cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A positive approach to non-cooperative games

Abstract Population steady states are defined for non-cooperative games played repeatedly by individuals drawn from large populations. These steady states balance the tendencies of immigration to an emigration from strategies according to certain simple measures of their relative performances. Approximate values for these steady states are computed for some examples and appear intuitively more plausible as descriptors of play than do Nash equilibria.
Respiratory Burns with Special Reference to Pulmonary Edema and Congestion

The functional changes in respiration, circulation, blood composition and blood temperature were investigated in anesthetized dogs that were subjected to the inhalation of steam. The pathogenesis of the accompanying pulmonary congestion and edema was analyzed by measurements of: (a) pulmonary blood flow, (b) pressures in pulmonary artery and vein, (c) pulmonary blood (P32) volume, (d) electrical (AC) resistance of the lungs, and (e) edema fluid of the excised lung. The peculiarities of the pulmonary circulation that were demonstrated by bleeding and blood infusion explain the difficulties of correcting the congestion that regularly preceded thermal edema.
Thermodynamic properties of Laves phases in the Mg–Al–Ca system at finite temperature from first-principles

First-principles calculations are employed to investigate the structural and thermodynamic properties of binary Laves phases (C14, C15 and C36 structures) in the MgeAleCa system. The enthalpies of formation at 0 K are predicted. The vibrational contributions to Helmholtz free energy for the stable C14-Mg2Ca and C15-Al2Ca phases are determined using both first-principles phonon calculations and DebyeeGruneisen model. The predicted thermodynamic properties of the stable phases, including enthalpy, entropy, bulk modulus, heat capacity, and thermal expansion coefficient, agree well with available experimental data. For the other nonstable phases, the thermodynamic properties are estimated by DebyeeGruneisen models of Moruzzi et al. and of Wang et al. The entropies predicted from these two Debye models have a general agreement with about � 0.5 J/mol K differences for all the three structures.
Intergroup bias and perceived similarity: Effects of successes and failures on support for in- and outgroup political leaders:

Drawing on the social identity theory of leadership and optimal distinctiveness theory, this research examined differences in perceived attitude similarity to in- and outgroup leaders among Liberal...
Integration of multiple predator cues by the crayfish Orconectes propinquus

We examined the responses of individual crayfish (O. propinquus) to cues associated with predation risk in the laboratory. We presented visual and tactile cues either alone or in combination with conspecific alarm odour. The addition of alarm odour resulted in crayfish responding to a visual cue at a greater distance and with a stronger response in terms of distance retreated. Similarly, the frequency of response and the magnitude of the responses shown to a tactile cue were higher when alarm odour was added, but only at night. During the day, the addition of alarm odour did not affect the responses shown to tactile input. We then presented a dilution series of alarm odour solutions (100, 50, 10 and 1% strength) in combination with the visual stimulus. There were no differences in response parameters with chemical cues of different strength. We discuss the response patterns observed with regard to the ecology of O. propinguus compared with related species of crayfish.
An adjustable speed power selsyn system

THIS paper treats a system consisting of two wound-rotor induction motors, with rotors paralleled through slip rings, the speed of which is controlled by a frequency changer connected to the slip rings. The system is a form of synchronous tie in which the driving motors and selsyns are incorporated in one machine. The block diagram in Fig. 1 gives a general picture of the system.
«Active» regulation of cutaneous gas exchange by capillary recruitment in amphibians: experimental evidence and a revised model for skin respiration

Abstract Oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide elimination, cutaneous and systematic blood flows) measured by microsphere technique) and the numbe of perfused capillaries in the hind foot web have been measured at 25°C in unanaesthetized bullfrods (Rana catesbeiana) both while breathing air as they float in water and while resting totally out of water in humidified air. The gas exchange ratio, approximately 1 while breathing with both water and air, fell to 0.5 or lower during 4 h of complete air exposure. A concomitant decrease occurred in both cutaneous blood flow and the proportion of perfused to non-perfussed capillaries in the hind foot web. Upon returning to floating at the water surface, cutaneous blood flow and capillary recruitment increased again and the gas exchange ratio increased to above 2 for several hours. These data suggest that a partial inhibition of CO2 excretion is linked with a decrease in the extent and pattern of blood flow through the skin, which is the major site of CO2 elimination. Conventional models for cutaneous CO2 elimination in amphibians reveal major diffusion limitations but minor, even insignificant, perfusion limitations. Consequently, CO2 elimination is regarded as highly responsive to changes in blood PCO2, but nearly insensitive to changes in blood flow. Importantly, however, such models have treated the skin as a single blood compartment (i.e., single ‘capillary’), through which blood flow is varied. We propose a multi-capillary model of which incorporates changes in capillary recruitment, and thus changes in the surface area cross which CO2 elimination from the blood can occur. In such a model, changes in the number of perfused capillaries cause major changes in CO2 elimination. Experimental data on CO2 elimination agrees well with predicted changes using this new multi-capillary model.
Experimental and Modeling Study of the High‐Temperature Ignition of Methane and Methane Mixtures with Ethane and Propane

An important part of deepening our understanding of the reaction mechanism of natural gas oxidation is validating a detailed model against experimental flame and ignition data. Ignition delays in shock-heated CH4–O2 mixtures, with and without ignition-promoting additives, account for most of the available validation data. Most, but not all, ignition delays in such mixtures reported in the literature have been found to agree with calculations done using the GRI-Mech 1.2 model. Additional reflected shock wave ignition experiments were done to explore possible reasons for the mismatches and to study the promotion of CH4 ignition by small amounts of C2H6 and C3H8 additives. Empirical correlations were derived that describe ignition delays in CH4–O2–C2H6 (C3H8).
Learned taste aversions induced by rotational stimulation

Rats presented with a distinctive taste cue (salt or sucrose) followed by rotational stimulation subsequently displayed an aversion to the specific cue that had been paired with rotation. Evidence of such learning was noted after a single trial when the taste cue and rotational treatment had been presented in separate places several minutes apart. This observation was attested to through comparisons of four groups of rats, two of which received a specific and different taste cue paired with rotation, one which received rotational stimulation paired with plain water, and one which was not rotated. A discrimination procedure was employed in which the consumption of all solutions (salt, sucrose, and water) was measured for all rats throughout eight training and two testing cycles.
The partition function modulo 3 in arithmetic progressions

Let $$p(n)$$ be the partition function. Ahlgren and Ono conjectured that every arithmetic progression contains infinitely many integers $$N$$ for which $$p(N)$$ is not congruent to $$0\;(\mathrm{mod}\;3)$$ . Radu proved this conjecture in 2010 using the work of Deligne and Rapoport. In this note, we give a simpler proof of Ahlgren and Ono’s conjecture in the special case where the modulus of the arithmetic progression is a power of $$3$$ by applying a method of Boylan and Ono and using the work of Bellaiche and Khare generalizing Nicolas and Serre’s results on the local nilpotency of the Hecke algebra.
Physical mapping of human adenovirus type 7 DNA using a simple and sensitive method of terminal labeling

Abstract The tyrosine-containing peptide covalently attached to each 5′-terminus of adenovirus type 7 (Ad 7; Greider) DNA was labeled with 125I. The 5′-labeled DNA was subjected to digestion with several restriction endonucleases and the size of the labeled terminal fragments was determined. Partial hydrolysis by these endonucleases generated a series of labeled fragments which were fused to the terminal fragments and could, therefore, be detected by autoradiography. From the sizes of the partial products the location of the cleavage sites of the enzymes on Ad7 DNA could be determined. The subgenomic DNA extracted from incomplete particles by protease treatment could also be labeled with 125I, since it was found to contain the tyrosine-containing peptide covalently attached to the preferentially packaged left end of the genome.
The Effect of Bilateral Internal Thoracic Artery Grafting on Survival During 20 Postoperative Years

Background To compare survival of patients receiving bilateral internal thoracic artery grafts and single internal thoracic artery grafts more than 20 postoperative years, assess magnitude of benefit, and identify predictors of benefit. Methods From cohorts of 8123 patients receiving single internal thoracic artery grafts and 2001 receiving bilateral internal thoracic artery grafts during primary isolated bypass operations for multivessel coronary disease between 1971 and 1989, we identified 1152 propensity-matched pairs. Mean follow-up of survivors was 16.5 years, with 51 patients followed for 20 years or more. Hazard function methodology was used to identify risk factors for mortality, compare survival, and assess magnitude of benefit. Results Comparison of the matched pairs showed survival of the bilateral internal thoracic artery and single internal thoracic artery groups at 7, 10, 15, and 20 years was 89% versus 87%, 81% versus 78%, 67% versus 58%, and 50% versus 37%, respectively (p Conclusions Bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting produces improved survival compared with single internal thoracic artery grafting during the second postoperative decade, and the magnitude of that benefit increases through 20 postoperative years.
Approximate parametric receiver operating characteristics for Poisson distributed noise.

Etude mathematique sur les fonctions de probabilite en detection et en fausse alarme du signal d'un recepteur radiometrique base sur la technique du comptage de photons
Acute Vasodilation Following Induction of Anesthesia with Intravenous Diazepam and Nitrous Oxide

Precipitous hypotension has been observed following administration of diazepam, 2–5 mg, im, in four patients after open–heart surgery. However, diazepam is widely used as an adjuntive agent during in cardiac patients. Intravenous administration of diazepam typically results in a modest decrease in systolic kblood pressure, a transient decrease in left ventricular end–diastolic pressure, and a decrease in left ventricular stroke work. 3-6 systemic vascular resistance has been reported to increase, decrease or remain unchanged. 3-8 we observed profound hypotension due to peripheral vasodilation when diazepam was used with nitrous oxide for induction of anestheisa.
C-H Bond Activation as the Initial Step in the Co+-Mediated Demethanation of Propane: The Critical Role of Angular Momentum at the Rate-Limiting Transition State

Exothermic reactions of transition-metal ions with alkanes have in many instances been shown to be facile in the gas phase. Reactions mainly result in the loss of molecular hydrogen and small alkanes to yield metal ion-olefin complexes. A variety of experimental techniques have provided thermochemical, kinetic, dynamic, and mechanistic information for these reactions, with an important focus being the identification of the initial activation step. The question of C-H versus C-C bond activation as the initial step in the formation of C-C bond cleavage products has yet to be resolved. The authors have measured reaction cross sections and kinetic energy release distributions for the exothermic reactions of Co{sup +} with propane, propane-2-d{sub 1}, propane-2,2-d{sub 2}, propane-1,1,1-d{sub 3}, propane-1,1,1,3,3,3-d{sub 6}, and propane-d{sub 8}.
Sexuality and partner selection: Sex differences among college students

Abstract Seven hypotheses regarding sex differences in sexuality and partner selection were derived from evolutionary theory and tested among 400 college students. Subjects viewed color photographs of live models dressed in appropriate costumes and paired with descriptions of three potentially datable social types recognizable to college students. A MANOVA revealed significant sex differences in reported willingness to have sexual relations with stimulus persons compared to willingness to engage in higher-investment relationships, and in the effects of stimulus persons' status and physical attractiveness in determining thresholds of initial acceptability. Subjects also responded to the Attitudes Toward Women Scale (AWS), the Sociosexual Orientation Inventory, and statements concerning prospective spouses' relative income, occupational prestige, and physical attractiveness. Regression analyses revealed that males with more economic resources had more sex partners, lower AWS scores, and emphasized prospective spouses' physical attractiveness more and their socioeconomic status less than did their lessaffluent peers. Economic resources and AWS scores did not predict females' sexual behavior. Results from the MANOVA and the regressions suggested that the reported overlap of male and female selection criteria in higher-investment relationships masks sexual dimorphism in the process, criteria, and motivations underlying sexual attraction, mate evaluation, and selection.
Statistical analysis of fiber weave effect over differential microstrips on printed circuit boards

Fiberglass and epoxy-based dielectric substrates are ubiquitous in manufactured printed circuit boards. Their construction usually involves various woven fiberglass fabrics saturated with epoxy resin. These two materials have different electrical properties, hence as data rate increases and structure feature size decreases, the fiber weaves in the substrates can have profound impacts on the effective dielectric constants of printed circuit boards, which can cause unforeseen degradations in signal integrity. This paper proposes a systematic way of modeling fiber weave effect on high-speed interconnects over low-cost substrates, and also presents a statistical analysis of the impact of fiber weave effect on intra-pair skew of differential microstrip lines.
The Spectrum of Abnormal Patterns of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Secretion in Men with Idiopathic Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism: Clinical and Laboratory Correlations*

Several lines of evidence indicate that hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal activity varies among men with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH). To test the hypothesis that a spectrum of abnormalities of GnRH secretion underlies the syndrome of IHH, we characterized the patterns of GnRH-induced gonadotropin secretion during periods of frequent sampling in 50 consecutive men with IHH and contrasted them with those in 20 normal men. The largest group of IHH patients (n = 42) had no detectable LH or FSH pulsations and could be categorized into 2 subsets according to the presence or absence of evidence of spontaneous puberty. The most severely affected subset (n = 32), who recalled no history of puberty, had testes with a mean volume of 3.3 ± 0.5 (±SEM) ml, with a prepubertal appearance on biopsy, and often were anosmic (n = 17). The second subset of apulsatile IHH men (n = 10) had histories of partial or complete spontaneous sexual development with subsequent isolated loss of sexual function, testes wit...
A Demographic Study of Disease due to Mycobacterium kansasii or M intracellulare-avium in Texas

The number of patients reported to have disease due to Mycobacterium kansasii or M intracellulare-avium has increased in Texas from January 1967 to December 1976, in contrast to a decrease in tuberculosis. Presented is an analysis of 1,409 patients infected with M kansasii and 706 patients infected with M intracellulare-avium . The former group clustered in urban areas with more than twice the incidence compared to nonurban areas (P M kansasii was 50 years and of the group infected with M intracellulare-avium 58 years. In patients infected with M kansasii only, the average age was significantly higher for men than women. There was a male predominance in both groups, ie , 3:1 in M kansasii and 2:1 in M intracellulare-avium . Persons with Spanish surnames had a low incidence of disease due to M kansasii . No other racial or ethnic association was noted. The various factors involved in determining the atypical mycobacterial diseases are discussed.
Dominant-Lethal Mutations and Heritable Translocations in Mice

Chromosome aberrations are a major component of radiation or chemically induced genetic damage in mammalian germ cells. The types of aberration produced are dependent upon the mutagen used and the germ cell stage treated. For example, in male meiotic and postmeiotic germ cells certain alkylating chemicals induce both dominant-lethal mutations and heritable translocations while others induce primarily dominant-lethal mutations. Production of these two endpoints appears to be determined by the stability of alkylation products with the chromosomes. If the reaction products are intact in the male chromosomes at the time of sperm entry, they may be repaired in fertilized eggs. If repair is not effected and the alkylation products persist to the time of pronuclear chromosome replication, they lead to chromatid-type aberrations and eventually to dominant-lethality. The production of heritable translocations, on the other hand, requires a transformation of unstable alkylation products into suitable intermediate lesions. The process by which these lesions are converted into chromosome exchange within the male genome takes place after sperm enters the egg but prior to the time of pronuclear chromosome replication (i.e., chromosome-type). Thus, dominant-lethal mutations result from both chromatid- and chromosome-type aberrations while heritable translocations result primarily from the latter type. DNA target sites associated with the production of these two endpoints are discussed.
Progranulin Resolves Inflammation

A molecule binds to a cytokine receptor and limits the cytokine from eliciting inflammatory responses by immune cells.
Biomimetics and cilia propulsion

Many swimming microorganisms are able to propel themselves by the organized beating motion of numerous short flagella or cilia attached to their body surface. For their small size and the inherently viscous nature of the motion, this mechanism is very effective and they can swim several body lengths per second. The quest has been to see if artificial cilia may be developed and if the strategy of cilia propulsion can be used in microfluidic devices to transport fluids in a localized and controllable manner. Babataheri et al. (J. Fluid Mech., this issue, vol. 678, 2011, pp. 5-13) explore the response of chains of small paramagnetic beads that are elastically bonded together to form artificial cilia. The chain or fleximag is tethered to the surface and driven by external magnetic fields, responding also to both fluid and elastic forces. A key observation from their experiments and model is that for a simple planar-forcing strategy there is a hidden symmetry that limits the net transport of fluid.
Custom sandwich pairs

Abstract For many equations arising in practice, the solutions are critical points of functionals. In previous papers we have shown that there are pairs of subsets, called sandwich pairs, that can produce critical points even though they do not separate the functional. All that is required is that the functional be bounded from above on one of the sets and bounded from below on the other, with no relationship needed between the bounds. This provides a distinct advantage in applications. The present paper discusses the situation in which one cannot find sandwich pairs for which the functional is bounded below on one set and bounded above on the other. We develop a method which can deal with such situations and apply it to problems in partial differential equations.
Press-Fit Sheathing for Ceramic Gun Liners

Ceramic materials are being investigated by the Army for use in gun tubes. Compared to gun steels, ceramics possess superior wear resistance at ballistic temperatures, thus enabling improved lifetime for gun tubes. In order to survive the ballistic event, however, it is necessary to prestress the ceramic components with external sheathing to offset the tensile stresses in the tube wall that occur during the ballistic event. Previous sheathing designs for ceramic liners have included thermal shrink fits of tubular metallic components, steel wire overwrapped under high tension, and advanced fibrous composites overwrapped under high tension. In the present investigation, press-fitted composite sheaths are fabricated and tested with the purpose of validating a computer model applicable to the design of ceramic gun barrel liners.
Raytheon advanced forward looking infrared (ATFLIR) pod

Raytheon's AN/ASQ-228 Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) Pod features state-of-the-art mid-wave infrared targeting and navigation FLIRs, an electro-optical sensor, a laser rangefinder and target designator, and a laser spot tracker. ATFLIR is fully integrated and flight tested on all F/A-18 Hornet/Super Hornet models, approved for full-rate production and is forward deployed, supporting US. fleet operations worldwide. This paper will present ATFLIR status and a summary of future plans.
Application of the extended Melnikov's method for single-degree-of-freedom vessel roll motion

Traditionally, when using Melnikov's method to analyze ship motions, the damping terms are treated as small. This is typically true for roll motion but not always true for other and/or multiple degrees of freedom. In order to apply Melnikov's method to other and/or multiple-degree-of-freedom motions, the small damping assumption must be addressed. In this paper, the extended Melnikov method is used to analyze ship motion without the constraint of small linear damping. Two roll motion models are analyzed here. One is a simple roll model with nonlinear damping and cubic restoring moment. The other is the model with biased restoring moment. Numerical simulations are investigated for both models. The effectiveness and accuracy of this method is demonstrated.
Improving operating system security

Existing operating system security models implicity measure security with an invalid measurement function, by assuming that denial of access necessarily increases security. Security should be measured against the level of security desired by the owners of the information. A system that is too restrictive can result in breaches of security, as well as a system that is not restrictive enough. This paper shows how this concept should be incorporated into existing security models by applying conventional security access limits to executing files. This new system adds the flexibility to control access according to users and applications. The changes are shown to yield better security than existing operating system security applications. The model has four major improvements over existing models. First, the model considers the implications of user preferences and their reaction to inflexible systems. Second, the paper identifies the lack of granularity as a significant difficulty with existing theories. Third, it explicitly describes a measurement function that allows discussion of the level of security provided by different models. Fourth, the paper shows how the model can stop a Trojan Horse, even in the presence of ''covert channels''.
Origin and effects of negative ions in the sputtering of intermetallic compounds

An unexpected etching phenomenon during the sputtering of rare earth-gold alloys has been found to be caused by a large flux of negative gold ions from the sputtering target. We find this effect to occur in a range of intermetallic compounds. A model is presented which predicts when negative ion formation will be important. Effects of negative ions on sputter deposition of thin films include reduced deposition rate or substrate etching, and changes in film composition and other properties. Negative ion formation must also be taken into account for accurate quantitative analysis by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS).
Editorial: We Got Your Input, Part II

This PDF file contains the editorial “Editorial: We Got Your Input, Part II” for OE Vol. 33 Issue 10
Theory of photon coincidence statistics in photon-correlated beams

The statistics of photon coincidence counting in photon-correlated beams is thoroughly investigated considering the effect of the finite coincidence resolving time. The correlated beams are assumed to be generated using parametric downconversion, and the photon streams in the correlated beams are modeled by two partially correlated Poisson point processes. An exact expression for the mean rate of coincidence registration is developed using techniques from renewal theory. It is shown that the use of the traditional approximate rate, in certain situations, leads to the overestimation of the actual rate. The error between the exact and approximate coincidence rates increases as the coincidence-noise parameter, defined as the mean number of uncorrelated photons detected per coincidence resolving time, increases. The use of the exact statistics of the coincidence becomes crucial when the background noise is high or in cases when high precision measurement of coincidence is required. Such cases arise whenever the coincidence-noise parameter is even slightly in excess of zero. It is also shown that the probability distribution function of the time between consecutive coincidence registration can be well approximated by an exponential distribution function. The well-known and experimentally verified Poissonian model of the coincidence registration process is therefore theoretically justified. The theory is applied to an on-off keying communication system proposed by Mandel which has been shown to perform well in extremely noisy conditions. It is shown that the bit-error rate (BER) predicted by the approximate coincidence-rate theory can be significantly lower than the actual BER obtained using the exact theory.
If I belong, do I believe? An integrative framework for culture and identification

Organizational culture has become firmly entrenched in the fields of organizational behavior and theory, yet remains a conceptual and methodological challenge for researchers. Because culture involves the processes of sense making, interpretation, and social construction, while identification is more clearly linked theoretically and empirically to attitudes and behavior, bringing these two concepts together helps to address the limits of both. In this article, we develop a multidimensional framework to introduce identification into the discussion of culture, illustrating how tensions of generality–contextuality and unity–multiplicity highlight identification as an important mediator between macrolevel cultural meanings and individual-level behavioral outcomes. We subsequently explore the framework's potential for integrating disparate approaches and encouraging meso-level organizational research, arguing that the dual consideration of these concepts may help to elucidate some of the complexities inherent in organizations, as well as focusing attention on the complex influences of both culture and identification in determining organizational outcomes.
Encouraging the development of social justice attitudes and actions in heterosexual student

The authors discuss strategies for the development of heterosexual allies and actions that allies can take to support this social identity group.
Treating Urge Incontinence in Older Women: A Cost-Effective Investment in Quality-Adjusted Life-Years (QALY)

Objectives. To conduct cost-effectiveness analyses of urge incontinence treatments for older women. Methods. Decision-analytic models assessed three treatment pathways: (1) limited behavioral therapy (LBT); (2) full behavioral therapy (FBT) with biofeedback; and (3) drug (DRUG), with allowances for crossover options following initial treatments. Model inputs were gathered from published data. Cost data were based on third party payer reimbursement. Outcomes were measured as the number of incontinence episodes avoided and quality-adjusted life years gained (QALYs). Results. At baseline values costs per QALY gained ranged from US$3696 to $10609. LBT was the least costly with the lowest benefit. Switching from LBT to FBT, with the greatest gain, was $415 per additional QALY. DRUG was the most expensive option. Sensitivity analyses showed that only small changes in key inputs were required for DRUG to generate greater gains than FBT. Medication costs had to fall substantially for DRUG to be cost competitive. Conclusion. All treatment strategies provide QALYs gains at a bargain price, compared to the standard of US$50,000 per QALY gained. No single treatment strategy dominated under all conditions. Clinicians should offer multiple treatment options to older women with urge incontinence.
GATA4 Is Essential for Jejunal Function in Mice

Background & Aims Although the zinc-finger transcription factor GATA4 has been implicated in regulating jejunal gene expression, the contribution of GATA4 in controlling jejunal physiology has not been addressed. Methods We generated mice in which the Gata4 gene was specifically deleted in the small intestinal epithelium. Measurements of plasma cholesterol and phospholipids, intestinal absorption of dietary fat and cholesterol, and gene expression were performed on these animals. Results Mice lacking GATA4 in the intestine displayed a dramatic block in their ability to absorb cholesterol and dietary fat. Comparison of the global gene expression profiles of control jejunum, control ileum, and GATA4 null jejunum by gene array analysis revealed that GATA4 null jejunum lost expression of 53% of the jejunal-specific gene set and gained expression of 47% of the set of genes unique to the ileum. These alterations in gene expression included a decrease in messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding lipid and cholesterol transporters as well as an increase in mRNAs encoding proteins involved in bile acid absorption. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that GATA4 is essential for jejunal function including fat and cholesterol absorption and confirm that GATA4 plays a pivotal role in determining jejunal vs ileal identity.
Trends in the US decking market: a national survey of deck and home builders.

The deck-building industry is going through a period of rapid growth and dramatic change with respect to the types of materials available to build decks. Naturally durable timber species (i.e., redwood, western redcedar, Alaska yellow-cedar and tropical hardwoods) are facing acute competition from engineered decking products, primarily plastic lumber and composite wood products. The results of a 2004 national survey of 156 deck builders and 212 home builders indicate that wood–plastic composites are quickly gaining popularity among deck-building professionals as they increase their market share. This paper investigates deck-building professionals’ use and perceptions of the different decking materials. The study also reveals the usage patterns of the various decking materials in the primary end-use applications (substructure, deck surface and deck accessories). Finally, a comparative assessment of the different decking materials relative to a common set of material attributes is presented. Key words: deck...
Mechanisms and targets for angiogenic therapy after stroke

Stroke remains a major health problem worldwide, and is the leading cause of serious long-term disability. Recent findings now suggest that strategies to enhance angiogenesis after focal cerebral ischemia may provide unique opportunities to improve clinical outcomes during stroke recovery. In this mini-review, we survey emerging mechanisms and potential targets for angiogenic therapies in brain after stroke. Multiple elements may be involved, including growth factors, adhesion molecules and progenitor cells. Furthermore, cross talk between angiogenesis and neurogenesis may also provide additional substrates for plasticity and remodeling in the recovering brain. A better understanding of the molecular interplay between all these complex pathways may lead to novel therapeutic avenues for tackling this difficult disease.
Elevation of Prostaglandin E2 in Lung Cancer Patients with Digital Clubbing

To test the hypothesis that digital clubbing in patients with lung cancer reflects elevated systemic levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), we quantified levels of the major urinary PGE2 metabolite in 29 patients with lung cancer with or without clubbing. We found that digital clubbing was associated with markedly elevated urinary levels of PGE2 metabolite. These findings highlight a potential role for PGE2 in the pathogenesis of digital clubbing. Furthermore, this result identifies a lung cancer subpopulation that may uniquely benefit from cyclooxygenase inhibition.
Initial operation of the LLUMC accelerator and beam transport

Abstract The first proton synchrotron system built specifically for cancer treatment is in the early stages of operation at Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC). The accelerator, a 250 MeV proton synchrotron, was designed, built, and tested by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and was moved to Loma Linda late in 1989. Commissioning and initial operation at Loma Linda is described. A complete beam transport system to the treatment rooms has been installed, including 360° beam rotation to permit isocentric treatment. This commissioning and operation is being performed by SAIC for LLUMC.
Piggybacking strategies for nonprofits: A shared costs approach

This article presents case data and a conceptual foundation for nonprofit piggybacking whereby a nonprofit organization subsidizes its deficit producing primary mission by diversifying into related surplus-producing ventures. Shared common and joint costs are considered as supply-side bases for selecting among demand-side related diversification activities.
The evolutionary psychology of extrapair sex: The role of fluctuating asymmetry

Abstract This study explored evolutionary hypotheses concerning extrapair sex (or EPCs: extrapair copulations). Based on recent notions about sexual selection, we predicted that (a) men's number of EPCs would correlate negatively with their fluctuating asymmetry, a measure of the extent to which developmental design is imprecisely expressed, and (b) men's number of times having been an EPC partner of a woman would negatively correlate with their fluctuating asymmetry. In a sample of college heterosexual couples, both hypotheses were supported. In addition, men's physical attractiveness independently predicted how often they had been an EPC partner. Women's anxious attachment style positively covaried with their number of EPC partners, whereas their avoidant attachment style negatively covaried with their number of EPC partners.
Stable lead isotopic analyses of historic and contemporary lead contamination of San Francisco Bay estuary

Abstract Variations in stable lead isotopic composition ( 204 Pb , 206 Pb , 207 Pb , 208 Pb ) in three sediment cores from the San Francisco Bay estuary document temporal changes in sources of lead during the past two centuries. Sediment, with lead from natural geologic sources, and relatively homogeneous lead isotopic compositions are overlain by sediments whose isotopic compositions indicate change in the sources of lead associated with anthropogenic modification of the estuary. The first perturbations of lead isotopic composition in the cores occur in the late 1800s concordant with the beginning of industrialization around the estuary. Large isotopic shifts, toward lower 206 Pb / 207 Pb , occur after the turn of the century in both Richardson and San Pablo Bays. A similar relationship among lead isotopic compositions and lead concentrations in both Bays suggest contamination from the same source (a lead smelter). The uppermost sediments (post 1980) of all cores also have a relatively homogenous lead isotopic composition distinct from pre-anthropogenic and recent aerosol signatures. Lead isotopic compositions of leachates from fourteen surface sediments and five marsh samples from the estuary were also analyzed. These analyses suggest that the lead isotopic signature identified in the upper horizons of the cores is spatially homogeneous among recently deposited sediments throughout the estuary. Current aerosol lead isotopic compositions [Smith, D.R., Niemeyer, S., Flegal, A.R., 1992. Lead sources to California sea otters: industrial inputs circumvent natural lead biodepletion mechanisms. Environmental Research 57, 163–175] are distinct from the isotopic compositions of the surface sediments, suggesting that the major source of lead is cycling of historically contaminated sediments back through the water column. Both the upper core sediments and surface sediments apparently derive their lead predominantly from sources internal to the estuary. These results support the idea that geochemical cycling of lead between sediments and water accounts for persistently elevated lead concentrations in the water column despite 10-fold reduction of external source inputs to San Francisco Bay [Flegal, A.R., Rivera-Duarte, I., Ritson, P.I., Scelfo, G., Smith, G.J., Gordon, M., Sanudo-Wilhelmy, S.A., 1996. Metal contamination in San Francisco Waters: historic perturbations, contemporary concentrations, and future considerations in San Francisco Bay. In: Hollobaugh, J.T. (Ed.), The Ecosystem. AAAS, pp. 173–188].
PRAGMATIC DEVELOPMENT IN A SECOND LANGUAGE

PRAGMATIC DEVELOPMENT IN A SECOND LANGUAGE. Gabriele Kasper and Kenneth R. Rose. Oxford: Blackwell, 2002. Pp. x + 352. $36.95 paper.The goal for this useful volume is to survey and evaluate research on pragmatic development of second language learners. In the first chapter, Kasper and Rose note that numerous studies in crosscultural pragmatics assess nonnatives' language use and contrast it with the performance of natives but that relatively few studies have focused on how language learners' pragmatic abilities change and develop over time. For researchers in SLA, however, this question of development is central.
THE EXPERIMENTAL PRODUCTION OF GLANDULAR CYSTIC HYPERPLASIA IN CASTRATED MACAQUES1

GLANDULAR CYSTIC HYPERPLASIA of the endometrium has been produced experir mentally by the action of estrogenic substances in women (1–4) and in some of the laboratory animals (5–10). However, there has been a lack of uniformity in the reports of investigators, some of whom have not observed the condition in monkeys treated with large doses of estrogen, for long periods of time. As a result of these different reports (10–15) a certain degree of confusion concerning the etiology of glandular cystic hyperplasia has arisen. The amounts of estrogenic material and the length of the periods of treatment reported in these experiments were varied, so that a table of the available data was compiled in order to simplify the survey (table 1). The differences in the resulting observations may, in some measure, be due to differences in the interpretation of the histology of the specimens of tissue from the experimental animals.
Influence of surface processes over Africa on the Atlantic marine ITCZ and South American precipitation

Abstract Previous studies show that the climatological precipitation over South America, particularly the Nordeste region, is influenced by the presence of the African continent. Here the influence of African topography and surface wetness on the Atlantic marine ITCZ (AMI) and South American precipitation are investigated. Cross-equatorial flow over the Atlantic Ocean introduced by north–south asymmetry in surface conditions over Africa shifts the AMI in the direction of the flow. African topography, for example, introduces an anomalous high over the southern Atlantic Ocean and a low to the north. This results in a northward migration of the AMI and dry conditions over the Nordeste region. The implications of this process on variability are then studied by analyzing the response of the AMI to soil moisture anomalies over tropical Africa. Northerly flow induced by equatorially asymmetric perturbations in soil moisture over northern tropical Africa shifts the AMI southward, increasing the climatological pre...
Did an impact blast away half of the martian crust

The northern and southern hemispheres of Mars are topographically distinct. Crustal thickness analyses and numerical simulations suggest a giant impact just after the crust differentiated 4.4 billion years ago as a plausible cause for this dichotomy.
Bioanalytical method development for a generation 5 polyamidoamine folic acid methotrexate conjugated nanoparticle

Generation 5 poly(amidoamine) dendrimer nanoparticles conjugated with folic acid and methotrexate (G5-MTX-FA) for targeted treatment of cancer are of recent interest. The increased efficacy of these nanodevices over the free methotrexate has been shown in vitro and in vivo. The heterogeneous nature of this nanoparticle together with possible release of active compounds complicated the method development. This work presents a bioanalytical assay for the detection of nanoparticle-conjugated methotrexate, released methotrexate, and its main plasma metabolite 7-hydroxymethotrexate in rat plasma. Determination of G5-MTX-FA-associated methotrexate occurred by a reductive cleavage of the C9–N10 bond in methotrexate, resulting in a highly fluorescent 2,4-diamino-6-methylpteridine reporter molecule that could be measured by reversed-phase chromatography and fluorescence detection. It was found that reduction should occur directly in the plasma matrix to avoid irreversible adsorption of the nanodevice during sample preparation. The method was linear over a range from 50 to 10,000 nM G5-MTX-FA utilizing 100 μL of plasma. Nanoparticle-released methotrexate and its metabolite 7-hydroxymethotrexate were determined by reversed-phase chromatography followed by online post-column photochemical derivatization and fluorescence detection. The method was specific for these analytes irrespective of nanoparticle concentration. Sample preparation consisted of perchloric acid protein precipitation followed by a strong anion exchange solid-phase extraction. Limits of quantification were about 50 nM for methotrexate and 10 nM for 7-hydroxymethotrexate. Preliminary pharmacokinetic profiles of intravenous and subcutaneous administered G5-MTX-FA in rats were obtained. These data indicated that less than 0.1% of the methotrexate mass is released from the nanoparticle in plasma.
Finding words in alphabet soup: Inference on freeform character recognition for historical scripts

This paper develops word recognition methods for historical handwritten cursive and printed documents. It employs a powerful segmentation-free letter detection method based upon joint boosting with histograms of gradients as features. Efficient inference on an ensemble of hidden Markov models can select the most probable sequence of candidate character detections to recognize complete words in ambiguous handwritten text, drawing on character n-gram and physical separation models. Experiments with two corpora of handwritten historic documents show that this approach recognizes known words more accurately than previous efforts, and can also recognize out-of-vocabulary words.
The theory of radiationless processes in polyatomic molecules

A unified fully quantum mechanical description of all of the diverse radiationless phenomena has been presented. This provides an understanding of the dissipative and nondissipative aspects associated with radiationless processes in small, large, and intermediate case molecules. The full rate expression is analyzed to provide the observed energy gap law and the associated isotope effects. The theory is generalized to treat nonradiative decay rates in dense media and to evaluate the dependence of these rates on particular selected vibronic states. The relevance of this theory to the study of photochemical processes is also noted.
A PVT independent subthreshold constant-G m stage for very low frequency applications

This paper presents the design of an ultra low power sub-threshold Gm stage for Gm-C filters with very low cut-off frequency. The sub-threshold region of operation provides a robust trans-conductance performance against temperature variations. We propose a new topology for a PVT (process, voltage & temperature) independent gm stage with constant gm biasing circuit operating in sub-threshold region. The significant variation to temperature due to channel length modulation is corrected using a parallel combination of two gm blocks of different value. The circuit is made immune to process variations by using replica-biasing circuit to track the changes in process parameters. The circuit performance also remains nearly constant for a supply voltage range of 1.1V to 1.7V. A general biquad filter has been implemented and simulations show about 1% variation in the 3 dB bandwidth (in the range of few hertz) for a temperature range of -30degC to 110degC. The circuit has been implemented using 0.5mum CMOS technology with a nominal supply voltage of 1.2 V and power consumption for each gm block is 55.3 nW.
Complementary therapy used by Hispanic women during treatment for breast cancer.

The purposes of this study are to assess Hispanic women’s use of complementary interventions during breast cancer treatment and delineate the association between the most burdensome side effects and the most frequently used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The researchers examined both descriptive statistics and correlational relationships between side effects and CAM. Data were collected from a convenience sample (N = 125). The mean age was 54, the educational average was less than 10 years, and the median income level was less than $20,000 per year. CAM was positively correlated with family income. Prayer was used by 93% of the women, humor was used by 83%, and 65% used exercise. The most frequent side effect of hair loss (70%) was the most bothersome side effect. The most burdensome and unmanageable side effects were bowel problems and nausea. Nurses play a key role in offering affordable, culturally appropriate symptom management interventions.
Painless aortic dissection presenting as spinal cord ischemia

A 67-year-old woman developed a transient paraplegia as the initial manifestation of acute aortic dissection. Chest or abdominal pain was not present. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thorax demonstrated dissection of the aortic root, aortic arch, and descending aorta as well as pericardial effusion. Ultrasonography of the abdomen revealed an intimal flap in the region of the artery of Adamkiewicz. During aortic dissection, temporary obstruction of spinal arteries may result in transient paraplegia. Painless aortic dissection should be considered in patients who present with transient myelopathy.