cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Are Dealers Still Relevant? How Dealer Service Quality Impacts Manufacturer Success

Most automobile manufacturers use franchised dealers to distribute their products and to perform sales‐related and after‐sales services. However, the link between dealers’ service quality and manufacturer performance is not well understood. Some studies suggest that these services’ quality affects product sales, repeat sales, and brand reputation. Others posit that dealer services are a commodity, and their quality may only affect sales in the extremes. We constructed data representing sales and service quality ratings of 1078 U.S. automobile dealerships over a year in five different car classes. We find that the quality of after‐sales services positively influences sales of the brand in the dealer's region. Manufacturers whose dealers struggle with after‐sales services take a hit in market share even in markets where they enjoy superior competitive status. We also find that sales‐related services gain importance in highly competitive markets where the manufacturer has few dealers and competitors have many.
Problem Identification in a Dairy Herd

This report is the work of four senior veterinary students. Their assignment was to identify and prioritize the production problems on a dairy using the "Goal Form" from the Bovine Practitioner, No. 26, September 1991, pages 21 to 28.
The Effect of Loss Aversion on the Multiperiod Principal-Agent Problem

This paper studies how compensation and incentives are provided in a multiperiod setting to a loss averse agent with reference-dependent preferences. The two-period contract is different contingent on whether or not the agent has committed to remain both periods. The two-period analysis shows that, if the agent is a poor performer (in a sense to be made precise), it is to his advantage to not commit whereas if he is a superior performer, commitment is to his advantage. Whether or not the agent has committed to remain, the two-period moral hazard contract compensates the agent in the second period based on his performance in the first period, providing incentives both immediate and intertemporal. When the agent is committed, a natural measure of the agent's first-period performance emerges. The analysis of the general T-period contract shows that the two-period results hold in all but the last period.
Improving the Efficiency of Genetic-Based Incremental Local Outlier Factor Algorithm for Network Intrusion Detection

In the era of big data, outlier detection has become an important task for many applications, such as the network intrusion detection system. Data streams are a unique type of big data, which recently has gained a lot of attention from researchers. Nevertheless, there are challenges in applying traditional outlier detection algorithms for data streams. One of the well-known algorithms of outlier detection is Local Outlier Factor (LOF). The issue with LOF is that it needs to store the whole dataset with its distances’ results in memory. In addition, it needs to start from the beginning and recalculate all processes if any change happens in the dataset, such as inserting a new data point. The Genetic-based Incremental Local Outlier Factor (GILOF) has addressed these issues and shown significant results. In this paper, we further improved the GILOF performance in data streams by proposing a new calculation method for LOF. The experiment’s results showed that our new method of calculation has led to better accuracy performance for various real-world datasets.
Direct Velocity and Shear-Stress Measurements in Shear-Induced Erosion of a Particle Bed

Understanding the complex fluid-particle interactions in shear-induced erosion and scour requires measurement of the interstitial fluid motion in both stationary and moving particle beds. These measurements are confounded by the differing material properties of the fluids and particles used in experiments. In the present investigation, full-field fluid-velocity measurements for flow over a bed of 3-mm-diameter monodisperse glass beads were obtained using digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) in an aqueous solution of sodium iodide to match the refractive index of the particles. Fluorescent seeding particles were used in the fluid together with optical filters and image processing to provide both time-averaged and instantaneous measurements of the fluid velocity for both stationary and moving particle beds at channel Reynolds numbers (Re) in the range 4900–9000. Recent investigations have used refractive index matched fluids to obtain flow field measurements in the particle bed, but have been limited to time-averaged measurements, stationary particle beds, and/or low Re. The results indicate that particle motion was initiated at a critical Shields number of approximately 0.017, but some hysteresis in the Shields number was observed once motion was initiated. Velocity profiles were compared with power law and log-law models, showing reasonable agreement in certain flow regimes, but the particle-layer shear stress predicted by a log-law fit was found to be 10–30 times the actual shear stress measured from DPIV measurements, suggesting measurements of particle shear in channel flow based on a log-law model may not be sufficiently accurate. A correction to the log-law model utilized in porous wall flows was applied, and the adjusted value of von Karman constant increased with the shear Reynolds number for the cases without particle motion, but no clear trend was observed for the moving particle cases.
Reducing HIV incidence in developing countries with structural and environmental interventions.

The AIDS epidemic as a health problem is exacerbated by the risk behavior of people. As the worldwide AIDS pandemic matures and changes so too must the approach to prevention. AIDS prevention programs need to incorporate more than just individualistic psychological approaches to risk reduction. It is important to learn more about the effect of social cultural political and economic factors on HIV risk behavior and to develop creative culturally appropriate and community-sponsored prevention programs that make substantive changes on multiple levels. In the article the use of structural and environmental interventions for HIV risk reduction is examined by developing a theoretical approach to levels of causation in HIV incidence that goes beyond the individual perspective. A typology of four levels of causation has been identified comprising superstructural structural environmental and individual levels. On the other hand the structural and environmental interventions that have been shown to promote the incidence of HIV is examined namely economic underdevelopment and poverty migration urbanization and family disruption. Meanwhile possible structural and environmental interventions that may prevent AIDS are suggested. Finally a research agenda is presented for further investigation of the topic.
Information intensive wireless sensor networks: Challenges and solutions

Tremendous advancements in embedded systems, sensors and wireless communications technology have made it possible to build large-scale wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Due to their potential applications, WSNs have attracted significant attention to the industry, academic, and government organizations. In particular, by commanding a large number of distributed and coordinated sensor nodes, WSNs can effectively act as the human-physical world interface in future digital world through sensing and actuating. However, the inherent characteristics of WSNs typified by extremely scarce resources (e.g., bandwidth, CPU, memory and battery power), high degree of uncertainty, and lack of centralized control pose significant challenges in providing the desired quality, information assurance, reliability, and security. This is particularly important for mission critical applications that involve information intensive WSNs including video sensors. In this talk, we will examine the uncertainty-driven unique challenges and key research problems in information intensive wireless sensor networks in the areas of aggregation, clustering, routing, data dissemination, coverage and connectivity, and security. We will present our novel solutions to some of these problems and conclude with future directions.
Standalone CSR Reports: A Canadian Analysis

This research examines whether firms who issue these reports are really more sociallyresponsible or if they are merely trying to convince stakeholders that they are. We use theCSID index as an independent evaluation of firms’ level of CSR and find that firms that issuestandalone CSR reports every year do have significantly higher Total CSR, CSR Strengths andCSR Weaknesses than firms that never issue these reports. Additionally, we find that firms thatissue standalone CSR reports in some years have higher Total CSR and CSR Strengths scoresthan firms that never issue standalone CSR reports. Our results provide support for theexplanation that firms who issue standalone CSR reports do so as a signal of their superiorcommitment to social responsibility actions. We found minimal support for the argument thatfirms who issue standalone CSR reports are more profitable.Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability Reports
Remember the Basics

The concept of a software product line developed by the Software Engineering Institute is a comprehensive model for an organization building applications based on common architectures and other core assets. In a transition project for launching and institutionalizing a software product line we need to address virtually all areas of a software development organization. Such a transition project will be very difficult and there is usually very little experience in the organization in running such a project successfully. This paper discusses four factors that are essential for the transition project’s success. These factors are: a clearly defined goal, strong project management, strong management support, and pilot projects. Although these factors seem to be very basic, experience shows that they are often neglected. In this paper we will show why they are essential for a successful transition project.
Theory of Optical Gain of ${\hbox {Ge--}}{\hbox {Si}}_{x}{\hbox {Ge}}_{y}{\hbox {Sn}}_{1-x-y}$ Quantum-Well Lasers

We develop a theoretical model for optical gain of a strained Ge--SixGeySn1-x-y quantum-well (QW) structure. By using a ternary SixGeySn1-x-y material system as the barriers, a tensile strained germanium QW with a direct band gap for the electron and hole confinements can be realized. We show our theoretical model for the strained band structure and the polarization dependent optical gain spectrum of the tensile strained germanium QW laser taking into account the carrier occupations in both the Gamma- and L-valleys of the conduction band. Reasonable material parameters are used to estimate the transition energy, optical gain spectrum, and effects of the carrier leakage in presence of the quantized subbands
Arithmetic invariant theory

Let k be a field, let G be a reductive algebraic group over k, and let V be a linear representation of G. Geometric invariant theory involves the study of the k-algebra of G-invariant polynomials on V, and the relation between these invariants and the G-orbits on V, usually under the hypothesis that the base field k is algebraically closed. In favorable cases, one can determine the geometric quotient \(V /\!/G = \mathrm{Spec}(\mathrm{Sym}^{{\ast}}(V ^{\vee })^{G})\) and can identify certain fibers of the morphism \(V \rightarrow V/\!/G\) with certain G-orbits on V. In this paper we study the analogous problem when k is not algebraically closed. The additional complexity that arises in the orbit picture in this scenario is what we refer to as arithmetic invariant theory. We illustrate some of the issues that arise by considering the regular semisimple orbits—i.e., the closed orbits whose stabilizers have minimal dimension—in three arithmetically rich representations of the split odd special orthogonal group \(G = \mathrm{SO}_{2n+1}\).
An Adaptive Coarse Graining Method for Signal Transduction in Three Dimensions

The spatio-temporal landscape of the plasma membrane regulates activation and signal transduction of membrane bound receptors by restricting their two-dimensional mobility and by inducing receptor clustering. This regulation also extends to complex formation between receptors and adaptor proteins, which are the intermediate signaling molecules involved in cellular signaling that relay the received cues from cell surface to cytoplasm and eventually to the nucleus. Although their investigation poses challenging technical difficulties, there is a crucial need to understand the impact of the receptor diffusivity, clustering, and spatial heterogeneity, and of receptor-adaptor protein complex formation on the cellular signal transduction patterns. Building upon our earlier studies, we have developed an adaptive coarse-grained Monte Carlo method that can be used to investigate the role of diffusion, clustering and membrane corralling on receptor association and receptor-adaptor protein complex formation dynamics in three dimensions. The new Monte Carlo lattice based approach allowed us to introduce spatial resolution on the 2-D plasma membrane and to model the cytoplasm in three-dimensions. Being a multi-resolution approach, our new method makes it possible to represent various parts of the cellular system at different levels of detail and enabled us to utilize the locally homogeneous assumption when justified (e.g., cytoplasmic region away from the cell membrane) and avoid its use when high spatial resolution is needed (e.g., cell membrane and cytoplasmic region near the membrane) while keeping the required computational complexity manageable. Our results have shown that diffusion has a significant impact on receptor-receptor dimerization and receptor-adaptor protein complex formation kinetics. We have observed an adaptor protein hopping mechanism where the receptor binding proteins may hop between receptors to form short-lived transient complexes. This increased residence time of the adaptor proteins near cell membrane and their ability to frequently change signaling partners may explain the increase in signaling efficiency when receptors are clustered. We also hypothesize that the adaptor protein hopping mechanism can cause concurrent or sequential activation of multiple signaling pathways, thus leading to crosstalk between diverse biological functions.
Extracellular Vestibule Determinants of Ca2+ Influx in Ca2+‐Permeable AMPA Receptor Channels

At certain synapses in the brain, Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptor (AMPAR) channels represent an important pathway for synaptically controlled Ca2+ entry. However, the molecular determinants of this Ca2+ influx are poorly defined. In NMDA receptor (NMDAR) channels, where the influx is much greater, the extracellular vestibule, specifically the M3 segment and regions C-terminal to it in the NR1 subunit, contains elements critical to their high Ca2+ influx under physiological conditions. We therefore investigated the contribution of homologous positions in AMPAR as well as kainate receptor (KAR) subunits to the process of Ca2+ influx. Substitutions of a conserved asparagine (N) in M3 of AMPAR GluR-B(Q) channels strongly attenuated Ca2+ permeability measured using reversal potentials under biionic conditions and fractional Ca2+ currents recorded under physiological conditions. Hence, as in NMDAR channels, the conserved N makes a significant contribution to Ca2+ influx in AMPAR channels. In addition, C-terminal to M3, substitutions of negatively (glutamate, E) or positively (arginine, R) charged residues also altered Ca2+ influx. However, in contrast to charged residues occupying homologous positions in NMDAR channels, these effects were about equal and opposite suggesting that this ER in AMPARs does not contribute significantly to the mechanism of Ca2+ influx. Opposite charge substitutions of two negative residues C-terminal to M3 in KAR GluR-6(Q) subunits had no effect on Ca2+ permeability. We conclude that the different contribution of residues C-terminal to M3 to Ca2+ permeation in NMDAR and non-NMDAR channels reflects a different positioning of these residues relative to the tip of the M2 loop.
Wind Tunnel Testing of Micro Air Vehicles at Low Reynolds Numbers

This paper documents the development of the capability to test MAVs (Micro Air Vehicles) in the University of Florida' s wind tunnel facility. The main goal of this work was to obtain, with a reliable procedure, good quality experimental data from wind tunnel tests of air vehicles at low Reynolds numbers, in the order of 100,000. An overview of the instrumentation and data analysis techniques will be presented, followed by some samples of results from tests on specific aircraft. A standard aerodynamic characterization test was developed to perform a quick System Identification (SID) characterization of an air vehicle. The requirements for those tests were established by the modeling and control portion of the project. The test procedure was aimed to find the main aerodynamic derivatives that will be used to model the aircraft and design the flight control system. Three distinctly different vehicles ranging in size from 60 cm to 15 cm wingspan are discussed.
Discontinuity of the percolation density in one dimensional 1/|x−y|2 percolation models

We consider one dimensional percolation models for which the occupation probability of a bond −Kx,y, has a slow power decay as a function of the bond's length. For independent models — and with suitable reformulations also for more general classes of models, it is shown that: i) no percolation is possible if for short bondsKx,y≦p =1. This dichotomy resembles one for the magnetization in 1/|x−y|2 Ising models which was first proposed by Thouless and further supported by the renormalization group flow equations of Anderson, Yuval, and Hamann. The proofs of the above percolation phenomena involve (rigorous) renormalization type arguments of a different sort.
Biologic findings in panic disorder:: Neuroendocrine and sleep-related abnormalities

Abstract Studies of neuroendocrine function, sleep physiology and response to sleep deprivation in patients with panic disorder are reviewed. At baseline, patients show a variety of neuroendocrine abnormalities, but fail to show abnormalities in EEG sleep architecture or a therapeutic response to sleep deprivation. In contrast, while few neuroendocrine abnormalities have been found to occur in association with panic attacks, characteristics EEG sleep patterns seem to occur in association with nocturnal panic attacks. These findings suggest that neuroendocrine dysfunction is either more closely related to background (“anticipatory”) anxiety or a cumulative result of repetitive panic attacks, while EEG sleep findings may be more closely related to the actual panic attacks themselves.
Using the theory of planned behavior to improve treatment adherence in Mexican Americans with schizophrenia.

Objective Failure to adhere to treatment with antipsychotic medication is the most common cause of relapse among patients with schizophrenia. A novel multifamily group (MFG) intervention, informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), demonstrated efficacy in increasing medication adherence and decreasing rehospitalizations in schizophrenia patients. This report explores the hypothesis that the improved outcomes obtained through the MFG approach were mediated by changes in the patients' attitudes toward medications, subjective norms-social influences, and perceived behavioral control of resources. Method Data from a recently completed, randomized controlled trial of MFG was used to test the hypothesis that the improvement in adherence was mediated by the 3 TPB factors. Subjects were 174 Mexican American adults with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder who had participated in a study of MFG focused on improving medication adherence. Assessments occurred at baseline and at 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 months. Results Path analysis revealed that the increased adherence associated with MFG was mediated by improvements in subjective norms but not attitudes toward medications nor perceived behavioral control. Conclusion An MFG treatment specifically tailored to increase medication adherence among Mexican Americans with schizophrenia achieved its benefits by leveraging social influences through teaching family members how to support medication adherence in their ill relatives.
GATES: a grid-based middleware for processing distributed data streams

Increasingly, a number of applications rely on, or can potentially benefit from, analysis and monitoring of data streams. Moreover, many of these applications involve high volume data streams and require distributed processing of data arising from a distributed set of sources. Thus, we believe that a grid environment is well suited for flexible and adaptive analysis of these streams. This paper reports the design and initial evaluation of a middleware for processing distributed data streams. Our system is referred to as GATES (grid-based adaptive execution on streams). This system is designed to use the existing grid standards and tools to the extent possible. It flexibly achieves the best accuracy that is possible while maintaining the real-time constraint on the analysis. We have developed a self-adaptation algorithm for this purpose. Results from a detailed evaluation of this system demonstrate the benefits of distributed processing, and the effectiveness of our self-adaptation algorithm.
Visual compatibility of argatroban with selected drugs.

(September 15, 2002, Letter). In the table on page 1784, the concentration of fentanyl citrate should be 0.05 mg/mL.
Laser-Scanning Intersecting Plane Tomography (L-SIPT) for High Speed 3D Optical Imaging and Microscopy

We describe a new optical planar imaging geometry for high speed volumetric optical imaging. A diagram and raytracing simulations of the new imaging geometry as well as initial phantom and image reconstruction results are presented.
Potassium loss is involved in tobacco cell death induced by palmitoleic acid and ceramide

Abstract Tobacco cell death induced by palmitoleic acid (16:1), ceramide, and KCN was found to possess features associated with program cell death (PCD), including cell volume decrease, loss of membrane integrity, DNA damage, nuclear and plastid disorganization, and chromatin condensation. Cell volume decrease was found to be caused by loss of intracellular K + . Ba 2+ was able to prevent the K + loss and it also protected the cells from death induced by 16:1 and ceramide but not KCN. The results suggest that K + loss is a critical step in plant PCD. The inability of Ba 2+ to prevent cell death was most likely due to its other effects of KCN, i.e., inhibition of cytochrome oxidase in the respiratory chain and generation of reactive oxygen species.
The unique identity of rat hepatoma phenylalanine hydroxylase

Abstract Rat hepatoma H4-II-E-C3 culture phenylalanine hydroxylase is unique and differs from any of the three isozymes of liver or the one of kidney. Isoelectric focusing results in a single isozyme with an isoelectric point of 5.20 compared to 5.20, 5.30, 5.60 for the liver and 5.35 for the kidney. Hepatoma phenylalanine hydroxylase cross reacts with antibody # 2 of rat liver but differs from isozyme # 2 by a tenfold difference in the ratio of antigen to antibody at equivalence on immunotitration. Kidney phenylalanine hydroxylase which also cross reacts with antibody # 2 of liver can quantitatively (at 2 mU per mg immunoglobulin) absorb antibody against hepatoma enzyme, liver isozyme # 2 and itself without having any effect on antibody # 1 and # 3 of liver.
Inclusive Neutron Spectra at 0° from the Reactions Pb ( Ne , n ) X and NaF ( Ne , n ) X at 390 and 790 MeV per Nucleon

Inclusive neutron spectra at 0/sup 0/ were measured from both 390- and 790-MeV/u Ne ions on targets of Pb and NaF. A striking peak at a neutron energy slightly below the beam energy per nucleon has a width (in the projectile rest frame) of approx.58 MeV/c, which is essentially the same for these two energies and these two targets. We suggest that this narrow peak is projectile evaporation and that it is superimposed on the broader fragmentation process predicted by statistical models. The high-momentum region of the cross section may reflect collective behavior.
Measuring Infant Memory: Reply to Commentary.

Abstract Bogartz (1996) inquired into four measures used in the study of infant memory: the retention ratio L / I , the baseline ratio L / B , the retention proportion L /( L + I ), and the baseline proportion L /( L + B ). These ratios were shown to be limited in their applicability to determining memory strength or, in the case of the latter two, to have other defects. This inquiry led to the proposal of an improved point estimator of memory strength: ( L − B )/( I − B ). A critical commentary (Rovee-Collier, 1996) raised various objections to the new measure. The present article refutes the various objections and shows that the new measure embodies the four fundamental ideas about the derived measures presented in Rovee-Collier and Shyi (1992) and violates none of them.
Oiled Magellanic penguins in Golfo San Jose, Argentina

Abstract During a period of 4 months prior to the 1978–1979 breeding season, a total of 157 Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) were found dead on 1 km of beach in Golfo San Jose, a site in the vicinity of the largest nesting colony for this species in Argentina. Sixty-two of 91 adults (68%) were oiled, but only one of 66 immatures was oil-stained. Of the penguins with oil on one side only, three times as many were stained on the left side as on the right. The absence of oiled Magellanic penguins seen at nearby nesting colonies supports the hypothesis that these birds are not fit to breed.
Renal Artery Stenosis

A 73-year-old former smoker with a history of hypertension and dyslipidemia presents to the emergency department with shortness of breath. His blood pressure is 160/75 mm Hg, heart rate 60 beats per minute, and respiratory rate 24 breaths per minute. Chest auscultation reveals diffuse rales, and there is 1+ pitting edema. The serum creatinine level is 1.4 mg per deciliter (124 µmol per liter) (estimated glomerular filtration rate, 52 ml per minute), and urinalysis shows 1+ protein. His condition improves after treatment with intravenous diuretics, but his systolic blood pressure remains elevated, at 170 mm Hg. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) reveals a diseased aorta, a high-grade ostial lesion of the left renal artery that is consistent with atherosclerotic stenosis, and a normal right renal artery. How should he be further evaluated and treated?
High- and low-copy-number Lactococcus shuttle cloning vectors with features for clone screening

High- and low-copy-number shuttle cloning vectors were constructed by incorporating the Escherichia coli P15A plasmid origin of replication into the pAM beta 1-derived vectors, pIL252 and pIL253. The resulting vectors were structurally stable in Lactococcus, which is a common feature of theta-replicating plasmids, and also displayed good structural stability in E. coli, possibly due to lack of a resolvase-encoding gene. All the vectors expressed erythromycin resistance (ErR) in both; brain heart infusion medium allowed clear selection of ErR in E. coli. Some of the vectors provided insertional inactivation of a cat (pTRKH1; pTRKL1) or tet (pTRKH1; pTRKH3; pTRKH5) gene to facilitate screening for clones. Multiple cloning sites in a lacZ gene, which expresses beta-galactosidase in lacZ alpha-complementing E. coli strains, were included in some vectors (pTRKH2/H5 and pTRKL2) to enable blue/white screening of clones on XGal plates. The 'H' and 'L' prefixes signify if the vector exists at high (H) or low (L) copy number in Lactococcus. Successful introduction of these vectors into Lactococcus, Enterococcus, Streptococcus and Lactobacillus highlights their utility for expanding the possibilities for genetic manipulation of these industrially significant bacteria.
A Static Sorption Technique for Vapor Solubility Measurements

A new experimental technique has been developed to measure the solubility of gases and vapors in polymers and other sorbents at elevated pressures. The technique involves measuring the total weight of a vessel containing the sorbent material pressurized with a vapor, assessing the amount of vapor in the headspace of the vessel with an appropriate equation of state, and evaluating the total amount of vapor in (on) the sorbent material by the difference. Adsorption isotherms for carbon dioxide and nitrogen on an activated carbon were measured with the static sorption technique. These data were found to agree well with data taken with a standard volumetric technique. Sorption data obtained using this method for carbon dioxide in poly(vinyl acetate) and propylene in poly(propylene) compare well with data acquired by established techniques. The group-contribution lattice-fluid theory equation of state was used to predict solubility in these systems, and the Panayiotou−Vera equation of state was applied to corr...
Intersubject Eeg Coherence: Is Consciousness a Field?

EEG coherence was measured between pairs of three different subjects during a one-hour period practice of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program. Coherence between subjects was evaluated for two sequential fifteen minute periods. on six experimental days, these periods preceded and then coincided with a fifteen minute period during which 2500 students participated in the TM-Sidhi program at a course over 1000 miles away. After the course had ended coherence was evaluated on six control days.It was found that intersubject coherence was generally low, between 0.35 and 0.4, with coherence in the alpha (8–12 Hz) and beta (16–20 Hz) frequencies significantly higher than at other frequencies. on the experimental days, intersubject EEG coherence increased during the experimental period relative to the fifteen minute baseline period immediately preceding the experimental period. Coherence increased significantly from baseline to experimental periods on experimental days compared with control days (p = 0.02). ...
Lidar polarization measurements of PMCs

Abstract System effects and detection schemes are considered for the case of polar mesospheric cloud (PMC) depolarization measurements. The ability of the ARCLITE lidar in Greenland to perform these estimates is improved through polarized solar background rejection, polarization hardware compensation and software correction to collected parallel and perpendicular polarized data. Through these processes we achieve shot noise limited resolution with no system bias. We also determine that a factor of 10 improvement in SNR is needed to achieve PMC depolarization resolution less than 1% on the ARCLITE lidar.
A time-of-flight mass spectrometric study of laser fluence dependencies in SnO2 ablation: implications for pulsed laser deposited tin oxide thin films

Abstract We report on a time-of-flight mass spectrometric study of laser fluence dependencies in the 532 nm ablation of SnO 2 targets. At all fluences investigated, SnO and Sn 2 O 2 are the primary neutral gas-phase species. The relative yield of neutral tin-containing species increases exponentially up to a fluence of ∼1.9×10 8 W cm −2 , and saturates at higher fluences. The yield of metal oxide clusters (primarily Sn 2 O 2 , Sn 4 O 4 ) increases in the saturated region, while the yield of bare metal species (primarily Sn, Sn 2 ) decreases. In contrast, the peak kinetic energy of the primary neutral ablated species is insensitive to laser fluence in this range. These results support the hypothesis that the initial Sn:O stoichiometry of amorphous SnO x films grown in vacuum using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) plays an important role in the formation of α-SnO during post-deposition annealing.
Neonatal onychomadesis with candidiasis limited to affected nails

A case of onychomadesis in one of twins with onset in the neonatal period is reported. We hypothesize that the nail deformities were induced by the stress of a breech presentation during preterm labor and that candidiasis limited to the bands of onychomadesis exaggerated the appearance of the nail deformity.
Obstruction of Tricuspid Ball-Valve Prostheses

Obstruction of Starr-Edwards tricuspid prostheses occurred in seven patients from 2 to 52 months after surgery. Four patients were taking anticoagulants. Three patients presented with acute right-heart failure, three were asymptomatic, and one died suddenly. Of the six who were examined, all had high-pitched tricuspid diastolic murmurs and elevated jugular venous pressure, five had hepatomegaly, and three had peripheral edema. Cardiac catheterization in four patients revealed elevated right atrial pressure in all and large transvalvular pressure gradients in three. Angiography showed impaired flow across the valve in all cases. In six cases, impingement of a prosthesis strut on the ventricular myocardium was the underlying mechanism of obstruction. Two patients died without reoperation. Four of the remaining five patients survived reoperation and were improved. Tricuspid ball-valve obstruction is a potentially lethal complication that may develop with minimal symptoms. A characteristic diastolic murmur and elevated systemic venous pressure have uniformly been present. Confirmatory hemodynamic studies should be followed by early reoperation.
Interannual to decadal drought and wildfire in the western United States

Twentieth-century wildfire suppression and land management policies have promoted biomass accumulations in some ecosystems in the western United States where wildfire is a natural and necessary element. These changes have fueled large, stand-replacing crown fires in southwestern ponderosa pine forests, where they were rare under natural fire regimes [Allen et al., 2002]. Current policy contemplates massive ecosystem restoration involving prescribed fires and mechanical fuel reductions on millions of hectares and the subsequent re-introduction of pre-suppression fire regimes [USDA and USDI, 2002]. Success critically depends on understanding past and present fire regimes. The current western drought and the potential for climatic change to increase the frequency and magnitude of the region's droughts [Smith et al., 2001] further emphasize the need to understand short- and long-term climate-fire relations.
Three-dimensional Gravity Inversion Based On the Simulated Annealing Algorithm For Constraining Diapiric Roots of Salt Canopies

We have developed a three-dimensional gravity inversion technique that utilizes the Metropolis simulated annealing algorithm for global optimization. This technique is effective in locating and constraining the diapiric roots of salt canopies, which are difficult to image seismically. Unlike the traditional least-squares approach, the SA computation does not suffer from instability and the coding is extremely simple. The non-uniqueness problem is minimized by use of the salt top morphology, which can be obtained from a limited 2-D seismic coverage, as a priori information. Our technique has been applied to synthetic data and has identified the location and geometry of three separate diapiric roots hidden under a laterally extensive salt sheet.
Lightweight, low-cost, side-mounted mobile eye tracking system

Commercial mobile eye tracking systems are readily available, but are costly and complex. They have an additional disadvantage in that the eye cameras are placed directly in the field of view of the subject in order to obtain a clear frontal view of the eye. We propose a lightweight, low-cost, side-mounted mobile eye tracking system that uses side-view eye images to estimate the gaze of the subject. Cameras are mounted on the side of the head using curved mirrors to split the captured frames into scene and eye images. A hybrid algorithm using both feature-based models and appearance-based models is designed to accommodate this novel system. Image sequences, consisting of 4339 frames from seven subjects are analyzed by the algorithm, resulting in a successful gaze estimation rate of 95.7%.
DAY 2 VERSUS DAY 3 EMBRYO TRANSFER IN POOR RESPONDERS: A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED TRIAL

Day 2 embryo transfer has been suggested as a method to improve pregnancy rates in poor responders compared with day 3 transfer. Our prospective randomized controlled trial does not show a difference in outcomes based on day of embryo transfer.
The Psychology of Women and Conservatism: Rediscovering Social Change.

Although one goal of the psychology of women has been to enhance the status of women through social change, this goal has seldom been realized. Theory and research in the psychology of women have focused on gender differences and the personality of women rather than the society that oppresses women. As a result, this research has tended to blame women for their position in society and helped maintain the status quo, which can inhibit the struggle for equality by the women's movement. This process is demonstrated with reference to research on women and achievement. The causes and consequences of the focus on gender differences are discussed and recommendations made for a psychology of women in the service of women.
Species richness of Colorado riparian vegetation

The probable causes of spatial variation in the diversity of plant communities on a global and local scale have been widely investigated, but the regional scale has received little attention. It remains unclear how disturb- ance affects diversity in wetlands and riparian vegetation. This study examines the hypothesis that regional varia- tion in the richness of riparian wetlands is related to variation in macro-environment and flood potential. Vascular plant species richness was sampled in 0.1 ha plots at 115 riparian sites scattered over a 300 km length of the western slope of the Rocky Mountains in western Colorado, USA. The relationship between macro-envi- ronmental variables (e.g. drainage basin area), disturb- ance indicators, and species richness was analyzed using correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. Total richness varied between 20 and 87 species (average 50.6) per 0.1 ha, and was highest in subalpine riparian forests from 2600-3650 m a.s.l. (57.8 species / 0.1 ha). Tree and shrub richness were highest in lower elevation, larger drainage basins, forb and graminoid richness were highest in higher elevation, smaller drainage basins. These opposing trends resulted in no net trend in total richness with elevation. Regression models for total rich- ness were poor, suggesting that other variables must be important. The intermediate disturbance hypothesis and other single-factor hypotheses are not supported as expla- nations of the regional pattern of variation in richness.
The synthesis of some nitrated polyamine resins and their use as ion-exchangers for the alkali and alkaline earth metals

Abstract Five polyamines were synthesized by the condensation of an amine with its corresponding amine hydrochloride salt, and the polyamines were nitrated, averaging 1 nitro group per monomer unit. The nitro-polyamines were found to be weak cationexchangers. The resins did not have the same selectivity towards potassium as the exchanger synthesized by Skogseid, who incorporated dipicrylamine onto a polystyrene resin.
Anti-metatype antibodies in immunoassays

In this review anti-metatype antibodies are described invoking new principles in immunoassay development. Anti-metatype antibodies are immunological reagents specific for the conformation of the liganded antibody active site which do not interact with bound ligand or unliganded antibody. Relationships between anti-metatype antibody reactivity and the ligand-induced conformational state of monoclonal antibodies are reviewed with emphasis on the fluorescein hapten as a small molecule model system. One characteristic result of the interaction of anti-metatype antibodies with liganded antibodies is a significant delay in the dissociation rate (k2) of the ligand bound within the primary immune complex. The latter is an important consideration for assay development. Polyclonal and monoclonal anti-metatype antibody reagents are characterized in terms of their differential effects on the ligand dissociation rate. Anti-metatype antibody reactivity is further discussed in terms of protein-protein specificity patterns and relative interactions with idiotype-family members, structural derivatives, and site-specific mutants. Incorporation of principles inherent in the anti-metatype concept and their application to assay development are summarized.
In vitro model of arterial stenosis: correlation of MR signal dephasing and trans-stenotic pressure gradients.

Abstract Purpose: Turbulent flow just distal to stenoses causes signal loss (dephasing) on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). This study correlates dephasing with trans-stenotic pressure gradients in an in vitro model of arterial stenosis. Materials and methods: Three-dimensional (3D) phase contrast, 2D time-of-flight, and 3D spoiled gradient echo MRA with/without gadolinium and varied echo time were performed for a system consisting of a peristaltic perfusion pump and a silastic vessel with stenoses of varying caliber. Length and diameter of dephasing jets were measured, and volumes calculated at varying pressure gradients and echo times, then correlated with percentage cross-sectional area stenosis as measured by conventional angiography. Results: Dephasing occurred in all sequences at pressure gradients of ≥4 mmHg (1 mmHg = 133 Pa) and stenoses of greater than 70%, and varied directly with pressure gradient. The dephasing was greatest for 3D phase contrast (PC). Gadolinium did not diminish dephasing. Conclusions: MRA signal dephasing at stenoses varies directly with pressure gradient. MRA may provide a non-invasive means for determining the hemodynamic significance of arterial stenoses.
Platelet consumption in chronically induced plasma platelet factor 4-like activity reflecting rate of intravascular coagulation in dogs

Abstract Chronic intravascular coagulation was produced in eight dogs by continuous intravenous infusion of dog brain thromboplastin for 3 days to 18 days. About the third day of infusion there was a decrease in platelet count to 32% of the original value and an increase in plasma platelet factor 4-like (PF4-like) activity to 65% of the entire releasable PF4 of circulating platelets. These platelets released about twice the normal amount of PF4-like activity when aggregated in vitro with ADP. Turnover ( 51 Cr-labeled) was 2 times faster than normal. The level of plasma PF4-like activity seems to reflect the rate of platelet consumption in intravascular coagulation and provides information about platelet kinetics.
Why b, y's? Sodiation-induced tryptic peptide-like fragmentation of non-tryptic peptides

Abstract Tryptic peptides are the analytes of choice for mass spectrometric analysis of protein and peptide as they display a favorable fragmentation pattern due to the presence of a C-terminal basic amino acid residue. Clean y fragment ion series is most commonly observed for these species. In contrast, non-tryptic peptides with undefined locations of basic amino acid residues give rise to a mixture of b and y fragment ions, often preventing unambiguous assignment of fragment ion types, which in turn impedes the interpretation of the product ion spectra. Here we report that the fragmentation pattern of multiply charged non-tryptic peptides can be modulated by fragmenting the monosodiated multiply charged species instead of the multiply protonated species. Even when b fragment ions dominate the product ion spectrum of the protonated species due to the presence of a charge sequestering basic residue at the N-terminus, mainly singly charged sodium cationized y fragment ions [y n + Na] + are observed upon fragmentation of the cationized species, i.e., tryptic peptide-like fragmentation of non-tryptic peptides is achieved. Several examples of this fragmentation pattern are described, thus strongly suggesting that sodium cation may be complexed near or at the C-terminus even in the presence of other acidic residues within the peptide. This effect is especially pronounced in the case of the doubly charged non-tryptic peptides. This controlled modulation of the fragmentation behavior of non-tryptic peptides is shown to be advantageous for the de novo sequencing of non-tryptic bioactive peptides as it facilitates the differentiation between b and y ions.
Mechanisms of the Assembly of Nano- and Microparticle Two-Dimensional Structures in a Wedge Film

When a drop of colloidal suspension is deposited on a smooth solid surface, the colloidal spheres self-assemble into two-dimensional ordered structures in the three-phase contact region (i.e., wedg...
Managing research data with self-documenting files

Processing biomedical research data is frequently complex due to the evolutionary nature of experiments and the requisite modification of analysis software. For the past several years we have been evolving a set of software tools designed to improve our ability to respond to evolving experimental designs. These tools allow the investigator to easily manipulate the research data and specify desired data transformations at run time. Coupling of analysis software to research data files is dependent on data files that are commented in a manner similar to that used in programming languages. The resulting annotated data files are self-documenting, and their use facilitates visual interpretation of displayed data as well as automatic processing of subsets of data. Here we present a formal description of a self-documenting file and describe several software tools that facilitate processing of biomedical research data.
mtDNA and osteological analyses of an unknown historical cemetery from upstate New York

Thirteen burials located on Jackson Street in Youngstown, NY, USA were recovered from a construction site and excavated in 1997. Based on the artifact assemblage, it was suggested that the cemetery was used sometime between the late 1700s and 1840. No historical records existed, and initial assessment of the skeletal remains was not able to determine any cultural affiliation. We carried out osteological and genetic investigations in order to gain insight into ancestral affiliation and kinship of the unknown individuals from the burials. Due to poor preservation of the remains, dental traits and limited osteological observations were available for only a few individuals. We performed DNA extraction and sequenced the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region following standard ancient DNA procedures. Our results suggest that ten individuals have evidence of biological affiliation with Native Americans, and in particular, four individuals have maternal Native American ancestry. One male individual was determined to be of European ancestry, from both the mtDNA and osteological results. This burial may reflect admixture as a result of frequent contact between Native Americans and Europeans during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and attempts by missionaries to convert Native Americans to Christianity. Our study demonstrates the usefulness of a multifaceted approach through archaeological, osteological, and genetic analysis that provides valuable perspectives in understanding the individuals buried at the Jackson Street Burials.
Note on the formulation of the theory of logistics

As a preliminary step to the erection of a “theory” of logistics, the author proposes definitions of some important concepts and identifies several types of logistical situations and problems.