cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distributed optimistic concurrency control with reduced rollback

Concurrency control algorithms have traditionally been based on locking and timestamp ordering mechanisms. Recently optimistic schemes have been proposed. In this paper a distributed, multi-version, optimistic concurrency control scheme is described which is particularly advantageous in a query-dominant environment. The drawbacks of the original optimistic concurrency control scheme, namely that inconsistent views may be seen by transactions (potentially causing unpredictable behavior) and that read-only transactions must be validated and may be rolled back, have been eliminated in the proposed algorithm. Read-only transactions execute in a completely asynchronous fashion and are therefore processed with very little overhead. Furthermore, the probability that read-write transactions are rolled back has been reduced by generalizing the validation algorithm. The effects of global transactions on local transaction processing are minimized. The algorithm is also free from dedlock and cascading rollback problems.
Leak-point pressure: clinical application of values at two different volumes.

A prospective analysis of 306 consecutive patients with genuine stress incontinence was performed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of additional leak-point pressure (LPP) determination at 200 ml. LPP values at both volumes were compared to maximal urethral closure pressure (MUCP) in an attempt to determine a critical cut-off value for the detection of a low MUCP (≤20 cmH2O). A positive LPP at 150 ml was found in 157 patients. The mean LPP for patients with a low MUCP was 58.5 cmH2O compared to 71.6 for those with a normal MUCP, which was statistically significant (p = 0.01). The correlation coefficient between LPP and MUCP was 0.317. A negative LPP was found in 30% (24/79) of the total having a low MUCP. The addition of values for LPP at 200 ml resulted in an increase in the number who leaked to 191, a 50% increase in the detection rate of low MUCP and a statistically significant relationship between LPP ≤60 cmH2O and low MUCP. Various critical cut-off values for LPP demonstrated good specificity but poor sensitivity for the detection of a low MUCP. It was concluded that there was a statistically significant relationship between LPP and MUCP. Performing LPP at 200 ml provides additional clinically useful diagnostic information.
Relocation of the distal histidine in cytochrome c peroxidase: properties of CcP(W51H), CcP(W51H/H52W), and CcP(W51H/H52L).

Many heme proteins have distal histidine residues that play important roles in determining heme protein reactivity. These distal histidines are in significantly different orientations,and distances from the heme iron in different heme proteins and the position of the distal histidine relative to the heme iron can influence reactivity at the heme center. To explore the effect of distal histidine position on the properties of cytochrome c peroxidase (CcP), three CcP mutants in which tryptophan 51 was replaced with a histidine residue were constructed. All three mutants, CcP(W51H), CcP(W51H/H52W), and CcP(W51H/H52L), have altered electronic absorption spectra, indicating that the heme group in the mutants is six-coordinate rather than five-coordinate as it is in wild-type CcP. The hydrogen peroxide reaction rate is 56−6200-fold slower for the mutants than for wild-type CcP. All three mutants form a CcP Compound I-like intermediate, in which the Fe(IV) site decays between 500 and 3000 times more rapidly than ...
Identification of trapping mechanisms in amorphous compounds using cavity perturbation techniques

Abstract In many semiconductor materials, the photodielectric effect is manifested as a decrease in the real part of the complex dielectric constant. The optically induced dielectric perturbation is used to vary the resonant frequency of a microwave cavity. Amorphous semiconductors are known to possess various levels of trapping centers and it can be shown that the magnitude of the photodielectric effect is proportional to the density and energy levels of these traps. Several different samples of 2As2Se3·As2Te3, As2Te3, As2S3, and Te(55%)As(38%)Ge(4%)Si(3%) were used in photodielectric experiments. None of the experiments, conducted at 4.2°K, 77°K, and 300°K, produced a photodielectric effect. Several reasons for the absence of positive results are analyzed.
Field Measurement of Cesium-137 in Deer

The U. S. Forest Service conducts yearly white-tailed deer hunts on the Savannah River Plant to help control the indigenous deer population. Successful hunters are permitted to retain their guarry after clearance by Forest Service personnel. To be sure that carcass radioactivity is similar to that found throughout the southeastern coastal region, each carcass is radioassayed on the spot with a single channel analyzer set to measure the cesium-137 photopeak (Figure 1). This paper describes the circuitry and performance of the instrument used for the field analyses. A sodium iodide crystal with photomultiplier tube provides electrical pulses proportional to the incident gamma radiation. An amplifier is tailored to compensate the temperature-induced gain changes of the detector system, and micropower digital logic is used to form control, pulse shaping, and scaling functions. The components are interconnected with wire-wrap techniques. The resulting instrument is compact and simple to operate, and its analyses are comparable in accuracy to laboratory analyses.
Measurement of subcutaneous adipose tissue using ultrasound images.

The objectives of this paper are to explore the potential of the ultrasound technique to quantify subcutaneous adipose tissue, and to explain the differences between skinfolds and ultrasound measurements across a large range of ages and levels of adiposity. The sample consisted of 115 men and 117 women aged 35 to 51 years, 132 girls and 145 boys aged 12 to 20 years. Subcutaneous fat thickness was measured at four sites using skinfolds calipers, and at seven sites using a real-time B-mode ultrasound scanner. Anthropometric measurements were obtained, and percent body fat was estimated using electric impedance. The agreement between skinfolds and ultrasound measurements was calculated for each age and sex group. The agreement between techniques, and the levels of correlation between body composition and fatness measurements were high in the sample of young men. However, the results were less consistent in the other groups. Site specific differences were also noted. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Oxidation Requirements of a Formulated Micropulverized Feed

A commercial micropulverized 50% crude protein diet for penaeid culture was studied for biochemical oxygen demand and to assess its effect upon water quality in the hatchery and raceway environment. The feed was separated into 13 sizes ranging from 250 μm to 2 mm in diameter. The first order reaction rate constant (k) increased with decreasing particle size. The micropulverized feed was highly biologically reactive and the rate constant (k) varied from 0.1 to 0.24 day-1, depending on the particle size. The ultimate BOD was 660 mg/g. The goal of this research was to predict the impact of this feed in relation to varying particle size upon the oxygen and ammonia dynamics of the water. This information will enable shrimp hatchery managers to more effectively assess the water quality impact and water replacement schemes when using artificial micropulverized feeds.
Methods for joint optimization of mask and design targets for improving lithographic process window

Low-k 1 lithography results in features that suffer from poor lithographic yield in the presence of process variation. The problem is especially pronounced for lower-level metals used for local routing, where bi-directionality and tight pitches give rise to lithography unfriendly layout patterns. However, there exists inherent unutilized flexibility in design shapes, e.g., one can modify such wires without significantly affecting design behavior. We develop two different techniques to simultaneously modify mask and design shapes during optical proximity correction (OPC) to improve lithographic yield of low-level metal layers. The methods utilize image slope information, which is available during OPC image simulations at no extra cost, as a measure of lithographic process window. We first propose a method that identifies fragments with low normalized image log slope (NILS) and then use this NILS information to guide dynamic target modification between iterations of OPC. The method uses a pre-characterized lookup table to assign a different magnitude of local target correction to different NILS bins. Next we develop an optimization flow where we derive a cost function that maximizes both contour fidelity and robustness to drive our simultaneous mask and target optimization (SMATO) method. We develop analytical equations to predict the cost for a given mask and target modification and use a fast algorithm to minimize this cost function to obtain an optimal mask and target solution. Our experiments on sample 1× (M1) layouts show that the use of SMATO reduces the process manufacturability index (PMI) by 15.4% compared with OPC, which further leads to 69% reduction in the number of layout hotspots. Additionally, such improvement is obtained at low average runtime overhead (5.5%). Compared with process window optical proximity correction (PWOPC), we observe 4.6% improvement in PMI at large (2.6× ) improvement in runtime.
Dynamic mechanical behavior and thermal properties of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)-filled nylon 6 composites

Abstract The dynamic mechanical behavior and thermal properties of nylon 6 composites containing from 2.5 wt.% to 30 wt.% MCC were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The DSC results indicated that there was no consistent or significant change in the glass transition (Tg), melting temperature (Tm) and crystallization temperature (Tc) of the composites with the addition of MCC. The DSC results also indicated that the crystallinity (Xc) decreased with high MCC loading level (more than 20 wt.%) because of the inability of polymers chains to be fully incorporated into growing crystallinity lamella. With increasing MCC content, storage modulus from DMTA improved because of the reinforcing effect of the MCC. The tan δ peak values from DMTA were not significantly changed as the MCC content increased. DMTA also indicates that the magnitude of the tan δ maximum peak of MCC filled composites was significantly decreased around the glass transition temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis also indicated that the MCC did not show significant initial degradation under 300 °C, which implies thermal stability so that MCC-filled composites could be used for high temperature circumstances, like in “under the hood” applications in the automobile industry.
High Throughput Tissue Imaging and Bioinformatics

Image informatics has been shown to be an important new paradigm in understanding cell biology. We extend this approach to study tissue level physiology and pathology based on high throughput two-photon microscopy.
A threshold photoelectron—photoion coincidence mass spectrometer for measuring ion kinetic energy release on fragmentation

Abstract A threshold photoelectron—photoion coincidence mass spectrometer has been constructed to measure ion fragmentation and kinetic energy release on fragmentation as a function of the internal energy of the parent ion. The threshold photoelectron analysis uses a drift tube analyzer followed by a 127° cylindrical plate analyzer for a nominal resolution of 20 meV. The ion mass and kinetic energy analysis uses a pulsed time-of-flight analyzer operated in a space focused mode. This insures that the spread in the flight time of ions of given mass is due primarily to the initial kinetic energy of the ion. The mass resolution is ca. 1 in 20. To illustrate the potential of this instrument, results are presented for kinetic energy release as a function of internal energy for the fragmentation of acetone and methane ions.
Transverse Vibrations of a Linearly Tapered Cantilever Beam With Constraining Springs

Abstract The free vibrations of a linearly tapered cantilever beam, elastically constrained at an arbitrary position along the length of the beam, have been investigated using the Bernoulli-Euler equation. The beam has a rectangular cross-section with equal taper in the horizontal and vertical planes, and the constraint is a translational spring. The characteristic determinant is derived in terms of dimensionless spring constant, and the eigenfrequencies are determined using a straight search and bisection method. The results are presented in tabular and graphical form.
Modeling Meanness: Associations Between Reality TV Consumption, Perceived Realism, and Adolescents' Social Aggression

Although research documents connections between adolescents' television exposure and both their physical and social aggression, less is known about contributions of reality television. Might this genre be even more influential than other media formats because it features real-life people and may be perceived as more realistic? To examine this question, we surveyed 174 adolescents who indicated their regular exposure to five media formats or genres, their consumption of 23 socially aggressive reality TV programs, their perceptions of the realism of reality TV content, and their engagement in each of 22 socially aggressive acts. As expected, frequent consumption of socially aggressive reality programming was associated with higher levels of social aggression, contributing above and beyond other media. Moreover, findings were particularly strong among adolescents attributing higher levels of realism to this content. Gender, however, did not moderate these associations. Implications for future analyses of ado...
Failure of antiplatelet therapy with ibuprofen (Motrin) to prevent neointimal fibrous hyperplasia

To evaluate the effect of ibuprofen (Motrin) on the development of neointimal fibrous hyperplasia (NFH), 4 cm segments of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts with an internal diameter of 4 mm were implanted in the femoral arteries of 28 dogs. Three dogs served as controls and these grafts were removed at 7 to 14 days. The remaining 25 dogs were medicated with either intravenous (IV) or oral (PO) ibuprofen. The medicated dogs were grouped according to whether the ibuprofen was administered prior to or after graft implantation. The orally medicated dogs were also grouped according to whether the grafts were removed from 30 to 60 days after graft implantation. The grafts were analyzed for the amount of anastomotic initimal hyperplasia, pannus extension, thrombus deposition, and patency. Analysis of the data demonstrated no statistically significant differences among any of the treatment groups or the control group for the variables analyzed. We conclude that ibuprofen neither prevents nor retards the development of NFH. There was a trend toward less thrombus deposition in the animals that received oral ibuprofen preoperatively. There was also a trend toward higher patency in the animals that received ibuprofen prior to graft implantation, which most likely resulted from decreased thrombus and fibrin deposition.
For a postcolonial sociology

Postcolonial theory has enjoyed wide influence in the humanities but it has left sociology comparatively unscathed. Does this mean that postcolonial theory is not relevant to sociology? Focusing upon social theory and historical sociology in particular, this article considers if and how postcolonial theory in the humanities might be imported into North American sociology. It argues that postcolonial theory offers a substantial critique of sociology because it alerts us to sociology’s tendency to analytically bifurcate social relations. The article also suggests that a postcolonial sociology can overcome these problems by incorporating relational social theories to give new accounts of modernity. Rather than simply studying non-Western postcolonial societies or only examining colonialism, this approach insists upon the interactional constitution of social units, processes, and practices across space. To illustrate, the article draws upon relational theories (actor-network theory and field theory) to offer postcolonial accounts of two conventional research areas in historical sociology: the industrial revolution in England and the French Revolution.
Complete atrioventricular canal repair under 1 year: Rastelli one-patch procedure yields excellent long-term results.

Background Considering more recently proposed techniques, we have evaluated our midterm and long-term results of Rastelli one-patch repair in complete atrioventricular canal. Methods Between 1984 and 2005, 107 patients with a complete atrioventricular canal underwent a Rastelli one-patch procedure. Two groups were identified: 1984 to 1995 and 1995 to 2005 (respectively, 56 and 51 patients). Mean age at surgery was 5.3 ± 3.4 months; mean weight was 5.5 ± 3 kg; trisomy 21 was present in 81 patients; complete atrioventricular canal type A was found in 67 patients, type C in 40 patients. There were 12 cases of potentially parachute mitral valve and 14 associated anomalies treated simultaneously (pulmonary obstruction 11, coarctation 3). The coronary sinus was always left on the right side. After functional and anatomic evaluation, the cleft was closed completely in 8 and partially in 29, and was left intact in 70 cases. Results Early survival was 86% ± 3%. Five patients underwent early reoperation for residual ventricular septal defect (n = 2) and mitral valve repair (n = 3). Nine patients underwent late reoperations with successful repair: subaortic stenosis (n = 4) and mitral valve repair (n = 5). Late survival at 10 and 15 years was 84% ± 3%. Freedom from reoperation for mitral regurgitation was 94% ± 3% at 10 years, and 91% ± 3% at 15 and 20 years. At last follow-up 30 patients had mild and 3 had moderate mitral regurgitation. Conclusions Rastelli single-patch repair in complete atrioventricular canal is a safe and reproducible technique. Among survivors, freedom from late reoperation for mitral regurgitation is very satisfactory. A properly taught, learned, and transmitted Rastelli one-patch technique compares very well with any other proposed technique.
Carbon Dioxide Catalysis of the Reaction of Peroxynitrite with Ethyl Acetoacetate: An Example of Aliphatic Nitration by Peroxynitrite

Abstract The reaction of peroxynitrite anion (O=N-OO − ) with CO 2 results in the formation of an unstable nitrosoperoxycarbonate anion adduct, O=N-OOCO − 2 ( 1 ). Adduct 1 can serve as a source for several reactive intermediates, including the nitrocarbonate anion (O 2 N-OCO − 2 ), the carbonate radical ion/nitrogen dioxide radical pair, and the nitronium ion/carbonate ion pair. One or more of these reactive intermediates mediate(s) electrophilic nitrations, for example of tyrosine residues in proteins, which is often observed in peroxynitrite-producing systems. We here report, for the first time, the nitration of an aliphatic substrate, ethyl acetoacetate, by peroxynitrite. The yield of nitration is markedly enhanced in the presence of added carbonate. The major product of this reaction is ethyl 2-nitroacetoacetate. The importance of this reaction is discussed in relation to the possible aliphatic nitrations of amines, sugars, thiols, and thioethers in peroxynitrite-producing biological systems.
Old and New Paradigms for Urban Research: Globalization and the Fiscal Austerity and Urban Innovation Project

Globalization increases local democracy. Both economic and democratic changes illustrate how global developments interpenetrate regional and local processes. Globalization also demands reformulation of past research paradigms. For instance, central place theory, regimes and growth machines, class and race politics, rational choice models, and patronage/clientelism paradigms are all losing power. A new political culture is emerging with globalization, redefining the rules of the game by which many urban processes operate. The Fiscal Austerity and Urban Innovation Project is a network of more than 700 participants generating discussion, research reports, and public data clarifying these points.
Laser intensity effects in the IR multiphoton decomposition of CF2HCl

Abstract Major intensity effects were observed in the collision-free CO 2 laser-induced dissociation of CF 2 HCl utilizing real-time laser-excited fluorescence diagnostics. At constant fluence: increasing average pulse intensities by 6 increased dissociation yields 400 fold; pulse mode-locking caused 5–10 fold increases in yield. Induction times reflect threshold behavior. Collisions reduce laser intensity effects.
RAS proteins can induce meiosis in xenopus oocytes

Injection of human H-ras protein induces maturation of Xenopus oocytes; that is, progression from prophase to metaphase of meiosis. The oncogenic protein encoded by H-rasval12 is nearly a 100-fold more potent than the protein encoded by the wild-type gene. We do not observe any measurable increase or decrease in cyclic AMP concentration in injected oocytes, and the effects of H-ras protein are only partially blocked by cholera toxin. Our results suggest that not all, if any, of the effects of H-rasval12 protein in this system are mediated by adenylate cyclase.
Targeted inactivation of CTNNB1 reveals unexpected effects of β-catenin mutation

Inactivating mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli gene (APC) or activating mutations of the β-catenin gene (CTNNB1) initiate colorectal neoplasia. To address the biochemical and physiologic effects of mutant β-catenin, we disrupted either the mutant or wild-type CTNNB1 allele in a human colorectal cancer cell line. Cells with only wild-type β-catenin had decreased colony-forming ability when plated at low density, although their growth was similar to that of parental cells when passaged under routine conditions. Immunohistochemistry and cell-fractionation studies suggested that mutant β-catenin activity was distinguished primarily by cellular localization and not by protein degradation. Surprisingly, we found mutant β-catenin bound less well to E-cadherin than did wild-type β-catenin, and the membranous localization of wild-type and mutant β-catenin was accordingly distinct. These findings pose several challenges to current models of APC/β-catenin function.
Commentary: Parental care and the proximate links between maternal effects and offspring fitness

Maternal effects influence the phenotype of offspring through non-genetic mechanisms, and thus are important components of individual life-histories and act as drivers of and/or constraints on phenotypic evolution. A maternal effect common in egg-laying vertebrates is provisioning of the yolk with carotenoids, organic pigments that often color sexual ornaments and are hypothesized to play positive and substantial physiological roles. In a recent study, yolks of great tit (Parus major) eggs were directly supplemented with carotenoids, and the effects on offspring fitness proxies measured (Marri and Richner in Oecologia 176:371-377, 2014a). Nestlings from supplemented broods were heavier early in development and more likely to fledge, but otherwise equivalent to control nestlings. The authors consider in detail the potential physiological mechanisms that might underlie this result, and here I expand on their Discussion by considering a non-exclusive explanation: that parents provided higher quality care to broods that received supplemental carotenoids. I discuss the general non-independence of pre- and post-hatching/parturition maternal effects when parents care for offspring, and then briefly review evidence that carotenoids specifically are tied to the intensity of avian begging displays. Finally, I detail how inclusive fitness opportunities and constraints shape the adaptive landscape in which maternal effects operate, highlighting both theoretical and applied concerns surrounding questions about the adaptiveness of maternal effects.
Induction of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type 1 and Type 1 Collagen Expression in Rat Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Cells by Interleukin-1 and Its Dependence on Oxygen-Centered Free Radicals

Background—Ischemia with or without reperfusion induces the release of diverse products from monocytes, including cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1). To determine whether these phenomena modulate fibrinolysis and potentially exacerbate impairment of the macrocirculation, microcirculation, or both, we characterized the effects of IL-1 on the expression of fibrinolytic system and matrix proteins in rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs). Methods and Results—Confluent CMECs were exposed to IL-1 in serum-free medium for 24 hours, and cell-conditioned medium was assayed for plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), the primary physiological inhibitor of plasminogen activators, and for type 1 collagen with Western blotting. IL-1 (2 ng/mL) specifically increased the accumulation of PAI-1 (4.4±0.6-fold; mean±SD; n=9) without affecting tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) or urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) levels, which remained unchanged. IL-1 increased the accumulation of collagen in...
Development of PCR-ELISA for Detection and Differentiation of Didymella bryoniae from Related Phoma species.

ABSTRACT The causal agent of gummy stem blight, Didymella bryoniae, often is isolated from infected cucurbits together with other Phoma spp. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers specific to D. bryoniae and Phoma were used to develop and evaluate a microtiter-based PCR-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Primers were modified by addition of a fluorescein and a biotin label to the 5′ ends of the forward and reverse primers, respectively. After amplification, PCR products were detected in an ELISA using horseradish peroxidase-conjugated antifluorescein antibody and three substrates that yielded three colored products, one for each fungal group. The most sensitive substrate (highest signal:noise ratio) was 2,2′ -azino-bis[3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid]. PCR-ELISA successfully detected 45 of 46 D. bryoniae and all 13 Phoma isolates that were used. Results were comparable to those obtained with gel electrophoresis. Only one D. bryoniae isolate could not be detected with PCR-ELISA; t...
Microbial reductive debromination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of widely used flame retardants that have recently been detected in environmental samples, diverse biota, human blood serum, and breast milk at exponentially increasing concentrations. Currently, little is known about the fate of these compounds, and in particular, about the microbial potential to degrade them. In this study, debromination of deca-BDE and an octa-BDE mixture is demonstrated with anaerobic bacteria including Sulfurospirillum multivorans and Dehalococcoides species. Hepta- and octa-BDEs were produced by the S. multivorans culture when it was exposed to deca-BDE, although no debromination was observed with the octa-BDE mixture. In contrast, a variety of hepta- through di-BDEs were produced by Dehalococ coides-containing cultures exposed to an octa-BDE mixture, despite the fact that none of these cultures could debrominate deca-BDE. The more toxic hexa-154, penta-99, tetra-49, and tetra-47 were identified among the debromination products. Bec...
Climate and the Consonant-Vowel (CV) Syllable: A Replication Within Language Families

Universality of the simple consonant-vowel (CV) syllable probably reflects its status as a prototype syllable facilitative of oral communication. Previous research has shown that in a world sample ...
Soliton bag model

The soliton bag model of Friedberg and Lee is investigated. We study in detail the numerical solution of the main-field limit of the model and develop quantum corrections to this approximation. Both the MIT and SLAC bags are recovered as limiting cases of the model. The surface bag excitations coupled to quark-antiquark excitations and their relation to the virtural-meson cloud as well as other aspects of the model are discussed.
Contested Identities: Narratives of Race and Ethnicity in the Cape Verdean Diaspora

This article presents the case of Cape Verdeans living in Boston, Massachusetts, as a community faced with the dilemma of constructing social identities within a racialized society. The Cape Verdean diaspora community of Boston is one that is fragmented into two distinct sectors of “Cape Verdean Americans” and “Cape Verdean immigrants.” Through an analysis of “identity narratives,” this article illustrates how Cape Verdeans’ diasporic identity formation is constructed out of processes of negotiation and contestation. In determining whether Cape Verdeans living in Boston associate more with their cultural group or other larger racialized groups whom they resemble (e.g., African-Americans, Latinos), this article reveals how diasporic identities are not merely a given, but are a matter of heated debate. The Cape Verdean diaspora of Boston provides an interesting example of how immigrants of African descent are actively reshaping the boundaries of racial categories by creating a space for cultural differentia...
A comparison of local variance, fractal dimension, and Moran's I as aids to multispectral image classification

The accuracy of traditional multispectral maximum-likelihood image classification is limited by the skewed statistical distributions of reflectances from the complex heterogenous mixture of land cover types in urban areas. This work examines the utility of local variance, fractal dimension and Moran's I index of spatial autocorrelation in segmenting multispectral satellite imagery. Tools available in the Image Characterization and Modeling System (ICAMS) were used to analyze Landsat 7 imagery of Atlanta, Georgia. Although segmentation of panchromatic images is possible using indicators of spatial complexity, different land covers often yield similar values of these indices. Better results are obtained when a surface of local fractal dimension or spatial autocorrelation is combined as an additional layer in a supervised maximum-likelihood multispectral classification. The addition of fractal dimension measures is particularly effective at resolving land cover classes within urbanized areas, as compared to per-pixel spectral classification techniques.
Reciprocation and Altruism in Social Cooperation

Altruistic behavior benefits other individuals at a cost to oneself. The purpose of the present experiment was to study altruistic behavior by players (P) in 2-person iterated prisoner's dilemma games in which reciprocation by the other player (OP) was impossible, and this impossibility was clear to P. Altruism by P could not therefore be attributed to expectation of reciprocation. The cost to P of altruistic behavior was constant throughout the study, but the benefit to OP from P's cooperation differed between groups and conditions. Rate of cooperation was higher when benefit to OP was higher. Thus altruism (not attributable to expectation of reciprocation) can be a significant factor in interpersonal relationships as studied in iterated prisoner's dilemma games, and needs to be taken into account in their analysis.
Surface-concentration behavior in the presence of an oscillating reactant flux to the wall

The purpose of this short communication is to present a useful variation on the work of Fedkiw et al. (1986) by solving the convective-diffusion equation for the case of laminar boundary-layer flow past a planar wall with a spatially uniform, but sinusoidally oscillating reactant flux to the wall
An investigation of the ionic and solvation patterns of dsDNG versus dsDNA by use of molecular dynamics simulations.

Molecular dynamics has been employed to analyze the counterion and water atmospheres around the deoxynucleic guanidine (DNG) duplex G12·C12. These features are compared to those of DNA G12·C12. The chloride counterions of cationic DNG demonstrate fewer penetrations and only fleeting residence times in the minor groove, as opposed to the multi-nanosecond visits seen by sodium ions in DNA minor grooves. The 10ns simulations also show the differences in hydration patterns between the DNG and DNA duplexes. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Structure of the tight junctions of the human eccrine sweat gland

The human eccrine sweat gland contains two anatomically and functionally discrete segments: the secretory coil, which produces an isotonic or slightly hypertonic precursor fluid, and the coiled duct, which reabsorbs Na+ and Cl- to yield a hypotonic sweat. We examined the freeze-fracture morphology of tight junctions from isolated secretory coil and coiled duct segments to assess indirectly the contribution of paracellular ion transport in secretion and resorption in the sweat gland. In the secretory coil, tight junctions of the intercellular canaliculus and main lumen consisted of approximately 9 and 6, closely spaced, parallel or anastomosing elements, respectively. Tight junctions of the coiled duct were similar in appearance to those at the main lumen of the secretory coil. In both the secretory coil and coiled duct, and average of 2 to 3, widely spaced junctional elements were usually observed basolateral to the closely spaced junctional elements in the region corresponding to the location of the zonula adherens in Epon sections. The complexity of the tight junctions of the secretory coil exceeded what we expected for an epithelium secreting an isosmotic fluid. The elaborate tight junctions of the coiled duct support other evidence for an intermediate to high transepithelial resistance.
Cyclic organohydroborate complexes of metallocenes: VIII. Triphenylsiloxy derivatives of Group IV organometallic systems, Cp2M(OSiPh3)X (M=Ti, Zr, Hf; X=Cl, {(μ-H)2BC8H14})

Abstract Group IV metallocene triphenylsiloxy chlorides, Cp2MCl(OSiPh3) (1, M=Ti; 2, M=Zr; 3, M=Hf), and cyclic organohydroborates, Cp2M(OSiPh3){(μ-H)2BC8H14} (4, M=Zr; 5, M=Hf), were synthesized and characterized. The new hafnocene chloride derivative 3 was obtained by treating Cp2HfCl2 with triphenylsilanol and piperidine. The 18-electron cyclic organohydroborates 4 and 5 were afforded by reacting 2 and 3 with K[H2BC8H14], the potassium salt of the 9-BBN dimer. Reaction of 1 with K[H2BC8H14] causes reduction of the Ti(IV) center and produces the well-known Ti(III), 17-electron, paramagnetic dimer [Cp2Ti(μ-Cl)2TiCp2] (6). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction structures of 3, 4, 5, and 6 were determined.
Wormian bone formation in the skeletal population from Lachish

Abstract Pathological, mechanical and genetic factors have been proposed as the primary causal mechanism in the occurrence of Wormian bones. Very high frequencies of Wormian Bones in some populations and their absence in others, geographically nearby or subject to similar environmental stress, suggest a genetic mechanism. If this is the case, the gene or genes causing the formation of Wormian bones must either confer a substantial selective advantage or occur as dominants; or the population must be subject to a high degree of inbreeding and/or genetic drift. The Lachish skeletal population is examined in order to establish the independence of Wormian bone formation from those genes or gene complexes responsible for the formation of the cranial vault. This is demonstrated through the use of t -tests carried out on means of osteometric variables, including the length of the basi-occiput. The probable influence of stabilizing selection, inbreeding and drift, promoting Wormian Bone formation in the Lachish population, is demonstrated by the absence of significant skewness and the presence of high positive kurtosis for the osteometric variables of the cranial vault. This interpretation is reinforced independently by the cultural behavior of the Lachish population.
A New Type of Black Ghetto in the Plantation South

Abstract In the wake of the Civil Rights Movement, the War on Poverty, and alterations in agriculture, the black population in the plantation regions of the American South has been redistributed. The predominant spatial trend is nucleation of a group of people that was dispersed throughout farms and plantations. Among the types of places where blacks are concentrated are municipalities in which they comprise the majority of the population. This article assesses recent spatial changes in the municipal black population in the Yazoo Delta, a nonmetropolitan region of Mississippi. At the regional scale, unequal changes in white and black municipal populations produced an increase in segregation among the municipalities of the Yazoo Delta. At the local scale, a pattern of residential desegregation has emerged in particular municipalities. This pattern is indicative of a stage in the transformation of the municipalities into ones in which the population is essentially all black. The geography of municipalities that are now predominantly black not only has been altered by movement of blacks into the previously white residential areas, but also by construction of new federally-sponsored housing and by decline and restructuring of the business district. Municipalities in which blacks comprise 75 percent or more of the population are interpreted as a new type of black ghetto. Black ghetto towns have characteristics that are similar to those of metropolitan black ghettos, including a high poverty rate, federal housing that has contributed to the concentration of a minority population, and lack of employment opportunities. Such towns are not confined to the Yazoo Delta, but are scattered across the old plantation regions of the American South. Despite their importance as spatial concentrations of a minority population, black ghetto towns are obscure places that face bleak futures.
Detection of Early Ischemic Changes in Noncontrast CT Head Improved with “Stroke Windows”

Introduction. Noncontrast head CT (NCCT) is the standard radiologic test for patients presenting with acute stroke. Early ischemic changes (EIC) are often overlooked on initial NCCT. We determine the sensitivity and specificity of improved EIC detection by a standardized method of image evaluation (Stroke Windows). Methods. We performed a retrospective chart review to identify patients with acute ischemic stroke who had NCCT at presentation. EIC was defined by the presence of hyperdense MCA/basilar artery sign; sulcal effacement; basal ganglia/subcortical hypodensity; and loss of cortical gray-white differentiation. NCCT was reviewed with standard window settings and with specialized Stroke Windows. Results. Fifty patients (42% females, 58% males) with a mean NIHSS of 13.4 were identified. EIC was detected in 9 patients with standard windows, while EIC was detected using Stroke Windows in 35 patients (18% versus 70%; P < 0.0001). Hyperdense MCA sign was the most commonly reported EIC; it was better detected with Stroke Windows (14% and 36%; P < 0.0198). Detection of the remaining EIC also improved with Stroke Windows (6% and 46%; P < 0.0001). Conclusions. Detection of EIC has important implications in diagnosis and treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Utilization of Stroke Windows significantly improved detection of EIC.
Evolutionary origins of intercellular communication systems: Implications for mammalian biology

Traditionally, the two major systems of intercellular communication (i.e. the nervous and endocrine systems) were considered separate functional and anatomical entities. Recent studies have provided evidence that the biochemical elements of these systems have common early phylogenetic origins and have suggested that, with the exception of their anatomical diversity, all the systems of intercellular communication are biochemically similar. On the basis of these findings, we suggest that the overlaps between the nervous and endocrine systems, the widespread tissue production of hormones, and other phenomena are now more easily understood.
Spin forces in charmonium spectroscopy

The observed psi' (3.68) -psi'' (3.77) structure in e/sup +/e/sup -/ annihilation implies the existence of a tensor-force effect in charmonium spectroscopy. We show that the magnitude of the effect is consistent with an analysis of /sup 3/P/sub J/ levels using a phenomenological Hamiltonian linear in both L x S and S/sub 12/, the tensor force. Adding a linear sigma-arrow-right/sub 1/ x sigma-arrow-right/sub 2/ term one can account for all known charmonium levels below 4 GeV and predict the location of the rest of the spectrum, in particular the /sup 1/P/sub 1/ state at 3.27 GeV.
Polymerization of Sulfur-Containing Aldehydes. II. Polymerization with Organoaluminum Compounds

Polymerization of five higher aldehydes having a thioether bond represented by the formula, RSCHR′CH2CHO, wherein R, CH3, C2H5, C6H5, and R′, H, CH3H were carried out at −78°C with the use of several organoaluminum catalysts. In the polymerization with AlEt2 resinous polymers with polyacetal structures were produced, accompanied with a small proportion of ester. Poly(β-methylthiobutyraldehyde) and poly (β-ethylthiobutyraldehyde) were completely soluble in tetrahydrofuran, while poly(β-methylthiopropaldehyde) and poly(β-phenylthiobutyraldehyde) were almost insoluble in the usual organic solvents. These novel polyaldehydes were superior in thermal stability to polyacetaldehyde and other higher aldehyde polymers. Modified orgonoaluminum catalysts prepared by the reaction of AlEt3 with various organic compounds gave results similar to those obtained in the polymerization with AlEt3 itself. On the other hand, polymerization with AlEt3–crotonic acid catalyst system gave the cyclic trimer as main products.
Three-dimensional skeletonization using distance transform

Skeletonization as a tool for quantitative analysis of three- dimensional (3D) images is becoming more important, as they are more common in a number of application fields, especially in biomedical tomographic images at different scales. Here we propose a method, which computes both surface and curve skeletons of 3D binary images. The distance transform algorithm is applied to reduce a 3D object to a 2D surface skeleton, an then to a 1D curve skeleton in two phases. In surface skeletonization, 6-connectivity is used in distance transform; while in curve skeletonization, 18-connectivity is used in computing distance transform. Some examples are discussed to illustrate the algorithm.
Measurement of the cross section for prompt isolated diphoton production at the Tevatron

This article reports a measurement of the cross section of prompt isolated photon pair production in pp c ollisions at a total energy p s = 1.9 6 TeV using data of 5.36 fb 1 integrated luminosity collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. The measured cross section, differential in basic kinematic variables, is compared with three perturbative QCD predictions, a leading order (LO) parton shower calculation and two next-to-leading order (NLO) calculations. The NLO calculations reproduce most aspects of the data. By including photon radiation from quarks before and after hard scattering, the parton shower prediction becomes competitive with the NLO predictions.
How aquatic water-beetle larvae with small chambered eyes overcome challenges of hunting under water

A particularly unusual visual system exists in the visually guided aquatic predator, the Sunburst Diving Beetle, Thermonectus marmoratus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). The question arises: how does this peculiar visual system function? A series of experiments suggests that their principal eyes (E1 and E2) are highly specialized for hunting. These eyes are tubular and have relatively long focal lengths leading to high image magnification. Their retinae are linear, and are divided into distinct green-sensitive distal and UV and polarization-sensitive proximal portions. Each distal retina, moreover, has many tiers of photoreceptors with rhabdomeres the long axis of which are peculiarly oriented perpendicular to the light path. Based on detailed optical investigations, the lenses of these eyes are bifocal and project focused images onto specific retinal tiers. Behavioral experiments suggest that these larvae approach prey within their eyes’ near-fields, and that they can correctly gauge prey distances even when conventional distance-vision mechanisms are unavailable. In the near-field of these eyes object distance determines which of the many retinal layers receive the best-focused images. This retinal organization could facilitate an unusual distance-vision mechanism. We here summarize past findings and discuss how these eyes allow Thermonectus larvae to be such successful predators.
New capabilities for predicting image degradation from optical surface metrology data

Image degradation due to scattered radiation form residual optical fabrication errors is a serious problem in many short wavelengths imaging system. Most currently-available image analysis codes require the bidirectional scattering distribution function (BSDF) data as an input in order to calculate the image quality from such systems. This BSDF data is difficult to measure and rarely available for the operational wavelengths of interest. Since the smooth-surface approximation is often not satisfied at these short wavelengths, the classical Rayleigh-Rice expression that indicates the BSDF is directly proportional to the surface PSD cannot be used to calculate BSDFs from surface metrology data for even slightly rough surfaces. An FFTLog numerical Hankel transform algorithm enables the practical use of the computationally intensive Generalized Harvey-Shack surface scatter theory to calculate BRDFs for increasingly short wavelengths that violate the smooth surface approximation implicit in the Rayleigh-Rice surface scatter theory. A generalized Peterson analytical scatter model is then used to make accurate image quality predictions. The generalized Peterson model is numerically validated by both ASAP and ZEMAX.
Carpetgrass and centipedegrass tissue iron and manganese accumulation in response to soil waterlogging

Soil waterlogging significantly increased the iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) tissue levels of carpetgrass (Axonopus affinis Chase) and centipedegrass [Ermochloa ophuiroides Munro. (Kunz.)]. Common carpetgrass and centipedegrass survived six weeks of continuous waterlogging. Results suggested that retention of high Fe and Mn levels within or on root tissue may have served as an adaptive mechanism.
Micronutrient deficiency: an underlying cause of morbidity and mortality

In low- and middle-income settings there are commonly deficiencies of several micronutrients in the same population so it is important to find out whether their risk relationships to the burden of disease are independent or overlapping. At this point it appears that the effects of iron vitamin A and zinc deficiencies are largely independent. (excerpt)