cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Constructing insanity: jurors' prototypes, attitudes, and legal decision-making.

Research consistently indicates that jurors' intuitive prototypes of insanity and case-relevant attitudes shape their verdicts more strongly than legal definitions of insanity. Based on a sample of 113 prospective jurors, this study was designed to (a) assess the extent to which three prototypes of insanity held by jurors in a past study generalize to a sample of jurors in another state and (b) determine the relative influence of attitudes toward the insanity defense and prototypes of insanity on jurors' case judgments across four insanity case vignettes. Results suggest that jurors' attitudes toward the insanity defense affected case judgments so strongly (r = .41–.61) that they swamped efforts to assess jurors' prototypes of insanity. Further, jurors' prototypes of insanity offered little incremental utility beyond that of insanity defense attitudes. Implications for identifying biased jurors and potential interventions for bringing jurors' decisions into greater accord with the law are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vascoceras (Greenhornoceras) birchbyi Cobban & Scott from the Greenhorn Limestone (Lower Turonian) of Central Kansas

Abstract The Early Turonian ammonite, Vascoceras (Greenhornoceras) birchbyi Cobban & Scott, has been recorded at nine additional localities in Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico. Most significant is discovery of a specimen in Russell County, Kansas, that doubles the known longitudinal range of the species in the U.S. Western Interior. The species occurs in a single, thin, time-parallel limestone bed that apparently was deposited during a peak pulse of the Cenomanian-Turonian transgression.
Clinical features and outcomes of severe ulcerative keratitis with medical and surgical management in 41 horses (2000–2006)

Summary The clinical features and outcomes of equine ulcerative keratitis with and without conjunctival graft surgery were assessed using a retrospective study. Medical records of horses hospitalised from July 2000-January 2006 for ulcerative keratitis were included if a diagnosis of melting ulcer, descemetocele or iris prolapse was made, or if surgery was recommended due to severity of corneal disease, and aggressive medical therapy using a subpalpebral catheter was instituted. Treatment and outcome variables were evaluated with and without conjunctival graft surgery. Forty-one horses, 21 that had surgery and 20 for whom surgery was recommended but not performed, were included. Horses were hospitalised for an average of 24 days, with 37/41 melting ulcers, 17/41 descemetoceles and 3/41 iris prolapses, with no statistical difference in frequencies between groups. Bacterial or fungal organisms were cultured from 22/39 cases, with 10 Aspergillus spp. and 8 Pseudomonas spp. Infectious organisms were seen on corneal cytology in 23/30 cases. Surgical cases were hospitalised for an average of 4.9 days prior to surgery. Abdominal discomfort was observed in 8/41 hospitalised horses, with 5/8 operated horses developing caecal impactions. Thirty-five horses retained an intact globe, including 18/20 treated medically and 17/21 that had surgery. Hospitalisation cost was 24% more for cases that had surgery than for medical cases. It was concluded that there was no statistical difference in length or cost of hospitalisation between surgical and nonsurgical groups. Outcomes from both groups were similar, with a high frequency of globe retention.
Chemical and biological decontamination functions of nanofibrous membranes

Novel composite membranes with poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene-g-diallylmelamine) (PVA-co-PE-g-DAM) nanofibers layered on poly(propylene-g-diallylmelamine) (PP-g-DAM) meltblown nonwoven fabric were successfully developed as lightweight and breathable protective materials with chemical and biological decontamination functions. By controlling levels of coated nanofibers, three nanofibrous membranes with similar surface morphology, hydrophilicity and transport properties were prepared. The N-halamine precursor moieties in the membrane matrices can be converted to active N-halamine structures with a diluted sodium hypochlorite solution, and the active chlorine content on the membranes is rechargeable and durable. The chlorinated nanofibrous membranes demonstrated very powerful and rapid biocidal effects against both E. coli and S. aureus by contact, as well as excellent disinfection effect to wet bacterial penetration through the membrane. Furthermore, the efficient chemical detoxification functions of the halamine nanofibrous membranes were also observed by a total decontamination of aldicarb, a carbamate pesticide, within 30 min. These PVA-co-PE-g-DAM nanofiber composite membranes can serve as ideal ultra-light filtering media for chemical and biological protective clothing materials.
Sector-zoned augite megacrysts in Aleutian high alumina basalts: implications for the conditions of basalt crystallization and the generation of calc-alkaline series magmas

Several high alumina basalts from the Aleutian volcanic centers of Cold Bay and Kanaga Island contain large (up to 1.5 cm diameter) megacrysts of sector-zoned augite. The megacrysts are invariably euhedral with well developed {001}, {010} and {111} forms. All crystals display concentric bands that are rich in mineral and glass inclusions. The sector zonation typically occurs as well developed (010), (100), (111) and (110) sectors which grew at different rates. A comparison of the width of synchronous growth bands indicates that following relative growth rates: (111) ≫ (100) ∼ (110) > (010). Compositionally, SiO2 and MgO abundances decrease, and TiO2, Al2O3, FeO and Na2O abundances increase in the different sectors in the order (111), (100) ∼ (110), (010). This order is identical to that deduced for the relative growth rates, implying that growth rate clearly had a role in the development of the sector zonation. Calculated pre-eruption H2O contents of the basalts range from 1 to 3 wt% but actual (measured) post-eruption H2O contents range from 0.01 to 0.3 wt%. Deteurium isotopic values are heavily depleted and range from −110 to −141‰ . Together these indicate significant vapor (H2O) exsolution prior to eruption. Maximum H2O abundances in primitive glass inclusions, thought to be most representative of the host liquid reservoir at the time of melt entrapment, systematically decrease from the core to the rim of one augite megacryst studied in detail. We conclude that the presence of sector-zoned augite is due to augite supersaturation and rapid crystallization brought about by magma decompression and volatile (H2O) exsolution. The calculated pre-eruption H2O contents of 1–3 wt% limit vapor exsolution and basalt crystallization to depths of less than 3 and more likely 1.5 km. Very rapid crystallization at very shallow depths makes it unlikely that the time scales between initial crystallization and final eruption are sufficient to permit appreciable amounts of fractional crystallization. Given that high alumina basalt fractionation is the dominant process for generating more evolved andesite, dacite and rhyolite magmas of the calc-alkaline suite, the inability of parental high alumina basalt to yield such derivative magmas in the low pressure environment places the likely site of fractionation in the high pressure environment, at or near the base of the crust.
Carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of Holocene reefal carbonates

Carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions have been determined for Holocene reefal carbonate grains and cements in samples from Enewetak, Bikini, Bermuda, and Belize to identify components that exhibit systematic isotopic fractionation relationships. These findings are compared with fractionation relationships determined from experimentally precipitated low-magnesium calcite (LMC), aragonite, and high-magnesium calcite (HMC) to determine if these relationships are observed in naturally precipitated carbonates. Compositional variation within individual samples is extreme (up to 6‰ in δ 13 C PDB and 3‰ in δ 18 O PDB). Experimental fractionation relationships fail to predict the range of observed compositions. Aragonite cements are enriched 1.0‰ to 1.4‰ in 13 C and 1.5‰ to 2.0‰ in 18 O relative to calcite equilibrium compositions; HMC cements are enriched by 0.3‰ to 0.4‰ in 13 C and by 1.8‰ to 1.9‰ to 18 O. For carbon, these results are in agreement with the experimental work of Rubinson and Clayton. For oxygen, our results suggest that fractionation factors of both aragonite and HMC may have been underestimated. Skeletal components exhibit inconsistent fractionation relative to inorganically precipitated marine cements, suggesting that marine cement compositions are more reliable indicators of the physicochemical conditions of precipitation than co-occurring skeletal carbonates.
Peptide Binding Site Determination Using Conformational Memories and MMC

Conformational memories (CM) is a Monte Carlo/simulated annealing method that efficiently searches the torsional conformational space of flexible molecules.1 This method has been recently expanded to include variable bond angles.2 We report the application of CM to ligand/protein docking via the study of a GP-41 7mer, ELDKWAS, bound to the HIV-1 neutralizing antibody 2F5 (PDB ID: 1TJG).3 Crucial cavity bound waters were determined using MMC and compared to the 1TJG structure.4 CM was initiated with the peptide 53 A above the protein and brought to the surface in 18 steps using 0.25 kcal/mol planar and 0.05 kcal/mol cylindrical restraints. At each position, 200,000 MC steps were performed with the temperature annealed from 3000K to 310K. In order to account for electrostatic screening in aqueous solutions we employed a distance dependent, non-linear (sigmoidal) screened Coulomb potential.5 Final system energies were calculated with a constant dielectric of 1.0 or with the GB/SA solvent model for water. The GB/SA model was found to yield better results with the identification of the native energy funnel for the peptide.6 The lowest energy structure identified had an RMSD (backbone atoms) less than a 1.5 A compared to the peptide conformation in the 1TJG structure. [Support: NIH DA03934 and DA021358]1. Guarnieri, F. and H. Weinstein, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 1996. 118: p. 5580-5589.2. Whitnell, R.M., et al., J Comput Chem, 2008. 29: p. 741-752.3. Ofek, G., et al., J Virol, 2004. 78(19): p. 10724-37.4. Guarnieri, F. and M. Mezei, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1996. 118: p. 8493-8494.5. Hassan, S.A., et al., J Phys Chem B, 2000. 104: p. 6478.6. Mehler, E.L., et al., Proteins, 2006. 64(3): p. 673-90.
Endoplasmic reticulum-mediated protein quality control in Arabidopsis

A correct three-dimensional structure is crucial for the physiological functions of a protein, yet the folding of proteins to acquire native conformation is a fundamentally error-prone process. Eukaryotic organisms have evolved a highly conserved endoplasmic reticulum-mediated protein quality control (ERQC) mechanism to monitor folding processes of secretory and membrane proteins, allowing export of only correctly folded proteins to their physiological destinations, retaining incompletely/mis-folded ones in the ER for additional folding attempts, marking and removing terminally-misfolded ones via a unique multiple-step degradation process known as ER-associate degradation (ERAD). Most of our current knowledge on ERQC and ERAD came from genetic and biochemical investigations in yeast and mammalian cells. Recent studies in the reference plant Arabidopsis thaliana uncovered homologous components and similar mechanisms in plants for monitoring protein folding and for retaining, repairing, and removing misfolded proteins. These studies also revealed critical roles of the plant ERQC/ERAD systems in regulating important biochemical/physiological processes, such as abiotic stress tolerance and plant defense. In this review, we discuss our current understanding about the molecular components and biochemical mechanisms of the plant ERQC/ERAD system in comparison to yeast and mammalian systems.
Colonic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) manifesting as eosinophilic colitis following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

![Figure][1] A 56-year-old man with immunoglobulin G-κ–type multiple myeloma was treated with high-dose melphalan followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell rescue. Day 16 after transplant, he developed severe watery diarrhea and nausea. Laboratory studies showed mildly increased liver
Broadcast vs. Precise GPS Ephemerides: A Historical Perspective

The Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) Operational Control Segment (OCS) generates predicted satellite ephemerides and clock corrections that are broadcast in the navigation message and used by receivers to estimate real-time satellite position and clock corrections for use in navigation solutions. Any errors in these ephemerides will directly impact the accuracy of GPS based positioning. This paper compares the satellite position computed using broadcast ephemeredes with the precise position provided by the International GPS Service for Geodynamics (IGS) Final Orbit solution. Similar comparisons have been undertaken in the past, but for only short periods of time. This paper presents an analysis of the GPS broadcast ephemeris position error on a daily basis over the entire operational lifetime of the GPS system. The comparison was undertaken from 14 November 1993 through to 31 December 2002. The statistics of these errors were also analyzed.
Perfect recall and total forgetting: A problem for models of short-term memory

In two paired-associate probe experiments, the items in the last input position in five-pair lists were recalled perfectly in immediate recall, but practically never in a subsequent delayed recall test. Other items in the list were recalled at intermediate levels in both tests. This “negative recency” effect in delayed recall occurred regardless of whether a pair had or had not been tested in immediate recall. These results, at variance with predictions derived from some current models of memory, suggest that pairs in terminal input positions are deliberately not processed and stored by S s in a manner allowing their later recall from long-term memory.
Structure-Activity Relationships of the Kvβ1 Inactivation Domain and Its Putative Receptor Probed Using Peptide Analogs of Voltage-gated Potassium Channel α- and β-Subunits

Abstract Certain β-subunits exert profound effects on the kinetics of voltage-gated (Kv) potassium channel inactivation through an interaction between the amino-terminal “inactivation domain” of the β-subunit and a “receptor” located at or near the cytoplasmic mouth of the channel pore. Here we used a bacterial random peptide library to examine the structural requirements for this interaction. To identify peptides that bind Kv1.1 we screened the library against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the predicted S4-S5 cytoplasmic loop of the Kv1.1 α-subunit (residues 313–328). Among the highest affinity interactors were peptides with significant homology to the amino terminus of Kvβ1. We performed a second screen using a peptide from the amino terminus of Kvβ1 (residues 2–31) as “bait” and identified peptide sequences with significant homology to the S4-S5 loop of Kv1.1. A series of synthetic peptides containing mutations of the wild-type Kvβ1 and Kv1.1 sequences were examined for their ability to inhibit Kvβ1/Kv1.1 binding. Amino acids Arg20 and Leu21 in Kvβ1 and residues Arg324 and Leu328 in Kv1.1 were found to be important for the interaction. Taken together, these data provide support for the contention that the S4-S5 loop of the Kv1.1 α subunit is the likely acceptor for the Kvβ1 inactivation domain and provide information about residues that may underlie the protein-protein interactions responsible for β-subunit mediated Kv channel inactivation.
SU‐E‐I‐58: Understanding Uncertainties in Quantitative Image Features Extracted From Contrast‐Enhanced CT Images

Purpose: Quantitative image features have been shown to be predictive of treatment outcomes for some patients groups. We examine two sources of uncertainty in these features for contrast‐enhanced CT images of lung cancer patients: (1) The time between contrast injection and CT scan (which depends on local practice) (2) the reproducibility of features between scans. Methods: Eight patients received two contrast‐CT scans, 2–4 days apart. Each session included 6 repeat scans of the same anatomy taken every 20seconds, starting 50seconds after contrast injection. The timing of the scans encompasses the range expected during routine acquisition of contrast‐CT images. For each patient, the lung tumor was manually delineated on the first scan, and propagated to each subsequent scan using deformable image registration. Image features based on tumor geometry, intensity histogram, absolute gradient image (IGR), co‐occurrence matrix (COM) and run‐length matrix (RLM) were then extracted from the tumor for each image set. Pearsons correlation coefficient was used to examine correlation between the features and time from contrast injection (each imaging session considered separately), with values over 0.60 considered to have a time‐trend. The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) was calculated to examine the reproducibility of each feature between sessions, with values greater than 0.90 considered reproducible. Results: Variations in the image features attributed to cardiac pulsing was larger than any monotonic trends with time, and none of the image features were found to be correlated with time from injection. All geometric features and most histogram‐based features (except maximum and minimum values) were found to be reproducible between scans. The majority of IGR‐, COM‐and RLM‐based features were reproducible, and CCC was greater than 0.80 for all features. Conclusion: The quantitative image features tested here were mostly reproducible, and have little dependence on the exact time between the contrast injection and the CT scan.
Environment friendly organic synthesis using bismuth compounds. An efficient method for carbonyl-ene reactions catalyzed by bismuth triflate

Abstract Bismuth triflate (0.1 mol %) is a highly efficient catalyst for the cyclization of citronellal 1 , a reaction that yields a ratio of 80:20 of isopulegol 2 and neoisopulegol 3 . This methodology has also been extended to the synthesis of substituted piperidines. The bismuth triflate catalyzed ene reaction of aldehyde 4 gives a 70:30 mixture of piperidines 5 and 6 . The advantages of these methods include the use of a highly efficient catalyst that is relatively nontoxic, cheap and easy to handle.
Bilateral acute angle-closure glaucoma after bronchodilator therapy

An 81-year-old female presented to her local emergency department (ED) with symptoms of bronchitis and was treated with nebulized bronchodilators. The patient subsequently developed progressive worsening of her vision and presented to our ED with bilateral visual loss. The patient was diagnosed with bilateral acute angle glaucoma, and despite aggressive medical and surgical intervention, the patient did not have her vision restored to normal.
Paleopathologic Evidence for the Evolution of Rheumatoid Arthritis

A human skeleton recovered from a Sicilian archaeological site and dating from the Hellenistic period (330-210 B.C.) presents a pathological pattern suggesting a transition between ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis, providing evidence in support of the hypothesis that rheumatoid arthritis may have recently evolved out of ankylosing spondylitis.
Application of 0-1 integer programming to a track assembly problem

Multiple-target tracking in high target density situations can be posed as a multi-hypothesis decision problem. The complete solution of such problems on a real time basis requires that the computations be carried out in a computer-efficient manner. This paper discusses a formulation of the tracking problem based on 0-1 integer programming which can markedly reduce Computer time requirements.
Imoaired thermal regulation in juvenile rats following perinatal methadone exposure

Offspring of female rats injected daily with methadone (5 mg/kg) or saline were cross-fostered at birth to form groups exposed to methadone during gestation (G), lactation (L), or gestation and lactation (G-L); controls (C) were exposed only to saline. Rectal temperature, body weight and food consumption were measured from postnatal Days 36-51. Ambient temperature was maintained at 21 degrees C except for Days 42--45, when the temperature was 10 degrees C. Group G rats never differed from controls, but offspring in Groups L and G-L were hypothermic at room temperature; Group G-L rats exhibited a further temperature loss during the cold stress. There were no group differences in food consumption after Day 39, and all groups increased food intake while in the cold. Group differences in body weight were not reliable but Group G-L rats gained less weight than the rest during the experiment, whereas Group L rats gained more. These results indicate that, depending upon treatment schedule, perinatal methadone exposure is associated with hypothermia during the postweaning period. A prolonged withdrawal reaction from methadone may account for the impaired thermal regulation.
Two-Dimensional Total Sediment Load Model Equations

An unsteady total load equation is derived for use in depth-averaged sediment transport models. The equation does not require the load to be segregated a priori into bed and suspended but rather automatically switches to suspended load, bed load, or mixed load depending on a transport mode parameter consisting of local flow hydraulics. Further, the sediment transport velocity, developed from available data, is explicitly tracked, and makes the equation suitable for unsteady events of sediment movement. The equation can be applied to multiple size fractions and ensures smooth transition of sediment variables between bed load and suspended load for each size fraction. The new contributions of the current work are the consistent treatment of sediment concentration in the model equation and the empirical definition of parameters that ensure smooth transitions of sediment variables between suspended load and bed load.
Pulsation tectonics as a control on the dispersal and assembly of supercontinents

Abstract Sheridan R. E. (1996) Pulsation tectonics as a control on the dispersal and assembly of supercontinents. In N. Rast and J. Rogers (eds), Dispersal and assembly of supercontinents. J. Geodynam. Pulsation tectonics is the theory of cyclic eruption (upwelling) of hot plumes from the lowermost mantle. Causes of upwelling are possible thermal instabilities in the D″ layer at the core-mantle boundary and/or displacement of the D″ layer material by cold downwellings from the 410–670 km endothermic phase-change layer. In any case, a quasi-periodic flux of mass and heat into the asthenosphere lowers its viscosity during the upwellings. Intervals of vigorous lower mantle convection (10–40 m.y.) affect the D″ layer and cause constant geomagnetic field polarity. During intervals of diminished lower mantle convection (30–100 m.y.), there are frequent reversals of the geomagnetic field. Lower asthenospheric viscosity leads to acceleration of the plate tectonic subduction processes. Plate subduction rates were 2 to 3 times the present rates during intervals of constant geomagnetic field polarity. Increased global plate spreading and subduction rates facilitate continental collision and dispersal. Constant geomagnetic field polarities and increased plate spreading rates in the Cretaceous (normal, ~ 80–120 Ma), Jurassic (normal, ~ 160–170 Ma), late Carboniferous-Permian (reversed, ~ 260–300 Ma), late Devonian-Carboniferous (reversed, ~ 350–375 Ma) and late Ordovician-Silurian (normal, ~ 430–460 Ma) are associated with Pangean dispersal (break-up) and assembly (orogeny) events. Accelerated subduction causes the continents to collide more frequently, while accelerated slab pull, trench rollbacks and slab suction break the continents apart.
Dose-related effects of isoprenaline on the distribution of cardiac output and myocardial blood flow in conscious monkeys

Intravenous isoprenaline infusions in conscious monkeys gave dose-related increased blood flow and falls in resistance to heart, skeletal muscle, intestines, adipose tissue, and bone. The fraction of cardiac output to brain, kidney, skin, and pancreas fell. There was a small but statistically significant increase in the fraction of myocardial blood flow to the atria with a fall in that to the intraventricular septum.
Carcinoma and malaria.

Certain antimalarial drugs may control cancer growth because of suspected similarities in nuclear division.
Underflight Calibration Of The Landsat Thematic Mapper

An approach for evaluation of the Radiometric Quality of Landsat 4/5 Thematic Mapper Band 6 data is presented. The approach involves comparison of measured surface temperatures with surface temperatures predicted from observed satellite radiances propagated to the ground using the LOWTRAN 5A model. The atmospheric propagation data and surface temperatures are also compared with atmospheric propagation measurements and surface temperatures measured during an aircraft undertlight of the satellite.
Lignin-based polymer blends: analysis of intermolecular interactions in lignin–synthetic polymer blends

Abstract The development of lignin-based thermoplastics relies on altering the viscoelastic properties of lignin through chemical modification or polymer blending. In polymer blends, miscibility is dependent on the occurrence of exothermic reactions such as hydrogen-bonding, acid–base interactions and the like. The effects of polymer–polymer interactions, specifically hydrogen-bonding, on lignin-based thermoplastics was studied in a series of lignin/synthetic polymer blends prepared by melt extrusion. Thermal analysis revealed miscible blend behavior in the lignin blends containing PEO and PET, whereas the PVA and PP lignin blends appeared immiscible. The glass transition ( T g ) of the lignin/PEO and lignin/PET blends showed a negative deviation from a linear mixing rule, indicative of specific intermolecular interactions. DRFT-IR analysis revealed the formation of a strong intermolecular hydrogen bond between lignin and PEO, but not with PET.
Role of surface lysine residues of adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein in fatty acid transfer to phospholipid vesicles.

The tertiary structure of murine adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (AFABP) is a flattened 10-stranded β-barrel capped by a helix−turn−helix segment. This helical domain is hypothesized to behave as a “lid” or portal for ligand entry into and exit from the binding cavity. Previously, we demonstrated that anthroyloxy-labeled fatty acid (AOFA) transfer from AFABP to phospholipid membranes occurs by a collisional process, in which ionic interactions between positively charged lysine residues on the protein surface and negatively charged phospholipid headgroups are involved. In the present study, the role of specific lysine residues located in the portal and other regions of AFABP was directly examined using site-directed mutagenesis. The results showed that isoleucine replacement for lysine in the portal region, including the αI- and αII-helices and the β C-D turn, resulted in much slower 2-(9-anthroyloxy)palmitate (2AP) transfer rates to acidic membranes than those of native AFABP. An additive effect was ...
Pierre Clavel 2010: Activists in City Hall: The Progressive Response to the Reagan Era in Boston and Chicago. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

A review of the book "Activists in City Hall: The Progressive Response to the Reagan Era in Boston and Chicago," by Pierre Clavel is presented.
Seedling Development of Chicory and Plantain

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) are perennial herbs for pastures. Knowledge of growth and development ofthese species is needed to develop appropriate management practices. We compared growth and development of chicory and plantain during establishment in growth chamber, greenhouse, and field studies. 'Grasslands Puna', 'La Certa', and 'Forage Feast' chicory and 'Ceres Tonic' and Grasslands Lancelot' plantain seedlings were destructively sampled weekly for 7 wk in the growth chamber and greenhouse beginning 8 to10 days after planting (DAP). The number and mass of leaves and roots (primary, lateral, basal, and adventitious; growth chamber only) were recorded. In the field, leaf development was measured during spring and fall of 1997, whereas leaf and root development were measured during spring of 1999. Puna chicory developed a larger root mass than plantains, whereas plantains had greater root length than chicory. Plantains developed 8 to 10 adventitious roots on the hypocotyl, but the chicory cultivars developed only one or two. Plantain and chicory developed only one or two basal roots per plant. Primary and lateral roots dominated the root systems of both species. Leaf development in fall 1997 was slower than in spring with only two leaves forming on each species by 49 DAP in fall compared with six to seven leaves during spring in the field. Across environments (except fall), seedlings developed three to four leaves by 40 to 50 DAP. Our data suggest that development of three to four leaves is required for successful establishment of chicory and plantain seedlings.
Nonlinear Effects on the Stresses and Deformations of Bolted Joints

Axisymmetric finite element modeling of bolted joints was performed to show the effects of the magnitude as well as the radial location of the externally applied load on the member separation radius and the stress on the surface between the two members. The separation radius was found to be nonlinearly related to changes in the magnitude as well as position of the external load. A 27-percent decrease for 24-mm bolts to 39-percent decrease for 8-mm bolts in the separation radius resulted with changes in the load magnitude. The external load varied from zero to the maximum that could be sustained before joint separation for steel members. The change in separation radius for the aluminum members, cast iron members, and a combination of the two materials was on the order of 2--10 percent. For the minimum and maximum external load, the separation radius decreased by 5 and 12 percent, respectively, with an increase in radial position of the external load. The stress was found to be higher near the bolt for larger external loads and also when the radial location of the external load was increased.
The effects of a magnetic field on asymptotics of the trace of the heat kernel

Abstract This paper looks at the effect of a uniform magnetic field on the trace of the heat kernel for a Schrodinger operator with a well type potential. Using weighted Sobolev space techniques and noticing the gauge invariance of the perturbation, I show that the magnetic field first appears at a higher term in the small time asymptotic expansion of the trace of the heat kernel than might be naively expected.
The role of new basal insulin analogues in the initiation and optimisation of insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes

Intensive insulin therapy aimed at achieving normoglycaemia is becoming increasingly accepted in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) to reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications. Insulin therapy is increasingly combined with oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) to moderate insulin dosage, reduce weight gain and confer cardiovascular protection. However, traditional insulins are associated with limitations that may act as barriers to initiation, and intensive use of insulin therapy. The advent of newer, longer-acting, basal insulin analogues, such as insulin glargine (glargine) and insulin detemir (detemir), offer improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles compared with neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin (NPH). This potentially provides concomitant improvements in safety, efficacy and variability of glycaemic control. This paper reviews the properties of these new long-acting, basal insulin analogues and their potential roles in facilitating the initiation and optimisation of insulin therapy. Studies that reported the use of insulin and insulin analogues for the treatment of T2DM were identified using Medline. Key search terms included: ‘insulin glargine’, ‘insulin detemir’, ‘NPH insulin’, ‘basal insulin’, ‘long-acting insulin’, ‘insulin analogue’, ‘pharmacokinetics’, ‘pharmacodynamics’, ‘dose titration’, ‘algorithms’ and ‘type 2 diabetes’. Abstracts presented at the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual congresses were also searched. The data show that the long-acting insulin analogues glargine and detemir both offer a low risk of hypoglycaemia and improved glycaemic control. Aggressive dose titration with glargine and detemir facilitates attainment of glycaemic control targets. The goal of achieving good glycaemic control with a low risk of hypoglycaemia may be more feasible with newer insulin therapies as part of a simple basal insulin regimen with continued OADs.
Efficient computation of k-Nearest Neighbour Graphs for large high-dimensional data sets on GPU clusters.

This paper presents an implementation of the brute-force exact k-Nearest Neighbor Graph (k-NNG) construction for ultra-large high-dimensional data cloud. The proposed method uses Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and is scalable with multi-levels of parallelism (between nodes of a cluster, between different GPUs on a single node, and within a GPU). The method is applicable to homogeneous computing clusters with a varying number of nodes and GPUs per node. We achieve a 6-fold speedup in data processing as compared with an optimized method running on a cluster of CPUs and bring a hitherto impossible -NNG generation for a dataset of twenty million images with 15 k dimensionality into the realm of practical possibility.
Factors controlling the competing sensations produced by a bistable stroboscopic motion display

Abstract Two competitive sensations which are produced by a previously described bistable stroboscopic movement display were studied in a series of five experiments. In Experiment 1 each of the movement sensations was selectively adapted, a finding which supports the hypothesis that a different visual process underlies each of the two sensations. In Experiments 2–5 the relative dominance of the two sensations was controlled by the manipulation of five physical stimulus variables—frame duration, duration of the interval between frames, luminance of the interval between frames, contrast of stimulus frames, and degree of dark adaptation. Limiting conditions for the processes mediating the two competitive sensations were elaborated, and the implications of the findings for other studies of stroboscopic movement were discussed.
One dimensional hindered rotor model for order-disorder phase transitions in ammonium halide crystals

The hamiltonian for the disordered phase (Oh 1) of the ammonium halide crystals is derived on the basis of a point charge model which also takes into account the repulsion between nearest neighbour ions (NH4 + - X -). This hamiltonian is reduced to that for interacting one dimensional hindered rotors, where rotation of NH4 + ions is restricted to that around the z axis. Order-disorder phase transitions in pure ammonium halide crystals (NH4Cl, NH4Br and NH4I) and NH4Br x Cl1-x mixed crystals are discussed in terms of the dynamic susceptibilities calculated from the model hamiltonian. The present model seems to reproduce the general behaviour of the phase diagrams. It also provides a plausible explanation for the mechanisms of the phase transitions. By considering the effect of pressure in the model hamiltonian, the possibility of occurrence of new ordered phases at high pressure is discussed within the framework of the present model.
Skin infections in returned travelers: an update.

Dermatologic manifestations of travel-related illness are particularly vexing due to the broad differential diagnosis and clinicians’ unfamiliarity with uncommonly seen diseases. This paper aims to educate and update the reader on selected infectious diseases in the returned traveler whose disease manifestations are primarily dermatologic. First, the evolving epidemiology of these infections is examined; understanding the geographic distribution of infectious etiologies helps refine and narrow the differential diagnosis. This is followed by a discussion of six important clinical syndromes including cutaneous larva migrans (CLM), cutaneous leishmaniasis, tungiasis, myiasis, antibiotic-resistant skin and soft tissue infection, and selected infections associated with fever and rash (e.g., measles, chikungunya virus infection, dengue fever, rickettsial spotted fevers). Familiarity with these syndromes and a situational awareness of their epidemiology will facilitate a prompt, accurate diagnosis and lead to appropriate treatment and prevention of further disease spread.
Endothelial cell thromboxane production and its inhibition by a calcium-channel blocker

Vascular endothelium has been established as a major source of prostacyclin production. Whether endothelial cells are also capable of synthesizing thromboxane A2 remains controversial. Suppression of such endothelial thromboxane synthesis would be beneficial for short-term patency of vascular grafts. This study examined the production of thromboxane A2 by endothelial cells and its modulation by the calcium-channel blocker nifedipine in vitro. The results indicate that (1) endothelial cells spontaneously secrete thromboxane A2, (2) this production can be enhanced severalfold in the presence of arachidonic acid, and (3) the calcium-channel blocker nifedipine significantly inhibits thromboxane production without demonstrable toxicity to the endothelial cells.
Data Mining in Children and Family Services: The Contra Costa County Experience

Despite access to a comprehensive administrative database that would allow for timely data retrieval and utilization, regular use of data to inform service provision remained infrequent at one children and family services agency. To address this issue, a research and evaluation manager was hired to facilitate regular data use and evidence-informed service provision. This led to a shift in agency culture that moved from viewing data collection as a burden and threat, to now valuing data as a powerful tool for improving programs and outcomes for children and families. This case study presents the experiences of this agency, describing the process by which the research and evaluation manager was hired, how data are now used by the agency, significant changes resulting from the agency's new data use practices, and perspectives of the evaluator and staff on data use and changes in agency culture.
Gene therapy for the treatment of heart failure—calcium signaling

Abstract The knowledge of molecular mechanisms indicated in cardiac dysfunction has increased dramatically over the last decade and yields considerable potential for new treatment options in heart failure. Alterations in intracellular calcium signaling play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of heart failure, and in recent years, somatic gene transfer has been identified as an important tool to help understand the relative contribution of specific calcium-handling proteins in heart failure. This article reviews recent advances in gene delivery techniques aimed at global myocardial transfection and discusses molecular therapeutic targets identified within intracellular calcium signaling pathways in heart failure. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
A least-squares finite-element method for the Stokes equations with improved mass balances

Abstract We prove the convergence of a least-squares mixed finite-element method for the Stokes equations with zero residual of mass conservation. For the standard least squares mixed finite-element method, the equations for continuity of mass, and momentum are minimized in a global sense. Therefore, the mass may not be conserved at every point of the discretization. Recently, in [1], a modified least squares finite-element method is developed to enforce near zero residual of mass conservation. This is achieved by attaching a discrete divergence free constrain to the standard least squares finite-element method, and as a consequence, the number of equations is increased. In this paper, we take a different approach to improve the conservation of mass and reduce the number of the equations. This method does not require LBB condition on the finite-dimensional subspaces and the resulting bilinear form is symmetric and positive definite.
Sampling: a critical problem in biosensing.

Biosensing is widely recognised to be of potentially major importance to medicine and related fields, but in spite of a large number of impressive and important advances, widespread practical application has lagged. We examine the thesis that ‘sampling’ is a process which involves all of the phenomena which are associated with the transport of analyte molecules to the active sensor site, and that problems associated with this process are now the limiting factor in further use of many existing biosensors. We conclude that an integrated process of sampling and sensing should be emphasised in developing new biosensing systems, and propose several new approaches.
Models for preattentive texture discrimination: Fourier analysis and local feature processing in a unified framework.

—Spatial frequency analysis and local feature analysis may be considered to be examples of a class of models for texture discrimination. In this theoretical framework, texture discrimination relies on differences in the distribution of responses generated in linear receptive fields placed randomly on the texture. If the set of receptive fields is taken to be a collection of gratings, spatial-frequency analysis is recovered. If the set of receptive-fields is taken to be a collection of local feature templates, a corresponding local-feature model is recovered. In order to test such models, it is necessary to construct distinct texture pairs that elicit similar distributions of responses for all of the postulated receptive field profiles: the model prediction is that such textures are not discriminable. A method is provided for construction of such textures which test generic models within this framework. This framework includes not only strict Fourier analysis, but also models which postulate a collection of arbitrarily-shaped local feature detectors, and models which postulate both Fourier analysis and local feature detection.
Allosteric Dominance in Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase

A linked-function analysis of the allosteric responsiveness of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (CPS) from E. coli was performed by following the ATP synthesis reaction at low carbamoyl phosphate concentration. All three allosteric ligands, ornithine, UMP, and IMP, act by modifying the affinity of CPS for the substrate MgADP. Individually ornithine strongly promotes, and UMP strongly antagonizes, the binding of MgADP. IMP causes only a slight inhibition at 25 degreesC. When both ornithine and UMP were varied, models which presume a mutually exclusive binding relationship between these ligands do not fit the data as well as does one which allows both ligands (and substrate) to bind simultaneously. The same result was obtained with ornithine and IMP. By contrast, the actions of UMP and IMP together must be explained with a competitive model, consistent with previous reports that UMP and IMP bind to the same site. When ornithine is bound to the enzyme, its activation dominates the effects when either UMP or IMP is also bound. The relationship of this observation to the structure of CPS is discussed.
StreamGen: a workload generation tool for distributed information flow applications

This work presents the StreamGen load generator, which is targeted at distributed information flow applications. These include the event streaming services used in wide-area publish/subscribe systems or in operational information systems, the data streaming services used in remote visualization or collaboration, and the continuous data streams occurring in download services. Running across heterogeneous distributed platforms, these services are implemented by computational component that capture, manipulate, and produce information streams and are linked via overlay topologies. StreamGen can be used to produce the distributed computational and communication loads imposed by these applications. Dynamic application behaviors can be created with mathematical specifications or with behavior traces collected from application-level traces. An interesting set of traces presented in this paper is derived from long -term observations of the FTP download patterns observed at the Linux mirror site being run by the CERCS research center at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Two different flow-based applications are created and evaluated with StreamGen. The first emulates the data streaming behavior in a distributed scientific collaboration, where a scientific simulation (i.e., a molecular dynamics code) produces simulation data sent to and displayed for multiple, interactive remote users. The second emulates portions of the event-streaming behavior of an operational information system used by,a large U.S. corporation. Parametric studies with StreamGen's FTP traces applied to these applications are used to evaluate different load balancing strategies for the cluster machines manipulating these applications' data streams.
Teaching engineering in the middle schools: Virginia Middle Schools Engineering Education Initiative

The Virginia Middle Schools Engineering Education Initiative (VMSEEI) will design, implement, test and evaluate "engineering leaching kits" to be used by teachers and student teachers to facilitate engineering instruction in the middle schools. The engineering teaching kits (ETKs) will allow teachers to instruct students on selected engineering concepts and procedures within the context of preexisting science and mathematics classes. ETKs will include a strong focus on design and innovation, how things work, how things are made, and the social and environmental impacts of technology. Each ETK will include a student guide explaining key concepts and methods, a teacher's guide, plans for demonstrations and experiments, and where appropriate a computer-based component (such as a demonstration or simulation). The ETKs will involve active, hands-on, cooperative learning; students will work in teams to solve problems and design solutions.
Category Number Impacts Rule-Based but Not Information-Integration Category Learning: Further Evidence for Dissociable Category-Learning Systems.

Category number effects on rule-based and information-integration category learning were investigated. Category number affected accuracy and the distribution of best-fitting models in the rule-based task but had no effect on accuracy and little effect on the distribution of best-fining models in the information-integration task. In the 2 category conditions, rule-based learning was better than information-integration learning, whereas in the 4 category conditions, unidimensional and conjunctive rule-based learning was worse than information-integration learning. Rule-based strategies were used in the 2-category/rule-based condition, but about half of the observers used rule-based strategies in the 4-category unidimensional and conjunctive rule-based conditions. Information-integration strategies were used in the 4-category/ information-integration condition and by the end of training were used in the 2-category/information-integration condition.
In Search of Sanctuary: Addressing Issues of Domestic Violence and Homelessness at Shelters

Through semistructured interviews the present exploratory study identifies similarities and differences between the experiences of women affected by both domestic violence and homelessness and seeking help at either a domestic violence or a homeless shelter. The study also examines the variables involved in the selection of a specific shelter. This understanding can assist shelters to tailor their limited resources and personnel to clients’ needs and to address domestic violence and homelessness in an integrated and comprehensive manner. (excerpt)