cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ABSOLUTE VERSUS RELATIVE MEASUREMENTS OF SEXUAL SELECTION: ASSESSING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ULTRASONIC SIGNAL CHARACTERS TO MATE ATTRACTION IN LESSER WAX MOTHS, ACHROIA GRISELLA (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE)

When females choose a mate among a group of signaling males concentrated in a small area, a male's mating success is often determined not only by his absolute attractiveness but by the attractiveness of his neighbors as well. Multivariate analyses of sexual selection measurements based on absolute values of predictor variables are then misleading, because such analyses assume that the fitness of a given individual is not influenced by others. We addressed this problem of relative fitness in sexual selection by developing two adjustments of the predictor variables in the multivariate analyses by including group means in addition to absolute values and by using relative values, deviations from group means. In the lesser wax moth, Achroia grisella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), aggregated males produce ultrasonic signals attractive to females in the vicinity of honey bee colonies. Playback experiments showed that females prefer signals whose pulses are louder, longer, delivered at a faster rate, and include lengthy silent gaps within pulse pairs (long asynchrony intervals). To measure sexual selection on ultrasonic signals, attractiveness was assessed by observing the number of females orienting toward given males in four-choice trials. The various signal characters of the males were computed from ultrasound recordings. Multivariate regression and nonparametric analyses revealed that peak amplitude, asynchrony interval, and pulse rate were the direct targets of selection. Nonlinear stabilizing and corre- lational selection were also detected. Comparisons of results from multivariate analyses based on absolute values and on the two relative adjustments indicated that the quality of a four-male group did not affect the strength or direction of linear selection but changed the strength of nonlinear selection. Both relative adjustments improved the prediction of male attractiveness. Three-dimensional surface plots generated by the nonparametric regression analyses showed that attractiveness increased monotonically with any combination of the signal characters. This graphical technique also showed that female choice in A. grisella was based on a relative, as opposed to a threshold, decision rule. Overall, male attractiveness for the population remained consistent between testing days. However, attractiveness values for some individual males changed between successive testing days. In these cases, the change in attractiveness was related only to the change in peak amplitude.
Segmentation of polar scenes using multi-spectral texture measures and morphological filtering

Abstract Two segmentation and two unsupervised classification schemes are applied to four Landsat TM Antarctic scenes. The methods include the region-growing and the region-oriented segmentation approaches and the Divide-and-Conquer and the Mahalanobis classifiers. Combinations of spectral signatures and Grey Level Difference Vector (GLDV) textural measures are computed for each of the seven TM bands. Correlation matrices then are constructed to reduce the feature vector. Means, standard deviations, and angular second moments are selected, usually for TM channels 4, 5, and 6. In general it is found that the segmentation schemes produce results which are judged to be more reliable and useful than those obtained from the classification schemes. The region-oriented segmentation approach is found to produce the best results. The morphological three-dimensional opening and closing operators are used as a preprocessing step in both the segmentation and classification approaches. It is found that a 7 by 7 pixel ...
Large ternary hydrogen-bonded pre-nucleation clusters in the Earth’s atmosphere

Abstract In the present Letter, large ternary hydrogen-bonded (H 2 SO 4 ) n (NH 3 ) m (H 2 O) k clusters have been studied using the Density Functional Theory (DFT). Binary and ternary (H 2 SO 4 ) n (NH 3 ) m (H 2 O) k clusters have been studied focusing on thermochemical properties, which are relevant directly to atmospheric nucleation rates and controlled by affinities of H 2 SO 4 , NH 3 and H 2 O to the aforementioned pre-nucleation clusters. The composition and size dependencies of the affinities have been studied and structure-properties correlations have been discussed. New thermochemical data for large binary and ternary clusters reported in the present study are ready to be used in the development of quantum-constrained parameterization of ternary nucleation rates.
Electrocardiographic repolarization measurements at rest and during exercise in normal subjects and in patients with coronary artery disease

Normal values for simple and rate-corrected measures of the duration and dispersion of electrocardiographic (ECG) repolarization during treadmill exercise were obtained in 94 clinically normal men, and the behavior of these measures during ischemia was examined in 79 men with catheterization-proven disease or with stable angina, all of whom had normal resting ECGs. Temporal measures of repolarization, exemplified by QTc, were found to be moderately sensitive for disease only when highly specific criteria were derived from data at peak exercise heart rates that were significantly higher in normal subjects than in patients; sensitivities of rate-corrected measures declined markedly when criteria were derived from matched heart rate data in normal subjects. In contrast, the standard deviation of the mean measured J-point to T-wave peaks across the V1 to V6 precordial leads (SD-SoTm), a measure of precordial dispersion of repolarization, was unrelated to exercise heart rate in normal subjects; SD-SoTm exceeding the 95% value at matched intraexercise heart rates in normal subjects was found at peak exercise in 38% of men with coronary disease, including some patients with otherwise false-negative standard exercise test responses.
Gnathic osteoblastoma: Clinicopathologic review of seven cases with long-term follow-up

The clinical, radiographic and histopathologic features of seven cases of osteoblastoma of the jaw bones were analyzed. The mandible was involved in six cases and a periosteal presentation of the tumor was noted in three cases. Six tumors were symptomatic with pain being the common presentation. The radiographic appearance of the intraosseous tumors varied from well-defined radiolucencies to poorly-defined mixed lesions. A small periosteal tumor was undetectable radiographically. Histopathologically, the tumors exhibited variation in woven bone formation, osteoblastic rimming, lesional maturation as well as interaction of the tumor with surrounding host tissue. Intraosseous tumors were managed with aggressive surgical curettage and periosteal tumors were resected and the underlying bone was curetted down to normal host bone. Follow-up of cases ranged from 2 years to 18 years with no recorded recurrences. Gnathic osteoblastomas offer a unique diagnostic challenge as they resemble other tumors of the jaws including the cementoblastoma, cemento-ossifying fibroma, cemento-osseous dysplasia and most importantly the gnathic osteosarcoma. We stress on the need to correlate the histopathologic findings with clinical and radiographic features to reach an accurate diagnosis.
A consumer surplus analysis of market-based demand management policies in Southern California

The purpose of this paper is twofold. Primarily the paper makes a quantitative case for implememtation of market-based demand management policies, such as congestion pricing, to reduce urban traffic congestion and mobile-source air pollution. In addition the paper demonstrates the usefulness of the consumer surplus model for performing transportation policy analysis. The model is used to estimate that a fee of $0.05 per vehicle mile (roughly equivalent to a $1.25 per gallon gas tax) would increase the net transportation benefits of Southern California's surface transportation system by 10% from approximately $30 billion to $33 billion per year.
Auditing and Analysis of Network Traffic in Cloud Environment

Cloud computing allows users to remotely store their data into the cloud and provides on-demand applications and services from a shared pool of configurable computing resources. The security of the outsourced data in the cloud is dependent on the security of the cloud computing system and network. Though, there have been numerous efforts on securing data on the cloud computing system, evaluation of data security on the network between cloud provider and its users is still a very challenging task. The audit of the cloud computing system and network will provide insights on the security and performance of VMs and the operating system on multiple data centers and the intra-cloud network managed by cloud providers and the wide-area network between the cloud user and cloud provider. Thus, network traffic analysis for cloud auditing is of critical importance so that users can resort to an external audit party to verify the data security on the network between cloud provider and its users. This paper presents the following key technologies required to analyze network traffic in the cloud computing environment: IP geolocation of network devices between cloud provider and its users, monitoring the data security of the cloud network path, and online mining of massive cloud auditing logs generated by cloud network traffic.
Alloxan diabetes in the pig (Sus domesticus). Response to glucose, tolbutamide and insulin administration.

Abstract 1. 1. Alloxan was used to render pigs ( Sus domesticus ) diabetic. 2. 2. The alloxan-diabetic pigs exhibited a three- to six-fold increase in blood glucose, a threefold increase in plasma free fatty acids, a twofold increase in blood ketones and a 30 per cent depression in plasma immunoreactive insulin when compared with control pigs. 3. 3. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests indicated that glucose clearance was much slower in the alloxan-diabetic pigs than in the control pigs. Tolbutamide injection caused a marked hypoglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in control pigs, while the diabetic pigs were unaffected. 4. 4. Insulin injections returned blood glucose, plasma immunoreactive insulin, plasma free fatty acid levels and body weight gains to near normal. The acute cessation of insulin administration reversed these changes.
The principal neuronal gD-type 3-O-sulfotransferases and their products in central and peripheral nervous system tissues.

Abstract Within the nervous system, heparan sulfate (HS) of the cell surface and extracellular matrix influences developmental, physiologic and pathologic processes. HS is a functionally diverse polysaccharide that employs motifs of sulfate groups to selectively bind and modulate various effector proteins. Specific HS activities are modulated by 3- O -sulfated glucosamine residues, which are generated by a family of seven 3- O -sulfotransferases (3-OSTs). Most isoforms we herein designate as gD-type 3-OSTs because they generate HS gD+ , 3- O -sulfated motifs that bind the gD envelope protein of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and thereby mediate viral cellular entry. Certain gD-type isoforms are anticipated to modulate neurobiologic events because a Drosophila gD-type 3-OST is essential for a conserved neurogenic signaling pathway regulated by Notch. Information about 3-OST isoforms expressed in the nervous system of mammals is incomplete. Here, we identify the 3-OST isoforms having properties compatible with their participation in neurobiologic events. We show that 3-OST-2 and 3-OST-4 are principal isoforms of brain. We find these are gD-type enzymes, as they produce products similar to a prototypical gD-type isoform, and they can modify HS to generate receptors for HSV-1 entry into cells. Therefore, 3-OST-2 and 3-OST-4 catalyze modifications similar or identical to those made by the Drosophila gD-type 3-OST that has a role in regulating Notch signaling. We also find that 3-OST-2 and 3-OST-4 are the predominant isoforms expressed in neurons of the trigeminal ganglion, and 3-OST-2/4-type 3- O -sulfated residues occur in this ganglion and in select brain regions. Thus, 3-OST-2 and 3-OST-4 are the major neural gD-type 3-OSTs, and so are prime candidates for participating in HS-dependent neurobiologic events.
Combining collation and annotation efforts toward completion of the rat and mouse connectomes in BAMS

Many different independently published neuroanatomical parcellation schemes (brain maps, nomenclatures, or atlases) can exist for a particular species, although one scheme (a standard scheme) is typically chosen for mapping neuroanatomical data in a particular study. This is problematic for building connection matrices (connectomes) because the terms used to name structures (especially gray matter regions and white matter tracts) in different parcellation schemes differ widely and interrelationships are seldom defined. Therefore, data sets cannot be compared across studies that have been mapped on different neuroanatomical atlases without a reliable translation method. Because resliceable 3D brain models for relating systematically and topographically different parcellation schemes are still in the first phases of development, it is necessary to rely on qualitative comparisons between regions and tracts that are either inserted directly by neuroanatomists or trained annotators, or are extracted or inferred by collators from the available literature. The structure and functionality of BAMS (http://brancusi.usc.edu/bkms) Cell Module is then presented as a basis for constructing interrelated connectomes based on neuron types (mesoconnectomes) and individual neurons (microconnectomes). Next the latest version of BAMS rat macroconnectome is presented because it is significantly more populated with the number of inserted connectivity reports reaching a landmark value (50,000), and it is based on a different classification scheme. Finally, a general methodology and strategy is discussed for producing global connection matrices, starting with rigorous mapping of data, then inserting and annotating it in BAMS, and ending with online generation of large scale connections matrices.
Nutritional Management of the Child With Crohn’s Disease

Nutritional management of Crohn’s Disease (CD) is essential when working with the pediatric population. Treatment needs to target not only symptoms of the disease but also the associated growth fai...
The Analysis of Extraterrestrial Materials

As implied by its title, this book primarily concerns the actual analysis of extraterrestrial materials (including atmospheres and solar wind) rather than the results of such analyses. Five chapters deal with analysis of these materials in terrestrial laboratories, and six chapters describe remote analysis on spacecraft missions. Most chapters can be easily dated — they were written shortly after the mission, have undergone only sporadic updating, and are largely illustrated by copies of vu-graphs presented at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) briefings. This historical approach is quite successful in describing the original lunar receiving laboratory and instruments from specific missions. These chapters bring together good and readable descriptions of instruments from the Surveyor, Apollo, Viking, Pioneer, Venus, and especially the Soviet Lunakhod and Venera missions. The author participated in a number of the investigations involving gamma ray or X ray fluorescence spectrometry, and these sections are especially good. However, the chapters on meteorites, lunar samples, cosmochronology, and reflectance spectroscopy are too dated and should have been completely rewritten to properly convey current research and understanding.
Positive interactions in communities.

Current concepts of the role of interspecific interactions in communities have been shaped by a profusion of experimental studies of interspecific competition over the past few decades. Evidence for the importance of positive interactions — facilitations — in community organization and dynamics has accrued to the point where it warrants formal inclusion into community ecology theory, as it has been in evolutionary biology.
Statistical Fatigue Models: A Survey

This paper attempts to bring together some of the well known and some of the lesser known probability distributions that are candidates for failure models in reliability studies. Each probability distribution is discussed in the light of a physical process that gives rise to it and as such provides a better insight to its potential user. Alternately, a user faced with the task of choosing a failure distribution can direct his choice by determining which of the physical causes discussed here best fits into his situation. The results presented in this paper, some of them very recent, have appeared in the literature, but in a scattered form. To the knowledge of this author, there is no single source of literature that presents all the failure distributions in a comprehensive form. This presentation will enable the reliability analyst to view failure distributions in a more complete context.
Viability and Fertility in Rhode Island Red Females

Abstract THE problem of fertility in chickens has been studied by many investigators. With the exception of Lamoreux’s (1940 a) study of the influence of intensity of laying on infertility in hens, most attention has been directed to the male as the more important parent controlling fertility. Lamoreux showed that the percentage of infertile eggs in clutches of 1 to 3 eggs was significantly greater than the percentage of infertile eggs in clutches of 4 to 41 eggs. In a five year period the odds against such a difference occurring by chance were 999 to 1 in four of the five year. Lamoreux (1940 b) also demonstrated that spermotoxins or spermatozoal antibodies in the female are unimportant as causes of infertility. Pearl (1940) suggested that the term “fertility” be used to designate the total actual reproductive capacity of pairs of organisms as expressed by their ability when mated together to produce . . .
An Experimental Examination of the Effects of Communicative Infidelity Motives on Communication and Relational Outcomes in Romantic Relationships

This study examined the effects of pretransgression relational characteristics and communicative infidelity (CI) motives on anticipated posttransgression relationship outcomes. Participants (N = 215) answered questions assessing investment, satisfaction, quality of alternatives, commitment, and perceived partner uniqueness (PPU) before responding to 1 of 5 CI scenarios, followed by assessments of forgiveness and dissolution or continuance decisions. Results revealed differences in posttransgression outcomes based on both sex and the pretransgression assessments, but not as a result of the partner's motive for committing CI. Additionally, one CI motive (i.e., sexual depression) moderated the relationship between pretransgression PPU and posttransgression discussion of the offense.
The kinase homology domain of retinal guanylyl cyclases 1 and 2 specifies the affinity and cooperativity of interaction with guanylyl cyclase activating protein-2

RetGC-1 and RetGC-2 are photoreceptor membrane guanylyl cyclases that are regulated by the Ca2+-binding protein, GCAP-2. We used a protease protection assay to localize regions of the intracellular domains of RetGCs important for the interaction with GCAP-2 and found that GCAP-2 reduces the access of trypsin to a site in the kinase homology domain (KHD) of RetGC-1. The protective effect of GCAP-2 is independent of Ca2+. We also found that RetGC-2 and GCAP-2 interact cooperatively with high affinity, but RetGC-1 and GCAP-2 interact noncooperatively with low affinity. By analyzing RetGC-1/RetGC-2 chimeras we demonstrated that the affinity and cooperativity of the interaction with GCAP-2 is dictated by the structure of the KHD. These findings suggest that GCAP-2 interacts constituitively with the KHDs of RetGC-1 and RetGC-2 and that cGMP synthesis is controlled by Ca2+-dependent conformational changes in the RetGC/GCAP complex.
Quadrat Analysis of Urban Dispersion: 1. Theoretical Techniques

This is the first part of a two part paper, and is a review of the methodology of a particular technique of spatial point pattern analysis known as quadrat analysis. (The second part will present some case studies.) Various methods of statistical analysis of dispersion are reviewed at the outset, and such concepts as 'pattern' and 'shape' are defined. The two main parts of the review then deal in turn with theoretical distributions in quadrat analysis and with methods of statistical inference.
Variables controlling the secretion of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 in normal human subjects.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) is one of a family of IGFBPs that are present in extracellular fluids, and binds both IGF-II and IGF-I with high affinity. These studies were conducted to determine the nutritional and hormonal variables that regulate plasma IGFBP-2 concentrations in humans. The mean plasma IGFBP-2 concentration for 38 normal adult subjects was 150 ± 61 μg/L and was 4.7-fold greater than their mean fasting IGFBP-1 value. Mean IGFBP-2 values in cord sera of 26 normal term infants was 3.8- fold greater than the normal adult mean value. Likewise, the mean value for 44 hypopituitary adults was increased 2-fold compared to normal. There was no suppression of IGFBP-2 values in acromegaly. Normal adult subjects showed minimal fluctuations (<2-fold changes) in plasma IGFBP-2 concentrations during a 48-h sampling period. These changes were significantly less than the changes that occurred in plasma IGFBP-1 during the same interval. Plasma IGFBP-2 did not change significantly p...
Full tree-level calculation of the qq-->qqWZ electroweak process at hadron supercolliders

We present a full standard model calculation of the {ital qq}{r arrow}{ital qqWZ} electroweak process in {ital pp} collisions at the Superconducting Super Collider, including {ital W} and {ital Z} leptonic decay correlations. We also analyze the backgrounds to this signal from {ital Zt{bar t}}{r arrow}{ital ZW}+jets and {ital q{bar q}}{r arrow}{ital WZ}+jets. Single forward jet tagging and vetoing of events with {ge}2 central jets can suppress the backgrounds with little effect on the signal. With 10 fb{sup {minus}1} integrated luminosity we expect 50 signal events and 30 background events.
Spectral dispersion of cloud droplet size distributions and the parameterization of cloud droplet effective radius

Parameterization of effective radius (re) as proportional (Pontikis and Hicks, 1992; Bower and Choularton, 1992; Bower et to the cube root of the ratio of cloud liquid water content (L) to al., 1994; Martin et al., 1994; Liu and Hallett, 1997; Reid et al., Hicks (1992) and by Liu and Hallet (1997) that account for the dependence of ot on the spectral dispersion are compared to each where re is the effective radius intm, L the liquid water content in other and to cloud microphysical data collected during two recent gm -3, N the total droplet concentration in cm -3, and ot the prefactor. field studies. The expression of Liu and Hallet describes the A key issue in use of this parameterization is the specification spectral dependence of ot (or re) more accurately than the Pontikis of or. Here we explore the dependence of ot on the spectral disper- and Hicks relation over the observed range of spectral dispersions. sion of cloud droplet size distributions. Values of ot derived from The comparison shows that the different treatments of ot as a func- other studies are compared to those derived from the data collected tion of spectral dispersion alone can result in substantial differ- during two Intensive Observation Periods (IOP) conducted at the ences in re estimated from different parameterization schemes, Atmospheric Radiation Measurements (ARM) program Southern suggesting that accurately representing re in climate models Great Plain (SGP) site in Oklahoma, in the spring and fall of 1997. requires predicting ot in addition to L and N. This analysis suggests the necessity and possibility of improving
Sewage Sludge and Heavy Metal Effects on Nodulation and Nitrogen Fixation of Legumes

Effects of sludge-borne heavy metals on plant growth, nodulation, and nitrogen (N 2 ) fixation of alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) were examined. Plants were grown in the greenhouse in pots containing soil (Typic Paleudults) obtained from plots where heat-treated and Nu-Earth sludges were applied in 1976 and 1978, respectively. Two soil pH regimes (low and high) were examined for each of the treatments. Nitrogen fertilizer (NH 4 NO 3 ) was applied to one-half the pots and each legume was inoculated with the appropriate Rhizobium culture. Soil pH and sludge type significantly affected uptake of metals with phytotoxicity observed in the Nu-Earth, low pH soil. Nodulation was reduced, but not always completely eliminated in all low pH treatments, including the controls. Symbioses were generally ineffective in low pH treatments. In soils where pH was above 6.0, there was a significant increase in shoot weight and total shoot N with sludge addition. Plants derived significant quantities of N from soil, where sludge was applied many years ago. When pH was maintained at 6.0 or higher the results show that heavy metals in soil, and the resulting concentration in plants, had no effect on any of the parameters examined.
THEOLOGY IN THE UNIVERSITY: ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING

Stanley Hauerwas and Gavin D'Costa develop theological arguments for inclusion of constructive theology in Universities' curricula; Andrew Shanks offers an equivalent. They share the conviction that the practice of theology cannot be separated from religious practices. Beyond that, however, their arguments scarcely intersect, in part because of differing analyses of the “secularity” that underwrites the academy's skepticism of theology as a “discipline.” Hauerwas analyses secularity theologically; Shanks urges that even secular societies exhibit “will to Honesty” (think, perhaps, “ultimate concern”) that is inherently religious and theological; D'Costa argues that central to secular liberalism is a commitment to genuine pluralism that ought to foster theologies in their particularities.
The development of new and old information in young children's early language

Abstract Infants can distinguish early in their first year of life sensory/environmental input that is newly presented to them as opposed to information with which they have become familiar. This new-old distinction plays an important role in children's language acquisition. Results of a longitudinal study of four children (approximately 17 months to 2 years, 9 months) indicate that children's linguistic selection at the one-word stage was governed by principles of informativeness. Children used their single-word utterances to report on or about new information. At the two-word stage, similar informativeness principles operated. The two words expressed new or a combination of new and old information, while totally presupposed information was omitted. Moreover omission or deletion of linguistic items to produce single-word utterances were of items related to old information. The function of early language thus is to produce new or changing information. The new-old distinction can be seen as the perceptual/cognitive foundation for the topic-comment and the presupposition-assertion distinctions in later language.
Differential Use of Health Services among Disabled Elderly

In order to facilitate program planning for the chronically ill, it is essential to understand their propensity to use health and social services. This study has systematically examined the use of ambulatory services among the noninstitutionalized elderly (N = 772) who reported with one or more activity-limiting chronic conditions in a statewide survey of older Virginians in 1979. The determinants of differential use of physician services are investigated. The independent variables included in the analysis are: (1) personal attributes that may predispose individuals to seek care; (2) need for care factors as evidenced by the number of health disorders, physical functioning limitations, and perceived health; and (3) enabling factors such as income, insurance status, regular source of care, perceived service needs, and transportation barriers. Findings show that a significantly large number of physician visits may be generated in response to the psychological needs of disabled elderly. The eighteen predicto...
Prevalence and clinical characteristics of body dysmorphic disorder in an adult inpatient setting.

Abstract Objective Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a distressing or impairing preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in appearance, is an often-severe, understudied disorder. We determined BDD's prevalence and clinical features on a general adult psychiatric inpatient unit. To our knowledge, only one previous prevalence study has been done in this setting. Method One hundred patients completed 3 self-report measures: the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire (BDD-Q), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Those who screened positive for BDD were interviewed to confirm DSM-IV BDD and its clinical features. Charts were reviewed for demographic and clinical information. Results BDD was diagnosed in 16.0% (95% CI=8.7–23.3%) ( n =16) of patients. A high proportion of those with BDD reported that BDD symptoms contributed to suicidality. Patients revealed BDD symptoms to a mean of only 15.1%±33.7% lifetime mental health clinicians; only one (6.3%) reported symptoms to his current inpatient psychiatrist. Most did not disclose their symptoms due to embarrassment. Those with BDD were younger ( P =.008) and had higher CES-D scores ( P =.008). The two groups did not significantly differ on BAI score, demographic characteristics or discharge diagnoses. Conclusions BDD is relatively common but underdiagnosed in psychiatric inpatients and is associated with more severe depressive symptoms.
On a cyclotomic unit and related products

Abstract Let p be an odd prime, ζ a primitive pth root of unity. It is proved that Π(1 + iζk)k, 1 ≤ k ≤ p − 1 is a perfect pth power in Z (iζ) only if p divides Σtp − 3, 1 ≤ t ≤ ⌊ p 4 ⌋ , and that it is a perfect pth power for P = 241. Properties of the general product Π(1 + aqk)k, 1 ≤ k ≤ n, are investigated.
Recombinant Bactericidal/Permeability-Increasing Protein rBPI21 Protects against Pneumococcal Disease

Bactericidal/permeability-increasing (BPI) protein has been shown to play an important role in innate immunity to gram-negative bacteria, by direct microbicidal as well as endotoxin-neutralizing action. Here we examined potential interactions between a recombinant 21-kDa bioactive fragment of BPI, rBPI21, and the gram-positive pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. rBPI21 bound to pneumococci and pneumolysin (Ply) in a direct and specific fashion. We observed an enhanced inflammatory response in mouse macrophages when rBPI21 was combined with killed pneumococci or supernatant from overnight growth of pneumococci. In addition, rBPI21 augmented the proapoptotic activity of Ply+ (but not Ply-) pneumococci in TLR4-defective murine macrophages (known to be defective also in their apoptotic response to pneumolysin) in a tumor necrosis factor alpha-dependent manner. rBPI21 also enhanced the association of pneumococci with murine macrophages. In a model of invasive pneumococcal disease in TLR4-defective mice, the intranasal administration of rBPI21 following intranasal inoculation of Ply+ pneumococci both enhanced upper respiratory tract cell apoptosis and prolonged survival. We have thus discovered a novel interaction between pneumococcus and rBPI21, a potent antimicrobial peptide previously considered to target only gram-negative bacteria.
Depletion of retinal dopamine increases brightness perception in goldfish.

The effect of unilateral depletion of retinal dopamine on goldfish visual behavior was studied using a behavioral reflex, the dorsal light reaction (DLR). Retinal dopamine was depleted by intraocular injections of 6–hydroxydopamine (6–OHDA) on two successive days. By 2 weeks postinjection, dopamine interplexiform cells (DA-IPC) were not detected using tyrosine-hydroxylase immunoreactivity (TH-IR). By 6 weeks postinjection, generation of DA-IPC was observed at the marginal zone and by 9 months postinjection, 2–3 rows of DA-IPC were present at the marginal zone. Neurites extended several hundred micrometers toward the central retina. By 2 weeks postinjection, all 6–OHDA lesioned fish tilted 7–15 deg toward the injected eye under uniform overhead illumination. The tilting did not occur under scotopic illumination and reappeared within 1 min of light adaptation. Quantitation of the DLR showed that 6–OHDA lesioned fish behaved as if light were 2.4 log units more intense to the injected eye. Partial recovery was observed by 9 months postinjection, paralleling the reappearance of DA-IPC at the marginal zone. Tilting also was induced by unilateral intraocular injection with Dl and D2 dopamine receptor antagonists, SCH 23390 and S(—)-sulpiride, respectively. Fish did not tilt if they were light adapted at the time of injection. Tilting was observed if the animals were dark-adapted for 3 h and left in the dark for 1 h postinjection. Fish tilted toward the drug-injected eye within 2 min of light adaptation and gradually returned to vertical within 2 h. The tilting response to S(—)-sulpiride was stronger (˜20 deg vs. ˜5 deg) and occurred at lower concentration (1 μM vs. 10 μM) compared to SCH 23390. We conclude that dopamine depletion mimics the dorsal light reaction by increasing the luminosity output of the eye and that dopamine is directly involved in photopic luminosity function.
Spatially inhomogeneous polarization in laser beam shaping

A new method of beam shaping by spatially inhomogeneous polarization is proposed and studied. Unlike the conventional techniques, the polarization state in the pupil plane of a far-field beam shaping system is modulated in a spatially variant pattern. It is shown that with carefully designed polarization manipulation, the smallest flat-top intensity focal pattern can be obtained. Theoretical analysis demonstrates the uniqueness of this new idea in terms of the size of the flat-top spot; experiments are described that successfully demonstrate the feasibility of this method to practical applications.
Idiopathic internal resorption of teeth.

Abstract Two cases of idiopathic internal resorption have been presented, and the treatment of this disorder has been discussed. These cases illustrate the value of periodic roentgenographic examination and careful clinical observation. The involved teeth were saved for these patients by early diagnosis and endodontic treatment.
The incommensurate nature of epitaxial titanium disilicide islands on Si(001)

Abstract Much of traditional metallurgy depends on manipulating thermodynamic and kinetic constraints to achieve the desired microstructure. It is becoming apparent that it may be possible to exploit similar principles to achieve designer self-assembled nanostructures on surfaces. A key question in determining equilibrium island sizes is whether epitaxial growth occurs with commensurate lattice parameters (with corresponding elastic strain), or whether the islands are relaxed. In the case of TiSi 2 islands on Si(001), we can show both by STM and by TEM that the C49 phase is incommensurate, and that the islands have the relaxed silicide lattice parameters. The STM images show this both from the dimensions of surface reconstructions and from subtle current imaging contrast that we attribute to the periodic nature of the island/substrate interface. The TEM evidence comes primarily from analysis of moire fringes, and the electron diffraction data confirm the presence of the C49 phase.
Quantization and the method of k -means

Asymptotic results from the statistical theory of k -means clustering are applied to problems of vector quantization. The behavior of quantizers constructed from long training sequences of data is analyzed by relating it to the consistency problem for k -means.
Taxol and platinum chemotherapy in the treatment of pancreatic and jejunal carcinoma.

Pancreatic cancer and jejunal cancer are aggressive diseases with grim prognoses. The long term survival of pancreatic carcinoma is still one of the worst of all cancers. Ninety-five percent of the patients die of their disease within 5 years [Wagener et al : Ann Oncol 5(Suppl 3) : S87-S90, 1994]. Eighty-five percent of patients with jejunal carcinoma die of their disease within 5 years [Lioe, Biggart : J Clin Pathol 43 :533-536, 1990]. To date, there are disappointingly few effective cytotoxic agents in the treatment of these cancers. We present a case of advanced-stage pancreatic carcinoma and a case of advanced stage jejunal carcinoma, each showing marked response to Taxol and platinum chemotherapy. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Profibrillatory Effects of Multiple Extrastimuli

Profibrillatory Effects of Extrastimuli. Multiple extrastimuli are known to cause ventricular Hhrillation in normal hearts. The mechanisms by which multiple extrastimuli facilitate induction of ventricular fibrillation were studied in 10 normal, anesthetized, open chest dogs. Strength-interval curves and latency-interval curves were measured following basic drive (S1S1) and following captured single and double extrastimuli (S2and S3). The zone of relative refractoriness was widened by closely coupled extrastimuli: 44 ± 8 msec after basic drive. 81 ± 19 msec after S2 and 92 ± 15 msec after S2S3 (P <0.001 compared to basic drive). The maximum latency between a test stimulus and its propagated response was prolonged by extrastimuli: 95 ± 6 msec after basic drive, 144 ± 11 msec after S2, and 162 ± 12 msec after S3 (P <0.001). Extrastimuli that were not closely coupled (i.e., that were delivered 30 or 50 msec following the effective refractory period of the previous beat) had little effect on the zone of relative refractoriness or maximum latency of subsequent stimuli. Catbodal, anodal, and bipolar extrastimuli had similar effects on effective refractory period, zone of relative refractoriness, and latency. Extrastimuli did not cause decreases in threshold for capture and did not exaggerate early diastolic dips in strength-interval curves. Forty episodes of ventricular fibrillation were induced in eight of ten dogs. Latency-interval curves that induced VF had longer maximum latency (P <0.001) and wider zones of relative refractoriness (P <0.001) than did latency interval curves that did not result in ventricular fibrillation. Prolongation of the relative refractory period resulted in corresponding prolongation of latency with correlation coefficient of 0.97, however, both of these parameters correlated poorly with the coupling interval of The premature stimuli (R = 044 and 043). In conclusion, premature extrastimuli may facilitate induction of ventricular fibrillation by widening the relative refractory period and prolonging latency. However, premature stimuli initiated at coupling intervals of over 30 msec above the ERP of the previous propagated beat eliminate much of the relative refractory period and latency increase, and were not associated with ventricular flbrillation. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. I, No. 3, pp 197–208, June 1990)
Hopfield model associative memory with nonzero-diagonal terms in memory matrix

The discrete-valued neural network proposed by Hopfield requires zero-diagonal terms in the memory matrix so that the net evolves toward a local minimum of an energy function. For a version of this model with bipolar nodes and positive terms along the diagonal, the net evolves so that only updates that lower the energy by a sufficient amount are accepted. For a net programmed as an outer-product associative content-addressable memory, the version with nonzero-diagonal elements performs nearly identically to one with zero-diagonal terms, and the dropping of the zero-diagonal requirement is advantageous for optical implementation.
The effect of compressor-administered defibrillation on peri-shock pauses in a simulated cardiac arrest scenario.

Introduction: Coordination of the tasks of performing chest compressions and defibrillation can lead to communication challenges that may prolong time spent off the chest. The purpose of this study was to determine whether defibrillation provided by the provider performing chest compressions led to a decrease in peri-shock pauses as compared to defibrillation administered by a second provider, in a simulated cardiac arrest scenario. Methods: This was a randomized, controlled study measuring pauses in chest compressions for defibrillation in a simulated cardiac arrest model. We approached hospital providers with current CPR certification for participation between July, 2011 and October, 2011. Volunteers were randomized to control (facilitator-administered defibrillation) or experimental (compressor-administered defibrillation) groups. All participants completed one minute of chest compressions on a mannequin in a shockable rhythm prior to administration of defibrillation. We measured and compared pauses for defibrillation in both groups. Results: Out of 200 total participants, we analyzed data from 197 defibrillations. Compressor-initiated defibrillation resulted in a significantly lower pre-shock hands-off time (0.57 s; 95% CI: 0.47-0.67) compared to facilitator-initiated defibrillation (1.49 s; 95% CI: 1.35-1.64). Furthermore, compressor-initiated defibrillation resulted in a significantly lower peri-shock hands-off time (2.77 s; 95% CI: 2.58-2.95) compared to facilitator-initiated defibrillation (4.25 s; 95% CI: 4.08-4.43). Conclusion: Assigning the responsibility for shock delivery to the provider performing compressions encourages continuous compressions throughout the charging period and decreases total time spent off the chest. However, as this was a simulation-based study, clinical implementation is necessary to further evaluate these potential benefits. [West J Emerg Med. 2014;15(2):246–250.]
Protein encoding by both DNA strands

All the evidence so far points to a gene's protein-coding information being contained in only one of its two DNA strands, with this strand serving as a template for transcription of the precursor RNA that is eventually translated into protein1. Here we present structural evidence showing that the protein-coding information of the modifier of mdg4 (mod(mdg4)) gene of the fruitfly Drosophila is provided by both of its complementary DNA strands, and not by just one. This novel organization means that RNA precursors generated from two DNA templates need to be joined subsequently into a single messenger RNA, a surprising feature that raises new questions regarding genome complexity and evolution.
Improved Sufficient Conditions for the Existence of Anti-Directed Hamiltonian Cycles in Digraphs

Let D be a directed graph of order n. An anti-directed (hamiltonian) cycle H in D is a (hamiltonian) cycle in the graph underlying D such that no pair of consecutive arcs in H form a directed path in D. In this paper we give sufficient conditions for the existence of anti-directed hamiltonian cycles. Specifically, we prove that a directed graph D of even order n with minimum indegree and outdegree greater than $${\frac{1}{2}n + 7\sqrt{n}/3}$$ contains an anti-directed hamiltonian cycle. In addition, we show that D contains anti-directed cycles of all possible (even) lengths when n is sufficiently large and has minimum in- and out-degree at least $${(1/2+ \epsilon)n}$$ for any $${\epsilon > 0}$$ .
Biologic Dressings: Current Applications and Limitations in Dermatologic Surgery

BACKGROUND Various biologic dressings have been developed in an effort to find the ideal skin substitute for use in acute and chronic wounds. There are many potential uses for such dressings, but no panaceas exist. Because millions of health care dollars are spent each year on wound care, and a great deal of patient morbidity occurs from these wounds, the search for new and better dressings is likely to continue. OBJECTIVE To review the current evidence regarding the utility, outcomes, and adverse effects of the available biologic dressings, with a particular focus on use in acute surgical wounds and applicability to dermatologic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS PubMed literature search and review of data on biologic dressings with particular attention to the past 2 decades. Emphasis was placed on peer-reviewed manuscripts and larger series. CONCLUSIONS There is extensive literature regarding the use of biologic dressings in chronic wounds, such as venous leg ulcers and burns, but studies evaluating these dressings in acute surgical wounds and dermatologic surgery have been limited. There appear to be specific surgical settings in which such dressings may be of particular use, in addition to limitations of their use. Additional studies, particularly randomized and comparative trials, would be highly desirable.
The Potential Impacts of Upcoming High-Stakes Testing on the Teaching of Science in Elementary Classrooms

In 1983, the National Commission on Excellence in Education in the United States issued a report called A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform. This report and other policy initiatives such as the No Child Left Behind Legislation recommended that the individual states institute assessments to hold schools accountable. This research explored the potential impact of impending standardised testing on teaching science in elementary schools in one school district in Florida. We explored the teachers' concerns about the upcoming high-stakes tests in science, possible impact on their curriculum and what changes, if any, will be made in the approach to science teaching and learning in their classrooms. As the teachers look toward the implementation of high-stakes testing in science, they have recognised the need to teach science. This recognition is not borne out of the importance of science learning for elementary school children, but rather out of fear of failure and the effects of tangible rewards or punishments that accompany high-stakes testing. In anticipation, the teachers are preparing to align their teaching to the science standards while aggressively searching for test preparatory materials. Schools are also involved in professional development and structural changes to facilitate teaching of science.
A Liquid-Metal RF MEMS Switch with DC-to-40 GHz Performance

We report a low-loss shunt RF-MEMS switch based on solid-to-liquid contact. This switch uses electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) actuation of a liquid-metal (LM) droplet confined by a microframe, allowing bounce-free operation and fast switching (60 ?s). Carrying the inherent solution LM provides for the nagging contact reliability problem, this paper introduces a two-droplet design that allows a low-loss RF performance. We further describe the microfabrication process, and report the test results. The switch demonstrates better than 0.3 dB insertion loss and 20 dB isolation up to 40 GHz, achieving significant improvements over previous demonstrations.
Slender bodies of minimum drag in hypersonic viscous flow

Abstract : Hypersonic viscous flow about slender cones, wedges, and 3/4 power law bodies is considered. Body thickness ratios leading to minimum drag are determined subject to constraints of fixed base, fixed volume, or fixed surface area. It is assumed that the shocks are strong and that the fluid is ideal. It is found that minimum drag occurs in a flow region where viscous interaction and, for axisymmetric bodies, transverse curvature must be taken into account. Numerical results are given for optimum thickness ratio and minimum drag as a function of altitude. (Author)