cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Resonance Raman Spectroscopic Characterization of the π-Anion and π-Cation Radicals of Zinc(II) Octaethylchlorin

Cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV−vis spectroscopy, and resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy are utilized to characterize the π-anion and π-cation radicals of ZnOEC (OEC = octaethylchlorin). Features in the RR spectra are assigned with the aid of data from the meso−d4 isotopomer of ZnOEC and ZnEtI (EtI = etiochlorin I). The vibrational frequency shift patterns of the radicals are consistent with expected bonding changes on placing an electron in the LUMO or a hole in the HOMO. The frontier orbitals are similar in ZnOEC and ZnOEP (OEP = octaethylporphyrin), but the anion spectra differ because of the consequences of the Jahn−Teller effect in ZnOEP-. The cation and anion vibrational shifts do not add to give the shifts previously reported for the triplet state, indicating additional distortion upon triplet excitation.
Requirement for microtubules in new membrane formation during cytokinesis of Xenopus embryos

In cleaving Xenopus eggs, exposure to nocodazole or cold shock prevents the addition of new plasma membrane to the cleavage plane and causes furrows to recede, suggesting a specific role for microtubules in cytokinesis. Whole-mount confocal immunocytochemistry reveals a ring of radially arranged, acetylated microtubule bundles at the base of all advancing cleavage furrows, from the first cleavage through the midblastula stage. We hypothesize that this novel microtubular structure is involved in transporting maternal stores of membrane in the subcortex to a site of membrane addition near the leading edge of the furrow.
Analysis of verbal interactions of A-B type therapists during therapy.

The present study showed 8 A therapists accepted and used the ideas presented by their clients more than 9 B therapists. Additionally, experienced A therapists used significantly more accepting of feelings statements than experienced B's.
Sorption of Butane on Carbon Multiwall Nanotubes at Room Temperature

Carbon multiwall nanotubes (MWNTs) can be used for separation processes if the mechanisms for sorption and desorption are known. This study describes the sorption mechanism for butane on MWNTs at room temperature and relative pressures ranging from 0 to 0.9. Previous workers have studied the sorption of hydrogen,1-3 neon,4-6 helium,6 nitrogen,7 and methane8-10 on nanotubes for storage purposes. Molecular dynamic simulations have been done to show that carbon nanotubes can be used as a separation tool to selectively separate isomers of monomethylnaphthalenes.11 Experiments have established that refrigerant mixtures, such as CHF2CF3 and CClF2CF3, can be successfully separated by using carbon nanotubes.12 Previous work in this lab has shown that carbon MWNTs can separate butane from methane when both are at low levels in a gas flow. This experimental result is in agreement with recent molecular dynamic simulations made for sorption of alkane mixtures on different types of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT...
A 2D/3D model-based object tracking framework

Abstract This paper presents a robust framework for tracking complex objects in video sequences. Multiple hypothesis tracking (MHT) algorithm reported in (IEEE Trans. Pattern Anal. Mach. Intell. 18(2) (1996)) is modified to accommodate a high level representations (2D edge map, 3D models) of objects for tracking. The framework exploits the advantages of MHT algorithm which is capable of resolving data association/uncertainty and integrates it with object matching techniques to provide a robust behavior while tracking complex objects. To track objects in 2D, a 4D feature is used to represent edge/line segments and are tracked using MHT. In many practical applications 3D models provide more information about the object's pose (i.e., rotation information in the transformation space) which cannot be recovered using 2D edge information. Hence, a 3D model-based object tracking algorithm is also presented. A probabilistic Hausdorff image matching algorithm is incorporated into the framework in order to determine the geometric transformation that best maps the model features onto their corresponding ones in the image plane. 3D model of the object is used to constrain the tracker to operate in a consistent manner. Experimental results on real and synthetic image sequences are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed framework.
Perspective role-taking in young children

Abstract Children between the ages of 4 and 7 years were asked to select a photograph depicting the visual perspective of a puppet which was placed at various locations around a dollhouse in a modified version of Piaget and Inhelder's three-mountain task. A shielded condition was used for half of the children. Three types of errors were examined in relation to the shield condition, age, and type of vantage point (views from the corners and from the sides). Shielding of the stimulus array reduced egocentric errors among 4-year-olds, producing a pattern of responses more typical of that observed among older children. Increasing specificity in perspective role-taking with age was indicated by changes in error patterns. Finally, the task was more difficult on trials with corner views, particularly when the child's own view included some of the cues present in the puppet's perspective.
Preparing Students for Success in a Multicultural World: Faculty Advisement and Intercultural Communication

U.S. academic advisors are challenged to adapt to the educational needs of a culturally diverse student body. They are expected to prepare advisees for success in a multicultural, multilingual world. Presented are key findings from counseling, advisement, and intercultural communication literature that are associated with multicultural competence, including the academic and modeling role of the advisor. The authors also provide a promising conceptual framework of standards that can guide advisors who want to increase their multicultural communication advisement competence and who want to create a more systematic and comprehensive approach to expanding multicultural advisement scholarship.
Kinetics and reactors — The engineer's dilemma

Scaleup of catalytic reactors is often unrewarding because of the incompatibility of chemical and physical similarity requirements. Hence, a rational design procedure usually requires experimental study of global rates of reaction, as well as kinetics of the chemical steps at a catalyst site. This paper examines the role of laboratory and pilot-plant reactor data in the design procedure. Recent developments in laboratory reactors, and the potential for ultimately eliminating the need for global rate measurements, are considered. L'emploi des reacteurs catalytiques a l'echelle commerciale n'est souvent pas profitable a cause de l'incompatibilite des exigences de similitude au point de vue chimique et physique; il s'en suit qu'un procede rationnel de conception requiert d'ordinaire une etude experimentale des vitesses globales de reaction et de la cinetique de la marche des operations chimiques a l'endroit ou se trouve un catalyseur. On discute dans le present article du rǒle que jouent dans le procede de conception les resultats fournis par leg reacteurs a l'cehelle du laboratoire et d'une installation-pilote. On considere les progres recents en ce qui a trait aux reacteurs de laboratoire et la possibilite d'eliminer eventuellement la necessite de mesurer les vitesses globales.
The microwave spectrum of cyclopropane.ammonia. A novel structure for cyclopropane complexes

Abstract The microwave spectrum of the cyclopropane·ammonia (C 3 H 6 · 14 NH 3 ) complex has been observed using a pulsed nozzle, Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer. The spectrum is characteristic of a symmetric top, B 0 =2668.7161(4), with free internal rotation of the NH 3 subunit. The spectra of the C 3 H 6 · 15 NH 3 , C 3 D 6 · 15 NH 3 , and C 3 H 6 · 14 ND 3 isotopomers were also measured. This gives a structure in which the nitrogen of the ammonia interacts with the top of the cyclopropane ring, resulting in a stacked structure with R c.m. =3.657(3). The quadrupole coupling constant of the nitrogen nucleus is eQq =−2.509(2) MHz.
A follow-up study of cross-cultural validity of Developmental Test of Visual-motor Integration

A follow-up study with a younger group of mildly handicapped Japanese students was conducted to determine if the correlations between the Developmental Test of Visual-motor Integration and reading and mathematics achievement would substantiate the previous findings. For 30 mildly handicapped 11- and 12-yr.-old Japanese students, visual-motor integration scores were significantly correlated with both mathematics and reading scores. These results, added to the 1984 Webb and Abe data, further support the test's cross-cultural validity. Language: en
Antibody-targeted liposomes in cancer therapy and imaging

Background: Targeted liposomes can be broadly defined as liposomes that are engineered to interact with a particular population of cells with the objective of delivering a payload or increasing their retention within the targeted cell population by means of a chemical interaction with cell-surface molecules or other tissue-specific ligands. Objective: The authors review recent advances in the field with an emphasis on pre-clinical studies and place them in the context of historical developments. Methods: The review focuses on immunoliposomes (antibody-mediated targeting) as these constructs are presently the most prevalent. Conclusion: The field has advanced in tandem with advances in liposome design and antibody and protein engineering. Targeted liposomes have been used in diagnosis to deliver magnetic resonance contrast agents and radionuclides for magnetic resonance and nuclear medicine imaging, respectively. They have been used in gene therapy to deliver a variety of gene expression modifiers, includi...
In vitro radiation survival parameters of human colon tumor cells

Abstract As part of an ongoing research program in the biology of human colon cancer cells, a database is being generated on the radiation responses of established lines in vitro . In this report, data are summarized on the graded single dose clonogenic survival responses to graded single doses of 250 kVp X rays of 16 exponentially growing lines. These data were analyzed using the linear quadratic (LQ formalism for X ray inactivation; the 95% confidence limits on the colony forming efficiencies (CFEs), the a and β parameters from the LQ equation, the surviving percentage at 2 Gy, and the mean inactivation dose (D, Gy) are listed herein. The average (D from these 16 colon tumor lines was 2.35 Gy (95% confidence limits 2.10-2.60 Gy), which indicates that these tumor cells are of equal radioresistance to melanoma or head and neck cells, with only glioblastoma cells being of greater radioresistance.
A preliminary assessment of the validity of three instrument-based measures for speech rate determination

Abstract This study assessed the validity of three instrument-based measures with regard to their potential for implementation in automated procedures for speech rate determination. Recorded monologues of 17 normal speakers were analyzed through a live counting procedure to determine the number of syllables each of them produced. Subsequent transcription of these monologues led to exact counts of: (1) all syllables, (2) stressed syllables only, (3) words, and (4) phrases. These results were compared with instrument-based counts of stressed syllables, voice initiations, and pauses. A correlational analysis revealed that automated counts of stressed syllables were strongly predictive of live syllable counts as well as of transcription-based counts of syllables and words. Automated voice initiation counts were also predictive of these measures, but to a lesser extent. These findings were confirmed by a subsequent factor analysis, which, in addition, demonstrated that the number of pauses represented a separate unique dimension. It follows that automated stressed-syllable counts hold the most promise for clinical applications that target speech rate modification.
Interleukin-2 and granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor immunomodulation with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for patients with metastatic breast cancer

Immunomodulation with cytokines was used to improve the result of high-dose chemotherapy (HDC)/autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHST). We examined the use of IL-2 and growth factors for mobilization, ex vivo activation of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) and maintenance therapy after HDC/AHST in metastatic breast cancer. Eligible patients with metastatic breast cancer for HDC/AHST were assigned to 1 of 3 protocols for PBSC mobilization: G-CSF (group 1); IL-2 + G-CSF (group 2); or IL-2 + G-CSF + GM–CSF (group 3). HDC with cyclophosphamide, carmustine and thiotepa was given from day −7 to −5. PBSCs were treated ex vivo with IL-2 for 24 h and reinfused on day 0. Maintenance therapy included low-dose IL-2, followed by 2 courses of intermediate-dose IL-2. GM–CSF was given from day 1 until neutrophil recovery. Thirty-four patients (10 in group 1, 14 in group 2, and 10 in group 3) were included. Comparable numbers of CD34+ cells were collected from all 3 groups; incremental increases of CD3+ cells were collected from groups 1 to 2 and to 3 (p = 0.03). Major adverse effects from IL-2 were fever, hypotension and fatigue; no treatment-related mortality was seen. At a median follow-up of 790.5 days (range 150–2,722 days), median progression-free survival was 434 days and median overall survival was 1,432 days. Estimated 3-year progression-free and overall survival rates were 31 and 57%. Our study suggested that the use of IL-2 and growth factors immunomodulation with HDC/AHST was feasible with comparable survival rates.
SU‐GG‐I‐117: NURBS‐Based Deformable Image Registration

Purpose: The current trend of incorporating multi‐modality and multi‐instance imaging in treatment planning for external beam radiotherapy has highlighted the need for fast and accurate deformable image registration techniques. One current implementation of non‐rigid registration uses uniform B‐Splines to parametrically represent the displacement vector field (DVF). The piecewise B‐spline segments are joined at “knots” that define the local region of support and influence for each segment. This approach has limited flexibility and can require a fairly large number of control points to describe local complexity in the DVF. The authors present the implementation of a more general functional representation of B‐Splines, Non‐Uniform Rational B‐Splines (NURBS) as an alternative DVF model.Method and Materials: To demonstrate the improved accuracy that NURBS can provide, we have made numerical fits to a one‐dimensional scalar DVF in the shape of a Gaussian. We first fit the DVF with a uniform B‐Spline to establish baseline accuracy. We then fit the Gaussian with a 1D NURBS model with the same number of control points but now with non‐uniform knots and weighted control points. The metric of comparison of the two fitting routines is the sum of the squared differences between the curve fit and the target Gaussian. Results: For the same number of control points, the NURBS fit produced a sum of squared differences of .0019 compared to 1.625 for the uniform B‐Spline fit. Conclusion: NURBS offer an attractive alternative to uniform B‐Splines in modeling the DVF. They carry forward the mathematical compactness of B‐Splines while simultaneously introducing new degrees of freedom. The additional free parameters gained from the generalization to NURBS curves offers increased local control as well as the ability to explicitly represent topological discontinuities.
Illness and crashes-- Is there a relationship?

Except in the instances of alcohol intoxication and, possibly, heart disease and epilepsy, the data are meager regarding the effects of acute illness and chronic impairments as factors in motor vehicle crashes. Based on past studies and current statistics, it is estimated that each year in the U.S. perhaps 1,700 injury-producing crashes and as many as 1,500 fatalities may be due to drivers' illnesses or medical conditions other than alcohol intoxication. The designs and descriptions of most studies of this subject do not inspire confidence in their results from an epidemiologic and scientific viewpoint. Physicians should be knowledgeable about the major issues involving highway safety and about the medical qualifications their patients need to drive different types of vehicles within their home states and in interstate commerce.
Community policing is an epicycle

Community policing has been described as a successful “new paradigm” and even a developing “normal science” of policing. From a detailed application of Kuhn's definitions of paradigm and normal science, this article infers that community policing is neither; but is rather an epicycle in defense of policing as a paradigm. An eight‐point definitional model of normal science – of which the first four points define paradigm – is developed and used to show that community policing is not a new paradigm; and that neither community policing nor policing itself is a normal science. Claiming to have a paradigm is an attempt to increase the prestige and dominance of policing among social sciences.
Weapon Usage in Attempted and Completed Parricides in Nineteenth‐Century America: An Archival Exploration of the Physical Strength Hypothesis

The "physical strength hypothesis" (PSH) predicts that where there is the greatest discrepancy in size and strength between offenders and victims, the former will use superior weaponry (e.g., firearms) to overcome structural imbalances against the latter. Using archival data from the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, 1851-1899, this paper examines the weapons used in attempted and completed parricides in nineteenth-century America. Findings indicate that parricide offenders used firearms most frequently against their fathers while intimate contact methods were used against mothers. When gun usage was combined with level of intent in male offender patricides, where the greatest discrepancy in strength was expected, results indicate that spontaneous gun usage outnumbered premeditated gun usage, thus challenging the assumptions of the PSH. The data suggest that cultural factors such as methods of dispute resolution, weapon carrying, and alcohol consumption may be important factors in understanding parricides.
Based on Adaptive Variable Rate Particle Filter Tracking Research in Wireless Sensor Networks

Because the state model is too simple to capture the complicated trajectory, the traditional tracking algorithm can not track the moving people precisely. Simon J. Godsil and others improve particle filter to present variable rate particle filter, which employs more complicated model to track moving target, and samples state variables by changing sampling period. In this paper, we propose an adaptive variable rate particle filter algorithm for large-scale building fire rescue system to track trapped people. The algorithm can adaptively adjust the sampling period by comparing the relationship between particle value and measurement. According to our computer simulation, the method can improve the tracking accuracy, especially as the target trajectory has some drastic changes. we consider that the tracking algorithm is effective and practical.
Environmental Performance and U.S. Exports

U.S. industries have reduced their releases of toxic chemicals in recent years. These publicly reported environmental improvements can increase the demand for U.S. products abroad by increasing the perceived quality of these products in countries that are concerned about the environmental impacts of manufacturing. This article examines this possibility. It presents an analysis of the changes in the environmental performance and exports of 19 U.S. industries to 128 countries between 2002 and 2010.
Hydrogen- and C 1–C 3 Hydrocarbon-Nitrous Oxide Kinetics in Freely Propagating and Burner-Stabilized Flames, Shock Tubes, and Flow Reactors

A detailed, chemical mechanism has been compiled for modeling the combustion of C 1–C 3 hydrocarbon-nitrous oxide mixtures. The compiled, chemical mechanism has been compared and validated against available data in the literature, including flame structure measurements of hydrogen-nitrous oxide and ammonia-nitrous oxide flames, flow reactor data on hydrogen-nitrous oxide and moist, nitrous oxide decomposition mixtures, shock tube ignition delay data on hydrogen- and methane-nitrous oxide mixtures, experimental flame speed data on carbon monoxide-nitrous oxide mixtures, and experimental, laminar flame speed data for hydrogen-, methane-, acetylene-, and propane-nitrous oxide mixtures. Feature sensitivity studies and reaction path analyses have been employed to elucidate important pathways to the overall reaction rate for these systems, and include the nitrous oxide decomposition step (N 2 O(+M) ⇌ N 2 + O(+M)) and nitrous oxide reactions with H atoms (N 2 O + H ⇌ N 2 + OH and N 2 O + H ⇌ NH + NO). Modificati...
Biomechanical correlates of surface electromyography signals obtained during swallowing by healthy adults.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe biomechanical correlates of the surface electromyographic signal obtained during swallowing by healthy adult volunteers. Method Seventeen healthy a...
Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire by Direct Measurement of Habitual ad Libitum Food Intake

Food frequency questionnaires are commonly used to assess habitual food intake. Although food frequency questionnaires are known to produce measurement error, the amount of error and effectiveness of correction methods are poorly understood. Twelve men from the Baltimore, MD/Washington, DC, area consumed an ad libitum diet for 16 weeks during the spring of 2001. At the end of the study period, subjects reported their food intakes with a food frequency questionnaire (Block 98). During weeks 8 and 16, subjects were dosed with doubly labeled water and maintained physical activity logs. Absolute and relative macronutrient intakes were poorly predicted by the food frequency questionnaire. The application of a single, group mean energy adjustment (using doubly labeled water or physical activity) reduced the variance of carbohydrate intake and increased the variance of fat and protein intakes, but none significantly (p>0.05). Subject-specific energy adjustments reduced the variance for carbohydrate and protein intakes (p<0.05). Including a body weight adjustment reduced the variance in fat intake (p<0.05) when doubly labeled water was used to first correct energy intake. The application of correction methods based on energy expenditure and body weight can be used to reduce measurement error, improving the ability of the food frequency questionnaire to measure food intake.
Trends in Breakfast Consumption if US Adults Between 1965 and 1991

Abstract Objective To examine breakfast consumption patterns and trends between 1965 and 1991 for adults in the United States. Design Trends analysis pooling three cross-sectional surveys. Setting Nationally representative samples obtained from the Nationwide Food Consumption Survey (NFCS) of 1965, the NFCS of 1977-1978, and the 1989-1991 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals. Subjects Adults aged 18 years and older: 6,274 in 1965, 18,033 in 1977-1978, and 10,812 in 1989-1991. All results reflect use of sampling weights, so results reflect nationally representative samples in each time period. Main outcome measures Breakfast consumption, defined as the consumption of food and/or beverage between the hours of 5 am and 9 am, was the focus of the trends analysis. Population prevalence rates are reported for the entire population and population subgroups. Statistical analysis performed Probit analysis was used to identify factors associated with changes in breakfast consumption over time. Results Breakfast consumption declined in the 26-year period between 1965 and 1991 from 86% to 75% for US adults. Breakfast consumption increased with age, and the age differential increased over time. Urban-rural and South-non-South differences in breakfast consumption narrowed over time, whereas black-nonblack and college-noncollege differences increased slightly or remained constant. The nutritional quality of food consumed at breakfast has improved since 1965. Conclusions Although part of the decline in breakfast consumption can be explained by personal and demographic determinants, other unknown factors contributed to the trends. Elucidation of such factors is necessary to predict differences in breakfast as a health-related behavior. J Am Diet Assoc. 1996; 96:464-470.
Female Authorship in Emergency Medicine Parallels Women Practicing Academic Emergency Medicine

Abstract Background: Studies have shown that women in emergency medicine (EM) lag behind their male counterparts in academic productivity. Objectives: We compared the proportion of female attending physicians from EM academic programs to the proportion of female first or second authors of original scientific manuscripts and case reports from four major EM journals in a single year. Methods: We used a retrospective cross-sectional design. Original scientific manuscripts and case reports from four major EM journals published in 2005: Academic Emergency Medicine, Annals of Emergency Medicine, American Journal of Emergency Medicine, and Journal of Emergency Medicine were reviewed to determine genders of first and second authors. The proportion of female first or second authorship was then compared to the proportion of female EM attending physicians from 134 academic EM programs in the United States. Data were analyzed using Pearson's chi-squared and Clopper-Pearson binomial confidence intervals as appropriate. A p -value of ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The percentage of female faculty; 940/3571 (26.32%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 24.9–27.8%) vs. the percentage of female first or second authorship 289/1123 (25.73%, 95% CI 23.3–28.4%) was not statistically significant ( p = 0.562). There was no difference in the proportion of male and female authors with multiple manuscripts ( p = 0.889). Conclusions: As measured by first and second authorship, there was no discrepancy between the proportion of female EM faculty and the proportion of female authorship in EM literature from 2005.
Updates from the field: impressive library systems and a pivotal judicial ruling

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to describe the impressive features of the new integrated library systems in development.Design/methodology/approach – The article highlights this next wave of ILS development, and its alignment with library practices and workflows.Findings – The article is optimistic about the nature of these technology developments.Originality/value – The article provides an overview of these new systems. The article also updates readers on the status of the copyright infringement case pending against Georgia State University.
Channel Reliability in MOSFETs with Gate Oxide Grown using ECR Plasma of O2/He

In this paper we present the channel degradation properties of MOSFET with gate oxide grown using electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma. Si was oxidized using ECR plasma of 10% O2/He at 450°C for 60 min. MOS and MOSFETs devices were fabricated, using ECR grown oxide as a gate oxide, to evaluate the electrical properties. We found that the n-MOSFET with ECR as-grown oxide shows poorer channel degradation properties, by approximately two orders of magnitude, compared to channel with thermally grown (at 950°C) dry oxide. When as-grown oxide was annealed at much higher temperature (~800oC), channel resistance for the hot carriers improved and became comparable to that of the thermally grown oxide. We have shown that because of the lower processing temperatures used during oxidation strain is present in the bulk oxide and also at Si-SiO2 interface. Annealing at higher temperature can relieve strain and this assumption was found be self consistent with the infrared absorption study.
The use of logic in the analysis of cryptographic protocols

Logics for cryptographic protocol analysis are presented, and a study is made of the protocol features that they are appropriate for analyzing: some are appropriate for analyzing trust, others security. It is shown that both features can be adequately captured by a single properly designed logic. The goals and capabilities of M. Burrows, M. Abadi and R. Needham's (1989) BAN logic are examined. It is found that there is confusion about these. While the logic is extremely useful heuristically, as a formal method it is seen to be ultimately unacceptable. Formal semantics is explored as a reasoning tool and the importance of soundness and completeness for protocol security is discussed. The KPL logic is used to resolve a debate over an alleged flaw in BAN logic and is shown to be uniquely capable of dealing with certain protocol security issues. >
Information Sharing, Social Norms and Performance

What drives workers to seek information from their peers? And how does communication affect employee performance? Answers have proven elusive due to problems obtaining precise measures of white collar output and of observing the information individuals consume. We address these questions using an original panel data set that includes all accesses to an information-sharing platform, together with performance measures of all loan officers at a major Japanese bank. This paper makes three contributions. First, we show that skill level differences, job rotation, and differences among branches each affect the demand for information. There also exists substitution between an agent's ability and the amount of information consumed. Low skill agents benefit the most from consuming others' information. Second, restricting attention to officers who switched branches, we show that they perform on average significantly worse than before the switch, suggesting that job rotation destroys specialized human capital. We also find that an officer who shares information increases his chances of promotion rather than competes for promotion less effectively. Third, we measure the size of productivity gains based on consuming shared information. After controlling for unobserved heterogeneity over time, between branches, and among officers, a standard deviation increase in information access increases performance by roughly ten percent. By instrumenting the demand for information with the exogenous variation arising from cultural differences among branches, we are able to assess the causal effect of communication on performance.
Efficacy and mechanism of action of turmeric supplements in the treatment of experimental arthritis.

Objective. Scientific evidence is lacking for the antiarthritic efficacy of turmeric dietary supplements that are being promoted for arthritis treatment. Therefore, we undertook studies to determine the antiarthritic efficacy and mechanism of action of a well-characterized turmeric extract using an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. The composition of commercial turmeric dietary supplements was determined by highperformance liquid chromatography. A curcuminoidcontaining turmeric extract similar in composition to these supplements was isolated and administered intraperitoneally to female Lewis rats prior to or after the onset of streptococcal cell wall–induced arthritis. Efficacy in preventing joint swelling and destruction was determined clinically, histologically, and by measurement of bone mineral density. Mechanism of action was elucidated by analysis of turmeric’s effect on articular transcription factor activation, microarray analysis of articular gene expression, and verification of the physiologic effects of alterations in gene expression. Results. A turmeric fraction depleted of essential oils profoundly inhibited joint inflammation and periarticular joint destruction in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo treatment prevented local activation of NF-B and the subsequent expression of NF-B–regulated genes mediating joint inflammation and destruction, including chemokines, cyclooxygenase 2, and RANKL. Consistent with these findings, inflammatory cell influx, joint levels of prostaglandin E2, and periarticular osteoclast formation were inhibited by turmeric extract treatment. Conclusion. These translational studies demonstrate in vivo efficacy and identify a mechanism of action for a well-characterized turmeric extract that supports further clinical evaluation of turmeric dietary supplements in the treatment of RA.
Changes in ecological stability across realistic biodiversity gradients depend on spatial scale

Aim It is unclear how the stability of natural ecosystems and populations varies with biodiversity at spatial scales relevant to resource managers. This study evaluates whether theory and prior experiments adequately predict how stability varies with a measure of biodiversity,plant species richness,at multiple scales in naturally assembled ecosystems and assesses mechanisms through which biodiversity is proposed to affect stability. Location Chihuahuan desert. Historically, grasslands represented the dominant vegetation type in this landscape and shrubs were uncommon. Desertification has degraded many native grassland regions into one of several alternate states dominated by different shrub species and these regions differ in biodiversity. Methods Researchers at the Jornada long-term ecological research site have amassed 12 years of data on the primary productivity of individual plant species in 735 permanent 1-m 2 plots distributed among 15 regions that were all historically grasslands.Iusedthisinformationtodescribetherelationshipbetweenbiodiversity and stability at the local (1 m 2 ) and regional (3721 m 2 ) scale and to evaluate mechanisms through which biodiversity is proposed to affect stability. Results At the local scale, ecosystem stability increased linearly with biodiversity while population stability tended to decline with biodiversity.At the regional scale, both ecosystem and population stability increased as a saturating function of biodiversity. Scale-dependent change in the biodiversity‐stability relationship can be explained by the spatial insurance hypothesis, asynchrony in the local productivity dynamics of the average species, and a change in species evenness with scale that weakens statistical averaging. Main conclusions Results from small-scale experimental studies may not directly translate to larger spatial scales but they appear to predict patterns in natural communities at small spatial scales. These results suggest that the maintenance of high biodiversity over a large spatial area is essential for maintaining ecosystem services and reducing the potential for further species extinctions.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

1. Rachel Y. Moon, MD* 2. Linda Y. Fu, MD, MSc† 1. *Director, Academic Development, Goldberg Center for Community Pediatric Health, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 2. †Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Goldberg Center for Community Pediatric Health, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe possible etiologic mechanisms for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 2. Identify the risk factors for SIDS. 3. Understand the relationship between apnea and SIDS. 4. Discuss the American Academy of Pediatrics SIDS Task Force recommendations and underlying rationale. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is defined as the sudden unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year of age. It usually occurs in a previously healthy infant, and the cause of death remains unexplained despite a thorough case investigation, including a complete autopsy, death scene investigation, and review of the clinical history. Every year in the United States, approximately 2,500 infants die from SIDS. Risk factors have been identified through epidemiologic studies. SIDS is more likely to occur in male infants (3:2 ratio). Other risk factors include prone and side sleeping positions, maternal smoking during pregnancy, environmental tobacco smoke, overheating, soft bedding, inadequate prenatal care, young maternal age, prematurity or low birthweight, and African-American or American Indian/Alaskan Native heritage. For many years, apnea was believed to be the predecessor of SIDS, and home apnea monitors have been used in an attempt to prevent SIDS. However, studies such as the Collaborative Home Infant Monitoring Evaluation (CHIME) have demonstrated that apnea neither precedes nor predicts SIDS. Although apnea monitors may be useful in selected patients who have experienced apparent life-threatening events (ALTEs), there is no evidence that they are useful in reducing the risk of SIDS, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends against using monitors as a SIDS prevention technique. (A more detailed discussion of ALTEs appears in this issue of Pediatrics in Review on page 203.) In 1992, the AAP first published its recommendation that infants should sleep in a nonprone position to reduce the risk of SIDS, and a national public …
Multimegapoint FFT's running on workstation computers

The authors show that the data addressing required for an in-place fast Fourier transform (FFT) whose memory requirement significantly exceeds the physical memory size of a machine causes an unacceptable level of virtual memory disk access, commonly known as thrashing. In addition, a matrix-decomposition FFT is shown to replace the reordering of the large data set with matrix transpositions, using a two pass memory-efficient matrix transposition technique. The matrix FFT, combined with a file oriented matrix transpose, is shown to be an easy way to prevent thrashing. This method was applied to perform simulations of a 2/sup 23/ (8,388,608) point real-only FFT processor which will be used in NASA's Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence program. >
When memory leads the brain to take scenes at face value: face areas are reactivated at test by scenes that were paired with faces at study

In the first use of the event related optical signal (EROS) as a brain imaging tool for the study of long-term memory, we examined relational or associative aspects of memory, widely presumed to involve the interplay among multiple brain regions in representing and reactivating different elements of a given event. Here, we found that a brain region known to be involved in face processing (the posterior superior temporal sulcus, STS) was active not only when viewing faces during the study phase but also when viewing scenes at test that, through prior learning, were associated with specific faces. These findings, demonstrating the activation of stimulus-specific cortical regions in the absence of stimuli of that type, based on learned relations, reveal cortical substrates of the reactivation of relational memories.
In-Use and Vehicle Dynamometer Evaluation and Comparison of Class 7 Hybrid Electric and Conventional Diesel Delivery Trucks

This study compared fuel economy and emissions between heavy-duty hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and equivalent conventional diesel vehicles. In-use field data were collected from daily fleet operations carried out at a FedEx facility in California on six HEV and six conventional 2010 Freightliner M2-106 straight box trucks. Field data collection primarily focused on route assessment and vehicle fuel consumption over a six-month period. Chassis dynamometer testing was also carried out on one conventional vehicle and one HEV to determine differences in fuel consumption and emissions. Route data from the field study was analyzed to determine the selection of dynamometer test cycles. From this analysis, the New York Composite (NYComp), Hybrid Truck Users Forum Class 6 (HTUF 6), and California Air Resource Board (CARB) Heavy Heavy-Duty Diesel Truck (HHDDT) drive cycles were chosen. The HEV showed 31% better fuel economy on the NYComp cycle, 25% better on the HTUF 6 cycle and 4% worse on the CARB HHDDT cycle when compared to the conventional vehicle. The in-use field data indicates that the HEVs had around 16% better fuel economy than the conventional vehicles. Dynamometer testing also showed that the HEV generally emitted higher levels of nitric oxides than the conventional vehicle over the drive cycles, up to 77% higher on the NYComp cycle (though this may at least in part be attributed to the different engine certification levels in the vehicles tested). The conventional vehicle was found to accelerate up to freeway speeds over ten seconds faster than the HEV.
Impediments to Analytical Modeling of Multi-Tiered Web Applications

Service providers hosting multi-tiered applications require accurate analytical models of the applications they will host for different system management activities, such as capacity planning, configuration management, cost analysis and feedback control. Due to the complexity of real world scenarios, developing accurate analytical models is hard. This paper presents the commonly faced challenges in developing these analytical models that stem from real-world issues, such as excessive system activity, presence of multiple cores or processors, and concurrency management. Presence of multi-tiered applications further compounds the challenges faced. We sketch preliminary ideas based on application-specific and/or domain-specific modeling techniques to overcome these limitations.
Analysis of the tendon cell fate using Scleraxis, a specific marker for tendons and ligaments

Little is known about the genesis and patterning of tendons and other connective tissues, mostly owing to the absence of early markers. We have found that Scleraxis, a bHLH transcription factor, is a highly specific marker for all the connective tissues that mediate attachment of muscle to bone in chick and mouse, including the limb tendons, and show that early scleraxis expression marks the progenitor cell populations for these tissues. In the early limb bud, the tendon progenitor population is found in the superficial proximomedial mesenchyme. Using the scleraxis gene as a marker we show that these progenitors are induced by ectodermal signals and restricted by bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling within the mesenchyme. Application of Noggin protein antagonizes this endogenous BMP activity and induces ectopic scleraxis expression. However, the presence of excess tendon progenitors does not lead to the production of additional or longer tendons, indicating that additional signals are required for the final formation of a tendon. Finally, we show that the endogenous expression of noggin within the condensing digit cartilage contributes to the induction of distal tendons.
State space pruning for reliability evaluation using binary particle swarm optimization

State space pruning is a methodology that has been successfully applied to improve the computational efficiency and convergence of Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) when computing the reliability indices of composite power systems. This methodology increases performance of MCS by pruning state spaces in such a manner that a new state space with a higher density of failure states than the original state space is created. A method that was previously proposed to increase the efficiency of MCS was the use of Population-based Intelligent Search (PIS), specifically Genetic Algorithms (GA), to prune the state space. This paper extends these ideas to another PIS methodology: Binary Particle Swarm Optimization (BPSO). The results of this study show that BPSO is highly effective in pruning the state space and improving the convergence of MCS. This method is tested using the IEEE reliability test system.
Aspergillus in cytology specimens: a review of 45 specimens from 36 patients.

Objective To assess the clinical significance associated with the identification of fungal elements consistent with Aspergillus in cytology specimens. Materials and Methods For all cytology specimens with reported fungal elements consistent with Aspergillus, reported over a 9 yr and 8 mo period at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, the patient's medical charts were reviewed with particular attention to underlying disease, presentation, treatment, and clinical course. Cytology results were compared with available microbiologic cultures and tissue specimens in all of the patients. Results Forty-five cytology specimens with Aspergillus fungal forms, from 36 patients, were identified. Twenty-six patients had concurrent specimens sent for culture in whom 11 grew Aspergillus species (10 Aspergillus fumigatus), eight grew organisms other than Aspergillus, and seven were no growth. A total of 16 patients (44%) were treated with antifungal treatment (Amphotericin B). Treatment with Amphotericin B was significantly associated with a concurrent growth of Aspergillus species (9/11 patients with Aspergillus culture positive vs. 7/25 patients without a positive culture for Aspergillus, P value = 0.004 (ODDS ratio = 11, 95% confidence interval: #1.6–104.2-tailed Fisher exact test.) Conclusions The presence of fungal forms consistent with Aspergillus in cytology specimens is neither specific nor sensitive for significant infection due to Aspergillus. Treatment with Amphotericin B is more likely to be instituted when a concurrent clinical specimen grows Aspergillus species in culture. Diagn. Cytopathol. 16:26–30, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Probabilistic Technology Assessment for NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) Vehicle Concepts

We present and demonstrate different approaches of subjective probability encoding pertinent to technology impact modeling for probabilistic assessment of advanced vehicle concepts. Results are generated and discussed using NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation as a relevant technology development and integration effort. We show that different techniques are suitable and can be selected on the basis of available technology impact information, and that significant differences are observed on the results across alternative methods. Uncertainty on percent fuel burn reduction and cumulative noise margin below Stage 4 is observed to be within 5% and 3 dB respectively. The impact and variability of technologies on noise margin for the hybrid wing body concept is also notably dominated by the inherent noise shielding benefits of this configuration.
Technical modification enabling pulmonary valve-sparing repair of a severely hypoplastic pulmonary annulus in patients with tetralogy of Fallot

OBJECTIVES Although pulmonary valve-sparing repair is preferable for patients with tetralogy of Fallot, the repair of very small pulmonary valves is challenging. The present study evaluates our modification for preserving severely hypoplastic pulmonary valves in patients with tetralogy of Fallot.
Evolution of Region Connection Calculus to VRCC-3D+

Qualitative spatial reasoning (QSR) is useful for deriving logical inferences when quantitative spatial information is not available. QSR theories have applications in areas such as geographic information systems, spatial databases, robotics, and cognitive sciences. The existing QSR theories have been applied primarily to 2D. The ability to perform QSR over a collection of 3D objects is desirable in many problem domains. Here we present the evolution (VRCC-3D+) of RCC-based QSR from 2D to both 3D (including occlusion support) and 4D (a temporal component). It is time consuming to construct large composition tables manually. We give a divide-and-conquer algorithm to construct a comprehensive composition table from smaller constituent tables (which can be easily handcrafted). In addition to the logical consistency entailment checking that is required for such a system, clearly there is a need for a spatio-temporal component to account for spatial movements and path consistency (i.e. to consider only smooth transitions in spatial movements over time). Visually, these smooth movement phenomena are represented as a conceptual neighborhood graph. We believe that the methods presented herein to detect consistency, refine uncertainty, and enhance reasoning about 3D objects will provide useful guidelines for other studies in automated spatial reasoning.