cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An introduction to infinite particle systems

Abstract In 1970, Spitzer wrote a paper called “Interaction of Markov processes” in which he introduced several classes of interacting particle systems. These processes and other related models, collectively referred to as infinite particle systems, have been the object of much research in the last ten years. In this paper we will survey some of the results which have been obtained and some of the open problems, concentrating on six overlapping classes of processes: the voter model, additive processes, the exponential family, one dimensional systems, attractive systems, and the Ising model.
An Assessment of Middle School Children's Knowledge and Attitudes of Nutrition and Their Effects on Eating Behaviors

Abstract Middle school children in a northeastern city in die United States were surveyed to assess dieir nutrition knowledge and attitudes. Basic eating behaviors, specifically the number of meals eaten, were recorded and evaluated based on gender, nutritional knowledge, and attitudes toward nutrition. In this pilot study, children were asked about their beliefs about different foods for their nutritional value, their positive or negative attitudes about the food, their intentions of eating these foods, and what meals they ate or skipped. The results showed attitudes were significantly related with intentions, and nutritional beliefs were marginally related with attitudes, and, intentions were marginally related to meals eaten. In addition, the study revealed that girls skip breakfast significantly more often on weekdays than boys, but that the opposite occurs on the weekend when boys skip breakfast significantly more often than girls.
A model of the heterogeneity of red cell hemoglobin concentration.

Abstract A model of red cell hemoglobin concentration has been developed and computer simulations performed to investigate quantitatively the relationship among the intraindividual heterogeneities of cell hemoglobin content, volume, and hemoglobin concentration. In the model, the cell volume and hemoglobin content frequency distributions and their joint distributions are described by Gaussian probability distributions. The frequency distributions of cell hemoglobin concentration are determined from the joint probability distributions by summing the joint probabilities of the variate pairs the ratios of which equal the specified concentration. For the parameter values considered, the mean cell hemoglobin concentration closely approximates the average (i.e., statistical mean) concentration. The heterogeneity of cell hemoglobin concentration increases with increasing coefficients of variation of cell hemoglobin content and cell volume and with decreasing correlation coefficients. When the correlation coefficient is greater than 0.7, cell hemoglobin concentration shows less relative dispersion that the component indices.
Factors Associated with the Receipt of Alcohol Treatment Services among American Indian Adolescents

ABSTRACT Objectives This study examines factors potentially associated with the receipt of alcohol treatment services among a large sample of American Indian adolescents. Method Data for this study were drawn from the Voices of Indian Teens project, a 5-year, longitudinal project involving school-based survey data collection at 10 primarily American Indian schools. In November 1992 a total of 2,077 American Indian youths in grades 9 through 12 completed self-report surveys. Of these, 1,681 had a complete set of data for these analyses. Three logistic regression models were developed to predict the probability of (1) receipt of treatment, (2) treatment recommendation, and (3) receipt of treatment among those teenagers who received a treatment recommendation. Results The probability of an individual receiving treatment was 15 times greater if treatment was recommended. Treatment recommendation mediated the relationship of several measures of psychological distress and alcohol use, abuse, and dependence with actual treatment. Conclusions Recommendation for treatment is strongly associated with receiving treatment. Community education about the risks, signs, symptoms, need, and mechanisms for obtaining treatment of alcohol abuse among youths might help alcoholabusing individuals receive the help they need.
Nonparametric estimation equations for time series data

In this article, the nonparametric version of estimation equations is investigated, which unifies various statistical methodologies, for both nonlinear discrete and continuous time series data. The weak consistency and asymptotic normality of the resulting estimators are established. Under this general framework, a nonparametric regression estimator can be obtained easily and the asymptotic theory can be derived without going through case-by-case.
Soy Protein Effects on Serum Lipoproteins: A Quality Assessment and Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Studies

Objectives: Many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have assessed the effects of soy protein on serum lipoprotein risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). This review and meta-analysis assessed the quality of these RCTs and estimated the effects of soy protein consumption on serum lipoproteins.Data Sources: A comprehensive search using multiple databases was conducted for the years 1996 through 2008 to identify clinical trials related to soy protein intake and serum lipoprotein changes.Study Eligibility: RCTs were assessed that met these requirements: soy protein intake compared with nonsoy protein, provided information on serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol values, provided no more than 65 g of soy protein daily, and obtained LDL-cholesterol measurements between 4 and 18 weeks of treatment. Randomized parallel and crossover studies were evaluated.Methods: Studies were graded for quality using 12 criteria with a possible maximum grade of 24. Net changes in lipoproteins with soy protein ...
Cold Tolerance of Overwintering Bean Leaf Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Laboratory studies were conducted during the winters of 1996 and 1997 to determine the cold tolerance of overwintering adult bean leaf beetles, Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster). Second-generation adults were collected during early September from soybean fields near Ames, IA. The collected beetles were reared at 24°C with a photoperiod of 10:14 (L:D) h in the laboratory for 3 wk. The beetles were transferred to a chamber with high relative humidity at 5°C and photoperiod of 9:15 (L:D) h for evacuation of gut contents dangling. After 2 wk at 5°C, the beetles were selected randomly and subjected to cold baths maintained at temperatures, including −15, −10, −5, 0, and 5°C. At certain time intervals, beetles were retrieved from the cold baths for the observation of mortality. More than 50% of the adult beetles survived over hundreds of hours at −5, 0, and 5°C, whereas most of the beetles died after 15 min at −10 and −15°C. The results indicated that the critical temperature range causing significant mortality of the overwintering beetles would be between −5 and −10°C. Moreover, during the two-winter study the daily leaf litter mean temperature recorded in woodland mainly stayed at above −5°C. The results showed that hibernating in the leaf litter of woodland allowed the beetles to avoid extreme temperature fluctuations during winter.
Contextual priming of visual information in advertisements

Can the program context significantly influence the perception of an ad? Past advertising research has demonstrated contextual priming effects on the verbal part of an ad. Using public service and clothing advertisements, the present two experiments provide evidence for priming effects on visual components. Moreover, in extensive debriefing sessions, participants reported that they were not consciously aware of the influence of the contextual prime-suggesting the presence of implicit memory effects. Future research should focus on advertisements containing both verbal and visual information to better understand context influences on advertisements. 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
DISTURBANCE REJECTION CONTROL OF BRIDGE RESPONSE TO EARTHQUAKE EXCITATION

In this paper, a new disturbance rejection controller is used to improve the response of a bridge during the application of environmental excitations. The controller combines global linearization of a non-linear bridge model and robust controller design to achieve its objectives. The resulting controller is robust with respect to disturbances, modelling errors and controller implementation errors. The method is applied to the Aptos Creek bridge in Santa Cruz under excitation caused by El-Centro earthquake.
Angle-resolved photoelectron measurements on the first two orbitals of acetylene using synchrotron radiation☆

Abstract The angle-resolved photoelectron spectrum of acetylene has been measured using synchrotron radiation over a range of photon energies from 12 to 28 eV.
Integrated liquid-core optical fiber for nonlinear liquid photonics

We have developed a technique that allows splicing of liquid core optical fiber (LCOF) to standard single-mode optical fiber with low loss (<1dB). As an example, we performed inverse Raman spectroscopy in a CCl4 filled LCOF that is spliced to SMF28 on both sides
The Area Skill Score Statistic for Evaluating Earthquake Predictability Experiments

Rigorous predictability experimentation requires a statistical characterization of the performance metric used to evaluate the participating models. We explore the properties of the area skill score measure and consider issues related to experimental discretization. For the case of continuous alarm functions and continuous observations, we present exact analytical solutions that describe the distribution of the area skill score for unskilled predictors, and we also describe how a Gaussian distribution with known mean and variance can be used to approximate the area skill score distribution. We quantify the deviation of the exact distribution from the Gaussian approximation by specifying the kurtosis excess as a function of the number of observed target earthquakes. For numerical earthquake predictability experiments that involve discretization of the study region and observations, we explore simulation procedures for estimating the area skill score distribution, and we present efficient algorithms for various experimental scenarios. When more than one target earthquake occurs within a given space/time/magnitude bin, the probabilities of predicting individual events are not independent, and this requires special consideration. Having presented the statistical properties of the area skill score, we describe and illustrate a preliminary procedure for comparing earthquake prediction strategies based on alarm functions.
Dynamics of Chain Aggregates of Carbon Nanoparticles in Isolation and in Polymer Films: Implications for Nanocomposite Materials

Composite materials composed of polymers blended with reinforcing fillers play a major role in various technologies. An important example, commercial rubber, incorporates carbon black fillers, which significantly enhance mechanical properties such as Young's modulus and ultimate strength. The carbon black fillers consist of nanoparticle chain aggregates (NCAs). Because the mechanisms behind the filler effects are poorly understood, we have studied the dynamics of NCAs composed of carbon particles that we synthesize by laser ablation. In situ stretching of the NCA was carried out in the transmission electron microscope (TEM), first in the absence of a supporting polymer matrix and then embedded in a polymer film. The samples studied were first deposited across a micron-sized slit mounted on a commercial specimen holder in the TEM. For an isolated NCA, after initial reorientation and unfolding of the chain, a large strain led to its elongation, plastic deformation, and breakage, followed by fast recoil of t...
Production of orientation-patterned GaP templates using wafer fusion techniques

Abstract Nonlinear optical frequency conversion is an effective technique for generating infrared (IR) and terahertz (THz) wavelengths not readily available from existing laser sources. Birefringent materials such as LiNbO3 are often used to generate wavelengths where gaps exist, but are unsuitable in the mid-IR, far-IR, and THz regions as these materials are often opaque in these regions. As an alternative, GaAs has been employed for frequency conversion in these regions using quasi-phase-matching (QPM) to overcome the material’s lack of birefringence. QPM has been successfully demonstrated in GaAs using fused stacks of thin alternately oriented layers or inverted orientation patterned (OP) grating templates overgrown with thick columnar GaAs layers. Although GaAs has a high nonlinear coefficient d14 = 170 pm/V at 1.064 μm and good thermal conductivity (52 W/m K), it suffers from strong two-photon absorption below 1.7 μm making it inefficient when pumped with a source less than or equal to this wavelength. GaP also has a high nonlinear coefficient d14 = 71 pm/V at 1.064 μm, better thermal conductivity (110 W/m K) and much lower two-photon absorption in the 1 μm region. Therefore, OPGaP is desirable for NLO applications in the mid-IR and THz that use commercially available pump lasers in the 1.06–1.55 μm wavelength range. In this work the fabrication of OPGaP templates suitable for thick columnar hydride vapor phase epitaxial growth of GaP is reported using a commercially viable wafer fusion technique.
Postpartum Morbidity Associated With Advanced HIV Disease

Objective. To investigate the postpartum morbidity and postpartum management of febrile morbidity associated with advanced HIV infection. Methods. A case control study of HIV infected women at a tertiary care center during January 2000–June 2005 was performed. Postpartum morbidity was defined as endometritis, blood transfusion, wound complication, readmission, infectious morbidity, or unexpected surgery. Results. Women in Group 1 had AIDS (N = 33), Group 2 were relatively immunocompetent HIV infected women (N = 115), and Group 3 were uninfected women (N = 152). Group 1 was more likely to have a postpartum morbidity (32.3 versus 19.3 and 13.2%, P = .03) and to have postpartum imaging 18.8 versus 7.9 and 2.6%, P = .002. After controlling for potential confounders, cesarean delivery (OR 6.2, 95% CI 2.1–505.5) but not advanced HIV disease was associated with an increased risk of postpartum morbidity. Conclusion. Cesarean delivery and not advanced HIV disease increases the risk of postpartum morbidity in women with AIDS.
Deciphering the 4 D's: cognitive decline, delirium, depression and dementia – a review

Deciphering the 4 D's: cognitive decline, delirium, depression and dementia – a review Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to assist advanced practice nurses to recognize, identify, and diagnose cognitive change in older adults. Background/rationale. Optimal cognitive function is important for continued independence, and yet changes in cognition are frequently unrecognized among older adults. Cognitive change in older adults can be observed due to age-related cognitive decline, the development of acute confusion (delirium), depression, dementia and/or a combination of these. When the aetiological source for alterations in cognitive function is delirium or depression, the potential for reversibility mandates that the reason for the cognitive change be identified with steps taken to remedy the situation. Also, early recognition of dementia is an important factor in obtaining timely and appropriate care. These conditions can exist concurrently and may fluctuate making deciphering the reason for the cognitive change problematic. Conclusions. It is essential to understand how the 4 `D's' are expressed and to recognize the potential contributing factors to an observable change in cognitive function for diagnosis and treatment. Recommendations for obtaining a person's history are included.
SOLID-PHASE SYNTHESIS OF CARBOHYDRATE AND PHOSPHODIESTER MODIFIED 2'-5' OLIGOADENYLATE ANALOGS

Abstract A series of 2′–5′ oligoadenylate analogs containing internucleotide and ribose modifications were prepared by solid-phase methods as potential interferon mimetics. All syntheses were carried out using automated methodologies with precursors that allow for the generation of multiple combinations of modification.
Causes and Solutions: Mainstream and Black Press Framing of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

Awareness of policy issues and determinations of their causes affect levels of support for government intervention, and media framing plays an important role, reflecting and shaping public understanding. In the contemporary United States, racial and ethnic health disparities persist, yet knowledge of disparities and support for recent health care policy measures vary significantly by race. This article utilizes a qualitative interpretive approach to examine mainstream and Black presses' framing of causes and solutions to racial and ethnic health disparities. Analysis is conducted on papers in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington DC between 2009–2011 in the context of the passage of the Affordable Care Act and significant national level actions to address health disparities. The analysis shows that the two genres demonstrate overlapping but distinct patterns, made apparent by attention to features of the framing context. Causal attributions were most often present and systemic in both genres, although ma...
Interpretation of210Pb profiles and verification of the CRS dating model in PIRLA project lake sediment cores

This paper reports results and analysis of210Pb-activity measurements in 51 lake-sediment cores from 32 lakes in the four PIRLA (Paleoecological Investigations of Recent Lake Acidification) project regions (Adirondack Mountains [New York], Northern New England, Northern Florida, and the Northern Great Lakes States). General application of the Constant Rate of Supply (Constant Flux) model for210Pb dating is valid for lakes in the PIRLA study, although application of the model is equivocal in a few lakes.210Pb inventories and profiles are replicable among closely spaced cores within a lake. Specific210Pb activity in surface sediments is negatively correlated with bulk sediment accumulation rate in seepage lakes, but not in drainage lakes. Drainage lakes with lower pH have lower unsupported210Pb inventories in sediments, but the relationship does not occur in seepage lakes.210Pb profiles in only seven of the cores, all from either the Adirondacks or the northern Great Lakes states, exhibit exponential decay curves. Deviations from an exponential profile include a flattening of the profile in the top few cm or excursions of one or a few measurements away from an exponential curve.210Pb dates typically agree with other chronostratigraphic markers, most of which are subject to greater uncertainty. Several hypotheses, including sediment mixing, hydrologic regime, sediment focusing, and acidification, are proposed to explain variation of210Pb distribution among lakes and regions. Hydrologic factors exert control on unsupported210Pb inventories in PIRLA lakes, and there is a strong focusing effect in drainage lakes but a weak focusing effect in seepage lakes.
Experimental measurements of hydrodynamic radial forces and stiffness matrices for a centrifugal pump-impeller

The present work is an experimental investigation of the possible forces of fluid dynamic origin that can act on a turbomachine rotor particularly when it is situated off its normal center position. An experimental facility, the Rotor Force Test Facility, has been designed and contructed in order to measure these kinds of forces acting on a centrifugal pump impeller when the latter is made to whirl in a slightly eccentric circular orbit. The scope of the present experimental work consists of measuring quasi-steady forces on the impeller as it whirls slowly about the axis of the pump rotation. These forces are due to interaction between the impeller and volute; they are decomposed into force components relative to the geometric center of the volute and to those proportional to displacent from this center. These latter are interpreted as stiffness matrices. Such matrices were obtained for two different volutes and both were found to be the sum of a diagonal and a skewsymmetric matrix. It can be shown that a stiffness matrix of this type can lead to dynamic instability of impeller shaft system in certain circumstances. This new experimental finding may explain some operational problems of "high-speed" hydraulic machinery. Comparison is made with various existing theoretical and experimental results.
Adolescents’ Perceived Control in the Sociopolitical Domain: A Latent Class Analysis

Sociopolitical control (SPC) has been identified as a critical component of empowerment, resilience and civic development among young people. Sociopolitical control has been assessed according to a two dimensional model: (1) leadership competence and (2) policy control. Very little is known, however, about heterogeneity of perceptions of SPC, how this heterogeneity is distributed across subpopulations, and how it may affect relationships between SPC and other variables. This study used a person-centered approach, latent class cluster analysis, to test items on a SPC scale for youth. Participants were high school students (n = 334) in the Northeastern United States. Four distinct groups of participants emerged: those with (1) exceptional SPC, (2) elevated SPC, (3) limited SPC, and (4) diminished policy control. Group differences were observed on a set of relevant variables including perceived school importance, tobacco use, bullying behaviors, and sense of community. Implications are discussed for policy, ...
TCP in wired-cum-wireless environments

The Internet has evolved during the last decade, reaching a larger number of users and encompassing several new technologies. New classes of hosts such as mobile devices are gaining popularity, while the transmission media become more heterogeneous. Wireless networks exhibit different characteristics than wired ones. Mobile hosts have different needs and limitations than desktop computers. TCP has served well the wired Internet for almost 20 years, but is not ready for wired-cum-wireless environments. This article presents the challenges that must be met in order to provide reliable transport services to all hosts regardless of the type of network connectivity used. It surveys recently proposed solutions and evaluates them with respect to a wired-cum-wireless environment.
Removal and management of esophageal foreign bodies

Abstract Esophageal foreign bodies and food bolus impaction occur frequently and are a common endoscopic emergency. Though the vast majority of gastrointestinal (GI) bodies do not result in serious clinical sequelae or mortality, it has been estimated that 1500-2750 patients die annually in the United States because of the ingestion of foreign bodies. More recent studies have suggested the mortality from GI foreign bodies to be significantly lower, with no deaths reported in over 850 adults and 1 death in approximately 2200 children with a GI foreign body. As a result of the frequency of this problem and the rare but possible negative consequences it is important to understand the best method for diagnosis, the patients in need of treatment, and the correct techniques for the management of GI foreign bodies. Flexible endoscopy has become the diagnostic and treatment method of choice for both esophageal food impaction and true esophageal foreign bodies because of high success rates and low complication rates. This review covers and focuses on the techniques needed to diagnose and effectively treat esophageal food impaction and true foreign bodies
An alternative perspective on information asymmetry; Implications for consumer authority in physician services markets.

This paper looks at the impact of patient knowledge on utilization and quality in physician services markets, developing a theoretical framework based on an alternative to the “market failure” perspective first proposed by Arrow (1963). Specifically, this paper looks at how outcomes in physician services markets are determined by whether patient and physician knowledge are substitutes or complements in health production. Empirical testing of the theoretical predictions indicates patient and physician knowledge have changed from substitutes to complements in recent years, and that this change may be hindering a more consumer-driven market from ensuring high quality outcomes.
Taking care of the caretakers: a partial explanation of clinical nurse specialist practice

The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical practice of clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). Data were collected from three recorded case studies and interviews from a theoretical sample of 17 masters-prepared CNSs who had functioned in the CNS role for a minimum of 1 year. Using the constant comparative method, transcribed interviews were line-coded and clustered to form groups of data that could be labelled as constructs. Caring was validated as the basic psychological process. Scientific caring included investigating and teaching; humanistic caring included creating the new, showing the way, working with others, and taking care of the environment. It was found that CNSs took care of the caretakers as well as the patients and their families.
Involvement of a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase in protecting neonatal rat cardiac myocytes from ischemia.

Our recent results showed that extended p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) activation during ischemia leads to cell death, at least partly through apoptosis, in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. However, other studies have shown that p38 activation during a short preconditioning treatment protects cardiomyocytes from ischemic cell death. This suggests that the duration of p38 activation determines its cellular function and therefore inactivation of p38 by phosphatases may play an important role. In neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, we used the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, vanadate, to prevent p38 inactivation, thus extending the strength and length of p38 activation during ischemia. This resulted in higher susceptibility to cell death from ischemia in a dose-dependent manner and over time; the additional damage induced by vanadate was inhibited by SB203580, a selective inhibitor of p38. We conclude that a tyrosine phosphatase is inactivated during ischemia, resulting in prolonged p38 activation which causes cell death.
Structural Features That Modulate the Transmembrane Migration of a Hydrophobic Peptide in Lipid Vesicles

Abstract Two approaches employing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were used to investigate the transmembrane migration rate of the C-terminal end of native alamethicin and a more hydrophobic analog called L1. Native alamethicin exhibits a very slow transmembrane migration rate when bound to phosphatidylcholine vesicles, which is no greater than 1×10 −4 min −1 . This rate is much slower than expected, based on the hydrophobic partition energies of the amino acid side chains and the backbone of the exposed C-terminal end of alamethicin. The alamethicin analog L1 exhibits crossing rates that are at least 1000 times faster than that of native alamethicin. A comparison of the equilibrium positions of these two peptides shows that L1 sits ∼3–4A deeper in the membrane than does native alamethicin (Barranger-Mathys and Cafiso. 1996. Biochemistry . 35:489). The slow rate of alamethicin crossing can be explained if the peptide helix is irregular at its C-terminus and hydrogen bonded to solvent or lipid. We postulate that L1 does not experience as large a barrier to transport because its C-terminus is already buried within the membrane interface. This difference is most easily explained by conformational differences between L1 and alamethicin rather than differences in hydrophobicity. The results obtained here demonstrate that side-chain hydrophobicity alone cannot account for the energy barriers to peptide and protein transport across membranes.
Low-Cost Computer-Assisted Image Analysis for Fisheries Research

Abstract An image analysis system based on the Macintosh personal computer and public domain software (NIH Image, version 1.57) allows capture of digitized images for data analysis. Three techniques for image capture and aquisition of linear and area measurements from digitized images were tested: (1) estimation of egg size, (2) estimation of number of eggs or fry, and (3) measurement of fish length. For estimation of egg size, egg samples were taken by catheterization from two female channel catfish Ictalurus punclatus. Egg diameters measured manually (1,82 ± 0.27 and 2.59 ± 0.19 mm) were not significantly different (P = 0.08 and 0.20) from the diameters estimated with image analysis (1.92 ± 0.21 and 2.63 ± 0.17 mm). For egg counting, channel catfish eggs were hand-stripped into Hanks' balanced salt solution and divided into seven 15-mL aliquots. The number of eggs was determined manually and images were captured for analysis. The number of eggs determined manually (436 ± 41) was not significantly differ...
Harvey Blank's impact on dermatology.

I am honored to have the opportunity to write this profile of Harvey Blank, MD, and his impact on dermatology. Having trained in dermatology in his department, having served on his full-time faculty for nine years, and, last year, having been appointed chairman of the department he founded and led for 29 years have made me intimately familiar with his impact. In my mind, however, my most compelling qualification for being given this opportunity is that I have lived through being an anxious admirer and student of Harvey's to being an admiring, longstanding friend. It is in this context that this view is given. Harvey Blank, an only child, was born in Chicago in 1918. Science and the Boy Scouts interested him most as a youth. His interest in dermatology first developed when he was a medical student at the University of Chicago, where Samuel Becker, Sr, Maximilian Obermeyer, and
Structural properties of materials created through freeze casting

Upon freezing of an aqueous suspension of colloidal particles, ice platelets or dendrites with high aspect ratios are formed that engulf or reject the particles, depending on their size and the velocity of the advancing ice front. As the particles are pushed between the growing crystals, concentrated regions of colloidal particles are formed. Recent experiments have exploited this to create strong, porous materials with a well-controlled microstructure. We investigate this process by means of molecular dynamics simulations, focusing on the effect of the ice front velocity on the structure of the resulting material. We develop a model that accounts for particle engulfment or rejection by the ice front, and study both columnar and lamellar geometries. The degree of order of the resulting solid and the thickness of the walls surrounding the pores are shown to be determined by front velocity and initial particle concentration in the suspension.
CHANGES OF LEVELS OF INFECTIVITY IN INCUBATED SUB-CELLULAR ELEMENTS FROM WESTERN-EQUINE-ENCEPHALITIS-INFECTED AND NORMAL CHICKEN EMBRYO CELLS.

Changes of Levels of Infectivity in Incubated Sub-Cellular Elements from Western-Equine-Encephalitis-Infected and Normal Chicken Embryo Cells
A new diabatic molecular representation in He+-he charge transfer collision

Abstract A “frozen-orbital” diabatic basis has been constructed to study the He + -He resonant charge transfer collision in a closecoupled impact parameter treatment. The Σ—Π rotational couplings are reasonably free from the incorrect asymptotic behaviour (α R −1 ) Comparison with experiment at large scattering angles demonstrates significant improvement over earlier work.
Format for Branching Programs in Automated Instruction

The writer discusses the advantages of branched learning programs over fixed programs, and proposes forward branching as a means of reducing all types of branching to one procedure. Details of this unified procedure are enumerated and discussed and the construction and operation of a simple device for evaluating student performance with different branch techniques is described.
Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Antibody in Patients With Sexually Transmitted Diseases Attending a Harrisburg, PA, STD Clinic

Objective: The prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic population was studied, along with the prevalence of various STD agents, in an attempt to identify possible STD markers for the hepatitis C virus and help delineate the role of hepatitis C as an STD. The hepatitis C antibody rates found in the STD clinic were also compared with those found among patients attending a local OB/GYN clinic and those enrolled in a blood donor program, all from the same geographical area. Methods: A total of 150 women attending an STD clinc were examined for each of the following agents: Chlamyadia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, syphilis, hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core antibody, hepatitis B surface antibody, and hepatitis C virus antibody. Additionally, several patients who signed informed consent to be evaluated for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody were tested by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) screen method. The prevalence of each agent was then compared with the other agents. Results: The overall prevalence rates detected were as follows: hepatitis B 16%, hepatitis C 4%, chlamydia 18.7%, gonorrhea 7.4%, syphilis 0.7%, and HIV 0%. Hepatitis C antibody was detected in 4% of patients in the STD clinic, 0.76% of volunteer blood donors from central Pennsylvania, and 0% of patiants studied from the Harrisburg Hospital (Harrisburg, PA) prentatal population. Conclusions: This screening study reveals an association between attending a Harrisburg, PA, area STD clinic and having an increased prevalence of hepatitis C antibody, but larger matched control studies will be needed to help clarify sexual transmission as a mode of transmission for the hepatitis C virus.
Hirschman Optimal Transform Block LMS Adaptive Filter

In this paper, we derive a "convolution theorem" suitable for the Hirschman optimal transform (HOT), a unitary transform derived from a discrete-time, discrete-frequency version of the entropy-based uncertainty measure first described by Hirschman (1957). We use the result to develop a fast block-LMS adaptive filter which we call the HOT block-LMS adaptive filter. This filter requires slightly less than half of the computations that are required for the FFT block-LMS adaptive filter. The simulations show that the convergence rates of both the HOT and FFT block-LMS adaptive filters are similar.
Site of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) releasing elements: effect of lesions on ACTH release and adenohypophysial blood flow.

Electrolytic lesions were made in the hypothalami of adult male rats in an attempt to determine the probable site of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) release. Lesions were made on each side of the junction of the pituitary stalk and median eminence (SME) or 1.6 mm anterior to the junction of the stalk and median eminence, viz., the anterior median eminence (AME). When the local bloodflowof the anterior lobe of the pituitary (ALP) was measured 2 days after the lesions were made, it was found that the flow in animals with lesions was for the most part equal to or greater than that of rats with intact hypothalami. Consequently, it was concluded that any effect that the lesions had on ACTH release in response to stressful stimulation was probably not due to an impairment of blood flow of the ALP. Lesions in the SME or in the AME affected the release of ACTH in all animals following the stimulation of surgical trauma; yet the magnitude of the release was markedly different between the 2 groups. Lesions in ...
Joint Effects of Obesity and Vitamin D Insufficiency on Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes: Results from the NHANES 2001–2006

OBJECTIVE The possible interaction of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and obesity in regard to type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance has not been well studied. To explore the effect modification of obesity on the association between 25(OH)D and insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes, data were examined from a nationally representative sample. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The analytic sample for the type 2 diabetes analysis ( n = 12,900) was limited to participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001–2006 over 20 years of age. Participants >20 years of age assigned to the morning session and free of diabetes were limited to the insulin resistance analysis ( n = 5,806). Multiplicative interaction was assessed through a cross-product interaction term in a multiple logistic regression model. The presence of additive interaction between insufficient 25(OH)D and obesity (indicated by BMI or waist circumference) was evaluated by calculation of the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) and attributable proportion due to interaction (AP). RESULTS There was no multiplicative interaction of insufficient 25(OH)D and obesity on type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance. Furthermore, none of the RERI or AP values were statistically significant in the diabetes analysis. However, there was strong additive interaction between abdominal obesity and insufficient 25(OH)D (RERI 6.45 [95% CI 1.03–11.52]) in regard to insulin resistance. In addition, 47% of the increased odds of insulin resistance can be explained by interaction between insufficient 25(OH)D and high BMI (AP 0.47 [95% CI 0.08–0.87]). CONCLUSIONS Within a cross-sectional, nationally representative sample, abdominal obesity and insufficient 25(OH)D interact to synergistically influence the risk of insulin resistance.
Recent trends in cancer drug resistance reversal strategies using nanoparticles.

Introduction: Resistance to chemotherapy is a major obstacle in the successful amelioration of tumors in many cancer patients. Resistance is either intrinsic or acquired, involving mechanisms such as genetic aberrations, decreased influx and increased efflux of drugs. Strategies for the reversal of resistance involve the alteration of enzymes responsible for drug resistance, the modulation of proteins regulating apoptosis mechanisms and improving the uptake of drugs using nanotechnology. Novel strides in the reversal of drug resistance are emerging, involving the use of nanotechnology, targeting stem cells, etc. Areas covered: This paper reviews the most recent cancer drug reversal strategies involving nanotechnology for targeting cancer cells and cancer stem cells (CSCs), for enhanced uptake of micro- and macromolecular inhibitors. Expert opinion: Nanotechnology used in conjunction with existing therapies, such as gene therapy and P-glycoprotein inhibition, has been shown to improve the reversal of drug ...
The field of programmers myth

The persistent public image of computing as a field of programmers has become a costly myth. Reversing it is possible but not easy.
Dutasteride reduces incident prostate cancer in men after negative prostate biopsy

Commentary on: GL Andriole, DG Bostwick, OW Brawley, et al..; REDUCE Study Group. Effect of dutasteride on the risk of prostate cancer.N Engl J Med2010;362:1192–202.
Complete parameter identification of a robot from partial pose information

It is shown that incomplete pose information collected in accordance with a special data-collection scheme can be successfully used in identifying all the independent kinematic parameters of a robot. A radial-distance transducer, called the telescopic ball-bar system, is used to measure simply the distance of the robot endpoint from a fixed point in the workspace. Special fixtures are mounted on the robot endpoint and on the robot table in order to indirectly access the complete pose information of the robot. All the independent parameters of a six-degree-of-freedom robot have been identified. The procedure provides an easy and economic way of calibrating a robot. >
REFLEXIVE NAVIGATION FOR AUTONOMOUS AIRCRAFT

REFLEX applies recent research in animal behavior to autonomous aircraft navigation. In REFLEX, complex navigational behaviors are built from very simple competing sub-behaviors, or schemas. For example, by defining two simple behaviors: move-in-direction, which instructs the vehicle to move in a particular direction, and avoid-obstacle, which motivates the vehicle to move away from an object, the vehicle can exhibit remarkably 'intelligent' behavior of moving in a particular direction until perceiving an obstacle then maneuvering around the obstacle and continuing on its way. What makes this method of navigation so powerful is that it requires no high level reasoning or planning in the traditional use of the term. The method described has potential application for both autonomous navigation as well as intelligent
Vision and cognition in Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is known to affect visual pathways, but potential concomitant effects on vision and cognitive performance are not well understood. We studied 43 individuals with AD of mild severity and 22 individuals without dementia on a battery of tests designed to measure multiple aspects of basic and higher-order visual perception and cognition. All subjects performed on the same visual and cognitive test batteries. The results showed no differences between groups on tests of static visual acuity, stereoacuity, dynamic visual acuity or motion direction discrimination. However, individuals with AD performed significantly worse on tests of static spatial contrast sensitivity, visual attention, shape-from-motion, color, visuospatial construction and visual memory. Correlation analyses showed strong relationships between visual and cognitive scores. The findings show that AD affects several aspects of vision and are compatible with the hypothesis that visual dysfunction in AD may contribute to performance decrements in other cognitive domains. The pattern of involvement indicates that AD affects multiple visual neural pathways and regions. It is possible that better understanding of vision-related dysfunction could aid diagnosis and interventions to improve functional capacity in patients with dementia.
Shooting the Messenger to Spite the Message? Exploring Reactions to Claims of Racial Bias

Two experiments examined aspects of the communicator, message, and audience in producing evaluative backlash toward minorities who make claims of ongoing racial bias. In Experiment 1, participants evaluated a White or Black confederate who gave a speech expressing no claim, a mild claim, or an extreme claim of racial bias. Results indicated a race-specific evaluative backlash: Participants more negatively rated Black compared with White communicators, but only when the claim was extreme. Experiment 2 found that participants more negatively rated Black (vs. White) communicators when they used low- quality arguments, but this backlash was eliminated when Black communicators used high-quality arguments. Furthermore, participants who held stronger meritocracy beliefs and who heard low-quality arguments were more likely to evaluate Black communicators harshly. These findings clarify the conditions under which people from advantaged groups are more likely to recognize claims of racial bias as legitimate and respond favorably to the communicator.
Equivalence analysis: a general technique to improve the efficiency of data-flow analyses in the presence of pointers

Existing methods to handle pointer variables during data-flow analyses can make such analyses inefficient both in time and space because the data-flow analyses must store and propagate large sets of data facts that are introduced by dereferences of pointer variable. This paper presents equivalence analysis, a general technique to improve the efficiency of data-flow analyses in the presence of pointers. The technique identifies equivalence relations among the memory locations accessed by a procedure and ensures that two equivalent memory locations share the same set of data facts in a procedure and in the procedures that are called by that procedure. Thus, a data-flow analysis needs to compute the data-flow information only for a representative memory location in an equivalence class. The data-flow information for other memory locations in the equivalence class can be derived from that of the representative memory location. Our empirical studies indicate that equivalence analysis may effectively improve the efficiency of many data-flow analyses.
Nrf2 Activation Enhances Biliary Excretion of Sulfobromophthalein by Inducing Glutathione-S-Transferase Activity

Sulfobromophthalein (BSP) is used to study hepatobiliary excretory function. BSP is conjugated with glutathione (GSH), whereas its dibrominated analog disulfobromophthalein (DBSP) is not conjugated with GSH prior to biliary excretion. In addition, both BSP and DBSP are transported into hepatocytes via organic anion-transporting polypeptides and excreted into bile via multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2). Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that under basal conditions is targeted for proteasomal degradation in the cytosol by kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). Electrophilic and oxidative stress facilitate Nrf2 nuclear translocation and subsequent induction of cytoprotective genes, including GSH synthetic enzymes, GSH-S-transferases (Gsts), and Mrp transporters. The current study determined whether varying the amount of Nrf2 activation would effect the elimination of BSP and DBSP. Male wild-type (WT), Nrf2-null, and Keap1-knockdown (Keap1-kd) mice were administered BSP or DBSP. Within 30 min, Nrf2-null mice excreted 25%, WT mice 52%, and Keap1-kd mice 80% of the injected BSP. Liver GSH content was not altered by BSP. The biliary excretion of GSH and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of major Gsts were directly proportional to the amount of Nrf2. Moreover, BSP-GSH conjugation activity in the liver of Nrf2-null and Keap1-kd mice was 42% and 237% of WT mice, respectively. In contrast to BSP, there were no differences in biliary excretion or plasma disappearance of DBSP among the three genotypes, suggesting that the modest differences in Mrp2 mRNA expression among genotypes do not affect BSP or DBSP biliary excretion. Collectively, these results indicate that increased biliary excretion of BSP, and possibly other compounds, is due to Nrf2-induced Gst mRNA expression and enzyme activity.
Ross Ashby's information theory: a bit of history, some solutions to problems, and what we face today

This paper presents a personal history of one strand of W. Ross Ashby's many ideas: using information theory to analyse complex systems empirically. It starts with where I entered the evolution of the idea as one of his students, points out a problem that emerged as a consequence of generalising information measures from simple to complex systems, i.e. systems with many variables, shows how this problem was eventually solved, and ends with how his idea of decomposing complex systems into smaller interactions reappears in one of the most complex technologies of our time: cyberspace. While nobody could anticipate the complexities that developed since, Ashby's idea of understanding complex systems in terms of manageable interactions, which I call electronic artefacts, is actually practised today and cyberspace is again worth analysing in information theoretical terms.
Comparison of FICDM and Wafer-Level CDM Test Methods

The on-chip stresses induced by various charged device model (CDM) test methods are compared at both the package and wafer levels. Test methods studied include field-induced CDM (FICDM), wafer-level CDM (WCDM2), capacitively coupled transmission-line pulsing (CC-TLP), and very fast TLP (VF-TLP). The generated stresses are compared on the basis of voltage monitor readings and integrated circuit (IC) functional failures. In general, core circuit failures induced by FICDM are replicated on the wafer level. Package-related parasitics can alter the externally measured FICDM current pulse relative to that delivered internal to the IC, causing miscorrelation with wafer-level testers.