cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatial scale and dispersion pattern of ant- and bird-dispersed herbs in two tropical lowland rain forests

The population level correlates of contrasting dispersal syndromes in closely related species are largely unknown. A family of tropical understory herbs, the Marantaceae, provides the opportunity for comparative studies as it contains many species with contrasting dispersal syndromes. As part of a study of the comparative population biology of ant- and bird-dispersed species, we test the hypothesis that spatial scale and dispersion pattern are related to dispersal type, proposing that bird-dispersed species will have a larger spatial scale than ant-dispersed species, and that, among bird-dispersed species, the scale will vary among three distinct dispersal types. We also propose that ant-dispersed species will show a more clumped dispersion pattern than the bird-dispersed species. Two types of spatial scale are examined: the amount of space occupied by individuals (maximum and actual) and the spacing among individuals within populations. The maximum size of plants showed a trend in the predicted direction. However, this trend was only of marginal statistical significance. The actual distribution of plant sizes, as measured by total leaf area and classified logarithmically, differed significantly among the dispersal types in the predicted direction. Spacing among individuals as measured by nearest neighbor distances also varied significantly by dispersal type, but not entirely in the predicted direction. Dispersion pattern analysis indicated that most study species in most populations had significantly clumped spatial patterning. The aggregation index varied 20-fold among study plots, but did not vary significantly by dispersal type. We conclude that while spatial scale was related generally to type of dispersal, dispersion pattern was not.
12.1: Invited Paper: An Overview of Vision Realistic Rendering and Vision Correcting Displays

Vision-realistic rendering is the computer generation of synthetic images that incorporate the characteristics of a par- ticular individual's entire optical system. Specifically, we simulate the scanned foveal image from wavefront data of actual human subjects. The concept of a vision correcting display involves digitally modifying the content of a display using measurements of the optical aberrations of the viewer's eye so that the display can be seen in sharp focus by the user without requiring the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses. Given the measurements of the optical aberrations of a user's eye, a vision correcting display will present a transformed image that when viewed by this individual will appear in sharp focus. Vision correction could be provided in some cases where spectacles are ineffective.
Economic Manufacturing Quantity and Its Integrating Implications

Several contradictions are noted among the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ), Just-In-Time (JIT), and Optimized Production Technology (OPT) approaches and the economic framework for profit maximization. A fundamental model referred to as the Economic Manufacturing Quantity (EMO) is developed and examined for its integrating implications for the three approaches. An implication for the classic EOQ approach is that the balance between setup and inventory carrying costs is valid when a production facility is operating at or below a certain critical level but not when operating above that level. An implication for the JIT approach is that one must reduce setup cost at non-bottlenecks and setup time at bottlenecks to reduce inventory. An implication for the OPT approach is that trade-offs between setup and inventory carrying costs may indeed be ignored while determining process batch sizes, provided each facility in a production system is operating at or above Its critical level. Economic theoretic analysis of the EMO model provides a basis for unification of JIT which advocates stability in operating level as a key to improved productivity and quality, and OPT that advocates maximizing operating level with resultant emphasis on bottlenecks as a key to increased profits. This unifying basis states that a profit-maximizing production facility or system will operate at the full and stable level as long as market demand remains relatively sensitive to price and operating at the full (maximum) level provides positive unit contribution
Safety and efficacy of a topical anesthetic for neonatal circumcision.

Objective. Circumcision is a common neonatal surgical procedure routinely performed without the use of anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical lidocaine cream as an anesthetic for circumcision. Methods. Thirty newborns were studied in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study; 15 received a topical 30% lidocaine cream and 15 received the cream base alone. Vital signs were recorded, and preoperative and postoperative serum β-endorphin and lidocaine concentrations were measured. A videotape of the newborn was used to score behavioral changes. Results. Comparisions of the vital signs precircumcision and postcircumcision showed no differences between the placebo and treatment groups, with the exception of mean systolic blood pressure, which significantly increased in the placebo-treated newborns (P Conclusion. Topical application of a 30% lidocaine cream as used in this study may be a safe and efficacious anesthetic for circumcision.
Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy Modulates Inhibitory Motor Control in Essential Tremor (P5.245)

OBJECTIVE: To assess change in voluntary motor control following Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy in Essential Tremor (ET). BACKGROUND: The ventral intermediate (Vim) nucleus of the thalamus is primarily innervated by cerebellar afferents and is involved in involuntary motor processes in ET. Surgical lesioning and deep brain stimulation of the Vim improve tremor in ET. MRgFUS is a recently introduced, non-invasive procedure that also improves tremor in ET via thermal lesioning of the Vim; however, little is known of the effects of thalamic lesioning on voluntary motor control. DESIGN/METHODS: The Stop-Signal task measures the speed of voluntary manual response time to go stimuli as well as the speed of inhibiting voluntary actions upon the occurrence of a stop stimulus. Thirteen patients with ET performed the Stop-Signal task before and three months after unilateral (hemisphere contralateral to dominant upper limb) MRgFUS thalamotomy and were matched with 13 healthy controls (HC). RESULTS: At baseline, ET patients were significantly slower (p=.029) at stopping their responses compared to HC, but they did not differ in go reaction time. Comparing ET patients treated versus non-treated hands at baseline and at 3 months post-MRgFUS showed no differences in speed of go or stop reactions between the hands at baseline and no difference in speed of go reactions between the hands at follow-up. ET patients showed a statistically significant improvement in the time required to stop reactions in the treated hand alone at 3 months compared to baseline (p=.032). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we see a selective improvement of inhibitory motor control in the treated hand following MRgFUS lesioning of the Vim. These results implicate the Vim in voluntary motor control for inhibitory processes and provide initial support that surgical lesioning of the Vim improves both involuntary and voluntary motor processes in patients with ET. Disclosure: Dr. Sperling has nothing to disclose. Dr. Manning has nothing to disclose. Dr. Elias has received research support from Focused Ultrasound Foundation, and Insightec. Dr. Wylie has nothing to disclose.
Celebrity Endorsements: An Eagle’s Eye

In this short article, the author comments on the Tiger Woods extramarital affairs revelations, and reflects on the ramifications of these in regard to the various sports and other products endorsements Tiger has been involved with.
Under the Guise of Reform: How Marijuana Possession Is Exposing the Flaws in the Criminal Justice System's Guarantee of a Right to a Jury Trial

Recent Supreme Court decisions have restricted a criminal defendant’s right to a jury trial. By setting the threshold to trigger a jury trial right at six months imprisonment, the Supreme Court once feared that the legislature might classify serious crimes as petty, and take away a defendant’s right to a jury trial. But what if the opposite happened? What if the legislature classified an offense that Americans no longer believed was a crime out of the reach of their input – the jury. This is what has occurred in some states with minor marijuana possession. Even though a majority of Americans believe that marijuana possession should be legalized, some states are continuing to prosecute it as a crime without a jury trial. While waiting for marijuana reform, thousands of defendants will be prosecuted for a crime without the judicial check of a jury trial. Perhaps the electorate will respond through their votes, but democracy takes time, and at a cost to all the offenders who await judgment. This Note will examine how this offense managed to fall through the cracks of the judicial and legislative system at both the federal and state level. In highlighting these issues, this Note argues that the justice system should correct its flaws, and prevent future offenses from the same fate.
Measurement of local values of strains of the briquette by means of special resistance strain gauges

Local measurement of the coal briquette strains during its destruction caused by sudden decrease of pressure of gas filling pores is difficult, because of high strain of coal (exceeds 16%), which results in bursting. A special type of an resistance-strain gauge, which is pressed into a defined position during briquette preparation was elaborated. This gauge is deformed just as the surrounding coal. The strain is measured as a difference in resistance of a mixture of coal grains (briquette material) and short, 8 micrometers dia. graphite fibers. A ca. 0.5 mm thick and ca. 1 mm long gauge was prepared. Its initial resistance constituted several hundreds ohms. The resistance vs. strain dependence is not linear but stable enough in time and does not depend on the type of gas filling briquette pores (e.g. CO2 and He).© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Development and evaluation of aboveground small tree biomass models for naturally regenerated and planted species in eastern Maine, U.S.A.

Numerous models are available in northeastern North America to estimate aboveground tree biomass, yet most have focused on trees ≥12.5 cm diameter, and these models are often poor predictors of small tree biomass (<12.5 cm diameter). Additionally, models available to estimate small tree biomass often lack independent evaluation with field data. We developed a new set of additive biomass component (foliage, branch, and bole) models for five naturally regenerated hardwood species, four hybrid poplar (Populus sp.) clones and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench.), from trees in eastern Maine. Biomass measurements were used to evaluate national and regional models for naturally regenerated species, and species specific models for planted stock. Results showed that the regional and national models provided similar fits for total biomass across all species. Moreover, the small tree biomass models currently used to predict woody biomass substantially underestimated biomass from 19.0% to 36.6% for all of the naturally regenerated hardwood species at our site. This substantial underestimation of small tree biomass may have contributed to the recent 34% decrease in estimated sapling woody biomass, and 15% decrease in aboveground biomass of all living trees in Maine, where nearly one-quarter of the 70,000 km2 forestlands are dominated by saplings. This problem may exist in other regions of the United States if substantial proportions of forestlands are dominated by small trees. Further model evaluation is warranted to assess the performance of the current models.
Assessing Psychotherapy Competence: A Beginning

The recent requirement by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education’s Residency Review Committee (RRC) for Psychiatry that programs “must demonstrate that residents have achieved competency” in at least five forms of psychotherapy, including brief therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, combined psychotherapy and psychopharmacology, psychodynamic therapy, and supportive therapy, certainly got the field’s attention. The requirements come as the result of several historical trends, including rising interest in medicine to increase public accountability through demonstrations of practitioner competence (1,2), ongoing efforts over past decades to improve the quality of psychiatric training, as exemplified by several national conferences and activities of the American Association of Directors of Residency Training (AADPRT) (3,4), and specific interests within the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and other organizations to ensure that psychotherapy training remains a high priority for the profession (5,6). Just when forces such as managed care and the strong ascendance of biological psychiatry threatened to decrease the relevance of psychotherapy for psychiatric practice, the juggernaut defining specialty-specific competencies in graduate medical education presented those in organized psychiatry who value psychotherapy a unique opportunity to require strengthening of psychotherapy training in residency programs. Along with mandates for the six general competencies required of all medical specialties, the only new specific competencies enacted by psychiatry’s RRC focus on psychotherapies. These developments carry a range of implications. The good news is that increased attention and resources will have to be devoted to psychotherapy training, shifting from very nonspecific expectations in order to concentrate on specific goals, quality and quantity of teaching, skill acquisition and accountability. The well-intended result should be to strengthen psychotherapy training in all programs, some of which have, historically, offered little psychotherapy training of any sort. Difficulties that must be reckoned with include already overloaded training directors and departments now having to contend with several intended and unintended challenging consequences stemming from these requirements. First, mandating competencies means that resources will have to be devoted not only to providing all the specific types of psychotherapy training (not readily available in many departments) but also to assessing residents’ competencies. The bureaucratic headaches may be considerable. Second, it becomes quickly obvious that definitions of competence are not self-evident, and agreements as to how such competencies can be meaningfully assessed are not universally shared. One important cautionary comment concerning competence assessment was recently offered by Michael Whitcomb, the editor of Academic Medicine (7), who suggests that graduate medical education programs should not be required to develop and im
Effect of the junction interface properties on blue emission of SiC blue LEDs grown by step-controlled CVD

Abstract 6H-SiC blue LEDs were successively fabricated on off-axis (0001) substrates by step-controlled CVD at 1500°C using SiH 4 and C 3 H 8 . LEDs on the (0001)Si face showed dominantly a pure-blue 455 nm peak corresponding to the cathodoluminescence (CL) of the p-layer, while those on the (000 1 )C face showed mainly a purple-blue 425 nm peak corresponding to the CL of the n-layer. Considering the carrier concentrations of the LEDs, electrons are expected to be injected into the p-layer and to recombine with holes in the p-layer. The effect of a thin interface layer between the n-layer and the p-layer is supposed for the (000 1 )C face, but the effect disappeared by continuous electrical driving of the LEDs and the spectra became similar to those for the (0001)Si face. Atomic disorder of the SiC layer and/or doped impurities at the junction interface probably cause the interface layer.
Evidence of differential performance on simultaneous and sequential lineups for individuals with autism-spectrum traits

Given the impaired facial recognition of autistic individuals, we examined whether certain autism-spectrum traits affected eyewitness identification performance in a general adult population. In a sample of 120 individuals, levels of autism-spectrum traits were examined in relation to performance on simultaneous vs. sequential lineups using a signal detection paradigm. For simultaneous lineups, total Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) scores and scores on the excessive Attention to detail subscale were related to fewer hits and a more conservative response criterion. Attention to detail interacted with lineup type in that it was significantly related to improved discrimination accuracy and a less conservative response criterion in sequential lineups, but with impaired discrimination accuracy and a more conservative response criterion in simultaneous lineups. Higher AQ scores on the Attention switching subscale resulted in fewer hits, lower discrimination accuracy, and a more conservative response criterion with sequential lineups. Additionally, partial disguises led to more false alarms but not decreased accuracy. More thorough investigations of the effect of lineup type on identifications are needed before policy changes are recommended.
Case Report: Unilateral Multinodular Toxic Goiter: Scintiscan Mimicking Solitary Toxic Nodule

A 58-year-old man presented with hyperthyroidism. By palpation, the left lobe of the thyroid was diffusely enlarged, and the right lobe was normal. Radioactive iodide scintiscan demonstrated homogeneous uptake that was localized to the enlarged left lobe, with near total suppression of uptake on the right. TSH stimulation led to clear visualization of a normal appearing right lobe, findings most consistent with an autonomously functioning solitary nodule on the left. Left hemithyroidectomy cured the hyperthyroidism. However, no single dominant nodule was found in the left lobe. Rather, there was diffuse thyroidal hyperplasia of the micronodular variety, consistent with multinodular toxic goiter. Thus, in this patient with a usually diffuse form of thyroid disease, the autonomously functioning hyperactive follicles were localized predominantly to one thyroid lobe. This variant expands the clinical spectrum of multinodular toxic goiter, and further emphasizes the extent of asymmetry in the distribution of hyperactive follicles than can occur in this disorder.
Heavy quark symmetry predictions for weakly bound B-meson molecules

Recently the Belle collaboration discovered two resonances, ${Z}_{b}(10610)$ and ${Z}_{b}(10650)$, that lie very close to the $B{\overline{B}}^{*}$ and ${B}^{*}{\overline{B}}^{*}$ thresholds, respectively. It is natural to suppose that these are molecular states of bottom and antibottom mesons. Under this assumption, we introduce an effective field theory for the ${Z}_{b}(10610)$ and ${Z}_{b}(10650)$, as well as similar unobserved states that are expected on the basis of heavy quark spin symmetry. The molecules are assumed to arise from short-range interactions that respect heavy quark spin symmetry. We use the theory to calculate line shapes in the vicinity of ${B}^{(*)}{\overline{B}}^{(*)}$ thresholds as well as two-body decay rates of the new bottom meson bound states. We derive new heavy quark spin symmetry predictions for the parameters appearing in the line shapes as well as the total and partial widths of the states.
Regional brain atrophy and reductions in glutamate release and uptake after intrastriatal kainic acid.

Abstract 1 Neurochemical changes and tissue weights were measured following intrastriatal injection of 2.5 microgram of kainic acid in 2 microliter of 0.9% w/v NaCl solution (saline) in the rat. 2 After kainic acid the striatum and neocortex on the injected side showed a progressive reduction in weight, the neocortex showing the greatest absolute weight loss and the striatum the greatest percentage change. 3 Large (80-90%) reduction in choline acetyltransferase (CAT) and L-glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activities in the striatum occurred within 2-4 days of the injection and persisted at least 10 weeks. At 10 weeks CAT and GAD activities were unaltered in the neocortex. 4 The absolute content of dopamine in the striatum was not different from control 5 days after the injection of kainic acid but was reduced at 2 and 10 weeks. At 2 weeks the concentration (microgram/g wet weight) of dopamine also was reduced but at 10 weeks it was near normal due to atrophy of the striatum. 5 The high affinity glutamate uptake into a crude synaptosomal preparation of the striatum was reduced by 64% 5 days after kainic acid and still reduced by 67% at 10 weeks. 6 The efflux of glutamate from slices of the striatum in the presence of 52 mM K+ was reduced by approximately 75% 5 days and 15 weeks after kainic acid. 7 In vitro kainic acid (10(-4) M) neither altered the high affinity uptake of radiolabelled glutamate into a homogenate of the striatum, nor released endogenous glutamate from slices of striatum.
Macro-Level Approaches to HIV Prevention among Ethnic Minority Youth: State of the Science, Opportunities, and Challenges.

The HIV epidemic continues to disproportionately affect ethnic minority youth. These disconcerting health disparities indicate that although existing HIV preventive strategies for ethnic minority youth have been efficacious, they have not significantly reduced the impact of the epidemic in this population. Macro-level interventions, such as structural or policy interventions, have the potential to impact the HIV epidemic at a population level, and thus reduce the HIV health disparities that exist among ethnic minority youth and other segments of the U.S. population. This article calls for a paradigm shift to develop, evaluate, and disseminate interventions that target upstream/macro-level factors or that, at a minimum, integrate both a macro and individual level perspective. The article also discusses the challenges in developing and evaluating such interventions. Psychologists and other behavioral scientists can play a critical role in reducing the impact of HIV on ethnic minority youth by integrating macro-level approaches to future HIV prevention strategies.
Neurovascular Emergencies in the Elderly

Neurovascular diseases are major causes of disability and death in the elderly; many present as medical emergencies. With the continuing growth of the geriatric population, there has been increasing interest in the impact of aging on the cerebrovascular system. Recent advances in the clinical neurosciences have demonstrated that neurovascular emergencies in the elderly often are amenable to treatment; neuroimaging plays a critical role in diagnosis and neurointerventional techniques are becoming increasingly important therapeutic options. This article provides an overview of some of the common neurovascular disorders in the elderly that require urgent evaluation and treatment, with an emphasis on the expanding role for interventional neuroradiology in their management.
Object-oriented application frameworks

Computing power and network bandwidth have increased dramatically over the past decade. However, the design and implementation of complex software remains expensive and error-prone. Much of the cost and effort stems from the continuous rediscovery and re-invention of core concepts and components across the software industry. In particular, the growing heterogeneity of hardware architectures and diversity of operating system and communication platforms makes it hard to build correct, portable, efficient, and inexpensive applications from scratch. Object-oriented (OO) application frameworks are a promising technology for reifying proven software designs and implementations in order to reduce the cost and improve the quality of software. A framework is a reusable, ``semi-complete'' application that can be specialized to produce custom applications [Johnson:88]. In contrast to earlier OO reuse techniques based on class libraries, frameworks are targeted for particular business units (such as data processing or cellular communications) and application domains (such as user interfaces or real-time avionics). Frameworks like MacApp, ET++, Interviews, ACE, Microsoft's MFC and DCOM, JavaSoft's RMI, and implementations of OMG's CORBA play an increasingly important role in contemporary software development.
Assessment of in situ thermal treatment for chlorinated organic source zones

The East Gate Disposal Yard (EGDY) at Fort Lewis is the source of a large trichloroethene (TCE) plume at this military installation. Source reduction using thermal treatment was applied using electrical resistance heating. A total of about 5,800 kg of TCE-equivalent volatile organic compounds (VOCs; TCE and dichloroethene) was extracted during thermal treatment of the three zones selected for source reduction. Pretreatment groundwater TCE concentrations were measured up to 100 ppm. Posttreatment groundwater TCE concentrations within the treatment zones averaged less than 100 ppb. Posttreatment soil TCE concentrations decreased by over 96 percent compared to pretreatment soil concentrations. The overall contaminant flux from EGDY was reduced by an estimated 60 to 90 percent by the source reduction effort. The traditional and new techniques for site characterization and remediation performance monitoring applied at EGDY provide insight for installing, operating, monitoring, and assessing thermal treatment. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sixth-order term of the gradient expansion of the kinetic-energy density functional

A generalization of Hodges's method of obtaining the gradient expansion is derived and then employed to determine the sixth-order term. The formula for it is as follows: ${T}_{6}[\ensuremath{\rho}]=\frac{{(3{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{2})}^{\ensuremath{-}413}}{45360\ensuremath{\int}{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{\frac{\ensuremath{-}1}{3}}[13{(\frac{\ensuremath{\nabla}{\ensuremath{\nabla}}^{2}\ensuremath{\rho}}{\ensuremath{\rho}})}^{2}+\frac{2575}{144{(\frac{{\ensuremath{\nabla}}^{2}\ensuremath{\rho}}{\ensuremath{\rho}})}^{3}}+\frac{249}{16{(\frac{\ensuremath{\nabla}\ensuremath{\rho}}{\ensuremath{\rho}})}^{2}(\frac{{\ensuremath{\nabla}}^{4}\ensuremath{\rho}}{\ensuremath{\rho}})}+\frac{1499}{18{(\frac{\ensuremath{\nabla}\ensuremath{\rho}}{\ensuremath{\rho}})}^{2}{(\frac{{\ensuremath{\nabla}}^{2}\ensuremath{\rho}}{\ensuremath{\rho}})}^{2}}\ensuremath{-}\frac{1307}{36{(\frac{\ensuremath{\nabla}\ensuremath{\rho}}{\ensuremath{\rho}})}^{2}(\frac{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\ensuremath{\nabla}}\ensuremath{\rho}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\ensuremath{\nabla}}{\ensuremath{\nabla}}^{2}\ensuremath{\rho}}{{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{2}})}+\frac{343}{18{(\frac{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\ensuremath{\nabla}}\ensuremath{\rho}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\ensuremath{\nabla}}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\ensuremath{\nabla}}\ensuremath{\rho}}{{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{2}})}^{2}+\frac{8341}{72(\frac{{\ensuremath{\nabla}}^{2}\ensuremath{\rho}}{\ensuremath{\rho}}){(\frac{\ensuremath{\nabla}\ensuremath{\rho}}{\ensuremath{\rho}})}^{4}}\ensuremath{-}\frac{1600495}{2592{(\frac{\ensuremath{\nabla}\ensuremath{\rho}}{\ensuremath{\rho}})}^{6}}]{d}^{3}r}}$. For atomic densities, ${T}_{6}[\ensuremath{\rho}]$ is divergent near the nucleus and at large distances.
Training interpretation biases among individuals with symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder.

The current study tested the causal premise underlying cognitive models of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) that negative interpretations of intrusive thoughts lead to the distress and impairment associated with symptoms of OCD. Specifically, we sought to determine: (a) whether it was possible to train healthier (defined as more benign/less threatening) interpretations regarding the significance of intrusive thoughts; and (b) whether there was a link between modifying negative interpretations and subsequent emotional vulnerability to an OC stressor. A nonclinical sample of students high in OC symptoms completed either a Positive (n = 50) or Neutral (n = 50) interpretation training procedure designed to alter OC-relevant interpretations and beliefs. As expected, participants in the Positive (versus Neutral) training condition endorsed healthier OC-relevant interpretations and beliefs following training. Additionally, when controlling for baseline affect, participants in the Positive (versus Neutral) training condition reported less negative affect during the OC-stressor task (at the level of a non-significant trend) and reported less desire to perform neutralizing activities. In general, results provide some support for cognitive models of obsessions and suggest that negative interpretations of intrusive thoughts may be causally related to symptoms of OCD.
Calculations of the Absolute Free Energies of Binding between RNA and Metal Ions Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Continuum Electrostatics

The calculation of binding free energies between highly charged species is a major challenge for free energy simulations. In this study, we applied a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and continuum electrostatics, along with normal-mode analysis, to compute the absolute free energies of binding between cobalt (III) hexammine and two RNA fragments for which NMR structures have been determined. The predicted affinities, using the finite-difference Poisson−Boltzmann method with a solute dielectric constant of 1 to treat solvation, were overall underestimated relative to the experimental values. However, internal consistency in the calculated energies was maintained between the different trajectories, and the structures in the simulations gave excellent agreement with NMR data. Various models for obtaining the electrostatic contributions were analyzed, including the effects of solute dielectric constants and van der Waals radii, linear and nonlinear salt contributions, as well as results from gene...
Field theory on a computationally constructed random lattice

Abstract We describe a computational procedure by which random lattices in two, three and four dimensions are constructed in accordance with a prescription given earlier. We report numerical results for a scalar field in two dimensions and for a gauge field - U(1), SU(2), SU(3) - in four dimensions.
Immunologic escape as a mechanism of viral persistence in HIV-1 infection

Abstract Two specific immune responses to HIV, the cytolytic T cell response to epitopes in the core/envelope proteins and the antibody neutralization response to the V3 epitope in the envelope, are reviewed. Substantial data has accumulated indicating that virus variants can be isolated from infected people that are not recognized by the early immune response. Furthermore, genomic changes in the virus show host dependence and emerge to prominence with a temporal pattern that is consistent with selection for escape from an earlier immune response. Escape from immune recognition may therefore be a major factor in allowing persistent viral replication in HIV infection.
Long-Term Preservation of Mouse Spermatozoa after Freeze-Drying and Freezing Without Cryoprotection

The widespread production of mice with transgenes, disrupted genes and mutant genes, has strained the resources available for maintaining these mouse lines as live populations, and dependable methods for gamete and embryo preservation in these lines are needed. Here we report the results of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with spermatozoa freeze-dried or frozen without a cryoprotectant after storage for periods up to 1.5 years. Freeze-dried samples were stored at 4 degrees C. Samples frozen without cryoprotection were maintained at -196 degrees C. After storage, spermatozoa were injected into the oocytes by ICSI. Zygotic chromosomes and fetal development at Day 15 of gestation were examined after 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 mo of sperm storage. When fresh spermatozoa were used for ICSI, 96% of resultant zygotes contained normal chromosomes, and 58% of two-cell embryos transferred developed to normal viable fetuses. Similar results were obtained when spermatozoa were frozen without cryoprotection and then used for ICSI (87% and 45%, respectively; P > 0.05) and after 12 mo of sperm storage (mean of six endpoints examined: 87% and 52%, respectively; P > 0.05). Freeze-drying decreased the proportion of zygotes with normal karyoplates (75% vs. 96%; P 0.05). Live offspring were obtained from both freeze-dried and frozen spermatozoa after storage for 1.5 yr. The results indicate that 1) the freeze-drying procedure itself causes some abnormalities in spermatozoa but freezing without cryoprotection does not and 2) long-term storage of both frozen and freeze-dried spermatozoa is not deleterious to their genetic integrity. Freezing without cryoprotection is highly successful, simple, and efficient but, like all routine sperm storage methods, requires liquid nitrogen. Liquid nitrogen is also required for freeze-drying, but sperm can then be stored at 4 degrees C and shipped at ambient temperatures. Both preservation methods are successful, but rapid freezing without cryoprotection is the preferred method for preservation of spermatozoa from mouse strains carrying unique genes and mutations.
Prey capture in mantids: The role of the prothoracic tibial flexion reflex

Abstract The role which the prothoracic tibial flexion reflex plays in prey catching by the mantis Tenodera aridifolia sinensis (Sauss.) is examined. This reflex is elicited both by tactile stimulation of the movable spines on the ventro-medial border of the raptorial foreleg femur, and by pulling against the tibia. The reflex elicited by spine stimulation is inhibited when the ipsilateral tarsus is resting on the substrate, but is not if the tibia rests on the substrate after removal of the tarsus. Immobilizing the femoral spines by covering them with paraffin wax eliminates the ipsilateral tibial reflex to spine stimulation but not to tibia pulling. If either the right or left set of femoral spines are immobilized, the waxed foreleg fails to grip prey, and is readjusted around captured prey more frequently than the normal leg. If both sets of femoral spines are immobilized, the mantid's ability to successfully capture prey is impaired but not eliminated. It is concluded that proprioceptive feedback from the movable femoral spines and the tibiae play roles in, but neither are solely responsible for maintaining a continuous grip on prey captured by T. sinensis .
Effects of Cr and Mn dopants on the density of states of superconducting niobium and vanadium

We have made proximity-effect electron-tunneling measurements on films of Nb and V, pure and doped with Cr and Mn. In contrast to predictions of the theory of Shiba and Rusinov for magnetically doped superconductors, we see no well-defined bands of states below the superconducting gap edge.
A study of the residual stress induced by shot peening for an isotropic material based on Prager’s yield criterion for combined stresses

Prager developed a yield criterion for a generalized isotropic material that is more capable of predicting material behavior that occurs from combined loading. A less studied topic is the effect of combined loading on the residual stress state. The purpose of the present work is to develop a theoretical model for a residual stress based on Prager’s relation and establish how the predictions are influenced. Prager’s yield criterion which includes the third deviatoric invariant, J3, provides a way to estimate the influence J3 has on the residual stress. The analyzed residual stress originates from shot peening because much experimental data exists to compare and validate the theoretical results.
Emerging fisheries, emerging fishery interactions with sea turtles: A case study of the large-mesh gillnet fishery for flounder in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, USA

Emerging fisheries and changes in fishery practices are not always readily apparent, nor are their impacts on non-target species such as seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals. Data from several different sources led managers to discover high rates of sea turtle bycatch in an inshore large-mesh gillnet fishery in North Carolina, USA, particularly the emerging deep-water gillnet fishery. This paper reviews the history of how increased numbers of observed stranded sea turtles in 1999 led to the discovery that turtles were becoming entangled in the large-mesh gillnet fishery in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina. It also demonstrates how a variety of data sets from fisheries observers, aerial surveys, and fisheries statistics programs contributed to shaping management of the large-mesh gillnet fishery in Pamlico Sound to decrease turtle bycatch and now point towards the need of additional assessment of gillnet bycatch in other parts of North Carolina. Finally, potential approaches are discussed for a more timely detection of future fishery conflicts and development of a plan to reduce otherwise inevitable bycatch and disruptions to fishing effort.
Modeling and simulation of switched capacitor converters for electric vehicle energy storage systems

This paper presents the analysis and novel controller design for a hybrid 4-quadrant (4-Q) switched-capacitor (SC) Luo and a conventional buck-boost bidirectional DC/DC converters, for HEV/PHEV energy storage system applications, based on power of traction motor and battery current gradient. Features of voltage step-down, voltage step-up, and bi-directional power flow are integrated into a single circuit. The novel hybrid controller strategy enables simpler dynamics compared to a standard buck converter, with input filter, good regulation capability, low EMI, lower source current ripple, ease of control, and continuous input current waveform in both modes of operation (buck and boost modes).
Broadband simulations for Mw 7.8 southern San Andreas earthquakes: Ground motion sensitivity to rupture speed

Using the high-performance computing resources of the Southern California Earthquake Center, we simulate broadband (0–10 Hz) ground motions for three M_w 7.8 rupture scenarios of the southern San Andreas fault. The scenarios incorporate a kinematic rupture description with the average rupture speed along the large slip portions of the fault set at 0.96, 0.89, and 0.84 times the local shear wave velocity. Consistent with previous simulations, a southern hypocenter efficiently channels energy into the Los Angeles region along the string of basins south of the San Gabriel Mountains. However, we find the basin ground motion levels are quite sensitive to the prescribed rupture speed, with peak ground velocities at some sites varying by over a factor of two for variations in average rupture speed of about 15%. These results have important implications for estimating seismic hazards in Southern California and emphasize the need for improved understanding of earthquake rupture processes.
Live atomic force microscopy imaging of laser microbeam assisted cellular microsurgery

Ultrafast laser microbeam is finding growing usage in causing highly localized damage to cellular structures. This has specifically enhanced efficiency of optoporation-injection of exogenous impermeable substances into the cell by transient pore formation. However, kinetics of laser microbeam induced pore formation and sealing of membrane has not been visualized at nanoscale resolution. Here, we report realization of live atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging of ultrafast tunable Ti: Sapphire laser microbeam assisted cellular microsurgery. AFM imaging was carried out using Nanonics Multiview system in parallel to exposure of the laser beam. Red blood cells (RBCs) were chosen as cellular model for micro-surgery due to their smooth surface topography. The transparent nature of the Nanonics fiber-optic AFM cantilever allowed simultaneous bright field/phase contrast imaging of the RBC. Measurement of pore size by AFM revealed true pore size as a function of laser exposure duration in contrast to phase contrast imaging. Further, AFM imaging of live cells showed fine topography of sealed pores that could not be comprehended from conventional microscopy.
STK38 is a critical upstream regulator of MYC’s oncogenic activity in human B-cell lymphoma

The MYC protooncogene is associated with the pathogenesis of most human neoplasia. Conversely, its experimental inactivation elicits oncogene addiction. Besides constituting a formidable therapeutic target, MYC also has an essential function in normal physiology, thus creating the need for context-specific targeting strategies. The analysis of post-translational MYC activity modulation yields novel targets for MYC inactivation. Specifically, following regulatory network analysis in human B-cells, we identify a novel role of the STK38 kinase as a regulator of MYC activity and a candidate target for abrogating tumorigenesis in MYC-addicted lymphoma. We found that STK38 regulates MYC protein stability and turnover in a kinase activity-dependent manner. STK38 kinase inactivation abrogates apoptosis following B-cell receptor activation, whereas its silencing significantly decreases MYC levels and increases apoptosis. Moreover, STK38 knockdown suppresses growth of MYC-addicted tumors in vivo, thus providing a novel viable target for treating these malignancies.
Construction and simplification of bone density models

This paper presents a hierarchical tetrahedral mesh model to represent the bone density atlas. We propose and implement an efficient and automatic method to construct hierarchical tetrahedral meshes from CT data sets of bony anatomy. The tetrahedral mesh is built based on contour tiling between CT slices. The mesh is then smoothed using an enhanced Laplacian algorithm. And we approximate bone density variations by means of continuous density functions written as smooth Bernstein polynomial spline expressed in terms of barycentric coordinates associated with each tetrahedron. We further perform the tetrahedral mesh simplification by collapsing the tetrahedra and build hierarchical structure with multiple resolutions. Both the shape and density error bound are preserved during the simplification. Furthermore a deformable prior model is computed from a collection of training models. Point Distribution Model is used to compute the variability of the prior model. Both the shape information and the density statistics are parameterized in the prior model. Our model demonstrates good accuracy, high storage efficiency and processing efficiency. We also compute the Digitally Reconstructed Radiographs from our model and use them to evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of our model. Our method has been tested on femur and pelvis data sets. This research is part of our effort of building density atlases for bony anatomies and applying them in deformable density based registrations.
The Impact and Outcome of Transplant Coronary Artery Disease in a Pediatric Population: A 9-Year Multi-institutional Study

Background Transplant coronary artery disease (TCAD) limits survival in heart transplant recipients; however, its incidence in children is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the angiographic incidence of TCAD, potential risk factors, and outcomes in a large pediatric cohort. Methods From January 1993 to December 1, a total of 1,222 children, aged newborn to 17 years, underwent primary cardiac transplantation at 20 institutions. A total of 2,049 coronary angiograms were performed in 751 patients. All angiograms were graded for coronary disease and results were submitted to the Pediatric Heart Transplant Study database. We analyzed time-related freedom from graded severity and events from coronary disease, and we examined risk factors. Results The incidence of angiographic abnormalities at 1, 3, and 5 years was 2%, 9%, and 17%, respectively; however, moderate-to-severe disease occurred in only 6% at 5 years, compared with 15% in the adult transplant database ( p p = 0.05). Overall freedom from graft loss caused by primary TCAD was 99%, 96%, and 91% at 1, 5, and 9 years after heart transplantation, respectively. Death or graft loss occurred within 2 years of diagnosis in patients with severe disease; 24% of patients with any coronary disease died within 2 years. Conclusions The incidence of TCAD in children is smaller than the incidence in adults, but increases with age. Graft loss is infrequent in children; however, severe coronary disease correlates with poor prognosis.
A new GaN HEMT nonlinear model for evaluation and design of 1–2 watt power amplifiers

A large-signal model for GaN HEMT devices is presented for use in medium power (1–2 W), S-band PA applications. The emphasis of the model is on quick extraction from standard measurements to facilitate research in this new operating regime for GaN HEMT devices. The entire model is extracted using small-signal S-parameter measurements under a small variety of bias conditions and DC IV characteristics without the need to sacrifice devices in the process. The validity of the model is demonstrated by the design and fabrication of both a class AB PA (achieving P 1dB = 30.7 dBm and PAE = 64%) and class E PA (achieving max PAE = 64.4% at P0= 30.1 dBm) based on the model described.
Case Study Analysis of Inventory Stocking Policies to Support Replenishment: A Supply-chain Perspective

Typically, in an attempt to optimize gross margin (revenue minus cost of goods), sourcing decisions for apparel products are based heavily on the lowest cost alternative. This is due to the assumpt...
Pollinators of tropical dioecious angiosperms: a reassessment? No, not yet

The association between dioecy and generalist mode of pollination suggested about 20 years ago has been recently questioned. It is argued that there is evidence to indicate that a disproportionate number of dioecious species have relatively smaller flowers and a more generalist mode of pollination than hermaphroditic taxa. This trend seems to hold at the community level as well as within genera containing dioecious and hermaphroditic species. Like other correlations among characters, correlations among dioecy, small flower size, and pollination systems provide important insights into mechanisms of n1ant evolution.
Microelectrochemical Logic Circuits

We report microelectrochemical devices that mimic some functions of solid-state circuit components such as diodes and transistors. The operation of this new family of devices is enabled by a network of microfluidic electrochemical cells that communicate with one-another via conductive solutions and, in some cases, bipolar electrodes. The output of the devices can be either electrochemical or optical. The approach reported here is a first step toward the development of large-scale integrated electrochemical systems having parallel processing capabilities.