cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microstructural effects on tension behavior of Cu-15Ni-8Sn sheet

Abstract The effects of systematic changes in microstructure/heat treatment on the mechanical behavior of Cu–15Ni–8Sn (Pfinodal®) were evaluated in uniaxial tension. Multiple samples were tested and fracture surfaces were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Significant effects of cold work and heat treatment on the tension behavior were obtained and rationalized based on the mechanisms of failure, revealed by SEM, for this system.
Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-1 is increased in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia: a preliminary report.

Rationale: The diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) can be difficult. Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-1 (sTREM-1) has been reported to be elevated in BAL fluid from patients with VAP. Objectives: To evaluate the utility of sTREM-1 in the diagnosis of VAP in BAL fluid and the fluid collected in the expiratory trap from the ventilator, the exhaled ventilator condensate (EVC). Methods: We prospectively collected BAL fluid and EVC from 23 patients clinically suspected of having VAP. A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to measure sTREM-1. The results derived from this assay were confirmed using an immunoblot technique. The presence of VAP was clinically determined using a modified clinical pulmonary infection score of > 6. Results: VAP was diagnosed in 14 of 23 patients. sTREM-1 was detected in the EVC from 11 of 14 subjects with VAP, but from only 1 of 9 subjects without VAP, and was significantly higher in the pneumonia patients and when expressed as picograms per milliliter or picograms per microgram protein (p = 0.005, both comparisons). In contrast, sTREM-1 was detected in the BAL fluid of all 14 VAP subjects but also in 8 of 9 subjects with no pneumonia, and did not differ in the VAP subjects compared to the nonpneumonia subjects when expressed as picrograms per milliliter or picograms per microgram protein (p > 0.05 both comparisons). Conclusion: sTREM-1 is detectable in EVC and may be useful in establishing or excluding the diagnosis of VAP.
Novel chemotherapy approaches in chemoradiation protocols.

Locally advanced cervical carcinoma had been treated with radiation therapy until 1999, when five different large clinical trials showed an overall survival benefit when chemotherapy was administered concomitantly with radiotherapy. The chemotherapy agents used in these trials were cisplatin, cisplatin combined with fluorouracil or hydroxyurea. Weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m 2 ) achieved the best responses, even when compared with the combination with fluorouracil. These results led the United States National Cancer Institute (NCI) to recommend platinum-based chemotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced cervical carcinoma. Other cytotoxic agents have been tried in combination with radiotherapy for the management of the disease, including carboplatin, paclitaxel, gemcitabine and even topotecan. Gemcitabine has shown promising results and the combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin has proved safe and effective. However, to date, there has been no agent or combination of agents to have shown superiority over weekly cisplatin. Biologic agents such as bevacizumab, cetuximab, sorafenib and erlotinib are currently being tried in different trials in combination with radiotherapy and cisplatin. Celecoxib, a COX-2 inhibitor was evaluated in an RTOG study in combination with cisplatin and flourouracil with radiation therapy with no apparent effect on DFS and poor rates of locoregional control. Chemoradiation is the current standard therapy in locally advanced cervical carcinoma. The integration of novel agents will be established by the ongoing clinical trials.
Further studies on the neurogenic control of the estrous cycle by uterine distention.

THE mechanism by which the corpus luteum is caused to persist following fertilization in mammals which ovulate spontaneously during each reproductive cycle and which do not show pseudopregnancy following cervical stimulation is not known. The effects of uterine distention and the apparent importance of the uterine afferent nerve supply on the regulation of the estrous cycle of the ewe have been observed by Moore and Nalbandov (1953). They have shown that a foreign body introduced into the sheep uterus during the early luteal phase of the estrous cycle causes a marked decrease in the mean length of the estrous cycle. This phenomenon is dependent upon the nerve supply to the distended area of the uterine horn. Similarly Huston and Nalbandov (1953) and van Tienhoven (1953) have shown that oviducal stimulation may alter the qualitative and quantitative gondadotrophin secretion in the chicken.
Pathogenicity of Bacillus thuringiensis variety kurstaki to Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae).

Pathogenicity of the entomopathogenic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis variety kurstaki de Barjac & Lemille was tested against the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say. Engorged larvae dipped in a solution of 108 spores per milliliter showed 96% mortality 3 wk after infection. The LC50 value for engorged larvae (concentration required to kill 50% of ticks) was 107 spores per milliliter. B. thuringiensis shows considerable potential as a microbial control agent for the management of I. scapularis.
Imposing inequality restrictions: efficiency gains from economic theory

Abstract Econometricians may feel that imposing inequality restrictions improves statistical efficiency, but no real empirical evidence exists. The results of a Monte Carlo experiment show that imposing the curvature conditions on a system of demand equations improves the MSEs on estimated elasticities from 3 to 50% depending on the signal-to-noise ratio and the sample size.
Molecular evidence that the H-2D and H-2L genes arose by duplication. Differences between the evolution of the class I genes in mice and humans.

To resolve issues regarding the evolution of D region class I MHC genes and their relationship to other class I-encoding regions of the mouse, as well as man, we characterized the class I genes from the Dq region of the B10.AKM mouse strain. The Dq region was selected because it was known to express multiple gene products, yet two of the products previously characterized have structural features in common with the Ld molecule. Since DNA hybridization data defined similarities between the Dd and Dq regions, we used low-copy genomic or oligonucleotide probes derived from the Dd region of BALB/c (H-2d) to screen a B10.AKM cosmid library. Cosmid clones containing Dq, D2q, D3q, D4q, Lq, and Q1q genes have been isolated and aligned with the corresponding genes of the BALB/c MHC, thus demonstrating a similar gene organization. The two classical transplantation genes, Dq and Lq were found to be strikingly similar to each other such that exons 1-3 of Dq and Lq, are approximately 97% homologous, and exons 4-8 are identical. Furthermore, the implied amino acid sequences of both Lq and Dq molecules show considerable homology to Ld, particularly in regions presumed to be involved in ligand binding. These comparisons suggest not only that the Dq and Lq genes arose from the duplication of an Ld-like progenitor, but also that there is a selective advantage for the maintenance of an Ld-like structure. In addition, the 5' portion of the D4q gene was sequenced and found to have a 13-bp deletion and a 4-bp insertion within the alpha 2 exon. These result in a frame shift that creates a premature termination codon and potential polyadenylation site, respectively. Thus, D4q does not encode a typical class I molecule. Sequence comparisons suggest that the D4q gene did not arise from a duplication event involving an Ld-like gene such as Dq and Lq. Interestingly, the D4q molecule, if produced, would have amino acid residues in common with K and/or Q molecules that differ from those observed in D/L molecules. These findings, in conjunction with hybridization data, provide evidence that the D2, D3, and D4 genes were derived from Q genes by an unequal crossover event. Additional hybridization data using low-copy D region probes suggest that several different D region gene organizations exist among mice of different haplotypes. These and other recent molecular studies provide multiple examples of expansion and contraction of the class I genes in the D region.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Tubby regulates microglial phagocytosis through MerTK

Immunologically-silent microglial phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and cellular debris is critical for CNS homeostasis and innate immune balance. The beneficial and detrimental effects of microglial phagocytosis on neurons remain controversial. Phagocytosis ligands are the key to selecting extracellular cargos, initiating the engulfment process, defining phagocyte functional roles and regulating phagocyte activities with therapeutic potentials. Here we characterized tubby as a new ligand to regulate microglial phagocytosis through MerTK receptor, which is well known for its immunosuppressive signaling. Tubby at 0.1nM significantly induced microglial phagocytosis of apoptotic cells with a maximal activity at 10nM. Tubby activated MerTK with receptor autophosphorylation in a similar dose range. Excessive soluble MerTK extracellular domain blocked tubby-mediated microglial phagocytosis of plasma membrane vesicles as cellular debris. Immunocytochemistry revealed that the ingested cargos were co-localized with MerTK-dependent non-muscle myosin II, whose rearrangement is necessary for cargo engulfment. Phagosome biomarker Rab7 was colocalized with cargos, suggesting that internalized cargos were targeted to phagocytic pathway. Tubby stimulated phagocytosis by neonatal and aged microglia with similar activities, but not by MerTK(-/-) microglia. These results suggest that tubby is a ligand to facilitate microglial phagocytosis through MerTK for the maintenance of CNS homeostasis.
Strategies for improving the reporting of human immunophenotypes by flow cytometry.

Background Flow cytometry is the gold standard for phenotyping and quantifying immune cells. New technologies have greatly increased our capacity to measure both routine and complex immunophenotypes. The reporting of immunophenotype data is not consistent in human studies yet it is quite critical for understanding disease specific changes, responses to immunotherapies, and normal immune homeostasis. Here we examine the barriers that hinder cross comparisons of flow cytometry data collected from human studies and clinical trials.
Challenges in Delay Testing of Integrated Circuits

Delay testing of integrated circuits is increasingly focused on detecting small delay defects, and improving correlation to functional test. In this talk we will describe our recent efforts and results on industrial designs.
Studies in Perturbation Theory. IX. Connection Between Various Approaches in the Recent Development—Evaluation of Upper Bounds to Energy Eigenvalues in Schrödinger's Perturbation Theory

The treatment of Schrodinger's perturbation theory based on the use of a series of inhomogeneous differential equations of iterative character is briefly surveyed. As an illustration, the method is used to derive the general expression for the expectation value of the Hamiltonian to any order which provides an upper bound for the ground‐state energy. It is indicated how the well‐known theory for inhomogeneous equations may be utilized also in this special case.The solution of the Schrodinger equation by means of the partitioning technique and the concept of reduced resolvents is then treated. It is shown that the expressions obtained are most conveniently interpreted in terms of inhomogeneous differential equations. A study of the connection with the first approach reveals that the two methods are essentially equivalent, but also that the use of reduced resolvents and inverse operators may give an alternative insight in the mathematical structure of perturbation theory, particularly with respect to the ``...
Memoirs of a Geologist: From Poverty Peak to Piggery Gulch

In the first half of this century, geologists began mapping the islands within the Pacific basin systematically, following the exploratory expeditions launched by major countries in the previous century. Into the remote oceanic expanses went Thomas A. Jaggar, Ruy H. Finch, Howel Williams, Harry S. Ladd, J. Edward Hoffmeister, Gordon A. Macdonald (to name only a few)—and Harold T. Stearns. These were the days of long ship travel without the convenience of airplanes. Cultural mixing had not resulted in the nearly homogenous amorphism that seems to exist now, and communication within and across the basin was slow and tedious.
Caffeine and Alcohol Intakes and Overall Nutrient Adequacy Are Associated with Longitudinal Cognitive Performance among U.S. Adults

Among modifiable lifestyle factors, diet may affect cognitive health. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations may exist between dietary exposures [e.g., caffeine (mg/d), alcohol (g/d), and nutrient adequacy] and cognitive performance and change over time. This was a prospective cohort study, the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (n = 628–1305 persons depending on the cognitive outcome; ~2 visits/person). Outcomes included 10 cognitive scores, spanning various domains of cognition. Caffeine and alcohol intakes and a nutrient adequacy score (NAS) were estimated from 7-d food diaries. Among key findings, caffeine intake was associated with better baseline global cognition among participants with a baseline age (Agebase) of ≥70 y. A higher NAS was associated with better baseline global cognition performance (overall, women, Agebase <70 y), better baseline verbal memory (immediate and delayed recall, Agebase ≥70 y), and slower rate of decline or faster improvement in the attention domain (women). For an Agebase of <70 y, alcohol consumption was associated with slower improvement on letter fluency and global cognition over time. Conversely, for an Agebase of ≥70 y and among women, alcohol intake was related to better baseline attention and working memory. In sum, patterns of diet and cognition associations indicate stratum-specific associations by sex and baseline age. The general observed trend was that of putative beneficial effects of caffeine intake and nutrient adequacy on domains of global cognition, verbal memory, and attention, and mixed effects of alcohol on domains of letter fluency, attention, and working memory. Further longitudinal studies conducted on larger samples of adults are needed to determine whether dietary factors individually or in combination are modifiers of cognitive trajectories among adults.
Differential Expression of Procollagen Genes Between Mid- and Late-Gestational Fetal Fibroblasts

Background Previously, we have shown that cutaneous wounds in mid-gestational (E15) mice heal in a scarless manner with decreased procollagen 1 and increased procollagen 3 production compared with wounds in late-gestational (E18) mice, which heal with scars. The aim of the current work was to determine whether E15 and E18 fibroblasts respond to stimulation in culture with differential procollagen expression, suggesting they may preserve their phenotype in vitro . Further, we wanted to determine if fetal fibroblast gene expression patterns persisted in tissue culture. We measured expression of procollagen types 1α1 and 3 in response to TGF- β 1 stimulation. We theorized that E15 fibroblasts would respond with a pattern of procollagen that would contribute to a more easily remodeled collagen. Methods Mid- and late-gestational fetal fibroblasts were obtained from dorsal skin harvested from fetuses of time-dated CD-1 mice. Cells were grown to confluence in culture plates overnight. Cell monolayers were treated with 0.01% bovine serum albumin (BSA) plus 10 ng/well of TGF- β 1. Cells were harvested at 6 and 24 h following treatment. Additional groups were treated with BSA alone (vehicle controls) and collected at 6 and 24 h. Another group without treatment was harvested after reaching confluence (0 time point). In a separate experiment to determine if gene expression patterns persisted, cells were treated with 0.01% BSA plus 10 ng/well of TGF- β 1 for 24 h, then harvested. A second group of cells were treated again at 24 h and harvested at 48 h. Additional cells were treated with BSA alone for 24 and 48 h, and another group without treatment was harvested after reaching confluence (0 time point). Cells were processed to obtain mRNA, cDNA was made, and then samples analyzed by QPCR. Results were analyzed by ANOVA and Holm-Sidak method. Results Procollagen 1α1 gene expression was decreased in E15 cells at 6 and 24 h following TGF- β 1 treatment, P P β 1, P P β 1-treated groups had decreased procollagen 3 at 48h compared with their respective BSA control groups, P Conclusions Our results from this in vitro work demonstrate a differential pattern of gene expression for procollagen 1α1 and 3 in E15 and E18 fibroblasts in response to TGF- β 1. E15 cells showed decreased expression of procollagen 1α1, while E18 cells showed increased procollagen 1α1 and decreased procollagen 3 expression. These patterns of expression in E15 cells are suggestive of increased type 3 to 1 collagen ratio seen in scarless fetal wounds. Interestingly, treatment of either E15 or E18 cells with TGF- β 1 significantly decreased procollagen 3 expression by 48 h, yet this was more profound in E15 groups. This suggests that after 24 h, E15 cells may transition towards an E18 phenotype and corresponding signaling.
Human Cytomegalovirus Early Protein pUL21a Promotes Efficient Viral DNA Synthesis and the Late Accumulation of Immediate-Early Transcripts

We have previously reported that a newly annotated gene of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), UL21a, encodes an early viral protein termed pUL21a. Most notably, the virions of a UL21a deletion virus had markedly reduced infectivity, indicating that UL21a is required to establish an efficient productive infection. In this study, we infected fibroblasts with equal numbers of DNA-containing viral particles and identified where in the viral life cycle pUL21a acted. The UL21a deletion virus entered cells and initiated viral gene expression efficiently; however, it synthesized viral DNA poorly and accumulated several immediate-early (IE) transcripts at reduced levels at late times of infection. The defect in viral DNA synthesis preceded that in gene expression, and inhibition of viral DNA synthesis reduced the late accumulation of IE transcripts in both wild-type and mutant virus-infected cells to equivalent levels. This suggests that reduced viral DNA synthesis is the cause of reduced IE gene expression in the absence of UL21a. The growth of UL21a deletion virus was similar to that of recombinant HCMV in which pUL21a expression was abrogated by stop codon mutations, and the defect was rescued in pUL21a-expressing fibroblasts. pUL21a expression in trans was sufficient to restore viral DNA synthesis and gene expression of mutant virus produced from normal fibroblasts, whereas mutant virus produced from complementing cells still exhibited the defect in normal fibroblasts. Thus, pUL21a does not promote the functionality of HCMV virions; rather, its de novo synthesis facilitates viral DNA synthesis, which is necessary for the late accumulation of IE transcripts and establishment of a productive infection.
A computational approach for multi-scale analysis of heterogeneous elasto-plastic media subjected to short duration loads

The asymptotic expansion homogenization (AEH) approach has found wide acceptance for the study of heterogeneous structures due to its ability to account for multi-scale features. The emphasis of the present study is to develop consistent AEH numerical formulations to address elasto-plastic material response of structures subjected to short-duration transient loading. A second-order accurate velocity-based explicit time integration method, in conjunction with the AEH approach, is currently developed that accounts for large deformation non-linear material response. The approach is verified under degenerate homogeneous conditions using existing experimental data in the literature and its ability to account for heterogeneous conditions is demonstrated for a number of test problems. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Urbarium A Socially - Based Game Platform

In this paper we describe a socially-based game platform, the Urbarium, developed using XNA, Torque, and Muppets that will support learning of concepts for the laboratory components of the IEEE/ACM CS1 and CS2 programming courses. The Urbarium's narrative will span three different stages of social development in a real world location, the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico. These stages will correspond to hunter-gatherer economies, tribal economies, and state organizations. The students interact with each other over a local-area network. By solving problems, students collect code segments, and exchange these segments to complete components. Completed components provide enhanced rewards to students on future moves. The idea is to support a net-centric approach to software development and interaction among students in the lab. We feel that this will support student learning within a network environment by weaving a social fabric of cooperation into the code development process early on in a students' career
TISSUE CHANGES INDUCED BY MARGINAL VITAMIN C DEFICIENCY

Chronic marginal vitamin C deficiency in guinea pigs results in alterations in certain tissues that are quite different from those observed following acute deficiency. In autonomic ganglia, although changes observed in the organelles of some cells are similar to those seen in acute deficiency, the specific changes are the presence of large numbers of cilia in the cytoplasm of both ganglion cells and their associated neuroglia and the marked proliferation of collagen fibers in the extracellular spaces. The evidence presented points to a link between vitamin C and arteriosclerosis. One mode of interaction may be the effect of latent vitamin C deficiency on cholesterol metabolism. The data presented indicate important changes in the liver with marked increases of agranular endoplasmic reticulum. Together with the liver cholesterol studies, the indications suggest an increased cholesterol deposition in the liver. Light-microscopic sections of the aorta reveal alterations in many of these vessels ranging from endothelial proliferation to large, well-formed musculofibrotic arteriosclerotic plaques.
A Two-Dimensional Riemann Problem for Scalar Conservation Laws

This paper provides an introduction to current research in self-similar problems for multidimensional conservation laws. This is presently an active area. To set the stage, we begin by solving a classic problem. We prove that the solution of the scalar equation \(u_t + f(u)_x + g(u)_y = 0\) with Riemann initial data of the form \(u(0,x,y)=u_0(\theta) ( 0\leq \theta \leq 2 \pi )\) remains smooth outside a circle with center at the origin in the self-similar plane. Based on this approach to Riemann problems, and on recent research by a number of contributors, we give a list of open problems.
Rheumatoid arthritis mimicking metastatic squamous cell carcinoma

We report a case of a cervical rheumatoid nodule in close relation to the hyoid bone mimicking a metastatic carcinoma. A 74-year-old female with a 15-year history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on treatment with methotrexate presented with tenderness of the right base of tongue. Imaging demonstrated a 1.4 cm cystic lesion at the hyoid bone. Biopsies were unsuccessful and the patient required surgical resection of the mass. A trans-cervical approach was used. Pathology revealed a necrotizing granuloma compatible with rheumatoid etiology. The clinician should be aware that, in a patient with a neck mass, in the presence of active RA, rheumatoid nodules should be part of the differential diagnosis.
Reliable and Error Detection Architectures of Pomaranch for False-Alarm-Sensitive Cryptographic Applications

Efficient cryptographic architectures are used extensively in sensitive smart infrastructures. Among these architectures are those based on stream ciphers for protection against eavesdropping, especially when these smart and sensitive applications provide life-saving or vital mechanisms. Nevertheless, natural defects call for protection through design for fault detection and reliability . In this paper, we present implications of fault detection cryptographic architectures (Pomaranch in the hardware profile of European Network of Excellence for Cryptology) for smart infrastructures. In addition, we present low-power architectures for its nine-to-seven uneven substitution box [tower field architectures in GF( $3^{3}$ )]. Through error simulations, we assess resiliency against false-alarms which might not be tolerated in sensitive intelligent infrastructures as one of our contributions. We further benchmark the feasibility of the proposed approaches through application-specific integrated circuit realizations. Based on the reliability objectives, the proposed architectures are a step-forward toward reaching the desired objective metrics suitable for intelligent, emerging, and sensitive applications.
A small ultra-wideband planar tap monopole antenna with slit, tapered transition, and notched ground plane

In this paper, a planar tab monopole antenna is presented for broadband antenna design for ultra-wideband (UWB) applications. The impedance bandwidth of the antenna is improved by adding slit in one side of the monopole, introducing a tapered transition between the monopole and the feed line, and adding two-step staircase notch in the ground plane. The proposed antenna has a small size of 16 × 19 mm, and provides ultra-wide bandwidth from 2.8 to 22 GHz in order to satisfy the requirements of the current and future wireless communications systems. Low VSWR level and good radiation characteristics are obtained. Additionally, an inverted U-slot is embedded in the proposed antenna to avoid interference between UWB and WLAN systems. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 1650–1654, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21693
Computational model for multiscale simulation of laser ablation

Multiscale computational approach that combines different methods to study laser ablation phenomenon is presented. The methods include the molecular dynamics (MD) breathing sphere model for simulation of the initial stage of laser ablation, a combined MD finite element method (FEM) approach for simulation of propagation of the laser-induced pressure waves out from the MD computational cell, and the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method for simulation of the ablation plume expansion. The multiscale approach addresses different processes involved in laser ablation with appropriate resolutions and, at the same time, accounts for the interrelations between the processes. A description of the ablation plume appropriate for making a connection between the MD simulation of laser ablation and the DSMC simulation of the ablation plume expansion is discussed.
Phase 2 study of gemcitabine in combination with rituximab in patients with recurrent or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND. The management of recurrent or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) remains challenging. The objective of this phase 2 trial was to investigate the activity of gemcitabine in combination with rituximab in patients with recurring or refractory HL. METHODS. Patients were considered eligible if they had recurring or refractory HL, had received ≥2 prior chemotherapy regimens, had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤2, and had adequate organ function. Rituximab was administered at a dose of 375 mg/m2 intravenously every week for 6 weeks. Gemcitabine was administered at a dose of 1250 mg/m2 intravenously on Days 1 and 8, with a week of rest on Day 15 of 21-day cycles in outpatient settings. Response was assessed after 2 cycles of gemcitabine, and those patients who demonstrated a response continued to receive a maximum of 4 additional courses of gemcitabine. RESULTS. Thirty-three patients received the study drugs. The median age of patients was 32 years (range, 19–81 years), and 55% of the patients previously underwent autologous stem cell transplantation. Grade 3 or 4 (graded according to the National Cancer Center Institute Common Toxicity Criteria [version 2.0]) toxic effects included neutropenia (36%) and thrombocytopenia (15%). Objective responses occurred in 16 patients (48%). Responses were observed regardless of CD20 positivity in tumor cells. The median duration of failure-free survival was 2.7 months (range, 0.9–18.3 months). Seven patients (21%) eventually proceeded to either autologous (n = 2) or allogeneic (n = 5) stem cell transplantation. CONCLUSIONS. Combination therapy with gemcitabine and rituximab is active in previously treated patients with recurrent or refractory HL. The favorable safety profile and the ease of its administration in outpatient settings warrant investigating it further in combination with other active drugs. Cancer 2008. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Infant vision and retinal function in studies of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids: methods, results, and implications

Animal and human studies have documented several effects of different dietary and tissue concentrations of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) on retinal function and vision. The enhanced visual development associated with increased intakes of LCPUFAs, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), provides the strongest evidence for the importance of these fatty acids in infant nutrition. The 2 primary visual measures used to assess the efficacy of infant formula LCPUFA supplementation are the electroretinogram and visual acuity. This review briefly describes the methodology, neural basis, and interpretation of these measures, as well as other measures of visual development that may be used to extend the functional evaluation of infants fed formulas with different fatty acid compositions.
Are psychophysical functions derived from line bisection reliable

Psychophysical functions are used to characterize both normal perception and altered perception among patients with neglect, yet the reliability of these functions is rarely examined. The present study examined two-week, test-retest reliability for power functions derived from line bisection data among 58 normal, young and old, male and female subjects. Power function exponents and constants were, at best, moderately reliable over time. The size of the exponent tended to decrease at retesting. Reliability coefficients varied by age and gender; they were highly significant for young men, marginally significant for older men, and non-significant for women. Race influenced reliability as coefficients were significant for Caucasian subjects but not for African American subjects. Age and gender effects in this study parallel those in the literature on pseudoneglect, and they may reflect hemispheric differences in visuo-spatial processing, magnitude estimation, or both. (JINS, 2003, 9, 72–78.)
Faces of the Tort Pyramid: Compensation, Regulation, and the Profession

One can visualize the tort system as a pyramid of possible claims, the base consisting of all plausible claims, the middle consisting of a series of filters that significantly reduce the number of claims that are litigated, and the pinnacle representing the claimants that ultimately receive compensation. This essay considers three faces of the tort pyramid by examining the intersecting functions of compensation and regulation, then shows how pragmatic case selection screens employed by the plaintiffs’ tort bar affects how well these twin functions are served. The essay primarily addresses individual claimants seeking damages for injury, typically from institutional entities. An individual’s effort to obtain compensation is ordinarily thought to be barred by the hurdle of establishing fault; but research shows that many victims with plausible claims don’t sue, either because they don’t recognize they have a claim, don’t want to deal with lawyers or courts, or cannot find lawyers because their claims are too small. In turn, the regulatory role of tort is limited by several of the same hurdles: the tort system doesn’t regulate safety in the absence of litigation. But, channeling safety regulation through a litigation system requires an individual claimant with a plausible claim willing to pursue a suit, plus a lawyer willing to accept the case and to press forward. This third face of the pyramid, the plaintiffs’ tort bar, screens cases to filter implausible claims, but the screens also filter meritorious claims that are either too expensive to litigate or where the contingency fee doesn’t provide adequate compensation to the lawyer even if successful. These value screens are particularly high - e.g., $500,000 in medical malpractice cases - when the upfront costs of litigation are significant. Thus, the capacity of the tort system to function either as a system of compensation for individual claimants or a system of safety regulation is skewed by multiple pragmatic considerations affecting the willingness and capacities of individuals to sue. In addition, attorneys’ case selection screens that focus on the expense of litigation and the prospect of adequate fees skew the tort system toward high value claims, further limiting the tort system’s effectiveness in redressing substantial numbers of meritorious claims. Improving the overall efficacy of the tort system requires much more attention to these pragmatic limits.
The Destruction of the Medieval Chinese Aristocracy

This book presents a revisionist argument challenging the widely held notion that the An Lushan Rebellion in the mid-eighth century marked the beginning of the decline of the “medieval Chinese aris...
Control Techniques for Flows with Large Separated Regions: A New Look at Scaling Parameters

*† ‡ § Two wind tunnel investigations were conducted with the goals of gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms governing Active Flow Control (AFC) for flows dominated by large separated regions, identifying the proper parameters to use for characterizing the performance of the AFC system under these conditions, and determining the scaling relationships needed to develop AFC systems for large-scale tests and, eventually, for fullscale applications. The first series of tests utilized the ADVINT 5%-scale airfoil model, and the second series of tests utilized the ADVINT pseudoflap model. In both tests, key operational parameters were varied systematically, independently of one another with minimal variations in the model geometry. The parameters that were varied include the free-stream velocity, the AFC amplitude (characterized by the peak jet velocity Uj), the AFC forcing frequency, and most importantly the slot width. On the 5% airfoil model, where AFC primarily affected the flow by controlling circulation, it was found that the key parameter for scaling the AFC effects was the ratio Uj/U∞, and a new parameter, H, incorporating this ratio was proposed. The results of the pseudoflap test indicated that suction was more effective for controlling separation than blowing, and that the optimum locations for suction and blowing were not necessarily the same, indicating that ZMF AFC is not the best choice for controlling flows of this type. Finally, both tests showed that for flows of this type, the AFC effects do not scale with the often used momentum coefficient, Cµ, for ZMF, suction, or blowing AFC methods.
‘Putting names with faces’: a description of Epiactis handi sp. nov helps to resolve taxonomic confusion in species of the sea anemone Epiactis (Actiniaria, Actiniidae)

We resolve taxonomic confusion regarding brooding sea anemones in the genus Epiactis Verrill 1869a in the North Pacific Ocean based on newly collected material from Hokkaido (Japan), Haida Gwaii (British Columbia, Canada), and Kodiak and Adak Islands (Alaska, USA), and museum specimens collected from the Kurile Islands (Russia), Alaska, British Columbia, Oregon (USA), and California (USA). We find that the internally brooding individuals identified by Hand & Dunn (1974) as Cnidopus ritteri (Torrey, 1902) and placed in the genus Epiactis by Fautin & Chia (1986) belong to a new species which we describe and name Epiactis handi sp. nov. Epiactis handi and E. ritteri can be differentiated by morphological and behavioural features including ornamentation and structure of the column and mode of brooding offspring. To highlight and clarify these differences, we redescribe E. ritteri based on specimens from Alaska. We provide the first account of external brooding in E. ritteri, which necessitates a clarification of the differences between E. ritteri and another externally brooding species from the North Pacific, E. japonica Verrill, 1869b. Epiactis ritteri and E. japonica differ in sex allocation, ornamentation of the column and details of external brooding: members of E. ritteri are gonochoric with a smooth column and brood groove which tightly closes, whereas those of E. japonica are hermaphroditic and have mid-column spherules.
Review Essay: Working and Living: Women and Mining Communities

(1999). Review Essay: Working and Living: Women and Mining Communities. The Oral History Review: Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 119-125.
Neutron Strain measurement

The use of neutrons has extended the technique of diffraction strain measurement from an essentially two-dimensional, near-surface tool using X-rays to a true three-dimensional method. The depth sc...
Statistics of Broadband Echoes: Application to Acoustic Estimates of Numerical Density of Fish

A general numerical model has been developed to predict the probability density function (pdf) of the magnitudes of complex pulse-compressed broadband echoes (broadband echo pdf) due to arbitrary aggregations of scatterers that are detected with a single-beam echosounder. The model is based on physics principles and rigorously accounts for the broadband frequency-dependent characteristics of the system, signal, scatterers, and the beampattern modulation effects of the sonar/radar transceiver. A key aspect to modeling the statistics of broadband echoes is accounting for the scenarios where the pulse-compressed echoes may only partially overlap. The echo statistics under those conditions will be significantly different than those associated with a narrowband system with the same center frequency but whose echoes will completely overlap given the same density of scatterers. As a result, pulse-compressed broadband echoes will generally deviate more from the Rayleigh distribution (i.e., be more “heavy-tailed”) than narrowband echoes—a feature that is critical to analyzing real-world data. As in the case of narrowband signals, the shape of the broadband echo pdf is shown to vary from strongly non-Rayleigh to Rayleigh as the number of dominant scatterers in the beam increases. The model is applied to sonar in the ocean in which the numerical density of fish is inferred using broadband echoes (30–70 kHz). The results are compared with those from conventional echo energy methods. As with narrowband systems, statistics of broadband echoes can be used to estimate the numerical density of scatterers without the need for absolute calibration of the system.
Clinical Application of Dexmedetomidine in Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy of Breast Cancer

OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical effect of dexmedetomidine on sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB)in breast cancer.METHODS:180 patients,aged 35 to 62,ASAⅠorⅡ,scheduled sentinel lymph node biopsy of breast cancer,were equally randomized into group D,M and C with 60 cases in each group.Group D was given dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg before local anesthesia,maintained with 0.5 μg(/kg · h);group M was given midazolam 0.1 mg/kg before local anesthesia,maintained with 0.05 mg/(kg · h);group C was given normal saline before local anesthesia.The changes of MAP(mean arterial pressure),HR(heart rate),SpO 2 and RR(respiratory)were observed and recorded at the time of inter-room(T 0),1 min after anesthesia(T 1),at the time of incision(T 2),5 min after incision(T 3),30 min after incision(T 4)and at the end of operation(T 5).VAS score and Ramsay scores of all patients were conducted after operation.RESULTS:At T 1,T 2,T 3,T 4 and T 5,there was statistical significance in VAS score and Ramsay scores between group D and group M or C(P0.05);MAP and HR of group D were lower than in group M or group C(P0.05);SpO 2 and RR of 3 groups had no significant differences(P0.05).In group D,the VAS score and Ramsay scores,MAP and HR at T 1,T 2,T 3,T 4 and T 5 had significant difference from at T 0 observation point(P0.05).CONCLUSIONS:In sentinel lymph node biopsy of breast cancer,dexmedetomidine with good sedative and analgesic effect,can effectively sustain the stability of cardiovascular system during operation and improve the safety of the SLNB.And midazolam should be cautiously used for patients with bradycardia.
ANTHRANILIC DIAMIDE WORM CONTROL IN ROMAINE LETTUCE, 2010

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of new anthranilic diamide insecticides for worm pest control on romaine lettuce under desert growing conditions. Romaine lettuce (SUNBELT, MI) was direct seeded on 3 Sep 2010 at the University of California Desert Research and Extension Center, El Centro, CA into double row beds on 40 inch centers. Stand establishment was achieved using overhead sprinkler irrigation, and irrigated with furrow irrigation thereafter. Plots were four beds wide by 50 ft long and bordered by one untreated bed. Four replications of each treatment were arranged in a RCB design. Formulations and rates for each compound are provided in the tables. Foliar sprays were applied on 21 Oct with a tractor mounted spray boom covering all four beds with three TJ-6
Earnings disadvantage of immigrants: are we comparing apples to apples?

The substantial increase in the proportion of immigrants in the US population has attracted considerable research interest in their labor market outcomes, in particular, their relative wages. Most studies in this area, however, do not account for the fact that immigrants have unobservable characteristics that are different from those of natives and that are related to their decision to migrate to a new country. These characteristics, if not controlled for, may result in inaccurate estimates of the earnings disadvantage associated with immigrant status. This study attempts to account for unobservable characteristics associated with migration by comparing immigrants with native migrants. The results suggest that previous studies that used all natives as a comparison group may have provided a lower bound of the wage disadvantage faced by immigrants.
Inclusion/exclusion criteria in late life depression antidepressant efficacy trials

Objective The generalizability of antidepressant efficacy trials (AETs) has been questioned. No studies have examined the inclusion/exclusion criteria used in placebo-controlled studies of late life depression and compared them to the criteria used in non-late life AETs. Method We conducted a comprehensive literature review of placebo-controlled AETs published from January, 1995 through December, 2014. We compared the inclusion/exclusion criteria used in the 18 studies of late life depression to those used in non-late life depression. Results There were nine inclusion/exclusion criteria that were used in more than half of the late life depression AETs: minimum severity on a symptom severity scale (100.0%), significant suicidal ideation (77.8%), psychotic features during the current episode of depression or history of a psychotic disorder (94.4%), history of bipolar disorder (77.8%), diagnosis of alcohol or drug abuse or dependence (83.3%), presence of a comorbid nondepressive, nonsubstance use Axis I disorder (55.6%), episode duration too short (66.7%), and an insufficient score on a cognitive screen (88.3%) or the presence of a cognitive disorder (55.6%). There were some differences between the late life and non-late life depression studies—use of a screening measure of cognitive functioning, presence of a cognitive disorder such as dementia, and the minimum depression severity cutoff score required at baseline. Conclusions The inclusion/exclusion criteria in AETs of late life depression were generally similar to the criteria used in non-late life depression AETs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An expectation–maximization scheme for measurement error models

Abstract We treat the problem of maximum likelihood estimation in measurement error models. Direct maximization of the analytically intractable likelihood in such models is difficult. We derive an efficient expectation–maximization scheme for truncated polynomial spline models of degree one. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Exploration of kinesthetic gaming for enhancing elementary math education using culturally responsive teaching methodologies

In this paper a novel computer-assisted culturally responsive teaching (CRT) framework is presented for teaching mathematics to 5th grade students. The curricular basis for this framework is Gloria Jean Merriex's award winning curriculum program, which uses music and body gestures to help students build associations between mathematical concepts and culturally inspired metaphors. The proposed framework uses low-cost kinesthetic sensors along with a embodied virtual reality gamimg environment that extends such proven CRT methodologies from a traditional classroom into a digital form. A pilot study was performed to investigate the efficacy of this framework in 5th grade students. A group of 35 students participated in this study and the results are discussed in detail.
Reduced-order prediction of rogue waves in two-dimensional deep-water waves

We consider the problem of large wave prediction in two-dimensional water waves. Such waves form due to the synergistic effect of dispersive mixing of smaller wave groups and the action of localized nonlinear wave interactions that leads to focusing. Instead of a direct simulation approach, we rely on the decomposition of the wave field into a discrete set of localized wave groups with optimal length scales and amplitudes. Due to the short-term character of the prediction, these wave groups do not interact and therefore their dynamics can be characterized individually. Using direct numerical simulations of the governing envelope equations we precompute the expected maximum elevation for each of those wave groups. The combination of the wave field decomposition algorithm, which provides information about the statistics of the system, and the precomputed map for the expected wave group elevation, which encodes dynamical information, allows (i) for understanding of how the probability of occurrence of rogue waves changes as the spectrum parameters vary, (ii) the computation of a critical length scale characterizing wave groups with high probability of evolving to rogue waves, and (iii) the formulation of a robust and parsimonious reduced-order prediction scheme for large waves. We assess the validity of this scheme in several cases of ocean wave spectra.
Recovering dynamic correlation in spin flip configuration interaction through a difference dedicated approach

This article introduces the restricted-active-space n-spin flip configuration interaction models, RAS(S)-SF and RAS(S,2h,2p)-SF, which provide highly correlated, yet low cost approaches for treating polyradical systems. These levels of theory add electronic degrees of freedom beyond those of previous spin flip approaches in order to achieve accurate ground and excited state energetics. The effects of additional dynamic correlation were investigated by comparing these two techniques to the prior RAS(h,p)-SF method on a variety of test systems, including multiple electronic states of methylene, tetramethyleneethane, three binuclear transition metal complexes, and a tetracene dimer. RAS(S,2h,2p)-SF significantly improves state descriptions in all cases and provides high accuracy even when using a minimal number of spin flips. Furthermore, this correlated level of theory is shown to be extensible to the large systems involved in singlet fission, where the multi-excitonic states in tetracene dimers are difficu...