cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
K7.62(1)Si46 and Rb6.15(2)Si46: Two Structure I Clathrates with Fully Occupied Framework Sites

Abstract We report here the synthesis and structural characterization of two Structure I clathrates in the K–Si and Rb–Si systems. As observed previously for Na 8 Si 46 , the alkali-Si clathrates are fully stoichiometric at the framework sites, i.e., devoid of framework vacancies. This is in sharp contrast to the analogous K–Ge, Rb–Ge, and Rb–Sn, (K,Cs)–Sn, and Cs–Sn systems, where two vacancies are formed predominantly at one-third of the crystallographic 6 c tetrahedral sites (the formation of vacancies is rationalized to remove the tetrahedral atom of its hypervalency). This result is understood generally in terms of weaker Tt – Tt ( Tt (tetrelide)=Si, Ge, Sn) bonding as one descends the periodic table. Also observed are metallic conductivities for both K 8 Si 46 and Rb 6 Si 46 , substantiating further the absence of vacancies — the “extra” electrons from the guest atoms participate in the conduction bands of the Si network, resulting in conductivities typical of semimetals. This is contrasted with the semiconducting behavior of the vacancy bearing K 8 Ge 44 (K 8 Ge 44 □ 2 ).
A Cardiologist’s View of Hypoglycemia

Recent studies have failed to show an improvement in cardiovascular mortality with intensive glycemic control and aggressive glycated hemoglobin (A1c) targets less than 7.0%. Excessive hypoglycemic episodes with intensive glucose-lowering therapy are thought to be a major factor in the failure to show cardiovascular benefit in these trials. In this article, we review the physiology of glucose metabolism, the cardiovascular pathophysiology of hypoglycemia, and the trials with an intensive glucose-lowering strategy that have studied microvascular and macrovascular complications. We also review the current non-insulin drugs available for the treatment of diabetes and their potential hypoglycemic and cardiovascular impacts.
Cross-Linking 3D Assemblies of Nanoparticles into Mechanically Strong Aerogels by Surface-Initiated Free-Radical Polymerization

Skeletal nanoparticles of porous low-density materials formally classified as aerogels are cross-linked by surface-initiated polymerization (SIP) using a new surface-confined bidentate free-radical initiator structurally related to azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). Methylmethacrylate, styrene, and divinylbenzene are introduced in the mesopores, and upon heating at 70 °C, all mesoporous surfaces throughout the entire skeletal framework are coated conformally with a 10−12 nm thick polymer layer indistinguishable spectroscopically from the respective commercial bulk materials. The amount of polymer incorporated in the structure is controlled by the concentration of the monomer in the mesopores, and albeit an up to a 3-fold increase in bulk density (up to 0.6−0.8 g cm−3) and a decrease in the porosity even down to 40%, the materials remain mesoporous with average pore diameters increasing from 20 nm in the native samples to 41 and 62 nm in PMMA and polystyrene cross-linked samples, respectively. The new material...
Lymphotoxin production and blast cell transformation by cord blood lymphocytes: dissociated lymphocyte function in newborn infants.

Abstract The correlation between phytohemagglutinin-induced blast cell transformation and production of lymphotoxin was studied in the cord blood lymphocytes of 17 normal newborn infants. Twelve normal adults served as controls. Blast cell transformation by newborn lymphocytes was somewhat greater than that of adults. By contrast, lymphotoxin production by the newborns was only 40% of the value for the adult controls. When a lymphotoxin index (ratio of lymphotoxin production to transformation) was calculated, it was found that, for any degree of transformation, newborn lymphocytes produced only about one-fourth as much lymphotoxin as did adult lymphocytes. The combination of normal blastogenesis with diminished lymphokine production represents a dissociation of in vitro lymphocyte function. This phenomenon, which appears to be a stage in the maturation of cellular immune competence, may in part explain the undue susceptibility of newborn infants to certain mycobacterial, fungal, and viral infections.
Biomarkers and clonality before and after treatment

Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATLL) is a disease with dismal prognosis urging new therapies. Few biomarkers have been identified to predict disease outcome in ATLL, however, routine testing for these is not widely available. The first line treatment option for ATLL can vary according to disease subtype, investigator’s choice, or institutional practices. For instance, experience at some centers suggest that there are patients with ATLL who can benefit from zidovudine (AZT)/interferon alpha (IFNα) therapy without requiring chemotherapy upfront. It has been reported that p53 gene alterations or MUM-/IRF-4 expression status may influence response to AZT/IFNα. More recently, the use of the anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody brentuximab vedotin is being advocated for the treatment of CD30+ T-cell malignancies, including ATLL. Therefore, establishing biomarkers that can help guide therapeutic decisions for ATLL would be ideal. Updated results and the usefulness of testing for some of these biomarkers will be discussed.
Relation between the time and space step‐sizes in nonstandard finite‐difference schemes for the Fisher equation

A positivity condition is used to obtain functional relations between the time and space step-sizes for nonstandard finite-difference models of the Fisher partial differential equation. An upper bound is also derived for the solutions to the difference equations. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
On the solvability of nonlinear Sturm–Liouville problems

Abstract The focus of this paper is the study of nonlinear differential equations subject to general non-local boundary conditions. To establish sufficient conditions for the existence of solutions, we use properties of the nonlinearities and their relationship with the eigenvalues of an associated linear Sturm–Liouville problem.
An Analysis of Field Dependent Capture of Electrons by Ionized Activators and their Effects on Luminance in SrS Based Blue Emitting ACTFEL Display Devices

A new model for understanding luminance-time characteristics of blue-emitting SrS based a.c. thin film electroluminescent (ACTFEL) display devices was developed. It included (a) field-dependence of the capture of conduction electrons by ionized activators and (b) field-dependence of the relaxation of activators. Experiments involving a “dented” voltage waveforms were performed to evaluate the theoretical model.
THE COST OF CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION POLICY IN EASTERN EUROPE AND FORMER SOVIET UNION

This paper provides one of the few assessments of the economic implications of climate change policies in the important region of Eastern Europe and post-Soviet states. We use an integrated assessment model to evaluate the consequences of implementing climate policies consistent with the targets proposed by the Major Economies Forum by mid-century. We decompose the economic impacts in terms of domestic abatement costs, of oil trading and of international emission permit trading for a variety of scenarios, and show that these could be substantial for this region. The results point towards innovation and economic diversification as key complementary measures to be implemented in preparation of climate mitigation strategies.
A histochemical study of ovarian function in the ovoviviparous elasmobranch, Squalus acanthias.

Abstract Ovarian tissues from the ovoviviparous elasmobranch, Squalus acanthias were examined histochemically for the distribution of NAD and NADP diaphorase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), 3 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD), 3 alpha hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3αHSD), 17 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17βHSD), and 20 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20βHSD). The histochemical distribution of the enzymes was correlated with the histological picture obtained from contiguous sections. NAD, NADP diaphorase, and G-6-PDH were distributed throughout the ovary and positive reactions were obtained in all tissues tested. 3βHSD activity was demonstrated in the granulosa of follicles at various stages of development, increasing in intensity as the follicle matured. After ovulation, 3βHSD was found in the post-ovulatory follicle (“corpus luteum”). No 3βHSD activity was observed in atretic follicles (“preovulatory corpora lutea”). 3αHSD was only observed as a weak reaction in the granulosa of late preovulatory follicles, and no activity of 17βHSD and 20βHSD was observed in any ovarian component tissues.
American Trade Unions and Public Approval: Can Unions Please All of the People All of the Time?

Public opinion about labor unions has long been viewed as an important determinant of industrial relations outcomes. Yet, analyses of changes in union popularity over time have been largely qualitative and have focused on the impact of short-term idiosyncratic events. This paper provides a quantitative analysis of the determinants of American public approval of unions from 1936 to 1991. Hypotheses relating to the union wage advantage, strike activity, the national unemployment rate, and World War II, receive the strongest support. The implications of these results for organized labor and future research on attitudes toward unions are discussed.
Semantic Models as a Combination of Free Association Norms and Corpus-Based Correlations

We present computational models capable of understanding and conveying concepts based on word associations. We discover word associations automatically using corpus-based semantic models with Wikipedia as the corpus. The best model effectively combines corpus-based models with preexisting databases of free association norms gathered from human volunteers. We use this model to play human-directed and computer-directed word guessing games (games with a purpose similar to Catch Phrase or Taboo) and show that this model can measurably convey and understand some aspect of word meaning. The results highlight the fact that human-derived word associations and corpus-derived word associations can play complementary roles in semantic models.
A balance of power principle for decentralized resource sharing

Abstract In a seminal 1978 paper Kleinrock (1979), Professor Leonard Kleinrock (“Kleinrock”) derived “rules of thumb” for flow-control, using a “power” metric of delay-throughput tradeoffs. This work stimulated a stream of, still on-going (e.g., Canzian et al., 2013), flow-control researches. A particularly challenging question, still widely open, has been: how can networks optimize a global performance index, such as power and through decentralized actions? At the same time, my Ph.D. thesis, under Len’s guidance, introduced microeconomic techniques for decentralized control of channel access schemes (Yemini and Kleinrock, 1979). This research too, continues to attract current interest (e.g., Chang et al., 2013). This paper introduces a generalized “power” metric for decentralized resource allocation, and uses it to derive novel Balance-of-Power principles, for Pareto optimal allocations. These principles substantially generalize and unify the results of Kleinrock (1979) and Yemini and Kleinrock (1979), as well as successor works, while shedding new light on resource sharing mechanisms in current virtual and cloud systems.
Expert testimony in a child sex abuse case: Translating memory development research.

In this paper we describe a custody case that centred on allegations of child sexual abuse. A pair of preschool-aged sisters accused their biological father of various sexual acts, though their allegations were made under problematic conditions and were contradicted by other statements they made. In an affidavit written by one of us (MB), we describe the relevant memory development research in the course of presenting the court with a scientific analysis. We find compelling evidence of multiple risk factors in the way the daughters' recollections were elicited. Although the “ultimate question” of guilt is beyond our purview, our identification of risks was instrumental in the legal system's decision that the children's allegations were not valid. We put this analysis forward as an example of evidence-based testimony in which scientific findings from the memory literature can be used to frame an expert's analysis.
Confocal microfluorimetry of Ca2+ signals evoked in Xenopus oocytes by photoreleased inositol trisphosphate

1. The subcellular characteristics of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3)-induced Ca2+ liberation were studied in Xenopus oocytes by the use of confocal microfluorimetry to monitor Ca2+ signals from minutely localized region of the cell in response to photorelease of InsP3 from a caged precursor. 2. Photorelease of increasing amounts of InsP3 by progressively longer light flashes evoked transient Ca2+ responses that appeared abruptly at a certain threshold duration, and then grew steeply over a narrow range of flash durations to reach a maximum. Further lengthening of flash duration gave no increase in size of the Ca2+ signals, but their rate of rise continued to increase and their duration became longer. Simultaneous measurements of Ca(2+)-activated Cl- currents showed a slightly higher threshold than the Ca2+ signal, and a more graded dependence upon flash duration. 3. The threshold flash durations required to evoke Ca2+ and membrane current signals grew by more than 100-fold as the area of the oocyte exposed to photolysis light was reduced from a square of 140 microns to 5 microns. 4. Ca2+ signals evoked by photoreleased InsP3 began following a dose-dependent latency that was as long as several seconds with low intensity light, but shortened to about 50 ms at maximum intensity. The extrapolated minimum latency with infinite photorelease of InsP3 was about 30 ms. 5. InsP3-evoked membrane currents began 30 ms or longer after the corresponding Ca2+ signals, whereas currents evoked by photorelease of Ca2+ from a caged precursor began within 5 ms of the onset of the light flash. 6. No differences in duration of InsP3-evoked Ca2+ signals were apparent when the confocal measuring spot was positioned close to the plasma membrane or about 10 microns more deeply into the oocyte. At both locations the Ca2+ signals were more prolonged than the associated membrane current signals. 7. Ca2+ signals to a test light flash were suppressed for about 2 s following a conditioning suprathreshold flash, but recovered almost completely after 6 s. The associated membrane current signals were facilitated at short intervals, suppressed at intervals between 0.5 and 3 s, and subsequently recovered more slowly than the Ca2+ signals. 8. Photorelease of InsP3 during 30 s exposures of low intensity evoked trains of repetitive Ca2+ spikes. The overall amplitudes of these responses changed little with increasing in frequency, and became smaller and superimposed on a more sustained elevation of Ca2+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The medical home, preventive care screenings, and counseling for children: evidence from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

Abstract Objective Little is known about the role of the medical home in promoting essential preventive health care services in the general pediatric population. This study examined associations between having a medical home and receipt of health screenings and anticipatory guidance. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the 2004–2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Our sample included 21 055 children aged 0 to 17 years who visited a health care provider in the year prior to the survey. A binary indicator of the medical home was developed from 22 questions in MEPS, reflecting 4 of the 7 American Academy of Pediatrics' recommended components of the medical home: accessible, family-centered, comprehensive, and compassionate care. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between the medical home and receipt of specific health screenings and anticipatory guidance, controlling for confounding variables. Results Approximately 49% of our study sample has a medical home. The medical home, defined when the usual source of care is a person or facility, is significantly associated with 3 health screenings (ie, weight, height, and blood pressure) and several anticipatory guidance topics (ie, advice about dental checkups, diet, exercise, car and bike safety), with odds ratios ranging from 1.26 to 1.54. Conclusions The medical home is associated with increased odds of children receiving some health screenings and anticipatory guidance. The medical home may provide an opportunity to improve the delivery of these services for children.
Effects of positioning optimization in an alternative computer workstation for people with and without low back pain

Abstract The aim of this study was to measure the impact of positioning optimization on typing performance and user comfort for people with and without low back pain (LBP) in alternative working postures. Participants completed a series of typing tests in each of five randomly ordered alternative working postures ranging from upright to fully supine. Typing accuracy and typing speed were recorded as were subjective measures of overall comfort and body part discomfort. The impact of positioning optimization of the monitor, keyboard, and arm supports was determined by comparing results from an “Optimized” test study protocol ( n = 27) with those from a “Non-Optimized” test study protocol ( n = 26). The results indicate a significant improvement in user comfort with the optimized positioning, but no significant differences in typing performance between the two test protocols. However, in both tests the slowest typing speeds occurred in the fully reclined and zero gravity working postures. Results of the user comfort scores indicated that for the Non-Optimized test, all alternative working postures were less comfortable than the upright posture. Whereas, in the Optimized test the tilted and reclined postures were comparable to the upright working posture and only the zero gravity posture was viewed as less comfortable. Relevance to industry Understanding the importance of position optimization for VDT operators in alternative working postures will provide valuable information toward the development of more comfortable and more accommodating computer workstations.
Enabling location-based applications

We identify a number of factors that may hinder the commercial success of location-based applications: the concern of privacy, the need to consider context beyond location, the presence of voluminous resources, and the constrained interfaces available on mobile devices. We describe an end-to-end system architecture with integrated support to address these issues. In particular, the architecture includes a Secure Context Service that provides broad context information to applications and allows people to flexibly control the release of their private information, an Intelligent Service Discovery Service that allows for personalized selection of physical and virtual services, and a multi-modal interaction mechanism that enables users to exploit multiple synchronized access channels to interact with an application and to switch among channels at any time. Our goals are to improve user experience, to reduce user distraction and to facilitate awareness of the physical world.
Evaluation of entomopathogenic fungi against chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis.

Commercial strains of entomopathogenic fungi were evaluated for control of chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), an invasive pest of ornamental and vegetable plants in the Caribbean and southeastern United States. In laboratory assays, LC50 values against adult S. dorsalis were 5.1 × 104 CFU/mL for Beauveria bassiana GHA, with higher values 3.1 × 105 for Metarhizium brunneum F52 and 3.8 × 105 for Isaria fumosorosea Apopka 97. Second instars were comparatively less susceptible to all isolates, ostensibly due to moulting, with LC50 values of 1.1 × 108, 7.0 × 105, and 9.9 × 105 CFU/spores per mL for GHA, F52, and Apopka 97 strains, respectively. In greenhouse cages, compared with controls, three applications of mycoinsecticides and other biorational insecticides at 7 to 14 day intervals reduced overall S. dorsalis populations on pepper plants Capsicum annuum cv. California Wonder: spinosad reduced populations by 94–99%, M. brunneum F52 by 84–93%, B. bassiana GHA by 81–94%, I. fumosorosea PFR-97 by 62–66%, and different horticultural oils by 58–85%. The proportion of marketable fruit was significantly increased by M. brunneum F52, B. bassiana GHA, and 2% SuffOil-X treatments. Slightly lower levels of control were observed in nursery tests with ornamental rose shrubs, Rosa sp. Red Double Knock Out®, during hot sunny conditions. Four applications reduced thrips populations over 10 weeks: spinosad by an average of 91%, M. brunneum F52 by an average of 81%, B. bassiana GHA by an average of 62%, SuffOil-X by an average of 50%, and I. fumosorosea PFR-97 by an average of 44%. The data show that mycoinsecticides can be used in management strategies for low to moderate populations of S. dorsalis and provide resistance management tools for the limited number of insecticides that are effective against this pest.
Malonamide-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles for Selective, Colorimetric Sensing of Trivalent Lanthanide Ions

A selective and sensitive molecular sensor for trivalent lanthanide (Ln(3+)) ions based upon a malonamide-functionalized gold nanoparticle was developed for colorimetric detection in water. A new synthetic approach permits nanoparticle synthesis, stabilization, and incorporation of a selective lanthanide binding site in a single, direct step. The design incorporates a specifically tailored dual function precursor ligand that bears a sodium thiosulfate (Bunte salt) group that links to the gold nanoparticle core and a tetramethylmalonamide (TMMA) group that serves as a selective Ln(3+) binding site. The sensor's colorimetric response to lanthanide ions is immediate, and it is sensitive down to approximately 50 nM for Eu(3+) and Sm(3+). This study demonstrates a general strategy for direct, convenient nanoparticle synthesis that enables the incorporation of analyte binding groups directly to the nanoparticle surface, allowing colorimetric sensors to be developed for widespread use. The one-step synthesis offers uniform surface ligand composition, reduces the volume of waste generated during nanoparticle synthesis and purification, produces functionalized gold nanoparticles that are stable in nonmodified aqueous environments, and offers colorimetric detection at ambient temperature.
Empirical performance comparison of selective and constructive induction

Abstract The paper provides the results of a performance comparison study of two symbolic learning programs, both based on the AQ15c learning algorithm. The first program uses a single representation space, while the second one utilizes constructive induction, which changes the representation space. The performance of the compared systems was analyzed using three empirical error rates, including the overall, commission and omission error rates. These were determined by applying the hold-out, 10-fold, and leave-one-out sampling methods. Both systems' performance was calculated for individual stages in a multi-stage knowledge-acquisition process. Learning curves and their envelopes were prepared. The study was conducted using a set of 384 optimal designs of wind bracing in steel skeleton structures of tall buildings. The research methodology and the two learning systems used in the experiments are described, all numerical results are provided, and the conclusions of the research are given.
An objection to gareth evans’ account of self‐identity

In chapter seven ‘Self Identification’ of his challenging book The Varieties of Reference, Gareth Evans attempts to give an account of how it is that one is able to think about oneself self-consciously. On Evans’ view, when one attempts to think of oneself self-consciously that person is having what he calls an ‘I’ thought. Since these ‘I’ thoughts are a case of reference, more specifically self-reference, Evans thinks that these thoughts can be explained by employing the same theoretical framework that he uses to explain other kinds of reference. Evans thinks all thoughts are essentially structured, and this means that they must fall under his ‘generality constraint’. Since ‘I’ thoughts are also ‘thoughts’ they are essentially structured as well, and they too must be subject to the generality constraint. The radical implication of this is that Evans thinks that if ‘I’ thoughts are subject to the generality constraint, then he can show that self-reference must be reference to a thing which we can locate on a spatio-temporal map. In this article I hope to accomplish three things. First, I will spell out in detail the argument Evans uses to arrive at his claim that self-reference must be reference to something located on a spatio-temporal map. Second, I will raise an objection, which states that Evans’ conclusion that self-reference must involve spatio-temporal location is not a consequence of the generality constraint. Finally I will argue that Evans’ conclusion that self-reference must involve spatio-temporal location is in fact in tension with the generality constraint, rather than being an implication of it.
Recurrence of pulmonary mucinous cystic tumor of borderline malignancy

Cystic mucinous tumors of the lung are recently described neoplasms whose histology is different from most lung adenocarcinomas, and represent a spectrum of malignant potential. Little is known of the behavior of the more malignant subtype. We present a cystic mucinous tumor of borderline malignancy that recurred locally following initial limited resection, and was treated with lobectomy.
Systematical behavior of even-A polonium isotopes

The energy systematics of even-A, neutron-deficient polonium isotopes have been previously observed down to A=194. The low-lying states display a gradual approach to the equal spacings of a harmonic vibrator, exceeding this limit for the first time in {sup 194}Po. We have successfully modeled these energy systematics using the particle-core model and have applied the quasiparticle random phase approximation to extract microscopic wave functions for the collective 2{sub 1}{sup +} states and predict B(E2;2{sub 1}{sup +}{r_arrow}0{sub 1}{sup +}) values. We are able to explain the Po trends in terms of the overlaps of the wave functions of valence particles, overlaps which are enhanced when particles occupy the high-j proton 1h{sub 9/2} and neutron 1i{sub 13/2} orbitals. We find little evidence for particle-hole excitations across the Z=82 shell gap. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Compound action potentials and single unit responses to a 1 kHz haversine in the cat

Abstract The single-cycle 1 kHz haversine (one cycle of a 1 kHz sine wave beginning at −90° ) is a low-frequency impulsive stimulus which has been little used, but which has significant potential applications both as a clinical and a research tool. The auditory nerve compound action potential (CAP) and single unit discharge patterns evoked by a single-cycle 1 kHz haversine stimulus were studied in anesthetized cats. The haversine CAP waveform consisted of two or three short latency peaks with peak to peak intervals of about 1.0 ms. Latencies of the CAP peaks decreased with increased stimulus intensity and were also strongly dependent on stimulus polarity. Typically, CAP peak latencies changed by about 0.5 ms with stimulus polarity reversal. Single unit responses were classified by the peak latency pattern of their haversine post-stimulus time histograms (PSTHs). Low CF units had low thresholds and PSTHs resembling their click responses. High CF units had high thresholds and PSTHs comprised of one or two short latency peaks whose latencies were polarity-sensitive. Some units in an intermediate CF range (approximately 1.5–3.0 kHz) had PSTHs which were a transitional form between the high and low CF types of response. The unit discharge patterns strongly suggested a low frequency origin for the haversine CAP at all intensities.
EFFECT OF PEPTIDES ON THE UPTAKE OF CO57B12 BY THE GUINEA PIG INTESTINAL MUCOSA HOMOGENATES.

Over 30 di-, tri-, tetra-, and polypeptides derived from 14 aminoacids were assayed for their enhancing activity upon the uptake of radioactive B12 in the guinea pig intestinal homogenate system. No unequivocal activity of these materials could be demonstrated. The negative results obtained (including those with the use of glutamic acid) do not lend support to the concept that simple low-molecular-weight peptides or amino-acid units play a role in the intestinal absorption of Vitamin B12.
A CYTOLOGICAL AND CYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF HYDRANTHS OF THE HYDROID COELECTERATE, PENNARIA TIARELLA.

Cytological and cytochemical studies were undertaken on hydranths of the gymnoblastic hydroid, Pennaria tiarella and compared with conditions in the more abundantly studied but less typical genus, Hydra. The histological organization of Pennaria was more complex than in Hydra. This was particularly noted in: the regional organization of the endoderm into a pharynx, digestive region, and basal region; in the enhanced role of the epitheliomusculature in binding the endodermal epithelium to the mesolammella; and in the presence of two types of tentacles. The most striking cellular specialization was a much enlarged secretory cell in the digestive region which exhibited high levels of cytoplasmic and nucleolar RNA and protein. Current notions concerning form maintenance in coelenterates were discussed in connection with observations on nematocyst replacement and gonophore development in Pennaria.
Multi-tone approach to SBS mitigation in narrow linewidth high power fiber amplifiers

We investigate theoretically multi-tone seeding of high power ytterbium-doped amplifiers using a numerical code that solves a two-point boundary problem. A large wavelength separation among the signals is used leading to efficient transfer of power through laser gain while increasing the stimulated Brillouin scattering threshold in the channel of interest. Two-tone and three-tone seeding configurations are considered. For two-tone seeding, it is shown that a combination of narrow linewidth and broadband signals employed in a co-propagating geometry can achieve the same level of SBS suppression as counter-pumping.
A non-parametric method to analyse time-course of effect in the absence of pharmacokinetic data : Application to inhaled bronchodilators

Abstract In spite of the extensive use of long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) bronchodilators in asthma, the actual mechanism of their in vivo duration of action is not well understood, primarily due to limitations of standard pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PKPD) analysis methodologies. We have developed a novel method of analysing lung efficacy vs. time profiles for LABAs that can be used to provide comparative information on the lung PK. We hypothesised that for compounds that do not differ in their PK at the site of PD action, but differ in their in vivo potencies, the relationship between the area under the effect curve (AUEC) and the observed maximum effect (OME) at different doses is described by the same sigmoid curve. We have illustrated this property for standard PKPD models by obtaining analytical solution and through simulations. Anaesthetised dog in vivo effect vs. time profiles were gathered for six inhaled LABA candidates that differ in their in vitro potencies. Neither lung nor systemic PK was available for any compound. Analysis of the AUEC vs. OME data, derived from the efficacy profiles, using nonlinear mixed effects modelling indicated that for four compounds, the observed differences in in vivo duration of action was due to differences in their in vivo potencies and not because of lung PK differences. Therefore, it was concluded that for these compounds, characterisation of lung PK was unlikely to differentiate their PKPD characteristics. Thus, the proposed approach helped focus resources during translational research leading to lead candidate selection.
Semi-supervised learning for music artists style identification

This paper addresses the issue of identifying the artist style. Our focus is given to singer-songwriters, i.e., those who sing their own compositions. We take the standpoint that the artistic style of a singer-songwriter is reflected in consistent use of both the acoustic sounds and the lyrics, and hypothesize that by combining acoustic features and linguistic features of songs, the artistic styles of an artist can be better captured than by using only one type of features . Although we believe that the degree at which a listener finds a piece of music similar to another is influenced by the listener’s cultural and music backgrounds and by the listener’s state of mind, to make our investigation more plausible we choose to use similarity information available at All Music Guide (www.allmusic.com). In our experiments two artists are thought of as similar if this guide asserts one to be an artist similar to the other on the “Similar Artist” lists. We take the standpoint that the artist similarity information in this guide summarizes the opinions of one or more listeners. Identification of artistic styles based on sounds and lyrics boils down to the problem of learning from heterogeneous data. Here we take a semi-supervised learning approach, in which a classification algorithm is trained for each feature set but the target label is adjusted for input data so as to minimized disagreement between the classifiers.
The Effect of Ethical Orientation and Professional Commitment on Earnings Management Behavior.

The purpose of this study is twofold. The first objective is to examine the impact of an individual’s ethical ideology and level of professional commitment on the earnings management decision. The second objective is to observe whether the presence of a personal benefit affects an individual’s ethical orientation or professional commitment within the context of an opportunity to manage earnings. Using a sample of 375 undergraduate business majors, our results suggest a significant relationship between an individual’s ethical orientation and decision-making. Further, participants with higher levels of professional commitment seem to be less likely to engage in earnings management behavior and less likely to behave opportunistically. These results have the potential to add to our understanding of certain behaviors in entry-level personnel and should be of interest to managers, practitioners, academicians, and researchers.
Dexterous workspace of human two- and three-fingered precision manipulation

Precision manipulation, in which an object held between the fingertips is translated and/or rotated with respect to the hand without sliding, is used frequently in everyday tasks such as writing, yet few studies have examined the experimental precision manipulation workspace of the human hand. This study evaluates the range of positions over which 19 participants manipulated a moderately sized (3.3-4.1cm diameter) object using either the thumb and index finger (2 finger condition) or the thumb, index and middle fingers (3 finger condition). The results show that the 2-fingered workspace is on average 40 % larger than the 3-fingered workspace (p <; 0.001, likely due to added kinematic constraints from an additional finger. Representative precision manipulation workspaces for a median 17.5cm length hand are shown from multiple views to clearly illustrate the overall workspace shape, while the general relationship between hand length and workspace volume is evaluated. This view of the human precision manipulation workspace has various applications, ranging from motivating the design of effective, comfortable haptic interfaces to benchmarking the performance of robotic and prosthetic hands.
In vivo photoacoustic imaging of prostate brachytherapy seeds

We conducted an approved canine study to investigate the in vivo feasibility of photoacoustic imaging for intraoperative updates to brachytherapy treatment plans. Brachytherapy seeds coated with black ink were inserted into the canine prostate using methods similar to a human procedure. A transperineal, interstitial, fiber optic light delivery method, coupled to a 1064 nm laser, was utilized to irradiate the prostate and the resulting acoustic waves were detected with a transrectal ultrasound probe. The fiber was inserted into a high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy needle that acted as a light-diffusing sheath, enabling radial light delivery from the tip of the fiber inside the sheath. The axis of the fiber was located at a distance of 4-9 mm from the long axis of the cylindrical seeds. Ultrasound images acquired with the transrectal probe and post-operative CT images of the implanted seeds were analyzed to confirm seed locations. In vivo limitations with insufficient light delivery within the ANSI laser safety limit (100 mJ/cm2) were overcome by utilizing a short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC) beamformer, which provided average seed contrasts of 20-30 dB for energy densities ranging 8-84 mJ/cm2. The average contrast was improved by up to 20 dB with SLSC beamforming compared to conventional delay-and-sum beamforming. There was excellent agreement between photoacoustic, ultrasound, and CT images. Challenges included visualization of photoacoustic artifacts that corresponded with locations of the optical fiber and hyperechoic tissue structures.
Effect of Dietary Calcium and Phosphorus Levels on Ultra-Filterable Calcium and Dialyzable Phosphorus in the Laying Hen

Abstract Laying hens were fed diets containing combinations of 2.6 or 3.6% calcium and .45 or .75% total phosphorus. After receiving the diets for 2 wk, blood samples were collected during a 24-h period at 6-h intervals and total calcium, ultrafilterable calcium and dialyzable phosphorus was determined on blood plasma. Plasma total calcium was higher (P
Treatment of malignant brain tumors with focused ultrasound hyperthermia and radiation: results of a phase I trial.

Hyperthermia delivered by scanned focused ultrasound was combined with external beam radiation to treat 15 patients with primary malignant tumors of the brain. A preliminary craniectomy was performed to avoid attenuation of the ultrasound beam by the skull, and multiple thermal sensors were employed to ascertain intratumoral temperatures. The target temperature was 42.5°C at the tumor boundary. This was attained at more than one point during every complete treatment, while a mean temperature in excess of 42°C was achieved within the scanned tumor volume during at least 1 treatment in 11 patients. Technical problems and toxicities are described.
Set shot shooting performance and visual acuity in Basketball

Common sense suggests that decreasing visual acuity will have a negative effect on basketball shooting performance. To test the hypothesis that basketball shooting performance monotonically decreases with decreasing acuity, 19 subjects attempted 25 set shots from a fixed location at each of 5 different acuity levels: 6/6 or better and vision blurred (by optical defocus) to visual acuities of 6/12, 6/24, 6/48, and 6/75. Our results revealed a small but statistically nonsignificant decrease in shooting performance between the 6/6+ and 6/12 conditions. For visual acuities between 6/12 and 6/75, the number of baskets made remained constant. We conclude that decreases in visual acuity over the range of 6/6+ to 6/75 resulting from defocus do not significantly reduce set shot shooting performance.
Frictional and structural characterization of ion‐nitrided low and high chromium steels

Low Cr steels AISI 4140, AISI 4340, and high Cr austenitic stainless steels AISI 304. AISI 316 were ion nitrided in a dc glow discharge plasma consisting of a 75% H2–25% N2 mixture. Surface compound layer phases were identified, and compound layer microhardness and diffusion zone microhardness profiles were established. Distinct differences in surface compound layer hardness and diffusion zone profiles were determined between the low and high Cr alloy steels. The high Cr stainless steels after ion nitriding displayed a hard compound layer and an abrupt diffusion zone. The compound layers of the high Cr stainless steels had a columnar structure which accounts for brittleness when layers are exposed to contact stresses. The ion nitrided surfaces of high and low Cr steels displayed a low coefficient of friction with respect to the untreated surfaces when examined in a pin and disk tribotester.
Calcium retention and hormone levels in black and white women on high- and low-calcium diets

Black-white differences in calcium metabolism are sought because they may reveal why blacks have higher bone mass than whites. Comparative studies of calcium absorption in blacks and whites are not available. In this study, we compare fractional calcium retention, an index of calcium absorption, and calcium regulating hormone levels in black and white women on a high-calcium diet and after adaptation to a low-calcium diet. A total of 30 healthy women (15 black and 15 white) had measurements of fractional 47Ca retention and calcium regulating hormone levels after 8 weeks on a 2000 mg calcium diet and, subsequently, after 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks on a 300 mg calcium diet. By 2 weeks after the diet change, fractional 47Ca retention, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2D] had reached a plateau at higher levels, urine calcium at a low level, and serum calcium at the same level (repeated-measures ANOVA). Fractional 47Ca retention, serum calcium, and PTH were similar on both diets in blacks and whites. Blacks had higher levels of 1,25-(OH)2D on both diets (e.g., 125.1 +/- 53.5 SD versus 73.4 +/- 19.0 pmol/liter, P = 0.003 on low-calcium diet) and a greater increase in 1,25-(OH)2D after the diet change (33.9 +/- 30.1 SD versus 11.8 +/- 17.9 pmol/liter, P = 0.021). Serum phosphorus was lower in blacks throughout. For hormone levels and fractional calcium retention to stabilize after a diet change, 2 weeks was needed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Quadrupedal dinosaurs did not evolve fully pronated forearms: new evidence from the ulna

Therians (marsupials and placentals), archosaurs, and chameleons are remarkable in that they evolved postures and gaits with inturned forelimbs. However, recent studies have indirectly recognized that, unlike fully pronated therian and chameleon forearms, dinosaur forearms were mechanically constrained by semi-pronated (misaligned) joints. This has led to the hypothesis that quadrupedal dinosaurs mitigated this constraint via proximal migration of the radius, indirectly forming a more pronated, tubular manus distally. To test this hypothesis, a standardized pose was used to examine the forearm pronation of ornithischian dinosaurs that were obligatory quadrupeds and facultative bipeds. Results show that only restructuring of the distal, not the proximal radius, causes additional pronation of the pre-axial edge of the carpus, but also unexpectedly reveal that the ulna may help form a tubular manus by supinating the post-axial edge. Thus, relative to the plane of the elbow joint the wrist and finger joints r...
Time, Space, and Articulation in the Economic Development of the U.S.-Mexico Border Region from 1940 to 2000

Concepts of world-system and articulation of modes of production are used to analyze the economic development of the U.S.-Mexico border region. The designation of centers and of periphery, semiperiphery, and core depends on the nature of the economic activity, where it takes place, and the destinations of the value derived. Assignment of periphery and semiperiphery changes, depending on where the resource is produced, distributed, consumed, and where capital accumulation occurs, as well as to the nature of the commodity. For example, maquilas that assemble products in peripheral regions are tied to plants (semiperipheries) on the U.S. side of the border, from which they receive components to assemble and where they deliver the finished product, but also to transnational corporations in other parts of the U.S. where profit accrues in centers. Production, distribution, and consumption centers exist in the core, periphery, and semiperiphery, where these activities take place. The following topics are reviewed as commodities and articulatory mechanisms: agricultural development, urbanization, labor, the retail and tourism industries and the contraband trade, and the establishment of the Border Industrialization Program.
Probabilistic sensor management for target tracking via compressive sensing

In this paper, we consider the problem of sensor management for target tracking in a wireless sensor network (WSN). To determine the set of sensors that have the most information, we develop a probabilistic sensor management scheme based on the concepts developed in compressive sensing. In the proposed scheme, each senor node decides whether it should transmit its observation via multiple access channels to the fusion center with a certain probability. With this probabilistic transmission scheme, the observation vector received at the fusion center becomes a compressed version of the original observations. Our goal is to determine the optimal values of the probability using which each node should transmit so that the determinant of the Fisher information matrix (FIM) is maximized at any given time instant with a constraint on the available energy. Numerical examples are provided to show the performance of the proposed scheme.
Evaluating Primary Marine Aerosol Production and Atmospheric Roll Structures in Hawaii’s Natural Oceanic Wind Tunnel*

AbstractTopography-induced steady-state accelerated wind flow in the Alenuihaha Channel between the islands of Hawaii and Maui provides about 100 km of fetch with winds that can nearly double over trade wind speed. Here ship- and aircraft-based observations of meteorological parameters and aerosols in Hawaii’s orographic natural “wind tunnel” are used for the study of sea salt aerosol (SSA) production, evolution, and related optical effects under clean oceanic conditions. There are certain advantages of channel measurements, such as a broad and uniform upstream area usually filled with background aerosol, stationary flow, and known fetch, but also some difficulties, like vigorous entrainment and persistent presence of organized structures (rolls). It is found that marine boundary layer (MBL) rolls are a common occurrence near the Hawaiian Islands even when cloud streets are not visible in satellite imagery. The presence of rolls tends to enhance the variability of ambient aerosol concentration and probabl...
Causal inference in primary open angle glaucoma: specific discussion on intraocular pressure.

Objectives: As the first part of a comprehensive review of the concept of causal inference in epidemiology, this article explains how causal inference is established in epidemiology and applies these methods to evaluate the evidence in favor or against the causal association between intraocular pressure (IOP) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) as an example. Methods: After an introduction to causal inference in epidemiology and general guidelines for assessment of the causal relationship, the association between IOP and POAG will be evaluated in the context of these guidelines and the categories suggested by the Surgeon General's report. Results: The literature indicates a consistent strong association between IOP and POAG and there is no strong evidence against temporal precedence. The association is biologically plausible, coherent with scientific principles, and has noticeable biological gradient. However, it seems that IOP is not specific for POAG and vice versa. Conclusion: Despite the absence of...