cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kwadwo Konadu-Agyemang and Kwamina Panford (Eds.) Africa’s Development in the Twenty-First Century: Pertinent Socioeconomic and Development Issues. UK: Ashgate Publishing Company. May 2006

Halfway to the 2015 target date, Africa is struggling to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the continent’s major political institution and economic program, the African Union (AU) and The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) respectively, are losing steam after just eight years of existence. This book provides a very timely treatise on the major development issues facing the continent. The appeal of this book is the interdisciplinary nature of the 22 essays and its focus on crosscutting development issues such as globalization, regionalism, national resource management, food security and gender concerns. Through the collection of essays, the editors have carefully provided a very fair and balanced analysis on Africa’s development challenges in two ways: they blame both internal and external factors as culprits for Africa’s development woes, and they shy away from the afro pessimist/optimist development debate. Indeed, for the most part, they see Africa as a paradox filled with untapped potential. The volume is broken out in five distinct sections. It starts out with a critical overview of African economic development in the twentieth century. The next section looks at the some of the theoretical discussions of Africa’s underdevelopment, in particular the role of the state and the impact of globalization. The next section takes a critical look at the potential of regional groups by examining the new created AU and the preexisting Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The main question the ties the next section together is: why is Africa, with its endowed resources, not developed and what can be done about this? The final part of the book looks at broad development opportunities and constraints and provides conclusions on how the continent could be revitalized during this century. J Afr Am St (2009) 13:372–373 DOI 10.1007/s12111-009-9090-9
Combining E-Learning and M-Learning: New Applications of Blended Educational Resources David Parsons, Ed

In this volume, David Parsons of Massey University (New Zealand) reprints the articles published in the International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning in 2009 to bring these articles to the a...
Optimal control and the full Toda flow

In this paper we define an optimal control problem which yields extremals that satisfy the full Toda lattice equations. Since the full (nontridiagonal) Toda lattice equations are integrable, this is an explicitly solvable optimal control problem. We also show that the system is defined on the cotangent bundle of the lower triangular matrices in a form originally due to Symes (1980).
Aberrant hormone activity by tumors of gynecologic importance.

Abstract Increasing numbers of endocrine active tumors are being reported. The production of hormonal substances not generally associated with the tissues involved may directly or indirectly concern the gynecologist. Identification of these occurrences may be important in the diagnosis of occult neoplasms or obscure tumor effects. In addition, observation of the level of aberrant hormone secretion may be an important therapeutic and prognostic measure. Detection may result from the investigation of apparent inappropriate endocrine syndromes or routine screening in cases of known tumors. Proof of the actual production of hormone by the tumor and complete identification of the material in question generally requires extensive biologic, chemical, physical, and immunologic investigation. The most likely mechanisms for aberrant hormone production by tumors are derepression of the genome or the occurrence of chance biosynthetic anomalies coincident with neoplastic nuclear alterations. Endocrine active substances o f interest to the gynecologist produced under these circumstances include gonadotropins, lactogens, thyrotropins, and adrenocorticotropin, as well as calcium-mobilizing and erythropoietic substances.
Boundedness of the L 2 -Induced Norm Implies Quadratic Stability for Uncertain Sampled-Data Control Systems

In this paper, we consider an uncertain continuous-time linear system with sampled-data feedback control. For a particular structure of uncertainty we show that if the L 2 -induced norm of a specific operator is bounded, then the uncertain continuous-time linear system with sampled-data feedback control is quadratically stable.
The Binary Mole

Avogadro's number is a count of a definite number of things and, therefore, must be an integer and not a floating point number. Arguments are given herein that this integer should be precisely 2E79 - that is, N_o = 2E79 = 6.04 462 909 107 318 607 353 088 E23; hence, the binary mole.
E-rosette formation in normals and patients with multiple sclerosis: Effect of prostaglandin and aspirin

Abstract Lymphocyte adherence to measles-infected cells and formation of avid E-rosettes (>10 sheep red blood cells (SRBC) per lymphocyte) are inversely correlated. Lymphocytes from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) form significantly more rosettes with measles-infected cells and less avid E-rosettes with SRBC than healthy controls. Incubation of control lymphocytes with prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) significantly (P 10 SRBC, and decreased the number of rosettes formed with measles-infected cells. These data indicate that a common prostaglandin-sensitive regulatory mechanism which affects formation of avid E-rosettes and lymphocyte adherence to measles-infected cells may be altered in patients with multiple sclerosis.
945-61 A New Approach to Management of Low Risk Patients Presenting to the Emergency Room with Chest Pain: The Immediate Exercise Treadmill Test

To enhance clinical and cost-effective management of low risk patients (pts) with chest pain who traditionally require admission to a monitoring unit to rule out a coronary event, we have applied immediate exercise treadmill testing (ED) directly in the emergency department (ED) in this subset. Based on our initial pilot experience with IETT suggesting its safety and utility, we have extended this approach to a large pt population: n = 192.103 men (M), mean age 46 yr. (28–79) and 89 women (W), mean age 49 yr. (31–89). Low risk pts were defined by: chest pain, a normal or nondiagnostic electrocardiogram, no history of corona ry artery disease (CAD) and a negative screening evaluation for acute pulmonary and noncardiac vascular processes. Most recently we have included selected pts with known CAD. IETT entailed symptomlimited testing (prior to report of cardiac isoenzymes). Positive (Pos) IETT: ≥:1.0 mm ST-segment,↓ at 80 msec; Nondiagnostic (NonDx) IETT: negative (Neg) test at l85% age-predicted maximum heart rate. Results IETT Men p Women Negativ 70% (69/103) n.s 53% (47/89) Nondiagnostic 22% (23/103) n.s 31% (28/89) Positive 10%(11/103) n.s 16% (14/89) There were no adverse effects of IETT. Based on further studies in 18 Pos pts (coronary angiography—10, stress scintigraphy— 4, stress echocardiography — 4), predictive accuracy of Pos Lett was 67% (12/18; M 67% [6/9J, W 67% [6/9]. Preliminary data revealed no adverse clinical events in Neg pts 1 mono after Lett and selected NonDx pts received further evaluation. IETT is safe in selected pts with chest pain who have traditionally required admission to rule out a coronary event. Pos rate is low but true Pos are not rare and are not readily identifiable by traditional clinical criteria. These results do not differ significantly in M and W The high negative rate of IETT indicates a potential for major savings if this approach were utilized in the criteria for admission of this pt population
Further evidence for a specific ganglioside fraction closely associated with myelin

Abstract 1. 1. Myelin was isolated From gray and white matter separately, and naturally the yield of myelin from white matter was much higher. The white matter myelin from rat brain contains most of the gangliosides found in myelin from whole rat brain, even though the gray matter myelin contains twice as much ganglioside per unit weight as white matter myelin. 2. 2. Myelin isolated from either gray or white matter of adult bovine or rat brain had the characteristic myelin ganglioside pattern found previously for myelin prepared from adult rat whole brain; i.e. a predominance of the normal major monosialoganglioside G 4 (G M1 ). 3. 3. Myelin was prepared from the mixed homogenate of unlabeled adult rat brains and neonatal rat brains previously injected with D-[1- 14 C]glucosamine. Only 0.2–0.3% of the neonatal brain ganglioside was recovered in the myelin, and more than 99.6% of G 4 (G M1 ) in myelin derived from the adult brains. 4. 4. The fatty acid compositions of the major monosialoganglioside G 4 (G M1 ) of whole gray matter, white matter and myelin were identical, with stearic acid comprising 90% of the total fatty acids. 5. 5. These findings show that the gangliosides in myelin from whole brain arise predominantly from white matter and are not due to random contamination by non-myelin tissue elements, particularly synaptic membranes. This study indicates the presence of a specific ganglioside fraction localized within the myelin sheath itself, or possibly in an axonal membrane closely associated with myelin.
Do peptide-induced changes in feeding occur because of changes in motivation to eat?

Abstract The usual paradigm in which peptides are tested for their effect on food intake involves measuring intake of readily available food. In the lever press apparatus, the subjects must “work” to get food. Such work has traditionally been used as a means of measuring motivation. Mice were trained to press a lever for milk reinforcement. After achieving a stable level of performance, we tested the effects of gastrin-related peptide (GRP), bombesin (BBS) and cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) on lever pressing. All three peptides suppressed lever pressing for milk reinforcement. Prefeeding mice with milk increased the suppression of lever pressing to a greater extent in peptide-treated mice than in saline-treated mice. As the duration of prefeeding increased, lever pressing decreased. When mice were required to make more lever presses to obtain milk, both saline- and CCK-8-treated mice increased their lever pressing. However, saline-treated mice pressed at a higher rate than CCK-8-treated mice. Unlike the results obtained with saline and CCK-8, administration of a known gustatory adversant, lithium chloride, suppressed lever pressing to the same degree in mice fed or not fed prior to training. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that these peptides act as satiety agents.
Bayesian approach to estimating margin of safety for total maximum daily load development

A Bayesian-updating approach is presented to the estimation of total uncertainty-based Margin of Safety (MOS) for Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) calculations. Probability distributions are presented to construct the likelihood function, the prior probability distribution, and the posterior (total uncertainty) probability distribution. The Bayesian-updating approach is demonstrated through a case study for the Lower Amite River, Louisiana. The posterior probability distribution-based on the Bayesian approach updates the standard deviation of summer dissolved oxygen in the Amite River from 1.88 mg/L to 2.10 mg/L when the total uncertainty is considered. Results from the Bayesian-updating approach are compared with two conventional methods. The dissolved oxygen reserve based on a conventional margin of safety of 20% is estimated to be 45,682.26 kg/Day. The second conventional method, where we consider the standard deviation of 1.88 mg/L, produces a dissolved oxygen reserve of 40,516.09 kg/Day. The Bayesian approach yields the dissolved oxygen reserve of 38,614.43 kg/Day with the first level (μ-σ) of MOS, producing a deficit of 5606.65 kg/Day in dissolved oxygen. The dissolved oxygen reserve deficit increases to 23,895.13 kg/Day when the second level (μ-2σ) of MOS is used, which escalated to 42,383.52 kg/Day when the highest level (μ-3σ) of MOS is used. While the total uncertainty-based Bayesian approach is demonstrated for a TMDL development on the Amite River, the overall approach could be applied in any river system with similar available data.
Soluble phosphine oxide containing aromatic polyamides

Abstract Several novel soluble phosphine oxide containing aromatic polyamides ( 3–6 ) have been synthesized by phosphorylation reactions of aromatic diacids with diamines. The presence of phosphine oxide linkages in the backbone gives these polymers superior properties, namely thermooxidative stability, high char yield and solubility in aprotic polar solvents.
The ED is an efficient place to treat ED patients

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine what percentage of ED patients would be more efficiently treated in an offsite clinic. A stratified sample consisting of 650 ED visits were reviewed. Patient care was classified as more efficiently delivered in ED or clinic using prospectively developed criteria. Five hundred fifty-three (85%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 82–88%) visits met the definition of efficient ED utilization. One (0.15%; 95% CI, 0.01–0.99%) met the criteria for efficient clinic utilization. The other 96 (15%; 95% CI, 12–18%) failed to meet the definition of efficient for either site; 92 of these failed 2 or more clinic criteria. Only 25 (3.9%; 95% CI, 2.6–5.7%) were seen for nonacute problems. Few ED patients would be more efficiently seen in a clinic.
Empirically defined regions of influence for clustering analyses

We present a simple but effective clustering algorithm for non-hierarchical k-dimensional data which is also useful for pattern recognition applications. The method uses a visually-empirical region of influence (VERI) that we have discovered. Our approach enables us to use human cluster judgments as the cluster criteria, and to extend these criteria in a natural way to k-dimensional data. The VERI algorithm requires no user input (e.g. the number of clusters in the final result) or user adjustments beyond providing the data itself. The algorithm computes clusterings based on the local k-dimensional neighbors of each point, and thus handles arbitrary numbers of clusters and arbitrary global cluster shapes. We demonstrate that the method works well for a variety of 2D cluster configurations which popular methods cannot treat (despite requiring the number of clusters as input), and illustrate that the performance is maintained for k-dimensional problems. The application of the method to pattern recognition problems is outlined, and efficient implementations of the VERI algorithm are presented.
Measurement of Visual Acuity in Latent Nystagmus

Abstract A method is described for rapid and accurate assessment of visual acuity in patients with latent (occlusion) nystagmus. By using the duochrome slide of the American Optical Project-O-Chart® and the green filter of the Worth red-green glasses, monocular visual acuity may be readily measured in patients with nystagmus brought out by monocular cover. The results obtained in seven patients are compared with standard opaque occlusion and occlusion with a +5.00 diopter lens.
T wave changes persisting after ventricular pacing in canine heart are altered by 4-aminopyridine but not by lidocaine. Implications with respect to phenomenon of cardiac 'memory'.

BACKGROUND Cardiac "memory" refers to changes in T wave polarity induced by ventricular pacing that persist long after resumption of normal atrioventricular conduction. METHODS AND RESULTS We studied the occurrence and mechanism of T wave changes in the open-chest anesthetized dog subjected to three discontinuous 20-minute periods of right ventricular pacing. ECG changes were recorded in the standard limb leads during normal conduction (prepacing) and three trains (T1, T2, and T3) of right ventricular pacing at a rate 50% higher than normal (pacing), each followed by a period of normal conduction (postpacing) lasting as long as necessary for T wave changes to return to control values. During each of these phases, heart rate, QRS, corrected QT (QTc) duration, and T wave amplitude were measured. In the first group (control), T wave inversions occurred during normal atrioventricular conduction after a period of right ventricular pacing. These T wave anomalies appeared in the absence of any change in heart rate, QRS, or QTc duration. The magnitude of the T wave amplitude change was significantly greater after each successive pacing period. Furthermore, the changes in T wave morphology persisted for a longer period after each successive pacing train. In a second experimental group, lidocaine, which depresses the sodium window current, was administered to six dogs that were subjected to the same pacing protocol. Lidocaine decreased the QTc interval and prolonged QRS duration but did not alter the magnitude of changes in T wave amplitude and time to recovery described in control animals during the three postpacing intervals. In contrast, in the third group, 4-aminopyridine, a drug that blocks the transient outward current (ito), abolished the changes in T wave morphology that occurred during any postpacing interval. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that the manifestation of cardiac memory in the in situ dog heart is not altered by lidocaine but is abolished by 4-aminopyridine. Thus, cardiac memory may be based on a physiological property of the myocardium that is related to specific K+ channels.
Constructing conformally flat structures on some Seifert fibred 3-manifolds

The first examples of conformally flat structures on some PSL2(R) Seifert fibered 3manifolds were constructed by Gromov et al. in [GLT], Kapovich in [Ka], and Kuiper in [Ku]. In this paper, we present a new construction of conformanny flat structures on some PSL2(R) Seifert fibered spaces. Our approach is similar to the well known construction of the hyperbolic metric on surfaces of genus greater than one. Namely, one first finds a nice identification pattern of the boundary of a 2r~-gon whose quotient is the given surface. Then, by realizing the 2n-gon by a totally geodesic polygon with appropriate inner angles in the hyperbolic space and realizing the identification maps by isometries, one constructs a hyperbolic metric on the surface. We first find identification schemes to obtain orientable Seifert fibered 3-manifolds in Sect. 2. The corresponding geometric objects (Mobius n-Gons) are introduced in the same section. A detailed study of Mobius bi-Gons in the lens space is carried out in Sect. 3. In the last section, we construct the Mobius structures on some PSL2(R) Seifert fibered spaces by attaching the Mobius bi-Gons to the fundamental domains of H 2 • S 1 Seifert fibered spaces. Our construction applies to a large class of PSL2(H) Seifert fibered spaces whose
Opposing roles for TGF-β1 and TGF-β3 isoforms in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Hormones can exert significant protective effects on autoimmune diseases by activating immunoregulatory mechanisms. One of the possible mechanisms of hormonal protection might be through the anti-inflammatory effects of the TGF-beta molecule. The present study investigated the changes in expression of two TGF-beta isoforms, TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta3, in C57BL/6 and TCR transgenic (T/R+) B10.PL mice that manifested or were protected against clinical signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) with 17beta-estradiol (E2) treatment. We here demonstrate an inverse relationship between expression of TGF-beta1 that is enhanced in mice with EAE, and TGF-beta3 that is enhanced in E2-protected mice. The differential expression of TGF-beta isoforms was observed in spinal cord tissue but not spleen. Additionally TGF-beta1 expression was evident both in whole spinal cord tissue and mononuclear cells isolated from inflamed tissue, in contrast to TGF-beta3 that was only detected in spinal cord tissue but not in mononuclear cells. Further studies revealed that CD3 and especially MAC-1 positive cells were the main source of TGF-beta1 in the mononuclear CNS population. Of crucial importance, the TGF-beta3 isoform displayed anti-proliferative properties towards encephalitogenic cells in vitro. We propose that the TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta3 isoforms play opposing roles in the expression of EAE.
Magneto-fluid dynamics of bodies in alined fields

The motion of a perfectly conducting fluid past a fixed body in the presence of an alined magnetic field can be regarded as the limit of a number of problems, namely (i) when the fluid is a finite conductor, (ii) an unsteady problem, (iii) when the magnetic and velocity fields are not parallel at infinity. The limits of these more general problems agree in predicting a force on the body and on the existence of upstream and downstream wakes. However, if the magnetic field is fairly strong (i) does not predict a downstream wake while (ii) and (iii) do. An attempt to reconcile these limit results is made here. In the first part we show that the unsteady problem associated with a finitely conducting fluid and an alined field is nonunique but that by making an appeal to the theory of real fluids the conclusion of (i) and (ii) can be obtained as special cases of the general solution. In the second part the steady problem, assuming that the conductivity is finite and the magnetic field is nearly alined, is considered and it is shown that the flow fields predicted in (i) and (ii) are limiting cases of this more general problem. The manner of the changeover from the solution for (i) to that for (iii) is elucidated.
Limb hypoplasia resulting from intrauterine infection with herpes simplex virus: a case report

Intrauterine infection with herpes simplex virus, although very rare, has devastating effects on multiple organ systems in the fetus and can lead to in utero fetal demise. Neonates born following intrauterine herpes simplex virus infection commonly manifest with cutaneous lesions, ocular damage and/or brain abnormalities. We describe the case of a dichorionic, diamniotic twin gestation complicated by intrauterine herpes simplex virus infection. This infection led to the fetal demise of twin A and a very uncommon presentation of limb hypoplasia in twin B.
Canonical wingless signaling regulates cone cell specification in the Drosophila retina

Correct tissue patterning during development involves multiple morphogenetic events that include specification of different cell fates, cell proliferation, cell death, and coordinated changes in cell shape, position, and adhesion. Here, we use the Drosophila retina to explore the molecular mechanisms that regulate and integrate these various events. In a previous report, we found that wingless (wg) was required to induce a previously unknown surge of cell death (“early death”) in the pupal retina. Here, we show that wg is also required to induce the more widely studied mid-pupal cell death (“late death”) in a process that involves regulation of DIAP1. Furthermore, our data suggest that wg has a previously unreported role in specifying the glial-like cone cells. This activity requires canonical Wg signaling and is linked with Notch pathway activity. Our work broadens the role of canonical Wg signaling to encompass multiple patterning steps in the emerging Drosophila retina.
Superconducting Magnets for the 12 GeV Upgrade at Jefferson Laboratory

Jefferson Laboratory is embarked on an energy upgrade to its flagship continuous electron beam accelerator to expand the scope of its research capabilities and probe further into the structure of nuclear particles. The 12 GeV upgrade includes the design, manufacture, integration, installation and commissioning of eight different superconducting magnets in three separate experimental halls. The effort involves other national laboratories, universities and industry spanning three countries. This paper will summarize the key characteristics of these magnets, ranging in size from 0.2 to 23 MJ in stored energy, and featuring many different types and configurations. The paper will also give an overview of the specific technical challenges for each magnet, and a status report on magnet manufacture and expected delivery dates. The 12 GeV upgrade at J-Lab represents the largest superconducting magnet fabrication and installation program currently ongoing in the United States and this paper will present the breadth of collaborations supporting it.
Patient perceptions regarding effect of gynecological surgery on sexuality.

ABSTRACT Introduction Women undergoing surgery for benign gynecological conditions often voice concerns about how surgery will affect their sexuality. It is unclear what percentage of women shares these concerns, and how well they are addressed. Aims To identify what concerns women have about sexuality when they have gynecological surgery, and what factors affect these concerns. Methods Survey of women scheduled to undergo hysterectomy, oophorectomy, or any sterilization procedure at an academic medical center. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to analyze the data. Main Outcome Measure A questionnaire was devised containing 10 statements regarding how surgery can affect sexuality and how concerns are addressed. Patients were asked to rate their agreement with each on a 5-point Likert scale. Results Patients undergoing oophorectomies were significantly more likely to agree that they would have less sexual desire ( P = 0.01) and that they would be less able to enjoy sex ( P = 0.002) than women undergoing hysterectomy or sterilization alone. Patients with a private physician were more likely to agree that their physician counseled them about sexual effects than patients of the resident clinic ( P = 0.004). Conclusions Women undergoing oophorectomy are more likely to have concerns regarding sexuality that need to be addressed by gynecological surgeons. These concerns are less frequently addressed by resident physicians, who need to be instructed to counsel their patients about sexuality. Schaffir J, Fleming M, and Waddell V. Patient perceptions regarding effect of gynecological surgery on sexuality.
Phospholipase A2 activity in the plasma membrane of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

The recognition that the plasma membrane (PM) is the site of reception, modulation and transfer of signals that lead to the cell’s responses has aroused much recent interest in the possibility that modification of membrane phospholipids (PL) is important in fransmembrane signalling. Modification of PL requires the participation of phospholipases. For example,>he removal of fatty acids by deacylating enzymes may trigger their replacement with fatty acids differing in physical properties, thereby changing membrane fluidity. The polymorphonuclear leukocyte @‘MN) provides an example of a cell thought to undergo PL modification as part of its typical functions, including chemotaxis and phagocytosis [l-3]. The pathways of PL synthesis and degradation have been well studied in PMN [4]. Phospholipase AZ (PLA2) and lysophospholipase activities have been identified in human and rabbit PMN [5--g]. The PLAZ of PMN is particulate and is predominantly associated with the membranes of both specific and azurophil granules [ 5,7], but may also occur in other membranes including the PM [5,7]. It has been speculated that in PMN the arachidonic acid precursor for prostaglandin synthesis is preferentially hydrolyzed by PM PLA2 from lecithin that in turn is derived from PM phosphatidylethanolamine via the methylation pathway [3]. However, evidence permitting the conclusion that these metabolic events, including the action of a PLA2, actually occur in the PM, has not been presented. We now demonstrate the presence of PLAZ in the PM of human PMN, using a cell fractionation procedure that provides a highly purified PM preparation in high yield [9]. Thus, an essential enzyme in the metabolism of PL of PMN is present in a strategic location in or at the cell surface. This may support the contention that functionally important PL alterations occur in the PM.
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor expression in memory circuits: Implications for treatment of Alzheimer disease

Cholinergic transmission at muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) has been implicated in higher brain functions such as learning and memory, and loss of synapses may contribute to the symptoms of Alzheimer disease. A heterogeneous family of five genetically distinct mAChR subtypes differentially modulate a variety of intracellular signaling systems as well as the processing of key molecules involved in the pathology of the disease. Although many muscarinic effects have been identified in memory circuits, including a diversity of pre- and post-synaptic actions in hippocampus, the identities of the molecular subtypes responsible for any given function remain elusive. All five mAChR genes are expressed in hippocampus, and subtype-specific antibodies have enabled identification, quantification, and localization of the encoded proteins. The m1, m2, and m4 mAChR proteins are most abundant in forebrain regions and they have distinct cellular and subcellular localizations suggestive of various pre- and postsynaptic functions in cholinergic circuits. The subtypes are also differentially altered in postmortem brain samples from Alzheimer disease cases. Further understanding of the molecular pharmacology of failing synapses in Alzheimer disease, together with the development of new subtype-selective drugs, may provide more specific and effective treatments for the disease.
Do working mothers have healthy children

This paper examines the effects of maternal employment on children's physical and mental health. The data used are from the Health Interview Survey 1981, Child Health Supplement. A health production model is developed on the basis of Becker's household production theory. The results reveal that a mother's employment is a significant factor affecting her child's physical health. Use of physician services, prices (i.e., CPI used as a proxy variable), sex of the child, receipt of Medicaid, the number of relocations, the mother's education, the mother's health status, breast-feeding practices, and the birth weight of the child are other important variables explaining the health status of children. The role of each of these factors varies according to the marital status of the mother.
Inhomogeneous Background Error Modeling and Estimation over Antarctica

Abstract The structure of the analysis increments in a variational data assimilation scheme is strongly driven by the formulation of the background error covariance matrix, especially in data-sparse areas such as the Antarctic region. The gridpoint background error modeling in this study makes use of regression-based balance operators between variables, empirical orthogonal function decomposition to define the vertical correlations, gridpoint variances, and high-order efficient recursive filters to impose horizontal correlations. A particularity is that the regression operators and the recursive filters have been made spatially inhomogeneous. The computation of the background error statistics is performed with the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model from a set of forecast differences. The mesoscale limited-area domains of interest cover Antarctica. Inhomogeneities of background errors are shown to be related to the particular orography and physics of the area. Differences seem particularly pronounce...
The proximity of hotspots to convergent and divergent plate boundaries

An analysis of four different hotspot distributions, ranging from Morgan's [1972] original list of 19 to Vogt's [1981] list of 117 reveals that the hotspots are preferentially located near divergent plate boundaries. The probability of this proximity occurring by chance alone is quite remote, less than 0.01 for all four hotspot distributions. The same analysis also reveals that the hotspots are preferentially excluded from regions near convergent plate boundaries. The probability of this exclusion occurring by chance alone is 0.1 or less for three out of the four distributions examined. We interpret this behavior as being a consequence of the effects of large scale convective circulation on ascending mantle plumes. Mantle thermal plumes, the most probable source of hotspots, arise from instabilities in a basal thermal boundary layer. Plumes are suppressed from regions beneath convergent boundaries by descending flow and are entrained into the upwelling flow beneath spreading centers. Plate-scale convective circulation driven by subduction may also advect mantle thermal plumes toward spreading centers.
Ion dependent quantum computations for the temperature variation of refractive indices of covalent semiconductors

Abstract The temperature derivatives of refractive indices of covalent semiconductors are computed through an ion dependent quantum dielectric theory. A generallised formula between the optical refractive index and the average energy gaps of the bonding and antibonding states has been used with two parameters, one being family dependent and the other ion dependent. The calculated results are compared with available experimental values and also with the results of some other works to confirm that the present theory yields most satisfactory agreement. A number of technological applications of the obtained derivatives are mentioned.
Peripheral group II metabotropic glutamate receptors mediate endogenous anti-allodynia in inflammation.

Abstract We previously demonstrated that activation of peripheral group II mGluRs inhibits PGE2-induced thermal hyperalgesia. In the present study we examined the role of peripheral group II mGluRs in inflammation-induced mechanical allodynia in CD1 mice. Subcutaneous injection of group II mGluR agonists or antagonists into the plantar surface of the mouse hind paw did not alter mechanical thresholds, suggesting that peripheral group II mGluRs did not modulate basal mechanical sensation. We then used either PGE2 or carrageenan to induce mechanical allodynia and investigated the effects of activating or inhibiting peripheral group II mGluRs. PGE2-injected mice showed an 87±1% decrease of mechanical thresholds 75 min after the injection, whereas mice injected with group II mGluR agonists had no increase in sensitivity compared to vehicle-injected mice. In the carrageenan-induced inflammation model, 3 h after carrageenan injection the mechanical thresholds of mice injected with group II mGluR agonist APDC fully recovered to baseline levels while vehicle-injected mice showed only 43±8% recovery. The application of group II mGluR antagonist (LY341495) alone delayed the recovery of PGE2- and carrageenan-induced mechanical allodynia. Three hours after injection of carrageenan, LY341495-injected mice showed little or no recovery with mechanical thresholds 8±1% of pre-carrageenan baselines, compared to 57±8% of pre-carrageenan baselines in vehicle-injected mice at the same time point. Our results suggest that activation of peripheral group II mGluRs reduces inflammation-induced mechanical allodynia and that peripheral group II mGluRs may mediate endogenous anti-allodynia effects, which speed recovery from inflammation-induced hypersensitivity.
Landau-Ginzburg mean-field theory for the nematic to smectic-C and nematic to smectic-A phase transitions

A Landau-Ginzburg free energy is presented that yields a nematic to smectic-$A$ (NA) transition, a nematic to smectic-$C$ (NC) transition, and a Lifshitz point (at the boundary between the NA and NC transitions). Fluctuation enhancements of the Frank elastic constants are calculated. For the NC transition, all three elastic constants ${K}_{1}$, ${K}_{2}$, and ${K}_{3}$ diverge as ${\ensuremath{\xi}}^{2}$, where $\ensuremath{\xi}$ is the correlation length for fluctuations of the smectic order parameter. At the Lifshitz point, ${K}_{1}$ and ${K}_{2}$ diverge as $\mathrm{ln}\ensuremath{\xi}$ whereas ${K}_{3}$ diverges as $\ensuremath{\xi}$.
Leilani Muir: Eugenics on Trial in Canada

This article discusses a proposed module on Leilani Muir at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) in Winnipeg, Canada. The article explores the story of Leilani Muir, a woman from Alberta who was forcibly sterilized against her will under the Sexual Sterilization Act of Alberta, and later took the Alberta government to court for committing this crime against her. Muir won her case, and was the first person in Alberta to win a case regarding forced sterilization. After the section on her life story, the article will analyze how her account would be presented to the public in the CMHR through three photographs. The photographs would be interactive and engage the museum visitor into learning more about what happened to Muir. This module will then relate to other modules in the CMHR dealing with human rights abuses in Canada. Finally, this article will discuss why her story is important to discuss in a national museum.
Nuclear medicine and molecular imaging of the pediatric chest: current practical imaging assessment

In the chest, the indications for nuclear medicine studies are broader and more varied in children than in adults. In children, nuclear medicine studies are used to evaluate congenital and developmental disorders of the chest, as well as diseases more typical of adults. In the chest, pediatric nuclear medicine uses the same radiopharmaceuticals and imaging techniques as used in adults to evaluate cardiac and pulmonary disease, aerodigestive disorders, and pediatric malignancies. The introduction of PET (mostly using (18)F-FDG) has transformed pediatric nuclear oncology, particular for imaging malignancies in the chest.
Mitochondrial Involvement in Post-Tetanic Potentiation of Synaptic Transmission

Posttetanic potentiation (PTP) is an essential aspect of synaptic transmission that arises from a persistent presynaptic [Ca2+]i following tetanic stimulation. At crayfish neuromuscular junctions, several inhibitors of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and release (tetraphenylphosphonium or TPP+, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone or CCCP, and ruthenium red) blocked PTP and the persistence of presynaptic residual [Ca2+]i, while endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ pump inhibitors and release channel activators (thapsigargin, 2,5-di-(tert-butyl)-1,4-benzohydroquinone or BHQ, and caffeine) had no effects. PTP apparently results from the slow efflux of tetanically accumulated mitochondrial Ca2+.
Assistive Technology and Literacy Partnerships

Assistive technology (AT) has the potential to support the literacy skills of students with disabilities as they participate in the general education curriculum. Empirical evidence is presented to support the use of AT, at least for some students. A case study interwoven within the article illustrates team decision-making regarding software and hardware options for reading and writing skill support. Today’s technology can support students with needs in reading, understanding curricular materials, and in writing skills, such as planning, drafting, editing, and publishing. The need for expertise in AT and team knowledge of the student, the environment, and the curriculum is emphasized. The case study illustrates how positive outcomes can result from team collaboration, involving the student, the family, special education and general education teachers, and school administrators.
Shear Viscosity of CO2-Plasticized Polystyrene Under High Static Pressures

High-pressure shear viscosity measurements of polymer/supercritical fluid systems are numerous, but most involve pressure-gradient equipment such as a capillary or slit die with pressure drops exce...
Numerosity differences and effects of stimulus density on pigeons' discrimination performance

Two experiments are described in which pigeons were trained in a simultaneous conditioning procedure to discriminate small arrays of dots that differed in numerosity. The birds successfully learned to choose the array of each pair that contained fewer dots when these choices were reinforced and choices of the array with more dots led to timeout. For the majority of numerosity values tested, discrimination performance for a fixed S+ value was better when the numerical difference between S+ and S-values was larger rather than smaller. This effect was seen in the first experiment when the numerical difference value was shifted between training trials and novel test trials. In the second experiment, too, performance level depended on the size of the numerosity difference when the birds were concurrently trained with two difference values that varied across trials within sessions. However, discrimination accuracy was influenced secondarily by variations in the density, or interdot spacing, of the stimulus arrays. In order to explain the latter finding, it is suggested that a tendency to “scan” a lowdensity array incompletely might alter the probability of accepting it as the smaller numerosity (S+) stimulus. This would increase error rates with S− arrays in which the dots are more widely spaced.
Decomposition of TiO2-SnO2 solid solutions

Decomposition of TiO2-SnO2 solid solutions was studied using large-angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and small-angle X-ray scattering. Particular attention was devoted to the initial stages of decomposition of homogeneous solid solutions, so as to determine whether or not decomposition in the system can occur spinodally. All of our results indicate that alloys within the spinodal can decompose by a continuous and spontaneous process, i.e. spinodal decomposition does occur, whereas alloys outside the spinodal decompose by a discontinuous and non-spontaneous process, i.e. decomposition occurs by nucleation and growth.
Sensitivity of parasitized coho salmon fry to crude oil, toluene, and naphthalene

Abstract The effect of parasitism by glochidia of Anodonta oregonensis (a freshwater mussel) on the sensitivity of coho salmon fry, Oncorhynchus kisutch, to oil was determined by exposing fry with different levels of parasitism to several concentrations of either the water-soluble fraction of Prudhoe Bay crude oil or the aromatic hydrocarbons toluene and naphthalene. Fry infested with 20–35 glochidia were significantly (P < 0.05) more sensitive to each of the toxicants than uninfested fish. Sensitivity increased linearly with increased parasite numbers. Interpretation and application of results of toxicity tests should take into account the kinds and intensities of parasitism found both in the test animals and in the wild populations of fish.
Tumor necrosis factor

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a critical cytokine, which contributes to both physiological and pathological processes. This mini-review will briefly touch the history of TNF discovery, its family members and its biological and pathological functions. Then, it will focus on new findings on the molecular mechanisms of how TNF triggers activation of the NF-κB and AP-1 pathways, which are critical for expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as the MLKL cascade, which is critical for the generation of ROS in response to TNF. Finally, this review will briefly summarize recent advances in understanding TNF-induced cell survival, apoptosis and necrosis (also called necroptosis). Understanding new findings and emerging concepts will impact future research on the molecular mechanisms of TNF signaling in immune disorders and cancer-related inflammation.
Parent-Child Perceptions of Parental Behavioral Control Through Rule-Setting for Risky Health Choices During Adolescence

This study of 164 parent-child dyads compared perceptions of the rule-setting processes during the child's adolescence surrounding reported rules for the risky health domains of sexual activity, alcohol use, and tobacco use. Two kinds of rules were identified: abstinence rules and contingency rules. Tobacco use was largely dominated by abstinence rules, whereas sexual activity and alcohol featured both abstinence and contingency rules. Parents perceived that they communicated rules more directly and with greater justification than their adolescents reported, especially for abstinence rules. Parents perceived that their adolescents complied with their rules more so than the adolescents reported complying, especially for abstinence rules. Across health domains, perceptions of rule justification and rule sanctioning predicted perceptions of adolescent rule compliance.
The mechanism of single-charge-exchange by pion and nucleon induced reactions

Abstract Cross sections of (p, n) and (π + . π 0 ) reactions at medium energies on 10 B. 11 B. 13 C and 14 N are compared with a simple charge exchange model. A single particle process does not describe the reactions on 14 N.
Computed tomography colonography: a current appraisal.

Computed tomography (CT) colonography (CTC) is a specialized CT examination of the abdomen and pelvis in which imaging data, combined with advanced imaging software, provides a comprehensive, full structural evaluation of the colorectum using multiple types of image displays. CTC has been in development and in clinical trials since 1996. The radiology scientific literature is rich in reports of its advancement and effectiveness. The purpose of this article is to briefly update the reader on the current estimates of CTC performance, safety, patient acceptance, and other relevant clinical issues. The publication of the National CTC Trial (ACRIN 6664) completed the clinical validation of CTC as a screening application. 1 This trial, the largest to date evaluating the effectiveness of CTC, evaluated 2,600 asymptomatic adults who were prescheduled for colonoscopy screening at 15 centers across the United States (including both academic and private practices). All patients were 50 years of age and had a full bowel preparation before undergoing both state-of-the-art CTC and colonoscopy (which served as the reference standard). The mean standard error sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for patients with adenomas 1 cm were 0.90 0.03, 0.86 0.02, 0.23 0.02, 0.99 0.01, and 0.89 0.02, respectively. 1 The sensitivity for adenomas 0.6 cm was 0.78 and 0.8 cm was 0.87, with specificities of 0.88 and 0.87, respectively. These performance estimates are similar to those reported by Pickhardt et al 2 and indicate that CTC can be performed at a high level at many institutions, including community hospitals. These estimates of performance are also similar to those reported for colonoscopy.2 Of CTC screening patients, 12% would have been referred for colonoscopy if a polyp threshold of 6 mm was selected, including CT false positives. Estimates of performance for polyps 5 mm were not possible because readers were instructed not to report lesions smaller than this threshold. Segmental unblinding was not performed, so the performance of colonoscopy was not determined in this trial. The safety profile for CTC is excellent. In the experience of the Working Group on Virtual Colonoscopy, no cases of colon perforation have been reported in 11,000 screening examinations. 3 Of 21,000 total CTC examinations, only 1 perforation occurred, in a patient with an occlusive sigmoid carcinoma, for a perforation rate of 0.005%.3 A higher perforation rate (0.03%) has been reported from the United Kingdom, but is comparable with the perforation risk for barium enema examination. 4 Today, most centers performing CTC use a me
MR Cholangiopancreatography in the detection of symptomatic ectopic pancreatitis in the small-bowel mesentery.

WEB This is a Web exclusive article. ctopic or aberrant pancreas is a rare finding; the estimated incidence is 0.55–13.7% according to autopsy analyses [1]. Ectopic pancreas within the mesentery [2] and ectopic pancreatitis [3] have been recognized previously as separate findings but have not been documented concomitantly. Despite diagnostic advances, preoperative noninvasive evaluation is difficult, and patients have traditionally needed surgical excision for a definitive diagnosis. We present the case of a 57-yearold woman with mesenteric ectopic pancreatitis diagnosed using MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) who deferred surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the English-language medical literature of an MRCP diagnosis of ectopic pancreatitis.