cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shubnikov—de Haas effect in KH g x -graphite intercalation compounds

The electronic structure of the ${\mathrm{KHg}}_{x}$-graphite intercalation compounds near the Fermi surface is investigated by the Shubnikov---de Haas technique in magnetic fields up to 22 T and in the temperature range $1.5lTl27$ K. The experimental results for stages $n=1,2$, and $3$ are consistent with a modification of the pristine graphite band structure which incorporates ${k}_{z}$-axis zone folding. This interpretation suggests that charge transfer to the graphite layers decreases in the potassium amalgam compounds as compared with the same stage potassium compounds. For selected cross-sectional areas the angular dependence and cyclotron masses are also measured and compared to the theoretical model. The qualitative agreement with the model suggests that in-plane zone folding could be important and that an accurate band calculation including graphite-intercalate interactions is necessary to fit the Shubnikov---de Haas periods.
Zebra lines of pamidronate therapy in children.

Background: Pamidronate therapy is increasingly used in children for the treatment of low bone mineral density and increased bone fragility resulting from a spectrum of conditions. The aim of the present study was to determine and describe the radiographic features associated with cyclical bisphosphonate therapy in the growing skeleton. Methods: A retrospective review of the radiographs of thirty-five children who had been managed with cyclical pamidronate was carried out. The physeal growth rates were estimated by measuring the band intervals on radiographs and the corresponding time intervals between the administered doses of pamidronate. Results: Metaphyseal bands, which we call zebra lines, were observed with band intervals that were dependent on the age of the patient, the rate of growth, and the dosing regimen. Epiphyseal and apophyseal bands were also observed in some patients. A distinction was made between Harris growth arrest lines and zebra lines. There was no evidence to suggest a deceleration in bone growth in children managed with pamidronate. Conclusions: The term zebra lines is proposed as a descriptive term for the characteristic pattern of metaphyseal banding seen on the radiographs of children receiving cyclical bisphosphonate therapy.
A low-complexity radar for human tracking

Human detection and tracking have become the key necessities in security and surveillance systems, especially with the growth of terrorism threats and incidents worldwide. A low-cost, low-complexity radar for tracking multiple moving humans in indoor surveillance applications is investigated in this research. The basic concept is to employ two-element receiving array to obtain the bearing of the targets. Conventional bearing detection requires the use of an antenna array with multiple elements. In this dissertation, the use of only two elements in the receiver array for bearing tracking is investigated. The concept entails resolving the Doppler frequencies of the returned signals from the moving targets, and then measuring the phase difference at each Doppler frequency component to calculate the bearing of the targets. The concept is extended by employing an additional element for vertical scanning. This extension enables the system to provide two-dimensional bearing tracking of multiple movers in the azimuth and elevation planes. A possible application of frontal-imaging of human is also investigated. Given the fact that body parts in a moving human may give rise to different Doppler returns, their bearing information may be extracted and correlated to construct a frontal image of human. Since the frontal view of human may offer more information than the conventional top-down view (down-range), it can potentially be used for target classification purposes. The concept is extended further by incorporating two frequencies to obtain the target range information. The Doppler separation among the moving targets are again exploited and pre-filtered before measuring the phase difference to arrive at the range information of the targets. The final extension of the basic concept turns the system into a low-cost, low-complexity, three-dimensional radar for human tracking. Simulations are performed to demonstrate the concept and to assess the system performance bounds. A simplified model of human-gait is developed and used in the simulations to represent realistic factors such as micro-Doppler returns of body parts. An experimental system is designed and constructed to test the concept. Measurement results of human subjects in various indoor and outdoor environments are presented, including through-wall scenarios.
Early and late Spanish-English bilinguals' acquisition of English word stress patterns

Guion, Clark, Harada and Wayland (2003) found that three factors affect English speakers' stress placement on bisyllabic non-words: syllabic structure, lexical class and stress patterns of phonologically similar real words. The current replication and extension included three groups (N = 30): native English speakers, early Spanish–English bilinguals, and late Spanish–English bilinguals. Participants produced and gave perceptual judgments on 40 non-words of varying syllabic structures in noun and verb sentence frames. A regression analysis used the three factors to predict stress placement in production and perception. All three groups showed significant effects from stress patterns of phonologically similar real words and lexical class. The effect of syllabic structure for early bilinguals was slightly different from that of native speakers and late bilinguals showed greatly reduced effects. Late bilinguals exhibited more initial stress overall, possibly due to L1 transfer. These results run counter to the prediction made by Long (1990) about age effects on phonological acquisition.
Acceptability of a reusable insulin pen, HumaPen Ergo, by patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

SummaryA reusable insulin pen (HumaPen® Ergo) was tested for patient acceptability and safety in two multinational studies involving a total of 230 patients with either type 1 (27%) or type 2 (73%) diabetes. Prior to the studies, all patients used other insulin injection pen models. During the 5-7-week studies, the acceptability of HumaPen Ergo was assessed with a questionnaire which was issued to all patients. The HumaPen Ergo was considered easy/very easy with respect to learning to use (97%), reading dose numbers (95%) and correcting dose mistakes (97%), and 62% considered it easy/very easy to hold during use. HumaPen Ergo features considered easier/much easier compared to the previously used model of pen were ease of correcting dose (Study 1/Study 2:89%/93%), ease of reading the dose number (77%/61%) and ease of changing cartridge (54%/68%). At the end of the studies the majority of patients (60%/69%) said that they would continue to use HumaPen Ergo and would recommend it to other patients, even thou...
Bumble bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) community structure on two sagebrush steppe sites in southern Idaho

Although sagebrush, Artemisia spp., does not require an insect pollinator, there are several native species of bumble bees, Bombus spp. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), that are present in sagebrush steppe ecosystems where they act as pollinators for various forbs and shrubs. These native pollinators contribute to plant productivity and reproduction. We captured 12 species of bumble bees (437 individuals) at two sites during this study. The three most commonly captured species of Bombus at the first site (Red Mountain in the Targhee-Caribou National Forest) were B. rufocinctus Cresson, B. fervidus and B. melanopygus Nylander. Bombus fervidus dominated the trap catch at the second site (Lave Lake Land and Livestock) followed by B. rufocinctus and B. californicus consanguineus Smith. When numerous species of bumble bees co-occur on a given site, the community must have some mechanism for partitioning the available resources for the coexistence to occur. Along with temporal separation that was demonstrated by monthly differences in the capture of several of the individual species of bumble bees at both study sites, differences in capture of individual species of bumble bees was influenced by trap color. The differences observed among the species of Bombus we captured at the two sites may serve to limit competitive interactions among some of the species. Further, more bumble bees were captured in traps placed in the plots with the lowest percentage of sagebrush in the canopy. The results suggest that sagebrush steppe habitats can harbor a diverse community of native bumble bees and that multiple Bombus species can coexist on these sites. To maintain these diverse bumble bee communities, some portion of the sites should be managed to have little to no sagebrush in the canopy.
Estimation of Dynamic Discrete Choice Models Using Artificial Neural Network Approximations

I propose a method for inference in dynamic discrete choice models (DDCM) that utilizes Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) and artificial neural networks (ANNs). MCMC is intended to handle high-dimensional integration in the likelihood function of richly specified DDCMs. ANNs approximate the dynamic-program (DP) solution as a function of the parameters and state variables prior to estimation to avoid having to solve the DP on each iteration. Potential applications of the proposed methodology include inference in DDCMs with random coefficients, serially correlated unobservables, and dependence across individual observations. The article discusses MCMC estimation of DDCMs, provides relevant background on ANNs, and derives a theoretical justification for the method. Experiments suggest this to be a promising approach.
MicroRNA sponges: competitive inhibitors of small RNAs in mammalian cells

MicroRNAs are predicted to regulate thousands of mammalian genes, but relatively few targets have been experimentally validated and few microRNA loss-of-function phenotypes have been assigned. As an alternative to chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides, we developed microRNA inhibitors that can be expressed in cells, as RNAs produced from transgenes. Termed 'microRNA sponges', these competitive inhibitors are transcripts expressed from strong promoters, containing multiple, tandem binding sites to a microRNA of interest. When vectors encoding these sponges are transiently transfected into cultured cells, sponges derepress microRNA targets at least as strongly as chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides. They specifically inhibit microRNAs with a complementary heptameric seed, such that a single sponge can be used to block an entire microRNA seed family. RNA polymerase II promoter (Pol II)-driven sponges contain a fluorescence reporter gene for identification and sorting of sponge-treated cells. We envision the use of stably expressed sponges in animal models of disease and development.
Aqueous Solubilization of Highly Fluorinated Molecules by Semifluorinated Surfactants

The physical and chemical properties of organic compounds are deeply affected by the introduction of fluorinated substituents. Perfluorinated and highly fluorinated organic molecules are both hydrophobic and lipophobic. This makes the recognition and the binding of fluorinated molecules extremely difficult to achieve through classical elements of molecular recognition. Here we show that semifluorinated water-soluble block copolymers can generate micellar structures having a fluorous phase-based inner core in aqueous solution. Furthermore, we show that these micelles can be used to encapsulate and bind highly fluorinated molecules through association in the internal fluorous phase (fluorophobic effect). We report that semifluorinated block copolymers can be used for the aqueous solubilization of the widely diffused gaseous anesthetic sevoflurane, thereby suggesting the possibility of the intravenous delivery of this commonly used anesthetic.
Effects of the Neurotrophins and CNTF on Developing Statoacoustic Neurons: Comparison with an Otocyst-Derived Factor

Abstract During the early stages of auditory development, the inner ear (otocyst) releases an unidentified, diffusible factor that promotes neurite outgrowth from the associated statoacoustic ganglia (SAG). Using a variety of criteria, the present study compared the neurite- and survival-promoting properties of this otocyst-derived factor (ODF) to the neurotrophins NGF, BDNF, NT-3, and NT-4 and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). Ganglia known to respond to specific growth factors were cultured in the presence of ODF. ODF failed to promote neurite outgrowth from trigeminal, ciliary, sympathetic, or dorsal root ganglia, suggesting that ODF may have properties different from other identified growth factors. In complementary experiments, SAG explants were cultured in ODF, the neurotrophins, and CNTF. The extent of outgrowth was greatest in the presence of ODF and CNTF, with the neurotrophins having little effect. In neuron-enriched, dissociated cell cultures, ODF promoted both survival and outgrowth of SAG neurons. However, neither the neurotrophins nor CNTF, alone or in combination, promoted the survival or outgrowth of dissociated SAG neurons. Thus, the outgrowth seen in the explant cultures appears to be due to indirect effects via the ganglionic nonneuronal cells. The addition of anti-NGF antisera failed to block the activity of chick, rat, or mouse ODF, further indicating that NGF is not the primary component of ODF. Together, the results of this study indicate that the properties of the ODF are not mimicked by the neurotrophins or CNTF.
Chiò's and Dodgson's determinantal identities

Abstract In this expository paper, we analyze and compare two determinantal identities constructed in the mid nineteenth century, Chio's and Dodgson's, from the perspective of their origins in earlier work by J.J. Sylvester and C.G.J. Jacobi. All the known proofs of Chio's and Dodgson's identities are cited and we present and compare them as modern algorithms for evaluating determinants. Restated as a recurrence, we discuss the role of Dodgson's identity in the development of the alternating sign matrix conjecture in the late twentieth century.
Prescription Stimulants Are "A Okay": Applying Neutralization Theory to College Students' Nonmedical Prescription Stimulant Use.

AbstractObjective: National college health data indicate that prescription stimulants are the most widely misused prescription drugs among college students, with 9% admitting to nonmedical use within the past year.1 Although motivations for the nonmedical use of these drugs have been explored, scant attention has been paid to justifications for nonmedical use. This article fills that gap by expounding upon the justifications students incite to defend their nonmedical use of these drugs. Participants: Seventy-six college students from a large, public northwestern university. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted during the 2010–2011 academic year. Results: Inductive analysis uncovered social learning theories of crime/deviance, more specifically, Sykes and Matza's neutralization theory2 as helping to inform justifications for nonmedical stimulant use. This theory was modified to better encompass the justifications that students employed. Conclusion: Justifications for use must become a more cen...
Structures of non-sooting counterflow diluted acetylene-air flames

Measurements and computations were made for profiles of temperature and of concentrations of fuel, CO 2 , CO, and NO in counterflow flames of mixtures of C 2 H 2 , N 2 , and air against a pure air stream. The equivalence ratio in the fuel stream ranged from 1.5 to 2.4, and the molar ratio of added excess N 2 to C 2 H 2 was 8, giving measured maximum flame temperatures between 1750 and 1800 K at the air-side strain rate, 90 s −1 , of the experiment. Under these experimental conditions, the flames are essentially free of soot formation and experience negligible NO production through the thermal mechanism, so that the NO is indicative of the prompt mechanism and dependent on the fuel chemistry. The objective was to test the ability of newly revised detailed-chemistry rate parameters to predict flame structures under these conditions. The results show excellent agreement between measured profiles and numerical calculations, thereby providing support for the chemical-kinetic scheme.
Family dinner frequency, settings and sources, and body weight in US adults

Contemporary families and food systems are both becoming more dynamic and complex, and current associations between adult family meals and body mass index (BMI) are not well understood. This investigation took a new approach by examining diverse settings and sources of food for family dinners in relationship to BMI in a cross-sectional nationally representative survey of 360 US adults age 18–85 living with family members. In this sample, 89% of adults ate family dinners at least 5 days per week and almost all ate family dinners cooked and eaten at home. About half of these adults also ate family dinners at restaurants, fast food places, or ate takeout food at home, and less common were family dinners at homes of relatives or friends. Family dinners eaten at fast food places, but not other settings or sources, were significantly associated with higher BMI. Overall, adult family dinners were commonplace, usually involved home cooking, and when at fast food places may be related with higher adult body weights.
The Influence of Counseling on the Perception of Counselor Role

Investigators have found widespread misunderstanding and misperceptions of the counselor's role. If the profession is to perform the functions for which it exists the counselor and those with whom he works must have a clear perception of what the work of the counselor is. A 50-item questionnaire was developed and administered to students and teachers of three small secondary schools. It was concluded that a counseling program established in a small secondary school, where no counseling previously existed, does change significantly the students' perceptions of the counselor role. The direction of this change is determined by what the counselor does. Thus, if counselors functioned as they “should” a more correct image will follow. There was some evidence that the students who are aware of what counselors do will seek them out.
The diffusion of human patient simulation into an associate degree in nursing curriculum

Abstract The diffusion of human patient simulation (HPS) within a nursing curriculum is challenging. This article describes an exemplar that presents a 3-year process guided by the Diffusion of Innovations theory to plan, implement, and evaluate HPS in an associate degree in nursing program curriculum. Without funding for a major renovation or construction of new simulation laboratories, existing campus laboratories were converted into simulation laboratories including space dedicated to maternal–child simulation and a remediation simulation laboratory.
Catastrophe theory and brightness judgments.

(Received for publication February 9,1981; accepted February 16, 1981.) Figure 1. Tbe proportion of judgments tbat tbe variable was brighter than tbe standard as a function of tbe percent-cbange in intensity of tbe variable relative to tbe standard. Ascending series are sbown by open circles, and descending series are sbown by filled circles. Data were read from Figure 1 of Yelen (1980). 32 24 -16 -8 0 8 16
Complexity of computing reachable workspaces for redundant manipulators

Abstract The complexity ofcomputing 3D workspaces forjoint limited redundant manipulators is examined.Different types of reachable workspace volume and reachable workspace boundary problems aredefined. Each type of volume problem is at least as hard as its corresponding type of boundaryproblem, and each problem type is at least NP hard. New efficient and adaptive workspace pointcomputation techniques are proposed (e.g. based on nonlinear programming) after complexityanalyses of the corresponding decision problems. 1 Introduction The complexity analysis for a given problem is considered a fundamental step that should be un-dertaken before attempting to solve it since it affects the algorithms that can be developed to solveit efficiently. Although the workspace problem has applications in a wide variety of fields such asrobotics, computer aided design, and computer graphics, its complexity had never been analyzed. Inthis paper, we analyze the computational complexity of both the reachable workspace volume andthe reachable workspace envelope (boundary) problems and prove that they are at least NP-hard.Reachable workspace volume computation is important for visualizing the 3D workspace with theholes and voids that are buried inside the workspace. Reachable workspace boundary computationis important for applications that only require 2D cross sections.
ZOOPLANKTON VARIABILITY AND LARVAL STRIPED BASS FORAGING: EVALUATING POTENTIAL MATCH/MISMATCH REGULATION

We quantified temporal and spatial variability of zooplankton in three potential nursery sites (river, transition zone, lake) for larval striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in Lake Marion, South Carolina, during April and May 1993–1995. In two of three years, microzooplankton (rotifers and copepod nauplii) density was significantly greater in the lake site than in the river or transition zone. Macrozooplankton (>200 μm) composition varied among the three sites in all years with adult copepods and cladocerans dominant at the lake, and juvenile Corbicula fluminea dominant at the river and transition zone. Laboratory feeding experiments, simulating both among-site (site treatments) and within-site (density treatments) variability, were conducted in 1995 to quantify the effects of the observed zooplankton variability on foraging success of larval striped bass. A greater proportion of larvae fed in the lake than in the river or transition-zone treatments across all density treatments: mean (x), 10x and 100x. Larvae also ingested significantly more dry mass of prey in the lake treatment in both the mean and 10x density treatments. Field zooplankton and laboratory feeding data suggest that both spatial and temporal variability of zooplankton influence larval striped bass foraging. Prey density levels that supported successful foraging in our feeding experiments occurred in the lake during late April and May in 1994 and 1995 but were never observed in the river or transition zone. Because the rivers flowing into Lake Marion are regulated, it may be possible to devise flow management schemes that facilitate larval transport to the lake and thereby increase the proportion of larvae matched to suitable prey resources.
Global structures of high methoxyl pectin from solution and in gels

Images of high methoxyl orange pectin deposited from solution and high methoxyl sugar acid gels (HMSAG) were obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the tapping mode. For the first time, images of pectin deposited from water revealed that the transition from pectin networks to individual molecules or aggregates thereof occurred at concentrations between 6.5 and 13.1 μg/mL. At 6.5 μg/mL, shapes included rods, segmented rods, kinked rods, rings, branched molecules, and dense circular areas. At 13.1 μg/mL, all of these shapes were integrated into networks. These same structures were discernible in pectin high methoxyl sugar acid gels. Thus one might consider pectin networks in water at concentrations in excess of 10 μg/mL to be separate fluid precursors of networks in high methoxyl sugar acid gels. Examination of AFM images revealed that gels with “uniform” distribution of strands and pores between strands had higher gel strengths as measured by a penetrometer than gels in which strands were nonuniforml...
A Critical Analysis of the Sources of Reading Recovery: An Empiricist Perspective

This discussion of the sources of Reading Recovery presents the results of an investigation into whether or not this relatively costly, tutoring remedial reading program, designed for primary-grade students, is based on relevant experimental evidence as to how these students best learn to read. The general finding of the study was that Reading Recovery principles and practices are not based firmly on the experimental evidence that supports the so-called “bottom-up” model of children's reading development. To the contrary of Reading Recovery, Marie Clay, favors so-called “top-down” principles and models of reading instruction. Reading Recovery uses several empirically unverified procedures to decide which students are admitted to its tutoring sessions, to determine the progress in reading rehabilitation these tutees make, and to judge when students should be discontinued from Reading Recovery tutelage. The details on the shortcomings of Reading Recovery are judged to be prima facie evidence that it may not be a cost-effective educational innovation. Further authentication in that regard, it is pointed out, are recent studies by disinterested researchers who report that: (a) the initial successes of Reading Recovery in helping disabled readers overcome their handicap are only temporary in nature, and (b) the majority of the precepts and procedures prescribed for Reading Recovery by Marie Clay reflect a top-down orientation to reading development, as does the Whole Language (WL) philosophy of reading attainment. Educators and school boards should take this orientation of Reading Recovery under advisement when considering its purchase, it is urged.
The determinacy of Blackwell games

Games of infinite length and perfect information have been studied for many years. There are numerous determinacy results for these games, and there is a wide body of work on consequences of their determinacy. Except for games with very special payoff functions, games of infinite length and imperfect information have been little studied. In 1969, David Blackwell [1] introduced a class of such games and proved a determinacy theorem for a subclass. During the intervening time, there has not been much progress in proving the determinacy of Blackwell's games. Orkin [17] extended Blackwell's result to a slightly wider class. Blackwell [2] found a new proof of his own result. Maitra and Sudderth [9, 10] improved Blackwell's result in a different direction from that of Orkin and also generalized to the case of stochastic games. Recently Vervoort [18] has obtained a substantial improvement. Nevertheless, almost all the basic questions have remained open. In this paper we associate with each Blackwell game a family of perfect information games, and we show that the (mixed strategy) determinacy of the former follows from the (pure strategy) determinacy of the latter. The complexity of the payoff function for the Blackwell game is approximately the same as the complexity of the payoff sets for the perfect information games. In particular, this means that the determinacy of Blackwell games with Borel measurable payoff functions follows from the known determinacy of perfect information games with Borel payoff sets.
Microbiology: Ditch the term pathogen

Disease is as much about the host as it is the infectious agent — the focus on microbes is hindering research into treatments, say Arturo Casadevall and Liise-anne Pirofski.
Serotonin in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Purpose of review To assess the role of serotonin and its control in the manifestations and treatment of lower functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). Recent literature has explored several novel concepts in the association of serotonin and symptoms, alterations in tissue levels of serotonin and its reuptake protein (SERT), aspects of the genetic determinants of serotonergic function (particularly 5-HTTLPR) and its relationship to gastrointestinal motor and sensory functions, and novel serotonergic agents used in therapy of lower FGID. The most consistent findings are the increase in plasma 5-HT in diarrheal diseases and reduction in constipation. The SERT in platelets impacts on the circulating level of 5-HT. Meta-analysis shows that 5-HTTLPR genotype is not significantly associated with IBS in Caucasians or Asians. New 5-HT3 antagonists and 5-HT4 agonists are efficacious and promise to provide relief for patients if they can pass regulatory hurdles.
Analysis of phospholipase C (Bacillus cereus) action toward mixed micelles of phospholipid and surfactant.

Abstract The action of phospholipase C ( Bacillus cereus ) toward mixed micelles of phosphatidylcholine and the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 is analyzed according to the “surfaceas-cofactor” kinetic scheme recently proposed for characterizing the action of lipolytic enzymes [ Deems, R. A., Eaton, B. R., and Dennis, E. A. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250 , 9013–9020 ]. According to this scheme, the enzyme first associates with the surface or mixed micelles, where the dissociation constant is K s A . The enzyme, now part of the mixed micelle surface, then binds the substrate phospholipid molecule in its active site and this binding is related to the Michaelis constant, K m B . The surface, or mixed micelles in this scheme, behaves kinetically as a cofactor in that, under initial rate conditions, the surface properties of the mixed micelles are virtually unchanged after catalysis. For phospholipase C with egg phosphatidylcholine as substrate, it was found that at pH 6.4 (the pH optimum for the enzyme) and 40 °C, V is about 2 × 10 3 μmol min −1 (mg of protein) −1 . K s A is about 2 m m and K m B is 1 to 2 × 10 −10 mol cm −2 . The kinetic constants for phospholipase C are compared with those previously reported for phospholipase A 2 and the membrane-bound enzyme phosphatidylserine decarboxylase determined under similar conditions.
NON–SELF–SIMILAR DECOHESION ALONG A FINITE INTERFACE OF UNILATERALLY CONSTRAINED DELAMINATIONS

We have presented a novel and unified approach for the analysis of delaminated structures in a compressive load environment. Previous studies have addressed delamination buckling, postbuckling and growth as three separate events with respect to remote load, with an appropriate criterion to demarcate the separate regimes. We show that a unified treatment of this problem is possible so that the evolution of the delaminated areas is obtained as a part of the calculation process. The unified approach is made possible by the introduction of an interface decohesion law that is appealing both as a computational device to regularize an otherwise singular problem, and as a physical model of the decohesion process. This type of modelling is known in fracture mechanics as Barenblatt–Dugdale (BD) models. Employing BD models, we were able to overcome some of the limitations of linear elastic fracture mechanics approaches in predicting general delamination growth. Using a virtual work formulation, the delamination–interphase–substrate system was modelled as one, resulting in a system of integral equations that was solved using an approximate method. The present treatment is new and demonstrates a successful departure from traditional fracture mechanics based concepts that require empirical relations for non–self similar delamination growth studies. The problem formulation places no distinction between the phenomena of buckling (and postbuckling) and non–self–similar growth. That is, the same equations were found to govern the entire behaviour from beginning (starting to load/displace the structure) to end (complete decohesion and/or loss of stiffness) without specification to certain regimes of validity. We have demonstrated that the use of nonlinear elastic foundation models to characterize unilateral constraints and the use of interphase models to analyse delamination decohesion and growth are indeed viable. Non–self–similar delamination growth patterns were simulated without resorting to fracture mechanics concepts and it was found that unilateral contact can occur at buckling or in the postbuckling regime, as well as prior to delamination growth or after delamination growth. Several examples are presented to illustrate this new treatment.
Shock wave therapy for Achilles tendinopathy.

Achilles tendinopathy has been reported as the most common overuse injury in sports medicine clinics (Clement et al. Am J Sports Med 12: 179–184, 1984). Standard treatment regimens include activity modification, heel lifts, arch supports, stretching exercises, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, and eccentric loading. There is a lack of consensus regarding treatment. Even so, most athletes will respond to this regimen. However, conservative management will prove to be inadequate for a subset of patients. When conservative therapy fails, other noninvasive treatment measures may be considered. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been used in soft-tissue disorders including lateral epicondylitis, plantar fasciitis, and calcific tendonitis of the shoulder. Conclusive evidence recommending ESWT as a treatment for Achilles tendinopathy is lacking. This article explores the role of shock wave therapy in the management of recalcitrant Achilles tendinopathy in patients attempting to avoid an invasive intervention.
The role of sperm numbers in sperm competition and female remating in Drosophila melanogaster

Single mating productivities (used as estimates of the relative number of sperm transferred) are highly correlated with several parameters used to quantify sperm competition in D. melanogster. Matings that result in the transferal of large numbers of sperm are associated with longer delay of female remating than are matings that transfer fewer sperm. Males that transfer larger numbers of sperm also suffer a smaller proportional reduction in reproductive success (smaller COST) than males transferring fewer sperm. The number of sperm transferred by a female's second mate is not related to the COST to the first male. However, there is a high positive correlation between the number of sperm transferred by the second male and P2 (the proportion of second male progeny following female remating). Thus, large sperm numbers apparently increase the reproductive success of males whether they mate with virgin or non-virgin females. Because female receptivity mediates these events, there is no need to invoke sperm displacement to explain the reproductive outcome of female remating. The timing of female remating is evaluated in terms of a receptivity-threshold model. This model suggests that female receptivity returns when some small, relatively constant, number of sperm remain in storage.
Logging last resource optimization for distributed transactions in Oracle WebLogic server

State-of-the-art OLTP systems execute distributed transactions using XA-2PC protocol, a presumed-abort variant of the Two-Phase Commit (2PC) protocol. While the XA specification provides for the Read-Only and 1PC optimizations of 2PC, it does not deal with another important optimization, coined Nested 2PC. In this paper, we describe the Logging Last Resource (LLR) optimization in Oracle WebLogic Server (WLS). It adapts and improves the Nested 2PC optimization to/for the Java Enterprise Edition (JEE) environment. It allows reducing the number of forced (synchronous) writes and the number of exchanged messages when executing distributed transactions that span multiple transactional resources including a SQL database integrated as a JDBC datasource. This optimization has been validated in SPECjAppServer2004 (a standard industry benchmark for JEE) and a variety of internal benchmarks. LLR has been successfully deployed by high-profile customers in mission-critical high-performance applications.
Types and patterns of later-life migration.

This paper refines previous typologies of later-life mobility by explicitly evaluating the spatial migration patterns and household characteristics of retired American migrants. Migrants life-course attributes (economic status disability presence of spouse) large-scale migration patterns (internal migration) and household characteristics (living arrangements economic independence residential independence) are used to identify three types of post-retirement mobility. The first type amenity migration has a distinctive spatial pattern that suggests a search for attractive climate and leisure amenities. The second type of mobility assistance migration can be traced to low income and the absence of a spouse in the household. It often results in residential and economic dependence--specifically in co-residence with adult children or other labor force members. The third type of mobility migration in response to severe disability and spouse absence tends to result in nursing home residence. While amenity migration has long been associated with good health and favorable economic status this analysis reveals that many disabled and lower-income retirees share the in-migration pattern typical of amenity migrants. In fact amenity migration is the predominant type of mobility among those migrants with fewer than two unfavorable life course attributes (low income severe disability and spouse absence). Unlike previous life-course typologies this study shows no clear relationship between moderate disability and co-residence with adult children. The results suggest that co-residence is primarily a strategy for reducing living costs rather than a means of coping with moderate disability. (authors)
Entry, Fixed Costs and the Aggregation of Private Information

We investigate the ability of the price system to aggregate private information in a market of uncertain size and where set-up costs are incurred by entrants. It is shown that the equilibrium is random even when the totality of private information is so large that aggregate uncertainty is virtually non-existent. In particular, the limiting equilibrium does not approach the full-information, Walrasian outcome. Hence, the model identifies a technological factor (increasing returns) which gives rise to informational losses.
Synchronization and pattern formation in diffusively coupled systems

We discuss spatially distributed networks that exhibit a diffusive coupling structure, common in biomolecular networks and multi-agent systems. We first review conditions that guarantee spatial homogeneity of the solutions of these systems, referred to as “synchrony.” We next point to structural system properties that allow diffusion-driven instability - a phenomenon critical to pattern formation in biology - and show that an analogous instability mechanism exists in multi-agent systems. The results reviewed in the paper also demonstrate the role played by the Laplacian eigenvalues in determining the dynamical properties of diffusively coupled systems. We conclude with a discussion of how these eigenvalues can be assigned with a design of node and edge weights of a graph, and present a formation control example.
Geostatistical integration of near‐surface geophysical data

Accurate statics calculation and near-surface related noise removal require a detailed knowledge of the near-surface velocity field. Conventional seismic surveys currently are not designed to provide this information, and 3D high-resolution reflection/refraction acquisition is not feasible for large survey areas. Satellite images and vibrator plate attributes are dense low-cost data, which can be used in spatially extrapolating velocities from sparse uphole data by geostatistics. We tested this approach in two different areas of Saudi Arabia and found that the optimal recipe depends on the local geology.
High temperature composite forming limit diagrams of four magnesium AZ31B sheets obtained by pneumatic stretching

Abstract Formability of four magnesium AZ31B sheet materials, produced either by direct chill or twin roll continuous casting, was investigated at 400 °C and 5 × 10−3 s−1 using pneumatic stretching. Sheet specimens were deformed through a series of four elliptical die inserts, with aspect ratios ranging between 1.0 and 0.4, producing ellipsoidal domes with different biaxial strain combinations. Testing was carried out in two scenarios, i.e. with the major strains aligned either along or across the rolling direction of the material. Circle grid analysis was then used to map the planar strains of the deformed specimens; the latter were used to generate comprehensive material forming limits curves (FLCs) that bound the safe, marginal and failure deformation zones. Orientation effects were quantified by constructing a “composite FLD” for each of the four sheets; the diagrams collectively showed that greater formability limits are achieved along the material's rolling direction. Furthermore, detailed comparisons between the four sheets were carried out based on formability limits, deformation uniformity, maximum dome height prior to failure, and fracture surface morphology and chemistry. Disparities in formability were linked to differences in grain structure and material inhomogeneities.
The outer arc of the costa rican orogen (oceanic basement complexes of the Nicoya and Santa Elena Peninsulas)

Abstract The basement of the Costa Rican outer arc consists of two major complexes. The older is composed of peridotite-serpentinite, pillow lava and radiolarite; the younger is made up of gabbro-diorite, pillow lava, pyroclastic rocks and siliceous limestone. The observational data are interpreted as follows. The older pillow lavas are believed to be oceanic crust generated along the north-south-spreading Carnegie Ridge during the late Coniacian. The younger lavas flowed from fissures along a west-northwest-trending volcanic belt (Culebra arc) which developed in this crust during early to middle Campanian time, when it collided with the Chortis block. Paleomagnetic evidence suggests that the older sequence originated on the Southern Hemisphere, and the younger in the Northern. During the Paleocene, the crust fragmented and separated into the Caribbean and Cocos plates, probably as a result of the outer arc escaping the tectonic influence of the Carnegie Ridge and entering that of the ancestral East Pacific Rise. This fragmentation resulted in the formation of two parallel volcanic belts (San Antonio and Cachimbas arcs) in the inner deep (Tempisque Valley), which remained active throughout the Eocene. It is postulated that subduction of the Cocos beneath the Caribbean plate was initiated during Oligocene time and resulted in the formation of yet another volcanic belt (Tilaran-Talamanca arc). The outer arc was uplifted, folded, and thrust south westward. The resulting pattern shows a gradual clockwise rotation west to northwest, and north-astward migration of the volcanic arcs through time. Aeromagnetic and tectonic data indicate that differential uplift and later gravitational decollement of the sedimentary rock blanket characterize the tectonic deformation of singular volcanic belts, and that tectonic overprinting is usually restricted to one major phase.
Negative cross talk between NFAT1 and Stat5 signaling in breast cancer

The molecular mechanisms that modulate the activity of the signal transducers and activators of transcription 5 (Stat5) during the progression of breast cancer remain elusive. Here, we present evidence that the calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) pathway negatively regulates the activation of Stat5, and vice versa in breast cancer. NFAT1 interacts with Stat5 in breast cancer cells, and their physical association is mediated by the DNA binding and transactivation domains of Stat5. Ectopically expressed NFAT1 is capable of inhibiting Stat5-dependent functions, including Stat5 transactivation, Stat5-mediated transcription of the downstream target gene expression, and binding of Stat5a to the Stat5 target promoter. By contrast, overexpression of a selective NFAT inhibitor VIVIT reversed NFAT1-mediated suppression of Stat5-dependent gene expression, whereas silencing of NFAT1 through RNA interference enhanced prolactin-induced, Stat5-mediated gene transcription, and breast cancer cell proliferation. A reciprocal inhibitory effect of Stat5 activity on NFAT1 signaling was also observed, implying these two signaling cascades antagonize each other in breast cancer. Importantly, analysis of a matched breast cancer progression tissue microarray revealed a negative correlation between levels of NFAT1 and Stat5 (pY694) during the progression of breast cancer. Taken together, these studies highlight a novel negative cross talk between the NFAT1- and Stat5-signaling cascades that may affect breast tumor formation, growth, and metastasis.
Activation of the TLR4 signaling pathway and abnormal cholesterol efflux lead to emphysema in ApoE-deficient mice

Smokers with airflow obstruction have an increased risk of atherosclerosis, but the relationship between the pathogenesis of these diseases is not well understood. To determine whether hypercholest...
Software reviews choices: Classroom management and discipline system

CHOICES is a Hypercard stack that indexes published research and suggests outlines for action for helping children with behavior difficulties. The program has computerized information for which computerization may not be an efficient or economical storage medium. When compared with other methods of obtaining information concerning the management of behavioral problems in children, CHOICES is of questionable value to school psychologists.
Heat balance sap flow gauge for small diameter stems

Applying heat balance sap flow gauges to plant stems <10 mm in diameter has been difficult because a miniature design is needed that can be attached to a range of stem geometries. This report presents a modified gauge design for use on small plant stems of irregular geometry and shows results from Glycine max with stem diameters of 3–4 mm. The gauge was evaluated on container-grown plants by comparing gauge measurements of flow to gravimetric estimates of transpiration. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory and greenhouse, using artificial and natural lighting, respectively. Laboratory comparisons of gauge versus gravimetric water loss measurements indicated that the instrument was accurate to within ±5% when soil water was not limiting. Similar results were obtained from greenhouse tests except when soil water availability was low and cumulative gauge estimates became 30–45% less than gravimetric measurements. Differences may have reflected reduced plant water uptake or errors in sap flow estimates associated with low flow rates. Gauge accuracy was not improved by including the rate change in heat storage (S) in the flow calculations because S was always less then 3% of the total heat balance. Relationships between system temperature and sap flow rate suggested a diagnostic test for determining optimum power input. A time constant of 15 s indicated potential application in many agronomic and physiological studies.
Evidence for Large Spin-Orbit Coupling in Metallic Molybdenum

We report accurate measurements of the caliper dimensions of the molybdenum Fermi surface. From these measurements, we estimate the separation between the electron jack and the hole octahedra along the $〈100〉$ directions to be (7.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1)% of the $\ensuremath{\Gamma}H$ dimension. This large separation implies that spin-orbit coupling is much greater than expected for metallic molybdenum.
Taxing and Spending Politics: A Generational Perspective

The aging of the American population has important ramifications for public policy. Economists have long been predicting intergenerational economic warfare based upon their close look at the nation's changing demographics. It is time for political scientists to focus on this issue, especially since taxing and spending issues are increasingly at the forefront of most elections, whether at the national or state and local levels. This research examines some of the existing myths about different age groups' taxing and spending preferences. It is based on data generated from annual surveys of people 18 years and older by the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, the Florida Survey Research Laboratory, and perennial surveys by the Times Mirror Center for The People & The Press, Gallup, Roper, and the University of Michigan's Survey Research Center, among others. The results suggest that as the intergenerational competition for scarce resources intensifies, the older generations are likely to ...