cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D depletion following burn injury in children: a possible factor in post-burn osteopenia.

Background: Children burned > 40% total body surface area (TBSA) have chronically low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk for fractures and adult-onset osteoporosis. Because they are advised to avoid sunlight to prevent burn scar hyperpigmentation, we hypothesized that they develop vitamin D depletion, which could contribute to post-burn osteopenia. Methods: We studied 24 children, ages 5-20 years, burned ≥ 40% TBSA 7.1 ± 3.8 (SD) years, range 1.9-13.3 years, previously (n = 12) and 2.0 ± 0.2, range 1.4-2.1 years, previously (n = 12), of which half received recombinant human growth hormone during the first post-burn year. We measured lumbar spine BMD, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH) 2 D), intact PTH (iPTH), and osteocalcin. Results: Serum 25(OH)D was low in 10/11 patients and 1,25(OH) 2 D was low in 5/11 at 7 years post-burn. Serum 25(OH)D was low in 10/12, while 1,25(OH) 2 D was low in 0/12 at 2 years; osteocalcin was low in 9/12 in the 7-year group; iPTH levels were in the lowest quartile in 5/12 patients at 7 years and 10/12 patients at 2 years. Serum 25(OH)D levels correlated with BMD z-scores, r = 0.53, p < 0.05, and inversely with iPTH levels, r = -0.66, p < 0.05, in the 7-year group. Conclusion: Burned children have low circulating levels of 25(OH)D which correlated with BMD z-scores, suggesting that post-burn vitamin D depletion may play a role in the chronically low bone density observed in these children.
High-resolution analysis of engineered type I collagen nanofibers by electron microscopy

Collagen nanofibers were generated at ambient temperature and pressure by electrospinning a 1wt% solution of type I collagen and polyethylene oxide. Products were imaged with high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) at medium (∼30,000 ×) and high magnifications (∼100,000 ×) and with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The capacity to produce collagen nanofibers may lead to the generation of extracellular matrix-based fabrics with applications in the fields of wound healing and tissue engineering.
Surface Tension Effect on Transmembrane Channel Stability in a Model Membrane

The effect of surface tension on the lipid bilayer membrane is a question that has drawn considerable research effort. This interest has been driven both by the desire to determine the surface tension effects on the lipid bilayer and from the suggestion that adding finite surface tension to a small membrane system may provide more realistic lipid properties in molecular dynamics simulations. Here, the effect of surface tension on a palmitololelylphosphatidylcholine (POPC) bilayer membrane containing a four-helix transmembrane alamethicin peptide bundle is investigated. Simulations of 10 ns were undertaken for two different ensembles, NPT and NP(z)gammaT with a surface tension, gamma, of 20 mN m(-1) per interface, which is near the pore-forming region. The significance of differences between the tension-free and surface tension simulations was determined using nonparametric statistical analysis on replicate simulations with different initial conditions. The results suggest that, when the membrane is under surface tension, the peptide helical structure is perturbed from that in the tension-free state but that the bundle conformation is more stable than that in the tension-free state, with hydrogen bonding playing an important stabilizing role. Surface tension counteracts the influence of the transmembrane helix bundle on nearby lipid order, making the lipid order more uniform throughout the membrane in the tension state. Conversely, the lipid mobility was less uniform in the tension state, with lipids far from the bundle being significantly more mobile than those near the bundle. One general implication of the results is that surface tension can affect the membrane nonuniformly, in that the properties of lipids near the peptide are different from those further away.
The spindle pole body of Schizosaccharomyces pombe enters and leaves the nuclear envelope as the cell cycle proceeds.

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from "http://www.molbiolcell.org".
A global approach to HIV-1 vaccine development

A global human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) vaccine will have to elicit immune responses capable of providing protection against a tremendous diversity of HIV-1 variants. In this review, we first describe the current state of the HIV-1 vaccine field, outlining the immune responses that are desired in a global HIV-1 vaccine. In particular, we emphasize the likely importance of Env-specific neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies for protection against HIV-1 acquisition and the likely importance of effector Gag-specific T lymphocytes for virologic control. We then highlight four strategies for developing a global HIV-1 vaccine. The first approach is to design specific vaccines for each geographic region that include antigens tailor-made to match local circulating HIV-1 strains. The second approach is to design a vaccine that will elicit Env-specific antibodies capable of broadly neutralizing all HIV-1 subtypes. The third approach is to design a vaccine that will elicit cellular immune responses that are focused on highly conserved HIV-1 sequences. The fourth approach is to design a vaccine to elicit highly diverse HIV-1-specific responses. Finally, we emphasize the importance of conducting clinical efficacy trials as the only way to determine which strategies will provide optimal protection against HIV-1 in humans.
Panic episodes among patients with diabetes.

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of panic episodes in persons with diabetes and the demographic, behavioral and clinical characteristics associated with panic symptoms in persons with diabetes. Method A survey mailed to 4385 patients with diabetes assessed recent experiences of panic episodes, depression, diabetes symptoms, quality of life, disability, smoking status and body mass index. Automated medical record data were used to measure diabetes treatment, hemoglobin A1c (Hb A1c ) levels, diabetes complications and medical comorbidity. Results One hundred ninety-three (4.4%) participants reported recent panic episodes, among whom 54.5% also met criteria for major depression. After accounting for the effects of depression, panic episodes were associated with higher Hb A1c values, increased diabetic complications and symptoms, greater disability and lower self-rated health and functioning. Conclusion Panic is strongly associated with decrements in disease status and functioning. Since panic is often comorbid with depression, efforts to address psychological disorders among persons with diabetes may need to pay increased attention to anxiety and mood disorders.
Interfaces in a modified Inconel 718 with compact precipitates

Interfaces in a modified Inconel 718 containing compact precipitates were investigated using high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Morphology configuration and crystallography of the compact precipitate were confirmed as cube-shaped {gamma}{prime} precipitate and all six faces were coated with a thin shell, these shells could be classified as three variants of disc-shaped {gamma}{double_prime} precipitates on {l_brace}001{r_brace} planes of the matrix, and the [001] orientations (c-axis) of the three variants of {gamma}{double_prime} precipitate shells were parallel to [001], [010] and [100] orientations of the matrix. The interfaces of {gamma}{double_prime} precipitate/matrix, {gamma}{prime} precipitate/matrix, and {gamma}{double_prime} precipitate/{gamma}{prime} precipitate were fully cube-cube coherent, and the atoms at both sides of the interfaces maintained a perfect match with no disordered structure transition region. It was suggested that the higher thermal stability of the modified Inconel 718 alloy than that of conventional Inconel 718 alloy was due to the morphology configuration of the compact precipitate and fully coherent interfaces among the {gamma}{prime} precipitate, {gamma}{double_prime} precipitate and matrix.
Statistical Evaluation of Toxicological Experimental Design for Bayesian Model Averaged Benchmark Dose Estimation with Dichotomous Data

ABSTRACT A method is presented to statistically evaluate toxicity study design for dose– response assessment aimed at minimizing the uncertainty in resulting Benchmark dose (BMD) estimates. Although the BMD method has been accepted as a valuable tool for risk assessment, the traditional no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL)/lowest observed adverse effective level (LOAEL) approach is still the principal basis for toxicological study design. To develop similar protocols for experimental design for BMD estimation, methods are needed that account for variability in experimental outcomes, and uncertainty in dose–response model selection and model parameter estimates. Based on Bayesian model averaging (BMA) BMD estimation, this study focuses on identifying the study design criteria that can reduce the uncertainty in BMA BMD estimates by using a Monte Carlo pre-posterior analysis on BMA BMD predictions. The results suggest that (1) as more animals are tested there is less uncertainty in BMD estimates; (2) one...
Cellular and Molecular Aspects of the Immune Response to a Bacterial Somatic Antigen

The immune response to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) somatic antigen of Shigella paradysenteriae was studied at the levels of humoral antibody and individual antibody-forming cells. Mice immunized with various doses of either LPS or wholecell vaccine rapidly developed serum agglutinins to the bacteria. Antibody activity was due to IgM globulins throughout the primary and secondary responses. LPSsensitized ovine erythrocytes permitted assessment of the serum antibody response and were useful for detection and enumeration of specific antibody plaque-forming cells in spleens of immunized animals. Antibody-forming cells rapidly appeared after immunization and peaked on days 5 and 6. Only 19S IgM antibodyforming cells were stimulated by the shigella antigen. Immunologic tolerance to shigella LPS was induced by injection of a relatively large inoculum into neonatal mice and persisted for at least six to eight weeks, with markedly depressed cellular and humoral antibody responses after challenge. Extracts rich in ribonucleic acid (RNA) from spleens of normal immune and tolerant donor mice transferred antibody-forming activity to normal or shigella-primed mice. Immunogenic activity of these RNA extracts was abolished by in-vitro treatment with RNAase or specific antibody to Shigella; thus both RNA and a persisting antigen fragment appear to contribute to biologic activity. The significance of immunogenic RNA extracts during immunogenesis and tolerogenesis was studied.
A Note on the Global Stability of a Simple Growth Model with Many Capital Goods

I. Introduction, 657. — II. The model, 658. — III. Reduction of the system, 660, — IV. The accumulation equations, 660. — V. Global stability, 660. — Appendix, 664.
Nondestructive quantification of internal damage in rough rice caused by insects and fungus

A machine vision system was developed to inspect and estimate the internal damage of rough rice. A modified dark field illumination technique was use to direct light through the rice kernels without saturating the CCD camera. Under modified dark field illumination, the good portions of the rice kernels appeared translucent, while the damaged portions appeared opaque as well as some portions of the hull and the germ of the kernel. A combination of thresholding and morphological operators were used to segment the dark areas and to approximate the actual damaged area. The rice was visually separated into categories of undamaged, spot dammed, and damaged by trained entomologist and plant pathologists. The machine vision system was 91.5 percent successful overall for correctly categorizing a test sample of rice kernels.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Selective metal deposition using low-dose focused ion-beam patterning

In situ processing is rapidly becoming a reality with the development of vacuum compatible growth doping etching and deposition techniques. Focused ion beam (FIB) technology may play a critical role in this field since it offers a wide range of new maskiess processing techniques. Selective three - dimensional doping micromachining of optical structures and organometallic deposition have been demonstrated using a variety of FIB systems. However previous localized deposition procedures using FIB''s have suffered from high levels of impurity contamination and low writing speeds. Typically the impurity levels in Al W or Au deposits have been much greater than 20 and ion doses of 1017 to 1018/cm2 have been required. While these characteristics are acceptable for optical or x-ray mask repair a more sensitive and higher purity process is desirable for circuit reconfiguration and in situ fabrication. Previous FIB deposition techniques have relied on ion-induced decomposition processes that occur when an adlayer is bombarded with a beam of ions. Since the decomposition products have generally had low volatility and therefore have remained on the surface the resulting deposits have contained high percentages of carbon and oxygen. In addition the atomic yields (atoms deposited per incident ion) have been extremely low ranging from 1 to 100. Thus it is believed that collisions between secondary electrons produced near the surface by the primary ions and the surface gas molecules are responsible for the© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cell surface receptors for murine leukemia viruses: Two assays and their implications

Abstract Two assays were developed for identifying individual cells which bear murine leukemia virus receptors: an erythrocyte rosette assay for ecotropic receptors, and an efficient immune cytotoxic assay for cells with ecotropic or amphotropic receptors. Both assays indicate that ecotropic MuLV adsorbed to its cell surface receptor only slowly becomes internalized. Furthermore, attempts to isolate murine fibroblast variants lacking these ecotropic MuLV receptors were unsuccessful, suggesting either that mutations in the receptor gene are rare (less than 10' per generation) or that the receptor is required for cell viability. These assays are rapid and can be used to identify receptor-bearing cells in mixed populations, a prerequisite for molecular genetic studies.
Effects of positive and negative adult-child interactions on children's task performance and task preferences☆

Abstract In individual sessions, an adult directed three boys to work on each of three different tasks. Within a given session the on-task behavior for one task was praised, the off-task behavior for another task was verbally reprimanded, and all behavior was ignored with the third task. Using a multielement baseline design, the manner in which the adult interacted with the children on a given task varied from day to day. Across 18 sessions, verbal reprimands produced the highest task rates, with praise producing only a slightly higher rate of responding than noninteraction. After each session the children were given the choice of which of the three tasks they wished to work on when the adult left the room for a few minutes. Tasks associated with verbal reprimands of off-task behavior were never chosen. The first and second choices were always the task associated with praise for on-task behavior or the task where the children were ignored. These preferences generalized to similar tasks.
Arabic character recognition system: a statistical approach for recognizing cursive typewritten text

Abstract Character recognition systems can contribute tremendously to the advancement of automation process, and can improve the interface between man and machine (computers) in many applications, including office automation and data entry. In this report we present a recognition system for typed Arabic text, which involves a statistical approach for character recognition. This approach uses “Accumulative Invariant Moments” as an identifier, which helped in the segmentation of connected and overlapping Arabic characters. However, Invariant Moments proved to be very sensitive to slight changes in a character shape. These changes are normally due to typing and the scanning process, and cannot be avoided. The recognition zone was defined based on the mean and standard deviation for the moments of a large sample of each character. However, this zone was increased, using an empirical multiplier, to improve recognition rate. The system was implemented on a mainframe in APL programming language for ease of experimentation, and then transported to a PC environment in BASIC for better portability. The recognition rate achieved was 94%, with a recognition speed of 10.6 characters/minute, running on a PC/AT with a math co-processor.
Microelectronics wirebond pull and shear test simulations using finite element method

Microelectronics wirebonding is used in the vast majority of semiconductor assembly and packaging operations worldwide. In the last few years, much of the manufacturing that traditionally had been gold (Au) wirebond has switched to using copper (Cu) wire. Once a wirebond “recipe” is established in manufacturing, reliability is checked by Bond Pull Strength test (Mil-Std 883G method 2011) and Bond Shear test (JEDEC JESD22 B116A). Both industry standards were established based on gold (Au) wirebonds. Cu wire is stronger and stiffer, producing higher values than Au in both pull and shear tests when well-bonded, so companies are comfortably complying with the old Au reliability limits while using Cu wire. But in fact, Cu intermetallic (IMC) growth and bonding is quite different than for Au, and failure modes in the shear test can be different for Cu than for Au. A new committee is active to revise the JESD22 B116A method to cover Cu wirebond as well as Au. BYU-Idaho students have responded to recent interest in switching from Au to copper Cu wire, modeling both the bond pull strength and bond shear tests using finite element methods. Simulations include the various ball bond wire types (Au, Cu, and silver (Ag) alloys), ball sizes, pad aluminum (Al) thicknesses, and IC bond pad structures in silicon wafers. Results show how stresses imparted to the bond pad in these reliability tests change when switching wire types, etc., helping to explain the physical results as well as to indicate potential issues in the interpretation of failure modes.
The changing impact of the AIDS epidemic on older-age parents in the era of ART: evidence from Thailand.

Previous research makes clear that before antiretroviral therapy (ART), when HIV led to disabling illness and certain death, many older persons as parents of infected adults experienced adverse emotional, material and social consequences. The present study examines how widespread access to ART is transforming the situation in Thailand. Interviews with parents of adult ART recipients reveal that major improvements in the health of their adult children under treatment is associated with major reductions in parental caregiving and expenses associated with their HIV-infected child although parents continue to provide psychological support. Parents own worry about their child’s health also declines. Most adult children on ART are able to continue or resume economic activity and many contribute to support of the parental household. ART appears to reduce negative community reaction. Nevertheless, given uncertainty surrounding how long ART can protect against fatal illnesses, whether the adverse impacts of the AIDS epidemic on parents are being eliminated or only postponed remains an open question.
Attachment Theory and the Evolutionary Psychology of Religion

More than 40 years after its inception, Bowlby's theory of infant-mother attachment remains widely accepted and highly influential across many areas and applications of psychology, including the psychology of religion. As compelling as the theory is for explaining phenomena within its natural domain, however, its explanatory scope is inherently limited: There are many aspects of religion that it cannot, and should not be expected to, explain. From the perspective of contemporary evolutionary psychology—with which Bowlby's original theory has much in common—the attachment system is one among many functionally domain-specific cognitive adaptations that populate our species' evolved psychological architecture. Evolutionary psychology offers a valuable perspective within which the attachment system can be seen properly as just one (important) piece of a much larger puzzle—of psychology in general and religion in particular—as well as a powerful and generative paradigm for identifying and fitting together the ...
Isolation and purification of morphine receptor by affinity chromatography

Brain membranes were solubilized by sonication and Triton X-100 extraction and applied to an affinity column consisting of a 6-succinyl morphine derivative of Affi Gel-102. A fraction exhibiting high opiate binding was eluted by tris-buffer containing naloxone, CHAPS and NaCl. This fraction consisted of both proteins and acidic lipids. The opiate binding properties of this purified material exhibited many properties similar to those of membrane bound receptors of the u-type, including high affinity, stereospecificity, Na-effect and rank order in affinity for opiates. This opiate binding material was highly sensitive to both trypsin and N-ethylmaleimide. Based on the protein content of the isolated membrane receptor, a 3200-fold purification over the original brain P2 fraction was achieved.
3D ontology visualization in semantic search

While a variety of search and retrieval paradigms exist, semantic search has become a popular topic of interest for addressing the shortcomings of current technology. Ontology-driven semantic search, in particular, shows promise in increasing speed and accuracy of document indexing and retrieval. The majority of ontological search systems, however, focus primarily on how the ontology can improve classification performance and recall.This paper proposes three additional ways in which ontologies can be used to help users navigate a document space or result set. Using three-dimensional visualization techniques to map the structure of an ontology, a user can quickly see how concepts relate to each other. These same three-dimensional techniques can also be used to map an ontology onto a data or result set and provide a user with a new view of query results far removed from the typical lists of page hits. Furthermore, the view of results can present the user with "near misses" or subclasses of results within results to aid in query refinement.
Elementary excitation and energy landscape in simple liquids

The nature of excitations in liquids has been a subject of debate for a long time. In liquids, phonons are extremely short-lived and marginalized. Instead, recent research results indicate that local topological or configurational excitations (anankeons) are the elementary excitations in high temperature metallic liquids. Local topological excitations are those which locally alter the atomic connectivity network by cutting or forming atomic bonds, and are directly tied to the atomistic origin of viscosity in the liquid. The local potential energy landscape (PEL) of anankeons represents the probability weighted projection of the global PEL to a single atom. The original PEL is an insightful concept, but is highly multi-dimensional and difficult to characterize or even to visualize. A description in terms of the local PEL for anankeons appears to offer a simpler and more effective approach toward this complex problem. At the base of these advances, is the recognition that atomic discreteness and the topology of atomic connectivity are the most crucial features of the structure in liquids, which current nonlinear continuum theories cannot fully capture. These discoveries could open the way to the explanation of various complex phenomena in liquids, such as atomic transport, fragility, and the glass transition, in terms of these excitations.
Likelihood Gradient Ascent (LGA): A closed-loop decoder adaptation algorithm for brain-machine interfaces

Closed-loop decoder adaptation (CLDA) is an emerging paradigm for improving or maintaining the online performance of brain-machine interfaces (BMIs). Here, we present Likelihood Gradient Ascent (LGA), a novel CLDA algorithm for a Kalman filter (KF) decoder that uses stochastic, gradient-based corrections to update KF parameters during closed-loop BMI operation. LGA's gradient-based paradigm presents a variety of potential advantages over other “batch” CLDA methods, including the ability to update decoder parameters on any time-scale, even on every decoder iteration. Using a closed-loop BMI simulator, we compare the LGA algorithm to the Adaptive Kalman Filter (AKF), a partially gradient-based CLDA algorithm that has been previously tested in non-human primate experiments. In contrast to the AKF's separate mean-squared error objective functions, LGA's update rules are derived directly from a single log likelihood objective, making it one step towards a potentially optimal continuously adaptive CLDA algorithm for BMIs.
Capillary effects on a particle rolling on a plane surface in the presence of a thin liquid film

An experimental study has been performed of the effects of a liquid film on a particle rolling on a planar surface using a combination of laser-induced fluorescence and particle-image velocimetry. Contact angle hysteresis leads to asymmetry of the liquid meniscus, resulting in a difference in contact angle between the front and rear sections of the meniscus relative to the rolling particle. This asymmetry results in a capillary torque that resists the rolling motion of the particle. The particle rolling motion also induces a viscous transport of fluid from the front to the rear of the particle, which acts to shift the location of the contact point. The laser-induced fluorescence method is used to characterize the meniscus asymmetry and the resulting change in contact angle on the two sides of the particle. Particle-image velocimetry in various horizontal and vertical cross-sectional planes is used to examine the flow trajectories and velocity magnitude within the meniscus in the presence of rolling. All experiments are conducted at small capillary number, so that the meniscus is approximately circular in shape.
The role of Wnt5a in prostate gland development.

Abstract The Wnt genes encode a large family of secreted glycoproteins that play important roles in controlling tissue patterning, cell fate and proliferation during development. Currently, little is known regarding the role(s) of Wnt genes during prostate gland development. The present study examines the role of the noncanonical Wnt 5a during prostate gland development in rat and murine models. In the rat prostate, Wnt 5a mRNA is expressed by distal mesenchyme during the budding stage and localizes to periductal mesenchymal cells with an increasing proximal-to-distal gradient during branching morphogenesis. Wnt 5a protein is secreted and localizes to periductal stroma, extracellular matrix and epithelial cells in the distal ducts. While Wnt 5a expression is high during active morphogenesis in all prostate lobes, ventral prostate (VP) expression declines rapidly following morphogenesis while dorsal (DP) and lateral lobe (LP) expression remains high into adulthood. Steroids modulate prostatic Wnt 5a expression during early development with testosterone suppressing Wnt 5a and neonatal estrogen increasing expression. In vivo and ex vivo analyses of developing mouse and rat prostates were used to assess the functional roles of Wnt 5a. Wnt 5a −/− murine prostates rescued by organ culture exhibit disturbances in bud position and directed outgrowth leading to large bulbous sacs in place of elongating ducts. In contrast, epithelial cell proliferation, ductal elongation and branchpoint formation are suppressed in newborn rat prostates cultured with exogenous Wnt 5a protein. While renal grafts of Wnt 5a −/− murine prostates revealed that Wnt 5a is not essential for cyto- and functional differentiation, a role in luminal cell polarity and lumenization of the ducts was indicated. Wnt 5a suppresses prostatic Shh expression while Shh stimulates Wnt 5a expression in a lobe-specific manner during early development indicating that Wnt 5a participates in cross-talk with other members of the gene regulatory network that control prostate development. Although Wnt 5a does not influence prostatic expression of other Wnt morphogens, it suppresses Wif -1 expression and can thus indirectly modulate Wnt signaling. In summary, the present finds demonstrate that Wnt 5a is essential for normal prostate development where it regulates bud outgrowth, ductal elongation, branching, cell polarity and lumenization. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on regulatory mechanisms involved in prostate gland development which are key to understanding abnormal growth processes associated with aging.
Surgical Treatment of Acute and Chronic Anterior and Posterior Cruciate Ligament Medial Side Injuries of the Knee

Summary:Multiple knee ligament injuries involving the anterior cruciate ligament, (ACL) posterior cruciate ligament, (PCL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL), constitute a knee dislocation with significant knee morbidity. Evaluation includes history and physical exam and appropriate imaging studie
Correlates of attitudes toward the sexuality of the disabled person in selected health professionals

The attitudes of health professionals toward sexuality and disability have recently been under much scrutiny. These attitudes have been characterized as essentially negative. This study was undertaken in an attempt to clarify the relationship between attitudes toward sexuality, attitudes toward disability and attitudes toward the sexual behavior of the disabled. Fifty-three health professionals from three rehabilitation centers served as subjects. Subjects completed a research packet that included theAttitude Toward Disabled Persons Test, Sex Knowledge and Attitude Test and a researcher-designed Attitude Toward Sexual Behavior of the Disabled semantic differential. It was found that attitudes toward disability did not correlate with sex knowledge, attitudes or with attitudes toward the sexual behavior of the disabled. Attitudes toward the sexual behavior of the disabled is best predicted by attitudes toward premarital and extramartial sex and attitudes toward autoeroticism. The data indicate that attitudes toward the sexual behavior of the disabled are associated more with fundamental sex attitudes than with attitudes toward disability. Sex knowledge is not related to attitudes toward sexual behavior of the disabled. It was recommended that programs designed to change attitudes toward sexual behavior of the disabled should focus on attitudes as opposed to knowledge.
Diffusion tensor imaging in pediatric Chiari type I malformation.

Aim Chiari type I malformation (C1M) may be symptomatic or asymptomatic as an incidental finding. In this retrospective study, we applied diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to study the brainstem and cerebellar white matter tracts in C1M. Method Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data were acquired on a 1.5T MR-scanner using balanced pairs of diffusion gradients along 20 non-collinear directions. Measurements from regions of interest in each pontine corticospinal tract, medial leminscus, and middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) and in the lower brainstem were obtained for fractional anisotropy and mean, axial, and radial diffusivity. Values in symptomatic and asymptomatic children, and children with and without hydromyelia were compared using analysis of variance. Results Fifteen children with C1M (10 males, five females; six symptomatic [four with hydromyelia] and nine asymptomatic) were included. Median age was 6 years 5 months (range 2y 10mo–15y 4mo). No significant differences in DTI scalars were found in the lower brainstem. In both MCPs, axial diffusivity values were lower in symptomatic than in asymptomatic children (p=0.049 and p=0.035 respectively) and higher in children with hydromyelia versus without hydromyelia (p=0.018 and p=0.006 respectively). In the left MCP, mean diffusivity values were lower in symptomatic than in asymptomatic children (p=0.047). Interpretation Our results show that microstructural tissue alterations may be present in C1M. Additionally, our study suggests a specific role for the MCPs in C1M. Further large-scale studies are warranted.
Behaviors of passive safety systems under a Feed Water Line Break LOCA on a Generation III+ Boiling Water Reactor

Abstract A postulated Large Break Loss-Of-Coolant-Accident (LB LOCA) on a generic Generation III+ Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) equipped with passive safety systems has been analyzed by conducting integral tests at a scale-down test facility, named Purdue University Multi-Dimensional Integral Test Assembly (PUMA). The integral tests simulate the hypothetical Feed Water Line Break (FWLB) accident caused by a guillotine rupture of the Feed Water Line (FWL) attached to the reactor vessel. This research is motivated to evaluate the behaviors of passive safety systems and to provide experimental data for the Validation and Verification (V&V) of related system codes. The experiment simulates the LOCA transient after the reactor vessel depressurizes to 1 MPa (150 psi) from normal operating pressure. The early high-pressure blowdown process of LOCA transient is simulated by the system code. The plant system conditions at 1.0 MPa calculated by the system code are interpreted as the initial conditions for the integral test with appropriate scaling. The normal FWLB integral test is also repeated with the partial failure of the PCCS to evaluate the safety margin. Experimental data indicates that this LB LOCA is successfully mitigated by the functioning of Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) and Passive Containment Cooling system (PCCS), with no occurrence of core uncover or containment overpressure.
Structural characterization of Pt-Pd and Pd-Pt core-shell nanoclusters at atomic resolution

We describe the results of a study at atomic resolution of the structures exhibited by polymer-capped monometallic and bimetallic Pt and Pd nanoclusters—models for nanoscale material electrocatalysts—as carried out using an aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). The coupling of sub-nanometer resolution with Z-contrast measurements provides unprecedented insights into the atomic structures and relative elemental speciation of Pt and Pd within these clusters. The work further defines the nature of deeply quenched states that prevent facile conversions of core−shell motifs to equilibrium alloys and the nature of nonidealities such as twinning (icosahedral cores) and atomic segregation that these structures can embed. The nature of the facet structure present in these model systems is revealed by theory directed modeling in which experimental intensity profiles obtained in Z-contrast measurements at atomic resolution are compared to simulated intensity profiles using theoretica...
Multi-attributed tagged big data exploitation for hidden concepts discovery

Analysts who are using visualization methods for big data concept exploration increasingly expect to comprehend more distinct relationships and prominent concepts in support of their hypotheses or decisions. To expedite this knowledge discovery process, Vector Space Modeling (VSM) in conjunction with probabilistic analysis enables rapid knowledgebased relationship discovery while allowing for exploration of multi-embedded concepts than otherwise it is difficult to perceive. In this paper, we present a technique for intrinsic ontology concepts similarity matching based on VSM for exploitation and knowledge discovery from multimodality sensors metadata generated in Persistent Surveillance Systems (PSS). To reduce data dimensionality, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) is applied to arrive at more abstract concepts. The proposed technique is able to reveal intrinsic concept relationships from multi-dimensional metadata structures. Experimental results demonstrate effectiveness of this approach for analytical ontological patterns exploitation. In this paper, the expediency of this technique for Visual Analytics application is demonstrated. The result indicates that the newly developed system can significantly enhance situation awareness and expedite actionable decision making.
Turbulence in ferrofluids in channel flow with steady and oscillating magnetic fields.

The turbulent flow of a ferrofluid in channel flow is studied using direct numerical simulation. The method of analysis is an extension of that used for Newtonian fluids, with additional features necessary to model the ferrofluid. The analysis is applied to low Reynolds number turbulence in the range of existing experimental data in a capillary. For steady and oscillating magnetic fields, comparisons are made between a Newtonian fluid and a ferrofluid by comparing the pressure drop, turbulent Reynolds number, turbulent kinetic energy ($k$), Reynolds stress, velocity, and spin profiles. The results are also compared with predictions of a $k\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\varepsilon}$ model to show the accuracy of that model when applied to ferrofluids, where $\ensuremath{\varepsilon}$ is the rate of viscous dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy.
The Insulator Binding Protein CTCF Positions 20 Nucleosomes around Its Binding Sites across the Human Genome

Chromatin structure plays an important role in modulating the accessibility of genomic DNA to regulatory proteins in eukaryotic cells. We performed an integrative analysis on dozens of recent datasets generated by deep-sequencing and high-density tiling arrays, and we discovered an array of well-positioned nucleosomes flanking sites occupied by the insulator binding protein CTCF across the human genome. These nucleosomes are highly enriched for the histone variant H2A.Z and 11 histone modifications. The distances between the center positions of the neighboring nucleosomes are largely invariant, and we estimate them to be 185 bp on average. Surprisingly, subsets of nucleosomes that are enriched in different histone modifications vary greatly in the lengths of DNA protected from micrococcal nuclease cleavage (106–164 bp). The nucleosomes enriched in those histone modifications previously implicated to be correlated with active transcription tend to contain less protected DNA, indicating that these modifications are correlated with greater DNA accessibility. Another striking result obtained from our analysis is that nucleosomes flanking CTCF sites are much better positioned than those downstream of transcription start sites, the only genomic feature previously known to position nucleosomes genome-wide. This nucleosome-positioning phenomenon is not observed for other transcriptional factors for which we had genome-wide binding data. We suggest that binding of CTCF provides an anchor point for positioning nucleosomes, and chromatin remodeling is an important component of CTCF function.
Human eyelid conditioning with paraorbital shock as the US

The purpose of the present investigations was to delineate associative and nonassociative effects of paraorbital shock on conditioning (Experiment 1); and to determine the effects of shock intensity on the frequency and form of eyelid CRs (Experiment 2). The studies revealed: (1) unequivocal evidence of conditioning with paraorbital shock; (2) that rate and asymptotic level of conditioning was a direct function of shock intensity; and (3) a large proportion of Ss could be classified as presumed “voluntary responders.” The relevance of these findings to the law of effect and “voluntary responder” controversy in human eyelid conditioning were discussed.
Photochemical competence of assembled photosystem II core complex in cyanobacterial plasma membrane

Cyanobacterial cells have two autonomous internal membrane systems, plasma membrane and thylakoid membrane. In these oxygenic photosynthetic organisms the assembly of the large membrane protein complex photosystem II (PSII) is an intricate process that requires the recruitment of numerous protein subunits and cofactors involved in excitation and electron transfer processes. Precise control of this assembly process is necessary because electron transfer reactions in partially assembled PSII can lead to oxidative damage and degradation of the protein complex. In this communication we demonstrate that the activation of PSII electron transfer reactions in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 takes place sequentially. In this organism partially assembled PSII complexes can be detected in the plasma membrane. We have determined that such PSII complexes can undergo light-induced charge separation and contain a functional electron acceptor side but not an assembled donor side. In contrast, PSII complexes in thylakoid membrane are fully assembled and capable of multiple turnovers. We conclude that PSII reaction center cores assembled in the plasma membrane are photochemically competent and can catalyze single turnovers. We propose that upon transfer of such PSII core complexes to the thylakoid membrane, additional proteins are incorporated followed by binding and activation of various donor side cofactors. Such a stepwise process protects cyanobacterial cells from potentially harmful consequences of performing water oxidation in a partially assembled PSII complex before it reaches its final destination in the thylakoid membrane.
Metal ion substrate inhibition of ferrochelatase.

Ferrochelatase catalyzes the insertion of ferrous iron into protoporphyrin IX to form heme. Robust kinetic analyses of the reaction mechanism are complicated by the instability of ferrous iron in aqueous solution, particularly at alkaline pH values. At pH 7.00 the half-life for spontaneous oxidation of ferrous ion is approximately 2 min in the absence of metal complexing additives, which is sufficient for direct comparisons of alternative metal ion substrates with iron. These analyses reveal that purified recombinant ferrochelatase from both murine and yeast sources inserts not only ferrous iron but also divalent cobalt, zinc, nickel, and copper into protoporphyrin IX to form the corresponding metalloporphyrins but with considerable mechanistic variability. Ferrous iron is the preferred metal ion substrate in terms of apparent kcat and is also the only metal ion substrate not subject to severe substrate inhibition. Substrate inhibition occurs in the order Cu2+ > Zn2+ > Co2+ > Ni2+ and can be alleviated by the addition of metal complexing agents such as β-mercaptoethanol or imidazole to the reaction buffer. These data indicate the presence of two catalytically significant metal ion binding sites that may coordinately regulate a selective processivity for the various potential metal ion substrates.
Keynes's “Finance” Demand for Liquidity, Robertson's Loanable Funds Theory, and Friedman's Monetarism

Publisher Summary The crucial concession made by Keynes to the critics of his liquidity preference theory of interest rate is his acknowledgment of the so-called finance demand for liquidity, or the demand for finance for planned investment yet to be carried out. Ohlin espoused a Swedish variant of the neoclassical theory and contended that the rate of interest depends on the interaction at the margin between the supply of new credit due chiefly to ex ante savings and the demand for it arising chiefly out of ex ante investment. Ex ante investment is understood to be investment expenditures that are being planned; however, they are not yet carried out. Somewhat symmetrically, ex ante savings are defined as planned savings out of income that is expected to accrue subsequently. Ohlin suggested that the demand for credit or finance for the ex ante investment could be met by the supply of credit provided by ex ante savings. Unfortunately, to make the concept of ex ante savings symmetric to the concept of ex ante investment, Ohlin and his Swedish colleagues defined the former as planned savings out of incomes that are expected to accrue in the future. Keynes was certainly right in saying that the supply of finance must come out of existing cash balances or banks' credit creation. After all, the interest rate must still be determined by the demand for liquidity of money, including the newly recognized demand for finance, and the supply of liquidity, including new liquidity created by banks.
Recovery of reoviruses from wild and laboratory mice.

SummaryUsing virus isolation and serologic survey procedures, the occurrence of natural reovirus infection in mice has been detected. Four isolates of reovirus type 2 were recovered from urban and rural wild mice; 7 strains of reovirus type 3 were isolated from normal laboratory mice and transplant-induced mouse leukemias. Antibody to type 2 was found focally distributed in wild mice, but was not encountered in laboratory mice. A low titer serum inhibitor of type 3 HA and infectivity, possibly representing specific antibody, was prevalent in laboratory mice.
Performance Evaluation of Roadway Subdrain Outlets in Iowa

The bearing capacity and service life of a pavement are adversely affected by the presence of undrained water in the pavement layers. In cold winter climates, such as in Iowa, this problem is magnified further by the risk of frost damage when water is present. Therefore, well-performing subsurface drainage systems form an important aspect of pavement design by the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). However, there was a need to determine the impacts of not maintaining the subdrain outlets on pavement performance in Iowa in light of the recent Iowa DOT field maintenance staff reductions and budget cuts and the implications on subdrain outlet maintenance. Consequently, a research study was initiated to conduct a performance review of primary interstate pavement subdrains in Iowa and determine the cause of the problem if there were drains that were not functioning properly. Field investigations were conducted on 64 selected (jointed plain concrete pavement and hot-mix asphalt) pavement sites during the ...
Depth-focused interior echo imaging

This paper is concerned with an echo imaging system which utilizes focused beams of an aperture along a specific contour, for example, a line or a circular arc, in both the transmit and receive modes for data collection. Such data collection strategies are useful for imaging internal structures of a target which are located at a certain depth relative to the aperture; unfocused echo signature of an interior structure possesses a low signal-to-clutter/noise power ratio, and is not desirable. The conventional methods for depth-focused echo imaging use transmit/receive focusing on a set of prescribed points in the spatial domain (that is, a two-dimensional grid); this is exceedingly time-consuming though it does not require any postprocessing of the measured data. The proposed scheme of depth-focusing along a contour requires a significantly smaller time period for data acquisition, and relies on a relatively fast Fourier-based method for image formation. This Fourier-based method is shown to be applicable in near-field as well as far-field imaging scenarios, and does not put any restrictions on the size of the aperture, the size of the target area, and the frequency of radiation. The approach is applicable in depth-focused imaging with a mechanically rotating focused aperture, or a phased array. Results are provided.
Extracting Rich, Quantitative Information from Images Using Open-Source Software

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2008 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, August 3 – August 7, 2008