cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trends in older driver crash involvement rates and survivability in the United States: an update.

OBJECTIVE: Previous research has shown that fatal crash involvement rates per licensed driver aged 70 and older declined significantly more per year in the United States than rates for middle-aged drivers aged 35-54 during 1997-2008, and per vehicle mile traveled from 1995-1996 to 2001-2002. Analyses of police-reported crash data during 1997-2005 indicated that the greater declines for older drivers were due to decreases in crash involvement and in the risk of dying in the crashes that occurred. The current study examined if trends in crash rates, crash involvements, and survivability persisted into more recent years. METHODS: Trends for drivers 70 and older were compared with trends for drivers aged 35-54 for U.S. national fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per 100,000 licensed drivers during 1997-2012 and for U.S. national fatal passenger vehicle crash involvements per vehicle miles traveled in 1995-1996, 2001-2002, and 2008. Using police-reported crash data during 1997-2008 from 20 U.S. states, trends in involvement rates in non-fatal crashes of various severities per 100,000 licensed drivers and changes in the odds of death and the odds of death or serious injury in a crash were compared between older and middle-aged drivers. RESULTS: During 2007-2012, declines in national fatal crash involvement rates per licensed driver were similar for drivers 70 and older and middle-aged drivers (18 percent each). However, when considering the entire study period, fatal crash involvement rates continued to reflect a substantially larger decline for drivers 70 and older than for middle-aged drivers (42 vs. 30 percent per licensed driver during 1997-2012, 39 vs. 26 percent per vehicle mile traveled from 1995-2006 to 2008). When analyses of police-reported crash data were extended through 2008, non-fatal injury crash involvement rates per licensed driver declined more for older than for middle-aged drivers (39 vs. 30 percent), and unlike in prior research, average annual declines were significantly larger for drivers 80 and older. Property damage-only crash involvement rates similarly declined significantly more for older than for middle-aged drivers (15 vs. 3 percent). Drivers 70 and older in 1997 were 3.5 times more likely than middle-aged drivers to die in a crash, and this ratio declined to 3.2 by 2008. CONCLUSIONS: Although declines in fatal crash involvement rates in recent years have not differed between older and middle-aged drivers, this did not undo earlier gains for older drivers. The recent slowing in the relative magnitude of the decline for older drivers may be related to the differential effect of the U.S. recession on fatal crash involvements of drivers in these age groups. The decreased likelihood of being involved in a crash of any severity and increased survivability when a crash occurred held when examining data through 2008, and for drivers 80 and older, significant declines in crash involvement relative to middle-aged drivers extended to non-fatal injury crashes. Language: en
Strain and sex dependence of carrier-determined immunologic tolerance to guanosine.

Immunity and tolerance to guanosine were studied in male and female BALB/c and SJL mice and their hybrid and backcross offspring. Two assays were used to measure the primary and secondary immune response to guanosine keyhole limpet hemocya- nin: a Farr assay for circulating antibody and a hemolytic plaque assay for antibody- forming cells. SJL mice were higher responders than BALB/c mice. Although both strains of mice were rendered tolerant by guanosine-isologous IgG, BALB/c mice were more susceptible to tolerance than SJL mice. Males were more easily tolerized than females in both strains of mice. This was best seen in the secondary response of mice made tolerant before primary immunization. Both male and female F1 mice were high responders like the SJL; nevertheless, both sexes were easily tolerized suggesting that tolerance is dominant. Results in backcross animals indicated that the genetic control was more complex than that of a single gene, and that it was neither linked to the gene of the immunoglobulin heavy chain nor to the H-2 haplotype. Again, females were more resistant than males to tolerance induction. The significance of the sex difference in susceptibility to tolerance to nucleic acid antigens may be related to the female predominance in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Some Theoretical Implications of Female and Male Interaction in Unstructured Small Groups

The contrasting assumptions and findings of three theoretical orientations frequently used to explain mixed-sex small group interaction are reviewed. Data from human relations training groups were analyzed to test sex-role differentiation theory hypotheses against alternative explanations grounded in role-status expectation and contextual role adaptation theories. Results did not support sex-role differentiation or adaptation orientations. Women were interactively dominant and more proactive and reactive to same-sex group members; men vacillated between attending to opposite-sex members or attempting global impact. Role-status expectation theory was advanced as the most appropriate explanatory framework for these results.
Adolescents’ Perceptions of Parental Goals, Practices, and Styles in Relation to Their Motivation and Achievement

The current study examines research questions proposed by an expanded version of Darling and Steinberg’s contextual model of parenting. Using a sample of 184 adolescents, the analyses indicated that adolescents’ perceptions of parental educational goals and values were related positively and significantly to their reports of parental school involvement and parental monitoring. In turn, adolescents’ perceptions of parental involvement in schoolwork were related positively and significantly to their interest in school, internal academic self-regulation, and goal pursuit. Parental styles moderated the relationship between parental practices and student grades, with parental involvement and monitoring most effective under child-centered parenting styles. The implications of the study results on the parental socialization of school achievement and motivation are considered.
Magnetism and the rotation of celestial bodies.

IN a recent letter, H. P. Berlage1 has ingeniously attempted to use the idea of a radial separation of electric charge, associated with degenerate matter in the interior of rotating celestial bodies, in order to derive Blackett's formula2, which seeks to connect the angular momentum of such a body with its magnetic moment.
Diversity in Dimerization Topologies Enables Differential Control of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Phosphorylation Dynamics

Within the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) super-family there is natural diversity in mechanisms leading to RTK dimerization, but the impact on receptor-mediated signaling is not well understood. Using parameters from studies of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and considering effects of ligand binding, receptor dimerization, and receptor phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, we developed computational models to compare the effects of dimerization through direct extracellular receptor–receptor contacts (receptor-mediated dimerization, RMD) or through indirect receptor–receptor interactions facilitated by an interposed bivalent ligand (ligand-mediated dimerization, LMD). We found that the LMD topology enables different and complex regulatory modes of signaling vs. RMD, and that this complexity depends upon differences in time scales for ligand binding, dimerization, and receptor dephosphorylation. Compared to RMD, the LMD topology: (1) Enables non-monotonic phosphorylation dynamic response to ligand binding; (2) favors an amplification process wherein a single receptor-ligand binding event produces more than two phosphorylated receptors within the time scale for receptor dephosphorylation; and (3) generates greater phosphorylation sensitivity to changes in receptor expression at sub-saturating ligand concentrations and to changes in preformed receptor dimer abundance. Thus, different dimerization mechanisms may allow RTKs to initiate signaling in very different ways, and our models provide a framework for exploring this complexity.
Temporal and spatial features of gait in older adults transitioning to frailty

Examining gait characteristics in older adults who are transitioning to frailty enhances our understanding of movement control in this fall-prone population and helps to better target preventive interventions. This work presents data on temporal and spatial gait parameters of a group of older adults who have been operationally defined as "transitionally frail". Gait speed, cadence, stride length, stance, swing, double-support, and horizontal heel velocity at heel contact were measured in 50 transitionally frail older adults while walking at a self-selected pace. These data suggest that the temporal and spatial gait features of these older adults differ substantially from published results from other older adults.
Skeletal Manifestations of Treatment of Breast Cancer on Premenopausal Women

With increasing use of screening mammography and more effective adjuvant systemic therapies, the majority of women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer will be long-term survivors and experience personal cures. Among the common side effects of adjuvant therapies is treatment-related bone loss, primarily as a result of estrogen deprivation. Whereas this occurs in both postmenopausal and premenopausal women, this brief review will focus on pre- or perimenopausal women when initially diagnosed with breast cancer. An important distinction is between those women who retain ovarian function despite cancer or preventative treatments and the more common situation of premenopausal women who as result of cancer treatments undergo ovarian failure or early menopause. Some women with treatment-related ovarian failure will have sufficient treatment-related bone loss to be at increased risks of subsequent nontraumatic fractures and/or osteoporosis and will be candidates for antiresorptive treatments. The noncancer treatment risk factors, screening and treatments for the management of osteopenia and osteoporosis are generally the same in postmenopausal women with and without breast cancer. However, premenopausal women with relatively rapid onset of treatment-related ovarian failure and bone loss pose several challenges. Awareness of treatment-related bone loss and risks of subsequent osteoporosis is a high priority in an ever-increasing population of breast cancer survivors.
Approximation of Poisson integrals by de la Valleé-Poussin sums in uniform and integral metrics

On the classes of Poisson integrals of functions belonging to the unit balls of the spaces L s , 1 ≤ s ≤ ∞, we establish asymptotic equalities for upper bounds of approximations by de la Vallee-Poussin sums in the uniform metric. Asymptotic equalities are also obtained for the case of approximation by de la Vallee-Poussin sums in the metrics of the spaces L s , 1 ≤ s ≤ ∞, on the classes of Poisson integrals of functions belonging to the unit ball of the space L 1.
Hydrogen fluoride-catalysed alkylations of Pittsburgh Seam (hvb) coal

Abstract Friedel-Crafts type alkylations of Pittsburgh Seam (hvb) coal using several alcohols as alkylating agents and anhydrous hydrogen fluoride as catalyst rendered the coal approximately 50% and 90% extractable by tetrahydrofuran and pyridine, respectively. The initial extractability of the coal was 8% in tetrahydrofuran and 20% in pyridine. Similar changes were obtained with an Illinois No. 6 coal by similar treatment. However, in all the alcohol alkylations described, accompanying polymerization and condensation of the alcohols complicated the results.
Effect of Age and Gender on the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of BAY 12–9566 in Healthy Subjects

The impact of age and gender on the single-dose pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of BAY 12-9566 was evaluated in healthy subjects. Volunteers were grouped according to age and gender (13 young males, 11 elderly males, and 12 elderly females) and then randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive a single oral 50 mg dose of BAY 12-9566 or placebo. Serial plasma samples were collected up to 336 hours postdose and assayed for BAY 12-9566. Peak plasma concentration, time to reach peak plasma concentration, the area under the concentration-time curve, oral clearance, volume of distribution, and elimination half-life were calculated. BAY 12-9566 was well tolerated in all treatment groups, and no serious adverse events occurred during the study. Substantial age- or gender-related differences were not observed for any of the pharmacokinetic parameters tested. Based on these pharmacokinetic and tolerability profiles, age- or gender-related dose adjustments were not required for BAY 12-9566.
Analysis of histidine-containing dipeptides, polyamines, and related amino acids by high-performance liquid chromatography: Application to guinea pig brain

Abstract A chromatographic method has been developed for the separation of histidine-containingdipeptides, methylhistidines, free polyamines, and some related amino acids. As little as 10 pmol of each compound can be determined by separation on a strong cation-exchange resin with lithium citrate buffers and in-stream fluorometric detection with o -phthalaldehyde in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. The method has been applied to the simultaneous analysis of carnosine, homocarnosine, polyamines, γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamic acid, glutamine, lysine, and arginine in guinea pig whole brain.
A Bis‐Oxime Derivative of Diaza‐18‐Crown‐6 as an Ionophore for Silver Ion

A new pendant-arm derivative of diaza-18-crown-6, containing two oxime donor groups, has been synthesized and incorporated into a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane ion-selective electrode. The electrode shows selectivity for Ag+ ion, with a near Nernstian response. Pb2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, and Tl+ are major interfering ions, with Cd2+ having minor interference. The electrode shows no potentiometric response for the ions Mg2+, Al3+, K+, Ca2+, Ni2+, Fe3+, and La3+, and is responsive to H+ at pH<6.
Sulcal set optimization for cortical surface registration.

Flat mapping based cortical surface registration constrained by manually traced sulcal curves has been widely used for inter subject comparisons of neuroanatomical data. Even for an experienced neuroanatomist, manual sulcal tracing can be quite time consuming, with the cost increasing with the number of sulcal curves used for registration. We present a method for estimation of an optimal subset of size NC from N possible candidate sulcal curves that minimizes a mean squared error metric over all combinations of NC curves. The resulting procedure allows us to estimate a subset with a reduced number of curves to be traced as part of the registration procedure leading to optimal use of manual labeling effort for registration. To minimize the error metric we analyze the correlation structure of the errors in the sulcal curves by modeling them as a multivariate Gaussian distribution. For a given subset of sulci used as constraints in surface registration, the proposed model estimates registration error based on the correlation structure of the sulcal errors. The optimal subset of constraint curves consists of the NC sulci that jointly minimize the estimated error variance for the subset of unconstrained curves conditioned on the NC constraint curves. The optimal subsets of sulci are presented and the estimated and actual registration errors for these subsets are computed.
Time-varying reeb graphs for continuous space-time data

We study the evolution of the Reeb graph of a time-varying continuous function defined in three-dimensional space. While maintaining the Reeb graph, we compress the evolving sequence into a single, partially persistent data structure. We envision this data structure as a useful tool in visualizing real-valued space-time data obtained from computational simulations of physical processes.
Finite Element Analysis of Pulsed Laser Bending: The Effect of Melting and Solidification

This work developes a finite element model to compute thermal and thermomechanical phenomena during pulsed laser induced melting and solidification. The essential elements of the model are handling of stress and strain release during melting and their retrieval during solidification, and the use of a second reference temperature, which is the melting point of the target material for computing the thermal stress of the resolidified material. This finite element model is used to simulate a pulsed laser bending process, during which the curvature of a thin stainless steel plate is altered by laser pulses. The bending angle and the distribution of stress and strain are obtained and compared with those when melting does not occur. It is found that the bending angle increases continulously as the laser energy is increased over the melting threshold value.
Quantum stability of ultrathin metal overlayers on semiconductor substrates

Growth of metals on semiconductor substrates continues to be a major research area of the surface science and thin film growth community, for obvious reasons: metal/semiconductor interfaces are indispensable components for many device applications, ranging from metal-based transistors to interconnects. Despite many years of intensive studies, fundamental research in this area still constantly offers new excitement, with the elegant study of aluminum growth on Si(111) reported in this issue by Liu et al. [1] as a particularly poignant example.
Role of FAST or Abdominal Ultrasound to Limit CT Imaging in Evaluation of the Pediatric Abdominal Trauma Patient

Blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) can produce serious intra-abdominal injuries (IAI) in children. An early diagnosis is important to reduce morbidity and mortality, but pediatric patients sustaining BAT rarely require an operative intervention. Although the computed tomography (CT) scan is currently the best diagnostic tool to detect IAI, increased awareness of the risks of radiation exposure, high costs, and low utility has led to efforts to reduce the use of CT in the workup of pediatric trauma patients. Focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) is an accurate, noninvasive, and rapid method of evaluating patients with BAT. Many institutions have developed criteria using physical signs and common biochemical markers of abdominal injury in combination with FAST as a screening tool to prevent the overuse of CT in children. We review the use of FAST and scoring systems as tools to limit CT imaging in the evaluation of the pediatric abdominal trauma patient.
Synthesis of curved graphene layers on metallic dendrites

Abstract Due to strong in-plane covalent bonds and weak out-of-plane van der Waals forces, graphene layers can bend easily to form curved structures. In this research, curved graphene films were grown on metallic dendrites as the molten alloys of Ni–Cu and Ni–Al solidified inside a graphitic crucible. During the melting process, due to solidification shrinkage the liquid in between the growing dendrites were decanted and left behind exposed dendrites wetted by a thin molten blanket. The blanket eventually froze and rejected carbon which crystallized as curved graphene layers conforming to dendrites. The curved films were studied with detailed Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The examined layers possessed high degree of perfection and were as thin as a few layers. They also consisted of faceted out-of-plane wrinkles due to thermal expansion coefficient mismatch with the metallic substrate.
Relationship Between Lower-Crown Sampling and Midcrown Sampling for Choristoneura occidentalis (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) After Treatment with Bacillus thuringiensis

We found no change in the relation between densities of western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, determined by lower-crown sampling and densities determined by conventional midcrown sampling on host trees in a suppression project with Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner. The relationship was tested on units treated with B. thuringiensis and on untreated units. We present an equation that provides an improved means to predict midcrown densities based on lower-crown population estimates. Analysis of larval densities before treatment and densities 1 yr after treatment broadens application of the equation to include the full range of fourth to final instars for natural, untreated budworm populations, as well as for sampling before treatment and sampling after treatment with B. thuringiensis .
Effects of protein kinase C inhibitors on insulin secretory responses from rodent pancreatic islets.

The contribution of protein kinase C (PKC) to the regulation of insulin release from perifused islets was explored using staurosporine or Go 6976 to inhibit the enzyme. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 500 nM) addition to rat islets resulted in a slowly rising insulin secretory response. While minimally effective alone, the addition of 500 nM forskolin together with PMA resulted in a synergistic secretory response. The conventional protein-kinase-C isoform inhibitor Go 6976 (1 microM) completely abolished PMA-induced secretion. However, the combination of forskolin plus PMA significantly enhanced secretion from Go 6976-treated islets. Similar to previous findings made with staurosporine, Go 6976 (1 microM) enhanced the first phase and reduced the second phase of 20 mM glucose-induced secretion from rat islets. Additional studies were conducted comparing the secretory responses of perifused rat or mouse islets to glucose. Dramatic species differences to the hexose were observed. For example, 35-40 min after the onset of stimulation with 8, 10 or 20 mM glucose insulin release rates from mouse islets averaged 32+/-6, 84+/-27 or 131+/-17 pg/islet per minute, respectively. The responses from rat islets averaged 115+/-28, 561+/-112 or 800+/-46 pg/islet per minute at this time point. Islet insulin stores were comparable in both species. The addition of 5 microM carbachol, 500 nM forskolin or 20 mM KCl to mouse islets together with 20 mM glucose resulted in a dramatic augmentation of insulin output. The responses to carbachol or forskolin, but not KCl, were inhibited by 50 nM staurosporine. However, staurosporine (50 nM) reduced insulin secretion from rat islets stimulated with KCl plus 20 mM glucose. Go 6976 potentiated 20 mM glucose-induced secretion from mouse islets. These studies demonstrate that 1 microM Go 6976 completely abolishes PMA-induced release from rat islets and has a modest inhibitory effect on 20 mM glucose-induced secretion. Go 6976 (1 microM) had no inhibitory effect on 20 mM glucose-induced release from mouse islets. These studies also confirm that staurosporine inhibits both PKC- and PKA-mediated events in islets and this lack of specificity may account for its more pronounced inhibition of release when compared to Go 6976. Finally, significant species differences to PKC inhibitors exist between mouse and rat islets.
Sequence and developmental expression of Cyp18, a member of a new cytochrome P450 family from Drosophila.

Abstract Preliminary studies of a partial cDNA clone of the Eig17-1 gene from Drosophila melanogaster have shown that it encodes a probable cytochrome P450 of unknown function. To further characterize the Eig17-1 gene product, a full-length cDNA clone was isolated from a late-larval cDNA library and sequenced. Eig17-1 encodes a protein of 538 amino acids. The predicted protein is a cytochrome P450 that has been assigned to a new family, CYP18. The CYP18 protein is most closely related to steroid and xenobiotic metabolizing P450s of family CYP2 (30–33% identity), and to vertebrate steroidogenic P450s of families CYP17 and CYP21 (25–28% identity). Developmental Northern blot analysis revealed five distinct periods of Cyp18 expression during postembryonic development. Each period lasted 12–15 h, and was tightly correlated with reported ecdysteroid pulses in the first, second and third larval instars, at the time of pupariation and in pupae. This pattern of expression is consistent with the known induction of Cyp18 transcription by 20-hydroxyecdysone at the time of pupariation and suggests that ecdysteroids are major regulators of Cyp18 expression throughout postembryonic development. Northern blot analysis of RNA isolated from different prepupal tissues indicates that Cyp18 is differentially expressed in various ecdysteroid-responsive tissues. High Cyp18 expression was observed in body wall and gut while negligible expression was observed in salivary glands and fat body.
Molecular mechanisms and forces involved in the adhesion and fusion of amphiphilic bilayers

The surface forces apparatus technique was used for measuring the adhesion, deformation, and fusion of bilayers supported on mica surfaces in aqueous solutions. The most important force leading to the direct fusion of bilayers is the hydrophobic interaction, although the occurrence of fusion is not simply related to the force law between bilayers. Bilayers do not need to "overcome" some repulsive force barrier, such as hydration, before they can fuse. Instead, once bilayer surfaces come within about 1 nanometer of each other, local deformations and molecular rearrangements allow them to "bypass" these forces.
Inherited mannose-binding lectin deficiency as evidenced by genetic and immunologic analyses: association with severe recurrent infections

Background Mannose-binding lectin (MBL), an acute-phase serum protein of hepatic origin, plays an essential protective role in host innate immunity in targeting microbial pathogens for destruction via opsonization, enhancement of phagocytosis and complement activation. MBL deficiency, characterized by low serum MBL, has been attributed to genetic mutations in both structural and promoter regions of the gene coding for the protein. Concomitant MBL deficiency in patients with chronic immunologic disease has been associated with increased susceptibility to complicating infections that may hasten disease progression. Objective Few cases of inherited MBL deficiency in adults and possible associations with recurrent infection have been reported. To address this issue, we investigated the MBL profile of four generations within a single adult family whose members have experienced a variety of persistent infections. Methods MBL serum levels and MBL genotypes of each participating family member were ascertained by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. MBL complement activation, as measured by C4b deposition against mannan-coated wells, was assayed using an enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay. Routine immunologic and cellular tests were carried out to evaluate the immunologic status of each family member. Results Six of the 7 family members screened carried one or more of the variant MBL alleles in their genotype and had correspondingly low serum MBL and reduced ability to affect C4b opsonization. Medical histories of the participating family members revealed an array of mild to severe recurrent infections despite no apparent immunodeficiency. Conclusions Our studies show that MBL deficiency is an inherited characteristic and may be a crucial factor in maintaining immunologic health.
Analysis of the modulation response of 1.3-μm strained InAsP lasers

In this paper we analyze the frequency response of 1.3+m highly strained InAsP/InGaAsP MQW lasers under small signal conditions. We show that in these lasers, electrical parasitics limit the high frequency response. These parasitics which are inherent to the laser structure, show an inductance-like behavior as determined from impedance measurements. We further show that the effect of the parasitic inductance in the laser modulation response can be significantly reduced by modifying the laser driving circuit.
Intracellular reaction rates, enzyme activities and biomass yields in Methylomonas L3: growth rate and substrate composition effects

The effects of specific growth rate and medium feed composition on the metabolic reactions of methanol incorporation and oxidation have been studied in carbon-limited, chemostatic cultures of Methylomonas L3. An in situ radioisotopic tracer technique was employed. The in vivo rates of substrate-carbon flow and the corresponding steady-state levels of several key RuMP-type methylotrophic enzymes were determined over a range of dilution rates from 0.19 to 0.41 h-1 on methanol and methanol/formaldehyde substrates. It was determined that an absolute correlation does not exist between the in vivo specific carbon flux and the in vitro specific activity of any of the key enzymes studied. Oxidation of substrate-carbon via 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase is not stringently regulated in this methylotroph and the extent of its operation may be dependent on kinetic factors which make immediate cellular detoxification of formaldehyde imperative. As such, the cyclic oxidation mechanism in this methylotroph does not appear to be coupled to efficient energy utilization, since it was observed that high levels of the cyclic oxidation flux are commensurate with depressed biomass yields.
Infant pupillary response to methadone administration during treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome: A feasibility study

Background Pupil diameter is a frequently assessed objective index of the pharmacodynamic effects of opioids in adults, but to our knowledge has never been examined in infants. Such a measure could improve assessment and treatment of neonates exposed to opioids in utero. The present study examined changes in pupil diameter after opioid administration in opioid-exposed infants who required pharmacological treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) to test the feasibility of using pupil diameter as a measure of opioid effects in these infants.
Single‐parameter inference based on partial prior information

Partial specification of a prior distribution can be appealing to an analyst, but there is no conventional way to update a partial prior. In this paper, we show how a framework for Bayesian updating with data can be based on the Dirichlet(a) process. Within this framework, partial information predictors generalize standard minimax predictors and have interesting multiple-point shrinkage properties. Approximations to partial-information estimators for squared error loss are defined straightforwardly, and an estimate of the mean shrinks the sample mean. The proposed updating of the partial prior is a consequence of four natural requirements when the Dirichlet parameter a is continuous. Namely, the updated partial posterior should be calculable from knowledge of only the data and partial prior, it should be faithful to the full posterior distribution, it should assign positive probability to every observed event {X,}, and it should not assign probability to unobserved events not included in the partial prior specification. II serait pratique, pour certaines analyses de donnees, de ne pouvoir specifier qu'une partie ďune loi a priori. Toutefois, il n'existe pas de methode conventionnelle permettant de mettre a jour une loi a priori partielle. Dans cet article, nous montrons comment il est possible de faire cette mise a jour en se servant du processus de Dirichlet de parametre 'L. Dans ce contexte, les estimateurs de prevision bases sur de ľinformation partielle generalised les estimateurs de prevision minimax classiques et permettent de comprimer les estimations vers plusieurs points cibles a la fois. Certaines approximations faciles permettent ďapprocher les estimations fondees sur cette information partielle et minimisant ľerreur quadratique moyenne. On voit par exemple qu'une estimation de la moyenne rapproche la moyenne de ľechantillon de ľorigine. La methode de mise a jour de la loi a priori partielle decoule de quatre conditions naturelles lorsque le parametre 'L du processus de Dirichlet est continu. Les conditions en question sont nommement: que la loi a posteriori partielle puisse etre calculee a partir de la loi a priori partielle et des donnees seulement, qu'elle soit compatible avec la loi a posteriori integrate, qu'elle donne une probabilite non-nulle a tout evenement observe {X,}, et qu'elle n'assigne aucune probabilite aux evenements non-observes qui n'avaient pas ete inclus dans la specification partielle de la loi a priori.
Similarity and acquaintance: a dilemma

There is an interesting and instructive problem with Richard Fumerton’s acquaintance theory of noninferential justification. Fumerton’s explicit account requires acquaintance with the truth-maker of one’s belief and yet he admits that one can have noninferential justification when one is not acquainted with the truth-maker of one’s belief but instead acquainted with a very similar truth-maker. On the face of it this problem calls for clarification. However, there are skeptical issues lurking in the background. This paper explores these issues by developing a dilemma for an acquaintance theory.
A molecular framework for the actions of glucocorticoid hormones in the nervous system.

Steroid, retinoid, and thyroid hormones regulate development and homeostasis in complex eukaryotes. The influence of steroid hormones on the nervous system has been a subject of experimentation for most of this century, yet much of this resedrch has occurred in the ahsencrofan understandingofthemolecular mechanisms that underlie these processes. The diverse actions of these hormones on metabolism, differentiation, growth, and physiology are predominantly mediated by intracellular receptor proteins thdt directly regulate patterns of gene expresGon in target cells. Recently, the primary structures of all of the known steroid hormone receptors, as well as two thyroid hormone receptors and two retinoic acid receptors, have been elucidated by the cloning and sequenc:ing of their cDNAs, dramaticdlly improving our understandtng of hormonal control of gene expression. This structural analysis has revealed thdt there exists a superfamIly of receptors sharing d common mode of atlon: all are ligand-dependent transcription factors (Evans, 1988). We here review ddvances in understanding the molecular structure and function of the steroid hormone receptors. We then illustrate the potential of these studies in providing new insights into neuroblology using recent analyses of the relationship of the minerdlocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors (the typ? I and type II corticosteroid receptors) found in the nervous system. Based on the possible coordinate acttvity of these two receptors in regulating a common set ot genes, we then present a new working hypothesis-a “blnary hormone response system”-for the actions of glucocorticoids in the brain.
Further insights into the structure and chemistry of the Gilsonite asphaltene from a combined theoretical and experimental approach

Abstract Gilsonite is a natural fossil resource, similar to a petroleum asphalt high in asphaltenes. Asphaltenes are a class of organic compounds operationally defined based on their solubility in organic solvents, and as a result there is wide range of potential compositions and structures that can fit into this class. Specific compounds are challenging to propose due to its complexity. A sample of the asphaltene derived from the Gilsonite deposit was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The high intensity of the 1600 cm−1 infrared peak, which corresponds to a C C stretching vibrational mode of the aromatic carbons also found prevalent in other asphaltenes, is likely a characteristic asphaltene feature. The high intensity can be explained by the stack structure and/or by polycyclic aromatic infrared transitions with a high dipole moment derivative. The nanosize stack structure was validated by the electron microscope and diffraction patterns, giving inter-sheet distances of 2.54 and 3.77 A. Complementary calculations using density functional theory suggest a specific island-type polycyclic aromatic molecular model, with the calculated vibrational modes consistent with all of the characteristic peaks in the infrared spectrum. The method combining theoretical and experimental can be extended for more specific asphaltene molecular structure identifications.
Survivability Enhancing Techniques for RFID Systems

Radio Frequency Identification RFID has been applied in various high security and high integrity settings. As an important ubiquitous technique, RFID offers opportunities for real-time item tracking, object identification, and inventory management. However, due to the high distribution and vulnerability of its components, an RFID system is subject to various threats which could affect the system's abilities to provide essential services to users. Although there have been intensive studies on RFID security and privacy, there is still no complete solution to RFID survivability. In this paper, the authors classify the RFID security techniques that could be used to enhance an RFID system's survivability from three aspects, i.e., resilience, robustness and fault tolerance, damage assessment and recovery. A threat model is presented, which can help users identify devastating attacks on an RFID system. An RFID system must be empowered with strong protection to withstand those attacks and provide essential functions to users.
Noncovalent inhibitors of sickle hemoglobin gelation: effects of tetrasubstituted ammonium salts

The effects of various tetrasubstituted ammonium compounds on the solubility of deoxygenated sickle hemoglobin were evaluated. These conclusions were drawn from the slopes of the solubility profiles obtained: (1) for the homologous series of tetraalkylammonium chloride salts (R4NCl), antigelling potency increased with increasing chain length of the R group: CH3 < C2H5 < C3H7 < C4H9; (2) for halide salts of the tetrabutyl-ammonium cation there was no difference in effectiveness among the anions examined (Br−, Cl−, F−), presumably because of the extremely potent salting-in effect of this cation; (3) substitution of a benzyl for an alkyl group in three tetraalkylammonium chloride salts, C6H5CH2(R)3NCl, where R = CH3, C2H5, or C4H9, potentiated the antigelling capacity by as much as eight-fold. Because they are substantially more water soluble than any other class of noncovalent inhibitors examined to date, further manipulation of the aryl substituent on these compounds may contribute to the design of an effe...
Parameter Estimation for Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Modal Analysis of Large Structures

Experimental modal analysis (EMA) has been explored as a technology for condition assessment and damage identification of constructed structures. However, successful EMA applications such as damage...
Interactions between an impact generated ejecta curtain and an atmosphere

A theoretical model investigates the interaction between an ejecta curtain and a variety of differing atmospheric conditions in order to determine the ejecta entrainment capacity of winds generated by an advancing curtain. The model assesses the curtain shape, the position along the curtain where flow separation occurs, the velocity of winds winnowing ejecta out of the effectively impermeable portions of the curtain and the velocity of winds flow separating at its top. Wind velocities allow estimating the size range of ejecta entrained. Tested against laboratory impacts into coarse sand, the model results duplicate observation of curtain shape and size of ejecta entrained. The position where flow separation occurs is duplicated when the curtain porosity is assumed to increase with time.
Use of T fasteners for primary jejunostomy

T fasteners were used successfully to allow placement of primary feeding jejunostomies in 4 patients who had previously undergone surgical gastrojejunostomy.
Going in When it Counts: Military Intervention and the Outcome of Civil Conflicts*

Conventional wisdom suggests that biased military interventions in civil conflicts should increase the probability that the supported side will win. However, while this is the case for rebel groups, the same is not true for governments. The explanation for this surprising finding becomes clear once one considers the decision of a third-party intervener. Since interveners want to impact the outcomes of civil conflict, government- and rebel-biased interventions will be more likely when the government is facing a stronger rebel group. Given that government-biased third parties intervene in the “toughest” cases, empirically they appear to be less effective than rebel-biased interveners.
Prevalence of prenatal drinking assessed at an urban public hospital and a suburban private hospital

Background: Although the prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) varies within the population, few data are available concerning variation in the prevalence of prenatal drinking. Methods: Postpartum women delivering singleton infants at two Atlanta hospitals in 1993 or 1994 were interviewed. Those delivering infants who were small for gestational age (SGA) (n = 638) were over-sampled relative to those delivering infants with birth weights that were appropriate for gestational age (AGA) (n = 247). The prevalence of prenatal drinking was estimated as a weighted average of reports from mothers of SGA and AGA infants. Estimates of the prevalence of FAS come from the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program (MACDP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results: The prevalence of first-trimester drinking was half that reported for the three previous months (private hospital: 72% vs. 35%; public hospital: 52% vs. 28%). Most women (85%) reported abstaining throughout the second trimester. F...
The Role of the Prison Chaplain in Rehabilitation

SUMMARY Since the inception of the penitentiary, prison chaplains have played an integral role in the lives of inmates. Research has been limited, however, that explores the involvement of chaplains in offender treatment. This research examines chaplains' historic and contemporary roles in correctional counseling, the degree to which chaplains are supportive of rehabilitation, and the content of chaplains' counseling sessions. The findings reveal that chaplains are highly supportive of rehabilitation, spend the majority of their time counseling inmates, and utilize a combination of religious and secular methods of counseling. Further, it was found that chaplains view offender adjustment and rehabilitation as goals of their counseling and generally employ methods and styles of correctional treatment that have been associated with reductions in recidivism.
Locally recurrent prostate cancer after initial radiation therapy: a comparison of salvage radical prostatectomy versus cryotherapy.

Purpose: We compared the treatment outcomes of salvage radical prostatectomy and salvage cryotherapy for patients with locally recurrent prostate cancer after initial radiation therapy.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent salvage radical prostatectomy at the Mayo Clinic between 1990 and 1999, and those who underwent salvage cryotherapy at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1992 and 1995. Eligibility criteria were prostate specific antigen less than 10 ng/ml, post-radiation therapy biopsy showing Gleason score 8 or less and prior radiation therapy alone without pre-salvage or post-salvage hormonal therapy. We assessed the rates of biochemical disease-free survival, disease specific survival and overall survival in each group. Biochemical failure was assessed using the 2 definitions of 1) prostate specific antigen greater than 0.4 ng/ml and 2) 2 increases above the nadir prostate specific antigen.Results: Mean followup was 7.8 years for the salva...
Visually-guided navigation by comparing two-dimensional edge images

We present a method for navigating a robot from an initial position to a specified landmark in its visual field, using a sequence of monocular images. The location of the landmark with respect to the robot is determined using the change in size and position of the landmark in the image as the robot moves. The landmark location is estimated after the first three images are taken, and this estimate is refined after each motion. One of the novel aspects of this method is that it uses no explicit three-dimensional information. >
Mitochondrial DNA sequence variation in spiny lobsters: population expansion, panmixia, and divergence

To investigate population differentiation in a comparative and historical context, segments of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene and the control region were sequenced in Panulirus argus from nine sites along approximately 1,500 km of the Northern Caribbean Sea (n = 326) and analyzed with respect to available panulirid data. A mismatch analysis and Fu’s FS test uncovered a signature of historical population expansion around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum. Significant population structure was not detected in the area. The data supported a hypothesis of panmixia resulting from ongoing larval transport by ocean currents and historical population expansion. Despite high intraspecific divergence levels at COI within Panulirus argus and several other Panulirus species, genetic species identification through DNA barcoding was feasible using either a modified distance threshold or a character-based approach.
Understanding the Nexus of Terrorist Web Sites

In recent years terrorist groups have been using the World-Wide Web to spread their ideologies, disseminate propaganda, and recruit members. Studying the terrorist Web sites may help us understand the characteristics of these Web sites and predict terrorist activities. In this chapter, we propose to apply network topological analysis methods on systematically collected the terrorist Web site data and to study the structural characteristics at the Web page level. We conducted a case study using the methods on three collections of terrorist Web sites: Middle- Eastern, US domestic, and Latin-American. We found that the Web page networks from these three collections have the small-world and scale-free characteristics. We also found that smaller size Web sites which share similar interests tend to make stronger inter-site linkages, which help them form the giant component in the networks.
Microphysical process rates and global aerosol–cloud interactions

Abstract. Cloud microphysical process rates control the amount of condensed water in clouds and impact the susceptibility of precipitation to cloud-drop number and aerosols. The relative importance of different microphysical processes in a climate model is analyzed, and the autoconversion and accretion processes are found to be critical to the condensate budget in most regions. A simple steady-state model of warm rain formation is used to illustrate that the diagnostic rain formulations typical of climate models may result in excessive contributions from autoconversion, compared to observations and large eddy simulation models with explicit bin-resolved microphysics and rain formation processes. The behavior does not appear to be caused by the bulk process rate formulations themselves, because the steady-state model with the same bulk accretion and autoconversion has reduced contributions from autoconversion. Sensitivity tests are conducted to analyze how perturbations to the precipitation microphysics for stratiform clouds impact process rates, precipitation susceptibility and aerosol–cloud interactions (ACI). With similar liquid water path, corrections for the diagnostic rain assumptions in the GCM based on the steady-state model to boost accretion indicate that the radiative effects of ACI may decrease by 20% in the GCM. Links between process rates, susceptibility and ACI are not always clear in the GCM. Better representation of the precipitation process, for example by prognosticating precipitation mass and number, may help better constrain these effects in global models with bulk microphysics schemes.