cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Faunal Remains from Paloma, An Archaic Site in Peru

The Archaic village of Paloma is located in the Chilca valley on the coast of Peru. Study of probability samples collected with fine-meshed screens from six units has produced a sample containing 6,152 bones and shells weighing 574.54 gm, and included the remains of at least 132 vertebrate and 295 invertebrate individuals. Marine vertebrates and invertebrates comprised 98% of the individuals and contributed 90% of the biomass. Analysis of these remains suggests that marine resources were a major source of food.
Styles of Handling Personal Conflict in Egypt, United States, Africa, and the Gulf States

This study investigated the impact of culture on styles of handling personal conflicts. The conflict management styles of competing, collaborating, avoiding, and accommodating were measured using the Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory (ROCI) instrument composed of 28 statements. For the purpose of this study four populations were identified. The analysis were conducted using 1089 responses; 779 from Egypt, 144 from the United States,32 from Africa (Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, Zaire, Zambia), and 134 from the Gulf States (the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates). The five styles of handling interpersonal conflict were measured in each region. Factor analysis and multivariate analysis of variance were used to analyze the data.
Multiscale Markov models with random transitions for energy demand management

Abstract A stochastic model is proposed for fluctuations in electricity demand that are associated with individual user's consumption choices. Electricity consumption is modeled as a function of social activities of consumers. The dynamics of these activities are modeled as a Markov chain. Markov models are simplified models that capture the stochasticity to the unmodeled dynamics typically attributed to white noise disturbances. Additional uncertainties are also accrued in the process of calibrating the transition rates of these chains from finite samples. In this paper, these uncertainties are accounted for by considering random transition matrices. Such formalism can also reflect the fluctuations in the environment in which the chain evolves. We also discuss a third interpretation where uncertain transitions, in a multiscale setting, reflect the fine-resolution information that is lost in the process of state aggregation. As numerical demonstration, we study the activity modeling of a heterogeneous population. Activity uncertainties are propagated onto the energy demand. Demand uncertainties, in turn, are propagated onto a global performance metric. Such uncertainty management framework bridges between the actual drivers of the energy consumption and the system health. Subsequent decisions can be robustly supported based on the results of the quantitative model proposed in this paper.
Public relation(ship)s or private controls? Practitioner perspectives on the uses and benefits of new technologies

This research surveys public relations practitioners at leading corporations to determine what anticipated benefits drive investments in new communication and information technologies. The dominant symmetrical model in the public relations literature highlights efficiency and relationship‐building benefits, but research here incorporates control benefits of new technologies that are under explored—a voiding media gatekeepers, enhancing stakeholder monitoring and surveillance, and capturing more stakeholder data. Results of a survey with practitioners at 107 of the Fortune 500 companies suggest that efficiency benefits are especially important and that control and relationship‐building benefits are more or less equally important considerations. The research contributes to our understanding of control aspects of new technologies and underscores the need for more critical research into ethical concerns associated with such controls.
Enzymes in the tissues of alloxan-diabetic rats☆

Abstract 1. 1. Data have been presented comparing the activities of anaerobic glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, pyruvate oxidation, succinic dehydrogenase, glutamic dehydrogenase, and aspartic-glutamic transaminase in tissues of normal and alloxan-diabetic rats. 2. 2. Of the above enzyme systems, all except glutamic dehydrogenase were found to be increased significantly in the livers of alloxan-diabetic rats. 3. 3. The succinic dehydrogenase activities of corpora lutea of lactation, brain, and kidney of diabetic rats were normal. Likewise, the activity of aspartic-glutamic transaminase in kidney and heart was unaltered in the diabetic animal. 4. 4. The increases in activity of the various enzymes in the liver of the diabetic rat are discussed with regard to changes in metabolism occurring in diabetes.
Adolescent Conduct Disorder and Interpersonal Callousness as Predictors of Psychopathy in Young Adults

Unfortunately, very little research has examined the link between antisocial personality traits in childhood and adult psychopathy. This study used data from a clinic-referred sample of 177 boys, assessed annually from recruitment (ages 7 to 12) through age 19. Parent and teacher ratings of interpersonal callousness (IC) were tested at predictors of psychopathy ratings at 18 and 19. In regression models, conduct disorder (CD) and teacher-rated IC both predicted both Factor 1 (interpersonal and affective items) and Factor 2 (impulsivity and antisocial behavior items) of the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised, as did child IQ. Prenatal tobacco exposure and cortisol measured in adolescence predicted only Factor 1. When each factor was included in the prediction of the other, CD and IC no longer predicted Factor 1 but remained significant predictors of Factor 2.
Targeted Disruption of TGFBI in Mice Reveals Its Role in Regulating Bone Mass and Bone Size through Periosteal Bone Formation

Transforming growth factor-beta induced (TGFBI) and periostin are two closely related proteins in structure as well as in function. A previous study found that periostin positively regulates bone size. Here, we hypothesize that TGFBI has a similar function in bone development. To test this hypothesis, we employed TGFBI-deficient mice, which were generated by targeted disruption of the TGFBI gene. We bred these mice with C57BL/6J mice to generate homozygous TGFBI-deficient (TGFBI−/−) mice and homozygous wild-type littermates. All mice were raised to 12 weeks of age. Bone mass parameters were determined by PIXImus and micro-CT, bone strength parameters by three-point bending, and bone formation and resorption parameters by histomorphometry. We found that targeted disruption of TGFBI led to reduced body size, bone mass, bone size, and bone strength. This indicates that, like periostin, TGFBI also positively regulates bone size and that changes in bone size affect bone strength. Furthermore, there was also a significant decrease in periosteal, but not endosteal, bone formation rate of cortical bone in TGFBI−/− mice, suggesting that the observed effect of TGFBI on bone mass and bone size was largely caused by the effect of TGFBI on periosteal bone formation.
Analysis of mammalian central nervous system gene expression and function using bacterial artificial chromosome-mediated transgenesis

The anatomical complexity of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) presents special problems for the analysis of CNS gene expression and function. The most difficult challenge is presented by the simple fact that there are hundreds of functionally and morphologically defined cell types in the CNS. Given this complexity, the interpretation of CNS phenotypes is often problematic. The preparation of transgenic mice carrying marked bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) provides an important avenue for improving our understanding of CNS-expressed genes and phenotypes. This approach can allow efficient analysis of patterns of gene expression, subcellular localization of their encoded products and neuronal projection patterns. BAC transgenic mice can also provide access to information relevant to gene function based on phenotypes arising from increased gene dosage or expression of activating and dominant-negative alleles. This review will concentrate on these issues and their relevance to the analysis of CNS-expressed genes.
Polarons with a twist

We consider a polaron model where molecular rotations are important. Here the usual hopping between neighboring sites is affected directly by the electron-phonon interaction via a twist-dependent hopping amplitude. This model may be of relevance for electronic transport in complex molecules and polymers with torsional degrees of freedom, such as DNA, as well as in molecular electronics experiments where molecular twist motion is significant. We use a tight-binding representation and find that very different polaronic properties are already exhibited by a two-site model-these are due to the nonlinearity of the restoring force of the twist excitations, and of the electron-phonon interaction in the model. In the adiabatic regime, where electrons move in a low-frequency field of twisting-phonons, the effective splitting of the energy levels increases with coupling strength. The bandwidth in a long chain shows a power-law suppression with coupling, unlike the typical exponential dependence due to linear phonons.
Expectations for two- and three-jet events at HERA

We calculate cross-sections for two- and three-jet events ine − p collisions at $$\sqrt s $$ =314 GeV. We include contributions from point-like photon interactions, as well as contributions from when the photon is resolved into constituent quarks and gluons. It is shown that measurements of the angular distribution of the dijet system in two-jet events as a function of the dijet mass will assist in the separation of these two components. Aside from being a direct test of QCD photoproduction subprocesses, measurement of these events will yield information on the hadronic structure of the photon.
Zeta functions and Eisenstein series on metaplectic groups

The main objectives of this paper are: (1) to construct an Euler product from a Hecke eigenform of half-integral weight; (2) to prove its meromorphic continuation to the whole plane; (3) to examine its relationship with the Fourier coefficients of the form; and (4) to apply these results to the investigations of Eisenstein series of half-integral weight. The automorphic forms are holomorphic ones, considered on the metaplectic cover M~, of G~,, where G n = Sp(n,F) with a totally real algebraic number field F. The first three are generalizations of the corresponding results in the elliptic and Hilbert modular cases obtained in [$2] and [$6]. At the same time all four closely parallel similar results in the case of integral weight in [$9] and [S10]. To describe our results, let us take for simplicity F to be Q, in which case the weight k is half an odd positive integer. We consider a holomorphic form f of weight k, with respect to a principal congruence subgroup of Sp(n,Z) of level N, which is an eigenform in the sense that f iT(m) = 2 ( m ) f with a complex number 2(m), where N is a multiple of 4 and T(m) is a Hecke operator defined for each positive integer m in a natural way. As our first main result we shall prove (Theorem 4.4) that
Integrating Writing into IT/MIS Courses

As popular literature claims that college graduates are entering the workforce lacking sufficient writing skills, this paper argues that the integration of writing into the MIS/IT curriculum is an important and achievable goal necessary for the overall development of students in Information Technology or Management Information Systems degree programs. While traditional IT/MIS programs rely heavily on technology-based courses, it is argued that these technology courses also must promote effective writing habits needed for career growth in the IT/MIS fields. By providing examples of writing assignments currently used in several programs, this paper illustrates for all educators in an IT or MIS program how writing assignments can be used in most MIS/IT classes. Research papers, journaling, written exams, and micro-themed papers are some of the current methods used to incorporate writing into the IT/MIS curriculum.
Analgesic effects of ethylketocyclazocine and morphine in rat and toad

We have previously found rat and toad (Bufo marinus) brain to contain inverse ratios of benzomorphan-preferring (kappa/sigma) and morphine-preferring (mu) opioid receptor types. The aim of the present study was to compare in vivo pharmacologic activity of a benzomorphan, ethylketocyclazocine (EKC) and morphine sulfate (MS) in rat and toad. Footshock intensity thresholds for eliciting locomotion were determined and dose-response curves for EKC and MS analgesia were obtained. Drugs were injected subcutaneously. In rats (high mu, low kappa in brain), both compounds produced analgesia and displayed similar sensitivity to naloxone antagonism. The analgesic effects of EKC and MS may, therefore, be mediated by a common receptor type (mu) in this pain test in rats. In toads (high kappa, low mu in brain), MS produced naloxone-reversible analgesia at doses 20-fold higher than were effective in rats. Toads did not display EKC analgesia at doses below those producing motor impairment. Moreover, 50-fold higher doses were required to produce such impairment in toads. Thirty minutes following subcutaneous injection of 3H-EKC, similar concentrations were found in rat and toad brain. Uptake into brain is probably not a factor in the behavioral resistance of toads to EKC.
On Recent Interannual Variability of the Arctic Winter Mesosphere: Implications for Tracer Descent

[1] Observations from the Sounding of the Atmosphere with Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) experiment on the NASA/Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) satellite show an unusual vertical displacement of the winter Arctic stratopause in 2006 with zonal mean temperatures at 0.01 hPa (∼78 km) exceeding 250 K. By contrast, at the conventional stratopause location near 0.7 hPa (∼50 km), temperatures were unusually cold. Simulations with the NOGAPS-ALPHA model suggest that these are coupled to an unusually warm and disturbed lower stratosphere that filtered out many of the gravity waves that normally break at and above 50 km. The model also shows that downward transport in the 2006 Arctic vortex was enhanced relative to 2005. These results might explain observations of enhanced upper atmospheric NO descending to the upper stratosphere in 2006 and highlights the importance of gravity waves in modulating the coupling of the upper atmosphere with the stratosphere.
Drug misuse in alcoholics.

Concurrent drag misuse is an increasing trend among alcoholics. It is occurring in an age-dependent manner so that the younger the age, the higher the incidence of concurrent misuse. Drugs concurrently misused by alcoholics, in decreasing order of frequency, are marijuana, cocaine and other sympathomimetics, phencyclidine, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and psychedelics. Because of increasing prevalence of concurrent misuse, evaluation for alcohol detoxification should always include consideration of other drugs. Concurrent alcohol/drug addiction in alcoholics as well as increased incidence in alcoholism in families of drug addicts suggest a common genetic vulnerability to alcoholism and drug addiction.
3-D object matching in the Hough space

An object-model matching approach is presented in this paper that considers the object in the scene being the result of a transformation (rotation and translation) from its model, both of which are represented by the edges and vertices of the surfaces. Features are extracted from range images so that information of edges and vertices are in 3-D space. To determine the rotation, each edge in the model is matched against every edge in the scene with the help of an arbitrarily pre-selected reference vector. Each such match determines a rotation matrix. Then, translation parameters are computed using the vertices of the edges using this rotation matrix. A 3-dimensional Hough space representing the three translation parameters is used for the translations from all possible rotations. The translation at the highest peak in the Hough space and its corresponding rotation are determined as the model-to-object transformation. The experiments indicate that the procedure is accurate and rather efficient.
An architecture for an intelligent driver assistance system

We are building an adaptive driver support system using an agent architecture and machine learning techniques. The goal of the system is to help the drivers have a safer, more enjoyable and more productive driving experiences, by managing their attention and workload. In this paper, we describe the overall architecture of the driver support system and how we apply machine learning techniques to have the system adapt to the driving behavior of each individual driver. The architecture has been partially implemented in a prototype system built upon a high-fidelity driving simulator, allowing us to run experimental tests on the interaction between the system and human users. Once the system demonstrates the desired capabilities, it will be tested in a real car in an actual driving environment.
Carabidae (Ground Beetle) Species Composition of Southern Appalachian Spruce-Fir Forests

Abstract During 2003 and 2004, carabid beetles were collected from the 9 largest spruce-fir sites located in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Thirty-seven species were identified from 1817 individuals of Carabidae caught in these habitats. When adjusted for sample size, carabid beetle diversity was highest at Grandfather Mt., NC and lowest at Mt. Rogers, VA. Results from non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (NMS) ordination analysis indicate that carabid species found in spruce-fir forest cluster independently from those found in deciduous lower-elevation forests. There were no correlations between carabid species diversity and habitat area, isolation, and elevation.
The Circadian Control of Eclosion

Eclosion is the stage in development when the adult insect emerges from the shell of its old cuticle. The sequence of behaviors necessary for eclosion is coordinated by an integrated system of hormones and is activated by hormones that relay developmental readiness. The circadian clock, which controls the timing of behaviors such as the rest : activity rhythm of adult insects, also controls eclosion timing. A number of groups are actively investigating the mechanisms by which the circadian clock restricts or gates eclosion to a particular time of day. Data from these studies are beginning to reveal details of the molecular and physiological basis of the eclosion rhythm.
Impact of local traffic exclusion on near-road air quality: Findings from the New York City “Summer Streets” campaign

We monitored curbside airborne particulate matter (PM) concentrations and its proinflammatory capacity during 3 weekends when vehicle traffic was excluded from Park. Ave., New York City. Fine PM concentration peaked in the morning regardless of traffic while ultrafine PM was 58% lower during mornings without traffic. Ultrafine PM concentration varied linearly with traffic flow, while fine PM spiked sharply in response to random traffic events that were weakly correlated with the traffic signal cycle. Ultrafine PM concentrations decayed exponentially with distance from a cross street with unrestricted traffic flow, reaching background levels within 100 m of the source. IL-6 induction was typically highest on Friday afternoons but showed no clear relationship to the presence of traffic. The coarse fraction (>2.5 μm) had the greatest intrinsic inflammatory capacity, suggesting that coarse PM still warrants attention even as the research focus is shifting to nano-particles.
The lexical restructuring hypothesis and graph theoretic analyses of networks based on random lexicons

Purpose The mental lexicon of words used for spoken word recognition has been modeled as a complex network or graph. Do the characteristics of that graph reflect processes involved in its growth (M...
Lumping matrix diagram representations of Markov models

Continuous-time Markov chains (CTMCs) have been used successfully to model the dependability and performability of many systems. Matrix diagrams (MDs) are known to be a space-efficient, symbolic representation of large CTMCs. In this paper, we identify local conditions for exact and ordinary lumpings that allow us to lump MD representations of Markov models in a compositional manner. We propose a lumping algorithm for CTMCs that are represented as MDs that is based on partition refinement, is applied to each level of an MD directly, and results in an MD representation of the lumped CTMC. Our compositional lumping approach is complementary to other known model-level lumping approaches for matrix diagrams. The approach has been implemented, and we demonstrate its efficiency and benefits by evaluating an example model of a tandem multi-processor system with load balancing and failure and repair operations.
Spatially explicit modeling of mixed-severity fire regimes and landscape dynamics

Abstract Simulation models of disturbance and succession are being increasingly applied to characterize landscape composition and dynamics under natural fire regimes, and to evaluate alternative management strategies for ecological restoration and fire hazard reduction. However, we have a limited understanding of how landscapes respond to changes in fire frequency, and about the sensitivity of model predictions to assumptions about successional pathways and fire behavior. We updated an existing landscape dynamics model (LADS) to simulate the complex interactions between forest dynamics, fire spread, and fire effects in dry forests of the interior Pacific Northwest. Experimental model runs were conducted on a hypothetical landscape at fire rotations ranging from 5 to 50 years. Three sensitivity analyses were carried out to explore the responses of landscape composition to (1) parameters characterizing succession and fire effects on vegetation, (2) the probability of fire spread into different successional stages, and (3) the size and spatial pattern of static fire refugia. The area of old open-canopy forests was highest at the shortest fire rotations, and was particularly sensitive to the probability of stand-replacement fire in open-canopy forests and to the fire-free period required for ingrowth to occur in open-canopy forests. The area of old closed-canopy forests increased with lengthening fire rotation, but always comprised a relatively small portion of the landscape (
Changes in Hope and Power in Lung Cancer Patients who Exercise

Using Rogers' science of unitary human beings, changes in hope and power among 104 lung cancer patients were examined in relation to participation in a preoperative exercise program. Participants were randomly assigned to exercise or no-exercise and a repeated measures ANOVA was employed. The exercise group's power increased while the no-exercise group's power decreased. No differences in hope emerged. Positive correlations between hope and power were observed. Findings suggest that exercise is a form of knowing participation in change and illustrate a relation between one's ability to envision a better future and one's potential to actualize options through choice.
Theory and the Empowerment of Health Education Practitioners

Both the nature of theory and the way it is taught can overpower health education practitioners. As a consequence, myths which maintain theory and practice in separate realms may develop. This paper argues that to remedy this situation, practitioners must be helped to gain greater control of theory. Specific suggestions for accomplishing this goal are offered in a three-part prescription. First, concepts and teaching methods are introduced to dismantle myths about theory and to help practitioners understand its origins, nature, and functions. Second, health educators are encouraged to acknowledge limitations in theories currently guiding their practice. Third, they are shown ways they can exert leadership in developing theory to fill these gaps and build a more adequate knowledge base for confronting contemporary practice problems. Through this exercise of power, health educators will gain control over theory and expand the boundaries of practice, while also enhancing their professional status.
Computer model to visualize change sensitive responses in the Salamander retina

Visualization of the two dimensional dynamic pattern of activity in change sensitive amacrine and ganglion cells of the salamander retina is achieved through simulation of a computational model. The model is constructed from neurophysiological data suggesting that a four neuron circuit is involved in the detection of change and the feedforward of change sensitive inhibition to ganglion cells. Two versions of the model are implemented: one using a Cray computer which allows inclusion of much biological detail, the other using a PIPE image processor, which allows real time simulation with dynamic input images. The models show that the four neuron circuit can account for previously observed movement sensitive reductions in ganglion cell sensitivity and allow visualization and prediction of the spatio-temporal pattern of activity in change sensitive retinal cells.
Random Measures and Applications

Abstract A mapping Z(·) from a δ-ring ℬ0(ℝ) into the vector space of random variables L p (P) is a vector-valued measure if it is σ-additive in the metric of its range. It is a vector measure if the range is a Banach space and a random measure if also its values are independent on disjoint sets. An important reason for this study is to construct integrals relative to such Zs, which typically do not have finite variation. For this, it is essential to find a controlling (σ-finite) measure for Z that is not available if 0 2 is an integer it induces a polymeasure, either of which need not be (signed) measures on product spaces. Important applications lead to all these possibilities. In all those cases, a detailed analysis of vector-valued set functions is presented, with special focus for the cases of 0 <p < 1 and p = 2 where proba...
Offer patterns of nationally placed livers by donation service area

We previously reported that national liver distribution is highly concentrated in 6 US centers, and this raises the possibility of expedited placement. Therefore, we evaluated all national offers of nationally placed livers (n=1625) to adult wait-list candidates from February 2005 to January 2010. We developed a model to predict national utilization pathways; pathways exceeding the best-fit linear unbiased predictions by ≥3 standard errors were defined as preferred. All 51 donation service areas (DSAs) placed 1 or more livers nationally, but the percentage per DSA ranged from 1% to 36%. Of 2830 possible national DSA-center pathways, 87% were used. Five hundred eighty livers (36%) were accepted on the first national offer. Four DSAs accounted for 47% of first-national-offer livers, and 44% of these were accepted by a single center. In comparison with first-offer livers using nonpreferred pathways, first offers along a preferred pathway were offered to fewer status 1 candidates (19% versus 61%) and had lower median model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores (22 versus 36, P<0.001). In conclusion, DSA placement patterns of national livers vary widely, with 4 DSAs exporting a high proportion of national livers on the first national offer to non-status 1 candidates with MELD scores less than their local transplant MELD scores. Although this practice may facilitate liver placement, it raises the possibility of expedience trumping patient need. Here we propose changes to the national liver distribution system that will help to balance equity, efficiency, and transparency.
Recent developments in the qualitative approach to inverse electromagnetic scattering theory

We consider the inverse scattering problem of determining both the shape and some of the physical properties of the scattering object from a knowledge of the (measured) electric and magnetic fields due to the scattering of an incident time-harmonic electromagnetic wave at fixed frequency. We shall discuss the linear sampling method for solving the inverse scattering problem which does not require any a priori knowledge of the geometry and the physical properties of the scatterer. Included in our discussion is the case of partially coated objects and inhomogeneous background. We give references for numerical examples for each problem discussed in this paper.
Smooth compression, Gallager bound and nonlinear sparse-graph codes

A data compression scheme is defined to be smooth if its image (the codeword) depends gracefully on the source (the data). Smoothness is a desirable property in many practical contexts, and widely used source coding schemes lack of it. We introduce a family of smooth source codes based on sparse graph constructions, and prove them to achieve the (information theoretic) optimal compression rate for a dense set of iid sources. As a byproduct, we show how Gallager bound on sparsity can be overcome using non-linear function nodes.
RESONANCES NEAR THRESHOLD AND S-MATRIX THEORY

Abstract Threshold effects on nuclear reaction cross sections are re-examined in the frame of S -matrix theory. The Thomas-Ehrmann shift is rederived. The behaviour of poles of the S -matrix near thresholds, their distribution on the sheets of the Riemann surface and their influence on nuclear cross sections are investigated. The possibility of the occurrence of “threshold states” and of “virtual states’ is discussed. The effect of the large number of thresholds encountered in the investigation of statistical fluctuations of nuclear cross sections on the average width Γ of the compound nucleus is found to be negligible.
The urticarias: pathophysiology and management

#### Key Points Urticaria is a disease characterised by wheals, angioedema or both Patients may have spontaneous or inducible urticaria; sometimes both The mast cell plays a central role in most patterns of urticaria by releasing histamine which, in turn, acts on capillaries and cutaneous nerve
S-Adenosyl Methionine (SAMe) Augmentation of Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors for Antidepressant Nonresponders With Major Depressive Disorder: A Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial

ObjectiveDespite the progressive increase in the number of antidepressants, many patients with major depressive disorder continue to be symptomatic. Clearly, there is an urgent need to develop better tolerated and more effective treatments for this disorder. The use of S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe), a naturally occurring molecule that serves as a methyl donor in human cellular metabolism, as adjunctive treatment for antidepressant nonresponders with major depressive disorder represents one such effort toward novel pharmacotherapy development. MethodParticipants were 73 serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) nonresponders with major depressive disorder enrolled in a 6-week, double-blind, randomized trial of adjunctive oral SAMe (target dose: 800 mg/twice daily). Patients continued to receive their SRI treatment at a stable dose throughout the 6-week trial. The primary outcome measure for the study was the response rates according to the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM–D). ResultsThe HAM–D response...
Design and characterization of semiconductor-doped silica film saturable absorbers

Nonepitaxially grown, rf sputtered semiconductor-doped silica film saturable absorbers have recently been developed as a versatile, easy to fabricate, cost-effective alternative to epitaxially grown semiconductor saturable absorbers. Characterization of their linear and nonlinear optical properties reveals trends that permit the development of guidelines for optimizing these devices for a particular laser system. Operation near the onset of absorption, the use of films with large nanocrystallites, and high rapid thermal annealing temperatures result in saturation fluences as low as 640 μJ/cm2 at 1.54 μm. These materials can be used to start Kerr-lens mode locking in a wide range of solid-state lasers.
Item Response Theory Analysis of the Outpatient Physical Therapy Improvement in Movement Assessment Log (OPTIMAL)

Background The Outpatient Physical Therapy Improvement in Movement Assessment Log (OPTIMAL) instrument was created to assess the perceived ability of patients receiving physical therapy in adult outpatient settings to perform actions or movements. Its properties must be studied to determine whether it accomplishes this goal. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the item properties of OPTIMAL with item response theory. Design This investigation was a retrospective cross-sectional item calibration study. Methods Data were obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association, which collected information from outpatient physical therapy clinics through electronic charting databases that included OPTIMAL responses. Item response theory analyses were performed on the trunk, lower-extremity, and upper-extremity subscales of the Difficulty Scale of OPTIMAL. Results In total, 3,138 patients completed the Difficulty Scale of OPTIMAL at the baseline assessment. The subscale analyses met all item response theory assumptions. The items in each subscale showed fair discrimination. In all analyses, the subscales measured a narrow range of ability levels at the low end of the physical functioning spectrum. Limitations OPTIMAL was originally intended to be administered as a whole. In the present study, each subscale was analyzed separately, indicating how the subscales perform individually but not as a whole. Another limitation is that only the Difficulty Scale of OPTIMAL was analyzed, without consideration of the Confidence Scale. Conclusions OPTIMAL best measures low physical functioning at the baseline assessment in adult outpatient physical therapy settings. The addition of categories to each item and the addition of more challenging items are recommended to allow measurements for a broader range of patients.
Soil nematodes mediate positive interactions between legume plants and rhizobium bacteria

Symbiosis between legume species and rhizobia results in the sequestration of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium, and the early mechanisms involved in this symbiosis have become a model for plant-microbe interactions and thus highly amenable for agricultural applications. The working model for this interaction states that the symbiosis is the outcome of a chemical/molecular dialogue initiated by flavonoids produced by the roots of legumes and released into the soil as exudates, which specifically induce the synthesis of nodulation factors in rhizobia that initiate the nodulation process. Here, we argue that other organisms, such as the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, also mediate the interaction between roots and rhizobia in a positive way, leading to nodulation. We report that C. elegans transfers the rhizobium species Sinorhizobium meliloti to the roots of the legume Medicago truncatula in response to plant-released volatiles that attract the nematode. These findings reveal a biologically-relevant and largely unknown interaction in the rhizosphere that is multitrophic and may control the initiation of the symbiosis.
Combination polyene-caspofungin treatment of rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis.

Rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) is a life-threatening infection that occurs most frequently in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis or in patients who are immunocompromised as a result of neutropenia or immunosuppressive drugs [1, 2]. Unfortunately, despite disfiguring surgical debridement and polyene antifungal therapy, the overall mortality of ROCM remains ≥50%, particularly in the presence of CNS extension. Because of the increasing incidence of mucormycosis [3–5] and the unacceptably high mortality rate associated with it, novel antifungal therapies are urgently needed. Amphotericin B deoxycholate (AmB) and its lipid formulations remain the only antifungal agents approved for the treatment of invasive mucormycosis. Echinocandins have had no activity in in vitro susceptibility assays against the Mucorales [6–8]. Therefore, it has been axiomatic that echinocandins are ineffective in treating mucormycosis. However, traditional susceptibility testing may not reflect the true activity of echinocandins against molds in general and against the agents of mucormycosis in particular [9–11]. We recently reported that Rhizopus oryzae, the most common pathogen causing mucormycosis, expressed the target enzyme for echinocandins (1,3-β-glucan synthase, encoded by the FKS gene); that caspofungin inhibited the enzyme's activity in vitro; and that caspofungin had activity in the diabetic mouse model of disseminated mucormycosis [12]. Furthermore, combination therapy with caspofungin and amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) was synergistic in the same model [13]. On the basis of these data, we recently began treating ROCM with combination polyene-caspofungin therapy. We retrospectively reviewed cases of ROCM to compare outcomes of patients treated with combination therapy with those of patients not treated with combination therapy. In addition, we sought to determine whether outcomes differed by the initial polyene used for treatment.
Positivity, by Barbara Fredrickson

Positivity, by Barbara Fredrickson, New York, Crown Publishers, 2009, 277 pp., US$24.95 (hardcover), ISBN 9780307393739 ‘How can you study positive emotions scientifically? You should have chosen a...
Effect of Mi-1.2 gene in Natal Host Plants on Behavior and Biology of the Tomato Psyllid Bactericerca cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

The Mi-1.2 gene has been isolated from wild varieties of tomato, Solanum peruvianum (Mill), and incorporated into near isogenic commercial varieties of tomato, Solanum lycopersicon. Plants containi...
Recent Progress in Inorganic Vibrational Spectroscopy

During the past decade or so, inorganic vibrational spectroscopy has made great strides with the advent of several new experimental techniques. First, the development of the metal isotope technique provided the means to make unequivocal assignments of vibrations in the low frequency region. It is currently a routine practice to obtain metal isotope data whenever definitive assignments of metal-ligand vibrations are required. Second, the matrix isolation technique became accessible to inorganic chemists as a result of the development and marketing of closed cycle helium cryocoolers. By combining various types of ovens with these cryocoolers, inorganic chemists were able to prepare a large number of unstable coordination compounds and measure their vibrational spectra in the matrix isolated state. Third, the development of gas and dye lasers together with double and triple monochromators revolutionized Raman spectroscopy. Nowadays, measurements of Raman spectra are as routine as that of infrared spectra. Resonance Raman spectroscopy is also playing a significant role in understanding the relationship between resonance-enhanced vibrational modes and the nature of excited electronic states involved. The purpose of this article is to review our contributions in these three areas using typical examples.
Group IVB metallocene poly(ether ester) polymers containing alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid that act as self-matrix materials in MALDI MS

ABSTRACTPolymers derived from reacting Group IVB metallocene dihalides and the matrix alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid act as their own matrix agent when performing MALDI MS. Ion fragments containing two repeat units and greater are formed. The results are similar to those obtained employing graphite as the matrix material. The advantage of employing graphite as a comparative standard is that non-interfering ion fragment clusters are not produced by graphite. This is the second report of the inclusion of alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid into a condensation polymer and the use of the polymer itself as a matrix material indicating that this approach can be successfully applied to other systems. The addition of graphite as a matrix material allows the mass range to increase for the reflective mode.
Mechanisms of drug-induced liver disease

The liver is the main metabolizing organ in the body for drugs and toxins. The liver is therefore exposed to relatively high levels of electrophilic metabolites and free radicals that may induce toxicity. Furthermore, the liver performs many vital functions that may be disrupted by toxic metabolites. Despite the high exposure to reactive metabolites, drug-induced toxicity is relatively uncommon because of the redundancy of the detoxification systems present in the liver.
Systemic air embolism in experimental penetrating lung injuries.

Several reports have described systemic air embolism in association with penetrating lung injuries. We produced lung lacerations in 18 dogs ventilated with air containing charcoal powder. An ultrasonic bubble detector was positioned over the carotid artery in six dogs. Evidence of arterial air embolism was found in every case of pulmonary laceration in open-chest, tension pneumothorax, and hypovolemic preparations. The quantity of air was small, producing only transient arrhythmia. No air was detected under control conditions. We conclude that systemic air embolism is a frequent accompaniment of penetrating lung injuries, that it is rarely recognized clinically because of its generally small quantity and minor, nonspecific effects, but that the potential for dangerous air embolism does exist with lung wounds and warrants precautions in management.
Aminophenyl/Carboxyphenylporphyrins as Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

A series of tetraphenyl meso-substituted porphyrins with either p-amino or p-carboxy substituents has been studied as dyes for standard dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The porphyrins with greater numbers of amino groups generally show greater efficiency, primarily due to higher photocurrents; open-circuit voltage and fill factors are comparable. The most efficient sensitizer was the trans disubstituted zinc porphyrin, with an overall solar energy conversion efficiency of 5.66%, slightly higher than the triamino zinc porphyrin at 5.18%. The improved efficiency is attributed to the well known push–pull effect in porphyrinsensitized DSSCs with electrondonating groups opposite to the electronwithdrawing anchoring (carboxy) groups. It is suggested that porphyrin derivatives with cis diaminophenyl groups show somewhat diminished efficiency due to difficulties with regeneration of the dye from its oxidized form.
Assessment of the Abbreviated National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ 9) in blepharoptosis and dermatochalasis

Purpose: To evaluate the Abbreviated National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ 9), which is shorter than those previously published, as a tool for assessing vision-related quality of life in patients with ptosis and dermatochalasis. Methods: This is a cohort study of 46 patients who underwent blepharoptosis and/or upper eyelid blepharoplasty surgery by a single surgeon (CN) in 2013 in a public, academic, ambulatory care referral center. Patients included 29 who underwent blepharoplasty, 11 who underwent ptosis surgery, and 6 who underwent combined surgery. The NEI-VFQ 9 was administered pre- and postoperatively, and the composite scores were compared using Student's t-test. Survey duration was timed in a subset of patients. The hypothesis was that the NEI VFQ 9 could detect a statistically significant improvement in composite score after surgical intervention. Results: The mean pre- and postoperative NEI VFQ 9 composite scores were 74.9 and 86.8, respectively, in the blepharoplasty-only group (P<0.0001), 72.07 and 86.41, respectively, in the ptosis-only group (P=0.004), and 75.8 and 87.2, respectively, in the combined group (P=0.022). There was no correlation between the gain in composite score and the change in upper eyelid margin to reflex distance. Twenty-five patients were timed filling out the survey, and the mean was 2.3 min. Conclusions: The NEI VFQ 9 consistently demonstrates a significant increase in visual function for blepharoptosis and dermatochalasis patients. Thus, it may be a useful tool for assessing vision-related quality of life in patients with ptosis and dermatochalasis.
Modalities over actions, I. model theory

Abstract This paper analyzes a language for actions and the deontic modalities over actions — i.e., the modalities permitted, forbidden and obligatory . The work is based on: (1) an action language that allows the representation of concurrent and repetitive events; (2) a deontic language that allows the representation of “free choice permissions”; (3) a proof procedure that admits a logic programming style of computation; and (4) a facility for nonmonotonic inference based on negation-as-failure. Applications of the language to several problems of common sense reasoning are also discussed. In particular, by imposing a “causal assumption” on the deontic modalities, we obtain an interesting solution to the frame problem and the ramification problem. This first part of the paper includes a model theory, and a sequel will include a proof theory, with soundness and completeness results for various fragments of the language.
Monuments of Ruination in Postwar Berlin and Warsaw: The Architectural Projects of Bohdan Lachert and Daniel Libeskind

This essay provides an interpretation of parallel attempts to represent ruination in the cities of Warsaw and Berlin after the Holocaust—the architectural projects of Bohdan Lachert and Daniel Libeskind. Lachert strove to represent the ruination of Jewish life in Warsaw through a modernist housing project, whereas Libeskind sought to represent Jewish ruination in a museum. While these two projects might seem different, they come together around a shared aspiration: to represent absence and ruination. Both projects endeavored to create a new kind of memorial that moved away from the conventional form. Rather than turning away from ruination and suffering as the conventional monument has done, Libeskind and Lachert sought to develop a new, non-salvific kind of monument that would reflect on death, suffering, and emptiness. This essay emphasizes the novelty of their attempts to create a different relationship to the absence that is the past, while it also explores some of the central challenges—both historical and theoretical—that both architects faced in implementing their artistic visions.
The structure, properties and performance of plasma-sprayed beryllium for fusion applications

Plasma-spray technology is under investigation as a method for producing high thermal conductivity beryllium coatings for use in magnetic fusion applications. Recent investigations have focused on optimizing the plasmaspray process for depositing beryllium coatings on damaged beryllium surfaces. Of particular interest has been optimizing the processing parameters to maximize the through-thickness thermal conductivity of the beryllium coatings. Experimental results will be reported on the use of secondary H2 gas additions to improve the melting of the beryllium powder and negative transferred-arc cleaning to improve the bonding between the beryllium coatings and the underlying surface. Information will also be presented on thermal cycle tests which were done on beryllium coated ISX-B beryllium limiter tiles using 10s cycle times with 60s cooldowns using a heat flux slightly in excess of 5 MW/m2.