cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Communication and shared information

Strawson style counterexamples to Grice’s account of communication show that a communicative intention has to be overt. Saying what overtness consists in has proven to be difficult for Gricean accounts. In this paper, I show that a common explanation of overtness, one that construes it in terms of a network of shared beliefs or knowledge, is mistaken. I offer an alternative, collectivist, model of communication. This model takes the utterer’s communicative intention to be a we-intention, a kind of intention with a distinctive content that cannot be reduced to an intention in favor of an individual action. I show that the collectivist model can explain overtness in terms of a general feature of we-intentions, namely the requirement that the participants in a shared activity are to intend to act in accordance with meshing subplans.
Leonhard Euler and his contributions to fluid mechanics

The career of Leonhard Euler, one of the world's most gifted scientists, is reviewed. The paper focuses on Euler's contributions to fluid mechanics and gives a perspective of how this science was born. A bibliography is included to provide the history enthusiast with a starting point for further study.
The nonorientable genus of joins of complete graphs with large edgeless graphs

We show that for n=4 and n>=6, K"n has a nonorientable embedding in which all the facial walks are hamilton cycles. Moreover, when n is odd there is such an embedding that is 2-face-colorable. Using these results we consider the join of an edgeless graph with a complete graph, K"m@?+K"n=K"m"+"n-K"m, and show that for n>=3 and m>=n-1 its nonorientable genus is @?(m-2)(n-2)/2@? except when (m,n)=(4,5). We then extend these results to find the nonorientable genus of all graphs K"m@?+G where m>=|V(G)|-1. We provide a result that applies in some cases with smaller m when G is disconnected.
Effect of the distance moved by the solvent on the rf values in circular chromatography

Abstract 1. The effect of the distance travelled by the solvent on the RF values of the amino acids subjected to circular paper chromatography has been studied under various conditions with two solvents: (i) Phenol-water, which is less volatile and (ii) butanol-acetic acid-water which is more volatile. The RF values with both the solvents are almost independent of the distance travelled by the solvent. It is essential in all these experiments to control perfect saturation inside the chamber in order to get reproducible RF values. 2. The increase in RF values reported by RAO and GIRI1 with distance of travel of the solvent appears to be clue to lack of necessary saturation inside the chamber. The same defect seems to liave vitiated the experiments of rao and BERI6 wlio also reported very high RF values. 3. Butanol-acetic acid-water of the composition 4 : 1 : 19 is suggested as a good solvent for practical purposes.
Community-Acquired Meningitis in Older Adults: Clinical Features, Etiology, and Prognostic Factors

Objectives: To investigate the epidemiology and outcomes of community-acquired meningitis in older adults. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Participants adults in Houston, Texas, with community-acquired meningitis hospitalized between January 1, 2005, and January 1, 2010 (N = 619; n = 54, 8.7%, aged ≥65; n = 565 aged <65). Methods: An adverse clinical outcome was defined as a Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 4 or less. Results: Older adults had higher rates of comorbidities, abnormal neurological and laboratory (serum white blood cell count >12,000/μL, and cerebrospinal fluid protein >100 mg/dL) findings (P < .001), abnormalities on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the head (P = .002), and adverse clinical outcomes (ACOs) (P < .001). The majority of participants (65.8%) had meningitis of unknown etiology. Bacterial meningitis was an infrequent cause of community-acquired meningitis (7.4%). Of the known causes, bacterial meningitis and West Nile virus were more common in older than younger adults; younger participants more frequently had cryptococcal and viral meningitis. On logistic regression, female sex was predictive of a poor outcome in the older participants (P = .002), whereas abnormal neurological examination (P < .001), fever (P = .01), and a cerebrospinal fluid glucose level less than 45 mg/dL (P = .002) were significant poor prognostic factors in younger participants. Conclusion: Most cases of community-acquired meningitis are of unknown origin. Older adults are more likely than younger adults to have bacterial meningitis and West Nile virus infection when a cause can be identified. They also have more neurological abnormalities, laboratory and imaging abnormalities, and adverse clinical outcomes.
Environmental stress deformation of poly(ether ether ketone)

The sorption of water in poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) from aqueous solutions containing a small (5 × 10−5 mol fraction) of three different surfactants was investigated as a function of external tensile stress. One of the surfactants, a polyoxyethylene alcohol, exhibited a strong stress effect, producing an increase in water solubility of nearly an order of magnitude for stress levels > 40 MPa in amorphous PEEK. The solubility and diffusion coefficient for the sorption of water into PEEK were also investigated. The critical stress (strain) for water sorption, the rate of wetting, and surface deformation morphology were determined. In these aqueous solutions, the primary factor affecting stress-enhanced sorption is a reduction in surface energy and associated surface mobility. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 725–731, 1997
Efficient decision tree construction on streaming data

Decision tree construction is a well studied problem in data mining. Recently, there has been much interest in mining streaming data. Domingos and Hulten have presented a one-pass algorithm for decision tree construction. Their work uses Hoeffding inequality to achieve a probabilistic bound on the accuracy of the tree constructed.In this paper, we revisit this problem. We make the following two contributions: 1) We present a numerical interval pruning (NIP) approach for efficiently processing numerical attributes. Our results show an average of 39% reduction in execution times. 2) We exploit the properties of the gain function entropy (and gini) to reduce the sample size required for obtaining a given bound on the accuracy. Our experimental results show a 37% reduction in the number of data instances required.
Statistical design of ELISA protocols

This paper shows how to obtain accuracy and efficiency in an ELISA analysis by allocating the wells on a 96-well microplate between calibration and determination of unknowns, and by choosing the known concentrations for calibration. The method also can determine how much is lost in precision by using a convenient but non-optimal protocol.
Intensity-modulated radiotherapy for lymphoma involving the mediastinum.

Purpose: To determine the feasibility, potential advantage, and indications for intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involving excessively large mediastinal disease volumes or requiring repeat RT. Methods and materials: Sixteen patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma ( n = 11) or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma ( n = 5) undergoing primary radiotherapy or repeat RT delivered via an IMRT plan were studied. The indications for using an IMRT plan were previous mediastinal RT ( n = 5) or extremely large mediastinal treatment volumes ( n = 11). For each patient, IMRT, conventional parallel-opposed (AP-PA), and three-dimensional conformal (3D-CRT) plans were designed using 6-MV X-rays to deliver doses ranging from 18 to 45 Gy (median, 36 Gy). The plans were compared with regard to dose-volume parameters. The IMRT/AP-PA and IMRT/3D-CRT ratios were calculated for each parameter. Results: For all patients, the mean lung dose was reduced using IMRT, on average, by 12% compared with AP-PA and 14% compared with 3D-CRT. The planning target volume coverage was also improved using IMRT compared with AP-PA but was not different from the planning target volume coverage obtained with 3D-CRT. Conclusion: In selected patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involving the mediastinum, IMRT provides improved planning target volume coverage and reduces pulmonary toxicity parameters. It is feasible for RT of large treatment volumes and allows repeat RT of relapsed disease without exceeding cord tolerance. Additional follow-up is necessary to determine whether improvements in dose delivery affect long-term morbidity and disease control.
Visual performance after correcting the monochromatic and chromatic aberrations of the eye.

The development of technology to measure and correct the eye's higher-order aberrations, i.e., those beyond defocus and astigmatism, raises the issue of how much visual benefit can be obtained by providing such correction. We demonstrate improvements in contrast sensitivity and visual acuity in white light and in monochromatic light when adaptive optics corrects the eye's higher-order monochromatic aberrations. In white light, the contrast sensitivity and visual acuity when most monochromatic aberrations are corrected with a deformable mirror are somewhat higher than when defocus and astigmatism alone are corrected. Moreover, viewing conditions in which monochromatic aberrations are corrected and chromatic aberrations are avoided provides an even larger improvement in contrast sensitivity and visual acuity. These results are in reasonable agreement with the theoretical improvement calculated from the eye's optical modulation transfer function.
Vitamin D Status and Spine Surgery Outcomes

There is a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients with back pain regardless of whether or not they require surgical intervention. Furthermore, the risk of hypovitaminosis D is not limited to individuals with traditional clinical risk factors. Vitamin D plays an essential role in bone formation, maintenance, and remodeling, as well as muscle function. Published data indicate that hypovitaminosis D could adversely affect bone formation and muscle function in multiple ways. The literature contains numerous reports of myopathy and/or musculoskeletal pain associated with hypovitaminosis D. In terms of spinal fusion outcomes, a patient may have a significant decrease in pain and the presence of de novo bone on an X-ray, yet their functional ability may remain severely limited. Hypovitaminosis D may be a contributing factor to the persistent postoperative pain experienced by these patients. Indeed, hypovitaminosis D is not asymptomatic, and symptoms can manifest themselves independent of the musculoskeletal pathological changes associated with conditions like osteomalacia. It appears that vitamin D status is routinely overlooked, and there is a need to raise awareness about its importance among all healthcare practitioners who treat spine patients.
Advantage of live attenuated cold-adapted influenza A virus over inactivated vaccine for A/Washington/80 (H3N2) wild-type virus infection.

Abstract The efficacy of live attenuated cold-adapted ( ca ) reassortant influenza virus vaccine against experimental challenge with homologous wild-type virus 5 to 8 weeks after vaccination was compared with that of licensed inactivated vaccine in 81 seronegative (haemagglutination-inhibition antibody titre 1:8) college students. At a dose of 10 7·5 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID 50 ) (70 HID 50 , human 50% infectious doses) the live virus vaccine, given intranasally, completely protected against illness caused by wild-type virus, whereas the inactivated vaccine, administered intramuscularly, provided 72% protection. Wild-type virus was recovered from only 13% of live virus vaccinees (10 7·5 TCID 50 dose of ca virus) compared with 63% of inactivated virus vaccinees and the few infected live virus vaccinees shed 1000 times less wild-type virus than did infected inactivated virus vaccinees or unvaccinated controls. This striking reduction in virus shedding suggests that influenza transmission may be more efficiently interrupted with live than with inactivated virus vaccination.
Towards a comprehensive integration of morphological and genetic studies of floral development

Abstract Floral developmental genetics has exploded as a discipline. In addition to the rich genetic database for well-established models ( Arabidopsis , Antirrhinum , Zea ), numerous species have become the focus of floral genomic and genetic initiatives. Extensive documentation of the developmental morphology of Arabidopsis flowers has facilitated the linkage of genes and morphology. Complete developmental series also need to be assembled for emerging systems of molecular studies of floral genes. We address issues of homology assessment in floral structures, emphasize the need for assembling a complete floral developmental series for each species studied molecularly and genetically, stress the importance of a common set of terminology, and suggest a set of ‘landmarks' to designate major events in floral development. We compare the floral developmental series of three species with different floral morphologies and propose a consensus of developmental stages to facilitate comparison of gene expression patterns. Taxa occupying key phylogenetic positions offer great potential for generating hypotheses about the regulation of floral development.
Attachment and the Expression of Affection in Romantic Relationships: The Mediating Role of Romantic Love

Extant research demonstrates interrelationships among attachment style, love, and affectionate expression, but is less edifying regarding how these constructs work together. Informed by attachment theory (Bowlby, 1980) and the conceptualization of love as a motivational force (Rempel & Burris, 2005), the current study posits love as a mediator of the associations among attachment styles and affectionate communication. To examine this claim, 173 individuals in romantic relationships completed a questionnaire assessing the variables of interest. A path model revealed significant indirect effects (with the exception of the secure attachment style), and love mediated the relationships among preoccupied and dismissive attachment styles and affectionate expression. These findings suggest the important motivating capacity of love, an often overlooked predictor of relational processes.
Premixed macroporous calcium phosphate cement scaffold.

Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) sets in situ to form resorbable hydroxyapatite and is promising for orthopaedic applications. However, it requires on-site powder-liquid mixing during surgery, which prolongs surgical time and raises concerns of inhomogeneous mixing. The objective of this study was to develop a premixed CPC scaffold with macropores suitable for tissue ingrowth. To avoid the on-site powder-liquid mixing, the CPC paste was mixed in advance and did not set in storage; it set only after placement in a physiological solution. Using 30% and 40% mass fractions of mannitol porogen, the premixed CPC scaffold with fibers had flexural strength (mean ± sd; n = 5) of (3.9 ± 1.4) MPa and (1.8 ± 0.8) MPa, respectively. The scaffold porosity reached (68.6 ± 0.7)% and (74.7 ± 1.2)%, respectively. Osteoblast cells colonized in the surface macropores of the scaffold and attached to the hydroxyapatite crystals. Cell viability values for the premixed CPC scaffold was not significantly different from that of a conventional non-premixed CPC known to be biocompatible (P > 0.1). In conclusion, using fast-dissolving porogen and slow-dissolving fibers, a premixed macroporous CPC scaffold was developed with strength approaching the reported strengths of sintered porous hydroxyapatite implants and cancellous bone, and non-cytotoxicity similar to a biocompatible non-premixed CPC.
Characterization of Multilayered Stress Wave Attenuators Subjected to Impulsive Transient Loadings

AbstractThis paper describes the wave-propagation behavior of multilayered structures and proposes an optimization procedure for designing layered stress wave attenuators. Two types of stress wave attenuators were investigated, straight and nonstraight configurations, and their wave behaviors were analyzed using the concept of longitudinal waves in rods and flexural waves in Timoshenko beam formulations. The underlying concept in this research relies on the reflection and transmission of waves at different types of discontinuities, such as boundaries, impedance mismatches, and angled joints. Therefore, the effects of these discontinuities were explored thoroughly, and their attenuation capacity was investigated using explicit formulas. These concepts then were used to develop a heuristic optimization procedure to obtain efficient layered stress wave attenuators by properly tuning the length and material of each layer. It was assumed that the stress wave attenuators were subjected to impulsive transient lo...
A class of boundary traces for solutions of the equation Lu=ψ(u)

Abstract Our subject is the class U of all positive solutions of a semilinear equation L u = ψ ( u ) in E where L is a second order elliptic differential operator, E is a domain in R d and ψ belongs to a convex class Ψ of C 1 functions which contains functions ψ ( u ) = u α with α > 1 . A special role is played by a class U 0 of solutions which we call σ-moderate. A solution u is moderate if there exists h ⩾ u such that L h = 0 in E. We say that u ∈ U is σ-moderate if u is the limit of an increasing sequence of moderate solutions. In [E.B. Dynkin, S.E. Kuznetsov, Fine topology and fine trace on the boundary associated with a class of quasilinear differential equations, Comm. Pure Appl. Math. 51 (1998) 897–936] all σ-moderate solutions were classified by using their fine boundary traces. 2 In [M. Marcus, L. Veron, The precise boundary trace of positive solutions of the equation Δ u = u q in the supercritical case, in: Perspectives in Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations, in honor of Haim Brezis, Contemp. Math., Amer. Math. Soc., Providence, RI, 2007, arxiv.org/math/0610102 ] Marcus and Veron introduced a different characteristic (called the precise trace) for solutions of the equation Δ u = u α with α > 1 in a bounded C 2 domain. In the present paper we develop a general scheme covering both approaches and we prove the equivalence, in a certain sense, of the fine and precise traces. An implication of this equivalence is a Wiener type criterion for vanishing of the Poisson kernel of the equation L u ( x ) = a ( x ) u ( x ) .
Selective Inhibition of Fibronectin-Mediated Cell Adhesion by Monoclonal Antibodies to a Cell-Surface Glycoprotein

Fibroblasts possess several distinct mechanisms that control cellular adhesion to extracellular matrix macromolecules. Monoclonal antibodies to a 140-kilodalton (kD) cell surface glycoprotein inhibited the adhesion of fibroblastic Chinese hamster ovary cells to fibronectin-coated substrata but did not inhibit adhesion to substrata coated with vitronectin, laminin, serum, or other adhesive macromolecules. Thus the 140-kD glycoprotein appears to be involved in the fibronectin-mediated adhesion mechanism but not in other adhesion processes.
Cocaine and “pharmacological kindling” in the rat

Abstract The concept of “pharmacological kindling” has been used to explain the behavioral sensitization to cocaine produced by repeated administration of subconvulsive doses. This idea was tested by the repeated administration of cocaine to rats followed by electrical kindling of the olfactory bulb (a site at which cocaine has prominent electrophysiologic effects). No significant effect of cocaine on kindling was found. The relationship of this finding to studies using other drugs is discussed.
Two remarks on the homology of group extensions

In this note we apply a particular technique to obtain information on the homology homomorphism e * : H * ( G; A ) → H * ( Q; A ) associated with a group extension and a Q -module A . The technique consists of using e itself to pull-back (0.1); that is, we construct the pull-back extension induced from (0.1) by e. This, however, is nothing but the semidirect product, N G , of N and G , with G operating on the left on N by conjugation. Thus we obtain from (0.1) the commutative diagram where e 1 is the projection and et is the multiplication e 1 ( n, x ) = nx , n ∈ N , x ∈ G . We now apply the Lyndon-Hochschild-Serre spectral sequence functor to (0.2) and carry out computations in dimensions 2 and 3.
3D Model of Cytokinetic Ring Assembly in Fission Yeast

During fission yeast cytokinesis, actin filaments are nucleated in random directions by cortical Cdc12 and captured by myosin-II motors from neighboring nodes, exerting forces that pull them together into a contractile ring. Contractile ring assembly has been previously described using a stochastic 2D computational model based on a “search, capture, pull and release” mechanism (SCPR). In this model, actin filaments are assumed to polymerize along the cell membrane, consistent with enhanced concentration of actin filaments near the cell membrane in experiments. Recent observations in mutant and wild-type cells have suggested that actin filaments nucleated in the cytoplasm and in non-medial locations can also participate into the assembly of the cytokinetic ring as well as in clump, star, and meshwork actomyosin morphologies. The relative contributions of the non-medially nucleated actin filaments has been debated. In order to examine these effects that involve 3D dynamics and to better understand the mechanisms that confine actin filaments along the cell surface, we extended the SCPR model to 3D. In this model semiflexible actin filaments (represented as beads connected by springs) grow from nodes and they can be captured by myosin in neighboring nodes. Cross-linking by alpha-actinin and fimbrin is represented by an attractive interaction between filament beads. We also implemented cytoplasmic formin nucleation and actin cable incorporation into the contractile ring. We quantified the resulting distribution and orientation of actin around the band of myosin nodes and studied the effects of varying model parameter values. We describe the conditions under which ring, clump, transient star and meshwork structures may form along the cell membrane and compare to prior experiments.
Methyl farnesoate couples environmental changes to testicular development in the crab Carcinus maenas

SUMMARY Carcinus maenas males have two major color phases. Green-phase males molt frequently and tend to live in brackish estuaries during the summer. After becoming red-phase males, they molt infrequently, have higher mating success, and live in cooler, deeper water. We found profound differences between these two phases in the way salinity and temperature affect hemolymph levels of methyl farnesoate (MF), a hormone that affects crustacean reproduction. Few green-phase males (<10%) had detectable MF in 33 ppt seawater (SW) at 11 or 18°C. By contrast, about 30% of the red-phase males had detectable MF at either temperature. After transfer to 5 ppt SW, none of the green-phase males had detectable MF at 11°C whereas 100% of green-phase males did at 18°C. By contrast, 100% of the red-phase males had detectable MF in 5 ppt SW at either temperature. At 11°C, green-phase males had detectable MF after eyestalk ablation (ESA), showing that they can produce MF. There was no additional increase in MF levels when ESA animals of either color phase were transferred to 5 ppt SW, suggesting that the eyestalk is the primary regulator of the MF response to low salinity. MF levels of green-phase males were increased by injecting MF, by ESA, or by exposure to 5 ppt SW at 18°C. The testicular index of these treated animals nearly doubled after two weeks. Our results strongly suggest that environmental conditions such as temperature and salinity, affect testicular development in this crab by changing its MF levels.
Topical Issues Education Teaching Controversial or Sensitive Topics to Students with Learning Disabilities

This study investigated the extent to which a sample of 407 special education teachers addressed various topical issues with students who have learning disabilities, mental retardation, or behavior disorders. A survey instrument was employed to gather information pertaining to 45 topical issues that involve controversial or sensitive subjects typically not addressed in the traditional academic curriculum in school. Results indicated that the majority of topical issues are addressed only to a very limited extent with students with disabilities. A 3 x 2 factorial analysis of variance, followed by post hoc comparisons using Scheffe's test, indicated that topical issues are addressed to the greatest extent with students with behavior disorders and to the least extent with students with learning disabilities. Results also indicated differences in the extent to which elementary- and secondary-level students with disabilities receive information from special education teachers about topical issues, with a greater emphasis on coverage of topical issues occurring at the secondary level. Possible explanations for the findings are discussed, followed by implications for special education teachers and recommendations for future research involving topical issues education for students with learning disabilities.
Hormone replacement therapy (Hrt) And bone mineral density in anorexia nervosa

Abstract BACKGROUND: Osteopenia is a serious complication of anorexia nervosa. Although in other states of estrogen deficiency, estrogen replacement therapy increases bone mass, its role in anorexia nervosa remains unresolved. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of estrogen-progestin administration on bone mass in anorexia nervosa. DESIGN: A longitudinal prospective observational study. METHODS: Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and left hip were prospectively measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and annually in 50 adolescents with anorexia nervosa (mean age 16.3 ± 1.9 years). All subjects received calcium supplementation and the same medical, psychological and nutritional intervention (Standard Rx). 22 subjects received HRT and 28 received standard Rx alone. HRT was administered daily as an oral contraceptive pill containing 20-35 mcg ethinyl estradiol. Mean length of follow-up was 22.7 ± 11.7 months. RESULTS: At presentation, patients were malnourished (79.5 ± 7.6% IBW), hypoestrogenemic (estradiol 31.2 ± 13.8 pg/mL) and osteopenic (lumbar spine BMD −2.01 ± 0.69 SD below mean for age). 92% of subjects were osteopenic and 26% met WHO criteria for osteoporosis. Body weight and not treatment group, was the major determinant of BMD. At one-year follow-up, there were no significant differences in absolute values or in net change of lumbar spine or femoral neck BMD between those who received HRT and those who received standard Rx (80% power of finding a 3% difference in BMD at 1 year). In those followed for 2-3 years, osteopenia was persistent and in some cases, progressive. CONCLUSION: In our study population, HRT did not significantly increase BMD compared with standard Rx. These results question the common practice of prescribing HRT to protect bone mass in anorexia nervosa.
Challenging Nostalgia: Unveiling the Ghosts of Seattle's Nippon Kan

The Nippon Kan, a theatre hall built by Seattle's Japanese immigrants, went dark when President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 in 1942, removing Americans of Japanese descent from the West Coast. Au Yong's auto-ethnographic essay addresses how nostalgia and identity affect performances in the present, incorporating voiceovers, program notes, and the ruminations of a pianist to complicate his memories of Woman, Monkey, and Kabuki Joe, which premiered at the Nippon Kan. Winner of TDR's Student Essay Contest for 2003.
AN EVALUATION OF KERNEL EQUATING: PARALLEL EQUATING WITH CLASSICAL METHODS IN THE SAT SUBJECT TESTS™ PROGRAM

This study investigated kernel equating methods by comparing these methods to operational equatings for two tests in the SAT Subject Tests™ program. GENASYS (ETS, 2007) was used for all equating methods and scaled score kernel equating results were compared to Tucker, Levine observed score, chained linear, and chained equipercentile equating results. The results of the kernel chained equatings using a large fixed bandwidth were nearly identical to the results from the chained linear equatings whereas the comparisons of the kernel poststratification equatings using a large bandwidth showed differences from both Tucker and Levine observed score equating results, although for most of the score range those differences were small. Similarly, the differences were small for most of the score range in the comparisons of kernel poststratification equatings and kernel chained equatings using the optimal bandwidth with chained equipercentile equatings.
Over-the-cell channel routing

A common approach to the over-the-cell channel routing problem is to divide the problem into three steps: (1) routing over the cells; (2) choosing net segments; and (3) routing within the channel. It is shown that the first step can be reduced to the problem and finding a maximum independent set of a circle graph, and thus can be solved optimally in quadratic time. Also, it is shown that to determine an optimal choice of net segments in the second step is NP-hard in general, and an efficient heuristic algorithm for this step is presented. The third step can be carried out using a conventional channel router. On the basis of these theoretical results, an over-the-cell channel router that produces solutions which are better than the optimal two-layer channel routing solutions for all test examples is designed. The over-the-cell channel router also outperforms the over-the-cell channel router described by Y. Shiraishi and Y. Sakemi (ibid., vol.CAD-6, no.3, p.462-71, 1987). In particular, for Deutsch's difficult example, the solution yields a saving of 10.5% in channel routing area when compared with the optimal two-layer channel routing solution, and a saving of 15% in channel routing area when compared with the routing solution produced by the over-the-cell channel router. >
Variability Modifies Life Satisfaction’s Association With Mortality Risk in Older Adults

Greater life satisfaction is associated with greater longevity, but its variability across time has not been examined relative to longevity. We investigated whether mean life satisfaction across time, variability in life satisfaction across time, and their interaction were associated with mortality over 9 years of follow-up. Participants were 4,458 Australians initially at least 50 years old. During the follow-up, 546 people died. After we adjusted for age, greater mean life satisfaction was associated with a reduction in mortality risk, and greater variability in life satisfaction was associated with an increase in mortality risk. These findings were qualified by a significant interaction such that individuals with low mean satisfaction and high variability in satisfaction had the greatest risk of mortality over the follow-up period. In combination with mean life satisfaction, variability in life satisfaction is relevant for mortality risk among older adults. Considering intraindividual variability provides additional insight into associations between psychological characteristics and health.
Increased pouch sizes and resulting changes in the amounts of nicotine and tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines in single pouches of Camel Snus and Marlboro Snus.

Introduction: Initial analyses of the novel smokeless tobacco products Camel Snus and Marlboro Snus demonstrated that these products contain relatively low amounts of nicotine and the carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines N’-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), as compared with traditional smokeless products. It is unknown whether the modifications in packaging, flavors, and pouch sizes that occurred for both Camel Snus and Marlboro Snus since their first introduction to the market were accompanied by any changes in nicotine or nitrosamine levels.
Nanoparticle PET-CT detects rejection and immunomodulation in cardiac allografts.

Background— Macrophages predominate among the inflammatory cells in rejecting allografts. These innate immune cells, in addition to allospecific T cells, can damage cardiomyocytes directly. Methods and Results— We explored whether sensitive positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET-CT) imaging of macrophages-avid nanoparticles detects rejection of heart allografts in mice. In addition, we used the imaging method to follow the immunomodulatory impact of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy on myeloid cells in allografts. Dextran nanoparticles were derivatized with the PET isotope copper-64 and imaged 7 days after transplantation. C57BL/6 recipients of BALB/c allografts displayed robust positron emission tomography signal (standard uptake value allograft, 2.8±0.3; isograft control, 1.7±0.2; P <0.05). Autoradiography and scintillation counting confirmed the in vivo findings. We then imaged the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (5 mg/kg enalapril). Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor significantly decreased nanoparticle signal ( P <0.05). Histology and flow cytometry showed a reduced number of myeloid cells in the graft, blood, and lymph nodes and diminished antigen presentation ( P <0.05 versus untreated allografts). Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor also significantly prolonged allograft survival (12 versus 7 days; P <0.0001). Conclusions— Nanoparticle macrophage PET-CT detects heart transplant rejection and predicts organ survival by reporting on myeloid cells.
Social networks and the adverse selection problem in agency relationships

Abstract Agent selection is one of the most challenging decisions faced in the implementation of organizational strategy. Despite the central importance of this decision, limited research has addressed pre-contractual evaluation of agents. The purpose of this study is to illustrate how the examination of a potential partner's network of relationships alleviates costs associated with the adverse selection problem. Propositions that underscore the influence of network quality and structure on pre-contractual uncertainty are developed.
SPINACH FERREDOXIN REDUCTION BY MEMBRANE-BOUND CHLOROPHYLL TRIPLET STATE VIA A DIQUAT MEDIATOR

Laser flash photolysis experiments have shown that the diquat analog containing a propylene bridge (PDQ2+), when electrostatically bound to negatively-charged vesicles containing chlorophyll, is able to mediate the rapid reduction (k= 1.1 × 105 s-1) of spinach ferredoxin via electron transfer quenching of triplet state chlorophyll. The kinetics of formation and decay of reduced ferredoxin are consistent with a mechanism involving complex formation between oxidized ferredoxin and vesicle-bound PDQ2+. Under optimal conditions, approximately 15% of the quenched triplets yield reduced ferredoxin. This process is a model for soluble ferredoxin reduction which occurs in green plant photosystem I, and results in an appreciable storage of electromagnetic energy in the reaction products.
CARMA1 Is Necessary for Optimal T Cell Responses in a Murine Model of Allergic Asthma

CARMA1 is a lymphocyte-specific scaffold protein necessary for T cell activation. Deletion of CARMA1 prevents the development of allergic airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma due to a defect in naive T cell activation. However, it is unknown if CARMA1 is important for effector and memory T cell responses after the initial establishment of inflammation, findings that would be more relevant to asthma therapies targeted to CARMA1. In the current study, we sought to elucidate the role of CARMA1 in T cells that have been previously activated. Using mice in which floxed CARMA1 exons can be selectively deleted in T cells by OX40-driven Cre recombinase (OX40(+/Cre)CARMA1(F/F)), we report that CD4(+) T cells from these mice have impaired T cell reactivation responses and NF-κB signaling in vitro. Furthermore, in an in vivo recall model of allergic airway inflammation that is dependent on memory T cell function, OX40(+/Cre)CARMA1(F/F) mice have attenuated eosinophilic airway inflammation, T cell activation, and Th2 cytokine production. Using MHC class II tetramers, we demonstrate that the development and maintenance of Ag-specific memory T cells is not affected in OX40(+/Cre)CARMA1(F/F) mice. In addition, adoptive transfer of Th2-polarized OX40(+/Cre)CARMA1(F/F) Ag-specific CD4(+) T cells into wild-type mice induces markedly less airway inflammation in response to Ag challenge than transfer of wild-type Th2 cells. These data demonstrate a novel role for CARMA1 in effector and memory T cell responses and suggest that therapeutic strategies targeting CARMA1 could help treat chronic inflammatory disorders such as asthma.
Epstein-Barr virus neutralizing and early antigen antibodies in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Our objective was to determine whether antibodies against the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1), early antigen (EA), and EBV neutralizing antibodies (NeutAb) are altered in multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: We measured EBNA-1 IgG, EA IgG, and EA IgA using quantitative ELISA. We measured NeutAb using a quantitative competitive ELISA. We studied 80 patients with MS, 80 matched controls, and 19 patients with MS with samples collected both whilst stable and in relapse. Results: Epstein–Barr virus nuclear antigen-1 IgG and EA IgA were increased in MS compared to controls. The EBNA-1 index value was 23.3 ± 18.3 in the patients with MS (mean ± SD) and 16.3 ± 17.4 in the controls (P = 0.007, paired t-test). EA IgA had a median value of 1.964 in the patients with MS and 1.248 in the controls (P = 0.029, Wilcoxon signed rank test). EA IgG and NeutAb were not significantly different. None of the antibody levels were altered in relapse. The correlation between concentrations of different antibodies was minimal. Conclusions: IgG antibodies to EBNA-1 are significantly increased in MS. IgA antibodies against EBV EA are also increased. The EBV neutralizing antibody response is similar in MS and controls.
Cooperative transmissions in wireless sensor networks with imperfect synchronization

STBC-encoded cooperative transmission is studied in a typical wireless sensor network communication protocol LEACH (low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy). The effect of imperfect synchronization among cooperative sensors is studied and a new STBC encoding scheme is proposed when asynchronism becomes significant Cooperation overhead and energy efficiency are analyzed. The analysis and simulation results demonstrate that cooperative transmission is promising in wireless sensor networks in spite of the increased cost of synchronization and circuitry energy consumption.
Breit–Pauli energy levels, transition probabilities and lifetimes for 3d5 levels in Fe iv of astrophysical interest

Energy levels, lifetimes and transition probabilities for transitions between computed levels of 3d 5 of Fe iv are reported. The E2 and M1 transition probabilities are compared with earlier theoretical results, often only the values published by Garstang in 1958. From the available astronomical observations of optical emission lines arising from the same level, a few direct tests are now possible and they show consistency with the theoretical calculations.
Nicotine withdrawal modulates frontal brain function during an affective Stroop task

Background Among nicotine-dependent smokers, smoking abstinence disrupts multiple cognitive and affective processes including conflict resolution and emotional information processing (EIP). However, the neurobiological basis of abstinence effects on resolving emotional interference on cognition remains largely uncharacterized. In this study, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate smoking abstinence effects on emotion–cognition interactions.
Increasing Discussion Rates of Incontinence in Primary Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Background: A minority of women with urinary incontinence (UI) and even fewer with fecal incontinence (FI) report having discussed it with a health care provider in the past year. Thus our aim was to evaluate whether the use of an electronic pelvic floor assessment questionnaire (ePAQ-PF) improves communication about incontinence in primary care. Methods: Women 40 years and older who were scheduled for an annual wellness physical at an internal medicine clinic between August 2007 and August 2008 were randomized to complete the ePAQ-PF prior to (n = 145) or after (n = 139) their visit. Clinicians of women in the intervention group received the ePAQ-PF report prior to the visit. Outcome measures from clinic note abstraction included mention of UI (primary) and FI. Participant-reported outcome measures included discussion of UI and FI and initiator of discussion. Results: Discussions of UI was more common in the intervention group than the control group: (27% vs. 19%; odds ratio [OR], 1.6 95% confid...
252CF Neutron brachytherapy for malignant glioma at the University of Kentucky and a malignant glioma therapeutic staging system

Cf-252 is a transplutonium radioactive isotope which emits fast neutrons and is useful for human malignant glioma implant therapy. The early trials have led to evolution of methods. A proposed therapeutic staging system, using MRI and CT imaging, for hemispheric malignant astrocytomas and glioblastoma multiforme is described.
Are We Relying Too Much on Forensics Tools

Cell phones are among the most common types of technologies present today and have become an integral part of our daily activities. The latest statis- tics indicate that currently there are over five billion mobile subscribers are in the world and increasingly cell phones are used in criminal activities and confiscated at the crime scenes. Data extracted from these phones are presented as evidence in the court, which has made digital forensics a critical part of law enforcement and legal systems in the world. A number of forensics tools have been developed aiming at extracting and acquiring the ever-increasing amount of data stored in the cell phones; however, one of the main challenges facing the forensics com- munity is to determine the validity, reliability and effectiveness of these tools. To address this issue, we present the performance evaluation of several market- leading forensics tools in the following two ways: the first approach is based on a set of evaluation standards provided by National Institute of Standards and Tech- nology (NIST), and the second approach is a simple and effective anti-forensics technique to measure the resilience of the tools.
Embedding spanning subgraphs into large dense graphs

In this thesis we are going to present some results on embedding spanning subgraphs into large dense graphs. Spanning Trees. Bollobas conjectured that if G is a graph on n vertices, δ(G) ≥ (1/2 + e)n for some e > 0, and T is a bounded degree tree on n vertices, then T is a subgraph of G. The problem was solved in the affirmative by Komlos, Sarkozy and Szemeredi for large graphs. They then strengthened their result, and showed that the maximum degree of T need not be bounded: there exists a constant c such that T is a subgraph of G if Δ( T) ≤ cn/ log n, δ( G) ≥ (1/2 + e)n and n is large. Both proofs are based on the Regularity Lemma-Blow-up Lemma Method. Recently, using other methods, it was shown that bounded degree trees embed into graphs with minimum degree n/2+C log n, where C is a constant depending on the maximum degree of T. Here we show that in general n/2 + O(Δ(T) · log n) is sufficient for every Δ(T) ≤ cn/ log n. We also show that this bound is tight for the two extreme values of m i.e. when m = C and when m = cn/ log n. Powers of Hamiltonian Cycles. In 1962 Posa conjectured that if δ(G) ≥ fn then G contains the square of a Hamiltonian cycle. Later, in 1974, Seymour generalized this conjecture: if δ(G) ≥ ( k-1k )n then G contains the ( k – 1)th power of a Hamiltonian cycle. In 1998 the conjecture was proved by Komlos, Sarkozy and Szemeredi for large graphs using the Regularity Lemma. We present a “deregularised” proof of the Posa-Seymour conjecture which results in a much lower threshold value for n, the size of the graph for which the conjecture is true. We hope that the tools used in this proof will push down the threshold value for n to around 100 at which point we will be able to verify the conjecture for every n.
The Determination of Chlorine in Polymeric Materials by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

Abstract A rapid non-destructive method for the determination of chlorine in polymeric materials by instrumental neutron activation analysis is presented. The analysis portion of the determination requires only twenty minutes for three samples and standards. Precision is better than five per cent relative standard deviation at levels above one per cent and sensitivity is obtainable to 0.01 per cent.
The Centrality of Brown

This article is an examination of the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. The Brown decision is considered by many to be one of the most important and influential decisions in the history of the United States Supreme Court. However, fifty years after Brown was decided, some scholars consider the decision to have been a failure because of its unassertive nature and failed implementation. It has been suggested that the court may have been better off enforcing the 'equal' portion of Plessy v. Ferguson's 'separate but equal doctrine.'
Does the Body Forget? Adult Health, Life Course Dynamics, and Social Change

Despite the growing application of a life course framework to understand the origins of adult health, research in this area faces important challenges that warrant consideration. Three challenges are considered here. First, how should life course researchers conceptually define health? We discuss the usefulness of a population health perspective where life course exposures give rise to a “portfolio” of health outcomes. Second, we argue that life course frameworks would be enriched by being more biologically informed and illustrate how life course exposures influence health through developmental and aging processes. Finally, we argue that life course research on adult health must attend more explicitly to the historical context to better understand the dynamics of life course influences on adult health. Dramatic changes have occurred across current birth cohorts represented in the adult population in their prenatal, childhood and adult exposures, yet these changes are rarely central in life course studies of health.
Scaling Description of Sub-Monolayer Epitaxial Growth

Recent experimental results aimed at the measurement of surface diffusion constants by use of scanning tunnelling microscopy and diffraction techniques have reawakened interest in the statistical properties of two-dimensional island nucleation and growth in the submonolayer regime. Classical homogeneous rate equation studies published over twenty years ago established a simple relationship among the number density of stable islands, the deposition flux, and the adatom surface diffusion constant. Recent Monte Carlo simulation studies confirm this prediction and considerably extend the scope of such a scaling description of submonolayer epitaxial growth. In this article, I review the current status of theory and experiment in this area and suggest some areas for future research.
Fabrication lends a hand: creating custom assistive technology

Lost your hand in a lightsaber fight? No problem, we can fix that. Rapid and consumer-grade fabrication tools could revolutionize the way we design and deliver assistive technologies.