cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Congestive hepatic fibrosis score: a novel histologic assessment of clinical severity

Chronic right heart failure predisposes to hepatic passive congestion and centrizonal necrosis that may lead to hepatic fibrosis (cardiac sclerosis). Although there have been several studies on the histologic features of congestive hepatopathy, there is no available grading system. In this study we developed a novel grading system for congestive hepatic fibrosis. Liver biopsies were examined in patients with chronic heart failure of various etiologies including congenital heart disease, idiopathic cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease, and valvular heart disease. The cases with available echocardiography and/or right heart catheterization were included. Cases with other types of underlying chronic liver diseases, alcoholic liver disease, significant steatosis (>20%), malignant neoplasm, and acute heart failure or shock were excluded. After exclusion, 42 cases were included in the study. We herein proposed a novel congestive hepatic fibrosis score and correlated it with the right heart structure and function obtained by echocardiography and/or right heart catheterization. Our results showed that congestive hepatic fibrosis score is well correlated with the right atrial pressure (P for trend <0.001). The presence of portal fibrosis (congestive hepatic fibrosis scores 2 and 3) is associated with significantly higher right atrial pressure than those with no fibrosis (P<0.001) or with centrizonal fibrosis only (P=0.02). Congestive hepatic fibrosis score is also significantly associated with increasing severity of right atrial dilatation (P=0.03) and right ventricular dilatation (P=0.02), indicators for chronic volume and/or pressure overload. Other histopathologic features include sinusoidal dilatation and centrizonal hepatocyte atrophy. In summary, although sinusoidal dilatation and centrizonal fibrosis are the hallmarks of hepatic passive congestion, the presence of portal fibrosis is suggestive of more advanced disease, as it correlates with more severe impairment of right heart function, regardless of the etiologies of right heart failure. Congestive hepatic fibrosis score is a useful indicator of clinical severity.
Carpal tunnel syndrome: when excellent is not good enough.

Compression of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel is the most prevalent compression syndrome, with an estimated incidence from 0.1% to as high as 10% in the United States. The total estimated cost of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), including direct medical costs from surgical treatment, ergonomic aids, and medications is estimated to be over 1 billion dollars annually. There is a plethora of literature pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of CTS. We have learned that the diagnosis and treatment is extremely effective in patients with primary CTS. So how do we achieve even better results in the diagnosis or operation of a condition that already has >90% success rates? The study “Early versus Delayed Endoscopic Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Prospective Study” by Chandra et al. looks to address the remaining 10% of disappointing surgical outcomes by investigating an unanswered question—the role of early surgical treatment in CTS. Traditionally, CTS has been thought to be a clinical diagnosis, with electrodiagnostic studies serving as supportive evidence. Still the diagnosis is not perfect, with misdiagnosis being the most common cause of treatment failure. More recently, highresolution imaging with magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound has been added to the equation by some groups wishing to obtain even more helpful information preoperatively related to the local anatomy and pathology. Many would suggest that history alone is sufficient to make the diagnosis of CTS; this is supported by studies by Ragi (12), who found a typical history in 90% of patients with confirmed CTS, and by Szabo et al. (14), who reported a 96% sensitivity for patients complaining of night pain. However, when examining the same symptom complex in patients without CTS, the specificity of history alone is quite low,
The use of AI methodologies in production system modeling

Abstract Managers of production facilities encounter substantial complexities when attempting to utilize formal mathematical methods to support their planning activities. These complexities arise from difficulties in the formulation of production models, their execution via computer based methods, and the interpretation of the results obtained. This paper demonstrates a practical method for providing managers with the tools necessary to deal with these complexities. The method is based on the representation of modeling knowledge via formal logic and its implementation via Prolog.
Off-diagonal long range order and scaling in a disordered quantum Hall system.

We have numerically studied bosonic off-diagonal long range order, introduced by Read to describe the ordering in ideal quantum Hall states, for noninteracting electrons in random potentials confined to the lowest Landau level. We find that it also describes the ordering in disordered quantum Hall states; the proposed order parameter vanishes in the disordered (${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{xy}}=0$) phase and increases continuously from zero in the ordered (${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{xy}}=\frac{{e}^{2}}{h}$) phase. We study the scaling of the order parameter and find that it is consistent with that of the one-electron Green function.
The sea urchin animal pole domain is a Six3-dependent neurogenic patterning center

Two major signaling centers have been shown to control patterning of sea urchin embryos. Canonical Wnt signaling in vegetal blastomeres and Nodal signaling in presumptive oral ectoderm are necessary and sufficient to initiate patterning along the primary and secondary axes, respectively. Here we define and characterize a third patterning center, the animal pole domain (APD), which contains neurogenic ectoderm, and can oppose Wnt and Nodal signaling. The regulatory influence of the APD is normally restricted to the animal pole region, but can operate in most cells of the embryo because, in the absence of Wnt and Nodal, the APD expands throughout the embryo. We have identified many constituent APD regulatory genes expressed in the early blastula and have shown that expression of most of them requires Six3 function. Furthermore, Six3 is necessary for the differentiation of diverse cell types in the APD, including the neurogenic animal plate and immediately flanking ectoderm, indicating that it functions at or near the top of several APD gene regulatory networks. Remarkably, it is also sufficient to respecify the fates of cells in the rest of the embryo, generating an embryo consisting of a greatly expanded, but correctly patterned, APD. A fraction of the large group of Six3-dependent regulatory proteins are orthologous to those expressed in the vertebrate forebrain, suggesting that they controlled formation of the early neurogenic domain in the common deuterostome ancestor of echinoderms and vertebrates.
Optical Collapse of Coupled Beams in Kerr Media

We investigate the mutual collapse dynamics of two spatially separated beams. Depending on the relative phase, we observe repulsion or attraction, which in the latter case reveals a sharp transition to a single collapsing beam.
Quantifying Uncertainty in Estuarine and Coastal Ocean Circulation Modeling

A methodology is developed to describe the effect of errors (or uncertainty) in the specification of certain drivers (bathymetry, river inflow, and wind speeds) on the circulation computed by a three-dimensional estuarine and coastal hydrodynamic circulation model. The methodology is based on first order variance analysis. Two analytical examples are used to illustrate the method and to provide a context for interpreting real world settings. An application of the method to a model of the N.Y./N.J. Harbor Estuary shows that current predictions are considerably sensitive to the accurate specification of bathymetry, and are usually more sensitive than water level predictions to errors in bathymetry. Estuarine properties with a strong seasonal (or spatial) component such as temperature or salinity did exhibit a sensitivity to driver accuracy that shifted from one season (or regime) to another. Bathymetry appears to control the circulation of the N.Y./N.J. Estuary more than the dynamic forcing of the winds and the Hudson River inflow, perhaps due to the fact that the estuary is primarily tidally driven.
Endothelial Fate Mapping in Mice With Pulmonary Hypertension

Background—Pulmonary endothelial injury triggers a reparative program, which in susceptible individuals is characterized by neointima formation, vascular narrowing, and the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension. The neointimal cells in human pathological plexiform lesions frequently coexpress smooth muscle α-actin and the endothelial von Willebrand antigen, creating a question about their cellular lineage of origin. Methods and Results—Experimental pulmonary hypertension with neointima formation develops in C57Bl/6 mice subjected to left pneumonectomy followed 1 week later by jugular vein injection of monocrotaline pyrrole (20 μg/μL and 1 μL/g; group P/MCTP). Compared with the group vehicle, by day 35, group P/MCTP developed higher right ventricular systolic pressure (54±5 versus 25±2 mm Hg; P<0.01) and right ventricular hypertrophy (0.58±0.16 versus 0.26±0.05; P<0.01). Transgenic vascular endothelial-cadherin Cre recombinase or Tie-2 Cre mice were intercrossed with mTomato/mGreen fluorescent pro...
Highlights from Workshop on Early Science at NSLS-II

Exciting opportunities for early science at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) drew over 260 participants to a workshop at Brookhaven National Laboratory, August 12–13, 2013. NSLS users planning to continue their work at the new facility joined prospective NSLS-II users to hear talks and debate possible research projects, beginning the process of creating a pool of experiment proposals and forming research teams.
Marine extinctions and conservation

In contrast to the large number of terrestrial extinctions that have taken place over the past 12,000 years, there have apparently been very few marine extinctions. But these small losses should not be reason for complacency. During the past 50 years, government supported, commercial fishing has resulted in the collapse of about a thousand populations that once supplied most of the world’s seafood. For the collapsed species, now existing as small remnants of their former population sizes, the future is bleak. They suffer from loss of genetic diversity, inbreeding depression, and depensation. Because marine species were eliminated by historic climatic changes, continued global warming is likely to result in the extinction of small populations that already have a precarious existence. They may be considered evidence of an extinction debt that must be paid as the climate change becomes more severe. For some of the remnant species, extinction can be avoided if there is a rapid management conversion to the use of more marine protected areas (MPAs) and extensive ocean zoning where fishing is prohibited.
Hydrogen and energy flow as “sensed” by molecular genetics

Perhaps just a quick whiff of the rarified air in Yellowstone Park might lead one to the apparently wrong conclusion; namely, that this is a sulfur-driven ecosystem. With all of that smelly hydrogen sulfide emanating from the hot water, it is easy for a microbiologist to leap to the conclusion that sulfur must dominate this ecosystem. Perhaps even more so since the discovery of the deep sea hydrothermal vents and their remarkable symbiotically driven ecosystems (1, 2), we have become accustomed to the notion of microbial systems powered by sulfide and/or sulfur oxidation and expect them to be operating here. For this reason, it was somewhat surprising to read the conclusion of the Spear et al. (3) in a recent issue of PNAS, who reported that these smelly boiling pools were in fact running on hydrogen rather than sulfide metabolism. The implications of this work go beyond this apparently straightforward conclusion. The ability to identify and classify microbes by using molecular genetics techniques (16S rRNA sequence analysis) ushered in a new era in microbiology, making it possible for the first time to assess “who's there” even when the organisms could not be cultivated (4–6). Based on previously published results showing that members of the Aquificales were abundant (7–11), the authors suspected that hydrogen and not sulfur should be the important nutrient. This logic comes from the knowledge that cultivated members of the Aquificales use hydrogen either exclusively or preferentially. To test this hypothesis, Spear et al. (3) examined the populations in a variety of Yellowstone ponds, with levels of sulfides ranging from nondetectable to >200 μM. They also measured several key chemical variables, including sulfate, hydrogen, oxygen, pH, …
Host specificity shapes population structure of pinworm parasites in Caribbean reptiles.

Host specificity is one of the potential factors affecting parasite diversification because gene flow may be facilitated or constrained by the number of host species that a parasite can exploit. We test this hypothesis using a costructure approach, comparing two sympatric pinworm parasites that differ in host specificity - Parapharyngodon cubensis and Spauligodon anolis - on the Puerto Rican Bank and St. Croix in the Caribbean. Spauligodon anolis specializes on Anolis lizards, whereas P. cubensis parasitizes Anolis lizards as well as many other species of lizards and snakes. We collected lizards from across the Puerto Rican Bank and St. Croix, sampled them for S. anolis and P. cubensis and generated nuclear and mitochondrial sequence data from the parasites. We used these data to show that P. cubensis is comprised of multiple cryptic species that exhibit limited population structure relative to S. anolis, which is consistent with our prediction based on their host specificity. We also provide evidence that the distribution of P. cubensis species is maintained by competitive exclusion, and in contrast to previous theoretical work, the parasites with the greatest number of host species also reach the highest prevalence rates. Overall, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that host specificity shapes parasite diversification, and suggest that even moderate differences in host specificity may contribute to substantial differences in diversification.
The use of PCR-based typing methods to assess the diversity of Frankia nodule endophytes of the actinorhizal shrub Ceanothus

Our understanding of the actinorhizal symbiosis, in particular of the Frankia-Ceanothus association, has been hampered by the failure to isolate infective strains in pure culture. Recently, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been utilized to amplify regions of the Frankia genome, allowing analysis of the microsymbiont genome without first isolating the microbe in pure culture. Root nodules were collected from six Ceanothus spp. common to the coastal regions of the Santa Monica Mountains of southern California. Individual lobes were surface-sterilized, total DNA was extracted and amplified using prokaryotic-specific primers. To assess the genetic diversity of Frankia endophytes in the population studied, the BOX primer was used to generate genomic fingerprints of prokaryotic nodule inhabitants using rep-PCR. Fingerprint patterns fell into twelve distinct groups indicating the occurrence of genetic diversity of Frankia in the nodules sampled. DNA extracts of individual lobes that gave distinct BOX-PCR fingerprints were also amplified by PCR using primers directed against conserved regions of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The nucleotide sequences of the PCR products were determined and aligned with the corresponding region from other taxa for phylogenetic analysis. The sequences from Ceanothus nodules share a common ancestor to that of the Elaeagnus–infective strains.
Effect of high temperature exposure on the tensile strength of alumina fiber Nextel 610

Abstract The tensile strength of an α-alumina fiber Nextel 610 after exposure to temperatures of 900, 1100 and 1300 °C was determined using a two-parameter Weibull distribution. This investigation showed that the primary reason for the loss of the fiber strength was grain growth. Defects induced during high temperature exposure can be another source for the loss of the fiber strength. The fracture mechanism changed from intergranular with increasing fiber grain size, as a result of increasing exposure temperature.
Making anthropology clinically relevant to nursing care

Transcultural nursing is generally seen as the interface between anthropology and nursing A prime objective of transcultural nursing has been the translation of concepts from anthropology and nursing into the nursing process to guide a culturally informed clinical practice To date, there has been a general inability of transcultural nursing to operationalize the concept of culture to develop culturally competent clinicians, that is, nurses who are capable of knowing, utilizing, and appreciating the effects of culture in the resolution of an individual, group, community, and/or family problem A model of transcultural nursing is described, for incorporating the concept of culture into patient care It includes the concepts of cultural brokerage, simultaneous dual ethnocentrism, multiple clinical realities, the patient as cultural informant, and cultural assessment of patient views of clinical reality The problems of making anthropology and transcultural nursing clinically relevant through the transcultural nursing model are presented and methods are recommended for addressing such problems
When Juries Fail to Comply with the Law: Biased Evidence Processing in Individual and Group Decision Making

Two experiments examined individual and group decision making when decision criteria led to outcomes that violated distributive justice. In Experiment 1, noncompliant individual jurors in a civil trial biased their determinations of negligence to award damages when the decision criteria prohibited an award. Experiment 2 replicated this effect at the group level and revealed that juries also biased their attributions of negligence to justify reducing damages when the decision criteria required an excessive award. In both cases of noncompliance, juries recruited a biased subset of information during deliberations that sustained their decisions. Finally, noncompliant juries were marked by the advent of a “trigger” person who raised justice concerns. Implications for other decision-making groups and for the courts are discussed.
The elastic stability, bifurcation and ideal strength of gold under hydrostatic stress: an ab initio calculation.

In this paper, we employ an ab initio density functional theory calculation to investigate the elastic stability of face-centered cubic Au under hydrostatic deformation. We identify the elastic stiffness constant Bijkl as the coefficient in the stress–strain relation for an arbitrary deformed state, and use it to test the stability condition. We show that this criterion bears the same physics as that proposed earlier by Frenkel and Orowan and agrees with the Born–Hill criterion. The results from those two approaches agree well with each other. We show that the stability limit, or instability, of the perfect Au crystal under hydrostatic expansion is not associated with the bulk stiffness modulus as predicted in the previous work; rather it is caused by a shear instability associated with the vanishing rhombohedral shear stiffness modulus. The deviation of the deformation mode from the primary hydrostatic loading path signals a bifurcation or symmetry breaking in the ideal crystal. The corresponding ideal hydrostatic strength for Au is 19.2 GPa at the Lagrangian expansion strain of ~0.06. In the case of compression, Au remains stable over the entire pressure range in our calculation.
The clinical efficacy and scintigraphic evaluation of post-coronary bypass patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for recurrent angina pectoris.

Abstract The efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in improving recurrent anginal symptoms and myocardial perfusion after coronary artery bypass graft surgery was assessed prospectively in 55 patients, of whom 50 had an initial angiographic and clinical success. Although 80% of those successfully dilated were initially free of angina at 23 ± 11 months of follow-up, one half of these patients had recurrent angina. Although only 48% of the patient cohort had complete relief of angina, 94% had less angina than before dilatation and 86% were able to decrease antianginal medications. Fifteen patients with persistent or recurrent angina had from one to five repeat dilatations. After angioplasty, lung thallium uptake, the extent of abnormal scan segments, and the magnitude of redistribution in dilated lesions were significantly reduced (n = 24 patients). Redistribution defects were seen in 38% of patients on postangioplasty scans. All were associated with subsequent angina. Of various clinical, angiographic, exercise, and thallium-201 scan variables, only the presence of delayed redistribution was an independent predictor of recurrent angina. Restenosis was the most common underlying cause for this exercise-induced perfusion defect. Thus percutaneous coronary angioplasty performed as primary therapy for recurrent angina after bypass surgery is moderately successful in long-term follow-up for the amelioration of symptoms and enhancement of regional myocardial perfusion.
Pediatric medication safety and the media: what does the public see?

BACKGROUND. In the safety community, it is widely thought that a culture of safety is required to achieve high levels of safety. However, the press tends to report accidents, which are negative by their nature. Pediatric cases are often especially tragic. Relatively few data have been available on the role that the media play in forming opinions about patient safety and the subsequent impact on the culture of safety. METHODS. To address these issues, we analyzed newspaper coverage of pediatric medication errors and adverse drug events. We searched Lexis Nexis for newspaper articles on pediatric medication safety from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland, during a 10-year period (1994–2004), by using specific keywords. Main outcome measures were the number of articles (adjusted for population), the type of events covered, and article slant. We also examined qualitatively the overall themes and the extent to which these articles portrayed a culture of safety to the public. RESULTS. Throughout the world, there was a steady increase in articles on pediatric medication safety, peaking in 2003, with the highest per-capita rate in Canada. Approximately 65% of articles were about patient incidents, 20% mentioned policy, and 25% discussed research. Of the reported events judged to be negative for patient safety, 75% were covered in a neutral manner and 19% were covered in an unduly negative manner. CONCLUSIONS. Media coverage of pediatric medication safety has increased in the past 10 years. Reporting of patient safety failures was generally fair, and reports were generally framed in light of a culture of safety.
Prior knowledge, attitude, and strategy use in an introduction to statistics course

Abstract The present study used both quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate the learning and motivational strategies used by students in a beginning-level statistics course. The research questions that guided the investigation are: (1) Do motivational variables account for unique variance in the academic performance of statistics students? (2) Do deeper-level processing strategies account for unique variance in the academic performance of statistics students? (3) Do successful students report using different motivation and learning strategies than unsuccessful students in a beginning-level statistics course?
Timing of events in crown-gall tumor development on pinto bean leaves☆

Abstract Tumors initiated on primary Pinto bean leaves by Agrobacterium tumefaciens may be counted as early as 48 hours after inoculation. The number of tumors per leaf increases linearly until day 7 or 8 and by day 9 is complete. Tumor growth (logarithm of mean tumor diameter) shows an approximate parallel relation to tumor appearance, diminishing after day 8 to one-fifth the original growth rate. Tumors appearing early or late exhibit similar growth curves; the decrease in growth rate, however, occurs at smaller tumor sizes, the later the tumor is first observed on the leaf. The number of plant cells initially participating in tumor formation may be estimated from these data to be 9 cells for the average tumor. Infected leaves are most sensitive to the inhibition of tumor formation by elevated temperature treatments when the treatments are applied 9–10 hours after inoculation and are completely resistant after 42 hours. Conversion of half the potential tumor sites to tumor sites may take place within 12 hours after inoculation, and by 42 hours all potential sites are converted. A portion of these tumors may be initiated immediately after inoculation. The number of viable A. tumefaciens cells recoverable from inoculated leaves decreases to less than 1% of the original inoculum within the first day following infection. A minimum of 10 4 to 10 5 bacteria per leaf is reached at 4–6 days after inoculation. On the average, there are about 1500 bacteria at this minimum point per tumor initiated. The number of recoverable bacteria is not obviously related to tumor formation.
Closure of ‘effects of various uncertainty sources on automatic generation control systems’

This is the response to the discussion submitted by Omid A. Mousavi and Rachid Cherkaoui regarding the presentations in the “Managing Uncertainty in Power Systems” session in 9th IREP Symposium 2013. The points made by the authors of the discussion are important to consider, especially if investigating the effects of uncertainty sources on overall system performance. Operators need to be prepared to cope with events that are rare but might have detrimental consequences to power systems. To this end, the risk is evaluated as the product of consequence and probability of an event.
Synaptic Plasticity, Neurogenesis, and Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury research has greatly expanded in recent years, but our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the functional recovery that can occur over the weeks and months following the initial injury, is far from complete. To grasp the scope of the problem, it is important to begin by defining the sensorimotor pathways that might be involved by a spinal injury. This is done in the rodent and nonhuman primate, which are two of the most commonly used animal models in basic and translational spinal injury research. Many of the better known experimentally induced models are then reviewed in terms of the pathways they involve and the reorganization and recovery that have been shown to follow. The better understood neuronal mechanisms mediating such post-injury plasticity, including dendritic spine growth and axonal sprouting, are then examined.
A serviceable irradiator-shield device.

A need arose for a device in which a radioactive isotope (cobalt-60) could be stored, and which also could be used for irradiating insects in various research programs, or for irradiating seeds or other small objects. We have designed, and are using, the device which was custom constructed by a local machine shop at very low cost. It is safe, and can be handled without any danger that the operator will be overexposed to radiation escaping from it. Allowable leakage tolerances and requirements for radiation protection of personnel are indicated by the Atomic Energy Commission Regulations (1963). Further technical radiation information was available from Glasstone (1958), Comar (1955), Bacq and Alexander (1961), and Andrews (1961).
Updating the Corporate Board

Discussions of that venerable institution, the corporate board of directors, are moving from the financial pages and the learned journals to the front pages and the nightly TV news. It is becoming apparent that in a period of dramatic takeover battles, the role of the board can be crucial.
Dexamethasone attenuates NF-κ B DNA binding activity without inducing I κ B levels in rat brain in vivo

This investigation tested if glucocorticoid hormones modulate activation of the NF-kappa B transcription factor in rat brain in vivo. Dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) administration decreased NF-kappa B DNA binding in cerebral cortex and hippocampus nuclear extracts, maximally at 3-6 h after dexamethasone, followed by recovery at 24 h. Dexamethasone did not inhibit NF-kappa B by increasing the level of the inhibitory protein I kappa B alpha, as occurs in some peripheral cells, but instead lowered I kappa B alpha levels. Direct protein-protein inhibition by glucocorticoids was indicated by co-precipitation of glucocorticoid receptors with the p65 NF-kappa B subunit. Thus, glucocorticoids inhibit NF-kappa B DNA binding in rat brain, apparently by complexing with NF-kappa B subunits, which may contribute to the detrimental effects of glucocorticoids on neuronal function associated with oxidative stress and excitotoxicity.
Community Size, Individual Social Position, and Community Attachment.

The objective of this investigation is to elaborate and test the linear development and systemic models of community attachment. We focus on the interplay of community size, five social position variables, and three dimensions of community attachment, namely, involvement, amity, and sentiment. Data are obtained from a statewide migration tele­ phone survey of 851 respondents aged 18 and over, conducted in Utah in October 1988. We focus on a weighted subsample of415 nonmetropolitan respondents. Multiple Classification Analysis (MCA) techniques are em­ ployed. Contrary to the linear development model, community size did not have an independent inverse impact on community involvement, am­ ity, and sentiment. Results do vary by social position and community at­ tachment dimensions.
Six Approaches to the Assessment of Career Maturity

This article discusses the construct of career maturity and briefly reviews research that identifies factors associated with this construct. Brief reviews of 6 instruments designed to measure career maturity are included: The Career Maturity Inventory (Crites, 1978a, 1978b), the Career Development Inventory (Super, Thompson, Lindeman, Jordaan, & Myers, 1988), the Adult Career Concerns Inventory (Super, Thompson, & Lindeman, 1988), the Assessment of Career Decision Making (Harren, 1979; Buck & Daniels, 1985), the Career Beliefs Inventory (Krumboltz, 1994), and the Career Decision Scale (Osipow, Carney, Winer, Yanico, Koschier, 1976). Issues associated with the assessment of career maturity are also discussed.
Dimensional Regularization and Non-Associative Dirac-Clifford Algebra

On propose que la γ-algebre de Dirac-Clifford soit modifiee pour devenir non associative. L'algebre non associative resultante est Lie-admissible avec involution et avec operation de trace cyclique
A Graph-Based Brain Parcellation Method Extracting Sparse Networks

fMRI is a powerful tool for assessing the functioning of the brain. The analysis of resting-state fMRI allows to describe the functional relationship between the cortical areas. Since most connectivity analysis methods suffer from the curse of dimensionality, the cortex needs to be first partitioned into regions of coherent activation patterns. Once the signals of these regions of interest have been extracted, estimating a sparse approximation of the inverse of their correlation matrix is a classical way to robustly describe their functional interactions. In this paper, we address both objectives with a novel parcellation method based on Markov Random Fields that favors the extraction of sparse networks of regions. Our method relies on state of the art rsfMRI models, naturally adapts the number of parcels to the data and is guaranteed to provide connected regions due to the use of shape priors. The second contribution of this paper resides in two novel sparsity enforcing potentials. Our approach is validated with a publicly available dataset.
Thyroid tumor risk from radiation during childhood.

Abstract Estimated risks of thyroid tumor development following radiation during infancy and childhood are presented from seven followup studies. In most of the studies the thyroid absorbed doses are high but in two of them the doses associated with thyroid cancer and adenoma are of diagnostic interest. Estimates are presented of thyroid doses associated with several diagnostic procedures involving the head and neck region. The need for evaluation of radiopharmaceutical techniques in children to minimize radiation exposure necessary for essential diagnostic information is suggested.
High-efficiency resolution of isomeric rotenone compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract The scope of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) resolution of epimers of rotenone, 6′,7′-dihydrorotenone, 6′-ketorotenone, 6′-dinitrophenylhydrazonorotenone, and the 12a-hydroxy analogues (rotenolones) has been examined. Under optimal HPLC conditions these compounds gave elution patterns in accord with hydrophobicity and polarity predictions. In reversed-phase HPLC on spherical hydrocarbonaceous silica with a mobile phase of water (1% acetic acid) and acetonitrile, all but epimers of 6′-ketorotenone and the corresponding cis- and trans -6a,12a-rotenolones were sufficiently resolved. On the other hand, adequate separation of all the investigated epimers in the eight series was achieved by normal-phase HPLC on spherical silica with a mobile consisting of hexane, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform and 2-propanol. For the separation of rotenolone epimers by the process of solvophobic interactions, differencesin the capacity factor between cis - and trans -6a,12a-compounds were distinctly larger than those between diastereoisomers derived from the same B/C ring junction stereochemistry. Such a conformational effect appeared to be less profound in separations where the adsorption mechanism predominated. Structural modifications on the 5′-sidechain of rotenone had a dramatic influence on resolution of epimeric components. For practical applicatin, emphasis is placed on the potential utility of the HPLC techniques in preparative separation and it trace analysis of environmental samples.
Impact on Laminated Composites: Recent Advances

Impact damage in structures made out of composite materials is a major concern since such damage can be introduced during the life of the structure, and its mechanical properties can be drastically reduced as a result. In a previous review of the literature on impact on composite materials, this author considered 285 published before 1989. In this article over 300 articles most of which appeared after 1989 are reviewed. These figures indicate that this is a very active area of research, and the present paper seeks to present a comprehensive view of the latest developments. Taken together, these two reviews present a comprehensive view of the state of knowledge in the area. Most the current research effort is focused on low velocity impact damage and, in particular, the damage predictions and the evaluation and prediction of residual properties of damaged laminates. A significant number of papers deal with ballistic impacts on laminated composites and the use of composite materials in designing light armor.
Improving Proteome Coverage on a LTQ-Orbitrap Using Design of Experiments

Design of experiments (DOE) was used to determine improved settings for a LTQ-Orbitrap XL to maximize proteome coverage of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A total of nine instrument parameters were evaluated with the best values affording an increase of approximately 60% in proteome coverage. Utilizing JMP software, 2 DOE screening design tables were generated and used to specify parameter values for instrument methods. DOE 1, a fractional factorial design, required 32 methods fully resolving the investigation of six instrument parameters involving only half the time necessary for a full factorial design of the same resolution. It was advantageous to complete a full factorial design for the analysis of three additional instrument parameters. Measured with a maximum of 1% false discovery rate, protein groups, unique peptides, and spectral counts gauged instrument performance. Randomized triplicate nanoLC-LTQ-Orbitrap XL MS/MS analysis of the S. cerevisiae digest demonstrated that the following five parameters significantly influenced proteome coverage of the sample: (1) maximum ion trap ionization time; (2) monoisotopic precursor selection; (3) number of MS/MS events; (4) capillary temperature; and (5) tube lens voltage. Minimal influence on the proteome coverage was observed for the remaining four parameters (dynamic exclusion duration, resolving power, minimum count threshold to trigger a MS/MS event, and normalized collision energy). The DOE approach represents a time- and cost-effective method for empirically optimizing MS-based proteomics workflows including sample preparation, LC conditions, and multiple instrument platforms.
Lead exposure among automobile radiator repair workers and their children in New York City

Despite a comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health Administration lead standard, exposure to lead continues in many industries. This paper describes a blood lead screening and education program for automobile radiator repair workers and their families in New York City. Results showed that 67% of automobile radiator repair workers (n = 62) in 89% of the shops tested (n = 24) had blood lead levels in excess of 25 micrograms/dl. The vast majority of workers had never been tested previously, and none had received health and safety training regarding occupational lead exposure. Although none of the workers' children's blood lead levels were in excess of then-current guidelines, several had levels which may be associated with subclinical toxicity and in excess of the revised Centers for Disease Control guidelines of 10 micrograms/dl. This project demonstrates that lead exposure in the automotive radiator repair industry continues to be widespread and that local health departments can assist in hazard identification and remediation.
Physical activity, measures of obesity, and cardiometabolic risk: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Background: The influence of higher physical activity on the relationship between adiposity and cardiometabolic risk is not completely understood. Methods: Between 2000–2002, data were collected on 6795 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants. Self-reported intentional physical activity in the lowest quartile (0–105 MET-minutes/week) was categorized as inactive and the upper three quartiles (123–37,260 MET-minutes/week) as active. Associations of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference categories, stratified by physical activity status (inactive or active) with cardiometabolic risk factors (dyslipidemia, hypertension, upper quartile of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR] for population, and impaired fasting glucose or diabetes) were assessed using logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and current smoking. Results: Among obese participants, those who were physically active had reduced odds of insulin resistance (47% lower; P...
A simple multiuser detector employing adaptive filters

Blind multiuser detection employs linear adaptive filters to produce a decision variable with improved signal to interference ratio. In this paper, we employ linear adaptive filters on each user's signal before the decision variables are input to either a decorrelator or a multistage detector to improve the bit error rate performance compared to simply using the decorrelator or multistage detector without adaptive filtering.
Critical factors associated with the successful supported employment placement of patients with severe traumatic brain injury

A number of investigations have recently demonstrated the effectiveness of supported employment programmes in improving the vocational status of clients with traumatic brain injuries. The present study investigated a sample of 39 individuals participating in a return to work programme emphasizing a supported employment approach to identify key functional characteristics which differentiated successful and unsuccessful clients. Clinical ratings of employment specialists were used to identify two groups of individuals rated least and most dlfficult to place and maintain. Results indicated that the two groups differed markedly on key employment outcomes. Individuals rated most difficult tended to be younger, possess functional limitations such as visual and fine motor impairments, and display significant deficits in numerous work-related skills. Recommendations are made for applying these findings to assessment, placement, and training activities within vocational rehabilitation programmes for persons with traumatic brain injuries.
Integrated optical/microfluidic platform for real-time affinity biosensing

A major challenge in many biosensing applications is the real-time detection of a multitude of analytes from a small sample volume. Achieving these goals would perhaps eliminate the need for an intermediate molecular amplification step. Our approach to this challenge involves the investigation of high sensitivity and scalable integrated optical transduction and scalable microfluidic sample delivery. The microfluidic architecture has small cross-section and allows the sample to visit each sensing zone, where a biospecific monolayer performs molecular recognition. Signal transduction occurs via a resonant optical microcavity, which has the dramatically increased signal to noise ratio in fluorescence detection necessary to detect small molecular numbers. Important performance issues in this architecture are sample flow rates, sensing zone size, and the use of passive mixing structures. In addition, microfabrication issues such as optical and microfluidic design, materials, and monolayer patterning are discussed.
A District Wellness Policy: The Gap between Policy and Practice.

This article examines the gap between a federally-mandated wellness policy and its practice in U.S. schools. To address the problem of childhood obesity, the United States government requires school districts to develop a District Wellness Policy (DWP) that promotes a healthy school environment, healthy food choices, nutrition education, and physical education. This cross-sectional study describes the policy interpretation process and the degree to which the policy has been implemented. Teacher survey results show the emphasis of the DWP is on creating a healthy environment but lacks the health, nutrition, and physical education components called for by the policy. Lack of funding, time constraints, high-stakes testing, and No Child Left Behind combined to undermine teachers in the policy’s implementation. Policies are only as effective as the funding and support provided; therefore, it is crucial for district and school staff to prioritize wellness allowing students to learn and practice habits that support lifelong health.
Participatory Politics, Social Cooperation, and Economic Stability

Few would doubt the proposition that political institutions matter for economic development. Yet robust generalizations and systematic evidence on how exactly they do so are lacking. In this paper, attention is drawn to regularity in the cross-national data that has received little attention to date: participatory political regimes are associated with significantly lower levels of aggregate economic instability. After presenting some of the evidence, it is speculated that the reason has to do with the propensity of democracy to moderate social conflict and induce compromise. Three distinct arguments as to why this may be the case are presented.
High-pressure Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Chlordiazepoxide and its major Metabolites in Biological Fluids

A simple, isocratic, reversed-phase, high-pressure liquid chromatographic procedure was developed for the determination of chlordiazepoxide and its major metabolites in plasma and urine. The within-run coefficient of variation was 3.4-8.0%, and the day-to-day variation was 4.0-8.0%. Recoveries of 80-91% with sensitivity limits of 50 ng/ml were obtained for the parent drug and its metabolites. Plasma and urine samples collected after single intravenous and single oral doses were analyzed using this procedure.
Weighted optimal Hankel norm model reduction

This paper gives a complete solution to the frequency weighted Hankel norm approximation with antistable weighting. These results are then applied to /spl Lscr//sub /spl infin// norm model reduction and several numerical effective algorithms are proposed. It is shown through several numerical examples that these algorithms work very well and in many cases produce almost optimal solutions. >
CheX in the three-phosphatase system of bacterial chemotaxis.

Received 7 June 2007/Accepted 24 July 2007 Bacterial chemotaxis involves the regulation of motility by a modified two-component signal transduction system. In Escherichia coli, CheZ is the phosphatase of the response regulator CheY but many other bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis, use members of the CheC-FliY-CheX family for this purpose. While Bacillus subtilis has only CheC and FliY, many systems also have CheX. The effect of this three-phosphatase system on chemotaxis has not been studied previously. CheX was shown to be a stronger CheY-P phosphatase than either CheC or FliY. In Bacillus subtilis ,a cheC mutant strain was nearly complemented by heterologous cheX expression. CheX was shown to overcome the cheC adaptational defect but also generally lowered the counterclockwise flagellar rotational bias. The effect on rotational bias suggests that CheX reduced the overall levels of CheY-P in the cell and did not truly replicate the adaptational effects of CheC. Thus, CheX is not functionally redundant to CheC and, as outlined in the discussion, may be more analogous to CheZ.
Effects of Perinatal Polychlorinated Biphenyls on Adult Female Rat Reproduction: Development, Reproductive Physiology, and Second Generational Effects

Perinatal exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can cause latent effects on reproductive function. Here, we tested whether PCBs administered during late pregnancy would compromise reproductive physiology in both the fetally-exposed female offspring (F1 generation), as well as in their female offspring (F2 generation). Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with the PCB mixture Aroclor (A) 1221 (0, 0.1, 1 or 10 mg/kg) on embryonic days 16 and 18. Somatic and reproductive development of F1 and their F2 female offspring were monitored, including ages of eye opening, pubertal landmarks, and serum reproductive hormones. The results showed that low doses of A1221 given during this critical period of neuroendocrine development caused differential effects of A1221 on F1 and F2 female rats. In both generations, litter sex ratio was skewed towards females. In the F1 generation, additional effects were found including a significant alteration of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) in the 1 mg/kg A1221 group. The F2 generation showed more profound alterations, particularly with respect to fluctuations in hormones and reproductive tract tissues across the estrous cycle. On proestrus, the day of the preovulatory GnRH/gonadotropin surge, F2 females whose mothers had been perinatally exposed to A1221 exhibited substantially suppressed LH and progesterone concentrations, and correspondingly smaller uterine and ovarian weights on estrus, compared to F2 decendants of control rats. These latter changes suggest a dysregulation of reproductive physiology. Thus, low levels of exposure to PCBs during late fetal development cause significant consequences on the maturation and physiology of two generations of female offspring. These findings have implications for reproductive health and fertility of wildlife and humans.