cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inverse diffraction by a doubly periodic structure

Abstract Let us consider the scattering of electromagnetic waves by a doubly periodic structure. Above the structure, the medium is assumed to be homogeneous with a fixed real dielectric coefficient. The medium is a perfect conductor below the structure. For a given incident plane wave, the tangential electric field is measured away from the structure. An inverse problem arises: To what extent can one determine the location of the periodic structure that separates the dielectric medium from the conductor? In this paper, results on uniqueness and stability are established for the inverse problem. A crucial step in our proof is to obtain a lower bound for the first eigenvalue of an eigenvalue problem.
Guidelines for reporting information in studies of diagnostic test accuracy: the STARD initiative.

(2003). Guidelines for Reporting Information in Studies of Diagnostic Test Accuracy: The STARD Initiative. Journal of Personality Assessment: Vol. 81, No. 3, pp. 191-193.
Effect of Novel Situation and Modification in Sexual Drive on Rate of Oxygen Consumption in Guinea Pigs

Sunz?nary.-The normal rate of O2 consumption of 10 mature male guinea pigs was compared with that produced during the first several days in the novel situation and by sexual satiation and frustration. A higher than normal rate of OL' consumption recorclcd on the first day was followed by a lower than normal rate on the second and third days. Neither sexual satiation derived from ejacalation nor frustration produced by interrupting the copulatory pattern after the first intromission was found to modify significantly the normal rate of merabolism. In an attempt to explain these results, several hypotheses were suggestecl based on either the tendency of the guinea pig to crouch when frightened or the nature of the stimuli in the chamber of the metabolism apparatus. The concept of drive as used by many psychologists hns incli~ded reference to an energizing or activating function that can be altered by various antecedent environmental conditions ~nd measured by changes in overt behavior. The energizing property of drives has also been attributed to or correlated with various physiological processes. Malmo, who recently argued for the necessity of using physiological measures to estimate drive level, remarked that one might ". . . expect deprivation of food, water, sexual gratification, and the like, in raising the general drive state, co increase levels of physiological activity" (1958, p. 236). Similarly, Riss and Goy (1957) made the ass~lmption that the energizing capacity of drive should be a function of degree of metabolic activity and reported a positive correlation between mnle guinea pig sexual drive and rate of O2 consumption. The purpose of the present study was to relate O2 consumption in guinea pigs to various experimental conditions which might be presiuned to influence drive level. In particular, rate of O2 utilization was measured after the animals experienced three different experimental conditions: a novel situation, sexual gratification, and frustratios.
Pachycladins A-E, prostate cancer invasion and migration inhibitory Eunicellin-based diterpenoids from the red sea soft coral Cladiella pachyclados.

Alcyonaria species are among the important marine invertebrate classes that produce a wealth of chemically diverse bioactive diterpenes. Examples of these are the potent microtubule disruptor sarcodictyins and eleutherobin. The genus Cladiella has proven to be a rich source of cytotoxic eunicellin-based diterpenoids. Five new eunicellin diterpenes, pachycladins A−E (1−5), were isolated from the Red Sea soft coral Cladiella pachyclados. The known sclerophytin A Cladiellisin, 3-acetylcladiellisin, 3,6-diacetylcladiellisin, (+)-polyanthelin A, klysimplexin G, klysimplexin E, sclerophytin F methyl ether, (6Z)-cladiellin (cladiella-6Z,11(17)-dien-3-ol), sclerophytin B, and patagonicol were also identified. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by extensive interpretation of their spectroscopic data. These compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit growth, proliferation, invasion, and migration of the prostate cancer cells PC-3. Some of the new metabolites exhibited significant ant...
Uterine artery embolization for leiomyomata.

Abstract Objective: To determine whether uterine artery embolization is safe and effective for treating uterine leiomyomata. Methods: We analyzed 200 consecutive patients (61 reported previously) undergoing uterine artery embolization for the treatment of uterine leiomyomata at a single institution. After treatment, follow-up data were obtained by written questionnaire mailed to the patients at intervals of 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after treatment. Follow-up imaging was obtained at 3 months and 12 months after therapy. All complications and subsequent gynecologic interventions were recorded prospectively, obtained using the patient questionnaires and physician contact. The percentages and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to compare the symptoms at follow-up. Proportional odds models for repeated ordinal responses were used to assess the stability of symptom improvement over time. Results: The mean follow-up was 21 months (minimum 12). Heavy menstrual bleeding improved in 87% (95% CI 82%, 92%) of patients at 3 months and in 90% (95% CI 86%, 95%) at 1 year after therapy. Bulk symptoms improved in 93% of patients (95% CI 88%, 96%) at 3 months and in 91% (95% CI 86%, 95%) at 1 year after treatment. Only one major periprocedural complication occurred (pulmonary embolus), which resolved with anticoagulant therapy. Subsequent gynecologic interventions occurred in 10.5% of the patients (95% CI 7.0%, 15.0%) during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Uterine artery embolization is safe and controls the symptoms caused by leiomyomata in most patients.
Empirical analysis of the impact of a landlord-tenant ordinance on property values†

Abstract The purpose of this article is to analyze the impact of a landlord-tenant ordinance (LTO) on property values, using time series data for the City of Evanston, Illinois, where the ordinance has been enacted since 1975. The empirical data analysis, which includes a trend analysis of hedonic price indices for both rental and owner-occupied property, has shown that an LTO is not likely to significantly affect housing values. Those remedies provided in the LTO are not likely to be radical departures from the current practices such as housing/building code, and can therefore not be expected to affect housing values substantially.
Retention of active and passive avoidance responses tested in extinction

Abstract Retention by rats of an active two-way shuttlebox avoidance response was tested in extinction following training to a criterion of 10 consecutive avoidance responses and was found to be a U-shaped function of the retention interval. A similar function was found in an extinction test of retention of suppression of food-rewarded lever pressing by response-contingent electric shock (passive avoidance), but not following noncontingent shock. The minima of both U-shaped functions were reached approximately 2 hr after training, and in both cases exogenous ACTH administered at the beginning of the retention interval blocked the deterioration of performance 2 hr later. The results show that the U-shaped retention functions is not limited to poorly learned avoidance behavior; is not mediated by contemporaneous changes in responsiveness to electric shock; is characteristic of both active and passive avoidance responses and therefore is probably not mediated by changes in spontaneous activity. The fact that ACTH facilitated performance in extinction tests at intermediate retention intervals following both active and passive avoidance training suggests that the action of ACTH is not mediated by changes in reactivity to shock or by changes in spontaneous activity. These findings are seen as consistent with both memorial and motivational interpretations of retention.
The HCN: a versatile interconnection network based on cubes

This paper introduces a family of interconnection networks for loosely-coupled multiprocessors called Hierarchical Cubic Networks (HCNs). HCNs use the well-known hypercube network as their basic building block. Using a considerably lower number of links per node, HCNs realize lower network diameters than the hypercube. The performance of several well-known applications on a hypothetical system employing the HCN is identical to their performance on a hypercube. HCNs thus enjoy the same advantages as a hypercube, albeit with considerably simpler interconnections.
Fundulus heteroclitus gonadotropins. 3. Cloning and sequencing of gonadotropic hormone (GTH) I and II β-subunits using the polymerase chain reaction☆

Abstract mRNA was isolated from Fundulus heteroclitus pituitaries and used to construct a cDNA library in λgt22A. A series of synthetic oligonucleotides, based on conserved regions of teleost gonadotropic hormone (GTH) β-subunits, were constructed and used as primers in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify GTH cDNAs. Appropriate length PCR products were subcloned and sequenced. Eight clones were eventually identified as cDNAs encoding two distinct β-subunits of F. heteroclitus, GTH I and GTH II. By comparison with known GTH sequences, putative signal sequences of 19 end 21 amino acids and mature β-subunits of 95 and 115 amino acids were found for GTH I and GTH II, respectively. Both β-subunits had well conserved cysteine positions when aligned with other members of the glycoprotein family. The elucidation of the complete nucleotide sequences of two types of F. heteroclitus GTH provides definitive proof that in this species there are at least two distinct forms of pituitary GTH analogous to the classical luteinizing hormone-follicle stimulating hormone family.
Bounds for the optimal conditions of forced convective flows inside multiple channels whose plates are heated by a uniform flux

Abstract Laminar forced flow moving inside a bundle of parallel-plate channels placed in a specified volume is normally sustained by a fixed pressure difference. In a typical channel, the velocity and the temperature of the coolant develop together from free-stream conditions at the inlet into fully developed regimes at the outlet. Heating of the parallel plates can occur by applying a uniform temperature or a uniform heat flux bilaterally or unilaterally. The goal of this paper is to extend an order-of-magnitude procedure for the optimization of a bundle of parallel-plate channels heated isothermally to a more difficult situation involving isoflux heating.
Design and Synthesis of Substrates for Newborn Screening of Maroteaux-Lamy and Morquio A Syndromes

In continued efforts to develop enzymatic assays for lysosomal storage diseases appropriate for newborn screening laboratories we have synthesized novel and specific enzyme substrates for Maroteaux-Lamy (MPS VI) and Morquio A (MPS IVA) diseases. The sulfated monosaccharide derivatives were found to be converted to product by the respective enzyme in blood from healthy patients but not by blood from patients with the relevant lysosomal storage disease. The latter result shows that the designed substrates are highly selective for the respective enzymes.
Communication Apprehension and Learning Style Preference: Correlations and Implications for Teaching.

This study examined the relationship between communication apprehension (CA) and learning style preference in order to describe the learning style needs of high communication apprehensives (HCAs). When the participants (N = 436) were separated by sex, results indicated that trait and context CA are significantly correlated with learning style preference for women, but not for men. HCA women prefer the Hands‐on Experimenter and the Analytical Evaluator learning styles. Low communication apprehensive (LCA) women prefer the Innovative Explorer learning style. CA is not correlated with age, sex, or self reported grade‐point average (GPA), but learning style preference is correlated with GPA and sex. Instructional implications are discussed.
Overview of conformal optics

Applications of optics have traditionally conformed to the difficulties and limitations imposed by the practical limits on designing and fabricating optical systems. The operational efficiency of devices, especially military systems, has frequently been compromised by the need to accommodate an adverse environment in a non-optical manner.
Xunzi’s Theory of Ritual Revisited: Reading Ritual as Corporal Technology

This essay offers a new reading of Xunzi’s ritual theory against the backdrop of excavated technical manuals from the Mawangdui and Zhangjiashan collections. While most studies tend to focus on the sociopolitical and moral aspects of Xunzi’s thought, I attempt to demonstrate that in composing his theory of ritual, Xunzi was not only concerned with defending the Confucian tradition against the criticism of his fellow philosophical masters, but was also responding to the emergence of bio-spiritual practices such as meditation, sexual cultivation, and gymnastic exercises. Alarmed by the growing popularity of these individual corporal techniques among the Warring States elite, Xunzi opted to repackage and redefine ritual as a superior technology of the body that would enable humans to transform their bodies and minds and obtain physical and spiritual bounties while at the same time enhancing sociopolitical stability and harmony by creating an organic communal body.
Synoptic List of the Tabanidae (Diptera) of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Abstract. The Tabanidae are a diverse family of true flies whose members have both medical and veterinary importance. Tabanid species are known to occupy a variety of habitats worldwide, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, an area in the Nearctic Region known to contain considerable biodiversity. This report provides detailed information about previous collections made within the Park's boundaries and brings the number of currently known tabanid species residing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park from 37 to 56.
Short term disposition of soluble vs. insoluble forms of cadmium in rat lung after intratracheal administration: An autoradiographic assessment☆

Abstract An autoradiographic study was undertaken to compare the initial distribution patterns of soluble and less soluble forms of cadmium in the rat lung after intratracheal (i.t.) instillation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups, each group received either soluble or a less soluble cadmium (109Cd) i.t. in 0.1 ml buffered saline. At 5, 30 and 90 min post-instillation, rats were sacrificed and processed for autoradiography, and radioactivity estimation of lung sections. 109Cd was unevenly distributed in the lungs at 5 min for both forms of Cd. At 90 min post-instillation, 109Cd was almost evenly distributed in the lung instilled with the soluble form; in case of the less soluble form a spotty distribution of 109Cd in the bronchi was observed. 109Cd was mainly translocated to the liver and stomach, followed by the kidney and intestine. It is apparent that the initial translocation of instilled 109Cd from the lung is relatively slow in the case of less soluble form as compared with the soluble form.
A Comprehensive Panel of Turn-On Caspase Biosensors for Investigating Caspase Specificity and Caspase Activation Pathways

Caspases play a central role in apoptosis, differentiation, and proliferation, and represent important therapeutic targets for treating cancer and inflammatory disorders. Toward the goal of developing new tools to probe caspase substrate cleavage specificity as well as to systematically interrogate caspase activation pathways, we have constructed and investigated a comprehensive panel of caspase biosensors with a split-luciferase enabled bioluminescent read out. We first interrogated the panel of caspase biosensors for substrate cleavage specificity of caspase 1-10 in widely utilized in vitro translation systems, namely, rabbit reticulocyte lysate (RRL) and wheat germ extract (WGE). Commercial RRL was found to be unsuitable for investigating caspase specificity, owing to surprising levels of endogenous caspase activity, while specificity profiles of the caspase sensors in WGE agree very well with traditional peptide probes. The full panel of biosensors was utilized for studying caspase activation and inhibition in several mammalian cytosolic extracts, clearly demonstrating that they can be utilized to directly monitor activation or inhibition of procaspase 3/7. Furthermore, the complete panel of caspase biosensors also provided new insights into caspase activation pathways wherein we surprisingly discovered the activation of procaspase 3/7 by caspase 4/5.
Implication by site-directed mutagenesis of Arg314 and Tyr316 in the coenzyme site of pig mitochondrial NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase.

Sequence alignment of pig mitochondrial NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase with eukaryotic (human, rat, and yeast) and Escherichia coli isocitrate dehydrogenases reveals that Tyr316 is completely conserved and is equivalent to the E. coli Tyr345, which interacts with the 2'-phosphate of NADP in the crystal structure [Hurley et al., Biochemistry 30 (1991) 8671-8678]. Lys321 is also completely conserved in the five isocitrate dehydrogenases. Either an arginine or lysine residue is found among the enzymes from other species at the position corresponding to the pig enzyme Arg314. While Arg323 is not conserved among all species, its proximity to the coenzyme site makes it a good candidate for investigation. The importance of these four amino acids to the function of pig mitochondrial NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase was studied by site-directed mutagenesis. Mutants (R314Q, Y316F, Y316L, K321Q, and R323Q) were generated by a megaprimer polymerase chain reaction method. Wild-type and mutant enzymes were expressed in E. coli and purified to homogeneity. All mutant and wild-type enzymes exhibited comparable molecular weights indicative of the dimeric enzyme. Mutations do not cause an appreciable change in enzyme secondary structure as revealed by circular dichroism measurements. The kinetic parameters (V(max) and K(M) values) of K321Q and R323Q are similar to those of wild-type, indicating that Lys321 and Arg323 are not involved in enzyme function. R314Q exhibits a 10-fold increase in K(M) for NADP as compared to that of wild-type, while they have comparable V(max) values. These results suggest that Arg314 contributes to the affinity between the enzyme and NADP. The hydroxyl group of Tyr316 is not required for enzyme function since Y316F exhibits similar kinetic parameters to those of wild-type. Y316L shows a 4-fold increase in K(M) for NADP and a decrease in V(max) as compared to wild-type, suggesting that the aromatic ring of the Tyr of isocitrate dehydrogenase contributes to the affinity for coenzyme, as well as to catalysis. The K(i) for NAD of R314Q, Y316F, and Y316L is comparable to that of wild-type, indicating that the Arg314 and Tyr316 may be located near the 2'-phosphate of enzyme-bound NADP.
Where do we go from here? Moving toward an integrated approach to family violence

This article discusses patterns across reviews of the risk and protective factors for each of seven forms of family violence: partner physical, psychological, and sexual abuse; child physical, psychological, and sexual abuse and child neglect. We note that both child and partner literatures have large research bases on risk factors for physical abuse, but relatively few articles on psychological or sexual abuse (or child neglect). In addition, co-occurrence of forms of maltreatment within families is high, but little integrative work has been conducted. We argue that the overlap of both occurrence and risk factors across forms of maltreatment suggests that both etiological and intervention models would be improved by considering all forms of maltreatment more explicitly in a family (rather than dyadic) context.
WE-G-213CD-02: 4D-PET Maximum Intensity Projections Improve Accuracy of Mobile Tumor Volume Delineation.

Purpose: To examine the efficacy and accuracy of respiratory‐gated positron emission tomography (4D‐PET) maximum intensity projections (MIPs) in segmenting mobile tumor internal target volumes (ITVs) through a phantom study. Methods: An acrylic phantom was used for PET list‐mode acquisition, consisting of 11C‐filled spheres affixed inside a cylinder containing an 18‐fluorodeoxyglucose solution. The phantom was attached to a robotic arm that underwent 1D motion based on clinically‐derived patient breathing trajectories. An amplitude‐based gating was performed on sequential list‐mode sub‐files of varying signal‐to‐background ratios, and PET‐MIPs were generated from the gated images. ITVs were segmented by first denoising and deblurring images using a custom post‐processing module and then applying an absolute SUV threshold. ITV accuracy was assessed using the volume recovery fraction (VRF) ‐ the ratio of measured ITV to true volume occupied by the moving phantom spheres ‐ which was used to compare PET‐MIP, ungated PET, and static sphere images. In addition, the effects of tumor trajectories, number of gating windows, and margin additions were investigated. Results: VRFs of ITVs generated from PET‐MIPs were consistently higher than those from ungated PET. They also demonstrated a closer agreement to VRFs of static spheres (up to 99% similarity vs. 72% for ungated PET), suggesting that tumor motion had very little effect on the accuracy of PET‐MIP measurements. Trajectories with higher amplitude and baseline drift decreased VRF by up to 14% for both PET‐MIP and ungated PET. Increasing the number of gating windows (up to eight windows) resulted in higher VRFs for PET‐MIPs without producing excessive imagenoise. PET‐MIPs required a smaller margin addition than ungated PET to achieve a better overlap with the ground truth ITV. Conclusions: Compared to ungated PET, PET‐MIPs are not significantly affected by tumor motion. 4D‐PET imaging is a promising and viable methodology to better delineate mobile tumor volumes.
Absolute cross sections for pion reactions on light nuclei at the (3,3) resonance

Abstract Absolute cross sections for pion-induced neutron knockout reactions and some more complex reactions on 14N, 16O, 19F and 31P were determined by activation at 190 MeV. Results are consistent with existing spallation models as modified by the recent final-state interaction theory of Sternheim and Silbar.
Analyzing social media to characterize local HIV at-risk populations

The number of new HIV infections per year in the U.S. has remained stable at 50,000 since the 1990's. To improve epidemic control, we need more public health tools that are aimed at decreasing HIV transmission. Online social networks and their real-time communication capabilities are emerging as novel platforms for conducting epidemiological studies and recent research has outlined the feasibility of using Twitter to study HIV epidemiology. We propose a new method for identifying HIV at-risk populations using publicly available data from Twitter as an indicator of HIV risk. In this paper we take existing approaches further by introducing a new infrastructure to collect, classify, query and visualize these data, and we show the feasibility of identifying and characterizing HIV at-risk populations in the San Diego area at a finer level of granularity.
Assessment of the Thies optical disdrometer performance

Optical disdrometers have the potential to be low maintenance instruments that can measure drop-size distributions and drop-size distribution moments such as rainfall rate, radar reflectivity, optical extinction, and others. As with any other measurement device, their output is affected by different sources of uncertainty. To better understand these uncertainties, we compared rainfall accumulations that were measured by three dual tipping bucket stations, three Vaisala WXT510 compact weather stations, and four Thies optical disdrometers. We detected considerable bias between disdrometers and tipping buckets, as well as among disdrometers, that we attempted to minimize through calibrating diameter measurements. Although the calibration successfully decreased bias among disdrometers, it increased bias between disdrometer rainfall accumulations and tipping bucket accumulations, indicating that there are other relevant sources of error in the estimation of rainfall accumulation from disdrometer measurements. We developed a simulation capable of mimicking the disdrometer's operation during the calibration procedure and studied the effects of using three arbitrary laser beam patterns into the measurement of the spheres' diameters. The simulation successfully reproduced some of the behavior observed in calibration data, showing the dependence of the bias and the spread of sphere diameter measurements on the studied beam patterns. Furthermore, we designed a Monte-Carlo-based simulation to propagate the uncertainties of the measurement of spheres' diameters into the estimation of rainfall accumulations. We used the calculated uncertainties to correct rainfall accumulations which improved the agreement among disdrometers, although apparently overcorrected the accumulation for one of the instruments. Moreover we found the average correction to be related to both average and standard deviation of the diameter error and insensitive to the diameter error skewness. Overall we observed considerable bias between instruments with different principles of measurements, which could not be solely explained by uncertainty in the evaluation of the diameters, or by wind effects, indicating that difficulties in the determination of the optical disdrometer's sensing area could be the cause.
The Origins of HIV‐1 and HTLV‐4/HIV‐2

More sophisticated knowledge of the different strains of seemingly closely related retroviruses is essential to understanding acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and developing a successful vaccine. Distinct exogenous human retroviruses include human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) the etiologic agent in AIDS; human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) which has been linked with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma; and HTLV-II a virus closely linked to HTLV-I but not definitively implicated in human disease. Closely related to HIV-1 is simian T-lymphotropic virus type 3 (STLV-3 mac). 30-70% of over 1000 African green monkeys tested possess antibodies to STLV-3 proteins. Of interest is the contrasting pathogenicity of HTLV-3 in seropositive Asian macques and African green monkeys; the former always have clinical or pathological evidence of immunosuppressive disease while the latter remain healthy. Given the apparent ability of African green monkeys to mount an effective immune response against infection with STLV-3 this retrovirus offers a model system for the study of AIDS pathogenesis. It was hypothesized that STLV-3 is a distant progenitor of the AIDS virus and that HIV-1 may have originated in Africa through the chance transmission of a simian virus to humans. A 4th human T-lymphotropic retrovirus isolated from healthy Senegalese prostitutes in 1985 and termed HTLV-4/HIV-2 has viral proteins similar to those of STLV-3 and HIV-1. Although HTLV-4/HIV-2 is prevalent among high risk groups in West Africa it is not associated with immunosuppression; this suggests a unique species-specific pathogenicity similar to that in STLV-3.
Distances to Galaxies from the Correlation between Luminosities and Line Widths. III. Cluster Template and Global Measurement of H 0

The correlation between the luminosities and rotation velocities of galaxies can be used to estimate distances to late-type galaxies. It is an appropriate moment to reevaluate this method given the great deal of new information available. The major improvements described here include: (1) the template rela- tions can now be de—ned by large, complete samples, (2) the samples are drawn from a wide range of environments, (3) the relations are de—ned by photometric information at the B, R, I, and K@ bands, (4) the multiband information clari—es problems associated with internal reddening, (5) the template zero points are de—ned by 24 galaxies with accurately known distances, and (6) the relations are applied to 12 clusters scattered across the sky and out to velocities of 8000 km s~1. The biggest change from earlier calibrations are associated with point 5. Roughly a 15% increase in the distance scale has come about with the —vefold increase in the number of zero-point calibrators. The overall increase in the distance scale from the luminosityline width methodology is about 10% after consideration of all factors. Modulo an assumed distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud of 50 kpc and no metallicity corrections to the Cepheid calibration, the resulting value of the Hubble constant is km s~1 Mpc~1, H 0 \ 77 ^ 8 where the error is the 95% probable statistical error. Cumulative systematic errors internal to this analysis should not exceed 10%. Uncertainties in the distance scale ladder external to this analysis are estimated at D10%. If the Cepheid calibration is shifted from the LMC to NGC 4258 with a distance established by observations of circumnuclear masers, then is larger by 12%. H 0 Subject headings: distance scalegalaxies: distances and redshiftsgalaxies: fundamental parameters
Modeling binding equilibrium in a competitive estrogen receptor binding assay

Although the free concentration is more significant in the environmental chemistry and toxicology of receptor-mediated toxicants, few studies have been conducted to use it as a dose-metric. The relative binding affinity of three model endocrine disrupting compounds, diethylstilbestrol (DES), ethynylestradiol (EE2), and bisphenol A (BPA), were evaluated using a competitive ELISA with human estrogen receptor a. After measuring the available receptors and the dissociation constant for 17b-estradiol, binding inhibition curves using the free concentration as the dose-metric were obtained by assuming species equilibrium in the ELISA system and compared with apparent inhibition curves generated using the nominal concentration as the dose-metric. Because ligand binding to estrogen receptors may reduce its free concentration in the assay system, the differences between the two curves for free and nominal concentrations are more significant for more strongly binding ligands. The ratio of a compound’s nominal concentration causing 50% inhibition (IC50) to the IC50 of DES, the positive control, was strongly affected by specific assay conditions, while that estimated by modeling free concentration is independent of receptor concentration, indicating that the free concentration is a better dose-metric for a competitive binding assay. 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
SolarSPIRE: A content-based retrieval engine for temporal sequences of solar imagery

In this paper, we present an application designed to permit specification of, and search for spatio-temporal phenomenon in image sequences of the solar surface acquired via satellite. The application is designed to permit space scientists to search archives of imagery for well-defined solar phenomenon, including solar flares, search tasks that are not practical if performed manually due to the large data volumes. Data for this application comes from the SOHO solar-observing satellite and consists of images acquired every 17 minutes over a period of a number of months. Images are preprocessed to identify bright and dark spots. Temporally persistent objects are identified and both time-variant attributes (such as size and luminance), and time-invariant attributes (such as average luminance) are extracted. Time-variant attributes are stored using a novel multi-resolution representation that assigns semantic labels for each resolution. Objects of interest are defined by the user via a web-based Java interface. The interface provides an object-definition language, which permits specification of a set of constraints to be used to filter the pre- extracted image objects. Time-variant attributes are constrained using semantic labels and temporal relationships. For example, a new object type might be defined as bright spots, which have sharply rising intensity for 6 to 12 hours follbwed by slowly falling intensity for more than 24 hours. Compound objects are specified using spatial and temporal constraints between simpler object attributes. Sharp constraints such as within 100 pixels and fuzzy constraints such as between are both supported. Both simple and compound object definitions are added to a library of object types, which can be used to formulate queries, or as building blocks for new object definitions. Object searches return key frames for each object identified, and these can be used to subsequently retrieve more detailed images or image sequences. Using this application, we have defined and successfully retrieved complex solar phenomenon such as Coronal Mass Ejections. We anticipate applying the framework to other non-video, time-varying data sets such as sequences of earth-observing satellite images, or medical imagery (e.g., PET).
Barriers to family care in psychiatric settings.

Purpose:To identify barriers to family care in psychiatric settings and to describe family and provider perspectives about what constitutes effective family care. Design and Methods:A qualitative exploratory approach with focus groups. Seventy-eight people participated in 11 focus groups conducted with families, patients, and health professionals. Findings:Families identified poor quality care, conflict with health professionals about treatment, and lack of a role for families in the treatment. African American families also identified isolation of their communities from the mental health care system. Adolescents emphasized their role as caregivers and their needs for support. Health professionals conveyed concerns about system-based barriers, professional practice-based barriers, and family-based barriers to care. Patients stated the need for their families to be better educated about mental illness. Conclusions:The lack of family care in psychiatric settings is a multifaceted problem. Current health policies do not show endorsement of a family care approach. Responses from families and health professionals indicated conflicting opinions about content of family care. Health professionals reported they often lacked training and resources to deal with complex family issues. Families believed that lengthy and intensive interventions were neither necessary nor desired to address their concerns. Family care can be improved by focusing on building rapport and communicating problems and concerns between families and health professionals.
Risk of gastrointestinal bleeding associated with oral anticoagulants: population based retrospective cohort study

Objectives To determine the real world safety of dabigatran or rivaroxaban compared with warfarin in terms of gastrointestinal bleeding. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Large administrative database of commercially insured people in United States from 1 October 2010 through 31 March 2012. Participants Enrollees with a prescription of warfarin, dabigatran, or rivaroxaban between 1 October 2010 and 31 March 2012, who were aged 18 years or older, had continuous enrollment and no oral anticoagulant use during the six months before the entry date, with known age and sex, and with no gastrointestinal bleeding for at least six months before the cohort entry date. The final study sample of 46 163 patients included 4907 using dabigatran, 1649 using rivaroxaban, and 39 607 using warfarin. Main outcome measure Time to gastrointestinal bleeding. Hazard ratios were derived from Cox proportional hazard models with propensity score weighting and robust estimates of errors. Results Dabigatran users tended to be older (dabigatran v rivaroxaban v warfarin: 62.0 v 57.6 v 57.4 years) and more likely to be male (69% v 49% v 53%). The rate of gastrointestinal bleeding was highest among dabigatran users and lowest among rivaroxaban users (dabigatran v rivaroxaban v warfarin: 9.01 v 3.41 v 7.02 cases per 100 person years). After adjustment for potentially confounding covariates, there was no evidence of a statistically significant difference in the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding between dabigatran and warfarin users (adjusted hazard ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval 0.96 to 1.53) or between rivaroxaban and warfarin users (0.98, 0.36 to 2.69). Conclusions Although rates of gastrointestinal bleeding seem to be similar in this commercially insured sample of adults in the United States, we cannot rule out as much as a 50% increase in the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding with dabigatran compared with warfarin or a more than twofold higher risk of bleeding with rivaroxaban compared with warfarin.
Spatially resolved measurements of ion density behind the skimmer of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer

Abstract Ions are extracted from the inductively coupled plasma through a conventional sampler and skimmer and then deposited on an array of graphite targets at the exit of a set of electrostatic ion lenses. The Sc+ signal is enhanced by choosing appropriate potentials on the ion lenses. The Sc+ signal is suppressed by the presence of concomitant Cs ions at high concentrations. Comparisons of grounded ion lenses and two different ion lens potential settings are made. The signal is enhanced more extensively by the ion lenses when there are no concentrated concomitant ions. This study indicates that matrix effects in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry could possibly be alleviated by choosing ion lens potentials such that the ions enter the ion optics with a relatively broad beam cross section, the beam then being focused to a smaller size. A photon stop inside the ion lens stack reduces ion transmission and changes the shape of the beam profile from conical to bimodal.
Views of New Jersey teenagers about their state's policies for beginning drivers.

Abstract Background: Three New Jersey licensing policies are unique in the United States: (a) minimum licensing age of 17; (b) applying full graduated driver licensing (GDL) rules to beginners younger than 21; and (c) requiring license status decals on vehicle plates of drivers in GDL. Methods: New Jersey 17–19 year-olds were surveyed by telephone and online. Results: Eighty-four percent approved licensing at 17; 77% approved applying GDL to older novices; 23% approved the decal policy. Probationary licensees ages 18–19 were more likely than 17 year-olds to have multiple nighttime restriction violations in the past month. There were no age group differences in passenger restriction violations. Discussion: All three policies have been considered in other states. Views of teenagers directly affected by the policies can be taken into account in considering their implementation. Practical applications: Views of licensing policies by affected teenagers indicate potential support or obstacles to their adoption in other states.
Energy equations for elastic flexural–torsional buckling analysis of plane structures

Abstract Lateral–torsional buckling is a critical mode of failure of metal structures. When the values of the loadings on a member of a structure reach a limiting state, the member will experience out-of-plane bending and twisting. This type of failure occurs suddenly in members with a much greater in-plane bending stiffness than torsional or lateral bending stiffness. Slender members of a structural system may buckle laterally and twist before their in-plane capabilities can be reached. Energy equations are derived by considering the total potential energy of a beam-column element. The second variation of the total potential energy equal to zero indicates the transition from a stable state to an unstable state, which is the critical condition for buckling. Several energy equations are derived analytically by calculating the second variation of the total potential energy of a double symmetric thin wall beam-column element. In this article, in-plane deformations of the beam-column element are disregarded. Then energy equations are derived expressing in dimensional and non-dimensional forms. These energy equations will be implemented in a future article to derive elastic and geometric stiffness matrices for the beam-column element and calculate the lateral–torsional buckling of plane structures. Examples are provided to show the accuracy of the equations and applications.
Software for project-based learning of robot motion planning

Motion planning is a core problem in robotics concerned with finding feasible paths for a given robot. Motion planning algorithms perform a search in the high-dimensional continuous space of robot configurations and exemplify many of the core algorithmic concepts of search algorithms and associated data structures. Motion planning algorithms can be explained in a simplified two-dimensional setting, but this masks many of the subtleties and complexities of the underlying problem. We have developed software for project-based learning of motion planning that enables deep learning. The projects that we have developed allow advanced undergraduate students and graduate students to reflect on the performance of existing textbook algorithms and their own variations on such algorithms. Formative assessment has been conducted at three institutions. The core of the software used for this teaching module is also used within the Robot Operating System, a widely adopted platform by the robotics research community. This...
Use of an Integrating Stage for Measurement of Wood

IN OUR search for a less time-consuming method for measuring anatomical components and spaces within samples of wood of varying ages and heights in trees, we have found that the use of an integrating stage attached to the stage of a microscope has proved satisfactory and reliable1. Accumulating knobs are provided to measure units in hundredths of millimetres for six different readings in one traverse, and obtaining percentage values for each component is a simple operation.
Twelve-Year Review of Major Family Therapy Journals: Topic Areas, Authors' Characteristics and Publishing Institutions

Topics of interest, authors' characteristics, and institutions in three major MFT journals (American Journal of Family Therapy, Family Process, and Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy) from 1992 to 2004 were reviewed. The findings indicated that most authors had earned a Ph.D. and worked in a university setting as a faculty member. Publishing institutions were equally distributed throughout the United States. Six topics areas accounted for 42% of articles written including (1) Theory; (2) Techniques and Interventions; (3) Assessments and Instruments; (4) Ethnic, Minority, and Cross-cultural Issues; (5) Violence, Abuse, and Incest; and (6) Training and Supervision. As in the earlier reviews, faculty and/or students from Purdue University and Brigham Young University authored the highest percentage of papers.
Jumonji, a Nuclear Protein That Is Necessary for Normal Heart Development

Jumonji (jmj) was cloned in a gene trap screen to identify and mutagenize genes important for heart development. To investigate the role of jmj in heart development, we generated mice homozygous for the jmj mutation. The jmj homozygous mouse embryos showed heart malformations, including ventricular septal defect, noncompaction of the ventricular wall, double-outlet right ventricle, and dilated atria. The jmj mutants died soon after birth, apparently as a result of respiratory insufficiency caused by rib and sternum defects in addition to the heart defects. In situ hybridization analyses suggested that cardiomyocytes were differentiated but developmental regulation of chamber-specific genes was defective in fetal hearts. Expression of jmj was detected in the myocardium, especially in the interventricular septum, ventricular wall, and outflow tract, which correlated well with the locations of defects observed in the hearts of mutant mice. Homozygous embryos failed to express the jmj transcript in all tissues except in the nervous system. Confocal microscopic examination using anti-JMJ antibodies indicated that the JMJ protein was localized in the nuclei of cells transfected with jmj. These data demonstrate that JMJ is a nuclear protein, which is essential for normal heart development and function.
Optimum allocation of computing resources in networked sensing and control

In this paper we consider task scheduling when sensing and controlling over a network with packet dropping links. We find optimum ways of allocating limited computing resources for estimation and control of a number of linear dynamical systems with different characteristics over communication links with different qualities. We find theoretical expressions relating the optimum sampling rates of the dynamical systems to the characteristics of the communication links and dynamics of the plants. We derive optimum ways of task scheduling for two performance metrics: decay rate and the asymptotic value. The work lays the theoretical foundations for considering the impact of both limited computing and communication resources on estimation and control.
Plantinga's Probability Arguments Against Evolutionary Naturalism

In Chapter 12 of Warrant and Proper Function, Alvin Plantinga constructs two arguments against evolutionary naturalism, which he construes as a conjunction E&N. The hypothesis E says that “human cognitive faculties arose by way of the mechanisms to which contemporary evolutionary thought directs our attention” (p. 220). With respect to proposition N, Plantinga (p. 270) says “it isn't easy to say precisely what naturalism is,” but then adds that “crucial to metaphysical naturalism, of course, is the view that there is no such person as the God of traditional theism.” Plantinga tries to cast doubt on the conjunction E&N in two ways. His “preliminary argument” aims to show that the conjunction is probably false, given the fact (R) that our psychological mechanisms for forming beliefs about the world are generally reliable. His “main argument” aims to show that the conjunction E&N is self-defeating – if you believe E&N, then you should stop believing that conjunction. Plantinga further develops the main argument in his unpublished paper “Naturalism Defeated” (Plantinga 1994). We will try to show that both arguments contain serious errors.
(U‐Th)/He chronometry experiences a renaissance

Radioactive decay of naturally occurring nuclides provides the basis for nearly all of the quantitative temporal constraints on geophysical phenomena, from climate dynamics on scales of 102–103 years, to planetary differentiation over 108–109 years. In general, there are few geologic problems that cannot be resolved by radioisotopic chronometers, partly because of the wide range of radioactive parent nuclides and decay rates, contrasting chemical behaviors of parent and daughter atoms during common geologic processes, and ever-advancing geoanalytical techniques. Despite broad success, however, radioisotopic techniques are still difficult to apply to many important geologic phenomena requiring temporal constraints, such as the timing and rates of shallow crustal processes that are critical aspects of geomorphology and neotectonics.