cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of high-order phase correlations in texture processing

Abstract Isodipole textures are pairs of texture ensembles whose autocorrelations, and hence power spectra, are equal. Examples of readily discriminable isodipole textures are well known. Such discriminations appear to require feature extraction, since the isodipole condition eliminates ensemble differences in spatial frequency content. We studied the effects of phase decorrelation on VEP indices of discrimination of isodipole texture pairs. Phase decorrelation, which ranged from 0.125π radians (slight randomization) to π radians (complete randomization), was introduced in two ways: by independent jittering of each spatial Fourier component, and by a product method, which preserved correlations among certain quadruples of spatial Fourier components, despite pairwise decorrelation. For the even/random isodipole texture pair, independent phase decorrelation greater than 0.5π radians markedly reduced VEP indices of texture discrimination for all check sizes, and eliminated them entirely for check sizes of 8 min or greater. However, the product method preserved texture discrimination signals even with complete pairwise randomization of spatial phases. For the triangle/random isodipole texture pair, both kinds of phase decorrelation eliminated VEP indices of texture discrimination. These results imply that isodipole texture discrimination is based on fundamentally local processing, and not on global Fourier amplitudes—since the phase manipulations which eliminate texture discrimination preserve the Fourier amplitudes. The dependence of the antisymmetric response component (the odd harmonics) on phase decorrelation and texture type is consistent with a previously proposed model for feature extraction, and leads to constraints on how texture processing is modulated by contrast. The limited contribution of global spectral characteristics for small checks is consistent with a previously identified breakdown in scale-invariant processing.
Changes in gain of the vestibulo-ocular reflex induced by combined visual and vestibular stimulation in goldfish.

Abstract Adaptive changes in the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) of goldfish were produced in a few hours by sinusoidally rotating restrained fish in the horizontal plane inside a vertically striped drum. The drum could also be sinusoidally rotated so that the gain of the VOR (the ratio of eye to head angular velocity) would have to increase to two or decrease to zero in order to maintain a stable retinal image. During ‘training’ towards two VOR gain measured at the stimulation frequency of 0.125 Hz increased rapidly over 6 h of stimulation to about 1.5 from an initial gain of 0.7. Half of that change occurred in the first 30 min. During training towards zero VOR gain measured at the stimulation frequency decreased to 0.15. About one-third of that change occurred in the first 30 min. Testing at different sinusoidal frequencies after 6 h stimulation showed that increases in VOR gain were generated across a 6-octave range; however, reductions in gain were produced over a narrow frequency range close to the training frequency. Gain reductions occurred more rapidly on a second day of stimulation. In a paradigm simulating reversing prisms, partial reversal of the VOR was observed in some fish. However, these fish also demonstrated spontaneous slow sinusoidal eye movements that may have represented a different means of adjusting eye movements to stabilize the retinal image. Goldfish provide a useful preparation for the study of adaptive gain changes in vertebrate oculomotor systems.
A Design of Circuit and its Application of the Power Frequency Voltage Linear Superposition Method

In order to improve the power frequency voltage ratio standard calibration techniques to meet the application of UHV power grid，a measuring circuit based on power frequency voltage linear superposition method was proposed. A three-port network was fromed by connecting two shielding voltage transformer with the same rated voltage ratio in series. The voltage coefficient of a voltage transformer was tested by double voltage method based on the proportionality and superposition of the linear network. The measuring circuit based on power frequency voltage linear superposition method can prevent the shielding error of the voltage transformer during the mearurment, making it used in voltage ratio standard self-calibration system with higher voltage and precision. The test has proved the feasibility and accuracy of circuit of power frequency voltage linear superposition method.
Molecular architecture of chloroplast coupling factor 1

Abstract Fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements have been used to establish a structural map of chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF 1 ). This molecule is intrinsically asymmetric, with the nucleotide binding sites far from the membrane surface. A regulatory region is located midway between the nucleotide binding sites and the membrane.
Using Thermal Spray and Laser Micromachining to Fabricate Sensors

The use of thermal spray to fabricate sensors directly onto engineering components is an emerging technology. The capabilities for sensor fabrication are considerably enhanced with the use of laser micromachining, in which feature sizes as small as 15-20 μm can be achieved. Such feature sizes are required for a variety of sensors, including strain and heat flux sensors, thermopiles and microheaters. Ultrafast lasers—lasers with pulse durations ≲1 ps—are particularly well suited for the multimaterial/multilayer processing required to fabricate sensors from materials deposited using thermal spray. In this work, the key issues associated with laser micromachining of thermal spray coatings for sensor applications are presented. Both resistive strain gages and microheaters are discussed in detail as representative sensor designs that require the fine feature and linewidth capability that laser micromachining provides, including details of their fabrication and practical design restrictions. This article summarizes with recommendations for future work.
Efficient basin hopping in the protein energy surface

The vast and rugged protein energy surface can be effectively represented in terms of local minima. The basin-hopping framework, where a structural perturbation is followed by an energy minimization, is particularly suited to obtaining this coarse-grained representation. Basin hopping is effective for small systems both in locating lower-energy minima and obtaining conformations near the native structure. The efficiency decreases for large systems. Our recent work improves efficiency on large systems through molecular fragment replacement. In this paper, we conduct a detailed investigation of two components in basin hopping, perturbation and minimization, and how they work in concert to affect the sampling of near-native local minima. We show that controlling the magnitude of perturbation jumps is related to the ability to effectively steer the exploration towards conformations near the protein native state. In minimization, we show that a simple greedy search is just as effective as Metropolis Monte Carlo-based minimization. Finally, we show that an evolutionary-inspired approach based on the Pareto front is particularly effective in reducing the ensemble of sampled local minima and obtains a simpler representation of the probed energy surface.
Minireview: structural insights into early folding events using continuous-flow time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering.

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a powerful method for obtaining quantitative structural information on the size and shape of proteins, and it is increasingly used in kinetic studies of folding and association reactions. In this minireview, we discuss recent developments in using SAXS to obtain structural information on the unfolded ensemble and early folding intermediates of proteins using continuous-flow mixing devices. Interfacing of these micromachined devices to SAXS beamlines has allowed access to the microsecond time regime. The experimental constraints in implementation of turbulence and laminar flow-based mixers with SAXS detection and a comparison of the two approaches are presented. Current improvements and future prospects of microsecond time-resolved SAXS and the synergy with ab initio structure prediction and molecular dynamics simulations are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 95: 550–558, 2011.
C-reactive protein estimation does not improve accuracy in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in pediatric patients

Abstract Background Appendectomy is the treatment of choice in acute appendicitis in children. Delayed diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children can lead to complications like perforation. Studies on the diagnostic value of WBC and CRP in establishing the diagnosis of appendicitis have contradictory results. Our study evaluates the role of CRP in diagnosing appendicitis in a pediatric population. Methods A retrospective chart study on 130 patients aged less than 19 years who had an appendectomy at Sparrow hospital during years 2002–2006 formed the basis for this report. Based on histology appendicitis was classified as simple or perforated (complicated). Results Patients (75 boys, 55 girls) were 6–18 years of age (median 14 years). The appendix was normal in 9/130 cases. Appendicitis was simple in 58/130 cases and perforated in 63/130 cases. Overall WBC count had the highest sensitivity in the prediction of (diagnosis) appendicitis at 88% whereas CRP was 69% and, WBC and CRP combined was 60%. PPV of WBC was highest at 0.81 (47/58) for simple appendicitis and 0.93 (59/63) for perforated appendicitis, when compared to CRP at 0.57 (33/58) and 0.81 (51/63); and CRP and WBC combined at 0.45 (26/58) and 0.75 (47/63). Conclusion The sensitivity and PPV of WBC were better than CRP alone, or in combination with WBC. We conclude that CRP does not aid in the diagnosis of appendicitis. Simple appendicitis was seen in spite of normal WBC and CRP.
Evaluation of Mechanical Behaviors of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Finite Element Analysis

Based on molecular mechanics, a three-dimensional finite element model for armchair, zigzag and chiral single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) has been developed, in which the carbon nanotubes (CNTs), when subjected to load, behave like space-frame structures. The bending stiffness of the graphite layer has been considered. The potentials associated with the atomic interactions within a CNT were evaluated by the strain energies of beam elements which serve as structural substitutions of covalent bonds. The out-of-plane deformation (inversion) of the bonds was distinguished from the in-plane deformation by considering an elliptical cross-section for the beam elements. The elastic moduli of beam elements are determined by using a linkage between molecular and continuum mechanics. A closed form solution of the sectional properties of the beam element was derived analytically and verified through the analysis of rolling a graphite sheet into a carbon nanotube. This method was validated by its application to a graphene model, and Young’s modulus of the model was found, showing agreement with the known values of graphite. Modeling of the elastic deformation of SWCNTs reveals that Young’s moduli and the shear modulus of CNTs vary with the tube diameter and are affected by their helicity. With increasing tube diameter, Young’s moduli of both armchair and zigzag CNTs are increasing monotonically and approaching to the Young’s modulus of graphite, which are in agreement with the existing theoretical and experimental results. The rolling energy per atom was computed by finite element analysis. By comparing mechanical properties with circular cross section models, it is found that the computational results of the proposed elliptical cross-section model are closer to the results from the atomistic computations. The proposed model is valid for problems where the effect of local bending of the graphite layer in a CNT is significant. This research work shows that the proposed finite element model may provide a valuable tool for studying the mechanical behaviors of CNTs and their integration in nano-composites.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Temperature Dependence of the Deuterium Quadrupole Coupling Constants and the Correlation Times for Neat Formamide

High-level ab initio calculations yield a linear relationship between the proton chemical shift, δH, and the deuterium quadrupole coupling constant, χD, for the amide protons in neat, liquid formam...
A generalized Kharitonov theorem for quasi-polynomials and entire functions occurring in systems with multiple and distributed delays

The classical Kharitonov theorem on interval stability cannot be carried over from polynomials to arbitrary entire functions. In this paper we identify a class of entire functions for which the desired generalization of the Kharitonov theorem can be proven. The class is wide enough to include classes quasi-polynomials occurring in the study of retarded systems with time delays, and some classes of entire functions that could be useful in studying systems with distributed delays. We also derive results for matrix polynomials and matrix entire functions.
Neuroscience: Feel the light

How is light perceived? The answer that might immediately come to mind is, through the eyes. Fly larvae, however, can 'feel' light using specialized neurons embedded under the cuticle encasing their bodies. See Article p.921 Light sensing outside the eyes is common in many animals, usually confined to specialized organs. But now the entire body wall of the Drosophila fruitfly larva has been found to be blanketed with blue and ultraviolet light-sensing neuronal dendrites, which are essential for the maggot's innate light-avoidance behaviour. The phototransduction machinery used by these neurons is distinct from other Drosophila photoreceptor molecules, but similar to a system identified in nematode neurons.
A disquisition on suppressor T cells.

The main points that I have put forth are that: (1) suppressor T cell activity cannot be explained as simply being too much help; (2) feedback signals from target cells are of crucial importance in determining and maintaining the activity of suppressor T cells; (3) whenever T cells are triggered by antigen, suppression occurs. Immune responses only occur when countermanding signals are also generated. Both intrinsic and extrinsic adjuvanticity is the operational production of countermanding signals; (4) memory T cells are qualitatively different from normal T cells in their sensitivity to feedback signals and also in their susceptibility to suppression; (5) mature thymus dependent B cells cannot be rendered tolerant by the direct action of antigen, while immature and thymus independent B cells can; (6) the mechanism of suppression induced by exogenously administered antigens and that by normal differentiation products (i.e.: GVH; allotypes), is different; (7) generation of suppressor cells requires or results from complex interactions between subpopulations of cells, making it impossible under present conditions to determine which cell is doing what and to which; (8) further work is required before a full understanding of the importance, mechanism of action and other aspects of suppressor T cell function can be fully understood.
Perioperative breast MRI is not associated with lower locoregional recurrence rates in DCIS patients treated with or without radiation.

Introduction For women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS), the benefit of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains unknown. Here we examine the relationship of MRI and locoregional recurrence (LRR) and contralateral breast cancer (CBC) for DCIS treated with BCS, with and without radiotherapy (RT).
Neonatal lupus erythematosus syndrome.

Three cases of neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) syndrome are described. The key diagnostic sign is the erythematous and annular clinical appearance of lesions. The histopathologic findings may be subtle in NLE syndrome compared with discoid or subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Direct immunofluo-rescence testing may be useful in supplementing the histopathologic evaluation. Detection of immunoglobulins, complement, or both at the basement membrane zone in lesional skin by immunofluorescence occurs in approximately half of cases; a negative study does not preclude the diagnosis of NLE syndrome. Clinical and serologic evaluation of both the infant and the mother are important in establishing a diagnosis of NLE syndrome, particularly when histopathologic findings are subtle.
Moisture effects on greenhouse gases generation in nitrifying gas-phase compost biofilters

Gas-phase compost biofilters are extensively used in concentrated animal feeding operations to remove odors and, in some cases, ammonia from air sources. The expected biochemical pathway for these predominantly aerobic systems is nitrification. However, non-uniform media with low oxygen levels can shift biofilter microbial pathways to denitrification, a source of greenhouse gases. Several factors contribute to the formation of anoxic/anaerobic zones: media aging, media and particle structure, air velocity distribution, compaction, biofilm thickness, and moisture content (MC) distribution. The present work studies the effects of media moisture conditions on ammonia (NH(3)) removal and greenhouse gas generation (nitrous oxide, N(2)O and methane, CH(4)) for gas-phase compost biofilters subject to a 100-day controlled drying process. Continuous recordings were made for the three gases and water vapor (2.21-h sampling cycle, each cycle consisted of three gas species, and water vapor, for a total of 10,050 data points). Media moisture conditions were classified into three corresponding media drying rate (DR) stages: Constant DR (wetter media), falling DR, and stable-dry system. The first-half of the constant DR period (0-750 h; MC=65-52%, w.b.) facilitated high NH(3) removal rates, but higher N(2)O generation and no CH(4) generation. At the drier stages of the constant DR (750-950 h; MC=52-48%, w.b.) NH(3) removal remained high but N(2)O net generation decreased to near zero. In the falling DR stage (1200-1480 h; MC=44-13%) N(2)O generation decreased, CH(4) increased, and NH(3) was no longer removed. No ammonia removal or greenhouse gas generation was observed in the stable-dry system (1500-2500 h; MC=13%). These results indicate that media should remain toward the drier region of the constant DR (in close proximity to the falling DR stage; MC=50%, approx.), to maintain high levels of NH(3) removal, reduced levels of N(2)O generation, and nullify levels of CH(4) generation.
Dissociating Motivational Direction and Affective Valence Specific Emotions Alter Central Motor Processes

We aimed to clarify the relation between affective valence and motivational direction by specifying how central and peripheral components of extension movements are altered according to specific unpleasant affective states. As predicted, premotor reaction time was quicker for extension movements initiated during exposure to attack than for extension movements initiated during exposure to all other valence categories (mutilation, erotic couples, opposite-sex nudes, neutral humans, household objects, blank). Exposure to erotic couples and mutilations yielded greater peak force than exposure to images of attack, neutral humans, and household objects. Finally, motor reaction time and peak electromyographic amplitude were not altered by valence. These findings indicate that unpleasant states do not unilaterally prime withdrawal movements, and that the quick execution of extension movements during exposure to threatening images is due to rapid premotor, rather than motor, reaction time. Collectively, our findin...
GENE EXPRESSION OF GLUT3 AND GLUT1 GLUCOSE TRANSPORTERS IN HUMAN BRAIN TUMORS

GLUT3 glucose transporter gene expression is confined to neurons, while GLUT1 gene expression is limited to endothelial cells in normal brain. Thus far, neither of the GLUT genes has been shown to be consistently expressed in glial cells in adult brain in vivo under normal conditions. However, GLUT gene expression may be aberrant in human brain glial tumors. The present investigation shows that the GLUT1 and GLUT3 transcripts are differentially expressed in a series of 20 human brain tumors. The GLUT1/actin mRNA ratio increased in parallel to the astrocytoma grade, compared to a control human brain cortex, although no change in this ratio was seen in 5 meningiomas. Immunoreactive GLUT1 protein was not detectable in human brain tumors, including high-grade gliomas. Both 4.2 or 2.7 kb GLUT3/actin mRNA ratios showed a linear correlation with the glioma grade (P < 0.025), and the GLUT3-immunoreactive protein was also expressed in high grade gliomas. These studies provide evidence for induction of GLUT1 and GLUT3 gene expression in malignant glial cells, and the mRNA levels correlate with the biologic aggressiveness of the tumor. The detection of immunoreactive GLUT3, but not GLUT1, in the high grade gliomas suggest the GLUT3 isoform may be the predominant glucose transporter in highly malignant glial cells of human brain.
Estradiol increases the behavioral response to arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamus.

Abstract Flank marking, a form of hamster scent marking controlled by arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamus (MPOA-AH), is altered by circulating levels of gonadal hormones. We hypothesized that gonadal hormones influence flank marking either by altering the availability of AVP for release in the MPOA-AH or by altering the sensitivity or responsiveness of MPOA-AH neurons to AVP. We examined the levels of AVP immunoreactivity (AVP-IR) over the estrous cycle in the MPOA-AH and other areas. Arginine vasopressin immunoreactivity did not vary in the areas examined as a function of the stage of the estrous cycle. In Experiment 2 we measured flank marking after MPOA-AH microinjection of AVP in ovariectomized hamsters receiving estradiol or empty Silastic capsules. Hamsters implanted with estradiol capsules marked significantly more in response to AVP than did hamsters receiving no hormone replacement. These results support the hypothesis that estradiol influences flank marking by altering the sensitivity or responsiveness of the MPOA-AH or its efferents to AVP. Additionally, we observed an unexpected effect of AVP in estradiol-treated hamsters. After microinjection with 90 μ M AVP, lordosis occurred spontaneously in 60% of the hamsters even though no male was present. We suggest that female hamsters may be a useful model to further investigate the role of AVP and AVP-like peptides in female sexual behavior.
Perfecting precision of predicting prion propensity

Amyloid is a highly structured fibrous aggregate of a single type of protein. It propagates by recruiting the normal form of the protein and converting it into the amyloid conformation as it joins the growing fiber. All proteins appear to have some capacity to form amyloid under denaturing conditions (1), and some amyloid is functional (2), but many proteins that form amyloid under physiological conditions accumulate as aggregates associated with tissue pathology in many human diseases. The latter have a higher than normal propensity to form amyloid, and the common structural features shared by the amyloid fibers they form had suggested they possess similar amino acid motifs that contribute to this propensity. With an interest in identifying such motifs, various algorithms have been developed that analyze amino acid sequences of proteins to predict their tendency to aggregate or to form amyloid (3⇓⇓–6). A paper in PNAS by Toombs et al. (7), from Eric Ross's group at Colorado State University, describes an algorithm they call the prion aggregation prediction algorithm (PAPA) that significantly improves the precision of predicting the ability of a protein to propagate as a prion in yeast.
Causes for the variable superconducting transition temperature in uranium metal

Abstract The variable superconducting transition temperature of uranium metal appears to depend upon the variability of a low-temperature martensitic transformation. Local structural fluctuations and phase instabilities are suggested as resulting when the transformation is incomplete. The thermodynamic stability of a two-phase modulated structure involving domain formation is discussed along with possible consequences of a domain configuration. Factors affecting Tc are used to explain the anamalous thermal property behavior of α-phase uranium.
Slide tracheoplasty for congenital tracheal stenosis: A case report

Abstract Background/Purpose: A variety of techniques have been used to manage pediatric congenital tracheal stenosis. The authors report the technique of slide tracheoplasty for a child with long congenital tracheal stenosis. Methods: A 2-year-old male presented with a history of stridor with feeding. Bronchoscopy findings showed 50% stenosis from complete cartilaginous rings, extending from 2.5 cm below the vocal cords to 2 cm above the carina. Through a neck incision, the trachea was exposed from the cricoid to both bronchi and transected at the midpoint of the stenosis. The upper trachea was split anteriorly to the area of stenosis just below the cricoid. The lower trachea was split posteriorly in the midline. Posterior dissection allowed sliding and anastomosis of both tracheal segments while the lateral vascular supply was left intact. A brace was placed to maintain cervical flexion, and the patient underwent extubation in the operating room. Results: He recovered without complication and was discharged on postoperative day 4. Conclusion: Slide tracheoplasty offers several advantages for tracheal reconstruction because it is performed with the native tracheal tissues, can be accomplished through a transverse collar incision, and can repair long stenoses without significant tracheal shortening. J Pediatr Surg 35:259-261. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Differential expression of miRNAs in colon cancer between African and Caucasian Americans: implications for cancer racial health disparities.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality are higher in African Americans (AAs) than in Caucasian Americans (CAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to be dysregulated in colonic and other neoplasias. The aim of this exploratory study was to identify candidate miRNAs that could contribute to potential biological differences between AA and CA colon cancers. Total RNA was isolated from tumor and paired adjacent normal colon tissue from 30 AA and 31 CA colon cancer patients archived at Stony Brook University (SBU) and Washington University (WU)-St. Louis Medical Center. miRNA profiles were determined by probing human genome-wide miRNA arrays with RNA isolated from each sample. Using repeated measures analysis of variance (RANOVA), miRNAs were selected that exhibited significant (p 1.5, p<0.05) main effects of race and/or tumor. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) was used to confirm miRNAs identified by microarray analysis. Candidate miRNA targets were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. RANOVA results indicated that miR-182, miR152, miR-204, miR-222 and miR-202 exhibited significant race and tumor main effects. Of these miRNAs, q-PCR analysis confirmed that miR-182 was upregulated in AA vs. CA tumors and exhibited significant race:tumor interaction. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the levels of FOXO1 and FOXO3A, two potential miR-182 targets, are reduced in AA tumors. miRNAs may play a role in the differences between AA and CA colon cancer. Specifically, differences in miRNA expression levels of miR-182 may contribute to decreased survival in AA colon cancer patients.
Ontogeny of the phagocytic and bactericidal activities of turkey heterophils and their potentiation by Salmonella enteritidis-immune lymphokines

Heterophils, the functional equivalent to the mammalian neutrophil, are important mediators of natural resistance against invasive pathogens in poultry. Young poultry are susceptible to pathogens, such as Salmonella enteritidis, during the first week post-hatch. No studies have evaluated the ontogeny of heterophil function in turkeys during the first few weeks post-hatch. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown day-old poults were protected against S. enteritidis organ invasion following immunoprophylactic administration of chicken S. enteritids immune lymphokines. Therefore, the objective in the present study was to characterize the development of phagocytosis and bacterial killing by turkey heterophils during the first 3 weeks of life and to compare the effect of immune lymphokines on the development of heterophil phagocytosis and killing during the first 3 weeks post-hatch. Both functional phagocytosis and killing activities were age-dependent events. During the first 1–7 days post-hatch, little functional activity was demonstrated which apparently is associated with susceptibility. Optimal heterophil phagocytosis and killing activities were reached 14–21 days post-hatch. Administrating immune lymphokines significantly potentiated phagocytosis (P<0.01) and killing (P<0.001) by turkey heterophils. In fact, immune lymphokine administration to 1–7-day-old poults augmented phagocytosis and killing activities of heterophils equivalent to levels found in functionally mature 14–21-day-old poults. These results demonstrate the ontogeny of the functional activity of the turkey heterophil is an age-related phenomenon, with inefficient phagocytosis and killing during the first week post-hatch. Prophylactic administration of immune lymphokines significantly potentiated the functional activity of the heterophil from poults during the first 3 weeks of life. Most importantly the administration of immune lymphokines enhanced the functional activity of heterophils from 1–7-day-old poults to levels comparable to that of an immunologically mature bird.
Early female marriage in the developing world

Many women in the developing world are subject to marriage at an early age. Most such women have little choice in the age at which they marry, or whom they marry. In this article, we examine patterns and trends of early marriage in the developing world. The incidence varies widely, from a high of 70 per cent in south Asia to a low of 30 per cent in South East Asia. Women who marry young tend to have less education and begin childrearing earlier, and have less decision-making power in the household. They are also more likely to experience domestic violence.
Composite materials for tokamak wall armor, limiters, and beam dump applications

Abstract A new generation of composite materials, graphite fiber reinforced metal carbides and borides, is being develop, ed. These materials have high strengths and excellent chemical and mechanical stability. Their properties can be tailored over wide ranges to meet service requirements. By using components such as boron, silicon or titanium, these composites offer promise as low Z number materials for limiters, wall armor, beam stops, etc., in Tokamaks.
Teachers' comfort and importance ratings for interventions for preschoolers with AD/HD

The main purpose of this study was to explore preschool teachers' ratings of both the perceived importance of and their comfort levels implementing interventions for children with AD/HD. Participants included 138 teachers from licensed child care facilities. Teachers completed a questionnaire that required them to rate, on a 7-point Likert-type scale, the importance of 43 interventions and how comfortable they would be executing the strategy if asked to do so in the classroom. Overall, teachers concluded that the majority of the interventions were mostly important and believed they would be comfortable using the strategies. In addition, findings indicated that preschool teachers' importance and comfort ratings were highly correlated. Teacher variables (i.e., years of teaching experience, educational level, and having a student with AD/HD) were not correlated with, or discriminative of, comfort and importance ratings. The implications of these findings are discussed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Use of Biomarkers After Inflicted Traumatic Brain Injury: Insight into Etiology, Pathophysiology, and Biochemistry

Inflicted traumatic brain injury (iTBI) is the most common cause of severe brain injury in infants. Proper diagnosis is difficult even for experienced emergency department physicians. Misdiagnosis is common and can have catastrophic consequences for patients and society. After iTBI, biochemical markers are released from brain tissue and pass into the cerebrospinal fluid and serum. Measuring the concentrations of these markers may help to identify brain injury that could otherwise be missed. Biomarkers may also be able to help differentiate noninflicted TBI from iTBI, assist in the timing of iTBI, improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of iTBI, and predict outcome after iTBI.
The Incredible Egg: Investigating the Design Education Challenges and Complexity of the Egg Drop Project

Designing a system that will protect an egg dropped from a predefined height is a common experience for many K-12 students and undergraduates in engineering. Often presented in the context of the scientific method, results from these experiments are used to teach concepts of impulse, acceleration, and impact modeling. When done in the classroom, students are usually given a box of pre-defined supplies and a small time frame with which to complete the design. But what educational challenges and outcomes can be gathered from this experience when the problem is tackled using the systematic design process? In this paper, outcomes from the various steps of the design process conducted over a six-week research project by two high school students are presented. Results include the generation of a requirements list, the creation of a functional model, results of brainstorming sessions, concept analysis, model validation through experimentation, optimization, and final design testing. Challenges faced during each step of the design process, and the surprising complexity of the problem, are also discussed. Additionally, the challenges associated with teaching design principles to high school students for a multidisciplinary and multiobjective problem are addressed.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Ethical aspects of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

Summary In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) confronts moral reflection with a wide range of concerns. Some are similar to those raised by artificial insemination such as the procurement of sperm, the goods of marriage and donor gametes. Others are unique to IVF-ET such as surrogacy, the status of the embryo and cryopreservation.
Update on the John D. Isaacs Memorial Sea Grant Scholarship

The John D. Isaacs Memorial Sea Grant Scholarship has been funded and administered by the California Sea Grant College Program since 1981. The objectives, rationale, method of awarding, recipients to date and a progress assessment are discussed in this paper. Five awards of $10,000 each have been given to California high school seniors for the pursuit of a marine science or technology degree in a California institution of higher education.
Spinal Angiolipoma: Case Report and Literature Review

AbstractBackground/Objective: Spinal angiolipoma (SAL) is an uncommon clinico-pathological entity.Design: Single case report.Methods: Retrospective data analysis.Findings: An obese woman with a 1-year history of progressive spastic paraparesis and acute deterioration underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine, the results of which suggested a tumor compressing the thoracic spinal cord. The histopathological examination of the completely resected tumor revealed an epidural angiolipoma.Conclusions: This case report offers a reminder that SAL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of long-standing, slowly progressive paraparesis. It remains unclear whether an increased body mass index might be a contributing factor to the development of SAL.
Pump-to-signal transfer of low-frequency intensity modulation in fiber optical parametric amplifiers

This paper describes the theoretical and experimental investigation of the transfer of low-frequency intensity modulation (IM) from pump to signal in fiber optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs). It is first established that low-frequency IM of the pump remains unchanged over the length of the amplifier in spite of the presence of parametric gain. The pump-power dependence of the OPA gain is then used to calculate the instantaneous effect of pump IM on the signal and idler output powers. These calculations are performed for both one- and two-pump OPAs. The main predictions are that 1) the ratio /spl rho/ of the signal intensity modulation depth to that of the pump varies across the OPA gain spectrum and 2) for a 20-dB gain, /spl rho/ can exceed 10 at some wavelengths, which indicates that this effect can be detrimental. Experiments have been performed to verify these predictions. Using sinusoidal IM of the pump, the resulting amplified signal IM was measured, and the experimental results were found to be in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.
Use of a Reverse Dot Blot Procedure To Identify the Presence of Multiple Serovars in Chlamydia trachomatis Urogenital Infection

Epidemiologic research requires identification of Chlamydia trachomatis serovars and detection of mixed infection. Antibody-based serotyping is unworkable when specimens are urine or vaginal swabs. We developed a reverse dot blot (RDB) to screen for multiple serotypes in these specimens. RDB yielded the predicted results on all artificially mixed samples and on seven of eight clinically mixed samples.
A Review of “Viewing Library Metrics from Different Perspectives: Inputs, Outputs, and Outcomes”

Viewing Library Metrics From Different Perspectives: Inputs, Outputs, and Outcomes investigates a set of qualitative and quantitative measurements that can be used to evaluate library collections, ...
A short history of ocean acidification science in the 20th century: a chemist's view

This review covers the development of ocean acidification science, with an emphasis on the creation of ocean chemical knowledge, through the course of the 20th century. This begins with the creation of the pH scale by Sorensen in 1909 and ends with the widespread knowledge of the impact of the "High CO 2 Ocean" by then well underway as the trajectory along the IPCC scenario pathways continues. By mid-century the massive role of the ocean in absorbing fossil fuel CO 2 was known to specialists, but not appreciated by the greater scientific community. By the end of the century the trade-offs between the beneficial role of the ocean in absorbing some 90% of all heat created, and the accumulation of some 50% of all fossil fuel CO 2 emitted, and the impacts on marine life were becoming more clear. This paper documents the evolution of knowledge throughout this period.
Gadolinium-conjugated gold nanoshells for multimodal diagnostic imaging and photothermal cancer therapy.

Multimodal imaging offers the potential to improve diagnosis and enhance the specificity of photothermal cancer therapy. Toward this goal, we have engineered gadolinium-conjugated gold nanoshells and demonstrated that they enhance contrast for magnetic resonance imaging, X-Ray, optical coherence tomography, reflectance confocal microscopy, and two-photon luminescence. Additionally, these particles effectively convert near-infrared light to heat, which can be used to ablate cancer cells. Ultimately, these studies demonstrate the potential of gadolinium-nanoshells for image-guided photothermal ablation.
Teenage Fathers Stresses During Gestation and Early Parenthood

To determine the nature of the stresses experienced by teenage fathers, 20 youths (mean age, 17.6 years) were interviewed from one to four times during the prenatal period and at four to six weeks following delivery. While all conceptions had occurred premaritally, most couples had married by the time of delivery. A total of 44 interviews were performed: four during first trimester, 12 during second trimester, 17 during third trimester, and 11 postpartum. Stressors reported by the subjects were grouped into four categories: vocational-educational concerns, concerns about the health of the mother and/or the baby, concerns about future parenthood, and problems with relationships. It was found that the intensity of these concerns changed throughout pregnancy and the neonatal period. Subjects who had expected the pregnancy to occur tended to report less stress during the third trimester than did teens who had not antic ipated conception.
Syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus: prevention and politics.

In the first half of the 20th century, syphilis was an important public health problem in the United States. With the advent of penicillin and the end of the Second World War, the incidence of syphilis declined. Nonetheless, epidemics sprouted about every 10 years. In the mid-1980s, one such epidemic involved men who had sex with men, and with the adoption of safe sex practices as a consequence of the growing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, the number of cases declined. In the early 1990s, a new epidemic struck heterosexuals (and their newborns), primarily those who traded sex for crack cocaine. Nonetheless, by the late 1990s, the number of cases of syphilis in the United States was so low and the cases were so geographically restricted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Ga) launched a syphilis elimination program. Because syphilis disproportionately affected African American individuals living in poverty in the southeastern United States and in major urban areas, the program primarily focused on this risk group with the goal of decreasing one of this Nation's most glaring racial disparities in health. 1(p7) By all accounts, the program was successful in lowering the rates of syphilis in its targeted risk group (Figure 1).
Morphological and Histochemical Characteristics of Pigments in Aging F344 Rats

Pigments found in spleen, lymph nodes, kidney, thyroid, adrenal, liver, ovary, central nervous system, heart and connective tissues of aging F344 rats were studied morphologically and histochemically. The morphology of the pigment accumulations depended on the tissue affected. Pigments resembling lipofuscin were found in most of these tissues. The ultrastructural appearance of siderosomes in splenic macrophages suggested that erythrocyte degradation was responsible for pigment production. Adrenal ultrastructure showed that lipofuscin-like material may have originated from degradation of lipid droplets of epithelial cells.
Iterative block decision feedback equalization for MIMO underwater acoustic communications

A new receiver design using iterative block decision-feedback equalizer (BDFE) is proposed for high data rate single-carrier multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) underwater acoustic (UWA) communications. The adoption of BDFE enables a sequence-based log-likelihood ratio (LLR) calculation during iterative equalization, thus leading to better performance and faster convergence than existing low-complexity iterative equalization methods using symbol-based LLR evaluation. The proposed BDFE method is applied to overlapped blocks to reduce performance degradation at the tail of each block. The block size is flexibly selected depending on the practical channel condition. The proposed receiver scheme has been tested by extensive experimental data and proved to be robust to different transmission environments with consistently good detection performance. Data from collected during the SPACE08 experiment near Martha's Vineyard and the GOMEX08 experiment at the Gulf of Mexico, are both presented here.
Variation in nutrient resorption by desert shrubs

Plant nutrient resorption prior to leaf senescence is an important nutrient conservation mechanism for aridland plant species. However, little is known regarding the phylogenetic and environmental factors influencing this trait. Our objective was to compare nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) resorption in a suite of species in the Asteraceae and Chenopodiaceae and assess the impact of soil salinity on nitrogen resorption. Although asters and chenopods did not differ in N resorption proficiency, chenopods were more proficient than asters at resorbing P. Plant responses to salinity gradients were species-specific and likely related to different salt-tolerances of the species. During the three year study, precipitation varied 6.4- and 9.9-fold from the long term averages at our two desert sites; despite these differences, annual variation in nutrient resorption was not linked to annual precipitation. More detailed studies are required to understand the influence of salinity and precipitation on resorption. Understanding controls on this trait may give insight into how species will respond to anthropogenic soil salinization and desertification.
Non-smoking male adolescents' reactions to cigarette warnings.

Background: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working to introduce new graphic warning labels for cigarette packages, the first change in cigarette warnings in more than 25 years. We sought to examine whether warnings discouraged participants from wanting to smoke and altered perceived likelihood of harms among adolescent males and whether these warning effects varied by age. Methods: A national sample of 386 non-smoking American males ages 11–17 participated in an online experiment during fall 2010. We randomly assigned participants to view warnings using a 262 between-subjects design. The warnings described a harm of smoking (addiction or lung cancer) using text only or text plus an image used on European cigarette package warnings. Analyses tested whether age moderated the warnings’ impact on risk perceptions and smoking motivations. Results: The warnings discouraged most adolescents from wanting to smoke, but lung cancer warnings discouraged them more than addiction warnings did (60% vs. 34% were ‘‘very much’’ discouraged, p,.001). Including an image had no effect on discouragement. The warnings affected several beliefs about the harms from smoking, and age moderated these effects. Adolescents said addiction was easier to imagine and more likely to happen to them than lung cancer. They also believed that their true likelihood of experiencing any harm was lower than what an expert would say. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that warnings focusing on lung cancer, rather than addiction, are more likely to discourage wanting to smoke among adolescent males and enhance their ability to imagine the harmful consequences of smoking. Including images on warnings had little effect on non-smoking male adolescents’ discouragement or beliefs, though additional research on the effects of pictorial warnings for this at-risk population is needed as the FDA moves forward with developing new graphic labels.