cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Information Storage Model for Distance Cognition

An experiment was performed to evaluate the utility of an information storage model of distance cognition. Subjects walked matched routes segmented with either easily memorable or difficult-to-remember proper names. In accord with the information storage model, the route with more remembered attributes was consistently estimated as longer than an equivalent route with difficult-to-remember attributes.
Value of exercise thallium-201 imaging in patients with diagnostic and nondiagnostic exercise electrocardiograms

The role of exercise imaging with thallium-201 in the evaluation of patients suspected of having coronary artery disease was studied in 194 patients undergoing diagnostic coronary arteriography. Ninety-eight patients had 70 percent or more narrowing of one or more coronary vessels and 96 patients had either no or insignificant coronary artery disease. One hundred twenty-three of the 194 patients had conclusive treadmill exercise electrocardiograms (either positive or negative), and 71 had inconclusive exercise electrocardiograms. Fifty-four of the 98 patients with coronary artery disease were receiving propranolol at the time of testing. Forty-five (83 percent) of the 54 patients receiving propranolol and 33 (75 percent) of the 44 patients not receiving propranolol had abnormal exercise thallium images (difference not significant). In patients with conclusive exercise electrocardiograms the sensitivity of exercise imaging was not significantly different from that of exercise electrocardiograms (80 versus 74 percent), but the sensitivity of both tests combined (92 percent) was higher than that of either test alone (p <0.01). The specificity of exercise Imaging (97 percent) was higher than that of exercise electrocardiograms (86 percent, p <0.02). The specificity of both tests combined was not significantly different from that of exercise electrocardiograms alone. The sensitivity (79 percent) and specificity (95 percent) of exercise imaging were not significantly different in patients with inconclusive exercise electrocardiograms when compared with those in patients whose exercise electrocardiograms were conclusive. These data indicate that exercise Imaging is sensitive and specific in diagnosing coronary artery disease in the presence of diagnostic as well as nondiagnostic exercise electrocardiograms and that propranolol therapy does not affect the results.
Investigating affective color association of media content in language and perception based on online RGB experiment

As an investigation of color categorization in language and perception, this research surveyed the affective association between certain colors and different media contents (movie genres). Compared to scientific graphics, entertainment graphics are designed to deliver emotionally stimulating content to audiences. Based on an online color survey of 19 subjects, this study investigated whether or not subjects had different color preferences on diverse movie genres. Instead of providing predefined limited number of color chips (or pictures) as stimuli, this study was conducted by asking the subjects to visualize their own images of movie genres and to select their preferred colors through a RGB color palette. To compare the distribution of movie genres, the user selected colors were mapped on CIE chromaticity diagram. The subject also described both their preferred color naming of different movie genres and three primary color names of the their most favorite movie genre. The results showed that the subjects had different color associations with specific movie genres as well as certain genres showed higher individual differences. Regardless of genre differences, the subjects selected blue, red or green as their three primary color names representing their favorite movie genres. The results supports Berlin & Kay’s eleven color terms.
A method for measuring optical twin spacings in the superconducting material, YBa2Cu3Ox

Abstract The optical twins in grains of the high temperature superconducting material, YBa 2 Cu 3 O x , lie along {110} planes, and the long boundaries of elongated grains are basal planes. Equations are presented utilizing these facts, which allow the apparent twin spacing to be converted to true twin spacing by measurement of the angles between twin sets and the basal plane boundary on the polish surface. The true thickness of the elongated grains in their C axis direction may also be determined from the analysis.
Feature-based and statistical methods for analyzing the Deepwater Horizon oil spill with AVIRIS imagery

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill covered a very large geographical area in the Gulf of Mexico creating potentially serious environmental impacts on both marine life and the coastal shorelines. Knowing the oil's areal extent and thickness as well as denoting different categories of the oil's physical state is important for assessing these impacts. High spectral resolution data in hyperspectral imagery (HSI) sensors such as Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) provide a valuable source of information that can be used for analysis by semi-automatic methods for tracking an oil spill's areal extent, oil thickness, and oil categories. However, the spectral behavior of oil in water is inherently a highly non-linear and variable phenomenon that changes depending on oil thickness and oil/water ratios. For certain oil thicknesses there are well-defined absorption features, whereas for very thin films sometimes there are almost no observable features. Feature-based imaging spectroscopy methods are particularly effective at classifying materials that exhibit specific well-defined spectral absorption features. Statistical methods are effective at classifying materials with spectra that exhibit a considerable amount of variability and that do not necessarily exhibit well-defined spectral absorption features. This study investigates feature-based and statistical methods for analyzing oil spills using hyperspectral imagery. The appropriate use of each approach is investigated and a combined feature-based and statistical method is proposed.
Relevance in the eye of the search software

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to look into relevance ranking and its importance in trying to bring some order to the deluge of results in response to a query.Design/methodology/approach – A large‐scale analysis of detailed web logs of various search engines was performed. Sample tests were made on five to eight versions of MEDLINE, ERIC, and PsycINFO on hosts which have comparable versions of the databases and offer relevance ranking.Findings – It was found that, for fairness, it must be ensured that the implementations are identical, they have the same retrospective coverage, the same MEDLINE/PubMed subsets, and (quasi) identical update.Research limitations/implications – The tests were made early September 2005. As databases are updated at different times, perfect synchronicity is not easy to achieve. When new records are added to the database, they may change the ranking of the test result set. Similarly, a small change in the fine‐tuning of the algorithm may yield different rank order posit...
Coherent Super-Resolution Structured Illumination Microscopy of Non-Fluorescent Samples

We introduce a framework for coherent structured illumination, which may extend advantages of far-field super-resolution microscopy to non-fluorescent samples. Experimental confirmation is obtained with a target at moderate numerical aperture.
pH influence on near-infrared spectra of glucose

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of pH on near-infrared (NIR) (2.0 - 2.5 micrometers ) spectra of glucose in phosphate buffered saline solution within a tight range of control similar to what is found in many mammalian organisms and cell cultures. It is known that the NIR water spectrum in the wavelength range (2 - 2.5 micrometers ) may be altered by pH, and it has been shown that glucose absorbance spectra do not change with pH when an equal reference pH is available. However, because the glucose absorbance spectra rides on the water spectra, changes in the spectral characteristics did occur. These effects need to be considered, in particular for single beam glucose spectra.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
CHAINED SCHEDULES OF AVOIDANCE: REINFORCEMENT WITHIN AND BY AVOIDANCE SITUATIONS

Four rats were exposed to chained schedules with variable-cycle avoidance in both links. Responding in the initial link cancelled shocks scheduled once per minute and, according to a conjoint fixed-ratio schedule, produced a terminal link where scheduled shock rates varied from 0 to 8 shocks per minute in different conditions of the experiment. Response rates in the terminal link increased as a function of the scheduled shock rate. Response rates in the initial link, on the other hand, decreased as a function of the shock rate actually received (rather than scheduled) in the terminal link. While consistent with other studies of aversive control, these results differ from those obtained in chained schedules of positive reinforcement in that increases in reinforcement within the terminal link of the chain did not systematically increase the reinforcing value of that link.
Sialoglycoproteins and several glycosidases in developing rat brain.

— The amount of sialoglycoproteins expressed as μmol of sialic acid per g of lipid-free residue remained fairly constant in developing rat brain. However, the activity of various enzymes which may be involved in glycoprotein metabolism varied in an inconstant fashion during the period of development. The specific activity of a neuraminidase increased, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase remained relatively constant, while the specific activities of α-mannosidase and α-fucosidase decreased.
Regrowth control in American elm by chemical injection.

(1980). REGROWTH CONTROL IN AMERICAN ELM BY CHEMICAL INJECTION. Arboricultural Journal: Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 22-24.
Common American Football Injuries

As many as 1.5 million young men participate in American football in the United States. An estimated 1.2 million football-related injuries are sustained annually. Since the 1970s epidemiological studies have shown that the risk of injury is higher in older athletes and lower in teams with more experienced coaches and more assistant coaches. 51% of injuries occurred at training; contact sessions were 4.7 times more likely to produce injuries than controlled sessions. Injury rates were reduced by wearing shorter cleats and preseason conditioning.
Fermi Level Position at Metal-Semiconductor Interfaces

The position of the Fermi level at a metal-semiconductor interface relative to the conduction band has been found to be a constant fraction of the semiconductor band gap for all but 3 of the 14 group IV or III-V semiconductors studied. In all cases, the position was essentially independent of the metal work function. This general result is not inconsistent with the limited theories of surface state energies now available. The three exceptional cases can be understood in terms of a first-order perturbation to the surface state energies correlated with a similar perturbation observed in the energy gap at the (111) zone edge. Experiments are also reported on Ga(As-P) alloys, and two II-VI materials showing distinctly different behavior.
Three levels of learning in simulations: participating, debriefing, and journal writing

Simulations and games provide three levels of learning: through participating, debriefing and writing. While taking part in the simulation; the participant experiences different types off acts, emo...
Probing of polymer surfaces in the viscoelastic regime.

In this Feature Article, we discussed the experimental and modeling methods and analyzed the limitations of the surface probing of nanomechanical properties of polymeric and biological materials in static and dynamic regimes with atomic force microscopy (AFM), which are widely utilized currently. To facilitate such measurements with minimized ambiguities, in this study we present a combined method to evaluate the viscoelastic properties of compliant polymeric materials. We collected force–distance data in the static regime for a benchmark polymer material (poly(n-butyl methacrylate)) with an easily accessible glass-transition temperature (about 25 °C) at different loading rates and different temperatures across the glassy state, glass-transition region, and rubbery state. For this analysis, we exploited a Johnson-modified Sneddon’s approach in a combination with the standard linear solid model. Critical experimental steps suggested for robust probing are (i) the use of a tip with a well-characterized para...
Disturbance and climatic effects on red spruce community dynamics at its southern continuous range margin

Red spruce (Picea rubens) populations experienced a synchronous rangewide decline in growth and vigor starting in the 1960s, likely caused by climate change and a combination of environmental disturbances. However, it is not yet known if populations continue to decline or have recovered. Red spruce growing near its southern range margin in Massachusetts is a species of concern, in light of the vulnerability to climate change. This study uses population data from 17 permanent plots coupled with tree-ring data to examine radial growth rates, determine the growth-climate relationship, and document disturbance events. Red spruce at these plots ranged from 90 to 184 years old, and comprised 15 to 29 m(2)/ha basal area. Red spruce seedlings and saplings were common at plots with previously high overstory spruce abundance, indicating it could return to a more dominant position under favorable growing conditions. However, permanent plot measures over a 50 year time span did not indicate any consistent trends for changes in basal area or density for red spruce or other woody species. Climate data show that mean annual minimum, maximum, and summer temperatures have increased over the last 100 years. Dendroclimatological analyses indicated that red spruce growth was sensitive to both temperature and precipitation. Prior to the 1960s, spruce at these sites showed a positive response to precipitation; however after a multi-year drought in the 1960s showed an increasingly negative correlation with precipitation. There has been a negative growth response to regional warming, as spruce radial growth was mostly constrained by increasing temperatures, potentially coupled with the associated increasing drought-dress. I suggest the change in climate response is potentially due to a physiological threshold response to increasing temperatures, which may cause spruce to continue to decline or be lost from the lower elevation sites, while the high elevation sites has a persistent spruce population.
Two Point Mutations of RPE65 from Patients with Retinal Dystrophies Decrease the Stability of RPE65 Protein and Abolish Its Isomerohydrolase Activity

RPE65 is the isomerohydrolase in the retinoid visual cycle essential for recycling of 11-cis retinal, the chromophore for visual pigments in both rod and cone photoreceptors. Mutations in the RPE65 gene are associated with inherited retinal dystrophies with unknown mechanisms. Here we show that two point mutations of RPE65, R91W and Y368H, identified in patients with retinal dystrophies both abolished the isomerohydrolase activity of RPE65 after a subretinal injection into the Rpe65−/− mice and in the in vitro isomerohydrolase activity assay, independent of their protein levels. Further, the R91W and Y368H mutants showed significantly decreased protein levels but unchanged mRNA levels when compared with the wild-type RPE65 (wtRPE65). Protein stability analysis showed that wtRPE65 is a fairly stable protein, with an apparent half-life longer than 10 h, when expressed in 293A cells. Under the same conditions, mutants R91W and Y368H both showed substantially decreased protein stabilities, with half-lives less than 2 and 6 h, respectively. Subcellular fractionation and Western blot analysis demonstrated that wtRPE65 predominantly exists in the membrane fraction, while both of the mutants are primarily distributed in the cytosolic fraction, suggesting that these mutations disrupt the membrane association of RPE65. However, palmitoylation assay showed that wtRPE65 and both of the mutants were palmitoylated. These results suggest that these mutations may result in critical structural alterations of RPE65 protein, disrupt its membrane association, and consequently impair its isomerohydrolase activity, leading to retinal degeneration.
Experience matters: The impact of doing versus watching on infants' subsequent perception of tool-use events.

Prior work suggests that active experience affects infants' understanding of simple actions. The present studies compared the impact of active and observational experience on infants' ability to identify the goal of a novel tool-use event. Infants either received active training and practice in using a cane to retrieve an out-of-reach toy or had matched observational experience before taking part in a habituation paradigm that we used to assess infants' ability to identify the goal of another person's tool-use acts. Active training alone facilitated 10-month-old infants' ability to identify the goal of the tool-use event. Active experience using tools may enable infants to build motor representations of tool-use events that subsequently guide action perception and support action understanding.
Reassessing Human Geography in the Wake of China's Rise

A prominent human geographer, introducing a series of papers in a Eurasian Geography and Economics mini-symposium devoted to China's emergence, surveys the myriad global impacts of that country's rapid recent rise. The topics covered include the economic (i.e., rapid growth in the size of China's economy, preeminence as an exporter of manufactured goods, and role as a major natural resource consumer, overseas investor, and purchaser of U.S. debt obligations), the geopolitical (increasing involvement in international organizations, rising assertiveness in defense of territorial claims), and the environmental (e.g., carbon footprint, accelerated urbanization, dam building), as well as the implications of China's rise for the study of geography and development. He argues that assessment of the consequences of the country's emergence should not be based on simple extrapolation of present trends, but must take into account a number of looming questions relating to the competitiveness of China's manufacturing l...
The science of autologous fat grafting: views on current and future approaches to neoadipogenesis.

Learning Objectives: The reader is presumed to have a broad understanding of plastic surgical procedures and concepts. After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Describe the current clinical applications and limitations of autologous fat grafting. 2. Identify the important physiological steps and molecular pathways of neoadipogenesis. 3. Cite current in vitro and in vivo models for the analysis of fat grafting techniques. Physicians may earn 1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit by successfully completing the examination based on material covered in this article. The examination begins on page 322. ASAPS members can also complete this CME examination online by logging on to the ASAPS Members-Only website ( http://www.surgery.org/members ) and clicking on “Clinical Education” in the menu bar. Autologous fat transplantation has become a well established and frequently applied method of soft tissue augmentation for both cosmetic and reconstructive indications. There is no consensus, however, about the best fat grafting technique, nor is there reproducible data regarding its durability. The most significant drawback to autologous fat grafting remains its largely unpredictable rate of resorption. A thorough understanding of the developmental biology and molecular regulation of adipogenesis and adipocyte survival is critical to optimizing the fat grafting technique. Consequently, numerous in vitro and in vivo studies on fat graft viability have recently been undertaken. Here, we discuss the latest advances in the basic science of adipogenesis, adipocyte viability, and its clinical application to fat grafting, arguing that the data produced by in vitro and in vivo studies still fail to produce a clear picture of the required components for successful, consistent, and durable fat transplantation; however, it is undetermined if this lack of clarity may simply be a lack of systematic scientific data acquisition or if these findings truly reflect the biology of neoadipogenesis. As a first step in strengthening autologous fat grafting scientific data collection, we recommend that a collective, multidisciplinary, multicenter effort be undertaken to establish in vitro and in vivo models of neoadipogenesis that are clearly reproducible from one investigator to another. With the implementation of systematic scientific approaches to the study of neoadipogenesis, we anticipate the future of autologous fat transplantation for correction of soft tissue volume loss to be extremely promising.
LARGE-SCALE DISTURBANCE AND THE STRUCTURE OF MARINE SYSTEMS: FISHERY IMPACTS ON GEORGES BANK

Georges Bank, a shallow submarine plateau located off the New England coast, has supported valuable commercial fisheries for several centuries. The region is characterized by high levels of primary productivity and, historically, high levels of fish production. Within the last four decades Georges Bank has been subjected to major perturbations that have profoundly altered levels of catch, abundance, and species composition. The arrival of distant water fleets during the early 1960s resulted in dramatic increases in effective fishing effort and the subsequent commercial collapse of several fish populations. Total fish biomass is estimated to have declined by >50% on Georges Bank during the period of operation of the distant water fleets. The implementation of extended jurisdiction (the 200-mile [370.4-km] limit) in 1977 was followed by modernization and increased capacity of the domestic fleet, resulting in a second perturbation to the system that resulted in further declines in groundfish populations to h...
Radiographic diagnosis of posterior facet talocalcaneal coalition

Tarsal coalition is a relatively common segmentation abnormality of the hindfoot that can result in foot and ankle pain in both adolescents and adults. The most common types are calcaneonavicular and talocalcaneal. Posterior subtalar facet coalition is less common. We present a 10-year-old boy with a history of chronic left ankle and foot pain. Radiographs demonstrated calcaneal “humpback” sign, representing the posterior subtalar bony coalition, and CT demonstrated in more detail the extent of bony and fibrous coalition. These findings led to surgical intervention.
Polarized optical scattering measurements of metallic nanoparticles upon a silicon wafer

Bidirectional ellipsometry has been developed as a technique for distinguishing among various scattering features near surfaces. The out-of-plane polarized light-scattering by metallic nanoparticles on wafer is calculated and measured. These calculations and measurements yield angular dependence of bidirectional ellipsometric parameters for out-ofplane scattering. The experimental data show good agreement with theoretical predictions for different diameter of gold spheres. The results suggest that improvements for accuracy are possible to perform measurements of scattering features from metallic nanoparticles. The polarization of light scattered by metallic nanoparticles can be used to determine the size of nano-particulate contaminants on silicon wafers.
Transient neonatal denervation alters the proliferative capacity of myosatellite cells in dystrophic (129ReJdy/dy) muscle.

It has been previously shown that transiently denervated, neonatal dystrophic muscle fails to undergo the degeneration–regeneration cycle characteristic of murine dystrophy (Moschella and Ontell, 1987). Thus, the myosatellite cells (myogenic stem cells) in these muscles have been spared the mitotic challenge to which dystrophic myosatellite cells are normally subjected early in the time course of the disease. By in vitro evaluation of the proliferative capacity of myosatellite cells derived from extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of 100-day-old genetically normal (+/+) and genetically dystrophic [dy/dy (129ReJdy/dy)] mice and from muscles of age-matched mice that had been neonatally denervated (by sciaticotomy) and allowed to reinnervate, it has been possible to directly determine whether the cessation of spontaneous regeneration in older dy/dy muscles in vivo, is due to an innate defect in the proliferative capacity of the myosatellite cells or exhaustion of the myosatellite cells' mitotic activity during the regenerative phase of the disease. This study demonstrates that transient neonatal denervation of dystrophic muscle (Den.dy/dy) increases the number of muscle colony-forming cells (MCFs) permilligram of wet weight muscle tissue, increases the plating efficiency, and significantly increases the in vitro mitotic activity of dystrophic myosatellite cells toward normal values. The increased mitotic capability of myosatellite cells derived from Den.dy/dy muscle as compared to unoperated dy/dy muscle suggests that there is no innate defect in the proliferative capacity of the myosatellite cells of dy/dy muscles and that the cessation of spontaneous regeneration in the dy/dy muscles is related to the exhaustion of their myosatellite cells' mitotic capability. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations Find That 3‘ Phosphoramidate Modified DNA Duplexes Undergo a B to A Transition and Normal DNA Duplexes an A to B Transition

We present unrestrained molecular dynamics studies on a deoxyribose dodecamer duplex d(CGCGAATTCGCG)2 and its phosphoramidate (replacing O3‘ by NH) analog using particle mesh Ewald electrostatics1 and the Cornell et al. force field.2 The simulations were carried out beginning in both canonical A and B forms, which differ in RMS position by ∼6.5 A. These simulations, which were carried out for ∼1−1.5 ns, are consistent with experiment in that the unmodified dodecamer, whether started in A or B DNA, converges to a B structure which is closer to the observed X-ray structure (9bna) than canonical B. On the other hand, the phosphoramidate modified duplex, whether started in A or B forms, converges to an A form. In this duplex, however, the structure from the simulation begun in the B form has a dependence on the initial location of the N−H hydrogen. In one of our simulations, we find base pair opening and closing at the end of the duplex. Specifically, in the simulation of d(CGCGAATTCGCG)2 begun in the A form,...
Multi-agent policies: from centralized ones to decentralized ones

In this paper we divide multi-agent policies into two categories: centralized ones and decentralized ones. They reflect different views of multi-agent systems and different decision-theoretic underpinnings. While the centralized policies specify the decision of the agents according to the global system state, the decentralized policies, which correspond to the decisions of situated agents, must assume only a partial knowledge of the system in each agent and must deal with communication explicitly. In this paper we relate these two types of policies by introducing a formal and systematic methodology for transforming centralized policies into a variety of decentralized policies. We introduce a set of transformation strategies, and provide a representation for discussing decentralized communication decisions. Through our experiments, we show that our methodology enables us to derive a class of interesting policies that have a range of expected utilities and amount of communication, and allows us to gain important insights into decentralized coordination strategies from a decision-theoretic perspective.
Dietary ecospace and the diversity of euprimates during the Early and Middle Eocene

This study examined adapoid and omomyoid euprimate dietary and body size diversity from the Eocene of North America and Europe. Estimates of body weights and shearing quotients calculated from lower molars were plotted on a coordinate graph as a representation of dietary niche space (dietary ecospace) occupied by extinct species. By computing the areas, average intertaxon distances, and average distances from the centroid of the resulting polygons, comparisons of Eocene euprimate dietary and body size diversity were made. Results indicate that euprimate dietary niche space expanded significantly in North America from the Early to Middle Eocene, and at all times during the Early and Middle Eocene, the niche space occupied by North American euprimates exceeded that of corresponding European euprimates. These results confirm that fossil euprimate diversity, as measured by diet and body size, significantly differed across biogeographic areas. There are many possible explanations as to why North American euprimates were significantly more diverse in terms of diet and body size than their European counterparts. The explanation advocated here as most responsible for the increased diversity during the Early and Middle Eocene relates to the existence and increased sampling of more ecologically diverse environments, such as basin margins in the western interior of North America. These diverse environments could have promoted biological processes that led to the generation of increased diversity in North America compared to the isolated island refugia of Western Europe during this time.
MATURATION OF RAT MAST CELLS : An Electron Microscope Study

Electron microscope study of rat mast cell maturation corroborates certain interpretations of features of mast cell differentiation based on light microscope studies. In addition, the ultrastructural variation observed in the granules of differentiating mast cells suggests that granule formation begins with the elaboration of dense granules about 70 mµ in diameter inside Golgi vacuoles. These progranules appear to aggregate inside a membrane and fuse to form dense cords 70 to 100 mµ in diameter. These dense cords are embedded in a finely granular material possibly added to the developing granule by direct continuity between perigranular membranes and cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum. The dense cords and finely granular material then appear to be replaced by a mass of strands about 30 mµ in diameter, thought to be a reorganization product of the two formerly separate components. A process interpreted as compaction of the strands completes the formation of the dense, homogeneous granules observed in mature rat mast cells. The similarity between mast cell granule formation and the elaboration of other granules is considered, with special reference to rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocyte azurophil granules. The relationships between the ultrastructural, histochemical, and radioautographic characteristics of mast cell granule formation are considered, and the significance of the perigranular membrane is discussed.
Raising international standards for protecting nuclear materials from theft and sabotage

The break-up of the Soviet Union resulted in conditions that focused attention on the possible risk of “loose nukes.” But the risk from insecure nuclear materials is not limited to the former Soviet Union; there is a need to ensure adequate physical protection on a global basis. Weapons-usable materials— plutonium and highly enriched uranium (HEU)—are spread widely around the world. A significant portion of these materials exists in civilian rather than military inventories. For example, some 12 countries (Belgium, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States) possess among them over 180,000 kilograms of separated, civilian weapons-usable plutonium—as compared with approximately 250,000 kilograms in weapons or weapons reserves. It takes only a few kilograms of this material to make a nuclear weapon. If any of this material were stolen or illegally removed from an existing inventory, it could be used by another country or terrorist organization to make a bomb. Without effective cooperative efforts between many countries to guard weapons-usable materials, no government can protect its people from the threat of nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists or hostile states. In 1997, the US Department of Energy (DOE) established a goal of guarding weapons-usable materials just as well as US nuclear weapons are guarded. However, many civilian weapons-usable materials are not yet so protected even in the United States. And, even if they were, that might not reduce American risks much if other countries continued to maintain lower standards. Hostile countries or terrorist groups that want to obtain weapons-usable materials are likely to go wherever these materials can most easily be bought or stolen.
Crystal Structure of the Nuclear Matrix Targeting Signal of the Transcription Factor Acute Myelogenous Leukemia-1/Polyoma Enhancer-binding Protein 2αB/Core Binding Factor α2 *

Transcription factors of the acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)/polyoma enhancer-binding protein (PEBP2alpha)/core-binding factor alpha (CBFA) class are key transactivators of tissue-specific genes of the hematopoietic and bone lineages. AML-1/PEBP2alphaB/CBFA2 proteins participating in transcription are associated with the nuclear matrix. This association is solely dependent on a highly conserved C-terminal protein segment, designated the nuclear matrix targeting signal (NMTS). The NMTS of AML-1 is physically distinct from the nuclear localization signal, operates autonomously, and supports transactivation. Our data indicate that the related AML-3 and AML-2 proteins are also targeted to the nuclear matrix in situ by analogous C-terminal domains. Here we report the first crystal structure of an NMTS in an AML-1 segment fused to glutathione S-transferase. The model of the NMTS consists of two loops connected by a flexible U-shaped peptide chain.
Musculoskeletal disorder risk as a function of vehicle rotation angle during assembly tasks

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are costly and common problem in automotive manufacturing. The research goal was to quantify MSD exposure as a function of vehicle rotation angle and region during assembly tasks. The study was conducted at the Center for Occupational Health in Automotive Manufacturing (COHAM) Laboratory. Twelve subjects participated in the study. The vehicle was divided into seven regions, (3 interior, 2 underbody and 2 engine regions) representative of work areas during assembly. Three vehicle rotation angles were examined for each region. The standard horizontal assembly condition (0° rotation) was the reference frame. Exposure was assessed on the spine loads and posture, shoulder posture and muscle activity, neck posture and muscle activity as well as wrist posture. In all regions, rotating the vehicle reduced musculoskeletal exposure. In five of the seven regions 45° of vehicle rotation represented the position that reduced MSD exposure most. Two of the seven regions indicated 90° of vehicle rotation had the greatest impact for reducing MSD exposure. This study demonstrated that vehicle rotation shows promise for reducing exposure to risk factors for MDS during automobile assembly tasks.
The Role of Thin-Slice Judgments in Consumer Psychology

This article examines the potential theoretical and practical contributions that thin-slice judgments may offer to consumer psychology. We begin by exploring thin-slice judgments in the context of existing consumer information processing research. Then, we discuss the antecedents of thin-slice judgments, the type of processing that may underlie and impact thin-slice judgment formation. Finally, we review the potential consequences of thin-slice judgments and investigate applications within the consumer domain.
Photogrammetric camera calibration

Abstract Section 2 (Calibration) of the document “Recommended Procedures for Calibrating Photogrammetric Cameras and Related Optical Tests” from the International Archives of Photogrammetry, Vol. XIII, Part 4, is reviewed in the light of recent practical work, and suggestions for changes are made. These suggestions are intended as a basis for a further discussion.
Temperature solution in multi-dimensional multi-layer bodies

Abstract Mathematical steps leading to computation of the temperature field in multi-dimensional, multi-layer bodies are described and numerical results for two-layer bodies are presented. The presentations include boundary conditions of the first, second, and third kind. Included in this paper is a table to assist in computing eigenvalues. Also, modifications are made to account for the contribution of contact resistance. An efficient computational scheme for calculating the eigenvalues is discussed and numerical results are presented. For multi-dimensional, multi-layer bodies, the eigenfunctions may have real or imaginary eigenvalues. The complete solution must include the contribution of imaginary eigenvalues; otherwise, the information will be erroneous. A procedure is introduced that places a bound on the location of each eigenvalue.
Eliminating a sparse data problem in nonparametric bivariate survival analysis with an application to women's age at first marriage and age at first birth

A new solution is proposed for a sparse data problem arising in nonparametric estimation of a bivariate survival function. Prior information, if available, can be used to obtain initial values for the EM algorithm. Initial values will completely determine estimates of portions of the distribution which are not identifiable from the data, while having a minimal effect on estimates of portions of the distribution for which the data provide sufficient information. Methods are applied to the distribution of women's age at first marriage and age at birth of first child, using data from the Current Population Surveys of 1975 and 1986.
Strategies for Enhancing Student Interaction and Immediacy in Online Courses

The increased demand for Internet courses, especially in schools of business, has raised questions about instructional interaction and teacher-student immediacy, which online courses may lack. Because current research suggests immediacy behaviors may indeed be present, we developed a strategy for measuring immediacy in an online MBA course and related the results to student grades on final team projects in the course. Learner-to-learner, noncontent-related statements showed minimal affective behavior, but that lack did not have a negative effect on grades. The study suggests that students do not automatically provide supportive feedback, compliment each other, and express appreciation or agreement unless the instructor builds a learning community and transfers interactive roles to the students themselves.
EFFECT OF CURING CONDITIONS ON THE CAPILLARY POROSITY OF HARDENED PORTLAND CEMENT PASTES

The capillary pore structure of hardened portland cement pastes cured by high-pressure steam, chemical acceleration, high-pressure steam with reactive SiO2, water immersion, water immersion and high-pressure steam, and hot-pressing was measured using mercury porosimetry to 50,000 psi. Differences of > 2 orders of magnitude exist in the average capillary pore diameters of the cement pastes studied. The largest pores (∼1 to 3 μm in diameter) are associated with high-pressure steam-cured pastes. The smallest average capillaries observed were 0.02 μm for pastes steam-cured with reactive SiO2. Hot-pressed pastes had essentially no porosity accessible to mercury. The application of pore size control to problems of polymer-impregnated concrete is discussed.
Optimizing quantification of aortic root dilation in children and young adults

Introduction Dilated aortic roots occur in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), or with connective tissue disease. When severe, root dilation can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Decisions regarding aortic valve/root replacement are based on root size, rate of change over time, and the degree of aortic stenosis and regurgitation, so accurate quantification of root size and progression is vital to patient management. Cardiovascular MRI provides more reproducible and accurate measurement of aortic roots than echocardiography, but the optimal imaging sequences have not been well studied.
Orthomorphism Graphs of Groups

We introduce the concept of the orthomorphism graph of a group. An r-clique of the orthomorphism graph of a group G corresponds to a set of r+1 mutually orthogonal latin squares based on the group G. In this paper we give constructions of nets, affine planes and cartesian groups using cliques of orthomorphism graphs and we discuss the relationship between properties of the cliques and properties of the nets constructed.
Ayurvedic Medicine Constituent Withaferin A Causes G2 and M Phase Cell Cycle Arrest in Human Breast Cancer Cells

Withaferin A (WA) is derived from the medicinal plant Withania somnifera that has been safely used for centuries in the Indian Ayurvedic medicine for treatment of various ailments. We now demonstrate that WA treatment causes G2 and mitotic arrest in human breast cancer cells. Treatment of MDA-MB-231 (estrogen-independent) and MCF-7 (estrogen-responsive) cell lines with WA resulted in a concentration- and time-dependent increase in G2-M fraction, which correlated with a decrease in levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1), cell division cycle 25C (Cdc25C) and/or Cdc25B proteins, leading to accumulation of Tyrosine15 phosphorylated (inactive) Cdk1. Ectopic expression of Cdc25C conferred partial yet significant protection against WA-mediated G2-M phase cell cycle arrest in MDA-MB-231 cells. The WA-treated MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were also arrested in mitosis as judged by fluorescence microscopy and analysis of Ser10 phosphorylated histone H3. Mitotic arrest resulting from exposure to WA was accompanied ...
Improving depression and reducing cardiac events: Which is the chicken and which is the egg?

Abstract Objective To examine the assumption that depression leads to recurrent cardiac events and death in those with heart disease. Methods Consideration of alternative perspectives and discussion of the literature. Results It is not clear from studies like MIND-IT, ENRICHD or SADHART whether depression treatment improves cardiac outcomes. In these studies, recurrent cardiac events and death were recorded 6 months or more after study entry, but shorter-term cardiac outcomes (e.g., stabilization of plaque prone to rupture and thrombosis or changes in areas of myocardium prone to life-threatening arrhythmia) were not assessed. Although the prevailing view is that shorter-term improvement in depression is necessary to improve cardiovascular outcomes, the possibility that shorter-term improvement in cardiac status might result in reduced symptoms of depression has not been examined. If correct, this possibility might explain why studies have shown that patients whose depression improves also exhibit improved cardiovascular outcomes and lower mortality, even though randomization to the depression intervention in these studies had no effect. Conclusion It is not clear whether improving depression comes first and reduced cardiac events follows or whether patients whose cardiac status improves also exhibit improvement in depression. Which is the chicken and which the egg is more than just a philosophical question, since it may affect the direction of future research in this field, and even how we approach the care of patients with heart disease and depression.
The Effects of Screw Configuration and Polymeric Carriers on Hot‐Melt Extruded Taste‐Masked Formulations Incorporated into Orally Disintegrating Tablets

ABSTRACT: The primary aim of this research was to produce successfully taste masked formulations of Sildenafil Citrate (SC) using hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology. Multiple screw configurations and polymeric carriers were evaluated for their effects on taste masking efficiency, which was assessed by both E-tongue analysis and in vitro dissolution in simulated salivary fluid (SSF, pH 6.8 artificial saliva). The screw configurations were further assessed for their effects on the morphology of the API using PXRD, FT-IR and mid-infrared chemical imaging. It was determined that the screw configuration had a profound effect on the taste masking efficiency of the formulations as a result of altering the physical state of the API. Selected extruded formulations using ethylcellulose (EC) with a pore former were further formulated into orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs), which were optimized by varying the grade and percentage of the superdisintegrant used. An optimized disintegration time of approximately 8 seconds was achieved. The final ODT formulation exhibited excellent taste masking properties with over 85% drug release in gastric media as well as physical tablet properties. Interestingly, friability, which tends to be a common concern when formulating ODTs, was well within the acceptable limits (
Location and Policy Preferences

Individuals with access to multiple jurisdictions can choose to distribute their consumption of many government policies across various polities to avoid costs imposed by their own government. This alters preferences over their own government's policies, suggesting such voters should disproportionately favor policies whose costs are evadable. Referendum voting from the Switzerland and the United States confirms this theorizing: border areas, where the populations have systematically greater access to other jurisdictions, see significantly different levels of support for a variety of policy measures, including abortion policy, legal retirement age, and sales tax rates.
Linear-algebraic approach to electron-molecule collisions: General formulation

We present a linear-algebraic approach to electron-molecule collisions based on an integral equations form with either logarithmic or asymptotic boundary conditions. The introduction of exchange effects does not alter the basic form or order of the linear-algebraic equations for a local potential. In addition to the standard procedure of directly evaluating the exchange integrals by numerical quadrature, we also incorporate exchange effects through a separable-potential approximation. Efficient schemes are developed for reducing the number of points and channels that must be included. The method is applied at the static-exchange level to a number of molecular systems including ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$, LiH, and C${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$.
A model for scheduling protocol-constrained components and environments

This paper presents a technique for highly constrained event sequence scheduling. System resource protocols as well as an external interface protocol are described by non-deterministic finite automata (NFA). All valid schedules which adhere to interfacing constraints and resource bounds for flow graph described behavior are determined exactly. A model and scheduling results are presented for an extensive design example.
Adenosine 3', 5'-Cyclic Monophosphate-Stimulated Protein Kinase from Human Skin II. Isolation and Properties of Multiple Forms

Multiple forms of adenosine 3′, 5′‐ cyclic monophosphate-stimulated protein kinase have been demonstrated in human skin. Many of their kinetic parameters appear to be quite similar for the various forms. Furthermore, their properties resemble those of protein kinases isolated from numerous other tissues. All three forms are optimally active between pH 8.0 and 9.0. They exhibit an apparent Km of between 1.5 and 1.8 × 10 -8 M for cyclic AMP¶ and between 0.20 and 0.45 mg/ml for histones. The analogs of cyclic AMP also stimulate the enzymes but only at concentrations higher than that of cyclic AMP. The Km values for ATP were not significantly altered by cyclic AMP (1.3 × 10 -5 M in the absence of cyclic AMP and 1.4–2.1 × 10 -5 M in its presence) and were nearly identical for all three forms of the enzyme.