cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiple-stepped Zeeman field offset method applied in acquiring enhanced resolution spin-echo electron paramagnetic resonance images.

Purpose: Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) imaging techniques provide quantitative in vivo oxygen distribution images. Time-domain techniques including electron spin echo (ESE) imaging have been under study in recent years for their robustness and promising new features. One of the limitations of ESE imaging addressed here is the finite acquisition frequency bandwidth, which imposes limits on applied magnetic field gradients and the resulting image spatial resolution. In order to improve the image spatial resolution, we have extended the effective frequency bandwidth of the imaging system by acquiring projections at multiple Zeeman magnetic field offsets and combining them to restore complete projections obtained with more uniform frequency response, resulting in higher quality images. Methods: In multiple-stepped magnetic field or multi-B scheme, every projection of the three dimensional object is acquired at different main or Zeeman magnetic field (B) offset values. The data from field offset steps are combined, normalizing to the imaging system frequency acquisition window function, a sensitivity profile, to restore the complete projection. A multipurpose pulse EPR imager and phantoms containing the same type of spin probe (OX063H) used in routine animal imaging were also used in this study. Results: Using the multi-B method, we were able to acquire images of our phantoms with enhanced spatial resolution compared to the conventional ESE approach. Compared to standard single-B ESE images, the T2 resolutions of multi-B images were superior using a high spatial-resolution regime. Image artifacts present in high-gradient single-B ESE images are also substantially reduced using in the multi-B scheme. Conclusions: The multi-B method is less susceptible to instrumental limitations for larger gradient fields and acquiring images with higher spatial resolution better overall quality, without the need to alter the existing pulse ESE image acquisition hardware.
Repeated neurotensin administration in the ventral tegmental area: effects on baseline and D-amphetamine-induced locomotor activity.

Abstract Microinjections of neurotensin (NT) into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the rat increases locomotor activity. This effect on locomotion is potentiated by daily infustions of NT; in contrast a different injection schedule, i.e. every 48 h, had no such effect. In addition, daily NT injections in the VTA do not alter the locomotor response to a relatively low dose (0.5 mg/kg) of d -amphetamine. These results provide further evidence that NT can modulate the mesolimbic dopamine pathway.
Acoustic Trauma in the Guinea Pig: I. Electrophysiology and Histology

Guinea pigs were exposed to a 500-cps tone at 128 dB SPL for 20 minutes. The acute animals had electrophysiological recordings by differential cochlear electrodes before and after exposure. The cochlear microphonic from Turn 3 showed (on average) a threshold shift of 51 dB and reduction of maximum voltage of 12 dB, while Turn 1 showed a shift of 20 dB and a reduction of voltage of 6 dB. Hair cell injury was proportional to the threshold shift (range 25–85 dB), but inversely related to a split sometimes seen between the Hensen's and Deiters' cells in Turn 3. Such a split apparently protected the organ of Corti. An inner ear conductive loss is postulated as the protective mechanism. In the recovery animals measurements were made 14 days after exposure and compared with normal values. Appreciable recovery occurs. Losses in Turn 1 are smaller but show less recovery.
Responsible Authorship and Peer Review

In this article the basic principles of responsible authorship and peer review are surveyed, with special emphasis on (a) guidelines for refereeing archival journal articles and proposals; and (b) how these guidelines should be taken into account at all stages of writing.
Crystal growth of gallium nitride in supercritical ammonia

Abstract Single crystals of gallium nitride were grown in supercritical ammonia at 400°C and 2.4 kbar. Solubilization of the GaN feedstock was accomplished through the use of a mineralizer which is a mixture of KNH 2 and KI. Two different crystal morophologies were obtained; rods and hexagonal plates. In both cases, plate growth occurs mainly perpendicular to the hexagonal axis. Although the largest crystals (0.5×0.2×0.1 mm 3 ) isolated thus far are smaller than those obtained by high nitrogen pressure methods, supercritical ammonia holds the potential to be the low-temperature rival of the current methods.
Rumination and vomiting in Prader-Willi syndrome

Inability to vomit has been cited as characteristic of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Although post-prandial vomiting after gastric by-pass surgery has been reported, neither vomiting under "typical" circumstances or rumination have been described. Prompted by the discovery of several cases of vomiting and rumination, a questionnaire was sent to members of the PWS Association. Approximately 36% (113/313) of affected individuals reportedly experienced at least one episode of vomiting. Induced vomiting was unsuccessful in 9 of 14 cases in whom results were known. However, no complications of Ipecac were reported. We suggest that there is an alteration in the physiologic set-point at which vomiting occurs, leading to a decreased propensity to vomit. Liberal and strict definitions of rumination yielded 15.7% and 10.2% positive responses, respectively. Rumination was associated with a history of vomiting. Enamel deterioration consistent with rumination has been observed, and such changes should be looked for in all PWS children. In several instances, rumination was found to decrease when very strict weight control was lessened. Certain individuals may ruminate under too strict a weight control program, and weight control goals should be evaluated to achieve a reasonable compromise between ideal weight and obesity. Vomiting and rumination do not rule out the diagnosis of PWS.
The California Earthquake Insurance Program: Developments in 1990

Abstract In the 1989‐1990 legislative session, the state of California enacted over 130 bills related to earthquake safety. Among those was the passage of the Green, Hill, Areias, Farr California Residential Earthquake Recovery Act (SB 2902) establishing mandatory earthquake insurance for all single‐family dwellings with homeowners insurance in the state. The reasons why and how this legislation was enacted are examined, as are the act's contents and implications for future legislation. The impact of this act on a national earthquake insurance program is also explored.
Interactions of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol with melittin

Melittin dissolved in 42% trifluoroethanol-water at pH 2 has been shown to be alpha-helical between residues 6 and 12 and between residues 13 and 25, with the two helical regions separated by a bend at the Leu13 residue. The inter-helix angle was found to be 154 +/- 3 degrees at 0 degrees C and 135 +/- 3 degrees at 25 degrees C. The dominant conformation of the peptide is thus similar to those observed by previous workers for the peptide in a variety of media. At 25 degrees C, intermolecular nuclear Overhauser effects arising from nuclear spin dipole-dipole interactions between melittin hydrogens and fluorines of the solvent are essentially those expected for a system that is homogeneous as regards concentration and translational diffusion of the peptide and fluoroalcohol components. However, at 0 degrees C, peptide-trifluoroethanol cross-relaxation terms are negative, a result consistent with the conclusion that fluoroalcohol molecules associate with the peptide for times (approximately 1 ns) that are long compared to the time of a typical peptide-fluoroalcohol diffusive encounter (approximately 0.2 ns). Such interactions may be responsible for the reduction of the translational diffusion coefficient of trifluoroethanol produced by dissolved peptides.
Investigation of the PARK10 Gene in Parkinson Disease

Summary Two recent association mapping studies in Parkinson disease (PD) reported three candidate genes for the PARK10 locus: EIF2B3 as a modifier of age-at-onset of PD (min P= 0.0004) and HIVEP3 as a PD risk gene (P ≤ 0.006) (Oliveira et al. 2005); and LOC200008 (CDCP2) identified by the whole genome association (WGA) study of PD of Maraganore et al. (2005). However, evaluation of the on-line PD WGA results revealed two significant SNPs in HIVEP3 in the two datasets, Tier 1 and Tier 2, used by Maraganore et al. (P ≤ 0.008 for Tier 1 and P=0.03 for Tier 2 dataset). Here, we revisited both the HIVEP3 and CDCP2 loci by examining 47 SNPs, mostly tagging, in an expanded PD family dataset (293 multiplex and 467 singleton families). A discordant sibpair (DSP) dataset (one DSP per family), with similar data structure as the WGA Tier 1 dataset, was also tested. We confirmed our and other previous negative findings for CDCP2. However, five significant SNPs in HIVEP3 (min P=0.004) were observed, although the two significant HIVEP3 SNPs from the PD WGA study were not significant in our datasets. Even though the sets of significant HIVEP3 markers differ between studies, these findings strongly support HIVEP3 as a candidate for PARK10. Further testing of HIVEP3 by other groups is encouraged.
Expeditious Disclosure of Sexual History via Polygraph Testing: Treatment Outcome and Sex Offense Recidivism

Self-disclosure of problematic behavioral history and the timeliness of full disclosure were explored as indicators of treatment responsivity and possible predictors of sexual recidivism. Specifically, this study evaluated the relationships among the variables of expeditious full disclosure of sexual history (measured via polygraph testing), treatment completion status, and sexual recidivism within a sample of 192 convicted sex offenders on probation/parole. The study compared a group of non-expeditious disclosers with expeditious disclosers across several variables (i.e., risk score/level, age of full disclosure, presence of sexual deviance, psychopathy, and denial). The independent variable of expeditious disclosure was defined as having disclosed sexually deviant behavioral history sufficient to produce a “no significant reaction” result on a sexual history polygraph examination (within 12 months of treatment program intake). A 5-year sexual recidivism follow-up period was utilized. Univariate analyses...
Effect of Microscopic Surface Roughness in Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption Spectrometry

A surface selection rule has previously been proposed for surface-enhanced infrared absorption that is analogous to the corresponding rule for bulk metals, in that molecular vibrations whose dipole moment change is perpendicular to the surface of the metal will be observable, and those vibrations whose dipole moment change is parallel will be forbidden. In the present study, it was observed that these selection rules may not be applicable under all circumstances, due to the roughness of the metal surface. It was also postulated that there may be more than one type of adsorbate species, either due to different surface sites or due to different adsorption geometry. In some cases, the surface selection rule is obeyed, and in others it appears to be broken.
Wolverines and declining snowpack: response to comments

The critiques by DeVink et al. (2010) and McKelvey et al. (2010) are flawed for several reasons. We show here that, contrary to what DeVink et al. claim, the influence of annual pelt price on wolverine harvest returns is essentially negligible. DeVink et al. also suggest that our results show the influence of snowpack on trapper success, rather than on actual wolverine population dynamics. This is unlikely, since most of the snowpack terms in our models are at 1- or 2-year time lags, whereas the impact of snow conditions on trapper success can only manifest in the current year. Both DeVink et al. and McKelvey et al. claim that wolverine populations across Canada are actually increasing, but provide no quantitative data to support this claim. Both sets of authors present alternative explanations for the declines in harvest returns, but none of those explanations are mutually exclusive with our own, and none can explain the significance of time-lagged snowpack on annual harvest returns. McKelvey et al.’s claim that our results represent a spurious correlation, as well as other points that they raise, suggests either a superficial understanding or deliberate misrepresentation of our methods and can simply reflect their underlying philosophical biases.
Reconsidering the Doorstep‐delivery System in the Bangladesh Family Planning Program

The government of Bangladesh is currently testing and implementing strategies to change its family planning (FP) program from a reliance on field-workers who conduct home visits to a conventional fixed-site delivery system. Researchers have made two suggestions: First the program should encourage women to switch from nonclinical methods delivered by FP workers to more cost-effective clinical methods such as sterilization and second field-workers should not be resupplying nonclinical methods but should focus their attention on motivating nonusers to practice contraception. Longitudinal data from the Maternal and Child Health-FP Extension Project of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh are analyzed to show that a better strategy might be to target visits to women according to their educational level and area of residence. For uneducated women living far from clinics access to contraceptives is likely to be a problem and home visits for resupply might have a larger impact on the contraceptive prevalence rate than would field- workers visits to motivate nonusers. (authors)
Oral anticoagulation strategies after a first idiopathic venous thromboembolic event

Abstract Purpose The optimal duration and intensity of warfarin therapy after a first idiopathic venous thromboembolic event are uncertain. We used decision analysis to evaluate clinical and economic outcomes of different anticoagulation strategies with warfarin. Methods We built a Markov model to assess 6 strategies to treat 40- to 80-year-old men and women after their first idiopathic venous thromboembolic event: 3-month, 6-month, 12-month, 24-month, and unlimited-duration conventional-intensity anticoagulation (International Normalized Ratio, 2–3) and unlimited-duration low-intensity anticoagulation (International Normalized Ratio, 1.5-2). The model incorporated age- and sex-specific clinical parameters, utilities, and costs. Using a societal perspective, we compared strategies based on quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), lifetime costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Results In our baseline analysis, incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were lower in younger patients and in men, reflecting the higher bleeding risk at older ages, and the lower risk of recurrence among women. Based on a willingness-to-pay of Conclusion Longer initial conventional-intensity anticoagulation is cost-effective in younger patients while 3 months of anticoagulation is preferred in elderly patients. Patient age, sex, clinical factors, and patient preferences should be incorporated into medical decision making when selecting an appropriate anticoagulation strategy.
Conservative management of pneumatosis intestinalis.

Background Pneumatosis intestinalis is a rare condition characterized by subserosal and submucosal gas-filled cysts in the gastrointestinal tract; it may be associated with bowel ischemia, perforation, and a high mortality rate. As a result, many authorities advocate an aggressive surgical approach in patients with pneumatosis intestinalis. Case A 53-year-old female with recurrent, metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma underwent resection of the pelvic recurrence, low anterior rectal resection with primary anastomosis, and partial hepatectomy for liver metastasis. Her postoperative course was notable for a small bowel obstruction and the finding of pneumatosis intestinalis on radiologic studies. The patient developed mild abdominal pain. She did not develop tenderness or fevers. She was managed with bowel rest, nasogastric tube decompression, total parenteral nutrition, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. The finding of pneumatosis intestinalis resolved over the ensuing 6 days. Her diet was slowly advanced, and she was discharged home in stable condition without further surgical intervention or recurrence of the obstruction or pneumatosis. Currently, her only evidence of disease is pulmonary metastases. Conclusions In select patients, the outcome of a conservative approach to the management of pneumatosis intestinalis is not much different than surgical re-exploration for highly selected patients. The clinical condition of the patient, not solely the finding of pneumatosis intestinalis, should drive management in these cases.
Impulsive Interplanetary Transfers for Prescribed Launch Date

A method of solution, suitable also for hand computation, to determine all of the twoand threedimensional ballistic interplanetary transfer trajectoiies which exist for a chosen launch date is outlined. Eccentricities of the planetary orbits have been taken into account. A new optimality condition tha t isolates those transfer orbits requiring a minimum of characteristic velocity is also derived. Numerical results of some Earth-to-Mars transfers for arbitrarily selected departure dates are summarized in a series of curves tha t display characteristic velocity expenditures and departure velocity orientation for trips of various durations. When the initial location of the planets is not specified a priori, an optimal mode of transfer exists for every transfer angle chosen. Specification of planetary configuration at departure acts as a constraint on the motion and causes optimal trajectories to occur only for discrete values of transfer angle. Unlike the coplanar case, threedimensional transfers give rise to two regions of minimal velocity, separated by a narrow inaccessible belt of transfer angles in the vicinity of 180°, which correspond to departures at right angles to the ecliptic plane.
Preparation of new (η5-C5H4CH3)Mn(NO)(PPh3) and (η7-C7H7)Mo(CO)-(PPh3) complexes

Abstract The complex (η 5 -C 5 H 4 CH 3 )Mn(NO)(PPh 3 )I has been prepared by the reaction of NaI with [(η 5 -C 5 H 4 CH 3 )Mn(NO)(CO)(PPh 3 )] + and also by the reaction of [(η 5 -C 5 H 4 CH 3 )Mn(NO)(CO) 2 ] + with NaI followed by PPh 3 . This iodide compound reacts with NaCN to yield (η 5 -C 5 H 4 CH 3 )Mn(NO)(PPh 3 )CN which is ethylated by [(C 2 H 5 ) 3 O]BF 4 to yield [(η 5 -C 5 H 4 CH 3 )Mn(NO)(PPh 3 )(CNC 2 H 5 )] + . Both [(η 5 -C 5 H 4 CH 3 )Mn(NO)(CO) 2 ] + and [(η 5 -C 5 H 4 CH 3 )Mn(NO)(PPh 3 )(CO)] + react with NaCN to yield [(η 5 -C 5 H 4 CH 3 )Mn(NO)(CN) 2 ] − . This anion reacts with Ph 3 SnCl to yield cis -(η 5 -C 5 H 4 CH 3 )Mn(NO)(CN) 2 SnPh 3 and with [(C 2 -H 5 ) 3 O]BF 4 to yield [(η 5 -C 5 H 4 CH 3 )Mn(NO)(CNC 2 H 5 ) 2 ] + . The reaction of (η 5 -C 5 -H 4 CH 3 )Mn(NO)(PPh 3 )I with AgBF 4 in acetonitrile yields [(η 5 -C 5 H 4 CH 3 )Mn-(NO)(PPh 3 )(NCCH 3 )] + . The complex (η 5 -C 5 H 4 CH 3 )Mn(NO)(CO)I, produced in the reaction of [(η 5 -C 5 H 4 CH 3 )Mn(NO)(CO) 2 ] + with NaI, is not stable and decomposes to the dimeric complex (η 5 -C 5 H 4 CH 3 ) 2 Mn 2 (NO) 3 I for which a reasonable structure is proposed. Similar dimers can be prepared from the other halide salts. The reaction of (η 7 -C 7 H 7 )Mo(CO)(PPh 3 )I with NaCN yields (η 7 -C 7 -H 7 )Mo(CO)(PPh 3 )CN which is ethylated by [(C 2 H 5 ) 3 O]BF 4 to yield [(η 7 -C 7 H 7 )-Mo(CO)(PPh 3 )(CNC 2 H 5 )] + . The interaction of this molybdenum halide complex with AgBF 4 in acetonitrile and pyridine yields [(η 7 -C 7 H 7 )Mo(CO)(PPh 3 )-(NCCH 3 )] + and [(η 7 -C 7 H 7 )Mo(CO)(PPh 3 )(NC 5 H 5 )] + , respectively. Both (η 5 -C 5 -H 4 CH 3 )Mn(NO)(PPh 3 )I and (η 7 -C 7 H 7 )Mo(CO)(PPh 3 )I are oxidized by NOPF 6 to the respective 17-electron cations in acetonitrile at −78°C but revert to the neutral halide complex at room temperature. This result is supported by electrochemical data.
Pathological wave dynamics: a postulate for sudden cardiac death in athletes.

Sudden death (SD) in young athletes is a shocking and disturbing event with significant societal impact. Previous studies have demonstrated that sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading medical cause of SD in athletes. Various structural and pathological cardiovascular abnormalities have identified as the underlying causes of SCD in young athletes. However, there have been reported cases of SCD in athletes with no structural or pathological cardiovascular disorders. Our proposed hypothesis in this article is that abnormalities in aortic wave dynamics and coronary wave dynamics may be responsible for SCD in these athletes. These abnormal waves—pathological waves—can act as a trigger toward cardiac death in the presence of cardiovascular diseases. These waves may initiate SCD in the absence of apparent cardiovascular abnormalities. In summary, when the aortic and coronary wave dynamics are abnormal, the myocardial oxygen demand can exceed the oxygen delivery during exercise, hence creating acute ischemia which leads to death. It is explained in this article how increased oxygen demand may be the result of pathological aortic waves while reduced oxygen delivery is mainly due to pathological coronary waves. Additionally, our pathological wave hypothesis is able to provide a plausible explanation for Commotio Cordis.
Regularity for minimizers of certain degenerate functionals with non-standard growth conditions

(1991). Regulaity for minimizers of certain degenerate functionals with non-standard growth conditions. Communications in Partial Differential Equations: Vol. 16, No. 2-3, pp. 363-372.
Radioimmunodetection of colorectal cancer

This study examines the accuracy of colorectal cancer radioimmunodetection. Twenty-seven patients with a history of histologically-confirmed colonic or rectal carcinoma received a high-titer, purified goat anti-CEA IgG labelled with 131-I at a total dose of at least 1.0 muCi. Various body views were scanned at 24 and 48 hours after administration of the radioantibody. Three additional cases were evaluated; one had a villous adenoma in the rectum and received the 131-I-labelled anti-CEA IgG, while two colonic carcinoma patients received normal goat IgG labelled with 131-I. All of the 7 cases with primary colorectal cancer showed true-positive tumor localization, while 20 of 25 sites of metastatic colorectal cancer detected by immune scintigraphy were corroborated by other detection measures. The sensitivity of the radioimmunodetection of colorectal cancers (primary and metastatic) was found to be 90% (true-positive rate), the putative specificity (true-negative rate) was 94%, and the appraent overall accuracy of the technique was 93%. Neither the case of a villous adenoma receiving the anti-CEA IgG nor the two cases of colonic cancer receiving normal goat IgG showed tumor radiolocalization. Very high circulating CEA titers did not appear to hinder successful tumor radiolocalization. These findings suggest that in colorectal cancers the method of CEA radioimmunodetection may be of value in preoperatively determining the location and extent of disease, in assessing possible recurrence or spread postoperatively, and in localizing the source of CEA production in patients with rising or elevated CEA titers. An ancilliary benefit could be a more tumor-specific detection test for confirming the findings of other, more conventional diagnostic measures.
Efficacy of intramuscular and intraperitoneal deferoxamine for aluminum chelation.

As intravenous administration of deferoxamine is difficult in home dialysis patients we set out to determine the efficacy of intramuscular (i.m.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) deferoxamine for removal of aluminum. Patients with serum aluminum levels greater than 90 micrograms/liter were studied in a paired fashion with each patient serving as their own control. Serum and peritoneal fluid aluminum were determined using flameless atomic absorption. In hemodialysis patients 2 g of intravenous deferoxamine increased serum aluminum from 124.7 +/- 32.4 to 415 +/- 192.4 micrograms/liter. One g of deferoxamine given intravenously or intramuscularly resulted in 76.8 +/- 35.3% and 70.4 +/- 23.2%, respectively, of the 2 g i.v. response. The rate at which serum aluminum increased following i.v. deferoxamine infusion was biphasic, with an initial rapid phase lasting 139 minutes followed by a much slower phase. The volume of distribution of aluminum following deferoxamine administration was 12.6 +/- 1.61 and the half life (t1/2) for aluminum removal during hemodialysis was 9.0 +/- 2.0 hours. The increase in serum aluminum following deferoxamine was not due to chelation of erythrocyte aluminum as erythrocyte aluminum remained constant over 24 hours. In patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, 2 g intravenous deferoxamine resulted in the removal of 560 +/- 267 micrograms of aluminum over 24 hours while 2 g deferoxamine given intraperitoneally gave 91 +/- 13% of the intravenous response. Aluminum clearance over 48 hours was twice that for 24 hours for both i.v. and i.p. deferoxamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Normal Force and Drag Force in Magnetorheological Finishing

The material removal in magnetorheological finishing (MRF) is known to be controlled by shear stress, λ, which equals drag force, F d , divided by spot area, As. However, it is unclear how the normal force, F n , affects the material removal in MRF and how the measured ratio of drag force to normal force F d / F n , equivalent to coefficient of friction, is related to material removal. This work studies, for the first time for MRF, the normal force and the measured ratio Fd/Fn as a function of material mechanical properties. Experimental data were obtained by taking spots on a variety of materials including optical glasses and hard ceramics with a spot-taking machine (STM). Drag force and normal force were measured with a dual load cell. Drag force decreases linearly with increasing material hardness. In contrast, normal force increases with hardness for glasses, saturating at high hardness values for ceramics. Volumetric removal rate decreases with normal force across all materials. The measured ratio F d / F n shows a strong negative linear correlation with material hardness. Hard materials exhibit a low "coefficient of friction". The volumetric removal rate increases with the measured ratio F d / F n which is also correlated with shear stress, indicating that the measured ratio F d / F n is a useful measure of material removal in MRF.
Gamma-gamma directional correlation in Ba136 and Mo94

The gamma-gamma directional correlation was measured for the 1.065 to 0.830 Mev gamma cascade in Ba/sup 136/ and for the 0.700 to 0.874 Mev cascade in Mo/sup 94/. The experimental correlation is compatible with either a 4/sup +/ (Q)2/sup +/ (Q)O/sup +/ or a 2/sup +/(D + Q)2/sup +/(Q)O/sup +/ level sequence for the lowest states in either nucleus. A 2/sup +/ assignment for the second excited state leads to a predominantly Ml transition between the second and first excited state, e.g., the quadrupolei content in Ba/sup 136/ is 2.7 plus or minus 0.6%, that of Mo/sup 94/ is 4. 4 plus or minus 0.4%. (auth)
Proposed model for the effect of Ge-doping on the acoustic properties of silica fibers

We propose an analytical model for the effects of Ge doping on the longitudinal acoustic modulus and acoustic damping coefficient in silica optical fibers. The model is found to fit extremely well to experimental data.
Utilizing the effect of relative delay on energy dissipation in low-power on-chip buses

This paper presents an analysis of how the power dissipation of on-chip buses is affected by introducing a relative delay between the switching lines. Relative delay is shown to reduce the dissipated power of oppositely switching lines while causing a power penalty for similarly switching lines. A new low-power bus scheme that uses this effect is proposed and analyzed. As the introduced delay increases, the achieved power reduction increases while decreasing the bus throughput. Thus, a tradeoff between power reduction and throughput is required when selecting the imposed relative delay. The proposed low-power scheme, dynamic delayed line bus (DDL) scheme, led to a power reduction of up to 25%, 33%, and 42% when applied to data, address, and differential buses, respectively. Simple DDL hardware is designed and implemented in a 0.18-/spl mu/m TSMC CMOS technology and applied to a 4500-/spl mu/m long Metal4 bus. Circuit simulation results for different bus widths are presented.
Multiple conflict-driven control mechanisms in the human brain

Conflict between competing neural representations is thought to serve as an internal signal for the recruitment of 'cognitive control', which resolves conflict by biasing information processing in line with current task demands. Because conflict can occur at different levels of stimulus and response representations, several recent investigations have examined whether conflict-driven cognitive control is domain-general or domain-specific, that is, whether control recruited by one type of conflict affects the resolution of another, but these studies have produced contrary conclusions. I argue here that a critical reading of this literature indicates that the effects of conflict-driven control are domain-specific and are probably mediated by multiple, independent conflict-control loops that can operate in parallel.
Polyamine stress at high pH in Escherichia coli K-12

Background Polyamines such as spermine and spermidine are required for growth of Escherichia coli; they interact with nucleic acids, and they bind to ribosomes. Polyamines block porins and decrease membrane permeability, activities that may protect cells in acid. At high concentrations, however, polyamines impair growth. They impair growth more severely at high pH, probably due to their increased uptake as membrane-permeant weak bases. The role of pH is critical in understanding polyamine stress.
Variation in fecundity and sexual morph production among insecticide-resistant clones of the aphid Schizaphis graminum (Homoptera : Aphididae)

The reproductive potential of insecticide-resistant greenbugs, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), was investigated. Several clones each of the 3 esterase phenotypes associated with insecticide resistance and designated susceptible (S), pattern 1 (R1), and pattern 2 (R2) collected from Colorado, Kansas, and Texas were induced into the sexual phase (when possible) and inbred or outcrossed to S clones to identify clones which may be used in inheritance studies. Most of the R2 clones could not be induced into the sexual cycle; only oviparae were produced from clones that entered the sexual phase. Seven of 10 of the S clones, 5 of 10 of the R1 clones, and 6 of 30 R2 clones tested entered the sexual cycle. Three greenbug clones, one each of S, R1, and R2, were induced into the sexual cycle and inbred or crossbred to determine their reproductive capacity. Crosses with susceptible females averaged the highest number of eggs per cross, followed by R1 females, and then byR2females.Thisstudyfurthersubstantiatesthatfecundityinthegreenbugisvariable,andsuggests that insecticide resistance may be associated with reduced fecundity in certain insecticide-resistant greenbug clones.
Mirrors and Windows: Sociocultural Studies of Human-Animal Relationships

▪ Abstract Humans' relationships with animals, increasingly the subject of controversy, have long been of interest to those whose primary aim has been the better understanding of humans' relationships with other humans. Since this topic was last reviewed here, human-animal relationships have undergone considerable reexamination, reflecting key trends in the history of social analysis, including concerns with connections between anthropology and colonialism and with the construction of race, class, and gender identities. There have been many attempts to integrate structuralist or symbolic approaches with those focused on environmental, political, and economic dimensions. Human-animal relationships are now much more likely to be considered in dynamic terms, and consequently, there has been much interdisciplinary exchange between anthropologists and historians. Some research directly engages moral and political concerns about animals, but it is likely that sociocultural research on human-animal relationships...
Release of radiogenic gases from the moon

Abstract The rate of escape of 40 Ar from the moon is calculated from mass-spectrometer data obtained at the Apollo-17 landing site. It is shown that the rate of loss of Ar from the moon varies significantly over periods the order of one lunation and that the average loss rate is about 3 t/a, corresponding to about 6% of the present rate of Ar production by K decay within the moon. These features of the Ar loss-rate data are interpreted as evidence that this gas originates in the partially molten asthenosphere, which in turn requires that early differentiation only affected the outer 600–1,000 km of the moon, trapping significant amounts of radioactive materials in the present asthenosphere. The relationship of the venting of Ar and other radiogenic gases of the lunar atmosphere are discussed.
Hardware assisted multichannel volume rendering

We explore real time volume rendering of multichannel data for volumes with color and multimodal information. We demonstrate volume rendering of the visible human male color dataset and photorealistic rendering of voxelized terrains, and achieve high quality visualizations. We render multimodal volumes utilizing hardware programmability for accumulation level mixing, and use CT and MRI information as examples. We also use multiboard parallel/distributed rendering schemes for large datasets and investigate scalability issues. We employ the VolumePro 1000 for real time multichannel volume rendering. Our approach, however, is not hardware-specific and can use commodity texture hardware instead.
Higgs-Boson production in association with a single bottom quark

Higgs bosons from an extended Higgs sector, such as a two-Higgs-doublet model, can have greatly enhanced coupling to the bottom quark. Producing such a Higgs boson in association with a single high-${p}_{T}$ bottom quark via $g\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{b}\mathrm{hb}$ allows for the suppression of backgrounds. Previous studies have instead used $gg,q\overline{q}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}b\overline{b}h$ as the production mechanism, which is valid only if both b quarks are at high ${p}_{T}.$ We calculate $g\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{b}\mathrm{hb}$ at next-to-leading order in QCD, and find that it is an order of magnitude larger than $gg,q\overline{q}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}b\overline{b}h$ at the Fermilab Tevatron and the CERN Large Hadron Collider. This production mechanism improves the prospects for the discovery of a Higgs boson with enhanced coupling to the b quark.
Vibration welding of thermoplastics. Part I: Phenomenology of the welding process

In vibration welding of thermoplastics, frictional work done by vibrating two parts under pressure, along their common interface, is used to generate heat to effect a weld. The main process parameters in vibration welding are the weld frequency, the amplitude of the vibratory motion, the weld pressure, and the weld time. How these parameters affect weld quality, the conditions that result in the best welds, the weldability of dissimilar plastics, and the effect of fillers such as glass are of interest. To address these issues, a research vibration welding machine in which all the parameters can be independently and accurately controlled and monitored was designed and fabricated. The phenomenology of welding, as determined by experiments on the four thermoplastics polycarbonate, poly (butylene terephthalate), polyetherimide, and modified poly (phenylene oxide), is described.
Death Penalty Charging in Los Angeles County: An Illustrative Data Analysis Using Skeptical Priors

The authors analyze death penalty charging data for Los Angeles County involving homicides from 1990 to 1994. The data were collected by the Los Angeles Times. This data set is one of the largest tabulations of homicide defendant data yet collected. A Bayesian logistic regression analysis is applied with a proper prior formulated to provide conservative inferences. The authors illustrate procedures for inferences for polytomous predictors and report three analyses with three partially overlapping sets of covariates.
Estimating the performance of hypothetical cloud service deployments: A measurement-based approach

To optimize network performance, cloud service providers have a number of options available to them, including co-locating production servers in well-connected Internet eXchange (IX) points, deploying data centers in additional locations, or contracting with external Content Distribution Networks (CDNs). Some of these options can be very costly, and some may or may not improve performance significantly. Cloud service providers would clearly like to be able to estimate a priori performance gain of the various options before sinking significant capital expenditures into major infrastructure changes. In this paper we take a measurement-oriented approach and develop methodologies that accurately predict the performance improvement for making major infrastructure changes. Our methodologies leverage active web content, existing large-scale CDN infrastructures, and the SpeedTest network. We then apply our methodologies and a CloudBeacon tool to the problem of locating satellite data centers throughout the world. The results show that for North America, a deployment limited to 11 locations will be sufficient. However, in order to provide good latency and throughput performance on a global scale, somewhere between a total of 36 and 72 cloud-service locations with good peering connections is most likely needed.
Approximate dynamic responses in random media

Stochastic constitutive properties are important in real-world dynamic analyses. The unconventional field equations, with spatially varying random coefficients, pose a computational challenge. For mild stochasticity, straightforward perturbations yield satisfactory response statistics. On the other hand, large statistical deviations can be captured from infinite sequence approximations, with a stationary iteration scheme introduced by Boley. For coupled thermal and elastodynamic random field problems, only the “inversions” of the uncoupled operators pertaining to a uniform continuum are deemed adequate. Stochastic boundary element approximations follow directly from the proposed stochastic Green’s functions. In the light of Tatarski’s wave considerations, corresponding stochastic finite element formulations require additional convection like spatially random terms related to stochastic shape functions. Crucial aspects of dynamic computations with random material properties are summarized here with sample numerical examples.
New algorithms for Abel inversions and Hankel transforms

New algorithms are presented for the Abel and Hankel transforms. Forward and inverse Abel transforms are computed recursively via state variable modeling of the transform kernels. The Hankel transform is computed as the Fourier transform of a forward Abel transform.
A General Method of Incorporating Forecast Cost and Loss in Value Scores

Abstract In this note, the author shows how to incorporate cost for correct forecasts in the skill score statistical test developed by Briggs and Ruppert and how to extend this result to another value score developed by Wilks. It is then shown that both of these methods are special cases of a more general complete value score, where the loss and costs are allowed to be completely general.
Identity impairment and the eating disorders: content and organization of the self-concept in women with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Objective The cognitive model of the self-concept was used to test the theoretical proposition that disturbances in overall identity development are a core vulnerability that lead to formation of a fat body weight self-definition and eating disorder symptomatology. Method Structural properties of the self-concept, availability in memory of a fat body weight self-schema, and eating disordered attitudes and behaviours were measured in women with anorexia nervosa (AN) (n = 26), bulimia nervosa (BN) (n = 53) and controls (n = 32). Results Women with (AN) and (BN) had fewer positive and more negative and highly interrelated self-schemas compared to controls, and women with BN showed information processing evidence of a fat self-schema available in memory. These self-concept properties predicted eating disordered attitudes and behaviour. Discussion Disturbances in the overall collection of identities—an impoverished self—is an important contributor to eating disorder symptomatology. The development of new positive selves may be an important factor in recovery. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Predicting genome-wide redundancy using machine learning.

Gene duplication can lead to genetic redundancy, which masks the function of mutated genes in genetic analyses. Methods to increase sensitivity in identifying genetic redundancy can improve the efficiency of reverse genetics and lend insights into the evolutionary outcomes of gene duplication. Machine learning techniques are well suited to classifying gene family members into redundant and non-redundant gene pairs in model species where sufficient genetic and genomic data is available, such as Arabidopsis thaliana, the test case used here. Machine learning techniques that combine multiple attributes led to a dramatic improvement in predicting genetic redundancy over single trait classifiers alone, such as BLAST E-values or expression correlation. In withholding analysis, one of the methods used here, Support Vector Machines, was two-fold more precise than single attribute classifiers, reaching a level where the majority of redundant calls were correctly labeled. Using this higher confidence in identifying redundancy, machine learning predicts that about half of all genes in Arabidopsis showed the signature of predicted redundancy with at least one but typically less than three other family members. Interestingly, a large proportion of predicted redundant gene pairs were relatively old duplications (e.g., Ks > 1), suggesting that redundancy is stable over long evolutionary periods. Machine learning predicts that most genes will have a functionally redundant paralog but will exhibit redundancy with relatively few genes within a family. The predictions and gene pair attributes for Arabidopsis provide a new resource for research in genetics and genome evolution. These techniques can now be applied to other organisms.
Human genetics and malaria: relevance for the design of clinical trials.

Perhaps no disease in history has exerted as strong a selective pressure on the human genome as falciparum malaria. Evidence suggests that Plasmodium falciparum has infected humans for at least 5000-10,000 years, and human haplotype studies have shown that alleles that may offer protection against malaria have undergone selection during that same time frame [1-3]. Today, that evolutionary pressure continues, with an estimated half-billion episodes of falciparum malaria yearly, which are associated with 1-3 million deaths [4]. Falciparum malaria appears to be the selective force behind the most common hemoglobinopathies and enzymopathies in the world, including sickle cell anemia, various types of thalassemia, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. In 1949, J. B. S. Haldane suggested that the distribution of thalassemia may have been influenced by the selective pressure
Multimodality imaging, the wave of the future: multidiscipline attack on a complex disease.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder that occurs mainly in young women and can affect multiple organ systems. The clinical course of SLE is often one of spontaneous remissions and relapses. One of the most feared complications of SLE is acute neuropsychiatric disorders
Old Lessons Relearned: The Asset Price Dynamics of High-Yield Bonds

This study investigates the asset price dynamics of high-yield bonds. High-yield bonds are debt instruments issued by corporate borrowers with a credit rating below investment grade. The noninvestment grade rating is typically the result of greater reliance on debt in the firm’s capital structure. The study finds that the models used in the contemporary literature to price defaultable claims are not well suited for explaining the price movements of high-yield bonds. The only channel through which exogenous shocks can impact price movements in these models is through mean loss rates, but much of the change in high-yield bond prices seems related to the market price of risk. The study reviews papers from the finance literature that analytically anticipates the role systematic variance plays in explaining the returns on leveraged finance obligations. A multifactor model is specified and rejected in favor of a state-space representation parameterized through use of the Kalman filter. The recursive process tracks the data exceptionally well and allows the hypothesis of a static market price of risk to be tested and rejected. The hypothesis of a purely random market price of risk is also rejected. The paper provides a sound theoretical and empirical foundation for future research.
Effects of Comorbid Depression and Diabetes Mellitus on Cognitive Decline in Older Mexican Americans.

Objectives To assess the relationship between comorbid depression, diabetes mellitus (DM), and cognitive decline in Mexican Americans aged 65 and older. Design Retrospective cohort study with longitudinal analysis. Setting Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and California. Participants Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly. Measurements Cognition was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Depression was defined as a score of 16 or greater on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. DM was defined as according to self-reported history or taking insulin or oral hypoglycemic medication. Results Participants with depression and DM declined an average of 6.5 points on the MMSE; depression only, 4.4 points; DM only, 7.8 points; and neither condition, 4.2 points across the six examination waves. Participants with DM declined an average of 0.18 more points on the MMSE per year (P = .001) than those with neither DM nor depression, and those with comorbid DM and depression declined 0.25 more points per year (P = .002). Depression was associated with significantly greater cognitive decline (inline image = −0.11, P = .05) after excluding participants with baseline cognitive impairment (MMSE score ≤17). Participants with DM were 1.08 (95% CI = 1.03–1.12) times as likely as those with neither DM nor depression, and those with comorbid DM and depression were 1.08 (95% CI = 1.01–1.15) times as likely as those with neither DM nor depression to develop severe cognitive impairment per year. Conclusion DM and comorbid depression and DM are risk factors for cognitive decline in older Mexican Americans. Interventions that reduce the prevalence of depression and DM in Mexican Americans may decrease the number of older adults who experience cognitive decline.
Spreadsheet electromagnetics

A discussion is presented of the use of spreadsheet personnel computer programs in solving two- and three-dimensional potential problems and other complex problems for homework as part of an electromagnetics course. Solutions to the Laplace equation using the finite-difference method are noted. Accuracy problems due to over-relaxation in three-dimensional problems are also considered. >