cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE MOI FORMULA FOR IMPROPER EXPONENTIAL DEFINITE INTEGRALS

Summary.-A general formula is developed for solving a type of improper exponential definite integral of order n in the number plane. Termed the Moi Formula, it is shown to produce substantially simpler derivations of the finite moments of a probability distribution employed for assessing stochastic randomness, such as recently published by the authors. Other applications of the integral formula are discussed. In a recent paper a statistical method was presented for determining whether points distributed in the plane are characterized by stochastic randomness (O'Brien, 1994). O'Brien, Nguyen, and Hammel (1994) subsequently generalized the randomness method to any finite Euclidean dimension and identified areas in which the method may be employed. O'Brien (1994) demonstrated the detailed derivation of the component method measures. Those measures, derived from a spatial Poisson process, were the statistical moments used in the central limit theorem-based approximation of a normal distribution for finite samples to assess the randomness hypothesis. The purpose of the present paper is to present a recently derived formula which simplifies substantially the derivations in the above papers. The formula derived here has uses besides the specific application to O'Brien's probability method and these are discussed briefly in this paper. The formula derived in this paper is not claimed as unique for it could possibly be inferred from similar forms found in standard integration handbooks such as Gradshteyn and Ryzhik (196511980); however, it does not appear to be stated in standard handbooks for powers beyond two. Moreover, the formula derivation involves technical considerations that are beyond the scope of the present paper (such as convergence of the improper integral). Standard references such as Sokolnikoff (1939) may be consulted for discussion of these theoretical mathematical issues.
Secondary tritium and carbon-14 isotope-effects on ion-exchange chromatography of the d-glucose-borate complex

Abstract Secondary, hydrogen isotope-effects are observed when d -[1- 3 H]glucose, d -[2- 3 H]glucose, d -[3- 3 H]glucose, d -[5- 3 H]glucose, and d -[6- 3 H]glucose are each co-chromatographed with nonlabeled d -glucose. A secondary, carbon isotope-effect is also observed when nonlabelled d -glucose is co-chromatographed with d -[U- 14 C]glucose; no isotope effect is seen with d -[6- 14 C]glucose. These isotope effects have been quantitatively analyzed. The chromatographic separation of radiolabeled glucose from glucose is the result of a differential effect of isotopic substitution on complexation of the hydroxyl oxygen atoms with a proton and boron. Tritium in positions 2, 3, 5, and 6, but not in position 1, apparently increases complexation with a proton (a pK increase), but does not similarly increase complexation with boron. As a result, the tritiated glucose is eluted more rapidly on the ion-exchange resin. Based upon this effect, it is possible to obtain isotopically pure, tritiated glucose by ion-exchange fractionation.
Long-Term Neuroelectric Signal Recording from Severed Nerves

Six recording electrode units were implanted around the severed sciatic nerves of rabbits immediately after an axotomy was performed. Voluntary and involuntary motor neuroelectric signals (including individual action potentials) were recorded from the surface of the severed nerve for as long as 142 days after implantation, the average duration being 64 days. In order to study the course of the limited duration of the signal detection, a stimulation electrode was implanted around the sciatic nerve proximal to the lesion; evoked neuroelectric signals were recorded throughout the length of the experiment. The impedance of the recording electrode was also measured throughout the length of the experiment. The behavior of the above parameters, combined with histological observations, indicated that nerve degeneration accounted for the deterioration of signal detection.
Coding the transportation problem

A new “pivotal” technique for systematizing the Dantzig method is explained. The technique has been found useful in simplifying coding and in reducing iteration time on a digital computer. The first use of the technique was in a novel program aimed at problems for which the number of destinations is many times greater than the number of sources. The nature of the program is explained, and performance data are given for a number of computations.
Oxygen flux and process analysis of hydrogen separation from water through mixed conducting membrane

Hydrogen synthesis and segregation from water splitting with simultaneous partial oxidation of methane can be achieved using MIEC membranes that conduct oxygen ions and electrons. The process offers hydrocarbon free hydrogen production on the feed side of the membrane (steam side) and syn-gas on the permeate side (methane side). A composite MIECs system comprising GdxCe1−xO2−x/2 (GDC) and GdxSr1−xTi1−yAlyO3 (GSTA) has been used and the hydrogen flux has been estimated. The oxygen diffusion coeffcient for oxygen transport through the bulk of the membrane and surface exchange coefficient of oxygen at the solid/gas interface were obtained using electrical conductivity relaxation (ECR) experiments and the hydrogen generation flux was measured for membranes of different thicknesses, with and without surface exchange catalysts for various experimental conditions.
On the Origin of the Bioelectrical Potential Generated by the Freshwater Clam Mantle

Mantles from freshwater clams develop potential differences (PD's) between the two surfaces when they are bathed in vitro with artificial saline solutions. The magnitude and polarity of the PD is dependent on [Ca2+] in the solution bathing the mantle's shell surface. When the solutions are gassed with 5% CO2 in oxygen, the PD is in the range 25 to 50 mv, shell side positive. It decreases if [Ca2+] in the shell solution is elevated. The concentration dependence is logarithmic with a slope of about -27 mv per 10-fold change in [Ca2+], slightly less than predicted by the Nernst equation for a membrane acting as a calcium electrode. Analysis of the electrical behavior both in intact mantles and in isolated epithelia indicates that most of the PD develops across the external membranes of epithelial cells on the shell side. There is no evidence that an active calcium transport system is involved in electrogenesis, and a model based on calcium diffusion across a selectively permeable membrane can explain existent data. If CO2 is absent, the mantle PD is very small (2–10 mv), but still sensitive to change in external [Ca2+]. It is proposed that CO2 alters intracellular pH, thereby changing the equilibrium between a large store of nonionized calcium and [Ca2+] in the cells. A role for carbonic anhydrase in the CO2 effect is suggested by the action of a specific inhibitor of this enzyme. The diffusion model predicts that increasing ionized calcium should increase the PD as is actually observed. Some implications of this system for the physiology of calcium movement in vivo are discussed.
Epicardial Lymphoproliferative Disease Involving the Coronary Arteries

![Figure][1] [![Graphic][3] ][3][![Graphic][4] ][4][![Graphic][5] ][5][![Graphic][6] ][6] A 67-year-old male patient with a history of liver transplant, autoimmune pancreatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and Mikulicz disease presented with fatigue, dyspnea, and
Dependence on Temperature of the Interlayer Spacing of Irradiated Graphites

An investigation was made to determine whether or not crystal expansion coefficients of heavily irradiated graphites differ from the coefficients of lightly or unirradiated materials. Lattice contraction on cooling to liquid nitrogen temperature was studied. The magnitude of contraction, over the temperature range examined, was substantially the same, within the limits of experimental error, for three different samples. However, at --190 deg C, there was a tendency for the contraction to decrease slightiy with increasing neutron irradiation dose. The rate of interlayer spacing contraction of all the samples below room temperature was less than the rate of expansion of the unirradiated samples above room temperature. It was concluded that there is still no firm indication that observed changes in bulk properties of graphites on irradiation are dependent on changes in the crystal expansion coefficients. (P.C.H.)
Death Anxiety and Politics.

This study explores the relationship between death anxiety and sociopolitical attitudes and political behavior. Data from a sample of 209 undergraduate students indicate that death anxiety (as measured by Templer's DAS and the Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale) is modestly related to attitudes reflecting a turning away from the social and political world. Death anxiety does not seem related to political behavior.
Antagonism of the analgesic effect of morphine and other drugs by p-chlorophenylalanine, a serotonin depletor.

A modified Evans “flinch-jump” technique was used to estimate pain reaction in the rat. The analgesic effects of morphine sulfate, dl-methadone and d-propoxyphene were effectively but not completely antagonized by pre-treatment with p-chlorophenylalanine. p-Chlorophenylalanine antagonism of the analgesic effects of codeine sulfate was only suggestive and the analgesia produced by meperidine HCl appeared unaffected by it. It is hypothesized that the antagonism of the morphine analgesia is a result of a deficiency in serotonin concentrations produced by p-chlorophenylalanine.
Return of the Luddites

Stephen Walt’s critique of the application of formal analysis to international security studies, we take strong issue with a number of Walt’s arguments and assertions, and we try to clarify what we believe are his misconceptions about the nature and mechanisms of progress in scientific research. We begin, however, by identifying some of the issues we do not dispute with Walt. First, it is true that formal analysis, especially in the area of security studies, is only infrequently motivated by the attempt to explain some well-documented empirical regularity or universally recognized empirical anomaly. If there is room for disagreement here, it is the extent to which regularities or anomalies can be found in the security studies literature that are sufficiently precise to allow careful analysis. Second, there is little disagreement that some formalism exists for its own sake, although we need to be cautious here because much of this rigor seeks to understand the very definition of rationality in complex strategic environments. Third, despite the proliferation of competing models of deterrence, bargaining, coalitions, threats, and so on, those models are rarely set against each other for competitive empirical assessment. Finally, we cannot ignore the fact that very little of what researchers label “theory” is theory in any true sense, but instead is often best described as a demonstration of one’s ability to cobble together assumptions and derive something that can be labeled “lemma” or “theorem.”
Factors influencing the Mantel-Haenszel procedure in the detection of differential item functioning

The performance of the Mantel-Haenszel odds-ratio estimator and χ 2 significance test were investigated using simulated data. Multiparameter logistic item response theory models were used to generate item scores for 20- and 40-item tests for 500 reference group and 500 focal group examinees. The difficulty, discrimination, and guessing parameters, and the difference in the group trait level averages were varied and combined factorially. Within each cell of the design, 200 replications were completed under both differential item functioning (DIF) and no-DIF conditions. The empirical χ 2 Type I and Type II error rates, and the average of the odds-ratio estimates, were analyzed over the 200 replications
Partitioning and QR factorization to avoid numerical ill-conditioning of penalty functions for constrained nonlinear programming and control

Conventional implementation of the penalty function methods results in numerical inaccuracies in the Hessian matrix and its inverse as the penalty parameter approaches its limit point. The authors describe a procedure for avoiding these numerical difficulties by partitioning the Hessian matrix into two numerically well conditioned submatrices. QR factorization is used to enhance the numerical accuracy of the calculation of the Hessian matrix and its inverse. Proofs of the convergence of the procedure when the penalty parameter approaches its limit are presented. By partitioning the Hessian matrix, it is possible to show that the procedure generates a bounded series of inverse Hessian matrices even though the Hessian itself is unbounded as the penalty parameter approaches its limit. The QR partition penalty function procedure is combined with the conventional unconstrained differential dynamic programming scheme to develop a new constrained differential dynamic programming algorithm for solving the general discrete-time constrained nonlinear optimal control problem. >
Infiltration Under Surge Irrigation

ABSTRACT RATE of advance and infiltration field data were used to develop a characterization of infiltration under surge irrigation. The potential benefits of surge irrigation were quantified, discussed and related to the infiltration phenomenon. The surge infiltration function appeared to undergo a step reduction from the time dependent rate to the basic rate after one complete wetting and dewatering cycle. This infiltration rate reduction led to reduced amounts of time and water necessary to complete advance when surged applications were used instead of continuous applications. The surge infiltration phenomenon also caused a reduction in advance time differences between successive irrigations as well as between furrows with different degrees of compaction..
Discovery of Fur binding site clusters in Escherichia coli by information theory models

Fur is a DNA binding protein that represses bacterial iron uptake systems. Eleven footprinted Escherichia coli Fur binding sites were used to create an initial information theory model of Fur binding, which was then refined by adding 13 experimentally confirmed sites. When the refined model was scanned across all available footprinted sequences, sequence walkers, which are visual depictions of predicted binding sites, frequently appeared in clusters that fit the footprints ( approximately 83% coverage). This indicated that the model can accurately predict Fur binding. Within the clusters, individual walkers were separated from their neighbors by exactly 3 or 6 bases, consistent with models in which Fur dimers bind on different faces of the DNA helix. When the E. coli genome was scanned, we found 363 unique clusters, which includes all known Fur-repressed genes that are involved in iron metabolism. In contrast, only a few of the known Fur-activated genes have predicted Fur binding sites at their promoters. These observations suggest that Fur is either a direct repressor or an indirect activator. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis Fur models are highly similar to the E. coli Fur model, suggesting that the Fur-DNA recognition mechanism may be conserved for even distantly related bacteria.
Effect of dietary protein concentration on rat-liver S9 bioactivation of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene in the Salmonella/microsome assay

Abstract These studies describe the influence of dietary concentration on the ability of rat-liver postmitochondrial fraction (S9) to mediate 7,12-dimethylbenz[ a ]anthracene (DMBA) mutagenicity in the Ames Salmonella/microsome assay. A negative correlation was observed between dietary protein content and DMBA mutagenicity. The effect of protein was not dependent on the quantity of Aroclor used for induction. Dietary protein did not influence the mutagenicity of DMBA when isolated microsomes were used in place of S9.
A new contribution to the conventional atmospheric neutrino flux

Abstract Atmospheric neutrinos are an important background to astrophysical neutrino searches, and are also of considerable interest in their own right. This paper points out that the contribution to conventional atmospheric ν e of the rare semileptonic decay of K S becomes significant at high energy. Although the K S → π e ν branching ratio is very small, the short K S lifetime leads to a high critical energy, so that, for vertical showers, the inclusion of K S semileptonic decay increases the conventional ν e flux by ≈ 30 % at energies above 100 TeV. In this paper, we present calculations of the flux of ν e from K S . At energies above their critical energies, the ν e fluxes from kaon decay may be simply related to the kaon semileptonic widths; this leads to a near-equality between the flux of ν e from K + , K L and K S .
Residual strains of Pb thin films deposited onto Si substrates

Abstract An investigation has been carried out of the strain and strain-relaxation in (111) oriented Pb films deposited onto oxidized Si substrates at 300 K and then cooled down to temperatures as low as 4.2 K. The strain in the Pb caused by differences in thermal expansion of the Pb and Si was measured using X-ray diffraction techniques. For film thicknesses of ~1400 A, the magnitude of the observed strain at 4.2 K was found to approximate the strain value calculated from the difference in thermal expansion coefficients using the biaxial strain model. For greater film thicknesses, the value of the strain measured immediately after cooling was much lower, indicating that significant strain-relaxation occurred during the cooling process. It is probable that most of the strain was relaxed by a dislocation-slip mechanism. During isothermal annealing above 50 K a second, slow relaxation process was observed. Nonuniformity of the strain normal to the film-surface was found by analyzing the asymmetric X-ray line broadening that occurred during cooling. A strong dependence of strain on grain orientation was observed, and interpreted in terms of the biaxial strain model.
Selective methylative homologation: an alternate route to alkane upgrading.

InI3 catalyzes the reaction of branched alkanes with methanol to produce heavier and more highly branched alkanes, which are more valuable fuels. The reaction of 2,3-dimethylbutane with methanol in the presence of InI3 at 180−200 °C affords the maximally branched C7 alkane, 2,2,3-trimethylbutane (triptane). With the addition of catalytic amounts of adamantane the selectivity of this transformation can be increased up to 60%. The lighter branched alkanes isobutane and isopentane also react with methanol to generate triptane, while 2-methylpentane is converted into 2,3-dimethylpentane and other more highly branched species. Observations implicate a chain mechanism in which InI3 activates branched alkanes to produce tertiary carbocations which are in equilibrium with olefins. The latter react with a methylating species generated from methanol and InI3 to give the next-higher carbocation, which accepts a hydride from the starting alkane to form the homologated alkane and regenerate the original carbocation. A...
Aqueous and non-aqueous soil processes on the northern plains of Mars: Insights from the distribution of perchlorate salts at the Phoenix landing site and in Earth analog environments

Abstract In 2008, the Phoenix lander returned chemical evidence of perchlorate salts in the soils at its landing site on the northern plains of Mars. Subsequent spectral mapping of the perchlorate using Phoenix׳s multispectral Surface Stereo Imager (SSI) showed that concentrated patches of the salt exist in the subsurface. Because atmospheric formation of Martian perchlorate should form a highly-concentrated layer of salt on the surface, subsurface concentrated patches have been interpreted as evidence that Phoenix soils experienced minor amounts of aqueous reworking after perchlorate formation. Here, we present results from a wide-scale mapping of the Phoenix landing site using SSI multispectral data. We report that, contrary to preliminary case studies, limited occurrences of rocks and soil clods with perchlorate coatings are also found on the undisturbed surface. The discovery of these patches on undisturbed surfaces points to more complex processes operating on modern-day polar soils, perhaps including a combination of aqueous and mechanical processes, such as cryoturbation. Finally, we combine results from this study with an analysis of perchlorate redistribution mechanisms on Earth to illustrate the mechanisms likely responsible for modern processing of soils on the northern plains of Mars.
Preparation of Ultra-Fine MgO•Al2O3 Spinel Powder and its Metallurgy Behavior in Low Carbon Steel

Micron, sub-micron and nanometer sized MgO•Al2O3 ultra-fine powders were prepared by gel precipitation, solid-phase synthesis, sol-gel and flame throwing pyrogenation methods. XRD analysis showed that all of the ultra-fine powder is pure with the single MgO•Al2O3 spinel phase. The powder size was measured by laser granularity analyzer and the average size is 1780, 505 and 60 nm with a quite uniform distribution of particle size. MgO•Al2O3 spinel powder with different granularity were sprayed into molten low carbon steel in MgO crucible and MoSi2 furnace at 1873 K. Quantitative microscopic examination showed that big particle inclusions reduce and small particle inclusions increase, as a result, the average size reduce. Data comparison from spraying powders with different size showed that spraying MgO•Al2O3 of nanometer tends to cause more small inclusions in molten steel. The sprayed steel samples were rolled and heat treated for the mechanical properties tests, which showed spraying nanometer MgO•Al2O3 is the best way to improve mechanical property of steel.
Dynamic Incident Progression Curve for Classifying Secondary Traffic Crashes

The classification of secondary crashes is a useful performance measure of incident management systems. Previous classification methodologies used a static threshold for classifying secondary crashes. Such a threshold represents the spatial and temporal influence of a primary incident, such as 3.2 km upstream (2 mi) and 2 h after the incident. The dynamic methodology described herein improves upon existing static methodology by marking the end of the varying queue throughout the entire incident using incident progression curves. The four steps in the development of incident progression curves are: (1) processing of intranet incident reports; (2) filling in of incomplete incident reports; (3) nonlinear regression of incident progression curves; and (4) merging of individual incident progression curves into a master curve. The result from a 640 sample validation set shows that the dynamic methodology reduces Type I error by 24.38% and Type II by 3.13%. The application to a 5,514 freeway crash data set shows the results from using dynamic versus static methodology can differ by more than 30%.
The Microstructure of Pulverised Coal-Air Flames.II. Gaseous Species, Particulate and Temperature Profiles

Abstract The burner system and sampling techniques described in Part I were applied to the study of coal dust-air flames over a concentration range of about 150 to 250 mg/liter. Five kinds of profiles were determined through the initial bright reaction zone. These involved direct mass spectrometry and gas chromatography for gaseous species, proximate analysis and scanning electron microscopy of particulates and temperature measurements by thermocouple. Over the range of conditions studied, the microstructure varied little and a composite picture of the reaction zone is presented and discussed. Improvements on and applications of such microstructure determinations are suggested
Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in feline pancreatic adenocarcinomas

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-II) is an inducible enzyme that is responsible for the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which is often upregulated in neoplastic conditions. Expression of COX-II is documented in the majority of human pancreatic adenocarcinomas and in many epithelial neoplasms in humans and animals. The purpose of this study was to assess a series of feline pancreatic adenocarcinomas for the expression of COX-II. Eight feline pancreatic adenocarcinomas (5 poorly differentiated ductular variants and 3 well-differentiated acinar variants) were included. Immunohistochemical staining showed that COX-II was expressed in 2 (both poorly differentiated ductular variants) of the 8 neoplasms (25%). Approximately 10% of the epithelial cells from these 2 neoplasms expressed intense cytoplasmic staining. However, because feline pancreatic adenocarcinoma does not appear to consistently express COX-II, it is not a useful prognostic indicator for this group of feline neoplasms. In addition, COX-II inhibitors are not likely to be effective therapeutics for cats with this neoplasm.
Reviewing 50 Years of the Psychology of Social Issues

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), selected histories of psychology are reviewed for information on SPSSI and the social context of its early development. Differences in method and perspective in the historical literature are noted. Contradictions in SPSSI's political, professional, and scientific character are attributed to its purpose of supplying scientific expertise in the service of social reform.
Gender Representation in Agricultural Extension Workforce and its implications for Agricultural Advisory Services

The purpose of this study was to assess the gender representation in agricultural extension workforce in Delta State, Nigeria and consider its implication for agricultural advisory service. The employment status of Village Extension Agents(VEAs) on gender basis was sourced from the Delta State Agricultural Development Programme (DTADP) office. A sample population (n = 285) of female farmers was selected randomly from the three agricultural zones of the state. Data were collected using structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that the male VEAs’ contact with female farmers was inadequate; the spouses of the women farmers had negative disposition to their contact with male VEAs. Male VEAs out-numbered the female VEAs. The implication is that the situation created a dearth of information for the women farmers and therefore a hindrance to increased productivity on the part of the women. It was recommended that more female VEAs should be employed; female VEAs to accompany male VEAs on home and farm visits and scholarship be granted to girls to study extension education in order to encourage girls to take up career in agricultural extension delivery service. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tare.v14i2.4839 Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 14(2): 2011 34-37
First‐grade child risk behaviors for community violence exposure in middle school

This study examined behavioral indicators (measured by multiple informants) of young urban children's exposure to community violence during middle school. The community-based school sample included 549 students (53% male; 86.8% African American, 13.2% Euro American). First-grade aggressive behavior and anxiety symptoms were examined as predictors of later victimization and witnessing of community violence. Logistic regression analyses indicated that girls' first-grade aggression significantly predicted witnessing violence in middle school, regardless of informant. Parent-reported child aggression significantly predicted boys' later victimization. Teacher- and parent-reported child aggression was associated with witnessing more community violence among boys with low self-reported anxiety. Anxiety attenuated the relationship between aggression and witnessing community violence during adolescence for boys. The importance of the identifying early predictors of later community violence exposure in designing preventive interventions is discussed. Language: en
Learning and prospective recall of noisy spike pattern episodes.

Spike patterns in vivo are often incomplete or corrupted with noise that makes inputs to neuronal networks appear to vary although they may, in fact, be samples of a single underlying pattern or repeated presentation. Here we present a recurrent spiking neural network (SNN) model that learns noisy pattern sequences through the use of homeostasis and spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP). We find that the changes in the synaptic weight vector during learning of patterns of random ensembles are approximately orthogonal in a reduced dimension space when the patterns are constructed to minimize overlap in representations. Using this model, representations of sparse patterns maybe associated through co-activated firing and integrated into ensemble representations. While the model is tolerant to noise, prospective activity and pattern completion differ in their ability to adapt in the presence of noise. One version of the model is able to demonstrate the recently discovered phenomena of preplay and replay reminiscent of hippocampal like behaviors.
Simulation of dispersion of a power plant plume using an adaptive grid algorithm

A new dynamic adaptive grid algorithm has been developed for use in air quality modeling. This algorithm uses a higher order numerical schemeFthe piecewise parabolic method (PPM)Ffor computingadvective solution fields; a weight function capable of promoting grid node clustering by moving grid nodes; and a conservative interpolation equation using PPM for redistributing the solution field after movement of grid nodes. Applications of the algorithm to a model problem, in which emissions from a point source disperse through the atmosphere in time, reflect that the algorithm is able to capture not only the regional ozone plume distribution, but also the small-scale plume structure near the source. In contrast, the small-scale plume structure was not captured in the correspondingstatic grid solution. Performance achieved in model problem simulations indicates that the algorithm has the potential to provide accurate air quality modelingsolutions at costs that may be sig nificantly less than those incurred in obtainingequivalent static grid solutions. r 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Experiments with a hollow mask and a reverspective: top-down influences in the inversion effect for 3-D stimuli.

Earlier psychophysical and physiological studies, obtained mostly with two-dimensional (2-D) stimuli, provided evidence for the hypothesis that the processing of faces differs from that of scenes. We report on our experiments, employing realistic three-dimensional (3-D) stimuli of a hollow mask and a scene, that offer further evidence for this hypothesis. The stimuli used for both faces and scenes were bistable, namely they could elicit either the veridical or an illusory volumetric percept. Our results indicate that the illusion is weakened when the stimuli are inverted, suggesting the involvement of top-down processes. This inversion effect is statistically significant for the facial stimulus, but the trend did not reach statistical significance for the scene stimulus. These results support the hypothesis that configural processing is stronger for the 3-D perception of faces than it is for scenes, and extend the conclusions of earlier studies on 2-D stimuli.
UCSF Multichannel Cochlear Implants

Clinical trials with the UCSF/Storz multichannel cochlear implant began in February 1985. The final patient in this series was implanted in June 1986. The objective of the clinical trial was to evaluate the strategies developed by the UCSF implant team through neurophysiological, histopathological, and psychophysical investigations over the past seventeen years. A total of 16 patients were implanted with this four channel unit, a vocoder-based, compressed-analog system. Results are measured with a battery of speech reception tests, including routine audiometric tasks used to evaluate standard clinical populations. Assessments are administered using conventional audiologic procedures. Tests include monosyllabic word recognition (the standard clinical “speech discrimination” list) and the recognition of key words in sentences. Eleven of the 16 patients have now had their one-year postoperative evaluations, permitting observations on their performance over time. Of these 11 patients, ten (91%) are able to obtain a considerable degree of auditory speech recognition. Relative to other cochlear implant projects, this represents an extremely high proportion of the implant population achieving some level of auditory-only speech understanding. The UCSF/Storz clinical trial has helped to clarify and define the specifications for our next generation implant, an elecrically transparent sixteen channel system.
Prospects and Programs for Fertility Reduction: What? Where?

The task is to discern the prospects for fertility reduction in the developing world and the programs required to bring it about: the probable course of fertility in the developing world for the remainder of the twentieth century and, on that basis, the policy interventions that present themselves for remedial action where needed and desired.
Interaction of magnetic reconnection and Kelvin‐Helmholtz modes for large magnetic shear: 2. Reconnection trigger

A typical property of magnetopause reconnection is a significant perpendicular shear flow due to the fast streaming magnetosheath plasma. Therefore, the magnetopause represents a large magnetic and flow shear boundary during periods of southward interplanetary magnetic field, which can be unstable to Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) modes and to magnetic reconnection. A series of local three-dimensional MHD and Hall MHD simulations is carried out to investigate the interaction of reconnection and nonlinear KH waves considering magnetic reconnection as the primary process. It is demonstrated that the onset reconnection causes a thinning of the shear flow layer, thereby generating small wavelength KH modes. In turn, the growing KH modes modify the current layer width, which modulate the diffusion regions, increase the local reconnection rates, and generate field-aligned currents. The simulation results imply a limitation of total amount of open flux likely caused by nonlinear saturation of KH growth and the associated diffusion. It is also demonstrated that the reconnection rate maximizes for conditions that allow a strong nonlinear evolution of KH waves, i.e., fast shear flow and limited guide magnetic field. The presence of Hall physics increases the reconnection rate in the early stage; however, the maximum reconnection rate and the total amount of open flux at saturation are the same as in the MHD case.
Pricing retail services

Abstract Although the need for service pricing research is frequently voiced at conference sessions focusing on services marketing strategy, a macro examination of retail service pricing has yet to be developed. A discussion of how retail service pricing is unique from the pricing of retail goods is presented. The framework for the discussion is based on demand, cost, customer, competitive, profit, product, and legal considerations. Clearly, differences do exist. Research issues pertaining to retail services are also provided. It is our collective hope that this discussion will spur interest and generate much needed research in the area of pricing retail services.
An investigation of lymphatic vessels in the feline dental pulp

The existence of lymphatic vessels in the dental pulp has been a matter of continuing controversy. We have now used light microscopy to examine semithin transverse sections of perfusion-fixed incisors and canines in cats. Lymphatics were found in all the teeth studies. In most teeth they were present in the coronal, middlel, and apical regions of the pulp; but in a few they were lacking coronally and in the middle. Within individual teeth, lymphatics were found in the subodontoblastic zone or more centrally in the pulp; but none were found in the odontoblast layer or in the pulp horns. Vessels located by light microscopy were subsequently examined by transmission electron microscopy. Their ultrastructural features were typical of lymphatics and included irregular, attenuated endothelium with adjacent cells joined in different ways. Occasional gaps connected the extracellular spaces with their lumens, and abluminal endothelial projections appeared to form open and bulbs. There was very little basement membrane, but anchoring filaments were found near the abluminal surface of the endothelium and near collagen fibrils. The total cross-sectional area of lymphatic vessels was measured in semithin sections and, with pulp area, increased from the coronal region to the middle. However, both areas decreased from the middle to the apical region suggesting either that lymph flows faster as it reaches the formens of the apical delta or that some vessels leave the tooth through lateral root canals. Using the methods of light and transmission electron microscopy, therefore, we have shown that pulp lymphatic vessels exist. Questions remain, however, about their distribution within teeth, variations between teeth, and routes of exit from teeth.
An Evolutionary Approach to Understanding the Biology of Invasions: Local Adaptation and General-Purpose Genotypes in the Weed Verbascum thapsus

The role of evolution in the invasion of non-native species has important implications for conser- vation, weed science, risk assessment, and policy. In this paper we first discuss why an evolutionary perspec- tive can be helpful and outline a range of potentially useful approaches from population biology and ecolog- ical genetics. As a case study, we then ask how adaptation and genetic structure may promote or constrain the expansion of an invasive weed, Verbascum thapsus , into high elevations in the Sierra Nevada of Califor- nia. We used growth-chamber and common-garden experiments to assay a range of morphological and phys- iological traits that could influence plant fitness at high elevation. There was a significant relationship be- tween elevation and leaf size and reflectance above 800 m, although we found no relationship between elevation and most other traits ( growth rate in warm or cool temperatures, freezing tolerance when grown in warm or cool temperatures, leaf number, rosette morphology, plant height ). We did see marked genetic dif- ferentiation among populations, possibly reflecting founder effects and a history of genetic drift. When we partitioned the phenotypic variance, there was almost no variation among maternal families within popula- tions, limiting the potential for selection to act. The majority of the variance for all traits was among individ- uals within families, suggesting that environmental conditions strongly influenced the phenotype. Overall, the increasing success of V. thapsus at high elevations appears to conform more to Baker's concept of a gen- eral-purpose genotype than to invasion by rapid adaptation.
Care at the edge of viability: medical and ethical issues.

Decision-making for extremely immature preterm infants at the margins of viability is ethically, professionally, and emotionally complicated. A standard for prenatal consultation should be developed incorporating assessment of parental decision-making preferences and styles, a communication process involving a reciprocal exchange of information, and effective strategies for decisional deliberation, guided by and consistent with parental moral framework. Professional caregivers providing perinatal consultations or end-of-life counseling for extremely preterm infants should be sensitive to these issues and be taught flexibility in counseling techniques adhering to consistent guidelines. Emphasis must shift away from physician beliefs and behaviors about the boundaries of viability.
On the apparent rarity of epithelial cancers in captive chimpanzees.

Malignant neoplasms arising from epithelial cells are called carcinomas. Such cancers are diagnosed in about one in three humans in ‘developed’ countries, with the most common sites affected being lung, breast, prostate, colon, ovary and pancreas. By contrast, carcinomas are said to be rare in captive chimpanzees, which share more than 99% protein sequence homology with humans (and possibly in other related ‘great apes’—bonobos, gorillas and orangutans). Simple ascertainment bias is an unlikely explanation, as these nonhuman hominids are recipients of excellent veterinary care in research facilities and zoos, and are typically subjected to necropsies when they die. In keeping with this notion, benign tumours and cancers that are less common in humans are well documented in this population. In this brief overview, we discuss other possible explanations for the reported rarity of carcinomas in our closest evolutionary cousins, including inadequacy of numbers surveyed, differences in life expectancy, diet, genetic susceptibility, immune responses or their microbiomes, and other potential environmental factors. We conclude that while relative carcinoma risk is a likely difference between humans and chimpanzees (and possibly other ‘great apes’), a more systematic survey of available data is required for validation of this claim.
Epigenetic Resensitization to Platinum in Ovarian Cancer

Preclinical studies have shown that hypomethylating agents reverse platinum resistance in ovarian cancer. In this phase II clinical trial, based upon the results of our phase I dose defining study, we tested the clinical and biologic activity of low-dose decitabine administered before carboplatin in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients. Among 17 patients with heavily pretreated and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, the regimen induced a 35% objective response rate (RR) and progression-free survival (PFS) of 10.2 months, with nine patients (53%) free of progression at 6 months. Global and gene-specific DNA demethylation was achieved in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and tumors. The number of demethylated genes was greater (P < 0.05) in tumor biopsies from patients with PFS more than 6 versus less than 6 months (311 vs. 244 genes). Pathways enriched at baseline in tumors from patients with PFS more than 6 months included cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, drug transporters, and mitogen-activated protein kinase, toll-like receptor and Jak-STAT signaling pathways, whereas those enriched in demethylated genes after decitabine treatment included pathways involved in cancer, Wnt signaling, and apoptosis (P < 0.01). Demethylation of MLH1, RASSF1A, HOXA10, and HOXA11 in tumors positively correlated with PFS (P < 0.05). Together, the results of this study suggest that low-dose decitabine altered DNA methylation of genes and cancer pathways, restoring sensitivity to carboplatin in patients with heavily pretreated ovarian cancer and resulting in a high RR and prolonged PFS.
Pruning network coding traffic by network coding — A new max-flow algorithm

For a unicast/multicast session, network coding is generally implemented via random coding and broadcasting at intermediate nodes, an especially favorable solution in wireless networks. The corresponding broadcast traffic can be minimized by finding the max (s, t)-flow of the network and by sending packets only along the max flow. All existing algorithms for this task, e.g. the push-&-relabel algorithm, are based on the routing paradigm and do not take advantage of the network coded traffic, which undermines their practicality for network coding applications. This work provides the first network-coding-based max (s, t)-flow algorithm starting from broadcasting the coded packets and followed by continuously trimming the unnecessary traffic. The running time is O(|V|2), asymptotically no slower than that of the existing routing-based, distributed algorithms. Other important features include: (i) Limited exchange of control packets enables straightforward distributed implementation. (ii) The source-sink pair sustains uninterruptedly the optimal max-flow rate throughout iterations. (iii) All control packets are sent in the opposite direction of the data packets and can be readily piggybacked to the acknowledgment packets with minimal overhead. (iv) The control packet contains only easily computed coding coefficients and the algorithm imposes no additional requirement on the intermediate nodes nor on the format of each packet.
Erythropoietic stimulating factor (ESF) effects on induced and spontaneous murine leukemia.

Erythropoietin (ESF) has been found to increase the incidence of leukemia and mammary tumors in female conventional CFWw mice during a 19-month observation period after administration of a single dose of ESF and leukemia extract. ESF alone also increased the number of leukemias in female conventional mice. These increases apparently were sex-related. The increase in the incidence of leukemia is postulated to be through a mechanism of “activation” of endogenous virus since a similar enhancement was not recorded in ex-axenic animals receiving similar treatment. Instead, in the ex-axenic group ESF produced an apparent decrease in the incidence of leukemia. These observations have been related to the relative number of virus-like particles in the tissues of the conventional and ex-axenic CFWw mice.
A Tale of Two Cues: The Impact of Subliminal and Implicit Appeals for Racialized Issue Opinion

While the bulk of the implicit priming literature relies on the use of imagery to prime stereotypical considerations (Mendelberg 2001; Valentino, Hutchings, and White 2002), rhetorical cues have also been shown to prime stereotypes subconsciously, either through the use of carefully crafted, racially charged rhetoric (Hurwitz and Peffley 1997, 2005; Peffley, Hurwitz, and Sniderman 1997; White 2007) and experimentally through the use of subliminal cues (Kam 2007; Weinberger and Westen 2008). These priming cues have not however been tested against one another, as a means of determining which has the greatest influence activating stereotypical considerations and subsequently influencing opinion. Using a 2x2, between-subjects design (with control), I test the degree to which varied stereotypical appeals influence opinion on a series of issues. The evidence from two experiments suggests that the effects of racial primes are moderated by both subjects’ accessibility of racial stereotypes as well as their racial background, providing fertile ground for future research in racial priming.
Risk factors and outcomes of surgical site infection in children.

Background Indices for prediction of surgical site infection (SSI) are well documented in the adult population; however, these factors have not been validated in children. Study Design A retrospective case-control study was performed by examining the medical records of children (0 to 18 years) who developed an SSI within 30 days of selected class I and class II procedures at our institution from 1996 to 2008. Two controls were selected from among patients undergoing identical procedures within 12 months of each case. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon test for continuous and chi-square test for categorical variable. Factors thought a priori to be associated with risk of SSI and statistically significant variables from a univariate analysis were used to create a logistic regression model. Results Of 16,031 patients, 159 children (0.99%) developed an SSI. Univariate analysis showed race, postoperative location, skin preparation, urinary catheter, procedure duration, and implantable device as risk factors for development of an SSI. Independent predictors of SSI in multiple conditional logistic regression were age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.97 neonate vs adolescent; 95% CI 1.38 to 17.90), race (aOR 2.36 for African American vs white; 95% CI 1.32 to 4.18), postoperative location (aOR 6.55 ICU vs home; 95% CI 1.58 to 27.21), urinary catheter placement (aOR 3.56; 95% CI 1.50 to 8.48), and implantable device (aOR 3.05; 95% CI 1.14 to 8.21). Wound classification and antibiotic administration were not independent predictors of SSI. Conclusions Postoperative location, urinary catheter insertion, and use of an implantable device are potentially modifiable risk factors for an SSI in children. The higher risk of SSI in younger patients and non-white race suggest a possible developmental, socioeconomic, or genetic marker for impaired host defense.