cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Methane in association with seismic activity

It has been hypothesized that upward movement of vast quantities of methane gas from the earth's mantle is a causative agent of earthquakes [Gold, 1979]. Much of this hypothesis rests on accounts of flames and/or loud, booming noises (“brontides”) accompanying seismic events, possibly caused by the explosive release of this “primordial” methane to the atmosphere [Claflin-Chalton and Mac-Donald, 1978; Gold and Soter, 1979]. This speculation has generated much controversy because it implies a nonbiological origin for petroleum, as well as the presence of an abundant, potentially harvestable supply of energy in the mantle [e.g., Nature, 1982; Eos, 1983]. However, there is a paucity of experimental data to either support or contradict this hypothesis. Because of this continuing, unresolved controversy, I have decided to publish some observations made several years ago with respect to methane emanations during an earthquake that struck near Mammoth Lakes, Calif. [Oremland, 1979]. It is of significance that this region lies in close proximity to Owens Valley where accounts exist of flames emanating from the ground during the 1872 earthquake [Claflin-Chalton and MacDonald, 1978; Gold, 1979].
Amino Acid Changes in Proteins 2B and 3A Mediate Rhinovirus Type 39 Growth in Mouse Cells

Many steps of viral replication are dependent on the interaction of viral proteins with host cell components. To identify rhinovirus proteins involved in such interactions, human rhinovirus 39 (HRV39), a virus unable to replicate in mouse cells, was adapted to efficient growth in mouse cells producing the viral receptor ICAM-1 (ICAM-L cells). Amino acid changes were identified in the 2B and 3A proteins of the adapted virus, RV39/L. Changes in 2B were sufficient to permit viral growth in mouse cells; however, changes in both 2B and 3A were required for maximal viral RNA synthesis in mouse cells. Examination of infected HeLa cells by electron microscopy demonstrated that human rhinoviruses induced the formation of cytoplasmic membranous vesicles, similar to those observed in cells infected with other picornaviruses. Vesicles were also observed in the cytoplasm of HRV39-infected mouse cells despite the absence of viral RNA replication. Synthesis of picornaviral nonstructural proteins 2C, 2BC, and 3A is known to be required for formation of membranous vesicles. We suggest that productive HRV39 infection is blocked in ICAM-L cells at a step posttranslation and prior to the formation of a functional replication complex. The observation that changes in HRV39 2B and 3A proteins lead to viral growth in mouse cells suggests that one or both of these proteins interact with host cell proteins to promote viral replication.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND RESIDUAL STRESSES IN NON-EQUILIBRUM GLASSES

Plastic parts are typically cooled rapidly and are rarely, if ever, in thermodynamic equilibrium. As such, their mechanical properties can be strongly dependent on the thermal history. For basic understanding, this thermal history must be quantified and also the effect of heat transfer lags (non-uniformities through the cross-section) must be considered. We show that small (fiber-like) samples of amorphous polymers, if quenched rapidly from the rubbery state, sometimes show strikingly different mechanical properties than equilibrium glasses. These differences do not appear, however, if the sample is large, almost surely due to residual stresses. We show that residual stresses are significant in typical dumbbell-sized samples. Finally, we present data on residual birefringences (related to residual stresses), carry out theroetical analyses to predict them, and discuss the implications (and shortcomings) of such analyses.
Conventional wisdom and challenges to the threshold behavior of two-electron escape

The threshold behavior of two-electron escape and the complementary characterization of doubly-excited resonances have been the subject of investigation for forty years. The conventional view of the physics of these systems has generally been predicated upon a “ridge-state” picture that was first introduced classically by Wannier in 1953 and susequently expanded quantum mechanically by many others. Within the last five years, new experimental results and new theoretical analyses have cast great doubt on the detailed validity of this picture. A close examination of the basis for the old ridge-state view and the impetus for the development of a new description are provided in this paper. Additional speculations are made about the possibly unique role played by the threshold itself.
A nonequilibrium time‐dependent functional theory based on Liouvillean quantum field dynamics

A brief description of an extension of the time-dependent functional theory to coupled field systems such as electron-ion and electron–electromagnetic fields is given. This theory is further generalized to situations where the system is initially in thermodynamic equilibrium and is subjected to external time-dependent probes which may drive the system out of equilibrium. Such a generalization is based on the Liouvillean quantum field dynamics (LQFD). The above formalism provides a firm physical and mathematical basis for time-dependent simulation procedures such as those based on the Car–Parrinello approach by replacing the fictitious Lagrangian by a precise action principle. Several physical examples are given to illustrate the need for this formalism, where there is a necessity for treating all the field variables on equal footing and in a self-consistent way. A new alternate formalism of time-dependent functional theory based on a novel application of the Baym Φ-derivable method is also given in terms of LQFD. By choosing suitable processes to set up the (D-functional, our functional theory is transformed into a practical self-consistent approach to the quantum many-body equilibrium and transport problems, with built-in conservation laws for all the physically relevant variables). © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
N -Level Coherence Vector and Higher Conservation Laws in Quantum Optics and Quantum Mechanics

The presence of unitary group generators in the time evolution of $N$-level quantum systems is shown to suggest a class of new nonlinear constants of motion, and to permit the description of the evolution in terms of the rotations of a real coherence vector.
Selective catalytic reduction of NO with hydrocarbon on Cu2+-exchanged pillared clay: An IR study of the NO decomposition mechanism

Abstract In an earlier study, it has been found that Cu2+ ion-exchanged pillared clay (Cu-PILC) has a substantially higher activity for the selective catalytic reduction of NO by ethylene over Cu-ZSM-5. Moreover, it is not significantly deactivated by water vapor and SO2. In this study, the activity for direct NO decomposition in the presence of O2 on Cu-PILC was studied and an in situ IR study for the key intermediates and the reaction mechanism was made. The direct NO decomposition activities for Cu-PILC and Cu-ZSM-5 were similar. Under in situ NO and O2 reaction conditions at temperatures up to 300°C, IR absorption bands at well-defined peak positions are identified. The band at 1699 cm−1 is assigned to a dinitrosyl species on Cu+. The bands with peaks at 1609, 1530–1480 and in the region of 1440–1335 cm−1 are assigned to bidentate nitrate, monodentate nitrate and nitro species bonded to Cu2+. A redox mechanism is proposed for NO decomposition. The limiting step is thought to be the N–N coupling between surface nitrate and gaseous nitric oxide to form nitrogen. The existence of substantial amounts of nitrate formed from NO alone indicates the important role of the large amount of lattice oxygen that is available on Cu-PILC. As a result, the role of external oxygen supply is only to replenish the consumed lattice oxygen. The proposed NO decomposition mechanism suggests that the redox property of Cu-PILC is crucial for this reaction.
Levetiracetam in the preventive treatmentof transformed migraine: A prospective, open-label, pilot study.

Background: Most preventive agents used for transformed migraine (TM)have not been studied specifically for the treatment of this syndrome. Open-label trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of levetiracetam in the treatment of refractory headaches.
On the asymptotics of penalized spline smoothing

This paper performs an asymptotic analysis of penalized spline estimators. We compare P-splines and splines with a penalty of the type used with smoothing splines. The asymptotic rates of the supremum norm of the difference between these two estimators over compact subsets of the interior and over the entire interval are established. It is shown that a P-spline and a smoothing spline are asymptotically equivalent provided that the number of knots of the P-spline is large enough, and the two estimators have the same equivalent kernels for both interior points and boundary points.
Predicting baby feeding method from unstructured electronic health record data

Obesity is one of the most important health concerns in United States and is playing an important role in rising rates of chronic health conditions and health care costs. The percentage of the US population affected with childhood obesity and adult obesity has been on a constant upward linear trend for past few decades. According to Center for Disease control and prevention 35.7% of US adults are obese and 17% of children aged 2-19 years are obese. Researchers and health care providers in the US and the rest of world studying obesity are interested in factors affecting obesity. One such interesting factor potentially related to development of obesity is type of feeding provided to babies. In this work we describe an electronic health record (EHR) data set of babies with feeding method contained in the narrative portion of the record. We compare five supervised machine learning algorithms for predicting feeding method as a discrete value based on text in the field. We also compare these algorithms in terms of the classification error and prediction probability estimates generated by them.
Effects of the pelleting conditions on chemical composition and sugar yield of corn stover, big bluestem, wheat straw, and sorghum stalk pellets

Pelleting of biomass can increase their bulk density and thus improve storability and reduce transportation costs. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of the pelleting conditions on chemical composition and fermentable sugar yield of the biomass. Corn stover, wheat straw, big bluestem, and sorghum stalks were used for this study. Dilute sulfuric acid was used for biomass pretreatment. Accellerase 1500™ was used for cellulose hydrolysis. Effects of mill screen size, die thickness, and L/D ratio of die on chemical compositions and sugar yield were determined. Glucan content of the biomass was positively affected by die thickness and negatively affected by mill screen size. Opposite trend was observed for xylan content. Wheat straw pellets had the highest sugar yield (92.5–94.1%) and big bluestem pellets had the lowest sugar yield (83.6–91.1%). Optimum pelleting condition is 6.5 mm screen size and 44.5 mm die thickness.
Analyses of fast neutron inelastic scattering cross sections to higher (vibrational) states of 232 Th and 238 U. II. Intrinsic unified formalism

From the standpoint of nuclear theory, the consistency of the unified (statistical $S$ matrix) formalism, even in its most basic form as treated in this paper, represents a fundamental improvement over the standard approach involving the incoherent addition of compound-nucleus and direct-interaction contributions to a net angle-integrated cross section. A previous paper dealt with standard analyses of $^{232}\mathrm{Th}(n, {n}^{\ensuremath{'}})$ and $^{238}\mathrm{U}(n, {n}^{\ensuremath{'}})$ level excitation functions from threshold to ${E}_{n}=2.5$ MeV, and foreshadowed the successful application of the unified formalism in illustrative analyses of ($n, {n}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) scattering to triads of $K={0}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ octupole vibrational states in each of the above nuclei. For these deformed actinide nuclei, a coupled-channels treatment is appropriate: The unified approach intrinsically entails this as a central feature. This paper describes the results of such unified computations for the $^{232}\mathrm{Th}$ and $^{238}\mathrm{U}$ scattering cross sections to each of 21 principal collective (quadrupole and octupole vibrational) states in $^{232}\mathrm{Th}$ up to ${E}^{*}=1208.7$ keV, and to 17 such levels in $^{238}\mathrm{U}$ up to ${E}^{*}=1269.4$ keV, using the relative coupling strengths as the only adjustable parameter. When compared with the measured data, the unified fits were generally of equivalent or superior quality to those derived from the standard treatment, with the same (Bruy\`eres) optical potential parameters employed throughout. Comparisons with (composite) evaluated neutron data file values revelas discrepancies which indicate an evident need for reevaluation. Corrections to the basic unified data will be considered in a subsequent paper.
Integrating Saving into Microenterprise Programs for the Poor: Do Institutions Matter?

This study examines factors that affect saving performance among participants in a subsidized saving program who intend to use their savings to help capitalize a microenterprise. Using data from 14 community‐based organizations promoting self‐employment among the poor, and drawing on institutional theory, we find that individual‐level theories do not fully explain the variance in savings and that institutional influences also are predictive. Policy makers may want to consider a range of institutional characteristics when designing policies and programs aimed at promoting self‐employment among poor families.
The effect of lubricant viscosity on the lubrication of gear teeth

Abstract This paper deals with the measurement of oil film thickness between lubricated contacting surfaces under load. The ability to measure oil film thickness, in this case on gear teeth, may lead to a better future understanding of the best lubricant and tooth contour to be used for any given set of operating conditions for the reduction of wear. This paper differs from previous work13 in that the gears are 4DP instead of 6DP. Also, the teeth are cast iron instead of steel. The author expresses somewhat different views on the theory and suggests that relaxational effects in the lubricant and not pressure vicosity effects may explain in part the high load-carrying capacity of modern high speed gears.
Passively stable hopping of an articulated leg with a tendon-coupled ankle

Dynamic maneuvers have been successfully implemented on many prismatic legged robots. Systems with articulated legs of significant relative mass pose more of a challenge in part due to the physics of thrusting with rotating limbs, which results in undesired non-vertical impulses, and in part due to the control problem of synchronizing ankle and knee joints. Presented here is an experimental articulated leg system that simplifies the control of an articulated monopod through the use of a joint-coupling tendon. The ankle is coupled to the thigh with an inelastic tendon, which causes automatic horizontal impulse compensation on liftoff for varying knee thrusts. Using a tendon-coupled ankle, stable sustained hopping is achieved for a fixed-torso monopod with a very simple control strategy, and with minimal hip actuator effort, while hopping in place is achieved for short time periods with a bipedal robot with freely pitching torso.
Nicotine exerts differential effects on different CA1 hippocampal cell types

Abstract The effects of (−) nicotine hydrogen tartrate (NHT) were examined on several cell types in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus. The results indicate that nicotine may have a preferential net inhibitory effect on basket cells and an excitatory effect on oriens/alveus interneurons. The resultant effects of nicotine on pyramidal cells may thus be a product of complex local circuit interactions.
“Inpatriation” training: The next challenge for international human resource management

Abstract The growth of international business among United States based companies will continue to expand and become a more important element in their overall sales. The International Human Resource Management [IHRM] function will be integral to any strategic plans as these organizations prepare for this expansion. One key element of IHRM will involve selecting and training employees for assignments in foreign countries. At the same time, training foreign managers to become effective managers in the domestic environment will constitute a new responsibility for IHRM. This paper explores the needs and means to train host country nationals and third country managers for assignments within an organization's home market—“inpatriation”.
The impact of a prejudice-prevention television program on young children’s ideas about race

Abstract Two studies investigated whether children’s television programs that were produced to decrease racial prejudice had the intended positive effect on young children. Study 1 measured 60 White 5- and 6-year-old children’s attitudes toward Asian, Black, and White stimuli prior to, and immediately following, a brief, one-time anti-prejudice television program. No significant change was observed. Study 2 assessed the attitudes of 30 White 3–6-year-old children toward Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White stimuli at the beginning and end of a 3-week intervention period. During the intervention period children watched a pro-diversity television program four times. Plot and anti-prejudice message comprehension was assessed at three time-points during the testing period. Participants improved on plot and message comprehension over time, but no change in ideas about race was evidenced (children indicated a strong pro-White bias at both pre- and post-test). Possible reasons for, and implications of, this lack of change are discussed.
Effect of an oscillating magnetic field on the release properties of magnetic collagen gels

The paper describes the effect of an oscillating magnetic field (OMF) on the morphology and release properties of collagen gels containing magnetic nanoparticles and microparticles and fluorescent drug analogues. Collagen gels were prepared through fibrillogenesis of collagen in the presence of iron oxide magnetic particles averaging 10 nm or 3 μm in diameter and rhodamine-labeled dextran (Dex-R) of molecular weights between 3000−70 000 g/mol. Dextran molecules effectively simulate protein-based drugs, since they have similar molecular weights and dimensions. The paper discusses the effect of an OMF on the release properties of the gels and proposes an empirical model to predict the release rate. It also demonstrates the self-repair capability of collagen gels following the structural damage caused by an OMF.
Amplitudes, polarity and time of peaks of strong ground motion during the 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake

Plots of smoothed contours of peak amplitudes and of areas with the same peak sign are presented for the radial, transverse and vertical components of acceleration, velocity and displacement. These were drawn by hand based on strong motion recordings, and represent direct observational evidence of the nature of the attenuation of strong motion with distance at high, intermediate and low frequencies. The contours of peak amplitudes indicate that, close to the source, those are affected by the source radiation pattern, and away from the source, by the geological structure. Slower attenuation of peak amplitudes with distance is observed for waves travelling through the sediments of the Los Angeles basin. Large areas with consistent peak polarity are observed, often tens of kilometers in size, indicating that the sign of the peak is not random. The time of the peak amplitude, relative to first arrivals of S-waves, was also calculated; the areas where this time was greater than 7 s were contoured and shaded, indicating peak occurrence later than the direct arrivals from the source. These plots show that, at distances larger than about 20–30 km, for acceleration, the largest peak occurs mostly before, and, for displacement, mostly after the arrival of surface waves. This indicates that the attenuation of strong ground motion is governed by body waves at short periods and by surface waves at long periods. The presented plots will be useful in refinement of attenuation laws for ground motion peak amplitudes, and for frequency dependent response spectrum ordinates.
Tetranuclear tungsten cyclooctatetraenyl alkoxides [W2COT(OR)4]2, where R=Me, Et and Pr

Abstract Two equivalents of W2COT(NMe2)4 react with eight equivalents of methanol, ethanol, or n-propanol to form the corresponding tetranuclear alkoxide clusters: [W2COT(OR)4]2 where R=Me, Et, or Pr. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies on the ethoxide and propoxide compounds reveal centrosymmetric molecules containing two [W2(μ-η5,η5-COT)(μ-OR)(OR)2] fragments. Each fragment has a W–W bond length of ca. 2.39 A and is connected to the other by a pair of symmetrically-bridging alkoxides. These bridging alkoxides are not cleaved in the presence of σ-donors thf and pyridine, or π-acceptor 2-butyne. NMR data suggest that this structure is maintained in solution. Unlike in the related dinuclear alkoxides, W2COT(OR)4 [where R=CH2But, Pri and But], the COT ligands are not fluxional at ambient temperature. The structural similarities between [W2COT(OPr)4]2, W2COT(OBut)4, and W4(H)2(OPri)14 are discussed.
Chromium-induced kidney disease.

Kidney disease is often cited as one of the adverse effects of chromium, yet chronic renal disease due to occupational or environmental exposure to chromium has not yet been reported. Occasional ca...
Stem cells: The clock within.

The molecular clock machinery regulates organisms' responses to daily variations in the environment. One unexpected response seems to be temporal fine-tuning of stem-cell behaviour in the skin. See Article p.209 Epidermal stem cells residing in specific niches in mouse skin ensure that skin homeostasis is efficiently maintained. Hair follicle bulge stem cells are responsible for hair follicle regeneration and wound healing. They produce a heterogeneous population of cells, for example in their ability to respond to intrinsic and extrinsic cues. This study by Salvador Benitah and colleagues shows that the circadian clock controls the activation state and the heterogeneity of bulge stem cells by regulating their ability to respond to their microenvironment. This means that a population of 'ready-to-go' cells is always available to respond to activation stimuli, while preventing all stem cells within the niche from becoming responsive. Perturbation of the epidermal stem-cell clock affects long-term tissue homeostasis and predisposition to tumorigenesis.
Vigorous exercise and the population distribution of body weight

BACKGROUND: While the benefits of vigorous exercise on body weight and regional adiposity are well established, whether these benefits affect equally the highest and lowest portions of the weight distribution have not been previously reported. The impact of exercise on the more extreme body weights and body circumferences is clinically important because these values represent individuals at greatest health risk. Method: Self-reported weights and body circumferences from a cross-sectional sample of 7288 male and 2326 female runners were divided into five strata, according to the distances run per week and within each stratum the 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 95th percentiles were determined. Least-squares regression was then employed at each percentile to determine the dose–response relationship between running distance and adiposity as determined by body mass index (BMI) and self-reported circumferences of the waist, hip and chest. RESULTS: Per kilometer run per week, the associated decline for BMI was three-fold greater at the 95th than at the 5th percentile in men, and six-fold greater at the 95th than the 5th percentile in women (all P<0.001). Reported waist circumference also declined more sharply at the 95th percentile than at the 5th percentile in men (−0.13±0.02 vs −0.06±0.01 cm per km/week) and women (−0.18±0.04 vs −0.05±0.01 cm per km/week). In women, both hip and chest circumferences declined more sharply per kilometer run at the 95th percentile than at the 5th percentile. Conclusions: These results are consistent with the hypothesis that running promotes the greatest weight loss specifically in those individuals who have the most to gain from losing weight. Comparisons based on average BMI or average body circumferences are likely to underestimate the health benefits of running because of the J-shaped relationship between adiposity and mortality. Whether the observed cross-sectional associations are primarily due to exercise-induced weight loss or self-selection remains to be determined.
Kinematic hardening of a porous limestone

A concept for a kinematic hardening yield surface in stress space for Cordova Cream limestone (Austin Chalk) developed by Celle and Cheatham (1981) has been improved using Ziegler's modification of Prager's hardening rule (Ziegler, 1959). Data to date agree with the formulated concepts. It is shown how kinematic hardening can be used to approximate the yield surface for a wide range of stress states past the initial yield surface. The particular difficulty of identifying the yield surface under conditions of unloading or extension is noted. A yield condition and hardening rule which account for the strain induced anisotropy in Cordova Cream Limestone were developed. Although the actual yield surface appears to involve some change of size and shape, it is concluded that true kinematic hardening provides a basis for engineering calculations.
Conflicting Ideologies: Views of Animal Rights Advocates and Their Opponents

In order to understand the animal rights movement as it exists today in American society, it is necessary to explore the ways in which the beliefs of those who support the movement differ from the beliefs of their adversaries. Societal views generally determine the perceived differences and similarities between people and animals, and the issues surrounding these differences are fundamental to the animal rights controversy.
Time to Re-Group: A Typology and Nested Phase Model for Action Teams

Action teams are unique among group types in that their work is focused on time-constrained performance events that cannot be redone later. This aspect of their team temporality gives rise to an em...
SpeechWare: a prosthesis for speech and motor impairment

SpeechWare 2.0 is a customizable speech prosthesis for people with communications as well as motor disabilities. It runs on an Apple Macintosh computer and provides user empowerment over synthesized and digitized speech, telephone and print communications, and household environmental control. The advantage of a ProsthesisWare approach is that it permits customization for each person's cognitive and physical capabilities and does not depend on neurological plasticity. The disadvantage is that ProsthesisWare requires new technical, programming, and support infrastructures to be established in the rehabilitation industry. >
Epidemic Spread of Lyme Borreliosis, Northeastern United States

We examined the degree of host specialization of different strains of Borrelia burgdorferi, the tickborne pathogen that causes Lyme borreliosis in the northeastern United States. We first assessed the genetic population structures of B. burgdorferi in ticks obtained from different mammalian host species and in questing ticks sampled in a woodland ecosystem in Connecticut. By comparing the patterns found in our study with data from another cross-sectional study, we demonstrate that B. burgdorferi is a generalist microparasite and conclude that efficient cross-species transmission of B. burgdorferi is a key feature that has allowed the rapid spread of Lyme borreliosis across the northeastern United States.
Acceptance, fairness, and political obligation

Among the most popular strategies for justifying political obligations are those that appeal to the principle of fairness. These theories face the challenge, canonically articulated by Robert Nozick, of explaining how it is that persons are obligated to schemes when they receive goods that they do not ask for but cannot reject. John Simmons offers one defense of the principle of fairness, arguing that people could be bound by obligations of fairness if they voluntarily accept goods produced by a cooperative scheme. Simmons, however, thinks that such a theory will do little work in justifying political obligations, since virtually no one voluntarily accepts state goods. This paper attempts to advance just such a theory by arguing that states are in fact genuine cooperative schemes and that Simmons is overly pessimistic in his appraisal of whether the majority of citizens accept the goods provided by their states.
Getting out alive: how predators affect the decision to metamorphose

Metamorphosis has intrigued biologists for a long time as an extreme form of complex life cycles that are ubiquitous in animals. While investigated from a variety of perspectives, the ecological focus has been on identifying and understanding the ecological factors that affect an individual’s decision on when, and at what size, to metamorphose. Predation is a major factor that affects metamorphic decisions and a recent review by Benard (Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 35:651–673, 2004)) documented how predator cues induce metamorphic changes relative to model predictions. Importantly, however, real predators affect larval prey via several mechanisms beyond simple induction. In this paper, I contrast the leading models of metamorphosis, provide an overview of the multiple ways that predators can directly and indirectly affect larval growth and development (via induction, thinning, and selection), and identify how each process should affect the time to and size at metamorphosis. With this mechanistic foundation established, I then turn to the well-studied model system of larval amphibians to synthesize studies on: (1) caged predators (which cause only induction), and (2) lethal predators (which cause induction, thinning, and selection). Among the caged-predator studies, the chemical cues emitted by predators rarely induce a smaller size at metamorphosis or a shorter time to metamorphosis, which is in direct contrast to theoretical predictions but in agreement with Benard’s (Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 35:651–673, 2004) review based on a considerably smaller dataset. Among the lethal-predator studies, there is a diversity of outcomes depending upon the relative importance of induction versus thinning with the relative importance of the two processes appearing to change with larval density. Finally, I review the persistent effects of larval predators after metamorphosis including both phenotypic and fitness effects. At the end, I outline a number of future directions to allow researchers to continue gaining insight into how predators affect the metamorphic decisions of their prey.
Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer: Experience at a Single Institution

Hypothesis Patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery (CRS) undergo downstaging of their tumor and have improved survival when compared with patients undergoing surgery followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (SCR). Design Retrospective study. Setting Tertiary-care university medical center. Patients One hundred twenty-three patients with squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus underwent Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy from January 1, 1990, through December 31, 2001. Of these, 31 received CRS; 27, SCR; and 65, surgery alone. Interventions Patients were candidates for neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy if they had locally advanced disease (T3/T4 N0 or any T stage with N1). Neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies were nonrandomized and based on the preference of the treating oncologist and surgeon. Main Outcome Measurements Pathological downstaging was analyzed in the patients receiving CRS. Operative mortality, postoperative morbidity, median survival, and overall survival were compared between the CRS and SCR groups. Results Pathological downstaging (as characterized by TNM staging) was observed in 20 (64%) of the patients receiving CRS. Complete pathological responses occurred in 5 (16%) of the patients undergoing CRS. No 30-day mortality was observed in either treatment group. No statistical difference in survival was observed between groups, although a trend suggested improved survival with neoadjuvant therapy (3-year survival in CRS and SCR groups was 45% and 22%, respectively; P = .15). Complete pathological responders in the CRS group had a 1-year survival of 80% compared with 29% in nonresponders ( P = .25). No statistical differences were observed between groups in relation to blood loss, length of hospital stay, mortality, or morbidity. Conclusions Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy effectively downstages cancer in patients with locally advanced esophageal disease. Morbidity and operative mortality were not significantly different between patients receiving neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy. The difference in overall survival between the 2 groups did not reach statistical significance, although a trend at 3 years was observed.
Cybersecurity: A joint terminal engineering office perspective

The integration of cyberspace and space systems development and operations activities has become essential to the successful achievement of Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) Net-Centric mission requirements. In general, approaches to Air Force risk management and cybersecurity have focused largely on the implementation of technology as reactive mechanisms in the operational environment. The importance of proactively addressing the risks associated with space/cyberspace integration at any point in the system development lifecycle (SDLC) and iteratively re-addressing those risks throughout the SDLC has become even greater in the face of continually evolving cyberspace threats. In response to this situation, an approach to threat and vulnerability assessments has been developed to conduct risk identification, analysis, handling, and monitoring iteratively throughout the SDLC for the Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) Systems Wing (MCSW) portfolio of programs. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Joint Terminal Engineering Office (JTEO) emphasizes proactive end to end terminal engineering analysis that is critical to the success of terminal acquisition programs (systems development) and the operational (warfighter) mission. This paper presents the JTEO's approach to addressing cyber-based threats and vulnerabilities to MILSATCOM systems, architectures, and Joint terminal development that integrates both qualitative and quantitative engineering analyses for improved decision-making regarding the effectiveness of and return on investment (ROI) from terminal requirements. The JTEO approach to threat, vulnerability and risk assessment adapts MCSW and AFSPC enterprise risk management strategies by identifying cyberspace threats to the terminal segment and supporting the mitigation of those threats during systems engineering, development, systems integration, test and evaluation, and information assurance (IA) certification and accreditation (C&A) and supplying the results of those efforts to the enterprise. The JTEO cybersecurity initiatives support the terminal C&A process and can also support the process by which terminals may gain approval to connect to MILSATCOM systems, and potentially, through those MILSATCOM systems, to the Defense Information Systems Network (DISN)/Global Information Grid (GIG).
Magnetic states of the five-orbital Hubbard model for one-dimensional iron-based superconductors

The magnetic phase diagrams of models for quasi-one-dimensional compounds belonging to the iron-based-superconductor family are presented. The five-orbital Hubbard model and the real-space Hartree--Fock approximation are employed, supplemented by density functional theory to obtain the hopping amplitudes. Phase diagrams are constructed by varying the Hubbard $U$ and Hund $J$ couplings at zero temperature. The study is carried out at electronic density (electrons per iron) $n=5.0$, which is of relevance for the already-known material ${\mathrm{TlFeSe}}_{2}$, and also at $n=6.0$, where representative compounds still need to be synthesized. At $n=5.0$ there is a clear dominance of staggered spin order along the chain direction. At $n=6.0$ and with the realistic Hund coupling $J/U=0.25$, the phase diagram is far richer, including a variety of ``block'' states involving ferromagnetic clusters that are antiferromagnetically coupled, in qualitative agreement with recent density matrix renormalization group calculations for the three-orbital Hubbard model in a different context. These block states arise from the competition between ferromagnetic order (induced by double exchange and prevailing at large $J/U$) and antiferromagnetic order (dominating at small $J/U$). The density of states and orbital compositions of the many phases are also provided.
Enhancing both network and user performance for networks supporting best effort traffic

With a view on improving user-perceived performance on networks supporting best effort flows, e.g., multimedia/data file transfers, we propose a family of bandwidth allocation criteria that depends on the residual work of on-going transfers. Analysis and simulations show that allocating bandwidth in this fashion can significantly improve the user-perceived delay, bit transmission delay, and throughput over traditional approaches, e.g., by 58% on an 80% loaded linear network. A simple implementation based on TCP Reno, exemplifies how one might approach practically realizing such gains. We discuss several other advantages of incorporating such differentiation at the transport level. In particular we make the case that favoring small transfers combined with user impatience or peak rate constraints, both of which are natural mechanisms for users to express the utility of completing transfers, offers a lightweight approach to achieving good overall network goodput and/or utility for best effort networks.
Paternally biased X inactivation in mouse neonatal brain

Background X inactivation in female eutherian mammals has long been considered to occur at random in embryonic and postnatal tissues. Methods for scoring allele-specific differential expression with a high degree of accuracy have recently motivated a quantitative reassessment of the randomness of X inactivation.
One step beyond histograms: Image representation using Markov stationary features

This paper proposes a general framework called Markov stationary features (MSF) to extend histogram based features. The MSF characterizes the spatial co-occurrence of histogram patterns by Markov chain models, and finally yields a compact feature representation through Markov stationary analysis. Therefore, the MSF goes one step beyond histograms since it now involves spatial structure information of both within histogram bins and between histogram bins. Moreover, it still keeps simplicity, compactness, efficiency, and robustness. We demonstrate how the MSF is used to extend histogram based features like color histogram, edge histogram, local binary pattern histogram and histogram of oriented gradients. We evaluate the MSF extended histogram features on the task of TRECVID video concept detection. Results show that the proposed MSF extensions can achieve significant performance improvement over corresponding histogram features.
Attenuated Expression of Profilin-1 Confers Protection From Atherosclerosis in the LDL Receptor–Null Mouse

Atherosclerosis-related events are a major cause of morbidity and death worldwide, but the mechanisms underlying atherogenesis are not fully understood. We showed in previous studies that the actin-binding protein profilin-1 (pfn) was upregulated in atherosclerotic plaques and in endothelial cells (ECs) treated with oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL). The present study addressed the role of pfn in atheroma formation. To this end, mice with heterozygous deficiency of pfn, Pfn(+/-), were crossed with Ldlr(-/-) mice. After 2 months under a 1.25% cholesterol atherogenic diet, Pfn(+/-)Ldlr(-/-) (PfnHet) exhibited a significant reduction in lesion burden compared with Ldlr(-/-) control mice (PfnWT), whereas total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were similar in the 2 groups. Relevant atheroprotective changes were identified in PfnHet. When compared with PfnWT, aortas from PfnHet mice showed preserved endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation and nitric oxide (NO)-dependent signaling, and reduced vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 expression and macrophage accumulation at lesion-prone sites. Similarly, knockdown of pfn in cultured aortic ECs was protective against endothelial dysfunction triggered by oxLDL. Finally, bone marrow-derived macrophages from PfnHet showed blunted internalization of oxLDL and oxLDL-induced inflammation. These studies demonstrate that pfn levels modulate processes critical for early atheroma formation and suggest that pfn heterozygosity confers atheroprotection through combined endothelial- and macrophage-dependent mechanisms.
Determination of Surface Area by Surfactant Adsorption in Aqueous Suspension — I. Dodecylamine Hydrochloride

Conductometric titrations of clay suspensions with surfactant solutions offer a rapid method of surface area determination of clay particles suspended in aqueous media. A cationic surfactant, dodecylamine hydrochloride, was used in this investigation. This surfactant was adsorbed by electrostatic bonding at cation exchange sites and by van der Waals forces. A monomolecular or bimolecular layer of the surfactant coats the particle and the completion of the layer is determined from a change in slope of the conductometric titration curve due to the formation of micelles. Good agreement between this method and BET determined values were obtained for kaolinite. The bentonite suspensions had a strong tendency to flocculate after the initial stage of adsorption causing the results to vary considerably. This method of surface area measurement of clay particles offers many advantages over the present techniques: (1) a dry particle is not required; (2) the equipment is inexpensive and available in many laboratories; (3) the method is rapid; (4) vacuum and high temperature are not required, and (5) the method measures the internal as well as external surface area.
Relationship of Health Status, Functional Status, and Psychosocial Status to Driving Among Elderly with Disabilities

SUMMARYObjective. To examine the relationship between driving status and demographics, health status, functional status, and mental and psychosocial status.Methods. The Consumer Assessment Study Interview Battery (CAS-IB), administered to 697 community dwelling men and women aged 60 to 106, included instruments to measure health, functional status, and mental and psychosocial status. These variables were compared for three groups based on driving status: those still driving, those who had ceased driving, and those who had never driven.Results. Differences among the three groups were found for age, race, gender, income, education level, home ownership, and living situation. Differences among the three groups were found for many measures of health status and all measures of functional, mental, and psychosocial status.Conclusions. Declines in health, functional ability, and cognition are associated with driving cessation. Availability of alternative forms of transportation, whether supplied by the community,...
Getting back to basics.

The physician–patient relationship is full of enough subtleties and surprises to challenge even the most seasoned clinician. Many high-stakes encounters are a balancing act. How do you tell a young mother that the finding of peritoneal metastases means her cancer is incurable? Assess a request from a patient with chronic pain who may also be drug-seeking? Convince a depressed widower that antidepressants aren’t a “crutch,” but a key to recovery? Or help a patient with recurrent low back pain recognize that what she needs is physical therapy and a solid weight loss plan, not another MRI. Honing the skills to deal with these communication challenges is, for many general internists, a key source of professional satisfaction. Words can injure patients just as surely as an errant scalpel, or heal as effectively as the most potent medication. As with technical procedures, becoming a more effective communicator takes effort, practice, and additional training. Not all of us can become expert communicators, but we all can get better. And a good place to start is with the basics. In this issue of JGIM, Tackett et al. look at the execution of six communication behaviors by 24 academic hospitalists in Baltimore.1 These behaviors, collectively coined “etiquette-based medicine” by Michael Kahn, are so basic they might deserve the label “common courtesy.” But as the study highlights, courtesy on the hospital wards is not so common. Physicians introduced themselves in less than half of all encounters and sat down in less than a third. Asking patients for their perspective on their illness or the hospitalization was vanishingly rare. The authors suggest that use of a simple checklist could allow health care providers “to start every patient interaction with overt displays of respect and humanism.” Other articles this month also touch on the value of the basics. For example, an article by Patel et al. examines readiness for meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs) among primary care and specialty practices.2 Among the more interesting findings, primary care practices with “basic” EHR functionality almost always met criteria for “core” meaningful use; the same was not true in specialty practices. In a different vein, Chretien and Chretien argue that the country is underprepared to deal with the health problems of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, and that non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) providers will need rapid remediation (“basic training”?) to cope effectively with the influx.3 And a provocative study by Davydow et al. suggests that inadequately treated major depression is a major risk factor for hospitalization for ambulatory-sensitive conditions.4 A Capsule Commentary by JGIM Deputy Editor Matt Bair puts the findings in context.5 It is accepted wisdom in the business world that execution beats strategy six days out of seven. Executing on the basics, and executing well, may be a principle the medical world would do well to adopt.