cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multivariate classification of pain-evoked brain activity in temporomandibular disorder.

Introduction: Central nervous system factors are now understood to be important in the etiology of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), but knowledge concerning objective markers of central pathophysiology in TMD is lacking. Multivariate analysis techniques like support vector machines (SVMs) could generate important discoveries regarding the expression of pain centralization in TMD. Support vector machines can recognize patterns in “training” data and subsequently classify or predict new “test” data.Objectives: We set out to detect the presence and location of experimental pressure pain and determine clinical status by applying SVMs to pain-evoked brain activity.Methods: Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to record brain activity evoked by subjectively equated noxious temporalis pressures in patients with TMD and controls. First, we trained an SVM to recognize when the evoked pain stimulus was on or off based on each individual's pain-evoked blood–oxygen–level–dependent (BOLD) signals. Next, an SVM was trained to distinguish between the BOLD response to temporalis-evoked pain vs thumb-evoked pain. Finally, an SVM attempted to determine clinical status based on temporalis-evoked BOLD.Results: The on-versus-off accuracy in controls and patients was 83.3% and 85.1%, respectively, both significantly better than chance (ie, 50%). Accurate determination of experimental pain location was possible in patients with TMD (75%), but not in healthy subjects (55%). The determination of clinical status with temporalis-evoked BOLD (60%) failed to reach statistical significance.Conclusion: The SVM accurately detected the presence of noxious temporalis pressure in patients with TMD despite the stimulus being colocalized with their ongoing clinical pain. The SVM's ability to determine the location of noxious pressure only in patients with TMD reveals somatotopic-dependent differences in central pain processing that could reflect regional variations in pain valuation.
Neoplastic/Pathological and Nonneoplastic/Physiological Hypercortisolism: Cushing Versus Pseudo-Cushing Syndromes

The diagnosis of endogenous hypercortisolism (Cushing syndrome) is the most challenging problem in clinical endocrinology. Neoplastic (pathological) hypercortisolism is usually due to an ACTH-secreting neoplasm or autonomous cortisol secretion from benign or malignant adrenal neoplasms. Nonneoplastic (physiological) hypercortisolism is common in many medical disorders such as chronic alcoholism, chronic kidney disease, pregnancy, depression/neuropsychiatric disorders, and starvation. The clinical features of hypercortisolism may be apparent in both pathological and physiological hypercortisolism and present a significant diagnostic challenge. A careful history and good examination are usually the most helpful means to identify patients with nonneoplastic/physiological Cushing syndrome. Simple biochemical tests such as late-night salivary cortisol and the overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test have a good negative predictive value and are recommended as first line diagnostic testing in suspected hypercortisolism. Secondary tests such as the DDAVP stimulation test and the dexamethasone-CRH test may be required in some patients to confirm the presence or absence of neoplastic/pathological Cushing syndrome. This review describes the medical disorders and physiological conditions associated with chronic activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and provides a rational clinical and biochemical approach to distinguish them from patients with neoplastic/pathological Cushing syndrome.
Time-domain THz near-field imaging incorporating Hadamard multiplexing method

Photoconductive antenna (PCA) array based THz near-field imager incorporating Hadamard multiplexing method is developed in this work. By using a 2 × 2 dipole antenna array as the THz transmitter, the system signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is demonstrated to be improved by a factor of 2 as the theory predicts. Additionally, a 2-D scanning of a metallic structure on a THz-transparent substrate (with a total scanning area of 1 × 1 mm2) is experimentally implemented. Correlation coefficient estimation is made afterwards to quantity the reconstructed image quality.
Which Bay Leaf is in Your Spice Rack? - A Quality Control Study.

The accurate identification of bay leaf in natural products commerce may often be confusing as the name is applied to several different species of aromatic plants. The true “bay leaf”, also known as “bay laurel” or “sweet bay”, is sourced from the tree Laurus nobilis, a native of the Mediterranean region. Nevertheless, the leaves of several other species including Cinnamomum tamala, Litsea glaucescens, Pimenta racemosa, Syzygium polyanthum, and Umbellularia californica are commonly substituted or mistaken for true bay leaves due to their similarity in the leaf morphology, aroma, and flavor. Substitute species are, however, often sold as “bay leaves”. As such, the name “bay leaf” in literature and herbal commerce may refer to any of these botanicals. The odor and flavor of these leaves are, however, not the same as the true bay leaf, and for that reason they should not be used in cooking as a substitute for L. nobilis. Some of the bay leaf substitutes can also cause potential health problems. Therefore, the correct identification of the true bay leaf is important. The present work provides a detailed comparative study of the leaf morphological and anatomical features of L. nobilis and its common surrogates to allow for correct identification.
A Impossibilidade da União Estável do Deficiente Mental: uma Crítica ao Estatuto da Pessoa com Deficiência

The curatorship institute was created to protect adults that, for some reason, are unable to express their will consciously. This mental deficient, after declared absolutely incapable, can’ t get married. The legal community was surprise by the Bylaw of People with Disabilities, that changed the civil capacity institute. People with disabilities are now legally capable, being able to marry and live in civil union. We will analyze the jurisprudence of the legal cases about civil union between a capable person and a mental deficient before the new bylaw was created. Also, will discuss the right to affection of the mental deficient.
What Works in a Nurse Led Self-Management Program for Patients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and Diabetes (DM).

Abstract Objective To develop a deeper understanding of “how” a nurse led self-management intervention in a successful randomized controlled trial (RCT) for individuals with both serious mental illness (SMI) and diabetes (DM) influenced health outcomes and the lives of the participants. Methods In depth interviews, were conducted with a sample of 10 participants who received the self-management intervention in the RCT. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using content analysis, with an emphasis on dominant themes. Results The mean age of the respondents was 53.9 years (SD = 5.6); 6 (60%) were women and the mean level of education was 12.4 years (SD = 2.4). Transcript based analysis generated 3 major mechanisms of action that led to improved self-management of their SMI and DM: (Colton & Manderscheid, 2006) positive group experience, (Osborn et al., 2008) increased health knowledge, and (Newcomer, 2005) increased self- confidence. Conclusions Developing complex interventions for testing in RCTs of individuals with SMI and other comorbid conditions is of increasing importance in healthcare planning for this vulnerable population. Using qualitative methods to explore mechanisms of action underlying quantitative outcomes, can enrich our understanding of processes relevant for individuals with SMI and comorbid conditions.
Utility of Adenosine Monophosphate Detection System for Monitoring the Activities of Diverse Enzyme Reactions

Abstract Adenosine monophosphate (AMP) is a key cellular metabolite regulating energy homeostasis and signal transduction. AMP is also a product of various enzymatic reactions, many of which are dysregulated during disease conditions. Thus, monitoring the activities of these enzymes is a primary goal for developing modulators for these enzymes. In this study, we demonstrate the versatility of an enzyme-coupled assay that quantifies the amount of AMP produced by any enzymatic reaction regardless of its substrates. We successfully implemented it to enzyme reactions that use adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as a substrate (aminoacyl tRNA synthetase and DNA ligase) by an elaborate strategy of removing residual ATP and converting AMP produced into ATP; so it can be detected using luciferase/luciferin and generating light. We also tested this assay to measure the activities of AMP-generating enzymes that do not require ATP as substrate, including phosphodiesterases (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) and Escherichia c...
Variables, Random Variables, and Variable Characteristics, Sampling

A variable is a name or symbol for the identification of any unique population characteristic that is subjected to statistical analysis. A random variable has its value determined by a random chance event, the conduct of a statistical experiment, such as sampling. A variable and random variable are not the same thing. A variable identifies, but a random variable assumes a value.
A gasp of air: posthuman intimacies in Tejal Shah’s Between the Waves

AbstractWhat does it mean to make love to trash? Experimental video artist Tejal Shah’s work has consistently thought through the limits and capacities of the image to address queer sexuality. In their most recent work, Between the Waves, the artist visualizes a lush feminist dystopia at the end of the world as we know it. Images of bodies – human, plant, and other life – are brought together in shifting relations of intimacy amidst landfill waste, forest swamps, and deserted beaches. This paper develops a temporal critique of Shah’s installation, focusing on waiting as a queer dystopian form of cohabitation. While postcolonialism’s temporality has focused on the hauntings of the past in the present, in this article I take postcolonial interventions into linear temporality as informative for imagining queer postcolonial futures. Through the paper, I pay close attention to the acousmatic sounds of aspiration and nondiegetic breath, contending that such encounters render a postcolonial and posthuman ethics ...
Subjective Well-Being and Personality

La Rochefoucauld argued that personality is an important cause of happiness and of unhappiness. Modern researchers find, however, that he was incorrect in underestimating the size of this influence. It appears that happiness, the experience of unpleasant emotions, and life satisfaction often depend more on temperament than on one's life circumstances. Indeed, it is now reasonable to hypothesize that personality is a major determinant of longterm, subjective well-being.Walter Mischel (1968) argued in a well known book, Personality and Assessment, that dispositions are weak determinants of behavior, and that situations are much stronger predictors of overt responses. In the realm of subjective wellbeing, Mischel's argument is turned on its head—it appears that situations are weak predictors, and personality is a strong correlate, of long-term subjective well-being.
Integration of Insect-Resistant Genetically Modified Crops within IPM Programs

Although host plant resistance has long been an important insect management tactic, its wide-spread use has been constrained by the limited availability of elite cultivars possessing high levels of resistance to key pest species. The application of recombinant DNA technology to genetically engineer insect-resistant crop plants has provided a way to eliminate this constraint and make host plant resistance a prominent component of integrated pest management (IPM) in major cropping systems world-wide. It is within the framework of IPM, rather than as a stand-alone insect control measure, that insect-resistant GM crops have the greatest potential to contribute to the establishment of sustainable crop protection systems. This chapter reviews the defining elements of IPM and examines the attributes of insect-resistant GM crops as IPM tools. Insect-resistant GM crops available to date, like their counterparts developed through conventional plant breeding, are proving to be safe, effective and easy to use insect suppression tools that are compatible with other IPM tactics, including cultural and chemical controls and the conservation of natural enemies as important agents of biological control. Because of their high level of efficacy against the key pest species that they target, GM Bt cotton and Bt maize varieties expressing cry genes derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been widely adopted and have led to significant reductions in insecticide use. Experience in Bt cotton has revealed the potential for reductions in insecticide use to be accompanied by the emergence of secondary pests and the need to adjust the pest management systems to address these “new” pests. Emphasis on the importance of resistance management to mitigate selection for pest adaptation to Bt crops has elevated the role of resistance management to a position of fundamental importance in the implementation of IPM.
The Modern Face of Workplace Incivility

The goal of this special issue is to answer the question “What does workplace incivility look like in the current organization?” The focus of the special issue is on exploring workplace incivility ...
Quantification of Choriocapillaris with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: A Comparison Study

Purpose To demonstrate the variation in quantitative choriocapillaris (CC) metrics with various binarization approaches using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Design Retrospective, observational, cross-sectional case series. Methods Macular OCTA scans, 3- × 3-mm and 6- × 6-mm, were obtained from normal eyes and from eyes with drusen secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The CC slab was extracted, and the CC flow deficits (FDs) were segmented with 2 previously published algorithms: the fuzzy C-means approach (FCM method) and Phansalkar's local thresholding (Phansalkar method). Four different values for the radius were used in order to investigate the effect on the FD segmentation when using the Phansalkar method. FD density (FDD), mean FD size (MFDS), FD number (FDN), FD area (FDA) and intercapillary distance (ICD) were calculated for comparison. Repeatability was assessed as coefficient of variation (CV), and Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted. Results Six eyes from 6 subjects with normal eyes and 6 eyes from 6 subjects with drusen secondary to AMD were scanned. The 3- × 3-mm scans resulted in higher repeatability than the 6- × 6-mm scans. For the Phansalkar method, larger values of the radius resulted in higher repeatability. ANOVA tests resulted in significant differences (P Conclusions Quantitative CC analysis with commercially available OCTA is complicated and researchers need to pay close attention to how they conduct such analyses.
Efficient Numerical Modeling of Scattering by Electrically Large Objects in a Stratified Medium for Imaging Applications

Efficient analysis of electromagnetic scattering by electrically large objects in a stratified medium has many applications, and one such application is vectorial imaging and detection of defects in integrated circuits and micro and nano devices. For this application, one not only has to solve Maxwell's equations to find the nearfield distribution, but also has to calculate the far-field over a large number of observation angles to form high-resolution images. The most commonly employed method for such an analysis is the moment method in conjunction with a multilayer Green's function, which takes into account the effect of the stratified medium. However, the efficient evaluation of the multilayer Green's function is quite challenging, to say the least, and the application of the moment method to electrically large objects is very computationally intensive. Even after the currents are computed on the objects, calculating the far field over a large number of observation points is nontrivial and can be very time consuming as well.
Modeling biological growth and remodeling: Contrasting methods, contrasting needs

Abstract Biological growth and remodeling processes are necessarily time-dependent due to the finite periods needed for the material to be synthesized, deposited, degraded, and/or reorganized and, hence, so have been predominantly modeled for the past 20+ years. However, a full-spectrum examination of the timescales present in these processes reveals the need to explore a new class of models for which time-dependent effects are negligible. These mechanobiologically (quasi-) equilibrated formulations not only appear to apply well in many cases but also provide the modeler with those additional pieces of information, and intuition, always needed when modeling complex time-dependent responses. Material model determination, optimization involving long-term adaptations, and mechanobiological stability analyses could be leveraged by the simplicity and computational efficiency of time-independent models. Although this concept is general, we address it by means of two particular theories for which we also highlight crucial differences entailed by their diametrically different material memory and heterogeneity descriptions.
Integrated Health Care and Counseling Psychology: An Introduction to the Major Contribution:

Integrated health care is playing an increasingly important role in the U.S. health care system by improving coordination of care and reducing health disparities and cost. Despite its promise, the ...
Momentary associations between stress and alcohol craving in the naturalistic environment: differential associations for Black and White young adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Black drinkers compared with white drinkers experience more alcohol-related problems. Examination of social determinants of inequities in alcohol problems is needed. The current study measured (1) associations between acute stress and alcohol craving in the naturalistic environment for self-identified Black and White individuals who drink alcohol and (2) whether a history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) moderated these associations. DESIGN AND SETTING Observational study using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to collect data from participants at six semi-random time-points throughout the day during a 10-day period. A series of three-level multi-level models examined between- and within-person associations for stress and alcohol and tested if these associations differed for Black and White adults. PARTICIPANTS Participants were 229 adult drinkers (aged 21-35 years) who completed a larger study examining alcohol response for Black and White adults with and without a history of childhood ADHD. MEASUREMENTS Momentary stress and alcohol craving, ADHD history and socio-demographic characteristics (i.e. racial identity, sex, age, current education level, household income) were assessed. Participants were required to self-identify as either 'African American or Black' or 'European American or White'. FINDINGS Significant racial identity × stress interactions indicated that associations between stress and craving were stronger for black compared with white adults across the 10-day period (between-person: B = 0.14, P = 0.007), concurrently within a given EMA time-point (within-person: B = 0.04, P = 0.001) and prospectively from time-point to time-point (within-person: B = 0.05, P = 0.001). Results remained while accounting for income × stress interactions. CONCLUSIONS Acute stress appears to be more strongly related to alcohol craving in self-identified black compared with self-identified white individuals. This provides support for policy changes to eliminate structural inequities that increase stress exposure and the development of just-in-time culturally responsive interventions focused on coping with acute stress for black individuals.
The Impact of External Research Relationships

Thus far, we have emphasized the effect of Federally-funded research on various aspects of firm behavior. Specifically, in Chapter 3 we developed a theoretical model to illustrate the mechanisms through which Federally-funded R&D interacts with privately-funded R&D within the research environment of the firm. Germane to that model was the role of infratechnology research. Then, in Chapters 4 and 5, we presented empirical information to illustrate the significance of infratechnology research on aspects of growth.
Abstract 2497: Extracellular vesicle-mediated reversal of the prostate cancer phenotype

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Extracellular vesicle (EV) trafficking is a fundamental cellular process that occurs in cells and is required for different aspects of pathophysiology. EV trafficking leads to changes in cellular function including apoptosis, angiogenesis and proliferation required for increased tumor formation. In our current study we report several phenotypic changes mediated by EVs isolated from non-malignant and malignant prostate cells as well as patient biopsied prostate tumor samples. EVs can reverse the resistance of prostate cancer cells to camptothecin EVs isolated from non-malignant PrECs (Prostate Epithelial Cells) can reverse soft agar colony formation of malignant DU145 cells, with the reciprocal effect observed. Isolation of EVs from 2 Gleason grade 8 prostate cancer patients significantly induced soft agar colony formation of non-malignant PrECs. We have identified proteins via antibody and Mass spectrometry analysis that may be responsible for the phenotypic changes. Mass spectrometry analysis of protein lysates using ProteoIQ revealed protein candidates associated with gene ontology annotations that may be responsible for this phenotypic change. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was used to identify statistically relevant canonical pathways and functions associated the protein IDs and expression values obtained using ProteoIQ. Western blot analysis confirmed the increase of 14-3-3 zeta, pRKIP and prohibitin protein levels in PrEC cells co-cultured with patient EVs. 14-3-3 proteins were also found as common proteins of 3 other Gleason grade 8 patients. Our results provides a rational basis to further investigate putative proteins, such as 14-3-3 and prohibitin and genetic factors that may be responsible for phenotypic changes that are associated with prostate cancer progression. Citation Format: Kiriaki Panagopoulos, Sam Cross-Knorr, Joseph F. Renzulli, Peter J. Quesenberry, Devasis Chatterjee. Extracellular vesicle-mediated reversal of the prostate cancer phenotype. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2497. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2497
The theory of gamma-ray bursts

A γ-ray burst occurs when a strongly magnetic neutron star experiences either a thermonuclear explosion in degenerate material accumulated over a long period of time or the sudden, greatly super-Eddington accretion of matter. Certain aspects of the thermonuclear model are briefly reviewed and special attention is devoted to mechanisms for producing the hard spectrum of γ-ray bursts. A leading candidate utilizes the high (parallel) temperature developed behind an accretion shock. Hard radiation is produced by inverse Compton as cyclotron photons emitted beneath the shock diffuse out. The shock itself may be a consequence of either nuclear explosion at a magnetic conjugate point, or accretion, and may be collisionless in nature. A new model for the production of optical Sashes accompanying γ-ray bursts is developed which relies upon the cyclotron emission of electrons at ~108 cm (in a wind or accretion flux) pumped by Compton collisions with γ-rays from the burst. Optical Bashes should only come from strongly magnetic neutron stars, the optical emission should be coincident with the γ-emission, and the optical radiation may be polarized.
BUCKLING OF SHORT STEEL COLUMNS

The inelastic stability of columns made of elastic-perfectly plastic-hardening materials is considered. Stable equilibrium positions are obtained for deflected columns compressed beyond the yield load. Theoretical relationships are obtained between the axial load, the lateral displacement, and the strains of idealized I columns, not sufficiently slender to buckle elastically. Buckling tests were performed on mild steel columns and the results compared to the theory. Conclusions are reached concerning the capacity of short columns to sustain loads beyond the yield load.
Allergens of Animal and Biological Systems

Allergy to laboratory animals is a significant occupational hazard and among the most common conditions affecting the health of workers involved in the care and use of research animals. At least 90,000 workers in the United States have direct contact with animals in research or industrial facilities, although some sources estimate 40,000 to 125,000 (1, 2). Workers who are in regular contact with furred animals often develop sensitivity to these animals. This sensitivity accounts for the high prevalence of laboratory animal allergy (LAA) in animal workers, and cross-sectional studies have estimated that as high as 44% of individuals working with laboratory animals report work-related symptoms (3, 4). Veterinarians are also at risk with similar levels of allergy development with symptoms (5). Of these symptomatic workers, up to 25% may eventually develop occupational asthma that persists even after the exposure ceases (6). This high prevalence rate has major medical and economic implications. When employees develop LAA, it often results in significant morbidity, at times necessitating a change in occupation. In addition, it may lead to reduced productivity, increased workloads for others, and increased health and worker's compensation costs for the employer. Due to recent awareness and increased surveillance and monitoring, recent studies have actually seen a decline in occupational asthma over the last 25 years (7), but recent studies suggest vigilance is necessary (8). Familiarity with LAA, including its clinical characteristics, etiology, pathophysiology, treatment, and preventative measures, can be vital in reducing the economic and physical impact of this important occupational hazard.
Neural network training using homotopy continuation methods

Neural networks are widely used in performing classification tasks. The networks are traditionally trained using gradient methods to minimize the training error. These techniques, however, are highly susceptible to getting trapped in local minima. The authors propose an innovative approach to obtain the global minimum of the training error. The globally optimum solution can be obtained by employing the homotopy continuation method for minimizing the classification error during training. Two different approaches are considered. The first approach involves the polynomial modeling of the nodal activation function and the second approach involves the traditional sigmoid function. Results illustrating the superiority of the homotopy method over the gradient descent method are presented. >
Iron deficiency and iron-fortified milk.

Judging by personal inquiries to me as well as by your correspondence columns, iron supplementation of infant feeding regimens continues to be a red-hot subject with a surprising number of practicing pediatricians recording themselves as against it, despite the large volume of supporting data on which the A.A.P. Nutrition Committee9s statement was based. Dr. Filer9s clear answers (Pediatrics, 48:152, 1971) could not touch on all points. I wish to consider a few additional questions posed by the negative side.
A delta-function model for axially symmetric crystals

A surface energy polar plot contains two possible singularities: the cusps that give facets on an equilibrium crystal, and the circular arcs connecting the cusps that can lead to missing orientations. The common approach of specifying the surface energy usually cannot handle both singularities simultaneously. We model the surface stiffness to avoid missing orientations. Furthermore, a facet is represented by the Dirac delta function. Thus, both singularities are treated precisely. We demonstrate our approach by modeling two axially symmetric crystals.
Population structure and interdemic selection in the cooperative spider Anelosimus eximius

The degree of relatedness among interacting individuals helps determine the fitness consequences of particular behaviors, whereas the partitioning (and amount) of genetic variation among and within groups controls the level at which selection will act most effectively. Three criteria are considered necessary for selection to act at the group or interdemic level: high rate of group initiation/extinction; differential survival and reproduction among groups; and highly subdivided population structure. The first two criteria have been demonstrated by earlier studies of Anelosimus eximius colonies. This study employs hierarchical analysis of allozyme polymorphisms to demonstrate the third criterion, subdivided population structure. Anelosimus eximius were collected from Suriname, Panama, Ecuador, Peru and Trinidad. Seven of 40 scorable enzyme loci revealed variation; 4 of these were polymorphic within colonies or regions. Expected heterozygosities were low, ranging from 0 (Ecuador, Peru) to ∼0.03 (Suriname). For each polymorphic locus, hierarchical F -statistics were used to partition overall genetic variation into among-region (or among-population; Frt ), among-colony ( Fsr ), and within-colony ( Fis ) components. Samples from Suriname (43 colonies, 4 local populations) were the most informative; lack of scorable variation limited the inferences that could be drawn from other regions. A. eximius colonies are highly inbred: negative estimates of Fis imply very small effective colony sizes (∼6.5 for Suriname samples). By contrast, estimates of Fsr were very high: the mean for Suriname samples was 0.890, indicating neglibible gene flow among established colonies. Inbreeding within colonies, and genetic differentiation among colonies are consistent with demographic and behavioral observations of A. eximius . We suggest that interdemic selection is probable in this species and other cooperative spiders with this type of social system, and that mutual tolerance and absence of nest-mate recognition, as well as female-biased sex ratios, may have arisen by interdemic selection.
Functional Characterization of Compliant Building Blocks Utilizing Eigentwists and Eigenwrenches

Compliant mechanisms are devices which utilize the flexibility of their constituent members to transmit motion and forces. Unlike their rigid body counterparts, compliant mechanisms typically contain no traditional joints. The focus of this research is the development of a building block approach for the synthesis of compliant mechanisms. Building block methods better facilitate the augmentation of designer intuition while offering a systematic approach to open-ended problems. In this paper, we investigate the use of the eigentwists and eigenwrenches of a deformable body to characterize basic kinematic function. The eigentwists and eigenwrenches are shown to demonstrate parametric behavior when applied to the compliant dyad building block, and in special cases may be compared to compliance ellipsoids. The paper concludes by articulating future research in a building block approach to compliant mechanism synthesis.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Electroosmotic Augmentation in Flexural Plate Wave Micropumps

We investigate the effectiveness and applicability of electroosmotic augmentation in flexural plate wave (FPW) micropumps for enhanced capabilities. Flow rates generated in FPW micro-scale flow systems are restricted particularly when the channel height is greater than the acoustic wave length. The proposed concept can be exploited to integrate micropumps into complex microfluidic chips improving the portability of micro-total-analysis systems along with the capabilities of actively controlling acoustics and electrokinetics for micro-mixer applications. A computational study of electroosmotic augmentation in FPW micropumps is presented where FPWs are considered by a moving wall model. A transient analysis of compressible flows of water is performed for microchannels. An isothermal equation of state for water is employed. The nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann and Laplace equations are used to model the induced electric double layer (EDL) potential and the applied electric potential. Coupled electroosmotic and acoustics cases are investigated for two channel heights while the electric field intensity of the electrokinetic body forces and actuation frequency of acoustic excitations are varied. For deeper microchannels, increasing the actuation frequency of the wall motion does not improve the generated flow rate significantly. Inclusion of electroosmotic effects is more efficient than increasing the intensity of acoustic perturbations whenever high flow rates are required in micro-mixer applications.
Planetary magnetic fields: Observations and models

Abstract The state of knowledge and understanding of planetary magnetic fields is reviewed. All of the planets, with the possible exception of Venus, have had active dynamos at some time in their evolution. The properties and characteristics of the dynamos are as diverse as the planets themselves. Even within the subclasses of terrestrial and giant planets, the contrasting compositions, sizes, and internal pressures and temperatures of the planets result in strikingly different dynamos. As an example, the dynamos in Mercury and Ganymede are likely driven by compositional buoyancy distributions different from that in the Earth’s core. Dynamo models operate far from the parameter regimes appropriate to the real planets, yet provide insight into the dynamics of their interiors. While Boussinesq models are generally adequate for simulating terrestrial planet dynamos, anelastic models that also account for large density and electrical conductivity variations are needed to simulate the dynamos in giant planets. Future spacecraft missions to planets with active dynamos are needed to learn about the character and temporal variability of the planetary magnetic fields.
New Minimal Supergravity, {Chern-Simons} Terms and Induced Massive Gauge Fields

The most general coupling of a linear supermultiplet to new minimal supergravity, modified by the additional of the Chern-Simons term associated with the auxiliary field gauge connection, is presented both in superfields and component fields. It is shown that the Chern-Simons term induces, through the Bianchi identities, a kinetic energy term for this gauge connection and a propagating spin-12 superpartner. Furthermore, the induced vector supermultiplet acquires a non-vanishing mass.
Allopregnanolone Elevations Following Pregnenolone Administration Are Associated with Enhanced Activation of Emotion Regulation Neurocircuits

Background The neurosteroid allopregnanolone is a potent allosteric modulator of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor with anxiolytic properties. Exogenous administration of allopregnanolone reduces anxiety, and allopregnanolone blockade impairs social and affective functioning. However, the neural mechanism whereby allopregnanolone improves mood and reduces anxiety is unknown. In particular, brain imaging has not been used to link neurosteroid effects to emotion regulation neurocircuitry. Methods To investigate the brain basis of allopregnanolone's impact on emotion regulation, participants were administered 400 mg of pregnenolone ( n =16) or placebo ( n =15) and underwent 3T functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing the shifted-attention emotion appraisal task, which probes emotional processing and regulation. Results Compared with placebo, allopregnanolone was associated with reduced activity in the amygdala and insula across all conditions. During the appraisal condition, allopregnanolone increased activity in the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex and enhanced connectivity between the amygdala and dorsal medial prefrontal cortex, an effect that was associated with reduced self-reported anxiety. Conclusions These results demonstrate that in response to emotional stimuli, allopregnanolone reduces activity in regions associated with generation of negative emotion. Furthermore, allopregnanolone may enhance activity in regions linked to regulatory processes. Aberrant activity in these regions has been linked to anxiety psychopathology. These results thus provide initial neuroimaging evidence that allopregnanolone may be a target for pharmacologic intervention in the treatment of anxiety disorders and suggest potential future directions for research into neurosteroid effects on emotion regulation neurocircuitry.
Relationship between moments at the L5/S1 level, hip and knee joint when lifting

A study was performed to determine the influence of load magnitude on the self selected technique of lifting. Specifically, it was hypothesized that with heavier weights a tendency would occur to lift more with the back and less with the legs. Flexion-extension moments at the L5/S1 level, hip and knee joints were calculated for subjects when lifting boxes weighing from 50 to 250 N. Lifts were performed using a freestyle technique at normal speed. The moment profiles (moment plotted vs time) were analyzed kinematically and as a function of the weight lifted. The kinematics of the lift changed as the weight increased. The moment at the L5/S1 level increased with increasing weight, however, the corresponding knee moment decreased. Thus, an inverse relationship was found between the moment at the L5/S1 level and the knee joint moment. An increase in weight lifted was also associated with an increase in the angular velocity at the knee while lifting. Apparently with heavier weights there is a tendency to extend the knees earlier during the lift than with lighter weights, confirming our hypothesis. This explains the reduced knee moment. Our findings lead to the hypothesis that quadriceps muscle strength limits the subjects' ability to lift with their knees flexed.
A procedure for combining a quantitative inheritance study with the first cycle of a breeding program

The number of effective factors controlling the inheritance of a quantitative character can be estimated by analysis of F3 lines where the parental lines are homozygous. The procedure is illustrated with data from a study of pod length inheritance in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The mean pod length of ‘Sprite’, the parent with longer pods, was compared statistically with the means of F3 progenies derived from F2 plants obtained from the appropriate tail of the F2 frequency distribution for pod length. The data indicate that analysis of F3 progenies avoids much of the underestimation of the effective factor number which is characteristic of other procedures. The number of effective factors was estimated to be a minimum of 4 and the correlation between random F2 parents and F3 progeny means was r=0.82.
Guidelines for Power and Time Variables for Microwave Ablation in a Porcine Liver

The purpose of our study was to provide guidelines for the use of a novel microwave ablation system. Microwave ablations using a 915-MHz system were evaluated in a porcine liver. The independent variables were power and time, with the outcome variable being diameter of ablation. After ablations, livers were procured for measurement and histologic evaluation. Our study consisted of 420 ablations. The outcome variable, ablation diameter, was affected significantly by time, power, and time/power interaction (p < 0.0001). For each time point, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed an overall significant difference in ablation size X wattage (p < 0.0001). Tukey tests at each time point showed ablation sizes at 45, 50, and 60 W were not significantly different. After it was determined that 45 W was optimal, a one-way ANOVA showed an overall significant difference in ablation sizes for time points at 45 W (p < 0.0001). Tukey tests revealed that at 45 W, ablation sizes at 10, 15, and 20 min were not statistically different. We propose guidelines for diameters based on different time and power variables and recommend 45 W for 10 min to achieve optimal diameters at the shortest time and lowest wattage.
A Parallel Software Architecture for Building Intelligent Medical Monitors

Intensive care units become more complicated each day as the number of devices developed to monitor various aspects of a patient's status continues to increase. Intelligent monitors attempt to reduce this complexity by interpreting the data and presenting a high level summary to the clinician. We propose an innovative parallel software architecture for constructing intelligent medical monitors: theprocess trellis. The process trellis is an explicitly parallel structure, and therefore can take advantage of the performance gains available from parallel computing hardware. It does not, however, presuppose any expertise in parallel programming on the part of the application programmer. A prototype cardiovascular monitor has been built using this parallel software architecture. Preliminary testing of the monitor has shown that real-time cardiovascular monitoring, including data calculations, symbolic classification, and interpretation can be accomplished in real-time.
Investigating Psychology and Transcendence

Psychology has not fully engaged with the possible reality of transcendence, spirit, or the divine, largely due to unexamined assumptions that prevent taking religious experience and transcendence seriously. Eugene Long’s reflections on experience and transcendence, key ideas from hermeneutic philosophy, including Brent Slife’s conception of “strong relationality,” Peter Berger’s analysis of modern dilemmas and “many realities,” Louis Dupre’s discussion of an ingrained “objectivism” that has long colored and probably distorted Western philosophy, theology, and the social sciences, and Vaclav Havel’s suggestion of a “need for transcendence” in a postmodern world roughly cohere and go a long way toward dismantling the “encapsulated self” that must either reject transcendence altogether or reach it only by way of a blind and indefensible “leap” out of the modern situation.
Strategies for Implementation of Consistent Carbohydrate Meal Patterns

Abstract Carbohydrate counting has been recommended as an appropriate method of meal planning for diabetic patients in hospitals as a means of meeting patients' nutrition needs and facilitating improved metabolic control for patients in acute care settings. Although meal plans utilizing consistent carbohydrate content were used in patient education, the clinical nutrition staff identified the continued use of "ADA-type" patterns in the patient food service as an obstacle to utilizing the patient menu and meal tray in reinforcing educational principles. Concerns were also identified with implementing a menu system that only utilized carbohydrate counting, i.e., meeting medical staff requirements, patient expectations, and increasing work for the diet office. Consistent carbohydrate meal patterns were developed with ranges of caloric content to accommodate most patients' nutrition needs. Diabetic menus were based on a cardiac-type diet pattern to provide an appropriate fat content for most patients. Guidelines for diet content were also established to facilitate meal correction: consistent selection of entrees by patients, maximum number of fruit servings allowed per meal, and goal for maximum number of fat servings/day. The use of sucrose-containing foods was limited at the time of implementation, although this may be modified in the future with continued education of the staff and greater public knowledge about consistent carbohydrate as a means of diabetic menu planning.
Do I believe in CLAW

Environmental context. In 1987 Charlson, Lovelock, Andreae and Warren revolutionised the way we think about the Earth when they argued that marine algae, atmospheric particulate matter and clouds might be linked in such a way that they could work like a planetary thermostat. This stimulated scientists to work with colleagues outside their traditional disciplines to understand the Earth system. Twenty years later we still can’t say whether the CLAW idea is 100% correct, but we have begun to appreciate that the many parts of the Earth are linked into a living whole that cannot be understood by any branch of science working in isolation.
Ultrastructure of two species of halobacterium

The morphology of a halobacterium from the Dead Sea has been compared with Halobacterium halobium. A freeze-fracture study has revealed two hexagonal patterns with repeating distances of 155 A and 65 A within layers of the cell-envelope. The larger pattern is a characteristic of the genus Halobacterium. The smaller has been identified with a surface of the cell-membrane. By the same freeze-fracture technique, the membrane adjacent to the cell-envelope was shown to be characterized by two particulate fracture faces, presumably within the hydrophobic region of the membrane. The Dead Sea Halobacterium was shown to contain poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB). Freeze-fractured cells contained granules similar to PHB granules found in other bacterial species. Alterations in the physiological state of the Dead Sea Halobacterium were found to have little effect on cell structure which was also unaffected by depletion of cell K.
Heart estrogen receptor alpha: Distinct membrane and nuclear distribution patterns and regulation by estrogen

Abstract Estrogen receptor α (ERα) is present in the heart consistent with estrogen-induced modulation of cardiac function by genomic and non-genomic mechanisms, and with estrogen-mediated cardioprotective effects. We show that, in heart from adult male rats, ERα is detected mainly as two distinct isoforms: (i) a ∼66 kDa isoform with the expected mass of the classical full-length ERα and (ii) an additional isoform of ∼45 kDa. Differential centrifugation separated the 66 kDa isoform into the cytosolic fraction; while the 45 kDa isoform was enriched in the membrane fraction. High-resolution confocal studies show that ERα is distributed in the nucleus, cytosol, and various membranes including the plasmalemma. Notoriously, ERα labeling was very prominent in T-tubular membranes defined by α-actinin staining and the intercalated disks. In the T-tubules, ERα degree of association to α-actinin depends on the distribution pattern of the receptor along the T-tubules; association is high when ERα pattern is “continuous,” while it is low when the receptor has a discontinuous “granular” distribution. Nuclear ERα has a distinct trabecular distribution and it is excluded from the heterochromatin, consistent with an active transcription factor. Treatment with estrogen (∼4 h) produced an overall decrease in both nuclear and non-nuclear ERα levels and made more evident discrete ERα nuclear puncta uncovering cellular mechanism(s) of short term action of estrogen in the heart. The results indicate that the levels of the cardiac ERα isoforms are downregulated by estrogen and are differentially distributed: the full-length ERα is mainly compartmentalized in the cytosol and nucleus, while the 45 kDa isoform is mainly present in membrane structures. The membrane localization of ERα may support the rapid effects of estrogens on heart function.