cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SAFT-LC: Predicting mesophase formation from a statistical mechanics-based equation of state

The SAFT-liquid crystal (LC) equation of state was used to predict isotropic/discotic nematic phase behavior for carbonaceous, oligomeric pitches over a wide range of conditions, where either excess or orientational free energy effects dominate, both with and without solvents. In particular, supercritical toluene extraction conditions were identified for producing pitch fractions that, upon solvent removal, consist of 100% liquid crystalline mesophase (e.g., 330 °C, 100 bar, and a toluene-to-pitch ratio of 3:1). Temperature versus composition diagrams generated using SAFT-LC illustrate the effect of both temperature, pitch composition, and solvent addition on phase transitions from liquid crystalline to isotropic phase behavior. MALDI mass spectrometry was used to facilitate the selection of physically meaningful pseudocomponents for modeling the feed pitch.
Bank funds management in an efficient market

Abstract This paper discusses general principles for choosing bank assets and liabilities, for deciding on when to make a loan and what interest rate to charge, for pricing funds transfer services such as the handling of checks, for establishing compensating balance requirements, and for dealing with government regulation. The discussion assumes markets are efficient and deals first with an unregulated environment and then with policies in the face of regulatory constraints. Most of the policies which would be optimal in an unregulated environment will be optimal in the regulated environment such as in the U.S. today, because it is relatively easy to get around most of the regulations that are applied to banks by the use of non-deposit liabilities, compensating balances and negative checking accounts.
Inference of Complete Tissue Temperature Fields from a Few Measured Temperatures: An Unconstrained Optimization Method

In clinical applications of hyperthermia, tissue temperature measurements are made at only a few selected locations because of patient tolerance and practical clinical limitations. Since it is necessary to know the complete tumor temperature field in order to effectively evaluate a treatment, methods of interpolating and extrapolating must be developed to estimate the unmeasured tumor temperatures. The difficulty of making such estimates from only a few data points is compounded by a lack of knowledge of the tumor blood perfusion characteristics. To solve this problem we have developed an iterative state and parameter estimation algorithm to attempt to estimate complete tissue temperature fields from temperatures measured at selected locations when tissue perfusion values are unknown. This approach uses either a conjugate gradient or a relaxation method to minimize the difference between the measured temperatures and the temperatures predicted at those same locations by the bioheat transfer equation. To investigate the mathematical capabilities and limitations of this technique a sensitivity analysis has been performed by applying it to a large number of simulated one-dimensional hyperthermia treatments. To illustrate its applicability to clinical situations, the estimation algorithm is also applied to temperature measurements from an animal experiment. The simulation results show that the technique is promising for estimating the complete tumor temperature distribution from measurements at a small number of sampled locations, if some knowledge of the blood perfusion pattern is available.
Currently recommended BK virus (BKV) plasma viral load cutoff of ≥4 log10/mL underestimates the diagnosis of BKV-associated nephropathy: a single transplant center experience.

Background BK virus (BKV)-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) is a major cause of renal dysfunction and graft loss in renal transplant recipients. Monitoring plasma BK viral load (BKVL) is the recommended screening tool to predict BKVAN. American Society of Transplantation (AST) guidelines define a BKVL of ≥4 log10/mL (10,000 copies) as presumptive BKVAN and recommend reduction in immunosuppression. We evaluated the clinical sensitivity of the quantitative BKV DNA assay in predicting risk for BKVAN using the AST-recommended BKVL cutoff. Methods In a retrospective, single-center study, all patients who underwent renal transplant at Henry Ford Hospital from January 2008 to August 2011 were analyzed (n = 490). Plasma BKVL Assay A (commercial large T antigen-based polymerase chain reaction [PCR]) was done in all patients. Renal biopsy was done if there was a rise in serum creatinine ≥0.5 mg from baseline. BKVAN was confirmed by biopsy. As a subset to this study, from the same cohort, data for a set of 20 consecutive Assays A and B (in-house VP1-based PCR assay) from 15 patients over a period of 3 months were collected. Differences in physicians' clinical decision-making (CDM) were analyzed between the 2 assays using chi-square test. Results A total of 413 patients met the inclusion criteria, of which 222 patients had BK viremia. Among the 248 patients who had a renal biopsy done, 31 (12.5%) were found to have BKVAN. Eleven of the 31 (35%) patients had BKVL consistently <4 log10/mL, and thus were not diagnosed to have BKVAN using the AST-recommended BKVL cutoff of ≥4 log10/mL. A total of 8 patients lost their graft owing to BKVAN, including 3 patients with BKVL <4 log10/mL. Using a cutoff point of plasma BKVL of ≥4 log10/mL, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predicative value of the PCR Assay A for the diagnosis of biopsy-proven BKVAN were 64.5%, 98.4%, 87.0%, and 94.5%, respectively, and for the diagnosis of presumptive nephropathy were found to be 76.6%, 99.4%, 95.8%, and 96.4%, respectively. In the second part of the study, presumptive nephropathy was detected in 8 samples using Assay A and 14 samples using Assay B. Six samples in Assay A would have led to no changes in the CDM in terms of reduction in immunosuppression. Kidney biopsy was carried out in 5 patients, 4 of whom had BKVAN and had Assay B log count of ≥5. If Assay A had been used in CDM, BKVAN would have been missed in 1 patient. Conclusion Utilizing the current AST guideline cutoff of ≥4 log10/mL, the PCR Assay A underestimated the diagnosis of BKVAN. Urgent standardization of the various BKVL assays and establishment of universal cutoff points is imperative to avoid BKVAN-related graft loss.
Sensation seeking in opposite-sex twins: an effect of prenatal hormones?

Intrauterine hormones and position with respect to male and female littermates influence sexually dimorphic adult behavior in litter-bearing animals. Opposite-sex dizygotic twins offer the opportunity to examine analogous effects on sex-related human behaviors. To illustrate this approach, Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) scores from 422 British twin pairs, including 51 opposite-sex pairs (Zuckerman, M.,et al., J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 46:139–149, 1978), were reanalyzed. Zuckermanet al. (1978) have shown that some aspects of sensation seeking are consistently increased in males relative to females. In comparing age-adjusted data for opposite and same-sex twins, our reanalysis demonstrated the predicted increase in sensation seeking in female members of opposite-sex pairs. Results were significant for measures of disinhibition, experience seeking, and overall sensation seeking. In contrast, male opposite-sex twins were not significantly different from male same-sex twins. Although psychosocial explanations of the increased sensation seeking in opposite-sex female twins cannot be excluded, these findings are consistent with hypothesizedin utero hormonal influences on later behavioral development.
THE INFLUENCES OF HYPEROSMOLALITY AND SYNAPTIC INPUTS ON GALANIN AND VASOPRESSIN EXPRESSION IN THE HYPOTHALAMUS

Galanin is a neuropeptide that is widely distributed throughout the rat central nervous system. It is co-localized with vasopressin in magnocellular neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. Vasopressin biosynthesis is increased there by various hyperosmolar stimuli, including drinking 2% saline. We previously demonstrated that the chronically hyperosmolar Brattleboro rat has increased biosynthesis of galanin in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. In this report we show using hybridization histochemistry that drinking 2% saline also increased galanin transcripts in these nuclei. We also demonstrate using hybridization histochemistry and immunohistochemistry that knife cuts that sever hypothalamo-hypophysial fibers transiently elevated galanin expression in the supraoptic nucleus ipsilateral to the lesion and depressed vasopressin expression ipsilaterally. Pituitary stalk transections also elevated galanin and decreased vasopressin transcripts. In addition, various knife cuts in the caudal hypothalamus were able to dissociate the expression of vasopressin and galanin, although co-localized and similarly affected by hyperosmolality in the supraoptic nucleus. Unilateral sagittal knife cuts that divided the posterior hypothalamus but avoided the hypothalamo-hypophysial pathway, as well as hemisections at the level of the premammillary area, resulted in ipsilateral elevations of galanin transcripts without significantly affecting vasopressin expression. These results indicate that independent intracellular signal transduction pathways exist for regulating expression of the two genes.
Framework for a resilient and environment-friendly microgrid with demand-side participation

Summary form only given. This presentation deals with a new paradigm where a mix of central station generation, distributed generation and energy efficiency/demand side management practices will provide an alternative and sustainable way to meet the growing needs for electricity. The proposed concept takes into account the availability of cleaner, more efficient and cost-effective small-scale generation sources, as well as advanced IP-based communication technologies in building a resilient electric power system with demand-side participation. The Intelligent Distributed Autonomous Power System (IDAPS) micro grid conceptual framework can contribute to building a resilient and environment-friendly customer-based microgrid, which can exploit energy efficiency opportunities. While the current focus of microgrid R&D is on utility-owned Distributed Energy Resource (DER) units - which are designed to work in a collaborative fashion - the IDAPS concept captures and coordinates customer-owned DER devices. In addition, this framework takes advantage of demand side management in ensuring that critical loads are served during emergency conditions. Building blocks of an IDAPS microgrid comprise physical and cyber layers. The physical layer includes DERs, power electronic devices, distribution circuits and loads. The cyber layer includes an addressable control architecture that represents the decision support system for the IDAPS microgrid.
Symmetric arsenic dimers on the Si (100) surface

Deposition of arsenic on Si(100) results in a well-ordered, highly passivated, and stable surface. From a comparison between angle-resolved photoemission data and ab initio pseudopotential calculations we conclude that the observed 2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1 reconstruction is caused by the formation of symmetric As-As dimers on the surface. The calculated surface band dispersion for this model is in excellent agreement with experiment.
Quasiparticle Interactions in Neutron Matter for Applications in Neutron Stars

A microscopic model for the quasiparticle interaction in neutron matter is presented. Both-particle (pp) and particle-hole (ph) correlations are included. The pp correlations are treated in semi-empirical way, while ph correlations are incorporated by solving coupled two-body equations for particle-hole interaction and the scattering amplitude of the Fermi sphere. The resulting integral equations self-consistently sum the ph reducible diagrams. Antisymmetry is kept at all stages and hence the forward-scattering sum rules for the scattering amplitude are obeyed. Results for Landau parameters and transport coefficients in a density regime representing the crust of a neutron star are presented. We also estimate the (1)S(sub 0) gap parameter for neutron superfluidity and comment briefly on neutron-star implications.
Blockade of the stress-induced decrease in blood GH by anti-somatostatin serum in rats.

To investigate the physiological role of somatostatin in the GH release mechanism, the effect of passive immunization with somatostatin on basal and poststress serum GH levels was examined in rats. Sheep antiserum to somatostatin or normal sheep serum (NSS) was injected iv into adult male rats 5 days, 3 days and 1 day before applying stressful stimuli. Thirty min after the first bleeding under ether, the mean serum GH level increased from 36.3 to 76.1 ng⁄ml in the antiserum-treated rats and decreased from 63.7 to 16.8 ng⁄ml in the NSStreated rats, but the difference for either group was not significant due to the large variation. In another experiment, electroshock was applied to conscious rats. The mean poststress GH level in the rats pre-treated 3 h previously with the antiserum was 34.4 ng⁄ml, a value significantly higher than the GH level in the rats pretreated with NSS (0.9 ng⁄ml) or in non-treated rats (0.5 ng⁄ml). It was concluded that the stress-induced decrease of GH secretion in rats is at least...
Retardation of grain boundary self-diffusion in nickel doped with antimony and tin

Resultats obtenus par autoradiographie sur l'autodiffusion de 63 Ni dans le nickel et le nickel dope avec de l'antimoine et de l'etain. Bien que ces resultats ne permettent pas une evaluation quantitative de la diffusivite aux joints de grains, ils illustrent l'effet dramatique que ces elements en solute ont sur l'aptitude des joints de grains de Ni a agir comme parcours preferentiels pour le transport de masse
Swelling-activated Gd3+-sensitive Cation Current and Cell Volume Regulation in Rabbit Ventricular Myocytes

The role of swelling-activated currents in cell volume regulation is unclear. Currents elicited by swelling rabbit ventricular myocytes in solutions with 0.6–0.9× normal osmolarity were studied using amphotericin perforated patch clamp techniques, and cell volume was examined concurrently by digital video microscopy. Graded swelling caused graded activation of an inwardly rectifying, time-independent cation current (I Cir,swell ) that was reversibly blocked by Gd 3+ , but I Cir,swell was not detected in isotonic or hypertonic media. This current was not related to I K1 because it was insensitive to Ba 2+ . The P K /P Na ratio for I Cir,swell was 5.9 ± 0.3, implying that inward current is largely Na + under physiological conditions. Increasing bath K + increased g Cir,swell but decreased rectification. Gd 3+ block was fitted with a K 0.5 of 1.7 ± 0.3 μM and Hill coefficient, n , of 1.7 ± 0.4. Exposure to Gd 3+ also reduced hypotonic swelling by up to ∼30%, and block of current preceded the volume change by ∼1 min. Gd 3+ -induced cell shrinkage was proportional to I Cir,swell when I Cir,swell was varied by graded swelling or Gd 3+ concentration and was voltage dependent, reflecting the voltage dependence of I Cir,swell . Integrating the blocked ion flux and calculating the resulting change in osmolarity suggested that I Cir,swell was sufficient to explain the majority of the volume change at –80 mV. In addition, swelling activated an outwardly rectifying Cl − current, I Cl,swell . This current was absent after Cl − replacement, reversed at E Cl , and was blocked by 1 mM 9-anthracene carboxylic acid. Block of I Cl,swell provoked a 28% increase in swelling in hypotonic media. Thus, both cation and anion swelling-activated currents modulated the volume of ventricular myocytes. Besides its effects on cell volume, I Cir,swell is expected to cause diastolic depolarization. Activation of I Cir,swell also is likely to affect contraction and other physiological processes in myocytes.
On bilinear forms in Gaussian random variables and Toeplitz matrices

We improve a result of Szegő on the asymptotic behaviour of the trace of products of Toeplitz matrices.
Laser Vaporization/Ionization Interface for Capillary Electrophoresis-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.

Mass spectrometry (MS) is usually coupled on-line with capillary electrophoresis (CE) to analyze biomolecules by using electrospray ionization or continuous-flow fast-atom bombardment. We present a new design for laser vaporization/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. CE, with its low flow rate (<1 μL/min), is highly compatible with MS, even if the total column effluent is introduced directly. A UV laser is used to vaporize and ionize the solution eluting from the column. There is no need to have a makeup solvent. Using this system, we have analyzed a group of amines and peptides. The concentration detection limit of serotonin is in the 10-7 M level. The separation and identification of an amine mixture by CE/MS demonstrates the complementary nature of the information.
Evolution of one-handed piano compositions.

Electronic searches were performed to investigate the evolution of one-handed piano compositions and one-handed music techniques, and to identify individuals responsible for the development of music meant for playing with one hand. Particularly, composers such as Liszt, Ravel, Scriabin, and Prokofiev established a new model in music by writing works to meet the demands of a variety of pianist-amputees that included Count Geza Zichy (1849-1924), Paul Wittgenstein (1887-1961), and Siegfried Rapp (b. 1915). Zichy was the first to amplify the scope of the repertoire to improve the variety of one-handed music; Wittgenstein developed and adapted specific and novel performance techniques to accommodate one-handedness; and Rapp sought to promote the stature of one-handed pianists among a musically sophisticated public able to appreciate the nuances of such maestros.
Host Specificity and Biology of Spodoptea pectinicornis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a Biological Control Agent of Waterlettuce (Pistia stratiotes)

Abstract The noctuid Spodoptera pectinicornis (Hampson) from southeast Asia was studied in quarantine for potential use as a biological control agent of the floating aquatic weed waterlettuce, Pistia stratiotes L. Host-specificity tests were conducted on 70 plant species in 32 families. First instars fed slightly on 5 plant species and moderately on 1. Third instars fed slightly on 7, moderately on 5, and heavily on 3 plant species. In all tests, no larvae lived longer than 6 days or developed to the next stage except those on impatiens (Impatiens balsamina L.). In whole-plant tests of impatiens, larvae fed for several weeks, but were unable to complete development. In multichoice oviposition tests, moths laid over 70% of their egg masses on waterlettuce, 21% on nonplant surfaces, four masses on eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), and one mass each on 4 other plant species. No eggs were laid on impatiens. The inability of larvae to develop to the next stage except on whole plants of impatiens, on which they did not advance to the pupal stage, and the nonchoice of impatiens for oviposition indicate the safety of S. pectinicornis for release. Species from genera with mostly polyphagous members should not be rejected from consideration as biological control agents of weeds without testing. Areas other than the apparent center of origin should also be explored to discover newer insect-plant associations. Information on the biology of S. pectinicornis is also presented.
Applications of decision support and expert systems in flexible manufacturing systems

Abstract Flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) increase the efficiency of operations by improving cost, quality, and lead time while decision support and expert systems (DSSE DSS and ES techniques are aimed at supporting or even replacing such expertise. Therefore, it seems that there is a considerable potential for further application of DSS and ES in FMS.
Reliability testing of high aspect ratio through silicon vias fabricated with atomic layer deposition barrier, seed layer and direct plating and material properties characterization of electrografted insulator, barrier and seed layer for 3-D integration

In this work the physical and electrical properties of metal-insulator-semiconductor devices using an electrografted insulator were characterized, including breakdown voltage, flat band capacitance and effective trap density and compared with reference thermal oxide layers. In addition, direct Cu plating on ALD barrier and seed layer into high aspect ratio TSVs was demonstrated and characterized. Thickness, roughness, and resistivity were characterized. Preliminary reliability testing on both processes was performed, showing good initial results with no major changes in film properties. These methods are attractive candidates for use in deposition of insulator, barrier and seedlayer into high aspect ratio TSVs for 3D integration applications.
Effect of Selector Coverage and Mobile Phase Composition on Enantiomeric Separations with Ristocetin A Chiral Stationary Phases

Abstract Three different amounts (i.e., selector coverages) of ristocetin A macrocyclic antibiotic have been covalently bonded to silica gel, packed in stainless steel columns, and evaluated as chiral stationary phases (CSPs) in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The three columns (i.e., CSPs) were examined and compared in the reversed-phase, polar-organic, and normal-phase modes. The retention behavior ( k ′), selectivity (α), resolution ( R S ), and number of theoretical plates ( N ) for all three columns are discussed and compared in each mobile phase mode. The coverage of the chiral selector had a profound effect on the chromatographic behavior of the more retained enantiomers. A special mobile phase composition (i.e., methanol plus very small amounts of acid and base modifiers) resulted in improved baseline separations, without greatly affecting the analysis times, for all chiral analytes evaluated. The column stabilities were excellent when switching between different mobile phase modes.
Effect of light and pH on diazotized bilirubin.

Die Wirkung normaler Raumbelichtung (elektrisches fluoreszierendes Licht) und diejenige der Wasserstoffionen-Konzentration auf diazotiertes Bilirubin wurde untersucht. Wahrend elektrisches Licht bei den gegebenen Versuchsbedingungen zu keiner Anderung der optischen Dichte fuhrte, bewirkte ein Zusatz von Natronlauge eine Verminderung der optischen Dichte und zwar unbeeinflusst durch den Zusatz von HCL.
Drug-induced metabolic bone disorders.

Abstract A number of drugs, either physician prescribed or those taken without the knowledge of the physician, may have metabolic effects on, and result in abnormal changes in, the musculoskeletal system. These medications may involve the developing fetus, infant, child, or adult and may manifest as drug-induced embryopathies, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, or rickets, or a combination of these, or they may be associated with proliferative changes. Not uncommonly, the radiologist may be the first physician to identify the metabolic manifestations of these medications. The radiological changes associated with such drugs will be reviewed. Certain drugs may have teratogenic effects, nonteratogenic effects, or both. These effects, dependent solely on the timing of administration, will be discussed separately.
Landscapes, land use, and the history of territory formation: An example from the Puebloan southwest

Territories are spatial units that encompass the broadest range of a society's land-use behaviors as well as the history of human interactions with the natural landscape. Drawing from published documents pertaining to the North American Indian Land Claims and to the prehistory and history of land use among the Hopi Indians of Arizona, this paper integrates spatial, material, and historical variables of land use behavior (1) to formulate an empirical definition of territory and (2) to develop a generalized life history of territory formation that can be applied explicitly to the archaeological record.
DEVELOPING GERONTOLOGICAL EXPERTISE AMONG HIGHER EDUCATION FACULTY

Recent manpower studies concluded that current professionals in various fields do not have adequate gerontology training to serve their elderly clients. Additionally, studies of gerontology faculty document the lack of formal preparation in gerontology, frequency of part‐time teaching in gerontology, and the lack of seniority of gerontology faculty. Approaches to developing the gerontological expertise of faculty from many disciplines are discussed and a regional model proposed. Faculty development needs to move beyond the introductory stages to facilitate the development of significant levels of gerontological expertise and program development.
Effects of Source Energy And Soil Moisture On Near-source, Nonlinear Deformation Associated With Near-surface Seismic Reflection Sources.

The ability to collect seismic-reflection data in the upper 3m of the subsurface (ultrashallow seismic reflection: USR) is important because it offers an alternative to ground-penetrating radar in regions exhibiting high attenuation of electromagnetic signal. Previous work has demonstrated that the critical controllable factors in obtaining USR data are dense spatial sampling and high (>400 Hz) frequency content. The frequency content is strongly controlled by the characteristics of the sources used to generate the seismic energy. Qualitative experiments have indicated that the higher-energy nearsurface seismic reflection projectile sources lack some of the high-frequency energy exhibited by smaller-energy sources. In addition, soil moisture content has been shown to be an important variable in the frequency content of data even if the same source is used. In both cases, the reduction in the frequency content of the data has been hypothesized to correlate with greater amounts of near-source, nonlinear deformation.
SELECTIVE VULNERABILITY OF THE DEVELOPING BRAIN TO LEAD

Environmental lead exposure in young children who ingest household paint dust or other sources impairs their potential intelligence in a linear, dose‐dependent fashion in contrast to its far more subtle effects on other neurologic functions. Basic investigations have identified three interrelated steps in synaptic neurotransmission at which low levels of lead can disrupt signal processing. Lead enhances background transmitter release, but impairs stimulated release, inhibits function at the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate‐type glutamate receptor and stimulates background levels of the intracellular messenger protein kinase C. Taken together these effects have the effect of diminishing the synaptic signal to noise ratio. The ability of lead to enhance ‘synaptic noise’ during a critical early period of postnatal development may permanently disrupt the architecture of cortical processing units by depriving them of high resolution environmental signals needed to refine synaptic connections. Curr Opin Neurol 11:689–693. © 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Morbidity involving the hallucinogenic designer amines MDA and 2C-I.

A case is presented of a 39-year-old woman who suffered severe debilitation because of a hemorrhagic stroke in the context ofsubstance abuse. The patient presented to the emergency room with rapidly diminishing mental status, hypertension, and vasoconstriction; her friendsprovided a history of ingestion of cocaine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and 2C-I, a novel designer amine. A multi-targeted LC-MS ⁄ MS method for sympathomimetic amines and related drugs in urine detected and quantified 2C-I and MDA, while ruling out MDMA. The causeof the stroke was determined to be an underlying cerebrovascular abnormality called Moyamoya, secondary to substance abuse. In clinical laborato-ries, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry or liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) confirmation of a positive amphet-amine immunoassay is usually directed only towards amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA and MDA. This report demonstrates the utility oftesting for a wider menu of compounds using LC-MS ⁄ MS in order to better characterize the prevalence and toxicities of novel amines such as 2C-I
Inuit foraging groups: some simple models incorporating conflicts of interest, relatedness, and central-place sharing

Abstract Theory and research in evolutionary ecology and sociobiology have developed rather independently of each other. The mutual relevance of these two fields for understanding the adaptive significance of social interactions is exemplified by a consideration of cooperative foraging. Several simple models of optimal foraging group size are developed to explore the effect of the following factors: (1) conflicts of interest between group members and prospective joiners; (2) genealogical relatedness and kin-directed altruism; and (3) the scope of the sharing rule governing division of the harvest. Where the alternative is low-return solitary foraging, "joiners" are shown to prefer group sizes that are often suboptimal (in per capita efficiency) for "members." Predicted group sizes are also above per-capita optima where kin-directed altruism is important and/or where groups and individuals pool their catch at a central place. The effect of kin-directed altruism is incorporated by defining "inclusive efficiency" measures based on genealogical relatedness and group membership options. Expansion of the harvest-sharing network to include all foragers based at a central place is shown to eliminate conflicts of interest between members and joiners, as well as cancel the role of relatedness in shaping optimal group size or composition. Predictions from the models are tested quantitatively with data on Inuit (Canadian Eskimo) foraging groups. Some models offer an improvement in accounting for variation in Inuit foraging group size, but others do not; empirical and theoretical gaps in our understanding are revealed that call for further research.
Effects of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation on polar temperatures in the stratosphere

[1] Reanalysis data are used to study the effects of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) and the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the stratosphere. During the boreal winter in the Arctic, Warm ENSO (WENSO) months are found to be significantly warmer and Cold ENSO (CENSO) months significantly colder than climatology. The QBO is also found to have a large effect on the Arctic stratosphere during the late fall/early winter; Westerly QBO (WQBO) poles are colder, and Easterly QBO (EQBO) poles are warmer. In the first half of the 50 years of interest, WENSO and EQBO have had a tendency to be correlated in time, and thus their signals are difficult to disentangle. In order to isolate each effect from the other, composites are taken of QBO months under near-neutral ENSO conditions, which show a clear effect in late fall/early winter. Because of the bimodality of QBO, producing a meaningful composite of ENSO months under near-neutral QBO is difficult, as the number of available months is quite small. To distinguish ENSO from QBO and to further study the QBO, we compare composites of months with four different combinations of QBO and ENSO anomalies, which confirms that ENSO does have a significant effect on the polar vortex. These groupings are also studied after removing the 2 years following one of the three major volcanic eruptions during the 50 years of data and during the post-1979 satellite era only as well. These composites show distinct ENSO and QBO effects of comparable magnitude.
Conformational studies of Escherichia coli pyruvate oxidase.

Pyruvate oxidase (pyruvate: oxygen oxidoreductase (phosphorylating), EC 1.2.33) is a peripheral membrane enzyme from Escherichia coli which utilizes the cofactors thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) and flavin-adenine dinucleotide (FAD) to catalyze the decarboxylation of pyruvate to acetic acid and carbon dioxide. The specific activity of the oxidase is enhanced 25-fold when assayed in tbe presence of certain lipids and detergents. Previous studies have demonstrated that the affinity of pyruvate oxidase for phospholipids and detergents is substantially increased when the flavin is reduced. In this paper, several techniques are utilized to probe both the nature of the active site and the conformational changes in the protein which are concomitant with flavin reduction and with the binding of lipids to the enzyme. Analysis of the circular dichroism spectrun in the far ultraviolet region indicates that neither the binding of lipid activators to the oxidase nor reduction of the enzyme-bound flavin by pyruvate has a significant effect on the average secondary structure of the enzyme. High-resolution electron microscopy demonstrates that at low enzyme concentrations, i.e., assay conditions, incubation of the reduced flavoprotein in the presence of an amphiphilic activator does not after the quaternary structure of pyruvate oxidase. The results indicate that the conformational changes in the protein due either to reduction of the flavin or to the binding of lipid activators are localized.
The cambrian substrate revolution and early evolution of the phyla

Evidence from Precambrian carbonate and siliciclastic sedimentary structures indicates that in marine settings before the Cambrian conditions of seafloor environments were largely controlled by microbes and the mats which they form. During the Ediacaran-Cambrian transition, a vertical component to marine bioturbation evolved, as well as overall increased seafloor bioturbation. The “Cambrian substrate revolution (CSR)” encompasses the evolutionary and ecological effects that occurred due to these substrate changes. The continued evolution of bioturbating organisms caused the development of a significant variety of new microenvironments, which led to the formation of new ecospace and evolutionary opportunities for other benthic organisms. Numerous studies have evaluated the “weird” morphology of early seafloor animals and how they adapted to an increasingly bioturbated substrate. Many early animals adapted to seafloors with strong microbial mat development are stem groups of the phyla we recognize today, and thus have morphological features absent in modern representatives. Fossils of crown groups of modern phyla first began to appear in the Cambrian and subsequently dominated Phanerozoic bioturbated seafloor environments. The CSR is thus a primary component of the evolution of stem and crown groups of the phyla during the Cambrian explosion.
Non-vagal reflex effects on medullary inspiratory neurons during inspiratory loading

Abstract Studies were conducted to compare the first-breath responses of medullary Dorsal and Ventral Respiratory Group inspiratory (I) neurons to the mechanical loading (tracheal occlusion, TO) of inspiration in unanesthetized (decerebrate) and anesthetized (Dial®) vagotomized cats, and to determine the sources of the sensory activity causing the changes in I-neuron activity. In decerebrate cats, TO resulted in a prolongation of the firing duration in 49% of the I-neurons. There was a delayed onset of firing in 7% of the I-neurons. The responses of I-neurons to TO in anesthetized cats were similar to the responses in decerebrate cats. Changes in I-neuron activity with TO were still present in cats with their cervical (C3-7) or thoracic (T1–9) dorsal roots cut, and absent when both cervical and thoracic dorsal roots were cut. The most probable sources of the cervical and thoracic afferent information altering medullary I-neuron activity during loading are the diaphgram and inspiratory intercostal muscles.
Late Cardiotoxicity in Aging Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer

The survival rate for childhood cancer is steadily improving, and the current estimate for the prevalence of childhood cancer survivors in the United States is 420,000. With this encouraging trend and the aging of this population, there is an ever-increasing responsibility to identify adult survivors of childhood cancer with adverse health outcomes related to cancer treatment across the span of their lives. To accomplish this, large cohort studies have been developed to follow survivors longitudinally. Compared to siblings, survivors have a higher cumulative incidence of morbidity and mortality, and this gap in incidence only widens with age. One of the most significant late toxicities in survivors is late onset cardiotoxicity, largely due to anthracycline and chest-directed radiation exposure. Survivors also have an increased prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors as they age, which potentiates the risk for major cardiac events. Prevention is essential. Minimizing anthracycline dose exposure in pediatric cancer patients is a primary method of cardioprotection. Dexrazoxane and enalapril have also been studied as primary (pre-exposure) and secondary (post-exposure) cardioprotecant agents, respectively. Additionally, the Children's Oncology Group has published exposure-driven, risk-based screening guidelines for long-term follow-up, which may be a cost-effective way to identify subclinical cardiac disease before progression to clinical presentation. Ongoing research is needed to determine the most effective diagnostic modality for screening (e.g. echocardiography), and the most effective intervention strategies to improve long-term outcomes.
The international arms trade and its impact on health

The second world war brought the world to an apogee of mass murder, with widespread killing of military personnel and civilians; the indiscriminate aerial bombing of cities such as London, Dresden, and Tokyo; and the detonation of single bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These nuclear bombs caused some 200000 deaths immediately and hundreds of thousands of injuries, many resulting in death in succeeding months and in permanent physical or psychological disabilities.1 2 3 Over the 50 years since the end of that war, nuclear weapons and the even more destructive thermonuclear weapons developed in the 1950s4 5 have not been used in war, although there have been threats to do so by some nations possessing them. Among the other “weapons of mass destruction,” chemical weapons have been rarely used, and biological weapons, although stockpiles existed and their use has been alleged, were probably not used at all.6 On the other hand, so called “conventional weapons” have, since 1945, directly caused the deaths of more than 30 million people. During this period the percentage of direct war deaths among civilians has increased steadily (fig 1), and in recent years approximately nine times as many civilians as military personnel have been killed by weapons during war.** Many millions more civilians have died from war related hunger and disease as their crops were destroyed or they were forced to flee their homes to become part of the world's growing number of refugees inside or outside their countries. Fig 1 Civilian deaths as percentage of all deaths in war (source: Unicef) Virtually all the wars since 1945 have been fought in Third World countries, often as surrogate wars between the United States and the former Soviet Union. More recently civil wars, often based on historic ethnic enmities, opposition to oppressive governments, or arising …
A Test of Numeric Formats for Communicating Risk Probabilities

BACKGROUND: Because people frequently encounter information about the probability of health risks, there is a need for research to help identify the best formats for presenting these probabilities. METHODS: . Three waves of participants were recruited from visitors to a cancer-related Internet site. Participants were presented with a hypothetical scenario that required them to perform 2 mathematical operations of the types that might be encountered in discussions of risk. Each wave encountered different operations. The operations used were compare, halve, triple, add, sequence, and tradeoff. Three numeric formats for communicating risk likelihoods were tested: percentages (e.g., 12%), frequencies (e.g., 12 in 100), and 1 in n (e.g., 1 in 8), and many levels of risk magnitude were crossed with the 3 formats. RESULTS: . The total sample of 16,133 individuals represented an overall participation rate of 36.1%. Although the relative performance of the formats varied by operation, aggregated across operations, the percentage and frequency formats had higher overall accuracy rates than the 1-in-n format (57% and 55% v. 45%, respectively). Participants with less education, African Americans, Hispanics, and women had more difficulty with the mathematical operations. DISCUSSION: . Percentage and frequency formats facilitate performance of simple operations on risk probabilities compared with the 1-in-n format, which should usually be avoided. Language: en
Probing plant-pathogen interactions and downstream defense signaling using DNA microarrays

The interaction between a plant and a pathogen activates a wide variety of defense responses. The recent development of microarray-based expression profiling methods, together with the availability of genomic and/or EST (expressed sequence tag) sequence data for some plant species, has allowed significant progress in the characterization of plant pathogenesis-related responses. The small number of expression profiling studies completed to date have already identified an amazing number of genes that had not previously been implicated in plant defense. Some of these genes can be associated with defense signal transduction or antimicrobial action, but the functional contribution of many others remains uncertain. Initial expression profiling work has also revealed similarities and distinctions between different defense signaling pathways, and cross-talk (both overlap and interference) between pathogenesis-related responses and plant responses to other stresses. Potential transcriptional cis-regulatory elements upstream of co-regulated genes can also be identified. Whole-genome arrays are only now becoming available, and many interactions remain to be studied (e.g. different pathogen species, plant genotypes, mutants, time-points after infection). Expression profiling technologies, in combination with other genomic tools, will have a substantial impact on our understanding of plant-pathogen interactions and defense signaling pathways.
Development of masturbation in college women

To elucidate a number of hypotheses about the development of sexual responsivity in women, a random sample of 100 undergraduate women was interviewed about their masturbation histories, techniques in masturbation, and the relationship of masturbation to intercourse. Masturbation had been practiced by 74%. It began most commonly as an accidental discovery. Learning the sexual nature of masturbation from peers and written sources seemed to result in methods more imitative of heterosexual activities and to increase the enjoyment and goaldirectedness of the behavior. The view that experiencing sexual pleasure depends on social transmission of scripts was thus supported. Several techniques were related to orgasm ability in masturbation and intercourse. Women who were orgasmic in masturbation and who masturbated with that goal were more likely to continue the behavior than those with other goals. Frequency of masturbation and frequency of intercourse were not related, failing to support the notion of a unitary “sex drive.” Nor was “clitoral fixation” documented by any relationship between reliance on clitoral stimulation in both masturbation and intercourse. Masturbating to orgasm was not related to orgasm ability in intercourse.
Fractures in Geriatric Mice Show Decreased Callus Expansion and Bone Volume

Background Poor fracture healing in geriatric populations is a significant source of morbidity, mortality, and cost to individuals and society; however, a fundamental biologic understanding of age-dependent healing remains elusive. The development of an aged-based fracture model system would allow for a mechanistic understanding that could guide future biologic treatments.
The Modification of Plume Models to Account for Dry Deposition

The assumptions and predictions of four diffusion-deposition models are compared, and two simple plume depletion models are recommended. One model applies an analytical, constant eddy-diffusivity solution of the advection-diffusion equation as a deposition correction to the general Gaussian plume model. Predictions of this model compare moderately well with those of the surface depletion model, an exact treatment of plume depletion, and it is particularly useful for estimating the transport and deposition of settling particles. The second model is a correction to the simple source depletion model that also accounts for the change in the vertical concentration profile caused by deposition. The computational requirements of this model are similar to those of the unmodified source depletion model, while its predictions near the surface are very close to those of the surface depletion model.
Über die Reaktion von Schwefel mit Aminen und Formaldehyd. Eine neue Methode zur Herstellung von Thioformamiden und Dithiocarbamaten

The reaction of sulfur with primary or secondary amines and formaldehyde has been studied. A simple one step process for the preparation of thioformamides (RR′NCHS; R H, R′ CH3, C2H5; R R′ CH3, C2H5; R+R′ (CH2), (CH2), C2H4OC2H) and the amine salts of N, N-dialkyl-dithiocarbamic acids (R2NCS2 · H2NR2, R CH3, C2H5, C4H9; R2 (CH2), (CH2), C2H4OC2H) is reported. In addition, the isolation of diethylamidosulfoxylic acid, (C2H5)2NSOH · 1/2 H2O, the first derivative of a new class of compounds, is described. The physical properties and the 1H-NMR. spectra of the above mentioned compounds are given.
Electrical resistivity changes not observed with the 28 September 2004 M6.0 Parkfield earthquake on the San Andreas fault, California

[1] An 18 a long experiment to capture changes in electrical resistivity prior to, during, and after a M6 earthquake on the San Andreas fault at Parkfield, California, culminated with an event of that magnitude on 28 September 2004. Resistivity was monitored with a telluric array, giving precisions in measured parameters of 0.2% or less. No coseismic resistivity changes greater than 5% could have occurred or they would have been detected by the array, and any precursory changes would have been much smaller because maximum possible precursory strains were 4000 times smaller than the coseismic strain. Given that the earthquake ruptured directly beneath the telluric array, this experiment places a bound on the amount resistivity might change at the hypocentral location; changes measured with instruments farther from earthquakes can only be smaller. It is still possible that a measurable change with a larger earthquake or other fault geometries are capable of generating larger signals, but our results show clearly that future experiments should be designed with precisions of much better than 0.1% if they are to be successful.