cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The temperature dependence of electrical coupling in the organ of Corti.

Abstract Electrical coupling in an in vitro preparation of the organ of Corti was evaluated during changes in temperature of the bathing media. The effect of cooling the organ from 35 ± 2°C to 17 ± 3°C is to reduce membrane potentials, increase input resistance and decrease coupling ratios. Decreases in coupling ratios ranging from 15 to 75% have been observed. The effects are reversible upon warming. Membrane potentials are very susceptible to depolarization caused by cooling. The reduction in coupling is not due to depolarization nor is it dependent upon extracellular Ca 2+ . It is conceivable, however, that intracellular stores of Ca 2+ are released or that intracellular pH is altered.
Increased efficiency of transformation of Bacillus stearothermophilus by a plasmid carrying a thermostable kanamycin resistance marker

Recombinant plasmids carrying either the wildtype kanamycin nucleotidyltransferase gene encoded originally by the mesophilic plasmid pUB110 or the gene encoding the thermostable TK101 mutant were constructed and introduced intoBacillus stearothermophilus by a protoplast transformation procedure. When kanamycin-resistant transformants were selected at 47°C, the transformation efficiency of the plasmid bearing the TK101 gene was nine times higher than that of the plasmid encoding the wildtype enzyme. The difference in transformation efficiencies between the two plasmids was increased when transformants were selected at higher temperatures, reflecting the difference in thermostabilities of the respective kanamycin nucleotidyltransferases. We conclude that, even though the pUB110 enzyme is sufficiently active at 47°C to confer kanamycin resistance toB. stearothermophilus, the additional stability of the TK101 mutant is advantageous in transformation ofB. stearothermophilus. The TK101 gene may also have broad utility as a marker for cloning vectors in other thermophiles.
Functional Neuroimaging in Child Psychiatry

Functional neuroimaging in child psychiatry presents unique scientific, ethical, and technical challenges. The study of childhood disorders presupposes knowledge of neurodevelopment and brain maturation. However, much of human brain science is based on inferences from animal work and indirect neurochemical measures from body fluids. Neuroimaging can examine brain development directly in humans. The benefits can be enormous for learning how and when to intervene to prevent or treat a disorder. These unprecedented potential gains are countered by complex and difficult ethical issues. Technical advances can reduce ethical concerns by minimizing risks. They also promise to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of the measures (eg, by improving spatial and temporal resolution). Judiciously designed investigations will permit the testing of a priori hypotheses built on rational models of neuropathology. Finally, it is the integration of scientific knowledge across the various fields of neuroscience and clinical research that will push the limits of our understanding of health and disease.
Methods to characterize lymphoid apoptosis in a murine model of autoreactivity.

Abstract The immune system is shaped by the random generation of lymphocytes followed by apoptosis of self-reactive cells, a process termed negative selection. The survival of these pathogenic cells in the periphery can elicit autoreactivity. We describe the development of a biomarker assay for the detection of pathogenic subpopulations of lymphoid cells in adult non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice based on disease-specific alterations in spontaneous or triggered cell death. Utilizing improved methods of cell separations, two distinct lymphoid cell subpopulations with increased susceptibility to apoptosis were identified and quantified. A subpopulation of CD8+ T cells that constitutes ∼ 3–7% of the total CD8+ T cell population underwent apoptosis on exposure to low concentrations of TNF-α. Such cells were exclusively detected only in NOD mice with histologic signs of active autoreactivity. The non-T cell compartment of NOD immune system, although resistant to TNF-α-induced apoptosis, contained a subpopulation of B cells with spontaneous death by culture alone. The refined detection of small numbers of lymphoid cell subsets with quantifiable differences in apoptosis provides a possible immune biomarker for monitoring disease activity or treatment interventions.
Ray Bilinear Patch Intersections

Abstract Ray tracing and other techniques employ algorithms which require the intersection between a three-dimensional parametric ray and an object to be computed. The object to intersect is typically a sphere, triangle, or polygon but many surface types are possible. In this work we consider intersections between rays and the simplest parametric surface, the bilinear patch. Unlike other surfaces, solving the ray-bilinear patch intersection with simple algebraic manipulations fails. We present a complete, efficient, robust, and graceful formulation to solve ray-bilinear patch intersections quickly. Source code is available online.
Application of Van Soest Acid Detergent Fiber Method for Analysis of Shellfish Chitin

Abstract The Van Soest acid detergent fiber method was compared with the modified Welinder method for chitin analysis of Alaskan crab and shrimp meals to determine whether chitin constituted a significant fibrous component of shellfish meals. In the Welinder method, chitin is determined gravimetrically following decalcification and deproteinization with .1 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and 2N sodium hydroxide, respectively, Chitin is a fibrous component of shellfish meals, and the Van Soest acid detergent fiber method is acceptable for determination of shellfish chitin.
Use of a Cooperative to Interlock Contingencies and Balance the Commonwealth

Cooperatives are systems organized along key principles to balance the distribution of wealth across organizational members. The cooperative movement has an extensive history and has contributed to the design and operation of a large variety of endeavors that seek to maximize returns to a maximum number of stakeholders. While cooperatives are ubiquitous in commerce and community organizations, the designs of the contingencies that define a cooperative have rarely been subject to behavioral analyses. We report a large-scale examination of a safety incentive program enabled by cooperatives of small businesses that applied some of their financial resources to an incentive system organized to sustain active safety management within co-op members. The evaluation indicated that the frequency, severity, and cost of work-related injuries were reduced when safety incentives were applied. High return on investment indicates that the program was cost effective. User satisfaction with the procedures was also high, an...
Developing histone deacetylase inhibitors in the therapeutic armamentarium of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are commonly dysregulated in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) and have a central role in the development and progression of the disease. HDAC is a family of enzymes involved in deacetylation of lysine residues on histone and non-histone proteins. Deacetylation of histone proteins leads to compaction of the DNA/histone complex resulting in inhibition of gene expression. Deacetylation of non-histone proteins can affect the stability and function of key proteins leading to dysregulation of cellular signaling pathways. HDAC inhibitors have been shown to potentiate the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of several cytotoxic agents, in vitro and in vivo PA xenograft models. Areas covered: The areas covered include the biology and function of the HDAC isoenzymes and their significant role in multiple oncogenic pathways in PA. Preclinical and clinical trials evaluating HDAC inhibitors are also reviewed. Expert opinion: Despite discouraging early phase clinical tria...
On the modelling and control of a flexible manipulator arm by point actuators

In this paper the modelling and control of a single-link manipulator with link flexibility is discussed. A linear state-space model is obtained and a controller is proposed with the actuators and measurements located at points along the length of the arm. Also a method for the optimal selection of the controllers' locations is presented, so that bending is minimized during the arm motion. The results are validated by simulations.
Pharmacokinetic analysis of intravitreal ceftriaxone in monkeys

• Ocular toxic effects of intravitreally injected ceftriaxone sodium and its rate of clearance after a single dose were studied in rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys. Doses of 2, 2.5, and 3 mg/0.1 mL were injected into the vitreous cavity. Electroretinograms performed 15 minutes, 24 hours, one week, and two weeks after injection were not significantly different from preinjection electroretinograms. Lens opacification occurred in one eye receiving 2.5 mg of ceftriaxone. Histopathologic findings in the retina were normal in all eyes injected intravitreally. Levels of ceftriaxone after a 2-mg intravitreal dose were 609 mg/L at 0 hours, 434 mg/L at 24 hours, and 19 mg/L at 100 hours in the vitreous; and 1 mg/L at 0 hours, 116 mg/L at 24 hours, and 9 mg/L at 100 hours in the aqueous.
Tracheobronchial amyloidosis: A surgical disease with long-term consequences

Amyloidosis results from abnormal protein deposition and accumulation in extracellular spaces. The multiple distinct forms of this disease have heterogeneous clinical manifestations and variable patterns of organ involvement. Amyloidosis might be hereditary or acquired, localized, or systemic and can range from an incidental asymptomatic finding to a lethal disorder. The diseases are distinguished on a molecular level by the type of peptide subunits that compose abnormally accumulated protein fibrils. Although these peptide fibrils differ, all amyloid fibrils adopt a similar ultrastructure rich in -sheet content. The fibril deposits also have a common association with certain glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), notably heparin and dermatan sulphate. Normal plasma proteins, such as serum amyloid P (SAP), function to stabilize the amyloid fibril. We present a case of severe tracheobronchial amyloidosis (TBA) with the results of our evaluation and management strategies.
Perceived values of benefits from Mississippi's forestry Best Management Practices

Numerous studies in the United States have shown that, in addition to accomplishing their primary objective of preventing or reducing non-point source (NPS) pollution, silvicultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) provide additional direct and indirect benefits. These benefits are valuable to a host of forestry-related groups because they improve forest habitat, improve the public's perception of the timber industry, and increase the overall value of the timber asset. In an effort to gauge the perceived value that forestry-related groups place on BMPs, Mississippi non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners (n=63), forestry consultants (n=30), and timber industry professionals (n=8) were surveyed using a combination of in-person, telephone interviews, and mail surveys in spring 2001. Each group was asked to rank 35 potential benefits from 1 to 5 (1 being least beneficial; 5 being most beneficial) according to their perceived value of the benefit. Results showed little variation in the overall mean response for all benefits among groups. In general, all groups assigned a ranking of average, more beneficial, or most beneficial to 31 of 35 (88%) potential benefits. Results indicated that, although these groups may have differing perceptions of the value of some benefits, all have a largely positive perception of the potential benefits from BMPs.
A Test Structure to Characterize Nano-Scale Ohmic Contacts in III-V MOSFETs

We propose and demonstrate a novel test structure to characterize the electrical properties of nano-scale metal-semiconductor contacts. The structure is in essence a two-port transmission line model (TLM) with contacts in the nanometer regime. Unlike the conventional TLM, two types of Kelvin measurements are possible. When performed on devices with different contact spacing, this allows the extraction of the contact resistance, the semiconductor sheet resistance, and the metal sheet resistance. For this, a 2-D distributed resistive network model has been developed. We demonstrate this technique in Mo/n+-InGaAs contacts with contact lengths from 19 to 450 nm where we have measured an average contact resistivity of 0.69±0.3 Ω·μm2. For relatively long contacts , this corresponds to an extremely small contact resistance of 6.6±1.6 Ω·μm.
NHC Complexes of Cobalt(II) Relevant to Catalytic C–C Coupling Reactions

Alkyl compounds of cobalt(II) containing aryl-substituted N-heterocyclic carbene ligands have been prepared by reaction of the precursor chloro complexes [CoCl2(IMes)2] and [Co2Cl2(μ-Cl)2(IPr)2] (IMes = 1,3-dimesityl-imidazol-2-ylidene; IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) with Grignard reagents. Examples of alkyl complexes possessing both four-coordinate and three-coordinate geometries are reported. The chloro complex [CoCl2(IMes)2] adopts a pseudotetrahedral geometry displaying an S = 3/2 ground state, whereas the alkyl complex [Co(CH3)2(IMes)2] adopts a square-planar geometry consistent with an S = 1/2 ground state. In contrast to [Co(CH3)2(IMes)2], [Co(CH2SiMe3)2(IPr)] exhibits a three-coordinate trigonal-planar geometry displaying an S = 3/2 ground state. The catalytic efficacy of [CoCl2(IMes)2] in Kumada couplings is examined, as is the chemistry of the alkyl complexes toward CO. The structure and reactivity of these compounds is discussed in the context of C–C coupling reactions ...
Structural eludication of some new titanacycles by means of degradation and 13C NMR studies

Abstract A reaction between diphenyltitanocene and phenyl(pentafluorophenyl)acetylene in refluxing benzene produces 1,1-bis(η 5 -cyclopentadienyl)-2-phenyl-3-(pentafluorophenyl)benzotitanole in 44% yield. Degradation of the product with HCl/CHCl 3 affords titanocene dichloride and Z -1,2-diphenyl-1-(pentafluorophenyl)ethene. Reaction of diphenyltitanocene and phenyl(pentafluorophenyl)acetylene in benzene under photolytic conditions results in the exclusive formation of 1,1-bis(η 5 -cyclopentadienyl)-2,5-diphenyl-3,4-di(pentafluorophenyl)titanole. The latter product can also be obtained in 77% yield from a reaction between titanocene dicarbonyl and phenyl(pentafluorophenyl)acetylene in hexane solution. Application of 13 C NMR spectroscopy to the structural elucidation of these and related metallacycles is discussed.
SFEMG improvement with remission in the cancer-associated Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome

In two patients with the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) and small-cell lung carcinoma (SLLC), therapy for LEMS was effective when combined with cancer therapy. The serial SFEMG tests showed a corresponding improvement with remission of the LEMS and proved to be a better and earlier indicator of the changing clinical status than the repetitive nerve stimulation test. Thus, we conclude that the SFEMG is useful in the follow-up evaluation of patients with this condition.
Analysis of Blade Flutter in a Mistuned Rotor

This paper presents an investigation of the blade flutter in a mistuned rotor. For this rotor the model in which multiple degrees of freedom for the whole blade are considered. The work is based on the aeroelastic prediction of flutter in a tuned rotor. The analyses involve not only modes, interblade phase angles and stability of the mistuned rotors, but also mechanism of the bending flutter in both tuned and mistuned rotors. One of the most important conclusions is that the flutter of a single blade in any rotor has behavior both self-excited and forced oscillations. The forced excitation comes from the motion of the adjacent blades.Copyright © 1985 by ASME
Osteocyte Remodeling of the Perilacunar and Pericanalicular Matrix

With additional functions of osteocytes being identified, the concept that osteocytes are just “static lacunar-dwelling cells” is no longer accepted. We reviewed most of the relevant literature on osteocyte's function in the direct remodeling of the perilucunar matrix, discussing the advantages and disadvantages. Special attention was paid to how the negative researchers argue about the “osteocytic osteolysis” principle, and how the positive side addressed the arguments. We also discussed the newly found data of osteocytic remodeling function from our group. With more biotechnology in hand, there is increased excitement in the prospect of now being able to answer the two important questions: do osteocytes have the capability to remove mineral from the perilacunar matrix and if so what are the molecular and cellular mechanisms? do osteocytes have the capability to deposit new mineral on the perilacunar matrix and if so what are the cellular and molecular mechanisms?
A unification of two classes of Q -matrices

This note presents a class ofQ-matrices which includes Saigal's classN ofQ-matrices with negative principal minors and the classE of strictly semi-monotoneQ-matrices.
Probability Alters Delay Discounting, but Delay Does Not Alter Probability Discounting

Delay and probability discounting occur when the subjective value of an outcome changes because its delivery is either delayed or uncertain, respectively. Although theorists have argued whether these processes are one in the same or distinct, few studies have investigated if and how they interact. Experiment 1 had 191 university students complete a discounting task in which both the delay to and the probability of the outcome were varied across questions about a hypothetical romantic relationship. Experiment 2 replicated this procedure with 153 participants completing a discounting task with a hypothetical monetary amount as the outcome. Experiment 3 had 181 participants complete the discounting task about a hypothetical romantic relationship and measured discounting over an increased number of delays or probabilities. Results across all three experiments showed that rates of delay discounting changed as a function of probability; greater impulsive responding was observed as the likelihood of obtaining the outcome decreased. Rates of probability discounting were largely unaltered by the delay to receiving the outcome. The present results support the idea that delay and probability discounting are at least somewhat distinct. Furthermore, they suggest that the processes may differentially interact with one another.
Rival commodity chains: agency and regulation in the US and colombian cut flower agro-industries

ABSTRACT Export-oriented development strategies and trade regimes encourage the incorporation of developing country exports into northern markets, often bringing them into competition with domestic suppliers. While studies of transnational commodity flows focus on the organization and coordination of economic activities over geographic space, little research has been done on their competitive relations. In this article, I focus on the political economy of disputes over market access by linking trade regimes to the economic and political activities of actors in the rival Colombian and US cut flower commodity chains. I argue that the regulation of the Colombian and US cut flower commodity chains is a process marked by institutional mediation and political and economic contestation. In shaping their economic spaces, a combination of shifting discourses, litigation, and political lobbying in sites of power are used by economic actors to meet their interests. The examination of rivalry over market access shows...
Microorganisms in vortices: a microfluidic setup

A method is presented to create microscale vortices using a microfluidic setup specifically designed to investigate the response of swimming microorganisms. Stable, small-scale vortices were generated in the side cavity of a microchannel by the shear stress in the main flow. The generation of a vortex was found to depend on the cavity's geometry, in particular its depth, aspect ratio, and opening length. Using video-microscopy, the position and orientation of individual bacteria and algae swimming in vortices of various strengths were tracked. Elongated cells were found to align with the streamlines in a strong vortex. The experimental system provides quantitative single-cell information on the interaction between microorganisms and their fluid dynamical environment.
A Knowledge-Based Approach to Spur Gear Fabrication in Precision Forging Process

Designing forged gears with constrained involute tooth profile is a time-consuming activity with high costs due to the complexity in the plastic deformation, machine limitations, and trial-error iterative methods used to design dies and develop process conditions. Recently, knowledge-based systems are proving to be a powerful tool and a great potential for developing intelligent design support systems to improve quality of products and reduce costs by eliminating or minimizing many of the trail-error iterations involved in process design. This paper describes research work in developing a knowledge-based gear design and manufacturing system that assists des igners to reduce the time needed to design precision forged solid gears and provide detailed process specification along with the required process model implemented in it. The system integrates knowledge about all aspects of gear design and manufacturing and provides powerful reasoning and decision-making capabilities for reducing the time between detailed design and final production. Once the user specifies the basic design requirements, the system automatically carries out geometric calculations and strength analysis according to American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) standards, power rating and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) based techniques. With a successful power rating achieved, the system automatically feeds input parameters into the GEARFORGING program and carries out process planning for the gear forging process. Estimation of the number of preforming stages required, generation of detail die drawings, geometric parameters, and estimation of forging load and energy requirements of the process are calculated based on available material design databases, knowledge-based rules and feature-level calculations. The system generates the whole forging process from the billet to the final gear product. The results have been compared with those available in the current literature and good agreement has been demonstrated.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Equilibrium Theory for Pressure-Swing Adsorption. 4. Optimizations for Trace Separation and Purification in Two-Component Adsorption

This paper applies local equilibrium theory to analyze pressure-swing adsorption with short dimensionless contact times for systems with two adsorbable components present in trace amounts in an inert carrier gas. We are interested in finding optimal operating conditions for both separation and purification problems with nonlinear isotherms. We consider Langmuirian systems only; however, several concepts illustrated in this paper apply irrespective of the type of isotherm. By minimizing appropriate objective functions, at the periodic state and for the purification process, the purge step is found to be of short duration, corresponding to low volumetric purge-to-feed ratios and a high degree of incomplete regeneration. In the separation process, higher or lower degrees of regeneration may be appropriate depending on whether the goal is to enrich the purge in the impurities or to recover the light component as product.
Partially massless spin-2 electrodynamics

Maximal depth, partially massless, higher spin excitations can mediate charged matter interactions in a de Sitter universe. This result is motivated by similarities between these theories and their traditional Maxwell counterpart: their propagation is lightlike and corresponds to the same Laplacian eigenmodes as the de Sitter photon; they are conformal in four dimensions; their gauge invariance has a single scalar parameter and actions can be expressed as squares of single derivative curvature tensors. We study this effect in detail for its simplest spin 2 example: It is possible to construct a natural and consistent interaction scheme with conserved vector electromagnetic currents primarily coupled to the helicity 1 partially massless modes. The resulting current-current single "partial-photon" exchange amplitude is the (very unCoulombic) sum of contact and shorter-range terms, so the partial photon cannot replace the traditional one, but rather modifies short range electromagnetic interactions. We also write the gauge invariant fourth-derivative effective actions that might appear as effective corrections to the model, and give their contributions to the tree amplitude.
Permian Paleotopography and Depositional Patterns--White Rim Sandstone, Elaterite Basin, Southeast Utah: ABSTRACT

The Permian White Rim Sandstone in the Elaterite basin (Canyonlands National Park) exhibits an unusual paleotopographic relief. The mapped portion of the exposed top of the formation indicates that the paleotopography has a prolate configuration in plan view. The major axis and crest of the relief trends N09°E. In cross section, the paleotopography is convex upward. The flanks of the structure are slightly terraced with two main levels. Dip angles on the flanks range from 0° to 16°, with the more gentle slopes located toward the crest of the topographic high and generally steepening as the structure disappears into the subsurface. The sedimentary structures and stratigraphy in the 1-5.3 m (3-17.4 ft) upper veneer of the White Rim Sandstone indicate that the topography was affected by marine wave processes in the Elaterite basin. Small-scale features in the basal contact of the veneer include scours up to 15 cm (6 in.) deep, sharp steplike cuts up to 45 cm (18 in.) deep, and rip-ups of the lower eolian part of the White Rim Sandstone averaging 30 cm (12 in.) in diameter. Lateral changes in structures and lithologic characteristics indicate that southwest of the Elaterite basin the veneer was deposited in a fluvial environment. The form of the paleotopographic high in the Elaterite basin is practically inherited from an eolian dune field. The uneven base and presence of chert pebbles in the veneer indicate erosion of Permian highs and an unconformable contact between the lower eolian and upper veneer of the White Rim Sandstone. Deposition of the veneer and partial reworking of the topography occurred during a marine transgression at the Permian-Triassic boundary. End_of_Article - Last_Page 938------------
Secondary-ion emission from silicon bombarded with atomic and molecular noble-gas ions

Abstract The emission of Si + from a clean silicon surface has been studied for bombardment with various atomic and molecular noble gas ions at energies between 1.5 and 30 keV. It was found that the degree of ionization of Si + depends strongly (linearly) on the projectile energy but only weakly on the projectile mass. These results suggest that the degree of ionization is heavily affected by the (dynamic) perturbation of the bulk properties of the bombarded area which increases with increasing nuclear energy deposition.
X-ray diffraction studies on the misorientation of subgrains during creep of tin single crystals

Abstract Subgrain misorientation angles of the tin single crystals, which were crept below the transition temperature, were measured by an X-ray rocking curve method. The misorientation angles increase at a slower rate and have a magnitude that is considerably smaller than expected from cross-slip. It is concluded that diffusion controls the creep process of tin in the entire high temperature region.
Evaluation of a deep-water wave breaking criterion

An experimental and numerical study is presented to investigate the breaking criterion of Song and Banner [J. Phys. Oceanogr. 32, 2541 (2002)] who suggested a threshold range of (1.4±0.1)×10−3 for a predictive wave breaking parameter, measuring the rate of change in the local energy maximum and the local wave number, to differentiate between wave trains that lead to breaking and those that do not. To examine the breaking criterion experimentally, four separate wave groups of progressive surface gravity waves with slowly decreasing frequency are generated mechanically in a two-dimensional wave tank. Surface elevations as a function of time are measured using capacitance wave probes; surface elevations as a function of space prior to and during breaking are obtained by recording subregions with an imaging system and combining the measurements from repeated experiments. In addition, nonlinear numerical solutions for the surface elevation profiles for the four wave groups are obtained by solving a set of nonl...
Evaluation of the orphans reunification project in Eritrea

Abstract As a result of the 30-years war of liberation with Ethiopia, Eritrea has been faced with a ruined infrastructure, devastated economy and damaged social fabric. A large number of children were orphaned (up to 90,000) due to the war. Since 1994 The Orphan Reunification Project has assisted some 13,768 orphans and their extended families (6947) with economic assets to shore up their vulnerability. This article reports on some key findings of a major evaluation of the project, conducted jointly by the Government of the State of Eritrea, UNICEF and two international NGOs. The evaluation focuses on: (a) the impact of the main strategic intervention alternative of direct economic support to target families; (b) the psychosocial status or outcome of the reintegrated orphans; (c) the outcome of the projects capacity building component; and (d) the cost-effectiveness of the project. Findings from the evaluation suggest that direct economic support, particularly provision of livestock to farm households, has led to a further increase in assets. The evidence clearly shows that the status of assisted orphans compares favorably with that of non-orphans, thus indicating that the psychosocial integration between the host families and the orphans has been successful. Although orphan boys were indicated to be slightly better off, the gender differences were not dramatic. Substantial evidence also suggests that the project has built capacities of the relevant government ministry on a number of key areas—research skills and appreciation of the importance of solid operational research before social interventions, participatory planning, monitoring and management tools, community mobilization and advocacy for child protection. Finally, the reunification project is found to be significantly more cost-effective, psychosocially acceptable and sustainable than the alternative strategy of keeping the children in orphanages.
Mining the home environment

Individuals spend a majority of their time in their home or workplace and for many, these places are our sanctuaries. As society and technology advance there is a growing interest in improving the intelligence of the environments in which we live and work. By filling home environments with sensors and collecting data during daily routines, researchers can gain insights on human daily behavior and the impact of behavior on the residents and their environments. In this article we provide an overview of the data mining opportunities and challenges that smart environments provide for researchers and offer some suggestions for future work in this area.
Pressure-induced structural changes and densification of vitreous MgSiO3

Abstract Compression of MgSiO 3 glass in a 6/8 multianvil apparatus to 10.0 ± 0.5 GPa results in demonstrable changes in density and silicon coordination. Under high-pressure, samples were heated over a range of temperatures from 300 to 773 K, quenched to room temperature and decompressed at rates of 10.4 and 0.08 GPa/min. Recovered glasses have bulk densities that are 2.6–11.0% higher than the non-compressed glass. 29 Si MAS NMR spectra of compressed glasses show narrowing of the [4] Si peak resulting from a reduction in the spread of the Si–O–Si bond angle distribution. After heating and rapid decompression, 29 Si MAS NMR spectra of recovered glasses exhibit peaks assignable to [4] Si, [5] Si, and [6] Si with relative fractions of 0.945, 0.045, and 0.008, respectively. These changes in Si coordination and in Si–O–Si bond angle distribution with pressure only represent part of the structural changes associated with permanent densification of heated and unheated samples. The abundance of [6] Si is found to be insensitive to decompression rate, while [5] Si reverts to [4] Si on slow decompression at room temperature. These observations demonstrate that high-coordinated silicon species in MgSiO 3 glass are formed on compression below glass transition temperatures and that pressure-induced structural changes can be preserved with rapid decompression. The ease with which [5] Si reverts to [4] Si during decompression suggests that the conversion of [4] Si → [5] Si principally involves short-range atomic displacement. The reversible and irreversible features of densification of MgSiO 3 glass, provide insights into the fundamental structural and rheological properties of refractory silicate melts similar to those found in the Earth’s mantle.
Strategy over the business cycle

This article develops an analytical and empirical framework for examining strategy over the business cycle. Firms were observed to adjust their strategies significantly and asymmetrically over business cycle stages. There was no consistency in performance between up markets and down markets. A variable-parameter profitability model of strategy in a cyclical industry suggested the importance of a strategy's contemporaneous and inter-temporal relationships with performance. Discrepancies were observed between actual strategies and optimal strategies over business cycle stages.
Dentistry and the county home resident: a statewide survey

County home stewards in Iowa were surveyed on the reasons dental care is sought for county home residents, the person who determines if a resident should receive care, and problems in the delivery of dental care to the residents. Most county home residents who receive dental treatment do so on an emergency basis, and the need for treatment is most often determined by the county home steward. The patient’s inability to receive treatment because of mental or physical disabilities is the main problem in obtaining care for county home residents.
Normal Electrophysiological Findings in a Patient with Symptomatic Intermittent Advanced Atrioventricular Block

This report describes an otherwise healthy young woman who presented with syncope during episodes of advanced atrioventricular (AV) block. The His bundle recordings during normal sinus rhythm and atrial and ventricular pacing were normal. Carotid sinus massage produced no abnormality. Subsequently, the patient received a permanent pacemaker and has been free of symptoms. Intermittent advanced AV block has been observed on follow-up electrocardiograms. This unique case demonstrates a potential limitation of routine electrophysiologic investigation.
“Does this Mean We’re Cyborgs Too?”: Teaching Multimedia Memoir to English Majors

This essay focuses on the implementation of a multimedia writing course and, in particular, a techno-literacy memoir project, which asked students (advanced undergraduates and graduate students) to use their creativity in choosing digital environments, such as podcasts, blogs, and wikis, for sharing their memories of gaining literacy through technology. What the students learned from this project was an ability to fluidly transition between print and digital literacy, along the way strengthening their ability to engage their audiences, and a recognition of their own cyborgian writing skills; indeed, they saw how various communication technologies were extensions of themselves. Through this project, they understood that they had been “cyborgs” since childhood (growing up with, for example, seemingly primitive Speak’N’Spells and Commodore 64s), and this realization helped them transition into a new repertoire of composing skills essential for 21st century student writers.
Recovering guaranteed performance service connections from single and multiple faults

Fault recovery techniques must be reexamined in the light of the new guaranteed performance services that high-speed packet/cell switched networks will support. We investigate the rerouting of guaranteed performance service connections on the occurrence of link faults, focussing on the aspects of route selection and establishment in the network. In a previous investigation, we explored some components of rerouting in the presence of single link faults in the network. In this paper we study the behavior of our techniques in the presence of multiple link faults in the network. We also examine the technique of retries to improve the success of rerouting. Our schemes are simulated on a cross-section of network workloads, and compared using several performance criteria. We use our results to develop a new delayed retry technique, which performs well for all our performance criteria.
Application of measured pencil beam parameters for electron beam model evaluation

Most current electron beam models, as are used in commercial treatment planning systems, combine measured broad beam central axis depth dose data with measured or modeled functions to approximate radial scatter and heterogeneity effects. In this paper, we extend a recently developed pencil beam model to calculate doses outside the field edge and doses in heterogeneous media. We have also explored use of this model as a tool for evaluating commercial electron planning programs. The algorithm we have developed, based on the concept of the lateral buildup ratio (LBR), enables calculation of dose at any point in an irregular electron field, and is capable of generating both on- and off-axis depth dose curves and isodose profiles. This model includes the effects of density and mass-angular scattering power in measured broad beam central axis depth dose data, which when combined with small field reference data, can be used to generate LBR ratios. From these ratios one can infer the depth dependent, effective pencil beam radial spread parameter σ in water or other materials, which can be used to model any arbitrary field. We have used this approach to calculate fractional depth doses for small fields incident on aluminum and cork, which we have then compared against measurements and the calculations of several commercial planning systems.
Kiasan/KUnit: Automatic Test Case Generation and Analysis Feedback for Open Object-oriented Systems

We demonstrate how a static analysis feedback and unit test case generation framework, KUnit, built on the Bogor/Kiasan symbolic execution engine provides an effective unit test case generation for sequential heap-intensive Java programs (whose computation structures are incomplete - open systems). KUnit leverages method contract information to better deal with open object-oriented systems and to support automatic mock object creation. To facilitate application to realistic software, KUnit allows the scope/cost of the analysis and test case generation to be controlled via notions of heap configuration coverage. In a broad experimental study on 23 Java data structure modules, we show that it is able to: (a) achieve 100% feasible branch coverage on almost all methods by using only small heap configurations; (b) improve on competing tools for coverage achieved; size of test suites; and time to generate test suites.
Plant resistance attenuates the consumptive and non‐consumptive impacts of predators on prey

Plant resistance and predation have strong independent and interacting eff ects on herbivore survival, behavior, and patterns of herbivory. Historically, research has emphasized variation in the consumption of herbivores by enemies. Recent work, however, demonstrates that predators also elicit important changes in the traits of their prey, but we do not know how this is infl uenced by plant quality. In this study, we quantify how the consumptive and non-consumptive eff ects of predators vary along a gradient of plant resistance using tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum), tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta), and predaceous stinkbugs (Podisus maculiventris). We manipulated resource quality using three tomato lines that vary in the expression of the jasmonate pathway, a phytohormonal pathway that is central in mediating resistance to insects. Resistant plants had higher levels of defensive proteins and glandular trichomes than low resistance plants. Th e consumptive and non-consumptive eff ects of predators were quantifi ed on the three tomato lines by comparing the impact of ‘lethal’ predators that both kill and scare prey with ‘risk’ predators whose mouthparts were surgically impaired to prevent killing. Across several fi eld experiments, the total cascading eff ect of predators on plant damage was 80.4% lower on jasmonate-overexpressing (highly resistant) plants compared to that on wild-type or jasmonate-insensitive (low resistance) plants. Th is dramatic attenuation of predator eff ects was due to a 66% reduction in consumption on high resistance plants, and also because of a 65% decline in non-consumptive eff ects. Numerous studies in natural and agricultural habitats have documented that predator eff ects tend to be weaker on well-defended plants; our results provide novel mechanistic insight into this pattern by demonstrating that plant resistance substantially weakens both the consumptive and non-consumptive impacts of predators.
Susceptibility to Infidelity in the First Year of Marriage

Abstract Infidelity is a major cause of divorce and spousal battering. Little is known, however, about which individuals are susceptible to infidelity, or about the relationship contexts that promote infidelity. This study of 107 married couples examines three sets of possible predictors of infidelity: Personality factors such as narcissism and conscientiousness; relationship contexts, including recurrent sources of conflict and sexual satisfaction; and the relative “mate value” of the individuals composing a couple. We obtained self-report and spouse-report data on susceptibility to infidelity. We obtained self-report, spouse-report, and interviewer-report data on personality, relationship context, and relative mate value. Personality factors most strongly linked to susceptibility to infidelity were low Conscientiousness, high Narcissism, and high Psychoticism. Relationship contexts most strongly linked to susceptibility to infidelity include sexual dissatisfaction, and specific sources of conflict such as partner complaints about jealousy. Discussion addresses limitations of this study and directions for future research on predicting infidelity.
The hope for KEEPS

The Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS) provided a unique opportunity for a group of investigators to come together in an effort to determine the effects of different preparations of est...
Transform-limited, narrow-linewidth lasing action in organic semiconductor microcavities

Lasing action in organic vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (OVCSEL) structures is demonstrated. Optically pumped OVCSELs with an active layer composed of a thin-film organic semiconductor tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) doped with DCM laser dye produced very narrow linewidth (0.2 ± 0.1 angstrom), high-power (3 watts) emission that could be varied in different devices from orange to red. The efficient energy transfer from Alq3 to DCM results in a threshold input energy of 300 microjoules per square centimeter. An operational lifetime >106 laser pulses was achieved for a device operated well above threshold in atmosphere. The linewidths above threshold are Fourier transform–limited and could potentially be narrowed further.
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Breastfeeding Duration among WIC-Eligible Families

Abstract Purpose This research documented racial/ethnic differences in breastfeeding duration among mothers from seven diverse racial/ethnic groups in rural and urban areas of the United States that initiated breastfeeding among income and categorically eligible WIC participants. Methods Using data from the Longitudinal 9-Month–Preschool Restricted-Use data file of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort, this research first assessed racial/ethnic differences in breastfeeding initiation and duration, maternal and child health characteristics, social service usage, and sociodemographic characteristics. Next, breastfeeding survivorship and Cox proportional hazards models were estimated to assess potential racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding duration once these control variables were accounted for in multiple variable models. Findings Breastfeeding initiation rates and breastfeeding durations of 6 months were lower among WIC-eligible mothers compared with all mothers. WIC-eligible, foreign-born Mexican-Origin Hispanic (FBMOH) mothers were most likely to breastfeed for 6 months. Breastfeeding duration rates dropped quickly after 4 months of duration among WIC-eligible mothers that initiated. Two crossover patterns in breastfeeding durations were noted among 1) FBMOH and non-Hispanic Black mothers and 2) Asian and Native American mothers. A FBMOH breastfeeding duration advantage was noted compared with non-Hispanic White mothers once all control variables were included in the Cox proportional hazard models. No other racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding duration were noted. Conclusion More attention to educational programs and broad forms of support as part of WIC are needed to help reach the breastfeeding duration goals of Healthy People 2010 and continued support of the Loving Support Peer Counseling Program may serve as an ideal policy for local WIC offices.
Ramelteon ingestions reported to Texas poison centers, 2005-2009.

BACKGROUND: The only data that currently exist on ramelteon (Rozerem®; Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., Deerfield, IL) ingestions is from clinical trials. To fill this gap, data on ramelteon ingestions reported to Texas poison centers during 2005-2009 were collected and analyzed. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe how reported ramelteon ingestions were handled by Texas poison center staff and when known, the patient's final medical outcome. In cases where the dosage was significant enough to refer the patient to a health care facility, adverse clinical reactions and treatments are also described. METHODS: Cases were analyzed for selected demographic and clinical factors. Of 222 total patients, 67.6% were women and 73.9% were over the age of 19 years. Cases were analyzed by motivating factors (e.g., unintentional, intentional), management site, adverse reactions, and final medical outcome. RESULTS: Of the ramelteon ingestions reported to Texas poison centers, 67.6% involved adult women and were suspected attempted suicides; 75% of ramelteon ingestions not involving other substances were managed at a health care facility. However, 88.3% of these ingestions resulted in no significant clinical effect. CONCLUSION: The management strategies used by Texas poison centers for the 56 cases reported in this study were adequate. Language: en
Whither Regional Networks

The burning question for state/regional networks at present is deciding who the “thou” in the above quotation represents. Is it the NSF, the NREN, or, in the case of Bill Schrader's (of Performance Systems, Inc.) now famous quotation, “follow the money,” is it the commercial client? Is the objective of the regional network to find a niche market with long‐term survival value? Is it to stay in business long enough to address the needs of our academic customers and then retire more‐or‐less gracefully when no longer needed? Or is it to try to become a full‐service organization with long‐term viability?