cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Auditory cortex activation to natural speech and simulated cochlear implant speech measured with functional near-infrared spectroscopy

The primary goal of most cochlear implant procedures is to improve a patient's ability to discriminate speech. To accomplish this, cochlear implants are programmed so as to maximize speech understanding. However, programming a cochlear implant can be an iterative, labor-intensive process that takes place over months. In this study, we sought to determine whether functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a non-invasive neuroimaging method which is safe to use repeatedly and for extended periods of time, can provide an objective measure of whether a subject is hearing normal speech or distorted speech. We used a 140 channel fNIRS system to measure activation within the auditory cortex in 19 normal hearing subjects while they listed to speech with different levels of intelligibility. Custom software was developed to analyze the data and compute topographic maps from the measured changes in oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin concentration. Normal speech reliably evoked the strongest responses within the auditory cortex. Distorted speech produced less region-specific cortical activation. Environmental sounds were used as a control, and they produced the least cortical activation. These data collected using fNIRS are consistent with the fMRI literature and thus demonstrate the feasibility of using this technique to objectively detect differences in cortical responses to speech of different intelligibility.
Assessment of oesophageal motor function in patients with dysphagia or chest pain - the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative experience.

Summary Background : Available prospectively acquired data on the distribution of oesophageal motor abnormalities in patients being evaluated for non-cardiac chest pain and/or dysphagia are relatively scarce. Aim : To evaluate the distribution of oesophageal motor abnormalities in patients with dysphagia, non-cardiac chest pain or both using the national Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative (CORI) database. Methods : The CORI oesophageal motility database originates from 19 community, university and VA medical centres. Data were collected using a computerized motility report-generating program, combined with the CORI module. Data from each site were encrypted and sent to the CORI National Repository for analysis. The database includes the assessment of the lower and upper oesophageal sphincter function and the motor activity of the oesophageal body. Results : Five hundred and eighty-seven consecutive patients who underwent motility studies between 1998 and 2001 were included in the CORI database and analysed for this report. Four hundred and three patients (69%) had dysphagia as their primary indicator for the examination, 140 patients (24%) had non-cardiac chest pain and 44 patients (7%) had both dysphagia and non-cardiac chest pain. In all three groups, a normal motility study was the most frequent finding (dysphagia, 53%; chest pain, 70%; both, 55%). The most common motility abnormality in the group with non-cardiac chest pain was a hypotensive lower oesophageal sphincter (61%). Nutcracker oesophagus and non-specific oesophageal motility disorders were each diagnosed in only 10% of patients with non-cardiac chest pain. In patients with dysphagia, ineffective peristalsis was the most common oesophageal dysmotility (27%), followed by achalasia and non-specific oesophageal motility disorders (18% and 14%, respectively). Achalasia and non-specific oesophageal motility disorders were the most common oesophageal motility abnormalities in patients with both chest pain and dysphagia (35% and 25%, respectively). Conclusions : The most common oesophageal motility abnormality in patients with non-cardiac chest pain is a hypotensive lower oesophageal sphincter; nutcracker oesophagus and non-specific oesophageal motility disorders are relatively uncommon; the most common oesophageal motility abnormality in patients with dysphagia is ineffective peristalsis and, for those with both dysphagia and non-cardiac chest pain, it is achalasia.
Outbursts of H2O in Comet P/Halley

Comet Halley gas-production monitoring efforts in March 1986 with the NASA Kuiper Airborne Observatory's Fourier transform spectrometer have indicated rapid temporal variations in H2O emissions; a continuous record of an H2O outburst was thus obtained. The event, in which H2O brightness increased by a factor of 2.2 in less than 10 min, is ascribable to an energetic process in the nucleus whose character may have been that of amorphous H2O ice crystallization, chemical explosion, thermal stress, or a compressed gas pocket. The timing and energy of the event appear to require an internal energy source; amorphous ice crystallization is held to be most consistent with compositional and thermal models of cometary nuclei as well as the observations.
Short-term effects of hexazinone applications on woody species diversity in young loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations

Abstract Data from four studies determining the susceptibility of woody plant species to foliar applications of several rates of liquid hexazinone (Velpar L®) were used to examine the short-term effects of the herbicide on woody species diversity in young loblolly pine plantations. Woody species diversity, as measured by four similarity measures between pretreatment and post-treatment species importance or diversity, decreased significantly with increasing hexazinone rate. Woody species shown to be among the most susceptible (sumacs ( Rhus spp.) and oaks ( Quercus spp.)), and least susceptible (loblolly and other pines, and Vaccinium spp.) to hexazinone in previous herbicide screening trials decreased and increased in importance, respectively. Differences in similarity measures between the no-hexazinone treatment and the 1.0 × hexazinone rate (1.2 to 1.5 kg a.i./ha depending on the study location) 2 years after herbicide application were small.
Low temperature, transient liquid phase sintering of B2O3-SiO2-doped Nd:YAG transparent ceramics

B2O3-SiO2 is shown to act as a transient liquid phase sintering aid that reduces the sintering temperature of Nd:YAG ceramics to 1600 °C. 1 at.% Nd3xY3-3xAl5O12 (Nd:YAG) ceramics were doped with 0.34–1.35 mol% B2O3-SiO2 and sintered between 1100 and 1700 °C. Dilatometric measurements show that B2O3-SiO2 doping increases the densification rate during intermediate-stage sintering relative to SiO2-doped samples. B3+ content is reduced to <5 ppm in samples heated to 1500 °C, as determined by mass spectrometry. For B2O3-SiO2-doped samples, final stage densification and grain growth follow a more densifying sintering trajectory than SiO2-doped 1 at.% Nd:YAG ceramics because there is less SiO2 during final-stage densification. The increased densification kinetics during intermediate-stage sintering lead to highly transparent Nd:YAG ceramics when sintered at 1600 °C in either vacuum or oxygen. Thus, transparent Nd:YAG ceramics can be sintered without the need for expensive refractory metal vacuum furnaces or pressure-assisted densification.
Further evidence that stress hyperthermia is a fever

Exposure of rats to an open-field results in a rapid rise in body temperature. Fifty-four percent of this rise in body temperature was blocked by intracerebroventricular administration of the antipyretic drug sodium salicylate. Intraperitoneal administration of indomethacin, a potent blocker of prostaglandin production, also attenuated the stress-induced hyperthermia to the same degree. Based on the data presented in this and an earlier study, we conclude that a major component of the rise in body temperature induced by psychological stress in rats is mediated by prostaglandins released by the central nervous system, and may therefore be a fever.
Deformation of cemented carbides: High temperatures, stress relaxation, and strain-rate dependence☆

Abstract The compressive yield and relaxation behavior of cemented carbides was investigated at temperatures, T , of 1 400 K ⩽ T ⩽ 1 800 K. The yield strength, σ, fell exponentially from ⪆ 200 MN m −2 at ≈ 1 400 K to an athermal value of ≈ 20 MN m −2 at the binder liquids of ≈ 1 600 K. A spinodal material exhibited larger yield stresses than any of the cemented carbides. Stress relaxation analysis gave activation areas consistent with a Peierls-Nabarro dislocation mechanism occurring in only one phase. The similarity between σ versus T plots for cemented carbides and single crystals suggests that the controlling phase is a carbide. An exponential relation between stress and dislocation velocity is consistent with the strain-rate sensitivity measurements.
On the linear, symplectic and orthogonal K groups of Zp2Z in dimensions 1 through 5

Abstract Since Quillen's paper on the K-theory of finite fields in 1972, there have been few explicit computations of higher (>2) dimensional algebraic K groups. In 1976, Friedlander extended Quillen's work to compute the unitary K groups of finite fields. Six years later Evens and Friedlander computed the groups K GL i ( Z p 2 Z ) for i = 3, 4 and for p ≥ 5 . K1 and K2 had been previously calculated by Bass and Milnor, respectively. In 1985, Aisbett found the groups K i ( Z p n Z ) for I ⩽i ⩽4 , for all primes p and Snaith computed the groups K 3 ( F 2 m [t] (t 2 ) ) for m≥1. A year later Aisbett, Lluis-Puebla and Snaith obtained results on K 3 of F 4 [t] (t 2 ) and F q [t] (t 3 ) for q a power of an odd prime. In this paper we compute some of the homology groups of the group SO(2n, Z p 2 Z ) and use these groups, along with some previous results on the homology of the groups SO(2n+1, Z p 2 Z ), SP(2n, Z p 2 Z ) and SL(n, Z p 2 Z ) , to determine the groups K G i ( Z p 2 Z ) for large primes p, where G = Sp or SO and 1⩽i ⩽5. Unfortunately, there will be no exact definition of the meaning of large primes. This is due to the lack of explicit bounds of certain homology stability theorems. In addition, we are able to extend the work of Evens and Friedlander to determine bounds on the group K GL 5 ( Z p 2 Z ) for primes p > 56.
Entropy, efficiency and the productivity index numbers

Abstract Data envelopment analysis (DEA) provides a method for determining the efficiency levels of a set of decision-making units, and this efficiency distribution has several stochastic aspects due to the random components in inputs and output. Two approaches are developed here to analyse the efficiency distribution. One is the index number approach and the other the entropy criterion of information theory. Their link to the DEA approach is illustrated by several examples. All the illustrative applications emphasize the practical usefulness of the two approaches: the index number and the entropy
Performance analysis of OLSR protocol in a Mobile Ad hoc wireless Network

Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs) are self configuring and self healing networks that do not require any existing infrastructure. As the nodes constituting the network are mobile, the network topology can be very dynamic. Hence, special routing protocols are designed to cater to the dynamic nature of MANETs. Optimized Link State Routing (OLSR) is once such protocol that has proven to be a potent routing protocol for establishing contemporary MANETs. This paper presents the performance analysis of the OLSR protocol in an actual MANET that has been established using multiple wireless routers. One of the key contributions of this paper is establishing the communication efficiency of the OLSR protocol in an actual multi-hop wireless test-bed. With the help of comprehensive experiments, we determine the effectiveness of the OLSR protocol and present results related to goodput, latency, end-to-end packet loss and jitter. Our results indicate that the communication efficiency of the OLSR protocol is maximum at a distance of one wireless hop; it degrades with each additional hop; and then becomes significantly consistent after three wireless hops.
Geomorphic Assessment of the Effects of Flow Diversion on Anadromous Fish Spawning Habitat: Newhalem Creek, Washington∗

A simple model for estimating streamflow competence is used to assess the impact of water diversion on the retention of spawning gravels in Newhalem Creek, a small watershed in the Cascade Mountains. Surveyed stream cross sections and discharge estimates are employed to characterize the routine tractive force conditions of the streambed. A conservative estimation procedure results in tractive force values of 120–390 Nm−2for one-year, five-year, and 10-year recurrence interval events. Theoretical and empirical estimates of critical tractive force for particle sizes suggest a routine competence of 100–450 mm diameter for these flows. Substantial accumulations of bed material in the range of 1–100 mm diameter is desirable for anadromous fish spawning redds. As a result, Newhalem Creek is naturally poor habitat for spawning. Steep channel gradients and a “flashy” hydrograph conspire to routinely flush the main channel of spawning-size substrate. In this instance, the modest water diversion is immaterial to th...
A fast operator perturbation method for the solution of the special relativistic equation of radiative transfer in spherical symmetry

A fast method for the solution of the radiative transfer equation in rapidly moving spherical media, based on an approximate Lambda-operator iteration, is described. The method uses the short characteristic method and a tridiagonal approximate Lambda-operator to achieve fast convergence. The convergence properties and the CPU time requirements of the method are discussed for the test problem of a two-level atom with background continuum absorption and Thomson scattering. Details of the actual implementation for fast vector and parallel computers are given. The method is accurate and fast enough to be incorporated in radiation-hydrodynamic calculations.
Genetic Composition of Laboratory Stocks of the Self-Fertilizing Fish Kryptolebias marmoratus: A Valuable Resource for Experimental Research

The hermaphroditic Mangrove Killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus, is the world's only vertebrate that routinely self-fertilizes. As such, highly inbred and presumably isogenic “clonal” lineages of this androdioecious species have long been maintained in several laboratories and used in a wide variety of experiments that require genetically uniform vertebrate specimens. Here we conduct a genetic inventory of essentially all laboratory stocks of the Mangrove Killifish held worldwide. At 32 microsatellite loci, these stocks proved to show extensive interline differentiation as well as some intraline variation, much of which can be attributed to post-origin de novo mutations and/or to the segregation of polymorphisms from wild progenitors. Our genetic findings also document that many of the surveyed laboratory strains are not what they have been labeled, apparently due to the rather frequent mishandling or unintended mixing of various laboratory stocks over the years. Our genetic inventory should help to clarify much of this confusion about the clonal identities and genetic relationships of laboratory lines, and thereby help to rejuvenate interest in K. marmoratus as a reliable vertebrate model for experimental research that requires or can capitalize upon “clonal” replicate specimens.
Cyclophilin B Expression in Renal Proximal Tubules of Hypertensive Rats

Rat cyclophilin-like protein (Cy-LP) is a candidate hypertension gene initially identified by differential hybridization and implicated in renal mechanisms of salt retention and high blood pressure. We report the molecular characterization of rat cyclophilin B (CypB) and demonstrate, through sequence analysis and an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction primer assay, that CypB but not Cy-LP is expressed in rat kidney. CypB is an endoplasmic reticulum-localized prolyl-isomerase that interacts with elongation initiation factor 2-beta, an important regulator of protein translation and a central component of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response to hypoxia or ATP depletion. Active renal transport of sodium is increased in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), and there is evidence that this coincides with hypoxia and ATP depletion in the renal cortex. In the present studies we have examined expression of CypB in rat proximal tubules, which contributes to the increased renal sodium reabsorption in this model of hypertension. We report that CypB transcript abundance is significantly elevated in proximal convoluted tubules from SHR compared with the control Wistar-Kyoto strain. This upregulation occurs in weanling animals and precedes the development of hypertension, indicating that it is not a simple response to hypertension in SHR. Further, CypB expression is also higher in a proximal tubule cell line derived from SHR compared with a similar line derived from Wistar-Kyoto rats, indicating that this difference is genetically determined. No sequence differences were observed in the CypB cDNA from these 2 strains. These observations suggest that a genetically determined alteration in proximal tubules from SHR occurs that leads to increased expression of CypB. In view of evidence linking CypB to the regulation of elongation initiation factor-2, the upregulation of CypB may result from metabolic stress.
If we compute faster, do we understand better?

Practitioners of cognitive science, “theoretical” neuroscience, and psychology have made less use of high-performance computing for testing theories than have those in many other areas of science. Why is this? In high-performance scientific computation, potentially billions of operations must lead to a trustable conclusion. Technical problems with the stability of algorithms aside, this requirement also places extremely rigorous constraints on the accuracy of the underlying theory. For example, electromagnetic interactions seem to hold accurately from atomic to galactic scales. Large-scale computations using elementary principles are possible and useful. Many have commented that the behavioral and neural sciences are largely pretheoretical. One consequence is that we cannot trust our few theories to scale well for a very good reason: They don’t. We have some quite good computational theories for single neurons and some large-scale aspects of behavior seem to be surprisingly lawful. However, we have little idea about how to go from the behavior of a single neuron to the behavior of the 1011 neurons involved when the brain actually does something. Neural networks have offered one potential way to leap this enormous gap in scale, since many elementary units cooperate in a neural network computation. As currently formulated, however, neural networks seem to lack essential mechanisms that are required for flexible control of the computation, and they also neglect structure at intermediate scales of organization. We will present some speculations related to controllability and scaling in neural networks.
Canine rickettsial infections.

Rickettsial infections in dogs are common wherever exposure to ticks is moderate to high. Clinical signs may vary greatly from dog to dog, and clinicians must have an index of suspicion of rickettsial infection to make the diagnosis. This article reviews presenting clinical signs of various ehrlichiosis agents and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, appropriate diagnostic tests, and systemic and ocular therapy.
On the Electromechanical Response of Electrically Active Materials

A continuum model is proposed to characterize the macroscopic behavior of ferroelectric materials undergoing an electrically-induced phase transformation. Within the framework of electromechanics, the author has investigated the feasibility of adjusting stresses within a ferro-electric device by applying an electric field to induce the paraelectric-ferroelectric transformation. The present analysis shows that the rate at which the stress can be adjusted is governed by a nonlinear ordinary differential equation which resulted from the kinetic relation that controls the evolution of the electrically-induced phase transformation. The present model, implemented with a numerical scheme, is able to predict the relation between the stress rate and the rate at which the electric field is applied. Some numerical results are included for illustration
Comparison of geometric and physical optics closed-cavity calculations with HF experiments.

Geometrical and physical optics models for calculating the closed-cavity power of a cw supersonic diffusion chemical laser are presented. The mixing and kinetic gain medium formulation employed in these calculations is described along with its anchoring to HF small signal gain data. Mixing parameters thus established are used to compute the closed-cavity power and spectral distribution with the two models, which agree reasonably well with experimental data. The reasonably good agreement between the two models in their computed spectra, intensity, and loaded gain distributions indicates that in many applications the use of the more economical geometric model may be adequate for extensive closed-cavity power computations and performance analyses of chemical lasers.
Neuropeptide levels in nasal secretions from patients with and without chronic cough

Background The pathophysiology of upper airway cough syndrome is not well understood. Objective To investigate the levels of neuropeptides found in nasal mucus of subjects with and without the complaint of chronic cough. Methods Preformed nasal mucus from 26 subjects complaining of postnasal drip with chronic cough and 17 without self-reported chronic cough was collected at the time of presentation. The nasal secretions were assayed for 3 neuropeptides—substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and Neurokinin A (NKA)—that have been previously linked to chronic cough. Results Coughing subjects with postnasal drip have significantly higher levels of CGRP and SP than noncoughing subjects with postnasal drip (69.0 ng vs 4.6 ng, P P = .004). The differences in NKA levels in nasal secretions between coughing and noncoughing subjects did not reach statistical significance (16.3 ng vs 3.4 ng, P = .067). Conclusions Both CGRP and SP levels are elevated in preformed nasal secretions of coughing subjects when compared with noncoughing subjects. Additional studies are needed to clarify whether CGRP and SP levels in preformed nasal secretions may assist in diagnosis or predicting treatment response in patients presenting with chronic cough.
Stimulus and response generalization: tests of a model relating generalization to distance in psychological space.

A mathematical model is developed in an attempt to relate errors in multiple stimulus-response situations to psychological inter-stimulus and inter response distances. The fundamental assumptions are (a) that the stimulus and response confusions go on independently of each other, (b) that the probability of a stimulus confusion is an exponential decay function of the psychological distance between the stimuli, and (c) that the probability of a response confusion is an exponential decay function of the psychological distance between the responses. The problem of the operational definition of psychological distance is considered in some detail.
A toolkit for exploring the role of voice in human-robot interaction

This paper describes an open source speech translator toolkit created as part of the "Survivor Buddy" project which allows written or spoken word from multiple independent controllers to be translated into either a single synthetic voice, synthetic voices for each controller, or unchanged natural voice of each controller. The human controllers can work over the internet or be physically co-located with the Survivor Buddy. The toolkit is expected to be of use for exploring voice in general human-robot interaction.
Effect of inclusion shape on stiffness of isotropic and transversely isotropic two-phase composites

Abstract Constitutive relations are developed for linear and non-linear incompressible, two-phase composites. The second phase is assumed to be comprised of spheroidal inclusions, and both Isotropie composites (containing randomly oriented inclusions) and transversely isotropic composites (containing aligned inclusions) are examined. Constitutive relations are established first for linearly elastic constituents and dilute concentrations of inclusions. Corresponding (approximate) constitutive relations applicable for non-dilute concentrations of inclusions are then obtained using a differential self-consistent scheme. Next, constitutive relations for non-linear matrix materials are developed using a procedure recently introduced by Ponte Castaneda [J. Mech. Phys. Solids (1991)]. The procedure uses a variational framework to exploit the constitutive relations developed for linear matrix behavior in order to obtain approximate results for non-linear matrix behavior. The results obtained are rigorous bounds on the behavior of the composites when the concentration of inclusions is sufficiently small, and are estimates for the behavior at larger concentrations of inclusions. The constitutive relations established for linear and non-linear composites are used to examine the effect of inclusion shape on the stiffness of composites, and a wide range of inclusion shapes ranging from thin disk-shaped inclusions to slender needle-like inclusions is considered.
An Initial Examination of the Post-Auricular Reflex as a Physiological Indicator of Appetitive Activation during Television Viewing

Previous research has demonstrated the post-auricular (PA) reflex to be a potentially valid measure of emotional response during mediated stimuli. However, the PA reflex has not been examined during television viewing. The goal of this study was to examine whether the PA reflex may serve as a useful indicator of emotional responding to television content. PA reflexes were measured while experimental participants viewed television advertisements varying in emotional valence (pleasant and unpleasant) and arousal (high and low). The PA reflexes were greatest during viewing of pleasant television advertisements that were highest in arousal. The findings replicated recent results and provided further validation that the PA reflex may indicate strength of activation in the human appetitive motivational system. The results provide new evidence demonstrating the measure's potential validity for mass communication researchers.
Synthesis of lutetium phosphate–apoferritin core–shell nanoparticles for potential applications in radioimmunoimaging and radioimmunotherapy of cancers

We report a novel approach for synthesizing LuPO4–apoferritin core–shell nanoparticles based on an apoferritin template. To prepare the nanoparticle, we used non-radioactive lutetium as a model target or surrogate for radiolutetium (177Lu). The central cavity, multi-channel structure, and chemical properties of apoferritin are well-suited for sequentially diffusing lutetium and phosphate ions into the cavity, resulting in a stable core–shell composite. We characterized the synthesized LuPO4–apoferritin nanoparticle using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). We found that LuPO4 formed inside the cavity of apoferritin with an 8 nm diameter. We tested the pre-targeting capability of biotin-modified lutetium–apoferritin nanoparticle using streptavidin-modified magnetic beads and streptavidin-modified fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) tracer. This paper presents a simple, fast, and efficient method for synthesizing LuPO4–apoferritin nanoparticle for potential applications in radioimmunotherapy and radioimmunoimaging of cancer.
What is it like to be nonconscious? A defense of Julian Jaynes

I respond to Ned Block’s claim that it is “ridiculous” to suppose that consciousness is a cultural construction based on language and learned in childhood. Block is wrong to dismiss social constructivist theories of consciousness on account of it being “ludicrous” that conscious experience is anything but a biological feature of our animal heritage, characterized by sensory experience, evolved over millions of years. By defending social constructivism in terms of both Julian Jaynes’ behaviorism and J.J. Gibson’s ecological psychology, I draw a distinction between the experience or “what-it-is-like” of nonhuman animals engaging with the environment and the “secret theater of speechless monologue” that is familiar to a linguistically competent human adult. This distinction grounds the argument that consciousness proper should be seen as learned rather than innate and shared with nonhuman animals. Upon establishing this claim, I defend the Jaynesian definition of consciousness as a social–linguistic construct learned in childhood, structured in terms of lexical metaphors and narrative practice. Finally, I employ the Jaynesian distinction between cognition and consciousness to bridge the explanatory gap and deflate the supposed “hard” problem of consciousness.
Report from the field: evaluating an alternative to incarceration program for “highly probable trafficking victims”

It seemed like a straightforward enough project, when my Master’s thesis advisor approached me with an opportunity to work on a project that centered on Asian immigrant women’s victimization experiences. I agreed enthusiastically to be the lead student investigator in a program evaluation of a non-governmental organization’s (NGO) ‘‘trafficking victim program.’’ Evaluating an empowerment program, aimed at helping victimized minority women, would allow me to both learn valuable program evaluation skills and work with a population that I was interested in. As an international graduate student in forensic psychology, I have always aspired to work with correctional populations across borders. Before the project, I had read on the victimization of foreign detainees by means of human rights violations and sub-par environments and treatment and was aware of the existing problem of trafficking victims often becoming labeled as offenders (Hepburn and Simon 2010; Logan et al. 2009; Rieger 2007; Soderlund 2005; U.S. Department of State 2012). This made me even more attracted to the project, as the participants were described to us as East Asian women, most of whom had been trafficked into the United States and into massage and sex work, which ultimately lead to their arrests and standing criminal charges. The fact that the program is used as an alternative to incarceration for these women, under an almost ‘‘read-betweenthe-lines’’ assumption of sex-trafficking victimization, made the evaluation and study that much more interesting. The project was described as a small-scale, internal program evaluation that had been in the making for a while. As it was, the NGO was under time pressure, and less than a month was granted to rush through the designing of comprehensive questionnaires for both staff and participant interviews—a process that usually takes upwards of 6 months to a year. The participant questionnaire—the main focus—
Acute phosphate nephropathy

Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USACASE PRESENTATIONA 60-year-old white Latino female with a clinical diagnosisof diabetes mellitus (diagnosed in 1993) and hypertensionwas referred to the chronic kidney disease clinic atBrigham and Women’s Hospital for the evaluation of acutekidney injury; serum creatinine had increased from abaseline of 0.9 to 1.5mg/dl in a 11-week period. She wasasymptomatic at the time of presentation. Her pastmedical history included a total abdominal hysterectomywith bilateral salpingo oophorectomy and uppervaginectomy for high-grade squamous intraepitheliallesion of the cervix, 11 weeks prior to presentation. Threeweeks prior to presentation (8 weeks after surgery) andwithin a week of each other, she was evaluated for twoconsecutive episodes of acute onset of chest pain withpulmonary edema in the setting of severe hypertension.Both episodes had blood pressures in excess of190–200mmHg systolic that resolved with intravenousdiuretics. Cardiovascular workup revealed no evidence ofischemic heart disease. Additionally, renal evaluationincluded magnetic resonance angiography with andwithout gadolinium, which did not reveal renal arterystenosis. However, serum creatinine peaked at 1.9 mg/dlimmediately after surgical procedure and remainedelevated at 1.5mg/dl throughout the course of her currentpresentation (corresponding to a glomerular filtration rateof 33ml/min per 1.73m
Sports medicine pearls and pitfalls: Anemia in athletes

Introduction Pearls and pitfalls exist in diagnosing and treating anemia in athletes. Questions also exist. A key question: Should we screen for anemia? A seminal study of the value of the complete blood count (CBC) concluded that screening hemoglobin level is useful [1]. Yet screening in the preparticipation evaluation is not recommended. This policy needs pondering. Not screening male athletes makes sense, because the yield is low and most men with a low hemoglobin level have sports anemia [2]. Sports anemia is a false anemia—the erythrocyte mass is normal. The hemoglobin is low because aerobic exercise expands the baseline plasma volume and dilutes hemoglobin. Sports anemia is a benefit—a cardinal feature of aerobic fitness. Not screening female athletes, however, makes no sense. The cost is low, the yield is high, and the fix is easy. Many studies find that about 10% of young women have iron deficiency anemia [3,4]; yet, less than half of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-A schools screen female athletes [5].
Diffusion delays and unstirred layer effects at monolayer cultures of Chinese hamster ovary cells

Cells grown in monolayer culture offer a convenient system for binding and other experiments under conditions that preserve the complexity of the living state. Kinetics experiments, however, may be distorted by the time course of drug penetration into even so simple a “tissue” as the monolayer. The impediments include unstirred layers both above and between the cells, the congregation of receptors within the confined space between cells, and nonspecific binding to membrane components. The contributions of these factors were investigated in cultures of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells either nontransfected or stably transfected with μ opioid receptors. The dissociation of [3H]naloxone was four times faster under displacement than under infinite dilution conditions, clearly demonstrating the “retention effect” of receptors confined in space. Even the penetration of this ligand between nontransfected cells showed salient delays with respect to diffusion into a slab, indicating that nonspecific, low-affinity binding to membrane components was arresting its progress. The optical sectioning capabilities of confocal microscopy demonstrated that the kinetics of two fluorescent antagonists depended on the vertical plane, providing direct evidence for slowed diffusion down a single cell depth. Modeling shows that kinetic errors increase with receptor density, forward rate constant, and the thickness of the unstirred layer.
A Quantitative Increase in Regulatory T Cells Controls Development of Vitiligo

T-cell cytolytic activity targeting epidermal melanocytes is shown to cause progressive depigmentation and autoimmune vitiligo. By using the recently developed transgenic mice h3TA2 that carry T cells with a HLA-A2-restricted human tyrosinase peptide (h-Tyr)–reactive TCR and develop spontaneous vitiligo from an early age, we addressed the mechanism regulating autoimmune vitiligo. Depigmentation was significantly impaired only in IFN-γ-knockout h3TA2 mice but not in TNF-α- or perforin-knockout h3TA2 mouse strains, confirming a central role for IFN-γ in vitiligo development. In addition, regulatory T cells (Tregs) were relatively abundant in h3TA2-IFN-γ -/- mice, and depletion of the Treg–engaging anti-CD25 antibody fully restored the depigmentation phenotype in h3TA2-IFN-γ -/- mice, mediated in part through the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-17 and IL-22. Further therapeutic potential of Treg abundance in preventing progressive depigmentation was evaluated by adoptively transferring purified Treg or using rapamycin. Both the adoptive transfer of Tregs and the use of rapamycin induced a lasting remission of vitiligo in mice treated at the onset of disease, or in mice with established disease. This leads us to conclude that reduced regulatory responses are pivotal to the development of vitiligo in disease-prone mice, and that a quantitative increase in the Treg population may be therapeutic for vitiligo patients with active disease.
Exercise and Cardiovascular Disease: A New Perspective

The oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) has been suggested as a key event in atherogenesis. Paradoxically, exercise, which imposes an oxidative stress, is an important deterrent of cardiovascular disease. In study 1 the oxidizability of LDL was enhanced in exercisers compared with sedentary controls. The lag time of isolated LDL subjected to copper-induced in vitro oxidation was significantly shortened in the exercisers compared with sedentary subjects. This increased sensitivity was not due to a decreased presence of vitamin E. Instead, these findings suggested that the LDL of exercisers may contain increased amounts of preformed lipid peroxides, which account for the increased oxidizability. In study 2, a group x sex ANOVA revealed that male exercisers had a significantly longer mean lag time than male sedentary subjects and that females had similar mean lag times regardless of exercise group. This remained the case when statistical adjustment was made for age, body mass index, blood lipid levels, LDL, and plasma alpha-tocopherol levels. Study 1 exercisers had been in training for a shorter time ( 2 years). These findings suggest that truly "chronic" exercise (aerobic intensity over several months) decreases the susceptibility of a male exerciser's LDL to undergo oxidation. Conversely, regular aerobic stress during an overall shorter time span creates a more oxidative environment in the body, thus increasing the susceptibility of LDL to undergo oxidation. The oxidative stress of aerobic exercise does not appear to adversely affect the oxidizability of LDL in women.
Stress, Breast Cancer Risk, and Breast Self‐Examination: Chronic Effects of Risk and Worry1

Identifying the risk factors for breast cancer allows targeted prevention and surveillance of women with higher than average risk. Moreover, aggressive, regular surveillance is necessary if mortality is to be reduced by finding disease in its early, more treatable stages. However, learning that one is at risk may cause stress as women worry about developing breast cancer and the severity of its effects. This study examined the distress associated with breast cancer risk by measuring perceived stress, breast cancer worry, risk perception, and surveillance behavior in women with average and higher than average risk profiles. Women at higher risk reported more worry, intrusive thoughts, and emotional upset throughout the year of the study than did women with average risk. In addition, stress reduced adherence to regular breast self-examination.
Semi-automated analysis of high-resolution aerial images to quantify docks in glacial lakes

Abstract Lake resources can be negatively affected by environmental stressors originating from multiple sources and different spatial scales. Shoreline development, in particular, can negatively affect lake resources through decline in habitat quality, physical disturbance, and impacts on fisheries. The development of remote sensing techniques that efficiently characterize shoreline development in a regional context could greatly improve management approaches for protecting and restoring lake resources. The goal of this study was to develop an approach using high-resolution aerial photographs to quantify and assess docks as indicators of shoreline development. First, we describe a dock analysis workflow that can be used to quantify the spatial extent of docks using aerial images. Our approach incorporates pixel-based classifiers with object-based techniques to effectively analyze high-resolution digital imagery. Second, we apply the analysis workflow to quantify docks for 4261 lakes managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Overall accuracy of the analysis results was 98.4% (87.7% based on K ^ ) after manual post-processing. The analysis workflow was also 74% more efficient than the time required for manual digitization of docks. These analyses have immediate relevance for resource planning in Minnesota, whereas the dock analysis workflow could be used to quantify shoreline development in other regions with comparable imagery. These data can also be used to better understand the effects of shoreline development on aquatic resources and to evaluate the effects of shoreline development relative to other stressors.
Current mHealth Technologies for Physical Activity Assessment and Promotion

Context Novel mobile assessment and intervention capabilities are changing the face of physical activity (PA) research. A comprehensive systematic review of how mobile technology has been used for measuring PA and promoting PA behavior change is needed. Evidence acquisition Article collection was conducted using six databases from February to June 2012 with search terms related to mobile technology and PA. Articles that described the use of mobile technologies for PA assessment, sedentary behavior assessment, and/or interventions for PA behavior change were included. Articles were screened for inclusion and study information was extracted. Evidence synthesis Analyses were conducted from June to September 2012. Mobile phone–based journals and questionnaires, short message service (SMS) prompts, and on-body PA sensing systems were the mobile technologies most utilized. Results indicate that mobile journals and questionnaires are effective PA self-report measurement tools. Intervention studies that reported successful promotion of PA behavior change employed SMS communication, mobile journaling, or both SMS and mobile journaling. Conclusions mHealth technologies are increasingly being employed to assess and intervene on PA in clinical, epidemiologic, and intervention research. The wide variations in technologies used and outcomes measured limit comparability across studies, and hamper identification of the most promising technologies. Further, the pace of technologic advancement currently outstrips that of scientific inquiry. New adaptive, sequential research designs that take advantage of ongoing technology development are needed. At the same time, scientific norms must shift to accept "smart," adaptive, iterative, evidence-based assessment and intervention technologies that will, by nature, improve during implementation.
The work of Henry T. Butlin, an early head and neck surgeon.

A name that often appears in the older Literature on head and neck cancer is that of Henry T. Butlin. Who was this man, and what were his contributions to surgical knowledge? Henry Trentham Butlin (Figure 1) was born in 1845 and lived until 1912. He was the fourth son of the Rev. William Wright Butlin, Vicar of Penponds, Cornwall, England, by his wife Julia Trentham. His paternal grandfather was a physician.’ Butlin’s wife was Annie Tipping, daughter of a merchant of Hemel, Hempstead. They had two daughters and a son. The son was killed in action in 1916 in the European war. Butlin trained himself in public speaking so that he could deliver lectures without reference to notes, as he did when presenting the Hunterian oration. In keeping with the role of a European physician, he became fluent in French, German, and Italian. He was described as being slight of frame and not very robust. He was a capable lawn tennis player, however, and also had an interest in horsemanship.’ For his many medical contributions, Butlin was made a Baronet, his son succeeding to the title. He was the first dean of the faculty of medicine of the University of London and president of the British Medical Association, as well as president of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1909. Honorary degrees came his way, including an LLD from the University of Birmingham and a DCL. from the University of Durham.’
Finding your way with CampusWiki: a location-aware wiki

Wikis provide a simple and unique approach to collaborative authoring, allowing any member of the community to contribute new, or change existing information. However, Wikis are typically disconnected from the physical context of users who are utilizing or creating content, resulting in suboptimal support for geographic communities. In addition, geographic communities might find the highly skewed generation of content by a few individuals problematic. Here we present research into addressing these challenges through location-awareness and lightweight user content rating mechanisms. We describe one such location-aware Wiki, CampusWiki and initial results from a field study demonstrating the value of location-linked content and the rating approach. We conclude with a discussion of design implications.
Demonstrating entanglement by testing Bell's theorem in Majorana wires

We propose an experiment that would establish the entanglement of Majorana zero modes in semiconductor nanowires by testing the Bell and Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequalities. Our proposal is viable with realistic system parameters, simple “keyboard” gating, and projective measurement. Theoretical models and simulation results indicate entanglement can be demonstrated with moderately accurate gate operations. In addition to providing further evidence for the existence of the Majorana bound states, our proposal could be used as an experimental stepping stone to more complicated braiding experiments.
Orthodontic mechanotransduction and the role of the P2X7 receptor

Introduction The P2X7 receptor plays a crucial role in bone biology and inflammation. Its main function is to promote necrotic tissue metabolism by ensuring a normal acute-phase inflammatory response. We used a mouse model to describe and compare orthodontic mechanotransduction in wild-type and P2X7 knock-out mice. Methods By using finite element analysis, mouse orthodontic mechanics were scaled to produce typical human stress levels. External root resorption, bone modeling, and bone remodeling were analyzed with fluorescent bone labels, Masson trichrome stain, and microcomputed tomography. Relationships between the biologic responses and the calculated stresses were statistically tested and compared between mouse types. Results There were direct relationships between certain stress magnitudes and root resorption and bone formation. Hyalinization and root and bone resorption were different in the 2 types of mice. Conclusions Orthodontic responses are related to the principal stress patterns in the periodontal ligament, and the P2X7 receptor plays a significant role in their mechanotransduction.
Bioconversion of Acrylonitrile to Acrylamide Using a Thermostable Nitrile Hydratase

Although providing an attractive route for production of crrylamide from acrylonitrile, utilization of nitrile hydratase en zymes has been limited by the requirement for low temperatu rebioconversion conditions. Thisrreportsummarizes a search for thermostable nitrile hydratases from aerobic moderate thermophiles screened for ability to grow on acrylonitrileatt concentrations to 1% at elevated temperatures. A new isolate Bacillus sp. BR449 constitutively expresses a thermostble nitrile hydratase with properties iccluding low substrate inhibition and broad temperature range with optimal activity at 55°C. With prolonged exposure, BR449 nitrile hydratase exhibited temperature-dependent inactivation by acrylonitrile, which is attributed to alkylation of nucleophilic sites on the enzymes/