cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relaxo-volumetric multispectral quantitative magnetic resonance imaging of the brain over the human lifespan: global and regional aging patterns

The objective of this study was to determine the T1, T2 and secular-T2 relaxo-volumetric brain aging patterns using multispectral quantitative magnetic resonance imaging, both globally and regionally, and covering an age range approaching the full human lifespan. Fifty-one subjects (28 males, 23 females; age range: 0.5-87 years) were studied consisting of 18 healthy volunteers and 33 patients. Patients were selected after carefully reviewing their radiology reports to have either normal-by-MRI findings (25 patient subjects) or small focal pathology less than 6 mm in size (eight patient subjects). All subjects were MR imaged at 1.5 T with the mixed turbo spin echo pulse sequence. The soft tissues inside the cranial vault, termed intracranial matter (ICM), were segmented using a dual-clustering segmentation algorithm. ICM segments were further divided into six subsegments: bilateral anterior cerebral, posterior cerebral and cerebellar subsegments. T1, T2 and secular-T2 relaxation time histograms of all segments were generated and modeled with Gaussian functions. For each segment, the volumes of white matter, gray matter and cerebrospinal fluid were calculated from the T1 histograms. The age-related tendencies of three quantitative MRI parameters (T1, T2 and secular-T2) and the fractional tissue volumes showed four distinct periods of life, specifically a maturation period (0-2 years), a development period (2-20 years), an adulthood period (20-60 years) and a senescence period (60 years and older). For all ages, the anterior cerebral subsegment exhibited consistently longer gray matter T1s and shorter white matter T1s than the posterior cerebral and cerebellar subsegments. Volumetric age-related changes of the cerebellar subsegment were more gradual than in the cerebral subsegments. This study shows that relaxometric and volumetric age-related changes are synchronized and define the same four periods of brain evolution both globally and regionally.
Baldrige Award announcement and shareholder wealth

The value of winning the Baldrige Quality Award to the shareholders of the firm has been the subject of a debate motivated by bipolar perceptions and an opposing set of viewpoints held by both industry leaders and academic professionals. One of the key concerns that must be addressed to place the impact of the Baldrige Award in a proper perspective (and thus contribute to the resolution of this debate on the issue of the value to the shareholders of the winning firms) is the short‐term negative effect imputed by the views and the actions of the critics, especially the short sellers who see the announcement of the award as an opportunity to make profits by short selling the stock. In this study, we focus on this concern and examine the short‐term impact of the Baldrige Award announcement on the shareholder wealth by applying a rigorous statistical methodology to analyze the stock price movements around the day of the announcement of the award for statistically significant abnormal behavior. Our analysis falsifies the critics’ claim that the financial and other resources spent by the companies toward winning the Baldrige Award are wasteful and reduce shareholder wealth.
Thermal analysis of ampholytic polymers

Copolymere du methacrylate de butyle avec le methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium methacryloyloxy-2 ethane sulfonate
Application of machine learning methods to cost estimation of product life cycle

Industry competitiveness depends on the cost, performance, and timely delivery of the product. Thus, an accurate, rapid, and robust product cost estimation model for the entire product life cycle is essential. This research applies two machine learning methods – back-propagation neural networks (BPNs) and least squares support vector machines (LS-SVMs) – to solve product life cycle cost estimation problems. The performance of a number of cost estimation models, statistical regression analyses, BPNs and LS-SVMs, are compared in terms of their performance. The estimation results and performance reveal that both LS-SVMs and BPNs can both provide more accurate performance than conventional models. We also make the first attempt to combine LS-SVMs and data transformation (DT) techniques to solve the outlier problem in the cost database. The cost estimation of airframe structure manufacturing was used to evaluate the feasibility of this novel combining mechanism. Finally, a more accurate, available, and general...
Fatty acids and retinopathy.

Neovascularization is a pathogenic event common to retinopathy of prematurity and age-related macular degeneration. A recent study uncovers a mechanism that mediates a nutritional effect on this process in mice.
Think Old: Twenty-five Classroom Exercises For Courses in Aging

Use of this annotated resource guide surely will increase student learning through participation, and may also change attitudes.
Contract modifications and the basis behavior of live cattle futures

The purpose of this study was to assess the basis behavior of the Live Cattle Futures contract at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) before and after the 1995 contract changes. Additionally, an alternative method of basis calculation utilizing weighted mean futures prices versus settlement futures prices was compared to determine which method provides a better representation of the basis level. Within a regression model with heteroskedascity error framework, we found that the level of nearby basis in the period after June 1995 has shifted lower and the average monthly open interest of net commercial long positions has substantially increased after the contract modifications. These empirical results are consistent with the notion that more long activity entered the market in response to the contract modifications. Additionally, an alternative (new) measure of basis calculation (cash price minus weighted mean futures price) produced similar results to two other commonly used measures. In conclusion, the 1995 contract changes have neither increased nor decreased the volatility of live cattle basis. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 24:557–590, 2004
New sufficient optimality conditions for integer programming and their application

The purpose of this report is to present a new class of sufficient optimality conditions for pure and mixed integer programming problems. Some of the sets of sufficient conditions presented can be thought of as generalizations of optimality conditions based on primal-dual complementarity in linear programming. These sufficient conditions are particularly useful for the construction of difficult integer programming problems with known optimal solutions. These problems may then be used to test and/or “benchmark” integer programming codes.
Incidences and Trends of Second Cancers in Female Breast Cancer Patients: A Fixed Inception Cohort-based Analysis (United States)

Objective To determine incidences and time trends of second cancers among female breast cancer patients.
On the similarity between ribonuclease inhibitor and β-estradiol receptor protein

Summary Normal rat uterus tissue contains no detectable free RNase inhibitor. In ovariectomized animals free RNase activity in homogenate of uterus declines and RNase inhibition occurs, but in quantity the inhibition is only 15% of that found in 20–23 day old immature rats. The similarities between β-estradiol receptor protein and RNase inhibitor are discussed and it is suggested that cytosol β-estradiol receptor protein may be the RNase inhibitor of uterus tissue.
Experimental study and mechanism analysis on bioeffects by nanosecond electromagnetic pulses

The athermal bioeffects caused by nanosecond electromagnetic pulses with body cells was studied by using a broad band transverse EM-wave cell (BTEM CELL). The experimental system and preliminary mechanism analysis were presented.
Security assessment of clickjacking risks in web applications: metrics based approach

Clickjacking attacks steal user clicks through the generation of webpages overlaying legitimate webpages. These attacks redirect user clicks to attacker controlled webpages. Redirection of clicks can cause various unwanted activities and damages to users, such as liking a user profile not known to the victim on social networking websites, and changing of webcam setting revealing personal images and videos. There are little known systematic methodologies to compute the risk caused by clickjacking attacks. This paper presents an approach to compute the risk level of clickjacking attacks for deployed applications. In particular, our contribution is a proposed set of metrics to quantify the magnitude of attack prevalence through analysis of relevant code level features and defense mechanisms to prevent the attacks. The risk computation enables practitioners to understand whether more mitigation techniques are needed to prevent losses due to clickjacking attacks. We validated the proposed metrics using open source PHP web applications. Our evaluation indicates that some popular web applications are still vulnerable to clickjacking attacks and they require further protection at the implementation and environmental levels.
The structure(s) of occupations: Beyond RIASEC

Abstract Three studies reviewed here contribute to the robust replication of Holland's RIASEC hexagon model. Fouad and Dancer (1992) and Swanson (1992) show that hexagon order, but not shape, is invariant across different population samples. Prediger and Vansickle (1992) show that a two-dimensional map (with axes, People/Things and Data/Ideas) can be used to plot occupations according to similarity of RIASEC interests. The author contends that with a two-dimensional map (a) the RIASEC hexagon is logically unnecessary and (b) the map is more effective than the hexagon for determining person-environment fit. The author further contends that Prediger's map represents vocational interests but not necessarily other vocational attributes such as abilities and reinforcer preferences. The structural representation of occupations may require more than just one structure, even one as robustly replicated as Holland's RIASEC model.
Equivalence between energy expressions for dislocation loops in hexagonal and isotropic media

Abstract A direct proof is given of the equivalence relation between the energy expressions ‘for dislocation loops in the basal plane of a hexagonal crystal and in an isotropic medium. The two sets of expressions can be used interchangeably by inserting the corresponding elastic constants.
Performance Of A Coated Cone In An Annular Resonator

As has been reported earlier in the literature, a cylindrical laser with a conical end reflector produces a higher order tangentially polarized output due to polarization effects at the cone. By applying a special dielectric coating which produced a 90° phase shift between the S and P polarizations, the polarization effect of the cone was eliminated, and a uniformly polarized, lowest order mode output was obtained.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Characterization of the peripheral artery disease symptom experience

Abstract Claudication is the most commonly recognized peripheral artery disease (PAD) symptom, but not the most prevalent. Only 7.5%–33% of patients report claudication as being part of their symptom experience. However, there is little evidence supporting atypical symptom reporting. The study purpose was to describe the full spectrum of symptoms experienced by older and younger individuals with PAD. Semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 38 community-dwelling adults aged 49–83 years; transcripts were analyzed using content analysis. Six themes emerged: symptom descriptors (claudication and atypical), maintaining equilibrium, temporal fluctuations, the role of exercise, perceived impact on quality of life, and disease presence and treatment. Results suggest heavy reliance on claudication can result in mis- or under-diagnosis of PAD. Further research is needed to validate the correspondence of atypical symptoms with ischemic changes during exercise to broaden currently accepted symptom locations and descriptors associated with PAD.
Persistence and growth of the fecal indicator bacteria enterococci in detritus and natural estuarine plankton communities

Enterococci are used to evaluate recreational-water quality and health risks in marine environments. In addition to their occurrence in feces of warm blooded animals, they are also common epiphytes. We investigated the contribution of plankton- or particle-associated enterococci in estuarine and coastal water. Seven water and size-fractionated plankton samples were collected monthly between April 2008 and January 2009 in the tidal reaches of the Skidaway River (Georgia, USA). Each size fraction, along with filtered ( 99%) of the particles within the sampled water. Particle-associated enterococci accounted for as little as 1% of enterococci in bulk water in April to as much as 95% in July. Enterococcus faecalis was the most commonly isolated species from both water and plankton and represented 31% (16/51) and 35% (6/17) of the identified Enterococcus species from water and plankton, respectively. Enterococcus casseliflavus represented 29% of the selected isolates from plankton and 16% from water. Both E. faecalis and E. casseliflavus were able to survive and grow in plankton suspensions significantly longer than in artificial seawater. Enterococcus spp. may be highly concentrated in plankton and associated particles, especially during summer and fall months. These findings could have implications for the effectiveness of enterococci as an indicator of coastal water quality, especially in particle-rich environments.
Beam squint determination in conic-section reflector antennas with circularly polarized feeds

The beam squint phenomenon in circular-polarized-feed paraboloidal, Cassegrain, and Gregorian antennas is characterized. The geometrical optics/aperture field method is used to derive generalized squint-predicting formulas, the accuracy of which is verified by computer simulations based on diffraction analysis. From these formulas, the squint-free conditions are developed. An extension of these formulas is suggested to predict the squint angles for general multireflector antennas. >
Sleep and circadian rhythms: do sleep centers talk back to the clock?

A homeostatic control mechanism that monitors and reacts to the need for sleep has been thought to function independently of the brain's circadian clock in previous studies. Now simultaneous recordings of sleep stages and electrical activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus in behaving animals reveal feedback from sleep centers to the circadian pacemaker.
Temperature-dependent exciton linewidths in semiconductor quantum wells.

The temperature-dependent linewidth of excitons in semiconductor quantum wells due to the interaction of the exciton with LO phonons is studied with use of perturbation theory for the exciton-phonon interaction and by assuming an infinite-barrier-quantum-well model. The interaction is taken to be of the Fr\"ohlich form, and the scattering of the exciton to both bound and scattering states of the interacting electron--heavy-hole system has been taken into account. The dependence of the linewidth on the quantum-well width and on the choice of the heavy-hole mass is discussed, and comparison is made with available experimental data. The effects of the confinement of the optical phonons on the exciton linewidth are also studied and are found not to alter substantively the results for the dependence of the linewidth on the quantum-well width.
Multiscale method for characterization of porous microstructures and their impact on macroscopic effective permeability

SUMMARY Recent technology advancements on X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) offer a nondestructive approach to extract complex three-dimensional geometries with details as small as a few microns in size. This new technology opens the door to study the interplay between microscopic properties (e.g. porosity) and macroscopic fluid transport properties (e.g. permeability). To take full advantage of X-ray CT, we introduce a multiscale framework that relates macroscopic fluid transport behavior not only to porosity but also to other important microstructural attributes, such as occluded/connected porosity and geometrical tortuosity, which are extracted using new computational techniques from digital images of porous materials. In particular, we introduce level set methods, and concepts from graph theory, to determine the geometrical tortuosity and connected porosity, while using a lattice Boltzmann/finite element scheme to obtain homogenized effective permeability at specimen-scale. We showcase the applicability and efficiency of this multiscale framework by two examples, one using a synthetic array and another using a sample of natural sandstone with complex pore structure. Copyright 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Theory of nonequilibrium spin transport and spin-transfer torque in superconducting-ferromagnetic nanostructures

Spin transport currents and the spin-transfer torques in voltage-biased superconductingferromagnetic nanopillars (SFNFS point contacts) are computed. We develop and implement an algorithm based on the Ricatti formulation of the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity to solve the time-dependent boundary conditions for the nonequilibrium Green’s functions for spin transport through the ferromagnetic interfaces. A signature of the nonequilibrium torque is a component perpendicular to the plane spanned by the two ferromagnetic moments. The perpendicular component is absent in normal-metal-ferromagnetic nanopillars (NFNFN) contacts, but is shown to have the same order of magnitude as the in-plane torque for non-equilibrium SFNFS contacts. The out-of-plane torque is due to the rotation of quasiparticle spin by the exchange fields of the ferromagnetic layers. In the ballistic limit the equilibrium torque is related to the spectrum of spin-polarized Andreev bound states, while the ac component, for small bias voltages, is determined by the nearly adiabatic dynamics of the Andreev bound states. The nonlinear voltage dependence of the non-equilibrium torque, including the subharmonic gap structure and the high-voltage asymptotics, is attributed to the interplay between multiple Andreev reflections, spin filtering and spin mixing. These properties of spin angular momentum transport may be exploited to control the state of nanomagnets.
A Theory of Turbulence

In this paper an attempt is made to develop a deductive physical theory of turbulence. The basic idea in this theory is the introduction of correlations in the velocity components (u$\_{i}$) at two different points (${\bf r}^{\prime}$ and ${\bf r}^{\prime \prime}$ say) and at two different times (t$^{\prime}$ and t$^{\prime \prime}$ say). It is assumed that in stationary, homogeneous and isotropic turbulence these correlations depend, apart from the vector joining the points ${\bf r}^{\prime}$ and ${\bf r}^{\prime \prime}$ only on $|t^{\prime}-t^{\prime \prime}|$. With one additional statistical hypothesis that the fourth-order moments, Q$\_{ij;kl}$ = $\overline{u\_{i}({\bf r}^{\prime},t^{\prime})\,u\_{j}({\bf r}^{\prime},t^{\prime})\,u\_{k}({\bf r}^{\prime \prime},t^{\prime \prime})\,u\_{l}({\bf r}^{\prime \prime},t^{\prime \prime})}$, are related to the second-order moments, Q$\_{ij}$ = $\overline{u\_{i}({\bf r}^{\prime},t^{\prime})\,u\_{j}({\bf r}^{\prime \prime},t^{\prime \prime})}$ as in a joint normal distribution, a nonlinear partial differential equation is derived for the defining scalar, Q(r, t) (r = $|{\bf r}^{\prime}-{\bf r}^{\prime \prime}|$ and t = $|t^{\prime}-t^{\prime \prime}|$) of Q$\_{ij}$. This differential equation gives precision to the idea that in some sense, the inertial and the viscous terms in the equations of motion act alike with effects which are additive. In the limiting case of infinite Reynolds number the equation for Q is discussed in some detail. It is shown how the theory enables one to follow explicitly the initial evolution of Q, if at t = 0, it has the form one supposes on Kolmogoroff's similarity principles. For t$\rightarrow \infty $, it appears that the solution is separable in the variables r and t; the nature of these solutions (which form a one-parameter family) are discussed and illustrated.
The influence of episodic events on transport of striped bass eggs to the estuarine turbidity maximum nursery area

The estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) is an important nursery area for anadromous fish where early-life stages can be retained in high prey concentrations and favorable salinities. Episodic freshwater flow and wind events could influence the transport of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) eggs to the ETM. This hypothesis was evaluated with regression analysis of observational data and with a coupled biological-physical model of a semi-idealized upper Chesapeake Bay driven by observed wind and freshwater flow. A particle-tracking model was constructed within a numerical circulation model (Princeton Ocean Model) to simulate the transport of fish eggs in a 3-dimensional flow field. Particles with the sinking speed of striped bass eggs were released up-estuary of the salt front in both 2-d event-scale and 60-d seasonal-scale scenarios. In event scenarios, egg-like particles with observed specific gravities (densities) of striped bass eggs were transported to the optimum ETM nursery area after 2 d, the striped bass egg-stage duration. Wind events and pulses in river discharge decreased the number of egg-like particles transported to the ETM area by 20.9% and 13.2%, respectively, compared to nonevent conditions. In seasonal scenarios, particle delivery to the ETM depended upon the timing of the release of egg-like particles. The number of particles transported to the ETM area decreased when particles were released before and during wind and river pulse events. Particle delivery to the ETM area was enhanced when the salt front was moving up-estuary after river pulse events and as base river flow receded over the spawning season. Model results suggest that the timing of striped bass spawning in relation to pulsed events may have a negative (before or during events) or positive (after river flow events) effect on egg transport. Spawning after river flow events may promote early-stage survival by taking advantage of improved transport, enhanced turbidity refuge, and elevated prey production that may occur after river pulse events. In multiple regression analysis of observed data, mean spring freshwater flow rates and the number of pulsed freshwater flow events during the striped bass spawning season explained 71% of the variability in striped bass juvenile abundance in upper Chesapeake Bay from 1986 to 2002. Positive parameter estimates for these effects support the hypothesis that pulsed freshwater flow events, coupled with spawning after the events, may enhance striped bass early-stage survival. Results suggest that episodic events may have an important role in controlling fish recruitment.
A Multisite Ion Model that Improves Free Energy Calculations in Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Current ion models in molecular mechanics are simple spheres, and their interactions are solely determined from the radius of the sphere and the total charge. This set of parameters is chosen to closely reproduce the hydration free energy for the ion, but this exercise uses all the available degrees of freedom and our ability to reproduce the binding free energy to a protein or other thermodynamic quantities is therefore limited. Here we introduce a new model where we distribute the total charge of the ion into n-dummy centers that are placed in the direction of the coordinating atoms. We have parameterized this model for two divalent cations, Ca2+ and Mg2+, and have tested the model’s accuracy in a variety of simulations. With this model we are not only able to correctly predict the free energy and selectivity for cation binding sites, but we achieve better coordination geometries and can capture more subtle effects such as the exchange of inner shell waters. One further advantage of this model is that it does not use higher-order electrostatics and thus can be easily used with standard force fields.
On the estimation of diffusion coefficients in parabolic equations by boundary measurements

A study has been made of a fit-to-data algorithm for the identification of a diffusion coefficient in flow equations. The data is given on the boundary of the spatial domain, and it is assumed to be of homogeneous Neumann and nonhomogeneous Dirichlet type. Results on existence and finite-dimensional approximation are discussed. >
The Valuation of Default-Triggered Credit Derivatives

Credit derivatives are among the fastest growing contracts in the derivatives market. We present a simple, easily implementable model to study the pricing and hedging of two widely traded default-triggered claims: default swaps and default baskets. In particular, we demonstrate how default correlation (the correlation between two default processes) impacts the prices of these claims. When we extend our model to continuous time, we find that, once default correlation has been taken into consideration, the spread dynamics have very little explanatory power.
The Implications of Aging for the Structure and Stability of Financial Markets

Aging populations have altered saving and investment patterns in many developed and emerging market economies. The structural changes that have occurred have important implications for financial stability and for the conduct of monetary policy. As assets and borrowing shifted from banks to pension funds and other institutional investors, the market-based systems that replaced bank-based systems became more procyclical and more vulnerable to systemic risk. In addition, banks’ receding share of financial assets undermined their role in channeling monetary policy initiatives and thus eroded central banks’ ability to counter excessive credit growth and contraction, defuse asset bubbles and act as effective lenders-of-last-resort in crises. This paper offers policy choices and proposals to address the adverse outcomes of these structural and institutional developments that are likely to intensify under the ongoing pressure of demographic change.
The cosmic ray energy spectrum between 1014 and 1016 eV

Abstract The energy spectrum of cosmic rays with primary energies between 1014 eV and 1016 eV has been studied with the CASA-MIA air shower array. The measured differential energy spectrum is a power law ( dj dE ∝ E −y ) with spectral indices γ of 2.66±0.02 below approximately 1015 eV and 3.00±0.05 above. A new method is used for measuring primary energy derived from ground-based data in a compositionally insensitive way. In contrast with some previous reports, the “knee” of the energy spectrum does not appear sharp, but rather a smooth transition over energies from 1015 eV to 3.0 × 1015 eV.
Determination of Potassium in Glass with the Hydrogen Flame Photometer

Use of the hydrogen flame attachment and the Beckman Model DU spectrophotometer to determine potassium in soda-lime and boro-silicate glasses in the order of 0.01 to 2.5% K2O is described. Data are presented showing the effect of varying concentrations of sodium, calcium, magnesium, barium, zinc, aluminum, and iron on the potassium flame emission. The potassium emission is relatively free from interference effects except from zinc and large amounts of barium. The method is rapid, precise, and accurate to 2% of the K2O present in the sample.
Quantitative autoradiographic analysis of Mu and delta opioid binding sites in the rat hippocampal formation

The distributions of mu and delta opioid binding sites were studied in rat hippocampal formation by using quantitative in vitro autoradiography. Mu binding sites, labeled with 125I-FK-33824, showed a highly organized laminar distribution. Binding was greatest at the foot of the obliterated hippocampal fissure in stratum lacunosum-moleculare of CA3. Stratum pyramidale and stratum lacunosum-moleculare of CA2 and stratum pyramidale of CA3 were next highest in mu binding, followed by stratum oriens and stratum radiatum of CA2, stratum oriens of CA3, and stratum pyramidale of CA1. The distribution of delta binding sites, labeled with 125.I-D-ala2 -Dleu5-enkephalin in the presence of the unlabeled mu receptor ligand PL-032, was similar to the distribution of mu binding in that binding within each region was greatest in a band centered over stratum pyramidale and in stratum lacunosum-moleculare. Over all, delta binding was greatest in CA2 followed by CA3 and then CA1. Compared to mu binding, delta binding was relatively enriched in stratum moleculare of the dentate gyrus. These laminar distributions correlate reasonably well with the distribution of enkephalin immuno-reactivity in hippocampal formation, although binding was surprisingly low in stratum lucidum, an area rich in dynorphin and enkephalin immunoreactivity.
Stochastic Lexicalized Inversion Transduction Grammar for Alignment

We present a version of Inversion Transduction Grammar where rule probabilities are lexicalized throughout the synchronous parse tree, along with pruning techniques for efficient training. Alignment results improve over unlexicalized ITG on short sentences for which full EM is feasible, but pruning seems to have a negative impact on longer sentences.
Studies of Incorporation of Radioactivity into Lipids by Human Blood: IV. Abnormal Incorporation of Acetate 1-C-14 into Fatty Acids by Whole Blood and Platelets from Insulin Independent Diabetics

The incorporation of acetate 1-C-14 into fatty acids by whole blood and platelets from insulin independent diabetics has been determined. Whole blood from insulin independent diabetics incorporates significantly less C-14 into fatty acids than does whole blood from controls. As in previously reported studies done with blood cells from ketotic and nonketotic insulin dependent diabetics, a decreased percentage of fatty acid C-14 in palmitic acid (16:0) is found. This, however, exists as an isolated abnormality in whole bLiod from insulin independent diabetics. This abnormality may persist in some patients even when the fasting blood sugar is normal. The incorporation of acetate C-14 into fatty acids by platelets from insulin independent diabetics is quite similar to that of the control group. However, the pattern of incorporation of C-14 into fatty acids is abnormal. Percentage of C-14 in both myristic and palmitic acids is decreased, while percentage of C-14 in saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with retention time corresponding to 20:0 or greater is increased. These abnormalities bear no relationship to the fasting blood sugar at the time of study. These findings apparently mean that de novo synthesis of fatty acids is impaired in blood cells from both insulin dependent and insulin independent diabetics, while chain lengthening is relatively little affected.
Max Nitze, the cystoscope and urology.

Purpose Maximilian Carl-Friedrich Nitze (1848 to 1906) designed the modern cystoscope, providing a foundation for urology. Materials and Methods The historical literature, including the original writings of Nitze, was reviewed. Results The invention of the cystoscope by Nitze revolutionized endoscopy but his true genius lay in his lifelong pursuit of better methods to diagnose and treat patients with urological diseases and in teaching others the practical use and value of cystoscopy. He also designed the first operating cystoscope, took the first endoscopic photographs and published the first textbook in urology. Conclusions The legacy of discovery of Max Nitze established the specialty of urology and a legitimate claim as the father of urology.
Likelihood-Based Semi-Supervised Model Selection With Applications to Speech Processing

In conventional supervised pattern recognition tasks, model selection is typically accomplished by minimizing the classification error rate on a set of so-called development data, subject to ground-truth labeling by human experts or some other means. In the context of speech processing systems and other large-scale practical applications, however, such labeled development data are typically costly and difficult to obtain. This paper investigates an alternative semi-supervised framework for likelihood-based model selection that leverages unlabeled data by using trained classifiers representing each model to automatically generate putative labels. The errors that result from this automatic labeling are shown to be amenable to results from robust statistics, which in turn provide for minimax-optimal censored likelihood ratio tests that recover the nonparametric sign test as a limiting case. This approach is then validated experimentally using a state-of-the-art automatic speech recognition system to select between candidate word pronunciations using unlabeled speech data that only potentially contain instances of the words under test. Results provide supporting evidence for the utility of this approach, and suggest that it may also find use in other applications of machine learning.
Patterns of Internet Use and Risk of Online Victimization for Youth With and Without Disabilities

Findings from a nationally representative telephone survey of 1,560 young Internet users revealed youth receiving special education services in schools were more likely to report receiving an online interpersonal victimization in the past year, even after adjusting for other explanatory factors. These findings suggest that special education staff and other professionals should assess students for risk of online victimization.
Using the Service Economy to Relieve the Double Burden: Female Labor Force Participation and Service Purchases

Using a national survey conducted in 1990, this article examines how wives' labor force participation affects the extent to which families use the market economy to provide goods and services that have traditionally been produced by women. The specific purchases examined are help with housecleaning, meals at restaurants, and meals delivered to the home. Findings are discussed within the context of hypotheses about the roles of household resources, personal resources, gender ideologies, role overload, and the specific benefits that different family members receive from the provision of each service.
A Closer Look at Reactions to Realistic Recruitment Messages

Recently there has been a great deal of interest among consumer and behavioral judgment researchers on how immediate affective reactions influence overall evaluations. The current study seeks to determine whether immediate affective reactions to organizational attributes warrant the attention of recruitment researchers as well. Using a customized web-based computer program that elicits immediate affective reactions to organizational previews, the study finds that overall evaluations of the organization are influenced more by the average intensity of immediate affective reactions experienced during the message than by the relative balance of positive and negative information contained in the message. Results suggest that practitioners using realistic information need to be more concerned about the average intensity of recipients' reactions than about the relative balance of positive or negative information.
Effects of capsaicin on micturition and associated reflexes in rats

The effect of capsaicin on micturition and associated reflexes was studied in urethan-anesthetized female rats. Capsaicin or vehicle solution were administered 4 days before the experiment in a dose of 125 mg/kg sc or during the experiment in a dose of 50-100 mg/kg sc. Activity of the urinary bladder was recorded by measuring intravesical pressure via a urethral catheter while slowly filling (0.052 ml/min) the bladder or when the bladder was distended beyond the micturition threshold and maintained at a constant volume. Pretreatment with capsaicin did not significantly change various parameters of urinary bladder function including micturition volume threshold or the amplitude, duration, and interval between reflex bladder contractions. However, capsaicin pretreatment significantly reduced (80% decrease) the arterial pressor responses accompanying reflex bladder contractions and reduced by approximately one-half the percentage of animals in which bladder activity was inhibited by stimulation of the uterine cervix. A large dose of capsaicin (50 mg/kg sc) elicited an acute block of bladder activity that persisted for 8-15 h. This effect is attributable to an action on myelinated afferent or efferent components of the micturition reflex pathway. It is concluded that capsaicin-sensitive afferents are not essential for the performance of micturition in the rat. However, these afferents are involved in cervicovesical reflex mechanisms that modulate bladder activity and in vascular reflexes triggered by isometric bladder contractions.
Nonconforming Immersed Finite Element Spaces For Elliptic Interface Problems

Abstract In this paper, we use a unified framework introduced in Chen and Zou (1998) to study two nonconforming immersed finite element (IFE) spaces with integral-value degrees of freedom. The shape functions on interface elements are piecewise polynomials defined on sub-elements separated either by the actual interface or its line approximation. In this unified framework, we use the invertibility of the well known Sherman–Morison systems to prove the existence and uniqueness of IFE shape functions on each interface element in either a rectangular or triangular mesh. Furthermore, we develop a multi-edge expansion for piecewise functions and a group of identities for nonconforming IFE functions which enable us to show the optimal approximation capability of these IFE spaces.
Radionuclides: Regulatory and Control Programs

There are many natural radioactive isotopes present in the environment and a number of ways in which mankind’s activities have added others. Normal, peacetime uses of radioactive materials for medical diagnostics, medical research, and other research, as well as power generation, result in ongoing releases of low-level radioactive wastes. There have also been radiological incidents that have resulted in the release of unpredictable contamination. As is the case of environmental contaminants, radionuclides can also become contaminants of food.
IL-28B As a Predictor of Sustained Virologic Response in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Genome-wide association studies have recently identified single nucleotide polymorphisms in proximity to the interleukin-28B (IL-28B) gene that can predict sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who are undergoing therapy with pegylated interferon (IFN) a and ribavirin. IL-28B encodes IFN-λ3, a type III IFN involved in host antiviral immunity. Favorable variants of the 2 most widely studied IL-28B polymorphisms, rs1 2979860 and rs8099917, are strong pretreatment predictors of early viral clearance and SVR in patients with genotype 1 HCV infection. Variations in the distribution of IL-28B alleles may partly explain differences in SVR rates among ethnic groups. Further investigations have implicated IL-28B in the development of chronic HCV infection versus spontaneous resolution of acute infection and suggest that IL-28B may be a key factor involved in host immunity against HCV. Clinical trials of IFN-λ as a therapeutic agent for chronic HCV infection are currently underway. The use of IL-28B polymorphisms as a predictive tool will have a major impact on treatment strategies for chronic HCV infection, particularly in the context of emerging therapies and direct-acting antiviral agents.
Physiological and molecular characterisation of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) germplasm with improved seedling freezing tolerance

We conducted greenhouse experiments to compare 14 lucerne (alfalfa, Medicago sativa L.) germplasms for their survival following freezing. Some are collections adapted to the Grand River National Grasslands in South Dakota. We hypothesised that these collections might have developed a tolerance to survive the frigid growth conditions common there. Two of these collections, River side (RS) and Foster ranch (FR), showed greater freezing tolerance than the other germplasms tested, based on their consistent survival rates with or without cold acclimation. In multiple freezing studies, RS and FR had average survival rates of 74% and 79%, respectively, in contrast to the commercial cultivars Apica and CUF-101 (CUF) (64% and 24%, respectively). The average temperature at which 50% of ions in plant tissues leak out (LT50) by freezing based on leaf electrolyte leakage was closely correlated with survival rates. Leaf LT50 improved 2–3-fold after 3 days of cold acclimation, based on leaf electrolyte leakage analysis, reaching −18°C, –9.6°C, –8.5°C, and −5°C for RS, FR, Apica, and CUF, respectively. Comparison of total soluble sugars and relative water content in shoots before and after cold acclimation showed that they were not well correlated with freezing tolerance and could not explain the superior responses of RS and FR during cold acclimation. Transcript analysis of cold-responsive MsCBF1, MsCBF2 and CAS15B genes showed that RS, FR, Apica and CUF exhibited distinct patterns of cold induction. Although RS, FR and Apica showed a rapid or greater increase in expression level of one or two of these genes, CUF showed only a moderate induction in MsCBF2 and CAS15B transcripts, suggesting that expression of these genes may be a good molecular marker for freezing tolerance in lucerne. The findings provide evidence that freezing tolerance in lucerne is a complex trait and that a combination of different mechanisms may greatly improve freezing tolerance. RS and FR are potential resources in breeding for improving freezing tolerance in lucerne.
Toward Antikekulene: Angular 1,2-Di-, 2,3-Di-, and 1,2,15,16-Tetrachloro[6]phenylene

The synthesis of the first ring-functionalized heliphenes is described, comprised of angular 1,2-di-, 2,3-di-, and 1,2,15,16-tetrachloro[6]phenylene, via a series of Sonogashira couplings and cobalt-catalyzed alkyne cyclotrimerization steps. These molecules are explored as potential precursors to antikekulene and their reactivity compared to that of the parent angular [6]phenylene. An X-ray structural determination of 1,2,15,16-tetrachloro[6]phenylene reveals a structure with a considerably larger helical separation than in [6]phenylene, caused by the bulk of the appended chlorine atoms.
Acceptance of the Dana Medal of the Mineralogical Society of America for 2014

Distinguished colleagues and friends, it is a pleasure to be the 2014 recipient of the Dana Medal. I am deeply humbled by your many congratulations. In reflecting upon the many people that have made the path to this place possible, I have been continually reminded of the old saying that “If I have seen farther, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Well, I have had the support of many giants as family, colleagues, and friends. The first were my parents who supported my interest in science. Each year of high school, Mom would transport my science project to the local gymnasium for the local science fair competitions. They also encouraged my papers and presentations at meetings of the Virginia Junior Academy of Science. This was decades before anyone had heard of STEM but our world was full of science and dedicated teachers who gave countless hours …
Influence of Avian Predation on a Grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) Assemblage That Feeds on Threadleaf Snakeweed

A 2-yr study was initiated in south central Arizona in 1994 to determine the effect of avian predators on a threadleaf snakeweed, Gutierrezia microcephala (D.C.) Gray, feeding grasshopper assemblage. Two grasshopper species, Hesperotettix viridis (Thomas) and Melanoplus aridus (Scudder), made up 96 and 98% of the species composition during 1994 and 1995, respectively. Each of these species may play an important role in suppressing snakeweed when in high numbers. Grasshopper densities from caged and non-caged plots were compared to determine if predators were important in limiting the population dynamics of this grasshopper assemblage. Bird predation was a significant mortality factor for these species. Average densities of H. viridis and M. aridus were 2.2 and 2.9 times higher in bird exclosures than in controls in 1994 and 1995, respectively. M. aridus were preyed upon at a higher rate than H. viridis , probably because of the relative abundance and better crypsis of H. viridis . Female grasshoppers of both species appeared to be selected more frequently than males. Meadowlarks, Sturnella spp.; northern mockingbirds, Mimus polyglottos ; and Cassin's sparrows, Aimophila cassinii were probably the most important insectivores at this site because of their abundance and food habits.
Stress measurement Of BPDA/PDA Polyimides From Poly(Amic Acid) And Photosensitive Polyimide Precursors On Silicon

The stresses in three kinds of BPDA/PDA polyimides made from a poly (amic acid) and two types of photosensitive polyimide precursors on silicon were measured in situ in curing and cooling cycle. The photosensitive polyimide precursors contained, respectively, the acid-base linkage and ester linkage. The stresses in the polyimides from the photosensitive polyimide precursors after the thermal cycle were larger than the stress in the polyimide from the poly(amic acid). Since the photosensitive groups in the precursors acted as plasticizers, the thermal expansion coefficients became larger with the degrees of in-plane orientation of molecular chains. Thus, these thermal stresses were larger. The stress in the polyimide from the precursor containing the ester linkage after the thermal cycle was larger than that in the polyimide from the precursor containing the acid-base linkage. Since the volatile product evaporated at 400°C, the intrinsic stress occured in the polyimide from the precursor containing the ester linkage. Thus, the stress after the thermal cycle became the sum of the thermal stress and intrinsic stress. On the other hand, the stress in the polyimide from the precursor containing the acid-base linkage, as similar to that in the polyimide from the poly(amic acid), was equal to the thermal stress.
Tobacco Budworm: Behavioral Effects of Dispensing Virelure or Seven-Component Pheromone in Small Cotton Plots

Application of virelure or the seven-component pheromone of tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), to small plots resulted in mate trap capture reductions of 99 to 100%. However, infield mating of native adults was reduced only 26 to 48% as determined by nocturnal observations. Pheromone treatments also resulted in a significant delay in the time when peak mating occurred and altered the sex ratio of adults by reducing the number of males in treated plots up to 61.7% compared with check plots.