cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coastal Ocean Modeling of the U.S. West Coast with Multiblock Grid and Dual-Level Parallelism

In coastal ocean modeling, a one-block rectangular grid for a large domain has large memory requirements and long processing times. With complicated coastlines, the number of grid points used in the calculation is often the same or smaller than the number of unused grid points. These problems have been a major concern for researchers in this field. Multiblock grid generation and dual-level parallel techniques are solutions that can overcome these problems. The Multiblock Grid Princeton Ocean Model (MGPOM) uses Message Passing Interface (MPI) to parallelize computations by assigning each grid block to a unique processor. Since not all grid blocks are of the same size, the workload between MPI processes varies. Pthreads is used to improve load balance. Performance results from the MGPOM model on a one-block grid and a 29-block grid simulation for the U.S. west coast demonstrate the efficacy of both the MPI-Only and MPI-Pthreads code versions.
Properties of optically smooth diamond thin films produced by ECR-PACVD

Optically smooth diamond films were deposited on Al and Si substrates by the ECR-PACVD method. The films on Al were grown on relatively low temperatures and pressures from CH3OH/H2O and were found to have highly defective nanocrystalline structure. The films on c-Si were grown at higher temperatures and pressures from CH4/H2/O2 and were found to consist of highly oriented (100) faceted crystals. The optical constants of the diamond films on c-Si are similar to those of natural diamond.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Heavy-Quark Limit in a Relativistic Quark-Confinement Model

We have studied the weak decay constants and the Isgur-Wise form factors of the B and D mesons in the heavy-quark limit by employing a relativistic 2quark-confinement model. It is an attempt to improve our previous work within the same line of thinking, but by incorporating a couple of novel aspects. First, the infrared behaviour of the heavy quark is considered by modifying its conventional propagator in terms of a single parameter ν. Second, the mass difference between the heavy meson and heavy quark E = m H – M Q has been included. It is found that the weak decay constants depend strongly on this mass difference E with a relatively mild ν dependence. As for the Isgur-Wise function it is controlled more sensitively by the infrared parameter ν, leading to its suppression at maximum meson recoil.
First-principles investigation of the structure and synergistic chemical bonding of Ag and Mg at the Al | Ω interface in a Al–Cu–Mg–Ag alloy

Abstract Density functional theory was used to characterize the atomic structure and bonding of the Al | Ω interface in a Al–Cu–Mg–Ag alloy. The most stable interfacial structure was found to be connected by Al–Al bonds with a hexagonal Al lattice on the surface of the Ω phase sitting on the vacant hollow sites of the Al {1 1 1} matrix plane. The calculations predict that when substituted separately for Al at this interface, Ag and Mg do not enhance the interface stability through chemical bonding. Combining Ag and Mg, however, was found to chemically stabilize this interface, with the lowest-energy structure examined being a bi-layer with Ag atoms adjacent to the Al matrix and Mg adjacent to the Ω phase. This study provides an atomic arrangement for the interfacial bi-layer observed experimentally in this alloy.
Partial Support for Bridged Patients With Previous Cardiac Surgery Implanted With a Miniaturized Centrifugal Continuous-Flow Pump: Are We There Yet?

s S129 Conclusion: Using a portable Freedom driver, TAH-t patients are increasingly mobile, allowing discharge from the hospital with successful bridge to transplantation, while residing in a home environment.
A Novel Vpr Peptide Interactor Fused to Integrase (IN) Restores Integration Activity to IN-Defective HIV-1 Virions

Abstract A novel approach to complement human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) integrase (IN)-defective virions has been identified. The approach involves fusion of a 23-amino-acid stretch to the N-terminus of wild-type IN and coexpression of this chimera with the IN-defective proviral template in virus producing cells. The 23-amino-acid peptide represents a Vpr “interactor,” referred to as the the WxxF or WF domain, which apparently leads to docking of the domain along with the fusion partner onto HIV-1 Vpr, thus permitting virion incorporation of the chimeric protein when expressed, in trans, with other viral products. Transfection of the WF-IN expression plasmid along with HIV-1 viral clones that produce Vpr, but bear an IN mutation, results in the release of a proportion of viral particles that are competent for integration. The extent of complementation was assessed using the MAGI cell assay, where integration of viral DNA results in the eventual appearance of easily visible multinucleated blue syncytia. The efficiency of dWF-IN (double copy of WF domain) complementation is not improved markedly by incorporation of a HIV-1 protease cleavage site (PR) between the dWF domain and IN (dWF-PR-IN), unlike that observed with Vpr fusions to IN. Furthermore, the ability of Vpr-PR-IN and dWF-PR-IN to complement IN-defective proviral clones, both of which bear an intervening protease cleavage site, appear comparable. Western blotting analyses using virions isolated through sucrose cushions demonstrate clearly the incorporation of the dWF-IN fusion protein into Vpr containing HIV-1 particles but not in Vpr-deficient virions. Additional Western blotting analyses indicate that all Vpr-IN and dWF-IN chimeras, with or without a PR site, are packaged into virions. The efficiency of virion incorporation of Vpr-IN and dWF-IN chimeras appears approximately comparable by Western blotting analysis. The ability of dWF-IN to complement IN-defective proviruses with efficiency similar to that of Vpr-PR-IN and dWF-PR-IN indicates that dWF-IN retains the full complement of functions necessary for integration of proviral DNA and is likely due to the benign nature of this small domain at the amino-terminus of IN.
An empirical assessment of forest floor carbon stock components across the United States

Despite its prevalent reporting in regional/national greenhouse gas inventories (NGHGI), forest floor (FF) carbon (C) stocks (including litter, humus, and fine woody debris [FWD]) have not been empirically measured using a consistent approach across forests of the US. The goal of this study was to use the first national field inventory of litter and humic layer depths, along with FWD volumes, to assess their basic attributes (e.g., depths/volumes) and refine NGHGI approaches to FF C stock monitoring. Results suggest that FF C stocks are present in nearly 99% of US forests with a median estimate of 25.6 Mg/ha, albeit with tremendous spatial variation in litter/humic depths and FWD volumes. Relative to aboveground live tree biomass C stocks, which typically range from 20 to 200 Mg/ha, nearly a quarter of US forests have minor FF C stocks ( 93 Mg/ha). Conditions conducive to large FF C stocks may be stochastic disturbance events that result in high volumes of FWD and/or climatic/physiographic conditions that slow decomposition (e.g., peatland ecosystems found in northern or coastal forest ecosystems). As soil and dead wood field inventories may only sample litter/humic depths and FWD counts by diameter class, C stock estimation procedures are heavily reliant on estimation constants (e.g., bulk/wood density). It was found that the variability in estimation constants may have a much stronger effect on resulting FF C stock estimates than the field measurements (e.g., litter layer depths) themselves. The monitoring of FF C stocks, along with the maintenance of site productivity and associated ecosystem services, would benefit from refined sample protocols in ecosystems with deep humic layers and coupling field data with lab analysis of bulk/wood density and C content from soil sampling programs. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Robust stability and stabilization of a class of nonlinear discrete time stochastic systems: An LMI approach

Abstract A problem of robust state feedback stability and stabilization of nonlinear discrete-time stochastic processes is considered. The linear rate vector of a discrete-time system is perturbed by a nonlinear function that satisfies a quadratic constraint. Our objective is to show how linear constant feedback laws can be formulated to stabilize this type of nonlinear discrete-time systems and, at the same time maximize the bounds on this nonlinear perturbing function which the system can tolerate without becoming unstable. The state dependent diffusion is modeled by a normal sequence of identically independently distributed random variables. The new formulation provides a suitable setting for robust stabilization of nonlinear discrete-time systems where the underlying deterministic systems satisfy the generalized matching conditions. Our method which is based on linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) is distinctive from the existing robust control and absolute stability techniques. Examples are given to demonstrate the obtained results.
Family “Divorce Heritage” and its Intergenerational Transmission Toward a System-Level Perspective

Whatever nonparental influences in society may be fostering divorce or favoring marital permanence, within families the occurrence of divorce tends to raise the probability of divorce among the next generation. Important nuances of this linkage have gone unnoticed. By simulation, this article explores at the societal level the intergenerational consequences of various annual rates of divorce incidence. Compared to a low-rate context, exposing parents to higher annual incidence of divorce would raise the amount of divorcing among offspring couples, but even in the "peak-rate case" the operation of intrafamily divorce heritage would not suffice to make divorce in the offspring generation as abundant as parental generation divorce. Other forces have to be operating. Mixed divorce heritage reduces slightly the number of offspring divorces expected by linear interpolation between a no-divorce heritage and a bilateral divorce heritage. A nonlinear pattern calls attention to a possibly important distinction between divorce heritage and background divorce pressure, evokes the possibility of background permanence pressure, and raises holistic questions about the locations of thresholds and about forces that might push societies (not just persons or families) past them. System-level comparisons and analyses are needed.
Biotherapy and the oncology nurse

Objective: To provide a brief overview of biotherapy and the roles of the oncology nurse. Data sources: Published articles that pertain to biotherapy and implications for oncology nurses. Conclusions: Biotherapy is the fourth modality of cancer therapy, and it can be effective alone or in combination with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Many new roles and opportunities for oncology nurses will result from the further development of biotherapy. Implications for nursing practice: Professional nurses have an obligation to obtain accurate and current knowledge of new treatments. Oncology nurses with expertise in biotherapy will be needed to manage care for patients receiving biotherapy.
Desire for perioperative information in adult patients: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Study Objective: To identify which perioperative information outpatients want from their anesthesiologist. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Outpatient center. Patients: 197 ASA physical status I and II patients undergoing outpatient surgery. Interventions: A questionnaire examining for "desire for information." Measurements and Main Results: Demographic data including age, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, and history of previous surgery were obtained. Trait, situational anxiety, and coping strategy were assessed using a validated behavioral instrument and a questionnaire adopted from previous studies conducted in Australia, Scotland, and Canada. Each questionnaire contained 14 statements regarding specific perioperative details. An index of the overall patient desire for information (PDI) was calculated for each subject. More than 85% of subjects gave a high priority to being informed for all the 14 items. Scores on the overall index were found to be higher for females than for males (32 ±6 vs. 30 ± 6; p = 0.03), and this finding persisted in a multivariable model that also included coping strategies and anxiety (DF = 1,175, F=4.6, p = 0.01). Subjects also had higher PDI scores if a first degree relative had a history of previous surgery (33 ± 5 vs. 31 ± 6; p = 0.007). On analysis of individual questionnaire items, Latino Americans were significantly less likely than European Americans or African Americans to desire perioperative information ( p Conclusions: Ethnicity, gender, coping mechanism, marital status, and a history of previous surgery in a relative have been identified as predictors for the desire for information.
Searching for a photocycle of the cryptochrome photoreceptors

The initial photochemistry of plant cryptochromes has been extensively investigated in recent years. It is hypothesized that cryptochrome photoexcitation involves a Trp-triad-dependent photoreduction. According to this hypothesis, cryptochromes in the resting state contain oxidized FAD; light triggers a sequential electron transfer from three tryptophan residues to reduce FAD to a neutral semiquinone (FADH*); FADH* is the presumed signaling state and it is re-oxidized to complete the photocycle. However, this photoreduction hypothesis is currently under debate. An alternative model argues that the initial photochemistry of cryptochromes involves a photolyase-like cyclic electron shuttle without a bona fide redox reaction mediated by the Trp-triad residues, leading to conformational changes, signal propagation, and physiological responses.
The Political Integration of Mexican Immigrants: Examining Some Political Orientations

The significant influx of immigrants, historically and contemporarily, has had a major impact on all aspects of American society. One area that has received some attention, but warrants more, is th...
Dynamic landmark placement as a navigation aid in virtual worlds

In this paper, we explore the use of dynamically placed landmarks as navigation aids when users search a virtual world for target objects. Subjects were asked to search a virtual world four times for six red spheres. Eighty-six subjects participated in one of four conditions: no landmarks, statically placed landmarks, landmarks dynamically placed into the world at the subject's discretion that disappeared from trial to trial, and landmarks dynamically placed into the world at the subject's discretion that remained from trial to trial. An analysis of the experimental results revealed that dynamic landmarks which disappeared between trials had little impact on a subject's performance. However, when landmarks remained in the world from one trial to the next, subjects covered significantly less distance than those in the no landmark condition, and obtained similar performance to those in the static landmark condition. Results indicate that dynamically placed landmarks, which remain between visits, can serve as effective navigation aids in virtual worlds lacking obvious physical landmarks.
The role of the medical profession in public health policy making: the case of Colombia.

Abstract The study of manpower composition of the ministry of health of Colombia reveals that decision making is controlled by the medical profession. The heavy orientation towards medical health care programs, in detriment of other more needed public health actions, is linked to the decision making primacy of the medical profession. The paper discusses additional negative effects in the organization of the public health sector produced by the near medical monopoly of decisions.
Halogen bonded networks from pyridyl-substituted tetraarylethylenes and diiodotetrafluorobenzenes

Three halogen bonded co-crystals between tetraphenylethylene derivatives with peripheral pyridine groups and 1,4- or 1,2-diiodotetrafluorobenzene have been characterized. Two crystalline networks prepared from 3-pyridyl-substituted tetraphenylethylene exhibit remarkably similar topologies, each featuring an open square grid lattice assembled from the tetraphenylethylene component that surrounds π-stacked 1,2- or 1,4-diiodoarene halogen bond donors. The ratio of tetraphenylethylene to diiodoarene is 1 : 2 in each case, and all pyridine and iodoarene groups are engaged in halogen bonding interactions. Co-crystals obtained from 4-pyridyl-substituted tetraphenylethylene and 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene, however, exhibit a 1 : 1 ratio of components with only a single pyridine N⋯I halogen bond.
Electron Spin Resonance Studies of the Reorientational Motion of Ni(mnt)2

Electron spin resonance studies of the planar bis(maleonitriledithiolato)nickel complex ion, Ni(mnt)2−, have been carried out from the motional narrowing region to the glassy limit in a series of ethers: 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF), diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (diglyme), triethylene glycol dimethyl ether (triglyme), and tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (tetraglyme). Analyses of the spectra show that Ni(mnt)2− is reorienting a factor of 3 faster about its long in-plane axis in all of these solvents; i.e., axially symmetric rotational diffusion produces agreement between the experimental and calculated line widths with D∥/D⊥ = 3.0 ± 0.2; D∥ and D⊥ are the diffusion constants for reorientation about the long in-plane (parallel) and perpendicular axes, respectively. The temperature dependence of the reorientational correlation time τ2(0) = (6D⊥)−1 determined from the widths is in agreement with the modified Stokes−Einstein−Debye model; the results indicate that Ni(mnt)2− has relatively strong (but ...
Reactivation of an Inactive Centromere Reveals Epigenetic and Structural Components for Centromere Specification in Maize

Stable maize (Zea mays) chromosomes were recovered from an unstable dicentric containing large and small versions of the B chromosome centromere. In the stable chromosome, the smaller centromere had become inactivated. This inactive centromere can be inherited from one generation to the next attached to the active version and loses all known cytological and molecular properties of active centromeres. When separated from the active centromere by intrachromosomal recombination, the inactive centromere can be reactivated. The reactivated centromere regains the molecular attributes of activity in anaphase I of meiosis. When two copies of the dicentric chromosome with one active and one inactive centromere are present, homologous chromosome pairing reduces the frequency of intrachromosomal recombination and thus decreases, but does not eliminate, the reactivation of inactive centromeres. These findings indicate an epigenetic component to centromere specification in that centromere inactivation can be directed by joining two centromeres in opposition. These findings also indicate a structural aspect to centromere specification revealed by the gain of activity at the site of the previously inactive sequences.
Aspects of oligonucleotide and peptide sequencing with MALDI and electrospray mass spectrometry.

Biopolymer sequencing with mass spectrometry has become increasingly important and accessible with the development of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI). Here we examine the use of sequential digestion for the rapid identification of proteolytic fragments, in turn highlighting the general utility of enzymatic MALDI ladder sequencing and ESI tandem mass spectrometry. Analyses were performed on oligonucleotides ranging in size from 2 to 50 residues, on peptides ranging in size from 7 to 44 residues and on viral coat proteins. MALDI ladder sequencing using exonuclease digestion generated a uniform distribution of ions and provided complete sequence information on the oligonucleotides 2–30 nucleic acid residues long. Only partial sequence information was obtained on the longer oligonucleotides. C-terminal peptide ladder sequencing typically provided information from 4 to 7 amino acids into the peptide. Sequential digestion, or endoprotease followed by exoprotease exposure, was also successfully applied to a trypsin digest of viral proteins. Analysis of ladder sequenced peptides by LCMS generated less information than in the MALDI-MS analysis and ESI-MS2 normally provided partial sequence information on both the small oligonucleotides and peptides. In general, MALDI ladder sequencing offered information on a broader mass range of biopolymers than ESI-MS2 and was relatively straightforward to interpret, especially for oligonucleotides.
Cholesteryl-(L-lactic acid)n building blocks for self-assembling biomaterials

TThe synthesis and properties of a novel set of building blocks for the preparation of self-assembling biomaterials are described. These molecules consist of a relatively short oligo(L-lactic acid)n segment (n = 10-40) that is substituted with a cholesterol moiety as an end group and in some cases has a second biofunctional substituent at its other terminus. The cholesterol moiety not only serves to induce liquid crystalline properties and drive the self-assembly of these oligomers, but also is expected to have an effect on the interaction of cells with these materials. The cholesteryl-(L-lactic acid)n (CLAn) oligomers form thermotropic liquid crystals and self-assemble into lamellar structures consisting of interdigitated bilayers. In addition, the CLAn oligomers can be homogeneously blended with poly(L-lactic acid), thereby offering the possibility to improve the cell interaction properties of this common surgical biomaterial. Furthermore, the secondary alcohol terminus of the CLAn oligomers allows the opportunity to introduce additional bioactive substituents such as cholesterol, indomethacin (an antiinflammatory drug), and pyrene and rhodamine B (which can act as fluorescent labels for bioimaging purposes) and various α-amino acids. These biofunctional CLAn oligomers can also be homogeneously mixed with the unsubstituted CLAn oligomers and thus could enable a further noncovalent functionalization of self-assembling biomaterials.
Determinants of grip strength in healthy subjects compared to that in patients recovering from a distal radius fracture

Purpose Grip strength is influenced primarily by body mass index, sex, and age. It is also partly voluntary and correlates with symptoms of depression. This study examined whether psychological factors influence grip more in the setting of injury than in healthy volunteers. Methods Grip strength was evaluated in one hundred subjects, 50 healthy individuals and 50 patients 6 weeks after a nonsurgically treated fracture of the distal radius. Grip strength was measured as the mean of 3 attempts, and patients completed questionnaires for arm-specific disability (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand), depression, pain anxiety, catastrophic thinking, and negative thoughts in response to pain. Results The mean grip strength in the injured group was 55% of the uninjured side. Pain anxiety accounted for 9% of the variability in grip strength in injured wrists. Among healthy patients, sex was the only correlate of dominant-side grip strength, and body mass index accounted for 8% of the variation in the grip strength of the nondominant side divided by the dominant side. Conclusions The majority of the variation in grip strength remains unaccounted for, but physical factors correlate best with grip strength and percent grip strength of the nondominant side divided by the dominant side in healthy patients, and psychological factors correlate best with absolute grip in patients recovering from distal radius fractures. Clinical relevance The influences on grip strength are complex, but the differences among recovering and healthy patients demonstrate a role for nonphysical factors in grip strength during recovery. Type of study/level of evidence Diagnostic III.
Catching Some Zs: A New Protein for Spatial Regulation of Bacterial Cytokinesis

Prior to its duplication, the bacterial nucleoid exerts local negative control over assembly of the cytokinetic Z ring to prevent potential cutting of the chromosome. In this issue of Cell, Wu and Errington show that a specific nucleoid-associated protein mediates this nucleoid occlusion effect, providing the first mechanistic insight into this key spatial regulatory system.
The Case for Adjuvant Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Purpose: The rationale for adjuvant therapy for prostate cancer was reviewed.Materials and Methods: A selective review of the successful experience with adjuvant therapy in other epithelial neoplasms is presented along with discussion of the increasing success of chemotherapy to improve outcomes in advanced prostate cancer.Results: Adjuvant therapy could be effective for prostate cancer if men with high risk features, such as Gleason score 8 or greater, prostate specific antigen more than 20 ng/ml, positive surgical margins with Gleason score 7 or greater, seminal vesicle invasion or positive lymph nodes, were selectively given additional therapy after primary surgery or radiation. These individuals are easily identified by routine pathological findings and precise recurrence risks can be calculated with available nomograms. For primary radiotherapy hormonal adjuvant treatment has now been shown to produce improved disease-free and overall survival. Adjuvant radiotherapy following prostatectomy decreases ...
A Drude model analysis of conductivity and free carriers in boron-doped diamond films and investigations of their internal stress and strain.

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) has seen a substantial increase in interest for use as electrode coating material for electrochemistry and studies of deep brain stimulation mechanism. In this study, we present an alternative method for determining important characteristics, including conductivity, carrier concentration, and time constant, of such material by the signature of Drude-like metallic behavior in the far-infrared (IR) spectral range. Unlike the direct determination of conductivity from the four-point probe method, using far-IR transmittance provides additional information, such as whether the incorporation of boron results in a large concentration of carriers or in inducing defects in the diamond lattice. The slightly doped to medium-doped BDD samples that were produced using chemical vapor deposition and analyzed in this work show conductivities ranging between 5.5 and 11 (Ω cm)−1. Different growth conditions demonstrate that increasing boron concentration results in an increase in the carrier concentration, with values between 7.2 × 1016 and 2.5 × 1017 carriers/cm3. Addition of boron, besides leading to a decrease in the resistivity, also resulted in a decrease in the time constant, limiting BDD conductivity. Investigations, by confocal Raman mapping, of the induced stress in the material due to interaction with the substrate or to the amount of doping are also presented and discussed. The induced tensile stress, which was distributed closer to the film-substrate interface decreased slightly with doping.
Comparative metabolism and DNA binding of 6-nitro-5-methylchrysene and 5-methylchrysene

The metabolic activation in mouse skin of the strong carcinogen, 5-methylchrysene (5-MeC) was compared to that of the inactive compound, 6-nitro-5-methylchrysene (6-NO2-5-MeC). Metabolites of 6-NO2-5-MeC, formed using rat liver homogenates, were identified based on their spectral properties and were used as markers for studies performed in vivo. In mouse epidermis in vivo, the identified metabolites of 6-NO2-5-MeC were trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitro-5-methylchrysene (6-NO2-5-MeC-1,2-diol), the precursor to a bay region dihydrodiol epoxide, trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxy-6-nitro-5-methylchrysene, and 6-nitro-5-hydroxymethylchrysene. The levels of 6-NO2-5-MeC-1,2-diol formed in mouse epidermis from 6-NO2-5-MeC were greater than those of the proximate carcinogen trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene (5-MeC-1,2-diol) formed from 5-MeC. The further metabolism of 6-NO2-5-MeC-1,2-diol was examined in mouse epidermis under conditions similar to those described previously for 5-MeC-1,2-diol. The extents of formation of 1,2,3,4-tetraols from both dihydrodiols were similar. The chromatographic patterns of DNA adducts formed in mouse epidermis from 6-NO2-5-MeC and 5-MeC were qualitatively similar; however, the extent of formation of DNA adducts from 5-MeC was 15-fold greater than from 6-NO2-5-MeC. The reactions between calf thymus DNA and the bay region 1,2-diol-3,4-epoxides of 5-MeC and 6-NO2-5-MeC were compared; the levels of adducts formed from the bay region diol epoxide of 5-MeC were about four times greater than those formed from the bay region diol epoxide of 6-NO2-5-MeC. The results indicate that the relatively low DNA binding in vivo of 6-NO2-5-MeC may be responsible for its apparent lack of tumorigenicity compared to 5-MeC. It is likely that nitro substitution at the 6-position of 5-MeC interferes with the structural requirements of the 1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide which are necessary for specific DNA interactions.
UMEME: University of Michigan Emotional McGurk Effect Data Set

Emotion is cto communication; it colors our interpretation of events and social interactions. Emotion expression is generally multimodal, modulating our facial movement, vocal behavior, and body gestures. The method through which this multimodal information is integrated and perceived is not well understood. This knowledge has implications for the design of multimodal classification algorithms, affective interfaces, and even mental health assessment. We present a novel data set designed to support research into the emotion perception process, the University of Michigan Emotional McGurk Effect Data set (UMEME). UMEME has a critical feature that differentiates it from currently existing data sets; it contains not only emotionally congruent stimuli (emotionally matched faces and voices), but also emotionally incongruent stimuli (emotionally mismatched faces and voices). The inclusion of emotionally complex and dynamic stimuli provides an opportunity to study how individuals make assessments of emotion content in the presence of emotional incongruence, or emotional noise. We describe the collection, annotation, and statistical properties of the data and present evidence illustrating how audio and video interact to result in specific types of emotion perception. The results demonstrate that there exist consistent patterns underlying emotion evaluation, even given incongruence, positioning UMEME as an important new tool for understanding emotion perception.
Preparation of carbon-14 labeled organophosphate pesticides: Chlorfenvinphos

Synthesis of [vinyl-14C]chlorfenvinphos, utilizing [14C]iodomethane as the source of the label, was accomplished in 28% radiochemical yield by the methylation of 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl chloride, chlorination of the resulting [14C]-2,4-dichloroacetophenone, and condensation of the product with triethylphosphite. The product, isolated as a mixture of E and Z isomers (3.6 and 96.3%, respectively), was obtained in >99% purity and had specific activity 20 mCi/mmol. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The influence of birth order and situational stress on motor performance

Schachter’s hypothesis that first-borns are more vulnerable than later-boms to the interfering effects of stress was experimentally tested by comparing the tracking performance of 50 first-born and 72 later-born Ss exposed to a low, moderate, or high threat of physical-harm condition. Questionnaire responses of Ss’ perceived stress and Ss’ heart rates indicated that two levels (high and low) of stress were successfully created. The performance results suggest that under moderate- and high-stress conditions first-borns perform more poorly than later-borns on early performance trials, particularly on the second trial under high stress.
Structural Contradictions, War Traps and Peace

Functional theories of warfare fail to provide adequate explanations for unrestrictive war which often results in the destruction of political communities as self-governing entities In the long run, such warfare is maladaptive for tribal populations contrary to the assertions of functional theory. An adequate theory of unrestrictive war must not only explain its structural origins but also its perpetuation. Structural contradictions within and between political communities generate 'fault lines', signified by divisive issues, that make warfare between them more likely. Perpetuation of such destructive warfare is based on the assessment of participating polities that war brings more benefits than risks. Cognitive learning theory provides an explanatory framework by means of which we can understand the decision-making process by which unrestrictive war is perpetuated as well as the circumstances under which tribes seek alternatives to it. Case studies of Mae Enga and Maori warfare are reevaluated employing ...
Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis Affecting the Myocardium

A case of 65-year-old male is reported who presented with myalgias, headache, and fever. He subsequently developed myocarditis and was diagnosed to have anaplasmosis on peripheral blood smear. He was treated with doxycycline for 30 days. A coronary angiogram done after recovery showed normal epicardial arteries. The case illustrates the importance of a careful examination of the peripheral smear, with a high index of clinical suspicion, which led to prompt treatment and complete recovery of the patient.
Is NIDDM a risk factor for noise-induced hearing loss in an occupationally noise exposed cohort?

Little is known about what factors, other than chronic exposure to noise, predispose individuals to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The current retrospective study was designed to identify risk factors for NIHL in a population of 229 men [age 55-68 (mean = 63 years)] employed at a metal assembly plant. All men had been chronically occupationally noise-exposed for approximately 30 years (> or = 89 dBA) with an average Ea noise emission level) of 104.5. The clinical examination included a pure-tone threshold audiometric evaluation, discrimination of speech in background noise [W-22 Max (> 60% indicating better hearing)], blood pressure measurement, evaluation of lifestyle (alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, noisy hobbies) and occupational and military history. Severe NIHL was defined as > or = 65 db loss at 3, 4 or 6 kHz in at least one ear +/- 20 db threshold in the contralateral ear. History of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) was reported by 16.4% of the 146 men with severe NIHL compared to 4.8% of the 83 men without severe NIHL (odds ratio = 3.9, C.I. 1.2-11.9, P = 0.05). Simultaneous evaluation of several potential risk factors using a multiple logistic regression indicates that the significant predictors of severe NIHL were diabetes (P < 0.05), Ea (P < 0.05) and age (P < 0.05). These results suggest that a person with NIDDM who is also occupationally noise-exposed is more likely to develop severe NIHL than those without NIDDM. Longitudinal studies are necessary to confirm the temporal relationship between NIDDM and NIHL and to determine the exact mechanisms that are involved with this increased risk of hearing loss.
Pharmacologic Approaches to Radiation Protection

The concept of the therapeutic ratio (TR) is central to understanding the rationale for using radioprotectors. The TR relates tumor control probabilities and normal tissue complication probabilities to one another. An ideal radioprotector will reduce the latter without compromising the former. It should also be minimally toxic itself. Radioprotective strategies can be classified under the categories of protection, mitigation, and treatment. Protectors are administered before radiotherapy (RT) and are designed to prevent radiation-induced injury. Amifostine is the prototype drug. Mitigants are administered after RT but before the phenotypic expression of injury and are intended to ameliorate injury. Palifermin can be considered as the prototype mitigant. Treatment is a strategy that is predominantly palliative and supportive in nature. Pharmacologic radioprotective strategies should be integrated with physical strategies such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy to realize their maximum clinical potential.
FACTORED ARC CONSISTENCY FOR RETE MATCH

RETE match for production systems and Arc Consistency (AC) filtering are two efficient AI algorithms that are designed for particular constraint satisfaction problems (CSP). Interestingly, it is possible to integrate the two within a common framework, and provide RETE with the lookahead advantages of AC. Unfortunately, the resulting quadratic dependence of AC on working memory (WM) size precludes the application of AC to RETE, since RETE responds to incremental changes in WM. Recent results in AC graph factorization, however, reduce the quadratic dependence to just linear for certain classes of problems, including RETE. In this paper, we present RETE and AC within the unified framework of Call-Graph Caching (CGC) evaluation. We describe factored arc consistency (FAC) and its use in an integrated FAC/RETE algorithm that provides RETE match with AC lookahead. We discuss our implementations, promising initial empirical results, and explore FAC/RETE’s applicability conditions and extensions. We conclude that incorporating factored AC into RETE match is an interesting and potentially useful application of arc consistency methods to the RETE CSP.
Intersheet Eddy-Current Loss in Laminated Cores

CORE LOSS in laminated structures subjected to an alternating magnetomotive force is made up of a hysteresis loss and an eddy-current loss. In modern power transformers the eddy-current loss is approximately 1/4 to 1/3 of the total loss.
The facilitation of meaningful verbal learning in the classroom 1

Abstract The assimilation theory of meaningful verbal learning and retention and the distinctions between rote and meaningful learning and between reception and discovery learning are reviewed in the light of some recent research on advance organizers, adjunct questions, and cognitive style. An attempt is made to reply to some of the frequently‐made criticisms of the author's research methodology in his studies of advance organizers and retroactive interference in meaningful prose learning and retention. Finally, an assessment is made of freedom of psychological inquiry in the United States and of equality of access to APA journals; and it is suggested that the neobehavioristic orientation in American school learning theory has been artificially kept alive by editorial bias on the part of APA journals, by neobehavioristic bias on the part of reviewers for research funding agencies, and by implicit pressures exerted on graduate students in educational psychology doctoral programs.
Assessment of the Patient Suspect of Atopy

A retrospective chart analysis of patients referred to the allergy service was undertaken to determine which historical and laboratory data most closely correlated with the presence of atopy. The serum IgE level was highly significant for all patients when analyzed as a group (P less than 0.0001). Other factors assumed significance when the patients were analyzed by individual age groups. Guidelines for the logical assessment of the child suspect of atopy are proposed.
Origin of absorption enhancement in a tungsten, three-dimensional photonic crystal

A three-dimensional, metallic photonic crystal is realized and its absorption measured at infrared wavelengths. The metallic absorption rate is found to be suppressed in the photonic bandgap regime (λ∼8–20 μm). On the other hand, order-of-magnitude absorption enhancement is observed at the photonic band edge (λ∼5.8 μm). The enhancement is attributed to the slower group velocity of light at the photonic band edge, a longer photon–matter interaction length, and a finite intrinsic absorption of tungsten.
Modeling software quality: the Software Measurement Analysis and Reliability Toolkit

The paper presents the Software Measurement Analysis and Reliability Toolkit (SMART) which is a research tool for software quality modeling using case based reasoning (CBR) and other modeling techniques. Modern software systems must have high reliability. Software quality models are tools for guiding reliability enhancement activities to high risk modules for maximum effectiveness and efficiency. A software quality model predicts a quality factor, such as the number of faults in a module, early in the life cycle in time for effective action. Software product and process metrics can be the basis for such fault predictions. Moreover, classification models can identify fault prone modules. CBR is an attractive modeling method based on automated reasoning processes. However, to our knowledge, few CBR systems for software quality modeling have been developed. SMART addresses this area. There are currently three types of models supported by SMART: classification based on CBR, CBR classification extended with cluster analysis, and module-order models, which predict the rank-order of modules according to a quality factor. An empirical case study of a military command, control, and communications applied SMART at the end of coding. The models built by SMART had a level of accuracy that could be very useful to software developers.
Mutual enhancements of CFD modeling and experimental data : A case study of 1-μm particle deposition in a branching airway model

In order to better understand aerosol dynamics and deposition in the complex flow field of the respiratory tract, both in vitro experiments and numerical modeling techniques have widely been employed. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling offers the flexibility of easily modifying system parameters such as flow rates, particle sizes, system geometry, and heterogeneous outlet conditions. However, a number of numerical errors and artifacts can lead to nonphysical CFD results. Experimental methods offer the advantage of physical realism; however, parameter variation is often difficult. The objective of this study is to illustrate the use of CFD to enhance the understanding of experimental results. In parallel, the selected experimental results have been used to partially validate the CFD predictions. A specific case study has been considered focusing on 1-μm particle depositions in a physiologically realistic bifurcation (PRB) model of respiratory generations 3–5. Previous experiments in this system re...
THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM IN CARDIOVASCULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY: PROBLEMS IN STANDARDIZED APPLICATION†

The electrocardiogram (ECG) is employed in cardiovascular population studies because a ) an objective record is obtained of a bio-electrical signal characteristic of the individual, b) it is of proven, if limited, value in diagnosis of certain specific and many non-specific anatomic and functional derangements of the heart muscle, c) its crude but significant predictive value is established for risk of future cardiac events and mortality, d ) the information contained in the ECG is of a different nature from, and largely independent of that obtained by the medical history and physical examination, e) and the total yield of events relevant to the study of heart disease is increased by ECG recording. These characteristics of the ECG suggest a particular suitability for application to cardiovascular epidemiology. In fact, however, conventional application of the ECG is in a quite primitive state. Problems basic to ECG theory as well as practical difficulties in instrumentation and method seriously limit its exploitation as an epidemiological study tool. Direct confrontation of these problems is required with attention both to broad concept and to fine detail.
Electromagnetic Scattering from Multilayer Rough Surfaces Separated by Arbitrary Dielectric Profiles

Radar remote sensing of soil moisture content at low frequencies requires an accurate scattering model of realistic soils, which often involves multilayer rough surfaces and inhomogeneous dielectric profiles. In this paper, a hybrid analytical/numerical solution to two- dimensional scattering from multilayer rough surfaces separated by arbitrary dielectric profiles based on the extended boundary condition method (EBCM) and scattering matrix technique is presented. The reflection and transmission matrices of a rough interface are constructed using EBCM. The inhomogeneous dielectric profile is modeled as a stack of piecewise homogeneous dielectric thin layers. The scattering matrices of an inhomogeneous dielectric profile are computed by recursively cascading reflection and transmission matrices of individual dielectric interfaces from the bottom dielectric interface to the top interface. The interactions between the rough interfaces and the inhomogeneous dielectric profile are taken into account by applying the generalized scattering matrix technique, hi numerical simulations, the actual field-collected soil moisture data are used, hi particular, the dielectric profiles during both dry and wet ground conditions are examined. The numerical simulations are performed to investigate both bistatic scattering coefficients and copolarized phase difference due to different subsurface roughness parameters and ground conditions. Simulation results show that the bistatic scattering coefficients at low frequencies are sensitive to subsurface roughness parameters and copolarized phase difference strongly depends on soil moisture contents.
Plasma insulin levels during reactive hypoglycemia.

The plasma insulin response to an oral glucose load was studied in fourteen patients with reactive hypoglycemia—based on blood glucose values of 45 mg./100 ml. or below following 100 gm. of glucose. In reactive hypoglycemia, no single mechanism involving insulin secretion could explain the development of low blood glucose values. Six patients with reactive hypoglycemia demonstrated elevated plasma insulin values in association with normal blood glucose levels. In five patients the results of glucose tolerance tests suggested mild diabetes mellitus, and plasma insulin levels were increased. Three patients with reactive hypoglycemia had essentially normal glucose tolerance tests and no abnormality in plasma insulin response was noted.
Orientation development in the tubular film extrusion of polypropylene

A basic study of orientation development in the tubular film extrusion of polypropylene is reported. WAXS and birefringence measurements were carried out on films prepared under conditions of known blowup ratio B, drawdown νL/νO, machine direction tension, and bubble pressure. Pole figures were constructed and biaxial orientation factors determined. The use of an orientation factor triangle diagram was found to be a useful method of representing the variation of orientation with processing conditions. The variation in orientation with processing parameters for polypropylene was found to have similar behavior to that previously found for polyethylene.
Novel anti-cancer orthopedic materials: Nanostructured selenium

Metallic bone implants possess numerous problems limiting their efficacy, such as poor osseointegration, stress shielding, and corrosion in in vivo environments. In addition, these materials were not originally developed to simultaneously serve as an orthopedic implant and treat bone cancer (for which some patients require an orthopedic implant). This study is to investigate the potential use of selenium in bone implants to prevent bone cancer from re-occurring and support new bone growth. For this, selenium, spherical or semispherical shots, were etched using NaOH to obtain various surface structures ranging from the micron, sub micron to nano scales. Through these etching techniques, biologically inspired surface roughness values were created on selenium to match that of natural bone. In this manner, this study suggests a promising future for nanostructured selenium in orthopedic applications involving bone cancer treatment.