cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Art of Anesthesia in Medically Assisted Reproduction

The field of ART has advanced at an incredible rate and as a result, the field of anesthesia as it pertains to ART has been required to match pace. Improvements in the ultrasound technology have morphed the oocyte retrieval procedure from very invasive into one that is now accomplished under ultrasound guidance transvaginally. This has enabled the procedure to be performed routinely in ambulatory centers and even in properly equipped offices. The importance of patient safety and efficiency in this setting is paramount, as there is increasing focus on decreasing length of stay as well as postanesthetic side effects, such as postoperative nausea, vomiting and excessive sedation. The objectives of this chapter include: Presenting standards for maintaining patient safety in the field of anesthesiology; Presenting medications commonly used in ART and reviewing mechanisms of action and safety; Presenting standard definitions used in the field of anesthesiology with regards to depth of sedation; and Presenting some routine techniques for anesthesia and analgesia in a patient undergoing ART.
Ocular Toxocariasis Presenting as Endophthalmitis in a Young Adult Intravenous Drug User

Purpose:This report describes the diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis presenting as endophthalmitis in an adult intravenous drug user.Methods:A case is reported.Results:Fundus imaging showed numerous ...
Erratum: Heat of Mixing During Fast Charge/Discharge of a Li-Ion Cell: A Study on NMC523 Cathode [ J. Electrochem. Soc., 167, 090560 (2020)]

In the published paper, the details of the implementation of Newman's P2D model was incomplete. Additionally, the acknowledgement section failed to note the contributions of a collaborator who provided the P2D simulation code used in the original work.
SLC51 family of steroid-derived molecule transporters in GtoPdb v.2021.3

The SLC51 organic solute transporter family of transporters is a pair of heterodimeric proteins which regulate bile salt movements in the small intestine, bile duct, and liver, as part of the enterohepatic circulation [2, 5, 1]. OSTα/OSTβ is also expressed in steroidogenic cells of the brain and adrenal gland, where it may contribute to steroid movement [6]. Bile acid transport is suggested to be facilitative and independent of sodium, potassium, chloride ions or protons [5, 2]. OSTα/OSTβ heterodimers have been shown to transport [3H]taurocholic acid, [3H]dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, [3H]estrone-3-sulphate, [3H]pregnenolone sulphate and [3H]dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate [2, 5, 6]. OSTα/OSTβ-mediated transport of bile salts is inhibited by clofazimine [10]. OSTα is suggested to be a seven TM protein, while OSTβ is a single TM 'ancillary' protein, both of which are thought to have intracellular C-termini [8]. Both proteins function in solute transport [8, 4]. Inherited mutations in OSTα and OSTβ are associated with liver disease and congenital diarrhea in children [9, 7].
Financial health assessment of agricultural enterprises with ecological farming

This paper presents the outcomes of financial health assessment of agricultural enterprises with ecological farming. First part of this paper deals with overall indicators of financial health. The outcomes of the most frequently used financial health indicators are unclear. However, the majority of models reflect the improving economic situation. The outcome values of ecological enterprises are however still below the level of conventional enterprises. Second part of this paper is based on classical financial analysis. The research has shown basically identical year-to-year development of profitability ratios of conventional and ecologic enterprises as well as high variability of profitability of both categories. The total value of return on assets is completely unsatisfactory within both categories. The differences in utilization of assets are more likely caused by different alignment of production so that lower values of ecological enterprises cannot be assessed as unfavourable. At the same time, ecological enterprises are still in worse situation regarding many economic indicators. Significant problems may be caused especially by extremely low current ratio. On the contrary, the development of debt ratio is very favourable. The debt ratio had decreased by 30 percent points during the research and it reached the level of 10 points below the conventional enterprises average. This paper is a part of MSM 6007665806 project.
Laser-Based Methods

The development of cost-effective laser systems has generated a host of laser hyphenated techniques that have been introduced into the analytical laboratory. These hyphenated techniques take advantage of the laser’s ability to deliver a high photon flux, high photon energies, and a narrow, tunable photon wavelength range to optimize specific atomization/excitation/ioniza-tion processes in an analytical procedure. A laser system coupled to a glow discharge is one such hybrid technique that offers unique opportunities for both diagnostic and analytical investigations. This chapter will serve as an introduction and overview of several reported methodologies that have advantageously combined laser systems and glow discharges.
Temporal vs. spectral approach to feature extraction from prehensile EMG signals

There are generally two nonparametric approaches in feature extraction from temporal signals: temporal and spectral approach. Both approaches were used in classification of prehensile electromyographic (EMG) signals. The goal of this paper is to define and evaluate some successful methods in both approaches and to determine experimentally which method and approach is the most appropriate. The evaluation is based on classification of real EMGs with an ART-based classifier. The efficiency analysis is also provided. The results have shown that a less expensive temporal approach has strong advantages over the spectral methods.
A comparison of the motor performance of Black and Caucasian girls age 6--8.

Abstract An investigation was undertaken to determine possible age and race difference between Black and Caucasian girls ages 6, 7, and 8 years. Ninety female subjects were administered 28 test items measuring speed, muscular power, agility, flexibility, balance, muscular endurance, and cardiorespiratory endurance. Few significant differences were observed between adjacent ages but 8-year-old females were significantly superior to the 6-year-old subjects on most motor performance variables utilized. For race comparisons, no significant differences were noted for measures of flexibility, muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance, speed, balance, or muscular power. The Black subjects were significantly superior on two measures of agility while the Caucasian subjects performed significantly better on the time-limit shuttle run and grip strength.
Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling of Fluorescently Labeled Block Copolymer Nanoparticles for Controlled Drug Delivery in Leukemia Therapy

A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed that describes the concentration and biodistribution of fluorescently labeled nanoparticles in mice used for the controlled delivery of dexamethasone in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy. The simulated data showed initial spikes in nanoparticle concentration in the liver, spleen, and kidneys, whereas concentration in plasma decreased rapidly. These simulation results were consistent with previously published in vivo data. At shorter time scales, the simulated data predicted decrease of nanoparticles from plasma with concomitant increase in the liver, spleen, and kidneys before decaying at longer timepoints. Interestingly, the simulated data predicted an unaccounted accumulation of about 50% of the injected dose of nanoparticles. Incorporation of an additional compartment into the model justified the presence of unaccounted nanoparticles in this compartment. Our results suggest that the proposed PBPK model can be an excellent tool for prediction of optimal dose of nanoparticle-encapsulated drugs for cancer treatment.
Interpersonal Aggression among Aka Hunter-Gatherers of the Central African Republic Assessing the Effects of Sex, Strength, and Anger

Sex differences in physical and indirect aggression have been found in many societies but, to our knowledge, have not been studied in a population of hunter-gatherers. Among Aka foragers of the Central African Republic we tested whether males physically aggressed more than females, and whether females indirectly aggressed more than males, as has been seen in other societies. We also tested predictions of an evolutionary theory of physical strength, anger, and physical aggression. We found a large male bias in physical aggression. Controlling for anger, we found an adult female bias in indirect aggression. Physical strength predicted anger, which predicted hitting, although results were sensitive to the inclusion or exclusion of traditional healers, who were physically and emotionally distinct from other Aka. With some important caveats, our results generally support the predicted sex differences in physical aggression and indirect aggression, and the predicted relationships among anger, strength, and aggression.
Implementing a Comprehensive Program for the Prevention of Conduct Problems in Rural Communities: The Fast Track Experience

Childhood conduct problems are predictive of a number of serious long-term difficulties (e.g., school failure, delinquent behavior, and mental health problems), making the design of effective prevention programs a priority. The Fast Track Program is a demonstration project currently underway in four demographically diverse areas of the United States, testing the feasibility and effectiveness of a comprehensive, multicomponent prevention program targeting children at risk for conduct disorders. This paper describes some lessons learned about the implementation of this program in a rural area. Although there are many areas of commonality in terms of program needs, program design, and implementation issues in rural and urban sites, rural areas differ from urban areas along the dimensions of geographical dispersion and regionalism, and community stability and insularity. Rural programs must cover a broad geographical area and must be sensitive to the multiple, small and regional communities that constitute their service area. Small schools, homogeneous populations, traditional values, limited recreational, educational and mental health services, and politically conservative climates are all more likely to emerge as characteristics of rural rather than urban sites (Sherman, 1992). These characteristics may both pose particular challenges to the implementation of prevention programs in rural areas, as well as offer particular benefits. Three aspects of program implementation are described in detail: (a) community entry and program initiation in rural areas, (b) the adaptation of program components and service delivery to meet the needs of rural families and schools, and (c) issues in administrative organization of a broadly dispersed tricounty rural prevention program.
The U1 snRNA Hairpin II as a RNA Affinity Tag for Selecting snoRNP Complexes

Abstract When isolating ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes by an affinity selection approach, tagging the RNA component can prove to be strategically important. This is especially true for purifying single types of snoRNPs, because in most cases the snoRNA is thought to be the only unique component. Here, we present a general strategy for selecting specific snoRNPs that features a high‐affinity tag in the snoRNA and another in a snoRNP core protein. The RNA tag (called U1hpII) is a small (26 nt) stem‐loop domain from human U1 snRNA. This structure binds with high affinity (K D = 10 −11 M ) to the RRM domain of the snRNP protein U1A. In our approach, the U1A protein contains a unique affinity tag and is coexpressed in vivo with the tagged snoRNA to yield snoRNP‐U1A complexes with two unique protein tags—one in the bound U1A protein and the other in the snoRNP core protein. This scheme has been used effectively to select C/D and H/ACA snoRNPs, including both processing and modifying snoRNPs, and the snoRNA and core proteins are highly enriched. Depending on selection stringency other proteins are isolated as well, including an RNA helicase involved in snoRNP release from pre‐rRNA and additional proteins that function in ribosome biogenesis. Tagging the snoRNA component alone is also effective when U1A is expressed with a myc‐Tev‐protein A fusion sequence. Combined with reduced stringency, enrichment of the U14 snoRNP with this latter system revealed potential interactions with two other snoRNPs, including one processing snoRNP involved in the same cleavages of pre‐rRNA.
Unexploited Gains from International Diversification

Using unique micro data on U.S. institutional investor portfolios, this paper studies how capital, meant to be invested globally, is actually diversified internationally. We show that although the mutual fund industry has moved toward funds that have more flexibility to invest across countries and regions (global funds), mutual funds invest in a finite, rather small number of firms, almost independently of the set of available instruments. The number of mutual fund holdings in stocks and countries from a given region declines as funds become more global. This restricted investment practice has a cost: there are unexploited gains from international diversification. Mutual funds could achieve better returns by broadening their investment scope to include stocks held by specialized funds within the same mutual fund family. This investment pattern is neither explained by the lack of available instruments or information, nor by a better ability of global funds to minimize losses.
Adaptive image retrieval using the fuzzy integral

The paper proposes an alternative and iterative image retrieval system which takes into account the subjectivity of human perception of visual content. The proposed system uses a dynamic similarity measure based on the Choquet integral. Both positive and negative user's feedback are modeled by fuzzy sets, and are used to refine the feature relevance weights. The experimental results on more than 3000 texture images illustrate the learning behaviour of the retrieval system.
A new procedure for the statistical evaluation of intrauterine contraception

An improved statistical method for assessing the efficacy of intrauterine contraception is presented. This method, called the log-rank method, is based on a daily life table, which yields the best estimates of the cumulative net termination probabilities. It provides a sensitive chi-square test statistic to detect differences among these probabilities for two or more contraceptive devices. When three or more devices are compared, the chi-square statistic may be partitioned into additive components representing comparisons among groups of devices. The log-rank method also permits adjusting for differences among subgroups by controlling for factors such as parity or age. Although calculations may be performed on a desk calculator, a FORTRAN-IV computer program is made available to interested researchers.
Multiple-valued logic circuits using resonant tunneling diodes

The intent of this poster demonstration is to explain how resonant tunneling diodes (RTDs) can be utilized to design multiple-valued logic (MVL) circuits in a very compact and efficient manner, where the non-linear fold-back characteristic of RTDs provides unique advantages in the realization of specific functions that are central to the design of MVL circuits. At the University of Michigan, a comprehensive effort is being made to demonstrate through simulation, validation and fabrication that RTDs and associated tunneling devices such as BSRTTs, RHETs, RTBTs, etc. can be employed to realize ultra-high-speed and ultra-high-density digital circuits. Here, we show four different types of multi-valued logic circuits consisting of RTDs in conjunction with HBT and CMOS devices: multivalued gate arrays, multivalued 4-step counter, multivalued multiplexer, and multivalued signed-digit adder. These designs have been simulated using NDR-SPICE, a circuit simulator that has been developed at the University of Michigan to handle quantum electronic devices, and their at-speed performance has been accurately estimated by using a suite of CAD tools, also developed at the University of Michigan. The circuits have been built at the bread-board level by using discrete components, and their functionalities were verified. We have then transferred the technical knowhow to Lockheed Martin for monolithic fabrication of the first three MVL circuits.
C/EBPα and C/EBPβ mediated genome-wide combinatorial transcriptional regulatory dynamics during early onset of liver regeneration and chronic alcohol intake (398.6)

The primary objective of this study is to characterize effects of chronic alcohol consumption on genome-scale transcriptional regulatory network dynamics during the early phase liver regeneration a...
Seeking the Hiding: Working Through Parental Infidelity

Patients whose parents have had affairs are impacted by such a rupture in myriad ways. The meaning of the affair for the child at the time and its connection to his or her current relationship and communication patterns may not be immediately apparent to patients when they first seek treatment. Gaining insight into the connection may be pivotal in helping patients understand and accept hidden parts of themselves, such as repressed or dissociated anger and jealousy. Using case studies, I explored these connections and how working through them provided relief and growth without patients succumbing to the desire to hide and avoid conflict and aggression.
Tissue-specific, high level expression of the rat whey acidic protein gene in transgenic mice.

Abstract The importance of intragenic and 3' flanking sequences in the control of the temporal, hormonal and tissue-specific expression of milk whey acidic protein (WAP) has been demonstrated in transgenic mice. Mouse lines carrying a 4.3 kb genomic clone containing the entire rat WAP gene minus 200 bp of the first intron with 0.949 kb of 5' and 1.4 kb of 3' flanking DNA were generated. In eight of nine independent lines of mice analyzed, WAP transgene expression was detected at levels ranging from 1% to 95% (average, 27%) of the endogenous gene. The transgene was expressed preferentially in the mammary gland. Although developmentally regulated during pregnancy and lactation, the temporal pattern of WAP transgene expression differed from the endogenous gene. A precocious increase in expression of the transgene was detected at 7 days of pregnancy, several days earlier in pregnancy than the major increase observed in endogenous mouse WAP mRNA. The rat WAP transgene was translated and secreted into the milk of transgenic mice at levels comparable to the endogenous mouse WAP. This is the first report of a gene that is negatively regulated in dissociated cell cultures as well as in transfected cells, yet is expressed efficiently in the correct multicellular environment of the transgenic mouse.
Release of Phospholipids from Colloidal Particles to Polymeric Surfaces

This study presents a small-scale polymerization of high molecular weight methyl methacrylate/n-butyl acrylate (MMA/n-BA) colloidal particles that are synthesized in an aqueous environment in the presence of phospholipid hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine (HSPC) molecules that also serve as the particle stabilizing agents. When such particles coalesce to form polymeric films, they release phospholipids, which, in turn, form organized structures near the film−air (F−A) interface. Diffusion and mobility of phospholipid molecules are affected not only by their compatibility with colloidal particles but also by electrolyte environments of colloidal dispersions. When Na+, K+, and Ca2+ counterions are added to MMA/n-BA aqueous colloidal dispersions stabilized with HSPC, and such films are coalesced, different degrees of diffusion of HSPC to the F−A interface exist, depending on the counterion, and conformational changes of HSPC result. For example, in the presence of Ca2+, HSPC molecules collapse entropic...
Dermatophytes: Their contribution to infectious disease in North America

Summary Dermatophytoses are among the most common human infectious diseases. They occur in a variety of clinical forms involving hair, skin, and nails. The responsible pathogenic fungi can be found in humans, animals, and soil, with worldwide distribution. The dermatophytes most frequently recovered from human infection in North America include: T. rubrum, T. tonsurans, T. mentagrophytes, E. floccosum , and M. canis. Identification of these species is essential to deal with the infection source as well as the patient mycosis.
Development of tolerance to experimental cardiac allografts in utero

Abstract "Actively acquired tolerance" to foreign cells was described in 1953 by Medawar and colleagues and formed the basis for subsequent efforts in organ transplantation. We have applied these historic principles of intrauterine immune manipulation in a vascularized cardiac allograft model. Allogeneic Lewis-Brown Norway (LBN) splenocytes (0 to 5 × 10 7 cells) were injected intraperitoneally into each fetus of a pregnant Lewis rat at day 14 to 16 of gestation, when T cells are "educated" to distinguish self from foreign. This manipulation causes fetal attrition inversely proportional to the number of cells injected. Heterotopic transplantation using an LBN heart was carried out in each surviving fetus at 6 to 8 weeks of age. Untreated Lewis rats rejected LBN hearts within 7.6 days. Rats receiving LBN splenocytes in utero demonstrated prolongation of graft survival proportional to the number of cells given. Surviving animals exposed to 5 × 10 7 allogeneic cells in utero (n = 4) had graft survivals of 24 to more than 150 days (mean, 88.C days), significantly longer than control animals (6 to 10 days; mean, 7.6 days; p
Dual-Core Beamformer for obtaining highly correlated neuronal networks in MEG.

Abstract The “Dual-Core Beamformer” (DCBF) is a new lead-field based MEG inverse-modeling technique designed for localizing highly correlated networks from noisy MEG data. Conventional beamformer techniques are successful in localizing neuronal sources that are uncorrelated under poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions. However, they fail to reconstruct multiple highly correlated sources. Though previously published dual-beamformer techniques can successfully localize multiple correlated sources, they are computationally expensive and impractical, requiring a priori information. The DCBF is able to automatically calculate optimal amplitude-weighting and dipole orientation for reconstruction, greatly reducing the computational cost of the dual-beamformer technique. Paired with a modified Powell algorithm, the DCBF can quickly identify multiple sets of correlated sources contributing to the MEG signal. Through computer simulations, we show that the DCBF quickly and accurately reconstructs source locations and their time-courses under widely varying SNR, degrees of correlation, and source strengths. Simulations also show that the DCBF identifies multiple simultaneously active correlated networks. Additionally, DCBF performance was tested using MEG data in humans. In an auditory task, the DCBF localized and reconstructed highly correlated left and right auditory responses. In a median-nerve stimulation task, the DCBF identified multiple meaningful networks of activation without any a priori information. Altogether, our results indicate that the DCBF is an effective and valuable tool for reconstructing correlated networks of neural activity from MEG recordings.
The Effect of Interfacial Tensions on Relative Oil/Water Permeabilities of Consolidated Porous Media

This study presents results of an experimental investigation of the effect of low interfacial tensions (IFTs) on relative oil/water permeabilities of consolidated porous media. The experimental results show that the relative oil/water permeabilities at any given saturation are affected substantially by IFT values lower than 10/sup -1/ mN/m. Relative oil/water permeabilities increased with decreasing IFT (increasing N/sub c/). The results of this study can be used with simulators to predict process performance and efficiency for enhanced oil-recovery projects in which chemicals are considered for use either as waterflood or steamflood additives. 19 refs.
Investigation on texture evolution during friction stir welding of stainless steel

A two-dimensional Eulerian finite-element formulation is used to model the motion, thermal response, and strain hardening during friction stir welding (FSW) of a stainless steel alloy. Texture evolution is predicted from the computed velocity gradients along streamlines of the flow field. The texture is assumed to be uniform initially and shows monoclinic sample symmetry after deformation. Upstream and downstream of the tool, the deformation is nearly monotonic, causing little change of the texture. Around the tool pin, the texture strengthens, weakens, and restrengthens repeatedly and rapidly. The repeated strengthening and weakening of the texture are explained with the aid of an idealized, circular streamline path and consideration of the relative magnitudes of the deformation rate and spin along the streamline.
Characterization of an endonuclease activity which preferentially cleaves the G-rich immunoglobulin switch repeat sequences

B lymphocytes can alter selectively their immunoglobulin (Ig) isotype expressed by deletional rearrangement of the first active immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IgH) constant region (C mu) gene with one of six other constant region genes. Recombination breakpoints occur within highly repetitive "switch" (S) regions located upstream of each IgH constant region gene except C delta. Analysis of rearranged switch DNA junctions has not detected a consensus sequence, although the predominance of two pentamer motifs (TGGGG and TGAGC) at or near these breakpoints and throughout all murine S region sequences has led to their advocacy as the S recombination signals. In this paper, we describe the characterization and partial purification of a lymphoid-specific endo-nuclease activity which cleaves preferentially murine S region DNA. Enzyme activity selectively produced single- and double-stranded breaks at TGAGC and TGGG motifs within murine S mu and S alpha DNA. Rare cryptic cleavage sites were detected also within non-switch sequences, although cleavage intensities at these sites were reduced greatly, relative to consensus S region cleavages. Analogous activity was found in murine tissue extracts, although among the tissues assayed only spleen and thymus contained detectable activity. Subsequent biochemical characterization of this activity demonstrated that the responsible enzyme (Endo-SR) represented a previously unreported tissue-specific mammalian endonuclease. Endo-SR-specific activity could be enhanced by addition of Mg2+ or Ca2+ and inhibited by addition of Zn2+. Maximal specific activity was detected at pH 5.5 and sharply declined within +/- 0.5 pH units. In view of this enzyme's sequence- and tissue-specificity, we propose that Endo-SR is a strong candidate for an endonuclease activity associated with the switch recombination process.
All nanocarriers are created equal.

Many types of nanocarriers are currently being used to deliver various types of anticancer agents including drugs, proteins/peptides, oligonucleotides, siRNA, and DNA. These nanocarriers vary in molecular mass, size, architecture, and electrical charge. Thus, they have different cell penetrating ability, pharmacokinetics, and organ distribution, resulting in modulation of the efficacy of the delivered drug. Targeting of nanocarriers to tumors has been one of the holy grails of drug delivery. Drug carriers with the targeting property provide several advantages over non-targeted carriers. First, tumor targeting enhances the accumulation of a carrier and delivered active components in tumor limiting adverse side effects of chemotherapy on healthy organs. Secondly, targeting of nanocarriers to receptors overexpressed on the plasma membrane of cancer cells changes the mechanism of their cellular internalization from relatively inefficient “simple” diffusion and endocytosis to effective receptor-mediated endocytosis. Such a shift enhances the specific efficacy of the carrier payload. Studying different nanocarriers in her laboratory, Professor Tamara Minko and colleagues raised two important questions. First, which type of tumor-targeted nanocarriers is most suitable for tumor treatment and imaging? Second, how tumor targeting influences on distribution and cytotoxicity of drug(s) delivered by different nanocarriers? To answer these questions they synthesized three types of tumor-targeted nanocarriers: linear polymers, branched dendrimers, and liposomes. Carriers were loaded with infrared cyanine Cy5.5 dye (an imaging agent) and/or paclitaxel (an anticancer drug with poor aqueous solubility). Tumor targeting was provided by a synthetic analog of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH). Selected nanocarriers were examined in vitro and in vivo. The results of this study are published in this issue [1]. As expected, cancer cell-specific targeting enhanced tumor accumulation and effectiveness of the delivered anticancer drug and minimized its adverse side effects on healthy tissues. In addition, the authors discovered an interesting and practically important phenomenon. Targeting of nanocarriers to tumors minimized the influence of the architecture, composition, size and molecular mass of nanocarriers on the efficacy of imaging and cancer treatment. Consequently, drugs delivered by different nanocarriers will possess a comparable anticancer efficacy after their targeting to tumor cells. This finding can potentially produce a high impact on nanocarrier-based drug delivery of cancer therapeutics. This study implies that one can design a nanocarrier architecture with specific composition, size, molecular mass and other characteristics based solely on the effective encapsulation of anticancer drug, desired drug release profile, intracellular distribution, cost, and other factors. While more studies with a wide variety of nanocarriers will be necessary to see whether the observation by Professor Minko is general or not, it certainly provides a new avenue for design of nanocarriers for cancer treatment and imaging.
Pathways and populations: stereoelectronic insights into the exocyclic torsion of 5-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydropyran.

High level ab initio computations in vacuum and with the IEFPCM implicit solvent model are carried out on 5-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydropyran to investigate the effects of water on the exocyclic torsional surface. Rotamer populations evaluated from the ω(C−C−C−O), θ(C−C−C−O) solvent surface agree almost quantitatively with experimental values for the closely related methyl 4-deoxy-α-d-xylohexopyranoside. Potentials of mean force obtained from the two surfaces show substantial solvent stabilization of the TG (ω = 180 ± 60°) rotamer and the barriers at ω = 120 and 240° but solvent destabilization at the cis barrier (ω = 0°). Natural bond orbital analyses indicate that energetics of these effects are largely explained by overstabilization of the vacuum GT (ω = 60 ± 60°) and GG (ω = 300 ± 60°) rotamers. Solvent stabilization of θ conformations provides entropic stabilization.
Use of the Borda count for landmine discriminator fusion

The Borda Count was proposed as a method of ranking candidates by combining the rankings assigned by multiple voters. It has been studied extensively in the context of its original use in political elections and social choice-making. It has recently seen use in machine learning and in ranking web searches, but few of its formal properties have been extensively investigated. In this paper, we describe unsupervised, and (barely) supervised learning systems that employ the Borda Count as their underlying bases. We analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the technique in the context of landmine discrimination. We discuss and evaluate methods for algorithm fusion using several weighted Borda Count approaches and show how they affect algorithm fusion performance.
The Zn(II)/Zn exchange reaction in KOH solution—I. Exchange current density measurements using the galvanostatic method

Abstract Exchange cd determination have been made using a fast rise-time single-pulse galvanostatic circuit. Measurements are limited to overpotentials of less than ±30 mV, due to the appearance of a peak on the overpotential/time response curve at high cds. The results indicate that a maximum in the i 0 /[KOH] correlation occurred at about 8 mol/l. The exchange cd is independent of the zincate concentration.
Introduction to the special series what can personality science offer cognitive-behavioral therapy and research?

Personality, as a construct, has been largely ignored or misapplied in the clinical and/or cognitive-behavioral literature. This article discusses the history of the concept of personality in clinical psychology and in cognitive-behavioral approaches and provides the main rationale for this special series. The articles that comprise the series present perspectives on personality and personality science from a decidedly social-cognitive viewpoint. These articles share the overall goal of advancing understanding of how personality as a construct may be conceptualized within cognitive-behavioral paradigms. This article highlights dominant themes within the special series and suggests that work at the intersection of personality and cognitive-behavioral science has the potential to advance theory and research in both disciplines.
An investigation of the intention to share media files over peer-to-peer networks

File-sharing over peer-to-peer P2P networks once consisted largely of music files, which, when shared, were infringements of copyrights. For this reason, studies of the behavioural intentions BIs to share files over P2P networks have often focused on the piracy of music files. However, with improved technology and increased bandwidth, large files such as videos are routinely shared. As industry-led efforts may have had some success stemming illegal file-sharing, and as new and legitimate applications of P2P file-sharing are emerging, it is important to include media files of all types and consider file-sharing that is both legitimate and that which constitutes piracy within the scope of our study. To study the intention to share media files over P2P networks, we evaluate two alternative models. The theory of planned behaviour TPB is the underlying theory for both models, one of which is based on the original TPB and one on the decomposed TPB. We test both models using previously validated instruments and find that both models can explain a significant portion of the variance in the intentions to share media files over P2P networks. However, the model based on the decomposed TPB can explain more of the variance. A second advantage of this model is that it can be more readily translated to managerial actions, which are also explored.
Platelet-derived growth factor increases prostaglandin production and decreases epidermal growth factor receptors in human osteosarcoma cells

Abstract Human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulated the production of prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) by G-292 cells, a clonal line of human osteosarcoma cells. Half-maximal stimulation occurred with 9 ng/ml PDGF and maximal stimulation, 3-fold above control values, occurred with 40 ng/ml of the protein. Treatment of G-292 cells with 40 ng/ml PDGF also reduced the binding of iodinated epidermal growth factor (EGF) to the EGF receptor on G-292 cells. The effect was time-dependent, and EGF binding was reduced to 60% of control by 24–48 h. PDGF did not, however, compete directly for binding to the EGF receptor. The effects of PDGF and EGF on increased PGE 2 production appeared to be additive at all concentrations tested, indicating that they may act through a common pathway, but not via the same membrane receptors.
Calibration and validation of a tire–snow interaction model

Abstract We address the challenge of the validation of models for a vehicle interacting with a natural snowy terrain by applying a rigorous statistical framework. Gaussian process-based stochastic metamodels were used to fit noisy test data in drawbar pull and traction as a function of slip, and to transform the deterministic physically-based tire–snow interaction model into a stochastic one. Important parameters such as the mechanical properties of snow, the coefficient of friction between the tire and snow, and the depth of snow were obtained using a Gaussian maximum likelihood method. The uncertainties of parameters, and prediction using calibrated parameters for front and rear wheels were quantified and assessed using interval-based local and global validation metrics between models and test data. Overall agreement between models and test data is good.
The Self-Esteem Complex and Youth Fitness

Although concern for youth fitness has increasingly taken on a health related perspective, psychological factors have largely been ignored. The dual role of self-esteem as (a) an index of mental well-being, and (b) a mediator of behavior justifies greater consideration by youth fitness researchers and practitioners. This paper outlines recent theoretical developments in self-esteem research that have yet to be applied to the youth fitness problem. Specifically outlined are the concepts of self-esteem multidimensionality and hierarchical structuring, and the processes of personalization. Programmatical implications related to self-esteem promotion and exercise motivation are presented, and future research direction is briefly discussed.
Effect of the post-weaning environment on the climbing behaviour of wild and domestic Norway rats

The climbing behaviour of wild and domestic Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) was compared after early rearing in three post-weaning environments offering different climbing experiences. Wild rats climbed in the test apparatus even when denied early climbing experience; male domestic rats did not. Early climbing experience increased the climbing scores of both stocks but influenced the climbing proficiency of wild rats only. Treatment differences in climbing behaviour may be related to specific motor experiences gained during development and the effect of early experience on the response to a novel environment (test apparatus). Stock differences in climbing behaviour may reflect a general reduction in motor activity among domestic rats and their reduced sensitivity to stimulus change or novelty.
Statistical mechanics of a classical one-dimensional canted antiferromagnet. I. Numerical evaluation of thermodynamic functions

We use a numerical, transfer-matrix method to calculate thermodynamic functions of a classical one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet with a single-ion anisotropy and a Dzyaloshinski-Moriya antisymmetric exchange term. Zimm, Scott, and Sarhangi have suggested that their susceptibility measurements on the polymer {Co[(C 4 H 9 ) 2 PO 2 ] 2 } x (or CoBP) can be understood on the basis of such a model. Our results are in qualitative agreement with those obtained by Zimm et al. for CoBP.
Skin necrosis complicating mallet finger splinting and vascularity of the distal interphalangeal joint overlying skin

Two patients are reported with full-thickness skin necrosis over the dorsum of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints after dorsal splint immobilization in hyperextension to treat acute mallet finger. An investigation was carried out to study the relationship of hyperextension to the dorsal circulation of the DIP joint. In 66 digits, the average degree of DIP joint hyperextension at which the skin blanches was 50% of the total passive hyperextension. It is recommended, therefore, when the DIP joint is immobilized to treat acute mallet finger, the degree at which the dorsal skin begins to blanch must be determined, and the amount of hyperextension should not exceed that degree. Excessive localized pressure to the dorsal skin should be avoided by adjusting the angle of the dorsal splint.
Reviving a neglected celestial underwater polarization compass for aquatic animals.

Substantial in situ measurements on clear days in a variety of marine environments at depths in the water down to 200 m have demonstrated the ubiquitous daytime presence of sun-related e-vector (= plane of polarization) patterns. In most lines of sight the e-vectors tilt from horizontal towards the sun at angles equal to the apparent underwater refracted zenith angle of the sun. A maximum tilt-angle of approximately 48.5°, is reached in horizontal lines of sight at 90° to the sun's bearing (the plane of incidence). This tilt limit is set by Snell's window, when the sun is on the horizon. The biological literature since the 1980s has been pervaded with assumptions that daytime aquatic e-vectors are mainly horizontal. This review attempts to set the record straight concerning the potential use of underwater e-vectors as a visual compass and to reopen the field to productive research on aquatic animals' orientation and navigation.
Imaging of the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory nerves

The origination and course of the glossopharyngeal, vagus and accessory cranial nerves explains their function and localizes pathology. Abnormalities of these lower cranial nerves may be intrinsic or extrinsic and is due to a multiplicity of disease processes. The clinical presentation of the involved cranial nerve helps to guide imaging evaluation. Magnetic resonance imaging without and with contrast is the mainstay of imaging of cranial nerves IX, X and XI pathology, but computed tomography provides substantial information as well.
On d-dimensional d-semimetrics and simplex-type inequalities for high-dimensional sine functions

We show that high-dimensional analogues of the sine function (more precisely, the d-dimensional polar sine and the d-th root of the d-dimensional hypersine) satisfy a simplex-type inequality in a real pre-Hilbert space H. Adopting the language of Deza and Rosenberg, we say that these d-dimensional sine functions are d-semimetrics. We also establish geometric identities for both the d-dimensional polar sine and the d-dimensional hypersine. We then show that when d=1 the underlying functional equation of the corresponding identity characterizes a generalized sine function. Finally, we show that the d-dimensional polar sine satisfies a relaxed simplex inequality of two controlling terms ''with high probability''.
Patterns of barbell acceleration during the snatch in weightlifting competition

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to determine the association between weightlifting performance and vertical barbell acceleration patterns. Barbell kinematic time-series data were tracked from 18 snatches from six weightlifters during a regional weightlifting competition. These data were used to calculate vertical barbell accelerations. Time-series data were normalised to 100% of lift phase, defined as the time interval between barbell lift-off and maximum height of the barbell during each snatch lift. The time-series data were then entered into a pattern recognition algorithm that extracted principal patterns and calculated principal pattern scores. Body mass-normalised lift weight, which was used to quantify weightlifting performance, was significantly correlated (r = 0.673; P = 0.033) with a pattern that captured a difference in peak vertical barbell acceleration between the transition and the second pull phase. This correlation indicated that barbell acceleration profiles of higher weight snatch ...
A Comparison of Various Measures of Family Sexual Communication: Psychometric Properties, Validity, and Behavioral Correlates

Research on the impact of parent‐child communication about sexuality has yielded contradictory and inconsistent results, perhaps because of the lack of a standard measure of the concept. Nine previously used scales which were purported to measure family sexual communication were administered to 363 college students and their parents to compare the reliability and validity of the various measures. The scales varied in their psychometric properties and seemed to be measuring the concept of family sexual communication in some substantially different ways. None of the measures correlated significantly with responses on a measure of social desirability. The scales showed very little concurrent validity, but it was unclear if this was because of the instruments or the means chosen to demonstrate validity. There were no significant correlations between the various measures of parent‐child communication and the sexual activity and contraceptive use of the college students. This is clearly an area where further in...
Using versus Choosing: The Relationship of the Consumption Experience to Reasons for Purchasing

Discusses conceptual links between consuming and buying by indicating reasons for adopting a macro‐level perspective that focuses on products, rather than brands, as the units of analysis. Investigates, empirically, in a study, which collected data on want‐based purchasing reasons and used perceptions from independent samples from UK housewives. Posits that two salient reasons exist for studying such consumption (not purchasing) phenomena: first, experiential aspects of consumption; and second, consumption phenomena (or its anticipation) which are likely to exert a strong influence on buying decisions. Reports that the results herein reported must be viewed as exploratory in nature, with still undetermined potential for generalization to the UK population, or to other cultures. Suggests, finally, that reasons for usage differ markedly between product categories, but, within a product category, reasons for choosing brands tend to be similar.
The case for Ada at the USAF academy

This paper describes our experience with selecting Ada as the primary programming language for Computer Science and Computer Engineering majors at the USAF Academy. We have decided to teach Ada in the first three courses of these majors for the next few years. Our criteria for selecting Ada are based on features of the language (such as strong typing, lack of single-character errors, and case insensitivity), features of the compiler, (such as error messages and warnings), and features of the overall development experience (such as development environments, availability of textbooks, GUI development support, and industry acceptance). We compared Ada with Java, C++, and C#.
Seed-spitting Primates and the Conservation and Dispersion of Large-seeded Trees

Primate frugivory may reduce density-dependent predation on seeds and seedlings via effective seed dispersal. Accordingly, the tendency of cercopithecines to spit and scatter seeds > 4 mm wide could represent a prominent means of dispersal. However, the importance of seed-spitting may vary according to the life history adaptations of plants. Indeed, the actions of cercopithecines may be incongruent with the reproductive biology of plants that rely on large frugivores to swallow and defecate their seeds. This possibility raises conservation concerns because large frugivores are often susceptible to extirpation or extinction from hunting and habitat fragmentation. It is therefore important to determine if cercopithecines have a compensatory effect; that is, whether or not seed-spitting effectively conveys large seeds to recruitment sites. To test this concept, we used geospatial techniques to measure and analyze the dispersion of tree species dispersed by elephants, chimpanzees, and cercopithecines to different spatial extents. We studied adult trees of Balanites wilsoniana, Chrysophyllum gorungosanum, and Uvariopsis congensis in a 2.2-ha plot in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Despite the tendency of cercopithecines to spit the seeds of Uvariopsis congensis, adult trees were highly clumped, with a modal nearest-neighbor distance of < 5 m and a crown overlap of 1.5 m. Virtually identical results for Balanites wilsoniana and Chrysophyllum gorungosanum, the seeds of which are not spat, suggest that seed-spitting may be a poor mechanism of dispersal for some large-seeded plants.