cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trauma‐focused cognitive‐behavioral therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in three‐through six year‐old children: a randomized clinical trial

Background: The evidence base for trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in youth is compelling, but the number of controlled trials in very young children is few and limited to sexual abuse victims. These considerations plus theoretical limitations have led to doubts about the feasibility of TF-CBT techniques in very young children. This study examined the efficacy and feasibility of TF-CBT for treating PTSD in three- through six-year-old children exposed to heterogeneous types of traumas. Methods: Procedures and feasibilities of the protocol were refined in Phase 1 with 11 children. Then 64 children were randomly assigned in Phase 2 to either 12-session manualized TF-CBT or 12-weeks wait list. Results: In the randomized design the intervention group improved significantly more on symptoms of PTSD, but not on depression, separation anxiety, oppositional defiant, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders. After the waiting period, all participants were offered treatment. Effect sizes were large for PTSD, depression, separation anxiety, and oppositional defiant disorders, but not attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. At six-month follow-up, the effect size increased for PTSD, while remaining fairly constant for the comorbid disorders. The frequencies with which children were able to understand and complete specific techniques documented the feasibility of TF-CBT across this age span. The majority were minority race (Black/African-American) and without a biological father in the home, in contrast to most prior efficacy studies. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that TF-CBT is feasible and more effective than a wait list condition for PTSD symptoms, and the effect appears lasting. There may also be benefits for reducing symptoms of several comorbid disorders. Multiple factors may explain the unusually high attrition, and future studies ought to oversample on these demographics to better understand this understudied population.
Copper anode corrosion affects power generation in microbial fuel cells

Non-corrosive, carbon-based materials are usually used as anodes in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In some cases, however, metals have been used that can corrode (e.g. copper) or that are corrosion resistant (e.g. stainless steel, SS). Corrosion could increase current through galvanic (abiotic) current production or by increasing exposed surface area, or decrease current due to generation of toxic products from corrosion. In order to directly examine the effects of using corrodible metal anodes, MFCs with Cu were compared with reactors using SS and carbon cloth anodes. MFCs with Cu anodes initially showed high current generation similar to abiotic controls, but subsequently they produced little power (2 mW m-2). Higher power was produced with microbes using SS (12 mW m-2) or carbon cloth (880 mW m-2) anodes, with no power generated by abiotic controls. These results demonstrate that copper is an unsuitable anode material, due to corrosion and likely copper toxicity to microorganisms. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Age-dependent (+)MDMA-mediated neurotoxicity in mice.

Abstract In the present study the effects of a neurotoxic regimen of (+)-MDMA (20 mg/kg × 4, s.c.) in 4- and 10-week-old C57Bl/6J mice during treatment and 7 days post-treatment were examined. Rectal temperatures monitored between (+)-MDMA injections (30 min post-injection/2 h intervals) revealed hyperthermic responses in both age groups, with the magnitude of the response significantly greater in older mice. Seven days post-treatment, immunoblot analyses of the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) revealed significant reductions (−37 and −58%, respectively) in the older animals, but not in the younger group, compared to age-matched controls. Dopamine transporter (DAT) expression was significantly reduced in both 4- and 10-week-old animals (26 and 69.7%, respectively). (+)-MDMA-treated animals also exhibited significantly lower levels of striatal dopamine, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid than controls, again the effect being more pronounced in the older animals. Although both age groups showed evidence of (+)-MDMA-induced toxicity, our data revealed that older animals exhibited a greater hyperthermic response to (+)-MDMA and were also are more susceptible to subsequent dopaminergic damage than the younger animals
Impurity-Assisted Inelastic Tunneling: Many-Electron Theory

The one-electron theory of impurity-assisted tunneling is extended to a many-electron system. A formal derivation of the wave function through second order in the interaction potential is given for an arbitrary barrier potential and an arbitrary interaction potential. Application to a one-dimensional square-barrier model with energy-loss mechanisms confined to the barrier region is made. The magnitude of the inelastic current resulting from the excitation of a molecular impurity is in agreement with the results of the transfer-Hamiltonian model if the appropriate current-carrying wave functions are used to calculate the transfer matrix elements. Additional second-order terms which give rise to logarithmic singularities and step-function decreases in the barrier-penetration factor are found for interaction potentials which are large near the boundaries of the tunnel barrier. Numerical calculations show that, for a molecular impurity at the boundary, the line shapes in $\frac{{d}^{2}I}{d{V}^{2}}$ versus $V$ are fundamentally different from those for an impurity inside the barrier by more than \ensuremath{\sim} \textonehalf{} K.
Auxotrophic heterozygosities and the ploidy of Candida parapsilosis and Candida krusei

Evidence is presented that the type strain of Candida parapsilosis, ATCC 22019, is heterozygous MET/met and that Candida krusei Y 10930 is heterozygous URA/ura. This URA gene determines orotidine-5′-phosphate decarboxylase activity. Because each of these strains is demonstrably disomic for at least one chromosome, they are not haploid but must be diploid or aneuploid.
Renilla luciferase- Aequorea GFP (Ruc-GFP) fusion protein, a novel dual reporter for real-time imaging of gene expression in cell cultures and in live animals.

Light-emitting reporter proteins play an increasing role in the study of gene expression in vitro and in vivo. Here we present a ruc-gfp fusion gene construct generated by fusing a cDNA for Renilla luciferase (ruc) in-frame with a cDNA encoding the 'humanized' GFP (gfp) from Aequorea. A plasmid containing the fusion gene construct was successfully transformed into, and expressed in, mammalian cells. The transformed cells exhibited both Renilla luciferase activity in the presence of coelenterazine and GFP fluorescence upon excitation with UV light. Spectrofluorometry of cells containing the Ruc-GFP fusion protein, in the absence of wavelengths capable of exciting GFP fluorescence but in the presence of the luciferase substrate, coelenterazine, showed an emission spectrum with two peaks at 475 nm and 508 nm. These two peaks correspond to the emission maximum of Renilla luciferase at 475 nm and that of GFP at 508 nm. The peak at 508 nm generated in the presence of coelenterazine alone (without UV excitation) is the result of intramolecular energy transfer from Renilla luciferase to Aequorea GFP. Southern analysis of genomic DNA purified from transformed Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to metaphase chromosomes confirmed the integration of the ruc-gfp fusion gene on a single chromosome. The bifunctional Ruc-GFP fusion protein allows the detection of gene expression at the single-cell level based on green fluorescence, and in a group of cells based on luminescence emission. Furthermore, animal experiments revealed that light emission from the Ruc-GFP fusion protein can be detected externally in the organs or tissues of live animals bearing the gene construct.
Lifestyle high-risk behaviors and demographics may predict the level of participation in sun-protection behaviors and skin cancer primary prevention in the United States: results of the 1998 National Health Interview Survey

BACKGROUND Sun and ultraviolet radiation exposure are major risk factors for skin cancer, and sun-protective behaviors and skin cancer examinations are means of primary prevention of skin cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent to which demographics and other high-risk behaviors may predict the reported level of participation in sun-protection behaviors and skin cancer primary prevention in the United States adult population. METHODS Data on reported sun-protection behaviors and skin cancer examinations were obtained from surveys completed by adults in the 1998 National Health Interview Survey. Univariate and multivariate data analyses were performed using specialized statistics software. RESULTS For the United States adult population surveyed (n = 32,440), only 21% of those surveyed indicated that they had ever had a skin cancer examination, and, of those, only 45% indicated that the skin cancer examination was within the past year. For sun-protective behaviors, only 23%, 27%, and 30% of those surveyed reported that they were very likely to wear protective clothing, stay in the shade, and use sunscreen, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The likelihood of participation in sun-protective behaviors and skin cancer prevention was related to a number of demographic characteristics and high-risk behaviors, including currently smoking cigarettes and wearing seatbelts. Cancer 2001;92:1315–24. © 2001 American Cancer Society.
Asymmetric Sb dimers on the 1 ML Ge-terminated Si(100) surface

Abstract MeV transmission ion channeling has been used to investigate the structure of 0.95 ML of Sb deposited on 0.81 ML of Ge grown pseudomorphically on the Si(100) surface. It is shown that the Sb overlayer is composed of asymmetric dimers, in contrast to the symmetric dimers reported in the literature on the Sb-terminated clean Si(100) surface. It is further shown that the Ge reconstruction is lifted upon Sb deposition and Ge then occupies a near-bulk site. The characterization of the underlying Ge layer provides additional and convincing evidence for Sb dimer asymmetry.
Inflammatory responses to orthopaedic biomaterials in the murine air pouch

An in vivo model of the inflammatory response to orthopaedic biomaterials was used to examine cellular and cytokine responses to polymer particles of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and metal particles of cobalt-chrome (Co-Cr) and titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V). Responses were determined separately and in combinations, to examine interactions between different forms of biomaterials. Murine air pouches were injected with particle suspensions, and reactions evaluated using histological, immunological, and molecular techniques. All particulate biomaterials caused significant increases in membrane thickness compared with control (saline) air pouches, with the highest reaction seen in response to Ti-6Al-4V particles. A synergistic increase in membrane thickness was observed when PMMA was combined with UHMWPE, suggesting that multiple biomaterial stimuli markedly increase the inflammatory reaction. Cellular analysis indicated that all particles increased the absolute number and the percentage of macrophages in the membrane over the control level, with the most pronounced increase due to individual biomaterial occurring with UHMWPE particles. Cytokine analysis revealed that biomaterials provoked a strong IL-1 response. Ti-6Al-4V stimulated the highest IL-6 gene transcription and the lowest IL-1 gene transcription. The data suggest that synergism in the inflammatory response to biomaterials may be important in adverse responses to orthopaedic wear debris.
WE‐G‐BRD‐03: Development of a Real‐Time Optical Tracking Goggle System (OTGS) for Intracranial Stereotactic Radiotherapy

Purpose: Optical tracking systems (OTS) are an acceptable alternative to frame-based stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT). However, current surface-based OTS lack the ability to target exclusively rigid/bony anatomical features. We propose a novel marker-based optical tracking goggle system (OTGS) that provides real-time guidance based on the nose/facial bony anatomy. This ongoing study involves the development and characterization of the OTGS for clinical implementation in intracranial stereotactic radiotherapy. Methods: The OTGS consists of eye goggles, a custom thermoplastic nosepiece, and 6 infrared markers pre-attached to the goggles. A phantom and four healthy volunteers were used to evaluate the calibration/registration accuracy, intrafraction accuracy, interfraction reproducibility, and end-to-end accuracy of the OTGS. The performance of the OTGS was compared with that of the frameless SonArray system and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for volunteer and phantom cases, respectively. The performance of the OTGS with commercial immobilization devices and under treatment conditions (i.e., couch rotation and translation range) was also evaluated. Results: The difference in the calibration/registration accuracy of 24 translations or rotation combinations between CBCT and in-house OTS software was within 0.5 mm/0.4°. The mean intrafraction and interfraction accuracy among the volunteers was 0.004+/−0.4mm with −0.09+/−0.5° (n=6,170) and −0.26+/−0.8mm with 0.15+/0.8° (n=11), respectively. The difference inmore » end-to-end accuracy between the OTGS and CBCT was within 1.3 mm/1.1°. The predetermined marker pattern (1) minimized marker occlusions, (2) allowed for continuous tracking for couch angles +/− 90°, (3) and eliminated individual marker misplacement. The device was feasible with open and half masks for immobilization. Conclusion: Bony anatomical localization eliminated potential errors due to facial hair changes and/or soft tissue deformation. The OTGS offers a workflow-friendly, patient-friendly solution for intracranial SRT, while being comparable to other real-time options. The minimum rotation uncertainty of the OTGS can be combined with CBCT to ensure maximum accuracy for high-precision SRT.« less
“But it's not that easy”: negotiating (trans)gender expressions in leisure spaces

Leisure research has a long history of exploring relationships between leisure and gender, typically using feminist approaches. However, the vast majority of this literature depends on dichotomous distinctions of male and female with little regard to more diverse expressions and embodiments of gender. In this article, authors blend narratives of self to situate their subjectivities with those created with “Amy,” a self-identified transgender woman, to explore more diverse notions of gender, leisure space and social justice. Five themes were identified: creating safe leisure space for self via masculine leisure performance; creating comfortable space for others by performing social drag; negotiating safe leisure spaces for self and others during preferred gender expression; leisure space as a site for (trans)gender affirmation and transformation; and constructing inclusive leisure community space. A critical gender approach is recommended to more safely position diversely gendered voices.
A flexible inspection system for gauging precision industrial parts

Abstract This paper presents an overview of an inspection system called Automated Robotic Visual Inspection System (ARVIS). The ARVIS system concept, hardware components, work-cell, and calibration and inspection procedures are described. Application of ARVIS is currently focused on inspecting precision industrial parts, specifically, traveling wave tube (TWT) components for avionic radar systems. The variability of parts which comprise a TWT requires a general purpose flexible inspection system that is both adaptable and programmable. ARVIS integrates robotics and computer technology together with vision processing software to achieve a flexible system.
Efficient processor allocation strategies for mesh-connected parallel computers

Abstract The processor allocation problem plays a central role in partitionable multiprocessor systems. In this study, we propose two new processor allocation strategies, called the First Fit (FF) and the Best Fit (BF) strategies, for mesh systems. Both strategies can allocate a submesh of the exact size requested for an incoming task, completely avoiding internal fragmentation. Moreover, they can find a free submesh for an incoming task whenever there is one available, eliminating allocation misses. The FF strategy allocates an incoming task to the first available submesh it finds. On the other hand, the BF strategy tries to schedule the task to a submesh in the smallest region of free processors, reserving the larger regions for later tasks. Efficient implementations are presented to keep the searching overhead low. Simulation runs have been conducted to compare the performance of the different allocation schemes.
Theoretical analysis of edge effects in field-flow fractionation

Abstract Correction factors are derived for flow in a thin rectangular channel to account for viscous drag at the edges, an effect not considered in infinite parallel plate models. By a proper choice of coordinates, a universal correction term is shown to be applicable to flow in essentially all practical field-flow fractionation (FFF) channels, which are characterized by a large aspect ratio. Also, by virtue of the diffusion and transit time conditions existing in most FFF channels, the universal correction concept can be extended both to void peaks and retained peaks. In this light, the nature of peak migration is discussed. The analysis leads to a more exact relationship between the retention ratio and measured retention volumes, which paves the way toward improved particle characterization by field-flow fractionation.
11-trifluoromethyl-phenyldiazirinyl neurosteroid analogues: potent general anesthetics and photolabeling reagents for GABAA receptors

While neurosteroids are well-described positive allosteric modulators of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors, the binding sites that mediate these actions have not been definitively identified. This study was conducted to synthesize neurosteroid analogue photolabeling reagents that closely mimic the biological effects of endogenous neurosteroids and have photochemical properties that will facilitate their use as tools for identifying the binding sites for neurosteroids on GABAA receptors. Two neurosteroid analogues containing a trifluromethyl-phenyldiazirine group linked to the steroid C11 position were synthesized. These reagents, CW12 and CW14, are analogues of allopregnanolone (5α-reduced steroid) and pregnanolone (5β-reduced steroid), respectively. Both reagents were shown to have favorable photochemical properties with efficient insertion into the C–H bonds of cyclohexane. They also effectively replicated the actions of allopregnanolone and pregnanolone on GABAA receptor functions: they potentiated GABA-induced currents in Xenopus laevis oocytes transfected with α1β2γ2L subunits, modulated [35S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate binding in rat brain membranes, and were effective anesthetics in Xenopus tadpoles. Studies using [3H]CW12 and [3H]CW14 showed that these reagents covalently label GABAA receptors in both rat brain membranes and in a transformed human embryonal kidney (TSA) cells expressing either α1 and β2 subunits or β3 subunits of the GABAA receptor. Photolabeling of rat brain GABAA receptors was shown to be both concentration-dependent and stereospecific. CW12 and CW14 have the appropriate photochemical and pharmacological properties for use as photolabeling reagents to identify specific neurosteroid-binding sites on GABAA receptors.
Ultrasound Diagnosis of Craniosynostosis

Abstract Objective: To retrospectively study prenatal ultrasound images of patients with craniosynostosis to determine the extent to which prenatal diagnosis is possible. Method: Prenatal ultrasound images of 19 patients with postnatally diagnosed metopic or coronal suture craniosynostosis were retrospectively reviewed. The 26 ultrasound examinations obtained were compared with normal images and tables of gestation. Results: It was not possible to diagnose craniosynostosis in the first trimester. In the second trimester, Kleeblattschadel was diagnosed at 20.5 weeks. A multilobular shape to the skull and diastasis of the frontotemporal suture was identified. In a second child with Kleeblattschadel, the cephalic index was above normal 86.4 (normal range 70 to 86), and the head circumference to abdominal circumference was increased. In the third trimester, the head shape deformation was more obvious. Brachycephaly diagnosis was made in the second trimester. In Crouzon syndrome the hypertelorism was identifie...
Individual differences in aggressiveness of female hamsters: Response to intact and castrated males and to females

Abstract The aggressive behaviour of female hamsters was studied while they were housed in large enclosures with males and in brief tests with males or females. Some females are not aggressive with any male, whereas others are very aggressive toward all males in both testing conditions. Females that are not aggressive toward intact males may be very aggressive toward castrated males or females. When the animals are housed together for long periods of time, males dominate only if they are much heavier. Male dominance takes a relatively long time to establish and often there is an equivocal period characterized by reversals of doinance. Female dominance is rapidly established. Unless the male is much heavier, the female determines the presence or absence of agonistic behaviour.
Impact of Chest X-Ray Before Discharge in Asymptomatic Children After Cardiac Surgery—Prospective Evaluation

In many paediatric cardiac units chest radiographs are performed routinely before discharge after cardiac surgery. These radiographs contribute to radiation exposure. To evaluate the diagnostic impact of routine chest X-rays before discharge in children undergoing open heart surgery and to analyze certain risk factors predicting pathologic findings. This was a prospective (6 months) single-centre observational clinical study. One hundred twenty-eight consecutive children undergoing heart surgery underwent biplane chest X-ray at a mean of 13 days after surgery. Pathologic findings on chest X-rays were defined as infiltrate, atelectasis, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, or signs of fluid overload. One hundred nine asymptomatic children were included in the final analysis. Risk factors, such as age, corrective versus palliative surgery, reoperation, sternotomy versus lateral thoracotomy, and relevant pulmonary events during postoperative paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stay, were analysed. In only 5.5 % (6 of 109) of these asymptomatic patients were pathologic findings on routine chest X-ray before discharge found. In only three of these cases (50 %), subsequent noninvasive medical intervention (increasing diuretics) was needed. All six patients had relevant pulmonary events during their PICU stay. Risk factor analysis showed only pulmonary complications during PICU stay to be significantly associated (p = 0.005) with pathologic X-ray findings. Routine chest radiographs before discharge after cardiac surgery can be omitted in asymptomatic children with an uneventful and straightforward perioperative course. Chest radiographs before discharge are warrantable if pulmonary complications did occur during their PICU stay, as this is a risk factor for pathologic findings in chest X-rays before discharge.
Statistical Reliability of Particle Size Distributions Determined by Microscopic Techniques

Abstract The particle size distribution obtained from microscopic evaluation of dust samples is of little practical value, and is usually transformed to one representing particle projected area or weight. Errors of measurement and errors of sampling, or statistical errors, contribute to the unreliability of these distributions. In this article, the present practice of assuming adherence of size distributions to the log-normal distribution is discussed. Procedures are recommended for estimating the statistical error associated with count, area and weight distributions, and tabular and graphical forms are suggested for presentation of sizing data. The practice of presenting distribution data by citing Mg and σg is discouraged, unless tests for “goodness of fit” are performed.
Acephate exposure and decontamination on tobacco harvesters' hands

Agricultural workers manually harvesting tobacco have the potential for high dermal fexposure to pesticides, particularly on the hands. Often gloves are not worn as it hinders the harvesters' ability to harvest the tobacco leaves. To enable harvesters to remove pesticide residue on the hands and decrease absorbed doses, the EPA Worker Protection Standard requires growers to have hand-wash stations available in the field. The purpose of this study was to measure the concentration of acephate residue on the hands of tobacco harvesters, and the effectiveness of hand washing in reducing the acephate residue. Hand-wipes from the hands of 12 tobacco harvesters were collected at the end of the morning and at the end of the afternoon over 2 consecutive days. Each harvester had one hand-wiped prior to washing his hands, and the other hand-wiped after washing his hands with soap and water. In addition to the hand-wipe samples, leaf-wipe samples were collected from 15 tobacco plants to determine the amount of acephate residue on the plants. The average acephate level in leaf-wipe samples was 1.4 ng/cm2. The geometric mean prewash and postwash acephate levels on the hands were 10.5 and 0.4 ng/cm2, respectively. Both prewash (P-value=0.0009) and postwash hand (P-value=0.01) samples were positively correlated with leaf-wipe concentrations. Tobacco harvester position tended to influence hand exposure. Hand washing significantly reduced acephate levels on the hand, after adjusting for sampling period, hand sampled, job position, and leaf-wipe concentration (P-value≤0.0001) with levels reduced by 96%. A substantial amount of acephate was transferred to the hands, and while hand washing significantly reduced the amount of residue on the hands, not all residue was removed.
Practical PSK modulation classifier using wavelets

Automatic classification of different modulation schemes is an important topic in the receiver design for a non-cooperative communication system. The modulation classifier often serves as a pre-processing unit for a monitoring or interception system. The main difficulty of the problem lies in the uncertainty of the waveform and communication parameters of received signals. In this research, we first make a thorough comparison among four MPSK (M-ary phase shift keying) classifiers, i.e., the M-th power classifier (MLC), phase histogram classifier (PHC), phase difference histogram classifier (PDHC) and phase change classifier (PCC), in terms of their error classification probability and assumptions on the availability of various communication parameters. Then, we propose a novel MPSK classification algorithm based on the estimated phase change rate detected by using the continuous wavelet transform (CWT). Numerical experiments are used to demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithm.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Engineering the knee meniscus

The knee meniscus was once thought to be a vestigial tissue, but is now known to be instrumental in imparting stability, shock absorption, load transmission, and stress distribution within the knee joint. Unfortunately, most damage to the meniscus cannot be effectively healed by the body. Meniscus tissue engineering offers a possible solution to this problem by striving to create replacement tissue that may be implanted into a defect site. With a strong focus on structure-function relationships, this book details the essential anatomical, biochemical, and mechanical aspects of this versatile tissue and reviews current meniscus tissue engineering strategies and repair techniques. We have written this text such that undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers will find it useful as a first foray into tissue engineering, a cohesive study of the meniscus, or a reference for meniscus engineering specifications. Table of Contents: Structure-Function Relationships of the Knee Meniscus / Pathophysiology and the Need for Tissue Engineering / Tissue Engineering of the Knee Meniscus / Current Therapies and Future Directions
Competing behaviors and their effects on skill generalization and maintenance

Abstract The present study indicates the impact of undesirable competing behaviors on the maintenance and generalization of desirable behaviors by two children with severe developmental disabilities. A combination multiple probe and withdrawal design was employed in the study. It was found that behaviors which served a relatively obvious function, and which were desired by classroom teachers, were replaced by less desirable behaviors which served the same function within maintenance and/or generalization situations. It was further demonstrated that the desired behavior could be elicited in those situations by reducing the functionality of the less desirable response. Both general and specific implications for educational practice are discussed.
Taurodontism: A biometric study

This study has been carried out in order to clarify various aspects of the phenomenon known as taurodontism. Samples of both taurodont and non-taurodont teeth were measured and statistical analyses were performed on the resultant data from which various conclusions may be drawn. The most important conclusion is that this phenomenon may be defined metrically. The distributions have shown that the taurodont trait grades into the normal and it is quite difficult to make a subjective judgment at the low end of the taurodont range. It is for this reason that an accurate mathematical means for performing this task is so invaluable. The question of the nature of cuneiform single rooted molars was also investigated, and they were found not to be true taurodonts although the statistical procedure classed them as such. It was demonstrated that through the construction of simple plots these teeth could be eliminated from any group classed by analysis as taurodonts. Various metrical attributes were evaluated with respect to their ability to distinguish taurodonts, and two were found to be satisfactory for this purpose in most cases. Certain changes in molar morphology regarding caries and age were also investigated.
Scattering from a cluster of plant or tree components: Analysis of the interaction effect

Vegetation scattering problems in L band contain plant or tree components in the near field of each other. In this case, the interleaf or inter-branch interaction effect becomes more significant. In this paper, scattering properties from a cluster of plant or tree components are analyzed to study the interaction effect in the cluster. A numerical approach, the Discrete Dipole Approximation, is applied to find the scattering amplitude of the cluster. Numerical results of bistatic cross sections including the mutual interaction effect are compared with those results not taking the interaction into account. The interaction effect in a cluster of plant or tree components is presented in the examples given in this paper.
Reply [to “Do solar variations change climate?”]

The January 12 article in Eos referred to by Schroder and Treder was in fact an excerpt from Geophysics News, an AGU publication that is intended to form a bridge between the technical journals and the news media, providing nontechnical background material on areas of current interest in geophysics. As such, it was brief and did not contain the extensive references that would normally be included in a scientific manuscript. Nevertheless, the points raised by Schroder and Treder do require an answer, since, in my opinion, they reveal some important misconceptions. They raise two main points: (1) there is a body of opinion that questions the reality of the Maunder-Minimum in solar activity in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and (2) changes in the solar “constant” related to the solar cycle are impossible, since the Sun's energy is generated in the core and can have little connection with solar magnetic activity.
Biology and genetics of a laboratory strain of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), highly resistant to spinosad

Abstract Tobacco budworm larvae, Heliothis virescens (F.), were collected from the field in North Carolina in 1996 and 1997 and established as a laboratory (parental) strain. When a subset of these insects was selected by the topical application of technical spinosad (a mixture of spinosyns A and D) every generation for 13 generations, they became highly resistant to the insecticide. The resistance ratio for topically applied spinosad based on differences in the LD50 between the parental (susceptible) and the resistant (generation 19) strain was 669-fold when fourth stadium larvae were treated. The susceptible strain LD50 18 d after treatment was 0.11 μg of active ingredient per larva while the LD50 for generation (G) 19 of the resistant strain was 73.55 μg per larva. Reciprocal single pair matings between the resistant and the parental strain and backcrosses of F1(R×S) females with resistant males indicated that a non-sex linked, (partially) recessive single gene was responsible for spinosad resistance. The F1 larvae were only slightly (5.3–5.6-fold) resistant compared to the parental strain. The stability of resistance was tested by removing spinosad selection for five generations. In the absence of immigration of susceptible budworms into the population and insecticide treatments, the LD50 decreased only 1.4-fold. The only differences noted in the biology of the parental and resistant strain was that the resistant males developed slower as larvae and emerged as adults later than the susceptible males and had a slightly smaller 1 d old pupal wet weight. However, when 80% highly resistant and 20% parental moths of both sexes were allowed to mate freely, the majority of the offspring (84.6%) were susceptible to spinosad. This suggests a reduced reproductive competitiveness for the resistant strain.
Drug interactions and vasoconstrictors used in local anesthetic solutions

This study examined widely advertised interactions between sympathomimetic amine vasoconstrictors currently used in dental local anesthetic solutions and MAO inhibitors (phenelzine, 5 mg/kg), phenothiazines (chlorpromazine, 2 mg/kg), and tricyclic antidepressants (desipramine, 2 mg/kg). Twelve greyhound dogs premedicated with morphine and anesthetized with urethane and alpha-chloralose were prepared for physiologic recordings. During a control period, the dogs received bolus injections of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and levonordefrin sufficient to construct log-linear dose-response curves for each agent. Commercial anesthetic solutions, with and without the vasoconstrictors, were also used. The dose-response curves were then reproduced 1 hour after the administration of a drug interactant. Cardiovascular responses were not influenced by the coadministration of local anesthetics or by the prior administration of phenelzine. Chlorpromazine ameliorated pressor responses to norepinephrine and levonordephrin and reversed the hypertensive effect of high-dose epinephrine. Desipramine significantly increased vasoconstrictor potencies, particularly those of levonordefrin and norepinephrine, which were multiplied more than sixfold.
Amyloidosis of the aorta.

A review of the literature would suggest that amyloid deposition into the intima of the aorta is an unusual finding. An opportunity to study this condition in a patient with primary amyloidosis is the basis for this report. The suggestion is made that factors responsible for this may involve mechanisms similar to those that participate in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
Export taxes in times of trade surpluses

Abstract This paper studies the comparative effects between an exchange rate appreciation and the introduction of an export tax as alternative policy responses to address trade surplus concerns in a country with a fixed exchange rate regime facing a downward-sloping world demand curve for its exports. It is found that an exchange rate appreciation would not alter the nature of the long-run equilibrium, and would thus be welfare-neutral. The appreciation would merely supplant foreign reserve accumulation as the mechanism that transits an economy from the short- to long-run equilibria, resulting in a lower long-run stock of foreign reserves. By comparison, an export tax would raise the export price in foreign-currency terms. Provided that the tax revenue is transferred back to consumers in a non-distorting manner, the welfare consequence of the tax would depend largely on the elasticity of the world demand for the country's exports. If the demand is inelastic, both national welfare and the stock of foreign ...
U(IV) and U(V) azide complexes supported by amide or aryloxide ligands

The uranium(IV) azides [Li(THF)3]2[U(OAr)4(N3)2], Ar = 2,6-Me2C6H3, and {[Na(THF)4][U[N(SiMe3)2]3(N3)2]}x have been synthesised and structurally characterised. Oxidation of these complexes affords [Li(THF)3][U(OAr)5(N3)] and U[N(SiMe3)2]3(N3)2, which are the first azides of U(V).
An efficient PSTD algorithm for cylindrical coordinates

A pseudospectral time-domain (PSTD) algorithm is developed to overcome limitations in the conventional solution methods for Maxwell's equations in cylindrical coordinates. It is based on the fast Fourier transform (FFT) representation of spatial derivatives and a centered grid. The main contributions of this algorithm are to eliminate the singularity problem at the axis and to allow a larger time step. It uses a coarse grid close to the Nyquist sampling density provided that the geometrical modeling does not require fine cells. It reduces the required number of unknowns and the number of time steps in the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method and is efficient for large-scale problems.
Homology Inference of Protein-Protein Interactions via Conserved Binding Sites

The coverage and reliability of protein-protein interactions determined by high-throughput experiments still needs to be improved, especially for higher organisms, therefore the question persists, how interactions can be verified and predicted by computational approaches using available data on protein structural complexes. Recently we developed an approach called IBIS (Inferred Biomolecular Interaction Server) to predict and annotate protein-protein binding sites and interaction partners, which is based on the assumption that the structural location and sequence patterns of protein-protein binding sites are conserved between close homologs. In this study first we confirmed high accuracy of our method and found that its accuracy depends critically on the usage of all available data on structures of homologous complexes, compared to the approaches where only a non-redundant set of complexes is employed. Second we showed that there exists a trade-off between specificity and sensitivity if we employ in the prediction only evolutionarily conserved binding site clusters or clusters supported by only one observation (singletons). Finally we addressed the question of identifying the biologically relevant interactions using the homology inference approach and demonstrated that a large majority of crystal packing interactions can be correctly identified and filtered by our algorithm. At the same time, about half of biological interfaces that are not present in the protein crystallographic asymmetric unit can be reconstructed by IBIS from homologous complexes without the prior knowledge of crystal parameters of the query protein.
A Rare Cyclic Dimolybdenum Triad with Three Weakly Interacting Unpaired Electrons

Oxidation of α-[Mo2(cis-DAniF)2]3(μ-F)6 with an excess of FeCp2BF4 produces the triply oxidized species {β-[Mo2(cis-DAniF)2]3(μ-F)6}(BF4)3. During the oxidation process, the conformation in the α triangular species changes from an arrangement in which two dimetal units are parallel and the third one essentially orthogonal to a structure in which all three dimetal units are parallel. Furthermore, upon removal of three electrons, the Mo–Mo distances increase by about 0.05–0.06 A and the Mo–F bond distances decrease by 0.04 A. The structural data, as well as EPR, are consistent with an electronically localized system and a decrease in bond order from 4 to 3.5 for each dimetal unit.
Metabolic regulation of in vivo myocardial contractile function: multiparameter analysis

To gain insite into the mechanisms of myocardial regulation as it relates to the interaction of mechanical and metabolic function and perfusion, intact animal models were instrumented for routine physiological measurements of mechanical function and for measurements of metabolism (31P NMR, NADH fluorescence (redox state)) and perfusion (2H NMR and Laser doppler techniques). These techniques were applied to canine and cat models of volume and/or pressure loading, hypoxia, ischemia and cardiomyopathic states. Data generated using these techniques indicate that myocardial bioenergetic function is quite stable under most loading conditions as long as the heart is not ischemic. In addition, these data indicate that there is no universal regulator and that different biochemical regulators appear to mediate stable function under different physiological and pathophysiological conditions: for example; during hypoxia, NADH redox state appears to play a regulatory role; and in pressure loading, ADP, phosphorylation potential and free energy of ATP hydrolysis as well as NADH redox state appear to be regulatory. (Mol Cell Biochem 133/134: 13–37, 1994)
Modeling morphological variation and development: Person and number in L2 Spanish

This paper proposes a model of morphological variation and development grounded in feature-geometric theory. It tests two hypotheses that follow from this model on a corpus of data from speakers of Spanish as a second language (L2). First, variation is systematic; default, underspecified feature values are adopted when errors occur. This hypothesis is supported for person, number, and finiteness, as 3rd, singular, and nonfinite defaults surface in place of 1st, plural, and finite verbs. Second, developmental trends are observed as nodes are added to the geometry; the unmarked/less specified feature value is successfully produced prior to the marked/more specified one. This hypothesis is partially supported, as accuracy in 3rd person emerges prior to 1st. However, no developmental pattern is found for number. Errors in finiteness are limited to lower-proficiency speakers, whereas intermediate speakers favor 3rd person, finite defaults. Together, these results suggest systematic variation and gradual development in the morphology.
Simple rapid procedures for isolation of tobacco leaf nuclei

Abstract The present paper describes and compares methods for the isolation of tobacco leaf nuclei. In contrast to standard procedures involving a long preincubation, a rapid cold ether treatment was found to aid in the release of nuclei in high yield. Two simple and rapid purification procedures are described which avoid the use of an ultracentrifuge. Relatively pure nuclei could be obtained in high yield in approximately 2 hr using the shorter purification procedures. The isolated nuclei were of acceptable quality as determined by (1) their appearance in the electron microscope, (2) their RNA, DNA, and protein content, and (3) their high activity in the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase reaction. Furthermore such preparations retained high RNA polymerase activity after at least 3 months at −20°C.
Reporting Vietnam: Media and Military at War

For many Americans during the Vietnam era, the war on the home front seemed nearly as wrenching and hardfought as the one in Southeast Asia. Its primary battlefield was the news media, its primary casualty the truth. But as William Hammond reveals, animosity between government and media wasn't always the rule; what happened between the two during the Vietnam war was symptomatic of the nation's experiences in general. As the "light at the end of the tunnel" dimmed, relations between them grew ever darker. "Reporting Vietnam" is an abridgement and updating of Hammond's massive two-volume work issued by the Government Printing Office. Based on classified and declassified government documents - including Nixon's national security files - as well as on extensive interviews and surveys of press war coverage, it tells how government and media first shared a common vision of American involvement in Vietnam. It then reveals how, as the war dragged on, upbeat government press releases were constistently challenged by journalists' reports from the field and finally how, as public sentiment shifted against the war, Presidents Johnson and Nixon each tried to manage the news media, sparking a heated exchange of recriminations. Hammond strongly challenges the assertions of many military leaders that the media lost the war by swaying public opinion. He takes readers through the twists and turns of official public affairs policy as it tried to respond to a worsening domestic political environment and recurring adverse "media episodes". Along the way, he makes important observations about the penchant of American officials for placing appearance ahead of substance and about policy making in general. Although Richard Nixon once said of the Vietnam war, "Our worst enemy seems to be the press", Hammond clearly shows that his real enemies were the contradictions and flawed assumptions that he and LBJ had created. "Reporting Vietnam" brings a critical study to a wider audience and is both a major contribution to an ongoing debate and a cautionary guide for future conflicts.
Behavioral and Judged Coordination in Adult Informal Social Interactions: Vocal and Kinesic Indicators

Coordination in social interaction means that persons adjust their actions to those of their partners. Common methods for measuring coordination include judgments and behavioral covariation. Sixteen 1-min segments of interaction were chosen (8 high and 8 low in behavioral coordination). In Study 1, 51 people judged the 16 segments, rating each for coordination. Study 2 (N = 17) used different items. Study 3 (N = 22) replicated Study 2 without sound and with a mosaic pattern imposed on the faces. Results indicated judges were reliable, able to distinguish high from low coordination interactions on the basis of 1-min slices for male but not female dyads. Segments judged to be coordinated had partners smiling in synchrony but with complementary patterns of gazing and gesturing. Both measures correlated with conversational satisfaction, but only behavioral coordination predicted attraction.
Some generalizations of wentzell's lower estimates on large deviations

Wentzell Obtained a Large Deviation Principle for Markov Processes with Levy Generatiors. In this Paper the Lower Estimates On Large Deviations are Obtained Under Weaker Assumptions than Wentzell's.
Ion thruster diagnostics using spectral line amplitudes

The optical radiation from the plasma discharge of an electron bombardment mercury ion thruster was investigated. This work extends and refines earlier measurements, correcting certain ambiguities that arose in the analysis of line amplitudes. Using the measured ratio of the Hg I line amplitude at 3655 A to that at 3650 A, a theory incorporating a bimodal electron distribution (Maxwell electrons plus primary electrons) was used to obtain the average electron temperature and primary electron fraction in the thruster ion chamber. The electron temperature ranged from about 1.2 eV to 6.6 eV; whereas the primary electron fraction varied from zero percent to about 5 percent. These values depended upon the discharge voltage and the radial location of the measurement. The percentage of doubly ionized mercury produced in the chamber was also determined as a function of discharge voltage.