cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Genomic Perspective on the Evolutionary Diversification of Turtles

To examine phylogenetic heterogeneity in turtle evolution, we collected thousands of high-confidence single-copy orthologs from 19 genome assemblies representative of extant turtle diversity and estimated a phylogeny with multispecies coalescent and concatenated partitioned methods. We also collected next-generation sequences from 26 turtle species and assembled millions of biallelic markers to reconstruct phylogenies from annotated regions (coding regions, introns, untranslated regions, intergenic, and others) of the western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) genome. We then measured gene tree-species tree discordance, as well as gene and site heterogeneity at each node in the inferred trees, and tested for incomplete lineage sorting and temporal patterns in phylogenomic heterogeneity across turtle evolution. We found 100% support for all bifurcations in the inferred turtle species phylogenies. However, a number of genes, sites, and genomic features supported alternate relationships between turtle taxa, and some nodes in the turtle phylogeny were well-explained by incomplete lineage sorting. There was no clear pattern between site concordance, node age, and DNA substitution rate across most annotated genomic regions, suggesting a relatively uniform proportion of informative sites drive phylogenetic inference across the evolution of turtles. We found more gene concordance at older nodes in the turtle phylogeny, and suggest that, in addition to incomplete lineage sorting, an overall lack of gene informativeness stemming from a slow rate of evolution can confound inferred patterns in turtle phylogenomics, particularly at more recent divergences. Our study demonstrates that heterogeneity is to be expected even in well resolved clades such as turtles, and that future phylogenomic studies should aim to sample as much of the genome as possible.
Primary Tumor Control in Stereotactic Ablative Radiation Therapy for Large (≥ 5 cm) Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Does It Last?

Purpose/Objective(s) While prospective trials have established stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) as standard of care for inoperable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), these studies excluded patients with tumors larger than 5 cm. Since these patients have few treatment options and conservative management is associated with significant morbidity, many clinicians utilize SBRT if dosimetric constraints can be met. The purpose of this study is to determine the rate of primary tumor failure (PTF) after SBRT for NSCLC with primaries ≥ 5cm. Materials/Methods We performed a retrospective review of all patients with NSCLC and large primary tumors (≥ 5 cm in maximum dimension) treated at our institution using SBRT from 2010 – 2018. Patients with nodal or distant disease were included, but only evaluated for toxicity and PTF. Treatment failures were captured by review of imaging, pathology, and clinical notes. PTF was defined as disease recurrence in or at the margin of the primary tumor volume (PTV) and was measured from end of SBRT to PTF. Patients without PTF were censored at last follow up or death. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate event-time probabilities for PTF. Predictors of PTF were analyzed using log rank tests between groups and a parsimonious multivariate Cox multivariate model. Results A total of 145 patients were identified. Median age was 78 years (Interquartile rage [IQR] 72 -84). Evidence of regional disease was present in 5 (3%) patients and metastatic disease in 14 (10%). Median tumor diameter was 5.75 cm (IQR 5.25 – 6.43) and tumor volume was 37.9 cm3 (IQR 25.4 – 53.6). The most common SBRT regimen was 48 Gy in 4 fractions (68 patients). Median BED10 was 105.6 (IQR 105.6-151.2). With a median follow up of 21 months (IQR 9 – 32), PTF at 1, 2, and 3 years was 10.6% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 5.1 – 16.1), 17.0% (95% CI 9.9 – 24.1), and 22.0% (95% CI 13.4 – 30.6). On univariate analysis, factors associated with PTF included lobe involved (P = 0.01), maximum tumor diameter > 5.75 cm (P 5.75cm (HR 3.28, 95% CI 1.44 – 7.46) and four-fraction SBRT (HR 3.20, 95% CI 1.38 – 7.41) remained significant. In patients with node negative and non-metastatic disease, 2-year disease free survival and overall survival were 62.1% (95% CI 51.6 – 70.8) and 49.3% (95% CI 41.5 – 59.9). Acute toxicity was absent in 106 (73%) patients and no patients experienced grade 3 or higher acute toxicity. Maximum late toxicity was Grade 1-2 in 96 (66%) patients (predominantly asymptomatic radiation pneumonitis) and Grade 3 or higher in five (3%) patients including one patient with a contralateral pneumonectomy who experienced fatal radiation pneumonitis. Conclusion SBRT for medically inoperable NSCLC ≥ 5cm results in acceptable tumor control and toxicity, although the rate of PTF increases with longer follow up. PTF appears to be higher in patients with tumors > 5.75 cm in diameter and those receiving 48 Gy in 4 fractions.
Real-Time Machine Learning for High-Rate Structural Health Monitoring

Advances in science and engineering are empowering high-rate dynamic systems, such as hypersonic vehicles, advanced weaponries, and active shock and blast mitigation strategies. The real-time estimation of the structural health of high-rate systems, termed high-rate structural health monitoring (HRSHM), is critical in designing decision mechanisms that can ensure structural integrity and performance. However, this is a difficult task, because three aspects uniquely characterize these systems: (1) large uncertainties in the external loads; (2) high levels of non-stationarities and heavy disturbances; and (3) unmodeled dynamics generated from changes in system configurations. In addition, because these systems are experiencing events of high amplitudes (often beyond 100 g) over short durations (under 100 ms), a successful feedback mechanism is one that can operate under 1 ms. A solution to the unique system characteristics and temporal constraint is the design and application of real-time learning algorithms. Here, we review and discuss a real-time learning algorithm for HRSHM applications. In particular, after introducing the HRSHM challenge, we explore fast real-time learning for time series prediction using conventional and deep neural networks and discuss a path to rapid real-time state estimation.
Coulomb enhancement of dynamic Stark effect in quantum well structures

Recent works in the area of ultrafast nonlinearities due to virtual carriers in semiconductor heterostructures have generated significant interest among researchers. It has been shown1 that excitons in QW’s behave very much like conventional two-level atoms, to the extent that exciton-exciton interaction can be neglected. Therefore, fast coherent phenomena usually associated with two-level system may occur in excitonic QW transitions. Indeed, dynamic (AC) Stark effect in QW’s have been demonstrated2,3.
The Prophylactic Use of Clean Intermittent Catheterization in the Treatment of Infants and Young Children with Myelomeningocele and Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction

AbstractTo examine the hypothesis that the prophylactic use of clean intermittent catheterization can prevent urinary tract deterioration in infants and young children with myelomeningocele a prospective controlled study was performed on 24 patients. Preliminary results indicate that more than 50 per cent of the patients with bladder sphincter incoordination managed by self-voiding had urinary tract deterioration. In contrast, in only 10 per cent of the patients treated prophylactically with clean intermittent catheterization did deterioration occur. We conclude that when bladder sphincter incoordination is diagnosed in children with myelomeningocele they are at a high risk for the development of future urinary tract injury. The prophylactic use of clean intermittent catheterization can actually prevent this deterioration and its use in this manner is recommended.
Cloning of the NCX2 isoform of the plasma membrane Na+-Ca2+ exchanger

The Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger is an important regulator of cellular Ca2+ levels, and one isoform of this transporter, NCX1, has been cloned previously (Nicoll, D.A., Longoni, S., and Philipson, K.D. (1990) Science 250, 562-565). We now report the cloning of a second isoform (NCX2) of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger which was present in a rat brain cDNA library. NCX2 is predicted to code for a protein of 921 amino acids. NCX1 and NCX2 are 61 and 65% identical at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively, and are the products of different genes. The genes for NCX1 and NCX2 are located on human chromosomes 2 and 14, respectively. Hydropathy profiles of the two exchangers are very similar. Transcripts of NCX2 are detected in brain and skeletal muscle. NCX2 was expressed in Xenopus oocytes and Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange activity was analyzed electrophysiologically by the giant inside-out, excised patch technique. Outward currents were evoked by the application of Na+ with the exchanger operating in the reversed mode (extracellular Ca2+ exchanging for intracellular Na+). The affinity for Na+ (30 mM) and the current-voltage relationship of NCX2 are similar to those for NCX1. Like NCX1, NCX2 is secondarily regulated by intracellular Ca2+, but the affinity of NCX2 for regulatory Ca2+ (1.5 microM) upon initial application of Na+ is lower than that of NCX1 (0.3 microM). The existence of multiple Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger isoforms may provide flexibility for regulation and expression.
The Role of Foreign Capital in the Korean Economy: A Driving Force of Economic Development or Financial Crisis?

This paper examines the role of foreign capital in the economic development process of the Korean economy since the early 1960s until 2000. The paper, first, review the history of foreign capital inflow into Korea, along with the evolution of the government policies on inducing foreign capital, in order to discern its distinctive trend by pattern and type; second, it looks into an increasing role of FDI as a channel of productive foreign capital inducement and technology transfer, providing evidence of enhancing the market mechanism and opening up the Korean economy; and third, it examines the historical perspective of the past and recent financial/economic crisis in Korea, emphasizing the two-edged (good and evil) nature of foreign capital in the process of economic development. The paper concludes with some lessons and policy implications.
In Vitro Analysis of Yeast Mitochondrial Protein Import

This unit describes methods for importing in vitro–translated or recombinant proteins into isolated yeast mitochondria and for exporting mitochondrial proteins translated in the yeast mitochondrial matrix into the inner mitochondrial membrane. The methods use mitochondria isolated from yeast cells and mitochondrial protein precursors derived from an in vitro transcription/translation reaction or purified from an E. coli recombinant protein expression system. The described translocation assays can be used to determine whether a protein is targeted to mitochondria and its location within the mitochondrion. It can also be used to study the import mechanism and to investigate mitochondrial matrix translation of proteins and their export. Keywords: mitochondria; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; protein translocation; protein import; protein export; translocon; TOM; TIM
Fusion-fission hybrid concepts for laser-induced fusion

Fusion-fission hybrid concepts are viewed as subcritical fission reactors driven and controlled by high-energy neutrons from a laser-induced fusion reactor. Blanket designs encompassing a substanti...
Imaging basin structure with teleseismic virtual source reflection profiles

[1] We demonstrate a case of using teleseisms recorded on single-channel high-frequency geophones to image upper crustal structure around the Bighorn Mountains of north-central Wyoming, USA. Our approach produces images that are analogous to those from a low frequency version of conventional active source seismic reflection profiles except that wave fields from distant earthquakes are used as sources. After the source wavelet is removed from the seismograms, a distinct phase,PpPdp, is evident in the resultant record. After depth conversion, we show that this phase correlates well with the top of the Madison Formation under the Powder River and Bighorn Basins that flank the Bighorn Mountains. In addition, we combine the phases PpPdpfrom single-channel geophone recordings andPsfrom three-component recordings to constrain the averageVp/Vs ratio for the sedimentary strata.
Tumor Cell Toxicity of Hypericin and Related Analogs

A series of hypericin analogs were found to differ in their cytotoxic activity induced by ambient light levels. These analogs vary in their ability to partition into cells, to generate singlet oxygen as well as in other photophysical properties. The data suggest that the biological activity of hypericin is due to a combination of factors whose roles may vary under different circumstances.
Liquidity Risk Management after the Crisis

This paper discusses challenges that financial institutions face in the area of liquidity risk measurement and management. The SAS response to these challenges is to deliver an integrated risk solution, SAS® Risk Management for Banking, that can meet the immediate requirements banks have while providing a framework to support future business needs. Lately, liquidity risk has received serious attention from regulators, banks and investors alike. And rightly so, as everyone witnessed how an exogenous credit crisis compounds itself into a major liquidity crisis (or funding problem), propagating very quickly through the global financial markets, leading to insolvency of major financial institutions. Management of liquidity risk has therefore become a subject of vivid discussion in bank boardrooms. The Basel Committee, the Committee of European Banking Supervisors and the UK Financial Services Authority are among the regulatory bodies that have taken the initiative to define a sound framework for its supervision. The objective of all these discussions is to equip banks with adequate liquidity going forward as per their funding profiles as well as to create a liquidity buffer comprising highly liquid assets that can be used to counterbalance a period of liquidity stress. To comply with the latest liquidity risk regulation in Basel III, banks need to prepare for a paradigm shift – moving from routine liquidity management (cash management) activity to a sophisticated liquidity risk management practice in an analytical framework that takes into consideration the stochastic nature of its expected cash flows as well as stress testing of behavioral and market components and the quality and liquidity of the pool of counterbalancing capacity assets. This paper puts in perspective the analytical components of liquidity risk management that are needed to address the new Basel III era of liquidity risk management. Its key components are the cash flow scenarios as a method to measure cash outflow of encumbered assets at any given time horizon, hedging capacity of the unencumbered counterbalancing portfolio, and creating and implementing the stress testing of market and behavioral features that may negatively affect the access to liquidity.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of management strategies for obscure GI bleeding

Background and Aims Of patients who are seen with GI hemorrhage, approximately 5% will have a small-bowel source. Management of these patients entails considerable expense. We performed a decision analysis to explore the optimal management strategy for obscure GI hemorrhage. Methods We used a cost-effectiveness analysis to compare no therapy (reference arm) to 5 competing modalities for a 50-year-old patient with obscure overt bleeding: (1) push enteroscopy, (2) intraoperative enteroscopy, (3) angiography, (4) initial anterograde double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) followed by retrograde DBE if the patient had ongoing bleeding, and (5) small-bowel capsule endoscopy (CE) followed by DBE guided by the CE findings. The model included prevalence rates for small-bowel lesions, sensitivity for each intervention, and the probability of spontaneous bleeding cessation. We examined total costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) over a 1-year time period. Results An initial DBE was the most cost-effective approach. The no-therapy arm cost $532 and was associated with 0.870 QALYs compared with $2407 and 0.956 QALYs for the DBE approach, which resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $20,833 per QALY gained. Compared to the DBE approach, an initial CE was more costly and less effective. The initial DBE arm resulted in an 86% bleeding cessation rate compared to 76% for the CE arm and 59% for the no-therapy arm. The model results were robust to a wide range of sensitivity analyses. Limitations The short time horizon of the model, because of the lack of long-term data about the natural history of rebleeding from small-intestinal lesions. Conclusions An initial DBE is a cost-effective approach for patients with obscure bleeding. However, capsule-directed DBE may be associated with better long-term outcomes because of the potential for fewer complications and decreased utilization of endoscopic resources.
Locus of Control-Levels of Death Anxiety Relationships

In an effort to more fully understand locus of control-death fear relationships, fifty-nine individuals were administered the Levenson Locus of Control scale, the Collett-Lester and Templer scales measuring overt death fear, and a sentence completion task assessing dimensions of covert fear. Correlational analysis suggested interactions among aspects of locus of control and aspects of death fear varying along the death/dying, self/other, and overt/covert continua. These data are felt to enable one to more completely understand the role that perceived controllability of life events play in determining individual reactions to one's own or another's death.
Evolutionary history of a vanishing radiation: isolation-dependent persistence and diversification in Pacific Island partulid tree snails

Partulid tree snails are endemic to Pacific high islands and have experienced extraordinary rates of extinction in recent decades. Although they collectively range across a 10,000 km swath of Oceania, half of the family’s total species diversity is endemic to a single Eastern Pacific hot spot archipelago (the Society Islands) and all three partulid genera display highly distinctive distributions. Our goal was to investigate broad scale (range wide) and fine scale (within-Society Islands) molecular phylogenetic relationships of the two widespread genera, Partula and Samoana. What can such data tell us regarding the genesis of such divergent generic distribution patterns, and nominal species diversity levels across Oceania? Museum, captive (zoo) and contemporary field specimens enabled us to genotype 54 of the ~120 recognized species, including many extinct or extirpated taxa, from 14 archipelagoes. The genera Partula and Samoana are products of very distinct diversification processes. Originating at the western edge of the familial range, the derived genus Samoana is a relatively recent arrival in the far eastern archipelagoes (Society, Austral, Marquesas) where it exhibits a stepping-stone phylogenetic pattern and has proven adept at both intra-and inter- archipelago colonization. The pronounced east—west geographic disjunction exhibited by the genus Partula stems from a much older long-distance dispersal event and its high taxonomic diversity in the Society Islands is a product of a long history of within-archipelago diversification. The central importance of isolation for partulid lineage persistence and diversification is evident in time-calibrated phylogenetic trees that show that remote archipelagoes least impacted by continental biotas bear the oldest clades and/or the most speciose radiations. In contemporary Oceania, that isolation is being progressively undermined and these tree snails are now directly exposed to introduced continental predators throughout the family’s range. Persistence of partulids in the wild will require proactive exclusion of alien predators in at least some designated refuge islands.
Magnetoturbulent Energy and Stability of Supermassive Stars

Magnetoturbulent kinetic energy instrumental in removal of general relativistic instability of supermassive stars
Men's desire for additional wives and children

In sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of fertility and family planning studies are of women. By ignoring men, these studies overlook the primary fertility and family decision makers. This study uses male data from Cameroon to examine how currently monogamous men make fertility and nupital decisions. Three analyses are discussed. First, an analysis of monogamous men's desire for additional wives is presented. Second, an analysis of monogamous men's desire for additional children is presented. Finally, the two desires are examined simultaneously to disentangle the relationship between these two family desires. Three possible interrelationships between monogamous men's two family desires (desire for wives and desire for children) are examined and discussed. The results indicate that men's desire for more children drives their desire for additional wives and not the contrary. The implications of this finding for high fertility in areas where polygyny is common are discussed.
Developmental and Physiological Consequences of Genetic Variation at Enzyme Synthesizing Loci in Fundulus heteroclitus

The evolutionary significance of protein polymorphisms has been long debated. Exponents of the balanced theory advocate that selection operates to maintain polymorphisms, while those of the neoclassical school argue that most genetic variation is selectively neutral. In a series of laboratory and field experiments conducted over the last 5 years, we have found that the developmental rates of Fundulus heteroclitus embryos were highly correlated with genetic variation at 3 enzymatic loci: lactate dehydrogenase-B, malate dehydrogenase-A, and glucose phosphate isomerase-B. Pairwise comparisons of these loci generally indicated an averaging of developmental rates; however, a synergysm was found between the MDH-A and GPI-B loci. Our field studies indicated that selective forces may contribute to the maintenance of these polymorphisms via hatching time selection. Since feral eggs incubate aerially during the neap tides, either very rapid or very slow developmental rates may lead to deleterious stranding above the water line. In addition, very slow developmental rates may lead to increased predation pressure.
Distributed energy-based spectrum sensing with opportunistic cooperative diversity for Cognitive Radio Networks over non-identical fading channels

Cognitive Radio Network (CRN) provides a promising method to expand usage of the underutilized spectrum resources. Spectrum sensing is a key functionality for the operation of secondary overlay CRN systems without causing harmful interference to the licensed primary users. Through the collaboration among spatially distributed CR users, spectrum sensing can provide reliable decisions. However, CRN is not a static network but a dynamic network such that the number of available spatial diversity is time-varying. The performance of cooperative spectrum sensing is thus dynamically changing. Furthermore, the distributed CRs may experience a variety of fading conditions, so identically distributed fading model adopted in most spectrum sensing literatures does not fully characterize the practical CRN application scenarios. Thus, in this paper, we study the cooperative spectrum sensing with opportunistic spatial diversity over non-identical fading channels. We derive the exact closed form expressions for the probabilities of detection and false alarm. These expressions are analytical tractable and hence provide the framework to apply optimization tools to efficiently guarantee the global optimality without computationally costly exhaustive search. Quick efficient performance evaluation is crucial for CRN to perform online adaptation to the wireless links, the primary users' activities, and the CR dynamics simultaneously.
One day access to a running wheel reduces self-administration of D-methamphetamine, MDMA and methylone.

Background Exercise influences drug craving and consumption in humans and drug self-administration in laboratory animals, but the effects can be variable. Improved understanding of how exercise affects drug intake or craving would enhance applications of exercise programs to human drug users attempting cessation.
Prediction of high-temperature asphalt binder properties based on Brookfield viscometer values

The objective of this research was to develop an empirical model which may be used to predict the performance grade (PG) of asphalt binders given only the viscosity of the binder at 135°C. Data from two existing studies (5 binder sources and 10 crumb rubber variations) were utilised in the development of the model. The empirical models were evaluated using data obtained from a fractional factorial experimental design using five previously untested base binders; 19 crumb rubber modified binders were subsequently evaluated. The developed models for G*/sin δ, PG high failure temperature, crumb rubber concentration yielded good correlations with respective R-squared values of 0.89, 0.81 and 0.76 in the verification study. These findings confirm that it is possible to empirically model the high-temperature behaviour of modified asphalt binders using only the binder viscosity at 135°C as a reference point.
Mine flooding complicates option to construct underground laboratory

A decision by the Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corporation to turn off the flood pumps at its closed gold mine in Lead, South Dakota on 10 June complicates the potential use of the site as a deep underground laboratory for Earth science and physics studies. Barrick shut off the pumps due to concerns about liability and mine safety among other issues, even though the U.S. Congress has appropriated $10 million for the company to continue pumping for several years. The company currently is continuing its negotiations with the state of South Dakota to transfer ownership of the mine to the state. That transfer is an important step in the mine's eventual use as an underground laboratory.
A Marginal Cost Model for the Hiring-Overtime Decision

In the case where a given demand increase over a finite time span is known and exceeds current production capacities, a marginal cost analysis can provide decision criteria for work-force adjustments. Using the marginal costs of hiring new workers and for various periods of overtime as a basis, decisions can be made to hire new workers, to work overtime, or to do both. The marginal cost analysis for hiring new workers includes the application of learning curve data to their increasing productivity rate over the time span. The approach minimizes costs, assuming it is not necessary to buy new equipment or add supervisors. The greatest applicability for the model may be found in certain job shop situations.
Activation of Autoreactive B Cells by Endogenous TLR7 and TLR3 RNA Ligands

The key step in the activation of autoreactive B cells is the internalization of nucleic acid containing ligands and delivery of these ligands to the Toll-like Receptor (TLR) containing endolysosomal compartment. Ribonucleoproteins represent a large fraction of autoantigens in systemic autoimmune diseases. Here we demonstrate that many uridine-rich mammalian RNA sequences associated with common autoantigens effectively activate autoreactive B cells. Priming with type I IFN increased the magnitude of activation, and the range of which RNAs were stimulatory. A subset of RNAs that contain a high degree of self-complementarity also activated B cells through TLR3. For the RNA sequences that activated predominantly through TLR7, the activation is proportional to uridine-content, and more precisely defined by the frequency of specific uridine-containing motifs. These results identify parameters that define specific mammalian RNAs as ligands for TLRs.
Reduced Engraftment and Wound Closure of Cryopreserved Cultured Skin Substitutes Grafted to Athymic Mice

Abstract Cryopreservation of cultured skin substitutes is a requirement for establishment of banks of alternative materials for treatment of acute and chronic skin wounds. To determine whether cryopreservation of skin substitutes that contain cultured cells reduces their efficacy for wound closure, cell–biopolymer grafts were frozen, recovered into culture, and grafted to wounds on athymic mice. Grafts consisted of cultured human keratinocytes and fibroblasts attached to collagen–glycosaminoglycan substrates that were frozen in cell culture medium with 20% serum and 10% DMSO at a controlled rate and stored overnight in liquid nitrogen. After recovery into culture for 24 h, frozen or unfrozen (control) skin substitutes were grafted to full-thickness wounds on athymic mice. Wound area and surface electrical capacitance were measured at 2, 3, and 4 weeks after grafting at which time animals were sacrificed. Wounds were scored for presence of human cells by direct immunofluorescence staining with a monoclonal antibody to HLA-ABC. The data demonstrate that cell–biopolymer grafts are less efficacious after controlled-rate cryopreservation using 10% DMSO as a cryoprotectant. Frozen grafts at 4 weeks after surgery have significantly smaller wound areas, higher capacitance (wetter surface), and fewer healed wounds that contain human cells. The results suggest that these conditions for cryopreservation of cultured grafts reduce graft viability. Improved conditions for cryopreservation are required to maintain viability and efficacy of cultured skin substitutes after frozen storage.
Kinematic robot-based evaluation scales and clinical counterparts to measure upper limb motor performance in patients with chronic stroke.

Background. Human-administered clinical scales are the accepted standard for quantifying motor performance of stroke subjects. Although they are widely accepted, these measurement tools are limited by interrater and intrarater reliability and are time-consuming to apply. In contrast, robot-based measures are highly repeatable, have high resolution, and could potentially reduce assessment time. Although robotic and other objective metrics have proliferated in the literature, they are not as well established as clinical scales and their relationship to clinical scales is mostly unknown. Objective. To test the performance of linear regression models to estimate clinical scores for the upper extremity from systematic robot-based metrics. Methods. Twenty kinematic and kinetic metrics were derived from movement data recorded with the shoulder-and-elbow InMotion2 robot (Interactive Motion Technologies, Inc), a commercial version of the MIT-Manus. Kinematic metrics were aggregated into macro-metrics and micro-met...
A scaling theory for number-flux distributions generated during steady-state coagulation and settling and application to particles in Lake Zurich, Switzerland.

Abstract In this study, we extend the established scaling theory for cluster size distributions generated during unsteady coagulation to number-flux distributions that arise during steady-state coagulation and settling in an unmixed water mass. The scaling theory predicts self-similar number-flux distributions and power-law decay of total number flux with depth. The shape of the number-flux distributions and the power-law exponent describing the decay of the total number flux are shown to depend on the homogeneity and small i / j limit of the coagulation kernel and the exponent κ, which describes the variation in settling velocity with cluster volume. Particle field measurements from Lake Zurich, collected by U. Weilenmann and co-workers ( Limnol. Oceanogr. 34, 1 (1989)), are used to illustrate how the scaling predictions can be applied to a natural system. This effort indicates that within the mid-depth region of Lake Zurich, clusters of the same size preferentially interact and large clusters react with one another more quickly than small ones, indicative of clusters coagulating in a reaction-limited regime.
An apparatus for measurements of thermal conductivity of neat epoxies and their composites

In the modeling studies of processing of composites one must determine the changes in thermal conductivity during cure as a function of both temperature and the extent of reaction. An apparatus for measurements of thermal conductivity of neat thermosets and their composites was designed and built in our laboratory. A detailed description of the apparatus is given in this paper. Also included are some initial results obtained with an epoxy resin formulation of the type used in filament-wound structures.
Ovarian tumors of borderline malignancy: a review of 247 patients from 1991 to 2004

Borderline ovarian tumors account for 15% of epithelial ovarian cancers and are different from invasive malignant carcinoma. Majority are early stage, occurring in women in the reproductive age group, where fertility is important. We reviewed retrospectively 247 such cases treated at the Gynaecological-Oncology Unit, KK Women9s and Children9s Hospital, between January 1991 and December 2004. The mean age was 38 years (16–89 years). Majority of the cases (92%) were FIGO stage I (Ia, 75%; Ib, 1%; and Ic, 16%). Seven (3.5%) patients were diagnosed as having stage II disease, six (2.5%) as stage IIIa, two (1%) as stage IIIb, and four (2%) as stage IIIc. Histological origin was as follows: mucinous (68%), serous (26%), endometrioid (2.6%), and clear cell (1.2%). Primary surgical procedures undertaken were as follows: hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (52%), unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (33%), or ovarian cystectomy (15%). Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered in 13 patients (5.2% of cases), of which 4 patients were given chemotherapy only because of synchronous malignancies. There were six recurrences (2.4% of cases). Overall mean time to recurrence was 59 months. Recurrence rate for patients who underwent a primary pelvic clearance was 1.6% compared to fertility-sparing conservative surgery (3.3%; although P= 0.683). No significant difference was noted in recurrence and mortality between staged versus unstaged procedures. The overall survival rate was 98.0%. There were a total of five deaths (2.8%): three (1.5%) from invasive ovarian/peritoneal carcinoma and two from synchronous uterine malignancies. It appears that surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment, with conservative surgery where fertility is desired or pelvic clearance if the family is complete. Surgical staging is important to identify invasive extraovarian implants that portend an adverse prognosis. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy is not established.
Ecotourism and birds in coastal New Jersey: contrasting responses of birds, tourists, and managers.

People of diverse cultures appreciate and observe wildlife. With the increase in the importance of economic, social, and aesthetic, values of wildlife comes the responsibility for wise management and use of these resources to ensure biodiversity and the continued wellbeing of the populations. We describe several ways in which ecotourists affect the behaviour, reproductive success, and population levels, of breeding and migratory birds in New Jersey — a heavily industrialized, coastal US state with a dense human population. We use several case-studies to illustrate the effects of ecotourists on birds: heronries, breeding Least Terns (Sterna antillarum), foraging Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) during the breeding season, migrant shorebirds and gulls at Caven Point and Delaware Bay, and migrant hawks at Cape May.
A broadband web-based application for video sharing and annotation

This demonstration reports on the current stage of development of a web-based environment to support video sharing and annotation. The initial requirements and their implementation are briefly presented. The application is aimed at supporting the professional development of teachers with a multimedia application over a broadband network. However, work with teachers has pointed us to new requirements, differentiating VSA from prrevious work. Continued work with teachers will lead to further evolution of VSA.
Temporal patterns of benthic microalgal migration on a semi-protected beach

Abstract Short-term variability in microphytobenthic biomass and production can be attributed primarily to the migratory rhythms of benthic microalgae (BMA). The majority of BMA vertical migration studies have focused on intertidal mudflats, whereas little is known about the effects of grain size or wave energy on migration patterns. The goals of our study were (1) to describe vertical migration patterns of BMA in beach sediments, (2) to test for seasonal variation in migration patterns, and (3) to identify the dominant taxonomic groups involved in these migrations. Sediment cores were collected approximately monthly from February 2002 until January 2003 from a semi-sheltered, sandy beach. On each date replicate cores were taken at three times, corresponding with changing tidal levels (after aerial exposure at ebb tide, at slack low tide, and after tidal immersion), and were vertically sectioned. Environmental parameters including temperature, salinity, wind speed and direction, and light intensity were also recorded. BMA were dominated by diatoms at all times and at all sediment depths. We found three distinct patterns of temporal shifts in BMA: (1) migration , in which a surface chl a maximum was replaced by a subsurface chl a max after tidal immersion, (2) no shift , wherein vertical profiles from low tide through periods of immersion were unchanged, and (3) removal , in which a loss of surficial chl a occurred after tidal flooding, without a corresponding chl a increase at depth. Logistic regression analysis revealed no relationship between patterns of temporal shifts in BMA and temperature or salinity. The relationship with wind direction was significant, with chl a removal associated with an onshore (i.e., east or northeast) wind. There was no correlation between wind speed and vertical distribution pattern. Wind-induced wave energy, dominated by fetch rather than wind speed, appeared to be a major factor in the resuspension process at our study site. Integrated (top 5 mm) chl a concentration also seemed to be related to vertical dynamics of BMA, with the no-shift pattern associated with highest surface chl a levels.
Mycobacterium fortuitum pulmonary infection complicating achalasia

We report a case of Mycobacterium fortuitum pulmonary infection in a patient with achalasia. A review of literature and a discussion of pathophysiologic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects are included. M. fortuitum shouldbe considered in patients with esophageal disorders and associated pulmonary infiltrate.
Electron microscopy in the diagnosis of head and neck tumors

Six patients with malignant head and neck tumors are shown to have required electron microscopy for accurate diagnosis. In all of these tumors, there were ultrastructural features of cytodifferentiation that were not discernible by light microscopy, such as neurosecretory granules, desmosomes, cytoplasmic processes, tonofibrils, and myofilaments. Electron microscopy is helpful in the differential diagnosis of tumors in general, but its effectiveness is particularly apparent in small-cell "undifferentiated" tumors such as neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, undifferentiated squamous-cell carcinoma of the lymphoepithelioma type, and malignant lymphoma. It has also been helpful in the identification of amelanotic melanoma and spindle-cell carcinoma.
Cell cycle-specific requirement for mevalonate, but not for cholesterol, for DNA synthesis in glial primary cultures.

The requirement for the sterol biosynthetic pathway for the occurrence of DNA synthesis in glial cells and, in particular, the relative roles of cholesterol and of mevalonate have been studied. Primary cultures of developing glial cells were synchronized by reducing the content of fetal calf serum (FCS) in the culture medium from 10% to 0.1% (vol/ vol) for 48 h between days 4 and 6 in culture. Reversal of the resulting quiescent state by the return of the cultures to 10% serum caused after 24 h a marked increase in DNA synthesis, and this increase was prevented by the simultaneous addition of mevinolin, a specific inhibitor of the sterol biosynthetic pathway at the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase step, at the time of serum repletion. A dose-dependent reversal of the mevinolin inhibition of DNA synthesis occurred with simultaneous addition of mevalonate to the culture medium. The induction of DNA synthesis by serum repletion, its inhibition by mevinolin, and the reversal of the inhibition by mevalonate were unaffected by a 95% reduction in exogenous cholesterol produced by utilization of lipoprotein-poor serum (LPPS) rather than FCS. Similarly, return of quiescent cultures to 10% LPPS containing mevinolin and sufficient low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to raise the cholesterol concentration 80-fold failed to restore DNA synthesis. In addition, reversal of the mevinolin inhibition of DNA synthesis by mevalonate occurred despite the continuous presence of mevinolin if mevalonate was added as late as 12 h after serum repletion, but not if added after 16 h or more. This temporal aspect of the requirement for mevalonate was unaffected by the presence of a 90-fold excess of cholesterol, provided as LDL. Thus, these data establish a requirement for mevalonate or for a presumably nonsterol derivative of mevalonate for the occurrence of DNA synthesis in synchronized glial primary cultures, and demonstrate that this requirement is expressed at a specific time in the cell cycle.
The Dark Side of Comprehensive Soldier Fitness.

Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF), the focus of the January 2011 special issue of the American Psychologist, is a $125 million resilience training initiative designed to reduce and prevent the adverse psychological consequences of combat for soldiers and veterans. These are worthy goals. Soldiers and veterans deserve the best care possible, and military psychologists have critically important roles to play. But the special issue is troubling in several important respects. Elsewhere, we have offered a detailed review (Eidelson, Pilisuk, & Soldz, 2011). Here we offer only a summary of our concerns. The CSF program is a massive research project launched without pilot testing to determine, first, the effectiveness of the training in a military environment. This is highly irregular and obviously worrisome considering the stakes. No evidence was provided indicating that CSF received preliminary review by an independent ethics review board. There are other ethically fraught possibilities.This special issue reveals much about current moral challenges facing the profession of psychology.
Developmental Changes in Speech Discrimination in Infants

A visually reinforced infant speech discrimination (VRISD) paradigm is described and evaluated. Infants at two ages were tested with the new paradigm on the following speech contrasts: [sa] vs [va], [sa] vs [∫a], [sa] vs [za], [as] vs [a:z], [a:s], vs [a:z], [at] vs [a:d], [a:t] vs [a:d], [at] vs [a:t], [fa] vs [θa], and [fi] vs [θi]. The data reported are compared with data on the same speech contrasts obtained from three month olds in a high-amplitude sucking paradigm. Evidence suggesting developmental changes in speech-sound discriminatory ability is reported. Results are interpreted in light of salience of available acoustic cues and in terms of new methodological advances.
Radiation-induced color centers in LiF for dosimetry at high absorbed dose rates

Abstract Color centers formed by irradiation of optically clear crystals of pure LiF may be analyzed spectrophotometrically for dosimetry in the absorbed dose range from 10 2 to 10 7 Gy. Routine monitoring of intense electron beams is an important application. Both 6 LiF and 7 LiF forms are commercially available, and when used with filters as albedo dosimeters in pairs, they provide discrimination of neutron and gamma-ray doses.
Chemistry of Mangana- and Rhenatricarbadecaboranyl Tricarbonyl Complexes: Evidence for an Associative Mechanism of Ligand Substitution Involving an η6−η4 Cage-Slippage Process Analagous to η5−η3-Cyclopentadienyl Ring-Slippage

The reaction of the tricarbadecaboranyl anion, 6-Ph-nido-5,6,9-C3B7H9-, with M(CO)5Br [M = Mn, Re] or [(η6-C10H8)Mn(CO)3+]BF4- yielded the half-sandwich metallatricarbadecaboranyl analogues of (η5-C5H5)M(CO)3 [M = Mn, Re]. For both 1,1,1-(CO)3-2-Ph-closo-1,2,3,4-MC3B7H9 [M = Mn (2) and Re (3)], the metal is η6-coordinated to the puckered six-membered open face of the tricarbadecaboranyl cage. Reactions of 2 and 3 with isocyanide at room temperature produced complexes 8-(CNBut)-8,8,8-(CO)3-9-Ph-nido-8,7,9,10-MC3B7H9 [M = Mn (4), Re (5)], having the cage η4-coordinated to the metal. Photolysis of 4 and 5 then resulted in the loss of CO and the formation of 1-(CNBut)-1,1-(CO)2-2-Ph-closo-1,2,3,4-MC3B7H9 [M = Mn, Re (6)], where the cage is again η6-coordinated to the metal. Reaction of 2 and 3 with 1 equiv of phosphine at room temperature produced the η6-coordinated monosubstituted complexes 1,1-(CO)2-1-P(CH3)3-2-Ph-closo-1,2,3,4-MC3B7H9 [M = Mn (7), Re (9)] and 1,1-(CO)2-1-P(C6H5)3-2-Ph-closo-1,2,3,4-MC3B7H9...
Rhizoma acori graminei and its active principles protect PC-12 cells from the toxic effect of amyloid-β peptide

The effects of water extracts of six medicinal herbs (Radix polygalae tenuifoliae, Radix salviae miltiorrhizae, Rhizoma acori graminei, Rhizoma pinelliae ternatae, Tuber curcumae and Scletrotium poriae cocos) on the cytotoxic action of Abeta(1-40) were tested with PC-12 cells. Only the extract of R. acori graminei (RAG) significantly decreased Abeta(1-40)-induced cell death. Further, eugenol and beta-asarone were isolated and identified as the major active principles. Both purified eugenol and beta-asarone protected PC-12 cells from the toxic effect of Abeta(1-40). Eugenol was active between 1 and 100 microM, and 10 microM eugenol gave approximately a 50% response. beta-Asarone was less potent and exhibited little, if any, activity at this concentration. Both eugenol and beta-asarone inhibited Ca(2+) intake by PC-12 cells: beta-asarone mainly inhibited basal Ca(2+) intake, whereas eugenol inhibited Abeta-induced Ca(2+) intake preferentially. These results suggest that eugenol may act by blocking Abeta-induced-Ca(2+) intake and provide a strong case for further pursuit of the therapeutic and prophylactic potentials of RAG and its active principles for the management of Alzheimer's disease.
Low-temperature studies on dihalogenopentacarbonyliron(II)☆

Abstract Infrared spectral studies were carried out on the complexes Fe(CO) 5 X 2 (X = Br, I, SCN) at temperatures ranging from −70°C to −30°C in CH 2 Cl 2 solutions. The results are considerably different from those carried out in CHCl 3 /CH 2 Cl 2 solutions. Infrared and conductivity evidence in Ch 2 Cl 2 lead to the conclusion that the complexes are 7-coordinate, and posses a trigonal bipyramidal and/or capped octahedral structure. These complexes provide the first examples of mononuclear metal carbonyl compounds in which the effective atomic number is exceeded.
Hydrolysis and utilization of cholesterol esters for steroid synthesis by canine adrenal homogenates.

Cholesterol-4-C14 esters of palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidonic acids were incubated with canine adrenal homogenates. All of the esters were hydrolyzed independently of exogenous cofactors. C14 activity was incorporated into adrenal steroids best when a TPNH-generating system was added to the incubation mixture. The rate of hydrolysis of cholesteryl-4-C14 palmitate was less than that of the esters of the unsaturated fatty acids when compared in a homogenate prepared from the adrenals of a single dog. The possibility that the exogenous tracer esters did not mix with the endogenous pool of cholesterol esters is discussed.