cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of unequal transmissions on two-mode entanglement and squeezing with slow light medium

We discuss the recovery of two-mode squeezing when one mode is transmitted through an EIT medium and the other through an optical fiber. Strong and weak EPR criteria are used to test continuous-variable entanglement.
Reprogramming of Mitochondrial Ca2+ Handling in MICU1-Deficient HeLa Cells

Recent studies have revealed MCU as the pore forming domain and MICU1 as a critical Ca2+-sensitive regulator of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter. However, the exact role of MICU1 in Ca2+ transport remains to be addressed. Our previous studies showed that prolonged down-regulation of MICU1 in HeLa cells (shMICU1) promotes mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake at low [Ca2+], which unexpectedly, fails to effectively increase matrix [Ca2+]. To determine the source of discrepancy between the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and the matrix [Ca2+] phenotypes, first we simultaneously monitored ruthenium red-sensitive clearance of added Ca2+ from the cytoplasm and the corresponding matrix [Ca2+] response in permeabilized shMICU1 cells. Under conditions of similar cytoplasmic Ca2+ clearance, shMICU1 cells showed a smaller matrix [Ca2+] increase than the control, indicating enhanced buffering of Ca2+ in the matrix. Enhanced Ca2+ binding in the matrix likely reflects alkalinization and enhanced phosphate transport. To test if upregulation of Ca2+ buffering is directly linked to MICU1 depletion, we also assessed mitochondrial Ca2+ handling after 72hr silencing of MICU1 (siMICU1). In siMICU1cells both mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and the matrix [Ca2+] rise were effectively stimulated at low Ca2+ levels. Thus, upregulation of matrix Ca2+ buffering seems to be a component of an adaptive response to sensitization of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in shMICU1. The adaptive response is likely to be important to attenuate some MICU1-depletion induced cellular impairments that we found to manifest as attenuated mitochondrial ATP production and cell proliferation.
Evaluation of internal carotid artery segmentation by InsightSNAP

Quantification of cervical carotid geometry may facilitate improved clinical decision making and scientific discovery. We set out to evaluate the ability of InsightSNAP (ITK-SNAP), an open-source segmentation program for 3D medical images (http://www.itksnap.org, version 1.4), to semi-automatically segment internal carotid arteries. A sample of five individuals (three normal volunteers, and two diseased patients) were imaged with an MR exam consisting of a MOTSA TOF MRA image volume and multiple black blood images acquired with different contrast weightings. Comparisons were made to a manual segmentation created during simultaneous evaluation of the MOTSA image and the various black blood images (typically PD-weighted, T1-weighted, and T2-weighted). These individuals were selected as a training set to determine acceptable parameters for ITK-SNAP's semi-automatic level sets segmentation method. The conclusion from this training set was that the initial thresholding (assigning probabilities to the intensities of image pixels) in the image pre-processing step was most important to obtaining an acceptable segmentation. Unfortunately no consistent trends emerged in how this threshold should be chosen. Figures of percent over- and under-segmentation were computed as a means of comparing the hand segmented and semi-automatically segmented internal carotids. Overall the under-segmentation by ITK-SNAP (voxels included in the manual segmentation but not in the semiautomated segmentation) was 10.94% ± 6.35% while the over-segmentation (voxels excluded in the manual segmentation but included in the semi-automated segmentation) was 8.16% ± 4.40% defined by reference to the total number of voxels included in the manual segmentation.
Fast 3D blind deconvolution of even point spread functions

3-D images obtained from optical sectioning microscopy are usually degraded by a point-spread function that is known to be an even function but is otherwise only approximately known, or even entirely unknown. We present a new algorithm for 3-D blind deconvolution of even point-spread functions that is both fast and (in the absence of noise) exact. Fourier transforms decouple the problem into 2-D, then 1-D blind deconvolution problems, greatly increasing computational speed. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the blind algorithm seems to perform both faster and more accurately than the non-blind iterative Lucy-Richardson algorithm.
Monoclonal antibodies as probes of structure, function and isoenzyme forms of the type II regulatory subunit of cyclic amp-dependent protein kinase

Abstract We have attempted to review studies which have utilized monoclonal antibodies in the analysis of various aspects of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase. It is readily apparent that the monoclonal antibodies directed against RII can be used in a number of ways to assess the structure and function of this protein. Monoclonal antibodies have been used to identify specific structure aspects of the protein, down to the level of amino acid sequence. These have included identification of relationships between several functional domains and the antigens sites recognized by different antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies also have been used to specifically identified distinct isoenzyme forms of RII. The antibodies were shown to have virtually complete specificity for heart-type RII despite relatively few amino acid substitutions in neural-type RII. This discrimination was utilized to show that purified brain RII is composed of a small fraction of protein similar to the heart isoenzyme while the bulk of the protein is a distinct isozyme form. It is anticipated that future studies using antibodies specific for individual forms will be a valuable approach to analyzing the distribution and functions of different forms. Monoclonal antibodies have also been used as probes of RII in tissue extracts to examine phosphorylation of this subunit in intact tissue. Monoclonal antibodies should continue to provide powerful probes of the structure and function of this and other protein kinases.
Sixty years of stand development in a southern appalachian cove-hardwood stand

Abstract For the southern Appalachian Mountains U.S.A., the development of a stand of cove hardwoods dominated by yellow-poplar ( Liriodendron tulipifera L.) is described beginning with its inception after clearcutting in 1913, followed by a severe fire in 1916, and a cleaning in 1923. No subsequent treatments were imposed; natural mortality was the only factor affecting stand development since 1923. Stand density, basal area, and average stem diameter by individual species are shown for six stand ages. Diameter distribution of the 247 largest trees per ha is also shown for six stand ages. In 60 years, the cleaned stand produced 701 m 3 /ha of timber compared with 558 m 3 /ha for the uncleaned stand. Total basal area was greater by 8.58 m 2 /ha in the cleaned stand.
Effects of a chaparral-to-grass conversion on soil physical and hydrologic properties after four decades

Forty years after conversion from chaparral to perennial veldt grass in the San Dimas Experimental Forest, we compared land surface and soil properties between areas of the two vegetation types. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of this vegetation conversion on the soil physical properties likely to impact zero-order watershed hydrology. In three watersheds of each vegetation type, surface cover and soils were described within five watershed elements. Surface cover is approximately 90% in both vegetation types, but the frequency of individual plants is significantly higher in converted watersheds, leading to significantly lower variability in surface cover between grass watersheds. In chaparral watersheds, very fine to very coarse roots extend laterally and downwards in all directions. Only very fine roots emanate from grass, forming a dense fibrous mass that is concentrated below individual plants. In areas converted to grass vegetation, A-horizon bulk density is significantly higher due to the development of transitional AB-horizons that are absent from chaparral areas. Vertical changes between the surface soil and subsoil are more gradual under grass than under chaparral. The significantly higher frequency of grass plants caused concurrent transformation of much of the converted areas, removing the layered effect that is observed in the chaparral soils and allowing spatially homogeneous infiltration, distribution and storage of soil water.
Hard transparent dielectric coatings

Abstract Hard transparent corrosion-resistant dielectric coatings were investigated (a) for application to the direct protection of glass surfaces, (b) for application to the protection of thin film metallic window coatings used for reflection or transmission of solar radiation and (c) for use in codeposited metal-ceramic coatings. The dielectric coatings were Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 and SiC in the thickness range 100–100 000 A. The coatings were deposited under varying conditions of substrate temperature, gas composition, r.f. power and substrate preparation. The results of the following measurements on the dielectric coatings are presented: diamond pyramid hardness tests, optical reflectance and transmittance in the region 0.6–4.0 eV and corrosion resistance tests under cyclic conditions. The results showed a considerable improvement in the scratch resistance and hardness of glass by layering of hard dielectric coatings 2–5 μm thick.
Abstract 2599: IGF gene pathway and progression to fatal prostate cancer after diagnosis in men of European ancestry

Background: Substantial epidemiologic and experimental evidence implicated the role of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway in prostate carcinogenesis. Many studies have demonstrated an increased risk of prostate cancer, especially advanced diseases among men with elevated IGF-I blood levels. Given limited evidence on the role of genetic variations in the IGF pathway on prostate cancer progression to fatal outcome, we comprehensively evaluated the association between genetic variants in 26 genes related to the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway and prostate cancer specific mortality. Methods: Within the 7 cohort studies in the NCI Breast and Prostate Cancer Cohort Consortium (BPC3), a total of 590 tagging SNPs were successfully genotyped in 5887 men of European ancestry who were diagnosed with prostate cancer. SNPs were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models under genotypic and additive allele models. Follow-up was defined from the date of prostate cancer diagnosis to the date of any death or last follow-up. Patients died from causes other than prostate cancer were censored. All analyses were adjusted for age at diagnosis and cohort. To account for multiple testing, the number of effective SNPs was calculated for each gene using a Spectral Decomposition approach. Results: In total, 704 prostate cancer deaths occurred during a median follow up of 8.9 years. After adjusting for age at diagnosis, cohorts and a gene-based correction for multiple testing, 3 SNPs in IGF2AS (insulin-like growth factor 2 antisense located in chromosome 11p15.5) were significantly associated with prostate cancer-specific mortality. Two of these SNPs (rs1004446 and rs3741211) were in linkage disequilibrium (r2=1) but they were not in linkage disequilibrium with the third SNP (rs4366464, r2=0.03). For rs3741211, each additional minor allele G was associated with 16% (HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.72-0.92; Pcorrected=0.02) lower risk of prostate cancer specific mortality. For rs4366464, each additional minor allele G was associated with 44% (HR 1.44; 95% CI 1.19-1.73) increased risk (Pcorrected=0.001). The association for SNP rs4366464 remained statistically significant after further adjusting for multiple testing on the 26 genes in the pathway. Conclusion: Germline variation in the IGF2AS gene was significantly positively and inversely associated with progression to fatal prostate cancer after diagnosis in this large cohort consortium of prostate cancer. These findings need to be confirmed by other studies. Given the link of this region in IGF2 imprinting, methylation and Wilms’ tumors, the role of IGF2AS in cancer progression deserves attention. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2599. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2599
Adjustment of Children and Youth in Military Families: Toward Developmental Understandings

Nearly, 2 million children in the United States live in military families. Throughout all branches of the U.S. military since September 11, 2001, ca 700,000 children have had or currently have a parent deployed to the combat zones of Iraq or Afghanistan. As a result, researchers are paying increasing attention to the effects of military deployment on children and families. These facts ] and the changing landscape of military service point to the need to empirically examine the impact of parental military deployment on immediate and longer term child adjustment. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) recently initiated a research program to address these issues. This ] particle draws on attachment and family stress theories as a frame for discussing the effects of parental deployment on child adjustment and family functioning and for outlining ] the NICHD research priorities. It discusses areas where developmental science can make important contributions as well as challenges for conducting research in military families.
The influence of sex-role stereotypes on prose recall

The influence of sex-role stereotypes on memory was investigated. High-school students read a short story about a protagonist named either Linda or David. Results indicated that when the sex of the protagonist was the same as their own, the students answered significantly more questions about the story correctly than in the cross-sex conditions. A qualitative analysis of the kinds of errors and inferences made revealed that female subjects tended to rely on sex-role stereotypes when answering factual questions about a male protagonist, and male subjects tended to rely on sex-role stereotypes when answering inference questions about a female protagonist. These results provide partial support for the notion that individuals are more predisposed to view members of the opposite sex stereotypically and are more likely to alter their memories in accordance with these stereotypes than they are when answering questions about members of their same sex.
DNA-binding and oligomerization studies of the manganese(II) metalloregulatory protein MntR from Bacillus subtilis.

The metalloregulatory protein MntR from Bacillus subtilis acts as a transcriptional regulator of manganese homeostasis. MntR is a member of a subfamily of DtxR-related proteins that perform analogous regulatory functions in a variety of pathogenic organisms. Metal ions activate MntR to bind DNA and repress the transcription of the mntH gene, which encodes for a proton-coupled metal ion transporter. Size-exclusion chromatography and sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifugation studies show that apo MntR is predominantly a homodimer in solution. Using fluorescence anisotropy measurements, the DNA binding properties of MntR have been examined. In the strict absence of divalent transition metal ions MntR has a low affinity for the mntH control sequence (Kd > 8.0 μM). However, binding of MntR is stimulated by the presence of Mn2+ and Cd2+ to generate high affinity binding with Kd values of 16.0 and 7.3 nM, respectively. MntR is also shown to bind the mntH control sequence in the presence of other divalent tra...
Measurement of sniff nasal and diaphragm twitch mouth pressure in patients.

BACKGROUND: Inspiratory muscle weakness is a recognised cause of unexplained dyspnoea. It may be suggested by the finding of a low static inspiratory mouth pressure (MIP), but MIP is a difficult test to perform, with a wide normal range; a low MIP may also occur if the patient has not properly performed the manoeuvre. Further investigation conventionally requires balloon catheters to obtain oesophageal (Poes) and transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) during sniffs or phrenic nerve stimulation. Two non-invasive tests of inspiratory muscle strength have recently been described--nasal pressure during a maximal sniff (Sn Pnas) and mouth pressure during magnetic stimulation of the phrenic nerves (Tw Pmo). The use of these two tests in combination might identify patients without inspiratory muscle weakness who are unable to produce a satisfactory MIP or = 80 cm H20 or a Tw Pdi of > or = 20 cm H20. The limit values used to test the hypothesis were Sn Pnas > or = 70 cm H20 or Tw Pmo > or = 12 cm H20. RESULTS: Inspiratory muscle weakness was excluded in 17 of the 30 patients. Fifteen of these would have been identified using Sn Pnas and Tw Pmo, with better results when the two tests were combined. The cut off values selected for Sn Pnas and Tw Pmo were shown by ROC plots to indicate normal strength conservatively, avoiding failure to detect mild degrees of weakness. No patient with global weakness was considered normal by Sn Pnas or Tw Pmo. CONCLUSIONS: In most patients with normal inspiratory strength and a low MIP, Tw Pmo and Sn Pnas used in combination can reliably exclude global inspiratory muscle weakness, reducing the number of patients who need testing with balloon catheters.
Criminalizing War: Toward a Justifiable Crime of Aggression

State parties to the International Criminal Court made history in 1998 when they agreed to include the crime of aggression as one of four crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court. The crime, however, was left undefined in 1998, and the Court’s jurisdiction over the crime of aggression has been postponed until state parties can agree to a definition at a Review Conference in 2009. Reaching such an agreement would represent the first time in history that national leaders would be bound by a specifically defined crime of international aggression with sanctions wielded by an international court. Parties to the Court, however, differ widely over two questions: whether the crime should be defined narrowly or broadly, and who should decide when aggression has occurred, thus triggering the Court’s jurisdiction over the culpable individuals. The two questions have largely split state parties between those citing the demands of the current international system and those committed to basic principles of fairness. This Note suggests that by applying the traditional utilitarian and retributivist rationales for the criminal law, state parties may be able to reach the most balanced and principled definition of aggression.
Developing Training Programs to Save Lives: Serving Students with Complex or Emergency Healthcare Needs.

The number of students with special health care needs (SHCN; McPherson, Arango & Fox, 1998) and the frequency of life-threatening health emergencies in schools (e.g., asthma, diabetes, severe allergic reactions, cardiac arrest, seizure disorders), continues to increase. It has become increasingly important for teachers to be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of automated external defibrillators (AED) in response to the growing number of students with SHCN in school settings and to assist life-threatening emergencies as they arise on school campuses. The purpose of this article is to describe a collaborative project that trained 38 preservice teachers to use CPR and AED in emergency situations. An established long-term goal of the project was to create a sustainable delivery model of three faculty members certified to train all preservice teacher candidates to competently provide first aid, perform CPR, and use an AED, while taking coursework and learning about support services for students with SHCN.
Stakeholders and Environmental Management Practices: An Institutional Framework

Despite burgeoning research on companies' environmental strategies and environmental management practices, it remains unclear why some firms adopt environmental management practices beyond regulatory compliance. This paper leverages institutional theory by proposing that stakeholders – including governments, regulators, customers, competitors, community and environmental interest groups, and industry associations – impose coercive and normative pressures on firms. However, the way in which managers perceive and act upon these pressures at the plant level depends upon plant- and parent-company-specific factors, including their track record of environmental performance, the competitive position of the parent company and the organizational structure of the plant. Beyond providing a framework of how institutional pressures influence plants' environmental management practices, various measures are proposed to quantify institutional pressures, key plant-level and parent-company-level characteristics and plant-level environmental management practices. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
A SUBARU ARCHIVAL SEARCH FOR FAINT TRANS-NEPTUNIAN OBJECTS*

We present the results of a survey for trans-neptunian objects (TNOs) based on Subaru archival images, originally collected by Sheppard et al. (2005) as part of a search for irregular satellites of Uranus. The survey region covers 2.8 deg 2 , centered on Uranus and observed near opposition on two adjacent nights. Our survey reaches half its maximum detection efficiency atR=25.69 ± 0.01. The objects detected correspond to 82 TNOs, five Centaurs, and five irregular satellites. We model the cumulative number of TNOs brighter than a given apparent magnitude with both a single and double power law. The best fit single power law, with one object per square degree at magnitude R0=22.6 +0.3 −0.4 and a slope of α=0.51 +0.5 −0.6 , is inconsistent with the results of similar searches with shallower limiting magnitudes. The best fit double power law, with a bright-end slope α1=0.7 +0.2 −0.1, a faint-end slope α2=0.3 +0.2 −0.2 , a differential number density at R = 23 σ23=2.0 +0.5 −0.5 and a magnitude break in the slope at Req=24.3 +0.8 −0.1 , is more likely than the single power law by a Bayes factor of �26. This is the first survey with sufficient depth and areal coverage to identify the magnitude at which the break occurs without relying on the results of other surveys. We estimate barycentric distances for the 73 objects that have 24 hr arcs; only two have heliocentric distances as large as �50 AU. We combine the distribution of observed distances with the size distribution that corresponds to a double power law luminosity function to set a tight constraint on the existence of a distant TNO population. We can exclude such a population at 60 AU, with 95% confidence, assuming it has the same size distribution and albedo as the observed TNOs, if it exceeds 8% of mass of the observed TNOs. Subject headings: Kuiper Belt – Outer Solar System – Trans-neptunian Object
ADMINISTRATION OF TRIALS WITHIN-SS AND DOUBLE- ALTERNATION RESPONDING: A DEMONSTRATION OF A MULTIPLE-BASELINE REVERSAL

Rats, in a four-phase within-Ss study, were given a double-alternation schedule of reward and nonreward (RRNNRRNN). During Phase I, the odor-exhaust system was blocked, and Ss developed the characteristic response pattern, i.e., they ran fast on the rewarded trials and slow on the nonrewarded trials. During Phase II, the exhaust-system was unblocked for the first four trials and blocked for the last four trials; and during Phase III, the conditions were reversed; the results showed that behavior was controlled more by the contemporary fan conditions than by the previous conditioning and reinforcement history of the Ss. Following Phase III, half of the Ss were extinguished under the fan-open condition, while the other half were extinguished under the fan-closed condition; Ss extinguished under the fan-open condition were more resistant to extinction than were Ss that were extinguished under the blocked condition. The over-all results showed that double-alternation responding was controlled more by odor pro...
Work compatibility and musculoskeletal disorders in the construction industry

The aim of this study was to measure the work compatibility of the different work-related variables (physical and psychosocial) using the Demand–Energizer Instrument (DEI) and to determine their association with both musculoskeletal disorders and stress symptoms. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that psychosocial factors play an important role in the development of musculoskeletal disorders. The study group consisted of 147 active construction workers. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire. The association between the exposure variables (work energizers and work compatibility) and outcome variables was determined using a multivariate logistic regression model with backward elimination of insignificant variables. There was a significantly high correlation between the demand and energizer aspects of the different work-related variables. Three variables were positively associated with musculoskeletal-stress symptoms (protective effect), seven were negatively associated (hazardous effect), and two demonstrated both effects. When both demands and energizers were combined, the highest work compatibility was achieved in individual growth, economic, and social variables. The results of a factor analysis indicated that four work compatibility variables (work environment, physical task, performance, and job satisfaction) were significantly associated with musculoskeletal-stress symptoms. In the complex web of the human-at-work system, the work compatibility model significantly identified those work-related variables that were associated with musculoskeletal-stress symptoms. Psychosocial factors play a significant role in the construction industry. A possible application of this research can be the use of the new tool in identifying priority areas for future intervention strategies. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cultural Identification and Academic Achievement Among African American Males

Although most African Americans are aware of the importance of education, many still continue to suffer from poor school achievement. School failure, high rates of educational dropout, low college ...
Resistive wave breaking in the Earth's outer core

The equations for an electrically conducting fluid in cylindrical coordinates are linearized assuming that the inertial terms in the momentum equation can be ignored (small Rossby number), and that the ratio of the Elsasser number and magnetic Reynolds number is one. After these assumptions, the governing equations are linearized about an ambient solution which vanishes at the the equator. Upon assuming large Elsasser and magnetic Reynolds number, the solutions to the linearized equations are approximated by wave trains having very short wave length (relative to the core radius) but which vary slowly (on a scale of the core radius). The period of the waves is much longer than a day but much shorter than the period of the slow hydromagnetic oscillations. These waves are found to be trapped in a region about the equator and away from the axis of rotation. The waves break at a latitudinal wave region boundary, in the sense that the waves become exponentially large in a boundary layer, having as an exponent s...
Identifying predictive markers of chemosensitivity of breast cancer with random forests

Several gene signatures have been identified to build predictors of chemosensitivity for breast cancer. It is crucial to understand how each gene in a signature contributes to the prediction, i.e., to make the prediction model interpretable instead of using it as a black box. We utilized Random Forests (RFs) to build two interpretable predictors of pathologic complete response (pCR) based on two gene signatures. One signature consisted of the top 31 probe sets (27 genes) differentially expressed between pCR and residual disease (RD) chosen from a previous study, and the other consisted of the genes involved in Notch singling pathway (113 genes). Both predictors had a higher accuracy (82% v 76% & 79% v 76%), a higher specificity (91% v 71% & 98% v 71%), and a higher positive predictive value (PPV) (68% v 52% & 73% v 52%)) than the predictor in the previous study. Furthermore, Random Forests were employed to calculate the importance of each gene in the two signatures. Findings of our functional annotation suggested that the important genes identified by the feature selection scheme of Random Forests are of biological significance.
Glaciers and hydrological changes in the Tien Shan: simulation and prediction

In this study, we estimated the current glacier state and forecast the potential impact of global and regional climate change on the glaciers and glacier runoff in the Tien Shan. General (G) and detailed (D) simulations were developed based on assessment of the Tien Shan glacier recession between 1943 and 2003 using an iterative stepwise increase in the equilibrium line altitude of 20 m. The G simulation was developed for 2777 grids each of which covered over 1000 km2 of glacier surface and D for the 15 953 Tien Shan glaciers. Both simulations employed glacier morphometric characteristics derived from Digital Elevation Model based on remote sensing data, high resolution maps and in situ GPS validation. Simulated changes in glacier area demonstrated that a possible increase in air temperature of 1 °C at must be compensated by a 100 mm increase in precipitation at the same altitude if Tien Shan glaciers are to be maintained in their current state. An increase in mean air temperature of 4 °C and precipitation of 1.1 times the current level could increase by 570 m during the 21st century. Under these conditions, the number of glaciers, glacier covered area, glacier volume, and glacier runoff are predicted to be 94%, 69%, 75%, and 75% of current values. The maximum glacier runoff may reach as much as 1.25 times current levels while the minimum will likely equal zero.
Analysis of dispersed multi-mode signals of the SASW method using the multiple filter/crosscorrelation technique

Abstract Spectral analysis of surface waves (SASW) is a nondestructive in-situ testing method used for determining the thickness and elastic properties of pavement and soil sites using the dispersion characteristics of surface waves. In previous studies, it has been demonstrated that for some sites errors may arise in experimental dispersion curves when the usual SASW test and data analysis procedures are followed, in particular the phase unwrapping procedure and source-to-near-receiver spacing distance. These errors occur due to the participation of more than one surface wave mode in SASW signals. In this study, the multiple filter/crosscorrelation technique often used in earthquake seismology for the analysis of multi-mode earthquake records is presented and applied for calculating phase velocities from SASW signals. It is demonstrated that this technique produces results that are generally more accurate than those produced by the usual phase unwrapping procedure.
Nested areas of endemism analysis

Aim To develop and evaluate a nested clade approach to aid in the determination of areas of endemism (AoE) in biogeographical studies. Methods We adapted the nested clade analysis (NCA) to studies of areas of endemism. For this purpose we adapted several of the programs currently in use. Two data sets were examined using this approach – one involving Sciobius in southern Africa and the other involving terrestrial mammals in Mexico. Results Nested clade analysis as applied to areas of endemism produced results similar to those of previous analyses of Sciobus in southern Africa. An analysis of terrestrial mammals in Mexico supports the designation of some biogeographical provinces as areas of endemism while suggesting that other provinces may comprise composite distributions that should be subdivided. Main conclusions The nested clade analysis approach utilized primarily in genetic analysis of phylogeographical patterns in population biology studies can be adapted to understanding AoE in the realm of biogeography. This approach offers a statistical paradigm to evaluate AoE suggested by parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) trees.
Is There a Role for Routine p53 Testing in Colorectal Cancer

The availability of new and more effective chemotherapeutic and molecular targeted agents has resulted in improved treatment of regional and advanced colorectal cancer. However, thefinancial cost and the morbidity associated with the new treatments have increased as well, and to date no reliable marker capable of selecting patients who will benefit from a specific treatment has been identified. Individualizingtreatmentbasedonthemolecularprofileof the patient and the tumor could lead to considerable improvement in treatment cost and outcomes. Although all patients with colorectal cancer would benefit from better prognostic and predictive markers, risk-benefit is particularly important for candidates for adjuvant therapy, which may expose patients already cured by surgery to unnecessary risk or to a treatment that fails to maximize their chances of cure from micrometastasis. The use of adjuvant oxaliplatin regimens after resection of stage II or III colon cancer is a good example of this clinicalconundrum.Theadditionofoxaliplatintofluorouracil and leucovorin improves the 3-year disease-free survival rate, and has been approved for high-risk resected coloncancerbytheUSFoodandDrugAdministration,but it is clear that not all patients benefit equally from oxaliplatin. In fact, when patients already cured by surgery alone and patients who experience disease recurrence despite treatment are excluded, fewer than 30% of stage II and III patients actually benefit from the use of any adjuvant chemotherapy.Unfortunately,wecurrentlyhavenopracticalwayofidentifyingthosewhowillandthosewhowillnot benefit from the treatment. We still identify which patients should receive adjuvant chemotherapy by their pathologic staging, a tool that has changed little since originally proposed by Dukes more than 70 years ago. 1 The choice of the chemotherapy regimen to be used also lacks sophistication and the currently accepted regimens are applied to the entire patient population without consideration for individual tumor sensitivity or for the patient’s tolerance for
The impact of preretirement education programmes on workers' preretirement socialization

Workers react to retirement and the loss of work roles very differently. Although most adjust without difficulty, one third of the workers have been found to experience great stress and dissatisfaction with the changing roles and demands of their new situation (Atchley, 1977; Barfield and Morgan, 1969). Social theorists believe that in order to ease the transition and adjustment into new retirement roles, individuals should be socialized into these roles, just as many are socialized into their work roles. Preretirement socialization refers to a process of role preparation and development that occurs during the later stages of one's work career. Appropriate preretirement socialization encourages workers to learn about retirement life, plan for adequate resources, develop a positive preretirement orientation, and form accurate retirement expectations. Thus, this process can facilitate the transition and adjustment to retirement by helping workers acquire satisfactory attitudes, behaviours, and situational prerequisites for adequate participation in future retirement roles (Atchley, 1976; Foner and Schwab, 1981; George, 1980; Shaw and Grubbs, 1981). Adequate preretirement socialization has been associated with a better financial situation, more leisure activities, fewer problems, and greater satisfaction in retirement (Ash, 1966; Barfield and Morgan, 1969; Greene, Pyron, Manion and Winklevoss, 1969; Morse and Gray, 1980; Thompson, 1958). However, many workers do not obtain adequate preretirement socialization. Studies have indicated that very few preretired workers report making preretirement plans for acquiring adequate retirement resources, either through formal counselling or informal personal retirement planning (Atchley, 1981; Barfield & Morgan, 1969; Morse and Gray, 1980; Seigel and Rives, 1978). In addition, some older workers hold negative stereotypes, inaccurate expectations, and unfavourable beliefs about retirement, thinking that retirement has more adverse impacts on their personal situation than it actually did (Beck, 1982; Bell, 1974; Green et al., 1969; Morse and Gray, 1980; Streib and Schneider, 1971). Bell (1974) and Thompson (1958) present evidence suggesting that this lack of adequate preretirement socialization may be related to a rejection of retirement, difficulties experienced in the retirement transition, and dissatisfaction with retirement.
Partnering to prevent fire injury at the community level: triumphs and challenges from the front lines

Background Community-based interventions are a recognised approach to fire prevention because such an approach aims to achieve population level changes and is not limited to high-risk groups or individuals. Community-based work involves partnerships, often with multiple partners—yet the literature offers little guidance about how to develop and maintain effective partnerships. Aims/Objectives/Purpose To describe individuals9 experiences as part of a diverse research-practice partnership that was active over several years and oversaw a community trial of a home visit smoke alarm distribution programme. To identify lessons to inform future partnered research. Methods We conducted a series of semistructured key informant interviews with partners in the Johns Hopkins Home Safety Study (JHHSS). Results/Outcomes Between July 2011 and January 2012 we conducted 12 interviews with the JHHSS partners. We were unable to interview one individual who changed jobs at the end of the project. Interviewees attributed the importance of fire and concordance between the partnership9s mission and their own organisational priorities as central to their participation. They also cited the strong administrative arm of the partnership as a factor in their continued participation, but emphasised that same infrastructure could have been more proactive in disseminating information among the partnership and engaging the community. Interviewees cited high staff turnover and selection of communities based on statistical, rather than neighbourhood criteria as reasons for some of these challenges. Significance/Contribution to the Field Understanding how to develop and maintain diverse partnerships is a key component of effective community-based intervention work.
Legislatures and Lotto: Taxing Federal Transfers

I examine the relatively rapid adoption of state lotteries over the past 30 years within a public choice context to determine why some states implement lotteries and others do not. Without trying to explain why people gamble, I argue that legislatures use the lottery to tax federal welfare benefits, and not the poor per se. I use a probit model to test the importance of transfers relative to poverty and find considerable support for the transfer tax hypothesis and little support for the poverty alternative. While welfare benefits are not the sole cause behind lotteries, its significance helps us understand the current proliferation of lotteries.
A Classification System for Visual Programming Languages

We have developed a classificatin scheme for classifying visual programming langugage research papers. This paper presents the scheme, the motivations for developing it, and examples f its use.
Effect of Sleep Disturbances on Quality of Life, Diabetes Self-Care Behavior, and Patient-Reported Outcomes

IN BRIEF Poor sleep quality and sleep disorders, particularly insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome, are prevalent among people with type 2 diabetes. Evidence suggests that coexisting diabetes and sleep disturbances are associated with decreases in quality of life, diabetes self-care behaviors, and patient-reported outcomes. Additional research is required to determine the effect of treatment of sleep disorders on patient-centered outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes.
Simultaneous Conduction of Electronic Charge and Lithium Ions in Block Copolymers

The main objective of this work is to study charge transport in mixtures of poly(3-hexylthiophene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (P3HT–PEO) block copolymers and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide salt (LiTFSI). The P3HT-rich microphase conducts electronic charge, while the PEO-rich microphase conducts ionic charge. The nearly symmetric P3HT–PEO copolymer used in this study self-assembles into a lamellar phase. In contrast, the morphologies of asymmetric copolymers with P3HT as the major component are dominated by nanofibrils. A combination of ac and dc impedance measurements was used to determine the electronic and ionic conductivities of our samples. The ionic conductivities of P3HT–PEO/LiTFSI mixtures are lower than those of mixtures of PEO homopolymer and LiTFSI, in agreement with published data obtained from other block copolymer/salt mixtures. In contrast, the electronic conductivities of the asymmetric P3HT–PEO copolymers are significantly higher than those of the P3HT homopolymer. This is unexpec...
Appraisal of four novel approaches to the prevention and treatment of sepsis.

PURPOSE: Four novel approaches to the management of sepsis are discussed. SUMMARY: Drotrecogin alfa (activated) has FDA-approved labeling for use in the treatment of severe sepsis. Risk of bleeding and identification of the most suitable patients have been the major issues related to use of this drug. Tight glycemic control and early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) are promising supportive strategies. Both have challenged existing views regarding safe glucose levels and the usefulness of increased oxygen delivery in sepsis. The routine maintenance of euglycemia is resource intensive, however, and benefits during treatment of sepsis are unclear. Very early initiation of measures to optimize hemodynamic variables and the ability to identify patients with cryptic shock appear to be key reasons for successful EGDT. The use of corticosteroids for septic shock has been extensively researched and has provoked controversy. Selection of patients likely to benefit on the basis of relative adrenal insufficiency and prolonged treatment may account for recently observed positive results. A model for combining the four strategies is proposed. CONCLUSION: Novel strategies for treating sepsis include drotrecogin alfa (activated), tight glycemic control, EGDT, and low-dose corticosteroids.
Genetic Studies of Schizophrenia

Both genetic and non-genetic risk factors are thought to contribute to liability for, and the development of, schizophrenia. Genetic epidemiology consistently supports the involvement of genes in liability. Molecular genetic studies have made slow progress in identifying specific liability genes, but recent progress suggests that a number of specific genes contributing to risk have been identified. These collective results are complex and inconsistent with a single common DNA variant in any gene influencing risk across human populations. No specific genetic variant influencing risk has yet been unambiguously identified. Contemporary approaches hold great promise to further elucidate liability genes and their potential inter-relationship. In order to understand why researchers have come to these conclusions, we will review what is known about the genetic epidemiology and molecular genetics of schizophrenia in some detail. We will also consider how this field of study informs our understanding of the potential structure of non-genetic risk factors.
The Evolution Completed

In January, 1958, Willy Brandt, already mayor of Berlin, won his long struggle with Franz Neumann and was elected chairman of the Land organization. In the next two years he consolidated his position within the local organization, developed his reputation both nationally and internationally, and established himself as a leading representative of the forces for party modernization. In short, he demonstrated his eligibility and availability for nomination as the party’s chancellor candidate.
Learning from Failure

This chapter describes an explanation-based method for failure-driven learning. This strategy tends to be considerably more useful than the success-driven strategy described in the previous chapter. Following the outline established in the previous chapter, a description of the strategy will first be provided, followed by several illustrative examples. The chapter will conclude with a description of some of the factors that influence the utility of learning from failure.
The Neoclassical Field Theory of Charged Matter: A Concise Presentation

The main purpose of this chapter is to give a concise presentation of significant features of the Balanced charge theory (BCT) with minimal technical details and to compare it with classical electromagnetic theory and quantum mechanics. We show that the dynamics of charges in point-like regimes is governed by Newton’s equations with the Lorentz forces. The BCT also describes basic quantum effects, in particular, the discreteness of the energy levels in the Hydrogen atom and the main features of the de Broglie wave theory.
Tecnología y Desarrollo en Latinoamérica: Algunas Observaciones Apropiadas para una Economía Abierta.

Tecnologia y Desarrollo en Latinoamerica: Algunas Observaciones Apropiadas para una Economia Abierta.
What's in a Face? How Face Gender and Current Affect Influence Perceived Emotion.

Faces drive our social interactions. A vast literature suggests an interaction between gender and emotional face perception, with studies using different methodologies demonstrating that the gender of a face can affect how emotions are processed. However, how different is our perception of affective male and female faces? Furthermore, how does our current affective state when viewing faces influence our perceptual biases? We presented participants with a series of faces morphed along an emotional continuum from happy to angry. Participants judged each face morph as either happy or angry. We determined each participant’s unique emotional ‘neutral’ point, defined as the face morph judged to be perceived equally happy and angry, separately for male and female faces. We also assessed how current state affect influenced these perceptual neutral points. Our results indicate that, for both male and female participants, the emotional neutral point for male faces is perceptually biased to be happier than for female faces. This bias suggests that more happiness is required to perceive a male face as emotionally neutral, i.e., we are biased to perceive a male face as more negative. Interestingly, we also find that perceptual biases in perceiving female faces are correlated with current mood, such that positive state affect correlates with perceiving female faces as happier, while we find no significant correlation between negative state affect and the perception of facial emotion. Furthermore, we find reaction time biases, with slower responses for angry male faces compared to angry female faces.
Low-dose ultrasound molecular imaging in mouse tumor model

Targeted microbubbles are currently used as ultrasound contrast agents in pre-clinical studies to visualize disease markers present on the blood vessel endothelium. Rapid clinical translation of targeted microbubble imaging requires a minimization of the diagnostically effective microbubble dose. In this study, we demonstrate an imaging method that improves signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for microbubble detection and allows for accurate prediction of VEGFR2 targeting in a murine tumor model at 2.5% of the previously established minimum microbubble dose.