cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Towards color-kinematics duality in generic spacetimes

In this note, we study color-kinematics duality in generic spacetimes. We work with a contact representation for on shell correlators. The position-space integrand is encoded by enumerated differential operators. This setup generalizes certain features of S-matrix kinematics to curved space. Differences between flat and curved space are captured by commutators. We study the nonlinear sigma model at four points as an explicit example and find that color-kinematics duality holds in generic spacetimes. We illustrate our approach in the AdS transition amplitude, a type of on shell correlation function. We find a double copy procedure at four points that connects the nonlinear sigma model, the biadjoint scalar theory, and the special Galileon theory.
HARC: the highly-available resource co-allocator

HARC--the Highly-Available Resource Co-allocator--is an open-source system for reserving multiple resources in a coordinated fashion. HARC can handle different types of resource, and has been used to reserve time on supercomputers across a US-wide testbed, together with dedicated lightpaths connecting the machines. At HARC's core are a distributed set of processes called Acceptors, which provide a coallocation service. HARC functions normally provided a majority of the Acceptors are working; this replication gives HARC its high availability. The Paxos Commit protocol ensures that consistency across all Acceptors is maintained. This paper gives an overview of HARC, and explains both how it works and how it is used. We show that HARC's design makes it easy for the community to contribute new components for co-allocating different types of resource, while the stability of the overall system is maintained.
Dance as a Contributor to Cardiovascular Fitness and Alteration of Body Composition

(1979). Dance as a Contributor to Cardiovascular Fitness and Alteration of Body Composition. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 50, Including Leisure Today, pp. 88-88.
Competitive strategies for small manufacturers in high labor cost countries

Purpose – The paper aims to examine competitive strategies used by several small ski brands manufacturing in the USA. The motivation is to explain, while there are no major manufacturers in the USA, why many smaller manufacturers produce locally despite higher labor costs. Design/methodology/approach – The paper first describes mid-volume, mid-complexity manufacturing. It then describes customization and innovation. Descriptions of the ski industry, ski manufacturing and customization and innovation, especially among smaller ski manufacturers, then follow. Publicly available information is the examined to understand the competitive strategy of firms in this sector. This is followed by interviews with principals at several smaller manufacturers. Findings – The findings show that small firms do use innovation and customization strategies and are able to compete while producing their product within the USA. Research limitations/implications – The interview method limits the ability to perform rigorous statis...
Adjusting for population shifts and covariates in space-time interaction tests.

Summary Statistical tests for epidemic patterns use measures of space–time event clustering, and look for high levels of clustering that are unlikely to appear randomly if events are independent. Standard approaches, such as Knox's (1964, Applied Statistics 13, 25–29) test, are biased when the spatial distribution of population changes over time, or when there is space–time interaction in important background variables. In particular, the Knox test is too sensitive to coincidental event clusters in such circumstances, and too likely to raise false alarms. Kulldorff and Hjalmars (1999, Biometrics 55, 544–552) proposed a variant of Knox's test to control for bias caused by population shifts. In this article, I demonstrate that their test is also generally biased, in an unknown direction. I suggest an alternative approach that accounts for exposure shifts while also conditioning on the observed spatial and temporal margins of event counts, as in the original Knox test. The new approach uses Metropolis sampling of permutations, and is unbiased under more general conditions. I demonstrate how the new method can also include controls for the clustering effects of covariates.
Proinflammatory cytokines block growth of breast cancer cells by impairing signals from a growth factor receptor

Neutralization of endogenous growth factors and administration of exogenous bioactive cytokines are two distinct biological antitumor strategies that show promise for treatment of cancer patients. In this report, we provide evidence to link both strategies as an integrative approach to cancer therapy. We tested the hypothesis that proinflammatory cytokines block growth of transformed cells by inhibiting key intracellular signaling events after activation of the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) tyrosine kinase receptor. IGF-I stimulates DNA synthesis in MCF-7 cells by 15-fold. This increase is significantly inhibited by TNF (tumor necrosis factor) -α at 0.1 ng/ml and is reduced by 80% at 100 ng/ml. Similarly, both IL (interleukin) -1β and IL-6 significantly reduce the ability of IGF-I to promote DNA synthesis. Flow cytometry confirmed that all three of the cytokines inhibit IGF-I-induced DNA synthesis by preventing cells from entering the S phase of the cell cycle, leading to G/G1 arrest. Although none of the cytokines alone are cytotoxic to transformed epithelial cells in the absence of serum, TNF-α significantly inhibits the antiapoptotic property of IGF-I in protecting MCF-7 cells from DNA fragmentation. TNF-α and IL-1β act by inhibiting the IGF-I receptor from tyrosine phosphorylating insulin receptor substrate-1 without affecting tyrosine kinase activity of the IGF-IR itself. These data support the novel idea that the major inhibitory properties of proinflammatory cytokines on growth of breast cancer cells are manifested prominently in the presence of growth factors. These data also highlight growth factor receptor adaptor molecules, such as insulin receptor substrate-1, rather than the receptors themselves as targets for antitumor therapeutic strategies.
Maintenance scheduling for critical parts of aircraft

A mathematical model for determining the best schedule for maintenance of aircraft in order to minimize expected total cost of maintenance and failure per time unit is presented. This total cost consists of the cost of inspections, the cost of repairs and overhauls, and the cost of catastrophic failure. The stochastic optimization model developed has a nonlinear objective function and a single set of simple bound constraints on integer decision variables. >
Multilocus analysis of the evolutionary dynamics of rainforest bird populations in Southeast Asia

Sundaland has a dynamic geographic history because its landmasses were periodically interconnected when sea levels fell during glacial periods. Superimposed on this geographic dynamism were environmental changes related to climatic oscillations. To investigate how tropical taxa responded to such changes, we studied the divergence and demographic history of two co-distributed rainforest passerine species, Arachnothera longirostra and Malacocincla malaccensis. We sampled birds primarily from Borneo and the Malay Peninsula, which straddle the now-submerged Sunda shelf, and analysed multilocus DNA data with a variety of coalescent and gene genealogy methods. Cross-shelf divergence in both species occurred well before the last glacial maximum, i.e., before the most recent land connection. However, post-divergence gene flow occurred, and it was more pronounced in A. longirostra (a highly vagile nectarivore/insectivore) than in M. malaccensis (an understory insectivore). Despite current habitat continuity on Borneo, the population of M. malaccensis in northeastern Borneo is substantially divergent from that on the rest of the island. The NE population experienced dramatic demographic fluctuations, probably because of competition with the other population, which expanded from western Borneo after the mid-Pleistocene. In contrast, the Borneo population of A. longirostra has little structure and appears to have experienced demographic expansion 16 kya, long after it had diverged from the Malay Peninsula population (630-690 kya). Malay Peninsula populations of both species have remained relatively stable. Overall, the most recent glacial period was not the chief determinant of the evolutionary dynamics of our study species, and in this respect, they are different from temperate species.
Tertiäre Motive bei Struktur und Faltung von RNA

Spezifische Tertiarstrukturmotive bestimmen die Gesamtarchitektur eines RNA-Molekuls (Beispiele siehe Bild). In den letzten Jahren haben hochaufgeloste Kristallstrukturen komplexer RNAs zu neuen Einsichten in die Mechanismen gefuhrt, nach denen diese Faltungen verwirklicht werden. Ausgehend von der Beschreibung dieser Tertiarstrukturmotive und der Diskussion ihres Einflusses auf die Faltungswege biologischer RNAs werden auch neue Entwicklungen bei der Modellierung von RNA-Strukturen vorgestellt.
Unitary quantum lattice gas representation of 2D quantum turbulence

Quantum vortex structures and energy cascades are examined for two dimensional quantum turbulence (2D QT) using a special unitary evolution algorithm. The qubit lattice gas (QLG) algorithm, is employed to simulate the weakly-coupled Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) governed by the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation. A parameter regime is uncovered in which, as in 3D QT, there is a very short Poincare recurrence time. This short recurrence time is destroyed as the nonlinear interaction energy is increased. Energy cascades for 2D QT are considered to examine whether 2D QT exhibits the inverse cascades of 2D classical turbulence. In the parameter regime considered, the spectra analysis reveals no such dual cascades---dual cascades being a hallmark of 2D classical turbulence.
Markov random-field-based anomaly screening algorithm

A novel anomaly screening algorithm is described which makes use of a regression diagnostic associated with the fitting of Markov Random Field (MRF) models. This regression diagnostic quantifies the extent to which a given neighborhood of pixels is atypical, relative to local background characteristics. The screening algorithm consists first in the calculation of an MRF-based anomoly statistic values. Next, 'blob' features, such as pixel count and maximal pixel intensity are calculated, and ranked over the image, in order to 'filter' the blobs to some final subset of most likely candidates. Receiver operating characteristics obtained from applying the above described screening algorithm to the detection of minelike targets in high- and low-frequency side-scan sonar imagery are presented together with results obtained from other screening algorithms for comparison, demonstrating performance comparable to trained human operators. In addition, real-time implementation considerations associated with each algorithmic component of the described procedure are identified.
Role of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in the Evaluation of Competitiveness of Small Firms

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is a method of multivariate statistical analysis and has been widely used in statistical and mathematical analysis. We use this method in the evaluation of competitiveness of small firms. Using the data of 30 small firms, we build the index system to evaluate competitiveness. Our results show that Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is useful in dimension reducing and we find that profitability, growth,size and human resource are important influencing factors in the competitiveness of small firms.
Unique CYP2D6 activity distribution and genotype-phenotype discordance in black Americans.

Background Although CYP2D6 has been studied extensively in differentpopulation groups, relatively little is known for black Americans. Methods CYP2D6 activity was assessed with dextromethorphan in 283 black American subjects and correlated with their genotype (2D6*2 to *12, 2D6*14, 2D6*15, 2D6*17, 2D6*18, and 2D6*29 and gene duplications). Volunteers provided information about ethnicity and concurrent medication, and they participated in either phenotyping (n = 225), genotyping (n = 251), or both (n = 193). Results The median urinary dextromethorphan/dextrorphan metabolic ratio (MR) indicated significantly lower CYP2D6 activity in the black American group (0.016) than in a white control population (0.0044; P = .0001) studied previously. The reduced function allele 2D6*17 was more common (frequency [f] = 0.395) among intermediate metabolizers (0.03 ≤ MR ≤ 0.3) than extensive metabolizers(MR ≤ 0.03; f = 0.148; P = .0001). Consistent with reduced function toward dextromethorphan of COS cell-expressed 2D6.29 protein, 2D6*29 also was more frequent in intermediate metabolizers (f = 0.114) than in extensive metabolizers (f = 0.057; P = NS). Frequencies for 2D6*17 and 2D6*29 were f = 0.213 and 0.072, respectively. Of the 193 genotyped and phenotyped subjects, 14 were determined to be poor metabolizers, with dextromethorphan/dextrorphan ratios >0.3 (7.25%), but only 2 subjects(1.04%) carried 2 nonfunctional alleles (2D6*3/*4x2 and 2D6*4/*4). A new allelic variant, 2D6*40, was subsequently found in 2 discordant subjects (2D6*4/*40 and 2D6*6/*40), implying that the 18-base pair (bp) insertion found in 2D6*40 renders it nonfunctional. The frequency of 2D6*40 was 0.006. For genotypes that contain 2D6*2, median MR values were consistently higherin black Americans than in white subjects, indicating that other unidentified factors also contribute to lower CYP2D6 activity in black Americans. Conclusions The lower CYP2D6 activity observed in a black American population is in part attributable to the presence of variant alleles that occur at a higher frequency in this population than in white subjects. Additional studies are required to ascertain the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic consequences of these pharmacogenetic data in black Americans. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2002) 72, 76–89; doi: 10.1067/mcp.2002.125783
Replacement of Conserved Threonines by Alanine Residues in High Mobility Group Protein HMG-I(Y): Effect on DNA Binding Affinity

A threonine residue at the beginning of each DNA-binding domain of HMG-I (residue numbers 21, 53, and 78) is conserved among mammalian species and proposed to help stabilize the A·T-hook DNA-binding motif. Phosphorylation of threonines number 53 and 78 of human HMG-I(Y) both in vivo and in vitro leads to a 20 fold reduction in the proteins DNA binding affinity. Recombinant human HMG-I proteins were engineered to contain alanine instead of the conserved threonine in each DNA-binding domain. The DNA dissociation constant of each protein was assayed at various salt concentrations by competition with the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33258 for an AT-rich DNA substrate. Replacement of these threonines did not affect the equilibrium binding of these proteins to DNA as compared with wild-type HMG-I and HMG-Y. Molecular modelling of analogous peptides supported this finding. We conclude that these threonines are not directly important for A·T-hook DNA-binding and are conserved phosphorylation sites for down regulation of DNA binding by the A·T-hook motif in the HMG-I(Y) proteins.
Strain-induced disorder and phase transformation in hexagonal boron nitride under quasi-homogeneous pressure: In situ X-ray study in a rotational diamond anvil cell

Hexagonal hBN was subjected to compression and shear in a rotational diamond anvil cell. Conditions for almost homogeneous pressure distribution were predicted and achieved experimentally. Homogeneous pressure self-multiplication effect was revealed, i.e. homogeneous pressure growth during the transformation hBN→wurtzitic wBN. Strain-induced disorder, characterized by concentration of turbostratic stacking faults, and phase transformation are studied and their mutual effect is analyzed. The disorder in hBN increased from s=0.077 at 0 GPa to s=0.098–0.127 at 6.4–9.6 GPa and shear which should suppress transformation. A complete irreversible shear-induced transformation hBN→wBN was observed in the whole specimen at a surprisingly low (for such a disorder) pressure of 9.6–10.6 GPa.
Liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry measurement of targeted metabolites of Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 grown on two different carbon sources.

Abstract Complementary methods using liquid chromatography–tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC–TOF-MS) were developed and applied to determine targeted metabolites involved in central carbon metabolism [including tricarboxylic acid cycle, serine cycle, ethylmalonyl-coenzyme A (ethylmalonyl-CoA) pathway and poly-β-hydroxybutyrate cycle] of the bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 grown on two carbon sources, ethylamine (C2) and succinate (C4). Nucleotides, acyl-CoAs and a few volatile metabolites in cell extracts of M. extorquens AM1 were readily separated using either hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography or reversed-phase liquid chromatography, and detected with good sensitivity by MS/MS. However, volatile intermediates within a low mass range (
An Experimental Study of Coolant Combustion Effects in Transpiration Cooling

Hydrogen, ammonia, and nitrogen coolants were used in a study of combustion effects on transpiration cooling. It was found that hydrogen combustion at low coolant blowing rates resulted in increased porous surface temperatures. However, at higher blowing rates (F > 0.002), hydrogen was more effective in surface temperature reduction than the other coolants. It is demonstrated that assumption of temperature equality of coolant and wall leads to erroneous results in heat transfer determination.Copyright © 1971 by ASME
Interaction Between Warfarin and Transdermal Selegiline: First Case Report and Literature Review

AbstractA procoagulant effect may occur when enzymatic inhibitors of CYP2C9, 1A2, or 3A4 are therapeutically coadministered with warfarin. To our knowledge, there have been no case reports of such ...
Homeostatic proliferation of B cells

Naive B cells introduced into a lymphopenic host undergo antigen-independent proliferation which is inhibited in a cell dose dependent manner by feedback from mature B cells. Homeostatic proliferation is a generalized lymphocyte property with B cells sharing many of the inductive and regulatory characteristics established for naive and memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and NK cells. In this communication we discuss the cytokine requirements for B cell HP, extend the murine studies to human cells, and propose the hypothesis that B cell HP may provide an antigen-independent mechanism for maintaining B cell memory.
Changes in bone sclerostin levels in mice after ovariectomy vary independently of changes in serum sclerostin levels

We examined the effects that ovariectomy had on sclerostin mRNA and protein levels in the bones of 8-week-old mice that were either sham-operated (SHAM) or ovariectomized (OVX) and then euthanized 3 or 6 weeks later. In this model, bone loss occurred between 3 and 5 weeks postsurgery. In calvaria, ovariectomy significantly decreased sclerostin mRNA levels at 6 weeks postsurgery (by 52%) but had no significant effect at 3 weeks. In contrast, sclerostin mRNA levels were significantly lower in OVX femurs at 3 weeks postsurgery (by 53%) but equal to that of SHAM at 6 weeks. The effects of ovariectomy on sclerostin were not a global response of osteocytes because they were not mimicked by changes in the mRNA levels for two other relatively osteocyte-specific genes: DMP-1 and FGF-23. Sclerostin protein decreased by 83% and 60%, at 3 and 6 weeks postsurgery in calvaria, respectively, and by 38% in lumbar vertebrae at 6 weeks. We also detected decreases in sclerostin by immunohistochemistry in cortical osteocytes of the humerus at 3 weeks postsurgery. However, there were no significant effects of ovariectomy on sclerostin protein in femurs or on serum sclerostin at 3 and 6 weeks postsurgery. These results demonstrate that ovariectomy has variable effects on sclerostin mRNA and protein in mice, which are dependent on the bones examined and the time after surgery. Given the discrepancy between the effects of ovariectomy on serum sclerostin levels and sclerostin mRNA and protein levels in various bones, these results argue that, at least in mice, serum sclerostin levels may not accurately reflect changes in the local production of sclerostin in bones. Additional studies are needed to evaluate whether this is also the case in humans.
Immunology: remembrance of things past.

Memory T cells help us to fight off infectious microorganisms that we have encountered before. There are two models for the generation of memory cells, and new work provides support for one of them.
Strategies for the determination of the volume and composition of the stationary phase in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Abstract The fundamental difficulties currently impeding the elucidation of retention mechanisms in RPLC are reviewed. The various definitions and conventions concerning void volume and excess adsorption in liquid–solid systems are compared and contrasted. The utility and integrity of various chromatographic methods for the measurement of excess adsorption isotherms of HPLC eluents are discussed. Finally, literature methods for obtaining absolute adsorption data from excess quantities are reviewed and evaluated.
Emotion Regulation Difficulties, Low Social Support, and Interpersonal Violence Mediate the Link Between Childhood Abuse and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

We examined how difficulties with emotion regulation, social support, and interpersonal violence in adult relationships mediated the relationship between childhood abuse and post traumatic symptoms (PTS) in adults. We fit a multiple mediation model to data from 139 socio-economically disadvantaged women (85% African American) of whom 44% endorsed moderate to severe levels of childhood physical, sexual, or emotional abuse and 12% screened positive for probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The model accounted for 63% of the variance in adult PTS symptoms. Child abuse exerted a direct effect on PTS symptoms and indirect effects through difficulties with emotion regulation, lower social support, and greater exposure to adult interpersonal violence. Implications of findings for the treatment of individuals at high risk of having experienced childhood abuse and PTS are discussed.
A transition element for uniform strain hexahedral and tetrahedral finite elements

A transition element is presented for meshes containing uniform strain hexahedral and tetrahedral finite elements. It is shown that the volume of the standard uniform strain hexahedron is identical to that of a polyhedron with 14 vertices and 24 triangular faces. Based on this equivalence, a transition element is developed as a simple modification of the uniform strain hexahedron. The transition element makes use of a general method for hourglass control and satisfies first-order patch tests. Example problems in linear elasticity are included to demonstrate the application of the element. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This paper was produced under the auspices of the U.S. Government and it is therefore not subject to copyright in the U.S.
Long-Term Outcomes of a Telephone Intervention After an ICD

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term benefits of participating in a structured, 8-week educational telephone intervention delivered by expert cardiovascular nurses post-ICD. The intervention was aimed to (1) increase physical functioning, (2) increase psychological adjustment, (3) improve self-efficacy in managing the challenges of ICD recovery, and (4) lower levels of health care utilization over usual care in the first 12 months post-ICD. This article reports on the 6- and 12-month outcomes of the nursing intervention trial. Methods and Results: A two-group (N = 168) randomized control group design was used to evaluate intervention efficacy with persons receiving an ICD for the secondary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest. Measures were obtained at baseline, 6 and 12 months post hospitalization. Outcomes included (1) physical functioning (Patient Concerns Assessment [PCA], Short Form Health Survey [SF-12], ICD shocks), (2) psychological adjustment (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI], Centers for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression [CES-D], fear of dying), (3) self-efficacy (Sudden Cardiac Arrest–Self-Efficacy [SCA-SE], Sudden Cardiac Arrest–Behavior [SCA-B], Sudden Cardiac Arrest–Knowledge [SCA-K]), and (4) health care utilization (emergency room [ER] visits, outpatient visits, hospitalizations). Using repeated measures ANOVA, the 6- and 12-month benefits of the intervention over usual care were in reductions in physical concerns (P = 0.006), anxiety (P = 0.04), and fear of dying (P = 0.01), with enhanced self-confidence (P = 0.04) and knowledge (P = 0.001) to manage ICD recovery. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups on total outpatient visits, hospitalizations, or ER visits over 12 months. Conclusion: A structured 8-week post-hospital telephone nursing intervention after an ICD had sustained 12-month improvements on patient concerns, anxiety, fear of dying, self-efficacy, and knowledge. Results may not apply to individuals with congestive heart failure who receive an ICD for primary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest.
Photolytic Cleavage of Sulfonamide Bonds

It has been found that the sulfonamide bond is relatively susceptible to photolytic cleavage. The breakdown was effected either by irradiation with a source having a continuous emission above the wavelengths of 1800 angstroms or by another source emitting principally at 2537 angstroms. Less destruction of the amino acids was seen with the latter relative to the sulfonamide bond cleavage. The cleavage was not effected by irradiation at wavelengths greater than about 3000 angstroms. Side reactions were noted involving decarboxylation, demination, and destruction of certain susceptible amino acids such as tryptophan. In only one case was a product found that arose from cleavage of a carboxamide bond; glycyltyrosine gave glycine and tyrosine upon irradiation. A yield of 75 percent of the corresponding amino acid has been obtained by irradiation of tosylhistidine; yields of 75 to 100 percent have been obtained from sulfamic acid (NH(2)SO(3)H). A qualitative method for identifying sulfonylated amino acids is described.
Video viewing as an alternative to sedation for young subjects who have cardiac ultrasound examinations.

Sedation is often required for extended or quantitative echocardiographic examination of young patients. To test the hypothesis that patient viewing of entertaining videotapes during echocardiographic examinations would reduce the need for sedation and that Doppler pressure gradients so obtained would correspond satisfactorily with subsequent catheterization pressure gradients, 38 patients (age, 5 to 64 months; mean age, 18.6 months) with a variety of cardiac defects were studied. Because of excessive activity, resistance, fear, or crying, all of these patients would have normally been sedated. Instead, an age-appropriate videotape was used for patient viewing. In 35 of 38 patients, complete examinations were obtained with video viewing with no sedation. Twelve study patients later underwent catheterization while receiving sedation. The Doppler pressure gradients obtained while patients were viewing videotapes corresponded well with catheterization ( r = 0.94). However, those pressure gradients were higher than those obtained with catheterization (mean, 8.3 mm Hg), but there was only one significant discrepancy of 22 mm Hg. In this series, complete examinations were obtained without sedation in 92% of subjects who would have normally required sedation ( p
Mars: Mariner 9 Spectroscopic Evidence for H2O Ice Clouds.

Spectral features observed with the Mariner 9 interferometer spectrometer are identified as those of H2O ice. The measured spectra are compared with theoretical calculations for the transfer of radiation through clouds of ice particles with variations in size distribution and integrated cloud mass. Comparisons with an observed spectrum from the Tharsis Ridge region indicate H2O ice clouds composed of particles with a mean radius of 2.0 microns and an integrated cloud mass of .00005 g/sq cm.
A temporal context repetition effect in rats during a novel object recognition memory task

Recent research in humans has used formal models of temporal context, broadly defined as a lingering representation of recent experience, to explain a wide array of recall and recognition memory phenomena. One difficulty in extending this work to studies of experimental animals has been the challenge of developing a task to test temporal context effects on performance in rodents. The current study presents results from a novel object recognition memory paradigm that was adapted from a task used in humans and demonstrates a temporal context repetition effect in rats. Specifically, the findings indicate that repeating the first two objects from a once-encountered sequence of three objects incidentally cues memory for the third object, even in its absence. These results reveal that temporal context influences item memory in rats similar to the manner in which it influences memory in humans and also highlight a new task for future studies of temporal context in experimental animals.
Comparing registration methods for mapping brain change using tensor-based morphometry

Abstract Measures of brain changes can be computed from sequential MRI scans, providing valuable information on disease progression for neuroscientific studies and clinical trials. Tensor-based morphometry (TBM) creates maps of these brain changes, visualizing the 3D profile and rates of tissue growth or atrophy. In this paper, we examine the power of different nonrigid registration models to detect changes in TBM, and their stability when no real changes are present. Specifically, we investigate an asymmetric version of a recently proposed Unbiased registration method, using mutual information as the matching criterion. We compare matching functionals (sum of squared differences and mutual information), as well as large-deformation registration schemes (viscous fluid and inverse-consistent linear elastic registration methods versus Symmetric and Asymmetric Unbiased registration) for detecting changes in serial MRI scans of 10 elderly normal subjects and 10 patients with Alzheimer’s Disease scanned at 2-week and 1-year intervals. We also analyzed registration results when matching images corrupted with artificial noise. We demonstrated that the unbiased methods, both symmetric and asymmetric, have higher reproducibility. The unbiased methods were also less likely to detect changes in the absence of any real physiological change. Moreover, they measured biological deformations more accurately by penalizing bias in the corresponding statistical maps.
Ultra low cross talk in crossed strip waveguides with the assistance of a photonic crystal cavity

ABSTRACT In this paper, ultra low cross talk is achieved by using a re sonant cavity at the intersection between two strip waveguides formed in a square lattice photonic crysta l structure (PhC). Two PhC structures ar e studied: one consists of cylindrical rods and another consists of cubic rods. The Q-Factor of the cavity is changed by increasing the number of rods that form the cavity and by decreasing the spacing between the waveguide and the cavity. Our two dimensional simulation results show that the latter method resulted in cross talk reduction of more than 21 dB for both structures. The overall cross talk was -90.50 dB for the cylindrical rods stru cture and -105.0 dB for the cubic rods structure. The optimi zed PhC structures were fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator platform. The rods were buried in silicon oxide in order to maximize the photonic band gap and provide index guiding in the vertical direction. Keywords: Integrated optics devices, waveguides, photonic integrated circuits.
Determining individual stresses thermoelastically

Thermoelastic stress analysis (TSA, thermoelasticity) uses an infrared radiometer to measure local temperature fluctuations and relates these changes to variations in the stresses or strains in a material by thermodynamic principles. The recorded TSA signal is associated with a combination of the individual stress components. However, engineering analyses typically necessitate knowing the values of the individual stress components, and so it is necessary to ‘separate the stresses’. The various approaches that have been used to evaluate the individual components of stress from the TSA-measured information are reviewed and compared, and some areas potentially worthy of further research are indicated.
Modeling the effects of impurities on microstructure formation in nanocrystalline nickel thin films

The Atomic Kinetic Lattice Monte Carlo method was used to model the effects of a clustering impurity species on the deposition of nanocrystalline nickel films onto (001) copper. The deposition model was partly parameterized by physical inputs from atomistic calculations of copper-nickel alloys. The grain size and shape is shown to depend on the concentration of impurities in the deposited film. Low concentrations yield elongated columnar grains, while higher concentrations produce much smaller and more equiaxed grains.
When bubbles burst

Chutzpah used to be defined as audacity so shameless that the usual example was someone who murdered his parents and then asked for mercy because he was an orphan. These days, an even better example would be that of the chief executives of financial firms, a group of - typically, but not always - conservative Republicans who, having spent much of the past decade railing about the evils of big government and trumpeting the virtues of the free market, are now traipsing in droves to Washington, whining to that same big government to save them from - you guessed it - the free market. If you or I were to do the same when we lost money at the racetrack, Washington would have a good laugh at our expense. So these captains of industry got the same response to their naked hypocrisy, right?
My friend and colleague, richard schelp

Richard Schelp completed his PhD in lattice theory in 1970 at Kansas State University. However, he did not take a traditional route to a PhD in mathematics and an outstanding career as a professor and a mathematical researcher. He grew up in rural northeast Missouri. He received his BS in mathematics and physics from the University of Central Missouri. After the completion of his master's degree in mathematics from Kansas State University, he assumed a position as an associate mathematician in the Applied Science Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University for five years. To start his PhD programme at Kansas State University, he had to quit a well-paying position. Also, he was already married to his wife Billie (Swopes) Schelp and he had a family-a daughter Lisa and a son Rick. This was a courageous step to take, but it says something about who Dick Schelp was.
Performance assessment of femoral knee components made from cobalt-chromium alloy and oxidized zirconium

Abstract Background The surface characteristics of the femoral component affect polyethylene wear in modular total knee replacements. In the present retrieval study, the surface characteristics of cobalt–chromium (CoCr) alloy and oxidized zirconium (OxZr) femoral components were assessed and compared. Methods Twenty-six retrieved CoCr alloy femoral components were matched with twenty-six retrieved OxZr femoral components for implantation period, body-mass index, patient gender, implant type, and polyethylene insert thickness. The surface damage on the retrieved femoral components was evaluated using a semi-quantitative assessment method, scanning electron microscopy, and contact profilometry. Results The retrieved CoCr alloy femoral components showed less posterior surface gouging than OxZr femoral components; however, at a higher magnification, the grooving damage features on the retrieved CoCr alloy femoral components confirmed an abrasive wear mechanism. The surface roughness values Rp, Rpm, and Rpk for the retrieved CoCr alloy femoral components were found to be significantly higher than those of the retrieved OxZr femoral components (p ≤ 0.031). The surface roughness values were higher on the medial condyles than on the lateral condyles of the retrieved CoCr alloy femoral components; such a difference was not observed on the retrieved OxZr femoral components. Conclusions The surface roughness of CoCr alloy femoral components increased while the surface roughness of the OxZr femoral components remained unchanged after in vivo service. Therefore, the OxZr femoral components' resistance to abrasive wear may enable lower polyethylene wear and ensure long-term durability in vivo. Level of Evidence Level IV
Simulation of beams or plasmas crossing at relativistic velocity

This paper addresses the numerical issues related to the modeling of beams or plasmas crossing at relativistic velocity using the particle-in-cell method. Issues related to the use of the standard Boris particle pusher are identified and a novel pusher which circumvents them is proposed, whose effectiveness is demonstrated on single particle tests. A procedure for solving the fields is proposed, which retains electrostatic, magnetostatic, and inductive field effects in the direction of the mean velocity of the species, is fully explicit and simpler than the full Darwin approximation. Finally, results are given, from a calculation using the novel features, of an ultrarelativistic beam interacting with a background of electrons.
An MINLP Approach for Safe Process Plant Layout

The tragic accidents at Flixborough and Bhopal have led to the development of new legislation concerning the design and operation of chemical plants. In addition, the growing concern with safety and environmental issues places many new demands upon the designer. Process plant layout, as an important step in the design of chemical plants, is effected by these demands. This paper presents a new approach to process plant layout that integrates safety and economics. In this approach, the cost of a layout is a function of piping cost, land cost, financial risk, and protection devices cost. The financial risk term captures the risk of unsafe plants and can be expressed as the expected losses if major accidents happen (i.e., fires or explosions). The proposed approach is a mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problem (MINLP) that identifies attractive layouts by minimizing overall costs. This approach gives the coordinates of each unit, an estimate for the total piping length, the amount of land occupied, and th...
Low-density lipoprotein augments interleukin-1-induced vascular adhesion molecule expression in human endothelial cells

Abstract In this study, the effect of low density lipoproteins (LDL) on the ability of the vascular endothelium to respond to vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) activation by a cytokine was investigated. After a 4-day pre-exposure to 240 mg/dl of LDL, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were hyperresponsive to minute amounts of interleukin 1α (IL-1α) as demonstrated by an augmentation of VCAM-1 gene expression. Furthermore, in response to LDL exposure, endothelial recruitment of monocytes induced by minute amounts of IL-1α was increased. This enhancing effect was blocked by an anti-VCAM antibody. The increased response appears not to be due to changes in IL-1 binding affinity or induction of endogenous IL-1α. Transient transfection of HUVECs with a reporter driven by the VCAM promoter showed that LDL increased cellular response to IL-1α by 46%. LDL itself does not increase NF-κB binding in endothelial cells (ECs). However, after a 2-day LDL incubation, NF-κB binding could be induced by over 63% with a very low dose of IL-1α. IL-1α at this dose (which activates NF-κB, but not AP-1) also enhanced LDL-activated AP-1 binding. This cross-enhanced effect may be an important intracellular signaling mechanism for EC activation. The results from this study provide new clues to understanding the mechanisms governing combined risk factors for atherosclerosis.
Intensity factors for the I2 B↔X band system

Abstract Franck-Condon factors and R -centroids are presented for the I 2 B ↔ X visible band system. The tabulations include values relevant for both bound-bound and bound-free transitions in absorption from low v levels and in fluorescence from selected v' levels.
“Killing Two Birds with One Stone”: Alcohol Use Reduction Interventions with Potential Efficacy at Enhancing Self-control

We review interventions with empirical support for reducing alcohol use and enhancing self-control. Although any intervention that reduces drinking could improve self-control, we focus here on interventions with evidence of direct benefit for both indications. Although no intervention yet has strong evidence for dual efficacy, multiple interventions have strong evidence for one indication and solid or suggestive evidence for the other. Among pharmacotherapy, opioid antagonists currently have the best evidence of efficacy at reducing alcohol use and enhancing self-control. Nicotinic partial agonist varenicline also seems to be efficacious for alcohol use and self-control. Many psychosocial and behavioral interventions (e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, mindfulness training) may have efficacy for both indications, on the basis of purported mechanisms of action and empirical evidence. Cognitive bias modification and neurophysiological interventions have promise for alcohol use and self-control, and warrant further research. We offer several other suggestions for future research.
Thick turbidite successions from supply-dominated shelves during sea-level highstand

Emphasis on the association between relative sea-level lowstand and the formation of sandy deep-water fans has tended to downplay the significance of high sediment supply and its potential to create deep-water fans, even during sea-level highstands. The Lance– Fox Hills–Lewis shelf margin in southern Wyoming suggests that high supply was critical in causing the accretion of this moderately wide Maastrichtian shelf margin, at a minimum rate of 47.8 km/m.y., and the generation of large, sand-rich fans during every shoreline regression across the shelf. It is surprising that fans developed from shelf-margin clinoforms that show systematically rising shelf-edge trajectories (proxy for rising relative sea level) as well as from those that show flat trajectories (stable to falling relative sea level). However, the latter, producing more sediment bypass, resulted in bigger and thicker fans, whereas the former produced somewhat smaller and thinner fans. We term the former highstand fans and suggest caution in using the lowstand model for high-supply systems.
The Paclitaxel acute pain syndrome: sensitization of nociceptors as the putative mechanism.

Purpose Paclitaxel therapy often result in a unique subacute pain syndrome, commonly termed "myalgia" or "arthralgia." The pathophysiology of this syndrome is unknown and has not been demonstrated to be associated with any structural alteration of muscles or joints. We hypothesized that this syndrome was caused by a neuropathic nerve injury from paclitaxel. Herein, we characterize the clinical characteristics of this syndrome using detailed patient interviews and consider the putative mechanism(s) for these symptoms. Methods Oncology patients who were treated with paclitaxel and developed a subacute pain syndrome were questioned using a detailed structured interview. Data were tabulated descriptively. Results Eighteen patients were interviewed. The symptoms (ie, pain) typically began 1-2 days after the infusion and lasted for a median of 4-5 days. Pain was most commonly located in the back, hips, shoulders, thighs, legs, and feet, with the most common descriptors used being "aching" or "deep pain." Commonly used adjectives to describe the pain were radiating, shooting, aching, stabbing, and pulsating. Some patients described increased pain with weight bearing, walking, or tactile contact. When asked directly whether the pains appeared to be specifically localized to either joints or muscles, 15 of 18 patients denied localization. Discussion Based on the nature and temporal occurrence of the paclitaxel acute pain syndrome symptoms, we infer that the paclitaxel acute pain syndrome occurs as a result of sensitization of nociceptors, their fibers, or the spinothalamic system. This proposed neurologic etiology of this pain may also explain the subsequent development in some patients of a symmetric length-dependent sensorimotor polyneuropathy. The mechanism of this syndrome needs further study.
Genetics of Electroencephalography During Wakefulness and Sleep

In 1929, Hans Berger, at the University of Jena in Germany, performed the first recording of electrical activity of the brain and coined the term elektenkephalogram. Through the years, understanding of the electroencephalogram (EEG) has expanded, including characterization of typical frequencies, elucidation of sleep and sleep stages, and appreciation for interictal and ictal phenomena. Today the EEG plays a central role in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and characterization of sleep and sleep disorders. As an endophenotype of brain activity, the EEG has drawn a substantial amount of interest from researchers attempting to gain a deeper understanding of brain function. Researchers have endeavored to understand the genetic basis of the EEG, in hopes of better conceptualizing the neurophysiologic basis of brain activity. This work originally involved heritability studies in twins, but, with the recent growth in genetic research technologies, it now enters the realm of genomic evaluation. This article summarizes the current state of the genetic aspects of the EEG. Although evoked potentials involve similar neurophysiology as EEG, including these data was beyond the scope of this article.
Characterization of the electro-mechanical behavior of zirconia-rich PZT ceramics

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics near the morphotropic phase boundary have been the backbone materials for piezoelectric applications for more than 50 years. The electro-mechanical responses for these materials have been well studied. In this study, we investigated the electro-mechanical behavior of two zirconia-rich PZT compositions, with and without tin (Sn) modification. These materials, close to the antiferroelectric phase region, have been used for power supply and actuator applications due to their unique ferroelectric(FE)-antiferroelectric(AFE) phase transformation behavior. However, limited information is available characterizing their electromechanical responses, especially outside of room temperature. In this work, we present the electromechanical properties of these compositions as a function of temperature. Special attention has been placed on the electromechanical responses near the FE-FE phase transformation.