cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Importance of tree- and species-level interactions with wildfire, climate, and soils in interior Alaska: Implications for forest change under a warming climate

Abstract The boreal zone of Alaska is dominated by interactions between disturbances, vegetation, and soils. These interactions are likely to change in the future through increasing permafrost thaw, more frequent and intense wildfires, and vegetation change from drought and competition. We utilize an individual tree-based vegetation model, the University of Virginia Forest Model Enhanced (UVAFME), to estimate current and future forest conditions across sites within interior Alaska. We updated UVAFME for application within interior Alaska, including improved simulation of permafrost dynamics, litter decay, nutrient dynamics, fire mortality, and post-fire regrowth. Following these updates, UVAFME output on species-specific biomass and stem density was comparable to inventory measurements at various forest types within interior Alaska. We then simulated forest response to climate change at specific inventory locations and across the Tanana Valley River Basin on a 2 × 2 km2 grid. We derived projected temperature and precipitation from a five-model average taken from the CMIP5 archive under the RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. Results suggest that climate change and the concomitant impacts on wildfire and permafrost dynamics will result in overall decreases in biomass (particularly for spruce (Picea spp.)) within the interior Tanana Valley, despite increases in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) biomass, and a resulting shift towards higher deciduous fraction. Simulation results also predict increases in biomass at cold, wet locations and at high elevations, and decreases in biomass in dry locations, under both moderate (RCP 4.5) and extreme (RCP 8.5) climate change scenarios. These simulations demonstrate that a highly detailed, species interactive model can be used across a large region within Alaska to investigate interactions between vegetation, climate, wildfire, and permafrost. The vegetation changes predicted here have the capacity to feed back to broader scale climate-forest interactions in the North American boreal forest, a region which contributes significantly to the global carbon and energy budgets.
A Mac2-positive progenitor-like microglial population survives independent of CSF1R signaling in adult mouse brain

Microglia are the resident myeloid cells in the central nervous system (CNS). The majority of microglial population relies on Csf1r signaling for survival and maintenance. However, a small subset of microglia in the murine brain can survive without Csf1r signaling, and reestablishes homeostasis after Csf1r signaling returns. Using single-cell RNA-seq, we characterized the heterogeneous microglial populations under Csf1r inhibition, including microglia lacking homeostatic markers and populations with elevated markers of monocytes, granulocytes and dendritic cells. Importantly, Mac2 is distinctively expressed in a subset of Csf1r-independent microglia cells, which were highly proliferative and shared striking similarities with those of microglial progenitors in yolk sac and early embryos. Lineage-tracing revealed that the Mac2+ population is of microglial origin and does not come from periphery monocytes. In non-treated mouse brains, Mac2+ microglia exhibited progenitor transcriptomic signature indistinguishable from those survived csf1r inhibition, supporting Mac2+ progenitor-like cells are present among homeostatic microglia.
Acoustic correlates of talker height in children's voices

In a recent study, we investigated listeners’ ability to judge talker height from CVC syllables spoken by children. The present study extends this research by examining acoustic variables that predict talker height. We analyzed recordings of the sustained vowel /a/ produced by children 5 through 18 years of age, taken from a larger children's speech database. In addition to measures previously found to predict speaker height (GMFF and G0, the geometric mean of the lowest three formant frequencies and fundamental frequency, respectively) we investigated measures related to the glottal source reflecting breathiness and spectral tilt. Multiple regression models incorporating these measures provided accurate estimates of talker height (mean average error of 9.3 cm). Consistent with our previous findings for age, a model specifying the sex of the talker predicts talker height significantly more accurately than a model that excludes sex.In a recent study, we investigated listeners’ ability to judge talker height from CVC syllables spoken by children. The present study extends this research by examining acoustic variables that predict talker height. We analyzed recordings of the sustained vowel /a/ produced by children 5 through 18 years of age, taken from a larger children's speech database. In addition to measures previously found to predict speaker height (GMFF and G0, the geometric mean of the lowest three formant frequencies and fundamental frequency, respectively) we investigated measures related to the glottal source reflecting breathiness and spectral tilt. Multiple regression models incorporating these measures provided accurate estimates of talker height (mean average error of 9.3 cm). Consistent with our previous findings for age, a model specifying the sex of the talker predicts talker height significantly more accurately than a model that excludes sex.
Data for queer lives: How LGBTQ gender and sexuality identities challenge norms of demographics:

In this article, we argue that dominant norms of demographic data are insufficient for accounting for the complexities that characterize many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ, ...
Cognitive Management and Control of Optical Networks in Dynamic Environments

Emerging network traffic requires a more agile network management and control system to deal with the dynamic network environments than today's networks. We propose the use of cognitive techniques for the fast and adaptive management of future optical networks. As a first approximation, we model our expected traffic arrivals as a multi-state Markov process and categorize different network traffic environments by the length of the network coherence time. For the traffic with moderate and short coherence times, the stopping-trial estimator still responses to the traffic changes with a short detection time as long as the inter-arrival times of traffic transactions are independent. The algorithm provides no prejudice on the exact network traffic distribution avoiding having to sense and estimate detailed arrival traffic statistics. To further deal with the fast-changing traffic, we model the transient convergent behaviors of network traffic drift as a result of traffic transition rate changes and validate the feasibility and utility of the traffic prediction. When the network traffic rate changes quickly, our sequential maximum likelihood estimator will capture the traffic trend with a small number of arrivals and provide fast reconfiguration, which is very important for maintaining quality of service during large traffic shifts.
Effects of Defoliation, Litter, and Moss on Bromus arvensis in a Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie☆

Abstract Exotic winter annual grasses (Bromus spp.) are a problem in North American rangelands. Defoliation, litter, and mosses are thought to regulate invasive annual Bromus species. We conducted a field experiment that tested effects of mechanical mowing and fungicide applications on Bromus arvensis, other and total graminoids, forbs, litter, and moss. Treatments caused litter biomass and moss cover to vary, which enabled testing whether litter and mosses explain variation in B. arvensis biomass. Two yr after cessation of experimental treatments, mowing treatments caused persistent reductions in B. arvensis, total graminoid, and litter biomasses but had no effect on other graminoid and forb biomasses. We detected a positive relationship between litter and B. arvensis. Fungicide applications increased moss cover and other and total graminoid biomasses, thereby suggesting mosses and several graminoids were released from the suppressive effects of biota (e.g., lichen, pathogenic fungi) susceptible to the fungicide. We found no relationship, however, between moss cover and B. arvensis. In temperate and semiarid ecosystems, mowing during flowering and before seed drop coupled with removal of clippings is likely to help control invasive bromes and fungicide additions may increase grass production.
Potential Flow Through Cascades of Thin, Porous Aerofoils

As mentioned in the Introduction, a promising direction in aeroacoustic research is to take inspiration from the silent flight of owls [11]. Amongst other features, it is known that the porous trailing edge of an owl’s wing is responsible for its surprisingly effective noise reduction capabilities. This realisation has been a substantial source of research into the effects of porosity on trailing-edge noise, from experimental [5, 9], numerical [4, 19] and analytic [16, 18] perspectives. However, despite being aeroacoustically favourable, porosity gradients typically have adverse aerodynamic affects, and consequently the aeroacoustic gains afforded by porous trailing edges must be held in tension with the associated aerodynamic losses. This delicate balancing act has resulted in further research into the aerodynamic effects of isolated porous aerofoils [12, 14, 15]. Accordingly, in this chapter we conduct a novel investigation into the aerodynamic effects of porosity gradients for aerofoils in a cascade formation.
Application of Interacting Models to Estimate the Gait Speed of an Exoskeleton User

This paper outlines steps toward a framework for model-based user intent detection to enable fluent human-robot interaction in assistive exoskeletons. An interacting multi-model (IMM) estimation scheme is presented to address state estimation for lower-extremity exoskeletons and to handle their hybrid dynamics. The proposed IMM scheme includes new approaches that enable it to estimate states of hybrid systems with dynamics that are unique to each phase. Traditional IMMs only consider the probabilistic likelihood of being in each phase, while the implementation in this work has been modified to consider physical likelihood as well. The IMM compares exoskeleton sensor readings to multiple candidate gaits from a template model of walking. Candidate gaits are generated using a numerical optimization procedure applied to a Bipedal Spring-Loaded Inverted Pendulum (B-SLIP) model. The framework was tested with sensor data acquired from walking trials in an Ekso GT exoskeleton, and was used to estimate gait phase and center of mass velocity. It is shown that the standard IMM filtering approach results in incorrect estimates of gait phase, while the proposed addition to the IMM estimator using physical likelihood improves the estimates. Results with human subject data further show the ability to estimate gait phase and speed in experimental settings.
Tectonostratigraphic evolution of the Orphan Basin and Flemish Pass region – Part 2: Regional structural development and lateral variations in rifting style

Abstract Interpretation of newly acquired modern broadband seismic reflection data and structural restoration of three regional, WNW-ESE oriented cross-sections across the Orphan Basin, Flemish Pass and Flemish Cap provide new insights into rift evolution and structural style in the area. Our results show that regional extension in the Orphan Basin and Flemish Pass area largely occurred between 170 Ma and 135 Ma, and later extension (135 Ma onwards) in the study area was accommodated east of Flemish Cap. Seismic stratigraphic mapping provides evidence for significant thicknesses of Jurassic strata throughout the Orphan Basin and Flemish Pass area, and structural interpretations highlight the importance of crustal-scale extensional detachment faults in controlling the geometry and position of Jurassic sub-basins at a range of scales. Stacked detachment surfaces and coincident extreme crustal attenuation (to ca. 3.1 km) are observed in eastern parts of the Orphan Basin in an area defined in this study as the Orphan Trough. Rifting style in the central, northern, and eastern parts of the Orphan Basin is dominated by low-angle detachment faulting with maximum extension perpendicular to the incipient rift axis. In contrast, structural geometries in the southwestern part of the basin are suggestive of transtensional deformation, and interplay of normal and strike-slip faulting. Results from map-based interpretation show that strike-slip faults within this transtensional zone are associated with displacement transfer between half-grabens of opposing polarity, rather than regional strike-slip displacement. These structures are interpreted as contemporaneous and kinematically linked to displacement along low-angle detachment surfaces elsewhere and are not attributed to distinct episodes of oblique extension.
Timing of chemotherapy does not impact survival in advanced-stage endometrial cancer

Objectives: The optimal timing of chemotherapy for advanced stage endometrial cancers (EC) is not known. In other advanced gynecologic malignancies, delays in treatment start have been associated with adverse outcomes. We sought to assess whether timing of neo-adjuvant (NACT) and post-operative (POC) chemotherapy in Stage III and IV EC impacts survival. Methods: Patient data from the combined SEER-Medicare database from 1991-2015 was collected. The population included 826 patients with 2009 FIGO III-IV EC who received chemotherapy as first treatment. Patients were categorized by mode of treatment: chemotherapy alone (CT), or chemotherapy with subsequent surgery (CT+S). Patients were further stratified by the time from diagnosis to start of chemotherapy. Using the median time, the four quartiles identified were 0-9 days (Q1), 10-25 days (Q2), 26-45 days (Q3), and 46-301 days (Q4). In the CT+S cohort, the time to POC was assessed. Interaction between race and chemotherapy timing were assessed as well. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to identify treatment factors associated with overall survival (OS) and cause specific survival (CSS). Results: A total of 502 and 324 patients had CT and CT+S respectively. Radiation was given in 32.1% and 45.1% of the patients in the CT and CT+S cohorts respectively, and the addition of radiation was associated with improved survival (OS HR 0.66 [0.55-0.80]; CSS HR 0.64 [0.51-0.80]). The CT+S patients were significantly younger, were more likely to be stage III, of type II histology, and had an earlier time to start of chemotherapy when compared with CT. OS (HR 0.39 [0.33-0.46]) and CSS (HR 0.35 [0.28-0.44]) were significantly improved in the CT+S cohort compared to the CT cohort. In the CT+S cohort, the median time to start NACT was 21 days. When stratifying by quartiles, Q4 was associated with improved survival when compared with Q1 (CSS HR 0.41 [0.21-0.79]), and Q2-Q3 (OS HR 0.61 [0.40-0.93]; CSS HR 0.43 [0.23-0.80]). There was no significant difference found amongst the other quartiles. The median time to start of POC was 32 days. When stratifying by quartiles, timing of POC start was not associated with survival (OS p=0.942; CSS p=0.881). Similarly, in the CT cohort, median time to start NACT was 28 days. Q4 was associated with improved survival when compared with Q1 (OS HR 0.50 [0.38-0.66]; CSS HR 0.50 [0.36-0.69]) and Q2-3 (OS HR 0.62 [0.49-0.77]; CSS HR 0.62 [0.47-0.81]). There were no differences in times to treatment based on race. Conclusions: In patients with advanced stage EC who receive NACT, delays in chemotherapy start both prior to and following interval debulking surgery do not appear to impact survival. These results stand independent of race and demographic features. Interestingly, a majority of the cohort did not undergo hysterectomy and survival outcomes were worse in this group. Timing of treatment initiation did not impact survival, even in this poor prognostic group.
Modeling of Inner Magnetosphere Coupling Processes

The Ring Current (RC) is the biggest energy player in the inner magnetosphere. It is the source of free energy for Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) wave excitation provided by a temperature anisotropy of RC ions, which develops naturally during inward E B convection from the plasmasheet. The cold plasmasphere, which is under the strong influence of the magnetospheric electric field, strongly mediates the RC-EMIC wave-particle-coupling process and ultimately becomes part of the particle and energy interplay. On the other hand, there is a strong influence of the RC on the inner magnetospheric electric and magnetic field configurations and these configurations, in turn, are important to RC dynamics. Therefore, one of the biggest needs for inner magnetospheric research is the continued progression toward a coupled, interconnected system with the inclusion of nonlinear feedback mechanisms between the plasma populations, the electric and magnetic fields, and plasma waves. As we clearly demonstrated in our studies, EMIC waves strongly interact with electrons and ions of energies ranging from approx.1 eV to approx.10 MeV, and that these waves strongly affect the dynamics of resonant RC ions, thermal electrons and ions, and the outer RB relativistic electrons. As we found, the rate of ion and electron scattering/heating in the Earth's magnetosphere is not only controlled by the wave intensity-spatial-temporal distribution but also strongly depends on the spectral distribution of the wave power. The latter is also a function of the plasmaspheric heavy ion content, and the plasma density and temperature distributions along the magnetic field lines. The above discussion places RC-EMIC wave coupling dynamics in context with inner magnetospheric coupling processes and, ultimately, relates RC studies with plasmaspheric and Superthermal Electrons formation processes as well as with outer RB physics.
Twitter sentiment classification for measuring public health concerns

An important task of public health officials is to keep track of health issues, such as spreading epidemics. In this paper, we are addressing the issue of spreading public concernabout epidemics. Public concern about a communicable disease can be seen as a problem of its own. Keeping track of trends in concern about public health and identifying peaks of public concern are therefore crucial tasks. However, monitoring public health concerns is not only expensive with traditional surveillance systems, but also suffers from limited coverage and significant delays. To address these problems, we are using Twitter messages, which are available free of cost, are generated world-wide, and are posted in real time. We are measuring public concern using a two-step sentiment classification approach. In the first step, we distinguish Personal tweets from News (i.e., Non-Personal) tweets. In the second step, we further separate Personal Negative from Personal Non-Negative tweets. Both these steps consist themselves of two sub-steps. In the first sub-step (of both steps), our programs automatically generate training data using an emotion-oriented, clue-based method. In the second sub-step, we are training and testing three different Machine Learning (ML) models with the training data from the first sub-step; this allows us to determine the best ML model for different datasets. Furthermore, we are testing the already trained ML models with a human annotated, disjoint dataset. Based on the number of tweets classified as Personal Negative, we compute a Measure of Concern (MOC) and a timeline of the MOC. We attempt to correlate peaks of the MOC timeline to peaks of the News (Non-Personal) timeline. Our best accuracy results are achieved using the two-step method with a Naive Bayes classifier for the Epidemic domain (six datasets) and the Mental Health domain (three datasets).
Science and the Analysis of Behavior

The word science comes from the Latin scientia,meaning “knowledge,” but as Sir Peter Medawar (1984, p. 3) emphasizes: ... no one construes “science” merely as knowledge. It is thought of rather as knowledge hard won, in which we have much more confidence than we have in opinion, hearsay and belief. The word “science” itself is used as a general name for, on the one hand, the procedures of science—adventures of thought and stratagems of inquiry that go into the advancement of learning—and on the other hand, the substantive body of knowledge that is the outcome of this complex endeavor, though this latter is no mere pile of information: Science is organized knowledge, everyone agrees, and this organization goes much deeper than the pedagogic subdivision into the conventional “-ologies,” each pigeon-holed into lesser topics.
Inhibition of the human methylmalonyl-CoA mutase by various CoA-esters.

Abstract Human methylmalonyl-CoA mutase is inhibited by ethylmalonyl-CoA, cyclopropylcarbonyl-CoA carboxylate, and methylenecyclopropylacetyl-CoA, which are substrate, intermediate, and product analogs, respectively. The mode of inhibition by each analog is reversible and mixed with respect to the substrate, methylmalonyl-CoA. This implies that the inhibitors are able to bind to both free enzyme and to the enzyme-substrate complex, although with affinities that are 4.5- to 10-fold different for the two species. The Ki1 for the cyclopropylcarbonyl-CoA carboxylate (0.26 +/- 0.07 mM), is 4-fold greater than the Km(app) measured for the substrate, methylmalonyl-CoA. Additionally, ethylmalonyl-CoA functions as an alternate substrate and is metabolized to methylsuccinyl-CoA. The human mutase is a homodimer that binds 1 mol of cobalamin per subunit. So, the observed mixed inhibition kinetics by substrate analogs is curious. Our finding that methylenecyclopropylacetyl-CoA, the causative agent of Jamaican "vomiting sickness," inhibits methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, while interesting, is probably not physiologically important because of the relatively high inhibition constants (Ki1 = 0.47 +/- 0.12 mM and Ki2 = 2 +/- 0.34 mM) observed with this compound.
Generic Advertising of Intermediate Goods: Theory and Evidence on Free Riding

We develop a model of generic advertising in the context of vertically dependent markets wherein producers of an intermediate good financially support, through voluntary contributions, a generic advertising campaign aimed at consumers of a final product. The Nash equilibrium is characterized by free riding on the part of upstream firms because of the nature of generic advertising, leading to its underprovision with respect to joint, industry-wide profit maximization. We test the model in the U.S. fluid milk industry focusing on the effects of generic advertising on the intermediate demand for milk, since dairy farmers support the generic advertising. Taking this approach, we find that generic advertising had a positive influence on farm-level demand for milk, but did not achieve joint profit maximization.
Introduction to Digital System Design

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Device technologies System representation Levels of Abstraction Development tasks and EDA software Development flow Overview of the book Bibliographic notes
First Cut is the Deepest: On Optimal Acceptance Strategies in Real Estate

We consider the problem of a seller who faces an unknown number of offers where each offer is a random draw from a known distribution. The objective of the seller is to maximize the probability that the highest offer is chosen. This is equivalent to maximizing expected utility when one assigns preferences to rankings of offers. We identify the optimal selling strategy using the technique of Porosinski (1987) and general optimal stopping theory. We show that the optimal strategy is characterized by a non-increasing stochastic set of reservation prices. This is in contrast to the classical search theory models where reservation prices are deterministic. Our analysis also provides theoretical support to the observation that first offers in residential real estate markets should be accepted more often since they tend to be higher than subsequent offers.
Preparation and solvolysis of the bicyclo[2.3.1]oct-2-en-8-yl p-toluenesulfonates

Abstract The syntheses and proof of structure of syn- and anti-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-en-8-olds are desecribed. Kinetic analysis and product determination for the acetolyses of the p-toluenesulfonates were carried out. Only the anti-ester (III) derives significant anchimeric assistance, and the ion generated must be different than the classical 8-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-ene cation presumably formed from the syn-epimer (II). A new type of homoallylic cation is postulated for the solvolysis of anti-bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-en-8-yl p-toluenesulfonate. Comparison of these data with that from the 7-norbornenyl homologs allows several conclusions regarding the requirements for effective homoallytic participation.
Two Phases of Rod Photoreceptor Differentiation during Rat Retinal Development

We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the relative timing of the terminal mitosis and the onset of rhodopsin expression in rod precursors in the rat retina in vivo . This analysis demonstrated that there are two distinct phases of rod development during retinal histogenesis. For the majority of rod precursors, those born on or after embryonic day 19 (E19), the onset of rhodopsin expression was strongly correlated temporally with cell cycle withdrawal. For these precursors, the lag between the terminal mitosis and rhodopsin expression was measured to be 5.5–6.5 d on average. By contrast, for rod precursors born before E19, the lag was measured to be significantly longer, averaging from 8.5 to 12.5 d. In addition, these early-born rod precursors seemed to initiate rhodopsin expression in a manner that was not correlated temporally with the terminal mitosis. In these cells, onset of rhodopsin expression appeared approximately synchronous with later-born cells, suggesting a synchronous recruitment to the rod cell fate induced by environmental signals. To examine this possibility, experiments in which the early-born precursors were exposed to a late environment were conducted, using a reaggregate culture system. In these experiments, the early-born precursors appeared remarkably uninfluenced by the late environment with respect to both rod determination and the kinetics of rhodopsin expression. These results support the idea that intrinsically distinct populations of rod precursors constitute the two phases of rod development and that the behavior exhibited by the early-born precursors is intrinsically programmed.
Phenomenologizing with A Hammer: Theory or Practice?

As a contribution towards clearing the ground for a new phenomenological evaluation of the essence of science, in this paper I present a critique of Heidegger's argument in Being and Time for the priority of Zuhandenheit to Vorhandenheit. I argue that Heidegger's notion of presence-at-hand is incoherent, conflating Husserl and Descartes, and that this general analysis has serious phenomenological flaws. Contrary to Heidegger, I maintain that there is a form of exploratory, theoretical activity including causal inquiry which is prior to the type of practical activity entailed by readiness-to-hand. Consideration of this exploratory activity points us in the direction of an alternate conception of the genesis and essence of theory.
Superoxide anion inhibits cGMP-associated bovine pulmonary arterial relaxation

We have reported evidence that endothelium-independent relaxations of isolated bovine pulmonary arteries to H2O2 and to reoxygenation with 95% O2-5% CO2 after brief exposure to N2 (5% CO2) appear t...
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review

Importance Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and its subtype nonalcoholic steatohepatitis affect approximately 30% and 5%, respectively, of the US population. In patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, half of deaths are due to cardiovascular disease and malignancy, yet awareness of this remains low. Cirrhosis, the third leading cause of death in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, is predicted to become the most common indication for liver transplantation. Objectives To illustrate how to identify patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease at greatest risk of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis; to discuss the role and limitations of current diagnostics and liver biopsy to diagnose nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; and to provide an outline for the management of patients across the spectrum of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Evidence Review PubMed was queried for published articles through February 28, 2015, using the search termsNAFLD and cirrhosis, mortality, biomarkers,andtreatment. A total of 88 references were selected, including 14 randomized clinical trials, 19 cohort or case-control studies, 1 population-based study, 2 practice guidelines, 7 meta-analyses, 43 classified as other, and 2 webpages. Findings Sixty-six percent of patients older than 50 years with diabetes or obesity are thought to have nonalcoholic steatohepatitis with advanced fibrosis. Even though the ability to identify the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis subtype within those with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease still requires liver biopsy, biomarkers to detect advanced fibrosis are increasingly reliable. Lifestyle modification is the foundation of treatment for patients with nonalcoholic steatosis. Available treatments with proven benefit include vitamin E, pioglitazone, and obeticholic acid; however, the effect size is modest ( Conclusions and Relevance Between 75 million and 100 million individuals in the United States are estimated to have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and its potential morbidity extends beyond the liver. It is important that primary care physicians, endocrinologists, and other specialists be aware of the scope and long-term effects of the disease. Early identification of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis may help improve patient outcomes through treatment intervention, including transplantation for those with decompensated cirrhosis.
Overview of interlayer exchange theory

Abstract Basic mechanisms of interlayer exchange coupling between two ferromagnets separated by a non-magnetic spacer are surveyed. Simple generic theoretical models yielding closed formulae are treated. First, intrinsic exchange between itinerant ferromagnets is treated in the free-electron band approximation, including corrections to the elementary sinusoidal dependences on metallic-spacer thickness and on angle θ included between the magnetic moments. Properties of metallic and insulating spacers are compared. Then three special mechanisms of non-cos θ coupling are described: (1) fluctuations of spacer thickness, (2) loose spins, and (3) a novel phenomenological coupling through a non-normal spacer, possibly acting in spacers composed of chromium or manganese.
Rated association values of 251 colors

Colors were rated for association value by 100 male and 100 female S s on a 5-point scale. The association values ranged from 4.61 to 1.60. The colors rated highest by both males and females were vivid red, white, and bluish white. Females reported more associations ( M = 2.63) than males ( M = 2.52) and the r between males and females was .91. Those colors perceived to have higher association values were the purer, stronger colors with high chroma values. It is suggested that the association value of colors should be considered when color is a variable in learning experiments.
Target sequences for mutagenesis in Salmonella histidine-requiring mutants

Nucleotide target sequences involved in reversion to the wild type phenotype are diagrammed for Salmonella frameshift histidine-requiring mutants hisD3052, hisD3018, hisD6610, and hisD6580 and for base-substitution mutants hisG46 and hisG428. Frameshift strain hisC3076 probably reverts by nucleotide changes similar to those that occur during reversion of hisD3018 and hisD6610. Multiple modes of reversion characterize each strain. Each strain also has a particularly diagnostic mutagen-susceptible sequence. These highly mutagen-susceptible stretches are the hisD3052 GCGCGCGC sequence, the hisD6610 CCCCCC sequence, the hisD6580 AAAAA sequence, and the A/T containing codon of hisG428 and G/C containing codon of hisG46, respectively. Between them, hisG46 and hisG428 are reverted by all of the six possible base substitution transition and transversion mutations.
GENE GENEALOGIES WITHIN THE ORGANISMAL PEDIGREES OF RANDOM-MATING POPULATIONS.

Using computer simulations, we generated and analyzed genetic distances among selectively neutral haplotypes transmitted through gene genealogies with random-mating organismal pedigrees. Constraints and possible biases on haplotype distances due to correlated ancestry were evaluated by comparing observed distributions of distances to those predicted from an inbreeding theory that assumes independence among haplotype pairs. Results suggest that: 1) mean time to common ancestry of neutral haplotypes can be a reasonably good predictor of evolutionary effective population size; 2) the nonindependence of haplotype paths of descent within a given gene genealogy typically produces significant departures from the theoretical probability distributions of haplotype distances; 3) frequency distributions of distances between haplotypes drawn from "replicate" organismal pedigrees or from multiple unlinked loci within an organismal pedigree exhibit very close agreement with the theory for independent haplotypes. These results are relevant to interpretations of current molecular data on genetic distances among nonrecombining haplotypes at either nuclear or cytoplasmic loci.
Understanding defects in semiconductors as key to advancing device technology

The process of understanding defects in semiconductors that are relevant for device technologies is briefly reviewed. Examples of such defects in silicon, GaAs, GaN and related alloys are discussed. These examples include the study of native defects and self-diffusion in silicon, transition metals in silicon, transition metal gettering, hydrogen in silicon, DX-centers in compound semiconductors, EL2, the arsenic antisite defect in GaAs, and defects in GaN and related alloys.
The impact of daily sexual desire and daily sexual desire discrepancy on the quality of the sexual experience in couples

Recent research has found associations between sexual desire, desire discrepancy, and satisfaction outcomes in individuals and couples on a broad level. The present study aimed to extend these findings to the event level through examining daily experiences of sexual desire, sexual desire discrepancy, and quality of the sexual experience in a sample of 87 mixed-sex couples (174 individuals) over a 30-day period through daily electronic report. Participants were in their relationships for an average of 9.3 years. Data were analyzed using over-time Actor Partner Interdependence Models (APIM). For women and men, higher actor daily sexual desire predicted higher actor quality of the sexual experience. In addition, higher partner daily sexual desire predicted higher actor quality of the sexual experience. Event-level desire discrepancy between the couple was also a significant predictor of actor quality of the sexual experience for women, though not for men. These results confirm that day-to-day sexual desire and desire discrepancy are important indicators of quality of the sexual relationship and emphasize the importance of considering event-level characteristics when examining sexual behaviour and couple dynamics. Implications and suggestions for future research are also discussed.
Avenues of Investigation for the Role of Catecholamines in Anxiety

Many of the cardinal somatic symptoms associated with anxiety states are produced by the sympathoadrenal medullary discharge of catecholamines (CA) described over 50 years ago as ‘fight or flight’ responses. During the last decade, development of sensitive convenient assays for CA and their metabolites in tissues, cerebrospinal fluid, plasma and urine has made possible assessment of brain and peripheral adrenergic activity during stress, in neuropsychiatric disorders, and after administration of drugs. Studies in animal models of stress and anxiety parallel studies in humans. In rats, there are genetic differences in the graded adrenergic alerting responses to administered or anticipated stress, analogous to trait anxiety in humans. Behavioral responses to stress may be attenuated in rats by pharmacological blockade of peripheral CA release, suggesting a positive feedback process in which released CA augment behavioral responses, possibly analogous to use of clonidine or β-adrenergic blocking agents to diminish somatic symptoms attending anxiety-provoking situations in humans. The biochemical evaluation of adrenergic responses by examination of CA and their metabolites in body fluids of humans with various levels of sympathetic activation will be discussed.
Anomalous Neutron Diffraction in α Cadmium Sulfide

Anomalous neutron scattering (failure of Friedel's law) was observed in experiments with alpha Cd containing neutron-absorbing Cd/sup 113/ and a space group Pomc, in which the integrated intensities of (hkl) and (hkl)-bar mates of a series of reflections were measured at several wavelengths. The I/sub 002//I/sub 002/ ratio showed a strong energy dependence, due t o the variation of the complex amplitude of cadmium with the wave length, which agrees with the Breit- Wigner theory. The intensity inequalities were compared for x rays and neutrons on one CdS crystal; the direction of the phase shift was found to be the same for both. Possible applications of anomalous neutron scattering are discussed. (D.L.C.)
Comparing the contributions of context and prosody in text-independent dialog act recognition

Automatic segmentation and classification of dialog acts (DAs; e.g., statements versus questions) is important for spoken language understanding (SLU). While most systems have relied on word and word boundary information, interest in privacy-sensitive applications and non-ASR-based processing requires an approach that is text-independent. We propose a framework for employing both speech/non-speech-based (“contextual”) features and prosodic features, and apply it to DA segmentation and classification in multiparty meetings. We find that: (1) contextual features are better for recognizing turn edge DA types and DA boundary types, while prosodic features are better for finding floor mechanisms and backchannels; (2) the two knowledge sources are complementary for most of the DA types studied; and (3) the performance of the resulting system approaches that achieved using oracle lexical information for several DA types. These results suggest that there is significant promise in text-independent features for DA recognition, and possibly for other SLU tasks, particularly when words are not available.
S-Glutathionylation in Monocyte and Macrophage (Dys)Function

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease involving the accumulation of monocytes and macrophages in the vascular wall. Monocytes and macrophages play a central role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic lesion development. Oxidative stress, which occurs when reactive oxygen species (ROS) overwhelm cellular antioxidant systems, contributes to the pathophysiology of many chronic inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis. Major targets of ROS are reactive thiols on cysteine residues in proteins, which when oxidized can alter cellular processes, including signaling pathways, metabolic pathways, transcription, and translation. Protein-S-glutathionylation is the process of mixed disulfide formation between glutathione (GSH) and protein thiols. Until recently, protein-S-glutathionylation was associated with increased cellular oxidative stress, but S-glutathionylation of key protein targets has now emerged as a physiologically important redox signaling mechanism, which when dysregulated contributes to a variety of disease processes. In this review, we will explore the role of thiol oxidative stress and protein-S-glutathionylation in monocyte and macrophage dysfunction as a mechanistic link between oxidative stress associated with metabolic disorders and chronic inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis.
Accurate Pipeline Blockage Detection with Low-Cost Multi-modal Sensing

Industrial sensing applications place a premium on cost-effectiveness and accuracy. Traditional approaches often use expensive, invasive sensors from concern that inexpensive, non-invasive sensors will incur many false positives. High sensor cost leaves many lower value sites with sparse automation and no sensing. In this paper, we show how a combination of different types of sensors can provide reliable detection of industrial events while avoid false positives. Our use of multiple, low-cost sensors can enable greater levels of automation for these applications. We explore this problem by studying a specific application: blockages in oil flow lines common in cold weather. We sense changes in fluid flow from pipe skin temperature, and combine readings with acoustic data to avoid false positives and be robust to environmental changes. We demonstrate that our approach is effective with field experiments, and explore a broader range of problems in laboratory experiments. Our general approach applies to the classes of problems where false positives from one sensing modality can be resolved by multi-modal sensing.
A Review of Tagging Methods for Estimating Fish Population Size and Components of Mortality

Abstract Techniques to improve estimation of animal population size and mortality from tagging studies have received substantial attention from terrestrial biologists and statisticians during the last 20 years. However, these techniques have received little notice from fisheries biologists, despite the widespread applicability to fisheries research, the wide variety of tag types used in fisheries research (from traditional fin clips to telemetry tags), and the development of new computer software to assist with analyses. We present a brief review of population models based on recaptures, returns, or telemetry relocations of tagged fish that can be used to estimate population size, total mortality, and components of mortality (i.e., fishing and natural) that are frequently of interest to fisheries biologists. Recommended strategies include (1) use closed population models (e.g., Lincoln-Peterson) to estimate population size for short term studies where closure assumption can be met, (2) use the robust desi...
Predictive Computational Models Of Complex Biological Systems: Antiarrhythmics And Cardiac Tissue Dynamics

Effective pharmacological treatment of cardiac arrhythmia is a long sought and, as yet, elusive goal. Poor efficacy and outcomes in treating arrhythmia with drugs is due, in part, to failure to accurately predict how drugs with implicitly complex pharmacodynamics affect multi-component interactive cardiac cells and tissues. For example, an assumption that drug block of voltage gated Na+ channels results in current reduction is much too simplistic. Rather, multiple factors including complex drug pharmacokinetics, pH dependence, voltage dependence, conformation-specific block and rate-dependent properties of drugs, as well drug interaction with the multiple mechanisms and triggers of arrhythmia must be considered for development of appropriate pharmacological intervention for arrhythmia management. Our goal has been to develop novel theoretical approaches through the construction of detailed representations of drug block in virtual cardiac cells and tissues. I will present a multi-scale computational approach to predict the effects of antiarrhythmic drugs that target cardiac Na+ channels. The models reproduce experimentally observed pharmacokinetics of drug channel interactions including dose-dependence and steady-state drug effects, and well as dynamic properties such as use- and rate-dependence and recovery from block. The drug-channel models are incorporated into computational representations of cardiac tissue to test potentially arrhythmogenic situations in which the models predict specific drugs to be proarrhythmic or antiarrhythmic. For example, under particular rapid pacing conditions, the model predicts that the Na+ channel blocker flecainide results in development of tachyarrhythmias. However, the same drug is predicted to exhibit antiarrhythmic effects on slow heart rate dependent arrhythmia triggers. Our results suggest that drug efficacy in arrhythmia treatment is drug and circumstance dependent and that a computational approach can be utilized to predict experimentally testable outcomes.
d-fenfluramine, but not d-norfenfluramine, uses calcium to increase extracellular serotonin.

Abstract Microdialysis in the hippocampus of freely moving rats was used to assess extracellular serotonin (5-HT) in response to local infusion of d-fenfluramine and its metabolite d-norfenfluramine with and without local calcium depletion. Verapamil (1 mM) in calcium-free Ringer infused via the microdialysis probe increased extracellular 5-HT and prevented the full increase in extracellular 5-HT normally caused by 1 mM d-fenfluramine. The results suggest d-fenfluramine might act in part as a calcium channel agonist favoring a calcium influx that in turn would trigger the exocytotic process in 5-HT terminals, d-norfenfluramine, on the other hand, was capable of releasing 5-HT, in vivo, in spite of depleted Ca levels.
Absorption and Translocation of Sodium in Beans and Cotton

At the end of a 4 hour absorption period approximately 95% of the sodium absorbed by bean plants was retained in the secondary roots. The sodium translocated to the shoot was retained in the stem. 2,4-Dinitrophenol decreased the amount retained in the secondary roots of bean plants and increased the amount translocated to the shoot. The stem retained most of the translocated sodium. Bean plants without roots absorbed considerably more sodium than plants with roots and translocated a greater proportion of the sodium to the petioles and blades. 2,4-Dinitrophenol reduced the amount of sodium in the stem and petioles and increased the amount in the blades. 2,4-Dinitrophenol reduced the amount of sodium retained by the secondary roots of cotton plants but did not appreciably affect the amounts translocated to the shoot.
Effect of Zolpidem on the Sleep Arousal Response to Nocturnal Esophageal Acid Exposure

Background & Aims Nocturnal acid reflux is associated with complicated gastroesophageal reflux (GER) disease. Nocturnal GER initiates a protective arousal reflex, which induces a swallow to clear esophageal acid. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of zolpidem on the sleep arousal mechanism and acid clearance in patients with documented GER, compared with control subjects with normal acid exposure. Methods Eight controls and 16 GER patients were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Zolpidem or placebo was given on separate nights. Reflux events and reflux-associated arousals or awakenings were recorded using simultaneous esophageal pH recording and standard polysomnography. Results Nocturnal acid exposure resulted in a sleep arousal 89% of the time in participants (with and without GER) given placebo but only 40% in those given zolpidem ( P P P P Conclusions Zolpidem reduced the arousal response to nocturnal acid exposure and increased the duration of each esophageal acid reflux event in healthy individuals and patients with GER. Because nocturnal acid exposure was prolonged, hypnotic use by patients with GER could lead to increased risk for complicated disease.