cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regularization and image restoration using differential equations

Linear image restoration is posted as a solution to a set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Explicit and implicit Euler methods are used to integrate this set of ODEs. The explicit method introduces a regularization operator in the Van Cittert method, while the implicit method leads to the Tikhonov-Miller restoration. Since both methods are simply numerical integration procedures for the same set of ODEs, the extended Van Cittert method and Tikhonov-Miller method are shown to be approximately equivalent in performance if a conversion formula is followed. An analysis of the difference between the restorations by the two methods is presented and the ramifications of this conversion formula are discussed. >
American Sociology’s Investigations of the American Dream: Retrospect and Prospect

The American Dream is among the United States’ most recognizable and revered symbols of our national heritage. Celebrated in popular culture, this statement of national purpose has been analyzed by commentators across the broad range of humanistic and scholarly disciplines, including American sociology. While sociology has developed a lengthy history of studies dedicated to ‘the American way of life’ and – to a lesser degree – the role of the American Dream in society, the work of sociologists from earlier eras arguably over-shadows many of the efforts undertaken since the millennium. The present paper argues that sociology is especially well suited to investigations and analyses of the role and impact of the American Dream and urges a re-dedication of sociological efforts to chart its meaning and influence.
Bayesian variable selection for proportional hazards models

The authors consider the problem of Bayesian variable selection for proportional hazards regression models with right censored data. They propose a semi-parametric approach in which a nonparametric prior is specified for the baseline hazard rate and a fully parametric prior is specified for the regression coefficients. For the baseline hazard, they use a discrete gamma process prior, and for the regression coefficients and the model space, they propose a semi-automatic parametric informative prior specification that focuses on the observables rather than the parameters. To implement the methodology, they propose a Markov chain Monte Carlo method to compute the posterior model probabilities. Examples using simulated and real data are given to demonstrate the methodology. Les auteurs abordent d'un point de vue bayesien le probleme de la selection de variables dans les modeles de regression des risques proportionnels en presence de censure a droite. Ils proposent une approche semi-parametrique dans laquelle la loi a priori du taux de base est non parametrique, mais celle des coefficients de regression est completement parametrique. L'information concernant le taux de base est representee par la loi a priori issue d'un processus gamma discret; quant a la loi a priori des parametres du modele de regression, elle est choisie dans une classe de lois parameriques au moyen d'une procedure semi-automatique centree sur les donnees plutǒt que sur les parametres. La mise a jour de rinformation se fait au moyen d'un algorithme de Monte-Carlo a chaǐne de Markov. Des donnees reelles et simulees permettent d'illustrer la methode.
Stochastic inverse identification of geometric imperfections in shell structures

Abstract It is now widely known that the presence of geometric imperfections in shell structures constitutes an important contribution to the discrepancy between theoretical and experimentally realizable ultimate loads governed by buckling. The present paper describes a method by which an actual initial imperfection field may be estimated using the service load response of a shell structure. The approach requires solving a stochastic inverse problem wherein uncertainty regarding initial imperfection predictions is expressed within the context of a Bayesian posterior distribution. The proposed approach could be applied to condition assessment and performance evaluation activities in practice.
Synthesis and SAR of selective muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype 1 (M1 mAChR) antagonists

This Letter describes the synthesis and SAR, developed through an iterative analogue library approach, of a novel series of selective M1 mAChR antagonists for the potential treatment of Parkinson's disease, dystonia and other movement disorders. Compounds in this series possess M1 antagonist IC(50)s in the 441nM-19microM range with 8- to >340-fold functional selectivity versus rM2-rM5.
Gender Differences in Social and Emotional Skills and Charismatic Leadership

The relationships among leader gender, social and emotional skills, and charismatic leadership were examined from a dataset of 108 senior leaders and 325 of their direct followers in numerous organ...
LOCOMOTOR CONTROL IN MACAQUE MONKEYS

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the locomotor control in macaque monkeys. Arboreal locomotion might require a continuous stream of sensory feedback data for efficient operation. In one of the experiments described in the chapter, localized stimulation was applied to brain targets in a grid pattern going back from plane A8 to plane P4 of the Snider and Lee atlas. Current per pulse was adjusted to define a crude threshold in each active site. It was found that it was possible to elicit controlled locomotion in these preparations in areas homologous to the cats SLR and MLR, with stimulus intensities at the center of each locus. It has also been found that acutely spinalized cats show stepping with their hindlimbs if they are injected with a pharmacological cocktail containing L-DOPA and nialamide, and preferably also 4-aminopyridine and a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor.
Gerbert, the Teacher

GERBERT, the peasant boy from Aurillac in old Auvergne, now central France, is well known as pope (Sylvester II, 999-I003), as a scholar, as one of the most facile letter writers of the Middle Ages,' as a politician who played a significant role in the rise of the Capetian dynasty in France, and as a statesman who exerted decisive influence upon the young German king and emperor, Otto III. These political and literary aspects of Gerbert's life have been noted in detail by his modern biographers and recently re-emphasized when French scholars, in 1938, celebrated the thousandth anniversary of his birth.2 Proper attention has not, however, been given to Gerbert's remarkable work as a teacher who in the tenth century displayed the best qualities of a humanist and whose teaching methods, devices, and results rank him among
Access to do Research in Public Schools.

Ninety-six Wisconsin school district administrators and sixty-six AERA members responded to a tripart survey instrument on the question of access to public schools to do research. The three topics were: (1) a critical incident report form, (2) a Likert-type attitudinal scale, and (3) three separate rank-order questions. Administrators appear to make decisions on access requests on a personal basis. Other considerations in access granting appeared to be the value of the research to the district, the amount of upset the research would cause to district routines, tacit policies on district accessibility, the extent of local control possible in the research, and the financial implications for the district. Researchers agree with administrators on academic questions concerning research access but appear to be misperceiving salient signals concerning research access granting.
Ultrastructural and biochemical bases of resurrection in the drought-tolerant vascular plant, Selaginella lepidophylla

Ultrastructural and enzymatic changes occurring during hydration of the “resurrection” plant, Selaginella lepidophylla, were examined in an effort to understand the cellular bases of drought tolerance in this organism. Whole plants or isolated branches (fronds) were hydrated for up to 24 hr under conditions of constant irradiance, temperature, and relative humidity. Changes in palisade cell ultrastructure, recovery of photosynthetic ability, and specific enzyme (ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase) activity are correlated and divisible into three phases. In phase 1 (0–6 hr of hydration), electron micrographs show condensation of polyphenolics in cytoplasmic vacuoles and a reduction in density of chloroplast plastoglobuli. In phase 2 (6–12 hr), polysomes form from disperse ribosomes in both the cytoplasm and chloroplast stroma. Elongation of chloroplasts is accompanied by the proliferation of thylakoid membrane correlated with a reduction in the number of plastoglobuli. These changes are in turn correlated with increases in ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activity and the rate of CO2 fixation (net photosynthesis). The third phase of hydration (12–24 hr) is marked by the formation of grana, significant starch deposition, and continued increases in ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activity and photosynthetic rates. Increases in ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activity during hydration can be accounted for by increases in holoenzyme detectable by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of native proteins. The holoenzyme is shown to be composed of large and small subunits on denaturing (SDS) PAGE. The increase in enzyme activity is sensitive to chloramphenicol, but resistant to cycloheximide, suggesting that newly synthesized chloroplast protein (large subunits) combine with a pool of preexisting small subunits to form active holoenzyme. The results reveal conservation of cellular and basal enzymatic integrity in desiccated S. lepidophylla, and suggest a role for specific protein synthesis in photosynthetic recovery during hydration.
London's General Body of Protestant Ministers: its Disruption in 1836

As 1829 began an unrequited Ireland remained on the apparent verge of rebellion while parliament, having removed another obstacle to Roman Catholic Emancipation in its revocation of the sacramental clauses of the Test and Corporation Acts (9 Geo. IV, c. 17), faced a nation seemingly unready for papist equality. The memory of the Gordon Riots of 1780 remained, for some as fresh as if they had occurred only the day before. Twelve members of the General Body of Protestant Dissenting Ministers issued a call on 13 January for a special meeting to be held seven days later, to consider if the Independents, Presbyterians and Baptists of the metropolis should add the weight of their opinion to that already mustered in support of the removal of the Roman Catholics' civil disabilities.
Triply excited states of three-electron atomic systems

A formalism is discussed whereby many-electron systems may be described by a great number of product functions of different configurations in a manageable way. Calculations are made to find triply excited energy levels of three-electron atomic systems, using products of hydrogenic functions with a $Z$ equal to that of the nucleus. Results for the lowest $^{2}P^{o}$ and $^{2}S^{e}$ levels in the Li isoelectronic sequence, $Z=1 \mathrm{to} 10$, are presented. The results of calculations for the energies of $^{2}D^{e}$ triply excited states in ${\mathrm{He}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ are also reported. The calculated energies are compared with available experimental and other theoretical values. Finally, the lowest $^{2}S^{e}$ and two lowest $^{2}P^{o}$ energy levels in the isoelectronic sequence are fitted by a $\frac{1}{Z}$ perturbation expansion. It is seen that this expansion can be used to estimate the energy levels of such states for higher nuclear charges.
Impact of four nonclinical speaking environments on a child's fundamental frequency and voice level: a preliminary case study.

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate how a child’s fundamental frequency (F0) and estimated voice level (dB SPL) change in distinct speaking environments. Method A child age 5;7 (years;months) wore a National Center for Voice and Speech voice dosimeter for 4 days. The 2 parameters measured were F0 and dB SPL. During analysis, the F0 and dB SPL data were segmented to represent 4 typical speaking environments of school-age children: (a) free-play (2.5 hr), (b) preschool (3 hr), (c) home (10.7 hr), and (d) adult (5.6 hr). Unique to this study, the child’s voice data were presented as voice use profiles. Results The child’s F0 and dB SPL patterns within an adult environment were similar to that found in the literature but showed much greater variation in the free-play environment. The preschool environment elicited speech of a lower modal F0 than did the home, but a higher median and mean F0, as well as a somewhat elevated mean dB SPL. Conclusion The child produced significantly different F0 and d...
Production ready feature recognition based automatic group technology part coding

During the past four years, a feature recognition based expert system for automatically performing group technology part coding from solid model data has been under development. The system has become a production quality tool, capable of quickly the geometry based portions of a part code with no human intervention. It has been tested on over 200 solid models, half of which are models of production Sandia designs. Its performance rivals that of humans performing the same task, often surpassing them in speed and uniformity. The feature recognition capability developed for part coding is being extended to support other applications, such as manufacturability analysis, automatic decomposition (for finite element meshing and machining), and assembly planning. Initial surveys of these applications indicate that the current capability will provide a strong basis for other applications and that extensions toward more global geometric reasoning and tighter coupling with solid modeler functionality will be necessary.
Relationship of stress to uniaxial strain in crosslinked poly(dimethylsiloxane) over the full range from large compressions to high elongations

Experiments on inflated sheets of crosslinked poly(dimethylsiloxane) covering a sixfold range of compression are combined with measurements in elongation conducted on specimens from the same sample to obtain the relationship of stress to strain over a 24-fold range in the extension ratio λ1. With increase in λ the reduced force [f] ≡ f(λ1 – λ)−1 rises to a maximum near λ = 1.2–1.4, then decreases very slowly with further increase in λ. The form of the relationship of [f] to λ confirms recent theory.
Cation binding to membranes; competition between mono-, di-and trivalent cations

The binding of mono-, di- and trivalent cations to negatively charged surfaces is studied within the framework of a modified Gouy-Chapman equation. For any given combination of ions of the above valences, the existence and uniqueness of the solution for the surface potential is shown. The treatment provides the surface potential and charge density. For a system containing only monovalent and divalent ions, analytical solutions are given. When trivalent ions are also present, a procedure based on numerical integration is described. The distance dependence of the electrostatic potential for planar surfaces is given. The calculations provide the amount of cations tightly bound and the amount trapped in the double layer region. The competition between cations for binding to surfaces is elucidated.
The content of substance abuse and mental health counseling reported by patients in a national survey.

This study examined counseling content reported by a national sample of persons receiving care for alcohol, drug or mental health (ADM) problems in a year. The sample included 2,722 individuals over 18 who reported past year mental health or substance abuse care or assessments in a nationally representative survey conducted in 2000–2001. Counseling domains approximating commonly practiced or evidence-based approaches for depression, anxiety, or substance abuse were assessed. Patient self-report may be one useful way of tracking whether components of standard therapies are implemented in practice.
Reflection of high-frequency acoustic phonons from solid-liquid interfaces studied by picosecond ultrasonics

Abstract We have studied the reflection of coherent acoustic phonons at frequencies up to 300 GHz from solid-liquid interfaces using a picosecond ultrasonic technique. We report measurements of the magnitude of the reflection coefficient between both a-Si 3 N 4 and a-SiO 2 , and ethylene glycol for temperatures from 265 to 300 K.
Relaxed Bodies, Emancipated Minds, and Dominant Calm

William James presented "The Gospel of Relaxation" (James in W. James, Writings 1878-1899, 1992) to the 1896 graduating class of Boston Normal School of Gymnastics and a decade later he delivered his presidential address "The Energies of Men" (James in W. James, Writings 1902-1910, 1987) to the American Philosophical Association. Both lectures focus on the body's influence on emotions and on the liberating effects of live ideas on the body's natural energies. They also reflect his use of the popular spiritual hygiene literature of his day to support his arguments. The first address draws on Hannah Whitall Smith's views on disregarding our negative emotions and on Annie Payson Call's writings, specifically her views on relaxation; the second on Horace Fletcher's writings, specifically his views on anger and worry. I use these original sources to expand on key ideas in the two addresses, i.e., the role of imitation in altering unhealthy physiological habits and the energy-releasing role of suggestive ideas.
Unified Second-Order Stochastic Averaging Approach

First-order stochastic averaging has proven very useful in predicting the response statistics and stability of dynamic systems with nonlinear damping forces. However, the influence of system stiffness or inertia nonlinearities is lost during the averaging process. These nonlinearities can be recaptured only if one extends the stochastic averaging to second-order analysis. This paper presents a systematic and unified approach of second-order stochastic averaging based on the Stratonovich-Khasminskii limit theorem. Response statistics, stochastic stability, phase transition (known as noise-induced transition), and stabilization by multiplicative noise are examined in one treatment. A MACSYMA symbolic manipulation subroutine has been developed to perform the averaging processes for any type of nonlinearity. The method is implemented to analyze the response statistics of a second-order oscillator with three different types of nonlinearities, excited by both additive and multiplicative random processes. The second averaging results are in good agreement with those estimated by Monte Carlo simulation. For a special nonlinear oscillator, whose exact stationary solution is known, the second-order averaging results are identical to the exact solution up to first-order approximation.
The Credential Question: Attitudes of Teaching Artists in Dance and Theatre Arts.

ABSTRACTHow do teaching artists perceive the need and usefulness of a credential program specifically designed for teaching artists in dance and theatre arts?
The body build of the male ulcer patient

1. The gross measures of body build, weight, and blood pressure in 250 men with gastro-duodenal ulcer as proved by X-ray and history are compared with a control group of 7478 men. 2. The ulcer patient was found to differ from the control group in every measure studied except height. 3. The ulcer patient tends to be normal or underweight. He is seldom overweight. 4. The chest circumference of the ulcer patient tends to be much smaller than is found in an unselected population. Only rarely does a person with a large chest have an ulcer. 5. The abdomen circumference at the level of the umbilicus is smaller in the ulcer than in the unselected groups. 6. The body build as measured by the chest :height index shows that the ulcer patient usually has a slender, narrow or linear type build. He is seldom of the broad-chested or lateral build and almost never extremely lateral. 7. The chest:abdomen index shows that the ulcer patient, more so than in the unselected group, has little tendency to develop abdominal protrusion. His abdomen is smaller than his chest.
Residual Agar Determination in Bacterial Spores by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Presented here is an analytical method to detect residual agar from a bacterial spore sample as an indication of culturing on an agar plate. This method is based on the resolubilization of agar polysaccharide from a bacterial spore sample, enzymatic digestion, followed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MSn) analysis for detection of a specific agar fragment ion. A range of Bacillus species and strains were selected to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. The characteristic agar fragment ion was detected in the spores grown on agar that were washed from 1 to 5 times, irradiated or nonirradiated, and not in the spores grown in broth. A sample containing approximately 108 spores is currently needed for confident detection of residual agar from culture on agar plates in the presence of bacterial spores with a limit of detection of approximately 1 ppm agar spiked into a broth-grown spore sample. The results of a proficiency test with 42 blinded samples are presented demonstrat...
The Effects of Training, Feedback, and Participant Involvement in Behavioral Safety Observations on Office Ergonomic Behavior

Abstract Eleven computer terminal operators participated in an experiment that assessed effects of several interventions aimed at increasing safe ergonomic performance. All participants received ergonomics training and performance feedback while six of them collected observations of safe behavior among the remaining five participants. Effects of information, feedback, and conducting safe behavior performance observations was assessed using a single participant multiple baseline experimental design. Conducting observations of safety-related behavior is a critical component of the behavioral safety process, and while many researchers have examined the effects of information and feedback on safety performance, few have studied the effects of conducting observations on the behavior of the observer. Performance levels increased relative to baseline levels across all participants and remained above baseline levels when assessed during a four-month follow-up evaluation. Participants that conducted safety observa...
Hydrogeology of a groundwater sustained montane peatland: Grass Lake, California

Persistently wet conditions are essential to prevent the decomposition of organic material that forms peatlands. Wetlands in areas with a snow-melt dominated precipitation regime and little or no summer precipitation often rely on groundwater to meet late-season water requirements. Past and predicted changes in climate for the Sierra Nevada show a trend towards more winter precipitation falling as rain rather than snow. This is expected to result in reduced late-season water availability and the subsequent degradation of peatlands. Measurements of groundwater levels, stream flow, specific conductance, and peat water retention characteristics are used to quantify aspects of the hydrologic system that supports Grass Lake, south of Lake Tahoe California, the largest peatland in the Sierra Nevada. Water budget calculations using periodic measurements collected throughout the growing season show that groundwater discharge is a significant component of the water balance in the late-summer and fall. Late-season evapotranspiration needs were approximately balanced by groundwater inflow for 2010 (average water year). Groundwater discharge to the peatland dominated the late-season water budget in 2011 (above average water year) and persisted into October. Water retention experiments and field data suggest desaturation of the peatland accounts for approximately 0.5 mm day−1, or roughly 10 % of the estimated evapotranspiration rate.
The toxicity of injected peptides as related to peptidase activity in peritoneal fluid.

Abstract Peptidase activity is normally present in cell-free peritoneal fluid. A specificity of hydrolysis for a number of peptides has been demonstrated. A comparison of peptidase activity in the peritoneal fluid obtained from rats and from humans shows no marked differences in substrate specificity for peptides examined. The toxicities of certain peptides when injected by the peritoneal route have been studied. The lethal effects of injected amino acids may be decreased or abolished when combined in peptide form. A degree of correlation exists between the peptidase activity in the peritoneal cavity and the toxicity of the injected peptides.
Public Intellectuals as Media Critics

In the 1940s, leading public intellectuals established a commission to reform the American press. Many of them initially favored heavy regulation of newspapers and other media. Though the men failed to change the press, their report lives on in schools of journalism.
Conformational studies of myo-inositol phosphates

The discovery of the second messenger role of myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisdihydrogenphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] has triggered tremendous interest in investigating the structure, metabolism, and biological roles of inositol phosphates. Although the conformation of phytic acid [(myo-inositol hexakisdihydrogenphosphate), Ins P6] has been the subject of much study, the conformations of lower inositol phosphates such as inositol-pentakis-, tetrakis-, and tris-dihydrogenphosphates have not been investigated. We investigated, by 1H NMR spectroscopy, the conformations of inositol phosphates (Ins P5, Ins P4, Ins P3, Ins P2, and Ins P1) and monitored the influence of pH on conformational preferences. Ins P6 adopts the sterically stable 1ax/5eq (one phosphate in the axial position and five phosphates in the equatorial position) conformation in the pH range 0.5-9.0, and the sterically hindered 5ax/1eq (five phosphates in the axial position and one phosphate in the equatorial position) conformation above pH 9.5. At pH 9.5, both conformations are in dynamic equilibrium. Ins(1,2,3,4,6)P5 and Ins(1,2,3,5,6)P5 adopt the 1ax/5eq form in the pH range 1.0-9.0; in the pH range 9.5-13.0, the 1ax/5eq and 5ax/1eq conformations are in dynamic equilibrium. In contrast to Ins P6 and Ins P5, all the lower inositol phosphates (Ins P4 to Ins P1) investigated adopt the 1ax/5eq conformation over the entire pH range, 1.0-13.0. Preference for the 5ax/1eq conformation by Ins P6 and Ins P5 is probably due to decreased electrostatic repulsion between negatively charged vicinal equatorial phosphates in the 1ax/5eq conformation and stabilization of the sterically hindered 5ax/1eq conformation by hydrogen bonding and/or sodium counter-ions bonding between the syn-oriented phosphates. On the basis of conformations adopted by the inositol phosphates (Ins P6 to Ins P1) at different pH, we conclude that the presence of four or five equatorial phosphates on the inositol ring induces a change in the conformation from the sterically unhindered 1ax/5eq structure to the sterically hindered 5ax/1eq conformation, at high pH. This investigation illustrates that the conformational preferences of inositol phosphates at different pH is unique to the particular isomer and does not parallel the behaviour of phytic acid.
Comparison of simulated gravity wave-driven mesospheric airglow fluctuations observed from the ground and space

Abstract This paper compares ground-based and space-based perspectives of wave perturbation of the O2 Atmospheric (0–1) mesospheric airglow using a theoretical model. A wide range of gravity wave periods, tangent ray heights, and horizontal wavelengths of 200, 500, and 1000 km are compared for the space- and ground-based viewing geometries. The two different viewing geometries produce similar results for long-period waves for tangent ray heights that lie well below the emission layer peak. The magnitudes of the relative temperature and intensity fluctuations for space-based observations behave similarly to those for ground-based observations. This work shows that observation of wave-induced nightglow fluctuations should be no more difficult from space than from the ground for optimum viewing geometries.
Closed-loop digital control of resonant converters

A sampled-data model to describe the dynamics of small perturbations away from a cyclic steady state of resonant converters, and associated transfer functions were obtained in earlier work. A discrete microprocessor-based controller, designed using the above dynamic model, has been built and tested on a simulation of a series resonant dc-dc converter, set up on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Parity Simulator. The control methods implemented are state feedback and periodic output feedback, each designed to achieve a specified set of closed-loop poles. The controller has been implemented using the Parity Simulator Generalized Controller. Results of the closed loop response showed an improvement over the open loop response. Also, the effect of the delay caused by calculations in the computer on the closed-loop dynamics of the converter is investigated. Results have shown that this delay can be important and should be modeled in the dynamics.
Coefficient Alpha Bootstrap Confidence Interval Under Nonnormality

Three different bootstrap methods for estimating confidence intervals (CIs) for coefficient alpha were investigated. In addition, the bootstrap methods were compared with the most promising coeffic...
First and second order statistics analysis for the RSS measurement in an indoor environment

This paper illustrates the use of empirical data to characterize received signal strength (RSS) within an indoor environment. The RSS covers both line-of-sight (LOS) area and non-LOS area. We performed a sufficient number of trials to ensure that the RSS data converges, and then analyzed the first and second order statistics of the RSS so that the characteristics of the shadowing and multi-path fading can be captured.
The critical period for peripheral specification of dorsal root ganglion neurons is related to the period of sensory neurogenesis.

Abstract Thoracic sensory neurons in bullfrog tadpoles can be induced to form connections typical of brachial sensory neurons by transplanting thoracic ganglia to the brachial level at stages when some thoracic sensory neurons already have formed connections. In order to find out how many postmitotic sensory neurons survive transplantation, [ 3 H]thymidine was administered to tadpoles in which thoracic ganglia were transplanted to the brachial level unilaterally at stages VII to IX. Between 16 and 37% of the neurons in transplanted ganglia were unlabeled, as compared to 46 to 60% in unoperated ganglia. Transplanted ganglia contained fewer unlabeled neurons than corresponding unoperated ganglia, indicating that transplantation caused degeneration of postmitotic neurons. Therefore, a large fraction of the neurons that formed connections typical of brachial sensory neurons probably differentiated while they were at the brachial level.
Monitoring, Source Identification and Health Risks of Air Toxics in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A.

ABSTRACTAir toxics were monitored in three locations in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A representing different land use configurations to determine the air toxics concentration gradient and factors controlling their ambient levels and to assess potential health impacts. The total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) concentrations at all sites ranged from 18.0 to 323.8 ng/m3, from 5.7 to 122.0 ng/m3 and from 0.1 to 18.7 ppbv, respectively. Sources of air toxics were determined using coupled positive matrix factorization and linear regression analysis. For PAHs, a mixture of emissions from traffic, oil residues and wood burning was identified. The comparison of PAHs relative distributions in Albuquerque to those emitted from three types of woodstoves showed a good correlation with emissions from non-catalytic woodstoves. The values for toluene/benzene, xylene/benzene and xylene/toluene ratios in Albuquerque indicated that traffic was the major source of aromatic VOCs. In addition, regression analysis of air toxics to daily PM2.5 source contributions showed that the vast majority of aromatic VOCs and PAHs were strongly associated with the secondary NO3– source category, providing additional evidence of the significant role of traffic emissions of air toxics and PM2.5 in Albuquerque. A small fraction of PAHs and heavy metals was associated with road dust, indicating that mechanically released dust particles may be contaminated by oil residues and vehicle exhausts. The annual hazard quotient values for benzene, toluene, xylene and methylene chloride were typical for urban communities dominated by traffic emissions and similar to those estimated for other urban areas in the U.S. The annualized cancer risks for benzene and methylene chloride were lower than 1-in-a-million.
Evaluation Findings in Education and Social Work Textbooks

Evaluation findings will probably make a long-term contribution to the improvement of social services and programs when they are cited in the textbooks used to train human services professionals. Although there was some variability, evaluations were nonetheless cited with reasonable frequency in a sample of introductory and advanced text books in social work and education. The citations referred to evaluations of national policies, national programs, local projects and project elements, and there were also citations concerning evaluation methods. Both social work and education texts cited findings on programs and project elements the most. Compared to social work texts, education texts cited significantly more program outcome findings; social work texts tended to cite more references dealing with recipient characteristics.
Identification and characterization of stretch-activated ion channels in pollen protoplasts.

Pollen tube growth requires a Ca 21 gradient, with elevated levels of cytosolic Ca 21 at the growing tip. This gradient’s magnitude oscillates with growth oscillation but is always maintained. Ca 21 influx into the growing tip is necessary, and its magnitude also oscillates with growth. It has been widely assumed that stretch-activated Ca 21 channels underlie this influx, but such channels have never been reported in either pollen grains or pollen tubes. We have identified and characterized stretch-activated Ca 21 channels from Lilium longiflorum pollen grain and tube tip protoplasts. The channels were localized to a small region of the grain protoplasts associated with the site of tube germination. In addition, we find a stretch-activated K 1 channel as well as a spontaneous K 1 channel distributed over the entire grain surface, but neither was present at the germination site or at the tip. Neither stretch-activated channel was detected in the grain protoplasts unless the grains were left in germination medium for at least 1 h before protoplast preparation. The stretch-activated channels were inhibited by a spider venom that is known to block stretch-activated channels in animal cells, but the spontaneous channel was unaffected by the venom. The venom also stopped pollen tube germination and elongation and blocked Ca 21 entry into the growing tip, suggesting that channel function is necessary for growth.
An evaluation methodology for coordinated event visualization in digital libraries

Event visualization holds the promise of alleviating information overload in digital libraries. We propose a methodology for evaluating a coordinated event visualization tool called COPLINK Spatio--Temporal Visualizer (STV) The methodology examines different event dimensions and compares STV with another frequently used crime analysis tool (Microsoft Excel). We briefly describe the experimental procedure and results, and discuss future directions.
Histological observations on allografts and reciprocal xenografts in newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) and axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum)

A histological study, involving autoradiography of tritiated thymidine labelled host: and graft, was performed in reciprocal skin grafts between Notophthalmus viridescens and Ambystoma mexicanum. The histoanatomical differences in the two types of skin appear to interfere in the rejection processes. The adepidermal membrane and dermal collagen, as well as the activity of the host epithelial cells, are stressed as factors playing a role in the rejection rate of the graft.
The gatekeeper effect of epithelial-mesenchymal transition regulates the frequency of breast cancer metastasis.

When carcinoma cells metastasize, they change their phenotype to enhance motility. Cells making this switch selectively express S100A4, a p53-associated, calcium-binding protein known in the fibroblast literature as fibroblast-specific protein-1 (FSP1). FSP1 normally acts as a conversion signal for the local formation of tissue fibroblasts by epithelial-mesenchymal transition. We describe here a novel connection between the process of fibroblast development and the acquisition of a metastatic phenotype in genetically engineered mice with mammary carcinoma. More frequent lung metastases were observed in naive recipients given purified populations of green fluorescent protein (GFP)(+) tumor cells harvested from PyV-mT x FSP1(+/+.GFP) F1 mice compared with GFP(-) tumor cells (P < or = 0.01), where GFP expression is under the control of the FSP1 promoter. The expression of GFP in these metastases reversibly attenuates with the establishment of secondary tumor nodules. Reduced numbers of metastases were also observed in PyV-mT x FSP1(GFP/GFP) F1 mice carrying null alleles for FSP1 (P < or = 0.04) and in PyV-mT x FSP1.Delta TK(+) F1 mice rescued with nucleoside analogues while expressing thymidine kinase under the control of the FSP1 promoter (P < or = 0.01). We propose that epithelial-mesenchymal transition associated with the expression of FSP1 in tumor cells has a functional role in determining the latency of tumor dispersion and may be a convenient therapeutic target for controlling a key initiating event in metastatic progression.
The Effect of Income Taxes on Household Income

Research on the distribution of income during the 1980s has identified a trend towards increasing inequality, which may be the continuation and acceleration of trends spanning several decades. This paper explores to what extent behavioral responses to the tax changes during the 1980s may also explain the rising inequality. The 1986 Tax Reform Act is used as a natural experiment to explore the roles played by both taxes and a variety of nontax factors. Our principal finding is that both tax rates and nontax factors appear to have had significant effects on relative income growth during the late 1980s.
Laparoscopic resection of a periampullary villous adenoma

Background: Adenomas of the duodenal papilla are rare lesions. Because of their malignant potential, resection is mandatory. Options for resection include endoscopic resection, transduodenal local excision, and pancreaticoduodenectomy. This report details a case of periampullary villous adenoma diagnosed endoscopically and resected laparoscopically via a transduodenal approach. Case report: A healthy 75-year-old woman with heartburn underwent an upper endoscopy for vague right upper abdominal pain. A periampullary tumor was diagnosed. Endoscopic biopsy results were consistent with a villous adenoma, and endoscopic ultrasound showed distal bile duct involvement. The patient underwent laparoscopic transduodenal local excision of the tumor with biliary reconstruction. Conclusions: Laparoscopic transduodenal resection of periampullary lesions provides advantages similar to those of an endoscopic resection by removal of the tumor using minimally invasive techniques. In addition, laparoscopic surgery maintains the surgical tenents of open transduodenal resection with en bloc tumor resection including the adjacent duodenal wall and ductal structures as necessary. As noted in this case, laparoscopic techniques resect ampullary lesions involving the ductal structures as well. Laparoscopic transduodenal ampullectomy is a valuable treatment option for benign and selected premalignant ampullary lesions.
Laparoscopic repair of an incarcerated right indirect sliding inguinal hernia involving a retroperitoneal ileum

Introduction Laparoscopic techniques for the repair of inguinal hernias have become an increasingly popular alternative to open techniques. No clear consensus has emerged as to the best laparoscopic technique, but the body of evidence increasingly favors a total extraperitoneal (TEP) approach.
E-cadherin binding modulates EGF receptor activation

We found that E-cadherin and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are associated in mammary epithelial cells and that E-cadherin engagement in these cells induces transient activation of EGFR, as previously seen in keratinocytes (37). In contrast, EGFR does not associate with and is not activated by N-cadherin. Analysis of cells expressing chimeric cadherins revealed that the extracellular domain of E-cadherin is required for interaction with and activation of EGFR. This activation results in tyrosine phosphorylation of known EGFR substrates and reduction in focal adhesions. These interactions, however, are not necessary for suppression of cell motility by E-cadherin.
Exploring the cellular accumulation of metal complexes

Transition metal complexes offer great potential as diagnostic and therapeutic agents, and a growing number of biological applications have been explored. To be effective, these complexes must reach their intended target inside the cell. Here we review the cellular accumulation of metal complexes, including their uptake, localization, and efflux. Metal complexes are taken up inside cells through various mechanisms, including passive diffusion and entry through organic and metal transporters. Emphasis is placed on the methods used to examine cellular accumulation, to identify the mechanism(s) of uptake, and to monitor possible efflux. Conjugation strategies that have been employed to improve the cellular uptake characteristics of metal complexes are also described.
Quantitative super-resolution imaging uncovers reactivity patterns on single nanocatalysts

Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy shows that the catalytic reactivity of a single gold nanorod varies along its sides, even though the same side facets span its length.
Improving Prenatal Health: Setting the Agenda for Increased Male Involvement

The U.S. infant mortality rate is among the highest in the developed world, with recent vital statistics reports estimating 6.14 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Traditional health education and promotion to improve maternal, infant, and child health in the United States has focused only on women, leaving men out of important health messages that may affect pregnancy outcomes as well as family well-being. Recently, public health scholars have suggested that men be included in prenatal health education in an effort to improve birth outcomes and reduce infant mortality. Incorporating men in prenatal health promotion and education has been found to improve overall birth preparedness, reduce the risk of maternal-infant HIV transmission, and reduce perinatal mortality in less-developed nations. Although these results are positive, research on paternal impact in pregnancy outcomes in the United States to date is lacking. This article proposes a U.S.-specific research agenda to understand the current role of men in pregnancy health, as well as actual involvement, barriers, and the influence men can have in prenatal health. A discussion of culture, individual motivations, health care providers, and social marketing is also considered.
Phase 3 randomized trial evaluating second-line hormonal therapy versus docetaxel-estramustine combination chemotherapy on progression-free survival in asymptomatic patients with a rising prostate-specific antigen level after hormonal therapy for prostate cancer: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (E1899), Intergroup/Clinical Trials Support Unit study.

Abstract Despite improvements in early detection of prostate cancer when it is clinically localized—and therefore most amenable to curative local therapies—∼33% of men with early prostate cancer will develop biochemical failure with a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) during follow-up. The early use of androgen suppression in this group of men has changed the clinical picture of androgen-independent disease. Now, there are men on androgen suppression who will develop biochemical failure and remain free of clinical or radiographic evidence of metastatic disease for a period of time. There is no standard approach to this group of men, who have a rising PSA on androgen deprivation, because there are little or no data about strategies that may improve survival, delay time to progression, or improve quality of life. Therefore, current management of this population remains controversial. In an effort to determine which of these 2 approaches—second-line hormone therapy or chemotherapy—is optimal in delaying the time to progression, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) developed protocol E1899. Although both approaches offer the potential for response (reduction in PSA and prolonging the time to clinical progression), they have very different toxicity profiles, making impact on quality of life another important end point. This randomized trial evaluating second-line hormonal therapy using ketoconazole and hydrocortisone versus docetaxel and estramustine combination chemotherapy on progression-free survival in asymptomatic men with a rising PSA on androgen ablation for prostate cancer is the subject of this article.
Initial laser induced fluorescence measurements in the madhex expansion chamber and electron temperature scaling with pulsed RF power

A flowing argon helicon plasma is formed in a 10 cm diameter, 1.5 m long Pyrex chamber with an axial magnetic field in nozzle or flat configuration, variable up to 1 kG in the source region. A new expansion chamber has been constructed and initial laser induced fluorescence (LIF) results including ion velocities and temperatures are presented. Microwave interferometry (105 GHz), collisional radiative spectroscopic codes and diamagnetic loops are used to measure electron density and temperature during pulsed (5 ms) RF operation. Calculated variation of the RF frequency (from 12 MHz to 15 MHz) during the pulse allows for low ( 3 kW) RF powers. The effect of different flow rates, magnetic field expansion variation and pressures are measured to observe the variation of the ion distribution function via LIF and the axial variation of acceleration due to neutral depletion. Possible double layer creation and sustainment in the downstream (relative to the RF antenna) transition to the expansion chamber is also examined at low flow rates and high RF powers.
Health care utilization of patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

Medical records were reviewed for 94 consecutive inpatients diagnosed with nonepileptic seizures. A 122-item follow-up questionnaire was returned by 71 patients (76%). The majority of the subjects reported fewer seizures (73%), their general health as "very good" (20%) or "good" (37), and "improved" quality of life (55%). Many patients had either discontinued (50%) or reduced (17%) use of anticonvulsant medications. The patients most often sought care from primary care providers (46%), followed by psychiatrists/psychologists (41%) and neurologists (31%). Of the 57 patients (80%) advised to seek psychiatric care, 27 individuals (47%) followed this recommendation.