cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hard-fought “pearls of wisdom” (?) from a senior structural acoustician

Throughout the course of a relatively long career in science and engineering, including advanced degrees, teaching, and a host of other external technical activities, there are numerous lessons learned and perspectives gained that are frequently much more important than specific technical advice. Oftentimes, the most important and critical teachings to be passed on to fellow present and future researchers are not narrowly-focused but wide-ranging and generally applicable. The most essential of these “pearls of wisdom” are learned occasionally out of successes yet more often out of apparent failures and frustrations. Almost invariably, the most valuable information is wide-ranging and universal and independent of any particular scientific discipline or field. This paper presents numerous technical and life-/career-related lessons that are hopefully of value and interest to current and upcoming scientists, engineers, and students. In addition, time permitting, a particular specific technical case study is presented.
LATE HOLOCENE VALLEY-BOTTOM AGGRADATION AND EROSION IN THE SOUTH LOUP RIVER VALLEY, NEBRASKA

Radiocarbon ages of humates, bone collagen, and wood cellulose are used to construct a chronology of valley-bottom aggradation and erosion in the South Loup River Valley in central Nebraska for the past 4800 years. Three episodes of floodplain aggradation are evident from alluvial stratigraphy and radiocarbon ages at four localities. The first episode of aggradation occurred from before 3500 yr B.P. until at least 3000 yr B.P., following deep incision of the valley. The second interval of slow aggradation on the floodplain and soil formation on terraces occurred between 1800 and 1050 yr B.P. A third, rapid episode of valley-bottom aggradation occurred sometime after 1050 yr B.P. Episodes of floodplain erosion during high-magnitude floods occurred before, between, and after these intervals of aggradation. Published radiocarbon ages of peat beds, organic-rich alluvial strata, and buried soils in the North and Middle Loup River Basins reveal that the intervals of aggradation that are documented in the South ...
Mergers and Acquisitions, Strategic Alliances, and their Impact on Human Resource Management

The global proliferation of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), along with strategic alliances (SA), among all firm types and sizes has placed great demands on strategic human resources management (SHRM) to formulate and to execute new initiatives to learn, build, and reinforce new sources of competitive advantage. M&A and SA enable organizations to gain access to new markets, product lines, technologies, and geographies. However, they differ along some vital dimensions, especially relating to the degree and nature of control over how distinctive resources are cultivated and utilized. M&A places great demands on SHRM to harmonize the often disparate national and organizational cultures of the newly combined entity. However, the transitional nature of SA, in particular, can potentially generate significant sources of tension among partners as they seek to learn from one another and compete simultaneously. Thus, SHRM needs to recognize this duality of cooperation and competition in SA and design processes that enhance organizational learning while limiting excessive dependence on the partner. Keywords: mergers and acquisitions; strategic alliances; organizational culture; national culture; synergy; normative integration; “co-opetition”; gatekeepers; race to learn
Defence mechanisms of arthropods—VII: Citronellal and citral in the mandibular gland secretion of the ant Acanthomyops claviger (Roger)

Abstract The mandibular glands of workers of the formicine ant Acanthomyops claviger (Roger) secrete a mixture of citronellal and citral (both stereoisomers) in the approximate ratio of 9:1. Additional minor components may also be present.
Campylobacter and Arcobacter

Campylobacteraceae is composed of three main genera, Campylobacter, Sulfurospirillum, and Arcobacter, and is represented currently by 43 described or proposed species. Unlike Campylobacter spp., that are associated with warm-blooded avian and mammalian hosts, members of the Sulfurospirillum and Arcobacter genera are non-host-associated, free-living, environmental organisms. Arcobacter spp. can grow aerobically, unlike campylobacters, which are restricted to microaerobic and/or anaerobic environments. The organisms whose genomes have been or are being sequenced are (i) host-associated or free-living; (ii) nonpathogenic, human commensals, or human pathogens (oral or gastrointestinal); or (iii) food or environmental isolates. Analysis of these genomes alongside comparative genomics will provide clues pertaining to the genetic nature of pathogenicity, host association, environmental adaptation, and evolution. The chapter addresses the topics related to the Campylobacter and Arcobacter genomes. The coding sequences (CDSs) with assigned function are fairly consistent across the sequenced Campylobacteraceae genomes, with an assigned function/total CDSs average of 45%. It is possible that many Campylobacter species are composed of multiple host-associated phylogenetic clusters. Comparative genomics of the Campylobacter and Arcobacter genomes has not identified any pathogenicity islands containing toxin-encoding genes or other virulence determinants. Campylobacter and Arcobacter species provide fertile ground for comparative genomics. Therefore, comparative genomics of Campylobacter and Arcobacter should provide insights into pathogenicity, host adaptation and specificity, evolution, and environmental adaptation and survival. The degree of variation within Campylobacter and Arcobacter is an important consideration.
The impact of case specificity and generalisable skills on clinical performance: a correlated traits-correlated methods approach.

Context The finding of case or content specificity in medical problem solving moved the focus of research away from generalisable skills towards the importance of content knowledge. However, controversy about the content dependency of clinical performance and the generalisability of skills remains. Objectives This study aimed to explore the relative impact of both perspectives (case specificity and generalisable skills) on different components (history taking, physical examination, communication) of clinical performance within and across cases. Methods Data from a clinical performance examination (CPX) taken by 350 Year 3 students were used in a correlated traits−correlated methods (CTCM) approach using confirmatory factor analysis, whereby ‘traits’ refers to generalisable skills and ‘methods’ to individual cases. The baseline CTCM model was analysed and compared with four nested models using structural equation modelling techniques. The CPX consisted of three skills components and five cases. Results Comparison of the four different models with the least-restricted baseline CTCM model revealed that a model with uncorrelated generalisable skills factors and correlated case-specific knowledge factors represented the data best. The generalisable processes found in history taking, physical examination and communication were responsible for half the explained variance, in comparison with the variance related to case specificity. Conclusions Pure knowledge-based and pure skill-based perspectives on clinical performance both seem too one-dimensional and new evidence supports the idea that a substantial amount of variance contributes to both aspects of performance. It could be concluded that generalisable skills and specialised knowledge go hand in hand: both are essential aspects of clinical performance.
Clinical Evaluation of a Modified "Oxford T4-by-Column" Method for Serum Thyroxine

Three commercially available kits for determining serum thyroxine (T4) by column were evaluated. Results with all were less than satisfactory, but a series of changes in the Oxford method resulted in increased reproducibility, substantially improved recovery, and extended linearity of the standard curve. Results compared well with the thyrometabolic status of patients and normal individuals. The 95% confidence limits for 219 "normal" hospital employees were 2.9-6.2 µg/100 ml. The suggested normal range for 241 clinically euthyroid patients is 2.5-6.0 µg/100 ml. The coefficient of correlation between results of the proposed method and of the PBI method was 0.30; for the T4 by the Murphy—Pattee method it was 0.75.
The role of Src family kinases in growth and migration of glioma stem cells

Src family kinases (SFKs) are highly expressed and active in clinical glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) specimens. SFKs inhibitors have been demonstrated to inhibit proliferation and migration of glioma cells. However, the role of SFKs in glioma stem cells (GSCs), which are important for treatment resistance and recurrence, has not been reported. Here, we examined the expression pattern of individual members of SFKs and their functional role in CD133⁺ GSCs in comparison to primary glioma cells. We found that Fyn, c-Src and Yes were robustly expressed in GSCs while Lck was absent. Knockdown of c-Src, Yes or treatment with the SFK inhibitor dasatinib inhibited the migration of GSCs, but had no impact on their growth or self-renewal. These results suggest that SFKs represent an effective target for GSC migration but not for their growth.
Effects of fluorocarbons with and without oxygen supplementation on cardiac hemodynamics and energetics

Because of uncertainty about the mechanism by which fluorocarbons ameliorate myocardial ischemia, the effects of a fluorocarbon emulsion, perfluorodecalin and perfluorotripropylamine (Fluosol-DA 20% ™ ) with and without 100% O 2 inhalation, on cardiac hemodynamics and energetics were studied in the anesthetized dog. Left ventricular (LV) intramural partial pressure of oxygen (P m O 2 ) was measured by mass spectrometry before and after intravenous infusion of Fluosol-DA 20% (40 ml/kg), and was compared with measurements made in another group of dogs receiving the volume expander dextran (36 ml/kg). Both groups of dogs were then ventilated with 100% O 2 and repeat measurements were performed. In the 11 animals receiving fluorocarbons, there were increases in left atrial pressure, LV myocardial blood flow, and LV myocardial O 2 consumption (MVO 2 ) compatible with volume expansion. After 100% O 2 , LV MVO 2 decreased to control values, while P m O 2 increased to 127 ± 48 mm Hg (p 2 inhalation. LV MVO 2 increased with volume expansion, and remained increased after 100% O 2 . P m O 2 (66 ± 18 mm Hg) after 100% O 2 was lower (p 2 inhalation. Thus, the acute hemodynamic effects of Fluosol-DA 20% are similar to those of a volume expander alone, but elevated left atrial pressure and LV MVO 2 tend to be shorter lived than in dogs treated with dextran. After 100% O 2 , LV MVO 2 remained elevated in the dogs treated with dextran, but not in the fluorocarbon group. The extraordinarily high P m O 2 attained in dogs treated with fluorocarbon-O 2 is greater than that produced by volume expansion alone, and is not due to a measurable decrease in LV myocardial O 2 demand. Thus, any beneficial effect of this fluorocarbon preparation on myocardial ischemia is likely due to enhanced O 2 delivery rather than to reduced O 2 demand.
Victorian Feeling and the Victorian Novel

This article examines the recent explosion of interest in the emotions in the context of the Victorian novel. It focuses specifically on work published since the “theoretical turn” of the 1970s, describing how recent feminist critics have expanded the range of texts we examine and questioned the value we grant or refuse to sentimental literature, how Foucauldian critics have called attention to the historicity of the emotions, and how post-Althusserian critics have redefined literature as an Ideological State Apparatus. The result has been a renewed interest in – as well as a new skepticism about – emotional responses to literary texts.
Field Coil Insulation Testing for Pulse Power Alternators

Current pulse power alternator designs operate at high speeds and high current densities. The field coil insulation systems for pulse power alternators must provide sufficient stand-off voltage while limiting the amount of thermal resistance for actively cooled designs, and also withstand the strain excursions experienced at full operating speed. Repetitive cycling of the strain excursion overtime may induce cracks in the surrounding field coil matrix. The primary insulation surrounding the field coil conductors must be able to stop crack propagation that may develop in the surrounding matrix material and provide voltage hold-off. Thermally conductive thermoplastics are currently being investigated for the field coil matrix materials where decreased thermal resistance is necessary for actively cooled field coil designs. In order to evaluate conductor insulation and thermoplastic matrix filler quickly, small coupon motorettes were developed per previous designs. The motorettes simulate the hoop strain the conductors would experience due to rotor growth at high rotational speeds. Once the motorettes had been mechanically loaded, the coupon was hi-potted to verify insulation integrity under strain. This paper will discuss the design and testing of these motorettes to evaluate thermally conductive thermoplastics as filler material for the field coil matrix
Examination of the interpersonal predictors of mentoring relational quality

Purpose – A continued focus in organizational research has been on career development, and mentoring has been identified as a key determinant of career success. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the interpersonal dynamics which contribute to variations in the effectiveness of mentoring support behaviors. Specifically, the effects of mentoring relational quality (MRQ) (i.e. affective perceptions held by mentors and proteges) on mentoring behaviors (i.e. vocational and psychosocial) as well as professional identification are considered. Interpersonal skills (e.g. behavioral integrity and political skill) of mentors and proteges are examined for their impact on MRQ. Design/methodology/approach – Utilizing matched dyadic survey data from 100 mentor-protege pairs in academe (i.e. dissertation chairs and doctoral candidates or recent doctoral alumni), partial least squares was used to test the research model. Findings – Results support MRQ as an integral component in mentoring dynamics. MRQ for mentors a...
Binding of polynucleotides to fibroblasts Effects of complex formation with vinyl analogs of nucleic acids

The binding of polynucleotides or of their vinyl analogs to human fibroblasts is changed when complexes are formed between these compounds. The following polymers have been studied: poly(1-vinylcytosine), poly(1-vinyluracil, poly(9-vinyladenine), polyuridylate, polyadenylate and polyinosinate. Only that complex formation (between poly(1-vinylcytosine) and polyinosinate) which is accompanied by aggregation leads to a considerable increase (30 fold) in binding to cells; all the other complex formations have only moderate effects (0.2-3 fold). Furthermore, a comparison of unordered complexes containing polyinosinate whows that enhanced binding to cells is paralleled by an increased cellular resistance to viral infection.
Priority Management of Emergency Vehicles at Intersections Using Self-Organized Traffic Control

Biologically inspired approaches have the potential to solve many of the difficult networking problems awaiting practical solutions. The recently proposed Virtual Traffic Lights (VTL) is one example (or instance) of this powerful approach for solving some fundamental transportation problems[1], [2]. The successful operation of VTL scheme ultimately depends on the local rules used by vehicles approaching an intersection for electing a leader that manages the traffic at that intersection by serving as a virtual traffic light. In this paper, it is shown that by using a different set of local rules at intersections, one can support priority management of emergency vehicles in a self-organized manner. The proposed VTL-Priority Intersection Control (VTL-PIC) protocol can detect the presence of an emergency vehicle and assign priority to the emergency vehicle at an intersection. Large-scale simulation results show that while the travel time of emergency vehicles can be reduced significantly, the impact of the proposed algorithm on the travel time of other vehicles is negligible.
Mapping land cover in urban residential landscapes using very high spatial resolution aerial photographs

Abstract Accurate information on existing residential landscapes is essential for framing ordinances and monitoring residential water use in the Urban Greenspace Ecosystem. We classified residential landscapes of New Mexico's largest city, Albuquerque, to explore the spatial distribution of residential greenspace and its composition among zip codes and median incomes. Geographic Information System (GIS) vector files including parcels, city limits, zip codes and land-use maps, were integrated with ownership information. The database was stratified by Albuquerque's 16 zip codes. Four hundred eighty residential landscapes were selected randomly for study. Very high spatial resolution (0.15 m) 2008 true color aerial photographs and the object-oriented supervised classification module in ENVI EX were used to identify residential features. Spatial and textural variables, created by image segmentation, were classified using the K -Nearest Neighbor ( K -NN) algorithm embedded in ENVI EX. Classification accuracy was 89%. Larger greenspace, tree, shrub, and grass areas were in larger parcels. Landscapes in lower income groups and older zip codes include larger greenspace and tree cover because of mature tree sizes, while grass dominated landscapes of higher income groups and newer zip codes. This knowledge of residential vegetation distribution could serve as a basis for policy makers, planners, and water conservation officers wishing to enact ordinances and regulations that govern the urban residential landscape.
Identification of a human serum albumin species associated with familial dysalbuminemic hyperthyroxinemia

Familial dysalbuminemic hyperthyroxinemia (FDH) is a form of euthyroid hyperthyroxinemia that is due to an increased affinity of serum albumin for T4. Unlike the many physiologically neutral alloalbumins that have been identified by serum electrophoresis, FDH variants have not been reproducibly resolved. In the present study, isoelectric focusing in the presence of the denaturants urea and Nonidet P-40, without reduction, produced two bands in the sera of unrelated FDH subjects in place of each of the major albumin bands in the sera of normal subjects. One band of each FDH pair migrated with the normal band; the second migrated at a slightly lower pI. The identity of the new bands as albumin was confirmed by N-terminal sequencing. The two bands of each pair were present in approximately equal amounts, consistent with the autosomal dominant nature of the condition, the expectation that FDH individuals would be heterozygous for normal albumin (Alb-A), and evidence that high and normal affinity T4-binding si...
Intracellular trehalose improves the survival of cryopreserved mammalian cells

We report that the introduction of low concentrations of intracellular trehalose can greatly improve the survival of mammalian cells during cryopreservation. Using a genetically engineered mutant of Staphylococcus aureus α-hemolysin to create pores in the cellular membrane, we were able to load trehalose into cells. Low concentrations (0.2 M) of trehalose permitted long-term post-thaw survival of more than 80% of 3T3 fibroblasts and 70% of human keratinocytes. These results indicate that simplified and widely applicable freezing protocols may be possible using sugars as intracellular cryoprotective additives.
Blind identification of damage in time-varying systems using independent component analysis with wavelet transform

Abstract This paper proposes a novel output-only damage identification method based on the unsupervised blind source separation (BSS) technique termed independent component analysis (ICA). It is discovered that ICA biases to extract sparse component, which typically indicates damage, from the observed mixture signals. The measured structural responses are first preprocessed by wavelet transform (WT). The wavelet-domain signals are then fed as mixtures into the BSS model, which is solved by ICA. The obtained “interesting” source with sharp spike and its associated spatial signature in the recovered mixing matrix reveal damage instant and location respectively. Following which, identification of the time-varying modes is carried out by ICA using the structural responses before and after the identified damage instant. For illustration, numerical simulations are conducted, where damage is modeled by abrupt stiffness variation in the time-varying system. Experimental and real-world seismic-excited structure examples with time-varying stiffness are also presented to illustrate the capability of the developed WT–ICA method. Results show that the WT–ICA algorithm realizes accurate and robust blind identification of damage instant and location in single or multiple damage events.
Preperfectness is undecidable for Thue systems containing only length-reducing rules and a single commutation rule

Abstract It is known that it is undecidable in general whether or not a finite Thue system is preperfect. Here we show that this problem remains undecidable even if the Thue systems under consideration contain only length-reducing rules plus a single length-preserving rule, which is a commutation rule of the form ( ab, ba ), where a and b are distinct letters. In particular, this implies that it is undecidable in general whether or not a finite Thue system is confluent modulo a partial commutativity relation.
Improvement in quality of life measures after laparoscopic antireflux surgery.

ObjectiveTo determine if patients with gastroesophageal reflux "well controlled medically" had a different quality of life from those with residual symptoms receiving aggressive medical therapy, and to determine whether laparoscopic antireflux surgery significantly altered quality of life in patient
Thermal reliability of the metal/polyetherimide bond

Recent advances in the pretreatment of polyetherimide surfaces have enabled the deposition of adherent metal coatings. The bond between the metal and plastic has been found to be predominantly chemical in nature. The thermal reliability of the metal/polymer bond was evaluated in accelerated aging tests. The metal/polyetherimide bond was found to be insensitive to prolonged contact (200 h) to 65°C and 100% relative humidity (RH) environments or 85°C and dry or 85% RH conditions. Thermal and humidity cycling (IBM 4.4.16) had no effect on either the metal/ polymer bond strength or the surface resistivity of the metal coating. Exposing metallized specimens to extreme and rapid thermal changes, +150°C to -196°C and less than 15 s transfer time between temperatures, further revealed the durability of the bond. Exposure to simulated soldering conditions representing multiple dwells at temperatures between 232 and 288°C and times of 5 or 10 s had no effect on adhesion. The importance of a prebake prior to solderi...
Linkage-Disequilibrium-Based Binning Misleads the Interpretation of Genome-wide Association Studies

To the Editor: In their report, Christoforou et al.1 demonstrate the effect that linkage-disequilibrium (LD)-based binning has on the interpretation of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and conclude that “ignoring LD can result in the misinterpretation of the GWAS findings and have an impact on subsequent genetic and functional studies.” Although this conclusion is true and trivial, we argue that their proposed LD-based binning approach uses the LD information incorrectly and will lead to increased type 1 error (resulting in the misinterpretation of GWAS findings) and will hence have a negative impact on subsequent genetic and functional studies. The LD-based binning approach assigns SNPs to genes or bins by using pairwise LD data calculated from reference data, such as that from the 1000 Genomes Project or HapMap or other user-provided data. It can assign a SNP to more than one gene. After the bins have been defined, standard gene-based approaches, such as taking the minimum SNP p value in a bin after the application of a modified Sidak’s correction,2 are used. Thus, the essence of this method is to include as “hits” not only those genes in (or around) which extreme p values for SNPs are found but also those genes that include SNPs found to be in significant LD with them. This approach will result in increased correlations among genes because a SNP’s p value can be repeatedly represented in different genes.
Tester-rated temperament at 14, 20 and 24 months: Environmental change and genetic continuity

The present paper examines genetic and environmental sources of continuity and change in temperament in a sample of 301 twin pairs participating in the MacArthur Longitudinal Twin Study. At 14, 20 and 24 months of age, temperament was assessed independently for each twin using tester ratings on the Infant Behavior Record (IBR; Bayley, 1969). Cross-age correlations for the three IBR factors (Activity, Task Orientation and Affect-Extraversion) were moderately low, suggesting that temperament in the second year of life is marked by change rather than continuity. At each age there was significant genetic influence on each temperament dimension. Moreover, the magnitude of heritability was similar across age, suggesting that heritability does not change dramatically from 14 to 24 months of age. The results of model-fitting analyses of continuity and change were similar for each IBR factor: no new genetic effects emerged at 20 or 24 months; shared environmental influences were non-significant at all ages; and there were substantial non-shared environmental influences unique to each age. Thus, change, which predominates over continuity in tester-rated temperament during the second year of life, can be attributed to environmental factors. Continuity appears to be due to genetic factors.
Edysone receptor isoforms play distinct roles in controlling molting and metamorphosis in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

Ecdysteroids regulate insect growth and development through a heterodimeric complex of nuclear receptors consisting of ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (USP). In the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, two isoforms each of EcR and USP have been identified. Quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed isoform-specific developmental expression of both EcR and USP in the epidermis and the midgut dissected from the final instar larvae and pupae. Injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) prepared using the common or isoform-specific regions of EcR or USP as templates caused derailment of development. EcR common region (EcRC) or EcRA dsRNA caused more severe effects, and most of the treated larvae died prior to pupation. EcRB dsRNA caused less severe effects and most of the treated larvae became pupae but showed developmental defects. Only dsRNA prepared against USP common region but not against USPA or USPB isoform-specific region caused developmental defects during larval-pupal metamorphosis. Determination of mRNA levels of EcR isoforms and 20-hydroxyecdysone-response (20E) genes (broad, E75, E74, HR3 and FTZ-F1) by qRT-PCR in the larvae injected with EcRA, EcRB or EcRC dsRNA showed that EcRA initiates ecdysteroid action by regulation the expression of EcRB and 20E-response genes. These data suggest that the EcR but not USP isoforms play distinct roles during the larval-pupal metamorphosis and EcRA plays a dominant role in transduction of ecdysteroid response in T. castaneum.
Atomic many-body effects in the 4f XPS of the U5+ and U4+ cations: part II: consequences of orbital relaxation

Ab initio, fully relativistic four component theory was used to determine atomic many-body effects for the 4f X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) of U5+ and U4+ cations. Many-body effects were included through the use of configuration interaction (CI) wavefunctions, WF‘s, that allow the mixing of XPS allowed and XPS forbidden configurations. This work extends our earlier study of the U 4f XPS in that the orbitals for the final, ionic states of the cations are allowed to relax in the presence of the 4f core-hole. In the earlier work, orbitals optimized for the initial state were frozen and also used for the final, ionic states. While the main XPS features are similar in both cases, using relaxed orbitals for the ionic states introduces changes in the multiplet splitting and in the 4f5/2 and 4f7/2 spin–orbit splitting. The extent of configuration mixing for the U5+ and U4+ final state WF’s is characterized by the magnitude of the intensity lost by the main peaks to satellites. Overall, the use of relaxed orbitals improves the agreement between the theoretical XPS for the U4+ cation and the experimental measurements for UO2.
Theoretical Investigation of Phase Stability in Non-Magnetic Fe-V Substitutional Alloys

The assessed phase diagram of Fe-V exhibits a continuous high temperature bcc solid solution intersected at lower temperatures by a complex sigma phase centered around equiatomic composition [1]. Slow kinetics of the bcc to sigma transformation make it possible to retain the bcc solid solution at low temperature. It has been observed that this metastable solid solution has a tendency to order with a CsCl type structure (B2) below 970 K [1,2]. As a first attempt to describe this behavior from an electronic structure approach, this paper will study the phase stability on the bcc lattice using a realistic tight-binding Hamiltonian. Details of the tight-binding description have been given elsewhere [3]. Main features are as follows: Element and structure specific Slater-Koster parameters are used [4] and lattice parameter effects are incorporated through scaling [5]. Charge transfer is set to zero by rigidly shifting the onsite energies of one constituent. The Coherent Potential Approximation (CPA) is invoked with four levels corresponding to states with s, p, t 2g and e g like symmetry. Effects of off-diagonal disorder (ODD) have not been included, instead, an average alloy Hamiltonian was defined using the Slater-Koster parameters of the components weighted by concentration. At equiatomic composition the effect of this approximation has been evaluated by repeating the electronic structure calculation with inclusion of ODD effects (see also [6]). Effective pair interactions, as defined within the Generalized Perturbation Method (GPM) [7], have been computed and have been used to evaluate the ground states of configurational order on the bcc lattice in the Fe-V system. Furthermore, the theoretically derived energetic properties have been used to determine the phase diagram pertaining to the (metastable) bcc lattice with the Cluster Variation Method (CVM) [8] in the tetrahedron approximation
The timing of the sperm effect on female Drosophila melanogaster receptivity

Abstract The long term inhibition of re-mating in female Drosophila melanogaster has been termed the sperm effect, because it is associated with sperm stored in the female's ventral receptacle. Previous studies have shown that the sperm effect leads to a nearly complete loss of female receptivity within 1–2 days of mating. However, short term effects, associated with the act of copulation itself, usually inhibit female remating for at least one day, obscuring the initial onset and kinetics of the sperm effect. Using females whose receptivity was not completely inhibited by short term effects, the re-mating frequencies after initial matings to XO (sterile) or to XY (fertile) males were compared to estimate when the sperm effect first begins to inhibit re-mating, and over what time interval the effect is complete. The results indicate that the sperm effect is first evident about 8–10 h after mating. The inhibitory effect of stored sperm gradually increases over the next few hours, and XY-mated females become completely unreceptive by about 12 h after mating. Short and long term effects may overlap by several hours, and thus are not mutually exclusive. However, short term effects diminish as sperm effects gradually lead to a virtually complete loss of receptivity.
Occult leptomeningeal NHL: go with the flow?

Comment on Hegde et al, page [496][1] Patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) are at risk for leptomeningeal disease. Hegde and colleagues shed light on who is at risk and how we detect occult disease. Leptomeningeal disease from aggressive lymphoma is most often a fatal complication
Persistent estrus rat models of polycystic ovary disease: an update.

Objective To critically review published articles on polycystic ovary (PCO) disease in rat models, with a focus on delineating its pathophysiology. Design Review of the English-language literature published from 1966 to March 2005 was performed through PubMed search. Keywords or phrases used were persistent estrus, chronic anovulation, polycystic ovary, polycystic ovary disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Articles were also located via bibliographies of published literature. Setting University Health Sciences Center. Intervention(s) Articles on persistent estrus and PCO in rats were selected and reviewed regarding the methods for induction of PCO disease. Main Outcome Measure(s) Changes in the reproductive cycle, ovarian morphology, hormonal parameters, and factors associated with the development of PCO disease in rat models were analyzed. Result(s) Principal methods for inducing PCO in the rat include exposure to constant light, anterior hypothalamic and amygdaloidal lesions, and the use of androgens, estrogens, antiprogestin, and mifepristone. Conclusion(s) The validated rat PCO models provide useful information on morphologic and hormonal disturbances in the pathogenesis of chronic anovulation in this condition. These studies have aimed to replicate the morphologic and hormonal characteristics observed in the human PCO syndrome. The implications of these studies to human condition are discussed.
Visualization of single neurofilaments by immunofluorescence microscopy of splayed axonal cytoskeletons

Treatment of cultured neurons with non-ionic detergents under certain conditions causes the axonal microtubules to splay apart from each other, allowing individual microtubules to be visualized by immunofluorescence microscopy [Brown et al., 1993, J. Cell Sci. 104: 339-352]. I have investigated whether axonal neurofilaments separate from each other under similar conditions. Cultures of dissociated dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons from fetal rats were treated with non-ionic detergent and fixed with formaldehyde. Neurofilaments were visualized by immunofluorescence microscopy using a polyclonal antiserum specific for NF-L. Treatment of the neurons with Triton X-100 or saponin caused filamentous structures to splay apart from each other along the entire length of the axon. Quantitative analysis of fluorescence intensity along the filamentous structures indicated that many of them represent single neurofilaments and that single and bundled neurofilaments can be distinguished based on their fluorescence intensity. The extent of this splaying phenomenon was dependent on time and detergent concentration. Temporal analysis indicated that short portions of single neurofilaments initially loop out from the axonal bundle and then subsequently splay apart further along their length and adhere to the polylysine/laminin coated substrate. The maximum observed length for a single axonal neurofilament was 183 microm in neurons after only 1 day in culture, which indicates that neurofilaments can attain remarkable lengths in these young cultured neurons. The splayed axonal cytoskeleton preparation described here allows individual axonal neurofilaments to be visualized by immunofluorescence microscopy, which is not possible in conventional preparations due to the dense packing of these polymers in axons.
Reply To: Managing Channel Profits: Comment

We welcome Moorthy's Comment Moorthy, K. S. 1987. Managing channel profits: Comment. Marketing Sci.6 Fall 375--379.. It provides an opportunity to clarify several issues raised in our 1983 paper. That paper was motivated by one concern---channel coordination. We believed that channel members benefit from coordination and that many institutional arrangements, such as quantity discounts, are actually coordinating mechanisms. We developed a simple model to demonstrate our belief. For historical accuracy, McGuire and Staelin cited by Moorthy had already independently developed a useful model of duopolistic channel competition. Being unaware of their working paper, our model not surprisingly differed from theirs. Both papers provide important but different insights into channel management.
Resistance Exercise for Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract The initiation, progression, and severity of knee osteoarthritis (OA) have been associated with decreased muscular strength and alterations in joint biomechanics. Chronic OA pain may lead to anxiety, depression, fear of movement, and poor psychological outlook. The fear of movement may prevent participation in exercise and social events, which could lead to further physical and social isolation. Resistance exercise (RX) has been shown to be an effective intervention both for decreasing pain and improving physical function and self-efficacy. RX may restore muscle strength and joint mechanics while improving physical function. RX also may normalize muscle firing patterns and joint biomechanics, leading to reductions in joint pain and cartilage degradation. These physical adaptations could lead to improved self-efficacy and decreased anxiety and depression. RX can be prescribed and performed by patients across the spectrum of OA severity. When designing and implementing an RX program for a patient with knee OA, one should consider both the degree of OA severity and the level of pain. RX, either in the home or at a fitness facility, is an important component of a comprehensive regimen designed to offset the physical and psychological limitations associated with knee OA. Unique considerations for this population include (1) monitoring pain during and after exercise, (2) providing days of rest when disease flares occur, and (3) infusing variety into the exercise regimen to encourage adherence.
Adaptation to objects in the lateral occipital complex (LOC): Shape or semantics?

A change in the basic-level class when viewing a sequence of two objects produces a large release from adaptation in LOC compared to when the images are identical. Is this due to a change in semantics or shape? In an fMRI-adaptation experiment, subjects viewed a sequence of two objects and judged whether the stimuli were identical in shape. Different-shaped stimuli could be from the same or different basic-level classes, where the physical similarities of the pairs in the two conditions were equated by a model of simple cell similarity. BOLD responses in LOC for the two conditions were equivalent, and higher than that of the identical condition, indicating that LOC is sensitive to shape rather than to basic-level semantics.
Food safety challenges associated with traditional foods in Arabic speaking countries of the Middle East

The Middle East has several traditional food safety practices issues. Serious foodborne outbreaks reported in recent years caused by foods are emerging health threats. The focus of this article is to review some of the major challenges for controlling foodborne outbreaks, traditional food products and food safety practices in the region. Challenges and issues about homemade, restaurant and street food, public health infrastructures and new technologies and rules have also been discussed. Recommendations for appropriate food safety practices such as application of new techniques and management systems to improve traditional food safety are presented.
Ovarian histopathology in breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen.

Abstract Objective. The purpose of this study was to examine ovarian histopathology in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients undergoing oophorectomy. Methods. We reviewed the records and ovarian histopathology of 152 breast cancer patients who underwent oophorectomy at a single institution between January 1980 and October 1996. At the time of oophorectomy, 99 patients had never received tamoxifen, 44 patients were currently receiving tamoxifen, and 9 patients had previously received tamoxifen. Patient demographic and medical data and indication for oophorectomy were examined. Ovarian histopathology was classified as normal, functional ovarian cyst, benign ovarian tumor, endometriosis, ovarian cancer, and metastatic cancer. Results. Patient characteristics and indication for oophorectomy did not differ significantly based on tamoxifen exposure. There was no difference in the occurrence of benign ovarian tumors, functional ovarian cysts, or metastatic breast cancer based on tamoxifen exposure. Tamoxifen-treated patients were less likely to have ovarian cancer, 0 of 53 patients (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0%, 6.7%) compared with 10 of 99 patients (95% CI: 5.0%, 17.8%) patients not receiving tamoxifen ( P = 0.015). Endometriosis was slightly more common in patients currently receiving tamoxifen, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions. In women undergoing oophorectomy, there was no evidence that tamoxifen exposure was associated with an increase in benign or malignant primary or metastatic ovarian neoplasm or in functional ovarian cysts. Further study is necessary to better define any association between tamoxifen and endometriosis and the effect of tamoxifen on ovarian cancer risk.
Molecular dynamics simulations of temperature- and pressure-induced solid–solid phase transitions in crystalline para-terphenyl

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of pressure- and temperature-induced solid–solid phase transitions in para-terphenyl have been investigated using Material Studio®. Initial simulations were performed using the COMPASS (condensed-phase optimised molecular potentials for atomistic simulation studies) force field to evaluate its ability to model the known temperature and pressure phase boundary between the triclinic and monoclinic crystal phases. Geometry optimisation using the universal COMPASS force field could not adequately model the experimental crystal structure at 113 K, and MD simulations could not adequately reproduce the known transition temperature at ambient pressure, nor yield a well-defined transition pressure at low temperature. However, a one-parameter optimisation of the torsion potential component of the polymer-consistent force field (PCFF) (incorporating COMPASS non-bond parameters) yielded MD simulations that accurately modelled the pressure–temperature boundary between the low-temper...
The Reagan administration and the law of the sea

Abstract The Reagan Administration abruptly called for a “policy review”; of the entire Draft Convention on the Law of the Sea (DCLOS) on the eve of the Tenth Session of UNCLOS III in March 1981, and discharged most of the leading members of the U.S. delegation, including the chairman, Ambassador George Aldrich. Furthermore, the United States refused to actively participate in UNCLOS III until the policy review had been completed. The review was finally completed in late January 1982, and a forty‐three‐page list of reservations to the DCLOS was presented to the Eleventh Session of UNCLOS III in early March 1982. The outcome of the negotiations at the Eleventh Session were very much in doubt, with the United States and the Group of 77 taking equally firm and opposite positions in regard to deep seabed mining.
Raman heterodyne interference of inequivalent nuclear sites

A novel interference effect that is unique to the recently introduced technique of Raman heterodyne detection of NMR is illustrated for the impurity-ion crystal ${\mathrm{Pr}}^{3+}$: YAl${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. Experiments confirm theoretical arguments that the two inequivalent Pr nuclear sites in the host lattice generate coherent Raman signals of opposite sign that interfere. A necessary requirement, which can now be examined in detail, is that the principal nuclear quadrupole $Z$ axis of Pr be incongruent in the ground and optically excited electronic states.
Human papillomavirus infection among sexually active young women in the United States: Implications for developing a vaccination strategy.

Objectives:Population-level data on prevalence and distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) types in the United States are necessary to guide optimal vaccination strategies.Study:Urine specimens from 3262 women ages 18 to 25 in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Wave III) were t
Failure of Echinocandin Therapy in the Treatment of Candida glabrata Chorioretinitis

Echinocandins are commonly used as initial empiric therapy in cases of moderate to severe invasive candidiasis. The authors demonstrate that caution should be exercised in applying this approach in certain clinical situations. A case of Candida glabrata fungemia and associated chorioretinitis that was clinically resistant to therapy with micafungin but appeared to resolve with amphotericin B is presented. The authors then briefly review current issues regarding the diagnosis and treatment of C glabrata chorioretinitis.
Molecular Mechanism of Reverse Cholesterol Transport: Reaction of Pre-β-Migrating High-Density Lipoprotein with Plasma Lecithin/Cholesterol Acyltransferase†

A 70−75 kDa high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle with pre-β-electrophoretic migration (pre-β1-HDL) has been identified in several studies as an early acceptor of cell-derived cholesterol. However, the further metabolism of this complex has not been determined. Here we sought to identify the mechanism by which cell-derived cholesterol was esterified and converted to mature HDL as part of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). Human plasma selectively immunodepleted of pre-β1-HDL was used to study factors regulating pre-β1-HDL production. A major role for phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) in the recycling of pre-β1-HDL was identified. Cholesterol binding, esterification by lecithin/cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and transfer by cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) were measured using 3H-cholesterol-labeled cell monolayers. LCAT bound to 3H-free cholesterol (FC)-labeled pre-β1-HDL generated cholesteryl esters at a rate much greater than the rest of HDL. The cholesteryl ester produced in pre-β1-H...
Geometric formulation of quantum stress fields

We present a derivation of the stress field for an interacting quantum system within the framework of local-density-functional theory. The formulation is geometric in nature, and exploits the relationship between the strain tensor field and Riemannian metric tensor field. Within this formulation, we demonstrate that the stress field is unique up to a single ambiguous parameter. The ambiguity is due to the nonunique dependence of the kinetic energy on the metric tensor. To illustrate this formalism, we compute the pressure field for two phases of solid molecular hydrogen. Furthermore, we demonstrate that qualitative results obtained by interpreting the hydrogen pressure field are not influenced by the presence of the kinetic ambiguity.
Walks in phylogenetic treespace

We prove that the spaces of unrooted phylogenetic trees are Hamiltonian for two popular search metrics: Subtree Prune and Regraft (SPR) and Tree Bisection and Reconnection (TBR). Further, we make progress on two conjectures of Bryant on searching phylogenetic treespace: treespace under the Nearest Neighbor Interchange (NNI) metric has a 2-walk, and there exist SPR neighborhoods without complete NNI walks.