cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Linear Stochastic Differential Games with State Dependent Fractional Brownian Motion

Abstract A two person, zero-sum, noncooperative stochastic differential game is formulated and solved for a multidimensional linear stochastic system that has a quadratic payoff and a linear state dependent scalar fractional Brownian motion noise process in the stochastic system. The strategies are restricted to be linear feedback. A Riccati equation is given that provides the optimal control strategies for the two players using a direct method and this Riccati equation is different from the one for the corresponding problem with an additive Brownian motion. The strategies are shown to form a Nash equilibrium. The method presented and applied here for the solution requires only some elementary notions from a stochastic calculus for a fractional Brownian motion.
Inclusive Practices in Response to the German Refugee Influx: Support Structures and Rationales Described by University Administrators

The refugee influx to Germany has challenged institutions of higher education (HEI’s) to develop programs and policies that further support a diverse population of students. Building upon a small number of published works focusing on this highly dynamic environment, we present an analysis of two related studies focused on university administrators’ perceptions of approaches to refugee student support at their institutions. Data from interviews and analysis of programming indicate that attaining German language proficiency at the C1 level is a significant barrier for refugee students; that there are key differences in the types of programs offered in distinct university contexts, which may relate to the degree of university leadership or administrator background and interest; that the definition of “success” from the university perspective is often opaque and inconsistent; that managing refugees’ expectations is a challenge; that there is a desire to enable more Muslim refugee women university access; and that there are large gaps in the number of students interested in study and those actually enrolling in degree programs. This paper presents interview data and document analysis collected from twelve universities and suggests further areas for inquiry.
Biomechanical Computer Modeling for the Design and Evaluation of Work Stations

Biomechanical Computer Modeling is becoming an effective tool for the design and evaluation of work stations. Computer models allow complex analyses to be performed quickly and economically, to enhance the performance of operators of new systems. The possibility of performing large quantities of complex analyses, however, makes possible large quantities of undecipherable (and often undiscoverable) errors. The computer does not eliminate any potential for error which exists for manual analysis.
User-pack interaction: Insights for Designing Inclusive Child-resistant Packaging

Drug packages protect and deliver prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, as well as communicating necessary warnings and directions to people, enabling the therapeutic benefit of their contents. Despite the fact that people with disabilities and older adults represent a significant portion of the pharmaceutical market, protocols across the world for testing child-resistant (CR) packaging (ISO, 2003), exclude people with any obvious or overt disabilities from the senior-related portion of the test (Bix et al., 2009) (Figure 9.1). These regulations have a critical impact on the level of inclusivity of commercially available CR packaging currently on the market.
Global Photometric Campaigns on Pulsating Planetary Nuclei

As reported in a contributed paper at this symposium, six “O VI”-type planetary nuclei are known to be pulsating variables. Through the techniques of asteroseismology, it should be possible to explore the interior structures of these stars, determine their masses and rotation rates, and measure the stellar evolutionary timescales through observations of changes in the pulsation periods.
Isoprostane F2alpha-VI, a new marker of oxidative stress, increases following light damage to the mouse retina.

PURPOSE A number of studies have suggested that retinal light damage involves oxidative stress. These include demonstration of protection by antioxidants, immunohistochemical detection of oxidative stress markers, and upregulation of antioxidant enzymes. Recently a new specific marker of lipid peroxidation (LPO), isoprostane F(2alpha)-VI, has been developed. This prostaglandin isomer is produced by nonenzymatic oxidation of membrane-linked arachidonic acid. Because it provides an unusually stable and specific measure of LPO, we sought to determine whether its levels would increase following retinal light damage. METHODS Balb/c mice were exposed to bright fluorescent light for 7 h. Twenty-eight h after light exposure, photoreceptor death was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) analysis. Isoprostane F(2alpha)-VI was quantified in retinal extracts by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Retinal isoprostane was localized by immunofluorescence. RESULTS TUNEL analysis demonstrated photoreceptor cell death after light exposure. Compared with controls, retina extracts from mice exposed to fluorescent light had a significant increase in isoprostane F(2alpha)-VI levels following light damage. Immunohistochemistry confirmed an increase in retinal isoprostane. CONCLUSIONS Elevated levels of isoprostane F(2alpha)-VI, a stable, highly specific marker of lipid peroxidation, confirm earlier reports of light-mediated retinal lipid peroxidation, potentially an important mechanism of retinal degeneration. Further, since levels of isoprostane F(2alpha)-VI are readily quantified, its measurement provides a new means to specifically monitor retinal oxidative damage caused by prooxidants such as light.
Strength-Based Person-Centered Dementia Care: Activities of Daily Living

Given the complex framework described throughout this text, it is helpful to see examples applying the outlined principles. This chapter is an extended illustration of an interdisciplinary team using strength-based and person-centered care for a person living with dementia. Completing activities of daily living (ADLs) is one of the most challenging, yet important, tasks that occurs multiple times per day for those with advanced dementia. Decreased ability to complete activities of daily living (ADLS) is a hallmark of major neurocognitive disorder (NCD).
High-pitch non-gated scans on the second and third generation dual-source CT scanners: comparison of coronary image quality

Abstract Objective To examine differences in image quality of the coronary arteries when performing high-pitch non-electrocardiography (ECG)-gated scans on the second-generation (2G) and third-generation (3G) dual-source CT scanners. Methods We retrospectively examined patients with high-pitch non-ECG-gated CT angiography (CTA) of the chest or chest/abdomen/pelvis. Outpatient scans from 59 patients in the 3G high-pitch group and 53 patients in the 2G high-pitch group were included. Two blinded cardiac imagers independently scored the coronary image quality using a 4-point Likert scale (from completely diagnostic to completely non-diagnostic) and evaluated the presence of coronary artery disease. Results Diagnostic image quality of the coronaries in high-pitch CTA exams using 3G scanner was improved compared to 2G scanner, both on a per-vessel basis (45–94% versus 23–86%) and on a per-study basis (34% versus 14%). The 3G group showed a statistically significant improvement in image quality when evaluating the left main coronary, right coronary, and overall coronary arteries. Coronary artery disease was detected in 65% of high-pitch scans. Radiation doses in terms of CTDIvol and DLP were lower for 3G high-pitch scans (7.5 mGy and 491 mGy∗cm) compared to 2G high-pitch scans (14.8 mGy and 911 mGy∗cm). Conclusions We found a higher proportion of diagnostic image quality of the coronary arteries in high-pitch non-ECG-gated CTA exams using a 3G dual-source CT scanner, compared to 2G. In scans with diagnostic image quality, underlying coronary artery disease may be confidently diagnosed and should prompt considerations for further management in the appropriate clinical setting.
Principled Leader Behaviors: An Integrative Framework and Extension of Why Leaders Are Fair, Ethical, and Nonabusive

Research to date on leader behaviors such as justice rule adherence, abusive supervision, and ethical leadership has found a clear linkage between such behaviors and employees’ work attitudes and p...
Say no to bat fried rice_ changing the narrative of coronavirus and Chinese food

The fear of Chinese food in the United States has risen with the advent of COVID-19, amidst widespread news reports pinpointing a wildlife wet market in Wuhan, China as the origin site of the novel...
“Pill Pushers and CBD Oil”—A Thematic Analysis of Social Media Interactions About Pain After Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury

Purpose Brachial plexus injury (BPI) patients use on-line groups for peer support, often seeking information from Facebook groups devoted to BPI. We hypothesized that a qualitative thematic analysis of posts from BPI Facebook groups would demonstrate the areas in which patients were seeking information regarding treatment of BPI and reveal potential sources of misinformation that patients may encounter. Methods We identified the 2 most popular public Facebook groups for BPI by searching key words “traumatic brachial plexus injury.” We selected posts containing comments regarding BPI from November 1, 2018 through October 31, 2019. We excluded posts regarding brachial plexus birth injury. We used iterative inductive and deductive thematic analysis for the qualitative data to identify recurring topics, knowledge gaps, potential roles of patient educational interventions, and patient interaction dynamics. Two investigators independently coded all posts and resolved discrepancies by discussion. Results A total of 7,694 posts from 2 leading Facebook support groups were analyzed. Three themes emerged: (1) When discussing pain management, there was recurring anti-opioid sentiment. Posters who currently used opioids or supported those who did discussed perceived effects of the opioid epidemic on their treatment, on their relationships with care providers, and on availability of the medication. (2) Posters advocated for alternatives to traditional approaches to pain management, referring to prescribers as pill pushers and touting cannabinoids as a safer and more effective replacement. (3) There was strong anti-gabapentinoid sentiment owing to reported adverse effects and a perceived lack of efficacy, despite its role as a first-line treatment for neuropathic pain. Conclusions Examination of posts from Facebook support groups for BPI revealed recurring themes, questions, misinformation, and opinions from posters with regard to treatment of neuropathic pain. These findings can help clinicians who care for BPI patients identify areas to focus on during patient encounters to address neuropathic pain that commonly occurs with BPI. Clinical relevance Brachial plexus injury surgeons should be aware of information, misinformation, and opinions on social media, because these may influence patient–surgeon interactions.
Choi's Proof and Quantum Process Tomography

Quantum process tomography is a procedure by which an unknown quantum operation can be fully experimentally characterized. We reinterpret Choi's proof of the fact that any completely positive linear map has a Kraus representation [Lin. Alg. and App., 10, 1975] as a method for quantum process tomography. Furthermore, the analysis for obtaining the Kraus operators are particularly simple in this method.
Analog representations and their users

Characterizing different kinds of representation is of fundamental importance to cognitive science, and one traditional way of doing so is in terms of the analog–digital distinction. Indeed the distinction is often appealed to in ways both narrow and broad. In this paper I argue that the analog–digital distinction does not apply to representational schemes but only to representational systems, where a representational system is constituted by a representational scheme and its user, and that whether a representational system is analog or non-analog depends on facts about that user. This aspect of the distinction has gone unnoticed, and I argue that the failure to notice it can be an impediment to scientific progress.
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Persons with Disabilities

In this paper, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (SFDRR) is evaluated with respect to its ramifications for persons with disabilities. In the SFDRR, persons with disabilities were referenced either directly or indirectly as part of the preamble, the guiding principles, the priorities for action, and the role of stakeholders. In addition, the 2015 World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, during which the SFDRR was adopted, incorporated explicit recommendations toward a disability-accessible and inclusive environment not evident in previous disaster risk reduction conferences. The infusion of disability-related terms and concepts such as accessibility, inclusion, and universal design throughout the SFDRR document was significant. These concepts, which have their origin in disability studies, are used in the SFDRR document to refer to the needs of all in disaster, not only to people with disabilities. These disability-related concepts will now serve the field of disaster risk reduction as important overarching disaster-related principles. The authors conclude that the SFDRR has firmly established people with disabilities and their advocacy organizations as legitimate stakeholders and actors in the design and implementation of international disaster risk reduction policies.
Caroli's disease associated with congenital hepatic fibrosis and renal tubular ectasia. A case report.

A case of communicating cavernous ectasia of the intrahepatic bile ducts associated with congenital hepatic fibrosis and renal tubular ectasia is presented. Intravenous cholangiogram and 131I rose bengal scanning permitted the diagnosis of saccular dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts to be suspected. Pertinent clinical features of previously reported cases are also reviewed.
Saturable absorbers with large area broadband Bragg reflectors for femtosecond pulse generation

Semiconductor saturable absorbers are monolithically integrated with large area high-index-contrast AlGaAs/Al/sub x/O/sub y/ broadband mirrors. The mirrors are used to self-start and mode-lock a Cr:Forsterite laser generating 30 fs pulses.
Multi-quark correlations in nuclei

This paper reviews the consequences of multi-quark correlations in nuclei which arise through the particular cluster decomposition of the nuclear ground state specified by the quark cluster model (QCM). The critical radius of a three quark cluster, R , controls the formation probability of larger clusters. The value of R,;0.50 fm is fixed by fits to deep inelastic lepton nucleus scattering da a. The QCM prediction fOC the ratio of nuclear structure functions in the x > 1 domain is discussed as a critical test of the model. We also present an extended discussion of the application of the QCM to the nuclear Drell-Yan process.
SPECIAL ARTICLES THUMBSUCKING: A LEARNED RESPONSE

THERE was a day not so long ago when the habitual thumbsucking baby was looked upon as being a happy baby. Today, however, the ignorance of the people who held this point of view is sometimes looked upon as an indication of the progress of modern times. It is the purpose of this paper to attempt to show briefly how the modern point of view has come about, to indicate that the ignorance of the past is largely still with us, and finally to put forth a theory to account for the arousal of the thumbsucking response in terms of general learning theory principles. There were 3 main reasons for the fall of the old theory. First came the rise of modern medicine and the discovery of the germ. There need be little said here about the ensuing rapid awareness of the public as well as the better informed of the necessity for cleanliness, especially with respect to things which might go into the body. Thus, it naturally followed that babies should not put their fingers in their mouths for fear that germs would enter their defenseless bodies. It might be mentioned before leaving the subject that today there seems to be general agreement in the medical profession that there are hundreds of sources of germs which enter the body in many hundreds of ways, one of the least important of which is by thumbsucking; and further, that disease usually does not directly follow the entrance of germs into the body but often occurs in a period of lowered resistance during which time germs already in the body are enabled to multiply and cause symptoms.
Cocaine decreases expression of neurogranin via alterations in thyroid receptor/retinoid X receptor signaling

Mounting evidence suggests a potential link between cocaine abuse, disruptions in hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis signaling, and neuroplasticity, but molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Neurogranin (Ng) is a gene containing a thyroid hormone-responsive element within its first intron that is involved in synaptic plasticity. Transcriptional activation requires heterodimerization of thyroid hormone receptor (TR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR) bound by their respective ligands, tri-iodothryonine and 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA), and subsequent binding of this complex to the thyroid hormone-responsive element of the Ng gene. In this study, the effects of chronic cocaine abuse on Ng expression in euthyroid and hypothyroid mice were assessed. In cocaine-treated mice, decreased Ng expression was observed in the absence of changes in levels of thyroid hormones or other hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid signaling factors. Therefore, we hypothesized that cocaine decreases Ng expression via alterations in 9-cis-RA availability and TR/RXR signaling. In support of this hypothesis, RXR-γ was significantly decreased in brains of cocaine-treated mice while CYP26A1, the main enzyme responsible for neuronal RA degradation, was significantly increased. Results from this study provide the first evidence for a direct effect of cocaine abuse on TR/RXR signaling, RA metabolism, and transcriptional regulation of Ng, a gene essential for adult neuroplasticity.
Evolution of the vortex phase diagram in YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ with random point disorder

We demonstrate the gradual evolution of the first-order vortex melting transition into a continuous transition with the systematic addition of point disorder induced by proton irradiation. The evolution occurs via the decrease of the upper critical point and the increase of the lower critical point. The collapse of the first-order melting transition occurs when the two critical points merge. We compare these results with the effects of electron irradiation on the first-order transition. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.
Colorimetric Assay for Guaiacol O-Methyltransferase

A relatively simple colorimetric assay was developed for guaiacol O-methyltransferase. Monomethylated phenolic acid substrates are enzymatically methylated to their corresponding dimethoxyl compounds; S-adenosylmethionine serves as the methyl donor. Enzymatic activity is measured by colorimetric assay of the monomethylated (nonreacted) substrate by coupling of the phenolic acid with a diazotized sulfanilic acid. The methoxyl and hydroxyl groups may be in the 3,4- or 4,3-positions on the substrate molecules; however, a side chain (COOH) or a substituted side chain is necessary for enzyme action. The radioactive demonstration of guaiacol O-methyltransferase as a separate entity from catechol O-methyl-transferase was confirmed.
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase as a Mediator of TNF-Induced NF-κB Activation

The activation of transcription factor NF-κB by TNF involves the stimulation of a novel signaling cascade. In this paper we show that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) may play a pivotal role in TNF-mediated activation of NF-κB-dependent genes. Consistent with its involvement in TNF signaling, PI 3-kinase activities in HepG2 and U937 cells can be stimulated by TNF in a rapid but transient manner through a mechanism that may involve its association with the insulin receptor substrate-1. A dominant-negative mutant of the p85 regulatory subunit of PI 3-kinase, which is a potent inhibitor of PI 3-kinase signaling, effectively blocked the TNF-induced expression of an NF-κB-dependent reporter gene. Although PI 3-kinase may be required for NF-κB activation, overexpression of its p110 catalytic subunit alone was unable to induce an NF-κB/chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. However, when TNF was added to p110-overexpressing cells, there was a synergistic activation of the NF-κB/CAT reporter, suggesting that other TNF-inducible signals may cooperate with PI 3-kinase to activate NF-κB. Consistent with its role in NF-κB activation, inhibition of PI 3-kinase activity by wortmannin or LY294002 greatly potentiated TNF-induced apoptosis. This TNF/wortmannin-induced apoptosis was markedly prevented in cells overexpressing Rel A. Taken together, our results indicate that a PI 3-kinase-regulated step in TNF-signaling is critical for the expression of NF-κB-dependent genes.
Clonidine Challenge in Childhood Anxiety Disorder

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the neurohormonal and subjective mood response of children with anxiety disorder to clonidine challenge. Method Children with DSM-IV diagnoses of anxiety disorder (ANX) ( n = 24) and normal controls ( n = 15) were given a challenge of intravenous clonidine (1.3 μg/kg) and provided neurohormonal and mood self-report assessment over a 180-minute period. Result The ANX group differed from normal controls in Hamilton Anxiety Rating, Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale score, and maximum change from baseline (Δmax) in growth hormone (GH). Clonidine-stimulated GH concentration of the ANX group was significantly elevated compared with that of controls but returned to baseline within 2 hours. A subgroup with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) ( n = 9) had significantly higher Amax GH (17.5 ± 10.1 ng/mL) than the group with other anxiety disorders (ANX-OCD) (9.1 ± 5.8 ng/mL) and controls (5.7 ± 4.1 ng/mL). Conclusion GH response to clonidine challenge is not blunted in ANX subjects. This finding is in contrast to adult disorder and suggests that adrenergic postsynaptic receptor down-regulation is not a feature of childhood anxiety. These findings suggest enhanced central adrenergic sensitivity in ANX which is most pronounced in OCD and argue against a neurobiological continuum from childhood to adult anxiety disorder.
Myocardial physiology measurements using contrast enhanced dynamic computed tomography: simulation of beam hardening effect

Initial animal study for quantifying myocardial physiology through contrast-enhanced dynamic x-ray CT suggested that beam hardening is one of the limiting factors for accurate regional physiology measurement. In this study, a series of simulations were performed to investigate its deterioration effects and two correction algorithms were adapted to evaluate for their efficiency in improving the measurements. The simulation tool consists of a module simulating data acquisition of a real polyenergetic scanner system and a heart phantom consisting of simple geometric objects representing ventricles and myocardium. Each phantom component was modeled with time-varying attenuation coefficients determined by ideal iodine contrast dynamic curves obtained from experimental data or simulation. A compartment model was used to generate the ideal myocardium contrast curve using physiological parameters consistent with measured values. Projection data of the phantom were simulated and reconstructed to produce a sequence of simulated CT images. Simulated contrast dynamic curves were fitted to the compartmental model and the resultant physiological parameters were compared with ideal values to estimate the errors induced by beam hardening artifacts. The simulations yielded similar deterioration patterns of contrast dynamic curves as observed in the initial study. Significant underestimation of left ventricle curves and corruption of regional myocardium curves result in systematic errors of regional perfusion up to approximately 24% and overestimates of fractional blood volume (f iv ) up to 13%. The correction algorithms lead to significant improvement with errors of perfusion reduced to 7% and errors of f iv within 2% which shows promise for more robust myocardial physiology measurement.
Asbestos disease in sheet metal workers: Proportional mortality update

This paper, updating the findings of an earlier study, provides additional evidence that sheet metal workers in the construction trades are at increased risk for asbestos-related disease. A proportional analysis of cause of death among 331 New York sheet metal workers found a significantly elevated PMR for lung cancer (PMR = 186). In addition, there were six deaths attributable to mesothelioma (three classified as lung cancer deaths) and three death certificates mentioned asbestosis or pulmonary fibrosis, although none of these three deaths were attributed to these diseases.
Spectroscopic investigations of solvent effect on chiral interactions

The spectrophotometric method was used to determine the mechanism of chiral interactions between a known chiral selector, tert-butyl carbamoylated quinine (t-BuCQN), and N-derivative amino acids (DNB-Leu). Results obtained on binding constants, free energy of binding (¢G), and difference in free energy of binding (¢¢G) values seem to suggest that there are three possible types of interactions between DNB-Leu and t-BuCQN: electrostatic interaction between the carboxylate group of the DNB-Leu and the ammonium group of the t-BuCQN, the donor-acceptor charge-transfer type of interaction between the (acceptor) aromatic group of the amino acid and the (donor) aromatic group of the t-BuCQN, and the hydrogen-bonding interaction between the amide group of the DNB-Leu and the carbonyl group of t-BuCQN. The strongest interaction will be observed if all of three interactions are in operation as in the case of DNB-Leu. The electrostatic interaction seems to play the dominant role in the interactions. While the charge-transfer interaction is relatively weaker, it seems, however, to be responsible for enantiomeric selectivity, namely, the closer the electron acceptor dinitrophenyl group is to the electron donor quinoline group, the higher is the enantiomeric selectivity. Specifically, in solvent with high polarity, both donor and acceptor are solvated by solvent molecules, thereby preventing them from being close. As a consequence, the interaction will be weaker and, hence, lower enantiomeric selectivity. Solvation will be less in less polar solvent which, in turn, leads to stronger interaction and higher enantiomeric selectivity.
THE LOCATION OF THE INHIBITORY ACTION OF KCN AND SEVERAL POLYAMINES ON BACTERIOPHAGE REPLICATION.

Abstract Streptomycin, spermine, and arginine inhibit the replication of T1, T3, T7, and PLT22 bacteriophages. Spermine and arginine inhibit adsorption as well as penetration, whereas streptomycin allows adsorption but blocks the initiation of phage penetration. The majority of bacteria infected in the presence of streptomycin survive as viable cells. A technique based on the sensitivity of adsorbed T3 phage to antiserum has been used to define the site of action of these polyamines. This technique also showed that KCN inhibited T3 phage late in the penetration process.
A beam search heuristics to solve the parcel hub scheduling problem

In this paper, a beam search scheduling heuristic (BSSH) is presented to solve the parcel hub scheduling problem (PHSP), which is a scheduling problem that is common in the parcel delivery industry (PDI). Companies in the PDI include the United States Postal Service, United Parcel Services, Federal Express, and Deutsche Post. Together, these companies move more than one trillion dollars of the United States' Gross Domestic Product. The PHSP involves scheduling a set of inbound trailers each containing a set of heterogeneous parcels to a set of unload docks. At the unload docks, the parcels are unloaded, sorted, and moved to the appropriate outbound trailers at the load docks. At the load docks, the parcels are loaded onto the outbound trailers. The objective is to minimize the timespan of the transfer operation at the transshipment terminal. The BSSH is compared to various scheduling approaches: random scheduling algorithm (RSA), genetic-based scheduling algorithm (GBSA), and simulation-based scheduling algorithm (SBSA). While GBSA and SBSA offer solutions that are superior to BSSH for smaller size problems, BSSH outperforms these algorithms on larger size problems requiring much less computational time. The results show that for larger size problems the BSSH is able to produce solutions that are from 4% to 8% of the known optimum solutions. In contrast, GBSA and SBSA, respectively offer solutions from 23% to 38% and from 6% to 47% of the known optimum solutions. The contribution of this paper is a scheduling heuristic to solve the PHSP.
Segregation of Ce in Ca0.55Sr0.45Ga2S4:Ce thin films during annealing

Abstract Surface and interfacial segregation of cerium in sputter-deposited Ca0.55Sr0.45Ga2S4:Ce (thiogallate) films during annealing between 550°C and 750°C has been studied. Composition vs. depth of the thiogallate thin films was determined using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and microstructure was examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cerium segregation to the ambient/thiogallate surface was driven by oxide formation, while segregation to the thiogallate/insulator was driven by formation of a Ce–Zn–O–S quaternary phase.
Identification of a cellular transcription factor involved in E1A trans-activation

We have employed a gel assay to detect a transcription factor in nuclear extracts of adenovirus-infected cells that interacts with the adenovirus E2 promoter, an E1A inducible promoter. Binding of the factor to the promoter protected sequences between -33 and -74 from DNAase cleavage in a footprint assay. This region was also protected from exonuclease III digestion. These sequences coincide with those previously shown to be essential for promoter activity and E1A stimulation. The factor could be detected in extracts of uninfected cells, although at greatly reduced levels. The increased level of factor in infected cells required a functional E1A gene. These results suggest that the E2 binding activity is a cellular transcriptional factor, the concentration or binding activity of which increases as a result of the action of the E1A gene product.
Epidermal regeneration and percutaneous water loss following cellophane stripping of reptile epidermis.

The histological and physiological effects of the removal of superficial corneous epidermal materials have been studied in several squamate species and a caiman. The gross and microscopic anatomy of the squamate integument has characteristics which make cellophane stripping inherently variable, but in general, when corneous materials are removed, they are replaced over a period of one to two weeks, by a tissue with the histological characteristics of the normal α-layer. This tissue may be produced by stimulated germinal activity and/or metaplasia of other presumptive cell populations. In caiman, the thickness of the corneous tissues of the outer scale surface is reduced by stripping and the tissue is restored to normal in approximately two weeks by stimulated germinal proliferation. Measurements of cutaneous water loss (CWL) before, immediately after, and during two weeks post-trauma revealed the following. There is a sudden rise in CWL immediately after stripping, and values decline over the next two weeks as the corneous tissues are replaced. The results are interpreted as indicating that, as in mammals, the impermeability of the epidermis depends on the thickness of the corneous materials. In squamates it appears that the physiological barrier is the αlayer of the epidermal generation, and while the β-layer cannot be excluded as playing some role in reducing the permeability of the integument, its role appears to be primarily mechanical.
A high-accuracy, calibration-free technique for measuring the electrical conductivity of molten oxides

A high-accuracy, calibration-free technique to measure the electrical conductivity of molten oxides has been developed—the coaxial cylinders technique. Because the melt under investigation comes in contact only with metal and not with anything dielectric, the new technique enables the measurement of the electrical properties of liquids inaccessible by classical high-accuracy techniques. Two coaxial cylindrical electrodes are immersed in the melt to an arbitrary initial depth, and ac impedance is measured over a wide range of frequency. The electrodes are then immersed deeper, and ac impedance is again measured over the same range of frequency. This process is repeated at multiple immersions. The electrical conductivity is calculated from the change in measured conductance with immersion. The temperature dependence of electrical conductivity has been measured for two oxide melts: (M) 50.95 pct CaO, 12.51 pct MgO, 36.54 pct SiO2, 1733 K<T<1843 K; and (S) 24.59 pct CaO, 26.15 pct MgO, 49.26 pct SiO2, 1763 K<T<1903 K, where concentration is expressed in mole percent. Both melts exhibited behavior characteristic of ionic liquids.
Distributed Regenerative DF SISO Wireless Mobile Networks under PCSI and ICSI

This paper studies the regenerative decode-and-forward (DF) for mobile wireless relay networks under perfect channel state information (PCSI) and imperfect channel state information (ICSI). The wireless mobile network under study consists of one-source-one-destination mobile pair and N-multibranch mobile relay nodes. The proposed detection tactics, employing the maximum ratio combiner (MRC) principle, are proposed for a mobile network experiencing either PCSI or PCSI. These tactics are applied at mobile relays and the mobile destination accordingly to optimally detect received signals. Using the proposed detection schemes, Monte-Carlo simulations are performed to evaluate the system performance for the distributed regenerative DF single-input single-output (SISO) mobile wireless relay network. Performance comparisons for cases, such as ICSI only in source-relay links and ICSI only in relay-destination links, were also included.
Opinion piece: Coming soon, to a pharmacy near you.

When you sit down to watch your favorite program on television, you have come to accept that it will periodically be interrupted by advertisements complete with special effects and glossy esoteric themes. Sometimes, it is difficult to even know what product you are supposed to want to buy. But, if you live in New Zealand or the United States, the only two developed nations in the world that allow direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketing of prescription drugs, chances are that slick commercial is for a medication (Greene & Herzberg, 2010). You, the potential patient, cannot actually obtain this drug without going through the gatekeeper of your health care provider. This is despite the prescribing clinician not being the one informing you that you need a specific drug while still contributing a customer and their generated profit to the drug manufacturer. This is the conundrum of DTC marketing and begs us to question why the patient is the target of these advertisements.
Profiling sensor for ISR applications

This paper addresses a new type of sensor that we are calling a profiling sensor. The profiling sensor collects sufficient information to classify objects reliably. In addition to meeting the classification requirement, the profiling sensor is inexpensive to build and maintain, will have a low unit production cost, uses a small amount of power, has a long battery life, and is very low weight. A variety of concepts are presented along with human signatures from one specific profiling sensor. In addition the paper includes a discussion of different concepts or architectures for profiling sensors as a function of potential applications.
Pop out many small structures from a very large microscopic image

In medical research, many applications require counting and measuring small regions in a large image. Extracting these regions poses a dilemma in terms of segmentation granularity due to fine structures and segmentation complexity due to large image sizes. We propose a constrained spectral graph partitioning framework to address the former while also reducing the segmentation complexity associated with the latter. The final segmentation is obtained from a set of patch segmentations, each independently derived subject to stitching constraints between neighboring patches. Individual segmentation is based on local pairwise cues designed to pop out all cells simultaneously from their common background, while the constraints are derived from mutual agreement analysis on patch segmentations from a previous round of segmentation. Our results demonstrate that the constrained segmentation not only stitches solutions seamlessly along overlapping patch borders but also refines the segmentation in the patch interiors.
A non‐peptide substance P antagonist (CP‐96,345) inhibits morphine‐induced NF‐κB promoter activation in human NT2‐N neurons

Opioids and the neuropeptide substance P (SP) modulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which are under the control of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB). We investigated whether the neurokinin-1 receptor (SP receptor) pathway is biologically involved in morphine-mediated modulation of NF-kappaB promoter activation in a human neuronal cell line (NT2-N) that expresses both the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) and the SP receptor. Morphine significantly enhanced NF-kappaB promoter-directed luciferase activity in NT2-N neurons. DAMGO, a selective mu-opioid receptor agonist, also induced NF-kappaB promoter activation. The induced activation of NF-kappaB promoter by morphine or DAMGO was abolished not only by naltrexone (a opioid receptor antagonist) and CTAP (a selective, competitive mu-opioid receptor antagonist), but also by CP-96,345, a non-peptide SP receptor antagonist. Investigation of the mechanism responsible for morphine-induced activation of NF-kappaB promoter in NT2-N neurons demonstrated that morphine activates the SP promoter and induces SP expression in these cells. We also observed that SP activated NF-kappaB promoter and that CP-96,345 downregulated the expression of endogenous SP. Furthermore, dual immunofluorescent labeling revealed that there is co-expression of NK-1R and MOR in the processes of NT-2N neurons. These results suggest that morphine, by activating MOR, engages a positive feedback loop between NK-1R and SP. Activation of NK-1R could then impact NF-kappaB expression and therefore may be an important participant in the effect of morphine on immune responses in the central nervous system.
A cross-national test of determinants of inflation accounting practices

Abstract This paper develops a model to identify characteristics that may affect inflation accounting practice among countries. Parametric and nonparametric tests are conducted to determine the effect of inflation rate, national culture, legal system, economic system, accounting system, and other accounting policies on inflation accounting practice. Countries that use price level adjustment have higher inflation than countries that use historical cost or historical cost with some revaluation. The results indicate that national culture, accounting system, economic system, and financial statement disclosure are also important factors in explaining the cost basis used by businesses operating in various countries.
A property of (v, k, λ)-designs

It is shown that if the subsetsX 1,...,X v of a setX form a (v, k, λ)-design, then there does not exist another subsetX v+1 ofX havingany cardinalityk 1 and intersecting each of theX j, 1≦j≦v, inany number λ1 of elements, where 0<k 1<v and 0<λ1<k (in order to avoid uninteresting cases).
Craniofacial dysostosis, patent ductus arteriosus, hypertrichosis, hypoplasia of labia majora, dental and eye anomalies—a new syndrome?

Summary Two cases are described which present craniofacial dysostosis, patent ductus arteriosus, hypoplasia of the labia majora, and dental anomalies. The relationship of the new syndrome to that of other well-recognized symptom complexes and the dubious value of grouping a large number of etiologically different conditions under the “first arch syndrome” are discussed.
Relativistic many-electron atoms in perturbation and dirac-fock theory

Our previous work on the problem of relativistic many-electron atoms is extended and more rigorously treated than before. The present paper is restricted to the formal consideration of energy levels in the relativistic theory. Both perturbation theory in 1/Z (where − eZ is the nuclear charge) for high Z ions and the Dirac-Fock approximation are considered. The present treatment applies to atoms with Z > 2, and N a closed shell or subshell (where e(N ± 1) is the lepton charge: N ± 1 are the total number of electrons in the non-relativistic limit). Renormalization, radiative corrections, and correlations are explicitly considered. All contributions of leading order in αZ through 1/Z2 in perturbation theory, as well as leading order correlation and radiative correction terms in Dirac-Fock theory are formally exhibited and their relative size is estimated. Besides the usual Lamb shift corrections, additional types of radiative correction are shown to occur. A detailed derivation of the explicit, finite integrals which remain in these additional terms after renormalization, and which must be numerically evaluated, is left to a subsequent paper.
OXIDATION‐ASSISTED FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH BEHAVIOR IN ALLOY 718‐PART I. QUANTITATIVE MODELING

This paper presents a new model to predict the high temperature, intergranular crack growth rate behavior in alloy 718 at 650°C. The model is based on the concept that the crack tip oxidation-fatigue damage is a nonlinear process governed by the chemical-mechanical interaction along the grain boundary fracture path at the crack tip. A concept of two-stage oxidation mechanism was used here. This mechanism depends on the rate of formation of the chromia layer in relation to the build-up of other oxide types at the crack tip. The saturation of the Cr2O3 build-up signifies the occurrence of the oxide passivation effect. The determination of the amount of Cr2O3 depends on the amount of both oxygen diffused along the affected grain boundary and chromium transported via a mobile dislocation network. Here, both the grain boundary and effective dislocation pipe are treated as short-circuit diffusion paths along which the diffusion process can be described using Whipple's solution. The model yields sufficient information to correlate the amount of Cr2O3 with the reduction in the grain boundary ductility within the affected oxide zone. The grain boundary ductility is balanced by the effective strain at the crack tip resulting from the external loading. This balance defines the fracture criterion of the model and permits the calculation of the crack advance per cycle which is the ultimate goal of this work.
Ventilatory responses of ponies and horses to exercise

Because athletic horses become hypoxaemic and hypercapnoeic during high-intensity exercise but ponies do not, six Thoroughbred horses and five ponies performed an incremental exercise test at speeds with calculated energy requirements that were 40, 60, 80 and 115% of V˙O2max, with the objective of comparing their blood gas and ventilatory responses to exercise. Expired gas and blood samples were taken and breathing mechanics were assessed before exercise and during the last 15 s at each intensity. Maximal V˙O2 and V˙CO2 in horses were 153±5 (SEM) and 187±4 ml kg−1 min−1, respectively, while corresponding values in ponies were 92±4 and 112±7 ml kg−1 min−1. During heavy and supramaximal exercise, horses, but not ponies, became hypoxaemic and hypercapnic. There was no significant difference for V˙E kg−1 between groups during maximal exercise, but PAO2, PaO2 and PvO2 were lower and PaCO2 and [(A−a)O2D] were greater in horses than in ponies. Additionally, the horses' maximal transpulmonary pressure difference was higher and their total pulmonary resistance and ventilatory equivalent lower than in ponies. Flow-volume loops suggested that horses experienced expiratory flow limitation but that ponies did not. These results indicated that horses like Thoroughbreds appear to be expiratory flow-limited and become hypoxaemic and hypercapnic when the demand for gas exchange associated with their high V˙O2max and V˙CO2max is greater than can be met by their ventilatory system. Ponies, which are less capable athletes, could better match their ventilatory response with their metabolic capabilities and so were able to maintain PaO2 in the pre-exercise range and decrease PaCO2 to a tension that was more compatible with acid–base homeostasis.
Runaway fragmentation of sungrazing comets observed with the solar and heliospheric observatory

The strong propensity of the SOHO sungrazing comets for clustering is a product of their runaway fragmentation throughout the orbit about the Sun.
Deciding to sell: The effect of prior inaction and offer source

Abstract Recent research has shown that decision makers are less likely to accept an opportunity after failing to act on a previous offer, an effect labeled inaction inertia. We extended the original research by examining the phenomenon in the domain of losses as well as in the domain of gains. A pattern consistent with the inaction inertia effect was found for gains but not for losses. We also manipulated the source of the second offer and found that evaluations of gains decreased after inaction regardless of source, but evaluations of losses increased when the second offer came from a different source. Evaluations of the offer were highly correlated with ratings of anticipated regret, suggesting that the avoidance of negative emotions may be partially responsible for the effect.
Social influences approach to smoking prevention: the effects of videotape delivery with and without same-age peer leader participation

This study tested the hypothesis that cigarette smoking adoption among adolescents could be suppressed by providing school-based videotape instruction for resisting social influences to smoke. The utilization of same-age peer leaders was also varied to test whether their participation in the classroom would enhance program effects. Seventh grade students (N = 540) from one junior high school in Southern California were randomly assigned by classrooms (N = 15) to: (a) videotape instruction, (b) videotape instruction plus peer leader involvement, or (c) survey-only. Seventh grade students (N = 234) in a second junior high school served as a measurement-only control. Assessments were conducted at the beginning and end of the academic year. Results revealed a marked suppression in the onset of both experimental and regular smoking among those students exposed to the pressure resistance training with peer leader involvement. Pressure resistance training without peer leader involvement produced a more variable and less powerful effect on students' smoking behavior. Data collected on students' use of alcohol and marijuana revealed a generalized suppression effect, albeit weaker than for tobacco, among those students exposed to the social resistance training with peer leader involvement. Results provide further encouraging support for the use of peer-led pressure resistance training in preventing adolescent drug use.