cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combination technique for improving natural convection cooling in electronics

The combination of an appropriately placed cross-flow opening and a strategically positioned transversely vibrating plate is proposed as a means of augmenting pure natural convection in a vertical channel. This method is intended to provide a more efficient, reliable, and consumer conscious alternative to conventional techniques for lower power dissipating devices where standard natural convection cooling proves insufficient. Two-dimensional numerical simulations are employed to investigate this combination method using models consisting of a vertical channel containing two rectangular heat sources which are attached to a vertical mounting board, as well as a transversely oscillating plate and a cross-flow opening in the mounting board area between the two heat sources. Varied parameters and geometric configurations are studied. The results indicate the combined effects of the vibrating plate and the opening flow have the potential to cause significant improvement in the thermal conditions over pure natural convection. As much as a 70% improvement in the local heat transfer coefficient from that for a system with a board opening but without a vibrating plate was attained.
Keratinocyte growth factor induces hyperproliferation and delays differentiation in a skin equivalent model system

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is a paracrine mediator of epithelial cell growth. To examine the direct effects of KGF on the morphogenesis of the epidermis, we generated skin equivalents in vitro by seeding human keratinocytes on the papillary surface of acellular dermis and raising them up to the air-liquid interface. KGF was either added exogenously or expressed by keratinocytes via a recombinant retrovirus encoding KGF. KGF induced dramatic changes to the 3-dimensional organization of the epidermis including pronounced hyperthickening, crowding, and elongation of the basal cells, flattening of the rete ridges, and a ripple-like pattern in the junction of stratum corneum and granular layers. Quantitative immunostaining for the proliferation antigen, Ki67, revealed that in addition to increasing basal proliferation, KGF extended the proliferative compartment by inducing suprabasal cell proliferation. KGF also induced expression of the integrin alpha 5 beta 1 and delayed expression of keratin 10 and transglutaminase. However, barrier formation of the epidermis was not disrupted. These results demonstrate for the first time that a single growth factor can alter the 3-dimensional organization and proliferative function of an in vitro epidermis. In addition to new strategies for tissue engineering, such a well-defined system will be useful for analyzing growth factor effects on the complex links between cell proliferation, cell movement and differentiation within a stratified tissue.
Racial/Ethnic predictors of falls among older adults: the health and retirement study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine racial/ethnic differences in the probability and frequency of falls among adults aged 65 and older. METHOD: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) from 2000 to 2010, the authors conducted random-intercept logistic and Poisson regression analyses to examine whether race/ethnicity predicted the likelihood of a fall event and the frequency of falls. RESULTS: The analytic sample included 10,484 older adults. Baseline analyses showed no significant racial/ethnic differences in the probability or number of falls. However, in the longitudinal random-intercept models, African Americans had significantly lower odds (0.65) of experiencing at least one fall compared with non-Hispanic Whites. Among fallers, African Americans had significantly fewer falls (24%) than non-Hispanic Whites, controlling for health and sociodemographic covariates (all ps DISCUSSION: African Americans are less likely to experience initial or recurrent falls than non-Hispanic Whites. Language: en
Relationship between gender and psychotic symptoms in cocaine-dependent and methamphetamine-dependent participants.

Abstract Background: It has been well documented that cocaine and methamphetamine use can lead to the onset of psychotic symptoms similar to schizophrenia. However, the research and literature on gender differences and stimulant-induced psychosis have been mixed. Objective: The primary aim of this study was to investigate gender differences in the reporting of psychotic symptoms in cocaine- versus methamphetamine-dependent individuals. Methods: Participants were recruited from the Los Angeles, California, community via radio and newspaper advertisements. All met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria for cocaine or methamphetamine dependence, and all reported either methamphetamine or cocaine as their primary drug of abuse. During a screening interview, participants answered questions from the Psychotic Symptom Assessment Scale, which characterizes various types of psychotic symptoms during drug use (“while high”) or during periods of nonuse (“while abstinent”). Results: Participants included 42 cocaine-dependent individuals (27 men, 15 women) and 43 methamphetamine-dependent individuals (25 men, 18 women). Among cocaine users, there were no significant differences between men and women with regard to ethnicity, years of use, route of administration, and amount used in the past week, though they differed significantly with regard to age (P = 0.029). In the “while abstinent” condition, women were significantly more likely than men to report experiencing auditory hallucinations (13% vs 0%, respectively; P = 0.050) and tactile hallucinations (20% vs 0%; P = 0.016), whereas men were more likely to report delusions of grandeur (48% vs 6%; P = 0.006). During the “while high” condition, women were significantly more likely than men to report delusions of grandeur (13% vs 0%, respectively; P = 0.050), tactile hallucinations (33% vs 0%; P = 0.001), and olfactory hallucinations (13% vs 0%; P = 0.050). Among methamphetamine users, there were no significant differences between men and women with regard to age, ethnicity, years of use, route of administration, or amount used in the past week. In the “while abstinent” condition, women were significantly more likely than men to report feeling that something was wrong with the way a part of their body looked (72% vs 32%, respectively; P = 0.009), olfactory hallucinations (39% vs 8%; P = 0.010) and dressing inappropriately (22% vs 0%; P = 0.010). During the “while high” condition, women were more likely than men to report delusions of grandeur (33% vs 16%, respectively; P = 0.030), paranoia (50% vs 16%; P = 0.017), and tactile hallucinations (61% vs 32%; P = 0.050). Conclusions: The findings of the present study revealed that cocaine- and methamphetamine-dependent women were more likely than their male counterparts to report experiencing various psychotic symptoms. This information may be useful for clinicians and mental health professionals, who should take these symptoms into account as potential barriers that may impede effective treatment.
The superior mineral content of some American Indian foods in comparison to federally donated counterpart commodities

In pre‐Columbian times, Indian diets were markedly different from patterns that have developed after forced introduction of refined modern foods. The nutritional outcomes of this change have been inferred but not documented. To this end, samples of traditional Hopi and Papago Indian foods and federal commodity foods donated in 1971–72 were analyzed for nitrogen and 15 other elements. Native foods produced in the Arizona reservation areas were consistently higher in essential minerals than were the substituted commodity foods. The Hopi culinary practice of adding ashes of green plants (usually ash of chamisa or spent bean pods and vines) to various corn foods raised still further the already superior content of most minerals, notably calcium and iron. Some uncultivated plant foods were found to be rich sources of minerals, especially Papago dried cholla cactus buds which contained 2.8 percent of calcium. These tribes appear to have had a better probability of meeting mineral needs from locally grown and tr...
Intrepretation of and Extraction of Useful Information From Irregular Fluctuating Industrial Microbial Counts

Irregular fluctuating patterns of industrial microbial records arise because certain factors that affect them vary in a random fashion. If the counts are independent, and their series stationary with no trend or periodicity, a probabilistic model based on an asymmetric distribution function can be used to estimate the frequency of counts exceeding any given magnitude. Industrial records of standard plate counts (SPC), anaerobes, and thermophiles in 4 dairy products were characterized with the lognormal distribution. Many of the records had weak but significant autocorrelations for small lags, indicating that successive lots had similar microbial loads. Nevertheless, in almost all cases the method provided reasonable estimates of future counts frequencies, which were confirmed with fresh data.
An Analytical Model for Evaluating Static Power of Homogeneous FPGA Architectures

As capacity of the field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) continues to increase, power dissipated in the logic and routing resources has become a critical concern for FPGA architects. Recent studies have shown that static power is fast approaching the dynamic power in submicron devices. In this article, we propose an analytical model for relating homogeneous island-style-based FPGA architecture to static power. Current FPGA power models are tightly coupled with CAD tools. Our CAD-independent model captures the static power for a given FPGA architecture based on estimates of routing and logic resource utilizations from a pre-technology mapped netlist. We observe an average correlation ratio (C-Ratio) of 95p and a minimum absolute percentage error (MAPE) rate of 15p with respect to the experimental results generated by the Versatile Placement Routing (VPR) tool over the MCNC benchmarks. Our model offers application engineers and FPGA architects the capability to evaluate the impact of their design choices on static power without having to go through CAD-intensive investigations.
Alterations in receptors controlling dopamine synthesis after chronic ethanol ingestion.

The influence of acute and chronic ethanol treatment and withdrawal on regulation of dopamine synthesis in striatal and mesolimbic areas of mouse brain was evaluated. Tyrosine hydroxylase activity was estimated by measuring in vivo DOPA accumulation after inhibition of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase. Eight hours after a single (3 g/kg) dose of ethanol, DOPA synthesis was increased and pimozide, a dopamine receptor antagonist, stimulated DOPA synthesis to the same degree in ethanol-treated and control animals. On the other hand, 8 h after withdrawal of animals from chronic ethanol treatment, endogenous dopamine synthesis was the same in ethanol-withdrawn and control animals, but the stimulation of dopamine synthesis produced by low doses of pimozide or haloperidol was significantly less in the animals that had consumed ethanol. This effect was even more apparent at 24h after withdrawal; by 3 days after withdrawal the decreased response of ethanol-withdrawn animals to the administration of dopamine receptor blockers was no longer statistically significant. At all time points tested, high doses of pimozide or haloperidol stimulated DOPA synthesis equally in control and ethanol-withdrawn animals. Chronic ethanol treatment and withdrawal may alter the coupling between dopamine receptors which regulate dopamine synthesis and tyrosine hydroxylase.
Molecular Imaging and Stroke

Molecular imaging (MI) is a rapidly developing field that encompasses many new (and old) imaging modalities that seeks to present patient-specific and disease-specific molecular and genetic information in conventional 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional anatomic imaging readouts. The foundations of MI are based on the fusion of a “promoter” agent that will be altered in a particular environment or disease state with an observable “reporter” agent that would register any change in the signal or contrast from the promoter. Much of MI is being done in experimental models of cancer, but only some of the developments can be scaled up to a clinical reality for eventual diagnostic and prognostic usefulness in stroke. The most commonly used modalities in MI research have been optical-based near-infrared or visible light sensors, bioluminescence,1,2 cameras sensitive to the firefly luciferase–luciferin generation of green light, nuclear medicine (NM)-based single-photon and positron tomography, and now, most recently, magnetic resonance (MR). Optical imaging techniques developed early for molecular and cellular biology using a wide variety of wavelengths. The noninvasive imaging in vivo with light photons has largely come from the advances in targeted bioluminescence probes, near-infrared fluorochromes, activated near-infrared fluorescence agents, and primarily from light emitted from the luciferase entity (reporter) in the presence of a substrate (luciferin).1,2 Optical techniques using multiple wavelength probes such as quantum dots holds the potential for multichannel imaging. However, most fundamental to the widespread use of in vivo optical imaging of stroke or ischemia in living subjects is the difficulty of detecting light from the brain, primarily because of the presence of the skull. Because of this, MI using optical techniques has been largely limited to nonneuro studies of cancer in rodent models. Nonetheless, optical imaging has a bright future in neuroimaging research. Advances in the use of near-infrared for diagnostic,3–5 …
Detecting Blood Clots using Neural Networks

The purpose of this research is to determine a noninvasive user-friendly method that the general population can use to determine whether they may have a blood clot. One thing that has impeded detection of blood clots in the past is the threat of invasive surgery as well as the cost of the tests that are offered. Our goal is to create a software system that takes blood clot symptoms as user input and provides the type of blood clot disease they are suffering from so that the patient can go to the hospital for further diagnosis. Many times people feel pain and they do not know the cause nor do they see a doctor to determine the problem. By allowing people to check themselves first in the privacy of their own homes it is possible that more people will see doctors with better knowledge of their potential problem. To accomplish this goal, we used a neural network model to determine the disease based on symptom inputs of the patient. The 'nftool' of MATLAB with appropriate training provides an accuracy of 99.99%
Computational methods in the design of photocaged compounds. I. Spectroscopic calculations upon substituted isochromenes

Photocaged compounds in combination with time-resolved X-ray crystallographic methods may enable the observation of short-lived intermediates in enzyme reactions within crystals. To date, the number of suitable photolabile groups remains limited. As part of efforts to develop general approaches to the design of photolabile compounds with potential use in studying the structure of intermediates formed during the hydrolysis of peptide bonds by aspartic proteinases, we have begun to explore the use of INDO/S methods in predicting the photochemical properties of candidate structures. In this paper, the results of ZINDO calculations upon a series of substituted 3-phenylisochromenes, which have been characterized photochemically, are reported. Although prediction of the major absorption bands of these isochromenes was achieved with reasonable accuracy, the inclusion of solvent effects through a simple representation of methanol using a self-consistent reaction field (SCRF) gave poorer agreement. However, if specific hydrogen-bonding interactions between methanol and the isochromenes were modeled, then good agreement between theory and experiment was obtained. The orbitals involved in the electronic transitions associated with the longest wavelength peaks were visualized. Significantly, the σ* antibonding interaction that cleaves the carbon–oxygen bond of the isochromene arises from twisting of the heterocyclic ring accompanying excitation of the electron into the LUMO. Our calculations are consistent with the observed photochemical reactivity of the substituted 3-phenylisochromenes, suggesting that such approaches are viable for screening candidate photosubstrates for use in probing enzyme reaction mechanisms. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Design of an Automatic Target Recognition algorithm on the IBM Cell Broadband Engine

The paper presents the design of an Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) algorithm on the IBM Cell Broadband Engine (Cell BE). The implementation utilizes several optimizations that exploit both the specific algorithm constructs of the ATR and the architectural features of the Cell processor. We discuss a total of 8 optimizations and present performance improvements achieved by their application. The latency of the Cell BE implementation of the ATR algorithm is 0.070 seconds on the Sony PlayStation3 (PS3) platform. The achieved performance is more than 25 times faster than the fully optimized PowerPC implementation and almost 20 times faster than our best efforts on a Pentium4 CPU.
Acquiring medium models for sensing performance estimation

The quality of sensing in practical sensor net- work deployments suffers due to the presence of obstacles in the sensing medium. The obstacles may not be known before deployment and may change over time. This makes it hard to provide any estimate on the reliability of sensor data. Hence, it is of interest to develop methods which enable a sensor network to determine the presence and extent of sensing occlusions. We present one such method based on the use of a range sensor to map the obstacles in the medium. A network architecture to support efficient medium mapping facilities is presented, along with several design choices in the acquisition and update of the medium map data. We also present algorithms to rapidly acquire this data and share it among multiple nodes. All algorithms presented are implemented on prototype hardware con- sisting of an actuated laser and an embedded processing platform.
Who Are the Gangsters? An Examination of the Age, Race/Ethnicity, Sex, and Immigration Status of Self-Reported Gang Members in a Seven-City Study of American Youth

Fifteen years ago, Esbensen and Winfree published an article in which they challenged the stereotypical image of gang members, specifically with regard to race/ethnicity and sex. In the ensuing years, a number of other publications have reported findings similar to those reported by Esbensen and Winfree, especially with regard to the sex composition of American youth gangs. Studies from Europe have also reported gang member demographic characteristics similar to those reported in the United States. The current article replicates Esbensen and Winfree’s research by examining the sex and racial/ethnic characteristics of self-reported gang members in a seven-city study. In addition, the article explores these characteristics across 5 years of data, examining the extent to which gang member demographics remain constant as youth age. Furthermore, given the attention to immigration, the article also assesses the extent to which gang membership is linked to immigration status. More important, the article also exp...
Carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum attenuates the inflammatory response following laparotomy

Abstract Introduction. CO 2 pneumoperitoneum is known to have beneficial immune effects in laparoscopic surgery. However, the effects of CO 2 pneumoperitoneum preconditioning on the immune response to conventional surgery are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine if CO 2 pneumoperitoneum preconditioning would reduce the cytokine response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) sepsis and laparotomy. Materials and Methods. Thirty-two rats ( n = 8) were randomized into four groups: CO 2 pneumoperitoneum, helium pneumoperitoneum, anesthesia control, and laparotomy/LPS only control. The first three groups received 30 min of preconditioning with their respective treatments followed by laparotomy for another 30 min. Simultaneously to laparotomy, rats received intraperitoneal Escherichia coli LPS (1 mg/kg). The laparotomy/LPS only control group received no preconditioning. In a second experiment, 40 rats ( n = 10) were subjected to the same conditions described above but with the laparotomy being closed immediately following LPS injection. Blood samples for serum cytokine assays were collected via cardiac puncture from all animals 2 h following LPS injection. Results. Compared to laparotomy/LPS only control, plasma levels of IL-6 were depressed 30% by anesthesia preconditioning, 55% by He-pneumoperitoneum preconditioning, and 84% by CO 2 -pneumoperitoneum preconditioning. In the second experiment, IL-6 levels were depressed 8.9% by anesthesia-preconditioning, 9.6% by He-pneumoperitoneum, and 49% by CO 2 -pneumoperitoneum compared to laparotomy/LPS only control. Conclusions. CO 2 pneumoperitoneum preconditioning down regulates subsequent serum IL-6 expression in response to LPS-induced sepsis even in the setting of a laparotomy. Furthermore, the immune modulating effects of CO 2 pneumoperitoneum endure for a number of hours following abdominal insufflation regardless of the duration of open peritoneal exposure to the ambient environment. CO 2 pneumoperitoneum preconditioning may protect the critically ill surgery patient from the inflammatory response associated with sepsis and surgical celiotomy.
Sticking with the Pattern for a Safer Glue

A variety of synthetic materials such as sutures and staples are routinely used to close surgical wounds and repair injured tissue. These materials have greatly improved surgical care but are often cumbersome to apply and are associated with a risk of leakage from the suture line, which can lead to undesired postoperative complications. Adhesive materials considerably expand the resources available for wound repair and surgical interventions by providing mechanical support to the friable tissue while sealing the wound and preventing leakage from the incision site. However, commercially available materials such as fibrin glue and cyanoacrylate (CA) often require a choice between adequate adhesion and biocompatibility. Now, Pereira et al. combine surface patterning and reactive chemistry to maximize tissue adhesion while reducing toxicity. Medical-grade CA adheres strongly to tissue; however, it is also associated with toxicity. Nonspecific interactions between CA and functional groups on tissue surfaces, the heat produced by the bonding reaction, and the toxic degradation products all pose drawbacks to the use of this material, despite its adequate adhesion and sealing characteristics. To reduce material toxicity, the authors used only a thin film of the medical-grade adhesive. To improve the degree of adhesion, the authors employed microtextured patches of CA-coated substrate to provide a larger surface area for interaction with tissue surfaces. Spin-coating of cyanoacrylate onto a polycaprolactone (PCL) substrate helped maintain the topographical features of the substrate. Spin-coating also reduced the amount of glue applied to the tissue interface and hence the amount of toxic products released during degradation. Ex vivo pull-off adhesion tests against wet intestine tissue confirmed the enhanced adhesion force on patterned patches as compared to that of flat substrates. Subcutaneous implantation of CA-coated PCL patches in rats also showed reduced inflammation and fibrotic capsule formation for the spin-coated CA samples, as evidenced by hematoxylin and eosin and antibody-to-CD68 staining. Statistically significant differences in adhesion strength between patterned and nonpatterned surfaces were confirmed in rat models subjected to colon or stomach punctures. Harnessing the synergy between surface topography and reactive chemistry may expand the clinical applications that use CA-based materials beyond external use. Follow-up studies should examine the extent to which patterning alone improves adhesion and whether it can be used to enhance the effectiveness of other adhesive materials that are more biocompatible. M. J. N. Pereira et al. , Combined surface micropatterning and reactive chemistry maximizes tissue adhesion with minimal inflammation. Adv. Healthcare Mater. , published online 18 September 2013 (10.1002/adhm.201300264). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adhm.201300264/abstract
High-zoom video hallucination by exploiting spatio-temporal regularities

In this paper, we consider the problem of super-resolving a human face video by a very high (/spl times/ 16) zoom factor. Inspired by the literature on hallucination and example-based learning, we formulate this task using a graphical model that encodes, (1) spatio-temporal consistencies, and (2) image formation & degradation processes. A video database of facial expressions is used to learn a domain-specific prior for high-resolution videos. The problem is posed as one of probabilistic inference, in which we aim to find the high-resolution video that satisfies the constraints expressed through the graphical model. Traditional approaches to this problem using video data first estimate the relative motion between frames and then compensate for it, and effectively resulting in multiple measurements of the scene. Our use of time is rather direct, we define data structures that span multiple consecutive frames enriching our feature vectors with a temporal signature. We then exploit these signatures to find consistent solutions over time. In our experiments, an 8/spl times/6 pixel-wide face video, subject to translational jitter and additive noise, gets magnified to a 128/spl times/96 pixel video. Our results show that by exploiting both space and time, drastic improvements can be achieved in both video flicker artifacts and mean-squared-error.
Biochemical and Cytochemical Evidence for the Polar Concentration of Periplasmic Enzymes in a “Minicell” Strain of Escherichia coli

A number of "surface" enzymes of Escherichia coli (i.e., among those selectively released by osmotic shock) all displayed higher specific activities in extracts of minicells than in extracts of typical rod forms; these enzymes included alkaline phosphatase, cyclic phosphodiesterase, acid hexose monophosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase, and ribonuclease I. In addition, alkaline phosphatase, cyclic phosphodiesterase, and acid hexose monophosphatase were cytochemically localized to regions of minicell periplasm that resembled reactive polar enlargements of the periplasm in rod forms. In contrast, a number of "internal" cytoplasmic enzymes (inorganic pyrophosphatase, beta-galactosidase, glutamine synthetase, polynucleotide phosphorylase, and ribonuclease II) showed elevated or similar specific activities in extracts of rod forms versus extracts of minicells. A specific heat-labile inhibitor for 5'-nucleotidase, known to occur in the cytoplasm, also showed no enrichment in minicells. These findings indicate that the "surface" enzymes are segregated in vivo into the terminal minicell buds, possibly because these enzymes are concentrated in the polar enlargements of the periplasm in typical rod forms.
Subsequent Receipt of Interventions for Glaucoma Among a Nationwide Sample of Patients Who Underwent Laser Peripheral Iridotomy

Purpose To evaluate use of medical, laser, or incisional surgical interventions for glaucoma after laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). Design Retrospective longitudinal cohort study. Methods All enrollees aged ≥21 years in a US managed-care network who underwent bilateral LPIs in 2001–2011 were identified. The mean numbers of pre- and post-LPI glaucoma medication classes prescribed and the proportion of enrollees requiring cataract or glaucoma surgery within 2 years after the LPIs were determined. Multivariable logistic regression assessed factors associated with enrollees' prescription of ≥1 glaucoma medication class after bilateral LPIs. Results Of the 1660 patients undergoing bilateral LPIs, 1280 (77.1%) had no pre- or post-LPI prescriptions for any glaucoma medication class. Of the remaining patients, 251 (66.1%) required more glaucoma medication classes after than before the procedures, whereas 44 (11.6%) used fewer after the procedures; 85 (22.4%) were prescribed the same number before and after the LPIs. A total of 167 patients (10.1%) underwent cataract surgery and 79 (4.8%) received glaucoma surgery over the 2-year follow-up. Black patients had a 130% increased odds for glaucoma medication–class prescriptions after bilateral LPIs, compared with white patients ( P = .02). The odds of post-LPI glaucoma medication use increased by 21% for every additional 5 years of age ( P Conclusion Most patients undergoing bilateral LPIs received no pre- or post-LPI glaucoma medication–class prescriptions and had no cataract or additional glaucoma surgery within 2 years after LPIs. Clinicians should alert black or older patients and those already taking glaucoma medications before the procedure of their higher odds of requiring medications afterward.
Sex Work, Heroin Injection, and HIV Risk in Tijuana: A Love Story

The relationships between female sex workers and their non-commercial male partners are typically viewed as sites of HIV risk rather than meaningful unions. This ethnographic case study presents a nuanced portrayal of the relationship between Cindy and Beto, a female sex worker who injects drugs and her intimate, non-commercial partner who live in Tijuana, Mexico. Based on ethnographic research in Tijuana and our long term involvement in a public health study, we suggest that emotions play a central role in sex workers' relationships and contribute in complex ways to each partner's health. We conceptualize Cindy and Beto's relationship as a "dangerous safe haven" in which HIV risk behaviors such as unprotected sex and syringe sharing convey notions of love and trust and help sustain emotional unity amidst broader uncertainties, but nevertheless carry very real health risks. Further attention to how emotions shape vulnerable couples' health remains a task for anthropology.
Nonallelism for the Audiogenic Seizure Prone (ASP1) and the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) Loci in Mice

Previous studies showed an association between the Ahr locus on Chr 12 and a maj or gene, Aspl, that influences susceptibility to audiogenic seizures (AGS) in mice. Although the association was thought to involve close linkage, a pleiotropic effect of the Ahr locus on AGS susceptibility was not excluded. Two congenic strains, D2.B6N-Asplb and the D2N.B6N-Ahrbl, were used to evaluate further the association between the Ahr and Aspl loci. Both strains are genetically identical to the AGS susceptible DBA/2 (D2) strain except for a small amount of C57BL/6N (B6N) genome surrounding the Ahr locus and encompassing the Aspl locus. The AGS susceptibility of both congenic strains is similar and significantly lower than that of the D2 strain. We found that the Ahr/Aspl critical region encompasses 5.5–7.0 cM from the proximal microsatellite marker D12Mit153 to the distal marker D12Mit112. The D2N.B6N-Ahrbl expresses B6 alleles for all markers within the critical region, whereas the D2.B6N-Asplh expresses the B6 aliel...
Effective Use of EE-Learning in a Graduate Education Course

A graduate level education course utilized ee-learning (the combination of experiential and electronic learning) to break down barriers between theory and practice, and knowledge and experience. Students shared and reflected on experiences at volunteer sites, their personal lives, their individual school settings and coursework, to create a powerful, integrated learning experience. Results show ee-learning can be an effective pedagogy for classes consisting of controversial, personal and sensitive subject areas such as the exploration and discussion of beliefs concerning race, class and gender. Classroom teachers enrolled in graduate classes are busy professionals. They do not believe they have time to volunteer at another school site, nor do they initially perceive the benefits. One student wrote, "I would rather spend the hours helping out in my own school". However, the instructor believed students needed hands on experience in a different school to achieve the learning goals of the course. Ee-learning proved to be the solution that met the needs of both students and instructor. Ee-learning is a pedagogy which combines experiential and electronic learning. This paper describes an ee-learning course called Issues in Education: Race, Class and Gender, completed by graduate education students at a small Midwestern regional college. The course was conducted online through the use of OnCourse, a course management software program. A wide variety of instructional technologies enhanced the course, including online surveys, quizzes and interactive exercises; video clips and audio interviews. Students were required to spend a minimum of ten hours completing volunteer activities in an educational setting as different as possible from their work setting in terms of race, income level, social class, and standardized test scores. The experiential learning combined with the electronic format to create an ee-learning course. The goals of the course were to have students increase their awareness of educational issues involving race, class and gender; recognize, examine and challenge their own beliefs in these areas; and identify ways in which they can make a difference, or act as change agents in their own educational settings. The class was composed of practicing teachers with classroom experience ranging from three years to more than twenty years. Conversations with graduate students in previous classes revealed that most viewed the educational system through a lens based on their personal experience. To meet course goals, the instructor needed the students to fully understand the wide variety of PK12 students' educational experiences. The researcher wanted to measure the effectiveness of an electronic class format combined with experiential learning, in terms of meeting course goals and in student satisfaction with the class. Research questions included the following: Was the ee-learning class successful?
Intelligence and achievement of children referred following sexual abuse.

Objective: Little is known about the prevalence of intellectual and academic problems in sexually abused children. Such problems may have significant implications for their management. This study examined the prevalence of such problems in a population of Australian children referred for sexual abuse evaluation. The study also assessed the clinical utility of the Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) questionnaire as a screening tool for learning and developmental problems in this population. Methods: Over a 12-month period, children referred for sexual abuse evaluation to the Mater Children’s Hospital Child Protection Unit were enrolled and background demographic and abuse related data collected. The children then completed standardized psychometric assessments. Their parents completed Child Behavior Checklists (CBCL) and PEDS questionnaires. Day care providers and schoolteachers completed the corresponding Caregiver or Teacher Report Forms (TRF). Results: A total of 21 of the 35 eligible children completed the assessment during the study period. Mean scores for intelligence and academic achievement were within the average range. However, three (14%) of the tested children were intellectually impaired and three (14%) showed academic underachievement. Sixty-two per cent of children had problems in the clinical range on the CBCL and 33% on the TRF. The PEDS showed a sensitivity of 64%, specificity of 60% with a positive predictive value of 77%. Conclusion: In this population of referred children, over one quarter showed problems with intellectual impairment or academic under achievement. Most of these children were not receiving learning support at school. A high index of suspicion is therefore required when assessing sexually abused children for comorbid intellectual and learning problems.
Activity of the Nucleopolyhedrovirus of the Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Foliage of Transgenic Sweet Corn Expressing a CryIA(b) Toxin

The activity of the nucleopolyhedrovirus of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (SfMNPV), on transgenic sweet corn, Zea mays (L.), expressing a CryIA(b) toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner), was studied in the laboratory. As the line of Bt corn that we studied has only limited efficacy against the fall armyworm, SfMNPV was evaluated as a supplemental treatment. When fall armyworm larvae reared on transgenic or nontransgenic foliage were fed equal dosages of occlusion bodies (OB), measured either as OB per larva or as OB/mg larval weight, mortality was higher among larvae feeding on transgenic corn. However, when larvae were allowed to feed ad libitum on treated foliage, mortality was higher in larvae on the nontransgenic corn. Rates of food consumption were higher on nontransgenic corn, apparently resulting in ingestion of more OBs and countering increased susceptibility of larvae on transgenic corn.
Stirring up Fractional Quantum Hall Puddles

We theoretically explore the generation of few-body analogs of fractional quantum Hall states. We consider an array of identical few-atom clusters n = 2,3,4, each cluster trapped at the node of an optical lattice. By temporally varying the amplitude and phase of the trapping lasers, one can introduce a rotating deformation at each site. We analyze protocols for coherently transferring ground state clusters into highly correlated states, producing theoretical fidelities (probability of reaching the target state) in excess of 99%.
Stochastic Fertilizer Production Functions for Continuous Corn

The distributional properties of yield and profit for continuous corn production under nitrogen fertilization are investigated, and the mean and variance are estimated as functions of the rate of nitrogen fertilization. It is noted that the variance of profit increases as the rate of fertilization increases. The current expected yield is shown to be a function of previous yield and fertilization history. It is then demonstrated that information on previous yield outcomes may be used to specify a fertilization program which increases mean profit and/or reduces year-to-year variance in profit as compared to a fixed rate of application each year.
Two New Fungi on Torreya

Spermogonia amphigena, diffusa, subepidermalia, subglobosa, paraphysata, 100?130 M lata X 130-185 a* alta. In folia cum aut sine aeciis. Aecia hypophylla, usitata confluenta, lineas albidas, occasione lineas interruptas efformantia; subepidermalia, erumpentia, ad 3 cm. longa X 0.5-0.7 mm. lata. Peridia nulla. Aeciosporae late ellipsoidae vel globosae, subangulares, 9-12 X 15-20(25) /*; membrana subtiliter verruculosa, hyalina, 1-1.5 xi cr. In foliis Torreyae californicae.
The Reaction of Cellulose Fiber with Novel Imidazolic Chelating Agents Using a Cyanuric Chloride and Application to Metal Ion Indicator Paper

The reaction of α-dione monoximes with aldehydes and ammonia afforded a general and facile synthetic route to 1-hydroxyimidazoles.Among them, the chemical structure of 1-hydroxy-2- (pyrid-2-yl) -4, 5-dimethylimidazole and 1-hydroxy-2- (pyrr-2-yl) -4, 5-dimethylimidazole is similar to α, α'-bipyridine which is well known chelating agent.Moreover, these imidazoles are an advantage over α, α'-bipyridine, because the hydroxyl group of the imidazoles is substitutable. Thus the 2, 4, 6-trichloro-s-triazine (cyanuric chloride) has been used to couple the 1-hydroxyimidazoles with cellulose fiber. The apparent stability constant of bonded 1-oxy-2- (pyrid-2yl) -4, 5-dimethylimidazole with ferrous ion (II) was 104.
Prey selection and food habits of Burrowing Owls in Colorado

Food habits of Burrowing Owls ( Speotyto cunicularia ) were studied during the breeding seasons of 1990 and 1991 in central Colorado. Concurrent insect availability studies were conducted to determine selection for specific insect families. Analysis of 1445 castings indicated use of only one insect family, the carrion beetles (Silphidae), at a rate greater than expected based on availability in one year. Castings and prey remains showed different dietary components. Prey remains showed greater use of small mammals, moths, amphibians, and passerines, and castings indicated greater use of mice and beetles. Methodology in raptor food habits studies may therefore bias results.
The new sexual politics of cancer: Oncoviruses, disease prevention, and sexual health promotion

In recent decades, scientists have established a causal link between a number of viruses and a variety of cancers accounting for an estimated 12 to 20 per cent of all cancer cases worldwide. When including all cancers resulting from weakened immune systems due to HIV/AIDS, the number of cancer cases directly or indirectly attributable to viruses rises further. In this article, we examine six cases of virus–cancer connections, selecting those viruses that are also sexually transmitted. These include the well-known case of human papillomavirus (HPV) as well as Hepatitis B and C, the Epstein–Barr Virus, HTLV-1, and KSHV/HHV-8. We examine these viral cancer connections as entanglements among sex, science and biomedicine, specifically exploring the varied places, processes and attributions that infuse this health domain with sexual meanings or banish these from view. We argue that such processes and attributions appear in the shadow cast by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. While virus–cancer links potentially direct researchers both ‘inward’ toward the biomolecular and ‘outward’ toward the social and cultural, our analysis reveals a predominant shift inward in ways that both reinforce and occlude attempts to banish sexual meanings from view.
Phospholipid- and neutral lipid-containing organelles of rat gastroduodenal mucous cells: Possible origin of the hydrophobic mucosal lining

In this study, an attempt was made to localize the cell types and subcellular organelles that synthesize and secrete surface-active lipids from the rat gastroduodenal mucosa. Two fluorescent hydrophobic probes--Nile Red and 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid--and a phospholipid-selective cytochemical stain--iodoplatinate--were used for fluorescence and electron microscopic studies, respectively. The results showed the presence of phospholipid and neutral lipid fluorescent hot spots in the mucous cells of both the gastric mucosa and the submucosal Brunner's glands of the duodenum. In contrast, other cell types of the stomach (parietal, chief, and endocrine cells) or the duodenum (goblet cells and villous and crypt enterocytes) were either unreactive or weakly stained with the dyes. Ultrastructurally, two classes of large infranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in these two types of mucous cells. The location and size of these inclusion bodies appeared to be in agreement with the position and size of the large hydrophobic fluorescent hot spots detected at the light microscopic level. The ultrastructural appearance, localization, and histochemical staining pattern of these lipid-containing organelles suggest that they are specific for these cell types and not a general feature of degenerative epithelium undergoing lysosome-induced autolysis. It was concluded that the mucous cells of both the stomach and the Brunner's glands contain a subcellular organelle that stores hydrophobic material constituting both neutral lipids and phospholipids. These lipidic substances may be secreted into the gastroduodenal mucous gel and provide its surface with a nonwettable lining to repel luminal acid.
The Nature-Nurture Debates: Bridging the Gap

How is it possible that in more than one hundred years, the nature-nurture debate has not come to a satisfactory resolution? The problem, Dale Goldhaber argues, lies not with the proposed answers, but with the question itself. In The Nature-Nurture Debate, Goldhaber reviews the four major perspectives on the issue - behavior genetics, environment, evolutionary psychology and developmental systems theory - and shows that the classic, reductionist strategies (behavior genetics and environmental approaches) are incapable of resolving the issue because they each offer a false perspective on the process of human development. It is only through a synthesis of the two holistic perspectives of evolutionary psychology and developmental systems theory that we will be able to understand the nature of human behavior.
Mass spectrometric methods of isotope determination

Although there are several analytical techniques for determining the isotopic composition of a sample, combined gas chromatography—mass spectrometry (GC—MS) is often the most suitable for analysis of samples of biological origin (Watson, 1976). For example, biological samples are rarely pure (even after extensive sample processing) and the biologically active component may represent only a trace constituent of the total sample. The combination of a separation technique with an identification technique in GC—MS permits a complex mixture to be separated in the time domain so that characteristic mass spectra can be obtained from picomole to nanomole quantities of sample depending on the mode of instrument operation.
Development and Validation of Noninvasive Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry for the In Vivo Assessment of Tissue-Engineered Graft Oxygenation

Techniques to monitor the oxygen partial pressure (pO2) within implanted tissue-engineered grafts (TEGs) are critically necessary for TEG development, but current methods are invasive and inaccurate. In this study, we developed an accurate and noninvasive technique to monitor TEG pO2 utilizing proton (1H) or fluorine (19F) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) relaxometry. The value of the spin-lattice relaxation rate constant (R1) of some biocompatible compounds is sensitive to dissolved oxygen (and temperature), while insensitive to other external factors. Through this physical mechanism, MRS can measure the pO2 of implanted TEGs. We evaluated six potential MRS pO2 probes and measured their oxygen and temperature sensitivities and their intrinsic R1 values at 16.4 T. Acellular TEGs were constructed by emulsifying porcine plasma with perfluoro-15-crown-5-ether, injecting the emulsion into a macroencapsulation device, and cross-linking the plasma with a thrombin solution. A multiparametric calibration equation containing R1, pO2, and temperature was empirically generated from MRS data and validated with fiber optic (FO) probes in vitro. TEGs were then implanted in a dorsal subcutaneous pocket in a murine model and evaluated with MRS up to 29 days postimplantation. R1 measurements from the TEGs were converted to pO2 values using the established calibration equation and these in vivo pO2 measurements were simultaneously validated with FO probes. Additionally, MRS was used to detect increased pO2 within implanted TEGs that received supplemental oxygen delivery. Finally, based on a comparison of our MRS data with previously reported data, ultra-high-field (16.4 T) is shown to have an advantage for measuring hypoxia with 19F MRS. Results from this study show MRS relaxometry to be a precise, accurate, and noninvasive technique to monitor TEG pO2 in vitro and in vivo.
Aneurysms of the Anterior Communicating Artery: Report of a Method of Surgical Treatment and Review of 40 Cases

Surgical treatment of aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery offers the patient distinct advantages over nonoperative management. A method is described which is used at the University of Minnesota Hospitals, and a series of 40 cases is reviewed. Morbidity and mortality rates were comparatively low.