cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Grey relational analysis on classroom teaching of 37 lessons in G Middle School

Experts of a expert group observed 37 lessons within a day in G Middle School. In this paper, those 37 different grades, different subjects and different teachers teaching lessons, in accordance with the teaching effect as the mother sequence, grade, subject, coaching teachers as sub sequence, we made the gray relational analysis of classroom teaching, and obtained the conclusion that the older, the higher of titles, the higher grades, the better of teaching effectiveness, provided a quantitative basis for management of the school curriculum.
Selective adaptation of linguistic feature detectors

Abstract Using a selective adaptation procedure, evidence was obtained for the existence of linguistic feature detectors, analogous to visual feature detectors. These detectors are each sensitive to a restricted range of voice onset times, the physical continuum underlying the perceived phonetic distinctions between voiced and voiceless stop consonants. The sensitivity of a particular detector can be reduced selectively by repetitive presentation of its adequate stimulus. This results in a shift in the locus of the phonetic boundary separating the voiced and voiceless stops.
Carbon‐13 NMR spectra of a series of para‐substituted phenyl isothiocyanates. Linear free energy relationships for carbon‐13 substituent chemical shifts

Carbon-13 chemical shifts are reported for 16 para-substituted phenyl isothiocyanates measured at 1 and 10 mol % in chloroform-d solution. Data for the NCS group were not obtained at 1 mol %, but concentration effects for the other resonances were negligible. Hammett, dual substituent parameter (DSP) and DSP-nonlinear resonance (DSP-NLR) analyses were used to evaluate substituent effects on the substituent chemical shifts (SCS) for the ipso-carbon (C-1), C-2, and the NCS carbon atoms. A good Hammett correlation was observed for C-1 (νp+ = 8.1 ppm, r = 0.98 at 1 mol %) but was improved for the higher order correlations with the following results, DSP:ρ I = 5.4, ρR° = 22.2, r = 0.998; DSP-NLR: ρI = 5.6, ρR° = 20.5, ϵ = −0.22, r = 0.999. The 10 mol % data were very similar except the value of ϵ was −0.26 and confirms the phenyl-bonded NCS moiety as a mild electron acceptor substituent. Hammett correlations were unsuccessful for the C-2 data, but fairly good results were obtained from the higher order analyses. For the 1 mol % data, DSP: νI = 1.6, νR° = −2.0, r = 0.976; DSP-NLR: νI = 1.8, νR° = −2.6, ϵ = 1.1, r = 0.982. Excellent correlations were obtained for the 10 mol % NCS carbon data. Hammett: νp° = 6.2, r = 0.997; DSP: νI = 5.9, νR° = 7.0, r = 0.997; DSP-NLR: νI = 5.8, νR° = 7.6, ϵ = 0.25, r = 0.997. The positive ν values in these three correlations contrast the negative values usually observed for carbonyl and thiocarbonyl carbons, and more closely parallel results previously reported for the β-carbon of styrenes and benzylidene anilines with para-substituents in the aniline ring.
Alkaline hydrolysis of some erythronolide a derivatives

Abstract The saponification of certain protected benzylidene C.3-C.5, C.9-C.11 erythronolide-A derivatives is described. A remarkable solvent effect was noted which eliminates the formation of side-products during the alkaline hydrolysis.
Perception of intonation in Mandarin Chinese

There is a tendency across languages to use a rising pitch contour to convey question intonation and a falling pitch contour to convey a statement. In a lexical tone language such as Mandarin Chinese, rising and falling pitch contours are also used to differentiate lexical meaning. How, then, does the multiplexing of the F0 channel affect the perception of question and statement intonation in a lexical tone language? This study investigated the effects of lexical tones and focus on the perception of intonation in Mandarin Chinese. The results show that lexical tones and focus impact the perception of sentence intonation. Question intonation was easier for native speakers to identify on a sentence with a final falling tone and more difficult to identify on a sentence with a final rising tone, suggesting that tone identification intervenes in the mapping of F0 contours to intonational categories and that tone and intonation interact at the phonological level. In contrast, there is no evidence that the interaction between focus and intonation goes beyond the psychoacoustic level. The results provide insights that will be useful for further research on tone and intonation interactions in both acoustic modeling studies and neurobiological studies.
Gronwall's inequality on discrete fractional calculus

In this paper, we introduce discrete fractional sum equations and inequalities. We obtain the equivalence of an initial value problem for a discrete fractional equation and a discrete fractional sum equation. Then we give an explicit solution to the linear discrete fractional sum equation. This allows us to state and prove an analogue of Gronwall's inequality on discrete fractional calculus. We employ a nabla, or backward difference; we employ the Riemann-Liouville definition of the fractional difference. As a result, we obtain Gronwall's inequality for discrete calculus with the nabla operator. We illustrate our results with an application that gives continuous dependence of solutions of initial value problems on initial conditions.
Amygdala stimulation disrupts the magnitude of reinforcement contribution to long-term memory

Rats were trained in a symbolic delayed spatial matching-to-sample task using an eight-arm radial maze. Providing the animals with differential cues predicting a small or large reward on a subsequent retention test resulted in significantly better long-term retention (23 h) for the expectation of the large than the small reward. Electrical stimulation of the amygdala applied during, but not after, 10 sec exposure to the appropriate food cue predicting a large reward resulted in a retention deficit at the 23-h test delay. Similar treatments had no effect at a 20-min retention test. It is proposed that the amygdala is involved in processing of positive emotional attributes of specific memories.
One-dimensional all injection nonquasi-static models for arbitrarily doped quasi-neutral layers in bipolar junction transistors including plasma-induced energy-gap narrowing

Nonquasi-static circuit models accounting for carrier propagation delay in quasi-neutral layers are presented for bipolar junction transistors operating at all injection levels. The models are analytically derived from the Shockley equations for low injection and high injection and are empirically fitted for moderate injection. Large majority current flow in the base, which includes the case of low common-emitter current gain, is also taken into account. The models accommodate all doping profiles via a piecewise-exponential fitting scheme. For very high injection, the resulting electron-hole plasma reduces the energy gap, and this effect is also included. In the simulation of transient or frequency responses, the models provide better accuracy than does the conventional Gummel-Poon (GP) model. >
Real-time photoacoustic tomography of cortical hemodynamics in small animals

For the first time, the hemodynamics within the entire cerebral cortex of a mouse were studied by using photoacoustic tomography (PAT) in real time. The PAT system, based on a 512-element full-ring ultrasound array, received photoacoustic signals primarily from a slice of 2-mm thickness. This system can provide high-resolution brain vasculature images. We also monitored the fast wash-in process of a photoacoustic contrast agent in the mouse brain. Our results demonstrated that PAT is a powerful imaging modality that can be potentially used to study small animal neurofunctional activities.
On parallel algorithms for single-fault diagnosis in fault propagation graph systems

Systems modeled as directed graphs where nodes represent components and edges represent fault propagation between components, are studied from a parallel computation viewpoint. Some of the components are equipped with alarms that ring in response to an abnormal condition. The single fault diagnosis problem is to compute the set of all potential failure sources, P/sub S/, that correspond to a set of ringing alarms A/sub R/. There is a lower bound for any sequential algorithm for this problem (under a decision tree model).
Glutamine metabolism and the unfolded protein response in MYC-driven breast cancer

Antiestrogens are used to treat estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast tumors that constitute 70% of all breast cancer cases. Unfortunately, acquired resistance to antiestrogen therapy remains a critical clinical obstacle. Here we show that human breast cancer cells and rat mammary tumors that have acquired resistance to antiestrogens express increased levels of MYC, a major regulator of both glutamine and glucose. Glutamine metabolism and glucose uptake were elevated in ER+ antiestrogen resistant cells (LCC9) compared with sensitive cells (LCC1). Inhibition of MYC, with siRNA or small molecule inhibitor, reduced cell viability and uptake of both glutamine and glucose in resistant cells. In resistant cells, MYC expression controlled protein levels of glutamine, glutamate and glucose transporters as well as GLUL and GLS, two enzymes that promote glutamate-glutamine inter-conversion. Increased MYC function in resistant cells correlated with increased cellular sensitivity to deprivation of, and also inhibitors of, both glutamine and glucose. While apoptosis eliminated all resistant cells in glucose-only conditions beyond 72 h, in glutamine-only conditions, the unfolded protein response (UPR) via GRP78-IRE1a and activating JNK and increased CHOP, induced apoptosis in majority of the cells but promoted survival in some. The antiestrogen faslodex (FAS; ICI 182,780) significantly reduced glucose uptake in antiestrogen resistant cells compared with sensitive cells. Thus, our findings reveal unique roles for MYC in promoting metabolic flexibility in and promoting survival in antiestrogen resistant breast cancer cells via the UPR. Targeting glutamine and glucose metabolism pathways, therefore, may provide novel strategies in treating endocrine resistant breast cancers.
World War Two and Labor: A Lost Cause?

Recent interpretations of World War Two have stressed the decisive role of economics in the success of the Allies and especially in the failure of the Axis. Yet the place of labor in the war remains under-appreciated. ILWCH commissioned several essays for a special issue on wartime labor mobilization, forced and free. This introduction briefly compares Nazi Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union, and the United States, and highlights the implications of the differing wartime labor regimes for the postwar period.
The Role of Copy Number Variation in African Americans with Type 2 Diabetes-Associated End Stage Renal Disease.

This study investigated the association of copy number variants (CNVs) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and T2Dassociated end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in African Americans. Using the Affymetrix 6.0 array, >900,000 CNV probes spanning the genome were interrogated in 965 African Americans with T2D-ESRD and 1029 non-diabetic African American controls. Previously identified and novel CNVs were separately analyzed and were evaluated for insertion/deletion status and then used as predictors in a logistic regression model to test for association. One common CNV insertion on chromosome 1 was significantly associated with T2D-ESRD (p=6.17×10 -5 , OR=1.63) after multiple comparison correction. This CNV region encompasses the genes AMY2A and AMY2B, which encode amylase isoenzymes produced by the pancreas. Additional common and novel CNVs approaching significance with disease were also detected. These exploratory results require further replication but suggest the involvement of the AMY2A/AMY2B CNV in T2D and/or T2D-ESRD, and indicate that CNVs may contribute to susceptibility for these diseases.
A Psychological Biathlon: The Relationship Between Level of Experiential Avoidance and Perseverance on Two Challenging Tasks

The degree to which experiential avoidance may represent a functional response class was examined by comparing the perseverance of participants displaying high versus low levels of experiential avoidance, as assessed by the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (Hayes et al., 2004), during a “psychological biathlon” consisting of 2 challenging tasks that previously had only been studied separately. Consistent with previous research, high avoidant participants were less tolerant of pain and were outperformed by low avoidant participants during a distress-inducing perceptual–motor task. The 2 groups of participants also differed significantly from each other on a composite perseverance measure derived from standard scores on each of the separate tasks, suggesting that experiential avoidance operates as a functional response class. We discuss implications of the findings for the assessment, further investigation, and conceptualization of experiential avoidance as a core process that supports diverse forms of human suffering and dysfunctional behavior.
Venom proteins of the endoparasitic wasp Chelonus Near Curvimaculatus: characterization of the major components

The venom apparatus of Chelonus near curvimaculatus (Braconidae) has a simple (type 2) morphology. Most of the venom is accumulated in a thin-walled venom reservoir at the distal end of the gland filament as a 10–17% protein solution. The best results for isolation of the proteins were obtained using 7.5% sucrose in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. There are four major proteins, with respective Mr values of 32,500, 47,000, 53,000, and 131,000. Of these, those of Mr 32,500, 53,000, and 131,000 contain carbohydrate. Most of the venom proteins are acidic with pI values between 4.9 and 6.9. The venom does not show proteolytic activity corresponding to serine or thiol proteinases, nor does it show antitrypsin or antichymotrypsin activity. Using immunoblotting techniques, it was established that during parasitization of a single host egg (Trichoplusia ni) about 1/200 of a venom reservoir equivalent is injected. All major venom proteins have been found in stung T. ni eggs; thus, no detectable changes in their molecular weight occur during injection or shortly after injection into the host.
NEW ONSET ASTHMA IN THE ELDERLY

Asthma is a common, chronic respiratory disease affecting patients of all ages. Eosinophilic airway inflammation, often driven by type I hypersensitivity to environmental allergens, is a critical pathologic component of asthma. Because the expected effects of aging include decreases in the prevalence and incidence of allergy, the magnitude and affinity of general antibody responses, helper-T cell activity, and the capacity for immune tolerance, 21 one might expect asthma to be a disease of the young. Asthma prevalence does peak in childhood 9 , 10 , 18 ; however, it commonly persists, recurs, or even presents de novo later in life, 15 , 28 , 29 seemingly in defiance of what we know about the aging human immune system. After outlining relevant characteristics of asthma in patients in younger age groups, this article focuses on new onset asthma in elderly patients, examining its typical clinical presentation, epidemiology, and pathogenesis. The diagnostic and therapeutic challenges encountered in managing elderly asthmatic patients are addressed elsewhere in this issue.
How uniform is cAMP signaling? Focus on “Systems analysis of GLP-1 receptor signaling in pancreatic β-cells”

the goal of many cell physiologists is to ascribe cellular behavior to specific molecular signaling mechanisms. However, the reductionist experimental approach commonly used to understand molecular function often makes this task harder rather than easier to accomplish because of the complexity of
How robust is the hydrogen-bonded amide ‘ladder’ motif?

The well-known hydrogen-bonded ladder displayed by amides in the solid state, is readily disrupted and reduced to an R22(8) motif if a competitive hydrogen-bond acceptor is incorporated in the molecular structure of the amide. When a weaker hydrogen-bond acceptor (i.e. –NO2, –CN, –Cl, –Br) is present, the ladder persists in about every other case, whereas if a stronger hydrogen-bond acceptor is introduced (such as a N-heterocycle), the ladder is very unlikely to appear. If a strong hydrogen-bond acceptor is present, the amide⋯amide dimer ‘survives’ a little over 50% of the time. This conclusion is based upon the synthesis and structural characterization of six pyrazole-decorated benzamides in addition to an examination of relevant data from the CSD. The anti hydrogen atom of the amide moiety is much more likely to engage in an N–H⋯N(heterocycle) hydrogen bond instead of an N–H⋯OC (amide) interaction.
Comparative study of chloride, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium content of seeds in temperate and tropical halophytes

The seeds of forbs, grass, and woody halophytes were collected from a cool moist temperate habitat of North America and subtropical maritime desert conditions of Karachi, Pakistan. Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride concentrations as well as total ash content were determined. Ion concentrations of seeds are expressed both as relative values and on a dry weight basis. Plants were found to vary in the total ash content of seeds and the relative distribution of ions. In general, temperate forbs and grasses had lower ion content of seeds and several tropical shrub species had the highest ionic content.
Coercive Versus Cooperative Environments: The Collateral Effects in Prisons

There has long been debate over what constitutes “effective” penal environments. The purpose of this article is to examine the effects of two disparate social environments on a group of women incar...
First report of a novel and phenotypically distinct stem cell population: Neonatal stem cells

INTRODUCTION: Our recent studies revealed that embryonic stem cells are superior to adult bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (aBMSC) in protecting native tissue following ischemia. It seemed logical that BMSCs from younger hosts (neonates nBMSC) may be more potent and functionally distinct when compared to aBMSC. But nBMSCs have not yet been explored. We hypothesized that nBMSCs: 1) represent a phenotypically distinct stem cell source; 2) produce more IGF-1 than aBMSC following stimulation; and, 3) exhibit greater stimulated MAPKactivation than aBMSCs.
Alon Goshen-Gottstein. The Sinner and the Amnesiac: The Rabbinic Invention of Elisha Ben Abuya and Eleazar Ben Arach . Contraversions: Jews and Other Differences. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2000. xii, 416 pp.

In The Sinner and the Amnesiac, Alan Goshen-Gottstein returns to the question of rabbinic biography with a comprehensive study of all traditions about Elisha ben Abuya, also known as Aher, “the Other.” (One chapter is devoted to the few traditions of R. Eleazar b. Arakh, a sage who reportedly forgot all his knowledge of Torah.) Goshen-Gottstein also provides a thorough summary of the secondary literature on Elisha, whom scholars variously have portrayed as a mystic, gnostic, apostate, philosophical atheist, and heretic. He appends a complete Hebrew version of the main Bavli story of Elisha including all manuscript variants.
Quantitative assessment of hepatic function by means of 99mTc-mebrofenin in healthy horses.

99mTc-mebrofenin is used in humans and small animals to assess hepatic function. This study was undertaken to measure hepatic clearance of 9 9 m Tc-mebrofenin in healthy horses and to determine whether feed deprivation and increased serum total bilirubin (TBIL) concentration alter 9 9 m Tc-mebrofenin clearance. Plasma clearance of 9 9 m Tc-mebrofenin was determined in 7 healthy horses at 0, 48, and 96 hours of feed withholding. Serum TBIL and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations were measured every 24 hours. 9 9 m Tc-mebrofenin (4.16 ′ 0.62 mCi, mean ′ SD) was injected into a jugular vein, and blood samples were retrieved from the contralateral jugular vein. A plasma time-activity curve of 9 9 m Tc-mebrofenin was generated, from which the area under the curve (AUC) and the T 1 /2 of the fast-phase (T 1 /2 ) and slow-phase (T 1 /2) were calculated. Mean ′ SD AUC was 17,700 ′ 4,257, 18,616 ′ 8.078, and 16,168 ′ 6,031 counts per minute (cpm) at 0, 48, and 96 hours, respectively; mean ′ SD T 1 /2 f was 2.80 ′ 0.38 minutes. 3.52 ′ 1.46 minutes, and 3.82 ′ 1.29 minutes at 0, 48, and 96 hours, respectively; median T 1 /2 s was 63.9, 49.2, and 45.8 minutes at 0. 48. and 96 hours, respectively. No difference was detected between the values of AUC. T 1 /2 f , and T 1 /2 s at 0, 48, and 96 hours. There was a significant increase in TBIL with fasting, with a mean ′ SD of 6.3 ′ 1.3 mg/dL at 96 hours. NEFAs increased, reaching a plateau at 48 hours (650 ′ 152 μmol/L). Plasma TBIL concentrations did not correlate with AUC or T 1 /2 s but correlated weakly with T 1 /2 f (r = 0.50). Plasma NEFA concentrations did not correlate with AUC, T 1 /2 s , or T 1 /2 f values. This study suggests that 9 9 m Tc-mebroienin plasma clearance is not affected by feed withholding and that hyperbilirubinemia associated with feed withholding does not affect the hepatic extraction efficiency of this radiopharmaceutical.
Do environmental factors affect recruits per spawner anomalies of New England groundfish

We evaluated the influence of environmental factors on recruits per spawner (RS) anomalies of 12 New England groundfish stocks. Nonparametric methods were used to analyse time-series of RS anomalies derived from stock-recruitment data in recent assessments. The 12 stocks occur in three geographic regions: the Gulf of Maine (cod Gadus morhua, redfish Sebastes fasciatus, winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus, American plaice Hippoglossoides platessoides, witch flounder Glyptocephalus cynoglossus, and yellowtail flounder Limanda ferruginea), Georges Bank (cod, haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus, and yellowtail flounder), and Southern New England (summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus, yellowtail flounder, and winter flounder). Randomization tests were applied to detect years when RS anomalies were unusually high or low for comparison with oceanographic conditions such as the 1998 intrusion of Labrador Subarctic Slope water into the Gulf of Maine region. Randomization methods were also used to evaluate the central tendency and dispersion of all RS anomalies across stocks. Average RS anomalies were significantly positive in 1987 across stocks and regions, indicating that environmental forcing was coherent and exceptional in that year. Responses of RS values of individual stocks to lagged and contemporaneous environmental variables such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, water temperature, windstress, and shelf water volume anomalies were evaluated using generalized additive models. Overall, the NAO forward-lagged by 2 years had the largest impact on RS anomalies. This apparent effect is notable because it could provide a leading indicator of RS anomalies for some commercially exploited stocks. In particular, the three primary groundfish stocks on Georges Bank (cod, haddock, and yellowtail flounder) all exhibited positive RS anomalies when the NAO 2 variable was positive.
Regions, globalization, development

S COTT A. J. and S TORPER M. (2003) Regions, globalization, development , Reg. Studies 37 , 579-593. Regional economies are synergy-laden systems of physical and relational assets, and intensifying globalization is making this situation more and not less the case. As such, regions are an essential dimension of the development process, not just in the more advanced countries but also in less- developed parts of the world. Development theorists have hitherto largely tended to overlook this critical issue in favour of an emphasis on macroeconomic considerations. At the same time, conventional theories of the relationship between urbanization and economic development have favoured the view that the former is simply an effect of the latter. To be fully general, the theory of development must incorporate the role of cities and regions as active and causal elements in the economic growth process. This argument has consequences for development policy, especially in regard to the promotion of positive agglomeratio...
Auditory backward inhibition can ruin a concert hall

The work of von Bekesy and Haas is reviewed to understand the effect of reflected sound in a concert hall. The term "auditory backward inhibition" is explained. A table of acoustic effects of echoes of various timing is presented. The effect of auditory backward inhibition on speech is to cause hearing without understanding. The reason given by von Bekesy for the common opinion "acoustics are better in the balcony" is discussed. The most severe consequence of auditory backward inhibition is the degradation of orchestral ensemble. Conclusions include the opinion that acousticians should be more concerned with the performers than with the audience and that auditory backward inhibition explains the many acoustic disasters of the 20th Century.
Metrics for evaluating performance of prognostic techniques

Prognostics is an emerging concept in condition based maintenance (CBM) of critical systems. Along with developing the fundamentals of being able to confidently predict Remaining Useful Life (RUL), the technology calls for fielded applications as it inches towards maturation. This requires a stringent performance evaluation so that the significance of the concept can be fully exploited. Currently, prognostics concepts lack standard definitions and suffer from ambiguous and inconsistent interpretations. This lack of standards is in part due to the varied end-user requirements for different applications, time scales, available information, domain dynamics, etc. to name a few issues. Instead, the research community has used a variety of metrics based largely on convenience with respect to their respective requirements. Very little attention has been focused on establishing a common ground to compare different efforts. This paper surveys the metrics that are already used for prognostics in a variety of domains including medicine, nuclear, automotive, aerospace, and electronics. It also considers other domains that involve prediction-related tasks, such as weather and finance. Differences and similarities between these domains and health maintenance have been analyzed to help understand what performance evaluation methods may or may not be borrowed. Further, these metrics have been categorized in several ways that may be useful in deciding upon a suitable subset for a specific application. Some important prognostic concepts have been defined using a notational framework that enables interpretation of different metrics coherently. Last, but not the least, a list of metrics has been suggested to assess critical aspects of RUL predictions before they are fielded in real applications.
Infravesical nerve resection for detrusor dyssynergia. The Ingelman-Sundberg operation.

In 1959 a paper was published in Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand (38: 487, 1959) by Axel Ingelman-Sundberg (1) entitled “Partial Denervation of the Bladder—a new operation for the treatment of Urge Incontinence and similar conditions in women”. The basis for the operation was stated in the initial sentence: “The function of an autonomous neurogenic bladder is usually superior to that of a neurogenic bladder, where higher centers are still partially in function.” His operation consisted of transection of the preganglionic pelvic nerves near the inferior surface of the bladder and involved division of both the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nerves.
Distribution of glucose in blood of the chicken.

SummaryPlasma rather than whole blood transports most or all of the glucose in the chicken. In view of variations in red cell concentration in this species, a measurement of plasma sugar can often ...
Nyquist Meets Bode on the z-Plane

In this paper, we first present a new characterization of the Nyquist criterion in terms of Bode plots of the plant and the controller for discrete-time systems. This gives a nonparametric, and model independent characterization of arbitrary order stabilizing controllers. The result shows that the frequency response of any stabilizing controller must satisfy constraints on its magnitude, phase, and rate of change of phase at certain frequencies that are imposed by the frequency response of the inverse plant. We then show, by examples, that detailed and new results on controller design can be obtained for discrete time systems using these frequency domain criteria.
Signal-processing approaches for image-resolution restoration for TOMBO imagery

Thin observation module by bounded optics (TOMBO) is an optical system that achieves compactness and thinness by replacing a conventional large full aperture by a lenslet array with several smaller apertures. This array allows us to collect diverse low-resolution measurements. Finding an efficient way of combining these diverse measurements to make a high-resolution image is an important research problem. We focus on finding a computational method for performing the resolution restoration and evaluating the method via simulations. Our approach is based on advanced signal-processing concepts: we construct a computational data model based on Fourier optics and propose restoration algorithms based on minimization of an information-theoretic measure, called Csiszar's I divergence between two nonnegative quantities: the measured data and the hypothetical images that are induced by our algorithms through the use of our computational data model. We also incorporate Poisson and Gaussian noise processes to model the physical measurements. To solve the optimization problem, we adapt the popular expectation-maximization method. These iterative algorithms, in a multiplicative form, preserve powerful nonnegativity constraints. We further incorporate a regularization based on minimization of total variation to suppress incurring artifacts such as roughness on the surfaces of the estimates. Two sets of simulation examples show that the algorithms can produce very high-quality estimates from noiseless measurements and reasonably good estimates from noisy measurements, even when the measurements are incomplete. Several interesting and useful avenues for future work such as the effects of measurement selection are suggested in our conclusional remarks.
Molecular diagnosis of Fragile X syndrome

Fragile X syndrome, the most prevalent inherited cause of mental retardation, is related to hyperexpansion of a polymorphic CGG repeat of the FMR1 gene. Expansion of 55-200 repeats are called premutations and characterize carriers who usually have no mental impairment. The disease causing full mutations exceed 200 CGG repeats, are hypermethylated and lead to transcriptional silencing of the gene and absence of the Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). Diagnostic approaches involve molecular and immunocytochemical techniques. Southern blot, which allows mutations to be detected and methylation status to be determined in a single test, remains the procedure of choice for most laboratories. Modifications of PCR methods, including methylation specific PCR, are also proposed but their implementation is still in question because of inherent difficulties to amplify CGG repeats, distinguish between mosaic patterns and interpret results in female individuals. The FMRP antibody test is also suitable for large population screening and elucidation of Fragile X syndrome cases with no CGG expansion, but it is not widely applied. In search for novel diagnostic approaches, use of PCR as a first prescreening test followed by Southern blot is considered the most reliable procedure.
Dopamine D4 receptor gene variation is associated with context-dependent attention for emotion stimuli

Dopamine D(4) receptor (DRD4) gene variation has been associated with biased attention for contextually relevant information (e.g. images of cigarettes among smokers). No research has examined whether DRD4 variation is associated with biased attention for contextually cued emotion stimuli, an important putative intermediate phenotype for a number of pathologies (e.g. depression and anxiety). We conducted two studies examining the relationship between the DRD4 variable number tandem repeats polymorphism and attention bias for facial expressions of emotion following a mood-state manipulation in healthy young adult samples. Study 1 demonstrated that long (i.e. seven or greater tandem repeats) DRD4 allele carriers vs. short DRD4 homozygotes had increased attention for sad facial stimuli, but only after a sad mood provocation. Study 2 demonstrated an association between the long DRD4 allele and attention for negative stimuli (sad and fear expressions) following a sad mood provocation. These studies are the first to demonstrate an association between the long DRD4 allele and biased attention for contextually cued emotion stimuli, an important cognitive mechanism thought to increase risk for affective psychopathology. Implications of these studies for vulnerability and plasticity models of psychiatric genetics are discussed.
Thermal Physiology and Vertical Zonation of Intertidal Animals: Optima, Limits, and Costs of Living

Temperature's pervasive effects on physiological systems are reflected in the suite of temperature-adaptive differences observed among species from different thermal niches, such as species with different vertical distributions (zonations) along the subtidal to intertidal gradient. Among the physiological traits that exhibit adaptive variation related to vertical zonation are whole organism thermal tolerance, heart function, mitochondrial respiration, membrane static order (fluidity), action potential generation, protein synthesis, heat-shock protein expression, and protein thermal stability. For some, but not all, of these thermally sensitive traits acclimatization leads to adaptive shifts in thermal optima and limits. The costs associated with repairing thermal damage and adapting systems through acclimatization may contribute importantly to energy budgets. These costs arise from such sources as: (i) activation and operation of the heat-shock response, (ii) replacement of denatured proteins that have been removed through proteolysis, (iii) restructuring of cellular membranes ("homeoviscous" adaptation), and (iv) pervasive shifts in gene expression (as gauged by using DNA microarray techniques). The vertical zonation observed in rocky intertidal habitats thus may reflect two distinct yet closely related aspects of thermal physiology: (i) intrinsic interspecific differences in temperature sensitivities of physiological systems, which establish thermal optima and tolerance limits for species; and (ii) 'cost of living' considerations arising from sub-lethal perturbation of these physiological systems, which may establish an energetics-based limitation to the maximal height at which a species can occur. Quantifying the energetic costs arising from heat stress represents an important challenge for future investigations.
Parents Do Not Always Have to Get Their Way: Why Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening for Newborns Should Be Mandatory.

In their target article, “Legal and Ethical Considerations in Allowing Religious Exemptions From Newborn Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) Screening,” Hom and colleagues (2016) argued that p...
Hypoxia selectively excites vasomotor neurons of rostral ventrolateral medulla in rats

Systemic hypoxia [PaO2 27.3 +/- 1.8 (SE) mmHg] in anesthetized paralyzed rats reversibly increased within seconds the arterial pressure and activities of the sympathetic nerves and the reticulospinal vasomotor neurons of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVL). After peripheral chemodenervation, hypoxia also increased activity of the sympathetic nerves and doubled discharges of the vasomotor neurons while inhibiting a majority of the RVL respiratory neurons. Systemic hypercapnia was not effective in eliciting sympathoexcitatory responses. Iontophoresis of sodium cyanide stimulated the vasomotor and inhibited the respiratory neurons. In contrast, iontophoreses of H+, HCO3-, and lactate were without effects on activity of the vasomotor neurons. We conclude 1) hypoxia excites the vasomotor neurons by activating the arterial chemoreceptors and by activating intrinsic cellular mechanisms probably unrelated to accumulation of metabolic byproducts; 2) hypoxia may be the adequate stimulus exciting the RVL-spinal vasomotor and inhibiting the respiratory neurons during the cerebral ischemic response; and 3) these vasomotor neurons may be central oxygen detectors.
Role of endogenous central opioid mechanisms in maintenance of body sodium balance

The role of endogenous central opioids in the regulation of renal function was studied in Sprague-Dawley rats. In metabolism studies, changes in sodium balance were examined during normal dietary sodium intake (days 1-7; Na+ of 174 meq/kg) and sodium restriction (days 8-14; Na+ of 4.0 meq/kg). The influence of endogenous central opioids was investigated by repeating the protocol in the same rats during intracerebroventricular infusion of the opioid antagonist naltrexone methylbromide (NMBR). Intracerebroventricular NMBR did not alter sodium balance in rats fed normal sodium chow. In contrast, on low-sodium days 8 and 9, rats exhibited a more negative sodium balance during intracerebroventricular NMBR (day 8; -1,191 +/- 37 mu eq) compared with respective predrug control levels (day 8; -641 +/- 39 mu eq). Subcutaneous NMBR did not alter renal adaptation to sodium restriction. Thus central opioids are not involved in the maintenance of sodium balance during normal sodium intake. However, when dietary sodium is restricted, central opioid pathways are activated as a mechanism to maximally retain sodium.
Muscle atrophy is prevented in patients with acute spinal cord injury using functional electrical stimulation

Severe muscle atrophy occurs rapidly following traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Previous research shows that neuromuscular or 'functional' electrical stimulation (FES), particularly FES-cycle ergometry (FES-CE) can cause muscle hypertrophy in individuals with chronic SCI (> 1 year post-injury). However, the modest degree of hypertrophy in these already atrophied muscles has lessened earlier hopes that FES therapy would reduce secondary impairments of SCI. It is not known whether FES treatments are effective when used to prevent, rather than reverse, muscle atrophy in individuals with acute SCI. This study explored whether unloaded isometric FES contractions (FES-IC) or FES-CE decreased subsequent muscle atrophy in individual with acute SCI (< 3 months post-injury). Twenty-six subjects, 14-15 weeks post-traumatic SCI, were assigned to control, FES-IC, or FES-CE against progessively increasing resistance. Subjects were involved in the study for 3 or 6 months. Total body lean body mass (TB-LBM), lower limb lean body mass (LL-LBM), and gluteal lean body mass (G-LBM) were determined before the study, and at 3 and 6 months using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Controls lost an average of 6.1%, 10.1%, 12.4%, after 3 months and 9.5%, 21.4%, 26.8% after 6 months in TB-LBM, LL-LBM and G-LBM respectively. Subjects in the FES-IC group consistently lost less lean body mass than controls, however, only 6 month G-LBM loss was significantly attenuated in this group relative to the controls. In the FES-CE group, LL-LBM and G-LBM loss were prevented at both 3 and 6 months, and TB-LBM loss was prevented at 6 months. In addition, FES-CE significantly increased G-LBM and LL-LBM after 6 months of training relative to pre-training levels. Within the control group, there was no significant relationship between LL-LBM loss (3 and 6 months) and the number of days between injury and baseline measurement. In summary, this study shows that FES-CE, but not FES-IC, training prevents muscle atrophy in acute SCI after 3 months of training, and causes significant hypertrophy after 6 months. The magnitude of differences in regionalized LBM between controls and FES-CE subject raises hopes that such treatment may indeed be beneficial in preventing secondary impairments of SCI if employed before extensive post-injury atrophy occurs.
A Behavioral Simulation of the Agency-Client Relationship

In a laboratory study the agency-client interaction was viewed as a multiperson negotiations relationship. Models tested showed different amounts of (1) trust in the agency's presentations, (2) mem...
Application of scientific management and human-oriented management in health administration

The method of combining scientific management and human-oriented management together plays an important role in the construction of administrational system.Five-year practice proves this method can improve administrational level and raise its efficiency.
Ponseti treatment for clubfeet: an international perspective.

Purpose of review The purpose of this article is to acquaint the reader with the Ponseti method of clubfoot treatment and to describe the features of the technique that make it superior to other forms of clubfoot treatment. These features make the technique applicable across a wide spectrum of healthcare delivery systems on a truly international basis. Recent findings The Ponseti method has proven to be successful around the globe, in both industrialized countries and developing nations. In many settings, nonphysician practitioners are primarily responsible for the casting phase of treatment, particularly in areas with a shortage of physicians. Internationally, researchers are effectively expanding the scope of clubfeet treated: older children, postsurgical recurrent deformities, and nonidiopathic clubfeet. The barriers that undermine the outcomes of a Ponseti clubfoot program are primarily poverty and noncompliance with the extended post-casting brace protocol. Summary The Ponseti method should be considered the best treatment modality for all children with clubfeet. In the developing world, where most neglected clubfeet occur, emphasis should continue to be the training of practitioners and implementation of programs to reach all affected children. Research will continue to broaden the indications for the method.
Exploring the DolphinSLAM's parameters

This paper presents the bio-inspired underwater 3D SLAM algorithm called DolphinSLAM. First, every module of the DolphinSLAM algorithm is explained. Then, the effects of parameter variations regarding the parameters of the DolphinSLAM algorithm are investigated based on the use of the Underwater Simulator (UWSim). The parameters of interest are i) the image feature extractors, ii) the vocabulary size regarding the BoW model, and iii) the equations for experience map correction.
Muon momentum scale and resolution in pp collisions at s=8 TeV in ATLAS

Abstract This work shows the performance in the muon momentum scale and resolution achieved by ATLAS during the 2012 run at s = 8 . The momentum scale is known with an uncertainty ranging from 0.05% (in the central rapidity region) to 0.2% (at large rapidities). The muon momentum resolution is measured to be 1.7% for central muons with low momentum ( p T ≃ 10 GeV ) and reaches 4% for high- p T muons in the forward regions of the ATLAS detector.
Semi-analytical solution for laminar particle-laden flow in curved lumina with permeable walls

Abstract In this work, a semi-analytical approach presenting a laminar particle-laden flow in curved lumen with permeable walls is developed. In order to illustrate its practical use, the fluid dynamics modeling of a human Juxtamedullary nephron is presented. Close agreement between the calculated values and the medical literature is found. The presented modeling approach provides an essential guide for researchers and designers to rapidly model and analyze the behavior of laminar particle-laden flows in lumen with permeable walls.
The Complexity of High-Density Lipoproteins

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the most complex class of lipoproteins. HDL is comprised of several subclasses that are different in size, protein and lipid composition, physiological functions, and pathophysiological significance. Although HDL has been studied for at least half a century, its roles in diseases are poorly understood. Recently, with the rapid development of analytical techniques, much has been learned about HDL composition, especially about HDL proteomics. However, HDL lipidomics and metabolomics are still in their infancy. At least two dozen biologically important functions of HDL have been identified. This chapter summarizes what HDL is, what we know about its composition, how it can be separated into subclasses, and what the roles of HDL particles are in HDL structure and function.
Transbrachial branch cannulation during Zenith fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair using a robotically guided body-floss technique

Caudal angulation and stenosis of the renal arteries pose significant challenges in branch cannulation during the standard fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (FEVAR). We describe an alternative technique of branch cannulation during FEVAR in a patient with a 6.5-cm juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm, renal artery stenosis, and bilateral caudally oriented renal arteries. A brachiofemoral or "body-floss" access was established by traversing the top scallop. The brachial sheath was deflected toward the target fenestration using a steerable robotic femoral sheath, enabling transbrachial cannulation of the downgoing target renal artery. Postoperatively, the patient was discharged without complications. Steerable sheath-guided body-floss technique may facilitate cannulation of severely downgoing branch vessels during FEVAR.
The Relationship Between Health Management and Information Behavior Over Time: A Study of the Illness Journeys of People Living With Fibromyalgia

Background: Over the course of a chronic illness, patients face many challenges, including understanding what is happening to them and developing an effective strategy for managing illness. While there is existing literature concerning how people seek health-related information and cope with chronic illnesses, there is a need for additional research on how information affects patients’ understandings of their illness, and how changes in this understanding affect their health management strategies over time. Objective: This study examined how health management, information seeking, and information consumption and use processes are related throughout an illness. Methods: A diversified recruitment strategy involving multiple media channels was used to recruit participants for an interview study. During the interviews, participants were asked to draw an “illness journey” timeline. The data were analyzed using a qualitative approach drawn from Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and Grounded Theory. Results: The study identified four main health management features of illness journeys: onset, progression toward diagnosis, acceptance, and development of an effective management strategy. The study then focused on how information seeking changes over illness journeys, particularly in terms of a transition from active information seeking to monitoring with intermittent focused searching. Last, the paper describes the information consumption and use processes that patients engaged in throughout their journey. Conclusions: This study makes three important contributions to the field. First, it presents an integrated conceptualization of how health management and information behaviors are related on illness journeys. Second, it adds to our existing knowledge on health literacy and self-management of chronic illness. Third, the study has implications for health interface design. [J Med Internet Res 2016;18(10):e269]