cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An evolutionary theory of the family

Abstract An evolutionary framework for viewing the formation, the stability, the organizational structure, and the social dynamics of biological families is developed. This framework is based upon three conceptual pillars: ecological constraints theory, inclusive fitness theory, and reproductive skew theory. I offer a set of 15 predictions pertaining to living within family groups. The logic of each is discussed, and empirical evidence from family-living vertebrates is summarized. I argue that knowledge of four basic parameters, (i) genetic relatedness, (ii) social dominance, (iii) the benefits of group living, and (iv) the probable success of independent reproduction, can explain many aspects of family life in birds and mammals. I suggest that this evolutionary perspective will provide insights into understanding human family systems as well.
Neuroophthalmologic Abnormalities and Intravascular Therapy of Traumatic Carotid Cavernous Fistulas

Traumatic fistulas were successfully embolized using various transvascular approaches in 33 of 34 lesions. Complete superselective angiographic demonstration of the exact site of the shunt and possible collaterals was necessary to choose the appropriate embolization techniques. Improvement in the signs of orbital congestion was seen in all cases. Embolization, which directly occludes the fistula, precludes recurrences via collateralization and restores the normal arteriovenous gradient to the eye and optic nerve.
Adenotonsillectomy in obese children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: magnetic resonance imaging findings and considerations.

OBJECTIVE The reasons why adenotonsillectomy (AT) is less effective treating obese children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are not understood. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate how anatomical factors contributing to airway obstruction are affected by AT in these children. METHODS Twenty-seven obese children with OSAS (age 13.0 ± 2.3 y, body mass index Z-score 2.5 ± 0.3) underwent polysomnography and magnetic resonance imaging of the head during wakefulness before and after AT. Volumetric analysis of the upper airway and surrounding tissues was performed using commercial software (AMIRA®). RESULTS Patients were followed for 6.1 ± 3.6 mo after AT. AT improved mean obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from 23.7 ± 21.4 to 5.6 ± 8.7 (P 10). AT increased the volume of the nasopharynx and oropharynx (2.9 ± 1.3 versus 4.4 ± 0.9 cm(3), P < 0.001, and 3.2 ± 1.2 versus 4.3 ± 2.0 cm(3), P < 0.01, respectively), reduced tonsils (11.3 ± 4.3 versus 1.3 ± 1.4 cm(3), P < 0.001), but had no effect on the adenoid, lingual tonsil, or retropharyngeal nodes. A small significant increase in the volume of the soft palate and tongue was also noted (7.3 ± 2.5 versus 8.0 ± 1.9 cm(3), P = 0.02, and 88.2 ± 18.3 versus 89.3 ± 24.4 cm(3), P = 0.005, respectively). CONCLUSIONS This is the first report to quantify volumetric changes in the upper airway in obese children with OSAS after adenotonsillectomy showing significant residual adenoid tissue and an increase in the volume of the tongue and soft palate. These findings could explain the low success rate of AT reported in obese children with OSAS and are important considerations for clinicians treating these children.
Immunocytochemical localization of enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in the retina of the guinea pig

Abstract The distribution of enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in the retina of the guinea pig was studied. Indirect immunofluorescence techniques were used on retinae with and without colchicine pretreatment. In retinae not receiving colchicine pretreatment, enkephalin-like immunoreactivity was seen in fibers in the inner plexiform layer, predominantly in laminae 1, 3, and 5. In colchicine-pretreated retinae, enkephalin immunofluorescent cell bodies were seen in the inner margin of the inner nuclear layer in addition to the immunoreactive fibers. These cells showed morphological characteristics of amacrine cells. No enkephalin-like immunofluorescence was seen in the optic nerve, ganglion cell layer, or outer nuclear or plexiform layers. These findings of enkephalin-like immunoreactive cells and fibers in a mammalian retina add to the findings in nonmammalian retinae and suggest that the enkephalins play a role in primary sensory systems of mammalian and nonmammalian species.
Fish Associations with Four Habitat Types in a South Dakota Prairie Stream

ABSTRACT Fish were collected from riffles, runs, pools and woody habitats in the Vermillion River, South Dakota, to examine the temporal dynamics of habitat use during non-flood summer months. The densities of small fishes (30–75 mm; cyprinids and young-of-the-year individuals) were greatest in riffles and woody habitats during periods of moderate discharge (1.14 and 1.44 m3/s); however, their densities were greater in rimes than other habitats during late summer low flow (0.49 m3/s). Large fishes (> 75 mm; juvenile and adult individuals of several species) were distributed evenly among habitats across flow levels. During moderate stream flows, 89% and 95% of the individual species and size classes exhibited random use of habitats. In contrast, 35% of the individual species collected during late summer low stream flows exhibited preferences for two or three habitats, but only one species (central stoneroller Campostoma anomalum) exhibited a preference for a single habitat type (riffles). We found little e...
High-Pressure Decisions: Recognition and Management of Uncommon Hand Injuries

A 52-year-old right-handed male painter presented to an emergency department with a complaint of left hand pain and swelling. One day prior to presentation, the patient unintentionally injected paint into the middle finger of his left hand while working with a high-pressured paint gun. He reported minimal complaints immediately after the trauma, but over the next several hours developed fever, increasing pain, and swelling of his finger and hand and red streaking up his left arm. In the emergency department, he was afebrile and slightly tachycardiac (104 beats/min). He reported significant left hand pain (10/10 severity). Physical examination revealed a sub-centimeter puncture wound with a cyanotic appearance on the distal volar surface of his left middle finger, which was markedly edematous (Fig. 1). Range of motion was limited by pain and swelling at the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints, and he had multiple linear erythematous streaks extending from the middle finger to the palm and all of the way up to the left axilla. Radiograph of the left hand showed marked soft tissue swelling around the third finger and extensive volar soft tissue radiodensities (Fig. 2). The patient was intravenously treated with vancomycin and ampicillin–sulbactam, tetanus prophylaxis, and opioid analgesics, and a surgical consultation was obtained for emergent surgical exploration and irrigation.
Variation In Coping With EI Niño Droughts In Northern Costa Rica

In a small country like Costa Rica, the same climate event can affect neighboring communities in very distinct ways. In the summer of 1998, following an intense El Nino-related drought, I set out to examine how this event had affected small-scale farmers across northern Costa Rica. Surprisingly, there were large differences in coping abilities between farmers of the Caribbean and Pacific regions despite the overall small spatial scale at which my research was conducted.
The spatial price equilibrium problem with path variables

Abstract Most of the recent literature dealing with the solution of the spatial price equilibrium model has dealt with the arc variable formulation; that is, the situation where the flows on the paths connecting an origin-destination pair in a network with trans-shipment nodes are not explicitly considered. This paper presents a clarification of the main assumption underlying this arc formulation and presents an argument for the need for using a model with path variables in certain applications. After this discussion, a new solution algorithm for the model with path variables is stated and compared against the linear approximation algorithm first proposed by Florian and Los [1] for this problem. Numerical examples are presented which illustrate the features of this new algorithm.
Process-induced effects in thin-film bonding of PEKEKK in metal-polymer joints

In this work, poly ether ketone ether ketone ketone (PEKEKK) was used as a thermoplastic adhesive for joining metals. Titanium and cobalt chromium alloys were joined to form tensile butt joints. These tensile specimens were used to evaluate bond performance. A controlled thermal processing cycle was used to modify and enhance the polymer crystallinity during bonding. The resulting effects on bond performance were examined. The process window for a thermal bonding process was identified. Factorial experiments were conducted to determine the effects of modifications to adhesive and adherend material, and bonding pressure on bond performance. A titanium alloy and a cobalt chromium alloy were used as the adherends. Understanding changes in the thermoplastic adhesive joint with the variation of process parameters will allow for proper application and processing of thermoplastic structural adhesives.
Perturbation nonlinearly dependent on the eigenvalue and a condensation of perturbation theory

where H,, is a self-adjoint operator with known spectral measure E. for the complex Hilbert space X and G, is given as a symmetric operator in X depending on h, and where by a solution pair u, h to (1.1) we mean that X is to be a real scalar and u is to be a nonnull X vector belonging to both the domain of H,, and of G, and (1.1) is to be satisfied by u and h. As considered here, G, is assumed small with respect to Ho in a variety of senses, and we will consider u close to a known finite m-dimensional family of solutions of (1.1) with G, replaced by zero, as stated specifically later. Notice that if G,, is replaced by se in (1.1) with G independent of h, then (1.1) becomes the classical perturbation problem with G the perturbation operator and s the perturbation parameter, for which of course a well developed mathematical theory is now known. However, we wish to assume here virtually nothing about the nature of the dependence of G, upon h, which by considering the special case where X is one-dimensional (and the resulting transcendental equation in scalar X only to which (1.1) then reduces) clearly precludes the usual perturbation result for the above classical problem. Instead we concentrate upon the reduction of the (1.1) problem with generally infinite dimensional X there to an m-dimensional (m as stated above) problem of the same form represented by a series in powers of G, involving the known E,, , which by taking determinants of course is equivalent to a single transcendental equation in real X with the vector u eliminated. Such a procedure may be quite useful computationally, even in the above classical development, as is quite in accord with the views
An activity-dependent increased role for L-type calcium channels in exocytosis is regulated by adrenergic signaling in chromaffin cells.

Abstract Chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla represent a primary output of the sympathetic nervous system. Their electrical stimulation evokes the fusion of large dense core granules with the cell membrane and the exocytic release of multiple transmitter molecules into the circulation. There the transmitters contribute to the regulation of basic metabolism of the organism. Under physiological activity, granule fusion and transmitter release are limited by activity-dependent Ca 2+ influx, entering through multiple isoforms of voltage-gated calcium channels. In this study we utilize perforated-patch voltage-clamp recordings and depolarize mouse chromaffin cells in situ with action potential-like waveforms to mimic physiological firing. We measure calcium influx through specific isoforms and measure cell capacitance as an index of granule fusion. Combining these approaches we calculate specific stimulus-secretion efficiencies for L-type, N-type, P/Q-type and R-type calcium channels under varied physiological activity levels. Current influx through all channel subtypes exhibited an activity-dependent depression. As expected P/Q-type channels, while responsible for modest Ca 2+ influx, are tightly coupled to catecholamine secretion under all conditions. We further find that stimulation designed to match sympathetic input under the acute stress response recruits L-type channels to a state of enhanced stimulus-secretion efficiency. N- and R-type channels do not undergo activity-dependent recruitment and remain loosely coupled to the secretion. Thus, only L-type channels exhibit activity-dependent changes in their stimulus-secretion function under physiological stimulation. Lastly, we show that treatment with the β-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, specifically blocks the increase in the stimulus-secretion function of L-type channels. Thus, increased cell firing specifically enhances stimulus-secretion coupling of L-type Ca 2+ channels in chromaffin cells in situ . This mechanism is regulated by an adrenergic signaling pathway.
Nuclear Actin Dynamics Regulate Nuclear Organization and Transcription

2716-Pos Board B146 Nuclear Actin Dynamics Regulate Nuclear Organization and Transcription Leo Serebryannyy 1 , Megan Parilla 1 , Paolo Annibale 2 , Christina Cruz 1 , Dmitri Kudryashov 3 , Enrico Gratton 2 , Cara J. Gottardi 4 , Primal de Lanerolle 1 . Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA, 2 Laboratory of Fluorescence Dynamics, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA, 3 Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA, 4 Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. Actin is an important and elegant mechanotransducer that transfers messages from the extracellular environment into the nucleus, thus conferring changes in both the physical properties and the genetic program of the cell. Although actin in the nucleus has been established in a growing number of functions, the form of nuclear actin remains poorly understood as there are no apparent actin ﬁlaments in the nucleus. Therefore, we tested how disrupting the form of nuclear actin impacts function and what effects this may have on the nucleus. To do so, we formed stable nuclear actin ﬁlaments using a variety of methods, including the nuclear enrichment of actin binding proteins supervillin and a-E-catenin and the expression of a mutant form of skeletal a-actin. Using ﬂuorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), we found that stabiliza- tion of nuclear actin ﬁlaments signiﬁcantly impairs actin dynamics within the nucleus. The formation of nuclear actin ﬁlaments coincides with striking changes in nuclear structure and overall nuclear topography as determined by confocal microscopy and raster image correlation spectroscopy. Using a com- bination of FRAP analysis, structured illumination microscopy and immuno- logical assays, we found that nuclear actin ﬁlaments reduce the association of actin with RNA polymerase II and this correlates with impaired RNA poly- merase II dynamics, localization and gene recruitment. Moreover, we were able to recapitulate our ﬁndings in puriﬁed nuclear extract by using in vitro transcription assays with the covalent actin crosslinking domain (ACD) of V. cholerae MARTX toxin. Based on our data, which help explain the absence of nuclear actin ﬁlaments in the interphase mammalian nucleus, we propose a model where nuclear actin dynamics are critical for maintaining proper nu- clear function.
Generation of a New Spectral Format, the Lifetime Synchronous Spectrum (LiSS), Using Phase-Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy:

A new fluorescence spectral format is introduced in which fluorescence lifetime is shown as a function of synchronously scanned wavelength to generate a Lifetime Synchronous Spectrum (LiSS). Lifetimes are determined in the frequency domain with the use of Phase-Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy (PRFS) to obtain the phase of the fluorescence signal. Theory and construction of the LiSS are presented and experimental results are shown for solutions of single components and simple binary and ternary mixtures. These results show how the lifetime information in the LiSS augments the steady-state intensity information of a standard synchronous spectrum, providing unique information for identification of components and resolution of overlapping spectral peaks. The LiSS technique takes advantage of noise reduction inherent in the extraction of lifetime from PRFS in addition to standard spectral smoothing techniques. The precision of phase determination through PRFS is found to be comparable to that of direct phase measurements at normal fluorescence intensities and superior for low-intensity signals.
Liver composition and lipid metabolism in NZB/W F1 female mice fed dehydroisoandrosterone

The beneficial effects obtained with dehydroisoandrosterone (DHA) feeding in the treatment of murine systemic lupus erythematosus are similar to those obtained with caloric restriction or with dietary manipulation of essential fatty acid availability. In this study, the fatty acid composition of selected tissues was examined in NZB/W F1 mice fed a diet containing 0.4% DHA. The effect of the DHA diet on liver composition and the activity of key hepatic enzymes involved in fatty acid synthesis and glucose metabolism was also investigated. The content of the essential fatty acid, arachidonate, was decreased in plasma cholesteryl esters and liver and kidney phospholipids in mice fed the DHA diet, yet no significant decrease in arachidonate content was observed in plasma phospholipid. The most striking change in both plasma and liver phospholipid was an increase in palmitic acid and a decrease in stearic acid, which could result from a decreased ability for fatty acid elongation. The liver mass was dramatically increased in the mice fed DHA, primarily from parenchymal cell hypertrophy, and contained little lipid. Significant changes in the activities of malic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and pyruvate kinase, similar to those changes which occur with fasting, were observed during the initial adaptation to the DHA diet. The pyruvate kinase activity remained low, suggesting a decrease in liver glycolysis. These results are consistent with the concept that diets containing DHA result in an altered metabolism with a decreased dependence on carbohydrate metabolism and an increased metabolism of lipids.
Towards scalable data integration under constraints

In this paper we consider the problem of answering queries using views, with or without ontological constraints, which is important for data integration, query optimization, and data warehouses. Our context is data integration, so we search for maximally-contained rewritings. We have produced a very scalable and efficient solution for its simplest form, conjunctive queries and views, and we are working towards the full relational case. When considering constraints, the problem is usually divided in two phases: (1) query expansion, which rewrites queries w. r. t. the intentional knowledge and (2) expanded query reformulation using the views. Relevant algorithms have given little attention to the second phase and have studied a limited form of view definition languages overall (namely, only GAV). By looking at the problem from a graph perspective we are able to gain a better insight and develop designs which compactly represent common patterns in the source descriptions, and (optionally) push some computation offline. This allows us to contribute significantly in both aforemention phases individually, tailor one to each other, and moreover address them in a unified way. We intend to provide a solution that supports a variety of ontology languages, and all prevalent view definition languages (G/LAV). Towards such a general and scalable system our preliminary results for the relational case, show an experimental performance about two orders of magnitude faster than current state-of-the-art algorithms, rewriting queries using over 10000 views within seconds.
Applying multimedia to medical imaging

We present the architecture of MediaStation 5000 and its applications in medical imaging. As a medical imaging workstation, MediaStation 5000 satisfies the basic requirement of fast image display and processing. All the important image display, manipulation, and processing functions can be executed in real time on 512/spl times/512 images, providing instant feedback to the user.
Clinical and immunopathologic effects of swallowed fluticasone for eosinophilic esophagitis.

Abstract Background & Aims : Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is a recently recognized clinical disorder that is understood poorly. We aimed to determine the efficacy of swallowed fluticasone propionate on the immunopathologic features associated with EE. Methods : A retrospective analysis was performed on 20 pediatric patients with EE. Inclusion criteria specified a peak eosinophil density of ≥24 cells per 400× field in the esophagus and treatment with swallowed fluticasone between 2 endoscopic assessments. Histologic specimens were examined for eosinophil and CD8+ lymphocyte infiltration, papillary lengthening, and proliferation of the basal layer as determined by monoclonal anti—Ki-67 (MIB-1) antibody staining. Results : The mean time interval between endoscopic assessments was 4.8 months. The patients were divided equally between allergic and nonallergic groups based on the results of skin-prick testing. All of the nonallergic patients responded to fluticasone propionate. The endoscopic appearance of the mucosa improved and microscopic evaluation showed markedly reduced eosinophil infiltration, reduced basal layer hyperplasia documented by a reduced number of MIB-1+ cells, and a reduced number of CD8+ lymphocytes. However, allergic patients were relatively refractory to therapy; 20% had a partial response, whereas 20% had no detectable improvement. Esophageal eosinophil levels before and after therapy in all patients strongly correlated with the level of epithelial cell proliferation as measured by MIB-1 staining. Conclusions : Collectively, these results suggest that patients treated with swallowed fluticasone have improved endoscopic, histologic, and immunologic parameters associated with EE. However, patients with identifiable allergies who fail dietary elimination may have a blunted response to treatment.
Transient Elastodynamic Crack Growth in Functionally Graded Materials

A generalized elastic solution for an arbitrarily propagating transient crack in functionally graded materials (FGMs) is obtained through an asymptotic analysis. The shear modulus and mass density of the FGM are assumed to vary exponentially along the gradation direction. The out-of-plane displacement field and its gradients about the crack tip were obtained in powers of radial coordinates, with the coefficients depending on the time rates of change of crack tip speed and stress intensity factor. The effects of the transient terms on the contours of constant out-of-plane displacement are duly discussed.
Fluorescence anisotropy decay: finding the correct physical model

When the fluorescence intensity and fluorescence anisotropy decays can be described as sums of exponentials, a simplifying assumption is often made: each intensity decay lifetime associates with each rotational correlation time. Numerous biological systems exist where this assumption is invalid. We have been evaluating a general kinetic scheme applicable to all possible associations between lifetimes and rotational correlation times. For the simple case of two lifetimes and two rotational correlation times, nine association models exist. We have been testing the ability of these different association models to discriminate against one another. Using a Monte Carlo algorithm, synthetic anisotropy data sets were generated according to each association model. Each data set was then analyzed by all models. To deduce which association model was used to generate a data set, we found that a global analysis of a family of anisotropy data sets differing in an independent parameter(s) is required; an example would be variable intensity decay amplitudes from decays collected at several emission wavelengths. Anisotropy decays of the two tryptophans per subunit of liver alcohol dehydrogenase were also analyzed by all of the two-lifetime, two-correlation-time association models to determine if one or both tryptophans experience local depolarizing motions.
Biologischer Abbau der Photolyseprodukte von FeIIIEDTA

EDTA wird von Belebtschlamm aus kommunalen Klaranlagen weder eliminiert noch abgebaut. Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigt, das nach Photolyse des FeIIIEDTA-Komplexes leicht abbaubare Metaboliten entstehen. So wird bereits nach einer Bestrahlungszeit von 6.5 Stunden mit Sonnenlicht im anschliesenden OECD-Test 302 B nach 4 Wochen eine Bioelimination von 53% erreicht. Nach 20 Stunden Belichtung mit Sonnenlicht ist EDTA zu 92% bioeliminierbar. Das Photolyseprodukt Ethylendiamindiacetat (EDDA) wurde mit Belebtschlamm nach einer 2-wochigen Lag-Phase innerhalb von 14 Tagen quantitativ eliminiert. Da EDTA in naturlichen Gewassern nicht nur als Fe(III)-Komplex vorkommt, sondern auch in Form von photostabilen Metall-EDTA-Komplexen, gelten die okologischen Vorbehalte gegenuber dem EDTA-Einsatz weiterhin. Die Photolyse der Eisenkomplexe der Phosphonate ATMP und DTPMP fuhrt nicht zu biologisch abbaubaren Metaboliten. Biodegradation of the Photolysis Products of FeIIIEDTA Ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) is not biodegraded by activated sludge from a wastewater treatment plant. This work shows that after photolysis of FeIIIEDTA, easily degradable metabolites are formed. The OECD Test 302 B yielded a 53% bioelimination with a sunlight irradiation time of 6.5 hours followed by a 4-week incubation. After 20 hours of sunlight irradiation, EDTA is bioeliminated to 92%. One of the photolytic degradation products, ethylenediaminediacetate (EDDA), has been quantitatively eliminated within 14 days following a lag-phase of 2 weeks. The photolysis of the iron complexes of the phosphonates ATMP and DTPMP did not result in biologically degradable metabolites. With these results, the environmental impact of EDTA can be re-evaluated emphasizing the amount and fate of FeIIIEDTA in the environment. FeIIIEDTA was found to be present in effluents of wastewater treatment plants at fractions from 20 to 90% of the total EDTA. FeIIIEDTA has a half life of about 2 hours in sunlit waters. Complexes of EDTA with other metals do not exchange with iron and are photostable. Therefore, EDTA behaves like 2 different compounds: – FeIIIEDTA undergoes fast photolysis with biodegradation of the metabolites. – The other metal-EDTA complexes are persistent in the environment. Ecological arguments against the use of EDTA are therefore still valid for all EDTA-complexes except the one of Fe(III). However, Fe(III) complexes with the phosphonates ATMP and DTPMP do not exhibit such favorable properties over other metal-complexes, and so all arguments against the use of phosphonates are still valid.
Vacuum polarization of scalar and spinor fields near closed null geodesics.

Hawking has recently proposed a ``chronology protection conjecture,'' which states that closed timelike curves cannot form in the real Universe. The most likely mechanism for enforcing this conjecture, if it is correct, is a divergent vacuum polarization at the Cauchy horizon (``chronology horizon'') where closed timelike curves first try to form. Hawking has proved that, if the chronology horizon is compactly generated, then it contains one or more smoothly closed null geodesics. Because it seems likely that all the horizon's generators emerge from these closed null geodesics, a sufficiently strongly divergent vacuum polarization at the closed null geodesics is likely to destroy the chronology horizon completely and thereby prevent closed timelike curves from forming. In this paper we compute the details of the divergence near the closed null geodesics, in a generic spacetime with a compactly generated chronology horizon---thereby generalizing earlier computations, in special spacetimes, by Hiscock and Konkowski, Kim and Thorne, and Frolov. We carry out the computation for both a conformal scalar field and a two-component spinor field. We show that, for an observer who will pass through a point on the closed null geodesic after a small interval of proper time \ensuremath{\delta}t, the leading-order divergence is always proportional to (\ensuremath{\delta}t${)}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ and has the same tensorial structure as the stress-energy of a null fluid moving along the closed null geodesic. We also show that, by contrast with flat spacetime, there is in general no cancellation between the divergent vacuum energies of a combination of fields that, in flat spacetime, would be related by supersymmetry: two conformal scalar fields and one two-component spinor field. We discuss the implications of these results for Hawking's chronology protection conjecture.
Discounted cash flow analysis of time series

Abstract The most precise models for treating risk and uncertainty in engineering economy require a knowledge of the covariances between future cash flows. Analysts have long been accustomed to developing expected values of future cash flows and some have started to obtain estimates of the variances of these quantities. Few have been willing to grapple with the formidable problems associated with quantitative examination of the covariances. In some cases the cash flows to be predicted may be considered to be future realizations of an established random process. In their book Time Series Analysis, Box and Jenkins (1970) have shown how to identify a model underlying the process providing that a historical record of sufficient length is available. They have also provided algorithms for machine calculation of (1) estimates of the model parameters, (2) unbiased minimum mean-square-error forecasts, and (3) variances of the forecasts of the future values of the process. The present paper extends the technique so as to obtain similar estimates of the covariance matrix. The present worth of the cash flow forecasts is their sum, weighted by the appropriate discount factors. The variance of the present worth is easily written in terms of the discount factors and the covariance function. A PL/I program is presented that accepts estimated model parameters and the historical record of the random cash flow process and then computes (1) the forecasts and their covariances, and (2) the present worth and its variance. Numerical results are presented by way of illustration.
A labeled affective magnitude (LAM) scale for assessing food liking/disliking

The most widely used scale for assessing food liking or disliking is the 9-pt hedonic scale. Unfortunately, this affective scale suffers from problems related to unequal scale intervals and the underuse of end categories, which results in a reduced ability to differentiate among extremely well liked or extremely disliked foods. Magnitude estimation avoids these problems while enabling ratio statements to be made about the data. However, it does not provide absolute ratings of liking/disliking and can be difficult for some consumers to use. We report here on the development of a labeled affective magnitude scale (LAM) scale that has advantages over both the 9-pt hedonic scale and magnitude estimation. Forty-four semantic labels were scaled for their affective meaning by subjects using modulus-free magnitude estimation. The geometric mean magnitude estimates obtained for each semantic label were used to construct a series of labeled affective magnitude scales by spacing the labels along a visual analogue scale according to their obtained semantic values. Reliability and sensitivity studies were conducted to assess the effects of alternative semantic and numeric labels. The results of these studies led to the choice of a scale format that uses verbal labels that are consistent with the 9-pt hedonic scale. The labeled affective magnitude (LAM) scale was compared to the hedonic scale and magnitude estimation in several food preference and acceptability tests. The LAM was shown to have equal reliability and sensitivity to the hedonic scale, provided somewhat greater discrimination among highly liked foods, and resulted in data that were similar to magnitude estimation in terms of the obtained ratios among rated stimuli. The LAM scale was also judged by consumers to be as easy to use as the 9-pt hedonic scale and significantly less difficult than magnitude estimation.
A detective allocation model

Abstract Assuming that the primary purpose of investigative detectives is to solve cases (make arrests), a mathematical model is developed that allocates detectives among divisions in large urban police department so as to maximize the city-wide clearance rate.
Nondiffusive Brownian motion studied by diffusing-wave spectroscopy.

On a short time scale, Brownian particles undergo a transtion from the initial ballistic trajectories to diffusive motion. Hydrodynamic interactions with the surrounding fluid lead to a complex time dependence of this transition. We directly probe this transition for colloidal particles by measuring the autocorrelation function of multiply scattered, transmitted light. We show that a quantitative interpretation is possible because the transport of the light is diffusive, resolving a conflict in previous measurements.
Determinants of successful synthetic hemodialysis vascular access graft placement.

Abstract Objective: Synthetic vascular grafts, the most common type of permanent dialysis graft used in the United States, are associated with great morbidity and expense. In this cohort study of patients undergoing hemodialysis and receiving a new synthetic vascular graft, detailed intraoperative procedural data were examined as predictors of graft dysfunction and failure. Methods: A prospective cohort study of patients receiving hemodialysis who had undergone synthetic (polytetrafluoroethylene) graft placement over 4½ years were followed up until either the graft was no longer usable, kidney transplantation was performed, the patient died, or the study ended. The principal methods of analysis used were the Kaplan-Meier method, to compute survival function for primary and secondary graft patency, and Cox proportional hazards regression, to model associations between predictor variables and graft failure. Results: Of 284 patients enrolled in the study, 172 patients (61%) had at least one graft-related event, ie, temporary graft dysfunction or graft failure, during follow-up. Three-year cumulative graft survival was 54% (95% confidence interval, 45%-62%). Using proportional hazards analysis, history of claudication (rate ratio [RR], 2.14 [range, 0.97-4.73]; P =.06), number of previous permanent grafts (1 graft: RR, 1.49 [range, 0.88-2.51]; 2 or more grafts: RR, 2.85 [range, 1.43-5.69]; P =.01), dialysis dependency at surgery (RR, 2.96 [range, 1.23-7.12]; P =.02), and use of arterial clamps in construction of the graft (RR, 2.32 [range, 1.14-4.73]; P =.02) were associated with lower survival, even after accounting for medical history. Type of graft material, ie, Gore-Tex versus other material (RR, 0.28 [range, 0.16-0.50]; P P =.06) for the access site were associated with a lower rate of graft failure. Similar results were found with Poisson analysis of all graft-related events. In addition, acute arterial anastomosis, ie, arterial angle less than 90 degrees (RR, 0.63 [range, 0.45-0.91]; P =.01) and use of the brachial artery versus the radial artery (RR, 0.54 [range, 0.33-0.54]; P =.01) were associated with a lower rate of graft-related events. Conclusion: These findings suggest possible areas for intervention to improve synthetic vascular graft outcome. (J Vasc Surg 2003;37:1036-42.)
Metal gouging at low relative sliding velocities

Abstract Surface gouging by metals in high-velocity sliding contact has been observed for more than thirty years in engineering applications involving rocket sleds, two-stage gas guns and electromagnetic railguns. The onset of gouging is usually observed to occur at sliding velocities in excess of 1000 m s −1 . Previous investigations of the phenomenon have indicated that the gouging onset velocity is proportional to the yield strength and hardness of the materials involved. In this research, data from reported instances of gouging are used to develop a graphical, linear correlation between gouging onset velocity and yield strength of the sliding material. This correlation is extrapolated into a velocity regime below that in which gouging is usually observed and then serves as the basis for an experiment intended to produce gouges. In the experiment, incipient gouges are produced on lead sheets at sliding velocities as low as 245 m s −1 , well below those at which gouging had previously been reported and in a material never-before reported to have gouged, confirming the validity of the extrapolation.
Traumatic Stress, Ecological Contingency, and Sexual Behavior: Antecedents and Effects of Sexual Precociousness. Sexual Mobility, and Adolescent Childbearing in Antigua

Previous studies try to account for variance in adolescent sexual precociousness, sexual mobility, and childbearing by reference either to sociological risk factors (e.g., poverty, social class, opportunitiesjbr sexual activity, or the absence of constraints on sexual activity) or to an evolved, domain-specific cognitive mechanism. However, these forms of behavioral variation may reflect an evolved mental mechanism that creates behavioral plasticity and adaptability by assigning emotional weights to choice alternatives in all behavioral domains. Because it should act as a selective mechanismfor choice alternatives, this emotional mechanism should create enhanced ability to avoid predation (social exploitation) and to obtain access to resources, given the properties of specific environments. Sexual precociousness, sexual mobility, and childbearing thus should be determined by ecological contingencies that bear on how girls may best empower themselves. The findings of the present study support this ecological contingency hypothesis and show no effect for sociological and evolutionary psychology predictors. What we now characterize stress-induced morbidity thus may consist of adaptive responses to environments in which children find themselves subject to predation and denial of access to resources.
Preventing looting through the return of looted archaeological objects

In recent years several source countries have negotiated with foreign museums to effect the return of looted archaeological objects held by these museums. These cases are often regarded as simple d...
Isolation of Sperm Cells from the Pollen of Plumbago zeylanica

Intact sperm cells of Plumbago zeylanica were released from mature pollen grains near anthesis using osmotic shock with 20% sucrose. Sperm cell yields of up to 75% can be attained by differential centrifugation using a clinical centrifuge with concentrations of up to 8.8 x 10(6) cells/milliliter. Such ;gametoplasts' remain intact for up to 24 hours according to Evan's blue exclusion and can be used for characterization or physiological manipulation.
A Numerical Study of Somali Current Eddies

Abstract A three-dimensional numerical ocean model is used to study the transient response of the western boundary region of a tropical ocean to the sudden onset of winds parallel to the boundary. In particular, the behavior of resulting western boundary current eddies is studied as a function of various parameters of the model. Alongshore eddy movement is found to decrease and vanish as the horizontal orientation of the western boundary is changed from northward to northeastward. A similar retarding effect is produced upon increasing the nonlinearity of the flow by using weaker vertical turbulent friction or stronger wind stress. Little sensitivity is found to the magnitude of the horizontal turbulent friction coefficient. A term-by-term evaluation of the vorticity balance in the region of the eddies is used to analyze their behavior. A case is run in which the western boundary configuration and applied wind stress approximate that of the northwestern Indian Ocean. An eddy structure evolves which is simi...
Crack in an imperfect interface in composites

Abstract The behavior of cracks at the interface of composites is studied. The geometry of the composite is idealized as two-dimensional, isotropic, linearly “elastic” infinite strips made of two different materials joined by a damaged layer approximated by continuous distributed shear and tension springs. The damage considered in the layer is an interface crack. A general formulation is developed in terms of two simultaneous integral equations. An asymptotic analysis of the integral equations based on Muskhelishvili's techniques reveals logarithmic singularities in the normal (cleavage) stresses and strain functions at the crack tips. The special case of two bonded half-planes is also discussed. Parametric studies at a microscopic level are conducted for an interphase crack between the fiber and the matrix, and at a macroscopic level for an adhesive layer crack between two laminae.
Nonlinear minimization estimators in the presence of cointegrating relations

Abstract In this paper, we consider estimation of a long-run and a short-run parameter jointly in the presence of nonlinearities. The theory developed establishes limit behavior of minimization estimators of the long- and short-run parameters jointly. Typically, if the long-run parameter that is present in a cointegrating relationship is estimated, its estimator will be superconsistent. Therefore, we may conjecture that the joint minimization estimation of both parameters jointly will result in the same limit distribution for the short-run parameter as if the long-run parameter was known. However, we show that unless a regularity condition holds, this intuition is false in general. This regularity condition, that clearly holds in the standard linear case, is identical to the condition for validity of a two-step Granger–Engle type procedure. Also, it is shown that if the cointegrated variables are measured in deviation from their averages, the standard asymptotic normality result (that one would obtain if the long-run parameter was known) holds.
Sensitivity of Cloud Droplet Growth to Collision and Coalescence Efficiencies in a Parcel Model.

Abstract The purpose of this study is to assess the relative importance of collision and coalescence efficiencies as reported in the literature in different drop size regimes for the development of precipitation via the condensation–coalescence process. The stochastic growth of cloud droplet distributions due to collection processes is studied using a detailed microphysical parcel model. The evolution of rainwater content (LR) and the radar reflectivity factor (Z) are plotted in order to trace the progress of transfer of cloud water into rainwater and determine the importance of droplet collection in different size ranges. The results indicate that the van der Waals forces are effective in enhancing droplet collision when the droplets are small and the distributions are narrow. Wake capture is negligible for clouds forming in a continental air mass with low liquid water contents. However, it is effective when coalescence becomes the dominant growth process and rainwater content has reached high values. Wh...
Programmatic assessment: turning process into practice by teaching for learning

Abstract In order to improve our library instruction program by identifying and responding to learning problems, a formal pilot assessment was conducted with a group of 48 students enrolled in a summer 2001 pre-freshmen program. The group chosen as a base line group provided us with the opportunity to work with students in four sequential library instruction sessions, allowing us to observe, reflect and respond to learning needs between each session. In the process of designing and executing the assessment system we changed and improved our teaching methods to address the learning problems we discovered. Our intent was to improve the library instruction program in our medium-sized university library by applying what we learned from the pilot to the more typical “one shot” library instruction sessions.
Chemical applications of topology and group theory: 37. Pentalene as a ligand in transition metal sandwich complexes

The η 8 -C 8 H 6 2- pentalene ligands in the recently discovered sandwich compounds (η 8 -C 8 H 6 ) 2 M (M = Ti, Zr) can be derived either by transannular 'pinching' of the cyclooctatetraene dianion, C 8 H 8 2-, or by edge-sharing fusion of two cyclopentadienyl ligands C 5 H 5 -. This paper depicts the relationship between the molecular orbitals in C 8 H 6 2-, C 8 H 8 2-, and 2C 5 H 5 -. In addition, this paper shows that the d z 2 orbital of the central metal atom is of suitable symmetry for δ bonding in the D 2h complexes (η 8 -C 8 H 6 ) 2 M (M = Ti, Zr) unlike in the D 8h complexes (η 8 -C 8 H 8 ) 2 M derived from cyclooctatetraene. This can account for the fact that the cyclooctatetraene sandwich compounds of stoichiometry (C 8 H 8 ) 2 M have unsymmetrical (η 8 -C 8 H 8 )(η 4 -C 8 H 8 )M structures in the case of the d-block metals titanium and zirconium in contrast to perhapto structures (η 8 -C 8 H 8 ) 2 An in the case of the actinides (An = Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu) where metal f orbitals are available for metal-ring bonding.
Analysis of the secondary structure of the cys-less yeast mitochondrial citrate transport protein and four single-cys variants by circular dichroism.

Utilizing cysteine scanning mutagenesis, with functional Cys-less citrate transport protein (CTP) serving as the starting template, we previously demonstrated that four single-Cys mutants located in transmembrane domains III and IV, rendered the CTP nonfunctional. The present investigations assess and quantify the secondary structure of the Cys-less CTP and the four single-Cys mutants, both in the absence and presence of citrate, via circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. In detergent micelles, highly purified Cys-less CTP contained ∼50% α-helix and ∼20% β-sheet. The CD spectra of the G119C, E122C, R181C, and R189C mutants in detergent micelles were virtually superimposable with that of the functional Cys-less CTP, thereby suggesting that the wild-type residues, rather than affecting structure, may assume important mechanistic roles. Exogenously added citrate caused a significant change in the CD spectra of all solubilized CTP samples. Analyses of the spectra of the Cys-less CTP indicated an ∼10% increase in its α-helical content in the presence of citrate. The conformational changes effected by the addition of substrate were less pronounced with the single-Cys mutants. Studies of the Cys-less CTP reconstituted in liposomes indicated that while the CD spectra was red-shifted, the net secondary structure of the reconstituted carrier is approximately equivalent to that of the transporter in detergent micelles, and displayed a response to added citrate. In combination, the above studies indicate that purified Cys-less CTP in either sarkosyl micelles or in liposomes, and the four inactive single-Cys mutants in sarkosyl micelles, retain native-like structure, and thus represent ideal material for detailed structural characterization.