cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low temperature heat capacity of rare earth molybdenum sulfides

Abstract Pronounced anomalies in the heat capacity of Gd 1.2 Mo 6 S 8 , and probably Dy 1.2 Mo 6 S 8 are associated with the previously reported antiferromagnetic transition which occurs in the superconducting state in each of these compounds.
Utilization of CAM, CAF, MAX, and FAX for space radiation analyses using HZETRN

Abstract To estimate astronaut health risk due to space radiation, one must have the ability to calculate various exposure-related quantities that are averaged over specific organs and tissue types. Such calculations require computational models of the ambient space radiation environment, particle transport, nuclear and atomic physics, and the human body. While significant efforts have been made to verify, validate, and quantify the uncertainties associated with many of these models and tools, relatively little work has focused on the uncertainties associated with the representation and utilization of the human phantoms. In this study, we first examine the anatomical properties of the Computerized Anatomical Man (CAM), Computerized Anatomical Female (CAF), Male Adult voXel (MAX), and Female Adult voXel (FAX) models by comparing the masses of various model tissues used to calculate effective dose to the reference values specified by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The MAX and FAX tissue masses are found to be in good agreement with the reference data, while major discrepancies are found between the CAM and CAF tissue masses and the reference data for almost all of the effective dose tissues. We next examine the distribution of target points used with the deterministic transport code HZETRN (High charge ( Z ) and Energy TRaNsport) to compute mass averaged exposure quantities. A numerical algorithm is presented and used to generate multiple point distributions of varying fidelity for many of the effective dose tissues identified in CAM, CAF, MAX, and FAX. The point distributions are used to compute mass averaged dose equivalent values under both a galactic cosmic ray (GCR) and solar particle event (SPE) environment impinging isotropically on three spherical aluminum shells with areal densities of 0.4 g/cm 2 , 2.0 g/cm 2 , and 10.0 g/cm 2 . The dose equivalent values are examined to identify a recommended set of target points for each of the tissues and to further assess the differences between CAM, CAF, MAX, and FAX. It is concluded that the previously published CAM and CAF point distributions were significantly under-sampled and that the set of point distributions presented here should be adequate for future studies involving CAM, CAF, MAX, or FAX. It is also found that the errors associated with the mass and location of certain tissues in CAM and CAF have a significant impact on the mass averaged dose equivalent values, and it is concluded that MAX and FAX are more accurate than CAM and CAF for space radiation analyses.
RESEARCH: Media Coverage of Controlled Substance Diversion Through Theft or Loss

ABSTRACT Objectives To determine the frequency of media reports of controlled substance diversion. Design Quantitative search of news articles from LexisNexis Academic, using search strings related to four different types of controlled substance diversion. Setting Not applicable. Patients or Participants Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Number of media reports about diversion of controlled substances at the prescriber or dispenser levels, through pharmacy robberies or thefts, and through hijackings or robberies of shipments. Results Media reports of controlled substance diversion indicate that theft and loss are important problems and that inappropriate prescribing and dispensing are substantial problems as well. Leaks of controlled substances from the closed system of distribution seem to be increasing as rapidly through theft and loss as through inappropriate prescribing and dispensing. During the five biennia between 1993 and 2002, these percentage increases in media reports were observed for the different types of diversion: 200% for prescribers; 350% for dispensers; 133% for pharmacy robberies and thefts; and 1,800% for thefts from shipping channels. Conclusion A balanced approach to the prevention of controlled substance diversion, aimed at reducing illicit acquisition of drugs from theft and loss as well as from prescribing and dispensing, may produce the greatest success without adversely affecting the quality of patient care.
Neonatal hypotonia and cardiomyopathy secondary to type IV glycogenosis

A neonate with deficiency of branching enzyme (glycogenosis type IV) presented symptoms of severe hypotonia pre- and postnatally, and dilated cardiomyopathy in early infancy. The classical clinical manifestation of liver cirrhosis was not present, although amylopectin-like inclusions were found in the hepatocytes. In contrast to a previous report, the neurons in the brain stem and spinal anterior horns contained PAS-positive, diastase-resistant deposits. The combined involvement of the muscles and motor neurones could account for the severity of hypotonia. The muscle biopsy, electromyogram and biochemical and enzyme assays were helpful in establishing the diagnosis.
Violence in College Students' Dating Relationships

In a survey of 504 college students examining predictors of violence in heterosexual relationships, over half of both men and women had committed at least one physically violent act, and men more often than women reported having been the victims of such acts. Most respondents who reported some experience with violence had both committed and received it, were involved in relatively few different types of violence, and first experienced violence when a relationship had moved beyond the casual dating stage. Modest associations between physical violence and sexual aggression were uncovered. In a series of discriminant analyses, men who abused their partners were not readily distinguished from men who did not, but tended to be young, low in family income, traditional in attitudes toward women, abused as children, currently living with a woman, and from Appalachian areas. Women who abused were more readily discriminated and scored low in social desirability, were abused as children, and were from non-Appalachian areas. Men who were abused were likely to be living with a woman and tended to be low in family income; similarly, cohabitation was related among women to being a target of violence, as were having been abused as a child and scoring low in social desirability. Findings are related to those of other studies of dating abuse, as well as to the family violence and aggression literatures.
Asymptotic Power of Tests of Linear Hypotheses Using the Probit and Logit Transformations

Abstract The statistic for testing the fit of a linear model, or the statistic for testing a linear hypothesis under the model, when using probits or logits, has a central χ2-distribution for large samples if the null hypothesis is true. If it is not true, the test statistic has, asymptotically, a non-central χ2-distribution with a non-centrality parameter that depends on the alternative hypothesis, the model, and the transformation. Non-Centrality parameters associated with tests of the two types of hypotheses are derived, and the non-centrality parameters of some tests of interest in bioassay when the response is quantal are derived as special cases. Possible applications are discussed and several numerical examples are given.
Comments on some axioms for combining expert judgments

Morris Morris, P. A. 1983. An axiomatic approach to expert resolution. Management Sci.29 24-32. develops an axiom system for combining expert judgments by means of a processing rule. It is shown that the axioms are self-contradictory.
Tools in the Riemannian geometry of quantum computation

An introduction is first given of recent developments in the Riemannian geometry of quantum computation in which the quantum evolution is represented in the tangent space manifold of the special unitary unimodular group for n qubits. The Riemannian right-invariant metric, connection, curvature, geodesic equation for minimal complexity quantum circuits, Jacobi equation, and the lifted Jacobi equation for varying penalty parameter are reviewed. Sharpened tools for calculating the geodesic derivative are presented. The geodesic derivative may facilitate the numerical investigation of conjugate points and the global characteristics of geodesic paths in the group manifold, the determination of optimal quantum circuits for carrying out a quantum computation, and the determination of the complexity of particular quantum algorithms.
Mechanisms and significance of pacemaker-induced extracardiac sound.

The frequency of pacemaker-induced extracardiac sound was studied in 26 patients with transvenous pacemakers and 2 with transthoracic units; mechanisms of this sound are described in 3 patients. In each case the extracardiac sound was associated with skeletal muscle contraction. In Case 1 intercostal muscle contraction was located at the site of a previously spliced transthoracic electrode wire, thereby suggesting stimulus leak. In Case 2 pacemaker-induced extracardiac sound developed at the site of an indifferent unipolar electrode, and the intensity of the sound was related to the output of the pacemaker generator. Pacemaker-induced extracardiac sound was detected in a third patient in whom a bipolar transvenous electrode was in apparent good position on routine chest roentgenogram. Right heart angiograms demonstrated that the catheter tip had perforated the right ventricular apex. The intensity of the sound appeared to be determined by the proximity of the electrode tip to the skeletal muscle as well as by the strength of the electrical stimulus.
The linear stability of a core–annular flow in an asymptotically corrugated tube

This paper examines the core–annular flow of two immiscible fluids in a straight circular tube with a small corrugation, in the limit where the ratio e of the mean undisturbed annulus thickness to the mean core radius and the corrugation (characterized by the parameter σ) are both asymptotically small and where the surface tension is small. It is motivated by the problems of liquid–liquid displacement in irregular rock pores such as occur in secondary oil recovery and in the evolution of the liquid film lining the bronchii in the lungs whose diameters vary over different generations of branching. We investigate the asymptotic base flow in this limit and consider the linear stability of its leading order (in the corrugation parameter) solution. For the chosen scalings of the non-dimensional parameters the core's base flow slaves that of the annulus. The equation governing the leading-order interfacial position for a given wall corrugation function shows a competition between shear and capillarity. The former tends to align the interface shape with that of the wall and the latter tends to introduce a phase shift, which can be of either sign depending on whether the circumferential or the longitudinal component of capillarity dominates. The asymptotic linear stability of this leading-order base flow reduces to a single partial differential equation with non-constant coefficients deriving from the non-uniform base flow for the time evolution of an interfacial disturbance. Examination of a single mode k wall function allows the use of Floquet theory to analyse this equation. Direct numerical solutions of the above partial differential equation agree with the predictions of the Floquet analysis. The resulting spectrum is periodic in α- space, α being the disturbance wavenumber space. The presence of a small corrugation not only modifies (at order σ2) the primary eigenvalue of the system. In addition, short-wave order-one disturbances that would be stabilized flowing to capillarity in the absence of corrugation can, in the presence of corrugation and over time scales of order ln(1/σ), excite higher wall harmonics (α±nk) leading to the growth of unstable long waves. Similar results obtain for more complicated wall shape functions. The main result is that a small corrugation makes a core–annular flow unstable to far more disturbances than would destabilize the same uncorrugated flow system. A companion paper examines that competition between this added destabilization due to pore corrugation with the wave steepening and stabilization in the weakly nonlinear regime.
The effects of moderately high temperature on zeaxanthin accumulation and decay

Moderately high temperature reduces photosynthetic capacities of leaves with large effects on thylakoid reactions of photosynthesis, including xanthophyll conversion in the lipid phase of the thylakoid membrane. In previous studies, we have found that leaf temperature of 40°C increased zeaxanthin accumulation in dark-adapted, intact tobacco leaves following a brief illumination, but did not change the amount of zeaxanthin in light-adatped leaves. To investigate heat effects on zeaxanthin accumulation and decay, zeaxanthin level was monitored optically in dark-adapted, intact tobacco and Arabidopsis thaliana leaves at either 23 or 40°C under 45-min illumination. Heated leaves had more zeaxanthin following 3-min light but had less or comparable amounts of zeaxanthin by the end of 45 min of illumination. Zeaxanthin accumulated faster at light initiation and decayed faster upon darkening in leaves at 40°C than leaves at 23°C, indicating that heat increased the activities of both violaxanthin de-epoxidase (VDE) and zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZE). In addition, our optical measurement demonstrated in vivo that weak light enhances zeaxanthin decay relative to darkness in intact leaves of tobacco and Arabidopsis, confirming previous observations in isolated spinach chloroplasts. However, the maximum rate of decay is similar for weak light and darkness, and we used the maximum rate of decay following darkness as a measure of the rate of ZE during steady-state light. A simulation indicated that high temperature should cause a large shift in the pH dependence of the amount of zeaxanthin in leaves because of differential effects on VDE and ZE. This allows for the reduction in ΔpH caused by heat to be offset by increased VDE activity relative to ZE.
Distribution of Auditory Response Behaviors in Normal Infants and Profoundly Multihandicapped Children

Responsiveness (yes/no decisions) to sound has been found to be similar for normal infants and profoundly multihandicapped children of comparable developmental ages (Flexer & Gans, 1985). The purpose of this investigation is to extend the comparison of these two groups by examining the distribution of their response behaviors to sound. Ten normal and 10 multihandicapped children were videotaped while various auditory signals were presented. Without knowledge of stimulus type, five judges listed the behaviors that occurred during 24 sound and 24 catch trials for each child. The behaviors were then evaluated as a function of the stimulus parameters of meaningfulness, bandwidth, and intensity. Results revealed that the profoundly multihandicapped children displayed relatively more reflexive than attentive type behaviors and exhibited fewer behaviors per response. The effects of stimulus-type on the numbers and distribution of responses are discussed.
The exponential method of angled derivatives

A hybrid numerical method is presented for a linear, first order, hyperbolic partial differential equation (PDE): the nonhomogeneous one-way advection-reaction equation. This PDE is first reduced to an ordinary differential equation (ODE) along a characteristic emanating backward in time from each mesh point. These ODEs are then integrated numerically using exponential fitting to advance in time thus permitting wide disparities in size among the coefficients. Such temporal integration requires a spatial interpolation procedure dependent upon the slope of the local characteristic. If the local Courant number is less than one then the interpolation is afforded by the exponential angled derivative method while if greater than one then the exponential reflected angled derivative approximation is employed. Otherwise, if the Courant number is transitioning through one then the exponential box scheme is employed. At the boundary, parabolic tracing of the characteristics provides a comparable level of accuracy. The net result is a three-level explicit method which is second-order accurate and unconditionally stable. The efficacy of this exponential method of angled derivatives (EMAD) scheme for singular perturbation problems is demonstrated numerically.
Extending the Strategy Based Risk Model: Application to the validation process for R&D satellites

The validation between a research and developmental (RD the effort is frequently underfunded and accomplished ad hoc. This leads to debate regarding how to best maintain budget and schedule, while ensuring on-orbit success. This paper examines several years of readiness and on-orbit activities within the U.S. Air Force Space Development and Test Wing's Research Development Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) Support Complex (RSC). Using this historical data together with subject matter experts, a validation process was first defined. Risks associated with this validation process were then analyzed using the Strategy Based Risk Model, evaluated based on the probability of occurrence and severity of impact. The validation process and associated costs were verified using the Delphi Method, obtaining consensus from a group of experts through a series of surveys. After compiling the results, we transformed the risk validation model into a simulation. A simulation is used to generate distributions of possible costs and risk outcomes and is analyzed in relation to impact events. Finally we applied the simulation to an on-going program, and gave it to two program managers to provide input on the usefulness of the simulation. This simulation will be distributed to program offices to support tailoring a validation plan based on their budget. The simulation will give decision makers insight into the expected risks and costs associated with the selected validation process, based on historical data and subject matter expertise.
Two new species of Rhynchospora (Cyperaceae) from Mexico

Two new species ofRhynchospora from Mexico are described and illustrated. The white-bractedR. oaxacana is clearly a member of subsectionLongibracteatae which is otherwise found only in South America. A key to all the species of that subsection is provided. The thickened achene summit and slightly sunken style base appear to placeR. durangensis in sectionHarveyae.
Dynamic changes in the membrane of leukocytic lysosomes detected with fluorescent probe and accompanied by release of lysosomal enzymes

Summary Fluorescent probe, 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate interacts with leukocytic lysosomes and provides a tool to detect dynamic changes in the lysosomal membrane involving hydrophobic interactions. Intensity of probe fluorescence was directly proportional to the concentration of lysosomes and faded when 5M guanidine known to disrupt hydrophobic interactions was added. Lowering the pH which freed active lysosomal marker enzymes, beta glucuronidase and beta N-acetylglucosaminidase, was accompanied by enhancement of the probe fluorescence steeply rising at pH 5.0 to reach almost 5-fold increase at pH 3.0. This enhancement of probe fluorescence was associated with the membrane of lysosomal particles and not with soluble lysosomal enzymes released from lysosomes to the ambient fluid.
The complete nucleotide sequence and genome organization of bean common mosaic virus (NL3 strain)

Abstract The nucleotide sequences of 3 cDNA clones corresponding to entire RNA genome of bean common mosaic virus NL3 strain have been determined. The RNA is 9612 nucleotides long, excluding a 3′-terminal poly(A) tail. A putative start codon located at nucleotide positions 170–172 initiates one large open reading frame that is terminated with a UAA codon at position 9368–9370. The predicted polyprotein has 3066 amino acids and an M r of 340.3 kDa. The positions of putative protein cleavage sites have been determined by analogy to consensus sequences in other potyviruses. The nucleotides sequences of the non-translated regions and the predicted amino acid sequences of BCMV NL3 were compared with those of other potyviruses. Comparison of the BCMV NL3 proteins with those of other potyviruses indicated a similar genomic organization, and high percentage of amino acid sequence identity in the cylindrical inclusion protein, nuclear inclusion ‘b’ protein and coat protein. BCMV NL3 displays the highest amino acid sequence identity with soybean mosaic virus.
Gradient-based genetic algorithms in image registration

Two modifications of Genetic algorithm (GA) are proposed that employ gradient analysis of the fitness function and are integrated with the main genetic procedure. Combination of the relative weighted error factor and adaptive size of the mutation pool accelerates convergence of the iterative process and indicates When the global optimum um solution is found. Local gradient correction of the initial pool during interactions refines the search procedure. Computational experiments show that both modifications can increase efficiency of GA when they are applied to an image registration problem.
Ordered and reliable multicast communication

Multicasting (sending a message to a subset of sites in a network) has become a popular mechanism of interprocess communication in distributed systems. Many applications (e.g., distributed databases) require that a message be transmitted to multiple processes. One indisputably desirable quality of any type of message transmission is reliability. A message that is sent from process A to process B should indeed arrive. Even better, it should arrive within a reasonable amount of time. For distributed applications, it is also often desirable for multidestination messages to arrive at the destination processes in a consistent order. In a database application, if update requests are headed to two destinations with copies of the data, delivering the requests in the same order at both destinations helps maintain consistency. This is just one example of how consistent message delivery simplifies distributed applications. In this thesis, we consider enhancing multicast communication by providing ordering and reliability properties. We present an algorithm, the propagation graph algorithm, that guarantees a strong ordering property: multiple group ordering. Experimental analysis of the propagation graph technique demonstrates that it is efficient compared to other solutions and exhibits a clear load/delay tradeoff. We also present several types of reliability that multicast ordering algorithms can provide. We address how to achieve these types of reliability with the propagation graph algorithm. Further, we clarify the issue of reliability by presenting a formal model of message ordering and by presenting formal definitions of reliability properties. These properties are then applied to the propagation graph solution.
The positions of radical intermediates in the active sites of adenosylcobalamin-dependent enzymes.

The radical intermediates generated during the catalytic cycles of adenosylcobalamin-dependent enzymes occur in pairs. The positions of radicals residing on the cofactor, substrate or protein, relative to the position of the low-spin Co2+ from the cob(II)alamin intermediate, can be extracted from electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of the spin-coupled pairs. Examples of radical–Co2+ pairs that span a range of interspin distances from 3 to 13 A have been presented. Interspin distances greater than 5 A require motion of one or more of the participating species. EPR spectroscopy provides a convenient means to determine the structures of these transient intermediates.
Carbon nanotube-based electrochemical sensor for assay of salivary cholinesterase enzyme activity: an exposure biomarker of organophosphate pesticides and nerve agents.

Certain saliva enzymes may be useful biomarkers for detecting exposures to organophosphate pesticides and chemical nerve agents. In this regard, saliva biomonitoring offers a simple and noninvasive approach for rapidly evaluating those exposures in real time. An electrochemical sensor coupled with a microflow injection system was developed for a simple, rapid, and sensitive characterization of cholinesterase (ChE) enzyme activities in rat saliva. The electrochemical sensor is based on a carbon nanotube (CNT)-modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPE), which is integrated into a flow cell. Because of the excellent electrocatalytic activity of the CNTs, the sensor can detect electroactive species that are produced from enzymatic reactions with extremely high sensitivity and at low potentials. The electrochemical properties of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymatic products were studied using a CNT-modified SPE, and the operation parameters such as the applied potential and substrate concentration were op...
Communication Scholars' Communication and Relationship with their IRBs

Using grounded theory, 57 narratives of communication scholars detailing their experiences and relationships with institutional review boards (IRBs) were examined. From this analysis, 24 concepts emerged constituting five larger categories characterizing the communication relationship between communication scholars and IRBs: antagonistic actions of IRBs, negative perceptions of IRBs, actions of researchers, positive perceptions of IRBs, and protagonistic actions of IRBs. Results indicate that the main difference between positive and negative experiences with IRBs was associated with the nature of the relationship between scholars and IRBs. Scholars who saw their IRBs as adversarial bureaucracies had the most negative experiences, whereas scholars who saw their IRBs as partners in the research process had the most positive experiences. Recommendations for how both IRBs and researchers can improve their relationships conclude this essay.
NEW CONCEPTS OF HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN EXPERIMENTAL AUGMENTATION CYSTOPLASTY: INSIGHTS INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEOPLASTIC TRANSFORMATION AT THE ENTEROVESICAL AND GASTROVESICAL ANASTOMOSIS

AbstractPurpose: To our knowledge the pathogenesis of malignancy associated with ileal cystoplasty, ureterosigmoidostomy and ileal conduits is currently unknown. To gain further insights into the mechanism of neoplastic transformation we studied histological changes in a canine augmentation cystoplasty model.Materials and Methods: Enterocystoplasty and gastrocystoplasty were performed using a 5 to 7 cm. patch of ileum in 8 dogs and gastric antrum in 6. Specimens were harvested 4 months postoperatively. Representative 3 micro m. sections of the enterovesical and gastrovesical junctions were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Uroplakin expression was assessed using an indirect peroxidase method subjected to double staining with alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff reagent.Results: The bladder portion of the augmentation cystoplasty had 3 to 4 stratified cell layers covered with a distinctive umbrella cell layer. Strong uroplakin staining was visible in all cell layers except the basal layer. At the enterov...
The tumor suppressor DAL-1/4.1B and protein methylation cooperate in inducing apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Background DAL-1 (Differentially Expressed in Adenocarcinoma of the Lung)/4.1B is a member of the protein 4.1 superfamily that has been shown to suppress growth in lung, breast and brain tumor cells. In the case of the caspase-3 deficient MCF-7 breast cancer cells, this growth suppression has been shown to be partially mediated by the induction of apoptosis. However the exact mechanism of action of DAL-1/4.1B is unknown. Recently, protein arginine N-methyltransferase 3 (PRMT3) was identified as a DAL-1/4.1B interacting protein. Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) posttranslationally methylate the arginine residues of proteins, a modification which has been implicated in the regulation of multiple cellular processes including nuclear-cytoplasmic transport, signal transduction, and transcription.
Augmenting a Hierarchical Classifier for Hyperspectral Data by Exploiting Spatial Correlation

Classification of hyperspectral data is a challenging problem because of the large dimensionality of data involved and non-binary nature of input classes. Most current methods do not consider the continuity of geographical features. In this work, augmenting the feature set of a pixel by appending data from its spatial neighborhood is experimentally seen to improve performance. Random projection achieves processing speedup with acceptable accuracy. Using both techniques together, we demonstrate an improvement in both accuracy and time characteristics of a binary hierarchical classifier.
An Open, Interoperable, and Scalable Prehospital Information Technology Network Architecture

AbstractSome of the most intractable challenges in prehospital medicine include response time optimization, inefficiencies at the emergency medical services (EMS)–emergency department (ED) interface, and the ability to correlate field interventions with patient outcomes. Information technology (IT) can address these and other concerns by ensuring that system and patient information is received when and where it is needed, is fully integrated with prior and subsequent patient information, and is securely archived. Some EMS agencies have begun adopting information technologies, such as wireless transmission of 12-lead electrocardiograms, but few agencies have developed a comprehensive plan for management of their prehospital information and integration with other electronic medical records. This perspective article highlights the challenges and limitations of integrating IT elements without a strategic plan, and proposes an open, interoperable, and scalable prehospital information technology (PHIT) architec...
A Descriptive Analysis of Referral Sources for Gifted Identification Screening by Race and Socioeconomic Status

A dataset containing demographic information, gifted nomination status, and gifted identification status for all elementary school students in the state of Georgia (N = 705,074) was examined. The results indicated that automatic and teacher referrals were much more valuable than other referral sources. Asian and White students were much more likely to be nominated than Black or Hispanic students. Students receiving free or reduced-price lunches were much less likely to be nominated than students paying for their own lunches. The results suggest that inequalities in nomination, rather than assessment, may be the primary source of the underrepresentation of minority and low-SES students in gifted programs.
Landscape Corridors Promote Long-Distance Seed Dispersal by Birds During Winter but Not During Summer at an Experimentally Fragmented Restoration Site

In fragmented landscapes, plant population persistence and community diversity can hinge upon plants dispersing seeds long distances between isolated patches of habitat. Landscape corridors, which connect otherwise isolated patches, have been shown to increase seed dispersal by birds moving between patch fragments. However, because bird behaviors change seasonally, the strength of this “corridor effect” may also change. We assessed the utility of corridors for promoting seed dispersal by birds during both summer and winter in a well-replicated corridor experiment conducted in early successional longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) savannah habitat at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, USA. We used a single species of bird-dispersed fruiting plant, American black nightshade (Solanum americanum), and controlled the timing and number of fruits available to birds during summer and winter. Corridors increased long-distance seed dispersal during winter but not during summer, indicating that the effectiveness of corridors for promoting long-distance seed dispersal can depend upon plant reproductive timing and seasonal differences in bird movement. A better understanding of the seasonality of plant-animal interactions will permit better predictions about whether and how corridors provide connectivity for plants.
Personality and specialty interest in medical students

Background: Research on the relationship between personality and specialty interest is important because of its implications in student career counseling and in forecasting future specialty distribution.Aim: This study was designed to test the following hypotheses: 1. Students interested in ‘surgical’ specialties would obtain higher scores on a measure of ‘impulsive sensation seeking’ and lower scores on a measure of ‘neuroticism-anxiety’. 2. Students interested in ‘hospital-based’ specialties would score lower on a measure of ‘sociability’ whereas those interested in ‘primary care’ would score higher on this measure. In addition to these two hypotheses, gender differences on personality were also examined.Method: Study participants were 1,076 students who matriculated at Jefferson Medical College between 2002 to 2006. A short version of the Zuckerman–Kuhlman personality questionnaire (ZKPQ) measuring five personality factors of ‘impulsive sensation Seeking’, ‘neuroticism–anxiety’, ‘aggression-hostility’,...
FX Market Behavior and Valuation

Lecture notes for a short course on FX option valuation. Includes: - Mathematical framework for FX valuation - Handling the smile and term structure for vanilla options (calls and puts): --- Interpolation issues and techniques --- Handling business time --- Handling market conventions - Pricing of barrier options: --- Attention to the joints along with the marginals --- Barrier option pricing models ------ Black-Scholes ------ Vanna-volga ------ Semi-static hedging ------ Stochastic volatility - the Heston model ------ Local volatility ------ Stochastic local volatility ------ Random risk reversal model - Hedging performance as a measure of model quality.
Short-term response of hip mobilizations and exercise in individuals with chronic low back pain: a case series

Study design: A case series of consecutive patients with chronic low back pain. Background and purpose: In patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), the importance of impairments at the hip joints is unclear. However, it has been postulated that impairments at the hip joints may contribute to CLBP. The purpose of this case series was to investigate the short-term outcomes in patients with CLBP managed with impairment-based manual therapy and exercise directed at the hip joints. Methods: Eight consecutive patients (mean age: 43.9 years) with a primary report of CLBP (.6 months) without radiculopathy were treated with a standardized approach of manual physical therapy and exercise directed at bilateral hip impairments for a total of three sessions over approximately 1 week. At initial examination, all patients completed a numeric rating pain scale (NPRS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ), and patient-specific functional scale (PSFS). At the second and third treatment sessions, each patient completed all outcome measures as well as the Global Rating of Change (GROC). Results: Five of the eight (62.5%) patients reported ‘moderately better’ or higher (.z4) on the GROC at the third session, indicating a moderate improvement in self-reported symptoms. These five individuals also experienced a 24.4% reduction in ODI scores. Discussion: This case series suggests that an impairment-based approach directed at the hip joints may lead to improvements in pain, function, and disability in patients with CLBP. A neurophysiologic mechanism may be a plausible explanation regarding the clinical outcomes of this study. A larger, well-controlled trial is needed to determine the potential effectiveness of this approach with patients with CLBP.
Apoptosis Induced by Infection of Primary Brain Cultures with Diverse Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Isolates: Evidence for a Role of the Envelope

Apoptosis of neurons and astrocytes is induced by human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) infection in vitro and has been demonstrated in brain tissue from patients with AIDS. We analyzed a panel of diverse HIV-1 primary isolates for the ability to replicate and induce neuronal and astrocyte apoptosis in primary human brain cultures. Apoptosis was induced three- to eightfold by infection with the blood-derived HIV-1 isolates 89.6, SG3, and ADA. In contrast, the brain-derived HIV-1 isolates YU2, JRFL, DS-br, RC-br, and KJ-br did not induce significant levels of apoptosis. The ability of HIV-1 isolates to induce apoptosis was independent of their replication capacity. Studies of recombinant chimeras between the SG3 and YU2 viruses showed that replacement of the YU2 Env with the SG3 Env was sufficient to confer the ability to induce apoptosis to the YU2 virus. Replacement of the Env V3 regions alone largely conferred the phenotypes of the parental clones. The SG3 Env used CXCR4 and CCR3 as coreceptors for virus entry, whereas YU2 used CCR5 and CCR3. The V3 regions of SG3 and YU2 conferred the ability to use CXCR4 and CCR5, respectively. In contrast, the 3′ region of Env, particularly the C3V4 region, was required in conjunction with the V3 region for efficient use of CCR3. These results provide evidence that Env is a major determinant of neurodegenerative mechanisms associated with HIV-1 infection in vitro and raise the possibility that blood-derived viruses which emerge during the late stages of disease may affect disease progression in the central nervous system.
CT characteristics of metastatic disease of the pancreas.

Contrast material-enhanced computed tomographic (CT) scans obtained over a 10-year period in 66 patients with metastases to the pancreas were retrospectively reviewed. The primary tumors most commonly responsible for these metastases were renal cell carcinoma (30.3%) and bronchogenic carcinoma (22.7%). Metastases showed no predilection for any particular part of the pancreas. The majority (75.8%) of metastases appeared as tumors with discrete margins, and most of these tumors were round or ovoid with smooth borders. Over three-fourths of the lesions demonstrated enhancement (usually heterogeneous). Vascular involvement was uncommon. In those patients in whom pancreatic metastases were discovered some time after the primary tumor was identified, the interval ranged from 2 to 295 months, with the longest mean interval (120.2 months) being associated with metastatic tumors from renal cell carcinoma. The appearance of these tumors at CT--predominantly hyperattenuating masses, often with nonenhancing internal ...
Robust optical eye detection during head movement

Finding the eye(s) in an image is a critical first step in a remote gaze-tracking system with a working volume large enough to encompass head movements occurring during normal user behavior. We briefly review an optical method which exploits the retroreflective properties of the eye, and present a novel method for combining difference images to reject motion artifacts. Best performance is obtained when a curvature operator is used to enhance punctate features, and search is restricted to a neighborhood about the last known location. Optimal setting of the size of this neighborhood is aided by a statistical model of naturally-occurring head movements; we present head-movement statistics mined from a corpus of around 800 hours of video, collected in a team-performance experiment.
Validation and cross-validation of a scale of self-reported personal experiences which predicts hypnotizability.

(1962). Validation and Cross-Validation of a Scale of Self-Reported Personal Experiences which Predicts Hypnotizability. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 53, No. 1, pp. 55-75.
Single error-correcting codes for asymmetric binary channels

In a highly-asymmetric binary channel it may be necessary to correct only those errors which result from incorrect transmission of one of the two code elements. Minimum weight-distance relationships and rules for generating single-error correcting codes in such situations are given. More code characters are generally obtained for a given character length than are obtained with codes designed for single-error correction in symmetric channels. Examples are given, including one which specifies the code which results in the highest average probability of correct transmission of equiprobable messages through a highly-asymmetric channel.
Preferred speeds in terrestrial vertebrates: are they equivalent?

Terrestrial animals have ‘preferred speeds’ within each gait, that are used much more frequently than others for moving along the ground. Energy costs reach minimal values at these speeds within each gait. In this study we asked whether these speeds are mechanically equivalent among different animals (i.e. speeds where the same levels of peak muscle stress occur). If so, this would help in establishing a link between the energetics and the mechanics of the active muscles at these speeds, providing a first step in understanding why energy costs are minimal. We also asked whether peak muscle stress reaches a similar fraction of the maximal isometric stress at these speeds. If so, this would suggest that muscles are structured so that a similar reserve capacity remains, with a similar safety factor for avoidance of injury in response to prolonged repetitive loading. We compared two species that use quite different locomotory methods at their preferred speeds: white rats that gallop and kangaroo rats that hop. We measured peak stress in the ankle extensor muscles of these two species, as they moved at their preferred speeds, using a force platform/cine analysis technique. We also measured the maximum isometric force that this muscle group could develop in situ in the same individuals. We found the ankle extensors of white rats and kangaroo rats developed virtually identical levels of peak stress at their preferred speeds (70 +/− 6 kPa and 69 +/− 6 kPa, respectively, mean +/− S.E.), despite a fourfold difference in peak ground reaction force per unit body mass exerted on each limb. The values of peak isometric stress in situ were also virtually identical (206 +/− 17 kPa and 200 +/− 9 kPa, respectively). Our finding that the peak muscle stress is about one-third of maximum isometric stress at the preferred speeds is consistent with the idea that these are mechanically equivalent speeds, where the same fraction of available muscle fibres is recruited. Finding nearly identical values in two species that move in such different ways (galloping vs hopping), and have such large differences in ground reaction force exerted by each limb, suggests this may be true more generally for terrestrial vertebrates.
Coordination chemistry routes to films for superconducting electronics

This contribution surveys the design, synthesis, characterization, and implementation of volatile metal-organic coordination complexes for the MOCVD (metal-organic chemical vapor deposition) growth of thin films of high temperature superconductors, lattice-matched dielectrics, and electro-optic materials. The central focus is on fluorinated and fluorine-free P-diketonate and P-ketoiminate complexes. Target materials include the YBCO (YBa2Cu307-6), BSCCO (Bi2Sr2Can- 1Cun05+(2n1)+6) and TBCCO (T12Ba2Can-lCun05+(2n-1)+6) superconducting phases as well as YAlO3, NdGa03, PrGaO3, BaPbO3, BaTi03, and Sr2MTaOg.
Regularity Near a Contact Point for Flame Propagation

In this paper we study a free boundary problem, arising from a model for the propagation of laminar flames. Consider a cylindrical region S in ℝ n , and the following free boundary problem with Dirichlet data on ∂ S: u t = Δ u in {u > 0} ∩ S, |∇ u|=1 on ∂ {u > 0} ∩ S and u = 0 on ∂ S. We show that if there is a contact point of the free boundary {u = 0, |∇ u|=1} with ∂ S, then the free boundary approaches ∂ S tangentially and it turns out to be a graph of C 1+α, α function near the contact point. In particular, the space normal is Holder continuous.
The structure of the FERM domain of merlin, the neurofibromatosis type 2 gene product.

Neurofibromatosis type 2 is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by central nervous system tumors. The cause of the disease has been traced to mutations in the gene coding for a protein that is alternately called merlin or schwannomin and is a member of the ERM family (ezrin, radixin and moesin). The ERM proteins link the cytoskeleton to the cell membrane either directly through integral membrane proteins or indirectly through membrane-associated proteins. In this paper, the expression, purification, crystallization and crystal structure of the N-terminal domain of merlin are described. The crystals exhibit the symmetry of space group P212121, with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The recorded diffraction pattern extends to 1.8 A resolution. The structure was solved by the molecular-replacement method and the model was refined to a conventional R value of 19.3% (Rfree = 22.7%). The N-terminal domain of merlin closely resembles those described for the corresponding domains in moesin and radixin and exhibits a cloverleaf architecture with three distinct subdomains. The structure allows a better rationalization of the impact of selected disease-causing mutations on the integrity of the protein.
Outcomes of adolescents and adults undergoing primary Fontan procedure.

Patients who have undergone the Fontan procedure in later adolescence and adulthood represent a unique population at risk for significant morbidity and mortality. The optimal strategy for long-term management of such patients is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes of patients who had undergone Fontan surgery later in life, focusing on late survivorship, mode of death, and predictors of mortality. Eighty-eight patients were identified who had their initial Fontan operation from 1973 to 2007 at ≥15 years of age. A standardized tiered contact protocol was followed to capture the recent health status of each patient; the probability of survival was 83%, 71%, and 66% at 5, 10, and 15 years of follow-up, respectively. Despite focused efforts, the modes of death were not available in 48% of the patients. A prolonged intensive care unit stay at the time of operation was the single predictor of mortality (p = 0.0123). In conclusion, this investigation highlights the significant mortality that exists in patients who undergo a Fontan procedure later in life and the difficulties in achieving standardized medical follow-up for this high-risk group of patients.
Reduction of Np(VI) in irradiated solutions of nitric acid

The reliable separation of neptunium from dissolved nuclear fuel assumes the ability to maintain a preferred oxidation state. However, regardless of its initial redox speciation, a series of reactions occurs in nitric acid to create a mixture of oxidation states including Np(V), Np(VI) and sometimes Np(IV). To further complicate the situation, irradiated solutions such as fuel dissolution contain both transient and long-lived radiolysis products which may be strongly oxidizing or reducing. Thus, irradiation may be expected to impact the equilibrium distributions of the various neptunium valences.We have irradiated nitric acid solutions of neptunium with 60 Co gamma-rays, and measured radiolytically-induced changes in neptunium valences, as well as the nitrous acid concentration, by UV/Vis spectroscopy. It was found that in 4M HNO3 at low absorbed doses, the oxidizing radicals oxidized Np(V) to Np(VI). However, as the irradiation proceeded the concentration of nitrous acid became sufficient to reduce Np(VI) to Np(V), and then continued irradiation favored this reduction until an equilibrium was achieved in balance with the oxidation of Np(V) by nitric acid itself. The starting abundances of the two neptunium valences did not affect the final equilibrium concentrations of Np(V) and Np(VI), and no Np(IV) was detected.
Sui‐Tang China and Its Turko‐Mongol Neighbors: Culture, Power, and Connections, 580–800. By Jonathan Karam Skaff. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2012. Pp. xix, 400. $85.00.)

Many people should read this fascinating, richly documented, and theoretically informed work of comparative Eurasian history. Jonathan Skaff argues that medieval states based in North China and Mon...