cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lattice Infrared Absorption and Raman Scattering in Finite Crystals

The ir absorption and Raman scattering associated with the lattice vibrations of a solid have been calculated for a simple harmonic model in which the system is treated as a giant molecule. A number of differences occur in the optical properties of this finite system and one in which the system is regarded as infinite in extent. The main difference is the appearance of some first order absorption and scattering over the entire range of permitted lattice frequencies instead of only at a few specific frequencies predicted by the factor group selection rules of the infinite system. While such differences might be difficult to detect employing the usual ways of investigating the optical properties of solids, they might become observable by the study of small crystals. In addition to being of fundamental interest, such observations may also be of some value in revealing critical and surface mode frequencies.
SU-FF-I-57: MR Image Quality Testing of K-Space- and Image-Based Parallel Imaging Techniques Using the ACR Phantom

Purpose: Using ACR MRI phantom testing to evaluate the change of image quality caused by k‐space‐ and image‐based parallel imaging techniques in a 3‐Tesla MRI scanner. Method and Materials: All phantom images are acquired from a 3 Tesla Siemens Tim‐Trio MRI scanner. Four sequences, namely ACR T1, ACR T2, Site T1 IR‐TSE, TR/TE/TI=2200 ms/11 ms/900 ms, ETL=5 and Site T2 TSE, TR/TE=4280 ms/88 ms, ETL=15, are scanned with each of the conventional, GRAPPA (iPAT=2) and modified SENSE (mSENSE, iPAT=2) modes. Images are analyzed according to standard ACR MRI QC procedures on a PC‐based workstation. Results: The results derived from the phantom images indicating that both of the tested parallel imaging techniques make no significant changes in the degree of the geometric distortion, the high contrastspatial resolution, the measured slice thickness and position accuracy, and the percent image uniformity. The signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNRs) obtained from all scans are lower while using parallel imaging techniques (SNR_conventional / SNR_GRAPPA = 1.18 +/− 0.08, SNR_conventional / SNR_mSENSE = 1.11 +/− 0.19). The averaged scores of low contrast object detecting test in conventional, GRAPPA, and mSENSE group are 39.3 +/− 0.5, 35.0 +/− 4.4, and 34.3 +/− 3.9, respectively. The percent signal ghosting (PSG) of GRAPPA and mSENSE images are 1.57 +/− 0.72 and 2.26 +/− 1.47 times of that measured in the conventional images. In addition, there is an obvious aliasing artifact observed in the mSENSE groups that cannot be demonstrated by the above data analysis.Conclusion: The ACR QC test is able to detect the lower SNR, lower contrast detectability, and higher PSG caused by both k‐space‐ and image‐based parallel imaging techniques. More accurate measurement of SNR reduction and improved artifact detection require repeated phantom imaging and additional image analysis.
Abstract 5591: Detection of autoantibody responses to prostate cancer-associated antigens following treatment of patients with androgen deprivation therapy

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Over the last decade, immunotherapies have been developed for the treatment of prostate cancer with the goal of generating anti-tumor immune responses. Vaccine-based treatments target the immune system to a specific antigen, or set of antigens, expressed by the tumor. Other therapeutic modalities, including androgen deprivation therapy, can result in tissue damage and have been demonstrated to elicit prostate antigen-specific immune responses. The evaluation of immune responses to individual tumor antigens in the context of these non-antigen-specific immunomodulatory treatments has been notoriously difficult and time-consuming. We have previously reported a panel of 125 commonly recognized prostate cancer-associated antigens identified from multiple IgG screening approaches. This panel included multiple cancer-testis antigens and antigenic proteins recognized by IgG in patients with chronic prostatitis or prostate cancer. In the current study we questioned whether this panel could be used to identify antigen-specific immune responses elicited in patients with prostate cancer following androgen deprivation. 125 lambda phage encoding these unique antigens were spotted in triplicate using a high-throughput, high-density SEREX methodology. Sera were obtained from 33 patients with prostate cancer collected pretreatment and three months post-androgen deprivation therapy. These sera were used to probe this panel and IgG antibody responses were detected and objectively quantified by densitometry. 31 sera sets met pre-specified criteria as adequate for analysis. Results demonstrated that autoantibodies were induced to 62 of the 125 antigens. IgG responses were elicited to 21 of the antigens in multiple patients, including MAD-Pro-34, MAD-CT-1, and LAGE-1, each of which have previously been demonstrated to be the targets of autoantibody responses in prostate cancer patients. IgG responses were detected to at least one protein in 18 of 31 patients, and to multiple antigens in 11 of 31 patients. These data demonstrate that androgen deprivation elicits IgG responses to prostate-associated proteins, and that responses can be detected using a panel of commonly recognized prostate antigens. Further studies will aim to characterize this panel and autoantibody profiles in patients treated with other non-antigen-specific immunotherapies or anti-prostate tumor vaccines. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5591.
EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIPS OF CULTIVATED ANTARCTIC OSCILLATORIANS (CYANOBACTERIA)

The evolutionary relationships of cultivated psychrophilic and psychrotolerant polar oscillatorians were examined, based on small subunit rDNA sequences. Psychrophilic oscillatorians from the Antarctic were affiliated in one well-supported clade, which also includes two Arctic strains. Two of the Antarctic psychrophiles contain an 11-nucleotide insertion that is identical to, and previously only described in, an Arctic oscillatorian. The psychrotolerant phenotype, conversely, has arisen multiple times in the cyanobacterial lineage, and psychrotolerant strains are sometimes most closely related to organisms of temperate latitudes. These findings support the hypothesis that oscillatorians in both polar regions originated from more temperate species. Furthermore, morphological designations of these filamentous cyanobacteria often do not have phylogenetic significance.
RADIOACTIVITY IN LARGE MARINE PLANKTON AS A FUNCTION OF SURFACE AREA

Radioisotopes from Hanford reactors and from fallout are available to marine organisms in the north-east Pacific Ocean. The radioactivity in large marine plankton was measured as a function of surface area. Data are included from measurements of the content of K/sup 40/, Zn/sup 65/, Zr/sup 95/, Nb/sup 95 p 141/ in two species of pelagic crustaceans of different size taken from the same sample. Comparisons were also made between large adult and small adult or juvenile Euphausiids. The radioactivity of internal organs and external body parts was compared in the pelagic tunicate, Salpa. Results led to the conclusion that surface adsorption plays a relatively insignificant pant in the accumulation of these radioisotopes by macroplankton. (C.H.)
PARTLY‐WETTED GALVANIC CORROSION COUPLES

It is well known that the water‐line along a semi‐immersed sheet of metal enhances corrosion by providing easy access for atmospheric oxygen. Thirty years ago U. R. Evans coupled iron, submerged in water or brine, with partly‐emerging strips of several metals, and found that copper promoted the rusting more than nickel, and nickel more than lead. This type of corrosion is very frequent and deserves more quantitative consideration, since it is as yet little understood. Thus a recent study of the geometrical conditions leading to corrosion, as aided by a water‐line, revealed that what is commonly regarded as the effect of the meniscus also depends on a zone of dry metal above it. The present investigation re‐examines the role of the partly‐immersed metal in conjunction with the electrolyte surrounding it.
Research: ODA implementation for multimedia teleservices

The open document architecture (ODA) provides a format for document interchange within open systems which is independent of any particular communication service. Within the BERKOM teleservices, ODA is used as a component of multimedia mail messages as well as a base for joint editing. The paper begins with after a brief introduction of the teleservices. The main part of the paper describes the architecture of an ODA editor which can be used in conjunction with these teleservices. Although the base editor provides full ODA functionality, it can be automatically restricted to subsets by means of document application profiles. Finally, an overview is given of future editor developments.
The zeros of basic Bessel functions, the functions Jv + ax(x), and associated orthogonal polynomials☆

Abstract The modified Lommel polynomials are generalized and their orthogonality relation is obtained. As a byproduct we prove that the non-zero roots of Jv + ax(x) are real, simple and interlace with those of Jv + ax − 1(x). The q-Lommel polynomials are shown to play in the theory of basic Bessel function the role played by the Lommel polynomials in the Bessel function theory. The q-Lommel polynomials are proved to be orthogonal with respect to a purely discrete measure with bounded support. This is then used to prove that the prositive zeros of x−νJ(2)v(x; q) are real simple and interlace with the zeros of x−ν − 1J(2)v + 1(x; q), when ν > −1. We also establish the complete monotonicity of −1x −1 2 J v + 1 (2) (i√x; q) J v (2) (i√x; q)
SIGNIFICANCE OF FLUENCE-RESPONSE DATA IN PHYTOCHROME-INITIATED SEED GERMINATION

. A model was developed to describe changes in fluence-response kinetics in terms of total phytochrome level (Ptot), level of the factor X interacting with active phytochrome (Pfr), PfrX equilibrium constant, seed sensitivity to Pfr-X interaction, and variation in phytochrome sensitivity within the seed population. Under conditions of stable X levels and stable population variation, the model predicted that a change in any of the other components will result in a parallel fluence-response curve on a probit-logarithmic plot. The linearity of the subsaturation plot is dependent on the ratio of Ptot to X concentrations. The model showed that changes in threshold response fluences can result from many causes other than changes in total phytochrome [Ptot>]. Changes in response-saturating fluences when maximal germination is less than 100% are predicted to be due to limiting levels of X. Changes in slope of fluence-response curves can be explained by changes in seed population variation by this model. Rumex crispus L. fluence-response data for germination is best explained by this model in terms of neither changes in Ptot nor X levels altering kinetics.
Transient and steady-state cardiopulmonary responses to combined rhythmic and isometric exercise.

The transient and steady-state cardiopulmonary responses to combined rhythmic (R) and isometric (I) exercise were examined in nine subjects. Isometric exercise at 30% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) was started 1.5 min prior to either a 50% or 75% maximal oxygen uptake (\(\dot VO_{2 max} \)) cycle ride and continued for 1.5 min into the 10-min R. Systolic (Pas) and diastolic (Pad) blood pressure, heart rate (fc), inspired ventilation volumes (\(\dot V_1 \)), and oxygen uptake (\(\dot VO_2 \)) were recorded every 30 s throughout each experiment. Responses to I effort alone were recorded for comparison with experiments in which the combined exercises were performed during the first 1.5 min when R had not yet begun.Pas responses in the first 1.5 min of I (no R) showed the typical rapid linear increase. Addition of the R effort further increasedPas to levels which remained nearly constant (steady state) throughout R. R alone produced a slowerPas increase to approximately the same steady-state levels as those of the combined R and I exercise. ForPad, the linear increase which occurred during the first 1.5 min of I was attenuated with the superimposition of R. Following cessation of I,Pad fell rapidly during continued R to levels not different from experiments with R alone. Thefc during I alone increased slightly. As I continued, the onset of the R induced a further rapid increase infc to levels not different from R alone. The\(\dot V_1 \) showed a similar response to ϕc.\(\dot VO_2 \) during I alone did not change significantly. These results suggest that a 30% MVC started 1.5 min prior to and ending 1.5 min into a R effort may enable steady-statePas andfc for a 50%\(\dot VO_{2 max} \) effort to be reached more rapidly than in response to R alone.
Pleural complications in the intensive care unit.

Pleural complications of diseases and procedures in the intensive care unit (ICU) are common. Although pleural effusions, pneumothorax, hemothorax, chylothorax, and empyema are rare causes of ICU admissions, their impact on respiratory physiology is additive to that of the underlying lung disease. Because pleural complications can be managed easily, the recognition and correction of pleural disease is an important way to improve respiratory function since the underlying pathophysiology is often refractory to therapy. This article focuses on the physiology of pleural air and water on ventilatory function before discussing the causes and treatment of pleural diseases in the ICU.
The effect of constant power shock on the acquisition of a discriminated avoidance response

Forty-five female rats were trained under a discriminated avoidance learning procedure in a lever-pressing apparatus, constant power serving as the aversive stimulus. An analysis of variance failed to reveal difference s due to shock intensity but indicated an excessively large inter-S variance.
Evidence for baroreceptor involvement in the immobility reflex in the rabbit: Blood pressure changes during induction and termination

It has been hypothesized [ B. Lofving, 1961, Acta Physiologica Scandinavica (Suppl) 53, 184 ; W. R. Klemm, 1971, In S. Ehrenpreis & O. C. Solnitzky, Eds., Neurosciences Research, Vol. 4, New York: Academic Press ; D. C. Hatton, T. Lanthorn, D. Webster, & M. E. Meyer, 1975, Behavioral Biology, 22, 122–127 ] that baroreceptor activity, as a consequence of postural inversion and restraint, plays a major role in the induction of the immobility reflex in rabbits. To investigate that hypothesis, blood pressure and heart rate were recorded from normal rabbits and rabbits with their carotid sinus denervated during induction and termination of the immobility reflex. The results indicated that a baroreceptor reflex occurred with postural inversion as measured by amount of bradycardia and the relative fall in blood pressure. There were significant differences in the pattern of the heart rate and blood pressure response between induction and termination for all animals. There were also significant differences between normal and denervated animals in their blood pressure response to inversion and termination. The results support the hypothesis that reflexive baroreceptor activity occurs as a consequence of the induction procedure for immobility.
Expression of the human apolipoprotein A-I gene in transgenic mice alters high density lipoprotein (HDL) particle size distribution and diminishes selective uptake of HDL cholesteryl esters.

Abstract Transgenic mice carrying the human apolipoprotein (apo) A-I gene (HuAITg mice) were used to examine the effects of overexpression of the human gene on high density lipoprotein (HDL) particle size distribution and metabolism. On a chow diet, control mice had HDL cholesterol and apo A-I levels of 49 +/- 2 and 137 +/- 12 mg/dl of plasma, respectively. HuAITg mice had HDL cholesterol, human apo A-I, and mouse apo A-I levels of 88 +/- 2, 255 +/- 19, and 16 +/- 2 mg/dl, respectively. Nondenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis revealed control mouse plasma HDL to be primarily monodisperse with a particle diameter of 10.2 nm, whereas HuAITg mouse plasma HDL was polydisperse with particles of diameter 11.4, 10.2, and 8.7 nm, which correspond in size to human HDL1, HDL2, and HDL3, respectively. In vivo turnover studies of HDL labeled with [3H]cholesteryl linoleyl ether (representing the cholesteryl ester pool) and 125I-apo A-I were performed. In control animals, the fractional catabolic rate (FCR) for HDL cholesteryl ester (0.197 +/- 0.010 pool/hr) was significantly (P less than 0.0005) more than the apo A-I FCR (0.118 +/- 0.006 pool/hr). In the HuAITg mice, the HDL cholesteryl ester FCR (0.124 +/- 0.008 pool/hr) was the same as the apo A-I FCR (0.126 +/- 0.010 pool/hr). There were no significant differences between control and HuAITg animals in the sites of tissue removal of HDL cholesteryl ester, with the liver extracting most of the injected radioactivity. Control and HuAITg animals had comparable liver and intestinal cholesterol synthesis and LDL FCR. In conclusion, HuAITg mice have principally human and not mouse apo A-I in their plasma. This apparently causes a change in HDL particle size distribution in the transgenic mice to one resembling the human pattern. The replacement of mouse by human apo A-I also apparently causes the loss of the selective uptake pathway of HDL cholesteryl esters present in control mice. These data imply that apo A-I primary structure has a profound influence on HDL particle size distribution and metabolism.
Competitive Sorption between Atrazine and Other Organic Compounds in Soils and Model Sorbents

This is part of a larger study that addresses the question of whether site-specific sorption of organic compounds takes place in soil organic matter (SOM). Competitive sorption is one indication that such interactions may take place. Competitive sorption was tested between atrazine (AT) and other co-solutes in water suspensions of natural and model sorbents. The co-solutes included several s-triazine analogs, a substituted benzene analog (5-chloro-1,3-dimethoxybenzene), and a dissimilar compound, trichloroethene (TCE). The sorbents included a mineral soil (3% OM), a peat soil (93% OM), soil humic acid particles (99% OM), rubbery polymers (polyethylene, cellulose, chitin), a glassy polymer [poly(2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide)], and a mesoporous silica gel. The rubbery polymers afforded linear single-solute isotherms and no competition, both consistent with ideal (Henry's law) partition sorption. The other sorbents, including the glassy polymer, gave nonlinear single-solute isotherms and significant compet...
Hybrid zirconia catalysts for conversion of Fischer–Tropsch waxy products to transportation fuels

Conversion of long-chain normal paraffins found in Fischer–Tropsch products to high-quality transportation fuels, especially middle range products, was investigated using model hydrocarbons (n-C24 and n-C36) and a Fischer–Tropsch wax over modified zirconia catalysts. Most work was carried out using n-C24 as a representative reactant. With Pt-promoted tungstated zirconia (Pt/WO3/ZrO2, 0.5 wt.% Pt and 12.5 wt.% W) used as a base, addition of sulfated zirconia (SO4/ZrO2), tungstated zirconia (WO3/ZrO2) or certain zeolites increased its reactivity and selectivity at 200 °C to middle range products such as kerosene and diesel fuel. The effect of improving the performance of Pt/WO3/ZrO2 by adding the zeolite, mordenite, was studied in detail; an optimal mixing ratio exists for maximum conversion of n-C24 under certain reaction conditions. The hybrid catalysts are physical mixtures of compounds with different functions. Hybrid catalysts based on Pt/WO3/ZrO2 provide a promising way to obtain higher catalytic activity and higher selectivity for desired transportation fuels from Fischer–Tropsch products.
DEMO: Action Recommendation for Cyber Resilience

We demonstrate an unifying graph-based model for representing the infrastructure, behavior and missions of an enterprise. We introduce an algorithm for recommending resilience establishing actions based on dynamic updates to the models and show its effectiveness both through software simulation as well as live demonstration inside a cloud testbed. Our demonstrate will illustrate the effectiveness of the algorithm for preserving latency based quality of service (QoS).
Penalization in the treatment of amblyopia

Penalization is a useful alternative to occlusion therapy in amblyopia of mild and moderate degrees and in preserving therapeutic gains made by previous occlusion treatment. Penalization at near, total, and alternating penalization are more valuable than penalization at distance. Because penalization does not prevent the development of visual deprivation amblyopia, unilateral atropine therapy must be used carefully in treating patients in an age group susceptible to occlusion amblyopia.
Neural lineage differentiation of embryonic stem cells within alginate microbeads

Cell replacement therapies, using renewable stem cell sources, hold tremendous potential to treat a wide range of degenerative diseases. Although many studies have established techniques to successfully differentiate stem cells into different mature cell lineages using growth factors or extracellular matrix protein supplementation in both two and three-dimensional configurations, they are often limited by lack of control and low yields of differentiated cells. Previously, we developed a scalable murine embryonic stem cell differentiation environment which maintained cell viability and supported ES cell differentiation to hepatocyte lineage cells. Differentiated hepatocyte function was contingent upon aggregate formation within the alginate microbeads. The present studies were designed to determine the feasibility of adapting the alginate encapsulation technique to neural lineage differentiation. The results of our studies indicate that by incorporating the soluble inducer, retinoic acid (RA), into the permeable microcapsule system, cell aggregation was decreased and neural lineage differentiation enhanced. In addition, we demonstrated that even in the absence of RA, differentiation could be directed away from the hepatocyte and toward the neural lineage by physical cell–cell aggregation blocking. In conjunction with the mechanical and physical characterization of the alginate crosslinking network, we determined that 2.2% alginate microencapsulation can be optimally adapted to ES neural differentiation. This study offers insights into targeting cellular differentiation toward both endodermal and ectodermal cell lineages, and could potentially be adaptable to differentiation of other stem cell types given the correct inducible factors and material properties.
Fiber optic MEMS pressure sensors based on evanescent field interaction

Micro-opto-electro-mechanical sensors (MOEMS) where optics are integrated with micro-electro-mechanical systems are logical candidates for sensing flow properties in high temperature and pressure applications. MOEMS offer high frequency response, small size, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and resistance to degradation from exposure to harsh environments. Interfacing MEMS sensors with fiber optics is quite challenging. We are investigating novel transduction and coupling methods based on evanescent field interaction and fiber bending methods. An evanescent field, created when total internal reflection between two dielectric media occurs, is an electromagnetic field in the lower index medium. In the case of fiber optics, the evanescent field decays exponentially away from the fiber core/cladding interface. The decay length depends on refractive indices and incident angles inside the fiber. Bringing a foreign object close to the exposed core introduces a change in the effective index and as a result, the transmitted light output is modified. Sensors can also be designed based on the `touching' and `bending' of the fiber optic. In this case, the output light is affected in a linear manner as opposed to the evanescent mode interaction where the sensitivity is exponential. Experimental results obtained regarding pressure sensors for both of these methods are discussed in terms of sensitivity, temperature effect, design parameters, and fabrication techniques.
Democracy and suicide.

Indices of democratic rights and local autonomy in the 26 Swiss cantons in 1990 were not associated with the suicide rates of the cantons. Language: en
Raman excitation profiles as probes for inaccessible electronic levels in molecules: Retinal, retinol and naphthalene

Abstract The excitation profiles of Stokes vibrational Raman lines of vitamin A exhibit peaks at frequencies where electronic absorption peaks are absent (≈ 20 000 cm −1 ). These anomalies are assigned to excited states inaccessible by electric dipole transitions [ 3 (π,π * ) triplets]. Such a peak is also found for naphthalene, at the OO spacing of the S 0 →T 1 transition.
Influence of carbonic anhydrase inhibition on hypothermic response and brain distribution of chlorpromazine

Abstract This study was conducted to examine the influence of acetazolamide and its noncarbonic anhydrase inhibitory analog, CL-13,850 (2-acetylamino-1,3,4,4-thiadiazole 5-( n-t -butyl) sulfonamide), on the hypothermic response and brain accumulation of chlorpromzine in the rat. The hypothermic response induced by 10 mg/kg chlorpromazine was both potentiated and prolonged after treatment with 50 mg/kg acetazolamide but not with the inactive analog. Two and one-half hours after chlorpromazine, the rectal temperatures in control animals were lowered 3.3°C vs . 4.90°C in acetazolamide-treated animals. After 9 hr, control animal temperatures were essentially back to normal, but treated animal temperatures were still 2.6°C below normal. The acetazolamide-potentiated hypothermia induced by chlorpromazine was accompanied by increased brain levels of chlorpromazine. The inactive analog did not modify the pharmacologic activity or brain level of chlorpromazine. The results demonstrate the potential pharmacologic and/or toxicologic significance of altered drug action following carbonic anhydrase inhibition.
Endogenous and exogenous sex steroid hormones and asthma and wheeze in young women

Background Emerging evidence suggests that both endogenous and exogenous sex steroid hormones may influence the occurrence of asthma and wheeze among women. Objective We investigated the associations between exogenous sex hormone (oral contraceptive [OC]) use and wheezing in young women with and without asthma history. To investigate the role of endogenous sex hormones, we examined the association between age at menarche and the development of asthma after puberty. Methods We conducted a study among 905 women who had undergone menarche. Subjects were between 13 and 28 years of age and had participated in the Children's Health Study. Results In women without asthma, OC use was associated with higher risk of current wheeze (odds ratio [OR], 1.75; 95% CI, 1.15-2.65). In contrast, OC use was associated with a markedly reduced prevalence of current wheeze in women with a history of asthma (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.06-0.56; P value for interaction=.003). These associations showed significant trends with duration of OC use. Age at menarche was associated with new-onset asthma after puberty. Compared with women who had menarche after age 12 years, women with menarche before age 12 years had a 2.08-fold (95% CI, 1.05-4.12) higher risk of asthma after puberty. Conclusion Both endogenous and exogenous sex steroid hormones affect asthma and wheeze occurrences in young women. Clinical implications Because women have higher asthma risk after puberty, and OC use is common among young women, clinicians may inform women with asthma about the potential effects of OC on asthma-related respiratory symptoms.
Trait Gratitude and Grateful Coping as They Relate to College Student Persistence, Success, and Integration in School:

Grateful people experience more psychological well-being, social connectedness, and feelings of personal accomplishment, along with less burnout. They also use more adaptive approach-oriented coping strategies. Thus, we hypothesized that trait gratitude and grateful coping strategies would be associated with various indicators/predictors of academic retention and success, including psychological variables (social integration, academic integration, degree commitment, and general college persistence) and academic variables (number of withdrawn courses, number of failed courses, and GPA). Fifty-four undergraduates completed self-report measures of all variables except GPA, which was accessed via transcripts when permitted. At least one facet of trait gratitude was associated with each outcome variable. Grateful coping was associated primarily with the psychological outcome variables, with growth-focused coping emerging as the most consistent positive predictor and social support seeking often emerging as a n...
Progress in the Study of International Conflict: A Methodological Critique

This paper is a philosophy of science critique of behavioralist studies on international conflict. We find that the vast majority of studies on conflict fall into one of two categories: hypothesis testing and model building. A number of hypothesis-testing studies involve hypotheses which are believed to be the conse quences of some theory. We argue that these studies will not generate scientific progress because they fail to appraise more than one theory at a time. There are also many studies where the hypotheses tested are not purported to be the consequences of some theory. We argue that these studies too are unable to generate real progress because they are incapable of yielding novel information and are therefore in capable of being severely tested. The model-building activities of others do not offer much hope for sci entific progress either. This is primarily due to the fact that model builders focus on what is essentially a problem for the mathematician, not the scientist. In addition, we find that...
Fluorometric assay for ADP-ribosylarginine cleavage enzymes.

Abstract A continuous fluorometric assay for enzyme activities which remove ADP-ribose linked to proteins at arginine was developed. The substrate analog, N α -dansyl- N ω -(1, N 6 -etheno-ADP-ribosyl)arginine methyl ester, was used to assay the catalytic activities of dinitrogenase reductase activating glycohydrolase from Rhodospirillum rubrum and nucleotide pyrophosphatase from Crotalus adamanteus . The assay is based on the increase in fluorescent emission by ethenoadenine accompanying the enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of the substrate. The assay has been used to detect activities of 10 fmol substrate cleaved per minute. The substrate anomerizes to give a 40:60 equilibrium of α:β ribosylguanidinium anomers, allowing the determination of enzyme stereospecificity. The substrate was used to determine the kinetic parameters and products of the N -glycohydrolase and the pyrophosphatase.
Effects of hydrogen peroxide on vascular arachidonic acid metabolism

Abstract Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) released by granulocytes during phagocytosis has previously been demonstrated to affect the function of other cellular elements including red cells and platelets. We have evaluated the effect of H 2 O 2 on vascular arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. Exposure of human vascular segments to H 2 O 2 (25 to 200 μM) results in a concentration dependent inhibition in the ability of these vessels to produce PGI 2 either from endogenous stores of AA, or from exogenously provided substrate. The inhibition of PGI 2 production was present at 5 minutes post addition of H 2 O 2 , with maximal inhibitory effect occurring by 15 minus. Production of 6 Keto PFG 1α from exogenously provided 14C AA was similarly inhibited in isolated microsomes from these vessels, as was the production of the other vascular cyclo-oxygenase metabolites PGE 2 and PGF 2α . These results demonstrate that the major effect of H 2 O 2 on vascular AA metabolism appears to occur at the cyclo-oxygenase level. Vascular inhibition of PGI2 formation caused by the local release of H 2 O 2 from phagocytizing cellular elements may play a role in the pathophysiology of the inflammatory process.
Rendering of 3D-wavelet-compressed concentric mosaic scenery with progressive inverse wavelet synthesis (PIWS)

The concentric mosaics offer a quick solution to the construction and navigation of a virtual environment. To reduce the vast data amount of the concentric mosaics, a compression scheme based on 3D wavelet transform has been proposed in a previous paper. In this work, we investigate the efficient implementation of the renderer. It is preferable not to expand the compressed bitstream as a whole, so that the memory consumption of the renderer can be reduced. Instead, only the data necessary to render the current view are accessed and decoded. The progressive inverse wavelet synthesis (PIWS) algorithm is proposed to provide the random data access and to reduce the calculation for the data access requests to a minimum. A mixed cache is used in PIWS, where the entropy decoded wavelet coefficient, intermediate result of lifting and fully synthesized pixel are all stored at the same memory unit because of the in- place calculation property of the lifting implementation. PIWS operates with a finite state machine, where each memory unit is attached with a state to indicate what type of content is currently stored. The computational saving achieved by PIWS is demonstrated with extensive experiment results.
Family practice OB: to be or not to be? Liability is the question.

Will the family physicians (FP) of the future (including the near future and not just the distant future) be able to include maternity care (OB or obstetrics) in their practices? The title of this editorial, with apologies to William Shakespeare for my literary license, focuses on both a frightening
Midstream Modulation of Technology: Governance From Within:

Public “upstream engagement” and other approaches to the social control of technology are currently receiving international attention in policy discourses around emerging technologies such as nanotechnology. To the extent that such approaches hold implications for research and development (R&D) activities, the distinct participation of scientists and engineers is required. The capacity of technoscientists to broaden the influences on R&D activities, however, implies that they conduct R&D differently. This article discusses the possibility for more reflexive participation by scientists and engineers in the internal governance of technology development. It reviews various historical attempts to govern technoscience and introduces the concept of midstream modulation, through which scientists and engineers, ideally in concert with others, bring societal considerations to bear on their work.
Interstitial Cells: Regulators of Smooth Muscle Function

Smooth muscles are complex tissues containing a variety of cells in addition to muscle cells. Interstitial cells of mesenchymal origin interact with and form electrical connectivity with smooth muscle cells in many organs, and these cells provide important regulatory functions. For example, in the gastrointestinal tract, interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and PDGFRα+ cells have been described, in detail, and represent distinct classes of cells with unique ultrastructure, molecular phenotypes, and functions. Smooth muscle cells are electrically coupled to ICC and PDGFRα+ cells, forming an integrated unit called the SIP syncytium. SIP cells express a variety of receptors and ion channels, and conductance changes in any type of SIP cell affect the excitability and responses of the syncytium. SIP cells are known to provide pacemaker activity, propagation pathways for slow waves, transduction of inputs from motor neurons, and mechanosensitivity. Loss of interstitial cells has been associated with motor disorders of the gut. Interstitial cells are also found in a variety of other smooth muscles; however, in most cases, the physiological and pathophysiological roles for these cells have not been clearly defined. This review describes structural, functional, and molecular features of interstitial cells and discusses their contributions in determining the behaviors of smooth muscle tissues.
Combining adaptive modulation and coding with truncated ARQ enhances throughput

We develop a cross-layer design which combines adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) at the physical layer with a truncated automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocol at the data link layer, in order to maximize spectral efficiency under prescribed delay and performance constraints. We derive the achieved spectral efficiency in closed-form for transmissions over Nakagami-m block fading channels. Numerical results reveal that retransmissions at the data link layer alleviate stringent error-control requirements at the physical layer, and thereby enable considerable spectral efficiency gains. Diminishing returns appear on the spectral efficiency improvement as the number of retransmissions increases, which suggests that a small number of retransmissions strikes a desirable delay-throughput tradeoff.
PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT OF A MULTI-LEVEL/ANALOG FERROELECTRIC MEMORY DEVICE DESIGN

Increasing the memory density and utilizing the unique characteristics of ferroelectric devices is important in making ferroelectric memory devices more desirable to the consumer. This paper describes the characterization of a design that allows multiple levels to be stored in a ferroelectric based memory cell. It can be used to store multiple bits or analog values in a high speed nonvolatile memory. The design utilizes the hysteresis characteristic of ferroelectric transistors to store an analog value in the memory cell. The design also compensates for the decay of the polarization of the ferroelectric material over time. This is done by utilizing a pair of ferroelectric transistors to store the data. One transistor is used a reference to determinethe amount of decay that has occurred since the pair was programmed. The second transistor stores the analog value as a polarization value between zero and saturated. The design allows digital data to be stored as multiple bits in each memory cell. The number of bits per cell that can be stored will vary with the decay rate of the ferroelectric transistors and the repeatability of polarization between transistors. This paper presents measurements of an actual prototype memory cell. This prototype is not a complete implementation of a device, but instead, a prototype of the storage and retrieval portion of an actual device. The performance of this prototype is presented with the projected performance of the overall device. This memory design will be useful because it allows higher memory density, compensates for the environmental and ferroelectric aging processes, allows analog values to be directly stored in memory, compensates for the thermal and radiation environments associated with space operations, and relies only on existing technologies.
Review of clinical trials of skin antiseptic agents used to reduce blood culture contamination

False-positive blood culture results may lead to prolonged hospitalization, inappropriate antibiotic administration, and increased healthcare costs. We conducted a review of the literature to assess the effect of skin antiseptic agents on the rate of false-positive blood culture results. We found no clear evidence to suggest which antiseptic should be used to prevent false-positive results. Studies suggest, however, a possible benefit from the use of prepackaged skin antiseptic kits and alcohol-containing antiseptics.
Is Neuromyelitis Optica a Distinct Entity

their genetic uniqueness allowed moreprecisepredictionoftheclinicalcourseofindividualpatientsand created a framework for subsequent studies but did not translate into improved therapy. Similarly, someconditionsthatwereonceconsidered unique are later recognized asphenotypicvariantsofasingleentity, so the need to modify classifications in the light of new evidence is not always a matter of defining ever smaller subtypes. Multiple sclerosis is a good example of how precise disease categorization can be valuable. Although it is sometimes difficult to classify a given patient, few would argue against subtyping multiple sclerosis into relapsing-remitting, secondaryprogressive,progressive
Investigation of Calcified Coronary Plaque Tracking in Cardiac CT

This paper illustrates two implementations of an algorithm for tracking the movements of small high contrast structures such as calcified coronary plaques over advancing temporal phases in cardiac CT. The algorithm is based on integrating concepts of image reconstruction and image segmentation. The essential difference between the two implementations of this algorithm is that the first uses the chord-based backprojection filtration (BPF) algorithm for image reconstruction, and the second uses a weighted filtered backprojection (WFBP) algorithm, which incorporates an explicit short-scan weighting function.
Effect of backside scratch direction on the Si die strength

The biaxial fracture strength of back-ground Si dies was measured using the ball-on-ring (BOR) test. A quarter of a wafer was divided into groups according to the angle of back-grinding scratches from the direction in order to investigate the effect of this scratch angle on the die strength. As the scratch angle became larger, higher die strength was obtained. For example, when the scratch angle was larger than 34° the die strength was ∼60–70% higher than that when the angle was smaller than 11°. This is because the preferred fracture surface of Si is parallel to the direction. The possible die strength improvement by an appropriate modification of the conventional back-grinding process was also compared against the additional backside finishing process such as polishing and etching.
Multimodality optical imaging of atherosclerotic plaques combining optical coherence tomography and fluorescence lifetime imaging

We demonstrate the advantage of combining high-resolution Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) with wide-field time-gated fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) for a comprehensive morphological and biochemical characterization of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques (VP).
A Noninvasive Imaging Modality for Cardiac Arrhythmias

Background—The last decade witnessed an explosion of information regarding the genetic, molecular, and mechanistic basis of heart disease. Translating this information into clinical practice requires the development of novel functional imaging modalities for diagnosis, localization, and guided intervention. A noninvasive modality for imaging cardiac arrhythmias is not yet available. Present electrocardiographic methods cannot precisely localize a ventricular tachycardia (VT) or its key reentrant circuit components. Recently, we developed a noninvasive electrocardiographic imaging modality (ECGI) that can reconstruct epicardial electrophysiological information from body surface potentials. Here, we extend its application to image reentrant arrhythmias. Methods and Results—Epicardial potentials were recorded during VT with a 490 electrode sock during an open chest procedure in 2 dogs with 4-day-old myocardial infarctions. Body surface potentials were generated from these epicardial potentials in a human tor...
A novel ATPase on mouse chromosome 7 is a candidate gene for increased body fat.

A region of mouse chromosome 7, just distal to the pink-eyed (p) dilution locus, contains a gene or genes, which we have named p-locus-associated obesity (plo1), affecting body fat. Mice heterozygo...
Studies of the school age child with meningomyelocele. I. Physical and intellectual development.

Fourteen meningomyelocele survivors in the beginning school years underwent physical and neurological examinations; 13 had re-evaluation of renal, orthopedic, and neurosurgical status. General physical status was satisfactory. Six showed eye abnormalities; nine had hydrocephalus to some degree; eight required an ileal conduit; 11 are fully ambulatory. Use of a Degree of Impairment rating system indicated eight with mild to moderate and six with severe physical involvement. This rating scale may be of benefit in studying future management of older children with this defect. All children received psychological evaluation. Eight showed intelligence in the low to high average range. Three are mildly and three moderately retarded. The median I.Q. was 88. Social quotients paralleled I.Q. scores. I.Q. and S.Q. were not related to hydrocephalus, but correlated well with social class. Six patients are in regular school programs while eight attend special classes for physically and /or mentally handicapped. It is concluded that appropriate intervention can enable many children with meningomyelocele to develop satisfactorily and to have the intellectual capacity to master major cognitive and social tasks.
Policy challenges for the pediatric rheumatology workforce: Part III. the international situation

Survival dominates current pediatric global health priorities. Diseases of poverty largely contribute to overall mortality in children under 5 years of age. Infectious diseases and injuries account for 75% of cause-specific mortality among children ages 5-14 years. Twenty percent of the world's population lives in extreme poverty (income below US $1.25/day). Within this population, essential services and basic needs are not met, including clean water, sanitation, adequate nutrition, shelter, access to health care, medicines and education. In this context, musculoskeletal disease comprises 0.1% of all-cause mortality in children ages 5-14 years. Worldwide morbidity from musculoskeletal disease remains generally unknown in the pediatric age group. This epidemiologic data is not routinely surveyed by international agencies, including the World Health Organization. The prevalence of pediatric rheumatic diseases based on data from developed nations is in the range of 2,500 - 3,000 cases per million children. Developing countries' needs for musculoskeletal morbidity are undergoing an epidemiologic shift to chronic conditions, as leading causes of pediatric mortality are slowly quelled. A global crisis of health care providers and human resources stems from insufficient workforce production, inability to retain workers in areas of greatest need, distribution disparity and poor management of both health care systems and health workforce. Internationally, the pediatric rheumatology workforce will also be in very short supply for the foreseeable future relative to projected demand. Physician extenders are an essential resource to meet this demand in underserved regions. They can be trained in common aspects of musculoskeletal medicine and rheumatic conditions. Innovative strategies have been introduced in the United Kingdom to address musculoskeletal medicine educational deficiencies. Telemedicine offers an important capacity to improve access to care despite distance. Regulatory flexibility may allow realignment of clinical responsibilities through existing and future governmental or non-governmental credentialing organizations. This review explores a variety of creative approaches which hold promise to improve patient access to care.