cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Another View from the Ground: How Laws Like SB1070 and HB2281 Erode the Intergroup Fabric of Our Community

In this commentary, we discuss the articles included in ASAP's special issue on Arizona's Senate Bill 1070 and explore the means by which intergroup bias related to the support and implementation of this law may be reduced. Specifically, we briefly discuss the overall conclusions that can be drawn from the articles included in this volume and address questions that still remain regarding the potential effects of this law. Next, we explore potential strategies for reducing bias between Whites and Latinos, and we discuss the limitations Arizona's House Bill 2281 will impose on our ability to successfully improve intergroup relations in Arizona.
Biomechanical Factors in the Etiology of Tibial Stress Fractures

Abstract : The overall aim of this research is to gain insight into the etiology of tibial stress fractures. Three dimensional motion analysis data along with structural data will be collected from 400 subjects (200 at each site) over a 3-year period. 30 of the subjects will have sustained a tibial stress fracture prior to the study and the other 370 will have not. Subjects will be recruited primarily from track teams, running clubs, and physicians local to the University of Delaware and University of Massachusetts. Within this Annual Report, information concerning adherence to work objectives, preliminary results with respect to the proposed hypotheses, and reportable outcomes are presented for the second year of the investigation. Overall, we have adhered to most work objectives and have proposed plans for rectifying any discrepancies. The preliminary analysis of the data demonstrates encouraging results and support of most hypotheses.
Metabolic Activation and Associated Drug Toxicity

The past four decades of research on the metabolism of therapeutic agents to chemically reactive intermediates has provided a wealth of information on pathways of metabolic activation and has led to the identification of functional groups and molecular substructures that can be subject to bioactivation processes. However, advances in the fields of biochemical and molecular toxicology have not kept pace with those in the bioanalytical techniques employed for the detection and structural characterization of reactive, electrophilic drug metabolites. As a result, the toxicological significance of findings related to the metabolic activation of drug candidates is difficult to predict and therefore “avoidance strategies” have been implemented by many pharmaceutical companies through which early information on metabolic pathways is used prospectively to minimize this potential liability in lead compounds by informed structural modification. This article summarizes a number of approaches that have been employed successfully to circumvent metabolic activation issues during the lead optimization stage of drug discovery and highlights promising directions for future research in this field. Keywords: drug metabolism; reactive intermediates; bioactivation; covalent binding; protein adducts; drug-induced toxicity; drug discovery
Susceptibility of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Trogoderma inclusum (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) to cold temperatures

Abstract Studies were conducted by exposing different life stages of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), the red flour beetle, and Trogoderma inclusum (LeConte), the larger cabinet beetle, for different time intervals to −18 °C. Assessments were made of direct mortality to eggs, larvae, and adults, and eventual adult emergence of immatures. Data were described by non-linear equations. The eggs and larvae were the most tolerant life stage of T. castaneum. Eight hours of exposure were required for 100% kill of 3–4-day-old eggs and 0–10- and 11–21-day-old larvae, but only 4, 0.5, and 0.5 h respectively were required to completely inhibit adult emergence. For T. inclusum, the most tolerant life stage was 15–28-day-old larvae; 64 and 16 h respectively were required for complete mortality and inhibition of adult emergence. Results indicate that T. inclusum was the more tolerant species, and specific treatment protocols may be required for different stored product beetle species when using −18 °C as a disinfestation strategy.
Bounds on the mass of W R and the W L -W R mixing angle ζ in general SU(2) L ×SU(2) R ×U(1) models

We consider the phenomenological constraints on the mass ${M}_{R}$ and the ${W}_{L}\ensuremath{-}{W}_{R}$ mixing angle $\ensuremath{\zeta}$ in a very general class of $\mathrm{SU}{(2)}_{L}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{SU}{(2)}_{R}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{U}(1)$ models. In particular, almost no model-dependent assumptions are made concerning left-right symmetry or the Higgs structure of the theory, which means that ${U}^{R}$, the mixing matrix for right-handed quarks, is unrelated to the left-handed Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix ${U}^{L}$. We consider a number of possibilities for the neutrinos occurring in right-handed currents, including (a) heavy Majorana neutrinos, (b) heavy Dirac neutrinos, (c) intermediate-mass (10-100 MeV) neutrinos, and (d) light neutrinos (e.g., the Dirac partners of the ordinary left-handed neutrinos). For each case we utilize relevant constraints from the ${K}_{L}\ensuremath{-}{K}_{S}$ mass difference, ${B}_{d}{\overline{B}}_{d}$ oscillations, the $b$ semileptonic branching ratio and decay rate, neutrinoless double-beta decay, theoretical relations between mass and mixing, universality, nonleptonic kaon decays, muon decay, and astrophysical constraints from nucleosynthesis and SN 1987A. As is to be expected the limits on ${M}_{R}$ are considerably weaker than for the special case of manifest or pseudomanifest left-right symmetry (${M}_{R}g1.4$ TeV). In fact, if extreme fine-tuning is allowed the ${W}_{R}$ could be as light as the ordinary ${W}_{L}$. However, with reasonable restrictions on fine-tuning one obtains ${M}_{R}g300$ GeV for ${g}_{R}={g}_{L}$, with more stringent limits holding for most of parameter space. If $\mathrm{CP}$-violating phases in ${U}^{R}$ are small the limit on mixing ($|\ensuremath{\zeta}|l0.0025$ for ${g}_{R}={g}_{L}$) is almost as stringent as for the case of left-right symmetry. For large phases $|\ensuremath{\zeta}|$ could be as large as \ensuremath{\sim}0.013.
Examination of Some Factors Affecting Sensitivity and Reproducibility in Radioimmunoassay of Thyrotropin

Conditions for measuring human thyrotropin by radioimmunoassay have been investigated, to improve the sensitivity and reproducibility of the assay. The Chloramine-T method of iodination was used, the reaction time being 20 s. Doubling the iodination reaction volume from 55 to 95 mul did not affect the immunoreactivity. Purification of labeled hormone by use of anion-exchange resin followed by silica (Quso G-32) instead of Sephadex gel-filtration or anion exchange alone yielded a product that was the least (less than 4%) contaminated with Na125 I. Human serum albumin (2.5 g/liter) in phosphate-buffered saline, instead of bovine serum, should be used as diluent for unknowns; within-assay variance was 3% for the former, 62% for the latter. The assay worked equally well for both pregnant and nonpregnant patients, with use of 50 to 100 mul of serum per determination. A five-week-old labeled hormone yielded higher values than did two-week-old material. Use of sequential saturation techniques (tracer added on day 3) resulted in a greater than 50% drop in B/B-0 ratio in the standard curve between 0.39 and 50 microunits/ml. Somatotropin, choriomammotropin, and procine insulin did not cross react in this system. Human follitropin and lutropin did cross react, and this cross reaction could not be prevented with as much as 40 international units of human choriogonadotropin per tube. With a total reaction volume of 0.4 ml before addition of second antibody, 0.2 ml of 10-fold diluted second antibody yielded a standard curve with lower nonspecific binding and higher maximum precipitation than one constructed by using only 20 mul of second antibody. In 29 euthyroid patients the mean thyrotropin value was 5.7 microunits/ml (range 2.8-11); nine hypothyroid patients had a mean of 112 microunits/ml (range 38-267); and 13 hyperthyroid subjects showed suppressed thyrotropin with a mean of 3.1 microunits/ml (range 2.2-4.5). Following these suggestions, one can expect a more highly purified immunoreactive tracer and a more sensitive assay than is obtained with the procedure from the Pituitary Agency of the National Institutes of Health.
Gradual Alterations in Cell Wall Structure and Metabolism in Vancomycin-Resistant Mutants of Staphylococcus aureus

In five vancomycin-resistant laboratory step mutants selected from the highly and homogeneously methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain COL (MIC of methicillin, 800 microg/ml; MIC of vancomycin, 1.5 microg/ml), the gradually increasing levels of resistance to vancomycin were accompanied by parallel decreases in the levels of methicillin resistance and abnormalities in cell wall metabolism. The latter included a gradual reduction in the proportion of highly cross-linked muropeptide species in peptidoglycan, down-regulation of the production of penicillin-binding protein 2A (PBP2A) and PBP4, and hypersensitivity to beta-lactam antibiotics each with a relatively selective affinity for the various staphylococcal PBPs; the PBP2-specific inhibitor ceftizoxime was particularly effective.
HIV quality performance measures in a large integrated health care system.

Abstract HIV quality performance measurements are critical to evaluating a care program's success in areas of testing, access to and retention in care, care processes and outcomes. Kaiser Permanente (KP) provides care to over 8 million Americans and over 19,000 HIV-infected adults. We undertook a quality performance measurement program to assess the care and outcomes for our HIV-positive patient population. We also examined HIV testing practices among our HIV-uninfected patients presenting with a sexually transmitted infection. Our metrics were extracted electronically (encompassing two time periods: July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006 and the entire calendar year 2007) and did not require any manual data extraction, which was a primary objective of our strategy. For most individual care measures, improvement over time was noted, with 85% or more performance seen on some measures (accessing care and initiating antiretroviral therapy). Opportunities for improvement were identified on other measures, such as...
Organization of anterior dorsal ventricular ridge in snakes

Anterior dorsal ventricular ridge (ADVR) is a major telencephalic structure in reptiles. The intrinsic, efferent, and afferent connections of ADVR were studied in water snakes (Natrix sipedon) and garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) using orthograde degeneration and Golgi techniques. ADVR in these snakes contains four zones oriented concentric with the ventricular surface and named zones A, B, C, and D, with zone A being the most peripheral. Each zone contains a characteristic population of neurons. Zone A neurons have dendrites which extend obliquely through zone A and into zone B. Zone B neurons have dendrites with a high density of dendritic spines and axons which ramify in zone A concentric with the ventricle, typically bearing large varicosities about 5 μ in length. Zone C neurons have dendrites with a low density of dendritic spines and axons which ramify within about 300 μ of the soma, typically bearing small varicosities about 3 μ in length. Zone D neurons resemble those in zone C, except that their axons may course ventrally out of ADVR into the subjacent striatum. Lesions placed superficially in ADVR produce terminal degeneration which is restricted to ADVR in Fink-Heimer preparations. Lesions which damage the ventral part of ADVR produce degeneration in striatal nuclei (medial striatal nucleus, intrapeduncular nucleus, and perifascicular complex) as well as in the ventral two-thirds of the posterior dorsal ventricular ridge. Unilateral transections of the midbrain produce degeneration in a system of thick caliber axons, with thin collaterals, which enters ADVR caudally behind the anterior commissure and rostrally through the lateral forebrain bundle. These fibers are oriented primarily along the radii of ADVR and confined predominantly to zones B, C, and D. Lesions of the dorsal thalamus produce degeneration in a system of thin caliber axons which enters ADVR rostrally through the lateral forebrain bundle. These fibers course radially through zones C and D and then turn to run concentric with the ventricle in zone B. These observations suggest that snake ADVR consists of two fundamentally different parts. Neurons in zones A and B interact strongly with neighboring neurons through somatosomatic and axodendritic contacts and participate in connections which run concentric with the ventricle. Neurons in zones C and D participate in connections which run radially. Some of the neurons in zone D, and possibly some in zone C, project to the striatum. Neurons situated near the ventral border of ADVR are the only source of ADVR efferents. Neurons in each zone interact with those in neighboring zones.
Oxidation of the neurotoxic amine 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) by monoamine oxidases A and B and suicide inactivation of the enzymes by MPTP

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), a thermal breakdown product of a meperidine-like narcotic analgetic used by drug abusers as a synthetic heroin, causes Parkinsonian symptoms in humans and degeneration of the substantia nigra in monkeys. MPTP is oxidized by brain mitochondrial preparations in a process which is blocked by deprenyl and pargyline, implying catalysis by monoamine oxidase B. The present paper demonstrates that pure MAO B isolated from beef liver oxidizes MPTP 38% as fast as benzylamine with a comparable Km value. Additionally, MAO A, isolated from human placenta, oxidizes MPTP to the same product at about 12% of the rate of kynuramine, again with a comparable Km value. The latter reaction is blocked by clorgyline. Both forms of MAO are progressively inactivated by MPTP by a process which follows first order kinetics. This progressive inactivation and the fact that the activity of MAO B is not significantly regenerated following gel exclusion chromatography suggest the formation of a covalent adduct with enzyme. Thus, MPTP appears to be a suicide inactivator of MAO.
Mapping school geographies: Teaching and learning in unsafe places

Uncovering issues of school safety, both perceived and real, requires research that probes students' perspectives. This paper tells the story of a comparative research project initiated in an English education methods course. The study was conducted in two high schools and utilized mapping and surveying to determine students' perceptions of school safety within the context of their own campuses. The findings, with relevant strategies for using critical literacy to involve students more directly in the conversation, have implications for classroom teachers and other school-related personnel who seek site-based interventions. The importance of evidence in speed camera debate
Molecular Diagnostic Assays for Infectious Diseases in Cats

Numerous options are available for the diagnosis of infectious diseases in feline medicine. Historically, cytologic techniques, histopathologic techniques, and microbiological cultures are used for the demonstration of the presence of the organism and serologic antibody titers for the demonstration of immune response to an infection. However, these techniques have inherent deficiencies. Cytologic and histopathologic techniques require the organism to be large enough to be seen microscopically and in sufficient numbers for visualization. The sensitivity of organism visualization for diagnosis often decreases as disease progresses because the host’s immune response decreases the number of organisms in the body. Microbiological culture requires specific knowledge of the organism’s requirements for growth and may require specific handling for organism preservation and culture periods longer than are clinically useful. Immune response to an organism, as demonstrated by serum antibody titers, can be sensitive but requires days to weeks for a host response and demonstrates only exposure to the organism and not the disease secondary to the organism or even the current infection. For a diagnostic test to be practical, it must be useful (high sensitivity and specificity), reliable (reproducibility), convenient, and cost-effective. For these reasons, the use of molecular assays in feline medicine has gained favor for the diagnosis of diseases caused by organisms that are difficult to be identified, detected, or cultured in a timely fashion. Because most veterinarians rely on the proper use of molecular assays on a daily basis to practice high-quality veterinary medicine, this article provides a brief overview of the technologies available, their shortcomings and advantages, and the current clinical applications of the technologies in feline medicine. Molecular assays rely on the detection of the nucleic acids DNA and RNA. These nucleic acids are a part of the genetic makeup of the organism and consist
Expedient solid-phase synthesis of putative β-turn mimetics incorporating the i + 1, i + 2, and i + 3 sidechains

Abstract A number of putative β-turn mimetics that incorporate sidechain functionality at the i + 1, i + 2, and i + 3 positions were synthesized on solid support in high levels of purity and in good overall yields from readily available starting materials. A variety of sidechain functionality, ring sizes, and sidechain stereochemistries were introduced demonstrating the generality of the synthesis method. A significant feature of the synthesis sequence is the use of a guanidine resin that functions as both a solid-phase extraction resin and a support-bound general base catalyst.
11 Chromium, molybdenum and tungsten

In 2004, there were some important advances in the areas of catalysis and bioinorganic and organometallic chemistry. For example, for the very first time, antagonists molybdenum and copper in a heterometallic cluster ([S2MoS2CuS2MoS2]) were found in a novel protein which was isolated and purified from Desulfovibrio gigas, a sulfate reducing bacterium. A wide range of topics involving biomimetic complexes of chromium(III) and molybdenum(VI) were reported. The coordination chemistry of the antitumour metallocene molybdocene dichloride with biological ligands was also reported, along with the use of organomolybdenum complexes as lubricating oil antifriction additives. Also reported was the use of polyoxometallates of tungsten as effective photocatalysts for water purification by photo-destruction of pesticides. The first polyoxometallate polymer constructed by assembly of the heptamolybdic anion and copper coordination groups was another advance, along with the facile synthesis of Group 6 carbonyl complexes in a conventional microwave oven. Other interesting areas included the following: (i) use of (salen)CrIIIX as catalysts for the copolymerisation of carbon dioxide and epoxides; (ii) catalytic epoxidation of cyclohexene with molybdenum complexes; (iii) chromium monocyclopentadienyl complexes useful as olefin polymerisation catalysts; (iv) solvent-free ketone hydrogenations catalysed by molybdenum complexes; and (v) adducts of acetylene and dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate in sulfur-bridged incomplete cuboidal-type tungsten clusters. Also noteworthy was the micellar effect on the kinetics and mechanism of chromium(VI) oxidation of organic substrates.
Observation and Image-Making in Gothic Art

Since the 16th century, art historians have debated the methods of medieval artists. A frequent topic of discussion and one that has been invoked at times to distinguish the medieval artist from his early modern successor is the extent to which medieval art is based on the observation of nature. In this vein, much recent commentary has focused on selected works whose descriptiveness challenges the schematism of most medieval imagery. As argued here, assessing these images and the visual evidence they present of the artist's working method requires a methodology that is sensitive to the syntax of visual communication.
An Agile and Adaptive Enterprise: Enhancing National Security Space by Improving Management Structures and Leveraging Commercial and International Partners

Key asymmetrical advantages the United States derives from space are now being challenged as space becomes an increasingly contested, congested, and competitive environment. The United States is responding to these challenges by placing more emphasis on developing and enhancing appropriate norms of responsible behavior in space, becoming selectively interdependent with state-of-the-world commercial and international space capabilities, attempting to deny benefits from purposeful interference with space capabilities upon which it relies, and imposing costs for degrading or disrupting space capabilities. The United States should move toward a more deliberate, comprehensive, long-term, and consistent approach that draws on all instruments of power from all levels of government, focuses on national security space (NSS) and other critical parts of its space enterprise, and, in particular, crafts better ways to leverage state-of-the-world commercial and international space capabilities. Recommended approaches f...
The reflection effect in Hz Hercules

The magnitude brightness variation due to binary star reflection effect is considered, along with tidal distortion effects. The flat region in the Milne-Sen Law is also reviewed, including the nonfit observations. Several studies are included in this binary star program investigation.
Electron-phonon interactions and superconductivity in Si, Ge, and Sn.

The pseudopotential-total-energy method is used to calculate the phonon frequency, the electron density of states at the Fermi level, and the electron-phonon coupling constant for the group-IV elements in the metallic \ensuremath{\beta}-Sn structure. For these elements, the normal-state behavior is similar to that found in other simple and transition metals; the phonon frequencies, force constants, and electron-phonon matrix elements increase with increasing average electron density. With use of a semiempirical treatment of the electron-phonon coupling calculated for one phonon wave vector, the superconducting transition temperatures at normal and high pressures are examined. The superconducting transition temperature decreases while the magnitude of its pressure coefficient increases in going to heavier elements. This behavior is in good agreement with experiment. For Si and Ge, the superconducting behavior is similar to that of white tin. Because of competition and compensation between the cutoff in the phonon spectrum and the electron-phonon matrix element, the electron-phonon coupling \ensuremath{\lambda}'s are similar for the three elements. Hence, the Debye temperature, which is the prefactor of the McMillan equation, dominates in determining the superconducting critical temperatures.
Solution of Linear Algebraic Circuit Equations

This chapter contains sections titled: Direct Methods Accuracy and Stability of GE Indirect/Iterative Methods Partitioning Techniques Sparse Matrix Techniques Notes Problems ]]>
Surfactants Differentially Impact p,p'-DDE Accumulation by Plant and Earthworm Species

The effect of four surfactants (Triton X-100, Tween-80, rhamnolipids, cyclodextrin) at 100−1000 mg/L on p,p‘-DDE phytoextraction by Cucurbita pepo (zucchini) under field conditions and p,p‘-DDE bioaccumulation by earthworm species (Eisenia fetida, Lumbricus terrestris) under laboratory conditions was investigated. Abiotically, surfactants (except cyclodextrin) increased contaminant desorption from soil by 4-fold, with higher concentrations generally promoting greater release. Cyclodextrin had no effect on DDE desorption. DDE concentrations in unamended zucchini roots and stems were 30- and 7.8-fold greater than soil levels, respectively, and 1.6% of the contaminant was extracted from the soil. The surfactant effects were cultivar specific. Triton X-100 increased DDE uptake in “Costata” by 2.6-fold, yielding 5% contaminant phytoextraction. In “Goldrush,” DDE accumulation decreased by 69% across all surfactants. Surfactants significantly increased DDE bioaccumulation by earthworms. For E. fetida with all su...
High Channel Mobility a-Si:H Thin Film Transistors with Oxide/Nitride Dielectrics

We describe: i) nitride-layer optimization; ii) device fabrication: and iii) electrical properties of a-Si:H thin film transistors, TFTs, that integrate oxide/nitride dielectrics into an inverted, staggered gate structure. We have systematically changed the concentrations of Si-Si, Si-H and Si-NH bonding groups within the deposited nitride layers by varying the source gas flow ratio, R = NH3/SiH4 from 2.5 to 12.5. The electrical characteristics of the TFTs improve significantly as the gas phase ratio R is increased from 2.5 to approximately 10, and then decrease as R is further increased. The performance of the TFTs peaks for a source gas ratio of -10, where the channel mobility is–1.4 cm2/V-s, the threshold voltage is 2.3 V; and the Ion to Ioff current ratio is > 105. These increases in performance can only realized in devices in which the back of the Si channel region is passivated with an oxy-nitride interfacial region.
Seismic Behavior of Frame-Wall-Rocking Foundation Systems. I: Test Program and Slow Cyclic Results

AbstractThe mechanism of foundation rocking has received much attention recently due to its appealing seismic resistant features, namely, self-centering tendency and energy dissipation capability. It is well recognized, however, that other inelastic mechanisms will contribute to a system’s seismic resistance. Considering the strength difference between a rocking footing and a shear wall structural fuse, and the system symmetry, six different two-story-two-bay frame-wall-foundation building models were constructed and tested in a geotechnical centrifuge. In this paper, the test program and experimental results when the models were subjected to slow cyclic loading are presented. A companion paper presents results from the dynamic phase of testing. Results indicate that, with the aid of foundation rocking, the system behaves in a ductile and stable manner with no strength degradation, even when the model is pushed to a drift of more than 2.5%. Importantly, when structural and foundation component strengths a...
Characterization of a Drosophila Alzheimer's Disease Model: Pharmacological Rescue of Cognitive Defects

Transgenic models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have made significant contributions to our understanding of AD pathogenesis, and are useful tools in the development of potential therapeutics. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, provides a genetically tractable, powerful system to study the biochemical, genetic, environmental, and behavioral aspects of complex human diseases, including AD. In an effort to model AD, we over-expressed human APP and BACE genes in the Drosophila central nervous system. Biochemical, neuroanatomical, and behavioral analyses indicate that these flies exhibit aspects of clinical AD neuropathology and symptomology. These include the generation of Aβ40 and Aβ42, the presence of amyloid aggregates, dramatic neuroanatomical changes, defects in motor reflex behavior, and defects in memory. In addition, these flies exhibit external morphological abnormalities. Treatment with a γ-secretase inhibitor suppressed these phenotypes. Further, all of these phenotypes are present within the first few days of adult fly life. Taken together these data demonstrate that this transgenic AD model can serve as a powerful tool for the identification of AD therapeutic interventions.
Best practices as an assessment for crisis communication

Purpose – This study aims to use the now‐classic case study of American Red Cross's response to Hurricane Katrina to demonstrate the utility of the best practices in risk and crisis communication as an assessment tool.Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative case study methodology is used to provide a thick description of the case based on media analysis and internal and external evaluations. The best practices in risk and crisis communication are then used to assess Red Cross's response efforts.Findings – This study provides contextual support for the best practices in risk and crisis communication and demonstrates their usefulness in post‐crisis assessment. Lessons learned specific to the case outline the importance of: maintaining flexibility in the crisis plan; developing a crisis communication protocol with partners; considering the affects of response procedures on the emotional and psychological health of crisis victims; and establishing connections with diverse populations and the communities in ...
Generating rectangles using two-dimensional grammars with time and space complexity analyses

A two-dimensional grammar for generating all possible rectangles is presented and illustrated by examples. The time and space complexity analyses of this grammar together with a parallel context-free array grammar and a free grammar are also presented. Generating pictures using two-dimensional grammars appear to be a fertile field for further study. The study of two-dimensional grammars has useful applications in region filling. pattern recognition. robotics, pictorial information system design and related areas.
NO2 deposition to elements representative of a forest landscape

Abstract Measurements of NO 2 deposition to elements representative of a forest landscape (e.g. foliage, bole, soil) were conducted in an open gas exchange system. Deposition rates (nmol m −2 s −1 ) were calculated as the product of flow rate and the inlet/outlet concentration differential normalized for surface area and corrected for losses to chamber walls. Under daylight conditions and a mean NO 2 concentration of 33 nl l −1 , NO 2 deposition to foliage of forest tree species varied by more than an order of magnitude, ranging from 0.35 ( Pinus taeda L.) to 5.75 nmol m −2 s −1 ( Platanus occidentalis L.), and deposition of NO 2 to most broadleaf species was greater than that to conifers. Sequential light-dark measurements of NO 2 deposition indicated that the principal foliar site of deposition was the leaf interior in support of other observations of stomatal control over NO 2 deposition. Vegetation surfaces typically snowed greater conductance to NO 2 than did distilled water alone, and forest floor samples had a disproportionately high conductance to NO 2 when compared to bark or foliage surfaces. Laboratory data for several forest species were extrapolated to stand-level rates of NO 2 deposition using leaf area index as a scaling factor. Based on appropriate NO 2 concentrations, NO 2 deposition was calculated to provide annual N inputs between 0.08 and 1.9 kg ha −1 a −1 of NO 2 derived N(NO 2 — N) for natural forests and up to 12kg NO 2 -N ha −1 a −1 for forest canopies in urban environments.
Stochastic analysis of temperature distribution in a solid with random heat conductivity

Stochastic temperature distribution in a solid medium with random heat conductivity is investigated by the method of perturbation. The intrinsic randomness of the thermal conductivity k(x) is considered to be a distribution function with random amplitude in the solid, and several typical stochastic processes are considered in the numerical examples. The formulation used in the present analysis describes a situation that the statistical orders of the random response of the system are the same as those of the intrinsic random excitations, which is characteristic for the problem with extrinsic randomness. The maximum standard deviation of the temperature distribution from the mean value in the solid medium reveals the amount of unexpected energy experienced by the solid continuum, which should be carefully inspected in the thermal-failure design of structures with intrinsic randomness.
Monetary policy and inflation under the crawling peg: Some evidence from VARs for Colombia☆

Abstract This paper investigates the effects of monetary policy under the crawling peg in Colombia utilizing Granger Causality tests, variance decompositions, and impulse response functions from VARs. Several alternative lag selection criteria are used to specify the lag structures of the VARs. Variations in domestic credit appear to affect the balance of payments but not the exchange rate in Colombia, suggesting that the crawling peg has functioned more like a fixed than a flexible exchange rate. The size of the balance of payments offset is relatively large, but the models differ on its size. Domestic credit appears to have a weak effect on national output. Neither domestic credit nor the exchange rate play much of a role in explaining variation in inflation in Colombia. Inflation appears to be primarily inertial and the result of demand shocks. The results are consistent with the recent difficulties encountered in maintaining monetary targets in Colombia, and the persistence of inflation under contractionary monetary policy.
Urethral polyps in Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs.

to find all of the identifying features seen in electron microAcknowledgements. The authors thank Ms. Brenda Colgraphs of the brain. The findings in the small intestine could lins and Ms. Yolanda Briggs for preparing samples for light explain extension of an enteric luminal infection to extramicroscopy and Ms. Dolores Stephenson for tissue prepaintestinal sites. ration for electron microscopy. The identity of this trichomonad is likely Tetratrichomonas gallinarum rather than Trichomonas gallinae. Tetratrichomonas gallinarum has not previously been reported from mockingbirds or from the brain of any bird. The 4 anterior 1. flagella, costa, undulating membrane, and a free recurrent flagellum identify this organism as T. gallinarum. The re2. current flagellum of T. gallinae terminates at the undulating membrane. Detailed ultrastructure of T. gallinarum has not been reported for comparison of the costa, although some limited micrographs have been published. Trichomonas gallinae has a type B costa. Invasion of the small intestine 4. is more consistent with colonization of the intestine by T. gallinarum than T. gallinae. 5,6 Although the pathogenicity of T. gallinarum has been 5. questioned, 3,5 Lee demonstrated invasion of cecal lamina propria in 4–6-week-old chicks inoculated with T. gallina6. rum, and there is no doubt of its association with pyogranulomatous diverticulitis and necrotizing meningoencephalitis in this mockingbird. Recognition of trichomonads in 7.
The Short Cardiac Pre-Ejection Period An Index to Thyrotoxicosis

Systolic time intervals (STI) were determined from simultaneous records of the electrocardiogram, carotid pulse and phonocardiogram in 17 consecutive patients with thyrotoxicosis and sinus rhythm. None of the patients had clinical evidence of congestive heart failure. Intervals measured included electromechanical systole (Q-S 2 ), heart sound interval (S 1 -S 2 ) and left ventricular ejection time (LVET). From these, the pre-ejection period (PEP), isovolumetric contraction time (ICT) and Q-S 1 intervals were derived. Deviations (ΔSTI) of observed values from expected values (Weissler equations) for the same heart rate were obtained by subtraction. The mean deviation of the thyrotoxic patients ± sem from the normal population were ΔQ- S 2 * = –37.8 ± 4.2; ΔLVET = –4.0 ± 4.1; ΔPEP * = –33.8 ± 1.8. The shortening of PEP was due largely to a shortened ICT (ΔICT * = –27.2 ± 1.1). In eight patients studied serially during treatment the short PEP returned to the normal range concurrently with serum T 4 measurements. This study indicates that the PEP is a unique noninvasive measurement of biological end organ responsiveness with thyroid dysfunction; a short PEP is characteristic of uncomplicated thyrotoxicosis and serial changes in PEP may be a useful index of therapeutic response. * P
SU‐FF‐J‐85: 4DCT‐Based Study of Tumor and Lung Kinematics During Respiratory Cycle

Purpose: To evaluate the intra‐fractional correlation of lungtumors and lungs motion induced by respiration.Method and Materials: Ten 4DCT scans acquired for treatment planning were used. Three patients had also a second scan in the middle of the treatment (after 4–5 weeks). All targets were in lower lobe of the lungs. GTVs for all phases were manually contoured and CTVs generated. AL1 geometrical data were computed from DICOM‐RT files. The lung volumes, their aeration, the motion tracks of lungs and CTV centroids along the cranio‐caudal, anterior‐posterior and lateral directions were determined for ten breathing phases obtained with 4DCT scan. The lung mechanics as demonstrated by the their ventilation map were evaluated from CT scans. The Pearson correlation coefficients between the lungs and CTV centroids for motion tracks along the axes of each patient were determined. Results: The volume of the CTVs ranged from 30 to 140cc (median=72cc). The motion of targets centroids along the C‐C direction ranged from 1 to 3.5cm (median=1.6cm; for AP and RL median=0.3cm). The lungs and CTV motion along C‐C direction exhibited high correlation (two cases in [0.7, 0.8]; rest>0.8). There are no correlation present for other directions. The examined CTVs did not exhibit any significant deformation during respiration. They were not attached to any immobile anatomical structure. The lung aeration pattern and target motion along the lungs cranio‐caudal direction appear reproducible for three cases with two 4DCT scans. The changes in target volume did not affect the motion correlation. Conclusion:Lungkinematics appear to control tumor motion along the cranio‐caudal direction for targets fully embedded in inferior part of the lungs. Assuming correspondence between lung function and regional aeration one can potentially use this information in treatment planning to spare these regions.
Comparison of Two Reaction-Time Tasks and Their Relation to Intelligence

Two reaction time tasks were compared as measures of information-processing speed. A multiple R between the WAIS—R Full, Performance, and Verbal scales and several reaction time parameters was calculated for 28 college students. Results indicate that the reaction-time task used in exploring the relationships between speed of information processing and IQ can be less complex than those used to date.
Segmenting the toy industry: a study of pre‐teen Millennials

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to investigate the preferences of young Millennials for a salient product category (toys) and to investigate possible within‐group differences that have relevance for marketers.Design/methodology/approach – The study carried out analysis of commercially collected survey data (538 pre‐teen Millennials) from Harris On‐Line using cluster and correspondence analyses.Findings – Segments exist within the younger Millennial cohort. Specifically, four clusters emerged including enthusiasts, social/intellectuals, creatives and the disengaged.Research limitations/implications – One limitation is the selection of the toy characteristics included in the cluster variate, which were based on scarce published research and the opinion of Harris On‐Line experts. A second limitation is that the toys were never differentiated between traditional toys and electronic toys. A third limitation revolves around the maturation of the Millennials and how that may affect the clusters over time.P...
Enhanced precision of estrus and luteinizing hormone after progesterone and prostaglandin in heifers.

Objectives were to determine if low progesterone and increased basal luteinizing hormone for 3 d after injecting prostaglandin F2a would affect precision of preovulatory surges of luteinizing hormone and onset of estrus in Holstein heifers. In experiments 1 and 2, heifers received progesterone devices for 10 d and prostaglandin F~ a on the 7th d after inserting progesterone device. For controls, progesterone devices were removed when prostaglandin F2a was injected, and control devices were installed for 3 d. In experiment 1, jugular blood was sampled every 2 or 4 h from injection of prostaglandin F2a until 108 h after removing progesterone to determine basal and peak secretion of luteinizing hormone. In treatment heifers, basal luteinizing hormone tended to increase, and intervals to peak secretion of luteinizing hormone were shorter and more precise than for controls. In experiment 2, heifers were observed for estrus for 30 rain every 4 h for 96 h after removing progesterone devices. Intervals to onset of estrus for experimental heifers were shorter and more precise than for controls. After exogenous prostaglandin F2a, 1 to 2 ng of progesterone per milliliter of serum for 2 to 3 d allows increased basal luteinizing hormone and is associated with increased precision of preovulatory secretion of lutenizing hormone and onset of estrus. This may be an acceptable method to control ovulation precisely for fixed time insemination of cattle.
Lipid rafts and HIV pathogenesis: host membrane cholesterol is required for infection by HIV type 1.

In a previous study we showed that budding of HIV-1 particles occurs at highly specialized membrane microdomains known as lipid rafts. These microdomains are characterized by a distinct lipid composition that includes high concentrations of cholesterol, sphingolipids, and glycolipids. Since cholesterol is known to play a key role in the entry of some other viruses, our observation of HIV budding from lipid rafts led us to investigate the role in HIV-1 entry of cholesterol and lipid rafts in the plasma membrane of susceptible cells. We have used 2-OH-propyl-β-cyclodextrin (β-cyclodextrin) to deplete cellular cholesterol and disperse lipid rafts. Our results show that removal of cellular cholesterol rendered primary cells and cell lines highly resistant to HIV-1-mediated syncytium formation and to infection by both CXCR4- and CCR5-specific viruses. β-Cyclodextrin treatment of cells partially reduced HIV-1 binding, while rendering chemokine receptors highly sensitive to antibody-mediated internalization. The...
Fighting neglected tropical diseases in the southern United States

Poverty and lack of awareness need to be tackled The neglected tropical diseases are a group of chronic parasitic and related infections such as hookworm, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis that often affect the “bottom billion” in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.1 Extreme poverty, defined by the World Bank as average daily consumption of $1.25 (£0.8; €1.0) or less, is the main social factor associated with a high prevalence of these diseases.1 The World Health Organization, the World Bank, and professionals have advocated strongly for global programmes to deliver packages of essential drugs to treat the tropical diseases with the highest prevalence, such as tuberculosis and malaria, while simultaneously developing new or improved drugs and vaccines.2 Diseases such as Chagas disease, cysticercosis, leishmaniasis, and dengue are listed in the 17 tropical diseases being targeted by WHO for control or elimination in low and middle income countries.3 4 Others, such as toxocariasis, a chronic parasitic infection that causes asthma and epilepsy,5 6 and trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted disease associated with vaginal HIV-1 shedding,7 are not. That these diseases affect literally millions of Americans living in poverty,8 with prevalence rates of selected tropical diseases in some areas of the US comparable to rates in low and middle income countries, is less well known.9 Roughly 15% of …
Imagery rehearsal treatment of chronic nightmares: With a thirty month follow-up

Nightmare frequency and self-rated distress were assessed retrospectively in two groups of chronic nightmare sufferers 30 months after treatment. In the initial phase, the image group (N = 9) learned a cognitive-behavioral technique (imagery rehearsal) for the treatment of nightmares. They were taught in one group session to: (1) record a nightmare; (2) change it (usually to something positive); and (3) rehearse the new images daily. The record group (N = 10) recorded nightmares during the first month only and learned imagery rehearsal subsequent to 3-month follow-up measurements. At 3 months and at 30 months, both groups had significantly fewer nightmares, but only the rehearsal group had less total distress. The results support the theory that nightmares are a primary sleep disorder rather than a symptom of an underlying psychiatric problem.
Incentive-based modeling and inference of attacker intent, objectives, and strategies

Although the ability to model and infer attacker intent, objectives, and strategies (AIOS) may dramatically advance the literature of risk assessment, harm prediction, and predictive or proactive cyber defense, existing AIOS inference techniques are ad hoc and system or application specific. In this paper, we present a general incentive-based method to model AIOS and a game-theoretic approach to inferring AIOS. On one hand, we found that the concept of incentives can unify a large variety of attacker intents; the concept of utilities can integrate incentives and costs in such a way that attacker objectives can be practically modeled. On the other hand, we developed a game-theoretic AIOS formalization which can capture the inherent interdependency between AIOS and defender objectives and strategies in such a way that AIOS can be automatically inferred. Finally, we use a specific case study to show how attack strategies can be inferred in real-world attack--defense scenarios.
Population genetic structure in migratory sandhill cranes and the role of Pleistocene glaciations

Previous studies of migratory sandhill cranes ( Grus canadensis ) have made significant progress explaining evolution of this group at the species scale, but have been unsuccessful in explaining the geographically partitioned variation in morphology seen on the population scale. The objectives of this study were to assess the population structure and gene flow patterns among migratory sandhill cranes using microsatellite DNA genotypes and mitochondrial DNA haplotypes of a large sample of individuals across three populations. In particular, we were interested in evaluating the roles of Pleistocene glaciation events and postglaciation gene flow in shaping the present-day population structure. Our results indicate substantial gene flow across regions of the Midcontinental population that are geographically adjacent, suggesting that gene flow for most of the region follows an isolationby-distance model. Male-mediated gene flow and strong female philopatry may explain the differing patterns of nuclear and mitochondrial variation. Taken in context with precise geographical information on breeding locations, the morphologic and microsatellite DNA variation shows a gradation from the Arctic-nesting subspecies G. c. canadensis to the nonArctic subspecies G. c. tabida . Analogous to other Arctic-nesting birds, it is probable that the population structure seen in Midcontinental sandhill cranes reflects the result of postglacial secondary contact. Our data suggest that subspecies of migratory sandhills experience significant gene flow and therefore do not represent distinct and independent genetic entities.