cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of chloride groups in the nephrotoxic potential of N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-hydroxysuccinimide, an oxidative metabolite of N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide

Although the addition of chloride groups to the phenyl ring of N-phenylsuccinimide (NPS) is known to enhance the nephrotoxic potential of NPS, the mechanism of this enhancement is unknown. One chlorinated NPS derivative, N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide (NDPS), is a potent nephrotoxicant which induces marked proximal tubular necrosis at i.p. doses of 0.4 mmol/kg or greater. The purpose of this study was to compare the nephrotoxic potential of 2-hydroxy-N-phenylsuccinimide (HNPS) and N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2-hydroxysuccinimide (NDHS), an oxidative and nephrotoxicant metabolite of NDPS, to determine the importance of the chloride groups for the nephrotoxic potential of NDHS. Male Fischer 344 rats (4/group) were administered a single i.p. injection of HNPS (1.0 or 1.5 mmol/kg), NDHS (0.1 mmol/kg) or vehicle (25% dimethyl sulfoxide in sesame oil), and renal function measured at 24 and 48 h. HNPS was a nonnephrotoxicant at both doses tested, while NDHS induced marked nephrotoxicity characterized by diuresis, increased proteinuria, glucosuria, elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration and kidney weight, decreased organic ion accumulation by renal cortical slices and proximal tubular necrosis. In vitro, HNPS reduced p-aminohippurate (PAH) and tetraethylammonium (TEA) accumulation beginning at HNPS bath concentrations of 0.05 and 0.5 mM, respectively. The results of this study indicate that although HNPS has direct effects on renal function in vitro, HNPS is not a nephrotoxicant in vivo at doses up to 15 times the minimal nephrotoxicant dose of NDHS. Therefore, the chloro groups present on NDHS play an essential role in the nephrotoxic potential of NDHS and contribute to aspects of the nephrotoxic mechanism of NDPS beyond NDPS oxidation to form NDHS.
Molecular heterogeneity of creatine kinase isoenzymes.

Abstract Cytoplasmic creatine kinase (ATP:creatine N -phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.3.2) is a dimeric enzyme exhibiting three isoenzymes (MM, MB and BB). The two subunits have been reported to have identical molecular weights ( M r ) of 41 000. We have demonstrated that the M subunits from human, canine, rabbit, mouse and bovine tissue have similar apparent M r values of 43 000 as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In contrast, the M r of the B subunits was different from that of the M subunit and varied with each species (human M r 44 500; canine M r 46 000; rabbit M r 44 000 and mouse M r 49 0000). Cyanogen bromide cleavage showed all M subunits to have identical fragments, while B subunits exhibited cleavage products with patterns unique for each species. Despite the differences in M r and cyanogen bromide fragment patterns, all B subunits were capable of producing enzymatically active hybrid (MB) molecules in combination with M subunits from any species tested. Mitochondrial creatine kinase subunits exhibited identical molecular weights and were similar to the M subunits and failed to combine with either the cytosolic M or B subunits. Thus, B subunits appear less conserved during evolution compared to M subunits, but have retained the amino acid sequences essential for subunit interaction and enzymatic activity.
Digital photography of Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine—3 images from computers in the radiologist’s office

To fully take advantage of the widespread use of digital imaging systems and to update and eliminate redundant steps involved in medical radiographic publication, we present our experience of processing Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM)-3 digital images from the point of acquisition to the point of publisher-ready radiographic images without intervening hardcopies.
Performance Evaluation of Centralized Databases with Static Locking

The performance of transaction processing systems is determined by the contention for hardware as well as software resources (database locks), due to the concurrency control mechanism of the database being accessed by transactions. We consider a transaction processing system with a set of dominant transcation classes. Each class needs to acquire a certain subset of the locks in the database before it can be processed, i.e., predeclared lock requests with static locking. Straightforward application of the decomposition method requires the numerical solution of a two-dimensional Markov chain. Equivalently, a hierarchical simulation method, where the computer system is represented by a composite queue with exponential service rates, can be used to analyze the system. We propose an inexpensive analytic solution method, also based on hierarchical decomposition, such that the throughput of the computer system ic characterized by the number of active transactions (regardless of class). Numerical results are provided to show that the new method is adequately accurate compared to the other two rather costly methods. It can be used to determine the effect of granularity of locking on system performance. The solution method is also applicable to multiresource queueing systems with multiple contention points.
An Examination of the Leary Circumplex through the Interpersonal Check List

Abstract In recent years, personality psychologists have shown interest once again in operationalizing and testing interpersonal conceptualizations of personality. Both applied and basic personality research have converged upon T. F. Leary's (1957, Interpersonal diagnosis of personality, New York: Ronald) circumplex model of interpersonal behavior. Results of these studies conflict. In this paper, we examined the reliability and validity of the Interpersonal Check List ( R. Laforge & R. Suczek, 1955 , Journal of Personality, 24, 94–112), the instrument most often used to operationalize the Leary model. Results showed the following: (1) only octant scales have acceptable internal consistencies, as assessed by Cronbach's α; (2) ICL variables approach a cirulant ordering when variance due to acquiescence response set is removed, but significant measurement gaps are evident in the Hostile-Submissive and Friendly-Dominant quadrants; and (3) ICL sixteenths do not form Guttman Scales, bringing into question the radex structure of the Leary (1957) model.
Brain, eye, and face defects as a result of ectopic localization of Sonic hedgehog protein in the developing rostral neural tube

Background Normal development of the face, eyes, and brain requires the coordinated expression of many genes. One gene that has been implicated in the development of each of these structures encodes the secreted protein, Sonic hedgehog (Shh). During central nervous system development, Shh is required for ventral specification along the entire neural axis. To further explore the role of Shh in chick brain and craniofacial development, we overexpressed Shh in the developing rostral neural tube Methods In order to determine if Shh is sufficient to ventralize the forebrain, we localized ectopically recombinant Shh protein to the rostral neural tube of chick embryos. The resulting embryos were evaluated morphologically and by assaying gene expression. Results Disruption in normal gene expression patterns was observed with a reduction or loss in expression of genes normally expressed in the dorsal forebrain (wnt-3a, wnt-4, and Pax-6) and expansion of ventrally expressed genes dorsally (HNF-3β, Ptc). In addition to the genetic alterations observed in the neural tube, a craniofacial phenotype characterized by a reduction in many cranial neural crest-derived structures was observed. The eyes of Shh-treated embryos were also malformed. They were small with expansion of the retinal pigmented epithelium, enlarged optic stalks, and a reduction of neural retina. Discussion: The ectopic localization of recombinant Shh protein in the rostral neural tube resulted in severe craniofacial anomalies and alterations of gene expression predicted by other studies. The system employed appears to be a model for studying the embryogenesis of malformations that involve the brain, eyes, and face. Teratology 64:107–113, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Development toward magneto-optic Kerr scanned near-field optical microscope with 10 nm resolution

Development toward magneto-optic Kerr scanned near-field optical microscope with 10 nm resolutionS. Schultz and T. J. SilvaUniversity of California, San Diego, Department of Physics 03199500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093-03 19ABSTRACTWork is described on the development of a £canned Near-field Qptical Microscope (SNOM) to observemagnetization distributions with sub-wavelength resolution. Contrast is provided by the magneto-opticKerr effect. A single Ag particle of -30 nm diameter was chosen as a SNOM probe for reasons unique to
Walt Whitman: A Current Bibliography, Spring 2007

Folsom, Ed. "Walt Whitman: A Current Bibliography." Walt Whitman Quarterly Review 24 (Spring 2007), 232-238.
Achieving rapport with turn-by-turn, user-responsive emotional coloring

People in dialog use a rich set of nonverbal behaviors, including variations in the prosody of their utterances. Such behaviors, often emotion-related, call for appropriate responses, but today's spoken dialog systems lack the ability to do this. Recent work has shown how to recognize user emotions from prosody and how to express system-side emotions with prosody, but demonstrations of how to combine these functions to improve the user experience have been lacking. Working with a corpus of conversations with students about graduate school, we analyzed the emotional states of the interlocutors, utterance-by-utterance, using three dimensions: activation, evaluation, and power. We found that the emotional coloring of the speaker's utterance could be largely predicted from the emotion shown by her interlocutor in the immediately previous utterance. This finding enabled us to build Gracie, the first spoken dialog system that recognizes a user's emotional state from his or her speech and gives a response with appropriate emotional coloring. Evaluation with 36 subjects showed that they felt significantly more rapport with Gracie than with either of two controls. This shows that dialog systems can tap into this important level of interpersonal interaction using today's technology.
The Education of White, Chinese, Filipino, and Japanese Students: A Look at “High School and Beyond”

A frequent topic of scholarly interest and discussion in the field of education has been the extraordinary educational attainment of the Asian population in the United States. The “High School and Beyond” data set was used to examine in greater depth the educational characteristics of the Asian high school senior student population. Differences among white, Chinese, Filipino, and Japanese students in social and demographic characteristics, academic characteristics, extracurricular activities, and sociopsychological characteristics (i.e., educational perceptions, aspirations, expectations, and influences) were analyzed. Asian students had equivalent or higher educational achievements or were rated more favorably than white students on almost every measure. Regression analyses suggest that father's plans for the child after high school, high school grades, the number of hours spent on homework, mother's plans for the child after high school, and socioeconomic status had a significant impact on the education...
In Vivo Papillary Muscle Responses to Cardiac Nerve Stimulation

SummaryFrom strain gauge arches applied to the longitudinal surface of the APM and PPM of the dog's left ventricle, patterns of mechanical contraction were recorded in vivo during sympathetic nerve stimulation. Profound augmentatian in force of contraction characterized these responses to excitation of the right and left stellate ganglia. Direct electrical excitation of small cardiac branches distal to the caudal cervical ganglion induced differential inotropic and chronotropic actions, depending upon the particular branch stimulated. The PPM appears to receive its primary innervation from the left cardiac sympathetic nerves, whereas the APM is supplied by both the left and right sympathetics.
Synthesis of Well-Defined Polymer Brushes Grafted onto Silica Nanoparticles via Surface Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization

Reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) was used to prepare polymer brushes grafted onto silica nanoparticles. Novel RAFT-silane agents were prepared that contained both an active RAFT moiety and a silane coupling agent. RAFT agents were anchored to silica nanoparticles by the functionalization of colloidal silica with the RAFT-silane agents. RAFT polymerizations were then conducted from the particle surface to graft homopolymer and block copolymer brushes to the particles. The kinetics of styrene (St) and n-butyl acrylate (nBuA) surface RAFT polymerizations were investigated and compared with model polymerizations mediated by free RAFT agent. The molecular weights of grafted polymers increased linearly with conversions, and first-order kinetics were observed in the conversion range studied, indicating that the surface graft polymerization proceeded in a controlled manner. Well-defined PSt-block-PBuA copolymers attached to silica nanoparticles were also prepared.
A Sense of Place

Water, Culture, and Power. Local Struggles in a Global Context. JOHN M. DONAHUE and BARBARA ROSE JOHNSTON, Eds. Island Press, Washington, DC, 1998. xiv, 396 pp., illus. $50. ISBN 1-55963-521-5. Paper, $30. ISBN 1-55963-522-3.
Exner's Four Square: Useful Index in Appraisal of Learning Disability?

Rorschach protocols, focusing on Exner's Four Square, were obtained for 14 boys who had been referred for a second opinion following an initial diagnosis as learning disabled. The findings indicated wide diversity, suggesting that a significant proportion of students manifest fundamental problems which are not essentially cognitive in nature. For these students, traditional psychoeducational decisions may be inappropriate and unproductive.
Observational Evidence Supporting Cross-Field Diffusion of Neutral Material in Solar Filaments

We investigate the temporal and spatial variation of the relative abundance of He to H in a sample of solar filaments by comparing cotemporal observations of Hα and He I λ10830 obtained at MLSO. Motivated by indications that cross-field diffusion of neutral filament material is an important mechanism in mass loss, the present study offers results that provide a convincing test of the mechanisms proposed in Gilbert and coworkers. Specifically, when observed across an entire disk passage, we find a majority of stable, quiescent filaments show a relative helium deficit in the upper portions of their structure coupled with a relative helium surplus in the lower regions, a consequence of the large loss timescale for neutral helium compared to neutral hydrogen. Moreover, we find that the variation of the relative He/H ratio is uniform across filament barbs and footpoints on both short and long timescales.
Residues of 14-3-3ζ Required for Activation of Exoenzyme S of Pseudomonas aeruginosa†

Exoenzyme S (ExoS) is a mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase secreted by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. ExoS requires a eukaryotic factor, the 14-3-3 protein, for enzymatic activity. Here, two aspects of the activation of the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of ExoS by 14-3-3 proteins are examined. Initial studies showed that several isoforms of 14-3-3, including beta, zeta, eta, sigma, and tau, activated ExoS with similar efficiency. This implicates a conserved structure in 14-3-3 that contributes to the interaction between 14-3-3 and ExoS. One candidate structure is the conserved amphipathic groove that mediates the 14-3-3/Raf-1 interaction. The next series of experiments examined the role of individual amino acids of the amphipathic groove of 14-3-3 zeta in ExoS activation and showed that ExoS activation required the basic residues lining the amphipathic groove of 14-3-3 zeta without extensive involvement of the hydrophobic residues. Strikingly, mutations of Val-176 of 14-3-3 zeta that disrupted its interaction with Raf-1 did not affect the binding and activation of ExoS by 14-3-3. Thus, ExoS selectively employs residues in the Raf-binding groove for its association with 14-3-3 proteins.
The Meaning of Percentage Parasitism Revisited: Solutions to the Problem of Accurately Estimating Total Losses from Parasitism

An earlier forum article identified a need for new analytical methods for obtaining stage-specific estimates of losses from parasitism for life table, population dynamics, and evaluation studies. A discussion of the conceptual framework for recently developed solutions to this problem is presented. Classes of solutions considered include recruitment, stage frequency, and death rate analyses. We present the rationale and methodology for each and compare their relative usefulness for systems of varying types of biologies and sampling constraints. These solutions provide tools for the more accurate quantification of parasitism as a mortality factor in insect life systems
Seasonal Variations in Fatty Acids of Striped Bass Morone saxatilis

The polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n-3 family associated with fish and fish oils have been shown to have beneficial effects on prevention of heart disease in humans. However, in considering the potential health benefits of fish oil in human health, it is important to realize that the fatty acid composition and total lipid content of fish vary greatly. These variations may be due to species differences or variations within a species due to temperature, diet, developmental stage, sex or seasonal differences. The purpose of the study described here was to determine the effects of season, size class, and sex on the Occurrence of individual fatty acids in striped bass (Morone saxrrtilis). Fish were collected in June, July, August, September, and October. Filets with skin were analyzed for total lipid content. Methyl esters of fatty acids were separated and identified using capillary gas chromatography. Total mean lipid varied from as low as 12% to as high as 30%. There were no significant changes in total crude lipid content due to month collected or sex. However, total lipid content of filets increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) as size increased. The fatty acids 18:1n–9 and 16:0 made up the majority (62%) of the fatty acids present in any season, size class, or sex. The monounsaturated fatty acids dominated in all fish. There were no significant differences in individual fatty acids due to sex. However, fish size had a significant influence on fatty acid composition. Overall, saturated fatty acids decreased as size increased, while polyunsaturated fatty acids increased or remained constant. There were no significant changes in mean percent saturated or monounsaturated fatty acids with respect to month when controlling for size. However, total percent polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased significantly in October compared to August and September. This overall decrease was due mainly to a decrease in 22:6n–3. Conversely there was a significant increase in 16:11n–9 in October. All other fatty acids remained constant. When data from this study were compared to fatty acid data from the literature, striped bass was not as good a source of 20:5n–3 and 22:61n–3 as sardines, anchovies or mackerel.
APOE2 allele increased in tardive dyskinesia

Ninety-seven inpatients with tardive dyskinesia (average AIMS score = 13), the majority of whom were schizophrenic, were studied. Forty patients were Caucasian, and 57 were African-American. The APOE genotypes of these patients were compared to previously published genotypes of controls and with previously published studies of APOE genotypes in patients with schizophrenia. There were no significant differences in APOE allele frequencies comparing the African-American tardive dyskinesia population and the African-American control groups. In contrast, significant (< 0.05) P values were obtained comparing the Caucasian tardive dyskinesia population to the Caucasian controls, when comparing allele frequencies and genotypic frequencies. This study suggests that Caucasians bearing an APOE2 allele are at increased risk of developing tardive dyskinesia, whereas African-Americans are not. APOE genotype-specific risks of both tardive dyskinesia and Alzheimer's disease that vary across populations could be due to recruitment of patients or controls or could be due to modifying effects of differing genetic or environmental backgrounds. The mechanism by which the APOE2 allele increases risk of tardive dyskinesia is not known. Further information about the mechanisms of increased risk of tardive dyskinesia could result in stratification of prescribing practices weighing the costs of medications against the relative risk of side effects.
Fifty years of progress in ion channel research

Fifty years ago, ion channels were but a reasonable hypothesis. I outline some major steps in transforming this idea from a plausible description of the biological assemblies responsible for controlling passive ion transport across membranes to established fact. Important electrophysiological, biochemical, molecular biological, structural, and theoretical tools are discussed in the context of the transition from studying whole cell preparations, containing many channels, to investigating single channel behavior. Six channel families are exemplified: the model peptide, gramicidin, the acetylcholine receptor, and the sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride channels. Some questions of current interest are posed.
Euglycemic Clamp Study in Clozapine-Induced Diabetic Ketoacidosis

OBJECTIVE:To describe the fifth case of clozapine-induced diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) with complete resolution of abnormal glucose metabolism after discontinuation of clozapine as assessed by oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) and the first to be serially studied with markers of pancreatic autoimmunity; to demonstrate insulin resistance using the euglycemic clamp study and reduced pancreatic insulin reserve using intravenous glucose tolerance testing (IVGTT) in clozapine-induced diabetes mellitus and DKA, when the OGTT was normal; and to systematically review the previously described cases of clozapine-induced diabetes mellitus and DKA.CASE SUMMARY:A 33-year-old white man without past or family history of diabetes mellitus presented with DKA after eight months of clozapine therapy (50 mg twice daily). After treatment of DKA and discontinuation of clozapine, glucose tolerance and concurrent serum insulin concentrations reverted to normal as measured by two OGTT performed 60 and 320 days after resolution...
The heat transport of the Indonesian Throughflow and implications for the Indian Ocean heat budget

Abstract The Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) is considered central to the heat budgets of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Temperature and ocean current time series obtained within the Makassar Strait from December 1996 to early July 1998 are used to calculate heat transport of the ITF and assess its influence on Indian Ocean heat divergence. Velocity and temperature values for the surface layer that were not directly measured are extrapolated from the shallowest measurement to the sea surface using a variety of model profiles. While a single temperature profile is used based on a linear interpolation from NCEP OI sea-surface temperatures to the top-most mooring temperature recorder, four different velocity profiles are employed. Heat transport is calculated as volume transport multiplied by temperature, density and specific heat, using reference temperatures between 0°C and 4°C. The mean heat transport averages 0.55 PW relative to 0°C, and 0.41 PW relative to 4°C for the two most reasonable velocity profiles. In comparison, model heat transport values are larger, between 0.6 and 1.15 PW. Heat transport varies with ENSO phase, lower during El Nino, higher during La Nina. As 1997 was a strong El Nino year, our heat transport estimate may be less than the climatic mean. The ITF water is advected towards Africa within the Indian Ocean South Equatorial Current, to eventually exit the Indian Ocean across 30°S, most likely within the Agulhas Current. For realistic consideration of the ITF component within the Agulhas Current, the heat flux divergence of ITF waters within the Indian Ocean north of 30°S is found to be insignificant. Our results provide support for model studies and hydrographic geostrophic inverse calculations that indicate the ITF heat, derived from the Pacific Ocean, is ultimately lost to the atmosphere in the southwest Indian Ocean.
Excited state potential energy surfaces and their interactions in FeIVO active sites

The non-heme ferryl active sites are of significant interest for their application in biomedical and green catalysis. These sites have been shown to have an S = 1 or S = 2 ground spin state; the latter is functional in biology. Low-temperature magnetic circular dichroism (LT MCD) spectroscopy probes the nature of the excited states in these species including ligand-field (LF) states that are otherwise difficult to study by other spectroscopies. In particular, the temperature dependences of MCD features enable their unambiguous assignment and thus determination of the low-lying excited states in two prototypical S = 1 and S = 2 NHFeIVO complexes. Furthermore, some MCD bands exhibit vibronic structures that allow mapping of excited-state interactions and their effects on the potential energy surfaces (PESs). For the S = 2 species, there is also an unusual spectral feature in both near-infrared absorption and MCD spectra – Fano antiresonance (dip in Abs) and Fano resonance (sharp peak in MCD) that indicates the weak spin–orbit coupling of an S = 1 state with the S = 2 LF state. These experimental data are correlated with quantum-chemical calculations that are further extended to analyze the low-lying electronic states and the evolution of their multiconfigurational characters along the Fe–O PESs. These investigations show that the lowest-energy states develop oxyl FeIII character at distances that are relevant to the transition state (TS) for H-atom abstraction and define the frontier molecular orbitals that participate in the reactivity of S = 1 vs. S = 2 non-heme FeIVO active sites. The S = 1 species has only one available channel that requires the C–H bond of a substrate to approach perpendicular to the Fe–oxo bond (the π channel). In contrast, there are three channels (one σ and two π) available for the S = 2 non-heme FeIVO system allowing C–H substrate approach both along and perpendicular to the Fe–oxo bond that have important implications for enzymatic selectivity.
Structure of solfapterin (erythro-neopterin-3'-D-2-deoxy-2-aminoglucopyranoside) isolated from the thermophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus.

Abstract The structure of the major fluorescent pterin present in thermophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus has been assigned, by analysis of the intact molecule and its hydrolytic and periodate cleavage products, as erythro-neopterin-3'-D-2-deoxy-2-aminoglucopyranoside. The trivial name solfapterin is proposed for this compound.
Financing a Simulation Center

As simulation-based training has become established within medical and health professional disciplines, skills training laboratories have become a standard in surgery training programs. In 2008, the American College of Surgeons and Association of Program Directors in Surgery developed a simulation-based surgical skills curriculum; the Residency Review Committee for Surgery of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education mandated access to skills laboratories for all surgery programs. Establishing a surgical skills laboratory and adapting the training curriculum requires a significant amount of resources. This article discusses the financial aspects of establishing a training center, from funding opportunities to budgeting considerations.
Person identification from arbitrary position and posture using kinect

In this paper authors have proposed a person identification method independent of his position with respect to the input sensor. The proposed method works for various postures or states namely, standing, sitting, walking. This method initially identifies the person's state and separate SVM based models are used for person identification (PI) for each of these three above mentioned states.
THE CHALLENGE OF MANUFACTURING ADVANTAGE

In spite of the significant progress made by a wide range of manufacturing companies over the past decade, few senior executives in U.S. firms would point to manufacturing as a significant source of competitive advantage. This paper seeks to explore some of the basic reasons for this. It begins by providing a framework for manufacturing competitiveness. It then outlines a handful of characteristics that seem to have been pervasive in a wide range of manufacturing competitiveness programs over the past decade. In contrast to those characteristics, it uses three quite different organizations to illustrate a very different mode for pursuing manufacturing competitiveness. Finally, the paper concludes by outlining three elements that appear to be essential in the successful pursuit of manufacturing advantage.
Combining Subclassifiers in Text Categorization: A DST-Based Solution and a Case Study

Text categorization systems often use machine learning techniques to induce document classifiers from preclassified examples. The fact that each example document belongs to many classes often leads to very high computational costs that sometimes grow exponentially in the number of features. Seeking to reduce these costs, we explored the possibility of running a "baseline induction algorithm" separately for subsets of features, obtaining a set of classifiers to be combined. For the specific case of classifiers that return not only class labels but also confidences in these labels, we investigate here a few alternative fusion techniques, including our own mechanism that was inspired by the Dempster-Shafer Theory. The paper describes the algorithm and, in our specific case study, compares its performance to that of more traditional mechanisms.
Effect of backpack load carriage on cervical posture in primary schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the effects of various backpack loads on elementary schoolchildren's posture and postural compensations as demonstrated by a change in forward head position. SUBJECTS A convenience sample of 11 schoolchildren, aged 8-11 years participated. METHODS Sagittal digital photographs were taken of each subject standing without a backpack, and then with the loaded backpack before and after walking 6 minutes (6MWT) at free walking speed. This was repeated over three consecutive weeks using backpacks containing randomly assigned weights of 10%, 15%, or 20% body weight of each respective subject. The craniovertebral angle (CVA) was measured using digitizing software, recorded and analyzed. RESULTS Subjects demonstrated immediate and statistically significant changes in CVA, indicating increased forward head positions upon donning the backpacks containing 15% and 20% body weight. Following the 6MWT, the CVA demonstrated further statistically significant changes for all backpack loads indicating increased forward head postures. For the 15 & 20%BW conditions, more than 50% of the subjects reported discomfort after walking, with the neck as the primary location of reported pain. CONCLUSIONS Backpack loads carried by schoolchildren should be limited to 10% body weight due to increased forward head positions and subjective complaints at 15% and 20% body weight loads.
Performance of a broadcast packet switch

The results of a simulation study undertaken to evaluate a high-performance packet-switching fabric supporting point-to-point and multipoint communications are presented. This switching fabric contains several components, each based on conventional binary routing networks. The most novel element is the copy network, which performs the packet replication needed for multipoint connections. Results characterizing the performance of the copy network are presented. Several architectural alternatives for conventional binary routing networks are also evaluated. For example, the performance gains obtainable by using cut-through switching in the context of binary routing networks with small buffers are quantified. One surprising result is that networks constructed from nodes with more then two input and output ports can perform less well than those constructed from binary nodes. This result is quantified and explained. >
Predictions of new crystalline states for assemblies of nanoparticles: Perovskite analogues and 3-d arrays of self-assembled nanowires

A genetic search algorithm for optimizing the packing density of self-assembled multicomponent crystals of nanoparticles predicts several new structures with stoichiometries of AB (fused spheres), ABC2, ABC3, ABC4 and AB2C2. These new structures have hierarchical layered or linear arrangements that could be useful for functional self-assembled systems. For example, the fused-sphere binary crystal assembles with zigzag rows of parallel nanowires. The genetic search suceeds while a comparable stochastic algorithm fails to find any structures better than the well-known unary or binary phase-separated systems.
Genetic Determinants of Arterial Thrombosis

Arterial thrombosis is a complex disorder that involves multiple genetic and environmental factors interacting to produce the characteristic phenotype. In the past decades, investigators have focused on the molecular genetics of arterial vascular disorders and have identified numerous polymorphisms and mutations in genes related to the hemostatic system and to enzymes involved in the synthesis and bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO); however, the relation between most polymorphisms and the risk of coronary artery disease, ischemic stroke, and peripheral vascular disease remains highly controversial. In this review, we describe the most common genetic variations involved in the pathogenesis of arterial thrombosis, their functional implications, and their association with disease risk. Specifically, we consider polymorphisms in coagulation factors (fibrinogen, prothrombin, FV Leiden, FVII, and FXIII); fibrinolytic factors (tissue-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor); platelet surface receptors; methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase; endothelial NO synthase; and the antioxidant enzymes paraoxonase and plasma glutathione peroxidase. Overall, there seems to be a modest contribution of individual genetic variants in the hemostatic and antioxidant systems to the risk of arterial thrombosis. Thus, future research ought to focus on identifying novel genetic determinants and on the interaction of these genetic risk factors with each other and the environment to understand better the pathobiology and susceptibility to arterial thrombotic disease.
Contemplating Risk Assessment: A Critique of NRC (1983, 1996)

Abstract Assessing risks involves developing predictive mathematical models, using interpretations of data that are based on scientific assumptions or theories and knowledge of how the data were created. The predictions are used for developing strategies that affect many people in society. Often, it is sufficient that the models that are used are justifiable by a well-accepted set of assumptions or theories, reflecting the state-of-the art science at the time. However, this does not ensure that the “best” decision would be made, nor does it ensure that the decision processes would be fair by ensuring that concerned and affected individuals would be able to participate, effectively presenting arguments on their own behalf. Because of these concerns, procedures of risk analysis, including the management of the process, have been written about, for example, in a National Research Council (NRC 1996) publication, with the intention of getting stakeholders (interested participants) more involved in the risk ana...
Generalized linear latent variable models for repeated measures of spatially correlated multivariate data.

SUMMARY. Observations of multiple-response variables across space and over time occur often in environmental and ecological studies. Compared to purely spatial models for a single response variable in the exponential family of distributions, fewer statistical tools are available for multiple-response variables that are not necessarily Gaussian. An exception is a common-factor model developed for multivariate spatial data by Wang and Wall (2003, Biostatistics 4, 569-582). The purpose of this article is to extend this multivariate space-only model and develop a flexible class of generalized linear latent variable models for multivariate spatial-temporal data. For statistical inference, maximum likelihood estimates and their standard deviations are obtained using a Monte Carlo EM algorithm. We also use a novel way to automatically adjust the Monte Carlo sample size, which facilitates the convergence of the Monte Carlo EM algorithm. The methodology is illustrated by an ecological study of red pine trees in response to bark beetle challenges in a forest stand of Wisconsin.
Wormhole routing techniques for directly connected multicomputer systems

Wormhole routing has emerged as the most widely used switching technique in massively parallel computers. We present a detailed survey of various techniques for enhancing the performance and reliability of wormhole-routing schemes in directly connected networks. We start with an overview of the direct network topologies and a comparison of various switching techniques. Next, the characteristics of the wormhole routing mechanism are described in detail along with the theory behind deadlock-free routing. The performance of routing algorithms depends on the selection of the path between the source and the destination, the network traffic, and the router design. The routing algorithms are implemented in the router chips. We outline the router characteristics and describe the functionality of various elements of the router. Depending on the usage of paths between the source and the destination, routing algorithms are classified as deterministic, fully adaptive, and partially adaptive. We discuss several representative algorithms for all these categories. The algorithms within each category vary in terms of resource requirements and performance under various traffic conditions. The main difference among various adaptive routing schemes is the technique used to avoid deadlocks. We also discuss a few algorithms based on deadlock recovery techniques. Along with performance, fault tolerance is essential for message routing in multicomputers, and we thus discuss several fault-tolerant wormhole routing algorithms along with their fault-handling capabilities. These routing schemes enable a message to reach its destination even in the presence of faults in the network. The implementation details of wormhole routing algorithms in contemporary commercial systems are also discussed. We conclude by itemizing several future directions and open issues.
Religion and Public Opinion Toward Same‐Sex Relations, Marriage, and Adoption: Does the Type of Practice Matter?

This study examines how religion's impact on Americans’ attitudes toward same-sex practices varies by the type of practice being considered. We theorize that same-sex romantic and family practices such as sexual relations, marriage, and adoption represent distinct practice types, differing in degrees of legality, cultural legitimacy, and in their internal power dynamics. Consequently, we expect that Americans view each practice type somewhat differently and their opinions on each may be influenced by religion in distinctive ways. Drawing upon national-level data, we estimate and compare the relative net effects of a comprehensive battery of religious measures on support for gay sex, marriage, and adoption, both for the full sample and across religious traditions. Analyses demonstrate that public opinion toward gay sexual relations is more strongly related to religious practice and theological conservatism compared to attitudes regarding same-sex marriage or adoption. Moreover, frequent religious practice and conservative theological beliefs about the Bible tend to be more strongly associated with attitudes toward same-sex relationships for evangelicals, compared to mainline Protestants and, to a lesser extent, Catholics. Findings ultimately affirm that the type of same-sex practice being considered (sex, marriage, or adoption) serves to moderate religions’ impact on Americans’ support for such practices.
Large-area hysteresis-free perovskite solar cells via temperature controlled doctor blading under ambient environment

Abstract Hybrid perovskites have emerged as the most promising thin-film photovoltaic technology with efficiencies exceeding 20% merely in the last five years. Most high-efficiency perovskite solar cells reported in the recent years have relatively small device area in comparison to that required for commercial photovoltaic modules. While these results are excellent from an academic perspective, scaling up the overall cell device area is crucial for achieving practical utility for hybrid perovskite based thin-film solar cells. In this paper, we present a comprehensive study on the use of temperature-controlled doctor blading technique for the growth of large island, crystalline perovskite thin-films. Specifically, we elucidate the physical conditions such as substrate temperature, solution volume, and blade speed under ambient conditions that control the growth of large area perovskite thin-films with desired island size, thickness, uniformity and crystallinity. Using these doctor-bladed thin-films we fabricated devices of ∼1 cm2 area in air that yielded an average efficiency of 7.32% with negligible hysteresis in the current-voltage scans. Further improvements in efficiency can be expected by reproducing the perovskite thin-film growth using doctor-blading in a controlled environment, through compositional tuning of the band-gap, or by selecting electron and hole transport layers with better band alignment with the perovskite electronic energy level.
GENETIC STRUCTURE OF POPULATIONS OF THE BROWN SNAIL (HELIX ASPERSA). I. MICROGEOGRAPHIC VARIATION.

Although many species are superb invaders of new regions, snails have not figured importantly in research on the genetics of colonization (Baker and Stebbins, 1965). The recent invasion of Europe by the aquatic prosobranch Potamopyrgus jenkinsi is believed to have been facilitated by its parthenogenetic habit (Hunter, 1964; Purchon, 1968; Winterbourn, 1970), but the population genetics of this species have not been studied. Recently, we discovered that introduced North American populations of the Mediterranean land snail Rumina decollata are a self-fertilizing, monogenic strain (Selander and Kaufman, 1973; Selander et al., 1974; Selander and Hudson, 1975). But because it is unlikely that the breeding system and genetic population structure of either Potamopyrgus or Rumina are typical of colonizing snails, studies of other species are desirable. One of the more successful colonizing terrestrial pulmonates is the European brown snail (Helix aspersa), an edible species widely introduced by man to continents and islands of the Temperate and Tropical zones (Pilsbry, 1939). Some colonizations in the United States failed or
On the Construction of Certain Curves Given in Polar Coördinates

(1917). On the Construction of Certain Curves Given in Polar Coordinates. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 24, No. 5, pp. 213-220.
Strain-induced metal-semiconductor transition in monolayers and bilayers of gray arsenic: A computational study

We study the equilibrium geometry and electronic structure of thin films of layered gray arsenic using ab initio density functional theory. In contrast to bulk gray As that is semimetallic, thin films display a significant band gap that depends sensitively on the number of layers, in-layer strain, layer stacking, and interlayer spacing. We find that metallic character can be introduced by increasing the number of layers beyond two or by subjecting semiconducting monolayers and bilayers to moderate tensile strain. The strain-induced metal-semiconductor transition is triggered by changes in the band ordering near the top of the valence band that causes an abrupt change from $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ to $\ensuremath{\pi}$ character of the frontier states.
African States in Social and Historical Context

What are the contours of the state? How is it linked with the society around it? How far does its power and authority extend? In contemporary Africa, where political instability and state breakdown are more frequent and widespread than virtually anywhere else, such questions are posed very acutely and have proved particularly troubling. Many earlier treatments of the state in Africa, influenced by the then prevailing trends within political science, sought answers by looking specifically-and often too narrowly-at the formal structures and roles of central state institutions. Few probed very deeply into their day-to-day functioning or their concrete relations with diverse citizenries. When the past was considered at all, it was frequently to emphasize the relative "newness" of postcolonial African states as an explanation for rampant authoritarianism, inefficiency, and corruption. A handful of analysts (Callaghy, 1984; Joseph, 1987) sought understanding through broader comparisons with early European states or reference to Weberian models of patrimoni-
On the Theory of Perfectly-Contestable Markets

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the theory of perfectly-contestable markets.2 The treatment here is deliberately schematic in order to focus on the logical structure of the theory.
Excitation of the Whistler Mode in the Ionosphere by Leakage From VLF Guided‐Wave Modes

The penetration of VLF waves into the ionosphere is calculated from the mode representation of the fields in the earth-ionosphere waveguide. This calculation is more appropriate for evaluation of leakage of VLF energy into the ionosphere at large distances from the transmitter than is the calculation based on a ray theory representation of the fields. The ratio of the amplitude of the field excited in the ionosphere to that observed on the earth is found to agree with the observations of the LOFTI I experiment. In carrying out the analysis of the leakage of energy from the waveguide modes, it is necessary to reevaluate the modal propagation constants, employing a self-consistent calculation requiring that the wave polarization of a modal field be preserved upon reflection at the waveguide boundaries. Upon imposing these conditions, it is found that two sets of modes result, having different polarizations. These sets of modes have been designated as quasi-TE and quasi-TM.by Budden, but both sets tire no1 usually used in VLF field strength calculations. Under nighttime conditions, both types of modes will be of importance, while in daytime only the quasi-TM modes will be excited by a vertical monopole antenna on the earth. These results predict a nonreciprocal attenuation over a north-south propagation path.