cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatial and temporal patterns of recent forest encroachment in montane grasslands of the Valles Caldera, New Mexico, USA

Aim Recent forest encroachment into montane and subalpine grasslands has occurred in the Rocky Mountains and many other mountain ranges globally. The timing, rate, and extent of tree invasion can depend on interactions among topography, positive spatial feedbacks, and temporally variable factors (especially climate, grazing, and fire). Here we examine spatial and temporal patterns of tree invasion in the Valles Caldera of the Jemez Mountains. Location This study was conducted in the Valles Caldera (35°50′–36°00′ N; 106°24′–106°37′ W), a 24-km-wide volcanic basin in northern New Mexico, USA. Grasslands in this otherwise forested region occur in broad valley bottoms of the caldera floor between 2575 and 2700 m, and on south-facing slopes and mountain tops up to 3300 m. Methods We used a GIS analysis of orthorectified aerial photos taken in 1935 and 1996, covering a 40,000-ha study area, to quantify the extent of tree invasion and to assess its relationship to spatial factors. We obtained dates of establishment from 299 increment cores and basal disks from 50 sites in the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP) to reconstruct temporal patterns of tree invasion. Results The area of grasslands in our study area declined from 11,747 to 9336 ha (nearly 18%) between 1935 and 1996. Tree invasion increased with slope, elevation, and proximity to the previous tree line, but showed no relationship to aspect. Tree invasion was more rapid and continuous on upper mountain slopes, while the invasion of valley-bottom grasslands below reversed tree lines was more episodic, and appeared to track mean summer minimum temperatures. Main conclusions The rapid and continuous invasion of steep, high-elevation slopes suggests that frequent fire was the single most important factor in maintaining grassy communities in these sites. The slower, episodic invasion of valley-bottom grasslands, and the apparent relationship between increased invasion and years of higher summer minimum temperatures are consistent with the hypothesis that these grasslands have been maintained by low temperatures or frosts damaging to tree seedlings. We encourage prescribed fire to restore and maintain grasslands in the VCNP, especially small patches on steep, high-elevation slopes.
Redox Activity in a Vanadium(V)–o-Dioxolene Complex Is Modulated by Protonation State As Indicated by 51V Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory

Most known vanadium(V) complexes with redox-active o-dioxolene ligands are non-innocent. Since the vanadium(V) complex [VO(gsal)(HCat)] is innocent, its properties were investigated by 51V solid-state NMR spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT). The innocent ligand behavior manifested itself by the upfield isotropic chemical shift and large negative chemical shift anisotropy observed in the solid state. The electronic structure and NMR spectroscopic parameters of this complex were addressed by DFT calculations and found to be consistent with the NMR spectroscopic observations indicating that the complex is redox-inactive. The observed increase in the HOMO–LUMO gap for the innocent complex is concomitant with the 51V NMR chemical shift of –460 ppm and consistent with the high redox stability of this molecule. The stabilization was traced to the overall charge of [VO(gsal)(HCat)] facilitated by the coordination of the minus-one-charged o-dioxolene ligand and rendering the overall complex neutral. These studies suggest that protonation may prove to be an effective way in which vanadium(V) complexes with redox-active ligands can be stabilized.
Murder in Thrace: A Shakespearean Orpheus in Seventeenth-Century Venice

Tutti i momenti storici piu significativi della storia dell’opera includono una versione del mito d’Orfeo, un mito musicale il cui protagonista e stato l’eroe operistico per eccellenza dalle favole della corte fiorentina alla riforma di Gluck, fino alla ripresa comica di Offenbach. In una delle versioni si e celato finora un riferimento ad un’altra figura drammatica: Otello. L’Orfeo di Aureli e Sartorio (Venezia, 1673), un lavoro importante nella storia dell’opera seria, contiene un’imitazione dell’ Otello di Shakespeare, malcelata sotto il manto mitologico. Sebbene non sia chiaro quando l’ Otello sia arrivato a Venezia, i numerosi paralleli tra quest’ Orfeo e l’ Otello non possono annoverarsi fra le coincidenze. Questo studio suggerisce che Aureli e Sartorio si rivolsero a Shakespeare (e non alla sua fonte originale, il veneziano Giraldi Cintio) come fonte addizionale e nascosta per dimostrare il loro intellettualismo cosmopolita e nel contempo ammiccando con i concittadini colti che conoscevano non solo la storia di Tracia ma anche la tragedia inglese e forse anche il suo avo veneziano.
A Recurrence Method for Generalizing Known Scientific Results

A great number of articles widen a known scientific result $P(a)$ (such as: a theorem, an inequality, or a math/physics/chemical etc. proposition or formula) by a simple recurrence procedure and using, in the proof, the proposition $P(a)$ itself. We present, as examples, the generalizations of Holder's inequality, of Minkovski's inequality, of Tchebychev's inequality, and of the Theorem of Menelaus respectively.
A Dual Charge-Coupled Device (Ccd), Astronomical Spectrometer And Direct Imaging Camera I. Optical And Detector Systems

The MASCOT (MIT Astronomical Spectrometer/Camera for Optical Telescopes), an instrument capable of simultaneously performing both direct imaging and spectrometry of faint objects, is examined. An optical layout is given of the instrument which uses two CCD's mounted on the same temperature regulated detector block. Two sources of noise on the signal are discussed: (1) the CCD readout noise, which results in a constant uncertainty in the number of electrons collected from each pixel; and (2) the photon counting noise. The sensitivity of the device is limited by the sky brightness, the overall quantum efficiency, the resolution, and the readout noise of the CCD. Therefore, total system efficiency is calculated at about 15%.
The synthesis of truncated polypeptides for immune surveillance and viral evasion.

BACKGROUND Cytotoxic T cells detect intracellular pathogens by surveying peptide loaded MHC class I molecules (pMHC I) on the cell surface. Effective immune surveillance also requires infected cells to present pMHC I promptly before viral progeny can escape. Rapid pMHC I presentation apparently occurs because infected cells can synthesize and present peptides from antigenic precursors called defective ribosomal products (DRiPs). The molecular characteristics of DRiPs are not known. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Here, using a novel method for detecting antigenic precursors and proteolytic intermediates, we tracked the synthesis and processing of Epstein-Barr Virus encoded nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1). We find that ribosomes initiated translation appropriately, but rapidly produced DRiPs representing approximately 120 amino acid truncated EBNA1 polypeptides by premature termination. Moreover, specific sequences in EBNA1 mRNA strongly inhibited the generation of truncated DRiPs and pMHC I presentation. SIGNIFICANCE Our results reveal the first characterization of virus DRiPs as truncated translation products. Furthermore, production of EBNA1-derived DRiPs is down-regulated in cells, possibly limiting the antigenicity of EBNA1.
Observations of the 6 cm lines of oh in evolved (OH/IR) stars

Recent observational and theoretical advances have called into question traditional OH maser pumping models in evolved (OH/IR) stars. The detection of excited-state OH lines would provide additional constraints to discriminate among these theoretical models. In this Letter, we report on VLA observations of the 4750 and 4765 MHz lines of OH toward 45 sources, mostly evolved stars. We detect 4765 MHz emission in the star-forming regions Mon R2 and LDN 1084, but we do not detect excited-state emission in any evolved stars. The flux density and velocity of the 4765 MHz detection in Mon R2 suggest that a new flaring event has begun.
King College Library: Online Databases vs. Hard Copy Subscriptions.

It is a real pleasure to begin online reference reports with these papers. Herring and Tschudi write in a style that is upbeat and witty, yet their essays make significant statements about online services. Herring discusses how a small academic library replaced printed index subscriptions with online access, while Tschudi calls for a radical improvement in the way we educate and train online searchers. Future contributions will be as practical, informative and entertaining. — Marty Kesselman
Better babies: social engineering for ‘a better nation, a better world’

Across the United States in the 1910s thousands of parents entered their children in the widely popular Better Babies contests. During the competitions, physicians and other health professionals examined and scored children for their bodily measurements, and physical and mental development. The baby with the highest score won. These contests not only served as a means of identifying children with previously unknown health conditions, but also taught mothers that through scientific care they could make their children into standardized babies, and therefore productive citizens of the future.
Is Quality Certification Effective? Evidence from the Childcare Market

The ineffectiveness of a quality certification mechanism can be attributed to consumers' low willingness to pay for what certifiers consider high quality. Alternatively, it can be attributed to the inability of the certification status to provide consumers with information they do not already possess. I present a structural model of demand allowing consumers to infer quality from both the certification status and firm reputation. I then estimate this model to assess the effectiveness and the impact of the national accreditation system for childcare centers on consumer welfare. My results suggest that disregarding the endogeneity of firms' accreditation choices significantly underestimates the effectiveness of the accreditation system. Consumers do value quality as gauged by the accreditation agency, but on average they do not gain much information beyond what they have inferred from a firm's reputation. The estimates of structural parameters are then used to quantify the value of this information to consumers.
T-cell therapy for viral infections following transplantation: why stop at three viruses?

The prolonged recovery phase of cell-mediated immunity after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) brings serious and often fatal risks from opportunistic reactivation or acquisition of common viruses.1 Post-transplant immunodeficiency particularly involves defective T-cell function, and it is now established that adoptive transfer of viral-specific T cells can prevent and treat viral complications.2,3,4,5 In this issue, Gerdemann and colleagues describe a technique to generate clinical-grade virus-specific T-cell lines targeting seven viruses that commonly cause morbidity and mortality after SCT.6
Role of endothelin (ETA) receptors in neonatal morphine withdrawal

We have previously demonstrated role of central endothelin (ET) receptors in neonatal morphine tolerance. The present study was conducted to investigate involvement of central ET receptors in neonatal rat morphine withdrawal. The aim was to determine activation of G-proteins coupled to opioid and ET receptors by morphine and ET ligands in neonatal rat brains during morphine withdrawal. Pregnant female rats were rendered tolerant to morphine by chronic exposure to morphine pellets over 7 days. Withdrawal was induced on day 8 by removal of pellets. Rat pups were delivered by cesarean section 24 h after pellet removal. G-protein stimulation induced by morphine; ET-1; ETA receptor antagonist, BMS182874; and ETB receptor agonist, IRL1620, was determined in the brain of neonatal rats undergoing morphine withdrawal by [35S]GTPgammaS binding assay. Morphine-induced maximal stimulation of G-protein in morphine withdrawal group (83.60%) was significantly higher compared to placebo control group (66.81%). EC50 value for ET-1-induced G-protein stimulation during morphine withdrawal (170.60 nM) was higher than control (62.5 nM). BMS182874, did not stimulate GTP binding in control but significantly increased maximal stimulation of G-proteins in morphine withdrawal (86.07%, EC50 = 31.25 nM). IRL1620-induced stimulation of G-proteins was similar in control and morphine withdrawal. The present findings indicate involvement of central ETA receptors in neonatal morphine withdrawal.
Mill and Kripke on Proper Names and Natural Kind Terms

Saul Kripke in his revolutionary and influential series of lectures from the early 1970s (later published as the book Naming and Necessity) famously resurrected John Stuart Mill's theory of proper names. Kripke at the same time rejected Mill's theory of general terms. According to Kripke, many natural kind terms do not fit Mill's account of general terms and are closer to proper names. Unfortunately, Kripke and his followers ignored key passages in Mill's A System of Logic in which Mill enunciates a sophisticated and detailed theory of natural kind terms that anticipates and is in some ways superior to Kripke's.
The effect of oral quinidine on intraventricular conduction in man: correlation of plasma quinidine with changes in QRS duration.

The effect of quinidine on QRS and Q-T durations was studied in relation to the plasma concentration achieved when the drug was administered orally (200 to 400 mg. every 6 hours) to 20 patients with cardiac arrhythmias. Changes from control in QRS duration (ΔQRS) and the rate corrected Q-T interval (ΔQ-Tc) were repeatedly measured during the initial 3 days of therapy utilizing an oscilloscopic time expanded display. The plasma quinidine concentrations ranged from 1.3 to 5.4 μg per milliliter; plasma concentrations considered antiarrhythmic were obtained in every patient (> 2.4 μg per milliliter). Antiarrhythmic effect was demonstrated when arrhythmias were abolished in 10 of 20 patients. Every patient showed a statistically significant increase in QRS and Q-T durations after quinidine. The mean maximal ΔQRS was 12 msec. and ΔQ-Tc was 101 msec. QRS duration increased as a function of plasma quinidine concentration (df = 93, r = 0.56, p < 0.001). Although statistically significant, the correlation of ΔQ-Tc with plasma quinidine concentration was not nearly as high as that seen with ΔQRS. Quinidine-induced slowing of intraventricular conduction, manifested by increased QRS duration, was seen in every patient even at plasma concentrations of 2 to 5 μg per milliliter. Such plasma concentrations are almost invariably achieved in patients given maintenance doses of quinidine sulfate.
Receptor phenotype underlies differential response of hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells to heparin-binding fibroblast growth factor type 1 (aFGF) and type 2 (bFGF).

Heparin-binding fibroblast growth factors (HBGF) have been implicated in the regeneration of both parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells of the liver. The response to and phenotype of hepatocyte receptors for HBGF-1 (acidic fibroblast growth factor) and HBGF-2 (basic fibroblast growth factor) were compared to keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. HBGF-1 stimulated DNA synthesis in hepatocytes, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells whereas activity of HBGF-2 was limited to fibroblasts and endothelial cells. HBGF-2 antagonized the mitogenic activity of HBGF-1 for hepatocytes and keratinocytes. Hepatocytes and keratinocytes exhibited both high- and low-affinity, nonmatrix receptor sites for HBGF-1, but only low-affinity sites for HBGF-2. The mesenchymal cells displayed only high-affinity sites for both HBGF-1 and HBGF-2. Northern blot and immunochemical analysis revealed that the expression of HBGF receptor genesbek andflg are partitioned between normal hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells, respectively. Expression of epithelial cell-specific, mesenchymal cell-derived HBGF-7 (keratinocyte growth factor) mRNA in regenerating liver tissue was undetectable relative to HBGF-1. The results support a multifunctional role of HBGF-1 acting through different receptor phenotypes in hepatocyte and nonparenchymal cells during liver regeneration.
Multimodal feedback: establishing a performance baseline for improved access by individuals with visual impairments

Multimodal interfaces have the potential to enhance a user's overall performance, especially when one perceptual channel, such as vision, is compromised. This research investigated how unimodal, bimodal, and trimodal feedback affected the performance of fully sighted users. Limited research exists that investigates how fully sighted users react to multimodal feedback forms, and to-date even less research is available that has investigated how users with visual impairments respond to multiple forms of feedback. A complex direct manipulation task, consisting of a series search and selection drag-and-drop subtasks, was evaluated in this study. The multiple forms of feedback investigated were auditory, haptic and visual. Each form of feedback was tested alone and in combination. User performance was assessed through measures of workload time. Workload was measured objectively and subjectively, through the physiological measure of pupil diameter and a portion of the NASA Task Load Index (TLX) workload survey, respectively. Time was captured by a measure of how long it took to complete a particular element of the task. The results demonstrate that multimodal feedback improves the performance of fully sighted users and offers great potential to users with visual impairments. As a result, this study serves as a baseline to drive the research and development of effective feedback combinations to enhance performance for individuals with visual impairments.
Rational design of potent, bioavailable, nonpeptide cyclic ureas as HIV protease inhibitors

Mechanistic information and structure-based design methods have been used to design a series of nonpeptide cyclic ureas that are potent inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease and HIV replication. A fundamental feature of these inhibitors is the cyclic urea carbonyl oxygen that mimics the hydrogen-bonding features of a key structural water molecule. The success of the design in both displacing and mimicking the structural water molecule was confirmed by x-ray crystallographic studies. Highly selective, preorganized inhibitors with relatively low molecular weight and high oral bioavailability were synthesized.
Plant size and the decline of unionism

Abstract Declining plant size is shown to explain a significant portion of the recent decline in unionism, particularly in manufacturing. The paper also shows how to use the probit model to decompose the change in unionism into explained and unexplained components.
Measurement of the tau lepton lifetime at CLEO II

The τ lepton lifetime has been measured using τ+τ− pairs in which one or both of the τ's decays into three charged particles. The method employed measures the displacement of the reconstructed tau decay vertices using 2 fb−1 of data, corresponding to approximately 2 million produced tau pairs, at energies near the(4S). This data was collected with the CLEO-II detector at the Cornell Electron-Positron Storage Ring (CESR). For events where both τs decayed to 3 charged tracks, the measured lifetime was ττ=(2.85 ± 0.13 ± 0.10) × 10−13 s. The measure lifetime for events where one τ decayed into three charged track, and the other decayed into a single charged track was ττ=(2.91 ± 0.04 ± 0.07) × 10−13 s.
Oxidant driven signaling pathways during diabetes: role of Rac1 and modulation of protein kinase activity in mouse urinary bladder

Abstract Background. – Urinary bladder dysfunction is a complication in diabetes but the mechanisms involved are undefined. Here, we investigated roles of oxidative stress and oxidant driven signaling pathways in a murine model of diabetes, with an emphasis on urothelial vs. smooth muscle regional changes. Methods. – Mice were dosed with streptozotocin (150 mg/kg) or vehicle and studied at 5 weeks. Functional changes were assessed by in vitro cystometry. Immunohistochemical methods and automated digital imaging was used for morphometric and histochemical analysis of bladder tissue regions. Results. – We detected significant increases in protein 3-nitrotyrosine in both urothelium and smooth muscle regions during diabetes, demonstrating an increased prevalence of reactive nitrogen species. In light of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms as potential contributors to increased protein nitration, all three NOS isoforms were studied; region specific increases in NOS1 (urothelium and smooth muscle), NOS2 (urothelium only) but no alterations in NOS3 isoform were detected during diabetes. In contrast, p21-Rac1 (coordinating protein of NADPH oxidase) was significantly increased only in smooth muscle (diabetic vs. controls). We also investigated phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, p38 and Akt using immunohistochemical techniques; each of these was increased during diabetes but with different distributions in the two major regions of bladder tissues viz the smooth muscle and urothelium. Conclusions. – The STZ mouse model of diabetes exhibits bladder dysfunction and structural changes similar to human. Reactive nitrogen species formation occurs in this setting and region specific assessments also revealed that urothelial changes and smooth muscle changes are discrete with respect to mechanisms of reactive nitrogen species (increased production of NO vs. superoxide anion) and activation of oxidant related stress signaling pathways.
Variation of the activity of ice nuclei upon exposure to ammonium ion and iodine

Laboratory experiments were performed to determine the extent to which the ice nucleating abilities of several compounds are influenced by the presence of iodine in different forms. Changes were observed in both freezing (liquid phase) and depositional (vapor phase) ice nucleation abilities of a number of lead nucleant-iodine combinations. Iodine vapor increased the number of deposition nuclei per gram of lead oxide by one order of magnitude. Thermodynamic considerations suggest that at least three other lead compounds may respond similarly to iodine vapor. Freezing nuclei active at - 1 °C were produced from lead oxide particles in the presence of NH 4 I; a sensitivity to the temperature prehistory of this system was noted and a qualitative explanation is advanced. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.1987.tb00199.x
A Detection Theory Method for the Analysis of Visual and Auditory Displays

A signal detection method for evaluating different display codes and formats is described. The method allows one to determine how an observer aggregates information from multiple element displays. The method can be used to assess the relative importance of specific spatial or sequential elements of the display. The efficacy of different formats and arrangements thus can be compared. The paper describes the theoretical basis for the method and briefly summarizes data from several types of visual and auditory displays.
Aminopyridinecarboxamide-based inhibitors: Structure–activity relationship

Series of aminopyridinecarboxamide-based inhibitors were synthesized and tested against human recombinant IKK-2 and in IL-1β stimulated synovial fibroblasts. The 2-amino-5-chloropyridine-4-carboxamides were identified as the most potent inhibitors with improved cellular activity.
INFLUENCE OF HERBICIDES ON THE UPTAKE OF COPPER IN HYDRILLA

Summary. Combinations of copper sulphate pentahydrate (CSP) at 1 0 ppmw of copper with diquat, paraquat, ametryne, atrazine, terbutryne or 2,4-D at certain concentrations and contact times increased the copper content in hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata Gasp.) in comparison with CSP alone. Combinations of CSP with fenac, dichlobenil, diuron, an amine salt of endothal or dinitrophenol had no effect on copper uptake. CSP plus 1·0 ppmw of ametryne exhibited a synergistic response on hydrilla as determined by dry weight, and was associated with a high concentration of copper. Phosphorus levels in hydrilla were reduced by diquat and paraquat. Hydrilla treated with CSP plus 0·1 ppmw of paraquat contained 32·4% less phosphorus than plants treated with paraquat alone. The phytotoxic effect of certain of these combinations on hydrilla may be due principally to an increased accumulation of copper and a reduction in phosphorus content.
Generation and detection of hydroxyl radical in vivo in rat spinal cord by microdialysis administration sampling

Abstract We developed a double microdialysis fiber technique to generate hydroxyl radicals (OH) in rat spinal cord. H 2 O 2 and FeCl 2 /EDTA were pumped through two parallel microdialysis fibers inserted into the spinal cord such that the reactants mix in the tissue to generate OH by the Fenton reaction. Generated OH was detected by administering phenylalanine through one fiber and measuring o -, m - and p -hydroxyphenylalanine in collected, dialysates by high pressure liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection. The hydroxyphenylalanines are produced by OH attacking the phenylalanine. OH generation was also accomplished in in vitro experiments and the results were consistent with in vivo experiments. This novel method to generate and measure OH radical in vivo overcomes difficulties in studying damage to tissue by short-lived OH. Although developed to study the role of OH in spinal cord injury, this method could be used to study other diseases involving OH damage.
Genetic variations and treatments that affect the lifespan of the NPC1 mouse

Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is a multisystem disorder caused primarily by a mutation in the npc1 gene. These studies evaluated the effect of genetic background, deletion of additional genes, and administration of several agents on the age at death in a murine model of this disorder. Such factors as differing strain background or genetic drift within a given background in the npc1−/− mouse significantly altered the age at death and the degree of organ disease. Genetic deletion of Siat9 (GM3 synthetase) or Nr1h2 [liver X receptor (LXR)β] shortened the life of the npc1−/− animals. Daily treatment of the npc1−/− mice with an LXR agonist or administration of a single dose of cyclodextrin, with or without the neurosteroid allopregnanolone, significantly slowed neurodegeneration and increased the lifespan of these animals. These data illustrate that the age at death of the npc1−/− mouse can be significantly influenced by many factors, including differences in strain background, other inactivating gene mutations (Siat9 and lxrβ), and administration of agents such as LXR agonists and, particularly, cyclodextrin. It is currently not clear which of these effects is nonspecific or which might relate directly to the molecular defect present in the NPC1 syndrome.
X-ray diffraction study of a thin GaAs film on Si(100)

A 900A single crystalline GaAs film deposited by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on a silicon crystal cut 4.1° from (001) surface was characterized with X-ray diffraction measurements of the mosaic spread, particle size and strain distribution, and lattice parameter. The GaAs film had a larger mosaic spread in the direction of the steps of the silicon surface and coherent particle sizes of about 900 A compared to the estimated film thickness of approximately 1000 A. Superlattice reflections gave an ordered domain size of about 330 A. There is a residual strain gradient in the film which is nearly linear with the lattice constant differing by about 0.044 A between the surface of the film and its interface with the silicon substrate. Lattice parameter measurements indicate a small expansion of 0.13% perpendicular to the plane of the film.
Evaluating information assurance performance and the impact of data characteristics

Research and development of new information assurance techniques and technologies is ongoing and varied. Each new proposal and technique arrives with great promise and anticipated success as research teams struggle to develop new and innovative responses to emerging threats. Unfortunately, these techniques frequently fall short of expectation when deployed due to difficulties with false alarms, trouble operating in a non-idealized or new domain, or flexibility limiting assumptions which are only valid with specific input sets. We believe these failures are due to fundamental problems with the experimental method for evaluating the effectiveness of new ideas and techniques. This work explores the effect of a poorly understood data synthesis process on the evaluation of IA devices. The point of an evaluation is to independently determine what a detector can and cannot detect, i.e. the metric of detection. This can only be done when the data contains carefully controlled ground truth. We broadly define the term “similarity class” to facilitate discussion about the different ways data (and more specifically test data) can be similar, and use these ideas to illustrate the pre-requisites for correct evaluation of anomaly detectors. We focus on how anomaly detectors function and should be evaluated in 2 specific domains with disparate system architectures and data: a sensor and data transport network for air frame tracking and display, and a deep space mission spacecraft command link. Finally, we present empirical evidence illustrating the effectiveness of our approach in these domains, and introduce the entropy of a time series sensor as a critical measure of data similarity for test data in these domains.
Users' Perceptions of Wireless Networks Usage

Wireless networks provide the most convenient way to access the Internet. This paper determines how the preliminary and advanced knowledge of wireless networks affect users' perception and usage. Based on their knowledge, users develop certain emotional responses, which could affect their wireless network usage. This study identifies the effect of these emotional responses on users' degree of use of wireless networks. Using data collected from 143 respondents, regression analyses reveal that wireless network usage is affected less by advanced wireless network knowledge and more by preliminary knowledge. The findings also show that the degree of usage depends on users' ability to understand basic wireless network functionality and security. To motivate wireless usage, developers and designers of future wireless technologies do not need to overwhelm users with technical detail.
Improved Estimation and Interpretation of Correlations in Neural Circuits

Ambitious projects aim to record the activity of ever larger and denser neuronal populations in vivo. Correlations in neural activity measured in such recordings can reveal important aspects of neural circuit organization. However, estimating and interpreting large correlation matrices is statistically challenging. Estimation can be improved by regularization, i.e. by imposing a structure on the estimate. The amount of improvement depends on how closely the assumed structure represents dependencies in the data. Therefore, the selection of the most efficient correlation matrix estimator for a given neural circuit must be determined empirically. Importantly, the identity and structure of the most efficient estimator informs about the types of dominant dependencies governing the system. We sought statistically efficient estimators of neural correlation matrices in recordings from large, dense groups of cortical neurons. Using fast 3D random-access laser scanning microscopy of calcium signals, we recorded the activity of nearly every neuron in volumes 200 μm wide and 100 μm deep (150–350 cells) in mouse visual cortex. We hypothesized that in these densely sampled recordings, the correlation matrix should be best modeled as the combination of a sparse graph of pairwise partial correlations representing local interactions and a low-rank component representing common fluctuations and external inputs. Indeed, in cross-validation tests, the covariance matrix estimator with this structure consistently outperformed other regularized estimators. The sparse component of the estimate defined a graph of interactions. These interactions reflected the physical distances and orientation tuning properties of cells: The density of positive ‘excitatory’ interactions decreased rapidly with geometric distances and with differences in orientation preference whereas negative ‘inhibitory’ interactions were less selective. Because of its superior performance, this ‘sparse+latent’ estimator likely provides a more physiologically relevant representation of the functional connectivity in densely sampled recordings than the sample correlation matrix.
Federalist #10 in Management #101 What Madison Has To Teach Managers

Business students typically do not read James Madison’s Federalist #10, a seminal work in political theory on the causes of and remedies for factions. I make the case that they should and offer suggestions for teaching and assessment. Factions are a subset of stakeholders that have interests adverse to the organization. Madison cogently argues that the causes of factions are rooted in human nature; therefore, managers should embrace diversity and not try to eliminate factions by surrounding themselves with “yes men.” Rather, he urges managers to focus on organizational design to channel ambition in a positive way and constrain the more corrosive effects of factions. Madison emphasizes a critical lesson for negotiation by focusing on adverse interests rather than positions or characteristics. Beyond these management lessons, Federalist #10 exposes business students to the foundations of American politics and helps to inform the ongoing debate about the relationship between business and government. Finally,...
Bach, breasts, and power-law processes

Both the natural and manmade worlds abound with processes that have power-law spectra of the form, P(f)equalsK/f(beta ). Statistical properties of such processes are dramatically different from those of smoothed Gaussian random processes. There is an extreme concentration of spectral power at low frequencies and a unique correlation distance does not exist. In addition, processes that do not have a low frequency cutoff have infinite (undefined) variance for infinite data sets. The fact that mammographic structure has a power-law spectrum does not tell one a great deal about the underlying process that generated the structure. Many different processes can have the same second order statistics, example classes are: deterministic, stochastic, self-similar, self-affine, and chaotic. It will be necessary to develop or adapt a variety of analytical techniques to investigate the nature of mammographic statistics. Some examples of power-law processes will be described and some statistical properties of mammograms will be presented.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Holoprosencephaly with Hypoplasia of the Optic Nerves, Dwarfism, and Agenesis of the Septum Pellucidum

This 23-year-old woman was referred for neuro­ logic consultation because of occipital and frontal headaches, dizziness, and poor vision. History revealed that she had weighed 2841 g at birth after a normal gestation. Earliest growth and development seemed normal, but by age one she was definitely small. Growth and bone maturation con­ tinued to be slow ; details of medical evaluation and treatment for growth retardation at age nine have been previously recorded. M Optic atrophy and wan­ dering nystagmus were noted at that time, as well as poorly defined temporal defects in both visual fields. Pneumoencephalography was attempted, but air did not enter the cerebral ventricles. Diagnosis of hypopituitarism was made and she was treated with 1-thyroxine for iy2 years without effect, but she grew 9 cm in one year while being given con­ trolled, intermittent therapy with human growth hormone (previous rate of growth had been 3 cm/year). After this treatment ended, puberty be­ gan spontaneously at age 12. At age 22, she deliv­ ered a normal infant by Cesarean section after seven previous pregnancies ended in spontaneous abortions during the first trimester. Results of general physical, neurologic, and gy­ necologic examinations were normal. She was 4 feet 7 inches tall and weighed 106 pounds. Intelli­ gence was average. Visual acuity was 20/200 on the right, 20/25 on
Composition and structural state of the potassic phase in perthites as related to petrogenesis of a granitic pluton

Abstract Variations in composition and structural state of the potassic phase in perthites from a granitic pluton are controlled by the distribution of water within the body. Sixty microline perthites from the Precambrian Enchanted Rock batholith, central Texas, U.S.A., were investigated by x-ray and optical means. Three measures of structural state were used: obliquity, optic angle, and a parameter defined on the basis of Wright's ‘three-peak method’. Perthite phenocrysts from the intermediate-central zone contain co-existing ‘orthoclase’ and intermediate microcline, whereas near-maximum microcline predominates in K-feldspars from the other lithologic zones of the batholith and associated dike rocks. The degree of ordering correlates positively with the differentiation index, as well as %Or of the potassic phase. The results of estimates on water fugacities based upon biotite compositions are in agreement with the proposed model of catalysis by water and its effect on the inversion and unmixing of the constituent alkali feldspars.
DHEAS improves learning and memory in aged SAMP8 mice but not in diabetic mice.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) has been reported to improve memory in aged animals and suggested as a treatment for age-related dementias. The SAMP8 mouse, a model of Alzheimer's disease, has an age-related impairment in learning and memory and an increase in brain levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and amyloid beta protein (Aβ). Male SAMP8 mice also have a decrease in testosterone, to which DHEA is a precursor. Diabetes has been suggested as a model of aging and to be linked to Alzheimer's disease. Diabetics can have memory deficits and lower DHEAS levels. Here, we examined the effects of chronic oral DHEAS on acquisition and retention for T-maze footshock avoidance in 12 mo male SAMP8 mice and in CD-1 mice with streptozocin-induced diabetes. Learning and memory were improved in aged SAMP8 mice, but not in CD-1 mice with streptozocin-induced diabetes. These findings suggest that DHEAS is more effective in reversing the cognitive impairments associated with overexpression of Aβ than with diabetes.
Serving underemployed, contingent, displaced and destabilized workers

Abstract Global economic changes are increasing the vulnerability of workers throughout the world. As these changes transform the global labor market and alter jobs and work settings, the need for expanded and more responsive roles for occupational social workers become ever more apparent. Drawing on the experiences of comparably industrialized countries, this article outlines the nature and implications of the economic transformations underway and the impact of these changes on employment and career patterns. Strategies are presented for intervention with underemployed and contingent workers, dislocated workers, and management and employees in settings that have recently experienced reorganization. Public policies likely to mitigate the negative consequences of economic change are offered.
A series of cationic sterol lipids with gene transfer and bactericidal activity

A family of cationic lipids was synthesized via direct amide coupling of spermine to the C-24 position of cholic acid analogs. Four monosubstituted spermines and a bis-substituted spermine were evaluated as plasmid transfection reagents, as bacteriostatic agents, and as bactericidal agents. The incorporation of a double bond in the sterol moiety enhanced transfection efficiency significantly and produced two compounds with little cytotoxicity and transfection potency comparable to Lipofectamine2000. Inclusion of the double bond had no effect on the general trend of increasing bactericidal activity with increasing sterol hydrophobicity. Co-formulation of the most hydrophilic of the compounds with its bis-substituted analogue led to enhancement in transfection activity. The bis-substituted compound, when tested alone, emerged as the most bacteriostatic compound in the family with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 4 microM against Bacillus subtilis and 16 microM against Escherichia coli and therapeutic indexes (minimum hemolytic concentration/minimum inhibitory concentration) of 61 and 15, respectively. Cationic lipids can be optimized for both gene delivery and antibacterial applications by similar modifications.
Scaling of energy confinement time with the minor radius in the FT tokamak

The scaling of the electron energy confinement time with the plasma minor radius, derived from FT data only, does not agree with that obtained by comparing the same data with experimental results from other devices. It is shown that, by taking into account the systematic difference in the measured density profiles for different limiter radii in FT, this apparent disagreement vanishes. The resulting scaling with the minor radius in FT is also consistent with the scalings derived by comparison of a wide variety of Ohmically heated tokamak discharges.
Similarity scaling of turbulence spectra and cospectra in a shallow tidal flow

[1] Measured turbulence power spectra, cospectra, and ogive curves from a shallow tidal flow were scaled using Monin-Obukhov similarity theory to test the applicability to a generic tidal flow of universal curves found from a uniform, neutrally stable atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). While curves from individual 10 min data bursts deviate significantly from similarity theory, averages over large numbers of sufficiently energetic bursts follow the general shape. However, there are several differences: (1) Variance in the measured curves was shifted toward higher frequencies, (2) at low frequencies, velocity spectra were significantly more energetic than theory while cospectra were weaker, and (3) spectral ratios of momentum flux normalized by turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) indicate decreased fluxes and/or elevated TKE levels. Several features of the turbulence structure may explain these differences. First, turbulent dissipation exceeded production, indicating nonequilibrium turbulence, possibly from advection of TKE. Indeed, using the production rate rather than dissipation markedly improves agreement in the inertial subrange. Second, spectral lag of the largest eddies due to inhomogeneous boundary conditions and decaying turbulence could explain spectral deviations from theory at low frequencies. Finally, since the largest eddies dominate momentum transfer, the consequence of the cospectra difference is that calculated ogive curves produced smaller total momentum fluxes compared to theory, partly because of countergradient fluxes. While ABL similarity scaling applied to marine bottom boundary layers (MBBLs) will produce curves with the general shape of the universal curves, care should be taken in determining details of turbulent energy and stress estimates, particularly in shallow and inhomogeneous MBBLs.
Angiotensinogen is related to the antitrypsin-antithrombin-ovalbumin family

The recently reported amino acid sequence of rat angiotensinogen was subjected to a computer-assisted search for homology with known sequences stored in a data bank and found to be significantly related to that of plasma alpha 1-antitrypsin, itself a member of a family that includes antithrombin III and ovalbumin. An alignment of the four sequences shows indisputably the common ancestry of all four proteins.
Developing and Administering a Journal Use and Preference Survey: Lessons Learned

During fiscal year 2001–2002, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) implemented a 21 percent cut in serials with format choice (from print to online) as a significant factor. The library subsequently decided that new subscriptions would be ordered in online only format whenever possible. Three librarians at UNCW developed and administered a survey of serials in spring 2003 to examine preferences and use of serials by science faculty members and graduate students. The authors present results of the survey but primarily focus on the mechanics of this process, planning, creating, and conducting the survey.
Beam conditioning and propagation experiments on SuperIBEX

SuperIBEX produces 5 MeV electron beams with currents of 5 - 30 kA for atmospheric propagation experiments. Such beams are subject to the resistive hose instability which quickly disrupts propagation unless the beam is properly conditioned prior to injection into the atmosphere. The most successful conditioning scheme to date employs an ion-focused regime (IFR) cell to tailor the beam emittance followed by an active wire cell to center the beam. The emittance tailoring tends to 'detune' the hose instability, while the wire cell damps transverse perturbations which seed the instability. A 17 kA, 1.5 cm radius beam has been propagated in full density air to the end of the 5 m long tank without disruption. The beam has also been propagated in a density channel produced by a laser-guided electric discharge. The channel reduces beam expansion generated by scattering of beam electrons by the atmosphere. Results will be compared with simulation codes and with previous propagation experiments at other laboratories.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
PIH34 Impact of Medicare Part D Coverage Gap on Beneficiaries' Adherence to Prescription Medications

x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 Section 1: Conceptual Framework 2 Section 2: Prescription Drug Coverage and the seniors 8 Overview of the Remaining Document 20 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 21 Section 1: Impact of Medicare Part D 22 Section 2: Recent Literature on Medicare Part D Coverage Gap 29 Gaps in Literature 40 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND SPECIFIC AIMS 42 Objective 1: To identify characteristics of beneficiaries reaching and not reaching the coverage gap in 2008 42 Objective 2: To study the entry and exit times from the coverage gap in 2008 44 Objective 3: To study the impact of a complete gap in coverage on beneficiaries‟ adherence to prescription medications 45 Objective 4: To study the impact of a „partial‟ gap in coverage on beneficiaries‟ adherence to prescription medications 45 CHAPTER 4: METHODS 47 Study Design 47 Database Preparation 47 Selecting the sample of beneficiaries: general inclusion and exclusion criteria 55 Methods to prepare the sample for each analysis 58
Study of Wastewater Irrigation in the Kathmandu Valley

The lack of adequate wastewater facilities and lack of rainfall during the dry season have led to the use of wastewater in agriculture in the Kathmandu Valley but wastewater irrigation has never been investigated in the monsoon climate of Nepal. This paper investigates areas of wastewater irrigation and determines wastewater irrigation practices in Kathmandu Valley. Water Nepal Vol.11(2) 2004 pp.63-71
Striking out: estimating the economic impact of baseball's World Series

An empirical analysis of the economic impact of the Major League Baseball's post-season on host-city economies from 1972?2000 suggests that any economic benefits from post-season appearances are small or non-existent. An examination of 129 playoff series finds that any increases in economic growth as a result of the playoffs are not statistically significantly different than zero and that a best guess of the economic impact is $6.8 million per home game. As a general method of economic development, public subsidisation of a baseball team's attempt to reach the World Series in order to reap a city-wide financial windfall should be seen as a gamble at best.