cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the orbit in a 15-month-old child. Nine-year survival after local excision.

Background: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors are extremely rare orbital tumors that carry a poor prognosis despite wide excision with disfiguring surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. The authors present the youngest reported case, a 15-month-old boy who underwent an orbitotomy to excise a bilobed tumor from the right orbit. Findings: Histologic examination revealed a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor; standard treatment options, including orbital exenteration, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, were denied and instead the patient was followed with serial computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Nine years later, the patient remains without evidence of recurrent tumor and visual acuity is 20/20. Conclusion: This patient's course suggests that orbital malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, if believed to be completely excised at the time of surgery, might be followed with careful neuroimaging studies for signs of recurrence.
The Development of a High Sensitivity Neutron Displacement Damage Sensor

The capability to characterize the neutron energy spectrum and fluence received by a test object is crucial to understanding the damage effects observed in electronic components. For nuclear research reactors and high energy density physics facilities this can pose exceptional challenges, especially with low level neutron fluences. An ASTM test method for characterizing neutron environments utilizes the 2N2222A transistor as a 1-MeV equivalent neutron fluence sensor and is applicable for environments with $1 \times 10^{12} - 1 \times 10^{14}\,\,1$ -MeV(Si)-Eqv.-n/cm2. In this work we seek to extend the range of this test method to lower fluence environments utilizing the 2N1486 transistor. The 2N1486 is shown to be an effective neutron displacement damage sensor as low as $1 \times 10^{10}\,\,1$ -MeV(Si)-Eqv.-n/cm2.
Efficient Diversification in Optimal Portfolio Theory

Recent developments in portfolio theory have used two interrelated approaches to specify efficient diversification of investment funds.
Bayesian Estimation of the DINA Q matrix.

Cognitive diagnosis models are partially ordered latent class models and are used to classify students into skill mastery profiles. The deterministic inputs, noisy “and” gate model (DINA) is a popular psychometric model for cognitive diagnosis. Application of the DINA model requires content expert knowledge of a Q matrix, which maps the attributes or skills needed to master a collection of items. Misspecification of Q has been shown to yield biased diagnostic classifications. We propose a Bayesian framework for estimating the DINA Q matrix. The developed algorithm builds upon prior research (Chen, Liu, Xu, & Ying, in J Am Stat Assoc 110(510):850–866, 2015) and ensures the estimated Q matrix is identified. Monte Carlo evidence is presented to support the accuracy of parameter recovery. The developed methodology is applied to Tatsuoka’s fraction-subtraction dataset.
Pharmacokinetics and antinociceptive effects of the soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor t-TUCB in horses with experimentally induced radiocarpal synovitis

This study determined the pharmacokinetics, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory effects of the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitor t-TUCB (trans-4-{4-[3-(4-Trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)-ureido]-cyclohexyloxy}-benzoic acid) in horses with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced radiocarpal synovitis. A total of seven adult healthy mares (n=4-6/treatment) were administered 3g LPS into one radiocarpal joint and t-TUCB intravenously (i.v.) at 0 (control), 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, and 1mg/kg in a blinded, randomized, crossover design with at least 3weeks washout between. Two investigators independently assigned pain scores (at rest, walk and trot) and lameness scores before and up to 48hr after t-TUCB/LPS. Responses to touching the joint skin to assess tactile allodynia, plasma, and synovial fluid (SF) t-TUCB concentrations were determined before and up to 48hr after t-TUCB/LPS. Blood and SF were collected for clinical laboratory evaluations before and up to 48hr after t-TUCB/LPS. Areas under the curves of pain and lameness scores were calculated and compared between control and treatments. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with Dunnett or Bonferroni post-test. p<.05 was considered significant. Data are mean +/- SEM. Compared to control, pain, lameness, and tactile allodynia were significantly lower with 1mg/kg t-TUCB, but not the other doses. For 0.1, 0.3, and 1mg/kg t-TUCB treatments, plasma terminal half-lives were 13 +/- 3, 13 +/- 0.5, and 24 +/- 5hr, and clearances were 68 +/- 15, 48 +/- 5, and 14 +/- 1 mlhr(-1)kg(-1). The 1 mg/kg t-TUCB reached the SF at high concentrations. There were no important anti-inflammatory effects. In conclusion, sEH inhibition with t-TUCB may provide analgesia in horses with inflammatory joint pain.
Vesicoscopic cross-trigonal ureteral reimplantation: High success rate for elimination of primary reflux.

Summary Introduction Open ureteral reimplantation (UR) is the gold standard for the surgical management of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). There have been increasing reports on robot-assisted UR, but this approach remains controversial due to reports suggesting increased complications and reduced success compared with open repair. This study presented extensive experience with vesicoscopic ureteral reimplantation (VR) for primary reflux. In this procedure, cross-trigonal reimplantation was performed in a manner analogous to open repair under carbon dioxide ‘pneumovesicum’. Objective To review outcomes of vesicoscopic cross-trigonal ureteral reimplantation and compare them with other minimally invasive approaches for the correction of reflux. Study design All patients who underwent VR at the current institution were retrospectively reviewed. The following were recorded for each patient: age, sex, grade of reflux, operative time, outcome, and complications. Results The series consisted of 182 consecutive patients who underwent VR. There were 165 girls and 17 boys. Mean age was 7.03 years (range 16 months–38.2 years). Fifteen had failed prior injection therapy. Of the 182 patients, 135 underwent bilateral repairs and 47 unilateral. Mean operative time for bilateral repairs was 197 (112–284) minutes and 169 (99–288) for unilateral. Major complications included two ureteral obstructions: one resolved with stent placement and the other underwent re-operative reimplantation. Postoperative voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) was obtained in 100 patients and was normal in 93 (93%). Four of these failures occurred in the first 30 patients. Of the last 49 patients tested, 48 were normal, suggesting a 98% effective success rate after the learning curve. Discussion Vesicoscopic ureteral reimplantation is an approach that completely recreates all aspects of open cross-trigonal repair. Complications were uncommon and success rates were very high in the current study. Conclusions Vesicoscopic ureteral reimplantation is a minimally invasive procedure for the definitive repair of primary reflux. After the learning curve at the current institution, success rates were found to be equivalent to open repair and were higher than published reports of robot-assisted procedures. Download : Download high-res image (334KB) Download : Download full-size image
Demographic Adjustments to WAIS–IV/WMS–IV Norms

Performance on cognitive tests is influenced to varying degrees by a person’s demographic and background characteristics. There is strong research evidence that an examinee’s sex, education, and ethnicity relate to different levels of performance on cognitive tests (e.g., women perform better on verbal memory tests than men). Normative data typically adjust for an examinee’s age, but test scores are not usually adjusted for other background variables (e.g., education). The relationship between sex, education, and ethnicity and WAIS–IV/WMS–IV test performance, and the derivation of normative adjustments for these variables are described. Demographic adjustments to normative data are helpful for identifying acquired cognitive deficits, especially in people with low or high levels of education. Age-based normative adjustments help the examiner identify cognitive difficulties compared to the general population and demographically adjusted norms can be used to estimate the level of cognitive functioning relative to individuals with similar background characteristics. The challenges in appropriately applying the normative adjustments and caveats in their use are discussed.
ACM-BCB'18 Tutorial: Making Deep Learning Understandable for Analyzing Sequential Data about Gene Regulation

The past decade has seen a revolution in genomic technologies that enable a flood of genome-wide profiling of many molecular elements on human genomes. This massive-scale "-omics" data provides researchers with an unprecedented opportunity to understand gene regulation that can enable new insights into principles of life, the study of diseases, and the development of treatments and drugs. Computational challenges are the major bottlenecks for comprehensive genome-wide data analysis of gene regulation. Such data sets are complex, structured and at an unprecedented scale of data growth. Problems of this nature may be particularly well suited to deep learning techniques that recently show impressive results across a variety of domains. This tutorial aims to provide an extensive literature review about the state-of-the-art techniques in deep Learning, to examine how deep learning is enabling changes at analyzing datasets about gene regulations, and to foresee the potential of deep learning to transform several areas of biology and medicine.
ChIPprimersDB: A public repository of verified qPCR primers for chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)

Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) has ushered in a new era of scientific discovery by allowing new insights into DNA-protein interactions. ChIP is used to quantify enriched genomic regions using qPCR, and more recently is combined with next generation sequencing (ChIP-seq) to obtain a genome wide profile of protein binding sites. Nevertheless, ChIP-qPCR remains an integral component of this technology for quality control purposes, before the library preparation and sequencing steps. In addition, ChIP-qPCR remains more time- and cost-effective for many focused projects in which the DNA regions of interest are already known. However, the DNA oligonucleotide primers needed for ChIP-qPCR are more challenging to design than for other qPCR projects. Here, we present the first public repository for ChIP oligonucleotides that have been verified to perform well in ChIP-qPCR experiments. ChIPprimersDB was developed by manual screening of publications to ensure primer quality and provide additional specific information on the ChIP experiments where the primers have been used. In addition to the primer sequences, the database includes information about the antibody, cells and tissues used in the experiment, information on the experimental design, and a direct link to the original publication. The database is linked at https://umiamihealth.org/bascom-palmer-eye-institute/research/clinical-and-laboratory-research/ocular-oncology-laboratory/chip-primers and hosted at https://www.chipprimers.com/.
Chemotaxis and Band Formation of Escherichia Coli Studied by Light Scattering

The phenomenon that certain motile bacteria move toward chemicals that aid their survival and away from chemicals that are harmful, is called “chemotaxis”. For instance, bacteria are attracted by nutritious sugars and amino acids, and repelled by phenol and their own excretory products such as acids and alcohols. The macroscopic aspects of bacterial chemotaxis have been known ever since the end of the 19th century, through the work of Engelmann (1) and Pfeffer (2). In 1966, Adler (3) revived the study using modern microbiology techniques. Subsequently, Berg and Brown (4) introduced the tracking microscope, and MacNab and Koshland (5) developed the temporal gradient apparatus. These efforts combined with other genetic analyses provide a detailed microscopic picture of bacterial chemotaxis. Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium were commonly chosen for study because vast knowledge of their biochemistry and genetics exists. We have chosen E. coli (wild type K12) as a model system because its light scattering properties have been extensively investigated by our group during the last ten years (6,7,8).
Exploring the Role of Depressive Symptoms, Service Members, and Spousal Demographic Characteristics on Military Spousal Employment:

Military spouses, most of whom are women, often contend with a number of factors that can influence their employment status. Previous studies have examined the role of service-member and spousal de...
Activity-Dependent Modification of Cation-Chloride Cotransporters Underlying Plasticity of Gabaergic Synaptic Transmission

In different brain regions and at different developmental stages, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated synaptic transmission may undergo long-term changes in its efficacy1–2. Long-term potentiation and depression (LTP and LTD) of GABAergic synapses are frequently associated with changes in total synaptic conductance, caused by alterations in either presynaptic transmitter release or postsynaptic GABA receptors. However, the amplitude of GABAergic postsynaptic currents may also be modified by changing the driving force for Cl− through activated GABA receptor-channels, as a result of alterations in the electrochemical gradient of Cl− and consequent changes in the reversal potential of postsynaptic currents3–6. This modulation can be bi-directional, resulting in either an increase or decrease in neuronal inhibition by GABA. This review describes recent evidence suggesting that changes in the activity of cation-chloride cotransporters (CCCs) may serve as a mechanism for synaptic plasticity in both the developing and mature nervous systems.
Heterotopic Ossification after Direct Anterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty

Previous studies have demonstrated varying rates of heterotopic ossification (HO) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) depending on which anatomical approach is utilized. The direct anterior approach (DAA) is considered to be a muscle-sparing approach to the hip, which may lead to decreased rates of HO formation. This study evaluated the incidence of HO formation after DAA THA. The current work is a retrospective review of patients who underwent DAA THA. Six-month postoperative radiographs were evaluated and HO grade was classified using the Brooker classification system. Baseline characteristic differences between the Brooker classification groups were analyzed, specifically looking at: age, sex, type of deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis utilized, and preoperative Bombelli arthritis type. The overall incidence of HO in this DAA group was 179/485 patients (36.9%). There were 14 patients (2.9%) with Brooker Type 3 HO and 1 patient (0.21%) with Brooker Type 4 HO. No surgical excision of HO was performed. Patients were significantly more likely to develop HO if they had Bombelli hypertrophic arthritis (p
Vocal Dose of Preservice Music Therapists, Preservice Music Teachers, and Other Undergraduate Students

Summary Background Researchers have studied various populations with high vocal doses and prevalence of related voice disorders. Teachers, singers, and university students are three such populations that have been examined extensively. No studies to date, however, have examined the voice use of music therapists and compared their voice use to these other populations. Objective The purpose of this investigation was to examine voice dosimeter data including phonation duration and percentage, amplitude, frequencies, and distance dose acquired over contiguous 7 day (1 week) periods by preservice music therapists, preservice music teachers, and other university students in concert with daily voice use surveys. Study Design This is a quantitative descriptive design. Methods Eight female students of varied majors (music therapy, music education, vocal performance, elementary education, and “other”) in their third year of university study wore a voice dosimeter during all waking hours for 7 days. The dosimeter recorded voicing time, percentage, frequency, and estimated amplitude. Participants also completed surveys related to several parameters of vocal health, the number of hours they slept, and their voice care. Results Participants experienced relatively low vocal doses during the week. Music majors experienced more voice use than nonmusic majors. Some of the highest doses occurred during teaching demonstrations and leading of music therapy practicum sessions. Conclusion Preservice music therapists and preservice music teachers may experience extreme increases in vocal load when they enter the field. Absent training protocols, these increases could be detrimental to their vocal health and long-term viability as practitioners.
Disparity on Unplanned Readmission in Melanoma Patients: A National Cancer Database Analysis.

Background/aim This study aimed to analyze associated factors of 30-day hospital readmission after surgery for melanoma. Patients and methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of postoperative 30-day unplanned readmission in patients with melanoma in the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Results Higher odds of unplanned readmission were found in non-white patients compared to white, uninsured patients compared to those with private insurance, tumors with invasive behavior compared to in situ, presence of ulceration, American Joint Committee on Cancer stages greater than II, and location in the extremities. Lower odds of unplanned readmission were found in women living in areas where the percentage of adults who did not graduate from high school was below 13.0% with an annual income of $38,000 or more, who were treated in Academic/Research Programs or Integrated Network Cancer Programs. Conclusion Non-white patients and low-income zip-codes were associated with unplanned readmission.
Transradial versus transfemoral approaches for diagnostic cerebral angiography: a prospective, single-center, non-inferiority comparative effectiveness study

Background Interventional cardiology produced level 1 evidence recommending radial artery-first for coronary angiography given lower vascular complications. Neuroendovascular surgeons have not widely adopted the transradial approach. This prospective, single center, non-inferiority comparative effectiveness study aims to compare the transradial and transfemoral approaches for diagnostic cerebral angiography with respect to efficacy, safety and patient satisfaction. Methods Consecutive patients presenting for diagnostic cerebral angiography were selected to undergo right radial or femoral access based on date of presentation. Primary outcome was ability to answer the predefined diagnostic goal of the cerebral angiogram using the initial access site and was assessed with a non-inferiority design. Secondary outcomes included technical success per vessel, complications, procedure times and patient satisfaction. Results A total of 312 patients were enrolled, 158 and 154 for right radial and femoral access, respectively. The diagnostic goal of the angiogram was achieved in 152 of 154 (99%) patients who underwent attempted femoral access compared with 153 of 158 (97%) patients who underwent radial access, confirming non-inferiority of the transradial approach. Secondary outcomes showed equivalent technical success by vessel, no major complications, and similar frequency of minor complications between the two approaches. In-room time was similar between approaches, though post-procedure recovery room time was significantly shorter for transradial patients. Patient satisfaction results significantly favored the radial approach. Conclusions In patients undergoing diagnostic cerebral angiography, transfemoral and transradial access achieve procedural goals with similar effectiveness and safety, though patients strongly prefer the radial approach. Findings support consideration of adopting a radial-first strategy for diagnostic cerebral angiography.
Anti-PM/Scl-Positive Antibody with Dermatomyositis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: a Case Report

The objective of this case is to report on dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease, and a rarely encountered antibody, anti-PM/Scl. We present clinical context, laboratory findings, and treatment related to this case, as well as, review of relevant literature. A 45-year-old female with a past medical history of hypertension who was being treated for suspected psoriasis was referred to out-patient rheumatology after being found to be strongly positive for antinuclear antibody and noted to have clubbing of her fingers. The patient reported some soreness of her proximal and distal interphalangeal joints with difficulty moving her fingers and mild dyspnea when climbing stairs. The patient had imaging and testing suggestive of interstitial lung disease, and lab work significant for normal creatinine phosphokinase and serology revealing elevated rheumatoid factor with myositis panel significant for positive anti-PM/Scl 70 antibody at 100 units, and further antibody testing negative for RNA polymerase 3, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, anti-RNP, anti-Sm, anti-SS-A (Ro), anti-SS-B (La), anti-Jo-1, anti-TIF1, Mi2, NXPs, SAE, and MDA5. The patient underwent a skin biopsy that was positive for interface dermatitis, consistent with dermatomyositis. The patient was started on mycophenolate mofetil with improvement in her rash and dyspnea. This case report reviews a common manifestation of dermatomyositis, interstitial lung disease, and the importance of screening dermatomyositis for the presence of interstitial lung disease. It also reviews the significance of a rarely encountered antibody, anti-PM/Scl. Dermatomyositis and polymyositis carry an increased risk of various malignancies; however, interestingly, a meta-analysis found that the presence of the anti-PM/Scl antibody was associated with the absence of cancer.
If Technology Has Arrived Everywhere, Why has Income Diverged?

If Technology Has Arrived Everywhere, Why Has Income Diverged? We study the lags with which new technologies are adopted across countries, and their long-run penetration rates once they are adopted. Using data from the last two centuries, we document two new facts: there has been convergence in adoption lags between rich and poor countries, while there has been divergence in penetration rates. Using a model of adoption and growth, we show that these changes in the pattern of technology diffusion account for 80% of the Great Income Divergence between rich and poor countries since 1820.
A Secure Lightweight Hardware-Assisted Charging Coordination Authentication Framework for Trusted Smart Grid Energy Storage Units

Smart plug-in electrical vehicles (PEVs) have recently become essential components of the energy storage units (ESUs) in a smart power grid network. ESUs need to frequently communicate with charging stations for authentication before their battery systems are securely and efficiently charged. In this paper, an efficient lightweight hardware-assisted authentication and key management framework for ESU based charging coordination system is proposed. The framework integrates a hybrid lightweight arbiter linear feedback shift register (ALFSR) physical unclonable function and a low-cost advanced encryption standard (AES) for more secure, trusted, and robust secret key scheme. The scheme is implemented and validated on a reprogrammable device using 28 nm Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) platform. The results demonstrate that our framework can generate inherently unique and reliable secret keys. The proposed scheme is efficient in terms of key storage requirements and satisfies the authentication time of five security levels required by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Furthermore, the resilience of the proposed ALFSR is analyzed against ML modeling attacks, including k-nearest neighbor (kNN), kernel support vector machines (KernelSVM), and artificial neural network (ANN) which aim to clone the PUF behavior and compromise the secret key. The preliminary results demonstrate that the ALFSR PUF design is less vulnerable to kNN and SVM ML attacks as compared to ANN attacks.
Molecular fMRI of neurochemical signaling

Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most widely applied technique for brain-wide measurement of neural function in humans and animals. In conventional functional MRI (fMRI), brain signaling is detected indirectly, via localized activity-dependent changes in regional blood flow, oxygenation, and volume, to which MRI contrast can be readily sensitized. Although such hemodynamic fMRI methods are powerful tools for analysis of brain activity, they lack specificity for the many molecules and cell types that play functionally distinct roles in neural processing. A suite of techniques collectively known to as “molecular fMRI,” addresses this limitation by permitting MRI-based detection of specific molecular processes in deep brain tissue. This review discusses how molecular fMRI is coming to be used in the study of neurochemical dynamics that mediate intercellular communication in the brain. Neurochemical molecular fMRI is a potentially powerful approach for mechanistic analysis of brain-wide function, but the techniques are still in early stages of development. Here we provide an overview of the major advances and results that have been achieved to date, as well as directions for further development.
Tethered electrolyte active-layer membranes

Abstract Polyelectrolyte multilayer membranes (PEMs) produced by the sequential, layer-by-layer deposition of polyelectrolytes on porous supports have been shown to significantly reject ions in dilute saline solutions. However, polyelectrolyte thin films are susceptible to swelling or detachment from the substrate in higher salinities and extreme pH conditions, such that their performance is highly dependent on feed water composition. In this study, we introduce tethered electrolyte active-layer membranes (TEAMs), whereby charged block copolymers are covalently grafted-from a porous support, in aim of reducing the stimuli response of layered polyelectrolyte membranes under variable solution conditions. Cellulose support layers were modified using surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of neutral precursor polymers, which were then converted into charged blocks after polymerization. An ultrathin layer of a single negative or positive block with a degree of polymerization (DP) ≥ 770 exhibited ∼15–20 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 pure water permeability, 45–60% rejection of monovalent co-ions, and ∼75% rejection of divalent co-ions. In mixed feed solutions, selectivity of monovalent over divalent co-ions with single-block TEAMs fell within the range of 2–4. Single-block TEAMs slightly shrank under high salt concentration, contrary to the typical substantial swelling of PEMs. As such, this new form of polyelectrolyte membrane may provide greater stability than conventional PEMs and may have potential applications in water softening and salinity reduction of surface waters.
Pots, Politics, and Power

In this paper, we assess early state feasting practices associated with the Huari of Middle Horizon Peru: We consider the types of food and drink served and consumed by the political elite of the Huari state, the ceramic vessels that mediated this process, and the architectural spaces in which such activities occurred. Our goal is to reveal how feasting figured in the negotiation of identity, status, power, and prestige among Huari administrators and between administrators and subjects. Additionally, we wish to show that such practices occurred under certain circumstances in prescribed architecture with selected ceramic assemblages that underscored imperial Huari rule.
Performance outcomes of behavioral attributes in buyer-supplier relationships

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explain the impact of relationship capital (trust and commitment) and the exchange climate (communication, conflict resolution and cooperation) on performance satisfaction in the context of buyer–supplier relationships. The study also examines the influence of national culture on the proposed relationships. Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual model and accompanying research hypotheses are tested on data from a survey of 169 US and 110 Brazilian buyers. Structural equation modeling (AMOS 18.0) is used to test the hypotheses. Findings – Results suggest that performance satisfaction is highly dependent on the level of relationship capital and climate of information exchange between buyer and supplier. Quality communication and conflict resolution have the greatest impact on performance satisfaction while trust’s influence is both direct and mediated by the exchange climate. Research limitations/implications – The study is limited to a two-country sample in a b...
Dynamic Development of Thinking, Feeling, and Acting

Models of psychological development have taken a relational turn. From this view, human psychological development is an integrative, dynamic, emergent, and coactive process. It is integrative in the sense that psychological processes never operate in isolation of each other. There is no such thing as a purely cognitive, emotional, or behavioral act. Any given instance of psychological activity necessarily involves the structured integration of multiple component psychological systems. Despite their organization, psychological structures are dynamic processes rather than fixed states. Their structure varies as a function of person, task, time, context, emotional state, culture, and many other variables. Psychological development is coactive in the sense that novel psychological structures emerge over time as a product of the dynamic interplay between and among elements of a hierarchically nested person environment system. In this chapter, we show how integrated structures of thinking, feeling, and action arise in both real and developmental time through complex coactions that occur between biological, psychological, and sociocultural processes. Drawing on a theory of the dynamic development of skills, the discussion first addresses the coactive nature of sensorimotor-affective development in infancy. It then illustrates alternative trajectories in the coactive development of integrative structures of moral thinking, feeling, and acting as they occur within particular moral domains and social contexts. We complete the chapter with an analysis of how integrative psychological structures undergo microdevelopment in real time as a result of processes that occur between individuals in joint interaction. Keywords: adolescence; adult development; alternative trajectories of development; childhood; coaction; developmental pathways; dynamic development; emergence; infancy; intersubjectivity; moral development; skill development
Sea surface temperature, rainfall and Southern oscillation: relationships over tropical America

Some aspects of the variability of sea surface temperatures (SST) in the western tropical North Atlantic and the East Pacific off the Central American/Columbian coast as well as rainfall in the Caribbean/Venezuela region and the northern sector of Northeast Brazil, are described.
The distribution of income in Sri Lanka in 1969–1970 and 1980–1981: A decomposition analysis

Abstract In 1977 the Sri Lankan government implemented a comprehensive policy of economic liberalization, removing many government controls on the economy and providing incentives for both foreign and domestic investment. The previous policies were often justified as necessary to maintain an equitable distribution of income. Income data from 1969–1970 and 1980–1981 surveys indicate that inequality has increased, but these data are shown to be unreliable for drawing conclusions on changes in the distribution of income. Expenditure data from the same surveys indicate that inequality has declined in the 1970's, both in the economy as a whole and within all sectors and ethnic groups.
Learning to recognize plans involving affect

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews a system called AMAL that uses knowledge of plans and emotions to construct explanations of actions, and allows the learning of new plan recognition rules based on these explanations. Motivation analysis and plan recognition, the task of understanding the mental states underlying observed actions, requires knowledge about the causal relationships between emotions and actions. Emotions serve to focus the recognition process on specific actions or events in cases where people select particular plans of action based upon their emotional state such as running away from a feared object or striking someone who angers them. AMAL draws upon three sources of input: a library of cases, an emotion law library, and a general law library. At present, there is a library of over 150 cases that can be explained by AMAL. The cases are almost exclusively drawn from a diary study of emotional events by Turner. The system also draws upon a general law library, where facts concerning plans and causal relations are stored. Other rules, such as what actions are considered blameworthy and what objects or people are typically regarded as appealing are also kept in the general law library.
Increasing Parental Involvement In Our Schools: The Need To Overcome Obstacles, Promote Critical Behaviors, And Provide Teacher Training

This paper examines critical parental behaviors for student success as well as the major obstacles for parental involvement. Suggestions are given for improving preservice training in teacher education programs.
On the dosimetric influences of air-kerma strength calibration geometry and internal source structure for /sup 103/Pd and /sup 125/I brachytherapy sources

Monte Carlo photon-transport simulation techniques are used to study the influence of the new wide-angle free-air chamber (WAFAC) on low energy interstitial source dosimetric parameters. For sources containing radio opaque components with sharp corners, or low density components coated with high density materials, oblique filtration unexpectedly induces primary photon flux anisotropy near the transverse plane at typical calibration distances. Thus, the dose-rate constant may vary as much as 11% with the solid angle subtended by the S/sub K/ measurement instrument. For the Model 200 /sup 103/Pd source, and by extension, other "thin radio opaque layer" seeds, the WAFAC renders the absolute dose-rate distribution near the seed independent of this dense layer and its thickness.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intravenous medetomidine in the horse

Abstract Objective To describe the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics following an intravenous (IV) bolus dose of medetomidine in the horse. Study design Prospective experimental trial. Animals Eight, mature healthy horses age 11.7 ± 4.6 (mean ± SD) years, weighing 557 ± 54 kg. Methods Medetomidine (10 μg kg −1 ) was administered IV. Blood was sampled at fixed time points from before drug administration to 48 hours post administration. Behavioral, physiological and biochemical data were obtained at predetermined time points from 0 minutes to 24 hours post administration. An algometer was also used to measure threshold responses to noxious stimuli. Medetomidine concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and used for calculation of pharmacokinetic parameters using noncompartmental and compartmental analysis. Results Pharmacokinetic analysis estimated that medetomidine peaked (8.86 ± 3.87 ng mL −1 ) at 6.4 ± 2.7 minutes following administration and was last detected at 165 ± 77 minutes post administration. Medetomidine had a clearance of 39.6 ± 14.6 mL kg −1 minute −1 and a volume of distribution of 1854 ± 565 mL kg −1 . The elimination half-life was 29.1 ± 12.5 minutes. Glucose concentration reached a maximum of 176 ± 46 mg dL −1 approximately 1 hour post administration. Decreased heart rate, respiratory rate, borborygmi, packed cell volume, and total protein concentration were observed following administration. Horses lowered their heads from 107 ± 12 to 20 ± 10 cm within 10 minutes of drug administration and gradually returned to normal. Horse mobility decreased after drug administration. An increased mechanical threshold was present from 10 to 45 minutes and horses were less responsive to sound. Conclusion and clinical relevance Behavioral and physiological effects following intravenous administration positively correlate with pharmacokinetic profiles from plasma medetomidine concentrations. Glucose concentration gradually transiently increased following medetomidine administration. The analgesic effect of the drug appeared to have a very short duration.
Characteristics of Ponds Used by Breeding Mottled Ducks on the Chenier Plain of the Texas Gulf Coast

Abstract Mottled ducks Anas fulvigula are nonmigratory and primarily depend on habitats associated with coastal marshes of the Gulf Coast for their entire life cycle. Much of remaining available coastal marsh habitats of the Texas Gulf Coast are managed by state and federal agencies. The Texas Gulf Coast breeding population of mottled ducks has recently declined dramatically. To aid in development of management plans for breeding mottled ducks, we estimated the number of potential pair ponds available on the Texas Chenier Plain National Wildlife Refuge Complex relative to marsh type (fresh, intermediate, brackish, and saline), estimated occupancy, compared habitats of used and unused pair ponds, and evaluated pair pond selection relative to marsh type during spring 2004 and 2005. Greater than 18,000 ponds were recorded in >22,400 ha of coastal marsh with >74% of potential pair ponds in the intermediate marsh type. Average pond size of 425 randomly selected ponds across marsh types was 0.09 ha. Pond occupa...
A finite difference technique for solving optimization problems governed by linear functional differential equations

Abstract Aspects of the approximation and optimal control of systems governed by linear retarded nonautonomous functional differential equations (FDE) are considered. First, certain FDE are shown to be equivalent to corresponding abstract ordinary differential equations (ODE). Next, it is demonstrated that these abstract ODE may be approximated by difference equations in finite dimensional spaces. The optimal control problem for systems governed by FDE is then reduced to a sequence of mathematical programming problems. Finally, numerical results for two examples are presented and discussed.
Model identification in peak power demand forecasting

Peak Demand model for an electric utility is formulated in terms of demographic, economic and climatological variables. Since significant correlations generally exist among these variables, conventional regression analysis cannot be used for model identification due to the problem of multicollinearity. An improved approach, using principal components, is described which eliminates the problem. The approach was successfully used at Southern California Edison Company for developing long-term peak demand forecasting models.
Quantum mechanics and resolution-dependency of physical laws

Quantum mechanics and resolution-dependency ofphysical lawsA.GraiiikPhysics DepartmentUniversity ofthe PacificStockton, CA 9521122ABSTRACTClassical mechanics assumes that its laws (andspecifically the second law of Neon) are independent ofspatio-temporal resolutions. To see whether there is an alternative to this assumption we write the energyof a relathristic particle in a finite-difference form, e.g., c s[1 — (Ax/cAt)2]1'. We assume that in the
Midstream Modulation of Nanotechnology in an Academic Research Laboratory

No clear implementation methods exist for US legislation on integrating societal considerations into nanotechnology research and development. An empirical study was thus undertaken to investigate the possibility and utility of "sociotechnical integration" during nanoscale engineering research in an academic setting. For twelve weeks, an "embedded humanist" interacted with three graduate engineering researchers to identify and assess opportunities for influencing research decisions in accordance with societal concerns. The study focused not on the nature of societal concerns, but on the nature of engineering decisions, and on the potential capacity of researchers to perform integration by "modulating" their decisions. Engineering research decisions were found to be subject to societal influences, and researchers were found to become aware of the possibility of modulating their decisions accordingly. The interactions were not found to hamper research and were found to add value to research. No attempt was made to alter research decisions, only to stimulate awareness of the possibility of doing so. Still, one researcher did alter several decisions as a result of the study. Midstream modulation represents a promising approach for implementing US nanotechnology policy.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Thoracic Chemoreceptors in the Dog: A Histological and Electrophysiological Study of the Location, Innervation and Blood Supply of the Aortic Bodies

Anatomical and electrophysiological techniques were employed to investigate the aortic bodies in anesthetized puppies and dogs. The microscopic appearance, location, innervation, and vasculature of the aortic bodies were investigated by microdissection and histological examination of gelatine-injected preparations. Thoracic chemoreceptor impulses were recorded from the cervical vagus nerves, the nervous pathways in the thorax identified by cold blockade, and the blood supply to the receptors investigated by injection of drugs. Large, circumscribed aortic bodies were few, the majority of glomus cells being scattered in small groups along the vagal branches coursing on the walls of the pulmonary artery and aorta. Very few bodies were found in groups 1 and 2 at the right and left subclavian angles. The majority were in group 3, ventral to the aortic arch and pulmonary bifurcation and supplied by the ventromedial cervical cardiac branch of the left vagus, and in group 4, between the aorta and pulmonary artery, supplied by the recurrent cardiac branch of the right vagus. The arterial supply to the aortic chemoreceptors stemmed from the aorta and the brachiocephalic and left coronary arteries. In neither puppies nor adult dogs was there evidence of a supply from the pulmonary artery.
CPT and lorentz tests with muons

Precision experiments with muons are sensitive to Planck-scale $\mathrm{CPT}$ and Lorentz violation that is undetectable in other tests. Existing data on the muonium ground-state hyperfine structure and on the muon anomalous magnetic moment could be analyzed to provide dimensionless figures of merit for $\mathrm{CPT}$ and Lorentz violation at the levels of $4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}21}$ and ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}23}$.
Evaluating environmental modeling and sampling data with biomarker data to identify sources and routes of exposure

Abstract Exposure to environmental chemicals results from multiple sources, environmental media, and exposure routes. Ideally, modeled exposures should be compared to biomonitoring data. This study compares the magnitude and variation of modeled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposures resulting from emissions to outdoor and indoor air and estimated exposure inferred from biomarker levels. Outdoor emissions result in both inhalation and food-based exposures. We modeled PAH intake doses using U.S. EPA's 2002 National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) county-level emissions data for outdoor inhalation, the CalTOX model for food ingestion (based on NATA emissions), and indoor air concentrations from field studies for indoor inhalation. We then compared the modeled intake with the measured urine levels of hydroxy-PAH metabolites from the 2001–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) survey as quantifiable human intake of PAH parent-compounds. Lognormal probability plots of modeled intakes and estimated intakes inferred from biomarkers suggest that a primary route of exposure to naphthalene, fluorene, and phenanthrene for the U.S. population is likely inhalation from indoor sources. For benzo(a)pyrene, the predominant exposure route is likely from food ingestion resulting from multi-pathway transport and bioaccumulation due to outdoor emissions. Multiple routes of exposure are important for pyrene. We also considered the sensitivity of the predicted exposure to the proportion of the total naphthalene production volume emitted to the indoor environment. The comparison of PAH biomarkers with exposure variability estimated from models and sample data for various exposure pathways supports that both indoor and outdoor models are needed to capture the sources and routes of exposure to environmental contaminants.
Prediction of the number of activated genes in multiple independent Cd(+2)- and As(+3)-induced malignant transformations of human urothelial cells (UROtsa).

Background Many toxic environmental agents such as cadmium and arsenic are found to be epidemiologically linked to increasing rates of cancers. In vitro studies show that these toxic agents induced malignant transformation in human cells. It is not clear whether such malignant transformation induced by a single toxic agent is driven by a common set of genes. Although the advancement of high-throughput technology has facilitated the profiling of global gene expression, it remains a question whether the sample size is sufficient to identify this common driver gene set. Results We have developed a statistical method, SOFLR, to predict the number of common activated genes using a limited number of microarray samples. We conducted two case studies, cadmium and arsenic transformed human urothelial cells. Our method is able to precisely predict the number of stably induced and repressed genes and the number of samples to identify the common activated genes. The number of independent transformed isolates required for identifying the common activated genes is also estimated. The simulation study further validated our method and identified the important parameters in this analysis. Conclusions Our method predicts the degree of similarity and diversity during cell malignant transformation by a single toxic agent. The results of our case studies imply the existence of common driver and passenger gene sets in toxin-induced transformation. Using a pilot study with small sample size, this method also helps microarray experimental design by determining the number of samples required to identify the common activated gene set.