cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A question of visibility: a rights-based look at ICT centers for persons with disabilities in Latin America

In this paper, we examine the deployment of a group of technology centers serving people with disabilities in five Latin American countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Venezuela. We explore the impacts of such training courses on the employability, socio-economic inclusion, and visibility of persons with disabilities in civil society. We find an important tension between the short-term objective of job creation for centers focused on individual capacity building, and the long-term goals of rights-based organizations to affect the visibility of people with disabilities in the public sphere. In particular, we examine the public library as a neutral, safe space in our comparison between programs in various countries. We come to the preliminary conclusion that a rights-based organization focused on community building, rather than individual capacity building, has the potential to be more effective in increasing the visibility of people with disability in the public sphere. We argue that the public image of disability and stigma associated with it cannot be extracted from technology training or individual capacity building. Therefore, centers serving people with disabilities must take into account the complex reality of employability for people with disabilities, particularly in the developing world.
Length and Resistivity Changes in Germanium upon Low-Temperature Deuteron Irradiation and Annealing

Simultaneous measurements of the length change and resistivity of high-purity germanium single crystals were made upon irradiation and annealing. The specimens were initially irradiated at 25\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K with deuterons of average energy 10.2 Mev to an integrated flux of 6.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{16}$ deuterons/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ and annealed to room temperature. The specimens were then irradiated at 85\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K to an additional flux of 9.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{16}$ deuterons/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ and annealed to 364\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The specific length expansion for both bombardments was $\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}L}{L}=(1.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}21}/(\mathrm{deuteron}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2})$. The annealing after both irradiations showed a gradual recovery of the expansion which was observable only after warming to above 200\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The precise determination of the onset of annealing was limited by the accuracy of the expansion measurements (\ensuremath{\sim}20%). Recovery was \ensuremath{\sim}50% complete by 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and \ensuremath{\sim}85% complete by 360\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The resistivity measurements agreed generally with previous results. A large increase in resistivity occurred during the low-temperature bombardments. The specimens became $p$-type after bombardment and annealing. On the first warmup after the bombardment at 25\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K the resistivity decreased irreversibly by a factor of ${10}^{6}$ between 65\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K with a large part of the decrease coming apparently between 150\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and 225\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. On the warmup from the second bombardment at 85\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K an irreversible resistivity increase occurred on warming to 140\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The resistivity then decreased irreversibly by a factor of ${10}^{3}$ between 150\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and 200\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Extensive resistivity annealing, therefore, occurred in an earlier stage of the recovery process than did the experimentally observable length change annealing.
Return on Investment (ROI): Calculating the Monetary Return of a Leadership Development Program

Measuring the Return on Investment (ROI) in training and development has consistently earned a place among the critical issues in the human resource development (HRD) field. Leadership educators may soon find that program sponsors and administrators asking for ROI information as well. This paper reports the ROI of the Southern Extension Leadership Development (SELD) program as implemented at The University of Georgia. To calculate the return on investment, the ROI model proposed by Phillips (2002) was used. New extension agents hired between 1995 and 2001 who completed the probationary period with the Cooperative Extension Service formed the population for this analysis. Analysis of the data indicated that the employee turnover rate for the participant group was significantly lower than for the non-participant group. Based on the ROI model calculations, every one-dollar spent in the SELD program returned $3.86 in benefits and $2.86 (286%) in net benefits were returned on Investment.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor val66met genotype and early life stress effects upon bipolar course.

Abstract Background Gene–environment interactions may contribute to bipolar disorder (BD) clinical course variability. We examined effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) val66met genotype and early life stress (ELS) upon illness severity and chronicity in adult BD patients. Methods 80 patients (43 BD I, 33 BD II, 4 BD not otherwise specified, mean ± SD age 46.4 ± 14.0 years, 63.7% female) receiving open evidence-based and measurement-based care in the Stanford Bipolar Disorders Clinic for at least 12 months underwent BDNF val66met genotyping and completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. BDNF met allele carrier genotype and history of childhood sexual and physical abuse were evaluated in relation to mean prior-year Clinical Global Impressions-Bipolar Version-Overall Severity of Illness (MPY-CGI-BP-OS) score and clinical and demographic characteristics. Results BDNF met allele carriers (but not non-met allele carriers) with compared to without childhood sexual abuse had 21% higher MPY-CGI-BP-OS scores (3.5 ± 0.7 versus 2.9 ± 0.7, respectively, t = −2.4, df = 28, p = 0.025) and 35% earlier BD onset age (14.6 ± 5.7 versus 22.8 ± 7.9 years, respectively, t = 3.0, df = 27, p = 0.006). Regression analysis, however, was non-significant for a BDNF-childhood sexual abuse interaction. Limitations small sample of predominantly female Caucasian insured outpatients taking complex medication regimens; only one gene polymorphism considered. Conclusions Between group comparisons suggested BDNF met allele carrier genotype might amplify negative effects of ELS upon BD illness severity/chronicity, although with regression analysis, there was not a significant gene-environment interaction. Further studies with larger samples are warranted to assess whether BDNF met allele carriers with ELS are at risk for more severe/chronic BD illness course.
Use of minicomputers to monitor performance characteristics of nuclear power plants

In recent years commercially available minicomputers have been used to study the performance characteristics of nuclear power plants. Both frequency domain and time domain signatures can be used to accomplish this task. In this paper we present the methodologies based on time series analysis to monitor stability of boiling water reactors, response monitoring of system sensors, and surveillance of certain characteristics whose changes could provide system diagnostic information. The stochastic time series modeling algorithms and estimation of performance parameters have been implemented on minicomputers (such as PDP-II) and can be used for on-line monitoring of the dynamic processes. These techniques are applicable for both steady-state response monitoring and for tracking anomalous behavior of the power plant.
Consequences of absolute and relative qualitative and quantitative sucrose-incentive reductions in the albino rat.

Four experiments are reported which involved relative qualitative (Exps. 1 and 2), relative quantitative (Exp. 3), and absolute quantitative (Exp. 4) sucrose-solution incentive reductions in the first goal box of a double runway. In the three relative experiments, different GB1 amounts (.50 cc vs .10 cc) or concentrations (32% vs 8%) of sucrose did not affect pre- or postshift locomotion speeds in either runway. In the absolute study, RW1 speeds varied directly, and RW2 speeds varied inversely, with GB1 reward magnitude (.50 vs NR). Postshift RW2 speed changes favored a demotivation rather than a frustration interpretation of incentive change.
Time course of epinephrine-induced arrhythmias in cats exposed to dichlorodifluoromethane.

Abstract Inhalation of high concentrations of aerosol propellants, e.g., CCl2F2, is known to cause sudden death in man, sometimes minutes after the end of exposure, and to sensitize dogs to severe epinephrine-evoked ventricular tachyarrhythmias. To assess the duration and the rate of disappearance of myocardial sensitization, we injected 13 pentobarbital-anesthetized cats iv with 4 or 8 μg/kg epinephrine before, and at 3, 5, 8 and 10 min after, a 4-min inhalation of a 37% CCl2F2-21% O2-42% N2 mixture. Electrocardiograms and intraarterial pressures were recorded, and concentrations of CCl2F2 in arterial blood were measured by gas chromatography. Before exposure to CCl2F2, no cats had epinephrine-evoked ventricular tachyarrhythmias. After CCl2F2 inhalation, each cat developed epinephrine-evoked ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The CCl2F2-induced susceptibility to epinephrine-evoked ventricular tachyarrhythmias remained after the end of CCl2F2 inhalation, varying inversely with time and occasionally persisting as long as 10 min post CCl2F2 inhalation.
Orienting split-stars and alternating group graphs

Akers et al. proposed an interconnection topology, the star graph, as an alternative to the popular n-cube. Cheng et al. proposed the split-star as an alternative to the star graph and a companion graph to the alternating group graph proposed by Jwo et al. Star graphs, alternating group graphs, and split-stars are advantageous over n-cubes in many aspects. Day and Tripathi proposed an assignment of directions to the edges of the star graph and showed that the resulting directed graph is strongly connected and has a simple routing algorithm. In this paper, we give simple routing algorithms for a proposed orientation of alternating group graphs and split-stars. The resulting directed graphs are not only strongly connected but they have maximal arc-fault tolerance and a small diameter. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
High-accuracy optical property measurements using frequency domain technique

We measure the optical properties of turbid media by performing a spatial scan for homogeneous liquid samples and by immersion into a known reference medium for small secondary samples. We demonstrate that both types of measurements have a precision of better than 1% (standard deviation) and an absolute accuracy of better than 3% (mean error). Furthermore we conduct an experiment measuring the absorption and scattering coefficients of a human hand immersed into a reference medium for a changing level of blood oxygenation.
Anatomy and physiology of the pharynx

Radiographic evaluation of the passage of a bolus from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus is based upon identification of specific anatomical landmarks and the integrated motion accomplished by the oral and pharyngeal muscles during swallowing. Twenty-six muscles and 6 cranial nerves must be coordinated to enable the safe performance of the complex physiological task of transporting liquids and firm food from the mouth into the esophagus. The following discussion and illustrations of pharyngeal anatomy and physiology are pertinent to an understanding of normal swallowing function.
Biology of gangliosides: Neuritogenic and neuronotrophic properties

Research on the biologic function of gangliosides has accelerated in recent years following discovery of their pronounced effects when administered exogenously to neurons in culture and in vivo. These effects are of two principal types: 1) neuronotrophic, concerned primarily with survival and maintenance of the neuron, and 2) neuritogenic, involving significant increase in the number, length, and/or branching of neuronal processes. Such neurite-promoting activity has been observed in primary cultures of neurons from brain and ganglia as well as transformed lines of neuronal origin. These phenomena may be related to the remarkable growth of aberrant secondary neurites, often accompanied by synaptogenesis, observed in the gangliosidoses. Several in vivo studies have shown exogenously administered gangliosides to aid nervous system repair in both the CNS and PNS, although it is not clear in some cases whether the observed effects should be attributed to neuronotrophic or neuritogenic effects (or both). This article attempts to briefly review the principal developments that have occurred in this area of ganglioside research over the past several years. It also presents for consideration some of the tentative hypotheses put forward concerning mechanism of action.
Helicoidal vortex model for wind turbine aeroelastic simulation

The vortex method has been extended to account for blade flexibility, which is a potential source of unsteadiness in the flow past a wind turbine rotor. The code has been validated previously under the assumption of rigid blades. The aerodynamics method is based on the Goldstein model, which distributes the flow vorticity on rigid helicoidal surfaces defined uniquely by the flow parameters (tip speed ratio and average power extracted by the rotor) and the blade geometry (maximum radius and root lengths). The structure is treated as a beam with degrees of freedom in bending and torsion. The high twist of the wind turbine blades is responsible for induced velocities in the plane of the rotor as well as out of plane. A modal decomposition has been shown to be the most accurate and efficient approach for an implicit coupling of the structural and aerodynamics equations. Results for a homogeneous blade are presented for a low speed of 5m/s and yaw angles of 0^o, 5^o and 10^o and compared with rigid blade results and experiments of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The nonhomogeneous NREL blade has also been modeled and results are presented for V=8 and 10m/s at zero yaw that include the effect of the tower on the blade loading.
Application of the multiple isotope material basis set (MIMBS) method of isotope identification to low energy gamma emitters

The multiple isotope material basis set (MIMBS) method for isotope identification combines the material basis set (MBS) model of gamma spectrum attenuation with ordinary response function fitting to identify shielded gamma-emitting isotopes, using low and medium resolution gamma detectors such as NaI and LaBr3. Although MIMBS has been shown to outperform conventional isotope identification algorithms that do not correct for attenuation effects, it has difficulty identifying low energy emitters such as 57Co or 241Am. In this article we examine the use of optimized multiple attenuator thicknesses in generating basis spectra for each isotope to obtain better modeling of the low energy spectrum while simultaneously extending the range of the model to thicker attenuators. The effectiveness of the multiple thickness MIMBS algorithm in improving isotope identification rates compared with the original MIMBS method is demonstrated with analyses of simulated gamma spectra. The identification rates obtained with the MIMBS methods are compared to those obtained using the commercial peak-based ScintiVision NaI analysis software.
Theory of charge-imbalance relaxation in anisotropic heavy-fermion superconductors.

Model calculations presented here show that a novel nonequilibrium tunneling technique involving quasiparticle charge imbalance may be able to shed considerable light on the nature and origin of anisotropy in the order parameter of heavy-fermion superconductors. The technique may also provide a direct probe of the interplay of inelastic scattering and superconductivity in ${\mathrm{UBe}}_{13}$. .AE
Social network games: exploring audience traits

The audience of social network games is an as of yet unexplored group. Given the growing number of users and people spending time playing social network games, a better understanding of the audience, and how they are using social network games is important to crafting better social networking tools in the future. Respondents of this survey reported personality factors, demographics, habit strength, self-efficacy of social network games, and types of use by different features.
Norepinephrine Stimulates Amylase Release from Pancreatic Acini

alpha-Adrenergic blockade decreases food-stimulated amylase secretion in dogs, suggesting that physiologic sympathetic nerve discharge of norepinephrine enhances pancreatic enzyme secretion. Previous studies have not separated direct effects of adrenergic agonists on pancreatic exocrine cells from effects on blood flow. An in vitro preparation of dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas was modified and amylase release in response to common pancreatic stimulants was measured. It was demonstrated that physiologic concentrations of norepinephrine enhance amylase release from dispersed pancreatic acini evoked by supramaximal concentrations of cholecystokinin. These observations suggest that the sympathetic nervous system plays a role in modulating pancreatic enzyme secretion independent of effects on blood flow.
The Dugout Canoe Trade in Central America's Mosquitia: Approaching Rural Livelihoods Through Systems of Exchange

Abstract For over 300 years, dugout canoes have been traded within and between ethnic groups in the Mosquitia region of Honduras and Nicaragua. Drawing on ethnographic and archival research, I describe the development and contemporary dynamics of the canoe trade in order to operationalize, in one particular landscape, recent calls by geographers and anthropologists for greater ethnographic engagement with rural livelihoods. For example, historical analysis of the Mosquitia's canoe trade reveals several unexpected insights into the relationship between remote rural peoples and international capital, including the interaction and co-constitution of local and international trade circuits through time, how rural producers could manipulate canoe production to take advantage of boom-time trade circuits, and how canoe trading took on added importance during recessionary periods. Analysis of contemporary canoe production among Honduras's Tawahka Sumu points, in turn, to the economic viability of canoe trading, es...
Forever dieting: chronic dieting syndrome

The purpose of this discussion is to suggest the need for the conceptualization of a new disorder: chronic dieting syndrome (see Table 1). The concept of chronic dieting syndrome provides nutrition educators with a cohesive way to discuss the issues of continual unsuccessful dieting, using terms with which the target population of chronic dieters are familiar. Chronic dieting syndrome addresses the psychological and health needs of individuals who meet specific criteria associated with continuous unsuccessful dieting. These individuals may manifest some, but not all, of the behaviors associated with bulimia
Single crystal and solution Raman spectra of cis-dichloro-cis-bis(dimethyl-sulfoxide)-trans-dimethyltin(IV): Tin—carbon derived bond polarizabilities

Abstract Raman spectra have been recorded with oriented single crystals of (CH 3 ) 2 SnCl 2 ·2DMSO, with unoriented samples for comparison with the infrared mull spectrum, and with solutions in DMSO. The qualitative assignments are similar to those of Tanaka based upon the infrared spectrum alone. Relative values of the derived polarizability tensor components for the symmetric tin—carbon stretching vibration have been computed from single crystal intensity data. From these, the depolarization ratio, ϱ, is calculated to be 0.21, while the experimental value obtained with the DMSO solution was 0.23 ± 0.02. The tensor components are compared with those for symmetric tin—carbon stretching of dimethyltin difluoride and bis(2,4-pentanedionato)dimethyltin. If the Wolkenstein bond polarizability model is valid, these data suggest that there is progressive mixing of metal oxygen and/or metal halogen coordinates in these normal modes in the order (CH 3 ) 2 SnF 2 3 ) 2 SnCl 2 ·2DMSO 3 ) 2 Sn(acac) 2 .
The Drosophila IgC2 domain protein Friend-of-Echinoid, a paralogue of Echinoid, limits the number of sensory organ precursors in the wing disc and interacts with the Notch signaling pathway.

The Notch signaling pathway is critical in cell fate specification throughout development. In the developing wing disc, single sensory organ precursors (SOPs) are selected from proneural clusters via a process of lateral inhibition mediated by the Notch signaling pathway. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway has also been implicated in SOP formation. Here, we describe the Drosophila melanogaster gene friend of echinoid (fred), a paralogue of echinoid (ed), a gene recently identified as a negative regulator of the EGFR pathway. fred function was examined in transgenic flies by using inducible RNA interference (RNAi). Suppression of fred in developing wing discs results in specification of ectopic SOPs, additional microchaeta, and cell death. In eye-antennal discs, fred suppression causes a rough eye phenotype. These phenotypes are suppressed by overexpression of Notch, Suppressor of Hairless [Su(H)], and Enhancer of split m7. In contrast, overexpression of Hairless, a negative regulator of the Notch pathway, and decreased Su(H) activity enhance these phenotypes. Thus, fred acts in close concert with the Notch signaling pathway. Dosage-sensitive genetic interaction also suggests a close relationship between fred and ed.
Watch Your Step: Integrating Nonlinear Dynamical Flows by Stepping Through Space and Time

Nonlinear dynamical flows are often solved approximately by numerical integration based on advancing the independent variable, typically time. Here, we present a unified framework for numerical integration of differential equations based on advancing either the dependent variable, often space, or the independent variable, or any combination of the two. Spacetime stepping unifies and extends previous work. In particular, dependent variable stepping can produce better numerical results and also more faithfully describe the underlying physics, thereby providing both practical and conceptual benefits. We indicate extensions to higher dimensions.
Sensitization and Protection of Lanthanide Ion Emission in In2O3:Eu Nanocrystal Quantum Dots

Lanthanide ions are visible to near-infrared ultranarrowband emitters with long luminescence lifetimes and thus have potential applications in lasing, up-conversion, and bioimaging. However, lanthanide ions have specific and narrow absorption bands characterized by small cross sections, and their luminescence is vibrationally quenched in common solvents. To address these limitations, lanthanide ions were incorporated into a semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dot host matrix, where the semiconductor matrix can sensitize the lanthanide ions toward absorption and reduce solvent quenching effects. Specifically, functional, colloidal europium-doped indium(III) oxide nanocrystal quantum dots were synthesized and characterized structurally and optically. Incorporation of the dopant ions into the matrix, rather than simple adhesion to the quantum dot surfaces, was demonstrated by applying a novel chemical extraction procedure utilizing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid followed by quantitative elemental analysis. Se...
Platelet-Derived Toll-Like Receptor 4 (Tlr-4) Is Sufficient to Promote Microvascular Thrombosis in Endotoxemia

Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) produced by gram-negative bacteria initiates a host of pro-inflammatory effects through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4). We reported previously that LPS enhances microvascular thrombosis in cremaster venules of wild-type mice, but had no effect in mice deficient in TLR-4. Since TLR-4 is expressed on various cell types, the cellular origin of TLR-4 responsible for the LPS-enhanced thrombosis remains undetermined. Platelets are known to express functional TLR-4. Platelet-derived TLR-4 has been suggested to mediate various inflammatory responses in endotoxemia, including production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), two cytokines reported to enhance microvascular thrombosis. We determined whether platelet-derived TLR-4 was sufficient to mediate the enhanced thrombosis induced by endotoxin and whether these responses were accompanied by systemic increases in TNF-α and IL-1β. We isolated platelets from wild-type mice and transfused them into either of two strains of TLR-4-deficient mice (C57BL/10ScN and B6.B10ScN-TLR-4lps-del/Jth). The mice were then injected with LPS or saline, and the kinetics of thrombosis were studied 4 hours later. Transfusion of wild-type platelets restored responsiveness to LPS in TLR-4-deficient mice with regards to microvascular thrombosis but not to plasma levels of TNF-α or IL-1β. The accelerated rates of microvascular thrombosis induced by platelet transfusions were specific to TLR-4, since isolation and transfusion of platelets derived from TLR-4-deficient donors did not restore responsiveness to LPS. These studies demonstrate that platelet-derived TLR-4 is sufficient to promote microvascular thrombosis in endotoxemia, independent of systemic increases in TNF-α or IL-1β.
Crosslinking in keratins. II. Theory for sulfur disproportionation after chain scission and crosslink cleavage

Formulas are derived for the sulfur concentration in the insoluble remainder and extract of a keratinlike material following either chain scission, crosslink cleavage, or both. If only chain breakage occurs, the sulfur in the insoluble fraction can approach double its original concentration. On crosslink cleavage, however, it is likely to decrease somewhat by loss as unbound sulfur, formation of lanthionine, or disulfide–sulfhydryl exchange.
CK2 Phosphorylation of the Armadillo Repeat Region of β-Catenin Potentiates Wnt Signaling

Protein kinase CK2 is a ubiquitous serine/threonine kinase involved in many biological processes. It is overexpressed in many malignancies including rodent and human breast cancer, and is up-regulated in Wnt-transfected mammary epithelial cells, where it can be found in a complex with dishevelled and β-catenin. β-Catenin is a substrate for CK2 and inhibition of CK2 reduces levels of β-catenin and dishevelled. Here we report that inhibition of CK2 using pharmacologic agents or expression of kinase inactive subunits reduces β-catenin-dependent transcription and protein levels in a proteasome-dependent fashion. The major region of phosphorylation of β-catenin by CK2 is the central armadillo repeat domain, where carrier proteins like axin and the adenomatous polyposis coli gene product APC interact with β-catenin. The major CK2 phosphorylation site in this domain is Thr393, a solvent-accessible residue in a key hinge region of the molecule. Mutation of this single amino acid reduces β-catenin phosphorylation, cotranscriptional activity, and stability. Thus, CK2 is a positive regulator of Wnt signaling through phosphorylation of β-catenin at Thr393, leading to proteasome resistance and increased protein and co-transcriptional activity.
C-D modes of deuterated side chain of leucine as structural reporters via dual-frequency two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy.

Perdeuteration of the side chains of amino acids such as leucine results in appearance of reasonably strong absorption peaks around 2050−2220 cm−1 that belong to the CD stretching modes and exhibit...
Co-localization of tau and α-synuclein in the olfactory bulb in Alzheimer's disease with amygdala Lewy bodies

We recently reported that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with amygdala Lewy bodies (ALB) is a distinct form of α-synucleinopathy that occurs in advanced AD. In AD/ALB the α-synuclein pathology correlated with tau pathology, but not amyloid plaques, and there was often co-localization of tau and α-synuclein in the same neuron. Given the anatomical connectivity of the anterior olfactory nucleus and the amygdala, which receives axonal projections from the olfactory bulb, we hypothesized that there might be a relationship between tau and α-synuclein pathology in the olfactory bulb and the amygdala in AD. We screened for α-synuclein pathology in the olfactory bulb in AD with and without ALB, and investigated its relationship with tau pathology. In 38 of 41 (93%) AD/ALB cases and 4 of 21 (19%) AD cases without ALB (AD/non-ALB), α-synuclein pathology was detected in the olfactory bulb. Double immunolabeling at the light and electron microscopic levels revealed co-localization of tau and α-synuclein in olfactory bulb neurons and neurites. The severity of tau pathology correlated with α-synuclein pathology in the olfactory bulb. In addition, α-synuclein pathology in the olfactory bulb correlated with α-synuclein pathology in amygdala. Tau pathology was greater in both the olfactory bulb and amygdala in AD/ALB than in AD/non-ALB, but there was no difference in tau pathology between the two groups in other brain regions assessed. The present study shows that in AD/ALB, the olfactory bulb is nearly equally vulnerable to tau and α-synuclein pathology as the amygdala and suggests that neurodegeneration in these two anatomical regions is linked.
Enhanced energy storage in nanocomposites through aligned PZT nanowires

Nanocomposites consisting of a piezoceramic inclusion and polymer matrix offer a combination of electromechanical coupling with high toughness and ductility inherent to polymers. There is a wide range of applications for these types of materials due to their intrinsic piezoelectric and dielectric properties, such as vibration sensing, actuation, energy harvesting and capacitive energy storage. However, the relatively low piezoelectric strain coefficient and dielectric permittivity of these nanocomposites significantly limit their application in energy conversion and energy storage applications. There are mainly two coupled to improve the dielectric permittivity and electromechanical properties of piezoceramic nanocomposites, namely higher aspect ratio active inclusions and alignment of inclusions in the direction of the applied electric field. Previously, we have demonstrated that using higher aspect ratio lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanowires (NWs) could significantly enhance the energy density and d33 coupling as compared to the samples with lower aspect ratio PZT nanorods [11]. In this paper, we will show that orientation of PZT NWs also influences energy storage capability of nanocomposite. Nanocomposites with aligned PZT NWs in the direction of the applied electric field show increased dielectric permittivity and energy density as compared to those with randomly dispersed inclusions. PZT NWs are hydrothermally synthesized, dispersed into a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), cast into a film and then aligned through uniaxial stretching. Scanning electric microscopy (SEM) shows the PZT NWs are successfully aligned in direction of stretching. This work demonstrates that the energy storage and conversion capability of the nanocomposite can be significantly enhanced through the alignment of PZT NWs in the direction of the applied electric field. The findings of this research could lead to broad interest due to demonstration of developing piezoceramic nanocomposites with enhanced dielectric and electromechanical properties for next generation energy storage and conversion devices.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Electrical augmentation of granular bed filters

Abstract A study of the enhancement of the collection efficiency of granular bed filters by electrical means is reported. By applying electric fields of a few kV/cm (DC or AC) across a bed of insulating granules, the efficiency for submicron charged aerosol is greatly increased, to the point where the efficiency minimum normally observed with such filters in the size range 0.1–1 μm is removed. The performance of such filters is explored as a function of granule size, applied field, face velocity and charge state of the entering aerosol with both a bench-scale flow system (to 40 ft3/min; 1.1 m3/min) and a wind tunnel (to 600 ft3/min; 17 m3/min). Some theoretical estimates are made to identify the most likely physical mechanism of electrical enhancement, and a number of potential application possibilities are discussed.
General Medical Problems Among the Offspring of Depressed Parents: A 10‐Year Follow‐up

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the association between both parental and offspring depression and the general medical problems of a sample of offspring at high and low risk for depression. Method Offspring ( n = 222) from families with either depressed or nondepressed parents were followed up for a period of 10 years. Data collected included psychiatric diagnoses derived from direct semistructured interviews and history of general medical problems and hospital visits. Rates of medical problems and hospitalizations were calculated, and offspring were stratified by depression status of both parent and offspring. Result In analyses controlled for sociodemographic factors, offspring depression status was associated with a history of genitourinary disorders, headaches, respiratory disorders, other disorders, and hospitalizations in the offspring, and parental depression was associated with a history of unconsciousness and hospitalization in the offspring. After subjects were stratified by parental depression, significant associations between offspring depression and medical problems were found for only those offspring with a depressed parent. Conclusion These findings suggest that a history of parental depression increases the risk for medical problems and hospitalization among depressed offspring. The co-occurrence of general medical and psychological problems among offspring of depressed parents may have implications for the treatment of both depression and comorbid medical disorders.
Bose metal: Gauge-field fluctuations and scaling for field-tuned quantum phase transitions

We extend our previous discussion of the Bose metal to the field-tuned case. We point out that the recent observation of the metallic state as an intermediate phase between the superconductor and the insulator in the field-tuned experiments on MoGe films is in perfect consistency with the Bose metal scenario. We establish a connection between general dissipation models and gauge-field fluctuations and apply this to a discussion of scaling across the quantum phase boundaries of the Bose metallic state. Interestingly, we find that the Bose metal scenario implies a possible two parameter scaling for resistivity across the Bose metal-insulator transition, which is remarkably consistent with the MoGe data. Scaling at the superconductor-metal transition is also proposed, and a phenomenolgical model for the metallic state is discussed. The effective action of the Bose metal state is described and its low energy excitation spectrum is found to be $\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\propto}{k}^{3}.$
The production of glucans via glucansucrases from Lactobacillus satsumensis isolated from a fermented beverage starter culture

Several starter cultures used in the production of fermented beverages were screened for lactic acid bacteria that produced water-insoluble polysaccharides from sucrose. The strain producing the greatest amount was identified as Lactobacillus satsumensis by its 16S RNA sequence and was deposited in the ARS culture collection as NRRL B-59839. This strain produced at least two α-d-glucans from sucrose. One was a water-soluble dextran, consisting of predominantly α-(1 → 6)-linked d-glucose units, and the other was a water-insoluble glucan containing both α-(1 → 6)-linked and α-(1 → 3)-linked d-glucose units. The culture fluid was found to contain glucansucrases responsible for the two glucans, and no significant level of fructansucrase was detected. Glucansucrase activity was not present in the culture fluid when the bacteria were grown on glucose, fructose, or raffinose as the carbon source. Although the water-soluble glucans produced by cell-free enzyme and by cell suspensions were essentially identical, the same was not true for the water-insoluble glucans. The water-insoluble glucan produced by cell-free culture fluid contained a higher proportion of α-(1 → 3)-linked d-glucose units than the water-insoluble glucan produced by cell suspensions.
The impact of foregrounds on redshift space distortion measurements with the highly redshifted 21-cm line

The highly redshifted 21 cm line of neutral hydrogen has become recognized as a unique probe of cosmology from relatively low redshifts (z ~ 1) up through the Epoch of Reionization (z ~ 8) and even beyond. To date, most work has focused on recovering the spherically averaged power spectrum of the 21 cm signal, since this approach maximizes the signal-to-noise in the initial measurement. However, like galaxy surveys, the 21 cm signal is affected by redshift space distortions, and is inherently anisotropic between the line-of-sight and transverse directions. A measurement of this anisotropy can yield unique cosmological information, potentially even isolating the matter power spectrum from astrophysical effects. However, in interferometric measurements, foregrounds also have an anisotropic footprint between the line-of-sight and transverse directions: the so-called foreground "wedge". Although foreground subtraction techniques are actively being developed, a "foreground avoidance" approach of simply ignoring contaminated modes has arguably proven most successful to date. In this work, we analyze the effect of this foreground anisotropy in recovering the redshift space distortion signature in 21 cm measurements at both high and intermediate redshifts. We find the foreground wedge corrupts nearly all of the redshift space signal for even the largest proposed EoR experiments (HERA and the SKA), making cosmological information unrecoverable without foreground subtraction. The situation is somewhat improved at lower redshifts, where the redshift-dependent mapping from observed coordinates to cosmological coordinates significantly reduces the size of the wedge. Using only foreground avoidance, we find that a large experiment like CHIME can place non-trivial constraints on cosmological parameters.
Approximate graphical method of solving Fermi level and majority carrier density of semiconductors with multiple donors and multiple acceptors

We present a generic approximate graphical method for determining the equilibrium Fermi level and majority carrier density of a semiconductor with multiple donors and multiple acceptors compensating each other. Simple and easy-to-follow procedures of the graphical method are described. By graphically plotting two wrapping step functions facing each other, one for the positive hole-ionized donor and one for the negative electron-ionized acceptor, we have the crossing point that renders the Fermi level and majority carrier density. Using the graphical method, new equations are derived, such as the carrier compensation proportional toNA=ND, not the widely quoted NA ND. Visual insight is offered to view not only the result of graphic determination of Fermi level and majority carrier density but also the dominant and critical pair of donors and acceptors in compensation. The graphical method presented in this work will help to guide the design, adjustment, and improvement of the multiply doped semiconductors. Comparison of this approximate graphical method with previous work on compensation, and with some experimental results, is made. Future work in the field is proposed.
Dissolution of ferrites by clostridium sp.

Abstract The dissolution of several normal and inverse ferrites by Clostridium sp. under anaerobic conditions occurs through enzymatic reductive dissolution of iron (direct action) and through organic acid metabolites (indirect action) produced by the bacteria. The iron in the octahedral coordination in normal spinel and in tetrahe‐dral coordination with the divalent metal in inverse spinel was solubilized by direct action of the bacteria. Although the extent of dissolution of the ferrites differed, there was no clear relationship between the type of ferrite (normal and inverse spinels) and the mechanism of dissolution. The inverse spinels containing cobalt and copper ferrites were solubilized by indirect and direct action, respectively. Among the normal spinels tested, manganese ferrite was solubilized by direct action, while zinc ferrite was solubilized by direct and indirect action. Nickel ferrite was not solubilized by direct or indirect action. Cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, and zinc ferrites had...
Effects of Cardiac Surgery with Extracorporeal Circulation on Intellectual Function in Children

The effect of extracorporeal circulation during open heart surgery on changes in intellectual function was studied in 18 children. A group of patients undergoing such surgery was compared to a control group undergoing cardiac surgery without extracorporeal circulation. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children was used to evaluate the patients. No significant differences were found in either the performance IQs, verbal IQs, or full scale IQs by comparing the postoperative scores to the preoperative scores either within each group or between the groups. Extracorporeal circulation during open heart surgery does not appear to alter intellectual functioning in the pediatric age group.
Laccoliths(?) and small volcanoes on the flank of the East Pacific Rise

Clusters of low circular domes and discs, each a few hundred metres high and a few kilometres across, have been mapped but not sampled during a Seabeam traverse of old (9–18 m.y.) oceanic crust at (at 19–20°S in the South Pacific, where they replace the typical lineated fault-block terrain for several hundred square kilometres. The landforms are probably produced by laccolith intrusion beneath a sediment cover in an off-axis volcanic province. Their overall shapes are distinctly different from the small volcanic shields that also dot the rise flank, and from small satellite cones that are abundant on archipelagic aprons, though some of the domes do bear small cratered shields and cones on their peripheries, and even shallow summit depressions.
Alcohol Use and Risk of Ischemic Stroke Among Older Adults The Cardiovascular Health Study

Background and Purpose— The association of light to moderate alcohol consumption with risk of ischemic stroke remains uncertain, as are the roles of potentially mediating factors and modification by apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype. Methods— We studied the prospective association of alcohol consumption and risk of ischemic stroke among 4410 participants free of cardiovascular disease at baseline in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population-based cohort study of older adults from 4 US communities. Participants reported their consumption of alcoholic beverages yearly. Results— During an average follow-up period of 9.2 years, 434 cases of incident ischemic stroke occurred. Compared with long-term abstainers, the multivariate relative risks of ischemic stroke were 0.85 (95% CI, 0.63 to 1.13), 0.75 (95% CI, 0.53 to 1.06), 0.82 (95% CI, 0.51 to 1.30), and 1.03 (95% CI, 0.68 to 1.57) among consumers of <1, 1 to 6, 7 to 13, and ≥14 drinks per week (P quadratic trend 0.06). ApoE genotype appeared to modify the...
Spinal systems and pain processing: development of novel analgesic drugs with mechanistically defined models

Much research has been undertaken in the field of pain in an attempt to find an effective treatment. Insights into the underlying mechanisms of pain have been gained from studies using preclinical animal models (acute stimuli, post-tissue injury and peripheral nerve injury) and evaluating their similarity with the human condition. In this article, these pain models are summarized and the mechanisms of pain discussed in relation to spinal processing. In the context of this research the therapeutic potential of novel analgesics is highlighted as the future looks forward to the many possibilities that the targeted spinal delivery of drugs can bring.
Trait Voting in U.S. Senate Elections

Assessments of candidates’ personal attributes are known to affect vote choice in presidential elections, but little work has explored trait perceptions and trait voting in congressional contests. In this article, I examine the role of candidate traits in U.S. Senate campaigns, drawing on unique survey data from the 2006 midterms. I find that voters’ evaluations of candidate qualities are less influenced by party stereotypes than in presidential elections and are strongly related to whether a candidate is an incumbent. And just as in campaigns for the White House, trait perceptions affect vote choice. But sitting Senators hold trait advantages that incumbent presidents do not necessarily receive, which makes leadership a particularly influential attribute in Senate races. In addition, trait voting is not contingent on campaign intensity and is strongest among the least politically aware citizens. In general, the results provide evidence for the applicability of presidential trait theories to congressional...
Enabling genuine eye contact and accurate gaze in remote collaboration

Conventional telepresence systems allow remote users to see one another and interact with shared media and documents, but users cannot make eye contact, and gaze awareness with respect to shared media and documents is lost. In this paper we describe a remote collaboration system based on a see-through display to create an experience where local and remote users are seemingly separated only by a vertical sheet of glass. Users can see each other and media displayed on the shared surface. Face detectors on the local and remote video streams are used to introduce an offset in the video display so as to bring the local user's face, the local camera, and the remote user's face image into collinearity. This ensures that when the local user looks at the remote user's image, the camera behind the see-through display captures an image with the ‘Mona Lisa effect’, where the eyes of an image appears to follow the viewer. Experiments show that our system is capable of capturing and delivering realistic, genuine eye contact as well as accurate gaze awareness with respect to shared media.
Low Dose Interferon Alfa-2B for the Induction of Remission of Hairy Cell Leukemia: A Multi-institutional Study of 49 Patients.

This multicenter study reports on 49 patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) who were treated subcutaneously with alfa-2b interferon (Intron A, Schering Corporation, Kenilworth, N.J.), three times a week at a reduced dosage of 200,000 units/m(2), one-tenth the dose of the standard 2 million units/m(2). The response rate (normalized blood counts) was 22% (11 of 49); an additional 12 patients had a minor response for an overall response rate of 47% (23 of 49). When response was assessed by prior IFN therapy, no significant difference was noted. Five of 21 (24%) with no prior IFN and 6 of 28 (21%) with prior IFN therapy achieved at least a normalization of blood counts (p = 0.07). The response rate with low-dose interferon is inferior to that with standard dose interferon and should not be used for remission induction, but should be evaluated for its role in long-term maintenance of response.