cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Through the looking (Google) glass: attentional costs in distracted visual search

Devices using a Heads-Up-Display (HUD), such as Google Glass (GG), provide users with a wide range of informational content, often while that user is engaged in a concurrent task. It is unclear, however, how such information might interfere with attentional processes. Here, we evaluated how a secondary task load presented on GG affects selective attention mechanisms. Participants completed a visual search task for an oriented T target among L distractors (50 or 80 set size) on a computer screen. Our primary manipulation was the nature of a secondary task via the use (or non-use) of GG. More specifically, participants performed the search task while they either did not wear GG (control condition), wore GG with no information presented on it, or wore the GG with a word presented on it. Additionally, we also manipulated the instructions given to the participant regarding the relevance of the information presented on the GG (e.g., useful, irrelevant, or ignore). When words were presented on the GG, we tested for recognition memory with a surprise recognition task composed of 50% new and old words following the visual search task. We found an RT cost during visual search associated with simply wearing GG compared to when participants searched without wearing GG (~258ms) and when secondary information was presented as compared to wearing GG with no information presented (~225ms). We found no interaction of search set size and GG condition, nor was there and effect of GG condition on search accuracy. Recognition memory was significantly above chance in all instruction conditions; even when participants were instructed that information presented on the GG should be ignored, there was still evidence that the information was processed. Overall, our findings suggest that information presented on HUDs, such as GG, may induce performance costs on concurrent tasks requiring selective attention. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015. Language: en
A Study of Alternative Relaxation Approaches for a Manpower Planning Problem.

This paper examines a variety of relaxation strategies for zero-one integer programming problems, containing from 54 to 2,683 variables, that arise in manpower planning applications. These strategies are compared by a primal criterion, which emphasizes the ability to obtain high quality feasible solutions. This contrasts with the usual dual criterion for comparing relaxations, which emphasizes objective function bounds obtained from solutions that are generally not feasible. The changed emphasis requires a change in the use of relaxations, which may be viewed from the standpoint of generating trial solutions for heuristic programming or as a fundamental component of branch and bound. Computer tests show that a combined surrogate-Lagrangean strategy is the most effective for the problems examined followed by a pure surrogate relaxation strategy. All other approaches, including generalized Lagrangean relaxation, fared substantially worse, particularly in terms of solution quality.
Efficacy of Organic Soil Amendments for Management of Heterodera glycines in Greenhouse Experiments.

In a repeated greenhouse experiment, organic soil amendments were screened for effects on population density of soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, and soybean growth. Ten amendments at various rates were tested: fresh plant material of field pennycress, marigold, spring camelina, and Cuphea; condensed distiller’s solubles (CDS), ash of combusted CDS, ash of combusted turkey manure (TMA), marigold powder, canola meal, and pennycress seed powder. Soybeans were grown for 70 d in field soil with amendments and SCN eggs incorporated at planting. At 40 d after planting (DAP), many amendments reduced SCN egg population density, but some also reduced plant height. Cuphea plant at application rate of 2.9% (amendment:soil, w:w, same below), marigold plant at 2.9%, pennycress seed powder at 0.5%, canola meal at 1%, and CDS at 4.3% were effective against SCN with population reductions of 35.2%, 46.6%, 46.7%, 73.2%, and 73.3% compared with control, respectively. For Experiment 1 at 70 DAP, canola meal at 1% and pennycress seed powder at 0.5% reduced SCN population density 70% and 54%, respectively. CDS at 4.3%, ash of CDS at 0.2%, and TMA at 1% increased dry plant mass whereas CDS at 4.3% and pennycress seed powder at 0.1% reduced plant height. For Experiment 2 at 70 DAP, amendments did not affect SCN population nor plant growth. In summary, some amendments were effective for SCN management, but phytoxicity was a concern.
Test Dummy Interaction with a Shoulder or Lap Belt

Belt interaction with the dummy's chest or pelvis was investigated during simulated frontal decelerations to develop a better understanding of the mechanics of belt restraint. Hyge sled tests were conducted at acceleration levels of 6-16 g's with a Part 572 dummy forward facing on an automotive bucket seat. Dynamics were compared in similar tests where the dummy was restrained by a conventional shoulder belt or belt segments attached to a modified sternum -- a steel sternum with extensions for fixed belt attachments. Tests were also conducted with a conventional lap belt or belt segments fixed to an extension of the H point. Deformation characteristics of the standard and modified thorax were determined for a lateral and superior point load or a belt yoke compression of the sternum. The pelvic structure was also compressed by a lap belt.
Prefunding Social Security Benefits to Achieve Intergenerational Fairness: Can It Be Done in the Social Security Trust Fund?

Being fair to future generations requires that Social Security be reformed in a manner that prefunds a significant share of future Social Security benefit payments. All serious reform plans have this property. Prefunding is done exclusively in the Social Security trust fund in some plans, and it is done partly in personal retirement accounts (PRAs) in others. The consequences of prefunding Social Security in the trust fund are controversial and not well understood. The key question is whether Social Security surpluses are offset by smaller non-Social Security surpluses; if they are, and if the offset is 100 percent, then Social Security surpluses are not truly saved and prefunding intended to make Social Security fair to future generations is neutralized by a non-Social Security fiscal policy that is less fair to future generations. This paper makes this important point concrete by simulating the response of non-Social Security fiscal policy to two alternative Social Security reforms that differ only with regard to the breakdown of prefunding in the trust fund and prefunding in PRAs. The reforms simulated are the Nonpartisan Reform Plan proposed by Jeffrey Liebman, Maya McGuineas, and Andrew Samwick, and a version of that plan that prefunds exclusively in the trust fund. If Social Security surpluses are not saved, it is found that NRP's PRAs increase the net benefits of government to future generations by about 0.6 percent of GDP; that is, future generations enjoy some combination of lower non-Social Security taxes and higher non-Social Security government spending that amounts to about 0.6 percent of GDP in every year. The paper also reviews budget politics over the past 30 years and concludes that there is a substantial probability that trust fund accumulations are largely offset by reduced non-Social Security surpluses.The implications of these findings for Social Security reform are explored. If budget politics precludes the possibility that Social Security surpluses are saved, then large dividends would be paid if an alternative means of effectively prefunding Social Security could be found. If politics also precludes that possibility, then it would be rational to compromise other Social Security reform objectives so as to reduce trust fund accumulations. Specifically, relative to a first-best reform with effective prefunding, smaller benefit levels would be appropriate.
Buoyant turbulent flow driven by internal energy generation

Abstract Two thermal microscales for buoyancy driven turbulent flows are proposed. The first of these scales, arranged relative to viscous dissipation, is η θ ∼ 1+ 1 σ 1 4 νa 2 P β 1 4 which explicitly includes the limit for σ → ∞, and, arranged relative to inertial production, is η θ ∼(1+σ) 1 4 a 3 P β 1 4 which explicitly includes the limit for σ → ∞. Here σ = v a denotes the Prandtl number † and Pβ. the production of buoyant turbulent energy. The limits of this scale for σ ∼ 1, and σ → 0, ∞ are shown to be the celebrated Kolmogorov scale and its extensions known as the Oboukhov-Corrsin and Batchelor scales, respectively. The ηθ scale is independent of any integral (or geometric) effect. The second of these scales in terms of the limit for σ → ∞ is λ θ ∼l 1 3 1+ 1 σ 1 6 νa 2 P β 1 6 and in terms of the limit for σ → 0 is λ θ ∼l 1 3 (1+σ) 1 6 a 3 P β 1 6 where l is an integral (or geometric) scale. When expressed in terms of buoyant force induced by internal energy generation, these scales relative to the integral scale become η θ l ∼∏ I − 1 4 λ θ l ∼∏ I − 1 6 where ∏ I ∼ Ra I 1+Pr −1 and Ra I = gβΦl 5 νa 2 is the appropriate Rayleigh number and Pr is the Prandtl number. Here Φ = u‴ ρc p , u‴ being the rate of energy generation per unit volume. A two-layer heat transfer model for turbulent flow driven by internal energy generated between two horizontal plates is proposed. The model yields, in terms of the foregoing scales, Nu∼ l η θ 1−( λ θ l ) 2 ( l η θ ) or, in terms of III Nu∼ ∏ I 1 4 1−∏ I − 1 12 where Nu denotes the Nusselt number. The special case of this relation for Pr>1 is already known to correlate the experimental literature on electrolytically heated water.
Iteractive factor algebras and induced metrics

Abstract An algebra is said to be iterative if every nontrivial finite system of fixed-point equations has a unique solution. A necessary and sufficient condition for a congruence on the algebra of regular trees to induce an iterative factor algebra is presented and possible induced distance functions are discussed.
Expression of the human c-fms proto-oncogene in hematopoietic cells and its deletion in the 5q− syndrome

The c-fms proto-oncogene was shown to be expressed in human bone marrow and in differentiated blood mononuclear cells, suggesting that its gene product plays a role in hematopoietic maturation. The c-fms mRNA was not detected in HL-60 cells, an established promyelocytic line, whereas c-fms expression appeared 48 hr after induction when most cells had differentiated into macrophages. An acquired deletion of chromosome 5 (5q-) in bone marrow cells is associated with abnormalities in blood cell production. The normal 5 and 5q- chromosomes were segregated by construction of cell hybrids between bone marrow and rodent cells. A selective system was used that requires retention of the structural gene for dihydrofolate reductase, located on human chromosome 5. Analysis of DNA from individual hybrid clones revealed that the 5q- deletion had removed the c-fms gene. We postulate that hemizygosity at the c-fms locus leads to abnormalities in hematopoietic maturation.
Comparative In Vitro Activities of N-Formimidoyl Thienamycin and Moxalactam Against Nonfermentative Aerobic Gram-Negative Rods

N -Formimidoyl thienamycin was the most active drug against strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with a 90% minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.25 μg/ml. With the exception of P. maltophilia , thienamycin was as active or more active than moxalactam against other species of pseudomonads and against other genera of nonfermenters.
Electrocatalytic Reduction of Dioxygen by Diruthenium Cofacial Diporphyrins Axially-Bound to a Gold-Supported, Self-Assembled Monolayer

A gold-supported, self-assembled monolayer containing imidazole termini provides axial binding sites for the diruthenium cofacial diporphyrins ({mu}-N{sub 2})Ru{sub 2}(DPA)(CH{sub 3}CN) and ({mu}-N{sub 2})Ru{sub 2}(DPB)(CH{sub 3}CN). These electrode-bound molecules electrocatalytically reduce dioxygen in a well-characterized environment. The SAM environment makes it easier to study the effect that the electrode-catalyst interactions are having on the catalysis compared with those of the traditional environment of edge plane graphite electrodes.
Thermoelectric Power Experiment for the Advanced Laboratory

Apparatus suitable for measurements of the thermoelectric power of wires in the temperature region from 77 to 300 K is described. An outline of the theoretical treatment of thermoelectric power is presented and typical results are given for aluminum, gold, and iron. This experiment has been used in the undergraduate advanced laboratory.
CONCURRIT: testing concurrent programs with programmable state-space exploration

Testing is the most widely-used methodology for software validation. However, due to the nondeterministic interleavings of threads, traditional testing for concurrent programs is not as effective as for sequential programs. To attack the nondeterminism problem, software model checking techniques have been used to systematically enumerate all possible thread schedules of a test program. But such systematic and exhaustive exploration is typically too time-consuming for many test programs. We believe that the programmer's help to guide the model checker towards interesting executions is critical to circumvent this problem.We propose a testing technique and a supporting tool called CONCURRIT, which provides a model checker that can be guided programmatically within test code. While writing a test, the programmer specifies a particular thread interleaving scenario in mind using an embedded domain-specific language (DSL), and CONCURRIT explores all and only the executions realizing the intended scenario. During the exploration, the programmer is also able to observe the execution (e.g., assert invariants) and constrain the future decisions of the model checker, all within the test code.We believe that providing the programmer the ability to observe and control the exploration of executions will lead to more effective and efficient testing for concurrent programs.
DANCING WITH KARL PETERS

. Dancing with the Sacred by Karl Peters provides a coherent and at times moving portrait of the religious naturalist position. I highlight three broad issues that are raised by the kind of religious naturalism that Peters develops: (1) the meaning of the term natural, (2) the nature of God in Peters's naturalistic framework, and (3) the question of eschatology. In each area, I believe that Peters's work raises many questions that need to be addressed and also provides openings for further dialogue.
ULTRA‐VIOLET SPECTROPHOTOMETRY OF ZEA MAYS POLLEN WITH THE QUARTZ MICROSCOPE

QUANTITATIVE INTERPRETATIONS of data on the biological effects of ultra-violet radiation must usually be based on a knowledge of absorption by the organism involved. Information of this kind has been used most often in an attempt to correlate biological effects directly with the total energy absorbed. Less frequently, the important question of a screening effect has been the desideratum. Owing to the slight penetration of living matter by ultra-violet, one is ordinarily concerned with objects of microscopical size, at least in one dimension. Where the organisms are such as to be compressible into thin uniform layers, data can be obtained rather readily, as in the bacterial measurements of Gates (1930). Where single organisms must be subjected to measurement, the use of a microscope is indicated. In the latter category are the investigations by Vles and Gex (1934) on sea urchin eggs, by Baas-Becking and Ross (1925) and Albers and Knorr (1937) on chloroplasts, and the splendid work of Caspersson on the salivary gland chromosomes of Drosophila. Ultraviolet absorption spectra of microscopie preparations have also been studied by Dubouloz (1938), Prat (1936), and Lucas (1934). Ultra-violet transmission data on suspensions of organisms have been reported by Ehrismann and Noethling (1932) for bacteria and yeast, by Noethling and Stubbe (1934) for Antirrhinum pollen, and by Giese and Leighton (1935) for paramoecia. This method is far from satisfactory owing to the scattering by the organisms and the difficulties of securing data of absolute value. The present investigation on the absorption characteristics of corn pollen has grown out of a need for accurate information as to the actual energy reaching the chromosomes within a pollen grain in order to interpret genetic results (Stadler and Uber, 1938). No existing data on the composition of pollen, either of walls or contents, are sufficient to solve this problem on the basis of known absorption curves of the chemical constituents. The writer wishes to record his appreciation of the technical assistance of Mr. Roger Winters and Dr. Ernest W. Landen, and of the privilege of frequent consultation with Professor L. J. Stadler. The quartz microscope was made available by a generous grant of the University of Missouri Research Council. THEORY OF ABSORPTION MEASUREMENTS WITH THE MICROSCOPE.-When a parallel beam of radiation is absorbed in a homogeneous layer of substance of uniform thickness, D, the relation between the incident flux, Io, and the transmitted flux, I, can be expressed by the equation: I Io e-kD, where k is the extinction coefficient for the substance and e is the nape-
New laser texturing process of magnetic disks for stiction reduction

Microscopic bumps of heights being tens of nm can be produced on a smooth nickel-phosphorus disk substrate using Q-switched laser pulses from a diode-pumped laser. This technique is being used in the manufacture of high-end disk drives where tens of thousands of such bumps are produced to form a dedicated landing-zone racetrack for the magnetic head to land and takeoff without stiction.
Competition: A Theory Based on Realistic, General Equations of Population Growth

Realistic equations of population growth, separately representing scarcity of renewed material resources and scarcity of fixed resources related to space, show the differential imnpact of these two factors on comnpetitive coexistence. The equations suggest a general theory of competition coverinlg any number or kinid of resolurces, consumers. and intraspecific and interspecific interactions.
Neural pattern discrimination

Abstract Some possible neural mechanisms of pattern discrimination are discussed, leading to neural networks which can discriminate any number of essentially arbitrarily complicated space-time patterns and activate cells which can then learn and perform any number of essentially arbitrarily complicated space-time patterns in response to the proper input pattern. Among the topics that arise in this discussion are: use of non-recurrent inhibitory interneurons for temporal or spatial discrimination tasks which recurrent inhibitory interneurons cannot carry out; mechanisms of temporal generalization whereby the same cells control performance of a given act at variable speeds; a tendency for cells furthest from the sensory periphery to have the most specific response modes and the least ability to follow sensory intensities (e.g. on-off and bimodal responses are common); uses of non-recurrent on-off fields whose signals arrive in waves forming “interference patterns”, with the net effect of rapidly choosing at most one behavioral mode from any number of competitive modes, or of non-specifically arousing or suppressing cells which can sample and learn ongoing internal patterns; uses of specific vs. non-specific inhibitory interneurons, axon hillock inhibition, presynaptic inhibition, equal smoothing of excitatory and inhibitory signals, possible production of both excitatory and inhibitory transmitter in a single synaptic knob, blockade of postsynaptic potential response, logarithmic transduction of inputs to spiking frequencies, or saturation of cell body response in non-recurrent on-off fields for purposes of pattern discrimination.
Determination of platinum in alumina-supported automotive catalyst material by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract Platinum (0.01–0.2%) is determined after dissolution in sulfuric and hydrochloric acids and addition of palladium and rhodium to compensate for interelement effects. At the 0.06% level, the relative standard deviation is 2%. The results agree within 4% with those obtained by chemical methods.
Identification of modified forms of human glucocorticoid receptors during the cell cycle.

Glucocorticoids induce alkaline phosphatase activity in HeLa S-cells only during the Late G, cell cycle. In order to determine why these cells respond to glucocorticoids only during and S phases of thecelcy.ypgy gthese phases,we have determined the physicochemical characteristics of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in synchronized HeLa S-, cells. GR isolated from HeLa S3 cells in the Late G, and S phases elute from DEAE cellulose as a single, major peak at a competing [KC1] of 0.15 M (Form I). In contrast, GR isolated from cells in the G2 and Early G, phases show a biphasic elution pattern; a more highly acidic GR form elutes at a [KC1] of 0.25 M (Form II). Similar elution patterns are observed when GR is chromatographed on hydroxylapatite (HAP). In these studies a [K2HPO4] of 0.125 M elutes the major GR form in Late G, and S phase cells, whereas a [k2HPO4] of 0.15 M elutes a second binding species from G2 and Early G, phase cells. GR sediments through 5-20% sucrose density gradients as an - 4.6S species ...
Horizontal adaptive optics research at Yerkes Observatory

Horizontal adaptive optics research has been conducted at Yerkes Observatory since the first tests in 1994. This includes the study of wavefront reconstruction techniques, isoplanatic angle measurements, branch points in the phase function, and combined adaptive optics and phase diversity experiments.
Hybridoma growth and antibody production as a function of cell density and specific growth rate in perfusion culture.

Steady state metabolic parameters for hybridoma cell line H22 were determined over a wide range of cell densities and specific growth rates in a filtration based homogeneous perfusion reactor. Operating the reactor at perfusion rates of 0.75, 2.0, and 2.9 day−1(each at four different specific growth rates), viable cell densities as high as 2 × 107 cells/mL were obtained. For the cell line under investigation, the specific monoclonal antibody production rate was found to be a strong function of the viable cell density, increasing with increasing cell density. In contrast, most of the substrate consumption and product formation rates were strong functions of the specific growth rate. Substrate metabolism became more efficient at high cell densities and low specific growth rates. The Specific rates of metabolite formation and the apparent yields of lactate from glucose and ammonia from glutamine decreased at low specific growth rates and high cell densities. While the specific oxygen consumption rate was independent of the specific growth rate and cell density, ATP production was more oxidative at lower specific growth rate and higher cell density. These observed shifts are strong indications of the production potential of high-density perfusion culture. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Modulation of glucocorticoid receptor induction properties by cofactors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Abstract Glucocorticoids are widely used for their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. Changing concentrations of transcriptional cofactors or chemicals in transiently transfected tissue culture cells modify several properties of glucocorticoid receptor-regulated gene expression including total activity ( A max ), agonist steroid potency (EC 50 ), and the percentage of full agonist activity for antisteroids (percent partial agonist activity). However, no reports exist for endogenous genes in primary human cells. Here we document that reduced concentrations of TIF2, a p160 coactivator, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells modulate these parameters for endogenous genes in a gene-selective manner, thus establishing the physiological relevance of this behavior.
What makes a guardian capable? A test of guardianship in action

In Cohen and Felson's (1979) routine activities theory, the presence of a capable guardian serves as the key component in the crime event model, one that can disrupt, either directly or indirectly, the interaction between a motivated offender and a suitable target. Unlike the other components of the theory much less is known about the nature of capable guardianship. This article reports the results of a test of the Guardianship in Action instrument, first developed by Reynald (2009), for measuring guardianship potential at residential properties. It was found that guardianship intensity at the property level can be measured via direct observation, and the measurement of guardianship intensity is enhanced by including measures of the physical and social environment that can enable or hinder guardianship activities. The article lends further support to the thesis that residential guardianship combines physical potential for guardianship as well as acts of monitoring and intervention. The implications for theory, research and practice are discussed.
The Pattern and Importance of Public Knowledge in the Nuclear Age

A review of 175 survey questions which measure American public awareness and knowledge of nuclear issues from 1945 through 1987 reveals important and previously undiscovered patterns. Awareness of nuclear weapons is universal amd more dominant than awareness of arms control. People are two times more knowledgeable of nuclear weapons issues than they are of arms control issues. Even though only approximately 5% of the public have detailed knowledge of arms control, many more people have functional knowledge of the subject. While the level and rate of diffusion of nuclear awareness varies greatly, there seems to be a limit to the number of people who learn of nuclear issues after they first reach the public agenda. This places limits on presidential leadership and organized public education campaigns. Despite justifiable methodological concerns with question wording, time series data and self-defined knowledge scales, much can be learned by systematically analyzing relevant public opinion data.
The incremental direct costs associated with behavioral symptoms in AD.

Objective: To determine the incremental costs associated with behavioral symptoms in patients with AD. Methods: A total of 128 patients with probable AD were enrolled into this study. Cognitive function and extrapyramidal features were assessed in patients with AD. Caregivers were interviewed to determine use of health care services, receipt of unpaid care, severity of behavioral symptoms (Neuropsychiatric Inventory [NPI]), and comorbid medical conditions in patients with AD. Healthcare utilization data were multiplied by unit costs to estimate direct formal costs. Unpaid caregiving hours were multiplied by an hourly wage to estimate direct informal costs. The annual incremental direct costs of additional behavioral symptoms were estimated with multiple regression equations. Results: Annual, direct costs were significantly higher in patients with AD at or above the median score on the NPI (high NPI group), after adjusting for group differences in severity of cognitive impairment and comorbid conditions. Patients in the high NPI group had formal costs between $3,162 and $5,919 higher than the low NPI group and total direct costs between $10,670 and $16,141 higher, depending on the severity of cognitive impairments. Models for the entire sample estimated that a one-point increase in the NPI score would result in an annual increase of between $247 and $409 in total direct costs, depending on the value of unpaid caregiving. Conclusions: Behavioral symptoms in patients with AD significantly increase direct costs of care.
Congenital deficiency of the abdominal muscles, with associated multiple anomalies.

Summary Three cases are presented with congenital deficiency of the muscles of the abdominal wall. Two patients are males and one is a female, the fourth such case to be described to date. Each patient has been followed since birth. One patient, M. C., was born following a difficult breech delivery. She possesses a deficiency of the transversus abdominalis and external and internal obliquus muscles. The rectus muscles are bilaterally intact. This female patient is unique in that she is the first to be reported with associated genitourinary abnormalities. Of the three other females reported with this condition, one, presented by Fletcher, was a case of massive omphalocele and does not actually represent this condition. Of the other two reported neither had associated genitourinary anomalies. Our female patient has additional multiple anomalies. The labia majora and minora are poorly developed. She has had repeated urinary tract infections that are difficult to control. The only actual demonstrated urinary abnormality is that of the bladder which was reported as larger than normal (probably on the basis of repeated cystitis, and urethral obstruction of mild degree or deficiency of neuromuscular mechanism). The second case, R. U., demonstrates a deficiency of the entire musculature of the abdominal wall. Associated genitourinary anomalies include bilateral undescended testes, bilateral hydronephrosis, and bilateral hydroureter due to congenital bladder neck obstruction. Following resection of a bladder diverticulum and a transurethral resection of the vesicle neck, he has improved markedly. This is the first recorded instance in this condition in which transurethral resection has been performed successfully through the penis. Daut and associates of the Mayo Clinic 6 reported a case in which a transurethral resection was carried out transperineally. The third case, E. G., has a deficiency of the transversalis and the external and internal obliquus muscle. The rectus muscles are present. This child has an undescended left testis. No abnormality of the urinary tract has been demonstrated. A spina bifida with myelomeningocele in the lumbarsacral area and a developing hydrocephalus are present. No anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract was found in any of the three cases. Other abnormalities in addition to those of the abdominal wall and genitourinary tract are prevalent in this series.
The enzymic acetylation of choline analogues.

—The rates of acetylation of choline and the mono-, di-, and tri-ethyl analogues of choline by choline acetyltransferase (acetyl-CoA: choline O-acetyltransferase; EC 2.3.1.6) were studied with a partially purified enzyme from bovine caudate nucleus. All the substrates were acetylated by ChAc. The rates of acetylation at low concentrations of substrate were choline >MEC >DEC >TEC, but at high concentrations MEC was acetylated more rapidly than choline. These results have been compared to those of previous workers. The mode of binding of choline and its analogues to ChAc is discussed, and it is suggested that replacement of methyl by ethyl groups results in a lower energy of binding of the substrate to the active site of the enzyme.
Dyspnea and Tracheal Mass in an Elderly Man

T he patient was a 72-year-old man with a supenor mediastinal, paratracheal mass that was first noted on a chest x-ray film obtained 3 years earlier during a hospitalization after a tractor accident. Further evaluation was not undertaken at that time given the seriousness of the patient’s trauma. The patient survived his injuries and over the following 3 years noted progressive breathlessness with exertion. The patient had never smoked and denied weight loss, dysphagia, or chest pain. Medical history was otherwise noncontributory. Physical examination revealed an elderly man in no apparent distress at rest. Vital signs were stable but chest examination revealed scattered rhonchi. Stridor could be provoked with voluntary hyperventilation. An x-ray film examination of the chest, shown in Figure 1, illustrates a left paratracheal mass causing significant tracheal compression. Pulmonary function tests confirmed a severe obstructive ventilatory defect with impaired expiratory flows suggesting a variable intrathoracic obstruction of the trachea. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed a well-defined mediastinal mass measuring about 5X4X5 cm. The mass caused significant lateral compression of the left side of the trachea, and a portion seemed to be intraluminal. Multiple punctuate calcifications within the mass were noted (Fig 2). Bronchoscopy confirmed high grade, extrinsic, midtracheal compression with minimal mucosal abnormality. A thoracotomy was performed.
Real-Time TEM Imaging of the Formation of Crystalline Nanoscale Gaps

We present real-time transmission electron microscopy of nanogap formation by feedback controlled electromigration that reveals a remarkable degree of crystalline order. Crystal facets appear during feedback controlled electromigration indicating a layer-by-layer, highly reproducible electromigration process avoiding thermal runaway and melting. These measurements provide insight into the electromigration induced failure mechanism in sub-20 nm size interconnects, indicating that the current density at failure increases as the width decreases to approximately 1 nm.
An FDK-like cone-beam SPECT reconstruction algorithm for non-uniform attenuated projections acquired using a circular trajectory

In this paper, Novikov's inversion formula of the attenuated two-dimensional (2D) Radon transform is applied to the reconstruction of attenuated fan-beam projections acquired with equal detector spacing and of attenuated cone-beam projections acquired with a flat planar detector and circular trajectory. The derivation of the fan-beam algorithm is obtained by transformation from parallel-beam coordinates to fan-beam coordinates. The cone-beam reconstruction algorithm is an extension of the fan-beam reconstruction algorithm using Feldkamp-Davis-Kress's (FDK) method. Computer simulations indicate that the algorithm is efficient and is accurate in reconstructing slices close to the central slice of the cone-beam orbit plane. When the attenuation map is set to zero the implementation is equivalent to the FDK method. Reconstructed images are also shown for noise corrupted projections.
Gliding behaviour and palaeoecology of the alleged primate family Paromomyidae (Mammalia, Dermoptera)

THE extinct Paromomyidae, known from early Tertiary strata of North America1–6 and Europe7–8, have traditionally been viewed as an archaic radiation of the order Primates1–11. Hypotheses about the phylogenetic position and palaeobiology of these animals have, however, been highly constrained because postcranial fossils of paromomyids have not been positively identified until now. Newly discovered fossils representing the paromomyid genera Phenacolemur and Ignacius show that these animals share functionally important postcranial synapomorphies with extant Cynocephalus (the flying lemur), the only living member of the mammalian order Dermoptera. These traits strongly suggest that paromomyids possessed a patagium, or gliding membrane, which was homologous to that of Cynocephalm. Paromomyids therefore provide both the earliest evidence for the evolution of gliding behaviour in mammals and the only fossil record currently recognized for the eutherian order Dermoptera12.
Formal methods for semi-autonomous driving

We give an overview of the main challenges in the specification, design, and verification of human cyber-physical systems, with a special focus on semi-autonomous vehicles. We identify unique characteristics of formal modeling, specification, verification and synthesis in this domain. Some initial results and design principles are presented along with directions for future work.
Rent-to-own agreements: Customer characteristics and contract outcomes

Abstract The rent-to-own (RTO) industry, by offering immediate access to household goods for a small periodic fee with no credit check or down payment, has strong appeal to low income and financially distressed consumers. An important policy question is whether an RTO agreement is used as a rental/lease with build-in purchase option or as something more akin to an installment loan. Given the embedded options to return the item or to purchase it early, the actual rent paid by RTO customers is substantially lower than the oft-reported total rent which assumes that agreements go to term. We employ a log-normal censored regression model to analyze the influence of customer demographics as well as the transactional details of the contract on the rent paid by consumers using rent-to-own. Our main conclusions are (1) it is the “working poor” that are likely to pay more rent, (2) there appears to be a clientele effect with customers paying more rent under bi-weekly and monthly, as opposed to weekly, payment schedules, and (3) customers who exhibit delinquency in making contractual payments generally end up paying more rent. Further, our data allows some observations on annual percentage rates by illustrating the business risk present for RTO stores as well as the cross-subsidization of consumers.
INFLUENCES FOR CHANGE IN THE DENTAL HEALTH STATUS OF POPULATIONS: AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Epidemiologists often use mortality statistics to examine trends in health and disease,*9 principally because these data are frequently all that are available, and also because they are reasonably reliable.@ A major drawback to their use, however, is that mortality statistics are an extremely crude measure of health status, for they say nothing about the quality or degree of illness and disability in a population. The dental epidemiologist’s equivalent of mortality statistics is data on the loss of teeth. Until recently, these data, too, were frequently the only existing dental statistics. Tooth mortality data are a crude measure of dental health, but they also can probably be compared over time with reasonable confidence. This paper attempts to find reasons for any changes in dental health status over the last 50-100 years. Scarcity of data requires that tooth retention be used as a measure of dental health, despite its inadequacy; it also restricts the assessment of dental disease prevalence in an historical perspective almost totally to dental canes. Another constraint is that most historical data are available only from the United States and Great Britain; it is contended, however, that the conclusions reached from these countries can be more widely applied.
Ground-state entropy of Potts antiferromagnets: Bounds, series, and Monte Carlo measurements

We report several results concerning $W(\ensuremath{\Lambda},q)=\mathrm{exp}{(S}_{0}{/k}_{B}),$ the exponent of the ground-state entropy of the Potts antiferromagnet on a lattice \ensuremath{\Lambda}. First, we improve our previous rigorous lower bound on $W(\mathrm{hc},q)$ for the honeycomb (hc) lattice and find that it is extremely accurate; it agrees to the first 11 terms with the large-$q$ series for $W(\mathrm{hc},q).$ Second, we investigate the heteropolygonal Archimedean $4\ensuremath{\cdot}{8}^{2}$ lattice, derive a rigorous lower bound, on $W(4\ensuremath{\cdot}{8}^{2},q),$ and calculate the large-$q$ series for this function to ${O(y}^{12})$ where $y=1/(q\ensuremath{-}1).$ Remarkably, these agree exactly to all 13 terms calculated. We also report Monte Carlo measurements, and find that these are very close to our lower bound and series. Third, we study the effect of non-nearest-neighbor couplings, focusing on the square lattice with next-nearest-neighbor bonds.
Sleep and Epilepsy

Since Aristotle and Hippocrates noted the occurrence of epileptic seizures during sleep, the relationship between sleep and epilepsy has intrigued physicians and researchers. In the late nineteenth century, Gowers [1] commented on the relationship of seizures to the sleep-wake cycle. In 1929, Langdon-Down and Brain [2] observed that nocturnal seizures peaked approximately 2 hours after bedtime and between 4 AM and 5 AM, whereas daytime seizures were most prevalent in the first hour after waking. Berger’s discovery of the electroencephalogram (EEG) in the 1920s provided a diagnostic tool for studies researching the interrelationship of sleep and epilepsy [3]. Gibbs and Gibbs [4] demonstrated that interictal epileptiform discharges were activated by sleep, and obtaining sleep during an EEG recording remains a standard activating procedure today. Janz [5] differentiated awakening, nocturnal, and diurnal/nocturnal epilepsies, and Niedermeyer [6] described the activating influence of arousal on epilepsy. This review summarizes the basic mechanisms of epilepsy and the influence of sleep on epileptic seizures, highlights several epileptic syndromes that occur commonly during sleep, outlines the differential diagnosis of paroxysmal events and diagnostic tests for epilepsy, summarizes the evidence for sleep disorders in patients who have epilepsy, and discusses the management of sleep-related epilepsy. Mechanisms Epilepsy is a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. During seizures, abnormal electrical discharges are synchronized throughout a localized or distributed population of neurons in the brain [7]. Seizures may be partial, originating in a focal area of cortex, or generalized, arising diffusely from both hemispheres. Experimental models of partial and generalized epilepsy can be produced by applying chemicals, such as
Tau-b or Not Tau-b: Measuring the Similarity of Foreign Policy Positions

The pattern of alliances among states is commonly assumed to reflect the extent to which states have common or conflicting security interests. For the past twenty years, Kendall's τ b has been used to measure the similarity of nations' “portfolios” of alliance commitments. Widely employed indicators of systemic polarity, state utility, and state risk propensity all rely on τ b . We demonstrate that τ b is inappropriate for measuring the similarity of states' alliance policies. We develop an alternative measure of policy portfolio similarity, S , which avoids many of the problems associated with τ b , and we use data on alliances among European states to compare S to τ b . Finally, we identify several problems with inferring state interests from alliances alone, and we provide a method to overcome those problems using S in combination with data on alliances, trade, UN votes, diplomatic missions, and other types of state interaction. We demonstrate this by comparing the calculated similarity of foreign policy positions based solely on alliance data to that based on alliance data supplemented with UN voting data.
Seeing Ourselves in Others: Reviewer Ambiguity, Egocentric Anchoring, and Persuasion

Consumers increasingly inform one another about marketplace offerings in online forums. These forums vary in terms of the information provided about reviewers (e.g., consumers may have no information about a reviewer or may see a full reviewer profile containing multiple pieces of demographic information). We demonstrate that when given no information about a reviewer, consumers use an accessibility-based egocentric anchoring mechanism to infer that ambiguous reviewers have similar tastes to their own, leading consumers to be (1) equally persuaded by reviews written by ambiguous and similar reviewers and (2) more persuaded by reviews written by ambiguous reviewers than by reviews written by dissimilar reviewers. We demonstrate that these effects hold in single-offering, single-reviewer and multiple-offering, multiple-reviewer contexts. We also show that the effects of egocentric anchoring on persuasion can be moderated, first, by making other-related thoughts accessible and, second, by providing external cues about potential reviewer heterogeneity. These findings have important implications for both the management and monitoring of consumer-to-consumer online communication.
Simulation of phosphate transport in sewage-contaminated groundwater, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Abstract Sewage-contaminated groundwater currently discharges to Ashumet Pond, located on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Phosphate concentrations as high as 60 μmol l−1 have been measured in groundwater entering Ashumet Pond, and there is concern that the rate of eutrophication could increase. Phosphate in the sewage plume is sorbed by aquifer sediment; the amount is a function of phosphate concentration and pH. A nonelectrostatic surface-complexation model coupled with a one-dimensional solute-transport code was used to simulate sorption and desorption of phosphate in laboratory column experiments. The model simulated sorption of phosphate reasonably well, although the slow rate of approach to complete breakthrough indicated a nonequilibrium process that was not accounted for in the solute-transport model. The rate of phosphate desorption in the column experiments was relatively slow. Phosphate could still be measured in effluent after 160 pore volumes of uncontaminated groundwater had been flushed through the columns. Desorption was partly a function of the slowly decreasing pH in the columns and could be modeled quantitatively. Disposal of sewage at this site is scheduled to stop in 1995; however, a large reservoir of sorbed phosphate exists on aquifer sediment upgradient from Ashumet Pond. Computer simulations predict that desorption of phosphate could result in contamination of Ashumet Pond for decades.
Moments of truth in gift exchanges: A critical incident analysis of communication indicators used to detect gift failure

This research examines how gift recipients communicate gift failure to givers, whether through paralinguistic indicators, direct verbal comments, and consumption (or not) of the gift. Critical incident reports identified specific communication indicators that signaled displeasure with the gift and measured the impact of these indicators on important exchange outcomes. Overall, failed gifts have a greater impact on future exchanges than on relationship quality. However, failure to appreciate the gift can have a significant negative effect on relationships. Gift failures between friends, co-workers, and in-laws are more susceptible to relationship harm than those involving close kin, like parents, spouses, and children. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Implications of new correction factors on primary air kerma standards in 60Co-beams

Comparisons of primary standards for air kerma in 60Co-beams are re-analysed taking into account the recently developed formalism that defines uniquely the various correction factors and the development of analytic and Monte Carlo methods to quantify these corrections. After a brief historical review of air kerma comparisons and ion chamber calculations, the new corrections are applied in a re-analysis of previously published comparison data. An independent Monte Carlo verification of the analytic point-source non-uniformity correction factor is presented. The combination of new proposed correction factors imply that some national standards should increase by as much as 1% and that the global increase is of the order of 0.6%.