cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reality-Based Estimation of Needle and Soft-Tissue Interaction for Accurate Haptic Feedback in Prostate Brachytherapy Simulation

Prostate Brachytherapy is the implantation of radioactive seeds into the prostate as a treatment for prostate cancer. The success rate of the procedure is directly related to the physician’s level of experience. In addition, minor deviations in seed alignment caused by gland compression/retraction, gland edema (swelling) and needle deflections can create significant areas of over or under dosage to the gland and/or injury to surrounding nerves and organs, leading to increased morbidity. Therefore, reductions in brachytherapy complication rates will be dependent on improving the tools physicians use for training to improve the accuracy of needle guidance and deployment of ‘seeds’ within the prostate gland. Through our novel approach of using two C-ARM fluoroscopes, we propose a reality-based approach for estimating needle and soft tissue interaction for the purpose of eventually developing an accurate seed placement training simulator with haptic feedback for prostate brachytherapy. By recording implanted fiducial movement and needle-soft tissue interaction forces, we can: extract the local effective modulus during puncture events, quantify tissue deformation, obtain an approximate cutting force, and build a finite element model to provide accurate haptic feedback in the training simulator for needle insertion tasks.
The world of outreach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on the outreach activities of the Fine Arts Library at Ohio State University.Design/methodology/approach – Outreach at Ohio State is intended to have global impact, but successful outreach is often hampered by lack of partnerships, funding restrictions, and a monolithic approach to the patron. The paper reflects on each of these issues and discusses the strategies used by the Fine Arts Library to conduct outreach with user‐focus and budgets in mind.Findings – The paper finds that there are techniques for outreach that involve small outputs of funds but have larger impacts. Moving past a “one size fits all” philosophy for outreach allows the Fine Arts Library to connect with the patrons it is best able to serve.Originality/value – While the phrase “think globally, act locally” is well‐known, it can often be forgotten in libraries, where the goal to reach as many people as possible is very important. This paper suggests that the returns on the local investmen...
The photon's magnetostatic flux density B̂Π

Abstract Using the recently proposed concept of BΠ, the individual photon's magnetostatic flux density operator, it is argued in semi-classical approximation that magnetization by a circularly polarised laser (the inverse Faraday effect) takes place through terms proportional to all positive integral powers of BΠ, the classical equivalent of the quantum field operator BΠ. The original theory of the IFE considers only the term in the square of BΠ.
Developing Oversight Frameworks for Nanobiotechnology

Oversight systems specific to nanotechnology have not yet been created; stakeholders, government, industry, academia, and the public are debating whether and how to craft such systems and address emerging safety, social, and ethical issues. The United States has no coordinated policy for oversight of the products and applications of nanotechnology and uncertainty prevails over how existing general regulatory regimes and industry standards apply to emerging nanotechnologies. Empirical assessment of health and environmental risks is still in process. At the same time, public understanding of nanotechnology is rudimentary and public concern exists. This article focuses on nanobiotechnology, which most directly raises questions of how oversight can address safety and efficacy, outlines the current debate on oversight in the United States, suggests why deliberate development of oversight strategies is important, and recommends how to develop them.
Episodic Memory and Future Thinking During Early Childhood: Linking the Past and Future

Despite extensive examination of episodic memory and future thinking development, little is known about the concurrent emergence of these capacities during early childhood. In Experiment 1, 3-year-olds participated in an episodic memory hiding task ("what, when, where" [WWW] components) with an episodic future thinking component. In Experiment 2, a group of 4-year-olds (including children from Experiment 1) participated in the same task (different objects and locations), providing the first longitudinal investigation of episodic memory and future thinking. Although children exhibited age-related improvements in recall, recognition, and binding of the WWW episodic memory components, there were no age-related changes in episodic future thinking. At both ages, WWW episodic memory performance was higher than future thinking performance, and episodic future thinking and WWW memory components were unrelated. These findings suggest that the WWW components of episodic memory are potentially less fragile than the future components when assessed in a cognitively demanding task.
Use of Evacuated Collection Tubes for Routine Determination of Arterial Blood Gases and pH

There is a well-recognized need for a reliable, convenient, and simple method for determining whole blood pH, PaCOaCO2, and PaOaO2. We have designed a specimen collection set that facilitates collection of the specimen and permits convenient and reliable analysis by the laboratory. Specimens are collected in newly designed "Vacutainer" tubes containing heparin and nitrogen gas. Without removing the Vacutainer stopper, the specimen may be anaerobically introduced into the analytical equipment through a unique aspirating needle. Atmospheric contamination of the specimen is eliminated.
STRUCTURAL CONTROL EXPERIMENTS USING AN H POWER FLOW APPROACH

Abstract Experimental results are presented comparing velocity feedback with a new technique for designing guaranteed stable control laws for uncertain, modally dense structures with collocated sensors and actuators. A de-reverberated mobility model is used, which is similar in many respects to a wave-based model, but can treat more general structures. The power dissipated by the controller can be maximized in either an H 2 or an H ∞ sense. The H ∞ approach guarantees that the controller is positive real, and thus that the system will remain stable for any uncertainty, provided that the power flow is correctly modelled. The experimental results indicate that the controllers designed with this approach are much more effective than simple collocated rate feedback.
Plasma loss mechanisms from Saturn's magnetosphere

Since the first up-close observations of Saturn, made by the Pioneer 11 probe in 1979, a great deal has been learned about the dynamics of the gas giant's magnetosphere. In-depth observations made by the Cassini orbiter, which has been circling Saturn since 2004, have revealed fundamental differences between the behavior of Saturn's magnetosphere and that of the Earth's magnetosphere. Earth's magnetospheric plasma is largely populated by ions captured from the solar wind, whereas Saturn's plasma comes predominantly from water vapor that spews from massive geysers on the southern end of its icy moon Enceladus. Ionized water vapor from Enceladus streams out at 12 to 250 kilograms per second, yet observations show that the concentration of plasma in Saturn's magnetosphere is at a relatively steady level. This discrepancy has left researchers searching for potential plasma loss mechanisms. In a review, Thomsen highlights the progress made in recent years in understanding this question.
Characterization of the dual start motif of a class II holin gene.

Holins are small membrane proteins that, at a genetically programmed time in a bacteriophage infective cycle, allow bacteriolytic enzymes, or endolysins, to escape to the periplasm and to attack the cell wall. Most holins fall into two sequence classes, I and II, based on the number of potential transmembrane domains (three for class I and two for class II). The prototype class I holin gene, S lambda, has a dual start motif and encodes not only the effector holin, Slambda105, but also an inhibitor, Slambda107, with a Met-Lys ...extension at the terminus. The prototype class II holin gene of phage 21, S 21, begins with the motif Met-Lys-Ser-Met ..., and a potential RNA secondary structure overlaps the Shine-Dalgarno sequence. Here, we demonstrate that (i) two protein products are elaborated from S 21, S2171 and S2168; (ii) the shorter product is required for lysis; (iii) the longer product, S2171, inhibits S 21 function; and (iv) the Lys-2 residue is important for the inhibitor function. Moreover, the RNA stem-loop structure is involved in the downregulation of S2171 synthesis. However, our results suggest that, in S 21, different segments of the single consensus Shine-Dalgarno sequence serve the two translational starts. These results show that the dual start motifs of class II holin genes are functionally homologous to those of class I holin genes.
Particle pathways of Niagara river water in Lake Ontario affecting bottom sediment contamination

The results of integrated multidisciplinary studies of the transport and pathways of toxic contaminants entering Lake Ontario through the Niagara River are summarized. The factors controlling the transport and distribution of contaminants are: (i) Niagara River mixing characteristics; (ii) prevailing local wind conditions and large scale lake-wide circulation features, and (iii) suspended sediment load and the partitioning of the contaminants onto the suspended solids. Physical limnological studies included a variety of direct measurements to delineate the nearfield and farfield mixing characteristics of the river plume in terms of the prevailing winds and large scale lake circulation. In the ‘nearfield’ region of the plume, around the river mouth, contaminant transport was affected by the initial momentum and buoyancy of the river water mass and a sharp thermal front that is generally present through the stratified season. After the initial momentum is dissipated, the weakly buoyant river plume responds to the prevailing winds and lake-wide circulation. Adsorbed contaminants rapidly settle once the initial momentum of the river plume is dissipated but the dissolved contaminants are transported into the farfield regions in the lake and after becoming entrained in the strong south shore eastward flowing boundary current are carried toward the St. Lawrence River outflow. Only about ten percent of this eastward flowing transport exits via the St. Lawrence River, the remainder is recirculated back into the main lake. A contaminant transport model of the Niagara River Plume incorporating a hydrodynamic model, observed plume mixing characteristics and chemical partitioning was used to simulate the compartmental distribution (adsorbed vs dissolved) of selected toxic chemicals distribution observed in the nearfield region of the plume.
Scaling evolution in shock-induced transition to turbulence

In this experimental study, a column of heavy gas $({\mathrm{SF}}_{6})$ surrounded by light gas (air) is accelerated by a planar Mach 1.2 shock. Richtmyer-Meshkov instability on the initially diffuse air-${\mathrm{SF}}_{6}$ interface determines the repeatable large-scale vortex dynamics of the system after the shock passage. Subsequently secondary instabilities form, with the system eventually transitioning to turbulence. We present highly resolved measurements of two components of the instantaneous velocity fields. With these measurements, we investigate the evolution of velocity statistics over a substantial range of scales in terms of structure functions. The latter evolve to exhibit late-time behavior consistent with the Kolmogorov scaling law for fully developed turbulence, despite the transitional character, anisotropy, and inhomogeneity of our flow. Ensemble averaging and comparison with instantaneous results reveal a trend towards the same scaling manifested much earlier by the structure functions of the fluctuating velocity components.
Phylogenetic relationships among Synallaxini spinetails (Aves: Furnariidae) reveal a new biogeographic pattern across the Amazon and Paraná river basins

Relationships among genera in the tribe Synallaxini have proved difficult to resolve. In this study, I investigate relationships among Synallaxis, Certhiaxis and Schoeniophylax using DNA sequences from the mitochondrion and three nuclear regions. I implemented novel primers and protocols for amplifying and sequencing autosomal and sex-linked introns in Furnariidae that resolved basal relationships in the Synallaxini with strong support. Synallaxis propinqua is sister to Schoeniophylax phryganophilus, and together they form a clade with Certhiaxis. The results are robust to analytical approaches when all genomic regions are analyzed jointly (parsimony, maximum likelihood, and species-tree analysis) and the same basal relationships are recovered by most genomic regions when analyzed separately. A sister relationship between S. propinqua, an Amazonian river island specialist, and S. phryganophilus, from the Parana River basin region, reveals a new biogeographic pattern shared by at least other four pairs of taxa with similar distributions and ecologies. Estimates of divergence times for these five pairs span from the late Miocene to the Pleistocene. Identification of the historical events that produced this pattern is difficult and further advances will require additional studies of the taxa involved and a better understanding of the recent environmental history of South America. A new classification is proposed for the Synallaxini, including the description of a new genus for S. propinqua.
Colloid aggregation in seawater

Aggregation of small colloids (< 0.2 μm) is common in ocean waters and leads to agglomerates that are several microns in size. These aggregates are the most abundant macroparticles (1.0 μm) in mid-depth and deep waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, with concentrations in the order of 105 colloid aggregates ml−1. The fractal structures of these aggregates are characteristic of both reaction-limited and diffusion-limited processes, indicating that colloidal dynamics vary widely in seawater. Aggregation can greatly enhance the involvement of marine colloidal matter in biological and sedimentation processes.
DNA damage regulates Chk2 association with chromatin.

DNA damage triggers cellular signaling pathways that control the cell cycle and DNA repair. Chk2 is a critical mediator of diverse responses to DNA damage. Chk2 transmits signals from upstream phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase-like kinases to effector substrates including p53, Brca1, Cdc25A, and Cdc25C. Using chromatin fractionation as well as immunostaining combined with detergent pre-extraction, we have found that a small pool of Chk2 is associated with chromatin prior to DNA damage. Recovery of chromatin-bound Chk2 is reduced in an ATM-dependent manner by exposure to ionizing radiation. Camptothecin and adriamycin also reduce the amount of chromatin-associated Chk2. The Thr68-phosphorylated forms of Chk2 induced by DNA damage are found in soluble fractions, but not in the chromatin-enriched fraction. Functional serine/threonine glutamine cluster domain, forkhead-associated domain, and kinase activity are all required for efficient reduction of chromatin-bound Chk2 in response to DNA damage. Artificial induction of Chk2 oligomerization concomitant with exposure to low dose ionizing radiation reduces chromatin-bound Chk2. When Chk2 is incubated with chromatin-enriched fractions in vitro in the presence of ATP, hyperphosphorylated forms of Chk2 bind more weakly to chromatin than hypophosphorylated forms. Taken together, our data suggest that DNA damage induces activation of chromatin-bound Chk2 by a chromatin-derived signal, and that this results in dissociation of activated Chk2 from chromatin, facilitating further signal amplification and transmission to soluble substrates.
The extracellular matrix as a modulator of the inflammatory and reparative response following myocardial infarction

The dynamic alterations in the cardiac extracellular matrix following myocardial infarction not only determine the mechanical properties of the infarcted heart, but also directly modulate the inflammatory and reparative response. During the inflammatory phase of healing, rapid activation of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP) causes degradation of the cardiac extracellular matrix. Matrix fragments exert potent pro-inflammatory actions, while MMPs process cytokines and chemokines altering their biological activity. In addition, vascular hyperpermeability results in extravasation of fibronectin and fibrinogen leading to formation of a plasma-derived provisional matrix that serves as a scaffold for leukocyte infiltration. Clearance of the infarct from dead cells and matrix debris is essential for resolution of inflammation and marks the transition to the proliferative phase. The fibrin-based provisional matrix is lysed and cellular fibronectin is secreted. ED-A fibronectin, mechanical tension and Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-beta are essential for modulation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, the main collagen-secreting cells in the wound. The matricellular proteins thrombospondin-1 and -2, osteopontin, tenascin-C, periostin, and secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) are induced in the infarct regulating cellular interactions and promoting matrix organization. As the infarct matures, matrix cross-linking results in formation of a dense collagen-based scar. At this stage, shielding of fibroblasts from external mechanical tension by the mature matrix network may promote deactivation and cellular quiescence. The components of the extracellular matrix do not passively follow the pathologic alterations of the infarcted heart but critically modulate inflammatory and reparative pathways by transducing signals that affect cell survival, phenotype and gene expression.
Left ventricular mass in children and adolescents with elevated body mass index and normal waist circumference.

Children and adolescents with elevated body mass index (BMI) who have normal waist circumference (NWC) have a cardiometabolic risk profile similar to normal children. However, there is a lack of adequate information regarding their left ventricular mass (LVM). The present study was undertaken to evaluate LVM in children with elevated BMI with NWC. LVM was assessed by echocardiography in 247 children (age 2 to 19 years) without evidence of heart disease. Data on those who had elevated BMI with NWC (group 1, n = 80) were compared with matched normal controls with normal BMI who had NWC (group 2, n = 80) and children with elevated BMI with increased waist circumference (IWC; group 3, n = 87). Correlations, t tests, and linear regressions were used for statistical testing. LVM in children with elevated BMI with NWC was not significantly different from normal controls (97.6 ± 44.4 vs 100.7 ± 47.9 g, p = 0.6713, respectively); however, it was significantly less than that in subjects with elevated BMI who also had IWC (97.6 ± 44.4 vs 114.5 ± 47.8 g, p = 0.0193, respectively). Similar to normal controls, those subjects with elevated BMI with NWC had a stronger correlation between LVM and lean body mass (R 2 = 0.86 and 0.86, respectively) than subjects with elevated BMI with IWC (R 2 = 0.75). In conclusion, children with elevated BMI with NWC appear to have a similar LVM profile as children with normal BMI with NWC. The present study emphasizes the importance of measuring waist circumference in children with elevated BMI.
Endocarditis due to Streptomycin-Susceptible Enterococcus faecalis With High-Level Gentamicin Resistance

• A case of community-acquired endocarditis caused byEnterococcus (Streptococcus) faecaliswith high-level resistance to gentamicin sulfate but not to streptomycin sulfate is described. Killing curves performed using achievable serum levels showed synergistic killing when streptomycin but not gentamicin, tobramycin, or amikacin was combined with penicillin G sodium or vancomycin hydrochloride. Combination therapy with vancomycin and streptomycin resulted in cure. Serum bactericidal levels indicated activity of the synergistic, as well as a nonsynergistic (vancomycin plus gentamicin), combination. Routine screening of blood isolates for high-level resistance to streptomycin and gentamicin can provide guidance for selection of therapeutic combinations in serious enterococcal infections, including endocarditis. (Arch Intern Med. 1989;149:1873-1875)
Improvement of an algorithm for recognition of liveness using perspiration in fingerprint devices

Previous work in our laboratory and others have demonstrated that spoof fingers made of a variety of materials including silicon, Play-Doh, clay, and gelatin (gummy finger) can be scanned and verified when compared to a live enrolled finger. Liveness, i.e. to determine whether the introduced biometric is coming from a live source, has been suggested as a means to circumvent attacks using spoof fingers. We developed a new liveness method based on perspiration changes in the fingerprint image. Recent results showed approximately 90% classification rate using different classification methods for various technologies including optical, electro-optical, and capacitive DC, a shorter time window and a diverse dataset. This paper focuses on improvement of the live classification rate by using a weight decay method during the training phase in order to improve the generalization and reduce the variance of the neural network based classifier. The dataset included fingerprint images from 33 live subjects, 33 spoofs created with dental impression material and Play-Doh, and fourteen cadaver fingers. 100% live classification was achieved with 81.8 to 100% spoof classification, depending on the device technology. The weight-decay method improves upon past reports by increasing the live and spoof classification rate.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Static and dynamic magnetic response of the mixed-valence state: Cerium-based alloys

For the first time crystal-field excitations are observed in the inelastic-neutron-scattering spectra of a mixed-valence system, viz., ${\mathrm{Ce}}_{0.9\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{La}}_{x}{\mathrm{Th}}_{0.1}$. Scaling relationships are established which connect various energy-related quantities, such as the $T=0$ Fermiliquid susceptibility, the valence transition temperature, and the spin-fluctuation energy as measured by the neutron scattering linewidths.
Intestinal maturation: in vivo zinc transport.

Summary: We investigated with an in vivo single pass perfusion technique net absorption and the lumen to mucosa flux of zinc in the proximal and distal small intestine and in the colon segments of suckling (2-wk-old), weanling (3-wk-old) and adolescent (6-wk-old) rats. The concentration of zinc in the isotonic sodium chloride solution perfused through the intestinal segments was either below (10 μM) or above (25, 50, and 100 μM) serum zinc level. In suckling rats, the relationship between luminal zinc concentration and net absorption and lumen to mucosa flux was curvilinear in the proximal segment only; however, the relationship was linear in the distal small intestine and colon. In weanling rats, the relationship between luminal zinc concentration and net absorption and lumen to mucosa flux was curvilinear in the proximal and distal small intestinal segments and linear in the colon segments. In the adolescent rats, the relationship between luminal zinc concentration, net absorption and lumen to mucosa flux was curvilinear in all intestinal segments studied. The curvilinear relationships noted fits a Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Analysis of the kinetic data indicate a progressive rise in mean Km values with age in the proximal segments of all age groups. Similarly, there was a rise in mean Km values in the distal segments of the weanling and adolescent rats. These findings suggest that intestinal zinc transport is characterized by a maturational pattern which evolves with age.
An ultrasensitive radioassay for hexokinase.

Abstract A batch chromatographic method for the determination of hexokinase employing trace-labelled glucose and resin chromatography is described. Markedly enhanced sensitivity compared with the standard spectrophotometric assay is shown. Its greater reliability and use for particulate-tissue preparations is discussed.
Caspase-mediated apoptosis in the vertebrate ovary

In the vertebrate ovary, apoptosis is the process by which excess or non-viable germ and granulosa cells are eliminated early in ontogeny (often beginning before birth), and thereafter continuously throughout reproductive life. Accordingly, an excessively high rate or abnormal triggering of such cell death (and, by implication, follicle atresia) can negatively affect fertility. Programmed cell death involves the integration of many pathways and intracellular proteins, and central among these at almost every stage are members of the caspase family. Relatively little attention has been focused upon the ovary with regards to elucidating initiator and effector members of the caspase family, and pathways by which they are activated and inactivated. The present review briefly describes vertebrate caspases and the regulation of their function in non-ovarian tissues. Subsequently, the status of caspase expression and function in orchestrating apoptotic cell death in ovarian germ and follicle somatic cells is considered. The most compelling results implicating specific caspases in ovarian function have been derived from mouse single and double knockout model systems. The final outcome of continued studies, in addition to providing information regarding understanding and management of infertility, will influence the development of strategies to treat ovarian cancers and ameliorate the adverse effects of their therapy (for example, chemotherapy).
Dilepton and photon production in the "hot-glue" scenario.

Perturbative analysis of parton kinetics for high energy nuclear collisions shows that thermal equilibration of gluons happens very fast, while quark production is much slower. A simple ``minimal model'' is proposed which includes only incoming quarks and antiquarks. We have found that a smaller quark number is more than compensated by the fact, that they are imbedded into the hotter glue. Predicted yield of dileptons and photons in the interesting kinematic region are larger than considered before, and are quite observable at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and the CERN Large Hadron Collider.
Snap-Back: A Stable Regenerative Breakdown Mode of MOS Devices

N-channel MOS transistors used in nMOS and in CMOS microelectronic circuits have a drain-to-source breakdown characteristic showing a negative resistance region. Activating this mode of operation leads to a drop in source-to-drain voltage and to a large drain current. Snap-back is not a four-layer (SCR, latch-up) phenomenon, but, like latch-up, can be initiated by current injection into the p-well, by avalanching junctions or by exposure to ionizing radiation. The sustaining voltage can be significantly below the drain-substrate avalanche voltage thereby limiting the maximum operating voltage. In this paper we present a qualitative model for snapback--local conductivity modulation occurring in the intrinsic base region of the parasitic bipolar transistor leading to regenerative feedback. Effects of process variations on the snap-back characteristics are presented as are triggering sensitivities to ionizing radiation.
Comparing apples with apples: how different are recent residential development patterns in Portland and Charlotte?

This paper compares Portland in Oregon and Charlotte in North Carolina to determine if recent residential development patterns in each area are as different as their existing policy framework and regulations might suggest. Using spatial data sets from local sources, we first perform a cluster analysis to develop a typology of census block groups based on built‐environment characteristics. This derived typology is coupled with data on single‐family residential construction for both study areas to assess the degree of similarity. We find that Portland and Charlotte present very different residential development outcomes in recent years. More specifically, single‐family residential development has occurred most frequently in the inner‐ and middle‐ring suburbs in Portland and most heavily in the urban fringe areas in Charlotte. Potential explanations of the observed difference are offered.
The multidimensional filter diagonalization method.

Abstract The theory and numerical aspects of the recently developed multidimensional version of the filter diagonalization method (FDM) are described in detail. FDM can construct various “ersatz” or “hybrid” spectra from multidimensional time signals. Spectral resolution is not limited by the time-frequency uncertainty principle in each separate frequency dimension, but rather by the total joint information content of the signal, i.e., N total = N 1 × N 2 × ⋮ × N D , where some of the interferometric dimensions do not have to be represented by more than a few (e.g., two) time increments. It is shown that FDM can be used to compute various reduced-dimensionality projections of a high-dimensional spectrum directly, i.e., avoiding construction of the latter. A subsequent paper ( J. Magn. Reson. 144, 357–366 (2000)) is concerned with applications of the method to 2D, 3D, and 4D NMR experiments.
Vitamin B6-catalyzed reactions of α-amino- and α-amino-α-methyldiethylmalonate

Abstract The reactions of pyridoxal phosphate with α-amino- and α-amino-α-methyldiethylmalonate have been investigated at pH 6.25 (30°C, N 2 atmosphere). The data indicate that the parent α-amino compound is converted to glycine ethyl ester by a reaction sequence involving rate-limiting, B 6 -independent formation of the half-ester of α-aminomalonic acid, and then B 6 -dependent decarboxylation. The reaction of α-amino-α-methyldiethylmalonate with pyridoxal phosphate follows a similar pathway except that, in contrast to the parent compound, the vitamin enhances the rate of formation of the half-ester from the α-methyl derivative. Likely mechanisms for these reactions are discussed.
Learning From the Pros: Influence of Web‐Based Expert Commentary on Vicarious Learning About Financial Markets*

Web-based financial commentary, in which experts routinely express market-related thought processes, is proposed as a means for college students to learn vicariously about financial markets. Undergraduate business school students from a regional university were exposed to expert market commentary from a single financial Web site for a 6-week period. When compared to a control group, students in the experimental group were found to possess higher levels of financial market awareness. Degree of engagement, as approximated by measures of project exposure time and effort, was significantly related to market awareness. Finance majors were found to be more engaged in the process than nonfinance majors. Although this study should be considered exploratory in nature, findings support the notion of using Web-based vicarious learning processes in financial education. Future research can extend the generalizability of these findings, as well as shape vicarious learning mechanisms for use across business disciplines.
The loss of women from science, mathematics, and engineering undergraduate majors: An explanatory account

The reasons for the loss of high ability women from science, mathematics, and engineering undergraduate majors are not well understood. However, investigators have, consistently, found an early loss of confidence in their ability to “do science” among such women. In seeking to explain why the vulnerability of women to leaving science majors greatly exceeds that of men, the author draws upon the findings of a 3-year, ethnographic study of factors contributing to high undergraduate attrition rates among men and women of different ethnicities on seven campuses of different type. The explanatory focus is upon the consequences of a misfit between the learned expectations of women entering college mathematics and science classes, and those of faculty and male peers, about the purpose and nature of the undergraduate experience in these majors. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
MicroPET investigation of chronic long-term neurotoxicity from heavy ion irradiation.

Positron emission tomography (PET) permits imaging of the regional biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of compounds labeled with short-lived positron-emitting isotopes. It has enabled evaluation of neurochemical systems in the living human brain, including effects of toxic substances. MicroPET devices allos studies of the rat brain with a spatial resolution of ∼2 mm. This is much poorer resolution than obtained using ex vivo autoradiography. However, animals need not be euthanized before imaging, so repeat studies are possible. This in principle allows the effects of toxic insults to be followed over the lifetime of an individual animal. We used microPET to evaluate brain metabolic effects of irradiation with high-energy heavy ions (HZE radiation), a component of the space radiation environment, on regional glucose metabolism. A significant fraction of neurons would be traversed by these densely ionizing particles during a Mars mission, and there is a need to estimate human neurological risks of prolonged voyages beyond the geomagnetosphere. Rats were irradiated with56Fe (600 MeV/n) ions at doses up to 240 cGy. At 9 months post-irradiation we did not detect alterations in regional accumulation of the glucose analog [18F]2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose. This may indicate that damage to the brain from HZE particles is less severe than feared. However, because radiation-induced alterations in some behaviors have been documented, it may reflect insensitivity of baseline cerebral glucose metabolism to HZE radiation. These studies will facilitate design of future studies of chronic, long-term exposure to both therapeutic and abused drugs using microPET.
QoE-Optimal Scheduling for On-Demand Video Streams over Unreliable Wireless Networks

Video streaming is anticipated to dominate wireless traffic in the near future. We study wireless systems where an access point delivers video streams to multiple clients over unreliable wireless channels. The performance of each client is measured by the amount of time that its video playback halts due to buffer underflow, which has been shown to have the most impact on client's perceived quality of experience (QoE).We develop an analytical framework that jointly captures the video playback process and the unreliable and heterogeneous wireless channels. We derive the capacity region for QoE by establishing a lower bound of a weighted sum of video halt durations over all clients. We then propose a QoE-optimal policy that can achieve every point within the capacity region. Finally, we compare our policy against two commonly used policies. Both theoretical analysis and simulation results show that our policy greatly outperforms other policies.
Identification and management of hepatitis C patients in primary care clinics

OBJECTIVE: Previous survey-based research suggested that hepatitis C patients receive suboptimal care in primary care settings. The aim of our study was to define the actual level of care hepatitis C patients receive in primary care clinics. METHODS: Medical records of 229 hepatitis C antibodypositive (group 1), 229 hepatitis C antibody-negative (group 2), and 229 patients not tested for hepatitis C antibody (group 3) were reviewed to assess the indications for hepatitis C testing and the subsequent management and referral of hepatitis C antibody-positive patients diagnosed in primary care clinics. In addition, the compliance of primary care physicians with hepatitis C screening and testing guidelines was assessed. RESULTS: Only 16% of group 1 and 10% of group 2 patients were tested for hepatitis C based on physician-identified risk factors. Only 1% of group 3 patients had documented discussion of hepatitis C risk factors during their initial visit with a primary care physician. The majority of hepatitis C antibody-positive patients was appropriately evaluated in primary care clinics, and most (77%) hepatitis C RNApositive patients with elevated liver enzymes were referred for subspecialty care. Of the 59 patients who underwent liver biopsy, 40% had bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis C testing is rarely initiated in primary care clinics based on physician-identified risk factors. Interventions should be developed to optimize early diagnosis of hepatitis C as significant liver disease may be present despite the absence of symptoms. (Am J Gastroenterol 2003;98:639 ‐ 644. © 2003 by Am. Coll. of Gastroenterology)
Analogous Functions of Macrophages and Langerhans Cells in the Initiation of the Immune Response

Langerhans cells constitute a minor cell population within the mammalian epidermis. This paper defines these cells immunologically and functionally and supports the concept that Langerhans cells are closely related to cells from the monocyte-macrophage-histiocyte series. Both cell types bear surface receptors for Fc-IgG and C3 and express surface glycoproteins, termed Ia antigens, encoded for by immune-response genes (Ir genes) of the major histocompatibility complex of the species. The expression of Ia antigens by Langerhans cells and macrophages is intimately associated with important functions of both cell types, including the capacity to present immunologically relevant antigen to the T lymphocyte and to cause proliferation to allogeneic T lymphocytes in mixed leukocyte reactions.
Bayesian clinical trials at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

Background The Bayesian approach is being used increasingly in medical research. In particular, it has become a standard in designing clinical trials at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.Purpose/Methods To address the extent and nature of Bayesian trials conducted at M. D. Anderson, we reviewed the protocols registered in the Protocol Document Online System between 2000 and early 2005. We summarize our findings and give details for three innovative trials that typify those in which a Bayesian approach has played a major role at the center.Results Of 964 protocols reviewed, 59% were conducted solely at M. D. Anderson and the rest were multicenter trials. Bayesian designs and analyses were used in about 20% (195/964) of the protocols that we reviewed. Of the 520 protocols identified as phase I or II drug trials, about 34% were Bayesian. Most of the 195 Bayesian trials were designed by M. D. Anderson statisticians. The Bayesian design features most commonly used were the continuous reasses...
Inositol Diphosphate Signaling Regulates Telomere Length

Activation of phospholipase C-dependent inositol polyphosphate signaling pathways generates distinct messengers derived from inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate that control gene expression and mRNA export. Here we report the regulation of telomere length by production of a diphosphorylinositol tetrakisphosphate, PP-IP4, synthesized by the KCS1 gene product. Loss of PP-IP4 production results in lengthening of telomeres, whereas overproduction leads to their shortening. This effect requires the presence of Tel1, the yeast homologue of ATM, the protein mutated in the human disease ataxia telangiectasia. Our data provide in vivo evidence of a regulatory link between inositol polyphosphate signaling and the checkpoint kinase family and describe a third nuclear process modulated by phospholipase C activation.
CryoEM skeleton length estimation using a decimated curve

Cryo-electron Microscopy (cryoEM) is an important biophysical technique that produces 3-dimensional (3D) images at different resolutions. De novo modeling is becoming a promising approach to derive the atomic structure of proteins from the cryoEM 3D images at medium resolutions. Distance measurement along a thin skeleton in the 3D image is an important step in de novo modeling. In spite of the need of such measurement, little has been investigated about the accuracy of the measurement in searching for an effective method. We propose a new computational geometric approach to estimate the distance along the skeleton. Our preliminary test results show that the method was able to estimate fairly well in eleven cases.
Prostaglandin E2 production and viability of cells cultured in contact with freshly mixed endodontic materials

Aim To determine whether commonly used endodontic sealers could either induce or increase the release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) when in contact with cell types found in the periapical tissues. Methodology Freshly mixed samples of Roth 801 sealer, Sealapex® and ProRoot® mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) were placed in contact with cultured macrophages and fibroblasts for 24 h. The supernatant from the cultures was assayed for PGE2 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell viability counts were made. As a positive control, similar cultures were also exposed to lipopolysaccharide and the supernatant analysed for PGE2. Data were compared by anova. Results The three materials examined in these experiments did not stimulate increased PGE2 release from either of the cell lines. In control cultures, lipolysaccharide increased PGE2 release from macrophages but not from fibroblasts. Viability counts revealed that, whilst Roth 801 sealer caused some cell death in both fibroblasts and macrophages, Sealapex® led to cell death only in the macrophage cultures. ProRoot® MTA did not lead to statistically significant cell death in either culture. Conclusions Under 24-h culture conditions, the three freshly mixed test materials did not increase directly either production or release of PGE2 from either macrophages or gingival fibroblasts. Roth 801 decreased cell viability counts for both fibroblasts and macrophages. Sealapex® decreases macrophage viability. ProRoot® MTA did not affect viability in either cell line.
Synthesis of thiol-derivatized initiators for nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization: Reversible disulfide formation

New N-alkoxyamine initiators were synthesized containing the highly versatile thiol group. A tert-butyldimethylsilyl protected monodirectional initiator was synthesized as well as a disulfide linked bidirectional initiator. Both initiators were used in nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization with styrene; additionally, the disulfide bidirectional initiator was used to polymerize dimethylacrylamide. Polymer chains bearing a terminal silyl protected thiol were deprotected and oxidized, resulting in polymers with double the molecular weight. Alternately, polymers grown from the bidirectional initiator bearing a central disulfide linkage were reductively cleaved, resulting in a halving of molecular weight. The manipulation of the thiol group and the reversible disulfide linkage at the polymer terminus offers potential for applications in nanotechnology.
Influences of the limbic system on hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system.

Abstract (1) Effects of stimulations of various limbic structures (the olfactory bulb, olfactory tubercle, prepyriform cortex, endopyriform nucleus and various parts of amygdaloid nuclei) on the neurosecretory neurons in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of the hypothalamus were studied. All regions stimulated received strong inputs from the olfactory bulb. (2) Out of 195 ‘identified’ neurosecretory neurons tested one-half or more (49–74%, depending on the structures stimulated) were inhibited by stimuli consisting of 1–3 short pulses. The inhibition occurred immediately after the stimulus in approximately one-fifth of all inhibited neurons, in the remaining four-fifths inhibition occurred after more than 20 ms latency. Inhibition of neurosecretory neuron activity lasted for several hundred milliseconds, often followed by clear post-inhibitory excitation or rebound. (3) In 23 neurons, a distinct ‘evoked’ response of brief duration occurred with a 30 ms latency following stimulation of the lateral and medial amygdala, olfactory tubercle and prepyriform cortex. In another 17 neurons, a general increase in background activity with a longer latency (50–100 ms) occurred following stimulation of nearly all amygdaloid nuclei, olfactory tubercle and the pyriform cortex: lateral amygdala stimulation caused an excitation of the largest proportion of neurosecretory cells (30%) while none was excited by stimulation of the olfactory bulb and endopyriform cortex, except those occurring as post-inhibitory excitation. (4) There was a convergence of afferent impulses on single neurosecretory cells. A large proportion (42%) of the neurons received inputs from 2 to 4 limbic regions. (5) Neurosecretory cells which were influenced by limbic stimuli were also inhibited by baroreceptor activation and excited by osmotic stimulation. ‘Unidentified’ neurons within SON and PVN and ‘atypical neurosecretory cells’ (those responding to pituitary stalk stimulation with varying latencies) were also affected by the forebrain stimulation; some of these were also affected by an osmotic stimulus. A part of this group may send their axons to the median eminence.
An Assessment of the Role of Latin America in the Core International Business Literature (2001-2010)

ABSTRACT This article contributes to the international business literature by exploring the role of Latin America within the core international business scholarship. As to the role of Latin America in international business scholarship, we find that Latin America is generally represented as a geographic study area; additionally, we find that Latin America-based authors are disproportionately absent from the core international business journals. We offer several recommendations to better position research on Latin America as well as research by Latin Americans and Latin America-based authors.
Predicting Music Theory Grades: The Relative Efficiency of Academic Ability, Music Experience, and Musical Aptitude

Multiple regression techniques were used to analyze the relative contributions of academic ability, music experience, and musical aptitude in predicting grades in first- and second-semester freshma...
Applying nonsense-mediated mRNA decay research to the clinic: progress and challenges

Premature termination codons (PTCs) are equivalent to nonsense sequences. They encode no amino acid, and their presence precludes the synthesis of full-length proteins. Furthermore, the resulting truncated proteins, if synthesized and stable, are likely to be non-functional or might even be deleterious to cellular metabolism. Approximately one third of genetic and acquired diseases are due to PTCs. In fact, PTCs are apt to cause at least some cases of all diseases that involve protein insufficiency. Cells have evolved a way to eliminate mRNAs that contain PTCs using a mechanism called nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). Here, we will review how to determine which PTCs elicit NMD, what is currently known about the mechanism of NMD, and additional information that is pertinent to establishing therapies for PTC-associated diseases.
Chemistry of graphite intercalation by nitric acid

Abstract Gas-phase intercalation of graphite by nitric acid is accompanied by evolution of a brown gas which has been identified as nitrogen dioxide by chemiluminescence measurements. The reaction is inhibited by the presence of oxygen or water vapor, but not by nitrogen. These results, and the existence of induction times of 5–20 min before intercalation begins, is interpreted as evidence that intercalation is effected by oxidation of graphite by adsorbed nitronium ions with the release of NO 2 . The graphite lattice then intercalates NO 3 − ions along with neutral HNO 3 molecules.