cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of gas-phase molecular interactions on differential mobility ion behavior utilizing an electrospray ionization-differential mobility-mass spectrometer system.

Differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) is a rapidly advancing technology for gas-phase ion separation. The interfacing of DMS with mass spectrometry (MS) offers potential advantages over the use of mass spectrometry alone. Such advantages include improvements to mass spectral signal/noise ratios, orthogonal/complementary ion separation to mass spectrometry, enhanced ion and complexation structural analysis, and potential for rapid analyte quantitation. The introduction of a new ESI-DMS−MS system and its utilization to aid in the understanding of DMS separation theory is described. A current contribution to DMS separation theory is one of an association/dissociation process between ions/molecules in the gas phase during the differential mobility separation. A model study was designed to investigate the molecular dynamics and chemical factors influencing the theorized association/dissociation process, and the mechanisms by which these gas-phase interactions affect an ion's DM behavior. Five piperidine ana...
Direct measurement of lithium transport in graphite electrodes using neutrons

Abstract Lithium intercalation into graphite electrodes is widely studied, but few direct in situ diagnostic methods exist. Such diagnostic methods are desired to probe the influence of factors such as charge rate, electrode structure and solid electrolyte interphase layer transport resistance as they relate to lithium-ion battery performance and durability. In this work, we present a continuous measurement of through-plane lithium distributions in a composite graphite/lithium metal electrochemical cell. Capacity change in a thick graphite electrode was measured during several charge/discharge cycles with high resolution (14 μm) neutron imaging. A custom test fixture and a method for quantifying lithium are described. The measured lithium distribution within the graphite electrode is given as a function of state of charge. Bulk transport resistance is considered by comparing intercalation rates through the thickness of the electrode near the separator and current collector. The residual lithium content associated with irreversible capacity loss that results from cycling is also measured.
Magnetic imaging of layer-by-layer reversal in Co/Pt multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy

For very thin Co layers, the exchange coupling between adjacent Co layers in $\mathrm{Co}∕\mathrm{Pt}$ multilayers is ferromagnetic and the coupling strength varies nonmonotonically as the nonmagnetic Pt layer thickness $({t}_{\mathrm{Pt}})$ ranges from $3\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}75\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{\AA{}}$. We report on the magnetization reversal process in a series of ${[\mathrm{Co}(4\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{\AA{}})∕\mathrm{Pt}({t}_{\mathrm{Pt}})]}_{N}$ multilayers observed by magneto-optical Kerr microscopy as a function of ${t}_{\mathrm{Pt}}$ and layer repetition $N$. The images reveal the evolution of magnetic reversal processes that strongly depend on ${t}_{\mathrm{Pt}}$ and therefore on the interlayer coupling. For $\mathrm{Co}∕\mathrm{Pt}$ multilayers with small ${t}_{\mathrm{Pt}}$, e.g., $11\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{\AA{}}$, where the Co layers are strongly coupled, the whole multilayer switches as a single ferromagnet. As Co layers are separated farther and become weakly coupled, e.g., at ${t}_{\mathrm{Pt}}=41\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{\AA{}}$, layer-by-layer magnetic reversal is observed. The Kerr images reveal metastable magnetic domain configurations during layer-by-layer switching which is not evident in the measured hysteresis loops during the abrupt magnetic reversal for $\mathrm{Co}∕\mathrm{Pt}$ multilayers with weak interlayer coupling at large ${t}_{\mathrm{Pt}}$.
Implementation of an object oriented track reconstruction model into multiple LHC experiments

Abstract An Object Oriented (OO) model (Gaines et al., 1996; 1997; Gaines and Qian, 1998; 1999) for track reconstruction by the Kalman filtering method has been designed for high energy physics experiments at high luminosity hadron colliders. The model has been coded in the C++ programming language and has been successfully implemented into the OO computing environments of both the CMS (1994) and ATLAS (1994) experiments at the future Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. We shall report: (1) how the OO model was adapted, with largely the same code, to different scenarios and serves the different reconstruction aims in different experiments (i.e. the level-2 trigger software for ATLAS and the offline software for CMS); (2) how the OO model has been incorporated into different OO environments with a similar integration structure (demonstrating the ease of re-use of OO program); (3) what are the OO model's performance, including execution time, memory usage, track finding efficiency and ghost rate, etc.; and (4) additional physics performance based on use of the OO tracking model. We shall also mention the experience and lessons learned from the implementation of the OO model into the general OO software framework of the experiments. In summary, our practice shows that the OO technology really makes the software development and the integration issues straightforward and convenient; this may be particularly beneficial for the general non-computer-professional physicists.
Sticky DNA formation in vivo alters the plasmid dimer/monomer ratio

Our discovery that plasmids containing the Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) expanded GAA·TTC sequence, which forms sticky DNA, are prone to form dimers compared with monomers in vivo is the basis of an intracellular assay in Escherichia coli for this unusual DNA conformation. Sticky DNA is a single long GAA·GAA·TTC triplex formed in plasmids harboring a pair of long GAA·TTC repeat tracts in the direct repeat orientation. This requirement is fulfilled by either plasmid dimers of DNAs with a single trinucleotide repeat sequence tract or by monomeric DNAs containing a pair of direct repeat GAA·TTC sequences. DNAs harboring a single GAA·TTC repeat are unable to form this type of triplex conformation. An excellent correlation was observed between the ability of a plasmid to adopt the sticky triplex conformation as assayed in vitro and its propensity to form plasmid dimers relative to monomers in vivo. The variables measured that strongly influenced these measurements are as follows: length of the GAA·TTC insert; the extent of periodic interruptions within the repeat sequence; the orientation of the repeat inserts; and the in vivo negative supercoil density. Nitrogen mustard cross-linking studies on a family of GAA·TTC-containing plasmids showed the presence of sticky DNA in vivo and, thus, serves as an important bridge between the in vitro and in vivo determinations. Biochemical genetic studies on FRDA containing DNAs grown in recA or nucleotide excision repair or ruv-deficient cells showed that the in vivo properties of sticky DNA play an important role in the monomer-dimer-sticky DNA intracellular intercon-versions. Thus, the sticky DNA triplex exists and functions in living cells, strengthening the likelihood of its role in the etiology of FRDA.
Thin film waveshifter coatings for fluorescent radiation converters

Abstract The development of waveshifter coatings in the form of thin ( μ m) heavily doped films of acrylic or polyvinyltoluene is described. The films are deposited by dipping or spraying from solutions of acrylic resin or PVT and organic dyes in Toluene or Xylene. With concentrations of typically 10 wt.% resin and ⋍0.2−0.5 wt.% dye, films of a few μm thickness are obtained with wide spectral response, and essentially 100% photon conversion efficiencies for UV to blue, blue to green and blue-green to red conversion. Attenuation lengths in coated, undoped rods of good optical quality are substantially longer than have been reported in the literature for uniformaly doped collectors.
Public Ideology and Political Dynamics in the United States

This article explores the role that two theoretically distinct conceptions of mass “ideology”—operational and symbolic—play in shaping policy and electoral change in the United States. I consider b...
Predicting the Devolatilization Behavior of any coal from its ultimate analysis

FLASHCHAIN has been developed to predict yields and product characteristics from any coal for any operating conditions. This evaluation demonstrates the model's utility for the usual situation where the ultimate analysis is the only sample-specific information available. It also identifies the key reaction centers in coal as its structural components called labile bridges. Their elemental compositions are grossly different than the analogous whole-coal properties, showing much stronger rank dependences and a much higher degree of sample-to-sample variability. In light of these findings, it is inconceiveable that bridge conversion rates are rank-independent. Parameters in the rate law for bridge conversion in FLASHCHAIN are now explicitly related to the elemental compositions of bridges. The (O/C)B ratios are the best regression variable for the rate constants because oxygen is the most effective promoter of pyrolytic decompositions. The (O/H)B rates are best for the selectivity coefficient between scission and condensation into char links because oxygen promotes crosslinking but hydrogen addition to broken bridge fragments stabilizes them. These extensions are evaluated in comparisons against a database of 27 coals that span all ranks from lignite to anthracite, for heating rates from 5 to 5000 K/s, ultimate temperatures to 1300 K, and pressures from vacuum to 70 MPa. In four out of five cases, predicted total and tar yields are within experimental uncertainties. The model is also used to rigorously define nominal devolatization rates for diverse coal types and broad ranges of operating conditions. Nominal rates have very low activation energies, proving that heat and mass transport resistances are not responsible for the low values because this theory is completely free of these considerations. Whereas nominal rates are rather insensitive to coal type variations and independent of pressure, they vary in proportion to changes in heating rate.
A multipole expansion method for analyzing lightning field changes

Changes in the surface electric field are frequently used to infer the locations and magnitudes of lightning-caused changes in thundercloud charge distributions. The traditional procedure is to assume that the charges that are effectively deposited by the flash can be modeled either as a single point charge (the Q model) or a point dipole (the P model). The Q model has four unknown parameters and provides a good description of many cloud-to-ground (CG) flashes. The P model has six unknown parameters and describes many intracloud (IC) discharges. In this paper we introduce a new analysis method that assumes that the change in the cloud charge can be described by a truncated multipole expansion, i.e., there are both monopole and dipole terms in the unknown source distribution, and both terms are applied simultaneously. This method can be used to analyze CG flashes that are accompanied by large changes in the cloud dipole moment and complex IC discharges. If there is enough information content in the measurements, the model can also be generalized to include quadrupole and higher order terms. The parameters of the charge moments are determined using a three-dimensional grid search in combination with a linear inversion, and because of this, local minima in the error function and the associated solution ambiguities are avoided. The multipole method has been tested on computer-simulated sources and on natural lightning at the NASA Kennedy Space Center and U.S. Air Force Eastern Range.
Structure and dynamics of surfactant interfaces in organically modified clays.

Organic modification of clays with surfactants is required for the preparation of polymer-clay nanocomposites for a variety of applications. We have studied the structure and dynamics of interfaces in synthetic clays modified with phosphonium surfactants. The chemical shifts, line widths, and relaxation times measured by 31P, 13C, and 1H NMR and the relaxation times measured by impedance spectroscopy allow us to monitor the dynamics over a wide range of time scales. The results show that the phosphonium headgroup is most restricted and that the mobility increases with increasing separation from the clay surface. The carbon chemical shifts show that the 16-carbon and 12-carbon surfactant tails of hexadecyltributyl phosphonium and dodecytriphenyl phosphonium are disordered at the interface and experience mobility over a range of time scales. The dynamics depend most strongly on the structure of the surfactant headgroup, and tributylphosphoniums are more mobile than the triphenylphosphoniums. Two dimensional...
Assessment of myocardial systolic wall thickening using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract A quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging method of evaluating regional left ventricular function was compared with histochemical evidence of infarction in dogs and functional measurements in patients. Short-axis images of the heart were obtained at end-diastole and at 100 ms intervals thereafter. Regional diastolic left ventricular wall thickness and maximal percent systolic wall thickening were measured at the level of the papillary muscles in each of six segments. In six normal dogs, the mean end-diastolic wall thickness was 9 ± 1.6 mm, and the mean maximal percent thickening was 61 ± 11%. In eight dogs with a 4 day old infarct, maximal percent thickening was 5 ± 8% (p In 10 normal human volunteers, the mean end-diastolic wall thickness was 10.1 ± I mm, and the mean maximal percent systolic wall thickening was 60 ± 18%. Reduced maximal percent systolic wall thickening was defined as a value ≥2 SD below the mean value obtained in normal volunteers. Seven patients with regional wall motion abnormalities were independently assessed by NMR imaging and biplane ventriculography. With a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 80%, NMR imaging demonstrated reduced maximal percent systolic wall thickening in the same segments identified as akinetic or dyskinetic by biplane ventriculography. Thus, abnormalities of regional systolic wall thickening are accurately identified with this quantitative imaging technique.
Two Categories of 13C/12C Ratios for Higher Plants

13C/12C ratios have been determined for plant tissue from 104 species representing 60 families. Higher plants fall into two categories, those with low δPDBI13C values (—24 to —34‰) and those with high δ 13C values (—6 to —19‰). Algae have δ 13C values of —12 to —23‰. Photosynthetic fractionation leading to such values is discussed.
A sulfated address for lymphocyte homing.

L-selectin expressed by lymphocytes interacts with specialized glycans on endothelium to mediate lymphocyte rolling. Two sulfotransferases that act cooperatively to add sulfate esters to a specific sugar residue on glycans are critical for this process.
Three-Year Course of Behavioral/Emotional Problems in a National Sample of 4− to 16-Year-Olds: II. Predictors of Syndromes

Abstract This study examined relations between parents' ratings of children's behavioral/emotional problems, family variables, and stressful experiences as predictors of 3-year outcomes in a nationally representative sample of American children. Outcomes were measured by time 2 parent, teacher, and self ratings on eight empirically derived cross-informant syndromes. Path analyses indicated that parent ratings of each time 1 syndrome predicted parent ratings of the same time 2 syndrome. Family variables and intervening stressful experiences predicted parent and self ratings, but not teacher ratings of syndromes. The number of family members receiving mental health services was the family variable that predicted the most time 2 syndromes. Parent reports of stress predicted parent ratings of time 2 syndromes, whereas child reports of stress predicted self-ratings of time 2 syndromes.
Multi-Stakeholder Taskforces in Bangladesh — A Distinctive Approach to Build Sustainable Tobacco Control Implementation

The MPOWER policy package enables countries to implement effective, evidence-based strategies to address the threat posed to their population by tobacco. All countries have challenges to overcome when implementing tobacco control policy. Some are generic such as tobacco industry efforts to undermine and circumvent legislation; others are specific to national or local context. Various factors influence how successfully challenges are addressed, including the legal-political framework for enforcement, public and administrative attitudes towards the law, and whether policy implementation measures are undertaken. This paper examines District Tobacco Control Taskforces, a flexible policy mechanism developed in Bangladesh to support the implementation of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act 2005 and its 2013 Amendment. At the time of this study published research and/or data was not available and understanding about these structures, their role, contribution, limitations and potential, was limited. We consider Taskforce characteristics and suggest that the “package” comprises a distinctive tobacco control implementation model. Qualitative data is presented from interviews with key informants in ten districts with activated taskforces (n = 70) to provide insight from the perspectives of taskforce members and non-members. In all ten districts taskforces were seen as a crucial tool for tobacco control implementation. Where taskforces were perceived to be functioning well, current positive impacts were perceived, including reduced smoking in public places and tobacco advertising, and increased public awareness and political profile. In districts with less well established taskforces, interviewees believed in their taskforce’s ‘potential’ to deliver similar benefits once their functioning was improved. Recommendations to improve functioning and enhance impact were made. The distinctive taskforce concept and lessons from their development may provide other countries with a flexible local implementation model for tobacco control.
Historic variability: informing restoration strategies, not prescribing targets

The concept of historic range of variability (HRV) is briefly evaluated within the context of its application in ecosystem management over the past two decades. Despite caveats to the contrary, an implicit assumption continues to emerge of climatic stationarity, and, by corollary, that presettlement centuries provide an appropriate reference period. This is examined from the perspective of historic climate change and ecosystem response. As a means of developing reference prescriptions and management targets, HRV is generally inappropriate, although if historic periods are used for reconstruction that have coarse resemblance to present or projected future climates, such as the Medieval Climate Anomaly or middle Holocene rather than the presettlement centuries, these might be defensible. In cases of reclamation of severely degraded ecosystems, HRV prescriptions developed from analogous climate periods could provide coarse guides. In most situations, however, historic reconstructions are best used to improve understanding of ecological response to a wide range of forcing factors, and thereby to inform (rather than prescribe) management strategies. Such historically informed approaches are likely more effective than an HRV approach under future changing climate regimes for managing and restoring ecosystem function and for assisting transitions to new ecosystem states.
Use of reduced order observers in reconstruction of faulty sensors

Modern systems are vulnerable to faulty behavior that can compromise system stability or performance. This work adds to fault tolerant control in the area of faulty sensors. This is done by taking advantage of redundancy in a linear system to create a set of reduced order observers. Each reduced order observer is designed to isolate faults from a single sensor. This method of fault isolation produces sensor fault tolerance. Certain classifications of sensor faults are completely removed from the system by this method. The work further continues to show how to measure the removed fault. The bank of reduced order observers produce fault information, in addition to reconstructing fault-free sensor estimates.
Global results and stability of motion

1. The proofs of many results in the theory of stability and boundedness basically depend on dividing the vicinity of some kind of invariant set (or other convenient set) into suitable subsets and then trying either to prove that solutions cannot leave such sets or to estimate the escape time. This observation makes it possible to give some global results in terms of arbitrary sets which can be employed as tools in dealing with various problems of stability and boundedness. In applications, these tools enlarge the class of useful Lyapunov like functions and also offer more flexibility.
Factors Affecting the Deamination of Forage Proteins by Ruminal Microorganisms

Abstract Cherney, D. J. R., Russell, J. B. and Cherney J. H. 1994. Factors affecting the deamination of forage proteins by ruminal microorganisms. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 5: 101–112. Our objectives were to compare ammonia accumulations for fresh alfalfa (Medicago sativa, L.) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus, L.) at 20, 30 and 40 d of regrowth, and relate these acumulations to the rates of carbohydrate and protein fermentation by mixed ruminal bacteria in vitro. Soluble protein as a percent of crude protein (CP) was similar for alfalfa (38.1 ± 5.9) and trefoil (41.9 ± 7.1) at 20 d. The CP and soluble protein content of both forages declined with age, but the decline was greater for trefoil than alfalfa. At 40 d, the soluble protein content of alfalfa (as per cent of CP) was nearly twice as high as trefoil (19.7 ± 2.3 versus 11.0 ± 0.2, respectively). In vitro ammonia accumulations were higher for alfalfa than trefoil at all stages. In vitro ruminal nitrogen losses (as a percent of CP) for trefoil dec...
Determination of phase-volume fractions from tomographic measurements in two-phase systems

A method is proposed to determine the phase-volume fractions in tomographic representations of two-phase systems. The method is applicable in cases where no independent mean values for the phase-characteristic property (α) are available, such as in standard X-ray computed tomography (CT) using a polychromatic source. The proposed procedure is based on fitting a sum of three parametric expressions to the histogram of α-values. The terms include two normal probability-density functions to account for noisy pure-phase values, and an analytical expression to account for intermediate values due to interface-containing voxels and blurring. To test the method, it was applied to several X-ray CT data sets of two-phase systems with known volume fractions and varying α-ranges, including a system with only about one standard deviation difference between the mean phase α-values, i.e., with substantial overlap between the noisy pure-phase distributions. The accuracy for the considered cases was found to be approximately 2 vol% or better. As an example, the proposed fitting procedure was used to determine the representative elementary volume needed for porosity estimation of a porous medium consisting of 0.5-mm glass beads.
The sartorial branch of the saphenous nerve: its anatomy at the joint line of the knee.

Purpose: Injury to the saphenous nerve accounts for the majority of neurovascular complications during arthroscopic meniscal repairs. Although the anatomy of the infrapatellar branch has been studied, the location of the sartorial branch at the level of the joint line has not been defined adequately. The purpose of this study was to define the location of the sartorial branch in relation to surrounding structures at the level of the knee joint/meniscus. Type of Study: Cadaveric anatomic study and imaging study. Methods: We dissected 42 cadaveric knees and studied an additional 100 knees with axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We measured distances from the nerve to adjacent structures and evaluated and graphically recorded 2-dimensional axial relationships. Dissections and MRIs were performed with the knee in full extension. Results: In the dissected cadaveric knees, the distance from the nerve to the anterior border of the sartorius averaged 16.0 mm, with 90% greater than 10.0 mm. The nerve was extrafascial at the joint line in only 43% of the specimens. Axial MRI examinations found the average distance to the anterior border of the sartorius to be 16.5 mm, with 82% greater than 1.0 cm. The average distance to the gracilis tendon was 9.4 mm; 91% were within 1.0 cm and 51% within 5 mm. The average distance to the semitendinosus was 14.9 mm; none was within 5 mm. The nerve was never posterior or lateral to the semitendinosus, never posterolateral or lateral to the gracilis, and was anterior to the sartorius in only 3% of knees. Conclusions: This study describes the most common location of the sartorial branch of the saphenous nerve and the potential variability that may be encountered. Clinical Relevance: Understanding the anatomy of the sartorial branch at the level of the joint line and its relationships to surrounding structures will help to minimize the risk of injury to the nerve during common surgical procedures at the posteromedial corner of the knee.
The correction of correlation coefficients for restriction of range when restriction results from the truncation of a normally distributed variable

A method is presented which allows correlation coefficients to be corrected for restriction of range when only the proportion of the population selected is known. The method assumes that the population distribution is normal and that selection has resulted in single truncation. A table is given which provides the ratio of the population and sample standard deviations, the truncation point, and the ordinate in N(0, 1), corresponding to the proportion of the population selected. Correlations can be corrected for the effects of direct or indirect selection by substitution of tabled values in traditional correction formulae. Further, the population mean or standard deviation can be estimated if the censored sample mean or standard deviation is known.
The use of visual information during UFE consultations: A descriptive study of the relationship between patients’ understandings and patient management

Purpose The study explains a beneficial relationship between in-consultation patient education, patients' understandings of medical information, and patient management. It reveals how the use of visual information to stimulate patient's questions and comments during initial UFE consultations leads to patients developing recallable understandings of symptoms, embolization, the UFE procedure, and post-procedure precautions. Materials and Methods The research is a descriptive case series. Subjects are patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids, who contacted the practice for UFE consultation. Just prior to meeting with a radiologist, patients met with an allied health professional to view and discuss PowerPoint slides containing images and text. Video recordings captured the conversations and activities of the participants. In a recorded telephone discussion 3-5 days later, each patient explained the new medical information she recalled from the consultation. Discourse analysis of 13.7 hours of video and audio recordings compares the actual multimedia consultation activities with the recorded follow-up discussions. This reveals how the patterns of discussing the PowerPoint slides at the consultation affect patients' understanding and recall of medical information. Results The patients’ new understandings of fibroids and UFE served as reference points during the following discussion of their symptoms and MRI's with the radiologist. Patients’ understanding and recall of UFE information streamlined diagnostic discussions and reduced patients' post-consultation phone inquiries. Patients expressed satisfaction with the discussion of the PowerPoint in consultations, and said that it led to better understandings than viewing websites or reading pamphlets. Conclusion Data analysis reveals how the patterns of discussing the PowerPoint slides at the consultation affect patients' understanding and recall of medical information. By changing conventional patterns of clinical interaction, one-on-one discussion of visual information about UFE led to patients understanding and recalling medical information useful for choosing a treatment, developing expectations for reduction of symptoms, and adhering to post-procedure precautions.
Medical and health orientations of American Jews: a case of diminishing distinctiveness.

Abstract Studies that have found distinctive attitudes to health and medical care between Jews and other ethnic and religious groups in the United States are re-examined. An analysis of unpublished as well as published data, including those from several representative samples in New York City, indicate that such attitudes have been affected by social changes. The analysis demonstrates that differences diminish or disappear as these groups improve their socio-economic status and become more integrated in American society.
Estrogen treatment prevents gray matter atrophy in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Gray matter atrophy is an important correlate to clinical disability in multiple sclerosis (MS), and many treatment trials include atrophy as an outcome measure. Atrophy has been shown to occur in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the most commonly used animal model of MS. The clinical severity of EAE is reduced in estrogen-reated mice, but it remains unknown whether estrogen treatment can reduce gray matter atrophy in EAE. In this study, mice with EAE were treated with either estrogen receptor (ER)-α ligand or ER-β ligand, and diffusion tensor images (DTI) were collected and neuropathology was performed. DTI showed atrophy in the cerebellar gray matter of vehicle-treated EAE mice compared with healthy controls but not in ER-α or ER-β ligand-treated EAE mice. Neuropathology demonstrated that Purkinje cell numbers were decreased in vehicle-treated EAE mice, whereas neither ER ligand-treated EAE groups showed a decrease. This is the first report of a neuroprotective therapy in EAE that unambiguously prevents gray matter atrophy while sparing a major neuronal cell type. Fractional anisotropy (FA) in the cerebellar white matter was decreased in vehicle- and ER-β ligand-treated but not in ER-α ligand-treated EAE mice. Inflammatory cell infiltration was increased in vehicle- and ER-β ligand-treated but not in ER-α ligand-treated EAE mice. Myelin staining was decreased in vehicle-treated EAE mice and was spared in both ER ligand-treated groups. This is consistent with decreased FA as a potential biomarker for inflammation rather than myelination or axonal damage in the cerebellum in EAE.
Determinants of peak trabecular bone density in women: the role of androgens, estrogen, and exercise.

To elucidate determinants of peak trabecular bone density, we studied the role of androgens, estrogen, and aerobic exercise in 30 women from 18 to 22 years old. The women were divided into three groups: Sedentary, 11 normal women who did not exercise regularly; eumenorrheic, 10 athletes with normal menstrual function; and oligomenorrheic, 9 athletes with exercise-induced oligomenorrhea. All athletes participated in aerobic sports that did not involve selective resistance loading of the back. Serum free and albumin-bound testosterone (fab T), androstenedione (A), and estradiol (E2) were measured on four separate occasions at consecutive 7 day intervals and averaged. Trabecular density was measured by quantitative computed tomography of the lumbar spine. Peak trabecular bone density was related to fab T (r = 0.48, p = 0.007), A (r = 0.40, p = 0.03), and E2 (r = 0.40, p = 0.04). When taken in combination, androgens and estrogen each accounted independently for significant portions of the variance in bone density [fab T and E2 (R2 = 0.38, p = 0.002) and A and E2 (R2 = 0.27, p = 0.01)]. Bone density (mg/ml, mean ± standard error of the mean, SEM) in the sedentary group (174 ± 6) was not significantly different from that in the eumenorrheic (183 ± 12, p = 0.47) or oligomenorrheic (161 ± 11, p = 0.32) subjects. We conclude that androgens and estrogen function as independent and additive determinants of peak trabecular bone density in young women. The quantitative impact of aerobic exercise (without resistance loading) and exercise-induced menstrual dysfunction appears to be less important than that of the hormones.
Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Detection of Saturation Level in a Frozen Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

A modified electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method has been developed to probe fundamental hydration properties in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) related to subzero cold-start phenomena. Subzero cold-starts are vital to widespread automotive PEMFC commercialization. The EIS method is specifically sensitive to the charge transfer and diffusional resistances of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The lower initial water content [λ = 2.7 vs 3.2 (mol H 2 O/SO - 3 )] of the PEMFC negatively impacted the initial ohmic and charge transfer resistances. Isothermal water fill tests (WFTs) were performed at 10 mA/cm 2 to make discrete increases in water content within the MEA. The initial water content affected water uptake of the ionomer (λ = 2.7 vs 3.2 was almost double) and the change in ohmic and charge transfer resistances. EIS performed at three stages—pre—WFT, hydrated, and freeze-out-show specific changes. In initial WFTs, the ohmic resistances decrease to similar values (~7× for λ = 2.7, ~1.5 for λ = 3.2). Diffusional changes are negligible. In freeze-out WFTs, ice forms in the catalyst layer. An increase in the ohmic resistance and almost tripling of the diffusional resistance were observed for λ = 2.7 and 3.2. Ice produced in the void volume and changes in the diffusional resistance were not significantly affected by the preconditioned initial water content (λ = 2.7 vs 3.2).
Gas diffusion pathway in nodules of Casuarina cunninghamiana

The gas diffusion pathway in nodules was traced by vacuum infiltration with India ink or aniline blue and by electron microscopy. India ink infiltration was observed in the outermost and the innermost cortex in sliced nodules, but not in intact nodules. With aniline blue infiltration, it was observed that intercellular air spaces in the outermost and the innermost cortex were connected to those in nodule roots. No air spaces were in contact with walls of infected cells, although intercellular air spaces existed in some groups of uninfected cells within the infected zone. Infiltration with either India ink or aniline blue could not be observed in the infected zone in essentially all cases. Thus it is suggested that the discontinuity of the intercellular air spaces represents a major resistance to O2 diffusion in nodules ofCasuarina cunninghamiana.
Enhanced release of striatal dopamine following medial hypothalamic damage in rats

Abstract Rats given bilateral lesions of the medial hypothalamus, using either direct or radio frequency current, and killed 2 hours later showed a significant elevation in striatal concentration of homovanillic acid (HVA), while striatal dopamine (DA) was unaltered. After unilateral damage the elevated HVA was seen only in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the lesion. In rats killed 2 days after such damage, the striatal HVA did not differ from controls. The elevation of HVA, suggesting an enhanced release of striatal DA, is associated with a resistance to the cataleptic action of the DA receptor blocking agent droperidol. The present findings suggest that medial hypothalamic lesions can increase neurotransmission within brain DA neurons, and that this neurochemical event may account for at least some of the short-term behavioral effects of these lesions. The relationship of these brain events to the long-term behavioral effects of the lesion remains an important issue for future research.
Institutional Challenges of Applied and Workforce Baccalaureate Programs.

This chapter identifies some of the challenges facing the applied and workforce baccalaureate. The authors seek not to argue against the baccalaureate but rather to identify concerns that need to be addressed in order to design and implement the degree effectively.
Distribution and abundance of larval fishes collected in the western Bransfield Strait region, 1986–87

Abstract Larval fishes were obtained from 0–50 m Bongo net and stratified 0–200 m Nansen net samples collected in the western Bransfield Strait region during four RACER (Research on Antarctic Coastal Ecosystem Rates) program cruises, December 1986 to March 1987. Three nototheniid species, Nototheniops larseni, Notothenia gibberifrons , and a form tentatively identified as Tremtomus scotti numerically dominated the total catch. Two typically abundant species in this area, Pleuragramma antarcticum and Notothenia kempi , were relatively uncommon. Gear differences, the restricted geographical coverage, and between-year variability in hydrographic conditions may explain species dominance differences between the RACER samples and prior surveys in the Antarctic Peninsula area. Largest abundances occurred in the vicinity of Gerlache Strait and island shelf areas; larvae were infrequently collected in Drake Passage waters. Individual species demonstrated different distributional patterns, suggesting that water mass influence, larval depth distribution and behavioral differences may be involved. Estimated January to March growth rates for N. larseni (0.06 mm day −1 ) and T. scotti (0.05 mm day −1 ) are similar but low compared to that of N. gibberifrons (0.12 mm day −1 ).
Quantitative imaging of cellular adhesion by total internal reflection holographic microscopy

Total internal reflection (TIR) holographic microscopy uses a prism in TIR as a near-field imager to perform quantitative phase microscopy of cell-substrate interfaces. The presence of microscopic organisms, cell-substrate interfaces, adhesions, and tissue structures on the prism's TIR face causes relative index of refraction and frustrated TIR to modulate the object beam's evanescent wave phase front. We present quantitative phase images of test specimens such as Amoeba proteus and cells such as SKOV-3 and 3T3 fibroblasts.
The effect of molecular structure on the gas transmission rates of aromatic polyimides

A series of high-molecular weight condensation polyimides was evaluated to determine the effect of polymer molecular structure on the transmission rate of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. The polyimide films were prepared from either 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) or pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) with various diamines. The study shows that molecular structure had a strong influence on gas transmission rates with results for some films varying three orders of magnitude from that of other polyimide films. In general, the BTDA series of polyimides had overall lower gas transmission rates than the PMDA-derived series. Polymers prepared with meta-oriented diamines characteristically displayed lower gas transmission than those prepared with para-oriented diamines.
The quantitative genetic basis of male mating behavior in Drosophila melanogaster.

Male mating behavior is an important component of fitness in Drosophila and displays segregating variation in natural popluations. However, we know very little about the genes affecting naturally occurring variation in mating behavior, their effects, or their interactions. Here, we have mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting courtship occurrence, courtship latency, copulation occurrence, and copulation latency that segregate between a D. melanogaster strain selected for reduced male mating propensity (2b) and a standard wild-type strain (Oregon-R). Mating behavior was assessed in a population of 98 recombinant inbred lines derived from these two strains and QTL affecting mating behavior were mapped using composite interval mapping. We found four QTL affecting male mating behavior at cytological locations 1A;3E, 57C;57F, 72A;85F, and 96F;99A. We used deficiency complementation mapping to map the autosomal QTL with much higher resolution to five QTL at 56F5;56F8, 56F9;57A3, 70E1;71F4, 78C5;79A1, and 96F1;97B1. Quantitative complementation tests performed for 45 positional candidate genes within these intervals revealed 7 genes that failed to complement the QTL: eagle, 18 wheeler, Enhancer of split, Polycomb, spermatocyte arrest, l(2)05510, and l(2)k02206. None of these genes have been previously implicated in mating behavior, demonstrating that quantitative analysis of subtle variants can reveal novel pleiotropic effects of key developmental loci on behavior.
Race-Related Stress and Sociocultural Orientation Among Latino Students During Their Transition Into a Predominately White, Highly Selective Institution

This longitudinal study examines minority status stress and socio-cultural orientation among Latino freshmen as they enter a predominately White, elite, private institution. The study finds Latino freshmen report experiencing racism. Students respond to racism by developing an alienated sociocultural orientation and beginning to see their Latino peers as a source of support.
Knowledge-based systems support for information centers

The Information Center Expert (ICE) project, which attempts to provide knowledge-based support for information centres (ICs), is described. The project has three divisions, corresponding to the three areas of responsibility for information centers: Information Center Expert for Consultation, Distribution, and Help-Service (ICE/C, ICE/D, and ICE/H). The authors present the ICE/C architecture and discuss functional extensions to ICE/C, i.e., ICE/D and ICE/H for supporting the other responsibilities of the IC. An approach to knowledge elicitation using a group decision support environment is presented. The use of an object-oriented approach as a representation technique is discussed. >
Selective and Graded Recruitment of Cat Hamstring Muscles With Intrafascicular Stimulation

The muscles of the hamstring group can produce different combinations of hip and knee torque. Thus, the ability to activate the different hamstring muscles selectively is of particular importance in eliciting functional movements such as stance and gait in a person with spinal cord injury. We investigated the ability of intrafascicular stimulation of the muscular branch of the sciatic nerve to recruit the feline hamstring muscles in a selective and graded fashion. A Utah Slanted Electrode Array, consisting of 100 penetrating microelectrodes, was implanted into the muscular branch of the sciatic nerve in six cats. Muscle twitches were evoked in the three compartments of biceps femoris (anterior, middle, and posterior), as well as semitendinosus and semimembranosus, using pulse-width modulated constant-voltage pulses. The resultant compound muscle action potentials were recorded using intramuscular fine-wire electrodes. 74% of the electrodes per implant were able to evoke a threshold response in these muscles, and these electrodes were evenly distributed among the instrumented muscles. Of the five muscles instrumented, on average 2.5 could be selectively activated to 90% of maximum EMG, and 3.5 could be selectively activated to 50% of maximum EMG. The muscles were recruited selectively with a mean stimulus dynamic range of 4.14 ± 5.05 dB between threshold and either spillover to another muscle or a plateau in the response. This selective and graded activation afforded by intrafascicular stimulation of the muscular branch of the sciatic nerve suggests that it is a potentially useful stimulation paradigm for eliciting distinct forces in the hamstring muscle group in motor neuroprosthetic applications.
The role of GABA and glutamate on adult neurogenesis

Adult neurogenesis is a developmental process that includes proliferation and fate specification of adult neural stem cells along with their differentiation, maturation, migration and incorporation into the existing neural circuitry of their progeny in the mature nervous system (Ming & Song, 2005). Active neurogenesis in the adult mammalian brain has been reported in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles and in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus (Bordey, 2006, 2007; Ge et al. 2007a). These limited areas of the adult brain contain dividing neural stem cells that generate intermediate progenitor cells and neuroblasts. Growing evidence suggests that the neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate have a major role in setting the timing for survival, proliferation, migration, synapse formation and integration of newly formed neurons in established synaptic networks. The action of GABA depends on the unique presence and tonic activation of non-synaptic GABAA receptors that has gained a strong interest recently as a possible target of neurosteroid action and ethanol intoxication. In the SVZ, GABA serves as a feedback regulator of neural production and migration (Bordey, 2007). In the SGZ, GABAergic mechanisms regulate differentiation and the timing of synaptic integration (Overstreet et al. 2004; Ge et al. 2007). Depolarization by GABA thus provides a mechanistic basis for in vivo‘excitation–neurogenesis coupling’. Glutamate receptors, AMPA, kainate and NMDA have also being recognized as crucial players at later stages of neurogenesis and have been clearly identified as critical elements of neuronal plasticity in newly born neurons in the adult brain (Esposito et al. 2005).
A Multi-view Method for Gait Recognition Using Static Body Parameters

A multi-view gait recognition method using recovered static body parameters of subjects is presented; we refer to these parameters as activity-specific biometrics. Our data consists of 18 subjects walking at both an angled and frontal-parallel view with respect to the camera. When only considering data from a single view, subjects are easily discriminated; however, discrimination decreases when data across views are considered. To compare between views, we use ground truth motion-capture data of a reference subject to find scale factors that can transform data from different viewsi nto a common frame ("walking-space"). Instead of reporting percent correct from a limited database, we report our results using an expected confusion metric that allows us to predict how our static body parameters filter identity in a large population: lower confusion yields higher expected discrimination power. We show that using motion-capture data to adjust vision data of different views to a common reference frame, we can get achieve expected confusions rates on the order of 6%.
Character Strengths and Positive Youth Development

The goal of positive youth development is to build and strengthen assets that enable youth to grow and flourish throughout life. In this article, the definition, origins, and assessment of character strengths and ways of fostering them are discussed. Character strengths are here defined as a family of positive traits reflected in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Character strengths are important in their own right, but they additionally promote well-being and buffer against psychological disorders among youth. Good parenting, close relationships with peer and family, positive role models, positive institutions, and various youth development programs play important roles in the development of character strengths. Character strengths exist in degrees, and they can be measured as individual differences. Future studies should approach character strengths as multidimensional constructs to understand better the structure and development of character, and how it contributes to positive youth development.