cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Late Pleistocene marine birds from southern Peru: distinguishing human capture from El Niño-induced windfall

Abstract The Central Andean hyperarid littoral has abundant marine fauna that would have been attractive to the earliest inhabitants. Whether people hunted or scavenged marine animals during the terminal Late Pleistocene have social and technological implications for understanding ancient Andean foraging. The periodic phenomenon of El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) disrupts marine food chains and results in the death of significant numbers of marine vertebrates and microorganisms. The onset of ancient El Nino events may have created a subsistence opportunity for human coastal inhabitants along the Pacific coast of the Central Andes when large numbers of guano-producing birds (cormorants, boobies, and pelicans) became weak and eventually died. The remains of numerous marine birds dominate the Late Pleistocene archaeological site of Quebrada Tacahuay in far southern Peru. This Terminal Pleistocene occupation dating to 10,770–10,290 years ago (uncalibrated radiocarbon years; 12,880–11,970 calendar years ago) was buried and sealed by an apparent ancient El Nino-induced debris flow. Using characteristics of the faunal assemblage I assess whether people hunted marine birds or ENSO created a subsistence opportunity for people to either scavenge a catastrophic assemblage or collect a community of vulnerable birds prior to the debris flow. I present avian skeletal part frequencies, butchering patterns, and the quantities and variety of marine bony fishes. An analysis of vertebrate taxonomic and skeletal composition in conjunction with an analysis of site context does not support the hypothesis that paleoenvironmental conditions generated an opportunity for the facile collection of either dead or weak birds. In contrast, the faunal data suggest that humans actively hunted, captured, and consumed healthy marine birds. When evaluating the possible role of environmental fluctuations on human behavior and diet, researchers must consider not only the taphonomy of the most abundant remains, but also how other vertebrate taxa in a region are affected as well as the archaeological context.
Assessing what high risk young children know about drugs: verbal versus pictorial methods.

Very young children are generally not targeted for drug education efforts for two basic reasons. First, it is generally assumed that young children are not cognitively ready to learn about specific...
Mechanism of alamethicin insertion into lipid bilayers

Alamethicin adsorbs on the membrane surface at low peptide concentrations. However, above a critical peptide-to-lipid ratio (P/L), a fraction of the peptide molecules insert in the membrane. This critical ratio is lipid dependent. For diphytanoyl phosphatidylcholine it is about 1/40. At even higher concentrations P/L > or = 1/15, all of the alamethicin inserts into the membrane and forms well-defined pores as detected by neutron in-plane scattering. A previous x-ray diffraction measurement showed that alamethicin adsorbed on the surface has the effect of thinning the bilayer in proportion to the peptide concentration. A theoretical study showed that the energy cost of membrane thinning can indeed lead to peptide insertion. This paper extends the previous studies to the high-concentration region P/L > 1/40. X-ray diffraction shows that the bilayer thickness increases with the peptide concentration for P/L > 1/23 as the insertion approaches 100%. The thickness change with the percentage of insertion is consistent with the assumption that the hydrocarbon region of the bilayer matches the hydrophobic region of the inserted peptide. The elastic energy of a lipid bilayer including both adsorption and insertion of peptide is discussed. The Gibbs free energy is calculated as a function of P/L and the percentage of insertion phi in a simplified one-dimensional model. The model exhibits an insertion phase transition in qualitative agreement with the data. We conclude that the membrane deformation energy is the major driving force for the alamethicin insertion transition.
A model study of estuary and shelf tidally driven circulation

Abstract We develop a three-dimensional numerical model for barotropic tidal flows in the coastal ocean useful in a weakly nonlinear regime. The flow field can then be split into a first-order linear, harmonic tidal flow and a second-order, nonlinearly induced mean or residual flow. First we test the model against two different, but well-established, tidal models, that of Leendertse and that of Ianniello. The model is successful in nearly replicating these earlier model results for an estuarine setting. We then apply the model first to an isolated, straight continental shelf. The mean flow generated then flows primarily alongshelf. We name this the Tee Current after Tee’s (1980) discovery of this current with a two-dimensional model that neglected all alongshelf variations. The Tee current appears to be ubiquitous on shelves as well as persistent and to have alongshelf transport that is an appreciable fraction of that produced by buoyancy forcing, for example. Its dynamics is analogous to that of alongshore currents in the surf zone. For a long, straight shelf the Tee Current is directed alongshelf opposite the sense of the first order tidal current offshore major axis. For the cases we analyzed, this current direction was upshelf, i.e., opposite the direction of coastally trapped wave propagation. The model results show that the presence of a large, adjacent estuary alters the flow fields of both the first and second order tides significantly. Eulerian mean transport leaving the estuary turns cyclonically to join and reinforce the Tee Current on the inner shelf. From an application to the Delaware Estuary and adjacent shelf we find excellent agreement between modeled and observed first-order tidal currents, but only modest agreement between second-order mean currents.
Exact study of magnetic superheating of thin cylinders in axial magnetic fields for small κ-values☆

Abstract We have solved the Ginzburg-Landau (GL) equations for cylinders is an axial magnetic field for various κ-values and radii a and found the largest magnetic field, the superheating field H o , for which solutions of the GL equations exist. H o has a minimum at about 1.58 H c ( H c ≏ bulk thermodynamic critcal field for a ≈ 4.2 λ ( T ) for all κ
Ecotypic differentiation in photosynthesis and growth of Eriophorum vaginatum along a latitudinal gradient in the Arctic tundra

Ecotypic differentiation reduces climatic niche breadth at the population level relative to a species’ spatial distribution. For species that form climatic ecotypes, if future climate exceeds local...
The evolution of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases as regulators of growth and metabolism

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3Ks) evolved from a single enzyme that regulates vesicle trafficking in unicellular eukaryotes into a family of enzymes that regulate cellular metabolism and growth in multicellular organisms. In this review, we examine how the PI3K pathway has evolved to control these fundamental processes, and how this pathway is in turn regulated by intricate feedback and crosstalk mechanisms. In light of the recent advances in our understanding of the function of PI3Ks in the pathogenesis of diabetes and cancer, we discuss the exciting therapeutic opportunities for targeting this pathway to treat these diseases.
Correlates of Age The NORC General Social Survey

The NORC General Social Survey represents the central social indicator data collection device that is not an enumeration or registration procedure. It has serious limitations in design, but offers useful data on social and psychological correlates of age. A framework for looking at these correlates is noted and an abbreviated summary of the correlates is presented.
Lithium niobate thin films deposited on silicon substrates and their SAW applications

Abstract Lithium niobate has a number of attractive piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties that have been exploited for many applications. The main purpose of our work was to grow lithium niobate thin films on silicon substrates and make surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices. Theoretical curves of SAW properties of bulk crystals and films lithium niobate on silicon with a coating of silicon oxide were also obtained. The theoretical results include elastic wave properties (velocities and power flow angle) in lithium niobate bulk crystals and SAW properties (velocities and coupling coefficients). Thin films of lithium niobate have been deposited on Si (100) substrates (with SiO2 coatings) by rf magnetron sputtering. Lithium niobate film samples with very good transparency and uniformity were obtained. The film samples were structurally analyzed using Bragg x-ray diffraction (XRD). Lithium niobate XRD peaks for specific sputtering conditions corresponding to thin film orientation of (012), (104) and (110) ...
The pharmacologic fate of 2,5-diaziridinyl-3,6-bis(carboethoxyamino) 1,4-benzoquinone (AZQ NSC-182986) by intracarotid or intravenous administration in beagles

Beagle dogs received either intravenous (I.V.) or intracarotid (I.C.) 14C ring labelled 2,5-diaziridinyl-3,6-bis-(carboethoxyamino) 1,4-benzoquinone (AZQ) at a dose of 2 mg/ kg. Blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected at intervals. At varying times, dogs from each group were sacrificed and histologic examination and drug determinations were performed on the major organs. By both routes of administration, the elimination of AZQ from plasma was biphasic with an initial half-life of 18 min and a terminal half-life of 26 hr. The apparent volume of distribution was 7.9 1/ kg and the total clearance was 3.5 ml/kg/h. The 96 hr cumulative urinary excretion of total 14C was 41% of the administered dose, including 4% as the unchanged drug. At 1, 48, and 96 hr after I. C. AZQ, drug concentrations in the brain tissue were twice those by the 1.V. route. High drug concentrations in the CSF were produced by both routes, although the CSF to plasma ratio was higher by I.C. than LV. In extracranial organs, tissue concentrations of AZQ were at least twice as high by LV. than by I.C. administration. No significant clinical or neurologic toxicity were noted when AZQ was given I.C. In the dog I.C. administration of AZQ seems to accelerate drug entry into the brain tissue.
Marital system differences and summer-long vacations: Togetherness-apartness and tension

Abstract In a questionnaire study of 56 couples in which one or both spouses was a teacher with a long summer vacation, couples high on school year measures of potential for problems (values differences, physical violence when angry, disrespect) had higher levels of general tension during the summer the more they were in contact. Couples low in potential for problems had lower levels of general tension during the summer the more they were in contact. Apparently one can predict with some accuracy how a relationship system will operate when there is opportunity for great togetherness. The findings are of relevance in counseling couples claiming to desire greater togetherness and in counseling couples experiencing greater togetherness due to vocation, retirement, reduction in employment, or illness.
Life course perspectives on consumer behavior

Although marketing researchers have recognized the importance of early life experiences in shaping patterns of consumer behavior in later life, they have inadequate theoretical and methodological bases for investigating consumption-related issues over the life course. As a result, relatively little is known about the changes consumers experience over time, how they respond to these changes, and how early life experiences affect their consumer behavior. The life course approach, developed as an interdisciplinary program for studying various aspects of behavior, offers a framework for filling gaps in previous efforts to study consumer behavior over time. The purpose of this article is to advocate the life course approach for studying various types of market behavior. First, the author presents a general conceptual life course framework that serves as a blueprint for discussing theoretical perspectives and organizing, integrating, and reporting consumer research relevant to the life course paradigm. Second, methods of data analysis compatible with life course research are discussed. Finally, select areas of interest to marketing researchers (materialism and compulsive consumption) illustrate how the life course approach might contribute to previous efforts to study these consumer behaviors in an innovative way.
An efficient lattice predictor algorithm for instantaneous frequency estimation

Abstract An efficient method for spectral analysis of non-stationary signals is proposed. The signals are modelled as time-varying autoregressive (AR) processes and the relevant AR parameters are obtained from the adaptive lattice predictor coefficients minimizing the forward/backward prediction errors. In this paper it is proposed to use the sign algorithm, which computes the pertinent coefficients using only the signs of the forward/backward prediction errors at each stage. This method requires less number of multiplications than other adaptive lattice predictor algorithms. The performance of this method is compared with that of the adaptive lattice predictor using the least mean square algorithm for the problems of estimating instantaneous frequencies of FM signals via computer simulations.
Economic decision making in a public marketplace

The free competition, flow of information, and open entry of public produce marketplaces should enforce maximal economic efficiency of firms. Economic anthropologists have insisted for years that regular, customary relations between economic actors are as important as efficiency. Custom and efficiency in the economic behavior of family-firm produce merchants in an urban, public produce marketplace in St. Louis, Missouri, are analyzed using multiple regressions. Factors representing economic custom are strongly significant in explaining gross sales. The economic anthropological position is supported using econometric data drawn from a contemporary capitalist marketplace. [economics, markets, decision making, quantitative methods, urban United States]
Multiplex Computer-Generated Holograms for 3-D Color Display

A multiplex CGH encodes more than one wavefront. We look at the particular subject of encoding the modulus for two encoded wavefronts. The application is color, 3-D display.
Formation of Stellar Assciations from Galactic Gas

GALACTIC gas is present in three types of regions. According to Schluter1, these are: (1) cold dense HI clouds of temperature of the order of 100° K. and density of 10 atoms/cm.3, occupying about 5 per cent of space; (2) these are surrounded by a hot transparent continuous gas at 10,000° K.. density 0.1 atom/cm.3 and pressure 10−13 dyne/cm.2; (3) in addition, about 0.5 per cent of space contains hot dense rapidly expanding H II regions, heated by nuclear energy derived from embedded O or B type stars supernovae and novae. The temperature of 10,000° K. of the main continuous component is probably maintained by turbulent and viscous dissipation of rotational galactic shear, which can supply 10−25 erg/cm.3 sec. for 6 × 109 years, and by absorption of stellar radiation. The energy sink is provided by radiation into intergalactic space. The H I regions must have a comparatively short life of some 107 years and must be replenished. Steady population of all ages must develop, in which condensations are born from the hot continuous component by Zanstra-type instability based on strong dependence of cooling of ionized gas on density. Denser eddies of ionized gas continue losing internal pressure by excessive radiative cooling and collapse from the excess pressure of the surround hot gas. After recombination, cooling-rate slows down, but shear energy supply disappears. An ideal spherical region would deform under galactic shear first into an ellipsoid, which would then continue to collapse into an elongated disk of very small thickness. Collisions of H I regions and turbulence of the continuous component combined with galactic shear would tend to disperse such sheets and return their contents to the hot gas, closing thus their cycle of evolution.
A Note on Sugihara's Claim

This correspondence debates a theorem formulated by K. Sugihara in a recent publication. The theorem deals with the mathematical structures of line drawings, and serves as a basis for a substantial part of the paper. This note claims that the theorem as formulated is not valid. The claim is substantiated by a counterexample.
Proton T1ρ‐dispersion imaging of rodent brain at 1.9 T

Detection of H2(17)O with proton T1rho-dispersion imaging holds promise as a means of quantifying metabolism and blood flow with MRI. However, this technique requires a priori knowledge of the intrinsic T1rho dispersion of tissue. To investigate these properties, we implemented a T1rho imaging sequence on a 1.9-T Signa GE scanner. A series of T1rho images for different locking frequencies and locking durations were obtained from rat brain in vivo and compared with 5% (wt/vol) gelatin phantoms containing different concentrations of (17)O ranging from .037% (natural abundance) to 2.0 atom%. Results revealed that, although there is considerable T1rho-dispersion in phantoms doped with H2(17)O, the T1rho of rat brain undergoes minimal dispersion for spin-locking frequencies between .2 and 1.5 kHz. A small degree of T1rho dispersion is present below .2 kHz, which we postulate arises from natural-abundance H2(17)O. Moreover, the signal-to-noise ratios of T1rho-weighted images are significantly better than comparable T2-weighted images, allowing for improved visualization of tissue contrast. We have also demonstrated the feasibility of proton T1rho-dispersion imaging for detecting intravenous H2(17)O on a live mouse brain. The potential application of this technique to study brain perfusion is discussed.
The vibrational modes of hydrogen adsorbed on Ni(110)

Abstract By studying the vibrational modes of H on Ni(110) as a function of coverage and temperature, a local picture of H site occupation is obtained in the lattice gas regime and on the (1 × 2) reconstructed surface at low temperature and for the irreversibly disordered surface formed by thermal conversion. Threefold sites are deduced from our data in both the lattice gas and the (1 × 2) reconstructed low temperature phases, with an additional loss in the latter phase ascribed to a second layer site. After thermal conversion, the threefold sites are depleted with a ⩽ 0.5 monolayer (ML) transfer of H to second layer sites which appear to stabilize the surface and with ~ 0.5 ML H desorbing. Readsorption on the disordered surface indicates that a small amount of empty threefold Ni sites are still present after conversion. Various other models and site assignments are also discussed for comparison to the results of this study.
Wake Formation From a Pair of Circular Cylinders Traversing Between Small- and Large-Incidence Flow Regimes

Cross flow past a pair of equal-diameter staggered circular cylinders, with either one of the pair subject to forced harmonic transverse oscillation, is investigated experimentally within Reynolds numbers Re = 525–750. The center-to-center pitch ratio and stagger angle of the cylinders at their mean position are 2.5° and 21°, respectively. Results with cylinder excitation frequencies in the range 0.07 ≤ fe D/U ≤ 1.18 (D = cylinder diameter, U = mean flow velocity) at a constant oscillation amplitude (peak-to-peak) of 0.44D are reported. Flow visualization of the wake formation region and hot-film measurements of the wake velocity are reported. Emphasis is placed on the mechanisms leading to vortex shedding. Results show that the wake undergoes considerable modification with the oscillation of either of the two cylinders; this modification depends strongly on the value of fe D/U. The flow patterns remain essentially the same as those of the corresponding static cases for fe D/U < 0.10. However, the flow at higher oscillation frequencies than that can no longer maintain those patterns. In particular, there are distinct regions of fundamental and superharmonic synchronizations between the dominant wake periodicities and the cylinder oscillation over the whole range of fe D/U. Moreover, the manner in which the wake responds to the cylinder oscillation depends strongly on whether it is the upstream or downstream cylinder which is being oscillated.
Review: Windows of exposure to pesticides for increased risk of childhood leukemia

Leukemia is the leading cause of cancer resulting in mortality of children, and there is some evidence suggesting the increased incidence rate increasing during the recent decades. Limited human evidence indicates an increased risk of developing leukemia in childhood as a result of pesticide exposure, with possible significance of exposure occurring during the developmental periods including preconception, pregnancy, and childhood. This review examines the results of relevant literature on the timing of pesticide exposure and leukemia diagnosed in childhood. Results suggest that the risk from pesticide exposure seems to be greater during pregnancy. Other findings indicate that maternal occupational exposure may be more of a greater concern than the paternal occupational exposure; and that the residential indoor use of pesticides tends to result in higher risk estimates than the residential outdoor use. Only limited data are available on particular pesticides, genetic factors, critical windows of exposure ...
Technology Evaluation Tools and Teacher Performance in Public Schools.

The purpose of this study was, (a) to describe the introduction of MVAL software and Charlotte Danielson Rubrics (CDR) as teacher evaluation tools; (b) to compare the process and outcomes of the new initiative with traditional systems, and (c) to evaluate the software from the perspective of participants in the system. This study highlights the need for public school district to improve the process of teacher evaluation using technlogy evaluation tools such as the mVal software. Addtionally, educational policy makers ought to examine effective standards-based criteria and the impact of technology tools on teacher evaluation and reflective practices.
Continuous monitoring of functional activities using wearable, wireless gyroscope and accelerometer technology

The development of functional activity monitors (FAMs) will allow rehabilitation researchers and clinicians to evaluate treatment efficacy, to monitor compliance to exercise instructions, and to provide real time feedback in the treatment of movement disorders during the performance of daily activities. The purpose of the present study was to develop and test a small sized wearable FAM system comprised of three sensors positioned on the sternum and both thighs, wireless Bluetooth transmission capability to a smartphone, and computationally efficient activity detection algorithms for the accurate detection of functional activities. Each sensor was composed of a tri-axial accelerometer and a tri-axial gyroscope. Computationally efficient activity recognition algorithms were developed, using a sliding window of 1 second, the variability of the tilt angle time series and power spectral analysis. In addition, it includes a decision tree that identifies postures such as sitting, standing and lying, walking at comfortable, slow and fast speeds, transitions between these functional activities (e.g, sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit), activity duration and step frequency. In a research lab setting the output of the FAM system, video recordings and a 3D motion analysis system were compared in 10 healthy young adults. The results show that the agreement between the FAM system and the video recordings ranged from 98.10% to 100% for all postures, transfers and walking periods. There were no significant differences in activity durations and step frequency between measurement instruments.
Ringing reduction in image restoration by orientation-selective regularization

The success of ringing artifact reduction in image restoration depends mainly on how the restoration methods accommodate the piecewise smoothness of the image. The article presents a regularization method that adapts both its degree and orientation of regularization operation to the spatial activities of the image intensity and edge orientations. This is achieved by anisotropic diffusion. Its restoration quality compares favorably with that of a previously proposed regularization method that is space adaptive only in the degree of regularization.
Whom Do Mobile Crisis Services Serve

Psychiatric emergency services have expanded greatly in the United States in the last 20 years. Both the number of facilities offering such programs and the numberof patients served have increased (1). The mobile crisis service, a subtype of psychiatnic emergency service that has recently received increased professional attention, provides outreach mental health evaluation and treatment to patients in urgent need (2). The study described here was carried out in a psychiatric emergency service that has both a mobile and a hospital-based component. The study compares the characteristics of patients who use each component. The characteristics examined were based on those analyzed in an earlier study by Gomez (3).
Visualization, systematic desensitization, and rational emotive therapy: A comparative evaluation

This study compared the effectiveness of systematic desensitization (SD), rational emotive therapy (RET), and visualization (VIS) in reducing communication apprehension (CA). All of these treatment modes were found to significantly reduce CA but no statistically significant differences were found in the effectiveness of these three treatment modes. These data take significance from the fact that VIS is a relatively simple technique which can be used in the normal classroom whereas SD and RET require the expenditure of substantial “extra curricular”; resources.
On two-graphs of ovoids in O 2 n +1 ( q )

Abstract Moorhouse and Gunawardena [1] have shown that if the avoids in finite orthogonal spaces of type O 2 n + 1 ( q ), q odd, exist then their two-graphs are regular. In this note, we present a new geometrical proof for the regularity of those two-graphs.
Study of Unaided Cross-Eyed Stereopsis

The learning of the skill of unaided cross-eyed stereopsis was investigated on a group of young adults. Both pictorial and random-dot stereograms were used; small stereograms were viewed at normal reading distance and large projected stereograms were viewed in an auditorium. The results suggest that this direct stereoscopic technique can be learned within a few minutes by almost everyone in the population represented by the test group. The calculated eye-convergence angles for various conditions of cross-eyed stereoscopic viewing indicate that little eye discomfort is caused by this factor when the stereograms are located at a sufficient distance from the viewers. The comments of subjects support this conclusion. The unexpected prevalence of the aptitude for this skill should have practical application in the unaided three-dimensional visualization of computer-generated stereograms.
Foam sweep in fractures for enhanced oil recovery

A theory for foam flow in a uniform fracture was developed and verified by experiment. The apparent viscosity was found to be the sum of contributions arising from liquid between bubbles and the resistance to deformation of the interfaces of bubbles passing through the fracture. Apparent viscosity increases with gas fractional flow and is greater for thicker fractures (for a given bubble size), indicating that foam can divert flow from thicker to thinner fractures. This diversion effect was confirmed experimentally and modeled using the above theory for each individual fracture. The amount of surfactant solution required to sweep a heterogeneous fracture system decreases greatly with increasing gas fractional flow owing to the diversion effect and to the need for less liquid to occupy a given volume when foam is used.
A GC–MS/MS method for the quantitative analysis of low levels of the tyrosine metabolites maleylacetone, succinylacetone, and the tyrosine metabolism inhibitor dichloroacetate in biological fluids and tissues

Abstract We developed a sensitive method to quantitate the tyrosine metabolites maleylacetone (MA) and succinylacetone (SA) and the tyrosine metabolism inhibitor dichloroacetate (DCA) in biological specimens. Accumulation of these metabolites may be responsible for the toxicity observed when exposed to DCA. Detection limits of previous methods are 200 ng/mL (1.2 pmol/μL) (MA) and 2.6 μg/mL (16.5 pmol/μL) (SA) but the metabolites are likely present in lower levels in biological specimens. To increase sensitivity, analytes were extracted from liver, urine, plasma and cultured nerve cells before and after dosing with DCA, derivatized to their pentafluorobenzyl esters, and analyzed via GC–MS/MS.
On-line Estimation of Error Covariance Parameters for Atmospheric Data Assimilation

A simple scheme is presented for on-line estimation of covariance parameters in statistical data assimilation systems. The scheme is based on a maximum-likelihood approach in which estimates are produced on the basis of a single batch of simultaneous observations. Simple-sample covariance estimation is reasonable as long as the number of available observations exceeds the number of tunable parameters by two or three orders of magnitude. Not much is known at present about model error associated with actual forecast systems. Our scheme can be used to estimate some important statistical model error parameters such as regionally averaged variances or characteristic correlation length scales. The advantage of the single-sample approach is that it does not rely on any assumptions about the temporal behavior of the covariance parameters: time-dependent parameter estimates can be continuously adjusted on the basis of current observations. This is of practical importance since it is likely to be the case that both model error and observation error strongly depend on the actual state of the atmosphere. The single-sample estimation scheme can be incorporated into any four-dimensional statistical data assimilation system that involves explicit calculation of forecast error covariances, including optimal interpolation (OI) and the simplified Kalman filter (SKF). The computational cost of the scheme is high but not prohibitive; on-line estimation of one or two covariance parameters in each analysis box of an operational bozed-OI system is currently feasible. A number of numerical experiments performed with an adaptive SKF and an adaptive version of OI, using a linear two-dimensional shallow-water model and artificially generated model error are described. The performance of the nonadaptive versions of these methods turns out to depend rather strongly on correct specification of model error parameters. These parameters are estimated under a variety of conditions, including uniformly distributed model error and time-dependent model error statistics.
A comparison of radiation and hot-electron-induced damages in MOS capacitors with rapid thermally nitrided thin-gate oxides

Abstract We report an investigation of the degradation caused by ionizing radiation exposure and Fowler-Nordheim current injection in MOS capacitors with rapid thermally nitrided thin-gate oxides. The effect of nitridation conditions on the extent of the degradation was studied. It was observed that the damage caused by ionizing radiation and constant-current stressing are strongly dependent on the nitridation temperature and duration. Also, this dependence is different for the two cases. These observations are explained using some defect generation models and structural changes in oxide due to nitridation.
Transmission of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) among cohabiting cats in two cat rescue shelters

Conflicting accounts have been published in the veterinary literature regarding transmission of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) between cohabiting cats in mixed households, and the mechanics of possible casual transmission, if it occurs, are poorly understood. Similarly, there are conflicting reports of vertical transmission of FIV. The aim of the present study was to document the FIV serological status of cats taken into two rescue shelters. At rescue shelter 1 (Rescue 1), cats cohabited in a multi-cat household of FIV-negative and naturally-infected, FIV-positive cats. A study was performed that combined a retrospective review of records of FIV serological status at intake (Test 1) and prospective FIV serological testing (Tests 2 and 3). Retrospective records were analyzed at rescue shelter 2 (Rescue 2), where FIV-positive queens with litters of nursing kittens were taken into the shelter, before being rehomed. FIV serology was performed on all kittens after weaning. Initial test results (Test 1) for 138 cohabiting cats from Rescue 1 showed that there were 130 FIV-negative cats and eight FIV-positive cats (six male neutered and two female spayed). A second test (Test 2), performed in 45 of the FIV-negative and five of the FIV-positive cats at median 28 months after Test 1 (range, 1 month to 8.8 years) showed that results were unchanged. Similarly, a third test (Test 3), performed in four of the original FeLV-negative cats and one remaining FIV-positive cat at median 38 months after Test 1 (range, 4 months to 4 years), also showed that results were unchanged. These results show a lack of evidence of FIV transmission, despite years of exposure to naturally-infected, FIV-positive cats in a mixed household. At Rescue 2, records were available from five FIV-positive queens with 19 kittens. All 19 kittens tested FIV-negative, suggesting that vertical transmission had not occurred.
Fatty acid control of cyclic AMP levels inNeurospora crassa

Several saturated, monosaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids produce rapid increases in cyclic AMP levels in the fungusNeurospora crassa when added to the growth medium at 10–50 μM. The time courses of cyclic AMP increase resembled those previously shown to be induced by other agents, reaching peak cyclic AMP levels at about 2 min after fatty acid addition. These fatty acids had little or no influence on adenylate cyclase fromNeurospora crassa in vitro. On the basis of previous evidence that uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation increase cyclic AMP levels and that fatty acids can act as uncouplers, we suggest that the fatty acids in vivo may act to increase cyclic AMP levels by acting as uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation. In agreement with this suggestion, two fatty acids were shown to produce decreased ATP-ADP ratios inNeurospora at concentrations producing cyclic AMP increases.
Management of oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis in patients with HIV infection.

Mucocutaneous candidiasis is frequently one of the first signs of HIV infection. Over 90% of patients with AIDS will develop oropharyngeal candidiasis at some time during their illness. Although numerous antifungal agents have been developed, azoles, both topical (clotrimazole) and systemic (fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole), have replaced older topical antifungals (gentian violet and nystatin) in the management of oropharyngeal candidiasis in these patients. The systemic azoles are generally safe and effective agents in HIV-infected patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis. A constant concern in these patients are relapses, which depend on the degree of immunosuppression and are commonly encountered after topical therapy rather than with systemic azole therapy. In patients with fluconazole-refractory mucosal candidiasis, treatment options now include itraconazole solution, voriconazole, posaconazole and the newer echinocandins (caspofungin, micafungin and anidulafungin). The object...
Fallen Women and Thieving Ladies: Historical Approaches to Women and Crime in the United States

The study of women and crime is a relatively new area of inquiry in the field of American women's legal history. Existing scholarship on this subject suggests that it does not fit the pattern of progress that scholars have found in other areas of women's legal history during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Two areas that have received considerable attention from historians-married women's property and divorce law-indicate a steady improvement in women's legal status during this period. The passage of married women's property acts in the 19th century gave women the right to control property they brought into a marriage, as well as any money or goods they subsequently earned, while liberalized divorce laws made it easier for women to divorce husbands for desertion or cruel treatment.
Immobilization of thermotolerant N-carbamyl-D-amino acid amidohydrolase

Abstract N-Carbamyl- d -amino acid amidohydrolase (DCase), in which amino acid residues were substituted by mutation, followed by the selection based on thermotolerance, showed improved thermostability, by 5° or 10°C, compared to the native DCase. These DCases were immobilized on a macroporous phenol formaldehyde resin, Duolite A-568, and the immobilized thermotolerant enzymes showed higher activity than the immobilized native DCase. From the results of repeated batch reactions, the half-lives of the activities of immobilized thermotolerant DCase, in which Leu was substituted for Pro 203, and immobilized native DCase were 104 and 58 times, respectively. It was revealed that the higher thermotolerance enabled the immobilized enzymes to be more stable in reactions. A reductant, dithiothreitol, also stabilized the enzymes in reactions. Compared with soluble DCase, immobilized DCase was somewhat stable, and its activity was optimum at a lower pH.
Reflections on Small Molecule Manganese Models that Seek to Mimic Photosynthetic Water Oxidation Chemistry

Recent advances in the study of the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II (PSII) include structural information attained from several X-ray crystallographic (XRD) and spectroscopic (XANES and EXAFS) investigations. The possible structural features gleaned from these studies have enabled synthetic chemists to design more accurate model complexes, which in turn, offer better insight into the possible pathways used by PSII to drive photosynthetic water oxidation catalysis. Mononuclear model compounds have been used to advance the knowledge base regarding the physical properties and reactivity of high-valent (MnIV or MnV) complexes. Such investigations have been especially important in regard to the manganyl (MnIVO or MnV(O) species, as there are no reports, to date, of any structurally characterized multinuclear model compounds that incorporate such a functionality. Dinuclear and trinuclear model compounds have also been thoroughly studied in attempts to draw further comparison to the physical properties observed in the natural system and to design systems of catalytic relevance. As the reactive center of the OEC has been shown to contain an oxo-Mn4Ca cluster, exact structural models necessitate a tetranuclear Mn core. The number of models that make use of Mn4 clusters has risen substantially in recent years, and these models have provided evidence to support and refute certain mechanistic proposals. Further work is needed to adequately address the rationale for Ca (and Cl) in the OEC and to determine the sequence of events that lead to O2 evolution.
Evidence-Centered Assessment Design as a Foundation for Achievement-Level Descriptor Development and for Standard Setting

In many large-scale assessment programs, achievement level descriptors (ALDs) provide a critical role in communicating what scores on the assessment mean and in interpreting what examinees know and are able to do based on their test performance. Based on their test performance, examinees are often classified into performance categories. The descriptions of what these performance categories mean are communicated through the ALDs. In addition to providing supporting information for score interpretations, ALDs may also serve an important role in setting the cut scores on the score scale that determine the categorization of examinees' scores into the performance categories. The standard setting process is used to establish these cut scores. The purpose of this article is to provide a methodology to directly connect evidence-centered assessment design (ECD) to score interpretation and use through the development of ALDs and to explore how ECD-based ALDs can be leveraged in standard setting.
Association between CYP1A1 polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Published data on the association between CYP1A1 (MspI and Ile462Val) polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk are inconclusive. To address these issues, we carried out a meta-analysis of available case–control study. Online electronic searches of PubMed were performed. We identified 17 studies (6,673 colorectal cancer patients and 8,102 control subjects) that examined the association between CYP1A1 (MspI and Ile462Val) polymorphisms and risk of colorectal cancer. For CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism, we performed a meta-analysis from 13 studies including 5,468 cases and 6,492 controls. Overall, there was no statistically significant association between CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism and colorectal cancer susceptibility. In the subgroup analyses based on ethnicities, no statistically significant associations were observed in all genetic models. With respect to CYP1A1 Ile462Val polymorphism, a total of 14 studies including 6,654 cases and 7,859 controls were involved in this meta-analysis. The CYP1A1 Ile462Val polymorphism was associated with risk of colorectal cancer. Ethnic subgroup analyses revealed that significant associations were found in Asians and Caucasians. In summary, this meta-analysis suggests that CYP1A1 Ile462Val polymorphism was a low-penetrance susceptibility gene in colorectal cancer development. On the contrary, CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism does not seem capable of modifying colorectal cancer risk.
An accurate elasto-plastic frictional tangential force-displacement model for granular-flow simulations: Displacement-driven formulation

We present in this paper the displacement-driven version of a tangential force-displacement (TFD) model that accounts for both elastic and plastic deformations together with interfacial friction occurring in collisions of spherical particles. This elasto-plastic frictional TFD model, with its force-driven version presented in [L. Vu-Quoc, L. Lesburg, X. Zhang. An accurate tangential force-displacement model for granular-flow simulations: contacting spheres with plastic deformation, force-driven formulation, Journal of Computational Physics 196(1) (2004) 298-326], is consistent with the elasto-plastic frictional normal force-displacement (NFD) model presented in [L. Vu-Quoc, X. Zhang. An elasto-plastic contact force-displacement model in the normal direction: displacement-driven version, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series A 455 (1991) 4013-4044]. Both the NFD model and the present TFD model are based on the concept of additive decomposition of the radius of contact area into an elastic part and a plastic part. The effect of permanent indentation after impact is represented by a correction to the radius of curvature. The effect of material softening due to plastic flow is represented by a correction to the elastic moduli. The proposed TFD model is accurate, and is validated against nonlinear finite element analyses involving plastic flows in both the loading and unloading conditions. The proposed consistent displacement-driven, elasto-plastic NFD and TFD models are designed for implementation in computer codes using the discrete-element method (DEM) for granular-flow simulations. The model is shown to be accurate and is validated against nonlinear elasto-plastic finite-element analysis.
Explaining Sex Differences in Reactions to Relationship Infidelities: Comparisons of the Roles of Sex, Gender, Beliefs, Attachment, and Sociosexual Orientation

To the extent that sex differences are mediated by mechanisms such as sex-roles and beliefs, individual differences in these more proximate traits should account for significant portions of relevant sex differences. Differences between women and men in reactions to sexual and emotional infidelity were assessed in a large sample of participants (n = 477), and these target reactions were evaluated as a function of many potential proximate mediators (infidelity implications beliefs, gender-role beliefs, interpersonal trust, attachment style, sociosexuality, and culture of honor beliefs) and as a function of participant sex. Results found a consistent sex difference that was not mediated by any other variables, although a handful of other variables were related to male, but not female, individual differences. These findings suggest particularly promising directions for future research on integrating evolutionarily based sex differences and proximate individual differences.
Sol-gel processing of high-yield, dense alumina bioceramics

Advanced sol-gel processing technologies were used to develop pre-ceramic inorganic polymeric precursors to alumina ceramics. These inorganic polymers were tailored for use as reactive liquid phase binders for alumina powder processing. These gels were prepared via the transesterification of aluminum sec-butoxide and glacial acetic acid [0.50 mole%] in tetrahydrofuran solvent [25.0 vol.%]. This gelation reaction, driven by the evaporation of sec-butyl acetate [T/sub b/=112/spl deg/C], results in complete solvent and reaction by-product elimination for improved ceramic yields. Thermogravimetric (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) indicate that the alumina gels endothermically transform [T=400/spl deg/C] in O/sub 2/ to form a high-yield product [/spl sim/70 wt.%]. FTIR and XRD confirm that the decomposition product is amorphous Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, with subsequent heat treatment to 1100/spl deg/C resulting in the crystallization of /spl gamma/-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/. 25-30 vol.% of the inorganic binder with optimal viscosity (/spl sim/1 cP) was mixed with commercially pure alumina and mechanically pressed into high-density bars. Optimal thermal sintering conditions were evaluated in a controlled atmosphere (oxidizing, reducing) high temperature to produce high-density tiles [/spl sim/4.0 g/cc]. This novel processing technique is being used to develop near net-shape, high quality alumina bioceramics with the improved properties required for advanced ceramic dental restorations.
Outcome related electrophysiological subtypes of cocaine dependence.

We previously described the existence of two quantitative EEG (QEEG) subtypes of cocaine dependent males, identified at baseline, displaying differential pronenessto relapse. The current study expands the population to include females and enhances the measure set to include both QEEG and somatosensory EP (SEP) features. Fifty-seven cocaine dependent adults (16 F, 41 M) were evaluated 5–14 days after last cocaine use, while in residence at a drug-free therapeutic community. The median length of stay in treatment (continued abstinence) was 25 weeks. Using a small subset of QEEG and SEP baseline features, three subtypes (CLUS) were identified. CLUS 2 (n=25) and CLUS 3 (n=23) replicated the published subtypes, while CLUS 1 (n=9) was previously undescribed. Cluster membership was significantly associated with length of stay in treatment (χ2=13.789, P<0.001), but not with length of exposure to crack cocaine or to any demographic or clinical features. Seventy-eight percent of CLUS 1 and 65% of CLUS 3 left treatm...