cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The viral storm: the dawn of a new pandemic age

HIV, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and pandemic infl uenza A H1N1 are startling reminders of our vulnerability to emerging infectious diseases; indeed, even Hollywood fi lm-makers seem to share this concern lately. In his book, The Viral Storm, Nathan Wolfe explores the origins of pandemics and the bold notion that we might soon enter an era in which pandemics could be stopped before they even begin. Though occasionally elementary, this is a valuable and informative book for any health professional interested in infectious diseases. The reader remains engaged through rich examples and a discussion of a wide range of academic disciplines that build a strong case for why pandemics are occurring more frequently. Aided by personal anecdotes, Wolfe vividly captures the excitement of pathogen discovery and the importance this new age of infectious diseases holds for human health. The fi rst part of the book provides a historical context as to why human populations today might be especially susceptible to pandemics. These initial chapters describe the coevolution of modern human beings alongside microorganisms. Wolfe focuses on hunting as the ideal vehicle through which pathogens can travel between species and this becomes a theme he returns to repeatedly. The second part of the book examines the modern drivers of viral emergence, such as urbanisation, new medical technologies, deforestation, and livestock production. The fi nal part of the book moves on from the grim picture initially painted to explore “pandemic prevention”. Wolfe suggests that technological advances in specialties such as molecular biology and geographical information systems will enable scientists to pre-empt pandemics. He highlights progress that has been made by civil society and the public sector to mitigate risks of pandemics. He also describes the unique eff orts by Global Viral Forecasting, an organisation Wolfe himself started, whose activities include monitoring human hunters and their kills for pathogens. There is no shortage of novel pathogens capable of infecting human beings. These new contagions often originate from our altered interactions with the animals with which we share our planet, whether due to highintensity commercial farming, environmental disturbances, or animal traffi cking. Furthermore, it seems that a similar set of independent events have historically enabled a select few zoonoses to achieve pandemic proportion. As such, pandemics are not entirely random events and this is to our advantage. Wolfe is visionary in his ambition to reverse the drivers of pathogen emergence and to develop a new public health infrastructure capable of detecting novel agents of disease before they strike human beings (and animals) in large numbers. In dealing with this complex problem, issues of economic development, access to food, and environmental conservation will need to be jointly addressed. However, as science, technology, and global awareness continue to improve, The Viral Storm foreshadows sunnier skies ahead.
Cooperation in self-organizing map networks enhances information transmission in the presence of input background activity

The self-organizing map (SOM) algorithm produces artificial neural maps by simulating competition and cooperation among neurons. We study the consequences of input background activity on simulated self-organization, using the SOM, of the retinotopic map in the superior colliculus. The colliculus not only represents its inputs but also uses them to localize saccadic targets. Using the colliculus as a test-bed enables us to quantify the results of self- organization both descriptively, in terms of input–output mutual information, and functionally, in terms of the probability of error (expected distortion) in localizing targets. We find that mutual information is low, and distortion is high, when the SOM operates in the presence of input background activity but without the cooperative component (no neighbor training). Cooperation (training neighbors) greatly increases mutual information and greatly decreases expected distortion. Our simulation results extend theoretical work suggesting that cooperative mechanisms are needed to increase the information content of neural representations. They also identify input background activity as a factor affecting the self-organization of information-transmitting channels in the nervous system.
Studies towards the synthesis of radiolabeled R106-1(LY295337)

A unique semisynthetic pathway has been used as a route to acquire radiolabeled material of a complex natural product, R106. The retro-aldol reaction of R106-1 gave a key intermediate R106-sarcosine that was used in a subsequent aldol reaction to incorporate acetone-[2- 14 C].
Induction of anti-MuLV cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the AKR.H-2b and AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mouse strains.

Following secondary in vitro sensitization with AKR/Gross virus-induced tumors, AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b mice develop cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for AKR/Gross viral antigens. It has recently been determined that the responder status of AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b to AKR/Gross virus declines with age. The nonresponsiveness observed in AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b is similar to that observed in AKR.H-2b mice which (regardless of age) does not develop anti-AKR/Gross virus CTL. It was of interest to determine the ability of these congenic mouse strains to respond to other murine leukemia viruses (MuLV). This was accomplished by immunizing AKR.H-2b and young or moderately aged AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b with Friend-Moloney-Rauscher (FMR) virus-induced tumors, and assessing the ability of anti-FMR CTL to develop following secondary in vitro stimulation. It was observed that both AKR.H-2b and AKR.H-2b:Fv-1b developed specific anti-FMR virus CTL. Similarly, following tumor challenge AKR.H-2b mice were unable to prevent the outgrowth of a syngeneic AKR/Gross virus-induced tumor, but were able to reject a syngeneic FMR virus-induced tumor.
Selective Management of Clotted Femoro-Popliteal Bypass Grafts:

From 1982 to 1984 eleven patients with thrombosed PTFE femoro popliteal bypass grafts were treated by thrombectomy with a high incidence of rethrom bosis (1.4 occlusion per patient) resulting in four amputations. Since 1984 a selective surgical approach was instituted depending upon angiographic evi dence of inflow problems, intimal hyperplasia or distal progression of athero sclerosis. No amputation and only one episode of rethrombosis occurred in a group of nine patients. We concluded that the natural history of thrombectomy for failed F-P bypasses is rethrombosis and that a selective approach should be individualized for each patient.
Endocrine regulation of embryonic muscle development; hormonal control of DNA accumulation, pentose cycle activity and myoblast proliferation☆

Abstract Chick embryos were hypophysectomized by the partial decapitation technique at 33–36 hours of incubation. Determination was made of the effects of hypophysectomy on dry weight, protein, and DNA accumulation and on the activities of phosphorylase, phosphoglucomutase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in leg muscle. These results were compared with those obtained from normal embryos and hypophysectomized embryos that had had anterior pituitaries transplanted to the chorioallantoic membrane on day 10 of incubation. Hypophysectomy resulted in suppressed dry weight and protein accumulation, and suppressed phosphorylase and phosphoglucomutase activities. Cell proliferation and DNA accumulation continued in hypophysectomized embryos through day 20 but stopped by day 16 in normal embryos. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in normal embryonic muscle decreased to unmeasurable levels by day 18 but significant activity was found in hypophysectomized embryos through day 20. The effects of hypophysectomy on the rates of accumulation of all parameters were reversed by pituitary transplantation. The possibility of endocrine regulation of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation by hormonal control of the pentose cycle is discussed.
Studies on the functional role of tintinnids in the Southern California Bight. I. Grazing and growth rates in laboratory cultures

Five species of tintinnids, Amphorella quadrilineata (Claparede and Lachmann, 1858), Tintinnopsis cf. beroidea Stein (1867), T. cf. acuminata Daday (1887), Eutintinnus pectinis (Kofoid and Campbell, 1929), and Helicostomella subulata (Ehrenberg, 1833), were isolated from Southern California coastal waters and maintained in laboratory cultures which were used to investigate, several aspects of the feeding dynamics and population growth rates of this group of planktonic ciliates. Data are most complete for the latter three species. Both E. pectinis and H. subulata displayed ingestion and growth rates which increased with increasing food concentration until a maximum rate was obtained which then remained essentially constant as food levels increased further. Maximum hourly ingestion was equivalent to approximately 10 to 20% of the body weight of the tintinnids. T. cf. acuminata showed no such maximum ingestion rate, as ingestion rates increased throughout the entire range of food concentrations used. The dependence of growth rate of T. cf. acuminata on food concentration also differed from the other species, being characterized by a broad region of maximum growth at intermediate food levels with reduced growth at both lower and higher food concentrations. Maximum observed growth rates represented doubling times of approximately 12 h for both E. pectinis and T. cf. acuminata and 24 h for H. subulata. The data suggested gross growth efficiencies exceeding 50% over much of the range of food concentrations used. No strong evidence supporting the existence of feeding thresholds or “switching” behavior was collected during these experiments, although apparently selective feeding was observed in one experiment with E. pectinis.
Working for the Woman? Female Managers and the Gender Wage Gap:

Most previous research on gender inequality and management has been concerned with the question of access to managerial jobs and the “glass ceiling.” We offer the first largescale analysis that tur...
Response of the Timeless Protein to Light Correlates with Behavioral Entrainment and Suggests a Nonvisual Pathway for Circadian Photoreception

Abstract The period ( per ) and timeless ( tim ) genes are required for circadian behavioral rhythms in Drosophila . The current model for how these rhythms entrain to light is based upon the light induced decrease in timeless protein (TIM) levels. We show here that the TIM response to light correlates with the effect of light on the behavioral rhythm. To identify components of the entrainment pathway, we also assayed the TIM response in flies with mutant visual systems. Flies that lacked eyes displayed a normal response in lateral neurons. The TIM response to a light pulse was attenuated in flies that were mutant for the transient receptor potential ( trp ) and trp-like ( trpl ) genes, which are required for calcium conductance in the visual transduction cascade. The reduced TIM response was accompanied by a reduced phase shift in the behavioral rhythm, but neither response was completely eliminated, and the trpl;trp flies entrain to light–dark cycles, suggesting that these genes perturb some aspect of circadian entrainment when mutated but are not essential for it. The TIM response was also unaffected in ninaE flies that lack the rhodopsin protein (rh1). These results support the hypothesis that circadian entrainment does not rely on the visual system and likely involves a dedicated pathway for photoreception.
Dicer is required for embryonic angiogenesis during mouse development

Dicer is a multi-domain protein responsible for the generation of short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) from long double-stranded RNAs during RNA interference. It is also involved in the maturation of microRNAs, some of which are transcriptional regulators of developmental timing in nematodes. To assess the role of Dicer in mammals, we generated Dicerex1/2 mice with a deletion of the amino acid sequences corresponding to the first and second exons of the dicer gene via homologous recombination. We found that Dicerex1/2 homozygous embryos displayed a retarded phenotype and died between days 12.5 and 14.5 of gestation. Thus, these results show that dicerex1/2 is severely hypomorphic and that Dicer is essential for normal mouse development. Interestingly, we also found that blood vessel formation/maintenance in dicerex1/2 embryos and yolk sacs were severely compromised, suggesting a possible role for Dicer in angiogenesis. This finding is consistent with the altered expression of vegf, flt1, kdr, and tie1 in the mutant embryos. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that Dicer exerts its function on mouse embryonic angiogenesis probably through its role in the processing of microRNAs that regulate the expression levels of some critical angiogenic regulators in the cell.
Solving Measurement Problems with an Answer-Until-Correct Scoring Procedure

Answer-until-correct (AUC) tests have been in use for some time. Pressey (1950) pointed to their ad vantages in enhancing learning, and Brown (1965) proposed a scoring procedure for AUC tests that appears to increase reliability (Gilman & Ferry, 1972; Hanna, 1975). This paper describes a new scoring procedure for AUC tests that (1) makes it possible to determine whether guessing is at ran dom, (2) gives a measure of how "far away" guess ing is from being random, (3) corrects observed test scores for partial information, and (4) yields a mea sure of how well an item reveals whether an ex aminee knows or does not know the correct re sponse. In addition, the paper derives the optimal linear estimate (under squared-error loss) of true score that is corrected for partial information, as well as another formula score under the assumption that the Dirichlet-multinomial model holds. Once certain parameters are estimated, the latter formula score makes it possible to correct for partial infor mation using only the...
Structural determinants influencing the reaction of cysteine-containing peptides with palmitoyl-coenzyme A and other thioesters.

Abstract Non-enzymatic thioesterification of specific cysteinyl peptides with fatty acyl-CoA has been previously demonstrated in both liposomes and aqueous medium. To identify the molecular basis for the differential reactivity of polypeptides in aqueous solutions, 26 synthetic cysteinyl peptides encompassing the palmitoylation sites of well known proteins (protein zero, proteolipid protein, β-adrenergic receptor, p21 K-ras , transferrin receptor, CD-4 and SNAP-25) and six small thiol compounds were incubated separately with [ 3 H]palmitoyl-CoA, [ 14 C]acetyl-CoA and p -nitrophenyl thioacetate (NPTA). For each peptide, both the observed reaction rate constant at pH 7.5 and the pH-independent rate constant ( k 2 ) were calculated, and reactivity of the attacking sulfhydryl group was characterized using the Bronsted equation (log k 2 = β nuc p K a + C ). In general, peptides bearing basic and aromatic amino acid residues showed the lowest thiol p K a s, and consequently displayed the highest acylation rates. Reaction with palmitoyl-CoA was complicated to analyze because of the variable partition of peptides in the acyl chain donor/detergent micelles. In contrast, a linear Bronsted relationship was found for the reaction of the peptides with the water-soluble acetyl-CoA ( β nuc =0.59). A similar β nuc value was obtained with the neutral NPTA, indicating that electronic effects other than those responsible for the acid–base properties of the thiol are less important. Thus, the concentration of the thiolate anion appears to be the major factor influencing the rate of the nucleophilic substitution reaction. These findings and the fact that the acylation sites in most proteins are surrounded by basic amino acids may partially explain the specificity of non-enzymatic palmitoylation regarding the acceptor sequences.
Acute Hemodynamic Effects of Intravenous Nesiritide on Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Heart Failure Patients

Abstract Background Nesiritide is recombinant human B-type natriuretic peptide with vasodilatory effects used in patients with decompensated congestive heart failure. We sought to evaluate the effects of nesiritide on left ventricular diastolic function in heart failure patients. Methods and Results Twenty-five heart failure patients underwent left heart catheterization (using a pressure-volume conductance catheter) and echocardiography at baseline and 30 minutes after an intravenous bolus and infusion of nesiritide. Invasive and noninvasive measurements of load-dependent (deceleration time, echocardiographic diastolic function classification, negative dP/dt, left ventricular diastolic pressure, tau) parameters of diastolic function were assessed. The nonlinear slope of the end-diastolic pressure volume relationship (EDPVR) using 2 single-beat methods for measuring left ventricular end-diastolic elastance was calculated to assess load-independent parameters of diastolic function. Nesiritide reduced biventricular diastolic pressure and systemic vascular resistance. Tau and negative dP/dt showed modest improvement. Deceleration time, isovolumetric relaxation time, diastolic stiffness indices (E/E′/stroke volume (SV) and E/E′/left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI)), and the echocardiographic diastolic filling pattern classification did not change. Furthermore, there was no change in the EDPVR. Conclusions Although nesiritide is an effective vasodilator resulting in decreased left ventricular preload and afterload in heart failure patients, intrinsic left ventricular diastolic function did not change acutely, suggesting that nesiritide has no significant acute lusitropic effect.
Prandtl-Number Effects and Generalized Correlations for Confined and Submerged Jet Impingement

Abstract The influence of fluid thermophysical properties on the heat transfer from confined and submerged impinging jets is experimentally investigated. Results from previous studies at low and high Prandtl numbers (using air and Fluorinert liquid FC-77, respectively) are supplemented by new experiments for an intermediate Prandtl number (using water). Local heat transfer coefficients are obtained from a discrete heat source under axisymmetric confined and submerged jets. The parameter ranges studied include: orifice diameters of 1.59–12.7 mm, turbulent-flow Reynolds numbers of 4000–23 000, and orifice to heat-source spacings of 1–5 jet diameters. Generalized correlations for heat transfer rates are proposed based on these results, and are valid over the range of coolant Prandtl numbers from 0.7 to 25.2.
Connectivity and gene flow among Eastern Tiger Salamander ( Ambystoma tigrinum ) populations in highly modified anthropogenic landscapes

Fragmented landscapes resulting from anthropogenic habitat modification can have significant impacts on dispersal, gene flow, and persistence of wildlife populations. Therefore, quantifying population connectivity across a mosaic of habitats in highly modified landscapes is critical for the development of conservation management plans for threatened populations. Endangered populations of the eastern tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) in New York and New Jersey are at the northern edge of the species’ range and remaining populations persist in highly developed landscapes in both states. We used landscape genetic approaches to examine regional genetic population structure and potential barriers to migration among remaining populations. Despite the post-glacial demographic processes that have shaped genetic diversity in tiger salamander populations at the northern extent of their range, we found that populations in each state belong to distinct genetic clusters, consistent with the large geographic distance that separates them. We detected overall low genetic diversity and high relatedness within populations, likely due to recent range expansion, isolation, and relatively small population sizes. Nonetheless, landscape connectivity analyses reveal habitat corridors among remaining breeding ponds. Furthermore, molecular estimates of population connectivity among ponds indicate that gene flow still occurs at regional scales. Further fragmentation of remaining habitat will potentially restrict dispersal among breeding ponds, cause the erosion of genetic diversity, and exacerbate already high levels of inbreeding. We recommend the continued management and maintenance of habitat corridors to ensure long-term viability of these endangered populations.
Multivessel coronary artery disease: A key predictor of short-term prognosis after reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction

Results of recent studies have suggested that routine cardiac catheterization may be unnecessary after reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction. Therefore to better define the short-term prognostic value of early coronary angiography, and specifically the prognostic significance of multivessel coronary artery disease, the angiographic findings of 855 patients consecutively enrolled in five phases of the TAMI study were correlated with their in-hospital outcome. All patients received intravenous thrombolytic therapy (tissue plasminogen activator, urokinase, or both agents) and underwent cardiac catheterization within 90 minutes of the initiation of therapy. Multivessel disease, defined as the presence of 2 75% luminal diameter stenosis in two or more major epicardial arteries, was documented in 238 patients. When compared with the group of patients without multivessel disease, this group had a higher prevalence of coronary risk factors and more frequently had a history of antecedent ischemic chest pain. Although the severity of the infarct zone dysfunction was similar in the two groups (-2.77 + 1.00 vs -2.50 f 1.09 SD/chord, p = NS), global left ventricular ejection fraction was lower in the group with multivessel disease (48.8 + 12.4% vs 51.8 + 10.6%, p < 0.01). This was associated wlth a significant difference in the function of the noninfarct zone. Whereas this region was hyperkinetic in the group with minimal or single-vessel disease, it was hypocontractile or dyskinetic in those with multivessel disease (+0.66 L 1.53 vs -0.52 _+ 1.73 SD/chord, p = 0.0001). The in-hospital mortality rate, predominantly the result of myocardial failure and cardiogenic shock, was also significantly higher in the multivessel group (11.4% vs 4.2%, p < 0.0001). By means of data from the 708 patients enrolled in the first three TAMI studies, a statistical model was developed to describe the determinants of in-hospital survival. By logistic regression analysis the strongest independent predictor of in-hospital mortality was the number of diseased vessels (p < 0.002). Other parameters that contributed significantly included global left ventricular ejection fraction (p = O.Ol), TIMI grade infarct vessel flow (p = 0.03), and patient age (p = 0.03). According to this model the prognostic significance of one additional year of age was equivalent to a reduction in left ventricular function of 1.1 ejection fraction percentage points; one additional diseased vessel was equivalent to 15 additional years of age or a reduction in ejection fraction of 16 percentage points. These data suggest that more aggressive revasculariration procedures should be considered in the early postinfarction period for patients with multivessel disease and noninfarct zone dysfunction. In the absence of reliable noninvasive techniques, coronary angiography remains the procedure of choice for identifying this high-risk subgroup. (AM HEART J lQ91;121:1042.)
Boosting Electrooptic Modulators for Optical Communications

Though electronics advance to terahertz speeds, optical modulators are unable to keep pace with low drive voltages. Modulation instability is harnessed to compensate the modulator’s weak response, and substantially reduces bit-error rates.
Evaluating Management Decisions to Reduce Environmental Risk of Roadside-Applied Herbicides

Management decisions concerning the spraying of herbicides on highway roadsides are evaluated on the basis of their impact on resulting environmental risk. A mathematical transport model was previously applied to the State of California with a Monte Carlo technique, and in this study the results are manipulated to evaluate the risk reduction that results from restricting herbicide application on the basis of site characteristics or changing other application practices. Results show that eliminating herbicide applications where the slope of the grass adjacent to the highway is greater than 30° has little or no effect on risk. Eliminating application where the width of the grass adjacent to the highway is less than 2 m or where soil organic carbon content is less than 0.5% can lead to significant reductions in environmental risk for certain herbicides. Additionally, limiting the width of the spray zone and applying the minimum manufacturer-suggested application rate reduce the risk to aquatic ecosystems. Ap...
Mouse systems for studying the genetics of hypertension and related disorders.

Abstract The determination of cardiovascular diseases by multiple genetic and environmental factors makes it challenging to study the impact of any one genetic factor as a single variable. This review describes how to combine gene targeting in mice with carefully designed breeding strategies to determine the effect of precisely defined mutations as single variables. Studies of mice having mutations in cardiovascular genes should help to clarify the complex genetic determination of hypertension and related diseases. © 1996, Elsevier Science Inc. (Trends Cardiovasc Med 1996;6:232–238).
A combined penalty function and outer-approximation method for MINLP optimization

Abstract An improved outer-approximation algorithm for MINLP optimization is proposed in this paper which is aimed at the solution of problems where convexity conditions may not hold. The proposed algorithm starts by solving the NLP relaxation. If an integer solution is not found, a sequence of iterations consisting of NLP subproblems and MILP master problems is solved. The proposed MILP master problem is based on the outer-approximation/equality-relaxation algorithm and features an exact penalty function that allows violations of linearizations of nonconvex constraints. The search proceeds until no improvement is found in the NLP subproblems. Computational experience is presented on a set of 20 test problems. Included are problems for optimum feed tray location and number of plates for distillation columns which are described in detail. The results show that although no theoretical guarantee can be given, the proposed method has a high degree of reliability for finding the global optimum in nonconvex problems.
The Development of Attention

In his review of research on television and the preschool child, Harold Stevenson noted the lack of research "into what it is about the constantly changing images on the screen that makes television such an attractive and compelling medium of communication .... We need to know which programs are appealing and what it is about these programs that attracts children's interest and attention" (0). Furthermore, while there is some evidence that patterns of TV viewing are differentiated by the time children reach the age of three (5, 7), this evidence is not based on actual observations of children viewing TV. These issues have become especially important since TV programs such as Sesame Street are increasingly aimed at positively influencing the cognitive and social development of very young children In order to understand and control the early influences of TV, we must know when children start watching TV and what they watch.
Direction Finding of a Compromised Node in a Wireless Network

When a spread-spectrum receiver in a network discovers that it is processing a jamming signal transmitted by a compromised node, its first response is to attempt to identify the compromised node. In this paper, an adaptive array is used to find the direction to the jamming source despite the presence of interference signals transmitted by both legitimate network nodes and external sources. Unlike other direction-finding algorithms, the desired-signal classification (DESIC) algorithm requires no information or special assumptions about the interference signals to effectively cancel them and find the desired direction. Simulation experiments show that the DESIC algorithm provides an excellent performance in many scenarios, even when the received signals cannot be resolved by the widely used MUSIC algorithm.
Effect of reactor pressure on catalyst composition and growth of GaSb nanowires

Abstract Au-assisted metalorganic chemical vapor deposition was employed for the synthesis of GaSb nanowires. X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry indicates that the composition of catalyst particles depends on the reactor pressure at constant growth temperature and V/III ratio. The catalyst particles were ternary Au–Ga–Sb alloys for nanowires grown at 100 and 200 Torr, suggesting a vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) nanowire growth mechanism. At 300 Torr, the catalyst particles were pure Ga and the self-catalytic VLS mechanism was responsible for the growth of the GaSb nanowires. The diameter and growth rate of the nanowires, as well as the contact angle between the catalyst particle and the nanowire, were found to be dependent on the composition of the catalyst particles.
The Heritable Translocation Assay: Its relationship to assessment of genetic risk for future generations

The Heritable Translocation Assay (HTA) is an in vivo mammalian mutation test which measures specific clastogenic damage. It can be subjected to rigorous statistical scrutiny and detects a type of heritable genetic damage that is known to contribute to the human disease burden. Because of these factors the HTA is one of the major tests of the battery used in regulatory evaluation of potential environmental mutagens. Although tests for detecting inherited translocations have been developed and improved over the past 40 years, further emphasis on several statistical considerations affecting the precision and reliability of HTA animal model data applied to regulatory hazard evaluation and risk assessment seems warranted. In this paper we have presented a brief history and the basic methodology for the HTA. Statistical concepts related to the design and implementation of HTA studies, such as the incorporation of false classification error probabilities in determination of required sample size and use of the single sample binomial versus Fisher's exact test for analysis of data, hory and the basic methodology for the HTA. Statistical concepts related to the design and implementation of HTA studies, such as the incorporation of false classification error probabilities in determination of required sample size and use of the single sample binomial versus Fisher's exact test for analysis of data, hory and the basic methodology for the HTA. Statistical concepts related to the design and implementation of HTA studies, such as the incorporation of false classification error probabilities in determination of required sample size and use of the single sample binomial versus Fisher's exact test for analysis of data, have been examined in detail. We have also suggested a simplified method of extrapolating HTA animal data to man similar to that used with carcinogenesis data and propose other developmental needs and perspectives for application of this assay to regulatory assessment of environmental mutagens.
A spatially varying PSF model for Seidel aberrations and defocus

Contrary to common assumptions in the literature, the blur kernel corresponding to lens-effect blur has been demonstrated to be spatially-varying across the image plane. Existing models for the corresponding point spread function (PSF) are either parameterized and spatially-invariant, or spatially-varying but ad-hoc and discretely-defined. In this paper, we develop and present a novel, spatially-varying, parameterized PSF model that accounts for Seidel aberrations and defocus in an imaging system. We also demonstrate that the parameters of this model can easily be determined from a set of discretely-defined PSF observations, and that the model accurately describes the spatial variation of the PSF from a test camera.
Sensory perception in overdenture patients.

Abstract The discussion of overdentures has been confined to their capacity to use abutment teeth to improve neuromuscular control of mandibular movement. Use of overdentures has been favored often because of their mechanical advantages, but seldom because of the sensory role of the retained abutment teeth. Even though the retained teeth may be periodontally diseased, they still may provide sufficient support for the transmission of masticatory pressures and sufficient periodontal ligament receptors to initiate a jaw opening reflex. Whereas conflicting evidence shows that the periodontal nerve receptors play a role in mandibular positional sensibility (proprioception), pressure perception by the periodontal ligament remains a primary stimulus for the jaw opening reflex. Additional investigations will be essential to a complete understanding of the role of the periodontal ligament receptors. However, recognition of the importance of the periodontal ligament receptors to the overdenture patient as a source of sensory input is vital.
Winter increase of Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann (Col., Scolytidae): a precursor for outbreaks

In Louisiana successful attacks, egg densities, brood adult emergence, and survival of southern pine beetle (SPB), Dendroctonus frontalis, from an epidemic period (1984–1986) were compared with endemic period (1960–1971) data from east Texas, Louisiana, and southwest Mississippi. Endemic SPB emergence counts are low and exhibit a right-skewed distribution. Before the start of the Louisiana SPB epidemic in 1985 on the Catahoula Ranger District, Kisatchie National Forest, there was a significant increase in the median counts of emerging adult beetles from July to December 1984. Also emergence counts shifted from a right-skewed distribution to a symmetric distribution. An increase in egg densities was measured from winter 1984 through spring 1985, and higher brood survival was observed during the last 3 months of 1984. Although many infestations were detected in the spring of 1985, the low emergence counts for brood adults showed that reproduction had returned to endemic levels. This phenomenon had not been observed previously because research has concentrated on infestation during summers. Seasonal surveys of population densities may be useful for anticipating SPB activity and timing management plans. Zusammenfassung Dichteanstieg von Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann (Col., Scolytidae) wahrend der Wintermonate als Indikator fur eine Massenvermehrung In Louisiana wurden wahrend einer Massenvermehrungsphase (1984-1986) von Dendroctonus frontalis erfolgreiche Einbohrungen, Eidichten sowie Schlupf- und Uberlebensarten der Adulten mit den entsprechenden Daten aus Osttexas, Louisiana und Sudwest-Mississippi in einer Phase des eisernen Bestands verglichen. Wahrend der endemischen Phase konnten nur wenige Ausschlupflocher gezahlt werden, und es ergab sich eine rechsschiefe Verteilung. Vor Beginn der Massenvermehrung von D. frontalis im Jahr 1985 konnte im Catahoula Forstschutzbezirk, Kisatchie Bundesforst, ein signifikanter Anstieg der durchschnittlichen Anzahl Ausbohrlocher ermittelt werden. Die Kurve der Ausbohrlocher ergab jetzt keine rechtsschiefe Verteilung mehr, sondern eine symmetrische. Vom Winter 1984 bis zum Fruhjahr 1985 konnte auch ein Anstieg der Eidichte festgestellt werden, und in den letzten drei Monaten des Jahres 1984 war die Uberlebensrate der Brut hoher. Obwohl im Fruhjahr 1985 zahlreiche befallene Baume entdeckt wurden, deutete die geringe Anzahl Ausbohrlocher darauf hin, das die Populationsdichte wieder auf den eisernen Bestand zuruckgefallen war. Dieses Phanomen wurde zuvor noch nicht beobachtet, da sich die Forschungsarbeiten auf den Sommerbefall konzentriert hatten. Populationsdichte-Untersuchungen zu verschiedenen Jahreszeiten konnen hilfreich sein fur eine Prognose der D. frontalis-Aktivitat und zum Planen von erforderlichen Forstschutzmasnahmen.
Convergence Between Theory and Experiment in Surface Chemistry and Catalysis—Gabor A. Somorjai Award and Symposium for Creative Research in Catalysis in Honor of Professor Jens Norskov

The articles in this issue of Topics in Catalysis are representative of the 31 presented papers at the 237th American Chemical Society Meeting, held in Salt Lake City, Utah March 22–26, 2009. The Symposium was organized to explore the current connections between theory and experiment in the field. The Symposium and the Somorjai Award are focused on the broad, deep and lasting contributions of Jens Norskov to the field of surface chemistry and catalysis. The fields of surface chemistry and the closely-connected field of heterogeneous catalysis have experienced a renaissance in the last 20 years. New instruments to probe molecular behavior on model catalyst and surface-chemical systems have been melded together in the Symposium’s structure with significant advances in theory which now deliver accurate analytic and predictive ability to surface chemistry. We are at a point where it is possible to select from either experiment or theory to obtain deep insight at the molecular and electronic level into the thermodynamic, kinetic and electronic behavior of surface species and surface reactions. Most of the papers published in this issue of Topics in Catalysis are strongly flavored with theory. The casual reader can see that catalysis/surface chemistry has reached a level of understanding which was unheard of 20 years ago. Older topics, such as the Fischer–Tropsch reaction, the use of alloys for making modified metal substrates for enhanced catalytic activity, the role and behavior of surface defects in chemisorption and catalysis, the involvement of substrate adatoms in the formation of surface ‘‘organometallic-like’’ species, the catalytic oxidation of CO, the key role of hydrogen on and under the surface, and the adsorption of water on a semiconductor-TiO2, are featured in the Symposium and in this issue of Topics in Catalysis, showing that the experimental and theoretical understanding of these classic problems has advanced significantly over two decades as illustrated by these papers. I would like to thank Professor Gabor Somorjai for the invitation to be the guest editor of this issue of Topics in Catalysis. I would also like to thank Professor Jens Norskov for his active involvement in suggesting speakers for the Symposium. We all thank the American Chemical Society and the Division of Physical Chemistry for hosting a very successful Symposium.
Central β-endorphin release and recovery after exposure to nitrous oxide in rats

Abstract To explore the hypothesis that nitrous oxide stimulates the β-endorphin system in vivo, rats were exposed to nitrous oxide/oxygen at variable concentrations for one hour. β-Endorphin concentration at sites along the neuraxis functionally involved with analgesia was elevated in nitrous oxide-exposed animals. The increase in β-endorphin concentration was statistically significant at nitrous oxide concentrations of 60 and 80%. This elevation of β-endorphin levels depended on the concentration of nitrous oxide delivered rather than on the duration of exposure. With cessation of nitrous oxide anesthesia, β-endorphin concentration returned to control levels within 30 minutes.
Obsessionality and the attempted suppression of unpleasant personal intrusive thoughts

To explore the role of the thought enhancement and thought rebound effects in obsessionality, the relationship between obsessional symptomology and responding during and after the attempted suppression of unpleasant personal intrusive thoughts was examined. Ss first completed the Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) [Rachman and Hodgson, 1980]. Later, Ss indicated their most frequent intrusive thought and then completed a thought suppression protocol in which they first expressed, then suppressed, and, again, expressed that thought. Ss' scores on the MOCI were examined in relation to their pattern of responding in the suppression protocol to investigate whether Ss who were higher in obsessionality were more prone to enhancement and/or rebound effects with an unpleasant personal intrusive thought than Ss who were lower in obsessionality. The following results were obtained: (1) there was a positive relationship between obsessionality levels and thought enhancement for female Ss; (2) there was a negative relationship between obsessionality levels and thought enhancement for male Ss; and (3) there was no relationship between obsessionality levels and thought rebound. These findings suggest that the rebound effect is unrelated to obsessionality and that the enhancement effect relationship to obsessionality may be more complex than previously hypothesized.
Can the Perturbation-Theoretic Approach to Partial Conservation of Axial-Vector Current Include Electromagnetism?

It has become apparent that the successes of partial conservation of axial-vector current (PCAC) - when applied to purely hadronic processes - can be explained using nothing more than the idea of a naive perturbation-theoretic expansion about an SU(3) \ensuremath{\bigotimes} SU(3)-symmetrical limit. This paper presents a simple formalism for extending this perturbation-theoretic approach to include electromagnetism. The advantage of this formalism is that it enables us to exhibit explicitly the tight relationship between $\ensuremath{\eta}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ mixing, the electromagnetic mass differences of the pseudoscalar mesons, and the decay $\ensuremath{\eta}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$. A formula is derived relating the ${C}_{\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\eta}}$ mixing parameter ${C}_{\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\eta}}$ to the electromagnetic mass differences of the pseudoscalar mesons. It is shown that if one uses the value for ${C}_{\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\eta}}$ determined by this formula (${C}_{\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\eta}}\ensuremath{\cong}0.01$), then the most naive application of these ideas to the decays $\ensuremath{\eta}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$, ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}$, and $\ensuremath{\eta}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ is remarkably successful. However, if one assumes conventional SU(3) \ensuremath{\bigotimes} SU(3) transformation properties for the electromagnetic Hamiltonian $\ensuremath{\alpha}{H}_{\mathrm{em}}$, this treatment is seen to have problems of its own, in that terms of second order in perturbation theory must be as large as first-order terms. We show that a self-consistent perturbation-theoretic treatment of PCAC plus electromagnetism is possible only if the chiral transformation properties of $\ensuremath{\alpha}{H}_{\mathrm{em}}$ are unusual. The consequences of such an assumption for the processes mentioned are examined in detail, and a brief discussion of the experimental significance of such anomalous SU(3) \ensuremath{\bigotimes} SU(3) transformation properties for $\ensuremath{\alpha}{H}_{\mathrm{em}}$ is given.
Does Trial presentation medium matter in jury simulation research? Evaluating the effectiveness of eyewitness expert testimony

This study assesses whether mock jurors' perceptions of eyewitness expert testimony vary based on the level of ecological validity—video or transcript trial presentation medium. In Experiment 1, 496 jury-eligible mock jurors were presented a simulated trial. Each served in one condition in a 3 (no expert or eyewitness expert either with or without prosecution rebuttal witness) × 2 (trial presentation medium: Video or transcript) design. Participants were generally less certain of the defendant's guilt after the eyewitness expert testimony, and affective and cognitive ratings of the expert testimony were higher in the transcript than video condition. However, there were no significant interactions of modality with expert conditions, thus reducing concerns that jury simulation research must be conducted with live or video trials to be externally valid. Findings were replicated in Experiment 2 using the testimony of a different eyewitness expert rated to have a more dynamic communication style. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High-performance flexible polymer light-emitting diodes fabricated via a low-temperature plastic laminated process

In this manuscript, we report on the successful fabrication of high performance polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs) using a low temperature, plastic lamination process. Blue- and red-emitting PLEDs were fabricated by laminating different luminescent polymers and organic compounds together to form the active media. This unique approach eliminates the issue of organic solvent compatibility with the organic layers for fabricating multi-layer PLEDs. In addition, a template activated surface process (TAS) has been successfully applied to generate an optimum interface for the low temperature lamination process. The atomic force microscopy analysis reveals a distinct difference in the surfaces created by the TAS and the spin-coating process. This observation coupled with the device data confirms the importance of the activated interface in the lamination process.
Guerilla decisionmaking: Judicial review of risk assessments☆

Abstract This paper describes four types of uncertainty confronted by decisionmakers undertaking risk assessments. It then discusses individual and institutional responses to uncertainty; these include both formal attempts to acquire more information, and pragmatic efforts to isolate and act upon salient considerations. The tendency of decisionmakers to narrow the agenda and search for a decisive datum or metaphor is called guerilla decisionmaking. Courts oversee agency decisions by techniques known widely in the legal community as the hard-look doctrine. This doctrine is defined, and the case law is used to illustrate how courts insist upon identification of salient risk-assessment factors and the production of information on all four types of uncertainty.
Attitudes Toward In-Vehicle Advanced Alcohol Detection Technology

Objectives: Efforts are underway to develop advanced alcohol detection technologies suitable for use in all vehicles to prevent driving with an illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Attitudes toward having this technology in all vehicles were assessed. Methods: A nationally representative sample of people 18 and older was interviewed by telephone. Results: Eighty-four percent of survey respondents supported requiring alcohol ignition interlocks in the vehicles of convicted driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenders. Sixty-four percent said having advanced alcohol detection technology in all vehicles is a good or a very good idea, assuming the technology is reliable; 30 percent said it is a bad idea. Most people in favor said that it would prevent alcohol-impaired driving, save lives, or prevent crashes. Among respondents who said it is a bad/very bad idea, one third cited concerns about privacy or government interference; 20 percent said not all drivers need screening. Support was highest among respon...