cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Listener Accent Background on Accent Perception and Comprehension

Variability of speaker accent is a challenge for effective human communication as well as speech technology including automatic speech recognition and accent identification. The motivation of this study is to contribute to a deeper understanding of accent variation across speakers from a cognitive perspective. The goal is to provide perceptual assessment of accent variation in native and English. The main focus is to investigate how listener's accent background affects accent perception and comprehensibility. The results from perceptual experiments show that the listeners' accent background impacts their ability to categorize accents. Speaker accent type affects perceptual accent classification. The interaction between listener accent background and speaker accent type is significant for both accent perception and speech comprehension. In addition, the results indicate that the comprehensibility of the speech contributes to accent perception. The outcomes point to the complex nature of accent perception, and provide a foundation for further investigation on the involvement of cognitive processing for accent perception. These findings contribute to a richer understanding of the cognitive aspects of accent variation, and its application for speech technology.
Inflation in open economies

Abstract This paper relates the time-consistent inflation rate to the degree of trade openness of an economy. The mechanism linking the welfare effects of monetary surprises (and hence the incentives to inflate) to openness does not rely on a large-country terms of trade effect but rather is due to imperfect competition and nominal price rigidity in the non-traded sector. The empirical evidence supports the main predictions of the model. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.
Trade-off studies of detection performance versus the number of reflective spectral bands in hyperspectral imagery

This paper presents (1) trade-off studies of detection performance versus the number of bands using reflective hyperspectral imagery; (2) the quantitative detection performance of various approaches used in automatic target detection. The trade-off studies of detection performance versus the number of bands are based on the Adaptive Real-Time Endmember Selection and Clutter Suppression (ARES) algorithm. The ARES algorithm presents a new concept and approach for spectral-spatial aided/automatic target detection based on the unique characteristics of the spectral signatures produced by the hyperspectral imaging system for remote sensing surveillance and reconnaissance applications. This paper compares the quantitative detection performance based on the ARES algorithm with other automatic target detection approaches. This paper uses the Forest Radiance I database collected with the HYDICE hyperspectral sensor at Aberdeen U.S. Army Proving Ground in Maryland, including scenarios such as targets in the open, with footprint of 1 meter, and at different times of day.
Glycogen Levels in Wildland Firefighters During Wildfire Suppression

Objective The purpose of this project was to determine the effects of wildfire suppression on muscle glycogen utilization in wildland firefighters (WLFFs). Methods Wildland firefighters ( n = 11) participated in the study. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis pre- and post-work shift. Activity patterns were measured using an Actical activity monitor positioned on the chest. Food was consumed ad libitum and recorded using a food log and interview. Differences were analyzed using paired samples t -tests and relationships were assessed using Pearson r correlation coefficients. A significance level of p Results Body weight was similar pre- to post-work shift (85.9 ± 9.1 and 85.6 ± 8.8 kg, respectively). Muscle glycogen decreased from pre- to post-work shift, 101 ± 7 to 80 ± 5 mmol/kg wet wt, p r = −.76, p r = .79, p Conclusions This study demonstrates the variety of self-selected nutritional and activity habits of WLFFs, and emphasizes the relationships between moderate/vigorous activity and muscle glycogen. The current data suggest that the food provided was adequate to maintain muscle glycogen levels pre- to post-work shift.
Control of Prostate Cancer Using Organotin Polymers

The current efforts described in this paper are aimed at developing compounds that inhibit the growth of prostate cancer and to identify structure/property relationships that will further assist us towards this goal. The growth of prostate cancer is affected employing a wide range of organotin condensation polymers. The EC50 values are primarily dependant on the nature of the Lewis base but the CI50 is dependent on both the nature of the Lewis base and Lewis acid. EC50 values down to the picogram/mL range are found. A number of products exhibit CI50 values greater than two. For polymers derived from hydroquinone and hydroquinone derivatives ability to inhibit cancer cell growth decreases as the bulk of substituents increases.
Kinase-dependent loss of Na+ channel slow-inactivation in rat CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cell dendrites after brief exposure to convulsants.

Na + channels in the dendrites of rat CA1 pyramidal neurons display a profound activity-dependent inactivation, termed slow inactivation, that limits excitability in the dendrites even at low physiological rates of firing. The magnitude of this slow inactivation is powerfully modulated by a protein kinase C-dependent process. Because activation of kinases is a rapid and common feature of a number of seizure models, we hypothesized that a loss of slow inactivation of Na + channels might exacerbate other changes in excitability. Thus, we observed the effects of a brief (5 min) chemical convulsant treatment on Na + currents and action potentials in hippocampal slices. We found that slow inactivation decreased significantly and remained decreased for at least 30 min after return to control conditions. Pretreatment with either chelerythrine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, or U0126, a mitogen-activated protein kinase/ extracellular signal regulated kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor, blocked this reduction of slow inactivation. These results demonstrate that a brief period of hyperexcitability leads to a rapid, protein kinase-dependent loss of slow inactivation of Na + channels that would contribute to and perhaps prolong the hyperexcitable state.
Dissipative pulsar magnetospheres

A dissipative axisymmetric pulsar magnetosphere is calculated by a direct numerical simulation of the strong-field electrodynamics equations. The magnetic separatrix disappears; it is replaced by a region of enhanced dissipation. With a better numerical scheme, one should be able to calculate the bolometric light curves for a given conductivity.
Enforced expression of the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2 ablates tolerance induction in DNA-reactive B cells through a novel mechanism

How self tolerance is maintained during B cell development in the bone marrow has been a focal area of study in immunology. Receptor editing, anergy and clonal deletion all play important roles in the regulation of autoimmunity in the immature population. The mechanisms of tolerance induction in the periphery, however, are less well characterized. Overexpression of the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2 rescues autoreactive B cells from deletion and can contribute to the development of autoimmune disease in certain genetic backgrounds. Using a peptide-induced autoimmunity model, we recently identified a peripheral tolerance checkpoint in antigen-activated B cells that have undergone class switching and somatic hypermutation. At this checkpoint, receptor editing, induced by antigen engagement, dampened the autoantibody response. In this study, we show that receptor editing fails to be induced in antigen-activated DNA-reactive B cells that overexpress Bcl-2 (Bcl-2 Tg). The failure to induce RAG and receptor editing is likely due, at least partially, to the lack of self antigen. First, the levels of circulating DNA and of apoptotic bodies in the spleen of Bcl-2 Tg mice are significantly lower than in control mice. Second, in Bcl-2 Tg mice, RAG can be induced in a population of antigen-activated B cells by providing exogenous soluble antigen. These data suggest that, in addition to its anti-apoptotic activity, Bcl-2 may indirectly inhibit tolerance induction in B cells acquiring anti-nuclear antigen reactivity after peripheral activation by limiting the availability of self antigen.
Ca2+-dependent Regulation of the Motor Activity of Myosin V

Mouse myosin V constructs were produced that consisted of the myosin motor domain plus either one IQ motif (M5IQ1), two IQ motifs (M5IQ2), a complete set of six IQ motifs (SHM5), or the complete IQ motifs plus the coiled-coil domain (thus permitting formation of a double-headed structure, DHM5) and expressed in Sf9 cells. The actin-activated ATPase activity of all constructs except M5IQ1 was inhibited above pCa 5, but this inhibition was completely reversed by addition of exogenous calmodulin. At the same Ca2+ concentration, 2 mol of calmodulin from SHM5 and DHM5 or 1 mol of calmodulin from M5IQ2 were dissociated, suggesting that the inhibition of the ATPase activity is due to dissociation of calmodulin from the heavy chain. However, the motility activity of DHM5 and M5IQ2 was completely inhibited at pCa 6, where no dissociation of calmodulin was detected. Inhibition of the motility activity was not reversed by the addition of exogenous calmodulin. These results indicate that inhibition of the motility is due to conformational changes of calmodulin upon the Ca2+ binding to the high affinity site but is not due to dissociation of calmodulin from the heavy chain.
MO-FF-A4-03: A Parallel and Robust Image Registration Algorithm of Consecutive Stained Prostate Specimens for Ultrasound Tissue Characterization of Prostate Cancer

Purpose: To develop a robust and accurate image registration algorithm for the hymatoxylin stained pathology specimens for ultrasoundtissue characterization of prostate cancer.Method and Materials: A landmark based nonlinear image registration algorithm is proposed. It was shown to be effective and robust under conditions of large deformations. In landmark based registration, the most important step is establishing the correspondence among the selected landmark points. This usually requires an extensive search which is often computationally expensive. We introduced a non‐regular data partition algorithm using the K‐means clustering algorithm to group the landmarks based on the number of available processing cores. The step optimizes the memory usage and data transfer. We have tested our method using IBM Cell Broadband Engine platform. Results: This technology was tested and evaluated on hymatoxylin stained pathology specimens for prostate cancer. The tested data sets consisted of ten patients and each patient had more than 3 sets of image slices: 3‐D in vivo and ex vivoultrasoundimages, and 3‐D pathologyimages. The 3‐D ultrasound data had a 2mm step size while the 3‐D pathology step size was 4mm. Successful register was demonstrated with consecutive slices even though they exhibited significant slice cutting induced deformation and tissue missing. The ex vivoultrasoundimages served as a verification of our registration technique. Moreover, the parallel algorithm, which is implemented on IBM cell broad band engine, helps us to achieve 10 fold speed‐up. Conclusion: We have introduced a parallelization of an accurate image registration algorithm. The method is implemented on a IBM Cell/B.E. We have achieved approximately 10 fold speed up compared with its sequential implementation. Our proposed data partitioning approach and the parallelization schema are independent of the parallel platforms and are generic by design, therefore it can be extended to other applications on other parallel platforms.
Effect of Four Helix Bundle Topology on Heme Binding and Redox Properties

We have designed two alternative four helix bundle protein scaffold topologies for maquette construction to examine the effect of helix orientation on the heme binding and redox properties of our prototype heme protein maquette, (α-SS-α)2, previously described as H10H24 [Robertson, D. E., Farid, R. S., Moser, C. C., Mulholland, S. E., Pidikiti, R., Lear, J. D., Wand, A. J., DeGrado, W. F., and Dutton, P. L. (1994) Nature 368, 425]. Conversion of the disulfide-bridged di-α-helical monomer of (α-SS-α)2 into a single polypeptide chain results in topological reorientation of the helix dipoles and side chains within a 62 amino acid helix-loop-helix monomer, (α-&#x1d4c1;-α), which self-associates to form (α-&#x1d4c1;-α)2. Addition of an N-terminal cysteine residue to (α-&#x1d4c1;-α) with subsequent oxidation yields a 126 amino acid single molecule four helix bundle, (α-&#x1d4c1;-α-SS-α-&#x1d4c1;-α). Gel permeation chromatography demonstrated that (α-SS-α)2 and (α‘-SS-α‘)2, a uniquely structured variant of the prototype, as well as (α-&#x1d4c1;-α)2 and (α‘-&#x1d4c1;-...
Structure and luminescence of a 2-dimensional 2,3-pyridinedicarboxylate coordination polymer constructed from lanthanide(III) dimers

Abstract A new two-dimensional lanthanide coordination polymer, [Ln(C7H3NO4)(C7H4NO4)(H2O)]n (Ln = trivalent Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Tb) has been hydrothermally synthesized from reaction with 2,3-pyridinedicarboxylic acid. The compound crystallizes in the P21/c space group and is built from sheets composed of carboxylate-bridged Ln dimers stacked along the [1 0 0] direction and held together by hydrogen bonding between carboxylic acid groups. The organic component is successful at sensitizing lanthanide emission in the Sm, Eu, and Tb compounds with quantum yields experimentally determined of 0.60, 4.6, and 2.6%, respectively.
Outcomes of planned home births in Washington State: 1989-1996.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there was a difference between planned home births and planned hospital births in Washington State with regard to certain adverse infant outcomes (neonatal death, low Apgar score, need for ventilator support) and maternal outcomes (prolonged labor, postpartum bleeding). METHODS: We examined birth registry information from Washington State during 1989–1996 on uncomplicated singleton pregnancies of at least 34 weeks’ gestation that either were delivered at home by a health professional (N = 5854) or were transferred to medical facilities after attempted delivery at home (N = 279). These intended home births were compared with births of singletons planned to be born in hospitals (N = 10,593) during the same years. RESULTS: Infants of planned home deliveries were at increased risk of neonatal death (adjusted relative risk [RR] 1.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06, 3.73), and Apgar score no higher than 3 at 5 minutes (RR 2.31, 95% CI 1.29, 4.16). These same relationships remained when the analysis was restricted to pregnancies of at least 37 weeks’ gestation. Among nulliparous women only, these deliveries also were associated with an increased risk of prolonged labor (RR 1.73, 95% CI 1.28, 2.34) and postpartum bleeding (RR 2.76, 95% CI 1.74, 4.36). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that planned home births in Washington State during 1989–1996 had greater infant and maternal risks than did hospital births.
The Times… Are They A-Changing? An Examination of the Impact of the Value of Campaign Resources for Women and Men Candidates for the US House of Representatives

Abstract The relevance of candidate gender in American electoral politics is being increasingly questioned. However, for candidate gender to be irrelevant, one must demonstrate that women and men candidates facing similar situations with similar resources would experience equivalent electoral fates. In other words, for equality to exist between women and men candidates, parity in the impact of candidate resources, most notably candidate expenditures, candidate occupational backgrounds and partisanship, must exist. The presence of a disparate impact of campaign resources would clearly indicate that candidate gender is not only relevant but also continues to be a significant factor in electoral politics in the United States. This research analyzes all incumbent/challenger races from 1986 to 2000 involving women candidates for the House of Representatives to determine if parity in the impact of campaign resources exists. The research examines candidate attributes and the political environment at both the agg...
Stage IIIA carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Abstract Carcinoma of the uterine cervix presenting with extension to the lower third of the vagina but without hydronephrosis or fixation to the pelvic sidewall is uncommon. It is classified as stage IIIA by the criteria of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and accounts for less than 2% of all cervical cancer cases seen in our institution. Because of the paucity of such cases, the results of treatment of FIGO stage IIIA cervical cancer are generally not reported separately. The radiation therapy treatment program at Yale-New Haven Hospital for stage IIIA patients includes intracavitary and vaginal brachytherapy plus external beam radiation therapy, with a strong emphasis on individualization of treatment. The results of treatment in 17 stage IIIA patients were reviewed. Local-regional tumor control was achieved in 12 of the 17 patients (71%) treated. The actuarial 5-year disease-free survival rate was 58%. Our results suggest that FIGO stage IIIA carcinoma of the cervix has a much better prognosis than FIGO stage IIIB cervical cancer, and we recommend that the results of treatment for FIGO stage IIIA be reported separately.
Recommended Regulation of Common Drugs: The Relative Influence of Facts vs. Labels

The present study examined the hypothesis that individuals are more influenced by a drug name than by the side effects associated with that drug when making recommendations regarding regulation. Subjects recommended the amount of regulation that should exist for eight drugs ranging from aspirin to LSD. One third of the subjects were asked to make recommendations based only on the drug name. Another third made recommendations based only on the facts associated with the drugs (i.e., side effects, symptoms). A final third made recommendations based on both facts and the drug name. Results indicated that, when given only the facts, subjects' recommendations deviated greatly from the actual regulation of the drugs but that the facts were ignored if subjects knew the name of the drug. These results suggest that critical information may be ignored when decisions are made about drug regulation. The implications for self-regulated drug use are discussed.
Transforming schools into communities of thinking and learning about serious matters.

In this article, a program of research known as Fostering Communities of Learners is described. This program is in place in several schools and classrooms serving inner-city students from 6 to 12 years of age. Based on theoretical advances in cognitive and developmental psychology, the program is successful at improving both literacy skills and domain-area subject matter knowledge (e.g., environmental science and biology). Building on young children's emergent strategic and metacognitive knowledge, together with their skeletal biological theories, the program leads children to discover the deep principles of the domain and to develop flexible learning and inquiry strategies of wide applicability.
The Impact of Paternal Involvement and Parental Divorce on Young Adults' Intimate Relationships

Abstract The impact of divorce on children's development has been widely studied. The long-term effects of divorce on young adults have been observed when young adults attempt to initiate intimate relationships. The relationship between parental divorce in childhood and difficulties in establishing intimate relationships in young adulthood may be understood by exploring the impact of extended paternal absence. A major consequence of a parental divorce is a decrease in paternal involvement. Until recently the effects of paternal absence related to a parental divorce have not been investigated. The present study evaluates the influences of paternal involvement and parental divorce on young adult's intimate relationships. Four hundred and eight participants ranging in age from 18-34 from divorced and intact families completed self-report measures on paternal involvement, intimacy, insecurity, commitment, and trust. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine the predictive power of parental marital s...
Traditional Breeding in Sugar Beet

With rapidly changing agricultural practices, target environments, and biotic and abiotic stresses, plant breeders face the task of continually selecting plants with desirable traits with the goal to assemble advantageous combinations of genes in new varieties. Sugar beet has been selectively bred since the early nineteenth century with the principle objective to develop varieties with the maximum root and sucrose yield potential at the lowest economic and environmental costs possible. Historically, the most productive developments in sugar beet breeding have been monogerm seed, male-sterility and subsequent hybrid development, and pest and disease resistance. Future sugar beet breeding efforts must make use of the genetic and genomic resources available and those under development to improve the productivity and economic stability of sugar beet in global agriculture.
Spectroscopic studies of fullerenes doped with rare earth and transition metal ions

Abstract We present recent measurements of absorption and emission spectra of fullerenes doped with erbium and nickel. We observed near infrared emission from Er3+-doped fullerenes in the 1.5 μm region when excited by an argon ion laser. Our measurements suggest that energy absorbed by the fullerene cage is subsequently transferred to the erbium atoms inside.
Serum and liver lipids in rats fed mixtures of corn and palm oils ± cholesterol

Abstract Rats were fed diets containing various mixtures of corn and palm oils ranging from 100% corn (CO) or palm oil (PO) to 90:10, 75:25, or 50:50 CO, and 75:25, 10:90, or 100% PO. One set of diets was augmented with 0.4% cholesterol and 0.1% cholic acid. When the diets were cholesterol-free, there were virtually no differences between groups in serum total or HDL cholesterol. Serum triglyceride levels were lowest in the rats fed 100% PO. Liver cholesterol levels were virtually the same in all groups. As the PO contribution to the dietary fat was increased, liver triglyceride levels fell, being lowest in rats fed 100% PO. Serum total and HDL cholesterol levels in rats fed CO plus cholesterol-cholic acid were the same as those seen in rats on the cholesterol-free diet. Introduction of the lowest level of PO raised serum cholesterol levels significantly and they continued to rise as more palm oil (palmitic acid) was introduced into the diet. Serum triglyceride levels were similar in all groups, but liver triglycerides fell with increasing dietary PO. The data support the assertion of Hayes and Khosla that palmitic acid becomes hypercholesterolemic only in cholesterol-containing diets. The observed effects of palmitic acid on serum and liver triglyceride levels, especially the latter, merit further study.
Transfer of escape conditioning to extinction of a food-reinforced response

Four experiments test the hypothesis that escape learning in response to shock will transfer to a similar food-reinforced response and affect resistance to appetitive extinction. In the first two experiments. subjects were given escape training in a straight alley followed by continuous food reinforcement and then extinction. Prior escape training resulted in greater resistance to extinction of the food-reinforced response as compared to several control procedures. In the third experiment, the escape response was manipulated to be compatible or incompatible with the sub­ sequent food-reinforced response. Greater resistance to extinction was shown when the two responses were compatible. The fourth experiment confirmed and extended this finding. The relationship of the present results to Amsel's theory of persistence was discussed. A number of investigators have used a procedure that involves the presentation of continuous food and partial shock in the goal box of a straight alley (Brown & Wagner, 1964; German, 1969). The increased resistance to extinction that follows such food and shock training relative to a food-only con­ trol group has been interpreted as reflecting a func­ tional similarity between shock and nonreward (or of fear and anticipatory frustration). Since both events are assumed to be aversive, it is usually hypothesized that they share some common psycho­ logical properties; therefore, training the subjects to run in the presence of anticipated shock leads to greater persistence of responding in the presence of anticipated nonreward. D' Amato (1969), for exam­ ple, has developed an explanation of increased per­ sistence following food and shock training from the standpoint of frustration theory. However, this type of theory accounts for effects that have generally been small or even nonexistent (Banks & Torney,
AN APPARENT 'EVEN-ODD' CYCLE DISTRIBUTION IN Mt. WILSON 'NUMBERS OF SPOTS' DATA

Mt. Wilson ‘numbers of spots’ data (as defined in Howard et al., 1984) appear to be distributed according to ‘even-odd’ cycle numbering. Linear fits of annual ‘numbers of spots’ versus annual sunspot number for even- and odd-numbered cycles have slopes which are statistically different at the 5% level of significance. The existence of an ‘even-odd’ split in Mt. Wilson ‘numbers of spots’ data may be due either to a real difference in even- and odd-numbered cycles on the Sun or to a difference in weather at Mt. Wilson (perhaps, related to the 22-yr rhythm of drought in the western United States) during even- and odd-numbered cycles, or both. For cycle 22, an even-numbered cycle, the peak ‘numbers of spots’ is estimated to be near 2600.
Pollutant emissions from gasoline combustion. 1. Dependence on fuel structural functionalities.

To study the formation of air pollutants and soot precursors (e.g., acetylene, 1,3-butadiene, benzene, and higher aromatics) from aliphatic and aromatic fractions of gasoline fuels, the Utah Surrogate Mechanisms is extended to include submechanisms of gasoline surrogate compounds using a set of mechanism generation techniques. The mechanism yields very good predictions of species concentrations in premixed flames of n-heptane, isooctane, benzene, cyclohexane, olefins, oxygenates, and gasoline using a 23-component surrogate formulation. The 1,3-butadiene emission comes mainly from minor fuel fractions of olefins and cyclohexane. The benzene formation potential of gasoline components shows the following trends as functions of (i) chemical class: n-paraffins < isoparaffins < olefins < naphthalenes < alkylbenzenes < cycloparaffins < toluene; (ii) carbon number: n-butane < n-pentane < n-hexane; and (iii) branching: n-hexane < isohexane < 2,2,4-trimethylpentane < 2,2,3,3-tetramethylbutane. In contrast, fuel str...
A role for NRAGE in NF-κB activation through the non-canonical BMP pathway

Background Previous studies have linked neurotrophin receptor-interacting MAGE protein to the bone morphogenic protein signaling pathway and its effect on p38 mediated apoptosis of neural progenitor cells via the XIAP-Tak1-Tab1 complex. Its effect on NF-κB has yet to be explored.
Hydroxylated 2,3-diarylindenes: Synthesis, estrogen receptor binding affinity, and binding orientation considerations

Abstract In order to develop high affinity, fluorescent ligands for the estrogen receptor based on 2-arylindenes, it is important to understand how this non-steroidal estrogen is oriented within the binding site and to know how hydroxyl substituents affect binding. To investigate these issues a series of dihydroxyl-substituted 2,3-diphenylindenes were prepared by the cyclization of appropriately substituted α-benzyldesoxybenzoins, and their binding affinities for the estrogen receptor measured by a competitive radiometric binding assay. Introduction of a p-hydroxyl group in the 2-phenyl ring of two 2,3-diphenyl-6-hydroxyindene systems causes a 3-fold increase in binding affinity, whereas, p-hydroxylation in the 3-phenyl ring of these systems causes a 2-fold reduction in binding affinity. The parallel change in binding affinity in these two systems suggests a consistent binding orientation of the 2,3-diarylindene systems, which, on the basis of earlier studies, has the indene system corresponding to the A/B-ring system of estradiol. This orientation model and the enhanced affinity of the p-hydroxy 2-ring derivatives are suggestive of a new hydrogen bonding site below the D-ring binding site. Changes in receptor binding affinity upon hydroxylation in triphenylacrylonitrile ligands for the estrogen receptor, reported by others, do not show such parallelism, suggesting that different derivatives may not be bound in congruent orientations. A m-hydroxyl substituent in ring-3 of the 2,3-diarylindene has very little effect on receptor binding. In designing fluorescent 2,3-diarylindene ligands for the estrogen receptor, 3-ring hydroxylation may be useful in reducing non-specific binding and in modifying electron donation to the fluorophore with only modest or no reduction in binding affinity. p-Hydroxylation of the 2-ring, although increasing receptor binding, is not consistent with the electron accepting nature required of this ring.
Irreversible fouling caused by plasticization of asymmetric reverse osmosis membranes

Abstract Bench-scale reverse osmosis measurements have been performed on aqueous solutions of phenol, p-nitrophenol, aniline, coumarin, sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium naphtalene sulfonate. Asymmetric cellulose acetate membranes were used. Low concentrations of dissolved organics produce modest reversible reductions of permeate flux. Higher concentrations of aniline dissolve the membrane, while high phenol concentrations effectively plasticize the membrane removing its asymmetric structure. Electron micrographs of plasticized and unplasticized membranes are shown.
Change in snowpack, soil water, and streamwater chemistry with elevation during 1990, Fraser Experimental Forest, Colorado

Every 7–10 days during the winter of 1989–1990, we measured precipitation ion input, snowpack water equivalent (SWE) and ion content, soil water and streamwater chemistry along a subalpine to alpine elevation gradient in the Fraser Experimental Forest (FEF), Colorado. The objective was to quantify the effect of elevation and aspect on snowpack ion accumulation and loss, and relate these processes to subsequent change in soil water and first-order stream chemistry during snowmelt. SWE increased with elevation (P < 0.001) and was greatest on NE aspects (P < 0.001). Snowpack ion concentration increased with elevation, with NH4+ and NO3− showing the most consistent (P < 0.05) increase throughout winter. Snowpack base cation (CB) and S042− concentrations were significantly higher on NE aspect transects. In most weeks, the snowpack NH4+ and NO3− content was highest (P < 0.05) in the alpine zone. Peak snowpack NH4+ and NO3− content totalled more than 1 kg inorganic N ha−1. Alpine soil water NO3− concentration during and after snowmelt was greater (P < 0.001) than at lower elevations. However, there was no significant correlation between weekly snowpack ion loss and soil water chemistry. At the FEF, it seems that most snowmelt is routed through the watershed as subsurface flow. Soil processes such as ion exchange, biological uptake, overwinter nitrification and mineralization are probably major factors modifying melt water chemistry. There was no correlation between soil water chemistry and streamwater chemistry, which probably reflected the high variation in distance and time required for soil water to reach the stream.
Performatology: an arts approach to designing performative embodied agents (PEAs) for procedural character animation

This FDG 2011 Doctoral Consortium paper gives an overview of my Computer Science research approach and initial results in applying principles and theories from the Performing Arts to problems related to embodied agent design and animation for games.
Characteristics of a disclinated Zener crack with cohesive end zones

Abstract The characteristics of a mode I Zener crack with cohesive end zones and wedged open by a disclination dipole are investigated. The crack and the cohesive zones are modeled by edge dislocations, and exact closed form solutions for the distribution densities are sought. In the case of the disclinated Zener–Barenblatt crack (cohesive zones carry stresses equal to the theoretical tensile strength), the traction-free equilibrium lengths differ significantly from those of the elastic crack when the crack head openings are of the order of a few Burgers vector lengths. The discrepancies increase with decrease in the dipole strength ω and arm length 2a. In the case of the disclinated Zener–Dugdale crack (cohesive zones carry the yield stress), the solutions differ greatly from those of the elastic crack in general. Both the stable and unstable traction-free equilibrium lengths of a Zener–Dugdale crack increase with ω and 2a. The corresponding plastic zone sizes for stable and unstable cracks, however, depend on ω and 2a in an opposite manner. Stable cracks are dominated by the plastic zones, especially when the disclination and loading parameters are small, in contrast to unstable cracks which are predominantly traction-free.
Major vascular resection as part of pancreaticoduodenectomy for cancer: radiologic, intraoperative, and pathologic analysis☆☆☆

Intraoperative assessment is inaccurate in defining the relationship of a pancreatic head neoplasm to adjacent vascular structures. We evaluated the ability of preoperative contrast-enhanced CT to predict the need for vascular resection during pancreaticoduodenectomy and examined the resected vessels for histologic evidence of tumor invasion. During a 7-year period, 63 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with en bloc resection of adjacent vascular structures for a presumed pancreatic head malignancy. Clinical, radiologie, operative, and pathologic data were reviewed and analyzed. Fifty-six patients underwent resection of the superior mesenteric-portal vein confluence, three patients required inferior vena cava resection, and the hepatic artery was resected and reconstructed in eight patients. The operative mortality rate was 1.6%, and the overall complication rate was 22%. CT predicted the need for resection of the superior mesenteric or portal veins in 84% of patients. Pathologic analysis revealed tumor invasion of the vein wall in 71% of resected specimens. Tumor invasion of vascular structures adjacent to the pancreas can be predicted with preoperative CT and should alert the surgeon that vascular resection may be required. Histologic evidence of tumor cell infiltration of vessel walls was present in the majority of the resected specimens.
Trapezial topography in thumb carpometacarpal arthritis.

Objective Contradictory reported arthritic patterns of the metacarpal surface of the trapezium include preferential volar wear, radial wear, and dorsal-ulnar sparing. We investigated whether a predominant wear pattern exists in surgical trapeziectomy for advanced thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) arthritis. Methods We examined 36 intact trapezia from 34 thumb CMC arthroplasty patients over an 18-month period. The first metacarpal articular surface revealed three consistent morphology patterns: (1) saddle, (2) dish, and (3) cirque. The saddle represented cartilage loss with preservation of the normal trapezial morphology. The dish shape represented concave curvature, with loss of the normal saddle configuration. The cirque shape represented preferential volar concave wear, disrupting the convex volardorsal arc. Two surgeons classified the randomized specimens twice, blinded to patient identity and each other's categorization. Radiographic Eaton staging was correlated retrospectively for 35 of 36 of the trapezial specimens. Eight specimens were further quantified with micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Results Thirty-six trapezia were classified as follows: 17 (47%) saddle, 12 (33%) dish, and 7 (19%) cirque. Intra-rater reliability was 0.97 and 0.95; inter-rater reliability in the second round was 0.95. The 36 trapezia represented 27 female (75%) and 9 male (25%) patients; 18 (50%) represented the dominant hand. Age at surgery averaged 64 (33-76). Complete cartilage loss of the entire metacarpal surface was seen in 15 (42%) of all specimens. Osteophyte presence was typically minimal in the saddle group; the dish group had characteristic extensive rimming osteophytes in a 91% female population (11/12), and the cirque group had volar osteophytes. Radiographic severity ranged from Eaton stage II to IV; less severe radiographic staging (Eaton II) predominated in the saddle configuration; advanced Eaton III-IV disease predominated in both cirque and dish shapes. Micro-CT verified the three discrete shapes with volardorsal and radioulnar orientation measurements. Conclusion The metacarpal surface of the trapezium demonstrates three distinct patterns of wear in arthritic surgical specimens. Sex, dominance, age distribution, and Eaton stage varied across the different shapes. Level of Evidence Level 3 Study Type Observational
Hypogastric arterial-vaginal fistula following multiple surgeries and pelvic radiotherapy

A patient with recurrent sigmoid colon cancer developed an arterial-vaginal fistula after multiple surgeries and postoperative radiotherapy. Angiography revealed a fistula between the hypogastric artery and vaginal wall. Gelfoam and coil embolization controlled the hemorrhage and she recovered without incident. This case illustrates development of malignant fistula and intervention with embolization in a patient with multiple surgeries and postoperative irradiation in the pelvis.
Arthroscopic management of the thrower's shoulder: internal impingement

The concept of internal impingement has become an increasingly mainstream explanation for the spectrum of injury seen in the glenohumeral joint of the overhand athlete. Disruption of the posterior and superior labrum or intra-articular tearing of the superior and posterosuperior fibers of the rotator cuff are the most common findings. Treatment has advanced from isolated debridement of these tears to selective repair of partial thickness rotator cuff tears and repair of labral detachments. Only time will tell whether the refined techniques of arthroscopic management will make a difference in the long-term outcome of treatment of this selective patient population.
Crystal Structure of the CSL-Notch-Mastermind Ternary Complex Bound to DNA

Notch signaling mediates communication between cells and is essential for proper embryonic patterning and development. CSL is a DNA binding transcription factor that regulates transcription of Notch target genes by interacting with coregulators. Transcriptional activation requires the displacement of corepressors from CSL by the intracellular portion of the receptor Notch (NotchIC) and the recruitment of the coactivator protein Mastermind to the complex. Here we report the 3.1 A structure of the ternary complex formed by CSL, NotchIC, and Mastermind bound to DNA. As expected, the RAM domain of Notch interacts with the beta trefoil domain of CSL; however, the C-terminal domain of CSL has an unanticipated central role in the interface formed with the Notch ankyrin repeats and Mastermind. Ternary complex formation induces a substantial conformational change within CSL, suggesting a molecular mechanism for the conversion of CSL from a repressor to an activator.
Microtoxicology. IX. The Effect of para Substitution in Three New Thiazole Antihistaminics Upon their Reactivity to Microchemical Tests

It has been shown that para substitution in the benzyl nucleus of a new series of antihistaminics definitely changes the reactivity of the compounds to colorimetric microtoxicological reagents. Such substitution has little or no effect on the reactivity of these antihistaminics to the usual precipitation reagents. The tests reported enable the compounds to be identified and differentiated from one another by a simple procedure. However, the optical crystallographic properties of these antihistaminics offer the best means for identifying and differentiating them, not only from each other, but from other organic compounds.
Case Salience and Media Coverage of Supreme Court Decisions - Toward a New Measure

Judicial decision-making is contingent on a case’s salience, meaning that scholars who wish to understand how judges make political decisions must have adequate measures of salience. Unfortunately, existing measures of salience have met with some skepticism. After discussing the limitations with the most common measures of salience, we construct a new measure of case salience that avoids many of these problems. Through examine newspaper coverage in four regionally and ideologically diverse newspapers, we establish a new proxy for case salience based on coverage in multiple media sources. By developing and testing this new measure, we uncover patterns about national media coverage of the Court and provide a potentially more representative measure of case salience.
Experimental cerebral ischemia produces platelet aggregates.

Human studies indicate that transient platelet abnormalities accompany acute cerebral ischemia. Although these abnormalities may precipitate the ischemic process, ischemia could also alter platelet function. Platelets were therefore studied in gerbils subjected to 1 hour of unilateral carotid artery occlusion. Venous blood from five clinically affected gerbils contained more aggregated platelets (37.8% ± 6.4) than did blood from eight unaffected animals (11.1% ± 3 .0; p
An Integrative Framework for Strategy-Making Processes

Most prior literature on strategy making has focused on a limited set of themes (e.g., rationality) or actors (e.g., top managers). Resulting typologies have, therefore, tended to be incomplete or overlapping. None have captured the full range of content associated with the phenomenon. In response, this article offers an integrative framework consisting of five modes: command, symbolic, rational, transactive, and generative. The framework is based on the varying roles top managers and organizational members play in the strategy-making process. It goes beyond existing strategy process models by contrasting these roles and illustrating their interaction. Strategy making is viewed as an organizationwide phenomenon. Research propositions are also developed linking strategy-making processes to firm performance.
Information and communication in the third millenium

This paper presents the author's views on what the information and communication industry will be like at the start of the third millennium, with emphasis on the implications to information and communication theorists. The main conclusions are that communication will play a greater role in Society in the third millennium. Communication Theory will be more concerned with channel complexity than with channel capacity. More communication theorists will be needed, and they will be more broadly trained.
Measurement of Technical, Allocative, Economic, and Scale Efficiency of Rice Production in Arkansas Using Data Envelopment Analysis

Data envelopment analysis is used to calculate technical, allocative, economic, and scale efficiencies for fields enrolled in the University of Arkansas Rice Research Verification Program. The results reveal most fields have high technical and scale efficiencies, implying inputs are used in minimum levels necessary to achieve given output levels and fields are close to optimal in size. However, most fields exhibit allocative and economic inefficiencies and do not use inputs in the right combinations necessary to achieve cost minimization. Tobit analysis indicated allocative and economic efficiencies could be improved with better variety selection and better irrigation management.
Enhanced Autointegration in Hyperstable Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Capsid Mutants Blocked After Reverse Transcription

After entering a host cell, retroviruses such as simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) uncoat, disassembling the viral capsid. Rates of uncoating that are too high and too low can be detrimental to the efficiency of infection. Rapid uncoating typically leads to blocks in reverse transcription, but the basis for replication defects associated with slow uncoating is less clear. Here we characterize the phenotypes of two SIVmac239 mutants with changes, A87E and A87D, in the helix 4/5 loop of the capsid protein. These mutant viruses exhibited normal capsid morphology but were significantly attenuated for infectivity. The infectivity of wild-type and mutant SIVmac239 was not decreased by aphidicolin-induced growth arrest of the target cells. In the cytosol of infected cells, the A87E and A87D capsids remained in particulate form longer than the wild-type SIVmac239 capsid, suggesting that the mutants uncoat more slowly than the wild-type capsid. Both mutants exhibited much higher levels of autointegrated DNA forms than wild-type SIVmac239. Thus, some changes in the helix 4/5 loop of the SIVmac239 capsid protein result in capsid hyperstability and an increase in autointegration.
Canonical transformations depending on a small parameter

The concept of a Lie series is enlarged to encompass the cases where the generating function itself depends explicity on the small parameter. Lie transforms define naturally a class of canonical mappings in the form of power series in the small parameter. The formalism generates nonconservative as well as conservative transformations. Perturbation theories based on it offer three substantial advantages: they yield the transformation of state variables in an explicit form; in a function of the original variables, substitution of the new variables consists simply of an iterative procedure involving only explicit chains of Poisson brackets; the inverse transformation can be built the same way.
Large deviations for constrained pattern matching

In the constrained pattern matching one searches for a given pattern in a constrained sequence, which finds applications in communication, magnetic recording, and biology. We concentrate on the so-called (d, k) constrained binary sequences in which any run of zeros must be of length at least d and at most k, where 0 les d Lt k. In our previous paper [2] we established the central limit theorem (CLT) for the number of occurrences of a given pattern in such sequences. Here, we present precise large deviations results, often used in diverse applications. In particular, we apply our results to detect under- and over-represented patterns in neuronal data (spike trains), which satisfy structural constraints that match the framework of (d, k) binary sequences. Among others, we obtain justifiably accurate statistical inferences about their biological properties and functions. Throughout, we use techniques of analytic information theory such as combinatorial calculus, generating functions, and complex asymptotics.
Adaptive Self-regulation: A Process View of Managerial Effectiveness

This article describes a set of processes involved in attaining managerial effectiveness. These processes are components of an adaptive self-regulation framework. They involve the active management of constituencies' role expectations and performance opinions through standard-setting, discrepancy-detection, and discrepancy-reduction. These processes serve to enhance constituents' opinions of the manager's effectiveness. Several social and contextual factors that either facilitate or inhibit managers' self-regulation efforts are identified and hypotheses to guide future empirical research are offered.