cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What Lives Where & Why? Understanding Biodiversity through Geospatial Exploration

Using an interactive map-based PDF, students learn key concepts related to biodiversity while developing data-analysis and critical-thinking skills. The Bird Island lesson provides students with experience in translating geospatial data into bar graphs, then interpreting these graphs to compare biodiversity across ecoregions on a fictional island. When the lesson is extended to include real data for Puerto Rico, students can explore distributions of selected bird species based on environmental attributes, making connections between each species’ adaptations, habitat requirements, and distribution across the island. This introductory lesson provides a jumping-off point for field and Web-based biodiversity investigations.
ALAN: A (Circuit-Switched) Local Area Network

Our view is that people (that is, programmers and general computer users) tend to work together in small groups, where information and resources are shared freely within a group. Most interactions occur within the group (called a cluster)-sending messages, exchanging data, sharing a printer. Communication outside the cluster-sending mail to someone in another group or using a large number cruncher-is comparalively rare. Under this hypothesis, it is advantageous to optimize and simplify interactions within the group. This paper describes our attempt to design a cluster network based on a nonblocking crosspoint switch, which we call ALAN (a local area net). ALAN clusters are star-connected-with intelligent workstation nodes (PC's) at the points of the star, and the ALAN switch at the center.
Natural history of renal cortical neoplasms during active surveillance with follow-up longer than 5 years.

Objectives To present our experience with patients who elected active surveillance for renal cortical neoplasms (RCNs) with ≥5 years of follow-up. Few data are available regarding the long-term natural history of RCNs during surveillance. Methods We retrospectively reviewed our urologic oncology database and identified 44 patients with 51 RCNs who had received active surveillance for >5 years of follow-up. The patient and tumor characteristics and tumor growth rate and overall survival data were evaluated. Results The median patient age was 71.7 years (range 55-92), with 32 patients (72.7%) having a Charlson comorbidity index of ≥2. The median tumor size was 2.67 cm (range 0.9-8.6) at diagnosis. Biopsy was performed in 17 patients (38.6%). Of these 17 patients, clear cell renal cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 15 and papillary renal cell carcinoma in 2 patients. The median follow-up was 77.1 months (range 60-137), and the median growth rate was 0.15 cm/y. Of these patients, 2 (4.5%) required delayed intervention. One underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy because of a high tumor growth rate, and one elected to withdraw from active surveillance because of personal anxiety, despite having a stable tumor size for 72 months. The latter patient underwent laparoscopic renal cryoablation. Histopathologic examination revealed clear cell renal cell carcinoma in both cases. No metastases or cancer-related deaths occurred in our cohort; 1 patient died of cardiovascular disease. Conclusions Most RCNs undergoing surveillance for >5 years grew slowly. The metastatic potential appeared minimal in patients who demonstrated low or absent tumor growth for a long period.
Purification and Partial Characterization of Maize (Zea mays L.) β-Glucosidase

Maize (Zea mays L.) beta-glucosidase (beta-d-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.21) was extracted from the coleoptiles of 5- to 6-day-old maize seedlings with 50 millimolar sodium acetate, pH 5.0. The pH of the extract was adjusted to 4.6, and most of the contaminating proteins were cryoprecipitated at 0 degrees C for 24 hours. The pH 4.6 supernatant from cryoprecipitation was further fractionated by chromatography on an Accell CM column using a 4.8 to 6.8 pH gradient of 50 millimolar sodium acetate, which yielded the enzyme in two homogeneous, chromatographically different fractions. Purified enzyme was characterized with respect to subunit molecular weight, isoelectric point, amino acid composition, NH(2)-terminal amino acid sequence, pH and temperature optima, thermostability, and activity and stability in the presence of selected reducing agents, metal ions, and alkylating agents. The purified enzyme has an estimated subunit molecular mass of 60 kilodaltons, isoelectric point at pH 5.2, and pH and temperature optima at 5.8 and 50 degrees C, respectively. The amino acid composition data indicate that the enzyme is rich in Glx and Asx, the sum of which approaches 25%. The sequence of the first 20 amino acids in the N-terminal region was H(2)N-Ser-Ala-Arg-Val-Gly-Ser-Gln-Asn-Gly-Val-Gln-Met-Leu-Ser-Pro-(Ser?) -Glu-Ile-Pro-Gln, and it shows no significant similarity to other proteins with known sequence. The enzyme is extremely stable at 0 to 4 degrees C up to 1 year but loses activity completely at and above 55 degrees C in 10 minutes. Likewise, the enzyme is stable in the presence of or after treatment with 500 millimolar 2-mercaptoethanol, and it is totally inactivated at 2000 millimolar 2-mercaptoethanol. Such metal ions as Hg(2+) and Ag(+) reversibly inhibit the enzyme at micromolar concentrations, and inhibition could be completely overcome by adding 2-mercaptoethanol at molar excess of the inhibitory metal ion. The alkylating agents iodoacetic acid and iodoacetamide irreversibly inactivate the enzyme and such inactivation is accelerated in the presence of urea.
Measurement of Vascular Response within the Foot Using Dynamic Diffuse Optical Tomography

We present case studies using dynamic diffuse optical tomographic imaging to view the vascular perfusion of patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease with and without calcifications as well as a healthy control group.
Honokiol blocks and reverses cardiac hypertrophy in mice by activating mitochondrial Sirt3

Honokiol (HKL) is a natural biphenolic compound derived from the bark of magnolia trees with anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-tumour and neuroprotective properties. Here we show that HKL blocks agonist-induced and pressure overload-mediated, cardiac hypertrophic responses, and ameliorates pre-existing cardiac hypertrophy, in mice. Our data suggest that the anti-hypertrophic effects of HKL depend on activation of the deacetylase Sirt3. We demonstrate that HKL is present in mitochondria, enhances Sirt3 expression nearly twofold and suggest that HKL may bind to Sirt3 to further increase its activity. Increased Sirt3 activity is associated with reduced acetylation of mitochondrial Sirt3 substrates, MnSOD and oligomycin-sensitivity conferring protein (OSCP). HKL-treatment increases mitochondrial rate of oxygen consumption and reduces ROS synthesis in wild type, but not in Sirt3-KO cells. Moreover, HKL-treatment blocks cardiac fibroblast proliferation and differentiation to myofibroblasts in a Sirt3-dependent manner. These results suggest that HKL is a pharmacological activator of Sirt3 capable of blocking, and even reversing, the cardiac hypertrophic response.
Effects of laser radiation on photoconductivity in PZT thin films

Excitation photocurrent spectroscopy (EPS) was used to record photoconductivity from 200 to 600 nm for a Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3 (PZT) thin film. Four spectral bands at 262, 338, and 428/472 nm were obs...
Missing the Mark: The Image of the Social Work Profession in an African-American Community

This exploratory study used a project-developed questionnaire to examine the perceptions of members of an African-American community (N = 102) regarding the social work profession and its commitment to issues pertinent to African-Americans. The results suggested that while the African-American respondents felt that social workers could be a source of help, a considerable amount of the respondents reported that they did not see social workers as being helpful or sensitive to the needs of African-Americans. The results of this study have implications for social work practitioners and educators.
Revascularization of a thrombosed aortopulmonary shunt with the use of the AngioJet thrombectomy system

We report the use of the AngioJet F140 rheolytic catheter to recannalize an acutely thrombosed aortopulmonary shunt in a 21-year-old female with palliated, complex congenital heart disease. After extracting the thrombus that filled the entire length of the shunt, three stents were placed at sites where the lumen was compromised by distortion or thrombus. Unobstructed flow was restored to the left pulmonary artery that persisted at 1-year follow-up.
Clear Cell Ovarian Carcinoma Following Long-Term Tamoxifen Use.

▪Abstract: A case of clear cell ovarian cancer and endometriosis in a postmenopausal patient following adjuvant tamoxifen for breast cancer is presented. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the tumor to be positive for progesterone receptor protein but not estrogen receptor protein; the endometriosis was positive for both proteins. Literature review reveals this to be the first report of both clear cell ovarian cancer and endometriosis following tamoxifen use, and the third report of epithelial ovarian cancer associated with tamoxifen. ▪
Increased Neurogenesis in Dentate Gyrus of Long-Lived Ames Dwarf Mice

Neurogenesis occurs throughout adult life in the dentate gyrus of mammalian hippocampus and has been suggested to play an important role in cognitive function. Multiple trophic factors including IGF-I have been demonstrated to regulate hippocampal neurogenesis. Ames dwarf mice live considerably longer than normal animals and maintain physiological function at youthful levels, including cognitive function, despite a deficiency of circulating GH and IGF-I. Here we show an increase in numbers of newly generated cells [bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) positive] and newborn neurons (neuronal nuclear antigen and BrdU positive) in the dentate gyrus of adult dwarf mice compared with normal mice using BrdU labeling. Despite the profound suppression of hippocampal GH expression, hippocampal IGF-I protein levels are up-regulated and the corresponding mRNAs are as high in Ames dwarf as in normal mice. Our results suggest that local/hippocampal IGF-I expression may have induced the increase in hippocampal neurogenesis, and increased neurogenesis might contribute to the maintenance of youthful levels of cognitive function during aging in these long-lived animals.
Reconciliation of the measurement of parity nonconservation in Cs with the standard model

Contributions from the Breit interaction in atomic structure calculations account for 1.3{sigma} of the previously reported 2.5{sigma} deviation from the standard model in the {sup 133}Cs weak charge [S. C. Bennett and C. E. Wieman, Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 2484 (1999)]. The updated corrections for the neutron distribution reduce the discrepancy further to 1.0{sigma} . The updated value of the weak charge is Q{sub W}({sup 133}Cs)=-72.65(28){sub exp} {sub t}(34){sub theor} . (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.
Fluctuations in the response to light of visual neurones in Limulus.

A deterministic spike generating model accounts very well for the properties of the impulse rate fluctuations in Limulus eccentric cells.
Ideology, ethics, and philosophical discourse in eighteenth century Iran

Intellectual biography as a discipline assumes that the life and thought of an individual can shed light on an epoch. In some cases such a claim is justified, especially where the epoch is obscure and the thinker genuinely representative of the culture of a profession in a city or region. I shall argue the validity of this principle with regard to eighteenth century west-central Iran and Mohammad Mehdi Niraqi (d. 1794), a prominent Imami Shi'i religious scholar who wrote prolifically and authored a huge three-volume work on ethics. Most of his voluminous writing remains in manuscript, but enterprising scholars in Najaf published the book on ethics, Jami' as-sa'ddat (Compendium of Happiness), and it has recently been reissued in Beirut.'
Synergistic and Multidimensional Regulation of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type 1 Expression by Transforming Growth Factor Type β and Epidermal Growth Factor

The major physiological inhibitor of plasminogen activator, type I plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), controls blood clotting and tissue remodeling events that involve cell migration. Transforming growth factor type β (TGFβ) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) interact synergistically to increase PAI-1 mRNA and protein levels in human HepG2 and mink Mv1Lu cells. Other growth factors that activate tyrosine kinase receptors can substitute for EGF. EGF and TGFβ regulate PAI-1 by synergistically activating transcription, which is further amplified by a decrease in the rate of mRNA degradation, the latter being regulated only by EGF. The combined effect of transcriptional activation and mRNA stabilization results in a rapid 2-order of magnitude increase in the level of PAI-1. TGFβ also increases the sensitivity of the cells to EGF, thereby recruiting the cooperation of EGF at lower than normally effective concentrations. The contribution of EGF to the regulation of PAI-1 involves the MAPK pathway, and the synergistic interface with the TGFβ pathway is downstream of MEK1/2 and involves phosphorylation of neither ERK1/2 nor Smad2/3. Synergism requires the presence of both Smad and AP-1 recognition sites in the promoter. This work demonstrates the existence of a multidimensional cellular mechanism by which EGF and TGFβ are able to promote large and rapid changes in PAI-1 expression.
Blood borne vasoconstrictor lowers ratio of prostaglandin I2 to other products formed from arachidonate

Abstract The effects of a blood borne vasoconstrictor on prostaglandin synthesis by microsomal enzyme preparations from rat aorta, heart and stomach fundus were determined. The principle product formed from arachidonate by these preparations in the absence of added vasoactive factor was prostaglandin I2 (as measured by recovery of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α). Addition of vasoactive factor stimulated overall prostaglandin synthesis and also reduced the ratio of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α to other products. No correlation was found between factor induced increases in overall synthesis and changes in this ratio. However, the factor produced a ratio which was specific for each tissue. The further the initial ratio of a preparation was from its tissue specific level, the greater the effect of the factor. Blood free tissues contained considerable factor activity. Hence the variations in ratios in the absence of exogenous factor could be due to the presence of endogenous factor contaminating the preparations. Indomethacin not only inhibited overall prostaglandin synthesis but also increased the ratio of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α to other products. Both these effects of indomethacin were counteracted by addition of exogenous factor. These results provide evidence that, in addition to their effects on the cyclooxygenase reaction, the factor and indomethacin interact a the second site; one involved in the change in ratio of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α to other products.
Solid state laser applications in photovoltaics manufacturing

Photovoltaic energy conversion devices are on a rapidly accelerating growth path driven by increasing government and societal pressure to use renewable energy as part of an overall strategy to address global warming attributed to greenhouse gas emissions. Initially supported in several countries by generous tax subsidies, solar cell manufacturers are relentlessly pushing the performance/cost ratio of these devices in a quest to reach true cost parity with grid electricity. Clearly this eventual goal will result in further acceleration in the overall market growth. Silicon wafer based solar cells are currently the mainstay of solar end-user installations with a cost up to three times grid electricity. But next-generation technology in the form of thin-film devices promises streamlined, high-volume manufacturing and greatly reduced silicon consumption, resulting in dramatically lower per unit fabrication costs. Notwithstanding the modest conversion efficiency of thin-film devices compared to wafered silicon products (around 6-10% versus 15-20%), this cost reduction is driving existing and start-up solar manufacturers to switch to thin-film production. A key aspect of these devices is patterning large panels to create a monolithic array of series-interconnected cells to form a low current, high voltage module. This patterning is accomplished in three critical scribing processes called P1, P2, and P3. Lasers are the technology of choice for these processes, delivering the desired combination of high throughput and narrow, clean scribes. This paper examines these processes and discusses the optimization of industrial lasers to meet their specific needs.
Introduction to the Special Issue on University Laboratory Preschools in the 21st Century

At the dawn of the field of child development and university-based child laboratories, early in the 20th century, forward-looking early education leaders embraced science as a source of understandi...
Factors influencing the acceptance of cesarean delivered offspring by foster mothers

Abstract Four or 10 fetuses with the placenta present or absent and delivered by cesarean section at term were fostered to mothers which had been lactating for either 1 or 10 days. Survival of offspring decreased when reared by mothers lactating for 10 days prior to fostering and increasing litter size accentuated the decrease. The presence of the placenta at fostering resulted in a decrease in survival when 10-day lactating animals were used as foster mothers. Growth of the young was less when they were reared by 10-day lactating mothers. Cannibalization of fetuses 24 hr after fostering occurred among 1-day lactating foster mothers but not among 10-day lactating foster mothers. Latency to retrieve consecutive pups decreased more rapidly for 10-day mothers than for 1-day mothers.
Thermodynamic Optimization of Phase-Change Energy Storage Using Two or More Materials

This paper documents the relative merits of using more than one type of phase-change material for energy storage. In the case of two phase-change systems in series, which are melted by the same stream of hot fluid, there exists an optimal melting point for each of the two materials. The first (upstream) system has the higher of the two melting points. The second part of the paper addresses the theoretical limit in which the molting point can vary continuously along the source stream, i.e., when an infinite number of different (and small) phase-change systems are being heated in series. It is shown that the performance of this scheme is equivalent to that which uses an optimum single phase-change material, in which the hot stream remains unmixed during the melting process. The time dependence, finite thickness and longitudinal variation of the melt layer caused by an unmixed stream are considered in the third part of the paper. It is shown that these features have a negligible effect on the optimal melting temperature, which is slightly higher tan (T{infinity}T{sub e}){sup 1/2}.
Evidence for a Variable Long-range Order in Nearly Anhydrous Gamma Alumina

THE nature of the cubic or nearly cubic alumina called γ- or η-Al2O3 has been the subject of much speculation. Its structural similarity to the spinels has been known for many years1–3 and led to the view that γ-Al2O3 is a defect structure which can be written with aluminium ions occupying statistically 24 cation sites in the spinel structure.
The effect of slope and vessel speed on the performance of a single beam acoustic seabed classification system

Abstract Although the emergence of an acoustic single beam seabed classification system appears promising as a cost-effective tool to acquire information about bottom types, some limitations of this technology with respect to vessel speed and rough terrain have been identified. To further refine this technology, we examined the QTC View system to determine if it would work in an area such as the Gulf of Alaska, which is characterized by deep water, steep slopes, heterogeneous substrate. Studies were undertaken to evaluate the operational limits with respect to vessel speed and bottom slope. Results indicate that speeds between 3 and 12 kn have no significant effect on classification performance, but bottom slopes exceeding approximately 5–8° appear to cause a complete breakdown in classification accuracy. The potential of trawl-mounted sonar systems, currently under evaluation, as a potential solution to expanded range of operation over bottom slopes is discussed.
On the Demands of Mobile Technology and Virtual Collection Development: A Case Study

New technologies pose new challenges when libraries build their virtual collections. With the growth and popularity of e-books and other portable devices, collections can no longer be evaluated purely on the basis of content. Only users can indicate how these platforms will be used as mobile tools for study or entertainment devices. A study was conducted in the Helsinki University of Technology Library now a part of Aalto University from the fall of 2009 to the summer of 2010. In collaboration with the Usability Research Group, various e-book readers were tested by both professionals and students. Feedback from the students was collected through discussion, study diaries, and questionnaires. E-book readers were also tested in the library in order to see how well these e-collections are usable on these devices. Results suggest there were incompatibilities with licensed materials. While on the other hand open access materials can be easily downloaded.
Long-Term Maintenance of Culvert Networks

AbstractInfrastructure systems in the United States are in need of urgent maintenance and rehabilitations. Preservation of culvert networks, a major component of U.S. infrastructure systems, at an acceptable level of serviceability subject to the stringent yearly maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) budgets is a major challenge for culvert network owners and managers. Decision makers are required to develop an optimum financial plan to minimize the total cost of maintenance and rehabilitation for different expected improvements of the culvert network performance during a given planning horizon. This manuscript presents a discussion on budget planning for maintenance and rehabilitation scheduling and optimization of a culvert network. Any maintenance and rehabilitation expenditure should be justified such that net increase in the asset value should be more than the cost of rehabilitation, where the net worth of an asset should be based on performance rather than on book value. Government standards require ...
Stretching and unzipping nucleic acid hairpins using a synthetic nanopore

We have explored the electromechanical properties of DNA by using an electric field to force single hairpin molecules to translocate through a synthetic pore in a silicon nitride membrane. We observe a threshold voltage for translocation of the hairpin through the pore that depends sensitively on the diameter and the secondary structure of the DNA. The threshold for a diameter 1.5 1.5 V, which corresponds to the force required to stretch the stem of the hairpin, according to molecular dynamics simulations. On the other hand, for 1.0 < d < 1.5 nm, the threshold voltage collapses to V < 0.5 V because the stem unzips with a lower force than required for stretching. The data indicate that a synthetic nanopore can be used like a molecular gate to discriminate between the secondary structures in DNA.
Interaction of the human cytomegalovirus uracil DNA glycosylase UL114 with the viral DNA polymerase catalytic subunit UL54.

Interaction between human cytomegalovirus uracil DNA glycosylase (UL114) and the viral DNA polymerase accessory subunit (UL44) has been reported; however, no such association was found in proteomic studies of UL44-interacting proteins. Utilizing virus expressing FLAG-tagged UL114, nuclease-resistant association of UL44 and the DNA polymerase catalytic subunit UL54 with UL114 was observed by co-immunoprecipitation. Contrary to a previous report, we observed that UL114 was much less abundant than UL44. Interaction of UL114 with UL54, independent of the UL54 carboxyl terminus, but not with UL44 was detected in vitro. Our data are consistent with a direct UL114–UL54 interaction, and suggest that UL114 and UL54 act in concert during base excision repair of the viral genome.
Single- versus multiple-pass boat electrofishing for assessing smallmouth bass populations in Virginia rivers

Abstract A depletion electrofishing study was conducted on two Virginia rivers to estimate the density and biomass of smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu. Population estimates generated by a maximum likelihood analysis (MLM) were compared with those derived by the Leslie method. Also, population size structures from depletion samples were compared with those from single-pass surveys. Adult smallmouth bass were successfully depleted in three to five runs at most sites, and estimates averaged 386/km (SE = 132) and 47/ha (SE = 17) on the Rappahannock River and 265/km (SE = 90) and 38/ha (SE = 20) on the James River. Age-0 population estimates averaged 221/km (SE = 60) and 28/ha (SE = 14) on the Rappahannock River and 248/km (SE = 88) and 31/ha (SE = 14) on the James River. Capture probability was highest (mean = 0.40) for adult bass on the Rappahannock River and lowest (mean = 0.17) for age-0 bass on the James River. Population estimates based on the Leslie method, which regressed catch per effort on cumula...
Solanapyrones e-g, antialgal metabolites produced by a marine fungus

Abstract Three new α-pyrones, solanapyrones E (1), F (2), and G (3), in addition to the known phytotoxin solanapyrone C (4), were produced by an unidentified filamentous marine fungus isolated from the surface of the green alga Halimeda monile. The new solanapyrones were characterized by one and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic techniques, and the absolute configuration of 2 was assigned by the Mosher method. The solanapyrones showed toxicity to the marine unicellular alga Dunaliella sp. at concentrations as low as 100 μg ml−1. The possible role of these compounds in phytotoxic associations between marine fungi and algae is discussed.
Convergent validity of measures of life-history strategy

Using a sample of 236 young and middle adulthood participants, the convergent validity of five measures of life-history strategy was examined. The results suggest that the two measures designed to quantify life-history strategy are strongly correlated, have the strongest associations with a general factor of personality, and have the strongest loadings on a common factor.
Alkenone biomakers gain recognition as molecular paleoceanographic proxies

Questions about climate change are commanding societal as well as scientific interest. Climate records embedded in sediment cores from lakes and oceans, in coral reefs, and in polar ice cores are providing information about natural climatic variations and about linkages between the ocean, atmosphere, and cryosphere. Profound changes that occurred on submillennial timescales are superimposed on glacial-to-interglacial shifts in climate state. For example, marine sediment records reveal that abrupt oscillations in sea surface temperature (SSl), approaching the magnitude of glacial-interglacial transitions, occurred repeatedly between 65 and 11 kyr ago (i.e., between marine oxygen isotope stage 3 and the early Holocene). Indeed, the oceans are intimately linked with climate through thermohaline circulation. An entire subdiscipline, paleoceanography, is devoted to gleaning pertinent information from these sedimentary records.
A positive role in differentiation for the male doublesex protein of Drosophila

The doublesex (dsx) locus encodes male-specific and female-specific polypeptides that are essential for the proper differentiation of sexually dimorphic somatic features of Drosophila melanogaster. Ectopic expression of the male-specific dsx polypeptide was obtained by P-element-mediated transformation of flies with a construct bearing a fusion between the hsp70 heat shock promoter and dsx male-specific cDNA sequences. Heat shock-induced expression of the male cDNA in either sex resulted in three novel phenotypes: transformation of bristles on all legs toward a sex comb-like morphology, pigmentation of dorsal spinules and ventral setae in third-instar larvae, and lethality. These results were not predicted by previous models of dsx function, and provide evidence that the role of the male dsx protein includes activation of some aspects of male differentiation as well as repression of female differentiation.
Performance and fault tolerance improvements in the Inverse Augmented Data Manipulator network

The Inverse Augmented Data Manipulator (IADM) is a multistage interconnection network based on the Augmented Data Manipulator (ADM) and Feng's data manipulator. It is designed to be used in large-scale parallel/distributed processing systems for communication among processors, memories, and other system devices. Two aspects of IADM network design are discussed: performance and fault tolerance. A single stage look-ahead scheme for predicting blockage is presented to enhance performance. Next, one method of adding some links to the network to enable it to tolerate one link failure is described. Finally, a different method of adding links is shown that both improves performance and allows the network to tolerate two switching element or two link failures. Included is a new routing tag scheme that accommodates the new links.
Implementation of the Risk Skills Training Program: A brief intervention targeting adolescent participation in risk behaviors.

Adolescence is a crucial developmental time period in which youth experience increased freedom and begin to individuate from their parents. During this time of exploration, participation in risk behaviors, such as heavy drinking, driving after drinking, and drug use tends to become more frequent. Traditional prevention efforts that typically focus on education have had little success in reducing youth participation in risk behaviors. In contrast, contemporary efforts that incorporate skills training and motivational techniques in addition to education have begun to show promise. The Risk Skills Training Program (RSTP) was developed as a brief, nonconfrontational, 50-minute program that targets high school-age students' alcohol and drug use. Results from a recent study suggest that the RSTP has a positive impact on this age group and is effective in reducing their subsequent participation in risk behaviors.
Tracheobronchial metal stents: effects of covering a bronchial ostium in pigs.

Rationale and Objectives. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of placing a metal stent across a bronchial orifice. Materials and Methods. Nine pigs were used as test subjects, because the right upper lobe bronchus comes directly off the trachea in these animals. One of three types of metal stents was placed into the trachea of each pig and covered the orifice of the right upper lobe bronchus. Follow-up studies were performed at 1 and 3 months to evaluate the right upper lobe for signs of bronchial obstruction, infection, and atelectasis. The animals were sacrificed at 3 months to study the histopathologic changes of the trachea and lungs. Results. Two upper lobe bronchi remained patent; seven were obstructed by granulation tissue or plugs of mucus and inflammatory cells. Right upper lobe infiltration and atelectasis were seen in eight animals. Interestingly, radiographic opacities were also common in other lung segments. There was a tendency toward fewer and less extensive lung opacities at 3 months compared with that at 1 month. At histopathologic examination, areas of both acute and chronic pneumonia were found in the right upper lobe of all animals. The segment of trachea covered by the stent was lined with a thin layer of granulation tissue containing neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes. The stent luminal surface was covered with columnar, cuboidal, and stratified squamous epithelium. Tracheal stenosis was seen in three animals because of excessive granulation tissue in two and a collapsed stent in one. Conclusion. Placement of metal stents in pig trachea covering the orifice of the right upper lobe bronchus resulted in retention of secretions and secondary infection in the right upper lobe and other distant lung segments.
Constructibility as a Criterion for Existence

Problems of construction have engaged the attention of mathematicians from the earliest times. The three famous unsolved problems of the Greeks were problems of construction. Apparently the attitude of the Greeks toward these problems was that, if a geometric entity exists, it must be constructible. For example they believed that given an arbitrary angle, there is another one equal to a third of the first. Hence there must be a way of constructing the second angle, that is, a way of trisecting the first angle. This attitude is very similar in formulation but vastly different in content from the attitude of the modern intuitionists, who say that a mathematical entity does not exist unless it is constructible. Had Brouwer been a Greek, he would probably have declared that, given an angle, it is non-sense to speak of another angle equal to a third of it until such a second angle has been constructed.However, it seems scarcely necessary to remind the reader that, for the Greeks, constructibility meant a special kind of constructibility, namely, constructibility by ruler and compass. Other methods of constructing geometric entities are known, and by use of them, the problems of the Greeks can be solved. More than that, it is now known that ruler and compass constructions alone do not suffice to solve any one of the three famous problems of the Greeks. Therefore, we see that the Greeks erred in restricting themselves to ruler and compass constructions, even though they may have felt justified in making these restrictions, due to considerations of mathematical elegance, or to ignorance of other methods.
Sodium and potassium transport across the isolated hindgut of the desert millipede Orthoporus ornatus (Girard).

Abstract o 1. The isolated hindgut of the desert millipede Orthoporus ornatus was found to be capable of active transport of sodium from the lumen side to the blood side and of potassium from the blood side to the lumen side. 2. Both sodium and potassium transport were inhibited by ouabain applied to the blood side but not by ouabain applied to the lumen side. 3. Net movement of water across the hindgut was not observed. 4. A possible mechanism for sodium and potassium transport by the hindgut is presented and the role of the hindgut in maintaining salt balance of the animal is discussed.
Importance of Lunar and Temporal Conditions for Spotlight Surveys of Adult Black-Footed Ferrets

Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) spend most daylight hours underground in prairie dog (Cynomys) burrows and exhibit aboveground movements primarily at night. Moonlight can influence the activity patterns of ferrets and, consequently, might influence the efficiency of spotlight surveys used by biologists to monitor ferret populations. We related detection of adult ferrets during postbreeding spotlight surveys to lunar and temporal conditions. We most frequently located ferrets during surveys in which the moon breached the horizon. The data suggested intersexual dif- ferences in response to moonlight. We located male ferrets most frequently during nights with greater moon illumination, but we did not detect a correlation between moon illumination and spotlight detection of female ferrets. In general, moonlight could facilitate aboveground navigation by ferrets. However, it seems activity under bright moonlight could be costly for female ferrets while they raise young. Detection of ferrets also varied among months. We detected female ferrets most frequently in August-September, when mothers increase hunting efforts to acquire prey for growing off- spring (kits). Detection of adult female ferrets declined in October, when kits were likely independent of their mother. We located male ferrets most frequently in September-October, when males might increase activity to monitor female ferrets and male competitors. Consideration of lunar and temporal influences and standardization of postbreeding surveys could enhance site-specific assessment of reintroduction success and across-site assessment of species recovery progress. We suggest that postbreeding surveys for ferrets should be enhanced by concentrating efforts in August-September during moonlit nights when the moon is above the horizon.
Road network extraction from airborne LiDAR data using scene context

We presented a novel procedure to extract ground road networks from airborne LiDAR data. First point clouds were separated into ground and non-ground parts, and ground roads were to be extracted from ground planes. Then, buildings and trees were distinguished in an energy minimization framework after incorporation of two new features. The separation provided supportive information for later road extractions. After that, we designed structure templates to search for roads on ground intensity images, and road widths and orientations were determined by a subsequent voting scheme. This local searching process produced road candidates only, in order to prune false positives and infer undetected roads, a scene-dependent Markov network was constructed to help infer a global road network. Combination of local template fitting and global MRF inference made extracted ground roads more accurate and complete. Finally, we extended developed methods to elevated roads extraction from non-ground points and combined them with the ground road network to formulate a whole network.
An interactive, optimization-based decision support system for scheduling part-time, computer lab attendants

Abstract The labor tour scheduling problem has attracted much recent research, focusing on the development and evaluation of optimal and heuristic methods to minimize labor costs while satisfying demand for labor. Researchers typically assume that a sufficient labor pool is available. However, service organizations such as fast-food restaurants, grocery stores, and video rental stores, as well as not-for-profit organizations using volunteer workers, typically use a large number of part-time employees with limited availabilities for work. This study presents an interactive decision support system that addresses the conflicting objectives of efficient labor scheduling and accommodating employee needs. The system uses a linear programming model to provide sets of optimal shifts from which employees can construct acceptable weekly schedules; the manager may override the schedule if necessary. The decision support system is used to schedule student computer lab attendants at a major university in an efficient and equitable manner.
Transient stiffening of mitral valve leaflets in the beating heart.

Anterior mitral leaflet stiffness during isovolumic contraction (IVC) is much greater than that during isovolumic relaxation (IVR). We have hypothesized that this stiffening is due to transient ear...
The quality of protein in various lines of peas.

1. The protein quality as evaluated by nitrogen incorporation efficiency (NIE) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) was determined for twenty-eight breeding lines of peas (Pisum sativum L.) which had been grown under similar field conditions.2. Different lines of peas, when given as the sole source of protein to weanling rats at a 10 % level in an otherwise adequate diet, varied from 18 to 78% of that of casein in their ability to support growth and nitrogen retention. There was close correlation between PER and NIE values.3. From analysis of rat growth curves, the pea lines were separated into those that produced fairly good growth and those that barely maintained the initial body-weight. However, growth rate alone did not rank pea lines in the same order as PER or NIE.4. Carcass protein, as a percentage of body-weight, was higher in pea-fed (20.4%) than in casein-fed rats (18.8%).This was probably associated with a difference in body fat content.5. There was no correlation between protein quality and the protein content of the different pea lines.
High-Energy-Density Fuel Blending Strategies and Drop Dispersion for Fuel Cost Reduction and Soot Propensity Control

High-energy-density (HED) liquid fuels have high soot propensity and are expensive. The idea of mitigating these characteristics by adding a less expensive, low soot propensity liquid fuel to the HED is tested through numerical simulations. The model represents an axisymmetric, polydisperse, dense cluster of binary-fuel (solvent/solute) spherical drops embedded into a vortex. Since soot propensity depends on the partial density of the evaporated fuel, this partial density is compared for uncharged and electrostatically charged drops; charging is used here as an effective way to increase dispersion and reduce sooting propensity. Results from the simulations show that while the solvent soot propensity indeed decreases with drop charging, contrary to simplistic expectations, addition of HED as a solute increases sooting propensity of the solute with increased drop dispersion. This is due to the additional dispersion maintaining the slip velocity at the drop surface and preferentially evaporating the solute. These counterintuitive but correct physical effects are independent of the initial solvent/solute mass ratio, and the soot propensity decreases with decreasing solute volatility. Based on these results, blending strategies are suggested for minimizing sooting propensity and decreasing fuel costs.
Performing clinical studies involving hernia mesh devices: what every investigator should know about the FDA investigational device exemption (IDE) process

The FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) is responsible for providing reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of all medical devices marketed within the US. To date, CDRH has cleared numerous hernia mesh devices for general use, but has not cleared/approved any mesh devices intended for certain specific uses, such as for infected wounds, hernia prevention, biofilm reduction, or prevention of adhesions. CDRH is requesting that manufacturers seeking specific hernia mesh device labeling claims consult with the Agency to determine the level of evidence necessary for justifying such claims.
"Turning Points" in the Iraq Conflict: Reversible Jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo in Political Science

We consider and explore structural breaks in a day-by-day time series of civilian casualties for the current Iraq conflict: an undertaking of potential interest to scholars of international relations, comparative politics, and American politics. We review Bayesian change-point techniques already used by political methodologists before advocating and briefly describing the use of reversible-jump Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques to solve the estimation problem at hand. We find evidence of four change points, all associated with increasing violence, approximately contemporaneous with some important state building events. We conclude with a discussion of avenues for future research.
Reduced Radiative Conductivity of Low-Spin (Mg,Fe)O in the Lower Mantle

Optical absorption spectra have been measured at pressures up to 80 gigapascals (GPa) for the lower-mantle oxide magnesiowustite (Mg,Fe)O. Upon reaching the high-spin to low-spin transition of Fe2+ at about 60 GPa, we observed enhanced absorption in the mid- and near-infrared spectral range, whereas absorption in the visible-ultraviolet was reduced. The observed changes in absorption are in contrast to prediction and are attributed to d-d orbital charge transfer in the Fe2+ ion. The results indicate that low-spin (Mg,Fe)O will exhibit lower radiative thermal conductivity than high-spin (Mg,Fe)O, which needs to be considered in future geodynamic models of convection and plume stabilization in the lower mantle.
Artistic collaboration in designing VR visualizations

This article describes one of the recent major collaborative efforts, a class on designing VR scientific visualizations that was co-taught with professors and students from Brown University's computer science department and the Rhode Island School of Design's (RISD's) illustration department. We discuss here the experiences that led us to this conclusion; along with some of the tools we have developed to facilitate working with artists. Many of the experiences and conclusions relayed here are the results of this class. We then discuss three important themes that we derived from our experiences, which are all motivated by a desire to better facilitate artistic collaborations.
Indefinite Kaehler-Einstein metrics on Compact Complex Surfaces

Indefinite Kaehler solutions of the Einstein equations are studied, and it is almost completely determined which compact complex surfaces admit such metrics.
EFFECTS OF ETHYL CHLOROPHENOXYISOBUTYRATE, ALONE OR WITH ANDROSTERONE (ATROMID) ON SERUM LIPIDS, LIPOPROTEINS AND RELATED METABOLIC PARAMETERS IN NORMAL AND HYPERLIPIDEMIC SUBJECTS.

Summary CPIB administration is effective in reducing serum lipid levels, especially when elevated due to increased very low density ( d CPIB is effective to a lesser degree in reducing serum lipid levels in primary ("idiopathic", familial) hypercholesterolemia due to increased β-lipoprotein lipid (hyper- β-lipoproteinemia). CPIB appears effective in the hypercholesterolemia sometimes associated with methyltestosterone administration. The effectiveness of CPIB by oral administration does not appear dependent upon, nor is it enhanced by, its combination with androsterone (Atromid). CPIB does not reduce the concentrations of α-lipoproteins, and therefore the α/β-lipoprotein ratio rises and the serum C/P ratio falls as consequences of diminished levels of lower density lipoproteins. CPIB or CPIB combined with androsterone (Atromid) has no androgenic and little or no protein-anabolic effects. Serum desmosterol concentration is not increased during CPIB administration. The mechanism of action of CPIB on the metabolism of lipids in man is not clearly understood, but it is suggested that a possible site of action is at the level of acetate activation.