cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Introduction to Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Methods

Magnetic resonance imaging, commonly known as MRI, is perhaps one of the most important inventions in medical imaging and diagnosis. After the first image formation in the early 1970s (Damadian 1971; Lauterbur 1973), MRI has gone through a relatively quiet infancy, largely due to the lack of the necessary hardware. However, even since its first commercialization in the early 1980s, MRI has revolutionized the field of medical imaging, and evolved to be the gold standard for imaging brain and other soft tissues. In over two decades’ time, MRI has affected most aspects of clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Health-related quality of life of U.S. military personnel: a population-based study.

Objective: This study evaluated the association between military service and health-related quality of life (HRQOL), using a large, population-based sample of U.S. adults. Methods: Participants in the 2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were characterized as active duty personnel (N = 1,163), reserves (N = 1,055), veterans (N = 22,558), or no military service (N = 141,620). HRQOL was described by sex and military status. Logistic regression was used to calculate sex-specific adjusted odds ratios. Results: Active duty men were more likely than men without military service to report 14 or more days of activity limitation, pain, and not enough rest in the past 30 days. Reserve personnel reported better overall HRQOL than nonmilitary participants, and no difference in HRQOL was observed between veterans and persons with no military service. Conclusions: Recommendations are made to monitor HRQOL of active duty and reserve personnel over time and to include HRQOL measures in military-based surveys of active duty troops.
Trends of Tree-Based, Set-Partitioning Compression Techniques in Still and Moving Image Systems

In addition to high compression efficiency, future still and moving image coding systems will require many other features. They include fidelity and resolution scalability, region of interest enhancement, random access decoding, resilience to errors due to channel noise or packet loss, fast encoding and/or decoding speed, and low computational and hardware complexity. Moreover, there are emerging new venues for the application of image compression techniques to data associated with points of a two or three-dimensional grid that will demand these features and perhaps others. We shall discuss these new venues along with the usual ones and show how tree-based, set-partitioning wavelet coding methods, such as SPIHT (Set Partitioning in Hierarchical Trees) and SPECK (Set Partitioning Embedded bloCK) will fulfill most of the demands of current and future applications. We shall also discuss the emerging JPEG-2000 in this framework.
Efficient Production and Identification of CRISPR/Cas9-generated Gene Knockouts in the Model System Danio rerio

Characterization of the clustered, regularly interspaced, short, palindromic repeat (CRISPR) system of Streptococcus pyogenes has enabled the development of a customizable platform to rapidly generate gene modifications in a wide variety of organisms, including zebrafish. CRISPR-based genome editing uses a single guide RNA (sgRNA) to target a CRISPR-associated (Cas) endonuclease to a genomic DNA (gDNA) target of interest, where the Cas endonuclease generates a double-strand break (DSB). Repair of DSBs by error-prone mechanisms lead to insertions and/or deletions (indels). This can cause frameshift mutations that often introduce a premature stop codon within the coding sequence, thus creating a protein-null allele. CRISPR-based genome engineering requires only a few molecular components and is easily introduced into zebrafish embryos by microinjection. This protocol describes the methods used to generate CRISPR reagents for zebrafish microinjection and to identify fish exhibiting germline transmission of CRISPR-modified genes. These methods include in vitro transcription of sgRNAs, microinjection of CRISPR reagents, identification of indels induced at the target site using a PCR-based method called a heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA), and characterization of the indels using both a low throughput and a powerful next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based approach that can analyze multiple PCR products collected from heterozygous fish. This protocol is streamlined to minimize both the number of fish required and the types of equipment needed to perform the analyses. Furthermore, this protocol is designed to be amenable for use by laboratory personal of all levels of experience including undergraduates, enabling this powerful tool to be economically employed by any research group interested in performing CRISPR-based genomic modification in zebrafish.
Does Reinke’s Edema Grade Determine Premalignant Potential?

Objective Reinke's edema (RE) is a benign disease of the vocal folds with a wide spectrum of clinical severity. We aim to evaluate the clinical impact of RE grade and determine if RE grade correlates with severity of dysplasia and tobacco exposure. Methods Patients with isolated RE who underwent surgical excision between December 2010 and December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. The RE grade was determined from archived laryngeal videostroboscopy exams. Pathologic severity of dysplasia, categorized by squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (SIN) classification, and tobacco history were extracted from medical records. Results Of 95 lesions, 3 (3.16%) were RE grade 1, 33 (34.74%) were RE grade 2, 24 (25.26%) were RE grade 3, and 35 (36.84%) were RE grade 4. Fifty-nine lesions (62.11%) had no dysplasia (SIN0), 19 (20.00%) had mild dysplasia (SIN1), 15 (15.79%) had moderate dysplasia (SIN 2), and 2 (2.11%) had severe dysplasia (SIN3). The 2 patients with severe dysplasia had grade 4 lesions. No statistical correlation was identified between RE grade and the severity of dysplasia. Furthermore, no statistical correlation was seen between tobacco exposure and the severity of dysplasia or the RE grade. Conclusions Size of RE lesion does not reflect premalignancy. The majority of RE lesions, regardless of size, have little to no premalignant potential. Severe dysplasia/carcinoma in situ may be more likely seen in grade 4 lesions; however, the paucity of severe dysplasia published in RE data and in this cohort preclude any formal inference. Further study of grade 4 lesions is warranted.
Ensemble confidence intervals for binomial proportions

We propose two measures of performance for a confidence interval for a binomial proportion p: the root mean squared error and the mean absolute deviation. We also devise a confidence interval for p based on the actual coverage function that combines several existing approximate confidence intervals. This "Ensemble" confidence interval has improved statistical properties over the constituent confidence intervals. Software in an R package, which can be used in devising and assessing these confidence intervals, is available on CRAN.
Impact of Social Media on Real Estate Sales.

More and more businesses are using social media to promote services and increase sales. This paper explores the impact of Facebook on real estate sales. First, we examine how Facebook activities are associated with real estate sales. Then, we include time lags in our analysis, because a time lag can be expected between the activates on Facebook and a resulting real estate transaction. The results suggest that: (1) The total numbers of Facebook Likes, links, and stories are positively associated with real estate sales; (2) The sentiment score of Facebook posts is negatively associated with real estate sales; (3) Time lag affects the impact of Facebook activities on real estate sales. The results reveal the predicting value of social media and the power of selected Facebook variables on real estate sales. The research findings can be used to promote sale and forecasting.
How squirrels protect their caches: Location, conspicuousness during caching, and proximity to kin influence cache lifespan

Abstract Scatter-hoarding animals cannot physically protect individual caches, and instead utilize several behavioral strategies that are hypothesized to offer protection for caches. We validated the use of physically altered, cacheable food items, and determined that intraspecific pilfering among free-ranging fox squirrels (N = 23) could be assessed in the field. In this study we were able to identify specific individual squirrels who pilfered or moved caches that had been stored by a conspecific. We identified a high level of pilfering (25%) among this population. In a subsequent study, we assessed the fate of squirrel-made caches. Nineteen fox squirrels cached 294 hazelnuts with passive integrated transponder tags implanted in them. Variables collected included assessment and cache investment and protection behaviors; cache location, substrate, and conspicuousness of each cache; how long each cache remained in its original location, and the location where the cache was finally consumed. We also examined whether assessment or cache protection behaviors were related to the outcomes of buried nuts. Finally, we measured the population dynamics and heterogeneity of squirrels in this study, testing the hypothesis that cache proximity and pilferage tolerance could serve as a form of kin selection. Polymer chain reaction (PCR) was used to analyze hair samples and determine relatedness among 15 squirrels, and the potential impact of relatedness on caching behavior. Results suggested that cache protection behaviors and the lifespan of a cache were dependent on the conspicuousness of a cache. Squirrels may mitigate some of the costs of pilfering by caching closer to the caches of related squirrels than to those of non-related squirrels.
Nonlinear patterns in mercury bioaccumulation in American alligators are a function of predicted age.

Abstract Mercury is a widespread, naturally occurring contaminant that biomagnifies in wetlands due to the methylation of this element by sulfate-reducing bacteria. Species that feed at the top trophic level within wetlands are predicted to have higher mercury loads compared to species feeding at lower trophic levels and are therefore often used for mercury biomonitoring. However, mechanisms for mercury bioaccumulation in sentinel species are often poorly understood, due to a lack of long-term studies or an inability to differentiate between confounding variables. We examined mercury bioaccumulation patterns in the whole blood of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) from a long-term mark-recapture study (1979–2017) in South Carolina, USA. Using a growth model and auxiliary information on predicted age at first capture, we differentiated between age- and size-related variation in mercury bioaccumulation, which are often confounded in alligators due to their determinate growth pattern. Contrary to predictions that the oldest or largest individuals were likely to have the highest mercury concentrations, our best-supported model indicated a peak in mercury concentration at 30–40 years of age, depending on the sex, and lower concentrations in the youngest and oldest animals. To evaluate the robustness of our findings, we re-analyzed data from a previously published study of mercury in alligators sampled at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Unlike the South Carolina data, the data from Florida contained minimal auxiliary information regarding age, yet the best supported model similarly indicated a peaked rather than increasing relationship between mercury and body size, a less-precise indicator of age. These findings highlight how long-term monitoring can differentiate between confounding variables (e.g., age and size) to better elucidate complex relationships between contaminant exposure and demographic factors in sentinel species.
The effect of an aromatic hyperbranched polyester in aeronautical epoxy composites

Abstract A glassy hyperbranched polymer (HBPG) was synthesized and dispersed within an aeronautical graded epoxy matrix as toughening agent. This filler is a polyester characterized by a Tg higher then room temperature (∼90 °C) and obtained by means of bulk poly-condensation reaction starting from a diphenolic acid as precursor. HBPG/epoxy systems were prepared considering two concentration levels (0.1 and 5 wt%) and the effects on mechanical properties and fracture toughness were investigated. HBPG induces a limited reduction of the Tg along with an improvement of the fracture toughness performances as indicated by the increase KIC and GIC values.
A people-based density perspective on physical/virtual world spaces in the microcosmic city

Abstract Electronic and cyber-based methods of conducting transactions have reduced the role of propinquity across a large spectrum of civic activities. Simultaneously, however, technological advances affecting many realms of commerce and culture have increased the necessity and desire for face-to-face contact. Ceding substantial portions of our time to the virtual realm has, curiously, enhanced the importance of local-scale, physical world interactions. In this paper we focus on an elemental concept in urban development and planning: population density. Given that individual lives are now carried out within both physical and virtual spaces, we detail the advantages for land use policy of deploying density measures that are “people-based” rather than areal based. Such metrics provide a rich perspective reflecting planning-relevant geographies of spatial interaction. Rather than restricting density calculation to pre-specified areal units, such as municipalities, neighborhoods, census tracts, city blocks, or land parcels, we propose the deployment of “perceived” density surfaces that yield point-specific values for a set of bespoke values operationalizing critically relevant time-distance thresholds. We suggest embedding walking density, cycling density, and auto-travel density into the formulation and evaluation of land use decisions. In addition to being useful for many practical purposes, threshold-based perceived density provides an interesting conceptual framework for examining how individuals experience and interact within a spectrum of surrounding, microcosmic world spaces.
A Kinetic Model for the Interaction of FeO with MgO-14.5 wt% C Refractory Under the Conditions of the Novel Flash Ironmaking Technology (FIT)

In this work, the interaction of FeO with MgO-14.5 wt% C refractory under the conditions of the novel flash ironmaking technology (FIT) has been investigated. Carbon from the refractory was oxidized and the formation of magnesiowustite (MgxFe1−xO) solid solution took place as a result of the interaction between FeO and MgO. A kinetic model for the growth of magnesiowustite was developed based on the counterdiffusion of Fe2+ and Mg2+ cations and experiments were conducted with FeO and MgO-14.5 wt% C refractory in the temperature range 1200–1400 °C. The analyses of samples using SEM-EDX and EPMA confirmed the oxidation of carbon and the formation of magnesiowustite. Using the kinetic model and the composition profiles determined from EPMA scans, the values of interdiffusion coefficient, averaged over the composition range (\( \bar{D}_{Fe - Mg} \)), were calculated at all the experimental temperatures. The activation energy for the solid-state diffusion process was obtained to be 398 kJ/mol.
Chiral Magnetic Effect of Hot Electrons.

We propose a way to observe the chiral magnetic effect in noncentrosymmetric Weyl semimetals under the action of a strong electric field, via the nonlinear part of their $I\text{\ensuremath{-}}V$ characteristic that is odd in the external magnetic field, or odd-in-magnetic field voltages in electrically open circuits. This effect relies on valley-selective heating in such materials, which, in general, leads to nonequilibrium valley population imbalances. In the presence of an external magnetic field, such a valley-imbalanced Weyl semimetal will, in general, develop an electric current along the direction of the magnetic field---the chiral magnetic effect. We also discuss a specific experimental setup to observe the chiral magnetic effect of hot electrons.
The Stereotype Content Model as an Explanation of Biased Perceptions in a Medical Interaction: Implications for Patient-Provider Relationship.

This experimental investigation uses the stereotype content model (SCM) to explain the biases associated with the perceptions of healthcare providers and the subsequent impact of such biased percep...
Quantitative analysis of Histone modifications in gene silencing

Gene silencing in budding yeast is mediated by Sir protein binding to unacetylated nucleosomes to form a chromatin structure that inhibits transcription. This transcriptional silencing is characterized by the high-fidelity transmission of the silent state. Despite its relative stability, the constituent parts of the silent state are in constant flux giving rise to a model that silent loci can tolerate such fluctuations without functional consequences. However, the level of tolerance is unknown and we developed a method to measure the threshold of histone acetylation that causes the silent chromatin state to switch to the active state. We show that loss of silencing required between 50% and 75% of the unacetylated histones to be replaced with acetylated histone mimics. The precise levels of unacetylated nucleosomes required varied from locus to locus and was influenced by both silencer strength and UAS enhancer/promoter strength. Simple calculations suggest that an approximately 50% reduction in the ability of acetylases to acetylate individual nucleosomes across a large domain may be sufficient to generate a transcriptionally silent region in the nucleus.
Dynamic Model of Active Front-End Converters with 2DOF-PI Controllers for DC Bus Voltage Control

In most of the research, a conventional one degree-of-freedom type proportional-integral controller (1DOF-PI) is used for the regulation of the dc bus voltage in an Active Front-End Converter (AFEC). This paper proposes a two degree-of-freedom type proportional-integral controller (2DOF-PI) for the regulation of dc bus voltage in an AFEC. Such a controller eliminates the left-half plane (LHP) zero in the command-to-output transfer function for dc bus voltage regulation that is inherent to the conventional 1DOF-PI for this application. The dynamic model of an AFEC in the synchronous reference frame (SRF) is presented. An inner current control and outer dc voltage control loop is built for controlling the AFEC. Vector-control scheme is employed to achieve decoupled control of direct-axis and quadrature-axis currents. The outer dc voltage control loop is designed with a 2DOF-PI to complete the control system. Transfer function (TF) of the controller is derived based on the presented model and used to calculate the controller gains. Transient and steady state performance of the designed controllers are investigated in MATLAB/Simulink and results presented.
Labor Trafficking in Missouri: Revelations from a statewide needs assessment

Knowledge about labor trafficking (LT) lags behind extant understanding about sex trafficking due to the ability of LT to exist within legal frameworks, and it impacts some of the most oppressed an...
The Role of Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel in Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Human Disease

The voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) is a β-barrel membrane protein located in the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM). VDAC has two conductance states: an open anion selective state, and a closed and slightly cation-selective state. VDAC conductance states play major roles in regulating permeability of ATP/ADP, regulation of calcium homeostasis, calcium flux within ER-mitochondria contact sites, and apoptotic signaling events. Three reported structures of VDAC provide information on the VDAC open state via X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Together, these structures provide insight on how VDAC aids metabolite transport. The interaction partners of VDAC, together with the permeability of the pore, affect the molecular pathology of diseases including Parkinson’s disease (PD), Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), lupus, and cancer. To fully address the molecular role of VDAC in disease pathology, major questions must be answered on the structural conformers of VDAC. For example, further information is needed on the structure of the closed state, how binding partners or membrane potential could lead to the open/closed states, the function and mobility of the N-terminal α-helical domain of VDAC, and the physiological role of VDAC oligomers. This review covers our current understanding of the various states of VDAC, VDAC interaction partners, and the roles they play in mitochondrial regulation pertaining to human diseases.
Quantum Mechanical Theory of Positron Production in Heavy Ion Collisions with Nuclear Contact

The interplay between atomic and nuclear interactions in heavy ion collisions with nuclear contact is studied. The general theoretical description is outlined and analyzed in a number of different limits (semiclassical approximation, DWBA, fully quantal description). The two most important physical mechanisms for generating atomic-nuclear interference, i.e., energy conservation and the introduction of additional phase shifts by nuclear reactions, are extracted. The resulting typical coupling matrix elements are analyzed for their relative importance in atomic and nuclear excitations. The description of nuclear influence on atomic excitations in terms of a classical time delay caused by nuclear reactions is reviewed, and its relationship to the underlying quantal character of the nuclear reaction is discussed.
Morphology of Babesia microti in human blood smears

Blood smears from 13 patients infected with Babesia microti were reviewed to define the range of morphologic characteristics of the organism. Organisms resembling rings of Plasmodium falciparum were the predominant forms in all patients' blood smears. Babesia microti and Plasmodium spp. may be differentiated by the presence of pigment deposits in erythrocytes parasitized with mature stages of Plasmodium.
Hepatitis A and E

1 Introduction 2 Hepatitis A Virus 3 Hepatitis E Virus Keywords: hepatitis A and E; enterically transmitted viral hepatitis; HAV cell receptor; prodromal symptoms of infection-malaise, anorexia, and abdominal discomfort; HEV strains-comprising single serotype of antigenically related viruses; HEV proteins; postexposure prophylaxis; cholestatic hepatitis A, relapsing hepatitis A-two less severe complications of type A hepatitis
Cellular Deformability: A Possible Determinant of the Normal Release of Maturing Erythrocytes From the Bone Marrow

In vitro measurements of membrane and whole cell deformability indicate that erythroid maturation is accompanied by a progressive increase in cellular deformability. Early and intermediate normoblasts cannot be entirely deformed into a micropipette with dimensions like those of the apertures in the basement membrane which separates marrow hematopoietic cords from sinuses. Shape and nuclear rigidity are the most important determinants of rigidity in these immature cells. The marrow reticulocyte, with its distinctive clover-leaf configuration, still manifests significant intrinsic rigidity of its membrane and possibly underlying cytoplasm, which may be important to its normal retention in the bone marrow. However, further maturation is accompanied by a progressive decrease in membrane stiffness and, hence, resistance to traversing the micropipette. These results are interpreted to suggest that cellular deformability may be an important determinant of normal release of maturing erythrocytes from the bone marrow.
Nutrient limitation of algal periphyton in streams along an acid mine drainage gradient.

Metal oxyhydroxide precipitates that form from acid mine drainage (AMD) may indirectly limit periphyton by sorbing nutrients, particularly P. We examined effects of nutrient addition on periphytic algal biomass (chl a), community structure, and carbon and nitrogen content along an AMD gradient. Nutrient diffusing substrata with treatments of +P, +NP and control were placed at seven stream sites. Conductivity and SO4 concentration ranged over an order of magnitude among sites and were used to define the AMD gradient, as they best indicate mine discharge sources of metals that create oxyhydroxide precipitates. Aqueous total phosphorous (TP) ranged from 2 to 23 μg · L(-1) and significantly decreased with increasing SO4 . Mean chl a concentrations at sites ranged from 0.2 to 8.1 μg · cm(-2) . Across all sites, algal biomass was significantly higher on +NP than control treatments (Co), and significantly increased with +NP. The degree of nutrient limitation was determined by the increase in chl a concentration on +NP relative to Co (response ratio), which ranged from 0.6 to 9.7. Response to nutrient addition significantly declined with increasing aqueous TP, and significantly increased with increasing SO4 . Thus, nutrient limitation of algal biomass increased with AMD impact, indicating metal oxyhydroxides associated with AMD likely decreased P availability. Algal species composition was significantly affected by site but not nutrient treatment. Percent carbon content of periphyton on the Co significantly increased with AMD impact and corresponded to an increase in the relative abundance of Chlorophytes. Changes in periphyton biomass and cellular nutrient content associated with nutrient limitation in AMD streams may affect higher trophic levels.
Ion-Translocation in Energy-Conserving Membrane Systems

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on available information pertinent for understanding the mechanism of ion translocation and its relation to the primary event in the energy-coupling process. The mechanisms of energy coupling, uncoupling, and ion transport are intimately related, and analogous mechanisms may exist in mitochondrial as well as in chloroplast and bacterial membrane systems. The chapter discusses selected experiments in the field of photophosphorylation to provide a generalized scheme of the relationship between charge transfer and energy coupling in the mammalian, green plant, and bacterial energy-conserving membrane systems. The chapter summarizes the present knowledge of the characteristics of H+ translocation in mitochondria, submitochondrial particles (SMP), chloroplasts, and photosynthetic bacteria and their chromotophores. In general, H+ translocation can be driven by electron transfer reactions, supported either by substrate oxidation (mitochondria, SMP, and bacteria grown in the dark) or light (chloroplasts and bacteria grown in the light).
Investigations of Amitraz Neurotoxicity in Rats IV. Assessment of Toxicity Syndrome Using a Functional Observational Battery

A Functional observational battery (FOB) was utilized to provide a semiquantitative description of the hyperreactivity, excitability, and debilitation produced by amitraz. Adult male Long-Evans rats were administered either vehicle or 10, 25, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg amitraz ip. They were tested with the FOB immediately before dosing, at 1 and 4 hr, and at 1, 2, 4, and 8 days after dosing. Higher doses (100-200 mg/kg) produced increased reactivity to manipulation, tenseness, and aggression. Most or all doses produced depressed arousal and rearing activity, hypothermia, body weight loss, and autonomic changes including ptosis, chromodacryorrhea resulting in facial crustiness, loss of the pupil reflex, and decreased defecation. Altered gait and decreased landing foot splay were also produced by amitraz. For the most part, effects of lower doses (10-50 mg/kg) were reversible by 2 to 4 days after treatment. In the higher dose groups, however, signs of toxicity were evident, and in some cases even more prominent (e.g., handling hyperreactivity), 8 days after a single dose of amitraz. The FOB thus provided a semiquantitative description of the magnitude and time course of many features of the amitraz toxicity syndrome.
Predictable and unpredictable shock: their pathological effects on restrained and unrestrained rats.

The effects on rats of predictable and unpredictable shock were measured under 2 conditions: unrestrained Ss were shocked intermittently for 12/24 hr. on a 6-hr. on, 6-hr. off schedule; restrained ...
New evidence for land plants from the lower Middle Ordovician of Saudi Arabia

Macerations of Middle Ordovician (Llanvirnian) shales from Saudi Arabia yield an assemblage of spores of probable land plants (cryptospores), acritarchs, and chitinozoa. The production of sporopollenin-containing, sporelike tetrads is considered a fundamental character of the embryophytes, because no extant algae produce spores of this type. No trilete spores were found at this horizon, reinforcing previous assertions that obligate meiotic tetrads predate the earliest trilete spores. Sporomorph tetrads and dyads, in conjunction with cuticlelike fragments, were probably derived from terrestrial plants at a bryophyte grade. Although there are reports of possibly older cryptospores, the Hanadir assemblage described herein clearly establishes their presence by Llanvirnian time.
Precision tropospheric temperature monitoring 1979 1990

Abstract The TIROS-N microwave sounding units (MSU's) have demonstrated an ability to measure globally averaged tropospheric brightness temperature anomalies to a precision of 0.01°C per month. This has been revealed by five separate overlap periods of concurrently operating morning and afternoon satellites. For MSU channel 2, comparisons to ten years of radiosonde data show that these anomalies are closely related to anomalies in 850-300 mbar thickness, with gridpoint correlations to radiosondes usually ranging between 0.85 and 0.95. The comparisons also suggest that there is no drift or bias in the MSU's (or US-controlled radiosonde system) between 1979–1988 to about 0.01°C when results are averaged over the Pacific or Caribbean. The non-trivial amount of lower stratospheric influence on MSU channel 2, combined with evidence for cooling in that layer during 1979–1990, suggests the need for removal of this effect from the measurements before interpretation in terms of a “tropospheric” temperature. Because the NOAA-6 MSU channel 3 was not usable for precision climate monitoring due to a sizeable drift, we have performed a retrieval on MSU channel 2 at different view angles to achieve stratospheric cancellation. We present global brightness temperature anomalies of both raw channel and the troposheric retrieval for the period 1979–1990. It appears that the MSU's (and presumably the advanced microwave sounding units as well) will provide a valuable resource for not only monitoring intraseasonal to interannual climate change, but also for long-term monitoring of potential global warming.
The effects of R-rated violence and erotica, individual differences, and victim characteristics on acquaintance rape proclivity

Abstract Scenes from current R-rated films depicting nonviolent erotica, nonerotic violence, or neutral control material were presented to 70 undergraduate males, each of whom watched the material with a female confederate. Following the tape's completion, the confederate went elsewhere, and subjects completed several dispositional measures, evaluations of the confederate, and their likelihood of sexually aggressing against the confederate and of committing rape against a hypothetical woman. Contrary to the hypotheses, no film effects were found for either sexual aggression measure. As predicted, however, hypermasculinity and past sexual aggression and coercion were highly positively correlated with both dependent measures, and victim characteristics influenced acquaintance rape likelihood only among subjects high in hypermasculinity. An explanation of the findings based on the acquaintance-rape-prone individual's fear of appearing unmanly was proposed.
How Could I Forget? Inaccurate memories of sexually intimate moments

This study was based on data collected from 87 men during and immediately following participation in a counseling program aimed at assisting them to reduce sexual behaviors associated with high HIV risk. All the men reported having engaged in same‐gender anal or oral sex without condoms during the year prior to enrollment. Three‐month retrospective reports of sexual behavior, solicited just after participation, were compared with reports collected weekly during the same three‐month period. Accuracy of recall over an ensemble of 10 behavior items was quite low, with amount of error positively associated with behavior frequency. In general, exaggerated reports were associated with low‐frequency behavior and underreports with high‐frequency behavior. Because of observed differences in the average frequency of occurrence of the various specific types of sexual behavior, adjustment for event frequency was required to provide adequate analysis of between‐behavior differences in memory error. Estimated functiona...
Hepatic endopolyploidy as a cellular consequence of age‐specific selection for rate of development in mice

Endopolyploidy is the generation of polyploid cells by DNA replication without subsequent cell division and is correlated with hypertrophic growth or growth via cell size. Thus, selection that alters growth may also change onset and frequency of endopolyploidy as a correlated response. We search for endopolyploidy in the liver in response to age-specific restricted index selection for the rate of development. Polyploidy changes over ontogeny are described in five mouse lines: two selected for divergence in early growth (0-10 days of age), two selected for divergence in late growth (28-56 days of age), and one randombred control. Polyploid cell frequency within each line increased as ontogeny continued, as expected from previous research. However, selection for altered growth clearly plays a role in the frequency and onset of polyploid cells. Lines selected for divergence in early growth have polyploidy differences after weaning that are not seen in adult mice. However, lines selected for divergence in late growth are divergent in frequency of polyploid cells, starting near sexual maturity and continuing into adulthood.
Pressurized Hot Water and DTPA‐Sorbitol as Viable Alternatives for Soil Boron Extraction. II. Correlation of Soil Extraction to Responses of Boron‐Fertilized Alfalfa

Pressurized hot water and DTPA-Sorbitol are two relatively new, proposed alternative soil boron (B) extraction methods for which no data on yield or plant nutrient uptake have been reported for validation. Both methods initially have shown significant correlation with the hot water extraction method in untreated soils as well as soils incubated with various levels of B. The objective of the research was to extract samples of B-treated soils by using all three extraction methods and correlate the B values obtained to yield, B tissue concentration, and total B removal of alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Greenhouse and field experiments on alkaline and limed acid soils naturally low in hot water-extractable B were conducted to test alfalfa response to B fertilizer. In the greenhouse, highly significant relationships exist between plant uptake and extractable B with all three methods at varying levels of applied B, but no alfalfa yield response was observed. All three methods result in accurate predictions of plant B tissue concentrations and total B removal. The field experiment exhibited a significant positive relationship between total alfalfa yield and extractable B using hot water and pressurized hot water extractions. Extractable B using DTPA-Sorbitol was not related to total alfalfa yield in the field experiment. This work, coupled with the earlier incubation studies, supports the pressurized hot water extraction method as an improvement over hot water in diverse soil types. The lack of relationship in the acid soil supports DTPA-Sorbitol as an improvement over hot water in alkaline soils.
Technical Section: Octree-based animated geometry compression

Geometry compression is the coding of 3D geometric data in a form that requires less space to store and less bandwidth to transmit. This 3D geometric data provides a computer graphics system with the scene description necessary to render images. Geometric data is quite large and, therefore, needs effective compression methods to decrease the transmission and storage requirements. A large amount of research has been focused on static geometry compression, but only limited research has addressed animated geometry compression, the compression of temporal sequences of geometric data. The goal of this paper is to represent 3D animation sequences with a reduced set of motion vectors that take advantage of the large data coherence in space and time. We proposed an octree-based motion representation method in which a small set of motion vectors are generated for each frame by analyzing the motion between consecutive frames. The vectors represent the differential motion from a previous frame to the current frame and are used to predict the vertex positions for the new frame. The octree motion representation process generates a hierarchical octree structure for each frame in the sequence. The octree approach can represent 3D animated sequences with high compression factors while maintaining reasonable quality. This approach is easy to implement and have a low cost encoding process and a fast decoding process, which make it very suitable for real time application.
Assessment of multicoefficient correlation methods, second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory, and density functional theory for H3O(+)(H2O)n (n = 1-5) and OH(-)(H2O)n (n = 1-4).

We have assessed the ability of 52 methods including 15 multicoefficient correlation methods (MCCMs), two complete basis set (CBS) methods, second-order Moller−Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) with 5 basis sets, the popular B3LYP hybrid functional with 6 basis sets, and 24 combinations of local density functional and basis set to accurately reproduce reaction energies obtained at the Weizmann-1 level of theory for hydronium, hydroxide, and pure water clusters. The three best methods overall are BMC-CCSD, G3SX(MP3), and M06-L/aug-cc-pVTZ. If only microsolvated ion data is included, M06-L/aug-cc-pVTZ is the best method; it has errors only half as large as the other density functionals. The deviations between the three best performing methods are larger for the larger hydronium- and hydroxide-containing clusters, despite a decrease in the average reaction energy, making it impossible to determine which of the three methods is overall the best, so they might be ranked in order of increasing cost, with BMC−CC...
A comparison of direct and indirect liquefaction technologies for making fluid fuels from coal

Direct and indirect liquefaction technologies for making synthetic liquid fuels from coal are compared. It is shown that although direct liquefaction conversion processes might be more energy-efficient, overall system efficiencies for direct and indirect liquefaction are typically comparable if end-use as well as production efficiencies are taken into account. It is shown that some synfuels derived via indirect liquefaction can outperform fuels derived from crude oil with regard to both air-pollutant and greenhouse-gas emissions, but direct liquefaction-derived synfuels cannot. Deployment now of some indirect liquefaction technologies could put coal on a track consistent with later addressing severe climate and other environmental constraints without having to abandon coal for energy, but deploying direct liquefaction technologies cannot. And finally, there are much stronger supporting technological infrastructures for indirect than for direct liquefaction technologies. Prospective costs in China for some indirect liquefaction-derived fuels are developed but not costs for direct liquefaction-based synfuels, because experience with the latter is inadequate for making meaningful cost projections. Especially promising is the outlook for the indirect liquefaction product dimethyl ether, a versatile and clean fuel that could probably be produced in China at costs competitive with crude oil-derived liquid fuels. An important finding is the potential for realizing, in the case of dimethyl ether, significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions relative to crude oil-derived hydrocarbon fuels, even in the absence of an explicit climate change mitigation policy, when this fuel is co-produced with electricity. But this finding depends on the viability of underground storage of H 2 S and CO 2 as an acid gas management strategy for synfuel production. Many “megascale” demonstration projects for underground CO 2 storage and H 2 S/CO 2 co-storage, along with appropriate monitoring, modeling, and scientific experiments, in alternative geological contexts, are needed to verify this prospect. It is very likely that China has some of the least-costly CO 2 sources in the world for possible use in such demonstrations. It would be worthwhile to explore whether there are interesting prospective demonstration sites near one or more of these sources and to see if other countries might work with China in exploiting demonstration opportunities at such sites.
DNA Measurements in Lymphomatoid Papulosis: Evidence for this New Entity

Lymphomatoid papulosis is a recently described type of pseudolymphoma cutis characterized by a benign course in spite of a lymphoma-like histology, in which numerous bizarre blast-like cells are present together with small, medium and large lymphocytes. The DNA content of nuclei in the infiltrate of lymphomatoid papulosis was measured in individual cells by Feulgen cytophotometry. 1Small lymphocytes were comparable to those in other sites. 2Medium and large lymphocytes displayed an aneuploid distribution of DNA, but there was little scatter from the secondary mode at 2x and there were neither intermediate forms nor hypertetraploid cells. These characteristics conform to those seen in a rapidly growing but non-malignant cell population. 3DNA in the large blast cells was hypertetraploid in more than 40% of the cells. While this finding is usually associated with malignant growth, we found no cytophotometric evidence of cell renewal among these blast cells (no intermediate DNA values) and, taken with the benign clinical course and the frequent bizarre mitoses, an annihilatory mechanism seems likely. The suggestion is made that an intact immune mechanism plays some role.
Effects of trophic and environmental conditions on the growth of Crassostrea gigas in culture

Abstract In order to study the possibility of exploiting protected marine areas, comparative data on the cultivation of the oyster Cassostrea gigas in the South Tyrrenian Sea are reported. The oysters were cultured at −7 and −13 m on long lines linked to artificial reefs. The observations, made during a 12-month period, were of the chemical-physical and trophic properties of the water column and growth rates of the oysters. Temperature ranged between 19.81 ± 4.67 °C at −7 m and 18.03 ± 3.03 °C at −13 m. Salinity showed typical Mediterranean values. The area presented oligotrophic features: the chlorophyll-a (CHLa) concentration ranged between 0.05 ± 0.01 and 0.04 ± 0.02 μg l −1 at −7 and −13 m, respectively. The labile particulate organic matter (LPOM) ranged between 344 ± 201 and 334 ± 228 μg l −1 at −7 and −13 m, respectively, and the CHLa carbon/POM carbon ratio (index of the autotrophic vs heterotrophic conditions) was never above 3%. POM concentration and POM gross energy content showed significant differences ( P
Investigating Leadership Applications in Tourism: A Case Study of Leadership in Community Tourism

With the increased influence of economic diversion, globalization, and distress, tourism has been a popular choice for communities seeking to enhance local economies, respond to changing social and environmental conditions, and strive for new benchmarks. That being said, with changes accelerating, and global patterns becoming all the more tumultuous the field needs to embrace a new ways of creating sustainable positive change. One area that can benefit this field community tourism development greatly is the study of the connection between types of leadership and effects on follower engagement. The study of the relationships between leaders and followers is important and between charismatic leaders and followers offers key insights. Charismatic leaders are capable of developing effective, or ineffective, relationships with their followers. They also can either foster, or discourage, civic, or community, engagement – which is critical to the growth of networks, or social capital, in their communities. The r...
Human organ-on-a-chip BioMEMS devices for testing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies

MEMS human “organs-on-a-chip” can be used to create model human organ systems for developing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. They represent a promising new strategy for rapid testing of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches without the need for involving risks to human subjects. We are developing multicomponent, superparamagnetic and fluorescent nanoparticles as X-ray and MRI contrast agents for noninvasive multimodal imaging and for antibody- or peptide-targeted drug delivery to tumor and precancerous cells inside these artificial organ MEMS devices. Magnetic fields can be used to move the nanoparticles “upstream” to find their target cells in an organs-on-achip model of human ductal breast cancer. Theoretically, unbound nanoparticles can then be removed by reversing the magnetic field to give a greatly enhanced image of tumor cells within these artificial organ structures. Using branched PDMS microchannels and 3D tissue engineering of normal and malignant human breast cancer cells inside those MEMS channels, we can mimic the early stages of human ductal breast cancer with the goal to improve the sensitivity and resolution of mammography and MRI of very small tumors and test new strategies for treatments. Nanomedical systems can easily be imaged by multicolor confocal microscopy inside the artificial organs to test targeting and therapeutic responses including the differential viability of normal and tumor cells during treatments. Currently we are using 2-dimensional MEMS structures, but these studies can be extended to more complex 3D structures using new 3D printing technologies.
Information optimal scalable compressive imager demonstrator

We present a compressive imager demonstrator based on a scalable, parallel architecture. It primarily utilizes information-optimal projections and a Piece-wise Linear Minimum Mean Square Error Estimator (PLE-MMSE) combined with a block-based statistical model of natural images. Such system delivers high-resolution images from low resolution sensor with near real-time snapshots. This testbed provides a highly programmable compressive imager that allows testing of a variety of projection designs for different tasks (e.g. random binary, PCA) and also enables adaptive or dynamic designs.