cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
I Cannot Tell a Lie

This will just be a brief remark, but I’d first like to say what inspired it. At the 12th International Symposium on Economic Crime there was a presentation by the Attorney General of Bermuda where he told about a court case that had happened in the US where a US citizen was served with an order by the court to write to a bank in Bermuda asking them whether he had an account with them, and if he did, to send details of all the transactions that had taken place against that account. So what the court was trying to do was overrule the Bermudan banking secrecy laws. What I asked him at the time was, would it have been legal for a Bermudan bank to have a special form of bank account for American citizens where the contract says, if you wish to request any information about your account, we’re happy to give it to you provided you send us a signed affidavit saying you are not subject to any request for that information by any judicial authority anywhere. And his response was, yes that would be perfectly legal and that’s a good idea.
The Transboundary Trade of Hazardous Wastes, 2000–2006

Abstract The regulation, disposal, and risks posed by hazardous waste are global issues. The Basel Convention and the Pollution Release and Transfer Registry were initiated to reduce the trade and to monitor the cradle-to-grave progress of hazardous wastes. We examined the quantities of hazardous wastes internationally transported during the period of 2000 to 2006 by countries that ratified the Basel Convention. Because the United States has not ratified the Convention, we reported data provided by the Environmental Protection Agency. We found that much of the hazardous waste trade flows to and from nations with the technological capacity to process and dispose of these wastes. In addition to the United States, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and the Netherlands are major participants in both exporting and importing hazardous wastes. Data issues are discussed.
Investigating sources of axonal calcium in neuronal cultures modeling Traumatic Brain Injury

Increased axonal calcium is a common consequence of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs). Understanding the source of this calcium is important to understanding the injury pathway and developing effective therapies. Here we make calcium measurements in live cells after perturbing pieces of the hypothesized TBI pathway, including inducing membrane damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased oxidative stress. The findings provide evidence for dual sources of calcium, both from extracellular influx and intracellular release.
Management of uncertainty using neural networks

The Dempster-Shafer (D-S) theory is one of the methods used to manage uncertainty. However, the main problem concerning the D-S technique is that it suffers from an exponential computational complexity. The paper shows how to implement the D-S combination rule using neural networks to alleviate this problem in the context of a robot safety system. The response time of the neural network measured on a Pentium III 500MHz processor is 1.3ms, well within the required 20 ms standard for robot safety systems used in manufacturing environments. Although the neural network generates small errors, the speed with which it can synthesize sensor data more than compensates for occasional inaccurate responses. The response time of the neural network appears to be independent of the number of sensors used.
Growth inhibitors associated with fusarium wilt of tomato

The localization of vascular infections by a process of vascular occlusion is a primary basis for single dominant gene resistance of tomato to fusarium wilt. Failure of this response process to prevent systemic spread of fusarium in susceptible tomato plants is associated with an inhibition of tylose development, a key factor in the overall walling off process. This research was designed to detect, isolate and characterize inhibitory metabolites that accumulate during the course of the tomato/ Fusarium interaction which could inhibit tylose development. Isolation of inhibitors from chloroform extracts of systemically infected tissues was achieved by a series of successive chromatographic separations and bioassays. RFValues of inhibitors in the several solvent systems employed and their respective colour reactions with chromogenic reagents were recorded. The accumulation of a highly inhibitory compound in chloroform extracts during the early stages of Fusarium infection was determined quantitatively by colourimetric assay in a subsequent experiment. This compound, tentatively identified as rishitin, was isolated from the region of initial infection in stem vascular tissues 1–11 days after inoculation. This inhibitor accumulated rapidly in near-isolines of both resistant and susceptible tomato cultivars in 1–4 days and then continued to accumulate in susceptible, but declined in resistant, plants from 5 to 11 days. The relative phytotoxicity of this compound at low concentrations was determined by assessing its effects on the viability of cultured tomato cells. These data, together with measurements of its accumulation and determinations of its distribution in infected tissues, indicates that rishitin, a host product that accumulates in response to infection, could account for the inhibition of tylose development observed in susceptible tomato plants following infection by Fusarium. Thus we are faced with a paradox in that a substance that presumably functions in defence can, under certain circumstances, interfere with the defence process. A likely resolution of this paradox is discussed.
Accuracy of intraoperative frozen margins for sinonasal malignancies and its implications for endoscopic resection of sinonasal melanomas.

Background The main objective of endoscopic tumor surgery remains similar to open approaches, with the goal being total tumor resection with clear margins. Beyond cosmesis, endoscopes offer the advantage of limiting the size of the resection as well as aiding in the procurement of tissue margins in areas adjacent to critical structures or deep in the sinonasal cavity. Because of the close proximity of these tumors to critical structures and classic otolaryngology teaching with the goal sparing normal sinonasal mucosa, sinonasal tumor resection margins tend to be more conservative than those practiced for the same type of tumor in a different anatomic location. What is not uniformly agreed upon is the optimal margin of resection as well as the reliability of intraoperative frozen margins for the varied histologic subtypes seen in sinonasal malignancies. Methods Retrospective review of malignant sinonasal tumors resected endoscopically by 1 surgeon at 2 institutions between 2006 and 2011. Results Thirty-one patients with mixed histologies were identified, with the most common being mucosal melanoma (25.8%) and squamous cell carcinoma (23.3%). The overall false-negative rate for intraoperative frozen margins was 6.5%, with both false negatives associated with mucosal melanoma. The false-negative margin rate for mucosal melanoma was 25%. Conclusion Intraoperative frozen margins for sinonasal tumors are reliable for most histologic subtypes, with the exception of those for sinonasal mucosal melanomas. This has implications for the size of margins needed for the resection of sinonasal melanomas as they may need to be larger than those for other tumors.
Semantic repetition priming for verbal and pictorial knowledge: A functional mri study of left inferior prefrontal cortex

Functional neuroimaging studies of single-word processing have demonstrated decreased activation in left inferior prefrontal cortex (LIPC) during repeated semantic processing relative to initial semantic processing. This item-specific memory effect occurs under implicit test instructions and represents word-toword semantic repetition priming. The present study examined the stimulus generality of LIPC function by measuring prefrontal cortical activation during repeated relative to initial semantic processing of words (word-to-word semantic repetition priming) and of pictures (picture-to-picture semantic repetition priming). For both words and pictures, LIPC activation decreased with repetition, suggesting that this area subserves semantic analysis of stimuli regardless of perceptual form. Decreased activation was greater in extent for words than for pictures. The LIPC area may act as a semantic executive system that mediates on-line retrieval of long-term conceptual knowledge necessary for guiding task performance.
Comment on ``Seasonal heat budgets of the Red and Black seas'' by Matsoukas et al.

Abstract : Matsoukas et al. [2007] present a monthly analysis of heat fluxes in relation to heat budget in the Red and Black Seas to provide further insight for air-sea exchange processes in the small ocean basins. Components of net surface heat flux are illustrated during 1984-1995. In computing latent and sensible heat fluxes, Matsoukas et al. [2007] apply traditional bulk formulations. A heat balance method that is based on the available energy for evaporation flux is also presented to compare latent heat fluxes with those from the bulk formulations. All near-surface atmospheric variables, including wind speed at 10 m, used in the heat balance method are obtained from reanalysis of a numerical weather product (NWP). Initial input data for radiation flux calculations are at resolutions of 1.0-degrees and 2-degrees, depending on the availability. Monthly means of heat budget components are computed on the basis of monthly means of atmospheric variables during 1984-2000.
A hereditarily normal square

Abstract ♦ implies that there is a countably compact noncompact space X so that X × X is hereditarily normal. This shows that the following statement is independent from ZFC: Every countably compact X with X × X hereditarily normal is compact.
An NGO Perspective on Risk Assessment and Scientific Research

Concerns over risk assessment have been raised by Non-Government Organizations (NGO) and the environmental community for decades. In considering proposals for research in this area, it is important for both scientists and policymakers to consider the following points: (1) risk assessment as a method of policymaking is increasingly inaccessible to meaningful public participation, (2) the lack of fundamental toxicological data constrains the application of risk assessment methods more than any other factor, and (3) the importance of individual susceptibility in risk assessments must be tempered by the lack of control over individual exposures.
Implementation of structural response sensitivity calculations in a large-scale finite-element analysis system

The methodology used to implement structural sensitivity calculations into a major, general-purpose finite-element analysis system (SPAR) is described. This implementation includes a generalized method for specifying element cross-sectional dimensions as design variables that can be used in analytically calculating derivatives of output quantities from static stress, vibration, and buckling analyses for both membrane and bending elements. Limited sample results for static displacements and stresses are presented to indicate the advantages of analytically calculating response derivatives compared to finite difference methods. Continuing developments to implement these procedures into an enhanced version of SPAR are also discussed.
Synthesis of chiral subunits for macrolide synthesis: an efficient method for converting spiroketals into open-chain derivatives

Abstract An efficient method for the conversion of the spiroketals 9 , 11 and 15 into open-chain derivatives by thioketal exchange is reported.
Branching ratios for EC decay of 7Be and 51Cr

Abstract The branching ratio for the EC decay of 7 Be to 7 Li has been measured by counting the total number of neutrons produced in the 7 Li(p, n) 7 Be reaction and subsequently counting the yield of 478 keV γ-rays from the activated targets. Six targets were measured with particular attention given to monitoring migration or loss of 7 Be during and after activation. The branching ratio for the EC decay of 51 Cr to 51 V (320 keV γ-ray) was also measured using the same technique. The resulting branching ratios to the first excited states in 7 Li and 51 V are (10.61 ± 0.17)% and (10.30 ± 0.19)% respectively.
Purification and characterization of a calcium dependent sulfhydryl protease from human platelets

Summary A calcium dependent sulfhydryl protease (CDSP) responsible for over 95% of the neutral protease activity of human platelets has been purified. CDSP is composed of two different polypeptide subunits of molecular weights estimated to be 80,000 and 30,000 daltons. It requires millimolar calcium, reduced sulfhydryl groups and neutral pH for optimal activity. It is inhibited by Leupeptin and an endogenous inhibitor which is removed during purification. CDSP specifically cleaves the platelet's Actin Binding Protein, crosslinker of F-actin microfilaments, into two high molecular weight fragments, the heavier of which still retains its ability to bind to, but not crosslink F-actin into cytoskeletal arrays.
Dynamic optimisation of nitrogen fertilisation of citrus and the value of information from leaf tissue analysis

The optimal long-run fertilisation and irrigation of a perennial crop is approached via two stochastic dynamic optimisation models. The first model assumes that the ex-post level of the state variable--leaf nitrogen (LN)--is known with certainty. The second model assumes that the level of leaf nitrogen is not observed, but that the farmer has a prior probability distribution on the level of leaf nitrogen, which can be updated to yield a series of posterior probability distributions conditioned on past input decisions. Comparison of the values of the objective functions of both models yields an expected economic value of complete and costless information of leaf tissue analysis. The analysis is illustrated for a mature citrus grove. The impact of improved information on nitrogen use and leaching is also examined empirically. Copyright 1995 by Oxford University Press.
In vitro interaction of Perkinsus marinus merozoites with eastern and pacific oyster hemocytes

This study compared hemocyte responses of eastern and Pacific oysters to Perkinsus marinus, in vitro. Except for the percentage of hemocytes associated with P. marinus there was little or no significant difference between eastern and Pacific oysters with regard to their hemocytic response to P. marinus. In phagocytosis assays, merozoites were bound to all hemocyte types but in unequal proportions, unlike zymosan which was found predominantly associated with granulocytes. The number of merozoites enlarging in Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium after incubation with hemocytes in plasma for one day was significantly lower than after incubation in plasma alone in both oyster species. Electron microscopy or merozoites indicated that the parasites were rapidly phagocytosed and that some of the merozoites showed signs of degeneration in less than 12 h. The results suggest that limited intracellular killing of P. marinus had occurred, but was probably not mediated by oxygen metabolites, since no increase in chemiluminescence was observed when hemocytes of either eastern or Pacific oysters were exposed to merozoites.
Action Research Changes Cultural Attitudes

(1994). Action Research Changes Cultural Attitudes. Teaching Education: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 41-48.
The public health pharmacist and the role of the pharmacy curriculum: A call to action

The role a pharmacist can play in the public health arena has been discussed in great detail over the past decade, and in 2004, public health objectives were placed in the Center for Advancement of Pharmacy Education (CAPE) Educational Outcomes. Despite these directives and the need for pharmacists in our broken healthcare system, comprehensive implementation and recognition of pharmacists in public health has yet to be realized. Therefore, the following action steps are recommended: dialog with public health departments, expansion of public health in pharmacy curricula, hands-on public health learning, participation in state and national public health associations, advocacy, and restructuring the roles of a public health pharmacist. These steps will further the development and recognition of pharmacists as public health professionals.
Controlled Doping of Large‐Area Trilayer MoS2 with Molecular Reductants and Oxidants

Highly uniform large-area MoS2 is chemically doped using molecular reductants and oxidants. Electrical measurements, photoemission, and Raman spectroscopy are used to study the doping effect and to understand the underlying mechanism. Strong work-function changes of up to ±1 eV can be achieved, with contributions from state filling and surface dipoles. This results in high doping densities of up to ca. 8 × 10(12) cm(-2) .
Clinical Depression Versus Distress Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Not Just a Question of Semantics

OBJECTIVE —We sought to determine differences between structured interviews, symptom questionnaires, and distress measures for assessment of depression in patients with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —We assessed 506 diabetic patients for major depressive disorder (MDD) by a structured interview (Composite International Diagnostic Interview [CIDI]), a questionnaire for depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale [CESD]), and on the Diabetes Distress Scale. Demographic characteristics, two biological variables (A1C and non-HDL cholesterol), and four behavioral management measures (kilocalories, calories of saturated fat, number of fruit and vegetable servings, and minutes of physical activity) were assessed. Comparisons were made between those with and without depression on the CIDI and the CESD. RESULTS —Findings showed that 22% of patients reached CESD ≥16, and 9.9% met a CIDI diagnosis of MDD. Of those above CESD cut points, 70% were not clinically depressed, and 34% of those who were clinically depressed did not reach CESD scores ≥16. Those scoring ≥16, compared with those CONCLUSIONS —Most patients with diabetes and high levels of depressive symptoms are not clinically depressed. The CESD may be more reflective of general emotional and diabetes-specific distress than clinical depression. Most treatment of distress, however, is based on the depression literature, which suggests the need to consider different interventions for distressed but not clinically depressed diabetic patients.
Torsades de Pointes Due to N‐Acetylprocainamide

A 66-year-old female with chronic renal failure received five doses of procainamide and developed marked QT interval prolongation and recurrent episodes of torsades de pointes, which were temporally related to high serum n-acetylprocainamide (NAPA) levels and not to procainamide levels. Repeated hemodialysis was effective in lowering NAPA levels. Torsades de pointes is a potential hazard of NAPA accumulation during procainamide administration to patients with renal insufficiency.
Efficacy and safety of circumferential pulmonary vein isolation using a novel cryothermal balloon ablation system.

Objectives We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel cryothermal balloon ablation system in creating pulmonary vein (PV) isolation. Background Pulmonary vein isolation using standard radiofrequency ablation techniques is limited by procedure-related complications, such as thrombus formation and PV stenosis. Cryothermal ablation may reduce the risk of such complications. Methods Eight dogs underwent circumferential ablation of both superior PVs for either 4 or 8 min using a cryothermal balloon catheter (CryoCath Technologies Inc., Kirkland, Canada). Both fluoroscopy and intracardiac ultrasound (ICE)-guided balloon and Lasso catheter positioning at the PV ostia assessed short-term PV integrity. In six additional dogs, long-term PV integrity was assessed by computed tomography at 16 weeks after ablation. Results Successful electrical isolation was achieved acutely in 14 of 16 (87.5%) PVs and was confirmed in one-week survival studies in 10 of 12 (83%) PVs. Successful isolation was higher in the absence of any peri-balloon flow leak as seen by ICE (p = 0.015), and with balloon temperatures ≤−80°C (p = 0.015). Cryolesions were located at the veno-atrial junction and were homogeneous, with intact endothelium and free of thrombus formation. Although limited angiographic PV narrowing was noted in the early follow-up period, no significant PV narrowing was seen long-term. Right phrenic nerve injury was seen in 50% of the animals studied at one week. Conclusions This novel cryothermal balloon ablation system is effective for isolating PVs, but injury to the right phrenic nerve was noted in this early experience. Further studies are needed to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of this technique.
A rapid bioassay to determine stabilities of anticancer agents under conditions of the clonogenic assay

We developed a rapid bioassay to determine in vitro drug stabilities in the clonogenic assay. The in vitro half-lives of 11 standard antitumor agents, actinomycin D, Adriamycin, bleomycin, cis-Platinum, dacarbazine, 5-fluorouracil, melphalan, mitomycin C, 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU), vinblastine, and vincristine, and four investigational drugs, Aziridinylbenzoquinone (AZQ) (NSC 182986), diamminecyclobutane-dicarboxylatoplatinum (CBDCA) (NSC 241240), Dihydroxyanthracenedione dihydrochloride (DHAD) (NSC 301739), and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(2,6-dioso-3-piperidyl-1-nitrosourea) (PCNU) (NSC 95466), were determined under conditions of the clonogenic assay as well as under storage conditions at -40 degrees and -196 degrees C. BCNU and AZQ at -40 degrees C had t1/2 of 4.7 d 2.5 d, respectively. All other drugs were stable at -40 degrees and -196 degrees C with t1/2 greater than 6 wk. Under assay conditions at 37 degrees C, actinomycin D, bleomycin, dacarbazine, 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C, vinblastine, vincristine, and DHAD were stable, with t1/2 greater than 14 d. CBDCA, AZQ, Adriamycin, cis-Platinum, melphalan, BCNU, and PCNU had t1/2 of 94,72,29,18.5,1.8,1, and 0.5 h, respectively.
Statewide Professional Development Conference

In an environment increasingly skeptical of the effectiveness of large-scale professional development activities, this study examines K-12 educators' reasons for participating and beliefs in the utility in a large-scale professional development conference. Pre- and post-conference surveys revealed that while financial support played a significant role in educators' ability to participate, they were drawn to the conference by the promise to learn substantive issues related to, in this case, performance assessmentwhat it means, how to implement it, and how to address community concerns. In spite of the conference's utility as a means to increase awareness of critical issues and to facilitate formal and informal learning, well conceived linkages to transfer new knowledge to the school and classroom were lacking.
Why stumpage prices differ between ownerships: A statistical examination of state and forest service sales in montana

Abstract Broad differences in prices exist between national forest timber and that sold by other public agencies in the western U.S. Using state vs. national forest timber sale data from Montana, the author makes a statistical inquiry into the sources of these price differences and reaches several important conclusions. National forest timber sells for a lower price than state timber because large national forest sales command much lower prices than small national forest sales and, therefore, draw down the average national forest timber price. In general, the larger national forest sales are associated with higher sale development costs and utilize more costly logging systems. More prudent national forest sale planning and development could increase national forest timber receipts substantially and aid in solving one of the national forest system's more perplexing policy dilemmas—below-cost sales.
Characterization of pulmonary nodules features on computer tomography (CT) scans using wavelet coefficients and heat maps

Using CT images from the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), interpreted by radiologists at the Georgetown University, our goal was to investigate the feature extraction method using discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and to demonstrate their potential in distinguishing between benign and malignant nodule status. We analyzed multiple 2 mm thick slices of 40 subjects with benign nodules and 7 subjects with malignant nodules for a total of 112 and 78 slices, respectively. Data was analyzed in the region-of-interest (ROI) that included nodule and surrounding areas in three different-sized windows. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) of wavelets coefficients was used for data analysis. In particular we examined discriminative power of the wavelet based features using Fisher LDA, and evaluated the classification results using decision matrix (DM) for matched sample (MS). For visualization we used 3-D Heat Maps, originally developed in MATLAB(R) (MathWorks, Natick, MA) for gene expression array analysis, modified to display the magnitude of similarities between cases under analysis. The use of DWT in the image pre-processing modules resulted in a significant improvement in discrimination between benign and malignant nodules. The results show better classification accuracy with the DWT based features, as compared to previously proposed classification features (p-values: 0.008, 0.022, and 0.039, depending on window size). The Heat Maps provide useful data visualization for further investigation as they have the ability to identify cases that should be further explored to understand why some of the benign nodules look similar to malignant in the wavelet domain.
Normal forms for Hamiltonian systems

A generalization of Birkhoff's normal form for a Hamiltonian developed about a critical point is given. The normal form is characterized intrinsically.
Contextualizing the Immigrant Experience: The Role of Food and Foodways in Identity Maintenance and Formation for First- and Second-generation Latinos in Ithaca, New York

This study examines the role of food and foodways in identity maintenance and formation for Latino individuals in Ithaca, New York. Preliminary results indicate that food provides a physical link that connects individuals to their heritage culture and local communities. Despite variability in the importance that immigrants attribute to food, it remains one of the most resilient tools that informants identified as central to identity formation and maintenance. Food can therefore be a useful tool for examining the degree to which immigrants are maintaining their cultural identity and connectedness with their community.
Acoustic resonance determination of the effect of light hydrocarbons on wax appearance points in a Njord well fluid

Wax formation and deposition in pipelines and process equipment pose severe problems for petroleum companies. especially during transportation of crude oil in offshore environments. The light hydrocarbons present in the crude oil can play an important role in the shift of wax appearance points by increasing the solubilities of the heavier components. The following work was undertaken to study the effect of light hydrocarbons on wax appearance points in a Njord well fluid for Norsk Hydro, Norway. An automated high-pressure spherical acoustic resonator (50-mm-diameter) assembly designed and fabricated for that purpose has been used to measure resonance frequencies in a Njord well fluid (stabilized oil sample) provided by Norsk Flydro and blended with the appropriate amount of a synthetically prepared gaseous mixture containing six light hydrocarbons (CI to C6 ), at pressures from 2 to 107 bar and temperatures in the range 35 to 50 C. Results on the present method to locate the wax appearance points in the Njord well fluid are presented. A figure showing experimental wax appearance points as a function of pressure is presented. The results are compared with those predicted by the Norsk Hydro model.
The dissolution and passivation kinetics of stainless alloys containing molybdenum—1. Coulometric studies of FeCr and FeCrMo alloys

Abstract The evolution of active current density with time has been measured on new surfaces of FeCr and FeCr-1.5 at. % Mo alloys. The solutions used were 1M and 4M HCl. At several potentials, and at steady-state current densities as high as 150 mA/cm1, the inhibiting effect of molybdenum was established after the passage of a charge density equivalent to less than three monolayers of alloy. The results suggest that molybdenum acts by enriching at surface kink or step sites in the active state.
Integration of Photosynthetic Protein Molecular Complexes in Solid-State Electronic Devices

Plants and photosynthetic bacteria contain protein−molecular complexes that harvest photons with nearly optimum quantum yield and an expected power conversion efficiency exceeding 20%. In this work, we demonstrate the integration of electrically active photosynthetic protein−molecular complexes in solid-state devices, realizing photodetectors and photovoltaic cells with internal quantum efficiencies of approximately 12%. Electronic integration of devices is achieved by self-assembling an oriented monolayer of photosynthetic complexes, stabilizing them with surfactant peptides, and then coating them with a protective organic semiconductor.
Mapping the geometry and geographic distribution of a very low velocity province at the base of the Earth's mantle

[1] We determine the geometry and geographic distribution of a very low velocity province (VLVP) at the base of the Earth's mantle beneath the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, based on waveform modeling and travel time analysis of seismic data recorded in Africa. Our data sets consist of SH, ScS, SHdiff, SKS, and SKKS phases recorded at two temporary broadband PASSCAL seismic arrays in Africa, the Tanzania array (1994–1995) and the Kaapvaal array (1997–1999), and differential travel time residuals of the ScS-SH phases recorded at the Global Seismographic Network (GSN). These seismic data constitute reasonably good sampling coverage for determining the geographic boundary of a very low velocity province in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The boundary is well determined in the eastern, western, and southern portions but relatively poorly constrained in the northern portion because of the nature of the seismic data. The VLVP exhibits an “L-shaped” form, changing from a north-south orientation in the South Atlantic Ocean to an east-west orientation in the Indian Ocean. It occupies an area of about 1.8 × 107 km2 at the core-mantle boundary and a volume of about 4.9 × 109 km3. At least a 4% uncertainty exists in the area estimate, and a 20% uncertainty exists in the volume estimate. Waveform modeling and travel time analysis suggest that the VLVP has rapidly varying thicknesses from 300 to 0 km, steeply dipping edges, and a linear gradient of shear velocity reduction from −2% (top) to −9% to −12% (bottom) relative to the preliminary reference Earth model, consistent with previous results. These structural and velocity features unambiguously indicate that the VLVP is compositionally distinct.
On compacta with convex projections

Abstract In this paper it is proved that if C is a compact subset of the convex n -dimensional compactum K⊂ R n so that C and K have the same projections on all linear subspaces of some fixed dimension k for 0 , then C contains a (k−1) -sphere. If K is a polyhedron then C can be chosen to be exactly (k−1) -dimensional. In the general case, C must contain some of the boundary points D of K , and C can be chosen to equal D∪Z where Z is a 0-dimensional subset of the interior of K .
Anharmonic Decay of Vibrational States in Amorphous Silicon.

Anharmonic decay rates are calculated for a realistic atomic model of amorphous silicon. The results show that the vibrational states decay on picosecond time scales and their decay rates increase with increasing frequency. These results disagree with a recent experiment. In contrast to predictions of the fracton model, we find no evidence that the anharmonic decay is inhibited in the region of localized states.
Mechanisms of glucagon-induced increases in rates of cytochrome P450-dependent pentoxyphenoxazone O-depentylation in cultured rat conceptuses

Abstract Inclusions of glucagon (1.0 or 2.0 μM, final concentrations) in the media of cultured whole rat conceptuses resulted in concentration-dependent increases in measured rates of O -depentylation of pentoxyphenoxazone in cell-free preparations of conceptal tissues. Enzymic activities were assayed 24 h after initial exposure of the conceptuses to glucagon on day 10 of gestation. Glucagon elicited increases in tissue levels of cAMP that were parallel to those produced by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine over the same time period. Tissue cAMP levels were maximal after 2 h, rapidly returned to control levels and were also equal to background levels in controls after the 24 h culture period. Dibutyryl cAMP, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, theophylline, and RO201724, a cAMP-selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, each produced 75 to 100% increases in O -dealkylase activity. Dibutyryl cGMP and two phosphodiesterase inhibitors, enoximone (cGMP-inhibited) and zaprinast (cGMP-specific), each failed to produce statistically significant increases in O -depentylase activity. The O -depentylase was tentatively identified as a conceptus-specific P450 cytochrome that is synthesized predominantly in tissues of the visceral yolk sac. The results indicated that glucagon may upregulate a unique, xenobiotic-biotransforming P450(s) via a long-term mechanism(s) specifically involving tissue cAMP.
Inhibition of proton-translocating ATPases of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei by fluoride and aluminum.

One of the major effects of fluoride on oral bacteria is a reduction in acid tolerance, and presumably also in cariogenicity. The reduction appears to involve transport of protons across the cell membrane by the weak acid HF to dissipate the pH gradient, and also direct inhibition of the F1F0, proton-translocating ATPases of the organisms, especially for Streptococcus mutans. This direct inhibition by fluoride was found to be dependent on aluminum. The dependence on aluminum was indicated by the protection against fluoride inhibition afforded by the Al-chelator deferoxamine and by loss of protection after addition of umolar levels of Al3+, which were not inhibitory for the enzyme in the absence of fluoride. The F1 form of the enzyme dissociated from the cell membrane previously had been found to be resistant to fluoride in comparison with the F1F0 membrane-associated form. However, this difference appeared to depend on less aluminum in the F1 preparation in that the sensitivity of the F1 enzyme to fluoride could be increased by addition of umolar levels of Al3+. The effects of Al on fluoride inhibition were apparent when enzyme activity was assayed in terms of phosphate release from ATP or with an ATP-regenerating system containing phosphoenolpyruvate, pyruvate kinase, NADH and lactic dehydrogenase. Also, Be2+ but not other metal cations, e.g. Co2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Mn2, Sn2+, and Zn2+, served to sensitize the enzyme to fluoride inhibition. The differences in sensitivities of enzymes isolated from various oral bacteria found previously appeared also to be related to differences in levels of Al. Even the fluoride-resistant enzyme of isolated membranes of Lactobacillus casei ATCC 4646 could be rendered fluoride-sensitive through addition of Al3+. Thus, the F1F0 ATPases of oral bacteria were similar to E1E2 ATPases of eukaryotes in being inhibited by Al-F complexes, and the inhibition presumably involved formation of ADP-Al-F inf3 sup- complexes during catalysis at the active sites of the enzymes.
Optimality in the estimation of a MA system from a long AR model for simulation studies

Abstract The determination of moving average (MA) models from a prior autoregressive (AR) approximation of a specified (target) spectral matrix is addressed; this is done in context with the need to simulate ground shaking and other natural phenomena as multivariate random processes. First, an existing technique based on a direct modeling of the target expression is revisited. In this regard, the influence of the order of the prior AR approximation, and the number of its harmonics used in the determination of the MA model, is described. Further, a simple selection technique of these parameters is presented that leads to an optimum MA approximation. Next, the relationship between a method based on the Cholesky factorization of the coveriance matrix and the present technique is investigated to derive additional insight into its convergence properties. Finally, an alternative modeling technique based on an AR representation of the inverse of the target spectral matrix is presented.
Rewarding Effect of the Neuroactive Steroid 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one in Mice

The GABAA-receptor agonist neuroactive steroid 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (3α,5α-P) has anxiolytic and locomotor stimulant effects and shares some subjective properties with benzodiazepines, barbiturates and ethanol, but there have been no studies of its reinforcing or rewarding effects. The present study examined the rewarding properties of 3α,5α-P using the conditioned place preference paradigm. Male DBA/2J mice received four pairings of a distinctive floor stimulus with 3α, 5α-P (3.2, 10 or 17 mg/kg, IP) in an unbiased conditioning procedure. On alternate days a different distinctive floor was paired with vehicle. At the lowest dose (3.2 mg/kg), there was no difference between conditioning subgroups in preference for the drug-paired floor type, indicating an absence of place conditioning. However, a dose-dependent conditioned preference was evident at the higher doses as shown by the greater amount of time spent on the floor paired with 3α,5α-P. In addition, 3α,5α-P produced a dose-dependent increase in locomotor activity, which was significant following the 17 mg/kg dose. A control study showed no effect of the β-cyclodextrin vehicle on place conditioning in the absence of neurosteroid. These results provide the first demonstration that 3α,5α-P, an endogenous modulator of GABAA receptor function, possesses rewarding properties using the conditioned place preference paradigm.
Grazing by the intertidal fish Anoplarchus purpurescens upon a distasteful polychaete worm

Cirratulid worms are common inhabitants of the central California rocky intertidal zone and appear to offer a potentially rich source of food for intertidal fishes. However, analyses of stomach contents revealed that they do not appear in the diets of the commonest intertidal fishes. Apparently only one species, the eel blenny Anoplarchus purpurescens, feeds on cirratulids in significant amounts.
Flood Regionalization: A Hybrid Geographic and Predictor-Variable Region-of-Influence Regression Method

To facilitate estimation of streamflow characteristics at an ungauged site, hydrologists often define a region of influence containing gauged sites hydrologically similar to the estimation site. This region can be defined either in geographic space or in the space of the variables that are used to predict streamflow (predictor variables). These approaches are complementary, and a combination of the two may be superior to either. Here we propose a hybrid region-of-influence (HRoI) regression method that combines the two approaches. The new method was applied with streamflow records from 1,091 gauges in the southeastern United States to estimate the 50-year peak flow ( Q50 ) . The HRoI approach yielded lower root-mean-square estimation errors and produced fewer extreme errors than either the predictor-variable or geographic region-of-influence approaches. It is concluded, for Q50 in the study region, that similarity with respect to the basin characteristics considered (area, slope, and annual precipitation)...
Academic Listening Comprehension: Does the Sum of the Parts Make up the Whole?

E Research suggests that certain subskills may be significant in facilitating listening comprehension (LC). This research is of two kinds, the first of which attempts to identify and taxonomize the factors and subskills related to both general LC and academic listening comprehension (ALC). These taxonomies have been compiled on the basis of theoretical models and/or intuition (e.g., Nichols 1948, Brown 1951, Barker 1971, Richards 1983). Two
A predictive approach to the random effect model

SUMMARY Two simple estimators are derived here for the means of the random effect model by means of predictive sample reuse. They are applied to two sets of data in the literature and compared with several other procedures. The mixed model is also discussed.
Some solvable models of nonuniform classical fluids

A model classical fluid is constructed by assuming that the direct correlation functionc(r − r′) is independent of any applied external field. Thermodynamic consistency requires thatc(r − r′) ⩾ 0, and permits explicit representation of the model by a many-body interaction potential. In the canonical ensemble, the model shows a phase transition to an infinite density condensed phase, but in the grand canonical ensemble only an anomalous transition to zero density vapor is found to stably exist.
Adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor re-directed cytolytic T lymphocyte clones in patients with neuroblastoma.

Metastatic neuroblastoma is a poor-prognosis malignancy arising during childhood that overexpresses the L1-cell adhesion molecule (CD171). We have previously described a tumor L1-cell adhesion molecule-specific, single chain antibody-derived, chimeric antigen receptor designated CE7R for re-directing the antigen-specific effector functioning of cytolytic T lymphocytes. Here, we report on the feasibility of isolating, and the safety of infusing, autologous CD8+ cytolytic T lymphocyte clones co-expressing CE7R and the selection-suicide expression enzyme HyTK in children with recurrent/refractory neuroblastoma. The cytolytic T lymphocyte products were derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells that were subjected to polyclonal activation, plasmid vector electrotransfer, limiting dilution hygromycin selection, and expansion to numbers sufficient for adoptive transfer. In total, 12 infusions (nine at 108 cells/m2, three at 109 cells/m2) were administered to six patients. No overt toxicities to tissues known to express L1-cell adhesion molecule (e.g., central nervous system, adrenal medulla, and sympathetic ganglia) were observed. The persistence of cytolytic T lymphocyte clones in the circulation, measured by vector-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction, was short (1-7 days) in patients with bulky disease, but significantly longer (42 days) in a patient with a limited disease burden. This first-in-humans pilot study sets the stage for clinical trials employing adoptive transfer in the context of minimal residual disease.
Case Studies of Liberal Arts Computer Science Programs

Many undergraduate liberal arts institutions offer computer science majors. This article illustrates how quality computer science programs can be realized in a wide variety of liberal arts settings by describing and contrasting the actual programs at five liberal arts colleges: Williams College, Kalamazoo College, the State University of New York at Geneseo, Spelman College, and Calvin College. While the example programs differ in size, mission, and the nature of their home institutions, all take advantage of their liberal arts setting to offer rich computer science educations. Comparing these programs to each other and to the latest ACM/IEEE Computer Society computer science curriculum shows that the liberal arts programs are distinguishable from the ACM/Computer Society recommendations, but at the same time are strong undergraduate majors.
Dynamics of non-isothermal martensitic phase transitions and hysteresis

Abstract We consider a non-isothermal one-dimensional model of martensitic phase transitions that incorporates a finite bar with a non-monotone temperature-dependent stress–strain law and non-zero latent heat. Two dissipation mechanisms are considered: heat conduction and the internal viscous dissipation of kinetic origin. Time-dependent displacement and ambient temperature are prescribed at the ends of the bar. Numerical simulations of this model predict both rate-independent hysteresis, which persists at slow loading, and the rate-dependent portion due to thermal effects. The loops possess serrations caused by nucleation and annihilation events and the motion of interfaces. We observe that when heat conductivity is large, or the applied loading is sufficiently slow, the results are similar to those of Vainchtein and Rosakis [Journal of Nonlinear Science 9 (6) (1999) 697] for the isothermal case, with serrated loops accompanied by nucleations and stick–slip motion of phase boundaries. At faster loading and smaller heat conductivity (or larger latent heat), the stick–slip interface motion is partially replaced by irregular slow–fast interface motion and damped temporal oscillations in both released heat and end load. We show that at higher loading rates more interfaces are formed, and the phase transition causes self-heating of the bar, in qualitative agreement with experimental observations.
Scatter-Free IR Absorption Spectra of Individual, 3–5 μm, Airborne Dust Particles Using Plasmonic Metal Microarrays: A Library of 63 Spectra

While the concentration of airborne particulate matter is well-known to be correlated with people’s health, a chemical evaluation must also be important. Noting that airborne dust particles in the 3–5 μm size regime are among the largest that get into people’s lungs, such particles were collected by pumping air through plasmonic metal films with a 12.6 μm square lattice of 5 μm square holes. Capture of a dust particle in a metallic hole enables the recording of “scatter-free” infrared absorption spectra whose peaks reveal the infrared active components. The study of the spectra of individual particles allows minority components to be characterized in a way that is quite incisive which is difficult with bulk samples. A library of 63 spectra of individual particles captured from our laboratory air is presented along with a preliminary analysis of the contributing components.
Long-Term Adherence to Health Behavior Change

The utility of lifestyle-based health promotion interventions is directly impacted by participant adherence to prescribed behavior changes. Unfortunately, poor adherence to behaviors recommended in lifestyle interventions is widespread, particularly over the long-term; thus, the "adherence problem" represents a significant challenge to the effectiveness of these interventions. The current review provides an overview of the adherence problem and describes a theoretical framework through which the factors that impact adherence can be understood. To further understand the difficulties individuals face when adhering to health behavior changes, we focus our discussion on challenges associated with adherence to lifestyle behaviors recommended for weight loss and healthy weight management (i.e., reductions in dietary intake and increases in physical activity). We describe strategies that improve long-term adherence to health behaviors related to healthy weight management, including the provision of extended care, skills training, improving social support, and strategies specific to maintaining changes in dietary intake and physical activity. Finally, we discuss difficulties involved in implementing long-term weight management programs and suggest practical solutions for providers.