cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of CsI photocathodes at grazing incidence for use in a unit quantum efficiency x-ray streak camera

The performance of CsI photocathodes has been characterized for use with grazing incidence soft x rays. The total electron yield and pulsed quantum efficiency of a CsI photocathode has been measured in a reflection geometry as a function of photon energy (100 eV to 1 keV), angle of incidence, and the electric field between the anode and photocathode. The total electron yield and pulsed quantum efficiency increase as the x-ray penetration depth approaches the secondary electron escape depth. Unit quantum efficiency in a grazing incidence geometry is demonstrated. A weak electric-field dependence is observed for the total yield measurements; while no significant dependence is found for the pulsed quantum efficiency. The effect of the pulse height distribution on the detective quantum efficiency is discussed. Theoretical predictions agree accurately with experiment.
A three-dimensional solution for simply supported thick rectangular plates

Abstract A solution is obtained for simply supported rectangular plates based on a three-dimensional thick plate theory developed earlier by Donnell and the author. Sinusoidal and uniform loads are studied, and in the latter case a Levy type solution is reached. Four boundary conditions are satisfied at each edge. Numerical results for a square plate are compared to those from Reissner and classical plate theories.
Domestic crude oil resource appraisal

Abstract This paper endeavours to estimate the cummulative level of discovery and production of crude oil in the United States where the importance of price and technological change is considered. Two separate functional specifications for the cumulative level are hypothesized and estimated. The results suggest that between 170 and 180 billion barrels will be ultimately recoverable of which 117 billion barrels have been produced through the end of 1989.
Ultrastructure of renal collecting tubules following ingestion of a bipyridinium herbicide (Morfamquat)

Ratten, denen eine Diat mit niedrigem Gehalt von Morfamquat gefuttert wurde, zeigten nach 6–24 Wochen eine erhohte Anzahl von Lysosomen in den Epithelzellen der Nierensammelrohren. Im Lumen waren Zelltrummer zu sehen, die auf eine Zellnekrose im proximalen Nephron schliessen liessen. Die Mitochondrien wiesen weder quantitative noch qualitative Veranderungen auf.
The deduction of friction-induced temperatures from thermal strain measurements in the dry sliding of metallic pairs

Abstract This paper proposes a procedure for utilising thermal strains as a thermometric means to recover the temperature distribution in tribo-specimens. The procedure is demonstrated in relation to strain data obtained by the analysis of the so-called Double Exposure Speckle Grams . Total strain components, are resolved into three elements: elastic, plastic, and thermal. These in turn are used to construct a system of difference equations, the solution of which yields a complete characterisation of the strain fields. Thermal strains are subsequently fed into a look-up table containing the coefficient of thermal expansion for the test material at different temperatures to yield the temperature distribution. The results are validated by comparison with an analytical model and relevant experimental data.
A language-only course in LISP with PC scheme

This paper describes a course in LISP that introduces students to conventional software engineering techniques, contemporary programming paradigms, and an artificial intelligence application.
Assessment of Quality of Care in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

With the advent of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, assessment of data and its relationship to quality of care became important. The Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center conducted a prospective survey in conjunction with the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) National Survey. In this survey, only two surgeons operated as surgeon and co-surgeon with an extremely small rate of complication. A national survey of chairpersons in surgery was designed at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital, and 4300 chairpersons were mailed questionnaires to record complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. There were 36,232 patients and 3111 surgeons in the survey. The Southern Surgeons Club experience, as reported in New England Journal of Medicine, was reviewed. Because of the complexity of understanding the implications of the survey results, the authors have arrived at a simplified system of evaluating quality of care in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In this system only three considerations are taken into account: (a) elective conversions to standard operation, (b) forced conversions (due to iatrogenic injuries), and (c) reoperation rate (delayed complication). It is hoped that data collection will be simplified and more meaningful.
CSR Longevity: Evidence from Long-Term Practices in Large Corporations

Multiple pressures are today propelling the private sector towards greater incorporation of sustainability in firms’ business models and strategies: actions and innovations that demonstrate committed corporate social responsibility (CSR). Achieving success with CSR is often a long-term process, taking years to fully develop, institute and pay off financially. Yet most current research is based on a short time horizon and shows mixed results in linking CSR to profitability and aspects of good governance. In this paper we introduce the concept of CSR longevity, meaning consistent engagement with CSR over an extended timeframe. We examine previously unexplored linkages between CSR longevity and the internal governance factors of executive compensation and taxes paid. Our findings demonstrate a considerable amount of support for the notion that firms committed to socially responsible behavior for an extended period also seem to restrain executive compensation and increase tax contributions, while also exhibiting better financial performance. Implications for research and practice, along with limitations of our study, are discussed.
CNTF promotes the survival and differentiation of adult spinal cord-derived oligodendrocyte precursor cells in vitro but fails to promote remyelination in vivo

Delivery of factors capable of promoting oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) survival and differentiation in vivo is an important therapeutic strategy for a variety of pathologies in which demyelination is a component, including multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury. Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a neuropoietic cytokine that promotes both survival and maturation of a variety of neuronal and glial cell populations, including oligodendrocytes. Present results suggest that, although CNTF has a potent survival and differentiation promoting effect in vitro on OPCs isolated from the adult spinal cord, CNTF administration in vivo is not sufficient to promote oligodendrocyte remyelination in the glial-depleted environment of unilateral ethidium bromide (EB) lesions.
mCPP-induced hypophagia in rats is unaffected by the profile of dietary unsaturated fatty acids.

The n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been shown to modify central serotonergic parameters relevant to ingestive behavior. Evidence suggests an association between the 5-HT2C receptor and fat intake. The present research sought to examine the role of the 5-HT2C receptor subtype on food intake when diets with different fatty acid compositions are consumed. The effects of 1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine (mCPP) on consumption of both low-fat (Experiment 1) and high-fat diets (Experiment 2) differing in their predominant PUFA profiles were compared in rats. Regardless of the PUFA profile, mCPP induced hypophagia within each experiment. Although the present results lend further support to a large body of evidence demonstrating the ability of mCPP to reduce food intake, they do not support the idea that the essential fatty acid composition of the diet can differentially modulate mCPP-induced hypophagia.
Effective rank for multivariate calibration methods

In order to determine the proper multivariate calibration model, it is necessary to select the number of respective basis vectors (latent vectors, factors, etc.) when using principal component regression (PCR) or partial least squares (PLS). These values are commonly referred to as the prediction rank of the model. Comparisons between PCR and PLS models for a given data set are often made with the prediction rank to determine the more parsimonious model, ignoring the fact that the values have been obtained using different basis sets. Additionally, it is not possible to use this approach for determining the prediction rank of models generated by other modeling methods such as ridge regression (RR). This paper presents measures of effective rank for a given model that can be applied to all modeling methods, thereby providing inter-model comparisons. A definition based on the regression vector norm and is compared with two alternative forms from the literature. With a proper definition of effective rank, a better assessment of degrees of freedom for statistical computations is possible. Additionally, the true nature of variable selection for improved parsimony can be properly assessed. Spectroscopic data sets are used as examples with PCR, PLS and RR. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Examples of the relationship between the shell model and the Bohr collective hamiltonian: The multilevel extension of the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model

Abstract The multilevel extension of the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model, a polynomial in the generators of the Lie algebra SU(n), is mapped onto a boson space with n − 1 bosons (generalized Holstein-Primakoff transformation). By expansion in powers of N−1, where N, the total number of fermions, completely characterizes the transformation, one generates the associated collective hamiltonian. Previous studies of the potential energy surface and of the semi-classical limit are regained as special cases.
Hydrogen bonding in steroidogenesis: Studies on new heterocyclic analogs of estrone that inhibit human estradiol 17β-dehydrogenase

New heterocyclic analogs of estrone are reported that inhibit estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase (E2-17 beta DH) from human placenta. The inhibitors are efficiently synthesized in two steps from estrone (or its 3-O-methyl ether), giving fully characterized analogs with pyrazole or isoxazole fused to the 16,17-position on the D ring. Dixon plots of enzyme kinetic data show the heterocyclic steroids are competitive inhibitors of E2-17 beta DH. Correlating molecular structures of the inhibitors with their Ki-values yields a pattern suggesting intermolecular hydrogen bonding stabilizes the [(pyrazole)inhibitor-E2-17 beta DH] complexes. A free energy difference of 2.74 Kcal/mol calculated from Ki-value differences between hydrogen bonded (4.08 microM) and non-bonded (425 microM) [inhibitor-E2-17 beta DH] complexes is in the range for intermolecular hydrogen bonding. We conclude that specific intermolecular hydrogen bonds stabilize [hydroxysteroid-enzyme] complexes, thereby making important contributions to the affinity between hydroxysteroids and steroid-specific enzymes of steroidogenesis.
Efficacy of platelet transfusions in immune thrombocytopenia

Records of 11 patients with immune thrombocytopenia (idiopathic and quinidine-induced) were evaluated retrospectively for response to platelet transfusion. Good post-transfusion platelet count increments occurred on one or more occasions in seven of the 11 patients, with 13 of 31 platelet transfusions (42 percent) resulting in immediate post-transfusion increments of 20,000/mm3 or more. Next-day platelet counts remained elevated in association with five of these 13 transfusions. This study demonstrates that, contrary to common opinion, platelet transfusions can raise the platelet count in many patients with immune thrombocytopenia, and therefore may be beneficial in actively bleeding or high-risk patients with this disorder.
Far-infrared optoacoustic material probing and imaging.

We report experiments in the far infrared on the use of the optoacoustic effect to probe solid materials. The results demonstrate the feasibility of optoacoustic imaging with 84.7-cm−1 (118-μm) radiation.
The island wind’buoyancy connection

A variety of recent studies have suggested that the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) is at least partially controlled by the Southern Ocean (SO) winds. The paradoxical implication is that a link exists between the global surface buoyancy flux to the ocean (which is needed for the density transformation between surface and deep water) and the SO winds. Although the dependency of buoyancy forcing on local wind is obvious, the global forcings are usually viewed independently with regard to their role as drivers of the global ocean circulation. The present idealized study is focused on understanding this wind–buoyancy connection. In order to isolate and investigate the effect of SO winds on the overturning we have neglected other important key processes such as SO eddies. We present the wind–buoyancy connection in the framework of a single gigantic island that lies between latitude bands free of continents (such as the land mass of the Americas). The unique geometry of a gigantic island on a sphere allows for a clear and insightful examination of the wind–buoyancy connection. This is because it enables us to obtain analytical solutions and it circumvents the need to calculate the torque exerted on zonal sills adjacent to the island tips (e.g. the Bering Strait). The torque calculation is notoriously difficult and is avoided here by the clockwise integration, which goes twice through the western boundary of the island (in opposite directions) eliminating any unknown pressure torques. The link between SO winds and global buoyancy forcing is explored qualitatively, using salinity and temperature mixed dynamical-box models and a temperature slab model, and semiquantitatively, employing a reduced gravity model which includes parametrized thermodynamics. Our main finding is that, in all of these cases the island geometry implies that the stratification (and, hence, the air–sea heat flux) can always adjust itself to allow the overturning forced by the wind.We find that, in the mixed dynamical-box models, the salinity and temperature differences between the boxes are inversely proportional to the MOC. In spite of the resulting smaller north–south temperature difference, the meridional heat transport is enhanced.
Differences in alcohol brand consumption among underage youth by age, gender, and race/ethnicity – United States, 2012

AbstractAim: No previous national study has reported the prevalence of alcohol brand consumption among underage youth by demographic characteristics. The aim of this study was to determine the alcohol brand preferences among underage drinkers in different demographic categories.Methods: We administered an online survey to a national sample of 1031 underage youth, aged 13–20, who had consumed at least one drink of alcohol in the past 30 d. The sample was recruited from a previously established internet survey panel. The main outcome measure was the estimated 30-d consumption prevalence for each of 898 brands by age, gender, and race/ethnicity.Results: Two beer brands – Bud Light and Budweiser – are uniformly popular among underage drinkers, regardless of age, gender, or race/ethnicity. There are several hard liquor brands whose use increases markedly with age. Two flavored alcoholic beverages sharing the names of hard liquor brands – Smirnoff and Bacardi – are more popular with older youth. Some flavored a...
Thermal inactivation D- and Z-values of Salmonella and Listeria innocua in fully cooked and vacuum packaged chicken breast meat during postcook heat treatment

Abstract Studies were conducted to determine thermal inactivation D- and z-values of Salmonella and Listeria innocua in fully cooked and vacuum-packaged chicken breast meat. Fully cooked chicken breast meat products that were obtained from three different sources with differing formulations were uniformly inoculated with a cocktail of Salmonella (including Senftenberg, Typhimurium, Heidelberg, Mission, Montevideo, and California) or L. innocua at approximately 10(7) cfu/g. The inoculated meat samples were vacuum-packaged and then heat-treated at a temperature of 55 to 70 C for 5 to 90 min. After heat treatment, the samples were immediately cooled in an ice-water bath. Survivors of Salmonella and L. innocua were enumerated for each sample. D- and z-values of Salmonella and L. innocua were determined for each product and compared among the products. Source and formulation did not cause significant differences in the D- and z-values of Salmonella or L. innocua among the three fully cooked and vacuum-packaged chicken breast meat products.
Management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: A decision analysis.

Decision analysis was carried out to gain insight into the optimal management of patients aged 20–80 years with unruptured intracranial aneurysms between 10 and 25 mm in diameter. Baseline probabilities for outcomes resulting from either elective repair of the aneurysm or nonintervention were obtained from studies of patients with intracranial aneurysms seen at the Mayo Clinic. The utility of each outcome was based on the mean life expectancy for otherwise normal people of the same age and sex, with an adjustment made for quality of life. If these baseline probabilities and utilities are used in the calculations, elective surgical repair of unruptured aneurysms of this size is preferable to nonintervention in men under age 69 and in women under age 75 if they are otherwise in good health.
Integrated simulation application design for short-term production scheduling

This paper focuses on the development of an integrated short-term production scheduling simulation model for a complex manufacturing operation. The decision making tool has a front-end user data interface built with Microsoft Access and Visual Basic for Applications software. The model assists production planners to make informed decisions on how best to schedule simultaneously two lanes of daily or weekly production on a unique plastic parts manufacturing line. The advantages and disadvantages (model weaknesses) of using the simulation model, especially as a scheduling tool, are discussed. In this particular application, we find that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.
Upper bounds for finite additive 2-bases

For a positive integer N , a set A ⊂ [0, N ]∩Z is called a 2-basis for N if every integer n ∈ [0, N ] can be represented as n = a+ b, where a, b ∈ A. In this paper, we give a lower bound estimate for the cardinality of an additive 2-basis for N , as N → ∞, which improves the existing results on this topic.
To Practice What We Preach: The Use of Hypocrisy and Cognitive Dissonance to Motivate Behavior Change

When people fail to practice what they preach, their act of hypocrisy can induce cognitive dissonance and the motivation to change their behavior. The current paper examines the evidence for this assumption by reviewing and analyzing the research that has used the hypocrisy procedure to influence the performance of pro-social behaviors related to health, the environment, and interpersonal relations. The first section looks at the evidence for the claim that hypocrisy motivates behavior change as opposed to other forms of dissonance reduction such as attitude change. We then review studies that suggest that the induction of hypocrisy exerts its greatest effect on behavior change when people publicly advocate the importance of the target course of action and are then privately reminded of their own recent personal failures to perform the target behavior. A third section discusses the limitations to the current body of work and important directions for future research. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of how the hypocrisy procedure relates to other contemporary models of behavior change.
Inducible Proteins in Citrus Rootstocks with Different Tolerance Towards the Root Rot Pathogen Phytophthora palmivora

Activities of defence-related proteins (β-1,3-glucanases, chitinases and peroxidases) and concentrations of total soluble phenolics were measured in roots and leaves of non-infected and infected plants to investigate the response of different citrus rootstock genotypes to the root rot pathogen Phytophthora palmivora Butler. Infection with the pathogen increased concentrations of total proteins, total phenolics and β-1,3-glucanase activity in roots of all genotypes, and increases were associated with the extent of root mass reductions and thus susceptibility of the plants. Root chitinase and root peroxidase levels were slightly reduced or unaltered upon infection. β-1,3-Glucanase activity was also elevated in leaves of infected plants, but increases did not differ between tolerant and susceptible rootstocks. Effects of root infection on leaves were typically the reverse of effects on roots for chitinase- and peroxidase levels and more pronounced in susceptible rootstock genotypes. Although differences in enzyme expression were observed between susceptible and tolerant citrus seedlings, effects were usually associated with disease progression, and not with resistance to P. palmivora. It is suggested that increased activities of the proteins and soluble phenolics studied are not implicated in the primary defence to Phytophthora root diseases, but may contribute to the inhibition of the pathogen during infection in tolerant citrus.
The genetics of olfaction

Our understanding of olfaction has progressed rapidly in recent years as a result of the molecular genetic approaches being used to study this sensory system in a variety of model organisms. Considerable success has been achieved in identifying proteins of the mammalian signaling system that are analogous to those present in other sensory systems. More recently, genetic selection of mutations that cause defects in olfactory function in Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans has led to the identification of additional proteins that play a role in the detection of odorants. The application of genetic, electrophysiological, and molecular analyses to olfactory function in mammals is also shedding light on the mechanisms that account for sensitivity and specificity in this system.
The effect of metformin treatment to ovarian response in cases with PCOS

To examine the effect of metformin therapy on ovarian response in clomiphene-resistant PCOS patients. Randomized prospective study. Zeynep Kamil Hospital IVF Center. Thirty-two female PCOS patients with clomiphene citrate resistance. Test group A received 2×850 mg/day metformin therapy for 8 weeks, followed by gonadotropin induction. Only gonadotropin induction was applied to Control group B. Total gonadotropin dosage, duration of gonadotropin therapy, estradiol level on HCG-day, number of follicles with ≥16 mm diameter, number of cases with hyperstimulation development, number of cancelled cycles, endometrial thickness on HCG-day, pregnancy outcome, multiple pregnancy rate. The total gonadotropin doses given to metformin-study group was significantly lower than the control group. In addition, duration of therapy, HCG level, plasma estradiol level on HCG-day in the study group was significantly lower than in the control group. Metformin therapy has led to a higher pregnancy outcome, as well as to a decrease in hyperstimulation risk, cycle cancellations, and multiple pregnancy rates with a lower gonadotropin dosage.
Dysregulated brain development in adult men with schizophrenia: a magnetic resonance imaging study.

Abstract Background Recent imaging evidence suggests that normal brain development/maturation of the frontal lobes and association areas is a well-regulated process consisting of continued myelination and expansion of white matter volumes into the late 40s accompanied by complementary reductions in gray matter volumes. The possibility that a dysregulation of this process may contribute to the syndrome of schizophrenia was investigated using magnetic resonance imaging. Methods Fifty-two normal adult males and 35 males with schizophrenia underwent magnetic resonance imaging. Coronal images were acquired using pulse sequences that maximized myelin signal. The age-related change in the gray to white matter ratio was used as a measure of developmental dysregulation in the schizophrenic subjects and contrasted to the age-related changes of the normal control group. Results Regression analyses on frontal and temporal gray to white matter ratio yielded highly significant interactions of diagnosis and age for both regions ( p = .0003 and p = .01, respectively). In the normal group, both frontal and temporal gray to white matter ratios decreased significantly and linearly across the age range. In contrast, neither ratio showed meaningful age-related change in the schizophrenia group. Thus, differences in gray to white matter ratio between the groups increased markedly with age, driven primarily by the absence of a white matter volume expansion in the patient group. Conclusions The absence of the normal complementary volume changes in the gray and white matter with age in the schizophrenic sample suggests that this dynamic developmental process is dysregulated in adult schizophrenic subjects. The importance of myelination to the continued maturation and normal functioning of the brain has implications for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of schizophrenia.
Mechanism of the enzyme-catalyzed bioluminescent oxidation of coelenterate-type luciferin.

The use of a fully active, synthetic analogue of coelenterate-type luciferin labeled in the carbonyl position with 14C and 18O was used to probe the mechanism of the Renilla luciferase catalyzed oxidative decarboxylation of this compound. In the presence of 17O2, the CO2 produced in this oxidation can be shown to contain approximately one 17O atom per CO2 molecule. This result is consistent with a cyclic peroxide or dioxetanone-type mechanism. In the presence of luciferase, the oxygen in the luciferin carbonyl group is rapidly exchanged with solvent water prior to the production of CO2. Thus, the reaction CO2 contains considerable oxygen derived from water, via exchange with the carbonyl group, and about one oxygen from O2 via a cyclic peroxide.
A multiscale method for subsurface inverse modeling: Single-phase transient flow

High-resolution geologic models that incorporate observed state data are expected to effectively enhance the reliability of reservoir performance prediction. One of the major challenges faced is how to solve the large-scale inverse modeling problem, i.e., to infer high-resolution models from the given observations of state variables that are related to the model parameters according to some known physical rules, e.g., the flow and transport partial differential equations. There are typically two difficulties, one is the high-dimensional problem and the other is the inverse problem. A multiscale inverse method is presented in this work to attack these problems with the aid of a gradient-based optimization algorithm. In this method, the model responses (i.e., the simulated state data) can be efficiently computed from the high-resolution model using the multiscale finite-volume method. The mismatch between the observations and the multiscale solutions is then used to define a proper objective function, and the fine-scale sensitivity coefficients (i.e., the derivatives of the objective function with respect to each node’s attribute) are computed by a multiscale adjoint method for subsequent optimization. The difficult high-dimensional optimization problem is reduced to a one-dimensional one using the gradient-based gradual deformation method. A synthetic single-phase transient flow example problem is employed to illustrate the proposed method. Results demonstrate that the multiscale framework presented is not only computationally efficient but also can generate geologically consistent models. By preserving spatial structure for inverse modeling, the method presented overcomes the artifacts introduced by the multiscale simulation and may enhance the prediction ability of the inverse-conditional realizations generated.
In-Flight Evaluation of Control System Pure Time Delays

An in-flight investigation of the effect of pure time delays on low LID space-shuttle-type landing tasks was undertaken. The results indicate that the sensitivity of the pilot ratings to changes in pure time delay in pitch is strongly affected by the task and only slightly affected by changes in control system augmentation mode. Low LID spot landings from a lateral offset were twice as sensitive to pure time delay as normal low LID landings. For comparison purposes, formation flying was also investigated and was found to be less sensitive to time delay than the landing tasks.
Oligomerization of trimethylsilyl acetylene to form large molecules on reduced surfaces of TiO2(0 0 1)

Abstract The catalytic cyclotrimerization of alkynes on reduced TiO 2 (0 0 1) surfaces has been explored to probe the active sites for carboncarbon bond formation. The influence of surface–adsorbate interactions on the reaction mechanism was further probed by studies designed to characterize the steric effects of differently functionalized alkynes. The chemistry of trimethylsilyl acetylene on surfaces containing Ti 2+ sites clearly demonstrates that cyclotrimerization of heteroatom-containing alkynes is feasible. Trimethylsilyl acetylene can be cyclized to form tris-(trimethylsilyl)-benzene on the reduced titania surface. However, the principal product on both reduced and stoichiometric surfaces of TiO 2 (0 0 1) is the hydrogenation product, trimethylvinylsilane (TMVS). The low yield of oligomeric products is attributed to the steric effect of the bulky trimethylsilyl group.
“Pop Quizzes” on the Campaign Trail Journalists, Candidates, and the Limits of Questioning

What are the “parameters of the permissible” when journalists interview political candidates? This article examines one form of hostile questioning that journalists use during election campaigns to...
Kinetic gelation predictions of species aggregation in tetrafunctional monomer polymerizations

During the polymerization of tetrafunctional monomers, a heterogeneous distribution of species exists throughout the reaction mixture and dramatically complicates the network structural evolution. This work attempts to quantify this heterogeneity using kinetic gelation simulation predictions of a defining parameter called the heterogeneity index. The heterogeneity index directly measures how heterogeneous the polymerization is with respect to interactions of like species or pairs of species. Examples of the species are polymer segments, monomeric double bonds, pendant double bonds, initiator molecules, radicals, and free volume. By implementing this index, it is clear that the heterogeneity in the polymer network dramatically changes as a function of conversion and polymerization conditions. In particular, microgel formation and monomer pooling were characterized and quantified with the heterogeneity index. In addition to characterizing the structural heterogeneity, the influence of the heterogeneity on the initiator efficiency and trapping of free radicals was also studied and qualitatively compared to experimentally observed behavior. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Pancreatic Neoplasm in 2011: An Update

Pancreatic cancer still is a significant, unresolved therapeutic challenge with nearly similar incidence and mortality rates. It is the most lethal type of digestive cancer with a 5-year survival rate of 5%. Adjuvant chemotherapy remains to be gemcitabine alone or combined with infusional 5-fluorouracil with radiation therapy. Nevertheless, only a few patients survive for at least 5 years after R0 resection and adjuvant therapy. Most patients need palliative treatment. Once pancreatic cancer becomes metastatic, it is uniformly fatal with an overall survival of typically 6 months from diagnosis. Chemotherapy is an important component of palliative care but must be administered as a part of a multidisciplinary approach, including palliation of pain, managing weight loss, and deterioration in functional status. Gemcitabine has been the standard in both locally advanced and metastatic disease. The addition of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib prolongs median survival for only 2 weeks. While gemcitabine-based regimens are currently accepted as the standard first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, there is no consensus regarding treatment in the second-line setting. It will not be untrue to say that there are no real medical breakthroughs with regards to improving the prognosis of pancreatic cancer as of 2011. On the other hand, we have made some progress in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. These patients have a 5-year survival that can range from 97% in benign insulinomas to as low as 30% in non-functional metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Treatment options may include surgery, transarterial chemoembolization of liver metastases, and cytotoxic therapy such as streptozotocin, 5-fluorouracil or doxorubicin. Somatostatin analogues, like octreotide, have been proven to prolong progression-free survival in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors of midgut origin. In 2011, two targeted agents, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib and mTOR inhibitor everolimus have been approved by FDA for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. With these approvals, U.S. physicians can now offer their patients with progressive pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Patients with any stage of pancreatic cancer should be considered candidates for clinical trials. Image: Mode of action of everolimus.
Multiscale Strategies for Solving Water Resources Management Problems with Genetic Algorithms

Genetic Algorithms (GAs) face major computational bottlenecks when numerical models are used for estimating the fitness of the objective function. Especially in large-scale water resources design problems, where the scale of the spatial grids is important in determining the numerical accuracy of the design, a tradeoff exists in the precision of the fitness function and the computational expenses endured. This paper discusses multiscale strategies that can be utilized for improving the performance of GAs when working with spatial grid dependant fitness functions. The strategy uses fine grid and coarse grid fitness functions strategically to maintain the accuracy and computational speed of the problem and drive the GA towards better and more accurate solutions faster. The algorithm's efficacy is tested using a groundwater remediation design case study.
Ion implantation in III–V compound semiconductors

Abstract Ion implantation doping of the III–V compounds GaAs, InP, AlGaAs, InAlAs, InGaAs, and InSb by shallow donors, shallow acceptors, transition metals, and light-ion species is reviewed. Our recent results on MeV energy implants are also presented along with the keV energy results.
Varieties of violent behavior

There is an implicit assumption of homogeneity across violent behaviors and offenders in the criminology literature. Arguing against this assumption, I draw on three distinct literatures [child abuse and neglect (CAN) and violence, violence and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and CAN and PTSD] to provide a rationale for an examination of varieties of violent behaviors. I use data from my prospective cohort design study of the long-term consequences of CAN to define three varieties of violent offenders using age of documented cases of CAN, onset of PTSD, and first violent arrest in a temporally correct manner [CAN → to violence, CAN → PTSD → violence (PTSD first), and CAN → violence → PTSD (violence first)], and a fourth variety, violence only. The results illustrate meaningful heterogeneity in violent behavior and different developmental patterns and characteristics. There are three major implications: First, programs and policies that target violence need to recognize the heterogeneity and move away from a "one-size-fits-all" approach. Second, violence prevention policies and programs that target abused and neglected children are warranted, given the prominent role of CAN in the backgrounds of these violent offenders. Third, criminologists and others interested in violence need to attend to the role of PTSD, which is present in about one fifth (21 percent) of these violent offenders, and not relegate the study of these offenders to the psychiatric and psychological literatures. Language: en
Asymptotic distribution of parameter estimators for nonconsecutively observed time series

SUMMARY The asymptotic normal distributions of two estimators, the maximum likelihood estimator and an alternative weighted least-squares estimator proposed by Wincek & Reinsel (1986) for parameter estimation of autoregressive-moving average models with nonconsecutively observed or missing data are derived for the stationary first-order autoregressive model, and also for the moving average model under periodic A-B sampling. Numerical comparisons of the explicit asymptotic variances of the two estimators under both normal and nonnormal distributional assumptions are presented, and results are contrasted between the first-order autoregressive and first-order moving average models.
Capturing the Insights of Family Caregivers: Survey Item Generation with a Coupled Interview/Focus Group Process

The usefulness of qualitative methodologies to augment and enrich quantitative studies is often overlooked. The authors' goals are to describe the qualitative process employed to generate survey items and to compare the results to those of studies that used different methodologies for item generation. The study identified barriers to and benefits of memory assessments. The survey item generation methodology, which involved 24 key informant interviews and 3 focus groups, resulted in the identification of 31 barrier and 28 benefit items. The 34 unique items were rated among the most important by survey respondents. The authors, therefore, present a strong case for generating survey items using informant interviews as groundwork for focus groups.
Bimodal virological response to antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection: an application using a mixture model with left censoring

Study objective: To assess whether HIV RNA levels (log 10 scale) in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) treated population have a bimodal distribution, suggesting optimal or suboptimal response to HAART. Methods: The study population from two ongoing cohort studies comprised 564 men (4785 person visits) and 1173 women (8675 person visits) with known dates of HAART initiation and with HIV RNA measurements before and after initiation. Values below detection limit of assays were treated in the analysis as left censored. Maximum likelihood methods were used to estimate parameters and to determine possible bimodality of HIV RNA distributions. Results: A two component mixture model fitted HIV RNA levels significantly better than did a single component distribution at different years from HAART initiation in both therapy experienced and therapy naive patients. In the fifth year after HAART initiation, 32% of men and 44% of women had HIV RNA in the higher component with medians of 5247 and 9253 copies/ml, respectively, suggesting suboptimal virological response to HAART, which was associated with poor adherence and lower frequency of CCR5 heterozygous genotype. Conclusion: The bimodal distribution of HIV RNA persisted during the years after HAART initiation. The high occurrence of suboptimal virological response at the fifth year after HAART initiation underscore the needs for careful monitoring and patient education about the importance of treatment adherence. This data analysis overcomes limitations of measurement techniques of observations having values below detection limits and serves to characterise the dynamics of the virological response to therapies.
Evaluation of the compartment bag test for the detection of Escherichia coli in water.

Abstract Aims Annually, more than 2 million diarrheal disease deaths can be attributed to the lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene. These deaths occur mostly in developing countries where water quality testing resources are limited. Several tests are currently used to detect and quantify Escherichia coli and other fecal bacteria in drinking water; however they can be expensive, complex, and technically demanding. There is a need for a simple, reliable, low-cost water quality test that can be used in resource limited settings. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to perform a rigorous evaluation of the recently developed compartment bag test for detection and quantification of E. coli against the standard method of membrane filtration. Methods and results A total of 270 water samples were collected from forty-five various naturally contaminated water sources around metro-Atlanta from August 2011 through April 2012. Samples were processed using the compartment bag test and membrane filtration with mI agar. Concentrations of E. coli were significantly correlated with a correlation coefficient of 0.904 (95% CI 0.859–0.950). Sensitivity and specificity were 94.9% and 96.6%, respectively. Conclusions These results suggest that the compartment bag test produces results consistent with those produced by membrane filtration on mI agar. Based upon its performance, the compartment bag test has the potential to be used as a reliable, affordable drinking water quality test where other microbial water quality testing resources are not readily available.
Amino acid sequence analysis of group e allotype‐ related peptides derived from lagomorph IgG

A tryptic peptide (T 19) was isolated from a CNBr fragment of IgG from several representatives of present-day lagomorphs including domestic rabbit, hare, cottontail rabbit and pika. The amino acid sequence of this peptide revealed differences which can be correlated with serological polymorphism associated with group e IgG allotypes. The results confirm previous studies establishing the importance of Ala309 for the expression of e 15, particularly the i subspecificity. Arg315 correlates with the expression of the j subspecificity.
Log-Amplitude Mean for Laser-Beam Propagation in the Atmosphere*

An integral expression is evaluated for the log-amplitude mean value of a gaussian or laser-like optical beam propagating along a horizontal path in a turbulent atmosphere. The mean-value integral expression has been taken from an analysis by Schmeltzer for a gaussian beam in the atmosphere. The expressions presented here for the log-amplitude mean value depend on the product of a strength factor, which is the log-amplitude variance for a point source, and a multiplying factor that depends on the source beam size. Numerical results for the beam-size-dependent factor are given for a wide range of beam sizes, wavelengths, and path lengths. Numerical results are also presented for the mean on-axis irradiance and mean beam size, for focused and collimated gaussian beams. These will find application in the design of systems for laser communication in the atmosphere. The data are obtained by combining our results for the log-amplitude mean with published data for the variance. The integral expression used here for the log-amplitude mean value is based on an assumption which restricts the range of validity of our results. The conditions necessary for its validity are discussed.
Dryden and Milton in “The Cock and the Fox”

Sur la presence d'allusions et d'echos miltoniens dans l'adaptation parodique par Dryden de cette fable animaliere de Chaucer
5-D imaging and parallel automated analysis of cellular events in living immune tissue microenvironments

The mammalian immune system consists of vital tissue microenvironments that exhibit remarkable structural complexity and dynamic cellular behaviors. It is now possible to acquire time-lapse series of multi-channel three dimensional images of multiple cell types and vasculature simultaneously, revealing dynamic events in their living tissue context. This talk will describe automated image analysis algorithms, parallel computation methods, and large-scale edit-based validation methods to detect and quantify key events such as homogeneous and heterogeneous cell-cell interactions, and methods to map events to their tissue context.
Predicting the strength of UP-elements and full-length E. coli σE promoters

Predicting the location and strength of promoters from genomic sequence requires accurate sequenced-based promoter models. We present the first model of a full-length bacterial promoter, encompassing both upstream sequences (UP-elements) and core promoter modules, based on a set of 60 promoters dependent on σ(E), an alternative ECF-type σ factor. UP-element contribution, best described by the length and frequency of A- and T-tracts, in combination with a PWM-based core promoter model, accurately predicted promoter strength both in vivo and in vitro. This model also distinguished active from weak/inactive promoters. Systematic examination of promoter strength as a function of RNA polymerase (RNAP) concentration revealed that UP-element contribution varied with RNAP availability and that the σ(E) regulon is comprised of two promoter types, one of which is active only at high concentrations of RNAP. Distinct promoter types may be a general mechanism for increasing the regulatory capacity of the ECF group of alternative σ's. Our findings provide important insights into the sequence requirements for the strength and function of full-length promoters and establish guidelines for promoter prediction and for forward engineering promoters of specific strengths.
Public representations of scientific uncertainty about global climate change

This paper addresses the representation of scientific uncertainty about global warming and climate change in the U.S. popular press. An examination of popular press articles about global warming fr...
Review and analysis of the age and origin of the Pliocene Bouse Formation, lower Colorado River Valley, southwestern USA

The lower Pliocene Bouse Formation in the lower Colorado River Valley (southwestern USA) consists of basal marl and dense tufa overlain by siltstone and fine sandstone. It is locally overlain by and interbedded with sands derived from the Colorado River. We briefly review 87 Sr/ 86 Sr analyses of Bouse carbonates and shells and carbonate and gypsum of similar age east of Las Vegas that indicate that all of these strata are isotopically similar to modern Colorado River water. We also review and add new data that are consistent with a step in Bouse Formation maximum elevations from 330 m south of Topock Gorge to 555 m to the north. New geochemical data from glass shards in a volcanic ash bed within the Bouse Formation, and from an ash bed within similar deposits in Bristol Basin west of the Colorado River Valley, indicate correlation of the two ash beds and coeval submergence of both areas. The tuff bed is identified as the 4.83 Ma Lawlor Tuff derived from the San Francisco Bay region. We conclude, as have some others, that the Bouse Formation was deposited in lakes produced by first-arriving Colorado River water that entered closed basins inherited from Basin and Range extension, and estimate that first arrival of river water occurred ca. 4.9 Ma. If this interpretation is correct, addition of Bristol Basin to the Blythe Basin inundation area means that river discharge was sufficient to fill and spill a lake with an area of ∼10,000 km 2 . For spillover to occur, evaporation rates must have been significantly less in early Pliocene time than modern rates of ∼2–4 m/yr, and/or Colorado River discharge was significantly greater than the current ∼15 km 3 /yr. In this lacustrine interpretation, evaporation rates were sufficient to concentrate salts to levels that were hospitable to some marine organisms presumably introduced by birds.