cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Magnetic Flares and State Transitions in Galactic Black Hole and Neutron Star Systems

We here examine the conditions of the two-phase disk model under which magnetic flares arise above the cold accretion disk due to magnetic buoyancy and produce X-rays via Comptonization of the disk's soft radiation. We find that the disk's ability to produce strong magnetic flares is substantially diminished in its radiation dominated regions due to the diffusion of radiation into the magnetic flux tubes. Using a simplified, yet physically self-consistent, model that takes this effect into account, we show that the hard X-ray spectrum of some GBHCs can be explained as the X-ray emission by magnetic flares only when the disk's bolometric luminosity is a relatively small fraction ($\sim$ 5%) of the Eddington value, $L_{Edd}$. Further, we compute the hard ($20-200$ keV) and soft ($1-20$ keV) X-ray power as a function of the disk's luminosity, and find an excellent agreement with the available data for GBHC transient and persistent sources. We conclude that the observed high-energy spectrum of stellar-sized accretion disk systems can be explained by Comptonization of the disk's soft radiation by the hot gas trapped inside the magnetic flares when the luminosity falls in the range $\sim 10^{-3}-10^{-1}\times L_{Edd}$. For higher luminosities, another emission mechanism must be at work. For lower luminosities, the X-ray emissivity may still be dominated by magnetic flares, but this process is more likely to be thermal or non-thermal bremstrahlung, so that the X-ray spectrum below $\sim 10^{-3}L_{Edd}$ may be quite distinct from the typical hard spectrum for higher luminosities.
Tame sets, dominating maps, and complex tori

A discrete subset of C n is said to be tame if there is an automorphism of C n taking the given discrete subset to a subset of a complex line; such tame sets are known to allow interpolation by automorphisms. We give here a fairly general sufficient condition for a discrete set to be tame. In a related direction, we show that for certain discrete sets in C n there is an injective holomorphic map from C n into itself whose image avoids an e-neighborhood of the discrete set. Among other things, this is used to show that, given any complex n-torus and any finite set in this torus, there exist an open set containing the finite set and a locally biholomorphic map from C n into the complement of this open set.
A Comparison of Reliability Growth Models

A reliability growth model is an analytic tool that accounts for changes in reliability due to design modifications and other corrective actions taken during the develpment, production, and use of a new piece of equipment. This paper describes a simulation study, and its conclusions, comparing four general reliability growth models that have been proposed in the reliability literature. Details of the simulation results are available in a separate Supplement.
Homopolymerization of Maleic Anhydride

Abstract It is well known that molecular oxygen inhibits the homopolymerization of vinyl-type monomers [1]. During several attempts in this laboratory to homopolymerize vinyl acetate in benzene, no polymer was formed over a period of one week, even though the initiator was varied as to type and concentration.
Evaluation of maltodextrins as tablet excipients I. Micromeritic and compressional characterization

Abstract Maltodextrins (MD) (CC 6 H 10 O 5 )nH 20 are nonsweet, nontoxic saccharide polymers having a dextrose equivalent value of less than 20. These are recommended as tablet excipients. Very little work has been done to evaluate their efficient application for this purpose. The present communication deals with preliminary investigation of micromeritic and compressional characterization of MD. Six MD derivatives, M-40, 100, 150, 500, 500 (agg) and 700 (agg) were studied. Each MD was compressed into tablets weighing 1.5 g at 10, 15, and 20 kp pressure using a single punch Carver press. The tablets were evaluated for hardness, friability loss, and disintegration time. Micromeritic properties such as bulk/tap density, packing properties of each MD were studied. The results showed that MD can be used as directly compressible tablets excipients. Significant differences were observed in micromeritic properties MD with bulk/tap densities between 0.23 to 0.65 g cm ∝-3 . Hardness values varried between 11.9 to 35 kp with friability loss less than 0.7%. The disintegration time varried between 20–106 min. The compression force affected tablet properties. Excellent tablets could be obtained using minimal compaction force. Study suggets further extensive evaluation of maltodextrins for this purpose.
Hybrid estimation of distribution algorithm with multiple subpopulations for semiconductor manufacturing scheduling problem with limited waiting-time constraint

This paper considers a semiconductor manufacturing scheduling problem (SMSP), subjected to all the practical constraints such as limited waiting time, machine status, different process time on different machines, setup time and arrival time in wafer fabrication facilities (fabs) of semiconductor manufacturing industry. A hybrid estimation of distribution algorithm with multiple subpopulations (HEDA-MS) is proposed to solve SMSP effectively within several specified minutes for an online scheduling requirement. An empirical study simulates eight scenarios from practical data to compare the performance of HEDA-MS and GA, not only to minimize the makespan, but to make total exceeded of limited waiting time into zero. For all the scenarios, the proposed HEDA-MS obtains a smaller makespan than GA with less total exceeded limited waiting time.
Simulation of transient cavity flows driven by buoyancy and shear

The unsteady two-dimensional flow of a viscous incompressible fluid in a rectangular cavity, driven by effects of shear and/or buoyancy, is modelled numerically. This physical problem is studied from the viewpoint of obtaining accurate and efficient numerical solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations, applicable to the simulation of convective exchange processes in stratified water bodies, where flows are driven by forced (wind-induced) and/or natural (buoyancy-induced) convection, e.g. in lakes, ponds and reservoirs. The hydrodynamic model, based on the vorticity-stream function formulation, was found to be highly accurate and economical in obtaining iterative solutions to nonlinear coupled systems for a wide range of Reynolds/ Grashof numbers and height/width cavity ratios that can be encountered in natural environments.
Advances in directional borehole radar data analysis and visualization

The U.S. Geological Survey is developing a directional borehole radar (DBOR) tool for mapping fractures, lithologic changes, and underground utility and void detection. An important part of the development of the DBOR tool is data analysis and visualization, with the aim of making the software graphical user interface (GUI) intuitive and easy to use. The DBOR software system consists of a suite of signal and image processing routines written in Research Systems' Interactive Data Language (IDL). The software also serves as a front-end to many widely accepted Colorado School of Mines Center for Wave Phenomena (CWP) Seismic UNIX (SU) algorithms (Cohen and Stockwell, 2001). Although the SU collection runs natively in a UNIX environment, our system seamlessly emulates a UNIX session within a widely used PC operating system (MicroSoft Windows) using GNU tools (Noer, 1998). Examples are presented of laboratory data acquired with the prototype tool from two different experimental settings. The first experiment imaged plastic pipes in a macro-scale sand tank. The second experiment monitored the progress of an invasion front resulting from oil injection. Finally, challenges to further development and planned future work are discussed.
Nitration of Veratryl Alcohol by Lignin Peroxidase and Tetranitromethane

Lignin peroxidase (LiP), from Phanerochaete chrysosporium, in the presence of H2O2 and tetranitromethane (TNM), oxidizes veratryl (3,4-dimethoxybenzyl) alcohol (VA) (I) to veratraldehyde (IV), 4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl alcohol (V), and 3,4-dimethoxy-nitrobenzene (VI). The formation of these products is explained by a mechanism involving the one-electron oxidation of VA by LiP to produce the corresponding cation radical, which loses a proton to generate the benzylic radical. The latter reduces TNM to generate the trinitromethane anion (VIII) and the nitrogen dioxide radical (.NO2). .NO2 couples with the VA cation radical, and the subsequent loss of a proton leads to V. Alternatively, the attack of .NO2 at C-1 of the VA cation radical, followed by aromatization and loss of formaldehyde (VII), yields VI. Isotopic labeling experiments confirm that V is generated by the reaction of .NO2 with the VA cation radical, rather than with the benzylic radical. The nitration of two other LiP substrates, 1,4-dimethoxybenzene (II) and tyrosine (III), also was examined. Product analysis of reactions conducted in the presence of H2O2 with these substrates indicated less nitrated product was formed from 1,4-dimethoxybenzene and no nitrated product was formed from tyrosine. However, significant amounts of nitrated products were formed from 1,4-dimethoxybenzene and tyrosine when glucose and glucose oxidase were used as an H2O2 source. These results suggest that a reductant, either the veratryl alcohol benzylic radical or superoxide, is required in the reaction to reduce TNM to generate .NO2. These results provide further evidence for the formation of the VA cation radical and the first chemical evidence for the formation of the VA benzylic radical in LiP-catalyzed reactions.
STUDENTS’ SELF-EFFICACY IN THEIR SELF-REGULATED LEARNING STRATEGIES: A DEVELOPMENTAL PERSPECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to provide a developmental perspective on students’ self-efficacy in their self-regulatory learning strategies using data obtained from cohort groups of students ranging from age 9 to 17 (N=1257), to determine whether this confidence differs as a function of gender, and to discover whether these differences are a function of gender orientation beliefs rather than of gender. Confidence in self-regulation decreased as students progressed from elementary school to high school, and the decrease was steeper than a similar decrease in self-perceptions of academic competence. Gender differences favored girls, but these differences were rendered nonsignificant when gender orientation beliefs were controlled. Instead, a feminine orientation was particularly adaptive. Findings support the contentions of researchers who have argued that gender differences in academic motivation may be a function of the stereotypical beliefs that students hold about gender.
Differential Role of Protein Kinase Cδ Isoform in Agonist-induced Dense Granule Secretion in Human Platelets

Several platelet agonists, including thrombin, collagen, and thromboxane A(2), cause dense granule release independently of thromboxane generation. Because protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms are implicated in platelet secretion, we investigated the role of individual PKC isoforms in platelet dense granule release. PKCdelta was phosphorylated in a time-dependent manner that coincided with dense granule release in response to protease-activated receptor-activating peptides SFLLRN and AYPGKF in human platelets. Only agonists that caused platelet dense granule secretion activated PKCdelta. SFLLRN- or AYPGKF-induced dense granule release and PKCdelta phosphorylation occurred at the same respective agonist concentration. Furthermore, AYPGKF and SFLLRN-induced dense granule release was blocked by rottlerin, a PKCdelta selective inhibitor. In contrast, convulxin-induced dense granule secretion was potentiated by rottlerin but was abolished by Go6976, a classical PKC isoform inhibitor. However, SFLLRN-induced dense granule release was unaffected in the presence of Go6976. Finally, rottlerin did not affect SFLLRN-induced platelet aggregation, even in the presence of dimethyl-BAPTA, indicating that PKCdelta has no role in platelet fibrinogen receptor activation. We conclude that PKCdelta and the classical PKC isoforms play a differential role in platelet dense granule release mediated by protease-activated receptors and glycoprotein VI. Furthermore, PKCdelta plays a positive role in protease-activated receptor-mediated dense granule secretion, whereas it functions as a negative regulator downstream of glycoprotein VI signaling.
Hormonal and behavioral determinants of the secondary sex ratio

The timing of insemination relative to ovulation and the frequency of insemination appear prominently in analyses of variations in human secondary sex ratios. Explanations invoking these variables are shown to be inadequate. A new synthetic model of sex determination is proposed in which the sex of offspring is powerfully determined by the state of the cervical mucus. The cervical state is then shown to be a function of hormonal factors endogenous to the female in interaction with the effects of previous inseminations.
Doping Uric Acid Crystals. 2. Anhydrous Uric Acid

Anhydrous uric acid (UA) was crystallized from supersaturated aqueous solutions at 37 °C in the presence of 21 different molecular dye probes and 11 inorganic salts. Growth from dilute solutions of all cationic and neutral dyes resulted in hourglass inclusions in {201} and {001} growth sectors. For most dyes, growth at increasingly higher [dye]sol’n led to the appearance of {121} side faces coincident with dye inclusion in {121} growth sectors. Inclusions in UA-dye crystals grown from concentrated dye solutions showed a loss of selectivity in most cases, but four dyes acridine orange, methyl violet, neutral red, and Bismarck brown; exhibited unique inclusion behavior under these conditions. Parallel studies showed Na+, K+, and Mg2+ ions were also included in UA grown from salt solutions, though the presence of salts did not alter the macroscopic morphology. In all cases, the concentration of dopant included in the UA matrix ranged from 0.01 to 0.35%. The growth modification and inclusion behavior observed...
Controlled fusion burning and a study of multiscale density fluctuations

Summary form only given. We have in earlier work reported on intriguing parallels between density fluctuation power versus wavenumber on small (mm) and large (Mpc) scales. In this contribution we expand upon our previous studies of measurements made in fusion plasmas and using cosmological data, respectively. Based on predictions from classical fluid turbulence theory, we argue that our observations are consistent with 2D turbulence. The similar dependencies of density fluctuations on these disparate scales might indicate a common origin
Accurate calculation of the binding energy of the water dimer

Abstract The binding energy of the water dimer is calculated at the MP2 level using efficient basis sets augmented with bond functions. The intermolecular energy is determined by the supermolecular approach and the basis set superposition error is corrected by the counterpoise method. Bond functions are found useful and very effective in recovering the dispersion energy, which is traditionally achieved by polarization functions. The calculated binding energy of the water dimer is systematically converged to a value of 4.75 kcal mol − as bond functions are gradually added to nucleus-centered basis sets.
Estrous cycle and sex differences in performance on anxiety tasks coincide with increases in hippocampal progesterone and 3α,5α-THP

Sex differences and estrous cycle variations in anxiolytic-like behaviors and progestin concentrations were examined. Proestrous (n=22), estrous (n=19), diestrous (n=20), and male (n=18) Long-Evans rats were tested in horizontal crossing, open field, elevated plus-maze, emergence, holeboard, social interaction, tailflick, pawlick, and defensive burying tasks. Concentrations of plasma and hippocampal progesterone and 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-THP) were measured by radioimmunoassay in behaviorally tested (proestrus n=11, estrus n=8, diestrus n=9, male n=7) and yoked non-tested rats (proestrus n=11, estrus n=8, diestrus n=10, male n=8). Proestrous females exhibited more anxiolytic-like behavior than all other groups on the elevated plus-maze, social interaction, and defensive burying tasks. Proestrous females had significantly shorter latencies to emerge from a cylinder than did estrous and diestrous females, but not males. Proestrous and estrous females entered significantly more peripheral and total squares in a brightly-lit open field than did males. While proestrous females had a tendency to make more beam breaks than did males in the horizontal crossing task, there were no differences between groups on the holeboard task. There was a tendency for proestrous females to have longer tailflick latencies than diestrous and male rats; however, on the pawlick task there were no differences among the groups. Plasma and central progesterone and 3alpha,5alpha-THP of tested and non-tested rats were not different. Proestrous females had significantly higher plasma and hippocampal progesterone and 3alpha,5alpha-THP levels than all other groups. These data demonstrate that proestrous increases in anxiolytic-like behavior coincide with elevated circulating and hippocampal progestin concentrations.
Crossover time of diffusion-limited reactions on a tubular lattice

We studied the diffusion-limited reactions A+A\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0 and A+B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0 and the number of distinct sites visited by a random walker on a d-dimensional tubular lattice: square lattice of sizes L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${\mathrm{W}}^{\mathrm{d}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ with L\ensuremath{\gg}:W. We are interested in the crossover time at which the system changes its behavior from that in high dimensions to that in one dimension. We analytically solved the random-walk problem on the tubular lattice. Our theoretical result agrees with the simulation and thus explains the anomalous scaling of the crossover time for the random-walk problem. We also understood, using the concept of depletion zone, the scaling behavior of the crossover time for the reaction A+A\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0 on the tubular lattice. Our measurement and data collapse showed that the crossover time for the reaction A+B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0 scales as ${\mathrm{W}}^{2}$ for large W. The discrepancy between our result and that of others is also discussed.
High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Ceftazidime in Serum, Urine, CSF, and Peritoneal Dialysis Fluid

Abstract A rapid, sensitive and specific high performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of ceftazidime in serum, urine, CSF and peritoneal dialysis fluid. The procedure employs reversed-phase chromatography, using hydrochlorothiazide as an internal standard. The assay only requires 100 μl of sample with direct injection of diluted urine, CSF, peritoneal dialysis fluid or protein precipitated serum. Stability studies indicate good drug recovery if urine and serum are stored under proper conditions. The method is specific for ceftazidime in the presence of amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, tobramycin, methicillin, penicillin G, ampicillin, chloramphenicol and caffeine. The method has been successfully employed in the assay of over 700 samples obtained during human clinical trials.
Spontaneous transfer of phospholipid and cholesterol hydroperoxides between cell membranes and low-density lipoprotein: assessment of reaction kinetics and prooxidant effects.

Under oxidative pressure in the vascular circulation, erythrocytes and phagocytic cells may accumulate membrane lipid hydroperoxides (LOOHs), including cholesterol- and phospholipid-derived species (ChOOHs, PLOOHs). LOOH translocation from cells to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) might sensitize the latter to free radical-mediated oxidative modification, an early event associated with atherogenesis. To test this, we examined the spontaneous transfer kinetics of various ChOOH species (5α-OOH, 6α-OOH, 6β-OOH, 7α/7β-OOH) and various PLOOH groups (PCOOH, PEOOH, PSOOH, SMOOH) using photoperoxidized erythrocyte ghosts as model donors and freshly prepared LDL as an acceptor. LOOH departure or uptake was monitored by reverse-phase HPLC with reductive electrochemical detection. Mildly peroxidized ghost membranes transferred overall ChOOH and PLOOH to LDL with apparent first-order rate constants ∼60 and ∼35 times greater than those of the respective parent lipids. Individual ChOOH rate constants decreased in the foll...
Does Political Competition Lessen Ethnic Discrimination? Evidence from Sri Lanka

Abstract The impact of political competition on ethnic discrimination remains largely unexplored. To address this gap, this paper explores the relationship between the level of political competition and the probability of receiving government transfers among ethnic minorities in Sri Lanka in the run up to the national elections of 2000. The paper shows that making politicians dependent on the votes of members of ethnic groups other their own can encourage moderation in discriminatory practices towards ethnic minorities. Specifically we find that political competition positively influenced the distribution of government food stamps among Sri Lankan Tamils, who otherwise are less likely to receive food stamps relative to the Sinhalese majority. The negative impact of political competition on discrimination is higher when minorities form part of swing constituencies than when they form part of the base support for political parties. Lessons learnt here suggest that having built-in incentives in the design of the electoral process for intergroup bargaining and cooperation in countries with ethnically heterogeneous societies can be an effective restraint on ethnic discrimination. This is consistent with other research that considers political institutions to be a key lever for making ethnically divided societies more inclusive.
Acoustic microscopy of mammalian kidney.

Acoustic micrographs of unstained specimens of mouse kidney were produced at frequencies of 100 MHz and 220 MHz with resolutions of 20μ m and 9μm, respectively. The acoustically revealed structure has been examined in relation to established microanatomy. High contrast details corresponding to connective tissue boundaries of supporting elements of the nephron are exhibited. In addition, various regions of the kidney such as the cortex and the three medullary regions can be differentiated. At these frequencies, the acoustically exhibited structures are considered to result from scattering at connective tissue interfaces, resulting from local acoustic impedance discontinuities, rather than from intrinsic acoustic absorption within the microstructures of the tissue.
New Spectral Results for the Electrostatic Integral Operator

Abstract In this paper, two new fundamental results are established concerning the spectra of both the double-layer potential and the electrostatic integral operators in R 3, While it is known that 0 lies in the spectrum of each operator, its specific nature is not well understood. For some geometries (e.g., a sphere and a prolate spheroid), it is known that 0 lies in their continuous spectra. In this paper, however, specific examples are produced, where 0 lies in the point spectrum of each operator. Thus it is established that the spectral nature of 0 depends upon the geometry of the underlying surface. The second new result given is an important generalization of a recent paper concerning the possible refinement of a classical result of Plemelj.
Residual stress-driven delamination in deposited multi-layers

Abstract An analysis is presented of the problem of residual stress-driven delamination in materials or parts manufactured by successive layer deposition. A direct application of this work is to parts that are built using rapid prototyping-based layered manufacturing methods. A two-dimensional model is presented that allows calculation of steady-state energy release rates for delamination cracks. Results from a finite element model of the problem are also presented. The results verify the steady-state analysis and show that it is applicable over a wide range of part dimensions. Crack displacement modes are also extracted from the finite element model. Results are presented for two- and four-layer bi-material configurations, over a large range of material mismatches. Examples are given of how this work can be used to identify critical interfaces where delamination is most likely to occur and thus to predict the susceptibility of multi-layers to delamination.
Juvenile features in adult-type chronic granulocytic leukemia.

Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1) positive, or “adult-type,” chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) differs in many clinical and laboratory aspects from PH1-negative, or “juvenile,” CGL. Because of these differences, the disorders have been considered two distinct disease entities. We present a child with Ph1-positive CGL whose disease has several features more characteristic of the Ph1-negative syndrome. This case demonstrates that the chromosomal anomaly in CGL is not always predictive of phenotypic expression in this disease.
Phase‐mixed poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(trimethylolpropane triacrylate) semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks obtained by rapid network formation

Semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in poly(trimethylolpropane triacrylate) (TMPTA) were synthesized from PEG melts in neat TMPTA monomer, using PEG of molecular weights from 4000 to 100,000 g/mol. Differential scanning calorimetry and transmission electron microscopy were used to examine phase separation occurring during network formation. The degree of phase separation was observed to depend upon the rate of PEG aggregation relative to the rate of network formation during TMPTA polymerization. Higher molecular weight PEG and acrylate-functionalized PEG formed more phase-mixed networks compared to lower molecular weight PEG; acetatefunctionalized PEG showed no difference from unmodified PEG in the extent of phase mixing. For networks that demonstrated phase separation, the PEG was observed to be in two states: some being phase mixed and solvent inextractable, and some being phase separated and solvent extractable. Phase-mixed networks could be obtained from this thermodynamically incompatible polymer pair utilizing rapid photopolymerization systems to overcome PEG phase aggregation and kinetically entrap the PEG in a nonequilibrium phase-mixed state. These mixed-phase semi-IPNs of PEG and TMPTA may be useful in biological applications where the presence of PEG is desired throughout the bulk matrix rather than as a surface graft to reduce biological interactions. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The interaction of bacterial lipopolysaccharide with phospholipid bilayers and monolayers.

Abstract The association of bacterial lipopolysaccharide with artificial membranes was studied in an attempt to understand the mechanism of binding of lipopolysaccharide to cell surfaces and to look for an effect on membrane stability. The membrane models used were phospholipid bilayers and monolayers. As measured by survival time, lipopolysaccharide was found to decrease the stability of bilayers at a concentration of 300 μg/ml. When assayed by dielectric breakdown, an effect of lipopolysaccharide was noticeable at concentrations of 50 μg/ml. In studies involving the penetration of monomolecular films of various phospholipids, native and alkali-treated lipopolysaccharide both caused increases in surface pressure, and therefore penetrated the films. However, alkali-treated lipopolysaccharide was at least ten times more efficient than the native product in penetration. Alkali-treated lipopolysaccharide had a greater degree of surface activity than native lipopolysaccharide, since alkali-treated lipopolysaccharide formed monomolecular films by itself, whereas native lipopolysaccharide did not. The changes in the surface pressure and surface potential of phospholipid films produced by lipopolysaccharide in the subsolution suggested that the interaction of lipopolysaccharide with phospholipid monolayers was by a combination of penetration and adsorption to the undersurface.
Engineering Perspectives on Reducing Hurricane Damage to Housing in CARICOM Caribbean Islands

The annual hurricane related losses to Caribbean residential buildings in the past two decades highlight the societal and socioeconomic vulnerability of these islands. Despite considerable hurricane disaster mitigation activity in the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), the housing sector in particular remains at an elevated risk for damage. Improving the structural resiliency of homes has been largely ineffective, as was illustrated by damage to most of the Grenadian housing stock from Hurricane Ivan in 2004. While international and regional interventions have provided emergency postdisaster aid, sustained efforts to improve design and construction practices and foster sustainable mitigation activity are lacking, with the limited projects not gaining much traction in the construction sector. This paper provides an exploratory framework of the issues surrounding wind damage mitigation and the construction of residential structures to improve overall hurricane resilience in the CARICOM states. It synthesizes 35 years of research findings about Caribbean hazard mitigation initiatives, many of which are not available to researchers in other geographic settings. The uniqueness of the Caribbean housing stock, the importance of small-scale economies, the existing socioeconomic constraints, and the effectiveness of regional and international residential construction mitigation strategies are also evaluated. Finally, the paper identifies and prioritizes critical avenues of future research to improve the resiliency of the CARICOM residential building stock.
Molecular biology: DNA fragility put into context.

Fragile sites are genomic regions prone to deletions or other alterations during DNA replication. The reason for the susceptibility of these sites to damage may be simple: they contain few replication initiation sites. See Letter p.120 Some chromosomal locations, known as common fragile sites, are predisposed to breakage. These sites have pathological relevance because they are often associated with chromosomal translocations. An analysis of the replication dynamics along a 1.6-Mb region of FRA3B, a common fragile site in human lymphocytes that hosts the FHIT tumour suppressor gene, shows that, rather than breakage being due to replication stalling, FRA3B site fragility results from an unusually low density of replication origins. Surprisingly, fragility is cell-type-specific, which may have implications for current models of translocations and tumorigenesis.
Self-treatment: Illicit buprenorphine use by opioid-dependent treatment seekers

Outpatient-based opioid treatment (OBOT) with buprenorphine is an important treatment for people with opioid dependence. No quantitative empirical research has examined rationales for use of illicit buprenorphine by U.S. opioid-dependent treatment seekers. The current study sequentially screened OBOT admissions (n = 129) during a 6-month period in 2009. This study had two stages: (a) a cross-sectional epidemiological analysis of new intakes and existing patients already receiving a legal OBOT prescription (n = 78) and (b) a prospective longitudinal cohort design that followed 76% of the initial participants for 3 months of treatment (n = 42). The primary aims were to establish 2009 prevalence rates for illicit buprenorphine use among people seeking OBOT treatment, to use quantitative methods to investigate reasons for this illicit use, and to examine the effect of OBOT treatment on illicit buprenorphine use behavior. These data demonstrate a decrease in illicit use when opioid-dependent treatment seekers gain access to legal prescriptions. These data also suggest that the use of illicit buprenorphine rarely represents an attempt to attain euphoria. Rather, illicit use is associated with attempted self-treatment of symptoms of opioid dependence, pain, and depression.
Microsurgical relationships of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery and the facial-vestibulocochlear nerve complex.

Abstract The relationship of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) to the facial (7th) and vestibulocochlear (8th) nerves was studied using 3x to 20x magnification in 50 cerebellopontine angles (CPAs) from 25 adult cadavers. The AICA originated from the basilar artery as a single (72% of the CPAs), duplicate (26%), or triplicate (2%) artery. Each of the 50 CPAs had one or more arterial trunks that coursed in close proximity to the 7th and 8th cranial nerves and thus were said to be nerve-related. The nerve-related arterial trunks were divided into three segments based on their relationship to the nerves and meatus: the premeatal, meatal, and postmeatal segments. The meatal segment projected to the meatus or into the canal in 64% of the CPAs. In relation to the nerves, the premeatal segment was most commonly anteroinferior, the meatal segment was inferior, and the postmeatal segment was posteroinferior. The nerve-related branches of the AICA gave rise to internal auditory arteries in 100% of the 50 CPAs, recurrent perforating arteries in 82%, and the subarcuate artery in 72%. The internal auditory and recurrent perforating arteries arose most commonly from the premeatal segment, and the subarcuate artery arose most commonly from the postmeatal segment. There were one to four internal auditory arteries per CPA, zero to three recurrent perforating arteries, and zero or one subarcuate artery. The effects of occlusion of the nerve-related arteries and their involvement in conditions treated by neurosurgeons are reviewed.
A Description and Experimental Analysis of a Stereotyped Cheliped Flexion Behaviour in Hermit Crabs

Spontaneous cheliped flexion behaviour of hermit crabs was studied using a large aquarium with a gravel substrate. The effects of chemical, visual and tactile stimuli, as well as intervals between flexions were determined using a smaller tank, which facilitated experimentation. The behaviour consists of bringing the tip of the cheliped to the mouth by flexing the four most distal joints, opening the dactyl, wiping the claw with the third maxillipeds and re-extending. Single flexions are used in feeding to pick-up substrate particles covered with diatoms. The rate of activity increases in the presence of glycine (10 -3 M) or fish juice. Trains of flexions comprise a cleaning behaviour which is elicited by fouling of the claw with food or petroleum jelly, or by strong concentrations of chemicals (10 -1 M glycine or sea water of pH 9.5). In addition, cleaning flexion behaviour was elicited by a variety of disturbance stimuli, including sudden shadow, reflections from a mirror, vibration, "simulated attack" by a plastic rod, handling, and fighting with conspecific hermit crabs. The implications of this response as a displacement behaviour are discussed. The mean interval between cleaning flexions does not change significantly as glycine concentration is increased from 10 -4 M to 10 -2 M, but the mean rate of flexion increases sevenfold and mean adaptation time increases threefold. The mean inter-flexion intervals for the chelipeds of individual animals are not significantly different, but the small cheliped undergoes an average of 1.61 times more flexions than the large one.
Crossing the bridge while you build it: a smooth migration to new servers and services

This paper accompanies a panel discussion by members of the computing support staff at Georgetown University, The University of Kansas, and The University of Oregon. Each school migrated its customers to a new e-mail system; some of the migrations included other services, such as web hosting and calendaring.Georgetown University migrated from a GroupWise mail and calendaring system and UNIX mail to Netscape (now iPlanet) Messaging Server and Steltor CorporateTime. Computing support staff learned a few things in the process: time spent ahead of time analyzing the scope of the project will save time during the migration; users will not migrate voluntarily, so it is important to set a firm deadline and stick to it; and users need more help than you think they will, especially faculty.The University of Kansas migrated its e-mail service from a wide variety of systems to a central Microsoft Exchange server, with most customers using Microsoft Outlook as their client. Computing staff spent extra time with faculty and staff, arranged relationships with departmental "superusers," and migrated students using an automated on-line process.The University of Oregon's School of Architecture and Allied Arts retired an aging Linux server that was providing web hosting, e-mail accounts, and e-mail list service. Since the server was small, with only a few dozen accounts, it was possible to give personal attention to each customer who needed to be migrated. All of the services were moved to the central Computing Center's servers, while maintaining e-mail forwarding and virtual domains for web hosting.Although our migrations of e-mail and other services varied in scale and complexity, all of them involved similar steps: recognition of a problem to be solved, analysis of the options, assessment of what it will take to make the transition from the old way to the new way, and considerable hand-holding on the way to the other side.
MÖSSBAUER STUDY OF LATTICE DYNAMICS OF HIGH Tc SUPERCONDUCTORS

Many strong-coupled superconductors have anomalous phonon properties. These anomalies manifest themselves as unusually soft modes, sometimes of a rather localized nature, or as anharmonic effects giving rise to hardening of certain modes at high temperatures. A study of lattice and electronic properties of high Tc Chevrel and P d ~ ~ s n ~ H superconductors has been made by means of the ll9Sn Mossbauer effect. In the high Te, high He2 superconductor SnM06Ss, the lattice is found to be anisotropic and anharmonic at the Sn site [I]. The degree of anharmonicity is large and obviates the use of perturbation treatments based on harmonic models. The results indicate that the phonon spectrum includes a strong tin resonance mode that hardens rapidly with increasing temperature. (Recent inelastic neutron scattering measurements are in agreement with this result [2]) . The impurity theory of Mannheim [3] has been applied to the results of our studies of the lattice dynamics of 1 lgSn in Pd. This study further corroborates the importance of nearest neighbor force constant changes and demonstrates the conditions for splitting a localized mode peak out of the host phonon spectrum. We have also studied the lattice dynamics of ll9Sn in the NaC1-type superconductor Pdo.99Sno.olH0,s. The addition of hydrogen has a marked effect on the electronic properties. We find a softening of the low energy tin modes and a hardening of the localized mode peak on hydriding. These results indicate softening of the Pd acoustic modes and the presence of a strong Sn-H interaction. (*) Based on work supported by the National Science Foundation and the U. S. Energy Research and Development Administration.
Gas-phase chemistry in inductively coupled plasmas for NO removal from mixed gas systems.

Inductively coupled rf plasmas were used to investigate the removal of NO from a variety of gas mixtures. Laser-induced fluorescence and optical emission spectroscopy were employed to measure the r...
Cellular automata as analysis and synthesis engines at the geomorphology–ecology interface

Abstract The linkages between ecology and geomorphology can be difficult to identify because of physical complexity and the limitations of the current theoretical representations in these two fields of study. Deep divisions between these disciplines are manifest in the methods used to simulate process, such as rigidly physical-deterministic methods for many aspects of geomorphology compared with purely stochastic simulations in many models of change in landcover. Practical and theoretical research into ecology–geomorphology linkages cannot wait for a single simulation schema which may never come; as a result, studies of these linkages often appear disjointed and inconsistent. The grid-based simulation framework for cellular automata (CA) allows simultaneous use of competing schemas. CA use in general geographic studies has been primarily limited to urban simulations models of change for land cover, both highly stochastic and/or expert rule-based. In the last decade, however, methods for describing physically deterministic systems in the CA framework have become much more accurate. The possibility now exists to merge separate CA simulations of different environmental systems into unified “multiautomata” models. Because CAs allow transition rules that are deterministic, probabilistic, or expert rule-based, they can immediately incorporate the existing knowledge rules in ecology and geomorphology. The explicitly spatial nature of CA provides a map-like framework that should allow a simple and deeply rooted connection with the mapping traditions of the geosciences and ecological sciences.
Dynamics of linearly partial-implicit midpoint methods for numerical integration of some infinite systems of ODEs with cubic-type nonlinearity and Q-regular additive noise

Qualitative aspects of numerical methods for integration of systems of nonlinear ordinary stochastic differential equations (SDEs) with potential applicability to mechanical engineering are presented. In particular, we study the qualitative behavior of some linearly partial-implicit midpoint-type methods for numerical integration of infinite and finite systems of SDEs with cubic-type nonlinearity and Q-regular additive space-time noise. Construction and properties such as stability and convergence of such stochastic-numerical methods is strongly related to their uniform boundedness along Lyapunov-type functionals. Well-known convergence order bounds apart from further complexity issues forces us to focus our analysis on lower order Runge-Kutta methods rather than higher order Taylor methods. Nonstandard techniques such as partial-implicit difference methods for noisy ODEs/PDEs seem to be the most promising ones in view of adequate longterm integration of such nonlinear systems.
Familiar/interactive raters are not always best: The influence of sampling schedules and class of behavior

Retrospective rating scales are widely used for formal assessment of typical performance. Raters who are the most familiar/interactive with ratees are routinely recommended to maximize the quality of ratings. This caveat to use the most familiar/interactive raters fails to distinguish sampling parameters of the observations on which ratings are based that may be important to assessing different classes of behavior. We hypothesized that systematic observational schedules would be of greater importance to ratings of public events than familiarity/interaction, per se, while the caveat would hold for ratings of private events. We used the Psychotic Inpatient Profile (PIP), which provides separate factor scores for ratings of public and private events, to examine these hypotheses in a quasi-experimental study with adult inpatients of mental hospitals. A large multiinstitutional data set provided retrospective PIP ratings by two types of raters. The most familiar/interactive local clinical staff for each client completed the PIP after observing on an ad lib schedule, along with ongoing job duties. Unfamiliar, noninteractive raters completed the PIP for each client after observing on a systematic time-sampling schedule for purposes of coding an entirely different instrument. Data were selected so that each of 189 clients received PIP scores from four raters, reflecting functioning during the same time period based on day-shift observations by one rater of each type and evening-shift observations by one rater of each type. Analyses of variance, consistency/discriminability of ratings, and prediction of social-action outcomes all supported the hypotheses. We discuss alternative strategies that are better for assessing typical performance in most circumstances. We also provide recommendations for improving the adequacy of observations for those circumstances in which the standardized retrospective rating scale could be a cost-effective assessment strategy.
Patterning NiB Electroless Deposited on Glass Using an Electroplated Cu Mask, Microcontact Printing, and Wet Etching

We present a method to pattern an electroless-deposited metal layer based on electroplating a mask and patterning this mask using microcontact printing (μCP) and wet etching. This method starts by derivatizing a glass substrate with an amino-functionalized silane, 3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyltrimethoxysilane (EDA-Si) from solution and using the amine functions of the grafted silane to immobilize Pd/Sn colloids from an acidic suspension onto the glass. The Pd/Sn colloids initiate the electroless deposition (ELD) of a 150 nm thick NiB layer onto the glass. The as-deposited NiB has a specific resistivity of 22 μΩ cm and can be covered with 50 nm of an electroplated Cu layer. Microcontact printing a protective monolayer of eicosanethiol (ECT) onto the Cu and etching it selectively with a cyanide-based etch bath defines the pattern of the Cu mask. This pattern is transferred into the NiB underlayer using a sulfuric acid-based wet etch. The ECT monolayer, the Cu mask, and the Pd/Sn residue remaining on the glass...
The Erlanger Programm of Felix Klein: Reflections on its place in the history of mathematics

Abstract The commonly held view that Klein's Erlanger Programm was one of the most significant and influential works for the history of mathematics during the half-century following its publication in 1872 is questioned on the grounds that insufficient attention has been paid to the complex web of related mathematical activities of the period. By sketching some of these that are connected with Lie and his school, we present a first approximation to a more informed assessment of the place of the Erlanger Programm in the history of mathematics.
Hugh White The China Choice: Why We Should Share Power New York, NY: Oxford University Press 208 pp., $24.95 hardcover ISBN: 9780199684717 Publication Date: September 2013

As debates rage among various leaders in the United States on how to deal with a rising China, Hugh White enters the fray with his timely book, The China Choice. White contends that America must sh...
Double-duct sign in the era of endoscopic ultrasound: the prevalence of occult pancreaticobiliary malignancy.

Background and Aim Simultaneous dilatation of the common bile duct and pancreatic duct, “double-duct sign” (DDS), is an ominous finding concerning for pancreaticobiliary malignancy. Little evidence exists to guide the initial evaluation and subsequent follow-up for patients with DDS in the absence of jaundice or focal mass noted on computed tomography (CT)/ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is often recommended in the evaluation of such patients, however, the prevalence of malignancy remains unclear. We sought to determine the prevalence of pancreaticobiliary neoplasm in this patient group on initial EUS evaluation and on subsequent clinical follow-up.
Vaccination of Chickens with Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bronchitis Vaccines Administered Singly and in Combination

Abstract The reactivity and immune response were determined in chickens following the administration of Newcastle disease (ND) and infectious bronchitis (IB) vaccines given singly and in combination. When given singly, the IB component resulted in an earlier appearance of respiratory signs than when it was combined with ND vaccine. The intensity of the respiratory reaction appeared similar in each case, however. Measured by virus-serum neutralization and from challenge with ND and IB viruses, no evidence of interference in the inducement of immunity was present with either vaccine fraction. The possible effect of vaccine titers and strain characteristics was discussed briefly.