cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gender differences in the progression of co-morbid psychopathology symptoms of eating disordered patients

This study examined the utility of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) in screening for comorbid psychopathology in eating disordered males and females undergoing residential treatment. The PAI, a self-administered screening tool containing 344 items to provide information on 11 clinical constructs, was administered at admission and discharge to 181 patients, 154 females and 27 males. Average age was 26.88 years (SD=9.35) and average length of stay was 58.31 days (SD=39.94). The results showed that both male and female patients exhibit several comorbid disorders at admission to residential treatment and the severity of these symptoms was statistically significantly reduced over the course of treatment. When comparing differences among genders, the results show that females present with more psychopathology symptoms at the start of treatment but make better progress than males in reducing these symptoms over time. When comparing patients across eating disorder diagnoses, subjects with bulimia displayed more severe comorbid symptomatology as compared to those with anorexia or other eating disorders. A thorough clinical assessment of eating disordered patients including comorbid psychopathology disorders is relevant for clinical diagnosis, treatment planning, and perhaps ultimately the outcome of treatment.
Radiotherapy in the management of orbital lymphoma.

Abstract Purpose: This retrospective study reviews the treatment technique, disease outcome, and complications of radiotherapy used in the management of lymphoma involving the orbits. Patients & Methods: Thirty-eight patients were treated between May 1969 and January 1995, with a median follow-up of 8.3 years. All patients had biopsy-proven orbital lymphoma. Twenty patients who had limited disease were treated with curative intent, and 18 patients who had known systemic disease were treated with palliative intent. Of the 20 patients treated with curative intent, 14 had low-grade and 6 had intermediate- or high-grade disease. None received chemotherapy. Most patients received treatment with 250 kVP or 60 Co radiation, using either an en face anterior field or wedged anterior and lateral fields. Median treatment dose was 25 Gy. Lens shielding was performed if possible. For patients treated for cure, cause-specific survival and freedom from distant relapse were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Control of disease in the orbit was achieved in all but 1 patient, who developed an out-of-field recurrence after irradiation of a lacrimal tumor and was salvaged with further radiotherapy. In the patients treated curatively, the 5-year rate of actuarial freedom from distant relapse was 61% for those with low-grade and 33% for those with intermediate/high-grade disease ( p = 0.08). Cause-specific survival at 5 years was 89% for patients with low-grade and 33% for those with intermediate/high-grade disease ( p = 0.005). Two patients with low-grade disease had contralateral orbital failures; both were salvaged with further irradiation. Acute toxicity was minimal. Cataracts developed in 7 of 21 patients treated without lens shielding and 0 of 17 patients treated with lens shielding. No patient developed significant late lacrimal toxicity. Conclusion: Radiotherapy is a safe and effective local treatment in the management of orbital lymphoma.
Subperiod aggregation and the power of multivariate tests of portfolio efficiency

Abstract When testing portfolio efficiency, empiricists usually perform tests using subperiods and aggregate the results in some manner. Although the power of individual subperiod tests has been studied previously, little is known about the power of the aggregate test. Power is evaluated here through simulations using two different aggregation techniques. Aggregate power is substantially higher than that for a single subperiod. For example, in one scenario the aggregate power is 0.77 over a sixty-year period, but only 0.17 for each five-year subperiod. In addition, the level of power depends on the method of aggregation.
Design for Lifecycle Cost and Preventive Maintenance Using Time-Dependent Reliability

Reliability is an important engineering requirement for consistently delivering acceptable product performance through time. As time progresses, the product may fail due to time phenomena such as time-dependent operating conditions, component degradation, etc. The degradation of reliability with time may increase the lifecycle cost due to potential warranty costs, repairs and loss of market share. In design for lifecycle cost and preventive maintenance, we must account for product quality, and time-dependent reliability. Quality is a measure of our confidence that the product conforms to specifications as it leaves the factory. Reliability depends on 1) the probability that the system will perform its intended function successfully for a specified interval of time, and 2) on the probability that the system response will not exceed an objectionable by the customer or operator, threshold for a certain time period. Quality is time-independent, and reliability is time-dependent. This paper presents a methodology to determine the optimal design and preventive maintenance of time-dependent, multi-response systems, by minimizing the cost during the life of the product. The lifecycle cost includes a production, an inspection, and an expected variable cost. All costs depend on quality and/or reliability. A roller clutch example highlights the design methodology for lifecycle cost.
The Balance Point: Keeping Serial Bibliographic Records Viable in a Digital Age

Michael Norman, head of serials cataloging at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) library, describes his library's development of an integrated management system for serials, the Online Research Resources (ORR). The ORR was designed to draw together and deliver to the public a wide range of information related to the library's serial holdings that previously could only be obtained by consulting a number of sources. With a single search, UIUC patrons can now consult the ORR for serials information such as variant titles, online availability, subject categories, print summary statements, ISI impact factor, where the title is indexed, and whether it is peer reviewed—an innovation sorely needed and highly welcomed by librarians and patrons alike.
Stainsby procedure for non-rheumatoid claw toes

Abstract We describe a retrospective clinical study of 32 patients with 38 feet and 88 toes who had the Stainsby procedure for claw toe correction. The mean follow up was 37 months with a mean postoperative AOFAS score of 75. The median objective and subjective scores were 22.4 out of a possible 40 and 52.7 out of a possible 60, respectively. The satisfied percentage was 89.5 and 78% would recommend the procedure. Complications included superficial wound problems, which occurred in 34% of patients but these resolved without any further operative intervention. Paraesthesia occurred in 19% of cases. There were no recurrences of the deformity. Even though the objective scores were poor, the subjective scores were extremely good with a high patient satisfaction. The Stainsby procedure is essentially a salvage operation for severe claw toes.
Combining a wavelet transform with a channelized Hotelling observer for tumor detection in 3D PET oncology imaging

This study evaluates new observer models for 3D whole-body Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging based on a wavelet sub-band decomposition and compares them with the classical constant-Q CHO model. Our final goal is to develop an original method that performs guided detection of abnormal activity foci in PET oncology imaging based on these new observer models. This computer-aided diagnostic method would highly benefit to clinicians for diagnostic purpose and to biologists for massive screening of rodents populations in molecular imaging. Method : We have previously shown good correlation of the channelized Hotelling observer (CHO) using a constant-Q model with human observer performance for 3D PET oncology imaging. We propose an alternate method based on combining a CHO observer with a wavelet sub-band decomposition of the image and we compare it to the standard CHO implementation. This method performs an undecimated transform using a biorthogonal B-spline 4/4 wavelet basis to extract the features set for input to the Hotelling observer. This work is based on simulated 3D PET images of an extended MCAT phantom with randomly located lesions. We compare three evaluation criteria: classification performance using the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), computation efficiency and visual quality of the derived 3D maps of the decision variable l. The SNR is estimated on a series of test images for a variable number of training images for both observers. Results : Results show that the maximum SNR is higher with the constant-Q CHO observer, especially for targets located in the liver, and that it is reached with a smaller number of training images. However, preliminary analysis indicates that the visual quality of the 3D maps of the decision variable l is higher with the wavelet-based CHO and the computation time to derive a 3D l-map is about 350 times shorter than for the standard CHO. This suggests that the wavelet-CHO observer is a good candidate for use in our guided detection method.
Pulmonary Interstitial Disease in Ig Deficiency

Study objectives To determine the frequency and type of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in consecutive subjects with symptomatic Ig deficiency. Patients One hundred forty-eight consecutive subjects with repeated respiratory infections and Ig deficiency. Measurements Ig classes and IgG subclasses (IgGSCs), the response to vaccination, pulmonary function tests, chest radiography, CT scan, Ga scan and, when possible, BAL and lung biopsy. Results Twenty-nine of 148 subjects (19 men and 10 women aged 18 to 72 years) had evidence of ILD. In 20 subjects, no cause of ILD was apparent. The remaining nine cases were ostensibly due to identifiable causes. Twenty subjects had IgGSC deficiency, 8 subjects had common variable immunodeficiency, and 1 subject had combined IgM plus IgGSC deficiency. No isotype deficiency was consistently related to a specific ILD. After administration of IV Ig, eight subjects, all with IgGSC deficiency, improved clinically, physiologically, radiologically, and occasionally histologically, regardless of immunologic or radiologic features. In this selective sample, the prevalence of ILD in consecutive subjects with recurrent respiratory infections and Ig deficiency (29 of 148 subjects; 19.6%) was higher than in the general population (0.8%; p Conclusions ILD in Ig deficiency is frequent and usually involves IgGSC deficiency.
Synthesis and evaluation of a novel bleomycin A2 analogue: continuing assessment of the linker domain

The synthesis and evaluation of a bithiazole ester analogue of deglycobleomycin A(2) that addresses the importance of the bithiazole-L-threonine amide for efficient DNA cleavage is described. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. Ail rights reserved.
Effects Of Background Noise On The Design Of Binary Phase-Only Filters

Optical correlator systems using the binary phase-only filter (BPOF) have shown excellent performance in a variety of both theoretical and experimental studies. The output of the system represents the correlation of the input function g(x,y) with the impulse response function of the BPOF designed for a given target pattern f(x,y). Unfortunately since this impulse response function contains both the desired pattern f(x,y) and and its inverted image f(-x,-y), the correlator output contains two signals representing the correlation of g(x,y) with both f(x,y) and f(-x,-y). The phase relationship between these two contributions can be varied depending on the algorithm used to make the BPOF. This paper discusses factors which influence the performance of the BPOF when the input pattern is degraded with background noise including the location of the object used to make the filter, the extent of the background noise, the algorithm used to make the BPOF, and object features which affect the filter response. In addition we will present a Fresnel lens-encoded BPOF which very greatly reduces the correlation with the f(-x,-y) term.
Differences between trait fear and trait anxiety: Implications for psychopathology

Abstract Fear and anxiety are poorly delineated in much of the clinical and research literatures. Although some theorists and researchers have posited explanations for how trait fear and trait anxiety differ, many others conceptualize the constructs as largely or entirely interchangeable. The primary goals of this review are to examine clinical conceptualizations and neurobiological studies of fear and anxiety, examine the animal and human literatures on the correlates of fear and anxiety, provide clearer definitions of these two constructs, and discuss their implications for psychopathology. A secondary goal is to evaluate content of self-report measures of trait fear and anxiety, and meta-analyze the relations between self-reported trait fear and anxiety. We found that existing measures share significant content overlap across constructs. Despite this overlap, our meta-analysis revealed only a moderate (r = 0.32) relationship between measures of trait fear and anxiety, with an even lower relationship (r = 0.14) when we examined trait fear measures operationalized in terms of harm avoidance. These findings suggest that fear and anxiety are largely distinct emotions, and that psychological disorders of trait fear and trait anxiety warrant classification in separate higher-order categories. Moreover, they suggest that future research should focus on deriving more content valid measures of trait fear and trait anxiety from the neurobiological and diagnostic literatures.
Correlates of systemic disease in adult Henoch-Schönlein purpura: A retrospective study of direct immunofluorescence and skin lesion distribution in 87 patients at Mayo Clinic

Background Detection of IgM in lesional skin of adult patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura via direct immunofluorescence (DIF) has been associated with the presence of renal disease. Objective We sought to examine whether DIF findings of skin biopsy specimens and distribution of skin lesions were associated with the presence of systemic disease, including renal, gastrointestinal tract, and joint involvement. Methods We performed a retrospective review of adult patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura seen at Mayo Clinic between 1992 and 2011. Results Of the 87 patients (mean age, 46.1 years), 51 (59%) were male. A total of 39 patients (45%) had renal disease; 32 (37%), gastrointestinal tract involvement; 39 (45%), joint involvement; and 65 (75%), some systemic involvement. In all, 61 patients (70%) had cutaneous lesions above the waist. The DIF findings showed the presence of IgA in all 87 patients (100%). In addition, findings were positive for IgM in 32 patients (37%); IgG in 3 patients (3%); C3 in 75 patients (87%); and fibrinogen in 78 patients (92%). IgM was not found to be significantly associated with renal disease ( P = .10); however, absence of fibrinogen was correlated with presence of renal involvement ( P = .04). No other correlations were detected between DIF findings and systemic disease. Lesions above the waist were not significantly associated with renal ( P = .12) or any ( P = .76) systemic involvement. Limitations This study is retrospective. Conclusions Neither IgM in lesional skin nor distribution of skin lesions above the waist was a reliable indicator of renal or systemic disease in adults with Henoch-Schonlein purpura.
Organic spin clusters: annelated macrocyclic polyarylmethyl polyradicals and a polymer with very high spin S=6-18.

Synthesis and magnetic studies of annelated macrocyclic polyradicals and a related high-spin polymer with macrocyclic repeat units are described. Polyarylmethyl polyether precursors to the polyradicals and the related polymer are prepared by using Negishi cross-coupling of difunctionalized calix[4]arene-based macrocycles. The three lowest homologues, with high degree of monodispersity, are tetradecaether (14-ether) 3-(OCH3)14, octacosaether (28-ether) 4-(OCH3)28, and dotetracontaether (42-ether) 5-(OCH3)42, in which 2, 4, and 6 calix[4]arene-based macrocycles are annelated to the center macrocycle, respectively. The evidence for their annelated structures (ladder connectivities) is based upon FAB-MS and the 1H NMR based end-group analysis. The absolute masses (4–12 kDa) were determined by FAB-MS and GPC/MALS. Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) provides the radii of gyration of 1.7, 2.0, and 3.2 nm for 4-(OCH3)28, 5-(OCH3)42, and polymer 6-(OCH3)n, respectively. The corresponding polyarylmethyl polyradicals 3 and 4, and polymer 6 possess average values of S≈6–7, S≈10, and S≈18, respectively, as determined by SQUID magnetometry and numerical fits to linear combinations of Brillouin functions. The quantitative values of magnetization at saturation and of magnetic susceptibilities indicate that about 40–60 % of unpaired electrons are present at low temperatures (T=1.8–5 K). For polyradical 3, the variable temperature magnetic data are fit to the Heisenberg Hamiltonian based model. The variable magnetic field data at low temperatures are also fit to a percolation-based model for organic spin cluster, with random distribution of chemical defects, and ferromagnetic versus antiferromagnetic couplings, providing quantitative agreement between the experiment and the theory. For polyradical 3 (with S≈6–7), annealing at room temperature for 0.5 h leads to a polyradical with S≈5.
Atmospheric hydroxyl radical (OH) abundances from ground-based ultraviolet solar spectra: an improved retrieval method

The Fourier Transform Ultraviolet Spectrometer (FTUVS) instrument has recorded a long-term data record of the atmospheric column abundance of the hydroxyl radical (OH) using the technique of high resolution solar absorption spectroscopy. We report new efforts in improving the precision of the OH measurements in order to better model the diurnal, seasonal, and interannual variability of odd hydrogen (HOx) chemistry in the stratosphere, which, in turn, will improve our understanding of ozone chemistry and its long-term changes. Until the present, the retrieval method has used a single strong OH absorption line P1(1) in the near-ultraviolet at 32,341 cm−1. We describe a new method that uses an average based on spectral fits to multiple lines weighted by line strength and fitting precision. We have also made a number of improvements in the ability to fit a model to the spectral feature, which substantially reduces the scatter in the measurements of OH abundances.
On the W^{2,1+\varepsilon }-estimates for the Monge-Ampère equation and related real analysis

We build upon the techniques introduced by De Philippis and Figalli regarding \(W^{2,1+\varepsilon }\) bounds for the Monge-Ampere operator, to improve the recent \(A_\infty \) estimates for \(\Vert D^2 \varphi \Vert \) to \(A_2\) ones. Also, we prove a \((1,2)-\)Poincare inequality and weak \((q,p)-\)Poincare inequalities associated to the Monge-Ampere quasi-metric structure. In turn, these Poincare inequalities are used to prove Harnack’s inequality for non-negative solutions to the linearized Monge-Ampere under minimal geometric assumptions.
Inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis in HeLa cells by glucocorticoids

Abstract Dexamethasone, at concentrations ranging from 10−6 M to 10−8 M inhibited the incorporation of acetate into sterol fraction of S3G strain of HeLa cells. The effect was abolished by the presence of serum supplement in the culture medium. Dexamethasone had no effect on the incorporation of mevalonate or cholesterol itself, indicating possible involvement of HMG-CoA reductase. A survey of representative steroids of the C21 series demonstrated a relationship between the structure required for glucocorticoid activity and the effect on cholesterol biosynthesis.
Forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase activity, promotes large increases in N-acetyl transferase activity and melatonin production in the Syrian hamster pineal gland only during the late dark period

Summary The exposure of organ cultured pineal glands of Syrian hamsters to forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator, caused marked increases in serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity and melatonin content in a dose-related manner (1–100 μM) when glands were collected in the second half of the dark period. However, addition of forskolin to glands collected anytime during the light period or at the beginning of the dark period failed or only modestly stimulated either pineal N-acetyltransferase activity or melatonin levels. Similar results were obtained with isoproterenol. The results suggest that intrapinealocyte regulatory mechanisms may determine the nocturnal rise in the Syrian hamster pineal gland.
Response of Cotton to Prebloom Square Loss

In 1996 and 1997, various intensities of prebloom square removal were applied to three cultivars of cotton grown in Mississippi. With the exception of one cultivar in 1997, all cultivars were B. thuringiensis (Bt)-transgenic cotton. At harvest, the number of bolls and seed cotton weight was recorded for all plants in each square removal treatment. All cultivars responded similarly to square loss. A yield increase (overcompensation) was observed in the treatment where all squares were removed from the plant one week after squaring began. Only the treatment where all squares were removed before bloom significantly reduced yield and caused a large (>7 d) delay in crop maturation. Otherwise, moderate levels of square removal (≈20–50% of prebloom squares) had little impact on overall lint production. However, the patterns of cotton production on the plants were significantly influenced by the square removal treatments. The removal of relatively more or larger squares increased seed cotton production in late-season fruiting cohorts and on ‘vegetative’ branches. Compensation for square loss occurred by increasing the relative number and weight of bolls produced subsequent to early-season square removal. Typically, early-season square loss increased the value of later-season fruiting cohorts, especially the midseason cohorts and bolls on vegetative branches. The implications of prebloom square loss, including the compensatory ability of the cotton plant, on insect management are discussed.
Treatment of primary headache disorders with intravenous valproate: initial outpatient experience

Objective.—To evaluate the effectiveness of intravenous valproate in managing moderate to severe headaches. Background.—Despite major strides in the understanding of primary headache disorders, there have been few additions to acute headache management other than introduction of the triptans. An intravenous antiepileptic preparation, sodium valproate, has been reported to be effective in the management of status epilepticus and acute headache. Methods.—Between March 13, 2000 and October 11, 2000, we prospectively treated, in a nonrandomized and open-label study, every patient with a moderate to severe headache (4 or greater on a visual analog scale of head pain from 1 to 10) who wanted treatment with intravenous valproate. Using a verbal visual analog scale for pain (0 = no headache and 10 = most severe headache), we measured head pain before treatment and at time of discharge. The treating nurse monitored vital signs and side effects. A positive response was defined as a 50% or greater reduction at discharge in baseline pain. Information was collected regarding patient demographics, type of headache (according to criteria of the International Headache Society and that recently proposed for chronic headache), observation time in the treatment suite, cumulative dose of valproate, and use of concurrent medications. Univariable and multivariable correlates of response to treatment were identified using logistic regression analysis. Results.—One hundred thirty treatments were given to 89 women and 17 men, aged 17 to 76 years; 92 patients received only one treatment. Valproate doses ranged between 300 and 1200 mg. Thirty-three patients (31%) presented with episodic migraine, with or without aura; 45 patients (42%) presented with chronic daily headache with a history of episodic migraine, with or without aura (transformed migraine); 22 (21%) with unclassifiable chronic headache; 2 (2%) with episodic cluster headache; and 4 (4%) with chronic tension-type headache. For first treatments only, 61 patients (57.5%) responded to treatment, whereas for all treatments, 82 patients (63.1%) responded. Age and gender did not affect likelihood of response, whereas increasing duration of treatment (P= .003) and the additional use of analgesics (P= .021) were each negatively associated with response. Among headache types, unclassifiable chronic headache segregated from all other classified headaches in terms of poor response. Aside from rare dizziness (n = 2) and one spell interpreted as a pseudoseizure, no side effects were noted. Conclusions.—Intravenous valproate is a safe, rapidly effective, abortive headache agent. It appears to be an effective analgesic for identifiable primary headaches, especially episodic headache, and less effective for unclassifiable chronic headache. Randomized, double-blind, controlled studies are warranted.
Crohn's disease--a permeability disorder of the tight junction?

Editorial. La permeabilite intestinale est anormalement elevee dans la maladie de Crohn et chez des sujets sains proches parents des malades. Des recherches plus approfondies amelioreraient la comprehension de la maladie, le diagnostic et le traitement
Acoustic radiation from a finite-length shell with substructures subjected to an impulsive load

Abstract A method is presented to obtain the impulsive response and the acoustic radiation of submerged shells of finite length. Solutions in the frequency domain are first evaluated by a modal based method and converted to the time domain using a fast Fourier transform technique. Numerical examples are presented for a cylindrical shell of finite length with endcaps, with and without bulkheads. The method is validated by comparing surface pressure response of the empty shell with that of an infinite, fluidloaded shell. It is demonstrated that the near-field pressure disturbances arise from elastic waves propagating on the shell and from the direct radiation from the driving force. The amount of energy input to the system by the driving force and the energy radiated to the far-field are calculated. Results show that most of the energy is dissipated in the shell by damping. It is also shown that shells containing bulkheads can radiate more energy than empty shells because the bulkheads generate supersonic, radiating flexural waves.
Inference concerning the Mean Vector When the Covariance Matrix is Totally Reducible

Abstract Given a random sample from a p-variate normal distribution , the likelihood ratio criterion and an information theory criterion, which is an analogue of Hotelling's T 2, are given for testing (known) under the condition that Σ is totally reducible, that is, diagonalizable by an orthogonal matrix which depends upon the pattern but not on the unknown elements of Σ. Exact, approximate and asymptotic distributions of the test criteria are considered and various confidence regions concerning are provided. Application to repeated measures experiments is discussed.
Effects of mutations in M4 of the gastric H+,K+-ATPase on inhibition kinetics of SCH28080.

The effects of site-directed mutagenesis were used to explore the role of residues in M4 on the apparent Ki of a selective, K+-competitive inhibitor of the gastric H+,K+ ATPase, SCH28080. A double transfection expression system is described, utilizing HEK293 cells and separate plasmids encoding the α and β subunits of the H+,K+-ATPase. The wild-type enzyme gave specific activity (micromoles of Pi per hour per milligram of expressed H+,K+-ATPase protein), apparent Km for ammonium (a K+ surrogate), and apparent Ki for SCH28080 equal to the H+,K+-ATPase purified from hog gastric mucosa. Amino acids in the M4 transmembrane segment of the α subunit were selected from, and substituted with, the nonconserved residues in M4 of the Na+,K+-ATPase, which is insensitive to SCH28080. Most of the mutations produced competent enzyme with similar Km,app values for NH4+ and Ki,app for SCH28080. SCH28080 affinity was decreased 2-fold in M330V and 9-fold in both M334I and V337I without significant effect on Km,app. Hence me...
Dispersal has inhibited avian diversification in Australasian archipelagoes

Different models of speciation predict contrasting patterns in the relationship between the dispersal ability of lineages and their diversification rates. This relationship is expected to be negative in isolation-limited models and positive in founder-event models. In addition, the combination of negative and positive effects of dispersal on speciation can result in higher diversification rates at intermediate levels of dispersal ability. Using molecular phylogenies to estimate diversification rates, and wing morphology to estimate dispersal ability, we analysed the influence of dispersal on diversification in the avifauna of Australasian archipelagoes. Contrary to expectations given the fragmented nature of island systems, the relationship between dispersal ability and diversification rate was monotonically negative. While multiple mechanisms could generate this pattern, they all share a phase of range expansion that is decoupled from speciation.
Effect of ionic aqueous environments on the structure and dynamics of the Aβ(21-30) fragment: a molecular-dynamics study

The amyloid β-protein (Aβ) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. The role of the structure and dynamics of the central Aβ21-30 decapeptide region of the full-length Aβ is considered crucial in the aggregation pathway of Aβ. Here we report results of isobaric-isothermal (NPT) all-atom explicit water molecular dynamics simulations of the monomeric form of the wild-type Aβ21-30 fragment in aqueous salt environments formed by neurobiologically important group IA (NaCl, KCl) and group IIA (CaCl2, MgCl2) salts. Our simulations reveal the existence of salt-specific changes to secondary structure propensities, lifetimes, hydrogen bonding, salt-bridge formation, and decapeptide-ion contacts of this decapeptide. These results suggest that aqueous environments with the CaCl2 salt, and to a much lesser extent the MgCl2 salt, have profound effects by increasing random coil structure propensities and lifetimes and diminishing intrapeptide hydrogen bonding. These effects are rationalized in terms of direct cation-decapeptide contacts and changes to the hydration-shell water molecules. On the other side of the spectrum, environments with the NaCl and KCl salts have little influence on the decapeptide's secondary structure despite increasing hydrogen bonding, salt-bridge formation, and lifetime of turn structures. The observed enhancement of open structures by group IIA may be of importance in the folding and aggregation pathway of the full-length Aβ.
Work hardening and mechanical equation of state in some metals in monotonic loading

The work hardening coefficients of Type 316 stainless steel niobium, and 1100 aluminum alloy are measured in tensile tests. It is demonstrated experimentally that in the measured stress, plastic strain rate, and temperature range the work hardening coefficient depends only on the stress and plastic strain rate. The significance of the experimental results is discussed in terms of the concept of the mechanical equation of state for plastic deformation.
Thermal highs and pitfall lows - notes on the journey to the first cooperative autonomous soaring flight

This paper discusses the development and flight testing of an algorithm for cooperative soaring by multiple autonomous gliders. Flight test results confirmed that the algorithm functioned as expected and that the gliders worked cooperatively to find and utilize the same updrafts during the test. However, the flight also indicated that the effectiveness of the strategy depends largely on the existing thermal conditions in combination with how restrictively the limits of separation between the cooperating gliders are set. To the best of the authors' knowledge this was the world's first cooperative autonomous thermal soaring flight.
Bankruptcy and expected utility maximization

Abstract This paper introduces a utility formulation to the well-known gambler's ruin problem. An agent who maximizes lifetime expected utility has to trade off short-term utility against longer-term survival prospects. The optimal tradeoff is established by way of characterizing the agent's value and optimal policy functions. Further, the scope of expected utility maximization is examined by contrasting the bankruptcy probabilities of an agent employing such a criterion with those of an agent who is more directly interested in survival. Economic applications of the theory are also discussed.
Reactive power and voltage control in distribution systems with photovoltaic generation

This paper presents the interaction of traditional centralized voltage regulators such as load-tap-changing (LTC) transformers with the new emerging inverter-based distributed photovoltaic (PV) generators in reactive power and voltage control of distribution systems. Different reactive power control strategies for inverter-based PVs are considered and their interaction with LTC transformers is analyzed. The investigated objective function is the total electric losses for the 24 hours while satisfying the system operational constraints. Discrete Particle swarm optimization (DPSO) is used to determine the LTC operation scheme as an integer nonlinear optimization problem. The performance is validated by applying the proposed method to the standard IEEE 33 bus test system.
Influence of trophic status on the toxic effects of a herbicide: A microcosm study

Naturally derived microbial communities were developed in the laboratory under three nutrient regimes by manipulating phosphate and nitrate concentrations. Resulting communities differed in both functional and structural attributes. Low nutrient microcosms (0.05 mg N-NO3−/L + 0.01 mg P-PO4−3/L) showed the sharpest differences. Medium (0.5 mg N-NO3−/L + 0.1 mg P-PO4−3/L) and high (5.0 mg N-NO3−/L + 1.0 mg P-PO4−3/L) nutrient treatments differed in total algal biomass and algal community composition. After a 25-day acclimation period, a single dose of the herbicide diquat (3.5 mg/L) was added to test the response of the microbial communities to herbicide stress. Regardless of nutrient regime, diquat-dosed microcosms had decreased electron transport system activity (ETSA), an almost complete absence of cyanobacteria, and reduced gross photosynthesis (GP), respiration, and pH relative to undosed microcosms. Inorganic nutrients (PO4−3, NO3−) were released from the stressed algal communities, probably as a result of their altered metabolism. Alkaline phosphatase activity (APA), total microbial biomass (estimated as protein), algal biomass (estimated as chlorophyll), and relative abundance of green algal taxa proved highly insensitive to herbicide action. Nutrient treatments had a small influence on toxicant effects; the magnitude of the herbicide effects was comparable across nutrient levels. Only the capacity of recovery from the toxic stress was affected by trophic status. At the end of the study period, ETSA had recovered to control values in high nutrient microcosms but not in medium and low ones. Microcosm pH, and to a lesser extent GP, showed recovery under both high and medium nutrient treatments. Trophic status affected the diquat disappearance rate; the herbicide persisted longer in low nutrient microcosms than in high and medium nutrient ones. Differences in recovery capacity may stem from higher nutrient level microcosms reaching less toxic herbicide levels in a shorter period of time.
CCD architecture for spacecraft SAR image processing

A real-time synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image processing architecture amenable to future on-board spacecraft applications is currently under development. Using state-of-the-art charge-coupled device (CCD) technology, low cost and power are inherent features. Other characteristics include the ability to reprogram correlation reference functions, correct for range migration, and compensate for antenna beam pointing errors on the spacecraft in real time. The first spaceborne demonstration is scheduled to be flown as an experiment on a 1982 Shuttle imaging radar mission (SIR-B). This paper describes the architecture and implementation characteristics of this initial spaceborne CCD SAR image processor.
Cross-cultural differences in apology

Abstract The current study examined the effects of national culture (U.S., China, and Korea) and interpersonal relationship type (a stranger and a friend) on apology. Findings revealed that participants ( N = 376) from the three cultures differed in their perceptions of the offended person's emotional reaction and their propensities toward apology use (i.e., desire, obligation, and intention to apologize, as well as their perception of normative apology use). Regardless of their cultures, participants showed stronger obligation and intention to apologize to a stranger than to a friend. With regard to the intention to apologize, both American and Korean participants showed a greater discrepancy between themselves and their estimate of most people in their own culture than did Chinese participants. Although participants from the three cultures did not differ in their propensities toward apology use for a friend, both American and Chinese participants showed greater discrepancy than did Korean participants for feeling obliged to apologize to a stranger. For intention to apologize to a stranger, both American and Korean participants, compared to Chinese, showed greater discrepancy between themselves and their estimate of most people in their own culture. Other findings and implications thereof are discussed in more detail in the paper.
Time-resolved infrared absorption studies of the solvent-dependent vibrational relaxation dynamics of chlorine dioxide.

We report a series of time-resolved infrared absorption studies on chlorine dioxide (OClO) dissolved in H2O, D2O, and acetonitrile. Following the photoexcitation at 401 nm, the evolution in optical density for frequencies corresponding to asymmetric stretch of OClO is measured with a time resolution of 120±50fs. The experimentally determined optical-density evolution is compared with theoretical models of OClO vibrational relaxation derived from collisional models as well as classical molecular-dynamics (MD) studies. The vibrational relaxation rates in D2O are reduced by a factor of 3 relative to H2O consistent with the predictions of MD. This difference reflects modification of the frequency-dependent solvent-solute coupling accompanying isotopic substitution of the solvent. Also, the geminate-recombination quantum yield for the primary photofragments resulting in the reformation of ground-state OClO is reduced in D2O relative to H2O. It is proposed that this reduction reflects enhancement of the dissoci...
Dominance of Δ7-sterols in the family caryophyllaceaein the family caryophyllaceae

The predominant 4-desmethylsterols from the leaves of 12 species in 11 genera of the family Caryophyllaceae are 24-ethyl-Δ7-sterols. In eight species,Scleranthus annus L.,Paronychia virginica Spreng.,Lychnis alba Mill.,Silene cucubalus Wibel,Dianthus armeria L.,Gypsophilia paniculata L.,Saponaria officinales L. andMyosoton aquaticum (L.) Moench, the major sterols are spinasterol (24α-ethylcholesta-7,22E-dien-3β-ol) and 22-dihydrospinasterol (24α-ethylcholest-7-en-3β-ol), with spinasterol at more than 60% of the desmethylsterol in the latter six species. Both 24α-and 24β-ethyl-Δ7-sterols are present in two species,Minuartia caroliniana Walt. andSpergula arvensis L., which possess 24β-ethylcholesta-7,25(27)-dien-3β-ol and 24β-ethylcholesta-7,22E,25(27)-trien-3β-ol as well as spinasterol and 22-dihydrospinasterol.Cerastium arvense L.,C. vulgatum L. andArenaria serpyllifolia L. possess 24-alkyl-Δ5 and Δ7-sterols. These three species synthesize sitosterol (24α-ethylcholest-5-en-3β-ol), 24ζ-methylcholest-5-en-3β-ol, spinasterol, 22-dihydrospinasterol and the stanols, sitostanol (24α-ethyl-5α-cholestan-3β-ol) and 24ζ-methyl-5α-cholestan-3β-ol. Avenasterol (24-ethylcholesta-7,24(28)Z-dien-3β-ol) was also isolated from five species. Sterol biosynthetic capability may be a useful characteristic in examining the taxonomic relatedness of plants in the Caryophyllaceae.
A novel broadband active balun

We have developed a new broadband active balun. It consists of series-connected common-gate FETs with the same gradient as the phase performance of the common-source FET. The active balun achieved broadband characteristics by using series-connected common gate FETs with the same gradient as the phase performance of the common-source FET. From 500 MHz to more than 10 GHz, the fabricated active balun shows a phase error of less than 5 degrees. A fabricated single balanced mixer using the proposed active balun had LO suppression of more than 40 dB over an LO frequency range of between 1 and 5 GHz.
Origin of the Metazoa.

Abstract The origin of the multicellular animals has been investigated by rate invariant analysis of 18S rRNA sequences. These analyses indicate that (i) the Metazoa is a monophyletic taxon; (ii) the Deuterostomia is a monophyletic taxon; (iii) the Annelida-Mollusca lineage is the sister group of an arthropod subgroup; and (iv) the last common ancestor of the Annelida-Mollusca lineage is most parsimoniously derived from a segmented, hemocoelic ancestor with an open circulatory system.
Double Adjacencies Between Cycles of a Circulating Shift Register

A circulating shift register is an n-stage binary shift register with feedback from stage n to stage 1. We refer to the state cycles of the circulating shift register as natural cycles. Two natural cycles are adjacent if there is a state in the first natural cycle that differs from a state in the second only in the first digit. Double adjacencies between natural cycles occur quite frequently. A necessary and sufficient condition for their existence is developed. A contained cycle arises when both transition possibilities between two doubly adjacent natural cycles are exploited. A formula for the length of contained cycles is given, and an algorithm for finding contained cycles of prespecified length is developed. Reversible natural cycles are cycles that contain, for any n-tuple, also the same n-tuple written backwards (allowing for a cyclical shift). It is shown how double adjacencies are related to reversibility. It is also shown that double adjacencies come in strings that may be of two types, either connecting reversible or connecting nonreversible natural cycles.
System-level reliability assessment of mixed-signal convergent microsystems

The next-generation convergent microsystems, based on system-on-package (SOP) technology, require up-front system-level design-for-reliability approaches and appropriate reliability assessment methodologies to guarantee the reliability of digital, optical, and radio frequency (RF) functions, as well as their interfaces. Systems approach to reliability requires the development of: i) physics-based reliability models for various failure mechanisms associated with digital, optical, and RF Functions, and their interfaces in the system; ii) design optimization models for the selection of suitable materials and processing conditions for reliability, as well as functionality; and iii) system-level reliability models understanding the component and functional interaction. This paper presents the reliability assessment of digital, optical, and RF functions in SOP-based microsystems. Upfront physics-based design-for-reliability models for various functional failure mechanisms are presented to evaluate various design options and material selection even before the prototypes are made. Advanced modeling methodologies and algorithms to accommodate material length scale effects due to enhanced system integration and miniaturization are presented. System-level mixed-signal reliability is discussed thorough system-level reliability metrics relating component-level failure mechanisms to system-level signal integrity, as well as statistical aspects.
Darwin’s theory and the genome

Even today, the unshakable basis of the theory of evolution remains natural selection. Modern genetics added another fundamental factor: the mechanism of changes of hereditary characteristics. For Darwin’s predecessor, Jean Baptiste de Lamarck, all changes taking place in the life of a parent are transmitted to children. Darwin tried to give a more satisfactory explanation of how adaptations produced during the life of individuals can be transmitted to children, an essential part of the theory of evolution by natural selection that can apply only to inherited characters. The explanation had to wait for modern genetics: working on fruit flies (Drosophilas) in T.H. Morgan’s laboratory, Herman Joseph Muller showed that hereditary changes, which were called mutations, are a spontaneous, rare and probably random phenomenon due to a chemical change, and obtained the Nobel prize 1946 for his discovery. When the nature of the hereditary material, DNA, was understood, the chemical nature of mutations could also be understood: it is a copy error in the DNA a parent makes of his own DNA and transmits to a child. The error is inevitably transmitted to the child’s descendants because the erroneous DNA is the model the child uses for making DNA for his own children. DNA is a long filament made of units called nucleotides, which can be of four types. The four nucleotides constituting DNA are called with the initials of their chemical name A, C, G and T; the DNA forming the genome that a parent passes to the progeny is made of three billion nucleotides and is organized in 23 long filaments each of which is called a chromosome. The simplest mutation is the replacement of a nucleotide in a giving position of a chromosome with another of the four. There are also mutations of longer DNA segments, even loss or duplication of entire chromosomes. The first mutations studied were spontaneous ones and they are more or less maladaptive for the normal environment of life, and are often responsible for hereditary diseases, or even lethal. But there are mutations, perhaps less frequent, that increase survival and/or fecundity and are therefore selected positively in evolution. But the great majority of mutations are