cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variation in acculturative stressors over time: A study of Taiwanese students in the United States

Abstract With globalization, more people than ever before are engaged in cross-cultural living. The literature suggests that encounter with the unfamiliar is accompanied by a myriad of acculturative stressors which rise and ebb across time. However, few studies have employed a longitudinal design to specify their presence and intensity at various time points. The current study addresses this gap in the literature by examining acculturative stressors in Taiwanese international students over a 2-year period, using the Migration–Acculturation Stressors Scale. Of the five stressor domains identified by factor analysis (i.e., Homesickness, Cultural Difference, Social Isolation, Academics, and Unfamiliar Climate), Academic challenges posed the greatest difficulty. The stressors appeared most intense early on, and declined significantly either from the Fall to Spring semesters in the first academic year (Academics and Unfamiliar Climate) or from the Spring of the first academic year to the Fall of the second academic year (Homesickness, Cultural Difference, and Social Isolation). Implications of the findings are discussed.
The use of the plasma epinephrine response in the diagnosis of idiopathic postprandial syndrome.

Patients with idiopathic postprandial syndrome (IPS) report recurrent postprandial episodes that resemble the clinical manifestations of hypoglycemia. In an effort to find objective criteria for diagnosis of IPS, we studied a group of patients with IPS and controls during an oral glucose tolerance test. Patients with IPS had a significantly lower mean glucose nadir and higher hypoglycemic index than controls. Although 74% of patients with IPS had glucose nadirs higher than 50 mg/dL, their responses of epinephrine, cortisol, growth hormone, glucagon, and norepinephrine were significantly higher than the respective changes in the controls. Of the five hormones, only the epinephrine response separated the patients from the controls without overlap. The epinephrine response may represent a valuable diagnostic criterion for this disorder. ( JAMA 1984;251:612-615)
Distinct effects of two CD44 isoforms on tumor growth in vivo

Tumor growth is dependent in part on interactions between tumor cells and the extracellular matrix of host tissues. Expression of the cell surface glycoprotein CD44/Pgp-1, which mediates cell-substrate interactions is increased in many types of malignancies, but the role of CD44 in tumor growth is largely undefined. Recently, two isoforms of CD44 have been identified: an 80-90 kD form, which has high affinity for cell bound hyaluronate and a 150 kD form which does not mediate attachment to hyaluronate-coated surfaces. In this work, human B cell lymphoma cells stably transfected with cDNA clones encoding either of the two CD44 isoforms were compared for tumorigenicity and metastatic potential in nude mice. Expression of the 80-90 kD form but not the 150 kD form of CD44 greatly enhanced both local tumor formation and metastatic proclivity of the lymphoma cells. Our results suggest that CD44 polypeptides may play an important role in regulating primary and metastatic tumor development in vivo.
Development of a 3D numerical wave tank for modeling tsunami generation by underwater landslides

A three-dimensional (3D) numerical wave tank (NWT) solving fully nonlinear potential flow theory, with a higher-order boundary element method (BEM), is modified to simulate tsunami generation by underwater landslides. New features are added to the NWT to model underwater landslide geometry and motion and specify corresponding boundary conditions in the BEM model. In particular, a new snake absorbing piston boundary condition is implemented to remove reflection from the onshore and offshore boundaries of the NWT. Model results are favorably compared to recent laboratory experiments. Sensitivity analyses of numerical results to the width and length of the discretization are conducted, to determine optimal numerical parameters. The effect of landslide width on tsunami generated is estimated. Results show that the two-dimensional approximation is applicable when the ratio of landslide width over landslide length is greater than 2. Numerical accuracy is examined and found to be excellent in all cases.
Issues in the Medical Treatment of Elderly Women

ABSTRACT This article analyzes the relationship between physicians and elderly female patients, and broader, societal problems of aging women interacting within today's health care system. In light of the principles of equal respect for persons and distributive justice, individual practices and social factors are scrutinized for their roles in the quality of health care that elderly women as a group receive.
Chemistry and Biology of Vision

Visual perception in humans occurs through absorption of electromagnetic radiation from 400 to 780 nm by photoreceptors in the retina. A photon of visible light carries a sufficient amount of energy to cause, when absorbed, a cis,trans-geometric isomerization of the 11-cis-retinal chromophore, a vitamin A derivative bound to rhodopsin and cone opsins of retinal photoreceptors. The unique biochemistry of these complexes allows us to reliably and reproducibly collect continuous visual information about our environment. Moreover, other nonconventional retinal opsins such as the circadian rhythm regulator melanopsin also initiate light-activated signaling based on similar photochemistry.
Divergent corticostriatal projections from a single cortical column in the somatosensory cortex of rats

We injected biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) into single vibrissal 'barrels' of primary somatosensory (SI) cortex and reconstructed the topography of labelled varicosities in the dorsolateral caudate-putamen. Plots of labelled varicosities revealed densely-packed clusters of corticostriatal arborizations along the dorsolateral edge of the caudate-putamen and sparsely-packed arborizations more medially. The medial and lateral clusters of labelled terminals were separated by regions of unlabelled neuropil and lead us to conclude that a single cortical column sends divergent projections to multiple regions of the caudate-putamen.
Relativistic hartree—fock compton profiles

Theoretical analysis and computer codes have been developed for calculating Compton profiles from numerical nonrelativistic and relativistic Hartree–Fock wave functions. Calculations are performed in uranium and results for nonrelativistic and relativistic electron densities, momentum distributions, and Compton profiles for individual orbitals are presented and compared. Large relativistic effects on the Compton profiles of the s and p orbitals are observed, even for orbitals with large principal quantum numbers. The 7s J (O) relativistic value lies 15.2% below the nonrelativistic Hartree–Fock value. The total uranium profile is decreased by 6.60% at the center when a relativistic wave function is used. Cited profile results for other atoms indicate that relativistic calculations may be necessary for atoms of xenon or for even smaller atoms.
IR Focal plane array imaging devices

Use of CCD and CID technology at or near the focal plane for multiplexing and signal processing will make practical IR focal planes with thousands of detectors. Two approaches to series-parallel scan appear interesting: a sandwich like structure which uses direct injection from the IR detectors into a CCD TDI register and the use of an IR CID for premultiplexing in a series-parallel scan mode.
Bis heteroannulation. 8. Total synthesis of (±)-paniculide-A

Abstract An efficient synthesis of the title compound 1 has been achieved beginning with 3-methylglutaric anhydride.
Visual noise reveals category representations.

How are categories represented in human memory? Exemplar models assume that a category is represented by individual instances from that category that have been experienced. More generally, a category might be represented by multiple templates stored in memory. A new item is classified according to its similarity to these templates.Prototype models represent a category with a single summary abstraction (i.e., a single template), often the central tendency of the experienced items. A new item is classified according to its similarity to these category prototypes. Here, we show how a technique for correlating observers’ responses with external noise can be used not only to distinguish single- from multiple-template representations, but also to induce the form of these templates. The technique is applied to two tasks requiring categorization of simple visual patterns; the results demonstrate that observers used multiple traces to represent their categories, and thus highlight the procedure’s potential for use in more complex settings.
Russia and the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty)—A Paradigm Change?

Since Mikhail Gorbachev's signing of the CFE Treaty in 1990, Moscow has viewed the agreement as a ‘cornerstone of European security.’ Vladimir Putin's announcement in 2007 that Russia would ‘suspend’ implementation of the treaty appeared to signal a paradigm shift in Moscow's approach to conventional arms control. As the European security landscape changed in ways not always favorable to Russia, the Russians' view of the CFE Treaty evolved from cautious optimism through growing frustration to outright hostility. An examination of Russian official thinking at key points in the life of the treaty—as expressed in official journals and statements by government officials—points to a crisis that nevertheless remains short of a paradigm shift.
Endogenous depreciation, mismeasurement of aggregate capital, and the productivity slowdown

Abstract When we allow capital depreciation to be endogenous, the acceleration of investment-specific technological progress can distort the measurement of the aggregate capital stock. Our quantitative exercise shows that this effect may cause a substantial bias in the measurement of total factor productivity and can account for a large portion of the observed productivity slowdown since the 1970s.
Implications of the Read-Write Genome view.

I am pleased to see that commentators from such disparate backgrounds (genomics, physiology, cancer research, evolutionary computation and physics) agree that there is benefit in rethinking the genome as a RW memory organelle under cell control [1]. This agreement indicates that the RW Genome will prove fruitful and adaptable to many areas of the life sciences and possibly even to the hard and information sciences as well. There are also dissenting interpretations. Let us deal with the dissents first and then move on to further implications of the RW Genome view. While grudgingly acknowledging at the end of his comment that “genomes are indeed read–write”, molecular geneticist Damon Lisch repeats quite a few of the standard (and easily rebutted) objections to the idea that cells actively engage natural genetic engineering (NGE) for useful genome inscriptions to cope with episodes of evolutionary challenge [2]. This is surprising, coming from the author of a paper on the action of maize transposons in “directional modification of genes through biased insertion and DNA acquisition” [3]. A single example will illustrate the limitations of Lisch’s reservations. He characterizes mobile genetic elements (MGEs) as “selfish” “parasitic entities” and states, “it is extremely unlikely that any but a tiny fraction of the insertions contribute to meaningful differences in the morphology of related species”. What Lisch considered “extremely unlikely” is now established genome science. He failed to notice that I indicated where we do have minimum quantitative estimates of the contributions of MGEs to functionally usefully genome elements in mammals. Last year, these stood at 280 000, or 19.1% of all conserved (i.e., positively selected) differences between eutherian mammals and marsupials [4]. Moreover, MGEs have been identified as contributing to between 11 and 20% of human regulatory elements [5]. In a similar dubious vein, Maxim Frank-Kamenetskii argues that the examples of genome RW character do not invalidate the “universal” principles of conventional views about genomic information [6]. I have to disagree strongly on two grounds. In my understanding of the last 60 years of molecular biology, the data show that genome inscriptions are the rule, not the exception. Empirically, the evidence of genome inscriptions needed for progress through the cell cycle, multicellular development, and evolutionary innovation overwhelms any claim that they are exceptional, rather than fundamental, events. From an epistemological perspective, I further find it impossible to accept “universals” where there are well-documented counter-examples [7]. Our job as scientists is to formulate our theories to incorporate
Monitoring outcomes of arthritis and longitudinal data collection in routine care using a patient questionnaire that incorporates a clinical note on one piece of paper.

Patient questionnaires are the quantitative tools available to rheumatologists to monitor their patients' health status and responses to therapy. The Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and its derivatives have been shown to be the most significant predictors of functional and work disability, costs, joint replacement surgery, and mortality; generally at higher levels of significance than joint counts, radiographs, and laboratory tests. Every encounter of a patient with a rheumatologist provides an opportunity to collect data. Yet patient questionnaires, which can be used in all rheumatic diseases, including osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, fibromyalgia, scleroderma, and ankylosing spondylitis, are not included in routine care by most rheumatologists. Questionnaires can be adapted to include a simple subjective–objective–assessment–plan (SOAP) clinical encounter note that helps with data entry and also provides all the necessary information for clinical decision making in one sheet of paper. Data that are feasible to collect in clinical care provide the optimal approach to assessing quantitatively how patients are doing. If data are not collected and recorded, that opportunity, on that day, is lost forever. Rheumatologists would find it valuable to adapt questionnaires to the care they provide for all their patients, to document and improve the care they provide, and add quantitative data to standard clinical care.
A local Riemann hypothesis, I

Daniel Bump1, Kwok-Kwong Choi2, Par Kurlberg3, Jeffrey Vaaler4 1 Department of Mathematics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-2125, USA (e-mail: bump@math.stanford.edu) 2 Department of Mathematics, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong (e-mail: choi@maths.hku.hk) 3 Department of Mathematics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA (e-mail: kurlberg@math.uga.edu) 4 University of Texas at Austin, Department of Mathematics RLM 8.100, Austin, TX 78712-1082, USA (e-mail: vaaler@math.utexas.edu)
Use of cetyl trimethylammonium bromide for estimation of the in vivo incorporation of radioactive precursors into RNA.

Abstract RNA can be precipitated from cell homogenates or ribosomes with cetyl trimethylammonium bromide more specifically than with trichloroacetic or perchloric acids. In this way radioactivity not present in RNA is not occluded in the precipitate as occurs with TCA or PCA. The precipitate can be collected on glass-fiber filters from which the RNA can be quantitatively eluted with Soluene 100 for the accurate determination of 3 H and/or 14 C radioactivity. These techniques have been used to estimate in vivo RNA synthesis in mouse brain.
The modulation of long-term potentiation by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the rat hippocampus, in vitro.

Abstract The duration of longterm potentiation (LTP) of the CA1 evoked field potential in rat hippocampal slices was significantly modulated by pre-treatment of slices with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) added to the incubation media. The three THC doses tested: 10 picomolar (pM), 100 pM, and 1000 pM, resulted in a biphasic change in population spike amplitude, such that 10 pM resulted in an increase, while 100 and 1000 pM resulted in dose-related decreases as compared to the control treatment. Upon subsequent induction of LTP by tetanizing stimulation, the THC treatments resulted in significant changes in the duration but not magnitude of potentiation. The early component of potentiation, post-tetanic potentiation, or PTP, was not affected by the THC treatments. LTP was seen to decay in an exponential manner over the 121 min post-tetanus monitoring period. For comparisons of LTP duration, therefore, the half-life ( t 1 2 ) of LTP was extrapolated from linear regression analysis. The t 1 2 values were determined for each treatment group from the slopes of the linear regression analysis of the logarithmically transformed time course data. While the control group t 1 2 was determined as 280 min, the t 1 2 for the THC groups were: 350 min (10 pM); 91 min (100 pM); and 33 min (1000 pM) doses, respectively. In context with previous reports of the disruptive action of marihuana intoxication on learning and memory, these results suggest that one possible action of THC may be in modulating hippocampal electrophysiology and its role in short-term memory processes.
A carborundum stripping technique for the occlusal adjustment of cuspless teeth.

Abstract A method of adjusting the occlusion of cuspless denture teeth on the articulator has been described. Strips of carborundum paper instead of rotary instruments are used for reducing tooth structure and adjusting occlusion. The intraoral use of this method is being evaluated. It has the following advantages for adjusting zero degree posterior teeth: It (1) maintains or improves the flatness of the posterior occlusal surfaces; (2) requires less time; (3) allows reduction of several teeth at one time or a portion of a single tooth; and (4) does not require milling with carborundum paste.
Desalination by the improved vacuum freezing high pressure ice melting process

Abstract The VFPIM process has the following advantages: It does not require a compressor nor an absorbing solution for low pressure water vapor, nor a refrigeration loop (heat pump) to reuse the heat released in the condensation or desublimation of the low pressure water vapor in supplying the latent heat of melting ice. The process uses commercially available components and can thus be operated reliably. Some of the key unit operations are similar to those in existing vacuum freezing processes, but those unique to this process are: desublimation of low pressure vapor, pumping of an ice water slush containing a high ice content, melting of ice inside a heat conductive conduit and exchange ice formation operations. An extended surface freezer was found to have several advantages over the conventional spray freezer.
Benzene as a selective chemical ionization reagent gas

Dilute mixtures of C 6 H 6 or C 6 D 6 in He provide abundant [C 6 H 6 ] +. ions and small amounts of [C 6 H 7 ] + or [C 6 D 7 ] + ions as chemical ionization (CI) reagent ions. The C 6 H 6 or C 6 D 6 CI spectra of alkylbenzenes and alkylanilines contain predominantly M +. ions from reactions of [C 6 H 6 ] +. or [C 6 D 6 ] +. and small amounts of MH + or MD + ions from reactions of [C 6 H 7 ] + or [C 6 D 7 ] + . Benzene CI spectra of aliphatic contain M +. , fragment ions and sample-size-dependent MH + ions from sample ion-sample molecules reactions. The C 6 D 6 CI spectra of substituted pyridines contain M +. and MD + ions in different ratios depending on the substituent (which alters the ionization energy of the substituted pyridine), as well as sample-size-dependent MH + ions froms sample ion−sample molecule reactions. Two mechanisms are observed for the formation of MD + ions: proton transfer from [C 6 D 6 ] +. or charge transfer from [C 6 D 6 ] +. to give M +. , followed by deuteron transfer from C 6 D 6 to M +. The mechanisms of reactions were established by ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) experiments. Proton transfer from [C 6 H 6 ] +. or [C 6 D 6 ] +. is rapid only for compounds for which proton transfer is exothermic and charge transfer is endothermic. For compounds for which for both charge transfer and proton transfer are exothermic, charge transfer is the almost exclusive reaction
Acid sphingomyelinase deficiency: Prevalence and characterization of an intermediate phenotype of Niemann-Pick disease

Objective To document the prevalence of neurologic disease in Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) NPD-B. Study design Sixty-four patients with NPD-B had detailed neurologic and ophthalmologic evaluations. The presence of neurologic abnormalities was compared with genotype. Results Nineteen of 64 patients (30%) had neurologic abnormalities, which were minor and nonprogressive in 14 (22%), and global and progressive in 5 (8%). In these five patients, the onset of neurologic difficulties occurred between 2 and 7 years of age and was associated with peripheral neuropathy, retinal abnormalities, and the Q292K mutation. No patients with at least one copy of ΔR608 had neurologic involvement. Conclusions The majority of patients with NPD-B have no neurologic abnormalities. In patients with neurologic abnormalities, the findings can be minor and static or severe and progressive. The latter phenotype follows a course distinct from that of classic NPD-A and is associated with the Q292K mutation and characteristic retinal findings. Thus, similar to other lysosomal storage disorders, there is a broad spectrum of neurologic abnormalities in acid sphingomyelinase deficiency, which makes the current classification scheme inaccurate.
A dnaN Plasmid Shuffle Strain for Rapid In Vivo Analysis of Mutant Escherichia coli β Clamps Provides Insight Into the Role of Clamp in umuDC-Mediated Cold Sensitivity

The E. coli umuDC gene products participate in two temporally distinct roles: UmuD2C acts in a DNA damage checkpoint control, while UmuD'2C, also known as DNA polymerase V (Pol V), catalyzes replication past DNA lesions via a process termed translesion DNA synthesis. These different roles of the umuDC gene products are managed in part by the dnaN-encoded β sliding clamp protein. Co-overexpression of the β clamp and Pol V severely blocked E. coli growth at 30°C. We previously used a genetic assay that was independent of the ability of β clamp to support E. coli viability to isolate 8 mutant clamp proteins (βQ61K, βS107L, βD150N, βG157S, βV170M, βE202K, βM204K and βP363S) that failed to block growth at 30°C when co-overexpressed with Pol V. It was unknown whether these mutant clamps were capable of supporting E. coli viability and normal umuDC functions in vivo. The goals of this study were to answer these questions. To this end, we developed a novel dnaN plasmid shuffle assay. Using this assay, βD150N and βP363S were unable to support E. coli viability. The remaining 6 mutant clamps, each of which supported viability, were indistinguishable from β+ with respect to umuDC functions in vivo. In light of these findings, we analyzed phenotypes of strains overexpressing either β clamp or Pol V alone. The strain overexpressing β+, but not those expressing mutant β clamps, displayed slowed growth irrespective of the incubation temperature. Moreover, growth of the Pol V-expressing strain was modestly slowed at 30°, but not 42°C. Taken together, these results suggest the mutant clamps were identified due to their inability to slow growth rather than an inability to interact with Pol V. They further suggest that cold sensitivity is due, at least in part, to the combination of their individual effects on growth at 30°C.
Theoretical Development of Lower Bound S - N Fatigue Curves

AbstractFatigue strength of welded structures is typically estimated through several approaches, including experimental S-N curves, the hot spot stress approach, and fracture mechanics. Recent work on the local stress field singularity of the weld toe has provided analytical expressions for the stress intensity factor of a crack emanating from the weld toe. Invoking the Paris law for fatigue crack growth together with the stress intensity factor expressions allows fatigue life to be evaluated in closed form. The fracture mechanics solution takes the same power-law form as the S-N curves and produces accurate lower bound estimates to the experimental fatigue data of stiffeners and attachments. The results show a strong relationship between the fracture mechanics, S-N curve, and hot spot approaches to fatigue that is based on two or more parameters from the local weld toe stress field. The two parameters may be tabulated as functions of weldment geometry and loading conditions for improved fatigue design an...
TRANSAMINATION OF L-HOMOCITRULLINE TO A NEWLY-DESCRIBED CYCLIC METABOLITE

Elevated levels of serum and urinary L-homocitrulline (HC) are seen in citrullinemia and in several other genetic disorders of the urea cycle and lysine catabolism. In recent studies on the metabolism of HC in rats and mice we have found that HC is converted to a previously undescribed compound (Fed. Proc. 35:1478, 1976). We now report evidence indicating that the initial step in the formation of the new compound is a transamination. The conversion of HC to the cyclic derivative, in vitro, proceeds in mouse liver homogenates, but not in preparations of kidney, brain, spleen, lung, muscle or intestine. The most effective amino-group acceptors for the reaction are pyruvate and glyoxylate; α-ketoglutarate, oxaloacetate, α-ketomalonate, α-ketobutyrate, and α-ketoisocaproate are active but less effective. This transamination may represent a significant route for the disposal of HC and, possibly, other alpha-amino acid intermediates which accumulate in disorders of urea, lysine, and ammonia metabolism. This reaction may also contribute to the depletion of available α-ketoacids in clinical situations with elevated levels of HC, homoarginine, citrulline, and similar compounds.
Acceleration of high-energy cosmic rays by pulsars.

High energy cosmic ray origin and acceleration by LF electromagnetic radiation produced by pulsars, noting maximum energy for protons
Binding interface of cardiac potassium channel proteins identified by hydrogen deuterium exchange of synthetic peptides.

Three synthetic peptides, derived from the human potassium channel proteins Ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG), KCNQ1, and KCNE1, were investigated by hydrogen deuterium exchange coupled with electron-transfer dissociation mass spectrometry at single residue resolution. Each amino acid residue in the first half of the HERG peptide incorporated deuterons with a higher rate than those in the second half of the peptide, consistent with the nuclear magnetic resonance structure of this peptide, with amino acids 1–10 being a flexible coil, whereas amino acids 11–24 are a stable amphipathic helix. The binding interface of KCNQ1 and KCNE1 was determined by comparing the difference of sequential fragment ions before and after binding. The residues determined to be involved in binding were consistent with a cysteine cross-linking study and confirmed by double mutant cycle analysis.
Histones and their modifications during amphibian metamorphosis.

Abstract 1. 1. Histones from all developmental stages of Rana catesbeiana in the liver and erythrocytes were found to be qualitatively similar. 2. 2. Gas chromatographic analysis revealed a decrease in hydrolyzable acetate on the histones as metamorphosis progressed to the adult or on thyroxine treatment. 3. 3. Isotope incorporation revealed a decrease in liver histone acetylation and no change in erythrocyte histone acetylation during metamorphosis. 4. 4. It is suggested that large scale acetylation of histones is not required for gene activation during metamorphosis.
Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the deceased donor: impact on early post‐transplant liver allograft function

Background & Aims: Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels are frequently elevated with liver injury and such elevations are common in deceased organ donors. The impact of this injury on early liver allograft function has not been well described. This study analyses the immediate function and 1-year graft and patient survival for liver allografts stratified by peak serum ALT levels in the deceased donor. Methods: The on-site organ procurement records for 1348 consecutive deceased liver donors were reviewed (2001–2011). Serum ALT was categorized into three study groups: normal/ mild elevation, 0–499 l/L; moderate elevation, 500–999 l/L (>109 upper limit of normal) and severe elevation, ≥1000 l/L (>209 upper limit of normal). Outcomes included early graft function and graft loss, and 1-year graft and patient survival. Results: Distribution of subjects included: normal/ mild, 1259 (93%); moderate, 34 (3%) and severe, 55 (4%). Risk of 30-day graft loss for the three study groups was: 72 (6%), 3 (9%) and 3 (6%) (P = 0.74). Graft and patient survival at 1 year for the three groups was: normal/mild, 1031 (87%), 1048 (88%); moderate, 31 (91%), 31 (91%) and severe, 43 (88%), 44 (90%) (P = 0.71, 0.79). Cox proportional hazards modelling of survival while controlling for donor age and recipient model for end-stage liver disease score (MELD) demonstrates no statistically significant difference among the three study groups. Conclusions: This study demonstrates clinical equivalence in early graft function and 1-year graft and patient survival for donor livers with varying peak levels of serum ALT. These donor allografts may, therefore, be utilized successfully. The decision to accept a deceased donor liver graft for liver transplantation (LT) is multifactorial, but reasonable efforts are made to assure that the liver graft will function adequately in all of its required capacities. Factors crucial to the decision to accept a graft for transplant include donor laboratory values and past medical history, and gross and histological appearance of the graft. Biochemical evaluation of the deceased donor liver graft is generally confined to the review of a limited number of laboratory values including serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (AP), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and total bilirubin (TB). Other potential measures of liver function include serum levels of albumin and total protein, and international normalized ratio (INR) or prothrombin time (PT). Unfortunately, many of these chemical markers associated with liver function or injury may be markedly abnormal in the deceased donor in spite of normal baseline liver function. The accepting transplant surgeon, then, is often forced to accept a liver graft for transplant in the face of abnormal laboratory values.
Development of human pose analyzing algorithms for the determination of construction productivity in real-time

To enhance the capability of rapid construction, an automated on-site productivity measurement system is developed. Employing the concepts of Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence, the developed system wirelessly acquires a sequence of images of construction activities. The system first processes these images in real-time to generate human poses associated with the construction workers at a project site. The poses are first manually classified into three categories as effective work, ineffective work, and contributory work. Then, a built-in neural network trained on these classifications, determines the worker’s status by comparing the in-coming images to the developed human poses. The labor productivity is determined from these comparison statistics. This system has been tested for accuracy on a bridge construction project. The analysis results were accurate as compared to the results of the manual method. This research project made several major contributions to the advancement in construction industry. First, it applied advanced image processing techniques for analyzing construction operations. Second, the results of this research project made possible the automatic determination of construction productivity in real-time. Thus, an instant feedback to the construction crew was possible. As a result, the capability of rapid construction was improved using the developed technology.
Job Satisfaction and Work Values

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship of work values with job satisfaction. 69 graduate and undergraduate female education majors working in the helping professions were administered the Work Values Scale and the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale. Scores on five values scales, measuring intrinsic values, were correlated significantly with scores on job satisfaction. The correlations indicated a negative relationship. Way of Life, Altruism, and Achievement were rated the highest work values by the group.
METABOLISM OF ALCOHOL

Most tissues of the body contain enzymes capable of ethanol oxidation or nonoxidative metabolism, but significant activity occurs only in the liver and, to a lesser extent, in the stomach. Hence, medical consequences are predominant in these organs. In the liver, ethanol oxidation generates an excess of reducing equivalents, primarily as NADH, causing hepatotoxicity. An additional system, containing cytochromes P-450 inducible by chronic alcohol feeding, was demonstrated in liver microsomes and found to be a major cause of hepatotoxicity.
Electrospun poly(D,L)‐lactide nonwoven mats for biomedical application: Surface area shrinkage and surface entrapment

Nanofibrous poly(D,L)-lactide mats prepared by electrospinning are useful for numerous biomedical applications. However, it was observed that these mats tend to shrink under physiological conditions. In this research, a physical entrapment method to modify the polymer surface with poly(ethylene glycol) was developed to ensure dimensional stability and to increase the hydrophilicity of the surface of the mats. Nanofiber morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Surface element analysis was performed by high resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Water contact angles were determined to identify surface properties before and after surface entrapment. Canine fibroblasts were prepared and seeded onto the poly(D,L)-lactide mats, followed by cell morphology study by SEM and cell viability tests by MTT assay, which confirmed the improvement of biocompatibility by surface modification. Taking the results into account, hydrophilic and area-stable nanofibrous nonwoven mats were successfully produced, with potential applications as in vivo biomedical material. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Analysis of Classroom Interaction through Communication Behaviors

(1962). Analysis of Classroom Interaction through Communication Behaviors. The Journal of Experimental Education: Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 321-322.
Choice in a self-control paradigm: effects of reinforcer quality.

Pigeons were exposed to a self-control paradigm in which they chose between larger, more delayed and smaller, less delayed reinforcers. Reinforcer quality (i.e., the type of grain associated with each alternative) was varied across conditions. Choice behavior was influenced by grain quality; proportions of responses for the larger, more delayed alternative changed as a function of the grains associated with the response alternatives. Furthermore, the percentage deviation from mean baseline response proportions generally decreased as a function of the relative grain types associated with each response alternative. Manipulation of reinforcer quality can significantly influence the degree of self-control typically exhibited by pigeons.
TugOfWar: a simple 2D web visualization technique

As the World Wide Web (WWW) continues to grow at an enormous rate, finding useful information on the WWW is becoming more and more tedious and time consuming. This paper introduces a new visualization technique called TugOfWar for the visualization of search results on the WWW. TugOfWar provides a simple, 2-Dimensional (2D), and interactive graphical user interface to help the users comprehend and filter such results. The TugOfWar interface visually displays the relationship between the query keywords and the displayed documents (inter-document relationships) and the relevance of the query keywords to each individual document (intra-document relationships). Operations on the interface such as zoom in/out, add/remove keywords, or display details of a document increase the power of visualization. A large number of documents may be displayed on one screen, which allows users to judge document relevance more quickly and accurately rather than by linearly flipping through result pages. The TugOfWar technique is intended to provide a global overview of the search results and may be combined with other visualization techniques to provide more details about the contents of a specific document. Several examples are used to illustrate the advantages of the TugOfWar approach.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Chronic Electrical Stimulation of the Left Ventrointermediate (Vim) Thalamic Nucleus for the Treatment of Pharmacotherapy-Resistant Parkinson's Disease: A Differential Impact on Access to Semantic and Episodic Memory?

Abstract Thalamotomy for medically refractory Parkinson's disease (PD) is considered to be efficacious and relatively safe. Because a minority of patients experience decrements in language and memory (often mild and transient) after thalamotomy, chronic thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) might be a safer treatment given its reversibility and the modifiability of stimulation parameters. Two preliminary studies support the relative cognitive safety of unilateral DBS of the ventral intermediate (Vim) thalamic nucleus, but it is unclear whether possibly subtle changes in language and memory represent effects of “microthalamotomy” or of stimulation per se. This report provides preliminary data concerning effects of left thalamic stimulation on information processing speed, semantic memory (verbal fluency and visual confrontation naming), and verbal episodic memory in a patient with PD. In addition to being evaluated before and 3 and 6 months after surgery, the patient was tested 18 months after surgery either on or off medications and with the stimulator turned either on or off (order counterbalanced across medication conditions). Test performance differences between the stimulation conditions were attenuated “off” as compared to “on” medication. Vim stimulation consistently, albeit subtly, improved semantic verbal fluency but interfered with immediate recall of word lists. Parallels to findings from acute, intraoperative thalamic stimulation studies are explored. The hypothesis is offered that left Vim stimulation might facilitate access to semantic memory, but interfere with episodic memory processes.
A rapid ultramicro radioimmunoassay for human thyrotropin.

Summary A one day ultramicro radioimmunoassay technique for determination of thyrotropin in human plasma has been developed. The economy of the method in terms of time and reagents has been achieved without a loss of sensitivity, specificity, or precision. The results of clinical studies utilizing 20 μl of serum to measure plasma thyrotropin levels in normal subjects and patients with thyroid disease are in excellent agreement with the results achieved by longer more expensive techniques.
Surface diffusion on energetically heterogeneous surfaces—an effective medium approximation approach

Abstract A model based on the effective medium approximation is presented which describes surface diffusivity on an energetically heterogeneous surface as a function of overall surface coverage and a heterogeneity parameter. The heterogeneity parameter is obtained independently from the equilibrium adsorption data. The effect of heterogeneity on surface diffusion depends on the relationship between the activation energy of surface diffusion and the energy of adsorption. The effect of the coordination number is discussed. On comparison with other models for both heterogeneous and homogeneous surfaces, it is shown that the model proposed in this work gives a better representation of the experimental data.
Selection of the Number of Principal Components: The Variance of the Reconstruction Error Criterion with a Comparison to Other Methods†

One of the main difficulties in using principal component analysis (PCA) is the selection of the number of principal components (PCs). There exist a plethora of methods to calculate the number of PCs, but most of them use monotonically increasing or decreasing indices. Therefore, the decision to choose the number of principal components is very subjective. In this paper, we present a method based on the variance of the reconstruction error to select the number of PCs. This method demonstrates a minimum over the number of PCs. Conditions are given under which this minimum corresponds to the true number of PCs. Ten other methods available in the signal processing and chemometrics literature are overviewed and compared with the proposed method. Three data sets are used to test the different methods for selecting the number of PCs: two of them are real process data and the other one is a batch reactor simulation.
Gastrin-Releasing Peptide, Immune Responses, and Lung Disease

Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is produced by pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs), with highest numbers of GRP-positive cells present in fetal lung. Normally GRP-positive PNECs are relatively infrequent after birth, but PNEC hyperplasia is frequently associated with chronic lung diseases. To address the hypothesis that GRP mediates chronic lung injury, we present the cumulative evidence implicating GRP in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), the chronic lung disease of premature infants who survive acute respiratory distress syndrome. The availability of well-characterized animal models of BPD was a critical tool for demonstrating that GRP plays a direct role in the early pathogenesis of this disease. Potential mechanisms by which GRP contributes to injury are analyzed, with the main focus on innate immunity. Autoreactive T cells may contribute to lung injury late in the course of disease. A working model is proposed with GRP triggering multiple cell types in both the innate and adaptive immune systems, promoting cascades culminating in chronic lung disease. These observations represent a paradigm shift in the understanding of the early pathogenesis of BPD, and suggest that GRP blockade could be a novel treatment to prevent this lung disease in premature infants.
Activation energy measurements in rheological analysis of cheese

Abstract Activation energy of flow ( E a ) between 30 and 44 °C was calculated from temperature sweeps of cheeses with contrasting characteristics to determine its usefulness in predicting rheological behavior upon heating. Cheddar, Colby, whole milk Mozzarella, low-moisture part-skim Mozzarella, Parmesan, soft goat, and Queso Fresco cheeses were heated from 22 to 70 °C, and E a was calculated from the resulting Arrhenius plots. Protein and moisture content were highly correlated with E a . The E a values for goat cheese and Queso Fresco, which did not flow when heated, were between 30 and 60 kJ mol −1 . Cheddar, Colby, and the Mozzarellas did flow upon heating, and their E a values were between 100 and 150 kJ mol −1 . Parmesan, the hardest cheese, flowed rapidly with heat and had an E a > 180 kJ mol −1 . E a provides an objective means of quantitating the flow of cheese, and together with elastic modulus and viscous modulus provides a picture of the behavior of cheese as it is heated.
Size Effect in Molecular Imaging of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Visualizing and quantifying vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are crucial factors in understanding the tumor environment and monitoring antiangiogenic treatment. The small peptidic probes described by Fedorova et al. in this issue appear to be superior to antibodies in reflecting the dynamics of VEGF as they facilitate image quantification.
Spectroscopic reassignment and ground-state dissociation energy of molecular iodine

Reanalyzing some early bandhead data for I2[B 0u+(3Π)], an improved value of the ground‐state dissociation energy is found to be D0 = 12 440.9 ± 1.1 cm−1, differing significantly from the previously accepted value of Verma, 12 452.5 ± 1.5 cm−1. This result implies that the final state of one of the uv resonance series reported by Verma must have a rotationless potential maximum some 13.1 ± 1.4 cm−1 high. It is further shown that the original electronic assignment of this state as ground‐state X 0g+(1Σ) is implausible. A reassignment as 0g+(3Π) is proposed, and the nature of the 0g+(3Π) potential is considered.
Multicultural China in the Early Middle Ages. By Sanping Chen. (Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2012. Pp. xi, 279. $79.95.)

This volume consists of seven chapters and an appendix, of which all but one chapter are based on revised and enlarged versions of previously published articles that treat various aspects of what t...
Combined breast ductal lavage and ductal endoscopy for the evaluation of the high-risk breast: a feasibility study.

Background and Objectives Evaluation of the ductal epithelium of the breast at increased risk for breast cancer is needed to define the carcinogenic pathway, for risk assessment, and to improve selection of women for chemoprevention therapy. We studied the feasibility of combining breast ductal endoscopy with ductal lavage in the high-risk contralateral breast of women with ipsilateral breast cancer for the evaluation of high-risk ducts and acquisition of ductal epithelial cells for analysis. Methods Breast ducts were studied by ductal lavage and ductal endoscopy, and epithelial cell content studied cytologically and quantitatively. Results Twenty-five subjects and 44 ducts, including 22 (50.0%) which did not produce nipple aspirate fluid (NAF), were studied. Cellular atypia was present in five subjects. Ductal endoscopy was performed on 1 or more ducts in 24 subjects. Structural changes were noted in 63.6% of the ducts, most commonly fibrous stranding or bridging. Ductal sampling with endoscopic brush and coil sampling devices provided additional cellular samples of relatively pure ductal epithelial content (≥91% purity) in 8/11 subjects. Conclusions Breast ductal endoscopy combined with ductal lavage represents a feasible approach for characterizing the ducts and ductal epithelium of the high-risk breast, especially in a research setting. J. Surg. Oncol. 2006;94:555–564. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Combining approximate geometry with view-dependent texture mapping - a hybrid approach to 3D video teleconferencing

We present a hybrid system using computer vision and graphics methods that effectively combines fast automatic 3D model extraction with view-dependent texture mapping for the purpose of real-time person-to-person 3D video teleconferencing. In our approach the problem of creating a dense disparity map is bypassed. We compute only a sparse geometric model, which is textured from multiple cameras using an image-based rendering approach. Using a commodity graphics card and three personal computers arranged in a cluster, we achieve a performance of 3 to 4 frames per second. We demonstrate the ability to provide a 3D tele-immersive environment with our system.
Time stability of Monte Carlo device simulation

An important numerical constraint on self consistent Monte Carlo device simulation is the stability limit on the time step imposed by plasma oscillations. The widely quoted stability limit for the time step between Poisson field solutions, Delta t >