cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Periodic billiard orbits of self-similar Sierpiński carpets

Abstract We identify a collection of periodic billiard orbits in a self-similar Sierpinski carpet billiard table Ω ( S a ) . Based on our refinement of the result of Durand-Cartagena and Tyson regarding nontrivial line segments in S a , we construct what is called an eventually constant sequence of compatible periodic orbits of prefractal Sierpinski carpet billiard tables Ω ( S a , n ) . The trivial limit of this sequence then constitutes a periodic orbit of Ω ( S a ) . We also determine the corresponding translation surface S ( S a , n ) for each prefractal table Ω ( S a , n ) , and show that the genera { g n } n = 0 ∞ of a sequence of translation surfaces { S ( S a , n ) } n = 0 ∞ increase without bound. Various open questions and possible directions for future research are offered.
Reply to the Comment on “Resonance Raman Investigation of Ru(phen)2dppz2+ and Related Complexes in Water and in the Presence of DNA”

Our recent paper describes the rR spectra of Ru(phen)_2dppz^(2+), Ru(phen)_2(F_2-dppz)^(2+), and Os(phen)_2(dppz)^(2+) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2‘,3‘-d]phenazine, F_2-dppz = 7,8-difluoro-dppz) obtained utilizing 354.7 nm excitation (fwhm ∼ 10 ns). The spectra collected for Ru(phen)_2(F_2-dppz)^(2+) and Os(phen)_2(dppz)^(2+) were assigned to the ground state of the complexes at both high and low pulse energies. In the case of Ru(phen)_2dppz^(2+), the power dependence of the peaks at 1365 and 1453 cm^(-1) were consistent with an excited state. Our interpretation described below and on the recent paper was not based on the assumption that the ^3ππ* state of the dppz ligand lies below the MLCT in Ru(phen)_2dppz^(2+), but rather that pumping directly into the dppz ^1ππ* manifold could lead to trapping of the excitation at short time scales on the lowest LC dppz state (^3ππ*) if crossing to the MLCT required activation. Lowering of the MLCT relative to the ^3ππ* in Ru(phen)_2(F_2-dppz)^(2+) and Os(phen)_2(dppz)^(2+) would result in lowering the activation barrier and much faster crossing to the MLCT.
Cyber Education: A Multi-Level, Multi-Discipline Approach

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the emerging dialogue on the direction, content, and techniques involved in cyber education. The principle contributions of this work include a discussion on the definition of cyber and then a description of a multi-level, multi-discipline approach to cyber education with the goal of providing all educated individuals a level of cyber education appropriate for their role in society. Our work assumes cyber education includes technical and non-technical content at all levels. Our model formally integrates cyber throughout an institution's entire curriculum including within the required general education program, cyber-related electives, cyber threads, cyber minors, cyber-related majors, and cyber enrichment opportunities, collectively providing the foundational knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to succeed in the 21st Century Cyber Domain. To demonstrate one way of instantiating our multi-level, multi-discipline approach, we describe how it is implemented at our institution. Overall, this paper serves as a call for further discussion, debate, and effort on the topic of cyber education as well as describing our innovative model for cyber pedagogy.
A quantitative analysis of ethanol and acetaldehyde expired by inbred mouse strains

Abstract Expired ethanol and acetaldehyde were measured after an oral injection of ethanol in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mouse strains by a combination of several techniques in a sequence involving a method for trapping expired radioactive compounds, separation of compounds by gas chromatography, isolation of radioactive ethanol and acetaldehyde, and their quantitative analysis by liquid scintillation spectrophotometry. With the specific activites used in evaluation of the technique (0.1 Ci/mole, acetaldehyde; 1.1 Ci/mol, ethanol) the lower limit of sensitivity using 500 μl from a 10 ml trap is 955 pmoles for acetaldehyde and 101 pmoles for ethanol. However, in the animal experiments, injected ethanol has a specific of 1.1 Ci/mol which would make the specific activity of expired metabolically formed acetaldehyde the same. This results in a lower limit of sensitivity for acetaldehyde of 80 pmoles. The two strains were monitored for 80 min following an oral injection of 3.8 g/Kg of (2- 14 C) ethanol. Comparing the two strains on the expiration of each compound the curves were identical.
LIGHT-INDUCED ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTIONS BETWEEN CHLOROPHYLL AND QUINONE IN ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED VESICLES: EFFECTS OF COUNTERIONS LOCATED IN EITHER THE INNER OR OUTER AQUEOUS PHASES ON RADICAL FORMATION AND DECAY*

— The presence of relatively low concentrations of counterions (millimolar in the case of univalent ions and micromolar in the case of polyvalent ions) in either the inner or outer aqueous compartments of electrically charged lipid bilayer vesicles containing chlorophyll in the presence of benzoquinone has been shown to produce large effects on radical formation and decay as measured by laser flash photolysis. With negatively charged vesicles having no added salt inside, salt ions added to the external phase caused radical yields to markedly decrease, with no change in decay kinetics. When salt was present only in the interior phase, radical decay became biphasic and the ability of externally added salt to affect radical yields was greatly diminished. With positively charged vesicles having no added salt inside, salt addition to the external medium caused both the radical decay rate and yield to decrease. The presence of interior salt, however, caused radical decay to become faster and, as was the case with negative vesicles, greatly reduced the effects of salt added externally. These results have been interpreted in terms of electrostatic and structural effects of charge neutralization by counterions on the dynamics of radical-ion separation and recombination.
The kinetics of formation of nickel(II) malonate in water dioxane mixtures

Abstract The rate constants for the formation and dissociation of nickel malonate have been determined in the water rich region of water-dioxane mixtures. The rates were measured at different temperatures and the activation parameters were calculated. A rigorous error analysis was carried out on the results in order to determine if the observed variations in the kinetic parameters were due to solvent effects or inherent errors in the pressure jump technique. The results show that the variation in the forward and reverse rate constants was primarily due to changes in the ion pair formation constant which is very sensitive to the dielectric of the solvent. The error analysis also indicated that the variation in the activation parameters, ΔH ∗ and ΔS ∗ , cannot be used with certainty for any mechanistic interpretation related to solvent effects other than that effect induced by the dielectric.
EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR IS DIMINISHED IN LUNGS, BUT NOT IN OTHER ORGANS, IN CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA. 2077

EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR IS DIMINISHED IN LUNGS, BUT NOT IN OTHER ORGANS, IN CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA. 2077
Neural computations associated with goal-directed choice

In goal-directed decision-making, animals choose between actions that are associated with different reward outcomes (e.g., foods) and with different costs (e.g., effort). Rapid advances have been made over the past few years in our understanding of the computations associated with goal-directed choices, and of how those computations are implemented in the brain. We review some important findings, with an emphasis on computational models, human fMRI, and monkey neurophysiology studies.
Intradermal penicillin skin test is more likely to be positive compared to prick skin test in patients with a history of penicillin allergy

Background Penicillin skin testing (PST) with the major determinant (benzyl-penicilloyl) and minor determinant mix (penicillin G, benzyl-penicilloate, and benzyl-penilloate) is one of the major diagnostic tools in the evaluation of a penicillin allergy mediated by IgE. The PST begins with a skin prick test (SP) with the above components and, if negative, then proceeds to an intradermal testing (ID). However, it is unclear in the literature, how often the PST is positive to SP compared to ID testing. Hence, we conducted this study to determine the rates of positive PST to SP compared to ID skin test. Methods Basic demographics (gender and age) and rates of positive ID PST compared to SP PST were determined in patients with a history of penicillin allergy undergoing penicillin allergy evaluation from June 1, 2002 to June 30, 2004. A wheal and flare 3x3mm greater than the negative control was defined as a positive PST. The gender and rates of ID versus SP PST were presented as percentages and the age in years. Using Fisher’s exact test, we compared the difference in the proportion of males and females who had a positive SP vs. ID PST. P 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The IRB approved the study and all subjects signed a written informed consent. Results 1,759 patients with a history of penicillin allergy underwent PST. The mean age (SD) was 60 iA 15 years (5517 years in the positive PST group versus 60 15 years in the negative PST group). Among the positive PST, 53 (83%) were females and 11 (17%) were males. 64 of 1759 (4%) had a positive PST to either SP or ID testing. Among the positive PST patients, 3 of 64 (5%) had a positive SP compared to 61 (95%) ID skin testing. Gender did not appear to increase the rates of positive ID PST compared to SP [2 of 3 (66%) females were positive to SP PST compared 51 of 61 (84%) females were positive ID PST; p=0.44]. Conclusion ID PST is more likely to be positive compared to SP PST in patients with a history penicillin allergy.
Breast Carcinoma versus Lung Adenocarcinoma: The Immunohistochemical Discrimination of Breast Carcinoma Metastatic in Lung

Abstract: Breast and lung adenocarcinomas are the two neoplasms with the highest incidence in women, and as a result, these tumors are some of the most frequently seen tumors in surgical pathology and fine-needle aspiration biopsies. The number of patients having both tumors is on the rise. For therapeutic purposes, it is important to be able to distinguish the two in tissues and in fine-needle aspirates (FNA). Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissue from ductal and lobular breast carcinomas metastatic to lung (29 cases), ductal breast carcinomas (18 cases), and pulmonary adenocarcinomas (15 cases) were examined by light microscopy and by a battery of antibodies, including monoclonal CEA, monoclonal CEA-D14, GCDFP-15, alphalactalbumin, vimentin, S-100 protein, and estrogen-receptor protein. The avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method was used. Sensitivity and specificity were analyzed and compared with each other using Youden's J statistic. In the lung, CEA-D14 was the single best antibody for identifying lung tumors while GCDFP-15 and estrogen receptor (ER) were the antibodies that best identify metastatic breast carcinoma in the lung. Because of the focal nature of GCDFP-15 staining in many metastatic tumors, this antibody may be less useful for discrimination of breast carcinomas in small biopsies and FNA specimens.
Furniture Design Decision‐Making Constructs

The underlying constructs which influence criteria used to determine furniture design preferences were examined for 155 subjects living in Washington and Or egon. In addition, significant relationships between the self-conceptual person ality trait of self-monitoring and furniture preferences were examined. Subjects responded to three sets of furniture style examples representing traditional, con temporary, and country stylistic variations through the use of a semantic differen tial scale of 15 sets of descriptive bi-polar adjectives. Factor analysis with varimax rotation was used to identify significant underlying constructs of furniture prefer ence within and across furniture styles. Three factors were identified as important criteria for furniture preference: the perceived currency of the style, the per ceived aesthetics/utility of the style, and the perceived prestige of the style. Sig nificant relationships between individual self-monitoring characteristics and fur niture preferences were investigated by using a t-test to compare mean scores of subjects who were classified as high and low self-monitors by a median split. The traditional style was perceived as more aesthetically pleasing by high self-mon itors than by low self-monitors; the contemporary style was perceived as more prestigious by high self-monitors than by low self-monitors; and the country style showed no significant differences in perception between high and low self-mon itors.
Massive relic neutrinos — A status report

Abstract Massive relic neutrinos are the most natural exotic candidate for the dark mass in the Universe. With modest masses (tens of eV), relic neutrinos can easily supply a critical mass density. Such neutrinos, however, interfere with galaxy formation and are most likely excluded by the data. Recent work suggests that unstable neutrinos may rescue the massive relic neutrino scenario.
Expected utility violations evolve under status-based selection mechanisms.

Abstract The expected utility theory of decision making under uncertainty, a cornerstone of modern economics, assumes that humans linearly weight “utilities” for different possible outcomes by the probabilities with which these outcomes occur. Despite the theory's intuitive appeal, both from normative and from evolutionary perspectives, many experiments demonstrate systematic, though poorly understood, patterns of deviation from EU predictions. This paper offers a novel theoretical account of such patterns of deviation by demonstrating that EU violations can emerge from evolutionary selection when individual “status” affects inclusive fitness. In humans, battles for resources and social standing involve high-stakes decision making, and assortative mating ensures that status matters for fitness outcomes. The paper therefore proposes grounding the study of decision making under uncertainty in an evolutionary game-theoretic framework.
Magnetic Transition and Large Magnetocaloric Effect Associated with Surface Spin Disorder in Co and CocoreAgshell Nanoparticles

We report a reversible, large magnetocaloric effect in the vicinity of a low-temperature magnetic transition in Co and CocoreAgshell nanoparticles synthesized using a wet chemical method. The as-synthesized assembly of the particles shows a sharp low-temperature peak in the zero-field-cooled (ZFC) magnetization well below the blocking transition temperature, and this feature is associated with the surface spin disorder. Co nanoparticles show a large increase in the magnetic entropy at around 15 K with a peak value of nearly 2.25 J/K·kg for an applied field of 30 kOe. A similar trend is also observed in the silver-coated Co particles. These are some of the largest MCE values observed in nanoparticles to date. The features are ascribed to the low-temperature spin-glass-like freezing transition associated with the surface spins in the shell region that is distinct from the behavior of core spins. Our studies reveal that manipulating the surface anisotropy in core−shell nanoparticles has the potential to lead...
PROPERTIES OF THE NUCLEON AND THE DELTA(1232) IN THE πρωa1(f1) CHIRAL SOLITON MODEL

We investigate the physics of the nucleon and the Δ(1232), in particular, the diagonal and off-diagonal electroweak form factors, in the framework of a πρωa1(f1) chiral soliton model, consistent with QCD. The effective meson Lagrangian reproduces known meson properties, and yields phenomenological improvements over the πρω chiral soliton model for all the leading order baryon observables, in the $N_c^{-1}$ expansion.
LAr TPC Electronics CMOS Lifetime at 300 K and 77 K and Reliability Under Thermal Cycling

A study of hot-carrier effects (HCE) on the 180-nm CMOS device lifetime has been performed at 300 K and 77 K for Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LAr TPC). Two different measurements were used: accelerated lifetime measurement under severe electric field stress by the drain-source voltage Vds, and a separate measurement of the substrate current as a function of 1/Vds. The former verifies the canonical very steep slope of the inverse relation between the lifetime and the substrate current, and the latter confirms that below a certain value of Vds a lifetime margin of several orders of magnitude can be achieved for the cold electronics TPC readout. The low power ASIC design for LAr TPC falls naturally into this domain, where hot-electron effects are negligible. Lifetime of digital circuits (ac operation) is extended by the inverse duty factor 1/(fclockteff) compared to dc operation. This factor is large (> 100) for deep submicron technology and clock frequency needed for TPC readout. As an additional margin, Vds may be reduced by ~ 10%. Extremely low failure rate (incidence) in previous large experiments demonstrates that surface mount circuit board technology withstands very well even multiple abrupt immersion in liquid nitrogen applied in board testing, and that the total failure incidence in continuous operation over time is very low.
Ab initio calculations of the energies of the ring-opened and ring-closed isomers of C2H4S+.

Abstract Ab initio calculations, including electron correlation, are reported for two C 2 H 4 S + radical cations and the transition state for isomerization between the two forms. Electron correlation was carried out at several levels of theory to assess the possible errors inherent in these calculations. At the QCISD(full)/6-31G ∗ level, the ring-closed isomer is 10.6 kcal mol −1 more stable than the ring-opened (CH 2 SCH 2 +. ) radical cation. The transition state lies 43.2 kcal mol −1 above the ring-closed isomer. MP2/6-31G ∗ calculations were not sufficient for thermodynamic energy differences or the activation barrier. This is attributed to spin contamination in the ring-opened isomer and the transition state.
Motor Carrier Costs and Minimum Rate Regulation

I. California experience illustrates theoretical and practical difficulties of minimum rate regulation, 139. — II. Description of California's system of controlling minimum rates of intrastate carriers, 140. — III. Analysis of the effects of this policy, 144. — IV. Some fundamental objections to comprehensive systems of minimum rate control, 148.
“Simultaneous measurement” from the standpoint of quantum estimation theory

The purpose of the simultaneous measurement of noncommuting quantum observables can be viewed as the joint estimation of parameters of the density operator of the quantum system. Joint estimation involves the application of a multiply parameterized operator-valued measure. An example related to the simultaneous estimation of the position and velocity of a particle is given. Conceptual difficulties attending simultaneous measurement of noncommuting observables are avoided by this formation.
Hormonal and morphologic effects of bromocriptine on normal rat pituitary and GH3 tumor cells.

Abstract Bromocriptine in concentrations up to 5 × 10 −4 mol/L was studied for any deleterious effects upon normal rat pituitary cells, as well as on the rat GH 3 cell line. Normal rat pituitary glands were obtained by decapitation from 50-day-old female Wistar rats and dispersed with 0.25% trypsin. The cells (10 5 per plate) were then incubated in 60 by 15 mm plates (Falcon) that contained 3 ml of Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium with 10% fetal calf serum. GH 3 cells were plated in a similar fashion. Bromocriptine was added in concentrations of 5 × 10 −4 to 5 × 10 −9 mol/L, and aliquots of medium were obtained at 6, 24, and 48 hours for the determination of growth hormone and prolactin. Cell counts were performed at 24 and 48 hours. A significant reduction in concentrations of growth hormone and prolactin was observed with concentrations of bromocriptine of 5 × 10 −5 and 5 × 10 −4 mol/L at 24 and 48 hours ( p 3 cells showed complete disruption at 48 hours only in the plates that contained the highest concentrations of bromocriptine. Electron microscopy of normal rat cells and GH 3 demonstrated selective cytotoxic effects only on the GH 3 cells. In conclusion, bromocriptine has been demonstrated to have a direct effect on hormone release and on the morphologic characteristics of tumor cells but not normal pituitary cells.
Brain levels of morphine in mice following removal of a morphine pellet and naloxone challenge: No evidence for displacement

Abstract Male ICR mice were rendered tolerant to and dependent on morphine by subcutaneous implantation of a 75 mg morphine pellet for 72 hours. At 2, 4, and 6 hours after pellet removal groups of 7–10 mice were challenged with ip saline or naloxone and their brain concentrations of morphine estimated by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The brains were prepared for RIA by either organic or inorganic (0.01 N HC1) extraction and in most experiments the two methods were shown to be equivalent with respect to the final concentration of morphine. There was no difference in brain morphine between saline and naloxone (10 mg/kg) treated groups when they were challenged 4 hours after pellet removal and sacrificed 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, and 60 minutes later. In contrast, when the challenge was administered 6 hours after pellet removal the naloxone treated groups has higher concentrations of brain morphine than the saline controls. Brain levels in mice that received 0.10, 1.0, 10, 100 mg/kg naloxone did not differ consistently from saline controls. We found no consistent evidence that naloxone decreases the concentration of morphine in brain homogenates obtained from mice during the initial 6 hours after pellet removal.
An example of irregular convergence in some constrained optimization methods that use the projected hessian

In this paper we give examples illustrating the behavior of the Coleman-Conn horizontal vertical method and of successive quadratic programming with a Hessian approximation exact on the tangent space of the constraints. One example shows that these methods in general are not one-step superlinearly convergent.
Collective responsibility for learning: Effects on interactions between novice teachers and colleagues

This paper uses theory from sociology of education to explore associations between mentors’ and senior colleagues’ perceptions of schoolwide collective responsibility and the frequency of their interactions with novice teachers. Survey data was collected from novice teachers, their mentors, and their school-based colleagues in 6 Michigan districts and 5 Indiana districts in 2007–2008. The findings suggest that mentors’ perceptions of collective responsibility for learning are strongly associated with their interactions with mentees, and that senior colleagues’ perceptions of schoolwide collective responsibility are also critical to their interactions with novice teachers. This study has implications for principals’ efforts to facilitate interactions between beginning teachers and their mentors and colleagues about core instructional issues.
Electric-Field-Assisted Triplet-Exciton Annihilation in Molecularly Doped Polymers

Picosecond pulse-excited photoconductivity measurements in a model disordered solid have provided direct evidence that triplet-exciton fusion is the precursor to free carrier formation and that the effective rate constant ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ of the fusion process is strongly dependent on the electric field, being driven from annihilation-rate limited at low field (\ensuremath{\sim} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$/sec) to nearly migration-rate limited ( ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$/sec) at high field. This field dependence is distinct from and in addition to that normally associated with the Onsager process.
Regenerative changes in rat tongue muscle following crushing injury.

Abstract Muscle regeneration was studied following mild crushing injury of the tongue in rats. The method presents the distinct advantage of reproducible muscle injury which can be induced without surgically exposing the muscle. Spatial relationships were largely maintained intact, and wound healing was not complicated by ingrowth of granulation tissue such as might be seen following surgical incision of the muscle. The regeneration phase in tongue muscle followed a fairly typical pattern, with degeneration and hyalinization followed by “phagocytosis” in muscle sarcoplasm. In areas where the sarcolemmal sheath remained intact, the empty sheath collapsed with the formation of nuclear chains. Disruption of the sarcolemmal sheath resulted in isolated myoblasts showing increased nucleic acid synthesis and mitotic activity, suggesting some potential for regeneration. With the progressive production of muscle sarcoplasm by the regenerating cells, small-diameter fibers with central nuclei were noted and the cross striations appeared later. A thin band of fibrous connective tissue with incorporated residual intact muscle fibers was found at the site of severest injury. With progressive reduction in vascularity and contraction of the scar tissue, degeneration of individual muscle fibers continued into the later stages of study. The basic responses of the tongue muscle to crushing injury are essentially identical to those described in other voluntary muscles in the body.
Bacterial infections in adult patients hospitalized with AIDS: case-control study of prophylactic efficacy of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole versus aerosolized pentamidine

To determine the association between trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and risk of bacterial infections in persons with AIDS, we abstracted hospital records from 6496 adult admissions to 42 hospitals in western Washington state. Of these admissions, 570 involved 637 bacterial infections diagnosed among patients who had been prescribed prophylactic TMP-SMX or aerosolized pentamidine. Cases [admissions with bacteraemia, bacterial pneumonia, acute or chronic sinusitis, or urinary tract infection (UTI)] were compared to controls (admissions not associated with any of the 5 bacterial infections). After adjusting for CD4 lymphocyte count and presence of P. carinii pneumonia, TMP-SMX prophylaxis, relative to aerosolized pentamidine prophylaxis, was associated with a reduced risk of bacteraemia (adjusted OR = 0.5; 95% CI, 0.2-1.0; P = 0.04), bacterial pneumonia (adjusted OR = 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.8; P = 0.01), acute sinusitis (adjusted OR = 0.5; 95% CI, 0.2-1.3; P = 0.2), chronic sinusitis (adjusted OR = 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1-0.7; P = 0.01), and UTI (adjusted OR = 0.5; 95% CI, 0.2-1.2; P = 0.1), and all 5 bacterial infections combined (adjusted OR = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.5-0.8; P < 0.001).
Roles of the DNA mismatch repair genes in colorectal tumorigenesis

A rapid increase in our understanding of the basic mechanisms involved in the genesis of colorectal cancer has occurred. Important factors include the activation of oncogenes, the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes and the inactivation of DNA repair systems. Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) has been linked to germ-line mutations that inactivate one allele of a DNA mismatch repair gene, which pre-disposes affected individuals to a high frequency of early-onset cancer. We have developed a cellular model to study HNPCC using the DNA mismatch repair-deficient colon cancer cell line HCT116 and corrected the genetic deficiency by chromosome transfer. Human chromosome 3 corrected all manifestations of DNA mismatch repair deficiency in the cell line and restored sensitivity to the toxic effects of certain DNA alkylating agents. Data suggest that the DNA mismatch repair genes not only participate in the recognition and repair of DNA mismatches during new strand synthesis but may also signal cell cycle arrest in the face of overwhelming DNA damage. Additional functions for the DNA mismatch repair genes in the maintenance of DNA replicative fidelity are being studied.
Factors Associated with the Severity of Intersecting Fires in Yosemite National Park, California, USA

In 1972, Yosemite National Park established a wilderness fire zone in which lightning fires were allowed to run their courses under prescribed conditions. This zone was expanded in 1973 to include the 16 209 ha Illilouette Creek basin, just to the southeast of Yosemite Valley. From 1973 through 2011, there have been 157 fires in the basin. Fire severity data were collected on all 28 of those fires that were larger than 40 ha. The proportion burned in each fire severity class was not significantly associated with fire return interval departure class. When areas were reburned, the proportion of unchanged severity fire decreased while the proportion of high severity fire increased. The proportion of fire severity of the subsequent fires was associated with the number of years since last burned, the burning index, and the severity of the previous fires. The main effects were significant for unchanged severity and low severity, and the interaction between return interval class and burning index class was significant for high severity. Most vegetation types remained the same when burned with unchanged, low, or moderate severity, while high severity often resulted in conversion to montane chaparral. The factors that were associated with reburn severity worked in combination with each factor influencing some aspect of severity. Managers and scientists can use this information to better understand the role fire plays in these ecosystems and how to best manage this dynamic ecological process.
Crosslinking cotton with poly(itaconic acid) and in situ polymerization of itaconic acid: Fabric mechanical strength retention

Polycarboxylic acids have been used as nonformaldehyde durable press finishing agents for cotton fabrics. Previously, we found that itaconic acid (IA) polymerized in situ on cotton fabric and also in an aqueous solution in the presence of a K2S2O8/NaH2PO2 initiation system. Both poly(itaconic acid) (PIA) and the polymer formed by in situ polymerization of IA are able to crosslink cotton cellulose, thus imparting wrinkle resistance to cotton. In this research, we compared the performance of the cotton fabric crosslinked by PIA and that crosslinked by in situ polymerization of IA. The fabric treated with PIA and that treated with IA had similar wrinkle recovery angles. The cotton fabric treated with IA, however, lost more tensile strength than that treated with PIA due to cellulose degradation. We determined the magnitude of the fabric tensile strength loss attributed to crosslinking by separating the tensile strength loss due to cellulose degradation from the total tensile strength loss, and found that the tensile strength loss caused by crosslinking for the fabric treated with PIA was significantly higher than that for the fabric treated with IA. This can probably be attributed to more concentrated crosslinkages formed on the near surface of the PIA-treated cotton fabric. PIA had poorer penetration into the amorphous cellulose region in fiber interior due to its much larger molecular size, thus increasing its concentration on the fabric's near surface. The data also suggest that more concentrated crosslinkages on the fabric surface reduced fabric abrasion resistance. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 2023–2030, 2003
Permanent ablation of bone marrow in long bones of living rabbits.

SummaryA method of ablating permanently the marrow of all the long bones in living rabbits is presented. The ablation may be carried out rapidly over a period of a week or gradually over several weeks. Approximately 41 ± 5% of the total marrow of the animal may be ablated permanently by this method.
The desmosome: fine structural studies with freeze-fracture replication and tannic acid staining of sectioned epidermis.

Desmosomes of larval and post-metamorphic newt epidermis have been studied by freeze-fracture replication both with and without prior glutaraldehyde fixation. Characteristic particles of a diameter (70–130 A) similar to that of typical membrane associated particles are found clustered on the exposed internal faces of adherent desmosomal membranes. They remain attached to the B-face in unfixed material, but occupy the desmosomal A-face after fixation. Membrane associated particles of nondesmosomal surfaces are found predominantly on the A-face in both fixed and unfixed epidermis. Suitably oriented replicas of unfixed desmosomes reveal profiles of apparent fine filaments extending from the region of tonofilament loops through the desmosomal plaque to traverse the cytoplasmic leaflet of the plasmalemma. They can be traced onto the B-face. Their position correlates to fine linear profiles noted in tannic acid/glutaraldehyde-fixed and sectioned desmosomes. The possibility that these represent a mechanism for anchorage of tonofilaments to the plaque and to the membrane is discussed. These and other fine structural features are compared and contrasted to the properties of hemidesmosomes described in the preceding report.
Expert ratings of primary care goals and objectives

OBJECTIVE: To develop consensus on proficiencies internal medicine residents should master in the area of primary and managed care.
Why Do We Wait until People Die to Ask about Our Roots

I never really knew my Grampa Bly. He died when I was 2 years old. I never really felt a connection to him, until a few years after my mother died, until I could not ask questions about him or the early years of her family. Now I realize that we have lot in common. Could my passion for health promotion, service, and travel have come from him? What I do know comes from diaries, newspaper clippings, and the rambling stories of my uncle who suffered from severe dementia. What I do not know fills my head. What questions would I ask if I could? Why did I wait?
Neural congruency effects in the multi-source interference task vanish in healthy youth after controlling for conditional differences in mean RT.

According to the conflict monitoring model of cognitive control, reaction time (RT) in distracter interference tasks (e.g., the Stroop task) is a more precise index of response conflict than stimulus congruency (incongruent vs. congruent). The model therefore predicts that RT should be a reliable predictor of activity in regions of the posterior medial frontal cortex (pMFC) that are posited to detect response conflict. In particular, pMFC activity should be (a) greater in slow-RT than in fast-RT trials within a given task condition (e.g., congruent) and (b) equivalent in RT-matched trials from different conditions (i.e., congruent and incongruent trials). Both of these effects have been observed in functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of adults. However, neither effect was observed in a recent study of healthy youth, suggesting that (a) the model does not accurately describe the relationship between RT and pMFC activity in this population or (b) the recent study was characterized by high variability due to a relatively small sample size. To distinguish between these possibilities, we asked a relatively large group of healthy youth (n = 28) to perform a distracter interference task - the multi-source interference task (MSIT) - while we recorded their brain activity with functional MRI. In this relatively large sample, both of the model’s predictions were confirmed. We conclude that the model accurately describes the relationship between pMFC activity and RT in healthy youth, but that additional research is needed to determine whether processes unrelated to response conflict contribute to this relationship.
Some properties of the solution space of the N-city traveling-salesman problem

For the matrix of variables in the N-city traveling-salesman problem, consider both the N row and the N column vectors. An orthogonality condition involving products of row and column vectors is shown to eliminate subtours. Also, a group representation of the problem is given to observe properties of the solution space. The matrix of variables is subsequently decomposed into a product of elementary transposition matrices. Numerous examples are provided to illustrate the properties of the problem.
PROPERTIES OF SUBGROUPS OF SOLVABLE GROUPS THAT IMPLY THEY ARE NORMALLY EMBEDDED

Recently, Ballester-Bolinches [1 and 2], Pedraza-Aguilera [2] and Perez-Ramos [2] have studied circumstances under which certain injectors and projectors, which are always pronormal, must be normally embedded. In this note we give a scheme for describing a minimal counterexample to a conjecture of the form: a subnormally embedded subgroup with properties satisfy certain conditions. We then show contradictions in certain cases involving finite solvable groups.
The estimation of HIV prevalence for women of child bearing age in New York City

Abstract As the AIDS epidemic developed in the United States, emphasis turned from estimates of HIV incidence in male populations to estimates of HIV prevalence in the larger population, and to estimates of prevalence in sentinel populations. The concern was that heterosexual contact with male intravenous drug users was responsible for increased HIV prevalence among young women. Increases in HIV infection in women of child bearing age would result in increases in the number of HIV infected children. Thus, women of child bearing age would become an especially important sentinel population. The Newborn Seroprevalence Project was part of a national population-based survey to assess HIV prevalence among women of child bearing age. Blood from every newborn was obtained and tested for the HIV antibody. The observed proportion of seropositive births obtained during a given year in a given age/race/region stratum was used to estimate HIV prevalence of all women in that stratum. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the stratum and population-specific HIV prevalence and prevalence proportions for New York City women of child bearing age in 1991, as well as to estimate the bias that results from using the sample proportion in these efforts.
Does Recall Period Have an Effect on Cancer Patients' Ratings of the Severity of Multiple Symptoms?

Abstract Context Choosing an appropriate recall period for symptom assessment in a clinical trial is dependent on the design and purpose of the trial. Objective To examine the effects of recall on symptom severity ratings by comparing ratings made using 24-hour and seven-day recall periods of the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI). Methods Forty-two patients in their third to eighth week of chemoradiation rated their symptoms using the MDASI on two separate occasions (T1 and T2), one week apart. At T1, patients were randomly assigned to rate symptoms using either a 24-hour or a seven-day recall. At T2, patients rated symptoms using the recall period not used at their first visit. Results Comparing the 24-hour and seven-day recall periods, the correlation coefficient for total symptom severity was 0.888. All correlation coefficients for symptom severity items were >0.7 except for distress (r=0.67). The percentages of moderate to severe symptoms (rated ≥5) were consistent for both recall periods, with no significant difference between recall periods in the prevalence of moderate to severe symptoms. Cronbach α coefficients for both 24-hour and seven-day recalls were >0.8. Symptoms from both recall periods were more severe for patients with poorer performance status. Twenty patients were cognitively debriefed; 70% thought that the seven-day recall was "more appropriate" for the MDASI, but 85% did not think that recall period would influence their answers. Conclusion This study demonstrated that the MDASI in a seven-day recall format has psychometric properties consistent with the 24-hour recall version, which may promote its use in future cancer clinical trials and may inform the choice of recall period when symptoms are outcome measures.
Effect of tanning agent on tissue reaction to tissue implanted collagen sponge

Pure collagen, isolated from bovine skin, was reconstituted into the form of a sponge in the presence of either glutaraldehyde (GTA) or hexamethylene diisocyanate (DIC). Extensively washed sponges were implanted subcutaneously in rats and harvested 5 and 17 days later. Histology showed that at 5 days, the GTA-crosslinked sponge induced more cellular reaction at the outer layer of the sponge than the DIC-tanned sponge. After 17 days, the cellular infiltration of the GTA-tanned sponge remained at the periphery of the implant while the DIC-tanned sponge was completely infiltrated by inflammatory cells, including fibroblasts. Quantitative morphometry and determination of cellular DNA in sponges harvested at 17 days support the morphological finding. We conclude that GTA-tanned sponges are cytotoxic as evidenced by more pronounced tissue reaction soon after tissue implantation, and no cellular infiltration at later stages into the implant. Hexamethylene diisocyanate seems to be a more adequate tanning agent for sponges designed as a tissue substitute.
GeoSTAR: a geostationary microwave sounder for the future

The Geostationary Synthetic Thinned Aperture Radiometer (GeoSTAR) is a new Earth remote sensing instrument concept that has been under development at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. First conceived in 1998 as a NASA New Millennium Program mission and subsequently developed in 2003-2006 as a proof-of-concept prototype under the NASA Instrument Incubator Program, it is intended to fill a serious gap in our Earth remote sensing capabilities − namely the lack of a microwave atmospheric sounder in geostationary orbit. The importance of such observations have been recognized by the National Academy of Sciences National Research Council, which recently released its report on a "Decadal Survey" of NASA Earth Science activities. One of the recommended missions for the next decade is a geostationary microwave sounder. GeoSTAR is well positioned to meet the requirements of such a mission, and because of the substantial investment NASA has already made in GeoSTAR technology development, this concept is fast approaching the necessary maturity for implementation in the next decade. NOAA is also keenly interested in GeoSTAR as a potential payload on its next series of geostationary weather satellites, the GOES-R series. GeoSTAR, with its ability to map out the three-dimensional structure of temperature, water vapor, clouds, precipitation and convective parameters on a continual basis, will significantly enhance our ability to observe hurricanes and other severe storms. In addition, with performance matching that of current and next generation of low-earth-orbiting microwave sounders, GeoSTAR will also provide observations important to the study of the hydrologic cycle, atmospheric processes and climate variability and trends. In particular, with GeoSTAR it will be possible to fully resolve the diurnal cycle. We discuss the GeoSTAR concept and basic design, the performance of the prototype, and a number of science applications that will be possible with GeoSTAR. The work reported on here was performed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Development of the embryonic mammalian pancreas: the relationship between morphogenesis and cytodifferentiation.

Abstract The degree to which cytodifferentiation is obligatorily coupled to ongoing morphogenesis has been analyzed in the developing mouse pancreas system. Protodifferentiated pancreatic epithelia are isolated from investing mesoderm and are cultured on plastic substrata. Within 24 hr, the epithelia spread into two-dimensional monolayers. Under these conditions, acinar formation fails to take place. Furthermore, the cells do not undergo mitosis, an observation consistent with the absence of mesenchymal cells or mesenchymal factor from these cultures. In spite of the absence of morphogenesis, cytodifferentiation takes place on schedule. Thus, over 5–7 days of culture, amylase specific activity rises 100-fold, and zymogen granules appear in the cells. The results argue that the regulation of exocrine cytodifferentiation is independent of ongoing morphogenesis.
Disseminated histoplasma and CMV infection presenting as subacute intestinal obstruction in an immunocompromised patient

Histoplasma in patients with impaired cellular immunity can disseminate to various organs and is known as progressive disseminated histoplasmosis. Similarly cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common opportunistic pathogen in an immunocompromised host. The authors report an older male with symptoms and radiological evidence of subacute intestinal obstruction. The patient had concerns for compromised immune system as he was on chronic prednisone and methotrexate therapy. Follow-up colonoscopy revealed a stricture in the proximal ascending colon. Biopsy of the stricture revealed ulcer with granulomatous inflammation including well-formed granulomas and an infiltrate of histiocytes within the lamina propria. Special stains on the specimen showed fungal structures consistent with Histoplasma capsulatum. Immunochemistry showed presence of CMV in the tissue. The patient had good response to antimicrobial therapy and did not have progression of intestinal obstruction. This case highlights the need to consider infectious pathology in immunocompromised patients presenting with obstructive symptoms.
Framing innocents: the wrongly convicted as victims of state harm

We adapt the victimology of ‘state harms’ framework outlined by Kauzlarich et al. (Critical Criminology, 10(3), 173–194, 2001) to understand the post-exoneration experiences of 18 death row exonerees. Kauzlarich et al. develop six points of commonality shared by most victims of state crime. Application of this framework to death row exonerees highlights the role the state plays in creating and exacerbating the harms they suffer. This analysis also lays a foundation for further theoretical inquiry into the wrongful conviction of the innocent as a form of state crime.
Prediction of solder interconnects wetting and experimental evaluation

A new analysis methodology to predict solder interconnect wetting is developed to reveal the causes of poor wetting during flip chip assembly and to provide solutions. The analysis methodology characterizes solder wetting as two different processes: the wetting dynamics of the solder contact line and the generation of the minimum energy surface of the molten solder. Surface Evolver is implemented to generate the surface shape of solder during wetting. Since there are no quantified dynamics models for solder materials, a solder wetting dynamics model is developed based on former wetting models proposed for other materials. The contact angle relaxation of spreading over time is measured in specially designed experimental setup for model development. As a result of experiment and model evaluation, a best wetting dynamics model is developed and the development of analysis methodology is completed. The study of reflow process parameter effects is ongoing.
Beliefs about asthma and complementary and alternative medicine in low-income inner-city African-American adults.

BACKGROUND: The gap in asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality is increasing in low-income racial/ethnic minority groups as compared with Caucasians. In order to address these disparities, alternative beliefs and behaviors need to be identified.
Strength and Ductility of Nanostructured Composites with Co-Deformable Components

This paper reviews research on nanostructured high strength wires and strips. Such materials have sufficient ductility and they have found application in a variety of areas. The high strength of the materials is achieved by refinement of the spacing between the strengthening fibers. Due to the refined microstructure, the materials have very large interphase interface areas. Such interfaces provide very effective barriers for dislocation motions. In spite of their microstructural refinement, the materials still have sufficient ductility that gives them engineering values.