cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Education to Prevent AIDS: Prospects and Obstacles

A number of obstacles thwart effective education to prevent AIDS in the United States. These include the biological basis and social complexity of the behaviors that must be changed, disagreement about the propriety of educational messages to prevent AIDS, uncertainty about the degree of risk to the majority of Americans, and dual messages of reassurance and alarm from responsible officials. Long-term protection of an individual from infection requires extreme changes in risk-taking behavior. Partial shifts toward safer practices may be epidemiologically important in retarding the rate and extent of spread of infection. Though some striking changes in behavior have occurred, especially in homosexual populations in areas with high prevalence of AIDS, educational efforts to date have succeeded more in raising awareness and knowledge about AIDS than in producing sufficient changes in behavior. The United States has yet to mount a nationwide comprehensive, intensive, and targeted education program to prevent AIDS.
High prevalence of contralateral ankle abnormalities in association with knee osteoarthritis and malalignment

Summary Objective To evaluate ankle joint abnormalities in a knee osteoarthritis (OA) cohort. Methods Participants ( n = 159) with symptomatic and radiographic OA in at least one knee underwent technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate bone scan (scored 0–3) of the ankles and forefeet. Knee radiographs were graded for OA features of joint space narrowing (JSN) and osteophyte (OST). Ankle symptoms and history of ankle injury were assessed by self-report. Knee alignment was measured from a long-limb radiograph. Ankle radiographs were obtained on those who returned for follow-up ( n = 138) and were graded for ankle tibiotalar JSN and OST. Design Ankle scintigraphic abnormalities were frequent (31% of individuals, one-third bilateral). Ankle symptoms were reported by 23% of individuals and history of ankle injury by 24%. Controlling for gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and contralateral predictor, ankle scintigraphic abnormalities were associated with: ipsilateral ankle symptoms ( P = 0.005); contralateral knee JSN ( P = 0.001), knee OST ( P = 0.006) and knee malalignment ( P = 0.08); and history of ankle injury or surgery of either ankle ( P P Conclusions Although considered rare, we observed a high prevalence of radiographic features of ankle OA in this knee OA cohort. History of overt ankle injury did not appear to account for the majority of ankle abnormalities. These results are consistent with a probable kinematic association of knee OA pathology and contralateral ankle abnormalities and suggest that interventions targeting mechanical factors may be needed to prevent ankle OA in the setting of knee OA.
Effects of reconstitution method on the structural organization of isolated chloroplast membrane lipids

Abstract Plant galactolipids were isolated from spinach thylakoids and reconstituted by (1) hydration in water or buffer, (2) solubilization in Triton X-100 and subsequent slow detergent removal, and (3) reverse phase evaporation using Freon 11 (trichlorofluoromethane, b.p. 23°C). Digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DG) formed bilayer liposomes when reconstituted by any of these methods. Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MG) was very difficult to transfer quantitatively to the aqueous phase. Reverse phase evaporation was the most successful method, and conventional hydration in water or buffer the least efficient, for reconstituting MG quantitatively. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy of pure MG showed arrays of hexagonal II tubes as well as packed inverted micelles (7–9 nm diameter in both cases) covered by a monolayer of lipid. Reconstitution of binary mixtures of MG and DG using the various methods produced the same structures. However, the concentration of MG at which various structural changes occurred depended on the method used for reconstitution. Some of the differences between buffer-hydrated and reverse phase evaporated-reconstituted DG/MG mixtures were traced to the conventional hydration method leaving MG selectively behind on the glass. Reverse phase evaporation allowed the most MG to be incorporated into vesicular structures (about 50% vs. about 30–40% by the detergent method). Irregularities in the bilayer vesicles, ‘lipidic particles’ and ‘fusion pores’, varied proportionally with the amount of MG in the mixture. The transition from vesicular structures to packed tubes and particles had occured by approx. 66% MG using reverse phase evaporation and by approx. 50% MG using detergent solubilization. Aggregates of packed inverted micelles were present in several DG/MG mixtures. The diameters of the inverted micelles varied from 7–9 nm (pure MG) to 20–21 nm (60:40, DG/MG). A model is presented that relates this variation in diameter geometrically to the overall ‘cone’ shape of an MG molecule and the cylindrical shape of DG. In contrast to a previous report, glycerol had no effect on the type of structures observed in replicas of mixed DG/MG samples. However, all structures were more clearly defined in freeze-fracture replicate from glycerinated samples.
The infinite well and Dirac delta function potentials as pedagogical, mathematical and physical models in quantum mechanics

Abstract The infinite square well and the attractive Dirac delta function potentials are arguably two of the most widely used models of one-dimensional bound-state systems in quantum mechanics. These models frequently appear in the research literature and are staples in the teaching of quantum theory on all levels. We review the history, mathematical properties, and visualization of these models, their many variations, and their applications to physical systems.
Rhodopsin phosphorylation occurs at metarhodopsin II level

Photolyzed rhodopsin was phosphorylated in bovine rod outer segments incubated at −10‡ C. In the experiment in which urea-treated outer segments and rhodopsin kinase were incubated with ATP in the presence of 30% glycerol, the extent of phosphate incorporation at −10‡ C was about 30% of that at 37‡ C. Separation of phosphorylated rhodopsin by isoelectric focusing indicated that a limited number of sites were phosphorylated at −10‡ C. The partially phosphorylated pigment incorporated more phosphates when the temperatures was raised to 37‡ C. This was partly due to decreased inhibition of phosphorylation by glycerol at higher temperature. Since the maximum phosphorylation at −10‡ C (at which metarhodopsin II is stable) occurred at a pH value (6.0) lower than the pKa for metarhodopsin I-metarhodopsin II transition, metarhodopsin II was suggested to be the preferred substrate for rhodopsin kinase at −10‡ C. Limited proteolysis with thermolysin of rhodopsin phosphorylated at 37‡ C released peptides containing about 50% of the total phosphate incorporated. In contrast, proteolytic digestion of rhodopsin phosphorylated at −10‡ C released negligible amounts of phosphate-containing peptides. The results were taken to suggest that the incorporation of phosphates at metarhodopsin II level under the present condition occurred in the residues other than those removed by thermolysin digestion.
Modeling the liquid–gas interface using self-assembled monolayers

Abstract Stochastic classical trajectory simulations were used to study the efficiency of the energy exchange at the gas–liquid interface. Self-assembled monolayers (SAM) of long-chain functionalized molecules were used to mimic the liquid surface. Since the molecules in the monolayers are anchored by only one end, they retain some of the mobility that they have in the liquid but lose all their fluidity. The corrugation of the surface and the stiffness of the interface were tuned by varying the length of the molecules in the monolayers. The use of longer molecules leads to increased corrugation of the surface and provides additional dissipation channels that promote more efficient momentum and energy accommodation, increase the translational–rotational energy interconversion and enhance trapping. However, this “length effect” appears to saturate, as no further significant changes are observed in those properties when the monolayer's molecules's length is elongated from six to nine carbons. This saturation effect suggests that, even though monolayers can provide some of the mobility observed in liquid surfaces, they lack the energy dissipation channel provided by the fluidity of the liquid.
Measurement of Ionospheric Path-Phase for Oblique Incidence

THE observation of amplitudes of pulses received via various propagating modes has long been a standard technique, but observation of the corresponding carrier phases is more difficult. Several previous investigations have been made of the dynamic behaviour of the phase of the signal received in nearly vertical ionosphere reflexions, using 0.15 and 2.4 Mc./s. pulse transmissions1. Studies of the phase of a continuous carrier received at long ranges have been made at2 16 kc./s. and at3 5 Mc./s. Apparently, only Trautman4, and Brennan and Phillips, of this Laboratory (private communication) have obtained results on the phase behaviour of individual oblique-incidence paths, using overlapping-pulse techniques in which the carrier phase of a given mode appears indirectly. The present communication describes three techniques, believed to be new, for direct measurement of changes of path-phase at oblique incidence, with a short sample record of each.
Enhanced Binding Energy and Slow Kinetics of H2 in Boron-Substituted Graphitic Carbon

H2 binding energy in disordered boron-substituted graphitic carbon was investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance equipped with in situ high pressure hydrogen loading. On the basis of selective adsorption isotherm measurements, a significantly enhanced H2 binding energy of 11.4 kJ/mol was observed in such boron-substituted carbon, consistent with theoretical predictions. In support of the observed high binding energy at room temperature, H2 diffusion is shown to be slow at 100 K, preventing H2 from accessing the nanopores at low temperatures.
The reciprocity of recognition--what medicine exposes about self and other.

Mrs. N announced triumphantly that she'd become a U.S. citizen. Her husband, whose English she relied on, said, “She took the test, and then she said the words with her hand like this.” He put his hand over his heart. She blushed and shyly pointed to her new hearing aid.
Free in the World: American Slavery and Constitutional Failure

Preface Acknowledgments Chapter One Constitutionalism, History, and Constitutional Failure Chapter Two Foundings, Myths, and Constitutional Division Chapter Three Interpretive Authority and Constitutional Division, Part Chapter Four Interpretive Authority and Constitutional Division, Part Chapter Five Lincoln, Douglas, and the Illusion of Division Chapter Six Constitutional Autonomy, Discourse, and Failure Chapter Seven No Exit? Secession and Constitutionalism Chapter Eight Remaking America: Reconstruction and Constitutional Failure Epilogue Bibliography Index of Cases General Index
Crackling noise, power spectra, and disorder-induced critical scaling

Crackling noise is observed in many disordered nonequilibrium systems in response to slowly changing external conditions. Examples range from Barkhausen noise in magnets to acoustic emission in martensites to earthquakes. Using the nonequilibrium random-field Ising model, we derive universal scaling predictions for the dependence of the associated power spectra on the disorder and field sweep rate, near an underlying disorder-induced nonequilibrium critical point. Our theory applies to certain systems in which the crackling noise results from an avalanchelike response to a (slowly) increasing external driving force, and is characterized by a broad power-law scaling regime of the power spectra. We compute the critical exponents and discuss the relevance of the results to experiments.
Reducing electricity cost through virtual machine placement in high performance computing clouds

In this paper, we first study the impact of load placement policies on cooling and maximum data center temperatures in cloud service providers that operate multiple geographically distributed data centers. Based on this study, we then propose dynamic load distribution policies that consider all electricity-related costs as well as transient cooling effects. Our evaluation studies the ability of different cooling strategies to handle load spikes, compares the behaviors of our dynamic cost-aware policies to cost-unaware and static policies, and explores the effects of many parameter settings. Among other interesting results, we demonstrate that (1) our policies can provide large cost savings, (2) load migration enables savings in many scenarios, and (3) all electricity-related costs must be considered at the same time for higher and consistent cost savings.
The Beliefs of Preservice Elementary Teachers Toward Science and Science Teaching

The purpose of this study was to examine the beliefs of preservice elementary teachers toward science and science teaching. By examining prior experiences in science courses, as well as achievement in such courses, the impact of requiring preservice teachers to continue pursuing science course work could be better defined. An analysis of such beliefs may contribute important information and direction for preservice teacher education reform. An analysis of the interview responses yielded both interesting and, at times, predictable patterns. Descriptors used by study participants were overwhelmingly negative, suggesting that negative feelings overshadow achievement in science as an influence on science teaching self-efficacy.
Rates, types, and psychosocial correlates of legal charges in adolescents with newly diagnosed bipolar disorder

Barzman DH, DelBello MP, Fleck DE, Lehmkuhl H, Strakowski SM. Rates, types, and psychosocial correlates of legal charges in adolescents with newly diagnosed bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disord 2007: 9: 339-344. © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2007 Objectives: To examine the rates, types, and psychosocial correlates of legal charges in adolescents with newly diagnosed bipolar disorder (BD). Methods: Adolescents (n = 80), between the ages of 12 and 21 years (mean = 15.6, standard deviation - 2.3), hospitalized for their initial manic or mixed episode of BD, were evaluated for the incidence of prior juvenile offending (i.e., legal charges). We examined potential psychosocial correlates associated with legal charges using chi-square, (t-tests, and discriminant function analyses to determine if there were differences between adolescents who did and did not offend prior to their first manic episode. Results: Juvenile antisocial behaviors were common (55%) for adolescents with newly diagnosed BD. Discriminant function analysis revealed that older age at first treatment (p < 0.01), sexual activity over the previous month (p < 0.05), therapeutic use of stimulants (p < 0.05), and anxiety disorders were the most significant factors to differentiate between bipolar adolescents who offended and those who did not (Wilks' lambda = 0.80, p < 0.005). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that there are identifiable psychosocial correlates associated with antisocial behaviors in adolescents with newly diagnosed BD that may improve our understanding of juvenile antisocial behaviors.
Dilepton production from pion-pion annihilation in a nuclear medium

Abstract We have calculated the dilepton production rate from pion-pion annihilation in hot and dense nuclear matter. The effect of the strong pion-nucleon interaction on both the pion spectrum and its electromagnetic annihilation vertex has been included in the delta-hole model. We find that the previously predicted cancellation of these two effects for dileptons with zero three-momentum is substantially reduced when their momenta are finite. Including the finite width of delta removes the cancellation even for dileptons with zero three-momentum.
A scalable and resilient layer-2 network with ethernet compatibility

We present the architecture and protocols of ROME, a layer-2 network designed to be backwards-compatible with Ethernet and scalable to tens of thousands of switches and millions of end-hosts. Such large-scale networks are needed for emerging applications including data center networks, wide area networks, and metro Ethernet. ROME is based upon a recently developed greedy routing protocol, greedy distance vector (GDV). Protocol design innovations in ROME include a stateless multicast protocol, a Delaunay distributed hash table (DHT), as well as routing and host discovery protocols for a hierarchical network. ROME protocols do not use broadcast and provide both control-plane and data-plane scalability. Extensive experimental results from a packet-level event-driven simulator, in which ROME protocols are implemented in detail, show that ROME protocols are efficient and scalable to metropolitan size. Furthermore, ROME protocols are highly resilient to network dynamics. The routing latency of ROME is only slightly higher than shortest-path latency. To demonstrate scalability, we provide simulation performance results for ROME networks with up to 25 000 switches and 1.25 million hosts.
Imbibition of seed of dry bean cultivars stored under high or low temperature and relative humidity conditions

Abstract An investigation was conducted to evaluate seed hardness of dry bean cultivars per line from different planting dates (PD) and stored under high or low controlled temperature and relative humidity (RH) conditions. Nine dry bean cultivars per line were planted at 6 dates, 7 days apart, at Scottsbluff, NB, and harvested at physiological maturity. A split-split-plot design was used with temperature and RH combinations as main plots, PD as sub-plots, and cultivars per line as sub-sub-plots. Seed samples (40 seeds) of each entry from each PD were stored in incubators at 16°C or 45°C, each combined with 22–24% or 98–100% RH, for 21 days. Seed weight after storage, seed weight after soaking for 8 h, and number of imbibed seeds were measured to evaluate imbibition and seed hardness. Seeds stored at 98–100% RH showed a linear increase in weight after storage and weight after soaking with later PDs. The numbers of imbibed seeds of beans stored at 16°C and 22% RH showed a linear decrease with later PDs. Seeds of white beans, particularly cultivar ‘GN Emerson’, stored at 16°C and 22% RH had greater weight after soaking and more imbibed seeds than the pinto cultivars. RH had a greater effect than temperature on increasing (high RH) or decreasing (low RH) seed weight after storage, seed weight after soaking and number of imbibed seeds. Storage conditions, cultivars per line and planting dates affected imbibition, and therefore hardness of bean seeds.
Carcinogenic effects of strontium 90 beads implanted in the lungs of rats.

Glass beads incorporating Sr/sup 90/ were prepared and implanted into the pulmonary parenchyma of rats. Measurements were made on the tissue dose from the beads. The radioactive beads were found to be carcinogenc, but no other difference was observed in lethal effects between rats that were treated with the radioactive boads and control rats whose chests were punctured. (C.H.)
Health Reform in the States: A Model of State Small Group Health Insurance Market Reforms

For the fourth time since World War II, national policymakers, in 1992, engaged in a major debate over reforming and regulating the U.S. health care system. One of the most debated issues involved the problem of the uninsured. While Congress and the President garnered national attention debating the issue, several states were already dealing with the issue of health insurance and their own uninsurance problems. Today, in the absence of activity at the federal level, the states have become the de facto leaders in health care reform. Since 1990, forty-six states have adopted small group insurance market reforms. Such reforms are designed to improve the availability of insurance coverage for employees of small firms, who make up the largest segment of the uninsured in the states. This article examines the factors that account for the sudden pop ularity of small group insurance market reforms, and the factors or char acteristics of the states that explain the extent of policies adopted. To examine these quest...
Electronic Polarization and Hydration of the Dimethyl phosphate Anion: An ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Study

We report a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study of sodium dimethlyphosphate in aqueous solution. The dimethyl phosphate anion (DMP) is a model compound for the phosphodiester linkage in phospholipids and nucleic acids. We compare results from classical MD simulations based on an empirical force field to an ab initio MD simulation in which the forces are derived from the electronic structure in the framework of density functional theory with the Car−Parrinello approach. We have characterized the molecular and electronic structure of both the DMP anion and its first solvation shell in detail. To analyze the charge distribution in individual molecules, we have used maximally localized Wannier orbitals. The radial and orientational distributions of the water molecules revealed a softening of the structure of the first solvation shell of the DMP anion in the ab initio simulation compared to the force field simulation. The ab initio simulation reveals that both the geometry and the electronic structure of ...
Acute Management of Severe Childhood Asthma

Severe childhood asthma is a serious, life-threatening disease that presents a challenge for patients, families, and caregivers. Despite evolving medical and pharmacologic therapies, the incidence and severity of asthma are increasing. Vasoactive substances are released in response to environmental and intrinsic triggers and result in bronchospasm, bronchial mucosal edema, and mucus plugging of the airways. Early recognition of symptoms and prompt, aggressive treatment, including oxygen, beta agonists, corticosteroids, and anticholinergic agents, are essential in halting the progression of asthma symptoms. In the most severe cases, intubation, mechanical ventilation, and treatment with anesthetic agents may be needed to avoid significant morbidity and mortality. This article reviews epidemiology, pathophysiology, and acute care of the child experiencing an acute asthma exacerbation.
Citizen Participation in Boston's Development Policy: The Political Economy of Participation

The legitimacy of citizen participation in local government affairs has come to be widely accepted, if not enthusiastically embraced, even while it is hindered by official resistance, the complexity of modem government, or both. The nature and institutionalization of citizen participation in development policy in Boston is the result of current and historical economic conditions and political mobilization. The structure of participatory mechanisms is constantly being challenged and reshaped by developers, community members, and public officials. The current controversy over one such mechanism in Boston shows the dynamic forces that are at work.
Effect of charge transfer on chain dimension in trans‐polyacetylene

X‐ray diffraction measurements on all‐trans‐polyacetylene are consistent with a chain‐axis length elongation upon donor doping (+0.026 A for lithium and +0.04 A for potassium) and a chain‐axis length contraction upon acceptor doping (−0.010 A for iodine), where the changes refer to the length L of a C2H2 unit (2.457 A in the undoped polymer). These new experimentally derived results for heavily doped compositions, which ignore possible corrections for cell nonorthogonality in the lithium and iodine complexes, are similar to experimental results for graphite intercalation complexes and are consistent with theoretical predictions for doped polyacetylene. The meridional diffraction lines observed at L and L/2 for potassium‐doped polyacetylene indicate that there is no lattice symmetry element which includes a translation operation of L/2 in the chain‐axis direction. The observations are consistent with a structural model in which alkali–metal ions with an intracolumn spacing of 4.96 A are commensurate with the polymer chains for the composition (CHM0.125)x. The likely polymer chain‐axis repeat length is 2L (i.e., C4H4) and a lattice symmetry element which includes a translation of L is expected.
PERCEPTUAL RANKS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS' ETHICAL BELIEFS AND BEHAVIORS

26 five-point statements are used to examine perceptual differences among beliefs and behaviors in five primary ethical situations for 323 undergraduate communication students in two mid-Atlantic p...
A Needs Assessment and Proposed Curriculum for Incorporating Traditional Choro Music Experiences into Brazilian University Music Curricula

The purpose of the research was to survey current opinions regarding the importance of choro courses in the music curriculum of Brazilian universities and determine which content would best meet the needs of music teaching and learning situations in Brazilian universities.The major findings of the study included the following:1. Respondents generally were supportive of the inclusion of choro courses in Brazilian university music curricula.2. Based on data from respondents, important choro experiences were identified and developed as proposed courses: (a) choro history and literature, (b) choro performance, solo and ensemble, and (c) choro theory and improvisation.
E-Resource Round Up: Inaugural Institute for Research Design in Librarianship Provides Electronic Resources Librarians with Skills and Confidence to Engage in Research

Funded through an Institute of Museum and Library Services Grant, the inaugural Institute for Research Design in Librarianship (IRDL) was held June 15–27, 2014 at Loyola Marymount University in Los...
ABC-MC: A new multi-channel geographic forwarding scheme for wireless sensor networks

Improving throughput and delay is an important challenge in multi-hop wireless sensor networks. In this work, we propose ABC-MC, a simple multi-channel geographic forwarding scheme. ABC-MC is based on ABC which is a lightweight and reliable routing protocol where nodes do not need to set up or maintain routing/neighbor tables. A unique feature of ABC-MC is that it uses a channel pre-negotiation mechanism to reduce delay. Another unique feature of ABC-MC is that it takes into account the channel usage information within a few (e.g., three) hops in channel selection to reduce interference. Experimental results show that ABC-MC outperforms other protocols in terms of the average delay and throughput performance.
Timeless-Dependent DNA Replication-Coupled Recombination Promotes Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Episome Maintenance and Terminal Repeat Stability

Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is maintained as a stable episome in latently infected pleural effusion lymphoma (PEL) cells. Episome maintenance is conferred by the binding of the KSHV-encoded LANA protein to the viral terminal repeats (TR). Here, we show that DNA replication in the KSHV TR is coupled with DNA recombination and mediated in part through the cellular replication fork protection factors Timeless (Tim) and Tipin. We show by two-dimensional (2D) agarose gel electrophoresis that replication forks naturally stall and form recombination-like structures at the TR during an unperturbed cell cycle. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays revealed that Tim and Tipin are selectively enriched at the KSHV TR during S phase and in a LANA-dependent manner. Tim depletion inhibited LANA-dependent TR DNA replication and caused the loss of KSHV episomes from latently infected PEL cells. Tim depletion resulted in the aberrant accumulation of recombination structures and arrested MCM helicase at TR. Tim depletion did not induce the KSHV lytic cycle or apoptotic cell death. We propose that KSHV episome maintenance requires Tim-assisted replication fork protection at the viral terminal repeats and that Tim-dependent recombination-like structures form at TR to promote DNA repeat stability and viral genome maintenance.
POPULATION DIFFERENCES IN SENSITIVITY TO UV-B RADIATION FOR LARVAL LONG-TOED SALAMANDERS

Ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B; 280–320 nm) penetrates some aquatic habitats to biologically significant depths and can alter life histories of aquatic organisms, including algae, zooplankton, fish, and amphibians. Although major species differences have been documented for UV-B sensitivity, few studies have examined differences between populations of the same species. Previous work has suggested the hypothesis that larval long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum) from valley populations (∼100 m elevation) were more sensitive to UV-B exposure than larvae from mountain populations (above 500 m elevation). To test this hypothesis in the absence of possible other confounding environmental effects, we brought early-stage embryos into the laboratory from three valley populations and five mountain populations from Oregon and Washington and raised them under identical conditions without UV-B for two months after hatching. Larvae from each population were then placed under UV-B lighting, and we recorded thei...
Assessing customer satisfaction in parcel delivery industry: an empirical study among university customers

Parcel delivery companies (e.g. US Postal Service, UPS, and FedEx) are significant parts of modern transportation systems. The availability, responsiveness, reliability, completeness, and professionalism of service were identified from a literature review, as the five critical factors affecting customer satisfaction in parcel delivery industry. A model of customer satisfaction in parcel delivery service was developed. Academic departments from selected universities across the US responded to written questionnaires and these data were used for the study. The data included information on the characteristics of each above-mentioned factor and ranking of importance of the factors was determined. The research tested the hypotheses to determine the correlation coefficients between the five factors and overall customer satisfaction with respect to all customers for both outgoing and incoming parcel delivery services.
Methylphenidate Decreased the Amount of Glucose Needed by the Brain to Perform a Cognitive Task

The use of stimulants (methylphenidate and amphetamine) as cognitive enhancers by the general public is increasing and is controversial. It is still unclear how they work or why they improve performance in some individuals but impair it in others. To test the hypothesis that stimulants enhance signal to noise ratio of neuronal activity and thereby reduce cerebral activity by increasing efficiency, we measured the effects of methylphenidate on brain glucose utilization in healthy adults. We measured brain glucose metabolism (using Positron Emission Tomography and 2-deoxy-2[18F]fluoro-D-glucose) in 23 healthy adults who were tested at baseline and while performing an accuracy-controlled cognitive task (numerical calculations) given with and without methylphenidate (20 mg, oral). Sixteen subjects underwent a fourth scan with methylphenidate but without cognitive stimulation. Compared to placebo methylphenidate significantly reduced the amount of glucose utilized by the brain when performing the cognitive task but methylphenidate did not affect brain metabolism when given without cognitive stimulation. Whole brain metabolism when the cognitive task was given with placebo increased 21% whereas with methylphenidate it increased 11% (50% less). This reflected both a decrease in magnitude of activation and in the regions activated by the task. Methylphenidate's reduction of the metabolic increases in regions from the default network (implicated in mind-wandering) was associated with improvement in performance only in subjects who activated these regions when the cognitive task was given with placebo. These results corroborate prior findings that stimulant medications reduced the magnitude of regional activation to a task and in addition document a “focusing” of the activation. This effect may be beneficial when neuronal resources are diverted (i.e., mind-wandering) or impaired (i.e., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), but it could be detrimental when brain activity is already optimally focused. This would explain why methylphenidate has beneficial effects in some individuals and contexts and detrimental effects in others.
RF sensing research at AFRL sensors directorate outdoor radar range

Presents the collection of slides covering the following topics: RF sensing complexity; AFRL sensor directorate outdoor radar range; radar antenna; and air force system.
Experimental and computational evidence of octa- and nona-coordinated planar iron-doped boron clusters: Fe©B8− and Fe©B9−

Abstract We report the observation of two Fe-doped boron clusters with wheel-type structures, containing an octa-coordinate ( C 8 v -Fe©B 8 − ) and a nona-coordinate ( D 9 h -Fe©B 9 − ) Fe atom. The clusters were produced in a laser vaporization supersonic molecular beam and characterized by combined photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio studies. Chemical bonding analyses revealed that in the ground state both clusters are doubly (σ + π) aromatic and that the iron atom interacts with the peripheral boron ring exclusively through delocalized bonds. These findings provide further support to the design principle for metal-doped boron clusters with highly symmetric molecular wheel-type structures.
A national study of socioeconomic status and tuberculosis rates by country of birth, United States, 1996–2005

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) in developed countries has historically been associated with poverty and low socioeconomic status (SES). In the past quarter century, TB in the United States has changed from primarily a disease of native-born to primarily a disease of foreign-born persons, who accounted for more than 60% of newlydiagnosed TB cases in 2010. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of SES with rates of TB in U.S.born and foreign-born persons in the United States, overall and for the five most common foreign countries of origin. Methods: National TB surveillance data for 1996–2005 was linked with ZIP Code-level measures of SES (crowding, unemployment, education, and income) from U.S. Census 2000. ZIP Codes were grouped into quartiles from low SES to high SES and TB rates were calculated for foreign-born and U.S.-born populations in each quartile. Results: TB rates were highest in the quartiles with low SES for both U.S.-born and foreign-born populations. However, while TB rates increased five-fold or more from the two highest to the two lowest SES quartiles among the U.S.-born, they increased only by a factor of 1.3 among the foreign-born. Conclusions: Low SES is only weakly associated with TB among foreign-born persons in the United States. The traditional associations of TB with poverty are not sufficient to explain the epidemiology of TB among foreign-born persons in this country and perhaps in other developed countries. TB outreach and research efforts that focus only on low SES will miss an important segment of the foreign-born population.
Simulation Differences Between Academia and Industry: A Branch Prediction Case Study

Computer architecture research in academia and industry is heavily reliant on simulation studies. While microprocessor companies have the resources to develop highly detailed simulation infrastructures that they correlate against their own silicon, academic researchers tend to use free, widely available simulators. The differences in instruction set architectures, operating systems, simulator models and benchmarks create disconnect between academic and industrial research studies. This paper presents a comparative study to find correlations and differences between the same microarchitecture studies conducted in two different frameworks. Due to the limited availability of industrial simulation frameworks, this research is limited to a case study of branch predictors. Encouragingly, our simulations indicate that several recently proposed branch predictors behave similarly in both environments when evaluated with the SPEC CPU benchmark suite. Unfortunately, we also present results that show that conclusions drawn from studies based on SPEC CPU do not necessarily hold when other applications are considered
Assessment of Lineages of Cercospora kikuchii in Louisiana for Aggressiveness and Screening Soybean Cultivars for Resistance to Cercospora Leaf Blight

Cercospora leaf blight (CLB) became much more prevalent in Louisiana beginning in 1999. A previous study showed that the Louisiana population of Cercospora kikuchii, the causal agent, was dominated by a new lineage that differed from those collected in other locations at earlier times. In this study, we tested whether the dominance of the new lineage was caused by higher aggressiveness and screened soybean cultivars for resistance to CLB. Representative isolates from both lineages were used individually to inoculate six soybean cultivars in the greenhouse. Contrary to expectations, the new lineage was less aggressive. Three virulence groups were defined in this pathogen based on correlation of the aggressiveness of individual isolates on soybean cultivars. Other possible causes that led to the dominance of the new lineage in Louisiana are discussed. Eleven soybean cultivars were tested for disease reaction at two locations over 3 years in the field. Two cultivars, AG5701 (Asgrow) and TV59R85 (Terral), were among the more resistant cultivars to CLB both in the greenhouse and in the field.
Enhancement of sensitivity and bandwidth of gravitational wave detectors using fast-light-based white light cavities

The effect of gravitational waves (GWs) has been observed indirectly, by monitoring the change in the orbital frequency of neutron stars in a binary system as they lose energy via gravitational radiation. However, GWs have not yet been observed directly. The initial LIGO apparatus has not yet observed GWs. The advanced LIGO (AdLIGO) will use a combination of improved techniques in order to increase the sensitivity. Along with power recycling and a higher power laser source, the AdLIGO will employ signal recycling (SR). While SR would increase sensitivity, it would also reduce the bandwidth significantly. Previously, we and others have investigated, theoretically and experimentally, the feasibility of using a fast-light-based white light cavity (WLC) to circumvent this constraint. However, in the previous work, it was not clear how one would incorporate the white light cavity effect. Here, we first develop a general model for Michelson-interferometer-based GW detectors that can be easily adapted to include the effects of incorporating a WLC into the design. We then describe a concrete design of a WLC constructed as a compound mirror, to replace the signal recycling mirror. This design is simple, robust, completely non-invasive, and can be added to the AdLIGO system without changing any other optical elements. We show a choice of parameters for which the signal sensitivity as well as the bandwidth are enhanced significantly over what is planned for the AdLIGO, covering the entire spectrum of interest for gravitational waves.
LCS-TRIM: dynamic programming meets XML indexing and querying

In this article, we propose a new approach for querying and indexing a database of trees with specific applications to XML datasets. Our approach relies on representing both the queries and the data using a sequential encoding and then subsequently employing an innovative variant of the longest common subsequence (LCS) matching algorithm to retrieve the desired results. A key innovation here is the use of a series of inter-linked early pruning steps, coupled with a simple index structure that enable us to reduce the search space and eliminate a large number of false positive matches prior to applying the more expensive LCS matching algorithm. Additionally, we also present mechanisms that enable the user to specify constraints on the retrieved output and show how such constraints can be pushed deep into the retrieval process, leading to improved response times. Mechanisms supporting the retrieval of approximate matches are also supported. When compared with state-of-the-art approaches, the query processing time of our algorithms is shown to be up to two to three orders of magnitude faster on several real datasets on realistic query workloads. Finally, we show that our approach is suitable for emerging multi-core server architectures when retrieving data for more expensive queries.
Power in Groups: Self-Concept Changes of Powerful and Powerless Group Members:

The failure to find unequivocal relationships between small-group participation and self-concept changes may be due, in part, to undetected mediating variables. That is, it may be that groups do not have either uniformly positive or uniformly negative effects on self-concept-but that both occur systematically in groups as a func-tion of specifiable and measurable aspects of each group member's experience.One possible mediating variable, power or dominance, was investigated in this study of 102 members of six self-analytic groups. Power seemed to be a fairly robust antecedent or predictor of the direction of self-concept changes: those high in power changed toward a more positive self-concept and those low in power changed toward a more negative self-concept.
Managing Incidental Thyroid Nodules Detected on Imaging: White Paper of the ACR Incidental Thyroid Findings Committee

The incidental thyroid nodule (ITN) is one of the most common incidental findings on imaging studies that include the neck. An ITN is defined as a nodule not previously detected or suspected clinically, but identified by an imaging study. The workup of ITNs has led to increased costs from additional procedures, and in some cases, to increased risk to the patient because physicians are naturally concerned about the risk of malignancy and a delayed cancer diagnosis. However, the majority of ITNs are benign, and small, incidental thyroid malignancies typically have indolent behavior. The ACR formed the Incidental Thyroid Findings Committee to derive a practical approach to managing ITNs on CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, and ultrasound studies. This white paper describes consensus recommendations representing this committee's review of the literature and their practice experience.
Failure of the Milwaukee Protocol in a Child With Rabies

Rabies has the highest case-fatality rate of all infectious diseases, with 50,000 cases occurring annually worldwide. In 2004 an unvaccinated adolescent survived after novel therapy. We report the management of a child with rabies. Although the implementation of this same therapeutic protocol was successful, the child died after 1 month of hospitalization.
Mass spectrometry of protein-ligand complexes: Enhanced gas-phase stability of ribonuclease-nucleotide complexes

Noncovalent protein-ligand complexes are readily detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Ligand binding stoichiometry can be determined easily by the ESI-MS method. The ability to detect noncovalent protein-ligand complexes depends, however, on the stability of the complexes in the gas-phase environment. Solution binding affinities may or may not be accurate predictors of their stability in vacuo. Complexes composed of cytidine nucleotides bound to ribonuclease A (RNase A) and ribonuclease S (RNase S) were detected by ESI-MS and were further analyzed by MS/MS. RNase A and RNase S share similar structures and biological activity. Subtilisin-cleavage of RNase A yields an S-peptide and an S-protein; the S-peptide and S-protein interact through hydrophobic interactions with a solution binding constant in the nanomolar range to generate an active RNase S. Cytidine nucleotides bind to the ribonucleases through electrostatic interactions with a solution binding constant in the micromolar range. Collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) of the 1:1 RNase A-CDP and CTP complexes yields cleavage of the covalent phosphate bonds of the nucleotide ligands, releasing CMP from the complex. CAD of the RNase S-CDP and CTP complexes dissociates the S-peptide from the remaining S-protein/nucleotide complex; further dissociation of the S-protein/nucleotide complex fragments a covalent phosphate bond of the nucleotide with subsequent release of CMP. Despite a solution binding constant favoring the S-protein/S-peptide complex, CDP/CTP remains electrostatically bound to the S-protein in the gas-phase dissociation experiment. This study highlights the intrinsic stability of electrostatic interactions in the gas phase and the significant differences in solution and gas-phase stabilities of noncovalent complexes that can result.
LANGUAGE AND PERSON STUDIES IN LANGUAGE BEHAVIOR1

Starting with an interest in basic psychological processes, whose complexity is matched only by the difficulty of their study, we developed what seemed to us to be more appropriate research strategies—the so-called transpositional research—and forged a link between the acquisition of native-like second language pronunciation ability and certain personality constructs, such as empathy. From there we pursued over the years a line of inquiry that studied the influence of language on person and person on language. While engaging in this basic research we were able to reap incidental pay-offs in the several instruments we produced: the STP, MME and the MIGIT.
Redundant core testing on the cell BE microprocessor

The Cell Broadband Engine chip, used in Sony's PS/3 console, contains 8 identical processing cores. As only 7 of these are used in the PS/3™ application, this provides an opportunity for yield enhancement through use of this “spare” core. We are able to enjoy an 11% to 17% yield increase with this scheme, but its implementation drives about 20% of our test time and significant design and test complexity.
A Quasicrystalline Decagonal Phase in Al-Fe-Ce

A number of dispersed phases in Al-Fe-Ce alloys, varying structurally and chemically, have been observed by TEM. Of particular interest were rod-like particles which showed five-fold symmetry and irrational spacings. These dispersoids contain linear features, a periodic, columnar structure parallel to the five-fold axis, aperiodic spacings perpendicular to the five-fold axis and were coherent in one direction with the Al matrix. The evidence indicates a two-dimensional Penrose tiling with a columnar structure, possibly a stacking of eclipsed pentagonal units.
Periodontal referrals show more severe periodontal disease and higher numbers of missing teeth from 1980 to 2000

Original Article Cobb CM, Carrara A, El-Annan E, Youngblood LA, Becker BE, Becker W, et al. Periodontal referral patterns, 1980 versus 2000: a preliminary study. J Periodontol 2003;74(10):1470-4. Level of Evidence 3 Purpose To compare trends in referral patterns of periodontal patients between 1980 and 2000 Source of Funding Information not available Type of Study/Design Time cohort, retrospective
QUANTUM GRAVITY AND TIME REVERSIBILITY

The meaning of time-reversal and $\mathrm{CPT}$ invariances of a theory is discussed both in the context of theories defined on flat spacetime as well as in general relativity. It is argued that quantum gravity cannot be time-reversal or $\mathrm{CPT}$ invariant; that an "arrow of time" must be fundamentally built into the theory. However, a weaker form of $\mathrm{CPT}$ invariance could still hold, in which case the fundamental "arrow of time" would not show up in the measurements of observers who perform scattering experiments. Consequences of this weaker hypothesis are explored.