cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Habitat quality of source patches and connectivity in fragmented landscapes

Because spatial connectivity is critical to dispersal success and persistence of species in highly fragmented landscapes, the way that we envision and measure connectivity is consequential for biodiversity conservation. Connectivity metrics used for predictive modeling of spatial turnover and patch occupancy for metapopulations, such as with Incidence Function Models (IFM), incorporate distances to and sizes of possible source populations. Here, our focus is on whether habitat quality of source patches also is considered in these connectivity metrics. We propose that effective areas (weighted by habitat quality) of source patches should be better surrogates for population size and dispersal potential compared to unadjusted patch areas. Our review of a representative sample of the literature revealed that only 12.5% of studies incorporated habitat quality of source patches into IFM-type connectivity metrics. Quality of source patches generally was not taken into account in studies even if habitat quality of focal patches was included in analyses. We provide an empirical example for a metapopulation of a rare wetland species, the round-tailed muskrat (Neofiber alleni), demonstrating that a connectivity metric based on effective areas of source patches better predicts patch colonization and occupancy than a metric that used simple patch areas. The ongoing integration of landscape ecology and metapopulation dynamics could be hastened by incorporating habitat quality of source patches into spatial connectivity metrics applied to species conservation in fragmented landscapes.
Beam emission spectroscopy diagnosis of turbulence in high temperature tokamak plasmas

Summary form only given. Beam emission spectroscopy (BES) is a diagnostic technique which provides localized measurements of density turbulence in high-temperature magnetically confined plasmas. BES detects local plasma fluctuations by observing intensity fluctuations in collisionally induced neutral beam fluorescence from a diagnostic beam injected into the hot plasma. With this approach it is possible to access the wavelength region of peak fluctuation amplitude in the plasma, and new features of the turbulence spectrum have emerged. For example, a strong anisotropy is observed in the wavenumber spectra perpendicular to the local field, where the radial spectrum peaks at k/sub 4/ = 0 cm/sup -1/, while the poloidal spectrum peaks at k/sup /spl theta/spl ap/ 1 cm/sup -1/. Estimates of turbulence-driven fluxes indicate that the observed fluctuations are sufficient to driven the observed anomalous cross-field transport in tokamak plasmas with strong auxiliary heating.
Investigating forty years of stem research: How explanations for the gender gap have evolved over time

The gender gap in college-level STEM remains a persistent issue despite increased efforts to understand and address women's disparate participation. This scholarly article uses a meta-narrative systematic review of the literature to chronicle forty years of STEM-related literature, identify longitudinal patterns and themes in explanations of the gender gap in college STEM majors, and then evaluate the extent to which these explanations have evolved over time. Based on a systematic review of 324 full texts spanning the past 40 years of scholarly literature, five dominant meta-narrative explanations emerged: individual background characteristics; structural barriers in K-12 education; psychological factors, values, and preferences; family influences and expectations; and perceptions of STEM fields. The authors then used the resulting meta-narrative system to examine and document trends both across and within meta-narratives to draw conclusions regarding how scholars, practitioners, and policy makers have conceptualized the determinants of the STEM gender gap over time. Important implications for future research and practice are drawn based upon this analysis. © 2014 by Begell House, Inc.
Toxicologic Exposures Associated With Natural Disasters: Gases, Kerosene, Ash, and Bites

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and volcanic eruptions may increase human exposures to toxins. Disaster management encompasses a continuous cycle involving preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Toxic exposures occur in predictable segments of the disaster cycle. Although carbon monoxide poisoning is the most widely reported poisoning after natural disasters, other toxins including certain hydrocarbons, volcanic ash, and gases, as well as snake and animal bites, are also recognized hazards. Emergency response personnel and health care providers should be aware of these hazards to respond and manage these exposures effectively. This article will present an overview of toxic exposures related to natural disasters, specifically, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons/petroleum distillates, volcanic ash, animal exposures, and snake bites. Their relation to the disaster management cycle will be presented to serve as a primer for medical personnel and health care providers assisting with disaster response or emergency planning.
Bayesian predictions of faculty judgments of graduate school success

Abstract Fifteen faculty members (judges) inspected distributions of scores on four predictor variables of students who had been accepted into graduate school. Next, given only the information that a hypothetical student was in the graduate program, each judge estimated the prior probability of achieving a Ph.D., P (H 1 ). Judges also estimated the probabilities of the various values of four predictor variables given success, P (D/H 1 ), and, finally, individual subjective posterior probabilities of success, ISP(H 1 /D), given one, two and four predictor variables. The judges' P (H 1 ) and P (D/H 1 ) values were used to compute, under the assumption of independence, Bayesian posterior probabilities, BSP(H 1 /D), used as a criterion measure for the judges' predictions. Thus, in a relatively natural situation, P (H 1 ) and P (D/H 1 ) values built on day-to-day experiences were aggregated. Striking individual differences arose in the one type of information condition. Conservatism was observed when multiple predictors were aggregated.
RNA viruses as vectors for the expression of heterologous proteins

RNA viruses comprise a wide variety of infectious agents, some of which are the cause of disease in humans, animals, and plants. Recombinant DNA technology is now making it feasible to modify these genomes and engineer them to express heterologous proteins. Several different schemes are being employed that depend on the genome organization of the virus and on the strategy of replication of the particular virus. Several different examples are illustrated and potential uses as well as possible problems are discussed. In the future reverse genetics may convert some of these viruses from agents of disease to agents of cure.
A large and faint photometric catalog on the Ecliptic

A photometric catalog, developed for the calibration of the Deep Ecliptic Survey, is presented. The catalog contains 213,272 unique sources that were measured in V and R filters and transformed to the Johnson-Cousins systems using the Landolt standard catalog. All of the sources lie within 6{sup 0} of the ecliptic and cover all longitudes except for the densest stellar regions nearest the galactic center. Seventeen percent of the sources in the catalog are derived from three or more nights of observation. The catalog contains sources as faint as R {approx}19 but the largest fraction fall in the R {approx}15-16 (V {approx}16-17) mag range. All magnitude bins down to R = 19 have a significant fraction of objects with uncertainties {<=}0.1 mag.
A study of family day care providers: Attitudes toward regulation

This study seeks to fill a gap in the existing literature concerning family day care by exploring the issue of regulation from the perspective of both regulated and unregulated providers. The study draws on data collected from questionnaires distributed to 235 regulated and 110 unregulated family day care providers, and interviews conducted with 30 regulated and 40 unregulated providers, in Vermont. The data from the two sets of questionnaires reveal significant differences in demographic variables, working conditions, and career orientations between the two groups. Regulated providers choose to comply with regulation because they perceive it to be their legal obligation and because they desire the benefits that are associated with doing so. The primary reasons given for failure to register among unregistered providers included a belief that it was not required of them and a belief that regulation conferred no benefits. Although many unregulated providers had only partial information about regulatory requirements, many of them were offering services in a manner that would enable them to become registered if this were their choice. The implications of the findings for regulatory strategies are discussed.
Addressing factors for polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal displays

Suitable addressing methods for polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) displays are dependent upon both the type of display and the PDLC properties. Video displays require fast frame rates, high resolution, and gray scale. The addressing method depends upon PDLC properties such as threshold voltage, operating voltages, response times, resistivity, and hysteresis effects. the properties of PDLC films which are formed by ultraviolet (UV) polymerization of LC/monomer solutions depend upon their formation conditions. The threshold and operating voltages, contrast ratio and response times are affected by formation factors including the UV intensity, temperature, LC concentration, LC composition, field pre- alignment conditions, cell thickness, and droplet shape. The PDLC resistivity and hysteresis properties are more difficult to control, and can strongly affect the light throughput, response times, and gray scale of video displays. Apparent limitations from these properties can be overcome by utilizing pulse mode addressing factors pertinent for active matrix and photoactivated light valve PDLC displays.
Interactions between pentazocine and tripelennamine on autonomic and nociceptive measures in the dog

Pentazocine and tripelennamine, which have been abused in combination by humans, were evaluated for pharmacologic interactions on autonomic, behavioral, and antinociceptive measures in chronic spinal dogs. Pentazocine (0.31-5 mg/kg, IV) produced miosis, hypothermia and antinociception which was mediated by spinal and supraspinal reflexes; these effects were antagonized by naltrexone. Tripelennamine (0.63-2.5 mg/kg, IV) elicited mydriasis, hyperthermia and antinociception; these effects were not blocked by naltrexone. Tripelennamine produced antinociception only on the supraspinally-mediated skin twitch reflex. Interactions between pentazocine and tripelennamine varied depending on the response measured. Effects of both drugs on pupils were additive. Temperature effects were infra-additive, with the hyperthermic effects of tripelennamine predominating over the pentazocine hypothermia, resulting in a complete physiologic antagonism of pentazocine hypothermia. Antinociception, measured by flexor reflex depression, represented only the effect of pentazocine, whereas skin twitch reflex antinociception reflected either infra-additive or additive properties. The coadministration of nonconvulsive doses of pentazocine and tripelennamine produced seizures indicating a potentiated adverse interaction. In summary, the patterns of the pentazocine-triplennamine interactions were complex and the effects of tripelennamine could not be attributed to opioid activity.
A mathematical model for assessing the temporal association between health disorders and medical treatments

Abstract Statistical analysis is often used in medical studies to provide evidence for an association between a treatment and a patient condition. The work in this paper is motivated by a recent medical study which analyzes the temporal association between a treatment (i.e., an implant procedure) and the rare autoimmune disorders, polymyositis and dermatomyositis (PM/DM). To address this association mathematically, this paper develops a probability model based on the multinomial distribution that can be used to make statistical inferences about the timing of incidences of a treatment/condition pair. The model is empirically studied using Monte Carlo simulation. It is also analytically solved using the two ball and urn model formulations and a convolution formulation. Solution algorithms are given that can be executed in polynomial time and thus have the potential to be used as real-time decision support tools. Data from the medical study illustrate the application of this model and its results.
An ethologically based, stimulus and gender-sensitive nonhuman primate model for anxiety

1. Adult male and female squirrel monkeys were tested for behavioral responses to 5 min. social separation (alone in test room) followed by 30-sec. exposure to 2 humans wearing a leather capture glove. 2. Trials were preceded by intramuscular injection of an anticholinergic drug, benactyzine hydrochloride, in doses of 0.0, 0.6, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mg/kg. 3. Measured behaviors were number and type of vocalization and locomotor activity (duration in sec) in each of the two testing conditions. 4. A dose-response relationship for bark/yap vocalizations during the 30-sec trials was established, with 1.0 mg/kg being the most effective dose. 5. Males and females differed in the number of barks/yaps produced during 30-sec. trials at every drug dose. 6. The present testing paradigm provides the basis for efficiently determining the extent of gender differences in dose/response relationships for drugs of possible therapeutic value in the treatment of anxiety-related behavioral disorders.
Existence and nonexistence of traveling waves and reaction-diffusion front propagation in periodic media

We review the existence results of traveling wave solutions to the reaction-diffusion equations with periodic diffusion (convection) coefficients and combustion (bistable) nonlinearities. We prove that whenever traveling waves exist, the solutions of the initial value problem with either frontlike or pulselike data propagate with the constant effective speeds of traveling waves in all suitable directions. In the case of bistable nonlinearity and one space dimension, we give an example of nonexistence of traveling waves which causes “quenching” (“localization”) of wavefront propagation. Quenching (localization) only occurs when the variations of the media from their constant mean values are large enough. Our related numerical results also provide evidence for this phenomenon in the parameter regimes not covered by the analytical example. Finally, we comment on the role of the effective wave speeds in determining the effective wavefront equation (Hamilton-Jacobi equation) of the reactiondiffusion equations under the small-diffusion, fast-reaction limit with a formal geometric optics expansion.
Radiative Effects of Cloud-Type Variations

Abstract Radiative flux changes induced by the occurrence of different cloud types are investigated using International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project cloud data and a refined radiative transfer model from National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Goddard Institute for Space Studies general circulation model. Cloud types are defined by their top height and optical thickness. Cloud-type variations are shown to be as important as cloud cover in modifying the radiation field of the earth–atmosphere system. Other variables, such as the solar insolation and atmospheric and surface properties, also play significant roles in determining regional cloud radiative effects. The largest “annual” mean (approximated by averaging the results of four particular days, one from each season) changes of the global top-of-atmosphere and surface shortwave radiative fluxes are produced by stratocumulus, altostratus, and cirrostratus clouds (i.e., clouds with moderate optical thicknesses). Cirrus, cirrostratus, and deep...
Design for manufacturability in submicron domain

Key characteristics of newly emerging IC technologies render the traditional concept of die size minimization and traditional "design rules" insufficient to handle the design-manufacturing interface. This tutorial surveys the design and process characteristics relevant to the manufacturability of submicron ICs. The discussion also covers analysis of design for manufacturability (DFM) trade-offs. Yield and cost models needed to analyze these trade-offs are explained as well.
Shell Repair Frequencies in New Jersey Bivalves: A Recent Baseline for Tests of Escalation with Tertiary, Mid-Atlantic Congeners

Abstract Articulated and disarticulated shells of Anadara ovalis, Anomia simplex, Argopecten irradians, Astarte castanea, Crassostrea virginica, Divalinga quadrisulcata, Donax variabilis, Ensis directus, Geukensia demissa, Mercenaria mercenaria, Mya arenaria, Mytilus edulis, Petricola pholadiformis, Spisula solidissima, and Tagelus plebeius collected from New Jersey intertidal life and death assemblages were measured, and the frequency, type (scalloped, divoted, cleft, embayed), location (ventral, anterior, posterior), and shell size at inception of repair determined. Repair frequency ranges from zero (D. quadrisulcata) to 0.30 (M. arenaria). Size refuge from sublethal breakage was attained by S. solidissima and C. virginica. Posterior repairs necessitated by siphon-nipping characterize M. mercenaria and E. directus. Ventral repairs associate with species subjected to valve-wedging (S. solidissima, M. mercenaria) or with ventral egress of the foot (A. ovalis). Ventral repairs among deep infaunal clams (M....
A linear function associated to asymptotic prime divisors

This is the published version, also available here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1090/S0002-9939-03-07282-4. First published in Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. in 2004, published by the American Mathematical Society.
Role of serotonin in thromboxane A2-induced coronary chemoreflex.

We reported previously that the thromboxane A2 (TxA2) mimetic U-46619 stimulates cardiac vagal afferent nerves, eliciting a reflex decrease in heart rate (HR) and arterial blood pressure (ABP). The...
On the quality of accumulator-based compaction of test responses

The accumulator-based compaction (ABC) technique uses an accumulator to generate a composite fault signature for a circuit under test. The error coverage for this method has been previously analyzed using Markov chains. We describe an alternative technique for calculating the error coverage of ABC using the asymmetric error model. This technique relies on the central limit theorem of statistics and can be applied to other count-based compaction schemes. Our analysis shows that ABC provides very high coverage of asymmetric errors. Experiments on the actual fault coverage for the ISCAS 85 benchmark circuits show that extremely high postcompaction fault coverage (close to 100%) is obtained with ABC. They also indicate that the use of a rotate-carry adder does not always improve the fault coverage; in some cases, the fault coverage is actually reduced.
Tom Behan, The Long Awaited Moment: The Working Class and the Italian Communist Party in Milan, 1943–1948. New York: Peter Lang, 1997. 310 pp. $49.95 cloth.

Pardon the horrible pun, but this book is an extremely “partisan” account of the politics in Milan (and in Italy) between 1943 and 1948. First, because it deals with the Resistance, the partigiani , Milan workers, and the Communist party during and after the war of liberation; second, because Behan's account condemns the Italian Communist party (PCI) for its “failure” to create socialism when it had the chance. The author is merciless on this latter charge, and the theoretical tail wags the historical dog so often in this book that exhaustion soon sets in. More importantly, the loud refrain of the Party's “betrayal” of a revolutionary alternative drowns out many of the stirring voices from the Milan factories and working-class neighborhoods.
Minireview: Role of the Growth Hormone/Insulin-Like Growth Factor System in Mammalian Aging

The important role of IGF and insulin-related signaling pathways in the control of longevity of worms and insects is very well documented. In the mouse, several spontaneous or experimentally induced mutations that interfere with GH biosynthesis, GH actions, or sensitivity to IGF-I lead to extended longevity. Increases in the average life span in these mutants range from approximately 20-70% depending on the nature of the endocrine defect, gender, diet, and/or genetic background. Extended longevity of hypopituitary and GH-resistant mice appears to be due to multiple mechanisms including reduced insulin levels, enhanced insulin sensitivity, alterations in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, reduced generation of reactive oxygen species, enhanced resistance to stress, reduced oxidative damage, and delayed onset of age-related disease. There is considerable evidence to suggest that the genetic and endocrine mechanisms that influence aging and longevity in mice may play a similar role in other mammalian species, including the human.
Trastuzumab-DM1: Building a Chemotherapy-Free Road in the Treatment of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Positive Breast Cancer

previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia. Blood 114:326, 2009 (abstr 790) 18. Borthakur G, Jabbour E, Wang X, et al: Effect of front-line therapy with fludarabine, cytarabine, filgrastim, and gemtuzumab ozogamicin (FLAG-GO) on outcome in core-binding factor associated acute myelogenous leukemia (CBFAML). J Clin Oncol 28:499s, 2010 (abstr 6552) 19. Lo-Coco F, Cimino G, Breccia M, et al: Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg) as a single agent for molecularly relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia. Blood 104:1995-1999, 2004 20. Estey EH, Giles FJ, Beran M, et al: Experience with gemtuzumab ozogamycin (“mylotarg”) and all-trans retinoic acid in untreated acute promyelocytic leukemia. Blood 99:4222-4224, 2002 21. Breccia M, Cimino G, Diverio D, et al: Sustained molecular remission after low dose gemtuzumab-ozogamicin in elderly patients with advanced acute promyelocytic leukemia. Haematologica 92:1273-1274, 2007 22. Ravandi F, Estey E, Jones D, et al: Effective treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia with all-trans-retinoic acid, arsenic trioxide, and gemtuzumab ozogamicin. J Clin Oncol 27:504-510, 2009 23. Vogel CL, Cobleigh MA, Tripathy D, et al: Efficacy and safety of trastuzumab as a single agent in first-line treatment of HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 20:719-726, 2002 24. Johnson JR, Cohen M, Sridhara R, et al: Approval summary for erlotinib for treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen. Clin Cancer Res 11:6414-6421, 2005
Psychosocial functioning in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.

Background The purpose of this article is to review research on psychosocial functioning in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to provide recommendations for future research. Methods A literature search was conducted using the MEDLINE and PsychInfo computerized databases and bibliographies of relevant articles. Results Compared with healthy children, children with IBD are at greater risk of difficulties behavioral/emotional functioning, particularly depression and anxiety, social functioning, and self-esteem. Conflicting results have been reported for the areas of family dysfunction and body image, and few studies have been published in the areas of stress and coping and eating problems. Psychosocial difficulties are clinically significant in only a subset of those with IBD and are generally similar to those found in other pediatric chronic illnesses. Conclusions The scant existing research limits conclusions about which children are most likely to experience problems. Future research should investigate a range of psychosocial outcomes, including developmentally appropriate outcomes for adolescents, and risk factors for developing problems. Prevention and intervention strategies aimed at improving psychosocial functioning in children with IBD should be developed and evaluated.
Introduction to “Long‐Term Fieldwork”

SUMMARY This special issue presents new, original essays by anthropologists who have spent a great deal of time carrying out fieldwork in a variety of ways and under many different conditions. Their ways of doing long-term fieldwork vary from revisiting the same community to doing multisited fieldwork to gain a broader comparative perspective in the discipline of anthropology. The authors wrestle with the meaning of their work after observing the people they befriended and studied undergo sometimes-devastating changes, suffering deep life-changing experiences themselves, and witnessing controversies over the value of doing and writing ethnography.
Dynamic regulation of ROCK in tumor cells controls CXCR4-driven adhesion events

CXCR4 is a chemokine receptor often found aberrantly expressed on metastatic tumor cells. To investigate CXCR4 signaling in tumor cell adhesion, we stably overexpressed CXCR4 in MCF7 breast tumor cells. Cell attachment assays demonstrate that stimulation of the receptor with its ligand, CXCL12, promotes adhesion of MCF7-CXCR4 cells to both extracellular matrix and endothelial ligands. To more closely mimic the conditions experienced by a circulating tumor cell, we performed the attachment assays under shear stress conditions. We found that CXCL12-induced tumor cell attachment is much more pronounced under flow. ROCK is a serine/threonine kinase associated with adhesion and metastasis, which is regulated by CXCR4 signaling. Thus, we investigated the contribution of ROCK activity during CXC12-induced adhesion events. Our results demonstrate a biphasic regulation of ROCK in response to adhesion. During the initial attachment, inhibition of ROCK activity is required. Subsequently, re-activation of ROCK activity is required for maturation of adhesion complexes and enhanced tumor cell migration. Interestingly, CXCL12 partially reduces the level of ROCK activity generated by attachment, which supports a model in which stimulation with CXCL12 regulates tumor cell adhesion events by providing an optimal level of ROCK activity for effective migration.
VGSim: An integrated networking and microscopic vehicular mobility simulation platform

Simulation is the predominant tool used in research related to vehicular ad hoc networks. In this article we first present the key requirements for accurate simulations that arise from the various applications supported by VANETs, and review the current state-of the-art VANET simulation tools. We then present VGSim, an integrated networking and microscopic vehicular mobility simulation platform. VGSim provides full-fledged wireless network simulation with an accurate traffic mobility model. These two components are tightly integrated and can interact dynamically. We discuss the flexibility of VGSim in adopting different mobility models and also present simulation results that empirically validate the modified mobility model we implemented. We discuss how VANET applications can be easily modeled in VGSim, and demonstrate this using two important applications, Accident Alert and Variable Speed Limit.
Self organized UAV swarm planning optimization for search and destroy using SWARMFARE simulation

As military interest continues to grow for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) capabilities, the Air Force is exploring UAV autonomous control, mission planning and optimization techniques. The SWARMFARE simulation system allows for Evolutionary Algorithm computations of swarm based UAV Self Organization (SO). Through Swarmfare, the capability exists to evaluate guiding behaviors that allow autonomous control via independent agent interaction with its environment. Current results show that through an implementation of ten basic rules the swarm forms and moves about a space with reasonable success. The next step is to focus on optimization of the formation, traversal of the search space and attack. In this paper we cover the capabilities, initial research results, and way ahead for this simulation. Overall the SWARMFARE tool has established a sandbox in which it is possible to optimize these and build new behaviors.
Socialization in an Open Source Software Community: A Socio-Technical Analysis

Open Source Software (OSS) development is often characterized as a fundamentally new way to develop software. Past analyses and discussions, however, have treated OSS projects and their organization mostly as a static phenomenon. Consequently, we do not know how these communities of software developers are sustained and reproduced over time through the progressive integration of new members. To shed light on this issue I report on my analyses of socialization in a particular OSS community. In particular, I document the relationships OSS newcomers develop over time with both the social and material aspects of a project. To do so, I combine two mutually informing activities: ethnography and the use of software specially designed to visualize and explore the interacting networks of human and material resources incorporated in the email and code databases of OSS. Socialization in this community is analyzed from two perspectives: as an individual learning process and as a political process. From these analyses it appears that successful participants progressively construct identities as software craftsmen, and that this process is punctuated by specific rites of passage. Successful participants also understand the political nature of software development and progressively enroll a network of human and material allies to support their efforts. I conclude by discussing how these results could inform the design of software to support socialization in OSS projects, as well as practical implications for the future of these projects.
The binding of botulinum toxin to membrane lipids: phospholipids and proteolipid.

A number of phospholipids known to be constituents of nerve endings were tested for their ability to inactivate botulinum toxin. Substances tested included phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidalcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidalethanolamine, β-acyl lysolecithin, sphingomyelin, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol and cardiolipin. Proteolipid from bovine white matter was also tested. Neutral phospholipids potentiated the toxicity in vivo of botulinum toxin, but they had no effect on the toxicity in vitro. Some, but not all, acidic phospholipids caused loss of toxicity of botulinum toxin in solutions at low pH both in vivo and in vitro. However, none of these substances when incubated with toxin under physiological conditions of temperature, pH and ionic strength, caused loss of toxin potency. The data suggest that none of these phospholipids is likely to be a toxin receptor.
The hepatitis C sequence database in Los Alamos

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant public health threat worldwide. The virus is highly variable and evolves rapidly, making it an elusive target for the immune system and for vaccine and drug design. Presently, approximately 50 000 HCV sequences have been published. A central website that provides annotated sequences and analysis tools will be helpful to HCV scientists worldwide. The HCV sequence database collects and annotates sequence data, and provides them to the public via a website that contains a user-friendly search interface and a large number of sequence analysis tools, following the model of the highly regarded and widely used Los Alamos HIV database. The HCV website can be accessed via http://hcv.lanl.gov and http://hcv-db.org.
Reactivity, regulation, and reward responses to infant cues among mothers with and without psychopathology: an fMRI review

Despite important progress in understanding the complex caregiving system, developmental research has only recently begun to focus on the mother’s internal affective state and its role in sensitive caregiving behavior. This review will summarize recent findings of functional neuroimaging research to elaborate on the neural components associated with maternal sensitive care or disrupted responsiveness to infant communications. First, maternal emotion reactivity and regulation, as well as maternal reward responsiveness to infant cues, will be reviewed among healthy mothers. Then, emotion and reward-related processes among mothers who display sensitive versus disrupted caregiving will be explored. Finally, these patterns of response will be compared to patterns of response among mothers with psychiatric disorders, including depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse. The aim of this review is to examine whether differences in emotion reactivity and regulation, as well as in the encoding of infant stimuli as rewarding, are related either to maternal psychopathology or to maternal difficulties in responding promptly and appropriately to their infants. A summary of the challenges facing developmental neuroscience research in furthering our understanding of maternal responses to infants will close this review. Keywords: maternal emotion regulation; fMRI; review; PTSD; substance abuse; depression; attachment; infancy (Published: 9 September 2013) Citation: Translational Developmental Psychiatry 2013, 1 : 19673 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/tdp.v1i0.19673
Examination of the Urinary Tract in the Horse

Pathologic conditions of the urinary tract may produce specific clinical signs, but they are more than likely to be nonspecific clinical signs, which often occur with chronic renal disease in addition to countless other diseases. Further, clinical signs that may seem to be directly related to the urinary tract may be the result of other systemic diseases. Thus, before embarking on diagnostics, it is important to obtain a thorough history and physical examination.
An Increase in Serum Creatinine after Initiation of Fenofibrate in an HIV-Infected Individual A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Hypertriglyceridemia is common among patients infected with HIV and often requires treatment with a triglyceride-lowering medication, such as fenofibrate. Studies have shown that fenofibrate has the potential to increase serum creatinine, a phenomenon that seems to occur more in patients with baseline renal dysfunction or who are on medications that can affect renal hemodynamics. HIV-infected individuals are at an increased risk of developing renal problems and may be a target population for fenofibrate-induced increases in serum creatinine. The purpose of this report is to describe a case of an HIV-infected individual who experienced a considerable increase in serum creatinine after initiating fenofibrate, and to highlight this underreported yet important adverse effect. Additionally, we discuss the postulated mechanisms, relevant literature among HIV noninfected individuals, and potential risk factors.
Affective awareness in parenting of fathers with co‐occurring substance abuse and intimate partner violence

Purpose – Few studies have examined the parenting of fathers with co‐occurring substance abuse (SA) and intimate partner violence (IPV) problems. None have specifically interviewed men with these co‐occurring issues using qualitative methods about their reflective functioning in relation to their children. This paper aims to provide evidence of the reflective capacity of fathers with co‐occurring SA and IPV.Design/methodology/approach – To assess this, men were asked to describe examples of negative emotions they experienced as parents and how they perceived their children responded to those emotions. In total, 40 fathers with co‐occurring SA and IPV were interviewed using the Revised Parent Development Interview. Interviews were coded for reflective functioning and for themes that emerged related to angry and guilty feelings these fathers experienced as parents.Findings – Overall, fathers in the sample had a very limited capacity to think about the thoughts and feelings of their children. The desire to s...
Device physics considerations for SOI domino circuit design

The ongoing need to increase the speed in tandem with decrease in power consumption has necessitated for an alternative viable technology. Due to device physics and structural properties (i.e., reduced junction capacitance, higher driving current etc) and limited technology transfer, Partially-Depleted (PD) SOI technology has become the de-facto candidate for replacing Bulk CMOS technology. It has matured to an extent that it can now be implemented in most of the applications. This paper explains how design parameters for pseudo n-MOS can be changed to maximize the advantage of SOI technology. Further, we extend this idea to dynamic logic circuits and evaluate its viability.
The Impact of Tax Incentives on the Choice to Hold Shares Acquired from Employee Stock Option Exercises

ABSTRACT : This paper extends prior stock option literature by examining the impact of individual and corporate tax incentives on the decision to hold or sell shares acquired through the exercises of incentive stock options (ISOs) and non-qualified stock options (NQSOs). We focus on factors found in prior literature to be associated with the choice to hold or sell in the context of the type of stock option exercised. Specifically, we find that the positive (negative) relation found in prior literature between the decision to hold shares following exercise and future returns (depth) is associated more with NQSOs than ISOs, consistent with individual tax incentives. Examining corporate tax incentives, we find that corporate tax benefits mitigate insiders' likelihood to hold shares obtained from ISO exercise. Furthermore, we find evidence that firms compensate employees to forgo individual tax benefits associated with holding shares from ISO exercise, and as this compensation increases, insiders are more li...
A polymer-based ratiometric intracellular glucose sensor

The glucose metabolism level reflects cell proliferative status. A polymeric glucose ratiometric sensor comprising poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide) (PHPMA) and poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (PMAETMA) was synthesized. Cellular internalization and glucose response of the polymer within HeLa cells were investigated.
Self-Adapting Numerical Software for Next Generation Applications

The challenge for the development of next generation software is the successful management of the complex grid environment while delivering to the scientist the full power of flexible compositions of the available algorithmic alternatives. Self-Adapting Numerical Software SANS systems are intended to meet this significant challenge. A SANS system comprises intelligent next generation numerical software that domain scientists - with disparate levels of knowledge of algorithmic and programmatic complexities of the underlying numerical software - can use to easily express and efficiently solve their problem. The components of a SANS system are:· A SANS agent with:- An intelligent component that automates method selection based on data, algorithm and system attributes.- A system component that provides intelligent management of and access to the computational grid.- A history database that records relevant information generated by the intelligent component and maintains past performance data of the interaction e.g., algorithmic, hardware specific, etc. between SANS components.· A simple scripting language that allows a structured multilayered implementation of the SANS while ensuring portability and extensibility of the user interface and underlying libraries.· An XML/CCA-based vocabulary of metadata to describe behavioral properties of both data and algorithms.· System components, including a runtime adaptive scheduler, and prototype libraries that automate the process of architecture-dependent tuning to optimize performance on different platforms. A SANS system can dramatically improve the ability of computational scientists to model complex, interdisciplinary phenomena with maximum efficiency and a minimum of extra-domain expertise. SANS innovations and their generalizations will provide to the scientific and engineering community a dynamic computational environment in which the most effective library components are automatically selected based on the problem characteristics, data attributes, and the state of the grid.
The Accuracy of Winds Derived by the Radar Tracking of Chaff at High Altitudes.

Abstract The accuracy and significance of a series of wind measurements at Johnston Island are discussed. The manner in which the chaff responds to changes in the wind is deduced from the observed rates of fall. The standard error of the wind determination due to random errors of tracking is estimated statistically. It is shown that day-to-day variations of the wind at a level are detectable with this type of measurement but that day-to-day variations of the shear are masked by instrumental error. The mean shear over the 3-day period, however, is found to be real and may be due to a change in wind regime associated with the temperature minimum near 80 km.
The Engineer and Worldwide Conservation of Soil and Water

The role of the engineer in worldwide soil and water conservation necessary to meet increasing food requirements is emphasized. A brief review of progress by construction of drainage systems and irrigation projects is presented. Some of the large surface reservoirs are listed, the volumes of surface-reservoir water stored for irrigation are reported; and the needs for more use of groundwater reservoirs is suggested. The necessities for efficient conveyance of water in world canals of more than a million miles in length are stressed. The relationships of efficient application of water on the farms, in the estimated 15 million irrigations per year, to worldwide soil and water conservation are outlined.
Spatial and Temporal Control of Cell Signaling by A-Kinase Anchoring Proteins

Scaffolding proteins help maintain order in the face of a chaotic cellular environment. Multifunctional binding proteins such as the A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) oversee the dynamic organization of signaling events by clustering kinases, phosphatases, phosphodiesterases and other signaling proteins. Many AKAPs facilitate the action of these enzymes toward their downstream targets, while several AKAPs act as downstream effectors themselves. This chapter focuses on the role of AKAPs in the spatial and temporal control of cAMP signaling events.
The United Nations Compensation Commission and the Balancing of Rights Between Individual Claimants and the Government of Iraq

The UN Compensation Commission (the Commission) in Geneva resolved over 2.68 million claims filed by governments, corporations, and individuals seeking more than $350 billion in compensation for losses suffered during Iraq's invasion and occupation of Kuwait in 1990-91. This article focuses on one aspect of the Commission's work that has drawn little attention in the body of commentary describing the work of the Commission: the challenges involved in establishing a fair process and framework for resolving more than 2.67 million claims filed by the individual victims of war. The Commission struggled to achieve a fine balance between the protection of the rights of individual claimants and the rights of the Government of Iraq. The difficulty of this task was compounded by the fact that neither the claimants nor the Government of Iraq was in a position to submit a sufficient factual record to support its respective position. This article examines the challenges faced by the individual claimants, the Government of Iraq, and the Commission in addressing these difficulties and describes the framework the Commission ultimately employed. This article concludes that two inter-related procedural features served to safeguard the rights of the claimants and the Government of Iraq: (1) the use of an inquisitorial process instead of an adversarial process to decide claims, and (2) the use of disinterested third-party fact-finding reports to supply the factual record. This article further concludes that any future commission that addresses the losses of individual victims of war or war-like hostilities will need to adopt these same features.
Experimental Characterization of Polarimetric Radar Backscatter Response of Distributed Targets at High Millimeter-Wave Frequencies

Subterahertz frequencies between 100 and 300 GHz remain an untapped portion of the frequency spectrum for many radar- and radiometer-based remote sensing applications. This can be attributed in part to the lack of knowledge of the phenomenology of signal interaction with terrain at these frequencies. This paper examines recently acquired polarimetric radar backscatter data of different types of surfaces using a newly constructed polarimetric instrumentation radar operating at 222 GHz. At this frequency bare surfaces such as asphalt and dirt are electrically rough with subsurface aggregate sizes comparable with the wavelength resulting in substantial volume and surface scattering. The data show strong backscatter responses from bare surfaces with angular dependence proportional to the cosine square of the incidence angle along with significant depolarization (between −8 and −4 dB). The data for vegetation-covered surfaces show weak dependence on incidence angle and appreciable depolarization (between −12 and −6 dB). Empirical models for bare and vegetation-covered surfaces are proposed.
Modeling Project Manager Competency: An Integrated Mathematical Approach

AbstractAlthough the construction industry is a major component of the U.S. economy, it has been suffering from declining productivity for decades. The human element, project managers (PMs) in particular, are key in solving these persisting problems. Measurement of a PM’s overall performance is important to identify training needs and enables executives to better match competent PMs with the appropriate projects. This paper provides the construction industry with a generic mathematical formulation to reliably weigh different PM competencies. The developed data-driven mathematical model reflects the relative importance that industry practitioners place on different PM competencies while distinguishing exceptional PMs from average ones. This developed model is applied to a data set of 124 PM assessments filled by 62 PM supervisors so that each PM supervisor selected and rated an exceptional PM and an average PM. The results presented in the paper suggest that PMs should focus on developing their cognitive s...
Approximating Optimal Release in a Deterministic Model for the Sterile Insect Technique

Cost/benefit analyses are essential to support management planning and decisions before launching any pest control program. In particular, applications of the sterile insect technique (SIT) are often prevented by the projected economic burden associated with rearing processes. This has had a deep impact on the technique development and its use on insects with long larval periods, as often seen in beetles. Under the assumptions of long adult timespan and multiple mating, we show how to find approximate optimal sterile release policies that minimize costs. The theoretical framework proposed considers the release of insects by pulses and finds approximate optimal release sizes through stochastic searching. The scheme is then used to compare simulated release strategies obtained for different pulse schedules and release bounds, providing a platform for evaluating the convenience of increasing sterile male release intensity or extending the period of control.
Increased cholesterol biosynthesis following phenobarbital induced hypertrophy of agranular endoplasmic reticulum in liver.

SummaryPrevious workers have correlated hypertrophy of the agranular reticulum in the liver with increase in drug-metabolizing enzymes following repeated injections of phenobarbital. Our investigation confirms their morphological observation and adds additional biochemical data which suggest that the enzyme systems responsible for cholesterol biosynthesis are associated with the smooth reticulum and are also increased following phenobarbital stimulation.