cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Study of False Positives in the Chemical Identification of Marihuana

Many authors have reported using the Duquenois, Duquenois-Negm, Duquenois-Levine, or modified Duquenois-Levine color tests on various substances with varying results. Some authors [1] apparently consider any resultant color to be a positive response. Recently this diversity of testing methods has been used by defense lawyers in an attempt to confuse judges and juries. Therefore, a search of the literature was conducted for the various substances reported to give a positive response to any of the above methods; all of those that were commercially available were tested with the modified Duquenois-Levine test and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) employed by this laboratory for marihuana identification. In addition, other compounds of similar structures were selected and tested in like manner, as were minor components of Cannabis resin [2]. Another major objective was to determine if a mixture of materials that would lead to a false positive identification of marihuana could be made.
Biological Formation and Consumption of Methane

Methane is an important product formed during the bacterial degradation of organic matter in environments such as flooded soils, wetlands, estuaries, marine and freshwater sediments, and the gastrointestinal tract of animals (Whitman et al., 1992). This chapter describes the conditions that lead to biogenic methane formation in natural environments, the metabolic pathways and interactions that lead to methanogenesis, and the implications of these factors on the biogeochemistry of methane.
Isocitrate lyase from Neurospora crassa. II. Composition, quaternary structure, C-terminus, and active-site modification.

Abstract Several features of the molecular structure of Neurospora crassa isocitrate lyase ( threo - d s -isocitrate glyoxylate lyase, EC 4.1.3.1) were studied. The subunit molecular weight was found to be 67 000 by the procedure of Weber, K. and Osborn, M. (1969) J. Biol. Chem. 244, 4406–4412. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was indicated to be 270 000 by gel filtration. These values suggest that the protein is tetrameric. The enzyme was found to have a histidine in the C-terminal position and a phenylalanine in the penultimate position. The C-terminal amino acids were very important for enzyme activity. 3-Bromopyruvate was found to irreversibly inactive the enzyme with the inactivation showing saturation kinetics. Substrate or products protected against the inactivation. The amino acid content was also determined. The N. crassa isocitrate lyase was, in most characteristics, similar to the Pseudomonas indigofera isocitrate lyase. The overall similarities provide a basis for suggesting that the prokaryotic P. indigofera isocitrate lyase is homologous to the eukaryotic N. crassa isocitrate lyase.
Excitatory amino acid regulation of intracellular Ca2+ in isolated catfish cone horizontal cells measured under voltage- and concentration-clamp conditions

[Ca2+]i was measured using fura-2-loaded isolated catfish horizontal cells in the presence of L-glutamate and the glutamate analogs kainate (KA), quisqualate (QA), and NMDA. Caffeine was used to release Ca2+ from intracellular stores. Cell membrane potential was controlled with a voltage clamp to prevent activation of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in the presence of agonist. All excitatory amino acid agonists produced a rapid and sustained rise in [Ca2+]i with the order of potency being QA greater than Glu greater than KA greater than NMDA. The agonist-induced [Ca2+]i increase was blocked in reduced [Ca2+]o and by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione and 2-amino-5- phosphonopentanoate, which are specific blockers for QA/KA and NMDA receptors, respectively. The metabotropic receptor agonist trans-1- amino-1,3-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid (ACPD; 10–200 microM) had no effect on [Ca2+]i. Hill coefficients from curves fitted to concentration-response data suggested an amplification of the Ca2+ signal that was interpreted as calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) from intracellular Ca2+ stores. Caffeine (10 mM) produced a rapid transient rise in [Ca2+]i, confirming the existence of a Ca(2+)- sensitive store. Following caffeine-induced depletion of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, agonists were still able to produce increases in [Ca2+]i, confirming Ca2+ influx through the agonist-gated channel. The agonist-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was decreased following caffeine- induced depletion, confirming a process of CICR. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that excitatory amino acids can produce direct modulation of [Ca2+]i by influx through the agonist-gated channel and by CICR from intracellular stores.
The Short-and Long-Run Determinants of Unskilled Immigration into US States

This paper uses a gravity model of migration to analyze how income differentials affect the flow of immigrants into U.S. states. We add to existing literature by decomposing income differentials into short- and long-term components and by focusing on newly arrived unskilled immigrants between 2000-2008. Our sample is unique in that 95 percent of our observed immigrant flows equal zero. The trade literature has advocated using the Eaton and Tamura (1994) threshold Tobit model in similar settings, and we are the first to apply the methodology to analyze the determinants of immigration. We find that recent U.S. immigrants positively respond to differences in long-term (or trend) GDP between origin countries and U.S. states. When appropriately accounting for the zero values, we also find that differences in GDP fluctuations significantly affect the flow of unskilled immigrants. In addition, we find that short-run GDP fluctuations pull unskilled immigrants into certain U.S. states, whereas GDP levels push unskilled immigrants out of their countries of origin.
A Service Composition Framework for Decision Making under Uncertainty

Proposed and developed is a service composition framework for decision-making under uncertainty, which is applicable to stochastic optimization of supply chains. Also developed is a library of modeling components which include Scenario, Random Environment, and Stochastic Service. Service models are classes in the Java programming language extended with decision variables, assertions, and business objective constructs. The constructor of a stochastic service formulates a recourse stochastic program and finds the optimal instantiation of real values into the service initial and corrective decision variables leading to the optimal business objective. The optimization is not done by repeated simulation runs, but rather by automatic compilation of the simulation model in Java into a mathematical programming model in AMPL and solving it using an external solver.
Spectrum and statistical entropy of AdS black holes

Popular approaches to quantum gravity describe black hole microstates differently and apply different statistics to count them. Since the relationship between the approaches is not clear, this obscures the role of statistics in calculating the black hole entropy. We address this issue by discussing the entropy of eternal AdS black holes in dimension four and above within the context of a midisuperspace model. We determine the black hole eigenstates and find that they describe the quantization in half integer units of a certain function of the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner (ADM) mass and the cosmological constant. In the limit of a vanishing cosmological constant (the Schwarzschild limit) the quantized function becomes the horizon area and in the limit of a large cosmological constant it approaches the ADM mass of the black holes. We show that in the Schwarzschild limit the area quatization leads to the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy if Boltzmann statistics are employed. In the limit of a large cosmological constant the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy can be recovered only via Bose statistics. The two limits are separated by a first order phase transition, which seems to suggest a shift from ''particlelike'' degrees of freedom at large cosmological constant to geometric degrees of freedom as themore » cosmological constant approaches zero.« less
An Analysis of Statistical Models and Features for Reading Difficulty Prediction

A reading difficulty measure can be described as a function or model that maps a text to a numerical value corresponding to a difficulty or grade level. We describe a measure of readability that uses a combination of lexical features and grammatical features that are derived from subtrees of syntactic parses. We also tested statistical models for nominal, ordinal, and interval scales of measurement. The results indicate that a model for ordinal regression, such as the proportional odds model, using a combination of grammatical and lexical features is most effective at predicting reading difficulty.
The 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol-Hill reaction by a cell-free preparation of Anabaena cylindrica☆

Abstract The DCPIP-Hill reaction was investigated with a cell-free preparation of Anabaena cylindrica . DCPIP was reduced in the light as a zero order reaction and at a rate lower than that observed for ferricyanide reduction. The light reduction was always followed by a delayed reduction in the following dark period. Phenazine methosulfate addition increased the light reduction rate to that observed with ferricyanide and abolished the delayed dark reduction. However, neither the light reduction nor the amount of delayed dark reduction were affected by addition of autooxidizable redox substances such as benzylviologen, flavin mononucleotide, or diquat under 630 mμ illumination. It is proposed that the site of DCPIP reduction by the preparation occurs at some point between the two photochemical systems and via a redox substance(s) present in considerable quantity.
National Medal of Science nominations sought

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is accepting nominations for the 2013 National Medal of Science until 1 April 2013. Congress established the medal in 1959 as a presidential award for individuals “deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical, or engineering sciences.” Later, Congress expanded the recognition to include the social and behavioral sciences. NSF notes, “We are especially interested in identifying women, members of minority groups, and persons with disabilities for consideration.” More information is available at http://www.nsf.gov/od/nms/medal.jsp and http://www.nsf.gov/od/nms/nsf_2013nationalmedalofscience_callfornominations.pdf. For more details, contact the Medal of Science program manager at nms@nsf.gov or 703-292-8040.
Comparison of Three Avionics Systems Based upon Information Availability, Priorities and Accessibility

This study evaluates three avionics systems typically found in small general aviation aircraft. The evaluation included a traditional “steam gauge” airplane, an “intermediate” airplane equipped with traditional mechanical instruments along with a GPS-based moving map display and a technically advanced airplane equipped with a computer-based glass cockpit. We evaluated the avionics using a methodology described by Schvanevelt, Berringer & Leard (2004) which evaluates the availability and accessibility of information based upon the priorities pilots place upon the various information sources. The results show that computer-based avionics provide more information; however most of the additional information is located deep within the avionics' menu structure.
Testing the interplay of structure and meaning in aphasic sentence production

Background: Improving aphasic sentence production is a challenging endeavour, both for the speaker who must recover the linguistic skill and for the therapist who attempts to guide the process. Studies have demonstrated that treatment can often improve the sentence production ability of aphasic speakers, but with limited generalisation to new lexical content and untrained sentence structure. One factor that limits the outcome of production therapy may be the complexity of the relationship between the form and the meaning of a sentence. This is confounded by a limited array of diagnostic approaches for revealing what linguistic resources remain available to the aphasic speaker. Aims: In this study we tested a new format for eliciting sentence production in aphasia. Our goal was to reveal whether or not individual aphasic speakers were sensitive to certain semantic and syntactic elements of sentences that are believed to influence the sentence production process. Methods & Procedures: Using a modified sente...
Is perception-action coupling more malleable in virtual than in real environments?

Whenever we move, we gain experience with how changes in visual flow are related to movement through the environment. One way that researchers have studied these perception-action linkages is through perturbing the normal relationship between perception and action [Kunz et al. 2009; Rieser et al. 1995]. In these studies, people experience an optic flow rate that is manipulated to be significantly faster or slower than their walking rate. Comparison of distance estimates from before and after this recalibration experience typically shows that people who experience faster optic flow undershoot targets at posttest and people who experience slower optic flow overshoot targets at posttest. Here, we examined how experience with mismatched perception and action (i.e., faster or slower optic flow) in a virtual environment affects subsequent distance estimation in the same virtual environment and in a similar real environment. Of particular interest was whether perception-action coupling is more malleable in the virtual environment than in the real environment.
Atmospheres as engines: Heat, work and entropy

The production of entropy and of mechanical work by planetary atmospheres is discussed : some ideas in nonequilibrium thermodynamics are introduced, notably the principle of Maximum Entropy Production.
Evaluation of Intracavitary Chemotherapy Delivery for the Treatment of Mammary Carcinoma

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate tolerability and efficacy of local (intracavitary) delivery of paclitaxel from a gel polymer (poloxamer 407) following marginal (histologically incomplete) resection of mammary carcinoma in a mouse model Methods: In vitro sensitivity to paclitaxel as well as poloxamer-taxol mixture (polotax) was determined for 4 human breast tumor cell lines using the MTS-assay (Promega). Nude mice were then injected with MCF-7/ADR (AdriamycinR resistant) cells. Tumor growth was monitored by imaging of luciferase activity with a CCD camera (IVIS system, Xenogen). Primary tumors were allowed to grow to 3 different size ranges. At the time of primary tumor resection, animals were randomly assigned to treatment groups comparing intracavitary (in the wound) polotax to intravenous paclitaxel. Mice were imaged weekly to evaluate tumor regrowth and metastasis. Results: All cells lines demonstrated sensitivity to paclitaxel and three of the four cell lines demonstrated improved cytotoxicity with polotax compared to drug delivered alone. One of 9 mice treated with polotax had local regrowth (by 60 days) compared to 6 of 9 mice treated with intravenous paclitaxel. One of 9 mice treated with polotax had distant metastasis at 60 days compared to 5 of 8 mice treated with intravenous paclitaxel. These effects were seen with tumors of all sizes. Discussion/Conclusions: Poloxamer delivery of paclitaxel appears to result in improved efficacy compared to paclitaxel alone. Improved local and systemic control of mammary carcinoma is seen following intracavitary poloxamer delivery of paclitaxel compared to paclitaxel alone in this mouse model.
A Comment Concerning Levy's Procedure for Testing a Priori Trends in K Independent Correlations

The present note suggests that Levy's (1976) procedure for testing predicted trends in independent correlations should not produce grossly incorrect inferences wher one is dealing with the sorts of correlations which are ordinarily encountered in empirical research.
A novel mutation in a case of dominant optic atrophy

A 39-year-old healthy woman presented for decreased vision at distance and near for 4 years. She also noted a decrease in her color vision. Her best-corrected visual acuities were 20/70 in each eye. Her visual fields were abnormal, and she had bilateral sluggish pupils, impaired color vision, and optic disc pallor. The magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, heavy metal screen, autoimmune work-up, B12, B6, folate, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rapid plasma reagin, and Lyme titer were all normal. Optical coherence tomography of the macula and electroretinogram were normal; the visual evoked potential was unrecordable in both eyes. She denied a family history of similar ocular issues, and genotyping of the OPA1 gene revealed a novel previously unreported mutation at IVS12+10T >C.
Atmospheric Correction and Vicarious Calibration of Oceansat-1 Ocean Color Monitor (OCM) Data in Coastal Case 2 Waters

The Ocean Color Monitor (OCM) provides radiance measurements in eight visible and near-infrared bands, similar to the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) but with higher spatial resolution. For small- to moderate-sized coastal lakes and estuaries, where the 1 × 1 km spatial resolution of SeaWiFS is inadequate, the OCM provides a good alternative because of its higher spatial resolution (240 × 360 m) and an exact repeat coverage of every two days. This paper describes a detailed step-by-step atmospheric correction procedure for OCM data applicable to coastal Case 2 waters. This development was necessary as accurate results could not be obtained for our Case 2 water study area in coastal Louisiana with OCM data by using existing atmospheric correction software packages. In addition, since OCM-retrieved radiances were abnormally low in the blue wavelength region, a vicarious calibration procedure was developed. The results of our combined vicarious calibration and atmospheric correction procedure for OCM data were compared with the results from the SeaWiFS Data Analysis System (SeaDAS) software package outputs for SeaWiFS and OCM data. For Case 1 waters, our results matched closely with SeaDAS results. For Case 2 waters, our results demonstrated closure with in situ radiometric measurements, while SeaDAS produced negative normalized water leaving radiance (nLw) and remote sensing reflectance (Rrs). In summary, our procedure
Conductance and Coulomb blockade in a multi-mode quantum wire

Abstract Transport properties of correlated electron system in a quantum wire are considered. The problems of linear conductance and tunneling into the wire are solved for an arbitrary number of transverse electron modes. The zero-frequency linear conductance of an infinite homogeneous wire is expressed in terms of characteristics of collective sound-like excitations (plasmons) propagating along it. We demonstrate significant deviation of the conductance thus determined from the quantized values of ballistic conductance of non-interacting electrons. Tunneling into a wire is suprresed at low bias (Coulomb blockade). It is shown that at arbitrary number of modes the quantum fluctuations of charge lift the Coulomb blockade and lead to a power-law asymptotics of the tunnel density of states at low energies. Corresponding exponent is related to the spectrum of plasmons. The general result we obtain for it allows to find the correct extrapolation between the two previously known limiting cases of single-mode and three-dimensional wires.
Prioritisation of Mexican lowland rain forests for conservation using modelled geographic distributions of birds

Summary Mexican humid lowland tropical forests have seen extensive perturbation and deforestation in recent decades, and, as such, effective conservation planning is crucial. We developed ecological niche models and predicted geographic distributions for 89 species of birds ecologically restricted to Mexican rain forests, and used heuristic complementarity algorithms to identify priority areas for conservation. Our results focused on a single contiguous region of northern Chiapas as a key area – all species except three were predicted to co-occur in this area, which is made up of three highly complementary sub-areas. The relationship between this area and existing protected areas was explored, and concrete recommendations made for modification of existing protected areas.
Malignant round cell tumor of bone with EWSR1-NFATC2 gene fusion

Gene rearrangements involving the Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 (EWSR1) gene are seen in a broad range of sarcomas and some nonmesenchymal neoplasms. Ewing sarcoma is molecularly defined by a fusion of the EWSR1 gene (or rarely the related FUS gene) to a member of the E26 transformation-specific (ETS) family of transcription factors, frequently the EWSR1-FLI1 fusion. More recently, EWSR1 gene fusion to non-ETS family members, including the nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 2 (NFATC2) gene, has been reported in a histological variant of Ewing sarcoma. Here, we report a malignant round cell tumor of bone with an EWSR1-NFATC2 fusion gene. This report builds upon the unusual morphological and clinical presentation of bone neoplasms containing an EWSR1-NFATC2 fusion gene.
A transient embryonic dopamine receptor inhibits growth cone motility and neurite outgrowth in a subset of avian retina neurons

To investigate the possible developmental significance of a transient dopamine receptor in the avian central nervous system, we examined the effects of dopamine on the morphology and motility of cultured retina neurons. Neurite arborization was significantly reduced by chronic dopamine stimulation. Using continuous video microscope monitoring, we observed that a subset of neurons responded to short-term dopamine with decreased filopodial activity and retracted neurites. The effects of dopamine could be blocked or reversed by haloperidol or SCH23390 and forskolin produced a response similar to dopamine, indicating the morphological changes were mediated by D1-receptor stimulation of adenylate cyclase.
Hand-assisted laparoscopic colon and rectal cancer surgery: feasibility, short-term, and oncological outcomes.

Background Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) is an established alternative to laparoscopic-assisted surgery, but limited data exist regarding its applicability for colorectal cancer (CRC). We report short-term outcomes in a large series of CRC patients who underwent HALS between 2004 and 2009. Methods A prospectively maintained database was used to identify all CRC patients. Patients with colon cancer (CC) and rectal cancer (RC) were considered separately. Three patients with synchronous CC and RC were excluded. Data are frequency (%) or median (interquartile range). Results Between 2004 and 2009, 323 CRC patients underwent a HALS procedure. Median age was 65 (53–73) years, 39% were women, and the median BMI was 27 (24–31) kg/m 2 . Diagnoses included 194 colon cancers (CC, 56.7% stage I/II), 129 rectal cancers (RC, 62.7% stage I/II). Operative time was less for CC than RC (157 vs 204 min; P P = .38); lymph nodes retrieval was also similar (18 vs 18; P = .45). Overall duration of stay was 5 (4–7) days. At 30 days, postoperative complications occurred in similar proportions of CC and RC patients (28% vs 30%; P = .72). There was 1 mortality (0.5%). For the subgroup with 3 year follow-up, (73 CC and 45 RC patients), the overall survival was 80% and 88% (CC and RC, respectively), and disease free survival 79% and 85%, respectively. Conclusion Colon and rectal cancer can be resected safely using HALS techniques. Conversion rates are low, complication rates expected, durations of hospital stay shorter, and the number of lymph nodes retrieved is high.
Overview of the Current Status of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors in Lung Cancer

Although chemotherapy remains the standard of care for lung cancer, new less toxic drugs are urgently needed. Targeted agents represent a new era in cancer therapy, and non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is at the forefront of many development programs. An exciting target is the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, ie, HER1), and agents targeting this receptor, including gefitinib, cetuximab, and erlotinib (OSI-774; Tarceva™), are being investigated. These agents have antitumor activity and are less toxic than most therapies. Based on phase II data, gefitinib received US approval for third-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC. Cetuximab is licensed in the United States for patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma. However, erlotinib, recently approved in the United States for second- and third-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC, is the only agent of this class to improve survival as monotherapy in patients with advanced, refractory NSCLC, as shown in a phase III placebo-controlled trial. Phase III trials of erlotinib and gefitinib combined with chemotherapy were disappointing, which could be the result of drug scheduling, chemotherapy combinations, or other factors. Patient characteristics may also affect outcome, and research is ongoing to identify predictive markers of response to enable patient selection and improve outcome. Recently identified mutations within the HER1/EGFR tyrosine kinase (TK) domain may provide insight into why some patients respond rapidly to HER1/EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Surrogate markers of efficacy are also being investigated, including rash, which could be used to monitor and optimize antitumor activity. Therefore, although more work is required, data indicate that HER1/EGFR inhibitors will play an important role in treating patients with NSCLC.
Enhancement of a Catalysis-Based Fluorometric Detection Method for Palladium through Rational Fine-Tuning of the Palladium Species

Metal analyses in chemistry, materials science, and environmental science are currently performed using techniques such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence, which require expensive instrumentation and are not high-throughput. Although fluorescent probes are known for their sensitivity and specificity and are amenable to high-throughput analyses, the robustness of such analyses are typically limited due to their binding-based nature. Herein we report an improvement of our previously reported catalysis-based fluorescent probe for palladium by rationally fine-tuning the redox and coordination chemistries of the palladium species involved in the O-deallylation reaction. This method now rivals current analytical methods with respect to sensitivity. We demonstrate palladium detection in various active pharmaceutical ingredients, spent catalytic converter materials, and a metal scavenger resin. Thus, fluorescent methods may have the potential for substituting the current instrument-intensive techniques.
Relativistic ring diagram nuclear matter calculations

A relativistic extension of the particle-hole-hole ring-diagram many-body formalism is developed by using the Dirac equation for single-particle motion in the medium. Applying this new formalism, calculations are performed for nuclear matter. The results show that the saturation density is improved and the equation of state becomes softer as compared to corresponding Dirac-Brueckner-Hartree-Fock calculations. Using the Bonn A potential, nuclear matter is predicted to saturate at an energy per nucleon of [minus]15.30 MeV and a density equivalent to a Fermi momentum of 1.38 fm[sup [minus]1], in excellent agreement with empirical information. The compression modulus is 152 MeV at the saturation point.
What should we expect from psychotherapy

In addressing the very general question of what we should expect from psychotherapy, this article begins by discussing what constitutes relevant evidence on which to base the efficacy and effectiveness of psychotherapy. In this context, an important distinction is made between empirically supported treatments and evidence-based practice. Although there is evidence that psychotherapy does indeed work, there are also findings that there are times when our patients are harmed by our interventions. It is noted that the therapeutic alliance plays an extremely important role in the change process, and that ruptures in the alliance can contribute to our therapeutic failures. In pointing to directions for the future, modifications of how we investigate the outcome of treatment, as well as how to close the gap between research and practice, are offered.
Fortifying bread with a mixture of wheat fiber and psyllium husk fiber plus three antioxidants

ABSTRACT A 7:3 (w/w) mixture of wheat fiber (WF) and psyllium husk fiber (PHF) was substituted for 10wt% of flour on a 14% mb, and the protein in the blend was restored to 10.3% by incorporating vital wheat gluten. After adding 0.5% sodium stearoyl 2-lactylate, the blend (100 g) was fortified with a combination of fat-coated ascorbic acid (AsA), proteinencased (PE) β-carotene, and cold-water-dispersible (CWD) all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate (ToAc) at levels of 72, 5.6, and 115 mg, respectively, of active material. Adding the fiber ingredients to the pup loaf formula increased water absorption 25% and mixing time 50% and imparted stickiness to the dough. The fiber and antioxidant bread showed a 10% reduction in loaf volume and a somewhat inferior crumb grain with an off-color caused by small, black specks on a dark gray background. The crumb of the fiber and antioxidant bread remained much softer than control bread during one to seven days of storage at room temperature. Caramel coloring masked the off-color....
Clinical crown lengthening by vertical root movement

Abstract In selected patients, clinical crown lengthening by vertical root movement can be accomplished by a simple appliance without any sacrifice of periodontal support. A clinical crown so created can be restored to adequate function and arch integrity without compromising adjacent teeth.
Structure-sensitive adaptive contrast enhancement methods and their evaluation

Abstract Contrast enhancement is a fundamental step in the display of digital images whose goal is to improve human performance of visual tasks. The end result of display is the perceived brightness occurring in the human observer. Methods which incorporate local image structure in a way similar to human vision would therefore seem to have an advantage. A range of locally adaptive contrast enhancement methods are described, including a number of recently developed structure-sensitie techniques. Countering the difficulty that such methods are typically evaluated only subjectively, objective approaches for comparing the effectiveness of contrast enhancement methods are discussed.
An innate view of γδ T cells

Abstract Findings made during the past few years demonstrate that γδ T cells apparently share with macrophages a propensity to recognize nonpeptidic molecules of the kind most commonly associated with microorganisms and stressed cells. In general, recognition of these antigens by γδ T cells involves the antigen receptor but does not require antigen presenting cells to express MHC gene products or to have a functional antigen processing machinery. Other recent advances continue to support the notion that γδ T cells can perform specialized functions related to the repair of tissue damage.
The Effect of Coulomb Screening and Velocity Distribution on Fusion Cross-Sections and Rates in Physical Processes

The Coulomb screening effect, in conjunction with a particle velocity distribution, is shown to greatly enhance the cross-sections and reaction rates for deuteron-deuteron (D-D) and proton-deuteron (p-D) fusion for kinetic energies E≲50 eV in the center of mass (CM) frame. This may help to explain the observed fusion reaction rates from recent low-energy experiments, and indicates that p-D fusion may actually serve as an important source of internal energy for planetary bodies.
Mifepristone-induced cervical ripening: structural, biomechanical, and molecular events.

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the structural, biomechanical, and biochemical effects of mifepristone-induced progesterone withdrawal on the rat cervix to identify possible mechanisms by which mifepristone incites cervical ripening. Study design After the administration of mifepristone, cervical tensile strength was determined by the cervical creep method. With polarized light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, collagen organization and microstructure were quantified. Matrix metalloproteinase expression was assessed by Western Blot and Real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. Results Mifepristone induced a decrease in cervical tensile strength at mid gestation that was associated with a decrease in collagen organization. Additionally, mifepristone led to collagen fragmentation with a significant decrease in fibril length and diameter, although fibril bundling remained unaffected. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression increased after the administration of mifepristone. Conclusion Mifepristone-induced cervical ripening is associated with collagen degradation, and the collagenase activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 may play a role in this process.
How does speed change affect induced motion

The nature of a recently reported effect of speed on induced motion was investigated. Wallach and Becklen (1983) had found that the extent of induced motion decreases linearly with increases in presentation speed. We found that this speed effect occurred only in induced motion and not under conditions in which configurational change, which is responsible for induced motion, operated veridically. It took place whether configurational change was in conflict with ocular pursuit or with image displacement, and seemed to consist in diminished effectiveness of configurational change when it competed with one of these subject-relative stimuli.
Optimization Letters Best Paper Award

It is our pleasure to announce an annual OPTL Best Paper Award, to be given to a manuscript published in Optimization Letters during the corresponding calendar year. The Award will carry a 1,000 USD prize. This year, a total of nine papers published in OPTL during the year of 2013 were nominated for the Award and considered by the Best Paper Award Committee, which included OPTL Editorial Board members Dr. Anna Nagurney, Dr. Immanuel Bomze, and the Founding Editor-In-Chief, Dr. Panos Pardalos. Based on the recommendations of the Committee, the following paper:
Acquisitions - The Wonders of Automation

During the 1980s, many libraries chose to automate their acquisitions department for a variety of reasons. These reasons are noted and applied to a specific academic library's attempts to optimize acquisitions work. The automation planning, implementation, and evaluation processes are examined, specifically as they relate to the implementation of the OCLC Online Acquisitions Sub-system. The resulting organizational changes are discussed, as well as workflow adjustments from preorder searching and ordering to receiving and fund accounting. The author points out certain advantages and disadvantages of the OCLC Acquisitions Subsystem, and explains how the system of choice addressed the objectives of automating acquisitions.
An approach to compute similarity between engineering changes

Detailed evaluation of a proposed Engineering Change (EC) or its effects is a time-consuming process requiring considerable user expertise. Therefore, enterprises plan detailed evaluation of only those EC effects that might have a significant impact. Since similar ECs are likely to have similar effects and impacts, past EC knowledge can be utilized for determining whether the proposed EC effect has significant impact. Utilizing past ECs to predict the impact of proposed EC effect requires an approach for computing similarity between ECs. This paper presents an approach to compute similarity between ECs that are defined by a set of disparate attributes. Since the available information is probabilistic, the fundamental measures of information are utilized for defining measures to compute similarity between two attribute values or ECs. The semantics associated with attribute values are identified and utilized to compute similarity between attribute values. The similarities between attribute values are aggregated to compute the similarity between ECs in the context of overall goal. A case-study is presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach.
Seasonal changes in pyloric caecum and gonad indices during the annual reproductive cycle in the seastar Asterias forbesi

Seasonal changes in pyloric caecum and gonad indices were studied in a population of the seastar Asterias forbesi (Desor) from East Rockaway Inlet (Long Island, New York) during two annual cycles (1980/81, 1982/83). Pyloric caeca indices increased during fall, reached a maximum about April, and declined sharply to a minimum in mid-summer. Gonad indices increased during fall and winter and reached a maximum about May. Judging from gonad size analysis, spawning occurred in late June to early July, at bottom temperatures of 16° to 18°C. There was no long-term inverse relationship between pyloric caecum and gonad indices. Since nutrients and energy ingested during the important fall feeding period are utilized simultaneously for body growth and gonad development, it is unnecessary for the pyloric caeca to store nutrients over long periods as occurs in A. rubens and many other species. The specific caeca-gonad relationship is probably an adaptation to the extreme seasonal thermal fluctuations of the NW Atlantic, which constrain the feeding activity of A. forbesi and limit the possibility of long-term storage. In this population, most individuals grow rapidly in their first year (including first two summers) and spawn in their third summer. Few seastars survive to spawn again in their fourth summer. However, gametogenesis may take place in some individuals in their second summer. Year-to-year variability in mean size at spawning may reflect temporal variation in environmental conditions (weather, food availability) at this site.
Imbalances and Inequities: The Structure of Inquiry and Its Place in Rhetorical Studies

Inquiry’s place in rhetorical studies has long been contentious. Critics argue that academic professionalism and the rise of criticism and theory have diminished rhetoric as a pragmatic art. The recent trend in higher education toward greater restrictions on academic inquiry poses new problems for rhetorical studies, particularly where those restrictions exacerbate existing educational inequities. In the effort to address those inequities, a distinction needs to be made between old concerns with inquiry and the new issues any reorganization of inquiry will present. The generic support for inquiry that universities provide benefits rhetorical studies by lending structure to inquiry processes fraught with uncertainty and marked by impermanency. That support allows for the kind of careful engagement with possibility that rhetorical invention requires. The 2009 documentary film Naturally Obsessed: The Making of a Scientist illustrates the value to inquiry of professional conventions and other forms of generic...
The socio-cultural, economic and political impediments to pain care in the twenty-first century

Abstract Our society is on the cusp of a paradigmatic change regarding pain care issues and perspectives. Two competing health care paradigms currently exist, the traditional doctor centered paradigm and the emerging patient centered paradigm. The conflict between these two paradigms has social, political and economic consequences. These consequences lead to the under treatment of pain in our society. Awareness of these problems and attempts to foster true cultural education concerning pain care issues could facilitate movement toward the new paradigm.
Autonomous Control, Operation, and Protection of the FREEDM System

Abstract This paper presents the concept of autonomous control, operation, and protection for a future distribution system named FREEDM system. The system architecture is presented first. Targeted as a grid suitable for large scale integration of distributed resources, the FREEDM System uses solid state transformers to interface the medium voltage distribution system to residential AC and DC microgrids. Innovative autonomous control, operation and protection are proposed and discussed in this paper. Simulation and experimental results are presented to verify the main concept.
The independence number of graphs in terms of degrees

Abstract Murphy reviewed lower bounds on the independence number of graphs in terms of degrees, and then he presented a new bound which was at least as strong as the others. We present a new lower bound, as well as a strengthening of Murphy's bound.
Recoil-induced resonances in the high-gain regime

An optically dense, anisotropic cloud of ultracold atoms is used to observe recoil-induced resonances in the high-gain regime. Optical gains as large as 30 are realized, limited primarily by pump depletion. We demonstrate a light-amplified all-optical switch based on this effect. The switch exhibits contrasts exceeding 35 dB.
Female preference for male coloration may explain behavioural isolation in sympatric darters

Animal colour patterns are among the most striking examples of biological diversity. Elaborate coloration is thought to play a role in mate choice within populations and to pose a barrier to interbreeding between species, with individuals preferring the coloration of conspecifics. Ideally, the importance of coloration as a reproductive barrier would be tested by holding all traits constant and manipulating only colour to test its effect. In butterflies, researchers use paper models to manipulate female colour patterns and show strong male preference for conspecific female coloration. In African cichlids and poison frogs, researchers manipulate the light environment to test the importance of male colour in female preference for conspecifics. Here we use motorized models to test whether females in a pair of sexually dimorphic fish species (genus: Etheostoma ) prefer conspecific over heterospecific male coloration. By isolating and manipulating specific components of male coloration, we show that females of both species significantly prefer conspecific male colour (red versus green) and pattern (stripe versus bars). These results provide strong evidence that female preference for conspecific male nuptial coloration may play a critical role in behavioural isolation.
Lipid peroxidation as a mechanism of alcoholic liver injury: Role of iron mobilization and microsomal induction

Lipid peroxidation has been invoked as a mechanism of alcoholic liver injury but its role has been controversial and the mechanism by which it occurs is unclear. Catalytic iron is known to play an important role in cellular injury and is produced during mobilization of ferritin iron. In vivo administration of a large acute dose of ethanol (5 g/kg) which produces hepatic lipid peroxidation in chow-fed rats resulted in mobilization of non-heme iron. The generation of NADH from alcohol metabolism via ADH or superoxide from acetaldehyde-xanthine oxidase mobilized iron from horse spleen ferritin in vitro. Chronic feeding of alcohol as 36% of energy for 6 weeks does not itself produce peroxidation in the rat but potentiates acute effects of ethanol. It produced microsomal induction which enhanced iron-stimulated lipid peroxidation and increased hepatic non-heme iron. Carbon monoxide increased rather than decreased accumulation of microsomal peroxidation products in vitro suggesting that cytochrome P-450 reductase mediates peroxidation but cytochrome P-450 may metabolize products. Incubation at lowered oxygen tensions equivalent to those observed in the perivenular zone (pO2 = 24 mmHg) enhanced in vitro iron mobilization but decreased peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation and its stimulation by iron mobilization and microsomal induction may be an important contributory mechanism of alcohol-induced liver injury.
The Elastic Field for Spherical Hertzian Contact of Isotropic Bodies Revisited: Some Alternative Expressions

Closed-form expressions in terms of elementary functions are derived for the elastic field resulting from spherical Hertz contact of isotropic bodies. Shear traction is also included using a Coulomb friction law; thus the shear stress in the contact region is equal to the contact pressure multiplied by a friction coefficient. This paper provides alternative expressions to those recently given by Hamilton (1983) and Sackfield and Hills (1983a). Two methods are outlined for obtaining the present solution and the complete solution for displacements and stresses are given for both normal and tangential loading in terms of just two distorted length parameters
A Comprehensive Creep Model for Advanced 9-10% Cr Ferritic Steels☆

Abstract This article presents the findings of recent studies on creep of advanced 9-10% Cr ferritic steels. It is shown that the obstacles that fundamentally control creep in these steels are nano-scale MX carbonitrides whose time dependent coarsening leads to weakening. The second crucial factor in creep strengthening is the subgrain structure that results from martensitic transformation. The boundaries in this structure produce a back-stress through an anelastic bowing mechanism. A quantitative model that takes these microstructural features into account is shown to be able to predict the long-term creep behavior of ferritic steels.
Processing real-time stereo video for an autonomous robot using disparity maps and sensor fusion

The Bearcat "Cub" Robot is an interactive, intelligent, Autonomous Guided Vehicle (AGV) designed to serve in unstructured environments. Recent advances in computer stereo vision algorithms that produce quality disparity and the availability of low cost high speed camera systems have simplified many of tasks associated with robot navigation and obstacle avoidance using stereo vision. Leveraging these benefits, this paper describes a novel method for autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance currently being implemented on the UC Bearcat Robot. The core of this approach is the synthesis of multiple sources of real-time data including stereo image disparity maps, tilt sensor data, and LADAR data with standard contour, edge, color, and line detection methods to provide robust and intelligent obstacle avoidance. An algorithm is presented with Matlab code to process the disparity maps to rapidly produce obstacle size and location information in a simple format, and features cancellation of noise and correction for pitch and roll. The vision and control computers are clustered with the Parallel Virtual Machine (PVM) software. The significance of this work is in presenting the methods needed for real time navigation and obstacle avoidance for intelligent autonomous robots.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The crystal and molecular structure of tetrakis(thiourea)platinum(II)chloride

Abstract The crystal structure of tetrakis(thiourea)platinum(II) chloride has been determined from 1991 counter measured intensities collected at room temperature. The structure was solved by heavy atom methods and refined by full matrix least-squares including anisotropic temperature factors and anomalous dispersion corrections for Pt, Cl and S to a final R of 0.054. The structure may be described in terms of Pt[SC(NH2)2]42+ ions and Cl− anions with van der Waals interactions and NH - - - Cl hydrogen bonding between ions. The shortest PtCl distance is 3.773(7) A. The PtS4 is almost square planar with an 0.1 A displacement of S atoms from the least-squares plane. The entire cation has approximately D2 symmetry. The average PtS distance is 2.313 A (all within 2 esd's, ± 0.006 A). One halogen seems to be involved in five hydrogen bonds (NH---Cl, 3.5 A or less) and the other in three hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen bonding scheme seems to be the reason for the structural differences from the analogous Pd compounds.