cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The scent of dominance: female field crickets use odour to predict the outcome of male competition

Pheromones may convey information about mate quality and social status. In the field cricket Gryllus integer, females mount the males for copulation, such that males cannot coerce females to mate. We examined whether virgin G. integer females preferred the scent of potentially dominant males to that of subordinate males. First, we collected pheromones by confining males on filter paper. Next, we offered filter paper from each of two size-matched males and control paper to females that had never been exposed to males, and measured the time spent by the female on each kind of paper. Finally, dominance status of the males in each size-matched pair was determined by pitting the two males against one another in agonistic contests. When offered filter paper from subsequently dominant versus subsequently subordinate males, females spent more time on the paper from the dominant male than the subordinate male, and much less time on control paper. Thus, pheromones may inform female G. integer about a male's potential to achieve dominant social status. Male pheromones were also associated with the female's tendency to mount a male. In contrast to cockroaches, where females prefer the scent of subordinate males (presumably to avoid risk of injury), female crickets prefer the scent of potentially dominant males and are more likely than males to wound their mating partners.
A helium inductively coupled plasma for atomic emission spectrometry

Abstract An annular helium inductively coupled plasma (He ICP) was generated at atmospheric pressure. No external cooling was used to stabilize the plasma. Aqueous solution was injected into the plasma without any difficulty. Preliminary results revealed that the annular He ICP was capable of exciting elements such as Cl and Br which possess high excitation energies. Atomic emission detection limits for Cl and Br were improved by factors of 63 and 34, respectively, as compared to the results obtained from the argon inductively coupled plasma. The excitation temperature of the annular He ICP (4180 K) was less than that of an Ar ICP (5570 K).
Survey of Potential Aphid Vectors of Potato (Solarium tuberosumL.) Virus Diseases in the Matanuska Valley, Alaska

ABSTRACT Aphids were surveyed in bedding plant greenhouses and commercial potato fields. Composition of aphids infesting bedding plants was 88.8%, 8.2%, and 3%, respectively, for Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) complex, and Aphis gossypii Glover. Percent plant infestations were dahlia (Dahlia sp.), 33.5%; pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), 6.7%; pansy (Viola × wittrockiana), 4.3%; marigold (Tagetes erectd), 1.6%; tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), 1.3%; and petunia (Petunia × hybrida), 0.6%. Cabbage, snapdragon, and forget-me-not were not infested. Tile trap pans placed in two potato fields captured 17 aphid species in one season. Five species or groups (Pemphigus sp., Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach), Hayhurstia atriplicis (L.), Kakimia sp. and M. euphorbiae) comprised 73% of the aphids collected. Only M. euphorbiae and M. persicae reproduce in and formed colonies in pota-to fields. Macrosiphum euphorbiae was attacked by the fungus Pandora neoaphidis (Remaudiere' and Hennebert) and t...
Basal Ganglia Dopamine Loss Due to Defect in Purine Recycling

Several rare inherited disorders have provided valuable experiments of nature highlighting specific biological processes of particular importance to the survival or function of midbrain dopamine neurons. In both humans and mice, deficiency of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) is associated with profound loss of striatal dopamine, with relative preservation of other neurotransmitters. In the current studies of knockout mice, no morphological signs of abnormal development or degeneration were found in an exhaustive battery that included stereological and morphometric measures of midbrain dopamine neurons, electron microscopic studies of striatal axons and terminals, and stains for degeneration or gliosis. A novel culture model involving HPRT-deficient dopaminergic neurons also exhibited significant loss of dopamine without a morphological correlate. These results suggest that dopamine loss in HPRT deficiency has a biochemical rather than anatomical basis and imply that purine recycling to be a biochemical process of particular importance to the function of dopaminergic neurons.
Biomechanical Evaluation of Two Different Screw Positions for Fusion of the Calcaneocuboid Joint

In triple arthrodesis performed for severe deformity and neuroarthropathy in poorly compliant patients with osteoporotic bone, fixation of the arthrodesis is critical. We biomechanically tested an alternative means of stabilization for calcaneocuboid fusions. In seven matched pairs of fresh-frozen cadaver feet, we removed the soft tissue from around the calcaneocuboid joint, except for the capsule, and we did not resect the articular cartilage. One joint of each pair was fixed with an oblique standard screw, and the contralateral joint was stabilized with an axial screw placed perpendicularly to the joint surface. Testing on an MTS Mini Bionix Test Frame (MTS Systems Corp., Eden Prairie, MN) demonstrated that the axial screw provided significantly higher initial stiffness and maximum load to failure. We concluded that an axial screw provided better fixation of the calcaneocuboid joint.
Full Field Strain Measurement of Resistant Spot Welds Using 3D Image Correlation Systems

This paper describes local strain measurements of electrical resistance spot welds for three sheet stack-ups of Dual Phase (DP600) and Mild steel under quasi-static tensile loading. The experiments were designed to measure local strain distributions at the vicinity of the spot welds using a modified tensile-shear specimen geometry that allows a strain measurement system to access such area. The electrode tip type used was B-nose, and surface indentation levels were 30% and 50% of the sheet thickness. Local strains at critical locations in resistance spot welds were measured using non-contact 3D image correlation systems (ARAMIS) during quasi-static tension tests. The measured local strains were also compared with results offered by a finite element analysis.
Antiarrhythmic Actions of Intravenous Ibutilide Compared With Procainamide During Human Atrial Flutter and Fibrillation Electrophysiological Determinants of Enhanced Conversion Efficacy

Background The selective class III antiarrhythmic agent ibutilide prolongs action potential duration and terminates atrial flutter (AFL) and fibrillation (AF), but the mechanism of its antiarrhythmic efficacy in humans has not been fully characterized. This study compared the antiarrhythmic effects of ibutilide with the class IA agent procainamide in humans during AFL and AF. Antiarrhythmic drug actions and electrophysiological characteristics of AFL and AF that enhanced pharmacological termination were investigated. Methods and Results Right atrial monophasic action potentials were recorded during 148 episodes of AFL (n=89) or AF (n=59) in 136 patients treated with intravenous ibutilide (n=73) or placebo (n=22) as participants in randomized, double-blinded comparative studies or intravenous procainamide (n=53) in a concurrent open-label study. The conversion rates in AFL with ibutilide, procainamide, and placebo were 64% (29 of 45 patients), 0% (0 of 33), and 0% (0 of 11), respectively, whereas in AF the rates were 32% (9 of 28), 5% (1 of 20), and 0% (0 of 11), respectively. In AFL, ibutilide increased atrial monophasic action potential duration (MAPD) more (30% versus 18%, P <.001) and prolonged atrial cycle length (CL) less (16% versus 26%, P <.001) than procainamide. Ibutilide shortened and procainamide prolonged action potential diastolic interval during AFL (−12% versus 51%, P <.001). Ibutilide increased MAPD/CL ratio, whereas procainamide tended to decrease this ratio (13% versus −6%, P <.01). In AF, ibutilide and procainamide induced similar increases in atrial CL (48% versus 45%), but ibutilide induced a greater increase in MAPD (52% versus 37%, P <.05). Independent electrophysiological predictors of pharmacological arrhythmia termination were increase in MAPD/CL ratio ( P =.005) in AFL and longer baseline mean MAPD ( P =.011) in AF. Termination of AFL with ibutilide was characterized by significant increases in beat-to-beat atrial CL, MAPD, and diastolic interval variability. Ibutilide was significantly more effective in converting AF when the mean atrial CL was ≥160 ms (64% versus 0%, P <.001) or MAPD was ≥125 ms (57% versus 0%, P =.002) at baseline. Conclusions Enhanced conversion efficacy of ibutilide compared with procainamide in AFL is correlated with a relatively greater prolongation of atrial MAPD than atrial CL, and termination of AFL by ibutilide is characterized by oscillations in atrial CL and MAPD. Conversion of AF by ibutilide is enhanced by a longer baseline mean atrial CL or MAPD.
Electrical conductivity in non-stoichiometric titanium dioxide at elevated temperatures

The electrical conductivity of polycrystalline titanium dioxide prepared by a liquid mix technique was measured for the oxygen partial pressure range of 10° to 10−19 atm and temperature range of 850 to 1050° C. The data were found to be proportional to the −1/6 power of oxygen partial pressure for the oxygen pressure range 10−19 to 10−15 atm, and proportional to $$P_{{\text{O}}_2 }^{ - 1/4}$$ for the oxygen pressure range >10−15 atm. The region of linearity where the electrical conductivity varied as the −1/4 power of $$P_{{\text{O}}_2 }$$ increased as the temperature was decreased. There was evidence of p-type behaviour for $$P_{{\text{O}}_2 } > 10^{ - 2}$$ atm in the temperature range 950 to 850° C, although the measured data were insufficient to assign a pressure dependence. Electrical conductivity minima in the log σ against log $$P_{{\text{O}}_2 }$$ plot moved to lower $$P_{{\text{O}}_2 }$$ as the temperature was decreased in the range 950 to 850° C. The measured oxygen pressure dependence of electrical conductivity in the lowest $$P_{{\text{O}}_2 }$$ region supports the oxygen vacancy defect model. The observed data are consistent with the presence of very small amounts of acceptor impurities. A binding energy of ∼ 0.67 eV between the acceptor impurity and its compensating oxygen vacancy was also determined.
False-positive FNA due to highly sensitive BRAF assay.

Objective: False-positive BRAF analysis on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) has rarely been reported in the literature but may become more common with the advent of assays that can detect the BRAF V600...
Oil and Gas Developments in West Virginia in 1955

The total number of wells drilled in West Virginia in 1955 reported to February 7, 1956, was 732, a decrease of 28, or 3.7 per cent. Permits to drill or deepen totaled 813, or 22 more than in 1954, or an increase of 2.8 per cent. Abandoned during the year were 359 gas wells and 132 oil wells, or a total of 491 wells. These are all wells drilled before permits were required (May, 1929). No information about exact number of abandonments of wells drilled since May, 1929, is available as these wells are abandoned under original drilling permit number. Wells completed were: gas, 460; oil, 47; oil and gas, 51; storage, water-injection, brine, and pressure wells, 31; dry holes, 143; total, 732. Compared with 1954, gas wells decreased 11, or 2.3 per cent; oil wells decreased 10, r 1.8 per cent; oil and gas wells increased 20, or 64.5 per cent; storage and other wells decreased 46, or 59.7 per cent; dry holes increased 19, or 15.3 per cent. Depth of wells completed ranged from 445 to 13,331 feet, compared with 471 to 8,185 feet in 1954. Total footage drilled (1,926,376) decreased 157,178 feet, or 7.5 per cent under 1954 (2,083,554 feet). The average depth of wells (2,632 feet) decreased 110 feet under the 1954 average (2,742 feet), or 4 per cent. The total initial daily open flow of the gas wells was 390,242 MCF, a decrease of 3,783 MCF, or nearly one per cent from the 1954 total (394,025 MCF). The size of the gas wells ranged from 5 to 22,000 MCF, compared with 7 to 24,000 MCF in 1954. The total daily initial oil was 1,885 barrels, 55½ barrels less than in 954, or 3 per cent. The size of the oil wells ranged from 1 to 300 barrels daily, compared with ½ to 275 barrels in 1954. The number of wells drilling or unreported if completed at the end of the year was 317, 60 more than in 1954, an increase of 23.3 per cent. Letters were sent to 213 operators regarding 406 wells not reported. Replies were received from 95 operators (44%) regarding 237 wells (58%), leaving 118 operators (56%) unheard from regarding 169 wells (42%). The average size of gas wells was 840 MCF, compared with 810 MCF in 1954, an increase of 30 MCF, or 3.7 per cent. The average size of the oil wells was 24.5 barrels, compared with 26.8 barrels in 1954, a decrease of 2.3 barrels, or 8.6 per cent. Preliminary estimates of production for 1955: gas, 192,000,000 MCF, compare with 170,000,000 MCF estimated for 1954, or an increase of 12.9 per cent; oil 2,300,000 barrels, a decrease of 600,000 barrels under the 1954 estimate (2,900,000 barrels), or 20.7 per cent. The large drop in production was due to completion of water-flooding in most of the Cabin Creek field. The estimated number of producing wells at the end of 1955: gas, 14,010; oil, 12,805. The table of operations gives statistics by counties.
A Synthesis of Social Cognition and Writing Research.

The fields of social cognition and writing have both evolved significantly from their infancy in the 1960s. Yet by 1960, each field had already suffered from years of neglect; a social-cognitive framework was initially published in the 1930s (Mead, 1934), while audience awareness in speaking and writing was first addressed by Aristotle (Cooper, 1932). During the 1970s, cognitive-developmentalists interested in audience awareness in writing found Piaget's (1926) description of the egocentrism displayed by children in various communicative tasks particularly appealing. The combined acceptance by these writing researchers of the concepts of egocentrism and decentration led to a growing concern for audience awareness and adaptation in written communication. However, many researchers noted the limitations of cognitively based audience heuristics and the conflicting evidence regarding egocentrism. Support for their views on writing was found in the new field of social cognition and writing. Of the four theoreti...
Effects of fire-precipitation timing and regime on post-fire sediment delivery in Pacific Northwest forests

[1] Wildfires affect the coupled dynamics of vegetation, runoff response, and sediment production, as well as the sequencing of post-fire precipitation and snowmelt in forested watersheds. We examined these interactions by applying a spatially distributed hydrologic model to multiple-year periods before and after a major fire that occurred in 1970 in the Entiat River basin, Washington. The effects of precipitation sequencing on post-fire sediment delivery were examined by simulating the 1970 fire as if it had occurred at other times in a 50-year period. Simulated sediment delivery varied by a factor of two depending on fire timing. We also compared the effects of fire suppression and found that simulated sediment production was about 20% higher for natural compared with current conditions.
I don't know how to treat amyloidosis.

In this issue of Blood , Dietrich and colleagues report disappointing results with the use of melphalan parenterally with dexamethasone in patients with immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis. The median survival of 61 patients was 17.5 months. The 3 months all cause mortality was 28%.[1][1] The
You Need to Realize It in Yourself: Positioning, Improvisation, and Literacy

In this article, the author profiles a university student during her first year in a support classroom for students deemed to be academically underprepared. Focused on the impact of gender in the classroom, the study examines how this young woman crafted an identity through literacy at a Midwestern public university. The author argues that the student's identifying as a good girl emerged as a playfully improvised sense of self in literacy practices, which culminated into self-efficacy in ways unforeseen. Classroom literacy practices, as a result, mediated this student's transition to the university through a required developmental program, which has implications for how educators respond to classroom identities when they do not match their expectations.
Thoughts on the role of the generalist in medicine, circa 1988.

To SEE FIRSTHAND the size and the vigor and the focus of your Society of Genera l Internal Medicine gives me intense personal satisfaction. I vividly r emember your ve ry fragile beginnings, and the enormous doubts that m a n y of you of that earl ier period h a d about the wisdom of ca reers in genera l medicine. ! shared m a n y of your concerns about your future and was similarly troubled by the appa ren t lack of interest in creatures such as you within medical a c a d e m e of the late '60s and ear ly '70s. At that time you could have held your nat ional meetings in a te lephone booth! But look at you n o w o v e r 1800 strong! In the vernacu la r of the cigarette ad, "Baby, you 've come a long, long way"! I would like to feel that some of my own actions h a v e contributed to your progress. For the past twenty yea r s I have been deeply committed to fostering the generalist medicine movement you represent. Since 1968 I h a v e worked to encou rage the training of more physicians for general is t or pr imary ca re roles, to give them the opportunity to develop new kinds of research skills that would allow them to make significant contributions to the pract ice of medicine, and to construct new organizat ional frameworks for del ivery of heal th ca re which would perm/t it to be more effective and more satisfying for patients a n d physicians alike. Those of you who a r e new to the ranks will, I hope, never really h a v e to know how risky and unpopular the generalist cause was when I first got heavi ly involved in promoting it . One of the attractions of the deansh ip at Johns Hopkins in 1968 was an offer m a d e by the visionary city p lanner James Rouse, asking that the Hopkins medical school design, staff, and implement a p rogram of comprehens ive ca re for all who would settle in the newly emerging community of Columbia, Maryland. My recommendat ion to the faculty that we not only develop a p lanned program for total ca re of the citizens of Columbia, but that we take on b roade r ca re responsibilities for our black neighbors in East Baltimore as well, was gree ted with what I might euphemistically call "a considerable lack of enthusiasm." It is my unders tanding that the bets regard ing my
Bilateral mandibular accessory foramina and canals: a case report and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES To present a case of bilateral mandibular accessory canals and foramina observed on CT and review the relevant literature. RESULTS Based on the literature, accessory canals and foramina are prevalent in the posterior mandible and the area of the symphysis and more frequently on the internal than the external surface of the mandible. Bilateral symmetry is common. Variations exist in size and number. Occurrence may change with age and racial origin. Nerves, neurovascular bundles, arterioles and venules have been found to occupy the accessory canals and foramina. No gender differences have been described. CONCLUSION CT has advantages over two-dimensional radiography in identification of anatomical variations in the mandible.
Ice-age thermal response and climatic role of the surface Atlantic Ocean, 40°N to 63°N

The three orbital periods—eccentricity, obliquity, and precession—dominate the sea surface temperature (SST) response of the North Atlantic from 40°N to 55°N. The 100,000-yr eccentricity rhythm is strong everywhere and dominant in most records. The 23,000-yr precession rhythm is very strong near 40°N, with power diminishing northward to negligible levels at 54°N. The 41,000-yr obliquity rhythm is strongest at 50°N to 55°N and diminishes southward to negligible values at 40°N. Within their regions of optimal development, each periodicity is at least as powerful as any observed in long-term oceanic records. The phasing of SST against the same frequency component in δ18O (∼ice volume) records and against the relevant orbital insolation rhythm constrains the possible origin of each oceanic response. Given that the 41,000-yr and 100,000-yr SST rhythms at latitudes 50°N to 55°N are synchronous with ice-volume responses to insolation forcing at the same periodicity, we infer that the size of high-latitude ice sheets regulates the SST response through the agency of regional atmospheric temperatures. At the 23,000-yr rhythm, however, the oceanic response lags so far behind the ice signal that two other explanations are suggested: (1) variable influxes of icebergs and meltwater from rapidly fluctuating mid-latitude ice sheets; and (2) variable advection of heat from low latitudes and from the southern hemisphere. Viewed in terms of its impact on ice-sheet mass balance, the high-latitude North Atlantic at the 41,000-yr and 100,000-yr periods provides positive feedback through the heat fluxes and negative feedback through the moisture flux. The heat flux is probably a small component of the total hemispheric heat transfer, but even small changes of sensible heat could have a significant impact on the mass balance of marine ice sheets at high latitudes. The energetic circulation in the subtropical gyre of the North Atlantic provides negative feedback of heat, but a potentially very powerful moisture feedback to the mid-latitude ice sheets at the 23,000-yr rhythm.
Spectroscopic analysis of Martian meteorite Allan Hills 84001 powder and applications for spectral identification of minerals and other soil components on Mars

— Spectroscopic measurement and analysis of Martian meteorites provide important information about the mineralogy of Mars, as well as necessary ground-truths for deconvolving remote sensing spectra of the Martian surface rocks. The spectroscopic properties of particulate ALH 84001 from 0.3 to 25 μm correctly identify low-Ca pyroxene as the dominant mineralogy. Absorption bands due to electronic transitions of ferrous iron are observed at 0.94 and 1.97 μm that are typical for low-Ca pyroxene. A strong, broad water band is observed near 3 μm that is characteristic of the water band typically associated with pyroxenes. Weaker features near 4.8, 5.2 and 6.2 μm are characteristic of particulate low-Ca pyroxene and can be distinguished readily from the features due to high-Ca pyroxene and other silicate minerals. The reflectance minimum occurs near 8.6 μm for the ALH 84001 powder, which is more consistent with high-Ca pyroxene and augite than low-Ca pyroxene. The dominant mid-infrared (IR) spectral features for the ALH 84001 powder are observed near 9 and 19.5 μm; however, there are multiple features in this region. These mid-IR features are generally characteristic of low-Ca pyroxene but cannot be explained by low-Ca pyroxene alone. Spectral features from 2.5–5 μm are typically associated with water, organics and carbonates and have been studied in spectra of the ALH 84001, split 92 powder and ALH 84001, splits 92 and 271 chip surfaces. Weak features have been identified near 3.5 and 4 μm that are assigned to organic material and carbonates. Another feature is observed at 4.27 μm in many surface spots and in the powder but has not yet been uniquely identified. Spectroscopic identification of minor organic and carbonate components in this probable piece of Mars suggests that detection of small amounts of organics and carbonates in the Martian surface regolith would also be possible using visible-infrared hyperspectral analyses. Laboratory spectroscopic analysis of Martian meteorites provides a unique opportunity to identify the spectral features of minerals and other components while they are embedded in their natural medium.
Optical studies of sub-3 nm Eu2O3 and Gd2O3:Eu3+ nanocrystals

Abstract Colloidally stable sub-3 nm Eu 2 O 3 and Gd 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ nanocrystals have been synthesized via a hot solution phase technique. Optical properties of the nanocrystals are studied as a function of size. Both nanocrystal compositions exhibit a new optical signature, an emission peak at 620 nm. Intensity modulation of this peak has been observed for all nanocrystal sizes, suggesting surface-dependent or crystal-field dependent effect. Photoluminescence intensity of smaller Eu 2 O 3 nanocrystals was comparable to that of the Gd 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ nanocrystals.
Sequence composition effects on denatured state loop formation in iso-1-cytochrome c variants: polyalanine versus polyglycine inserts.

Abstract Protein folding is dependent on the formation and persistence of simple loops during the earliest events of the folding process. Ease of loop formation and persistence is believed to be dependent on the steric properties of the residues involved in loop formation. We have investigated this conformational factor in the denatured state of iso-1-cytchrome c using a five alanine insert in front of a unique histidine in the N-terminal region of the protein. The alanine residues have then been progressively substituted with sterically less-constrained glycine residues. Guanidine-HCl unfolding shows that all variants have a free energy of unfolding of ∼ 2 kcal/mol. The low stability of these variants is well accounted for by stabilization of the denatured state by histidine–heme loop formation. The stability of the 22 residue histidine–heme loop has been measured in 3 M guanidine hydrochloride for all variants. Surprisingly, relative to alanine, glycine has only a very modest effect on equilibrium loop stability. Thus, the greater flexibility that glycine confers on the main-chain provides no advantage in terms of the persistence of simple loops early in folding. The underlying basis for the similar behavior of loops with polyalanine versus polyglycine inserts is discussed in terms of the current knowledge of the structure and loop formation kinetics of glycine versus alanine-rich peptides.
Desirable and Undesirable Masculine and Feminine Traits in Relation to Students' Dieting Tendencies and Body Image Dissatisfaction.

Previous research showing greater femininity among overweight persons used measures of masculinity and femininity which have been criticized for conceptual and psychometric reasons. The present study used the Spence-Helmreich measures to examine the interrelationships among socially desirable and socially undesirable instrumental (“masculine”) and expressive (“feminine”) traits, body weight, and other attributes of cognitive concern about dieting and weight-related appearance. While body weight was unrelated to these measures of psychological masculinity and femininity, sex differences were found in the relationship of masculinity and femininity to dieting tendencies. dissatisfaction with physical appearance, and achievement motivation in these samples of college undergraduates.
At the Discretion of Rogue Agents: How Automation Improves Women's Outcomes in Unemployment Insurance

Automation curtails the discretion of street-level bureaucrats in several ways: bureaucrats have little control over the input of data by claimants, management has increased opportunities for monitoring, and given the possibility that clients will deal with multiple bureaucrats, coworkers can now identify “rogue” agents. Some clients of a bureaucracy may benefit from the introduction of automation when the agency is biased against them. We test this claim by examining the recent introduction of the telephone claims in state Unemployment Insurance offices. Using state-level panel data from 1992 to 2005, we estimate the effect of filing a claim via telephone rather than in person. If street-level bureaucrats in this agency used their discretion to disentitle and punish clients who they deem “undeserving” of the policy benefits, then the introduction of automation could increase unemployment insurance (UI) payments for clients. Indeed, we find that telephone claims filing increases the number of women receiving UI benefits while having no effect on men. We posit that this finding is due to the elimination of the bias women previously faced when they entered a UI office.
Optimization of macromer density in human MSC-laden hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels

Mesenchymal stem cells are attractive cell type and can undergo chondrogenesis in various 3D platforms. Hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel, a natural constituent of the cartilage extracellular matrix, provides a biologically relevant interface for encapsulated cells. While MSC-laden HA constructs can produce native mechanical properties using cells from animal sources, clinical repair will depend on successful translation of these findings to human MSCs (hMSCs). To optimize chondrogenesis, we assessed the ability of hMSCs to undergo chondrogenesis in varying macromer concentration HA gels. Variation in this parameter influenced construct mechanical and biochemical properties. In 1% methacrylated HA (MeHA), equilibrium modulus and GAG content were higher (86kPa (E Y ) and 2.16%) than in 2% MeHA constructs (50 kPa, 1.62% GAG). However, greater contractility occurred in 1% MeHA (−36.25%/−24.25%; Thickness/diameter) compared to 2% MeHA (−20.57%/1.02%) constructs. This study provides new insight into optimized macromer densities for hMSC-based cartilage tissue engineering using HA hydrogels.
A framework for the Virtual Heterogeneous Associative Machine

The authors give an overview of the Heterogeneous Associative Computing paradigm (HAsC) for heterogeneous computing, being developed at Kent State University. They then discuss the concept of the Virtual Heterogeneous Associative Machine (VHAM) which is an augmented view of the virtual machine concept as it applies to HAsC. The VHAM instruction set is then outlined along with the meta-commands used to maintain the instructions. Last the VHAM Administrator is introduced and discussed as that portion of HAsC which maintains the VHAM and facilitates the associative principles applied in HAsC. >
Performance of a vancomycin dosage regimen developed for obese patients

Purpose An original and a revised vancomycin dosing protocol for obese patients were compared with respect to attainment of target serum trough vancomycin concentrations and the occurrence of nephrotoxicity. Methods The attainment of target vancomycin trough values (10–20 μg/mL) and nephrotoxicity were compared retrospectively between an original protocol (vancomycin 15 mg/kg i.v. every 8–12 hours), which had been associated with high troughs, and a revised protocol (10 mg/kg i.v. every 12 hours or 15 mg/kg every 24 hours). Patients were included if they were obese (weight ≥ 100 kg and total body weight ≥ 140% of ideal body weight), had normal renal function (creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min), had received i.v. vancomycin for at least 48 hours, and had one evaluable vancomycin trough value. Nephrotoxicity was defined as an increase in serum creatinine concentration of 0.5 mg/dL or of 50% over baseline, whichever was greater. Results Seventy-four and 64 patients were stratified into groups that had been treated with the revised and original protocols, respectively. The mean ± S.D. maintenance dose was 19 ± 2 mg/kg/day with the revised protocol and 34 ± 7 mg/kg/day with the original protocol ( p < 0.001). Compared with the original protocol, the revised protocol resulted in a higher frequency of target troughs (59% versus 36%, p = 0.006) and below-target troughs (23% versus 9%, p = 0.033) and a lower frequency of above-target troughs (18% versus 55%, p < 0.001). Nephrotoxicity occurred in two patients in each group. Conclusion Compared with the original vancomycin protocol for obese patients, a revised vancomycin protocol using lower total daily doses improved the attainment of target trough concentrations, with minimal nephrotoxicity.
CMOS multiplier design using the differential difference amplifier

This paper presents design techniques for a wide range CMOS differential difference amplifier (DDA) and discusses its application as a basic block in the implementation of four-quadrant multipliers and amplitude modulators, which are widely used in analog signal processing. The DDA can be reconfigured as an op amp, and makes use of the op amp-based multipliers, which are well-developed. In addition, it can be shown that the DDA can be implemented as an AM circuit using only a transistor and a resistor. Experimental results obtained from a 2 /spl mu/m CMOS MOSIS chip are given. >
Short-term responses of soil C and N fractions to tall fescue endophyte infection

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is naturally infected with a fungal endophyte, Neotyphodium coenophialum, which produces toxic ergot alkaloids that negatively affect herbivores and that may alter soil organic matter dynamics. A 60-week mesocosm study with a factorial arrangement of soil type (clay loam and loamy sand) and endophyte infection (with and without) was conducted to determine potential changes in soil C and N fractions. Forage and root dry-matter production were greater with than without endophyte infection, while forage C and N concentrations were unaffected. Total, particulate, mineralizable, and aggregate-associated C and N fractions increased several fold during the course of the experiment due to large rhizosphere inputs in all treatments. The fraction of total C and N in water-stable macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) was initially 0.43±0.10 and 0.46±0.16, respectively, and increased during the course of the experiment to 0.68±0.06 and 0.56±0.15 when averaged across soil type and endophyte infection level as a result of organic matter cycling and deposition in this active biophysical fraction. Changes in soil C and N fractions due to endophyte infection were minimal. The lack of detectable changes in soil C and N fractions due to endophyte infection may have been a result of the overwhelming input of C from roots and/or the relatively short-term nature (60 weeks). Greater plant productivity of endophyte-infected tall fescue is likely a contributing mechanism for eventual changes in total and active C and N fractions that have been observed in long-term pastures. Abbreviations: E) – endophyte free; E+ – endophyte infected
Overactive Bladder and Pain: Management Strategies

Overactive bladder associated with pain (ie, interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome [IC/BPS]) is a prevalent condition that can be very difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to treat. In this paper, we review the studied therapies for IC/BPS, including non–medication-based therapies, oral and intravesical-based medications, and surgical treatments for interstitial cystitis. We also review an approach to the treatment of a patient with IC/BPS using the previously published UPOINT clinical phenotyping template.
Foster Youth and Social Support The First RCT of Independent Living Services

Objective:Conduct secondary data analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of Massachusetts’ Adolescent Outreach Program for Youths in Intensive Foster Care (Outreach) for increasing social support (SS) among enrolled youth.Participants:194 youth in intensive foster care under the guardianship of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families with a goal of independent living (IL) or long-term substitute care, and born between August 1985 and December 1990 (67% female, 66% White, 27% Hispanic) participated in the study between September 2004 and March 2009.Method:We hypothesized that Outreach compared to services as usual (SAU; control group) would increase participants’ SS and that there would be racial/ethnic disparities in SS as a function of the Outreach. Treatment effects were tested using mixed-effect models.Results:Outreach did not increase foster youth’s SS, compared to SAU. No racial/ethnic disparities in program effect were detected.Discussion and Applications to Social Work:Providers of IL ...
Reliability and Reproducibility of Novel Methodology for Assessment of Pressure Pain Sensitivity in Pelvis

Abstract Vestibulodynia, the most common type of chronic vulvovaginal pain, impairs the psychological, physical health of nearly 10% of women at some point in their lifetime. The aim of this investigation was to establish reliable standardized methodologies for assessment of pain sensitivity in vulvar mucosa and pelvic musculature. We enrolled 34 women with vestibulodynia and 21 pain-free controls. The participants underwent a nuanced exam that consisted of palpation of precisely located vulvar mucosal and pelvic muscle sites. These measurements remained highly stable when participants were reexamined after 2 weeks, with high within-examiner correlation. Vestibulodynia patients reported greater sensitivity than pain-free controls at the majority of examination sites, particularly at mucosal sites on the lower vestibule. The pain threshold measures at the lower mucosal sites were also associated with the participants’ self-reported pain levels during intercourse. These mucosal pain threshold measurements were used to discriminate between vestibulodynia cases and controls with high sensitivity and specificity. This data supports the feasibility of contemporaneous assessment of vulvar mucosa and underlying musculature in the pelvic region, offering the hope of a more precise case definition for vestibulodynia and related disorders. Perspective This study describes performance characteristics of novel methodologies for assessing pelvic muscle and mucosal sensitivity. These pain sensitivity measures were reproducible and associated with subjective pain reports and vestibulodynia case status and represent an important step toward a more precise case definition for vestibulodynia and related disorders.
The Transition to High School: Current Knowledge, Future Directions

In the American educational system, school transitions are frequent and predictable, but they can disrupt student functioning across developmental domains. How students experience school transitions has been a focus of research for some time, but the high school transition has received less attention, and the limited research often focuses on a particular developmental domain (e.g., academics and socioemotional well-being) to the exclusion of a more integrated model. This review relies on life course theory to establish an organizational framework for interpreting and connecting the diffuse and sometimes disparate findings on the high school transition, including adolescent developmental trajectories and the influence of social ties, changing sociocultural contexts, and stratification systems. Conclusions identify aspects for future inquiry suggested by current knowledge and the tenets of the life course perspective.
Patient predictors of histopathologic response after photodynamic therapy of Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia or intramucosal carcinoma

Background Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used extensively for endoscopic ablation of Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or intramucosal carcinoma. Objective To identify patient variables that influence the likelihood of response to PDT. Design A retrospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary-referral center. Patients A total of 116 patients with Barrett's esophagus and with HGD, intramucosal carcinoma, or T1 cancer. Interventions PDT with porfimer sodium. Main Outcome Measurements (1) Ablation of HGD and/or intramucosal carcinoma and (2) eradication of all Barrett's epithelium. Results Of the patients, 51% underwent treatment for HGD and 49% of patients had intramucosal carcinoma or T1 cancer. At 12-month follow-up, ablation of HGD and/or cancer was observed in 70% of patients, and ablation of all Barrett's epithelium was observed in 39%. In multivariate analysis, the pretreatment length of Barrett's esophagus was inversely correlated with successful ablation of all Barrett's epithelium. Patients with Barrett's esophagus length more than 3 cm were less likely to experience complete ablation compared with patients with Barrett's esophagus length 3 cm or less (odds ratio [OR] 0.15 [95% CI, 0.04-0.50]). Patients with intramucosal carcinoma were not significantly less likely to experience elimination of HGD and/or cancer (OR 0.77 [95% CI, 0.30-2.00]) or ablation of all Barrett's epithelium (OR 0.82 [95% CI, 0.32-2.07]) compared with patients with HGD alone. Limitations Retrospective study, limited sample size without a control group for comparison. Conclusions PDT of Barrett's esophagus with HGD, intramucosal carcinoma, or T1 cancer can result in ablation of dysplasia and/or eradication of all Barrett's epithelium. Factors associated with the likelihood of response include length of Barrett's esophagus. The presence of intramucosal carcinoma or T1 cancer was not associated with higher likelihood of treatment failure.
16.2: Backlight for ViewSequential Autostereo 3D

We have demonstrated a backlight which emits collimated light whose direction can be scanned through 16°. Combined with a high frame rate LCD, this lets us display stereo 3D with no need for glasses.
A History of Comparative Advertising in the United States

This historical monograph addresses a gap in the extensive scholarly research literature devoted to comparative advertising—especially that which contrasts the advertised product, service, or brand...
VUV photoelectron imaging of biological nanoparticles: ionization energy determination of nanophase glycine and phenylalanine-glycine-glycine.

The ionization energies of biological nanoparticles are determined using the velocity map photoelectron imaging technique. A beam of nanoparticles produced by aerosol methods is photoionized with tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation. The resulting photoelectrons are detected and their angular and energy distributions are measured, yielding an angle-resolved photoelectron spectrum. The ionization energies of the nanoparticles are derived from plots of the photoelectron spectrum versus incident photon energy. The ionization energies of nanophase glycine and phenylalanine-glycine-glycine are 7.6 ± 0.2 eV, and 7.5 ± 0.2 eV, respectively. X-Ray powder diffraction studies on the glycine nanoparticles indicate that they are crystalline in nature. The reduced ionization energy when compared to gas phase results suggests that the polarization energy in the solid is significant. The difference in the ionization energy between the nano and gas phase reflects this polarization energy and is derived to be 1.7 ± 0.2 eV and 1.6 ± 0.2 eV for glycine and phenylalanine-glycine-glycine, respectively. Using these results the molecular polarizability of glycine is estimated to be 4.7 ± 0.3 A3 (31.9 ± 1.9 au).
Design of trellis coded QAM for flat fading and AWGN channels

The design of trellis coded modulation (TCM) schemes for QAM constellations to counteract simultaneous flat fading and additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) is considered. Motivated by the results of Divsalar and Simon (see IEEE Trans. Commun., vol.36, p.1004, 1988), and incorporating some recent ideas from Boulle and Belfiore (1992), we develop novel 2-D TCM schemes that attain diversity of order two even for a trellis structure that includes parallel paths with one symbol per edge. An algorithm is described that transforms codes designed for the AWGN channel into codes that achieve significant gains over flat fading channel, while preserving their coding gain over AWGN channel. Their performance is assessed via computer simulation for some representative TCM-QAM schemes under the assumption of uncorrelated fading and perfect channel state information (CSI). Finally, the effects of finite interleaving as well as imperfect CSI on code performance are investigated. >
Clarify Communication to Enhance Learning: Establish the Dual-Focus Classroom

This article suggests that instructors can vastly improve the learning in their class-rooms by focusing not solely on content but also on the communication process itself. The advantage in so doing is to access productive means of dealing with disruptive and difficult comments such as groupist remarks, uninformed opinions, and random guesses. Establishing a dual-focus classroom-one that legitimizes both content and process-allows professors to focus directly on faulty communication patterns and to use this approach as yet another means to enhance student learning.
Trust in Automation: Integrating Empirical Evidence on Factors That Influence Trust

Objective:We systematically review recent empirical research on factors that influence trust in automation to present a three-layered trust model that synthesizes existing knowledge.Background:Much...
Fabrication and tests of prototype quadrupole magnets for the storage ring of the Advanced Photon Source

Prototype quadrupole magnets for the Advanced Photon Source storage ring have been fabricated and tested. Mechanical stability of the magnet poles and acceptable field quality have been achieved. The measured magnetic fields in terms of multipole coefficients for the prototypes meet the requirements for the positron beam dynamics. Use of removable pole-tip geometries of pole-end bevels has been investigated in order to design the magnet endplate. In order to improve the excitation efficiency for the operation above 7 GeV, the pole geometry has been modified for the production magnets. >
A new upper bound on the data expansion of Huffman codes

We prove that the maximum data expansion of Huffman coding is at most 0.83485 bits per symbol, improving on the previous best known bound of 1.268 bits per symbol. The bound is very close to the 0.8 bits per symbol conjectured by Cheng et al. (1995).
Gender classification of human faces using inference through contradictions

We present an empirical study of gender classification of human faces, using new learning methodology called inference through contradictions, introduced in . This approach allows to incorporate a priori knowledge in the form of additional (unlabeled) samples, called the Universum, into the supervised learning process. Application of this methodology to gender classification shows that using this approach enables better generalization over standard SVM classification (using labeled data alone).