cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flow cytometric analysis of DNA replication during the differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes

We have employed a flow cytometric method of monitoring DNA synthesis in order to study the stimulation of DNA replication during the induction of adipocyte differentiation in the preadipocyte cell line 3T3-L1. When confluent monolayers of this cell line are treated with a mixture of methyl isobutyl xanthine, dexamethasone, and insulin (MDI), they undergo at least one round of cell division, which is followed by the de novo synthesis of many enzymes that are involved in the formation of lipid. If the MDI-treated cells are incubated in iododeoxyuridine (IdUrd)- or bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd)-containing medium and subsequently stained with antibodies specific for these base analogues and with propidium iodide (PI), the kinetics of the induction of replication can be monitored. No differences in the patterns of IdUrd incorporation versus PI staining were observed between exponentially growing 3T3-L1 cells and those that had been stimulated to replicate DNA with MDI. In addition, we developed a flow cytometric (FCM) method for staining fatty acid synthetase and localizing the antigen in the G1 phase. We have thus demonstrated the feasibility of this methodology for correlating by FCM the production of enzymes such as fatty acid synthetase with IdUrd and BrUrd incorporation. The technique should permit studies of the inhibition of differentiation of adipocytes by halogenated pyrimidines.
Contextual Influences of Maps and Diagrams on Learning.

In this study, we examined the influence of graphic patterns and their interpretive context on learning accompanying prose. Subjects examined a graphic figure identified as either a map or a diagram and were instructed either to label its vertices with 12 keywords provided or to simply list them below the figure. Groups practiced performing their specific task from memory and given corrective feedback whereupon the entire procedure was repeated. Subjects then heard a narrated story with a different keyword named every third sentence. Order of appearance by the keywords was either similar to or different than that suggested by the display studied. Memory for both story information and the keywords themselves was tested using constructed response questions and a serial recall task, respectively. Subjects were also asked to rate the usefulness of experimental materials and procedures for learning keywords and story content. Results suggest maps, unlike diagrams, are sequentially encoded and that abstract graphic displays can adopt map-like characteristics as a result of the context in which they are presented. Experimental outcomes are discussed in terms of interpretive frameworks and prior knowledge.
Work transfer theory for mechanical non-equilibrium, quasi-equilibrium, and equilibrium

Abstract Work transfer is the mechanical process of energy transfer, which attracts great attention in multidisciplinary fields. A work transfer theory for mechanical non-equilibrium, quasi-equilibrium, and equilibrium is proposed as a special case of an internal energy transfer theory under a postulate that pressure, time, and displacement are independent and orthogonal variables in extended phase spaces. The statistical thermodynamic work transfer theory is applicable to providing the equation of state in various mechanical phenomena in nature, and the work fluxes are expressed as a function of pressure, time, and displacement. The theory is the unification of internal convection and external diffusion work transfer, which is a non-equilibrium generalization beyond the quasi-equilibrium theories of isobaric and isochoric processes. Two internal phase space dimensions of pressure and volume are introduced for the intensive and extensive property dimensions. The theory explicitly demonstrates diffusion, convection, internal convection, and equilibrium work fluxes. The work transfer theory is applied to investigate the mechanical mechanisms in the liquid–vapor phase transition. Three variable separation constants infer particle number constants and play the major roles in describing the distinct phase transition mechanisms. Qualitative predictions of the work transfer theory in liquid–vapor phase transition are carried out, and comparisons between quasi-equilibrium and non-equilibrium processes are discussed. In the kinetics of work transfer, the four control mechanisms of forced convection, turbulence, transient, and film work are considered. The work fluxes in the phase transition are dynamically characterized and the corresponding equations of state are predicted.
Note on the Spherical Harmonic Method As Applied to the Milne Problem for a Sphere

The spherical analog of the Milne problem for the half-plane is treated by an approximate method based on expanding the neutron distribution function in a finite number of spherical harmonics. The results are improved markedly in going from the first to the second approximation and more slowly in higher approximations. The neutron distribution is calculated in the first two approximations. Values of the "extrapolated endpoint"---as predicted by the first three approximations---are tabulated in Table I as a function of the radius of the sphere.
Reencountering Development: Livelihood Transitions and Place Transformations in the Andes

Neither poststructural nor neoliberal interpretations of development capture the full extent and complexity of rural transformations in the Andes. Poststructural critiques tend to view development as a process of cultural destruction and homogenization, while neoliberal interpretations identify a different development ‘failure’ that inheres in ‘inefficient’ patterns of resource use, and the ‘nonviability’ of large parts of the Andean peasantry. In each case, the state is seen as a problem: as an agent of dominating modernization, or as a brake on market-led transformation. The paper reviews these positions in the light of the transformations in governance, livelihoods, and landscape that have occurred in the regions of Colta, Guamote, and Otavalo, all centers of indigenous Quichua populations in the Ecuadorian Andes. These transformations question the accuracy of arguments about cultural destruction or nonviability. Instead they suggest that people have built economically viable livelihood strategies that...
A variable separated ODE method for solving the triple sine-Gordon and the triple sinh-Gordon equations

Abstract A variable separated ODE method is used for a reliable treatment of the triple sine-Gordon and the triple sinh-Gordon equations. Two distinct sets of travelling wave solutions, that possess distinct physical structures, are formally derived for each equation. The work introduces entirely new solutions and emphasizes the power of the method that can be used in problems with identical nonlinearities.
Mathematical principles of reinforcement and resistance to change.

Abstract Although Killeen’s mathematical principles of reinforcement (MPR) apply to the asymptotic rate of a free operant after extended exposure to a single schedule of reinforcement, they can be extended to resistance to change in multiple schedules via alterations in the parameter representing the activating effects of reinforcers. MPR’s predictions of resistance to change in relation to reinforcer rate on variable-interval (VI) schedules are empirically correct and agree with behavioral momentum theory (BMT). However, both MPR and BMT encounter problems in accounting for the effects of delayed reinforcement on resistance to change, relative to immediate reinforcement at the same rate. Further problems are raised by differences in resistance to change between variable-ratio (VR) and variable-interval performances maintained by the same reinforcer rate. With both delayed versus immediate reinforcement and variable-ratio versus variable-interval reinforcement, differential resistance to change is negatively correlated with the log ratios of baseline response rates when reinforcer rates are equated. Cases where resistance to change varies despite equated reinforcer rates, and the correlations among behavioral measures, provide challenges and opportunities for both MPR and BMT.
Sand and Organic Amendment Influences on Soil Physical Properties Related to Turf Establishment

Topsoil blending is a common practice in many metropolitan areas, yet few scientific guidelines are available for design of general-use, lawn-area soils. The objective of this study was to provide blending guidelines with focus on establishing a vigorous turfgrass ground cover. A Mahoning silt loam (fine, illitic, mesic Aeric Epiaqualf) and a Tioga loam (coarse-loamy, mixed, mesic Dystric Fluventic Eutrochrept) were each blended with a spent foundry sand and a peat humus to form 28 individual soil mixes for each native soil. Soil properties and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) growth were measured for each soil mix. Cation exchange capacity (CEC), bulk density, and plant available water exhibited changes due to soil mix that largely resulted from differences in mix organic matter (OM) content. Compression index, bubbling pressure (H b ), air-filled porosity, and saturated hydraulic conductivity (K sat ) responded to both sand and OM contents of the soil mixes. The pore distribution parameter, λ, exhibited a response to sand and OM contents, but only at high levels of either component. Principal component analysis (PCA) of soil properties revealed that the first two principal components contained 85 to 88% of the total data variation with correlations between compression index, H b , air-filled porosity, K sat , and λ contained in the first component and correlation between CEC, bulk density, and available water contained in the second component. Regression of turf clipping yield vs. PCA factor scores and regression of factor scores vs. total sand and OM contents suggested that a high-quality, general-use soil for lawn establishment would contain about 65% sand and have an OM content of 8% by weight. The multivariate process of relating turf yield to soil physical properties, as applied in this study, should provide more generalized mix formulation guidelines than do recommendations based on relating turf yield to mix composition.
Comparison between the stochastic search variable selection and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator for genome-wide association studies of rheumatoid arthritis

Background Because multiple loci control complex diseases, there is great interest in testing markers simultaneously instead of one by one. In this paper, we applied two model selection algorithms: the stochastic search variable selection (SSVS) and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) to two quantitative phenotypes related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Imprinting disorders and assisted reproductive technology

Worldwide use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) accounts for an estimated 1 to 3% of births. Since 2002, a series of reports have suggested an increased risk of imprinting disorders (Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and Angelman syndrome) in children conceived by ART. Definitive conclusions are difficult to substantiate due to the rarity of imprinting disorders and the variability in ART protocols. Despite these limitations, there is biological plausibility for alteration in nongenomic inheritance caused by ART. Animal studies have shown that ART procedures can alter normal imprinting, specifically DNA methylation patterns. Collectively, studies suggest an association between ART and loss of maternal methylation. More recent reports examined a possible association between ART and global hypomethylation of DNA. Three other imprinting disorders (Silver-Russell syndrome, maternal hypomethylation syndrome, and retinoblastoma) have also been implicated, but there is insufficient evidence to establish an association of these syndromes with ART. Based on current evidence, the absolute risk of imprinting disorders after ART remains small and does not warrant routine screening. Large prospective studies are needed to better understand the risks associated with imprinting disorders, imprinting defects, and ART.
INDIVIDUAL AND INTERPERSONAL MODERATORS OF EMPLOYEE REACTIONS TO JOB CHARACTERISTICS: A REEXAMINATION

This research examines the moderating effects of individual growth need strength (GNS) and interpersonal (supervisory and co-worker) satisfactions on the relationship of job enrichment characteristics to intrinsic job satisfaction and job involvement. Data were collected from a sample of 89 managerial and professional personnel of a large manufacturing firm in the Midwest. The results tend to support previous research findings regarding the moderating effects of individual GNS but not interpersonal satisfaction factors. In fact, significant interactions between job enrichment characteristics and interpersonal factors are obtained but they are opposite those reported in previous research. Implications of the findings for job design are discussed.
The hierarchical basis multigrid method for convection-diffusion equations

We make a theoretical study of the application of a standard hierarchical basis multigrid iteration to the convection diffusion equation, discretized using an upwind finite element discretizations. We show behavior that in some respects is similar to the symmetric positive definite case, but in other respects is markedly different. In particular, we find the rate of convergence depends significantly on parameters which measure the strength of the upwinding, and the size of the convection term. Numerical calculations illustrating some of these effects are given.
Counterion and solvent effects on the dilute solution viscosity of polystyrene ionomers

We present an analysis of data on the intrinsic viscosity [η] of sulfo-polystyrene ionomers in several solvents for a variety of sulfonation levels and counterions. For solvents of low dielectric constant, 2 < e < 18, [η] decreases from the base polymer value [η]0 with increasing substitution level. This behavior was attributed to intramolecular association of ionic dipoles. The ratio [η]/[η]0 was found to depend on a single reduced variable αAαSx, where x is the fractional substitution, αA depends only on the counterion, and αS ∝ e−1 depends only on the solvent. For solvents of high dielectric constant, 36 < e < 47, [η] increases approximately as x3, and counterion effects are small. This behavior was attributed to ionic dissociation, giving rise to a polyelectrolyte effect. Implications of the low e results are discussed in relation to association-induced gelation behavior and possible generalizations of the reduced variables approach.
In vitro culture of Drosophila imaginal disc cells: Aggregation, sorting out, and differentiative abilities☆

Abstract This paper describes the aggregation in vitro of cells dissociated from imaginal discs and demonstrates the sorting out of undifferentiated cells from different imaginal discs and from differently determined regions of the same imaginal disc, as well as the abilities of such cells to undergo pattern reconstruction when injected into larvae. Dissociated cells begin to aggregate by 1.5 hr of rotation. By 5 hr of rotation, large aggregates of loosely associated cells appear. By 18 hr the aggregates have condensed and taken on a characteristic epithelial structure. To study sorting out in undifferentiated cells, we combined a histochemical stain for acid phosphatase with the use of the acid phosphatase null mutant acph n-11 . We performed cell mixing experiments with 0–2 (prospective notum) and 2–8 (prospective wing) fragments, with the A and P (prospective anterior and posterior) fragments of the dorsal mesothoracic disc and with mixtures of cells from ventral prothoracic and dorsal mesothoracic discs. We found that prospective anterior and posterior dorsal mesothoracic cells do not sort out, but that prospective notum and wing and leg and wing cells do. The results from differentiated implants are consistent with those from undifferentiated mixes.
Titanium mesh implantation—A method to stabilize the spine and protect the spinal cord following a multilevel laminectomy in the adult rat

The development of clinically relevant larger spinal cord injury models is in part limited by the possibility of a widened or multilevel laminectomy causing a spinal cord injury from an unstable spine or from compression of the spinal cord by adjacent soft tissues. In the adult rat, we have developed a method to protect the spinal cord and stabilize the spinal column using a titanium mesh implant following a bilateral, multilevel lumbar laminectomy. For this purpose, bilateral and expanded L1-4 laminectomies were performed with or without the use of a titanium mesh to protect the spinal cord and stabilize the spine. Without titanium mesh protection, the rats developed a severe paraparesis or paraplegia, urinary retention, gross anatomical signs of cord compression, and motoneuron loss. In the titanium mesh treatment group, the rats typically maintained a normal gait and lower urinary tract function, normal gross anatomical features of the spinal cord, and normal motoneuron counts. We propose that the use of a titanium mesh implant may assist in the development of clinically relevant larger spinal cord injury and repair models.
Influence of Engine Operating Conditions on Diesel Particulate Matter Emissions in Relation to Transient and Steady-State Conditions

Airborne particulate matter is an important pollutant affecting air quality. Currently, diesel PM regulations are based on emitted particle mass; however, the particle size distributions are also important factors in air quality. While the distributions of particulate emissions under steady-state conditions are well-known and have been generalized, varying distributions undertransient conditions are not well-understood. This study investigates the size distributions of PM, focusing on the nuclei- and accumulation-modes, emitted from diesel engines under transient operations. Some engine conditions during transient testing produced particle size distributions that were notably different from those produced under steady-state conditions. During transient operation, the size distributions were either mono- or bimodal with peaks that were able to switch quickly between the nuclei- and accumulation-modes. These distributions have not been observed during steady-state testing but are significant because environmental and health effects and emission control solutions are highly dependent on particle size.
A laboratory-scale experimental study of in-situ combustion processes

A laboratory-scale experimental study of in-situ combustion for enhanced oil recovery is presented. The effects of oil saturation, preheating of the oil-sand bed, porosity of sand, and air-injection rate on both the time history of liquid yield and the total liquid yield have been determined. From the measured temperature profiles and charred length of oil-sand bed, the propagation rate of combustion front has been deduced. The volumetric concentrations of CO[sub 2] and O[sub 2] in the effluent gas have been deduced. The volumetric concentrations of CO[sub 2] and O[sub 2] in the effluent gas have been measured. The rate of liquid yield is highest in the initial periods of in-situ heating or combustion. Air-injection rate, although it has an indirect influence on the temperatures achieved in the bed, exerts only a weak effect on the liquid yield. The increase in porosity of sand increases the liquid yield rate. The relative effects of air injection rate, oil saturation, and the porosity of sand under combustion conditions are simulated well by preheating the bed.
Putting the seafood in sustainable food systems

Abstract Increasing attention by consumers to the social and environmental dimensions of the food they eat has generated many different responses, including certification programs, watch lists and local/slow food movements. This article examines the more recent entry of seafood into these consumer social movements. Although a concern with the family farm—as well as tendency to equate national security with food security—has long connected terrestrial food production with other cultural concerns, fisheries have tended to be regarded more as natural resources. Considering seafood as part of the “food system” would enhance the management of fisheries, while the long engagement in fisheries with co- and adaptive management and the politics of knowledge would enrich the debate in the agri-foods literature. The article also offers suggestions on how fisheries management could better govern for sustainable food systems, and provides further ideas about food, sustainability and governance.
Axial Scattering by an Isorefractive Parabolic Cylinder

The exact solution to the boundary-value problem of a plane wave axially incident on a parabolic cylinder separating two different media isorefractive to each other is obtained in closed form, in the frequency domain.
The Julia Set of Hénon Maps

In this paper we investigate the support of the unique measure of maximal entropy of complex Henon maps, J ∗ . The main question is whether this set is the same as the analogue of the Julia set J.
Spontaneous Corporeal Herniation of the Penis: A New Abnormality of the Tunica Albuginea?

A 63-year-old man presented with a penile mass present only during erections. Radiographic evaluation suggested a vascular lesion but the only abnormality identified at exploration was local attenuation of the tunica albuginea with aneurysmal dilatation of the corpora cavernosa. We believe this to be the first report of spontaneous herniation of the tunica albuginea of the penis. The possible etiology of this disorder is discussed. We report on a 63-year-old man with an enlarging penile mass. Radiographic studies suggested a vascular lesion but the only intraoperative finding was local attenuation of the tunica albuginea. A satisfactory result was achieved with surgical repair. This case differs from classical abnormalities of the tunica albuginea, namely Peyronie’s disease and corporeal rupture. We believe this case of spontaneous corporeal herniation represents one end of the spectrum of tunical disorders, with Peyronie’s disease at the other extreme. A possible etiological mechanism for this disorder is discussed. CASE REPORT
Technology adoption, product design, and process change: a case study in the machine tool industry

The experience of the machine tool industry suggests that many manufacturing organizations are reexamining their manufacturing processes and technologies in response both to the need to gain flexibility and efficiency in their operations and to a rising awareness of resource costs and environmental concerns. The adoption of new technologies, especially technologies which reduce material requirements and waste, will require organizations to rethink how they design and manufacture their products. Changes in product and process design will affect the technologies and operations of numerous organizations along the production supply chain. Through a case study of the machine tool industry, this paper explores the impacts of the adoption of forming technology instead of conventional cutting technology on the production of selected metal parts. This paper is organized in three parts. In the first part, the costs, technical advantages, and environmental compatibility of cutting and forming technologies are profiled. Forming technology is shown to provide substantial savings in raw material, energy and waste disposal over cutting technology for a class of high-volume metal parts. The second part explores the changes in part and process design which occur when forming technology is adopted for parts which have traditionally been made by cutting. The costs of these design changes must be balanced against the environmental savings. The third part explores the extent to which changes due to the adoption of new forming technology ripple along the production supply chain to suppliers and other upstream organizations. >
Managing complexity in chronic care: An overview of the VA state-of-the-art (SOTA) conference

Introduction The aging of the population and the increasing prevalence of multiple chronic illnesses, along with multiplying options for clinical management, pose great challenges to both the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the broader US health care system. Developing effective and efficient health care for persons with complex and multiple medical conditions is a national priority. Therefore, research in this area is critically important. In 2006, the VHA Health Services Research and Development Service held a state-of-the-Art (SOTA) conference titled “Managing Complexity in Chronic Care” to clarify our current understanding of the management of complex chronic conditions and suggest directions for research to better address this important problem.
Transmission mechanisms shape pathogen effects on host-vector interactions: Evidence from plant viruses

Summary 1. Vector-borne pathogens and parasites can induce changes in the phenotypes of their hosts that influence the frequency and nature of host–vector interactions and hence transmission, as documented by both empirical and theoretical studies. To the extent that implications for transmission play a significant role in shaping the evolution of parasite effects on host phenotypes, we may hypothesize that parasites exhibiting similar transmission mechanisms – and thus profiting from similar patterns of interaction among hosts and vectors – will have correspondingly similar effects on relevant host traits. Here, we explore this hypothesis through a survey and synthesis of literature on interactions among plant viruses, their hosts, and insect vectors. 2. Insect-vectored plant viruses that differ in their modes of transmission benefit from different patterns of interaction among host plants and vectors. The transmission of persistently transmitted (PT) viruses requires that vectors feed on an infected host for a sustained period to acquire and circulate (and sometimes replicate) virions, then disperse to a new, healthy host. In contrast, non-persistently transmitted (NPT) viruses are effectively transmitted when vectors briefly probe infected hosts, acquiring virions, then rapidly disperse. 3. Based on these observations, and empirical evidence from our previous work, we hypothesized that PT and NPT viruses will exhibit different effects on aspects of host phenotypes that mediate vector attraction to, arrestment on and dispersal from infected plants. Specifically, we predicted that both PT and NPT viruses would tend to enhance vector attraction to infected hosts, but that they would have contrasting effects on vector settling and feeding preferences and on vector performance, with PT viruses tending to improve host quality for vectors and promote long-term feeding and NPT viruses tending to reduce plant quality and promote rapid dispersal. 4. We evaluated these hypotheses through an analysis of existing literature and found patterns broadly consistent with our expectations. This literature synthesis, together with evidence from other disease systems, suggests that transmission mechanisms may indeed be an important factor influencing the manipulative strategies of vector-borne pathogens, with significant implications for managing viral diseases in agriculture and understanding their impacts on natural plant communities.
Phenotypic abnormalities: Terminology and classification

Clinical morphology has proved essential for the successful delineation of hundreds of syndromes and as a powerful instrument for detecting (candidate) genes (Gorlin et al. [2001]; Syndromes of the Head and Neck; Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1 p]. The major approach to reach this has been careful clinical evaluations of patients, focused on congenital anomalies. A similar careful physical examination performed in patients, who have been treated for childhood cancer, may allow detection of concurrent patterns of anomalies and provide clues for causative genes. In the past, several studies were performed describing the prevalence of anomalies in patients with cancer. However, in most studies, it was not possible to indicate the biologic relevance of the recorded anomalies, or to judge their relative importance. Are the detected anomalies common variants, and should they thus be regarded as normal, or are they minor anomalies or true abnormalities, indicating a possible developmental cause? Classification of items in the categories of common variants (disturbances of phenogenesis with a prevalence >4%), minor anomalies (disturbances of phenogenesis with a prevalence </=4%), and malformations (disturbances of embryogenesis) should allow weighing the importance of the scored items in the population under study, and should facilitate assessment of developmental disturbances (if any) in a study group. The lack of published consensus in the literature led us to produce a classification list with a twofold goal. First, we wanted to enhance uniformity in the scoring and classification of apparently abnormal physical findings by a nomenclature for errors of morphogenesis detectable on surface examination, and secondly a uniform classification system. This should allow investigators to evaluate systematically the presence of patterns in phenotypic anomalies, in the general population, and in patients with various disorders, suspected to be a developmental anomaly. Also, normal values may be obtained this way. Second, the list will allow a determination of the importance of the collected symptoms in a study population. We tested the feasibility of the application of the classification list in a study population: the list was piloted in a group of patients who have had cancer as a child, to detect patterns of anomalies related to specific types of tumors.
Military Brats Film Representations of Children from Military Families

Thousands of films coverwar and the military, but fewhighlight military family life. This study reports a systematic content analysis of forty-six films between 1935 and 2002 that spotlight childre...
The Demand for Lottery Products and Their Distributional Consequences

This study examines the distributional impact of three types of lottery games operated by the South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL). We fi nd signifi cant sales variation by game type across both age and race. We also fi nd each of the three types to be regressive, but with substantial differences in the degree of regressivity across games. By estimating the determinants of lottery sales using variables that capture the distribution of income rather than simply its level, our analysis provides a more complete description of the incidence of lottery sales. Our results suggest that lotteries may not be as regressive as suggested by the earlier literature.
Dispositions, Their Bases and Correlates—Meinong’s Analysis

The salt in the cruet in front of me is capable of dissolving in water. And Mary can sing. What makes my assertions true? Is the relevant truth-maker of the same type as the truth-makers of my assertions that the salt is white, that it is solid, that it has a certain mass m, that Mary is a brunette or has a headache?
Supercomputer use in orthopaedic biomechanics research: focus on functional adaptation of bone

The authors describe two biomechanical analyses carried out using numerical methods. One is an analysis of the stress and strain in a human mandible, and the other analysis involves modeling the adaptive response of a sheep bone to mechanical loading. The computing environment required for the two types of analyses is discussed. It is shown that a simple stress analysis of a geometrically complex mandible can be accomplished using a minicomputer. However, more sophisticated analyses of the same model with dynamic loading or nonlinear materials would require supercomputer capabilities. A supercomputer is also required for modeling the adaptive response of living bone, even when simple geometric and material models are use. >
Scaling of strength and lifetime probability distributions of quasibrittle structures based on atomistic fracture mechanics

The failure probability of engineering structures such as aircraft, bridges, dams, nuclear structures, and ships, as well as microelectronic components and medical implants, must be kept extremely low, typically <10(-6). The safety factors needed to ensure it have so far been assessed empirically. For perfectly ductile and perfectly brittle structures, the empirical approach is sufficient because the cumulative distribution function (cdf) of random material strength is known and fixed. However, such an approach is insufficient for structures consisting of quasibrittle materials, which are brittle materials with inhomogeneities that are not negligible compared with the structure size. The reason is that the strength cdf of quasibrittle structure varies from Gaussian to Weibullian as the structure size increases. In this article, a recently proposed theory for the strength cdf of quasibrittle structure is refined by deriving it from fracture mechanics of nanocracks propagating by small, activation-energy-controlled, random jumps through the atomic lattice. This refinement also provides a plausible physical justification of the power law for subcritical creep crack growth, hitherto considered empirical. The theory is further extended to predict the cdf of structural lifetime at constant load, which is shown to be size- and geometry-dependent. The size effects on structure strength and lifetime are shown to be related and the latter to be much stronger. The theory fits previously unexplained deviations of experimental strength and lifetime histograms from the Weibull distribution. Finally, a boundary layer method for numerical calculation of the cdf of structural strength and lifetime is outlined.
User-Controllable Security and Privacy for Pervasive Computing

We describe our current work in developing novel mechanisms for managing security and privacy in pervasive computing environments. More specifically, we have developed and evaluated three different applications, including a contextual instant messenger, a people finder application, and a phone-based application for access control. We also draw out some themes we have learned thus far for user-controllable security and privacy.
Efficient on-chip isolation of HIV subtypes

orientation using a Protein G-based surface chemistry. Further, RT-qPCR analysis showed that HIV particles of subtypes A, B and C were captured repeatably with high efficiencies of 77.2 � 13.2%, 82.1 � 18.8, and 80.9 � 14.0% from culture supernatant, and 73.2 � 13.6, 74.4 � 14.6 and 78.3 � 13.3% from spiked whole blood at a viral load of 1000 copies per mL, respectively. HIV particles of subtypes A, B and C were captured with high efficiencies of 81.8 � 9.4%, 72.5 � 18.7, and 87.8 � 3.2% from culture supernatant, and 74.6 � 12.9, 75.5 � 6.7 and 69.7 � 9.5% from spiked whole blood at a viral load of 10 000 copies per mL, respectively. The presented immuno-sensing device enables the development of POC on-chip technologies to monitor viral load and guide antiretroviral treatment (ART) in resourceconstrained settings.
Avian foraging patterns in crop field edges adjacent to woody habitat

Abstract As natural predators of pest insects, woodland birds provide biological pest suppression in crop fields adjacent to woody edges. Although many birds using these habitats forage widely, earlier studies have found that most foraging activity occurs within 50 m of the woody edge. The goals of this study were to determine the primary area of use, or functional edge, for birds foraging in crop fields adjacent to woody edges, and to evaluate their foraging distance patterns. During the summers of 2005 and 2006, avian foraging behavior was observed at 12 research sites in east central Nebraska that contained either a shelterbelt or woody riparian edge. At each site, perches were provided at 10 m intervals out from the edge and insect larvae were placed in feeders at random locations to simulate a pest insect food resource. Birds were recorded foraging in five distance categories out from the edge (0–10, 10–20, 20–30, 30–40, and 40–50 m). Seven species foraged primarily within 20 m of the edge (72% all observations; 79% without perch or feeder observations). Ten species foraged throughout the plots but six of these generally foraged more often (45% and 49%) and four less often (30% and 30%) within 20 m of the edge. The 13 species that tended to forage more often within 20 m of the edge, with 56% of their foraging overall in this area, also tended to forage farther when perch and feeder observations were included, indicating willingness to forage farther when food resources were available. Based on a repeated measures analysis of variance, foraging distances appeared to be greater at sites with soybean as the planted crop, although this apparent trend was significant for only some species. There was no clear difference in foraging distances outward from shelterbelt versus riparian sites. These results indicate that conservation efforts within the 20 m functional edge offer potential to enhance the sustainability of both birds and crops in agricultural landscapes.
Variations in concentrations of methyltin compounds and inorganic tin in spartina alterniflora and porewater in the great bay estuary (NH) during the 1991 growing season

Abstract Weekly determinations of methyltin and inorganic tin concentrations in Spartina alterniflora and surrounding porewater in the Great Bay Estuary (NH) during the 1991 growing season demonstrate that in all samples inorganic tin concentrations are much higher than methyltin concentrations. Monomethyltin appeared regularly in S. alterniflora samples. Dimethyltin occurred occasionally in the plants and regularly in porewater samples. The concentration trend of monomethyltin in parts of S. alterniflora and porewater is: roots > leaves ∼ rhizomes > porewater. The concentration of monomethyltin ranges from 1.17 to 30.6 ng g‐1 in leaves, from undetected to 80.6 ng g‐1 in roots, from undetected to 43.4 ng g‐1 in rhizomes, and from undetected to 2.61 ng g‐1 in porewater. Inorganic tin appeared in all samples with the concentration order: roots > rhizomes > leaves > porewater. There is no strong temporal trend for monomethyltin or inorganic tin in any sample type.
Comparison of the discriminative stimulus effects of salvinorin A and its derivatives to U69,593 and U50,488 in rats

Research interests regarding the psychopharmacology of salvinorin A have been motivated by the recreational use and widespread media focus on the hallucinogenic plant, Salvia divinorum. Additionally, kappa opioid (KOP) receptor ligands may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of some neuropsychiatric conditions, including drug dependence and mood disorders. Salvinorin A is a selective KOP agonist, but only a few studies have explored the discriminative stimulus effects of this compound. This study compared the discriminative stimulus effects of salvinorin A and two synthetic derivatives of salvinorin B to the KOP agonists, U69,593 and U50,488. Sixteen male Sprague–Dawley rats trained to discriminate U69,593 (0.13 mg/kg, s.c., N = 8) or U50,488 (3.0 mg/kg, i.p., N = 8) under a fixed-ratio 20 schedule of food reinforcement were administered substitution tests with salvinorin A (0.125–3.0 mg/kg, i.p.). The animals trained to discriminate U69,593 were also administered substitution tests with salvinorin B ethoxymethyl ether (0.005–0.10 mg/kg, i.p.) and salvinorin B methoxymethyl ether (0.03–0.10 mg/kg, i.p.). Another eight rats were trained to discriminate 2.0 mg/kg salvinorin A and tested with U69,593 (0.04–0.32 mg/kg) and U50,488 (0.4–3.2 mg/kg). Salvinorin A and both synthetic derivatives of salvinorin B substituted completely for U69,593. Additionally, cross-generalization was observed between salvinorin A and both KOP agonists. These findings support previous reports indicating that the discriminative stimulus effects of salvinorin A are mediated by kappa receptors. Future studies may assist in the development and screening of salvinorin A analogs for potential pharmacotherapy.
Currency Devaluation and Resource Transfer from the South to the North

This article examines the existence and the persistence of the North-South geographic categories and the North-South income gap in light of the political economy of currency devaluation as one largely underinvestigated thesis in the geography of development. Based on a broad overview of development geography, a cross-country analysis, and a case study, the article argues that currency devaluation contributes to resource transfer from the South to the North primarily through the devaluation of southern exports and the overvaluation of northern exports. It suggests that any reversal of this trend will likely require a serious protectionist policy to reduce the volatility of capital flows and exchange-rate movements.
Semi-automated DIRSIG scene modeling from 3D LIDAR and passive imaging sources

The Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Image Generation (DIRSIG) model is an established, first-principles based scene simulation tool that produces synthetic multispectral and hyperspectral images from the visible to long wave infrared (0.4 to 20 microns). Over the last few years, significant enhancements such as spectral polarimetric and active Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) models have also been incorporated into the software, providing an extremely powerful tool for algorithm testing and sensor evaluation. However, the extensive time required to create large-scale scenes has limited DIRSIG’s ability to generate scenes “on demand.” To date, scene generation has been a laborious, time-intensive process, as the terrain model, CAD objects and background maps have to be created and attributed manually. To shorten the time required for this process, we are initiating a research effort that aims to reduce the man-in-the-loop requirements for several aspects of synthetic hyperspectral scene construction. Through a fusion of 3D LIDAR data with passive imagery, we are working to semi-automate several of the required tasks in the DIRSIG scene creation process. Additionally, many of the remaining tasks will also realize a shortened implementation time through this application of multi-modal imagery. This paper reports on the progress made thus far in achieving these objectives.
The two views of small firms in industry dynamics: a reconciliation

Abstract Recent empirical studies show that small firms are confronted with a lower likelihood of survival than their larger counterparts. An alternative view is that small firms can overcome inherent size disadvantages by occupying strategic niches. This paper offers empirical evidence in the context of product life-cycles suggesting that the relationship between firm size and the likelihood of survival is shaped by the stage of the industry life-cycle, and that both views of small firm survival relative to large firms are correct.
Calibrating an air-ground control system from motion correspondences

In this paper we consider the problem of controlling the motion of a vehicle moving on a ground plane based on aerial imagery. In the course of this work we propose a novel analysis of the relationship between the velocity of the vehicle on the ground plane and the velocity of its projection in the image. We show that this relationship provides information about a subset of the parameters of the homography relating the ground plane to the aerial image plane and describe how we can recover this relationship from available measurements.
Ritual as Education Concerning Social Space and Time

Humans do not live simply within a physical intersection of space and time. Religious and cultural rituals locate persons within particular communities of knowers and educate persons regarding the community’s core metaphysical, epistemological, cultural, and moral paradigms. Rituals demarcate and teach understandings of and approaches to reality; that is, rituals frame human life within specific paradigms and social spaces, orienting persons to truth claims about the world. The term “ritual” is richly ambiguous—identifying clusters of social phenomena and cultural practices often associated because of family resemblances. Throughout the chapter, I draw on sociological and anthropological accounts of religious and cultural rituals to illustrate the analysis. However, academic accounts of rituals necessarily truncate the phenomena they analyze. Traditional rituals are lived experiential practices, interacting with reality in facets beyond the ability of academic discursive analysis to conceptualize. Rituals embody canonical understandings regarding the nature and meaning of the cosmos and of man’s place within it.
The “Pseudocommando” Mass Murderer: Part II, The Language of Revenge

In Part I of this article, research on pseudocommandos was reviewed, and the important role that revenge fantasies play in motivating such persons to commit mass murder-suicide was discussed. Before carrying out their mass shootings, pseudocommandos may communicate some final message to the public or news media. These communications are rich sources of data about their motives and psychopathology. In Part II of this article, forensic psycholinguistic analysis is applied to clarify the primary motivations, detect the presence of mental illness, and discern important individual differences in the final communications of two recent pseudocommandos: Seung-Hui Cho (Virginia Tech) and Jiverly Wong (Binghamton, NY). Although both men committed offenses that qualify them as pseudocommandos, their final communications reveal striking differences in their psychopathology.
Management Considerations for Prolapsed Submucosal Leiomyomata: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract Objective: To describe (1) sensitivity/specificity of physical examination to correctly diagnose a prolapsed vaginal mass as benign, (2) success rate for transvaginal myomectomy, (3) risk of associated malignancy. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients evaluated at the LAC+USC Medical Center from March 2007 to June 2012 with a diagnosis, including prolapsed leiomyoma, were reviewed. Medical records were reviewed for demographic information, clinical findings, histology reports, and clinical outcomes. Results: Two hundred twenty-six cases were identified. Mean age was 44.2 (±9.1) years and 83.6% of cases were premenopausal. The most common symptom was bleeding (79.2%); 15% of the women were asymptomatic. Most were successfully treated with transvaginal myomectomy, although 14 (6.2%) required urgent hysterectomy. There were no cases of uterine infection before intervention; delay of treatment resulted in acute bleeding in 2 of 18 women. Subsequent hysterec...