cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determining solution space characteristics for real-time strategy games and characterizing winning strategies

The underlying goal of a competing agent in a discrete real-time strategy (RTS) game is to defeat an adversary. Strategic agents or participants must define an a priori plan to maneuver their resources in order to destroy the adversary and the adversary's resources as well as secure physical regions of the environment. This a priori plan can be generated by leveraging collected historical knowledge about the environment. This knowledge is then employed in the generation of a classification model for real-time decision-making in the RTS domain. The best way to generate a classification model for a complex problem domain depends on the characteristics of the solution space. An experimental method to determine solution space (search landscape) characteristics is through analysis of historical algorithm performance for solving the specific problem. We select a deterministic search technique and a stochastic search method for a priori classification model generation. These approaches are designed, implemented, and tested for a specific complex RTS game, Bos Wars. Their performance allows us to draw various conclusions about applying a competing agent in complex search landscapes associated with RTS games.
Number-phase teleportation and the Heisenberg limit in interferometry: a paradox and some surprises

Following previous studies by Milburn and Braunstein, and Cochrane, Milburn, and Munro, we consider number-phase teleportation protocols. We investigate the use, as the teleportation quantum channel, of two-mode states with a perfectly well defined phase difference and number sum, which are also suitable for Heisenberg-limited interferometry. We show that intuition based on squeezing of these variables, which is commonly used to derive entangled states using the EPR paradox, can fail in this case to yield suitable teleportation channels. We show that the domain of failure is in fact of size 1/ N , N being the total number of photons. We also point out another way of generating simpler analogs of number-sum/phase-difference eigenstates.
The problem of identification of parameters by the distribution of the maximum random variable

Abstract Suppose that X 1 , X 2 ,…, X n are independently distributed according to certain distributions. Does the distribution of the maximum of { X 1 , X 2 ,…, X n } uniquely determine their distributions? In the univariate case, a general theorem covering the case of Cauchy random variables is given here. Also given is an affirmative answer to the above question for general bivariate normal random variables with non-zero correlations. Bivariate normal random variables with nonnegative correlations were considered earlier in this context by T. W. Anderson and S. G. Ghurye.
The kinetics of formation and decay of thermal vacancies in a quenched AgZn solid solution

Abstract The kinetics of vacancy formation after up-quenching and those of vacancy decay after down-quenching have been followed using isothermal elastic after-effect measurements of the Zener relaxation in a Ag-34 at. % Zn solid solution. First-order annealing kinetics are observed for both processes. The rate constants for these processes are found experimentally to be θ −1 ( formation ) = 3 × 10 2 exp ( −8300 RT ) and θ −1 ( decay ) = 5.4 × 10 2 exp ( −8300 RT ) . The exponential and pre-exponential factors in the rate constant expressions are compared to factors calculated assuming various steps in the annealing process to be rate-limiting. It is concluded that the diffusion of vacancies along dislocations is the rate-limiting step for the processes of vacancy formation and decay as they occur in this study. This and other results are discussed in terms of dislocation jogs as sources and sinks for vacancies.
The UV-visible spectrum in porous type VI silica: application and theory

The ultraviolet (UV) through visible (VIS) absorptions are determined and analyzed for porous type VI sol-gel-derived silica optical matrices. Changes in the UV-VIS spectral response are related to changes in the texture and molecular structure of the gel silica. There is a significant increase in UV cutoff as the pore size increases from 12 A to 90 A radius pores. This result is analyzed using classical scattering theory in combination with semi-empirical molecular orbital (MO) calculations. The concentration of small (three- and four-member) silica rings is a function of the processing temperature and history. As a result the UV absorption is observed to move to larger wavelengths as the number of three-member silica rings increases.
A Social Network Integrated Reputation System for Cooperative P2P File Sharing

In current reputation systems for peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing networks, reputation querying generates high overhead in file service. Also, a high-reputed node may be reluctant to further increase its reputation in these reputation systems. Recently, social network-based P2P systems that favor file sharing among friends have been proposed for reliable file sharing. However, this approach contradicts the objective of widely file sharing in P2P systems. To overcome these drawbacks, we propose a social network integrated reputation system, namely SocialTrust, that synergistically leverages the concept of "friendship fosters cooperation''. In SocialTrust, each node maintains trusted relationships for the purpose of file sharing, which are resulted from both real life acquaintance and online partnership established between high-reputed and frequently-interacted nodes. Given a number of server options, a client first chooses a friend or a partner, if available, without querying their reputations. Otherwise, it chooses the server with the highest reputation. The benefits of friendship and partnership on file sharing and cost saving encourage nodes to be continuously cooperative. Further, in order to realize accurate reputation evaluation and strong cooperation incentives, SocialTrust considers the number of friends/partners and reputation of a node in the process of reputation rewarding and punishment. Extensive trace-driven simulation demonstrates the effectiveness of SocialTrust.
Aborting unauthorized launches of nuclear‐armed ballistic missiles through postlaunch destruction

The establishment of postlaunch controls on nuclear‐armed missiles, which would enable a country to destroy its missiles in flight in case of an accidental or unauthorized launch, would add another safeguard to the control of nuclear weapons. A system of postlaunch control could be made secure against attempts by another country to use the system to destroy authorized launches in flight.
Some Properties of Generalized Concave Functions

This paper examines properties and interrelations of several concepts of generalized concavity. It shows that the class of functions that are both "generalized concave" and "generalized convex" is closely related to the class of monotone functions of a single variable. After excluding a certain small class of exceptions, the paper shows that, for arbitrary perhaps not differentiable functions, concave implies pseudoconcave, pseudoconcave implies strictly quasiconcave, and strictly quasiconcave implies quasiconcave. Several results characterizing the extreme values of generalized concave functions are given.
DISPLACEMENT IN VECTOR-AND RASTER-MODE GRAPHICS

Cartographic generalization often requires the displacement of features from their planimetrically correct positions. Displacement to avoid overlapping symbols, and visual clutter in general, is especially likely when the reduction in scale is substantial. Area generalization, in which the linear boundaries of land-unit or administrative polygons may be eliminated or interrupted, is inherently simpler than the generalization of linear features, such as roads or streams, for which continuity is less readily sacrificed. Either by examining features in isolation or by effecting only a small reduction in scale, attempts to automate cartographic generalization have largely ignored the need to displace line symbols. The few existing attempts to automate displacement suggest that a flexible algorithm able to cope with realistic cartographic applications must treat displacement in two phases: detection and adjustment. A redundant data structure is appropriate, with raster data to detect regions of the map requiri...
Studies of the Base-Dependent Binding of Cu(T4) to DNA Hairpins (H2T4 = meso-Tetrakis(4-(N-methylpyridiumyl))porphyrin)

Water-soluble, cationic metalloporphyrins that bind to DNA show promise as artificial nucleases and as sensitizers for photodynamic therapy, but fundamental questions remain about the binding motifs and sequence specificities. To address these issues, we have studied the interactions of Cu(T4) with a series of oligonucleotides that form hairpin structures (H2T4 = meso-tetrakis(4-(N-methylpyridiniumyl))porphyrin). Each oligonucleotide is a 16-mer with a central run of four thymine (T) bases and complementary ends that can combine to form a specific sequence of six adenine−thymine (AT) and guanine−cytosine (G⋮C) base pairs. The techniques employed include thermal melting as well as circular dichroism (CD), absorbance, and emission spectroscopies. The number of G⋮C base pairs in the stem is the most important factor that determines the melting temperature of the hairpin, and in every case investigated, the uptake of Cu(T4) stabilizes the hairpin. Depending on the nature of the adduct that forms, Δe varies fr...
Effect of allopolyploidy on the activity of selected enzymes inHibiscus

Mature seeds of diploid and tetraploidHibiscus species were analyzed for enzyme activity (alcohol dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, leucine aminopeptidase), total protein content, DNA amount and dry weight. The recently formed tetraploid,H. radiatus, generally had enzyme and protein levels very similar to the sum of its progenitors, while the more ancient speciesH. acetosella had several lower levels. This difference may reflect the greater amount of timeH. acetosella has had to evolve dosage compensations.
Rectifying nanoscale electron transfer by viologen moieties and hydrophobic electrolyte ions

The rectifying effects of electrolyte ions on interfacial electron transfers were investigated with a gold nanoparticle monolayer anchored by bifunctional chemical bridges with viologen moieties. Gold nanoparticle monolayers were fabricated by using a sequential anchoring mechanism with viologen dithiols as the chemical linkers. For viologen monolayers, the voltammetric currents were found to be sensitive to electrolyte ions. Due to the ion-pair formation between the bipyridinium moieties and hydrophobic anions, the electron-transfer kinetics of the viologen functional groups seems impeded by the increasing concentration of “soft” ions, leading to the diminishment of the faradaic currents. This response to electrolyte ions is in great contrast to that of gold nanoparticle monolayers, where the quantized charging currents become better-defined with increasing concentration of hydrophobic ions. By hybridizing these conventional and nanoscale redox-active entities into the interfacial organized structure, on...
The Changing Balance Between Osteoblastogenesis and Adipogenesis in Aging and its Impact on Hematopoiesis

Osteoblasts (OBs) and adipocytes (APs) share a common mesenchymal ancestor. It is now clear that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) maturation along the OB lineage comes at the expense of adipogenesis and vice versa. During aging, this balance increasingly favors the formation of APs. Hematopoiesis also slowly declines during the aging process. The role of OB lineage cells in hematopoiesis has been studied, but less is known about how APs regulate hematopoiesis. A few studies have demonstrated a negative relationship between APs and hematopoiesis; however, there is also evidence that brown adipose tissue (BAT) may promote hematopoiesis. This review will examine the current knowledge of how adipogenesis and osteogenesis change with aging and the implications of this changing environment on hematopoeisis.
Precipitation of Mercuric Sulfide Nanoparticles in NOM-Containing Water: Implications for the Natural Environment

Speciation of mercury(II) in the aquatic environment and coordination to natural organic matter (NOM) and sulfides governs the bioavailability and mobility of mercury in water and sediment. While previous studies on aqueous Hg(II) speciation have focused on competitive binding of dissolved species, the purpose of this study was to explore the potential for HgS nanoparticles that coprecipitate with NOM in solution. Dynamic light scattering was used to monitor the size of HgS colloids growing over time. The results indicated that humic substances decreased observed growth rates of particles and stabilized aggregates smaller than 0.2 μm for at least 8 h. Thiol-containing organic acids such as cysteine and thioglycolate also decreased growth of HgS particles. Growth rates were also monitored as a function of monovalent electrolyte concentration, humic type, and humic concentration. HgS particles that formed in the presence of humics and thiolates were able to pass through conventional filters (<0.2 μm) and ap...
History dependence of a two-level system.

Glasses have history dependence because they are not in equilibrium. A quantitative understanding of the history dependence of glasses cannot be achieved until we have a quantitative theory of the glass state and the equilibrium glass critical point. But we can still rely on some simple glasslike models to gain some qualitative understanding about them. In this paper, we study the history dependence of a two-level-system model by calculating the linear response of its physical properties to small variations in the thermal history. We calculate the linear response of the mean energy to changes in the temperature---the nonequilibrium analogs of the specific heat. We calculate the linear response of the mean thermodynamic entropy exactly, and the linear response of the entropy probability distribution using matched asymptotic expansions.
Counterstimulation and pain perception: effects of electrocutaneous vs. auditory stimulation upon cold pressor pain.

Abstract This study tested the hypothesis that distraction from a painful stimulus is best achieved by concurrent presentation of a similar stimulus. Specifically, it was hypothesized that pain perception would be interfered with, and thus reduced, when a stimulus similar to the sensory features of a painful stimulus was delivered concurrently. Subjects matched aversiveness thresholds for electrocutaneous or auditory stimulation so that both forms of stimulation could be judged to be subjectively of similar affective value. Subjects were then run in the cold pressor test for 2 min. While control subjects for each modality were not administered counterstimulation concurrently with cold pressor exposure, experimental subjects within each modality condition received concurrent counterstimulation. Magnitude estimation ratings of the aversiveness of Counterstimulation were provided concurrently with cold pressor pain ratings, every 30 sec. The results indicated that, as predicted, subjects exposed to concurrent electrical stimulation produced lower pain ratings than subjects exposed to auditory stimulation and controls. In addition, a mutual interference effect between the cold pressor and the tactile Counterstimulation was found: subjects also rated electrical stimulation as less aversive than auditory stimulation over the duration of the cold pressor test.
The malignant social network: Cell-cell adhesion and communication in cancer stem cells

Tumors contain a vastly complicated cellular network that relies on local communication to execute malignant programs. The molecular cues that are involved in cell-cell adhesion orchestrate large-scale tumor behaviors such as proliferation and invasion. We have recently begun to appreciate that many tumors contain a high degree of cellular heterogeneity and are organized in a cellular hierarchy, with a cancer stem cell (CSC) population identified at the apex in multiple cancer types. CSCs reside in unique microenvironments or niches that are responsible for directing their behavior through cellular interactions between CSCs and stromal cells, generating a malignant social network. Identifying cell-cell adhesion mechanisms in this network has implications for the basic understanding of tumorigenesis and the development of more effective therapies. In this review, we will discuss our current understanding of cell-cell adhesion mechanisms used by CSCs and how these local interactions have global consequences...
The Interface of Institutional, Sociopolitical, and Relational Trauma in Clinical Encounters: The Case of Adelita and Mrs. Diaz

In this article, the author addresses the importance of considering the interface of institutional, sociopolitical, and relational trauma in clinical social work practice. Assessment and treatment are discussed using a clinical case composite drawn from the author's previous encounters in clinical social work practice. In this composite, the author uses a biopsychosocial-spiritual perspective and concepts such as intergenerational trauma and psychodynamic theories as a framework for gaining a deeper understanding of clients in social work practice.
Conformational Studies of Phenyl- and (1-Pyrenyl)triarylmethylcarbenium Ions: Semiempirical Calculations and NMR Investigations under Stable Ion Conditions

Highly stable crowded carbenium ions such as (1-pyrenyl)diphenylmethylcarbenium ion (2) and 1,6- (3) and 1,8-bis(diphenylmethylenium)pyrene [dication] (4) and their dibrominated analogues (3Br and 4Br) have been studied at low and at ambient temperatures. 2 shows a conventional two-ring flip (ph,ph), whereas the disubstituted pyrene derivatives show one-ring flips (py) and two-ring flips (ph,ph) with a higher rotational barrier in agreement with AM1 calculations. A series of calculations show that the AM1 method gives the transition-state energies in best agreement with experiment. The propeller-shaped geometry of these molecules is reflected in characteristic low-frequency resonances of the phenyl rings. At low temperature, 3 and 4 exist as rotational isomers with C2 and Cs (or Ci) symmetry. In 4, steric interaction makes the two rotamers slightly different in energy (1 kcal). For 4 or 4Br, the 13C chemical shift differences between the C2 and the Cs species of 4 or 4Br correlate roughly with the calcula...
Theory of excess-electron states in classical rare-gas fluids

Localized excess-electron states are investigated using the density-functional formalism previously developed by Ebner, Saam, and Stroud for nonuniform classical fluids. The electron-atom interactions used contain a short-range effective core repulsion and a long-range polarization attraction. The interatomic interaction is a 6-12 potential. Some results are in agreement with previous density-functional calculations by Ebner and Punyanitya, who use a contact potential for the electron-atom interaction, in that no localized states are found in dilute helium and neon gases, while localized states are found in dense helium gas and liquid neon close to the liquid-gas coexistence curve. However, our present calculations disagree with the earlier ones in that they predict the localized states in liquid neon to be stable even at pressures much larger than the saturated vapor pressure, a consequence, we believe, of our inclusion of the polarization potential in the electron-atom interaction. We also find that localized states in the form of short-lived droplets are possible in argon and xenon gases close to the critical point. This finding is consistent with recent observations by Freeman and Huang of electron mobilities in these gases.
“Cinegrafía” and the Abject in Federico García Lorca's Viaje a la luna (1930)

Abstract Federico Garcia Lorca's screenplay Viaje a la luna (1930) is an example of what Spanish film critic Antonio Espina called “cinegrafia” in that it theorizes the relationship between the written word and the film image. It is also a work that intertwines the desire for sexual freedom with an anxiety for artistic innovation. Drawing on Julia Kristeva's psycho-linguistic feminist rereadings of Freud and Lacanian formulations of the construction of human subjectivity known as the abject, this article explains how Lorca looked for new ways to enlist the possibilities of film in his search for a more open and fluid artistic subjectivity and ways of representing normative and non-normative sexual identities.
Chloroplast reactions of photosynthetic mutants of Scenedesmus obliquus

Partial reactions of photosynthesis were examined in the wild-type strain and six photosynthetic mutants of Scenedesmus obliquus, Strain D3. A reproducible technique for the isolation of active chloroplast fragments from Scenedesmus was developed. Several chloroplast reactions and two reactions in vivo (anaerobic glucose assimilation and non-photochemical nitrite reduction) were examined. Chloroplast preparations of Mutant 8 would neither reduce NADP+ nor perform cyclic photophosphorylation although Hill reaction activity with low redox potential oxidants, such as 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol and ferricyanide, was present. These findings confirm earlier results which demonstrated that Mutant 8 is a System I mutant. Mutants 11, 40, and a′ were found to be defective in System II since they lacked Hill reaction activity but possessed normal cyclic photophosphorylation, 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol-ascorbate-mediated reduction of NADP+, and photoreduction activities in vivo. Chloroplasts of Mutants 26 and 50 performed the same chloroplast reactions as the System II mutants, but are not typical System II mutants since they lacked photoreduction activity in vivo, a process requiring only System I. Although these mutants performed cyclic photophosphorylation in vitro, no evidence of a photophosphorylation in vivo was obtained. Provisionally, the defects in Mutants 26 and 50 were located in the electron transport chain between the two light reactions.
Isotope dilution high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for quantifying urinary metabolites of atrazine, malathion, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.

We have developed an isotope dilution high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) method for quantifying the urinary metabolites of the pesticides atrazine, malathion, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Urine samples are extracted with an organic solvent, and the organic fraction is concentrated. The concentrate is then analyzed using HPLC/MS/MS. The limits of detection for the metabolites are less than 0.5 μg/L (parts per billion) in 10 mL of urine, with a high degree of accuracy and precision.
A new target for tumor therapy.

Blocking an oxygen sensor in the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels of tumors may reduce tumor and endothelial hypoxia and repress metastasis.
The Effect of Timolol and Acetazolamide on Transient Intraocular Pressure Elevation following Cataract Extraction with Alpha-Chymotrypsin

Abstract: Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) early after cataract extraction with alpha-chymotrypsin is a well-described, common occurrence. To study the incidence of pressure increase and the efficacy of medical therapy, IOP was monitored every 12 hours beginning on the first postoperative day in 68 patients after otherwise uncomplicated intracapsular cataract extraction performed with one milliliter of alphachymotrypsin and wound closure with multiple sutures. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: treatment with oral acetazolamide, treatment with topical timolol, or no treatment. Without prophylactic treatment, the prevalence of pressure elevation at 24 hours postoperatively was 69% with IOP ⩾ 25 mm Hg; 29% with IOP ⩾ 40 mm Hg. This was independent of the type of sutures used (10-0 nylon or 9-0 silk). The patients of four different surgeons had similar rates of occurrence of postoperative glaucoma. Both timolol and acetazolamide were essentially equally effective in lowering IOP in these patients. No adverse side effects were observed. With these effective treatments available if needed, we believe that routine monitoring of the IOP by applanation tonometry during the early postoperative course provides a good opportunity for reducing the risk of complications from excessive intraocular pressure.
Maps for the nation: The current federal mapping establishment

Abstract The U.S. Government annually produces an estimated 53,000 new maps and charts and distributes about 160 million copies. A large number of these maps are produced under the national mapping program, a decentralized Federal/State cooperative approach to mapping the country at standard scales. Circular A-16, issued by the Office of Management and Budget in 1953 and revised in 1967, delegates the mapping responsibilities to various federal agencies. The U.S. Department of the Interior's Geological Survey is the principal federal agency responsible for implementing the national mapping program. Other major federal map producing agencies include the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. To make maps and mapping information more readily available, the National Cartographic Information Center was established in 1974 and an expanded National Map Library Depository Program in 1981. The most recent of many technological advances made under the mapping program are in the areas of digital cartography and video disc and optical disc information storage systems. Future trends and changes in the federal mapping program will involve expanded information and customer service operations, further developments in the production and use of digital cartographic data, and consideration of a Federal Mapping Agency.
Bilateral tachistoscopic word perception of stutterers and normal subjects

Abstract Bilateral tachistoscopic procedures were utilized to investigate the visual half-field preferences of 15 stutterers and a group of 15 normal controls. Statistical analyses indicated a right visual half-field preference for the control group. In contrast, a significant visual half-field preference was not revealed for the stuttering group. However, further analysis revealed that a significantly larger proportion of stutterers, compared to controls, demonstrated a left visual half-field preference. Results indicated reversed cerebral processing for the stuttering group as compared with the control group.
Theoretical Determination of Two Structural Forms of the Active Site in Cadmium-Containing Phosphotriesterases

Two structural forms of the active site in Cd2+-containing phosphotriesterases (PTE), i.e., Cd2+/Cd2+−PTE and Zn2+/Cd2+−PTE, were determined by performing ab initio and density functional theory calculations on active site models. The calculated results indicate that the second bridging ligand in the active site of the recently reported high-resolution X-ray crystal structures of Cd2+/Cd2+−PTE and Zn2+/Cd2+−PTE should be a hydroxide ion, rather than a water molecule. The protonated active site structures of the Cd2+-containing enzymes are all significantly different from that of Zn2+/Zn2+−PTE. In Cd2+/Cd2+−PTE and Zn2+/Cd2+−PTE, the second bridging ligand always simultaneously coordinates to the two metal ions, whether it is a hydroxide ion or a water molecule. The pKa values calculated for the second bridging ligand are in good agreement with the observed kinetic pKa values for both the Cd2+- and Zn2+-substituted enzymes. The calculated results strongly support the conclusion that the observed kinetic pK...
A new basis set for computing the resonant frequencies of vibrating membranes

Abstract The collocation method for computing the resonant frequencies of membranes is investigated. The membrane displacement is written as a series expansion of solutions of Helmholtz's equation in cylindrical co-ordinates. The solution is approximated by truncating the series and the result is sampled at a finite number of points along the perimeter. The resonant frequencies are then found from the zeros of the determinant of the resulting system of equations. For geometries with minimal or near minimal boundaries, the series expansion converges in just a few terms and no serious numerical problems are encountered. However, for elongated or irregular geometries, a large number of terms in the expansion are required and the system determinant becomes unbalanced, resulting in numerical underflow. The problem is traced to the large order behavior of Bessel's function and is rectified by defining a set of subdomain basis functions with suitably normalized Bessel functions that are well behaved over their domain of definition. The proposed method is demonstrated by applying it to the computation of the resonant frequencies of a vibrating elliptical membrane clamped over its perimeter. It is, however, not restricted to this particular problem. The approach is completely general and can be applied to a wide variety of two-dimensional eigenvalue problems.
Initial medical work-up of first-episode psychosis: A conceptual review

Aim: To help clinicians carry out a comprehensive, medical diagnostic assessment in first-episode patients who are suspected of developing schizophrenia. Methods: Conceptual review of the published work with emphasis on the diagnostic goals of excluding medical causes of psychosis and establishing a medical baseline. Results: There is no agreed-upon standard for the initial medical work-up of first-episode cases. Excluding secondary causes of schizophrenia requires consideration of likelihood of disease; laboratory test performance; and relevance of positive test results. Conclusions: We propose a medical work-up for first-episode psychosis that combines: (i) broad screening; (ii) exclusion of specific diseases informed by treatability and epidemiology; and (iii) medical baseline measures.
Satisfying customer expectations: The effect on conflict and repurchase intentions in industrial marketing channels

The article investigates how the marketer’s fulfillment of middleman expectations impacts upon conflict and repurchase intentions in industrial channels. The nature and key determinants of expectations in industrial buyer behavior are examined. Discrepancy theory is used to assess the (dis)confirmation of expectations process. A series of hypotheses are developed and tested in a large manufacturing and distribution network engaged in the marketing of fluid power products. Results suggest a direct causal effect of (dis) confirmed expectations on repurchase intentions and on conflict, and that the effect of expectations on repurchase intentions is not modified by the creation of conflict. Managerial implications are drawn.
Digital heart rate monitor derived from the arterial pressure pulse.

Abstract This monitor displays heart rate without the need for electrical contact with the experimental animal. The device uses a quartz pressure transducer connected to an arterial catheter and has a full scale accuracy of ± 3 beats min −1 ; its range is 0–400 beats min −1 . There is an output voltage proportional to heart rate and internal calibration facilities are provided at 60 and 360 beats min −1 .
Predicting Ecological Connectivity in Urbanizing Landscapes

Nearly half the world's population lives in urban centers, and these areas are increasingly important components of regional and global land cover. However, their ecological attributes are often overlooked, despite the presence of species, ecosystem services, and risks associated with the spread of pests or threatening processes such as fire. Movement and dispersal of organisms contribute to species persistence in urban landscapes; however, landscape patterns that promote ecological connectivity may also facilitate the spread of undesirable organisms or processes. I investigate how urban form can be used to predict ecological connectivity and assist in prioritizing urban landscapes for conservation activities and risk management. I examine the value of qualitative and quantitative descriptions of urban morphology as predictors of ecological connectivity by comparing sixty-six cities in the USA. Results show that qualitative categories are not adequate for describing ecological connectivity; multivariate d...
Deriving Shape Space Parameters from Immunological Data

Abstract We present a method for deriving shape space parameters that are consistent with immunological data, and illustrate the method by deriving shape space parameters for a model of cross-reactive memory. Cross-reactive memory responses occur when the immune system is primed by one strain of a pathogen and challenged with a related, but different, strain. Much of the nature of a cross-reactive response is determined by the quantity and distribution of the memory cells, raised to the primary antigen, that cross-react with the secondary antigen. B cells with above threshold affinity for an antigen lie in a region of shape space that we call a ball of stimulation . In a cross-reactive response, the intersection of the balls of stimulation of the primary and secondary antigens contains the cross-reactive B cells and thus determines the degree of cross-reactivity between the antigens. We derive formulas for the volume of intersection of balls of stimulation in different shape spaces and show that the parameters of shape space, such as its dimensionality, have a large impact on the number of B cells in the intersection. The application of our method for driving shape space parameters indicates that, for Hamming shape spaces, 20 to 25 dimensions, a three or four letter alphabet, and balls of stimulation of radius five or six, are choices that match the experimental data. For Euclidean shape spaces, five to eight dimensions and balls of stimulation with radius about 20% of the radius of the whole space, match the experimental data.
Fuzzy Connected Object Delineation

This paper presents an extension of previously published theory and algorithms for object definition based on fuzzy connectedness. In this approach, a strength of connectedness is assigned between every pair of image elements. This is done by finding the strongest among all possible connecting paths between the two elements in each pair. The strength assigned to a particular path is defined as the weakest affinity between successive pairs of elements along the path. Affinity specifies the degree to which elements hang together locally in the image and is determined considering how close the elements are in space and in intensity features. A fuzzy connected object containing a particular seed element specified within the object is computed via dynamic programming. In all reported works so far, the minimum of affinities has been considered to define path strength and the maximum of path strengths has been used to define fuzzy connectedness. The question thus remained all along as to whether there are other valid formulations for fuzzy connectedness. One of the main contributions of this paper is a theoretical investigation under reasonable axioms to establish that maximum of path strengths of minimum of affinities along each path is indeed the one and only valid choice for defining fuzzy connectedness. In the past, a single fuzzy connected object was specified through a single seed element indicated interactively within the object region. When many objects are to be identified in a single image, interactive seed specification becomes cumbersome. Further, selecting exactly one element in each region automatically is more difficult than identifying a set of elements. Hence the theory and algorithms for the single-element case need to be generalized to multiple elements for more effective practical use. This is the second main contribution of this paper. The importance of multiple seeded fuzzy connected object definition from the considerations of both practicality and automation in image segmentation are described and illustrated with examples taken from several real medical applications.
Learning is Change in Knowledge: Knowledge-Based Security for Dynamic Policies

In systems that handle confidential information, the security policy to enforce on information frequently changes: new users join the system, old users leave, and sensitivity of data changes over time. It is challenging, yet important, to specify what it means for such systems to be secure, and to gain assurance that a system is secure. We present a language-based model for specifying, reasoning about, and enforcing information security in systems that dynamically change the security policy. We specify security for such systems as a simple and intuitive extensional knowledge-based semantic condition: an attacker can only learn information in accordance with the current security policy. Importantly, the semantic condition is parameterized by the ability of the attacker. Learning is about change in knowledge, and an observation that allows one attacker to learn confidential information may provide a different attacker with no new information. A program that is secure against an attacker with perfect recall may not be secure against a more realistic, weaker, attacker. We introduce a compositional model of attackers that simplifies enforcement of security, and demonstrate that standard information-flow control mechanisms, such as security-type systems and information-flow monitors, can be easily adapted to enforce security for a broad and useful class of attackers.
BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN TERMINAL TUNG BUDS DURING THEIR EXPANSION PRIOR TO BLOSSOMING.

For a number of years, the Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering has conducted a broad program of research on the physiology of the tung tree, with the general objective of developing new tung varieties and cultural practices that will lead to increased production of tung oil. In the course of this research it was believed to be of value from the nutritional standpoint to determine the time at which biochemical changes associated with the breaking of dormancy in terminal tung buds are initiated and the kinds and amounts of organic and inorganic reserve materials accumulated by such buds from the time they begin to expand until the inflorescence is complete. An investigation was undertaken with these objectives in view, and the findings are reported in this paper. The substances commonly found in plant tissues are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, amino acids, organic acids and their salts, water, and inorganic compounds. In most biochemical studies of this nature the carbohydrate and nitrogen fractions have received the most attention, as illustrated by the work of Howlett (4) and McDermott (8), who reported marked changes in these fractions for apple and yellow poplar buds during their development. Although several investigators (2, 5, 6, 7) have noted that sterols in the unsaponifiable portion of the lipid fraction of seeds undergo significant changes during germination, changes in chemical composition of the lipid fraction of terminal buds during their expansion prior to blossoming appear to have received comparatively little study. Because of the high ether extract values in dormant tung buds, which material was found to constitute 34% of the dry weight of such buds in January, it was decided to determine whether any changes occurred in this fraction during the period of expansion of the terminal buds.
Influence of ACB complex genospecies on clinical outcomes in a U.S. hospital with high rates of multidrug resistance.

Summary Objectives Bacteria within the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii (ACB) complex commonly cause nosocomial infection and are often multidrug resistant. Advances in genospecies typing allow for speciation within the ACB complex; however, little is known about the effect of genospecies on patient outcomes. Methods Adult patients with ACB complex bacteremia from Jan 2005–Oct 2012 were included. Bacterial isolates were speciated by rpoB gene sequence analysis, and clinical data were collected. Results Of 147 patients with ACB complex bacteremia, 116 had A. baumannii (78.9%), 28 had Acinetobacter pittii (19.0%), and 3 had Acinetobacter nosocomialis (2.0%). A. baumannii bacteremia was associated with greater comorbidity and was more frequently multidrug resistant (79% vs. 16%, p A. baumannii but not susceptible A. baumannii was associated with worse outcomes compared to non- baumannii ACB complex bacteremia. Neither multidrug resistance nor genospecies was an independent predictor of mortality, but receipt of appropriate therapy was associated with decreased risk of mortality (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04–0.44; p Conclusions A. baumannii bacteremia is associated with worse clinical outcomes than non- baumannii ACB complex bacteremia. The difference, however, appears to be related to multidrug resistance and attendant receipt of appropriate therapy rather than genospecies.
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura diagnosed during the second decade of life.

Abstract Objective: To retrospectively review our institutional experience of adolescents with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Study design: Medical record review of all patients diagnosed with ITP between the ages of 10 and 18 years seen at our center from January 1976 to March 2000. Results: Data were collected from 126 patients. Of the evaluable 110 cases, 63 (57%) satisfied the criteria for chronic ITP, 30 (27%) for acute ITP, and 17 (15%) were uncertain. Sex distribution and mean ages were similar in all 3 groups. Platelet count at presentation was higher in patients with chronic ITP. Splenectomy was performed in 24 patients, with 17 (77%) of 22 having normal platelet counts at last follow-up. Outcome for the nonsplenectomized patients with chronic ITP included normalization of platelet count (n = 4), minimal or no bleeding without treatment (n = 29), treatment for ongoing symptoms (n = 5), and unknown (n = 1). Two patients died, 1 from intracranial hemorrhage and 1 from Escherichia coli sepsis and pulmonary hemorrhage. Conclusions: Patients 10 to 18 years of age with ITP are more likely than younger children to have chronic disease. Many patients with ITP recover without drug therapy or need for splenectomy. ITP in adolescents shares features of both childhood and adult ITP. (J Pediatr 2002;141:253-8)
Viscous Analysis of Pulsating Hydrodynamic Instability and Thermal Coupling in Liquid-Propellant Combustion

A pulsating form of hydrodynamic instability has recently been shown to arise during liquid-propellant deflagration in those parameter regimes where the pressure-dependent burning rate is characterized by a negative pressure sensitivity. This type of instability can coexist with the classical cellular, or Landau form of hydrodynamic instability, with the occurrence of either dependent on whether the pressure sensitivity is sufficiently large or small in magnitude. For the inviscid problem, it has been shown that, when the burning rate is realistically allowed to depend on temperature as well as pressure, sufficiently large values of the temperature sensitivity relative to the pressure sensitivity causes like pulsating form of hydrodynamic instability to become dominant. In that regime, steady, planar burning becomes intrinsically unstable to pulsating disturbances whose wave numbers are sufficiently small. This analysis is extended to the fully viscous case, where it is shown that although viscosity is stabilizing for intermediate and larger wave number perturbations, the intrinsic pulsating instability for small wave numbers remains. Under these conditions, liquid-propellant combustion is predicted to be characterized by large unsteady cells along the liquid/gas interface.
Umbilical Artery (UA) and Vein (UV) Catheters-A Survey of Practices in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUS)

Umbilical Artery (UA) and Vein (UV) Catheters-A Survey of Practices in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUS)
A practical orbital angular momentum spectrometer using time mapping

We demonstrate a compact and practical orbital angular momentum spectrometer for arbitrary input states, based on an optical delay loop. Extinction ratios of 44–8.7 were measured, mainly limited by the available input states.
Housing Seasonal Workers for the Minnesota Processed Vegetable Industry

The place where we live and work is a reflection of a complex set of economic conditions and social relationships. Very little information is available regarding housing for Minnesota's migrant workers. It is estimated that approximately 20,000 people migrate to Minnesota each summer to work in the production and processing of green peas and sweet corn. Obtaining adequate, affordable short-term housing for these workers and dependents accompanying them is a challenge. Many migrants end up living in over-crowded, substandard conditions that place financial burdens on their limited incomes. Using secondary sources, including a survey of 282 migrant workers, government documents, and media reports, this study provides a review of migrant workers' housing in four Minnesota counties where vegetable production and processing occur. The findings are then examined using Mitchell's Labor Theory of Landscape providing a potential explanation of the context and meaning of these housing conditions.
Abnormal ACTH and cortisol responses to ovine corticotropin releasing factor in patients with primary affective disorder.

To further explore hypothalamic pituitary adrenal regulation in patients with affective illness, we administered 1 microgram/kg of synthetic ovine corticotropin releasing factor at 2000h to 26 drug-free patients with this disorder and to 15 healthy controls. Compared to controls, depressed patients (N = 12) showed a significant elevation in baseline cortisol and significant reductions in the net ACTH and cortisol responses to corticotropin releasing factor. These findings were normal in manic (N = 6) and improved (N = 8) subjects. An additional finding was that baseline cortisol and net ACTH and cortisol responses to CRF were negatively correlated in the entire group of patients and controls as well as in the patients alone. These data indicate that the reduced ACTH and cortisol responses to CRF in depression reflect normal functioning of the pituitary corticotroph cell (i.e., that the negative feedback effect of cortisol on ACTH secretion in depression is physiologically intact, effectively serving as a brake on the ACTH response to exogenous CRF. Thus, the hypercortisolism of depression may be due to a hypothalamic defect, possibly involving hypersecretion of endogenous CRF. This possibility may be of particular interest in light of clinical observations that depression can often be precipitated by stress and by data in experimental animals that CRF may influence several processes known to be altered in the overall symptom complex of depression.