cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Magnetostatic twists in room-temperature skyrmions explored by nitrogen-vacancy center spin texture reconstruction

Magnetic skyrmions are two-dimensional non-collinear spin textures characterized by an integer topological number. Room-temperature skyrmions were recently found in magnetic multilayer stacks, where their stability was largely attributed to the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction. The strength of this interaction and its role in stabilizing the skyrmions is not yet well understood, and imaging of the full spin structure is needed to address this question. Here, we use a nitrogen-vacancy centre in diamond to measure a map of magnetic fields produced by a skyrmion in a magnetic multilayer under ambient conditions. We compute the manifold of candidate spin structures and select the physically meaningful solution. We find a Neel-type skyrmion whose chirality is not left-handed, contrary to preceding reports. We propose skyrmion tube-like structures whose chirality rotates through the film thickness. We show that NV magnetometry, combined with our analysis method, provides a unique tool to investigate this previously inaccessible phenomenon. The Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) is crucial to the stabilization of skyrmions but the contribution is not well understood. Here, the authors provide a methodology using the single electron spin of a nitrogen-vacancy center to image the fine structure of skyrmions which is attributed to the competition between the DMI and stray fields.
Yosh Maruyama (1930–1995)

Yosh Maruyama, one of the world’s leaders in Cf-252 brachytherapy, died in Detroit on January 11, 1995, a few months short of his 65th birthday.
1.09 – Organometallic Photochemistry, Synthetic Aspects and Applications

The principles of organometallic photochemistry are presented with an emphasis on synthesis and applications from the last 10–15 years. The discussion is focused on examples that demonstrate the emerging themes in organometallic photochemistry, namely the use of ultrafast kinetics techniques to probe reaction mechanisms, the use of DFT methods to interpret photochemical reactions, the exploration of new reaction media, the photochemistry of supramolecular complexes, the development of methods to photochemically cleave selected bonds in a molecule, and the recognition that electronic spin is an important parameter in determining the reactivity of photogenerated intermediates. Synthetic applications of organometallic photochemistry are presented, as are applications to photocatalysis, to polymers, and to the deposition of thin films and wires.
On the non-uniqueness of solution for screw dislocations in multiply connected regions

Solution for screw or edge dislocation in multiply connected regions is not unique in the sense that it depends on the cut along which displacement discontinuity is imposed. If the connectivity of the region is n, there are that many different solutions. This is demonstrated by considering screw dislocation in a hollow cylinder and near cavity in an infinite medium.
Optimal Code Rates for CDMA Packet Communications with Convolutional Coding

We consider a direct-sequence spread-spectrum multiple access communication system with convolutional error correction coding and hard decision decoding. This system operates as a wireless packet communications network. We explore several techniques to calculate the packet error probability and throughput of such a system. These techniques can be clasified as either bounding methods or approximations. We describe a bounding technique which improves on the best previous bounds and compare this bound to a recent approximation. Although the two techniques yield very different values for throughput, both techniques result in similar choices for the optimum rate of an error correction code.
Lichen sclerosus: An atypical presentation

We describe the case of a 66-year-old Hispanic man with an atypical presentation of lichen sclerosus (LS). The unusual presentation included bilateral axilla involvement (not previously reported to our knowledge), scrotal involvement (not common in men, despite common vulvar involvement in women), and an uncommonly thick plaque on his back.
Media multitasking is associated with altered processing of incidental, irrelevant cues during person perception

Media multitasking (MMT)—using and switching between unrelated forms of media—has been implicated in altered processing of extraneous stimuli, resulting in performance deficits. Here, we sought to extend our prior work to test the hypothesis that MMT might be associated with enhanced processing of incidental environmental cues during person perception. We tested the relationship between individual differences in MMT and person perception, by experimentally manipulating the relevance of environmental cues that participants could use to make trait and personality judgements of an unfamiliar social target. Relevant environmental cues consisted of neat or messy arrangements of the target’s belongings, whereas irrelevant cues consisted of similarly neat or messy arrangements of the testing room in which participants viewed a video of the target. In general, relevant cues affected ratings of the target’s conscientiousness. Additionally, and consistent with our hypothesis, there was a significant interaction between irrelevant cue condition and MMT, such that high media multitaskers more readily incorporated irrelevant environmental cues into their evaluations of the target’s conscientiousness. These results suggest that high media multitaskers are more responsive to irrelevant environmental cues, which in turn can lead them to form inaccurate impressions of others.
From the (Academic) middle to the top: an evaluation of the AVID/TOPS college access program

Despite overall increases in college-going, college enrollment rates remain inequitable. Many programs attempt to address these persistent racial/ethnic and social class disparities in college atte...
Impact of Caregiving for Dementia Patients on Healthcare Utilization of Caregivers.

The elderly, whom are vulnerable to the physical, mental and chronic diseases of aging, are the fastest growing segment of the US population. Dementia is of particular concern in this population, and caregivers of people with dementia are subjected to psychological, physical, emotional and functional stress. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of caregiving for dementia patients on health care services utilization of caregivers and to examine if caregivers utilize more healthcare services than the control group. The study recruited a total of 143 people in control and non-control groups through non-probability convenience sampling. The control group (non-caregivers) comprised of 71 people, whereas the experimental group (caregivers) consisted of 72 participants. The focus of the study was the health care utilization questionnaire, asking the caregiver about the frequency of specific health care services utilization—including medication use in the last six months, on the scale from 0 to 10. Results were statistically significant for each of the healthcare service utilization when comparing caregivers to the control group. By providing adequate support and assistance in form of support groups, we can alleviate caregivers’ burden and more effectively address the needs of caregivers—thereby reducing the utilization of healthcare services.
Malignancy, Staging and Surgical Management

Diagnosis and treatment of malignant (and pre-malignant) lesions is an integral part of dermatology practice. Treatments include topical, surgical, and laser-based modalities. Special cases also include radiation and chemotherapy. The involvement of oncology is recommended for late stage melanomas and all Merkel cell carcinomas.
Explaining Gene Expression Using Twenty-One MicroRNAs

The transcriptome of a tumor contains detailed information about the disease. Although advances in sequencing technologies have generated larger data sets, there are still many questions about exactly how the transcriptome is regulated. One class of regulatory elements consists of microRNAs (or miRs), many of which are known to be associated with cancer. To better understand the relationships between miRs and cancers, we analyzed ∼9000 samples from 32 cancer types studied in The Cancer Genome Atlas. Our feature reduction algorithm found evidence for 21 biologically interpretable clusters of miRs, many of which were statistically associated with a specific type of cancer. Moreover, the clusters contain sufficient information to distinguish between most types of cancer. We then used linear models to measure, genome-wide, how much variation in gene expression could be explained by the 21 average expression values ("scores") of the clusters. Based on the ∼20,000 per-gene R2 values, we found that (1) mean differences between tissues of origin explain about 36% of variation; (2) the 21 miR cluster scores explain about 30% of the variation; and (3) combining tissue type with the miR scores explained about 56% of the total genome-wide variation in gene expression. Our analysis of poorly explained genes shows that they are enriched for olfactory receptor processes, sensory perception, and nervous system processing, which are necessary to receive and interpret signals from outside the organism. Therefore, it is reasonable for those genes to be always active and not get downregulated by miRs. In contrast, highly explained genes are characterized by genes translating to proteins necessary for transport, plasma membrane, or metabolic processes that are heavily regulated processes inside the cell. Other genetic regulatory elements such as transcription factors and methylation might help explain some of the remaining variation in gene expression.
Toward a Molecular Understanding of the Impact of Crystal Size and Shape on Punch Sticking.

Punch sticking during tablet manufacturing is a common problem facing the pharmaceutical industry. Using several model compounds, effects of crystal size and shape of active pharmaceutical ingredie...
Evaluating the association between clonal hematopoiesis and germline pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants in cancer predisposition genes.

1535Background: Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is most commonly associated with mutations in genes with a known or putative role in leukemia and with an increased risk for hematologic malignancies. Near...
A supervised exercise intervention fails to improve subjective and objective sleep measures among older adults with and without HIV.

Background Chronic sleep disruption can have significant negative health effects and prior studies suggest that people with HIV (PWH) have disproportionately higher rates of sleep problems. Methods We evaluated baseline sleep of sedentary, older adults (50-75 years) with (n = 28) and without HIV (n = 29) recruited into a 24-week exercise study. Subjective sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); objective sleep parameters were assessed using wrist-worn actigraphy. Regression models were used to investigate changes in outcomes. Results Fifty-seven participants completed the intervention. At baseline, PWH had significantly lower sleep efficiency (88.7 [95% CI 86, 91]%) compared to controls (91.8 [95% CI 91, 93]%; p = 0.02); other sleep measures indicated poorer sleep among PWH but did not reach statistical significance (p ≥ 0.12). Overall, sleep outcomes did not significantly change with the exercise intervention (all p > 0.05). In adjusted analyses, PWH demonstrated a decrease in total sleep time (-22.1 [-43.7, -0.05] p = 0.045) and sleep efficiency (-1.3 [-2.5, -.01], p = 0.03) during the 24 weeks of exercise; these differences were attenuated and no longer significant after adjusting for exercise intensity. At the completion of the intervention, compared to controls, PWH had significantly poorer sleep by PSQI score (2.2 [0.6, 3.8]; p = 0.006) and sleep efficiency (-2.8 [-5.4,-0.2]%; p = 0.04). Conclusions In this study, sleep disturbance was more prevalent in sedentary older PWH compared to uninfected controls. An exercise intervention had minimal effect on sleep impairments among PWH nor controls. Among older adults, interventions beyond cardiovascular and resistance exercise may be needed to significantly alter subjective and objective sleep outcomes.
Racial Disproportionality and Disparities Among Latinx Children

Research on Latinx disproportionality and disparities tells a complex and nuanced story of risk, resilience, and differential treatment within the U.S. child welfare system. Studies suggest disproportionality and disparities in child welfare vary not only by geography among the Latinx population when compared with other major racial/ethnic groups, but also between Latinx subgroups based on factors such as birthplace, geographic location, socioeconomic position, country of origin, language, and immigration experiences, among a host of other factors. Research also reveals disparate findings with regard to patterns of disproportionality and disparities by maltreatment subtype. Knowledge of these differences, and the theories that have been advanced to explain them, is critically important for the design of strategies to address disproportionality and disparities and to prevent child maltreatment. In this chapter, we explore the history and diversity of the Latinx population in the U.S. and present available data on disparities and disproportionality in child maltreatment and child welfare system involvement. We examine the major theories that have been advanced to explain disproportionality and disparities among Latinx children, propose strategies to address observed differences, and outline directions for future research.
Physics and Computing Performance of the Exa.TrkX TrackML Pipeline.

The Exa.TrkX project has applied geometric learning concepts such as metric learning and graph neural networks to HEP particle tracking. The Exa.TrkX tracking pipeline clusters detector measurements to form track candidates and filters them. The pipeline, originally developed using the TrackML dataset (a simulation of an LHC-like tracking detector), has been demonstrated on various detectors, including the DUNE LArTPC and the CMS High-Granularity Calorimeter. This paper documents new developments needed to study the physics and computing performance of the Exa.TrkX pipeline on the full TrackML dataset, a first step towards validating the pipeline using ATLAS and CMS data. The pipeline achieves tracking efficiency and purity similar to production tracking algorithms. Crucially for future HEP applications, the pipeline benefits significantly from GPU acceleration, and its computational requirements scale close to linearly with the number of particles in the event.
Pattern of Use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) among the Chronically Ill: A Health Information National Trend Survey (HINTS) Analysis.

Effective patient–provider communication is a cornerstone of patient-centered care. Patient portals provide an effective method for secure communication between patients or their proxies and their health care providers. With greater acceptability of patient portals in private practices, patients have a unique opportunity to manage their health care needs. However, studies have shown that less than 50% of patients reported accessing the electronic health record (EHR) in a 12-month period. We used HINTS 5 cycle 1 and cycle 2 to assess disparities among US residents 18 and older with any chronic condition regarding the use of EHR for secure direct messaging with providers, to request refills, to make clinical decisions, or to share medical records with another provider. The results indicate that respondents with multimorbidity are more likely to share their medical records with other providers. However, respondents who are 75 and older are less likely to share their medical records with another provider. Additionally, respondents who are 65 and older are less likely to use the EHR for secure direct messaging with their provider. Additional health care strategies and provider communication should be developed to encourage older patients with chronic conditions to leverage the use of patient portals for effective disease management.
Contextually-relevant enhancement of non-native phonetic contrasts

Abstract One important factor that contributes to successful speech communication is an individual’s ability to speak more clearly when their listeners have difficulty understanding their speech. Though previous studies have demonstrated that native talkers implement acoustic–phonetic speech enhancements to ensure that their speech is understood by listeners, how non-native talkers employ goal-oriented enhancements is less well-understood. Here, we examine acoustic characteristics of speech enhancements produced by native and non-native English talkers of varying proficiency. Specifically, we investigate native Mandarin learners of English. The results show that non-native talkers’ ability to enhance a specific sound contrast differed depending on their familiarity with the target English contrast from their native language experience (Mandarin), as well as their English proficiency level. These results highlight that talkers are able to enhance their speech in native and non-native languages, but also suggest that this flexibility is shaped by the talkers’ target language proficiency and the type of acoustic manipulation involved in the adaptation.
Post-refractive Surgery IOL Power Calculation, Intraoperative Aberrometry

Optical biometry, corneal power measurement, and simple intraocular lens (IOL) power calculations provide accurate intraocular lens power determination in most eyes. However, for eyes with altered corneal power after refractive surgery for the correction of myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, traditional IOL power calculations are inaccurate. Patients presenting for cataract surgery today have increasingly undergone previous refractive procedures. The refractive outcomes of cataract surgery are important and patient-centered healthcare is responding with new advancements [1]. Optimal postoperative outcomes with minimal refractive error are especially important for patients who have already made significant investments in refractive surgery to be spectacle-free, with high expectations to remain so after cataract surgery. The demand for accurate refractive outcomes has driven the development of new IOL power calculations and methods for determining IOL power in post-refractive surgery eyes. The development of intraoperative wavefront aberrometry appears to increase the accuracy in post-refractive surgery IOL power determination.
AWARE: autonomous wireless agent robotic exchange

The Autonomous Wireless Robotic Agent Exchange (AWARE) system revolves around autonomous self-organizing wireless networks that provide end-to-end communication via a wireless medium. It provides an immediate communication solution to disaster stricken regions and to inaccessible geographical areas where wireless communication is the only viable option, but most current systems suffer due to their static nature. AWARE has many real-world applications related to search and rescue, disaster recovery, military and commercial industries.
Cooperative Localization in NLOS Environments Using Semidefinite Programming

In this letter, cooperative source localization using range-based measurements in severe non-line-of-sight (NLOS) environments is studied. The accuracy of localization can significantly degrade in indoor and dense environments, where the majority of connections are NLOS. Cooperative localization is highly beneficial in such environments by improving localization performance considerably. However, NLOS connections still must be handled properly. In this work, a novel cooperative localization algorithm with the ability to mitigate NLOS propagation based on semidefinite programming (SDP) is derived. It is assumed that the algorithm knows neither which connections are NLOS nor the distribution of NLOS propagation. The performance of the proposed SDP method is compared with that of the optimal maximum-likelihood estimator and several previously considered methods through computer simulations. It will be shown that the proposed SDP method substantially outperforms other methods in NLOS environments.
Root temperature effects on 'Arkin' carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.) trees. II. Growth and mineral nutrition

Abstract The effects of root temperature on plant growth and leaf nutrient element concentrations of 1-year-old ‘Arkin’ carambola ( Averrhoa carambola L.) trees in containers were investigated. Plants were grown in controlled root temperature chambers in a glasshouse at root temperatures of 5, 10, 20, 25, or 38 °C. The rate of leaf chlorosis and abscission was higher for trees at root temperatures of 5 and 10 °C compared to trees at the other root temperatures. Tree height, stem diameter, and length and number of axillary shoots increased as root temperatures increased. Also, the percentage of chlorotic and abscised leaves decreased as root temperature increased. Plant fresh and dry weights were generally greatest at root temperatures of 20 and 25 °C. There were no differences in leaf N, P, and K concentrations among root temperature treatments. However, leaf Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn concentrations were greater for trees at 5 °C than trees at the other root temperatures. Based on these results, increased growth and yield of carambola trees as a result of mulching in orchards may be due to increased root-zone soil temperature that has been observed for mulched trees.
Space Radiation Shielding for a Martian Habitat

Radiation shielding analyses are performed for a candidate Mars base habitat. The Langley cosmic ray transport code and the Langley nucleon transport code are used to quantify the transport and attenuation of galactic cosmic rays and solar flare protons through both the Martian atmosphere and regolith shielding. Doses at the surface and at various altitudes were calculated in a previous study using both a high-density and a low-density Mars atmosphere model. This study extends the previous low-density results to include the further transport of the ionizing radiation that reaches the surface through additional shielding provided by Martian regolith. A four-compound regolith model, which includes SiO2, Fe2O3, MgO, and CaO, was selected based on the chemistry of the Viking 1 Lander site. The spectral fluxes of heavy charged particles and the corresponding dosimetric quantities are computed for a series of thicknesses in the shield media after traversing the atmosphere. These data are then used as input to algorithms for a specific shield geometry. The results are presented as the maximum dose received in the center of the habitat versus various shield thicknesses for a base at an altitude of 0 km and 8 km.
Managing the frequency resource today and tomorrow

Frequency-resource management is the judicious use of the electromagnetic spectrum to accomplish the mission or objective of the user with little or no impact on other users of the spectrum. One mission of military frequency management is to support command and control (C2), which is crucial to executing the operational plans of the commanders. Effective C2 is impossible without communications and successful communications cannot be achieved without proper frequency management. This paper does not discuss frequency-management tools in use today, but focuses on factors that must be considered to achieve proper frequency management. The army of the future must consider not just each radio, but the system into which the radio must fit. "System" refers not to the system of passing messages through a network, but of several radios in proximity, e.g., in mobile command posts (CPs). In such situations, radios designed for individual operations must work in a very dense cosite situation with other types of radios and other equipment such as computers, with radios in several bands together, and radios of various bandwidths. >
Surface plasmon resonance applied to G protein-coupled receptors

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) are integral membrane proteins that transmit signals from external stimuli to the cell interior via activation of GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) thereby mediating key sensorial, hormonal, metabolic, immunological, and neurotransmission processes. Elucidating their structure and mechanism of interaction with extracellular and intracellular binding partners is of fundamental importance and highly relevant to rational design of new effective drugs. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has become a method of choice for studying biomolecular interactions at interfaces because measurements take place in real-time and do not require labeling of any of the interactants. However, due to the particular challenges imposed by the high hydrophobicity of membrane proteins and the great diversity of receptor-stimulating ligands, the application of this technique to characterize interactions of GPCR is still in the developmental phase. Here we give an overview of the principle of SPR and analyze current approaches for the preparation of the sensor chip surface, capture and stabilization of GPCR, and experimental design to characterize their interaction with ligands, G proteins and specific antibodies.
Stereo tracking using ICP and normal flow constraint

This paper presents a new approach for 3D view registration of stereo images. We introduce a hybrid error function which combines constraints from the ICP (iterative closest point) algorithm and normal flow constraint. This new technique is more precise for small movements and noisy depth than ICP alone, and more robust for large movements than the normal flow constraint alone. Finally, we present experiments which test the accuracy of our approach on sequences of real and synthetic stereo images.
A strong law of large numbers for martingale arrays

We prove a martingale triangular array generalization of the Chow-Birnbaum- Marshall's inequality. The result is used to derive a strong law of large numbers for martingale triangular arrays whose rows are asymptotically stable in a certain sense. To illustrate, we derive a simple proof, based on martingale arguments, of the consistency of kernel regression with dependent data. Another application can be found in (1) where the inequality is used to prove a strong law of large numbers for adaptive Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods. AMS 2000 subject classiflcations: Primary 60J27, 60J35, 65C40.
Constrained Motion Planning in Discrete State Spaces

We propose a principled method to create a search space for constrained motion planning, which efficiently encodes only feasible motion plans. The space of possible paths is encoded implicitly in the connections between states, but only feasible and only local connections are allowed. Furthermore, we propose a systematic method to generate a near-minimal set of spatially distinct motion alternatives. This set of motion primitives preserves the connectivity of the representation while eliminating redundancy — leading to a very efficient structure for motion planning at the chosen resolution.
Evaluation of functional activity and aggregation properties of hemopressin (1054.2)

Hemopressin is a naturally occurring nonapeptide derived from the α-chain of hemoglobin that acts as an inverse agonist for the type-1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptor. Based on its in vivo activity, hem...
The Speed Capital of the World: Organizing the Methamphetamine Industry in Philadelphia 1970–1990:

Synthetic narcotics have received relatively little attention in the growing scholarly literature on drugs, though synthetics like PCP, amphetamines and “designer” drugs play a major role in the il...
Fabrication and tuning of the SNS CCL hot model

A full-scale powered model of the SNS CCL was completed in August 2001. The manufacturing processes and tuning procedures used in the CCL Hot Model formed the basis of the main manufacturing contract for the SNS CCL system later placed in private industry. In this paper we summarize the design basis for the CCL and the manufacturing and process steps required to fabricate and of the various tooling and lifting and handling fixtures utilized in the process at the various machining, brazing, welding, and tuning steps. The tooling utilized in the fabrication and tuning process is discussed in detail. The ultimate successful testing of the CCL hot model was key to development of a manufacturing plan for the CCL system.
Applicability of brain wave biofeedback to substance use disorder in adolescents

Neurofeedback treatment for addictions in adults is probably efficacious, and several reported approaches are described with their indications. Neurofeedback is promising as a treatment modality for adolescents, especially those with stimulant abuse and attention and conduct problems. It is attractive as a medication-free, neurophysiologic, and self-actualizing treatment for a substance-based, brain-impaired and self-defeating disorder. More research, beginning with case reporting, is needed to assess use and efficacy in adolescents.
Mitos, simbolismo y estructura en Apolo y Climene y El hijo del sol, Faetón

Aparte de valores filosoficos y cualidades musicales, Apolo y Climene y El hijo del sol, Faeton incorporan tradiciones literarias que explican mas ampliamente las representaciones de estas obras en...
A cytostatic protein isolated from the conditioned medium of mouse monocytic leukemia WEHI-3 cell cultures

A cytostatic factor (CF) with a molecular mass of 50 kDa was purified to more than 16,000-fold from the conditioned medium of LPS-treated mouse myelomonocytic leukemia (WEHI-3) cell cultures. The activity of CF was completely destroyed by heating at 70 degrees C for 10 min, 50 degrees C for 30 min, or by the treatment in pH 3 buffer for 2 h. CF showed a strong growth inhibitory effect on CHO cells, as well as several other unrelated cell lines, e.g., K562 and L1210, but not on L929 cells. It also inhibited Con A-induced mitogenesis in mouse and rat spleen cells. The growth inhibitory effect of CF, however, was highly reversible; CHO cells were able to regain the normal growth after removal of the factor from the culture medium. Our results suggest that CF is a protein secreted by WEHI-3 cells, which is distinct from other known macrophage- or tumor-derived cytotoxic proteins.
Supernova 1987A at five years of age

Supernova 1987A is gradually changing from a supernova heated by the radioactive decay of heavy elements to a supernova remnant interacting with a surrounding medium whose structure has already been revealed through its illumination by radiation from the explosion. The nature of the compact remnant remains a central mystery.
Biphasic Hemodynamic Responses Influence Deactivation and May Mask Activation in Block-Design fMRI Paradigms

A previous block-design fMRI study revealed deactivation in the hippocampus in the transverse patterning task, specifically designed, on the basis of lesion literature, to engage hippocampal information processing. In the current study, a mixed block/event-related design was used to determine the temporal nature of the signal change leading to the seemingly paradoxical deactivation. All positive activations in the hippocampal-dependent condition, relative to a closely matched control task, were seen to result from positive BOLD transients in the typical 4-7 s poststimulus time range. However, most deactivations, including in the hippocampus and in other "default mode" regions commonly deactivated in cognitive tasks, were attributable to enhanced negative transient signals in a later time range, 10-12 s. This late hemodynamic transient was most pronounced in medial prefrontal cortex. In some regions, the hippocampal-dependent condition enhanced both the early positive and late negative transients to approximately the same degree, resulting in no significant signal change when block analysis is used, despite very different event-related responses. These results imply that delayed negative transients can play a role in determining the presence and sign of brain activation in block-design studies, in which case an event-related analysis can be more sensitive than a block analysis, even if the different conditions occur within blocks. In this case, default mode deactivations are timelocked to stimulus presentation as much as positive activations are, but in a later time range, suggesting a specific role of negative transient signals in task performance.
Eye-Safe Diode-Laser-Based Micropulse Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) for Water Vapor Profiling in the Lower Troposphere

Abstract A second-generation diode-laser-based master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) configured micropulse differential absorption lidar (DIAL) instrument for profiling of lower-tropospheric water vapor is presented. The DIAL transmitter is based on a continuous wave (cw) external cavity diode laser (ECDL) master oscillator that is used to injection seed two cascaded tapered semiconductor optical power amplifiers, which deliver up to 2-μJ pulse energies over a 1-μs pulse duration at 830 nm with an average power of ∼40 mW at a pulse repetition frequency of 20 kHz. The DIAL receiver utilizes a commercial 28-cm-diameter Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope, a 250-pm narrowband optical filter, and a fiber-coupled single-photon-counting Avalanche photodiode (APD) detector, yielding a far-field full-angle field of view of 170 μrad. A detailed description of the second-generation Montana State University (MSU) DIAL instrument is presented. Water vapor number density profiles and time–height cross sections collected w...
THE NUCLEUS OF COMET 48P/JOHNSON

We present new observations of short-period (Jupiter family) comet 48P/Johnson taken over several months when near ~4 AU heliocentric distance. CCD photometry shows that this object has a pointlike inner surface brightness profile. It varies cyclically in brightness, with a light-curve period 14.50 ± 0.02 hr and photometric range ΔmR = 0.32 ± 0.05 mag. We attribute these variations to the rotation of a bare, aspherical nucleus with projected semiaxes 3.0 × 2.2 km (0.04 albedo assumed) and (two-peaked) rotation period 29.00 ± 0.04 hr. The phase coefficient of the nucleus is 0.059 ± 0.002 mag deg-1, consistent with a low-albedo surface. A faint tail is evident in a deep composite image but appears to contribute little to the nucleus signal.
Rates of pediatric and adolescent injuries by year of age

Objective. The purpose of this study was to analyze causes of injury hospitalization/death by individual year of age and by specific causes of injury and to examine how well aggregate age groups represented individual year-of-age rates. Methods. Hospital discharge data and death certificate data for California residents age 0 to 19 years with a principal external cause of injury code (E-code) of E800 to E869, E880 to E929, or E950 to E999, calendar year 1997, were analyzed. Annual rates of injury hospitalization/death by year of age were calculated using combined hospital discharges and deaths as the numerator for major causes and important subcategories. For comparison, rates of injury hospitalization/death were calculated for conventional vital statistics age groups: Results. In 1997 in California, 35 277 children and adolescents 0 to 19 years were hospitalized and 1934 died as a result of injury, a ratio of 17 hospitalizations to 1 death. The distribution was bimodal with rates highest among 18-year-olds (732/100 000) and 1-year-olds (495/100 000). Except for children who were 5 to 9 years of age, the group rates for all injuries were not reflective of the individual year-of-age rates. In specific categories of injuries, variation in rates by year of age were masked by age group rates for unintentional poisoning among 1- to 4-year-olds, self-inflicted poisoning for 10- to 19-year-olds, falls from playground equipment among 5- to 9-year-olds, falls from furniture among 1- to 4-year-olds, and motor vehicle occupant injury rates among 10- to 19-year-olds. The peak rate of falls from playground equipment among 6-year-olds (34/100 000) was more than twice the rate for 9-year-olds (15/1000,000). Motor vehicle occupant injury rates doubled between 10 and 14 years of age and quadrupled between 14 and 18 years of age. Conclusions. Analyses using conventional age groups did not identify the age of highest risk for many causes of childhood injury. Changes in the rates often transected the traditional age groups and were not apparent with conventional age group analysis. These data can inform on the age at which to begin a specific injury intervention and on how to allocate resources. These data allow pediatricians and other health professionals to be anticipatory in providing injury prevention counseling. The greatest impact can be achieved by making the counseling topic most age appropriate in anticipation of the high-risk period.
Selection and use of inferential statistics: a summary.

The interpretation of many of the inferential statistics found in recent issues of this journal has been discussed in our last eight columns. In the present column, we summarize and extend these recent columns to some additional statistics. Several figures are presented to help in the selection of an appropriate statistical test. It is also possible to work backward: start with the statistic mentioned in an article that you are reading and then refer to the figures to get a better idea of why the authors chose that statistic. Remember that, for heuristic reasons, we have divided research questions into difference questions and associational questions. Difference questions compare groups and utilize the statistics, which we call difference inferential statistics (see the left side of Fig. 1). These statistics (e.g., t test and analysis of variance) (ANOVA) are identified in Figures 2 and 4. Associational questions examine the association or relationship between two or more variables (see the right side of Fig. 1). They utilize associational inferential statistics (correlation and regression) and are shown in Figures 3 and 5. It is worth noting that there may be more than one appropriate statistical analysis for a given design or configuration of variables; thus Figures 2–5 just provide guidelines. As we shall see in the section below on the general linear model (GLM), many difference statistics have an analog associational statistic.
The Radiolysis of Methanol and Methanolic Solutions. VI. Cis and Trans‐Stilbene

The use of geometrical isomerization of stilbene as a monitor of radiolytic excitation in methanolic solutions was evaluated using gas chromatographic analysis. No evidence for excitation of stilbene was obtained. The mechanistic significance of the observed isomerization of trans-stilbene is obscured by the preponderant simultaneous formation of a veriety of other products. The cis-stilbene used in this work was much less sensitive to ionizing radiation than its trans-isomer, presumably because of efficient protection by a few percent of 2-methylnaphthalene present as an impurity.
Allelic exchange of pheromones and their receptors reprograms sexual identity in Cryptococcus neoformans.

Cell type specification is a fundamental process that all cells must carry out to ensure appropriate behaviors in response to environmental stimuli. In fungi, cell identity is critical for defining “sexes” known as mating types and is controlled by components of mating type (MAT) loci. MAT–encoded genes function to define sexes via two distinct paradigms: 1) by controlling transcription of components common to both sexes, or 2) by expressing specially encoded factors (pheromones and their receptors) that differ between mating types. The human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans has two mating types (a and α) that are specified by an extremely unusual MAT locus. The complex architecture of this locus makes it impossible to predict which paradigm governs mating type. To identify the mechanism by which the C. neoformans sexes are determined, we created strains in which the pheromone and pheromone receptor from one mating type (a) replaced the pheromone and pheromone receptor of the other (α). We discovered that these “αa” cells effectively adopt a new mating type (that of a cells); they sense and respond to α factor, they elicit a mating response from α cells, and they fuse with α cells. In addition, αa cells lose the α cell type-specific response to pheromone and do not form germ tubes, instead remaining spherical like a cells. Finally, we discovered that exogenous expression of the diploid/dikaryon-specific transcription factor Sxi2a could then promote complete sexual development in crosses between α and αa strains. These data reveal that cell identity in C. neoformans is controlled fully by three kinds of MAT–encoded proteins: pheromones, pheromone receptors, and homeodomain proteins. Our findings establish the mechanisms for maintenance of distinct cell types and subsequent developmental behaviors in this unusual human fungal pathogen.
Structural evolution and flip-flop recombination of chloroplast DNA in the fern genus Osmunda

The evolution and recombination of chloroplast genome structure in the fern genus Osmunda were studied by comparative restriction site mapping and filter hybridization of chloroplast DNAs (cpDNAs) from three species — 0. cinnamomea, 0. claytoniana and 0. regalis. The three 144 kb circular genomes were found to be colinear in organization, indicating that no major inversions or transpositions had occurred during the approximately 70 million years since their radiation from a common ancestor. Although overall size and sequence arrangement are highly conserved in the three genomes, they differ by an extensive series of small deletions and insertions, ranging in size from 50 bp to 350 by and scattered more or less at random throughout the circular chromosomes. All three chloroplast genomes contain a large inverted repeat of approximately 10 kb in size. However, hybridizations using cloned fragments from the 0. cinnamomea and 0. regalis genomes revealed the absence of any dispersed repeats in at least 50% of the genome. Analysis with restriction enzymes that fail to cleave the 10 kb inverted repeat indicated that each of the three fern chloroplast genomes exists as an equimolar population of two isomeric circles differing only in the relative orientation of their two single copy regions. These two inversion isomers are inferred to result from high frequency intramolecular recombination between paired inverted repeat segments. In all aspects of their general organization, recombinational heterogeneity, and extent of structural rearrangement and length mutation, these fern chloroplast genomes resemble very closely the chloroplast genomes of most angiosperms.
Whither the Public Sphere Local, National, and International Influences on the Planning of Downtown Mexico City, 1910-1950

This article examines the practices of urban planners in the early decades of this century as a basis for thinking about the public sphere in Mexico. It offers a general description of downtown Mexico City, its physical and social character, and the foreign and domestic reference points used to build the city in the period of revolutionary transition when competing views about downtown changed the profession of planning and the city itself. The article suggests that the existence of conflictive views of the city advanced by different planning elites impeded any real consensus on government efforts to develop downtown. This owed in no small part to the fact that the low-income, market, and trading-centered activities of downtown residents did not figure into modernist views of city planners, conservative and progressive alike. As downtown areas fell out of the urban planning picture, its populations were neglected, its physical spaces deteriorated, its social composition narrowed, and its so-called publici...
The skin as an endocrine target.

Thyroid disease is common, and it often affects the skin. In fact, autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) such as Graves disease and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis affect 5% of the population; accordingly, they are the most common organ-specific autoimmune diseases (Stassi and De Maria, 2002; Weetman, 2003; Jacobson and Tomer, 2007). Although cutaneous manifestations of AITD are well described and thyroid hormone is known to regulate the development and function of skin (Leonhardt and Heymann, 2002; Burman and McKinley-Grant, 2006), a better understanding of these processes is needed. Therefore, Cianfarani et al. (2010, this issue) analyzed normal human skin, cultures of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts, and serum of patients with AITDs in hopes of elucidating the role of thyroid-specific molecules.
Satellite Measurements of Surface Albedo and Temperatures in Semi-Desert

Measurements of surface parameters in an arid steppe (the semi-desert of the northern Sinai) were made from the NOAA-6 satellite to assess the effects of the vegetation recovery in a fenced-off area. The radiances measured in the solar wavelengths over the vegetated area were about 25 percent lower than those measured over the surrounding bare sandy soil (where the surface albedo measured from Landsat is about 0.42). This implies a reduction in the albedo by the vegetation also by about 25 percent if both surfaces are regarded as Lambertian, but by as much as 42 percent if the vegetated area is modeled as a plane of soil with vertically protruding plants. The radiation temperatures in the 11 micron channel at approximately 0730 LST measured over the vegetated area were by as much as 2.5 K higher than over the surrounding sands.
Fluvial sediment delivery to a Coastal Plain estuary in the Atlantic Drainage of the United States

Abstract Drastic changes in sediment production in drainage basins can have significant impacts on sediment yield to estuaries. However, significant but less spectacular changes in fluvial sediment regimes have not greatly influenced sediment output of some rivers in the United States Atlantic Drainage. The limited influence of moderate or incremental changes in fluvial sediment systems on estuarine sediment delivery may be attributable to the large proportion of eroded sediment which is stored within the basins, and the transport-limited nature of long-term sediment yields. A sediment budget for the Pee Dee River basin and Waccamaw River/Winyah Bay estuary of the Carolinas shows that only a small proportion of gross eroded sediment within the basin (about 4%) reaches the estuary on an average-annual basis. Because the system appears to be transport-limited, it is estimated that an 88% reduction in the quantity of eroded sediment reaching streams would be necessary to produce significant change in sediment yield to the estuary. Any increase in sediment production would not be reflected at all in the estuary unless it was accompanied by a corresponding increase in fluvial sediment conveyance capacity. Estuarine sedimentary records thus may not reflect some significant changes in fluvial sediment systems.
VALUE PRIORITIES OF IRANIAN AND AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS

A sample of 49 Iranian students studying in American colleges were divided into a less acculturated and a more acculturated group, based on a median split of their scores on Hannassab's Acculturation Scale. Using Schwartz's Value Survey, values of Iranian men and women (ns = 19) were compared to values of 45 American men and women studying in the same U.S. colleges. Significant group differences in the ratings given to the value domains of power, benevolence, security, conformity, and tradition were observed. Also as expected, the mean acculturation scores of the Iranian students were significantly correlated with the number of years they had spent outside of Iran.