cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disturbance, Herbivory, and Propagule Dispersal Control Dominance of an Invasive Grass

Despite the dramatic changes invasive plants cause to ecosystems and communities, factors that control dominance of invasive species after establishment in a community are poorly understood. Most active management relies on catastrophic disturbances of invasive-dominated communities to increase richness and diversity of plant communities. This study examines the importance of propagule dispersal and deer herbivory on continued dominance of Phalaris arundinacea after a non-catastrophic, short-term disturbance to monotypic stands of this invasive grass. The disturbance caused no change in P. arundinacea cover among treatments during any year of the study and, thus, simulates disturbance intensity more likely to be encountered in unmanaged settings. Despite the small disturbance, the combinations of disturbance + seeding and disturbance + seeding + deer exclusion caused greater species richness than controls even three years after disturbance. Increased invasion of P. arundinacea stands caused few effects on the dominant, as P. arundinacea biomass was unaffected after the first year. Selective herbivory by deer of species other than P. arundinacea increased the effects of disturbance and seeding, and aided in continued dominance of the grass. The tolerance of P. arundinacea for direct anthropogenic effects, including poor water quality and hydroperiod fluctuations, and indirect effects, such as increased herbivory by historically high deer populations, indicates the complexity of determining persistence of invasive species.
Analysis of two simplified methods (R6 & GE-EPRI) for circumferential crack stability in leak-before-break applications

Abstract The Ainsworth method (R6 Option 2) and the GE-EPRI method are compared and analysed. These J-estimation schemes allow us to assess at low cost, crack stability in piping systems, which is an important step in Leak-Before-Break applications. The reliability, flexibility and self-consistency of the two methods are examined by focusing on the effect of geometry, nature of loading and superposition of tension and bending. The GE-EPRI method, based on Finite Element results, is used to check the validity of the hypothesis on which the simplifications in the R6 method for through-wall circumferentially cracked pipes rely. The R6 method appears to be easier to use for the treatment of secondary loads. It is shown that, the Ainsworth Failure Assessment Line, derived in the single load case, is still valid for combined proportional tension and bending loads, provided the appropriate limit load formula is chosen.
Extraction and integration of web data by end-users

For increasingly sophisticated use cases end users often need to extract, combine, and aggregate information from various (often dynamically generated) web pages from multiple websites. Current search engines do not focus on combining information from various web pages in order to answer the overall information need of the user. Semantic Web and Linked Data usually take a static view on the data and rely on providers' cooperation. In this paper, we present a novel approach that enables end users to easily extract data from web pages while they browse, store it locally in their browser as well as structure, integrate and search such data. We propose Datalog rules for integrating and searching the extracted data. We show how cleaning steps and integration rules can be reused to accelerate the cleaning and integration of extracted data. The proposed approach is implemented as a browser plugin. We present its implementation details and report on our evaluation of the plugin concerning user experience and browsing time saving.
Enhanced bioavailability of a poorly soluble VR1 antagonist using an amorphous solid dispersion approach: a case study.

Amorphous solid dispersions (ASD) of a poorly soluble water-soluble VR1 antagonist (AMG 517) were explored for improving physical stability and in vivo exposure. AMG 517 was incorporated at 15 or 50 wt % into polymeric microparticles of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) by spray-drying. Solid particles having a collapsed, corrugated structure were observed by SEM. Median particle size ranged from 29 to 40 μm by laser light scattering, and residual solvent levels were below 2% by thermal gravimetric analysis. ASD powders exhibited single glass transition temperatures (Tg) in the range of 98−117 °C by modulated DSC and were amorphous by XRPD. Amorphous stability, characterized at 40 °C/75% RH (open dish) by XRPD, was at least six months for ASD formulations. Drug dissolution and supersaturation testing in a USP-2 apparatus indicated superior performance of ASD formulations over micronized AMG 517. PK of an ASD formulation in capsule (15 wt % AM...
Conformational Changes in the Amino-Terminal Helix of the G Protein αi1 Following Dissociation From Gβγ Subunit and Activation

G protein α subunits mediate activation of signaling pathways through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) by virtue of GTP-dependent conformational rearrangements. It is known that regions of disorder in crystal structures can be indicative of conformational flexibility within a molecule, and there are several such regions in G protein α subunits. The amino-terminal 29 residues of Gα are α-helical only in the heterotrimer, where they contact the side of Gβ, but little is known about the conformation of this region in the active GTP bound state. To address the role of the Gα amino-terminus in G-protein activation and to investigate whether this region undergoes activation-dependent conformational changes, a site-directed cysteine mutagenesis study was carried out. Engineered Gαi1 proteins were created by first removing six native reactive cysteines to yield a mutant Gαi1−C3S−C66A−C214S−C305S−C325A−C351I that no longer reacts with cysteine-directed labels. Several cysteine substitutions along the amino-termi...
Generation of large radical ions from oligometallocenes by matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization

Non-polar polymers containing ferrocene, ferrocenylnaphthalene, and ruthenocenylnaphthalene groups in their repeating units were studied by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Sample preparation for these polymers utilized tetrahydrofuran as solvent and several new matrices such as dithranol, 9-nitroanthracene, and quinizarin (all of these are anthracene derivatives). By comparing the mass spectra of oligometallocenes recorded with different matrices at different wavelengths (337 nm and 2.94 μm) and laser desorption ionization mass spectra recorded without matrix, it could be verified that the major analyte-related peaks in the MALDI mass spectra corresponded to the radical molecular ions. Radical ions have not been seen in the MALDI mass spectra of biopolymers such as proteins, peptides, and carbohydrates. Radical formation was demonstrated for samples in the mass range (1 kDa–13 kDa). Even in the presence of potential cationization sites such as methyl ester groups in the repeating units of some polyferrocene samples, MALDI mass spectra were dominated by radical ions of the analyte. Two possible mechanisms for radical formation in MALDI are discussed. Comparison of results with different matrices suggested that the distribution of masses observed in the mass spectra and characterized by the polydispersity index was independent of the matrix, but significant differences (5%) in the average molecular weights of the mass distributions were found.
Mismatch-specific 3'→5' exonuclease associated with the mitochondrial DNA polymerase from Drosophila embryos

Abstract The mitochondrial DNA polymerase from Drosophila embryos lacks dNTP turnover activity. However, a potent 3'----5' exonuclease activity can be detected by a specific assay in which the exonuclease excises mispaired nucleotides at the 3' termini of primed synthetic and natural DNA templates. The excision of a mispaired nucleotide occurs at a significantly greater rate than excision of a correctly paired nucleotide and, under conditions of DNA synthesis, hydrolysis of a mispaired terminal nucleotide occurs prior to primer extension. The 3'----5' exonuclease copurifies quantitatively with DNA polymerase gamma and cosediments with the nearly homogeneous enzyme under native conditions. These results suggest that the 3'----5' exonuclease provides a proofreading function to enhance the fidelity of DNA synthesis during Drosophila mitochondrial DNA replication.
Plasma skimming in serial microvascular bifurcations.

Abstract Red cell distribution in simple two bifurcation networks has been studied experimentally. The results indicate that fractional red cell flux/fractional volumetric flow curves can be asymmetric at the downstream bifurcation. The important parameters affecting this asymmetry are the fractional flow into the upstream branch, Q∗ 1 , and the ratio of the distance between junctions to the volumetric flow rate, z Q . The asymmetry is attenuated as z Q increases. In 50-μm tubes with Q∗ 1 of 0.5, symmetric phase separation behavior is regained when z Q is greater than 200 sec/mm2. In 25-μm tubes symmetry is recovered before z Q reaches the value of 50 sec/mm2. These results agree with in vivo data of previous studies and provide additional evidence that flow history can be important in microvascular networks if junctions are close together or flow rates are sufficiently high.
Salicylate: Action on Normal Body Temperature in Rats

Rats receiving intraperitoneal injections of sodium salicylate (30 to 300 milligrams per kilogram of body weight) showed a decline in rectal temperature of up to 5.5°C when placed in a 5°C environment. High dosages of salicylate lowered the rectal temperatures of rats kept in a 23°C environment. The finding that salicylate can lower nonfebrile body temperature suggests that this class of antipyretic agents does affect normal temperature regulation.
Transporting the terajoules: Efficient energy distribution in a post-carbon world

Abstract In a post-carbon energy economy, just as during the Age of Fossil Fuel, the locations where men take control of energy resources (e.g., the coal-pit, the mill wheel, the terminals of a concentrating solar power generator) will often be far removed from the locations where they wish to expend those resources. Therefore, the captured energy resource, once isolated, must somehow be translated from its point of origin to its point of use; and in doing so, its owner must expend energy. In this paper it is argued that, in a sustainably fueled future: (i) renewable energy in its initially transportable form will be overwhelmingly electrical; (ii) energy frugality will dictate long-distance transport of energy as electricity; (iii) intermediate-term (less than a fortnight) storage of energy will be via compressed air energy storage or pumped hydro- or electrochemical batteries, which can not be comparatively evaluated without extensive expensive development and demonstration; and (iv) massive conversion of electrical energy into synthetic fuels will be restricted to selected transportation applications.
Fulminant Development of Mega-aorta Due to Takayasu's Arteritis: Case Report and Review of the Literature:

Takayasu's arteritis is a rare inflammatory arteriopathy characterized by segmental involvement of the aorta, its major branches, and, occasionally, the pulmonary arteries. Arterial inflammation generally results in occlusion, but Takayasu's arteritis occasionally presents as aneurysm formation. Takayasu's arteritis generally afflicts young women and is most often characterized by an acute episode of systemic illness and neurologic symptoms secondary to stenoses of the carotid and vertebral circulation. We report an unusual case of Takayasu's arteritis in a 43-year-old man who presented with severe back pain and provide a brief review of the literature.
Stochastic selection in both haplophase and diplophase.

A population genetic model incorporating the evolutionary forces of zygotic selection, gametic selection and non-Mendelian segregation has been analyzed for the case in which all selection coefficients and the segregation parameter are assumed to be random variables that are uncorrelated from generation to generation. The diffusion approximation of the model is developed, and the subsequent analysis shows that one of four limiting outcomes of the stochastic process may obtain — an allele may be fixed or lost almost surely and irrespective of the initial gene frequency, the gene frequency may converge to a unique stationary distribution, or an allele may be fixed or lost with probabilities depending on the initial gene frequency. These outcomes correspond rather closely with the possible outcomes of the deterministic model — fixation or loss of an allele, convergence to a stable equilibrium, or the existence of an unstable equilibrium.
Polarization of Allogeneic T-Cell Responses by Influenza Virus-Infected Dendritic Cells

The developing immune response in the lymph nodes of mice infected with influenza virus has both Th1- and Th2-type characteristics. Modulation of the interactions between antigen-presenting cells and T cells is one mechanism that may alter the quality of the immune response. We have previously shown that the ability of dendritic cells (DC) to stimulate the proliferation of alloreactive T cells is changed by influenza virus due to viral neuraminidase (NA) activity. Here we show that DC infected with influenza virus A/PR/8/34 (PR8) stimulate T cells to produce different types of cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. Optimal amounts of the Th1-type cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) were produced from T cells stimulated by DC infected with low doses of PR8, while the Th2-type cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 were produced only in response to DC infected with high doses of PR8. IL-2 and IFN-γ levels corresponded with T-cell proliferation and were dependent on the activity of viral NA on the DC surface. In contrast, IL-4 secretion required the treatment of T cells with NA. Since viral particles were released only from DC that are infected with high doses of PR8, our results suggest that viral NA on newly formed virus particles desialylates T-cell surface molecules to facilitate a Th2-type response. These results suggest that the activity of NA may contribute to the mixed Th-type response observed during influenza virus infection.
Identifying the Distress Cues that Influence Support Provision: A Paired Comparison Approach

Just as chemistry has methods for determining the composition of unknown substances, psychology needs, but has lacked, effective methods for identifying the "active ingredients" of social stimuli. We describe such a method and apply it to identify the verbal and nonverbal distress cues that serve as signals prompting others to provide social support. This method allowed us to identify 55 such cues. Furthermore, the cues that were salient in the minds of potential support providers depended on their goals. For example, when deciding whether someone needed support, negative nonverbal cues (e.g., distressed persons' fidgeting) were more salient, but when deciding whether one was willing to provide support, cues that suggested a positive outcome for the support seeker (e.g., distressed persons' positive attitude and open-mindedness) were more salient.
Well-defined subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes in age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to correlate the clinical, angiographic and ultrastructural features of well-defined subfoveal neovascular membranes. Methods: Fundus photographs and fluorescein angiograms of five well-defined subfoveal neovascular membranes associated with age-related macular degeneration and exudative retinal detachment were obtained. The subfoveal membranes were surgically excised via the pars plana. The center and peripheral portions of each membrane were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy for cellular and extracellular constituents. Results: Each subretinal neovascular membrane was composed of two distinct regions demonstrated by fluorescein angiography. The first component, the core, contained a brighter central area of hyperfluorescent leakage surrounded by a partial or complete cuff of elevated blocked choroidal fluorescence. Results of ultrastructural examination showed that the core was composed of a fibrovascular membrane characterized by endothelium-lined vascular channels with associated retinal pigment epithelium. The second region of the membrane, the rim, is previously unreported and is described in detail. It appeared as a minimally elevated, smooth, subretinal annular rim of hyperfluorescent staining that surrounded the core and was composed of fibrin, photoreceptor outer segments, and macrophages. Conclusions: Well-defined subfoveal neovascular membranes can be appreciated with fluorescein angiography and are composed of a central core of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization surrounded by a peripheral rim composed of fibrin, photoreceptor outer segments, and macrophages.
Conditions for Robustness of LFGGREC to Uncertainty in the Coefficient Matrix of the Unknown Disturbance

Attention is directed to the problem of control robustness to the uncertain coefficient matrix of the plant disturbance vector for the case of a nominal linear representation. This issue is examined from the Lyapunov function gradient generated robustness enhancing control perspective. Conditions for robustness are presented, and the integration of these results into available results for the treating of other sources of uncertainty is addressed.
Status compatibility, physical violence, and emotional abuse in intimate relationships

This article analyzing national data (N = 7,408) examines the connection between men's and women's relative economic contributions in families and the risk of husband-to-wife physical violence and emotional abuse. Family violence researchers have conceptualized the association between economic variables and the risk of intimate partner violence with respect to the structural dimensions of sociodemographic factors, whereas feminist researchers connect economic power to family dynamics. Marital dependency and stress frustration theories treat income, education, and employment as socioeconomic resources, whereas some feminist research points to the need for research that treats these economic variables as symbolic resources. Although income and educational attainment reduce women's risk of physical violence and emotional abuse by husbands, I find that status incompatibilities between partners that favor women increase the likelihood of emotional abuse.
Type 1 and type 2 cervical carcinomas: some cervical cancers are more difficult to prevent with screening

R. M. Austin and C. Zhao Type 1 and type 2 cervical carcinomas: some cervical cancers are more difficult to prevent with screening Although the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear is medical history’s most successful cancer screening test, some cervical cancers are more difficult to prevent with screening than others. Cervical cancers that are difficult to prevent are seen disproportionately among interval cancers arising in previously screened women and in Pap test litigation. These include (i) rapidly progressing cervical cancers; (ii) cervical cancers in younger women; (iii) glandular cervical cancers; and (iv) cervical cancers in elderly women. Screening protocols have generally been designed to optimize prevention of slower-growing cervical squamous carcinomas in middle-aged women. To focus further attention on the heterogeneous screening challenges posed by different cervical cancers, we designate the more screening preventable majority as type 1 cervical cancers and the more difficult to prevent minority as type 2 cervical cancers. We review available data on why some cervical cancers are more difficult to prevent with screening and newer methods that may improve prevention.
Fine-needle aspiration cytology and core biopsy of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the uterus: a case report.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is an uncommon mesenchymal neoplasm of neural origin. MPNST arising in the uterus is extremely rare. Its histologic appearance on this anatomical location has been only rarely reported. A 62-yr-old woman with a previous history of partial hysterectomy presented with a large pelvic mass in the uterine stump. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and core biopsy were obtained under ultrasonographic guidance, and the diagnosis of MPNST was established. The cytologic and histologic findings were consistent with a spindle-cell neoplasm suggestive of MPNST. The tumor cells were focally positive for S-100 protein immunostain, thus providing further support for the neoplasm's nerve sheath differentiation. The patient had no history of von Recklinghausen's disease. Resection of the mass confirmed the diagnosis of MPNST. To our knowledge, the FNA cytology of MPNST in this unusual location has not been previously reported. FNA cytology, along with core biopsy and immunochemistry, is a reliable tool in the diagnosis of MPNST.
Muscle strength following direct injection of doxorubicin into rabbit sternocleidomastoid muscle in situ.

Direct intramuscular injection of doxorubicin results in permanent myofiber loss. A previous phase I trial demonstrated that such injections could successfully treat blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm. Our previous in vitro study demonstrated that doxorubicin resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in isometric force generation in sternocleidomastoid muscle in rabbits. This present study examined alterations in force generation in these treated muscles in situ, i.e., with the blood and nerve supply intact. Two months after a single doxorubicin injection, functional changes in peak twitch, tetanic force generation, and fatigue rate were assessed in control and doxorubicin-treated sternocleidomastoid muscles in rabbits. Peak force measurements were reduced in the treated muscles. These reductions in muscle strength were significantly greater at tetanic peak amplitudes. Fatigue rate was not altered by doxorubicin treatment of the sternocleidomastoid muscles. These findings support the potential clinical use of doxorubicin chemomyectomy for the treatment of patients with cervical dystonia.
南極周極流 (A.C.C.) の力学

Non-dimensional equations of motion are derived for the A.C.C. of the barotropic mode, including the bottom friction and the horizontal eddy viscosity. Integration of the vorticity equation along a streamline leads to the zeroth order stream function which is dependent only on depth divided by Coriolis parameter. Integration of the momentum equation along a streamline yields the relation between the momentum input by wind stress and its dissipation by the bottom friction and by the horizontal eddy viscosity. This relation determines the magnitude of the stream function. It explains differences in the total transport of the A.C.C. obtained byBryan andCox (1972), though it gives only one third of the total transport obtained byKamenkovich (1972) with his vertical eddy viscosity of 102cm2 s−1. With 1 cm2 s−1 of this viscosity,Bryan andCox obtained the transport of about 650 or less than 32×106m3s−1 for constant or variable depth models, respectively. The higher transport is mainly due to broadening of the width of the A.C.C., whereas the lower value is due to its narrowing and meandering which in turn make the horizontal eddy viscosity more effective (by exercising friction on both sides of the A.C.C.) and the wind stress input smaller than the almost zonal streamlines for constant depth. In the Appendix dynamics of the bottom boundary layer is treated to give rational estimates of the bottom stress in terms of the geostrophic flow and is compared to the recent observations of the benthic boundary current in the Straits of Florida and off San Diego.
On the security of picture gesture authentication

Computing devices with touch-screens have experienced unprecedented growth in recent years. Such an evolutionary advance has been facilitated by various applications that are heavily relying on multi-touch gestures. In addition, picture gesture authentication has been recently introduced as an alternative login experience to text-based password on such devices. In particular, the new Microsoft Windows 8™ operating system adopts such an alternative authentication to complement traditional text-based authentication. In this paper, we present an empirical analysis of picture gesture authentication on more than 10,000 picture passwords collected from over 800 subjects through online user studies. Based on the findings of our user studies, we also propose a novel attack framework that is capable of cracking passwords on previously unseen pictures in a picture gesture authentication system. Our approach is based on the concept of selection function that models users' password selection processes. Our evaluation results show the proposed approach could crack a considerable portion of collected picture passwords under different settings.
Role of mast cells in inflammatory bowel disease and inflammation-associated colorectal neoplasia in IL-10-deficient mice.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is hypothesized to result from stimulation of immune responses against resident intestinal bacteria within a genetically susceptible host. Mast cells may play a critical role in IBD pathogenesis, since they are typically located just beneath the intestinal mucosal barrier and can be activated by bacterial antigens. Methodology/Principal Findings: This study investigated effects of mast cells on inflammation and associated neoplasia in IBD-susceptible interleukin (IL)-10-deficient mice with and without mast cells. IL-10-deficient mast cells produced more proinflammatory cytokines in vitro both constitutively and when triggered, compared with wild type mast cells. However despite this enhanced in vitro response, mast cell-sufficient Il10 2/2 mice actually had decreased cecal expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon (IFN)-c mRNA, suggesting that mast cells regulate inflammation in vivo. Mast cell deficiency predisposed Il10 2/2 mice to the development of spontaneous colitis and resulted in increased intestinal permeability in vivo that preceded the development of colon inflammation. However, mast cell deficiency did not affect the severity of IBD triggered by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAID) exposure or helicobacter infection that also affect intestinal permeability. Conclusions/Significance: Mast cells thus appear to have a primarily protective role within the colonic microenvironment by enhancing the efficacy of the mucosal barrier. In addition, although mast cells were previously implicated in progression of sporadic colon cancers, mast cells did not affect the incidence or severity of colonic neoplasia in this inflammationassociated model.
OpenProcess/6000: a total solution for process management

This paper presents a new approach in the domain of process modeling and process enactment, proposed by IBM and CAP Gemini Sogeti (CGS) on the IBM RISC System/6000. This paper starts with a short history of the CASE tools. The specific needs are detailed specially the need for process modeling and enactment. The requirements for an efficient process modeling and enactment are detailed. The paper ends with a summary of the new approach stressing on the adaptability to the customer environment, using a set of consulting services (OpenProcess/6000), tightly coupled with a flexible process tool from CGS (Process WEAVER). >
Effects of prosody and position on the timing of deictic gestures

Purpose In this study, the authors investigated the hypothesis that the perceived tight temporal synchrony of speech and gesture is evidence of an integrated spoken language and manual gesture comm...
Is there a viability-vulnerability tradeoff? Sex differences in fetal programming.

article i nfo Objective: In this paper we evaluate the evidence for sex differences in fetal programming within the context of the proposed viability-vulnerability tradeoff. Methods: We briefly review the literature on the factors contributing to primary and secondary sex ratios. Sex differences in fetal programming are assessed by summarizing previously published sex difference findings from our group (6 studies) and also new analyses of previously published findings in which sex differences were not reported (6 studies). Results: The review and reanalysis of studies from our group are consistent with the overwhelming evidence of increasingriskforviabilityamongmalesexposedtoenvironmentaladversityearlyinlife.Newevidencereported here support the argument that females, despite their adaptive agility, also are influenced by exposure to early adversity. Two primary conclusions are (i) female fetal exposure to psychobiological stress selectively influences fear/anxiety, and (ii) the effects of female fetal exposure to stress persist into preadolescence. These persisting effects are reflected in increased levels of anxiety, impaired executive function and neurological markers associ- ated with these behaviors. Conclusions: A tacit assumption is that females, with their adaptive flexibility early in gestation, escape the con- sequencesof earlylifeexposuretoadversity.We arguethattheconsequencesofmaleexposuretoearlyadversity threaten their viability, effectively culling the weak and the frail and creating a surviving cohort of the fittest. Females adjust to early adversity with a variety of strategies, but their escape from the risk of early mortality and morbidity has a price of increased vulnerability expressed later in development.
Deuterium labelling in NMR structural analysis of larger proteins.

In the last few years since the early NMR structural studies of small proteins such as glucagon (Braun et al. 1983) and lac represser headpiece (Zuiderweg et al. 1984) the quality of the structure determinations have improved considerably. Of major importance has been the introduction of phase sensitive detection in the Tl dimension (States et al. 1982; Marion & Wuthrich, 1983) which has allowed for absorption presentation of 2D data with the resulting enhancement in resolution, accuracy of coupling constant measurements and accuracy of peak volume integrations. Introduction of new pulse sequences, advances in instrumentation and further developments in the structure calculation algorithms have also helped improve the quality of NMR structural analyses of proteins.
A computational system to select candidate genes for complex human traits

Motivation: Identification of the genetic variation underlying complex traits is challenging. The wealth of information publicly available about the biology of complex traits and the function of individual genes permits the development of informatics-assisted methods for the selection of candidate genes for these traits. Results: We have developed a computational system named CAESAR that ranks all annotated human genes as candidates for a complex trait by using ontologies to semantically map natural language descriptions of the trait with a variety of gene-centric information sources. In a test of its effectiveness, CAESAR successfully selected 7 out of 18 (39%) complex human trait susceptibility genes within the top 2% of ranked candidates genome-wide, a subset that represents roughly 1% of genes in the human genome and provides sufficient enrichment for an association study of several hundred human genes. This approach can be applied to any well-documented mono-or multi-factorial trait in any organism for which an annotated gene set exists. Availability: CAESAR scripts and test data can be downloaded from http://visionlab.bio.unc.edu/caesar/ Contact: kgaulton@email.unc.edu
New Paradigms and Future Challenges in Radiation Oncology: An Update of Biological Targets and Technology

Radiation oncology exploits the biological interaction of radiation within tissue to promote tumor death while minimizing damage to surrounding normal tissue. The clinical delivery of radiation relies on principles of radiation physics that define how radiation energy is deposited in the body, as well as technology that facilitates accurate tumor targeting. This review will summarize the current landscape of recent biological and technological advances in radiation oncology, describe the challenges that exist, and offer potential avenues for improvement.
The impact of perceived display completeness/incompleteness on shoppers` in-store selection of merchandise: an empirical study

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the perceived completeness/incompleteness of a display stack of consumer products and shoppers’ choice of items from the stacks. By means of a field experiment in which displays of canned foods were manipulated and controlled, it was determined that the stack that appeared to have been picked from (containing evidence of a missing can) was the stack of choice in a majority of cases. Out of 645 different product selections (cans picked) recorded, 76% were picked from the stack that appeared to have been picked from ( χ 2 of 171.92 at α =0.05). This test was conducted utilizing three different display modalities: Regular shelf displays, island displays, and end-cap displays within the same store. The results of the experiment were consistent across the various display modalities investigated. Moreover, the results indicated that shoppers were more likely to pick items from the incomplete stack, when the degree of known difference between product items was relatively low or non-existing.
Why use optics for interconnects

There are many physical reasons for using optics for interconnection within otherwise electronic information processing machines. Because of the different physics underlying optics, it arguably has the physical potential to solve or mitigate most of the physical problems that limit electrical interconnections. Perhaps most obviously, optics does not rely on wires, with their associated resistance, capacitance, and inductance. Hence, problems associated with the physics of wires, such as pin inductance, high-speed signal and clock distortion, skew, and high-frequency attenuation and cross-talk are largely avoidable in principle. Issues such as electromigration do not exist.
Kinetics and stoichiometry of coupled Na efflux and Ca influx (Na/Ca exchange) in barnacle muscle cells.

Coupled Na+ exit/Ca2+ entry (Na/Ca exchange operating in the Ca2+ influx mode) was studied in giant barnacle muscle cells by measuring 22Na+ efflux and 45Ca2+ influx in internally perfused, ATP-fueled cells in which the Na+ pump was poisoned by 0.1 mM ouabain. Internal free Ca2+, [Ca2+]i, was controlled with a Ca-EGTA buffering system containing 8 mM EGTA and varying amounts of Ca2+. Ca2+ sequestration in internal stores was inhibited with caffeine and a mitochondrial uncoupler (FCCP). To maximize conditions for Ca2+ influx mode Na/Ca exchange, and to eliminate tracer Na/Na exchange, all of the external Na+ in the standard Na+ sea water (NaSW) was replaced by Tris or Li+ (Tris-SW or LiSW, respectively). In both Na-free solutions an external Ca2+ (Cao)-dependent Na+ efflux was observed when [Ca2+]i was increased above 10(-8) M; this efflux was half-maximally activated by [Ca2+]i = 0.3 microM (LiSW) to 0.7 microM (Tris-SW). The Cao-dependent Na+ efflux was half-maximally activated by [Ca2+]o = 2.0 mM in LiSW and 7.2 mM in Tris-SW; at saturating [Ca2+]o, [Ca2+]i, and [Na+]i the maximal (calculated) Cao-dependent Na+ efflux was approximately 75 pmol#cm2.s. This efflux was inhibited by external Na+ and La3+ with IC50's of approximately 125 and 0.4 mM, respectively. A Nai-dependent Ca2+ influx was also observed in Tris-SW. This Ca2+ influx also required [Ca2+]i greater than 10(-8) M. Internal Ca2+ activated a Nai-independent Ca2+ influx from LiSW (tracer Ca/Ca exchange), but in Tris-SW virtually all of the Cai-activated Ca2+ influx was Nai-dependent (Na/Ca exchange). Half-maximal activation was observed with [Na+]i = 30 mM. The fact that internal Ca2+ activates both a Cao-dependent Na+ efflux and a Nai-dependent Ca2+ influx in Tris-SW implies that these two fluxes are coupled; the activating (intracellular) Ca2+ does not appear to be transported by the exchanger. The maximal (calculated) Nai-dependent Ca2+ influx was -25 pmol/cm2.s. At various [Na+]i between 6 and 106 mM, the ratio of the Cao-dependent Na+ efflux to the Nai-dependent Ca2+ influx was 2.8-3.2:1 (mean = 3.1:1); this directly demonstrates that the stoichiometry (coupling ratio) of the Na/Ca exchange is 3:1. These observations on the coupling ratio and kinetics of the Na/Ca exchanger imply that in resting cells the exchanger turns over at a low rate because of the low [Ca2+]i; much of the Ca2+ extrusion at rest (approximately 1 pmol/cm2.s) is thus mediated by an ATP-driven Ca2+ pump.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Evaluation of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children From an Information-Processing Perspective

The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) has been developed, in part, to incorporate advances in information-processing theory and research into an instrument to be used for intellectual assessment of and educational planning for school children. The K-ABC is evaluated from an information-processing perspective. Four areas are identified in which work in information processing might be reflected: a) theory, b) tests, c) scales and scores, and d) interpretation and educational applications. Each of these aspects of the K-ABC is critically examined. It is concluded that while development of the K-ABC promised a marked improvement in intellectual assessment, this promise went unfulfilled.
Radiative corrections to the Z0 resonance.

We review calculations of the radiative corrections to the ${Z}^{0}$ resonance, and we show that while the radiative corrections are quite large, they can be calculated and incorporated into the comparison with experiment so that there will be no significant theoretical uncertainties on the measurements of the ${Z}^{0}$ mass and width at the Stanford Linear Collider and the CERN collider LEP. We compare calculations based on matrix elements and structure-function methods, and discuss two Monte Carlo programs based on these calculations. We use the new calculations to refit the J/\ensuremath{\psi} resonance.
Monitoring foreclosure rates with a spatially risk-adjusted Bernoulli CUSUM chart for concurrent observations

ABSTRACTFrequently in process monitoring, situations arise in which the order that events occur cannot be distinguished, motivating the need to accommodate multiple observations occurring at the same time, or concurrent observations. The risk-adjusted Bernoulli cumulative sum (CUSUM) control chart can be used to monitor the rate of an adverse event by fitting a risk-adjustment model, followed by a likelihood ratio-based scoring method that produces a statistic that can be monitored. In our paper, we develop a risk-adjusted Bernoulli CUSUM control chart for concurrent observations. Furthermore, we adopt a novel approach that uses a combined mixture model and kernel density estimation approach in order to perform risk-adjustment with regard to spatial location. Our proposed method allows for monitoring binary outcomes through time with multiple observations at each time point, where the chart is spatially adjusted for each Bernoulli observation's estimated probability of the adverse event. A simulation stud...
Simulation Based Development and Evaluation of Space Superiority System Concepts

Space Superiority, which envelopes Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Defensive/Offense Counterspace (DCS/OCS), is a national security imperative. Selecting system concepts that optimize coverage areas while ensuring high quality, actionable data products can be a daunting task in the best fiscal environments. With the present budgetary constraints, it is even more important to optimize system concepts that provide critical operational capabilities against their respective life-cycle costs. This requires significant innovation, not only to perform SSA, DCS and OCS missions from a technical standpoint, but also from an economic standpoint. It is well established that the majority of a system’s life cycle cost is set prior to the first project milestone. Much of this occurs during the Concept Definition and Analysis of Alternative (AoA) sub-phases, as well as the Concept Selection milestone. Simulation based analysis offers great potential for advantage in Concept Definition and evaluation of concepts for AoA and Concept Selection. Sufficiently developed simulation capabilities could be used to assess the operational utility of a new concept, identify critical performance metrics for a given mission, compare competing concepts against performance metrics, quantify technical risks of the system even beyond the development phase, and identify significant contributors to life cycle cost by potentially simulating the entire life cycle of the system concept. Substantial system simulation technology exists but is only focused on pieces of the overall problem of simulating the entire life cycle. By bringing these pieces together into a consolidated life-cycle simulation based assessment, system concepts could be designed not only for performance, but also to minimize life-cycle cost. Furthermore, they can be evaluated with respect to system peculiarities that contribute to cost throughout the life of the system.
Mechanically Seamless Catenary Edge Support for Orthotropically Stretched Membranes

The means to support with a catenary an edge of an orthotropically stressed sheet is examined. The differential equation to characterize this support is develop ed and symbolically solved to reveal that the edge geometry must be elliptic, with the longer axis aligned with the major principal stress direction and the ratio of the axes equal to the square root of the principal stress ratio. This geometric solution is numerically confirmed. An expression for the catenary force is consequen tly derived, and the cord cross section stiffness distribution for seamless support is obtained for an isotropic membrane, for the condition of positive strain in all directions. The results are quantitatively confirmed with finite element analysis. A method is also described to bypass the cord stiffness criterion with a catenary-film interface layer of tailored compliance, readily achievable with current technology.
Spontaneous fission properties of 2.9-s 256No.

We have measured the mass and kinetic-energy distributions of fragments from the spontaneous fission of {sup 256}No produced via the {sup 248}Cm({sup 12}C,4{ital n}) reaction. The production cross section using 71-MeV {sup 12}C projectiles was found to be 250 nb. The total kinetic energy for spontaneous fission of {sup 256}No is 196{plus minus}3 MeV. The mass distribution is very broad (full width at half maximum of {similar to}50 mass units) with no appreciable decrease in yield for symmetric mass division. {sup 256}No seems to be the transition nucleus between the asymmetric mass division observed for spontaneous fission of the lighter No isotopes and the symmetric mass division observed for the heavier No isotopes. Its properties are similar to those of {sup 257}Fm, the isotope at which this transition occurs in the Fm isotopes, but the {sup 256}No mass distribution is broader than that for {sup 257}Fm, and its average total kinetic energy for symmetric mass division is about 15 MeV lower. We determined the half-life of {sup 256}No to be 2.91{plus minus}0.05 s by measuring its {alpha} decay. We measured a spontaneous fission to {alpha} ratio of 0.0053{sub {minus}0.0003}{sup +0.0006}, which gives a partial half-life for spontaneous fission of 550{submore » {minus}70}{sup +40} s. An energy of 8.448{plus minus}0.006 MeV was measured for the {alpha}-particle decay to the ground state of {sup 252}Fm, allowing us to calculate the mass excess for {sup 256}No as 87820{plus minus}8 keV. The energy of the 2{sup +} rotational level in the {sup 252}Fm daughter is 47{plus minus}5 keV, and the intensity of the 8.402-MeV {alpha} group populating this level is (13{plus minus}2)%.« less
Corn Yield and Nitrogen- and Water-Use under No-Tillage Rotations

Increased crop diversity and length of rotation may improve corn (Zea mays L.) yield and water- and nitrogen-use efficiency (WUE and NUE). The objectives of this study were to determine effects of crop rotation on corn yield, water use, and nitrogen (N) use. No-tillage (NT) crop rotations were started in 1997 on a Barnes clay loam (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Calcic Hapludoll) near Brookings, S.D. Rotations were continuous corn (CC), corn–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (CS), a 3-year rotation of corn–soybean–oat/pea (Avena sativa L. and Pisum sativum L.) hay (CSH), a 3-year rotation of corn–soybean–spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (CSW), and a 5-year rotation of corn–soybean–oat/pea hay companion seeded with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)–alfalfa–alfalfa (CSHAA). Fertilizer N was applied to corn on all rotations at planting (16 kg N ha−1) and side-dressed (64 kg N ha−1). Average corn grain yields (1998–2007) were greatest under CSW (7.38 Mg ha−1) and least under CC (4.66 Mg ha−1). Yields wer...
Affordable care act: comparison of healthcare indicators among different insurance beneficiaries with new coverage eligibility

Health coverage in the United States will be increased to nearly universal levels under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In order to better understand the impact of the type of health insurance and health outcomes, there is a need to examine health disparities and inequalities between the insured and the uninsured based on their eligibility for coverage. The current study used the data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2012 (MEPS). Selected health characteristics and access to care items were compared in regard to the insurance status: private, public, the uninsured, but likely eligible for Medicaid expansion (EME), and the uninsured, but likely required to purchase health plans through the health insurance exchanges (RPIE). Analyses showed that 17.2 % of US adults ages 27–64 were eligible as EME and 12.9 % as RPIE in 2012. Compared to the insured groups, the uninsured who were eligible for coverage reported fewer health problems than those insured privately and publicly. However, they also reported less use of health care, including preventive health service, screenings, and unmet health care needs. The ACA aims to increase coverage options and access to treatment and preventive health care services for the majority of the uninsured US population. However, it may not play as significant of a role in improving health among the uninsured, in particular, those eligible for the Medicaid expansion.