cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Osteoclast kinetics in osteopetrotic ( ia ) rats cured by spleen cell transfers from normal littermates

Excessive skeletal mass and reduced bone resorption characteristic of osteopetrosis in youngia rats can be corrected by irradiation and transfer of spleen cells from normal littermates. Cell population analyses and3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) autoradiographic methods were used to determine osteoclast population dynamics and kinetics of incorporation of nuclei following whole-body irradiation and spleen cell transfer inia/ia rats and in untreatedia rats and their (ia/+) normal littermates. The numbers of osteoclasts per metaphyseal area were greater inia rats than in (ia/+) normal littermates. Untreatedia rats had greater rates of incorporation of3H-TdR-labeled nuclei into osteoclasts but were reduced to near normal values following irradiation and spleen cell transfer. Labeled osteoclast nuclei were first seen in the primary spongiosa of the femoral metaphysis and with increasing time appeared at greater distances from the epiphyseal growth plate as the bones grew in length. These sites of osteoclast neogenesis correspond to sites where restoration of bone resorption is initially seen following bone marrow and splenic transplants in the treatment of osteopetrosis.
Movement-related and preparatory activity in the reticulospinal system of the monkey

Three monkeys (M. fascicularis) performed a center-out, two-dimensional reaching task that included an instructed delay interval based on a color-coded visuospatial cue. Neural activity in the medial pontomedullary reticular formation (mPMRF) was recorded along with hand movement. Of 176 neurons with movement-related activity, 109 (62%) had movement-related but not preparatory activity (M cells), and 67 (38%) had both movement-related and preparatory activity (MP cells). EOG analyses indicated that the preparatory activity was not consistent with control of eye movements. There were slight changes in electromyograms (EMG) late in the instructed delay period before the Go cue, but these were small compared with the movement-related EMG activity. Preparatory activity, like the EMG activity, was also confined to the end of the instructed delay period for 14 MP cells, but the remaining 53 MP cells (30%) had preparatory activity that was not reflected in the EMG. Peri-movement neural activity varied with movement direction for 70% of the cells, but this variation rarely fit circular statistics commonly used for studies of directional tuning; directional tuning was even less common in the preparatory activity. These data show that neurons in the mPMRF are strongly modulated during small reaching movements, but this modulation was rarely correlated with the trajectory of the hand. In accord with findings in the literature from other regions of the CNS, evidence of activity related to motor preparation in these cells indicates that this function is distributed in the nervous system and is not a feature limited to the cerebral cortex.
OmniTread OT-4 Serpentine Robot - new Features and Experiments

Serpentine robots are slender, multi-segmented vehicles designed to provide greater mobility than conventional wheeled or tracked robots. Serpentine robots are thus ideally suited for urban search and rescue, military intelligence gathering, and for surveillance and inspection tasks in hazardous and hard-to-reach environments. One such serpentine robot, developed at the University of Michigan, is the "OmniTread OT-4." The OT-4 comprises seven segments, which are linked to each other by 2-degree-of-freedom joints. The OT-4 can climb over obstacles that are much higher than the robot itself, propel itself inside pipes of different diameters, and traverse even the most difficult terrain, such as rocks or the rubble of a collapsed structure. The foremost and unique design characteristic of the OT-4 is the use of pneumatic bellows to actuate the joints. These bellows allow simultaneous control of position and stiffness for each joint. Controllable stiffness is of crucial importance in serpentine robots, which require stiff joints to cross gaps and compliant joints to conform to rough terrain for effective propulsion. Another unique feature of the OmniTread design is the maximal coverage of all four sides with driven tracks. This design makes the robot indifferent to roll-overs, which are happen frequently when the slender bodies of serpentine robots travel over rugged terrain. This paper describes the OmniTread concept as well as its latest technical features, and an extensive Experiment Results Section documents the abilities of the OT-4.
Stress induced ferroelectricity in SrTiO3

Abstract Spontaneous polarization and a maximum in the dielectric constant with the application of a 〈100〉 or 〈110〉 uniaxial stress are observed at 4.2°K in SrTiO 3 . The critical stress for the transition to the ferroelectric phase is 10.1 kg/mm 2 for a 〈100〉 stress and 53 kg/mm 2 for a 〈110〉 stress. The transition to this new phase is analyzed using free energy considerations including electrostrictive terms.
AXIAL LABILIZATION BY MACROCYCLIC LIGANDS. 5. AXIAL SUBSTITUTION IN Co(III) COMPLEXES OF A SERIES OF 14-MEMBERED TETRAAZA MACROCYCLIC LIGANDS

Abstract The results of studies of the kinetics of(1) in acetonitrile solvent are presented Here L[dbnd] any of three tetraaza-tetraimine macrocyclic ligands, X− [dbnd] Br − or Cl−; and An [dbnd] acetonitrile. Our results indicate that (1) occurs by a modified interchange mechanism involving formation of and interchange within both 1:1 and 2:1 ion pairs. The first-order rate constant for interchange within the 2:1 ion pairs. ki2-, increases from 0.873 for the least to 48.5 s−1 for the most electron-withdrawing macrocycle, L, at 30°. The activation parameters governing the temperature dependence of ki2 are ΔH∗ = 45 kJ/mole, ΔS∗ = -98 J/mol[sbnd]K for L[dbnd]L1 (methyl substituents); ΔH∗ = 33.6 kJ/mole, ΔS∗ = -111 J/mole-K for L[dbnd]L2 (methyl and phenyl substituents); and ΔH∗ = 46 kJ/mole, ΔS∗ = -64 J/mole-K for L[dbnd]L5 (phenyl substituents) (vide infra). The data suggest that (1) occurs via associative interchange (Ia) rather than by the usual dissociative interchange (Id) route.
The system: Tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP)-nitric acid-water—I activities of TBP in equilibrium with aqueous nitric acid and partial molar volumes of the three components in the TBP phase

Abstract New experimental data are presented on the distribution of nitric acid and water between aqueous acid and 100% tri- n -butyl phosphate (TBP) solutions. A table of smoothed distribution data, obtained by a hand-smoothing procedure from these data combined with other literature data, is also presented. Several different mathematical representations of the data in terms of the Gibbs-Duhem relation are described, and the resulting activities of TBP, obtained by graphical integration, are compared. A table of rational activities of TBP (based on pure anhydrous TBP as the standard state) is presented for aqueous nitric acid concentrations ranging from 0 to 15 M. Partial molar volumes of the components in the TBP phase, determined by least-squares analysis of the density data, are 16·5, 43·3 and 273·9 ml/mole, respectively, for H 2 O, HNO 3 and TBP.
Effects of Long‐Term Raphe Nucleus Stimulation on Chronic Limbic Seizures in Monkeys

UMMARY Long-term electrical stimulation of the raphe nuclei was performed in two monkeys with chronic psychomotor seizures. The daily seizure rate was significantly reduced in one monkey when a stimulus charge of 0.1 μC was used, but not during a subsequent experiment using a 0.4 μC charge. A charge of 0.4 μC also failed to alter the frequency of limbic seizures in a second monkey. The raphe stimulation caused neural damage to the brain stems of both animals. The possible effect this damage may have had on the repeatability of the results suggests that long-term raphe stimulation, like some other neural prostheses, may have diminishing effectiveness over time. RESUME La stimulation electrique prolongee des noyaux du raphe a ete effectuee chez deux singes presentant une epilepsie psychomotrice chronique. Le nombre des crises quotidiennes a ete significativement reduit chez un singe pour des stimulations de l'ordre de 0.1 μC1 alors que pareille reduction n'a pas ete observee dans une experience ulterieure avec une stimulation 0.4 μC seulement. En utilisant 0.4 μC chez le second singe, on n'a pas obtenu non plus de modification de la frequence des crises limbiques. La stimulation des noyaux du raphe a cause des lesions dans le tronc cerebral des deux animaux. l'effet que ces lesions peuvent avoir eu sur la reproductibilite des resultats suggere que la stimulation prolongee des noyaux du raphe, comme d'autres precedes d'actions neurales, peuvent voir leurs effets diminuer avec le temps. RESUMEN Se estimulo de manera prolongada los nucleos del rafe en dos monos con crisis psicomotoras cronicas. La frecuencia diaria de ataques se redujo significativamente en un mono cuando se utilizeo un estimulo cuya carga era de 0.1 μC, aunque no durante un experimento posterior en el que uso una carga de 0.4 μC. Una carga de 0.4 μC tambien fue incapaz de modificar la frecuencia de ataques limbicos en un segundo mono. La estimulacion del rafe causo lesiones en el tronco cerebral de ambos animates. El posible efecto que este dano pudo crear en la repetitividad de los resultados sugiere que la estimulacion prolongada del rafe, igual que ocurre con otras preparaciones neurales, puede tener una efectividad decreciente con el paso del tiempo. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Eine lange anhaltende Electrostimulation des Raphe-Kerns wurde bei 2 Affen mit chronischen psychomotorischen Anfallen durchgefuhrt. Die tagliche Anfallsfrequenz wurde bei einem Affen signifikant reduziert unter Verwendung einer Stimulation mit 0.1 μC. Das war nicht moglich in einem folgenden Experiment mit 0.4 μC. Eine Stimulation mit 0.4 μC war ebenso ineffektiv die Anfallsfrequenz der limbischen Anfalle beim 2. Affen zu andern. Die Stimulation der Raphe verursachte eine Nevenschadigung im Hirnstamm beider Tiere. Die mogliche Auswirkung, die diese Schadigung auf die Wiederholbarkeit der Ergebnisse haben konnte, legt nahe, das eine lang dauernde Raphe Stimulierung mit der Zeit eine nachlassende Wirkung zeigen konnte wie das auch bei anderen neuralen Versuchsanordnungen beobachtet wurde.
Solving algebraic systems using matrix computations

Finding zeros of algebraic sets is a fundamental problem in scientific and geometric computation. It arises in symbolic and numeric techniques used to manipulate sets of polynomial equations. In this paper, we outline algorithms and applications for solving zero and one dimensional algebraic sets using matrix computations. These algorithms make use of techniques from elimination theory and reduce the problem to finding singular sets of matrix polynomials. We make use of algorithms for eigen-decomposition, singular value decomposition and Gaussian elimination to compute the singular sets. These algorithms have been implemented and perform very well in practice. We describe their application to computing conformations of molecular chains, inverse kinematics of serial robots, solid modeling and manufacturing.
Subjective evaluations of alcohol expectancies and their relevance to drinking game involvement in female college students.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to test whether subjective evaluations of alcohol expectancies mediate the association between perceived drinking expectancies and participation in drinking games (DGs). Participation in DGs facilitates heavy drinking; therefore, we also examined the association between DG participation and alcohol-related problems. Methods This cross-sectional study included 187 female athletes from an all-women's college in the Northeastern United States. Respondents completed self-report questionnaires in small groups who reported on their alcohol use, drinking expectancies, and number of DGs played with their teammates during the semester. Results A mediation effect emerged for subjective evaluation of liquid courage expectancy but not for increased sociability and cognitive/behavioral impairment expectancies. Although perceived expectancies of cognitive/behavioral impairment were associated negatively with DG participation, positive subjective evaluations of this expectancy were related positively with DG participation. Finally, participation in DG was associated positively with alcohol-related problems. Conclusions Findings are consistent with notions of social learning and utility theories and sheds light on the link between alcohol expectancies and participation in DGs among female student athletes. Results also highlight the health risks associated with DG involvement. Intervention programs aimed at decreasing the prevalence of DG participation might consider addressing students' perceptions about the desirability of liquid courage expectancies.
Thermal desorption of gases

Abstract Methods for determining the activation energy, rate constant and order of reaction from “flash-filament” desorption experiments are examined. Two heating schedules are considered: (a) a linear variation of sample temperature with time (T = T0+st), and (b) a reciprocal temperature variation ( 1 T = 1 T 0 −αt) . The activation energy of desorption is estimated from the temperature (Tp) at which the desorption rate is a maximum (for first-order reactions) and from the change of Tp with surface coverage (for second-order reactions). The order of the reaction is determined from the shape of the desorption rate versus time curve, or the variation of Tp with coverage. Applications of these methods to experiments on chemisorption and the desorption of ionically trapped gases are discussed. The effect of finite pumping speed in the system is analysed and the necessary corrections derived.
Changes in lipids of lung lavage in monkeys after chronic exposure to ambient levels of ozone.

Abstract A group of 8 sub-adult bonnet monkeys (Macaco radiata) was exposed to 0.3 ppm ozone (O3) and another group of 7 monkeys to 0.15 ppm O3 for 8 h/day for 90 days. A third group of 4 monkeys was exposed to 0.15 ppm O3 for 8 h/day for 21 days. The control group consisted of 7 monkeys which breathed filtered air for 90 days. Levels of linoleic and arachidonic acids in the total lipids from lung lavage increased about 2-fold in those exposed to O3 as compared to the levels in the controls. Furthermore, the relative level of cholesterol ester (CE) decreased and phosphatidylcholine (PC) increased markedly with chronic exposure of animals to O3. Enhanced polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition in lung lavage and changes in the levels of CE and PC may be related to animals' adaptation to O3-exposure.
Physical attractiveness and sexual activity of college students.

This study was conducted to ascertain the role attractiveness plays in the sexual behaviors of women. A convenience sample of 101 white female college students from a large midwestern university re...
A feasibility study of detecting reinforcing-bar debonding by acoustic-emission technique

Acoustic emissions (AE) detected by two transducers mounted on a reinforcing bar in a reinforced-concrete block, which is subjected to cyclic tension-compression loading, are used to assess the locations of re-bar debonding. Preliminary uniaxial-tension tests of the re-bar were conducted to establish the proper level of AE sensitivity which was then verified by uniaxial-tension tests of re-bar embedded in a concrete block. The main tests consist of simulated beamcolumn connection with a 90-deg hooked No. 8 Grade 60 rebar subjected to various cyclic-loading histories. Reasonably good correlations were established between the debonding regions indicated by the AE signals and those detached by dye injected into the cracked concrete.
Stressing the role of O-GlcNAc: linking cell survival to keratin modification

Mounting evidence suggests that keratin post-translational modifications are crucial for many cellular processes. Now, keratin 18 modified by the addition of an O-linked N-acetylglucosamine residue is shown to be as a critical effector of stress-responsive Akt signalling, providing an important link between keratin glycosylation and cell survival.
1003 Chemotherapy and radiation therapy with selective organ-sparing treatment of invasive bladder cancer

Several recent (1–4) reports supply new overall survival data for transurethral surgery and chemoradiotherapy as good as any reported cystectomy series which supports its safe and selective use for clinical stage T2–T3a patients. One likely important key to the improved success is the early identification of incomplete responders to chemoradiotherapy by prompt re-cystoscopy. This allows for prompt cystectomy before local regrowth (and a second chance for metastases) occurs. 5 yr Overall 5 yr Survival with Series Pts Survival Bladder Preservation Mass Gen Hosp (4) 53 48% 38% U of Erlangen (1) ,197 45% 36% RTOG (4 yr data, 3) 42 54% 45% This multimodality and selective (by initial response) approach may, for stage T2–T3a patients, now become a standard treatment option in the US. Patients with tumor-associated hydronephrosis are not good candidates for bladder sparing.
Triiodothyronine-enhanced left ventricular function after ischemic injury

Abstract Hypothyroidism is associated with profound left ventricular dysfunction. Brain-dead organ donors and patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass are chemically hypothyroid with significantly reduced circulating free triiodothyronine (T 3 ). To test the hypothesis that T 3 enhances left ventricular function in a hormonally deficient environment a total of 36 healthy New Zealand White rabbit hearts were studied using a modified Langendorff preparation with Krebs-Henseleit perfusate and intraventricular balloon. In 9 normal rabbit hearts a cumulative dose-response curve with logarithmically increasing doses of T 3 was obtained. The vehicle solution for T 3 dissolution served as control (n = 9). Left ventricular function was assessed from peak developed pressure at baseline and after T 3 administration. Triiodothyronine had no effect in normal hearts on peak developed pressure or end-diastolic pressure. In 18 rabbits, the acute effect of T 3 administration after ischemia was investigated. Preischemic left ventricular function was measured to serve as baseline, and hearts were subjected to 37 °C global ischemia. Triiodothyronine (n = 9) or vehicle (n = 9) was infused during reperfusion, and left ventricular peak developed pressure was measured at 30 and 60 minutes of reperfusion. Recovery of function (expressed as percent return of left ventricular peak developed pressure) was significantly improved within 15 minutes of reperfusion (65.0% ± 2.1% versus 80.2% ± 4.1%) and remained significantly improved throughout the reperfusion period ( p 3 possesses no inotropic properties, it significantly improves postischemic left ventricular function. The rapidity of the functional improvement suggests that these effects may be due to plasma membrane-mediated mechanisms.
Stream-dwelling insects and extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields: a ten-year study

Changes in the structure of benthic insect communities at an experimental site and at a reference site in the Ford River, Michigan were monitored over a 10-year period to determine whether extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF) affected those communities. Five of 10 biotic parameters monitored are presented: taxon evenness (J′), richness (S′), numerical dominance of chironomids, and total insect mass. Data were separated into three seasons because coefficient of variation values were lower in the summer than in the spring and fall. Two-way ANOVA tests for the biotic variables were often significantly different between sites and among years, but the interaction terms were less frequently significant. Biotic parameters were regressed against stream discharge, water temperatures, years, and ELF cumulative ground field exposures. At the experimental site, discharge accounted for more variation than did water temperature or years for all biotic parameters except chironomid numerical dominance in the fall. Intervention analyses, using the B.A.C.I parametric or the R.I.A non-parametric showed significant differences in three of 15 cases; namely, for the highly varying chironomid numerical dominance values in the spring and fall and for the low varying total insect mass values in the summer. For those tests, the Before Impact period spanned April 1984 through May 1986. The After Impact period (full ELF power) spanned June 1989 through August 1993. Trend analysis for total insect mass at the experimental site in the summer showed discharge to be more important than water temperatures or ELF ground field exposures. Natural physical factors appear to be more important than the anthropogenic ELF fields in accounting for seasonal and yearly changes in the community.
Human endometrial adenocarcinoma transplanted into nude mice: growth regulation by estradiol

A model for studying the growth of primary tumors of human endometrium and its regulation by 17 beta-estradiol has been developed in which ovariectomized nude mice are used as recipients. The receptors for sex steroids are maintained during serial transplantation of the tumor in this system. Although the rate of growth of receptor-negative endometrial tumors transplanted into ovariectomized nude mice is unaffected by the sustained presence or absence of estradiol, the growth of receptor-positive tumors is significantly increased by estradiol. Receptor-positive tumors treated with estradiol produced elevated concentrations of progesterone receptor. That the progesterone receptor is functional in this tumor is evident from the induction of estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase activity upon progestin administration. These findings are consistent with receptor-mediated regulation of growth of endometrial carcinoma.
Chalkbrood susceptibility among larvae of the alfalfa leafcutting bee (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) reared on different diets

Bioassays were conducted to determine effects of diet on chalkbrood, a devastating mycosis of larvae of the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata (F.). Bees reared in the laboratory on four sterilized diets were assayed for chalkbrood susceptibility, bee development, and survival. Bees reared on a pollen + pollen substitute diet had an LC50 of 138 spores per larva, the shortest time to death, the smallest cadaver size, and the most frequent sporulation. Uninfected larvae developed into normal adults. Bees reared on a pollen + sugars diet had the lowest LC50 (79 spores per larva), the longest time to death, and the lowest sporulation rate. On this diet, the development and survival of uninfected larvae were delayed, and only a few small adults emerged. Bees reared on a pollen + sugars diet with a higher pollen concentration had the highest LC50 (1,549 spores per larva). These bees also had delayed development and reduced survival to the adult stage, but adults were of normal size. Bees reared on sterilized natural provisions had an intermediate LC50 (219 spores per larva), time to death, and sporulation rate, and the largest cadaver size. Development and survival rates for bees reared on this diet were similar to those obtained with bees reared on the pollen + pollen substitute diet, but adults were much larger than those reared on any other diet. Thus, diet factors that promote bee survival and growth are different from those that determine chalkbrood susceptibility.
Phage display: structure, assembly and engineering of filamentous bacteriophage M13

Abstract The filamentous bacteriophage M13 can be used to display foreign peptides and proteins, allowing the construction of therapeutic, diagnostic and technological tools of broad utility. Foreign peptides or proteins have been inserted at or near the amino termini of the viral structural proteins gp3 and gp8. Both of these sites appear to have intrinsic limitations that need to be better understood for the technology to reach its full potential. Recent analyses of the normal functions of these proteins provide a basis for understanding these limitations and may allow the identification of other potential sites for insertions. Conversely, detailed analysis of the nature of viable and lethal insertions is providing information about the structure and assembly of the phage not obtainable by other means.
Sorafenib Inhibits ABCG2 and Overcomes Irinotecan Resistance – Letter

Mazard and colleagues present results providing evidence that sorafenib favors irinotecan intracellular accumulation and enhances irinotecan toxicity via inhibition of the drug-efflux pump ABCG2 ([1][1]). They conclude that sorafenib is a promising option for the treatment of irinotecan-resistant
Replacing damaged myocardium

Heart failure survival after diagnosis has barely changed for more than half a century. Recently, investigation has focused on differentiation of stem cells in vitro and their delivery for use in vivo as replacement cardiac contractile elements. Here we report preliminary results using mesenchymal stem cells partially differentiated to a cardiac lineage in vitro. When delivered to the canine heart on an extracellular matrix patch to replace a full-thickness ventricular defect in vivo, they improve regional mechanical function. The delivered cells were also tracked, and some became myocytes with mature sarcomeres.
Music in Eric Drooker’s Flood!

In Flood!, Eric Drooker reveals himself as a unique comics artist, presenting an affirmative worldview amid an increasingly apocalyptic landscape. Exploring the resultant sense of duality between a harsh reality and a hopeful future, Drooker’s vision manifests through his extensive use of music imagery. In the context of Flood!, music adds a venue for such dual messages, as well as for forging a sense of human connectedness rooted in music’s own universality. Furthermore, music acts as an additional factor working alongside the traditional comics blend of words and images. It is also worth noting how music and comics function in terms of audience perception. Both media have a ‘synesthetic’ nature, engaging multiple senses in a way conducive to multiplicities of meaning. Furthermore, they share a significant capacity to engage readers and listeners cognitively, and this contributes to Flood!’s thematic progressivism.
Elasticity Estimates from Images of Crawling Waves Generated by Miniature Surface Sources

We describe a surface-based approach to the generation of shear wave interference patterns, called crawling waves (CrW), within a medium and derive local estimates of biomechanical properties of tissue. In previous experiments, elongated bars operating as vibration sources were used to generate CrW propagation in samples. In the present study, however, a pair of miniature circular vibration sources was applied to the overlying skin to generate the CrW within the medium. The shape and position of the miniature sources make this configuration more applicable for in vivo implementation. A modified ultrasound imaging system is used to display the CrW propagation. A shear speed mapping algorithm is developed using a detailed analysis of the CrW. The proposed setup is applied to several biomaterials including a homogeneous phantom, an inhomogeneous phantom and an ex vivo human liver. The data are analyzed using the mapping algorithm to reveal the biomechanical properties of the biomaterials.
Analysis of a multiplex-bus system

A time-domain analysis to evaluate the performance of a multiplex-bus system and a novel algorithm are presented. Using this algorithm it is possible to develop software to determine the performance of a multiplex-bus. This software will help to determine the maximum number of devices that can be connected to a system such that the worst-case response of a pulse satisfies some given specifications at a certain transmission rate. Similarly, tile software can be used to determine the maximum transmission rate of a certain bus with a certain number of devices. >
Xenobiotic export pumps, endothelin signaling, and tubular nephrotoxicants--a case of molecular hijacking.

This article is a review on recent studies in intact renal proximal tubules that link tubular nephrotoxicants with endothelin (ET) regulation of xenobiotic export pump function. The data show that transport on p-glycoprotein and Mrp2 decreases rapidly when ET signals through an ET(B) receptor, NO synthase (NOS), and protein kinase C (PKC). Surprisingly, nephrotoxicants, such as radiocontrast agents, aminoglycoside antibiotics, and heavy metal salts, "hijack" this signaling pathway, causing ET release from the tubules, hormone binding to its receptor, activation of NOS and PKC, and reduced xenobiotic transport. These findings suggest a new common mechanism by which nephrotoxicants may act to disrupt renal tubular function.
The effect of the microscopic and nanoscale structure on bone fragility

Bone mineral density is the gold-standard for assessing bone quantity and diagnosing osteoporosis. Although bone mineral density measurements assess the quantity of bone, the quality of the tissue is an important predictor of fragility. Understanding the macro- and nanoscale properties of bone is critical to understanding bone fragility in osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease that affects more than 75 million people worldwide. The gold standard for osteoporosis prognosis, bone mineral density, primarily measures the quantity of bone in the skeleton, overlooking more subtle aspects of bone's properties. Bone quality, a measure of bone's architecture, geometry and material properties, is evaluated via mechanical, structural and chemical testing. Although decreased BMD indicates tissue fragility at the clinical level, changes in the substructure of bone can help indicate how bone quality is altered in osteoporosis. Additionally, mechanical properties which can quantify fragility, or bone's inability to resist fracture, can be changed due to alterations in bone architecture and composition. Recent studies have focused on examination of bone on the nanoscale, suggesting the importance of understanding the interactions of the mineral crystals and collagen fibrils and how they can alter bone quality. It is therefore important to understand alterations in bone that occur at the macro-, micro- and nanoscopic levels to determine what parameters contribute to decreased bone quality in diseased tissue.
SNDocRank: document ranking based on social networks

To improve the search results for socially-connect users, we propose a ranking framework, Social Network Document Rank (SNDocRank). This framework considers both document contents and the similarity between a searcher and document owners in a social network and uses a Multi-level Actor Similarity (MAS) algorithm to efficiently calculate user similarity in a social network. Our experiment results based on YouTube data show that compared with the tf-idf algorithm, the SNDocRank method returns more relevant documents of interest. Our findings suggest that in this framework, a searcher can improve search by joining larger social networks, having more friends, and connecting larger local communities in a social network.
An indirect technique for fabricating a crown under an existing clasp

A method of restoring abutment teeth with full coverage under existing clasps has been demonstrated. This technique allows the patient to retain the prosthesis throughout the treatment period.
Quantification and assessment of viability of Cryptococcus neoformans by LightCycler amplification of capsule gene mRNA.

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen. It infects the central nervous system causing meningitis, which is fatal if untreated, especially in AIDS and immunosuppressed patients. In this study a method of quantification and assessment of viability of C. neoformans by LightCycler RT-PCR amplification of the capsule gene mRNA is established. The sequence of primers and probes were derived from C. neoformans capsular CAP10 gene mRNA (GenBank accession number AF144574), and were species specific. Agarose gel electrophoresis analysis of LightCycler RT-PCR product showed a single band of 223 bp in length. In order to develop an internal control a 223 bp exon fragment of capsule mRNA was cloned in the pCR2.1 plasmid vector and RNA was generated by in vitro transcription. To determine the sensitivity of the assay, serial dilutions of in vitro-transcribed RNA with known concentrations and copy numbers, and serially diluted cultures of viable and nonviable C. neoformans were used. Under optimal conditions as little as 0.472 fg of capsule mRNA could be detected, corresponding to 1–10 c.f.u. ml−1 of the sample. No amplification was observed from up to105 heat/UV radiation-killed yeast cells and RNA of other bacterial and fungal pathogens and human genomic DNA or RNA. The amplification of capsule mRNA represents a sensitive, specific and quantitative means of detection of viable C. neoformans in clinical specimens and can be useful in the evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of antifungal drugs in the treatment of C. neoformans meningitis.
DIRECT DETECTION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI 0157:H7 IN UNPASTEURIZED APPLE JUICE WITH AN EVANESCENT WAVE BIOSENSOR

An evanescent wave biosensor was used to detect Escherichia coli O157:H7 in unpasteurized apple juice. Light is launched from a 635 nm laser diode into silica or polystyrene optical waveguides, generating an evanescent field which extends from the waveguide surface. Fluorescent molecules within the evanescent field are excited resulting in an emission signal that the biosensor then detects and quantifies. A sandwich immunoassay was performed on the waveguides using cyanine 5 dye-labeled anti-E. coli O157:H7 antibodies for generation of the specific fluorescent signal. The lower limit of detection was between 6.0 × 102 and 6.0 × 104 CFU/mL with silica waveguides and between 3.2 × 104 and 3.2 × 104 CFU/mL using polystyrene waveguides. One-hundred percent correct identification of true positive samples occurred at 6.0 × 104 and 3.2 × 104 CFU/mL for silica and polystyrene waveguides, respectively. Signals from a variety of non-E. coli O157 bacteria, including closely related enterotoxigenic strains of E. coli at concentrations of ˜ 106 CFU/mL, were below the limits of detection. Assays were conducted in near real-time with results obtained within 15 min of sample processing.
Philanthropic Dimensions of Mutual Benefit Organizations

This article argues that mutual benefit organizations deserve more attention than they have received from nonprofit sector scholars, because these organizations constitute a large and important part of the American non-profit sector and contain a great deal of charitable, altruistic, or philanthropic behavior The article focuses on mutual benefit organizations' philanthropic activities, both within the organizations and as an influence on the development of philanthropy in public benefit, 501 (c) (3)-type nonprofits.
Authorized and Unauthorized ("PCA by Proxy") Dosing of Analgesic Infusion Pumps: Position Statement with Clinical Practice Recommendations

The American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN), in order to address sentinel alerts issued by JCAHO in 2004 and ISMP in 2005 concerning "PCA by Proxy", has developed a position statement and clinical practice recommendations on Authorized and Unauthorized (PCA by Proxy) Dosing of Analgesic Infusion Pumps, approved by the Board of Directors in June of 2006. In short, ASPMN does not support the use of "PCA by Proxy". ASPMN does, however, support the practice of Authorized Agent Controlled Analgesia in a variety of patient care settings when the agency has in place clear guidelines outlining the conditions under which this practice shall be implemented and outlining monitoring procedures that will insure safe use of the therapy. In addition to outlining this position, the paper clarifies and distinguishes between the unsafe practice of "PCA by Proxy", in which unauthorized individuals activate the dosing button of an analgesic infusion pump for a patient receiving Patient Controlled Analgesia, and the safe practice of Authorized Agent Controlled Analgesia (AACA). Furthermore, the paper examines the ethical and safety issues and outlines the necessary screening and patient/family education needed to implement AACA. The position statement describes criteria for the use of AACA, guidelines for selection and education of the authorized agent, key prescription and monitoring recommendations during therapy, and quality improvement activities to insure safety and effectiveness.
The Sustainable and Entrepreneurial Park? Contradictions and Persistent Antagonisms at Sydney's Olympic Park

Urban parks have long been used by policy makers to achieve specific policy goals. In recent years, two sets of policy goals have become commonly associated with park planning. The first set of goals can be characterized as being neoliberal, where parks have been built and reformed to generate certain economic and governmental outcomes. The second set of policy goals is associated with sustainability, where parks have been utilized as tools in such things as the mitigation of climate change and community building. The aim of this paper is to examine how these two sets of policy goals have come to coexist. The paper draws upon the case study of Sydney Olympic Park, a self-proclaimed exemplar of both entrepreneurial urban development and sustainability. The paper traces out the functional and institutional changes at the Park in order to read the relationship between neoliberal and sustainability policy goals. While predictable inconsistencies are found between the two sets of policy goals, the paper argues...
Artifacts in measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence transients, with specific application to fast repetition rate fluorometry

A theoretical framework was developed to describe how instrument and sample artifacts affect measurements of variable fluorescence transients in phytoplankton. This framework identified the proper procedure for correcting for common artifacts in the transients measured with a widely used instrument, the Fasttracka fast repetition rate fluorometer. The impulse response of this fluorometer can be substantial, requiring correction for a dynamic instrument artifact in addition to the static artifacts that can be assessed using traditional “blanks.” In a low-biomass region of the North Pacific, approximately one-third of the fluorescence transient measured with this instrument represented such artifacts. Correcting for these using filtered seawater blanks only, and not accounting for the instrument’s own response, failed to remove errors as high as 22% in estimates in the photochemical yield and as much as ‐16% to +22% in estimates of the functional cross section of Photosystem II. This analytical framework and the corrective procedure are generalized and can be used to determine how a wide range of artifacts affect measured variable fluorescence transients, including those characteristic of fluorometers other than the Fasttracka or those more relevant in meso- or eutrophic regions of the ocean.
Dielectric barriers, pore sealing, and metallization

Future high performance on-chip interconnect requires ultra-low K materials with an effective dielectric constant less than 2.0. Ultra-low K materials normally contain a certain degree of porosity. One of the key issues in the integration of porous materials is the inability of these materials to prevent gaseous penetration during the metallization process such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or atomic layer deposition (ALD). In this paper we describe a novel idea to seal the porous ultra-low K film using a thin Parylene layer deposited by a chemical vapor deposition technique. Interaction of metal barrier such as Ta and Ru with Parylene are explored. We found that Ta films deposited on Parylene surface exhibit the desirable alpha phase which has a bcc structure. We also found that Ta does not diffuse into Parylene films under a bias temperature stress of 0.5 MV/cm at 150 °C, but Ru does.
Psychological Adjustment of Children in Foster Care: Review and Implications for Best Practice

Approximately 800,000 children are served by the foster care and adoption system each year based on 2008 data from the United States Department of Health and Human Services. While receiving services, children in the system often undergo multiple placements, in addition to having endured traumatic experiences such as child maltreatment and neglect. These experiences make foster care children more likely to experience adjustment and behavior problems. With such a large number of children in the foster care and adoption system, it is important to understand protective and risk factors playing a part in their ability to be resilient as well as barriers to treatment that may affect optimal adjustment. The current review examines adjustment difficulties as well as risk and protective factors, barriers to mental health care, and discusses clinical implications.
Determining Lengths of Left-Turn Lanes at Signalized Intersections Under Different Left-Turn Signal Schemes

An analytical procedure was developed to determine the lengths of left-turn lanes at signalized intersections. A large body of literature exists about this subject; however, most examine the case when the left-turn and through movements take place during the same signal phase (split phase). Many state departments of transportation base their guidelines on this case also. The general framework was developed for determining the lengths of the left-turn lanes that prevent lane overflow and blockage of the entrance of the left-turn lane by the queued through vehicles. The framework considers many factors: arrival rates and the sequence of left-turn and through vehicles, different signal schemes (the split-phase, permissive-only, protected-only leading, protected-only lagging, and protected-permissive left-turn phases), and intersection capacity. All possible queue patterns (including the leftover from the previous cycle) were identified, and the probabilities of lane blockage and lane overflow were obtained f...
Blaming God for Our Pain: Human Suffering and the Divine Mind

Believing in God requires not only a leap of faith but also an extension of people’s normal capacity to perceive the minds of others. Usually, people perceive minds of all kinds by trying to understand their conscious experience (what it is like to be them) and their agency (what they can do). Although humans are perceived to have both agency and experience, humans appear to see God as possessing agency, but not experience. God’s unique mind is due, the authors suggest, to the uniquely moral role He occupies. In this article, the authors propose that God is seen as the ultimate moral agent, the entity people blame and praise when they receive anomalous harm and help. Support for this proposition comes from research on mind perception, morality, and moral typecasting. Interestingly, although people perceive God as the author of salvation, suffering seems to evoke even more attributions to the divine.
Mission design for compressive sensing with mobile robots

This paper considers mission design strategies for mobile robots whose task is to perform spatial sampling of a static environmental field, in the framework of compressive sensing. According to this theory, we can reconstruct compressible fields using O(log n) nonadaptive measurements (where n is the number of sites of the spatial domain), in a basis that is “incoherent” to the representation basis [1]; random uncorrelated measurements satisfy this incoherence requirement. Because an autonomous vehicle is kinematically constrained and has finite energy and communication resources, it is an open question how to best design missions for CS reconstruction. We compare a two-dimensional random walk, a TSP approximation to pass through random points, and a randomized boustrophedon (lawnmower) strategy. Not unexpectedly, all three approaches can yield comparable reconstruction performance if the planning horizons are long enough; if planning occurs only over short time scales, the random walk will have an advantage.
Diachronous benthic δ18O responses during late Pleistocene terminations

[1] Benthic δ18O is often used as a stratigraphic tool to place marine records on a common age model and as a proxy for the timing of ice volume/sea level change. However, Skinner and Shackleton (2005) found that the timing of benthic δ18O change at the last termination differed by 3900 years between one Atlantic site and one Pacific site. These results suggest that benthic δ18O change may not always accurately record the timing of deglaciation. We compare benthic δ18O records from 20 Atlantic sites and 14 Pacific sites to evaluate systematic differences in the timing of terminations in benthic δ18O. Analysis of sedimentation rates derived from the alignment of benthic δ18O suggests a statistically significant Atlantic lead over Pacific benthic δ18O change during the last six terminations. We estimate an average Pacific benthic δ18O lag of 1600 years for Terminations 1–5, slightly larger than the delay expected from ocean mixing rates given that most glacial meltwater probably enters the North Atlantic. We additionally find evidence of ∼4000-year Pacific δ18O lags at approximately 128 ka and 330 ka, suggesting that stratigraphic correlation of δ18O has the potential to generate age model errors of several thousand years during terminations. A simple model demonstrates that these lags can be generated by diachronous temperature changes and do not require slower circulation rates. Most importantly, diachronous benthic δ18O responses must be taken into account when comparing Atlantic and Pacific benthic δ18O records or when using benthic δ18O records as a proxy for the timing of ice volume change.
Hyperpolarized gas diffusion MRI for the study of atelectasis and acute respiratory distress syndrome

Considerable uncertainty remains about the best ventilator strategies for the mitigation of atelectasis and associated airspace stretch in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In addition to several immediate physiological effects, atelectasis increases the risk of ventilator-associated lung injury, which has been shown to significantly worsen ARDS outcomes. A number of lung imaging techniques have made substantial headway in clarifying the mechanisms of atelectasis. This paper reviews the contributions of computed tomography, positron emission tomography, and conventional MRI to understanding this phenomenon. In doing so, it also reveals several important shortcomings inherent to each of these approaches. Once these shortcomings have been made apparent, we describe how hyperpolarized (HP) gas MRI--a technique that is uniquely able to assess responses to mechanical ventilation and lung injury in peripheral airspaces--is poised to fill several of these knowledge gaps. The HP-MRI-derived apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) quantifies the restriction of (3) He diffusion by peripheral airspaces, thereby obtaining pulmonary structural information at an extremely small scale. Lastly, this paper reports the results of a series of experiments that measured ADC in mechanically ventilated rats in order to investigate (i) the effect of atelectasis on ventilated airspaces, (ii) the relationship between positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), hysteresis, and the dimensions of peripheral airspaces, and (iii) the ability of PEEP and surfactant to reduce airspace dimensions after lung injury. An increase in ADC was found to be a marker of atelectasis-induced overdistension. With recruitment, higher airway pressures were shown to reduce stretch rather than worsen it. Moving forward, HP MRI has significant potential to shed further light on the atelectatic processes that occur during mechanical ventilation.