cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of Oxygen and pH Optical Sensors Using Phase Modulation Technique.

ABSTRACT In this paper we report the use of phase sensitive fluorometry to obtain preliminary results from micrometer-sizedoptical fiber oxygen sensors and a pH sensitive dye. Micrometer-sized (100 j.tm and 10-20 tm) oxygen sensors were prepared on the distal tip of an optical fiber using a dip-coating procedure to immobilize Tris(4,7-Diphenyll,lO- Phenanthroline)Ru(11, Chloride (Ru(dpp)) within a sol-gel matrix. These optodes exhibit excellent performance towards bothgaseous and dissolved oxygen. The sensor's intensity based excitation and emission spectra, as well as phase fluorometricmeasurements, were collected utilizing a back-detection set-up. These micro-optodes have many desirable features forminimally invasive bio-medical applications arising from the potential of miniaturization. Carboxynaphthofluorescein (CNF)solutions are shown to exhibit pH-dependent fluorescence decay times and analysis of the phase and the modulation valuesindicate a strong pH dependence in the physiological range, thus identifying this water-soluble dye as an attractive candidatefor optical pH measurements in biomedical samples.Key words: Micro-optode; Fiber Optics; pH sensing; Oxygen sensor; Sol-Gel; Phase modulation.
EXPERIENCES WITH PEERS FOLLOWING RELOCATION DURING EARLY ADOLESCENCE

Experiences with peers during a school year among 36 early adolescents who had recently moved were compared with those of 37 early adolescents who were residentially stable. As a group, the mobile adolescents had fewer contacts with friends and reported less intimacy with their best friend. Boys who had moved encountered more instances of rejection than did their nonmobile counterparts; this finding did not hold for girls.
GaAs photoconductivity indicates native defect structure and metastability of Te complex

Abstract We present photoconductivity measurements at 77K and room temperature of various semi-insulating GaAs samples grown with the LEC technique in PBN. The presence of a sharp structure near mid-gap believed to be due to a native defect, is here explained as arising from dislocations in the sample. We also observe the presence of a metastable state in one of our samples containing Cr and Te dopants, and propose a tentative model involving lattice relaxation at a Te related complex.
A separability result for GMM estimation, with applications to GLS prediction and conditional moment tests

Generalized method of moments estimates are unaffected by the addition of equal numbers of moment conditions and extra parameters. We prove thisresult and give examples of its use.
Life Imitates Art Enron's Epic and Tragic Narration

Enron is more than tragedy; it is epic theatre. Epic theatre is not one narrator on one stage; it is a multitude of simultaneous theatric performances, collectively negotiated by inquiry participants (reporters, regulators, analysts), narrating while wandering in an unstable labyrinth of networked stages. Narrators of the Enron epic (in contrast to tragic) grasp together a wider cast of characters, interlace more historical incidents, and suggest broader systemic changes to capitalism and democracy. The stages of dramatic action (rising, crisis, falling, and denouement), which we are taught to expect in narration, do not settle into one emplotment in epic as they do in tragedy. The authors contend that the tragic narrative form constrains meltdown inquiry, whereas epic expands it. The tragic version of this corporate meltdown absolves us of culpability and responsibility, as the tragic hero becomes our scapegoat.
PCR primer design: an inquiry-based introduction to bioinformatics on the World Wide Web

Abstract A project is described which details the selection of PCR primers for an unknown gene of the Herpes Simplex Virus (Type 1) using tools available on the World Wide Web. Within the context of designing PCR primers, students are introduced to some of the basic tools used in the field of bioinformatics and have the opportunity to further develop the concepts of nucleic acid sequence and structure, based on the analysis of selected nucleotide primers.
The Irresistible Force and the Imperceptible Object: The Yugoslav Breakup and Western Policy

The author would like to thank Matthew Evangelista, Ben Frankel, Patrick James, Obrad Kesic, Sean Lynn-Jones, Karen Mingst, Edward Rhodes, Dennison Rusinow, Howard Warshawsky, and anonymous reviewers for invaluable comments on earlier drafts; William Zimmerman for his ideas and advice; and Jon Grate and Alan Purcell for much appreciated research assistance.
cis‐Per­hydro‐1,4‐benzodioxin‐2,3‐dione

The title compound, C8H10O4, crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric space group Pna21 with two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit. The structure is characterized by fused cyclo­hexyl and cyclic diester rings. There is a twist of 60° about the ring fusion. The mol­ecules are characterized by an average C=O bond of 1.199 (8) A, an average sp2 C—O bond of 1.328 (8) A, and an average sp3 C—O bond of 1.469 (8) A.
Gun Felons and Gun Regulation: Offenders' Views About and Reactions to "Shall-Issue" Policies for Carrying Concealed Weapons

Many states have recently adopted “shall-issue” gun laws making it is easier for applicants to receive permits for carrying concealed weapons. The policy shift is based on assumptions regarding cri...
Complejidad gramatical y niveles de dificultad en lecturas de ELE adaptadas y originales

RESUMENLas lecturas de espanol ELE son clasiﬁcadas por las editoriales en varios niveles de diﬁcultad. Sin embargo, poco o ningun criterio se ofrece para su clasiﬁcacion. Si algun criterio se menciona, este se reﬁere a la diversidad de vocabulario, pero no a la complejidad morfosintactica. Este estudio trata de responder a dos cuestiones fundamentales: a) ?Hay una relacion entre ciertos indices de complejidad morfosintactica y niveles de diﬁcultad de las lecturas? y b) ?Diﬁeren los indices de complejidad morfosintactica de los textos creados originalmente como lecturas ELE y de los que provienen de adaptaciones? En una muestra de 61 fragmentos pertenecientes a 3 niveles diferentes de diﬁcultad (basico, intermedio y avanzado) se analizan los indices primarios de madurez sintactica y la diversidad verbal. Los resultados muestran que las diferencias entre niveles de diﬁcultad son solo signiﬁcativas para los textos originales (aquellos que se crearon originalmente como lecturas ELE vs. textos que son adaptaciones). Ademas, los niveles intermedio y avanzado se diferencian mucho menos entre si que con respecto al nivel basico.
Student Well-Being Interventions: The Effects of Stress Management Techniques and Gratitude Journaling in the Management Education Classroom.

Student well-being in the management classroom is of concern to both educators and managers. Well-being is conceptualized here as students’ reduction in stress, enhanced experienced meaning and engagement in the classroom, and, ultimately, heightened satisfaction with life. The authors investigated whether purposeful semester-long classroom interventions could influence these dimensions of student well-being. Specifically, the authors examined the impact of stress management techniques, gratitude journaling, a combination of stress management and journaling, and a control condition on students in four different sections of a required management course. At the end of the semester, students in the both the combined intervention and gratitude journaling treatment conditions showed a heightened level of meaningfulness and engagement in the classroom. The implications of these findings for management education research and practice as well as strengths and limitations of the research are discussed.
Natural convection due to horizontal temperature and concentration gradients—1. Variable thermophysical property effects

Abstract Typically for single component fluids, the variation of thermophysical properties is negligible except in the presence of large temperature differences, and, therefore, has no appreciable effect on the heat transfer. In contradistinction, thermophysical properties can vary significantly due to concentration differences which affect the heat and mass transfer. This work examines the effects of thermophysical property variation on the heat and mass transfer in a cavity due to natural convection driven by combined thermal and solutal buoyancy forces. Results indicate that thermophysical property variations can appreciably influence heat and mass transfer and velocity distribution.
Comparison of subnormal multiple doses of l-thyroxine and l-triiodothyronine in propylthiouracil-fed and radiothyroidectomized chicks (Gallus domesticus)☆

1. 1. The physiological potencies of l-thyroxine (l-T4) and l-triiodothyroxine (l-T3) are equal in propylthiouracil (PTU)-fed radiothyroidectomized (RT) chicks. 2. 2. Propylthiouracil does not seem to interfere in the peripheral activity of T4 or T3 in the chick. 3. 3. Liver hypertrophy and liver glycogen accumulation are distinct criteria of hypothyroidism in the chick and are restored to near normal levels by small daily doses of T4 or T3. 4. 4. The thyroid enlargement subsequent to the feeding of PTU is further increase by the administration of multiple subnormal doses of T4 or T3. 5. 5. The poor growth rate of PTU-fed and RT chicks compared to control chicks is due to decreased food intake. The apparent digestibility of protein, fat, and energy, as well as the efficiecy of food utilization are affected equally by T4 or T3 in PTU-fed or radiothyroidectomized chicks.
Narcissism and rhetorical maturity

Unhealthful narcissism leads to rhetorical maladaptation. It hinders the spirit and processes of discovery, hampers establishment and appreciation of beliefs, values, and ideals, distorts perception, and results in regressive social behavior, e.g., in relating. While a general rhetorical standard assumes an adult mentality, the solipsistic state—narcissistic and immature‐forecasts missed rhetorical opportunity, misjudgments of audience and occasion, and misshaped messages.
A model for the dissociation pulse, afterglow, and laser pulse in the Cu/CuCl double pulse laser

A model which completely describes the Cu/CuCl double pulse laser is presented. The dissociation discharge pulse and afterglow are simulated and the results are used as initial conditions for an analysis of the pumping discharge pulse and laser pulse. Experimental behavior including the minimum, optimum, and maximum delays between pulses, and the dependence of laser pulse energy on dissociation energy are satisfactorily reproduced. An optimum tube temperature is calculated, and the dependence of laser pulse energy on tube temperature (i.e., CuCl vapor pressure) is explained for the first time.
Flavonoids from Artemisia ludoviciana var. ludoviciana

Nineteen flavonoids were isolated from Artemisia ludoviciana var. ludoviciana, including a new 2′- hydroxy- 6-methoxyflavone, 5,7,2′,4′-tetrahydroxy-6,5′-dimethoxyflavone. The known compounds include quercetagetin 3,6,3′,4′-tetramethyl ether, eupatilin, 5,7-dihydroxy-3,6,8,4′-tetramethoxyflavone, luteolin 3′,4′-dimethyl ether, jaceosidin, 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3,6-dimethoxyflavone, tricin, hispidulin, chrysoeriol, kaempferol 3-methyl ether, apigenin, axillarin, eupafolin, selagin and luteolin together with three flavones which were previously isolated for the first time from Artemisia frigida: 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6, 3′,5′-trimethoxyflavone, 5,7,3′-trihydroxy-6,4′,5′-trimethoxyflavone and 5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxy-6,5′- dimethoxyflavone.
Reconciliation and the Budget Process

John Gilmour. Reconcilable diferences? Congress, the Budget Process, and the Deficit. Allen Schick, The Capacity to Budget. Richard Fenno, The Emergence of a Senate Leader: Pete Domenici and the Reagan Budget. Dennis Ippolito, Uncertain Legacies: Federal Budget Policy from Roosevelt through Rragan. Stanly Collender, The Guide to the Federal Budget, Fiscal 1992.
Raphael and the bad humours of painters in Vasari's Lives of the Artists*

Throughout his monumental series of artists’ biographies, and above all in the section of this text dealing with his contemporaries, Giorgio Vasari used the medically related terms ‘complexion’ and ‘humour’ in distinct – though not wholly discrete – ways. The former is deployed to comment on artists’ innate constitutional strength and on changes in their health, while the latter is invoked primarily to characterize pathological tendencies – often problematic or morally objectionable ones. When correlated with information in other vite, striking passages at the beginning and end of the biography of Raphael serve to clarify how and why Vasari considered certain humours – primarily melancholy, but secondarily choler – particularly destructive in their influence on artists’ behaviour. Conversely, the (essentially jaundiced) picture of human temperament in Vasari's text at large serves inversely to underscore the strength of his stated admiration for the ‘gracious,’ Christ-like Raphael.
Bovine Bone Marrow Lipids

Characteristics of marrow lipids in bones from three different anatomical locations (cervical, lumbar, femur) in steers and cows on low energy (range) or high energy (feedlot) diets are reported. Cervical marrow contained the least and femur marrow the most total lipid and triglycerides (TG) were the major type of lipid present in all marrows. Phosphatidyl choline was the major PL present in all marrows. The predominant fatty acids were 16:0, 18:0 and cis 18:1. There were no consistent effects due to anatomical location of bone, diet or sex upon any of the acids measured. TG structures were similar in all marrows and the fatty acid composition of TG from steer marrow resembled that of steer intramuscular TG.
Long-Term Effects of Methylphenidate Transdermal Delivery System Treatment of ADHD on Growth

ABSTRACT Objective: To examine the long-term effects of the methylphenidate transdermal system (MTS) on the growth of children being treated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Method: Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were measured in 127 children ages 6 to 12 at longitudinal assessments for up to 36 months of treatment with MTS. These data were compared with norms provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results: MTS treatment was associated with small but significant delays in growth for height, weight, and BMI. The latter two indices were affected in a dose-dependent manner. Children who had not received prior stimulant therapy and children who entered the study with above-average height, weight, and BMI were most likely to experience growth deficits during the trial. Effects on all parameters of growth were most apparent during the first year of treatment, and attenuated over time. Conclusions: Consistent with prior studies of methylphenidate, our results suggest that treatment with MTS can lead to reductions in expected height, weight, and BMI that show some attenuation over the course of treatment. Growth of patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treated with MTS should be closely monitored, but in this study, deficits in growth in relation to MTS treatment were not a significant clinical concern for most children.
Adaptation to climate change: changes in farmland use and stocking rate in the U.S.

This paper examines possible adaptations to climate change in terms of pasture and crop land use and stocking rate in the United States (U.S.). Using Agricultural Census and climate data in a statistical model, we find that as temperature and precipitation increases agricultural commodity producers respond by reducing crop land and increasing pasture land. In addition, cattle stocking rate decreases as the summer Temperature-humidity Index (THI) increases and summer precipitation decreases. Using the statistical model with climate data from four General Circulation Models (GCMs), we project that land use shifts from cropping to grazing and the stocking rate declines, and these adaptations are more pronounced in the central and the southeast regions of the U.S. Controlling for other farm production variables, crop land decreases by 6 % and pasture land increases by 33 % from the baseline. Correspondingly, the associated economic impact due to adaptation is around −14 and 29 million dollars to crop producers and pasture producers by the end of this century, respectively. The national and regional results have implications for farm programs and subsidy policies.
Selective removal of cholesterol by plasmapheresis and the progression of atherosclerosis.

There is a strong correlation of plasma cholesterol levels with the risk of coronary heart diseases as shown by epidemiologic studies. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of plasma cholesterol lowering on the progression of atherosclerosis in the homozygous Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbit. The effect of cholesterol lowering, which was accomplished by thermofiltration (on-line plasma separation with plasma filtration at 39°C) was evaluated by comparison between treated and untreated control groups. Thermofiltration reduced significantly the mean plasma level of total cholesterol (284 vs. 655 mg/dl, P = 0.0005) and the percent aortic area occupied by atherosclerotic plaque (15.0 vs. 44.2%, P = 0.0003). The total lipid and cholesterol contents in the aortas in the treated group were also significantly lower than those in the control group. Microscopically, thickness measurements of the lesions showed that the mean thickness of the fibrous cap and the ratio of the thickness of the intima to that of the media were smaller for the treated group than the control group. This study demonstrated the slowing or stopping of the progression of atherosclerosis by lowering the plasma total cholesterol level in WHHL rabbits. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The fractal random telegraph signal: Signal analysis and applications

A random telegraph signal is a time series whose value S(t) at time t is either one of only two possible values. Many processes including chemical reactions, cell membrane ion channels, and electronic noise generate such signals. Usually, Markov models have been used to model and analyze such data. Instead, we present a new fractal random telegraph signal that is statistically self-similar in time. We show how to analyze such signals and apply those techniques to study burst noise in a defective operational amplifier and ion currents recorded through individual ion channels in a cell membrane.
Content-based image retrieval in radiology: analysis of variability in human perception of similarity.

We aim to develop a better understanding of perception of similarity in focal computed tomography (CT) liver images to determine the feasibility of techniques for developing reference sets for training and validating content-based image retrieval systems. In an observer study, four radiologists and six nonradiologists assessed overall similarity and similarity in 5 image features in 136 pairs of focal CT liver lesions. We computed intra- and inter-reader agreements in these similarity ratings and viewed the distributions of the ratings. The readers’ ratings of overall similarity and similarity in each feature primarily appeared to be bimodally distributed. Median Kappa scores for intra-reader agreement ranged from 0.57 to 0.86 in the five features and from 0.72 to 0.82 for overall similarity. Median Kappa scores for inter-reader agreement ranged from 0.24 to 0.58 in the five features and were 0.39 for overall similarity. There was no significant difference in agreement for radiologists and nonradiologists. Our results show that developing perceptual similarity reference standards is a complex task. Moderate to high inter-reader variability precludes ease of dividing up the workload of rating perceptual similarity among many readers, while low intra-reader variability may make it possible to acquire large volumes of data by asking readers to view image pairs over many sessions.
Monoclonal antibodies against a soluble cytoplasmic antigen in human prostatic epithelial cells

Antibodies against a soluble cytoplasmic protein contained in prostate epithelial cells were developed using the hybridoma technique. This was done to provide markers for these cells that can be used to identify acinar cells in culture and to follow their development and/or differentiation over long periods of time. The antibodies do not recognize prostatic acid phosphatase nor the prostate antigen. They do recognize prostate acinar cells in formalin fixed tissue sections. The basal cells underlying the prostate epithelial acinar cells do not appear to contain the antigen. The antigen detected is believed to be a product of differentiated prostatic acinar cells.
New applications of a biogenic silica deposition fluorophore in the study of oceanic diatoms

Silicon (Si) availability is known to be one of the main factors controlling the productivity and distribution of diatoms (Dugdale et al. 1995), but current chemical and microscopic methods do not allow discrimination of the key species responsible for Si biomineralization in mixed natural diatom assemblages. In 2001, new insights into biological silicification became available when studies with diatom cultures established that PDMPO [2-(4-pyridyl)-5{[4-dimethylaminoethyl-aminocarbamoyl)-methoxy]phenyl}oxazole] selectively binds to polymerizing silica and emits an intense fluorescence under ultraviolet (UV) excitation wherever newly formed Si is deposited (Shimizu et al. 2001). Here, we focus on adapting the PDMPO method to the study of Si use in natural diatom communities, including identification of individual cells carrying out new Si deposition. Experiments determined a simple and reproducible way to label actively silicifying diatoms, to preserve stained samples and identified the best optical tools to visualize the fluorescence properties of Si-bound PDMPO. The application of confocal multiphoton microscopy to the PDMPO method revealed unprecedented high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) imaging of new Si deposition within diatom cells, which can be used to study biogenic silica deposition in relation to the cell cycle. The quantitative aspects of this method were further explored and resulted in a protocol allowing simultaneous measurement of newly deposited biogenic silica and PDMPO incorporation in the same sample. This aspect was successfully tested on both cultures and field samples. Toxicity assays were also run on a mixed natural diatom community to ensure that the probe presented no deleterious effect on diatom growth, biogenic silica deposition, or silicic acid uptake rates over 24 h incubations and at the recommended concentration. There is also great potential for a better understanding of the biogeochemistry of Si in diatoms through coupling of this method to other quantifying tools, such as UV flow cytometry and image analysis.
Triple Chromosome Pairing in Triploid Chickens

THE statement that “only two homologous chromosomes can pair at one time” is one of the most basic of cytogenetic principles. It is founded on observations of meiosis in triploid and tetraploid organisms1–7 which have suggested that if three homologues are present, they will occur as a pair and a single unpaired chromosome. If four homologues are present, the chromosomes may exchange pairing partners, but they occur as two separate pairs. We now present evidence that the chromosomes of the triploid chicken are not bound by these rules and are capable of “triple pairing”.
SU-E-J-19: How Should CTV to PTV Margin Be Created - Analysis of Set-Up Uncertainties of Different Body Parts Using Daily Image Guidance.

Purpose: The objective for this study is to systematically evaluate how the CTV to PTV margin should be created to compensate for setup error as afunction of treatment site. Methods: A total of 1757 setup MVCT images were analyzed using the registration between the MVCT and planning KVCT images. Among them, 526 images were from patients with head and neck cancers; 342 were from thoracic site; 447 from upper abdomen and 442 from patients treated at pelvic region. The correction was shifts in 3 directions from setup with skin marks to final treatment position due to volumetric image registration. Registration was based on soft tissueanatomy when tumor was visible in both KVCT and MVCT. Otherwise, bony landmarks were used when tumors could not be identified. Results: The anterior to posterior (A/P) direction requires the smallest correction for all body sites. The percentage of treatment with 5mm shift in the S/I direction. For thoracic and abdominal tumors, there were still 34.9% and 30.7% of the treatments where >5mm shift in the S/I direction was needed. Conclusions: Uniform expansion margins in all directions are often used in radiation oncology practice. Our study showed setup error was directionally dependent. Therefore, non‐uniform margin should be applied. Smaller margin can be used in A/P while larger expansion needs to be given in the S/I direction.
Abortive myogenesis in denervated skeletal muscle: differentiative properties of satellite cells, their migration, and block of terminal differentiation

Little is known about the biological properties of myogenic satellite cells during postdenervation muscle atrophy. The present study investigated the differentiative capacity of satellite cells and their involvement in the compensatory regenerative process in long-term denervated rat muscle. Electron microscopy and immunocytochemical labeling of muscle tissue 1–18 months following denervation demonstrated that despite activation of satellite cells, myogenesis in denervated muscle is abortive and does not lead to the formation of normal muscle fibers. Small sizes, poor development of the contractile system in newly formed denervated myotubes, and the absence of satellite cells on the surface indicate that their differentiation typically does not progress to terminal stages. Many immature myotubes degenerate, and others survive but are embedded in a collagen lattice near their parent fibers. Interestingly, newly formed myotubes located on the surface of parent muscle fibers beneath the basal lamina typically did not contain developed myofibrils. This suggests that the contacts of daughter and parent muscle fibers block myofibrillogenesis. Assembly of sarcomeres in most cases occurs following complete spatial separation of daughter and parent muscle fibers. Another manifestation of the involvement of myogenic precursors in abortive myogenesis is the formation of clusters of underdeveloped branching myotubes surrounded by a common basal lamina. We found that myoblasts can also fuse directly with differentiated muscle fibers. The presence of satellite cells near the openings in the basal lamina and in the interstitial space indicates that myogenic precursors can migrate through the basal lamina and form myotubes at a distance from parent fibers. Our data may explain why long-term denervated skeletal muscle has a poor capacity for regeneration and functional restoration.
SPARTAN 201 Coronal Spectroscopy During the Polar Passes of ULYSSES

Spartan 201 is a shuttle deployed spacecraft that is scheduled to perform ultraviolet spectroscopy and white light polarimetry of the extended solar corona during two 40 hour missions to occur in September 1994 and August 1995. The spectroscopy is done with an ultraviolet coronal spectrometer which measures the intensity and spectral line profile of HI Lyα up to heliocentric heights of 3.5 solar radii. It also measures the intensities of the OVI doublet at 1032 and 1037 A and of Fe XII at 1242 A. The HI Lyα line profile measurements are used to determine the random velocity distribution of coronal protons along the line-of-sight. The absolute HI Lyo? intensities can be used together with electron densities from the white light coronagraph to estimate electron temperatures from hydrogen ionization balance calculations, and bulk outflow velocities from models of Doppler dimmed resonant scattering. Intensities of minor ion lines are used to determine coronal abundances and outflow velocities of O5+. Ultraviolet spectroscopy of extended coronal regions from the 11 April 1993 mission of Spartan 201 are discussed.
Immunologic reactions to human chorionic gonadotropin.

ABSTRACT. A preparation of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) was injected with Freund's adjuvant into rabbits, resulting in the production of an antiserum that had precipitating properties. By using the rat ventral prostate method of bio-assay, it was possible to demonstrate the antihormonal properties of the antiserum. The antiserum was used in a serologic test for pregnancy utilizing the gelagar plate technique of Ouchterlony; no false positive results were observed. The antiserum also had antihormonal properties against the chorionic gonadotropic activity of the serum of pregnant women.
Validation of a neurobehavioral functioning inventory for adults with traumatic brain injury

Abstract Objective: To examine the validity of a neurobehavioral inventory for adults with traumatic brain injury. Design: Construct validity was examined by applying principal components and confirmatory factor analytic procedures. Internal consistency of factors was examined using Cronbach's alpha. Criterion-related validity was examined by comparing inventory scale scores with neuropsychological and personality test variables. Setting: Medical center outpatient clinic Participants: 520 consecutive adult patients with traumatic brain injury were administered psychological and neuropsychological tests; 520 informants, primarily family members, completed the neurobehavioral inventory. Main Outcome Measure: Neurobehavioral inventory with items describing symptoms and daily living problems; scale scores were compared with a set of neuropsychological measures and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory scores. Results: Principal components and confirmatory factor analytic procedures identified six scales with a total of 70 items. The primarys cale inclusion criterion required a minimum factor loading of .40. Chronbach's alpha analysis revealed acceptably high internal reliability for all scales ranging from .86 to .95. Scale scores were statistically compared with patients' scores on neuropsychological and personality tests. Poor neuropsychological test performance and greater levels of psychopathology were associated with greater frequency of perceived neurobehavioral problems. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the neurobehavioral inventory is a promising means of ivnestigating informants' perceptions of outpatients' everyday problems. Such information can serve as a complement to historical information, test results, and information from standardized interviews to develop a holistic perspective of patients. Differential weighting of items, association of scales with other measures, and validation with other neurological patients populations are recommended avenues for future research.
Mapping Network Motif Tunability and Robustness in the Design of Synthetic Signaling Circuits

Cellular networks are highly dynamic in their function, yet evolutionarily conserved in their core network motifs or topologies. Understanding functional tunability and robustness of network motifs to small perturbations in function and structure is vital to our ability to synthesize controllable circuits. In establishing core sets of network motifs, we selected topologies that are overrepresented in mammalian networks, including the linear, feedback, feed-forward, and bifan circuits. Static and dynamic tunability of network motifs were defined as the motif ability to respectively attain steady-state or transient outputs in response to pre-defined input stimuli. Detailed computational analysis suggested that static tunability is insensitive to the circuit topology, since all of the motifs displayed similar ability to attain predefined steady-state outputs in response to constant inputs. Dynamic tunability, in contrast, was tightly dependent on circuit topology, with some motifs performing superiorly in achieving observed time-course outputs. Finally, we mapped dynamic tunability onto motif topologies to determine robustness of motif structures to changes in topology and identify design principles for the rational assembly of robust synthetic networks.
The “Jelling-Up” of Dope: Implications for the Transmission of HIV Among Idus

A combination of survey and ethnographic research was used to investigate what injectors have labeled as the “jelling-up” of their heroin: insolubility leading to the clogging of needles/syringes. A total of 856 interviews, were conducted in two inner-city Chicago communities. Three separate samples were drawn from heroin injectors over a period of 18 months. In each sample, 85% (n = 39), 72% (n = 417) and 81% (n = 400) of the respondents reported that their heroin clogged their needles/syringes. In each of these respective samples, 55%. 28%, and 19% of the respondents reported that they had shared needles/syringes with others because their “works” had clogged. The paper explores the conditions under which inappropriate diluent/adulterants are used in the “cutting” of heroin. A complex of factors helps explain the use of improper cuts; these include: oligopolistic market conditions engendered by gangs, ignorance of the proper diluents/adulterants. and the creation of dual markets (intranasal and injecting...
Cloud-based platform for personalization in a wellness management ecosystem: Why, what, and how

Offering personalized services through dynamically formed ecosystems is essential to personal wellness management. In this paper, we present the design of a cloud-enabled platform to facilitate the collection and delivery of evidence for personalization in a multi-provider ecosystem environment. In addition, the platform also provides essential building blocks of personalization services: smarter analytics for active personalization and dynamic provisioning. While the former common service takes charge of inferring user wellness risks from multiple data sources on the fly and making risk-driven recommendations, the latter common service determines optimal platform pricing and resource allocation given the constraint of acceptable quality of service.
Migrating customers to new distribution channels: The role of communication

Banks throughout the world are making substantial investments in technology to reduce the cost of distributing their products and services to customers. It is, however, becoming increasingly clear that the desired reduction in operating expenses is not being achieved. This paper highlights the need for banks to recognise that effective communication is critical for persuading consumers to adopt the new technology. It then presents an approach for selecting a cost-effective method for migrating customers to a new service technology. An empirical study at a large US bank that utilised the proposed approach and benefited from the systematic investigation of this issue is then described. Implications for financial service providers are provided.
Navigating the MLA Bibliography: Performance Across Vendor Platforms

In this article, the authors compared the MLA International Bibliography database (MLAIB) across five vendor platforms to determine how and why seemingly comparable searches produced varying results. A number of tests were conducted using a variety of fields, terms, and parameters, and examples of results are provided. The authors’ findings are designed to illustrate the impact of these differences on users, from undergraduates to faculty researchers, whether they work individually or collaboratively and regardless of the platform to which their institution subscribes.
Detection of flow state in an unsteady separating flow

A model experiment that exhibits some of the characteristics of the leading-edge separation over unsteady airfoils was conducted, and a simple, nonintrusive technique for detection of flow reversal was developed. The unsteady separation introduced in a turbulent boundary layer, by the motion of a spanwise flap into the flow, was investigated for a range of Reynolds number and flap angular velocities.
UV-A fluorescence of sunscreens and possible energy transfer to skin components

Photophysical studies of UV-B sunscreens showed a measurable UV-A emission from padimate O (2-ethylhexyl-4-(dimethylamino)benzoate). Since recent studies associate UV-A to skin cancer induction pathways, as well as skin aging, we studied the effect of padimate O emission when applied to skin. After application of padimate O to skin the emission spectrum of skin showed a large increase in the intensity of 470 nm peak. The 470 nm emission in skin arises from a skin component, possibly collagen, which absorbs at about 360 nm, where padimate O emits. The excitation spectra of skin with padimate O measured at an emission wavelength of 468 nm show a peak at 310 nm with a broad shoulder at about 350 nm to 370 nm, which increased in intensity with time. However, the excitation spectrum of skin with octyl salicylate (another UV-B emitting sunscreen) did not show such a shoulder or increase in intensity. Thus, we attribute the presence of a shoulder in the excitation spectrum of skin and the increase in its intensity as evidence for energy transfer from padimate O to collagen. The transfer mechanism is not clear.
The Role of Religious Values in Decisions About Genetics and the Public’s Health

The latest health care legislation, which promotes prevention and health screening, ultimately depends for its success on recognition of people’s values concerning the technologies being employed, not just the interventions’ technical virtues. Values concerning the deterministic nature of a condition and what groups should be targeted rest on a sense of what is morally, often religiously right in a given health circumstance. This paper looks at a number of leading-edge case examples—breast cancer genetic screening and family decision-making, and newborn screening and biobanks—in examining how the choices made at the individual, family, and societal levels rest on faith in a higher source of efficacy and moral perspectives on the measures that can be taken. Qualitative responses expressing people’s attitudes toward these technologies underscore the importance of considering faith-based values in individual decisions and collective policies on their use. These examples are considered in the context of the historic interplay between science and religion and recent definitions and models of health which incorporate physical, emotional, and social elements, and most importantly, are expanding to incorporate the religious and spiritual values domains.
Evolving data sets to highlight the performance differences between machine learning classifiers

We present a preliminary study to evolve data sets that maximize performance differences between multiple machine learning classifiers. The aim is to provide useful information towards the decision of which machine learning classifier to use given a particular data set. While literature already exists on comparing multiple classifiers across multiple pre-existing data sets, our approach is novel and unique in that we evolved completely new data sets designed to highlight the performance differences between supervised learning classifiers. By investigating these evolved data sets, we hope to add to the knowledge base concerning which classifiers are appropriate for specific real world classification tasks.
Effect of transthoracic shocks on left ventricular function

Although defibrillating shocks are thought to depress ventricular function transiently, the independent effects of high strength shocks (without the metabolic sequelae of pre-shock fibrillation) have not been assessed systematically in humans. Therefore, we delivered three consecutive synchronized monophasic transthoracic shocks (200, 200 and 360 J) at 60s intervals during sinus rhythm and evaluated the effect on left ventricular chamber size and function as determined by transesophageal echocardiography in 11 patients (mean age 67+/-8 years, 9M/2F) with depressed left ventricular function (left ventricular ejection fraction: 14-37%). The shocks did not alter hemodynamics consistently. On average, the shocks did not alter stroke volume, cardiac output, left ventricular ejection fraction or regional wall thickening (all p>0.05 versus baseline). This effect was highly variable and 36% of patients experienced a >25% reduction in cardiac output by the final shock. There was a tendency for regional wall thickening to worsen in the best baseline sextant with an offsetting significant increase in thickening in the worst baseline sextant (p=0.05). Thus, repetitive defibrillation strength transthoracic shocks do not impair left ventricular function consistently in patients with cardiomyopathy. However, the effect is widely variable and potentially important depression of left ventricular function does occur in some patients.
Reduction of NOx and Particulate Emissions by Using Oxygen-Enriched Combustion Air in a Locomotive Diesel Engine

This paper discusses operational and emissions results obtained with a locomotive (two-cylinder, EMD 567B) research diesel engine when oxygen-enriched combustion air is used. An operating regime was identified in which particulates and NO{sub x} could be reduced simultaneously when the concentration of intake air oxygen, fueling rate, and injection timing were optimized. Using oxygen from an external source, particulates were reduced by approximately 60% and NO{sub x} emissions were reduced by 15--20% with the optimal operating strategy. Higher gross power, lower peak cylinder pressures, and lower brake-specific fuel consumption were also observed. Gross power was increased by about 15--20% at base peak combustion pressure, and gross brake-specific fuel consumption was decreased by 2--10% with load. The effect of achieving oxygen enrichment by means of an air separation membrane is beyond the scope of the current study.
Low-Power 2-MHz Pulsed-Wave Transcranial Ultrasound Reduces Ischemic Brain Damage in Rats.

It is largely unknown whether prolonged insonation with ultrasound impacts the ischemic brain tissue by itself. Our goal was to evaluate safety and the effect of high-frequency ultrasound on infarct volume in rats. Thirty-two Long–Evans rats with permanent middle cerebral and carotid artery occlusions received either 2-MHz ultrasound at two levels of insonation power (128 or 10 mW) or no ultrasound (controls). We measured cerebral hemorrhage, indirect and direct infarct volume as well as edema volume at 24 h. No cerebral hemorrhages were detected in all animals. Exposure to low-power (10 mW) ultrasound resulted in a significantly decreased indirect infarct volume (p = 0.0039), direct infarct volume (p = 0.0031), and brain edema volume (p = 0.01) compared with controls. High-power (128 mW) ultrasound had no significant effects. An additional experiment with India ink showed a greater intravascular penetration of dye into ischemic tissues exposed to low-power ultrasound. Insonation with high-frequency, low-power ultrasound reduces ischemic brain damage in rat. Its effect on edema reduction and possible promotion of microcirculation could be used to facilitate drug and nutrient delivery to ischemic areas.
A Comprehensive Rice Transcript Map Containing 6591 Expressed Sequence Tag Sites

To determine the chromosomal positions of expressed rice genes, we have performed an expressed sequence tag (EST) mapping project by polymerase chain reaction–based yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) screening. Specific primers designed from 6713 unique EST sequences derived from 19 cDNA libraries were screened on 4387 YAC clones and used for map construction in combination with genetic analysis. Here, we describe the establishment of a comprehensive YAC-based rice transcript map that contains 6591 EST sites and covers 80.8% of the rice genome. Chromosomes 1, 2, and 3 have relatively high EST densities, approximately twice those of chromosomes 11 and 12, and contain 41% of the total EST sites on the map. Most of the EST-dense regions are distributed on the distal regions of each chromosome arm. Genomic regions flanking the centromeres for most of the chromosomes have lower EST density. Recombination frequency in these regions is suppressed significantly. Our EST mapping also shows that 40% of the assigned ESTs occupy only ∼21% of the entire genome. The rice transcript map has been a valuable resource for genetic study, gene isolation, and genome sequencing at the Rice Genome Research Program and should become an important tool for comparative analysis of chromosome structure and evolution among the cereals.
CD22 Is Required for Protection against West Nile Virus Infection

West Nile virus (WNV) is a RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae and the leading cause of mosquito-borne encephalitis in the United States. Humoral immunity is essential for protection against WNV infection; however, the requirements for initiating effective antibody responses against WNV infection are still unclear. CD22 (Siglec-2) is expressed on B cells and regulates B cell receptor signaling, cell survival, proliferation, and antibody production. In this study, we investigated how CD22 contributes to protection against WNV infection and found that CD22 knockout (Cd22(-/-)) mice were highly susceptible to WNV infection and had increased viral loads in the serum and central nervous system (CNS) compared to wild-type (WT) mice. This was not due to a defect in humoral immunity, as Cd22(-/-) mice had normal WNV-specific antibody responses. However, Cd22(-/-) mice had decreased WNV-specific CD8(+) T cell responses compared to those of WT mice. These defects were not simply due to reduced cytotoxic activity or increased cell death but, rather, were associated with decreased lymphocyte migration into the draining lymph nodes (dLNs) of infected Cd22(-/-) mice. Cd22(-/-) mice had reduced production of the chemokine CCL3 in the dLNs after infection, suggesting that CD22 affects chemotaxis via controlling chemokine production. CD22 was not restricted to B cells but was also expressed on a subset of splenic DCIR2(+) dendritic cells that rapidly expand early after WNV infection. Thus, CD22 plays an essential role in controlling WNV infection by governing cell migration and CD8(+) T cell responses.