cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HandyTrak: Recognizing the Holding Hand on a Commodity Smartphone from Body Silhouette Images

Understanding which hand a user holds a smartphone with can help improve the mobile interaction experience. For instance, the layout of the user interface (UI) can be adapted to the holding hand. In this paper, we present HandyTrak, an AI-powered software system that recognizes the holding hand on a commodity smartphone using body silhouette images captured by the front-facing camera. The silhouette images are processed and sent to a customized user-dependent deep learning model (CNN) to infer how the user holds the smartphone (left, right, or both hands). We evaluated our system on each participant’s smartphone at five possible front camera positions in a user study with ten participants under two hand positions (in the middle and skewed) and three common usage cases (standing, sitting, and resting against a desk). The results showed that HandyTrak was able to continuously recognize the holding hand with an average accuracy of 89.03% (SD: 8.98%) at a 2 Hz sampling rate. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities to deploy HandyTrak on different commodity smartphones and potential applications in real-world scenarios.
An Early Permian, paleopolar, postglacial, river-dominated deltaic succession in the Mackellar–Fairchild formations at Turnabout Ridge, Central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica

Abstract Turnabout Ridge, a remote outcrop belt in the Beardmore Glacier Region of the Central Transantarctic Mountains, comprises subglacial–glaciomarine deposits of the Pagoda Formation (Fm) overlain by a postglacial deltaic succession of the Mackellar–Fairchild formations (fms). Four depositional environments were identified in the Mackellar–Fairchild fms: 1) prodelta to distal-delta-front deposits that record the initial filling of a newly formed intracratonic basin; 2) an interval dominated by subaqueous terminal distributary channels and levees that signal the advancement of a delta into the region; 3) mouth bars and associated subaqueous terminal distributaries representing the proximal delta front; and 4) an overlying sand-dominated braidplain. A companion ichnologic study identified 30 ichnogenera in the Mackellar Fm that combine to form six ichnocoenoses. Twelve traces are known only from marine settings, 18 are found across marine, brackish, and freshwater systems, and none are known solely from freshwater systems. The ichnology refines paleoenvironmental and paleosalinity interpretations for the Mackellar Fm, and indicates a predominantly brackish water paleoenvironment. Subaqueous terminal distributary channels record the highest energies, suspended sediment concentrations, and sediment loads, and are the conduits that delivered sediment to the delta front and prodelta. Abundant traction deposits (hyperpycnites) displaying only minor wave or tide modification suggest that the delta is best classified as river-flood dominated. The succession exhibits similarities to the Panther Tongue and Ferron Notom deltas of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, USA, and a Late Ordovician proglacial delta from the Murzuq Basin in Libya. The combined ichnologic and sedimentologic evidence suggests that sediment-laden glacial outburst floods produced freshets that recurrently prepped a shallow-marine basin, reducing salinities and allowing for abundant channelization and hyperpycnite deposition along the delta front. Turnabout Ridge likely occupied a proximal and axial position relative to an Antarctic freshwater- and sedimentation-stressed, river-dominated marine deltaic system along the shoreline of an epeiric seaway during the Early Permian.
Proliferative Activity of Benign Human Prostate, Prostatic Adenocarcinoma and Seminal Vesicle Evaluated by Thymidine Labeling

AbstractThe thymidine labeling index (TLI) was measured in vitro in the epithelium and stroma of benign prostate glands and seminal vesicles and in the epithelium of prostatic adenocarcinomas. The mean epithelial TLI of normal peripheral (posterior) prostatic zone was 0.12 per cent, and that of the normal central (deep) zone was 0.11 per cent. Mean normal stromal TLLs were 0.08 per cent and 0.06 per cent, respectively. The mean TLI of epithelium in nodular hyperplasia was 0.31 per cent, which differs significantly from normal epithelium (p < 0.05), and the mean stromal TLI was also increased (0.16 per cent, p < 0.1). The mean TLI of prostatic adenocarcinomas was 0.90 per cent (range 0.14 to 3.90 per cent) which was significantly higher than for either normal epithelium (p < 0.001) or epithelium of nodular hyperplasia (p < 0.05). Trends of increasing TLI with increasing histologic grades and increasing nuclear size and numbers of nucleoli were not significant. The data support participation of both epithel...
GPAT: A Genre Purity Assessment Tool

This study introduces a Genre Purity Assessment Tool (GPAT). GPAT calculates genre purity by using SIF n-graphs (statistically improbable graph strings) to identify genre characteristics in text. The study describes the tool and assesses it across five experiments that feature a variety of text types and text lengths. The results demonstrate that GPAT is at least as effective as a system that uses a combination of 30 complex textual analysis indices. The results further demonstrate that GPAT is informative on texts as short as three words. The study is of value to discourse psychologists, psycholinguistics, and any researchers for whom the genre of texts is a component of the analysis.
Semantic guidance for saturation provers

We use finite interpretations to guide searches in first-order and equational theorem provers. The interpretations are carefully chosen and based on expert knowledge of the problem area of the conjecture. The method has been implemented in the Prover9 system, and equational examples are given the areas of lattice theory, Boolean algebras, and modular ortholattices.
Epilogue to the 2nd Brown Tide Conference are Aureococcus and Other Nuisance Algal Blooms Selectively Enriched by the Runoff of Turf Chemicals

Just two years after the first Brown Tide conference at Hauppauge, NY, 23 and 24 October, 1986 (Anon., 1987), it is impressive how the scientific community is filling the voids with self imposed goals. There is much diversity in goal and approach, and what redundancy there is, is very healthy as similar problems are attacked by different methodologies. An immunofluorescence approach to the study of picoplankton is being very ably conducted with exciting results by Campbell et al. (1989) for several picoplankters, and for Aureococcus alone by Anderson et al. (1989). Hargraves et al. (1989) are looking at the known phototrophic picoplankters as a group, and not limiting themselves to dominants as Paul Johnson and I have done (Sieburth and Johnson, 1989). It is a pity that catastrophic brown tides are needed to focus attention on an understudied group, and even if it is the right thing to do for the wrong reasons, at least things are in motion. It is also encouraging that Hargraves laboratory is learning to characterize the natural picoplankton with ultrastructural studies (Hargraves et al., 1989), the key to identifying the dominant component in the 1985 bloom year (Sieburth et al., 1988). The Sieburth lab must now get back to studying the microbiology and chemistry of stratified estuarine ecosystems (Sieburth, 1987) for which we are funded.
The composition of Mars' topside ionosphere: Effects of hydrogen

[1] A one-dimensional model of the Martian ionosphere is used to explore the importance of atomic and molecular hydrogen chemistry in the upper atmosphere and ionosphere. Neutral and ionized H and H2 undergo chemical reactions that lead to the production of the hydrogenated ions: H+, H2+, H3+, OH+, HCO+, ArH+, N2H+, HCO2+, and HOC+. Simulations are conducted for the cases of photochemistry only and photochemistry coupled with transport in order to asses the separate effects of plasma diffusion in the topside ionosphere. For both of these cases, the sensitivity of the ionosphere is tested for (1) molecular hydrogen abundance and (2) reaction rate, k1, for the charge exchange between H+ and H2. Results are reported for midday solar minimum conditions. We find that the ionospheric composition of Mars is sensitive to H2 abundance, but relatively insensitive to the reaction rate, k1. Depending on the conditions simulated, the topside ionosphere can contain appreciable amounts of hydrogenated species such as H3+, OH+, and HCO+. Comparisons are made with Viking ion density measurements as well as with results of other published Mars ionospheric models. Future comparisons with more extensive ion composition will be available when the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission arrives at Mars.
Hepatic Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells

Hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HSECs) are a morphologically distinct population of cells that form the lining of liver sinusoids. Features that distinguish HSEC from endothelial cells present in other organs and in larger liver vessels are the presence of multiple fenestrae throughout the cells and the lack of an underlying basement membrane [1–4].
OODB support for providing transparent schema changes

Schema updates on shared object-oriented databases (OODBs) are almost always prohibited because of the risk of making existing application programs obsolete when run against the modified schema. We have proposed a solution approach, called Transparent Schema Evolution (TSE), that successfully addresses this problem by integrating schema evolution capabilities with object-oriented view facilities. In TSE, users interface with the OODB exclusively through their customized database view. In this paper, we identify key features required from OODB systems in order to provide such transparent schema change support, including multiple classification, dynamic reclassification, and flexible restructuring. Such features are currently not supported by commercial OODB systems. We thus propose a novel object-oriented modeling paradigm that overcomes these limitations. Key concepts of the proposed solution include object-slicing techniques and object-oriented views. In this paper, we describe a prototype implementation of the object-slicing paradigm that we have built to demonstrate the feasibility of our TSE approach.
Postpartum symphysis pubis diastasis

The pubic symphysis is a midline, nonsynovial joint that connects the right and left superior pubic rami. The interposed fibrocartilaginous disk is reinforced by a series of ligaments that attach to it. The joint allows very limited movement of approximately 0.5-1mm. Under hormonal stimulation during pregnancy, there is widening of the symphysis pubis and the sacroiliac joints. Diastasis wider than 15 mm is considered subdislocation and is generally associated with pain, swelling, and occasionally deformity. Most cases can be treated conservatively. However, internal or external surgical stabilization may occasionally be required.
Nonlinear neutrino oscillations in the expanding Universe.

We derive the equations that govern neutrino and antineutrino behavior in the early Universe. Results are presented from numerical simulations incorporating nonlinear effects of the neutrino-antineutrino background as well as the leading $\mathrm{CP}$-symmetric and $\mathrm{CP}$-asymmetric terms arising from the interactions with electrons and positrons. A broad spectrum of neutrino and antineutrino behavior is observed, ranging from vacuumlike to smooth. Oscillations exhibiting self-maintained coherence also appear. We identify a variety of neutrino properties arising as a consequence of the nonlinear neutrino self-interactions. The nonlinear effects tend to suppress any $\mathrm{CP}$ asymmetry relative to the linear case. An analytical approximation scheme reproducing bulk neutrino behavior is described. We discuss some physical implications of our results.
Optimum Pulse Control of Flexible Structures

A simple yet efficient active control method is presented for reducing the oscillations of distributed parameter systems subjected to arbitrary dynamic environments. Following determination that some specified response threshold has been exceeded, an open-loop control pulse is applied. The optimum pulse characteristics are determined analytically so as to minimize a non-negative cost function related to the structure energy. The proposed control method is shown to be reliable in consistently mitigating the response of realistic multidegree-of-freedom systems, whether linear or nonlinear, subject to arbitrary stochastic or deterministic excitation.
Precocious Scaling in Field Theories

We investigate precocious scaling in the sense of the Wilson operator-product expansion (OPE). We derive expressions for the coefficient functions appearing in such an expansion in terms of moments of the appropriate deep-inelastic structure functions. In these sum rules target-mass terms are treated exactly. Ratios of certain moments of structure functions have a computable deviation from naive scaling results which depends only on the magnitude of the effective charge $g({Q}^{2})$. An analysis of existing electroproduction data indicates that scaling in the OPE sense sets in for ${Q}^{2}$ as low as 2-3 Ge${\mathrm{V}}^{2}$. The charge $g({Q}^{2})$ appears to be small and may have ${Q}^{2}$ dependence only within experimental errors. We consider these results as evidence that the underlying theory of strong interactions is an asymptotically free field theory or a field theory with a small ultraviolet-stable fixed point.
Transient analysis of the metadyne generator

SINCE WORLD WAR II, the increased use of direct current for ship propulsion, aircraft systems, and feedback control systems has refocused attention on the potentialities offered by d-c machines in many novel forms. However, the full possibilities of these machines can be realized only after consideration of a more general class of machines known as metadynes. This article presents an analysis of the transient performance of one fundamental type: the so-called S-generator or cross-connected metadyne.
An efficient collision-free protocol for prioritized access-control of cable or radio channels

Abstract We describe and analyze an efficient collision-free channel-access protocol for cable or radio networks with an arbitrary spatial (one-, two- or three-dimensional) fixed node configuration. The protocol is robust and provides distributed access-control under a myriad of possible priority disciplines, including Fixed, Fair Round-Robin and Prioritized Round-Robin disciplines. The protocol optimally employs available information on network topology, to provide performance characteristics (throughput and delay) that are at least as good as and in most cases much better than those of other published protocols that employ less information. The performance advantage is especially significant for networks with a large number of nodes.
Spouses’ Social Control of Health Behaviors: Use and Effectiveness of Specific Strategies

Forty-four couples described the strategies they used in attempting to prompt their partner to engage in particular health behaviors, strategies used by their partner that were effective and ineffective in prompting their own engagement in health behaviors, and their own psychological reactions to the partner’s use of social control. Strategies that were more frequently mentioned as effective rather than ineffective included the partner also engaging in the desired health behavior, modeling the health behavior, discussing health issues, and providing emotional support. Spouses reported feeling lower self-esteem, less positive affect, and more negative affect in response to their partner’s use of ineffective rather than effective strategies. In addition, both spouses rated their partners’ use of ineffective (compared to effective) strategies as less motivated by a concern for the participant’s welfare and more motivated by their partner’s own desire to exert control within the relationship.
Spatial questions: cultural topologies and social spatialisations

Spatial questions: cultural topologies and social spatialisations, by Rob Shields, Los Angeles, Sage, 2013, xiv + 197 pp., US$50.00 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-8486-0665-4 Understanding the connections between culture and space is perhaps the key tenet of cultural geographic study. With Spatial Questions: Cultural Topologies and Social Spatialisations Rob Shields identifies and expands upon a litany of theoretical origins helping explain the ways in which space, place, and geographic thoughts have been molded by cultural norms throughout history. In this work. Shields balances detailed inquiry toward various spatial thinkers while frequently interjecting his own views in these debates. For Shields, the ways we as humans comprehend space both reveal and affect how we act. Several threads of this mentality are brought together to form the entirety of the book, including three opening chapters which contextualize pre-twentieth century scholarship on culture-time-topology tensions. Shields begins the book by relating examples of ancient geographic texts to more recent trends in philosophies of space. Doing so establishes spatial knowledge as something organically cultural and provides a strong preface for deeper theoretical structuring of what cultural topologies really are. From here the book goes on to contend that space is problematic in nature, making it an inherently cultural phenomenon. Because space is often a social and not purely Euclidean construct, says Shields, many bodies of power, influence, and decision-making that involve spatial elements are cultural concerns. This line of thinking serves as a preface for multiple sections analyzing and critiquing theorists who challenge the idea of space as a void. A central part of this exploration is connecting critical theories on space to the development of Marxist and other politically charged conceptions of space, place, and human geography. The concepts presented in this book collectively offer an intricate theoretical background on how culture and space intersect and form one another. Moving from pure space to lived space, and then examining how the social construct of either comes to exist, Shields closes his book with chapters on space-time and possible ways to bring various perspectives together in practice. In essence, Shields wants more people to engage with cultural geographic thought by consciously raising the question, "What is space?" and supplementing it with further discussion of who answers (or does not answer) this question and why. The book also recognizes how space is often difficult to order or categorize. As a result, systematic network approaches to understanding spatiality are examined for their utility. This evokes an extension of the book's thesis: because space is cultural but also layered through networks of understanding and experience, space, while frequently structured and held as absolute, has a strong relative nature. …
Moral Sensitivity in the Context of Socioscientific Issues in High School Science Students

This study is a part of a larger study that examined using socioscientific issues (SSI) as a form of effective science teaching. The purpose was to investigate how teaching a year‐long curriculum using SSI affects science learning outcomes. In this report, we examine the effects of a SSI‐driven curriculum on the development of students’ moral sensitivity. Our results indicate that development of moral sensitivity can be promoted through science learning experiences embedded in SSI. Results also suggest that moral sensitivity is contextually dependent. Implications for teaching are discussed.
A SURVEY OF INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION RESEARCHES

(1965). A SURVEY OF INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION RESEARCHES. Educational Research: Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 8-25.
Effect of increased plasma osmolality on cold-induced thirst attenuation.

The effects of elevating plasma osmolality (P osm) on thirst ratings was studied in eight dehydrated males during exposure to 4°C. On two occasions, subjects were dehydrated (DH; 3–4% body mass) via 90 min exercise-heat exposure and overnight fluid restriction (day 1). On a third occasion, subjects were exposed to heat but were given fluid (EU). On day 2, subjects consumed NaCl (NaCl; 0.1 g NaCl kg−1 body mass in 500 ml H2O; DH only) or Placebo (P; 500 ml H2O; DH and EU). Subjects stood for 30 min at 24°C and for 45 min at 4°C (75 min post-dose). P osm was elevated (P < 0.05) 30 and 75 min after NaCl administration in DH + NaCl versus DH + P and EU + P treatments. Thirst ratings remained elevated (P < 0.05) in the DH + NaCl treatment 30 min after dosing and 45 min at 4°C versus DH + P and EU + P. Attenuation of thirst when dehydrated in the cold can be over-ridden by increasing P osm.
Rapid group separations of nucleotides and related compounds on silica columns

Abstract Nucleosides, bases, and nucleotides can be separated from one another rapidly (10–15 min) on 1-ml silica cartridges. Samples adjusted to 4 m m ammonium borate, 90% acetonitrile are loaded onto 1-ml columns equilibrated with the same solvent. Bases do not absorb to the silica under these conditions. Nucleosides are eluted with 16 ml of 0.5 m acetic acid in 90% acetonitrile. Nucleotides are then eluted with water. The 1-ml silica columns have performed well with samples up to 10 ml in volume. We have found the procedure to be quantitative and the gels to have high capacity (61 μmol Cyd/ml silica). Acid extracts from a large number of cells (10 8 ) have been processed on a single cartridge.
Application of statistical-overlap theory to gas chromatograms simulated on nonpolar stationary phases with commercial software

Scores of gas chromatograms of complex nonpolar mixtures were simulated on nonpolar stationary phases with commercial software. The mixtures included petroleum, alkanes, pesticides, flavors and fragrances, drugs, volatiles, industrial solvents, phenoxy acids, semivolatiles, C-, N-, and S-containing polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, Arochlors, and polychlorinated biphenyls, naphthalenes, dibenzo-p-dioxins, and dibenzofurans. With commercial software, the retention times of mixture components were calculated from Kovats retention indices, and the standard deviations of single-component peaks were calculated from the modified Golay–Giddings equation. These peak parameters then were used to predict the numbers of peaks expected in the chromatograms, using laboratory software based on the point-process statistical theory of overlap and the Poisson distribution. In most cases, the predictions agreed very well with the numbers of peaks found in chromatograms simulated with the peak parameters. This agreement verified that the interval between successive single-component peaks in most gas chromatograms of complex nonpolar mixtures developed on nonpolar stationary phases can be represented by a random variable. Statistical-overlap theory can be applied to such chromatograms.
Affective responses to the emotions of a protagonist

This study in vestigated the merits of various theoretical rationales for predicting viewer's affective responses to the expressed emotions of a protagonist. A film depicting a child undergoning an emotion-inducing experience was produced in six versions and shown to elementary school children. The versions effectd a factorial variation in (a) the type of behavior exhibited by the protagonist in the initial sequences (malevolent, neutral, benevolent) and (b) the emotion expressed by the protagonist in the final sequence (euphoria, dysphoria). When the protagonist behaved benevolently or neutrally, the affective responses of viewers were concordant with those of the protagonist, but when he behaved malevolently, viewer's affective responses were discordant with his. The latter finding was seen to be in conflict with predictions based strictly on empathy. The rationale that was considered to account best for the findings was based on the assumption that the observer's affective disposition mediates the tendency to respond concordantly or discordantly to another's emotions.
X-ray microlithography exposure system for high aspect ratio micromachining

A new x-ray micro-lithography exposure system has been designed and built at CAMD to meet specific demands of synchrotron radiation assisted high aspect ratio micromachining. The system consists of a broad-band transmission (1.2 angstroms to 6.5 angstroms) beamline and a multi-chamber X-ray Exposure Station. The beam line accepts radiation emitted in a bending magnet of the CAMD 1.3 - 1.5 GeV synchrotron storage ring. The beam line is approximately 10 m long and terminates with 125 micrometers thick Be window which defines an X-ray beam of 50 X 10 mm2 at the exposure plane. The beam line is configured to provide 1.0 W/cm2 at 1.5 GeV and 100 mA storage ring operation. The Exposure Station is designed to control different exposure conditions and can handle a variety of mask/sample assemblies. The first camber of the exposure tool is designated as a radiation filter, it controls x-ray spectra using foils and inert gases, and optimizes dose delivered to a sample with a thick resist (in excess of 1 mm). The second chamber is equipped with a multi-axes scanning mechanism to provide designed orientation and exposure of the mask/sample assembly. The two chamber can be separated by a thin foil to facilitate the use of reactive atmospheres for radiation induced chemical processes during exposure. An expansion of the Exposure Station providing large area exposures (up to 300 X 300 mm2) is described.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hemothorax as a complication of costal cartilaginous exostoses

We report two patients with hemothorax as a complication of costal cartilaginous exostoses.
Comparison of Scattering Rates and Thermal Conductivity in Diamond Using Dispersion Curve Data

The understanding of the mechanism of thermal energy transfer in thin films ranging in thicknesses from micro-scale to nano-scale is becoming very important. Thin films must be modeled at the atomic level and this entails treating the heat transfer as vibrations in a crystal lattice. The concept of phonons can be used to model the vibrational energy of the crystal. Phonon scattering rates and thermal conductivity are investigated for Cubic C (diamond). Boundary scattering, Umklapp processes, and Normal processes are the mechanisms considered for heat flow resistance. The normal processes are included due to there indirect effect on resistance (through phonon redistribution). Three symmetry directions [001], [110], [111], and three polarizations for each direction in the first Brillouin zone are considered. The main purpose of the paper is to study the effect of the curvature of the phonon dispersion curves when computing the phonon scattering rates and thermal conductivity. A comparison of thermal conductivity for each polarization and symmetry direction is made between a continuum model, a linear curve fit and a polynomial curve fit of dispersion data. A comparison is also made between the scattering rates for each polarization, symmetry direction as well as the group velocity for each.© 2005 ASME
Neuroblast specification and formation regulated by wingless in the Drosophila CNS

The Drosophila central nervous system (CNS) develops from a heterogeneous population of neural stem cells (neuroblasts), yet the genes regulating neuroblast determination remain unknown. The segmentation gene wingless is regionally expressed in the neuroectoderm from which neuroblasts develop. A conditional wingless mutation is used to inactivate CNS function without affecting segmentation. The stripe of wingless-expressing neuroectoderm generates apparently normal neuroblasts after wingless inactivation; however, adjacent anterior and posterior neuroectoderm requires wingless nonautonomously for subsequent neuroblast determination and formation. Loss of wingless results in the absence or duplication of identified neuroblasts, highlighting its role in generating neuroblast diversity in the CNS.
Temporal and chemical connections between plutons and ignimbrites from the Mount Princeton magmatic center

The Mount Princeton magmatic center, located in central Colorado, consists of the epizonal Mount Princeton batholith, the nested Mount Aetna caldera, and volumetrically minor leucogranites. New CA-TIMS U/Pb zircon ages indicate the majority of the Mount Princeton batholith was emplaced during a period of regional ignimbrite quiescence. The structurally highest unit of quartz monzonite yields a 206Pb/238U age of 35.80 ± 0.10 Ma, and the youngest dated unit of the quartz monzonite is a porphyritic unit that yields a 206Pb/238U age of 35.37 ± 0.10 Ma. Using the exposed, dated volume of the quartz monzonite and new geochronology yields an estimated pluton filling rate of ~0.002 km3/a. This rate is comparable to the accumulation rates published for other plutons, and at least an order of magnitude slower than fluxes necessary to support accumulation of large eruptible magma volumes. Geochronology for the two large ignimbrites spatially associated with the batholith indicates a temporal disconnect between the vast majority of pluton building and explosive eruption of magma. The Wall Mountain Tuff erupted from a source in the same geographic area as the Mount Princeton batholith at 37.3 Ma (Ar/Ar sanidine), but no structural evidence of a caldera or temporally associated plutonic rocks is known. The Badger Creek Tuff erupted at 34.3 Ma (Ar/Ar sanidine) during the formation of the Mount Aetna caldera in the southern portion of the batholith. Our 206Pb/238U age for the Badger Creek Tuff is 34.47 ± 0.05. The only analyzed plutonic rocks of similar age to the Badger Creek Tuff are an extra-caldera dike with a 206Pb/238U age of 34.57 ± 0.08 Ma, a ring dike with a 206Pb/238U age of 34.48 ± 0.09 Ma, and a portion of the Mount Aetna pluton with a 206Pb/238U age of 34.60 ± 0.13 Ma. The small volume intrusions related to the eruption of the Badger Creek Tuff are chemically similar to the ignimbrite and show no signature of crystal–liquid separation in the shallow crust.
Relative influence of weather and season on anuran calling activity

Drivers of anuran reproductive activity may include multiple and independent environmental variables. To determine the relative influence of season, temperature, and precipitation in initiating frog reproduction, we monitored a species-rich frog assemblage in south-central Alabama for 3 years and modeled calling activity of vocalizing males, who call to attract mates. We evaluated multiple hypotheses potentially explaining calling activity and we were able to identify significant influences of calling activity for all 11 anuran species considered in the analysis. Eight species were significantly influenced by month of survey and four of these were influenced by at least one additional environmental variable. In our study, precipitation was relatively unimportant in influencing calling activity, likely because breeding pools at the site are semipermanent and the species we sampled are not generally reliant on ephemeral wetlands. In general, our data suggest that different species within the same wetlands respond to different cues when initiating reproduction and calling activity is largely based on a combination of both environmental conditions and either seasonal changes or endogenous drivers.
Ground peak identification in dense shrub areas using large footprint waveform LiDAR and Landsat images

Large footprint waveform LiDAR data have been widely used to extract tree heights. These heights are typically estimated by subtracting the top height from the ground. Compared to the top height detection, the identification of the ground peak in a waveform is more challenging. This is particularly evident in ground detection in shrub areas, where the reflection of the shrub canopy may significantly overlap with the ground reflection. To tackle this problem, a novel method based on Partial Curve-Fitting (PCF) of the shrub peak was developed to detect the ground peak. Results indicated that the PCF method improves ground identification by 32–42%, compared to existing methods. To offer further improvement, a Multi-Algorithm Integration Classifier (MAIC) was built to fuse multiple ground peak algorithms and selectively apply the best method for each waveform plot. The PCF ground peak identification method along with the MAIC-based fusion is expected to significantly improve ground detection and shrub height ...
Buoyancy-driven convection in cylindrical geometries

Numerical solutions to the Boussinesq equations containing a temperature-dependent viscosity are presented for the case of axisymmetric buoyancy-driven convective flow in a cylindrical cell. Two solutions, one with upflow and the other with downflow at the centre of the cell, were found for each set of boundary conditions that were considered. The existence of these two steady-state regimes was verified experimentally for the case of a cylindrical cell having rigid insulating lateral boundaries and isothermal top and bottom planes.Using a perturbation expansion it is also shown that only one of these solutions remains stable in the subcritical regime. This, however, seems to be confined to a very narrow range of Rayleigh numbers, beyond which, according to all the evidence presently at hand, both solutions are equally stable for those values of the Rayleigh and Prandtl numbers for which axisymmetric motions occur.Finally, certain fundamental differences between the problem considered here and that of thermal convection in a layer of infinite horizontal extent are briefly discussed.
Are Bigger State and Local Public Pension Plans More Cost Efficient? An Analysis of Economies of Size

State and local public pension plans cover a significant number of workers and represent a major component of the nation's retirement system. This study examined the size‐administrative cost relationship of public pension plans to ascertain whether cost savings can be realized by increasing pension plan size. The results indicated that while the consolidation of smaller plans will generate administrative cost savings, the consolidation of larger plans will generate savings only up to an optimal membership size at which point cost savings will end. In addition, optimal size was found to differ for active and beneficiary members indicating that membership composition needs to be considered when assessing the potential for cost savings.
Endometriosis-induced vaginal hyperalgesia in the rat: Role of the ectopic growths and their innervation

Endometriosis is a painful disorder defined by extrauteral endometrial growths whose contribution to pain symptoms is poorly understood. Endometriosis is created in rats by autotransplanting on abdominal arteries pieces of either uterus (ENDO), which form cysts, or fat (shamENDO), which do not form cysts. ENDO, but not shamENDO induces vaginal hyperalgesia. We tested the hypothesis that the cysts are necessary to maintain vaginal hyperalgesia by assessing the effect of surgically removing them. Complete-cyst-removal eliminated ENDO-induced vaginal hyperalgesia up to 4 months post-operatively. Sham-cyst-removal in ENDO rats, in which cysts were not removed, or partial cyst-removal increased the ENDO-induced hyperalgesia. The decreases and increases both took 3-6 weeks to develop. Changes in ENDO-induced hyperalgesia did not occur in a control group of ENDO rats who had no surgery after ENDO. In a double-surgery control group, neither shamENDO surgery nor a subsequent sham surgery that mimicked "removal" of non-existent cysts influenced vaginal nociception. In a no-surgery control group, vaginal nociception remained stable for >6 months. The increases in ENDO-induced hyperalgesia produced by the sham-cyst-removal surgery were smaller in proestrus than in other estrous stages. During the other stages (but not during proestrus), sympathetic innervation of the cysts increased. These results suggest that maintenance of ENDO-induced vaginal hyperalgesia requires continued presence of at least some ectopic endometrial tissue, and that surgical treatment that fails to remove ectopic endometrial tissue can exacerbate the hyperalgesia, possibly due in part to an increase in the cysts' sympathetic innervation.
Effects of Banner Clicking and Attitude toward the Linked Target Ads on Brand-Attitude and Purchase-Intention Changes

Abstract This paper explores the impact of banner exposure and clicking on brand-attitude changes and purchase intention changes. It is found that simple exposure to banner ads does not change people's initial brand-attitude and purchase intention, while voluntary exposure to target ads by clicking banner ads results in positive or negative brand attitude and purchase intention changes depending on the likability of the linked target ads from the banner ads. For methodology, this study employed a pretest posttest control group design and used online data collection technology called Cold Fusion. A total of 961 subjects participated in this research.
Brain–endocrine connection – for good or ill

Hypothalamic–Pituitary Development. Genetic and Clinical Aspectsedited by Raphael Rappaport and Serge Amselem. Karger, 2001. CHF188.00/k124.76/US$163.50 (x + 180 pages) ISBN 3805572395Endocrine disorders were first described as primarily clinical and/or anatomical entities with limited understanding of their pathogenesis. Gradually, as biochemical and neuroradiological techniques became more sophisticated, insight was gained into hormone physiology and regulation. We are now moving into an era characterized by a greater appreciation of the underlying molecular and genetic bases of normal and abnormal endocrine function. This book is a comprehensive update of the etiologies of congenital hypothalamic–pituitary defects and developmental endocrinology (i.e. the relationships of such defects to clinical disorders).The book opens with a succinct introduction to normal hypothalamic–pituitary development, structure and function, concluding with a list of 27 currently known genetic mutations responsible for various abnormalities in development. The remainder of the text details varying aspects of normal and abnormal development and function. Topics include pituitary embryogenesis, the molecular basis of developmental defects, growth hormone releasing receptors, pituitary transcription factors and magnetic resonance imaging. Chapters are also devoted to the morphological and molecular bases of several clinical entities that originate from central nervous system disorders, including septo-optic dysplasia, Kallmann Syndrome, hypothalamic–pituitary hypogonadism and central diabetes insipidus.The authors succeed in their stated goal to ‘integrate complex knowledge from various scientific and medical fields’. However, a clinician in a busy pediatric or endocrine practice might find the information in this text to have little immediate impact on patient care. Rather, the ideas presented here will provide a much greater appreciation of underlying pathogenesis and should stimulate further clinical and laboratory research. This text belongs in the library of academic endocrinologists and others interested in this emerging field.
Intradimensional transfer of discrimination along the hue continuum

This experiment investigated the intradimensional explanation for the facilitation of performance on a difficult discrimination produced by prior training on an easy problem. Significant facilitation was found only in groups given prior intradimensional training and not in groups given prior extradimensional training of equivalent difficulty.
Interaction of phenoxybenzamine with muscarinic receptors and calcium channels.

Abstract Phenoxybenzamine (POB, 10 −6 –10 −4 M) inhibited the responses of guinea pig ileal longitudinal smooth muscle to both muscarinic agonists and K + -depolarization but was more effective against the agonist-induced responses. POB inhibited binding of both the muscarinic antagonist [ 3 H]-quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) and the Ca 2+ channel antagonist [ 3 H]nitrendipine and was, paralleling its effects on mechanical responses, more effective against [ 3 H]QNB binding. POB reduced specific [ 3 H]QNB binding by a reduction in B max with no change in K D , but inhibited [ 3 H]nitrendipine binding by reducing k D with no effect on B max . It is suggested that the activity of POB against Ca 2+ channels may underlie the ability of POB, and other 2-halogenoethylamines, to inhibit a wide variety of apparently discrete pharmacological events.
Appreciating the Needs of Non-Traditional Students: Women as a Growing Market for Colleges and Universities

ABSTRACT In response to this unprecedented growth, higher education is finally recognizing the contribution of the adult learner. Previous research has explored what the “nontraditional” student values in an education. While our knowledge base regarding the nontraditional learner continues to expand, relatively little research has been conducted on an important segment of this market-nontraditional women. As such, the nontraditional woman represents an important target market for colleges and universities. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to better understand the unique educational needs of the nontraditional woman. A convenience sample of 197 non-traditional women and men from a mid-western university participated in the study. Perhaps the most interesting finding to emerge from the present study (from a marketing perspective) is the notion of three distinct market segments of non-traditional women. Implications for higher education administrators are discussed.
Adapting Homework for an Older Adult Client With Cognitive Impairment

Abstract There is growing evidence that psychosocial treatments incorporating behavioral intervention strategies can be effective in the treatment of depression in older adults with cognitive impairment. However, less work with such cases has focused on the use of cognitive interventions in tandem with these behavioral intervention strategies. This case study describes how cognitive behavioral intervention strategies and related homework assignments were tailored and integrated to successfully treat depressive symptoms in an older African American diagnosed with probable Alzheimer’s disease. Examples of the homework strategies utilized are introduced by phase of treatment. We also discuss ways to overcome barriers to homework completion as well as methods to incorporate the client’s sociocultural context and personal history into homework.
Receptor Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase μ Regulates the Paracellular Pathway in Human Lung Microvascular Endothelia

The pulmonary vascular endothelial paracellular pathway and zonula adherens (ZA) integrity are regulated, in part, through protein tyrosine phosphorylation. ZA-associated protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP)s are thought to counterregulate tyrosine phosphorylation events within the ZA multiprotein complex. One such receptor PTP, PTPμ, is highly expressed in lung tissue and is almost exclusively restricted to the endothelium. We therefore studied whether PTPμ, in pulmonary vascular endothelia, associates with and/or regulates both the tyrosine phosphorylation state of vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin and the paracellular pathway. PTPμ was expressed in postconfluent human pulmonary artery and lung microvascular endothelial cells (ECs) where it was almost exclusively restricted to EC-EC boundaries. In human lung microvascular ECs, knockdown of PTPμ through RNA interference dramatically impaired barrier function. In immortalized human microvascular ECs, overexpression of wild-type PTPμ enhanced barrier function. PTPμ-VE-cadherin interactions were demonstrated through reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation assays and co-localization with double-label fluorescence microscopy. When glutathione S-transferase-PTPμ was incubated with purified recombinant VE-cadherin, and when glutathione S-transferase-VE-cadherin was incubated with purified recombinant PTPμ, PTPμ directly bound to VE-cadherin. Overexpression of wild-type PTPμ decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of VE-cadherin. Therefore, PTPμ is expressed in human pulmonary vascular endothelia where it directly binds to VE-cadherin and regulates both the tyrosine phosphorylation state of VE-cadherin and barrier integrity.
Sensitivity of the International Skating Union’s Mathematical Criteria to Flag Potential Scoring Anomalies

This article describes the “mathematical criteria” employed by the International Skating Union (ISU) to identify potential judging anomalies within competitive figure skating. The mathematical criteria have greater sensitivity to identify scoring anomalies for technical element scores than for the program component scores. This article provides illustrations of how hypothetical subtle judging biases could not be flagged for two female skaters at the 2014 Winter Olympics. As a result, we offer four suggestions to improve the sensitivity of the ISU’s mathematical criteria: (1) alter the way the Total Deviation Points are computed for the program component scores (i.e., use “absolute” error); (2) lessen the amount of error allowed on average for each program component; (3) reconsider the cut-off value for Total Deviation points for the technical elements; and (4) reduce the cut-off value for the range of program component scores. Moreover, we suggest that “absolute” error is a more appropriate descriptor for...
Mitochondria: execution central.

Mitochondria play an essential function in eukaryotic life and death. They also play a central role in apoptosis regulation, reflected by the convergence of Bcl-2 family members on the mitochondrial outer membrane, and the presence of ‘death factors’ in the intermembrane space. Mitochondrial structure and function must be taken into consideration when evaluating mechanisms for cytochrome c release. The core machinery for caspase activation is conserved from Caenorhabditis elegans to man, and we consider parallels in the role of mitochondria in this process.