cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A note on the geometrization of biology

In connection with a recently proposed topological model of an organism (Bull. Math. Biophysics,18, 31–56, 1956), it is pointed out that the dependence of some properties of the studied topological spaces on the type of space in which they are imbedded reflects some aspects of the dependence of the organism on its environment.
Power management strategy for plug and play DC microgrid

DC microgrid is getting more and more attention as an effective and efficient solution to integrate different kinds of renewable energy storage and energy resources with DC loads. A typical DC microgrid envisioned for future DC powered residential homes is investigated in this paper, including distributed power management strategy design, plug and play function implementation, communication ports to monitor the system performance. In this power management strategy, each module in the system is in the distributed control and can be plugged and unplugged into the system without affecting the system performance. Furthermore, the communication ports guarantee all modules information can be sent to the control center to monitor the whole system information.
Opportunistic retooling of a flexible machine subject to failure

A set of jobs can be processed without interruption by a flexible machine only if the set of tools required by all jobs can be loaded in the tool magazine. However, in practice the total number of tools required by a job set would exceed the tool magazine capacity. In such situations, the job set has to be carefully partitioned at the start of the production run such that each partition can be processed without interruption. During the production run, if there are unscheduled machine downtimes due to machine failure, this provides an additional opportunity to optimally retool the magazine for a smaller job set consisting of just the unprocessed jobs. In this paper, we study job sequencing rules that allow us to minimize the total expected cost of machine down time due to machine failures and magazine retooling, assuming a dynamic re-sequencing of the unprocessed jobs after each machine failure. Using these rules, we develop a branch-and-bound heuristic that allows us to solve problems of reasonable size. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 48: 79–97, 2001
Increased uptake in the right atrial area during [99mTc] MAA perfusion lung imaging

Abstract On a patient with chronic saphenous thrombophlebitis and recurrent pulmonary embolism, increased uptake of [ 99 m Tc]MAA in the right atrial area was seen in two successive perfusion lung images obtained 6 days apart. Uptake in a mural thrombus is the most likely explanation. Symptoms, signs, diagnosis and etiology of previously reported cases of right atrial thrombosis were reviewed and compared to our case.
Accurate phosphoregulation of kinetochore–microtubule affinity requires unconstrained molecular interactions

Accurate chromosome segregation relies on dynamic interactions between microtubules (MTs) and the NDC80 complex, a major kinetochore MT-binding component. Phosphorylation at multiple residues of its Hec1 subunit may tune kinetochore–MT binding affinity for diverse mitotic functions, but molecular details of such phosphoregulation remain elusive. Using quantitative analyses of mitotic progression in mammalian cells, we show that Hec1 phosphorylation provides graded control of kinetochore–MT affinity. In contrast, modeling the kinetochore interface with repetitive MT binding sites predicts a switchlike response. To reconcile these findings, we hypothesize that interactions between NDC80 complexes and MTs are not constrained, i.e., the NDC80 complexes can alternate their binding between adjacent kinetochore MTs. Experiments using cells with phosphomimetic Hec1 mutants corroborate predictions of such a model but not of the repetitive sites model. We propose that accurate regulation of kinetochore–MT affinity is driven by incremental phosphorylation of an NDC80 molecular “lawn,” in which the NDC80–MT bonds reorganize dynamically in response to the number and stability of MT attachments.
Compartment syndrome in children and adolescents.

Abstract Background The authors performed a computerized search of the National Pediatric Trauma Registry for all patients who had compartment syndrome during a 51-month period. Methods One hundred thirty-three cases were identified. Boys outnumbered girls 4 to 1. The median age was 12 years and the peak incidence was in the 10- to 14-year-old age group. Results The most common mechanisms of injury were pedestrians struck by motor vehicles, falls, sports, and occupants in motor vehicle crashes. Eighty-five percent of the cases were the sequelae of fractures. Forearm fractures were the most common cause in the upper extremity, and tibia and/or fibula fractures were most common in the lower extremity. Conclusions Open fractures significantly increased the risk of developing a compartment syndrome for both forearm and leg fractures. Sixty percent of the patients went directly from the emergency room to the operating room, suggesting that the others developed the compartment syndrome after admission, or had delayed diagnosis.
The Toyota Way – a quantitative approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to quantify Toyota's managerial values known as the Toyota Way to understand the cultural aspects of the Toyota production system (TPS).Design/methodology/approach – The research methodology in this paper utilizes latent semantic analysis and singular value decomposition to analyze corporate memory documents to determine from organizational view how TPS is prescribed ideally to achieve Toyota's culture.Findings – This work shows that the Toyota Way heavily centers on the principle of Genchi Genbutsu which is the practice of seeing problems first hand. Findings also show that Toyota's widely popularized Kaizen philosophy is de‐emphasized compared to team work and respect for people. Toyota's culture is somewhat balanced between individualism and collectivism which disagrees with most national Asian cultures. Finally, results show that Toyota reinforces both long‐ and short‐term orientations which disagree with most national views of Japan's national culture.Research l...
Conformational state andtransformation in Mn(II) and Mn(III) hemoglobins and azide Mn(III) hemoglobin

Summary The circular dichroism of Mn(II) and Mn(III) hemoglobins has been measured in the uv and Soret spectral regions, and the differences are indicative of an R⇄T allosteric transformation, particularly in the 280 nm region. However, Mn(III) hemoglobin in the uv region is distinctly different from aquomet hemoglobin. The addition of inositol hexaphosphate to Mn(III) hemoglobin gives a uv circular dichroic spectrum characteristic of the T form. In contrast to the azide derivative of Fe(III) hemoglobin, the azide derivative of Mn(III) hemoglobin is converted to the T form by the addition of inositol hexaphosphate.
Prenatal diagnosis, clinical significance and management of fetal intracranial teratoma: A case report and literature review

We report the prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of a massive intracranial teratoma in a 32-week breech intrauterine pregnancy associated with polyhydramnios and enlarged fetal head circumference. Ultrasound appearance, clinical significance, and how the prenatal diagnosis affects management and prognosis for both mother and fetus are discussed.
Autoantibodies in canine neoplasms. II. Tumor tissue specificity and lack of cross-reactivity with embryonic antigens.

Durch Immunofluoreszenz wird eine Kreuzreaktion zwischen Tumoren des gleichen histologischen Typs, jedoch keine solche zwischen verschiedenartigen Tumoren des Hundes festgestellt.
Enhanced tunneling in stacked gate dielectrics with ultra-thin HfO2 layers sandwiched between thicker SiO2 layers

Abstract There has been a search for alternative dielectrics with significantly increased dielectric constants, K , which increases physical thickness in proportion to K , and therefore would significantly reduce direct tunneling. However, increases in K to values of 15–25 in transition metal and rare earth oxides are generally accompanied by decreases in the conduction band offset energy with respect to Si, E B , and the effective electron tunneling mass, m eff , which mitigate gains from increased thickness. A novel technique, based on stacked dielectrics, is used to obtain the tunneling mass-conduction band offset energy product. When combined with optical measurements of tunneling barriers, this yields direct estimates of the tunneling mass.
The influence of exogenous progesterone on selected lines of mice divergent for maternal nesting.

It has been suggested that increases in nesting during pregnancy inMus musculus are due to increased progesterone levels. If maternal nesting (MN) and nesting induced by exogenous progesterone (PN) are mediated by a common physiological mechanism, it would be expected that they share a common genetic basis. The present experiment was designed to test whether PN and MN are genetically associated in female mice selectively bred for high and low levels of thermoregulatory (nonpregnant) nesting and divergent for MN. Baseline nesting was measured, then half of the mice in each line were progesterone implanted while half received sham implants. Nesting was measured daily for 20 days. There were statistically significant increases in nesting by the progesterone-treated groups in all except the high-selected lines. Two weeks later the implants were removed and nesting returned to baseline. All females were mated and nesting was measured during pregnancy. The rank order of the three lines was identical for PN and MN, and PN and MN were approximately equal within lines. A common mechanism controlling PN and MN is indicated.
Modern lightweight UV spectrographs for in situ studies of the exosphere and photo-ion population about Mercury

Abstract Important resonance transitions of most neutral species, either already known to be present in the exosphere of Mercury or likely to be found there, fall in the UV portion of the spectrum as do the principal resonance transitions of the ions of these same elements. The design and fabrication is presented of a new lightweight UV spectrograph, under development at Southwest Research Institute, which can easily detect these known or expected species. The instrument is an athermal design constructed for the most part of aluminum. It weighs less than 3 kg, and draws less than 3 W of power. The spectral coverage is 1800–3300 A, which is sufficient to reach resonance lines of all the important species identified in this spectral passband. The predicted spectral resolution for a point source at infinity is ∼9 A at 1800 A, ∼13 A at 2500 A, and ∼15 A at 3000 A ( λ Δλ ∼200 ). The spectrograph employs a 2-D microchannel plate wedge-and-strip detector with either a bi-alkali or cesium telluride (solar-blind) semi-transparent photocathode. For most of the important transitions expected, this instrument should be able to reach detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio ∼5) near 0.1 R in a 102 s exposure with a cesium telluride photocathode, or 0.08 R with a bi-alkali photocathode.
The preparation and genesis of molybdena-alumina and related catalyst systems

Molybdena-, tungsta-, chromia-, and vanadia-alumina preparations were made using an equilibrium adsorption technique. The Na+ cation was also tested and other supports (titania, magnesia, and silica gel) were employed. The loading of the support was not very dependent on the solution concentration, but for anions was a strong inverse function of the pH. It is shown that this (and the opposite dependence for cations) reflected the isoelectric point of the support surface. Reflectance spectra of the wet, dried (150 °C), and calcined (500 °C) catalysts are reported for molybdena-alumina preparations made at several pH values. In agreement with our previously published Raman data, the catalyst prepared at pH = 8.6 yielded spectra of a monomeric tetrahedral species while those made at lower pH yielded spectra characteristic of octahedral (polymeric) molybdena. Thus, better defined catalysts could be prepared for further study. The data support a model for the ordinary raw catalyst made by incipient wetness from solutions of ammonium paramolybdate in which the surface of the support becomes populated with randomly distributed small clusters (or islands) of polymolybdate species.
Crossing Over: Nanostructures that Move Electrons and Ions across Cellular Membranes

Critical biological processes such as energy generation and signal transduction are driven by the flow of electrons and ions across the membranes of living cells. As a result, there is substantial interest in creating nanostructured materials that control transport of these charged species across biomembranes. The recent advances in the synthesis of de novo and protein nanostructures for transmembrane ion and electron transport and the mechanistic understanding underlying this transport are described. Moreover, this body of work highlights the promise such nanostructures hold for directing transmembrane transport of charged species as well as challenges that must be overcome to realize that potential.
Role of surface molecular reactions in influencing the growth mechanism and the nature of nonequilibrium surfaces: A Monte-Carlo study of molecular-beam epitaxy.

The role of the surface molecular-reaction kinetics in vapor-phase crystal growth is examined via Monte Carlo simulations and shown to give rise to a growth process, referred to as a configuration-dependent, reactive-incorporation growth process, which, depending upon the growth kinetics, can be distinct from the conventional nucleation and continuous-growth mechanisms. Implications of this process for the recently observed oscillations in the reflection high-energy electron-diffraction intensities during molecular-beam epitaxy of III-V compounds are discussed.
BW373U86, a δ Opioid Agonist, Partially Mediates Delayed Cardioprotection via a Free Radical Mechanism that is Independent of Opioid Receptor Stimulation

Opioids have been shown to produce both an early and delayed phase of cardioprotection; however, the signaling pathways involved, particularly in the delayed response, have not been well defined. Therefore, we investigated the potential of BW373U86 (BW), a potent delta opioid agonist, to produce delayed cardioprotection and characterized the role of opioid receptors and oxygen-derived free radicals (OFRs) in this delayed response. All rats underwent 30 min of ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. The rats were divided into four groups. First, rats were pretreated with selective opioid receptor antagonists or the antioxidant, 2-mercaptopropionyl glycine (2-MPG), in the presence of BW and allowed to recover for 24 h before the ischemia-reperfusion protocol. Second, rats were pretreated with BW, allowed to recover for 24 h, and subsequently treated with either opioid antagonists or 2-MPG, 10 min prior to the ischemia-reperfusion protocol. Third, rats underwent ischemic preconditioning (IPC) (1x5 min occlusion) both with and without 2-MPG to determine the role of OFRs in acute cardioprotection. Fourth, rats were pretreated with TAN-67, an opioid agonist known to signal through the delta1 opioid receptor in the presence and absence of 2-MPG. Control rats were injected with saline and allowed to recover for 24 h. BW produced a bell-shaped dose-related reduction in infarct size with a maximal reduction observed at 0.1 mg/kg v control (16+/-3%v 60+/-3%, P<0.001). Surprisingly, the delayed protection induced by BW was only partially blocked by pretreatment with the delta1-selective antagonist, BNTX; however, it was completely blocked by pretreatment with 2-MPG (47+/-5%, P<0.001). Only naloxone given acutely inhibited the protective effects of BW; however, at the dose used, 2-MPG partially reduced the protective effect of acute IPC. TAN-67 (0.1 mg/kg) also produced a significant reduction in infarct size compared to control (18+/-4%v 60+/-3%, P<0.001). This protection was blocked by pretreatment with 2-MPG (42+/-4%, P<0.001). These data suggest that BW and TAN-67 mediate delayed cardioprotection via a free radical mechanism that appears to be only partially dependent on delta opioid receptor stimulation. Furthermore, it is the early burst in OFRs that is crucial to initiating the protective effect.
Ruling out pareto dominated monetary equilibria

Abstract It is well known that under nominal money supply rules accomplished through lump sum transfers, non-uniqueness and non-optimality of the resource allocation often obtains in monetary models. We show that uniqueness and optimality of the resource allocation obtains if the monetary authority conducts Friedman's rule through open market operations. Our result necessitates and we provide a clarification of existing irrelevance theorems for open market operations. Our result also provides a partial resolution of the uniqueness-efficiency conflict of nominal money supply rules raised by Woodford (Economic Theory 4 (1994) 345–380).
Thermodynamics of cation exchange of hydrous zirconia

Abstract The exchange of the ions, Li + , Na + and K + on hydrous zirconia have been studied at 25° at a constant ionic strength (0·10 M) and constant hydroxide ion concentration (0·10 M). The preference series Li > Na > K was found, and thermodynamic equilibrium constants for the ion exchange reactions were calculated. Heats of partial exchange at 25°C have been determined calorimetrically as a function of exchanger composition yielding standard enthalpy changes, ΔH °, for the ion exchange reactions.
The Internal and External Causal Loci of Attributions to Prejudice

In two studies, the authors examined the causal loci of attributions to prejudice. Participants were asked to consider a situation in which they were rejected. Whether the rejection was attributable to an exclusively external cause or attributable to bias against one’s gender group was manipulated. In contrast to the existing view that attributions to prejudice are external, results from both studies supported the prediction that attributions to prejudice also have a substantial internal component. In Study 2, the authors examined the affective consequences of attributions for rejection and found that for women, attributions to prejudice were more harmful than an exclusively external attribution. For men, however, attributions to prejudice were less harmful than an exclusively external attribution. Results are discussed in terms of the ways in which attributions to prejudice differ from purely external attributions.
Incorporating cue-controlled relaxation and systematic desensitization in reduction of anxiety.

The present case report examines the potential advantages of incorporating cue-controlled relaxation within a systematic desensitization paradigm to develop a self-control skill for anxiety reduction. The procedural steps involved in incorporating the two techniques are outlined, and case history material is presented which illustrates the successful application of the combined technique.
Depolarization thresholds for hippocampal damage, ischemic preconditioning, and changes in gene expression after global ischemia in the rat

Induced ischemic tolerance in rat hippocampus was investigated in a forebrain ischemia model of repeated 4-vessel occlusion (4-VO). Ischemic insult variability was reduced by the use of dc potential measurements to determine the duration of ischemic depolarization in hippocampus. The results demonstrate a depolarization threshold for ischemic injury to CA1 neurons of 4-6 min and a window for optimal preconditioning of 2.5-3.5 min. Levels of induced mRNAs encoding hsp72 and several immediate-early genes were also shown to vary with depolarization interval. Immediate-early genes were maximally induced after depolarization periods inducing optimal preconditioning, while hsp72 expression increased with insult severity over the range leading to neuron loss. These results are similar to those obtained in gerbil studies indicating that preconditioning does not require large increases in hsp72 expression, and demonstrate the fundamental comparability of rodent global ischemia models when monitored by this approach.
Fin-mutant female zebrafish (Danio rerio) exhibit differences in association preferences for male fin length

Females often choose to associate with males that have exaggerated traits. In fishes, this may reflect an overall preference for larger size in a potential mate. Female zebrafish (Danio rerio) prefer males with larger bodies but not longer fins. The availability of mutant and transgenic strains of zebrafish make this a unique model system in which to study the role of phenotypic variation in social and sexual behavior. We used mutant strains of zebrafish with truncated (short fin) and exaggerated (long fin) fins to further examine female preferences for fin length in dichotomous association tests. Wild type females showed no preferences between wild type males and short fin mutant males or between wild type males and long fin mutant males. short fin females also showed no preference for short fin males or wild type males while long fin females preferred to associate with long fin males over wild type males. These results suggest that the single gene long fin mutation that results in altered fin morphological may also be involved in a related female association preference.
Training and exercise to drive poststroke recovery.

To devise therapeutic strategies for the rehabilitation of patients with hemiparetic stroke, it is important to understand the mechanisms that underlie the neuroplasticity induced by skills training and exercise programs. In this Review, Dobkin considers how basic neurobiological mechanisms might be exploited to enhance motor recovery after stroke, and to enable patients to participate more fully in activities of daily life. To make practical recommendations regarding therapeutic strategies for the rehabilitation of patients with hemiparetic stroke, it is important to have a general understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying the neuroplasticity that is induced by skills training and by exercise programs designed to increase muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness. Recent clinical trials have provided insights into methods that promote adaptations within the nervous system that correlate with improved walking and upper extremity function, and that can be instigated at any time after stroke onset. Data obtained to date indicate that patients who have mild to moderate levels of impairment and disability can benefit from interventions that depend on repetitive task-oriented practice at the intensity and duration necessary to reach a plateau in a reacquired skill. Studies are underway to lessen the consequences of more-severe motor deficits by drawing on medications that augment plasticity, biological interventions that promote neural repair, and strategies that employ electrical stimulation and robotics.
On the burning velocity of stretched flames

Abstract The term “burning velocity” is commonly defined as the velocity of the gas ahead of and relative to the flame. This definition is appropriate for a one-dimensional flow because the mass flow rate across the flame is constant. In more general circumstances, however, this definition becomes ambiguous because the mass flow rate varies with distance through the flame. Thus, the reference position becomes important when measuring flame speed of stretched flames. As a consequence of the different definitions used by various investigators, there are conflicting results, with respect to the dependence of the flame speed on stretch, between experimental data and experimental and theoretical studies. In this article we provide an explanation for these differences. Expressions for the burning rate, valid for weak stretch, are given based on various definitions that are or could be used in experiments.
The MetVR case study: meteorological visualization in an immersive virtual environment

Traditional methods for displaying weather products are generally two-dimensional (2D) plots or just text format. It is hard for forecasters to get the entire picture of the atmosphere using these methods. The problems apparent in 2D with comparing and correlating multiple layers are overcome simply by adding a dimension. This is important because pertinent features in the data sets may lie in multiple layers and span several time steps. However, simply using a three-dimensional (3D) approach is not enough. The capacity for analysis of small-scale, but important, features in 2D are lost when transitioning to 3D. We propose that 3D's advantages can be incorporated with 2D's small-scale analysis by using an immersive virtual environment. In this case study, we evaluate our current standing with the project: have we met our goals, and how should we proceed from this point? To evaluate our application, we invited meteorologists to use the application to explore a data set. Then we presented our goals and asked which ones had we met, from a meteorologist's perspective. The results qualitatively reflected that our application was effective and further research would be worthwhile.
Zebrafish pronephros: a model for understanding cystic kidney disease.

The embryonic kidney of the zebrafish is the pronephros. The ease of genetic analysis and experimentation in zebrafish, coupled with the simplicity of the pronephros, make the zebrafish an ideal model system for studying kidney development and function. Several mutations have been isolated in zebrafish genetic screens that result in cyst formation in the pronephros. Cloning and characterization of these mutations will provide insight into kidney development but may also provide understanding of the molecular basis of cystic kidney diseases. In this review, we focus on the zebrafish as a model for understanding cystic kidney disease and the links between cystic kidney disease and left-right patterning.
Nonlinear thermoremanence acquisition and implications for paleointensity data

Abstract In paleointensity studies, thermoremanence is generally regarded as a linear function of ambient magnetic field at low fields comparable to that of the present-day Earth. We find pronounced nonlinearity at low fields for a class of materials with silicate-hosted magnetite that otherwise perform well in paleointensity experiments. We model this nonlinearity with narrow size ranges of large, acicular single domain grains, which are most likely in a vortex state (i.e. nonuniformly magnetized, sometimes labeled pseudosingle domain). Simple TRM theory predicts that even certain single domain particles will also exhibit a nonlinear response, saturating in fields as low as the Earth's. Such behavior, although likely to be rare, may bias some paleointensity estimates. The bias is especially pronounced when the laboratory field is higher than the ancient field. Fortunately, the fundamental assumption that thermoremanence is proportional to applied field can (and should) be routinely checked at the end of successful paleointensity experiments by adding two extra heating steps.
Effect of Mixed-Salt Salinity on Growth and Ion Relations of a Barnyardgrass Species

ABSTRACT Recent investigations of the plant genome have revealed a large degree of similarity among cereal crops (specifically within the family Triticeae) and other related grass species. Recognition of the close genetic relationship among the grasses indicates that more exotic species, such as weedy grasses, may be exploited by plant breeders to enhance biotic/abiotic stress tolerance in cereal crops. Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) 1 Beauv. (barnyardgrass), a wide-spread, persistent C4 weed species of agricultural importance, is reported to tolerate high levels of salinity. Growth and ion relations were studied in barnyardgrass using mixed-salt salinity (with final electrical conductivities (ECi) of 3 (control), 7, 11, and 19 dS m−1 in the irrigation water) to determine whether the mechanism(s) for its salt tolerance are similar to those previously reported for other cereal crops. Such a finding would indicate that barnyardgrass may possess valuable genetic traits. Ion accumulation and ion selectivity rati...
The Tripartite Virions of the Brome Mosaic Virus Have Distinct Physical Properties that Affect the Timing of the Infection Process

The three subsets of virions that comprise the Brome mosaic virus (BMV) were previously thought to be indistinguishable. This work tested the hypothesis that distinct capsid-RNA interactions in the BMV virions allow different rates of viral RNA release. Several results support distinct interactions between the capsid and the BMV genomic RNAs. First, the deletion of the first eight residues of the BMV coat protein (CP) resulted in the RNA1-containing particles having altered morphologies, while those containing RNA2 were unaffected. Second, subsets of the BMV particles separated by density gradients into a pool enriched for RNA1 (B1) and for RNA2 and RNA3/4 (B2.3/4) were found to have different physiochemical properties. Compared to the B2.3/4 particles, the B1 particles were more sensitive to protease digestion and had greater resistivity to nanoindentation by atomic force microscopy and increased susceptibility to nuclease digestion. Mapping studies showed that portions of the arginine-rich N-terminal tail of the CP could interact with RNA1. Mutational analysis in the putative RNA1-contacting residues severely reduced encapsidation of BMV RNA1 without affecting the encapsidation of RNA2. Finally, during infection of plants, the more easily released RNA1 accumulated to higher levels early in the infection. IMPORTANCE Viruses with genomes packaged in distinct virions could theoretically release the genomes at different times to regulate the timing of gene expression. Using an RNA virus composed of three particles, we demonstrated that the RNA in one of the virions is released more easily than the other two in vitro. The differential RNA release is due to distinct interactions between the viral capsid protein and the RNAs. The ease of RNA release is also correlated with the more rapid accumulation of that RNA in infected plants. Our study identified a novel role for capsid-RNA interactions in the regulation of a viral infection.
The Effect of Two Priors on Bayesian Estimation of “Proper” Binormal ROC Curves from Common and Degenerate Datasets

Rationale and Objectives We showed previously that maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian (with a flat prior on a common parameterization of the model) estimates of “proper” binormal receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves produce similar results. We propose a new prior that is flat over the area under the ROC curve (AUC) and investigate its effect on the Bayesian estimates. Materials and Methods In two simulation studies, we compared Bayesian estimation of the AUC with the two prior probability distributions against ML estimation in terms of root mean squared error (RMSE) and the coverage of 95% confidence (or credible) intervals (both abbreviated CIs). In the first study, we simulated categorical data that tend to be “well-behaved” and produce ROC curve estimates that most would consider reasonable. In the second study, we simulated coarsely discretized categorical data that often included so-called degenerate datasets that cause the ML estimate to be the perfect ROC curve. Results For the well-behaved datasets, all three AUC estimates were similar in terms of RMSE and 95% CI coverage. For the coarsely discretized datasets, the RMSE of ML was consistently greater than that of Bayesian estimation and the 95% CI coverage of ML estimation was consistently below nominal, whereas the 95% CI coverage of Bayesian estimation was consistently equal to, or greater than, nominal. Conclusion Bayesian estimation with a flat prior on the AUC can provide reasonable inference from datasets with coarsely categorized data that are prone to be degenerate and produce results similar to other estimation methods on well-behaved datasets.
The relationship between feeding and drug-seeking behaviors

This chapter focuses on the relationship between avidity for sweet substances and drug abuse using rats that were selectively bred for high (HiS) vs. low (LoS) saccharin intake. These rats serve as genetic models for several aspects of drug abuse such as initiation, maintenance, escalation, and relapse to drug seeking. Neurobiological differences in brain areas associated with drug and food reward underlie the behavioral differences. In addition to dietary compulsions, animal models of high vs. low novelty reactivity (HR vs. LR), novelty preference (HNP vs. LNP), impulsive choice (HiI vs. LoI), impulsive action (HI vs. LI), avidity for exercise (HiR vs. LoR), and attention to reward-related stimuli, such as sign- (reward-associated stimuli) vs. goal-tracking (reward) (ST vs. GT), also predict high vs. low drug seeking, respectively. The high-performing traits have some overlap in predicting addictive behavior, but in many respects they appear to be independent predictors of addictive behavior. In contrast, rats selected for low reward seeking are more reactive to stressful or aversive events associated with drugs and less likely to engage in drug seeking. These traits provide a model of resilience to drug abuse. Segregating individual differences into reward sensitive and aversion reactive may allow for customized addiction treatment. It is hypothesized that reward-sensitive individuals would be responsive to reward-replacement therapy, such as exercise, while aversion-reactive individuals may react more to negative outcomes for drug use. Initial data indicate better treatment success in the LoS (vs. HiS) and LoI (vs. HiI) rats, yet higher drug-seeking females respond better to treatment than males. Knowledge of specific vulnerability factors is important to designing maximally effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Topology-Incurred Delay for Information Dissemination in Large Multi-Channel Cognitive Radio Networks

Cognitive Radio (CR) networks have become an important component of the modern communication infrastructure due to their capability of improving spectrum usage efficiency by exploiting channels opportunistically. In CR networks, the network topology changes very frequently because of the temporarily available channels and dynamic transmitting parameters (e.g. transmission power and transmitting frequency), which may even result in network disconnectivity from time to time. Hence an interesting and open question is that: are there bounds on end-to-end delay between a source-destination pair with Euclidean distance $d$ apart in such networks? These bounds are required for time-critical applications. This paper first investigates the nature of topology-incurred end-to-end delay in large multi-channel CR networks and then identifies the conditions under which the asymptotic topology-incurred delay scales linearly with the Euclidean distance ($d$); that is, the conditions under which the end-to-end delay is bounded. The results in this paper are validated through extensive simulations and can advance our understanding of CR network performance.
Numerical and Arithmetical Cognition: A Longitudinal Study of Process and Concept Deficits in Children with Learning Disability

Based on the stability and level of performance on standard achievement tests in first and second grade (mean age in first grade = 82 months), children with IQ scores in the low-average to high-average range were classified as learning disabled (LD) in mathematics (MD), reading (RD), or both (MD/RD). These children (n = 42), a group of children who showed variable achievement test performance across grades (n = 16), and a control group of academically normal peers (n = 35) were administered a series of experimental and psychometric tasks. The tasks assessed number comprehension and production skills, counting knowledge, arithmetic skills, working memory, the ease of activation of phonetic representations of words and numbers, and spatial abilities. The children with variable achievement test performance did not differ from the academically normal children in any cognitive domain, whereas the children in the LD groups showed specific patterns of cognitive deficit, above and beyond the influence of IQ. Discussion focuses on the similarities and differences across the groups of LD children.
Reverse saturable absorption in metal cluster compounds

We report a new family of organometallic compounds that exhibit optical limiting through reverse saturable absorption. The optical limiting properties of the metal cluster compounds HFeCo3(CO)12, [NEt4]+FeCo3(CO)12−, HFeCo3(CO)10(PMe3)2, and HFeCo3(CO)10(P(C6H5)3)2 were measured at 532 nm using 8-nsec pulses. Pulse narrowing from 8 to 4 nsec was observed. The data indicate that the optical-limiting properties are essentially independent of the type of counter ion substituted in the compound but dependent on the ligand-type substitution.
ApoE genotype, past adult lead exposure, and neurobehavioral function.

Our objective in this study was to determine if the known relation between tibia bone lead levels and neurobehavioral test scores are influenced by the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype. We collected data on 20 neurobehavioral tests in 529 former organolead workers who had an average of 16 years since last occupational exposure to lead. We used linear regression to model the relations between each of 20 neurobehavioral test scores and tibia lead, a binary variable for ApoE genotype (i.e., at least one Epsilon4 allele vs. none), and an interaction term between tibia lead and the binary term for ApoE genotype. At the time of testing, former lead workers were an average of 57.6 years of age; 82% were younger than 65 years. In regression analysis, we observed one statistically significant and one borderline significant coefficient for ApoE genotype alone. Coefficients for the ApoE and tibia lead interaction term were negative in 19 of the 20 regression models. This indicates that the slope for the relation between tibia lead and each neurobehavioral test was more negative for individuals with at least one Epsilon4 allele than for those who did not have an Epsilon4 allele. Four of 19 negative coefficients for the interaction term were statistically significant (digit symbol, Purdue pegboard assembly, Purdue pegboard-dominant hand, complex reaction time); another three of the remaining 16 coefficients (symbol digit, trail-making A, Stroop) were borderline significant (i.e., p < 0.10). This study suggests that individuals may vary in susceptibility to the long-term effects of lead on the central nervous system (CNS). In particular, the persistent CNS effect of lead may be more toxic in individuals who have at least one ApoE-Epsilon4 allele.
The effects of tectonic deformation and sediment allocation on shelf habitats and megabenthic distribution and diversity in southern California

Abstract Landscape and seascape structures are typically complex and manifest as patch mosaics within characteristic biomes, bordering one another in gradual or abrupt ecotones. The underlying patch structure in coastal shelf ecosystems is driven by the interaction of tectonic, sedimentary, and sea level dynamic processes. Animals and plants occupy and interact within these mosaics. Terrestrial landscape ecological studies have shown that patch structure is important for ecological processes such as foraging, connectivity, predation, and species dynamics. The importance of patch structure for marine systems is less clear because far fewer pattern-process studies have been conducted in these systems. For many coastal shelf systems, there is a paucity of information on how species occupy shelf seascapes, particularly for seascapes imbued with complex patch structure and ecotones that are common globally due to tectonic activity. Here, we present the results of a study conducted along a myriameter-scale gradient of bottom and sub-bottom geological forcing altered by tectonic deformation, sea level transgression and sediment allocation. The resulting seascape is dominated by unconsolidated sediments throughout, but also exhibits increasing density and size of outcropping patches along a habitat patch gradient forced by the erosion of a sea level transgressive surface that has been deformed and tilted by tectonic forcing. A combination of sub-bottom profiling, multibeam bathymetry, and ROV surveys of the habitats and the demersal megafauna occupying the habitats indicate (1) significant beta diversity along this gradient, (2) biological diversity does not scale with habitat diversity, and (3) species occupy the patches disproportionately (non-linearly) with regard to the proportional availability of their preferred habitats. These results indicate that shelf habitat patch structure modulates species specific processes and interactions with other species. Further studies are needed to examine experimentally the mechanics of how patch structure modulates ecological processes in shelf systems. Our results also provide further support for including multiple spatial scales of patch structure for the application of remote habitat sensing as a surrogate for biological community structure.
Peacebuilding in fragile African states : the case for private sector involvement

The subfield of peace and conflict studies known as peacebuilding is still relatively young. Although established in the literature by peace studies pioneer Johan Galtung in 1975, it was not until 1992, when United Nations (UN) Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali highlighted the concept in his An Agenda for Peace - shortly after the onset of the genocidal unravelling of former Yugoslavia - that policymakers, development practitioners, conflict researchers and conflict resolution practitioners began to take the concept seriously. The hard work of designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating peacebuilding interventions into 'broken states' across the world then began in earnest. Generally viewed as a comprehensive state-building, economy-building and civil society-building effort before, during and/or after the 'new wars' that have replaced the traditional, Clausewitzean interstate warfare as the dominant mode of warfare globally, peacebuilding has generally been a failure. A major reason is that most peacebuilding efforts have been 'minimalist' in nature, where third-party interveners have aimed to achieve and maintain 'negative peace' - the absence of hostilities. These efforts have been at the expense of the more ambitious and, within a realpolitik perspective, unrealistic objective of achieving and developing positive peace - the objective of maximalist peacebuilding - where third-party interveners identify and address the deep-rooted causes and conditions of conflict.
Cognitive Complexity and the Perception of Conflict: A Partial Replication:

The purpose of this research was to replicate partially a study by Tripodi and Bieri, who found an association between cognitive complexity and the perception of conflict, and to study the relations among Bieri's CC measure, Eysenck's measure of neuroticism, and the perception of conflict. Each of 63 Ss responded to paragraph descriptions of disparate information by rating their degree of perceived conflict on a 20-point scale. The results indicated that CC is significantly associated with the perception of conflict, and it was inferred that there may be an interaction between CC and neuroticism in the perception of conflict.
A Review of “The Religious Roots of the First Amendment: Dissenting Protestants and the Separation of Church and State“: Miller, Nicholas P. New York: Oxford University Press 242 pp., $35.00, ISBN 978-0199858361 Publication Date: May 2012

Nicholas P. Miller's new book is a history of an idea and a solution to a puzzle. The idea is the respect for the individual's free rights of conscience in religious matters. The puzzle is this: Ho...
Neoschoengastia americana: Development and Longevity under Laboratory and Field Conditions

The developmental period of Neoschoengastia americana (Hirst) in wooden boxes in the field and in the laboratory required a minimum of 65 days. Rainfall increased the time required to complete a generation, but soil temperature at a depth of 15 cm had no apparent effect on it. Adult mites overwintered and produced F1 larvae through 3 summers (2 years).
Experience of First Rib Resection for the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

The patients with thoracic outlet syndrome have numbness of the upper limbs, stiff shoulder, pain on the neck and pain on the back, whose brachial plexuses and/or subclavian vessels are compressed at the thoracic outlet. However, etiology and diagnosis of the thoracic outlet syndrome are not certain yet. We performed first rib resections by transaxillary approach on five patients with thoracic outlet syndrome, and obtained good results. We think that this operation is not only safe and relatively easy but also excellent in its good results.
The Routledge Introduction to American Modernism

Introduction 1. Struggles (against England and for national aesthetic freedom) 2. United States Expatriation 3. Poetry as Origin 4. Ernest Hemingway as star pupil 5. Fitzgerald and Faulkner - United Stated Romanticism 6. The Harlem Renaissance and After 7. The 1930s and omnipresent class distinctions 8. World War II and after: is this what postmodernism looks like?
Age-associated changes in ammoniagenesis in isolated rat renal tubule segments

We investigated renal ammoniagenesis in isolated nephron segments from control and acidotic senescent and young adult rats. When young (6 mo) and senescent (24 mo) control groups were compared, there was no significant difference in glutamine-dependent ammonia production in any nephron tubule segments. However, ammonia production rates in glomeruli from old rats were significantly greater than the rate from young rats and were correlated with the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. After giving young and old rats an equivalent acid load (by gavage) of ammonia chloride solutions (6 mo, blood pH 7.34; 24 mo, blood pH 7.07), we measured a significant increase in ammoniagenesis on the S1 and S2 segments of proximal tubules and the distal convoluted tubules from old rats, and no increase in any segment from young rats. When we increased the acid load in young rats to an equivalent severity of acidosis (blood pH 7.07), we found significant increases in ammonia production in the S1, S2, S3, an...
Is taxol a surrogate for a universal regulator of mitosis

Taxol is well recognized as an antitumor agent and a biochemical tool for studies of microtubules. A proposal is made that taxol is a surrogate for a key endogenous regulator of microtubules, which has the particular function of stabilizing the mitotic spindle. This proposal is based on evidence from the breadth of taxol activity across organisms, data supporting a highly conserved binding site for taxol, low-dose effects of taxol targeting the mitotic spindle, the restriction of the binding site to a highly conserved segment of B-tubulin, data on the biosynthesis and distribution of taxol, and the recent discovery of an anti-idiotype antibody with taxol-like activity.
Limited lateral acromioplasty for rotator cuff surgery.

This article describes a modified technique for acromioplasty performed during rotator cuff repair.
Space charge flow in spherical coordinates with applications to magnetron injection guns

In a recent publication, Kirstein [1] called attention to the possibility of calculating space charge flow by separation of variables in spherical coordinates (r, θ, φ). To be of practical value, detailed information about the solutions must be obtained. It appears that closed form solutions for the equations of motion are not practical even if they are possible, since one needs the numerical data for the solutions. It is usually more convenient to have a computer solve the differential equations than to evaluate a closed form solution of the differential equations. All of the equations for computations will be written as first order differential equations with respect to time as the independent variable. This makes each of the necessary differential equations well behaved at the cathode and allows