cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can we imagine how objects look from other viewpoints

Many psychologists who study cognition believe that perception achieves object-centered representations that make it possible to extract representations of how the object would appear from differing viewpoints. Others believe we can achieve representations of how an object would appear by a process of visualization or mental rotation. We report experiments in which the subject tries to imagine how three-dimensional novel wire objects would appear from positions other than the one they are in. Subjects are unable to perform this task unless they make use of strategies that circumvent the process of visualization. It is suggested that the linear increase in time required to succeed in mental rotation tasks as a function of the angular discrepancy between the figures compared is the result of increasing difficulty rather than of the time required for rotation.
Genetic Susceptibility to Fungal Infections in Humans

Most fungal infections in humans occur in the setting of iatrogenic immunosuppression or HIV infection. In the absence of these factors, fungi cause mild, self-limited infections that typically involve mucocutaneous surfaces. Hence, when persistent or recurrent mucocutaneous infections (chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis [CMC]) or invasive fungal infections (IFIs) develop in a “normal” host, they are indicative of genetic defects causing innate or adaptive immune dysfunction. In this review, recent developments concerning genetic and immunologic factors that affect the risk for IFIs and CMC are critically discussed.
RELATIONS BETWEEN IMMUNOREACTIVE SOMATOMEDIN C, INSULIN AND T3 PATTERNS DURING FASTING IN OBESE SUBJECTS

Plasma glucose, immunoreactive somatomedin-C (Sm-C), GH, insulin (IRI) and T3 were measured daily in 20 obese subjects before and during a 9-day fast. Control levels of Sm-C were normal and exhibited no significant correlation with any of the other parameters investigated. During fasting there were no consistent variations in GH, but significant decreases occurred in blood glucose, IRI, T3 and Sm-C levels. While individual Sm-C patterns varied widely, as a group the fasting Sm-C values showed a positive correlation with the fasting IRI and T3 levels, and with control body weight. These findings suggest that the decrease in Sm-C which occurs during caloric deprivation may be the result of concomitant decreases occurring in T3 and IRI levels.
Examination and Reevalaution of SPT-Based Liquefaction Triggering Case Histories

AbstractA standard penetration test (SPT)-based liquefaction case history database for liquefaction triggering criteria is reexamined and reevaluated. The updated database incorporates a number of additional case histories, replaces prior estimates of earthquake magnitudes with current estimates of their moment magnitudes, uses improved estimates of peak ground accelerations when available, and includes a reexamination of the selection and computation of representative SPT (N1)60 values for most case histories. The approach used to select and compute representative SPT (N1)60cs values is illustrated using select case histories. The distribution of the case history data relative to the Idriss-Boulanger triggering correlation is examined for any bias with respect to various parameters and to identify the conditions that are, and are not, well covered by available case history data.
Alternative Solutions for Longitudinal Fins of Rectangular, Trapezoidal, and Concave Parabolic Profiles

The traditional thermal analysis of fins is based on the assumption of specified thermal boundary conditions at the base and tip of the fin. For situations when the fin base is in contact with a fluid experiencing condensation and the fin is required to remove the energy released by the fluid, the base is subjected to two boundary conditions: a fixed temperature and a fixed heat flux. This paper develops solutions for the temperature distribution in the fins under these conditions. Solutions are provided for rectangular, trapezoidal, and concave parabolic (finite tip thickness). Results illustrating the relationship between the dimensionless heat flux, the fin parameter, and dimensionless tip temperature are provided for all three geometries. The case of convective fin tip is also considered and lead to a relationship between the dimensionless heat flux, the fin parameter, and the Biot number at the tip. The results presented here provide tools that not only complement the traditional analyses but are believed to have more direct relevance for fin designers.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
The Ethnic Life of Missionaries: Early Inculturation Theology in Mato Grosso, Brazil (1952-1990)

From the early 1950s to the mid-1970s, missionaries from several congregations in the southwestern Amazon region of Brazil, notably a group of young Jesuits, developed an avant la lettre radical brand of inculturation theology, based on close relations with academic anthropology and cultural relativism. By the 1990s, this “type” of inculturation became one of the missionary norms in the region; it was also instrumental in the creation and orientation of the Indigenist Missionary Council, the main missionary organization in Brazil. I explore the trajectories of three inculturation theology Jesuits who asserted the need to protect indigenous cultures, including their shamanic rituals. Resume A partir des annees 1950 et jusqu’aux annees 1970, des missionnaires de diverses congregations dans le sud-ouest amazonien, notamment un groupe de jeunes Jesuites, developperent une forme radicale et precoce de la theologie de l’inculturation, dans un rapport etroit a l’anthropologie universitaire et s’appuyant sur le relativisme culturel. Dans les annees 1990, cette forme d’inculturation deviendra normative dans cette region ; c’est aussi elle qui fondera le Conseil Indigeniste Missionnaire, la principale organisation catholique en milieu indien au Bresil, et lui donnera son orientation politique. J’explore plus particulierement les trajectoires de trois Jesuites qui professerent la necessite de preserver les cultures indiennes, notamment de leurs rituels chamaniques.
Estimation in Compound Exponential Failure Models–When the Data are Grouped

In Boardman and Kendell (1970a) m.l. estimation of the parameters from right censored, compound exponentials was considered when the exact failure times were known. In the present paper approximate m.l. estimates are obtained when the data are collected only at k specified time intervals. The properties of an initial estimator are studied and shown to compare very favorably with those found above. A numerical example is considered to illustrate the use of the grouped estimators.
Developing interactional competence during study abroad: Listener responses in L2 Spanish

Abstract Although many listener responses are minimal (e.g., yeah, mhm), the listener plays an important role in shaping discourse and creating intersubjectivity in everyday conversation. Listener responses are considered to be universal (e.g., Heinz, 2003), but their form, frequency, and placement vary cross-culturally. How L2 learners use and acquire listener response behavior in the L2 is an understudied area of L2 pragmatic development. This issue is taken up by the present study, which examines the L2 development of listener responses in Spanish by six study abroad students who spent one semester in Spain. Over the course of the semester abroad, participants made naturalistic audio-recordings of everyday conversations between themselves and native Spanish-speaking host families and age peers, in addition to completing journals and interviews. The results suggest that through participation and observation in everyday L2 conversation during study abroad learners were able to develop their interactional competence by shifting their listener behavior towards less frequent use of the minimal token si (‘yeah’) and increased use of other acknowledgment and agreement expressions, assessments (e.g., ‘that's great’), and repetition.
Secure acknowledgment aggregation and multisignatures with limited robustness

In certain reliable group-oriented and multicast applications, a source needs to securely verify whether all (and if not all, which) intended receivers have received a message. However, secure verification of individual acknowledgments from all receivers can impose a significant computation and communication burden. Such cost can be significantly reduced if intermediate nodes along the distribution tree aggregate the acknowledgments produced by the multicast receivers into a single multisignature.The approach explored in prior work on acknowledgment aggregation [A. Nicolosi, D. Mazieres, Secure acknowledgement of multicast messages in open peer-to-peer networks, in: 3rd International Workshop on Peer-to-Peer Systems (IPTPS'04), San Diego, CA, February 2004] is based on a multisignature scheme of [A. Boldyreva, Efficient threshold signatures, multisignatures and blind signatures based on the gap-Diffie-Hellman-group signature scheme, in: Public Key Cryptography 2003, 2003]. However, this multisignature scheme requires a relatively new cryptographic assumption of "Gap Diffie-Hellman". In contrast, we propose a solution using multisignature schemes secure under more standard and long-standing security assumptions. In particular, we show how to extend previously known non-robust multisignature scheme [S. Micali, K. Ohta, L. Reyzin, Accountable-subgroup multisignatures, in: ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security, October 2001] based on the discrete logarithm assumption to achieve limited robustness. Our extension--which also generalizes to certain other multisignature schemes--allows for efficient multisignature generation in the presence of (possibly malicious) node and communication failures, as long as the number of such faults does not exceed a certain threshold.
Binding and reversibility of Thermobifida fusca Cel5A, Cel6B, and Cel48A and their respective catalytic domains to bacterial microcrystalline cellulose.

The binding and reversibility of Thermobifida fusca intact Cel5A, Cel5B, and Cel48A and their corresponding catalytic domains (CDs) to bacterial microcrystalline cellulose (BMCC) were studied at 5°C. The binding of the intact cellulases and of corresponding CDs to BMCC was irreversible in all regions: Langmuir binding (region I), interstice penetration (region II), and interstice saturation (region III). The three cellulose binding domains (CBMs) bind reversibly in “region I” although their respective CDs do not. The irreversible binding of these enzymes in the Langmuir region does not satisfy the Langmuir assumption; however, the overall fit of the Interstice Saturation model, which includes binding in MBCC interstices as well as on the freely accessible surface (Jung et al., 2002a) is good. The main limitation of the model is that it does not explicitly address a mechanism for forming the enzyme-substrate complex within the active site of the CDs. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 84: 151–159, 2003.
Application of Angler Attitudes and Motives to Management Strategies at Missouri's Trout Parks

Abstract The Missouri Department of Conservation manages four fishing areas on spring branches with water sources large enough to permit fish rearing and angling. These special areas, called trout parks, are stocked daily from March to October at a rate of 2.25 trout per anticipated angler. Each angler pays $1.50 for a daily fishing tag, an entitlement to keep five trout. Total revenues collected from the sale of daily tags and annual trout stamps are sufficient to defray costs of operating four trout hatcheries and one trout rearing station. Since 1960, visits to the trout parks have increased at an average annual rate of 4%; about 100,000 daily tags were sold at each park in 1980. In light of physical and fiscal constraints to stocking additional trout, a study was initiated with the goal of developing management responses to increased angler participation. Specific objectives were to determine anglers' motives and attitudes toward selected management alternatives, and catch and effort. About 16,000 ang...
Effects of a water-soluble petroleum fraction on the behavior of the hydroid coelenterate Tubularia crocea

Abstract The water-soluble fraction (WSF) of Platform Holly, Monterey formation crude oil has sublethal effects on the feeding behavior of Tubularia crocea, a a hydroid coelenterate. Dilutions as low as 10% WSF (0·60 ppm benzene) reduced the frequency of concerts, spontaneous concerted oralflexions of the proximal tentacles. Exposure to undiluted WSF and its volatile subfraction caused significant hydranth shedding. Exposure to 100% WSF for 15 min or longer significantly reduced the number of Artemia nauplii ingested, in feeding tests. After a 24h exposure to 100% WSF, ingestion rates remained depressed during a further 24 h without exposure. The threshold feeding stimulation hyproline increased one log unit after 24 h treatment with 100% @SF and spontaneous activity was reduced to all test stimuli, including filtered seawater (FSW). It is suggested that Tubularia is useful as a test organism for petrleum upon behavioral processes significant to survival in coelenterates.
Indexing multi-dimensional time-series with support for multiple distance measures

Although most time-series data mining research has concentrated on providing solutions for a single distance function, in this work we motivate the need for a single index structure that can support multiple distance measures. Our specific area of interest is the efficient retrieval and analysis of trajectory similarities. Trajectory datasets are very common in environmental applications, mobility experiments, video surveillance and are especially important for the discovery of certain biological patterns. Our primary similarity measure is based on the Longest Common Subsequence (LCSS) model, that offers enhanced robustness, particularly for noisy data, which are encountered very often in real world applications. However, our index is able to accommodate other distance measures as well, including the ubiquitous Euclidean distance, and the increasingly popular Dynamic Time Warping (DTW). While other researchers have advocated one or other of these similarity measures, a major contribution of our work is the ability to support all these measures without the need to restructure the index. Our framework guarantees no false dismissals and can also be tailored to provide much faster response time at the expense of slightly reduced precision/recall. The experimental results demonstrate that our index can help speed-up the computation of expensive similarity measures such as the LCSS and the DTW.
Epstein-Barr Virus Oncoprotein Super-enhancers Control B Cell Growth

Super-enhancers are clusters of gene-regulatory sites bound by multiple transcription factors that govern cell transcription, development, phenotype, and oncogenesis. By examining Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), we identified four EBV oncoproteins and five EBV-activated NF-κB subunits co-occupying ∼1,800 enhancer sites. Of these, 187 had markedly higher and broader histone H3K27ac signals, characteristic of super-enhancers, and were designated "EBV super-enhancers." EBV super-enhancer-associated genes included the MYC and BCL2 oncogenes, which enable LCL proliferation and survival. EBV super-enhancers were enriched for B cell transcription factor motifs and had high co-occupancy of STAT5 and NFAT transcription factors (TFs). EBV super-enhancer-associated genes were more highly expressed than other LCL genes. Disrupting EBV super-enhancers by the bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 or conditionally inactivating an EBV oncoprotein or NF-κB decreased MYC or BCL2 expression and arrested LCL growth. These findings provide insight into mechanisms of EBV-induced lymphoproliferation and identify potential therapeutic interventions.
Algorithm to retrieve real coefficients of a two-dimensional Fourier series using complex one-dimensional FFTs

Abstract Complex notation is used almost exclusively when dealing with two-dimensional Fourier series. Fast Fourier transform algorithms efficiently compute the complex Fourier coefficients of these complex series. There are instances, however, where the real form of the series may be preferred or required. The coefficients of the real series are related in an implicit manner to the complex coefficients of the complex series. In this paper, an algorithm is developed to efficiently and accurately extract the Fourier coefficients of a real two-dimensional discrete Fourier series by utilizing the complex based one-dimensional fast Fourier transform. An illustrative example is presented for validation of the algorithm, and a FORTRAN program listing is provided.
ON THE ANNUAL HEAT BALANCE OF THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

Abstract The increased knowledge of atmospheric radiation during the last twenty years has made it desirable to re-compute the heat balance of the northern hemisphere. Insofar as possible the computations are based on observational data and, in particular, no assumption is made regarding the planetary albedo nor the albedo of clouds. The solar radiation reaching the surface is derived largely from the North American pyrheliometric network. These data are extended to the hemisphere on the basis of the differences between the cloud amounts along complete latitude circles and the cloud amounts along the North American segments. Absorption of solar radiation in the atmosphere is computed from the original Smithsonian data. Absorption by clouds is taken into account. The outgoing long-wave radiation is computed on the Elsasser radiation chart, with use of monthly mean data from a large number of individual stations. The planetary albedo is found to be 0.34, with a minimum of 0.28 in the subtropics and a maximu...
Constitutive Relations for Modeling Single Crystal GaN at Elevated Temperatures

Thermal–mechanical constitutive relations for bulk, single-crystal, wurtzite gallium nitride (GaN) at elevated temperatures, suitable for modeling crystal growth processes, are presented. A crystal plasticity model that considers slip and the evolution of mobile and immobile dislocation densities on the prismatic and basal slip systems is developed. The experimental stress–strain data from Yonenaga and Motoki (2001, “Yield Strength and Dislocation Mobility in Plastically Deformed Bulk Single-Crystal GaN,” J. Appl. Phys., 90(12), pp. 6539–6541) for GaN is analyzed in detail and used to define model parameters for prismatic slip. The sensitivity to the model parameters is discussed and ranges for parameters are given. Estimates for basal slip are also provided.
Self-sustaining robotic systems

To support NASA’s new missions for sustainable and affordable space exploration, the Robosphere 2002 and 2004 workshops were held at NASA Ames Research Center. The aim of the workshops was to explore the notion of self-sustaining robotic systems as a means of achieving increased scientific returns, decreased exploration costs and reduced chances of mission failure. The fundamental propositions of both workshops were that (a) self-sustaining systems need to provide not only for agent coordination, but also for the exchange of matter (parts) and energy, that (b) increased complexity need not come at the cost of decreased stability or survivability, and that (c) InSitu Resource Utilization will need to play a key role. Nature provides examples of self-sustaining systems -ecologieswhere interactions among components (organisms) involve information, matter, and energy exchanges; and where complexity confers stability. Natural ecologies are thus a source of inspiration for the types of systems we need to build. On the other hand, many valid approaches to self-sustaining human/robotic systems are also inspired by non-biological principles. The 2004 workshop extended those interests to also encompass explicit consideration of human presence and coordination with self-sustaining robotic systems. The papers published in this special issue were based
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND CLIENTS' SELF-DISCLOSURE IN COUNSELING '

Self-disclosure by clients is regarded as a fundamental component of counseling, with increased self-disclosure being related to positive outcome of treatment; however, scant attention has focused on environmental characteristics that may facilitate self-disclosure among clients. An evaluation of prior research in this area leads to suggestions for studies on environmental factors and self-disclosure.
Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis of Cryptomelane-Type Octahedral Molecular Sieves (OMS-2) and Their Catalytic Studies

Manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieves (OMS) are important materials in environmental chemistry, electrochemistry, and heterogeneous catalysis. Here, a rapid process to prepare cryptomelane-type octahedral molecular sieve (OMS-2) nanomaterials using a microwave assisted hydrothermal technique (MW-HT) is presented. With the assistance of microwaves in the hydrothermal reaction, the preparation time of OMS-2 can be as short as 10 s; up to 4 days are required in a conventional hydrothermal reaction. Direct observation of reaction temperature and pressure in the hydrothermal reaction can be achieved in real time in the reaction process. Reaction time and temperature are two parameters chosen to examine the formation conditions of OMS-2 materials. A reaction temperature below 80 °C resulted in the formation of amorphous manganese oxide material, whereas crystalline phase OMS-2 materials were formed at increased reaction temperatures to 100 °C or above. Studies by field emission scanning electron microscop...
Increased AMP-activated protein kinase in skeletal muscles of Murphy Roth Large mice and its potential role in altered metabolism.

Wild‐type Murphy Roth Large (MRL) mice have long been investigated for their superior healing ability when subjected to various wound and disease models. Despite this long history, the mechanisms causing their extraordinary healing ability remain undefined. As we have recently demonstrated that MRL mice with muscular dystrophy are resistant to the associated fibrosis and the Heber‐Katz group has demonstrated MRL mitochondrial mutations, we decided to investigate the skeletal muscle metabolic characteristics of the MRL mouse strain compared to the commonly utilized C57BL/6J control mouse strain. We now have evidence demonstrating an altered metabolism in the MRL quadriceps, triceps brachii, and diaphragm of 8‐week‐old animals compared to tissues from control animals. The MRL skeletal muscles have increased activated phosphorylated AMP‐activated protein kinase (pAMPK). The increased pAMPK signaling coincides with increased skeletal muscle mitochondrial content. These metabolic changes may compensate for insufficient oxidative phosphorylation which is demonstrated by altered quantities of proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation and ex vivo metabolic investigations. We also demonstrate that the MRL muscle cells have increased metabolic physiologic reserve. These data further the investigations into this important and unique mouse strain. Why the MRL mice have increased pAMPK and how increased pAMPK and the resultant metabolic alterations affect the healing ability in the MRL mouse strain is discussed. Understanding the molecular mechanisms surrounding the super healing characteristics of these mice will lead to relevant clinical intervention points. In conclusion, we present novel data of increased mitochondrial content, pAMPK, and glycolytic indicators in MRL skeletal muscles.
Model of Polyakov duality: String field theory Hamiltonians from Yang-Mills theories

Polyakov has conjectured that Yang-Mills theory should be equivalent to a noncritical string theory. I point out, based on the work of Marchesini, Ishibashi, Kawai and collaborators, and Jevicki and Rodrigues, that the loop operator of the Yang-Mills theory is the temporal gauge string field theory Hamiltonian of a noncritical string theory. The consistency condition of the string interpretation is the zig-zag symmetry emphasized by Polyakov. I explicitly show how this works for the one-plaquette model, providing a consistent direct string interpretation of the unitary matrix model for the first time.
Performance of abutment-backfill system under thermal variations in integral bridges built on clay

Abstract In this paper, performance of the abutment–backfill system under thermal variations is studied. For this purpose, a structural model of a typical integral bridge is built considering the nonlinear behavior of the piles and soil–bridge interaction effects. Static pushover analyses of the bridge are conducted to study the effect of various geometric, structural and geotechnical parameters on the performance of the abutment–backfill system under uniform positive thermal variations. It is observed that the intensity and distribution of backfill pressure is affected by the height of the abutment. Furthermore, the internal forces in the abutments are found to be functions of the thermal-induced displacements of the bridge deck, properties of the pile and stiffness of the foundation clay. Using the pushover analyses results, analytical equations are derived to determine the maximum forces in the abutments and maximum length of integral bridges based on the strength of the abutments. Integral bridges with abutment heights less than 4 m, non-compacted backfill and piles oriented to bend about weak axis are strongly recommended to enhance the maximum length limits of integral bridges as determined by the flexural capacity of the abutments.
Simon Newcomb: America's Unofficial Astronomer Royal

This book introduced me to a commanding figure in American science from the late nineteenth century: Simon Newcomb. Newcomb has been called the nineteenth-century equivalent of Carl Sagan and Albert Einstein. He rose from humble beginnings to be the preeminent American astronomer of his generation. He made basic, far-reaching, and enduring contributions to positional astronomy and planetary dynamics.
Evolution of Scar Mechanical Properties During Myocardial Infarct Healing in Rat

The mechanics of healing myocardial infarcts are an important determinant of post-infarction left ventricular (LV) function and remodeling. Large animal infarct models are well studied; healing infarct scars have been shown to be mechanically and structurally anisotropic [1], and this anisotropy may help preserve LV function during some stages of healing [2]. At the same time, it has been suggested that the rat model of myocardial infarction is more similar to humans in the range of infarct sizes and observed LV dysfunction [3]. However, in the rat model, infarct mechanics and their effect on the overall LV function have not been described so far.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Light and color on the wing: structural colors in butterflies and moths

All butterfly and moth scales share the same basic architecture, but various elements of this architecture are in those scales that exhibit structural colors. These elements include the scales’ ridges particularly complex and microribs, and the trabeculae, the pillars normally that act as spacers within and their associated lamellae ornamentation produces thin film, Tyndall blue or diffraction colors and represents a scales. The additional particularly striking example of precision in biological pattern formation.
Computer security and operating system updates

Abstract Application and operating system errors are a continuing source of problems in computer security. As businesses increase the number of servers through distributed computing and server farms, it becomes more difficult to keep the systems up to date. A survey of security professionals reveals that most find it difficult to keep up to date with security patches. Consequently, developing more automated management tools is an important step in improving enterprise security.
The Flow-chart Loop: Temperature, Density, and Cooling Observables Supporting Nanoflare Coronal Heating Models

We have tested three controversial properties for a target loop observed with the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly: (1) overdense loops; (2) long-lifetime loops; and (3) multithermal loops. Our loop is overdense by a factor of about 10 compared to results expected from steady uniform heating models. If this were the only inconsistency, our loop could still be modeled as a single strand, but the density mismatch would imply that the heating must be impulsive. Moving on to the second observable, however, we find that the loop lifetime is at least an order of magnitude greater than the predicted cooling time. This implies that the loop cannot be composed of a single flux tube, even if the heating were dynamic, and must be multi-stranded. Finally, differential emission measure analysis shows that the cross-field temperature of the target loop is multithermal in the early and middle phases of its lifetime, but effectively isothermal before it fades from view. If these multithermal cooling results are found to be widespread, our results could resolve the original coronal loop controversy of "isothermal" versus "multithermal" cross-field temperatures. That is, the cross-field temperature is not always "multithermal" nor is it always "isothermal," but might change as the loop cools. We find that the existence and evolution of this loop is consistent with predictions of nanoflare heating.
MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL VARIABILITY OF THE TOXIC DINOFLAGELLATE PROROCENTRUM LIMA ISOLATED FROM THREE LOCATIONS AT HERON ISLAND, AUSTRALIA

Seventeen clones of the toxic, epiphytic-benthic dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima (Ehrenberg) Dodge isolated from three separate sites on the reef flats of Heron Island, Australia, were acclimated under the same set of environmental conditions. Morphological features examined for each clone included cell surface configuration, size, and dry weight. Physiological and biochemical features determined for each clone included reproduction rates, pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll c2, peridinin, and other xanthophylls), toxins (okadaic acid and methyl-okadaic acid), and macromolecular compounds (total protein, lipid, and carbohydrate). Variation in morphological features and reproduction rates of clones within and between sites was minimal and not significant. Also, variation in biochemical features within an individual site was low, but pronounced differences existed among sites, the most notable of which was toxin content (okadaic acid and methyl-okadaic acid). The greatest difference in biochemical features was between clones isolated from the southern site and clones isolated from the northern and southeastern sites. Results of a cluster analysis of clonal characters support the view that these two groups represent distinct genotypes. We suggest that these groups originated from separate seed sources and that the genetic integrity of each is maintained through asexual reproduction.
Racial disparities in receipt and comparative effectiveness of oxaliplatin for stage III colon cancer in older adults

BACKGROUND: African Americans in the United States have higher rates of colon cancer mortality than other races. This study examines the use of oxaliplatin, a novel chemotherapeutic agent approved in 2004, among African American and Caucasian American patients with stage III colon cancer to determine whether differential receipt or differential effectiveness of the drug may explain the racial disparity in colon cancer mortality. METHODS: The authors conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of stage III colon cancer patients aged 65 years and older treated from 2004 through 2006 who initiated chemotherapy within 90 days of surgical resection (N = 1162) using Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare data. Patients receiving oxaliplatin (n = 477) were compared with those receiving 5-fluorouracil without oxaliplatin (n = 685). The authors estimated prevalence ratios and hazard ratios (HRs) using multivariate binomial regression and Cox models to evaluate racial differences in oxaliplatin receipt and survival. RESULTS: African Americans were as likely as Caucasian Americans to receive oxaliplatin (40.5 vs 41.1%; prevalence ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71-1.13). Oxaliplatin was associated with lower mortality compared with 5-fluorouracil (HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.58-1.00). This benefit appeared stronger among African Americans (HR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.09-1.05) than Caucasian Americans (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.60-1.06). CONCLUSIONS: In Medicare-insured patients receiving chemotherapy, the authors observed no meaningful racial disparities in receipt of oxaliplatin and, among those receiving it, potentially better survival among African Americans. Differential receipt and effectiveness of oxaliplatin-containing regimens does not appear to contribute to the previously documented racial disparities in colon cancer survival. Understanding reasons for potentially enhanced effectiveness among African Americans may inform efforts to resolve racial disparities in colon cancer outcomes. Cancer 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Fertilization with nitrogen and phosphorus increases abundance of non-native species in Hawaiian montane forests

We examined the effects of fertilization on the diversity, abundance, and cover of the understory plant community of two montane wet forests in Hawaii. One site occupies a young substrate, where aboveground tree growth is limited by nitrogen (N), while the other site is on an older substrate, where aboveground tree growth is limited by phosphorus (P). Both sites contained an on-going, long-term factorial fertilization experiment in which plots were fertilized semi-annually with N, P, or N and P in combination. In each fertilization treatment, we measured density of species 0.5 m tall and percent cover of species < 0.5 m tall. Fertilization with N reduced species richness at the young, N-limited site, but none of the nutrient additions altered species richness at the older, P-limited site. Species diversity and evenness were not affected by fertilization at either site. At the site with low N availability, plots fertilized with NP had higher densities of the non-native ginger Hedychium gardnerianum, and at the site with low P-availability, densities of the exotic shrub Rubus argutus were higher in P- and NPfertilized plots. Other effects included declines in moss cover with fertilization at both sites, and reduced abundance of native seedlings in response to N and NP addition at the N-limited site. Continued long-term fertilization could lead to greater dominance of non-native species by encouraging their growth at the expense of native species, which may suffer decreased recruitment as fertilization and increased abundance of the non-native species may reduce suitable substrates for seedling establishment.
Performance analysis on the linear minimum mean squared error (LMMSE) estimate-based multiuser detectors for CDMA communications

We analyze the performance of linear minimum mean squared error (LMMSE) estimate-based multiuser detector for CDMA communication systems. Remarkable consistency is achieved through numerical evaluation of our analytical results and computer simulations. We also compare the performance of the LMMSE detector and the adaptive bootstrap multiuser detector. Our analyses and simulations show that even though these two detectors were proposed based on different optimization criteria, they exhibit approximately equal performance in multiuser CDMA communication applications.
Creatine as a Potential Treatment for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Key words: Creatine; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; clinical trials; neurotherapeutics; transgenic mouse models; ALS functional rating scale. Introduction Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare degenerative disorder of large motor neurons that results in progressive wasting and paralysis of voluntary muscles of the extremities, bulbar regions and respiratory apparatus (Rowland, 1994; Mulder, 1982). The incidence of ALS is currently approximately 2/100 000/year (Chio & Silani, 2001; Haverkamp et al ., 1995) with a prevalence of approximately 5/100 000. The lifetime ALS risk is 1 in 600 to 1 in 1000. Fifty percent of ALS cases die within 3 years of onset of symptoms and 90% die within 5 years (Shefner, 1996; Kurtzke & Kurland, 1989). The median age of onset is 55 years. In sporadic disease, males are at slightly greater risk, while the male/female ratio is 1 : 1 in most cases of familial disease. Ten Percent of patients have a history of the disease in first degree relatives; about 20% of these patients have a mutation in the gene encoding cytosolic copper–zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) have been robustly identified as causing typical familial ALS (fALS) (Rosen et al ., 1993). Patients with ALS typically present with focal weakness of an arm, a leg, or of facial and bulbar muscles. The weakness typically progresses regionally and ultimately involves all muscles of voluntary movement. Both lower motor neurons (spinal) and upper (cortical) motor neurons are involved, so that patients display signs of atrophy, fasciculations, cramps and weakness in combination with spasticity, increased stretch reflexes and incoordination. Although there is sometimes pathologic evidence of sensory neuron loss, clinically, sensory signs are sparse or absent (Shefner et al ., 1991).
Left Hemisphere Diffusivity of the Arcuate Fasciculus: Influences of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Language Impairment

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There has been much discussion whether brain abnormalities associated with specific language impairment and autism with language impairment are shared or are disorder specific. Although white matter tract abnormalities are observed in both specific language impairment and autism spectrum disorders, the similarities and differences in the white matter abnormalities in these 2 disorders have not been fully determined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diffusion tensor imaging diffusion parameters of the arcuate fasciculus were measured in 14 children with specific language impairment as well as in 16 children with autism spectrum disorder with language impairment, 18 with autism spectrum disorder without language impairment, and 25 age-matched typically developing control participants. RESULTS: Language impairment and autism spectrum disorder both had (elevating) main effects on mean diffusivity of the left arcuate fasciculus, initially suggesting a shared white matter substrate abnormality. Analysis of axial and radial diffusivity components, however, indicated that autism spectrum disorder and language impairment differentially affect white matter microstructural properties, with a main effect of autism spectrum disorder on axial diffusivity and a main effect of language impairment on radial diffusivity. CONCLUSIONS: Although white matter abnormalities appear similar in language impairment and autism spectrum disorder when examining broad white matter measures, a more detailed analysis indicates different mechanisms for the white matter microstructural anomalies associated with language impairment and autism spectrum disorder.
A fast searching technique for multistage residual vector quantizers

The encoding procedure for multistage residual vector quantizers consists of searching a tree to find the codeword that best matches the input. Many techniques have been proposed for searching such trees, ranging from the slow and faithful to the fast and inaccurate. The present authors introduce a simple method, which they call dynamic M-search, that is both fast and effective for searching the residual vector quantization tree. The new method is applied to image coding, performance results are presented, and advantages are shown over conventional M-search. >
Enabling autonomic compositions in grid environments

We present the design, prototype implementation and operation of the Accord Composition Engine (ACE) that enables the dynamic and autonomic composition of grid services. ACE builds on the open grid services architecture (OGSA) and autonomically synthesizes composition plans, when possible, from an available pool of services based on dynamically defined objectives and constraints. The key contribution is a dynamic composition model based on relational algebra and graph theory.
Investigation of the influence of antenna array parameters on adaptive MIMO performance

The paper presents an investigation of the adaptive parameters of multi-antenna schemes for use in future reconfigurable MIMO systems. The study puts a special emphasis on linking the concept of channel diversity, either in the spatial or polarization domain, with the type of polarization being used, both at the transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX), and the level of multipath provided by the channel in the vertical or horizontal direction, with respect to the propagation plane. It has been found that NLOS indoor channels are very sensitive to the type of signal diversity being employed and the type of polarization and the multipath component being used.
Factors controlling nitrosamine formation during wastewater chlorination

Recent discoveries of the formation of low levels of the potent carcinogen N -nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) during wastewater chlorination has caused concern where indirect potable water reuse is practiced. Experiments indicate that nitrosamine formation during chlorination of wastewater is consistent with a reaction scheme involving the slow formation of a hydrazine intermediate from a secondary amine and monochloramine, followed by its rapid oxidation to the corresponding N -nitrosamine. A survey of precursors indicates that secondary amines form their corresponding N -nitrosamines to the greatest extent. However, molecules containing the secondary amine as a functional group can also form the corresponding N -nitrosamine. NDMA is the predominant N -nitrosamine found in chlorinated wastewater. However, other nitrosamines are detected. These N -nitrosamines may be important if the summed risk posed by the exposure to all N -nitrosamines is considered.
Generation of Histocompatible Tissues via Parthenogenesis

Parthenogenic stem (PS) cells are a potential source of histocompatible, pluripotent cells for transplantation therapy that does not rely on fertilized embryos. Parthenotes result from artificially activated oocytes that contain only maternal chromosomes, without contribution from sperm. Parthenotes cannot develop into live offspring, but have been used to derive PS cells in multiple species, including mouse and humans. Different oocyte activation protocols and natural recombination events may lead to PS cells that are heterozygous at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and therefore completely histocompatible to the oocyte donor, or MHC-homozygous and histocompatible to a significant percentage of the general population. Studies in mouse and nonhuman primates suggest the PS cells may be a valuable cell source for transplantation therapies, although further work is needed to establish the safety and efficacy of human PS cell based therapies.
Broncholithiasis presenting as bronchiectasis and recurrent pneumonias

A broncholith is defined as the presence of calcified material within a bronchus or within a cavity communicating with a bronchus. It is most frequently caused by Histoplasmosis or tuberculosis (TB) spp. Bronchial distortion, irritation and erosion by broncholiths can cause bronchiectasis, recurrent pneumonias and haemoptysis. We present a case of recurrent pneumonia due to a broncholith, which resolved conservatively with antibiotics. Owing to recurrent fevers and post obstructive pneumonias, a lobectomy or rigid bronchoscopic removal were considered but the patient was deemed not to be a candidate for general anaesthesia due to her comorbidities. Broncholiths are an uncommon cause of bronchiectasis and recurrent pneumonias. However, the wide range of symptoms and low clinical suspicion are the main reasons why a diagnosis can be delayed. Various treatment options are available and the choice of therapy should be made depending on the broncholith's size, mobility, location and local surgical expertise.
A pair of characteristic subgroups for pushing-up. II

Many problems about local analysis in a finite group G reduce to a special case in which G has a large normal p-subgroup satisfying several restrictions. In 1983, R. Niles and G. Glauberman showed that every finite p-group S of nilpotence class at least 4 must have two characteristic subgroups S1 and S2 such that, whenever S is a Sylow p-subgroup of a group G as above, S1 or S2 is normal in G. In this paper, we prove a similar theorem with a more explicit choice of S1 and S2.
Monitoring students' growth using system dynamics

Researchers have long been trying to analyze the problems associated with the teaching processes at universities [6] [7]. Most such research is focused on trying to understand the problems associated with teaching and analyzing the impacts of these problems on student learning. However, little work has been done in modelling the teaching/learning process to understand how different problems affect the knowledge gained by the students. The problems may impact students’ motivational development, teachers’ teaching interest or even students’ learning process. In this paper, we propose a model that we use to simulate the existing teaching process at universities, using system dynamics [12]. We demonstrate that an analysis of different parameters extracted from academic, personal and motivational fronts using system dynamics can provide a clear picture of the influence of real life events on students’ performance. System dynamics helped us to monitor the students’ growth over the duration of a course, guiding us to analyze the root cause of the problems. As a result, system dynamics helps to provide a solution for efficiently dealing with students’ difficulties. The results show various trends among teachers’ enthusiasm, students’ enthusiasm, students’ knowledge, test anxiety, teaching quality and students’ performance over time. For example, teachers’ enthusiasm reduces by approximately 4% when teachers’ mental stress increases by 10
Spectral and spatial changes of brain rhythmic activity in response to the sustained thermal pain stimulation

The aim of this study was to investigate the neurophysiological correlates of pain caused by sustained thermal stimulation. A group of 21 healthy volunteers was studied. Sixty-four channel continuous electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded while the subject received tonic thermal stimulation. Spectral changes extracted from EEG were quantified and correlated with pain scales reported by subjects, the stimulation intensity, and the time course. Network connectivity was assessed to study the changes in connectivity patterns and strengths among brain regions that have been previously implicated in pain processing. Spectrally, a global reduction in power was observed in the lower spectral range, from delta to alpha, with the most marked changes in the alpha band. Spatially, the contralateral region of the somatosensory cortex, identified using source localization, was most responsive to stimulation status. Maximal desynchrony was observed when stimulation was present. The degree of alpha power reduction was linearly correlated to the pain rating reported by the subjects. Contralateral alpha power changes appeared to be a robust correlate of pain intensity experienced by the subjects. Granger causality analysis showed changes in network level connectivity among pain-related brain regions due to high intensity of pain stimulation versus innocuous warm stimulation. These results imply the possibility of using noninvasive EEG to predict pain intensity and to study the underlying pain processing mechanism in coping with prolonged painful experiences. Once validated in a broader population, the present EEG-based approach may provide an objective measure for better pain management in clinical applications. Hum Brain Mapp 37:2976-2991, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.