cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Mechanism of Interest as We Grow Older

Compared with previous generations, we are now living longer. But this comes with a grain of salt. Hypertension approaches 80% in octogenarians, meaning that, as we grow older, we have a greater risk of cardiovascular disease. Extrarenal expression of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) has been linked to blood pressure regulation. Setting out to explore this further, McCurley and colleagues now add the role of aging as a new dimension. The authors first established a transgenic knockout mouse model in which MR depletion can be induced tissue-specifically in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) after birth. Twenty-four-hour telemetry once per month over 10 months revealed that mice with SMCs lacking MR had decreased systolic blood pressure compared with their littermate controls. This effect on blood pressure increased with age. Furthermore, the vasoconstrictive response differed with age: “Old” mice (>9 months) with functional MR showed augmented vasoconstriction in mesenteric resistance arteries after stimulation with vasoconstrictors compared with the knockout mice. In contrast, “young” mice (3 to 4 months) did not show such a difference between the two groups. McCurley et al. showed that salt and mineralocorticoids similarly modulated blood pressure in both types of mice, suggesting that the MR is functional in the kidney of the knockout mice. This led the researchers to conclude that blood pressure is regulated by an extrarenal mechanism that involves the MR in vascular SMCs. From additional mechanistic studies, the authors suggest that the MR in SMC regulates an L-type calcium channel in vessels in an age-dependent fashion. This new animal model lends not only insight into how age and mineralocorticoid receptor expression interact in blood pressure regulation, but will also serve as a platform to understand mechanisms of currently approved MR antagonists and those in development. A. McCurley et al ., Direct regulation of blood pressure by smooth muscle cell mineralocorticoid receptors. Nat. Med . 18 , 1429–1433 (2012). [[PubMed]][1] [1]: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22922412
For Longevity, Perception is Everything

Aging is a risk factor for chronic diseases, and identifying targets for intervention is a goal of the aging field. Burkewitz et al. now describe a mechanism that mediates the specific role for AMPK in longevity, whereby its activity in neurons modulates metabolism and mitochondrial integrity in peripheral tissues.
Heavy metals zinc, cadmium, and copper stimulate pulmonary sensory neurons via direct activation of TRPA1

Airway exposure to zinc dust and zinc-containing ambient particulates can cause symptoms of airway irritation and inflammation, but the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms are largely unknown. Transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) is selectively expressed in a subpopulation of pulmonary C-fiber afferents and has been considered as a major irritant sensor in the lung and airways. Using whole cell patch-clamp recording and Ca2+ imaging, we have demonstrated that application of ZnCl2 concentration dependently evoked inward current and Ca2+ transient in isolated vagal pulmonary sensory neurons; both responses were almost completely inhibited after pretreatment with AP18, a specific TRPA1 antagonist. In anesthetized spontaneously breathing animals, intratracheal instillation of ZnCl2 (2 mM, 25 μl) induced pronounced respiratory depression in wild-type mice, and the effect was essentially absent in TRPA1-deficient mice. In addition, our study showed that two other heavy metals, cadmium and copper, also stimulated pulmonary sensory neurons via a direct activation of TRPA1. In summary, our results suggest that activation of TRPA1 in pulmonary C-fiber sensory nerves may contribute to the respiratory toxicity induced by airway exposure to these three heavy metals.
FOUNDATIONS OF GREGARIOUSNESS IN BARNACLES

![Graphic][1] Robert J. Toonen writes about E. W. Knight-Jones' classic 1953 publication on gregariousness during settling in barnacles. One of the major thrusts of marine biologists through the 1950s and into the 1960s was to examine the role of settlement behavior of planktonic larvae in
Performance comparison of BQM and normal queue management techniques

Congestion is an important issue which researchers focus on in the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)network environment. To keep the stability of the whole network, congestion control algorithms have been extensively studied. Queue management method employed by the routers is one of the important issues in the congestion control study.Biased Queue Management (BQM) is a queue management method proposed in [1], and consists of an accurate packet loss discriminator and an implicit continuous congestion level measure. In this paper, we will compare BQM with two popular queue management methods, Random Early Detection (RED)[2] and Droptail, in different aspects, such as throughput, packet loss rate and fairness.The comparison results indicate BQM has better throughput than RED, and higher fairness and lower packet loss rate than Droptail. BQM is a highly efficient queue management technique in congested TCP network environment. Experiments are performed by Network Simulator(NS) from Lawrence Berkeley Labs.
Backwards analysis of the Karger-Klein-Tarjan algorithm for minimum spanning trees

This note gives a short proof of a sampling lemma used by Karger, Klein, and Tarjan in the analysis of their randomized linear-time algorithm for minimum spanning trees.
Perturbed angular correlation measurement of the electric field gradient at 181Ta in ZrSiO4 and HfSiO4

We have used time-differential perturbed angular correlation (PAC) spectroscopy with 181Ta-probes to study the electric field gradient at Zr-sites in synthetic zircon and hafnon between room temperature and 1,200°C. PAC spectra are similar to those obtained from naturally occurring zircons. In particular, a change in slope of the quadrupole coupling vs. temperature is observed in the synthetic zircon at the same temperature as seen in natural zircons from the Mud Tank carbonatite (Australia). The synthetic hafnon data also shows this feature but at somewhat higher temperature. Low-temperature PAC spectra of both synthetic zircon and hafnon have a clearly reduced anisotropy. We believe that the cause for this is a electronic defect, possibly created during the β-decay of the probe parent nucleus.
A nicotine antagonist, mecamylamine, reduces cue-induced cocaine craving in cocaine-dependent subjects.

We have previously shown that nicotine enhances cue-induced cocaine craving. In the present study, the effects of a nicotine antagonist, mecamylamine, on cue-induced cocaine craving were investigated. Twenty-three cocaine-dependent patients, all cigarette smokers, were randomly assigned to mecamylamine (2.5 mg tablet) or placebo in a single-dose, placebo-controlled, crossover, double-blind study. Craving and anxiety were measured before and after cocaine cues with visual analog scales for desire to use cocaine and mood. Skin conductance, skin temperature and heart rate were recorded before and during cocaine cues. Following exposure to cocaine cues, all patients reported an increase in cocaine craving and anxiety relative to the pre-cue measures. Cue exposure also produced an increase in skin conductance and decrease in skin temperature. The cue-induced increase in cocaine craving was reduced, while the cue-induced skin conductance and temperature responses were unaffected, by mecamylamine. These findings show that cue-induced cocaine craving is attenuated by mecamylamine. Further study on the use of mecamylamine in relapse prevention programs are suggested.
Famotidine Disposition in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Renal Insufficiency

The pharmacokinetics of intravenous famotidine (0.5 mg/kg, maximum 20 mg) were evaluated in 18 pediatric patients (ages 1-18 years) with stable, chronic renal insufficiency. Subjects were stratified by calculated creatinine clearance (Clcr) into mild (Clcr > or = 50 to or = 25 to < 50 mL/min/1.73 m2), and severe (Clcr < or = 10 mL/min/1.73 m2) renal insufficiency groups. Significant differences between the mild, moderate, and severe groups were found for elimination rate (Kel), apparent elimination half-life (t1/2), area under the curve (AUC), and total plasma clearance (Clp) (p < 0.01). Famotidine renal clearance (Clr) was found to be significantly different between the mild and severe groups (p < 0.05). A linear relationship was observed between Clcr and Clp (p < 0.0001; R2 = 0.70). No significant differences in nonrenal clearance (Clnr) were found between groups; however, Clnr as a percentage of Clp was significantly different in the severe group (92.9% +/- 7.3% Clnr) compared to the combined mild and moderate groups (21.9% +/- 45.6% Clnr) (p < 0.05). It was concluded that the pharmacokinetics of famotidine are significantly altered in children with chronic renal insufficiency; accordingly, dosing should be based on glomerular filtration rate (i.e., Clcr).
Thresholds for Physiological Effects Due to RF and Magnetic Fields Used in NMR Imaging

The health hazards of NMR imaging are not likely to become important if the RF power densities are less than 10 mW/cm2, static magnetic fields are less than 0.3 tesla and the temporal variation of fields is less than 3 T/sec.
Regulation through Information: An Empirical Analysis of the Effects of State‐sponsored Right‐to‐know Programs on Industrial Toxic Pollution

Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act requires all states to establish a system of local emergency planning committees to gather data on the hazardous materials used by local manufacturers and make that information available to inquiring citizens. However, Title III does not specify how proactive states must be in disseminating information on industrial toxins, nor does it provide any federal funds for such programs. Consequently, there is tremendous variation in how individual states have responded to Title III. An unresolved empirical issue is whether states with programs that actively promote public access to information on toxic chemicals are more successful in reducing industrial toxic pollution than states without such programs. Using data from the Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Release Inventory, this study conducts a preliminary analysis of the effectiveness of the right-to-know programs in decreasing industrial toxic releases across the 50 American states. Contrary to the expectations of some pessimists, findings suggest that right-to-know programs reduce industrial toxic pollution without displacing the problem to other states.
Evangelicals and American Foreign Policy

Evangelicals and American Foreign Policy is concise, clear and honest. It ably distills a complex topic and contributes to the underdeveloped effort to unite Evangelical theology with political sci...
Leading ethically at the intersection where worlds collide

When leaders ask people to change, they must expect resistance at the intersection. Leaders must discern, deliberate and decide on the fitting response to challenges that arise at the intersection. To discern, deliberate and decide effectively, leaders must re-examine their core values and assumptions about identity (character); clarify relationships with others in their environment (civility); and maintain strong ties with their primary network of discourse and practice (community).
Critical characteristics of male serial murderers

Difficulties that have limited research on serial murder (i.e., definition, data, and conceptual framework) are addressed by the current study. Rickey’s Trauma-Control Model is utilized as a conceptual framework that is particularly helpful when sexual activity is involved. This study provides a rich description of male perpetrator characteristics (criminal history, age, and ethnicity), killing career characteristics (number of victims, length of career, solo or team killer, venue, weapons, and murder rate), and victim characteristics (relationship to killer and victim sex). Relationships among these characteristics are also examined.
Field tests of density-and frequency-dependent selection in Erigeron annuus (Compositae).

Selection may maintain genetic diversity in natural populations if the physical or biotic environment is variable over space and-or time. Because density and genotype frequencies can be heterogeneous, and because genotypes may differ in competitive ability, both density-and frequency-dependent selection have been considered to be potentially important evolutionary processes. To address the possibility that intraspecific interactions among plants are a source of fitness variation in Erigeron annuus, we conducted field experiments over 2 yr that were designed to examine the potential of population density, genotype frequency, and their interaction to act as selective agents. In both experiments, apomictic genotypes of Erigeron were paired. Seedlings were planted into plots that differed in density and the identity of minority and majority genotype. There was evidence for a differential effect of density among genotypes for only one year's experiment, suggesting that density-dependent selection is either weak or temporally variable. Genotype frequency had no effect on fitness in either year, and thus there was no evidence for frequency-dependent selection. In addition, the lack of a frequency ;ts density interaction demonstrates that resource partitioning, one mechanism for frequency dependence, is not strong among Erigeron genotypes. If frequency-dependent selection does occur in this species, it is either too weak to detect even in large field experiments, or occurs only in the presence of a selective agent (e.g., pathogens) that was lacking in our experiments.
Hot-filament assisted fabrication of carbon-nanotube electron emitters

A hot-filament CVD reactor was used for the deposition of carbon nanotubes on substrates. Hydrocarbon or oxyhydrocarbon mixtures were used as the carbon source. Hot filaments at temperatures exceeding 2000C provided a means of dissociating the vapor or gas feedstock, heating the substrate, and allowing gas species to react in the gas phase as well as on the surface of the substrate leading to the deposition of desired carbon coatings. A high vacuum chamber was used to characterize the electron emission properties of these carbon nanotube coatings using a one-millimeter diameter tungsten rod with a hemispherical tip as the anode while the carbon nanotube coatings served as the cathode. The current-voltage characteristics of the carbon nanotube coatings were measured and used for calculating the electric field at which electron emission turned on as well as calculating the field enhancement factor of the carbon nanotubes. Field emission of electrons from carbon nanotubes starting from an electric field of as low as 1-2 volts per micrometer was achieved.
Diagnosis and Management of Obstetrical Complications Unique to Multiple Gestations

Obstetrical complications unique to multiple gestations pose a number of unique challenges. The presence of more than one fetus complicates the diagnosis and management of a pregnancy when one fetus has a structural or chromosomal abnormality, intrauterine demise, preterm premature rupture of the membranes, or delivers prematurely. Similarly, the diagnosis and management of monoamniotic twins and conjoined twins is challenging. These obstetrical complications that are unique to multiple gestations require thorough counseling of the expectant parents, as well as care by physicians with expertise in the management of multiple gestations.
Cyclostationarity in partial response signaling: a novel framework for blind equalization

When fractional samples are available at the receiver, blind channel estimation methods can be developed exploiting the cyclostationary nature of the received signal. In this paper, we show that different solutions are possible if cyclostationarity is introduced at the transmitter instead of the receiver. We propose specific coding and interleaving strategies at the transmitter which induce cyclostationarity and facilitate the equalization task. Novel subspace equalization algorithms are derived which make no assumptions whatsoever on the channel zero locations. Synchronization issues are briefly discussed and some simulation examples are presented.
An investigation of near-field radiatin patterns measured with large antennas

The plane-wave spectrum concept is used to derive an expression for the radiation pattern of an antenna in a two-dimensional system and an investigation is made of the effect of the aperture size of the measuring antenna on the pattern obtained. It is shown that measured sidelobe levels either above or below the far-field values may be obtained. Measurements of near-field antenna radiation patterns are carried out in a parallel-plate pattern range, and the predicted effects of measuring antennas of finite size on the beamwidth and sidelobe levels of the measured patterns are confirmed experimentally.
Spirometry Utilization for COPD: How Do We Measure Up?

Background COPD is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Guidelines recommend the confirmation of a COPD diagnosis with spirometry. Limited evidence exists, however, documenting the frequency of spirometry use in clinical practice. Methods The National Committee for Quality Assurance recruited five health plans to determine the proportion of patients ≥ 40 years old with a new diagnosis of COPD who had received spirometry during the interval starting 720 days prior to diagnosis and ending 180 days after diagnosis. Patients were identified via International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnostic codes for encounters during the period July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2003. For each patient, the participating plans provided patient demographic and claims data from administrative data systems. Results Participating health plans covered 1,597,749 members with a total of 5,039 eligible COPD patients identified. Patients in the 40 to 64 age range had the highest percentage of new COPD diagnoses. Women were also slightly more likely to undergo spirometry (33.5% vs 29.4%, p=0.001). Approximately 32% of patients with a new diagnosis of COPD had undergone spirometry in the specified interval. Spirometry frequency was lowest in older patients, with the lowest frequency in those ≥ 75 years old. Conclusions Our study suggests that approximately 32% of a broad range of patients with a new COPD diagnosis had undergone spirometry within the previous 2 years to 6 months following diagnosis. In addition, spirometric testing appeared to decrease with increasing age. As opposed to a prior report, women were not less likely to have undergone spirometry. This study shows that spirometry is infrequently used in clinical practice for diagnosis of COPD and suggests opportunities for practice improvement.
The Trusted Computing Exemplar project

We describe the Trusted Computing Exemplar project, which is producing an openly distributed worked example of how high assurance trusted computing components can be built. The TCX project encompasses four related activities: creation of a prototype framework for rapid high assurance system development; development of a reference-implementation trusted computing component; evaluation of the component for high assurance; and open dissemination of results related to the first three activities. The project's open development methodology provides widespread availability of key high assurance enabling technologies and ensures transfer of knowledge and capabilities for trusted computing to the next generation of developers, evaluators and educators.
The salivary concentration of Streptococci mutans and Streptococci sanguis and their colonization of artificial tooth fissures in man.

Summary-Artificial fissures were inserted in 3 subjects for 1-21 days. At a salivary concentration of lo3 colony-forming units (CFU) Strep. mutans@, fissures were colonized by this organism. The proportional distribution of Strep. mutans increased with time and comprised up to 6 per cent of the total number of organisms in the fissure at day 21. The total number of organisms in the fissure did not increase with time after 1 day. The salivary concentration of Strep. sanguis was about lo6 CFU/ml in all subjects. The proportional distribution of this organism in the fissure varied both between different individuals and with time in the same individual. When the artificial fissures were inserted during a regimen which reduced the salivary concentrations of Strep. mutuns, the organism did not colonize the artificial fissures, even though the salivary concentration of Strep. mutans after cessation of the regimen increased to levels generally associated with colonization. If the fissures had been inserted 2 weeks before the Strep. mutans reducing regimen was started, the reduction of the number of Strep. mutans in the saliva to levels generally not associated with colonization did not influence the proportional distribution of Strep. mutans in the artificial fissure. These observations indicate that the initial inoculum is a main determinant for the colonization of the artificial fissures by Strep. mutans.
Biologically targeted therapies plus chemotherapy plus radiotherapy in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer: a case of the Icarus syndrome?

The myth of Daedalus and Icarus has been around for over two thousand years, but it still offers a timely metaphor for many modern misadventures. The basic plotline is as follows: ambitious pioneers couple optimism and audacity with unfettered access to new technology or other innovations and launch themselves into a daring, dizzying adventure. Tragically, the story melts into a morality tale when Icarus flies too close to the sun, then crashes in spectacular fashion. The article 1 that accompanies this editorial describes a clinical trial with many of the hallmarks of the Icarus syndrome: the soaring attempt by Socinski et al 1 to conquer stage III non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a bold phase I/II trial in which patients with stage NSCLC were treated with a combination of induction bevacizumab (15 mg/kg) and carboplatin-paclitaxel, followed by concurrent bevacizumab alone (cohort 1 at 10 mg/kg) or with erlotinib (100, 150 mg/kg for cohorts 2 and 3, respectively), with radiation (74 Gy) and weekly carboplatin-paclitaxel. This was followed with an attempt at consolidative erlotinib and bevacizumab for six cycles in a searing assault on this terrible disease. The tantalizing promise of breakthrough results from their uber-aggressive approach failed to materialize, leaving in its wake worrisome adverse effects that prevented the administration of all intended therapy without meaningful clinical gains and an underwhelming overall survival of 18.4 months. No analogy is perfect, and oncologists who treat lung cancer
An exploratory study of young adult black and Latino males and the factors facilitating their decisions to make positive behavioral changes

Abstract This paper focuses on one factor that facilitated decisions to make positive behavioral changes among twenty young adult Black and Latino males who had previously been involved in crimes such as illegal drug marketing, crimes of violence, and property crimes. The respondents were part of an exploratory study that collected data through extensive interviews. The interviews disclosed several personal and environmental factors that facilitated their decisions to change. The factor addressed in this paper is their concern and respect for children demonstrated through fatherhood and mentorship. Implications for social work, social service providers, and youth program staff are discussed.
Mixed amidophenolate–catecholates of molybdenum(VI)

The dioxomolybdenum(VI) complex (tBuClipH2)MoO2 (tBuClipH4 = 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-N,N′-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)-2,2′-diaminobiphenyl) reacts with 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to form oxo-free (tBuClip)Mo(3,5-tBu2Cat). The bis(amidophenoxide)-monocatecholate complex is monomeric and exhibits a cis-β geometry in the solid state. Variable-temperature NMR data are consistent with two fluxional processes, one that interconverts several geometric isomers at low temperature, and a second that interchanges the ends of the tBuClip ligand at ambient temperatures. The high-temperature fluxional process can be explained by a single Bailar trigonal twist coupled with atropisomerization of the chiral diaminobiaryl backbone. Addition of excess catechol to (tBuClipH2)MoO2 results in formation of a dimolybdenum mono-oxo complex (tBuClip)Mo(μ-3,5-tBu2Cat)2Mo(O)(3,5-tBu2Cat). This complex, which contains a seven-coordinate bis(amidophenoxide)molybdenum center and a six-coordinate oxomolybdenum center, represents a structural hybrid between dimeric oxomolybdenumbis(catecholate) and molybdenum tris(catecholate) complexes. Both mono- and dimolybdenum complexes are best formulated as containing Mo(VI), but there is structural evidence for significant π donation from the amidophenolates. (tBuClip)Mo(3,5-tBu2Cat) binds pyridine to form a mixture of isomeric seven-coordinate adducts. The Lewis acidity of the mixed amidophenoxide-catecholate appears to be lower than its tris(catecholate) or oxobis(amidophenoxide) analogues, which manifests itself principally in relatively slow binding of pyridine to the six-coordinate complex (k = 8 × 104 L mol−1 s−1 at 0 °C) rather than in the rate of dissociation of pyridine from the seven-coordinate adduct.
Fibrous Dysplasia in a 120,000+ Year Old Neandertal from Krapina, Croatia

We describe the first definitive case of a fibrous dysplastic neoplasm in a Neandertal rib (120.71) from the site of Krapina in present-day Croatia. The tumor predates other evidence for these kinds of tumor by well over 100,000 years. Tumors of any sort are a rare occurrence in recent archaeological periods or in living primates, but especially in the human fossil record. Several studies have surveyed bone diseases in past human populations and living primates and fibrous dysplasias occur in a low incidence. Within the class of bone tumors of the rib, fibrous dysplasia is present in living humans at a higher frequency than other bone tumors. The bony features leading to our diagnosis are described in detail. In living humans effects of the neoplasm present a broad spectrum of symptoms, from asymptomatic to debilitating. Given the incomplete nature of this rib and the lack of associated skeletal elements, we resist commenting on the health effects the tumor had on the individual. Yet, the occurrence of this neoplasm shows that at least one Neandertal suffered a common bone tumor found in modern humans.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Chiari III Malformation by 2D and 3D Sonography A Case Report and Synthesis of the Literature

Chiari III malformation is the most rare and severe form of the four types of Chiari malformations. It is characterized by a high cervical meningoencephalocele and caudal displacement of the cerebellum and brainstem. The encephalocele may contain cerebellum, brainstem, cerebrospinal fluid, and rarely the occipital lobe. This case describes a fetus with a large posterior occipitocervical encephalocele diagnosed by sonography at 21 weeks' gestation. We believe this is the first reported Chiari III malformation diagnosed prenatally by sonography alone, as well as the first to describe the diagnosis using 3D sonography.
BgN-Score and BsN-Score: Bagging and boosting based ensemble neural networks scoring functions for accurate binding affinity prediction of protein-ligand complexes

Accurately predicting the binding affinities of large sets of protein-ligand complexes is a key challenge in computational biomolecular science, with applications in drug discovery, chemical biology, and structural biology. Since a scoring function (SF) is used to score, rank, and identify drug leads, the fidelity with which it predicts the affinity of a ligand candidate for a protein's binding site has a significant bearing on the accuracy of virtual screening. Despite intense efforts in developing conventional SFs, which are either force-field based, knowledge-based, or empirical, their limited predictive power has been a major roadblock toward cost-effective drug discovery. Therefore, in this work, we present novel SFs employing a large ensemble of neural networks (NN) in conjunction with a diverse set of physicochemical and geometrical features characterizing protein-ligand complexes to predict binding affinity. We assess the scoring accuracies of two new ensemble NN SFs based on bagging (BgN-Score) and boosting (BsN-Score), as well as those of conventional SFs in the context of the 2007 PDBbind benchmark that encompasses a diverse set of high-quality protein families. We find that BgN-Score and BsN-Score have more than 25% better Pearson's correlation coefficient (0.804 and 0.816 vs. 0.644) between predicted and measured binding affinities compared to that achieved by a state-of-the-art conventional SF. In addition, these ensemble NN SFs are also at least 19% more accurate (0.804 and 0.816 vs. 0.675) than SFs based on a single neural network that has been traditionally used in drug discovery applications. We further find that ensemble models based on NNs surpass SFs based on the decision-tree ensemble technique Random Forests. Ensemble neural networks SFs, BgN-Score and BsN-Score, are the most accurate in predicting binding affinity of protein-ligand complexes among the considered SFs. Moreover, their accuracies are even higher when they are used to predict binding affinities of protein-ligand complexes that are related to their training sets.
Qualitative optimization in software engineering: A short survey

Abstract Many software engineering problems involve finding optimal solutions from a set of feasible solutions. Such methods often require stakeholders such as developers and testers to specify preferences over multiple attributes/objectives that are to be optimized. However, in many cases it is more natural for stakeholders to express such preferences in simple, qualitative terms. We survey relevant literature within software engineering for problems in which qualitative optimization techniques can be useful. We also present a model of optimization that relies on the stakeholders qualitative preferences leveraging recent advances in decision theoretic artificial intelligence, which could prove useful and spawn connections between qualitative decision theory and software engineering.
Correction of Isokinetic and Isometric Torque Recordings for the Effects of Gravity A Clinical Report

The effect of gravity on neuromuscular performance should be measured in most research applications and in some clinical assessments. Comparing recorded values of maximal torque generated by knee extensor and flexor muscles using the Cybex® II* isokinetic dynamometer shows that gravity significantly affects the recordings, resulting in an overestimation of active flexor muscle torque and an underestimation of active extensor muscle torque.1,2 During both endurance and high velocity testing, the relative contribution of gravity to recorded torque values becomes increasingly large as active torque generation decreases.1,2 The Cybex® II dynamometer with dual channel recorder allows one to record and measure isometric and isokinetic torque and also the specific joint angle at which the torque is produced. One of the advantages of such a system is that the effect of gravity on measured torque may be calculated.…
A Decision-centric Analysis of the Sandia Structural Mechanics Validation Problem

The Sandia Validation Challenge structural mechanics problem involves predicting the displacements of a static frame structure subjected to externally applied forces. Although its academic nature renders it overly simplistic, the formulation of the problem nevertheless relies on strong, yet, somewhat unverified assumptions such as linear elasticity to describe the material behavior, idealized boundary conditions, and a simplified description of frame structure kinematics. The main contribution of this work is to argue in favor of the importance of questioning assumptions that inevitably present themselves during model-building, and to illustrate the extent to which predictions may, or not, be robust to some of these choices. The validation assessment is presented as a trade-off analysis between fidelity-to-data (or prediction accuracy) and robustness to lack-of- knowledge. These two metrics are calculated for the "accreditation" step of the problem. The analyst first trades-off accuracy for robustness, then, proceeds to the "prediction" step using the levels of robustness one feels comfortable with. The prediction step analyzes a frame structure different from the one of the accreditation step. Both frame simulations, however, share the same constitutive sub-model of material behavior. The result is a range of predictions that provides an inherent level of robustness for the regulatory assessment. Our decision-centric approach shows how analysis results can be handed over to the decision-maker who decides on the sufficiency of regulatory performance given his/her tolerance or aversion to uncertainty and risk. The application also illustrates the implementation of cost-benefit analysis. (This publication is approved for unlimited, public release, LA-UR-06-3616, Unclassified.)
Longevity, Survival Rate, and Size of Territory of the Robber Fly, Efferia bicaudata (Diptera: Asilidae), Estimated by a Capture-recapture Method

In a capture-mark-release-recapture experiment that was designed to elucidate robber fly behavior and life table properties, the collection procedure captured 38% of the estimated population of Efferia bicaudata (Hine). Marked flies inhabited an area that was at least 2.6-fold larger than the area sampled (0.73 versus 0.28 ha, respectively). Average area occupied per fly was at least 243 m2, at least 62% of which was shared with other occupants. Average daily survival rate was 0.7184, and average longevity was only 3 days per fly. The inhabited area was depleted by an average of 22.2 flies per day, but was replenished by an average of 15.4–21.5 new flies per day. Consequently, collections in the sampled area remained relatively uniform over a 21-day period.
Evaluation of a gonococcal serologic test.

The fluorescent gonorrhea test-heated (FGT-H), an indirect immunofluorescent method for detecting the presence of antigonococcal antibodies in serum, was evaluated in 1,000 women referred to a private clinic for the termination of pregnancy, 202 women treated at a municipal venereal disease clinic, and six women hospitalized with gonococcal bacteremia. The test was positive for 17.7% of private outpatients, even though gonococci were cultured from only 1.1% of these women, and another 5.1% had histories of gonococcal infection. Positive test results were found for 68.3% of the women in the venereal disease clinic population, in which the prevalence of gonococcal infection was 36.1% and an additional 25.2% had had gonorrhea previously. The test was positive for all six patients with gonococcemia. The sensitivity of the test in the lowrisk population was 72.7%, which was not significantly different from the sensitivity of 84% in the high-risk population. Specificity of the test was 83% in low-risk patients, but only 41% in high-risk patients. These findings indicate that a negative test is a highly reliable means for excluding gonorrhea in populations of low-risk women. The predictive value of a positive test is low, ranging from 4.5% in the low-risk group to 45% in the high-risk group.
High throughput Agrobacterium tumefaciens -mediated germline transformation of mechanically isolated meristem explants of cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediates high frequency of germline transformation of cotton meristem explants. The meristem transformation system we developed is rapid, high throughput and genotype-flexible. We have developed a high throughput cotton transformation system based on direct Agrobacterium inoculation of mechanically isolated meristem explants of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The explants were inoculated with a disarmed A. tumefaciens strain, AB33 harboring a 2 T-DNA binary vector pMON114908. This vector contained a gene of interest, an intron-disrupted β-glucuronidase gene in one T-DNA, and a selectable marker gene, aadA in the other T-DNA. Critical factors, such as method of co-culture, culture temperature during selection, composition of selection medium, and selection scheme were found to influence transformation frequency. The cycle time from initial inoculation to the transplanting of transgenic plants to soil was 7–8 weeks. Stable integration of transgenes and their transmission to progeny were confirmed by molecular and genetic analyses. Transgenes segregated in the expected Mendelian fashion in the T1 generation for most of the transgenic events. It was possible to recover marker-free events in the T1 generation when utilizing a binary vector that contained the selectable marker and gene of interest expression cassettes on independent T-DNAs. The procedure presented here has been used to regenerate thousands of independent transgenic events from multiple varieties with numerous constructs, and we believe it represents a major step forward in cotton transformation technology.
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON LATIN AMERICAN FARMLAND VALUES: THE ROLE OF FARM TYPE.

This paper examines climate change impacts on South American agriculture using a set of Ricardian regressions estimated across different samples of farms in South America. Regressions are run for the whole sample and for subsamples of crop-only, mixed, and livestock-only farms. The results indicate that climate sensitivity varies a great deal across each type of farm. The analysis also reveals that the impacts will vary substantially across South America. The hot and wet Amazon and Equatorial regions are likely to lose the most from warming scenarios whereas the more temperate high elevation and southern regions of South America will likely gain.
Religion and anxiety: Which anxiety? Which religion?

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the religion and anxiety. There is an argument that religion can be as much a source of anxiety as it is a balm or that religion first creates and then relieves anxiety. The chapter explores the direction of influence may very well depend on which anxiety one has in mind, as well as which religion. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by at least 6 months of persistent and excessive anxiety and worry. Anxiety can be defined as a state of dread anticipation in which the object of the dread is vaguely defined. It includes tenseness, restlessness, increased heart rate, and sweating, all of which indicate preparedness for fight or flight. Treatment modalities capitalizing on religiosity may well make good sense for people who are high in religiosity. While it may be true that being religious may be the cause of anxiety, it seemingly is equally true that religion provides peace of mind for a great number of people. It is evident that religiosity is a potent intervention for those who are religious, and that it shapes and buffers the anxieties as one faces what often is a hostile world.
Possible structural analogs for the Fe/M/S sites in the nitrogenases. The[Fe6S6(L)6(M(CO)3)2]n- clusters and the [(MFe3S4)2(μ2-S)(μ2-L)]n- singly- and doubly-bridged double cubanes

The MoFe-protein components in the nitrogenases (31) from various nitrogen-fixing organisms contain a common Fe/Mo/S structural unit that can be isolated as an extractable cofactor (FeMoco) (36). The intimate relation of this cofactor to N2 reduction is provided by the observation mat inactive extracts of derepressed cells of mutant strains, which do not contain FeMoco, are activated upon its addition. The cofactor appears to be a small anionic cluster that does not contain amino acids and may contain homocitrate (26). The determination of its structure has not been as simple a task as it might seem. Indeed, since its isolation nearly 13 years ago, FeMoco still has not been obtained in crystalline form.
Fragile X Females and Psychiatric Disorders

Psychiatric and developmental difficulties in 17 young females with the fragile X mutation were compared with a non-fragile X female group in a controlled study reported from the Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Kennedy Institute, Baltimore, MD.
Owner-Occupied Housing, the Cpi, and Indexing:

The Consumer Price Index is widely used as a basis for adjusting money incomes in both the private and the public sector. Problems in measuring the cost of owner-occupied housing have contributed to serious deficiences in the accuracy of the CPI's measurement of price level change. A shift to imputed rental value has improved the measure but still ignores a serious conceptual issue. The problem is examined in this article.
Shape Estimation and Object Classification in Images Using Geometric Priors

We propose a method for modeling and incorporating prior shape information for Bayesian shape estimation from images. In this approach, shapes are treated as elements of an infinite-dimensional, non-linear, quotient space. Prior probability models on shape classes are defined and computed intrinsically on the tangent bundle of this shape space. MAP shape estimation is posed as a problem of gradient-based energy minimization where this energy has contributions from the image data and the prior model.
What do college students want? A prioritization of instructional behaviors and characteristics

ABSTRACTGuided by Rhetorical and Relational Goals Theory, this study examined college students’ preferences for effective teaching behaviors and characteristics. Students (n = 209) articulated qualities in their ideal instructor by prioritizing 10 instructional behaviors and characteristics from the rhetorical and relational traditions (assertive, responsive, clear, relevant, competent, trustworthy, caring, immediate, humorous, disclosure). When forced to prioritize, students preferred teacher clarity, competence, and relevance from their instructors, while self-disclosure and immediacy were considered to be luxury behaviors rather than necessities. Lastly, academic entitlement significantly influenced students’ prioritization of effective instructional behaviors.
Time-Preference Tests Fail to Predict Behavior Related to Self-control.

According to theory, choices relating to patience and self-control in domains as varied as drug use and retirement saving are driven by generalized preferences about delayed rewards. Past research has shown that measurements of these time preferences are associated with these choices. Research has also attempted to examine how well such measurements can predict choices, but only with inappropriate analytical methods. Moreover, it is not clear which of the many kinds of time-preference tests that have been proposed are most useful for prediction, and a theoretically important aspect of time preferences, nonstationarity, has been neglected in measurement. In Study 1, we examined three approaches to measuring time preferences with 181 users of Mechanical Turk. Retest reliability, for both immediate and one-month intervals, was decent, as was convergent validity between tests, and association was similar to previous results, but predictive accuracy for 10 criterion variables (e.g., tobacco use) was approximately nil. In Study 2, we examined one other approach to measuring time preferences, and 40 criterion variables, using 7,127 participants in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979. Time preferences were significantly related to criterion variables, but predictive accuracy was again poor. Our findings imply serious problems for using time-preference tests to predict real-world decisions. The results of Study 1 further suggest there is little value in measuring nonstationarity separately from patience.
Essential fatty acid deficiency during parenteral soybean oil lipid minimization

To determine if parenteral lipid minimization in infants results in essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency. Prospective study of infants >30 days old and >34 weeks postmenstrual age receiving parenteral lipid minimization ( 90% of total nutritional intake parenterally in the 14 days before a serum EFA sample. Nonparametric tests were used for statistical analyses with significance at 0.05. Fifteen samples on soybean oil and nine on fish oil were included. Energy and macronutrient intakes and weight gain were similar between groups. Biochemical EFA deficiency occurred in 60% receiving soybean oil but none receiving fish oil (P<0.01). Average daily weight gain was 49% less in EFA deficient infants than EFA sufficient infants (P=0.02). Infants on lipid minimization with parenteral soybean oil, but not fish oil, are at high risk of biochemical EFA deficiency with slower weight gain.
Synthesis and Fabrication of Nanocomposite Fibers of Collagen-Cellulose Nanocrystals by Coelectrocompaction

An electrochemical process has been used to compact cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and access aligned micron-sized CNC fibers. Placing a current across aqueous solutions of carboxylic acid functionalized CNCs (t-CNC–COOH) or carboxylic acid/primary amine functionalized CNCs (t-CNC–COOH-NH2) creates a pH gradient between the electrodes, which results in the migration and concentration of the CNC fibers at their isoelectric point. By matching the carboxylic acid/amine ratio of CNCs and collagen (ca. 30:70 carboxylic acid:amine ratio), it is possible to coelectrocompact both nanofibers and access aligned nanocomposite fibers. t-CNC–COOH-NH2/collagen fibers showed a maximum increase in mechanical properties at 5 wt % of t-CNC–COOH-NH2. Compared to collagen/CNC films which have no alignment in the plane of the films, the tensile properties of the aligned fibers show a significant enhancement in the wet mechanical properties (40 MPa vs 230 MPa) for the 5 wt % of t-CNC–COOH-NH2/collagen films and fiber, respectively.