cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A data partitioning scheme for spatial regression

Precision agriculture data consisting of crop yield and topographic features are examined with the objective of explaining yield variability as a function of topographic attributes in order to extrapolate this knowledge to unseen agricultural sites. It is demonstrated that random data partitioning into training, validation and test subsets is not appropriate when dealing with agricultural problems characterized with strong spatial data correlation. A simple spatial data partitioning scheme that leads to significantly faster neural network training and slightly better generalization is proposed. Also, integration of predictors formed from spatially partitioned data led to improved generalization over a bagging integration procedure in experiments. The margin between the best spatial model and a trivial predictor for our precision agriculture problem was small indicating that topographic features alone could explain only a small amount of the yield variability.
Surgical treatment of progressive visual loss in traumatic optic neuropathy. Report of two cases.

✓ In two patients with traumatic optic neuropathy progressive visual loss was reversed by surgical decompression of the optic nerve sheath. The first patient with hemorrhage beneath the optic nerve sheath had progressive loss of vision from counting fingers to no light perception within 24 hours after the injury. Surgical evacuation of the hematoma improved visual acuity to 8/30. The second patient had progressive visual loss from 20/20 to 20/400 within the 1st week after injury. Drainage of an arachnoid cyst of the optic nerve sheath improved visual acuity to 20/25. Computerized axial tomography disclosed the hemorrhage in the first case and enlargement of the optic nerve sheath in the second. While the management of traumatic optic neuropathy is controversial, surgical intervention for an arachnoid cyst and hematoma involving the optic nerve is clearly beneficial.
Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer: implications of genetic testing for screening and prophylactic surgery

Approximately 10% of patients with gastric cancer show familial clustering, and 3% show autosomal dominance and high penetrance. Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) is an autosomal-dominant, inherited cancer syndrome in which affected individuals develop diffuse-type gastric cancer at a young age. Inactivating mutations in the E-cadherin gene CDH1 have been identified in 30% to 50% of patients. CDH1 mutation carriers have an approximately 70% lifetime risk of developing DGC, and affected women carry an additional 20% to 40% risk of developing lobular breast cancer. Because endoscopic surveillance is ineffective in identifying early HDGC, gene-directed prophylactic total gastrectomy currently is offered for CDH1 mutation carriers. In series of asymptomatic individuals undergoing total gastrectomy for CDH1 mutations, the removed stomachs usually contain small foci of early DGC, making surgery not prophylactic but curative. The authors of this review recommend consideration of total gastrectomy in CDH1 mutation carriers at an age 5 years younger than the youngest family member who developed gastric cancer. Individuals who choose not to undergo prophylactic gastrectomy should be followed with biannual chromoendoscopy, and women with CDH1 mutations also should undergo regular surveillance with magnetic resonance imaging studies of the breast. Because of the emergence of gene-directed gastrectomy for HDGC, today, a previously lethal disease is detected by molecular techniques, allowing curative surgery at an early stage.
Improved growth of Campylobacter pylori in a biphasic system.

The recovery of Campylobacter pylori from clinical specimens is difficult, even when done with an optimal medium, atmosphere, and temperature. The growth of this organism was investigated by comparing a biphasic system with broth culture. The effects of gyration, inoculum, and pH were studied. Brucella agar and broth supplemented with 2.5% fetal bovine serum were used. Growth in the biphasic system was an average of 2 log units (7 X 10(8) versus 5 X 10(6) CFU/ml) greater than that in the broth system (P less than 0.01), and this occurred 12 to 24 h sooner in the biphasic system. When gyration was added, an average of 1 log unit of growth improvement was seen in comparable systems. Improved growth was also seen with low inoculum levels, in which stationary-phase cells in the broth system reached 10(5) CFU/ml compared with 10(7) CFU/ml in the biphasic system. At the three pH ranges studied, growth was best at pH 8 to 9 (6 X 10(9) CFU/ml), averaging 2 log units greater growth than that at pH 6 to 7 and 4 log units greater growth than that at pH 4.5 to 5.5 (P less than 0.01). The improved recovery of the organism for low inoculum levels in a biphasic system may be important for long-term storage and clinical isolation. Images
Robust performance of sampled-data systems to time-varying uncertainty

Robust performance of sampled-data systems to structured periodic and quasi-periodic uncertainty is considered, and necessary and sufficient conditions are presented. Explicitly computing these related conditions is investigated, specifically in connection with linear matrix inequalities. >
Correlates of Fashion Leadership: Implications for Fashion Process Theory

This paper suggests possible implications of a study of clothing fashion leadership for current sociological theory in regard to the process of fashion diffusion. Theory of the diffusion of innovations was chosen as the framework for the investigation. Fashion innovativeness and fashion opinion leadership were studied in relation to selected social, psychological, and economic variables. Since the test of collective selection occurs in the local social system it would seem appropriate that theories regarding the operation of the fashion process account more fully for the rate and degree of acceptance and rejection of innovations in the local social system, and for the functions of local participants in the process. Does current sociological theory account for diffusion of new ideas, practices, and products as well as their development and selection?
A review and analysis of varve thickness records from glacial Lake Ojibway (Ontario and Quebec, Canada)

Abstract Varve thickness records from glacial Lake Ojibway provide a detailed picture of ice margin dynamics and paleohydrology for the Laurentide Ice Sheet during the early Holocene. The demise of Lake Ojibway occurred when an ice dam of the shrinking Laurentide Ice Sheet failed, perhaps releasing enough freshwater to impede Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and precipitate the 8200 cal BP climatic cooling event. Previously published records and new information from lacustrine sediment cores are combined to reconstruct a varve record over 2100 years long. Between varves numbered 1 to 1500, average rates of ice margin retreat increased from 140 m/y to as high as 400 m/y. Beginning prior to varve year 1800, and lasting to around year 2000, ice readvanced along a front at least 300 km wide during an episode called the Cochrane. The total distance of the advance was at least 75 km, and averaged around 200 m/y. During the advance, a series of ∼50 anomalously thick varves were deposited, the cause of which is uncertain. A widespread unconformity occurred during the end of the Cochrane advance, which was followed at around varve year 2060 by the return of varves, which thicken abruptly. Unlike previous varves, these varves include ice-rafted pellets of Lake Ojibway sediment. These varves may have resulted from rapid melting and calving, rather than a second advance, and may relate to basin re-filling following a lowstand. There are no direct dates on the Lake Ojibway varves, but a sudden increase in varve thickness at year 1528 is a regional stratigraphic marker that may have resulted from glacial sediment and meltwater (including Lake Agassiz overflow), diverted from routes to the Lake Superior basin, into the Lake Ojibway basin. Dates from the Lake Superior basin suggest that the diversion of this water occurred at around 9040 cal BP. Applying this date to varve 1528 constrains the age of the Lake Ojibway varves numbered 1 to 2100 to between 10,570 and 8470 (±200) cal BP.
Effects of feed restriction during organogenesis on embryo-fetal development in rabbit

BACKGROUND: Appropriate maternal nutrition and body weight gain during pregnancy is well established as a major factor in healthy prenatal development in humans. Given the role of nutrition and body weight gain in normal development, pharmaceuticals intended to reduce appetite and promote weight loss will generate developmental toxicity data that may be challenging to interpret. To aid with this, the effects of feed restriction, and subsequent reduction in maternal body weight gain, on embryo-fetal development was investigated in the rabbit. METHODS: Groups of 15 pregnant New Zealand White rabbits were offered 150 (control), 110, 75, 55, 35, and 15 g feed/day from gestation day (GD) 7–19. Cesarean sections were carried out on GD 29 and fetuses were examined for external, visceral, and skeletal development. RESULTS: Maternal body weights at the end of the feed restriction period (GD 20) were 0.97, 0.98, 0.93, 0.94, and 0.86 × control for the 110, 75, 55, 35, and 15 g feed/day groups, respectively. Only at 15 g feed/day was there a net maternal body weight loss (the GD 20 body weight was 0.93 × the GD 6 body weight) at the end of the feed restriction period. Six does aborted in the 15 g feed/day group; there were no other abortions associated with feed restriction. Fetal body weight was significantly reduced at 75, 55, 35, and 15 g feed/day (0.95, 0.90, 0.86, and 0.84 × control, respectively). There were no external or visceral malformations or variations, and no skeletal malformations associated with feed restriction. The incidence of fetuses with sternebrae 5 or 6 unossified was increased at feed levels ≤75 g/day. At a feed level of 35 g/day there was an increase in unossified metatarsals and metacarpals, and an increase in the number of fetuses with a reduced number of caudal vertebrae ossified. Although these findings were not increased at a feed level of 15 g/day, the lack of dose response was likely due to increased abortion and subsequent decrease in fetuses available for evaluation at 15 g feed/day. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that feed restriction to feed levels that produce substantial reductions in maternal body weight gain can result in developmental toxicity expressed by abortion, reduced fetal weight, and alterations in ossification. Abortion only occurred when feed was restricted to an amount that produced maternal body weight loss (15 g feed/day) whereas reduced fetal weight and increased incidence of fetuses with unossified sternebrae, metatarsals, metacarpals, or caudal vertebrae were noted at feed levels of ≤75 g/day. There were no fetal malformations associated with feed restriction. Birth Defects Res B 74:424–430, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Student nurses view an abortion client: attitude and context effects.

The chief findings of the two studies were: (a) both attitudes and case circumstances greatly affected subjects' impressions of the abortion client; (b) there was some evidence to support the hypothesis that, when need for an abortion is more obvious (e.g., woman's health endangered, woman unmarried), the attitudecriterion correlation is relatively lower; (c) however, even in these apparently more urgent situations, attitude had a very substantial effect on the respondent's judgments. A peripheral finding was that religiosity seemed to imitate attitude toward abortion, as a predictor variable, since the former variable related to the criteria (although not as strongly) whenever the latter did.
Spectral Analysis and Linear Prediction of Meteorological Time Series

Abstract A method of estimating the spectral density of the nondeterministic component of a meteorological time series which is uncontaminated by the periodic mean variations is presented. This method does not require knowledge of the mean variations. The estimated spectrum is used to calculate the Wiener-Kolmogoroff prediction constants and to estimate the linear predictability of the series. Examples are given using meteorological and artificially generated time series.
Paradigm development and leadership style of university department chairpersons

This article develops and tests the argument that leadership behavior in organizations can best be understood within a contingency technology-environment model. The major premise of this model is that one of the most influential intervening factors between organizational performance and leadership behavior is either the technology that the organization utilizes or the environment with which the organization interacts. Building upon this premise and the work of Kuhn (1970), four hypotheses are tested concerning the relationship between the effectiveness of natural science and social science departments in American universities using factor analysis. The data supports the conclusion that differential leadership styles are predictable in different scientific fields.
Single‐day dayside density enhancements over Europe: A survey of a half‐century of ionosonde data

[1] With the National Geophysical Data Center's Space Physics Interactive Data Resource (SPIDR), we have collected ionosonde data from stations around the world from 1958 to 2006. The database consists of F-layer peak frequency values (foF2) at hourly intervals (when data are available). We limit our study to midlatitude dayside density peak enhancements; we find that when such features appear, they are usually confined in longitude, being not wider than about 60–90 degrees, or 4–6 hours of local time. In this paper, we look only at enhancements over Europe, as data coverage is superior there. We define a “single-day enhancement” and search the European sector of the database for such occurrences, finding 890 events during the 49-year period. The frequency of occurrence of these events is seen to be anticorrelated with the solar activity cycle. There is also a seasonal distribution, with more events during the equinox months and the fewest during winter. We examine the geomagnetic activity levels on the days of the enhancements and find that a majority of the events are associated with small or moderate geomagnetic disturbances. Most of these disturbances are not large enough to be called “storms”; in many cases, there is a Dst drop of just 20–40 units or a Kp increase to a level of 3 or 4. These disturbances are not intense enough to cause a storm negative phase, but in many cases they are sufficient to bring about a dayside ionospheric density enhancement of 50% or more.
Misregulated E-cadherin expression associated with an aggressive brain tumor phenotype.

Background Cadherins are essential components of the adherens junction complexes that mediate cell-cell adhesion and regulate cell motility. During tissue morphogenesis, changes in cadherin expression (known as cadherin switching) are a common mechanism for altering cell fate. Cadherin switching is also common during epithelial tumor progression, where it is thought to promote tumor invasion and metastasis. E-cadherin is the predominant cadherin expressed in epithelial tissues, but its expression is very limited in normal brain. Methodology/Principal Findings We identified E-cadherin expression in a retrospective series of glioblastomas exhibiting epithelial or pseudoepithelial differentiation. Unlike in epithelial tissues, E-cadherin expression in gliomas correlated with an unfavorable clinical outcome. Western blotting of two panels of human GBM cell lines propagated either as xenografts in nude mice or grown under conventional cell culture conditions confirmed that E-cadherin expression is rare. However, a small number of xenograft lines did express E-cadherin, its expression correlating with increased invasiveness when the cells were implanted orthotopically in mouse brain. In the conventionally cultured SF767 glioma cell line, E-cadherin expression was localized throughout the plasma membrane rather than being restricted to areas of cell-cell contact. ShRNA knockdown of E-cadherin in these cells resulted in decreased proliferation and migration in vitro. Conclusions/Significance Our data shows an unexpected correlation between the abnormal expression of E-cadherin in a subset of GBM tumor cells and the growth and migration of this aggressive brain tumor subtype.
An Evaluation of the Ensemble Averaged Impedance Cardiogram

The ensemble averaged impedance cardiogram was evaluated during rest and during vocal mental arithmetic stress in samples of female (n=17) and male (n=40) undergraduates. Measures of myocardial performance determined from ensemble averaged signals were compared to those determined by simple beat-to-beat averaging over 60-s and 20-s sampling intervals. In addition, the influence of cardiac interval variability on dZ/dt amplitude measures was assessed. As expected, measures derived by the two averaging techniques corresponded closely, with correlations ranging from r=0.882 to r=1.000 for the 60-s sampling intervals, and from r=0.726 to r=1.000 for the 20-s sampling intervals. Inverse relationships of comparable magnitude were found between cardiac interval variability and dZ/dt amplitude measures determined by both averaging techniques, suggesting that these relationships did not result simply from artifacts introduced by the ensemble averaging technique. The results support the validity of ensemble averaging as a method for deriving impedance cardiographic measures of myocardial performance.
Possible chemical contribution from chromic gut sutures produces disorders of pain sensation like those seen in man

Recently, it has been reported that loosely constrictive chromic gut ligatures around the sciatic nerve produce behavioral evidence of neuropathic pain in rats. It has been shown that axonal swelling after ligation results in a constriction injury associated with a decrease in the number of both large-diameter myelinated and small-diameter unmyelinated axons, but the mechanism(s) producing spontaneous pain and thermal hyperalgesia remain largely unknown. The present study systematically evaluated potential mechanisms involved in development of the behavioral changes produced by chromic gut ligatures loosely tied around the sciatic nerve. Four ligatures of either silk (4-0), plain gut (4-0), or chromic gut (4-0, 3-0, or 2-0) were placed loosely around the left sciatic nerve of male Sprague-Dawley rats. An additional group of rats had 8 x 0.5 cm sections of 4-0 chromic gut laid adjacent to the left sciatic nerve. The right sciatic nerve was exposed in all rats for sham surgery. The posture and gait of all rats was qualitatively assessed before (day 0) and for 20-30 days after surgery. Rats were tested for evidence of thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia prior to surgery, and on postoperative days 3, 5, 10, 20 and, in some groups, on day 30. Chromic gut, but not plain gut or silk, ligatures placed around or laid next to the sciatic nerve produced an alteration in the posture of rats such that most of the pressure was placed on the heel and medial aspect of the left (ligated) hind paw with the toes held together and plantar-flexed while pressure appeared to be evenly distributed on the right (sham) hind paw. As a result, a pronounced limp was evident, often with the left hind paw held in the air for prolonged periods of time during the first few days after surgery. These postural changes were most pronounced in the 2-0 and 3-0 chromic gut-treated rats. Chromic gut sutures (4-0, 3-0, or 2-0) tied loosely around the left sciatic nerve also produced a 'dose-dependent' decrease in thermal withdrawal latency that was maximal on postoperative day 3 (25%, 39%, and 41%, respectively). The magnitude of the thermal hyperalgesia declined over time such that a return to baseline was observed by postoperative day 20 in 4-0 and 3-0 chromic gut-treated rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
39 DEVELOPMENTAL/NEUROLOGY/FOLLOW-UP

In the last few years we have been able to produce a large body of evidences that ARA-C is capable of inducing neuronal differentiation of human neuroblasts in vitro. Three different human neuroblastoma (NB) cell lines have been tested with ARA-C, LAN-1, LAN-5 and Gl-ME-N. ARA-C actually modifies both surface and cytoskelcton markers' expression while inducing substained morphologic differentiation of all three NB cell lines. Specifically, ARA-C induces concentration, dependent growth inhibition, neurite sprouting, and neurofilaments expression in Gl-ME-N cells, while decreasing the level of membrane antigens specific for neuroblast cells. The maximum effect was obtained using a dose as low as 0.1 mgml. Similar modifications were recorded inducing bolh LAN-1 and LAN-5 human NB cells with ARA-C. The fact that ARA-C treatment of human NB cells started one day after plating with no subsequent decrease in cell viability in the cultures, strongly suggests that its effects were not the result of selection of more differentiated cells by differences in plating efficiency or ARA-C cytotoxicity. This conclusion was supported by time-lapse pholomycroscopic observations, which clearly showed individual ARA-C treated NB cells undergoing morphologic differentiation. The results rise the suspicious that the interpretation of ARA-C mechanisms of action on P19 carcinoembrional cells is overscmplicistic. We actually do not thing thai “…one can sclectively enrich for neurons by treating the induced culture with the antimetabolyte ARA-C” as suggested by Chung JJM et al. (Cell 64, 189-200, 1991). In fact, as previously demonstrated by our group, ARA-C is not onlv capable of arrest the overgrowing of non-neuronal cells, but is actively capable of pushing neuroblast cells along the neuronal differentiation pathway.
An economic analysis of leasebacks

Leaseback decisions by firms involve the simultaneous sale of an asset and a lease agreement with the new owner. Examination of 64 leaseback decisions made by firms during 1979–1987 reveals a significant negative announcement effect. We present a theoretical framework in which all firms prefer to leaseback when there is symmetric information. When there is asymmetry of information between the manager and the market, however, firms with favorable prospects prefer to own the asset. Firms with poor prospects choose to leaseback and capture the associated depreciation tax shield through the sale. Our empirical results indicate that, besides the significant negative announcement effect, firms proposing a leaseback earn negative returns in the three months prior to the announcement. We monitor the performance of these firms for five years after the leaseback decision and compare it to five years before the announcement. There is a significant drop in operating performance as indicated by several key variables such as operating earnings before depreciation and pretax earnings. This is consistent with the hypothesis that firms choose to leaseback when faced with unfavorable future prospects.
Understanding Wet Skid Resistance Testing with the British Pendulum Skid Tester: Analysis of Sliding Noise from Various Filled Compounds

The British pendulum skid tester (BPST) has been widely adopted for laboratory characterization of wet skid resistance (WSR) for rubber compounds. However, testing results are not yet well explained with material properties. For filled compounds made of the same styrene-butadiene rubber, on a Portland cement concrete surface wetted with water, WSR for compounds filled with inorganic oxides is higher than WSR for compounds filled with carbon black at the same filler volume fraction. However, such difference in WSR is eliminated under ethanol lubrication. Difference in WSR remains under ethanol lubrication between compounds filled with a reinforcing filler and compounds filled with a nonreinforcing filler. Accepting that dynamic deformation of rubber occurs in the frequency range between 10 3 and 10 6 Hz during testing with the BPST, loss tangent for the compounds is measured at various low temperatures but fails to correlate with WSR detected under water lubrication. Modification of bulk viscoelasticity from ethanol absorption should not be neglected for consideration of WSR under ethanol lubrication. During testing with the BPST, sliding noise generated by the assemblage of the spring and lever system in the pendulum with a rubber slider attached is captured under varied lubrication conditions. Both viscoelastic properties of rubber compounds and lubrication condition significantly affect sliding noise. However, no strict correlation between the intensity of sliding noise and WSR is observed. From frequency domain analysis, major components of the sliding noise lie in the frequency range between 500 and 5000 Hz for most compounds. For better understanding on testing with the BPST, modes of material deformation during dynamic sliding on a wet rough surface need to be further scrutinized.
Spin wave dispersion and energy bands in fcc metals

The spin wave dispersion along the principal axis directions from the center to the surface of the Brillouin zone is studied numerically for the fee metals, the study being based on the 3d energy bands of nickel as calculated by Hanus. The dispersion dependence on the splitting between the up- and down-spin bands and on the magnitude of the interatomic exchange is given. Fourier analysis of the dispersion curves indicates that an effective exchange interaction is long range. It is also found that for sufficiently large interatomic exchange, the spin wave spectrum intersects the continuum of single particle excitations and that the single particle excitations will be thermally excited at temperatures well below the Curie point. Using experimental spin wave mass values for the nickel-copper alloys, the results of this dispersion calculation indicate that the splitting between the up- and down-spin bands decreases more rapidly with increasing copper than does the effective number of Bohr magnetons per atom. This implies that the effective band splitting interaction is alloy dependent.
On the Observation of Charged Dust in the Tropical Mesosphere

The very first instrument launched to study charged dust in the tropical mesosphere detected a thick layer of fine dust (radius ? 10,nm) near the mesopause. While the dust in the thinner lower part of the layer carried a negative charge the dust in the thicker upper part carried a positive charge (Gelinas et al 1998). While the negative charge on the dust was expected, the positive charge was not because the observation was half hour after local astronomical sunset. The observers sought to resolve the problem by suggesting that the positive grains were still carrying their pre-sunset positive charge acquired by photoemission. Here we reinvestigate that proposal and suggest an alternative mechanism to explain the positive charge on the upper grains. Central to our proposal is the recognition that micrometeoroids that enter the earth's atmosphere at sufficient entry speeds, even on the night side, acquire substantial positive charges due to thermionic electron emission high up in the mesosphere before they start ablating in the mesopause region. We also explain why the dust in the lower part of the observed region carried a negative charge.
A systematic method for selecting roller shade properties for glare protection

Abstract Currently, there is no methodical procedure for selecting solar-optical properties of roller shades, which affect the energy and indoor environmental performance of perimeter building zones. This paper presents a new systematic methodology for identifying the range of shading properties (openness factor and visible transmittance) that can significantly reduce the risk of glare. A model that calculates angular beam–beam and beam–diffuse shading optical properties using minimum inputs is used within a hybrid ray-tracing and radiosity daylighting model, validated with full-scale experiments. The temporal variation of beam and total vertical illuminance is used to define the annual visual discomfort frequency and establish a process for selecting the range of acceptable shading properties for each set of external parameters (location, orientation, glazing visible transmittance, and buffer zone). The combined impact of visible transmittance and openness factor on discomfort frequency and daylight metrics is non-linear and complex. Recommendations for openness factors and visible transmittance values are made for different scenarios. Selecting the upper limits of suggested ranges can provide more daylight into the space and reduce the probability of high contrast. These guidelines may be used for selection of shading products, followed by considerations about energy savings and provision of outside view.
Federal Reserve financial crisis lending programs and bank stock returns.

Abstract We use an E-GARCH model to estimate the wealth effects of Federal Reserve lending during the financial crisis to Investment banks (I-Banks), “Too Big to Fail” (TBTF) banks, and “traditional” commercial banks. Borrowing from the Term Auction Facility program has negative wealth effects for all banks and I-banks in particular. We also find that the market view of the liquidity programs changed across the sample sub-periods. I-Bank and TBTF bank borrowing from the discount window is initially viewed positively, however continued use of the discount window and the Term Auction Facility was generally (though not universally) viewed negatively. Commercial Paper Funding Facility program participation is consistently positive only for traditional banks and programs that focus on the purchase of specific securities (e.g., commercial paper) to address specific problems also appear to primarily benefit traditional banks. The inconsistency of results across the time periods of the crisis is telling as market participants struggled to discern what access to these programs meant.
Compensation of surface plasmon loss by gain in dielectric medium

It has been experimentally shown that absorption loss in metal, which causes damping of localized surface plasmons (SPs) and propagating surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), can be compensated by optical gain in dye-doped dielectric media adjacent to a metallic surface. In particular, (i) six-fold increase of Rayleigh scattering caused by an enhancement of SP resonance in aggregated metallic nanoparticles, (ii) significant elongation of the propagation length of SPPs by gain, and (iii) stimulated emission of SPPs has been demonstrated. The obtained results pave the road to many applications of nanoplasmonics and metamaterials.
Locus of Control, Task Expectancies, and Children’s Performance following Failure

AbstractThis study examined (a) the effect of failure feedback on the task performance of fifth grade students who had scored high or low on a locus of control measure, and (b) the relationship of accurate expectancies and performance. Results showed that failure feedback increased the performance of all students, both internals and externals, compared to a no-feedback control group. Contrary to prediction, accurate expectancies were not a significant correlate of task performance.
Sulfur Dioxide in the Atmosphere of Venus: I. Sounding Rocket Observations

Abstract In this paper we present ultraviolet reflectance spectra obtained during two sounding rocket observations of Venus made during September 1988 and March 1991. We describe the sensitivity of the derived reflectance to instrument calibration and show that significant artifacts can appear in the spectrum as a result of using separate instruments to observe both the planetary radiance and the solar irradiance. We show that surfur dioxide is the primary special absorber in the 190-230 nm region and that the range of altitudes probed by these wavelengths is very sensitive to incidence and emission angles. In a following paper Na et al. (1994, Icarus 112, 389-395) show that sulfur monoxide features are also present in these data. Accurate identification and measurement of additional species require observations in which both the planetary radiance and the solar irradiance are measured with the same instrument. The instrument used for these observations is uniquely suited for obtaining large phase angle coverage and for studying transient atmospheric events on Venus because it can observe targets within 18° of the Sun while Earth-orbiting instruments are restricted to solar elongation angles ≥ 45°.
Sensitivity of Candida Albicans Biofilm Cells Grown on Denture Acrylic to Antifungal Proteins and Chlorhexidine

Abstract Objectives Candida albicans cells form biofilms on polymeric surfaces of dentures and other prostheses introduced into the oral cavity. Many biofilm microorganisms exhibit resistance to antimicrobial agents; C. albicans cells may also develop resistance to naturally occurring antifungal peptides in human saliva including histatins (Hsts) and defensins (hBDs). Therefore, we evaluated Hst 5 activity on C. albicans biofilm cells compared to planktonic cells and measured whether surface treatment of denture acrylic with Hst 5, hBD-3, or chlorhexidine gluconate could inhibit in vitro biofilm development. Methods Acrylic disks were preconditioned with 500 μl saliva for 30 min, and inoculated with C. albicans cells (106 cells/ml) for 1 h, at 37 °C. Non-adherent cells were removed by washing and disks and were incubated in YPD growth medium for 24, 48, and 72 h at 37 °C. Candidacidal assays were performed on 48-h-biofilms and on planktonically grown cells using Hst 5 (15.5, 31.25, and 62 μM). Cell adhesion was compared on disks pre-coated with 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate, 50 μM Hst 5, or 0.6 μM hBD-3 after 24, 48, and 72 h growth. Results No significant difference was observed in sensitivity to Hst 5 of biofilm cells compared to planktonic cells (p > 0.05). Pre-coating disks with hBD-3 did not inhibit biofilm development; however, Hst 5 significantly inhibited biofilm development at 72 h, while 0.12% chlorhexidine significantly inhibited biofilm development at all time intervals (p Conclusions C. albicans biofilm cells grown on denture acrylic are sensitive to killing by Hst 5. Surface coating acrylic with chlorhexidine or Hst 5 effectively inhibits biofilm growth and has potential therapeutic application.
Applying the technology acceptance model in a two-country study of SMS advertising

Abstract Short message service (SMS) allows marketers to interact directly with target consumers at specific times and locations via their mobile phones. Using a modified technology acceptance model, this study examines factors that influence consumers' acceptance of SMS advertising. Data were collected in the U.S. and Korea to test the conceptual model and the cross-cultural validity of the measurement scales. The findings suggest that these scales are valid in the two national contexts. The usefulness construct is important to establish consumers' favorable attitudes toward acceptance of SMS ads in both countries. Young Korean consumers' attitudes toward SMS ads are more positive than their American counterparts. Although social influence has no effect on Korean consumers' attitudes toward acceptance, it does show a positive relationship with American consumers' attitudes. This study reveals that consumers' acceptance of SMS ads does differ in the two culturally distinctive countries.
Vestibular compensation after ganglionectomy: ultrastructural study of the tangential vestibular nucleus and behavioral study of the hatchling chick.

The tangential nucleus is a major part of the avian vestibular nuclear complex, and its principal cells are structurally distinctive neurons participating in the vestibuloocular and vestibulocollic reflexes. After unilateral peripheral vestibular lesion, a behavioral recovery of function defined as vestibular compensation is observed. Because sprouting and hypertrophy of synapses have been reported in other regions of immature animals after central nervous system injury, we investigated whether this also occurs in the vestibular nuclei during compensation. To test this hypothesis, unilateral vestibular ganglionectomy was performed on 4-6-day-old hatchlings and vestibular function was tested during the next 2 months. Degeneration and evidence for regeneration of synapses were studied in the tangential nucleus at 1, 3, 7, and 56 days after surgery. Spoon endings, large vestibular terminals on the principal somata, degenerated 1-3 days after surgery. However, the small synaptic terminals showed no significant change in the percentage or number covering the soma or in mean terminal lengths in the deafferented or contralateral tangential nucleus. Furthermore, there was no evidence of neuron death in the tangential nucleus. Vestibular compensation occurred in three stages: 0-3 days, when vestibular synapses degenerated and severe behavioral deficits were seen; 4-9 days, when primary vestibular fibers degenerated centrally and marked improvement in both the static and the dynamic symptoms were observed; and 10-56 days, when changes in neuronal morphology were not detected but the dynamic symptoms gradually improved. Accordingly, after unilateral vestibular ganglionectomy, vestibular compensation proceeded without ultrastructural evidence of sprouting or hypertrophy of axosomatic synapses in the hatchling tangential nucleus. This rapid behavioral recovery of function distinguishes the vestibular system from other sensory systems, which, in general, exhibit much less robust recovery after injury to their peripheral receptors.
Heat Flux Distributions in Wind-Aided Flame Spread

Abstract In this article the heat flux distributions in idealized wind-aided flame spread are determined. The surface heat flux and the surface temperature can be found by numerically solving an integral equation. Algebraic expressions independent of the free stream velocity and the oxygen mass fraction are obtained for the surface heat fluxes. The ratio of total surface heat flux in the under-flame zone to that in the pre-flame zone is found as a function of the pyrolysis and flame-front speeds. In addition, the fractions of the total flame heat release that appear as heat fluxes to the pyrolysis region and to the preheating region are determined. An analytical expression is also obtained for the excess pyrolyzate.
Effect of fluoride, iodoacetic acid, penicillin, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and dehydroacetic acid on certain oral bacteria of white rats fed a smooth surface caries diet: preliminary report

There have been numerous studies of the oral bacteria of the rat and their relation to the presence of dental caries. A num­ ber of these studies indicate that there are changes in the oral lactobacillus popula­ tion in rats receiving caries potentiating or inhibiting agents.1’8 Since most of these studies have pertained to occlusal caries, it appeared of interest to study the oral flora of rats in relation to the develop­ ment of smooth surface caries. Recently a number of studies have appeared rela­ tive to a type of smooth surface caries produced extensively in white rats par­ ticularly by diets containing processed skim milk powders.9'17 This study pertains, therefore, to certain oral bacteria of rats receiving a cariogenic skim milk powder diet alone, and modified respectively by fluoride, iodoacetate, penicillin, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate (SLS) and dehydro­ acetic acid (D H A ).
A Comparison of Exact Approaches for Solving the Multiple Constrained Resource, Project Scheduling Problem

A recurring problem in managing project activity involves the allocation of scarce resources to the individual activities comprising the project Resource conflict resolution decisions must be made whenever the concurrent demand for resources by the competing activities of a project exceeds resource availability. When these resource conflict resolution decisions arise, project managers seek direction on which activities to schedule and which to delay in order that the resulting increase in project duration is the minimum that can be achieved with the given resource availabilities. The procedures examined in this paper are all designed to provide for this type of decision support. Each procedure examined is enumerative based, methodically searching the set of possible solutions in such a way that not all possibilities need be considered individually. The methods differ in the manner in which the tree representing partial schedules is generated and is saved, and differ in the methods which are used to identify and discard inferior partial schedules. Each procedure was found to be generally superior on a specific class of problems, and these classes are identified.
Part input into a flexible flow system: An evaluation of look-ahead simulation and a fuzzy rule base

This article reports an investigation into part-input methods for an implemented flexible flow system (FFS). Two new dynamic methods—look-ahead simulation and a fuzzy heuristic rule base—are compared to three simple myopic static sequencing rules and one dynamic rule. It is shown using simulation that for the existing system, the best sequence generated from the minimum production set performs very well, but the dynamic methods outperform the sequence when the system is modified and the sequence is unaltered. It is concluded that for a stable FFS, the static determination of the best input sequence is appropriate, but that a rapidly changing FFS—due to machine breakdown, changes in production requirements, etc.—may benefit from a dynamic part-input method. The look-ahead simulation outperforms the fuzzy rule base, and appears to be a more promising dynamic method. Suggestions for future research and evaluation are given.
On finite plastic flows of compressible materials with internal friction

For finite plastic deformations of porous metals and geotechnical materials such as cohesionless or cohesive soils, a theory is developed which accounts for plastic volumetric changes, pressure sensitivity, and microscopic frictional effects, and therefore involves a nonassociative flow rule. This development is based on a systematic modification of the usual J2-flow potential and yield function. It is shown that a number of specialized, recently developed plasticity theories are special cases of the theory presented here. For illustration, the problem of triaxial testing of cohesionless sands or cohesive soils is analyzed in detail, and it is shown that the theory gives many of the experimentally observed responses of this kind of materials under monotone loading conditions. Finally, the simple shear test is examined, and possible application of the theory to stable and unstable fault motions, is mentioned.
Human Activities & the Emergence of Pathogens

The least movement is of importance to all nature. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble . –– Blaise Pascal Many infectious diseases were unknown to hunter and gatherer populations, in which the small size of groups, combined with their nomadic lifestyle, did not favor the establishment and transmission of human pathogens (Greger, 2007). The formation of larger human settlements that accompanied the development of agriculture, their proximity to species that were intentionally domesticated or unintentionally attracted by food, and the use of natural fertilizers that allowed microbial development are among the factors that shaped the emergence of infectious diseases. Measles originated from a related virus that infects sheep and goats, while smallpox and influenza were linked to the domestication of camels and waterfowl (Greger, 2007). As a result of human activities, certain pathogens, normally limited to other species, gained the ability to cross species barriers and subsequently became established in humans. A relevant example is illustrated by farming practices in southern China, where swine are often raised in proximity to ducks, geese, and humans. The overlapping habitats enable influenza virus …
"Lorenzo's oil" therapy for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy: rationale and current assessment of efficacy.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a genetic disorder that damages the nervous system and is associated with the accumulation of saturated very long chain fatty acids (SVLCFA). Oral administration of “Lorenzo’s oil” (LO), a 4:1 mixture of glyceryl trioleate and glyceryl trierucate, normalizes the SVLCFA levels in plasma, but its clinical efficacy and the clinical indications for its use have been controversial for more than 15 years. We review the biochemical effects of LO administration and the rationale for its use and present a current appraisal of its capacity to reduce the risk for the childhood cerebral phenotype when administered to asymptomatic boys and to slow progression of adrenomyeloneuropathy in patients without cerebral involvement. We also present current efforts to provide definitive evaluation of its clinical efficacy and discuss its possible role in the new therapeutic opportunities that will arise if newborn screening for X-ALD is validated and implemented.
Parity Influences the Difficulty of Simple Addition and Subtraction but Not Multiplication Problems in Children

Summary.—In the present paper, the results of early 20th century studies of children's difficulties with basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems are analyzed for parity effects. Parity influenced the difficulty of addition and subtraction problems, tasks in which any parity influence must be implicit, but did not influence difficulty of multiplication problems. Solution of multiplication problems relies to a greater extent on retrieval of rote-memorized answers. Addition and subtraction problems rely more on non-retrieval strategies. It is these latter strategies that depend on internal representations sensitive to the parity status of the numbers being processed. That parity affected responding in tasks where parity was irrelevant and no overt motor responses were made poses problems for the Markedness of Response Codes (MARC) and polarity explanations of parity effects in reaction time. Both these explanations require that an explicit parity judgment indicated by a binary motor response...
Preventing food allergy: Emerging technologies

Food allergy represents a largely avoidable threat. Technologies are presently available or are under development that better define the molecules (allergens) responsible for food allergy, better detect the presence of allergens, and can reduce or even eliminate specific allergens from the food supply. The incidence of food allergy and fatal anaphylaxis triggered by food allergens is expected to decline as a result of the application of a combination of key technologies such as biotechnology, bioinformatics and immunodiagnostics, and of the Internet, as well as following the development of well-defined science-based public health policies.