cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bioaugmentation for Accelerated In Situ Anaerobic Bioremediation

A successful anaerobic bioaugmentation was carried out on a trichloroethene (TCE)-contaminated aquifer at Dover Air Force Base, DE, using a microbial enrichment culture capable of dechlorinating TCE to ethene. A hydraulically controlled pilot system 12 × 18 m was constructed 15 m below ground surface in an alluvial aquifer to introduce nutrients and substrate into the groundwater. Ambient TCE and cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE) concentrations in groundwater averaged 4800 and 1200 μg/L. The pilot operated for 568 days. Results by day 269 confirmed previous laboratory work showing that dechlorination did not proceed past cDCE. By this time, most of the TCE was dechlorinated to cDCE, and cDCE was the predominant contaminant. An ethene-forming microbial enrichment culture from the Department of Energy's Pinellas site in Largo, FL, was injected into the pilot area. After a lag period of about 90 days, vinyl chloride and ethene began to appear in wells. The injected culture survived and was transported through th...
Integration of Motion Signals for Smooth Pursuit Eye Movements

How does the brain combine local motion measurements to form an accurate description of object motion? For example, if a vertically oriented bar moves upward and rightward at a constant velocity, a neuron with a small receptive field positioned along the length of the contour can measure only the rightward component of motion, since the upward component provides no time-varying information within its receptive field. In contrast, cells positioned at the endpoints of the contour can measure motion direction accurately. Because direction-selective neurons early in the visual pathways have small receptive fields, the visual system is constantly faced with this “aperture problem.”1 And since they provide the sole input to subsequent stages of cortical visual processing, which in turn inform the premotor circuitry used for making eye movements, the error in measuring local velocity could be perpetuated. How are these conflicting motion signals—the potentially erroneous signals measured along a contour and the correct signals originating from terminators—ultimately resolved in the visual cortex? Microelectrode recordings from neurons in the middle temporal visual area (MT) of alert monkeys have shown that the earliest directional responses, beginning about 80 msec after the onset of stimulus motion, primarily encode the component of motion perpendicular to the orientation of a contour. That is, they are strongly affected by the ambiguous contour signals. However, the later responses (>140 msec after motion onset) encode the true direction of motion, irrespective of contour orientation. Thus the responses of MT neurons reflect the solution of the aperture problem for motion over a period of about 60 msec.2 Given the evidence that MT neuronal signals are important for the initiation of smooth pursuit eye movements,3–5 we asked whether the time-evolving signals we observed in MT neurons had a behavioral correlate. We had subjects (monkeys and humans) track the center of a single moving bar whose orientation was varied with respect to its direction of motion. The bar was dim green (4.2 cd · m−2; u′ = 0.28, v′ = 0.59), and its center was indicated by an isoluminant, red gaussian blob
A practical large‐strain solid finite element for sheet forming

An alternative approach for developing practical large-strain finite elements has been introduced and used to create a three-dimensional solid element that exhibits no locking or hourglassing, but which is more easily and reliably derived and implemented than typical reduced-integration schemes with hourglassing control. Typical large-strain elements for forming applications rely on reduced integration to remove locking modes that occur with the coarse meshes that are necessary for practical use. This procedure introduces spurious zero-energy deformation modes that lead to hourglassing, which in turn is controlled by complex implementations that involve lengthy derivations, knowledge of the material model, and/or undetermined parameters. Thus, for a new material or new computer program, implementation of such elements is a daunting task. Wang–Wagoner-3-dimensions (WW3D), a mixed, hexahedral, three-dimensional solid element, was derived from the standard linear brick element by ignoring the strain components corresponding to locking modes while maintaining full integration (8 Gauss points). Thus, WW3D is easily implemented for any material law, with little chance of programming error, starting from programming for a readily available linear brick element. Surprisingly, this approach and resulting element perform similarly or better than standard solid elements in a series of numerical tests appearing in the literature. The element was also tested successfully for an applied sheet-forming analysis problem. Many variations on the scheme are also possible for deriving special-purpose elements. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Covariant collapse of the state vector and realism

We point out that the assumption that a quantum-mechanical state vector collapses in a Lorentz-covariant way upon measurement is consistent, but that it implies that the state vector, and any reality which it represents, depends on position. We consider the specific example of collapse along the forward light cone of the measurement.
Application of Controlled Interfacial Pore Structures to Kinetic Studies in Alumina

The application of controlled-geometry interfacial pore structures to fundamental kinetic studies in alumina is described. Results from studies of the morphological stability of high aspect ratio pore channels, crack healing, pore coarsening and pore elimination in sapphire are presented.
Assessment at full scale of nozzle/wing geometry effects on OTW aeroacoustic characteristics

The effects on acoustic characteristics of nozzle type and location on a wing for STOL engine over-the-wing configurations are assessed at full scale on the basis of model-scale data. Three types of nozzle configurations are evaluated: a circular nozzle with external deflector mounted above the wing, a slot nozzle with external deflector mounted on the wing and a slot nozzle mounted on the wing. Nozzle exhaust plane locations with respect to the wing leading edge are varied from 10 to 46 percent chord (flaps retracted) with flap angles of 20 (takeoff altitude) and 60 (approach attitude). Perceived noise levels (PNL) are calculated as a function of flyover distance at 152 m altitude. From these plots, static EPNL values, defined as flyover relative noise levels, are calculated and plotted as a function of lift and thrust ratios. From such plots the acoustic benefits attributable to variations in nozzle/deflector/wing geometry at full scale are assessed for equal aerodynamic performance.
The role of occupational therapy in dementia-C.O.P.E. (Caregiver options for practical experiences).

Occupational therapy is a profession that enables individuals to regain, maintain or promote function after an illness, injury or disability occurs. The basis of the profession's philosophy derives from a recognition of the importance of meaningful activity (occupation) in people's lives to support function, quality of life and the debilitating effects of inactivity. Occupational therapy enhances the abilities of individuals to engage in the following performance areas: (1) activities of daily living (eg eating, bathing, toileting, functional mobility) and instrumental activities of daily living (eg meal preparation, shopping, managing one's finances); (2) work and productive activities (eg care of others, educational and vocational activities); and (3) leisure to meet a variety of needs that are culturally meaningful to individuals and their significant others. In order to determine the etiologies of dysfunction in one or more performance areas, occupational therapists assess the following components of performance: sensorimotor, neuromusculoskeletal, motor, cognitive, and psychosocial. This assessment becomes the basis for tailoring treatment to individuals' needs and interests. When deficits and strengths in performance components and performance areas have been identified, occupational therapists work with clients/patients and their caregivers to reduce the barriers in daily functioning and facilitate maximum engagement in their environments, the human and physical context for daily living.
The lung in sickle cell disease.

Abstract Pulmonary problems in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) cause significant morbidity and mortality. Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is the leading cause of death, and recurrent ACS episodes are the major risk factor for sickle chronic lung disease, for which only supportive treatment is available. Whereas adults with SCD tend to have restrictive lung function abnormalities, children more frequently have obstructive abnormalities. Children with SCD, as a consequence of their chronic anemia, have an elevated pulmonary capillary blood volume that significantly correlates with their increased airways obstruction. Whether more aggressive treatment of anemia would improve lung function and long-term outcomes merits testing. Children with SCD experience a decline in lung function that is most rapid in younger children in whom ACS episodes are most common, highlighting the importance of identifying effective strategies to prevent and optimally treat ACS. A physician's diagnosis of asthma has been significantly related to an increased rate of ACS, but whether antiasthma therapy reduces ACS episodes has not been definitively evaluated. Furthermore, wheezing in SCD may be due to a number of causes, and affected children should be appropriately assessed before a diagnosis of asthma is assumed.
A structural feature-based computational approach for toxicology predictions.

Importance of the field: Evaluation of pharmaceutical-related toxicities using quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) software as decision support tools is becoming practical and is of keen interest to scientists in both product safety and discovery. QSARs can be used to predict preclinical and clinical endpoints, drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics and mechanisms responsible for toxicity. These in silico tools are of interest in supporting regulatory review processes, and priority setting in research and product development.Areas covered in this review: A critical assessment of the current capabilities of a new technology, the Leadscope Model Applier, is presented. Possible strengths and limitations of this technology with emphasis on the chemoinformatics method are described, and supporting literature citations date back to 1983.What the reader will gain: Insight will be gained into the Leadscope Model Applier technology for structural feature-based QSAR models and its potential capability fo...
Amino acid synthesis from 14C-acetate by normally and abnormally faunated termites, Coptotermes formosanus

Abstract Eighteen days after treatment, the quantity of free amino acids was below normal in Coptotermes formosanus worker termites lacking all gut protozoa and in those treated with streptomycin to initially eliminate gut bacteria. The content of protein bound amino acids remained nearly the same in all groups throughout the experiment. After 18 days, the specific activity of free amino acids was normal in termites lacking only Pseudotri-chonympha grassii and in completely defaunated termites, and below normal in termites with gut bacteria initially eliminated by either streptomycin or penicillin-streptomycin. The specific activity of protein bound amino acids was below normal in the completely defaunated termites, the streptomycin treated termites, and the penicillin-streptomycin treated termites. Evidently, normal amino acid synthesis can occur with P. grassii absent and Holomastigotoides hartmanni, Spirotrichonympha leidyi, and normal gut bacteria present.
Forward genetic analysis of TLR-signaling pathways: An evaluation

Forward genetic approaches have contributed to our understanding of how the host senses infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. Beginning with the initial discovery of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) as primary sensors involved in the recognition of microbial components, our laboratory has taken a forward genetic approach, using N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis in mice, to decipher TLR-signaling pathways. This long term effort has helped to elucidate the circuitry of these pathways, identified new molecules, and disclosed new functions for known molecules. Here we review some of the more important insights developed from this approach and discuss its prospects.
The potency and antigen E content of commercially prepared ragweed extracts

Abstract This study compares several methods for their ability to evaluate the potency of commercial extracts of ragweed pollen extract. Samples of short ragweed pollen allergenic extracts were purchased from six commercial manufacturers and were assayed for antigen E and PNU content, as well as for reactivity in ragweed-sensitive human beings by direct skin test and by in vitro histamine release. Human reactivity correlated extremely well with the antigen E content of the extracts despite great variations in the amounts of antigen E present. The PNU content as labeled or as assayed in our laboratory showed no correlation with either antigen E content or degree of reactivity. There was a hundredfold or greater difference between the antigen E content and corresponding biologic activity of extracts labeled to have the same PNU content. Results indicate that double diffusion determinations of antigen E content would be a satisfactory method for the standardization of the potency of ragweed pollen allergenic extracts.
InGaN light-emitting diodes with highly transparent ZnO:Ga electrodes

InGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) utilizing ZnO layers heavily doped with Ga (GZO) as transparent p -electrodes were fabricated and their characteristics were demonstrated to be superior to those of LEDs with metal Ni/Au electrodes. Highly conductive and highly transparent GZO films were grown on p -GaN contact layers of the LED structures by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy under metal-rich conditions. The c and a lattice constants of GZO were found to be close to the bulk values, indicating small lattice distortion of GZO. The as-grown GZO films showed resistivities as low as 2.2-2.9×10 -4 Ω cm. Upon rapid thermal annealing at the optimum temperature of 675 °C, the resistivity decreased reaching a value of ~1.9×10-4 Ω cm. Unlike the LEDs with Ni/Au contacts, the LEDs with GZO electrodes showed no filamentation and very uniform light emission at high current densities. The peak value of the relative external quantum efficiency for the LEDs with GZO contacts has substantial improvement compared with that for the LEDs with Ni/Au contacts. Under pulsed excitation mode, GZO-LEDs withstood current densities up to 5000 A/cm 2 .
A high-dose methamphetamine regimen results in long-lasting deficits on performance of a reaction-time task

Rats were treated with a high-dose methamphetamine (METH) regimen (50 mg/kg 3 times at 8-h intervals). Three weeks after treatment, they were trained on a reaction-time task. METH-treated rats failed to improve over a 3-month test period, while controls demonstrated a gradual increase in reaction-time speed over the same test period. METH treatment resulted in a significant dopamine depletions in the caudate/putamen and nucleus accumbens/olfactory tubercle; significant serotonin depletions in caudate/putamen, nucleus accumbens/olfactory tubercle, somatosensory cortex, amygdala and hippocampus. In contrast to the decreases observed in other brain regions, serotonin levels were significantly greater than controls in the hypothalamus. It is suggested that the behavioral impairment in the METH-treated animals is due to (a) serotonin and/or dopamine depletions or (b) abnormal or hyper-innervation of serotonin to the hypothalamus.
Treatment Options for Cerebral Vasospasm in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Cerebral vasospasm occurs frequently after aneurysmal subarachnoid and contributes to delayed cerebral ischemia. In this article we address systematic problems with the literature on vasospasm and then review both established and experimental treatment options.
Male and female contact calls differentially influence behaviour in a cockatoo, the Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus)

Even in species in which males and females share a repertoire of calls, subtle sex differences in vocalisations often exist, particularly in calls used for long-distance communication. However, few studies address whether birds respond differently to similar male and female calls. This study investigated whether an Australian cockatoo, the Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus), responds differentially to three types of loud calls (Double Chet, Chechet and Chewp) commonly produced by both sexes. I played back male and female vocalisations to wild Galahs in Canberra, Australia, and recorded vocal and approach responses. Galahs responded differently to at least one call type, with birds approaching male Double Chets more closely but vocalising more to female Double Chets. Males were more likely than females to vocalise to Double Chets and Chechets, regardless of stimulus sex. These results suggest that males may have to expend more effort than females in forming affiliative relationships. Although males and females exhibited different vocal behaviour, paired males and females tended to approach stimuli together, which may indicate that coordination of movement, rather than coordination of vocal behaviour, is important in maintaining the pair-bond. These experiments show that even when the sexes share a repertoire, the sender and receiver sex may influence the nature of a vocal interaction.
Preferential excretion of glycated albumin in C57BL-Ks-J mice: effects of diabetes.

Urinary excretion of glycated albumin was quantitated in genetically hyperglycemic mice (C57BL-Ks-J, db/db mice), a model for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and compared with their non-diabetic littermates. The data indicated a preferential excretion of glycated albumin in non-diabetic mice. This phenomenon of ‘editing’ of glycated albumin is decreased significantly in diabetic mice. Quantitative measurements of overall excretion of glycated albumin suggested that the loss of editing in diabetic mice is due to the dilution of glycated albumin by the unmodified albumin which is excreted in large amounts in diabetic mice. Therefore, the loss of editing observed in this model resembled the one we characterized in insulin-dependent diabetic humans and a streptozotocin-diabetic rat model3.
Bound states of the Dirac equation outside a hard sphere

Abstract We study and interpret the bound states of the Dirac equation outside a hard sphere in one, two, and three dimensions.
The growth of cognitive modeling in human-computer interaction since GOMS

The purpose of this article is to review where we stand with regard to modeling the kind of cognition involved in human-computer interaction. Card, Moran, and Newell's pioneering work on cognitive engineering models and explicit analyses of the knowledge people need to perform a procedure was a significant advance from the kind of modeling cognitive psychology offered at the time. Since then, coordinated bodies of research have both confirmed the basic set of parameters and advanced the number of parameters that account for the time of certain component activities. Formal modeling in grammars and production systems has provided an account for error production in some cases, as well as a basis for calculating how long a system will take to learn and how much savings there is from previous learning. Recently, we were given a new tool for modeling nonsequential component processes, adapting the "critical path analysis" from engineering to the specification of interacting processes and their consequent durations. Though these advances have helped, there are still significant gaps in our understanding of the whole process of interacting with computers. The cumulative nature of this empirical body and its associated modeling framework has further highlighted important issues central to research in cognitive psychology: how people move smoothly between skilled performance and problem solving, how people learn, how to design for consistent user interfaces, how people produce and manage errors, how we interpret visual displays for meaning, and what processes run concurrently and which depend on the completion of prior processes. In the bigger picture, cognitive modeling is a method that is useful in both initial design (it can narrow the design space and provide early analyses of design alternatives), evaluation, and training. But it does not extend to broader aspects of the context in which people use computers, partly because there are significant gaps in contemporary cognitive theory to inform the modeling and partly because it is the wrong form of model for certain kinds of more global questions in human-computer interaction. Notably, it fails to capture the user's fatigue, individual differences, or mental workload. And it is not the type of model that will aid the designer in designating the set of functions the software ought to contain, to assess the user's judgment of the acceptability of the software, or the change that could be expected in work life and the organization in which this work and person fits. Clearly, these kinds of considerations require modeling and tools of a different granularity and form.
Prions of yeast fail to elicit a transcriptional response

Amyloid deposits are associated with numerous human diseases. The [URE3] prion of Saccharomyces is an infectious, inactive, amyloid form of the Ure2p protein. Despite the presence of large prion aggregates in [URE3] yeast, the only apparent phenotypes associated with the prion are attributable to loss of Ure2p function. We used cDNA microarrays to look for genes in yeast that are differentially expressed in the presence of the [URE3] prion and which might act to mitigate the detrimental effects of the prion aggregates. On comparing [URE3] vs. ure2 yeast, we were surprised to find that the only expression changes detected were attributable to the low level of residual Ure2p activity in the [URE3] cells. Interestingly, in addition to repressing the activity of genes required for utilization of poor nitrogen sources when yeast are grown in the presence of a good nitrogen source, Ure2p appears to be involved in stimulating some of these same genes in the absence of a good nitrogen source.
Architectonic analysis of the auditory-related areas of the superior temporal region in human brain.

Architecture of auditory areas of the superior temporal region (STR) in the human was analyzed in Nissl-stained material to see whether auditory cortex is organized according to principles that have been described in the rhesus monkey. Based on shared architectonic features, the auditory cortex in human and monkey is organized into three lines: areas in the cortex of the circular sulcus (root), areas on the supratemporal plane (core), and areas on the superior temporal gyrus (belt). The cytoarchitecture of the auditory area changes in a stepwise manner toward the koniocortical area, both from the direction of the temporal polar proisocortex as well as from the caudal temporal cortex. This architectonic dichotomy is consistent with differences in cortical and subcortical connections of STR and may be related to different functions of the rostral and caudal temporal cortices. There are some differences between rhesus monkey and human auditory anatomy. For instance, the koniocortex, root area PaI, and belt area PaA show further differentiation into subareas in the human brain. The relative volume of the core area is larger than that of the belt area in the human, but the reverse is true in the monkey. The functional significance of these differences across species is not known but may relate to speech and language functions. J. Comp. Neurol. 504:470–498, 2007. Published 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
444. Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase gene: neural signalling mechanism

rate of OCD assessed by family report was significantly higher in the second-degree relatives of OCD probands than in the comparison subjects (Fisher’s exact test, p 5 0.03). Furthermore, the risk of OCD was significantly influenced by the gender of the relative, so that OCD was about three times more common in female than in male seconddegree relatives (Wald test 5 2.2, p 5 0.02; OR 5 3.12). The elevated rate of OCD in the first-degree and second-degree relatives of OCD probands provides further evidence for the familiality of an early-onset form of the disorder. The results suggest that age at onset may be an important variable in genetics studies of OCD.
Active touch, exploratory movements, and sensory prediction

The relation between somatosensory input and motor output is asymmetric. Somatosensation is associated with every movement an animal makes, but movement is not required for somatosensation. This symposium paper proposes a classification scheme for movement, in which movements are placed along a continuum that describes the role that somatosensory information plays during the movement. Fine sensorimotor control-manipulation and exploration-are found to fall to one extreme of the spectrum, and exploratory movements in particular are shown to possess characteristics that clearly distinguish them from other varieties of movement. Specifically, the exploratory process must permit animals to extract an object's features independently of the sequence of movements executed to explore the object. Based in part on our work on the rat vibrissal system, we suggest that exploration of objects may consist of two complementary levels of sensorimotor prediction operating in parallel. At the cognitive level, the animal might move so as to perform hypothesis testing about the identity or nature of the object. The particular hypothesis tests chosen by the animal might be implemented through sequences of control-level predictions that could be generated at the level of the brainstem and cerebellum.
Printed electrochemical based biosensors on flexible substrates

A flexible substrate electrochemical biosensor was successfully printed on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film with silver (Ag) electrodes using silver nanoparticle based ink. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) response of the printed sensor for detecting low concentrations of bio/chemical species revealed a very high sensitivity at pico molar (pM) concentration levels of D-Proline, Sarcosine, Cadmium sulphide (CdS) and Potassium chloride (KCl). The impedance response of the biosensor towards these species was analyzed and is reported in this paper.
Fuzzy Models of Human Problem Solving

As the routine operations of many technical systems become increasingly automated, the roles of the human operators in these systems are becoming more and more oriented towards problem solving. The human operator is required to engage in problem solving when the automation encounters a situation for which it was not designed or, when the automation fails due to hardware and/or software problems.
The superharmonic instability of Stokes waves in deep water

On utilise la methode de Tanaka pour resoudre le probleme de valeur propre determinant la premiere instabilite superharmonique des ondes de Stokes periodiques
Synthesis and structure of the hexameric, dodecanuclear metallamacrocycle [(5-methyl-3-phenylpyrazole)2Zn2(OCH2CH2S)]6

A metallamacrocycle containing twelve Zn2+ ions, making it the largest member of a family of pyrazole-bridged cyclic metal clusters, has been synthesized and structurally characterized from the reaction of [Zn(ClO4)2] with 5-methyl-3-phenylpyrazole, 2-mercaptoethanol, and NaOH.
Robust Video-Based Surveillance by Integrating Target Detection with Tracking

Target detection and tracking represent two fundamental steps in automatic video-based surveillance systems where the goal is to provide intelligent recognition capabilities by analyzing target behavior. This paper presents a framework for video-based surveillance where detection and tracking are addressed simultaneously in a unified framework (i.e., detection results trigger tracking, and tracking re-enforces detections)to improve detection results. In contrast to methods that apply target detection and tracking sequentially and independently from each other (i.e., "detect-then-track"), we feed the results of tracking back to the detection stage to adaptively optimize the threshold used in the detection stage and improve system robustness (i.e., "detect-and-track"). Specifically, the initial locations and representations of the targets are extracted by background subtraction. To model the background, we employ Support Vector Regression (SVR) along with an on-line learning scheme to update it efficiently over time. Target detection is performed by thresholding the outputs of the SVR model. Tracking uses shape projection histograms to iteratively localize the targets and achieve a high shape matching confidence level. Feeding back the results of tracking to the detection stage restricts the range of threshold values, suppress false alarms due to noise, and allows to continuously detect small targets as well as targets undergoing projection distortions. We have validated the proposed framework by detecting vehicles and pedestrians in traffic scenes using both visible and thermal video sequences. Experimental results and comparisons with framebased detection and kernel-based tracking methods illustrate the robustness of our approach.
Non-lithographic patterning of phage-displayed peptides with wrinkled elastomers

The development of controlled patterning of phage (viruses) could expand opportunities for both fundamental studies and creating various materials platforms. Inducing the elastomeric instability of PDMS film provides a non-lithographic, tuneable, controlled method for generating micro/nanoscale wrinkle patterns. Phage display has emerged as a powerful method for selecting peptides that possess enhanced selectivity and binding affinity toward a variety of targets. In this report, we demonstrate the non-lithographic patterning of phage-displayed peptides with wrinkled elastomers. Our results show that the phage-displayed peptides can be patterned on specific locations in controlled and tuneable ways, be transferred to other substrates and induce the self-assembly of hybrid materials. We anticipate that these results could open up exciting opportunities in fundamental studies and in applications ranging from sensors, hybrid materials, self-assembly, surface and interface, to micro/nanoelectronics.
The entorhinal cortex and neurotrophin signaling in Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders

A major problem in the field of neurodegeneration is the basis of selective vulnerability of subsets of neurons to disease. In aging, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and other disorders such as temporal lobe epilepsy, the superficial layers of the entorhinal cortex (EC) are an area of selective vulnerability. In AD, it has been suggested that the degeneration of these neurons may play a role in causing the disease because it occurs at an early stage. Therefore, it is important to define the distinctive characteristics of the EC that make this region particularly vulnerable. It has been shown that neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are critical to the maintenance of the cortical neurons in the adult brain, and specifically the EC. Here we review the circuitry, distinctive functions, and neurotrophin-dependence of the EC that are relevant to its vulnerability. We also suggest that a protein that is critical to the actions of BDNF, the ARMS/Kidins220 scaffold protein, plays an important role in neurotrophic support of the EC.
Assessing cotton maturity using distributional parameters of fiber cross-section measurements

Many previous studies on cotton maturity used a sole parameter to rank the maturity of a cotton sample containing a large number of fibers. In light of the complexity of maturity distributions, the sole-parameter approach does not appear to be reliable and rational for cotton maturity evaluation. More distributional parameters should be examined and included in the new classification methods. This paper (1) introduces important changes in the image-analysis algorithms for cotton cross-section measurements to enhance the consistency of fiber detections in order to reduce the bias on immature fibers, (2) investigates the characteristics and patterns of cotton maturity distributions, and (3) presents the experimental results on the cross-section images selected from seven cotton varieties that have a wide range of maturities. It is found that the skewness of a maturity distribution is an essential parameter for classifying the distribution pattern and that the dead fiber content and the mature fiber content ...
The marionette bed: automated rolling and repositioning of bedridden patients

A design for rolling and repositioning a bedridden patient is presented. A pair of actuated rollers are attached to both sides of the bedsheet in order to lift and manipulate the patient body, like a marionette. The patient is gently supported on a hammock-like active bedsheet, creating virtually no shear forces on the patient body. Therefore, the patient can safely and easily be maneuvered with minimal physical assistance! by the caregiver. This prevents development of painful bedsores and of pneumonia. In the paper, functional requirements and design issues are addressed, followed by the basic design concept, mechanism, and control strategy. A prototype is built and initial experiments demonstrate that a human body is rolled and manipulated by the marionette device, providing proof of concept. A simple kinematic model is built to create trajectories for generation of desired body motion. Extended functionalities including bed-to-chair and bed-to-bed transfers, are described at the end.
History of the Rochester Epidemiology Project

The Rochester Epidemiology Project is a unique medical records-linkage system that encompasses the care delivered to residents of Rochester and Olmsted County, Minnesota. It is the creation of Dr. Leonard T. Kurland, who envisioned the population-based data resource that would result from combining the clinical documentation developed by the Mayo Clinic with that obtained by other community providers, most notably the Olmsted Medical Group and its affiliated Olmsted Community Hospital. Kurland built on the Mayo unit medical record system that was designed by Dr. Henry S. Plummer in 1907 and on the medical and surgical indexing systems introduced by Dr. Joseph Berkson in 1935. By affording access to details of the medical care given to local residents, the Rochester Epidemiology Project is able to provide accurate incidence data for almost any serious condition and to support population-based analytic studies of disease causes and outcomes. Thus, epidemiologic studies of a wide array of disorders have been possible and have culminated in almost 900 publications since the system was organized in 1966. Olmsted County is one of the few places in the world where the occurrence and natural history of diseases can be accurately described and analyzed in a defined population for a half century or more.
Application of an inverse approach to a Canadian radioactive waste disposal site

Abstract A finite element grounwater contamination model is coupled with an inverse approach to estimate the contaminant transport parameters. The model is then used to predict the migration of 226 Ra from the near shore Port Granby radioactive disposal site to Lake Ontario. Good agreement is found between model-predicted and observed 226 Ra concentrations. Assuming that the pertinent site parameters remain unchanged, the model further predicts that continuous migration, via groundwater, of 226 Ra toward Lake Ontatio is likely to persist even after the waste is removed from the site.
Stuttering as a phenotype for behavioral genetics research

Stuttering is a broad behavioral phenotype with an adult prevalence of 0.7-1.0%. Family, twin, and segregation studies all indicate that stuttering has a large genetic component to its etiology. The relatively simple phenotype, the early onset, and the apparent rarity of phenocopies of adult stuttering all make stuttering a promising model for the study of the genetics of broad behavioral phenotypes.
Expansion of Medicaid covered smoking cessation services: maternal smoking and birth outcomes.

OBJECTIVE To assess whether Medicaid coverage of smoking cessation services reduces maternal smoking and improves birth outcomes. METHODS Pooled, cross-sectional data for 178,937 women with live births from 1996 to 2008, who were insured by Medicaid in 34 states plus New York City, were used to analyze self-reported smoking before pregnancy (3 months), smoking during the last 3 months of pregnancy, smoking after delivery (3-4 months), infant birth weight, and gestational age at delivery. Maternal socio-demographic and behavior variables from survey data and birth outcomes from vital records were merged with annual state data on Medicaid coverage for nicotine replacement therapies (NRT), medications and cessation counseling. Probit and OLS regression models were used to test for effects of states' Medicaid cessation coverage on mother's smoking and infant outcomes relative to mothers in states without coverage. RESULTS Medicaid coverage of NRT and medications is associated with 1.6 percentage point reduction (p<.05) in smoking before pregnancy among Medicaid insured women relative to no coverage. Adding counseling coverage to NRT and medication coverage is associated with a 2.5 percentage point reduction in smoking before pregnancy (p<.10). Medicaid cessation coverage during pregnancy was associated with a small increase (<1 day) in infant gestation (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS In this sample, Medicaid coverage of smoking cessation only affected women enrolled prior to pregnancy. Expansions of Medicaid eligibility to include more women prior to pregnancy in participating states, and mandated coverage of some cessation services without co-pays under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) should reduce the number of women smoking before pregnancy.
Upstream demand projection and performance mapping in supply chains

This paper deals with modeling steady-state behavior of a single-product, pull-type, serial supply chain, frequently encountered in the automotive industries. The proposed analytical method enables projection of the end-customer demand information to upstream of the supply chain and estimate demand forecast at the individual tier levels. The supply chain performance assessment is based on the Due-Time Performance metric (DTP - probability to ship a required product/parts volume in a fixed time interval) under the assumption of customer demand following a discrete time Markov process, a special case for correlated demands. A numerical case study demonstrates the use of the DTP measure for a two-tier supply chain. The analytical results (verified by simulations) quantify important relationships in the supply chain, involving reliabilities of machines/stations, capacities of the buffers, demands correlation, and the due times and will find use in performance assessment, optimization and design of supply chains.
Within- and between-session CS intensity performance effects in rabbit eyelid conditioning

Eight rabbits were conditioned to blink to a 90-dB tone (20 dB above 70-dB white-noise background). After asymptotic performance was apparent, test sessions were given in which high- (20 dB) and low-(5 dB) intensity tones were used as CSs. Within- and between-day contrasts of the two intensities were compared. Performance was superior with the high-intensity CS in both conditions, but the magnitude of the CS intensity effect was greatest when the two tones were contrasted within the same session.
Reinforcing the Micro/Macro Bridge: Organizational Thinking and Pluralistic Vehicles

Organizational research is less divided along micro and macro lines than is often assumed. This article addresses the developments made in bridging micro and macro organizational research over the past 30 years, in particular, the mainstreaming of multilevel organizational thinking as standard practice. Related developments include the multilevel heuristics commonly used in the field’s research designs as well as its theory and research regarding self-organizing multilevel processes and cross-level interventions. Advocating integrative pluralism, this article then recommends three approaches to expanding and deepening micro/macro integration, including active use of alternative representations in research, systematic reviews that integrate findings across levels, and computer simulations modeling cross-level complexity.
Cul4B regulates neural progenitor cell growth

Background Cullin ubiquitin ligases are activated via the covalent modification of Cullins by the small ubiquitin-like protein nedd8 in a process called neddylation. Genetic mutations of cullin-4b (cul4b) cause a prevalent type of X-linked intellectual disability (XLID) in males, but the physiological function of Cul4B in neuronal cells remains unclear.
Trait sorting in Daphnia colonising man-made lakes

Summary 1. We used a zooplankton metacommunity to ask how dispersal, genetic drift and selection act to determine the local and regional distributions of trait variation. Since the formation of the lakes 80 years ago, cladoceran species have sorted into local assemblages that cluster by lake depth. Given this species sorting, we ask whether intraspecific variation in an ecologically important phenotypic trait – body size – has sorted as well. 2. We quantified changes in body size through time by measuring ephippia from D. pulicaria, D. dentifera and D. ambigua recovered from sediment cores from two lakes. We then estimated mean body size of contemporary populations of two competing species, Daphnia pulicaria and D. dentifera, in a laboratory common garden experiment. Finally, we used microsatellite loci to characterise genetic diversity and gene flow among local sites in the metacommunity. 3. Body size was variable both within and among years for the three species of Daphnia examined using sediment cores. For two lakes where we examined body size distributions through time, we observed a significant shift in body size of the first species to arrive after colonisation by other Daphnia species, which suggests selection has occurred historically. 4. Despite heritable variation in body size in the laboratory, evidence for trait sorting was only found for D. pulicaria, which was larger in deeper lakes. Mean body size varied among lakes, but did not sort relative to depth for D. dentifera. 5. Microsatellite data indicated that neutral genetic diversity was low in the region; only 27% of the individuals assayed were unique multi-locus genotypes. We also found significant patterns of isolation by distance for both species. However, population structure was stronger in D. dentifera than in D. pulicaria. Hence, we conclude that a limited number of colonists have successfully invaded this metacommunity, and those genotypes arriving in this new region have experienced significant dispersal limitation among local sites. 6. Overall, while dispersal and selection have clearly led to the development of predictable community assemblages related to depth in this metacommunity, the distribution of phenotypic traits within species can differ substantially even between two trophically similar species. Our results highlight the complex roles of colonisation history, dispersal, selection and stochasticity in determining inter- and intra-specific patterns in metacommunities.
Treatment Adherence, Competence, and Outcome in Individual and Family Therapy for Adolescent Behavior Problems

This study examined the impact of treatment adherence and therapist competence on treatment outcome in a controlled trial of individual cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) for adolescent substance use and related behavior problems. Participants included 136 adolescents (62 CBT, 74 MDFT) assessed at intake, discharge, and 6-month follow-up. Observational ratings of adherence and competence were collected on early and later phases of treatment (192 CBT sessions, 245 MDFT sessions) by using a contextual measure of treatment fidelity. Adherence and competence effects were tested after controlling for therapeutic alliance. In CBT only, stronger adherence predicted greater declines in drug use (linear effect). In CBT and MDFT, (a) stronger adherence predicted greater reductions in externalizing behaviors (linear effect) and (b) intermediate levels of adherence predicted the largest declines in internalizing behaviors, with high and low adherence predicting smaller improvements (curvilinear effect). Therapist competence did not predict outcome and did not moderate adherence-outcome relations; however, competence findings are tentative due to relatively low interrater reliability for the competence ratings. Clinical and research implications for attending to both linear and curvilinear adherence effects in manualized treatments for behavior disorders are discussed.
Farm Population Decline and the Income of Rural Families

The effects of farm population decline on median rural family incomes in states and counties are estimated. Farm population decline is found to be associated with increases in incomes of rural farm families and to have no long term effect on incomes of rural non-farm families.
Contraceptive implants in Kenya : current status and future prospects

Abstract Background Since introducing Norplant over 20 years ago in Kenya, demand for contraceptive implants has remained high and implant costs are dropping substantially. Methods An assessment of the Kenyan experience with implants was conducted to understand level of demand, capacity to provide services and reproductive health impact of possible increased use. Interviews were conducted with 35 key Kenyan informants. By modeling increases in national implant use (at the expense of oral contraceptives), reductions in the annual number of unintended pregnancies were estimated. Results Kenya has an unmet need for implants and the current network of trained providers appears ready to increase the volume of services. If 100,000 users of oral contraceptives switch to implants, then an estimated 26,000 unintended pregnancies can be averted over a 5-year period. Conclusion With increased purchases of implants by international donor agencies, Kenya can reduce reliance on short-term hormonal methods and reduce the 45% prevalence rate of unintended pregnancy.