cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy use on organic farming: A comparative analysis on organic versus conventional apricot production on small holdings in Turkey

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the energy use in apricot production on organic and conventional farms in Turkey in terms of energy ratio, benefit/cost ratio and amount of renewable energy use. The total energy requirement under organic apricot farming was 13,779.35 MJ ha −1 , whereas 22,811.68 MJ ha −1 was consumed under conventional apricot farming, i.e. 38% higher energy input was used on conventional apricot farming than the use on organic farms. The energy ratios of 2.22 and 1.45 were achieved under the organic and conventional farming systems, respectively.
A benzodiazepine antagonist action of CL 218,872

Abstract The effect of the Type I benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptor agonist, CL 218,872, on convulsions generated by low doses of methyl β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (MBCC), bicuculline, picrotoxin and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in mice was examined. Low doses of CL 218,872 enhanced the convulsions produced by all agents except PTZ. An anticonvulsant action of CL 218,872 was observed at higher doses. Since CL 218,872 exhibits proconvulsive effects at low doses, and a proconvulsant action is a characteristic of compounds classified as BDZ antagonists, it appears that CL 218,872 has some antagonist action.
Interpersonal process in psychotherapy through the lens of the structural analysis of social behavior

Abstract As psychotherapy research focuses more and more on mechanisms of therapeutic change, increased attention has naturally been directed at therapy process. Over the past several decades, a variety of researchers have successfully applied Benjamin's 1974 Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) to the study of in-session psychotherapy events. This system for conceptualizing and analyzing interpersonal and intrapsychic processes has been shown to provide theoretically rigorous and empirically tractable instantiations of both helpful and hindering therapeutic exchanges. In this article the therapeutic alliance is conceived in terms of interpersonal processes as demarcated according to the SASB. This article also provides a review of SASB's wide-ranging applications to observing and studying the therapeutic relationship, therapy process, and client outcome. Also discussed are several data analytic and methodological considerations related to the SASB model and several new ancillary measures based on the SASB. Finally, the applied and clinical utility of the SASB system is discussed in light of a variety of contemporary empirical findings.
JAWS: Job-Aware Workload Scheduling for the Exploration of Turbulence Simulations

We present JAWS, a job-aware, data-driven batch scheduler that improves query throughput for data-intensive scientific database clusters. As datasets reach petabyte-scale, workloads that scan through vast amounts of data to extract features are gaining importance in the sciences. However, acute performance bottlenecks result when multiple queries execute simultaneously and compete for I/O resources. Our solution, JAWS, divides queries into I/O-friendly sub-queries for scheduling. It then identifies overlapping data requirements within the workload and executes sub-queries in batches to maximize data sharing and reduce redundant I/O. JAWS extends our previous work by supporting workflows in which queries exhibit data dependencies, exploiting workload knowledge to coordinate caching decisions, and combating starvation through adaptive and incremental trade-offs between query throughput and response time. Instrumenting JAWS in the Turbulence Database Cluster yields nearly three-fold improvement in query throughput when contention in the workload is high.
Antibiotics in the treatment of preterm labor.

Objective: Clinical evidence for a relationship between choricamnionitis and the onset of preterm labor, supported by well developed biochemical models of that interaction, motivated a review of prospective, randomized trials of antibiotic use in its prevention. Study Design: A literature search was made of antibiotic trials applied to women at risk for preterm labor and with a clinical diagnosis of preterm labor after premature preterm rupture of membranes. A review of two retrospective case-control studies conducted on pregnant women with positive cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis is also included. Results And Conclusion: Results of antibiotic use in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes supports significant prolongation of the interval from rupture of membranes to delivery and improvement of neonatal outcome in treated patients.
Acquisition of optimal bone mass in childhood and adolescence.

Abstract Peak bone mass (PBM), which is achieved by early adulthood, is a key determinant of the lifetime risk of osteoporosis. Because the foundation for skeletal health is established so early in life, osteoporosis prevention begins by optimizing gains in bone mineral throughout childhood and adolescence. Heritable factors account for an estimated 60–80% of the variability in PBM, with diet, physical activity and hormonal status serving as important modifiers of bone accrual. Recent pediatric studies have clarified the tempo and magnitude of gains in bone mineral and the modulating effects of diet, activity and sex steroids. The challenge lies in designing effective means to reverse trends of decreased calcium consumption, increased sodium intake and diminished physical activity among children and adolescents. Equally important is raising the awareness of health care providers to recognize children at risk for suboptimal acquisition of PBM.
Not Just a Monolith: Gay “Class” Divisions in Terrence McNally's Love! Valour! Compassion!

In Tony Kushner's Angels in America, the disillusioned gay, Jewish-American intellectual Louis Ironson attempts to argue the state of American democracy in the 1980s with the skeptical gay, African...
Methionine does not reduce Cu(II)-β-amyloid!-Rectification of the roles of methionine-35 and reducing agents in metal-centered oxidation chemistry of Cu(II)-β-amyloid

Abstract The potential risk of metal-centered oxidative catalysis has been overlooked in the research of the copper complexes of the Alzheimer's disease-related β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides. Cu 2+ complexes of Aβ 1–40 and its 1–16 and 1–20 fragments have recently been shown to exhibit significant metal-centered oxidative activities toward several catecholamine neurotransmitters with and without H 2 O 2 around neutral pH [G.F.Z. da Silva, L.-J. Ming, “Metallo-ROS” in Alzheimer's disease: metal-centered oxidation of neurotransmitters by Cu II –β-amyloid and neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 46 (2007) 3337–3341]. The results further support the metallo-Aβ-associated oxidative stress theory often considered to be connected to the neuropathology of the disease. The metal-centered oxidative catalysis of CuAβ 1–16/20 challenges the long-standing proposed redox role of Met35 in Aβ because Aβ 1–16/20 do not contain a Met. External Met has been determined by kinetic, optical, and electron paramagnetic resonance methods to bind directly to the Cu 2+ center of CuAβ 1–40 and CuAβ 1–20 with K d = 2.8 mM and 11.3 μM, respectively, which reflects less accessibility of the metal center in the full-length CuAβ 1–40 . However, Met does not serve as a reducing agent for the Cu(II) which thus must amplify the observed oxidative catalysis of CuAβ 1–20 through a non-redox mechanism . Conversely, the CuAβ-catalyzed oxidation reaction of dopamine is inhibited by bio-available reducing agents such as ascorbate (competitive K ic = 66 μM) and glutathione (non-competitive, K inc = 53 μM). These data indicate that the oxidation chemistry of metallo-Aβ is not initiated by Met35. The results yield further molecular and mechanistic insights into the roles of metallo-Aβ in this disease.
Radiosynthesis and in vivo study of [18F]1-(2-fluoroethyl)-4-[(4-cyanophenoxy)methyl]piperidine: a promising new sigma-1 receptor ligand

The novel sigma-1 receptor PET radiotracer [18F]1-(2-fluoroethyl)-4-[(4-cyanophenoxy)methyl]piperidine ([18F]WLS1.002, [18F]-2) was synthesized (n=6) by heating the corresponding N-ethylmesylate precursor in an anhydrous acetonitrile solution containing [18F]fluoride, Kryptofix K222 and potassium carbonate for 15 min. Purification was accomplished by reverse-phase HPLC methods, providing [18F]-2 in 59±8% radiochemical yield (EOB), with specific activity of 2.89±0.80 Ci/µmol (EOS) and radiochemical purity of 98.3±2.1%. Rat biodistribution studies revealed relatively high uptake in many organs known to contain sigma-1 receptors, including the lungs, kidney, heart, spleen, and brain. Good clearance from normal tissues was observed over time. Blocking studies (60 min) demonstrated high (>80%) specific binding of [18F]-2 in the brain, with reduction also noted in other organs known to express these sites. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fundamental Concepts of Heat-Straightening Repair for Damaged Steel Bridges

Much misinformation has been disseminated about the fundamentals of heat-straightening repairs for damaged steel bridges. Providing the practitioner with an understanding of these fundamentals is the aim. Included are an explanation of why heat straightening works, how to classify damage, keys for successful heat straightening, fundamental heating patterns, how and why to control heating temperature, and the proper use of jacking forces. A practical understanding of heat straightening is provided.
Online compositional analysis in coal gasification environment using laser-induced plasma technology

Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plants have great potential for future clean-coal power generation. Today, the quality of coal is measured by sampling coal using various offline methods, and the syn-gas composition is determined by taking samples downstream of the gasifier and measured by gas chromatograph (GC). Laser induced plasma technology has demonstrated high sensitivity for elementary detection. The capability of free space transmission and focusing of laser beam makes laser induced plasma a unique technology for online compositional analysis in coal gasification environment and optimization control.
Lesbian and bisexual women's judgments of the attractiveness of different body types

Two studies were conducted using the Internet with 209 and 141 women respectively who reported themselves as being lesbian or bisexual, but not heterosexual. Women were presented with 8 figures in which weight (slender or heavy), waist‐to‐hip ratio (0.7 or 1.0), and breast size (small or large) were varied independently. Participants rated figures on a 20‐point scale for attractiveness, healthiness, femininity, kindness, and desirability for both short‐term and long‐term relationships. These ratings were summed to give a total preference score as a factor analysis showed that all ratings loaded positively on one factor. In the second study, women were also asked to rate themselves on the degree to which they were gender‐conforming or gender‐nonconforming. In both studies, participants preferred the heavy figure with the 0.7 waist‐to‐hip ratio and large breasts. The same figure with small breasts was the next most preferred. In the second study, there was no difference between gender‐conforming and gender‐...
Prophylactic Anti-Infective Activity of Poly-[1-6]-β-d-Glucopyranosyl-[1-3]-β-d-Glucopyranose Glucan in a Guinea Pig Model of Staphylococcal Wound Infection

The judicious use of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis reduces the infectious complications of surgery. However, increased bacterial resistance within hospitals may make antibiotic prophylaxis less effective in the future and alternative strategies are needed. New immunomodulatory agents might prevent wound infections by stimulation of the host immune system. To test this hypothesis, we administered poly-[1-6]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl- [1-3] -beta-D-glucopyranose glucan (PGG glucan), which enhances neutrophil microbicidal activity, intravenously to guinea pigs in doses ranging from 0.015 to 4 mg/kg of body weight on the day before, on the day of, and on the day after intermuscular inoculation with methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Abscesses were identified at 72 h, and median infective doses (ID50) and statistical significance were determined by logistic regression. Guinea pigs receiving PGG glucan and inoculated with methicillin-resistant S. aureus and S. epidermidis exhibited ID50 of as much as 2.5- and 60-fold higher, respectively, than those of control guinea pigs not receiving PGG glucan. Maximal protection was observed with a dose of 1 mg of PGG glucan per kg, and efficacy was reduced at higher as well as at lower PGG glucan doses. Furthermore, a single dose of PGG glucan given 24 h following bacterial inoculation was found to be effective in preventing infection. We conclude that PGG glucan reduces the risk of staphylococcal abscess formation. Neutrophil-activating agents are a novel means of prophylaxis against surgical infection and may be less likely than antibiotics to be affected adversely by the increasing antibiotic resistance of nosocomial pathogens.
Therapeutic Efficacy of Replication-Competent Retrovirus Vector–Mediated Suicide Gene Therapy in a Multifocal Colorectal Cancer Metastasis Model

Replication-competent retrovirus (RCR) vectors are intrinsically incapable of infecting quiescent cells and have been shown to achieve highly efficient and tumor-restricted replicative spread and gene transfer in vivo after direct intratumoral injection in a variety of primary cancer models. However, i.v. delivery of RCR vectors expressing therapeutic genes has never previously been tested, particularly in an immunocompetent tumor model. Therefore, in the present study, we sought to test the therapeutic effect of an RCR vector (ACE-CD) carrying the yeast cytosine deaminase (CD) gene, which converts the nontoxic prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5FC) into the chemotoxin 5-fluorouracil, after delivery by infusion into the locoregional circulation in a multifocal hepatic metastasis model of colon cancer. After confirmation of suicide gene cytotoxicity in vitro , multifocal hepatic tumors were established in syngeneic mice with murine CT26 colorectal cancer cells expressing firefly luciferase (CT26-Luc), and the ACE-CD vector was infused via intrasplenic injection into the portal circulation. Fourteen days after locoregional infusion, systemic administration of 5FC resulted in significant inhibition of bioluminescent signals in mice whose tumors had been infected with RCR but not in control mice. Notably, there was no detectable RCR vector spread to normal liver or bone marrow by quantitative PCR analysis. Our results thus show that locoregional delivery of a suicide gene by RCR vectors infused into the portal circulation results in progressive transduction of multiple tumor foci in the liver, without evidence of spread to adjacent normal parenchyma or extrahepatic tissues, and can achieve significant tumor growth inhibition. [Cancer Res 2007;67(11):5345–53]
Mechanisms of Activity of the TORC1 Inhibitor Everolimus in Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia

Purpose: The TORC1 inhibitor everolimus has previously shown significant activity as a single agent in hematologic malignancies, with reported responses of 30% to 70% in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. However, the specific mechanisms by which this class of mTOR inhibitors exerts anti–Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia activity have not been fully investigated. We therefore sought to dissect the mechanisms of everolimus-dependent modulation of Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia cell survival. Experimental Design: We confirmed that everolimus targets mTOR in patients treated with everolimus and responding to therapy. We evaluated the effect of everolimus on proliferation and survival of primary Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia cells, as well as of other IgM-secreting lymphoma cell lines. Everolimus-dependent mechanisms of induced apoptosis and its effect on Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia cells in the context of bone marrow microenvironment have been also evaluated. miRNA-155 loss-of-function studies were conducted. Moreover, the combinatory effect of bortezomib and rituximab has been tested. Results: We showed that everolimus targeted mTOR downstream signaling pathways, ex vivo , in patients responding to everolimus treatment. Everolimus induced toxicity in primary Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia cells, as well as in other IgM-secreting lymphoma cells, supported by cell-cycle arrest and caspase-dependent and -independent induction of apoptosis. Importantly, everolimus targeted Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia cells even in the context of bone marrow milieu, where it affected migration, adhesion, and angiogenesis. Everolimus-dependent anti–Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia activity was partially driven by miRNA-155. Moreover, everolimus synergized with bortezomib and rituximab in targeting Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia cells, as shown by synergistic inhibition of p65/ and p50/NF-κB activities. Conclusions: These findings provide a better understanding of the mechanisms that are responsible for everolimus-induced anti–Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia activity. Clin Cancer Res; 18(24); 6609–22. ©2012 AACR .
The state of accounting research: objectives and implementation

This essay is a reflection on the state of accounting research. It asks whether accounting research to date has served its purpose of helping set accounting policies that improve resource allocation. The essay concludes that most studies to date have failed to offer normative prescriptions for policy making. Most articles are based on non-sustainable premises: either foolish managers not realizing that the market corrects for their manipulations, or foolish traders who are unaware that wise managers exploit their foolishness by successfully manipulating accounting numbers in order to fool them. Unless research focuses on managers and investors who rationally pursue their interests, being aware that they both do so, no sustainable research findings will usefully inform policy.
Using conservation of flow as a security mechanism in network protocols

The law of conservation of flow, which states that an input must either be absorbed or sent on as an output (possibly with modification), is an attractive tool with which to analyze network protocols for security properties. One of its uses is to detect disruptive network elements that launch denial of service attacks by absorbing or discarding packets. Its use requires several assumptions about the protocols being analyzed. We examine the WATCHERS algorithm to detect misbehaving routers. We show that it uses conservation of flow without sufficient verification of its assumptions, and can consequently be defeated. We suggest improvements to make the use of conservation of flow valid.
Anisotropic Hele-Shaw flows

The procedure of Elliott and Janovsky is abstracted to a fairly general variational problem. As an application of the methodology a non-isotropic Hele-Shaw flow is treated.
Vote Choice in Suburban Elections

Despite the importance of local elections in the United States, political scientists have little knowledge of what shapes vote choice in most municipalities and special districts, particularly in the suburbs where a majority of Americans live. This article develops and tests models of local voting behavior using unique survey data of over 1,400 voters in 30 different suburban communities. Suburban electoral politics are dominated by a nonrepresentative group of “stakeholders,” who are highly informed and interested in local affairs. Because of this, vote choice in suburban elections ends up sharing many characteristics with larger contests (i.e., issue salience, partisanship, and candidate likeability), although their impact varies with the size and diversity of the particular community (e.g., in smaller suburbs, voters are more engaged in local politics, more likely to know candidates personally, and more likely to vote against incumbents). These findings suggest the importance of developing new theories about voting behavior in micro-electoral contexts.
Acquisition and maintenance of surgical competence

Rapidly developing and emerging technologies, unprecedented scientific advances, significant changes in societal expectations, intense focus on physician competence, concerns regarding patient safety, and new mandates all have had a major impact on both surgical practice and surgical education. The definition of 6 general competencies by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the American Board of Medical Specialties and the introduction of the concept of maintenance of certification require surgical educators, and indeed all surgeons, to reevaluate the methods currently in use to ensure competence in surgery. The multidimensional aspects of competence make verification and certification of a competent surgeon an extremely challenging task. However, a combination of traditional and innovative approaches may be used to facilitate achievement of the general competencies. Such approaches should be based on principles of adult education and experiential learning. Education research has yielded valuable information on the validity and reliability of a number of innovative methods that may be used to teach and assess several general competencies. Additional efforts are needed to address the other competencies effectively using novel approaches. The American College of Surgeons and other surgery specialty societies are well positioned to play a pivotal role in supporting the learning needs of practicing surgeons, residents, and medical students within the context of the general competencies and facilitating their continuing professional development.
A flexible role-based secure messaging service: exploiting IBE technology for privacy in health care

The management of private and confidential information is a major problem for dynamic organizations. Secure solutions are needed to exchange confidential documents, protect them against unauthorized accesses and cope with changes of people's roles and permissions. Traditional cryptographic systems and PKI show their limitations, in terms of flexibility and manageability. This paper describes an innovative technical solution in the area of secure messaging that exploits identifier-based encryption (IBE) technology. It illustrates the advantages against a similar approach based on traditional cryptography and PKI. It discusses a few open issues. Our main contribution is a practical solutions based on IBE technology. A secure messaging system based on IBE has been fully implemented and it is currently used in a trial with a UK health service organization.
B ORDERLINE C ASES : N ATIONAL I DENTITY AND T ERRITORIAL A FFINITY IN A. B. Y EHOSHUA'S M R . M ANI

A. B. Yehoshua's growing eminence as one of Israel's foremost literary artists has been attended by his emergence as one of the more powerful voices of the secular Zionist left. A highly self-aware writer, Yehoshua has been scrupulously deliberate in separating the intellectual pragmatism of his political writing from the imaginative structures and aesthetic integrity of his literary works. But the generic distinction between polemical essay and imaginative fiction does not preclude overlapping areas of concern as well as a common basis of values and beliefs. Consequently, Yehoshua's essays often prove to be useful means of enhancing the understanding of his fictional works.
Why oppose TDRs?: Transferable development rights can increase overall development

Economists have long argued that systems of marketable permits are a cost-effective means of regulating externalities. Though these ideas have only recently been implemented in the field of pollution control, transferable development rights (TDRs) have been used for decades by city planners in many locales. Most opponents of permit trading contest the granting of property rights to the originators of harmful effects on ethical grounds, and rarely argue that such schemes increase the total external harm. This paper formalizes the second argument by showing that in a partial equilibrium model of urban zoning, replacing a uniform height zoning rule with a TDR system can lead to greater overall development.
Albedo, atmospheric solar absorption and heating rate measurements with stacked UAVs

This paper reports unique measurements of albedo, atmospheric solar absorption, and heating rates in the visible (0.4 to 0.7 µm) and broadband (0.3 to 2.8 µm) spectral regions using vertically stacked multiple lightweight autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The most significant finding of this study is that when absorbing aerosols and water vapour concentrations are measured accurately and accounted for in models, and when heating rates are measured directly with stacked aircraft, the simulated clear sky heating rates are consistent with the observed broadband heating rates within experimental errors (about 15%). We conclude that there is no need to invoke anomalous or excess absorption or unknown physics in clear skies. Aerosol–radiation–cloud measurements were made over the tropical Indian Ocean within the lowest 3 km of the atmosphere during the Maldives Autonomous UAV Campaign (MAC). The UAVs and ground-based remote sensing instruments determined most of the parameters required for calculating the albedo and vertical distribution of solar fluxes. The paper provides a refined analytical procedure to reduce errors and biases due to the offset errors arising from mounting of the radiometers on the aircraft and due to the aircraft attitude. Measured fluxes have been compared with those derived from a Monte-Carlo radiative transfer algorithm which can incorporate both gaseous and aerosol components. Under cloud-free conditions the calculated and measured incoming fluxes agree within 2–10 W m−2 (<1%) depending upon the altitudes. Similarly, the measured and calculated reflected fluxes agreed within 2–5 W m−2 (<5%). The analysis focuses on a cloud-free day when the air was polluted due to long-range transport from India, and the mean aerosol optical depth (AOD) was 0.31 and mean single scattering albedo was 0.92. The UAV-measured absorption AOD was 0.019 which agreed within 20% of the value of 0.024 reported by a ground-based instrument. The observed and simulated solar absorption agreed within 5% above 1.0 km and aerosol absorption accounted for 30% to 50% of the absorption depending upon the altitude and solar zenith angle. Thus there was no need to invoke spurious or anomalous absorption, provided we accounted for aerosol black carbon. The diurnal mean absorption values for altitudes between 0.5 and 3.0 km above mean sea level were observed to be 41 ± 3 W m−2 (1.5 K/day) in the broadband region and 8 ± 2 W m−2 (0.3 K/day) in the visible region. The contribution of absorbing aerosols to the heating rate was an order of magnitude larger than the contribution of CO2 and one-third that of the water vapour. In the lowest 3 km of the tropical atmosphere, aerosols accounted for more than 80% of the atmospheric absorption in the visible region. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
A Comparison of Pumping and Slug Tests for Estimating the Hydraulic Conductivity of Unweathered Wisconsian Age Till in Iowa

The low conductivity of glacial till is usually thought to preclude pumping tests, which has led to the predominate use of laboratory permeameter and single well response (slug) tests for estimating hydraulic conductivity. Slug tests only sample a small region around the well and may be more representative of the disturbance of well installation or development than in situ conductivity. To provide a larger scale comparison to slug test estimates of hydraulic conductivity for unweathered Wisconsin age till in Iowa, a pumping test was performed, with both the pumping and monitoring wells placed in unweathered till. Maintaining a constant drawdown of 439 cm in the pumping well for over five days yielded an average flowrate of only 26.3 ml/min, but produced a maximum drawdown of 104 cm at a radial distance of 178 cm. Assuming radial and vertical flow, least-squares parameter estimation yielded a hydraulic conductivity estimate of 7.5 · 10-7 cm/s and a specific storage estimate of 6.6 · 10-6 cm-1. Slug test results compared favorably, with geometric mean hydraulic conductivity estimates of 4.9 · 10-7 cm/s from a Cooper et al. (1967) analysis and 7.1 · 10-7 cm/s from a Hvorslev (1951) analysis. For this relatively low clay till (20% clay fraction), borehole smearing does not appear to have a significant impact on slug tests. The results indicate pumping tests can be performed, on an appropriate scale, in some unweathered tills.
Abnormal fear response and aggressive behavior in mutant mice deficient for α-calcium-calmodulin kinase II

Mice deficient for the gene encoding alpha-calcium-calmodulin-dependent kinase II (alpha-CaMKII knockout mice) provide a promising tool to link behavioral and cellular abnormalities with a specific molecular lesion. The heterozygous mouse exhibited a well-circumscribed syndrome of behavioral abnormalities, consisting primarily of a decreased fear response and an increase in defensive aggression, in the absence of any measured cognitive deficits. Unlike the heterozygote, the homozygote displayed abnormal behavior in all paradigms tested. At the cellular level, both extracellular and whole-cell patch clamp recordings indicated that serotonin release in putative serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe was reduced. Thus, alpha-CaMKII knockout mice, in particular the heterozygote, may provide a model for studying the molecular and cellular basis underlying emotional disorders involving fear and aggression.
Simultaneous total variation image inpainting and blind deconvolution

We propose a total variation based model for simultaneous image inpainting and blind deconvolution. We demonstrate that the tasks are inherently coupled together and that solving them individually will lead to poor results. The main advantages of our model are that (i) boundary conditions for deconvolution required near the interface between observed and occluded regions are naturally generated through inpainting; (ii) inpainting results are enhanced through deconvolution (as opposed to inpainting blurry images). As a result, ringing effects due to imposing improper boundary conditions and errors due to imperfection of inpainting blurry images are reduced. Moreover, our model can also be used to generate boundary conditions for regular deconvolution problems that yields better results than previous methods.© 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 15, 92–102, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ima.20041
Predicting streamflow regime metrics for ungauged streamsin Colorado, Washington, and Oregon

Streamflow prediction in ungauged basins provides essential information for water resources planning and management and ecohydrological studies yet remains a fundamental challenge to the hydrological sciences. A methodology is presented for stratifying streamflow regimes of gauged locations, classifying the regimes of ungauged streams, and developing models for predicting a suite of ecologically pertinent streamflow metrics for these streams. Eighty-four streamflow metrics characterizing various flow regime attributes were computed along with physical and climatic drainage basin characteristics for 150 streams with little or no streamflow modification in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon. The diverse hydroclimatology of the study area necessitates flow regime stratification and geographically independent clusters were identified and used to develop separate predictive models for each flow regime type. Multiple regression models for flow magnitude, timing, and rate of change metrics were quite accurate with many adjusted R2 values exceeding 0.80, while models describing streamflow variability did not perform as well. Separate stratification schemes for high, low, and average flows did not considerably improve models for metrics describing those particular aspects of the regime over a scheme based on the entire flow regime. Models for streams identified as ‘snowmelt’ type were improved if sites in Colorado and the Pacific Northwest were separated to better stratify the processes driving streamflow in these regions thus revealing limitations of geographically independent streamflow clusters. This study demonstrates that a broad suite of ecologically relevant streamflow characteristics can be accurately modeled across large heterogeneous regions using this framework. Applications of the resulting models include stratifying biomonitoring sites and quantifying linkages between specific aspects of flow regimes and aquatic community structure. In particular, the results bode well for modeling ecological processes related to high-flow magnitude, timing, and rate of change such as the recruitment of fish and riparian vegetation across large regions.
Periodicities in Solar Flare Occurrence: Analysis of Cycles 19-23

Midrange periodicities in solar flare occurrence have been analyzed with new methods for cycles 19-23. During cycle 23, periodicities of 129 and 33.5 days were in operation. Five episodes of high activity occurred periodically with the 129 day period. The 33.5 day periodicity mainly operated for energetic flares. Results for cycles 19-21 are generally in agreement with previous analyses. For cycle 19, the 51 day periodicity is confirmed to be statistically significant. In the spectrum for cycle 20, two peaks are found at 84 and 129 days. The 129 day periodicity was in operation for eight cycles of 129 days. The 153 day periodicity, which operated during cycle 21, was more effective for modulating occurrence rates of energetic flares than for those of less energetic flares. No statistically significant periodicities are found from occurrence rates of energetic flares (≥M1.0) of cycle 22. In the power spectra of major flare occurrence times for the time intervals analyzed by Ozguc and Atac and by Bai, the strongest peaks are found at 73, 76, and 51 days, in agreement with their results, but these periodicities are not statistically significant. It is interesting that the periods of 51, 129, and 153 days are very close to integral multiples of 25.5 days.
Non intrusive electromagnetic sensors for ultra wideband applications using electro-optic and magneto-optic materials

We have developed and tested fiber optic electric and magnetic field sensors for ultra wideband (UWB) applications. The sensors are based on nonlinear effects in electro-optic (EO) and magneto-optic (MO) crystals. Unlike conventional antenna-based probes, EO and MO sensors are composed of all-dielectric materials and do not perturb the very fields that they measure. The sensors are small in size (less than 5mm in diameter), allowing them to be used in confined spaces and can be used with over 50 meters of optical fibers. These features make the sensor very well-suited for UWB applications and attractive for potential commercial use.
Non-Born–Oppenheimer variational method for calculation of rotationally excited binuclear systems

An algorithm for direct non-Born–Oppenheimer quantum mechanical variational calculations of bound states of binuclear systems with Coulombic interactions corresponding to the total angular momentum quantum number equal to one (N = 1) is derived and implemented. Contributions corresponding to each of the particles being angularly excited are taken into account. All-particle explicitly correlated Gaussian basis functions with Cartesian angular factors are used in the approach. The method is tested in the calculations of various three-particle systems including heteronuclear electronic (HD+) and muonic (e.g. ) ions.
Cascaded Multimode Interference-Based 1x2 Light Splitter for Photonic Integrated Circuits

Multimode interference (MMI)-based devices have become important components within photonic and optoelectronic integrated circuits, due to their simple structure, low excess loss, large optical bandwidth and low polarization dependence. Their main function is to provide N×N power splitting [1,2] in Mach Zehnder interferometers, ring lasers and optical switches, 3-dB power couplers [3], and 1×2 light splitters and combiners. MMI devices are based on the principle of self-imaging. An input field profile in a multimode waveguide is reproduced in single or multiple images at periodic intervals along the propagation direction of the waveguide, as a result of beating of different modes in the waveguide. Since the beat length in a multimode waveguide is proportional to the square of the width of the waveguide, using a combination - cascade of two stages of multimode waveguides with smaller widths yields a splitter whose overall length is shorter than that of a single 1×2 MMI splitter, for a given output waveguide spacing. This work develops and demonstrates the methodology for designing optimum novel light splitters. These splitters are well suited for use in Michelson and Mach Zehnder interferometric modulators and wavelength converters [4], as well as biosensors [5].
What Is a Convex Set

(1971). What Is a Convex Set? The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 78, No. 6, pp. 616-631.
Interleukin-1beta inhibits steroidogenic bioactivity in cultured rat ovarian granulosa cells by stimulation of progesterone degradation and inhibition of estrogen formation.

Interleukin (IL)-11 is a putative regulator of ovulation and perhaps luteal function. In this work, we examine its actions on the steroidogenic cascade of the rat granulosa cell. Whereas treatment of immature granulosa cells with FSH for 72 h produced substantial increments in the accumulation of progesterone, the addition of IL-13 produced dose-dependent inhibition of this FSH effect. Pulse labeling of cells with [3H]pregnenolone revealed IL-1 1 to effect a decrease in the FSH-supported accumulation of [ 3 H]progesterone while enhancing the accumulation of its proximal metabolite, [3H]20a-dihydroprogesterone. IL-13 was without effect on the activity levels of the progesteronesynthesizing enzymes, even though the corresponding transcripts were elevated. The effect of IL-1 1 on some progesteronedegrading enzymes was negligible (5ot-reductase) or modest (3ea-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase). In contrast, IL-1 P markedly stimulated both control and FSH-supported 20a-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity (4.8- and 3.3-fold, respectively) and transcripts (16.4- and 7.5-fold, respectively). These data demonstrate an IL-p13-mediated inhibition of gonadotropin-stimulated steroidogenesis via modulation of specific enzymes, and suggest a role for IL-113 in mediating the observed decline of these bioactive hormones during ovulation and luteolysis.
Multilevel Probability Group Testing

This paper consists of two parts. The first part deals with extending the method of the probability group testing to multilevel probability group testing.A Factor which is not to be sneezed at has been taken into account in the second part, which will not only make the problem more practical but also make the best scheme very terse.
Levels of RNA from a family of putative serine protease genes are reduced in Drosophila melanogaster dunce mutants and are regulated by cyclic AMP.

Abstract We have isolated several genes expressed at abnormal levels in the memory mutant, dunce (dnc), of Drosophila melanogaster. These mutants have an elevated cyclic AMP (cAMP) content due to a mutation in the structural gene for cAMP phosphodiesterase, so the isolated genes are potentially ones regulated by cAMP. Here, we describe the characterization of a genomic clone and corresponding cDNA clones which contain sequences that are underexpressed in dnc mutants. Sequence analysis of portions of the genomic clone and representative cDNAs revealed the presence of two uninterrupted and complete open reading frames (SER1 and SER2) and part of a third (SER3). The predicted amino acid sequences of all of these were found to be homologous to the serine protease family of enzymes. The genomic clone was localized to the polytene chromosome region 99C-D, although genome-blotting experiments indicated the existence of several other genes related to the cloned serine protease-like genes. Hybridization experiments with probes representing each of the three sequenced genes showed that only the SER1-related genes were differentially expressed in dnc mutants. The putative serine protease genes were abundantly expressed in the larval gut, suggesting a major function in digestion. Feeding normal flies cAMP, isobutylmethylxanthine, or forskolin resulted in a decreased RNA level of the SER1-related genes. Thus, RNA levels of this serine protease gene family are negatively regulated by cAMP.
Developing avatars to improve cultural competence in US soldiers

Virtual systems have existed as a military training technique for several decades, initially implemented to rehearse combat scenarios and flight patterns in a safe environment. The U.S. Army has recently identified virtual role-play as an innovative and highly prioritized training method for cultural awareness as well as it has become clear that a number of avoidable conflicts ensue when members from one culture misunderstand or misinterpret those from another. Our team collaborated with Bohemia Interactive Solutions (BIS) and Alelo, Inc. to develop several virtual role-playing scenarios based in urban Afghanistan that allow soldiers to practice cross-cultural interactions in a safe environment using the Virtual Battlespace (VBS3) platform. We created two game-based scenarios that guide the user, represented as a virtual avatar, through cultural interactions such as common greetings, bartering in a traditional market, and discussing local concerns in a council setting. Dr. Lewis Johnson, Alelo CEO and co-founder, introduced our team to perspective taking. This technique, where the trainee experiences a scenario from the host national's perspective instead of his or her own, is a key component in our simulations. After running a handful of students through beta testing of our prototype, we received positive feedback about the value-add from perspective taking as well as cultural knowledge gained from the simulation as a whole.
Trends in Homolytic Bond Dissociation Energies of Five- and Six-Coordinate Hydrides of Group 9 Transition Metals: Co, Rh, Ir.

The homolytic bond dissociation energies of a series of five- and six-coordinate mono- and dihydride complexes of the type HM(diphosphine)2 and [H2M(diphosphine)2]+ (where M = Co, Rh, and Ir) are calculated and compared with experimental values. This work probes the relationship between the homolytic bond dissociation energies (HMBDEs) of these complexes in these two different coordination environments and formal oxidation states. The results of these calculations and previous experimental observations suggest that for M = Rh the HMBDE of the five-coordinate HM(diphosphine)2 species are 0–2 kcal/mol larger than the HMBDE of the corresponding six-coordinate [H2M(diphosphine)2]+ species. For M = Ir the bond energies of the five- and six-coordinate complexes are nearly the same and for M = Co the six-coordinate species are 1–5 kcal/mol less than the corresponding five-coordinate species. Simplified models of large and complicated ligands seem to capture the essential trends and give very good estimates of th...
Collidoscope: An Improved Tool for Computing Collisional Cross-Sections with the Trajectory Method.

Ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) can be a powerful tool for determining structural information about ions in the gas phase, from small covalent analytes to large, native-like or denatured proteins and complexes. For large biomolecular ions, which may have a wide variety of possible gas-phase conformations and multiple charge sites, quantitative, physically explicit modeling of collisional cross sections (CCSs) for comparison to IMS data can be challenging and time-consuming. We present a “trajectory method” (TM) based CCS calculator, named “Collidoscope,” which utilizes parallel processing and optimized trajectory sampling, and implements both He and N2 as collision gas options. Also included is a charge-placement algorithm for determining probable charge site configurations for protonated protein ions given an input geometry in pdb file format. Results from Collidoscope are compared with those from the current state-of-the-art CCS simulation suite, IMoS. Collidoscope CCSs are within 4% of IMoS values for ions with masses from ~18 Da to ~800 kDa. Collidoscope CCSs using X-ray crystal geometries are typically within a few percent of IM-MS experimental values for ions with mass up to ~3.5 kDa (melittin), and discrepancies for larger ions up to ~800 kDa (GroEL) are attributed in large part to changes in ion structure during and after the electrospray process. Due to its physically explicit modeling of scattering, computational efficiency, and accuracy, Collidoscope can be a valuable tool for IM-MS research, especially for large biomolecular ions.
Partitioning of Clamping Strains in a Nineteen Parallel Wire Strand

We report the first direct measurements of clamping strains within individual wires of a 19 parallel wire strand constrained by a clamshell clamp. In these measurements neutron diffraction was used to determine the elastic strains along three orthogonal axes for all of the individual wires across the strand cross section underneath the clamp for various clamping loads. We observed that, while, for all clamping loads, the clamping strains within individual wires were heterogeneously distributed, increasing the clamping force significantly decreased the strain heterogeneity. In contrast, no strain heterogeneity was observed in a rigorous companion finite-element model of the strand unless dimensional variations in the wire diameters were introduced. Our results are in agreement with the hypothesis by Gjelsvik, which states that, within a parallel wire bridge cable, local variations in wire diameter due to manufacturing tolerances can lead to large variations in clamping constraint.
Not every trauma patient with a radiographic head injury requires transfer for neurosurgical evaluation: Application of the brain injury guidelines to patients transferred to a level 1 trauma center

Abstract Background Patients with radiographically-identified traumatic brain injury are often transferred to our regional trauma center for neurosurgical evaluation, yet few injuries require neurosurgical intervention. Transfer is costly, inconvenient, and potentially risky in inclement weather. We propose that previously-published brain injury guidelines (BIG)1 can help to determine which patients could avoid mandatory transfer. Methods Retrospective chart review of patients transferred between January 2012 and December 2013 was performed. Patients were classified as having minor (BIG 1), moderate (BIG 2), or severe (BIG 3) head injuries based on previously-published guidelines. Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared. Results No BIG 1 patients deteriorated or required surgical intervention. One BIG 2 patient required a non-emergent operation and another was readmitted with a worsened injury. In the BIG 3 group, 11.9% required neurosurgical procedures and 20% died. Conclusions The BIG classification can help stratify patients for whom transfer is considered.