cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enjoyment of Sexualization and Feminism: Relationships with Sexual Self-Schema and Psychosexual Health

Feminists have debated whether enjoyment of sexualization (ES)—when women find sexualized attention from men rewarding—represents empowerment or patriarchal oppression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychosexual correlates of ES—sexual self-schema (SSS) and psychosexual health—among heterosexual college women (n = 754) and men (n = 389). Among women, ES was associated with a SSS in which women saw themselves as more heterosexual, more attractive, more open to unconventional sex acts, and having greater sentimentality about romantic relationships. Regarding psychosexual health, ES was not linked with general self-esteem but was associated with higher sexual esteem and lower sexual depression. Among men, ES was not related to SSS or psychosexual health. Overall, among women, ES was linked with positive outcomes, and it may represent women conforming to societal norms and using sexualized attention in order to obtain romantic intimacy. Rather than internalized misogyny, ES may represent an open approach to sexuality in which women take advantage of their sexualized position in society for their own empowerment.
Distribution of Nitrogen-Fixing Microorganisms along the Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina.

Nitrogen fixation genes (nifH) were amplified and sequenced from DNA extracted from surface water samples collected from six stations along the length of the Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina, in order to determine the distribution of nitrogen-fixing organisms in the transition from fresh-to saltwater. Nitrogenase genes were detected in all samples by a nested polymerase chain reaction method, and the amplification products from the upriver, midriver, and downriver stations were cloned, sequenced, and used for phylogenetic analysis. The composition of nifH clone libraries from upriver, midriver, and downriver stations (each composed of 14 randomly selected clones) were very diverse (samples from upriver and midriver stations were composed of 14 unique sequences, downriver station composed of 7 unique sequences) and differed among the stations. Some phylotypes were found at more than one station, but were usually found in the upriver and midriver stations or in the midriver and downriver stations, indicating that the phylotypes were probably transported along the river. Cyanobacterial nifH were not found at the most upriver site, but were a large fraction of sequences (50%) recovered from the downriver station, where nitrate concentration was an order of magnitude lower and salinity was higher. In contrast, γ proteobacteria nifH sequences were much more common at the midriver and upriver sites (58% and 64%, respectively), compared to the downriver site (14%). Results indicate that substantially different nitrogen-fixing assemblages are present along the river, reflecting differential watershed hydrological inputs, sedimentation, and environmental selection pressures, along the salinity gradient.
Altered glutamate metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and treatment with branched chain amino acids

Recent studies have shown that a generalized defect in glutamate metabolism and widespread alterations in the central nervous system (CNS) levels of glutamate occur in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disorder with a dismal prognosis. Present data support the hypothesis that altered presynaptic glutamatergic mechanisms, may be responsible for a neuroexcitotoxic cell loss in this disorder. In these glutamatergic mechanisms glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) may play an important role, probably involved in the oxidation of transmitter glutamate.
Quota sampling using Facebook advertisements

Researchers in different social science disciplines have successfully used Facebook to recruit subjects for their studies. However, such convenience samples are not generally representative of the population. We developed and validated a new quota sampling method to recruit respondents using Facebook advertisements. Additionally, we published an R package to semi-automate this quota sampling process using the Facebook Marketing API. To test the method, we used Facebook advertisements to quota sample 2432 US respondents for a survey on climate change public opinion. We conducted a contemporaneous nationally representative survey asking identical questions using a high-quality online survey panel whose respondents were recruited using probability sampling. Many results from the Facebook-sampled survey are similar to those from the online panel survey; furthermore, results from the Facebook-sampled survey approximate results from the American Community Survey (ACS) for a set of validation questions. These findings suggest that using Facebook to recruit respondents is a viable option for survey researchers wishing to approximate population-level public opinion.
Reporting College Placement Scores and Grades to High Schools.

As teachers of mathematics, we all like to know how well our students perform after they leave our classrooms. Such informa tion allows us to evaluate the effectiveness of our programs and to provide the most relevant instruction that is possible for our current students. Unfortunately, the only follow-up information that we often get about our students consists of vague com plaints from the public or from teachers at the next level of instruction. In many cases, it is impossible to tell whether or not these reports are founded in fact, whether or not they apply to our own students. My purpose in writing this article is to describe a reporting procedure that is used by the mathematics department at the Uni versity of Arizona to give in-state high schools information about the performance of their graduates. This report is designed to provide schools with specific information in a fashion that helps each school to eval uate its own mathematics program.
Long-term outcomes by response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiation in patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Background: Response of pancreatic adenocarcinoma to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) or chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) may be associated with prognosis, but long-term outcomes based on response to neoadjuvant therapy have not been well evaluated to date. Methods: The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma receiving nCT/nCRT. To evaluate response to nCT/nCRT, comparisons were made from cT and cN stage to the respective post-neoadjuvant therapy ypT and ypN stages. Based on these comparisons, patients were classified as responders, progressors, or non-responders. Statistical analyses included estimation of survival using Kaplan-Meier analysis, as well as multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results: Of 2,028 patients, 30% had a response, 32% progressed, and 38% had no response; 1% of patients experienced pathologic complete response (pCR). Responders were more likely to have received multi-agent chemotherapy (P=0.0001) as well as radiotherapy (RT) (P=0.02) in the neoadjuvant setting. Response to nCT/nCRT was also associated with a higher R0 resection rate (P=0.02). At a median follow-up of 49 months, median overall survival (OS) was higher in responders than non-responders or progressors (29.9 vs . 24.3 vs . 22.2 months, P<0.001). The mean OS for patients experiencing pCR was 55.5 months. On multivariable analysis, treatment response was independently associated with OS (P=0.02). Conclusions: Response to nCT/nCRT independently predicts long-term outcomes following resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma; higher rates of treatment response were observed for patients receiving neoadjuvant RT as well as neoadjuvant multi-agent chemotherapy. These results may have implications on strategies to improve response rates.
Simple generative model for assessing feature selection based on relevance, redundancy, and redundancy

An experimental procedure is proposed for measuring the performance of feature selection algorithms in a way that is not directly tied either to particular machine learning algorithms or to particular applications. The main interest is in situations for which there are a large number of features to be sifted through. The approach is based on simulated training sets with adjustable parameters that characterize the relevance" of individual features as well as the collective redundancy" of sets of features. In some cases, these training sets can be virtualized; that is, having specified their properties, one does not actually have to explicitly generate them. As a specific illustration, the method is used to compare variants of the minimum redundancy maximum relevance (mRMR) algorithm, and to characterize the performance of these variants in different regimes.
Uniform price auctions with a last accepted bid pricing rule

Abstract We model multi-unit auctions in which bidders' valuations are multidimensional private information. Under a natural constraint on aggregate demand we show that the last accepted bid uniform-pricing rule admits a unique equilibrium with a simple characterization: bids are identical to those submitted in a single-unit first price auction. The form of equilibrium bids suggests that last accepted bid uniform-pricing is a generalization of single-unit first-pricing: in both auctions winners pay the highest market clearing price. Contrasting the separating equilibrium of the last accepted bid auction, we show that equilibrium bids in pay as bid and first rejected bid uniform price auctions must pool information. Thus other common multi-unit auction formats cannot generalize single-unit first-pricing, in which equilibria do not pool information. The existence of a unique equilibrium implies that price selection may be an additional tool for avoiding the zero-revenue equilibria which exist in the first rejected bid uniform price auction. Finally, we show that equilibrium bids in our private information model are significantly flatter than in an analogous random supply model, suggesting that uniform price auction bids may not be as steep as commonly believed.
A Secure User-Centric Framework for Dynamic Service Provisioning in IoT Environments

Internet of things (IoT) services are currently provisioned to users by having them specify their functional requirements like region of interest (ROI), and non-functional requirements such as quality of service (QoS). Selecting IoT services based on functionality is relatively mature. However, due to the abundance of functionally similar IoT services, it is challenging to select IoT services using QoS. Further, users' non-functional requirements maybe dynamic and vary over time. Although there are several QoS-driven web services selection methods, adopting such methods for IoT environments is not sufficient. This is because they are not designed to capture users' varying security preferences and are typically unable to explicitly tradeoff users' security and QoS preferences. This paper presents a comprehensive user-centric framework for secure and dynamic service provisioning in IoT environments, by allowing users to explicitly express their varying QoS and security preferences when selecting IoT services to support their applications. The novelty of the proposed user-centric framework lies in its ability to enable users personalize their security requirements for IoT services. To evaluate the feasibility of the proposed framework, an IoT case scenario is simulated.
Primary care physician experiences utilizing a family health history tool with electronic health record-integrated clinical decision support: an implementation process assessment.

Family health history (FHH) screening plays a key role in disease risk identification and tailored disease prevention strategies. Primary care physicians (PCPs) are in a frontline position to provide personalized medicine recommendations identified through FHH screening; however, adoption of FHH screening tools has been slow and inconsistent in practice. Information is also lacking on PCP facilitators and barriers of utilizing family history tools with clinical decision support (CDS) embedded in the electronic health record (EHR). This study reports on PCPs’ initial experiences with the Genetic and Wellness Assessment (GWA), a patient-administered FHH screening tool utilizing the EHR and CDS. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 PCPs who use the GWA in a network of community-based practices. Four main themes regarding GWA implementation emerged: benefits to clinical care, challenges in practice, CDS-specific issues, and physician-recommended improvements. Sub-themes included value in improving patient access to genetic services, inadequate time to discuss GWA recommendations, lack of patient follow-through with recommendations, and alert fatigue. While PCPs valued the GWA’s clinical utility, a number of challenges were identified in the administration and use of the GWA in practice. Based on participants’ recommendations, iterative changes have been made to the GWA and workflow to increase efficiency, upgrade the CDS process, and provide additional education to PCPs and patients. Future studies are needed to assess a diverse sample of physicians’ and patients’ perspectives on the utility of FHH screening utilizing EHR-based genomics recommendations.
Patterns and predictions of drinking water nitrate violations across the conterminous United States

Excess nitrate in drinking water is a human health concern, especially for young children. Public drinking water systems in violation of the 10 mg nitrate-N/L maximum contaminant level (MCL) must be reported in EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). We used SDWIS data with random forest modeling to examine the drivers of nitrate violations across the conterminous U.S. and to predict where public water systems are at risk of exceeding the nitrate MCL. As explanatory variables, we used land cover, nitrogen inputs, soil/hydrogeology, and climate variables. While we looked at the role of nitrate treatment in separate analyses, we did not include treatment as a factor in the final models, due to incomplete information in SDWIS. For groundwater (GW) systems, a classification model correctly classified 79% of catchments in violation and a regression model explained 43% of the variation in nitrate concentrations above the MCL. The most important variables in the GW classification model were % cropland, agricultural drainage, irrigation-to-precipitation ratio, nitrogen surplus, and surplus precipitation. Regions predicted to have risk for nitrate violations in GW were the Central California Valley, parts of Washington, Idaho, the Great Plains, Piedmont of Pennsylvania and Coastal Plains of Delaware, and regions of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. For surface water (SW) systems, a classification model correctly classified 90% of catchments and a regression model explained 52% of the variation in nitrate concentration. The variables most important for the SW classification model were largely hydroclimatic variables including surplus precipitation, irrigation-to-precipitation ratio, and % shrubland. Areas at greatest risk for SW nitrate violations were generally in the non-mountainous west and southwest. Identifying the areas with possible risk for future violations and potential drivers of nitrate violations across U.S. can inform decisions on how source water protection and other management options could best protect drinking water.
Walk the Line—The Importance of Well-Informed Interpretation of QT Prolongation:

Acute care pharmacists play an integral role in identifying drug-drug interactions that may predispose patients to QT prolongation. Although most pharmacists are equipped with a baseline understanding of drug interactions and the risks of QTc prolongation, few understand the limitations of QTc calculation and interpretation. In this commentary, we put forth the notion that at times health care providers, including pharmacists, place an overemphasis on the QTc interval. In the context of using the QTc to guide pharmacotherapy decisions, unintended consequences may include a cascade of effects leading to delays in treatment, suboptimal medication selection, alert fatigue, and overutilization of resources.
Effect of multiple injections of botulinum toxin into painful masticatory muscles on bone density in the temporomandibular complex

Background Adverse effects of masticatory muscle injections of Botulinum Toxin (Btx) have been noted in animal and, less dramatically, human studies. Objective Among women treated in multiple community-based private practices, to compare TMJ bone density and mandibular condylar volume between patients with myofascial TMJD receiving multiple masticatory muscle Btx treatments and similarly diagnosed women not receiving such treatment. Methods Cohorts consisted of women whose treatment charts indicated a diagnosis of myofascial TMJD: 35 received at least 2 Btx treatment cycles; 44 received none. Bone density at pre-specified regions of interest (ROI) was defined by grey scale values from Cone Beam CT, adjusting for a fixed density phantom included in each scan. Mean bone density and mandibular condyle volume were compared between groups. Dose-response effects were tested within the Btx-exposed group. Results The mean density of primary and secondary ROIs was similar between exposure groups, as was condylar volume. Among Btx-exposed women, increasing dose of Btx to the temporalis muscle was inversely proportional to the density of the trabecular area of the mandible body. Many Btx-exposed women received smaller doses of Btx to the masseter muscles than in most TMJD Btx clinical trials. Conclusion Masticatory muscle injections of Btx failed to produce clinically significant TMJ bone-related changes. Should Btx receive regulatory approval for treatment of myofascial TMJD, a phase IV study is recommended to evaluate potential adverse effects of Btx on bone and muscle when administered at higher doses and/or for more treatment cycles.
High School Athletic Directors Report Poor Compliance With Concussion Reporting and Medical Clearance in Massachusetts.

Purpose To assess statewide prevalence of medical access, concussion reporting, and concussion clearance rates of high school athletic departments in Massachusetts after the implementation of state-wide concussion legislation. Methods A random sample of 50 athletic directors (ADs) from Massachusetts high schools with an enrollment of >150 students was selected. A 10-minute electronic survey about access to athletic trainers and physicians, and concussion reporting and clearance practices was administered. Responses were anonymous. Results The response rate was 80% (n = 40). In total, 90% of respondents were male. Median age and experience of respondents was 52 years old and 10 years, respectively. The median school size was 637 students, represented from all Massachusetts geographic athletic districts. ADs disclosed that on average, 12% (95% confidence interval 7%-20%) of concussions go unreported at their schools. In total, 16% of respondents reported that at least 1 in 4 of concussed athletes at their school returned to play without appropriate medical clearance, and 5% of ADs reported that not all of their coaches had undergone any form of concussion training. Overall, 55% of high schools do not have access to a full-time athletic trainer and 50% do not have a team physician; 20% have affiliations with an orthopaedic surgeon and 8% with a neurologist. Conclusions Despite new regulations in Massachusetts, high school ADs report concussion reporting and clearance that are less than 100%. Less than one half of all Massachusetts high schools report access to a full-time athletic trainer or formal relationship with a school physician. Clinical Relevance Investigating compliance with Massachusetts school athletics safety regulations could help identify a need for reform of policies designed to help schools keep student athletes safer in situations where a concussion may have occurred.
Predicting postoperative opioid use with machine learning and insurance claims in opioid-naïve patients.

Abstract Background The clinical impact of postoperative opioid use requires accurate prediction strategies to identify at-risk patients. We utilize preoperative claims data to predict postoperative opioid refill and new persistent use in opioid-naive patients. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 112,898 opioid-naive adult postoperative patients from Optum’s de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart database. Potential predictors included sociodemographic data, comorbidities, and prescriptions within one year prior to surgery. Results Compared to linear models, non-linear models led to modest improvements in predicting refills – area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) 0.68 vs. 0.67 (p Conclusions Preoperative patient attributes from insurance claims could potentially be useful in guiding prescription practices for opioid-naive patients.
Rate and correlates of tobacco treatment during a primary care visit for a largely urban and African American sample of smokers

Abstract Introduction Evidence-based treatments for tobacco use are under-utilized and primary care visits may be an opportune time to address this gap. This study examined the rate at which primary care visits included tobacco use treatment and examined patient demographics, smoking characteristics, attitudes about tobacco use treatments, and comorbidities as correlates of treatment provision. Methods This prospective study assessed demographics, smoking characteristics, attitudes about tobacco use treatments, and comorbidities via interview prior to a primary care visit among 105 patients. One week following the appointment, 85 patients were reassessed for the tobacco use treatments they received during their appointment (i.e., asked about their tobacco use, advised to quit, and provided with a referral to a tobacco use treatment program or an FDA-approved tobacco use medication). Results 93% of patients were asked about their tobacco use, 74% were advised to quit, 37% were provided with a referral for tobacco use treatment, and 27% received an FDA-approved medication (16% NRT, 11% varenicline or bupropion). Patients with higher quit motivation and who endorsed that medications can reduce cravings were more likely to report receiving tobacco use medication. Patients with a self-reported substance abuse history were less likely to report receiving tobacco use medications. Conclusions The provision of tobacco use medications within primary care remains low. Strategies to increase patient quit motivation and help patients understand that tobacco use medications can mitigate cravings may increase use. Strategies may also be needed to ensure that patients with comorbid substance abuse still receive tobacco use treatments.
Insulin resistance: causes and consequences.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses aspects of the set of abnormalities of insulin action referred as “insulin resistance.” The condition is created by a state of differential insulin resistance, with the metabolic effects of insulin being diminished, while the mitogenic effects of insulin on cellular growth and differentiation are explored. Adiposity is a major aspect of insulin resistance, with adipocyte secretory products playing an important role in decreasing insulin response. These include interleukin (IL) 6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, resistin, and interferon (IF)‐γ. Adiponectin is an adipokine which acts to increase insulin sensitivity, with levels decreased in persons with insulin resistance. An additional potential mechanism is the association of obesity with the accumulation of macrophages in adipose tissue. The importance of the adipocyte is underscored by the effect of thiazolidinediones (TZD), an important group of oral hypoglycemic agents whose principal effect appears to be in increasing adipocyte differentiation and in increasing adipocyte insulin action. The insulin resistance syndrome includes insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and increased risk both of diabetes and of coronary heart disease.
Studies on the characterization of the sodium-potassium transport adenosinetriphosphatase. Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of 23Na binding to the purified and partially purified enzyme.

Abstract 23Sodium binding to a partially purified beef brain and purified dogfish rectal gland (sodium + potassium)-activated adenosinetriphosphatase (NaK ATPase) has been studied by pulsed nmr. In both preparations addition of ATP (in the absence of Mg) increased the amount of Na bound to the enzyme protein. In the less-pure brain preparation there was some binding of Na to the protein in the absence of ATP but in the purer preparation from the rectal gland there was little or no binding without ATP. With the dogfish enzyme, potassium readily displaced bound sodium. The KD for sodium determined by nmr agreed closely with that determined kinetically. This, coupled with the fact that the dogfish enzyme required ATP for sodium binding suggests that the sodium detected by nmr in this preparation is due to binding at its specific site(s).
Negative co-operativity in Escherichia coli single strand binding protein-oligonucleotide interactions. II. Salt, temperature and oligonucleotide length effects.

Abstract We have examined the salt and temperature dependences of the equilibrium binding of the Escherichia coli single strand binding (SSB) tetramer to a series of oligodeoxythymidylates, dT(pT)N−1, with N = 16, 28, 35, 56 and 70. Absolute binding isotherms were obtained, based on the quenching of the intrinsic protein fluorescence upon formation of the complexes. The shorter oligonucleotides, with N = 16, 28 and 35, bind to multiple sites on the SSB tetramer and negative co-operativity is observed among these binding sites. We have quantitatively analyzed these isotherms, using a statistical thermodynamic (“square”) model to obtain the intrinsic binding constant, KN, and the negative co-operativity constant, σN. For all oligonucleotides, we find that KN decreases significantly with increasing concentration of monovalent salt, indicating a large electrostatic component to the free energy of the interaction (e.g. ∂ log K N ∂ log [ NaBr ] = −2.7, −4.6 and −7.1 for N = 16, 35 and 70 , respectively), with contributions from both cations and anions. For oligonucleotides that span two or more subunits, there is a significant unfavorable contribution to the binding free energy for each intersubunit crossing, with an accompanying uptake of anions. Therefore, the extent of anion uptake increases as the number of intersubunit crossings increase. There is a strong temperature dependence for the intrinsic binding of dT(pT)15, such that ΔH0 = −26(± 3) kcal/mol dT(pT)15. Negative co-operativity exists under all solution conditions tested, i.e. σN
A variational approach to exciton-phonon coupling

In this set of lectures we revisit from a contemporary perspective a classic problem of polaron theory using a hierarchy of increasingly sophisticated variational methods. Polaron structure is represented by variational surfaces giving the optimal values of the complete set of exciton and phonon amplitudes for every value of the joint exciton-phonon crystal momentum κ. Our variational methods include the approach originally taken by Merrifield, that originally followed by Toyozawa, and a generalization that includes mixed global and local exciton-phonon correlations. Exact results in limiting parameter regimes that serve as benchmarks for variational calculations are presented. We find that the variational solutions include characteristic small polaron, large polaron, and nearly-free phonon structures and we examine in detail the manner in which these compete and/or coexist. Through such examination, the parameter space of the problem is mapped, with particular attention given to problematic areas such as the highly quantum mechanical weak-coupling regime and the highly nonlinear intermediate-coupling regime, and to the self-trapping transition that may be said to mark the onset of the strong-coupling regime. Complete exciton and phonon amplitudes and associated energy bands are presented in illustrative cases, and the principal trends in the ground state energy, polaron band width, and effective mass are identified. The internal structure of our variational Bloch states is examined for qualities that might reflect typical characteristics of solitons. We find that quantitative characteristics typical of solitons do not survive this close scrutiny.
The Choice to Protect. Rethinking Responsibility for Humanitarian Intervention

Against the background of President Barack Obama’s invocation of the responsibility to protect (R2P) in Libya and the failure of the international community to assume responsibility for humanitarian crimes in countries such as Syria, this Article reexamines the R2P doctrine from the perspective of states called to intervene. The approach here is novel and fills a gap in the existing literature about R2P, which has emphasized the harm to victims and abstract principles of international responsibility. This Article demonstrates that the responsibility of one state to the people of another state posits a new international duty and that justifications offered for this duty have proven insufficient. Moreover, R2P has not changed the reality that any responsibility will ultimately be defined by states contemplating intervention, in part because there are no agreed standards for responsibility and the doctrine has various triggering conditions that must be assessed by states. Whatever the moral obligation of states, they will necessarily assess responsibility from their own perspective. In addition, domestic bureaucratic competition and conflict demonstrate how the choice about whether to intervene includes many factors unrelated to humanitarian concerns. All of this suggests that a commitment to human security through intervention requires focusing more closely on the states called to intervene.
The Effect of Dietary Docosahexanoic Acid (DHA) on Cochlear Function in Developing Rat Pups

The Effect of Dietary Docosahexanoic Acid (DHA) on Cochlear Function in Developing Rat Pups
The 2009 H1N1 Pandemic Influenza Virus: What Next?

History suggests that the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus faces extinction unless it mutates to avoid already high global population immunity. The immune escape mechanisms potentially at its disposal include antigenic drift, antigenic shift via genetic reassortment, and intrasubtypic reassortment. Going back to the late 19th century, the evolutionary histories of past pandemic viruses are examined in an effort to better understand the nature and extent of the immune pressures faced by the 2009 pandemic virus in the immediate future. While human influenza viruses have often surprised us, available evidence leads to the hope that the current pandemic virus will continue to cause low or moderate mortality rates if it does not become extinct.
How tight are the Vapnik-Chervonenkis bounds?

We describe a series of numerical experiments that measure the average generalization capability of neural networks trained on a variety of simple functions. These experiments are designed to test the relationship between average generalization performance and the worst-case bounds obtained from formal learning theory using the Vapnik-Chervonenkis (VC) dimension (Blumer et al. 1989; Haussler et al. 1990). Recent statistical learning theories (Tishby et al. 1989; Schwartz et al. 1990) suggest that surpassing these bounds might be possible if the spectrum of possible generalizations has a “gap” near perfect performance. We indeed find that, in some cases, the average generalization is significantly better than the VC bound: the approach to perfect performance is exponential in the number of examples m, rather than the 1/m result of the bound. However, in these cases, we have not found evidence of the gap predicted by the above statistical theories. In other cases, we do find the 1/m behavior of the VC bound...
Dependence of the half widths of plasma-broadened hydrogen lines on reduced mass, temperature, and density.

Using a relaxation theory of ion broadening we have performed calculations for L/sub ..cap alpha../, H/sub ..cap alpha../, P/sub ..cap alpha../, and L/sub ..gamma../ for neutral hydrogen radiators. Our calculations span a wide range of electron density, temperature, and ..mu.., the reduced mass of the radiator and ion perturber. We identify four regions of qualitatively different influence of ion motion on the half widths at half maximum of hydrogenic line profiles. At sufficiently small ..mu.., the ion dynamics are impact in nature, while at very large ..mu.. they are quasistatic. The half width increases with ..mu.. in the impact region, and decreases with ..mu.. as the quasistatic region is approached. In between these latter two regions, the half width reaches a maximum. We observe a similar dependence of the reduced width as a function of the plasma density. The temperature dependence is discussed as well. The ion dynamic influence on the half width is determined by the ratio of the relevant collision duration to the collisional coherence time for the transition. We discuss validity criteria for the ion-impact and quasistatic limits.
Statistical mechanics of charged polymers in electrolyte solutions: a lattice field theory approach.

The lattice field theory approach to the statistical mechanics of a classical Coulomb gas [R.D. Coalson and A. Duncan, J. Chem. Phys. $97,$ 5653 (1992)] is generalized to include charged polymer chains. Saddle-point analysis is done on the functional integral representing the partition function of the full system. Mean-field level analysis requires extremization of a real-valued functional which possesses a single minimum, thus guaranteeing a unique solution. The full mean-field equations for such a coupled system are derived, as well as the leading (one-loop) fluctuation corrections. Two different numerical real-space lattice procedures are developed to implement the generalized theory; these are applied to the problem of a charged polymer confined to a spherical cavity in an electrolyte solution. The results provide insight into the physics of confined polyelectrolytes.
Improved venous suppression and spatial resolution with SENSE in elliptical centric 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography

The elliptical centric (EC) view order samples a 3DFT acquisition from the center of k-space outward, and when applied to contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) provides intrinsic venous suppression. This is because the veins enhance several seconds after the scan is initiated, and are thus encoded solely by noncentral k-space frequencies. A separate method, sensitivity encoding (SENSE), accelerates the k-space sampling rate by reducing the phase FOV or, equivalently, by increasing the k-space sampling interval, and has been used to increase spatiotemporal resolution. We hypothesized that by combining SENSE with EC, sampling of central k-space would be accelerated and the k-space radius at which the veins first showed contrast enhancement would be increased over a reference scan, thus providing improved venous suppression and spatial resolution without additional scan time. This hypothesis was studied with the use of phantom and carotid CE-MRA experiments, and the results demonstrated an approximate 25% reduction in venous signal when SENSE was used.
Some properties of a virus-like agent found in Brachypodium sylvaticum in the United Kingdom

A spherical virus–like agent ($$32 nm in diameter) was isolated from a plant of Brachypodium sylvaticum (Huds.) Beauv. growing in a botanic garden in England and showing yellow streaks in the leaves. The agent was readily purified and sedimented as a single component in sucrose density rate gradients. The particles had a sedimentation coefficient at infinite dilution of $$122S and a buoyant density of 1.35 g/cm3 in CsCl and 1·33 in CS2SO4. The particles were stable at acid pH but above pH 7·0 in the presence of EDTA dissociated. A protein having a major polypeptide with a molecular weight of $$3·76 × 104 and a species of single stranded RN A with a MW of 1·67 × 106 were detected in the particles. The agent was not transmitted by manual inoculation, by the insects Myzus persicae Sulzer, Rhopalosiphum padi L. or Nephotettix virescens Distant, through soil by leakage from roots or by seed. The particles had physicochemical properties in common with tombus– and sobemoviruses but were not serologically related to 10 members of these groups or to 57 other small spherical RNA plant viruses.
Noninvasive assessment of hemodynamic responses to exercise in pulmonary regurgitation after operations to correct pulmonary outflow obstruction

Abstract The influence of pulmonary regurgitation (PR) on exercise capacity is unknown. The hemodynamic responses to exercise in postoperative patients with PR was determined using Doppler-measured regurgitant fraction to indicate PR severity. Maximal heart rate, oxygen consumption and workload capacity were measured during upright cycle ergometry. Cardiac output was measured at rest and during submaximal supine cycle ergometry by pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Oxygen consumption was simultaneously measured and exercise factor was calculated as the change in cardiac output per change in oxygen consumption. Twenty-seven patients were compared with 17 age-, size- and sexmatched control subjects. Patients with PR had larger right ventricles (p ≤ 0.001), lower heart rate response (p ≤ 0.05), lower maximal oxygen consumption (p ≤ 0.005) and lower workloads (p ≤ 0.005) when compared with normal control subjects during maximal exercise testing. Exercise factor was the same for both groups. Patients with PR were then separated into mild, moderate and severe groups. Patients with mild PR had a normal response to exercise. However, patients with moderate and severe PR had lower maximal oxygen consumptions and maximal workloads than control subjects. Control, mild and moderate PR groups had similar exercise factors. Patients with severe PR had markedly low cardiac output responses. PR is associated with reduced exercise capability, which is related to the severity of the PR.
Single and multistep iterative image restoration and VLSI implementation

Abstract A synchronous VLSI implementation of an iterative image restoration algorithm is described in this paper. This implementation is based on a single-step, as well as on a multistep iterative algorithm derived from the single-step regularized iterative restoration algorithm. One processor is assigned to each picture element, with local memory depending on the support of the restoration filter. The implementation, which consists of interprocessor communication and intraprocessor computations, is provided and convergence issues are discussed.
Natural resource dependence and the accumulation of physical and human capital in Latin America

Abstract In a simultaneous model of human and physical capital accumulation for 17 Latin American countries from 1975 to 2004, we show that overall resource dependence has no significant direct effect on physical and human capital. When disaggregating the natural resource variable into sub-categories, we find that petroleum export dependence has a significant positive direct effect on physical capital, but a significant negative direct effect on human capital. Agricultural export dependence shows a significant negative direct effect on physical capital. Petroleum exports have a long run positive effect on physical capital but a negative long run effect on human capital. Agricultural exports have a negative long run effect on physical and human capital.
Automated map generation and update from high-resolution multispectral imagery

This paper describes the LOCATE TNG system, which generates map products directly from multispectral imagery in an automated fashion. The LOCATE TNG system uses spectral and spatial feature information to extract various types of man- made lines of communication (LOCs) from imagery and generate them in the form of digital vector maps. The generated maps may be compared against reference digital maps to automatically find new or changed LOCs. The original LOCATE (lines of communication apparent from thematic mapper evidence) system was designed and developed to use landsat thematic mapper imagery having a resolution of 30 m. LOCATE TNG (the next generation) has been redesigned to also have the capability to use high resolution multispectral imagery to be available from the next generation of commercial satellites. These satellites will provide multispectral and panchromatic imagery having resolutions down to 4 m and 1 m, respectively, thus dramatically improving the information available for exploitation. LOCATE TNG employs a hierarchical algorithmic approach to extracting layers of LOCs (primary roads, secondary roads, etc.) that may be used for GIS applications.
PROGESTERONE BIOSYNTHESIS IN LUTEAL TISSUE: ROLE OF NICOTINAMIDE ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE PHOSPHATE AND NADP-LINKED DEHYDROGENASES.

The stimulation of luteal progesterone synthesis in vitro by pyridine nucleotide (NADPH) has been examined. Four NADP-linked dehydrogenases have been measured in bovine and human corpora lutea. Glucose-6-P, 6-P-gluconate, malate and isocitrate dehydrogenases were found in bovine corpora lutea in relatively high amounts, comparable to the respective concentrations seen in bovine adrenals. The 4 dehydrogenases appear to be capable of providing NADPH for the stimulation of synthesis in the luteal slice under in vitro incubation conditions, glucose-6-P and 6-P-gluconate dehydrogenases being the most effective. The stimulation of progesterone biosynthesis in vitro by exogenous NADP +glucose-6-P is usually greater than that caused by the addition of luteinizing hormone (LH).
First Report of Downy Mildew of Lima Bean Caused by Phytophthora phaseoli in Virginia.

Delaware, the eastern shore of Maryland, and southern New Jersey have been the center of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) production in the eastern United States for nearly 50 years (1). Downy mildew has been the most important disease of lima bean in the humid eastern United States over that period. The causal agent of downy mildew, the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora phaseoli Thaxt., was first identified on lima bean in Connecticut in 1887 by Thaxter. Signs and symptoms of lima bean downy mildew include infection, necrosis and abscission of flowers, and shepherd's crooking of racemes, shoot tips, and petioles (1). Sporangia develop on shoot tips, petioles, pins (small pods), and pods in the field and on hypocotyls in-vitro. Since 2005, approximately 50% of the baby lima beans processed in the United States have been grown in Delaware and the eastern shore of Maryland. In 2008, commercial lima bean production began on the eastern shore of Virginia in Accomack County but no downy mildew was reported in tha...
Digital Shakespeare, or towards a literary informatics

Medieval monks divided the Bible into an inventory of its parts as an aid to fallible human memory. Digital technology enables much more radical applications of this divide-and-conquer strategy. I discuss the potential of these new developments as well as the resistance to them, using Shakespeare as a model case.
Long coherence length for cw photolytic atomic iodine lasers at 1.315 microm.

With a low-power cw photolytic atomic iodine laser operating at 1.315 μm, coherence lengths greater than 220 m have been observed. These results are to our knowledge the first coherent length measurements of any type of atomic iodine laser. A Michelson interferometer was used to demonstrate this long-coherence-length property. In addition, Fabry–Perot interferometric measurements provided a laser frequency linewidth (Δf < 1.0 MHz) consistent with this long-coherence-length observation. Such a large coherence length should be common to all homogeneously broadened, photolytic atomic iodine lasers.
Unsteady flame-wall interactions in a reacting jet injected into a vitiated cross-flow☆

This paper describes measurements and analysis of the unsteady characteristics of a turbulent reacting fuel jet in a vitiated cross-flow. This problem involves coupling between the hydrodynamic stability of the jet–wall system, combustion induced gas expansion and interactions of the autoigniting jet with the wake flow. Analysis of the unsteady jet motions shows that the reacting jet flaps in a sinuous manner with an amplitude that increases with downstream distance but is relatively independent of jet-to-cross-flow momentum flux ratio, J. This study particularly focuses on unsteady flame–wall interactions in these systems, showing that even though the time averaged flame trajectory may be well removed from wall regions, its instantaneous trajectory may be very near or even attached to the wall. Specifically, for lower J jets (J < ∼20), the flame intermittently attaches to the wall for some fraction of time that decreases with downstream distance and increasing J. From a practical point of view, intermittent flame–wall interactions cause an increase in the time averaged wall temperature, raising durability concerns. We suggest that this unsteady jet–wall attraction can be understood from analogies to the dynamics of co-flowing jet or wake pairs, as low J jets deflect into the cross-flow direction quickly. Side-by-side jets or wakes are “attracted” toward each other and exhibit global instabilities that are not present when they are isolated. In support of this argument, we show that data taken over the 1.7 < J < 7.2 range and a range of axial locations can be collapsed using the time averaged distance of the reacting jet from the wall.
A General Model for Production and Operations Systems

This paper presents a structural and a mathematical framework for the analysis and/or synthesis of a large class of production systems. Service and/or goods producing enterprises are considered to be production systems. The structural framework consists of a generalized schematic involving materials, energy, capital equipment, populations, orders, information and cash flows through transducing, policy, etc., operations. This framework recognizes feedback concepts. The mathematical framework consists of sets of k node or junction equations, m potential or branch equations, and n economic evaluation equations and a methodology for their application. These equations provide for nonlinear and transient behavior and recognize the time value of money. The applicability of this model is demonstrated by industrially validated studies in the areas of manufacturing, hydraulic, heat transfer, and electrical systems analysis. The mentioned examples, though quite complex in nature, are shown to be special cases of this model.
ORGANIZATION OF RAT MESENTERIC ARTERY AFTER REMOVAL OF CELLS OR EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX COMPONENTS

Rat mesenteric arteries, perfusion fixed in relaxed or contracted conditions, were digested with acid and elastase, bleach (sodium hypochlorite), or alkali to selectively remove collagen, elastin, or cells. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the three-dimensional organization of the remaining cells or extracellular components. Smooth muscle cells of the tunica media were elongated and circumferentially oriented. Superior mesenteric artery cells had an irregular surface with numerous projections and some ends were forked. Small mesenteric artery cells were spindle shaped with longitudinal surface ridges, and showed extensive corrugations upon contraction. Elastin was present both as laminae and as an interconnected fibrous meshwork. Collagen was arranged in an irregular network of individual fibrils and small bundles of fibrils that formed nests around the cells in both arteries. This irregular arrangement persisted, with no apparent reordering or loss of order, upon contraction. The lack of an ordered arrangement or specialized organization at the cell ends suggests mechanical coupling of the cells to elastin or collagen throughout the length of the cell, allowing for force transmission in a number of directions. The tunica media is thus a “composite” material consisting of cells, elastin, and collagen. The isotropic network of fibers is well suited for transmitting the shearing forces placed on it by contraction of smooth muscle cells and by pressure-induced loading.