cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intermediate-term comparison of trabeculectomy with intraoperative mitomycin-C between Asian American and Caucasian glaucoma patients: a case-controlled comparison.

Compare the efficacy and survival of trabeculectomy with intraoperative mitomycin-C (MMC) between Asian American and Caucasian patients in the same clinical setting. In total, 29 Asian American patients (29 eyes) with trabeculectomies were matched case to case with 29 Caucasian patients (29 eyes) retrospectively. Matching criteria included age, glaucoma subtype, and preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), gender, surgeon, ocular history, and glaucoma medications. Criteria of success included: (1) Final IOP >5 and <22 mmHg, (2) IOP reduction ≥20%, or final IOP ≤10 mmHg, and (3) without additional glaucoma surgery, loss of light perception, or complication. Mean follow-up durations of Asian American and Caucasian group were 40.11±22.5 months and 38.8±17.7 months, respectively (P=0.81). At the final visits, IOP decreased from 18.7±6.1 to 10.9±4.0 mmHg (P<0.0001) in the Asian American group, and from 19.0±5.5 to 11.0±3.8 mmHg (P<0.0001) in the Caucasian group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in IOP levels at 6 months, 1 year, and final visits. The probabilities of trabeculectomy survival (continuing to meet definition of success criteria) at 12 and 48 months were 75.9 and 56.6% in the Asian American group and 82.8 and 66.6% in the Caucasian group, respectively. (P=0.46) There were no significant differences for rates of surgical success, failure, complication, vision decrease, hypotony, and cataract development. Patients who had episodes of hypotony had a higher rate of diagnosis of low-tension glaucoma subtype (P=0.02). In a case-controlled comparison of an intermediate-term follow-up of trabeculectomy with intraoperative MMC, Asian American patients have a similar efficacy and survival probability as Caucasian patients.
Grain-scale strain mapping for analysis of slip activity in polycrystalline B2 RuAl

Strain development in a single phase polycrystalline B2 RuAl alloy has been studied at the local microstructural scale via a high-resolution surface displacement mapping technique. Significant heterogeneity of straining is observed within individual grains and among neighbouring grains. Strains accumulated in a self-similar manner at the grain scale during stepped loading experiments. Schmid factors for the possible slip systems were calculated using grain orientation data collected by electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD). Considering the two major active slip systems identified in RuAl, i.e. 〈 100 〉{110} and 〈 110〉{110}, activity on the 〈 110〉{110} slip system dominated the local straining behaviour within the grains investigated. Complementary TEM dislocation analyses were performed by removing foils from targeted representative grains using a focused ion beam (FIB) system. A higher density of 〈 110〉 dislocations compared to 〈 100 〉 dislocations were observed in the most heavily strained grain.
Merging Relationship Education and Child Abuse Prevention Knowledge: An Evaluation of Effectiveness with Adolescents

Using a quasi-experimental design with sample of 623 high school students, we examined the effectiveness of combining information about child abuse prevention with relationship education, on several outcomes. Findings suggest that adolescents who participated in the classes showed significant increases in their knowledge and understanding of healthy relationships, including more realistic beliefs and attitudes about romance and mate selection, decisions about sex, and decreases in their use of verbal aggression in dating relationships compared with control subjects. Participants also showed increases in their knowledge related to harsh caregiving, spanking, and sudden infant death syndrome. Implications for educators, practitioners, and future programming are discussed.
Simple manual-to-electric conversions for wheelchairs

Two wheelchair modifications are described which allow manually-powered wheelchairs to be converted to electric drive.
A comprehensive approach to modeling, characterizing and optimizing for metastability in FPGAs

Metastability is a phenomenon that can cause system failures in digital circuits. It may occur whenever signals are being transmitted across asynchronous or unrelated clock domains. The impact of metastability is increasing as process geometries shrink and supply voltages drop faster than transistor Vts. FPGA technologies are significantly affected since leading edge FPGAs are amongst the first devices to adopt the most recent process nodes. In this paper, we present a comprehensive suite of techniques for modeling, characterizing and optimizing metastability effects in FPGAs. We first discuss a theoretical model of metastability, and verify the predictions using both circuit level simulations and board measurements. Next we show how designers have traditionally dealt with metastability problems and contrast that with the automatic CAD algorithms described in this paper that both analyze and optimize metastability-related issues. Through our detailed experimental results, we show that we can improve the metastability characteristics of a large suite of industrial benchmarks by an average of 268,000 times with our optimization techniques.
Extension of a Bootstrap Model of Inclusive Reactions

We extend the bootstrap model of inclusive reactions proposed by Finkelstein and Peccei and by Krzywicki and Petersson to include quantum numbers. In this extended model we obtain matrix integral equations for the inclusive distribution functions in terms of leading-particle distribution functions. The single-particle inclusive distributions in the central region are found, in the model, to be independent of the process. Furthermore, if the target (projectile) leading-particle distributions are independent of the projectile (target), then all inclusive distributions in the target (projectile) fragmentation region are independent of the projectile (target), and multiparticle inclusive distributions exhibit factorization properties among particles traveling in opposite directions. An example involving the scattering of mesons and baryons is discussed.
A Morphological Basis for Assessing the Phylogeny of the “Tenrecoidea” (Mammalia, Lipotyphla)

A phylogenetic analysis of 35 mammalian taxa focusing on the lipotyphlan family Tenrecidae, based on 193 morphological character states across 71 characters, is undertaken to test several hypotheses of lipotyphlan relationships, including monophyly of the Lipotyphla, Tenrecidae, Malagasy Tenrecidae, and Caribbean Lipotyphla. Explicit tests of these hypotheses are central to understanding larger issues concerning Malagasy and Caribbean biogeography, in addition to mammalian phylogeny. Methodologically, several different parameters are created with which to determine the sensitivity of resulting clades to initial assumptions about a posteriori character weighting, missing data, and multistate character ordering. Clades produced by this data set that appear despite perturbations in these parameters and that are supported by other confidence-assessment techniques contradict Malagasy tenrecid monophyly and the association of soricids with the Caribbean taxon Solenodon. Results regarding tenrecid and lipotyphlan monophyly are more ambiguous and depend on certain assumptions regarding treatment of character ordering, weighting, and missing data. An alternative phylogeny supporting an African mammal clade receives no support from the data set discussed herein.
HIV: facts, fiction, and the impact on behavior of students at an Historically Black College/University

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge of HIV/AIDS among students at an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to examine differences in knowledge of HIV/AIDS among undergraduates by gender, and to examine the relationship between knowledge of HIV/AIDS and related behavior. This was a cross-sectional survey-based study. Participants were drawn from a convenience sample of students who were enrolled in health classes at a Southeastern HBCU. Participants were 375 predominately African American students who were enrolled in health classes at a Southeastern HBCU. A questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge and behaviors regarding HIV/AIDS. The results confirmed that there were significant differences in knowledge about HIV/AIDS between males and females in the sample, and significant relationships between knowledge and behavior. We concluded that HIV/AIDS education programs may need to focus on understanding implication of risky behavior. They also need to be more culturally appr...
Demographic Discontinuity: Another Explanation for Consumerism?

The authors argue that the modern consumer movement was partially the result of profound and unique changes in the demographic structure of the United States. They suggest that the consumer movement became particularly effective because it occurred after a period of rapid population growth and that this increase contributed not only to the spread of consumerism but also to the social discontent of the 1960s and 1970s. (ANNOTATION)
Sexual Strategies Theory: Built for the Short Term or the Long Term?

The evolutionary paradigm has provided psychology with a different perspective on human behavior, and with beneficial results. Sexual Strategies Theory (SST; Buss and Schmitt 1993) has been the primary evolutionary theory for studying human sexual behavior. A review of some SST-related research suggests that some of the paradigm’s anticipated female-male differences are supported. However, closer examination of this research also reveals substantial female-male similarities in sexual behavior, inconsistent or unclear definitions of several important SST concepts, and the functional omission of several important topics from the SST research agenda. Further, male-female differences in sexuality may be driven by a subset of males. Directions for future research are suggested, including greater attention to individual and contextual factors.
Co-morbid health conditions at mid-life in the Iowa adoptees.

Adverse health effects due to alcohol and illicit drug abuse and dependence have been well documented. This study examines the effect of substance misuse on five major groups of health conditions using a sample of well characterized adoptees. The sample consisted of 742 adoptees interviewed in the last wave of the Iowa Adoption Studies. Death rate analyses included an additional 34 participants who had died prior to the last follow-up. Substance use patterns and medical history were assessed using the SSAGA-II (Bucholz, K. K., Cadoret, R. J., Cloninger, C. R., Dinwiddie, S. H., Hesselbrock, V. M., Nurnberger, J. L., Jr., et al. (1994). A new, semi-structured psychiatric interview for use in genetic linkage studies: a report on the reliability of the SSAGA. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 55 (2), 149–158). Subjects were divided into three groups according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, controls, alcohol abuse or dependence only (alcohol only), and the Alcohol–Drug group (abuse or dependence diagnosis on at least one illicit substance with or without alcohol diagnosis). Incidence rates of various diseases were measured using logistic regression. Survival analyses were used to examine whether substance abusers developed cardiovascular or metabolic disease at an earlier age than control subjects. Diagnostic grouping made no difference in the incidence rates or age of onset of health conditions. The amount of alcohol consumed by males significantly predicted higher number of overall health complaints as well as higher incidence rates of cardiovascular disease. The amount of illicit drug exposure did not predict an earlier age of diagnosis for cardiovascular or metabolic disease. Individuals in the Alcohol–Drug group had an increased incidence of deaths than either the alconly or the control groups.
Single-particle tracking: connecting the dots.

Algorithms for analyzing single-particle tracking images to obtain the paths of individual particles are challenged by high-density data. Improvements in algorithms help to overcome these limitations.
On the decomposition of the tensor algebra of the classical Lie algebras

Abstract Let g n be the Lie algebra gln(C), let S( g n) be the symmetric algebra of g n, and let T( g n) be the tensor algebra of g n. In a recent paper, R. K. Gupta studied certain sequences of representations R∞ = (Rn)∞n = 1, where Rn is a representation of g n. These sequences have the property that every irreducible representation occurring in S( g n) is in exactly one of these sequences. Fixing f, she considers s(R∞, f) which is the limit on n of the multiplicity of Rn in Sf( g n), the fth-graded piece of S( g n). She and R. P. Stanley independently showed that the limit s(R∞, f) exists and is given by an amazingly elegant formula. They call s(R∞, f) the stable multiplicity of Rn in Sf( g n). In this paper, an entirely different approach is used to extend the above result in several directions. Appropriately defined sequences R∞ for all of the classical Lie algebras g n are studied, and a simple formula for the stable multiplicity m(R)∞, ψ, f, g ∞) of Rn in the ψ-isotypic component of Tf( g n), where ψ is any irreducible character of the symmetric group tSf, is obtained. As in the work of Gupta and Stanley, the expressions for m(R)∞, ψ, f, g ∞) are amazingly simple. Special cases include the stable decomposition of the tensor algebra, the symmetric algebra and the exterior algebra of g n. As a byproduct of our proof, a “stable” decomposition of every isotypic component of T( g n) is obtained. This combinatorial decomposition is in some sense a generalization of Kostant's decomposition of S( g n) into direct sum of the harmonics and the ideal generated by the invariants of positive degree. To be precise, for f g n) projects onto Kostant's decomposition of Sf( g n).
Production of predominantly semiconducting double-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract The effects of growth conditions, such as methane flow rates and type of substrate on the distribution, structure and properties of nanotubes were examined. A scanning electron microscope equipped with a Raman spectrometer enabled us to obtain critical information about the structure and electrical properties of the nanotubes simultaneously, and it was shown that these were highly dependent on the methane flow rate. At a methane flow rate of 600 cc/min, we primarily obtained double-walled carbon nanotubes having predominantly semiconducting properties. At a higher methane flow rate (700 cc/min), a mixture of single-walled and double-walled carbon nanotubes was created, most of which were semiconducting. At low methane flow rates (300 and 500 cc/min), metallic multi-walled carbon nanotubes were predominated. Carbon nanotubes grown on a quartz substrate were between 4–10 μm in length, whereas those grown on silicon were longer (∼15–20 μm). The primary growth mechanism observed was base growth, although some cap growth did occur. Based on the results of this study, it is now possible to carefully control the synthesis conditions to produce carbon nanotubes that possess specific electrical properties that suit the desired application.
TU-E-201C-01: Ultrasound Elasticity Evaluation of Vocal Cord Function

Purpose: Treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancer often injures the vocal cords affecting the patient's speech and quality of life. Current clinical speech evaluations are hampered by their subjectivity. The purpose of this study is to develop a quantitative ultrasound technique to accurately capture vocal cord function. Method and Materials: We adapted an elastography technique to measure the stiffness of the vocal cord. Changes in vocal cord stiffness correlate with pathological phenomena and are indicators of vocal cord injury. For this initial investigation, 12 healthy volunteers were scanned using a clinical ultrasoundscanner with a 14 MHz linear array transducer. Each volunteer was asked to pronounce four vowels: “e,” “o,” “i,” and “a.” 120 consecutive frames of radio‐frequency data were acquired in 5‐second intervals while the volunteers pronounced each vowel. A 4 mm (110 sample points) by 6 mm (40 lines) region of interest of the true fords was analyzed. The displacement of two consecutive frames was computed with the multilevel hybrid 2D cross‐correlation algorithm. The strain (stiffness) was obtained by slope estimation of the displacement using a least‐square calculation. The accumulated displacement and strain were integrated over time and compensated using boundary conditions assuming the vocal cord should return to its initial position. To ensure reproducibility measurements were repeated 2 to 6 times. Results: Each vowel exhibited a distinctive displacement and strain curve; however, particular vowel curves are similar across volunteers. The displacement ranged 1–2 cm and strain value amplitude was 0.18–0.25. The displacement and strain curves from the same volunteer are reproducible. The curves produced by pronouncing “a” were the most consistent. Conclusions: The displacement and strain curves provide measures of the vocal cord stiffness and may be used to identify early vocal cord injury for oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients.
Hybrid amplitude/phase/polarization coded modulation for 100 Gb/s optical transmission and beyond

In this paper, we propose a novel hybrid amplitude/phase/polarization (HAPP) LDPC-coded-modulation-scheme suitable to achieve 100 Gb/s optical transmission rate and beyond with coding gain of 7 dB and above. The proposed scheme introduces up to 3 dB performance improvement over the corresponding QAM scheme at BER of 10−6.
Genetic differences in coupling of benzodiazepine receptors to chloride channels.

Abstract The affinity and density of [ 3 H]flunitrazepam binding sites and the ability of flunitrazepam to augment GABA-activated chloride flux were determined using membrane vesicles prepared from cortex of long-sleep (LS, alcohol-sensitive), short-sleep (SS, alcohol-resistant) and individual heterogeneous stock (HS) mice. LS membranes were more sensitive than SS membranes to the effects of flunitrazepam (and ethanol) on chloride flux but did not differ in the binding of [ 3 H]flunitrazepam. Likewise, individual HS mice displayed marked differences in enhancement of chloride flux by flunitrazepam, but little difference in binding of flunitrazepam. These results suggest that there is little genetic variation in the binding of benzodiazepines to receptors, but there is a marked diversity in the coupling of these receptors to chloride channels. This implies the existence of ‘spare receptors’ in LS and most HS mice, but not in SS mice. These findings also suggest that genetic differences in alcohol sensitivity in vivo may be related to coupling of benzodiazepine binding to chloride channel function.
Introduction to men's mental health

Abstract Psychiatry has advanced enormously in the last 100 years, but so has its complexity, which can prove daunting to primary care physicians and even to psychiatrists. Longitudinal studies have frequently adopted narrow, simplistic, or reductionistic and impressionistic approaches that serve to harm rather then help men. Modern physicians and providers need to be sophisticated, scientific, and broad based in their approaches. The practitioner who wants to understand the intricate problems of men's mental health must be dedicated to gaining knowledge and accumulating clinical experience and wisdom over a lengthy time. Men must be given the time, study and respect they need to function in an ever more complicated world and environment. There is much to be done and many rivers to cross: psychoses in men, mood disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and its terrible sequellae if left untreated, anxiety disorders that affect the performance and happiness of men, the role of childhood trauma and neglect on the subsequent resiliency and mental health, how men are mistreated in the criminal justice systems, a host of antagonisms and prejudice towards men which deeply affects their self esteem, chronic substance abuse and the issues of self-medication for psychic anguish and the relation to violent behaviors, the workplace and its stresses and inconsistencies, unemployment and its effects on men, the effect of divorce on men and their subsequent enforced isolation from their children, and many others.
Neuronal basis of age-related working memory decline

Many of the cognitive deficits of normal ageing (forgetfulness, distractibility, inflexibility and impaired executive functions) involve prefrontal cortex (PFC) dysfunction. The PFC guides behaviour and thought using working memory, which are essential functions in the information age. Many PFC neurons hold information in working memory through excitatory networks that can maintain persistent neuronal firing in the absence of external stimulation. This fragile process is highly dependent on the neurochemical environment. For example, elevated cyclic-AMP signalling reduces persistent firing by opening HCN and KCNQ potassium channels. It is not known if molecular changes associated with normal ageing alter the physiological properties of PFC neurons during working memory, as there have been no in vivo recordings, to our knowledge, from PFC neurons of aged monkeys. Here we characterize the first recordings of this kind, revealing a marked loss of PFC persistent firing with advancing age that can be rescued by restoring an optimal neurochemical environment. Recordings showed an age-related decline in the firing rate of DELAY neurons, whereas the firing of CUE neurons remained unchanged with age. The memory-related firing of aged DELAY neurons was partially restored to more youthful levels by inhibiting cAMP signalling, or by blocking HCN or KCNQ channels. These findings reveal the cellular basis of age-related cognitive decline in dorsolateral PFC, and demonstrate that physiological integrity can be rescued by addressing the molecular needs of PFC circuits.
Underwater target classification using canonical correlations

A feature extraction method for underwater target classification is developed that exploits the linear dependence (coherence) between two sonar returns. A canonical coordinate decomposition is applied to resolve two consecutive acoustic backscattered signals into their dominant canonical coordinates. The corresponding canonical correlations are selected as features for classifying mine-like from non-mine-like objects. Test results are based on a subset of a wideband data set that has been collected at the Applied Research Lab (ARL), University of Texas (UT)-Austin. This subset includes returns from different mine-like and non-mine-like objects at several aspect angles in two different bottom conditions. The test results demonstrate the potential of the canonical correlation-based feature extraction for underwater target classification in difficult bottom conditions.
Dislocation Dissociation in the Σ13 Grain Boundary in Silicon

Transmission electron microscopy has been used to study the atomic and dislocation structure of deformed and undeformed Σ13 {510} boundary in Si. It is shown that there are several alternative structures for this boundary, which may be separated by imperfect and partial grain boundary dislocations. It is also shown that the dissociation of crystal lattice dislocations which interact with the boundary during deformation results is far more complicated than simple geometrical models applicable in monatomic materials predicts.
High order finite volume approximations of differential operators on nonuniform grids

Abstract When computing numerical solutions to partial differential equations, difference operators that mimic the crucial properties of the differential operators are usually more accurate than those that do not. Properties such as symmetry, conservation, stability, and the duality relationships and identities between the gradient, curl, and divergence operators are all important. Using the finite volume method, we have derived local, accurate, reliable and efficient difference methods t divergence, gradient, and curl operators are defined using a discrete versions of the divergence theorem and Stokes' theorem. These methods are especially powerful on coarse nonuniform grids and in calculations where the mesh moves to track interfaces or shocks. Numerical examples comparing local second and fourth-order finite volume approximations to conservation laws on very rough grids are used to demonstrate the advantages of the higher order methods.
Validity of teacher nominations of child behavior problems.

The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of teachers' identification of problem children. Ninety-five third-grade children served as subjects. Teachers nominated children as a conduct problem, withdrawal problem, or normal, resulting in 16, 14, and 65 children being assigned to the three groups. Behavioral observations, peer sociometric ratings, and academic achievement scores were collected. The results indicated that conduct problem children differed from normal children on behavioral, sociometric, and academic measures, whereas withdrawn children differed from normals on the latter two measures. Conduct problem and withdrawal problem children did not differ on any of the dependent measures. The results suggest that teachers can identify children who are having difficulties in class but may be less accurate in differentiating between different types of problem children.
Heat shock attenuates oxidation and accelerates apoptosis in human neutrophils.

Abstract Background. The heat shock response entails the increased expression of heat shock proteins (hsp) which are capable of protecting cells from subsequent metabolic insults. Here we are interested in determining whether activation of the heat shock response might affect polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function and/or longevity. Methods. Freshly isolated human PMN were either left at 37°C or subjected to a 43°C heat shock treatment (60 min) and subsequently returned to 37°C. During the course of the recovery period a number of parameters were examined for the control and heat shock-treated neutrophils: the relative expression of the highly stress-inducible hsp72; respiratory burst activity as measured by intracellular peroxidation in response to phorbol ester addition; cell-surface expression of CD16; and finally, the extent of apoptosis as determined by both annexin V staining and nuclear propidium iodide staining. Results. Heat shock treatment resulted in a progressive increase in hsp72 production, peaking at 8 h following return of the cells to 37°C. Net intracellular oxidant production was diminished by 46% immediately following the heat shock treatment and deteriorated even further over the next 4 h. Finally, a significant early increase in the rate of apoptosis was observed in the cells subjected to the hyperthermic treatment. This increase in the heat-induced rate of apoptosis was associated with a marked reduction in cell-surface CD16 levels. Conclusions. By decreasing PMN oxidative functions and by accelerating their apoptotic demise, it would appear that heat shock is anti-inflammatory and not cytoprotective for PMN.
Resolution of 11 000 Compositionally Distinct Components in a Single Electrospray Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrum of Crude Oil

Mass spectrometry is well-suited for complex mixture analysis, because unlike other types of spectroscopy, the number of mass spectral peaks per analyte is of order one. Here, we extend significantly the upper limit for the number of chemically distinct components resolved and identified in a single step. Specifically, electrospray selectively ionizes only the basic compounds (i.e., a small fraction of the entire chemical composition) in a sample of South American crude oil. Nevertheless, their positive ion Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrum (average mass resolving power of ∼350 000 from 225 to 1000 Da) contains more than 11 100 resolved peaks, of which >75% may be assigned to a unique elemental composition (CcHhOoNnSs). Mass scale expansion and graphical representations reveal increased heteroatom diversity, aromatic rings, and alkyl substitution with increased mass. These results set a new standard and illustrate the potential of high-resolution mass spectrometry for analysis of com...
The identification of the determinants of the cyclic, sequential binding of elongation factors tu and g to the ribosome.

Abstract Experiments dedicated to gaining an understanding of the mechanism underlying the orderly, sequential association of elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) and elongation factor G (EF-G) with the ribosome during protein synthesis were undertaken. The binding of one EF is always followed by the binding of the other, despite the two sharing the same—or a largely overlapping—site and despite the two having isosteric structures. Aminoacyl-tRNA, peptidyl-tRNA, and deacylated-tRNA were bound in various combinations to the A-site, P-site, or E-site of ribosomes, and their effect on conformation in the peptidyl transferase center, the GTPase-associated center, and the sarcin/ricin domain (SRD) was determined. In addition, the effect of the ribosome complexes on sensitivity to the ribotoxins sarcin and pokeweed antiviral protein and on the binding of EF-G•GTP were assessed. The results support the following conclusions: the EF-Tu ternary complex binds to the A-site whenever it is vacant and the P-site has peptidyl-tRNA; and association of the EF-Tu ternary complex is prevented, simply by steric hindrance, when the A-site is occupied by peptidyl-tRNA. On the other hand, the affinity of the ribosome for EF-G•GTP is increased when peptidyl-tRNA is in the A-site, and the increase is the result of a conformational change in the SRD. We propose that peptidyl-tRNA in the A-site is an effector that initiates a series of changes in tertiary interactions between nucleotides in the peptidyl transferase center, the SRD, and the GTPase-associated center of 23S rRNA; and that the signal, transmitted through a transduction pathway, informs the ribosome of the position of peptidyl-tRNA and leads to a conformational change in the SRD that favors binding of EF-G.
A new species of Sanicula L. (Umbelliferae/Apiaceae) endemic to Baja California, Mexico

A new species of the genusSanicula (sect.Sanicoria) endemic to the southern Sierra Juarez of Baja California, Mexico, is described and illustrated.Sanicula moranii resemblesS. deserticola andS. bipinnatifida, but has thicker basal leaves, with broader petioles and rachises, and shorter fruit prickles that are confined to the apical part of the mericarps. The taxonomic relationships of these species are discussed, along with aspects of their distribution and habitat.
A method of dosimetry for a bulk-grain irradiator☆

Abstract This paper discusses the advantages of a lithium fluoride thermoluminescent dosimetry system for use in a bulk-grain irradiator. Unique problems of dosimetry exist because dosimeters must be mixed with the grain, must have the same flow characteristics as the grain and must have adequate resistance to breakage. Tests proved that encapsulated LiF dosimeters provide an accurate record of absorbed dose in a mass of wheat treated by a bulk-grain irradiator. Variations in dosage revealed by the dosimeters showed satisfactory treatment of the majority of the wheat, with overexposure of a small percentage.
Repeat temperature measurements in boreholes from northwestern Utah link ground and air temperature changes at the decadal time scale

[1] Borehole temperature profiles provide a record of ground surface temperature (GST) change at the decadal to centennial time scale. GST histories reconstructed from boreholes are particularly useful in climate reconstruction if changes in GST and surface air temperature (SAT) are effectively coupled at decadal and longer time periods and it can be shown that borehole temperatures respond faithfully to surface temperature changes. We test these assumptions using three boreholes in northwestern Utah that have been repeatedly logged for temperature over a time span of 29 years. We report 13 temperature-depth logs at the Emigrant Pass Observatory borehole GC-1, eight at borehole SI-1 and five at borehole DM-1, acquired between 1978 and 2007. Systematic subsurface temperature changes of up to 0.6°C are observed over this time span in the upper sections of the boreholes; below approximately 100 m any temperature transients are within observational noise. We difference the temperature logs to highlight subsurface transients and to remove any ambiguity resulting from steady state source of curvature. Synthetic temperature profiles computed from SAT data at nearby meteorological stations reproduce both the amplitude and pattern of the transient temperature observations, fitting the observations to within 0.03°C or better. This observational confirmation of the strong coupling between surface temperature change and borehole temperature transients lends further support to the use of borehole temperatures to complement SAT and multiproxy reconstructions of climate change.
Multiscale Modeling of Ceramic Matrix Composites

Results of multiscale modeling simulations of the nonlinear response of SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composites are reported, wherein the microstructure of the ceramic matrix is captured. This micro scale architecture, which contains free Si material as well as the SiC ceramic, is responsible for residual stresses that play an important role in the subsequent thermo-mechanical behavior of the SiC/SiC composite. Using the novel Multiscale Generalized Method of Cells recursive micromechanics theory, the microstructure of the matrix, as well as the microstructure of the composite (fiber and matrix) can be captured.
Fluconazole, a new antifungal agent

Excerpt In January, fluconazole was licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treating cryptococcosis and candidal infections in the United States. Interest in this compound amo...
The simultaneous determination of the emanation fractions of radon and thoron

A procedure first described by O. Hahn in 1935 has been adapted to the measurement of the probability of escape of radon and thoron//the “emanation fraction”/ in soils and rocks through application of the germanium counter. Measurement of the regrowth of the214Pb, Bi,212Pb, Bi and208Tl following emanation loss permits the simultaneous determination of the two emanation fractions.
Correlation of the Object Assembly and Block Design Tests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking

The purpose of the present study was to determine the intercorrelations among the Object Assembly and the Block Design Tests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. The subjects were 40 undergraduate students. Pearson product-moment coefficients were computed. Significant beyond the .05 level, the coefficients obtained between scores on the Block Design and scores on Verbal Originality and between scores on the Block Design and scores on Figural Elaboration were .33 and .38, respectively. The coefficients resulting between scores on Object Assembly and those on Verbal Originality and between scores on Object Assembly and those on Figural Elaboration were .40 and .60, respectively (both coefficients being significant beyond the .01 level). The correlational results of the present paper suggest that the Object Assembly and the Block Design Tests of the WAIS may reflect some sort of creative ability.
Growth of vaterite and calcite crystals in gels

Abstract Crystals of vaterite and calcite have been simultaneously grown in sodium metasilicate-acetic acid gels. The crystals were characterized by x-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The growth ratios of vaterite and calcite are functions of gel pH values. Vaterite crystal growth is favored at a pH value of 4.7 and lower and calcite above this value.
Effect of B6 deficiency on hepatoma 7794A growth rate: activities of tyrosine transaminase and serine dehydratase before and after induction by hydrocortisone.

Abstract Vitamin B 6 is required for normal growth and functions as a coenzyme of many enzymes. The effect of the absence of this growth factor on ( a ) the growth of the well differentiated Morris hepatoma # 7794 A, ( b ) the activity of two vitamin B 6 -requiring enzymes, i.e. tyrosine transaminase (TT) and serine dehydratase (SD), and ( c ) the induction of these by hydrocortisone in normal liver, host liver, and this hepatoma was studied. Groups of weaning Buffalo strain rats were pair-fed or ad libitum fed a diet with and without B 6 . The animals were inoculated with 7794 A hepatoma cells at weaning and at different intervals afterwards and sacrificed 49 days after each inoculation. Tumor weight was over 3 times greater in ad libitum fed controls regardless of time of inoculation. Tumor weight in pair-fed controls inoculated after 30 days was also about 3 times greater than that of the vitamin B 6 deficient "partner" group. In general, the activity levels of TT and SD were lower in vitamin B 6 deficient animals. Four hours after administration of hydrocortisone significant rise in TT activity was noted in normal and host liver of vitamin B 6 deficient or non-deficient animals. Hormonal induction of TT was observed only in the tumors of animals fed the vitamin B 6 plus diet ad libitum . Induction of TT activity in the tumors of pair-fed controls or tumors of animals fed the deficient diet was not observed. In the liver of the normal vitamin B 6 deficient rat, the rise in SD activity following induction by hydrocortisone was half that observed for the non-deficient animals. Hormonal induction of SD was not observed in hepatoma 7794 A or host liver whether or not the animals received the vitamin B 6 deficient or supplemented diet.
Fatty acid metabolism in the elderly: effects of dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone replacement in hormonally deficient men and women.

Context: Aging, low dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and testosterone are associated with increased adiposity and metabolic risk. Treatment with these hormones may improve these abnormalities. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine effects of aging, DHEA, or testosterone replacement on adiposity, meal fat partitioning, and postabsorptive lipolysis. Design: This was a cross-sectional, 2-yr, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Setting: The study was conducted in the general community. Patients: Elderly women and men (≥60 yr) with low DHEA sulfate (women and men) and bioavailable testosterone (men) concentrations and young adults. Interventions: Thirty elderly women each received 50 mg DHEA or placebo daily for 2 yr. Thirty elderly men received 75 mg DHEA, 29 received 5 mg testosterone (patch), and 32 received placebo daily for 2 yr. Thirty young women and 32 young men served as controls. Main Outcome Measures: In vivo measures of meal fat storage into sc fat, postabsorptive lipolysis, and regional adiposity at baseline and after treatment. Results: At baseline, the elderly had more body fat, greater systemic lipolysis (women, P = 0.0003; men, P < 0.0001) adjusted for resting energy expenditure, greater meal fat oxidation (women, P = 0.026; men, P = 0.0025), and less meal fat storage in sc fat (women, P = 0.0139; men, P= 0.0006). Although testosterone treatment increased meal fat storage into upper- vs. lower-body fat in elderly men, neither hormone affected regional adiposity, meal fat oxidation, or systemic lipolysis. Conclusions: Aging, in the context of low DHEA sulfate (women and men) and bioavailable testosterone (men) concentrations, is associated with changes in meal fat partitioning and postabsorptive lipolysis that are not corrected by DHEA and only partly corrected by testosterone replacement.
On test generation for transition faults with minimized peak power dissipation

This paper presents a method of generating tests for transition faults using tests for stuck-at faults such that the peak power is the minimum possible using a given set of tests for stuck-at faults. The proposed method is suitable for use in testing scan designs that employ enhanced scan. The method reduces the peak power consumption in benchmark circuits by 19% on the average with essentially the same test set size and the same fault coverage compared to an earlier method.
Cognitions of Black Mothers Who Adopted Black Children From the Public Foster Care System

Black adoptive mothers’ cognitions were examined within a social cognitive framework to understand relations of perceptions of parent-child relationship quality with perceived parent control, beliefs about adopted children, and attributions for child behavior. Seventy-one adoptive mothers participated. Mothers who believed that their children were more similar to than different from non-adopted children and mothers with less conflict-promoting attributions about their children's misbehaviors were likely to report more positive relationships with their children. Also, mothers’ demographics were analyzed. Policy and practice implications are discussed.
Income Distribution within Nations: Problems of Cross-National Comparison

In recent years a large number of cross-national studies have examined the causes and consequences of income inequality within nations. Unfortunately, few of these studies have attended very carefully to problems of measurement and definitional consistency that can seriously undermine the comparative use of currently available data on income shares. This article offers a discussion of the major theoretical and practical problems that can arise in measuring and comparing patterns of income distribution across nations, focusing on the completeness of income coverage, the unit of analysis, the time period over which income is measured, the scope of population coverage, the underreporting of income, and the effect of public sector fiscal policies. It then assesses major published sources of cross-national data on the size distribution of income in light of these problems. Finally, the article offers several suggestions for minimizing the negative consequences of measurement problems that remain in even the be...
Oxidative Stress in Unexplained Male Infertility

The aim of this chapter is to clarify the concept of unexplained male infertility (UMI). In this chapter we will discuss the difference between UMI and idiopathic infertility, the components of an infertility workup, and the parameters addressed in a routine semen analysis necessary to diagnose unexplained infertility. Furthermore, it elaborates upon the various etiologies suggested to play a role in UMI, such as coital problems, physical aberrations within the male reproductive system, compromised genetic integrity, immunologic dysfunction, and fertilization defects. Most importantly, this chapter emphasizes the implications of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of unexplained infertility as well as how these oxidative stress-induced changes can be measured. Treatment options for those with UMI are also discussed.
Assessment of microbiology students' progress with an audience response system.

The development of new approaches to teaching of large lecture courses is needed. Today’s classroom has a wide range of students including high-achieving motivated learners, students struggling to understand basic concepts, and learning-challenged students. Many of these students can be lost in large classes under the shadow of the high-achieving extroverted students who dominate classroom question-and-answer sessions. Measuring a student’s understanding and achievement of content standards becomes difficult until an assessment has been done. To close this gap, an audience response system was introduced in an introductory Principles of Microbiology course. This technology specifically addressed the goal of individualizing instruction to the needs of the students. The evaluation of this project indicated an overall positive impact on student learning.
Fast Optimal Mass Transport for Dynamic Active Contour Tracking on the GPU

In computational vision, visual tracking remains one of the most challenging problems due to noise, clutter, occlusion, and dynamic scenes. No one technique has yet managed to solve this problem completely, but those that employ control- theoretic filtering techniques have proven to be quite successful. In this work, we extend one such technique by Niethammer et al. in which implicitly represented dynamically evolving contours are filtered using a geometric observer framework. The effectiveness of the observer hangs upon the solution of two major problems: (1) the calculation of accurate curve velocities and (2) the determination of diffeomorphic correspondence maps between curves for geometric interpolation. We propose the use of novel image registration techniques such as image warping and optimal mass transport for the solution of these problems which increase the performance of the framework and reduce algorithmic complexity. One major drawback to the original scheme, as it relies on PDE solutions, is its computational burden restricting it from real time use. We show that the framework can, in fact, run in near real time by implementing our additions to the framework on the graphics processing unit (GPU) and show better execution times for these algorithms than reported in recent literature.
High-precision U–Pb zircon age constraints on the duration of rapid biogeochemical events during the Ludlow Epoch (Silurian Period)

Precise determinations of the rates and durations of Palaeozoic biogeochemical events are largely unavailable. Here, we present two new high-precision U–Pb (zircon) dates from volcanic ash deposits from the Ludlow Series (Silurian System) of Podolia, Ukraine, that yielded weighted mean 206 Pb/ 238 U dates of 424.08 ± 0.20 (0.29) [0.53] Ma and 422.91 ± 0.07 (0.21) [0.49] Ma (analytical, tracer and total uncertainties). These new dates bracket the largest post-Cambrian global carbon cycle perturbation (Lau Excursion) and constrain the ‘Ludlow Rise’ in 87 Sr/ 86 Sr. These chronostratigraphically well-controlled dates improve the calibration of the Silurian time scale and provide the first determinations of the rates of biogeochemical change during the Ludlow Epoch. Supplementary material: U–Pb geochemical methods, data and CL imagery are available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18798.
Full link impedance optimization for serial IOs

In this paper, optimal impedance for interconnects, transmitter and receiver design is studied to improve link performance for high-speed differential signaling. Impedance lower than 100Ω for interconnect is shown to improve performance, even when other components such as transmitter, receiver, connector, cable, etc, are designed to 100Ω. Link performance can be further improved if transmitter and receiver can be tuned to impedance targets other than 100Ω. This study is supported by simulation and measurement of 6Gbps serial links, and by simulation of 12Gbps serial links.