cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Awareness and Perceived Effectiveness of HIV Treatment as Prevention Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in New York City.

To assess perceptions of HIV treatment as prevention (TasP), we conducted an online survey of MSM in New York City (n = 732) asking them to rate the effectiveness of different strategies to reduce HIV risk during serodiscordant condomless anal sex between men. Only 6.1% reported not knowing what TasP was, with significantly less awareness among non-gay-identified MSM, men with less education, men who reported fewer anal sex partners in the prior 3 months, and HIV-negative/unaware men who had never used PrEP. The strategy most frequently perceived to offer “a lot” or “complete” protection from HIV was daily PrEP (70.0%), followed by TasP (39.1%), intermittent PrEP (16.6%), strategic positioning (15.8%), and withdrawal before ejaculation (10.8%). Men who were HIV positive, who had ever used PrEP, and who identified as gay/homosexual were significantly more likely to see TasP as effective. Further studies should investigate MSM’s apparent skepticism towards TasP.
Patient-Reported Outcomes After Isolated and Combined Arthroscopic Subscapularis Tendon Repairs.

PURPOSE To analyze minimum 2-year postoperative patient-reported outcomes of a large group of patients after arthroscopic subscapularis (SSc) repair with respect to surgical findings and concurrent procedures. METHODS Patients who underwent arthroscopic SSc repair from January 2010 to April 2016 completed the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System for Upper Extremity (PROMIS-UE) test and postoperative visual analog scale pain score. Medical records were reviewed for the preoperative visual analog scale pain score and surgical findings. SSc tears were considered partial or complete. Concomitant pathology and treatment of the supraspinatus (SS), infraspinatus (IS), and biceps tendon were recorded. We compared preoperative variables and outcomes between isolated partial SSc repair, partial SSc with SS and/or IS repair, isolated complete SSc repair, and complete SSc with SS and/or IS repair. RESULTS One hundred forty-five shoulders were included with an average age of 62.0 ± 9.8 years and average follow-up period of 52.2 ± 19.5 months. A significant reduction in the pain score occurred, from 4.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.4-5.2) to 0.9 (95% CI, 0.6-1.1) (P < .001), with a mean postoperative PROMIS-UE score of 50.7 (95% CI, 49.5-52.0). Most SSc tears were partial with SS and/or IS repair (44.1%). Isolated partial SSc tears (29.9%), complete SSc tears with SS and/or IS repair (20.1%), and isolated complete SSc tears (5.9%) were less common. A significant difference in the mean postoperative PROMIS-UE score was not found between groups (P = .609). Biceps tendon pathology was significantly more common in complete SSc tears than partial SSc tears (P < .001), but there was no difference in the rate of biceps intervention (P = .110) or the PROMIS-UE score based on biceps intervention (P = .471). CONCLUSIONS We observed significant improvements in pain and patient-reported outcomes in line with population means for a large group of patients after SSc tendon repair. Importantly, outcomes were similar despite the size of SSc tear or concurrent SS and/or IS repairs. Biceps pathology was common, and neither its presence nor its treatment influenced postoperative patient outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level IV, retrospective case series.
Engineering opposite electronic polarization of singlet and triplet states increases the yield of high-energy photoproducts.

Efficient photosynthetic energy conversion requires quantitative, light-driven formation of high-energy, charge-separated states. However, energies of high-lying excited states are rarely extracted, in part because the congested density of states in the excited-state manifold leads to rapid deactivation. Conventional photosystem designs promote electron transfer (ET) by polarizing excited donor electron density toward the acceptor (“one-way” ET), a form of positive design. Curiously, negative design strategies that explicitly avoid unwanted side reactions have been underexplored. We report here that electronic polarization of a molecular chromophore can be used as both a positive and negative design element in a light-driven reaction. Intriguingly, prudent engineering of polarized excited states can steer a “U-turn” ET—where the excited electron density of the donor is initially pushed away from the acceptor—to outcompete a conventional one-way ET scheme. We directly compare one-way vs. U-turn ET strategies via a linked donor–acceptor (DA) assembly in which selective optical excitation produces donor excited states polarized either toward or away from the acceptor. Ultrafast spectroscopy of DA pinpoints the importance of realizing donor singlet and triplet excited states that have opposite electronic polarizations to shut down intersystem crossing. These results demonstrate that oppositely polarized electronically excited states can be employed to steer photoexcited states toward useful, high-energy products by routing these excited states away from states that are photosynthetic dead ends.
Belief Space Planning for Reducing Terrain Relative Localization Uncertainty in Noisy Elevation Maps

Accurate global localization is essential for planetary rovers to reach mission goals and mitigate operational risk. For initial exploration missions, it is inappropriate to deploy GPS or build other infrastructure for navigating. One way of determining global position is to use terrain relative navigation (TRN). TRN compares planetary rover-perspective images and 3D models to existing satellite orbital imagery and digital elevation models (DEMs) for absolute positioning. However, TRN is limited by the quality of orbital data and the presence and uniqueness of terrain features. This work presents a novel combination of belief space planning with terrain relative navigation. Additionally, we introduce a new method for increasing the robustness of belief space planning to noisy map data. The new algorithm provides a statistically significant reduction in localization uncertainty when tested on elevation data produced from lunar orbital imagery.
Automated Communication and Floorplan-Aware Hardware/Software Co-Design for SoC

The main objective of modern SoC (System-on-Chip) designs is to achieve high-performance while maintaining low power consumption and resource usage. However, achieving such a goal is a difficult and time-consuming engineering task due to the vast design space of hardware accelerators and HW/SW task partitioning. Depending on the partitioning decision, communication between parts of the SoC must be also optimized such that the overall runtime including both computation and communication would be fast. In this paper, we propose an automated approach to iteratively search for a near-optimal SoC design with minimum latency within the targeted power and resource budget. Our approach consists of the following main components: (1) polyhedral-model-based hardware accelerator design space exploration, (2) modeling of various communication types and integration into LLVM-based integer linear programming for HW/SW task partitioning, (3) fast and efficient search algorithm to extract maximum operating frequency using floorplanner, and (4) back-annotation of extracted information to system level for iterative partitioning. Using FPGA as the target platform, we demonstrate that our approach consistently outperforms the previous state-of-the-art solutions for automated HW/SW co-design by 37.8% on average and up to 75.2% for certain designs.
Extraction of phycocyanin—A natural blue colorant from dried spirulina biomass: Influence of processing parameters and extraction techniques

Phycocyanin, a natural blue colorant, is typically extracted from liquid biomass of Arthrospira platensis, a blue-green algae called spirulina. In this study, we developed a scalable process to extract phycocyanin from dried spirulina biomass. First, we established the optimal ionic strength and pH for the extraction buffer. The results showed that a minimum ionic strength (>5 g/L NaCl) must be maintained to minimize the co-extraction of the green chlorophyll. The optimal pH of the phosphate buffer (100 mM) for phycocyanin extraction is 7.5; however, the pH should be immediately adjusted to 6.0 to 6.5 after the extraction to keep phycocyanin stable. Second, we also investigated three processing techniques, that is, high-pressure processing (HPP), pulsed electric field (PEF), and ultrasonication, to break the cell walls of spirulina and facilitate the release of phycocyanins into extraction buffers. HPP and PEF do not lead to the release of phycocyanin into the extraction buffer. However, ultrasonication breaks down the spirulina into fine particles and releases most of the phycocyanin, along with other impurities, immediately after the treatment. Last, it has been revealed that most of the phycocyanin can be extracted from biomass within 3 hr by phosphate buffer only (pH 7.5, 100 mM) at room temperature. It is concluded that there is no need to treat the rehydrated biomass solution by HPP, PEF, or ultrasonication due to the minimal benefits they brought for the extraction. Based on these results, we proposed an extraction process for the plant production of phycocyanin starting from dried spirulina biomass. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Limited information can be found on the extraction of phycocyanin from dried spirulina biomass, especially how to better preserve the natural blue color of phycocyanin during extraction. We have investigated the method and presented a different view from previous processes. Pulsed electric field, high-pressure processing, and ultrasonication were employed to accelerate the extraction of phycocyanin from dried biomass. However, it was found that, unlike the extraction from live wet biomass, these techniques do not help with the extraction from dried biomass. Based on investigations, we have proposed a process that can be easily scaled up for the commercial production of phycocyanin from dried spirulina biomass.
Gender differences in commuting travel in the U.S.: interactive effects of race/ethnicity and household structure

This research investigates the interactive effects of the household structure and race/ethnicity on gender differences in commuting travel in the United States. Existing research has established that both the household structure and race/ethnicity affect the gender differences, but little has examined if and how the effects of the household structure differ across racial/ethnic groups. Using the 2017 U.S. National Household Travel Survey, I estimate gender differences in commuting distance and in the probability of automobile commute in five household types and in four racial/ethnic groups. Results suggest differing effects of household types across racial/ethnic groups: the effects are particularly large in Hispanic people and small in Black people; the effects are moderate in white and Asian people. The research provides an analytical framework that jointly considers the two important factors that explain gendered commuting travel, and it reveals nuanced findings that can inform people-based and context-sensitive transport policies.
High-temperature live-cell imaging of cytokinesis, cell motility and cell-cell adhesion in the thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

Significant technical challenges have limited the study of extremophile cell biology. For example, the absence of methods for performing high-resolution, live-cell imaging at high temperatures (>50°C) has impeded the study of cell motility and cell division in thermophilic archaea such as model organisms from the genus Sulfolobus. Here we describe a system for imaging samples at 75°C using high numerical aperture, oil-immersion lenses. With this system we observed and quantified the dynamics of cell division in the model thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. In addition, we observed previously undescribed dynamic cell shape changes, cell motility, and cell-cell interactions, shedding significant new light on the high-temperature lifestyle of this organism.
A place apart: James Murray’s ulterior Atlantic World

Merchant and planter James Murray’s experience as Scottish immigrant and North Carolina colonist argues for a reconsideration of Atlantic World experiences. James Murray’s vantage point shows that ...
Formation of argon cluster with proton seeding

We employ force-field molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the kinetics of nucleation to new liquid or solid phases in a dense gas of particles, seeded with ions. We use precise atomic pai...
IR detection by depletion of trapped charge

We describe a mode of infrared detection which involves the depletion of charge stored in localized states in semiconductors at low temperatures. This mode features very long integration times (up to 12 hours or more) and field-enhanced response beyond the usual long wavelength cutoff.
Spectroscopically Quantifying the Influence of Salts on Nonionic Surfactant Chemical Potentials and Micelle Formation.

The influence of two salts (NaSCN and Na2SO4) on the micellization of a nonionic surfactant (1,2-hexanediol) is quantified using Raman multivariate curve resolution spectroscopy, combined with a generalized theoretical analysis of the corresponding chemical potential changes. Although the SCN- and SO42- anions are on opposite ends of the Hofmeister series, they are both found to lower the critical micelle concentration. Our combined spectroscopic and theoretical analysis traces these observations to the fact that in both salt solutions the ions have a greater affinity for (or are less strongly expelled from) the hydration shell of the micelle than the free surfactant monomer, as quantified using the corresponding chemical potentials and Wyman-Tanford coefficients. This probe-free experimental and theoretical analysis strategy may readily be extended to micelle formation processes involving other surfactants, salts, and cosolvents, as well as to other sorts of aggregation and binding processes.
High Order Generalized Landau Inequalities

We present several high order abstract generalized Landau type inequalities involving the uniform and \(L_{p}\) norms. We mention also applications. Our estimates give best upper bounds. It follows [3].
A Medium Power, Self-Sustaining, and Configurable RF Pulse Generation Circuit Using a Nonlinear Transmission Line and Power Amplifier in Open and Closed-Loop Configurations

Nonlinear transmission lines (NLTLs) are a class of pulse forming networks (PFNs) for modulation of pulsed power to generate radio frequency (RF) signals. Primarily, NLTL designs assume a two-port configuration, which requires ones-to-tens of nanosecond input pulse rise time for each modulated pulse out. In this article, a closed-loop or single-port pulser that yields continuous pulses based on prior pulse stimulation is presented. The pulser is comprised of an NLTL, a power amplifier (PA), and a solid-state HV pulse generator. The capability advantage of the closedloop system is its stability and center frequency tunability. Pragmatically, the solid-state-based design of this system enhances its probability of fielded use due to volume and mass savings compared to the prior art. The validity of the proposed design is empirically shown by a 16-section NLTL coupled with a solid-state laterally diffused metal–oxide–semiconductor (LDMOS)-based PA and a custom HV pulse generator. The closed-loop configuration constructed from these components demonstrated a peak power of 2.1 kW into 50 $\Omega $ at 90 MHz. This is the first report of a solid-state switch-based closed-loop NLTL configuration capable of producing a continuous pulse stream. Furthermore, we propose a dual-diode-based NLTL design, which can operate and output at higher center frequencies compared to its single-diode counterpart.
Unmasking Steps in Intramolecular Aromatic Hydroxylation by a Synthetic Nonheme Oxoiron(IV) Complex

In this study, a methyl group on the classic tetramethylcyclam (TMC) ligand framework is replaced with a benzylic group to form the metastable [FeIV (Osyn )(Bn3MC)]2+ (2-syn; Bn3MC=1-benzyl-4,8,11-trimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) species at -40 °C. The decay of 2-syn with time at 25 °C allows the unprecedented monitoring of the steps involved in the intramolecular hydroxylation of the ligand phenyl ring to form the major FeIII -OAr product 3. At the same time, the FeII (Bn3MC)2+ (1) precursor to 2-syn is re-generated in a 1:2 molar ratio relative to 3, accounting for the first time for all the electrons involved and all the Fe species derived from 2-syn as shown in the following balanced equation: 3 [FeIV (O)(LPh )]2+ (2-syn)→2 [FeIII (LOAr )]2+ (3)+[FeII (LPh )]2+ (1)+H2 O. This system thus serves as a paradigm for aryl hydroxylation by FeIV =O oxidants described thus far. It is also observed that 2-syn can be intercepted by certain hydrocarbon substrates, thereby providing a means to assess the relative energetics of aliphatic and aromatic C-H hydroxylation in this system.
Shifting Dominant Narratives of Teacher Development: New Directions for Expanding Access to the Educator Workforce Through Grow Your Own Programs:

Grow Your Own (GYO) programs are designed to recruit high school students, paraeducators, community organizers and parents, and/or career changers from the local community to join the educator work...
Riboswitches That Sense Cyclic Di-GMP

Riboswitches are almost always located in the 5’ untranslated regions (UTRs) of messenger RNAs, where they typically control either transcription elongation or translation initiation of genes whose protein products synthesize or transport the regulatory ligand. GEMM RNAs were very promising candidate riboswitches because, in part, they contain regions of high sequence conservation interspersed with secondary structure elements supported by covariation. The first technique employed to test the candidate riboswitch was an assay called in-line probing, which can be used to assess structural changes in riboswitches in response to ligand binding. The recognition that GEMM RNAs function as cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) riboswitches facilitates the identification of entire regulons of genes that are likely controlled by changing concentrations of second messenger. Regardless of these complications, the association of genes with sequences that appear homologous to validated c-di-GMP riboswitches may help researchers identify and examine processes that are likely to be regulated by the second messenger. V. cholerae carries two elements that conform to the c-di-GMP riboswitch consensus. The identification of c-di-GMP riboswitches will allow researchers to more easily identify processes that are regulated in response to changing concentrations of the second messenger. Furthermore, some of these riboswitches already have proven to function in new hosts and, therefore, may function as useful biosensors that can report the concentrations of c-di-GMP in cells in different genetic backgrounds or under different environmental conditions. Riboswitches that bind to c-di-GMP have been identified that appear to control a great diversity of genes associated with second messenger signaling.
Relationship among performance of geologic repositories, canister-array configuration, and radionuclide mass in waste

The relationship among the repository performance, the canister-array configuration, and the radionuclide mass in waste has been investigated by developing a radionuclide-transport model, where multiple waste canisters and their spatial configuration are taken into account.A mathematical analysis and numerical results show that the radionuclide concentration in the groundwater leaving the canister array increases with the number of canisters included in a water stream parallel to the array axis, but not necessarily in a linear manner. The dependency on the number of canisters is determined mainly by canister-array configuration to the water flow and by model assumptions for transport between multiple canisters.Reduction in the initial mass loading in the waste can potentially have significant effects on the repository performance. The way the mass-reduction effects on the repository performance appear is related to the canister-array configuration. Thus, designs for a repository and a partitioning-transmutation system should be done in a coupled manner.
Running With the Pack Teen Peer-Relationship Qualities as Predictors of Adult Physical Health

This study assessed qualities of adolescent peer relationships as long-term predictors of physical health quality in adulthood. In an intensive multimethod, multireporter study of a community sample of 171 individuals assessed repeatedly from the ages of 13 to 27 years, physical health quality in adulthood was robustly predicted by independent reports of early-adolescent close-friendship quality and by a pattern of acquiescence to social norms in adolescent peer relationships. Predictions remained after accounting for numerous potential confounds, including prior health problems, concurrent body mass index, anxious and depressive symptoms, personality characteristics, adolescent-era financial adversity, and adolescent-era physical attractiveness. These findings have important implications for understanding the unique intensity of peer relationships in adolescence.
Patient assessment of primary care physician communication: segmentation approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how patient assessment of primary care physician (PCP) communication is related to patient satisfaction with the PCP, patient perception of PCP professional competence, patient assessment of the relationship with the doctor and patient demographic characteristics using a segmentation approach. Design/methodology/approach – The authors surveyed 514 adult patients waiting for appointments with their PCPs in two US primary care clinics. A latent class analysis was used to identify mutually exclusive unobserved homogeneous classes of patients. Findings – The authors identified three distinct classes/groups with regard to patient assessment of physician communication and the physician-patient relationship. The largest group (53 percent of the sample) assessed their PCP communication and other doctor-patient relationship aspects as excellent. However, 37 percent provided mostly negative assessments, expressed high general dissatisfaction with the physician and d...
How many templates does it take for a good segmentation?: error analysis in multiatlas segmentation as a function of database size

This paper proposes a novel formulation to model and analyze the statistical characteristics of some types of segmentation problems that are based on combining label maps / templates / atlases. Such segmentation-by-example approaches are quite powerful on their own for several clinical applications and they provide prior information, through spatial context, when combined with intensity-based segmentation methods. The proposed formulation models a class of multiatlas segmentation problems as nonparametric regression problems in the high-dimensional space of images. The paper presents a systematic analysis of the nonparametric estimation's convergence behavior (i.e. characterizing segmentation error as a function of the size of the multiatlas database) and shows that it has a specific analytic form involving several parameters that are fundamental to the specific segmentation problem (i.e. chosen anatomical structure, imaging modality, registration method, label-fusion algorithm, etc.). We describe how to estimate these parameters and show that several brain anatomical structures exhibit the trends determined analytically. The proposed framework also provides per-voxel confidence measures for the segmentation. We show that the segmentation error for large database sizes can be predicted using small-sized databases. Thus, small databases can be exploited to predict the database sizes required ("how many templates") to achieve "good" segmentations having errors lower than a specified tolerance. Such cost-benefit analysis is crucial for designing and deploying multiatlas segmentation systems.
Automatic generation of image-segmentation processes

Solutions to real-world image-segmentation problems typically require many image-processing steps. Unfortunately, the user must decide how to construct this sequence of steps for a given problem. So far, no system has been proposed to make the construction of these processes "easy" for the user. As a result, segmentation processes are often laboriously developed by an image-processing expert. We describe a method for automatically generating image-segmentation processes for arbitrary images. Our method uses cue-based image analysis. The user provides problem-specific information via easily defined cues. Two types of cues can be defined: (1) iconic cues, which are image-based and constructed by drawing directly onto the image data; and (2) symbolic cues, which are verbally specified facts. The cues are interpreted to help select image-processing functions. The user need not be an image-processing expert-he must only understand the significance of the specified cues for a particular problem. >
Ytterbium: Transition at High Pressure from Face-Centered Cubic to Body-Centered Cubic Structure

Pressure of 40,000 atmospheres at 25°C induces a phase transformation in ytterbium metal; the face-centered cubic structure changes to body-centered cubic. The radius of the atom changes from 1.82 to 1.75 A. At the same time the atom's volume decreases by 11 percent and the volume, observed macroscopically, decreases 3.2 percent.
Einstein's interoffice memo?

The following is reputed to have been found in the files of the Swiss Patent Office. 21 September 1904 TO: Patent Office Headquarters FROM: Albert Einstein SUBJECT: Commercial Prospects for My Research I am responding to your request for more information concerning my proposed research for the
Leakage-Aware Energy Minimization Using Dynamic Voltage Scaling and Cache Reconfiguration in Real-Time Systems

System optimization techniques are widely used to improve energy efficiency as well as overall performance. Dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) is acknowledged to be successful in reducing processor energy consumption. Due to the increasing significance of the memory subsystem’s energy consumption, dynamic cache reconfiguration (DCR) techniques are recently proposed at the aim of saving cache subsystem’s energy con- sumption. As the manufacturing technology scales into the order of nanometers, leakage current, both in the processor and cache subsystem, becomes a significant contributor in the overall power dissipation. In this paper, we efficiently integrate processor voltage scaling and cache reconfiguration together that is aware of leakage power to minimize overall system energy consumption. Experimental results demonstrate that our approach outperforms existing techniques by on average 12 - 23%.
Helicobacter pylori infection inhibits healing of the wounded duodenal epithelium in vitro.

Abstract Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection causes duodenal ulcers, delays the healing of such ulcers, and is associated with ulcer recurrence. The pathogenic mechanisms involved in Hp-induced duodenal mucosal injury and delay in ulcer healing remain unclear. In this study we sought to investigate the possible pathogenic actions of Hp infection and vacuolating cytotoxin (Vac A) on duodenal epithelial wound healing, using an in vitro wound model consisting of excisionally scraped or eroded IEC-6 duodenal monolayers. Two isogenic strains of Hp were used: wild-type strain 60190, producing Vac A; and an isogenic mutant strain, 60190-v1, that lacks the gene to produce the cytotoxin. The addition of Vac A–positive or Vac A–negative Hp (50:1 ratio of bacterial to epithelial cells) to the eroded or “wounded” IEC-6 monolayers resulted in significant inhibition of wound reepithelialization. The Vac A–positive Hp produced significantly greater inhibition than did the Vac A–negative Hp (70% and 35% inhibition, respectively; P
Seasonality of synoptic eddy feedback and the AO/NAO

[1] In this paper, by using a dynamic model with synoptic eddy and low-frequency flow (SELF) interaction, we show that the SELF feedback is of significant importance for the formation of the AO/NAO in both winter and summer. Although background storm activity is significantly weaker in summer than that in winter, the positive SELF feedback associated with the AO/NAO mode in summer can be as strong as that in winter. The seasonal variations of the AO/NAO patterns are found to resemble those of the leading singular modes simulated by a linear dynamic system with the SELF interaction in different seasons, and the seasonal shifts in spatial patterns of the AO/NAO are the result of the seasonal changes in climatological basic state and synoptic eddy activity.
C-band backscattering from corn canopies

A frequency-modulatad continuous-wave C-band (4.8 GHz) scatterometer was mounted on an aerial lift truck, and backscatter coefficients of corn (Zea mays L.) were acquired as functions of polarizations, view angles, and row directions. As phytomass and green-leaf area index increased, the backscatter also increased. Near anthesis, when the canopies were fully developed, the major scattering elements were located in the upper 1 m of the 2.8 m tall canopy and little backscatter was measured below that level for view angles of 30 deg or greater. C-band backscatter data could provide information to monitor tillage operations at small view zenith angles and vegetation at large view zenith angles.
Development and implementation of a spiritual coping group intervention for adults living with HIV/AIDS: A pilot study

The aims of the current study were to (1) describe a spirituality-oriented, group pilot intervention for HIV-positive adults, and (2) examine the preliminary impact of the intervention among a sample (N = 13) of adults living with HIV in an urban city in northeast United States. The 8-session intervention, based on the cognitive theory of stress and coping and the framework of spiritual coping, addressed stressors unique to HIV disease. Changes in spiritual coping and mental health were evaluated using a within group pretest-posttest design. Results revealed that, at post-intervention, participants reported higher self-rated religiosity, more use of positive spiritual coping, lower use of negative spiritual coping, and lower depression. Studies using a randomized, controlled design with larger samples of individuals with HIV are needed to determine the efficacy of a spiritual intervention when compared to a secular one.
Reactions of profeminist and antifeminist men to an expert woman

Thirty-two profeminist and 32 antifeminist men interacted with a woman who assertively maintained a position different from the subject. The woman was either an expert in the topic being discussed or an expert in an irrelevant area, and the topic of discussion was either traditionally masculine or feminine. The men's behavior was unaffected by their feminist beliefs, even when three distinct behaviors were combined to form a composite measure. As predicted, however, profeminist and antifeminist men did differ in their ratings of the women and the situation, with profeminists preferring a woman who was assertive on a masculine topic, and antifeminists preferring an assertive woman on a feminine topic. The data suggest that men who agree with profeminist beliefs are not merely responding in a socially desirable manner, although their beliefs are probably not sufficiently strong to result in distinctive overt behavior.
Interleaved optical coherence tomography.

We present a novel and cost-effective technique – interleaved optical coherence tomography (iOCT) – to enhance the imaging speed of swept source OCT systems by acquiring data from multiple lateral positions simultaneously during a single wavelength sweep, using a single detector and a virtually imaged phase array (VIPA) as a multi-band demultiplexer. This technique uses spectral encoding to convert coherence length into higher imaging speed; the speed enhancement factor is independent of the source speed or center wavelength, and the effective A-scan rate scales linearly with sweep speed. The optical configuration requires only a change in the sample arm of a traditional OCT system and preserves the axial resolution and fall-off characteristic of a traditional SS-OCT using the same light source. Using 10kHz, 20kHz and 100kHz sources we provide a first demonstration of image speed enhancement factors of up to 12, 6 and 10, respectively, which yield effective A-scan rates of 120kHz, 120kHz and 1MHz for B-scan imaging, with a sensitivity of up to 82.5 dB. We also show that iOCT can image faster dynamics than traditional OCT B-scan imaging and is capable of 3D biological imaging. The iOCT concept suggests a new route to high-speed OCT imaging for laser developers: that is, by focusing on improving the coherence length and linewidth of existing and emerging sources. Hence, iOCT is a nice complement to ongoing research and commercial efforts to enable faster imaging through development of lasers with faster sweep rates, and offers new hope for existing sources with slow sweep rates and potential for enhancement of coherence length to compete with faster sources to achieve high-speed OCT.
Improving classroom visual accessibility with cooperative smartphone recordings

An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 2011 IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS) at Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois (and printed in the 2011 ISTAS proceedings).We propose a cooperative approach by students in recording lecture activities such that the classroom becomes more visually accessible for everyone, especially for deaf, hard of hearing and low-vision students. Students utilize their personal camera-equipped smart phones to capture and share their views of a visually inaccessible classroom to students' devices. We show this approach virtually retrofits a classroom to make it a more visually accessible learning environment. This approach can be used in meetings to get and share optimal views of the meeting for all participants.
Demonstration of a diode-pumped metastable Ar laser

Pulsed lasing from optically pumped rare gas metastable atoms (Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) has been demonstrated previously. The laser relies on a three-level scheme, which involves the (n+1)p[5/2]3 and (n+1)p[1/2]1 states from the np5(n+1)p electronic configuration and the metastable (n+1)s[3/2]2 level of the np5(n+1)s configuration (Racah notation). Population inversions were achieved using relaxation from ((n+1)p[5/2]3 to (n+1)p[1/2]1 induced by collisions with helium or argon at pressures near 1 atm. Pulsed lasing was easily achieved using the high instantaneous pump intensities provided by a pulsed optical parametric oscillator excitation laser. In the present study we examine the potential for the development of a continuous wave (CW) optically pumped Ar laser. We report lasing of the 4p[1/2]1→4s[3/2]2 (912.547 nm) transition following CW diode laser excitation of the 4p[5/2]3←4s[3/2]2 line (811.754 nm). A pulsed discharge was used to generate Ar 4s[3/2]2, and the time-resolved lasing kinetics provide insights concerning the radiative and collisional relaxation processes.
Linear and Nonlinear Vortex Motion in an Asymmetric Balance Shallow Water Model.

Abstract This work extends asymmetric balance (AB) theory to the beta plane (β-AB). The physical problem examined is the motion of a coherent vortex on a beta plane in a finite depth fluid in the absence of an environmental steering flow. A useful attribute of the β-AB formulation is that it allows one to separate the linear and nonlinear balance contributions to the vortex motion when the standard Rossby number is not small compared to unity. It is therefore well suited for testing the hurricane-motion paradigm proposed by Willoughby for equivalent barotropic dynamics. The β-AB model is formulated first for linear shallow water dynamics on a circular vortex forced by the meridional gradient of planetary vorticity (the beta effect) in an earth-based coordinate system. The linear dynamics precludes wave–wave and wave–mean flow interactions. From incipient vortices to hurricanes, the β-AB model correctly develops the wavenumber-one asymmetries (the “beta” gyres) necessary for vortex self-advection. Cyclonic...
Chronic microglial activation and progressive dopaminergic neurotoxicity

PD (Parkinson9s disease) is characterized by the selective and progressive loss of DA neurons (dopaminergic neurons) in the substantia nigra. Inflammation and activation of microglia, the resident innate immune cell in the brain, have been strongly linked to neurodegenerative diseases, such as PD. Microglia can respond to immunological stimuli and neuronal death to produce a host of toxic factors, including cytokines and ROS (reactive oxygen species). Microglia can also become persistently activated after a single stimulus and maintain the elevated production of both cytokines and ROS, long after the instigating stimulus is gone. Current reports suggest that this chronic microglial activation may be fuelled by either dying/damaged neurons or autocrine and paracrine signals from local glial cells, such as cytokines. Here, we review proposed mechanisms responsible for chronic neuroinflammation and explain the interconnected relationship between deleterious microglial activation, DA neuron damage and neurodegenerative disease.
Effects of caffeine and L-phenylisopropyladenosine on locomotor activity of mice

C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice were used to determine if possible differences in the behavioral response to caffeine might be related to differences in A1 adenosine receptors. Caffeine stimulated locomotor activity of both strains, but the dose-response relationship and time course of drug action differed according to strain. Although their response to caffeine differed, the strains did not differ in response to the A1 adenosine agonist L-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) nor in the binding of the A1 agonist [3H]N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) in various brain regions. Thus, the behavioral differences in response to caffeine could not be accounted for by differences in adenosine binding. Of alternative mechanisms, strain differences in A2 receptors appear to be the most promising.
A high level of hybrid dysgenesis in Drosophila: High thermosensitivity, dependence on DNA repair, and incomplete cytotype regulation

An unusually high level of P-M hybrid dysgenesis in Drosophila melanogaster is characteristic of hybrid offspring originating from both, A (M female x P male) and B (P female x M male) crosses of a subline of the Harwich P strain, termed Hs. The novel properties induced by mobility of P elements carried by Hs paternal chromosomes include: very high (over 95%) gonadal dysgenesis (GD) in both sexes at the low restrictive temperature of 21 degrees C, and highly premature sterility when males are reared at 18 degrees C and aged at 21 degrees C. Although all three major chromosomes of the Hs subline contributed to this atypical pattern of gonadal dysgenesis, chromosome 3 had the largest effect. Gonadal dysgenesis showed a temperature- and sex-dependent repression pattern by the defective P elements of Muller-5 Birmingham chromosomes; at 21 degrees C there was virtually no repression of male sterility, but most effective repression of GD in females. At 29 degrees C repression was effective in males, but declined in females. The high thermosensitive sterility, low fecundity, and premature aging of the male germ line were greatly exacerbated when males derived from either A or B crosses were deficient either in excision repair (mei-9 mutation) or in post-replication repair (mei-41 mutation). These findings demonstrate that both DNA repair pathways are essential for the repair of lesions induced by P element transposition and support the hypothesis that P element-induced chromosome breaks are responsible for the virtual abolition of the germ line. The relatively high premature sterility of cross B DNA repair-deficient males, reared at 18 degrees C and aged at 21 degrees C, indicates that there is incomplete cytotype regulation in Hs subline hybrids.
Exergaming: Syncing Physical Activity and Learning

(2010). Exergaming: Syncing Physical Activity and Learning. Strategies: Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 18-21.
Data aspects in a relational database

Data has cross-cutting concerns such as versioning, privacy, and reliability. In this paper we sketch support such concerns by adapting the aspect-oriented programming (AOP) paradigm to data. Our goal, shared by AOP, is to re-engineer applications to support cross-cutting concerns without directly modifying the application's data or queries. We propose modeling a cross-cutting data concern as a data aspect. A data aspect weaves metadata around an application's data and queries, imbuing them with additional semantics for constraint and query processing.
Double-sided high-pressure tubular hydroforming

Abstract It is generally understood that tensile stress loads lead to the shearing and/or expansion of micro voids in a metal specimen. Such deformation leads to stress concentrations that ultimately form the basis of the limiting strain capacity in a metal. Accordingly, a number of formability theories suggest that stress (not strain) is the key mechanism for ductile fracture. Motivated by such theories, an introduction to a special form of tubular hydroforming (THF) is put forth, where hydraulic pressure is introduced on both sides of the metal. Six different formability models are compared in light of their sensitivity to thickness normal stress (σ3) and other process variables associated with THF. It is shown that the models which capture the σ3 effect are most suitable for formability assessment for the double-sided high-pressure (DSHP) process. The stress space forming limit model is then employed in the context of a solid finite element model of a plane-strain THF expansion. The presence of the DSHP boundary condition is shown to lead to increased formability relative to that observed for the traditional single-sided high-pressure (SSHP) process. Research of the DSHP process may lead to discoveries of various avenues towards greater formability. Consequently, the design space currently available to those employing the SSHP process may be significantly increased through the DSHP process. Ultimately, such design space increase may result in lower product cost, greater customer enthusiasm and increased market share for those manufacturers who invest in the DSHP process. This work represents a preliminary numerical investigation into the DSHP process only. Issues of cost, time and fixture design are left untouched.
Psychological Changes Accompanying Non‐Pharmacological Treatment of Chronic Headache: The Effects of Outcome

SYNOPSIS Several prior studies suggest that non-drug treatment for chronic headache is accompanied by concomitant reductions in patients' anxiety, depression and somatization. It is currently unclear, however, whether such beneficial side effects are a function of degree of headache relief or are due simply to receiving treatment. Most work to date in this area has treated outcome as a dichotomous variable. The present report employed a regression approach which treats outcome (degree of headache relief) as a continuous variable in the study of 149 chronic headache patients and their accompanying psychological changes. Anxiety and depression were significantly reduced for headache patients regardless of degree of headache relief. With somatization, however, degree of headache relief had a significant effect; the greater the reduction in headache, the fewer somatic concerns were expressed, especially for mixed headache.
G2 checkpoint abrogation and checkpoint kinase-1 targeting in the treatment of cancer

Rigorous quality control steps, termed checkpoints, tightly regulate progression through the cell cycle. DNA-damaging chemotherapy and radiation activate functional cellular checkpoints. These checkpoints can facilitate DNA repair and promote cell death in unrepaired cells. There are at least three DNA damage checkpoints – at G1/S, S, and G2/M – as well as a mitotic spindle checkpoint. Most cancer cells harbour mutations in tumour suppressors and/or oncogenes, which impair certain cell checkpoints. Inhibiting the remaining cell checkpoints – particularly after exposure of cancer cells to chemotherapy and/or radiation – allows cell death, a strategy now being employed in cancer therapeutics. With our increasing knowledge of cell cycle regulation, many compounds have been developed to inhibit specific checkpoint components, particularly at the G2/M transition. One such target is checkpoint kinase-1 (Chk1). We review here the molecular framework of the cell cycle, the rationale for targeting Chk1, the preclinical concepts related to the development of Chk1 inhibitors, and the efficacy and safety results from Chk1 inhibitors now in phase I/II trials.
Intellectual resemblance among adoptive and biological relatives: The texas Adoption Project

Intellectual and personality measures were available from unwed mothers who gave their children up for adoption at birth. The same or similar measures have been obtained from 300 sets of adoptive parents and all of their adopted and natural children in the Texas Adoption Project. The sample characteristics are discussed in detail, and the basic findings for IQ are presented. Initial analyses of the data on IQ suggest moderate heritabilities. Emphasis is placed on the preliminary nature of these findings.
ADAM17 deficiency by mature neutrophils has differential effects on L-selectin shedding

L-selectin directs neutrophils to sites of inflammation, and upon their activation, surface expression of the receptor is rapidly down-regulated by ectodomain shedding. Tumor necrosis factor–α–converting enzyme (TACE, or ADAM17) is a sheddase of L-selectin; however, Adam17 gene targeting (ADAM17ΔZn/ΔZn) in mice is perinatal lethal and its role in L-selectin shedding by mature neutrophils has not been determined. This was addressed here by using radiation-chimeric mice reconstituted with ADAM17ΔZn/ΔZn fetal liver cells. ADAM17-deficient neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes failed to shed L-selectin in response to PMA, as did neutrophils infiltrating the inflamed peritoneum. In addition, the absence of functional ADAM17 resulted in significantly increased levels of L-selectin surface expression by peripheral-blood leukocytes, indicating the sheddase also plays a role in the constitutive cleavage of L-selectin. Interestingly, not all manners of L-selectin turnover required ADAM17. Plasma L-selectin levels were similar between ADAM17ΔZn/ΔZn-chimeric and control mice, as was the shedding of L-selectin by neutrophils undergoing spontaneous apoptosis. The latter process, however, was diminished by a metalloprotease inhibitor, indicating the role of a sheddase other than ADAM17. Together, our data reveal that L-selectin's surface density on neutrophils is regulated by ADAM17, but homeostatic L-selectin cleavage is not.