cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinematics of breaking waves and associated suspended sediment in the nearshore zone

Abstract This paper reports the results of a study to describe systematic variations in sea surface shape, horizontal and vertical velocity components, and nearbed suspended sediment concentrations as waves shoal, break and propagate shoreward as bores. Data were collected as part of the Duck '85 nearshore experiments carried out at the Army Research Facility at Duck, North Carolina in September 1985. The data set includes time series measurements of sea surface elevation, currents, and suspended sediment concentrations located at five positions across the surf zone. Additionally, a video recording of the sea surface was analyzed to classify surface wave types as unbroken, breaking (with or without associated form), or bores. Results show that the degree of asymmetry of wave shape increases as waves shoal and break. The cross-shore velocity varies systematically, being somewhat undulatory for unbroken waves and decomposing into large eddy structures upon breaking. The patterns of suspended sediment are strongly related to wave type. For unbroken waves, sediment suspensions can be high under the crest but occur within several centimeters of the seabed, on the order of the wave boundary layer thickness. For breaking waves, suspended sediment concentrations increase dramatically and sediment is mixed to higher levels in the water column. Sediment inversions and localized high concentration patches that appear to correspond to eddy motions impinging directly on the seabed are observed. For bores, overall sediment concentrations decrease as they propagate shoreward. The ratios of suspended load for the unbroken waves, breaking waves, and bores are 1:2.9:4 → 1.3 (averaging 2.3), respectively. Maximum suspended load occurs just shoreward of the breakpoint and most sediment settles out within 10–15 m of the plunge point.
Local association based recognition of two-dimensional objects

A model based two-dimensional object recognition system capable of performing under occlusion and geometric transformation is described in this paper. The system is based on the concept of associative search using overlapping local features. During the training phase, the local features are hashed to set up the associations between the features and models. In the recognition phase, the same hashing procedure is used to retrieve associations that participate in a voting process to determine the identity of the shape. Two associative retrieval techniques for discrete and continuous features, respectively, are described in the paper. The performance of the system is studied using a test set of 1,000 shapes that are corrupted versions of 100 models in the shape database. It is shown that the incorporation of a verification phase to confirm the retrieved associations can provide zero error performance with a small reject rate.
The Keratinizing and Calcifying Odontogenic Cyst (Gorlin Cyst)

The diagnosis and treatment of odontogenic cysts and tumors presents an interesting but difficult problem for the clinician. These cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any radiolucent area.
Dynamic Modeling and Control Studies of a Two-Stage Bubbling Fluidized Bed Adsorber-Reactor for Solid–Sorbent CO2 Capture

A one-dimensional, nonisothermal, pressure-driven dynamic model has been developed for a two-stage bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) adsorber-reactor for solid–sorbent carbon dioxide (CO2) capture using Aspen Custom Modeler (ACM). The BFB model for the flow of gas through a continuous phase of downward moving solids considers three regions: emulsion, bubble, and cloud-wake. Both the upper and lower reactor stages are of overflow-type configuration, i.e., the solids leave from the top of each stage. In addition, dynamic models have been developed for the downcomer that transfers solids between the stages and the exit hopper that removes solids from the bottom of the bed. The models of all auxiliary equipment such as valves and gas distributors have been integrated with the main model of the two-stage adsorber reactor. Using the developed dynamic model, the transient responses of various process variables such as CO2 capture rate and flue gas outlet temperatures have been studied by simulating typical disturbanc...
Coaxial Detectors from High Purity Germanium

The fabrication and performance of coaxial gamma radiation detectors from high purity germanium are discussed, and equations are presented which characterize a coaxial detector as a function of size, bias voltage, and impurity concentration. The coaxial detectors discussed have fully depleted volumes from 7 cm3 to 76 cm3.
An axiomatic basis for classical thermodynamics

In 1908, Caratheodory [I, 21 proposed a deductive theory of therrnodynamics. The special features of his theory are less important than the fact that he set standards for rigorous thinking in the subject. Hence it is not necessary to emphasize this aspect of the present approach. Physically speaking, the present objective is to build the theory on the concepts of thermometry and calorimetry, taking temperature and heatgeneration as the primary concepts, and to show how entropy and absolute temperature arise as derivative concepts. By not having work production as a primary concept, we obtain a purely thermal theory to which the first law and internal energy need not be attached, unless desired. This more traditional approach is in contrast with Caratheodory’s (see also refs. 3,4, and 5). We do not use an axiom about inaccessible states, as Carat&odor-y does, because such an axiom tends to obscure the fact that the “thermodynamic relations” which are the practical objectives of the subject are statements about reversible processes. (Irreversible processes take one out of the space of equilibrium states.) Our form of the second law is based on a semi-Carnot cycle which consists of heat generation (or absorption) at one temperature only, plus an adiabatic return to the initial state. Our axiom says that in this case, the total heat generated is zero. The compelling inductive proof of the second law based on the impossibility of perpetual motion of the second kind applies directly to support this axiom, because if positive total heat were generated in such a cycle then that heat, all absorbed at one temperature, could be converted into work indefinitely by reversing the cycle. Here, because we want a deductive theory, we cannot wait until, say, the concept of absolute temperature arises, and then inject the physical observation that this cannot be zero. We have somehow to make such specifications on our primary concepts (which are: the space of states, the temperature
Classical carbonyl reactivity enables a short synthesis of the core structure of acutumine

The development of a direct synthesis of the complex core topology of the alkaloid acutumine from a simple keto proline derivative is described. An efficient sequence of three carbonyl-dependent reactions is at the heart of this design for synthesis.
N=2 (4) string theory is self-dual N=4 Yang-Mills theory.

N=2 string amplitudes, when required to have the Lorentz covariance of the equivalent N=4 string, describe a self-dual form of N=4 super YangMills in 2+2 dimensions. Spin-independent couplings and the ghost nature of SO(2,2) spacetime make it a topological-like theory with vanishing loop corrections.
Decision making — the Analytic Hierarchy and Network Processes (AHP/ANP)

This is the first part of an introduction to multicriteria decision making using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and its generalization, the Analytic Network Process (ANP). The discussion involves individual and group decisions both with the independence of the criteria from the alternatives as in the AHP and also with dependence and feedback in the entire decision structure as in the ANP. This part explains the Analytic Hierarchy Process, with examples, and presents in some detail the mathematical foundations. An exposition of the Analytic Network Process and its applications will appear in later issues of this journal.
The perception and learning of temporal patterns.

Subjects observed sequences of stimuli generated by the repetition of temporal patterns formed of eight elements, each element being a binary event. Rate of presentation varied from 0.8 to 8.0 elements per sec.; stimuli were either visual or auditory; there were 10 different basic patterns; and for each basic pattern there were a preferred and a non-preferred starting pattern. Subjects observed as long as necessary in order to give a verbal description of the pattern after terminating it. Difficulty (measured by observation time and accuracy of description) was related to basic pattern and generally increased with increased rate. Differences due to starting pattern were found only at low rates, while differences due to modality were found only at high rates. Similar effects were obtained with respect to pattern description. These consistently different effects of starting pattern and modality at low and high rates require a distinction between pattern perception at higher rates, which is phenomenally inte...
Model-based estimation and control of particle velocity and melting in HVOF thermal spray

This work focuses on the development of model-based estimation and control algorithms for regulating particle velocity and degree of melting in the high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) thermal spray process. Initially, an estimation scheme, which is based on gas phase measurements and the particle velocity and temperature equations, is proposed to estimate the volume-based average of particle velocity and melting degree at the point of impact on the substrate. Then, a feedback control system, which directly uses the estimation scheme, is designed to regulate the volume-based average of the particle velocity and degree of melting by manipulating the inlet gas flow rates to the process. The proposed estimation/control structure is applied to a fundamental model of the industrial Diamond Jet hybrid HVOF thermal spray process and its performance and robustness properties are tested through simulations.
The State of Business Communication Classes A National Survey

This nationwide study of 169 business communication instructors examines the following issues: (a) ideal and actual class sizes in business communication courses, (b) delivery modes of business com...
Air in the spinal canal associated with trauma

Air in the spinal canal after trauma is uncommon. We report a case of a motor vehicle accident resulting in a thoracic fracture-dislocation. Air was discovered within the spinal canal on a computed tomography (CT) scan. This injury pattern proved to be a diagnostic dilemma because multiple etiologies existed. Pneumothorax, ruptured esophagus, facial sinus fractures, and herniated vertebral discs can result in this entity.
Large deformation and fracture mechanics of a beta-helical protein nanotube: Atomistic and continuum modeling

Abstract We report molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and atomistically informed continuum modeling of the nanomechanics of the β-helix protein motif, a key building block of amyloids associated with Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and prion diseases, forming a nanotube-like protein structure. We find that the β-helix structure is extremely extensible and can sustain tensile deformation up to 800% engineering strain without rupture of the covalently bonded protein backbone. Our atomistic simulation results reveal that the instantaneous strength of the tube is proportional to the rate of H-bond rupture, providing a link between the dynamics of hydrogen bond rupture and the mechanical signature of the protein structure. This finding proves that concurrent as opposed to sequential breaking of bonds leads to higher mechanical resistance, corroborating earlier results found in studies of β-sheet protein domains. Inspired by the beta-helical domain of the needle-like cell puncture device of bacteriophage T4, we carry out compressive loading simulations of the β-helix, and show that this protein motif can withstand extremely large compressive loads, far exceeding the tensile strength. Different mechanical deformation modes under compressive loading are summarized in a deformation map. Our findings illustrate the potential of the β-helix protein motif as an inspiration for nano-scale materials applications, ranging from stiff nanotubes to self-assembling peptide based fibers inspired by amyloids.
Performance of the Complete Travel-time Equation of State at Simultaneous High Pressure and Temperature

The complete travel-time equation of state (CT-EOS) is presented by utilizing thermodynamics relations, such as; $${\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {{K_T} = {K_S}(1 + x\gamma T){^1},}&{\gamma = \frac{{x{K_S}}}{{\rho {C_P}}},\frac{{\partial {C_P}}}{{\partial P}})} \end{array}_T} = \frac{T}{\rho }{[{x^2} + \frac{{\partial x}}{{\partial T}})_P}],etc.$$
Nerve injury proximal or distal to the DRG induces similar spinal glial activation and selective cytokine expression but differential behavioral responses to pharmacologic treatment.

The specific mechanisms by which nervous system injury becomes a chronic pain state remain undetermined. Historically, it has been believed that injuries proximal or distal to the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) produce distinct pathologies that manifest in different severity of symptoms. This study investigated the role of injury site relative to the DRG in (1) eliciting behavioral responses, (2) inducing spinal neuroimmune activation, and (3) responding to pharmacologic interventions. Rats received either an L5 spinal nerve transection distal to the DRG or an L5 nerve root injury proximal to the DRG. Comparative studies assessed behavioral nociceptive responses, spinal cytokine mRNA and protein expression, and glial activation after injury. In separate studies, intrathecal pharmacologic interventions by using selective cytokine antagonists (interleukin-1 [IL-1] receptor antagonist and soluble tumor necrosis factor [TNF] receptor) and a global immunosuppressant (leflunomide) were performed to determine their relative effectiveness in these injury paradigms. Behavioral responses assessed by mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were almost identical in the two models of persistent pain, suggesting that behavioral testing may not be a sensitive measure of injury. Spinal IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF mRNA and IL-6 protein were significantly elevated in both injuries. The overall magnitude of expression and temporal patterns were similar in both models of injury. The degree of microglial and astrocytic activation in the L5 spinal cord was also similar for both injuries. In contrast, the pharmacologic treatments were more effective in alleviating mechanical allodynia for peripheral nerve injury than nerve root injury, suggesting that nerve root injury elicits a more robust, centrally mediated response than peripheral nerve injury. Overall, these data implicate alternate nociceptive mechanisms in these anatomically different injuries that are not distinguished by behavioral testing or the neuroimmune markers used in this study.
A representation of the posterior mean for a location model

SUMMARY An exact representation of the posterior mean is developed for a location model and the class of priors that are normal scale mixtures. The result makes use of the conditional distribution of the maximum likelihood estimator and Masreliez's theorem. Directions for future development are indicated. An exact representation for the posterior mean, E(01y), is given where y is a 1 x n vector of observations from a location model, f(x - 0), and 0 has a prior density, p(0), that is a normal scale mixture. Let L(0) denote the likelihood function and let y = (0, a) where 0 is the maximum likelihood estimator and a is the maximal ancillary. The representation makes use of two results: the conditional distribution of the maximum likelihood estimator, p( 00, a) (Barndorff-Nielsen, 1983), and a result of Masreliez (1975). It is shown that, under a normal prior, E(Ojy) can be represented as a linear transformation of the score function of p (01 a), where p (0la)= p(10, a)p(0) dO. The representation can be viewed as a generalization of Masreliez's result that deals with the model, X = 0 + , 0 - N(m, r2) and represents the posterior mean in terms of the derivative of the logarithm of the marginal density for X. The Appendix gives a sufficient regularity condition and a rigorous proof of an interchange of derivative and integral sign required for Masreliez's theorem. A representation is also developed in the case where the prior density is a normal scale mixture. The results have a quantitative robustness appeal. For example, under any model and a normal prior the sensitivity of E( Oy) with respect to aberrant observations is
Attraction to pornographic stories on the internet: a commentary on "clinical encounters with internet pornography" by Thomas P. Kalman.

As Thomas Kalman points out there are at least two kinds of potential negative effects of Internet pornography (and pornography in general)—influences on beliefs, attitudes, and values as well as effects on professional life, family life, and relationships. Publication in this Journal puts Dr. Kalman’s work firmly in the ther apeutic context. In my comments I would like to suggest that there is considerable potential for case studies and other studies on Internet pornography addicts to fill some important gaps in the understanding of pornography in media effects scholarship. For the most part media research has focused on the now considerable evidence that both nonviolent and violent pornography contributes to a wide variety of negative effects (Oddone-Paolucci, Genuis, & Violato, 2000). These include acceptance of rape myths (Allen, Emmers, Gebhardt, & Giery, 1995), encouragement of aggressive behavior (Allen, D’Alessio, & Brezgel, 1995; Malamuth, Addison, & Koss, 2000; Vega & Malamuth, 2007), desensitization of audiences to victimization of women (Linz, Donnerstein, & Penrod, 1988), greater acceptance of sexual permissiveness and recreational attitudes toward sex (Lo & Wei, 2005; Peter & Valkenburg, 2006), reduction of men’s esteem about their own bodies (Morrison, Ellis, Morrison, Bearden, & Harriman, 2006) as well as dissatisfaction with the physical appearance of sexual partners and sexual performance (Zillmann & Bryant, 1988). It also seems well established that pornography can damage relationships and family life. Repeated exposure to pornography decreases trust of and satisfaction with romantic partners, their sexual performance and appearance. It also decreases perceptions of the value of monogamy and decreases desire for children (Zillmann, 1989). The use of Internet pornography seems to be a significant stressor in marriage
Identification of intrinsic high-level resistance to rare-earth oxides and oxyanions in members of the class Proteobacteria: characterization of tellurite, selenite, and rhodium sesquioxide reduction in Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

We have identified intrinsic high-level resistance (HLR) to tellurite, selenite, and at least 15 other rare-earth oxides and oxyanions in the facultative photoheterotroph Rhodobacter sphaeroides grown either chemoheterotrophically or photoheterotrophically. Other members of the class Proteobacteria, including members of the alpha-2 and alpha-3 phylogenetic subgroups, were also shown to effect the reduction of many of these compounds, although genera from the alpha-1, beta-1, and gamma-3 subgroups did not express HLR to the oxyanions examined. Detailed analyses employing R. sphaeroides have shown that HLR to at least one class of these oxyanions, the tellurite class (e.g., tellurate, tellurite, selenate, selenite, and rhodium sesquioxide), occurred via intracellular oxyanion reduction and resulted in deposition of metal in the cytoplasmic membrane. The concomitant evolution of hydrogen gas from cells grown photoheterotrophically in the presence of these oxyanions was also observed. HLR to tellurite class oxyanions in R. sphaeroides was not affected by exogenous methionine or phosphate but was reduced 40-fold by the addition of cysteine to growth media. In contrast HLR to the periodate class oxyanions (e.g., periodate, siliconate, and siliconite) was inhibited by extracellular PO4(3-) but did not result in metal deposition or gas evolution. Finally, we observed that HLR to arsenate class oxyanions (e.g., arsenate, molybdate, and tungstate) occurred by a third, distinct mechanism, as evidenced by the lack of intracellular metal deposition and hydrogen gas evolution and an insensitivity to extracellular PO4(3-) or cysteine. Examination of a number of R. sphaeroides mutants has determined the obligate requirement for an intact CO2 fixation pathway and the presence of a functional photosynthetic electron transport chain to effect HLR to K2TeO3 under photosynthetic growth conditions, whereas functional cytochromes bc1 and c2 were required under aerobic growth conditions to facilitate HLR. Finally, a purification scheme to recover metals from intact bacterial cells was developed.
Extreme Arctic cyclones in CMIP5 historical simulations

[1] Increasing attention is being paid to extreme weather, including recent high-profile events involving very destructive cyclones. In summer 2012, a historically powerful cyclone traversed the Arctic, a region experiencing rapid warming and dramatic loss of ice and snow cover. This study addresses whether such powerful storms are an emerging expression of anthropogenic climate change by investigating simulated extreme Arctic cyclones during the historical period (1850–2005) among global climate models in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) archive. These general circulation models are able to simulate extreme pressures associated with strong polar storms without a significant dependence on model resolution. The models display realism by generating extreme Arctic storms primarily around subpolar cyclone regions (Aleutian and Icelandic) and preferentially during winter. Simulated secular trends in Arctic mean sea level pressure and extreme cyclones are equivocal; both indicate increasing storminess in some regions, but the magnitude of changes to date are modest compared with future projections.
Dividend Smoothing Around the World: Legal and Cultural Effects in International Dividend Policy

This study examines the extent to which agency-based models and asymmetric information theories explain dividend smoothing around the world. Tests on a cross-section of more than 3,000 firms from 27 countries show that managers of low market-to-book firms and firms with less free cash engage in greater dividend smoothing. In addition, managers of firms in industries with high competition engage in more dividend smoothing. Firms with strong corporate governance smooth dividends less. The severity of agency problems and degree of information asymmetry differ greatly across countries, in part because of legal protection of investors and in part due to characteristics of national culture. I find that legal regimes and dimensions of national culture have explanatory power for dividend smoothing in addition to firm characteristics and other country-level effects. Overall, the results are considerably more consistent with a link between agency conflicts and dividend smoothing.
Multiparty interaction: a multimodal perspective on relevance:

This article investigates a multiparty interaction in an accounting office by applying a multimodal approach to discourse (Norris, 2004a). This approach allows the incorporation of all relevant com...
A Hierarchical Particle–Shell Architecture for Long-Term Cycle Stability of Li2S Cathodes

A hierarchical particle-shell architecture for long-term cycle stability of Li2S cathodes is described. Multiscale and multilevel protection prevents mechanical degradation and polysulfide dissolution in lithium-sulfur battery chemistries.
A model for ultrasonic scattering from tissues based on the K distribution.

A model for the backscattered ultrasound echo from tissues is presented. The model takes into account the fact that the range cell being insonified may contain only a few scatterers and the number may not be large enough to justify the use of a Gaussian model which results in Rayleigh statistics for the echo. Furthermore, the model also considers the case where the echogenicity of the scatterers in the range cell may not be uniform, the lack of uniformity resulting from variations in scattering cross-sections produced by the chemical as well as biochemical changes brought on by the presence of disease, growth of benign or malignant tumours, etc. The model is developed from the fundamental principles of scattering using the results available in radar. This new model results in a two-parameter distribution, namely the K distribution for the echo, thereby making it possible to gain information on the number as well as scattering cross-sections of the scatterers in the range cell. The model is extended to include the effects due to the presence of scatterers having some regular or periodic orientation in the range cell, resulting in the so-called generalized K distribution which approximates to Rayleigh, Rician, or Gaussian under various limiting cases. Results of computer simulations and experiments on tissue-mimicking phantoms are also provided, which strongly suggest that this new model offers potential for tissue characterization.
Proton environment of reduced Rieske iron-sulfur cluster probed by two-dimensional ESEEM spectroscopy.

The proton environment of the reduced [2Fe-2S] cluster in the water-soluble head domain of the Rieske iron—sulfur protein (ISF) from the cytochrome bc1 complex of Rhodobacter sphaeroides has been studied by orientation-selected X-band 2D ESEEM. The 2D spectra show multiple crosspeaks from protons, with considerable overlap. Samples in which 1 H2O water was replaced by 2 H2O were used to determine which of the observed peaks belong to exchangeable protons, likely involved in hydrogen bonds in the neighborhood of the cluster. By correlating the cross-peaks from 2D spectra recorded at different parts of the EPR spectrum, lines from nine distinct proton signals were identified. Assignment of the proton signals was based on a point-dipole model for interaction with electrons of Fe(III) and Fe(II) ions, using the high-resolution structure of ISF from Rb. sphaeroides. Analysis of experimental and calculated tensors has led us to conclude that even 2D spectra do not completely resolve all contributions from nearby protons. Particularly, the seven resolved signals from non-exchangeable protons could be produced by at least thirteen protons. The contributions from exchangeable protons were resolved by difference spectra ( 1 H2O minus 2 H2O), and assigned to two groups of protons with distinct anisotropic hyperfine values. The largest measured coupling exceeded any calculated value. This discrepancy could result from limitations of the point dipole approximation in dealing with the distribution of spin density over the sulfur atoms of the cluster and the cysteine ligands, or from differences between the structure in solution and the crystallographic structure. The approach demonstrated here provides a paradigm for a wide range of studies in which hydrogen-bonding interactions with metallic centers has a crucial role in understanding of function.
An Assessment of Reliability and Validity of a Rubric for Grading APA-Style Introductions

This article describes the empirical evaluation of the reliability and validity of a grading rubric for grading APA-style introductions of undergraduate students. Levels of interrater agreement and intrarater agreement were not extremely high but were similar to values reported in the literature for comparably structured rubrics. Rank-order correlations between graders who used the rubric and an experienced instructor who ranked the papers separately and holistically provided evidence for the rubric's validity. Although this rubric has utility as an instructional tool, the data underscore the seemingly unavoidable subjectivity inherent in grading student writing. Instructors are cautioned that merely using an explicit, carefully developed rubric does not guarantee high reliability.
Therapeutic options in allergic disease : Antihistamines as systemic antiallergic agents

Abstract As has been reported throughout this supplement, the pathophysiologic factors of allergic diseases involve many elements of systemic disease–effector-cell recruitment from circulation, stimulation of bone marrow progenitors, systemic effector-cell priming, anaphylactic reactions, and others. With this understanding, allergic inflammation can be thought of as a reflection of systemic immunologic responses with compartmentalized manifestations in various organ systems, including the upper respiratory tract, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and skin. Thus, any therapeutic approach to the treatment of allergic disease should address, in addition to the localized disease manifestations, the systemic immunologic dysregulation. Second-generation antihistamines (cetirizine, fexofenadine, loratadine) have been used since the 1980s to treat localized allergy symptoms in upper airways, skin, and, in some cases, the lungs; however, the efficacy of these agents in controlling systemic immune dysregulation and chronic allergic inflammation (eg, nasal congestion) has not been proved. The potential role of newer antihistamines in the amelioration of both localized and systemic aspects of allergic disease represents an active area of interest. Desloratadine, a new selective histamine H 1 -receptor antagonist with potent antihistaminic and anti-inflammatory activity, is introduced and its potential for treating the systemic aspects of allergic disease is discussed. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2000;106:S303-9.)
Dicer-Independent Primal RNAs Trigger RNAi and Heterochromatin Formation

Assembly of fission yeast pericentromeric heterochromatin and generation of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) from noncoding centromeric transcripts are mutually dependent processes. How this interdependent positive feedback loop is first triggered is a fundamental unanswered question. Here, we show that two distinct Argonaute (Ago1)-dependent pathways mediate small RNA generation. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase complex (RDRC) and Dicer act on specific noncoding RNAs to generate siRNAs by a mechanism that requires the slicer activity of Ago1 but is independent of pre-existing heterochromatin. In the absence of RDRC or Dicer, a distinct class of small RNAs, called primal small RNAs (priRNAs), associates with Ago1. priRNAs are degradation products of abundant transcripts, which bind to Ago1 and target antisense transcripts that result from bidirectional transcription of DNA repeats. Our results suggest that a transcriptome surveillance mechanism based on random association of RNA degradation products with Argonaute triggers siRNA amplification and heterochromatin assembly within DNA repeats.
ADHD and Dyscalculia Evidence for Independent Familial Transmission

The familial relationship between dyscalculia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was assessed. We conducted a familial risk analysis using probands with and without ADHD of both genders and their first-degree relatives. Participants were assessed with structured diagnostic interviews and a cognitive test battery. We found elevated rates of ADHD in relatives of both ADHD proband groups, regardless of dyscalculia status, and elevated rates of dyscalculia in relatives of probands with dyscalculia, irrespective of ADHD status. There was no evidence for cosegregation or assortative mating. Our findings support the hypothesis that ADHD and dyscalculia are independently transmitted in families and are etiologically distinct. These results reinforce the current nosological approach to these disorders and underscore the need for separate identification and treatment strategies for children with both conditions.
Phenomenological explanation of elastic anomalies in superlattices

The experimental fact that measured elastic and structural properties of superlattices are strongly correlated can be understood on the basis of a simple model based on the packing of hard spheres. The model is consistent with features of many models that have been proposed to explain the supermodulus effect, but contrary to previous explanations, it allows predictions for a given pair of constituents to be made. For an arbitrary pair of elements, it predicts the existence or non-existence of an elastic anomaly, and a rough estimate of its magnitude.
The international antidoping system and why it works.

In the days leading up to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, a number of scientific journals published special issues (1)(2) or critical commentaries and opinion pieces regarding the antidoping movement. For example, an analysis of antidoping policy by Kayser and Smith (3) presented criticisms based on ethical arguments (4). On the other hand, equally persuasive ethical arguments supporting antidoping policies were reported by Murray (5). In addition, the public statements released by the defense team before each of the 2 arbitration hearings for Tour De France winner Floyd Landis, at which he was convicted of committing a doping violation, vehemently attacked the laboratory and the staff that performed the test. These public attacks were by advocates for the defendant, and the antidoping rules prevented a response to these charges. My purpose here is to provide an overview of how the current antidoping rules came into effect, to review some of the science underlying the antidoping rules, and to discuss a few of the cases decided by the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS).1 The fight against performance-enhancing substances began in the 1920s, long before there were testing methods for the prohibited substances. For years, the leaders of sport went it alone in this fight. Some critics argued, and continue to argue, that sport leaders have an issue similar to the “fox guarding the henhouse” when it comes to overseeing drug-testing programs. A major shift occurred in 1999, when the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was formed as an independent body to harmonize antidoping practices, and independent national antidoping organizations such as the Australian Sport Drug Agency, the Canadian Center for Ethics in Sport, and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) began to emerge. WADA was established as a Swiss foundation with the support of intergovernmental bodies, governments, …
Pharyngeal and Cervical Cancer Incidences Significantly Correlate with Personal UV Doses Among Whites in the United States

Because we found UV-exposed oral tissue cells have reduced DNA repair and apoptotic cell death compared with skin tissue cells, we asked if a correlation existed between personal UV dose and the incidences of oral and pharyngeal cancer in the United States. We analyzed the International Agency for Research on Cancer's incidence data for oral and pharyngeal cancers by race (white and black) and sex using each state's average annual personal UV dose. We refer to our data as 'white' rather than 'Caucasian,' which is a specific subgroup of whites, and 'black' rather than African-American because blacks from other countries around the world reside in the U.S. Most oropharyngeal carcinomas harboured human papilloma virus (HPV), so we included cervical cancer as a control for direct UV activation. We found significant correlations between increasing UV dose and pharyngeal cancer in white males (p=0.000808) and females (p=0.0031) but not in blacks. Shockingly, we also found cervical cancer in whites to significantly correlate with increasing UV dose (p=0.0154). Thus, because pharyngeal and cervical cancer correlate significantly with increasing personal UV dose in only the white population, both direct (DNA damage) and indirect (soluble factors) effects may increase the risk of HPV-associated cancer. Oral cavity cancer comprises those found in the lips, cheeks (buccal mucosa), gums, front two-thirds of the tongue, floor of the mouth below the tongue, and the hard palate. Pharyngeal cancer comprises those found in the tonsils, pyriform sinus, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, and the oropharynx. Oropharyngeal cancer comprises those found in the base, or back third, of the tongue, the soft palate, the side
FlashLite: A User-Level Library to Enhance Durability of SSD for P2P File Sharing

Peer-to-peer file sharing is popular, but it generates random write traffic to storage due to the nature of swarming. NAND flash memory based Solid-State Drive (SSD) technology is available as an alternative to hard drives for notebook and tablet PCs. As it turns out, random write is extremely detrimental to the lifetime of SSD drives. This paper focuses on the following problem, namely, P2P file downloading when the target of the download is an SSD drive. We make three contributions: first, analysis of write patterns of downloading program to establish the premise of the problem; second, development of a simple yet powerful technique called FlashLite to combat this problem, by automatically converting the random writes to sequential writes; third, showing through performance evaluation using modified eMule file downloading program that FlashLite does change random writes to sequential, and most importantly eliminates about 94% of erase operations of the original eMule program.
Energy Spectrum of the Excitations in Liquid Helium

A wave function previously used to represent an excitation (phonon or roton) in liquid helium, inserted into a variational principle for the energy, gave an energy-momentum curve having the qualitative shape suggested by Landau; but the value computed for the minimum energy Δ of a roton was 19.1°K, while thermodynamic data require Δ=9.6°K. A new wave function is proposed here. The new value computed for Δ is 11.5°K. Qualitatively, the wave function suggests that the roton is a kind of quantum-mechanical analog of a microscopic vortex ring, of diameter about equal to the atomic spacing. A forward motion of single atoms through the center of the ring is accompanied by a dipole distribution of returning flow far from the ring. In the computation both the two-atom and three-atom correlation functions appear. The former is known from x-rays, while for the latter the Kirkwood approximation of a product of three two-atom correlation functions is used. A method is developed to estimate and correct for most of the error caused by this approximation, so that the residual uncertainty due to this source is negligible.
Antiretroviral Therapy for Former Plasma Donors in China: Saving Lives When HIV Prevention Fails

The spread of HIV and other bloodborne infections in rural communities in east-central China in the late 1980s and early 1990s was a tragic public health event. This occurred at a time of great transition. A market-oriented economy was emerging across the country and the commune-based rural health care system was collapsing. From the 1950s through the 1970s China had established a 3-tiered health care infrastructure including village barefoot doctors township health care centers and county hospitals and a low-cost Cooperative Medical System that provided basic health insurance. This primary care infrastructure and basic insurance scheme served rural residents efficiently during a time that 180% of all Chinese persons lived in rural areas (compared with 50%-60% in 2008). The infant mortality rate decreased from ~200 of 1000 live births in 1949 to 47 of 1000 live births in 1975 and life expectancy increased from 35 years in 1949 to 65 years in 1975. Chinas gross national income per capita in 1975 was only $230 suggesting that the improvement in health indices was an extraordinary public health and primary care achievement.
Stacked Ensembles of Information Extractors for Knowledge-Base Population

We present results on using stacking to ensemble multiple systems for the Knowledge Base Population English Slot Filling (KBP-ESF) task. In addition to using the output and confidence of each system as input to the stacked classifier, we also use features capturing how well the systems agree about the provenance of the information they extract. We demonstrate that our stacking approach outperforms the best system from the 2014 KBPESF competition as well as alternative ensembling methods employed in the 2014 KBP Slot Filler Validation task and several other ensembling baselines. Additionally, we demonstrate that including provenance information further increases the performance of stacking.
Potentiation of NMDA receptor-mediated responses by dynorphin at low extracellular glycine concentrations.

Zhang, Li, Robert W. Peoples, Murat Oz, Judith Harvey-White, Forrest F. Weight, and Ulrike Brauneis. Potentiation of NMDA receptor-mediated responses by dynorphin at low extracellular glycine conce...
Cytotoxicity of Thirdhand Smoke and Identification of Acrolein as a Volatile Thirdhand Smoke Chemical That Inhibits Cell Proliferation

Thirdhand smoke (THS) is a mixture of chemicals that remain on indoor surfaces after smoking has ceased. These chemicals can be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed dermally, and thus could impact human health. We evaluated the cytotoxicity and mode of action of fresh and aged THS, the toxicity of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in THS, and the molecular targets of acrolein, a VOC in THS. Experiments were done using mouse neural stem cells (mNSC), human pulmonary fibroblasts (hPF), and lung A549 epithelial cells. THS-exposed cotton cloth was extracted in Dulbecco's Eagle Medium and caused cytotoxicity in the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. THS extracts induced blebbing, immotility, vacuolization, cell fragmentation, severing of microfilaments and depolymerization of microtubules in mNSC. Cytotoxicity was inversely related to headspace volume in the extraction container and was lost upon aging, suggesting that VOCs in THS were cytotoxic. Phenol, 2',5'-dimethyl furan and acrolein were identified as the most cytotoxic VOCs in THS, and in combination, their cytotoxicity increased. Acrolein inhibited proliferation of mNSC and hPF and altered expression of cell cycle regulatory genes. Twenty-four hours of treatment with acrolein decreased expression of transcription factor Dp-1, a factor needed for the G1 to S transition in the cell cycle. At 48 h, WEE1 expression increased, while ANACP1 expression decreased consistent with blocking entry into and completion of the M phase of the cell cycle. This study identified acrolein as a highly cytotoxic VOC in THS which killed cells at high doses and inhibited cell proliferation at low doses.
Interleukin-4 Receptor Signalling Mechanisms and Their Biological Significance

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a type I cytokine produced by T cells, mast cells and basophils that mediates a wide variety of biologic functions(1). It acts to control the differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into TH2 cells (i.e. cells that produce IL-4, IL-13, IL-5 and IL-10). These cells act as efficient helpers for B cell activation, regulate immunoglobulin class switching to IgE and IgG1 (mouse) or IgG4 (human) and oppose many of the tissue damaging effects of autoimmune responses mediated by TH1 cells. IL-4 action on B cells is noted for the induction of germline transcription of the s and γ1 constant region genes in preparation of immunoglobulin class switching. It induces expression of CD23, enhances expression of class II MHC molecules, and regulates B cell expression of Thy1. IL-4 also acts to induce its own receptor and to control the expression of CD30. In addition to this range of gene activation functions, IL-4 also acts as a co-stimulant of B and T cell growth. This is best seen with CD40 ligand, LPS or anti-IgM/IgD in B cells and with phorbol esters in T cells. IL-4 also acts to allow naive T cells to survive in tissue culture presumably by preventing apoptotic cell death.
Child abuse and neglect.

The professional who must deal with child abuse has to resist the urge to punish the offenders and concentrate instead on seeking the best solution for the child. Guidelines for distinguishing child abuse from accidental injury are presented and management of the sexually abused child is detailed. Language: en
The Development and Habits of the Granary Weevil, Sitophilus granarius within the Kernel of Wheat

Radiographs of wheat infested by granary weevil, Si-tophilus granarius (L.), were made daily from egg to emerged adult. Enlarged prints of the radiographs were mounted consecutively on illustration boards to facilitate study of development and habits of the weevils within kernels. Measurements of tunnel widths were used to determine instars. A series of 4 increases in tunnel width occurred, each of which was followed by 1 or more days of static tunnel width. Each period of increased width paralleled feeding activity; the static width formulated the following instar.
A Multidimensional Time-Series Similarity Measure With Applications to Eldercare Monitoring

In the last decade, data mining techniques have been applied to sensor data in a wide range of application domains, such as healthcare monitoring systems, manufacturing processes, intrusion detection, database management, and others. Many data mining techniques are based on computing the similarity between two sensor data patterns. A variety of representations and similarity measures for multiattribute time series have been proposed in the literature. In this paper, we describe a novel method for computing the similarity of two multiattribute time series based on a temporal version of Smith–Waterman (SW), a well-known bioinformatics algorithm. We then apply our method to sensor data from an eldercare application for early illness detection. Our method mitigates difficulties related to data uncertainty and aggregation that often arise when processing sensor data. The experiments take place at an aging-in-place facility, TigerPlace, located in Columbia, MO, USA. To validate our method, we used data from nonwearable sensor networks placed in TigerPlace apartments, combined with information from an electronic health record. We provide a set of experiments that investigate temporal version of SW properties, together with experiments on TigerPlace datasets. On a pilot sensor dataset from nine residents, with a total of 1902 days and around 2.1 million sensor hits of collected data, we obtained an average abnormal events prediction F-measure of 0.75.
Mexiletine therapy in patients with chronic drug-resistant malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Clinical efficacy, safety, and side effects.

The authors report their overall experience with 138 patients receiving mexiletine for chronic drug-resistant ventricular arrhythmias. Of these 138 patients, 26 (19%) were "early failures" (that is, experiencing refractory arrhythmias or intolerant to therapy prior to initial hospital discharge) and an additional 22 patients (16%) were "late failures" (that is, experiencing refractory arrhythmias or intolerant to therapy after hospital discharge). Chronic oral maintenance therapy was successful for 90 patients (65%). Nine (7%) arrhythmia-related deaths occurred. Side effects were common (28% initially and 52% during chronic maintenance therapy), but discontinuation of the drug was only required for 9 patients (7%). No significant biochemical abnormalities or electrocardiographic conduction disturbances were observed. Mexiletine appears to be a clinically useful and safe antiarrhythmic agent for the treatment of chronic drug-resistant ventricular arrhythmias.