cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maternal smoking during pregnancy and the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders, using data from the autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network.

Background: Reported associations between gestational tobacco exposure and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have been inconsistent. Objective: We estimated the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and ASDs among children 8 years of age. Methods: This population-based case–cohort study included 633,989 children, identified using publicly available birth certificate data, born in 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1998 from parts of 11 U.S. states subsequently under ASD surveillance. Of these children, 3,315 were identified as having an ASD by the active, records-based surveillance of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. We estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) of maternal smoking from birth certificate report and ASDs using logistic regression, adjusting for maternal education, race/ethnicity, marital status, and maternal age; separately examining higher- and lower-functioning case subgroups; and correcting for assumed under-ascertainment of autism by level of maternal education. Results: About 13% of the source population and 11% of children with an ASD had a report of maternal smoking in pregnancy: adjusted PR (95% confidence interval) of 0.90 (0.80, 1.01). The association for the case subgroup autistic disorder (1,310 cases) was similar: 0.88 (0.72, 1.08), whereas that for ASD not otherwise specified (ASD-NOS) (375 cases) was positive, albeit including the null: 1.26 (0.91, 1.75). Unadjusted associations corrected for assumed under-ascertainment were 1.06 (0.98, 1.14) for all ASDs, 1.12 (0.97, 1.30) for autistic disorder, and 1.63 (1.30, 2.04) for ASD-NOS. Conclusions: After accounting for the potential of under-ascertainment bias, we found a null association between maternal smoking in pregnancy and ASDs, generally. The possibility of an association with a higher-functioning ASD subgroup was suggested, and warrants further study.
Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators: Surgical Approaches for Optimal Function

The automatic implantable car dioverter defibrillator (AICD) has significantly enhanced the treatment of malignant tachyarrhythmia but has complex requirements for contin uous function. Forty-nine patients (pts, ages nine to seventy-nine) from 377 pts studied for life-threatening tachyarrhythmias (13%) underwent AICD hardware placement during the first forty-eight months of clinical investigation. Access was dictated by (1) prior operative procedures (17 pts), (2) adequate sensing thresholds (12 pts), and (3) low thresholds (ie, s 15 watts) for successful defibrilla tion configuration (21 pts). Late com plications and morbidity (26 pts, 53%) have been the rule, the most common due to: (A) generator fail ures (15 pts), (B) patches or lead mal positions (4 pts), (C) inappropriate sensing from lead failures (3 pts), and (D) required explanations (leads only for 2 pts and units for 2 pts). There has been only 1 operative death among the 49 pts and none for the 21 revisions and generator changes (overall 1/70 ...
Novel digital logic gate for high performance CMOS imaging system

In these days, the CMOS image sensors are commonly used in many low resolution applications because the CMOS imaging system has several advantages against the conventional CCD imaging system. However, there are still several problems for the realization of the single-chip CMOS imaging system. One main problem is the substrate coupling noise, which is caused by the digital switching noise. Because the CMOS image sensors share the same substrate with surrounding digital circuit, it is difficult for the CMOS image sensor to get a good performance. In order to investigate the substrate coupling noise effect of the CMOS image sensor, the conventional CMOS logic, C-CBL (Complementary-Current balanced logic) and proposed low switching noise logic are simulated and compared. Consequently, the proposed logic compensates not only the large digital switching noise of conventional CMOS logic ,but also the huge power consumption of the C-CBL. Both the total instantaneous current behaviors on the power supply and the peak-to-peak voltages of the substrate voltage variation (di/dt noise) are investigated. The simulation is performed by AMI 0.5μm CMOS technology.
Incarcerated women and abortion provision: a survey of correctional health providers.

CONTEXT: Many women entering jail or prison are pregnant, and correctional facilities are therefore an important venue for providing a range of pregnancy-related care, including access to abortion services. However, the availability of abortion services to inmates in the United States is unknown. METHODS: Between October 2006 and March 2007, surveys about abortion provision were mailed to 951 health professionals who provided clinical care in correctional facilities. Descriptive statistics were tabulated, and measures of association were calculated using chi-square analysis. RESULTS: Of the 286 respondents who returned analyzable surveys, 68% indicated that inmates at their facility can obtain “elective” abortions. Eighty-eight percent of this group indicated that their facility provides transportation, but only 54% said that they help arrange appointments. Responses did not differ by providers' individual or institutional characteristics. However, providers from states with a Republican-dominated legislature or with a Medicaid policy that severely restricted coverage for abortion were more likely to indicate that availability of abortion services was limited than were those whose state had a predominantly Democratic legislature or a Medicaid program that covered all or most medically necessary abortions. CONCLUSIONS: Although incarceration does not preclude women's need for access to abortion, full access to services is not available in all settings. Improving women's overall health care in correctional settings should include increasing the accessibility of abortion services.
A Hidden Curriculum in Language Textbooks: Are Beginning Learners of French at U.S. Universities Taught about Canada?.

This study investigated a hidden curriculum in published language teaching materials by tabulating the number of instances that Canada was mentioned in 9 French textbooks and their accompanying workbooks and CD-ROMs. The materials were used at large public universities in the northern United States. For the present study, 2 raters, a Quebecois student and an American student of French, found that, on average, 15.3% of the analyzed sections of the textbooks, 6.5% of the workbook sections, and 29.9% of the sections in the CD-ROMs contained Canadian content. Based on a transnational view of culture, which suggests that cultural content in language materials should be chosen in view of local issues ( Risager, 2007 ), I argue that Canada should play a larger role in French teaching materials used in the northern United States. In particular, increased Canadian content might help to create needs for and interest in French, foster learning about the nonneutrality of language, and stimulate discovery of local historical linguistic and cultural diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Softgoal Traceability Patterns

Goal oriented methods help software engineers to model high-level systemic goals, propose and evaluate architectural solutions, and detect and resolve conflicts that occur. This paper describes a new technique, known as softgoal traceability patterns, for enabling reusable class mechanisms such as design patterns to be applied within a goal-oriented framework. Softgoal traceability patterns increase the reliability of a design in respect to its goals through the automated generation of design elements and the establishment of bidirectional traces between goals and design. These traces are used to monitor the integrity of the design in respect to architectural quality goals, and to support impact analysis when design changes are proposed. Softgoal traceability patterns are described using the well-known Observer pattern and then expanded with a more complex pattern that incorporates authentication.
Sites of phytase activity in the gastrointestinal tract of young pigs

The sites of supplemental phytase activity in the gastrointestinal tracts (GIT) of young pigs fed added microbial phytase were determined in two tests. In Test 1, samples of diets and GIT (stomach, upper and lower small intestine) contents were taken from pigs (BW = 20.3 kg) that had been fed a soybean meal-based semi-purified diet containing two levels of available P (0.5 and 1.6 g kg−1 aP), without or with added microbial phytase (1050 U kg−1 diet) for 5 weeks. There was no detectable phytase activity in the diets and GIT contents of pigs fed the basal diets without added phytase, and phytase activity did not differ for diets or GIT contents between the two dietary P levels. For pigs fed diets with added phytase, phytase activity in the digesta from stomach was higher (P < 0.001) than that from upper small intestine (51 or 31% of diet activity). No phytase activity was detectable in the digesta of the lower small intestine. In Test 2, samples of diets and GIT contents were taken from young pigs (BW = 16.7 kg) that had been fed a corn and soybean meal diet with added microbial phytase (750 U kg−1 of diet) containing one of three levels of citric acid (0, 15, and 30 g kg−1) for 4 weeks. Adding 30 g kg−1 citric acid decreased (P < 0.06) phytase activity in the stomach digesta; but there was no difference between the 15 and 30 g kg−1 added citric acid. About 40% of the added phytase activity remained in the digesta of the stomach from pigs fed the diet without added citric acid; whereas, only 27% of the phytase activity remained in the stomach digesta from pigs fed the diet with added citric acid. Again, phytase activity in the digesta from stomach was higher (P < 0.05) than that in digesta from upper small intestine (16 and 10% of added activity, respectively for diets without and with citric acid). As in Test 1, no phytase activity was detectable in lower small intestine digesta. In summary, the stomach is the site of highest added microbial phytase activity most likely because of a more favorable pH and lower protease activity.
Science and religion today

Daniel C. Dennett, Alvin Plantinga, Science and religion: are they compatible? Oxford University Press, New York, NY, 2011, x and 82 pp., $9.95 (pb) John Hedley Brooke, Ronald L. Numbers (eds.): Science and religion around the world Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 2011, xv and 316 pp., $99.00 (hb), $29.95 (pb) Steve Stewart-Williams, Darwin, God and the meaning of life: how evolutionary theory undermines everything you thought you knew Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2010, x and 341 pp., $28.00 (hb) Conor Cunningham, Darwin’s pious idea: why the ultra-Darwinists and creationists both get it wrong Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Mich., 2010, xx and 543 pp., $35.00 (hb) Alister E. McGrath, Darwinism and the divine: evolutionary thought and natural theology Wiley-Blackwell, West Sussex, UK, 2011, xv and 298, $89.95 (hb), $34.95 (pb) John F. Haught, Making sense of evolution: Darwin, God, and the drama of life Westminster, John Knox Press, Louisville, 2010, xvii and 163 pp., $20.00 (pb) Karl W. Giberson, Francis S. Collins, The language of science and faith: straight answers to genuine questions InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Ill., 2011, 251 pp., $20.00 (hb), $28.95 (pb) Mary Katherine Birge, SSJ, Brian G. Henning, Rodica M. M. Stoicoiu, Ryan Taylor: Genesis evolution and the search for a reasoned faith Anselm Academic, Winona, Minn., 2011, xiii and 133 pp., $26.95 (pb)
Isoflurane sensitivity of Drosophila axons is enhanced in an Na+ channel mutant

Abstract I studied the role of the voltage-gated Na+ current, INaV, in mediating the effects of general anesthetics, using neuromuscular electrophysiology and computer simulations. Isoflurane-induced slowing of action potential propagation was enhanced in parats1, a hypomorphic mutant of the voltage-gated Na+ channel, providing a physiological correlate of behavioral hypersensitivity. Simulating anesthetic action as inhibition of voltage-dependent Na+ (INaV) slowed spike conduction. Fifty percent reduction of INaV, simulating a para mutation, enhanced the simulated effect of anesthetic. However, the simulated para mutation also enhanced the anesthetic effect when modeled as K+ currents.
The time complexity of maximum matching by simulated annealing

The random, heuristic search algorithm called simulated annealing is considered for the problem of finding the maximum cardinality matching in a graph. It is shown that neither a basic form of the algorithm, nor any other algorithm in a fairly large related class of algorithms, can find maximum cardinality matchings such that the average time required grows as a polynomial in the number of nodes of the graph. In contrast, it is also shown for arbitrary graphs that a degenerate form of the basic annealing algorithm (obtained by letting “temperature” be a suitably chosen constant) produces matchings with nearly maximum cardinality in polynomial average time.
Building thoughts from dust: a Cantorian puzzle

I bring to light a set-theoretic reason to think that there are more (identifiable) mental properties than (identifiable) shapes, sizes, masses, and other characteristically “physical” properties. I make use of a couple counting principles. One principle, backed by a Cantorian-style argument, is that pluralities outnumber particulars: that is, there is a distinct plurality of particulars for each particular, but not vice versa. The other is a principle by which we may coherently identify distinct mental properties in terms of arbitrary pluralities of physical properties. I motivate these principles and explain how they together imply that there are more mental properties than physical properties. I then argue that certain parody arguments fail for various instructive reasons. The purpose of my argument is to identify an unforeseen “counting” cost of a certain reductive materialist view of the mind.
What is the explanatory value of a conceptual metaphor

Abstract Lakoff [Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things: What Categories Reveal about the Mind. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, 1987.] and other “conceptual metaphor” theorists have argued that our use and understanding of figurative language is mediated by unconscious metaphoric correspondences that structure human concepts. Communication scholars have employed the conceptual metaphor framework to infer attitudes and beliefs from the figurative expressions people use to describe their personal experiences. However, these scholars rarely scrutinize the framework’s assumptions, many of which have been vigorously challenged in other disciplines. In this article, I critically assess the explanatory value of the “conceptual metaphor” construct and review the empirical evidence for and against it. Based on this assessment, I conclude that despite its important atmospheric influence, the conceptual metaphor framework has not fared well as an account of conceptual structure or a model of figurative language understanding.
Clinical Outcomes and Recurrence Predictors of Lymph Node Positive Urothelial Cancer After Cystectomy

Purpose: Lymph node metastasis in patients who undergo radical cystectomy for bladder transitional cell carcinoma is considered a poor prognostic factor. However, patients with minimal lymph node involvement likely have a better outcome than those with extensive disease. We examined outcomes in patients with low volume lymph node metastasis and identified variables associated with disease recurrence.Materials and Methods: Our institution maintains a database of 1,600 patients with bladder transitional carcinoma who underwent radical cystectomy from 1971 to 2005 with intent to cure. All patients with low volume lymph node metastasis, defined as 1 or 2 positive lymph nodes, without concomitant distant metastasis were included in study.Results: A total of 181 patients were identified. Median followup was 12.8 years, during which 96 patients experienced recurrence. Estimated 5 and 10-year recurrence-free survival was 43.8% and 40.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that pathological stage/subgro...
Review article: combination of clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitors: implications for clinicians.

Objectives: To evaluate the existing literature on a proposed interaction between clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and discuss its implications for clinicians treating patients with th...
Intermolecular C–H bond activation of benzene and pyridines by a vanadium(III) alkylidene including a stepwise conversion of benzene to a vanadium-benzyne complex

Breaking of the carbon–hydrogen bond of benzene and pyridine is observed with (PNP)V(CH2tBu)2 (1), and in the case of benzene, the formation of an intermediate benzyne complex (C) is proposed, and indirect proof of its intermediacy is provided by identification of (PNP)VO(η2-C6H4) in combination with DFT calculations.
Intervention Planning for the Family of the Autistic Child: A Multilevel Assessment of the Family System.

The clinician working with the family of an autistic child may need to assess the family at several levels. The first level requires an assessment of the behavioral deficits and excesses of the child. The next level examines the family in terms of their behavioral skills and the impediments that occur when they implement behavior change programs. The third level involves assessing the family unit to identify obstacles to change. While many well-functioning families may be stressed by the crises that arise in raising an autistic child, other families are predisposed to dysfunction regardless of the presence of the child.
Localizing value of rapid eye movement sleep in temporal lobe epilepsy

Sleep state is a physiological modulator of epilepsy. Non rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep generally increases interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) and expands their field of distribution. In contrast, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep tends to suppress IEDs and may limit their spread outside of the region of primary seizure origin. The ability of REM sleep to restrict IEDs may have localizing value in temporal lobe epilepsy patients undergoing evaluations for epilepsy surgery. We present the case of a woman with medically-refractory seizures secondary to a mesial temporal glioma. Although scalp and intracranial electroencephalographic (EEG) seizure recordings supported bilateral epileptic foci, the IEDs recorded during REM sleep were restricted to the region of the glioma, and the patient had a successful surgical outcome. Our findings support the usefulness of combining sleep recordings with EEG monitoring in the evaluation of candidates for epilepsy surgery.
Assessment and control of fungal allergens.

Fungal sensitivity is a significant cause of allergic disease. Understanding the role fungi play in allergic disease, and how to best control exposure among those with allergy, can have imortant clinical ramifications.
Long-wavelength variations in Earth's geoid: physical models and dynamical implications

The seismic velocity anomalies resolved by seismic tomography are associated with variations in density that lead to convective flow and to dynamically maintained topography at the Earth's surface, the core--mantle boundary (CMB), and any interior chemical boundaries that might exist. The dynamic topography resulting from a given density field is very sensitive to viscosity structure and to chemical stratification. The mass anomalies resulting from dynamic topography have a major effect on the geoid, which places strong constraints on mantle structure. Almost 90% of the observed geoid can be explained by density anomalies inferred from tomography and a model of subducted slabs, along with the resulting dynamic topography predicted for an Earth model with a low-viscosity asthenosphere (ca. 10^(20) Pa s) overlying a moderate viscosity (ca. 10^(22.5) Pa s) lower mantle. This viscosity stratification would lead to rapid mixing in the asthenosphere, with little mixing in the lower mantle. Chemically stratified models can also explain the geoid, but they predict hundreds of kilometres of dynamic topography at the 670 km discontinuity, a prediction currently unsupported by observation. A low-viscosity or chemically distinct D" layer tends to decouple CMB topography from convective circulation in the overlying mantle. Dynamic topography at the surface should result in long-term changes in eustatic sea level.
Principle and Design of a Vernier FM Radar System

This paper describes the principle and the signal design of a proposed new FM radar system. In order to measure the surface characteristics of a small target at a long distance, or to discriminate among multiple targets, very accurate range or Doppler resolutions are necessary [1]. The proposed system satisfies the range resolution requirement by detecting the target with two different resolutions: coarse resolution for measuring range, and fine resolution for measuring the target details. The principal advantage of the system is in the vernier scale for the measurement of a distance. The system is just as easily realizable as conventional FM radar, requires no special filters in the receiver, and represents a saving in the required bandwidth for the same range resolution.
Measurement of Mechanical Properties of Hydrated Cement Paste Using Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy

The resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) experimental technique had been used successfully to measure the modulus of elasticity and Poisson’s ratio of hydrated cement paste. RUS is a modern nondestructive acoustic technique, which can be applied to determine the elastic properties of solids with high precision and great efficiency. By measuring the natural resonance frequencies for a single small parallelepiped cement paste sample with water cement ratio of 0.4, the elastic constants and, subsequently, the modulus (E) and Poisson’s ratio (v) were obtained. The results from RUS measurement, E=21.55 GPa and v=0.225, agree with the numerical modeling values.
Adipose tissue metabolism in benign symmetric lipomatosis.

Type 2 benign symmetric lipomatosis (BSL) is characterized by abnormal growth of adipose tissue in the upper back, deltoid region, upper arms, hips, and upper thigh region. Studies of lipomatous tissue in vitro have suggested that defective lipolysis may account for excess fat accumulation; however, in vivo adipose tissue metabolism has not been evaluated. We measured systemic adipose tissue lipolysis and regional adipose tissue fatty acid uptake in a patient with type 2 BSL scheduled for elective brachioplasty. We found increased, rather than decreased, rates of systemic free fatty acid release coupled with normal fatty acid oxidation. The uptake of fatty acids was 19% greater in deltoid region lipomatous tissue than in abdominal sc fat, whereas in control studies the relative uptake of fatty acids in deltoid fat averaged 29% less than that in abdominal fat. Adipocyte size was smaller than expected in lipomatous tissue. These results suggest that type 2 BSL is a hyperplastic adipose tissue abnormality th...
Uncertainty, Political Preferences, and Stabilization: Stochastic ControlUsing Dynamic CGE Models

This paper is a step toward the merger of optimal control models with dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) models. It demonstrates the usefulness of CGE techniques in control theory application and provides a practical guideline to policymakers in this relatively new field. Uncertainty, short-term quantity adjustment processes, and sector-specific political preferences are taken into account in exploring what time paths of adjustments of the economy would be optimal for a government with explicit policy goals. The experimental results highlight the importance of the structures of political preferences and uncertainty when performing optimal stabilization policy exercises.
A new isotope: Cadmium-103

Abstract A new activity, produced by 160 MeV O16 bombardments of thick molybdenum oxide targets, is assigned to Cd103 on the basis of chemistry and its decay to Ag103. The isotope Cd103 has a half-life of10±1.5min and decays by positon emision accompanied by 0.22, 0.62 and 0.85 MeV gamma-rays.
Pulmonary inflammation after lung transplantation.

SCOPE OF THE CLINICAL PROBLEM THE ANNUAL NUMBER OF LUNG TRANSPLANTS WORLDWIDE has increased 130-fold over the last 20 years. In 2004, the Registry of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation reported that >17,000 lung transplants have been performed worldwide and that >1,600 lung transplants are performed annually. Despite advances in operative management, lung preservation, critical care, and immunosuppression, long-term survival remains limited. In fact, outcomes for lung transplantation are the worst of any solid organ transplant. In most series, 30-day mortality rates approach 15%, and approximately 50% of lung transplant patients die within 3 years. The main obstacles to present day lung transplantation involve (1) lack of donor organs, (2) ischemia/ reperfusion (I/R) injury, (3) rejection, and (4) development of bronchiolitis obliterans. Lung I/R injury after transplantation remains the most common cause of respiratory failure and manifests typically during the first 72 hours post-transplantation. I/R injury continues to be a common and substantive cause of morbidity and mortality in the early postoperative period, with reported rates as great as 41%. The 30-day mortality of patients with I/R injury is about 40%, compared with 7% in patients without I/R injury. I/R injury usually presents with the immediate impairment in lung function after transplantation accompanied by rapid development of pulmonary edema, increased pulmonary vascular resistance, and
Response Functions of Total-Absorption Spectrometers

The characteristic shapes of the response functions of a sodium iodide scintillation spectrometer determine the potential of the spectrometer for X or gamma-ray spectroscopy. The present report reviews the evaluation of these functions for monoenergetic X rays and the limitations placed by this evaluation on the quality of the results for various applications. Emphasis is given to theoretical and experimental methods at X-ray energies between 1 and 100 mev. The theoretical methods available up to 4.5 mev are either of the analytical or Monte Carlo types. Above 4.5 mev, no satisfactory theoretical approaches have been developed. Experimental methods using gamma-ray sources, monoenergetic electron data to synthesize X-ray responses, and synchrotron bremsstrahlung are reviewed in detail.
β-Lactamases: protein evolution in real time

The evolution and spread of bacteria resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics has progressed at an alarming rate. Bacteria may acquire resistance to a given drug by mutation of pre-existing genes or by the acquisition of new genes from other bacteria. One ongoing example of these mechanisms is the evolution of new variants of the TEM and SHV beta-lactamases with altered substrate specificity.
Reflections on the reproductive sciences in agriculture in the UK and US, ca. 1900–2000+

This paper provides a brief comparative overview of the development of the reproductive sciences especially in agriculture in the UK and the US. It begins with the establishment by F. H. A. Marshall in 1910 of the boundaries that framed the reproductive sciences as distinct from genetics and embryology. It then examines how and where the reproductive sciences were taken up in agricultural research settings, focusing on the differential development of US and UK institutions. The reproductive sciences were also pursued in medical and biological settings, and I discuss how the intersections among all three allowed the circulation of both ideas and scientists' careers. Across the twentieth century, scientific leadership in the reproductive sciences alternated between the UK and US, and these patterns are elucidated. I conclude with thoughts on future research that might emphasize the elaboration of industrialization processes in agriculture and new capacities to transform both reproductive processes and their products--life itself--as biopower comes to be more ambitiously understood as extending across all species.
Using Problem Gambling Helpline Data to Inform Addiction Education

ABSTRACT There appears to be an association between substance use and pathological gambling disorders in the research. This will present concerns for clinicians in substance use treatment programs as clients present with the co-occurring disorders. This exploratory study provides descriptive information learned from calls made to a problem gambling helpline by people reporting co-occurring substance use and gambling disorders. The information can be used by educators to inform students of the characteristics of this population.
Flux growth of MoO2 single crystals

Abstract Single crystals of MoO2 were grown by the use of alkali tetraborate flux in the nitrogen atmosphere at oxygen partial pressure of 10−8 atm. The largest crystals were obtained from the Li2B4O7 flux system, which had the size of 1×1×5 mm3. From the observation of morphology, the long axis of the crystals was found to be parallel to the c-axis and the planes developed for the side faces were identified to be of the {110} family. The crystals tended to make twins mainly having the {110} twin planes.
The Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) model: applicability for investigating the immunosuppressive effects of the aquatic pollutant benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)

Abstract Despite the fact that B a P is a carcinogen, mammalian immunosuppressant, and ubiquitous aquatic pollutant, knowledge regarding the effects of B a P on the immune system of fish is still lacking. To begin to fill this gap, studies were conducted in medaka to examine the effects and mechanisms by which B a P exposure might alter host immunocompetence. Fish, exposed by IP injection of B a P (2–600 μg/g BW), were examined after 48 h for effects upon immune function and CYP1A expression/activity. Benzo[ a ]pyrene, at a concentration below that which increased levels of CYP1A expression/activity (2 μg B a P/g BW) suppressed lymphocyte proliferation. Concentrations of B a P at 20 and 200 μg/g BW, suppressed antibody-forming cell (AFC) numbers, superoxide production, and host resistance against bacteria. In contrast, exposure to the low affinity aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist, benzo[ e ]pyrene (B e P), neither induced CYP1A expression nor altered immune function. Given the lack of immunosuppressive effects produced by B e P, and the fact that exposure to the AhR antagonist (and CYP1A inhibitor) α-naphthoflavone (ANF) ameliorated the suppressive effects of B a P upon AFC numbers, the AhR pathway (including CYP1A-mediated production of reactive B a P metabolites) appears important in mediating B a P-induced immunotoxicity in fish, as in mammals. In the past, the medaka has proven a successful model for assessing carcinogenic agents. These studies have demonstrated its utility for also determining the immunosuppressive effects of an important aquatic contaminant.
Hot cells, raise your hands

Obesity is a commonly used predictor for many metabolic diseases and is closely linked to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Essentially a disorder of energy balance, obesity occurs when energy intake and storage exceed expenditure. Much of the energy homeostasis depends on the activity and function of adipose tissue. White adipose tissue (WAT)2 primarily functions to store energy and subsequently secrete hormones such as leptin in response to nutritional signals. In contrast, thermogenic adipose tissue defends against hypothermia and obesity through adaptive thermogenesis mediated by the regulated expression and activity of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). There are 2 types of thermogenic adipocytes identified in mammals to date: brown fat and beige (brite) fat. Unlike brown fat cells that form distinct anatomical depots, newly identified and isolated beige fat cells, which are interspersed within white adipose tissues, arise from a different developmental lineage from the brown fat cells and have dual functions regulating both energy storage and energy dissipation (1). Whereas the functional involvements of white adipocytes in human metabolic diseases have been studied for decades, how thermogenic fat cells may influence whole body metabolism in human remains elusive. Although it was widely accepted that thermogenic adipocytes are present in human infants, until 5 years ago few endocrinologists deemed healthy human adults to have these “energy-consuming” fat cells. The “rediscovery” of thermogenic fat cells in human adults ignited the enthusiasm of exploring the role of these cells in obesity and metabolism in general (2). However, concerns have been raised regarding whether the counteracting-obesity potential of these cells is restricted, because of the limited amount of these cells present in average individuals. The current standard approach measuring thermogenic fat activity in humans is through positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET/CT). Because this method scans for radioactively labeled glucose uptake …
The Elite, the Natives, and the Outsiders: Migration and Labor Market Segmentation in Urban China

Established migration theories are mostly based on capitalist market economies and downplay the role of institutions in internal migration and labor market processes. In socialist and transitional economies such as those in Russia and China, however, investigations of migration and the labor market must begin by examining the nature and consequences of state institutions. In this article, I argue that the migration and labor market processes in Chinese cities are deeply influenced by an institution-based opportunity structure. The household registration (hukou) system, in particular, is interwoven with distribution of services and job opportunities. Most peasants who enter cities in response to increased demands for cheap labor are not granted urban citizenship and are treated as “outsiders” to the urban society. The experiences of these “temporary migrants” contrast with those of “permanent migrants” who are state-sponsored or have access to institutional resources. Using qualitative accounts from a 1995...
Evaluation of distal radial artery cross‐sectional internal diameter in pediatric patients using ultrasound

Summary In this study, we measure the radial artery internal diameter (RAID) in children up to 4 years of age before and after the induction of anesthesia. A B-mode portable color Doppler ultrasound was used to measure the RAID. Three sets of measurements were taken for each child before and after the induction of anesthesia and with the wrist in the neutral and dorsiflexed positions. The reliability of the mean value of the RAID in the three sets in 24 patients was established. There were discrepancies between the RAID and the proposed catheter size in some individuals, which may not only render placement difficult but also have potential for arterial injury. There are good reasons to measure the RAID in small children prior to insertion of an intra-arterial catheter.
Extended Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics

A Lagrangian generalization of time-reversible Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics Niklasson et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 123001 (2006)] is proposed. The formulation enables the application of higher-order symplectic or geometric integration schemes that are stable and energy conserving even under incomplete self-consistency convergence. It is demonstrated how the accuracy is improved by over an order of magnitude compared to previous formulations at the same level of computational cost. The proposed Lagrangian includes extended electronic degrees of freedom as auxiliary dynamical variables in addition to the nuclear coordinates and momenta. While the nuclear degrees of freedom propagate on the Born-Oppenheimer potential energy surface, the extended auxiliary electronic degrees of freedom evolve as a harmonic oscillator centered around the adiabatic propagation of the self-consistent ground state.
Changes in Human Infants' Sensitivity to Slow Displacements over the First 6 Months

Sensitivity to slow movement improves substantially during the early postnatal months. Thresholds were measured for slow oscillatory displacements for 68 infants aged 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks. Standing wave line stimuli were used; 6-week-olds were tested at 1.2 Hz, and infants in the three older age groups were tested at either 0.6 or 1.2 Hz. Six-week-olds as a group were very insensitive to these slow displacements. Sensitivity increased systematically across the three older ages. Thresholds were marginally lower at 1.2 Hz than at 0.6 Hz, and there was some indication that these thresholds may reflect a mixture of detection by position-sensitive and motion-sensitive mechanisms. Several factors are hypothesized to be responsible for this development: (1) improvements in spatial resolution; (2) improvements in temporal contrast sensitivity; (3) decreases in the size of second order motion integration mechanisms; and (4) increased neural connectivity in the motion pathways.
Acceptance testing of graphite /epoxy composite parts using an acoustic emission monitoring technique

Abstract A graphite/epoxy composite dome was proof-tested by pressurization. Acoustic emission (AE) data was obtained during the proof test. A low-frequency bandpass was used to minimize AE signal propagation losses. The AE system and test part were calibrated in situ by an instrumented pencil-lead break. Large energy AE signals provide a clear indication of a flawed composite part.
Some Attempts at Reducing the Noise of Shuttle Looms

An investigation is described in which several attempts were made to reduce the noise in a shuttle-weaving mill by remodelling the main noise sources on a loom and by enclosing tbe loon in a soundproof cover. It is shown that a marked reduction in the noise level was achieved by enclosure of the picking mechanism. Soundproof looms based on the observations reported have been developed.
An optimized optogenetic clustering tool for probing protein interaction and function

The Arabidopsis photoreceptor cryptochrome 2 (CRY2) was previously used as an optogenetic module, allowing spatiotemporal control of cellular processes with light. Here we report the development of a new CRY2-derived optogenetic module, 'CRY2olig', which induces rapid, robust, and reversible protein oligomerization in response to light. Using this module, we developed a novel protein interaction assay, Light-Induced Co-clustering, that can be used to interrogate protein interaction dynamics in live cells. In addition to use probing protein interactions, CRY2olig can also be used to induce and reversibly control diverse cellular processes with spatial and temporal resolution. Here we demonstrate disrupting clathrin-mediated endocytosis and promoting Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization with light. These new CRY2-based approaches expand the growing arsenal of optogenetic strategies to probe cellular function.
Temperature dependence of gas-detection sensitivity of InGaAsSb/AlGaAsSb DFB lasers

The detection sensitivity of <0.50 ppb-m of HF gas is achieved with CW GaSb-based DFB lasers at 2396 nm. Sensitivity was characterized over laser operating temperature and output power.
Thermal convection in rotating spherical annuli—1. Forced convection

Abstract The steady forced convection of a viscous fluid contained between two concentric spheres which are maintained at different temperatures and rotate about a common axis with different angular velocities is considered. Approximate solutions to the governing equations are obtained in terms of a regular perturbation solution valid for small Reynolds numbers and a modified Galerkin solution for moderate Reynolds numbers. The resulting flow pattern, temperature distribution, and heat-transfer characteristics are presented for the various cases considered. The theoretical heat-transfer results for small and moderate Reynolds number flows within a spherical annulus with a stationary outer sphere are compared with previous experimental results for the large Reynolds number flow situation. The difference between conduction, Stokes flow, and boundary-layer convection is shown.
Direct Colorimetric Detection of Virus by a Polymerized Bilayer Assembly

Screening and detecting virus by receptor-ligand interactions presents an important challenge in medical and environmental diagnostics, and in drug development. We have developed a direct colorimetric detection method based on a polymeric bilayer assembly. The bilayer is composed of a self-assembled monolayer of octadecyl siloxane and a Langmuir-Blodgett layer of polydiacetylene. The polydiacetylene layer is functionalized with receptor-specific ligands such as analogs of sialic acid. The ligand serves as a molecular recognition element, while the conjugated polymer backbone signals binding at the surface by a chromatic transition. The color transition is readily visible to the naked eye as a blue to red color change and can be quantified by visible absorption spectroscopy. The color transition can be inhibited by the presence of soluble inhibitors. Raman spectroscopic analysis shows that the color transition may arise from binding induced strain on the material resulting in bond elongation and conjugation length reduction.
Beyond the purely cognitive: Belief systems, social cognitions, and metacognitions as driving forces in intellectual performance

This study explores the way that belief systems, interactions with social or experimental environments, and skills at the “control” level in decision-making shape people's behavior as they solve problems. It is argued that problem-solvers' beliefs (not necessarily consciously held) about what is useful in mathematics may determine the set of “cognitive resources” at their disposal as they do mathematics. Such beliefs may, for example, render inaccessible to them large bodies of information that are stored in long-term memory and that are easily retrieved in other circumstances. In other cases, individuals' reactions to an experimental setting (fear of failure, or the desire to “look mathematical” while being videotaped) may induce behavior that is almost pathological—and at the same time, so consistent that it can be modeled. In general, such “environmental” factors establish the context within which individuals access and utilize the information potentially at their disposal. Protocols illustrating these points are presented and discussed. A model based on an axiomatization of students' beliefs about plane geometry is outlined, and is shown to correspond closely to their problem-solving performance. A framework is offered for analyzing problem-solving performance at three qualitatively different levels: access to cognitive resources stored in LTM, executive or control decision-making, and belief systems. The research described in this paper was supported by grant number SED 79-19049 from the National Science Foundation.
Diagnosing the causes and severity of one-sided message contention

Two trends suggest network contention for one-sided messages is poised to become a performance problem that concerns application developers: an increased interest in one-sided programming models and a rising ratio of hardware threads to network injection bandwidth. Often it is difficult to reason about when one-sided tasks decrease or increase network contention. We present effective and portable techniques for diagnosing the causes and severity of one-sided message contention. To detect that a message is affected by contention, we maintain statistics representing instantaneous network resource demand. Using lightweight measurement and modeling, we identify the portion of a message's latency that is due to contention and whether contention occurs at the initiator or target. We attribute these metrics to program statements in their full static and dynamic context. We characterize contention for an important computational chemistry benchmark on InfiniBand, Cray Aries, and IBM Blue Gene/Q interconnects. We pinpoint the sources of contention, estimate their severity, and show that when message delivery time deviates from an ideal model, there are other messages contending for the same network links. With a small change to the benchmark, we reduce contention by 50% and improve total runtime by 20%.
Efficient One-Pot Synthesis of Doxorubicin Conjugates Through Its Amino Group to Melanotransferrin P97

Abstract The amino group of doxorubicin 1 is reacted with bis-NHS-ester linkers 6, or anhydrides 13 to offer in high yield modified doxorubicins 7–12 and 14–16, respectively. Compounds 7–12 are mono-NHS-esters, and can be directly coupled with melanotransferrin (p97), a useful vector with the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, to yield the expected doxorubicin-p97 conjugates. Upon activating the carboxylic group with BTTU, compound 14–16 could be used in the same reaction. Structurally, the amino group of doxorubicin is covalently bonded to the amino groups of p97. The conjugates are potential candidates for treatment of brain tumors.
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Medical Education for Cerebrovascular Disease

Background and Purpose There is a perception among some physicians that medical students and house officers receive little or no training in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cerebrovascular disease. However, there is a paucity of data addressing the issue of medical education in this area. This study was performed to determine the quantity and type of undergraduate and postgraduate medical education on cerebrovascular disease that is presented to medical students and house officers. Methods This was a prospective questionnaire study sent to 40 mainly academic medical centers in the United States and Canada. Data were collected on the percentage of programs offering stroke education, percentage of medical students and house officers taking such courses, and the duration of teaching programs. Results Sixty-one percent of the programs had dedicated stroke teaching efforts during clinical rotations, averaging a total of 13.1 hours of didactic and clinical teaching. Medical students received approximately 5 hours of preclinical stroke instruction. Only 35% of the programs offered stroke training for house officers in their internal medicine program. Most programs (81%) offered stroke conferences and computer-based instruction. Conclusions At some institutions, medical students received a modest amount of stroke education during their clinical rotations. However, almost 40% of programs did not have required stroke education programs for medical students. Most internal medicine programs that we surveyed did not have specific stroke education efforts for house officers. Increased educational efforts in this area may be indicated.
Degradation of DDT by goldfish

Goldfish were fed DDT for three weeks, then exposed to phenobarbital solution for one week to study the possibility of microsomal enzyme induction and therefore possibly enhanced insecticide excretion. Analysis of DDT, DDE and DDD were made at intervals up to six weeks. Forty percent of the DDT fed was incorporated during the feeding. It was recovered mainly as DDE (68 to 96%). Significant differences between pesticide levels of phenobarbital treated and control fish were not found.
Photoelectron imaging of helium droplets.

The photoionization and photoelectron spectroscopy of He nanodroplets (10(4) atoms) has been studied by photoelectron imaging with photon energies from 22.5-24.5 eV. Total electron yield measurements reveal broad features, whose onset is approximately 1.5 eV below the ionization potential of atomic He. The photoelectron spectra are dominated by very low energy electrons, with less than 0.6 meV. These results are attributed to the formation and autoionization of highly vibrationally excited He(*)(n) Rydberg states within the cluster, followed by strong final state interactions between the photoelectron and the droplet.