cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sampling-Based Direct Trajectory Generation Using the Minimum Time Cost Function

This paper presents a methodology for computationally efficient, direct trajectory generation using sampling with the minimum time cost function, where only the initial and final positions and velocities of the trajectory are specified. The approach is based on a randomized A* algorithm called Sampling-Based Model Predictive Optimization (SBMPO) that exclusively samples in the input space and integrates a dynamic model of the system. The paper introduces an extended kinematic model, consisting of the standard kinematic model preceded by two integrators. This model is mathematically a dynamic model and enables SBMPO to sample the acceleration and provide the acceleration, velocity, and position as functions of time that are needed by a typical trajectory tracking controller. A primary contribution of this paper is the development of an appropriate “optimistic A* heuristic” (i.e, a rigorous lower bound on the chosen cost) based on the solution of a minimum time control problem for the system q = u; this heuristic is a key enabler to fast computation of trajectories that end in zero velocity. Another contribution of this paper is the use of the extended kinematic model to develop a trajectory generation methodology that takes into account torque constraints associated with the regular dynamic model without having to integrate this more complex model as has been done previously. This development uses the known form of the trajectory following control law. The results are initially illustrated experimentally using a 1 degree of freedom (DOF) manipulator lifting heavy loads, which necessitates the development of trajectories with appropriate momentum characteristics. Further simulation results are for a 2 DOF manipulator.
Varieties of Interpersonal Compatibility of Beliefs

The logic of common belief does not always reflect the logic of individual beliefs. In particular, the Negative Introspection property fails at the common belief level, that is, it can happen than either is A commonly believed nor is it common belief that A is not commonly believed. Indeed Negative Introspection of common belief involves restrictions on individual beliefs of an intersubjective nature. We consider a number of interpersonal restrictions on beliefs and study their relationship. We also characterize Negative Introspection of common belief in terms of interpersonal properties of individual beliefs. All the results are proved syntactically.
Structure of the glycoprotein Ib.IX complex from platelet membranes.

The glycoprotein Ib.IX complex is a major component of the platelet membrane. It mediates the adhesion of platelets to exposed subendothelium and provides an attachment site for the membrane skeleton on the plasma membrane. The present study was designed to characterize the structure of the glycoprotein Ib.IX complex. Electron microscopy of purified glycoprotein Ib.IX complex in detergent showed that each complex existed as a flexible rod with a globular domain on either end. The overall length of the complex was approximately 59.5 nm. The smaller globular domain had a diameter of approximately 8.9 nm; the larger, a diameter of approximately 15.9 nm. In the absence of detergent, the glycoprotein Ib.IX complexes tended to self-associate through the larger globular domain, suggesting that this domain contained the hydrophobic region that inserts into the membrane. Proteases known to cleave glycoprotein Ib alpha close to its membrane-insertion site released the larger globular domain. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that this domain was composed of glycoprotein Ib beta, glycoprotein IX, and a Mr = 25,000 fragment of glycoprotein Ib alpha. Proteolysis at the external end of glycoprotein Ib alpha reduced the size of the smaller globular domain. This study shows that the glycoprotein Ib.IX complex has an elongated shape, with a globular domain on the end that inserts into the membrane and a smaller globular domain on the end of glycoprotein Ib alpha that is oriented external to the plasma membrane.
Memory management in concurrent algorithms

Many shared memory concurrent algorithms involve accessing dynamic nodes of shared structures optimistically, where a thread may access dynamic nodes while they are being updated by concurrent threads Optimistic access is often necessary to enable non-blocking progress, and it is desirable for increasing concurrency and reducing conflicts among concurrent operations.
Multi-view feature engineering and learning

We frame the problem of local representation of imaging data as the computation of minimal sufficient statistics that are invariant to nuisance variability induced by viewpoint and illumination. We show that, under very stringent conditions, these are related to “feature descriptors” commonly used in Computer Vision. Such conditions can be relaxed if multiple views of the same scene are available. We propose a sampling-based and a point-estimate based approximation of such a representation, compared empirically on image-to-(multiple)image matching, for which we introduce a multi-view wide-baseline matching benchmark, consisting of a mixture of real and synthetic objects with ground truth camera motion and dense three-dimensional geometry.
Flowering and biomass allocation in U.S. Atlantic coast Spartina alterniflora

 Premise of the study: Salt marshes are highly productive and valuable ecosystems, providing many services on which people depend. Spartina alternifl ora Loisel (Poaceae) is a foundation species that builds and maintains salt marshes. Despite this species’ importance, much of its basic reproductive biology is not well understood, including fl owering phenology, seed production, and the effects of flon growth and biomass allocation. We sought to better understand these life history traits and use that knowledge to consider how this species may be affected by climate change.  Methods: We examined temporal and spatial patterns in fland seed production in S. alternifl ora at a latitudinal scale (along the U.S. Atlantic coast), regional scale (within New England), and local scale (among subhabitats within marshes) and determined the impact of flon growth allocation using fi eld and greenhouse studies.  Key results: Flowering stem density did not vary along a latitudinal gradient, while at the local scale plants in the less submerged panne subhabitats produced fewer fl owers and seeds than those in more frequently submerged subhabitats. We also found that a shift in biomass allocation from above to belowground was temporally related to flphenology.  Conclusions: We expect that environmental change will affect seed production and that the phenological relationship with fl owering will result in limitations to belowground production and thus affect marsh elevation gain. Salt marshes provide an excellent model system for exploring the interactions between plant ecology and ecosystem functioning, enabling better predictions of climate change impacts.
Behavioral Dynamics of Heading Alignment in Pedestrian Following

The collective behavior of crowds is thought to emerge from local interactions between pedestrians. People widely assumed interaction is heading alignment. The authors tested four dynamical models of alignment against human data from pairs of pedestrians. A “follower” walked with a “leader” while head trajectories were recorded. In the simplest model, the follower's angular acceleration is proportional to the sine of the heading difference (r=0.71); additional damping or delay parameters did not improve the fit. The authors conclude that alignment is controlled by nulling the heading difference. The results provide a cognitively- grounded model of alignment that may be generalized to larger crowds.
Multidimensional community and the Las Vegas experience

Sense of community is an important part of life for city dwellers. I present an analysis of community as experienced by local residents in Las Vegas, Nevada. This city is representative of many social patterns in other cities but—with its transient, 24-hour, constantly changing cultural context—is an exaggerated case for community in urban/suburban life. I identify three “spheres” of community based on qualitative data gathered through a long-term study in the city. Neighborhood community is one based on proximity, a community of affinity connotes a group with common interest, and a citywide community is grounded in a coherent sense of overall place-based identity. I interpret this multilayered and sometimes simultaneous functioning of community through the perspectives of scale and place. Such an analysis of a unique city like Las Vegas illuminates the indelible connection between a sense of place and the various levels of community. Furthermore it can help urban scholars, planners, and human geographers to better grapple with the ubiquitous concept of community, the human landscape in cities, and the production and impact of multidimensional sociospatial relations therein.
Using Popular Commercial Video Games in Therapy with Children and Adolescents

Over the past few decades, a considerable body of research has developed and used clinical games to achieve clinical goals; however, there is significantly less information about how popular, commercial video games can be used in psychotherapy. This article identified 100 popular games currently available on major consoles and grouped those games into descriptive genres. Then, the authors reviewed the literature within each genre to determine potential uses of these popular games for promoting gains in psychotherapy. A multitheoretical framework is used in providing recommendations. Recommendations for future research are also provided.
Faces of the Gomory polyhedron for cyclic groups

Abstract A two parameter method is given for generating faces of Gomory's master polyhedron for cyclic groups. The paper shows how to specify coefficients of the linear inequality defining a face directly without requiring a special group minimization algorithm. Included are results which specify a unique representation of a cyclic group in terms of restricted multiples of an appropriately selected pair of elements. A computer study indicates that the two parameter method is very efficient, requiring roughly the same amount of computation as Gomory's “θ-method,” but capable of generating a substantially larger number of faces.
In situ tomography of femtosecond optical beams with a holographic knife-edge

We present an in situ beam characterization technique to analyze femtosecond optical beams in a folded version of a 2f-2f setup. This technique makes use of a two-dimensional spatial light modulator (SLM) to holographically redirect radiation between different diffraction orders. This manipulation of light between diffraction orders is carried out locally within the beam. Because SLMs can withstand intensities of up to I∼1011W/cm2, this makes them suitable for amplified femtosecond radiation. The flexibility of the SLM was demonstrated by producing a diverse assortment of “soft apertures” that are mechanically difficult or impossible to reproduce. We test our method by holographically knife-edging and tomographically reconstructing both continuous wave and broadband radiation in transverse optical modes.
Branch Identification of Geared Five-Bar Chains

This paper presents the method to identify the rotatability and branch condition in linkages containing simple geared five-bar chains. The method is subsequently extended to identify the existence of dead positions. When used in the computer aided linkage synthesis, the algorithm may effectively reduce the complexity of the finite position synthesis of geared five-bar linkages to the level similar to that of four-bar linkages. The algorithm is effective for any linkage inversion, any type of synthesis problem, any input condition, and any number of discrete positions. The method can be generalized to other serially connected multiloop linkages.
Influence of vitamin D on parathyroid hormone-induced adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate production by bone cells isolated from rat calvariae.

This study was designed to explore a possible basis for the long-standing observation that optimal effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on mobilization of skeletal Ca require the presence of vitamin D. Calvariae were taken from 3- week-old rat pups born and suckled by mothers either deprived of dietary vitamin D (−D) or fed 5 IU vitamin Da/g diet from the sixth day of pregnancy (+D). Some −D pups also were injected with 50 ng 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] 48 and 24 h before sacrifice. Bone cell populations responsive to PTH were isolated freshly by sequential enzymic digestion and centrifugation; then they were exposed to PTH in vitro, and cAMP production was measured. In some experiments, cells were preincubated 18 h with 1,25-(OH)2D3 (2 ng/ml) before exposure to PTH. Basal levels of cAMP were reduced in bone cells from hypocalcemic −D rats, and these cells also showed approximately a 50% reduction in the cAMP response to PTH compared to that of bone cells from +D pups. In bone cells from pups ...
Detection of invalid response patterns on the California Psychological Inventory

When faced with the task of responding to a per sonality questionnaire, an individual may respond with a number of strategies or test-taking attitudes. Among these, deceptive (fake) and disengaged (random) atti tudes are of particular interest, for these can poten tially mislead and misinform test users. A two-stage model was devised to detect deceptive and disengaged protocols on the California Psychological Inventory. Using parameters from signal detection theory, this model is found to be highly sensitive in detecting in- validity. Index terms: California Psychological In ventory, expected utility, faking on personality inven tories, personality assessment, random response patterns, signal detection theory.
A line of sight algorithm using fuzzy measures

A line of sight algorithm is an important tool in determining visibility of target points from an observer point. This method has found applications in real life problems such as urban planning, combat missions, and computer graphics simulations. Even though different line of sight algorithms have been developed for these purposes, they mostly rely only on the elevation of the terrain and are not extendable to consideration of other criteria. In this paper, we develop a new line of sight algorithm that allows numerous criteria to be considered when determining visibility of a point from another point. The novel line of sight algorithm uses fuzzy integration to take into consideration dependencies among numerous criteria considered.
Influence of ZIP14 (slc39A14) on intestinal zinc processing and barrier function

ZIP14 is a zinc transport protein with high expression in the small intestine and liver. Zip14 is upregulated during endotoxemia and leads to increased liver zinc content and transient hypozinemia....
Patient Preference for Psychological vs Pharmacologic Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: A Meta-Analytic Review

OBJECTIVE Evidence-based practice involves the consideration of efficacy and effectiveness, clinical expertise, and patient preference in treatment selection. However, patient preference for psychiatric treatment has been understudied. The aim of this meta-analytic review was to provide an estimate of the proportion of patients preferring psychological treatment relative to medication for psychiatric disorders. DATA SOURCES A literature search was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Collaboration library through August 2011 for studies written in English that assessed adult patient preferences for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The following search terms and subject headings were used in combination: patient preference, consumer preference, therapeutics, psychotherapy, drug therapy, mental disorders, depression, anxiety, insomnia, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance-related disorder, eating disorder, and personality disorder. In addition, the reference sections of identified articles were examined to locate any additional articles not captured by this search. STUDY SELECTION Studies that assessed preferred type of treatment and included at least 1 psychological treatment and 1 pharmacologic treatment were included. Of the 644 articles identified, 34 met criteria for inclusion. DATA EXTRACTION Authors extracted relevant data including the proportion of participants reporting preference for psychological or pharmacologic treatment. RESULTS The proportion of adult patients preferring psychological treatment was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.69-0.80), which was significantly higher than equivalent preference (ie, higher than 0.50; P < .001). Sensitivity analyses suggested that younger patients (P = .05) and women (P < .01) were significantly more likely to choose psychological treatment. A preference for psychological treatment was consistently evident in both treatment-seeking and unselected (ie, non-treatment-seeking) samples (P < .001 for both) but was somewhat stronger for unselected samples. CONCLUSIONS Aggregation of patient preferences across diverse settings yielded a significant 3-fold preference for psychological treatment. Given evidence for enhanced outcomes among those receiving their preferred psychiatric treatment and the trends for decreasing utilization of psychotherapy, strategies to maximize the linkage of patients to preferred care are needed.
EndothelinB receptor activation enhances parathyroid hormone-induced calcium signals in UMR-106 cells

In studies of the regulation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) signal transduction, we observed that the peptide endothelin-1 (ET) added prior to PTH greatly increased the calcium transients elicited by PTH in UMR-106 osteosarcoma cells and mouse primary osteoblastic cells. Enhancement by ET also occurred in the presence of EGTA. The ETB receptor-specific agonist sarafotoxin 6c (S6c) likewise enhanced PTH-induced Ca2+ transients. Blocking the ETA receptor-mediated component of the ET signal with BQ123 failed to abolish enhancement of PTH responses by ET. The nonselective ETA/ETB receptor antagonist PD 142893 blocked both ET and S6c-induced enhancement of the PTH responses. Prostaglandin F1 alpha (PGF1 alpha) pretreatment also maximally potentiated PTH responses, whereas alpha-thrombin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), or prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) did not affect the PTH responses. Neither active phorbol ester nor forskolin mimicked the ET effect. The ET effect was not prevented by indomethacin, NG-mono-methylarginine, genistein, pertussis toxin, 4-aminopyridine, tetraethylammonium chloride, okadaic acid, or long-term treatment with phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate. ET pretreatment did not abolish the inhibition of PTH signals by PTH(3-34), although in ET-pretreated cells the suppression of the PTH signal by PTH(3-34) was not as great. ET pretreatment did not enhance the cAMP response to PTH; rather, there was a significant inhibition of the cAMP response. Thus, the calcium signal elicited by PTH is selectively modulated by activation of the ETB receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Surveillance, foundation for the future: A historical overview and evolution of methodologies

As a new Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer of the Communicable Disease Center in Atlanta (now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC), I at tended a required EIS course in general epidemiology and biostatistics in July 1968. I was the fourth EIS officer assigned to the new "Hospital Infections Unit," which was begun in 1966. One of the principal functions of the course was to teach us what to do when assigned to assess an epidemic, the six steps of which are listed in Box 1. The course is now the basis for an excellent book, 1 and those six steps also form the basis for the long-held "Eleventh Commandment" of the CDC, "Thou shalt do surveillance when evaluating any epidemic or even endemic problem." The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of how the surveillance of nosocomial infections has developed and been refined through the years. I will do this by using my own communi ty teaching hospital and CDC experiences as illustrations and case histories.
From a rock to a hard place: Journeys of a radiochemist through inner and outer space

A brief chronicle is presented of one radiochemist's meanders through the fields of meteoritics, lunar studies, and geochemistry to current studies of possible relationships of trace element imbalances to diseases affecting the brain and spinal cord. This range of studies is used to underscore the broad applications of radiochemistry and the need to maintain educational programs and research in radiochemistry. Our recent studies of tissues from subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), have shown that imbalances exist for concentrations of many trace elements, compared to corresponding concentrations in control subjects. Among the elements most frequently found imbalanced are aluminum, bromine, cadmium, copper, iron, mercury, rubidium, and zinc. Several of these elements may be involved in processes leading to free-radical-induced oxidative damage in Alzheimer's disease. Our multi-technique analytical approach to these studies is briefly reviewed.
Spinal leptomeningeal metastasis from cerebral glioblastoma. Appearance on magnetic resonance imaging

A case of circumferential leptomeningeal metastasis to the spinal cord from an intracranial glioblastoma multiforme (spinal meningeal gliomatosis) is presented. The clinical, radiographic, and pathological features are described. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid accurately demonstrated the spread of disease when compared with autopsy findings. The value of spinal magnetic resonance imaging in patients with symptoms attributable to cerebrospinal fluid metastases is discussed.
Empirical evidence of El Niño–Southern Oscillation influence on land surface phenology and productivity in the western United States

Abstract Timing of plant life cycle events (phenology) and annual plant productivity represent key interactions between the climate system and the biosphere, with implications and feedbacks for climate and ecosystem functions. The El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) system is a dominant source of interannual climate variability in the western United States, with important effects on temperature, precipitation, and drought. In this study, we examine the connection between ENSO and terrestrial vegetation dynamics using MOD17 annual net primary productivity (NPP) and land surface phenology derived from MODIS and AVHRR vegetation indices. Three phenology metrics—start of growing season (SOS), end of growing season (EOS), and length of growing season (LOS)—were estimated separately for El Nino and La Nina years by fitting difference logistic functions to split-sample time series of the MODIS enhanced vegetation index (for the period 2000–2011) and AVHRR-derived 3rd generation GIMMS NDVI (NDVI3g) for two temporal periods (2000–2011 and 1982–2011). El Nino events were associated with a significantly earlier SOS than La Nina events in most regions of the western U.S. ENSO-related differences in timing of the end of growing season were generally smaller and more heterogeneous. ENSO impacts on total length of the growing season tended to be spatially heterogeneous but mostly positive in El Nino years. Relative to La Nina events, El Nino events were generally associated with significantly higher NPP in each ecoregion (with mean differences ranging from 2 to 45 gC m− 2 year− 1). The correlation between total annual production and the Southern Oscillation Index was highest in mid- to late-winter prior to the growing season, suggesting some predictive power in advance of the growing season. These results suggest that future intensification of the ENSO system could have serious consequences for terrestrial ecosystems in the western U.S., especially in regions where ENSO already has a strong impact on interannual climate variability and vegetation dynamics.
Traceability research: taking the next steps

This keynote highlights areas of significant accomplishments in traceability research and asks the question of "where next?" It describes forward looking projects of the Center of Excellence for Software Traceability (CoEST) and raises some of the difficult questions related to building a shared research infrastructure in the traceability community.
Spermatocytic seminoma with associated sarcoma of the testis

Spermatocytic seminoma is a clinical pathologic distinct entity that has a good prognosis and rarely is associated with other neoplastic elements. Two cases of testicular spermatocytic seminoma with a sarcomatous element are reported. Both patients were older than 40 years and presented with 1-year and 2-year histories of progressive testicular enlargement and recent onset of testicular pain. Histologically, the spermatocytic seminoma in both cases consisted of three distinct cell types as has been previously described. Ultrastructurally, one case showed crystalloid structures similar to the Lubarsch's crystalloids described in spermatogonia of human testis. The sarcomatous component in one case was a rhabdomyosarcoma confirmed by light and by electron microscopic study whereas the second case was a primitive mesenchymal spindle cell sarcoma. Only the sarcomatous element metastasized; metastatic sites included lung and paraaortic lymph nodes in the first patient and lung and liver in the second. Despite aggressive treatment with combined surgery and multiagent chemotherapy, the first patient died within 1 year of diagnosis and the second at 14 months.
Chlorine-flourine flames-spatial velocities and equilibrium burnt gas composition

Spatial velocities of chlorine-fluorine flames were measured over the flammable range. The results are compared with the theoretical flame temperatures, equilibrium compositions and a simple plausible rate expression. The spatial velocities do not correlate well with either temperature or the simple rate expression. They do correlate, however, with equilibrium F atom concentration in the products.
Composite materials for dental implants

The requirements of endosteal dental implants are unique and stringent. The materials currently applied to implantation do not offer convincing evidence of satisfying these needs. This preliminary study reports on attempts at developing materials which would aid in obtaining a mucosal seal to maintain the integrity of the osseous, periosteal, and submucosal compartments from the oral environment and the attachment to bone as related to stress distribution. The materials that were under study were ceramic bonded to base metals and Dacron.
Isolation of thymone A from bovine thymus partial chemical and biological characterization

A peptide, designated thymone A, was isolated from bovine thymus by a sequence of eight procedures prior to micromanipulation. Trypsin destroyed the activity indicating the absence of a non-peptidic but active component. The peptide showed essentially single spots under three conditions of electrophoresis. Analysis revealed up to 14 individual amino acids: Asp, Glu, Gly, Ala, Val, Ile, Leu, Pro, Ser, Thr, Met, Lys, Arg and His, and a composition of > 68–71 amino acids (MW 7291–7677). The MW by behavior over Bio-Gel P-6 was ca. 8000. A level between 10–100 ng of thymone A stimulated incorporation of [3H]-thymidine into DNA; a level of 1 μg (lower?) stimulated the synthesis of cAMP. Thymone A may have functional activity or be an active pro-hormone.
Ontogeny of placental lactogen-I and placental lactogen-II expression in the developing rat placenta☆

The purpose of this investigation was to identify the cellular origin, and the temporal and regional characteristics of placental lactogen-I (PL-I) and placental lactogen-II (PL-II) expression during placental development in the rat. PL-I and PL-II mRNA expression were assessed by Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization. PL-I and PL-II protein expression were determined by Western blot and immunocytochemical analyses. PL-I mRNA was first detected by in situ hybridization at Day 6 of gestation in mural trophoblast giant cells and a day later, PL-I protein was first detected by immunocytochemistry. PL-I immunostaining extended to the polar trophoblast giant cells as gestation advanced. Polar trophoblast giant cell staining for PL-I was not as intense as the mural trophoblast giant cell staining. Northern and Western blot analyses confirmed the asymmetric distribution of PL-I expression. PL-I mRNA migrated as a 1-kb species and PL-I protein migrated as 30- and 36-40-kDa forms. PL-I expression abruptly declined at Day 12, and by Day 13, PL-I was not detectable. PL-II protein was first detectable at Day 11 of gestation and was localized to trophoblast giant cells. PL-II mRNA could be detected at Day 10 of gestation. Northern and Western blot analyses indicated that PL-II expression significantly increased as gestation advanced and that PL-II expression was asymmetrically distributed similar to PL-I. PL-II mRNA migrated as a 1-kb species and PL-II protein migrated as a 25-kDa species. Blastocysts recovered on Day 4 of gestation initially showed no detectable expression of PL-I or PL-II; however, after 2 days of culture PL-I protein expression was detectable. Biochemical characteristics of PL-I synthesized and secreted by blastocyst outgrowths were similar to PL-I synthesized and secreted by Day 10 placental explants. In summary, (1) PL-I and PL-II are produced by trophoblast giant cells of the developing placenta, (2) PL-I and PL-II exhibit distinct temporal and regional patterns of expression during placental morphogenesis, and (3) PL-I expression by blastocyst outgrowths can be induced in vitro, whereas a more complex array of signals appears necessary for induction of PL-II expression.
Carbon paste electrodes modified with cation-exchange resin in differential pulse voltammetry

Abstract Chemically modified carbon paste eletrodes are prepared by incorporating appropriate quantities of a cation-exchange resin directly into the paste mixture. Ionic analytes can be preconcentrated on these electrodes by an ion-exchange reaction rather than electrolytic plating. Differential pulse voltammetry is used to quantify the accumulated ions. The response is characterized with respect to preconcentration period, bulk concentration, pH, paste composition, reproducibility, and other variables. Copper ion is used as a test system. The procedure exhibits good linearity for 6.25 × 10−5−3.0 × 10−4 M copper(II) ions and the peak current varies linearly with preconcentration time between 1 and 7 min for the conditions used.
Cross sections for electron ionization of triply charged noble gases in the plane-wave Born approximation

Plane-wave Born-approximation calculations are presented for electron ionization of triply ionized noble-gas ions, and compared with recent experiment. Excellent agreement with experiment is found for ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{3+}$, ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{3+}$, and ${\mathrm{Kr}}^{3+}$. The calculated cross section for ionization of ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{3+}$ is larger than the measurement by almost a factor of 2. The discrepancy is entirely due to the large cross section for excitation of the ${(4d)}^{10}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{(4d)}^{9}(4f)$ transition followed by autoionization. It is suggested that configuration interaction will redistribute this transition with some strength transferred to exciting bound levels.
AgeLine: a database of social gerontology literature

AgeLine, an EBSCO host database, focuses on literature on topics relating to people over the age of 50. AgeLine is geared to professionals in aging-related fields, such as health care professionals, social workers, and caregivers, as well as consumers. This column includes a sample search and a discussion of additional AgeLine features.
Marriage Amendments and Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals in the 2006 Election

More than half of U.S. states have passed amendments to their constitutions excluding same-sex couples from civil marriage. The impact of these ballot initiatives and debates on lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals has been underresearched. Extending research on racial and ethnic minority groups, as well as research on LGB groups, the study discussed in this article hypothesized that LGB individuals would encounter more negative messages, be at risk for negative psychological effects, and increase their political activities, including voting, during elections with marriage amendments on the ballot. A national cross-sectional online survey of 1,824 LGB participants conducted postelection in November 2006 confirmed these hypotheses.
Interaction of mitochondrial initiation factor 2 with mitochondrial fMet-tRNA

The mammalian mitochondrial genome contains a single tRNAMet gene that gives rise to the initiator and elongator tRNAMet. It is generally believed that mitochondrial protein synthesis begins with formylmethionyl-tRNA, which indicates that the formylation of mitochondrial Met-tRNA specifies its participation in initiation through its interaction with initiation factor 2 (IF-2). However, recent studies in yeast mitochondria, suggest that formylation is not required for protein synthesis. In addition, bovine IF-2mt could replace yeast IF-2mt in strains that lack fMet-tRNA which suggests that this paradigm may extend to mammalian mitochondria. Here, the importance of the formylation of mitochondrial Met-tRNA for the interaction with IF-2mt was investigated by measuring the ability of bovine IF-2mt to bind mitochondrial fMet-tRNA. In direct binding experiments, bovine IF-2mt has a 25-fold greater affinity for mitochondrial fMet-tRNA than Met-tRNA, using either the native mitochondrial tRNAMet or an in vitro transcript of bovine mitochondrial tRNAMet. In addition, IF-2mt will not effectively stimulate mitochondrial Met-tRNA binding to mitochondrial ribosomes, exhibiting a 50-fold preference for fMet-tRNA over Met-tRNA in this assay. Finally, the region of IF-2mt responsible for the interaction with fMet-tRNA was mapped to the C2 sub-domain of domain VI of this factor.
The grand riemann hypothesis

These lectures are a continuation of Bombieri’s series “The classical Theory of Zeta and L-Functions” (in this volume). Naturally there is some overlap between his and our presentations. My aim is to formulate the Riemann Hypothesis “GRH” in its most general setting and to demonstrate its importance and power as well as to indicate some of the progress that has been made around these conjectures. A particular theme being that a number of the striking applications of the GRH have been proven unconditionally by establishing suitably strong approximations thereof.
Have environmental mutagens caused oncomutations in people

Age-specific cancer rates show large historical increases that indict environmental risk factors. But these environmental factors did not necessarily act by increasing oncomutation rates. Mathematical analyses suggest selective effects on pre-existing oncomutants. The widely held hypothesis that environmental chemicals induce a substantial fraction of human point mutations has not been supported by observation. Direct measurement of the kinds and numbers of point mutations in human tissues have, in fact, found no clear relationship with exposure to environmental agents, save for sunlight in the skin. Alternative hypotheses that point mutations arise primarily as errors during turnover of undamaged DNA and that environmental conditions select rather than induce oncomutants seem to better explain the facts of environmental carcinogenesis in humans.
What sort of school sorts students

Richly detailed data from the North Carolina public school system is used to investigate the extent to which student assignment to 4th and 5th grade classrooms appear unbalanced with respect to race, gender, socioeconomic status, and academic achievement in the years 2001–2004. Analysis reveals that classrooms are rarely unbalanced with respect to racial and gender characteristics. However, classrooms that are unbalanced with respect to socio-economic status, academic achievement, and parental education levels are relatively more common. The relationship between unbalanced classroom assignment and school financial, administrative, socio-economic, and geographic characteristics is also analysed. Analysis shows that unbalanced classrooms are statistically more common in school districts with higher levels of federal funding, urban schools that are predominantly African-American, and in magnet schools. However, unbalanced classrooms are less common in academically successful schools with few black students, in rural schools that are predominantly white, and in Wake County.
Prevalence and predictors of antioxidant supplement use during breast cancer treatment: the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project.

BACKGROUND. Although many patients take antioxidant dietary supplements during breast cancer treatment, the benefits of such supplementation are unproven. The authors of this report analyzed the prevalence of and factors associated with antioxidant supplement use during breast cancer (BC) treatment among women who participated in the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project. METHODS. From 2002 through 2004, women with BC who had participated a case-control study from 1996 to 1997 were invited to participate in a follow-up interview. Antioxidant supplement use was defined as any self-reported intake of supplemental vitamin C, vitamin E, β-carotene, or selenium in individual supplements or multivitamins. RESULTS. Follow-up interview participants were younger, more predominantly white, and of higher socioeconomic status than women who did not respond. Among 764 participants who completed the follow-up interview, 663 (86.8%) reported receiving adjuvant treatment for their BC. Of those 663 women, 401 (60.5%) reported using antioxidants during adjuvant treatment: One hundred twenty of 310 women (38.7%) used antioxidants during chemotherapy, 196 of 464 women (42.2%) used them during radiation, and 286 of 462 women (61.9%) used them during tamoxifen therapy. Of 401 antioxidant users, 278 women (69.3%) used high doses (doses higher than those contained in a Centrum multivitamin). The factors that were associated with high antioxidant supplement use during treatment were higher fruit and vegetable intake at diagnosis (relative risk [RR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-2.59), tamoxifen use (RR, 3.66; 95% CI, 2.32-5.78), ever using herbal products (RR, 3.49; 95% CI, 2.26-5.38), and ever engaging in mind-body practices (RR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.13-2.64). CONCLUSIONS. Given the common use of antioxidant supplements during BC treatment, often at high doses and in conjunction with other complementary therapies, future research should address the effects of antioxidant supplementation on BC outcomes. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Synthesis and mechanical properties of semi-flexible polymer networks

Abstract We have synthesized a range of polymer networks containing varying amounts of the flexible molecule 1,3-divinyltetramethyldisiloxane (B 2 ) and the rigid mesogenic molecule, di-(4 oxyallyl-(methyl)-phenyl)4-terephthalate. Networks were prepared using hydrosilylation chemistry, by crosslinking the vinyl terminated B 2 and the mesogen, with the tetrafunctional crosslinker tetrakis(dimethylsiloxy) silane (A 4 ). The elastic modulus ( G e ) increased with the incorporation of the rigid mesogen into the network structure, and also increased as the ratio of silane hydrogens (Si–H) to vinyl groups in the preparation was increased from 1 to 1.5. Complementary swelling experiments in toluene showed the soluble fraction ( w sol ) decreased with an increase in this ratio. Also, a maximum value of the polymer volume fraction, υ 2 , was obtained with the stoichiometry r =1.5. Network properties were analyzed using the Flory–Rehner expression from which values of the average interaction parameter, χ , were extracted.
Efforts toward rapid construction of the cortistatin A carbocyclic core via enyne-ene metathesis.

Our efforts toward the construction of the carbocylic core of cortistatin A via an enyne-ene metathesis are disclosed. Interestingly, an attempted SN2 inversion of a secondary mesylate in our five-membered D-ring piece gave a product with retention of stereochemistry.
The disability determination dilemma: toward a multiaxial solution.

Abstract Recently the United States Social Security Administration Commission on the Evaluation of Pain recommended that a set of criteria be developed that could be used to determine ‘impairment due primarily to pain.’ The intention was to provide a specific and equitable system for determination of disability of social security claimants who alleged that they were disabled primarily by pain. In this paper, the social security disability determination process is described, criteria for the proposed listing of ‘impairment due primarily to pain’ are reviewed, and a multiaxial taxometric system for determining disability due primarily to pain is described. The social implications of the proposed listing as well as a multiaxial taxometric approach for the social security disability system are described. Impediments to solutions to the disability determination problems confronting the Social Security Administration are discussed, and a scientific approach is contrasted with the current legal decision making process, as it relates to the awarding of Social Security disability benefits.
Corporate Taxation and Dividend Behaviour: a Reply and Extension

In my original paper [2] I showed that the equilibrium dividend payout ratio falls during periods in which retained earnings are taxed at a lower rate than dividends. Although this is contrary to much popular and political opinion, it is implied by qualitative economic analysis. A lower tax rate on retained earnings makes it advantageous for shareholders to save through retained earnings instead of by reinvesting a portion of their dividends. Even if future dividends are taxed at the same higher rate, capital retained within the firm has a relatively higher long-run net yield because these earnings are taxed at a lower rate until they are paid out. This effect on retained earnings is analogous to the effect on personal saving of substituting a consumption tax for an income tax. Mervyn King's two notes strengthen the conclusion that tax differentials influence dividend policy. Using a longer period of annual observations, a somewhat different data source, and a modified functional form, he also finds that dividends respond to changes in the differential taxation of dividends and retained earnings. The issue is now not whether tax policy influences dividend behaviour but by how much. King's estimate of the elasticity of dividends with respect to the tax variable (0-the opportunity cost of retained earnings in terms of foregone dividends) is about 04 in contrast to my estimate of approximately 1I0. Although I have no a priori reason to believe that the elasticity is of any particular size, I suspect that King's estimate is biased downwards. The first section of this note shows that my original elasticity estimate is essentially unaffected by adopting the nonlinear form suggested by King. I then discuss why his lower parameter value is most likely due to differences in data that cause an underestimate of the relevant elasticity. The second section considers the evidence about takeover activity and the hypothesis of a " managerial " theory of dividend behaviour. I have also taken the occasion of this reply to extend the previous analysis by considering the effect on dividend behaviour of another important aspect of company tax policy: investment allowances. The results of this extension are presented in section 3.
Progress in understanding the Ovshinsky Effect: Threshold switching in chalcogenide amorphous semiconductors

In the nearly 45 years since Stan Ovshinsky's original publication [Phys. Rev. Lett. 21, 1450 (1968)] announcing the discovery of electric-field-induced threshold switching in chalcogenide alloy semiconductor glass thin films, the field of amorphous semiconductor physics has developed remarkably. Many commercial applications of these materials have been developed, including X-ray image intensifiers, photocopier photoreceptors, and optical and electrical phase change memory devices. Despite these developments, a universally agreed upon, comprehensive model for the Ovshinsky Effect threshold switch still has not emerged. This paper is a brief review of the present state of understanding of this fascinating solid state physics phenomenon.
Crowd-sourced sensing and collaboration using twitter

Despite the availability of the sensor and smart-phone devices to fulfill the ubiquitous computing vision, the-state-of-the-art falls short of this vision. We argue that the reason for this gap is the lack of an infrastructure to task/utilize these devices for collaboration. We propose that microblogging services like Twitter can provide an "open" publish-subscribe infrastructure for sensors and smartphones, and pave the way for ubiquitous crowd-sourced sensing and collaboration applications. We design and implement a crowd-sourced sensing and collaboration system over Twitter, and showcase our system in the context of two applications: a crowd-sourced weather radar, and a participatory noise-mapping application. Our results from real-world Twitter experiments give insights into the feasibility of this approach and outline the research challenges in sensor/smartphone integration to Twitter.
Cloning and sequence analysis of a cDNA encoding ferric leghemoglobin reductase from soybean nodules.

A cDNA encoding soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr) ferric leghemoglobin reductase (FLbR), an enzyme that is postulated to play and important role in maintaining leghemoglobin in its functional ferrous state, has been cloned and characterized. A group of highly degenerate oligonucleotides deduced from the N-terminal amino acid sequence of FLbR was used to prime the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on soybean nodule mRNA and cDNA. A full-length clone of FLbR cDNA was isolated by screening a [lambda]gt11 soybean nodule cDNA library using the specific PCR-amplified FLbR cDNA fragment as a probe. The cDNA contained about 1.8 kb and had a coding sequence for 523 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 55,729 D, which included a putative 30-residue signal peptide and a 493-residue mature protein. Computer-aided analysis of the deduced FLbR amino acid sequence showed considerable homology (varied from 20-50% with enzymes and species) to dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (EC 1.8.1.4), glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2), mercuric reductase (EC 1.16.1.1), and trypanothione reductase (EC 1.6.4.8) in a superfamily of pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductases from various organisms. Northern blot analysis using FLbR cDNA as a probe showed that the FLbR gene was expressed in soybean nodules, leaves, roots, and stems, with a greater level of expression in nodules and leaves than in roots and stems. Southern blot analysis of the genomic DNA showed the presence of two homologous FLbR genes in the soybean genome.