cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does professional autonomy protect medical futility judgments

Despite substantial controversy, the use of futility judgments in medicine is quite common, and has been backed by the implementation of hospital policies and professional guidelines on medical futility. The controversy arises when health care professionals (HCPs) consider a treatment futile which patients or families believe to be worthwhile: should HCPs be free to refuse treatments in such a case, or be required to provide them? Most physicians seem convinced that professional autonomy protects them from being forced to provide treatments they judge mentally futile, given the lack of patient benefit as well as the waste of medical resources involved. The argument from professional autonomy has been presented in a number of articles, but it has not been subjected to much critical scrutiny. In this paper I distinguish three versions of the argument: 1) that each physician should be free to exercise his or her own medical judgment; 2) that the medical profession as a whole may provide futility standards to govern the practice of its members; and 3) that the moral integrity of each physician serves as a limit to treatment demands. I maintain that none of these versions succeeds in overcoming the standard objection that futility determinations involve value judgments best left to the patients, their designated surrogates, or their families. Nor do resource considerations change this fact, since they should not influence the properly patient-centered judgment about futility.
Changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors from age 9 to 19 and the influence of television viewing

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if time spent watching television is associated with changes in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors from age 9 to 19. Design and Methods: Participants were girls enrolled in the NHLBI Growth and Health Study (n = 1,702), and CVD risk factors were measured at ages 10, 12, 14, 16, and 19. Longitudinal quantile regression was used to determine if television viewing was associated with changes in CVD risk factors over time at the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles of the CVD risk factors. Results: In black girls, television viewing (h/wk) was positively associated with sum of skinfolds (mm) at the 75th (0.22, 99% CI, 0.06-0.38) and 90th percentiles (0.21, 99% CI, 0.05-0.36), but not at the 10th, 25th, or 50th percentiles. In white girls, television viewing (h/wk) was positively associated with sum of skinfolds (mm) with the strength of the associations progressively stronger toward the upper tail of the skinfold distribution, adjusting for physical activity and other covariates (10th percentile: 0.08, 99% CI, 0.03-0.13; 90th percentile: 0.42, 99% CI, 0.24-0.59). All associations were adjusted for physical activity, dietary factors, sleep, and maturation. No associations were observed between television viewing and changes in systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, or cholesterol levels in black or white girls. Conclusion: Girls who spent more time watching television had greater increases in sum of skinfolds from age 9 to 19, independent of physical activity levels and other covariates. The associations observed were stronger at the upper tail of the skinfold distribution.
P-95: Temperature Effects and Mechanical Properties of Ordered Reactive Mesogens for Passive Optical Film Applications

Photopolymerized reactive mesogens are commercially used in LCD compensation film applications and are currently under development for a number of other passive optical elements for LCDs. We have fabricated reactive mesogen films and present an opto-mechanical study of their properties under strain for various temperatures. The modulus as a function of temperature is studied for two liquid crystal alignments (parallel and perpendicular director alignments). This fundamental study provides valuable insight into the optical and mechanical performance of mesogen films for display applications.
Molecular-dynamics simulation of flow in a two-dimensional channel with atomically rough walls.

Fluid flows in a two-dimensional channel with atomically rough walls were studied by molecular-dynamics simulations. Both sinusoidally and randomly roughened walls with various roughness amplitudes A were used. It was found that the no-slip condition arises when the molecular mean free path l is comparable with A. Therefore the ratio l/A should be employed to validate the no-slip condition, rather than the traditionally used ratio of the mean free path to the channel or tube diameter (Knudsen number).
Two Renowned Nigerian Scholars: Ikenna Nzimiro and Victor Chikesie Uchendu

The article honors two Nigerian anthropologists of Igbo background who recently passed away. Both scholars made major contributions to a broad range of scholarly thought in anthropology and in general social science to crucial issues in Nigerian politics, society and life. Nzimiro is considered in terms of his traditional anthropological training in Germany and England, through which he investigated four Niger River basin communities, and then his emergence as a Marxist anthropologist for the rest of his life in Nigeria, where he consistently critiqued neocolonialism in Nigeria. He explored issues of ethnicity, the Nigerian civil war, militarism, the state of the social sciences, the environment, Oguta culture, where he was born, ethnic conflicts, conditions at Nigerian universities, and other issues. Nzimiro generally rejected the post-colonial world, arguing that it was not revolutionary enough. Uchendu dealt with many of the same issues, but in contrast to Nzimiro he did so by accepting the existence of post-colonial Nigeria, though suggesting many ways to improve education, the environment, cultural and national transition, dependency theory, and to study urbanization and ethnicity, while also writing a major work on Igbo culture. Both authors are honored for their critiques of Nigerian society, as well as their contributions to Igbo ethnology.
Permeability of a cell junction and the local cytoplasmic free ionized calcium concentration: A study with aequorin

A technique is devised to determine the spatial distribution of the free ionized cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca2+] i ) inside a cell:Chironomus salivary gland cells are loaded with aequorin, and the Ca2+-dependent light emission of the aequorin is scanned with an image-intensifier/television system. With this technique, the [Ca2+] i is determined simultaneously with junctional electrical coupling when Ca2+ is microinjected into the cells, or when the cells are exposed to metabolic inhibitors, Ca-transporting ionophores, or Ca-free medium. Ca microinjections elevating the [Ca2+] i the junctional locale produce depression of junctional membrane conductance. When the [Ca2+] i elevation is confined to the vicinity of one cell junction, the conductance of that junction alone is depressed; other junctions of the same cell are not affected. The depression sets in as the [Ca2+] i rises in the junctional locale, and reverses after the [Ca2+] i falls to baseline. When the [Ca2+] i elevation is diffuse throughout the cell, the conductances of all junctions of the cell are depressed. The Ca injections produce no detectable [Ca2+] i elevations in cells adjacent to the injected one; the Ca-induced change in junctional membrane permeability seems fast enough to block appreciable transjunctional flow of Ca2+. Control injections of Cl− or K+ do not affect junctional conductance. The Ca injections that elevate [Ca2+] i sufficiently to depress junctional conductance also produce under the usual conditions an increase in nonjunctional membrane conductance and, hence, depolarization. But injections that elevate [Ca2+] i at the junction while largely avoiding nonjunctional membrane cause depression of junctional conductance with little or no depolarization. Moreover, elevations of [Ca2+] i in cells clamped near resting potential produce the depression, too. On the other hand, complete depolarization in K medium does not produce the depression, unless accompanied by [Ca2+] i elevation. Thus, the depolarization is neither necessary nor sufficient for depression of junctional conductance. Treatment with cyanide, dinitrophenol and ionophores X537 A or A23187 produces diffuse elevation of [Ca2+] i associated with depression of nunctional conductance. Prolonged exposure to Ca-free medium leads to fluctuation in [Ca2+] i where rise and fall of [Ca2+] i correlate respectively with fall and rise in junctional conductance.
Solution of non-linear boundary integral equations in complex geometries with auxiliary integral subtraction

The boundary integral equation that results from the application of the reciprocity theorem to non-linear or non-homogeneous differential equations generally contains a domain integral. While methods exist for the meshless evaluation of these integrals, mesh-based domain integration is generally more accurate and can be performed more quickly with the application of fast multipole methods. However, polygonalization of complex multiply-connected geometries can become a costly task, especially in three-dimensional analyses. In this paper, a method that allows a mesh-based integration in complex domains, while retaining a simple mesh structure, is described. Although the technique is intended for the numerical solution of more complex differential equations, such as the Navier–Stokes equations, for simplicity the method is applied to the solution of a Poisson equation, in domains of varying complexity. It is shown that the error introduced by the auxiliary domain subtraction method is comparable to the discretization error, while the complexity of the mesh is significantly reduced. The behaviour of the error in the boundary solution observed with the application of the new method is analogous to the behaviour observed with conventional cell-based domain integration. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An initial-value method for the determinantal equations of vibrations and flutter

In many investigations in mechanics, we must solve the equation detB(λ)=0, where the elements of the matrixB are general functions of λ. A method of solution is proposed, and results of numerical experiments are given.
Effect of negative substrate bias voltage on the structure and properties of CrN films deposited by modulated pulsed power (MPP) magnetron sputtering

As a variation of high power pulsed magnetron sputtering technique, modulated pulsed power (MPP) magnetron sputtering has shown the capability of maintaining a good deposition rate while achieving a high degree of ionization of the sputtered material with low ion energies. It is critical to usefully utilize the negative substrate bias voltage (Vb) to attract these ions towards the substrate to enhance the ion bombardment on growing films by controlling the kinetic energy and the behaviours of ions and electrons arriving on growing films. In this study, CrN thin films have been deposited by MPP in a closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering system at different Vb varied from 0 to −150 V. The peak and mean substrate ion current densities were measured during the depositions as a function of Vb. The films were annealed at 450 °C in Ar for 1 hr in an effort to release the defects and residual stress in the as-deposited films. The structure and properties of as-deposited and annealed films were characterized by electron probe micro-analysis, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nanoindentation, and ball-on-disc wear test. An increase in the Cr/N ratio of the film was observed as the Vb was increased negatively to above −70 V, which resulted in the formation of the hexagonal Cr2N film at Vb = −150 V. A preferred (3 1 1) texture was observed in the CrN films deposited as Vb increased from −50 V to −100 V. The residual stress of the films increased as the Vb was increased from 0 to −100 V and then decreased with further increasing the Vb. The increase in the Vb led to grain refinement and an increase in the hardness of the films, but the wear resistance of the films decreased rapidly as the Vb was increased to −150 V.
On the status of prelinguistic color categories: Response to Roberson and Hanley

Roberson and Hanley [1xOnly half right: comment on Regier and Kay. Roberson, D. and Hanley, J.R. Trends Cogn. Sci. 2009; 13: 500–501Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (6)See all References[1] argue that further research is needed before one can conclude that the right hemisphere contains representations of prelinguistic color categories. We agree with that assertion. In fact, in our recent review [2xLanguage, thought and color: Whorf was half right. Regier, T. and Kay, P. Trends Cogn. Sci. 2009; 13: 439–446Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (81)See all References[2], we state explicitly that the existence of prelinguistic categorical perception of color has recently been disputed and that, ‘[i]f confirmed’, it raises important questions that we then proceed to discuss, drawing on Hanley and Roberson's earlier discussion of the same questions [3xSee all References[3]. Our treatment of this issue reflects the current mix of contention and interesting new ideas present in the literature, Roberson and Hanley's present comment notwithstanding.
Nucleotide metabolism in the whole blood of various vertebrates: enzyme levels and the use of high pressure liquid chromatography for the determination of nucleotide patterns.

Abstract 1. 1. The nucleotide profiles of whole blood of man and animals were obtained by high pressure liquid chromatography. 2. 2. Within a species, the chromatograms were remarkably reproducible; however, each species exhibited a variation in the pattern that was characteristically its own. 3. 3. The major difference in higher and lower species was in the distinguishable 4. amounts of GTP and UTP in the lower species and the virtual absence of these compounds in the higher species. 5. 4. Adenylate kinase, guanlate kinase, nucleoside diphosphokinase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase activity were determined in the erythrocytes of some of these species.
Labor Supply, Flexible Hours and Real Estate Agents

Real estate agents have flexibility in choosing hours and employers. These responses are tested with a five-equation recursive model. Agents choose between full- and part-time work. The conditional wage measures productivity adjusted for self-selection to each status. Hours worked in each status depend on the fitted after-tax wage and household income, yielding flexible supply elasticities. Using a 2005 survey of 8,450 U.S. real estate agents, a year of experience raises the full-time hourly wage by 2.5%. Conditional hours worked decline by 0.6%, implying an earnings return of 1.9% per year of experience. The labor supply elasticity for full-time agents is 0.21; it is almost zero for part timers.
Dynamic Nuclear Polarization with Biradicals

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) experiments in rotating solids have been performed for the first time using biradicals rather than monomeric paramagnetic centers as polarizing agents. Specifically, two TEMPO radicals were tethered with a poly(ethylene glycol) chain of variable length where the number of glycol units was 2, 3, or 4. NMR experiments show that the signal observed in DNP experiments is approximately inversely proportional to the length of the chain. Thus, the shorter chain with larger electron dipolar couplings yields larger enhancements. The size of the enhancement is a factor of 4 larger than obtained with the identical concentration of monomeric nitroxide radicals achieving a value of approximately 175 for the n = 2 chain.
Sociocultural and interactional influences on somatization

Abstract Based on interviews with more than 2,000 patients and reviews of their medical records, the author examines social and cultural influences that contribute to somatization and sustain or reinforce illness behavior. He remarks particularly on family factors that predispose to somatization; how somatizers communicate their distress and how feedback from others affects this behavior; and the contributions of culture to health and illness behavior. The physician-patient interaction is pointed out as a focus of particular importance for understanding somatizing behavior.
The transcription of chromatin templates

Genetic and biochemical approaches have recently been used to demonstrate the pivotal role of chromatin structure in gene regulation at two levels of organization. The three-dimensional folding of DNA mediated by chromatin structural proteins over several hundred base pairs has been shown to be critical for the local control of both transcriptional activation and repression. Nuclear domains also exist in which the further long-range organization of chromatin over 5-50 kb exerts a global control on the transcription process.
Coping with Global Warming and Climate Change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC 2007, p. 9 has identified five key areas subject to impacts from increasing global average temperature: water, ecosystems, food, coasts, and health. A closer reading of the text of the IPCC report shows that many of the most serious impacts on the nonwater areas are, in fact, mediated via water. So, for instance, impacts on food are largely due to hydrological changes; in fact, aridity has major impacts on food, ecosystems, and human health. The pivotal role of water impacts, and hence water’s importance to adaptation, is also stressed in the Stern Report 2006 . Thinking about the relative issues involved in climate change, Mike Muller 2007 of the Global Water Partnership GWP said, “if it’s mitigation, then the focus is rightfully energy, and if it’s adaptation, it will be water resources!” By this he implied that the bulk of the mitigation strategies for climate change deal with handling the use of energy resources, while the adaptation strategies will be mostly driven by water concerns. Hence, we should focus on the water-adaptation strategies, bearing in mind that adaptation for other sectors may include many of the same, or similar, strategies.
Gender, Race, and Variation in the Evaluation of Microscopic Hematuria Among Medicare Beneficiaries

BACKGROUND Female gender and black race are associated with delayed diagnosis and inferior survival in patients with bladder cancer.
Religious Orientation and Prejudice: Predictors of Homoprejudice

A convenience sample of 477 students from a public university in the southeast United States was used to examine the relationship between religious orientation and attitudes towards gay and lesbian individuals. The author predicted that the religious factors, such as religious fundamentalism, religious motivation, religious upbringing, and religious affiliation, would correlate with homoprejudice. The results of this study contradicted some of the findings in previous studies. In a multiple regression that explained 48% of the variance, religious fundamentalism was found to predict homoprejudice; however, religious motivation, upbringing, and religious affiliation were not found to be significant predictors of homoprejudice. This study discusses possible explanations as well as the implications this has to the counseling profession.
Cognitive radio network interference modeling with shadowing effectvia Scaled Student's t distribution

In recently developed cognitive radio network (CRN), the spectrum sharing leads to many uncertainties associated with the aggregate interference in the network. It is highly desired to build an interference model for such cognitive radio networks to express such uncertainties to quantify the effect of the interference on the primary network. However, existing interference models have not account for lognormal shadowing due to the difficulty to estimate the entire lognormal sum distribution. In this paper, we propose to utilize the Scaled Student's t distribution to approximate the shadowing effect and improve existing interference models in CRN. Closed form probability density function (PDF), cumulative distribution function (CDF) and characteristic function (CF) of the interference including shadowing effects are derived. Simulation results of CDF, complementary CDF (CCDF), CF and bit error rate (BER) performance in various scenarios confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approximation method.
An Interactive Refinement Methodology for Early-Stage Exploration of Design Space during System Design

Abstract The design of large engineering systems requires the quick exploration of design space. Though simulation models have been used to support optimal design of individual subsystems, similar approaches cannot be used for system design, because of the difficulties in using the disparate simulation models for different subsystems and perspectives together, in addition to the ensuing excessive computational requirements. This paper presents a methodology for system design, called Hierarchical and Interactive Decision Refinement (HIDER), which combines machine learning based adaptive modeling, multiple-objective optimization, and interactive refinement techniques to provide decision support for quickly exploring the design space. The paper also presents results from the application of HIDER to the system design of a wheel loader. In this example, complex simulation models for cycle time analysis and stability analysis are used for the design of the wheel loader simultaneously from these two perspectives.
Talc Embolism: A Static Retinopathy

Purpose To document the static nature of crystalline deposits in talc retinopathy. Method Case report. Results A 38-year-old woman with a remote history of intravenous drug abuse showed the incidental finding of fine, irregularly shaped refractile deposits in the retinal microvasculature. At 2-year follow-up, fundus findings were identical to the initial manifestation with respect to the distribution and position of crystalline deposits in each fundus. Conclusion This case documents the static nature of crystalline deposits in talc retinopathy.
The Newton and Halley Methods for Complex Roots

(1998). The Newton and Halley Methods for Complex Roots. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 105, No. 9, pp. 806-818.
Observation of elastic macroscopic quantum tunneling of the charge variable.

The tunneling characteristics of a two-junction system created with extremely small metal particles is studied in the voltage region within the Coulomb blockade. We observe a conductance orders of magnitude lower than outside the blockade, which matches predictions for a superposition of elastic and inelastic macroscopic quantum tunneling of the charge variable Q.
Habituation of the galvanic skin response in adult males as a function of age

Habituation of the galvanic skin response (GSR) to electric shock was studied in 28 male college students, 18-39 years old. A 60-Hz shock of 244.0-msec duration was presented every 1-3 min above the right ankle in a preprogrammed sequence. The GSR, measured as a change in palmar skin conductance to the shock, was examined over the first 17 shock trials. The habituation curve showed the typical large decrement over the first few trials followed by a smaller one over several more trials. The initial rate of habituation (percent decrement between shock trials 1 and 3) was shown to be age related even though none of the subjects would be considered old (18-39 years old). The younger the subject, the faster the initial habituation or, conversely, the older the subject the slower the rate (rs = -.50, N = 28, p less than 0.005). The asymptote did not vary with age. That such dramatic changes occur in the CNS of young males over a relatively few years is not unknown. PET studies of the caudate nucleus in normal males showed an exponential decrease in dopamine receptors with about half of the decrease occurring rapidly between the ages of 20 and 30 (Wagner, H.N., Jr. Diag. Imaging Nov.: 138-145; 1985). The usefulness of the GSR in detecting age effects in other kinds of learning, such as Pavlovian conditioning, is being explored, as well as its usefulness in detecting early learning/memory loss in aging and the dementias.
Simulation and optimization of a smart reconfigurable aperture antenna

The work in this study develops the framework for placement and actuation of novel mechanically reconfigurable dual-offset contour beam reflector antennas (DCBRA). Towards that end the methodology for the antennas' design is defined. The antenna designed in this study employs piezoelectrically driven ball screw actuators. These actuators are attached to a flexible sub reflector surface and are used to vary radiation pattern. In addition, two separate optimization problems are stated and solved: Actuator position optimization and actuation value optimization. For the former, a method termed as Greatest Error Suppression method is proposed where the position of each actuator is decided one by one after each evaluation of the error between the desired subreflector shape and the actual subreflector shape. For the second problem, a mathematical analysis shows that there exists only one optimal configuration. Two optimization techniques are used for the second problem: the Simulated Annealing algorithm and a simple univariate optimization technique. The univariate technique always generates the same optimal configuration for different initial configurations and it gives the low bound in the evaluation of the error. The Simulated Annealing algorithm is a stochastic technique used to search for global optimum point. Finally, as an example, the results of the proposed optimization techniques are presented for the generation of a subreflector shape for the geographical outline of Brazil.
The commercialisation of sensor technology in clinical chemistry: an outline of the potential difficulties.

Abstract Despite the numerous examples in the research literature of the potential application of biosensors in clinical chemistry, very few have reached commercialisation. Many pitfalls await the potential manufacturer of bioprobes in clinical chemistry and key areas which require substantial development are: 1. reproducibility of sensor manufacture; 2. interaction of the sensor with appropriate hardware; 3. evaluation and customer perception. This paper discusses and illustrates these problems with examples taken from the recent introduction of ion-selective electrode analysers in regular clinical use. Many similar problems are envisaged for the commercialisation of biosensors and extensive collaboration is essential between researchers, manufacturers and users to overcome the difficulties.
Structures and spectra of gold nanoclusters and quantum dot molecules

Size-evolutions of structural and spectral properties in two types of finite systems are discussed. First we focus on energetics and structures of gold clusters, particularly AuN in the 40≲N≲200 range exhibiting a discrete sequence of optimal clusters with a decahedral structural motiff, and on the electronic structure of bare and methyl-thiol passivated Au38 clusters. Subsequently, bonding and spectra of quantum dot molecules (QDM’s) are investigated, using a single-particle two-center oscillator model and the local-spin-density (LSD) method, for a broad range of interdot distances and coupling strengths. A molecular orbital classification of the QDM states correlates between the united-dot and separated-dots limits. LSD addition energies and spin polarization patterns for QDM’s in the entire coupling range are analyzed, guiding the construction of a constant interaction model. A generalization of the non-interacting-electrons Darwin–Fock model to QDM’s is presented. Wigner crystallization of the electrons leading to formation of Wigner supermolecules is explored in both the field-free case and with a magnetic field using a spin-and-space unrestricted Hartree–Fock method.
GLYCOGEN IN FETAL LAMB LIVER IS INCREASED DURING HYPERGLYCEMIA AND HYPERINSULINEMIA

I studied the developmental profile of glycogen, glycogen synthase and phosphorylase in livers of control fetal lambs at 123, 131, and 142d gestation (term 150d) and in the livers of their twins given intravenous glucose (16±2 mg/kg/min, M±SE) from 112d onwards. Serum glucose (34±2 mg/dl) and insulin (47±11 μ U/ml) in the glucose treated fetuses were higher than serum glucose (19±3 mg/dl, P < 0.01) and insulin (14±2 μU/ml, P < 0.01) in the controls. Fetal liver glycogen is increased during chronic hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. The enzyme activities were also modified by chronic hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia.
Logarithmic Sobolev Inequalities for Pinned Loop Groups

Abstract LetGbe a connected compact type Lie group equipped with anAdG-invariant inner product on the Lie algebra g ofG. Given this data there is a well known left invariant “H1-Riemannian structure” on L = L (G)—the infinite dimensional group of continuous based loops inG. Using this Riemannian structure, we define and construct a “heat kernel”νT(g0, ·) associated to the Laplace–Beltrami operator on L (G). HereT>0,g0∈ L (G), andνT(g0,·) is a certain probability measure on L (G). For fixedg0∈ L (G) andT>0, we use the measureνT(g0,·) and the Riemannian structure on L (G) to construct a “classical” pre-Dirichlet form. The main theorem of this paper asserts that this pre-Dirichlet form admits a logarithmic Sobolev inequality.
The role of auxin in the early events of the contact coiling of tendrils

Abstract Tendrils of the Indian Gourd, Cucurbita moschata L., cv. “Komra” were treated with auxin (IAA) by immersing the tip in a 3-mm deep solution. Immersion for 14 sec was sufficient to induce considerable coiling during the subsequent 4 h, but as the immersion time increased, so did the amount of coiling. The relationship between the two was log-linear and levelled off after 3 h of immersion. The amount of coiling also increased in a log-linear fashion between 10 μ M and 1 m M indoleacetic acid (IAA). Only IAA, 2,4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) induced coiling, whereas the auxin antagonists 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) and 2,6-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,6-D) had no effect. When tendril tips were pulse-labeled with [ 14 C]IAA there was no more translocation of the label in stimulated tendrils than there was in control tendrils. However, extracts of resting tendrils were capable of specifically binding [ 14 C]IAA, while extracts of coiled tendrils were not. In addition, 2,6-D which was able to partially block IAA-induced coiling, also antagonized the binding of [ 14 C]IAA in extracts of resting tendrils. It is concluded that following mechanical stimulation, auxin acts to induce coiling by immediately interacting with an auxin-specific receptor in the tip of the tendril, and not by being translocated basipetally.
Enabling ontology based semantic queries in biomedical database systems

While current biomedical ontology repositories offer primitive query capabilities, it is difficult or cumbersome to support ontology based semantic queries directly in semantically annotated biomedical databases. The problem may be largely attributed to the mismatch between the models of the ontologies and the databases, and the mismatch between the query interfaces of the two systems. To fully realize semantic query capabilities based on ontologies, we develop a system DBOntoLink to provide unified semantic query interfaces by extending database query languages. With DBOntoLink, semantic queries can be directly and naturally specified as extended functions of the database query languages without any programming needed. DBOntoLink is adaptable to different ontologies through customizations and supports major biomedical ontologies hosted at the NCBO BioPortal. We demonstrate the use of DBOntoLink in a real world biomedical database with semantically annotated medical image annotations.
Toward giga-pixel nanoscopy on a chip: a computational wide-field look at the nano-scale without the use of lenses.

The development of lensfree on-chip microscopy in the past decade has opened up various new possibilities for biomedical imaging across ultra-large fields of view using compact, portable, and cost-effective devices. However, until recently, its ability to resolve fine features and detect ultra-small particles has not rivalled the capabilities of the more expensive and bulky laboratory-grade optical microscopes. In this Frontier Review, we highlight the developments over the last two years that have enabled computational lensfree holographic on-chip microscopy to compete with and, in some cases, surpass conventional bright-field microscopy in its ability to image nano-scale objects across large fields of view, yielding giga-pixel phase and amplitude images. Lensfree microscopy has now achieved a numerical aperture as high as 0.92, with a spatial resolution as small as 225 nm across a large field of view e.g., >20 mm2. Furthermore, the combination of lensfree microscopy with self-assembled nanolenses, forming nano-catenoid minimal surfaces around individual nanoparticles has boosted the image contrast to levels high enough to permit bright-field imaging of individual particles smaller than 100 nm. These capabilities support a number of new applications, including, for example, the detection and sizing of individual virus particles using field-portable computational on-chip microscopes.
Genodermatoses 2003-2004.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Many genodermatoses have been linked in recent years to their respective genes. The underlying biology and integrative nature of these genes with other genes and organ systems is beginning to be understood. This paper reviews recent advances in neurocutaneous disorders, ectodermal dysplasias, and the phenomenon of revertant gene mosaicism. RECENT FINDINGS In neurofibromatosis type 1, molecular assays are being developed to distinguish malignant from benign and premalignant lesions. Clinical mutation analysis for the NF1 gene has been problematic; a sensitive new assay using automated comparative sequence analysis may be helpful. Revision of clinical care guidelines is ongoing. New data for the prospective management of optic pathway gliomas is reviewed. The two genes that underlie tuberous sclerosis complex, tuberin and hamartin, lie at the center of an important signal transduction pathway with significant implications for pharmacologic treatment. Issues in genetic counseling for this highly variable disease are updated. Extensive progress has been made in understanding the basis of several forms of ectodermal dysplasia. Disorders caused by mutations in p63 and the connexin and NF-kappaB gene families will be reviewed. Finally, phenotypic in vivo amelioration of genodermatoses via revertant gene mosaicism will be discussed as a possible mechanism to be exploited in directed therapeutic approaches. SUMMARY This paper reviews recent developments in the molecular and biologic bases of neurofibromatosis type 1, tuberous sclerosis, and ectodermal disorders related to p63 and the connexin and NF-kappaB gene families. The concept of revertant gene mosaicism is also discussed as a potential model for gene therapy.
Growth hormone axis in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children is associated with dramatic changes in the growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) axis, resulting in growth retardation. Moderate-to-severe growth retardation in CKD is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Renal failure is a state of GH resistance and not GH deficiency. Some mechanisms of GH resistance are: reduced density of GH receptors in target organs, impaired GH-activated post-receptor Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling, and reduced levels of free IGF-1 due to increased inhibitory IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs). Treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been proven to be safe and efficacious in children with CKD. Even though rhGH has been shown to improve catch-up growth and to allow the child to achieve normal adult height, the final adult height is still significantly below the genetic target. Growth retardation may persist after renal transplantation due to multiple factors, such as steroid use, decreased renal function and an abnormal GH–IGF1 axis. Those below age 6 years are the ones to benefit most from transplantation in demonstrating acceleration in linear growth. Newer treatment modalities targeting the GH resistance with recombinant human IGF-1 (rhIGF-1), recombinant human IGFBP3 (rhIGFBP3) and IGFBP displacers are under investigation and may prove to be more effective in treating growth failure in CKD.
Changes in food processing and occlusal dental wear during the early agricultural period in northwest Mexico.

Crown dimensions and occlusal surface wear rate and wear plane were evaluated using paired first and second mandibular molars from a sample of 84 Early Agricultural period (1600 B.C.-A.D. 200) skeletons from northwest Mexico. Although this period represents a major shift in subsistence strategies in the Sonoran Desert, from food-foraging to agriculture, archaeological and dental pathology studies have identified this period as one of relative dietary stability. It was therefore pre- dicted that very little variation in occlusal wear would have occurred between the early phase (San Pedro: 1600-800 B.C.) and late phase (Cienega: 800 B.C.-A.D. 200). Comparison of crown diameters identified some phenotypic differences between sexes but not between archaeological phases. Molar occlusal surfaces were then divided into four quadrants, and wear scores recorded for each quadrant. Principle axis analysis was performed between total wear scores of paired, adjacent first and second mandibular molars to assess rate and occlusal wear plane over time. The analysis demonstrated that both wear rate and wear plane increased from the early to the late phase of the Early Agricultural period. These results indicate that although diet may have indeed remained stable during this period in the Sonoran De- sert increases in the rate of wear and wear plane may reflect changes in food-processing techniques. It is sug- gested that more intensive processing of agricultural products during the Cienega phase simultaneously soft- ened the diet to create more tooth-contact wear and introduced more grit to cause faster and more angled wear on the molar occlusal surfaces. Am J Phys Anthro- pol 135:92-99, 2008. V C 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Necrotizing infundibulo-hypophysitis : a unique syndrome of diabetes insipidus and hypopituitarism

Clinical, radiological, histological, and anatomical features in 2 patients with necrotizing infundibulo-hypophysitis are reported. The patients presented with a combination of diabetes insipidus and hypopituitarism. Each was found to have a sellar mass lesion with an abnormally thickened enlarged pituitary stalk that intensively enhanced on contrast magnetic resonance imaging. They were suspected to have pituitary tumors with suprasellar extension. However, tissue obtained at transphenoidal surgery revealed necrosis, fibrosis, and chronic inflammation; there was no evidence of infiltrative, infective, or neoplastic disease processes. Postoperatively, they continued to have diabetes insipidus and hypopituitarism despite radiological improvement and steroid therapy. Several clinical and anatomical features distinguish these 2 cases from classical lymphocytic hypophysitis, the most common entity in the differential diagnosis. Specifically, diabetes insipidus has not been observed preoperatively in 30 cases of lymphocytic hypophysitis, but was present in the 2 cases reported. Histological evidence of tissue necrosis present in these 2 cases is not a feature of lymphocytic hypophysitis. Pituitary stalk involvement on magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomographic scan present in these 2 cases is highly unusual in lymphocytic hypophysitis. Finally, 29 of 30 cases of lymphocytic hypophysitis were females, whereas the 2 cases reported are men. On the basis of these disparate findings, we suggest that these 2 cases represent a unique syndrome, which may be recognized clinically and radiologically.
Cross-sectional analysis of iliopsoas muscle-tendon units at the sites of arthroscopic tenotomies: an anatomic study.

BackgroundArthroscopic iliopsoas tenotomies are performed at the level of the labrum, femoral neck, and lesser trochanter. The composition and percentage of the iliopsoas muscle-tendon unit (MTU) t...
High-speed and low-noise SACM avalanche photodiodes with an impact-ionization-engineered multiplication region

A separate absorption, charge, and multiplication In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As-In/sub 0.52/Al/sub 0.48/As avalanche photodiode with an impact-ionization-engineered multiplication region is reported. By implementing an electric field gradient in the multiplication region, better control of impact-ionization can be achieved. Gain-bandwidth product of 160 GHz and excess noise factor with an equivalent k value of 0.1 are demonstrated.
Recombinant Holotoxoid Vaccine against Botulism

The botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) are the most toxic proteins for humans and designated “Category A Select Agents.” The current vaccine against botulism is in limited supply, and there is a need to develop new vaccine strategies. A recombinant BoNT/A toxoid was produced in Clostridium botulinum that contained a double amino acid substitution, R363A Y365F (termed BoNT/ARYM). BoNT/ARYM was noncatalytic for SNAP25 and nontoxic for mice. Immunization with BoNT/ARYM protected mice from challenge at levels that were similar to chemically inactivated BoNT/A toxoid. BoNT/ARYM elicited an immune response against the light-chain and heavy-chain components of the toxin. Neutralizing anti-BoNT/ARYM sera blocked BoNT toxicity in primary cortical neurons and blocked ganglioside binding by the heavy chain. BoNT/ARYM represents a viable vaccine candidate for a holotoxoid against botulism.
JOEL FEINBERG AND THE JUSTIFICATION OF HARD PATERNALISM

Joel Feinberg was a brilliant philosopher whose work in social and moral philosophy is a legacy of excellent, even stunning achievement. Perhaps his most memorable achievement is his four-volume treatise on The Moral Limits of the Criminal Law, and perhaps the most striking jewel in this crowning achievement is his passionate and deeply insightful treatment of paternalism. Feinberg opposes legal paternalism, the doctrine that “it is always a good reason in support of a [criminal law] prohibition that it is probably necessary to prevent harm (physical, psychological, or economic) to the actor himself.” Against this doctrine Feinberg asserts that when an agent's sufficiently voluntary choice causes harm to herself or risk of harm to herself, this category of harm-to-self is never a good reason in support of criminal law prohibition of that type of conduct.
Relaxing Conflict Between Read Stability and Writability in 6T SRAM Cell Using Asymmetric Transistors

We propose an asymmetric-MOSFET-based six-transistor (6 T) SRAM cell to alleviate the conflicting requirements of read and write operations. The source-to-drain and drain-to-source characteristics of access transistors are optimized to improve writability without sacrificing read stability. The proposed technique improves the writability by 9%-11%, with iso read stability being compared with a conventional 6 T SRAM cell based on symmetric-MOSFET access transistors in 45-nm technology.
Presenting Physiological Measures: Effectiveness of Demonstration versus Lecture

This article provides guidelines for demonstrating human physiological responses to undergraduates and compares the effectiveness of demonstration and lecture formats for presenting physiological measures. Two responses, the galvanic skin response (GSR) and electrocardiogram (EKG), were presented to students either as a demonstration or in a lecture format. Results indicate that demonstrations may provide an effective format for improving retention of information about simple procedures and responses, such as the GSR, but may not be as effective as lecture presentation of more complex information, such as the EKG waveform.
Continuous social screencasting to facilitate software tool discovery

The wide variety of software development tools available today have a great potential to improve the way developers make software, but that potential goes unfulfilled when developers are not aware of useful tools. In this paper, I introduce the idea of \emph{continuous social screencasting}, a novel mechanism to help developers gain awareness of relevant tools by enabling them to learn remotely and asychronously from their peers. The idea builds on the strength of several existing techniques that developers already use for discovering new tools, including screencasts and online social networks.
Experiences among women with shame and self-compassion in cardio-based exercise classes

Although significant research has explored self-conscious emotions, including shame, little has been done to examine shame in specific exercise settings, such as cardio-based exercise classes, that may actually promote the experience of shame. Therefore, using Shame Resilience Theory (SRT) as a guiding framework, the purpose of this study was to examine experiences among women with shame, and the shame-resistant attribute of self-compassion, in exercise, as well as identify possible strategies for creating a climate in cardio-based exercise classes that emphasises self-compassion over shame. An interpretative phenomenological analysis epistemology and methodology was used to analyse, understand, and interpret the meaning and lived experiences of shame and self-compassion among 15 women in cardio-based exercise classes. From the data collected during individual interviews, three superordinate themes emerged for both shame (‘I’m just not enough’, ‘There’s something wrong with me; I don’t belong here’, and ‘...
Consumer Preferences and Product-Line Pricing Strategies: An Empirical Analysis

Firms often differentiate their product lines vertically to capture consumers differential willingness to pay for quality. Additionally, many firms offer products varying not in quality but in characteristics such as scent, color, or flavor, that relate to horizontal differentiation. For example, in the yogurt category, each manufacturer carries several product lines differing in quality and price, but within each line there is an assortment of flavors that is uniformly priced. To better understand these product-line pricing strategies, we address two key issues. First, how do consumers perceive product-line and flavor attributes? Second, given consumers preferences, is the current strategy of pricing product lines differently, but offering all flavors within a product line at the same price, optimal? We find that consumers value line attributes more than flavor attributes. Our analysis reveals that firms exploit these differences in consumer preferences by using product lines as a price discrimination tool. However, firms profits would not significantly increase if they were to price flavors within a product line differently. Therefore, the current pricing policy of setting different prices for product lines, but uniform prices for all flavors within a line, appears to be on target.
MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND HISPANIC EARNINGS: A COMPARISON OF NATIVES AND IMMIGRANTS*

This paper analyzes how labor market and worker characteristics stratify the Hispanic male work force in the United States. Human capital characteristics, including English language proficiency and length of U.S. residence, significantly influence annual log earnings for all groups, but the effects depend on nativity and national origin. Large effects of average unemployment rates emerge for all groups, although these are significant only for workers from Mexico and Puerto Rico. Regional differences in wage rates and the ethnic composition of labor markets influence log earnings of Mexican, Central/South American, and other Hispanic-origin workers, but not all are equally important for each group. I discuss the policy significance of these results.