cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A pilot controlled family study of DSM-III-R and DSM-IV ADHD in African-American children.

Abstract Background Very little is known about attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in African-American children, and although the familial transmission of ADHD has been well established in white samples, prior work has not evaluated this feature of ADHD in African-American families. Method Subjects were 37 first-degree relatives of children with DSM-III-R -defined ADHD and 52 first-degree relatives of non-ADHD comparison children matched for ethnicity, age, and gender. DSM-III-R -based structured interviews (modified to include DSM-IV diagnoses) provided the basis for psychiatric diagnoses in relatives. Results The risks for both DSM-III-R and DSM-IV ADHD were significantly greater in first-degree relatives of ADHD probands than in relatives of controls. In addition, the relatives of ADHD probands also were at higher risk for oppositional defiant disorder, antisocial personality disorder, major depression, generalized anxiety, and substance use disorders. Conclusions These results suggest that ADHD and related disorders are familial in African-Americans. Further work is needed to confirm the familial transmission of ADHD in African-American children and to explore the role of genetics as well as environmental factors in the transmission of the disorder. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 1999, 38(1):034–39.
Dielectric and optical properties of electron-beam-addressed KD 2 PO 4

The temperature variations of several dielectric and optical parameters of KD2PO4 in the paraelectric phase above the Curie point are experimentally determined using an electron-beam-addressing technique. The results correlate well with the Curie–Weiss and electro-optical theories and the results of other researchers. The effects of these parameters on the performance of a KD2PO4 light valve are discussed and experimental image qualities are evaluated. The existence of domains in clamped plates and an unexplained hysteresis in the transition temperature are also reported.
Microelectronic adherence monitors for metered-dose inhalers: Who monitors the monitors?

Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) are the most widely prescribed agents for the treatment of asthma. According to current consensus guidelines, 1 optimal pharmacotherapy for control of persistent asthma generally requires regular daily use of inhaled corticosteroids in appropriately prescribed doses, usually administered twice daily, together with a short-acting inhaled bronchodilator for quick relief of symptoms as needed. For moderate-tosevere asthma, adjunctive therapy with a long-acting inhaled β-agonist is often prescribed also for maintenance use twice daily. Unfortunately, despite the pivotal role of inhaled medication in asthma management, adherence to prescribed use of inhalers for asthma is generally poor, resulting in underuse of regularly scheduled inhaled medication and frequent overuse of short-acting inhaled β-agonists.2,3 Poor adherence to prescribed use of inhalers for asthma is believed to contribute substantially to treatment failure, 4 and thus it likely contributes to asthma morbidity and mortality and represents a major challenge to health care providers. A number of studies have used microelectronic devices for monitoring MDI use, notably the Nebulizer Chronolog (Forefront Technologies, Inc, Lakewood, Colo), which contains a mechanical microswitch and microprocessor within the case housing the MDI canister to electronically record and store the date and time of each actuation. Each of these studies has shown that patient self-reporting markedly overestimates adherence to regularly scheduled inhaled controller medication, 2,4-9 thus compromising the physicians’s ability to ascertain true adherence in the absence of objective monitoring. Moreover, unlike electronic monitors, canister weights are not informative with regard to the daily pattern of inhaler use and fail to detect the “dumping” phenomenon, in which canisters are deceptively discharged shortly before an office visit to give the spurious appearance of good adherence in a clinical trial. 8 These findings have important implications not only for physicians providing care to patients with asthma but also for the interpretation of clinical trial outcomes. The Nebulizer Chronolog has also been shown to be capable of enhancing inhaler adherence when feedback of the monitoring results was provided to study participants by a health professional, 10 thus providing the opportunity for improved clinical care.11 The usefulness of microelectronic devices for objectively monitoring adherence in either clinical practice or a clinical trial, however, is critically dependent on the accuracy and reliability of these devices. In previously reported field experience with the Nebulizer Chronolog, 53% of the devices malfunctioned for reasons other than subject misuse at one or more times during a 7 1
Regulation of IκB kinase and NF-κB in contracting adult rat skeletal muscle

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a transcription factor with important roles in regulating innate immune and inflammatory responses. NF-κB is activated through the phosphorylation of its inhibitor, IκB...
A Motivational Framework For Understanding IS Use And Decision Performance

Despite the considerable resources that have been devoted to the study of information systems (IS) use and decision performance, much remains unknown about variables that provide valuable insight into these two important constructs. We propose a comprehensive research framework for understanding IS use and decision performance. In particular, we focus on the significant role of the motivation factor in explaining IS use and decision performance. We develop our research framework based on a review of motivation, systems, decision performance, information processing, and auditing literatures. A new stream of research is presented based on our motivational framework.
Eotaxin and FGF enhance signaling through an Extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK)-dependent pathway in the pathogenesis of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is characterized by the inflammation of the esophagus and the infiltration of eosinophils into the esophagus, leading to symptoms such as dysphagia and stricture formation. Systemic immune indicators like eotaxin and fibroblast growth factor were evaluated for possible synergistic pathological effects. Moreover, blood cells, local tissue, and plasma from EoE and control subjects were studied to determine if the localized disease was associated with a systemic effect that correlated with presence of EoE disease. Real-time polymerase chain reaction from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), immunohistochemistry from local esophageal biopsies, fluid assays on plasma, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting on peripheral blood cells from subjects were used to study the systemic immune indicators in newly diagnosed EoE (n = 35), treated EoE (n = 9), Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (n = 8), ulcerative colitis (n = 5), Crohn's disease (n = 5), and healthy controls (n = 8). Of the transcripts tested for possible immune indicators, we found extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), Bcl-2, bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor), and eotaxin levels were highly upregulated in PBMC and associated with disease presence of EoE. Increased FGF detected by immunohistochemistry in esophageal tissues and in PBMC was correlated with low levels of pro-apoptotic factors (Fas, Caspase 8) in PBMC from EoE subjects. Plasma-derived bFGF was shown to be the most elevated and most specific in EoE subjects in comparison to healthy controls and disease control subjects. We describe for the first time a possible mechanism by which increased FGF is associated with inhibiting apoptosis in local esophageal tissues of EoE subjects as compared to controls. Eotaxin and FGF signaling pathways share activation through the ERK pathway; together, they could act to increase eosinophil activation and prolong the half-life of eosinophils in local tissues of the esophagus in EoE subjects.
A conserved α-herpesvirus protein necessary for axonal localization of viral membrane proteins

Pseudorabies virus, an α-herpesvirus, is capable of infecting the nervous system and spreading between synaptically connected neurons in diverse hosts. At least three viral membrane proteins (gE, gI, and Us9) are necessary for the spread of infection from presynaptic to postsynaptic neurons (anterograde spread) in infected rodents. To understand how these proteins effect anterograde spread between neurons, we analyzed the subcellular localization of viral proteins after infection of cultured rat sympathetic neurons with wild-type or mutant viruses. After Us9-null mutant infections but not gE-null mutant infections, only a subset of the viral structural proteins had entered axons. Surprisingly, capsid and tegument proteins but not viral membrane proteins were detected in axons. The spread of Us9 missense mutants in the rodent nervous system correlated with the amount of viral membrane proteins localized to axons. We conclude that the Us9 membrane protein controls axonal localization of diverse viral membrane proteins but not that of capsid or tegument proteins. The data support a model where virion subassemblies but not complete virions are transported in the axon. Our results provide new insight into the process of virion assembly and exit from neurons that leads to directional spread of herpesviruses in the nervous system.
Antibody to Pneumocystis carinii Protects Rats and Mice from Developing Pneumonia

Well-proven mouse and rat models were used to show that polyclonal antisera to Pneumocystis carinii protect against P. carinii pneumonia. Antibodies were obtained from animals that were allowed to recover from severe P. carinii pneumonia after immunosuppression had been stopped and which then were given a booster injection of P. carinii from the same animal species. Mice immunosuppressed with corticosteroids or antibodies to L3T4+ lymphocytes (which are comparable to CD4 cells of humans) and transtracheally inoculated with mouse P. carinii did not develop P. carinii pneumonia if they were passively immunized with antiserum, while mice immunosuppressed and inoculated by identical procedures but not given antibodies developed severe infections. Rats immunosuppressed with corticosteroids and inoculated with rat P. carinii had less severe infections if they were given rat anti-P. carinii antisera. The polyclonal antisera developed in mice provided greater protection for the mice than the polyclonal rat antisera did for the rats; however, the potencies and compositions of the antisera were not quantitated and probably differed. Since both rats and mice can be protected from P. carinii infections with polyclonal antisera, it may be possible to develop vaccines that will elicit protective antibodies in humans.
Does bright light have an anxiolytic effect? - an open trial

The aim of this open trial was to examine the influence of acute bright light exposure on anxiety in older and young adults. This study was ancillary to a complex 5-day laboratory experiment testing phase-responses to light at all times of the day. On 3 consecutive days, participants were exposed to bright light (3,000 lux) for 3 hours. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y1) was administered 5 minutes before and 20 minutes after each treatment. Mean state anxiety before and after treatment were analyzed by age, sex, and time ANOVA. To avoid floor effects, only participants with baseline STAI levels of ≥ 25 were included. A significant anxiolytic effect of bright light was found for the mean data, as well as for each of the three days. No significant main effect of age, sex, or interaction of these factors with STAI change were found. The results show consistent and significant (albeit modest) anxiolytic effects following acute bright light exposure in low anxiety adults. Further randomized, controlled trials in clinically anxious individuals are needed.
SCOUT: A fast Monte-Carlo modeling tool of scintillation camera output

We have developed a Monte-Carlo photon-tracking and readout simulator called SCOUT to study the stochastic behavior of signals output from a simplified rectangular scintillation-camera design. SCOUT models the salient processes affecting signal generation, transport, and readout. Presently, we compare output signal statistics from SCOUT to experimental results for both a discrete and a monolithic camera. We also benchmark the speed of this simulation tool and compare it to existing simulation tools. We find this modeling tool to be relatively fast and predictive of experimental results. Depending on the modeled camera geometry, we found SCOUT to be 4 to 140 times faster than other modeling tools.
Maximum Shortening Velocity and Myosin Heavy-chain Isoform Expression in Human Masseter Muscle Fibers

While human masseter muscle is known to have unusual co-expression of myosin heavy-chain proteins, cellular kinetics of individual fibers has not yet been tested. Here we examine if myosin heavy-chain protein content is closely correlated to fiber-shortening speed, as previously reported in other human muscles, or if these proteins do not correlate well to shortening speeds, as has been demonstrated previously in rat muscle. Slack-test recordings of single, skinned human masseter fibers at 15°C revealed maximum shortening velocities generally slower and much more variable than those recorded in human limb muscle. The slowest fiber recorded had a maximum shortening velocity (V0) value of 0.027 muscle lengths ·s-1, several times slower than the slowest type I fibers previously measured in humans. By contrast, human limb muscle controls produced V0 measurements comparable with previously published results. Analysis by gel electrophoresis found 63% of masseter fibers to contain pure type I MyHC and the remain...
Superdirectivity in MIMO systems

Multiantenna systems such as devices for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication can theoretically use array superdirectivity to optimally exploit the propagation channel. In traditional analyses of MIMO systems, such superdirectivity is not observed due to the commonly applied constraint that limits the excitation current magnitudes. However, when an electromagnetically appropriate constraint on the power radiated by the array is applied, the computed capacity can include effects of transmit superdirectivity. A similar result occurs at the receiver for spatially colored noise. This paper formulates the MIMO system capacity under these circumstances and provides a framework for computing this capacity when the level of tolerable superdirectivity (as measured by the superdirectivity Q factor) is constrained. Example computations using the framework illustrate the impact that superdirectivity can have on achievable MIMO system performance.
A Simple Power Analysis Attack on the Serpent Key Schedule.

We describe an SPA attack on an 8-bit smart card implementation of the Serpent block cipher. Our attack uses measurements taken during an on-the-∞y key expansion together with linearity in the cipher’s key schedule algorithm to drastically reduce the search time for an initial key. An implementation flnds 256-bit keys in 3.736 ms on average. Our work shows that linearity in key schedule design and other cryptographic applications should be carefully evaluated for susceptibility to side-channel attacks and that search algorithm design can greatly speed up side-channel attacks.
Mother–Child Conversations About Safety: Implications for Socializing Safety Values in Children

Objective This study examined how mothers socialize their children about safety through conversations about potentially unsafe activities. Methods Mothers and their 8- and 10-year-old children discussed and rated the safety of 12 photographs depicting another same-gender child engaged in potentially dangerous activities. Results Conversations usually unfolded with children giving the first rating or rationale, followed by additional discussion between the mother and child. Mothers and children relied on 2 main types of rationales to justify their ratings: potential outcomes of the activity and specific features of the situation (dangerous and nondangerous). Mothers (but not children) used dangerous feature rationales more often than dangerous outcome rationales. When disagreements arose, mothers typically guided children to adopt their own rating rather than the child’s rating. Additionally, children who used more nondangerous feature and outcome rationales had experienced more injuries requiring medical attention. Conclusions Mothers’ focus on dangerous features appears to reflect their efforts to help children make causal connections between dangerous elements of the situation and adverse outcomes that might result.
Differential Expression of Interleukin-8 by Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes of Two Closely Related Species, Ovis canadensis and Ovis aries, in Response to Mannheimia haemolytica Infection

The pneumonic lesions and mortality caused by Mannheimia haemolytica in bighorn sheep (BHS; Ovis canadensis) are more severe than those in the related species, domestic sheep (DS; Ovis aries), under both natural and experimental conditions. Leukotoxin (Lkt) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are the most important virulence factors of this organism. One hallmark of pathogenesis of pneumonia is the influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) into the lungs. Lkt-induced cytolysis of PMNs results in the release of cytotoxic compounds capable of damaging lung tissue. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a potent PMN chemoattractant. The objective of the present study was to determine if there is differential expression of IL-8 by the macrophages and PMNs of BHS and DS in response to M. haemolytica. Macrophages and PMNs of BHS and DS were stimulated with heat-killed M. haemolytica or LPS. IL-8 expression by the cells was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). The PMNs of BHS expressed severalfold higher levels of IL-8 than those of DS upon stimulation. Lesional lung tissue of M. haemolytica-infected BHS contained significantly higher levels of IL-8 than nonlesional tissue. The bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of infected BHS also contained higher levels of IL-8 than that of infected DS. Depletion of IL-8 reduced migration of PMNs toward BAL fluid by approximately 50%, indicating that IL-8 is integral to PMN recruitment to the lung during M. haemolytica infection. Excessive production of IL-8, enhanced recruitment of PMNs, and PMN lysis by Lkt are likely responsible for the severity of the lung lesions in M. haemolytica-infected BHS.
Effects of Spirulina platensis on growth performance of weanling pigs

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of an algae derived feed additive, Spirulina platensis (SP), on weanling pig performance. In all experiments, pigs were blocked by weight and allotted to one of four (experiments 1 and 3) or six (Experiment 2) dietary treatments. Standard diets and feeding regimens were implemented in all three experiments and SP replaced soybean meal on an equal lysine basis. Zinc oxide (3000 mg Zn kg −1 ) and medication were included in the diets for only experiments 1 and 3. In Experiment 1, a control diet or diets containing 2, 5, or 20 g SP kg −1 were fed in a pellet form from days 0 to 14 after weaning followed by meal form from days 14 to 28 after weaning. From days 0 to 14, no differences in pig performance were observed. From days 14 to 28, a cubic ( p −1 having greater ADG than pigs fed the control diet. In Experiment 2, dietary treatments (meal form) consisted of a control diet (no SP, fed for 6 weeks), 1 g SP kg −1 (fed for 6 weeks) or 2 g SP kg −1 (fed for 1, 2, 4, or 6 weeks). Pigs were switched to the control diet at the end of each SP feeding regimen. From days 0 to 14 after weaning, no differences in ADG or ADFI were observed. Pigs fed diets containing 1 or 2 g SP kg −1 for the entire 28 days had better feed efficiency ( p −1 . From days 0 to 14 after weaning, adding SP to pelleted diets numerically tended to decrease ADG (SP × feed processing, p
Motivation and Classroom Learning

As we discuss in this chapter, motivation does not just reside in the mind of the student; rather, motivation is related to a complex dynamic that transcends relationships between students, teachers, and the environments created in schools and classrooms. We review several contemporary theoretical frameworks that guide research on achievement motivation in the educational psychology literature. Specifically, self-determination theory, attribution theory, social cognitive theory, expectancy-value theory, and achievement goal theory are reviewed. Each theory contributes uniquely to our understanding of academic motivation, and can be applied to actual classroom settings. In particular, we focus on how teachers' choices regarding daily instructional tasks are related to student motivation. We end by discussing important areas for future research and stressing that the improvement of achievement motivation in school involves the collaborative efforts of researchers, educators and policy makers. Keywords: academic motivation; classroom learning; instructional practices
Utilizing zfs for the storage of acquired data

Every day, the amount of data that is acquired from plasma experiments grows dramatically. It has become difficult for systems administrators to keep up with the growing demand for hard drive storage space. In the past, project storage has been supplied using UNIX filesystem (ufs) partitions. In order to increase the size of the disks using this system, users were required to discontinue use of the disk, so the existing data could be transferred to a disk of larger capacity or begin use of a completely new and separate disk, thus creating a segmentation of data storage.
Complex interactions among nutrients, chlorophyll-a, and microcystins in three stormwater wet detention basins with floating treatment wetlands

Stormwater wet detention ponds hold a permanent pool of water and offer many beneficial uses including flood mitigation, pollution prevention, downstream erosion control, increased aesthetics, and recreational uses. Although the removal of nutrients is generally low for stormwater wet detention ponds in urban areas, floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) can be installed to offer an innovative solution toward naturally removing excess nutrients and aiding in stormwater management. To improve the stormwater reuse potential, this study assessed nutrient, microcystin, and chlorophyll-a interactions in three Florida stormwater wet detention ponds with recently implemented FTWs. Both episodic (storm events) and routine (non-storm events) sampling campaigns were carried out at the three ponds located in Ruskin, Gainesville, and Orlando. The results showed a salient negative correlation between total phosphorus and microcystin concentrations for both storm and non-storm events across all three ponds. The dominant nutrient species in correlation seemed to be total phosphorus, which correlated positively with chlorophyll-a concentrations at all ponds and sampling conditions, with the exception of Orlando non-storm events. These results showed a correlation conditional to the candidate pond and sampling conditions for microcystin and chlorophyll-a concentrations.
Adrenalectomy of the obese Zucker rat: effects on the feeding response to enterostatin and specific mRNA levels

The effects of adrenalectomy on the feeding response to enterostatin and the mRNA levels of its parent protein, pancreatic colipase, have been investigated in lean (fa/?) and genetically obese (fa/fa) rats. Adrenalectomy reduced body weight gain and food intake of obese rats. Enterostatin inhibited the intake of high-fat diet in obese rats but not in lean rats. Adrenalectomy reduced food intake of all rats and abolished the response to enterostatin in the obese group. Obese rats had low levels of colipase mRNA, but these were normalized after adrenalectomy. The ability to respond to exogenous enterostatin is possibly linked to low levels of production of the peptide. The effects of adrenalectomy on brown adipose tissue uncoupling protein (UCP) mRNA and beta 3-adrenergic receptor (beta 3-AR) mRNA were also investigated. Northern blot analysis showed low levels of both UCP mRNA and beta 3-AR mRNA in obese rats that were restored to or toward the normal levels of lean rats by adrenalectomy. Adrenalectomy had no significant effects on mRNA levels in lean rats.
Risperidone for the treatment of cocaine dependence: Randomized, double- blind trial

A partial blockade of the multiple actions of cocaine is one strategy by which cocaine dependence may be treated. Risperidone, a 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine D2 antagonist, is an atypical antipsychotic and was a candidate medication for the treatment of cocaine dependence. One hundred ninety-three cocaine-dependent subjects were enrolled in a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Subjects initially received either placebo or 4 or 8 mg of risperidone, with a subsequent change to active doses of 2 mg and 4 mg. Subjects attended the clinic twice each week, provided urine samples, obtained medication, and underwent one behavioral therapy session per week. The study was terminated at the interim analysis. Retention was worse for the 4- and 8-mg active medication groups. Side effects were primarily associated with the 8-mg dose, although neither 2 mg nor 4 mg was well accepted by subjects. There was no reduction in cocaine use associated with risperidone. The results suggest that although antagonists might be a useful treatment approach, such as in the treatment of opiate dependence, risperidone is unlikely to find broad acceptance with the treatment-seeking population.
Is the call to prayer a call to cooperate? A field experiment on the impact of religious salience on prosocial behavior

While religiosity is positively correlated with self-reported prosociality, observational and experimental studies on the long-hypothesized connection between religion and prosocial behavior have yielded mixed results. Recent work highlights the role of religious salience for stimulating prosocial behavior, but much of this research has involved priming Christian subjects in laboratory settings, limiting generalization to the real world. Here I present a field study conducted in the souks in the medina of Marrakesh, Morocco, which shows that religious salience can increase prosocial behavior with Muslim subjects in a natural setting. In an economic decision making task similar to a dictator game, shopkeepers demonstrated increased prosocial behavior when the Islamic call to prayer was audible compared to when it was not audible. This finding complements a growing literature on the connection between cultural cues, religious practices, and prosocial behavior, and supports the hypothesis that religious rituals play a role in galvanizing prosocial behavior.
Abstract WP95: Delayed Progesterone Treatment Attenuates Infarct and Behavioral Deficits Induced by Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (pMCAO) in Middle-Aged Rats: Therapeutic Time Window Study

BACKGROUND: Previously we carried out a dose response study and reported 8 mg/kg PROG to be the optimal therapeutic dose following in pMCAO. A systematic preclinical progesterone (PROG) therapeutic time window study is lacking. In the present study we used a clinically relevant middle-aged rat and long-term sensory, motor, and cognitive outcome measures to determine the effects of delayed PROG treatment. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (12 months old) underwent pMCAO by electrocoagulation or sham operation. Beginning 3, 6, or 24 h post-occlusion, rats were given IP injections of 8 mg/kg of PROG or vehicle, followed by SC injections at 5 h after the first IP injection and then every 24 h for 7 days. The dose was tapered over the final 2 treatments. Behavioral recovery was evaluated at repeated intervals on sensory, motor, and cognitive tasks. Rats were killed at 22 days post-stroke and brains perfused for infarct evaluation. RESULTS: Three weeks post-pMCAO, PROG treatment delayed by 3 h improved grip strength by 64.48%, rotarod stability by 94.29%, sensory neglect by 94.48%, and long-term memory deficits by 60.56%. PROG treatment delayed by 6 h improved grip strength by 82.62%, rotarod stability by 75.89%, sensory neglect by 60.14%, and long-term memory deficits by 60.16%. Automated, computer-assisted gait assessment showed that PROG treatments significantly improved motor deficits in the affected limb on parameters like stride length, paw print and swing speed. When PROG treatment was compared to non-treated group, a significant reduction of 49.59 and 58.06% in infarct size was observed with 3- ( F (1,14) = 8.25, p F (1,13) = 4.44, p CONCLUSION: The therapeutic dose of 8 mg/kg PROG was found to be effective within a large therapeutic time window. After both 3- and 6-h delays, PROG was effective in improving motor, sensory and memory function deficit. A 24-h treatment delay did not produce significant improvement in most of the outcome measures. PROG shows pre-clinical promise and should be examined for safety and efficacy in a clinical trial for ischemic stroke.
Dose calculation for hypofractionated volumetric-modulated arc therapy: approximating continuous arc delivery and tongue-and-groove modeling

Hypofractionated treatments generally increase the complexity of a treatment plan due to the more stringent constraints of normal tissues and target coverage. As a result, treatment plans contain more modulated MLC motions that may require extra efforts for accurate dose calculation. This study explores methods to minimize the differences between in-house dose calculation and actual delivery of hypofractionated volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), by focusing on arc approximation and tongue-and-groove (TG) modeling. For dose calculation, the continuous delivery arc is typically approximated by a series of static beams with an angular spacing of 2°. This causes significant error when there is large MLC movement from one beam to the next. While increasing the number of beams will minimize the dose error, calculation time will increase significantly. We propose a solution by inserting two additional apertures at each of the beam angle for dose calculation. These additional apertures were interpolated at two-thirds' degree before and after each beam. Effectively, there were a total of three MLC apertures at each beam angle, and the weighted average fluence from the three apertures was used for calculation. Because the number of beams was kept the same, calculation time was only increased by about 6%-8%. For a lung plan, areas of high local dose differences (> 4%) between film measurement and calculation with one aperture were significantly reduced in calculation with three apertures. Ion chamber measurement also showed similar results, where improvements were seen with calculations using additional apertures. Dose calculation accuracy was further improved for TG modeling by developing a sampling method for beam fluence matrix. Single element point sampling for fluence transmitted through MLC was used for our fluence matrix with 1 mm resolution. For Varian HDMLC, grid alignment can cause fluence sampling error. To correct this, transmission volume averaging was applied. For three paraspinal HDMLC cases, the average dose difference was greatly reduced in film and calculation comparisons with our new approach. The gamma (3%, 3 mm) pass rates have improved significantly from 74.1%, 90.0%, and 90.4% to 99.2%, 97.9%, and 97.3% for three cases, for calculation without volume averaging and calculation with volume averaging, respectively. Our results indicate that more accurate MLC leaf position and transmission sampling can improve accuracy and agreement between calculation and measurement, and are particularly important for hypofractionated VMAT that consists of large MLC movement.
Tests with Insecticides as Seed Treatment to Control Rice Water Weevil

Several experimental insecticides used as seed treatments were evaluated for control of rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, in 1963, 1964 and 1965. Fenthion, carbaryl, Nia 10242 (2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl methylcarbamate), CL 43064 (2-(diethoxy-phosphinothioylimino)-1,3-dithiolane), Bayer 25141 ( O,O- diethy O -[ p -(methylsulfinyl) phenyl] phosphorothioate), Matacil® (4-dimethylamino- m -tolyl methycarbamate), GC 4072 (2-chloro-1-(2,4-dicholrophenyl) vinyl diethyl phosphate), and U-12927 (6-chloro-3,4-xylyl methylcarba-mate) were sufficiently effective to merit more intensive testing.
Susceptibility of Chrysopa rufilabris to Selected Insecticides and Miticides

Two days after moulting to the 3rd instar, larvae of Chrysopa rufilabris Burmeister were exposed to technical and commercial formulations of 5 pesticides. Technical pesticides in decreasing order of toxicity to C. rufilabris larvae were: azinphosmethyl, carbaryl, ethion, carbophenothion, and chlorobenzilate. Residues of commercial azinphosmethyl 2 EC and carbaryl 50% WP had high and medium toxicity, respectively. Ethion + oil, carbophenothion 2 EC, and ethion 4 EC had low toxicity, while chlorobenzilate 25% EC had 0 toxicity. Azinphosmethyl and carbaryl residues were toxic up to 22 days postapplication. Ethion + oil, carbophenothion, and ethion showed 0 toxicity after 6 days.
Juvenile Status and Criminal Sentencing: Does It Matter in the Adult System?

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of juvenile status on sentencing in the adult criminal justice system. This study includes four years (2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006) of national level data from the State Court Processing Statistics. The sample is comprised of over 35,000 offenders who were convicted in criminal court. In using multilevel modeling, the results indicate that juveniles are punished both equally and more harshly than adults, depending on the age of the adults and the specific sentencing outcome. The findings are partially consistent with existing research that suggests a juvenile penalty at the sentencing stage of criminal court proceedings.
Current Status and Prospects on Traditional Chinese Medicine Compound Prescriptions in Fight AIDS

It is the public health problem of high fatal and rapid epidemic of AIDS all over the world.In recently years,domestic and foreign scholars have found that the traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions have the potential function to regulate the immune function and anti-virus by lots of screening and rigorous study which is considered to be the practical way for finding new anti-AIDS drugs.The aim of the article is to summarize pharmacology and efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions for anti-AIDS to provide evidence for developing anti-AIDS drugs.
Long-term histopathological changes observed in rats subjected to augmentation cystoplasty

AbstractPossible development of proliferative lesions in bladders subjected to augmentation cystoplasty is a matter of concern for many clinicians. We have previously reported on the development of bladder papillomas in 5 of 15 rats approximately 18 months after gastrocystoplasty. We now report a followup study designed to investigate histopathological changes occurring in rat bladders approximately 2 years after augmentation cystoplasty using various gastrointestinal segments. Prepubescent Long-Evans female rats were randomly divided into 4 groups and underwent either gastrocystoplasty, ileocystoplasty, colocystoplasty or a sham operation (controls). Animals were sacrificed 14 to 27 months (average 21.5) postoperatively and bladders were examined histologically. Metaplastic and/or hyperplastic changes were observed in the gastrointestinal patches or surrounding urothelium in all bladders having undergone augmentation cystoplasty. Tumors occurred on or adjacent to the lumenal surface of the augmented segm...
Freshwater Metaviromics and Bacteriophages: A Current Assessment of the State of the Art in Relation to Bioinformatic Challenges

Advances in bioinformatics and sequencing technologies have allowed for the analysis of complex microbial communities at an unprecedented rate. While much focus is often placed on the cellular members of these communities, viruses play a pivotal role, particularly bacteria-infecting viruses (bacteriophages); phages mediate global biogeochemical processes and drive microbial evolution through bacterial grazing and horizontal gene transfer. Despite their importance and ubiquity in nature, very little is known about the diversity and structure of viral communities. Though the need for culture-based methods for viral identification has been somewhat circumvented through metagenomic techniques, the analysis of metaviromic data is marred with many unique issues. In this review, we examine the current bioinformatic approaches for metavirome analyses and the inherent challenges facing the field as illustrated by the ongoing efforts in the exploration of freshwater phage populations.
Medullary thyroid carcinoma: one component of the inherited disorder multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A.

Purpose/objectives To describe and discuss the inherited syndrome multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) and one of its components medullary thyroid carcinoma. Data sources Published books and articles; clinical experience. Data synthesis Three distinct types of MEN are known. Type 2a consists of medullary thyroid carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, and other conditions. The disorder is autosomal-dominant. Genetic counseling and screening and biochemical screening are possible. Early detection and treatment are key to successful control. Conclusions Identification of kindreds affected by this inherited disorder can result in improved detection and early treatment. The merit and value of presumptive treatment remain unclear. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTISE: Nursing activities encompass prediagnosis through postoperative phases. Care involves all members of the family as well as psychological care.
Can the Service Learning Model Help Business Ethics Courses From Being an Oxymoron

Colleges of Business face new challenges in teaching students about Business Ethics. Some laugh off the notion as an oxymoron; they assert that you cannot teach morality, ethics or values. Others look to our nation's universities as the place where ethical behavior should be defined, nurtured and encouraged. Unlike courses offered in religion or philosophy, students and employers want to know how to apply these models and concepts. Exhortations do not suffice. This article defines a successful class project that applies business ethics to organizational realities. Student teams work with a client system to develop a Code of Ethics for the firm. These projects incorporate the established benefits of service learning â€“ students learn while doing, strongly reinforcing classroom lessons. Does this approach make a difference? Results from the accreditation process document that it contributes to an increase in student learning.
Natural History of Honey Bee Learning

The life style of honey bees requires them to learn a variety of specific things in order to navigate and forage. The need for learning is sufficiently predictable with regard to the behavioral contexts and useful cues that it is highly structured and relatively easily studied. Although each cue seems to be learned independently, the set of cues memorized in each context appears to be stored as a unit. The exact nature of the storage system for flower shape, landmarks near the food, and navigational landmarks, as well as certain navigational parameters, is not yet perfectly clear. The nature of these ambiguities is explored. The possibility that some form of a synaptic selection strategy might underlie bee learning is also explored in a preliminary way.
Numerical Simulation of Size Effect of Laminated Rock

Abstract Roof and rib falls are still a leading cause of injuries in underground coal mines. When numerical simulation method is adopted to study this phenomenon, the influence of regular laminations on strength and size effect should be carefully considered because rock mass of roof is usually laminated. In order to get an insight into the influence of different lamination factors on size effect, cubic rock specimens with different sizes, stress directions, lamination orientations and lamination spacing were tested under true tri-axial conditions with 3DEC. The results show that regular lamination can cause size effect even without considering size effect of the intact rock and rock joints. The influence of lamination orientation on size effect is distinct and is orientation-dependent while the influence of lamination thickness is minimal. Changing dip or stress direction will affect the influence of orientation and size effect as well.
Clues to follicular helper T cell function from BCL6 target genes (IRM15P.457)

The transcriptional repressor Bcl6 controls development of the follicular helper T cell (T FH ) lineage, however the precise mechanisms by which Bcl6 regulates this process are unclear. Several models have been proposed for how Bcl6 control T FH differentiation, but this pathway remains incompletely understood. Knowledge of the genes controlled by Bcl6 in T FH cells would facilitate our understanding of how Bcl6 controls T FH differentiation as well as give insights into T FH differentiation, but an in depth description of direct Bcl6 target genes in T cells has been lacking. Here, we have taken advantage of Bcl6 conditional knockout mice and bioinformatic tools to discover a core set of 25 target genes bound by Bcl6 in T cells and repressed in T FH cells. Strikingly, a large percentage of these genes are involved in promoting cell division and proliferation, indicating that a key role for Bcl6 in T FH cells is to restrain the cell cycle. Additionally, we find evidence that Bcl6 can bind to and activate a subset of Tfh genes, via an unknown mechanism. Thus, we have gained important new insights into T FH cell regulation by analyzing Bcl6 target genes.
Taming metadata storms in parallel filesystems with metaFS

Metadata performance remains a serious bottleneck in parallel filesystems. In particular, when complex applications start up on many nodes at once, a "metadata storm" occurs as each instance traverses the filesystem in order to search for executables, libraries, and other necessary runtime components. Not only does this delay the application in question, but it can render the entire system unusable by other clients. To address this problem, we present MetaFS, a user-level overlay filesystem that sits on top of an existing parallel filesystem. MetaFS indexes the static metadata content of complex applications and delivers it in bulk to execution nodes, where it can be cached and queried quickly, while relying on the existing parallel filesystem for data delivery. We demonstrate that MetaFS applied to a complex bioinformatics application converts the metadata load placed on a production Panasas filesystem from 1.1 million operations per task to 1.9 MB of bulk data per task, increasing the metadata scalability limit of the application from 66 nodes to 5,000 nodes.
Investigation of microscopic retina with multimodal adaptive optics (Conference Presentation)

High-resolution adaptive optics (AO) imaging of retinal neurons in living eyes holds promise for improved diagnosis and better assessment of treatment outcomes for retinal diseases. By integrating different imaging modalities, such as scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), AO has enabled microscopic views of different retinal neurons, including recently reported retinal ganglion cells. In this study, we present a novel design of a multimodal adaptive optics imaging system to investigate the microscopic structure of living human retina. The optical system was designed using Zemax ray tracing software. The system performance was evaluated in terms of image quality and beam displacement. Optical performance was predicted to achieve diffraction limited image quality at the retinal plane and beam displacement was predicted to be >7× smaller than the pitch of Shack-Hartmann lenslet at the pupil planes for scan angles over 3.6°×3.6° field of view. The initial human subject images are presented. High quality photoreceptor images were acquired in both AO-SLO channel and AO-OCT channel simultaneously at 3° temporal from the fovea. Individual cones are delineated in AO-SLO image, the corresponding AO-OCT image showed four main reflections from outer retina, namely external limiting membrane, cone inner segment/outer segment junction, cone outer segment tip, and retinal pigment epithelium. The system allows flexibly alternating between AO-SLO and AO-OCT modes, which provides complementary views of retinal cells, and the potential to improve disease diagnosis and treatment.
Aging and Engaging: A Social Conversational Skills Training Program for Older Adults

We developed 'Aging and Engaging, a web-based intelligent interface, to improve communication skills among older adults. The interface allows users to practice conversations with a virtual assistant and receive feedback on eye contact, speaking volume, smiling, and valence of speech content. Feedback is generated automatically by analyzing the temporal properties of the conversation using the hidden Markov model. The interface was designed with the assistance of an expert advisory panel that works with geriatric patients, as well as a focus group of 12 older adults. To evaluate its effectiveness, we conducted a study with 25 older adults, each of whom participated in four conversations. Participants' response times to questions, as well as the amount of positive feedback, increased gradually through these interactions, as assessed by human judges. Participants found the feedback useful, easy to interpret, and fairly accurate, and expressed their interest in using the system at home. We plan to enroll subjects with difficulties in social communication; have them use the system over time at home in a randomized, controlled study; and measure any changes in their behavior.
Surface motion of a two-dimensional half-space (Lamb’s Problem)

In a famous paper published in 1904, Lamb [57] completely solved the problem of the surface motion of a two-dimensional isotropic half-space subjected to a point impulsive normal load applied at the surface. Lamb’s paper contains a rich variety of other results, but it is the transversely isotropic version of the half-space problem that forms the subject matter of the present chapter. Following the penetrating treatment of this problem by Kraut [58], the axis of material symmetry (z-axis) will be assumed perpendicular to the surface of the half-space. Unlike the isotropic problem solved by Lamb, the orientation of the crystallographic axes relative to the half-space surface does make a considerable difference in the complexity of the analysis for the corresponding transversely isotropic solid. Burridge [59] has analyzed Lamb’s problem for a general anisotropic solid in which the surface has no particularly symmetrical orientation with respect to the crystallographic axes of the medium. Burridge illustrates in some detail his results (which are not explicit) for the cubic crystal copper. On the other hand the problem formulated by Kraut (and illustrated for the crystal Beryl) and treated later by Budaev [60], does allow an explicit closed form solution, although neither author takes the opportunity to do so.
Single-Fluid-Phase Flow

The goal of this chapter is to formulate a set of closed, solvable, macroscale, singlefluid-phase flow models using the TCAT approach. This is the first macroscale TCAT application to be considered.
G.H. Hardy: Ramanujan’s Mentor

The British mathematician G.H. Hardy was the consummate Cambridge professor. Upon seeing Ramanujan’s letter, he concluded that Ramanujan was a true genius and invited him to Cambridge. Here we describe Hardy’s life story, his views about mathematical research and education, his encouragement of Ramanujan and their great collaboration.