cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pressure Dependence of the Radical Densities in Fluorocarbon Discharges

The density of chemically active species generated in fluorocarbon plasmas is pressure dependent. It was found for some data in the literature that the pressure divided by the density is linear to the pressure squared. In order to approach such a linear relation, generation and loss processes of chemically active species in the reactor were considered in terms of the pressure. On this basis, a mathematical model for describing the density of chemically active species was derived as a function of the pressure, and the data presented in the literature were analyzed based on this model. The linear relation between (pressure/density) and (pressure). 2 according to the model, indicates that the decay rate of a chemically active species by gas-phase reactions is directly proportional to the pressure, and that the rate of decay at the surface of the reactor walls is inversely proportional to the pressure. The calculated sticking coefficients based on the model agreed well with that reported in the literature. For the case where the recombination between F atoms and CF 2 radicals is dominant, the reaction rate constant was estimated to be 1.40 × 10 -12 cm 3 s -1 for a CF 4 plasma and 2.63 × 10 -13 cm 3 s -1 for a CHF 3 plasma.
The effects of hypnotic and nonhypnotic imaginative suggestion on pain.

Background: Few studies have compared placebo and suggested pain reduction.Purpose: Hypnotic and nonhypnotic imaginative analgesia suggestions were compared against a placebo in reducing experimental pain. The mediator role of response expectancies and the moderator role of hypnotic and nonhypnotic imaginative suggestibility were evaluated.Methods: Sixty participants previously assessed for hypnotic and nonhypnotic imaginative suggestibility were assigned to one of two experimental conditions or a no-treatment control condition. In the “placebo first” condition, participants received placebo, followed by imaginative and then hypnotic analgesia suggestions. In the “placebo last” condition, participants received imaginative and then hypnotic suggestions, followed by placebo.Results: Imaginative and hypnotic suggestions did not differ significantly and were more effective than no treatment in reducing pain. The placebo was no different from the analgesia suggestions and was more effective than no treatment, but only when administered after the suggestions. Pain reduction was mediated by expectancy but was not significantly related to suggestibility or hypnotizability, the latter operationalized as hypnotic suggestibility with imaginative suggestibility statistically controlled.Conclusions: In the general population, nonhypnotic imaginative suggestions may be as effective as hypnotic suggestions in reducing pain. Response expectancies would seem to be an important mechanism of placebo and suggested pain reduction.
The future of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in metabolic profiling and metabolomic studies for biomarker discovery

The future utility of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) in metabolic profiling and metabolomic studies for biomarker discovery is discussed, beginning with a brief description of the evolution of metabolomics and the utilization of the three most popular analytical platforms in such studies: nuclear magnetic resonance, gas chromatography-MS and LC–MS. Emphasis is placed on recent developments in high-efficiency LC separations, sensitive electrospray ionization approaches and the benefits of incorporating both in LC–MS-based approaches. The advantages and disadvantages of various quantitative approaches are reviewed, followed by the current LC–MS-based tools available for candidate biomarker characterization and identification. Finally, a brief prediction on the future path of LC–MS-based methods in metabolic profiling and metabolomic studies is given.
Meeting Report: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Studies of Human Cognition

A James S. McDonnell Foundation workshop examined the role of TMS in studies of human cognition. A summary of the workshop presentations, discussion, and the recommendations appear below. A selected reference list is provided at the end of the summary.
Wireless power recharging for implantable bladder pressure chronic monitoring

This paper presents a wireless power recharging system design for implantable bladder pressure chronic monitoring application. The power recharging system consists of an external 6-turn 15-cm-diameter powering coil and a silicone-encapsulated implantable spiral coil with a dimension of 7 mm × 17 mm × 2.5 mm and 18 turns, which encloses a 3-mm-diameter 12-mm-long rechargeable battery, two ferrite rods, an ASIC and a tuning capacitor. The ferrite rods are employed to improve the quality factor of the implantable coil. For a constant charging current of 100 μA, an RF power of 700 μW needs to be coupled into the implantable microsystem through tuned coil loops. With the two coils aligned coaxially or with a tilting angle of 30° and 6 cm offset in coils axes, an external power of 3.5W or 10W is required, respectively, for a large coupling distance of 20 cm at an optimal frequency of 3 MHz. The ASIC implemented in a 1.5 μm CMOS process can provide on-chip rectification for an incoming RF signal and generate a scalable charging current with logic control capability for battery recharging.
Resource utilization in mixed-sex dyads: The influence of adult presence and task type

This study explores the effects of context on cross-sex dominance. An emerging finding in the sex differences literature is that boys are often more successful than girls at influencing members of the other gender. As a result, boys tend to get more than their share of a scarce resource in mixed-sex situations. Because the presence of adults inhibits just those strategies that boys use successfully when dominating girls, we hypothesize that the presence of an adult will reduce or eliminate the sex difference in access to a scarce resource. This should be particularly true for tasks in which boys' strategies are most likely to be effective. To test this hypothesis, dominance (as evidenced by asymmetry in gaining access to a scarce resource) was measured while 48 boy-girl pairs, ranging in age from 42 to 60 months, negotiated turn taking at a movie viewer in either the presence or absence of an adult (adult location factor) in a situation that either did or did not require the cooperation of the second child in order to see cartoons (task type factor). For the cooperative task, neither sex significantly dominated the other in either the presence or absence of the adult. In contrast, for the competitive task, boys dominated in the absence of the adult. When the adult was present, however, boys and girls shared more equally. An examination of the strategies children used in the competitive task indicated that boys were inhibited in the adult's presence, dropping their rate of demands and giving girls longer turns. Implications for gender segregation and for sex differences in seeking proximity to adults are discussed.
Stereotactic radiosurgery for pediatric intracranial arteriovenous malformations: the University of California at San Francisco experience.

Object. Stereotactic radiosurgery for arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is an accepted treatment option, but few reports have been published on the results of this treatment in children. In this study the authors describe a series of pediatric patients with a minimum follow-up duration of 36 months. Methods. From 1991 to 1997, 40 children (26 boys and 14 girls) with AVMs were treated with radiosurgery at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). Follow-up information was available for 31 children (20 boys and 11 girls) in whom the median age at initial treatment was 11.2 years (range 3.4–17.5 years). The median follow-up duration was 60 months (range 6–99 months). Sixteen percent of the AVMs were Spetzler—Martin Grade II; 68%, Grade III; 10%, Grade IV; and 6%, Grade V. The mean volume of the AVMs was 5.37 cm3 and the median volume was 1.6 cm3. The mean marginal dose of radiation was 16.7 Gy and the median dose was 18 Gy (range 12–19 Gy). Angiography performed in 26 children confirmed oblitera...
A Comprehensive Study of Clinical Biomarkers, Use of Inotropic Medications and Fluid Resuscitation in Newborns with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated clinical outcomes in PPHN in relation to echocardiographic (EC) markers, score of neonatal acute physiology, perinatal extension, version II (SNAPPE II) scores, inotropic agent use, and the amount of fluid received as boluses. In this retrospective chart analysis of 98 neonates with PPHN born at >34 weeks' gestation, we compared two cohorts of newborns: those who received inhaled nitric oxide and mechanical ventilation only, and who survived to discharge (Group 1); and those who required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or who died (Group 2). Of 21 EC parameters assessed, seven were significantly different between Group 1 and Group 2. Eleven (24.4%) newborns in Group 2 had decreased left ventricular (LV) function, compared with three (5.1%) in Group 1 (p = 0.011). Median SNAPPE II scores were significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (p < 0.001). Newborns in Group 2 also received a significantly higher amount of fluid as boluses during the first 7 days of hospitalization compared with Group 1 (p = 0.018). Following logistic regression analysis, only the difference in total SNAPPE II score retained statistical significance (p < 0.001); however, the total amount of fluid administered as boluses trended higher (p = 0.087) for newborns in Group 2. Our findings show that SNAPPE II scores may help guide counseling for parents of newborns with PPHN regarding the likelihood of death or the need for ECMO. Limiting fluid boluses may improve outcomes in newborns with high SNAPPE II scores and decreased LV function.
The value of axillary dissection in T1a breast cancer.

Background Some authors have stated the undesirability of axillary lymph node dissections for very small breast cancers, because so few of their patients have lymph node metastases (3% for T1a lesions in one series). Methods Of 6,308 breast cancer cases reviewed from three large urban hospitals 3,077 single primary cases with both axillary dissection and accurate tumor measurements were statistically analyzed. Results For T1a lesions we found axillary metastases to be four times higher (12%) than others have reported. For each tumor size there was a statistically significant difference in the percentage of axillary metastases. There was also a statistically significant difference in the breast cancer-specific survival of patients with different tumor sizes (n = 3,077) at the 3-year, 5-year, 7-year, and 10-year periods. Conclusion These results justify axillary node dissections even for very small invasive cancers of the breast, particularly for invasive ductal histology.
Cardiac hypertrophy with preserved contractile function after selective deletion of GLUT4 from the heart

Glucose enters the heart via GLUT1 and GLUT4 glucose transporters. GLUT4-deficient mice develop striking cardiac hypertrophy and die prematurely. Whether their cardiac changes are caused primarily by GLUT4 deficiency in cardiomyocytes or by metabolic changes resulting from the absence of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue is unclear. To determine the role of GLUT4 in the heart we used cre-loxP recombination to generate G4H–/– mice in which GLUT4 expression is abolished in the heart but is present in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Life span and serum concentrations of insulin, glucose, FFAs, lactate, and β-hydroxybutyrate were normal. Basal cardiac glucose transport and GLUT1 expression were both increased approximately 3-fold in G4H–/– mice, but insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was abolished. G4H–/– mice develop modest cardiac hypertrophy associated with increased myocyte size and induction of atrial natriuretic and brain natriuretic peptide gene expression in the ventricles. Myocardial fibrosis did not occur. Basal and isoproterenol-stimulated isovolumic contractile performance was preserved. Thus, selective ablation of GLUT4 in the heart initiates a series of events that results in compensated cardiac hypertrophy. J. Clin. Invest. 104:1703–1714 (1999).
The respiratory system of Pseudomonas putida: Participation of cytochromes in electron transport

Abstract Rates of oxygen utilization by Pseudomonas putida respiratory particles were measured using the electron donors, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and succinate, and the oxidation-reduction dyes, 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol and N,N,N′,N′ -tetramethyl- p -phenylenediamine. The maximal rates produced by NADH and succinate were similar for particles from either log- or stationary-phase cells, but rates measured using the dyes were much higher in stationary-phase particles. Cyanide and azide were very effective inhibitors of dye oxidation in both cases, but they produced only partial inhibition of NADH and succinate oxidation in log-phase particles and had no effect in the stationary phase. Spectral examination of the cytochromes at several levels of reduction produced by the various electron donors and inhibitors indicated that most of the cytochromes that were reduced by the dyes lie on a cyanide sensitive pathway of electron transport. These findings support the hypothesis that P. putida produces an electron transport system in the stationary phase which involves branching at the level of the cytochromes. Inhibition of oxygen utilization by CO was nearly complete for all four substrates in logphase particles. Inhibition was also reasonably effective for dye oxidation in the stationary phase, but there was no effect on NADH or succinate oxidation. Photochemical action spectra of the relief of CO inhibition revealed that NADH and succinate oxidation in log-phase particles probably involves cytochrome o . Oxidation of the dyes by either type of particles also appeared to involve cytochrome o , and the possibility of the participation of an a - or d -type cytochrome was also indicated.
G. Paul Moore lecture: lessons in phonosurgery.

I deeply appreciate the privilege of presenting the G. Paul Moore lecture. It is customary in this format to discuss an area of scientific interest reflecting one’s philosophy and achievements. I must admit to some hesitancy in attempting to make profound statements of my philosophy for fear of being taken too seriously. I am reminded of Lucy—in her philosophical mode—lying on a hillside with Charlie Brown, gazing at the nighttime sky, and reflecting: “Isn’t it beautiful? Why, you can see in the stars outlines of the great wonders of the world, the ruins of ancient civilizations, and the expansion of the universe. What do you see Charlie Brown?” CB: “Well, I was going to say I saw horsies and bunny rabbits, but I changed my mind.” Rather than reflecting on my achievements, I would like to focus on observations, especially mistakes, that have provided me with lessons in phonosurgery. Dr. Laurel Clark, Columbia astronaut and Mission Specialist, was a University of Wisconsin Medical School graduate, dedicated to the advancement of science. These satellite photos capture the horror of the breakup of the spaceship Columbia earlier this year. This national disaster provided the scientific community, NASA, and the government with compelling evidence that much more work is needed.
Left and right brain-oriented hemisity subjects show opposite behavioral preferences.

Introduction: Recently, three independent, intercorrelated biophysical measures have provided the first quantitative measures of a binary form of behavioral laterality called “Hemisity”, a term referring to inherent opposite right or left brain-oriented differences in thinking and behavioral styles. Crucially, the right or left brain-orientation of individuals assessed by these methods was later found to be essentially congruent with the thicker side of their ventral gyrus of the anterior cingulate cortex (vgACC) as revealed by a 3 minute MRI procedure. Laterality of this putative executive structural element has thus become the primary standard defining individual hemisity. Methods: Here, the behavior of 150 subjects, whose hemisity had been calibrated by MRI, was assessed using five MRI-calibrated preference questionnaires, two of which were new. Results: Right and left brain-oriented subjects selected opposite answers (p > 0.05) for 47 of the 107 “either-or”, forced choice type preference questionnaire items. Hemisity subtype preference differences were present in several areas. They were in: a. logical orientation, b. type of consciousness, c. fear level and sensitivity, d. social-professional orientation, and e. pair bonding-spousal dominance style. Conclusions: The right and left brain-oriented hemisity subtype subjects, sorted on the anatomical basis of upon which brain side their vgACC was thickest, showed numerous significant differences in their “either-or” type of behavioral preferences.
Sciatic Neuropathy: Case Report and Discussion of the Literature on Postoperative Sciatic Neuropathy and Sciatic Nerve Tumors

Sciatic nerve injury and dysfunction is not an uncommon cause of lower extremity symptoms in a musculoskeletal practice. We present the case of a man who presented with lower extremity weakness, pain, and cramps, and was initially diagnosed at an outside institution with bilateral S1 radiculopathies and recommended for spine surgery. He came to us for a second opinion. Electrodiagnostic testing revealed an isolated sciatic neuropathy and the patient was referred for imaging, which showed a sciatic nerve sheath tumor. Review of the literature on sciatic neuropathies shows that there can be many possible etiologies of sciatic nerve dysfunction, but that hip arthroplasty continues to be the leading risk factor. Sciatic nerve tumors are not commonly described in the literature and their definitive management remains unclear.
Skew Derivations and Engel Conditions

It is known that for a nonzero derivation d of a prime ring R, if a nonzero ideal I of R satisfies the Engel-type identity [[…[[d(x k 0 ), x k 1 ], x k 2 ],…], x k n ], then R is commutative. Here we extend this result to a skew derivation of R for a Lie ideal I, which has an immediate corollary that replaces d by an automorphism of R. A related result in two variables is obtained for d a (θ, ϕ)-derivation.
Biology of dairy cows during the transition period : the final frontier?

The transition period, from 3 wk before to 3 wk after parturition, is critically important to health, production, and profitability of dairy cows. Most health disorders occur during this time. Compared with other stages of the lactation cycle, relatively little is known about fundamental biological processes during the transition period. The regulation and coordination of lipid metabolism among adipose tissue, liver, gut, and mammary gland are key components of the adaptations to lactation. Lipid accumulation in liver may contribute to health disorders and decreased milk production. Knowledge of key control points in hepatic metabolism of long-chain fatty acids is lacking, as is an understanding of the metabolic effects of hormones, growth factors, and cytokines that mediate stress. Recent evidence indicates that supplemental fats or restricted intakes before parturition can induce a coordinated set of metabolic changes in metabolism of long-chain fatty acids, including peroxisomal beta-oxidation, perhaps mediated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. Estimates of the mixture of fuels constituting metabolizable energy in cows during the early postpartum period suggest that supply of amino acids and glucogenic compounds may be under proposed optima, whereas ketogenic and lipogenic compounds and long-chain fatty acids may be in excess. Because dietary fat does not suppress body lipid mobilization, during the early postpartum period supplemental fat may further imbalance the mixture of fuels and lead to decreased dry matter intake. Increased understanding of the biology of the transition period should decrease health problems and increase profitability of dairy cows.
Genetic and environmental differences between registered and grade Holstein cows.

Abstract Phenotypic and genetic measures of milk yield were compared for sire-identified registered and grade Holsteins in the United States. First lactation registered cows produced more milk within herd than did grades. Grades were culled more intensely than registered cows, resulting in higher average yield by maturity for remaining grades than for remaining registered cows. Average Cow Index milk was higher overall for grades until 1981. Within herd and year of first calving, registered cows were higher for yield, Cow Index, and sire Predicted Difference since 1974. Analyses for cows alive at a given time or cows with dam Cow Index overestimated grade genetic merit because of differences in selection intensity. No sire identification for two-thirds of grades resulted in substantial data loss and probably over-estimation of grade genetic merit from sire-identified cows. Preferential treatment according to registry status was examined by comparing registered and grade yields within herd, year, and sire. Milk yield of registered cows was 95 kg higher than for grade paternal sisters in 1980 to 1984; bias in favor of registered cows was 3 kg for Cow Index milk. Bias would be proportional to herdmates of opposite registry status. Average genetic merit of sire-identified registered and grade Holstein cows differed little.
The Effect of Histidine Oxidation on the Dissociation Patterns of Peptide Ions

Oxidative modifications to amino acid side chains can change the dissociation pathways of peptide ions, although these variations are most commonly observed when cysteine and methionine residues are oxidized. In this work we describe the very noticeable effect that oxidation of histidine residues can have on the dissociation patterns of peptide ions containing this residue. A common product ion spectral feature of doubly charged tryptic peptides is enhanced cleavage at the C-terminal side of histidine residues. This preferential cleavage arises as a result of the unique acid/base character of the imidazole side chain that initiates cleavage of a proximal peptide bond for ions in which the number of protons does not exceed the number of basic residues. We demonstrate here that this enhanced cleavage is eliminated when histidine is oxidized to 2-oxo-histidine because the proton affinity and nucleophilicity of the imidazole side chain are lowered. Furthermore, we find that oxidation of histidine to 2-oxo-histidine can cause the misassignment of oxidized residues when more than one oxidized isomer is simultaneously subjected to tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). These spectral misinterpretations can usually be avoided by using multiple stages of MS/MS (MSn) or by specially optimized liquid chromatographic separation conditions. When these approaches are not accessible or do not work, N-terminal derivatization with sulfobenzoic acid avoids the problem of mistakenly assigning oxidized residues.
Arginine Butyrate-Induced Susceptibility to Ganciclovir in an Epstein–Barr-Virus-Associated Lymphoma

Lymphoproliferative disorders associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections can occur in the setting of immunosuppression. In some patients, the lymphoproliferative disorder can resemble an aggressive monoclonal non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL). These NHL are poorly responsive to conventional therapy. Similarly, antiviral therapy with synthetic nucleosides such as ganciclovir are ineffective because the genes that render the virus susceptible to therapy are not expressed in EBV+ lymphomas. Using a cell line derived from a lung transplant recipient with an EBV+ immunoblastic NHL, we studied the ability of arginine butyrate to induce the expression of EBV thymidine kinase. Arginine butyrate was not only effective in inducing EBV thymidine kinase transcription, but also acted synergistically with the antiviral agent ganciclovir to inhibit cell proliferation and decrease cell viability. Based on these findings, the patient from whom the cell line was derived was treated with arginine butyrate/ganciclovir as well as conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. No additional toxicity was observed with the arginine butyrate/ganciclovir therapy. Histologic examination of the tumor showed substantial necrosis. These observations suggest the feasibility of arginine butyrate induction of ganciclovir susceptibility in patients with EBV-associated lymphomas.
On proximity of Rayleigh quotients for different vectors and Ritz values generated by different trial subspaces

Abstract The Rayleigh quotient is unarguably the most important function used in the analysis and computation of eigenvalues of symmetric matrices. The Rayleigh–Ritz method finds the stationary values of the Rayleigh quotient, called Ritz values, on a given trial subspace as optimal, in some sense, approximations to eigenvalues. In the present paper, we derive upper bounds for proximity of the Ritz values in terms of the proximity of the trial subspaces without making an assumption that the trial subspace is close to an invariant subspace. The main result is that the absolute value of the perturbations in the Ritz values is bounded by a constant times the gap between the original trial subspace and its perturbation. The constant is the spread in the matrix spectrum, i.e. the difference between the largest and the smallest eigenvalues of the matrix. It’s shown that the constant cannot be improved. We then generalize this result to arbitrary unitarily invariant norms, but we have to increase the constant by a factor of 2 . Our results demonstrate, in particular, the stability of the Ritz values with respect to a perturbation in the trial subspace.
Hydrogenation of olefins on alumina: II. Deuteration and exchange reactions of ethylene☆

Abstract The hydrogenation of ethylene with deuterium has been carried out, respectively, on the weaker and the stronger active sites of alumina, which had been found previously with hydrogen to give different activity and kinetics for the reaction. It has been found that, on the weaker sites at low temperature, the main product is 1,2-ethane-d2 with a small amount of ethane-d3, while on the stronger sites at higher temperature, HD exchange of ethylene occurs much more quickly than hydrogenation and all deuteroethanes are produced. The results on the weaker sites have been successfully explained by a Twigg-Rideal mechanism. For the reactions on the stronger sites, however, a different mechanism is proposed, involving reaction of ethyl carbonium ions with hydrogen atoms formed by the dissociative adsorption of hydrogen on the weaker sites.
Exploiting nonstationarity for performance prediction

Real production applications ranging from enterprise applications to large e-commerce sites share a crucial but seldom-noted characteristic: The relative frequencies of transaction types in their workloads are nonstationary, i.e., the transaction mix changes over time. Accurately predicting application-level performance in business-critical production applications is an increasingly important problem. However, transaction mix nonstationarity casts doubt on the practical usefulness of prediction methods that ignore this phenomenon.This paper demonstrates that transaction mix nonstationarity enables a new approach to predicting application-level performance as a function of transaction mix. We exploit nonstationarity to circumvent the need for invasive instrumentation and controlled benchmarking during model calibration; our approach relies solely on lightweight passive measurements that are routinely collected in today's production environments. We evaluate predictive accuracy on two real business-critical production applications. The accuracy of our response time predictions ranges from 10% to 16% on these applications, and our models generalize well to workloads very different from those used for calibration.We apply our technique to the challenging problem of predicting the impact of application consolidation on transaction response times. We calibrate models of two testbed applications running on dedicated machines, then use the models to predict their performance when they run together on a shared machine and serve very different workloads. Our predictions are accurate to within 4% to 14%. Existing approaches to consolidation decision support predict post-consolidation resource utilizations. Our method allows application-level performance to guide consolidation decisions.
Development of Micro-Fluidic Nitrate-Selective Sensor Based on Polypyrrole Nanowires

Detection and estimation of nitrate levels is important to maintain ecosystem dynamics, marine cycle balance, prevent impact on human health. In this work, a micro-fluidic nitrate-selective electrochemical sensor using doped polypyrrole nanowires is developed. The electrochemical sensor showed excellent current response for two set of calibration solutions (DI water and IAPSO standard seawater) with sensitivity of 1.35 nA/muM and 1.17 muA/mM.respectively. Further, the interfering ions (chloride, sulfate and phosphate) up to 0.2 mM showed minimal effect on the current response.
Marketing Democracy: Power and Social Movements in Post-Dictatorship Chile.

Marketing Democracy: Power and Social Movements in Post-Dictatorship Chile. Julia Paley. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001. 255 pp.
The relationship between predator density, community composition, and field predation of Colorado potato beetle eggs

Abstract Conservation biological control programs seek to increase natural enemy densities through the adoption of more benign farming practices, under the assumption that higher predator densities will lead to more effective pest suppression. However, predator–predator interference may lead to diminishing returns in improved pest control as predator densities increase. We examined the relationship between predator density and predation rates on Colorado potato beetle eggs in production potato fields. These potato fields naturally spanned a 10-fold range in predator density, due to differences in management practices. Periodically through the growing season we simultaneously measured predator densities and subjected sentinel eggs masses to predation, allowing us to correlate predator density and egg predation for each field on each sample date. Egg predation rates were significantly positively correlated with total predator densities, a correlation that was not improved when predator densities were scaled to reflect differences in feeding rates on potato beetle eggs of the constituent predator taxa. There was no correlation between per-capita egg predation rates and predator density, and so no evidence that predator interference increased with increasing predator density. We divided predators into six dominant taxa—dwarf spiders, crab spiders, minute pirate bugs, big-eyed bugs, damsel bugs, and Lygus bugs (together constituting 93% of all predators collected), and a seventh group, “other predators” that included all other, less common, taxa—and examined correlations between all predator combinations and egg predation rates. The highest correlation was between combined densities of the six most common predator taxa, excluding only the “other predators” grouping. This suggests that predators may be largely equivalent in their impact on Colorado potato beetle eggs, and that field scouts might be able to ignore uncommon predator taxa when sampling for natural enemies.
Effects of wavelength on the timing and laminar distribution of illuminance-evoked activity in macaque V1

Responses to full-field colored flashes (red, blue, and green) were compared with those to illuminance-matched white flashes in area V1, optic radiations, and the lateral geniculate nucleus of two alert macaques. Laminar profiles of visual evoked potentials (VEPs), current source density, and multiunit activity were obtained using multicontact electrodes capable of sampling from all layers of cortex or lateral geniculate nucleus, simultaneously. In striate cortex, stimulation with colored flash enhanced transmembrane current flow dramatically in both layer 4c and the supragranular laminae. Stimulation with red evoked the largest enhancement in every electrode penetration. The mean peak amplitudes of current sinks evoked by red were 203% and 537% of those evoked by white light in layer 4c and the supragranular laminae, respectively. Color effects in V1 were preceded by an initial epoch of wavelength-insensitive activity. In layer 4c, the red effect reached significance, on average, at 47 ms, or approximately 24 ms after the onset of transmembrane current flow. In the supragranular layers, the red effect reached significance, on average, at 55 ms, or approximately 14 ms after the onset of current flow. Recordings from optic radiations in the white matter below V1 and from lateral geniculate nucleus showed no significant difference in the responses to color and illuminance-matched white light. Enhancement of supragranular current flow with color stimulation increased the contribution of these laminae to the generation of the surface VEP. Comparison of the surface VEP wave forms evoked by white and color stimuli may, therefore, help to differentiate the responses of the granular and supragranular laminae.
THE APPLICATION OF SCALABLE DISTRIBUTED MEMORY COMPUTERS TO THE FINITE ELEMENT MODELING OF ELECTROMAGNETIC SCATTERING

Large-scale parallel computation can be an enabling resource in many areas of engineering and science if the parallel simulation algorithm attains an appreciable fraction of the machine peak performance, and if undue cost in porting the code or in developing the code for the parallel machine is not incurred. The issue of code parallelization is especially significant when considering unstructured mesh simulations. The unstructured mesh models considered in this paper result from a finite element simulation of electromagnetic fields scattered from geometrically complex objects (either penetrable or impenetrable.) The unstructured mesh must be distributed among the processors, as must the resultant sparse system of linear equations. Since a distributed memory architecture does not allow direct access to the irregularly distributed unstructured mesh and sparse matrix data, partitioning algorithms not needed in the sequential software have traditionally been used to efficiently spread the data among the processors. This paper presents a new method for simulating electromagnetic fields scattered from complex objects; namely, an unstructured finite element code that does not use traditional mesh partitioning algorithms. © 1998 This paper was produced under the auspices of the U.S. Government and it is therfore not subject to copyright in the U.S.
The effects of data mining techniques on software cost estimation

Current research at JPL incorporates data mining and machine learning techniques to see whether a better software cost model can be developed. 2CEE is a tool developed for developing new software cost estimation models using data mining techniques. The accuracy of these models has been validated internally through leave-one out cross validation. However, the newly generated models have not been validated to see how well they predict in the real world. Our study seeks to find out how well these machine learning based models perform against standard models for eighteen new flight and ground software projects. The accurate performance of the models against current real world projects is extremely important for practitioners to adapt new techniques.
Radiologic diagnosis of epiglottitis: Objective criteria for all ages

A retrospective study was undertaken to define objective radiologic parameters in diagnosing epiglottitis on soft-tissue lateral neck radiographic studies. Ratios of soft-tissue structures in 31 patients aged 7 months to 61 years with epiglottitis were compared with those of age- and sex-matched controls with croup, pharyngitis, and dysphagia. The ratios of epiglottic width to third cervical vertebral body width (EW/C3W) of more than 0.5, of aryepiglottic width to third cervical vertebral body width (AEW/C3W) of more than 0.35, and of epiglottic width to epiglottic height (EW/EH) of 0.6 or more were all found to be 100% sensitive and specific in differentiating between adult patients with and without epiglottitis. In children, EW/C3W, AEW/C3W, and EW/EH ratios of more than 0.5, of more than 0.35, and of 0.6 or more, respectively, were found to be 100% sensitive in detecting epiglottitis with specificities of 87%, 96%, and 87% respectively. These preliminary results suggest that EW/C3W, EW/EH, and AEW/C3W ratios of more than 0.5, of 0.6 or more, and of more than 0.35, respectively, may be useful in the radiologic diagnosis of epiglottitis in patients of all ages.
In vivo interaction of Escherichia coli lac repressor N-terminal fragments with the lac operator☆

Abstract Escherichia coli lac repressor is a tetrameric protein composed of 360 amino acid subunits. Considerable attention has focused on its N-terminal region which is isolated by cleavage with pro teases yielding N-terminal fragments of 51 to 59 amino acid residues. Because these short peptide fragments bind operator DNA, they have been extensively examined in nuclear magnetic resonance structural studies. Longer N-terminal peptide fragments that bind DNA cannot be obtained enzymatically. To extend structural studies and simultaneously verify proper folding in vivo , the DNA sequence encoding longer N-terminal fragments were cloned into a vector system with the coliphage T7 RNA polymerase/ promoter. In addition to the wild-type lacI gene sequence, single amino acid substitutions were generated at positions 3 (Pro3 → Tyr) and 61 (Ser61 → Leu) as well as the double substitution in a 64 amino acid N-terminal fragment. These mutations were chosen because they increase the DNA binding affinity of the intact lac repressor by a factor of 10 2 to 10 4 . The expression of these lac repressor fragments in the cell was verified by radioimmuno-assays. Both wild-type and mutant lac repressor N termini bound operator DNA as judged by reduced β-galactosidase synthesis and methylation protection in vivo . These observations also resolve a contradiction in the literature as to the location of the operator-specific, inducer-dependent DNA binding domain.
Reflections and Refractions in Camus's La Chute

The extraordinary complication of Camus's La Chute creates what might be called an allusive complex, including numerous allusions creating various parallels and oppositions. If an allusion is “the metaphorical relationship created when an alluding text evokes and uses another” (Pasco), what makes it especially interesting in Camus's monologue is the way its multiple, extended, and synoptic (or brief) allusions work together to create an experience of significant power that focuses on why the reader cannot accept Clamence's ultimate invitation to confess to him. Camus takes his referent texts for the most part from the Bible and the French tradition, leaving no doubt of the culture required of the reader.
Mobi-Sync: Efficient Time Synchronization for Mobile Underwater Sensor Networks

Time synchronization is an important requirement for many services provided by distributed networks. A lot of time synchronization protocols have been proposed for terrestrial Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). However, none of them can be directly applied to Underwater Sensor Networks (UWSNs). A synchronization algorithm for UWSNs must consider additional factors such as long propagation delays from the use of acoustic communication and sensor node mobility. These unique challenges make the accuracy of synchronization procedures for UWSNs even more critical. Time synchronization solutions specifically designed for UWSNs are needed to satisfy these new requirements. This paper proposes Mobi-Sync, a novel time synchronization scheme for mobile underwater sensor networks. Mobi-Sync distinguishes itself from previous approaches for terrestrial WSN by considering spatial correlation among the mobility patterns of neighboring UWSNs nodes. This enables Mobi-Sync to accurately estimate the long dynamic propagation delays. Simulation results show that Mobi-Sync outperforms existing schemes in both accuracy and energy efficiency.
Prediction of Dependent Behavior in Specified Situations from Psychological Tests

The purpose of the present study was to enhance the prediction of dependent behavior from psychological tests by specifying the situation in which that behavior is to occur. It was hypothesized that overt dependency needs would have the greatest weight in determining dependent behavior, while the situation would become significant as it interacted with covert dependency needs. Two situations were devised, one of which induced dependent behavior while the other did not. The hypotheses were not confirmed. The situation accounted for virtually all the variance in the prediction of dependent behavior. Implications were that great caution should be exercised in predicting behavior from test data and that future predictive research might better focus on situational contexts than on measurement techniques.
Planning Skills: An Examination of Supply and Local Government Demand

Using results from two national surveys, this article explores differences in what planning skills are deemed most important from the perspectives of planning educators and practitioners. Many core...
Toward a biologically informed psychology of personality.

This article describes nine ways in which biological approaches can lnforni issues of central and long-standing concern to personality psy- chologists These include (a) developing an adequate description of human nature, (b) providing several solutions to the puzzle of within-species genetic variability, (c) identifying the most important ways m which individuals differ, (d) giving precision to the concepts of adaptation and adjustment, (e) identi- fying the ongms of personality dispositions, (/) providing insight into person- ahty development and the life course, (g) providing conceptual and evidential standards for invoking personality types as opjwsed to personality dimensions, (/i) addressing the psychophysiology of personahty, and (i) focusing attention on psychological mechanisms as evolved dispositional strategies Biologists define biology as the study of life In that broad sense, all of psychology is subsumed by biology Within the field of psychology, however, biological approaches represent particular modes of analyz- ing psychological and behavioral phenomena Three such modes are highlighted m this special issue evolutionary approaches, behavioral genetic approaches, and psychophysiological approaches In the past decade, advances in knowledge, theoretical sophistication, and meth- odological precision have occurred in each of these subfields This issue brings together and elucidates some of the most important of these advances
On the Warm Water Volume and Its Changing Relationship with ENSO

AbstractThe interannual, equatorial Pacific, 20°C isotherm depth variability since 1980 is dominated by two empirical orthogonal function (EOF) modes: the “tilt” mode, having opposite signs in the eastern and western equatorial Pacific and in phase with zonal wind forcing and El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) indices, and a second EOF mode of one sign across the Pacific. Because the tilt mode is of opposite sign in the eastern and western equatorial Pacific while the second EOF mode is of one sign, the second mode has been associated with the warm water volume (WWV), defined as the volume of water above the 20°C isotherm from 5°S to 5°N, 120°E to 80°W. Past work suggested that the WWV led the tilt mode by about 2–3 seasons, making it an ENSO predictor. But after 1998 the lead has decreased and WWV-based predictions of ENSO have failed. The authors constructed a sea level–based WWV proxy back to 1955, and before 1973 it also exhibited a smaller lead. Analysis of data since 1980 showed that the decreased ...
New recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of plasma lipid abnormalities.

Elevated total blood cholesterol levels (at or above 240 mg/dL) due to increased low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol values (at or above 160 mg/dL) have been associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). It has been shown in controlled prospective studies that when LDL cholesterol is lowered with diet or diet and drug treatment, subsequent risk of CHD morbidity and, in some cases, mortality can be reduced. New guidelines have recently been released by the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP II) of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). Risk factors for CHD in addition to elevated LDL cholesterol now include: 1) male 45 years or older; 2) female 55 or older, or with premature menopause and not on estrogen replacement; 3) high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol less than 35 mg/dL; 4) hypertension; 5) cigarette smoking; 6) diabetes mellitus; and 7) a family history of premature CHD. After screening with total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol measurements, patients with total cholesterol values at or above 200 mg/dL, HDL cholesterol below 35 mg/dL, and/or CHD should have a fasting cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL cholesterol measurement. Candidates for diet therapy are those with LDL cholesterol values at or above 1) 160 mg/dL; 2) 130 mg/dL in the presence of two or more CHD risk factors; or 3) 100 mg/dL in the presence of CHD. Candidates for drug therapy after diet treatment are those with LDL cholesterol values at or above 1) 190 mg/dL; 2) 160 mg/dL in the presence of two or more CHD risk factors; or 3) 130 mg/dL in the presence of CHD. Effective cholesterol-lowering medications include anion exchange resins, niacin, and HMG CoA reductase inhibitors.
Targeting Protein Serine/Threonine Phosphatases for Drug Development

With the recent clinical success of drugs targeting protein kinase activity, drug discovery efforts are focusing on the role of reversible protein phosphorylation in disease states. The activity of protein phosphatases, enzymes that oppose protein kinases, can also be manipulated to alter cellular signaling for therapeutic benefits. In this review, we present protein serine/threonine phosphatases as viable therapeutic targets, discussing past successes, current challenges, and future strategies for modulating phosphatase activity.