cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developmental assessment and early intervention programs for young children: lessons learned from longitudinal research.

We have good evidence that quality early intervention programs can be of considerable benefit to many children with established handicaps and their families and to children and families exposed to environments that severely restrict their opportunities to participate in development-promoting activities (Table). However, because a child9s developmental status at any one time is the result of a complex interaction between the biologic characteristics of the child and his or her social environment and because development appears to progress over time through a series of mutually influencing "transactions" between the child and his or her caretakers rather than as a straight line from one point [See table in the PDF file] to another, we cannot accurately predict in which children problems will develop in the future. We do know that some children with mild and even moderate signs of neuromotor dysfunction "outgrow" them or at least compensate for them adequately without treatment, provided they are being reared in a development-promoting and emotionally supportive environment. We have also learned from studies of classroom settings and from our own clinical programs that monitor at-risk children for long periods of time that we can negatively influence a parent or child9s perception of his or her normality and create a self-fulfilling prophecy. Our proposal for handling this dilemma is to put more emphasis on prevention by seeing that every family in a community has access to the basic parent education and support services that can prevent many of these problems from occurring in the first place and/or can help those with mild to moderate signs of dysfunction effectively compensate for them. Therapy-oriented specialists can provide consultation to these programs to help children with special needs. Finally, to ensure that families in need actually connect with these preventive and/or treatment programs, the primary care providers, school personnel, and community health nurses need to work together in a communitywide screening/monitoring/referral System.
Soil moisture variation patterns observed in Hand County, South Dakota

Soil moisture data were taken during 1976 (April, June, October), 1977 (April, May, June), and 1978 (May, June, July) Hand County, South Dakota as part of the ground truth used in NASA's aircraft experiments to study the use of microwave radiometers for the remote sensing of soil moisture. The spatial variability observed on the ground during each of the sampling events was studied. The data reported are the mean gravimetric soil moisture contained in three surface horizon depths: 0 to 2.5, 0 to 5 and 0 to 10 cm. The overall moisture levels ranged from extremely dry conditions in June 1976 to very wet in May 1978, with a relatively even distribution of values within that range. It is indicated that well drained sites have to be partitioned from imperfectly drained areas when attempting to characterize the general moisture profile throughout an area of varying soil and cover type conditions. It is also found that the variability in moisture content is greatest in the 0 to 2.5 cm measurements and decreases as the measurements are integrated over a greater depth. It is also determined that the sampling intensity of 10 measurements per km is adequate to estimate the mean moisture with an uncertainty of + or - 3 percent under average moisture conditions in areas of moderate to good drainage.
A context-aware approach to content-based image retrieval of lung nodules

We are investigating various techniques to improve the quality of Content-Based Image Retrieval(CBIR) for computed-tomography(CT) scans of lung nodules. Previous works have used linear regression models1 and artificial neural networks(ANN)6 to predict the similarity between two nodules. This paper expands upon this work incorporating contextual information around lung nodules to determine if the existing model using an ANN will produce a better correlation between content-based and semantic-based human perceived similarity.
An efficient packet service algorithm for high-speed ATM switches

The unprecedent development of the World Wide Web, and the emerging of new types of applications such as video-on-demand and teleconferencing put an increasing pressure on the communication infrastructure. One of the main components that directly determine the communication bandwidth and the quality of services that are provided are the communication switches. In this paper, we propose a new scheduling algorithm for servicing the output sessions of a high-speed ATM switch that is both accurate and efficient. To each session we associate a weight w that represents the share of the communication bandwidth it should receive. To characterize the allocation accuracy we give bounds for the difference (called lag) between the number of time slots that each session should receive and the number of time slots it actually receives. Specifically, we show that in the particular case in which the aggregate weight W over all sessions is a power of two, the lag of a session with weight w is bounded by O(ones(w)), where ones(w) represents the number of ones in the binary representation of w. In the general case in which the aggregate weight has an arbitrary value, we show that the session's lag is bounded by O(logw). The selection of the session to be serviced during the next time slot takes O(loglogW). We also propose a simple hardware implementation that reduces the selection time complexity to O(1). Finally, we discuss the application of our algorithm in the context of both work-conserving and non-work-conserving disciplines.
Development of a New Generation of Structured Packings for Distillation

It is shown how a very small modification to structured packing can result in a large increase in capacity. Various modifications are described, all of which cause a reduced resistance for vapour as it enters the base of each brick. In the experiments reported, a capacity increase of 30% was achieved for air-water and 15% for cryogenic distillation. The results of this investigation have been used as the basis for commercialization of a new generation of structured packings for distillation having increased capacity.
A Falling Out: The Relationship Between Oliver Wendell Holmes and Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt is often credited with founding and shaping the modern American presidency. With his appointment of Oliver Wendell Holmes to the Supreme Court of the United States, Roosevelt also set in motion a force that would transform the judiciary. However, it did not go as Roosevelt had planned. Holmes' refusal to conform to Roosevelt's desires in Northern Securities Co. v. United States demonstrated that Holmes was his own man and not Roosevelt's instrument. The decision brought an abrupt halt to what had been becoming a close friendship between the two men. Over the years the rift deepened. The bitterness that grew between them reflected more than a difference of opinion over law and economic principles; it reflected the type of disillusionment that comes only when a friend fails to live up to expectations.
Assessment of Coronary Arterial Restenosis With Phase-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measurements of Coronary Flow Reserve

Background—After successful percutaneous coronary arterial revascularization, 25% to 60% of subjects have restenosis, a recurrent coronary arterial narrowing at the site of the intervention. At present, restenosis is usually detected invasively with contrast coronary angiography. This study was performed to determine if phase-contrast MRI (PC-MRI) could be used to detect restenosis noninvasively in patients with recurrent chest pain after percutaneous revascularization. Methods and Results—Seventeen patients (15 men, 2 women, age 36 to 77 years) with recurrent chest pain >3 months after successful percutaneous intervention underwent PC-MRI measurements of coronary artery flow reserve followed by assessments of stenosis severity with computer-assisted quantitative coronary angiography. The intervention was performed in the left anterior descending coronary artery in 15 patients, one of its diagonal branches in 2 patients, and the right coronary artery in 1 patient. A PC-MRI coronary flow reserve value ≤2.0...
The Lenses of Gender: Transforming the Debate on Sexual Inequality

Part 1 Introduction and overview. Part 2 Biological essentialism: the Biological Politics of the Late-l9th and Early 20th Centuries The Modern Period I - Just-So Stories of Socio-Biology The Modern Period II - Prenatal Hormone Theory An Alternative Hypothesis - The Body in Context But Are There Really No Biological Differences Beyond the Body?. Part 3 Andocentrism: Judaeo-Christian Theology Ancient Greek Philosophy Freudian Psychoanalytic Theory American Equal-Rights Law. Part 4 Gender Polarization: The Nineteenth Century: Sexual Inversion The Twentieth Century I - Homosexuality The Twentieth Century II - Masculinity/Femininity Beyond Science: The Feminist Celebration of Female Differences. Part 5 The Construction of Individual Gender Identity: Previous Theoretical Perspectives The Process of Enculturation The Process of Self-Construction Resisting the Culture's Lenses - The Making of a Gender Nonconformist. Part 6 Transforming the Debate on Sexual Inequality: The Conundrum of Difference Toward True Gender Neutrality - Eradicating Androcentrism Toward Utopia - Eradicating Gender Polarization.
Furanocembranolide interconversions. Transformation of pseudopterolide into tobagolide and its reversal

Pseudopterolide is efficiently transformed into tobagolide by reaction with dimethylamine. Sequential treatment of tobagolide with methyl iodide and sodium hydride results in intramolecular SN'displacement with reconstruction of pseudopterolide.
Impact of Effective Stress on the Dynamic Shear Modulus of Unsaturated Sand

The dynamic shear modulus of soils is needed to predict soil behavior in response to cyclic loading. Even though the effective stress has been shown to have a significant impact on the dynamic modulus of water-saturated and dry soils, its effect on the dynamic shear modulus of unsaturated soils has not been evaluated. Specifically, studies on the dynamic response of unsaturated soils have characterized variations in small-strain shear modulus (Gmax) as a function of the degree of saturation or matric suction alone. In contrast, this study evaluates the use of the suction stress characteristic curve to characterize the impact of mean effective stress (’m) on the dynamic shear modulus of unsaturated sand. A fixed-free resonant column test device was adapted with a hanging column setup so that the small-strain dynamic shear modulus could be measured for sand specimens under different confining pressures and matric suction values. Trends between the small strain shear modulus and effective stress for unsaturated sand were found to be different from those reported in the literature, where Gmax varied linearly with the square root of ’m.
The effects of capturing and marking on subsequent activity in Boloria acrocnema (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), with a comparison of different numerical models that estimate population size

Abstract Capturing and marking disrupts flight activity in the alpine fritillary butterfly, Boloria acrocnema. This effect is limited to the date an individual receives its mark, and does not appear to increase mortality significantly. It nevertheless can generate large positive biases in population size estimates, especially in single-census mark-recapture models. The bias may overestimate by 2 to 4 times the actual population size. Similar marking effects in several other Lepidoptera are also analysed. Tests for the presence of marking effects are reviewed, with discussion of the general influence they have on population data.
Serotonin metabolism in directly developing frog embryos during paternal care

Central serotonin (5-HT) metabolism during embryogenesis and a 3-day post-hatching period was analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography in the directly developing frog, Eleutherodactylus coqui. This anuran bypasses the free-swimming larval stage and embryos hatch as miniature frogs in the adult phenotype. During embryogenesis and for a short time immediately after hatching, male E. coqui provide paternal care by brooding and guarding eggs/embryos to prevent desiccation and predation. Serotonin and its catabolite, 5-HIAA, were measured from whole brain during embryogenesis and at 3 days post-hatch to identify critical periods in 5-HT development and to determine the relationship between 5-HT and life history events such as hatching and frog dispersal from the nest site. Serotonergic activity was highest during the early-mid embryonic stages as indicated by the ratio of 5-HIAA/5-HT, a general indicator of turnover and metabolism. There were significant increases in tissue concentrations of 5-HT during the latest or terminal embryonic stage, just prior to hatching, and also at 3 days post-hatch, shortly before neonates disperse into the rainforest. These two increases probably represent different functional requirements during development. The first may occur as a result of the surge of development in the 5-HT system during late embryogenesis that occurs in E. coqui and the second may be from the increase demand in sensory and motor neural development required before dispersal from the nest site.
Rapid Melt Growth of Germanium Crystals with Self-Aligned Microcrucibles on Si Substrates

A rapid melt growth method was developed to produce Ge crystals including Ge pillars, nanowires, and Ge-on-insulator. Amorphous Ge was deposited and patterned, then crystallized by melting and solidifying using Si substrates for seeding. Self-aligned SiO 2 microcrucibles were used to contain the Ge liquid during the crystallization anneal. The misfit defects were terminated within small regions around the seeding windows by a necking mechanism. Crystallization calculations showed that very high epitaxial growth velocity can be achieved when the temperature of Ge liquid is lower than but close to its melting point, while the random unseeded nucleation rate is very low in the same temperature range. High-quality Ge nanowires and Ge-on-insulator structures are produced with a simple and robust process. The rapid melt growth technique works very well with a variety of film thickness, including that of nanometer ultrathin structures. The surface smoothness obtained by Ge deposition is retained during crystallization and the film thickness is also controlled by deposition.
Orphanin FQ/Nociceptin receptor binding studies

A review of the binding studies performed on the receptor (ORL) for Orphanin FQ/Nociceptin is presented. Binding studies have been conducted using a variety of receptor sources: cell lines expressing the cloned receptor, cell lines endogenously expressing the receptor, and brain and other tissue from several different species. Binding studies of opioids, new ligands and antagonists at the ORL receptor are briefly discussed. Saturation, competition and binding kinetic experiments, and the effects of buffer composition are reviewed. There are numerous instances of conflicting data in published reports on OFQ; the basis for these disparities is as yet undetermined. This review endeavors to compile the results and conditions employed in binding studies as an aid to current and new researchers in this field. In an attempt to explain binding disparities, we have determined that Orphanin/Nociceptin binds to glass fiber filtermats in a "specific" manner; these new data are presented.
Single-molecule mobility and spectral measurements in submicrometer fluidic channels

Electrophoretic mobility differences of biological molecules are frequently exploited to physically separate and subsequently identify the components of a mixture. We present a method to rapidly identify single molecules by measuring both their mobility and fluorescence emission under continuous flow without separation. Submicrometer fluidic channels were used to detect individual nucleic-acid-engineered fluorescent labels driven electrokinetically in free solution. Two separate focal volumes along the length of the fluidic channel collected spectral, spatial, and temporal information from the passage of fluorescent labels through the channel. One focal volume was defined by a focused 488-nm-wavelength laser and the other by a focused 568-nm laser. The subfemtoliter focal volumes resulted in signal-to-noise ratios sufficient for single-fluorophore detection, and the two excitation wavelengths enabled detection of multicolor fluorescent labels and discrimination of single-color detection events. Each fluor...
Thermal emission spectroscopy of the silica polymorphs and considerations for remote sensing of Mars

[1] The possible existence of silica-rich rocks on Mars requires consideration of all of the candidate forms of silica that might exist there. We synthesized coesite and cristobalite, and obtained natural samples of tridymite, opal-A, and opal-CT. The thermal emission spectra of these silica phases were analyzed and related to their crystal structure and crystallinity. Structural differences between the polymorphs result in unique spectral character and the degree and type of crystal ordering in opal-CT results in cristobalite- or tridymite-like spectral features. These spectra will be useful for analysis of Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) data from Mars. While silica polymorphs are not modeled in deconvolution of the two main TES surface-type spectra, this does not preclude the possible detection of local abundances of these minerals on Mars. Spectral detection of silica phases on Mars would have implications for the volcanic and alteration history of the planet.
Applicability of Shape Memory Alloy Wire for an Active, Soft Orthotic

Current treatments for gait pathologies associated with neuromuscular disorders may employ a passive, rigid brace. While these provide certain benefits, they can also cause muscle atrophy. In this study, we examined NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) wires that were annealed into springs to develop an active, soft orthotic (ASO) for the knee. Actively controlled SMA springs may provide variable assistances depending on factors such as when, during the gait cycle, the springs are activated; ongoing muscle activity level; and needs of the wearer. Unlike a passive brace, an active orthotic may provide individualized control, assisting the muscles so that they may be used more appropriately, and possibly leading to a re-education of the neuro-motor system and eventual independence from the orthotic system. A prototype was tested on a suspended, robotic leg to simulate the swing phase of a typical gait. The total deflection generated by the orthotic depended on the knee angle and the total number of actuators triggered, with a max deflection of 35°. While SMA wires have a high energy density, they require a significant amount of power. Furthermore, the loaded SMA spring response times were much longer than the natural frequency of an average gait for the power conditions tested. While the SMA wires are not appropriate for correction of gait pathologies as currently implemented, the ability to have a soft, actuated material could be appropriate for slower timescale applications.
The role of the inferior collicular cortex in the neonatal rat: sensorimotor modulation.

Abstract A tail pinch in rats up to 10 days of age produces a spectrum of motor behaviors characterized by forelimb paddling, hindlimb treading and occasional curling and rolling of the torso, a behavioral pattern similar to the seizure behaviors electrically-elicited from the inferior collicular cortex of 5- or 10-day-old rats. In 5-day-old rats, these tail pinch-induced paddling and treading behaviors coincided with afterdischarge-like EEG activity recorded from the seizure-sensitive site in the inferior collicular cortex. In contrast, no change in the EEG activity occurred in an adjacent seizure-insensitive site during these tail pinch-induced behaviors. Similar electrographic-behavioral synchrony was found in 10-day-old rats, but by 16 days of age, as in the adult rat, a tail pinch stimulus did not induce post-stimulus behavioral changes or afterdischarge-like EEG activity. Since auditory function does not develop until 12–14 days of age in the rat, we propose that the inferior collicular cortex modulates sensorimotor integration in the neonatal rat, prior to assumption of this function by the cerebral cortex.
Cochlear Implantation in Adults With Prelingual Deafness. Part II. Underlying Constraints That Affect Audiological Outcomes

Objectives/Hypothesis: To discuss the underlying physiological and anatomical constraints on audiological performance of late-implanted prelingually deafened adult cochlear implant patients. Study Design: Retrospective review. Methods: Published literature on the topic of auditory pathway responses to prolonged congenital deafness was reviewed. In particular, the authors sought to identify the anatomical and physiological changes that take place in both the peripheral and central auditory pathways in response to prolonged deafness, as well as how they are altered by chronic electrical stimulation. Results: The currently available evidence suggests that the colonization of the auditory cortex by other sensory modalities is the main limiting factor in postimplantation performance, not the pathological degenerative changes of the auditory nerve, cochlear nucleus, or auditory midbrain. Conclusion: The reviewed evidence, although circumstantial, suggests that emphasizing aurally based educational programs before (with hearing aids) and after cochlear implantation could reduce the cortical colonization phenomenon and potentially improve postimplantation audiological performance of patients with long-term prelingual
Empirical Performance Assessment of Public Clouds Using System Level Benchmarks

Amazon's Elastic Compute Cloud EC2 Service is one of the leading public cloud service providers and offers many different levels of service. This paper looks into evaluating the memory, central processing unit CPU, and input/output I/O performance of two different tiers of hardware offered through Amazon's EC2. Using three distinct types of system benchmarks, the performance of the micro spot instance and the M1 small instance are measured and compared. In order to examine the performance and scalability of the hardware, the virtual machines are set up in a cluster formation ranging from two to eight nodes. The results show that the scalability of the cloud is achieved by increasing resources when applicable. This paper also looks at the economic model and other cloud services offered by Amazon's EC2, Microsoft's Azure, and Google's App Engine.
IDENTIFICATION AND SEPARATISM: Religious Involvement and Racial Orientations Among Black Americans

Using data from the 1979–1980 National Survey of Black Americans (NSBA), this study investigates the relationships between religious involvement and two sets of racial orientations: identification,...
Polymorphisms in Calpastatin and mu-Calpain Genes Are Associated with Beef Iron Content

Summary The objective of this study was to assess the association of markers in the calpastatin and mu-calpain loci with iron in beef cattle muscle. The population consisted of 259 cross-bred steers from Beefmaster, Brangus, Bonsmara, Romosinuano, Hereford and Angus sires. Total iron and heme iron concentrations were measured. Markers in the calpastatin (referred to as CAST) and mu-calpain (referred to as CAPN4751) genes were used to assess their association with iron levels. The mean and standard error for iron and heme iron content in the population was 35.6 ± 1.3 μg and 27.1 ± 1.4 μg respectively. Significant associations (P < 0.01) of markers were observed for both iron and heme iron content. For CAST, animals with the CC genotype had higher levels of iron and heme iron in longissimus dorsi muscle. For CAPN4751, individuals with the TT genotype had higher concentrations of iron and heme iron than did animals with the CC and CT genotypes. Genotypes known to be associated with tougher meat were associated with higher levels of iron concentration.
Formation of ureilites by nebular processes

Oxygen isotopic data are presented for 23 ureilites, including 14 Antarctic meteorites. They show a much greater range in isotopic composition than those previously studied. Most noteworthy is the fact that, unlike other achondrite groups, the ureilites do not fall on a mass-dependent isotopic fractionation trend, but rather fall along an extrapolation of the 16O-mixing line defined by components of Allende and other C3 chondrites. Correlations between isotopic and chemical data imply that the isotopic and chemical variations are due primarily to processes in the solar nebula and not to igneous processes within a parent body. The ureilite parent body accreted with isotopic and chemical heterogeneities which were not much modined by subsequent parent-body processes. The precursor materials were related in some way to the C3 carbonaceous chondrites.
The uses of social television

We present the results of two studies on social television concepts. In one study, a social TV prototype was tested in the field, allowing groups of users watching television at home to talk to each other over an audio link. Specific patterns of use are described, showing that users did perceive the system as valuable. In another study, focus groups were presented with several social TV concepts, and their responses were collected. These participants saw only moderate to marginal value in the concept. We discuss the discrepancy with reference to the limitations of each method. Based on our analysis, we conclude that our social television experience provides user value under certain favorable conditions. Participants deal with potential conflicts between conversation and television audio without the need for additional technical support, and there is no indication that a video link would improve the experience. However, designing for the social dynamics at the beginnings, ends, and outside of conversations remains an open challenge.
A systems-level perspective of the biomechanics of the trunk flexion-extension movement: Part I – Normal low back condition

Abstract Our companion paper demonstrated the importance of a systems-level perspective on spine biomechanics by showing the effects of lower extremity constraints during simple, trunk flexion-extension motions. This paper explores the impact of trunk muscle fatigue and stress-relaxation of lumbar passive tissues on this systems-level response. Twelve participants performed experimental protocols to achieve lumbar passive tissue stress-relaxation fatigue and lumbar muscle fatigue. Participants performed full range of sagittal-plane trunk flexion-extension under unconstrained stoop movement and pelvic/lower extremity constrained stoop movement. They performed these motions both before and after the fatigue protocols and trunk kinematics and muscle activities in trunk and lower extremity muscles were monitored. Under the condition of passive tissue fatigue, low back muscles and lower extremity muscles revealed significantly increased activation level (21% and 22%, respectively) in the free stoop condition but under the restricted stoop condition, there was no significant effect of the protocol. Under the lumbar muscle fatigue condition, a significant antagonistic and lower extremity activation effect (34% increase in abdominal muscles, 16% increase in lower extremity muscles) was observed in the free stooping condition while these variables were not affected by the protocol under the restricted stooping condition. Relevance to industry Fatigue of the lumbar musculature and passive tissues is prevalent in jobs requiring full trunk flexion postures. Developing accurate biomechanical models of spinal stress in these full stooping postures can help in the development of appropriate interventions to reduce the prevalence of back injuries in these jobs.
Chemisorption of CO2 on Alumina-Supported Catalysts

One of the limitations in using CO[sub 2] chemisorption to monitor surface coverage is that the method is based on selective chemisorption of the catalyst support. Thus, only certain support-active phase combinations are suitable for characterization using this technique. The objective of the present study is to examine CO[sub 2] chemisorption on a wider variety of catalysts (Mo, W, V, Cr, and Re supported on Al[sub 2]O[sub 3]). Catalysts are prepared by equilibrium adsorption in order to ensure that the active phase is uniformly distributed over the support.
Traditional behavioural practices, the exchange of saliva and HHV-8 transmission in sub-Saharan African populations

Traditional behavioural practices, the exchange of saliva and HHV-8 transmission in sub-Saharan African populations
A distributed consensus approach to synchronization of RF signals

We propose a consensus-based algorithm for the synchronization of carrier signals in a wireless network. This work is motivated by recent progress on distributed beamforming and other cooperative MIMO techniques that require synchronized RF signals among all the cooperating nodes in a network and is aimed at addressing the limitations of the centralized master-slave approach used in previous work in this area. Our proposed algorithm is based on a variation of the classic Kuramoto model for the synchronization of coupled oscillators and is well-suited for a digital baseband implementation. We describe our proposed algorithm in detail and present initial results that show that this algorithm achieves global frequency lock given only that the network is connected i.e. there exists (possibly multi-hop) paths for every node to transmit and receive a signal from every other node.
Vibrational Resonances in Biological Systems at Microwave Frequencies

Many biological systems can be expected to exhibit resonance behavior involving the mechanical vibration of system elements. The natural frequencies of such resonances will, generally, be in the microwave frequency range. Some of these systems will be coupled to the electromagnetic field by the charge distributions they carry, thus admitting the possibility that microwave exposures may generate physiological effects in man and other species. However, such microwave excitable resonances are expected to be strongly damped by interaction with their aqueous biological environment. Although those dissipation mechanisms have been studied, the limitations on energy transfers that follow from the limited coupling of these resonances to the electromagnetic field have not generally been considered. We show that this coupling must generally be very small and thus the absorbed energy is so strongly limited that such resonances cannot affect biology significantly even if the systems are much less strongly damped than expected from basic dissipation models.
Lateral masking of end elements by inner elements in tachistoscopic pattern perception.

The present experiment examined S's perception of binary elements when they were end elements of arrays of varying complexity and when they were not. Pattern Length from 12 to 28 elements and intervening elements were or were not present. As predicted, significantly more correct responses were made to elements presented without intervening information. The findings suggest that poor performance in the presence of intervening elements is due to stimulus complexity and lateral masking rather than to sensitivity factors per se.
Oxidative Stress Defines the Neuroprotective or Neurotoxic Properties of Androgens in Immortalized Female Rat Dopaminergic Neuronal Cells

Males have a higher risk for developing Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism after ischemic stroke than females. Although estrogens have been shown to play a neuroprotective role in Parkinson's disease, there is little information on androgens' actions on dopamine neurons. In this study, we examined the effects of androgens under conditions of oxidative stress to determine whether androgens play a neuroprotective or neurotoxic role in dopamine neuronal function. Mitochondrial function, cell viability, intracellular calcium levels, and mitochondrial calcium influx were examined in response to androgens under both nonoxidative and oxidative stress conditions. Briefly, N27 dopaminergic cells were exposed to the oxidative stressor, hydrogen peroxide, and physiologically relevant levels of testosterone or dihydrotestosterone, applied either before or after oxidative stress exposure. Androgens, alone, increased mitochondrial function via a calcium-dependent mechanism. Androgen pretreatment protected cells from oxidative stress-induced cell death. However, treatment with androgens after the oxidative insult increased cell death, and these effects were, in part, mediated by calcium influx into the mitochondria. Interestingly, the negative effects of androgens were not blocked by either androgen or estrogen receptor antagonists. Instead, a putative membrane-associated androgen receptor was implicated. Overall, our results indicate that androgens are neuroprotective when oxidative stress levels are minimal, but when oxidative stress levels are elevated, androgens exacerbate oxidative stress damage.
Assessing response bias from missing quality of life data: The Heckman method

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the use of the Heckman two-step method to assess and correct for bias due to missing health related quality of life (HRQL) surveys in a clinical study of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. We analyzed data from 2,733 veterans with a confirmed diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), including either acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina. HRQL outcomes were assessed by the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) health status survey which was mailed to all patients who were alive 7 months following ACS discharge. We created multivariable models of 7-month post-ACS physical and mental health status using data only from the 1,660 survey respondents. Then, using the Heckman method, we modeled survey non-response and incorporated this into our initial models to assess and correct for potential bias. We used logistic and ordinary least squares regression to estimate the multivariable selection models. We found that our model of 7-month mental health status was biased due to survey non-response, while the model for physical health status was not. A history of alcohol or substance abuse was no longer significantly associated with mental health status after controlling for bias due to non-response. Furthermore, the magnitude of the parameter estimates for several of the other predictor variables in the MCS model changed after accounting for bias due to survey non-response. Recognition and correction of bias due to survey non-response changed the factors that we concluded were associated with HRQL seven months following hospital admission for ACS as well as the magnitude of some associations. We conclude that the Heckman two-step method may be a valuable tool in the assessment and correction of selection bias in clinical studies of HRQL.
A Systematic Review on the Reporting of Outcome Data in Studies on Autologous Osteochondral Transplantation for the Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to systematically review studies on autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) for osteochondral lesions (OCLs) of the talus and descriptively analyze the outcome data reported to determine whether it is consistent from one study to another and able to be pooled for systematic review. Methods. A systematic electronic search was performed using the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Studies that were published between January 1966 and June 2011 were included in the review. Only studies that reported data specifically on AOT for treatment of OCLs of the talus and written in English were included in this review. A predefined data sheet with 36 variables was created, and it was determined whether or not each of those variables were reported or not reported. The 36 variables were then grouped into 6 categories, and the categorical means were reported. Results. A total of 20 studies were included in this systematic review. The categories of general demographics and study de...
ENCOURAGING KISS-AND-RIDE AT COMMUTER RAILROAD STATIONS

Providing parking for commuter rail passengers can be difficult. Commuter railroads want to accommodate as many riders as possible at their suburban stations, but it is often impossible to provide enough parking to satisfy demand. Railroads would rather not charge a marginal fee for parking because this would likely decrease ridership. Local communities usually oppose large parking structures, and space for additional surface parking is often limited. To alleviate some of the parking demand, a possible strategy is to promote kiss-and-ride, or passenger drop-off. This method of station access requires no parking spaces, yet attracts additional riders. Although commuters accessing stations in this way usually choose to do so because of the particular characteristics of their commute, station and parking lot design might also influence their decision. Commuter rail stations in the New York City metropolitan area were studied to help determine the role of parking lot design and regulation in encouraging or di...
Management of Produced Water in Pennsylvania: 2010-2012

Produced water from development of oil and gas resources, especially development of unconventional resources using hydraulic fracturing, requires management to avoid unintended environmental impacts. The recent rapid expansion of development in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale formation has led to significantly higher volumes of produced water requiring management. Conventional produced water management frequently involves treatment at centralized brine treatment plants that provide partial treatment and release into surface waters through NPDES permits that are exempt from salt limits, although use of this treatment option has declined from 3.18 to 2.27 Mbbls from 2006 to 2012. Reuse of conventional produced water increased significantly in 2012 (to 43% of the total volume). Although representing a small fraction of total water under management (less than 10%), use of surface-discharging publically owned treatment plants that do not remove salt has increased for conventional produced water (from 0.35 Mbbls in 2006 to 0.77 Mbbls in 2012). Unconventional (shale gas) produced water is predominately managed through recycling and reuse. Use of surface-discharging plants has significantly declined between 2006 and 2012 (from 5.81 Mbbls to 0.62 Mbbls), while underground injection and treatment at facilities that return treated water for reuse have both increased.
Pax8: a marker for carcinoma of Müllerian origin in serous effusions.

PAX8 is a nuclear transcription factor with limited expression in normal and neoplastic tissues in a cell lineage-dependent manner. PAX8 has been detected in embryonic Mullerian ducts, human fallopian tubes, and ovarian carcinomas. However, little is known about its expression in other areas of the female genital tract. In this study, we used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to examine PAX8 expression in the normal uterine corpus and cervix, malignant tumors arising from these sites, and malignant effusions. We reported here that PAX8 was also detected in endometrial epithelial cells and endocervical glands, with a lower expression level in the latter, but not in the stromal cells of these areas. All endometrial carcinomas (N = 52) were positive for PAX8, whereas endocervical adenocarcinomas (N = 5) and uterine leiomyosarcomas (N = 3) were negative for PAX8. PAX8 was detected in 70% (22/31) and 68.8% (11/16) of metastatic carcinomas of the ovary and endometrium in serous effusions, respectively. No PAX8 was detected in carcinomas of nongynecologic origin or noncarcinomas (N = 71) in serous effusions except in one renal-cell carcinoma and one carcinoma of unknown primary in a woman. In addition, papillary serous carcinomas of the peritoneum (N = 10) were diffusely positive for PAX8, implying a Mullerian origin similar to malignant tumors in the female genital tract. Our findings suggest that PAX8 is an additional IHC marker for carcinomas of Mullerian origin hence we recommend including PAX8 for evaluation of malignant serous effusions in women, especially when tumors of Mullerian origin are in the differential diagnosis.
TREATMENT OF MYASTHENIA GRAVIS WITH PREDNISONE

Abstract Eight patients with severe generalised myasthenia gravis and one with ocular myasthenia gravis have been treated with prednisone for between 6 and 25 months. Strength returned to normal or almost normal in the limb and trunk muscles of seven of the eight patients with generalised weakness and improved slightly in the limb and trunk muscles, with greater improvement in the respiratory muscles, of the other patient. Strength decreased during the early phase of treatment in two patients who later showed great improvement, but in one of them ocular and pharyngeal weakness have persisted and one has had relapses. The patient with purely ocular signs lost them. Prednisone was given on alternate days, but it may be advisable to give it more frequently at the start of treatment.
Ineffective reaction evaluation

This article summarizes a research project that evaluated fifty reactionnaire forms that are regularly administered by a prestigious medical school. Four areas of survey design and development were examined. Results indicated that a thorough assessment of currently used reactionnaire forms is likely to locate weaknesses and that appropriate revisions would benefit evaluators, instructors, and learners.
The cellular, developmental and population-genetic determinants of mutation-rate evolution

Although the matter has been subject to considerable theoretical study, there are numerous open questions regarding the mechanisms driving the mutation rate in various phylogenetic lineages. Most notably, empirical evidence indicates that mutation rates are elevated in multicellular species relative to unicellular eukaryotes and prokaryotes, even on a per-cell division basis, despite the need for the avoidance of somatic damage and the accumulation of germline mutations. Here it is suggested that multicellularity discourages selection against weak mutator alleles for reasons associated with both the cellular and the population-genetic environments, thereby magnifying the vulnerability to somatic mutations (cancer) and increasing the risk of extinction from the accumulation of germline mutations. Moreover, contrary to common belief, a cost of fidelity need not be invoked to explain the lower bound to observed mutation rates, which instead may simply be set by the inability of selection to advance very weakly advantageous antimutator alleles in finite populations.
Secure bits through queues

We investigate the idea of providing information-theoretic security at the network and data link layers by exploiting the timing information resulting from queuing of packets between a source, an intended receiver, and other users in a network. Specifically, we consider the secure transmission of messages by encoding them onto the interarrival timing of packets that enter parallel queues. By leveraging recent results on the secrecy capacity of arbitrary wiretap channels, achievable secrecy rates are obtained. We also show that equivalent secrecy rates can be achieved using a deterministic encoding strategy, which provides an example contrasting the fact that for many memoryless channels a stochastic encoder is required to achieve non-zero secrecy rates.
Weyl Group Actions on Lagrangian Cycles and Rossmann’s Formula

Let G R be a connected Lie group, g R its Lie algebra, and g R * the vector space dual of g R . Each coadjoint orbit, i.e., G R -orbit in g R *, has an intrinsically defined G R -invariant symplectic structure, and thus carries a distinguished G R -invariant measure. Kirillov’s character formula — in those cases when it applies — expresses the irreducible unitary characters of G R as Fourier transforms of the distinguished measures on coadjoint orbits, which are then lifted from the Lie algebra to the group via the exponential map. Kirillov [Ki] originally established the formula for nilpotent groups, and Auslander-Kostant [AK] for a large class of solvable groups.
Orthogonal Vertical Normal Modes of a Vertically Staggered Discretized Atmospheric Model

Abstract In the formulation of nonlinear normal mode initialization (NNMI), we apply the separation of variables to a primitive equation model which is linearized about a basic state at rest. This results in the vertical and horizontal structure equations from which normal mode functions are constructed as their solutions. This paper is concerned with the property of the vertical normal mode functions. They vertical structure functions constructed in the framework of a vertically staggered discretized atmospheric model may not, in general, be orthogonal. There is an obvious advantage in using an orthogonal set of expansion functions. We propose in this paper the construction of orthogonal vertical structure functions for the NNMI with an atmospheric prediction model for which non-orthogonal vertical structure functions have been adopted in the past. We discuss the difference between the new formulation which yields orthogonal vertical structure functions and the old formulation which does not, in general,...
Food intake by gesture; an extreme compensation for impaired swallowing

We report two young patients able to exist on exclusively oral intake despite an absent pharyngeal swallow response. Videofluoroscopic swallowing studies showed that both patients used a sequence of devised maneuvers rather than a coordinated pharyngeal swallow to move the bolus, protect the airway, and open the upper esophageal sphincter during bolus ingestion. We conclude that it is possible for young, highly motivated individuals to maintain oral intake despite ablation of neurologic elements crucial for the normal swallow response.
Face recognition in vehicles with near infrared frame differencing

Variations in illumination negatively impacts the performance of most face recognition systems. This is substantially exacerbated when the illumination on a face exhibits strong shadows or other anomalies. This paper describes a system of practical technologies to implement an illumination robust, consumer grade biometric system based on face recognition to be used in the automotive market. It addresses the challenging outdoor environments in which driver identification is expected to operate. The point of this research is to investigate practical face recognition used for identity management in order to minimize algorithmic complexity while making the system robust to ambient illumination changes. First, we present a frame differencing method with an active near-infrared illumination control that produces images independent of the ambient illumination. Second, end-to-end face recognition system is presented including motion detection, face detection and face recognition modules. And it is shown that the frame differencing method makes the modules more robust to the ambient illumination variation. Vehicular application videos were taken in extremely challenging outdoor illumination and shadowing conditions and used to test each module. Finally, extensive test results of vehicular scenario are provided to evaluate the end-to-end systems.