cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The inhibition of hemolysis, as studied by the technique used for investigating progressive reactions, and by a technique using radioactive hemolysins.

Inhibition of hemolysis by plasma has been studied in systems containing saponin, digitonin, and sodium lauryl sulfate, using the methods developed for the study of the kinetics of progressive reactions. The results are that the progressive nature of the hemolytic reaction in saponin systems becomes less when the inhibitor is added, that the addition of inhibitor to digitonin systems has no effect on the final result although the velocity of the progressive reaction is reduced, and that the effect of plasma in lauryl sulfate systems is intermediate between the effects in saponin systems and digitonin systems. A simple explanation is that the lysin is very strongly fixed, to form an internal phase, to the cell surfaces in digitonin systems, less strongly in laurate systems, and still less strongly in saponin systems. To answer the question as to whether, in a system in which some of the lysin forms as internal phase, the addition of an inhibitor results in a redistribution of the lysin between the internal phase and the bulk phase, sodium lauryl sulfate-S35 and sodium cetyl sulfate-S35 were prepared, and their distribution between the internal phase and the bulk phase was measured before and after the addition of plasma, the lysins being added to the cells either before or after the addition of the inhibitor. The results show that there is a large uptake of these lysins at the red cell surfaces when they are added first, and that the subsequent addition of plasma greatly reduces the quantity of lysin held in the internal phase. Further, if the inhibitor is added first and the lysin subsequently, the internal lysin phase is very incompletely formed. Serum albumin, used in place of plasma, gives essentially similar results.
HPLC Determination of Furfural and 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural in Citrus Juices

A rapid sample clean-up and chromatographic separation were devel- oped to determine both furfural and 5-hydroxymetbylfurfural (HMF) in citrus juices. Furfural and HMF were isolated by using a C-18 cartridge, and quantified by isocratic elution with acetonitrile/water (1Y85, v/v) as the mobile phase with a Radial-PAK C-18 column (100 × 8 mm i.d.). Detection was at 280 nm and the lower limit of detection for both compounds was 50 ppb. Recoveries between 94.0 and 101.2% were obtained for HMF added to orange juice. Recoveries of fmfural ranged between 96.8 and 103.9%.
Turkey’s Kurdish Problem: Steps Toward a Solution

Deep Kurdish and Turkish mistrust for each other, continuing PKK terrorist activity, the inadequacy of the government's reform measures, and the divided leadership of the Kurdish community are among many factors inhibiting a democratic solution of Turkey's Kurdish problem. This article recommends several measures for immediate implementation, including: “civic action” training for Turkish military and security personnel; open-ended conversations between moderate Turks and Kurds to define areas of accommodation; preemptive targeting of the PKK's military leadership; and a major commitment of resources to Turkey's economically deprived southeast—plus long overdue American assistance against the PKK and targeted EU economic assistance. *The author wishes to express his profound thanks to his friend Ferdinand Smith, whose broad experience and editorial skills were of inestimable value in the drafting of this article. Ferdinand Smith is the pseudonym of an American specialist in international relations who has...
Top-down learning strategies: can they facilitate stylus keyboard learning?

Abstract Learning a new stylus keyboard layout is time-consuming yet potentially rewarding, as optimized virtual keyboards can substantially increase performance for expert users. This paper explores whether the learning curve can be accelerated using top-down learning strategies. In an experiment, one group of participants learned a stylus keyboard layout with top-down methods, such as visuo-spatial grouping of letters and mnemonic techniques, to build familiarity with a stylus keyboard. The other (control) group learned the keyboard by typing sentences. The top-down learning group liked the stylus keyboard better and perceived it to be more effective than the control group. They also had better memory recall performance. Typing performance after the top-down learning process was faster than the initial performance of the control group, but not different from the performance of the control group after they had spent an equivalent amount of time typing. Therefore, top-down learning strategies improved the explicit recall as expected, but the improved memory of the keyboard did not result in quicker typing speeds. These results suggest that quicker acquisition of declarative knowledge does not improve the acquisition speed of procedural knowledge, even during the initial cognitive stage of the virtual keyboard learning. They also suggest that top-down learning strategies can motivate users to learn a new keyboard more than repetitive rehearsal, without any loss in typing performance.
USING GENETIC ALGORITHMS AND DECISION TREE INDUCTION TO CLASSIFY SOFTWARE FAILURES

This paper describes two laboratory experiments designed to evaluate a failure-pursuit strategy for system level testing. In the first experiment, two GAs are used to automatically generate test suites that are rich in failure-causing test cases. Their performance is compared to random generation. The resulting test suites are then used to train a series of decision trees, producing rules for classifying other test cases. Finally, the performance of the classification rules is evaluated empirically. The results indicate that the combination of GA-based test case generation and decision tree induction can produce rules with high-predictive accuracy that can assist human testers in diagnosing the cause of system failures.
Geometric effects in the excited states of conjugated trienes

Abstract The fluorescence spectra and intrinsic lifetimes of two constrained trienes [cholesta-4,6,8(14)-triene and cholesta-5,7,9(11)-triene-3β-01] indicate that the lowest energy singlet—singlet transition of the s- trans,cis,s-trans 4,6,8(14) triene is a weak transition to a 1 A g -like excited state while the s- cis,trans ,s- cis 5,7,9(11) triene has a lowest transition which is strongly allowed to a 1 B u -like excited state.
Specific oligonucleotide primers for the direct detection of plum pox potyvirus-cherry subgroup

A specific polymerase chain reaction assay was developed for direct identification of the distinct subgroup of plum pox potyvirus (PPV) isolates from cherry trees (PPV-cherry, PPV-C) and its differentiation from other known subgroups of PPV. The specificity of the assay is based on using a pair of primers whose nucleotide sequences are located on the coat protein gene of PPV-sour cherry (SoC) at regions of high nucleotide divergence between PPV-SoC and other isolates of PPV. The technique will be useful for studying the epidemiology of PPV-C as well as for practical testing in certification and quarantine programs worldwide.
MATURATION-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN ADRENERGIC RESPONSES OF CEREBRAL AND MESENTERIC ARTERIES FROM PREMATURE, NEWBORN AND ADULT BABOONS

Responses of cerebral arteries to certain vasoactive agents are known to be different from those of extracerebral arteries. We compared vasoconstrictor response to norepinephrine (NE) and vasodilator response to isoproterenol (ISO) between strips of baboon cerebral (CAs) and mesenteric (MAs) arteries and among premature (0.75 gestation), full term newborn and adult baboons for each artery.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MEASURE OF PERCEIVED HOMOPHILY IN INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

This paper reports the development of a measure of perceived homophily. In both an initial investigation and in four subsequent studies employing samples from diverse populations, four dimensions of response were observed. These dimensions were labeled Attitude, Morality, Appearance, and Background. Additional results indicated that opinion leaders are perceived as more homophilous than non-opinion leaders on the dimensions of Attitude, Morality, and Background. The scales found to measure these dimensions are suggested for consideration by researchers concerned with homophily or interpersonal similarity in human communication.
Numerical Study of Water Droplet Evaporation on a Superhydrophobic Surface

A comprehensive numerical model is developed to predict evaporation of a water droplet from an unheated superhydrophobic substrate. Analytical models that only consider vapor diffusion in the gas domain, and assume the system to be isothermal, over-predict the evaporation rates by ∼25% compared to experiments conducted on such surfaces. The current model solves for conjugate heat and mass transfer in the solid substrate, liquid droplet, and surrounding gas. Evaporative cooling of the interface is accounted for, and vapor concentration is coupled to local temperature at the interface. Buoyancy-driven convective flows in the droplet and vapor domains are also simulated. A droplet evaporating in a constant-contact-angle mode with an initial volume of 3 μl and contact angle of 160 deg is considered at an ambient temperature of 21°C and 29% relative humidity, to match conditions of related experiments. The interface cooling effect suppresses the evaporation rate significantly; however, natural convection in the gas and liquid domains has a negligible impact on the evaporation rate. The local evaporation flux along the droplet interface predicted by the model is compared to that predicted by an analytical diffusion-based model. The numerically calculated total evaporation rate agrees with experimental results to within 2%. The large deviations between past analytical models and the experimental data on superhydrophobic surfaces are reconciled.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Morphological, pathological and genetic variations among isolates of Cochliobolus sativus from Nepal

Spot blotch, caused by Cochliobolus sativus (Ito & Kuribayashi) Drechs. ex Dastur, is one of the important diseases of wheat worldwide. The main objective of this study was to investigate the phenotypic and genotypic variability among C. sativus isolates from the hills and plains in Nepal. A total of 48 monoconidial isolates of C. sativus from the hills (n = 24 isolates) and plains (n = 24 isolates) in Nepal were analyzed for morphology, aggressiveness and genetic structure. C. sativus isolates were grouped into three categories on the basis of their colony texture and mycelia colour. Thirteen isolates from the hills and plains belonging to three morphological groups were randomly selected and evaluated for aggressiveness on eight wheat cultivars (Chirya 1, Chirya 7, Milan/Shanghai 7, SW 89–5422, PBW 343, BL 1473, BL 3036, and RR 21) at the seedling stage. Nonparametric analysis revealed that the isolates from the plains (median disease rating of 5) were significantly (P = 0.0001) more aggressive than the isolates from the hills (median disease rating of 3). A significant (P = 0.0001) isolate by cultivar interaction was demonstrated and the isolates from the same geographic region and morphological group displayed different degrees of aggressiveness on wheat cultivars tested. Combined IS-PCR and rep-PCR analyses revealed moderate gene diversity (H = 0.24 and 0.25 for the hills and plains, respectively). Low linkage disequilibrium (LD) value and non-significant (P = 0.001) population differentiation (G″ST = 0.05) were detected, indicating that isolates of C. sativus from the hills and plains in Nepal were genetically similar. Analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA) revealed low (7%) levels of genetic variation between the hill and plain populations, whereas >93% of genetic variation was found within populations. Overall, C. sativus isolates from Nepal are pathologically and genetically diverse, and such information will be useful in developing wheat cultivars resistant to C. sativus.
Localization predictions for gene products involved in non-host resistance responses in a model plant/fungal pathogen interaction

Abstract The technologies for researching the interactions between plants and pathogens have evolved through small molecule extractions, enzyme analyses, gene cloning, mutational genetics, anti-sera-specific labeling, and beyond. This position paper demonstrates the use of primarily two predictive programs (SignalP and LOCtree) of the more than 24 existing computer programs, in deriving useful information from the N-terminal or total sequences of both host and pathogen gene products. The genes selected are known to be of importance in a non-host resistance model. In this model, pea is the non-host and expresses resistance to an “inappropriate” pathogen, a pathogen of bean. The usefulness of this technology increases as more sequences are known and the programs are re-defined. The predictive programs are not infallible, but are a useful supplement to other localization determinations. They can also uncover some unforeseen functions or properties of gene products related to their inherent potential for secretion or cellular localization. A selected sampling of gene products involved in race-specific resistance was also evaluated. Some disclaimers related to the N-terminal-based prediction programs and some factors that might alter their accuracy are also discussed. A position presented herein is that there has been an over estimation of the communication barriers observed cytologically and an under appreciation for how the inherent sequences of the protein product of a gene can determine its ultimate destination.
Survival impact of treatment options for papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Evaluate the impact of medical and surgical interventions on the survival of patients with papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) of the thyroid, a common tumor with an increasing worldwide incidence. Study Design: Cross-sectional population analysis of a prospectively maintained database. Methods: Cases of nonmetastatic PMC treated with cancer-directed surgery with or without postoperative radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Database (1988–2005). Kaplan-Meier disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survivals were compared according to extent of thyroidectomy and use of RAI therapy. Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the influence of these factors on survival. Results: A total of 7,818 cases of PMC were identified. Overall actuarial survival rates at 10 and 15 years were 96.6% and 96.3%, respectively. DSS was 99.9% at both time intervals, with a total of 10 thyroid cancer-related deaths. There were no significant differences in DSS for patients who underwent total thyroidectomy, near-total/subtotal thyroidectomy, or lobectomy (P = .239). DSS for patients receiving RAI therapy was not significantly different than that of patients who did not (P = .504). On multivariate analysis, only increasing age at diagnosis, successfully predicted poor DSS (P = .001), whereas gender (P = .481), use of RAI therapy (P = .633), and extent of thyroidectomy (P = .104) did not. Conclusions: PMC carries an excellent prognosis with respect to both overall and disease-specific survival that is independent of surgical extent and the use of RAI therapy. An isolated, fine-needle–aspiration proven unilateral PMC focus in a patient lacking evidence of metastatic disease may be treated with lobectomy alone. Laryngoscope, 2009
Pharmaceutical Formulation Facilities as Sources of Opioids and Other Pharmaceuticals to Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluents

Facilities involved in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products are an under-investigated source of pharmaceuticals to the environment. Between 2004 and 2009, 35 to 38 effluent samples were collected from each of three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in New York and analyzed for seven pharmaceuticals including opioids and muscle relaxants. Two WWTPs (NY2 and NY3) receive substantial flows (>20% of plant flow) from pharmaceutical formulation facilities (PFF) and one (NY1) receives no PFF flow. Samples of effluents from 23 WWTPs across the United States were analyzed once for these pharmaceuticals as part of a national survey. Maximum pharmaceutical effluent concentrations for the national survey and NY1 effluent samples were generally 400 μg/L. Maximum concentrations of oxycodone (1700 μg/L) and metaxalone (3800 μg/L) in samples from NY3 effluent e...
The 1981 Tax Act: Cost Recovery Choices for Real Property

This paper examines changes in cost recovery (i.e., depreciation) patterns for realty resulting from the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. While the Act provides for much shorter write-offs than were previously available, it also imposes more severe recapture penalties for commercial property that has been depreciated according to the new Accelerated Cost Recovery System. An analysis of discounted cash flows is used to predict investor selection of the most advantageous cost recovery method. Although the accelerated system is generally preferable for residential realty, there are many situations where a taxpayer owning commercial property will elect the optional fifteen-year straight-line method.
Response to Edwardsiella ictaluri Challenge by Channel Catfish Fed Organic and Inorganic Sources of Selenium

Abstract Fingerlings of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (average initial weight, 1.70 g) were fed a casein-based purified diet supplemented with 0, 0.02, 0.06, 0.20, or 0.40 mg of selenium/ kg from sodium selenite (Na2SeO3), selenomethionine (Se-M), or selenoyeast (Se-Y) for 9 weeks. Subsequently, fish were challenged by immersion with a virulent strain of Edwardsiella ictaluri (105.9 cells/mL), and mortalities were recorded during a 14-d period. Antibody titers of surviving fish were measured, and macrophage chemotactic activity was determined in fish from each treatment. Dietary concentration and source of selenium significantly influenced weight gain and immune responses of the fish. Dietary selenium concentrations for maximum weight gain were 0.20 mg/kg from Se-M and Se-Y and 0.40 mg/kg from Na2SeO3. Dietary selenium concentration for maximum survival from E. ictaluri challenge was 0.20 mg/kg for fish fed Se-M and 0.40 mg/kg for fish fed Se-Y and Na2SeO3. Antibody production generally increased as...
Humidity-Compensating Sensor for Volatile Organic Compounds Using Stacked Porous Silicon Photonic Crystals

One-dimensional photonic crystals constructed from multilayered stacks of porous Si are used as sensors for gas-phase volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The ability of a double-stack structure to provide compensation for drift due to changing relative humidity (RH) is investigated. In this approach, two separate photonic crystals (dielectric stacks) are etched into a crystalline Si substrate, one on top of the other. The top stack is chemically modified to be hydrophobic (by hydrosilylation with dodecene) and the bottom stack is made hydrophilic (by hydrosilylation with undecylenic acid). It is shown that the optical spectrum of the double-stack structure provides an effective means to discriminate VOCs from water vapor. In this approach, shifts in the peak frequencies from both photonic crystals are measured simultaneously. Because the two stacks respond differently to water and to VOC, the effect of changing humidity can be nulled by calculating the weighted difference between the two peak frequencies. Reliable determination of the concentration of VOC vapor in nitrogen over a range of RH values (25% < RH < 75%) is demonstrated. The ability of the double-stack structure to discriminate between water vapor and VOCs is quantified for four different VOCs: toluene, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), heptane, and ethanol.
Improved patency of infrainguinal polytetrafluoroethylene bypass grafts using a distal Taylor vein patch.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate graft patency and limb salvage rates for infrainguinal polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bypass grafts using distal anastomotic Taylor vein patch in patients lacking suitable vein conduit. Methods: We reviewed 44 patients who underwent infrainguinal bypass between January 1996 and August 2000 using 6-mm PTFE and a distal Taylor vein patch. Postoperative oral anticoagulation was administered to 80% of patients. Graft patency was confirmed during follow-up with serial graft duplex scanning. Results: Operative indications were rest pain, nonhealing ulcer, or gangrene in 76% of patients, 43% of whom had undergone previous ipsilateral leg bypass. Distal anastomotic sites were the below-knee popliteal (29%) and tibial-peroneal arteries (67%). At 1 month, 1 year, and 2 years, respectively, the primary patencies (SE <10%) were 86%, 71%, and 71%; limb salvage rates were 95%, 75%, and 66%; and mortality rates were 5%, 20%, and 20%. Conclusions: These early results with PTFE and distal Taylor vein patch are promising, and markedly superior to previous reports of PTFE without anastomotic modification. Further long-term follow-up will be necessary to determine the 3- to 5-year durability of such reconstructions.
Exact and approximate computation of a histogram of pairwise distances between astronomical objects

We compare several alternative approaches to computing correlation functions, which is a cosmological application for analyzing the distribution of matter in the universe. This computation involves counting the pairs of galaxies within a given distance from each other and building a histogram that shows the dependency of the number of pairs on the distance.The straightforward algorithm for counting the exact number of pairs has the O(n2) time complexity, which is unacceptably slow for most astronomical and cosmological datasets, which include billions of objects. We analyze the performance of several alternative algorithms, including the exact computation with an O(n(5/3)) average running time, an approximate computation with linear running time, and another approximate algorithm with sub-linear running time, based on sampling the given dataset and computing the correlation functions for the samples. We compare the accuracy of the described algorithms and analyze the tradeoff between their accuracy and running time. We also propose a novel hybrid approximation algorithm, which outperforms each other technique.
Use of the evoked potential P3 component for control in a virtual apartment

Virtual reality (VR) may prove useful for training individuals to use a brain-computer interface (BCI). It could provide complex and controllable experimental environments during BCI research and development as well as increase user motivation. In the study reported here, we examined the robustness of the evoked potential P3 component in virtual and nonvirtual environments. We asked subjects to control several objects or commands in a virtual apartment. Our results indicate that there are no significant differences in the P3 signal between subjects performing a task while immersed in VR versus subjects looking at a computer monitor. This indicates the robustness of the P3 signal over different environments. For an online control task, the performance in a VR environment was not significantly different from performance when looking at a computer monitor. There was, however, a more significant result when the subject's head view of the virtual world was fixed (p < 0.05) when compared with looking at a computer monitor. We also found that subjects' self-reported qualitative experiences did not necessarily match their objective performance. Six out of nine subjects liked the VR environment better, but only one of these subjects performed the best in this environment. The possible ramifications of this, as well as plans for future work, are discussed.
Quantifying the Costs of Cycle Counting in a Two-Echelon Supply Chain with Multiple Items

Abstract Inventory record errors within a supply chain can lead to problems that cause low customer satisfaction and high operational costs. This paper presents a simulation model of a two-echelon inventory system consisting of a retailer, a distribution center, and a supplier that includes multiple item types and the use of cycle counting as the corrective action. An extensive set of cycle-counting configurations were examined while observing the trade-off between fill rates, accuracy, and system costs in order to investigate the best possible configuration of cycle counting for two set of experiments that examine high-demand–low-cost and low-demand–high-cost items. The results indicate that the correct application of cycle counting will increase record accuracy and provide significant amount of savings for the entire supply chain.
Kinetic Monte Carlo simulation of a solid-oxide fuel cell: I. Open-circuit voltage and double layer structure

A Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) model is presented which simulates the open-circuit voltage and electrical double layer of a doped electrolyte. The computational grid approximates the defect spacing in an electrolyte, so the length scale is atomistic. Numerical results for steady state, open-circuit voltage match analytical predictions over a wide range of oxygen pressure differentials. A general analytical solution is then presented for the distribution of ions in a doped electrolyte subjected to an external voltage. Using available data for Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ), it is found that the KMC simulator computes ion concentration profiles and electrical double layers in close agreement with the predictions of the analytical model. A localized or differential updating scheme is used for the electric field that significantly reduces the computation time.
Rho-Star Scaling and Physically Realistic Gyrokinetic Simulations of Transport in DIII-D

This paper briefly reviews the DIII-D experiments to determine rho-star ({rho}{sub *}) confinement scaling to reactors, the theory of broken gyro-Bohm scaling from local rotational shear stabilization and various nonlocal effects, and how the gyrokinetic code GYRO is being used for physically realistic simulations to understand Bohm scaling in L-modes.
Single-Variable Poisson Regression: A Goodness-of-Fit Test and the Comparison of Regression Coefficients

Abstract The single-variable Poisson regression model with y i as an observation on a Poisson random variable with parameter λx i is studied. A goodness-of-fit test and three tests for the comparison of the value of λ in two populations are proposed. Some asymptotic results for the comparison tests are given.
Minimizing Rate Distortion in Peer-to-Peer Video Streaming

This paper addresses the problem of optimal rate allocation for video stream in peer-to-peer networks. We present a distributed rate allocation algorithm with the goal of minimizing the total video distortion among peers receiving the same video. The scheme assumes that video streams can be transcoded/re-quantized at intermediate peers. We deploy a double pricing solution that simultaneously incorporates the network and the relay constraints in the peer-to-peer network and compare it with a single pricing solution where the relay constraint is applied only after all the communicating peers converge to optimality. We combine our solution with two video adaptation techniques: transcoding using x264 and scalable coding using H.264 SVC (scalable video coding) extension. Our experiment shows that the double pricing solution consistently achieves a smaller aggregate distortion for all peers over the single pricing solution.
Cloning of the Proto-oncogene c-src from Rat Testis

The cellular homolog of the oncogene v-src, the proto-oncogene c-src, was cloned from rat testis using a high stringency polymerase chain reaction. Rat c-src cDNA shared identity with chicken and mouse, and Rous sarcoma virus c-src and v-src, respectively. Rat c-Src protein was 98% homologous to both human and mouse c-Src. Interestingly, rat Src contained one extra amino acid compared to the mouse protein. As expected, the rat testis Src lacked the six extra residues common to the neuronal Src identified in human and mouse. Reporting of the cDNA sequence for non-neuronal, rat c-src should facilitate experimentation into cell growth and transformation using rat tissues as models of human disease.
Two-dimensional viscoelastic discrete triangular system with negative-stiffness components

Potential applications of high-damping and high-stiffness composites have motivated extensive research on the effects of negative-stiffness inclusions on the overall properties of composites. Recent theoretical advances have been based on the Hashin-Shtrikman composite models, one-dimensional discrete viscoelastic systems and a two-dimensional nested triangular viscoelastic network. In this paper, we further analyze the two-dimensional triangular structure containing pre-selected negative-stiffness components to study its underlying deformation mechanisms and stability. Major new findings are structure-deformation evolution with respect to the magnitude of negative stiffness under shear loading and the phenomena related to dissipation-induced destabilization and inertia-induced stabilization, according to Lyapunov stability analysis. The evolution shows strong correlations between stiffness anomalies and deformation modes. Our stability results reveal that stable damping peaks, i.e. stably extreme effective damping properties, are achievable under hydrostatic loading when the inertia is greater than a critical value. Moreover, destabilization induced by elemental damping is observed with the critical inertia. Regardless of elemental damping, when the inertia is less than the critical value, a weaker system instability is identified.
Complex contributions of Ets2 to craniofacial and thymus phenotypes of trisomic “Down syndrome” mice†

Ts65Dn mice have segmental trisomy for orthologs of about half of the genes on human chromosome 21, including Ets2. These mice develop anomalies of the cranial skeleton and thymus that parallel those in Down syndrome. Overexpression of the Ets2 transcription factor gene was posited to be sufficient to produce these craniofacial and thymus deficits in transgenic mice that constitutively overexpress a processed Ets2 transcript under a promiscuous promoter [Sumarsono et al. (1996); Nature 379:534-537; Wolvetang et al. (2003); Hum Mol Genet 12:247-255]. Evaluation of trisomic mice with varying copy numbers of a properly regulated Ets2 gene indicated increased dosage of Ets2 was not sufficient to produce effects on thymus and most of the cranial anomalies seen in Ts65Dn mice. However, mesoderm-derived cranial skeletal elements are significantly more affected in Ts65Dn, Ets2(+/-) mice compared to Ts65Dn littermates suggesting a differential interaction of Ets2-related processes with mesoderm-derived and neural crest-derived formative tissues. Our results support the growing evidence for interactions among multiple genes contributing to developmental perturbations resulting in variation in complex Down syndrome phenotypes.
THE INTERACTION OF ANTISOCIAL PROPENSITY AND LIFE‐COURSE VARYING PREDICTORS OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR: DIFFERENCES BY METHOD OF ESTIMATION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THEORY*

Recent criminological research has explored the extent to which stable propensity and life-course perspectives may be integrated to provide a more comprehensive explanation of variation in individual criminal offending. One line of these integrative efforts focuses on the ways that stable individual characteristics may interact with, or modify, the effects of life-course varying social factors. Given their consistency with the long-standing view that person–environment interactions contribute to variation in human social behavior, these theoretical integration attempts have great intuitive appeal. However, a review of past criminological research suggests that conceptual and empirical complexities have, so far, somewhat dampened the development of a coherent theoretical understanding of the nature of interaction effects between stable individual antisocial propensity and time-varying social variables. In this study, we outline and empirically assess several of the sometimes conflicting hypotheses regarding the ways that antisocial propensity moderates the influence of time-varying social factors on delinquent offending. Unlike some prior studies, however, we explicitly measure the interactive effects of stable antisocial propensity and time-varying measures of selected social variables on changes in delinquent offending. In addition, drawing on recent research that suggests that the relative ubiquity of interaction effects in past studies may be partly from the poorly suited application of linear statistical models to delinquency data, we alternatively test our interaction hypotheses using least-squares and tobit estimation frameworks. Our findings suggest that method of estimation matters, with interaction effects appearing readily in the former but not in the latter. The implications of these findings for future conceptual and empirical work on stable propensity/time-varying social variable interaction effects are discussed.
Adiabat-reduced isotherms at 100GPa pressures

The method of deriving shock wave reduced isotherms (SWRIs) as pressure standards up to 150 GPa in a diamond anvil cell (DAC) is discussed. This method is applicable to any adiabatic compression. Hugoniots and isentropes can both be used as reference curves in this analysis. While only Hugoniots have been used to date, isentropes will probably be used in future to develop standards above ∼ 200 GPa. Accuracies of SWRIs of Al, Cu, Ta, W, Au, Mo, and Pt are discussed. Hugoniots of diamond and MgO are in excellent agreement with their respective isotherms measured in DAC up to 140 and 55 GPa, respectively. The equation of state of a weakly compressible material is sensitive to pressure and weakly sensitive to temperature. Thus, strong crystals, such as diamond, MgO, and BN, can be used as pressure standards and temperature can be measured independently. Future experiments to improve accuracies of static-pressure standards are suggested.
Cognitive image change and loyalty in destination branding

This study examined visitors' cognitive image change and its relationship to their loyalty to a well-established destination brand. It was found that visitors positively modified their perceptions about many of a destination's attributes after their experience at the destination. The extent of the positive modifications varied, however, among first-time visitors, repeat visitors, and loyalists. The test of eight hypotheses revealed a significant positive relationship between visitors' image change and their willingness to recommend for first-time visitors and loyalists, but not for repeat visitors. First-time visitors were the only group for which a positive relationship was discovered between image change and return likelihood. This study contributes to the understanding of the influential and dynamic nature of destination image, particularly the relationship between image change and loyalty. As image and loyalty are key branding constructs, the findings and methodological approach adopted in the study should be of particular interest to researchers and practitioners of destination branding.
Comparison of commercial blood bank antisera.

Forty-one lots of commercial anti-A and anti-B typing sera and 34 lots of antiglobulin sera, obtained from nine different manufacturers, were compared for potency in quantitative hemagglutination studies employing an electronic particle counter. Marked differences in antiserum reactivity were found, particularly in the ability of various antiglobulin sera to detect bound complement components. Quality control programs in the hospital blood bank should include routine testing of both typing and antiglobulin sera with weakly reactive red blood cell suspensions.
The development of a pediatric radiology sedation program

Background: An increase in the number of patients undergoing sedation for imaging procedures has led to many changes in practice over the past 10 years. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare and evaluate sedation practice changes in a pediatric radiology department during the last 5 years. Materials and methods: The radiology computer database and corresponding minutes of the Radiology Sedation Committee were reviewed to identify changes in sedation policy. Data from three blocks of time were analyzed to determine time to sedation, time to discharge, drug frequency, rates of adverse events, sedation failure, and paradoxical reaction. Results: Specific practice changes undertaken over the 5-year period include: (1) increased speed of administration of IV pentobarbital, (2) alternating pentobarbital and fentanyl, (3) presedation with midazolam, and (4) administering oral pentobarbital to children under and (5) over 12 months of age. Based on data analysis, changes 1 and 4 were incorporated into the sedation policy, while changes 2, 3, and 5 were abandoned. Comparison of data from the three time segments revealed improvement in the time to sedation, sedation failure, adverse event, and paradoxical reaction rates. Conclusion: There is improvement in all aspects of patient outcomes with sedation, as a result of several changes in sedation practice.
Flight Activity of Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Pests of Florida Rice

Although many different insects can be found in rice fields in Florida, stink bugs are currently con sidered the most important pest. Jones & Cherry (1986) reported that the rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax (F.), was the dominant species comprising >95% of the total stink bug population. Cherry et al. (1998) reported that the stink bug, Oebalus yp silongriseus (DeGeer) was widespread in Florida rice fields. This was the first report of this species being found in commercial rice fields in the United States. Cherry and Nuessly (2010) reported that the stink bug, Oebalus insularis (Stal) is now wide spread in Florida rice fields. This was the first re port of this species being found in commercial rice fields in the United States. Two other stink bug species which attack Flor ida rice are Euschistus ictericus (L.) and the south ern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) (Genung et al. 1979). Previous to this study, these 5 stink bug species were all observed by the author in light trap samples taken at the Everglades Research and Education Center, Palm Beach County, Flor ida. This center is located near the center of the rice producing area in southern Florida. The center itself consists of a mosaic of rice, sugarcane, vege table, turf, and biofuel plots. Nothing is known on the seasonal flight of these 5 rice pests in southern Florida. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the seasonal flight activity of these 5 stink bug species which attack Florida rice. Flight activity of stink bugs was measured with a large, walk-in black light trap. This trap measured 2 m x 2 m x 2.5 m high and was made of w od with screened sides. On the top was a 15 watt black light with a funnel through which in sects fell into the trap below. The trap was located on the Everglades Research and Education Cen te at Belle Glade, Florida in an area composed of mixed vegetation (various crops, grasses, weeds, trees). The trap was used twice weekly at 3-4-d in tervals from Jan 1, 2008 to Jan 1, 2010. After col lection by vacuuming, stink bugs were frozen for later taxonomic identification and sex determina tion. Samples from within each month for both years were pooled. Thereafter a Least Significant Difference Test (SAS 2010) was conducted to com pare mean monthly catches for each stink bug species. Fifty adults of each species were ran domly selected from samples and dissected to de termine sex ratios. These ratios were tested by Chi-square analysis for each species to determine if the ratios were significantly different from an expected 1 to 1 sex ratio. Adults of both sexes were caught in light trap samples in all 5 species. Chi-square analysis showed that there was no significant deviation from the expected 1 to 1 sex ratio in any of the 5 species. The largest Chi-square value found was 1.62 among the species, this not being significant at alpha = 0.05 (1 df). Monthly catches of stink bugs in the black light are shown in Table 1. Flight activity of all 5 species was remarkably in synchrony, being unimodal with greatest catches in Jul in all spe
Translating Patient Safety Research Into Clinical Practice

There is a pressing need to make patient safety research more relevant to clinicians and decisionmakers. The RE-AIM framework of Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance is one approach investigators can use to assess a study's potential for translation from research to clinical practice. In this paper, we show how the RE-AIM approach is being used to evaluate a pharmacy alert intervention designed to detect and correct medication prescribing errors for all patients prescribed medications in a large health maintenance organization (HMO). In the RE-AIM framework, Reach is assessed by calculating the participation rate and evaluating the degree to which the patients enrolled in the study are representative of the larger patient population (i.e., the “representativeness” of the sample). Effectiveness is assessed across multiple dimensions. Medication errors are the primary outcome. Other outcomes include prescriber, pharmacist, and patient satisfaction; measures of unintended consequences (e.g., false-positive alerts), and potential negative impacts (e.g., repeat patient visits to the pharmacy). Adoption is measured by calculating the participation rates of the pharmacies and pharmacists approached to participate in the project. Representativeness is assessed by comparing the characteristics of pharmacies and pharmacists that participate to those that do not. Implementation is assessed as the degree to which intervention components are delivered as intended. Measures of technical performance include the validity of alerts and system reliability. Measures of pharmacist performance include completeness of progress documentation and adherence to alert recommendations. Maintenance is assessed as the sustainability of the intervention's impact during the study (at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months), and at one year after its completion. Investigators interested in promoting the translation of their research and conducting “practical clinical trials” should consider external and internal validity issues. This paper describes one approach to the collection and reporting on measures of generalizability that are of interest to clinicians and decisionmakers.
Enhancing user experience at museums using smart phones with RFID

With the advancement in cell phone technologies and its increased use as a multimedia platform, we can extend its application to enhance the experience of museum visitors. Smart phones can be used to provide full personalized multimedia presentations in a museum environment. This design proposal is aimed at increasing museum visitors and, boosting profits, and greatly reducing maintenance costs for museum operators. We propose a new technique to interface a museum's artifact specific multimedia files on the network to smart phones. Our design offers an RFID based interface that can be used for educational purposes in museums or conference settings. The design aims at the interaction between the user and specific artifacts by providing additional data sent wirelessly through the museum or conference database to a portable device such as the Motorola Q smart phone. The smart phone will contain the RFID reader and a tag that will store its MAC address. A central RFID reader will be used to provide internet access to each user by scanning the MAC address on the smart phone tag and allowing wireless access for it. The RFID reader on the smart phone will read the tags embedded in the artifacts and corresponding data will be fetched from the network and transmitted to the device via WiFi or other wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth. We will first demonstrate the functionality of our design using an RFID reader interfaced with a laptop, which has wireless internet connectivity. Different tags will be used as artifact identifiers and appropriate information from the internet will be obtained and displayed on the laptop. This will include programming the reader to retrieve data matched to the artifact. The next step in the design would be to implement it using the MC9090, which is a handheld mobile device with an integrated RFID reader and WiFi. The program for the design implementation will be loaded on this device and the system functionality will be verified.
A longitudinal study of body dissatisfaction and pubertal timing in an ethnically diverse adolescent sample

In a 7-year study, adolescents’ body dissatisfaction (N = 1370) was examined across four high school years as a function of pubertal development (perceived timing relative to peers and self-reported physical changes measured during Grades 6–10) in the context of the high school transition. Boys and girls who, during early high school, perceived themselves to be late relative to peers were at risk for body dissatisfaction across the high school years. Boys who were late in pubertal development reported more body dissatisfaction in early high school than on-time boys, but then decreased over time. African-American girls reported less body dissatisfaction across the high school years relative to other girls. Asian girls reported more dissatisfaction in early high school than African-American, Latina, and Multiethnic girls, and increased over time. Results highlight the importance of considering late development within context as a risk factor in body dissatisfaction research.
Assessing needs of families with handicapped infants

A 35-item parent survey was developed to assess the functional needs of parents with young handicapped children. A rationale for scale development and content is presented. Data from 34 two-parent families with handicapped infants suggest that the instrument is a useful source of intervention goals. Several items emerged as high priority needs for mothers and fathers. Addition of an open-ended response format provided a considerable amount of useful information. A readministration of the measure 6 months later with a subset of 20 families yielded high correlations. Implications of these findings for clinicians working with families of young handicapped children are discussed.
Head Pose Estimation and Augmented Reality Tracking: An Integrated System and Evaluation for Monitoring Driver Awareness

Driver distraction and inattention are prominent causes of automotive collisions. To enable driver-assistance systems to address these problems, we require new sensing approaches to infer a driver's focus of attention. In this paper, we present a new procedure for static head-pose estimation and a new algorithm for visual 3-D tracking. They are integrated into the novel real-time (30 fps) system for measuring the position and orientation of a driver's head. This system consists of three interconnected modules that detect the driver's head, provide initial estimates of the head's pose, and continuously track its position and orientation in six degrees of freedom. The head-detection module consists of an array of Haar-wavelet Adaboost cascades. The initial pose estimation module employs localized gradient orientation (LGO) histograms as input to support vector regressors (SVRs). The tracking module provides a fine estimate of the 3-D motion of the head using a new appearance-based particle filter for 3-D model tracking in an augmented reality environment. We describe our implementation that utilizes OpenGL-optimized graphics hardware to efficiently compute particle samples in real time. To demonstrate the suitability of this system for real driving situations, we provide a comprehensive evaluation with drivers of varying ages, race, and sex spanning daytime and nighttime conditions. To quantitatively measure the accuracy of system, we compare its estimation results to a marker-based cinematic motion-capture system installed in the automotive testbed.