cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
iTPS: an improved location discovery scheme for sensor networks with long-range beacons

In this paper, we present time-based positioning scheme (iTPS), a purely localized location detection scheme for sensor networks with long-range beacons. iTPS relies on time difference of arrival (TDoA) of radio frequency (RF) signals measured locally at each sensor to detect range differences from the sensor to four base stations. These range differences are combined to estimate the sensor location through trilateration. iTPS is an improvement over TPS (Cheng et al., IEEE INFOCOM, 2004), which produces two ambiguous position estimates when sensors are close to any base station. iTPS substantially reduces the number of ambiguous estimates and can improve accuracy. Features of iTPS include low communication overhead for sensors, no requirements for time synchronization, low computational overhead due to simple algebraic operations, and high scalability. We conduct extensive simulation to test iTPS and compare it with TPS. The obtained results show that iTPS is an efficient and effective scheme for location discovery in sensor networks with long-range beacon stations.
Gastric capacity in normal, obese, and bulimic women

One function of the stomach is as a reservoir for food; hence, the stomach's capacity may limit the amount of food ingested. A stomach with a large capacity has been associated with bigger test meals. We compared the stomach capacity of three groups of women: normal (n=10), obese (n=11), and bulimic (n=10). Following an overnight fast, gastric capacity was estimated by filling a gastric balloon with water at 100 ml/min, with pauses for measuring intragastric pressure. One estimate was based on the maximum volume the subject could tolerate as indicated by a maximal rating of abdominal discomfort. Another estimate was based on the volume required to produce a given rise of intragastric pressure, 5 cm H(2)O. A third related measure was based on a maximal rating of fullness. Based on these estimates, the gastric capacity of the bulimics was the largest, with the obese subjects intermediate. We then separated the obese subjects according to whether they reported binge eating (n=6) or not (n=5). The gastric capacity of the binge-eating subset was similar to the bulimics, and the nonbinge-eating subset was similar to the normals. Thus, gastric capacity appears more related to binge eating behavior than to body weight.
Residential Mobility in Moscow During the Transition

This paper explores aspects of the evolving pattern of residential mobility in Moscow for the period 1992-1994. A three-year longitudinal survey of about 2,200 dwelling units served as a data source. It tested the hypothesis that the burst in mobility rates between 1992 and 1993 was not a one-time phenomenon; examines the composition of movers; tests the hypothesis that mobility is concentrated among market movers; explores the change in housing conditions achieved by relocating; and estimates simple models of the probability of moving on a market basis or of obtaining housing through waiting list procedures.
Fourier descriptor features for acoustic landmine detection

Signatures of buried landmines are often difficult to separate from those of clutter objects. Often, shape information is not directly obtainable from the sensors used for landmine detection. The Acoustic Sensing Technology (AST), which uses a Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV) that measures the spatial pattern of particle velocity amplitude of the ground surface in a variety of frequency bands, offers a unique look at subsurface phenomena. It directly records shape related information. Generally, after preprocessing the frequency band images in a downward looking LDV system, landmines have fairly regular shapes (roughly circular) over a range of frequencies while clutter tends to exhibit irregular shapes different from those of landmines. Therefore, shape description has the potential to be used in discriminating mines from clutter. Normalized Fourier Descriptors (NFD) are shape parameters independent of size, angular orientation, position, and contour starting conditions. In this paper, the stack of 2D frequency images from the LDV system are preprocessed by a linear combination of order statistics (LOS) filter, thresholding, and 2D and 3D connected labeling. Contours are extracted form the connected components and aggregated to produce evenly spaced boundary points. Two types of Normalized Fourier Descriptors are computed from the outlines. Using images obtained from a standard data collection site, these features are analyzed for their ability to discriminate landmines from background and clutter such as wood and stones. From a standard feature selection procedure, it was found that a very small number of features are required to effectively separate landmines from background and clutter using simple pattern recognition algorithms. Details of the experiments are included.
Testing the Underlying Structure of a Store Image Scale

This research verified the underlying structure of retail store image. Confirmatory factor analyses were used to test a store image scale based on the work of Zimmer and Golden and others. Findings revealed that the responses of subjects to three different retail image exemplars, comprising three between-subjects experimental conditions, were satisfactorily explained by a model specifying three image dimensions: (a) general (store) attributes, (b) appearance, and (c) salesperson/service. The three-factor measurement model is theoretically meaningful and demonstrated a high degree of invariance across the three samples.
L'essor de l'agriculture ivoirienne: Facteurs explicatifs, limites du modèle

Resume: Les performances exceptionnelles de l'agriculture d'exportation en C6te-d'Ivoire, notamment en ce qui concerne le cafe et le cacao, justifient, face a stagnation observee dans d'autres pays africains, que l'on s'interroge sur les raisons de ce succes. Pour ce faire, l'etude analyse les lignes de force de la politique agricole suivie par le pays depuis la colonisation et degage les facteurs explicatifs de la croissance fulgurante de la production enregistree sans discontinuite entre 1960 et 1988. Parallelement, l'etude souligne les aspects negatifs de cette politique dont les consequences sont importantes au niveau de la realisation de l'objectif d'autosuffisance alimentaire du pays et de la preservation du patrimoine forestier, et montre les limites d'un modele de developpement dont seuls quelques aspects sont exportables. Abstract: Considering the stagnation in other African countries, it is worth looking for the reasons for the exceptional performance in cash crops production, particularly coffee and cocoa, in Cote d'Ivoire. In this regard, the study analyses the agricultural policy followed by the country since the colonial era and gives reasons for the spectacular and unbroken production growth between 1960 and 1988. The study also deals with the negative aspects of this policy, the consequencies of which are serious with regard to the attainment of the objective of food self-sufficiency and preservation of the forest, and shows the limitations of a development model of which only a few aspects are exportable.
Using media as the basis for a social issues approach to promoting moral literacy in university teaching

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to explore the use of media as the basis for a social issues approach to promoting moral literacy and effective teaching in educational leadership programs.Design/methodology/approach – Through a review of relevant literature, mass media sources, and observations, the authors use Starratt's framework of moral responsibility to identify ethical practice in response to dilemmas brought on by local, regional, national and international crises and conflicts. Regional, national and international crises and conflicts are regularly reported on the Internet, as well as in the local, regional, national and international media (e.g., Time, Macleans, Michigan Citizen, The Washington Post, Education Week, The Boston Globe, National Geographic).Findings – The use of mass media venues, when compounded with moral grounding better equips educational leaders to act with ethical orientations. Professional organizations should encourage and support leaders who engage in public citiz...
Electron correlation and the stability of substituted alkenes

Isomerization energies for hexenes (C6H12) were evaluated with ab initio (Hartree–Fock (HF), MP2, SCS-MP2, and CCSD(T)) and several density functional approximation (DFA) methods. CCSD(T)/6-311+G(2d,p) energies were taken as a benchmark standard. The HF method incorrectly predicts that monosubstituted alkenes are more stable than multiply-substituted alkenes. DFAs generally predict the correct stability trends of alkenes (mono-, < di-, < tri-, < tetra-substituted alkenes) but errors in popular functionals, such as B3LYP, can be as large as errors found for alkane hydrocarbon thermochemistries. Some of the HF error is traced back to deficiencies in modeling 1,3-geminal and 1,4-vicinal alkyl–alkyl group interactions, called vinylbranches, and changes in CC and CH bond types (sp3–sp2 CC to sp3–sp3 CC and sp3 CH to sp2 CH). The latter is shown to be more significant. Comparison of CCSD(T) energies of trans-2-butene with 2-methylpropylene and cis-2-butene suggests that geminal vinylbranches are stabilizing while vicinal vinylbranches are destabilizing. B3LYP and other DFAs have much smaller errors than HF theory due to inclusion of correlation energy that better reproduces bond type changes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural determination of pyrolyzed PI-2525 polyimide thin films

Polyimide was pyrolyzed in an argon atmosphere at various temperatures, and thermally converted to amorphous carbon films. The irreversible change of polyimide under progressive heat treatment is characterized by three successive structural changes: pyrolysis, carbonization, and graphitization. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies show that the polyimide starts to dissociate at pyrolysis temperatures above 500°C. At temperatures higher than 650°C most functional groups of polyimide decompose to evolve gases from the sample. The polyimide then gradually becomes more carbon rich. It is believed that at pyrolysis temperature higher than 650°C the polyimide starts to form heterocyclic structures with residual oxygen and nitrogen incorporated into the heterocyclic carbon rings. X-ray analyses indicate that the polyimide at pyrolysis temperatures less than 1000°C is amorphous carbon and no long-term periodic structure can be detected. At pyrolysis temperatures higher than 2000°C, the polyimide is converted to microcrystalline graphite.
GANGLIOSIDE COMPOSITION AND BIOSYNTHESIS IN CULTURED CELLS DERIVED FROM CNS

— Cultured mouse neuroblastoma cells (clone N18) contained a homologous series of gangliosides, GM3, GM2, GM1 and GD1a; the total lipid bound sialic acid (LBSA) was 3.3 nmol per mg of protein, of which GD1a comprised two-thirds. In contrast, neonatal hamster astrocytes (clone NN) and human glioblastoma cells (Cox clone) contained mainly GM3, which represented 95% of the 2 nmol of LBSA per mg protein in these cells. When the cells were grown in the presence of [14C]galactose, label was incorporated into all of the gangliosides isolated from the cells. The labeling pattern corresponded to the ganglioside composition of the cell lines; GD1a was more extensively labeled in N18 cells and GM3 was the major labeled ganglioside extracted from glial cells. In addition to in rivo biosynthesis, in vitro synthesis of gangliosides was also determined. The activities of five glycosyltransferases of the ganglioside biosynthetic pathway were measured in homogenates of the three cell lines. The neuroblastoma cells contained all five enzyme activities whereas the two glial cell lines were deficient in UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine: GM3N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase activity, which catalyzes the synthesis of GM2 from GM3. The results indicated that cells of neuronal origin contain the more complex gangliosides associated with CNS and the requisite biosynthetic enzymes and that cells of glial origin are missing these complex gangliosides and the key glycosyltransferase required for their synthesis.
Laparoscopic nephrectomy in the markedly obese living renal donor.

Abstract Objectives. To determine whether laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy is safe and efficacious in markedly obese renal donors. Methods. From 1996 to 1999, 431 laparoscopic living donor nephrectomies were performed. The markedly obese group consisted of 41 patients with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35. Forty-one controls with a BMI less than 30 were matched to the obese donors by sex, age, race, and date of surgery. Results. The markedly obese and control groups were closely matched in sex, race, age, serum creatinine level, creatinine clearance, HLA match to recipient, side of donated kidney, and experience level of the surgeons. The obese patients had a BMI range of 35.2 to 53.9 (mean 39.3), and the control patients had a BMI range of 18.4 to 29.0 (mean 24.3). Donor operations in the markedly obese were significantly longer by an average of 40 minutes. The greater intraoperative blood loss and longer extraction incision length seen in the markedly obese did not reach statistical significance. More and larger laparoscopic ports were used in the markedly obese. Obese donors were more likely to require conversion from laparoscopic nephrectomy to open nephrectomy than ideal-sized donors. The postoperative recovery of the gastrointestinal tract, hospitalization time, analgesic requirements, and total complications were equal in the two groups, although the obese donors’ complications tended to be cardiopulmonary problems. The recipient graft function was equivalent between the two groups. Conclusions. Laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy is more difficult to perform in the markedly obese but is associated with an equivalent donor morbidity and recipient renal outcome.
Brownian Dynamics Simulations of the Interaction of Chlamydomonas Cytochrome f with Plastocyanin and Cytochrome c6

The interaction of Chlamydomonas cytochrome f (cyt f) with either Chlamydomonas plastocyanin (PC) or Chlamydomonas cytochrome c6 (cyt c6) was studied using Brownian dynamics simulations. The two electron acceptors (PC and cyt c6) were found to be essentially interchangeable despite a lack of sequence homology and different secondary structures (β-sheet for PC and α-helix for cyt c6). Simulations using PC and cyt c6 interacting with cyt f showed approximately equal numbers of successful complexes and calculated rates of electron transfer. Cyt f-PC and cyt f-cyt c6 showed the same types of interactions. Hydrophobic residues surrounding the Y1 ligand to the heme on cyt f interacted with hydrophobic residues on PC (surrounding the H87 ligand to the Cu) or cyt c6 (surrounding the heme). Both types of complexes were stabilized by electrostatic interactions between K65, K188, and K189 on cyt f and conserved anionic residues on PC (E43, D44, D53, and E85) or cyt c6 (E2, E70, and E71). Mutations on cyt f had identical effects on its interaction with either PC or cyt c6. K65A, K188A, and K189A showed the largest effects whereas residues such as K217A, R88A, and K110A, which are located far from the positive patch on cyt f, showed very little inhibition. The effect of mutations observed in Brownian dynamics simulations paralleled those observed in experiments.
Intelligent multi-agent framework for power system control and protection

In this paper, we propose a multi-agent methodology (MAM) for power system monitoring and protection. The uniqueness of the proposed architecture is the ability of MAM to evolve in the wake of an attack of malicious intent by mutation and thus always monitoring a power system bus remotely. Also, the architecture interacts with the mutated agents use a voting methodology thus alleviating the effect of agent malfunction in the presence of attack. This architecture also enables inter-agent communication which makes a collaborative framework and increases the degree of fault tolerance and leads to immediate problem solving. This architecture is tested on a two area network with five equivalent generators and 8 bus power networks for abnormal condition detection, generator bus isolation and also restoring power to the area which is affected by the bus isolation. Simulation studies indicate that the proposed methodology is capable of not only detecting the power grid attack but can also continuously monitor and isolate the generator bus even in the presence of sustained attack as the agents are regenerated.
Evaluation of soluble P-selectin as a marker for the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis.

Objective: The combination of D-dimer and Wells score can exclude, but not confirm, the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Since thrombosis and inflammation are interrelated, we evaluated the combination of soluble P-selectin (sPsel) with other inflammatory biomarkers for the diagnosis of DVT. Methods: Sixty-two positive and one hundred and sixteen patients with negative DVT, by duplex scan, were prospectively evaluated for sPsel, D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), microparticles (MPs; total, leukocyte, and platelet-derived and tissue factor positive microparticles), and clinical Wells score. Results: Biomarkers and clinical scores that differentiated DVT positives from negatives were sPsel (87.3 vs 53.4 ng/mL, P < .0001), D-dimer (5.8 vs 2.1 mg/ L, P < .0001), CRP (2.1 vs 0.8 μg/mL, P < .0005), and Wells score (3.2 vs 2.0, P < .0001). For MP analysis, platelet-derived MPs were found to differentiate DVT from negatives. Using multivariable logistic regression, a combination of sPsel and Wells scor...
Flight Dynamic Response of Spinning Projectiles to Lateral Impulsive Loads

The linear theory for spinning projectiles is extended to account for the application of a simple lateral square impulse activated during free flight. Analytical results are shown to produce simple contributions to the familiar aerodynamic jump formulation. Inquiries regarding jump smearing caused by nonzero impulse length are addressed and answered. The formulation shows for sufficiently long-term target interception, lateral impulse trajectory response for a guided projectile is independent of when the impulse is activated during the yaw cycle. Simple limits show the presented results reducing to those previously found for a zero-spin projectile acted upon by a singular lateral impulse. @DOI: 10.1115/1.1789976#
Biological end-points for the assessment of the toxicity of the products of combustion of materials

The toxicological end-points used in a method for the assessment of the toxicity of combustion products are described. The evaluation considers three areas of toxicological interaction: incapacitation, death, and post-exposure involvement. The model of incapacitation described is the leg-flexion avoidance response of the rat. Additional end-points to assist in the determination of the causality of the observed toxicity are included. The effects of the combustion products of Douglas fir, a phenolic foam, a urea formaldehyde foam and a flexible polyurethane foam on these endpoint are described. The wide range of types of potential toxicities resulting form exposure of animals to the combustion products of materials is discussed. Additionally discussed are the relative merits of the leg-flexion avoidance response as a model of incapacitation. Conclusions as to the important components of a first-tier toxicological evaluation of combustion products are drawn.
Longer duration of HBV-active antiretroviral therapy is linked to favorable virological outcome in HIV-HBV co-infected patients.

AbstractBackground: HBV-HIV co-infection is associated with increased liver-related morbidity and mortality. Herein we analyzed HBV-related virologic and clinical outcomes in HBV-HIV patients in the HAART era. Methods: HBsAg positive HIV-infected patients followed at a US academic center between 1990 and 2008 were assessed in a retrospective and longitudinal study. Factors associated with HBsAg and/or HBeAg clearance and with advanced liver disease were evaluated using logistic regression. Results: 72 patients were evaluated. Their median time of follow-up and of adherence to HBV-active HAART were 3 and 1 years, respectively. HBeAg and HBsAg cleared in 17.6% and 5.5% of patients, respectively. More prolonged use of HBV-active HAART predicted clearance of HBeAg (odds ratio [OR] 2.66, 95% CI 1.15–6.16, p = .02) and of HBsAg (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.02–2.31, p = .04). Patients clearing HBsAg tended to have higher baseline CD4 (mean CD4 counts: 550 vs. 246 cells/mm3; p = .06). Rate of diagnosis of liver-related com...
Transforming the corporate training function through developing a training strategy and advisory board:A longitudinal case study

This study examined use of a strategic planning process to reinvent a corporate training department. The naturalistic case describes how the corporate training function gained credibility and influence with senior management, developed alignment with organizational goals, and began transforming the function into a performance improvement organization. The study was conducted over 21 months in a Fortune 500 firm. Twenty planning meetings were observed, five project team members were interviewed, and 33 documents reviewed. The data describe the project process, meeting activities, and team-member roles. The assertions presented consider the relationship among operational planning and strategic planning, collaboration with the human resource function, and project timing. The importance of establishing an advisory board and the contributions of external consultants are also described. Five critical success factors for developing a functional strategy are identified: planning, people, process components, personal capabilities, and political awareness.
Alanine acceptance and transfer by nitrous acid-modified yeast alanine transfer ribonucleic acid.

Abstract In the reaction of yeast alanine transfer RNA with nitrous acid, interior nucleotides deaminate relatively slowly with the order of reactivity CMP > AMP ≅ GMP instead of GMP > AMP > CMP, the order found for mononucleotides. Approximately 20% of the cytidylic acid residues in yeast tRNA Ala are deaminated before there is detectable reaction of guanylic acid or interior adenylic acid residues. The 3′-terminal adenylic acid residue is reactive, and this reaction leads to the loss of alanine acceptor activity. If the terminal adenylic residue is missing from the RNA, deamination of the 3′-terminal cytidylic acid leads to loss of acceptor activity for adenylic acid, as well as alanine. Interior deamination at certain positions leads to loss of alanine acceptor activity, but yeast tRNA Ala deaminated in the anticodon or in the “dihydrouracil loop” is still active. Deamination in the anticodon, which changes the IGC sequence to IGU, alters the specificity of the transfer reaction of tRNA Ala to that expected for tRNA Thr .
Dropwise condensation of steam on electroplated silver surfaces

Abstract Electroplated silver surfaces were investigated as promoters of dropwise condensation of steam at atmospheric pressure. The plating thickness varied from zero to 3000 nm. The steam-to-silver ΔT varied from 1 to 58 K. The heat flux was up to 1.5 MW m −2 , a value much greater than that observed for filmwise condensation at the same ΔT . Two surface plating solutions were used. The longest lifetime for continuous dropwise condensation, 2400 h, occurred with a 300 nm coating from a cyanide solution applied on electropolished copper. Thicker silver would give a longer life. Auger electron spectroscopy indicated that silver provides a low-oxygen surface which adsorbs trace organics from the surroundings. These promote dropwise condensation. For the first time, a Nusselt type derivation for filmwise condensation on a vertical disc is presented. The correct average vertical length is 0.817 times the diameter.
Landau-Zener dynamics of a nanoresonator containing a tunneling spin

We study the Landau-Zener dynamics of a tunneling spin coupled to a torsional resonator. For strong spin-phonon coupling, when the oscillator frequency is large compared to the tunnel splitting, the system exhibits multiple Landau-Zener transitions. Entanglement of spin and mechanical angular momentum results in abrupt changes of oscillator dynamics, which coincide in time with spin transitions. We show that a large number of spins on a single oscillator coupled only through the in-phase phonon field behaves as a single large spin, greatly enhancing the spin-phonon coupling. We compare purely quantum and semiclassical dynamics of the system and discuss their experimental realizations. An experiment is proposed in which the field sweep is used to read out the exact quantum state of the mechanical resonator.
Effect of response-contingent vs. noncontingent shock on ducklings' preference for novel imprinting stimuli

Individual ducklings received electrical shock in the presence of an imprinting stimulus whenever they pecked at food. Other ducklings received an identical series of shocks in the presence of an imprinting stimulus, but for them shock delivery was independent of their pecking behavior. In a subsequent session, the use of shock was discontinued and all birds were afforded the opportunity to approach either the imprinting stimulus (i.e., the stimulus previously present during shock) or a novel imprinting stimulus that was simultaneously presented. Ducklings that were shocked when they pecked at food either exhibited no preference or they preferred the original imprinting stimulus. In contrast, birds for whom shock was independent of their feeding behavior preferred the novel stimulus. These findings imply that the delivery of shock in the presence of an imprinting stimulus can endow the stimulus with conditioned aversive properties. They also imply that the stimulus will acquire little or no aversiveness if shock delivery is contingent upon a specificresponse such as pecking. When a parental figure punishes or inflicts pain upon its offspring, the attachment behavior of the young organism often continues unabated and may even be intensified (Bowlby, 1969; Harlow & Harlow, 1962). This phenomenon has a parallel in the imprint­ ing literature. If a duckling is given electric shock while being exposed to a surrogate attachment object (a moving imprinting stimulus), the subject's tendency to approach and follow the object may be enhanced (Kovach & Hess, 1963). Students of imprinting have found this somewhat puzzling, because it seemed to imply that the approach-eliciting properties of the imprinting object are somehow strengthened by the occurrence of aversive stimulation in its presence. More recently, however, this interpretation of the effect of the shock was called into question by Barrett (1972). In Barrett's study, ducklings were shocked in the presence of an imprinting stimulus and were subsequently allowed to choose between that stimulus and a similar but visually distinctive stimulus that was simultaneously presented. In the first phase of the experiment, the subjects followed the stimulus more closely (thus replicating the findings of Kovach and Hess), but in the choice test these subjects preferred the new stimulus. Since control (not shocked) subjects either showed no preference or
Decomposable searching problems

Abstract : Although searching is one of the most important problems in computer science and many particular results are known for searching problems, there really is no satisfactory, 'theory of searching.' In this paper we propose a first step toward such a theory by defining the class of decomposable searching problems and them proving three theorems about problems in this class. These theorems are all of the form 'given a data structure D for a decomposable searching problem we can transform D into a new data structure D' for a related problem'. The correctness and complexity analysis of D are then used to establish the correctness and complexity of D'. We present transforms for converting a static structure into a dynamic structure, for adding 'range variables' to queries, and for making preprocessing/query time tradeoffs. These transforms have already been used to develop a number of best known 'theoretical' algorithms, and promise to be an important tool in software engineering. (Author)
Hand preference, immune system disorder and cognitive function among gay/bisexual men : the multicenter aids cohort study (MACS)

This study evaluated the self-reported patterns of handedness among a large subsample (n = 1612) of the gay/bisexual men comprising the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). There was a small but significant elevation in left-handedness among gay/bisexual men compared to available normative data. However, there were no differences within the cohort in measures of immune function, self-reported autoimmune disorders, asthma, or hay fever, although there was an association between handedness and allergy. Performance on neuropsychological tests also did not differ as a function of handedness.
The Shared Map pattern

Many computations, including those performed in parallel, utilize a data structure that can be viewed as a mapping between a key and an associated value. Shared Map is a parallel design pattern that addesses the problem "How can a map (or dictionary) data structure shared by multiple concurrent threads or processes be safely and efficiently implemented?" The solution presents a variety of techniques that trade off implementation complexity for scalability and performance. Although presented here as a standalone pattern, Shared Map belongs to an extensive design pattern language for engineering parallel software.
Validation of a Measure of Intimate Partner Abuse (Relationship Behavior Rating Scale–Revised) Using Item Response Theory Analysis

There is a need for a screening instrument to provide insight into intimate partner abuse (IPA) to inform legal decisions in child custody, divorce, child welfare, and criminal cases. This study is the third validation of the Relationship Behavior Rating Scale–Revised (RBRS–R) for concurrent validity with the widely used Conflict Tactics Scales 2 (CTS2). Item response theory results show that the RBRS–R compares favorably to the CTS, but also provides a higher degree of resolution than the CTS2 with respect to additional elements of IPA that can be manifested in different situations or individuals. This additional information might be very important in determining the safest legal process (mediation versus traditional litigation) and appropriate case outcomes to protect victims of violence.
Some observations on symbol-grounding from a combined symbolic/connectionist viewpoint

If the grounding of an agent's representations of concrete entities such as apples is a problem, then the grounding of representations of abstract entities is even more of a problem. This paper focuses on an agent's representations of mental states and processes, such as the beliefs and inferences of other agents, but the considerations should generalize to other abstract cases. The paper considers the fundamental role played by metaphors of mind in people's conceptions of and utterances concerning mental states and processes.
Distinguishing features of cytotoxic and pharmacological effects of selenite in murine mammary epithelial cells in vitro

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated that selenite exerts a reversible and non-lethal inhibition of cell growth which could be correlated with a 58 K selenoprotein. Prolonged exposure to 5 μM selenite is cytotoxic. This cytotoxic effect is heralded by the cells floating off the dish. These floating cells contained over a log more selenite than did the attached cells. The floating cells also had a higher total amount per cell of covalently incorporated selenite in the form of volatile selenides. No specific selenoprotein could be correlated with the cytotoxic effect of selenite. However, a greater aggregation of selenoproteins was observed in dead vs. viable cells. This change probably was a late manifestation of cell death, whereas the increased amount of volatile selenides marked the early stages of acute selenosis and cell death. The results suggest that the cellular response to selenite exposure contains two phases: an early reversible inhibition of cell growth and a late irreversible cytotoxic effect. The former is characterized by an increase in a 58 K selenoprotein, whereas the latter by an increase in volatile selenides. The results suggest that experiments evaluating specific effects of selenite exposure on biochemical function need to distinguish between the two phases of cell response.
Cerebral physiology of hypothermia and hypothermic acid-base management during cardiopulmonary bypass

Cerebral hypothermia is the principal means of protecting the brain during cardiac surgery, permitting periods of reduced perfusion and/or circulatory arrest. For example, at 10–20°C, circulatory arrest for 45–75 minutes is tolerated in animals without subsequent behavioral or histopathologic evidence of neurologic injury. Nevertheless, clinically, die protective effect of hypothermia is far from complete. In children undergoing hypothermic circulatory arrest under equivalent conditions, coma, seizures, choreoathetosis, and developmental retardation are recognized as potential neurologic sequels, occurring widi a combined incidence of 10-30%. Neurologic complications (stroke, neuropsychologic change) also occur with distressing frequency in adults undergoing cardiac surgery, even in the absence of circulatory arrest. An improved understanding of the physiology of cerebral hypothermia during cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermic arrest is needed to improve upon these results. This review will address current concepts and controversies regarding flow of blood to the brain and its metabolism during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and their relationship to current techniques for cerebral protection.
Discussion of phasons in quasicrystals and their dynamics

Phasons are a type of excitation peculiar to quasicrystals and other incommensurate phases arising as a consequence of their spatial quasiperiodicity. Phason-related excitations are also observed in complex crystal structures known as approximants. This article briefly reviews the concepts of phasons with focus on current issues in their regard. We examine both continuum (hydrodynamic) and discrete (tiling) descriptions of phasons and review the state of experimental validation of the basic theoretical notions.
Modeling and measurement approaches for electrostatic discharge in semiconductor devices and ICs: an overview

Electrostatic charges can be generated everywhere. When they are discharged through semiconductor devices and integrated circuits, an event called an electrostatic discharge (ESD), failure of electronics systems using these devices and ICs can occur. This paper first gives an overview of the ESD sources and models. Then the emphasis is placed on the modeling and measurements of the most commonly used of these models called the human body model (HBM). Various HBM protection circuits are examined to look at ways of preventing ICs from being damaged should ESD events occur. The issue of HBM measurements is also addressed so that the rapid transient associated with this ESD model can be accurately measured and characterized.
Diagnostic Utility of the International HIV Dementia Scale for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Impairment and Disorder in South Africa

Studies in sub-Saharan Africa indicate that most HIV seropositive persons have HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). HAND diagnosis is facilitated by specific screening. Seventy participants were recruited from an HIV voluntary counseling and testing clinic in Durban, South Africa. The diagnostic utility of the International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) was analyzed using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) model. The ROC analysis comparing any HAND diagnosis (based on two neuropsychological tests) versus no diagnosis was statistically significant, with an optimal cut-off score of 10.5, sensitivity of 69%, and specificity of 74%. Sensitivity of the IHDS was highest for HIV-associated dementia.
The dangers of commitment: Monetary policy with adaptive learning

This paper studies a class of interest rate rules, introduced by Evans and Honkapohja (2001a, 2004), that respond to public expectations and to lagged variables. The policymaker commits to the extent that the interest rate responds to lagged output in an effort to influence public expectations. Simulation results show that full commitment, the commitment optimum under rational expectations, is not optimal under adaptive learning for any reasonable parameter values.
Gestational zinc deprivation in mice: persistence of immunodeficiency for three generations

Pregnant Swiss Webster mice were fed a diet moderately deficient in zinc from day 7 of gestation until parturition. Offspring of these mice showed depressed immune function through 6 months of age. In addition, the second and third filial generations, all of which were fed only the normal control diet, continued to manifest reduced immunocompetence, although not to the same degree as in the first generation.
Drought Impacts in Mexico: Climate, Agriculture, Technology, and Land Tenure in Sonora and Puebla

Abstract This paper shows how vulnerability to natural hazards can be measured and analyzed and how drought vulnerability might relate to new agricultural technologies and land tenure in Mexico. Several authors have suggested that the impacts of drought on agricultural systems are determined as much by the technological, economic, and political characteristics of a region as by the severity of meteorological events. But the literature on natural hazards and cultural ecology lacks both detailed quantitative assessments of drought impacts at the regional scale and empirical measures of vulnerability to drought and climate change. In Mexico, agricultural losses from natural hazards are severe, varying widely between regions and between different farm sectors. This study analyzes the pattern and severity of drought losses in municipios in the states of Sonora and Puebla, using data from the 1970 Mexican agricultural census. These states represent a range of physical conditions, technological and economic reso...
Different B cell populations mediate early and late memory during an endogenous immune response

Memory B cells formed in response to microbial antigens provide immunity to later infections; however, the inability to detect rare endogenous antigen-specific cells limits current understanding of this process. Using an antigen-based technique to enrich these cells, we found that immunization with a model protein generated B memory cells that expressed isotype-switched immunoglobulins (swIg) or retained IgM. The more numerous IgM(+) cells were longer lived than the swIg(+) cells. However, swIg(+) memory cells dominated the secondary response because of the capacity to become activated in the presence of neutralizing serum immunoglobulin. Thus, we propose that memory relies on swIg(+) cells until they disappear and serum immunoglobulin falls to a low level, in which case memory resides with durable IgM(+) reserves.
Calcium and phosphorus intake and prostate cancer risk: a 24-y follow-up study

Background: High calcium intake has been associated with an increased risk of advanced-stage and high-grade prostate cancer. Several studies have found a positive association between phosphorus intake and prostate cancer risk. Objective: We investigated the joint association between calcium and phosphorus and risk of prostate cancer in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, with a focus on lethal and high-grade disease. Design: In total, 47,885 men in the cohort reported diet data in 1986 and every 4 y thereafter. From 1986 to 2010, 5861 cases of prostate cancer were identified, including 789 lethal cancers (fatal or metastatic). We used Cox proportional hazards models to assess the association between calcium and phosphorus intake and prostate cancer, with adjustment for potential confounding. Results: Calcium intakes >2000 mg/d were associated with greater risk of total prostate cancer and lethal and high-grade cancers. These associations were attenuated and no longer statistically significant when phosphorus intake was adjusted for. Phosphorus intake was associated with greater risk of total, lethal, and high-grade cancers, independent of calcium and intakes of red meat, white meat, dairy, and fish. In latency analysis, calcium and phosphorus had independent effects for different time periods between exposure and diagnosis. Calcium intake was associated with an increased risk of advanced-stage and high-grade disease 12–16 y after exposure, whereas high phosphorus was associated with increased risk of advanced-stage and high-grade disease 0–8 y after exposure. Conclusions: Phosphorus is independently associated with risk of lethal and high-grade prostate cancer. Calcium may not have a strong independent effect on prostate cancer risk except with long latency periods.
Parallel Matrix-Vector Product Using Approximate Hierarchical Methods

Matrix-vector products (mat-vecs) form the core of iterative methods used for solving dense linear systems. Often, these systems arise in the solution of integral equations used in electromagnetics, heat transfer, and wave propagation. In this paper, we present a parallel approximate method for computing mat-vecs used in the solution of integral equations. We use this method to compute dense mat-vecs of hundreds of thousands of elements. The combined speedups obtained from the use of approximate methods and parallel processing represent an improvement of several orders of magnitude over exact mat-vecs on uniprocessors. We demonstrate that our parallel formulation incurs minimal parallel processing overhead and scales up to a large number of processors. We study the impact of varying the accuracy of the approximate mat-vec on overall time and on parallel efficiency. Experimental results are presented for 256 processor Cray T3D and Thinking Machines CM5 parallel computers. We have achieved computation rates in excess of 5 GFLOPS on the T3D.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Neurodegeneration in Rats Neonatally Infected with Borna Disease Virus

Borna disease virus infection of neonatal rats results in a characteristic behavioral syndrome and apoptosis of subsets of neurons in the hippocampus and cerebellum (neonatal Borna disease [NBD]). The cellular mechanisms leading to neurodevelopmental damage in NBD have not been fully elucidated. Insights into this model may have general implications for understanding the pathogenesis of virus-associated neurodevelopmental damage. Here we report the presence of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers and activation of the unfolded protein response in the NBD hippocampus and cerebellum. Specific findings included enhanced PERK-mediated phosphorylation of eif2α and concomitant regulation of ATF4 translation; IRE1-mediated splicing of XBP1 mRNA; and cleavage of the ATF6 protein in NBD rat brains. We found evidence for regional and cell type-specific divergence in the expression of ER stress-induced proapoptotic and quality control signals. Our results demonstrate that ER stress induction in death-susceptible Purkinje neurons in NBD is associated with the expression of the proapoptotic molecule CHOP in the absence of compensatory expression of the ER quality control molecules Bip and protein disulfide isomerase. In contrast, ER stress in death-resistant astrocytes is associated with complementary expression of CHOP and ER quality control signals. These results implicate an imbalance between ER stress-mediated apoptosis and survival signaling as a critical determinant of neural cell fate in NBD.
Cardiovascular disease and nutrient antioxidants: Role of low‐density lipoprotein oxidation

Abstract Increasing evidence indicates that oxidative modification of low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) is causally related to atherosclerosis. Oxidatively modified LDL (oxLDL), in contrast to native LDL, is taken up avidly by macrophages, leading to formation of lipid‐laden foam cells. Foam cells are pathognomonic of the atherosclerotic fatty streak. Modified LDL may also promote atherosclerosis by many other mechanisms, such as recruitment and retention of monocyte‐macrophages, T‐lymphocytes, and smooth muscle cells in the arterial intima, and cytotoxicity toward endothelial cells and macrophage‐derived foam cells. The “oxidation hypothesis of atherosclerosis” is supported by a number of in vivo findings, such as the presence of oxLDL in atherosclerotic lesions, and increased titers of autoantibodies against modified LDL in patients with atherosclerosis. As a corollary of the oxidation hypothesis of atherosclerosis, antioxidants that can inhibit LDL oxidation may act as antiatherogens. This conception is su...
Demystifying Imaging Laboratory Accreditation

It is self-evident that patients expect high quality of the services they receive. For this reason, procedural-based medical (therapeutic) services have long been subject to some form of quality assessment. In the same vein, it is also appropriate that similar expectations have recently come about
Interleukin(IL)-1 Regulates Ozone-enhanced Tracheal Smooth Muscle Responsiveness by Increasing Substance P (SP) Production in Intrinsic Airway Neurons of Ferret

Exposure to ozone induces airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) mediated partly by substance P (SP) released from nerve terminals of intrinsic airway neurons. Our recent studies showed that interleukin (IL)-1, an important multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine, increases synthesis and release of SP from intrinsic airway neurons. The purpose of this study is to investigate the possible involvement of endogenous IL-1 in modulating neural responses associated with ozone-enhanced airway responsiveness. Ferrets were exposed to 2ppm ozone or filtered air for 3h. IL-1 in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was significantly increased in ozone-exposed animals and responses of tracheal smooth muscle to methacholine (MCh) and electrical field stimulation (EFS) were elevated significantly. Both the SP nerve fiber density in tracheal smooth muscle and the number of SP-containing neurons in airway ganglia were significantly increased following ozone exposure. Pretreatment with IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 Ra) significantly diminished ozone-enhanced airway responses to EFS as well as ozone-increased SP in the airway. To selectively investigate intrinsic airway neurons, segments of ferret trachea were maintained in culture conditions for 24h to eliminate extrinsic contributions from sensory nerves. The segments were then exposed to 2ppm ozone in vitro for 3h. The changes of ozone-induced airway responses to MCh and EFS, and the SP levels in airway neurons paralleled those observed with in vivo ozone exposure. The ozone-enhanced airway responses and neuronal SP levels were inhibited by pretreatment with IL-1 Ra. These findings show that IL-1 is released during ozone exposure enhances airway responsiveness by modulating SP expression in airway neurons.
FlEx-based transgenic reporter lines for visualization of Cre and Flp activity in live zebrafish

Site-specific recombinases such as Cre and Flp are invaluable tools for genetic manipulations, but their usage in zebrafish has been limited. Incorporating recently developed flip-excision (FlEx) design that allows stable inversions, we have established zebrafish reporter lines that express bright and ubiquitous EGFP, but switch to express mCherry in the presence of Cre or Flp. Here, we demonstrate the stable inversion in the reporter lines, both in somatic cells and in the germ line by Cre or Flp, and the subsequent reinversion using the other recombinase. Using the reporter lines, we characterized cardiomyocyte-specific Cre lines and neuronal progenitor-specific and tamoxifen-dependent Cre lines. We also used the reporter lines for screening Cre- and Flp-based enhancer trap lines. Similar to the widely used Cre reporter lines in mice, these FlEx-based reporter lines will facilitate the use of recombinases for genetic manipulations in zebrafish.