cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential impact of transdiagnostic, dimensional psychopathology on multiple scales of functional connectivity

Abstract Introduction Dimensional psychopathology strives to associate different domains of cognitive dysfunction with brain circuitry. Connectivity patterns as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) exist at multiple scales, with global networks of connectivity composed of microscale interactions between individual nodes. It remains unclear how separate dimensions of psychopathology might differentially impact these different scales of organization. Methods Patients experiencing anxious misery symptomology (depression, anxiety and trauma; n = 192) were assessed for symptomology and received resting-state fMRI scans. Three modeling approaches (seed-based correlation analysis [SCA], support vector regression [SVR] and Brain Basis Set Modeling [BSS]), each relying on increasingly dense representations of functional connectivity patterns, were used to associate connectivity patterns with six different dimensions of psychopathology: anxiety sensitivity, anxious arousal, rumination, anhedonia, insomnia and negative affect. Importantly, a full 50 patients were held-out in a testing dataset, leaving 142 patients as training data. Results Different symptom dimensions were best modeled by different scales of brain connectivity: anhedonia and anxiety sensitivity were best modeled with single connections (SCA), insomnia and anxious arousal by mesoscale patterns (SVR) and negative affect and ruminative thought by broad, cortex-spanning patterns (BBS). Dysfunction within the default mode network was implicated in all symptom dimensions that were best modeled by multivariate models. Conclusion These results suggest that symptom dimensions differ in the degree to which they impact different scales of brain organization. In addition to advancing our basic understanding of transdiagnostic psychopathology, this has implications for the translation of basic research paradigms to human disorders.
Rectal MRI after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy: a pictorial guide to interpretation

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the current reference standard imaging modality for restaging rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiation and is used to guide clinical management decisions. This pictorial essay provides an illustrative atlas of the key MRI features used to assess rectal cancer after treatment. MRI findings of residual tumor including non-mucinous, mucinous, and signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma subtypes are correlated with histopathology. Imaging appearances of treatment changes that mimic residual tumor in the setting of confirmed pathological complete response at resection are illustrated. Treatment complications are also shown. Knowledge of these imaging findings and their importance may help radiologists comply with all elements of the structured reporting templates proposed by the Rectal Cancer Disease Focused Panel of the Society of Abdominal Radiology and by the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology.
Two roads diverged: Legal context and changing levels of private and public sector union density in the US states, 1984–2019:

This article examines the causes of the different historical trajectories of US union membership in the private and public sectors, a topic relevant for understanding the link between unions and in...
Kierkegaard: An Introduction

1. Introduction: Kierkegaard's life and works 2. Pseudonymity and indirect communication 3. The human self: truth and subjectivity 4. The stages of existence: forms of the aesthetic life 5. The ethical life as the quest for selfhood 6. Religious existence: religiousness 7. Christian existence: faith and the paradox 8. Kierkegaard's dual challenge to the contemporary world.
FRA: Financial Risk Analytics for IT Outsourcing contracts

This experience session track paper describes the Financial Risk Analytics (FRA) tool, which is designed to predict and quantify IT Strategic Outsourcing (SO) contract risks in order to help with contract signing and pricing decisions. FRA enables Quality Analysts and Risk Managers to learn about and proactively manage potential risks before they materialize, while also providing guidance to contract Pricers to include the necessary cost contingencies into pricing considerations, in case of a high risk contract.
Connecting LIFO Adoption and LIFO Liquidation with Survival Analysis

Using a sample of firms that adopted the LIFO method of inventory valuation, this paper uses survival analysis to examine the length of time that elapses between the adoption of LIFO and the initial liquidation of LIFO inventory. Prior research in the area of LIFO liquidation uses cross-sectional or pooled, cross-sectional data to model either the change in the LIFO reserve or the probability of a LIFO liquidation within a specific year. This research uses longitudinal data to examine the effect of tax and non-tax costs on the expected time to liquidation after the adoption of LIFO. The results suggest that length of time is influenced by changes in demand for a firm's products and earnings management. The initial liquidation of LIFO inventory is driven by changes in firm sales and the ability of the income effect of the liquidation to allow a firm to exceed prior year's earnings. Unlike earlier research, tax and liquidity considerations appear to play no role in the decision to liquidate inventory. The results in the paper suggests that modeling the length of time that precedes the occurrence of an event and modeling the occurrence of an event itself are independent research questions and that variables that influence outcome need not necessarily influence duration. Given that a large amount of accounting research uses choice-based models to examine the occurrence of events, the results suggest that placing choice-based research within a survival analysis framework has the potential to yield new insights.
Amino acylaminonucleoside inhibitors of protein synthesis: II. Effect on oligophenylalanine formation

Abstract 1. 1. The inhibition of the poly U-directed incorporation of phenylalanyl residues from l -phenylalanyl-tRNA into peptide chains by a number of antibiotics was studied in a ribosomal system from Escherichia coli . The inhibitors were amicetin, blasticidin S, chloramphenicol, gougerotin and sparsomycin. The products of incorporation were examined by column chromatography on benzoylated diethylaminoethyl cellulose. The fractions obtained were: phenylalanylphenylalanine ( Phe ) 2 oligophenylalanine ( oligo Phe ) and polyphenylalanine ( poly Phe ). The incorporation was carried out at 10 mM Mg 2+ in the presence of various amounts of transfer factors. The rate of incorporation of phenylalanyl residues into peptide linkage as well as the distribution of peptide chain lengths varied with the concentration of these factors. 2. 2. In the presence of amicetin, blasticidin S, gougerotin or chloramphenicol, oligopeptides ( Phe ) 2 and oligo ( Phe ) accumulated and constituted the major product of phenylalanine incorporation. Despite initial interference with ( Phe ) 2 , oligo Phe and poly Phe formation, the total number of peptide bonds (( Phe ) 2 , oligo Phe and poly Phe formed after 8 min in the presence of these inhibitors was equal to, or exceeded the number of peptide bonds obtained in their absence. At the same time, the amount of poly Phe formed in the presence of the inhibitors was consistently lower than in the control. The total phenylalanine incorporation into peptide bonds in the absence of inhibitors proceeded linearly for the entire time period examined (32 min). Oligopeptides were also accumulated in the presence of sparsomycin but total peptide bond formation was always less than in the control. Tetracycline did not cause the accumulation of oligopeptides. 3. 3. The results obtained with amicetin, blasticidin S, gougerotin or chloramphenicol cannot be explained solely on the basis of a constant interference with peptide bond formation by these antibiotics. Alternative explanations are considered.
Synthesis, gas-phase photoelectron spectroscopic, and theoretical studies of stannylated dinuclear iron dithiolates

Stannylated dinuclear iron dithiolates (mu-SSnMe(2)CH(2)S)[Fe(CO)(3)](2), (mu-SCH(2)SnMe(2)CH(2)S) [Fe(CO)(3)](2), and (mu-SCH(2)SnMe(3))(2)[Fe(CO)(3)](2), which are structurally similar to the active site of iron-only hydrogenase, were synthesized and studied by gas-phase photoelectron spectroscopy. The orbital origins of ionizations were assigned by comparison of He I and He II photoelectron spectra and with the aid of hybrid density functional electronic structure calculations. Stannylation lowers the ionization energy of sulfur lone pair orbitals in these systems owing to a geometry-dependent interaction. The Fe-Fe sigma bond, which is the HOMO in all these systems, is also substantially destabilized by stannylation due to a previously unrecognized geometry-dependent interaction between axial sulfur lone pair orbitals and the Fe-Fe sigma bond. Since cleaving the Fe-Fe sigma bond is a key step in the mechanism of action of iron-only hydrogenase, these newly recognized geometry-dependent interactions may be utilized in designing biologically inspired hydrogenase catalysts.
Rationality, specification tests, and macroeconomic models

Abstract Rational expectation models embody cross-equation restrictions that are implied by the theory of rational expectations. In this paper we illustrate how tests of these restrictions may be implemented in terms of general macroeconomic models by employing the models of Taylor and Sargent as examples. In addition, the more important issue of the proper interpretation of the results of these tests is addressed. We contend that tests for rationality should become part of the model-building process as they are akin to specification tests for models in which rational expectations is treated as the maintained hypothesis. A procedure is suggested when the restriction are inconsistent with data. Special emphasis is placed upon examining how changes in specifications of the model's exogenous variables can influence test results.
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM VS. ETHNOMETHODOLOGY

Are ethnomethodology and symbolic interactionism essentially the same? An examination of these perspectives suggests that each offers a unique contribution to sociological knowledge. Although both perspectives have been influenced by pragmatism, ethnomethodology shares affinity with James' philosophy while symbolic interactionism is allied with Dewey's and Mead's. Both perspectives emphasize meaning and constraints, but each offers critically different conceptualizations of them. Symbolic interactionism and ethnomethodology share a verstehen outlook, yet each perspective uses different methods to gain “understanding.” Hence, these perspectives differ philosophically, conceptually, and methodologically.
Long-Range Planning And Organizational Performance: A Cross-Valuation Study

This study is an attempt to validate and extend a study by Thune & House on the performance of formal planners vs informal planners. A new independent variable, profits, was used to cross-validate ...
Asymmetric Framework for Predicting Liquid−Liquid Equilibrium of Ionic Liquid−Mixed-Solvent Systems. 1. Theory, Phase Stability Analysis, and Parameter Estimation

A new approach for modeling liquid−liquid equilibrium in electrolyte/mixed-solvent systems is presented, with particular focus on systems involving a dilute aqueous solution of an ionic liquid (IL). This new approach involves an asymmetric framework in which different phases have different degrees of electrolyte dissociation, and are thus represented by different Gibbs free energy models. As a first case, we consider the situation in which the electrolyte is either completely dissociated or completely paired (molecular), with its state depending on the dielectric constant of the mixed solvent and on the concentration of the salt in the phase in question. The theory underlying this asymmetric framework is developed, and a rigorous approach for phase stability analysis is presented. It is explained how to formulate and solve the parameter estimation problem for determining model parameters from binary data, and this process is demonstrated using examples. An immediate goal is to use this approach to predict...
SULFITE ABSORPTION INCREASE IN PEACHES FOR DRYING

For better storage stability of sun-dried peaches a method to get more SO2 absorbed initially by the fruit is needed. This note reports on a combination procedure developed to bring two to three times more SO2 into dried peaches than the conventional procedure.
Results of meniscectomy in the knee with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency

Sixty-three knees in 62 patients with insufficiency of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) were treated by arthroscopic partial or total meniscectomy without ligament reconstruction. The implications of this sequence of treatment with this combination of pathologies was documented. At 4.5 years after meniscectomy, 84% of the knees were subjectively improved and 10% were subjectively worse. Sixty-eight percent of the patients had persistent knee pain and 52% had episodes of giving way. Roentgenographic evidence of osteoarthrosis was present in 65% of 34 knees at 4.4 years after operation. Additional surgery was required in 24% of the knees. Meniscectomy without a stabilization procedure should be performed only infrequently in knees with deficient ACL.
Minimizing production costs for a robotic assembly system

Abstract The objective of this study is to minimize the expected present worth of the production costs incurred over the operational life of a robotic assembly system that is integrated with an Automatic Storage/Retrieval System (AS/RS). Production costs include inventory cost and capital cost of equipment. Inventory cost consists of ordering, holding, and lostproduction costs; and all of these costs depend on the scheduling policy for the assembly robots as well as the inventory policy for the AS/RS. Capital cost of equipment depends on the number of depalletizer robots and the number of assembly robots. To identify the minimum-cost design for a certain automotive assembly operation from a given set of alternative system configurations, we present a simulation experiment in which independent replications of each alternative are controlled by a statistical ranking-and-selection procedure that has been adapted to simulation.
A 'path-by-path' monotone extrapolation sequence for Feynman path integral calculations of quantum mechanical free energies

Abstract Feynman path integral methods based on the Trotter approximation represent paths by a set of P discrete points. We prove that the M -point partition function is an upper bound of the P -point one if M is a divisor of P . Also for this case, we show that, during calculations using P -point paths, it is possible – at negligible additional cost – to obtain M -point estimators of the partition function that, for each individual path , converge monotonically. This permits accurate extrapolation to infinite P , which greatly improves the accuracy of calculations of thermodynamic quantities.
Penicillamine in the treatment of systemic sclerosis.

Retrospective studies have suggested that D-penicillamine (DPA) in conventional high dosages (750-1000 mg/d) may be efficacious in treating the skin and visceral complications of systemic sclerosis (SSc), particularly when used early in the disease. The course of skin thickening and the occurrence of renal crisis and of death were examined in a recent randomized controlled 2-year trial of highdosage DPA (750-1000 mg/d) versus low-dose DPA (125 mg every other day). Skin thickening improved in both groups to a similar extent, and the occurrence of renal crisis and of death were not different in the two groups. Although the trial was not designed to answer the question of whether low-dosage DPA is effective, it did suggest that there is no advantage to using DPA in doses higher than 125 mg every other day.
A Semiautomated Method for Measuring Brain Infarct Volume

An accurate, reproducible method for determining the infarct volumes of gray matter structures is presented for use with presently available image analysis systems. Areas of stained sections with optical densities above that of a threshold value are automatically recognized and measured. This eliminates the potential error and bias inherent in manually delineating infarcted regions. Moreover, the volume of surviving normal gray matter is determined rather than that of the infarct. This approach minimizes the error that is introduced by edema, which distorts and enlarges the infarcted tissue and surrounding white matter.
Networked cultural heritage and socio-digital inequalities: a case study in an African-American community

Digital technology facilitates the networking together of cultural heritage information held by multiple institutions and individuals. Yet socio-digital inequalities at the level of local communities shape how this possibility develops in places. This paper presents a case study of one project to network African-American community cultural heritage information in the contexts of collaborative digitization, community informatics, and the widespread use of commercial social networking services. Analysis occurs through the lenses of social capital theory and the eBlack Studies framework. Findings illustrate the critical dialectic between bridging/instrumental and bonding/affective social capital in community digitization: communities need bridging social capital to become aware of collaborative digitization projects and possibilities; they also need to invest bonding social capital into such projects to produce a self-determined collective digital representation. Flows of economic capital inform how these alignments of social capital inform the production of digital cultural heritage.
Theoretical comparison of performance limits of single- and multiple-stage photovoltaic devices

Theoretical projections of the power enhancement of photovoltaic (PV) devices offered by the multiple-stage interband cascade (IC) architecture are presented. This work focuses on the improvement this architecture offers for the case of single-bandgap PV devices with negligible series resistance and shunting effects. It is shown that the power efficiency enhancement offered by a multiple-stage device, compared to a simple single-absorber device, is roughly equal to the improvement in the particle conversion efficiency (PCE). In conventional single-absorber PV devices, the PCE is fundamentally limited by the parameters of the absorber material, i.e. the absorption coefficient and the minority carrier diffusion length. The IC architecture circumvents the diffusion length limitation and should be useful for narrow-bandgap semiconductors that are used for thermophotovoltaic applications. The ability to adjust both the absorber thickness in each stage and the number of cascade stages should enable IC PV devices to achieve optimized power conversion efficiency by achieving current matching in each stage.
Importance of biofilm formation for corrosion inhibition of SAE 1018 steel by axenic aerobic biofilms

To investigate if corrosion inhibition by aerobic biofilms is a general phenomenon, carbon steel (SAE 1018) coupons were exposed to a complex liquid medium (Luria–Bertani) and seawater-mimicking medium (VNSS) containing fifteen different pure-culture bacterial suspensions representing seven genera. Compared to sterile controls, the mass loss in the presence of these bacteria (which are capable of developing a biofilm to various degrees) decreased by 2- to 15-fold. The extent of corrosion inhibition in LB medium depended on the nature of the biofilm: an increased proportion of live cells, observed with confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) and image analysis, decreased corrosion. Corrosion inhibition in LB medium was greatest with Pseudomonas putida (good biofilm formation), while metal coupons exposed to Streptomyces lividans in LB medium (poor biofilm formation) corroded in a manner similar to the sterile controls. Pseudomonas mendocina KR1 reduced corrosion the most in VNSS. It appears that only a small layer of active, respiring cells is required to inhibit corrosion, and the corrosion inhibition observed is due to the attached biofilm.
Recognizing and utilizing projective identification in brief psychodynamic therapy: A case example

Projective identification is a means by which clients unconsciously communicate their affective, and often intolerable, experiences. Being on the receiving end of a client’s projective identifications can be elusive, confusing, and intense; consequently, the information afforded by projective identification is often disregarded in the therapeutic process. This paper will provide a case example of the author’s personal affective and clinical experiences with a 19-year-old client to illustrate the process of recognizing and utilizing projective identification in brief psychodynamic psychotherapy. Implications and challenges for utilizing projective identification in brief therapy are discussed.
The prevention of anthracycline cardiomyopathy

Abstract The use of anthracyclines, a family of chemotherapeutic agents with efficacy against many solid tumors and leukemias has been limited by their cardiotoxicity. This cardiotoxicity manifests as a reversible acute myopericarditis, an irreversible subacute cardiomyopathy and a progressive late, chronic form. It is particularly important in children who can be expected to survive decades after cure of their malignancy. The incidence of the subacute and late forms have been shown to increase with increasing peak and total cumulative anthracycline dose. Prevention of cardiotoxicity has been attempted by: (1) arbitrary limitation of total cumulative dose; (2) dose limitation guided by monitoring; (3) variation of administrative methods to decrease peak dose by the use of weekly divided boluses or continuous infusion; (4) liposomal encapsulation; (5) use of anthracycline analogues; and (6) concomitant administration of cardioprotective agents. The most promising cardioprotective agent, to date is an intracellular iron chelator which interferes with the formation of free radicals by the anthracyclines, thus limiting cardiac damage from lipid peroxidation. None of these methods has provided full cardiac protection, hence further study of the pathophysiology of anthracycline cardiotoxicity and its prevention is warranted as is long term monitoring of the cancer survivors who have received anthracyclines.
Implementation and Process Evaluation of a Student "School-as-Community" Group: A Component of a School-Based Drug Abuse Prevention Program

Little documentation exists regarding the functioning of formalized adolescent groups as drug abuse prevention agents. Two studies are described that were conducted at high schools whose students are at high risk for drug abuse. Twenty-one schools were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (a) standard care, (b) classroom drug abuse education only, or (c) classroom plus school-as-conununity. Results of the first study tndicated that the school-as-communtty component—which involved weekly meetings and periodic events at seven schools—was imple mented as planned, drug abused focused, and perceived as productive in discouraging drug abuse. In the second study, staff in the classroom plus school-as-community condition self- reported involvement in the greatest number of community activities across the school year, compared with staff from the other two conditions. These two studies support the feasibility of formalized groups of high-risk youth to promote drug-free events.
Optogenetic examination identifies a context-specific role for orexins/hypocretins in anxiety-related behavior

Maladaptation to stress is associated with psychopathology. However, our understanding of the underlying neural circuitry involved in adaptations to stress is limited. Previous work from our lab indicated the paraventricular hypothalamic neuropeptides orexins/hypocretins regulate behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to stress. To further elucidate the role of orexins in adaptation to stress, we employed optogenetic techniques to specifically examine the effects of orexin cell activation on behavior in the social interaction test and in the home cage as well as orexin receptor 1 internalization and ERK phosphorylation in brain regions receiving orexin inputs. In the social interaction test, optogenetic stimulation of orexin neurons decreased time spent in the interaction zone while increasing the frequency of entries into the interaction zone. In addition, optogenetic stimulation of orexin neurons increased the total distance traveled in the social interaction arena but had no effect on their home cage behavior. Together, these results suggest that orexin release increases anxiety in the social interaction test while increasing the salience of novel but not familiar environmental stimuli. Consistent with activation of orexin neurons, optogenetic stimulation increased orexin receptor1 internalization and ERK phosphorylation in the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) and locus coeruleus (LC), two regions heavily innervated by orexin neurons. Together these results show for the first time that elevation of orexin activity, possibly in the PVT and LC, is associated with increased anxiety, activity, and arousal in a context-specific manner.
Ecology of the hagfish, Myxine glutinosa L., in the gulf of Maine: II. Potential impact on benthic communities and commercial fisheries

Abstract The Atlantic hagfish, Myxine glutinosa L., is found throughout the Gulf of Maine at depths greater than 50 m in areas of soft bottom substrata. A preliminary density estimate has been developed, based on trap survey data collected over a 5 year period in one area. Calculated densities range from 1:16.75 m2 to 1:2 m2, with a biomass estimated to be 8119 kg km−2. These densities are comparable to those found for Pacific hagfish by other investigators. The energetic requirements of a hagfish of average size within the inner Gulf of Maine has been calculated to be approximately 2.39 kJ · day−1. The estimated energetic requirement of hagfish populations at the minimum calculated density is 142 679 kJ · day−1 · km−2. The daily requirements of hagfish at this density would be the energetic equivalent of 50 kg day−1km−2 of shrimp flesh or 27.1 kg day−1 km−2of fish flesh. On an annual basis, they would require 18.25 mt (metric tons) km−2 of shrimp flesh or 9.9 mt · km−2of fish flesh. Given their abundance and habits, they may play a significant role in substratum turnover and nutrient recycling, including the removal of discarded by-catch. These positive effects on the benthic ecosystem may far outweigh their potential negative impacts on commercial fisheries, such as damage to captured groundfish or predation on shrimp. Hagfish and their eggs also form part of the diet of several species of groundfish and marine mammals. Nevertheless, hagfish are not usually included in models of energy flow in the Gulf of Maine. It is not known what percentage of suitable habitat within the Gulf of Maine is occupied by M. glutinosa at high densities. If hagfish at our estimated average density are found in 5% of suitable areas, their annual energetic demands would be roughly equivalent the caloric value of the combined annual shrimp and groundfish landings in the Gulf of Maine. It is therefore important that (1) large-scale survey efforts be undertaken to determine the actual distribution and abundance of M. glutinosa within the Gulf of Maine, and (2) hagfish be included in energetic models of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and other ecosystems where hagfish are known to occur.
“No More Excuses”: Problematic Responses to Barack Obama’s Election

The election of Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States brought forth torrents of emotions and expressions from across the racial spectrum, but especially so among African Americans. However, amidst the euphoria of this historic event is a disturbing reaction circulating among African Americans which has implications for the struggle against racism in America. Since Barack Obama’s election, many African Americans across the nation are saying “now blacks have no more excuses,” in effect evoking old discredited theories that eschewed racism as a factor in African American life and blamed victims of this racism for their resulting situations. We assess this development.
Effect of Salts and Electron Transport on the Conformation of Isolated Chloroplasts. I. Light-Scattering and Volume Changes

Whole chloroplasts isolated from the leaves of spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L.) exhibit 2 types of conformational change during electron transport. Amine-uncoupled chloroplasts swell and atebrin-uncoupled chloroplasts shrink. Chloroplasts uncoupled by carbonylcyanide phenylhydrazones and by treatment with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid do not change their volumes or light-scattering properties during electron transport. Phosphorylating chloroplasts shrink only slightly. The rate and extent of the conformational change parallel the rate of electron transport; both the decrease in turbidity with methylamine and the increase in turbidity with atebrin are rougly proportional to the Hill reaction rate. Consequently the great volume and light-scattering changes which occur in the presence of these uncouplers can be attributed, in part, to the very high rates of uncoupled electron transport. However, for a given rate of electron transport the atebrin-induced scattering increase is very much greater than the increase observed during photophosphorylation. When uncouplers are combined, the carbonylcyanide phenylhydrazone effect (no change) supercedes both the methylamine effect (swelling) and the atebrin effect (shrinking). The methylamine effect supercedes the atebrin (shrinking) and ethylenediamine tetracetic acid (no change) effects. The atebrin effect supercedes the ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid effect. A similar hierarchy of effects is observed with regard to the rate of the uncoupled electron transport. These light-scattering changes of whole chloroplasts reflect similar changes which occur in very small digitonin particles of chloroplasts. Therefore one must look among chloroplast substructures for the basic mechanism of swelling and shrinking. Many salts (including methylamine hydrochloride) cause the chloroplasts to shrink. This phenomenon is not osmotic since comparable osmolarities of sucrose are without effect. Magnesium chloride and calcium chloride are most effective but all salts tested gave major volume decrease when less than 0.05 m. The salt-shrunken chloroplasts show greater light-scattering changes during electron transport than do low-salt chloroplasts.
Can tasks be inherently boring

Kurzban et al. argue that the experiences of "effort," "boredom," and "fatigue" are indications that the costs of a task outweigh its benefits. Reducing the costs of tasks to "opportunity costs" has the effect of rendering tasks costless and of denying that they can be inherently boring or tedious, something that "vigilance tasks" were intentionally designed to be.
High-grade communications security: reprogrammable technologies for commercial wireless devices

There are two irreversible trends in law enforcement communications today, which are putting contradictory pressures on the need for communications security. The first is the increasing sophistication of the adversary, and the adversary's ability to intercept and monitor wireless communications. The second is law enforcement's increasing reliance on commercial solutions to wireless communications. The providers of commercial solutions do not provide high grades of security being limited by financial feasibility and technical expertise. Exacerbating this situation is the fact that there are only two current alternatives to law enforcement communications security; the traditional DES encryption and the U.S. government's Type 1 high- grade encryption. The former is no longer sufficiently robust against sophisticated adversaries, and the latter is encumbered by restrictions of use. The need is for an encryption technology that combines the advantages of the government's high grade security, with the cost efficiency of a reprogrammable, commercially produced, encryption module. The Harris Secure Products group has research and development underway which will enable such a next generation encryption module, project named Sierra. The Sierra objective is a programmable device, capable of providing Type 1 (U.S. government), Type 3, and Type 4, or a combination thereof. The device also facilitates the necessary voice processing algorithms to support legacy and future equipment. Unlike current Type 1 devices, a module based on Sierra would not be subject to controlled handling procedures when not programmed for Type 1 applications. This allows for law enforcement agencies to downgrade and upgrade their communications equipment appropriate to the adversary, and according to interoperability requirements. This paper will describe the various technologies and techniques being used in the development of the Sierra.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Synthesis and characterization of a film‐forming, crosslinked, amphiphilic block copolymer of butadiene and acrylamide

An amphiphilic block copolymer of acrylamide and butadiene was synthesized by the polymerization of acrylamide in the presence of the crosslinker N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide initiated by a hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene/V(V) macroredox initiator. The product had good film-forming ability. It was characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy, viscosity, swelling, and microhardness measurements, scanning electron micrography, and differential scanning calorimetry. A good film was obtained from the block copolymer with a greater proportion of butadiene; it had greater permeability for nonpolar solvents, and it was poorly permeable to water and other polar solvents. The film swelled in polar and nonpolar solvents and had almost the same capacity for the loading and release of hydrophilic and hydrophobic dyes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3290–3303, 2006
Moment tensor solutions estimated using optimal filter theory: Global seismicity, 1997

Abstract Moment tensor solutions, estimated using optimal filter theory, are listed for 218 moderate-to-large size earthquakes that occurred during 1997.
Observational study of intravenous versus oral corticosteroids for acute asthma: an example of confounding by severity.

Objectives: To demonstrate the problem of ‘‘confounding by severity’’ using the example of intravenous (IV) versus oral corticosteroids for the treatment of acute asthma. Double-blind, randomized trials have clearly demonstrated that IV and oral corticosteroids have comparable efficacy. Methods: Using a standardized protocol, 64 emergency departments enrolled 1,847 patients, aged 18–54 years, with acute asthma. Because route of corticosteroid therapy was not randomized, potential confounders of the association between corticosteroid route and hospital admission were controlled for by multivariate logistic regression and stratification. Results: Among the 1,193 patients, 383 (32%) received IV corticosteroids and 810 (68%) received oral corticosteroids. The two groups differed markedly at baseline, with patients receiving IV corticosteroids having more severe asthma. Overall, patients receiving IV corticosteroids were more likely to be admitted or experience a relapse event within 48 hours (51% vs. 19%; p , 0.001). On multivariate analysis, patients receiving IV corticosteroids remained more likely to be admitted or experience a relapse event within 48 hours (odds ratio = 2.6; 95% confidence interval = 1.2 to 6.0). Conclusions: In this observational study, patients with worse asthma exacerbations were more likely to receive IV corticosteroids as compared with oral corticosteroids. Although we controlled for many markers of asthma severity, we were unable to completely control for baseline differences between the IV and oral corticosteroid groups. Observational research continues to serve as an important tool for describing problems and for understanding many exposure–disease associations. For examining the impact of treatments on adverse outcomes, randomized trials are often required to avoid intractable confounding by severity. Key words: asthma; corticosteroids; confounding by severity. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2005; 12:439–445.
Morphology and toughness characterization of epoxy resins modified with amine and carboxyl terminated rubbers

Abstract The morphology (dispersed phase composition, size distribution, and particle/matrix interface shapes) of epoxy resins modified with 5–15 parts by weight (pbw) of carboxyl (CTBN) and amine (ATBN) terminated butadiene acrylonitrile rubber have been characterized. The characterization techniques were transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and proton and 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance. ATBN modified epoxies have a diffuse-appearing interface between the dispersed rubber phase and the epoxy matrix, in contrast to the sharp boundaries of CTBN particle interfaces. Interface mixing of epoxy and rubber, hypothesized initially to explain the interface diffuseness in ATBN modified epoxy, was not found in either CTBN or ATBN modified epoxy. The difference in interface appearance is attributed to ATBN particles having highly irregular shapes compared to the nearly spherical CTBN particles. Bimodal particle size distributions are observed with both modifiers. Both rubber modifiers also produce essentially identical toughness values which do not increase with rubber content in the range 5–15 pbw despite a commensurate increase in the population of large particles.
A Comparison of Young Children's Understanding of Contradictory Representations in Pretense, Memory, and Belief

The present study examined the nature of young children's understanding of various mental representations. 3- and 4-year-olds were presented with story protagonists who held mental representations (beliefs, pretenses, and memories) that contradicted reality. Subjects chose 1 of 2 alternate “thought pictures” (depicting either the mental representation or reality) that reflected the mental state. While 4-year-olds performed relatively well on all scenario types, 3-year-olds chose the correct thought picture significantly more often for pretense and memory scenarios than for false belief scenarios. These results suggest that young children conceptualize pretense as involving mental representations, and that they have more difficulty understanding contradictory mental representations that purport to correspond to reality.
Thermal transients in a capillary evaporator prior to the initiation of boiling

Abstract A solution for the temperature profile in a cylindrical capillary evaporator subject to a uniform heat flux prior to the initiation of boiling is derived using the Green’s Function method. An approximate solution is also derived for the case in which the evaporator is heated by means of a constant conductance to a heat dissipating device. The results of the analysis allow for the determination of applied power levels for which nucleation is likely to occur only within the vapor grooves of the evaporator while maintaining subcooling in the liquid core, thereby increasing the likelihood of a successful startup. Also, limits are found for which additional increases in the applied heat flux do not increase the temperature difference between the vapor grooves and the wick–liquid core interface. Several advantages of larger diameter evaporators observed experimentally in startup are explained and quantified by the model. This analysis is appropriate for standard capillary pumped loop evaporators during a fully-flooded startup as well as starter pump designs and loop heat pipes.
Temporal structure of motor variability is dynamically regulated and predicts motor learning ability

Individual differences in motor learning ability are widely acknowledged, yet little is known about the factors that underlie them. Here we explore whether movement-to-movement variability in motor output, a ubiquitous if often unwanted characteristic of motor performance, predicts motor learning ability. Surprisingly, we found that higher levels of task-relevant motor variability predicted faster learning both across individuals and across tasks in two different paradigms, one relying on reward-based learning to shape specific arm movement trajectories and the other relying on error-based learning to adapt movements in novel physical environments. We proceeded to show that training can reshape the temporal structure of motor variability, aligning it with the trained task to improve learning. These results provide experimental support for the importance of action exploration, a key idea from reinforcement learning theory, showing that motor variability facilitates motor learning in humans and that our nervous systems actively regulate it to improve learning.
Changes in the Inflammatory Response to Injury and Its Resolution during the Loss of Regenerative Capacity in Developing Xenopus Limbs

Tissue and organ regeneration, unlike development, involves an injury that in postembryonic animals triggers inflammation followed by resolution. How inflammation affects epimorphic regeneration is largely uninvestigated. Here we examine inflammation and its resolution in Xenopus laevis hindlimb regeneration, which declines during larval development. During the first 5 days postamputation, both regeneration-competent stage 53 and regeneration-deficient stage 57 hindlimbs showed very rapid accumulation of leukocytes and cells expressing interleukin-1β and matrix metalloproteinase 9. Expression of genes for factors mediating inflammatory resolution appeared more persistent at stages 55 and 57 than at stage 53, suggesting changes in this process during development. FoxP3, a marker for regulatory T cells, was upregulated by amputation in limbs at all three stages but only persisted at stage 57, when it was also detected before amputation. Expression of genes for cellular reprogramming, such as SALL4, was upregulated in limbs at all 3 stages, but markers of limb patterning, such as Shh, were expressed later and less actively after amputation in regeneration-deficient limbs. Topical application of specific proinflammatory agents to freshly amputated limbs increased interleukin-1β expression locally. With aqueous solutions of the proinflammatory metal beryllium sulfate, this effect persisted through 7 days postamputation and was accompanied by inhibition of regeneration. In BeSO4-treated limbs expression of markers for both inflammation and resolution, including FoxP3, was prolonged, while genes for cellular reprogramming were relatively unaffected and those for limb patterning failed to be expressed normally. These data imply that in Xenopus hindlimbs postamputation inflammation and its resolution change during development, with little effect on cellular dedifferentiation or reprogramming, but potentially interfering with the expression of genes required for blastema patterning. The results suggest that developmental changes in the larval anuran immune system may be involved in the ontogenetic loss of epimorphic regeneration in this system.
Lipolysis and Insulin Sensitivity at Birth in Infants Who Are Large for Gestational Age

Obesity is a major health problem in the Western world. Mean birth weight has increased during the last 25 years. One explanation is that the proportion of large for gestational age (LGA) infants has increased. Such infants risk developing obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes later in life. Despite the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia, their postnatal metabolic adaptation has not been investigated. Our data, obtained with stable isotope labeled compounds, demonstrate that newborn LGA infants have increased lipolysis and decreased insulin sensitivity. After administration of glucagon, the plasma levels of glucose and the rate of glucose production increased. The simultaneous increase in insulin correlated with the decrease in lipolysis, indicating an antilipolytic effect of insulin in these infants.We also demonstrated an intergenerational effect of being born LGA, since women born LGA, were at higher risk of giving birth to LGA infants than women not born LGA. Further, the LGA infants formed three subgroups: born long only, born heavy only, and born both long and heavy. Infants born LGA of women with high birth weight or adult obesity were at higher risk of being LGA concerning weight alone, predisposing to overweight and obesity at childbearing age. In addition we found that pregnant women with gestational diabetes were at increased risk of giving birth to infants that were heavy alone. This could explain the risk of both perinatal complications and later metabolic disease in infants of this group of women.To identify determinants of fetal growth, 20 pregnant women with a wide range of fetal weights were investigated at 36 weeks of gestation. Maternal fat mass was strongly associated with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance was related to glucose production, which correlated positively with fetal size. The variation in resting energy expenditure, which was closely related to fetal weight, was largely explained by BMI, insulin resistance, and glucose production. Lipolysis was not rate limiting for fetal growth in this group of women. Consequently, high maternal glucose production due to a high fat mass may result in excessive fetal growth.
Electron diffraction studies of metal phthalocyanines, MPc, where M=Sn, Mg, and Zn (reinvestigation)

The structure of two metal phthalocyanines, MPc where M=Sn and Mg, have been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction for the first time; furthermore, the structure of ZnPc established earlier by the same technique has been reanalyzed. The focus of these studies is the position of the metal ion relative to the 16-membered C8N8 ring. Tin(II)phthalocyanine we find to be nonplanar with the Sn(II) ion 1.0(1) A above the molecular plane in accordance with its structure in crystal established earlier; the two other molecules were found to be planar. Slight nonplanarity of ZnPc found in the previous study is now removed by a new procedure of structural analysis; this is in accordance with the results of ab initio/DFT calculations for this molecule performed by Pulay. From comparisons presented here we can conclude that there is a close structural similarity of metal phthalocyanines in the gas phase and in crystal.
Can viruses help us to understand and classify the MHC class I molecules at the maternal-fetal interface?

Abstract Placental expression of HLA-C, HLA-E, and HLA-G locus products is now well described. However, to date, the functional relevance of these MHC class I products at the maternal–fetal interface is incompletely described. We propose here that HLA-C, -E, and -G comprise a distinct and cohesive group of MHC class I products. This hypothesis is supported by a growing body of data, including that obtained through the study of viral immune evasion. Continued investigation of viral interactions with MHC class I products promises to help us to define those specific attributes of HLA-C, -E, and -G that define their common characteristics.
Molecular beam infrared spectroscopy and intramolecular dynamics of SF5CCH in the region of the fundamental and first overtone of the acetylenic CH stretch

Abstract We have measured the high resolution spectrum of ethynylsulphurpentafluoride, SF 5 CCH, in both the fundamental and the first overtone of the acetylenic CH stretch in a collimated, supersonic molecular beam. The intramolecular redistribution of vibrational energy is discussed in relation to previous experimental results for other similar molecules and theoretical models. The absence of low order anharmonic resonances and the long (⪢ 1 ns) lifetime derived from the spectra support a previously proposed correlation between these two molecular properties.