cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Covering a square by small perimeter rectangles

We show that if the unit square is covered byn rectangles, then at least one must have perimeter at least 4(2m+1)/(n+m(m+1)), wherem is the largest integer whose square is at mostn. This result is exact forn of the formm(m+1) (orm2).
Monte Carlo experiment to determine the statistical uncertainty for the average 24-hour wave derived from filtered and unfiltered data

To test whether the diurnal variation is more reliably determined from filtered data, a daily harmonic analysis is made before and after filtering an adequate sequence of synthetic bihourly values ...
Eating disorders: relations with inconsistent discipline, anxiety, and drinking among college women.

Since as many as 20% of all college women report symptoms of eating disorders, the present study examined the relationship between self-reported eating disorder symptoms, anxiety, drinking, and retrospective reports of inconsistent parenting during childhood. 101 college women, 85% Euro-Americans of mean age 19 yr., completed an anonymous survey including questions from the Eating Disorder Index-1, the Retrospective Family Unpredictability Scale, the Trait Anxiety Scale, and measures of drinking in the previous month. Eating disorder symptoms correlated with self-reported drinking quantity, anxiety, and retrospective ratings of inconsistent discipline. This appears to be the first time eating disorder symptoms have been associated with inconsistent discipline. Implications for etiology and treatment of eating disorders are discussed.
Interhemispheric connections of visual cortex of owl monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus), marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), and galagos (Galago crassicaudatus).

Interhemispheric connections of visual cortex were studied in owl monkeys, marmosets, and galagos after multiple injections of horseradish peroxidase into one cerebral hemisphere. Area1 patterns of connections were revealed in sections of cortex that was flattened and cut parallel to the surface. Results were related to the locations of known visual areas, especially in owl monkeys, in which more visual areas have been established. The connection patterns in owl monkeys and marmosets are very similar, suggesting that the organization of visual cortex differs little in these two New World simians. Galagos have a basically similar pattern, but the connections are more widespread. In al1 three primates, connections are not restricted to cortex representing the line of decussation of the retina, and even striate cortex has connections displaced from the border. These connections extend up to 2 mm into area 17 in owl monkeys, and they are most extensive in galagos, where they form foci that are coextensive with regions of high cytochrome oxidase activity. Connections are concentrated in the caudal half of area 18, but protrusions of connections cross the width of the field. The middle temporal visual area (MT) has unevenly distributed connections throughout, with some increase in density along the border. The dorsomedial visual area (DM) of owl monkeys has connections restricted to the rostral border, and a similar region of sparse connections identifies the probable location of DM in marmosets and galagos. Caudal parts of the dorsolateral visual area (DL) of owl monkeys have dense interhemispheric connections. Other visual areas are characterized by unevenly distributed clumps of connections, suggesting that functions are not uniformly distributed, and that semiregular processing modules exist. The results indicate that most extrastriate visual neurons are subject to interhemispheric influences and support the conclusion that callosal connections are functionally heterogeneous.
Unrealistic optimism in consumer credit card adoption

In this paper, we study consumer credit card adoption behavior when individuals are overly optimistic about their future usage of the card. We hypothesized that the more prone consumers are to unrealistic optimism, regarding their future borrowing behavior, the more likely they are to prefer credit cards with features that are sub-optimal in light of their actual borrowing behavior. The two empirical studies we conducted to test these hypotheses have provided supporting evidence. Our findings offer an alternative explanation to the long debated puzzle on the stickiness of credit card interest rate, and have important implications for public policy makers.
Animal models of uveal melanoma

Many attempts have been made to develop a suitable animal model to study more effectively the aetiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy of intraocular (uveal) melanoma. Uveal melanoma may spontaneously occur in some animals, including dogs, cats, horses, rats, mice, birds and fish. The histological features, metastatic behaviour and unpredictable nature of occurrence of these uncommon spontaneous tumours detract from their suitability as a model. Several methods have been developed to induce intraocular melanoma chemically or by radiation in laboratory animals. Some of these induced tumours resemble human uveal melanoma, although the majority originate from the retinal pigment epithelium. Uveal proliferations have been biologically induced by feline leukaemia/sarcoma virus and simian virus 40, although the presence of virus in tumour cells and extraocular tumours resulting from shed virus detract from the utility of this model. Inoculation of tissue culture hamster, murine or human melanoma cells into animal eyes has the advantage that the inoculation site and size of inoculum can be controlled. Disadvantages include the immune suppression necessary for tumour growth in some models as well as the fact that many of the melanoma cell lines are of cutaneous origin. Transgenic murine models have been developed using the promoter region of the tyrosinase gene to target expression of oncogenes in melanin-producing cells. Spontaneous intraocular pigmented tumours and distant metastases may occur, although many, if not all, of the intraocular tumours arise in the retinal pigment epithelium.
An update on human papillomavirus vaccine uptake among 11-17 year old girls in the United States: National Health Interview Survey, 2010

Abstract Purpose A 3-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for adolescents to protect against HPV-related cervical and other cancers. The purpose of this study was to provide an update on HPV vaccine uptake among 11–17 year old girls residing in the US. Methods Data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were obtained to assess HPV vaccination status and its correlates. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine HPV vaccine uptake of ≥1 dose and ≥3 doses among all girls, and completion of the 3-dose series among those who initiated (received ≥1 dose) the vaccine. Results Overall, 28.9% and 14.2% received ≥1 dose and ≥3 doses of vaccine: 14.5% and 3.0% among 11–12 year old girls, and 34.8% and 18.7% among 13–17 year olds, respectively. Hispanics had higher uptake of ≥1 dose (odds ratio (OR) 1.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22–2.17) than whites. Having received an influenza shot in the past year and parents’ awareness of the vaccine were significantly associated with receiving ≥1 dose (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.51–2.33 and OR 16.57, 95% CI 10.95–25.06) and ≥3 doses (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.13–1.92 and OR 10.60, 95% CI 5.95–18.88). A separate multivariate model based on girls who initiated the vaccine did not identify any significant correlates of 3-dose series completion. Among parents of unvaccinated girls, 60% were not interested in vaccinating their daughters and mentioned three main reasons: “does not need vaccine” (25.5%), “worried about safety” (19.3%) and “does not know enough about vaccine” (16.6%). Of those who were interested, 53.7% would pay $360–$500 for the vaccination, while 41.7% preferred to receive it at a much lower cost or free. Conclusions Only 1 out of 3 girls (11–17 years) have received ≥1 dose of HPV vaccine and much less have completed all 3 doses. Strategies should be taken to improve this vaccine uptake among girls, especially those 11–12 year olds, and to educate parents about the importance of vaccination.
Histological effects of prolonged sublethal hypoxia on channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

. A vacuum degassing apparatus was used to subject channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque) to sublethal hypoxia for 24, 48 or 72 h. Spleen, liver, gills, anterior kidney and posterior kidney from the catfish exhibited histopathological changes that included necrosis, hyperaemia, oedema, haemorrhage, hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Of the organs examined, gills were most affected by the hypoxic conditions. After 5 days of reacclimatization to normoxic conditions, channel catfish continued to exhibit histopathological effects of prolonged hypoxia.
On the Utility of WordNet for Ontology Alignment: Is it Really Worth it?

Many ontology alignment algorithms augment syntactic matching with the use of WordNet (WN) in order to improve their performance. The advantage of using WN in alignment seems apparent. However, we strike a more cautionary note. We analyze the utility of WN in the context of the reduction in precision and increase in execution time that its use entails. For this analysis, we particularly focus on real-world ontologies. We report distinct trends in the performance of WN-based alignment in comparison with alignment that uses syntactic matching only. We analyze the trends and their implications, and provide useful insights on the types of ontology pair for which WN-based alignment may potentially be worthwhile and those types where it may not be.
A new technique for dynamic heat transfer measurements and flow visualization using liquid crystal thermography

Abstract A new technique for dynamic heat transfer coefficient measurements and flow visualization is described. This technique uses a surface with a low thermal mass (a thin tissue) embedded with thermochromic liquid crystals (TLCs) and heated uniformly with infrared radiation. For air heat transfer coefficient measurements, the frequency response is estimated at 0.3–0.5 Hz. Depending on the local heat transfer coefficient and the magnitude of its fluctuations, it is estimated that surface temperature fluctuations can be detected to 100 Hz. These surface temperature fluctuations are driven by changes in local heat transfer coefficients, caused by dynamic flow behavior such as vortex shedding, and are captured by video recordings of the hue of the liquid crystals. The video images provide time-dependent heat transfer coefficient distribution and time-dependent surface flow visualization. Two applications are used to illustrate this technique: flow on a surface downstream of a protruding cylinder in cross-flow with vortex shedding, and flow downstream of a shallow cylindrical surface dimple. Images of the time-dependent surface temperature distribution downstream of the protruding cylinder are presented. They show the fluctuations in the surface heat transfer coefficient due to vortex shedding. The temperature distributions downstream of the cylindrical dimple were found to be relatively steady within the frequency limits of this technique. Heat transfer coefficient contours are presented for this case.
Prostaglandin regulation of murine mammary tumor virus production: A basis for some of the glucocorticoid and prolactin actions on mammary tumor cell cultures

Abstract Hormonal regulation of mouse mammary tumor virus (MuMTV) production has been studied in, cell cultures derived from mammary carcinomas of GR mice. The purpose of this study was to define the role of prolactin in dexamethasone-induced MuMTV production and to evaluate the mechanism(s) of action of these hormones. Results of our investigations in vitro establish a central role for prostaglandins, in particular PGF2α. Prolactin treatment up to 1000 ng/ml increased the MuMTV production only slightly when added alone but a maximal stimulatory response was expressed when prolactin was added simultaneously with dexamethasone 2 μg/ml. This prolactin-related enhancement of MuMTV production was probably mediated by PGs since it was inhibited by indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis. When higher concentrations of indomethacin were used in dexamethasone-treated cultures, MuMTV production, although inhibited, was restored in part by addition of exogeneous PGF2α. PGF2α added alone stimulated the MuMTV production and, in combination with dexamethasone, showed a synergistic effect on stimulation of MuMTV production. Two compounds, PGF2α and TXA2 (measured as TXB2), were produced in significant concentrat ions by these cultures. These findings suggest that PGF2α exerts a regulating role on production of MuMTV in GR cells and indicate that the actions of both dexamethasone and prolactin are mediated at least in part by prostaglandins.
Use of phosphine as an n-type dopant source for vapor-liquid-solid growth of silicon nanowires.

Phosphine (PH3) was investigated as an n-type dopant source for Au-catalyzed vapor−liquid−solid (VLS) growth of phosphorus-doped silicon nanowires (SiNWs). Transmission electron microscopy characterization revealed that the as-grown SiNWs were predominately single crystal even at high phosphorus concentrations. Four-point resistance and gate-dependent conductance measurements confirmed that electrically active phosphorus was incorporated into the SiNWs during VLS growth. A transition was observed from p-type conduction for nominally undoped SiNWs to n-type conduction upon the introduction of PH3 to the inlet gas. The resistivity of the n-type SiNWs decreased by approximately 3 orders of magnitude as the inlet PH3 to silane (SiH4) gas ratio was increased from 2 × 10-5 to 2 × 10-3. These results demonstrate that PH3 can be used to produce n-type SiNWs with properties that are suitable for electronic and optoelectronic device applications.
Triosephosphate Isomerase: A Theoretical Comparison of Alternative Pathways

Three mechanisms proposed for the triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) catalyzed reactions were studied with the QM/MM approach using B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) as the QM method. The two pathways that involve an enediol species were found to give similar values for the barriers and the calculated rates are in satisfactory agreement with experiment. By contrast, the mechanism that involves intramolecular proton transfer in the enediolate was found to be energetically unfavorable due to electrostatic interactions with His 95, a conserved residue in TIM from different organisms. A perturbation analysis was used to determine the residues that make the major contribution to catalysis.
Fragile Sites: Breaking up over a Slowdown

Common fragile sites are specific regions in the human genome that are particularly prone to genomic instability under conditions of replicative stress. Recent data suggest that these sites depend on the checkpoint kinase ATR to maintain their stability.
Geostatistical assessment and validation of uncertainty for three-dimensional dioxin data from sediments in an estuarine river.

Contaminated sediment management is an urgent environmental and regulatory issue worldwide. Because remediation is expensive, sound quantitative assessments of uncertainty about the spatial distribution of contaminants are critical, but they are hampered by the physical complexity of sediment environments. This paper describes the use of geostatistical modeling approaches to quantify uncertainty of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin concentrations in Passaic River (New Jersey) sediments and to incorporate this information in decision-making processes, such as delineation of contaminated areas and additional sampling needs. First, coordinate transformation and analysis of three-dimensional semivariograms were used to describe and model the directional variability accounting for the meandering course of the river. Then, indicator kriging was employed to provide models of local uncertainty at unsampled locations without requiring a prior transform (e.g. log-normal) of concentrations. Cross-validation result...
SKED program for a modified sternberg procedure

For this procedure, a number of machine language subroutines have been integrated within the SKED system. This provides a flexible system for controlling sequential events in studies of pharmacological effects on performance of psychomotor tasks by human subjects. A description of the procedure and examples of each subroutine’s use will be presented.
Near-inertial oscillations interacting with mesoscale circulation in the southwestern Japan/East Sea

[1] The near-inertial internal wave energy distribution is investigated in the southwestern Japan/East Sea using vertical round-trip travel time of sound (τ) data from 23 pressure-sensor-equipped inverted echo sounders (PIESs) and data from Aanderaa recording current meters (CMs). Currents associated with low-mode near-inertial internal waves are slightly inclined and displace the thermocline vertically, which can be detected in τ. The band-pass filtered τ records exhibit high near-inertial energy distributions that vary interannually with changes observed in mesoscale circulation. An explanation for this is offered as trapping of near-inertial energy in anticyclonic regions, which is supported by scatterplots of monthly-rms band-pass filtered τ at inertial frequency bands vs. monthly-mean relative vorticity. The spectra from all but one deep CM exhibit a blue shift, consistent with the equatorward propagation of near-inertial waves. The exception has the highest near-inertial wave energy, and is located near the center of a warm anticyclonic eddy.
On the normality and accuracy of simulated random processes

Efficient methods of simulating stationary and nonstationary random processes and envelopes, by using a series of sine or cosine functions or by using the fast Fourier transform, have been proposed previously. Without applying the central limit theorem, it is shown in this paper that the simulated random processes are asymptotically Gaussian processes as the number of terms, N, of sine or cosine functions approaches infinity. The accuracy of the first-order probability densities of the simulated random processes is investigated by using the fast Fourier transform. Numerical results are computed with respect to the variation of the number of terms, N, of sine or cosine functions used for simulation. It is shown that within the practical range of N, such as 500, the accuracy is remarkably satisfactory even outside the region of 3 standard deviations.
Me acuerdo: Healing Narrative in Stones for Ibarra

The intersection of narrative and medicine has long been a compelling place for research, practice, and theory. Current conceptions of this relationship focus, as Rita Charon puts it, "on the fully envisioned plight of each patient, of each caregiver, of each institution of health care, and of the whole society that suffers and that tries to heal." Because narrative has become so important to the medical humanities, looking at narrative critically may help practitioners see ways in which narrative can both engender and deflect healing. An analysis of trauma narrative using the language and conceptual framework of homeostasis and entropy reveals that not all narratives engendered by traumatic experience are healthy or life-giving. Using Harriett Doerr's Stones for Ibarra as an extended representation of trauma and narrative healing, this essay concludes that healing narrative enhances the capacity to embrace radical change and to balance memory, imagination, and the here and now. Healing narrative does not produce freedom from pain but the freedom to mourn loss and live beyond it.
Critical time periods and the effect of tryptophan in malathion-induced developmental defects in Xenopus embryos

Xenopus laevis embryos were exposed to the organophosphorus insecticide malathion or its metabolite malaoxon during the first four days of development. The compounds produced the following defects in a dose dependent manner: reduced size, abnormal pigmentation, abnormal gut, enlargement of the atria and aorta, bent notochord and lowered NAD+ levels. Notochords were bent downward between the third and sixth somites with concurrent compression of the somites. Anterior intestine diameter was increased with a concurrent reduction in the number of intestinal loops. When tryptophan was administered along with malathion, NAD+ was measured at control levels or above, yet neither severity nor incidence of defects were reduced. The reduction of NAD+ does not seem to be responsible for the defects seen in Xenopus as occurs for some defects in avian species. In experiments to determine critical time of exposure, the final 48 h, which follow organogenesis and are primarily devoted to growth and development, seem most critical.
New Carquinez Bridge, northeast of San Francisco, california : Technological design advancements

The new Carquinez Strait Bridge, northeast of San Francisco, California, will be the first major suspension bridge to be constructed in the United States since the second Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Maryland in 1973. It will replace an existing steel cantilever truss bridge, built in 1927, that was found to be seismically inadequate. The new bridge consists of an orthotropic closed steel box girder superstructure, two main cables 512 mm (20 1/8 in.) in diameter, reinforced concrete towers, and gravity anchorages. The design has set a new standard in modern suspension bridge design in the United States, particularly with respect to seismic safety. Some of the key elements of the design that are discussed are the global design loading criteria for long-span suspension bridges, the design of allowable stresses in main cable wire, the state-of-the-art design detailing of critical welded connections, the finite-element analysis approach for the box girder to determine the actual plate stresses and stress concentr...
Experimental reversal of a left visual field superiority for forms.

Abstract An LVF superiority for high-complexity low-association value forms was reversed to an RVF superiority in familial right-handed males by having subjects acquire and use a verbal label for each form. Acquisition of these labels without their use only attenuated the original LVF superiority as did familiarization with the forms or mere repetition of the laterality task after a rest interval. Subjects demonstrating an initial RVF superiority for the forms continued to do so when labels were acquired and used. This research supports the contention that the availability and use of verbal labels is a major determinant of visual field effects for forms.
Fertility Changes Among Immigrants: Generations, Neighborhoods, and Personal Characteristics

Objective. To understand how adaptation/assimilation, disruption, and diffusion interact to produce changes in fertility levels among successive generations of Mexicans and Central Americans in the United States. Method. Using restricted access data that link individual data (CPS) to neighborhood data (census tracts), we examine the role of generation, personal characteristics, and neighborhood characteristics in determining children ever born (CEB). Results. There are significant differences in fertility across generations and, to a lesser extent, between women who live in ethnic enclaves and those who do not. Once personal characteristics are considered, the independent effect of generation on fertility is nearly eliminated. Personal characteristics dominate neighborhood characteristics in their ability to predict fertility. The most consistent predictor of CEB at the neighborhood level is the percentage of Hispanic adults. Conclusions. Personal characteristics dominate fertility change across generation, and were it not for increases in educational attainment, fertility might be higher in successive generations rather than lower or unchanged.
A Squandered Opportunity? A Review of SAMHSA’S National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices for Offenders

In the past decade, the push for evidence-based programs has taken on unprecedented prominence in the fields of substance abuse and correctional treatment as a key determinant for intervention funding. The National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP), managed and funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, was established in 1997 to aid community agencies in adopting intervention models for their particular clientele. Although well intentioned, the NREPP has also created opportunities that invite conflicts of interests and promulgate programs with questionable efficacy. After an exhaustive review of the literature that purports to have provided the “empirical evidence” for the NREPP registered programs, the authors found numerous irregularities in the studies with findings often based on small sample sizes. A more troubling finding is that much of the supporting literature is produced by the program developers themselves. There is a general lack of indepe...
The Cost of Price: Why and How to Get Beyond Intellectual Property Internalism

The field of intellectual property (IP) law today is focused, as the name itself advertises, on one particular institutional approach to scientific and cultural production: IP. When legal scholars explain this focus, they typically do so with reference to the virtues of price. Because price gives us a decentralized way to link social welfare to the production of information, IP is alleged to be more efficient than other approaches. The dominant mode of IP scholarship begins here and then addresses questions internal to IP law — for example, how broad or narrow should exceptions to IP rights be? But the internalism that characterizes the field of IP cannot, as I show, be justified by the value of efficiency. Economics offers us no a priori reason to assume that IP is more efficient than other possible approaches, most prominently government procurement and commons-based production. If we take the invitation that economists offer us to think external to IP, we also gain new insights about the implications of values other than efficiency for the choice between different institutional approaches to scientific and cultural production.We see, as I argue, that using price to guide scientific and cultural production — which is to say, using IP — may have costs not only for efficiency, but also for distributive justice and informational privacy. The IP approach is in tension with the value of distributive justice because reliance upon price may yield not only unjust distribution of existing information resources but also unjust production of future information resources. The IP approach is in tension with the value of information privacy because relying on price to generate information facilitates the desire, the demand, and perhaps the capacity for price discrimination. That, in turn, generates an impulse for the extensive collection of personal information. Both government procurement and commons-based production plausibly offer more promise than does IP in both distributive justice and privacy terms, and they may be no less efficient than IP. Giving full scope to all three of these values thus requires us to telescope out from the internalism that characterizes the field, and to countenance a broader role for commons-based production and government procurement. In the field of IP, I conclude, we should pay less attention to IP and more to the alternatives.
Intercalibration of GOES 8–15 solar proton detectors

This work provides a relative intercalibration of the high-energy proton channels from the Energetic Particle Sensors (EPS) flown on the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) since 1994 using a technique that depends on features that arise during high solar wind dynamic pressure. Based on observations of solar energetic protons from polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites (1998–2013), solar proton fluxes are isotropic at geostationary orbit during periods of high solar wind dynamic pressure (Pdyn>5−10 nPa). The observed isotropy results from the solar proton fluxes having rigidities (momenta per unit charge) greater than their geomagnetic cutoffs over the complete energy and angular responses of the satellite-borne detector. (The cutoff in a given direction is the rigidity below which an interplanetary particle cannot reach that location.) Under these conditions, we determine the relative responses of the EPS flown on GOES 8 through 15. These detectors are widely used for alerts of the radiation hazard posed to spacecraft and humans by solar energetic particle events; therefore, it is important to know their relative responses. The results of this low-scatter intercalibration analysis show that the relative responses agree to 20% or better (sometimes better than 1%). The effect of such relative calibration differences on the derived integral fluxes used by NOAA for its real-time solar radiation storm alerts is shown to be small (<10%). This method can be used to intercalibrate solar proton detectors of different design if their broad energy response functions are carefully accounted for.
Time-Dependent Stability of 22 Analytes in Lithium-Plasma Specimens Stored At Refrigerator Temperature For Up To 4 Days

Objective: To determine the maximum time-dependent stability of 22 analytes requested frequently for add-on testing in heparinized plasma samples stored at refrigerator temperature for up to 4 days and to compare the values for the maximum time-dependent stability (Tmax) of each analyte against previously published values. Methods: We quantified the plasma concentration of 22 chemistry analytes in patients’ plasma samples stored at refrigerator temperature for up to 24 hours (study 1, n = 40) or 4 days (study 2, n = 39). All analyte measurements were performed using the Siemens Dimension Vista 1500 chemistry analyzer. The maximum storage time over which an analyte was considered stable was defined as the latest time point at which 95.0% or greater of the delta values [the difference between the analyte value at time “n” ([A]tn) and time “0” ([A]t 0 , the initial analyte value)] for all specimens were within the allowable error limits (±E A) for each analyte. Results: The maximum amount of time that patients’ specimens spent at room temperature, which must be added to the amount of time spent at refrigerator temperature when discussing analyte stability, was approximately 3.5 hours. T max at refrigerator temperature for the 22 analytes we studied was less than 8 hours, TCK, CKMB, TNI, BUN, CREAT, TBILI, ALT, and AST; up to 8 hours, PHOS and DBILI; up to 16 hours, K and GLU; up to 24 hours, CO 2 ; up to 3 days, ALB; and up to 4 days, NA, CL, CA, MG, TP, ALP, AMY, LIP. Due to the extreme variability of the study designs used to determine values for T max reported in the literature, no meaningful comparison could be made between them and T max values from our study. Conclusions: Additional studies are needed, using our study design, to confirm the values for T max reported in the present study. In addition, there is a need for a standardized protocol or guideline for performing analyte stability studies that enables values for T max to be easily compared across published studies.
The Over-the-Counter Scientific/Regulatory Paradigm:

A dialogue-driven, case-by-case, weight-of-the-evidence approach utilizing specific switch criteria and encompassing the application of evolving science and technology continues to be the foundational underpinning of the pivotal benefit-risk assessment determining over-the-counter (OTC)ness of an ingredient. As an OTC scientific/regulatory paradigm, it is robust and should be preserved, especially in any guidances the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may issue about the “OTC-ability” of specific therapeutic agents.
Response of the middle atmosphere to the solar proton events of August-December, 1989

Intense solar activity during the period August-December 1989 gave rise to several major energetic-particle events, which were accompanied by greatly enhanced ionization rates and NO{sub y} production in the polar regions of both hemispheres. A two-dimensional model of the chemistry and dynamics of the middle atmosphere has been used to calculate the production and subsequent fate of the NO{sub y} and its effect on ozone concentrations and temperatures. In the sunlit southern polar cap, NO increases as large as a factor of 20 are estimated near 60 km altitude, with column density enhancements of 55%. Corresponding peak ozone depletions of about 20% are calculated near 40 km in late October 1989, with predicted temperature decreases of about 3-3.5 K. Effects in the northern polar regions are considerably smaller, due to the lack of sunlight during the peak phase of the events.
The Sensitive Left and the Impervious Right: Multilevel Models and the Politics of Inequality, Ideology, and Legitimacy in Europe

Recent years have seen increased attention to integrating what we know about individual citizens with what we know about macro-level contexts that vary across countries. This article discusses the growing literature on how people's interpretations, opinions, and actions are shaped by variable contextual parameters and provides a novel substantive application. Using surveys conducted in 20 European democracies, the authors examine the effect of income inequality on people's attitudes about the functioning of the political system and trust in public institutions. They find that citizens in countries with higher levels of income inequality express more negative attitudes toward public institutions. Moreover, they show that the negative effect of inequality on attitudes toward the political system is particularly powerful among individuals on the political left. In contrast, inequality's negative effect on people's faith in the system is muted among those on the right.
Post-operative Cardiac Care

Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects a large, ever-growing population of infants, children, adolescents and adults. The worldwide incidence of CHD is 8 per 1,000 live births and varies little from country to country where surveillance data is adequate. In the United States, the incidence is similar with 9 defects per 1,000 live births or more than 36,000 new patients with CHD per year. Cardiac defects are the most common congenital malformation, occurring in 0.8% of all live births; the incidence is much higher, approximating 5%, if lesions such as bicuspid, non-obstructive aortic valves (1.4%) and small, muscular ventricular septal defects are included (5%). The disease burden for CHD is substantial. Cardiac defects are the most lethal of all birth defects, accounting for 29% of the mortality observed during infancy. Moreover, the care for CHD is costly, estimated at $2.6 billion per year. Lesions requiring surgical intervention in infancy are particularly costly, often exceeding coverage limits on health insurance policies: hypoplastic left heart syndrome ($199,597); persistent truncus arteriosus ($192,781); and coarctation of the aorta and d-transposition of the great arteries (>$150,000).
Agribusiness Capstone Courses Design: Objectives and Strategies

This paper discusses the benefits of using strategic management principles as the cornerstone for building the agribusiness capstone experience. The necessity for agribusiness firms to create and implement strategies that build a sustainable competitive advantage in turn necessitates the development of strategic management skills in the leaders/managers of the future. As such, the objectives of a capstone course lean heavily toward the integrative development of strategic decision-making competence. This has a number of implications for the capstone professor in terms of course content, pedagogies, and subsequent measurement of student performance.
Gut Barrier Dysfunction in the ApcMin/+ Mouse Model of Colon Cancer Cachexia

Abstract Background: The ApcMin/+ mouse, an animal model of colorectal cancer and cachexia, has a heterologous mutation in the Apc tumor suppressor gene, predisposing the mouse to intestinal and colon tumor development. This mouse develops intestinal polyps by ~ 4 weeks of age, and loses body weight gradually between ~ 14 and ~ 20 weeks of age. The strengths of this cachexia model derive from several features that mimic human cancer, including a gradual increase in tumor burden, chronic inflammation, and anemia. Little is known about the role of gut barrier dysfunction and endotoxemia in the development of cancer cachexia. We sought to determine how gut permeability and resultant endotoxemia change with the progression of cachexia. Methods: Intestinal gut barrier integrity was assessed by permeability to FITC-dextran (MWav = 4000 kDa; FD4). Plasma glucose and triglycerides were measured by enzymatic assays, IL-6 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and endotoxin by the limulus amoebocyte assay. Body temperature was measured using a rectal probe. Results: Progression of cachexia was accompanied by development of gut barrier dysfunction (permeability to FD4), hypertrophy of mesenteric lymph nodes, and an increase in plasma endotoxin concentration. Changes in blood glucose and glucose tolerance, plasma IL-6, triglycerides, and body temperature were characteristic of endotoxemia. Conclusion: We propose a role for gut barrier dysfunction (GBD) and subsequent endotoxemia in the development of inflammation and progression of cachexia in the ApcMin/+ mouse.
Artificial neural network for testing analog circuits

A method for testing analog circuits with the aid of neural networks is described. It takes advantage of the high parallel information processing capabilities of these networks. The testing problem is efficiently formulated in a neural-network context. A back-propagation neural network and a functional link net have been trained to synthesize the complicated mapping from the circuit measurements space to the circuit elements space. A testing example is presented to demonstrate the proposed method. >
Human Brain Atlas-based Multimodal MRI Analysis of Volumetry, Diffusimetry, Relaxometry and Lesion Distribution in Multiple Sclerosis Patients and Healthy Adult Controls: Implications for understanding the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis and Consolidation of Quantitative MRI Results in MS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common immune-mediated disabling neurological disease of the central nervous system. The pathogenesis of MS is not fully understood. Histopathology implicates both demyelination and axonal degeneration as the major contributors to the accumulation of disability. The application of several in vivo quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods to both lesioned and normal-appearing brain tissue has not yet provided a solid conclusive support of the hypothesis that MS might be a diffuse disease. In this work, we adopted FreeSurfer to provide standardized macrostructure or volumetry of lesion free normal-appearing brain tissue in combination with multiple quantitative MRI metrics (T(2) relaxation time, diffusion tensor anisotropy and diffusivities) that characterize tissue microstructural integrity. By incorporating a large number of healthy controls, we have attempted to separate the natural age-related change from the disease-induced effects. Our work shows elevation in diffusivity and relaxation times and reduction in volume in a number of normal-appearing white matter and gray matter structures in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients. These changes were related in part with the spatial distribution of lesions. The whole brain lesion load and age-adjusted expanded disability status score showed strongest correlations in regions such as corpus callosum with qMRI metrics that are believed to be specific markers of axonal dysfunction, consistent with histologic data of others indicating axonal loss that is independent of focal lesions. Our results support that MS at least in part has a neurodegenerative component.
CD8 T Cells Use IFN-γ To Protect against the Lethal Effects of a Respiratory Poxvirus Infection

CD8 T cells are a key component of immunity to many viral infections. They achieve this through using an array of effector mechanisms, but precisely which component/s are required for protection against a respiratory orthopox virus infection remains unclear. Using a model of respiratory vaccinia virus infection in mice, we could specifically determine the relative contribution of perforin, TRAIL, and IFN-γ–mediated pathways in protection against virus induced morbidity and mortality. Unexpectedly, we observed that protection against death was mediated by IFN-γ without any involvement of the perforin or TRAIL-dependent pathways. IFN-γ mRNA and protein levels in the lung peaked between days 3 and 6 postinfection. This enhanced response coincided with the emergence of virus-specific CD8 T cells in the lung and the cessation of weight loss. Transfer experiments indicated that CD8 T cell–autonomous expression of IFN-γ restricts virus-induced lung pathology and dissemination to visceral tissues and is necessary for clearance of virus. Most significantly, we show that CD8 T cell–derived IFN-γ is sufficient to protect mice in the absence of CD4 and B-lymphocytes. Thus, our findings reveal a previously unappreciated mechanism by which effector CD8 T cells afford protection against a highly virulent respiratory orthopox virus infection.
Examining Adult Learning Through the Lens of Culture: A U.S. Perspective

Badanie ksztalcenia osob doroslych w ujeciu kulturowym w perspektywie Stanow Zjednoczonych Zagadnienia zawarte w prezentowanym artykule dotyczą analizy wykorzystania aspektow kulturowych w literaturze Stanow Zjednoczonych. Artykul porusza i skupia sie na czterech obszarach literatury. Dotyczą one oceny krytycznej historii kulturowych wlasnych i innych osob, wykorzystanie spoleczno-kulturowych podejśc uzywanych do ulatwienia lub naprowadzenia uczenia sie doroslych, rozwijanie i utrzymywanie dialogu, oraz wprowadzenie strategii w celu poprawy świadomości kulturowej i kompetencji ludzi. W artykule zawarto sugestie mozliwych obszarow dla przyszlych badan.
Surface enhanced raman with nano-holes

We have demonstrated Surface Enhanced Raman with array of nano-holes on aluminum substrate.
Multifocus Image Fusion by Establishing Focal Connectivity

Multifocus fusion is the process of unifying focal information from a set of input images acquired with limited depth of field. In this effort, we present a general purpose multifocus fusion algorithm, which can be applied to varied applications ranging from microscopic to long range scenes. The main contribution in this paper is the segmentation of the input images into partitions based on focal connectivity. Focal connectivity is established by isolating regions in an input image that fall on the same focal plane. Our method uses focal connectivity and does not rely on physical properties like edges directly for segmentation. Our method establishes sharpness maps to the input images, which are used to isolate and attribute image partitions to input images. The partitions are mosaiced seamlessly to form the fused image. Illustrative examples of multifocus fusion using our method are shown. Comparisons against existing methods are made and the results are discussed.
Variability Of Cn2 At Poker Flat, Alaska, From Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere (MST) Doppler Radar Observations

We examine the seasonal, day-to-day, and diurnal fluctuations of Cn2 using data from the mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere (MST) radar at Poker Flat, Alaska. The radar has been operated in a nearly continuous mode since early 1979, with profiles recorded every 2 to 4 minutes. The results for Cn2 are presented at about 2 km height intervals from 4 to 20 km. It is found that the mean values of Cn2 in the troposphere are about 10 dB larger in summer than in winter at all levels. In the stratosphere the seasonal means are nearly the same. The diurnal range is about 3 dB in the troposphere during all seasons, and varies in the stratosphere from about 3 dB during winter to 10 dB during summer. The relationship of mean Cn2 with meteorological variables is discussed.
Estimating the ground-state probability of a quantum simulation with product-state measurements

.One of the goals in quantum simulation is to adiabatically generate the ground state of a complicated Hamiltonian by starting with the ground state of a simple Hamiltonian and slowly evolving the system to the complicated one. If the evolution is adiabatic and the initial and final ground states are connected due to having the same symmetry, then the simulation will be successful. But in most experiments, adiabatic simulation is not possible because it would take too long, and the system has some level of diabatic excitation. In this work, we quantify the extent of the diabatic excitation even if we do not know {\it a priori} what the complicated ground state is. Since many quantum simulator platforms, like trapped ions, can measure the probabilities to be in a product state, we describe techniques that can employ these simple measurements to estimate the probability of being in the ground state of the system after the diabatic evolution. These techniques do not require one to know any properties about the Hamiltonian itself, nor to calculate its eigenstate properties. All the information is derived by analyzing the product-state measurements as functions of time.
Carbon Sequestration: An Option for Mitigating Global Climate Change

Greenhouse gases can be removed from exhaust streams or the atmosphere and stored so they cannot interact with the climate system. However, several challenges must be overcome before these technologies are technically and economically viable. This paper explores the emerging science and technology of carbon sequestration. It outlines the roadmap developed by the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) for government, industry, and academia to begin setting research and development (R&D) directions related to carbon sequestration. It explores several areas of research, as well as some of the chemical engineering challenges in this field.
Development of breast cancer tissue phantoms for terahertz imaging

The goal of this work was to develop phantoms that match the refractive indices and absorption coefficients between 0.15 and 2.0 THz of the freshly excised tissues commonly found in breast tumors. Since a breast cancer tumor can contain fibrous and fatty tissues alongside the cancerous tissues, a phantom had to be developed for each. In order to match the desired properties of the tissues, oil in water emulsions were solidified using the proven phantom component TX151. The properties of each potential phantom were verified through THz time-domain spectroscopy on a TPS Spectra 3000. Using this method, phantoms for fibrous and cancerous tissue were successfully developed while a commercially available material was found which matched the optical properties of fatty tissue.
Measuring infrastructure: A key step in program evaluation and planning

State tobacco prevention and control programs (TCPs) require a fully functioning infrastructure to respond effectively to the Surgeon General's call for accelerating the national reduction in tobacco use. The literature describes common elements of infrastructure; however, a lack of valid and reliable measures has made it difficult for program planners to monitor relevant infrastructure indicators and address observed deficiencies, or for evaluators to determine the association among infrastructure, program efforts, and program outcomes. The Component Model of Infrastructure (CMI) is a comprehensive, evidence-based framework that facilitates TCP program planning efforts to develop and maintain their infrastructure. Measures of CMI components were needed to evaluate the model's utility and predictive capability for assessing infrastructure. This paper describes the development of CMI measures and results of a pilot test with nine state TCP managers. Pilot test findings indicate that the tool has good face validity and is clear and easy to follow. The CMI tool yields data that can enhance public health efforts in a funding-constrained environment and provides insight into program sustainability. Ultimately, the CMI measurement tool could facilitate better evaluation and program planning across public health programs.