cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regional appearance in deformable model segmentation

Automated medical image segmentation is a challenging task that benefits from the use of effective image appearance models. In this paper, we compare appearance models at three regional scales for statistically characterizing image intensity near object boundaries in the context of segmentation via deformable models. The three models capture appearance in the form of regional intensity quantile functions. These distribution-based regional image descriptors are amenable to Euclidean methods such as principal component analysis, which we use to build the statistical appearance models. The first model uses two regions, the interior and exterior of the organ of interest. The second model accounts for exterior inhomogeneity by clustering on object-relative local intensity quantile functions to determine tissue-consistent regions relative to the organ boundary. The third model analyzes these image descriptors per geometrically defined local region. To evaluate the three models, we present segmentation results on bladders and prostates in CT in the context of day-to-day adaptive radiotherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. Results show improved segmentations with more local regions, probably because smaller regions better represent local inhomogeneity in the intensity distribution near the organ boundary.
Chapter 19 Performance evaluation

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the criteria for performance evaluation of institutional portfolio managers. There are two basic classes of performance measures. An intuitive way to think about both classes of performance measures is that they compare the returns of the actively managed portfolio that is being evaluated with a passive (buy and hold) portfolio with the same level of risk. The first class requires the observation of the returns of the evaluated portfolio as well as the returns of a benchmark that consists of one or more portfolios along with a risk-free asset. The second class utilizes information about the composition of the evaluated portfolio but does not necessarily require a benchmark portfolio(s). In most cases the first class of measures assumes that stock returns are normally distributed. This assumption is not needed for the second class of measures. However, both classes of measures require that stock returns be drawn from a stationary distribution.
Difference Equations via the Classical Umbral Calculus

The classical umbral calculus, formalized in [7] and [8] following the classical examples of Blissard, Bell, Riordan, Touchard, etc. (see for example [4] or the papers listed in the bibliography of [8]), has two primary advantages over its more conventional modern forebears (see for example [5], [6], etc.). It allows classical results to be easily read, verified and extended while maintaining the suggestive notation which was the strength of the classical umbral calculus.
Some Thoughts on the Merits of Pragmatism as a Guide to Environmental Protection

Pragmatism, a philosophical movement that had considerable influence in the United States in the early twentieth century, has recently undergone an intellectual revival. In the 1980s, its precepts were applied to legal analysis and commentary by a diverse group of scholars who refer to themselves as "legal pragmatists." Moreover, a number of philosophers and legal scholars have attempted to apply pragmatic thought to ethical aspects of protecting the non-human natural world. This Article surveys and evaluates selected aspects of that varied, provocative body of scholarship. After summarizing the fundamental principles espoused by pragmatic thinkers, the Article focuses on the writings of two neo-pragmatic scholars, Keith Hirokawa and Daniel Farber, whose works provide useful illustrations of pragmatic approaches to environmental laws and policies. It also assays the overall benefits and shortcomings of pragmatic analysis, both as a tool for environmental policymaking and as an aid to advocates of needed improvements in environmental laws.
Another Way to Perform the Quantum Fourier Transform in Linear Parallel Time

We exhibit a quantum circuit that performs the Quantum Fourier Transform on n qubits in O(n) depth. Thus, a parallel quantum computer can carry out the QFT in linear time. Griffiths and Niu have already shown this, so this paper is little more than an exercise in quantum circuit design; but perhaps it illustrates a worthwhile idea. We also speculate as to whether the QFT might be in the class QNC^1 of problems solvable in logarithmic parallel time.
Task-oriented multi-robot learning in behavior-based systems

A large application domain for multi-robot teams involves task-oriented missions, in which potentially heterogeneous robots must solve several distinct tasks. Previous research addressing this problem in multi-robot systems has largely focused on issues of efficiency, while ignoring the real-world situated robot needs of fault tolerance and adaptivity. This paper addresses this problem by developing an architecture called L-ALLIANCE that incorporates task-oriented action selection mechanisms into a behavior-based system, thus increasing the efficiency of robot team performance while maintaining the desirable characteristics of fault tolerance and adaptivity. We present our investigations of several competing control strategies and derive an approach that works well in a wide variety of multi-robot task-oriented mission scenarios. We provide a formal model of this technique to illustrate how it can be incorporated into any behavior-based system.
Adaptively computed large overlapping functions for MoM computations

A method is presented for creating a new type of basis functions on bodies of arbitrary shape and material properties. These functions are adapted to that body so that only two per wavelength create a significant electromagnetic effect at a distance. This effect is maximized by overlapping functions and a numerical method that tapers the functions at their ends. Overlapping functions are used, while approximately maintaining orthogonality of the functions. This is analogous to using a taper function on an antenna. This maximizes the weakness of the effect at a distance of most of these functions, while still having two per wavelength that have a strong effect at a distance. A new feature of this work is the use of tapered overlapping nearly orthogonal functions. These functions give a highly sparse MoM Impedance matrix.
Docking multiple conformations of a flexible ligand into a protein binding site using NMR restraints.

A method is described for docking a large, flexible ligand using intra-ligand conformational restraints from exchange-transferred NOE (etNOE) data. Numerous conformations of the ligand are generated in isolation, and a subset of representative conformations is selected. A crude model of the protein-ligand complex is used as a template for overlaying the selected ligand structures, and each complex is conformationally relaxed by molecular mechanics to optimize the interaction. Finally, the complexes were assessed for structural quality. Alternative approaches are described for the three steps of the method: generation of the initial docking template; selection of a subset of ligand conformations; and conformational sampling of the complex. The template is generated either by manual docking using interactive graphics or by a computational grid-based search of the binding site. A subset of conformations from the total number of peptides calculated in isolation is selected based on either low energy and satisfaction of the etNOE restraints, or a cluster analysis of the full set. To optimize the interactions in the complex, either a restrained Monte Carlo-energy minimization (MCM) protocol or a restrained simulated annealing (SA) protocol were used. This work produced 53 initial complexes of which 8 were assessed in detail. With the etNOE conformational restraints, all of the approaches provide reasonable models. The grid-based approach to generate an initial docking template allows a large volume to be sampled, and as a result, two distinct binding modes were identified for a fifteen-residue peptide binding to an enzyme active site.
Temporal and spatial control of the adenovirus proteinase by both a peptide and the viral DNA

Abstract The adenovirus proteinase (AVP) uses both an 11-amino acid peptide (pVlc) 1,2 and the viral DNA 1 as cofactors to increase its catalytic rate constant 6000-fold. The crystal structure 3 of an AVP-pVlc complex at 2.6-A resolution reveals a new protein fold of an enzyme that is the first member of a new class of cysteine proteinases, which arose via convergent evolution.
Over-expression, purification and immune responses to Aeromonas hydrophila AL09-73 flagellar proteins

Aeromonas hydrophila is ubiquitous in aquatic environments worldwide and causes many diseases in fish as well as human. Recent outbreaks of aeromonad diseases in channel catfish prompted us to investigate catfish immune responses during infection of A. hydrophila. In this communication, we report to amplify, over-express, purify and characterize 19 A. hydrophila flagellar proteins. All recombinant proteins were confirmed by nucleotide sequencing of expression plasmids, SDS-PAGE analysis and His tag Western blot of induced proteins. Our preliminary result also showed that the purified recombinant FlgK protein reacted strongly to sera from experimentally infected catfish, suggesting that this protein has potential for a novel target for vaccine development. It is also anticipated that these recombinant proteins will provide us with very useful tools to investigate host immune response to this microorganism.
Glucose metabolism of isolated pancreatic islets: difference between fetal, newborn and adult rats.

In a variety of species the fetal pancreas fails to release insulin when challenged by glucose. This was confirmed in the rat fetus at 21 days of gestation by utilizing isolated pancreatic islets incubated in vitro. To examine a possible underlying mechanism, glucose metabolism was studied in this preparation and compared with islets from adults and newborns. Glucose labeled in C-l and C-6 was employed and oxidation to CO2 measured. Whereas islets from 20 adult female rats consistently produced more CO2 from glucose labeled in the one position (348 ±24 vs. 210+16 cpm/20 islets/3 hr), islets from 6 sets of litters, obtained at the 21st day of pregnancy, showed no difference between C-l and C-6 oxidation (26+8 vs. 38+10). Five sets of 1-day-old litters produced more CO2 from 6-C-glucose (28 ±2 vs. 56+8), whereas 5 sets of 5-day-old newborns exhibited significantly greater oxidation of l-C-glucose, similar to adult islets (180 +44 vs. 92 +12). At day 2 the results were equivocal (74 ± 18 vs. 66 ± 16). Since the islets do not release insulin in response to glucose until the second or third day of extrauterine life and since this coincides with a measurable change in glucose metabolism, this suggests a possible relationship between glucose inducible insulin release and oxidation of glucose carbon-1 to CC<2. This does not imply that the pentose shunt is the only pathway through which a metabolite is generated which in turn will initiate the mechanism for insulin release. (Endocrinology 88:1259, 1971) TT HAS BEEN recently reported that in a -I variety of species the fetal pancreas responds poorly or not at all with insulin release when challenged acutely with glucose. The reason for this is not known. On the other hand, it has been observed that in the adult rat only those sugars will enhance insulin secretion which are metabolized by the islets such as glucose, frucReceived September 4,1970. Supported by USPHS Grants HD02171 and AM05077. 1 Fellow of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. tose and mannose, whereas galactose, which is not metabolized by the islets, does not stimulate insulin release (1,2). It seemed pertinent therefore to confirm that pancreatic islets obtained from rat fetuses do not respond to insulin, and to study the in vitro glucose metabolism of fetal pancreatic islets and compare it to adult and newborn islets. Since oxidation of radioactive labeled glucose to carbon dioxide can be measured even in the presence of minute amounts of tissue and since oxidation of the first or sixth carbon of the glucose molecule may indicate preferential ac1260 NOTES AND COMMENTS Volume 88
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY: IX. ROY MELVIN DORCUS: 1901-1968

Youngest of four children, R. M. Dorcus received undergraduate and graduate education at The Johns Hopkins University. In 1925 he was awarded the Ph.D. and joined the staff at Hopkins immediately thereafter. While there he wrote the well-known Text-book of Abnormal Psychology and published research papers in experimental and industrial psychology. In 1937 he moved to UCLA, where his interests veered toward clinical psychology and hypnosis in particular. He became an internationally known authority in the latter area. He was very influential in formulating the state legislation for practicing psychologists in California. There are three books among his 81 publications, and for many years he was editor of The Journal of Comparative Psychology and the Comparative Psychology Monographs.
Japan In The Passing Lane: An Insider's Account Of Life In A Japanese Auto Factory

Kamata Satoshi Japan In The Passing Lane: An Insider's Account Of Life In. Japanese Auto Factory.(Automobile Factory Of Despair).1982 Translated By Tatsuru Akimoto. N.Y.: Pantheon
Promoting and Archiving Student Work through an Institutional Repository: Trinity University, LASR, and the Digital Commons

Abstract The authors discuss the development of a related set of institutional repositories among several liberal arts college libraries. Contrary to the usual focus on faculty publications, the primary goal of these repositories is the promotion of student work, especially undergraduate theses. Discussion of issues concerning selection of materials and archival policies is included along with practical considerations of workflows and reflections on the advantages and disadvantages of the particular software platform (Digital Commons). Marketing the repository and the subsequent addition of other materials, including e-journals, are discussed in light of ambiguity about its purposes among campus faculty and students.
Global change and local solutions: Tapping the unrealized potential of citizen science for biodiversity research

Abstract The collective impact of humans on biodiversity rivals mass extinction events defining Earth’s history, but does our large population also present opportunities to document and contend with this crisis? We provide the first quantitative review of biodiversity-related citizen science to determine whether data collected by these projects can be, and are currently being, effectively used in biodiversity research. We find strong evidence of the potential of citizen science: within projects we sampled (n = 388), ∼1.3 million volunteers participate, contributing up to $2.5 billion in-kind annually. These projects exceed most federally-funded studies in spatial and temporal extent, and collectively they sample a breadth of taxonomic diversity. However, only 12% of the 388 projects surveyed obviously provide data to peer-reviewed scientific articles, despite the fact that a third of these projects have verifiable, standardized data that are accessible online. Factors influencing publication included project spatial scale and longevity and having publically available data, as well as one measure of scientific rigor (taxonomic identification training). Because of the low rate at which citizen science data reach publication, the large and growing citizen science movement is likely only realizing a small portion of its potential impact on the scientific research community. Strengthening connections between professional and non-professional participants in the scientific process will enable this large data resource to be better harnessed to understand and address global change impacts on biodiversity.
Changes in the phosphorylation of non-histone chromatin proteins during the cell cycle of HeLa S3 cells

The phosphorylation of non-histone chromatin proteins in synchronized HeLa S3 cells was studied in 5 phases of the cell cycle: mitosis, G1, early and late S, and G2. The rate of non-histone chromatin protein phosphorylation was found to be maximal during G1 and G2, somewhat decreased during S phase, and almost 90% depressed during mitosis. Analysis of the phosphorylated non-histone chromatin proteins by SDS-acrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a heterogeneous pattern of phosphorylation as measured by labeling with 32P. Significant variations in the labeling pattern were seen during different stages of the cell cycle, and particular unique species appeared to be phosphorylated selectively during certain stages of the cycle.
Minimum K-hamiltonian graphs

We consider two new classes of graphs arising from reliability considerations in network design. We want to construct graphs with a minimum number of edges which remain Hamiltonian after k edges (or k vertices) have been removed. A simple construction is presented for the case when k is even. We show that it is minimum k-edge Hamiltonian. On the other hand, Chartrand and Kapoor previously proved that this class of graphs was also minimum k-vertex Hamiltonian. The case when k is large (odd or even) is also considered. Some results about directed graphs are also presented.
Time-dependent micromechanical behavior in graphite/epoxy composites under constant load: a combined experimental and theoretical study

Abstract We present an integrated theoretical and experimental study on the localized creep behavior around fiber breaks in model unidirectional graphite fiber/epoxy matrix composites under constant axial stress at room temperature. Micro Raman spectroscopy (MRS) and classic composite shear-lag models were coupled to examine the time evolution of fiber and matrix strain/stress distributions around a single fiber break in planar low volume fraction graphite fiber–epoxy matrix composites. In-situ MRS micro-scale measurements show that strain redistribution around the fiber fracture is time-dependent and localized. We observe decreases in peak interfacial shear stress and concomitant increases in load recovery length and interfacial inelastic zones from the fiber fracture point. These results showing the time dependence of load transfer are related to creep tests on the monolithic matrix material at various stress levels. The translation of monolithic to in-situ matrix creep is achieved using two viscoelastic matrix composite models, a multi-fiber and a single fiber model. MRS results show that the load recovery length increases at the rate of ( T / T c ) α /2 and the maximum interfacial shear stress relaxes at the rate of ( T / T c ) − α /2 , where T is time, T c and α are parameters obtained from matrix creep tests. These results are in good agreement with the multi-fiber model predictions. The single fiber model gives similar results for these samples where the fiber spacing is relatively large (5∼7 fiber diameters).
Gyromagnetic material characterization and error analysis using a partially-filled waveguide technique

The use of composite materials has increased tremendously in fields that require the properties of materials to be tailored for specific applications. In addition to showing extraordinary properties during mechanical testing, many of these materials are appealing to engineers for their special electromagnetic properties that can be applied in the areas of electronic systems or antennas. Since many of these materials exhibit anisotropic behavior and their characteristics are often described using tensor constitutive parameters, it is crucial to develop techniques to accurately characterize the materials experimentally.
SEASONAL DIFFERENCES IN THE TEMPERATURE RANGES OF GROWTH OF VIRGINIA ALGAE1

One hundred and fifteen clonal, unialgal strains were isolated and tested for their ability to grow over a range of temperatures from 2 to 40° C. Responses of 63 strains isolated from habitats that were 6° C when sampled and 52 strains isolated from habitats that were 20° C when sampled showed trends toward increasing adaptation to cold or warm temperatures commensurate with their seasonal in situ temperatures. Based on temperature-growth responses alone, 24% of the plankton isolates and 17% of the periphyton isolates could be perennial within the natural habitats. At 5° C, 56% of the warm water plankton isolates and 48% of the warm water periphyton isolates were incapable of growth and, therefore, probably could not be important components of the winter algal community. Likewise at 25° C, 25% of the cold water plankton isolates and 13% of the cold water periphyton isolates were incapable of growth. Thus, temperature alone probably is an important variable regulating seasonal changes in algal community structure. Pollution of these habitats by a thermal enrichment averaging + 5° C year-round could effect a pronounced change in algal species composition because many more taxa could be perennial and more taxa would be incapable of growth during naturally warm periods.
Gelatin-based composite polymers

Composite polymers containing gelatin and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) have been prepared by employing a gel pathway. The gels have been obtained by mixing mechanically at 50°C an aqueous solution of gelation containing a surfactant (sodium dodecylsulphate, SDS) with a monomer (methyl methacrylate, MMA) containing an initiator (AIBN). Two kinds of gels have been identified: high-viscosity liquid gels, which lose their stability after half to two hours at room temperature, and solid-type gels, which maintain their stability for a long time at room temperature. Composite polymer materials have been obtained by the polymerization of MMA in these gels. The polymerization of liquid-type gels has been carried out in two steps: under mixing for the first hour and without mixing for 23 h. The polymerization of the solid-type gels was performed in two different ways: (1) at room temperature for a few days followed by heating at 50°C for 4 h, and (2) the same procedure as for the liquid-type gels (since at 50°C the solid-type gels transform in liquid-type gels).The phase behavior of the gels was investigated and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the morphology of the composite polymers. The swelling experiments have shown that at suitable gelatin concentrations, these composites are insoluble in water, methanol, octane, and cyclohexane but have a relatively high solubility in toluene.
The Estimation of a Time Function of Ecological Use

A general model is formulated relating the outcome of a series of events such as the capture or escape of a prey item to the probability, time and outcome of each kind of event. Application of the model and its derivation are demonstrated for predator hunting behavior and the nesting biology of birds.
Observations on the specificity of a thermostable bacterial protease "thermolysin".

Substrate specificity of proteolytic enzyme thermolysin /Thermolase/ isolated from bacterial cultures
Impact of delayed transfer of critically Ill stroke patients from the emergency department to the Neuro-ICU

Background We sought to determine the effect of emergency department length of stay (ED-LOS) on outcomes in stroke patients admitted to the Neurological Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Nutritional value of brown midrib corn silage for lactating dairy cows

Abstract Brown midrib-3 corn ( Zea mays L.) silage and its normal genetic counterpart were fed in complete mixed rations to lactating Holstein cows at two forage-to-concentrate ratios (75:25 and 60:40, dry matter). The brown midrib silage contained 24% less lignin than the normal. Average daily intake of dry matter and milk composition did not differ with genotype of the corn or forage-to-concentrate ratio. Milk yield, actual and fat-corrected, was 1.3 and .9kg greater for cows fed brown midrib-3 silage than for cows fed normal silage at 75:25. Milk yield was 1.6 and 1.0kg greater, actual and fat-corrected, for cows fed brown midrib than for those fed normal silage at 60:40. Forage-to-concentrate ratio of the ration did not affect milk yield.
Radiofrequency Ablation of Osteoid Osteoma with Use of Intraoperative Three-Dimensional Imaging and Surgical Navigation.

Overview Introduction During the performance of radiofrequency ablation of osteoid osteomas, the use of intraoperative cone-beam computed tomography (CT) imaging with surgical navigation lowers radiation exposure while allowing real-time targeting of the nidus. Step 1: Preoperative Planning Review all images to confirm a high level of confidence in the radiographic diagnosis. Step 2: Patient Positioning and Setup Be sure to position and set up properly. Step 3: Placement of Tracking Optical Array Attach the optical array to the target bone. Step 4: O-Arm Setup, Initial CT Imaging for Surgical Navigation, and Remote Mouse Registration Set up the intraoperative CT (O-Arm) machine and acquire the initial images for surgical navigation. Step 5: CT Data Interpretation and Approach Planning Analyze the initial images, rotated or positioned as necessary, to allow you to proceed with the planned direction and angle of approach to the nidus. Step 6: Surgical Navigation Setup Register the surgical instruments with the surgical navigation unit. Step 7: Nidus Localization and Kirschner Wire Insertion Target the nidus and then insert the Kirschner wire into its center. Step 8: Exchanging Kirschner Wire for a Radiofrequency Probe Once the accuracy of the Kirschner wire placement is confirmed, exchange it for the radiofrequency probe and perform a CT scan to confirm proper probe placement. Step 9: Confirmation of RFA Probe Placement Perform a CT scan to confirm proper placement of the probe within the center of the nidus. Step 10: Activation of the Radiofrequency Probe and Closure Perform the radiofrequency treatment to ablate the cells within the nidus. Results We conducted a study of three different techniques of radiofrequency ablation. Indications Contraindications Pitfalls & Challenges
On the orthorhombic phase in ZrO2-based alloys

During TEM observation, a tetragonal (t) to orthorhombic (o) phase transformation often occurs in thin portions of ZrO2-containing foils. This transformation is stress-induced and in some senses artefactual, in that the reaction product is actually a high-pressure phase, relative to monoclinic (m) ZrO2, that can form from metastable t-ZrO2 in the TEM because its density is intermediate between t- and m-ZrO2. Examples of the formation of o-ZrO2 in a number of different systems are given.
Internet use and college adjustment: the moderating role of gender

Abstract We examined the links between Internet use and college adjustment in a sample ( n =272) of college undergraduate students and whether gender moderated these links. Internet use was assessed using three scales: hours online , social use , and negative aspects of use . Internet use was a consistent predictor of college adjustment. Hours online was unrelated to college adjustment. Social use was positively associated with college adjustment, but only for males. Negative aspects of use was associated with poorer adjustment regardless of participant gender. Results are interpreted in light of current research.
The neuroinvasive profiles of H129 (herpes simplex virus type 1) recombinants with putative anterograde-only transneuronal spread properties

The use of viruses as transneuronal tracers has become an increasingly powerful technique for defining the synaptic organization of neural networks. Although a number of recombinant alpha herpesviruses are known to spread selectively in the retrograde direction through neural circuits only one strain, the H129 strain of herpes simplex virus type 1, is reported to selectively spread in the anterograde direction. However, it is unclear from the literature whether there is an absolute block or an attenuation of retrograde spread of H129. Here, we demonstrate efficient anterograde spread, and temporally delayed retrograde spread, of H129 and three novel recombinants. In vitro studies revealed no differences in anterograde and retrograde spread of parental H129 and its recombinants through superior cervical ganglion neurons. In vivo injections of rat striatum revealed a clear bias of anterograde spread, although evidence of deficient retrograde transport was also present. Evidence of temporally delayed retrograde transneuronal spread of H129 in the retina was observed following injection of the lateral geniculate nucleus. The data also demonstrated that three novel recombinants efficiently express unique fluorescent reporters and have the capacity to infect the same neurons in dual infection paradigms. From these experiments we conclude that H129 and its recombinants not only efficiently infect neurons through anterograde transneuronal passage, but also are capable of temporally delayed retrograde transneuronal spread. In addition, the capacity to produce dual infection of projection targets following anterograde transneuronal passage provides an important addition to viral transneuronal tracing technology.
An introduction to the pricing of electric power transmission

Abstract The electric power transmission network plays an important role in the delivery of energy from outlying generation to demand centers located far away. Because power plants are interconnected via the transmission network, together they can provide improved reliability and lower overall generation costs. With the current thrust towards a competitive generation market with new independent entrants, the ‘correct’ spot pricing of electric power transmission service is crucial in providing signals to the marketplace for efficient short-run operations and long-term capital investments. The fundamental theory of transmission pricing is presented and three alternative market/pricing structures, contract network, financial replication and property rights, are discussed.
Predictors of severe trunk postures among short-haul truck drivers during non-driving tasks: An exploratory investigation involving video-assessment and driver behavioural self-monitoring

Short-haul truck (lorry) drivers are particularly vulnerable to back pain and injury due to exposure to whole body vibration, prolonged sitting and demanding material handling tasks. The current project reports the results of video-based assessments (711 stops) and driver behavioural self-monitoring (BSM) (385 stops) of injury hazards during non-driving work. Participants (n = 3) worked in a trailer fitted with a camera system during baseline and BSM phases. Descriptive analyses showed that challenging customer environments and non-standard ingress/egress were prevalent. Statistical modelling of video-assessment results showed that each instance of manual material handling increased the predicted mean for severe trunk postures by 7%, while customer use of a forklift, moving standard pallets and moving non-standard pallets decreased predicted means by 12%, 20% and 22% respectively. Video and BSM comparisons showed that drivers were accurate at self-monitoring frequent environmental conditions, but less accurate at monitoring trunk postures and rare work events. The current study identified four predictors of severe trunk postures that can be modified to reduce risk of injury among truck drivers and showed that workers can produce reliable self-assessment data with BSM methods for frequent and easily discriminated events environmental.
N two-level atoms in a driven optical cavity: Quantum dynamics of forward photon scattering for weak incident fields

We investigate the photon statistics of the light transmitted from a driven optical cavity containing N two-level atoms, with emphasis on the weak driving field limit. This limit is of most interest from the point of view of quantum fluctuations. We find that various types of nonclassical behavior are possible, even with large numbers of atoms in the cavity, under conditions of strong atom-field coupling, which we refer to as the cavity quantum electrodynamics limit. We describe the system with a pure-state formalism valid for weak fields, and also use a Fokker-Planck equation obtained by a small fluctuation linearization. We examine the conditions under which the linearized theory is appropriate, and explore the sensitivity of nonclassical effects in the system to atom number, transit-time broadening, and detunings. @S1050-2947~99!04803-9#
Droplet Model Near T c : Droplet-Droplet Interaction and Correlation Function

In the equation of state of a real gas near its critical point the "excluded-volume" effect is taken into account for the droplet-droplet interaction in the droplet model. Considering the hard-sphere repulsion between droplets as a small perturbation ("second virial coefficient") we find the scaling laws to be unchanged. No renormalization of the critical exponents occurs. With an additional attraction between the droplets, the corrections to the asymptotic scaling laws are in agreement with those of Green, Cooper, and Levelt Sengers and Mermin and Rehr.
What do children know about the universal quantifiers all and each

Children's comprehension of the universal quantifiers all and each was explored in a series of experiments using a picture selection task. The first experiment examined children's ability to restrict a quantifier to the noun phrase it modifies. The second and third experiments examined children's ability to associate collective, distributive, and exhaustive representations with sentences containing universal quantifiers. The collective representation corresponds to the “group” meaning (for All the flowers are in a vase all of the flowers are in the same vase). The distributive representation implies a pairing (e.g., each flower paired with a vase for Each flower is in a vase). The exhaustive representation exhausts both sets (e.g., for The flowers are in the vases all the flowers are in vases and all the vases have flowers in them). Four- to 10-year-old children had little difficulty restricting the quantifier all to the noun it modified in a task which required them to attend to the group feature of all. In contrast, only 9- and 10-year-olds were able to solve the task when the quantifier was each and the pictures showed entities in partial one-to-one correspondence. Children showed a preference for associating collective pictures with sentences containing all and distributive pictures with sentences containing each. The results suggest that between the ages of 5 and 10 years, children's semantic representations undergo less radical changes than others have proposed. Instead, developmental change may occur gradually as children acquire linguistic cues which map onto existing semantic representations.
Patient and procedure selection for an office-based anesthetic

A key element in the delivery of a safe office-based anesthetic is the proper selection of suitable patients and procedures. Currently, there is a paucity of state or local regulations regarding this issue. However, a few medical societies have been active in developing recommendations and practice advisories. Additionally, our experience with free-standing ambulatory surgery centers should help guide in formulating policies that will insure that patient safety is not sacrificed in this exciting new healthcare venue.
Lidar Measurements of Wind in the Planetary Boundary Layer: The Method, Accuracy and Results from Joint Measurements with Radiosonde and Kytoon.

Abstract During the Central Illinois Rainfall Chemistry Experiment (CIRCE), the University of Wisconsin lidar measured wind and turbulence profiles through the planetary boundary layer for a 32-h period in conjunction with surface observations, radiosonde soundings and kytoon profiles made by Argonne National Laboratory. The lidar profiles were made using an advection model for aerosol inhomogeneities as described by Sroga et al. We discuss improvements to this model and explore the accuracy of the lidar wind and boundary layer depth measurements. In addition, the temporal variation of lidar data was utilized to measure boundary layer depth objectively. Cross sections of the speed, direction and rms variation of the wind for the 32-h period show the daytime convective layer, nocturnal stable layer and transitional periods.
Evidence of a convective instability allowing warm water to freeze in less time than cold water

This experimental study explores the possibility that warm water may freeze in less time than cold water due to natural convection alone, i.e., in the absence of significant cooling by evaporation. This possibility is rooted in the following two hypotheses : (1) The Rayleigh number associated with a sample of warm water may exceed a critical value above which the convective motions within the water sample may become turbulent and enhance the rate of convective cooling, and (2) the inversion of the flow field that is expected to occur in the vicinity of maximum density, i.e., at 4°C, will occur at different points in the cooling process for identical samples of water at different levels of initial temperature and result in an enhanced rate of convective cooling after the flow field inversion for those cases at higher levels of initial temperature that enter the flow field inversion with higher kinetic energy. The results of this study establish that, under certain circumstances, a sample of water that is initially warm will freeze in less time than an identical sample of water that is initially cold due to natural convection alone.
Tripping over tipping points/elements

The term ‘‘tipping point’’ has been used to identify a critical threshold susceptible to a tiny perturbation that can qualitatively alter the state or development of a system. ‘‘Tipping element’’ has been introduced to describe largescale components of the Earth system that may pass a tipping point. A special issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States (PNAS) recently focused on Tipping Elements in Earth Systems has examined potential policy-relevant tipping elements in the climate system with anthropogenic forcing. Subjects such as the evaluation of El Nino/southern oscillation response to global warming, irreversible ice sheet retreat and unstoppable loss, and climate change induced Amazon rainforest dieback were presented in this special issue. An earlier PNAS research article investigated the imprecision of probability assessments of tipping points identified for the global climate system. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has underscored the importance of land degradation by human activity and the condition of the planet’s assessed ecosystems as instances of critical thresholds and tipping points important to the global environment and governments. The UNEP calls global government to establish more environmentally sustainable business practices in response to the concern for these approaching thresholds and tipping points. Proc Nat Acad Sci 2009, 106(49), 20561–20621; 105(6), 1786–1793; 2008, 106(13), 5041–5046; http://www.unep. org/geo/yearbook/yb2009. Next generation biofuel environmental and sustainability factors
The parvovirus MVM: A comparison of heavy and light particle infectivity and their density conversion in vitro

Abstract The infectivity of the minute virus of mice (MVM) heavy particles with the 72,000-dalton B major structural protein was compared with that of the light particles with the 69,000-dalton C major structural protein. They were found to be equally infectious in mouse L-A9 cells after maximum adsorption was reached, but the heavy particles had a slower rate of adsorption. The heavy particles were converted to the light particle density by incubation with 3-day infected-cell-conditioned medium as analyzed by equilibrium CsCl centrifugation. Incubation with infected and uninfected cell extracts as well as uninfected-cell-conditioned medium caused the heavy particles to decrease in density, but not to the light particle density. Trypsin treatment of the heavy particles converted the B protein to a protein which migrates with the C protein upon electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels, but did not change their density in CsCl.
Immunoarchitecture of the bone marrow in neutropenia: increased HNK-1 + cells define a subset of neutropenic patients.

An immunoperoxidase technique was used to examine the distribution of lymphocyte subsets in bone marrow biopsies of 15 patients with neutropenia and seven non-neutropenic controls. The bone marrow of most patients and controls had similar distributions of immune effector cells characterized by a diffuse array of predominantly cytotoxic/suppressor T-cells and occasional nodular aggregates of helper T-cells. Cells displaying the natural killer cell marker HNK-1 were sparse in controls and most neutropenic patients. However, marked increases in marrow HNK-1 + cells were identified in four of the 15 patients. Three of these patients had diffuse HNK-1 + infiltrates associated with increased Leu 4+ (OKT-3 +) T-cells while one had a nodular HNK-1 + infiltrate associated with small B-cell follicles. Each of these patients had clinical features similar to those described in the large granular lymphocyte (LGL) lymphocytosis (leukemia) syndrome, but only one of four demonstrated persistently increased numbers of LGLs in the peripheral blood. Thus, this study extends the association of neutropenia and increased numbers of cells with a T/NK phenotype to include patients whose bone marrow is the only demonstrable site of involvement. Since morphologic examination of the bone marrow could not identify the bone marrows with increased HNK-1 + cells, immunulogic techniques are required to detect these cases.
Picosecond studies of the temperature dependence of homogeneous and inhomogeneous vibrational linewidth broadening in liquid acetonitrile

The temperature dependence of homogeneous and inhomogeneous vibrational linewidth broadening is reported for the symmetric CH3‐stretching vibration in acetonitrile over its entire liquid range at P=1 atm. A selective excite‐and‐probe vibrational dephasing experiment based on transient stimulated Raman scattering in high laser depletion is used to measure the homogeneous dephasing times T2. The separation of homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening processes is accomplished using the combined results of isotropic spontaneous Raman studies and selective picosecond vibrational dephasing experiments. As a function of temperature, the relative contributions of homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening are shown to change significantly in opposing directions. Agreement between experiment and theory supports previous suggestions that homogeneous broadening is caused by rapidly varying processes which affect the vibration via short range repulsive forces. The results also suggest that inhomogeneous broadening is c...
η to G phase transformation in electrodeposited iron-zinc alloy coatings

Theη toG phase transformation in electrodeposited iron-zinc alloy coatings is a rapid diffusional phase transformation occurring in the nanometer-scale microstructure of the coatings. Iron-supersaturated zinc, orη phase, undergoes a decomposition process to an iron-deficient Γ-like, orG, phase at temperatures near 150 it°C. The phase transformation is preceded by a polygonization process, driven by strain energy and/or supersaturation in the material. TheG phase nucleates on boundaries within theη phase and grows into 30- to 80-nm equiaxed grains. The activation energy for the transformation varies with iron content, which may indicate that solute effects influence boundary diffusion of zinc.
Efficacy of a Behavioral Intervention for Reducing Sedentary Behavior in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Examination

Background Sitting time (ST), a form of sedentary behavior, has been identified as a highly prevalent risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS)–related morbidity. There is limited information on the efficacy of behavioral interventions for reducing ST in persons with MS. Purpose To examine the efficacy of a behavioral intervention for reducing ST in persons with MS in a pilot RCT. Methods Seventy MS patients were randomly assigned to intervention and waitlist control conditions. The behavioral intervention was delivered April–September 2012 via the Internet and consisted of a dedicated website and one-on-one Skype video chats that taught participants the skills, techniques, and strategies for reducing sedentary behavior based on social cognitive theory. ST was measured by questions on the abbreviated International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) before and after the 6-month RCT. Data were analyzed in SPSS, version 21.0 in March 2014. Results ANCOVA was performed on post-intervention scores controlling for pre-intervention values using an intent-to-treat analysis. The group main effect was statistically significant (F[1, 67]=4.03, p t =2.01, p d =0.49). Conclusion We provide the first data on the efficacy of a behavioral intervention for reducing ST in MS patients. This highlights the importance of designing and testing the effect of behavioral interventions that reduce ST on secondary outcomes such as function, symptoms, quality of life, and health status in persons with MS.
Social behavior of physically abused and neglected children: A critical review

Abstract This paper reviews investigations of the social behavior of physically abused and neglected children. The magnitude of the problem of child maltreatment as well as literature addressing assumed consequences of physical abuse and neglect are presented as rationales for examining this area. Investigations that examined social behavior of physically abused and neglected children are methodologically critiqued. Categories of social behavior that have been researched include aggression, social skills and social competence, peer and family interactions, compliance, as well as other related behaviors. Methodological problems in a variety of areas are discussed, including subject selection, design, control groups and procedures, and dependent measures. Implications of the results in light of these methodological issues are discussed, and specific suggestions for future research are made.
Influence of application time and formulation reapplication on the delivery of minoxidil through hairless mouse skin as measured in franz diffusion cells

Relationships are drawn between the extent of topical delivery of test compounds in solution and the period of residence of their formulation on the skin. The studies were performed using in vitro dif