cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cortical modulation of spinal excitability: an F-wave study.

F-waves are known to be highly sensitive to changes in the excitatory state of the spinal cord. This paper describes the effects of subthreshold transcranial magnetic stimulation on the F-waves evoked in hand and foot muscles. In the abductor pollicis brevis muscle, the F-wave was significantly enhanced when the cortical stimulus was given with a delay corresponding approximately to the expected time of collision, i.e., the difference between the mean latency of the F-wave and the mean latency of the motor evoked potential. A second, usually larger facilitatory phase follows the first phase after 2-3 msec, and later peaks of enhancement often occurred. After the enhancement periods, a significant inhibition of the F-wave was usually observed. In the extensor digitorum brevis muscle, the first facilitatory phase was observed some milliseconds earlier than expected in 4 of 5 subjects, and the inhibitory phase was less pronounced. We argue that the sequential arrival of I-waves at the spinal segment could be responsible for the changes observed in the F-wave recorded from the small hand muscle. In the foot muscle, anatomical and technical factors could contribute to the generation of a D-wave. The strong inhibition observed in the F-wave recorded from the hand muscle is likely to be due to the arrival on alpha-motoneurons of inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) generated by the cortical stimulus. Our data show that the F-wave ia a probe for changes in the spinal cord excitatory state.
Sialic acid in human cancer

Die Sialinsaure welche im menschlichen Krebsgewebe vorhanden ist, wurde isoliert, charakterisiert und gemessen. Im krebsartigen und normalen Gewebe wurde nur N-Acetyineuraminsaure gefunden. Die Sialinsaure im Pankreas-Adenokarzinom war ums 4fache grosser als in normalen Kontrollgeweben.
Site-directed mutagenesis of rabbit LAT1 at amino acids 219 and 234.

The availability of amino acids in the brain is regulated by the blood–brain barrier (BBB) large neutral amino acid transporter type 1 (LAT1) isoform, which is characterized by a high affinity (low Km) for substrate large neutral amino acids. The hypothesis that brain amino acid transport activity can be altered with single nucleotide polymorphisms was tested in the present studies with site-directed mutagenesis of the BBB LAT1. The rabbit has a high Km LAT1 large neutral amino acid transporter, as compared to the low Km neutral amino acid transporter at the human or rat BBB. The rabbit LAT1 was cloned from a rabbit brain capillary cDNA library. Alignment of the amino acid sequences of rabbit, human, and rat LAT1 revealed two radical amino acid residues that differ in the rabbit relative to the rat or human LAT1. The G219D mutation had a modest effect on the Km and Vmax of tryptophan transport via cloned rabbit LAT1 in frog oocytes, but the W234L variant reduced the Km by 64% and the Vmax by 96%. Conversely, LAT1 transport of either tryptophan or phenylalanine was nearly normalized when the double mutation W234L/G219D variant was produced. These studies show that marked changes in the affinity and capacity of the LAT1 are caused by single nucleotide polymorphisms and that phenotype can be restored with a double mutation.
New information technology systems and a Bayesian hierarchical bivariate probit model for profiling surgeon quality at a large hospital

Abstract New information technology systems at hospitals and medical centers provide administrators and policymakers with greater information than ever before on both the characteristics of patients and on the outcomes associated with individual surgeons. This paper develops a Bayesian hierarchical bivariate probit model describing surgeon performance in terms of the 30-day mortality and 30-day morbidity of their patients. We apply the model to a sample of 2,578 patients who received care from one of 36 surgeons at a large hospital. The model is estimated using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation methods. After accounting for observed differences in the health status of patients prior to surgery and the complexity of the procedure performed, we construct quality indices measuring surgeon performance in terms of morbidity and mortality. These indices are used to evaluate surgeon performance against absolute standards for morbidity and mortality rates, and then to conduct “head to head” comparisons of individual surgeons within subspecialty surgery departments at the hospital. Our approach highlights the potential benefits of new information technologies for monitoring surgeon quality.
Processing of RNA in Escherichia coli is limited in the absence of ribonuclease III, ribonuclease E and ribonuclease P☆

A strain of Escherichia coli lacking RNAase III and containing thermolabile RNAase E and RNAase P was labeled with 32Pi at a non-permissive temperature. RNA molecules were separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Most of the small RNA species were isolated and analyzed for the presence of 5′ nucleoside triphosphates. In 16 of the 22 species analyzed a significant number of the individual molecules contained 5′ di or triphosphates. We conclude, therefore, that very little endonucleolytic RNA processing occurs in the absence of the three RNA processing enzymes RNAase III, RNAase E and RNAase P.
Extending general processing tree models to analyze reaction time experiments

Abstract General processing tree (GPT) models are usually used to analyze categorical data collected in psychological experiments. Such models assume functional relations between probabilities of the observed behavior categories and the unobservable choice probabilities involved in a cognitive task. This paper extends GPT models for categorical data to the analysis of continuous data in a class of response time (RT) experiments in cognitive psychology. Suppose that a cognitive task involves several discrete processing stages and both accuracy (categorical) and latency (continuous) measures are obtained for each of the response categories. Furthermore, suppose that the task can be modeled by a GPT model that assumes serialization among the stages. The observed latencies of the response categories are functions of the choice probabilities and processing times (PT) at each of the processing stages. The functional relations are determined by the processing structure of the task. A general framework is presented and it is applied to a set of data obtained from a source monitoring experiment.
Measuring Reuse in a Simulation Framework

*In the early 1990s, NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) embarked on a systematic reuse program for source code development in its simulation facilities. The program produced an object-oriented framework for real-time, human-in-the-loop vehicle simulation. The Langley Standard Real-Time Simulation in C++ (LaSRS++) was used as a case study to evaluate three static methods for identifying reusable code and to use their results to evaluate LaSRS++ as a reusable asset through metrics. Since static analysis cannot accurately measure reuse in large frameworks, two of the methods, the object chain and dependency chain methods, were designed to represent the lower and upper bounds of potentially reused components. With a large gap between lower and upper bounds, the refined object chain method was created to better estimate the likely set of reused assets. Reuse metrics were then extracted from simulation models of 11 aircraft. The three identification methods calculated average reuse rates of 74%, 84%, and 86%. The study also examined the ability to extend the adaptable architecture of LaSRS++ to the aircraft models using object-oriented techniques. Developers could then treat the aircraft models as reusable assets that are specialized using the same process for specializing LaSRS++. The models are specialized for individual experiments or to create a new simulation of a different aircraft type in the same aircraft family. These specializations are called variants. The reuse measurement techniques were applied to 10 variants. Reuse levels of aircraft models by variants were 60% - 99%, comparable to reuse levels of LaSRS++ by the aircraft models.
Miocene Radiolaria of Newport Bay, California: ABSTRACT

The Newport Bay radiolaria occur within the Valmonte Diatomite Member of the Miocene Monterey Formation. Radical assemblage changes through the Newport Bay sections make it possible to distinguish 3 radiolarian faunules. The basal faunule occurs through 450 feet of strata exposed on the eastern side of the bay. It consists of a radiolarian assemblage limited to a few species of smaller, unornamented representatives of the suborders Spumellina and Nassellina. Nassellina are dominant. The second faunule, recognized through 550 feet of strata, contains a diverse and abundant assemblage of dominantly large, well-ornamented species of Spumellina. Progressively poorer radiolarian assemblages, comparable to those of the lowest faunule, occupy the upper 175 feet of strata of the ewport Bay sections. The uniform lithology throughout this section shows that the terrigenous contribution to the area of deposition remained constant. Parts of the section representing thinly laminated sediments indicate a condition of low ambient oxygen concentration near the bottom at the time of deposition. Deposition of this section began within a restricted, shallow, ocean basin. Streams flowing into this basin were small and few in number. The basin gradually deepened and free access to the open sea was attained. The top of the section indicates a return to the shallow, restricted conditions of the lower section. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1090------------
Theoretical Ideal Profiles and Coalignment: A Strategy-Environment Example in the Not-for-Profit Sector:

The strategy-environment fit has been the topic of many studies, mostly with samples of for-profit organizations. Recently, a more holistic pattern-analytic approach or coalignment has been used to test the performance implications of the relationship between strategy and environment. This statistical approach may be deficient, however, if the ideal profiles from which deviations are measured are data-specific. Therefore, theoretical ideal profiles were used to examine the strategy-environment coalignment for 558 senior pastors in a Southern Baptist state convention. The results indicate that organizations in dynamic or Stade environments can be effective if they pursue appropriate strategies.
PROPENSITIES AND FREQUENCIES: Inference to the Best Explanation

An approach to inference to the best explanation integrating a Popperianconception of natural laws together with a modified Hempelian account of explanation, one the one hand, and Hacking's law of likelihood (in its nomicguise), on the other, which provides a robust abductivist model of sciencethat appears to overcome the obstacles that confront its inductivist,deductivist, and hypothetico-deductivist alternatives.This philosophy of scienceclarifies and illuminates some fundamental aspects of ontology and epistemology, especially concerning the relations between frequencies and propensities. Among the most important elements of this conception is thecentral role of degrees of nomic expectability in explanation, prediction,and inference, for which this investigation provides a theoretical defense.
Farfield multimodal acoustic radiation directivity

Approximate equations for the far field acoustic radiation patterns in the forward quadrant from a flanged circular duct were compared with exact equations for both single and multimodal excitations. The single mode comparison showed good agreement between the exact and approximate equations for the principal lobes of higher radial order modes. For lower and especially for zero radial order modes, there was some error in the angular location and decibel level of principal lobe peak pressure obtained from the approximate equation. Some agreement of sidelobes was also observed although the approximate equation was not intended to simulate the sidelobes. The multimodal approximate summation equations consisting only of a simple function of directivity angle and an acoustic power biasing function were checked against the exact equations for several distributions of modal power and showed excellent agreement with exact equations for all cases. Although many modes contribute to the final level and shape of the directivity curve, the major contributions appear to come from the higher radial order modes.
Opposition Splint for Partial Thumb Amputation: A Case Study Measuring Disability before and after Splint Use

Abstract Study Design Case report. Introduction A combined burn and a partial amputation can be extremely debilitating as the thumb constitutes 40% of the entire hand when evaluating functional impairment. Purpose of the Study Measure disability with and without opposition splint use after partial thumb amputation due to a burn. Methods Impairment and disability measures were completed at discharge from the hospital and subsequently during outpatient follow-up visits while wearing and not wearing a thumb opposition splint at 3, 6, 8, and 15 months. Comparisons between disability and impairment scores were assessed over time. Results The difference between DASH scores with and without using the splint were 25 at 3 months, 16 at 6 months, 10 at 8 months, and 12 at 15 months. Conclusions Splint use in this case demonstrated clinically significant changes over time with minimal changes in impairment indicating enhanced function and improved patient perception of disability. Level of Evidence 4
The Search for Interoperability

Today's Internet search engines are not providing adequate digital-content search. With the growth in the quantity of online digital content and growing interest from users, search engines will need to provide better capabilities for finding relevant content. A significant part of the solution can come from increased use of standardized metadata. Unfortunately, limitations to the breadth and depth of search will remain as commercial competition among search engines is preventing the convergence on a single international standard for search services. The result is a highly fragmented and frustrating digital-content search experience. However, the narrow silos of content and constrained search can be improved through cooperation among search engines by building on a common interoperable search framework. While the general problem is being explored through applications and extensions of the Z39.50 standard, new focused efforts, such as JPSearch and MPEG MAFs, might provide the needed breakthroughs.
Glaucoma Progression Detection Using Structural Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Measurements and Functional Visual Field Points

Machine learning classifiers were employed to detect glaucomatous progression using longitudinal series of structural data extracted from retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements and visual functional data recorded from standard automated perimetry tests. Using the collected data, a longitudinal feature vector was created for each patient's eye by computing the norm 1 difference vector of the data at the baseline and at each follow-up visit. The longitudinal features from each patient's eye were then fed to the machine learning classifier to classify each eye as stable or progressed over time. This study was performed using several machine learning classifiers including Bayesian, Lazy, Meta, and Tree, composing different families. Combinations of structural and functional features were selected and ranked to determine the relative effectiveness of each feature. Finally, the outcomes of the classifiers were assessed by several performance metrics and the effectiveness of structural and functional features were analyzed.
Effect of starvation and prednisolone administration on collagen and calcium metabolism in mature rats.

Male rats more than 11/2 years of age were injected with45Ca2+. Some were starved for 4, 9, and 15 days beginning one day later. Others were starved beginning 35 days after receiving the label, and still others were injected with prednisolone until 30% weight loss was induced, although the latter did not receive45Ca2+. In the starved animals, weight losses of 10–12%, 20–22%, and 30–32% were induced. These groups lost 13%, 16%, and 28%, respectively, of their carcass nitrogen while the prednisolone group lost 29%. The femora of these animals exhibited no collagen loss. Calcium in the femora was significantly reduced (8% loss) in the animals starved the most. In the carcass (minus the femora, skin, lungs, and small intestine) collagen was reduced 4%, 7%, and 15% in the starved groups and 11% in the cortisone group while calcium was reduced 6%, 5%, 18%, and 13%, respectively. The c.p.m. and s.a. of calcium in the animals which received the isotope and were starved immediately, were considerably greater than that of the controls, increasing with degree of starvation and was greater in the carcass than in the femora. When starvation was instituted 35 days after administration of isotope, the patterns were similar but the relative increase was far below the previous. The results were interpreted as follows: 1. Collagen in the femora is stable in the presence of great loss of body nitrogen induced by starvation or prednisolone administration. However, in the carcass large decrements may result under these conditions. 2. Small amounts of calcium may be lost without loss of collagen, but with large losses, collagen is lost in roughly equal proportion to calcium. 3. Newly-laid-down calcium becomes altered with time in its chemical or thermodynamic state so that it responds differently in the presence of starvation than it did before.
Liquid-phase epoxidation of olefins by manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieves

Abstract Manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieves with a cryptomelane structure (OMS-2) were used to catalyze the oxidation of cyclic olefins and benzylic double bonds with tertiary -butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the oxidant. OMS-2 showed good catalytic activity with high selectivity under mild conditions (substrate:oxidant molar ratio of 1:1) for the oxidation of different substrates that were studied. Cyclooctene gets oxidized to cyclooctene epoxide selectively in the presence of OMS-2 among the different substrates used for oxidation. The order of reaction with respect to cyclooctene was determined to be pseudo-first order using OMS-2 and excess TBHP. The effects of time, reaction temperature, solvents, and amount of catalyst were investigated. Various reaction conditions and conversion of cyclooctene were maximized at 60 °C using acetonitrile as the solvent.
InGaN/GaN Multiple Quantum Wells Grown on Nonpolar Facets of Vertical GaN Nanorod Arrays

Uniform GaN nanorod arrays are grown vertically by selective area growth on (left angle bracket 0001 right angle bracket) substrates. The GaN nanorods present six nonpolar {1⁻100} facets, which serve as growth surfaces for InGaN-based light-emitting diode quantum well active regions. Compared to growth on the polar {0001} plane, the piezoelectric fields in the multiple quantum wells (MQWs) can be eliminated when they are grown on nonpolar planes. The capability of growing ordered GaN nanorod arrays with different rod densities is demonstrated. Light emission from InGaN/GaN MQWs grown on the nonpolar facets is investigated by photoluminescence. Local emission from MQWs grown on different regions of GaN nanorods is studied by cathodoluminescence (CL). The core-shell structure of MQWs grown on GaN nanorods is investigated by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy in both axial and radial directions. The results show that the active MQWs are predominantly grown on nonpolar planes of GaN nanorods, consistent with the observations from CL. The results suggest that GaN nanorod arrays are suitable growth templates for efficient light-emitting diodes.
Stochastic modeling for computational warranty analysis

We examine two key stochastic processes of interest for warranty modeling: (1) remaining total warranty coverage time exposure and (2) warranty load (total items under warranty at time t). Integral equations suitable for numerical computation are developed to yield probability law for these warranty measures. These two warranty measures permit warranty managers to better understand time-dependent warranty behavior, and thus better manage warranty cash reserves. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2005.
Current and Emerging Materials for 3-5 Micron IR Transmission

New, more durable windows and domes will be required for future 3-5 micron IR systems. Various oxide and oxynitride crystalline materials are candidates for these new requirements, including sapphire, spinel, ALON, yttria, and MgO. These materials are compared with respect to optical properties, durability, and fabrication costs. Two extrinsic properties, thermal conductivity and fracture strength, have strong effects on thermal shock resistance. Birefringent polycrystalline materials will not have adequate optical resolution for future systems.
Latitudinal and insular variation of skull size in crab-eating macaques (primates, Cercopithecidae: Macaca fascicularis).

Macaca fascicularis is broadly distributed in Southeast Asia across 30 degrees of latitude and 35 degrees of longitude (Indochinese Peninsula, Isthmus of Kra, Malay Peninsula, Greater and Lesser Sunda Islands, Philippine Islands, and numerous small, neighboring islands). The range is divisible into 1) a core area comprised of mainland Southeast Asia, Borneo, Sumatra, and Java (large land masses interconnected during the last glacial maximum, 18,000 B.P.); 2) shallow-water fringing islands, which are smaller islands connected to the core area during the last glacial maximum; and 3) deep-water fringing islands, which are peripheral islands not connected to the core area during the last glacial maximum. Skull length was used to study effects of latitude and insularity on patterns of size variation. The data are from 802 adult M. fascicularis specimens from 140 core-area localities, 63 shallow-water islands, and 29 deep-water islands. Sex-specific polynomial regressions of skull length on latitude were used to describe skull length variation in the core area. These regressions served as standards for evaluating variation among samples from shallow-water and deep-water islands. The core area exhibits Bergmannian latitudinal size clines through most of the species range. Thus, skull length decreases from about 8 degrees S (Java) to the equator (Sumatra and Borneo), then increases as far north as about 13 degrees N (Isthmus of Kra). Farther north, to the northernmost Indochinese localities at about 17 degrees N, skull length in M. fascicularis decreases with increasing latitude, contrary to Bergmann's rule. Latitudinal size variation in shallow-water fringing islands generally parallels that in the core area. However, skull length tends to be smaller than in the core area at similar latitudes. Deep-water fringing islands are markedly more variable, with relatively small specimens in the Lesser Sunda Islands and relatively large specimens in the Nicobar Islands. These analyses illustrate how a primate species may vary in response to latitudinal temperature variation and to isolation.
Ageing and Work in Canada: Firm Policies

In Canada, public policy sets only a very broad framework concerning older worker issues. Few Canadian firms have explicit policies dealing with the ageing of their workforces but many firm policies have unanticipated consequences for older workers and the age composition of the workforce. Focusing on downsizing, we draw on five Canadian case studies of firms in different sectors and with varying policy initiatives. We emphasize the importance of firm-level policy formation and note that demography, technology and the economy do not have highly determining roles in corporate policy formation. There is little evidence of explicit managerial concern for older worker issues. However, some firms actively, and others functionally, promote a weakening of the ties linking employees to the firm. This breaking of the old contract between firm and employee signals a shift toward greater individualism, and has structural and social psychological consequences for the life course. The concept of the progressive career, involving long-duration employment with a company and successive promotions up a corporate ladder, is eroding. To contextualize these findings, we briefly describe the Canadian population and relevant economic, labour force and public policy data.
Polarized light spectroscopy of photosynthetic membranes in magneto-oriented whole cells and chloroplasts. Fluorescence and dichroism.

Abstract 1. The wavelength dependence of the fluorescence polarization (FP) ratio and dichroism has been studied with magneto-oriented (10–13 kG) whole cells of Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Scenedesmus obliquus, Euglena gracilis and spinach chloroplasts suspended in their aqueous growth media (or Tris-buffered sucrose solution in the case of the chloroplasts) under physiological conditions. The FP ratio is defined as the fluorescence intensity polarized parallel divided by the intensity polarized perpendicular to the membrane planes. 2. The FP ratio is typically in the range of 1.2–1.9 in Chlorella , 1.20–1.25 in Scenedesmus and 1.4–1.5 in spinach chloroplasts at fluorescence wavelengths above 690 nm. Below 690 nm the FP ratio decreases steadily with decreasing wavelength and may be as low as approx. 1.05 at 660 nm. These results are interpreted in terms of the orientation of the Q y transition moment vectors of the different spectroscopic forms of chlorophyll. For the chlorophyll a 680 form these vectors are inclined at angles of 30° or less (in Chlorella ) with respect to the membrane planes, while the shorter wavelength chlorophyll a 670 forms appear to be not nearly as well oriented. 3. The Euglena fluorescence peak is red shifted to 714 nm (in the other algae and chloroplasts it is situated at 685 nm) and the FP ratio is approx. 1.20 in the 720–730 nm region and decreases with decreasing wavelength below 720 nm and is only 1.05 at 690 nm. This wavelength dependence is in good qualitative agreement with the fluorescence microscope studies of single chloroplasts of Euglena by Olson, R. A., Butler, W. H. and Jennings, W. H. ((1961) Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 54, 615–617). 4. By means of a model calculation it is shown that the high FP ratios observed with Chlorella are entirely consistent with the low values of the degree of polarization (0.01–0.06) determined by previous workers with unoriented cell suspensions. 5. The influence of reabsorption and the resulting distortion in the wavelength dependence of the FP ratio are described. The possibility that the fluorescence is polarized by scattering artifacts, rather than being a result of the intrinsic orientation of chlorophyll, is considered. 6. Linear dichroism studies with Chlorella and spinach chloroplasts confirm the orientation of the Q y transition moment vectors deduced from the FP ratio. Furthermore, it appears that the porphyrin rings are tilted out of the membrane plane and that the carotenoid molecules tend to lie with their long axes in the lamellar plane. 7. In Euglena , dichroism studies indicate that chlorophyll a 680 is unoriented, while chlorophyll a 695 appears to be oriented similar to chlorophyll a 680 in Chlorella or spinach chloroplasts, a result which is also in accord with the measured FP ratio of Euglena . 8. The possibility that the magnetic field gives rise to the reorientation of individual chlorophyll molecules is shown to be highly unlikely.
A Note on Conservation Laws for Keplerian Flows

The straightforward use of numerical conservation laws in non-Cartesian coordinates for flows with strong gravitational/centrifugal forces may induce significant errors. The numerical error when computing a conservation law driven by a gravitational body force is examined and traced to an incompatible finite-differencing sequence similar to that found in applications involving rectilinear flows. An alternate form of the conservation law is presented and illustrated by computing shock wave motion in a model protoplanetary disk using a high-order finite-difference method.
Interstrand disulfide cross-linking of internal sugar residues in duplex RNA.

Abstract Disulfide cross-linking is being used increasingly more to study the structure and dynamics of nucleic acids. We have previously developed a procedure for the formation of disulfide cross-links through the sugar-phosphate backbone of nucleic acids. Here we report the preparation and characterization of an RNA duplex containing a disulfide interstrand cross-link. A self-complementary oligoribonucleotide duplex containing an interstrand cross-link was prepared from the corresponding 2′-amino modified oligomer. Selective modification of the 2′-amino group with an aliphatic isocyanate, containing a protected disulfide, gave the corresponding 2′-urea derivative in excellent yield. An RNA duplex containing an intrahelical, interstrand disulfide cross-link was subsequently prepared by a thiol disulfide exchange reaction in nearly quantitative yield as judged by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (DPAGE). The cross-linked RNA was further characterized by enzymatic digestion and the structure of the cross-link lesion was verified by comparison to an authentic sample, prepared by chemical synthesis. The effect of the chemical modifications on duplex stability was determined by UV thermal denaturation experiments. The intrahelical cross-link stabilized the duplex considerably: the disulfide cross-linked oligomer had a melting temperature that was ca. 40 °C higher than that of the non-cross-linked oligomer.
The Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) as a tool for differentiating potato cultivars on the basis of flour pasting properties

Potatoes of two cultivars representing extremes in potato texture, Russet Burbank (mealy) and IdaRose (waxy), were lyophilized, ground into flour, and analyzed with a Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) to identify flour pasting characteristics unique to each cultivar. A factorial experiment, which included multiple levels of heating rate, peak temperature, and flour concentration, was employed to assess RVA run parameter association with flour pasting behaviors and the potential to differentiate cultivars according to the responses. Pasting profiles of the potato flour provided a unique functional finger-print for each cultivar flour, which embodies structural and molecular components of the native potato tissue. Pasting profile viscosity attributes were influenced by variable levels of heating rate, peak temperature, and flour concentration. At increasing flour concentrations, RVA viscosity attributes increased in magnitude, but possessed similar pasting curves. A variable heating rate primarily affected events occurring early within the pasting profile (time to gelatinization, time to peak viscosity, peak viscosity), while changes in peak temperature influenced viscosity attributes (trough viscosity, breakdown, final viscosity, total setback) associated with the latter portion of the viscosity curve. A high peak temperature generally resulted in increased breakdown and total setback and decreased trough and final viscosities. RVA viscosity attributes, time to gelatinization, peak viscosity, breakdown, and final viscosity were identified as potential characteristics for cultivar differentiation. Discrimination of the cultivar extremes was affected by RVA run parameters, and was maximized at moderate heating rates (4 to 6 C min-1), moderate to high levels of peak temperature (85 to 90 C), and intermediate flour concentrations.
Rapid development of indirect effects in ecological networks

Indirect effects are important components of ecological and evolutionary interactions that may maintain biodiversity, enable or inhibit invasive species, and challenge ecosystem assessment and management. A central hypothesis of Network Environ Analysis (NEA), one type of ecological network analysis, is that indirect flows tend to dominate direct flows in ecosystem networks of conservative substance exchanges. However, current NEA methods assume that these ecosystems are stationary (i.e. time invariant exchange rates), which is unlikely to be true for many ecosystems for interesting time and space scales. For the work reported here, we investigated the sensitivity of the dominance of indirect effects hypothesis to the stationary modeling assumption by determining the development rate of indirect effects and flow intensity, as expressed as the number of transfer steps, in thirty-one ecosystem models. We hypothesized that indirect effects develop rapidly in ecological networks, but that they would develop faster in biogeochemically based models than in trophically based models. In contrast, our results show that indirect effects develop rapidly in all thirty-one models examined. In 94% of the models, indirect flows exceeded direct flows by a pathway length of 3. This indicates that ecological systems do not need to maintain a particular configuration for long for indirect effects to dominate. Thus, the dominance of indirect effects hypothesis remains plausible. We also found that biogeochemical models tended to require more of the extended path network than the trophic models to account for 50% and 95% of the total system activity, but that both types of models required more of the power series than is typically considered in engineered systems. These results succinctly illustrate the complexity of ecological systems and help explain why they are challenging to assess and manage.
Deciding to Differentiate Instruction in Middle School: One School's Journey:

As many schools move toward serving a broad range of students in heterogeneous settings, it is important to assist teachers in developing classrooms responsive to the needs of academically diverse ...
Dual-band microwave device for sensing dielectric property changes in microfluidic channels

We propose a dual-band microwave device to detect the dielectric changes in polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic channels. Such a device, which consists of two dual-band Wilkinson power dividers (working at 2 and 5 GHz) and two 90° dual-band microstrip lines (providing 180° phase difference at two operating frequencies), is very sensitive for identifying dielectric material changes. Moreover, by operating at two frequencies simultaneously, it can improve the measurement stability/robustness. Compared with other existing microwave microfluidic sensors, the proposed device features enhanced measurement stability with the same level of measurement sensitivity (up to −80 dB cancellation level). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:2691–2694, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.27188
Sexually transmitted diseases in men who have sex with men. Acquisition of gonorrhea and nongonococcal urethritis by fellatio and implications for STD/HIV prevention.

Background and Objectives:Despite trends toward safer sex practices in homosexually active men, some such people remain at high risk for acquiring sexually transmitted diseases (STD). This study was designed to assess behavioral and demographic determinants of STD acquisition in men who have sex wit
Separate and Combined Effects of Very Low Nicotine Cigarettes and Nicotine Replacement in Smokers with Schizophrenia and Controls

INTRODUCTION The prevalence of smoking among people with schizophrenia in the United States is about 3 times that of the general population. Novel approaches are needed to reduce rates of smoking-related morbidity and mortality among these smokers. METHODS This study used a within-subjects design to investigate the separate and combined effects of sensorimotor replacement for smoking (very low nicotine content [VLNC] cigarettes vs. no cigarettes) and transdermal nicotine replacement (42 mg nicotine [NIC] vs. placebo [PLA] patches) in smokers with schizophrenia (SS; n = 30) and control smokers without psychiatric illness (CS; n = 26). Each session contained a 5-hr controlled administration period in which participants underwent the following conditions, in counterbalanced order: VLNC + NIC, VLNC + PLA, no cigarettes + NIC, no cigarettes + PLA, usual-brand cigarettes + no patches. Next, participants completed measures of cigarette craving, nicotine withdrawal, smoking habit withdrawal, and cigarette subjective effects, followed by a 90-min period of ad libitum usual-brand smoking. RESULTS Smoking VLNC cigarettes during the controlled administration periods reduced cigarette craving, nicotine withdrawal symptoms, habit withdrawal symptoms, and usual-brand smoking in SS and CS relative to the no cigarette conditions. VLNC cigarettes were well accepted by both groups and did not affect psychiatric symptom levels in SS. Transdermal nicotine significantly reduced cigarette craving but did not affect usual-brand smoking. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes to nonaddictive levels may be a promising approach for reducing nicotine dependence among people with schizophrenia.
The role of neuroendocrine pathways in prognosis after stroke

A number of neuroendocrine changes have been described after stroke, which may serve adaptive or deleterious functions. The neuroendocrine changes include activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, sympathetic nervous system and alterations of several hormonal levels. Alterations of the HPA axis, increased catecholamines, natriuretic peptides and, decreased melatonin and IGF-1 levels are associated with poor post-stroke outcome, although there is no definitive proof of causality. Therefore, it remains to be established whether alteration of neuroendocrine responses could be used as a potential therapeutic target to improve stroke outcome. This article gives an overview of the major neuroendocrine pathways altered by stroke and highlights their potential for clinical use and further neurotherapeutic development by summarizing the evidence for their association with stroke outcome including functional outcome, post-stroke infection, delirium, depression and stroke-related myocardial injury.
Expected maintenance cost of deteriorating civil infrastructures

In a world where financial resources do not keep pace with the growing demand for maintenance of deteriorating civil infrastructure, it is imperative that those responsible for maintenance decisions make the best possible use of limited financial resources. Decision makers have to evaluate the expected maintenance cost of deteriorating civil infrastructures and to use benefit/cost techniques for finding the optimal resource allocation. This paper proposes a methodology for the evaluation of expected maintenance costs of deteriorating civil infrastructures by considering the uncertainties that are associated with the application of subsequent maintenance actions. The methodology can be used to determine the expected number of maintenances of a deteriorating structure, or a group of deteriorating structures, during a specified time interval and the associated expected maintenance costs. The method can be easily programmed and incorporated into an existing software package for the life-cycle costing of civil infrastructures.
The high-temperature oxidation of tantalum single crystals

Abstract Single-crystal spheres of tantalum were oxidized at 500°, 600°, 820°, and 925°C in an oxygen pressure of 450 torr. The oxidation rate is anisotropic at the higher temperatures with the {100} faces oxidizing slowest and the {110} faces fastest. However, at the lower temperatures the oxidation rate is apparently isotropic. The habit plane of the suboxide plates extending into the metal from the metal/oxide interface was determined to be {100} Ta at all four temperatures. Failures in the scale were shown to be related to the pores introduced by the suboxide plates, which may be the cause of the rate anisotropy.
A Molecular Mechanism for Human T-cell Leukemia Virus Latency and Tax Transactivation (∗)

The human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is the causative agent of an aggressive T-cell malignancy in humans. While the virus appears to maintain a state of latency in most infected cells, high level virion production is an essential step in the HTLV-I life cycle. The virally-encoded Tax protein, a potent activator of gene expression, is believed to control the switch from latency to replication. Tax stimulation of HTLV-I transcription is mediated through cellular activating transcription factor/cAMP response element binding proteins, which bind the three 21-base pair (bp) repeat viral enhancer elements. In this report, we show that viral latency may result from a highly unstable interaction between CREB and the HTLV-I 21-bp repeats, resulting in rapid dissociation of CREB from the viral promoter. In the presence Tax, the dissociation rate of CREB from a 21-bp repeat element is decreased. This stabilization is highly specific, requiring the amino-terminal region of CREB and appropriate 21-bp repeat sequences. We suggest that Tax stabilization of CREB binding to the viral promoter leads to an increase in gene expression, possibly providing the switch from latency to high level replication of the virus.
The High Resolution Fly's Eye — Status and Preliminary Results on Cosmic Ray Composition Above 10 18 eV

We describe the current status of the High Resolution Fly's Eye detector. Event reconstruction and associated systematics for stereo reconstruction are discussed and recent preliminary results on the study of the composition of ultra-high energy cosmic rays by the Xmax method are presented. These results indicate that the composition of cosmic rays becomes predominantly light near 10 19 eV and beyond.
Improving appointment availability in the allergy department during the high-demand season

Abstract Rationale A seasonal increase of allergic rhinitis in our HMO patient population created a shortage of physician appointments in the Allergy Department. Multidisciplinary group appointments were piloted in an effort to improve access and service to this group of patients. Methods Group appointments with a maximum of ten patients were provided twice monthly in May and June and conducted by an allergist, R.N., and L.V.N. Patients were screened with eligibility criteria to exclude co-morbidities. Following a review of the patients' computerized medical records, each received a brief initial physician consultation, skin testing, spirometry (as indicated), and patient education. Education included verbal, videotaped, and written information about allergic rhinitis symptoms, triggers, treatment options, and environmental control. Skin test results were discussed and appropriate allergy medications prescribed. Patients were then surveyed about the effectiveness of the appointment. Results Appointment availability in an HMO setting was improved with group appointments, where multiple members were provided with comprehensive allergy care in the time usually allotted for an individual patient. 90% of patient surveys indicated a high level of satisfaction with group appointments. Conclusions During a high-demand season, group appointments can be an effective alternative in providing improved access and high patient satisfaction for patients with allergic rhinitis and no co-morbidities.
Translocation of 85Sr, 137Cs, and 106Ru in crop plants

The distribution of 85 Sr, 137 Cs, and 106 Ru between the root, the old growth and the new growth of bean, tomato, and corn was determined after incorporation of the isotopes into the plants via the roots. The results are compared with those obtained earlier in similar experiments using the xerophytic shrubs, Ceanothus and Adenostoma . As in the latter plants, almost all of the 106 Ru taken up by the crop plants was retained by the roots. Root retention of 85 Sr and 137 Cs was, however, much less in the crop plants. With respect to movement within the shoot (from old growth to new growth), 137 Cs was found in the crop plants as in the shrubs to be more mobile than 85 Sr. The difference in mobility was more pronounced in the crop plants. It is suggested that the relatively high mobility of foliarly applied 85 Sr found in the xerophytic shrubs may be related to their low transpiration rates. The low mobility of foliarly applied 137 Cs in these plants is ascribed to adsorption on or within the leaf cuticle.
Arms Diffusion and War

The authors present a model of the relationship between the spread of new military technologies and the occurrence of war. A new technology could shift the balance of power, causing anticipatory war as one side tries to prevent the other from obtaining it. When one side already has it, war is more likely when the shift in power is large, likely, and durable. When neither side has it, war is more likely when the expected shift is asymmetric (e.g., one side is more likely to get it) and when the two sides fear that a war will occur once one of them has it. The authors illustrate the model with historical examples from the spread of firearms (the Musket Wars in precolonial New Zealand) and of nuclear weapons (the end of US nuclear monopoly and the 1967 Six-Day War). A broader implication is that major power competition can unintentionally cause wars elsewhere.
Cross-border linkages among Asian closed-end funds

This study investigates the behavior of nine Asian closed-end country funds traded on the NYSE over the period 1990–2001. The results indicate that fund discounts follow a mean-reverting process and, furthermore, display various cross-border patterns of influence that are contingent on the period examined. Notably, for the overall period, the Korean Fund exhibits the strongest market leadership. However, in the period following the Asian financial crisis, movements in the Thai Fund's discount have the strongest influence on, and responsiveness from, the other country funds.
The Garry David case.

A prisoner with an antisocial personality disorder had almost completed his sentence for attempted murder and there was considerable public concern over his imminent release. The article discusses the many attempts made by the Victorian Government during the past six months to detain him. A recommendation was made to change the Mental Health Act 1986 by including personality disorders as a form of “mental illness”. The outcome of such advice has enormous implications for the practice of psychiatry in Victoria.
The Descendants and Pastoral Care

Films can explore religious and spiritual questions in many ways. The Descendants (Payne 2011) is a particularly rich narrative in the questions it raises about pastoral care for families who are grieving over the loss of a loved one. A husband is about to lose his wife, and their two young daughters are grieving over the loss of their mother. After this life-changing event, they must choose whether they will grow closer together or face the future without strong ties to their family of origin. If they are not particularly religious, can ritual or scripture still help them cope? What role can the pastoral caregiver play in helping them see God’s presence in their lives?