cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic relationships among extant brachiopods

Abstract The monophyletic status of the Brachiopoda and phylogenetic relationships within the phylum have long been contentious issues for brachiopod systematists. The relationship of brachiopods to other lophophore-bearing taxa is also uncertain; results from recent morphological and molecular studies are in conflict. To test current hypotheses of relationship, a phylogenetic analysis was completed (using PAUP 3.1.1) with 112 morphological and embryological characters that vary among extant representatives of seven brachiopod superfamilies, using bryozoans, phoronids, pterobranchs and sipunculids as outgroups. In the range of analyses performed, brachiopod monophyly is well supported, particularly by characters of soft anatomy. Arguments concerning single or multiple origins of a bivalved shell are not relevant to recognizing brachiopods as a clade. Articulate monophyly is very strongly supported, but inarticulate monophyly receives relatively weak support. Unlike previous studies, the nature of uncertainties about the clade status of Inarticulata are detailed explicitly here, making them easier to test in the future. Calcareous inarticulates appear to share derived characters with the other inarticulates, while sharing many primitive characters with other calcareous brachiopods (the articulates). Experimental manipulation of the data matrix reveals potential sources of bias in previous hypotheses of brachiopod phylogeny. Although not tested explicitly, lophophorate monophyly is very tentatively supported. Molecular systematic studies of a diverse group of brachiopods and other lophophorates will be particularly welcome in providing a test of the conclusions presented here.
Some Crystalline Modifications of the tert-Butylacetates of Prednisolone and Hydrocortisone

Four phases of each of the two steroid esters have been identified. The phases havebeen characterized by using optical crystallography, X-ray powder diffraction, and infrared spectrometry. The optical crystallographic properties, melting points, densities, molar refractions, infrared spectra, and d distances are presented.
Predicting the impact response of a nonlinear single-degree-of-freedom shock-absorbing system from the measured step response

We measured the step response of a surrogate human pelvis/impact pendulum system at force levels between 50 and 350 N. We then fit measured response curves with four different single-degree-of-freedom models, each possessing a single mass, and supports of the following types: standard linear solid, Voigt, Maxwell, and spring. We then compared model predictions of impact force during high-energy collisions (pendulum impact velocity ranging from 1.16 to 2.58 m/s) to force traces from actual impacts to the surrogate pelvis. We found that measured peak impact forces, which ranged from 1700 to 5600 N, were best predicted by the mass-spring, Maxwell, and standard linear solid models, each of which had average errors less than 3 percent. Reduced accuracy was observed for the commonly used Voigt model, which exhibited an average error of 10 percent. Considering that the surrogate pelvis system used in this study exhibited nonlinear stiffness and damping similar to that observed in simulated fall impact experiments with human volunteers, our results suggest that these simple models allow-impact forces in potentially traumatic falls to be predicted to within reasonable accuracy from the measured response of the body in safe, simulated collisions.
The quantum theory of nucleon correlation in finite nuclei. I. Hartree-Fock approximation and independent-pair model

Abstract The paper describes a method for the calculation of the approximate solution of the Schroedinger equation of finite Fermion systems. The method consist of approaching the exact solution in successive approximations. The first step is a Hartree-Fock calculation; the second step is the calculation of two-particle correlation effects; in each successive steps higher order correlation effects are taken into account. For the description of correlation effects, two-particle, three-particle, etc., correlation functions are introduced; these are determined from equations derived using the variation method. At each step the calculated energy is an upper limit to the exact solution. The present paper treats the Hartree-Fock approximation and the two-particle correlation effects; higher order effects will be treated in the second part.
Is the cardiovascular response to electroconvulsive therapy due to the electricity or the subsequent convulsion

There is general agreement that the cardiovascular changes seen are a normal response to electroconvulsive therapy. What is not clear, however, is whether it is the electric shock or the seizure that causes the hypertension and tachycardia seen after ECT. A recent case may shed some light upon this quesion
Cognitive Characteristics of Children with Genetic Syndromes

This article presents the cognitive profile observed in children with one of several common genetic syndromes associated with "nonverbal learning disorders." It introduces the concept of a cognitive endophenotype to help explain the similar pattern of impairments across the syndromes. It explores the explanation of diverse impairments in higher-order visual, spatial, temporal, numerical, and executive cognitive competencies deriving from origins in more basic attentional and spatial cognitive dysfunctions. The importance of a developmental approach to understanding dysfunction is stressed.
Electric power: competition or centralization?

Abstract Ideal spot market prices correspond to the ideal marginal cost prices of economic theory. It is argued that real-world spot markets for electric power are less likely to promote economic efficiency than administered or regulated marginal cost prices and a centrally planned and coordinated supply system. Electricity markets will not function like the textbook model because of technological characteristics that distinguish electric power from commodities. But even if these unique qualities of electric power are ignored, power spot markets are easily dominated by large buyers, sellers and transporters who will try to use market power to increase profits at the expense of overall economic efficiency.
A NONPARAMETRIC TEST OF SYMMETRY VERSUS ASYMMETRY FOR RANKED-SET SAMPLES

This paper introduces a nonparametric test of symmetry for ranked-set samples to test the asymmetry of the underlying distribution. The test statistic is constructed from the Cramer-von Mises distance function which measures the distance between two probability models. The null distribution of the test statistic is established by constructing symmetric bootstrap samples from a given ranked-set sample. It is shown that the type I error probabilities are stable across all practical symmetric distributions and the test has high power for asymmetric distributions.
Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 negative allosteric modulators as novel tools for in vivo investigation.

Negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) have shown promising results in preclinical models for anxiety and drug abuse. Here, we describe a series of aryl-substituted alkynyl analogues of the prototypic mGluR5 NAM 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine (MPEP, 1). Displacement of [3H]1 binding in rat brain membranes showed that several of these novel compounds displayed high affinity binding (Ki < 10 nM) for mGluR5, with up to a 24-fold increase in affinity over 1. Replacements of the 2-position Me on the pyridyl ring of 1 along with various 3′-CN, 5′-substitutions were generally well tolerated. All of the active analogues in this series had cLog P values in the 2–5 range and displayed inverse agonist characteristics in an ELISA-based assay of Gqα-mediated IP3 production. Compounds 7i and 7j produced in vivo effects in mouse models of anxiety-like behaviors more potently than 1 or 3-3-((2-methyl-4-thiazolyl)ethynyl)pyridine (MTEP, 2), supporting their utility ...
Application of RFID Technologies in the Temperature Mapping of the Pineapple Supply Chain

Current temperature tracking systems lack the convenience and accuracy demanded by the real conditions of a fast-paced produce supply chain. In recent years RFID technology has been suggested to be an enhanced method for temperature tracking because of its many benefits, such as using little instrumentation, offering the quick readings necessary for real-time decision making, and allowing the capture of long-duration temperature profiles. However its limitation lies in that probeless systems fail to provide accurate temperature readings in some of the critical points of the pallet and the load. The objective of this work was to study the use of RFID in temperature monitoring by comparing the performance of RFID temperature tags versus conventional temperature tracking methods, as well as RFID temperature tags with probe versus RFID temperature tags without probes and their utilization along the supply chain. Therefore, the temperature mapping of a shipping trial comprising pallets of crownless pineapples instrumented using different RFID temperature dataloggers and traditional temperature dataloggers and packed in two kinds of packages (corrugated boxes and reusable plastic containers) inside a container was performed. The results showed that RFID temperature tags are analogous with regards to accuracy to the conventional methods, but have a superior performance because they allow quick instrumentation and data recovery, and the possibility of accessing the sensor program and data at any point of the supply chain without line of sight. In addition, the use of RFID tags with probe was justified by its role in determining the efficiency of the pre-cooling operations and low temperature abuse tracking during transportation and refrigerated storage; while the RFID tags without probe proved useful for high temperature abuse monitoring during transportation and refrigerated storage. The creation of a RFID sensor with a probe, able to record both ambient and pulp temperatures simultaneously is suggested.
Neural Context Reinstatement Predicts Memory Misattribution

What causes new information to be mistakenly attributed to an old experience? Some theories predict that reinstating the context of a prior experience allows new information to be bound to that context, leading to source memory confusion. To examine this prediction, we had human participants study two lists of items (visual objects) on separate days while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging. List 1 items were accompanied by a stream of scene images during the intertrial interval, but list 2 items were not. As in prior work by Hupbach et al. (2009), we observed an asymmetric pattern of misattributions on a subsequent source memory test: participants showed a strong tendency to misattribute list 2 items to list 1 but not vice versa. We hypothesized that these memory errors were due to participants reinstating the list 1 context during list 2. To test this hypothesis, we used a pattern classifier to measure scene-related neural activity during list 2 study. Because scenes were visually present during list 1 but not list 2, scene-related activity during list 2 study can be used as a time-varying neural indicator of how much participants were reinstating the list 1 context during list 2 study. In keeping with our hypothesis, we found that prestimulus scene activation during the study of list 2 items was significantly higher for items subsequently misattributed to list 1 than for items subsequently correctly attributed to list 2. We conclude by discussing how these findings relate to theories of memory reconsolidation.
Interspecific hybridization contributes to high genetic diversity and apparent effective population size in an endemic population of mottled ducks ( Anas fulvigula maculosa )

Under drift-mutation equilibrium, genetic diversity is expected to be correlated with effective population size (Ne). Changes in population size and gene flow are two important processes that can cause populations to deviate from this expected relationship. In this study, we used DNA sequences from six independent loci to examine the influence of these processes on standing genetic diversity in endemic mottled ducks (Anas fulvigula) and geographically widespread mallards (A. platyrhynchos), two species known to hybridize. Mottled ducks have an estimated census size that is about two orders-of-magnitude smaller than that of mallards, yet these two species have similar levels of genetic diversity, especially at nuclear DNA. Coalescent analyses suggest that a population expansion in the mallard at least partly explains this discrepancy, but the mottled duck harbors higher genetic diversity and apparent Ne than expected for its census size even after accounting for a population decline. Incorporating gene flow into the model, however, reduced the estimated Ne of mottled ducks to 33 % of the equilibrium Ne and yielded an estimated Ne consistent with census size. We also examined the utility of these loci to distinguish among mallards, mottled ducks, and their hybrids. Most putatively pure individuals were correctly assigned to species, but the power for detecting hybrids was low. Although hybridization with mallards potentially poses a conservation threat to mottled ducks by creating a risk of extinction by hybridization, introgression of mallard alleles has helped maintain high genetic diversity in mottled ducks and might be important for the adaptability and survival of this species.
Satiation and habit persistence (or the dieter's dilemma)

Abstract Frequently individual consumption varies cyclically over time. In order to model such behavior, we have to generalize the intertemporal utility function so that it depends not only on current consumption but on total previous consumption and on the change in current consumption. Solving the resulting model requires a generalization of the Euler-Lagrange equations.
Stability of disease free sets in epidemic models

Abstract In this paper the attractivity properties of disease free subsets are considered in the context of disease transmission models. Sufficient conditions are derived for the existence of stable disease free subsets in a general compartmental disease transmission model. The conditions are stated in terms of the system linearized along the trajectories limited to a subset of disease free states. The proof is in the framework of the classical direct method of Lyapunov. As illustrations of the result a multigroup SIRS vaccination model and a Lotka–Volterra system with prey epidemic interaction are presented.
Coupled rotor-flexible fuselage vibration reduction using open loop higher harmonic control

A fundamental study of vibration prediction and vibration reduction in helicopters using active controls was performed. The nonlinear equations of motion for a coupled rotor/flexible fuselage system have been derived using computer algebra on a special purpose symbolic computer facility. The trim state and vibratory response of the helicopter are obtained in a single pass by applying the harmonic balance technique and simultaneously satisfying the trim and the vibratory response of the helicopter for all rotor and fuselage degrees of freedom. The influence of the fuselage flexibility on the vibratory response is studied. It is shown that the conventional single frequency higher harmonic control is capable of reducing either the hub loads or only the fuselage vibrations but not both simultaneously. It is demonstrated that for simultaneous reduction of hub shears and fuselae vibrations a new scheme called multiple higher harmonic control is required.
A late Miocene subtropical-dry flora from the northern Altiplano, Bolivia

Abstract A variety of evidence suggests that the Altiplano of the Central Andes, the second highest and largest plateau on earth, underwent significant uplift in the late Miocene–Pliocene. The most important datum supporting recent uplift is a collection of the 10.66±0.06 Ma Jakokkota flora from west-central Bolivia, which implies a paleoelevation no more than 1600±1200 m; today the site has an elevation of almost 4000 m. In order to test the reliability of this estimate, the present study analyzes a new collection of the Jakokkota flora from a lacustrine unit that is 0.2–0.5 Myr younger than the previously analyzed collection from a fluvial unit. Climate estimates based on leaf morphology for the two collections are statistically indistinguishable; the combined flora has a mean annual temperature of 21.5±2.0°C and a mean annual precipitation of 550±180 mm. The similarity of the climate estimates for the two floras suggests that there was not a significant climate change between them, nor a significant bias in the leaf morphology due to differing taphonomic processes. The climate estimate for the combined flora thus presents a representative picture of the late Miocene climate of the northern Altiplano. If one assumes that the climate of the tropics has not changed significantly since the late Miocene, as is suggested by marine isotopic data, then the paleoclimate of the Jakokkota flora implies a paleoelevation of 1160±600 m. Thus, the Jakokkota flora supports the hypothesis of a young age for the Altiplano.
Register allocation and exhaustive peephole optimization

Emerging peephole optimizers can relieve code generators of much case analysis, but delaying code generation decisions requires register allocation algorithms that accept object code instead of the more usual intermediate code. This paper describes two programs that implement such algorithms for a retargetable optimizing compiler. In a machine-independent fashion, they allocate and assign registers, eliminate common subexpressions (including often-missed machine-specific ones), identify dead variables, and define windows for the companion peephole optimizer. Their techniques for handling machine-specific data should generalize to other optimizations as well.
Disparities in reported reasons for not initiating or stopping antiretroviral treatment among a diverse sample of persons living with HIV.

BACKGROUND Disparities in the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV disease have been documented across race, gender, and substance use groups.
Testing silicon TV tuners on ATE without TV signal generator

Silicon TV tuners are rapidly displacing traditional CAN tuners. There are two main challenges in testing silicon TV tuners in production: the lack of TV signal generator on stand-along ATE and the long test time of traditional test methods. In this paper, we first present a method to create TV test signals on ATE so we can develop gold standard tests for two most challenging tests: infrequent glitch detection and ATV test. We then propose a scheme that removes the need of TV test signals while performing the tests >10 times faster.
Women's employment and changes in family structure.

This article examines the impact on women's employment of the changing demographic structure of the family. Using log linear techniques and data from the 1960 and 1970 censuses, our findings modify earlier research and have implications for the future. Key findings include a decline in the effect of marital status on women's employment; no decline in the effect of child status; a more complicated relationship between race and employment status than previously realized; and clear evidence that rates are increasing not only because of changes in family structure, but because of changes in the employment patterns of successive cohorts of women.
Empirical investigation of factors affecting the stability of cable-in-conduit superconductors

Abstract Experiments investigating the stability of cable-in-conduit superconductors were performed using test conductors composed of small, quadruplex cables enclosed in steel tubes. To examine the effects of a variation in stabilizer resistivity, all test conductors contained two strands of identical NbTi/Cu composite superconductor and two strands of solid copper. The grade of copper was varied for each test conductor so that a different net stabilizer resistivity existed for each conductor. When these conductors were operated outside the range of multiple stability, tests showed that their stability was negligibly affected by stabilizer resistivity; conversely, the range of operating currents for which multiple stability occurs was affected. However, the surprising result of this study is that stability is apparently affected when a large fraction of the copper stabilizer is segregated into separate cable strands. These observations are compared with other data in the literature.
Microstructure and tribology of ion-mixed Fe/Ti/C multilayers on AISI 304 stainless steel

A multilayered Fe/Ti/C structure consisting of eleven alternating sublayers, four Fe, four Ti and three C, was ion mixed on an AISI 304 stainless steel substrate with 400 keV Xe2+. Complete mixing was observed after an irradiation of 1 × 1017Xe/cm2 at 550°C. Electron diffraction revealed the formation of the compounds TiC and Fe3C and a small amount of an amorphous phase. Some samples were given a second irradiation with 5 × 1015Xe/cm2 at 0°C. The phases present following the second irradiation were TiC, α-Fe and an amorphous phase. Tribological and nanoindentation measurements revealed that both types of samples possessed similar hardness and friction properties. The ion mixed samples possessed an increased hardness and a decreased friction coefficient relative to untreated polished stainless-steel substrate. However, the wear life of the hot ion mixed sample was consistently longer than the wear life of the sample processed at both 550 and 0°C. These results are explained by differences in adhesive wear which result from differences in the chemical reactivity of the phases formed during ion beam processing.
How demanding is social media: Understanding social media diets as a function of perceived costs and benefits - A rational actor perspective

Using the rational actor perspective as a guiding frame, this exploratory study examined individuals' social media diet (i.e., amount, frequency, and duration of use) as a function of task load and expected goal attainment. Surveys were distributed (N=337) focusing on Twitter and Facebook usage for informational and relational purposes, respectfully. Increased task load - conceptualized as a cognitive cost - directly negatively influenced Twitter use but only indirectly influenced Facebook use as a function of perceived benefits. Across conditions, perceived self-efficacy was negatively associated with perceived task load and positively associated with goal attainment, and goal attainment was a significant correlate of increased social media usage. Interpreted, we see that a transparent technology such as Facebook has no cognitive costs associated with its use, while an opaque technology such as Twitter seems to have a salient cognitive cost element. Further, we found that older users of Facebook were more likely to judge the channel as more cognitively demanding and themselves as having lower self-efficacy in using it. Finally, results indicated that for both Facebook and Twitter, males perceived both channels as more cognitively demanding than females. Theoretical and practical explanations and applications for these findings are presented.
The Sch9 protein kinase regulates Hsp90 chaperone complex signal transduction activity in vivo

Basal and stress-induced synthesis of the components of the highly conserved heat shock protein Hsp90 chaperone complex require the heat shock transcription factor (HSF); Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells expressing the HSF allele HSF(1-583) reversibly arrest growth at 37 degrees C in the G(2)/M phase of the cell cycle due to diminished expression of these components. A suppressor mutant capable of restoring high-temperature growth to HSF(1-583) cells was identified, harboring a disruption of the SCH9 protein kinase gene, homologous to the protein kinase A and protein kinase B/Akt families of mammalian growth control kinases. Loss of Sch9 in HSF(1-583) cells derepresses Hsp90 signal transduction functions as demonstrated by restoration of transcriptional activity by the mammalian glucocorticoid receptor and the heme-dependent transcription factor Hap1, and by enhanced pheromone-dependent signaling through the Ste11 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Moreover, Sch9-deficient cells with normal levels of Hsp90 chaperone complex components display hyperactivation of the pheromone response MAPK pathway in the absence of pheromone. These results demonstrate that the evolutionarily conserved function of the Hsp90 chaperone complex as a signal transduction facilitator is modulated by a growth regulatory kinase.
Moment method solution using parametric geometry

Practical electromagnetic problems are often three-dimensional (3-D) and involve arbitrary geometry. In the case when an object of curvature is of interest, the use of flat facets creates unnecessary artificial discretization in the solution. Recently, many researchers have been investigating the use of curved patches. This paper presents the method of moments (MoM) technique for computing the electromagnetic radiation and scattering from 3-D conducting bodies of general shape. The arbitrary surface is described by dividing it into a number of connected patches which are mathematically described as parametric quadric surfaces. The electric field integral equation (EFIE) is solved by standard MoM technique with specifically designed basic functions for subdomains which now contain surface curvature. Numerical results agree very well with those of existing studies.
Outcome of travelers who refuse transport after emergency medical services evaluation at an international airport.

Objective. To determine the short-term outcome of patients refusing transport after emergency medical services (EMS) evaluation at an international airport. Methods. This was a prospective, descriptive, observational study of patients who refused transport after evaluation by Philadelphia Fire Department paramedics at Philadelphia International Airport from July 2003 through March 2004. Paramedics contacted a medical command physician (MCP), who recorded the patient's contact information. Three days later, one investigator attempted to contact the patient to administer a survey of the medical course in the three days following the initial encounter. Results. Of 90 patients enrolled, 64 (71%) were reached in follow-up. Their average age was 45 years (range 10 months to 80 years); 41 (63%) were female. The most common presenting complaints were trauma-related (22 patients, 34%), neurologic (12, 19%), andgastrointestinal (7, 11%). The most common reasons for refusing transport were belief that their complain...
A survey: how periodontists and other dental professionals view the scope of periodontics.

Background: How do periodontists think of themselves when they define their practices? How do other dental professionals view the scope of the specialty of periodontology? A strong component of periodontal residency programs is extracting teeth and preserving or building bony ridges for the eventual placement of implants. Has the discipline of periodontology moved away from retaining and treating the natural dentition? By the use of a rank-order survey, the practice of periodontology was defined by periodontists and other dental professionals.Methods: In a pilot study, respondents were asked to list the answers to the question, “What is a periodontist?” The results were consolidated into eight statements. The eight statements were placed into an anonymous rank-order survey, and more than 1,200 responses were returned. The responses primarily came from periodontists, hygienists, general practitioners, dental students, and dental hygiene students.Results: “Periodontists surgically treat advanced gum and bon...
CHEMICAL FRACTIONATION OF THE GONADO TROPIC FACTORS PRESENT IN SHEEP PITUITARY1

STUDY OF THE FUNCTIONAL interrelationship of the pituitary with the gonads has yielded a number of facts of great importance, but many features of the mechanism of this reciprocal relationship are still obscure. Some of the results secured are actually contradictory to others and the situation in general has permitted undesirable freedom in interpretation. Conceptions as to this interrelationship have also doubtless been complicated by the postulation of several different gonadotropic principles (1, 2, 3). A prime reason for failure in arriving at a clear understanding of how many specific gonadotropic principles are actually secreted by the pituitary is the difficulty of adequately purifying pituitary fractions so that they will have a specific effect on the gonads. In our preliminary studies of the gonadotropic principles in the sheep pituitary, it became apparent that several different biological effects—syner-gism, luteinizfttion, and antagonism—were all given by the interstitial cell stimulating frac...
THE EFFECT OF HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION UPON THE INDUCTION OF POLARITY IN FUCUS EGGS : III. GRADIENTS OF HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION.

1. Gradients of hydrogen ion concentration across Fucus eggs growing in sea water determine the developmental polarity of the embryo. 2. Gradients may determine polarity even if removed before the morphological response begins. 3. The rhizoid forms on the acid side of the egg unless this is too acid, in which case it develops on the basic side of the egg. 4. Since gradients of hydrogen ion concentration in sea water produce gradients of CO(2) tension, as a result of chemical action on the carbonate buffer system, it is not proven whether the physiological effects are due to the hydrogen ions, or to the CO(2) which they produce in the medium. 5. The developmental response of the eggs to gradients of hydrogen ion (or CO(2)) concentration provides an adequate but not an exclusive explanation of the group effect in Fucus. 6. Hydrogen ions may exert their effect by activating growth substance. Hydrogen ions or CO(2) probably also affect the underlying rhizoid forming processes in other ways as well.
Evaluating buprestid preference and sampling efficiency of the digger wasp, Cerceris fumipennis, using morphometric predictors.

In-ground colonies of the native digger wasp, Cerceris fumipennis Say (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), were sampled over two years in four New York State counties to characterize prey range, primarily their preying on beetles in the metallic wood-boring family, Buprestidae. These records were also used to evaluate beetle sampling efficiency by comparing collected beetles to historic county records and to identify limitations of wasp-mediated sampling in study areas. Overall, 1,530 beetles representing three families and 44 beetle species were collected from C. fumipennis. Five of these species (Agrilus cuprescens (Menetries) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), A. pensus Horn, Buprestis nutalli Kirby, Chrysobothris scabripennis Gory and Laporte, Dicerca pugionata (Germar)) were new prey records for C. fumipennis. The wasps exhibited a strong preference for larger beetle genera (e.g., Dicerca, Buprestis), which accounted for 68% of beetles caught. Agrilus and Chrysobothris were the next dominant genera, accounting for 16% and 11%, respectively. A 4–19 mm prey size range is proposed, as all beetles collected were within this range despite the availability of prey outside of this range. Cerceris fumipennis caught 43% of the 42 buprestids species present in museum records from the four census counties as well as an additional 23 buprestid species that were not represented in museum records. Of the 22 buprestid species identified in museum collections that were not caught by C. fumipennis in the census counties, only one was within the proposed size range and active during the C. fumipennis flight season (late June through August). Overall, sampling C. fumipennis colonies over two summers at five sites resulted in 32% of the recorded buprestid species in New York State being caught, indicating that monitoring colonies is an efficient and viable means of quantifying buprestid assemblages.
Alcohol Promotional Clothing Items and Alcohol Use by University Students

The purpose of this study was to examine ownership, visibility, and association with alcohol use of alcohol promotional clothing items (APCIs). Participants were 180 male and 140 female university students; 96.3% had tried drinking alcohol. Almost 45% of participants owned an APCI with t-shirts and hats being the most commonly owned items. Participants who owned APCIs differed in alcohol use from non-owners. Participants who had received an APCI from their parents were likely to perceive that their parents approved of them drinking. The presence of alcohol promotional clothing items contributes to the already saturated pro-drinking social context prevalent on college campuses. Empirical studies establishing a link between alcohol use and APCIs can support proposals to restrict production and distribution of APCIs.
Optimal Caching with Content Broadcast in Cache-and-Forward Networks

With the rapid advance in the technology area of data storage, storage capacities have increased substantially while the price has been dropping fast. Motivated by this trend, it has been proposed in the Cache-and-Forward architecture that storage is incorporated into each intermediate CNF router. Content can be cached at CNF routers when they flow through the network, and therefore, routers can serve the subsequent requests later on, without forwarding the requests to the host server, we refer to this caching paradigm as In-Network Caching. In this paper, the content caching is enhanced by Content Broadcast(CB), by which a CNF router broadcasts the information of cached content to its neighboring nodes. In order to solve the problem that with limited storage, how an intermediate CNF router optimally decides which passing content should be cached, we develop a mathematical model for CB to minimize the average content retrieval latency, and propose the Independent Allocation algorithm. We compare the average content retrieval latencies of the proposed caching scheme with two other commonly used cache replacement policies. We study the impact of cache size and locality parameter. The proposed scheme is shown to provide significant performance improvement under various settings by as large as 65%.
Declines in dietary macronutrient intake in persons with HIV infection who develop depression.

Background: The effect of depression on dietary intake has not, to our knowledge, been examined in persons with HIV infection. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal analysis of participants in the Nutrition for Healthy Living Study (NFHL). We measured changes in dietary macronutrient intake in participants who developed depression and, using multiple regression analysis, compared the changes with a control group of patients who did not become depressed. Results: Ninety patients developed depression during the observation period, and we compared these with 152 non-depressed controls. The two groups had similar age and body mass index (BMI) at baseline, but those who developed depression were more likely to be female, less educated and had lower incomes. After adjustment, compared with non-depressed participants, those who developed depression had significantly greater decreases in the following daily intakes: total energy (2341kcal, P 50.006), protein (212.3g, P 50.02), total fat (218.5g, P 50.008), carbohydrate (236.8g, P 50.02), total fibre (24.3g, P 50.001) and saturated fat (26.7g, P 50.01). There were no significant differences in the daily intakes of simple sugars and long-chain n23 fatty acids, or BMI. Conclusion: Depression is associated with decreases in total daily energy intake and in six of the eight dietary components we measured. Clinicians should be aware that depression-associated nutritional deficiencies may complicate the care of persons with HIV.
CONSTRUCTING NONVIOLENT ALTERNATIVES TO COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE: A SCIENTIFIC STRATEGY

Collective violence (including terrorism, gang violence, civil war, separatist ethnic and religious conflicts, and government sponsored wars) is a central concern of the 21st century. This analysis suggests a scientific strategy for reducing such violence by constructing functionally equivalent and highly effective nonviolent collective alternatives. This general approach is the heart of most effective programs of behavior change, but has not yet been used to address terrorism and other forms of collective violence. The paper briefly traces the history of effective nonviolent action, including both strategies to confront and reduce oppression as well as strategies for defending persons, peoples, and social institutions against attack. It then turns to a examination of cultural practices on which successful nonviolent actions have relied, emphasizing a scientific analysis of the behavioral dynamics involved. Both practices directed toward opposition groups and practices that maintain the commitment and action of group members are investigated. The paper concludes with an outline of a program of research for taking these analyses to deeper and more comprehensive levels.
The valve-in-valve operation for aortic homograft dysfunction: a better option.

Background Reoperations on dysfunctional aortic homografts often require root reconstruction with coronary reanastomosis. This is associated with substantial perioperative morbidity and mortality. Resecting compromised aortic homograft valve leaflets and seating a new valve within the homograft annulus avoids root reconstruction and is a viable alternative. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 50 patients undergoing reoperations on dysfunctional homografts between 1999 and 2011. Outcomes were compared between valve-in-valve (ViV) and aortic valve-prosthetic conduit (AVR-C) procedures. Results Twenty-eight patients underwent ViV, and 22 had AVR-C. Groups were similar in age, sex, and incidence of endocarditis and renal failure. Median time between homograft and index procedure was 8.5 years for AVR-C and 8 years for ViV patients ( p = 0.93). Patients undergoing AVR-C had longer cardiopulmonary bypass (282 versus 151 minutes; p p p = 0.014). Patients undergoing ViV had shorter intensive care unit stays (47 hours versus 67 hours for AVR-C; p = 0.049) and fewer postoperative red blood cell transfusions (21.4% versus 54.5%; p = 0.020). There were trends toward shorter ventilation times for ViV patients (6 hours versus 11 hours for AVR-C; p = 0.077), shorter postoperative length of stay (7 days versus 9 days; p = 0.092), and fewer readmissions (3.6% versus 19.0%; p 0.073). One operative mortality occurred in the AVR-C group. Conclusions The strategy of replacing aortic valve leaflets in a failed calcified homograft, with a valve seated inside the annulus, is a safe alternative to root reconstruction. Preserving root architecture and coronary buttons facilitates shorter cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp times, and directly impacts transfusions, intensive care unit time, hospital stay, and readmission rates.
Effects of benzalkonium chloride- or polyquad-preserved fixed combination glaucoma medications on human trabecular meshwork cells.

Purpose: We investigated the potential short and long-term effects in cultured human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells of various topical glaucoma formulations containing different preservatives. Methods: We tested the fixed combination medications 0.004% travoprost plus 0.5% timolol preserved with either 0.015% benzalkonium chloride (BAK; DuoTrav®), or with 0.001% polyquad (PQ; DuoTrav® BAK-free); and 0.005% latanoprost plus 0.5% timolol preserved with 0.020% BAK (Xalacom®). Also tested was a range of BAK concentrations (0.001%– 0.020%) in balanced salt solution (BSS). Cells were treated for 25 min at 37 °C with solutions diluted 1:10 and 1:100 to mimic the reduced penetration of topical preparations to the anterior chamber. The percentage of live cells was determined immediately after treatment through the uptake of the fluorescent vital dye calcein-AM. To determine any long-term effects, we assayed release of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and apoptosis 24 h after treatments. Results: BAK demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in TM cell viability, ranging from 71±5% live cells at 0.001% BAK (diluted 1:10) to 33±3% live cells at 0.020% BAK (diluted 1:10). Travoprost (0.004%) plus 0.5% timolol preserved with 0.015% BAK had statistically fewer live TM cells (79±7%) than the same preparation preserved with 0.001% polyquad® (PQ; 93±1%; p<0.001). Latanoprost plus timolol preserved with 0.020% BAK (29±9% live cells) was similar to the 0.020% BAK (33±3%) treatment. However, travoprost plus timolol preserved in 0.015% BAK had significantly more live cells (83±12%) than the 1:10 dilution of 0.015% BAK (49±10%). We also found 0.020% BAK (diluted 1:100) resulted in elevated levels of extracellular MMP-9 at 24 h. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the substitution of the preservative BAK from topical ophthalmic drugs results in greater in vitro viability of TM cells. Travoprost with timolol, but not latanoprost with timolol, countered some of the toxic BAK effects. BAK treatment appeared to cause elevated levels of MMP-9, a matrix metalloproteinase implicated in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.
Dimensions of Political Systems: Factor Analysis of A Cross-Polity Survey .

Since the publication of David Easton's The Political System, it has become increasingly common for political scientists to speculate as to the basic factors which may be common to all political systems and which, in their varying manifestations, determine the unique styles of political behavior within each. Efforts to identify the basic political phenomena and their complex relationships have generated a variety of cross-national conceptual schemes and propositions. Some authors speak of structural and functional requisites, some refer to equilibrium conditions for system maintenance. Others, employing more traditional concepts, refer to power, legitimacy, ideology, instability, consensus, influence, and bargaining. Regardless of the form these efforts assume, they all posit the existence of factors or dimensions which are common to all political systems.
Nucleotide sequence analysis and expression of the minimum REPI replication region and incompatibility determinants of pColV-K30.

Abstract We sequenced the minimum REPI replication region and the incompatibility determinants of pColV-K30. The minimum replication region contains an open reading frame which corresponds to a 35-kilodalton (kDa) protein. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis with maxicells transformed with a number of deletion derivatives demonstrated that this replication region encodes a 39-kDa protein and also established the direction of transcription of the RepI protein gene. The 39-kDa polypeptide was identified as the trans-acting factor essential for replication of REPI-containing plasmids. A translated region of the nucleotide sequence of the RepI protein gene showed homology with the helix-turn-helix binding domains of a number of DNA-binding proteins and also with other plasmid replication proteins. Further nucleotide analysis of the REPI region revealed the presence of direct and inverted repeat sequences in the incE, incF, and ori regions. The REPI ori also contained a perfect DnaA-binding site in addition to a high frequency of occurrence of the DNA adenine methylation (dam) site 5'GATC3'.
The spatial scaling of saprotrophic fungal beta diversity in decomposing leaves

Assembly of fungal communities remains poorly understood in part because of the daunting range of spatial scales that may be involved in this process. Here, we use individual leaves as a natural sampling unit, comprising spatially distinct habitat and/or resource patches with unique histories and suites of resources. Spatial patterns in fungal beta diversity were tested for consistency with the metacommunity paradigms of species sorting and neutral dynamics. Thirty senesced leaves were collected from the forest floor (O horizon) in replicate upland forest, riparian forest and vernal pool habitats. We quantified spatial distance between leaves, and fungal community composition was assayed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism. Significant distance-decay relationships were detected at all but one upland site. This is the first study where changes in fungal community composition were quantified across discrete adjacent habitat patches, providing evidence that fungal distance decay is operational at a scale of centimetres. Although leaves of differing lignin contents were sampled from each site, leaf type was not consistently important in explaining variation in fungal community composition. However, depth of a leaf within the forest floor significantly influenced community composition at five of six sites. Environmental heterogeneity associated with depth could include moisture gradients, relative influence of soil or spore colonization, and impact of forest floor biotic community (i.e. collembola and earthworms). Because the influence of spatial distance and depth on fungal community composition could not be disentangled, both species-sorting and neutral processes may be embedded within the distance-decay relationships that we found.
Impact of virtual machine granularity on cloud computing workloads performance

This paper studies the impact of VM granularity on workload performance in cloud computing environments. We use HPL as a representative tightly coupled computational workload and a web server providing content to customers as a representative loosely coupled network intensive workload. The performance evaluation demonstrates VM granularity has a significant impact on the performance of the computational workload. On an 8-CPU machine, the performance obtained from utilizing 8VMs is more than 4 times higher than that given by 4 or 16 VMs for HPL of problem size 4096; whereas on two machines with a total of 12 CPUs 24 VMs gives the best performance for HPL of problem sizes from 256 to 1024. Our results also indicate that the effect of VM granularity on the performance of the web system is not critical. The largest standard deviation of the transaction rates obtained from varying VM granularity is merely 2.89 with a mean value of 21.34. These observations suggest that VM malleability strategies where VM granularity is changed dynamically, can be used to improve the performance of tightly coupled computational workloads, whereas VM consolidation for energy savings can be more effectively applied to loosely coupled network intensive workloads.