cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A photometric history of OI 090.4 and OJ-131

The photometric histories of the confirmed BL Lacertae objects OI 090.4 and OJ-131 are investigated by an examination of photographic plates. Observations of OJ-131, although meager, indicate that the object typically ranges in magnitude from 16.3 to 17.5. The light curve obtained for OI 090.4 reveals it to be more optically active than OJ-131, with a brightness range of about 2 magnitudes and short-time scale variations on the order of 0.8 magnitude superimposed on a constant value of 16.3. It is concluded that both objects investigated deserve further monitoring.
Debate: Obligations of Fair Play and Foreigners*

THE principle of fair play is thought by at least some scholars to generate political obligations. My goal in this piece is to demonstrate that the principle must be amended to take foreigners into consideration if it is to successfully ground such obligations. By altering the requirements that states must meet to generate fairness-based political obligations in this way, it becomes much more difficult to construe existing states as obligation-conferring. After briefly summarizing the standard fair play argument for political obligations (Section I), I argue that the position is insufficiently attentive to nonmembers (Section II). In particular, the principle of fair play needs to account for the ways in which successful provision of public goods affects the ability of outsiders to develop similar schemes of provision (Section III). By failing to do so proponents risk overlooking unfair effects that such schemes may have on outsiders. Finally, I reformulate the principle of fair play in order to take this criticism into account (Section IV).
Probabilistic finite element analysis in heat transfer to a nuclear fuel rod bumper support

AbstractHeat transfer from a nuclear fuel rod bumper support was computationally simulated by a finite element method and probabilistically evaluated in view of the several uncertainties in the performance parameters. Cumulative distribution functions and sensitivity factors were computed for overall heat transfer rates due to the thermodynamic random variables. These results can be used to identify quickly the most critical design variables in order to optimize the design and to make it cost effective. The analysis leads to the selection of the appropriate measurements to be used in heat transfer and to the identification of both the most critical measurements and the parameters.
The Reliability and Validity of Discrete and Continuous Measures of Psychopathology: A Quantitative Review.

In 2 meta-analyses involving 58 studies and 59,575 participants, we quantitatively summarized the relative reliability and validity of continuous (i.e., dimensional) and discrete (i.e., categorical) measures of psychopathology. Overall, results suggest an expected 15% increase in reliability and 37% increase in validity through adoption of a continuous over discrete measure of psychopathology alone. This increase occurs across all types of samples and forms of psychopathology, with little evidence for exceptions. For typical observed effect sizes, the increase in validity is sufficient to almost halve sample sizes necessary to achieve standard power levels. With important caveats, the current results, considered with previous research, provide sufficient empirical and theoretical basis to assume a priori that continuous measurement of psychopathology is more reliable and valid. Use of continuous measures in psychopathology assessment has widespread theoretical and practical benefits in research and clinical settings.
Speaking personally — with Charles Wedemeyer

(1987). Speaking personally — with Charles Wedemeyer. American Journal of Distance Education: Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 59-64.
Sikh Identity: an exploration of groups among Sikhs

Sikh Identity: an exploration of groups among Sikhs Opinderjit Kaur Takhar Ashgate, 2005 215 pp., $100.00, ISBN 978-0-7546-5202-5Opinderjit Kaur Takhar's Sikh Identity begins with the question ‘Who...
Metabolic adaptations in vertically-separated populations of Mytilus californianus Conrad

Abstract Rate of oxygen consumption, critical oxygen tension, capacity for anaerobiosis, and depletion of oxygen within the mantle cavity have been determined for high- and low-level populations of Mytilus californianus Conrad. High-level mussels had a significantly higher rate of respiration when immersed at 10°C, compared with low-level animals. Following exposure periods of 6 and 12 h, there was a rise in oxygen consumption which was greatest in the high-level mussels: the extent of the rise in metabolic rate was a function of time of exposure only in the high-level animals. Both the high- and low-level mussels are metabolic regulators, with the high-level animals showing a critical oxygen tension value slightly lower than the low-level animals. The levels of tissue lactate were initially low, and the accumulation was not significant after 12 h exposure. There was, however, a tendency for the high-level mussels to accumulate more lactate in the tissues than the low-level animals. Oxygen in the mantle cavity fluid decreased exponentially with time of exposure, although the initial decrease was less in the high level-forms. Field measurements deviated from those obtained on ‘restrained’ laboratory mussels, and the difference is discussed in terms of the possible utilization of atmospheric oxygen. It was concluded that one consequence of high-tide existence is an increase in metabolic rate during immersion and a greater capacity for anaerobiosis during exposure in comparison with the low-level mussels.
Use of an adaptive filter to characterize signal-noise relationships

A recently-described adaptive filtering process for recovering either fixed or variable latency responses offers a number of statistical byproducts which may be analyzed to explore signal-noise relationships. The process cross-correlates each of a series of digitized response records against an initial template (usually, the time-locked average of all records). At some lag of ki∗ points, the ith record attains maximum correlation ri∗ with the template. Translation of the origin by |ki∗|, for all i, tends to synchronize responses. A time-locked average of the shifted records provides a new template for the next cycle of correlations, shifting and averaging. Continued iteration converges to an unchanging representation of the response in the final template, together with two key outputs, (1) the mean r of the final set of ri∗, and (2) a stable distribution of shifts, f(ki∗). Background (noise) activity is represented in the final output in proportion to the consistency of noise patterns throughout the set of records. Thus, output “signal” incorporates total activity of highest mutual correlation among the records and in this sense reflects “organization” of the evoked response patterns. The statistic r is a quantitative measure of this activity. It does not distinguish between noise patterns located in or near the area-rich portion of the response and positively correlated with it (“signal-associated” noise) and other, unrelated noise patterns. This distinction can be made by analysis of f(ki∗) which, after suitable reduction, generally appears well fitted by an exponential distribution whose parameter λ reflects signal-associated noise. Computations with various time-locked waveforms, including multi-peaked signals, in band-limited white noise, show r and λ to be fairly stable, largely independent functions of signal-noise ratio and noise bandwidth. Two estimates of prefiltered signal-noise levels are proposed, one based on r and an a priori estimate (from noise-only data) of equivalent white-noise bandwidth, the other using r and λ. Comparison of these estimates may aid in assessing the effects of stimulus on pre-existing background activity. Possible applications of these statistical methods to experiments in neurophysiology are mentioned, as well as the need to extend present studies to variable latency signals.
Student Self-Assessment and Multisource Feedback Assessment Exploring Benefits, Limitations, and Remedies

It has become common practice for management students to participate in some sort of self-assessment or multisource feedback assessment (MSF; also called 360-degree assessment or multirater assessment) during their management degree program. These assessments provide students invaluable feedback about themselves and assist students in their personal and professional development. This article draws on a conceptualization of the self as multifaceted to examine the benefits and limitations of self-assessment and MSF. Specifically, although an aid to students’ learning, self-assessment tools predominantly treat the self as an individual self, thereby ignoring the relational and collective aspects of the self. Moreover, self-assessments that people make tend to be inflated, unreliable, and biased. MSF improves on self-assessment by including others’ assessment of the self; however, it also possesses three limitations in its current treatment: MSF (a) conceptualizes the self as an individual self, (b) ignores t...
A Rationale for Mineralocorticoid Supplementation in Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.

most common example of this phenomenon is Cushing syndrome due to high endogenous or exogenous cortisol exposure. Iatrogenic Cushing syndrome, characterized by inhibition of statural growth in children, excess weight gain, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension, may be ob-served in CAH patients receiving excessive glucocorti-coid treatment [6] . This is why it is important to balance the need for suppression of adrenal androgen precursors with the opposing practical dictum of minimizing gluco-corticoid exposure, particularly in growing children.One way to achieve the desired balance is to treat clas- sic CAH patients from infancy with a combination of moderate doses of both glucocorticoid and mineralocor-ticoid supplements. A systematic review and meta-analy-sis of treatment outcomes in CAH patients revealed that those children who received long-term treatment with mineralocorticoids achieved significantly better adult heights compared with those who were prescribed gluco-corticoids alone [7] . On the other hand, investigators have observed elevated 24-hour ambulatory blood pres-sure in children [8] and adults [9] with CAH. However, it has not been demonstrated that young adults with CAH suffer clinically significant cardiac morbidities or mortal-ity [10] . Taken together, the implication of the available data is that clinicians should prudently prescribe miner- The study by Mooij et al. [1] in this issue underscores the interrelatedness of adrenal cortical steroids in achiev-ing balance in the treatment of patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). In this set of in vitro experi-ments, the investigators delineate the nature of 17-hy-droxyprogesterone and progesterone interference with the ability of aldosterone to transactivate the mineralo-corticoid receptor (MR). This occurs at the level of recep-tor transactivation, rather than nuclear translocation. It is reasonable to infer from these data that a similar in vivo phenomenon occurs at the high 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels and low physiologic aldosterone levels measured in inadequately controlled classic CAH patients. It has long been recognized that elevated plasma renin levels reflect-ing low aldosterone production and/or activity are found among CAH patients with elevated steroid 21-hydroxy-lase precursors [2, 3] . Previous in vitro studies have con-firmed the hypothesis that progesterone and its analogs are the culprits inhibiting MR [4] . An obvious corollary of these findings is exacerbation of sodium wasting in CAH patients, potentially impeding normal growth and even triggering adrenal crisis. In contrast to the ability of progesterones to interfere with aldosterone-induced MR activity, cortisol may bind to and activate the MR causing hypertension [5] . The
Basic muscle protein, a third genetic locus isoenzyme of carbonic anhydrase?

Abstract Rabbit muscle cytosol extract contains a basic protein which represents about 2% of the total cytosol protein. It contains zinc in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio, based on a molecular weight of 30,000, and it catalyzes the hydration of CO 2 . It is immunochemically distinct from the high and low activity forms of rabbit blood carbonic anhydrase. It has comparatively poor activity as an esterase, and about 20% of the CO 2 hydratase activity of the rabbit blood low activity carbonic anhydrase. This CO 2 hydratase activity is not inhibited by acetazolamide at concentrations which totally inhibit the activity of the blood carbonic anhydrases. The evidence obtained to date, though circumstantial, suggests that this basic metalloprotein is a carbonic anhydrase derived from a third genetic locus with properties considerably different from those of the mammalian carbonic anhydrases heretofore identified.
Solanum commersonii cytoplasm does not improve freezing tolerance in substitution backcross hybrids with frost-sensitive potato species

Solanum commersonii Dun. (cmm) is the most frost hardy wild potato species known, being able to tolerate an acute freezing episode to about -5 C and further acclimate to tolerate −10 C after being exposed to chilling temperatures for several days. Breeding with this species to incorporate its frost-hardiness traits can be accomplished by standard sexual hybridization or protoplast fusion. These methods can result in hybrids that vary in contribution of the cmm plastome. To test the effect of cmm cytoplasm, cytoplasmic substitution backcross hybrids were made with three very frost-sensitive species,S. brachistotrichum, S. cardiophyllum, andS. pinnatisectum, by usingS. commersonii as the female to make an F1, then performing repeated backcross (BC) using the sensitive species as males. Relative freezing tolerance (RFT) of all genotypes was assessed by measurement of ion leakage of excised terminal leaflets subjected to a controlled ice nucleation and simulated freeze-thaw stress. Even against the background of these very sensitive species’ genomes, the cmm cytoplasm of substitution hybrids promoted insignificant improvement in frost hardiness or ability to acclimate. We conclude that either (1) cmm cytoplasm does not contribute to frost hardiness, or (2) if cmm cytoplasmic frost hardiness genes do exist, they must be epistatic to (depend on the presence of) nuclear hardiness genes for expression.
Interdiffusion in the System MnxO‐MgO

The solid-state reaction between MnxO and MgO was studied at 1380°, 1480°, and 1565°C in air and at 1500°C at Po2= 10−9 atm. Diffusion occurs by counterdiffusion of Mg and Mn ions through a rigid oxygen lattice. A Kirkendall effect (not marker-detectable) is described in which the Mg flux equals the Mn plus vacancy flux. The system activation energy for diffusion was ∼2 eV (41 kcal/mol). An extension of Darken's treatment was used to interpret the data.
Preparing PharmD Students to Participate in Medicare Part D Education and Enrollment

Objective. To create and implement a teaching module that prepares students to assist Medicare beneficiaries in evaluating and enrolling in Medicare Part D plans. Design. A 6-hour module entitled “Medicare 2006: This Year, It's Different!”1 was developed and first presented to students in February 2006. Material describing provisions of Medicare Part D was included as well as instructions on using the plan selection tools available on the Medicare web site. Learning activities developed included listing the top 10 things a Medicare beneficiary should know about Medicare Part D, participating in a mock patient counseling activity, selecting an appropriate Medicare prescription drug plan for a given list of drugs, and writing a paper explaining features of the plan they selected and justifying their selection. Assessment. Assessment of the 64 students who completed the module was based on completion of individual Top 10 lists, participation in mock counseling sessions, and appropriate drug plan recommendati...
A Semiempirical Downscaling Approach for Predicting Regional Temperature Impacts Associated with Climatic Change

Abstract A statistical downscaling approach is developed for generating regional temperature change predictions from GCM results. The approach utilizes GCM free atmosphere output and surface observations in a framework conceptually similar to the model output statistics approach common in the forecasting community. The appropriateness of this approach is demonstrated through a comparison of GCM and observed free atmosphere variables. Seasonal downscaling models are presented for eight sites within four community climate model (CCM) grid cells in the United States. The majority of these models are capable of explaining more than 90% of the variance in the temperature time series. The results indicate a wide range of differences between downscaled climate change predictions and grid cell–level CCM predictions.
Non-surgical treatment of lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Non-surgical approaches to treatment of lateral epicondylitis are numerous. The aim of this systematic review is to examine randomized, controlled trials of these treatments. Numerous databases were systematically searched from earliest records to February 2013. Search terms included “lateral epicondylitis,” “lateral elbow pain,” “tennis elbow,” “lateral epicondylalgia,” and “elbow tendinopathy” combined with “randomized controlled trial.” Two reviewers examined the literature for eligibility via article abstract and full text. Fifty-eight articles met eligibility criteria: (1) a target population of patients with symptoms of lateral epicondylitis; (2) evaluation of treatment of lateral epicondylitis with the following non-surgical techniques: corticosteroid injection, injection technique, iontophoresis, botulinum toxin A injection, prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma or autologous blood injection, bracing, physical therapy, shockwave therapy, or laser therapy; and (3) a randomized controlled trial design. Lateral epicondylitis is a condition that is usually self-limited. There may be a short-term pain relief advantage found with the application of corticosteroids, but no demonstrable long-term pain relief. Injection of botulinum toxin A and prolotherapy are superior to placebo but not to corticosteroids, and botulinum toxin A is likely to produce concomitant extensor weakness. Platelet-rich plasma or autologous blood injections have been found to be both more and less effective than corticosteroid injections. Non-invasive treatment methods such as bracing, physical therapy, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy do not appear to provide definitive benefit regarding pain relief. Some studies of low-level laser therapy show superiority to placebo whereas others do not. There are multiple randomized controlled trials for non-surgical management of lateral epicondylitis, but the existing literature does not provide conclusive evidence that there is one preferred method of non-surgical treatment for this condition. Lateral epicondylitis is a condition that is usually self-limited, resolving over a 12- to 18-month period without treatment. Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of level of evidence.
Standard energetics of phyllostomid bats: the inadequacies of phylogenetic-contrast analyses.

Abstract The basal rates of metabolism (BMR) of bats belonging to the family Phyllostomidae are re-examined after an earlier correlation with food habits was rejected because it did not take phylogeny into consideration. This rejection was based on an erroneous attribution of food habits and on an analytical method, phylogenetic contrasts, that ignores interactions that occur among character states and preferentially attributes responsibility for character states to phylogeny. The re-examination made here was based on analysis of covariance, which makes no a priori assumptions on the relative impact of factors that influence character states and permits factor interactions to be identified. A resulting model, based on variation in body mass, food habits, occurrence with respect to elevation, and residence on islands or continents, accounts for 99.4% of the variation in the BMR of 30 species of phyllostomids. Basal rate is also correlated with subfamily, but only if food habits are excluded because they are correlated with subfamily affiliation, as is residence on islands and continents, two examples of factor interaction. The preference to assign the effects of food habits and island residence on basal rate to subfamily affiliation (and phylogeny) is not justified. The concept that quantitative physiological characters can be transmitted via phylogeny without regard to the habits of animals and the characteristics of their environments cannot be defended. Phylogeny is the historical context in which the evolution of character states occurs, not the ‘cause’ of their evolution.
Expanding the Self Brick by Brick: Nonrelational Self-Expansion and Self-Concept Size

We conducted three studies to examine whether novel and interesting experiences can expand individuals’ self-concepts. In Studies 1 and 2, participants completed measures of experienced self-expansion and self-concept size. Results indicated that participants who had more novel and interesting experiences tended to have larger self-concepts. In Study 3, we employed an embodied cognition manipulation of self-expansion and again measured self-concept size. Results indicated that participants who pulled (vs. pointed to) objects labeled with novel and interesting (vs. nonnovel and uninteresting) activities toward themselves reported larger self-concepts. Additionally, those who pulled novel and interesting (vs. nonnovel and uninteresting) activities reported a larger self-concept. These studies provide the first empirical evidence that nonrelational novel and interesting experiences result in self-concept growth.
Peer-reported personality problems of research nonparticipants: Are our samples biased?

Abstract Peer nominations of pathological personality traits were collected on 1442 freshmen participating in a study regarding personality and 283 students who initially provided consent to participate but failed to show up for the assessment. Ten peer-based personality disorder scales and eight IIP-64 scales were entered into two separate multiple logistic regression procedures to predict the probability of nonparticipation. There was a significantly higher probability of participation if peers nominated someone as having more histrionic, obsessive–compulsive, self-sacrificing, and intrusive/needy characteristics. Students were significantly less likely to participate if peers nominated them as being higher on narcissism or non-assertiveness. Results suggest it may be more difficult to obtain sufficient numbers of people high in narcissistic traits than individuals with other personality traits. Researchers may need to employ novel strategies to recruit individuals with narcissistic traits for experimental studies.
Gene therapy goes to the dogs

Comment on Ting–De Ravin et al, page 3091 Dogs with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) were cured with intravenous neonatal injection of a retroviral vector expressing the common γ chain. This simple procedure for transducing hematopoietic stem cells in vivo might also treat other blood disorders.
Estrogenic effects of the antiprogestin onapristone (ZK98.299) in the rodent uterus.

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to assess the estrogenic action of onapristone (ZK299). Study Design: Three rodent models of estrogen action in the uterus were used. Deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in the uterine epithelium of neonatal mice was determined by thymidine autoradiography. In adult ovariectomzied mice uterine wet weight and progesterone receptor and estrogen receptor concentrations were determined. In immature rats uterine deoxyribonucleic acid synthetic activity was determined by thymidine autoradiography, epithelial hypertrophy and stromal edema were assessed histomorphometrically, and complement C3 protein synthesis was assessed by metabolic labeling in vitro. The effects of ZK299 were challenged with the antiestrogens ICI164,384 and tamoxifen. The ability of ZK299 to displace tritiated estradiol from the estrogen receptor was assessed in cytosolic preparations from mouse uterus. Results: In the neonatal mouse ZK299 stimulated epithelial deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis; two other antiprogestins, RU486 and ZK98.734, had no effect. Three daily injections of ZK299 at 10 μg/gm body weight to 6-week-old ovariectomized mice increased uterine progesterone receptor 42%; this effect was blocked by IC1164,384. In another experiment three daily doses of ZK299 (20 μg/gm) to 10-week-old ovariectomized mice increased progesterone receptor concentration by 63% and uterine wet weight by 42%. In 21-day-old rats a single injection of ZK299 increased uterine epithelial deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis; this effect wasblocked by tamoxifen. Both ZK299 and tamoxifen increased epithelial cell height and thymidine labeling in the stroma. ZK98.734 had no effect on epithelium or stroma. ZK299 also stimulated synthesis of complement C3 by uteri of immature rats. In competitive binding assays ZK299 exhibited weak relative binding affinity (0.05%) for mouse uterine estrogen receptor. Conclusions: ZK299 can act as a weak estrogen in the rodent uterus, most likely through a direct, low-affinity interaction with the estrogen receptor. Because estrogens may increase the risk for endometrial, breast, and liver cancer, caution is warranted in long-term administration of this drug to women.
Imaging outer segment renewal in living human cone photoreceptors

In vertebrate eyes, vision begins when the photoreceptor’s outer segment absorbs photons and generates a neural signal destined for the brain. The extreme optical and metabolic demands of this process of phototransduction necessitate continual renewal of the outer segment. Outer segment renewal has been long studied in post-mortem rods using autoradiography, but has been observed neither in living photoreceptors nor directly in cones. Using adaptive optics, which permits the resolution of cones, and temporally coherent illumination, which transforms the outer segment into a “biological interferometer,” we observed cone renewal in three subjects, manifesting as elongation of the cone outer segment, with rates ranging from 93 to 113 nm/hour (2.2 to 2.7 µm/day). In one subject we observed renewal occurring over 24 hours, with small but significant changes in renewal rate over the day. We determined that this novel method is sensitive to changes in outer segment length of 139 nm, more than 20 times better than the axial resolution of ultra-high resolution optical coherence tomography, the best existing method for depth imaging of the living retina.
Pneumothorax in cats with a clinical diagnosis of feline asthma: 5 cases (1990–2000)

Objective: This paper characterizes the clinical findings in 5 cats with feline asthma complicated by concurrent pneumothorax. Design: Retrospective study. Medical records of cats with concurrent diagnoses of asthma and pneumothorax that were presented to the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from 1990 to 2000 were reviewed. Results: Of 421 cases of feline asthma, 5 cats fulfilled the inclusion criteria (1.2%). All 5 had respiratory distress at presentation. One cat was panting, and the other 4 cats had respiratory rates of 28, 52, 58 and 120 breaths per minute (bpm), respectively (mean RR 65±39 bpm). Historical findings included untreated chronic cough (n=3), previously treated asthma (n=1), and no previous illness (n=1). Thoracocentesis was performed in 4/5 cats, and 3 of those cats required thoracostomy tubes. Four cats required immediate oxygen supplementation, and 1 of those cats required ventilation. All 5 cats had evidence of pneumothorax on initial radiographs. Follow-up radiographs revealed partial or complete resolution of pneumothorax in 4 cats which were discharged alive with total hospitalization of 2–7 days, but were then lost to follow-up. One cat was euthanized because it could not be weaned off mechanical ventilation, and necropsy confirmed end-stage feline asthma and emphysema. Conclusion: Small airway obstruction can predispose asthma patients to increased alveolar pressure, emphysema, and spontaneous pneumothorax, which can lead to dyspnea in affected cats. The short-term outcome in these cats was good despite the severity of dyspnea at presentation.
Immunosensing of trinitrotoluene using sol-gel glasses

Research in recent years has demonstrated that biological molecules such as enzymes, immunoglobulins, and other proteins can be immobilized in sol-gel derived matrices and retain their biological function. Development of glasses with encapsulated biomolecules has opened the possibility of solid-state optical biosensors for the detection and measurement of desired analytes. In this work, we report the successful use of sol-gel silica glasses with encapsulated antibodies for the detection of trinitrotoluene (TNT). Results show that both competitive immunoassay and displacement immunoassay are feasible using antibody-doped glasses, and these materials can detect TNT at < 1 ppm. Moreover, the sol-gel immobilized antibodies retained the ability to discriminate between TNT and an analog, trinitrobenzene. Finally, enhanced stability was observed in the sol-gel immobilized as compared to surface immobilized antibodies.
An order-preserving property of additive invariants for Takesue-type reversible cellular automata

We show that, for a large and important class of reversible, one-dimensional cellular automata, the set of additive invariants exhibits an algebraic structure. More precisely, if f and g are one-dimensional, reversible cellular automata of the kind considered by Takesue (1989) [1], we show that the component-wise maximum @? on these automata is such that @j(f)@[email protected]([email protected]?g), where @j(f) denotes the set of additive invariants of f and @? denotes the inclusion relation between real subspaces.
Real-time visualization of scalably large collections of heterogeneous objects (case study)

This paper presents results for real-time visualization of out-of-core collections of 3D objects. This is a significant extension of previous methods and shows the generality of hierarchical paging procedures applied both to global terrain and any objects that reside on it. Applied to buildings, the procedure shows the effectiveness of using a screen-based paging and display criterion within a hierarchical framework. The results demonstrate that the method is scalable since it is able to handle multiple collections of buildings (e.g., cities) placed around the earth with full interactivity and without extensive memory load. Further the method shows efficient handling of culling and is applicable to larger, extended collections of buildings. Finally, the method shows that levels of detail can be incorporated to provide improved detail management.
Quantitative TOF-SIMS analysis of oligomeric degradation products at the surface of biodegradable poly(α-hydroxy acid)s

This paper reports the development of a new method for quantification of the hydrolytic surface degradation kinetics of biodegradable poly(α-hydroxy acid)s using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). We report results from static SIMS spectra of a series of poly(α-hydroxy acid)s including poly(glycolic acid), poly(L-lactic acid), and random poly(D,L-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) hydrolyzed in various buffer systems. The distribution of the most intense peak intensities of ions generated in high mass range of the spectrum reflects the intact degradation products (oligomeric hydrolysis products) of each biodegradable polymer. First, a detailed analysis of the oligomeric ions is given based on rearrangement of the intact hydrolysis products. The pattern of ions can distinguish both degradation-generated intact oligomers and their fragment ion peaks with a variety of combinations of each repeat unit. Then, the integration and summation of the area of all ion peaks with the same number of repeat units is proposed as a measurement that provides a more accurate MW average than the typically used method which counts only the most intense peak. The multiple ion summation method described in this paper would be practical in the improvement of quantitative TOF-SIMS studies as a better data reduction method, especially in the surface degradation kinetics of biodegradable polymers.
Development of transformed phenotype induced by a human ras oncogene is inhibited by interferon.

Abstract Mouse IFN inhibited the development of transformed foci in NIH 3T3 cultures transfected with the viral Ha-MuSV( ras ) and Mo-MuSV( mos ) oncogenes, or with the human bladder carcinoma ras EJ T24 DNA. IFN treatment five or seven days after transfection was still effective in inhibiting the oncogenic transformation, but did not inhibit significantly the biochemical transformation induced by pSV2-neo or Ecogpt DNA, so that inhibition of ras -induced transformation was not a result of a general effect on the transfection process. Treatment with IFN did not alter the expression of ras EJ T24 DNA after the transformed phenotype had been established.
Chromatography is Alive and Well

It is my great pleasure to serve as the first editor-in-chief for Chromatography, and welcome you all to the readership. This journal will enable us to communicate our findings in “open access” while maintaining the very high scientific requirements of the few other journals that are focused on the type of science that we all find so very interesting. It is safe to say that chromatographic separations are the single most heavily used techniques in the larger field of analytical chemistry, whether applied or fundamental. Without chromatography, we would struggle to answer many of the pressing scientific questions of our time, and without improvements and advancements we will still struggle to probe more deeply into the challenges of the future. Whether it is for better understanding and characterization of starting materials and products, qualitative determination of unknowns in important matrices, quantification of the materials that impact our lives, or the discovery of the emerging compounds of the future, chromatography is the science that ties our various research fields together. [...]
Antibody to c antigen consequent to renal transplantation.

A case of apparent red cell (RBC) autoimmunity due to anti-c is described in the recipient of a cadaveric renal transplant. Although the patient suffered little hemolysis as a result, a strong direct anti- c agglutinin was detectable on the patient's RBCs 8 days after transplantation and in his serum only 4 days after transplantation. We believe that the antibody was produced by passively transferred B lymphocytes in the donor kidney, and that the recipient may have been protected from more serious hemolysis by immunosuppressive agents administered at the time of transplantation. The donor received multiple transfusions before transplantation, but his serum lacked anti- c in a screen performed shortly before his death. This case raises the possibility that donor alloantibodies to other Rh antigens on recipient RBCs can arise after transplantation, if the donor has been transfused.
Properties of differently charged micelles containing rose bengal: application in photosensitization studies

Abstract We have studied rose bengal (RB) in micelles carrying a positive charge (cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and benzalkonium chloride (BC)), a neutral charge (Triton X-100 and zwitterionic lauryl sulfobetaine (SB-12)) and a negative charge (mixture of SB-12 and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)). Spectral changes during RB titration with surfactant in aqueous solution (P. Bilski, R. Debastani and C.F. Chignell, J. Phys. Chem. , 95 (1991) 5784) allowed us to measure the aggregation numbers of micelles hosting RB, and to estimate the critical micelle concentrations (cmc) of the surfactants. The aggregation numbers are 37 for CPC, 41 for SB-12, 48 for Triton X-100 and 52 for mixed (6—4) SDS—SB-12 micelles, and the respective cmc are 0.22, 2.88, 0.3 and 0.5 mM. From its spectral properties in all the micelles studied, the RB molecule was found to be situated in hydrophobic micellar regions rather than adsorbed at the micellar surface. The micellar location of RB was also confirmed by quenching studies of RB fluorescence using the pyrogallol moeity, which was located outside the micelles (gallic acid), dissolved/adsorbed in the micelles (pyrogallol) or sited at the micellar interface (lauryl gallate). Lauryl gallate did not quench RB fluorescence efficiently despite the location of the pyrogallol moiety at the micellar interface. In contrast, lauryl gallate was an efficient quencher of RB fluorescence in homogenous solution. Irrespective of the micelle charge, micellar RB was more resistant to photobleaching than “free” RB and produced singlet oxygen efficiently. In cationic micelles RB was insensitive to acidic pH, which may extend the usefulness of the dye as a 1 O 2 generator to acidic aqueous solutions (from pH 1.5 to 5) where “free” RB forms a colorless lactam. RB located in micelles bearing different charges may prove useful for studying 1 O 2 reactions in the aqueous phase while the RB triplet state remains sequestered in the micelles.
Impact of Physical Fitness on Strategy Development in Decision-Making Tasks

Data from 30 female subjects indicated that a 17.3% increase in a physical fitness index improved by 12% to 68% the information processing and decision-making capabilities of the subjects. The changes in physical fitness did not affect the performance on a variety of other tasks.
Tests of an Ensemble Kalman Filter for Mesoscale and Regional-Scale Data Assimilation. Part III: Comparison with 3DVAR in a Real-Data Case Study

Abstract The feasibility of using an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) for mesoscale and regional-scale data assimilation has been demonstrated in the authors’ recent studies via observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs) both under a perfect-model assumption and in the presence of significant model error. The current study extends the EnKF to assimilate real-data observations for a warm-season mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) event on 10–12 June 2003. Direct comparison between the EnKF and a three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVAR) system, both implemented in the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF), is carried out. It is found that the EnKF consistently performs better than the 3DVAR method by assimilating either individual or multiple data sources (i.e., sounding, surface, and wind profiler) for this MCV event. Background error covariance plays an important role in the performance of both the EnKF and the 3DVAR system. Proper covariance inflation and the use of different combin...
The splittest Kac superalgebra K10

Abstract We present an isotope of the usual version of the Kac 10-dimensional Jordan superalgebra K 10 over a general ring of scalars Φ (isomorphic to the original version when i, 1 2 ∈ Φ , but not in characteristic 2), which we take as the “correct” split model for the simple superalgebra in all characteristics. This J = A ⊕ M has unit the sum of three reduced orthogonal idempotents. We exhibit a “quaternionic” model J ⊆ ( H ⊗ H ⊞ Φ f ) ⊕ H of the bimodule structure for this model and the original one, as well as an “exterior” model J ≅ Λ 2 ( M ) ⊕ M for both the bimodule structure and the odd product. We give a reference table for all quadratic and triple products, and use this to explicitly describe all inner superderivations. In a subsequent article [K. McCrimmon, The Grassmann envelope of the Kac superalgebra K 10 , J. Algebra, in press. [5] ] we will use this table to investigate the structure of the Grassmann envelope.
Spatial learning and psychomotor performance of C57BL/6 mice: age sensitivity and reliability of individual differences

Two tests often used in aging research, the elevated path test and the Morris water maze test, were examined for their application to the study of brain aging in a large sample of C57BL/6JNia mice. Specifically, these studies assessed: (1) sensitivity to age and the degree of interrelatedness among different behavioral measures derived from these tests, (2) the effect of age on variation in the measurements, and (3) the reliability of individual differences in performance on the tests. Both tests detected age-related deficits in group performance that occurred independently of each other. However, analysis of data obtained on the Morris water maze test revealed three relatively independent components of cognitive performance. Performance in initial acquisition of spatial learning in the Morris maze was not highly correlated with performance during reversal learning (when mice were required to learn a new spatial location), whereas performance in both of those phases was independent of spatial performance assessed during a single probe trial administered at the end of acquisition training. Moreover, impaired performance during initial acquisition could be detected at an earlier age than impairments in reversal learning. There were modest but significant age-related increases in the variance of both elevated path test scores and in several measures of learning in the Morris maze test. Analysis of test scores of mice across repeated testing sessions confirmed reliability of the measurements obtained for cognitive and psychomotor function. Power calculations confirmed that there are sufficiently large age-related differences in elevated path test performance, relative to within age variability, to render this test useful for studies into the ability of an intervention to prevent or reverse age-related deficits in psychomotor performance. Power calculations indicated a need for larger sample sizes for detection of intervention effects on cognitive components of the Morris water maze test, at least when implemented at the ages tested in this study. Variability among old mice in both tests, including each of the various independent measures in the Morris maze, may be useful for elucidating the biological bases of different aspects of dysfunctional brain aging.
Coupled channel approach to the off-shell transition matrix

We propose a coupled-channel separable potential model with the feature that the off-shell elastic transition matrix can be generated directly from the scattering phase shifts. This should be useful in constructing pion-nucleus optical potentials.
Influence of Fat Source and Sorghum Grain Treatment on Performance and Digestibilities of High Yielding Dairy Cows

Forty-eight lactating Holstein cows averaging 81 d in milk were allotted to eight blocks based on milk yield during the 14-d pretreatment period and randomly assigned to six treatment groups in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments for 64 d. Factors were type of sorghum grain processing [dry-rolled vs. steam-flaked; fed at 34% of dry matter (DM) in a total mixed ration (TMR) based on alfalfa] and type of supplemental fat (2.5% of DM as cottonseed oil, tallow, or prilled fatty acids). Compared with dry-rolled sorghum, steam-flaked sorghum did not affect milk yield, fat percentage, or fat yield but did increase milk protein percentage, body weight gains, and estimated net energy for lactation (22%). Fat source did not affect lactational response, but, compared with tallow, prilled fatty acids tended to decrease DM intake. Steam-flaked sorghum, compared with dry-rolled sorghum, increased digestibilities of DM, organic matter, crude protein, and starch, regardless of fat source. The TMR containing prilled fat had lower digestibilities of DM and organic matter than did TMR containing cottonseed oil or tallow; and TMR containing prilled fat had lower digestibilities of crude protein and total fatty acids than did TMR containing tallow. This study showed that steam-flaking of sorghum grain increased milk protein content, body weight gains, and estimated net energy for lactation, regardless of dietary fat source.
Numerical calculation of the reflection, absorption, and transmission of microwaves by a nonuniform plasma slab

The reflection, absorption, and transmission of microwaves by a magnetized, steady-state, two-dimensional, nonuniform plasma slab is studied. A discussion on the effect of various plasma parameters on the reflected power, absorbed power, and transmitted power is presented. The nonuniform plasma slab is modeled by a series of subslabs. Even though it is assumed that the number density is constant in each subslab, the overall number density profile across the whole slab follows a parabolic function. The partial reflection coefficient at each subslab boundary is computed along with the absorption at each subslab. The total reflected, absorbed, and transmitted powers are then deduced and their functional dependence on the number density, collision frequency, and angle of propagation is studied. >
Helping “Adult Gynecologists” Diagnose and Treat Adolescent Endometriosis: Reflections on My 20 Years of Personal Experience

Endometriosis is a chronic disease that presents challenges for women and our health care system. Despite years of research, there is no cure and no single optimal treatment option. Adult women suffer in pain, and the disease has adverse effects on their quality of life. If we can identify endometriosis in teen women with chronic pain, we may be able to keep the disease from progressing, which would decrease lifelong pain and preserve future fertility. It is not uncommon for “adult” gynecologists to be unaware that adolescent endometriosis exists. In addition, it is not unusual for adult gynecologists to state that theyare not comfortable treating adolescents in general. I would like to take this opportunity to share my experience over the past 20 years, with hopes that some of these thoughts may improve adult gynecologists’ comfort level with the diagnosis and treatment of adolescents and endometriosisassociated pelvic pain. Background
The spatiotemporal dynamics of scene gist recognition.

Viewers can rapidly extract a holistic semantic representation of a real-world scene within a single eye fixation, an ability called recognizing the gist of a scene, and operationally defined here as recognizing an image’s basic-level scene category. However, it is unknown how scene gist recognition unfolds over both time and space—within a fixation and across the visual field. Thus, in 3 experiments, the current study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of basic-level scene categorization from central vision to peripheral vision over the time course of the critical first fixation on a novel scene. The method used a window/scotoma paradigm in which images were briefly presented and processing times were varied using visual masking. The results of Experiments 1 and 2 showed that during the first 100 ms of processing, there was an advantage for processing the scene category from central vision, with the relative contributions of peripheral vision increasing thereafter. Experiment 3 tested whether this pattern could be explained by spatiotemporal changes in selective attention. The results showed that manipulating the probability of information being presented centrally or peripherally selectively maintained or eliminated the early central vision advantage. Across the 3 experiments, the results are consistent with a zoom-out hypothesis, in which, during the first fixation on a scene, gist extraction extends from central vision to peripheral vision as covert attention expands outward.