial variation in these experiences and implications for later life well-being. Method We analyze in-depth interviews with 15 black men and 15 white men. We use qualitative analysis techniques to connect childhood experiences to psychosocial processes in childhood and behavioral coping strategies associated with relationship experiences throughout adulthood. Results Black men describe much stronger and more persistent childhood adversity than do white men. Findings further suggest that childhood adversity contributes to psychosocial processes (e.g., diminished sense of mastery) that may lead to ways of coping with adversity (e.g., self-medication) that are likely to contribute to relationship difficulties throughout the life span. Discussion A life course perspective directs attention to the early life origins of cumulative patterns of social disadvantage, patterns that extend to later life. Our findings suggest psychosocial and behavioral pathways through which early life adversity may constrain and strain men's relationships, possibly contributing to racial inequality in family relationships across the life span.
Current Status of Meat Flavor

Meat flavor consists of the basic tastes, including the “umami” taste, and hundreds of odiferous volatiles. Of more than 1,000 flavor volatiles identified in meat, only a few have “meaty” aromas. The precursors of most meaty volatiles include cysteine and the reducing sugars which react via the browning reaction (BR). Two volatiles, 2-methyl-3-furanthioland bis(2methyl-3-furyl) disulfide, identified in beef, chicken, pork and tuna, are recognized as meat flavor impact compounds. The cooking methods also affect the types of meat volatiles formed with a large number of pyrazines being formed during grilling and frying. Also, the unsaturated fatty acids of cell phospholipids, after oxidation, react with BR products to form different volatiles, some of which may contribute to meat species flavor differences. However, precursors or volatile compounds present in raw meat from different species also contribute to these flavor differences
Task discrimination for non-weight-bearing movements using muscle synergies

Myoelectric control of lower limb prostheses requires discrimination of task-specific muscle patterns. In this paper we present a method based on the notion of muscle synergies to discriminate between various non-weight-bearing movements such as knee extension/flexion, femur rotation in/out, tibia rotation in/out and ankle dorsiflexion/plantarflexion. Data is recorded from eight targeted muscle sites on the thigh. Non-negative matrix factorization is used to identify the muscle synergies using multiple features and estimation of electromyographic (EMG) patterns is done using non-negative least squares (NNLS). Classification accuracy for the movements involving the knee joint was higher than the movements involving the ankle joint. The proposed algorithm performs at par with the common machine learning algorithm Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) in offline analysis.