cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dam invaders: impoundments facilitate biological invasions into freshwaters

Freshwater ecosystems are at the forefront of the global biodiversity crisis, with more declining and extinct species than in terrestrial or marine environments. Hydrologic alterations and biological invasions represent two of the greatest threats to freshwater biota, yet the importance of linkages between these drivers of environmental change remains uncertain. Here, we quantitatively test the hypothesis that impoundments facilitate the introduction and establishment of aquatic invasive species in lake ecosystems. By combining data on boating activity, water body physicochemistry, and geographical distribution of five nuisance invaders in the Laurentian Great Lakes region, we show that non-indigenous species are 2.4 to 300 times more likely to occur in impoundments than in natural lakes, and that impoundments frequently support multiple invaders. Furthermore, comparisons of the contemporary and historical landscapes revealed that impoundments enhance the invasion risk of natural lakes by increasing their...
Operational Plasticity Enables Hsp104 to Disaggregate Diverse Amyloid and Nonamyloid Clients

It is not understood how Hsp104, a hexameric AAA+ ATPase from yeast, disaggregates diverse structures, including stress-induced aggregates, prions, and α-synuclein conformers connected to Parkinson disease. Here, we establish that Hsp104 hexamers adapt different mechanisms of intersubunit collaboration to disaggregate stress-induced aggregates versus amyloid. To resolve disordered aggregates, Hsp104 subunits collaborate noncooperatively via probabilistic substrate binding and ATP hydrolysis. To disaggregate amyloid, several subunits cooperatively engage substrate and hydrolyze ATP. Importantly, Hsp104 variants with impaired intersubunit communication dissolve disordered aggregates, but not amyloid. Unexpectedly, prokaryotic ClpB subunits collaborate differently than Hsp104 and couple probabilistic substrate binding to cooperative ATP hydrolysis, which enhances disordered aggregate dissolution but sensitizes ClpB to inhibition and diminishes amyloid disaggregation. Finally, we establish that Hsp104 hexamers deploy more subunits to disaggregate Sup35 prion strains with more stable "cross-β" cores. Thus, operational plasticity enables Hsp104 to robustly dissolve amyloid and nonamyloid clients, which impose distinct mechanical demands.
Thrombin mimetic effects of estrogen: II. Gel filtration and centrifugal evidence for estrogen induced polymerization of fibrinogen derivatives

Abstract Purified fibrinogen was separated into two fractions, F1 and F2. F2 exhibits the molecular weight of a dimer of fibrin. Incubation of F1 with small levels of thrombin induced a progressive increase in the molecular weight to that of a dimer. The estrogens, 17-ethynylestradiol, diethylstilbestrol, and Premarin also converted F1 to F2. Plasma incubated with thrombin or 17-ethynylestradiol lost 68 to 77 per cent of soluble fibrin when subjected to a centrifugal field or gel filtration. Control plasma showed no loss. The loss of soluble fibrin associated with centrifugation or gel filtration of estrogen or thrombin treated plasma is attributed to sedimentation or gel retention of high molecular weight fibrinogen derivatives.
The expression of a highly expressed Bacillus subtilis gene is not reduced by introduction of multiple codons normally not present in such genes

Four serine or threonine codons were introduced into a highly expressed Bacillus subtilis gene. The introduced codons were ones either common in highly expressed B. subtilis genes, or never used in such genes. Strikingly, the level and rate of expression of the modified genes containing either type of extra codons was identical. This suggests that in B. subtilis codon usage patterns may play little or no role in effecting the level of gene expression.
Second harmonic microscopy of monolayer MoS 2

We show that the lack of inversion symmetry in monolayer MoS${}_{2}$ allows strong optical second harmonic generation. The second harmonic of an 810-nm pulse is generated in a mechanically exfoliated monolayer, with a nonlinear susceptibility on the order of 10${}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$ m/V. The susceptibility reduces by a factor of seven in trilayers, and by about two orders of magnitude in even layers. A proof-of-principle second harmonic microscopy measurement is performed on samples grown by chemical vapor deposition, which illustrates potential applications of this effect in the fast and noninvasive detection of crystalline orientation, thickness uniformity, layer stacking, and single-crystal domain size of atomically thin films of MoS${}_{2}$ and similar materials.
Abnormalities in ripening and mitochondrial succinoxidase resulting from storage of preclimacteric banana fruit at low relative humidity

Abstract Green banana fruit ripened at a reduced relative humidity (below 80%) did not undergo the respiratory climacteric or develop any characteristics of normally ripened fruit. Mitochondrial fractions from abnormally ripened fruit showed markedly different succinoxidase activity than the fractions isolated from fruit ripened under standard conditions at 90–95 per cent relative humidity.
Note on earnshaw's theorem

Many have seen the “electromagnetic levitator” in the General Electric Company's “House of Magic” demonstration lectures. In this demonstration, an aluminum disk is stably supported in an alternating magnetic field under the repulsive force between the induced eddy currents and field.5 Another and related problem is reflected in several recent and serious, but inevitably (utile, attempts to achieve stable suspension in space under the forces of permanent magnets alone. This article sheds further light on the basic theory involved, which was formulated a century ago by Samuel Earnshaw and seems quite largely to have been overlooked.
Enzyme-triggered disassembly of dendrimer-based amphiphilic nanocontainers.

We demonstrate a new enzyme-induced disassembly of amphiphilic nanocontainers based on dendrimers. Disassembly and the ensuing release of noncovalently bound guest molecules are of great interest because of their implications in areas such as drug delivery and sensing. Achieving these with a protein as the stimulus is of even greater importance, because proteins are the primary indicators of biological imbalances. We achieved disassembly of the nanocontainers by disturbing the hydrophilic−lipophilic balance in the amphiphilic dendrimer building blocks.
Geothermal state and fluid flow within ODP Hole 843B: results from wireline logging

Abstract Borehole fluid temperatures were measured with a wireline re-entry system in Ocean Drilling Program Hole 843B, the site of the Ocean Seismic Network Pilot Experiment. These temperature data, recorded more than 7 years after drilling, are compared to temperature data logged during Leg 136, approximately 1 day after drilling had ceased. Qualitative interpretations of the temperature data suggest that fluid flowed slowly downward in the borehole immediately following drilling, and flowed slowly upward 7 years after drilling. Quantitative analysis suggests that the upward fluid flow rate in the borehole is approximately 1 m/h. Slow fluid flow interpreted from temperature data only, however, requires estimates of other unmeasured physical properties. If fluid flows upward in Hole 843B, it may have led to undesirable noise for the borehole seismometer emplaced in this hole as part of the Ocean Seismic Network Pilot Experiment. Estimates of conductive heat flow from ODP Hole 843B are 51 mW/m2 for the sediment and the basalt. These values are lower than the most recent Hawaiian Arch seafloor heat flow studies.
High density metal-metal interconnect bonding with pre-applied fluxing underfill

The results of initial investigations incorporating a fluxing wafer level underfill (WAUF) into a Cu/Sn-Cu intermetallic bonded device are presented. The studies were performed utilizing a 640 × 512 high density area array test vehicle (105 interconnects/cm2). The fluxing pre-applied wafer level underfill was integrated into a solid-liquid diffusion bonding process which achieved an interconnect yield of 99.99%. Bond formation, underfill encapsulation, and electrical yield were evaluated using several imaging techniques and electrical testing. These results and results from reliability testing of the primary sample set are presented.
Engineering features of the 230-kv Boulder-Chino transmission line of the Southern California Edison Co., Ltd.

THIS paper deals with the problem of transmitting Boulder Dam power to the Southern California Edison Company's system. Preliminary studies were made of this project on the assumption that it should be a high-capacity peak plant with a high degree of reliability of service.1 It was soon recognized, however, that this power was to be delivered to a system already well equipped for peak demands. This led to a reconsideration of the problem of disposing of this power and the fitting of it into the existing system of the Southern California Edison Company as a base-load-supply project. To justify this base-load operation, it was necessary to keep as low as possible the annual cost of a kilowatt-hour delivered from Boulder Dam to the company's system. However, since this power, 165,000 kw, was about 25 per cent of the present peak load on the system, service reliability of the transmitting facilities was still a major factor. In addition, it was desired to include those features of the peak-plant design which could not be added economically at a later date should the project be converted to a peak-load plant. High inertia constants and low reactance were retained in the design of terminal equipment for such an eventuality.
Skein relations and Wilson loops in Chern-Simons gauge theory

Abstract We derive the skein relations for the fundamental representations of SO( N ), Sp(2 n ), SU( m | n ), and OSp( m |2 n ). These relations can be used recursively to calculate the expectation values of Wilson lines in three-dimensional Chern-Simons gauge theory with these gauge groups. A combination of braiding and tying of Wilson lines completely describes the skein relations.
Effects of fluorescein isothiocyanate on insulin actions in rat adipocytes

The effects of fluorescein isothiocyanate II (FITC) on the actions of insulin in rat adipocytes were studied. When adipocytes were incubated with FITC at pH 7.4 (2 mM agent, 8 min), the cells were completely deprived of their specific insulin-binding activity and rendered unresponsive to the hormone. The effect of FITC on the insulin-binding activity was milder at pH 9.0, and cAMP phosphodiesterase in cells exposed to FITC at pH 9.0 was maximally stimulated if the insulin concentration was increased to 100 nM. Under identical conditions, however, glucose transport activity was rendered not only less sensitive but also less responsive to the hormone. When FITC was added to cells after insulin at pH 9.0, the glucose transport activity that had been stimulated by the hormone was considerably reduced. This reduction was largely, but not entirely, prevented if the cells were deprived of ATP, suggesting that FITC (a) elicited the ATP-dependent reversal of the hormonal effect and, simultaneously, (b) mildly inhibited the transport activity per se. Western blot assay of GLUT-4 (a major isoform of glucose transporter in adipocytes) indicated that FITC (a) partially blocked insulin-dependent translocation of GLUT-4 from the intracellular site to the plasma membrane while it (b) induced a mild "insulin-like" effect. It is concluded that FITC at pH 9.0 (a) renders both glucose transport and phosphodiesterase activities less insulin sensitive presumably by modifying the cellular hormone receptor and (b) makes glucose transport activity less responsive to insulin presumably by (i) blocking hormone-dependent translocation of glucose transporter and (ii) mildly inhibiting intrinsic glucose transport activity.
Identification of cardiovascular genes in omentum from morbidly obese patients with type 2 diabetes

Identification of cardiovascular genes in omentum from morbidly obese patients with type 2 diabetes
An examination of racial differences in self-harm behavior

The prevalence of diverse and multiple self-harm behaviors according to race/ethnicity has been infrequently explored. In the present study, using a cross-sectional design and a self-report survey methodology, we examined the prevalence rates of and statistically significant differences in multiple self-harm behaviors among 200 White and 146 African-American women from an obstetrics/gynecology clinic. Compared with African-American women, we found that White women reported generally higher prevalence rates of self-harm behaviors (20 of 21) and significantly higher percentages with regard to seven specific self-harm behaviors. In addition, we found support that self-harm behavior reflects the same latent construct across both groups.
LiH as a Li + and H − ion provider

Abstract We present a first-principles study of the formation and migration of native defects in lithium hydride (LiH), a material of interest in hydrogen storage and lithium-ion batteries. We find that the negatively charged lithium vacancy and positively charged hydrogen vacancy are the dominant defects in LiH with a formation energy of about 0.85 eV. With this low energy, LiH can be a good provider of Li+ and/or H− ions. Based on our results, we discuss the role of LiH in its reactions with another reactant which are important in hydrogen storage and lithium-ion batteries, and explain the ionic conductivity and hydrogen surface loss as observed in experiments.
A Longitudinal Study of Word-Reading Ability in Alzheimer's Disease: Evidence from the National Adult Reading Test

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine word-reading ability of subjects with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD), using the National Adult Reading Test (NART). In addition to the NART, a battery of neuropsychological tests was administered to 18 AD and 20 elderly control subjects at yearly intervals over 3 years. Repeated measures analysis with grouping factors showed that the controls scored better than AD subjects on the NART at each test date and the AD subjects scored significantly worse over time. NART scores were significantly correlated with dementia severity in AD subjects at final testing only, suggesting that the NART is sensitive to dementia severity only at the later stages of the disease. Associations between the NART and other cognitive measures yielded few significant results. Finally, error responses to NART words were summarized by type and percentage for each group at each test session.
High-temperature, air-blown gasification of dairy-farm wastes for energy production

Abstract A study was carried out to investigate the feasibility of integrating an advanced gasifier into the operation of a dairy farm for converting biomass wastes into fuel gas that can be used for power production. The disposal/utilization of excess animal wastes is a serious problem facing the dairy industry. Implementation of a gasification system on the dairy farm may provide an economical means of disposing of this waste. In our scheme, an advanced, high-temperature air-blown gasification system is used to convert the waste into synthetic fuel gas. A ceramic regenerative heater supplies the high-temperature air. Results of performance calculations indicated gasification conversion efficiencies of 65–85 % are possible, depending on the gasifier operating configuration. The syngas produced by the gasifier can be used on the farm for generating electricity and heat, or for other energy needs, thus helping to reduce the operating cost of the farm. In a case study, using information collected from an Upstate New York dairy farm, the results showed that gasification of dairy wastes would allow this particular farm to produce more than two times the amount of energy required for self-sufficiency.
Unimodal and bimodal networks of poly(dimethyl‐siloxane) in pure shear

Model networks of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) were prepared by tetrafunctionally endlinking hydroxyl-terminated chains of various molecular weights. Some networks were prepared from mixtures of chains so as to yield a bimodal distribution of network chain lengths and, in some cases, these networks were prepared in solution. The stress–strain behavior of these unimodal and bimodal networks was studied in pure shear, which was imposed by stretching a sheet of the network having a large ratio of width to length in the direction perpendicular to the width. The pure-shear moduli of both types of networks generally were found to depend markedly on strain. Stress–strain isotherms for unimodal networks prepared from chains of one or the other of two molecular weights were well interpreted using the constrained-junction model of Flory and Erman. The bimodal networks showed large increases in the pure-shear modulus at high strains which were similar to those reported for uniaxial extension and compression. Endlinking in solution decreases the modulus in general and its upturn in particular, presumably because of diminished chain-junction entangling.
Something Lived, Something Learned: Nostalgia's Expanding Role in Sport Tourism

Nostalgia's role in sport tourism is multifaceted and stems from the nostalgic appeal of sport, tourism and related social experience. Sport, tourism, and by extension, sport tourism are useful incubators for nostalgia, as memories of past experience within each domain (whether lived or learned) are linked to an individual's personal and social identities. This essay discusses two broad conceptualizations of nostalgia in sport tourism: nostalgia for sport place or artefact, and nostalgia for social experience. Nostalgia sport tourism is considered congruously with travel to visit place and artefact, travel to participate in physical activity, travel to watch sport, and travel to volunteer at sport events.
Algorithmic aspects of communication in ad-hoc networks with smart antennas

Smart antennas have gained significant importance in multi-hop wireless networks in recent years, because of their sophisticated signal processing capabilities that hold the potential for increased data rates and reliability. In this work, we consider the problem of communication in multi-hop wireless networks with smart antennas (specifically digital adaptive arrays). These smart antennas provide degrees of freedom (DOFs) that can be used to suppress co-existing communication links, thereby increasing spatial reuse in the network. Thus, the communication problem comprises of not just determining a channel access mechanism to be used by the communication links, but also involves the determination of the communication pattern (usage of DOFs) to be used by each node during channel access. To the best of our knowledge, our work is the first step towards addressing this problem.We first consider the problem of determining the communication pattern to be used by the nodes and formulate it combinatorially with the goal of optimizing network performance through interference minimization. We present efficient centralized and distributed algorithms that are within a factor of ¾ and ½ of the optimum solution respectively. We then extend the distributed algorithm to incorporate TDMA-based scheduling in a purely localized manner. The distributed algorithms are then evaluated through simulations in ns2 and insights are drawn into the potential performance benefits of smart antennas in multi-hop wireless networks.
An efficient finite-difference frequency domain-method for waveguiding structures including thin curved layers

A method is presented that incorporates thin, lossy layers into a finite-difference frequency-domain algorithm designed for structures with circular geometry. The method allows the grid spacing to be much larger than the thickness of the thin layers. This greatly reduces the computational effort required when simulating circular structures such as optical fibers that incorporate thin layers. The method is validated by a comparison with the analytical solutions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 453–457, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21378
Extraction and detection of arsenicals in seaweed via accelerated solvent extraction with ion chromatographic separation and ICP-MS detection.

An accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) device was evaluated as a semi-automated means of extracting arsenicals from ribbon kelp. The effect of the experimentally controllable ASE parameters (pressure, temperature, static time, and solvent composition) on the extraction efficiencies of arsenicals from seaweed was investigated. The extraction efficiencies for ribbon kelp (approximately 72.6%) using the ASE were fairly independent ¶(< 7%) of pressure, static time and particle size after 3 ASE extraction cycles. The optimum extraction conditions for the ribbon kelp were obtained by using a 3 mL ASE cell, 30/70 (w/w) MeOH/H2O, 500 psi (1 psi = 7 KPa), ambient temperature, 1 min heat step, 1 min static step, 90% vol. flush, and a 120 s purge. Using these conditions, two other seaweed products produced extraction efficiencies of 25.6% and 50.5%. The inorganic species present in the extract represented 62.5% and 27.8% of the extracted arsenic. The speciation results indicated that both seaweed products contained 4 different arsenosugars, DMA (dimethylarsinic acid), and As(V). One seaweed product also contained As(III). Both of these seaweed products contained an arsenosugar whose molecular weight was determined to be 408 and its structure was tentatively identified using ion chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (IC-ESI-MS/MS).
Human islet cell adenoma: metabolic analysis of the patient and of tumor cells in monolayer culture.

Cell cultures were established from a benign pancreatic islet adenoma. Over 200 μU/culture/day immunoreactive insulin were found in culture media. Cultures with medium 199 released insulin for about 2 months; those with medium F12K were maintained for over 7 months, and have been successfully subcultured. Increasing culture medium glucose to 326 mg per 100 ml, alone or with leucine (10 mM) or theophylline (2 mM), failed to increase insulin release above baseline. Studies in the patient prior to surgery using oral glucose, leucine, beef meal, intravenous tolbutamide, and glucagon failed to increase plasma insulin and thus were consistent with cell culture responses. Extracts of tumor tissue contained 23% proinsulin-like material; high insulin containing samples of culture medium had 5% proinsulin and less than 40 pg glucagon/ml. Aldehyde fuchsin positive granulation was sparse in both cultured cells and the original tumor. These studies demonstrate long term viability, in monolayer culture, of cells derived from this islet cell adenoma, with retention of secretory characteristics consistent with data obtained prior to removal of the adenoma from the patient.
Tags, micro-tags and tag editing: improving internet search

Social tagging is an emerging methodology that allows individual users to assign semantic keywords to content on the web. Popular web services allow the community of users to search for content based on these user-defined tags. Tags are typically attached to a whole entity such as a web page (e.g., del.icio.us), a video (e.g., YouTube), a product description (e.g., Amazon) or a photograph (e.g., Flickr). However, finding specific information within a whole entity can be a difficult, time-intensive process. This is especially true for content such as video, where the information sought may be a small segment within a very long presentation. Moreover, the tags provided by a community of users may be incorrect, conflicting, or incomplete when used as search terms. In this paper we introduce a system that allows users to create "micro-tags," that is, semantic markers that are attached to subsets of information. These micro-tags give the user the ability to direct attention to specific subsets within a larger and more complex entity, and the set of micro-tags provides a more nuanced description of the full content. Also, when these micro-tags are used as search terms, there is no need to do a serial search of the content, since micro-tags draw attention to the semantic content of interest. This system also provides a mechanism that allows users in the community to edit and delete each others' tags, using the community to refine and improve tag quality. We will also report on empirical studies that demonstrate the value of micro-tagging and tag editing and explore the role micro-tags and tag editing will play in future applications.
Computing many-one comparisons among sample variances with the SAS System

The SAS System was used to program a statistical procedure developed by Levy (1975a). The focus was on Dunnett-like pairwise multiple comparisons among sample variances. An example using data from Glass and Hopkins (1996) was used to illustrate the final analysis of a computer run conducted with this program.
Accelerating on a treadmill: ADF/cofilin promotes rapid actin filament turnover in the dynamic cytoskeleton.

Actin is among the most thoroughly studied of proteins. It was first identified half a century ago as the major component of thin filaments in muscle. Work in the 1960s and 1970s showed that actin is also present in nonmuscle cells as well as in plants and protozoa. The actin-based cytoskeleton appears to be ubiquitous among eukaryotes, and indeed the invention of the actin cytoskeleton may have been a key step in the earliest history of the eukaryotic lineage. A densely written summary of the most important known properties of actin fills a good-sized volume (23). But there are major discrepancies between the well-characterized in vitro behavior of purified actin and the apparent behavior of actin filaments inside of intact, living cells.
Means of Assessing Ordinal Interactions in Social Psychology: The Case of Sexism in Judgments of Social Power

This article assesses the efficacy of several statistical methods used for detecting male sexism in ratings of social power. Sexist ratings would be indicated through the observation of an ordinal interaction where female powerholders suffer when being rated by male targets. Such an interaction is typically assessed through an ANOVA. However, Bobko (1986) and Strube & Bobko (1989) recommend alternate methods that may be more appropriate. These methods are reviewed and evaluated using data obtained from 381 undergraduate students. Participants provided ratings of their male and female supervisors' power usage. Analysis indicates that the methods for detecting ordinal interactions recommended by Bobko & Strube are more appropriate than the traditional ANOVA. Furthermore, sexist ratings were observed for 3 of 6 power bases.
Diagnostic utility of aqueocentesis and aqueous humor analysis in dogs and cats with anterior uveitis.

Author(s): Wiggans, K Tomo; Vernau, William; Lappin, Michael R; Thomasy, Sara M; Maggs, David J | Abstract: ObjectiveTo evaluate diagnostic utility of aqueous humor analysis in animals with anterior uveitis.AnimalsClient-owned dogs (n = 12) and cats (n = 10).ProceduresExamination findings and diagnostic test results including aqueous humor cytology were compared.ResultsDisease duration prior to aqueocentesis was not significantly different between dogs with idiopathic anterior uveitis and those with an etiologic diagnosis, but was shorter in cats with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) than those with idiopathic uveitis. Microbial nucleic acids, antigens, or antibodies against them were seldom found in blood/serum; however, serum feline coronavirus titers ≥1:6400 were detected only in cats with FIP. Aqueous humor cytology was diagnostic in no cats and two dogs, both with neoplasia. Although aqueous humor contained predominantly neutrophils in cats with FIP and large reactive lymphocytes and plasma cells appeared more frequent in cats with idiopathic uveitis, neither clinical nor cytologic assessment of anterior chamber contents differed significantly between cats with idiopathic or FIP-associated uveitis. Cytologically assessed plasma cell number was correlated with keratic precipitates and disease duration. Clinically detectable hyphema and cytologic erythrocyte number were correlated. However, cytologic cell grades and clinical grade of flare or cell numbers within the anterior chamber were not correlated.ConclusionsAqueous humor cytology permitted diagnosis of neoplasia in dogs with anterior uveitis but was generally not helpful in cats. Poor correlation between clinical and cytologic assessment of cell numbers and type within the anterior chamber dictates that clinical grading should not be the sole criterion for electing to perform aqueocentesis.
A mathematical model of antigenic kinship of viruses

Abstract A combinatorial mathematical model describing the experimentally found diverse antigenic interconnections between different avian paramyxovirus (PMV) serotypes is suggested. According to the model, the whole network of antigenic interconnections is determined by the specific combinatorial sets of antigenic determinants, some of them being serotype-specific and the others being common with some other avian PMV serotypes. The suggested model is based on the postulates concerning PMV virion structure; bifunctional organization of PMV HN glycoprotein, its amount per virion and a mechanism of antibody-caused inhibition of its functional activities; a definition of an antigenic determinant as an elementary unit inducing and reacting only with a homologous type of antibodies. The suggested model through operating with mathematically expressed different definitions of antigenic kinship describes some experimental phenomena connected with interserotype antigenic relationships, especially, a long-ago-known but unexplainable phenomenon of asymmetric cross reactivity.
Neural Network Modulation by Trauma as a Marker of Resilience Differences Between Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Resilient Controls

Importance Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and resilience reflect 2 distinct outcomes after exposure to potentially traumatic events. The neural mechanisms underlying these different outcomes are not well understood. Objective To examine the effect of trauma on synchronous neural interactions for veterans with PTSD and resilient controls using magnetoencephalography. Design Participants underwent diagnostic interviews, a measure of exposure to potentially traumatic events, and magnetoencephalography. Setting US Department of Veterans Affairs medical center. Participants Eighty-six veterans with PTSD and 113 resilient control veterans recruited from a large Midwestern medical center. Main Outcome Measures Multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the effect of lifetime trauma on global and local synchronous neural interactions. In analyses examining the local synchronous neural interactions, the partial regression coefficient indicates the strength and direction of the effect of trauma on the synchronous interactions between the 2 neural signals recorded by a pair of sensors. The partial regression coefficient, or slope, is the primary outcome measure for these analyses. Results Global synchronous neural interactions were significantly modulated downward with increasing lifetime trauma scores in resilient control veterans (P = .003) but not in veterans with PTSD (P = .91). This effect, which was primarily characterized by negative slopes (ie, decorrelations) in small neural networks, was strongest in the right superior temporal gyrus. Significant negative slopes were more common, stronger, and observed between sensors at shorter distances than positive slopes in both hemispheres (P Conclusions Neural modulation involving decorrelation of neural networks in the right superior temporal gyrus and, to a lesser extent, other areas distinguishes resilient veterans from those with PTSD and is postulated to have an important role in healthy response to trauma.
Lack of correlation of T and B lymphocytes with stage of colorectal carcinoma

Total lymphocyte counts and T and B lymphocytes were measured preoperatively in 19 patients with colorectal carcinoma. No correlation between lymphocyte levels and tumor stage was found. It is concluded that enumeration of T and B lymphocytes in adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum would not be helpful in predicting disease status.
Introducing Students to Plant Geography: Polar Ordination Applied to Hanging Gardens

Abstract In biogeography, researchers often use gradient analysis to reveal relations between plant community structure and physical, disturbance, and spatial variables. Although the relations addressed are fundamental and pedagogically critical, the statistical ordination methods currently used to investigate these relations demand more mathematical and statistical expertise than most undergraduates have at their command. An early version of ordination is, however, easier for students to grasp and easier for instructors to teach. Here we demonstrate the application of this method to species abundance data from hanging gardens and hypothesized controlling factors. The results of the analysis indicate that the vegetative composition of infrequently flooded gardens may be related to locational variables, but the interpretation may be affected by multicollinearity, while that of frequently flooded gardens has much weaker relations to the environmental variables considered.
Interventions into group process: An approach to improving the effectiveness of groups

Some new directions for research on group effectiveness are proposed. These include: (a) explicit recognition of group interaction process as the moderator of input-output relationships in groups; (b) research which focuses on the functions of group interaction in influencing group performance; and (c) use of experimental interventions which create new, non-typical patterns of interpersonal behavior in groups as an approach to studying group effectiveness. The results of two studies based on these proposals are summarized. One study examines the effectiveness of implicit vs. explicit discussion of group task “strategies”; the other addresses the effects of implicit (“traditional”) vs. explicit (“adaptive”) approaches to the maintenance of internal social relationships in work groups. Implications of the research are drawn both for future research on group effectiveness, and for the design of interventions aimed at improving the performance of on-going groups in organizations.
Assessment of Long-term Trends in the Oxygen Resources of a Recovering Urban Lake, Onondaga Lake, New York

Abstract Long-term trends in dissolved oxygen (DO) resources are documented for ionically enriched, hypereutrophic Onondaga Lake, New York, for 1978–2002. Assessments of oxygen resources are based on DO profiles of 1 m resolution conducted hourly to weekly during April-October. Closure of an industry that operated on the lake's shore until 1986 resulted in an abrupt decrease in primary production and organic carbon deposition and marked changes in hypolimnetic and epilimnetic DO regimes. The hypolimnetic DO response was gradual, reflecting the influence of sediment feedback. The onset of complete hypolimnetic anoxia, which occurred by early June through the 1980s, took place approximately one month later over 1997–2002. The anoxic factor decreased significantly over the study interval, from 97±5 d to 67±2 d. Epilimnetic DO concentrations responded rapidly to the abrupt change in lake metabolism. Before closure of the industry, 41% of the April to mid-September DO observations deviated from saturation conc...
“Toy” presses and the rise of fugitive U.S. government documents

Abstract This article examines the policies and practices of U.S. executive branch printing during the 1930s. Particular attention is given to such issues as the lack of congressional guidance and support; the development and use of new printing technologies, which enabled the executive departments to exercise greater administrative control over printing; and the diminished authority of the Public Printer. All of this contributed to the growth of fugitive U.S. government documents. The number of parallels with present-day government information is remarkable.
Thermal Properties of Carbon and Graphite Foams

Thermal properties such as specific heat, thermal diffusivity, and thermal conductivity of carbon and graphite foams are very important in the engineering design process and analysis of aerospace vehicles as well as space systems. These properties are also important in power generation, transportation, and energy storage devices including fuel cells. Thermal conductivity is the property that determines the working temperature levels of the material; it plays a critical role in the performance of materials in high temperature applications and it is an important parameter in problems involving heat transfer and thermal structures.The objective of this paper is to develop a thermal properties data base for carbon and graphite foams. Carbon foams are commercially produced from urethane, petroleum pitch-based and coal-based processes, and they typically have large pores (> 350 μm) and low density (< 1.0 g/cm3). Petroleum pitch-base and coal-base carbon/graphite foams can be tailored to be thermally conductive or thermally insulating.The thermophysical properties of carbon and graphite foams have been investigated using experimental methods. The flash method was used to measure the thermal diffusivity of the foams; this method is based on America Society for Testing and Materials standard (ASTM E1461). In addition, the Differential Scanning Calorimeter was used in accordance with the ASTM E1269 standard to measure the specific heat. The measured thermal diffusivity, specific heat, and density data were used to compute the thermal conductivity of the foams.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Indexing Government Programs for Changes in the Cost of Living

This article presents social cost-of-living indexes constructed from an econometric model of aggregate consumer behavior. The econometric price index has the same average inflation rate as a Tornqvist price index over the period 1947–1995 but rises less rapidly after 1973. Group cost-of-living indexes are presented for white and nonwhite, male- and female-headed, and elderly and nonelderly households. Elderly households have experienced a slightly higher rate of inflation than the nonelderly since 1980. We recommend indexing government programs, such as Social Security, by social and group cost-of-living indexes rather that the Consumer Price Index.
Synthesis of periodic hexagonal surfactant templated platinum tin tellurides: narrow band gap inorganic/organic composites.

In this work we report the synthesis and characterization of a new nanostructured platinum/tin/telluride inorganic/surfactant composite. The material is synthesized from soluble SnTe44- clusters and is shown to have well-defined nanometer scale periodicity along with unique optical properties. Small-angle X-ray scattering indicates that the material forms with a 2D hexagonal honeycomb structure, which is size tunable based on surfactant tail length. Multinuclear EXAFS is used as a probe of local order in these materials. The results indicate that the tetrahedral SnTe4 unit dimerizes during assembly, and these clusters are coordinated to square planar platinum ions. Near-IR/visible reflectance spectroscopy indicates that the material is a narrow band gap semiconductor with a band gap of 0.8 eV. The extension of the ideas of surfactant templating to a narrow band gap semiconductor opens up the exciting potential for future optoelectronic applications.
Some spectral results on rank one symmetric spaces

Let X be a rank one symmetric space of dimension n and let A, be its LaplaceBeltrami operator. It is well known [l] that the spectrum of A, consists of the points A, = aK2 + PK, K = 0, I , 2 ,..., (O*l) where OL and ,8 are appropriate constants. Each of the eigenvalues (0.1) occurs with high multiplicity. Indeed if NK is the multiplicity of A, then NK Const K”-‘. (0.2) The numbers a and p occurring in (0.1) are easily computable from the geometry of X. In fact 01 = (277/T)* and j3 = (2rr/T)*o, (0.3) where T is the period of a typical closed geodesic on X and u is the number of conjugate points along the closed geodesic counted with multiplicity. (See [2].) Because of (0.1) it is natural to consider instead of the standard Laplace-Beltrami operator on X the operator PO = Ao/” + pa/4LXs. P,, is positive, and the spectrum of Pi” consists of the points pK = K + a/2. (0.4)
RECONCILING CONFLICTING COMBINATORIAL PREPROCESSORS FOR GEOMETRIC CONSTRAINT SYSTEMS

Polynomial equation systems arising from real applications often have associated combinatorial information, expressible as graphs and underlying matroids. To simplify the system and improve its numerical robustness before attempting to solve it with numeric-algebraic techniques, solvers can employ graph algorithms to extract substructures satisfying or optimizing various combinatorial properties. When there are underlying matroids, these algorithms can be greedy and efficient. In practice, correct and effective merging of the outputs of different graph algorithms to simultaneously satisfy their goals is a key challenge. This paper merges and improves two highly effective but separate graph-based algorithms that preprocess systems for resolving the relative position and orientation of a collection of incident rigid bodies. Such collections naturally arise in many situations, for example in the recombination of decomposed large geometric constraint systems. Each algorithm selects a subset of incidences, one...
The Ugly Scholar: Neocolonialism and Ethical Issues in International Research.

As a discipline, sociology has had to confront criticism of the nature and ends of sociological research and ethnical dilemmas in the study of social problems and people. Over time guidelines have appeared to aid in protecting subjects and colleagues (e.g., the ASA Code of Ethics) and to guarantee research standards (e.g., the peer-reviewed proposal process, human subjects committees). However, guidelines tend not to address the challenges sociologists face in international research. This results in unpleasant experiences and potentially endangers research and researcher alike. This articles responds to the gap in the literature on ethical issues in international research. It draws on writings by social scientists and from the author’s experience in Latin America.
Distribution of acetylcholine in the normal and denervated pigeon ciliary ganglion

Abstract A gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer has been used for the positive identification and estimation of acetylcholine (ACh) in normal and denervated adult pigeon ciliary ganglia. The measurements for the denervated ganglia were done 1–15 days after surgical section of the oculomotor nerve. Ganglionic transmission is blocked from 2 to 13 days after nerve section 21 . Histological observation of the cellular elements was done with electron microscopic techniques. ACh (as chloride) is distributed in the normal ganglia as follows: 3 ng/mm in the intraganglionic branches of the oculomotor nerves; 20–22 ng in the presynaptic nerve terminals; 8 ng in the ganglion cells, and 2 ng/mm in the intraganglionic branches of the postganglionic nerves. It has been estimated that 1.2 pg of ACh is in each cell soma. The level of ACh in presynaptic elements (intraganglionic branches of the oculomotor nerve and nerve terminals) decreases to a residual value of 1–2 ng/mm of ACh after 5 days of denervation. This value was measured in the distal stump of the degenerating oculomotor nerve. ACh also decreases in the postsynaptic elements (ganglion cells and nerves) especially after 5 days, reaching levels of less than 1 ng after 10 days. ACh levels tend to increase after 15 days when reinnervation occurs. It is postulated that the amount of ACh present in the postsynaptic elements depends upon the integrity of the presynaptic element and that probably this transsynaptic effect in the ACh synthesis is mediated through regulation of choline acetyltransferase. It is also speculated that the ACh measured in the denervated stump is present in the Schwann cell.
Objective Predictions of Thunderstorm Location and Severity for Aviation

This paper presents a computerized technique for medium-range (12-48 h) prediction of both the location and severity of thunderstorms, utilizing atmospheric predictions from the National Meteorological Center's limitedarea fine mesh model. A regional-scale analysis scheme is first used to examine the spatial and temporal distribution of forecasted variables associated with the structure and dynamics of mesoscale systems over an area of approximately 10 km . The final prediction of thunderstorm location and severity is based upon an objective combination of these regionally analyzed variables. Medium-range thunderstorm predictions are presented for the late afternoon period of April 10, 1979, the day of the Wichita Falls, Texas tornado. The National Severe Storms Forecast Center's operational predictions are presented with the case study to demonstrate the possible application of this objective technique in improving 12-48-h thunderstorm forecasts for aviation.
Field verification of 40G DPSK upgrade in a legacy 10G network

We report verification of 1,200 km field upgrade of 10G NRZ wavelengths with 40G DPSK channels. Non symmetric dispersion map results in pronounced intra-channel nonlinear effect, which could be significantly reduced by dispersion pre-compensation.
Assessment of Aircraft Icing Potential and Maximum Icing Altitude from Geostationary Meteorological Satellite Data

Abstract A satellite product that displays regions of aircraft icing potential, along with corresponding cloud-top heights, has been developed using data from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) imager and sounder. The icing product, referred to as the Icing Enhanced Cloud-top Altitude Product (ICECAP), is created hourly for the continental United States and southern Canada, and is color coded to show cloud-top altitudes in 1.9-km (6000 ft) intervals. Experimental ICECAP images became routinely available on the Internet during the spring of 2004. Verification of separate ICECAP components (imager icing potential and sounder cloud-top heights) using aircraft pilot reports (PIREPs) indicates that the product provides useful guidance on the spatial coverage and maximum altitude of current icing conditions, but not icing intensity, stratification, or minimum altitude. The imager icing potential component of ICECAP was compared with the operational 40-km resolution National Weather Ser...