cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aedes Mascarensis Macgregor on Mauritius II. Genetic variability of field populations (Diptera: Ciilicidae)

It had been suggested that the most plausible explanation for variation in Aedes mascarensis resembling Aedes aegypti was introgressive hybridization of A. mascarensis with subsequently eradicated population of A. aegypti , in an environment disturbed by rapid demographic change and use of residual sprays in Mauritius. Adult A. mascarensis females from 6 locations on Mauritius were analyzed for variation in 15 characters. No cline in variation was noted from the areas of presumed greatest contact between the 2 species to those remote from the former A. aegypti populations. The most plausible alternative to introgression is that A. mascarensis is a distinct but extremely variable species that may be a relict population of an ancestral type from which A. aegypti sprang.
Social Influence and Sex Effects on Task Performance and Task Perceptions.

Abstract A laboratory experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of observer presence and subject sex on both performance quantity and quality, job satisfaction, and task perceptions. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) results demonstrated statistically significant multivariate effects on the performance measures. Significant main effects of observer presence were found for performance quality but not quantity. A significant observer presence x subject sex interaction was found for performance quantity. The results for task perceptions supported the hypothesis that the situational factors would make salient the significance of the task. Main effects of observer presence were found for task significance only. Also there was a significant observer presence x subject sex interaction on perceptions of task significance. No effects were found on job satisfaction, consistent with past research. The results are discussed relative to social facilitation research in the broader context of social influence.
Antibody‐Mediated Antigen Sampling across Intestinal Epithelial Barriers

The epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract is the interface between luminal contents and the mucosal immune system. It must function as a selective barrier to limit penetration of antigens yet keep the mucosal immune system "informed" for the purpose of generating oral tolerance responses to food antigens or commensal organisms and host defense responses against pathogens. Alterations in epithelial barrier function have been proposed to play a significant role in gastrointestinal disease. In this review, we will discuss mechanisms of regulation of epithelial barrier function, and we will focus on the emerging understanding of how secreted immunoglobulins play a role in antigen-specific antigen sampling across the gastrointestinal epithelium.
Curricula in computer science and engineering: needs and alternatives

This paper offers a brief review and survey which includes the following curricula: (1) A Curriculum in Computer Science and Engineering, The IEEE Computer Society (1977); (2) Curriculum Recommendations for the Undergraduate Program in Computer Science, The ACM (1977); (3) Curriculum Recommendations and Guidelines for the Community and Junior College Career Program in Computer Programming, The ACM (1977); (4) Guidelines for IEEE EE and Ad Hoc Visitors on ECPD Accreditation Teams, Computer Science and Engineering Programs, IEEE/ECPD (1977); (5) The Computer in the Engineering Curriculum- CoED/ASEE(1977); (6) Special Interest Group on Software Engineering Education, SIGSOFT/ACM. A brief outline of some of the future requirements in the following areas is also given: (1) Continuing Education; (2) Computer-oriented business and engineering education; (3) maintaining up-to-date facilities.
Approximate counting via random optimization

Let ℱn be a family of subsets of {1,…,n}. We propose a simple randomized algorithm to estimate the cardinality of ℱn from the maximum weight of a subset X∈ℱn in a random weighting of {1,…,n}. The examples include enumeration of perfect matchings in graphs, bases in matroids, and Hamiltonian cycles in graphs. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 11, 187–198 (1997)
Phosphoproteome profiling of the macrophage response to different toll-like receptor ligands identifies differences in global phosphorylation dynamics.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are among the first sensors that detect infection and drive immune response. Macrophages encountering a pathogen are usually stimulated not by one TLR, but by a combination of TLRs engaged by distinct microbe ligands. To understand the integrated signaling under complex conditions, we investigated the differences in the phosphoprotein signaling cascades triggered by TLR2, TLR4, and TLR7 ligands using a single responding cell population. We performed a global, quantitative, early poststimulation kinetic analysis of the mouse macrophage phosphoproteome using stable isotope labeling with amino acids coupled to phosphopeptide enrichment and high-resolution mass spectrometry. For each TLR ligand, we found marked elevation of phosphorylation of cytoskeleton components, GTPases of the Rho family, and phospholipase C signaling pathway proteins. Phosphorylation of proteins involved in phagocytosis was only seen in response to TLR2 and TLR4 but not to TLR7 activation. Changes in the phosp...
Institutional and Individual Support of Growth among Adult Learners

As adult educators see significant changes occur in the minds and lives of adult learners, a series of questions are raised regarding the contribution institutions and individuals have in that process. This paper addresses these questions in regard to one particular type of change, perspective transformation, among adult learners in different higher education institutions. Comparisons among the institutions and teachers provide insight into this experience of support and change.
A Proposed Method for the Determination of Current-Transformer Errors

CURRENT TRANSFORMERS for relay service must be able to function with reasonable accuracy under very high overload conditions, and it is therefore necessary that their accuracy for such high currents be verified. However, in performing the usual accuracy test at very high currents, certain difficulties are encountered — the principal ones being:
Characterization of the adenyl cyclase of rat kidney plasma membranes.

Abstract 1. 1. This paper examines the characteristics of a renal plasma membrane adenyl cyclase with respect to NaF and hormonal activation, enzyme kinetic parameters, effects of solubilization procedures on adenyl cyclase activity, and gel-filtration chromatography of a “soluble” membrane adenyl cyclase. 2. 2. Renal membrane adenyl cyclase was stimulated by NaF, vasopressin and parathyroid hormone in a concentration-dependent manner. 3. 3. A K m for ATP of 0.1 mM was obtained for both the renal cortex and medulla membrane adenyl cyclase whereas the divalent cation dependency was found to be: cortex, Mg 2+ > Mn 2+ > Co 2+ ; medulla, Mg 2+ = Mn 2+ > Co 2+ , for sustaining adenyl cyclase activity in the presence of NaF. 4. 4. The particulate plasma membrane adenyl cyclase was solubilized by use of the detergent, Lubrol WX or by intense shear forces with a French pressure cell. Addition of NaF to the membrane suspension prior to solubilization was necessary for protection of adenyl cyclase activity. Gel-filtration chromatography with 6 % agarose gave two adenyl cyclase peaks of different specific activity and molecular size.
Why is Collective Violence Collective

A theory of collective violence must explain both why it is collective and why it is violent. Whereas my earlier work addresses the question of why collective violence is violent, here I apply and extend Donald Black's theory of partisanship to the question of why violence collectivizes. I propose in general that the collectivization of violence is a direct function of strong partisanship. Strong partisanship arises when third parties (1) support one side against the other and (2) are solidary among themselves. Such support occurs when third parties are socially close to one side and remote from the other and when one side has more social status than the other. Third parties are solidary when they are intimate, culturally homogeneous, and interdependent. I focus in particular on lynching: Lynching is a joint function of strong partisanship toward the alleged victim and weak partisanship toward the alleged offender. Unequal strong partisanship appears in both classic lynchings (of outsiders) and communal ynchings (of insiders) across societies and history. Where partisanship is weak or strong on both sides, lynching is unlikely to occur. Evidence includes patterns of lynching in various tribal societies, the American South, imperial China, and medieval Europe.
An Eight-Year Lightning Climatology of the Southeast United States Prepared for the 1996 Summer Olympics

Abstract The 1996 Summer Olympics will be held in the Atlanta, Georgia, vicinity and several other sites in the southeast United States between 19 July and 4 August 1996. This period coincides with the peak thunderstorm season, so the threat of lightning casualties cannot be taken lightly since Georgia and surrounding states with Olympic venues rank quite high in the United States in annual lightning casualties and the casualty rate per population. Flash density and thunderstorm day estimates for July and August show that the greatest cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning activity (>5 flashes per square kilometer) occurs near the seacoasts and over the Florida peninsula. Cloud-to-ground flash activity decreases as distances increase from the coastlines, reaching a minimum ( 3 flashes per square kilometer) in and around Atlanta. The frequency of CG lightning reaches a maximum in the late afternoon a...
Metabolic-morphologic characteristics of the integument of teleost fish with mature lymphocystis nodules

Normal and virus-infected (lymphocystis disease) integument from five species of teleosts was examined by light and TEM autoradiography and SEM to establish metabolic-morphologic characteristics of integument with mature lymphocystis cells (LC's). LC's with numerous morphologic attributes of a late developmental stage showed highest incorporation of [3H]-thymidine in vivo (1–91 h) above the intracytoplasmic inclusion body (ci) with little radiolabel in nuclei, cytoplasmic icosahedral deoxyriboviruses (ICDVs) or capsule. Analysis by quantitative autoradiography revealed that the % total cell label in ci and cytoplasm did not vary appreciably from 1–91 h and was corroborative with morphologic criteria of maturity. A possible phylogenetic difference was noted between teleosts, wherein normal integument showed uptake of [3H]-thymidine in vivo (1 h) by cells at all levels of the epidermis, and cyclostomes (Spitzer et al. 1979) wherein labeling was confined to the basal third of the epidermis. Among four infected teleost species, the mean diameters of the ICDVs measured under the same conditions, ranged from 259.5 nm to 290.0 nm with the mean for each species differing significantly (p [3H]-L-lysine ≫ [3H]-L-fucose) with a glycosaminoglycan-protein structure.
Creating an immune-privileged site using retinal progenitor cells and biodegradable polymers

We describe the creation of local immune privilege (IP) using retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) and biodegradable polymers. Murine RPCs were seeded on poly(lactic-coglycolic acid) polymers to generate composite grafts. Composites or RPCs alone were transplanted into allogeneic kidney capsules. Grafts survived at all time points, differentiating into neurons and astrocytes. Upon treatment with interferon gamma (IFNgamma), major histocompatibility complex antigens were upregulated. Although 10% of IFNgamma-treated RPC grafts survived 14 days, 66% of the IFNgamma-treated composites survived in part by producing immune suppressive factors transforming growth factor-beta2, Fas ligand, and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. The composites were assayed for delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) by seeding composites with antigen-presenting cells incubated with ovalbumin. This resulted in suppression of ovalbumin-specific DTH, indicating that composite grafts consisting of biodegradable polymers and central nervous system progenitor cells can be used to generate local IP. This technology may be used to promote the survival of nonprivileged grafts (e.g., pancreas, liver, or skin). Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
FSH Stimulation of Testicular Androgen Binding Protein (ABP): Comparison of ABP Response and Ovarian Augmentation

Production of testicular androgen binding protein (ABP), ceases following hypophysectomy and can be stimulated by FSH. Within 24 h after the administration of FSH, ABP can be measured in caput epididymis supernatant and by 4 days after FSH treatment, the concentration of ABP reaches a plateau. In a 3-day assay, ABP production in immature hypophysectomized rats was stimulated by 31 mug NIH-FSH-P1 per day (0.08 U NIH-FSH-P1 per 3 days) which is comparable to the sensitivity of the ovarian weight augmentation test in hypophysectomized rats. The relative ovarian weight augmenting and ABP stimulating activities of various FSH preparations were in agreement, suggesting that the biological stimulus of the ABP response is, in fact, FSH. The ABP response to FSH could become a useful testicular bioassay for FSH. Such an assay would be more practicle if ABP could be measured by a radioimmunoassay.
Oxidative stress mediates cardiac fibrosis by enhancing transforming growth factor-beta1 in hypertensive rats

Cardiac fibrosis represented as perivascular/interstial fibrosis occurs in patients with hypertension. Oxidative stress has been demonstrated to contribute to such structural remodeling. The underlying mechanisms, however, remain to be elucidated. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that oxidative stress mediates cardiac fibrogenesis by stimulating transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 expression, which in turn triggers a series of fibrogenic responses. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with angiotensin (Ang)II (9 microg/h s) for 4 weeks with/without co-treatment of combined antioxidants, apocynin, and tempol (120 mg/kg/day each, oral). Untreated rats served as controls. Appearance of cardiac oxidative stress and its potential effect on the expression of TGF-beta1, population of myofibroblasts, collagen synthesis/degradation, and fibrosis in hearts were examined. Chronic AngII infusion elevated systemic blood pressure (210 +/- 5 mmHg). Extensive perivascular and interstitial fibrosis was found in both ventricles, which were co-localized with oxidative stress represented as upregulated NADPH oxidase (gp91(phox) subunit) expression. Co-treatment with antioxidants led to: (1) markedly decreased cardiac gp91(phox); (2) significantly attenuated gene expression of TGF-beta1, type-I collagen, and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-I/II in the heart; (3) largely reduced population of myofibroblasts at sites of fibrosis; (4) significantly reduced cardiac collagen volume; (5) and partially suppressed blood pressure (190 +/- 4 mmHg). Thus, cardiac oxidative stress promotes the development of cardiac fibrosis by upregulating TGF-beta1 expression, which subsequently enhances cardiac collagen synthesis and suppresses collagen degradation in hypertensive rats.
Train Speed Measurement and Prediction using Video and Radar Detector Data

A key component to optimizing traffic signals along a corridor with multiple intersections located near highway-rail grade crossings (HRGCs) is an accurate estimate of a given train’s arrival time at each crossing. Based on this information current signal preemption strategies at the traffic signals near the highway-rail grade crossings (HRGCs) could be improved with a resulting improvement in driver and pedestrian safety and transportation system delay. This paper introduces a procedure for the real-time train speed estimation using data from Autoscope video detection and a Doppler radar detector. The two detectors were used in parallel because each, on its own, has a number of issues that preclude accurate detection of simultaneous trains (e.g. trains on different tracks in the detection zone at the same time). A multi-track test bed was chosen for the data collection, speed estimation and verification. A linear regression model was used for calibration of video and radar detection.
Role of caveolin and caveolae in insulin signaling and diabetes

Caveolae are specialized membrane microdomains present within the plasma membrane of the vast majority of cell types. They have a unique composition in that they are highly enriched in cholesterol, sphingolipids, and their coat proteins the caveolins (-1, -2, and -3). In recent years it has been recognized that caveolae act as signaling platforms, serving as a concentrating point for numerous signaling molecules, as well as regulating flux through many distinct signaling cascades. Although caveolae are found in a variety of cell types, they are most abundant in adipose tissue. This fact has led to the intense study of the function of these organelles in adipocytes. It has now become apparent that effective insulin signaling in the adipocyte may be strictly dependent on localization of at least two insulin-responsive elements to caveolae (insulin receptor and GLUT4), as well as on a direct functional interaction between caveolin-1 and the insulin receptor. We present a critical discussion of these recent findings.
A programming process architecture

The Programming Process Architecture is a framework describing required activities for an operational process that can be used to develop system or application software. The architecture includes process management tasks, mechanisms for analysis and development of the process, and product quality reviews duringt he various stages of the development cycle. It requires explicit entry criteria, validation, and exit criteria for each task in the process, which combined form the "essence" of the architecture. The architecture describes requirements for a process needing no new invention, but rather using the best proven methodologies, techniques, and tools available today. This paper describes the Programming Process Architecture and its use, emphasizing the reasons for its development.
Differential Filtering of Two Presynaptic Depression Mechanisms

The filtering of input signals carried out at synapses is key to the information processing performed by networks of neurons. Two forms of presynaptic depression, vesicle depletion and G-protein inhibition of Ca2+ channels, can play important roles in the presynaptic processing of information. Using computational models, we demonstrate that these two forms of depression filter information in very different ways. G-protein inhibition acts as a high-pass filter, preferentially transmitting high-frequency input signals to the postsynaptic cell, while vesicle depletion acts as a low-pass filter. We examine how these forms of depression separately and together affect the steady-state postsynaptic responses to trains of stimuli over a range of frequencies. Finally, we demonstrate how differential filtering permits the multiplexing of information within a single impulse train.
The Neuropharmacology of Psychosis

Antipsychotic drugs (APDs) are therapeutic in psychotic disorders. They are not specific treatments for schizophrenia (SZ) but useful in bipolar disorder (BD), psychotic depression, Alzheimers disease, and other psychotic diagnoses. In this perspective, we discuss the actions of APDs for the treatment of both SZ and bipolar-1 disorder (BD-1) with a specific focus on the implications of these data for the whole group of psychotic diagnoses. Both schizophrenic and BD-1 are characterized by several symptom dimensions, some overlapping and some distinctive. We discuss a dimensional approach to the diagnosis of BD and SZ and suggest that psychosis is an important dimension of each. In order to define the dimension of psychosis more carefully would require additional research to fill in the gaps in our knowledge. We propose that psychosis is a dimension that cuts through many psychiatric disorders, and the use of this dimension may be useful for clinical and research progress. We discuss the kinds of data necessary to further support the dimensional aspects of psychosis.
Stability of microstructure for tetragonal to monoclinic martensitic transformations

We give an analysis of the stability and uniqueness of the simply laminated microstructure for all three tetragonal to monoclinic martensitic transformations. The energy density for tetragonal to monoclinic transformations has four rotationally invariant wells since the transformation has four variants. One of these tetragonal to monoclinic martensitic transformations corresponds to the shearing of the rectangular side, one corresponds to the shearing of the square base, and one corresponds to the shearing of the plane orthogonal to a diagonal in the square base. We show that the simply laminated microstructure is stable except for a class of special material parameters. In each case that the microstructure is stable, we derive error estimates for the finite element approximation.
Technique to minimize paraspinal muscle atrophy after posterior cervical fusion.

Abstract Objective Paraspinal muscle atrophy (PMA) after posterior cervical fusion is a known complication that causes considerable morbidity. It has been shown in the lumbar spine that preservation of the posterior ramus of the spinal nerve is important in minimizing paraspinal muscle atrophy. During posterior cervical spine fusions, we modified the exposure of the dorsal cervical spine by exposing only the medial two-thirds of the lateral mass utilizing a low electrocautery setting. In a retrospective analysis, we compared the incidence of paraspinal muscle atrophy using this modified technique with historical cohorts who underwent posterior cervical fusion using the standard technique of exposure of the entire lateral mass. Materials and methods All patients who underwent posterior cervical fusion and internal fixation between 1999 and 2007 were included. Patients operated from 1999 to 2003 who underwent the standard exposure of the lateral mass formed Group 1 ( n =31). Group 2 ( n =32) included patients whose lateral masses were exposed using the modified technique of limiting the exposure only to the medial two-thirds of the lateral mass with the cautery on a low setting. All patients were assessed for PMA at six months after surgery. Atrophy was graded as no atrophy, mild atrophy (minimal midline atrophy), moderate atrophy (muscle lost without palpable hardware) and severe atrophy (hardware palpable). Before initiating the study, no atrophy and mild atrophy were grouped together as a non-significant atrophy and moderate atrophy and severe atrophy were grouped together as significant atrophy. Results We found a statistically lower incidence of paraspinal atrophy using this modified exposure of the lateral mass ( p Conclusions This modified technique of cervical spine exposure is associated with lower paraspinal muscle atrophy secondary to the preservation of the innervation of the paraspinal musculature.
Far-field measurements and maximum entropy analysis of lossy material on a conducting plate

The relationships between Fourier techniques and maximum entropy techniques for the case of scattering measurements from metal-plate-backed lossy dielectric material are described. A set of experimental measurements were made in the frequency and aspect-angle domains on square panels of a multilayer radar absorbing material (RAM) backed by a conducting plate (approximately 30*30 cm). The minimum scattered signal was observed in the 9-12-GHz band. Experiments were performed over a band of frequencies from 2 to 18 GHz. Analysis techniques are described for transformations to the time and Doppler (cross-range) domains. Interpretations of the results with respect to the penetration of the radar signal into the RAM and scattering from the edge discontinuity of the plate are given and discussed. >
Whose Higher Power? Criminalized Women Confront the “Twelve Steps”:

Drawing on 3 years of fieldwork with a community of criminalized women in eastern Massachusetts, this article explores their ambivalent, often negative, relationship with and feelings about Alcohol...
Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Nasal Cultures Collected from Individuals in the United States in 2001 to 2004

This study characterizes methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates recovered from nasal cultures of noninstitutionalized individuals in the United States obtained in 2001 to 2004 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Every tenth MSSA isolate and all MRSA isolates were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), screened for multiple toxin genes, and tested for susceptibility to 14 antimicrobial agents. USA200, USA600, and USA900 were the predominant PFGE types among MSSA isolates in both the 2001 to 2002 and the 2003 to 2004 time periods, although they accounted for only 51.3% of 316 MSSA isolates typed in 2001 and 2002 and only 43.4% of 237 MSSA isolates typed in 2003 and 2004. In contrast, USA100, USA800, and USA700 accounted for 80.0% of the 75 MRSA isolates typed in 2001 and 2002, while USA100, USA800, and USA300 accounted for 78.4% of 134 MRSA isolates typed in 2003 and 2004. The proportion of MRSA isolates that were USA300 increased significantly from the first to the second time period (P = 0.03). Most USA200 isolates (both MSSA and MRSA) carried the gene for toxic shock syndrome toxin; however, carriage of the genes encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin, while common among MRSA of PFGE type USA300, was rare among MSSA USA300 in both time periods. Most MSSA isolates remained susceptible to all antimicrobial agents except erythromycin (79.1 and 76.0% susceptibilities in the 2001 to 2002 and the 2003 to 2004 periods, respectively). In contrast, the proportions of MRSA isolates that were susceptible to chloramphenicol, clindamycin, and erythromycin were lower in 2003 and 2004 than in 2001 and 2002, although none of these differences was statistically significant.
Plasmon hybridization for real metals

We present three important extensions of the plasmon hybridization (PH) method: a generalization of the method to include realistic non-Drude dielectric permittivities for metals, the development of an algorithm for the calculation of plasmon-induced electric field enhancements, and the extension of the PH method to the modeling of plasmonic Fano resonances. We illustrate these developments with an application to a silver nanosphere dimer and a symmetric silver nanosphere heptamer.
Improved effectiveness of artificial insemination of turkey hens associated with ahemeral light-dark cycles and age at photostimulation

In lighting studies with turkey hens, long ahemeral (AH; non-24 h) light-dark cycles have consistently resulted in greater, although not statistically significant, fertility than control 24 h light-dark cycles. The present study was designed to further evaluate AH lighting effects on fertility by an evaluation of the effectiveness of artificial insemination (AI) under less than optimal conditions for normal fertility, that is, single AI and early age at lighting. Turkey hens had greater percentage fertility of eggs when photostimulated at 30 wk (95.0) than 26 wk (76.3) of age following single, but not double, AI. Ahemeral lighting dramatically improved the effectiveness of a single AI of hens photostimulated at 26 wk of age as compared to controls (89.3 vs 76.3% fertility, respectively). However, with multiple AI, benefits of AH lighting on fertility exceeding that of control hens was not significant. It may be concluded that AH lighting can dramatically improve the effectiveness of AI under certain adverse conditions, such as early age at lighting and reduced exposure of the hen to sperm.
Effect of High Voltage Stimulation on Edema Reduction in the Rat Hind Limb

The purpose of this study was to test the effect of high voltage stimulation (HVS) on edema reduction in the rat hindpaw. The animals were divided into a control group (n = 20) and a treated group (n = 20). The right hindpaw volume was measured, and then the animal's paw was traumatized. The animals in the treated group were treated with HVS at 24, 48, and 72 hours posttrauma. Paw volume measurements were made on all animals at 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours posttrauma. In addition, the paw volume was measured in the treated group both before and after HVS. The results showed that animals in both groups had a significant decrease in paw volume over the experimental period, but no significant difference was found between the two groups in the amount of edema reduction. The HVS treatment did not produce a significant change in paw volume immediately after treatment.
Cognitive and affective processes in collection development

The selection process in collection management has been characterized as based primarily on logical, rational thinking processes. Psychologists, however, have discovered that judgment and decision making are not exclusively cognitive functions. They depend instead on a complex interaction between affect and cognition, feeling and thought. This paper attempts to explore some of these interactive processes and how they potentially influence the selection process in collection development. Some implications for how selectors approach their work are discussed as well.
Antithetical random sampling: Statistical analysis of fourier transforms estimators

We consider the estimation of the Fourier transform of continuous-time signals from a finite set N of discrete-time nonuniform observations. We introduce a class of antithetical stratified random sampling schemes and we obtain the performance of the corresponding estimates. For functions f(t) with two continuous derivatives, we show that the rate of mean square convergence is l/N5, which is considerably faster that the rate of l/N3 for stratified sampling and the rate of l/N for standard Monte Carlo integration. In addition, we establish joint asymptotic normality for the real and imaginary parts of the estimate. The theoretical results are illustrated by examples for lowpass and highpass signals.
Modulation of inhibitory synaptic activity by a non-α4β2, non-α7 subtype of nicotinic receptors in the substantia gelatinosa of adult rat spinal cord

The GABA/glycine-mediated inhibitory activity in the substantia gelatinosa (SG) of the spinal cord is critical in the control of nociceptive transmission. We examined whether and how SG inhibitory activity might be regulated by neuronal nicotinic receptors (nAChRs). Patchclamp recordings were performed in SG neurons of spinal slice preparations from adult rats. We provided electrophysiological evidence that inhibitory presynaptic terminals in the SG expressed nAChRs and their activation resulted in large increases in the frequency of spontaneous and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs and mIPSCs) in over 90% SG neurons tested. The enhancement of inhibitory activity was mediated by increases in the release of GABA/glycine, and direct Ca 21 entry through SG presynaptic nAChRs appeared to be involved. Miniature IPSC frequency could be enhanced by the nAChR agonists nicotine or cytisine. Nicotine could still elicit large increases in mIPSC frequency in the presence of the a4b2 nAChR antagonist dihydro-beta-erythroidine (5 mM) and the a7 nAChR-selective antagonist methyllycaconitine (40 nM). However, nicotine did not produce a significant enhancement of mIPSC frequency in the presence of the broad spectrum nAChR antagonist mecamylamine (5 mM). Nicotinic agonist-evoked whole-cell currents from SG neurons and the antagonist profiles also indicated the presence of a subtype of nAChRs, which were different from the major central nervous system nAChR subtypes, i.e. a4b2* or a7 nAChRs. Together, our results suggest that a subtype of nAChR, possibly a3b4* nAChR or a new nAChR type, is highly expressed at the inhibitory presynaptic terminals in SG of adult rats and play a role in the control of inhibitory activity in SG. q 2002 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Crowdsourcing human-robot interaction: Application from virtual to physical worlds

The ability for robots to engage in interactive behavior with a broad range of people is critical for future development of social robotic applications. In this paper, we propose the use of online games as a means of generating large-scale data corpora for human-robot interaction research in order to create robust and diverse interaction models. We describe a data collection approach based on a multiplayer game that was used to collect movement, action and dialog data from hundreds of online users. We then study how these records of human-human interaction collected in a virtual world can be used to generate contextually correct social and task-oriented behaviors for a robot collaborating with a human in a similar real-world environment. We evaluate the resulting behavior model using a physical robot in the Boston Museum of Science, and show that the robot successfully performs the collaborative task and that its behavior is strongly influenced by patterns in the crowdsourced dataset.
Gender and Computer Experience as Factors in the Computer Attitudes of Middle School Students

Students' attitudes toward computers are important to success in implementing computer-related programs in school curricula. This study of 561 seventh and eighth grade students examines the effects...
Toward a Copula Theory for Multivariate Regular Variation

Multivariate regular variation describes the relative decay rates of joint tail probabilities of a random vector with respect to tail probabilities of a norm of this random vector, and it is often used in studying heavy-tail phenomena observed in data analysis in various fields, such as finance and insurance. Multivariate regular variation can be analyzed in terms of the intensity measure or spectral measure but can also be studied by using the copula approach. In this paper, the basic ingredients of a measure-theoretic copula theory for multivariate regular variation are presented, and the method is based on extraction of scale-invariant extremal dependence from the intensity measure by standardizing its margins. Various examples as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the copula approach are also discussed.
Chemical bonding topology of superconductors. III. Layered quaternary lanthanide nickel borocarbides and boronitrides

The concept of porous delocalization has been extended to the conducting skeletons of quaternary lanthanide nickel borocarbide and boronitride superconductors and related nonsuperconducting materials. Such materials exhibit layered structures of the general type (LnX){sub n}(Ni{sub 2}B{sub 2})(Ln = lanthanide, particularly the nonmagnetic La{sup III} or Lu{sup III}; X = C or N; n 1, 2, or 3) containing planar square Ni nets bonded to BCB{sup 2-} ligands in the superconducting LnNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C, BC{sup 3-} ligands in the nonsuperconducting LnNiBC and Ln{sub 2}NiBC{sub 2}, and BN{sup 2-} ligands in the superconducting La{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}B{sub 2}N{sub 3}. The linear BCB{sup 2-} bridges linking adjacent Ni layers in LnNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C lead to a porous conducting skeleton in LnNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C. The BC{sup 3-} ligands in the nonsuperconducting LuNiBC and the closely related Ln{sub 2}NiBC{sub 2} = Ln{sub 2}C{sub 2}{center_dot}2LnNiBC do not link adjacent Ni layers in LuNiBC so that LuNiBC has only a two-dimensional conducting skeleton, which is not necessarily porous in these two dimensions. The superconducting La{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}B{sub 2}N{sub 3} = LaN{center_dot}2LaNiBN has a similar local Ni environment as LuNiBC but with BN{sup 2-} rather than the isolelectronic BC{sup 3-} ligands above and below each Ni layer. However, inmore » La{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}B{sub 2}N{sub 3} unlike LuNiBC the LaNiBN units are linked electronically by the La atoms in the intermediate LaN layer leading to a three-dimensional conducting skeleton in La{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}B{sub 2}N{sub 3} rather than the two-dimensional conducting skeleton of LuNiBC. The linear BNLaNB units linking the Ni layers in La{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}N{sub 3} lead to a porous conducting skeleton similar to that in the LnNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C superconductors.« less
Putting T-Invertibility to Use

This article gives a survey of how the notion of t-invertibility has, in recent years, been used to develop new concepts that enhance our understanding of the multiplicative structure of commutative integral domains. The concept of t-invertibility arises in the context of star operations. However, in general terms a (fractional) ideal A, of an integral domain D, is t-invertible if there is a finitely generated (fractional) ideal F ⊆ A and a finitely generated fractional ideal G ⊆ A -l such that (FG)-1 = D. In a more specialized context the notion of t-invertibility has to do with the t-operation which is one of the so called star operations. There seems to be no book other than Gilmer’s [Gil] that treats star operations purely from a ring theoretic view point. But a lot has changed since Gilmer’s book was published. So I have devoted a part of section 1. to an introduction to star operations, *-invertibility in general, and t-invertibility in particular.
How experienced intensive care nurses communicate with families about shift to end-of-life care.

Commentary on : Peden-McAlpine C, Liaschenko J, Traudt T, et al. Constructing the story: how nurses work with families regarding withdrawal of aggressive treatment in ICU—a narrative study. Int J Nurs Stud 2015;52:1146–56.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] The quality of communication related to withdrawal of aggressive treatment in the ICU has been a common theme over two decades of research.1 However, this research has … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DInt%2BJ%2BNurs%2BStud%26rft.volume%253D52%26rft.spage%253D1146%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1016%252Fj.ijnurstu.2015.03.015%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F25882315%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.03.015&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=25882315&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febnurs%2F19%2F2%2F48.atom
Deformable Model-Based Image Registration

In this chapter we introduce the concept of deformable image registration and point out that interpolation effects, non-rigid body registration, and joint segmentation and registration frameworks are among the challenges that remain for this area. To address the interpolation effects challenge, we choose the Partial Volume Interpolator (PV) used in multimodality registration as an example, and quantitatively analyze the generation mechanism of the interpolation artifacts. We conclude that the combination of linear interpolation kernel and translation-only motion leads to generation of the artifact pattern. As a remedy we propose to use nonuniform interpolation functions in estimating the joint histogram. The cubic B-spline and Gaussian interpolators are compared, and we demonstrate improvements via experiments on misalignments between CT/MR brain scans. A segmentation-guided non-rigid registration framework is proposed to address the second and third challenges. Our approach integrates the available prior shape information as an extra force to lead to a noise-tolerant registration procedure, and it differs from other methods in that we use a unified segmentation + registration energy minimization formulation, and the optimization is carried out under the level-set framework. We show the improvement accomplished with our model by comparing the results with that of the Demons algorithm. To explore other similarity metrics under the same framework to handle more complicated inputs will be the focus of our future work.
Independent Directors and Dividend Payouts in the Post Sarbanes–Oxley Era

Abstract The manner in which publicly traded companies’ management teams handle their firm’s free cash flows (FCF) has been an issue for many decades, because it is difficult to determine whether these management teams work for their own benefit or for that of their shareholders. Recent financial scandals have heightened mistrust of management. This mistrust, in turn, may have increased the pressure to reduce the portion of FCF left under management’s control. Boards of directors control dividend payout decisions, thus determining the portion of FCF available to corporate management. This paper examines whether the 2002 legal response to corporate financial reporting scandals, which came in the form of many new initiatives and requirements imposed by the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) on all publicly traded firms, was relevant to dividend payouts. This question is investigated by noting that the impact of these new requirements differed among firms. Some firms had already introduced the use of independent directors and fully independent committees prior to SOX making them compulsory in 2002. This paper examines whether these “pre-adopters” experienced less change in their dividend payout policies than those firms that were forced to change the composition of their board and committees. This investigation examines the effect on dividend payouts for listed firms attributable to the SOX and concurrent changes in stock exchange regulations that compelled increased use of independent directors and fully independent committees. To study the impact of SOX and the associated, required, changes in the composition of boards of directors for many firms, the difference-in-differences methodology is employed to overcome the endogeneity concerns that have consistently challenged prior governance studies. This was accomplished by examining the effects on dividend payouts associated with the exogenously forced addition of independent directors to the boards of publicly listed firms. The results reveal that there is a significant positive relationship between firms that were compelled by law to change their boards and increases in average changes in dividend payouts and percentage changes in dividends paid, when compared to firms that had pre-adopted the Sarbanes–Oxley corporate board composition requirements. A further exploratory analysis showed that the same significant positive relationship is detected for increases in average changes in total dollars distributed, where stock repurchase dollars are combined with dividend payouts. These findings imply that these board composition changes led to decisions that increased dividend payouts in percentage terms, as well as dividend payouts and total dollars distributed in aggregate dollar amount terms.
The Effects of Inventory Costs and Adverse Information on Relative Bid-Ask Spreads: The Case of Telefonos De Mexico Shares

This study analyzes the relative bid-ask spread for the two classes of common shares offered by Telefonos De Mexico that are listed on the NYSE and the NASDAQ. The effects of security price, security risk, trading volume, number of market makers, and extent of informed trading on the relative bid-ask spreads for the two securities are examined before and after the listing of the NYSE issue on May 14, 1991. For the NASDAQ issue, we compare the pre- and post- period relative spreads and factors influencing them. The difference in relative spreads between the NYSE and NASDAQ issues is examined together with the suggested factors. Our empirical evidence appears consistent with the factors suggested by the inventory cost and adverse information theories as important determinants of the relative bid-ask spread.
Genome sequence and analysis of resistance and virulence determinants in a strain of Neisseria mucosa causing native-valve endocarditis

Introduction: Neisseria mucosa colonizes mucosal surfaces in humans and can serve as a reservoir for resistance and virulence determinants for Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, but only on rare occasions has this species been documented as a cause of invasive infection. The host and pathogen factors that predispose to invasive infection with this organism are unknown. Case presentation: A healthy 27-year-old female presented with fever. N. mucosa was isolated from two sets of blood cultures drawn on arrival. Transoesophageal echocardiogram revealed mitral valve vegetation. The patient was diagnosed with endocarditis by modified Duke's criteria. Genome sequencing was performed on the isolate and comparison was made with previously published Neisseria resistance and virulence determinants. Although putative virulence factors were present in this isolate, there is not a sufficient database of genetic information for this species to reach conclusions about the role of these virulence factors in predisposing to invasive disease. Conclusions: For rare infections, like this case, only through reporting of the clinical course and pathogen genome can a sufficient dataset accumulate to make statistically significant inferences and to motivate hypothesis-based confirmatory experiments. This is the first report of whole genome sequencing for this species to be accompanied by a description of invasive clinical disease, and sets the precedent for future studies.
The first heart sound in ventricular contractions arising from the apex and base.

Summary1. Simultaneous electrocardiograms and phonocardiograms were recorded from 5 human subjects having ectopic ventricular systoles. Similar tracings were obtained from 5 dogs in which ectopic systoles were produced by induction shocks to the exposed heart during vagal arrest. The time interval between beginning of ventricular depolarization and onset of the first heart sound was measured for normal and for ectopic beats. The data were subjected to statistical analysis. 2. The beginning of the first heart sound was significantly delayed in ectopic ventricular contractions. The first sound occurred significantly later in ectopic beats arising from the ventricular base than in those from the apex. The probable reasons for these findings are discussed.
Carbon and nitrogen isotopes and C/N ratio as a fingerprinting tracer within Eco- cybernet

Eco-Cybernet combines various spatial-temporal information sources and numerical simulators with management decisions. The focus here is the development of a field-based monitoring tool capable of measuring soil origin for assimilation within Eco-Cybernet. The tool, referred to as fingerprinting, uses carbon and nitrogen isotopes and C/N as tracers that fraction in-stream eroded-soils into their land-use/land-management sources. Here, 245 soil data are presented for the tracers from agriculture and forest land-uses in the Upper Palouse, and differences within the bio-chemical cycles are discerned. Among the agriculture vs. forest land-uses, the nitrogen isotope is primarily dependent upon harvesting practice, the C/N is dependent upon litter inputs, and the carbon isotope shows little difference due to the monoculture C3 environment. The tracers are utilized within the fingerprinting tool, and a Bayesian unmixing model is used to measure source contribution to the eroded-soil. Uncertainty is accounted and attributed to a number of potential processes.
Anosognosia: clinical and ethical considerations

Purpose of reviewThis review considers recent findings on classical forms of anosognosia and less dramatic disturbances in self-awareness observed in various brain disorders. It also addresses issues of clinical management and ethical treatment.Recent findingsThe study of anosognosia for hemiplegia,