cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shock Induced Energetic Phase Transformations

Ultrafine diamond dust and the metastable fullerenes C{sub 60} and B{sub 24}N{sub 36} offer new pathways of energy release which are unattainable in conventional energetic materials. Theoretical and experimental studies indicate that the high bare-surface strain energies of these small particles are released in rapid (< 1 {micro}sec) phase changes. For diamond, C{sub 60} and B{sub 24}N{sub 36}, strain energies of 1,000, 1,210 and 1,245 cal/g, respectively, may be released during transition to graphite, diamond and hexagonal BN under pressures exceeding 100 kbar. It is shown that the behavior of these nanoscale particles under high shocks may be traced to their intrinsic five-fold and icosahedral symmetry, which leads to an incompatibility of global and local driving forces for space filling under high compression. From a correlation function analysis, it is shown that shear can induce long range correlations of fluctuations which arise from geometrical frustration, thereby reducing the activation energy for phase change. For the first time, critical stresses and symmetry rules are determined for such phase changes in aggregates of nanoscale particles.
Structure of planetary atmospheres

The temperature, composition, pressure, and other properties of the atmospheres of Earth, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter are reviewed in the light of the most recent observational results. Several models for the Venus atmosphere are described. (D.L.C.)
Quantifying contention and balancing memory load on hardware DSM multiprocessors

This paper makes the following contributions: It proposes a new methodology for quantifying remote memory access contention on hardware DSM multiprocessors. The most valuable aspect of this methodology is that it assesses the overhead of contention on real parallel programs running on real hardware. The methodology uses as input the number of accesses from each node of the DSM to each page in memory. A trace of the memory accesses of the program obtained at runtime is used to compute a fairly accurate estimate of the fraction of execution time wasted due to contention. The paper presents also a new algorithm which detects potential hot spots in pages and balances memory load using dynamic page migration. The algorithm attacks indirectly the problem of contention by balancing the remote memory access latency across the nodes of the system. Experiments with five irregular parallel codes on a 128-processor Origin2000 show that the algorithm yields significant performance improvements.
A new mechanism links preamyloid oligomer formation in the myocyte stress response associated with atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation remains the most common clinical cardiac arrhythmia, affecting 1-2% of the population [1-6]. It is characterized by uncoordinated depolarization of the atria in an intermittent (paroxysmal or persistent AF) or constant (permanent AF) fashion [7]. AF leads to impaired atrial contraction and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality [8]. Underlying this arrhythmia are specific electrical phenomena controlled by a diverse set of remodeling mechanisms. These electrical phenomena are reentrant waves, rapidly firing ectopic foci, and rotors which in combination can lead to initiation and maintenance of a fibrillating wave pattern [9]. Much of current research has focused on identifying remodeling mechanisms that develop an AF-prone substrate. These mechanisms can be generally grouped into three types: electrical, structural, and autonomic which have been reviewed in greater detail elsewhere [10-12]. Electrical remodeling includes alterations in K+ currents, L-type Ca2+ currents, and gap junction function. Structural remodeling includes atrial fibrosis, size, and ultrastructure. Autonomic remodeling includes hyperinnervation of the atria and surrounding region as well as increased sympathovagal activity. Though research to date has revealed a detailed and complex view of remodeling in AF, the specific myocyte stressors that activate these remodeling mechanisms are less well understood. The factors contributing to initiation of AF include inflammation, cell death, oxidative stress, hypertrophy and fibrosis [10-12]. Human clinical studies as well as mouse models have provided strong evidence of AF secondary to cardiac disease, such as congestive heart failure (CHF) where many of these remodeling mechanisms are activated by the failing heart [13-15]. These mechanisms can also be activated by AF itself, i.e. “AF begets AF,” which leads to progressive worsening of the disease as the atrial substrate becomes more and more AF-prone [16]. In cases of AF occurring independent of other diseases, referred to as lone AF, an understanding of these triggering factors can be especially important. In the recent publication, “Reactive γ-Ketoaldehydes Promote Protein Misfolding and Preamyloid Oligomer Formation in Rapidly-Activated Atrial Cells,” Sidorova et al. identify a new molecular component that may link oxidative stress to the development of an AF-prone substrate [17]. Their study exploits a rapidly-paced atrial cell line model to to mimic early AF stress responses in order to highlight a major role for oxidative stress pathways in atrial myocytes involving γ-ketoaldehydes (γ-KA) in the formation of preamlyoid oligomers (PAO), which are soluble precursors to amyloid deposits.
Were there human responses to Younger Dryas in Cantabrian Spain

Abstract A review of the record of Azilian sites or occupation layers dated to the time of Younger Dryas in Cantabrian Spain is presented. In this North Atlantic coastal region at 43° N, one would expect significant consequences for human populations during the YD cold episode. However it is very difficult to actually detect any changes in site distributions, technologies or subsistence strategies that would correlate with YD. This is a somewhat unexpected, albeit preliminary conclusion in need of further testing with more and better dated sites and more refined analyses of depositional contexts and subsistence evidence, for example. Nonetheless, the overall impression is one of great cultural continuity from the terminal Magdalenian to the early and then late Azilian, with a somewhat sharper series of breaks occurring in some domains (notably settlement and technology) at the transition to the regional Mesolithic cultures some 10,000 calendar years ago. The role of Cantabrian Spain as a relatively stable and favorable region for continuous human habitation throughout the course of the Upper Pleistocene is once again emphasized.
Continuous split course irradiation for stage I and II Hodgkin's disease: 20 year experience at the Medical College of Wisconsin

Abstract Between January 1970 and December 1989, 153 consecutive patients with stage I or 11 Hodgkin's disease were treated at the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals. Eighty-eight patients were clinically staged and 65 patients underwent staging laparotomy. Ninety-nine patients were treated using continuous split course irradiation (CSCI) technique. Overall survival (OS) at 5, 10, and 15 years was 89%, 79%, and 68%, respectively. Disease-free survival (DFS) at 5, 10, and 15 years was 75%, 72%), and 68%, respectively. No significant differences were found in OS or DFS when comparing pathologically and clinically staged patients or when comparing patients treated using CSCI with those treated with the standard technique. Patients treated using CSCI tended to complete therapy in a shorter time, without increased morbidity.
Earth rotation and network geometry optimization for very long baseline interferometers

The accuracy of direction measurements is substantially improved by Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). The technique is geometric in that it operates independently of the earth's gravity field, and dynamic in that observations of polar motion, nutation, length of day variations, and precession are also possible. Attention is given to a VLBI study of earth rotation within a framework of network geometry parameters.
Personalized medicine: a perspective on the patient, disease and causal diagnostics

In this commentary, I intend to use my ‘invitation to be provocative’ to provide my thoughts on the difference between the concept and the practice of several themes that have become both investment and strategy buzzwords, such as translational research, systems biology and personalized medicine, and the gap between where they are today and their ability to truly address patient and physician needs. My goal is to provoke thought and discussion about bridging the gaps between research and clinical utility for improving patient care and quality of life (QoL). This, to me, means understanding the differences between the disease, the patient and how they separately develop and interact. A simple Google™ search indicates incredible activity in each of these areas, with over 1,000,000 hits for ‘personalized medicine’ (compared with >52,000,000 for ‘medicine’), over 250,000 for ‘translational medicine or research’ and over 900,000 for ‘systems biology’. This probably reflects the diversity in interpretation and application of these terms rather than deep, focused efforts along specific research tracks. More importantly, I believe that these concepts have generally evolved from a focus on technology rather than a focus on clinical need, although their stated goals are to improve patient care. A fundamental problem that exists within the scientific community is the perception that ‘more data’ implies ‘more knowledge’. This reflects an incomplete appreciation of the significant chasm between data and knowledge and the even greater gap that exists when we evaluate knowledge in terms of clinical utility. For the purposes of this article, I provide my definitions of these terms and recognize that they may not be universal in their acceptance or use. While it is critical to understand these concepts individually, it is their synergies that will provide the basis for improving patient care and QoL. Translational research Translational research targets the conversion of laboratory results into clinical utility; however, translational research must start in the clinic and not at the laboratory bench, with the identification and communication of clinically significant problems into the laboratory for research and resolution. The only true measure of success of this targeted research is in terms of what translates into the clinic. Unfortunately, this is currently somewhat limited because the driving force still appears to be academically focused research rather than clinically established needs [1–3,101,102].
Removal Mechanism and Defect Characterization for Glass-Side Laser Scribing of CdTe/CdS Multilayer in Solar Cells

Laser scribing is an important manufacturing process used to reduce photocurrent and resistance losses and increase solar cell efficiency through the formation of serial interconnections in large-area solar cells. High-quality scribing is crucial since the main impediment to large-scale adoption of solar power is its high production cost (price-per-watt) compared to competing energy sources such as wind and fossil fuels. In recent years, the use of glass-side laser scribing processes has led to increased scribe quality and solar cell efficiencies, however, defects introduced during the process such as thermal effect, micro cracks, film delamination, and removal uncleanliness keep the modules from reaching their theoretical efficiencies. Moreover, limited numerical work has been performed in predicting thin film laser removal processes. In this study, a nanosecond (ns) laser with a wavelength at 532nm is employed for pattern 2 (P2) scribing on CdTe (Cadmium telluride) based thin-film solar cells. The film removal mechanism and defects caused by laser-induced micro-explosion process are studied. The relationship between those defects, removal geometry, laser fluences and scribing speeds are also investigated. Thermal and mechanical numerical models are developed to analyze the laser-induced spatio-temporal temperature and pressure responsible for film removal. The simulation can well-predict the film removal geometries, generation of micro cracks, film delamination and remaining materials. The characterization of removal qualities will enable the process optimization and design required to enhance solar module efficiency.
Radial Hydraulic Conductivity of Individual Root Tissues of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller as Soil Moisture Varies

The constraints on water uptake imposed by individual root tissues were examined forOpuntia ficus-indicaunder wet, drying, and rewetted soil conditions. Root hydraulic conductivity (LP) and axial conductance (Kh) were measured for intact root segments from the distal region with an endodermis and from midroot with a periderm;LPwas then measured for each segment with successive tissues removed by dissection. Radial conductivity (LR) was calculated fromLPandKhfor the intact segment and for the individual tissues by considering the tissue conductivities in series. Under wet conditions,LRfor intact distal root segments was lowest for the cortex; at midroot, where cortical cells are dead,LRfor the cortex was higher and no single tissue was the predominant limiter ofLR.LRfor the endodermis and the periderm were similar under wet conditions. During 30d of soil drying,LRfor the distal cortex increased almost three-fold due to the death of cortical cells, whereasLRfor the midroot cortex was unaffected;LRfor the endodermis and the periderm decreased by 40 and 90%, respectively, during drying. For both root regions under wet conditions, the vascular cylinder had the highestLR, which decreased by 50–70% during 30d of soil drying. After 3d of rewetting, new lateral roots emerged, increasingLRfor the tissues outside the vascular cylinder as well as increasing uptake of an apoplastic tracer into the xylem of both the roots and the shoot. The averageLRfor intact root segments was similar under wet and rewetted conditions, but the conductivity of the tissues outside the vascular cylinder increased after rewetting, as did the contribution of the apoplastic pathway to water uptake.
Proton transport by bacteriorhodopsin in planar membranes assembled from air-water interface films

Bacteriorhodopsin, in known amounts and controlled orientation, is incorporated into planar membrane films. These films are formed by the sequential transfer of two air-water interface films onto a thin, hydrophilic, electrically conductive support cast from nitrocellulose. The films are easily accessible to electrical measurements and to control of the ionic milieu on either side of the membrane. The area of the assembled membrane films can be varied between 2.3 x 10(-2) cm2 and 0.7 cm2. Illumination of these films produces photocurrents, photovoltages, and changes in the pH of the surrounding medium. The peak amplitude of the photocurrent increases linearly with light intensity for dim lights, and it approaches a saturating value for brighter lights. In the linear range, the stoichiometry of transport is 0.65 +/- 0.06 protons/absorbed photon. The rate of transport is linearly proportional to light at all intensities tested. The amplitude and kinetics of the photovoltage measured are accurately predicted by the photocurrent generated and the passive electrical features of the film. Parallel measurements of pH and photocurrent reveal that the light-induced changes in pH are fully accounted for by the rate and amount of charge transport across the membrane. Preceding the transport of protons, a transient photovoltage is detected that exhibits no detectable latency, reaches peak in about 80 microseconds, and probably arises from light-induced intramolecular charge displacements.
Cold air drainage and modeled nocturnal leaf water potential in complex forested terrain.

Summary Spatial variation in microclimate caused by air temperature inversions plays an important role in determining the timing and rate of many physical and biophysical processes. Such phenomena are of particular interest in mountainous regions where complex physiographic terrain can greatly complicate these processes. Recent work has demonstrated that, in some plants, stomata do not close completely at night, resulting in nocturnal transpiration. The following work was undertaken to develop a better understanding of nocturnal cold air drainage and its subsequent impact on the reliability of predawn leaf water potential (Ψpd) as a surrogate for soil water potential (Ψs). Eight temperature data loggers were installed on a transect spanning a vertical distance of 155 m along a north facing slope in the Mica Creek Experimental Watershed (MCEW) in northern Idaho during July and August 2004. Results indicated strong nocturnal temperature inversions occurring from the low- to upper-mid-slope, typically spanning the lower 88 m of the vertical distance. Based on mean temperatures for both months, inversions resulted in lapse rates of 29.0, 27.0 and 25.0 °C km –1 at 0000, 0400 and 2000 h, respectively. At this scale (i.e., < 1 km), the observed lapse rates resulted in highly variable nighttime vapor pressure deficits (D) over the length of the slope, with variable impacts on modeled disequilibrium between soil and leaf water potential. As a result of cold air drainage, modeled Ψpd became consistently more negative (up to –0.3 MPa) at higher elevations during the night based on mean temperatures. Nocturnal inversions on the lower- and mid-slopes resulted in leaf water potentials that were at least 30 and 50% more negative over the lower 88 m of the inversion layer, based on mean and maximum temperatures, respectively. However, on a cloudy night, with low D, the maximum decrease in Ψpd was –0.04 MPa. Our results indicate that, given persistent cold air drainage and nighttime stomatal opening, serious errors will result if Ψs is estimated from Ψpd.
The Microhabitat Quadrat Sampler—A 0.25-m2 Quadrat Sampler for Microhabitat of Crayfishes

ABSTRACT A 0.25-m2 quadrat sampler was constructed to collect microhabitat data for the Nashville crayfish (Orconectes shoupi) in the Mill Creek watershed, Nashville, Tennessee. Studies of other crayfish species have used a 1.00-m2 quadrat sampler; however, due to the requirement of precise measurement for microhabitat variables, we needed to enclose a smaller area. The 0.25-m2 quadrat sampler increased chances of capturing Nashville crayfish at precise points where microhabitat variables could easily be measured. Our sampler was 89% efficient at capturing crayfish under shallow (< 0.50 m deep) water conditions present during 2007 and provided precise microhabitat information that will be useful for preserving and recovering this species.
The extraordinary nature of illusion.

“W our fi rst encounter with some object surprises us and we fi nd it novel or very different from what we formerly knew or from what we supposed it ought to be, this causes us to wonder and be astonished at it,” wrote 17th-century philosopher Rene Descartes in his Passions of the Soul. Indeed, astonishment awaits anyone who views for the fi rst time the work of Giuseppe Arcimboldi, Milanese painter extraordinaire, portraitist of emperors, and master of illusion (1). Arcimboldi grew up in a distinguished family. He associated with philosophers and other scholars and knew the son of Bernardino Luini, a student of Leonardo, who had notes and sketchbooks given to him when the master left Milan, site of most of his experiments (2). In writing about the family, historian Paolo Morigia described Giuseppe as “a trustworthy gentleman with an impeccable lifestyle,” who started his artistic career at age 22 designing tapestry and stained glass with his father, also an artist (3). This early work at Milan Cathedral already contained elements found in his unique later style. In the beginning of the 16th century, partly because of a plague epidemic, Milan’s position as leader in the arts was declining. Nonetheless, Arcimboldi’s reputation was strong. “This is a painter with a rare talent, who is also extremely knowledgeable in other disciplines,” wrote Morigia about Arcimboldi’s acceptance of the invitation of Emperor Ferdinand I to go to Prague. “And having proved his worth as an artist and as a bizarre painter, not only in his own country but also abroad, he has been given the highest praise” (3). Arcimboldi fl ourished during his tenure with Ferdinand. “He was liked and treated well and received with great kindness, and the Emperor gave him a good salary worthy of his merits” (3). He came to know the works of such greats as Hieronymus Bosch, Peter Bruegel the Elder, and Albrecht Altdorfer. He painted portraits of the imperial family and the fi rst series of his Four Seasons, composite heads with allegorical meanings. His work continued for succeeding Holy Roman Emperors Maximilian II and Rudolph II. In their courts, “This noble and inspired man fashioned a great number of rare and delicate works of art which caused considerable amazement” (3). Apart from painting, Arcimboldi had other duties. He was designer of costumes, masques, and disguises worn during festivals by impersonators of ancient gods, the liberal arts, or anything else living or mythical. He served as architect, stage designer, engineer, and advisor to Maximilian, who delighted in animals and believed in the healing power of plants. He started a museum to house rare specimens and artifacts from as far away as the newly discovered
Beyond the Personal: Weil's Critique of Maritain

Jacques Maritain and Simone Weil never met, and only once exchanged letters. Maritain never cites Weil; she, on the other hand, cites him explicitly in at least three places, but disparagingly. Despite their limited contact, which may have left Weil slightly vindictive, Maritain nevertheless played a significant role for Weil. However, it was one in which he chiefly inspired her to rise to a new level of thought by her conscious attempt to contradict him.
Why African-American women are at greater risk for pregnancy-related death

Purpose Our study aim was to identify factors that may contribute to the racial disparity in pregnancy-related mortality. Methods We examined differences in severity of disease, comorbidities, and receipt of care among 608 (304 African-American and 304 white) consecutive patients of non-Hispanic ethnicity with one of three pregnancy-related morbidities (pregnancy-related hypertension, puerperal infection, and hemorrhage) from hospitals selected at random from a statewide region. Results African-American women had more severe hypertension, lower hemoglobin concentrations preceding hemorrhage, more antepartum hospital admissions, and a higher rate of obesity. The rate of surgical intervention for hemorrhage was lower among African-Americans, although the severity of hemorrhage did not differ between the two racial groups. More African-American women received eclampsia prophylaxis. After stratifying by severity of hypertension, we found that more African-Americans received antihypertensive therapy. The rate of enrollment for prenatal care was lower in the African-American group. Among women receiving prenatal care, African-American women enrolled significantly later in their pregnancies. Conclusions We have identified racial differences in severity of disease, comorbidities, and care status among women with pregnancy-related complications that would place African-Americans at disadvantage to survive pregnancy. These differences are potentially modifiable.
A throughput model for carousel/VLM pods

In this paper we present the results of a research project to develop analytical models to determine the throughput of pods of carousels or Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs) with human order-pickers picking batches of orders. The primary advantage of using carousels/VLMs over static shelving is that much of the walking time associated with static shelving is removed since the carousels/VLMs bring the items to the order pickers. Multiple carousels/VLMs are typically grouped together in what are called pods to ensure that the order-picker does not have to wait on the carousel/VLM while it is rotating to retrieve the next item. The carousel and VLM throughput models are presented along with testing that indicates that they perform well under various system configurations. We include an example of how the throughput models can be used as an aid in the storage design process.
Peer group socialization of homophobic attitudes and behavior during adolescence.

A social developmental framework was applied to test for the socialization of homophobic attitudes and behavior within adolescent peer groups (Grades 7–11; aged 12–17 years). Substantial similarity within and differences across groups were documented. Multilevel models identified a group socializing contextual effect, predicting homophobic attitudes and behavior of individuals within the group 8 months later, even after controlling for the predictive effect of individuals’ own previously reported attitudes and behavior. Several group characteristics moderated the extent to which individuals’ previously reported attitudes predicted later attitudes. Findings indicate the need to integrate the concurrent assessment of individual and social factors to inform the construction of more comprehensive models of how prejudiced attitudes and behaviors develop and are perpetuated.
Constrained control of an unstable biological reactor

Resultats d'une etude de stabilite inhabituelle presentee par un reacteur parfaitement agite, lorsque l'on utilise une commande retroactive pour stabiliser un regime permanent naturellement instable, et lorsque l'on applique une contrainte sur la variable manipulee
Tilt Determination in MEMS Inertial Vestibular Prosthesis

Background: There is a clear need for a prosthesis that improves postural stability in the balance impaired. Such a device would be used as a temporary aid during recovery from ablative inner-ear surgery, a postural monitor during rehabilitation (for example, hip surgery), and as a permanent prosthesis for those elderly prone to falls. Method of approach: Recently developed, small instruments have enabled wearable prostheses to augment or replace vestibular functions. The current prosthesis communicates by vibrators mounted on the subject's trunk. In this paper we emphasize the unique algorithms that enable tilt indication with modestly performing micromachined gyroscopes and accelerometers. Results: For large angles and multiple axes, gyro drift and unwanted lateral accelerations are successfully rejected. In single-axis tests, the most dramatic results were obtained in standard operating tests where balance-impaired subjects were deprived of vision and proprioceptive inputs. Balance-impaired subjects who fell (into safety restraints) when not aided were able to stand with the prosthesis. Initial multiaxis tests with healthy subjects have shown that sway is reduced in both forward-back and sideward directions. Conclusions: Positive results in initial testing and a sound theoretical basis for the hardware warrant continued development and testing, which is being conducted at three sites.
Process coordination with fetch-and-increment

The fetch-and-add (F&A) operation has been used effectively in a number of pr-occss coordination algorithms. In dris paper we assess lhe power of fetch-and-increment (F&I) and fetchancl-dccrcmcn{. (F&D), which we view as restricted forms of F&A in which the only addends permitted are +1. F&A-basccf algorithms lhat use only unit addends are ~hus tt-ivially cxprcsscctwith just F&I and F&D. our primary contributions am ncw lT&I/17(kD algorithlns for readers/writers coorclinaliou and barrier synchronization for dynamically-sized groups. WC also restructure an existing F&A-based algorilhm for {~ljcllcs-wilil-n~ul( iplicit~~ to obtain an algorithm using jus~ FM and F&D. When executed on certain hardware architectures, most of these algorihms are free of serial bottlcnccksi WC also discuss a general technique for implementing FtkA using I&l/F&I> at a cost logarithmic in the number of processors.
Biochemical indicators of stress and metabolism: applications for marine ecological studies.

▪ Abstract Studies investigating the effects of temperature, food availability, or other physical factors on the physiology of marine animals have led to the development of biochemical indicators of growth rate, metabolic condition, and physiological stress. Measurements of metabolic enzyme activity and RNA/DNA have been especially valuable as indicators of condition in studies of marine invertebrates and fishes, groups for which accurate determination of field metabolic rates is difficult. Properly calibrated and applied, biochemical indicators have been successfully used in studies of rocky intertidal ecology, where two decades of experimentation have generated rigorous, testable models for determining the relative influences of biotic and abiotic factors on species distribution, abundance, and interaction. Biochemical indicators of condition and metabolic activity (metabolic enzymes, RNA/DNA) have been used to test nutrient-productivity models by demonstrating tight linkages between nearshore oceanogra...
Object-based attention in Chinese readers of Chinese words: beyond Gestalt principles.

Most object-based attention studies use objects defined bottom-up by Gestalt principles. In the present study, we defined objects top-down, using Chinese words that were seen as objects by skilled readers of Chinese. Using a spatial cuing paradigm, we found that a target character was detected faster if it was in the same word as the cued character than if it was in a different word. Because there were no bottom-up factors that distinguished the words, these results showed that objects defined by subjects’ knowledge—in this case, lexical information—can also constrain the deployment of attention.
Personalized Medicine in Traumatic Brain Injury

Patients who have sustained a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) from both civilian and military populations exhibit clinical symptoms of varying severity with minimal to profound impact on their daily functioning. Although most patients make a full recovery, a subgroup of mild TBI patients develop cognitive, somatic, and neurobehavioral sequelae that generally resolve over 3 to 6 months; a smaller subgroup develop persisting symptoms. The reason why a mild TBI results in varying clinical symptoms is currently unknown. Based on evidence that microRNA species in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) may reflect molecular alterations in neurodegenerative disorders, it can be hypothesized that at early, preclinical phases of the disease, PBMC may provide an ideal and clinically assessable "window" into the brain. Thus, it is conceivable that changes in the expression profile of clinically accessible biological indices (biomarkers), such as microRNA in PBMC, may reflect molecular alterations following TBI that contribute to the onset and progression of TBI phenotypes including chronic traumatic encephalopathy. It is possible that the availability of TBI biomarkers may provide potential elements with clinical relevance to prevention, prognosis, and treatment of postconcussive disorders.
The role of soil organic matter in maintaining soil quality in continuous cropping systems

Abstract Maintenance and improvement of soil quality in continuous cropping systems is critical to sustaining agricultural productivity and environmental quality for future generations. This review focuses on lessons learned from long-term continuous cropping experiments. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the most often reported attribute from long-term studies and is chosen as the most important indicator of soil quality and agronomic sustainability because of its impact on other physical, chemical and biological indicators of soil quality. Long-term studies have consistently shown the benefit of manures, adequate fertilization, and crop rotation on maintaining agronomic productivity by increasing C inputs into the soil. However, even with crop rotation and manure additions, continuous cropping results in a decline in SOC, although the rate and magnitude of the decline is affected by cropping and tillage system, climate and soil. In the oldest of these studies, the influence of tillage on SOC and dependent soil quality indicators can only be inferred from rotation treatments which included ley rotations (with their reduced frequency of tillage). The impact of tillage per se on SOC and soil quality has only been tested in the ‘long-term’ for about 30 yrs, since the advent of conservation tillage techniques, and only in developed countries in temperate regions. Long-term conservation tillage studies have shown that, within climatic limits: Conservation tillage can sustain or actually increase SOC when coupled with intensive cropping systems; and the need for sound rotation practices in order to maintain agronomic productivity and economic sustainability is more critical in conservation tillage systems than conventional tillage systems. Long-term tillage studies are in their infancy. Preserving and improving these valuable resources is critical to our development of soil management practices for sustaining soil quality in continuous cropping systems.
Autonomic nervous system evaluation using instantaneous frequency [ECG analysis]

Spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) provides an estimate of sympathetic and parasympathetic influences on heart rate without drugs or other invasive procedures. However, there are many situations where heart rate changes rapidly over time and the control of those changes is of considerable interest. Time-frequency analysis was utilized to expand the concept of spectral analysis of HRV to describe changes in vagal tone and sympatho-vagal balance as a function of time. Examining the Wigner distribution (WD) and instantaneous frequency (IF) of respiration, it was found that under certain conditions, such as exercise, the upper limit of the frequency contents of respiration exceeded the designated upper 0.4 Hz limit. As a result, new techniques were proposed to compensate and reflect these changes in the measure of vagal activity.
Teaching Students With Severe Speech and Physical Impairments a Decoding Strategy Using Internal Speech and Motoric Indicators

Children who have severe speech and physical impairments often have difficulty acquiring literacy skills. One critical area of literacy instruction involves promoting word identification though the development of decoding strategies that can be implemented by students independently. This study investigated teaching four students who have cerebral palsy and dysarthric speech to internalize the three-step decoding strategy found in the Nonverbal Reading Approach, as demonstrated by motoric indicators (individualized motor movements that parallel the decoding steps). The results of this study indicate that students are able to learn the three-step decoding strategy with the addition of a motoric indicator to identify words in isolation, as well as to apply the strategy independently upon encountering unknown words in connected text.
Genomic analysis of neuroendocrine development of fetal brain-pituitary-adrenal axis in late gestation.

The present study was performed to identify the changes in genomic expression of critical components of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the second half of gestation in fetal sheep....
Pseudo-Myocardial Infarction Versus Pseudo-Pseudo-Myocardial Infarction

To the Editor: Hung and colleagues1 present a very important example of a pseudo-infarction pattern presumably related to pancreatitis, one of several clinical situations in which thrombolytic therapy is either not indicated or contraindicated. I am intrigued by the pattern of the bizarre T waves in the limb leads and wonder if part or all of this phenomenon is artifact. The T waves are of unusually abrupt …
Microsurgical Anatomy of the Posterior Clinoid Region

The posterior clinoid region (PCR) is related to many important structures, such as the cavernous sinus (CS), internal carotid artery (ICA), extraocular nerves, pituary gland, and clivus. The aim of our study was to characterize the microsurgical anatomy of the posterior clinoid region (PCR), including the posterior clinoid process (PCP) and its relationships to surrounding neurovascular structures.
Mutations that perturb poly(A)-dependent maternal mRNA activation block the initiation of development

Translational recruitment of maternal mRNAs is an essential process in early metazoan development. To identify genes required for this regulatory pathway, we have examined a collection of Drosophila female-sterile mutants for defects in translation of maternal mRNAs. This strategy has revealed that maternal-effect mutations in the cortex and grauzone genes impair translational activation and cytoplasmic polyadenylation of bicoid and Toll mRNAs. Cortex embryos contain a bicoid mRNA indistinguishable in amount, localization, and structure from that in wild-type embryos. However, the bicoid mRNA in cortex embryos contains a shorter than normal polyadenosine (poly(A)) tail. Injection of polyadenylated bicoid mRNA into cortex embryos allows translation demonstrating that insufficient polyadenylation prevents endogenous bicoid mRNA translation. In contrast nanos mRNA, which is activated by a poly(A)-independent mechanism, is translated in cortex embryos, indicating that the block in maternal mRNA activation is specific to a class of mRNAs. Cortex embryos are fertilized, but arrest at the onset of embryogenesis. Characterization of grauzone mutations indicates that the phenotype of these embryos is similar to cortex. These results identify a fundamental pathway that serves a vital role in the initiation of development.
Milking It: Reconsidering the FDA’s Refusal to Require Labeling of Dairy Products Produced from rBST Treated Cows in Light of International Dairy Foods Association v. Boggs

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals’ recent decision in International Dairy Foods Association v. Boggs, while ultimately resulting in regulation pertaining to milk labeling that is similar to regulations in other states, provides a useful framework for challenging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s contention that it lacks the authority to mandate labeling of milk from cattle that have been treated with the hormone rBST. The court in Boggs found that a compositional difference exists between milk from cows treated with the hormone and those that were not, which could be considered a material fact mandating labeling under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This Article discusses the history of the FDA’s statutory authority to regulate food products, as well as considers the Act’s purposes with respect to labeling, and the agency’s interpretation of that grant of authority. The Article then discusses the FDA’s controversial approval of rBST and the resulting challenge to that decision. The article concludes by discussing how the decision in Boggs can be instrumental in requiring FDA to mandate labeling of milk from cows treated with rBST due to the court’s acknowledgment of the compositional difference between conventional and rBST free milk.
Developmental biology: Females have a lot of guts

The discovery of sex-biased proliferation in the intestinal stem cells of fruit-fly midguts reveals that the organ's size is determined by a previously undefined, sex-specific molecular pathway. See Letter p.344 Development and hormonal factors are known contributors to sex differences in physiology. Irene Miguel-Aliaga and colleagues describe a previously unrecognized sex-differentiation pathway acting in somatic stem cells of the Drosophila intestine to govern sex-specific differences in organ size, plasticity during reproduction, and response to tumorigenic insults. This finding suggests that the intrinsic sexual identity of adult intestinal stem cells can play a key role in adult life, both in maintaining organ size and in modulating its plasticity.
Tuberculosis in childhood. Diagnosis and treatment.

Early diagnosis and institution of chemotherapy or chemoprophylaxis can significantly reduce the number of serious cases of childhood tuberculosis. A diagnostic scheme involving four relatively simple procedures—skin testing, epidemiologic study, roentgenographic examination, and isolation of the organisms—can assure early detection. Isoniazid, whether used alone or with other drugs, is the agent of choice for both treatment and prophylaxis.
Improved Oxygen Metabolism in Human Tissues in vivo by Low-Level Laser Therapy

We assessed the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on human tissues in vivo with broadband near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). LLLT increased concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin and cytochrome c oxidase as compared with placebo.
Emergency transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus complicated by severe pneumonia in infants

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of emergency transcatheter occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus associated with severe pneumonia in infants. Methods During the period from Oct.2011 to May 2012, 12 infants with patent ductus arteriosus complicated by severe pneumonia were admitted to the hospital. The infants had repeated episodes of pneumonia together with heart failure. Emergency transcatheter occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus was carried out in all infants. After the treatment the use of anti-bacterial drugs and cardiac stimulants was kept on. Routine examinations of blood and urine were made24 hours after the management. Two-dimensional and color Doppler echocardiography, chest radiograph and electrocardiogram were performed at 24 hours, 1, 3, and 6 months after the surgery. The results were analyzed. Results After emergency transcatheter closure, all patients recovered fully at the time of discharge.No intervention-related major complications occurred during short-term follow-up period. Conclusion For the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus associated with severe pneumonia in infants, emergency transcatheter occlusion therapy is effective and safe. Optimal surgery time together with proper perioperative management is the key to ensure a successful operation.
Approximate Matching of Curves to Point Sets.

Let P be a polygonal curve in R of length n, and S be a point set of size k. The Curve/Point Set Matching problem consists of finding a polygonal curve Q on S such that the Frechet distance from P is less than a given e. We consider eight variations of the problem based on the distance metric used and the omittability and repeatability of the points. We provide closure to a recent series of complexity results for the case where S consists of precise points. We also formulate a more realistic version of the problem that takes into account measurement errors and attempts to match a given curve to a set of imprecise points. We show that all three variations of the problem that are in P when S consists of precise points become NP-complete when S consists of imprecise points. Finally, we present a 3-factor approximation algorithm for a version of the problem.
Autoimmunity to spermatozoa: effect on sperm penetration of cervical mucus as reflected by postcoital testing*

In couples with abnormal postcoital tests, where husbands exhibited autoimmunity to spermatozoa, the degree of impairment of sperm penetration into cervical mucus correlated with the proportion of sperm in ejaculates exhibiting surface-bound immunoglobulins. Residual sperm-directed antibodies detected within seminal fluid were not representative of the cell-bound immunoglobulins present on the sperm surfaces. When all sperm were antibody-bound, spermatozoa were rarely seen in cervical mucus. Conversely, the number of motile sperm seen at postcoital testing was normal, that is, no different from that of antibody-negative couples, when
Comparison of dopamine agonists in the treatment of hyperprolactinemic syndromes: a multicenter study *

Thirty-one patients with hyperprolactinemia were admitted for protocol study. Twenty-one of these patients had no findings of prolactinoma by computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanning; 10 had documented tumor by CAT scan. The patients were assigned to either Parlodel or Pergolide treatment on the basis of random numbers tables. They were treated for 6months continuously and followed during this time with radiologic survey, hormonal evaluation, and blood chemistry determinations. Patients in both groups showed a decrease in prolactin levels, whether they were treated with Parlodel or Pergolide. The response was similar whether patients had hyperplasia or pituitary tumors. Patients with pituitary tumors tended to have a diminution in the size of their lesions regardless of the dopamine agonist used. The types of side effects experienced by various groups were similar regardless of the treatment. It is concluded that both Pergolide and Parlodel are useful in the treatment of hyperprolactinemic syndromes, although neither one appears to be superior to the other.
Making the Case for Query-by-Voice with EchoQuery

Recent advances in automatic speech recognition and natural language processing have led to a new generation of robust voice-based interfaces. Yet, there is very little work on using voice-based interfaces to query database systems. In fact, one might even wonder who in her right mind would want to query a database system using voice commands! With this demonstration, we make the case for querying database systems using a voice-based interface, a new querying and interaction paradigm we call Query-by-Voice (QbV). We will demonstrate the practicality and utility of QbV for relational DBMSs using a using a proof-of-concept system called EchoQuery. To achieve a smooth and intuitive interaction, the query interface of EchoQuery is inspired by casual human-to-human conversations. Our demo will show that voice-based interfaces present an intuitive means of querying and consuming data in a database. It will also highlight the unique advantages of QbV over the more traditional approaches, text-based or visual interfaces, for applications where context switching is too expensive, too risky or even not possible at all.
Chopsticks: Why chopsticks? Their origin and original function

If the stew be made with vegetables, chopsticks should be used; but not if there be no vegetables. Do not use chopsticks in eating millet. Classic of Rites (Liji) On April 5, 1993, an archaeological team from the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences launched a series of excavations of Neolithic ruins in Longqiuzhuang in present-day Gaoyou, Jiangsu. By December 1995, the team had completed its fourth and last dig of the 1,335-square-meter site. From the ruins, dated between 6600 and 5500 bce , they unearthed over 2,000 objects, mostly tools and utensils made of animal bones. Hailed as one of the ten new archaeological discoveries of 1993, what distinguished this excavation from other archaeological discoveries in Neolithic China was that forty-two bone sticks were uncovered from the site – these sticks, Chinese scholars believe, were the earliest chopsticks (Plates 2 and 3)! Were they really chopsticks? What did they look like? According to the team’s report, these objects were between 9.2 and 18.5 cm in length and 0.3–0.9 cm in diameter. The sticks were thicker in the middle, with a square-shaped top, and their bottom tapered off into a point. Though coarse, their appearance does indeed resemble chopsticks used today. However, similar bone sticks had been found at other Neolithic sites, and scholars generally regarded them as hairpins. In fact, the Longqiuzhuang excavation originally ruled that the bone sticks were to be classified in this fashion.