cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Encoding of Target Detection during Visual Search by Single Neurons in the Human Brain.

Neurons in the primate medial temporal lobe (MTL) respond selectively to visual categories such as faces, contributing to how the brain represents stimulus meaning. However, it remains unknown whether MTL neurons continue to encode stimulus meaning when it changes flexibly as a function of variable task demands imposed by goal-directed behavior. While classically associated with long-term memory, recent lesion and neuroimaging studies show that the MTL also contributes critically to the online guidance of goal-directed behaviors such as visual search. Do such tasks modulate responses of neurons in the MTL, and if so, do their responses mirror bottom-up input from visual cortices or do they reflect more abstract goal-directed properties? To answer these questions, we performed concurrent recordings of eye movements and single neurons in the MTL and medial frontal cortex (MFC) in human neurosurgical patients performing a memory-guided visual search task. We identified a distinct population of target-selective neurons in both the MTL and MFC whose response signaled whether the currently fixated stimulus was a target or distractor. This target-selective response was invariant to visual category and predicted whether a target was detected or missed behaviorally during a given fixation. The response latencies, relative to fixation onset, of MFC target-selective neurons preceded those in the MTL by ∼200 ms, suggesting a frontal origin for the target signal. The human MTL thus represents not only fixed stimulus identity, but also task-specified stimulus relevance due to top-down goal relevance.
Assessment of Dietary Supplement Use

This chapter reviews the rationale and methodology for including assessment of dietary supplements in total dietary assessment. Tools for assessing supplement use are discussed, and informational resources for learning more about supplement assessment are provided.
Noir ontology : existing in the fragmented spaces of Los Angeles.

NOIR ONTOLOGY: EXISTING IN THE FRAGMENTED URBAN SPACES OF LOS ANGELES Jacob Goessling November 30,2011 Nair Ontology: Existing in the Fragmented Urban Spaces of Los Angeles explores the role of decentered urban geography within the body of noir texts set within Los Angeles. By focusing on the development of the idea of Los Angeles in early to midTwentieth century literature and film, this essay argues that Alain Badiou's system of ontology provides a critical apparatus for investigating the many ways in which the Los Angeles sunshine myth organizes the relations between individuals within particular urban spaces. Through an analysis of the city's early cultural history, Roman Polanski and Robert Towne's film Chinatown, and Chester Himes's novel If He Hollers Let Him Go, this project develops the concept of an LA noir ontology that expresses a suspicion towards post-industrial urban development and the modifications that it makes to everyday life while echoing Badiou's contemporary critique of the role capitalism in contemporary globalized society.
Rabies contingency plan in Japan

In Japan, rabies has been culled out since 1957 thanks to the strong implementation of measures against rabies, such as vaccination of dogs, quarantine and control of wild dogs under the 'Rabies Prevention Law' enacted in 1950. Nevertheless one cannot deny the possibility of introduction of rabies into Japan in view of the recent increase in the international movements of people and animals. Should an outbreak of rabies be suspected now in Japan, the society would probably overreact due to a decreased awareness of risks and a lack of correct knowledge about this disease. Officials of the government and the municipalities, veterinarians and doctors should exchange correct information on rabies and on prevention control and raise their awareness, while providing also information to the public on a timely basis. Besides it is needless to say that it is important to set up a crisis management system allowing a quick and adequate response in case of an outbreak of rabies and to continue to implement appropriate prevention measures in normal times.
A Web-Based Knowledge Management Environment for Consulting and Research Organizations

Consulting and research organizations are characterized by a project orientation, teamwork, a flat organizational structure, and a dynamically changing set of personnel roles and objectives. These ...
SYNTHESIS AND CONFORMATIONAL ANALYSIS OF A CHIRAL FLUORINATED BILIRUBIN ANALOG LACKING CARBOXYL GROUPS

An optically active analog 1 of etiobilirubin-IVγ with a single fluorine on each of the C(8) and C(12) alkyl groups has been synthesized in order to examine its potential for hydrogen bonding with fluorine. Circular dichroism spectroscopy reveals an unusually strong influence of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol solvent on diastereo-selection of the M-helical conformation of (81S,121S)-1.
Chapter 233 – Sex Determination

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the sex determination in insects. Sex determination depends on molecular switches that signal whether the male or the female sex-differentiating pathway will be followed during development; it can be triggered by genetic, epigenetic, or environmental cues. Insects display sexual dimorphism, in which males and female differ in form, behavior, and/or physiology. Although sex determination and developmental pathways leading to two distinct sexes are universal within insects, the primary signals that trigger sex determination are highly diverse and differ between groups. The primary signal for sex determination can entail genetic signaling, epigenetic signaling via maternally expressed genes or genomic imprinting of genes, or cytoplasmic factors like B chromosomes and bacterial infections. The primary signals can act alone or in combination. Molecular genetic details of sex determination and sex differentiation are known mainly from Drosophila, and these are described below. Comparison of sex determination of insects, nematode worms, and mammals points to a similar genetic mechanism that underlies sex determination: a cascade of gene expression, with alternative splicing of key genes and intermediate genes, leading to alternative splicing of a double-switch gene that ultimately controls differentiation of males and females.
On-the-fly data race detection with the enhanced openmp series-parallel graph

This paper proposes OMP-RACER, a dynamic apparent data race detector for OpenMP programs. Apparent data races are those races that manifest in a program considering the logical series-parallel relations of the execution. By identifying apparent races, OMP-RACER can detect races that occur not only in the observed schedule but also in other schedules for a given input. Our key contribution is a data structure to capture series-parallel relations between various fragments of an OpenMP program with both structured and unstructured parallelism directives, which we call the Enhanced OpenMP Series-Parallel Graph (EOSPG). OMP-RACER maintains information about previous accesses with each memory access and uses the EOSPG to check if they can logically execute in parallel. OMP-RACER detects more races with similar overheads when compared to existing state-of-the-art race detectors for OpenMP programs.
Wind-Power Generator Technology Research Aims to Meet Global-Wind Power Ambitions

Li et al. present a worldwide analysis of rare-earth elements used in wind turbine generators. It focuses on the most extreme deployment scenario using rare-earth-intensive generator technology to demonstrate demand quickly outpacing supply, thus suggesting an existential threat to rapid wind deployment. However, alternative generator technologies exist or are in development that significantly reduce or almost eliminate the need for rare-earth elements.
DYRK2 controls a key regulatory network in chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells

Chronic myeloid leukemia is a hematological cancer driven by the oncoprotein BCR-ABL1, and lifelong treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors extends patient survival to nearly the life expectancy of the general population. Despite advances in the development of more potent tyrosine kinase inhibitors to induce a durable deep molecular response, more than half of patients relapse upon treatment discontinuation. This clinical finding supports the paradigm that leukemia stem cells feed the neoplasm, resist tyrosine kinase inhibition, and reactivate upon drug withdrawal depending on the fitness of the patient's immune surveillance. This concept lends support to the idea that treatment-free remission is not achieved solely with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and that new molecular targets independent of BCR-ABL1 signaling are needed in order to develop adjuvant therapy to more efficiently eradicate the leukemia stem cell population responsible for chemoresistance and relapse. Future efforts must focus on the identification of new targets to support the discovery of potent and safe small molecules able to specifically eradicate the leukemic stem cell population. In this review, we briefly discuss molecular maintenance in leukemia stem cells in chronic myeloid leukemia and provide a more in-depth discussion of the dual-specificity kinase DYRK2, which has been identified as a novel actionable checkpoint in a critical leukemic network. DYRK2 controls the activation of p53 and proteasomal degradation of c-MYC, leading to impaired survival and self-renewal of leukemia stem cells; thus, pharmacological activation of DYRK2 as an adjuvant to standard therapy has the potential to induce treatment-free remission.
Calming Troubled Waters: A Narrative Review of Challenges and Potential Solutions in the Residency Interview Offer Process

The rising numbers of residency applications along with fears of a constrained graduate medical education environment have created pressures on residency applicants. Anecdotal evidence suggests substantial challenges with the process of offering residency interviews. This narrative review is designed to identify and propose solutions for the current problems in the process of offering residency interviews. We used PubMed and web browser searches to identify relevant studies and reports. Materials were assessed for relevance to the current process of distributing residency interviews. There is limited relevant literature and the quality is poor overall. We were able to identify several key problem areas including uncertain timing of interview offers; disruption caused by the timing of interview offers; imbalance of interview offers and available positions; and a lack of clarity around waitlist and rejection status. In addition, the couples match and need for coordination of interviews creates a special case. Many of the problems related to residency interview offers are amenable to program-level interventions, which may serve as best practices for residency programs, focusing on clear communication of processes as well as attention to factors such as offer-timing and numbers. We provide potential strategies for programs as well as a call for additional research to better understand the problem and solutions.
Passive Institution and Long CEO Compensation Duration

I study the effect of passive institutional ownership on CEO compensation duration by exploiting exogenous variation in passive ownership associated with Russell Index reconstitution. A one-standard-deviation increase in passive ownership leads to a 0.46-standard-deviation increase in compensation duration. I find that the channels through which passive institutions lengthen CEO compensation duration are shareholder-sponsored compensation proposals and proxy voting. Increased passive ownership leads to a greater number of shareholder proposals, and passive institutions cast more votes supporting these proposals. Finally, I show that passive institutions reduce earnings management activities and the effect is stronger for firms with longer compensation duration.
A Scalable and Robust Hierarchical Floorplanning to Enable 24-hour Prototyping for 100k-LUT FPGAs

Physical design for Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is challenging and time-consuming, primarily due to the use of a full-custom approach for aggressively optimize Performance, Power and Area (P.P.A.) of the FPGA design. The growing number of FPGA applications demands novel architectures and shorter development cycles. The use of an automated toolchain is essential to reduce end-to-end development time. This paper presents scalable and adaptive hierarchical floorplanning strategies to significantly reduce the physical design runtime and enable millions-of-LUT FPGA layout implementations using standard ASIC toolchains. This approach mainly exploits the regularity of the design and performs necessary feedthrough creations for global and clock nets to eliminate any requirement of global optimizations. To validate this approach, we implemented full-chip layouts for modern FPGA fabric with logic capacity ranging from 40 to 100k LUTs using a commercial 12nm technology. Our results show that the physical implementation of a 128k-LUT FPGA fabric can be achieved within 24-hours, which has not been demonstrated by any previous work. Compared to previous work, the runtime reduction of 8x is obtained for implementing 2.5k LUTs FPGA device.
The design of a digital filter for noise reduction in an encoded speech signal

Coding/decoding of noisy speech introduces correlation between speech and noise, which makes the conventional Wiener filter derived from the decoded signal inefficient for noise reduction. This paper proposes a filter design method by using the linear prediction coefficients from the encoded speech data to reduce noise in an encoded speech signal. The proposed design method reduces the correlation between speech and noise, which provides better quality on the enhanced speech signal.
Dynamic parameterization to simulate DIN export due to gypsy moth defoliation

A module of dynamic parameterization is added into the HSPF watershed software for simulation of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) export from forest associated with gypsy moth defoliation. It simulates a changing ecosystem following the breakout of defoliation, such as increasing mineralization and nitrification rates and soil temperature, and decreasing interception of precipitation, plant nitrogen uptake rate and evapotranspiration. These parameter values vary with the stages of a defoliation event, such as the progressive period, the peak period, and the recovery period, the simulated DIN export from a multi-occurrence defoliation area in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, USA, is comparable with the observed data.
Speed of Venture Financing for Emerging Technology-Based Entrepreneurial Firms as a Function of Founder Reputation

One of the major commercialization hurdles for technology-based entrepreneurial enterprises is financing and the speed of its acquisition. This is compounded in the case of emerging technology-based enterprises by the nature of their technology acquisition and founding team structure. Many of these firms do not have founders with extensive reputations in the financial community. If founder reputation is important to funding sources with regard to speed and access, and emerging technology commercial development is important for solving twenty-first-century problems and generating economic growth, then there is cause for concern. Here we build on prior research and data from 140 Internet-based firms to examine the effect that founder reputation has on the ability of an enterprise to swiftly obtain financing. Our results suggest that founder reputation expedites ventures' quick access to public but not to private financing. In addition, our results demonstrate that venture capital financing obtained early on and financing by large venture capital syndicates delay access to public financing for founders with extensive reputations.
Go naked: diapers affect infant walking

In light of cross-cultural and experimental research highlighting effects of childrearing practices on infant motor skill, we asked whether wearing diapers, a seemingly innocuous childrearing practice, affects infant walking. Diapers introduce bulk between the legs, potentially exacerbating infants' poor balance and wide stance. We show that walking is adversely affected by old-fashioned cloth diapers, and that even modern disposable diapers - habitually worn by most infants in the sample - incur a cost relative to walking naked. Infants displayed less mature gait patterns and more missteps and falls while wearing diapers. Thus, infants' own diapers constitute an ongoing biomechanical perturbation while learning to walk. Furthermore, shifts in diapering practices may have contributed to historical and cross-cultural differences in infant walking.
Distributed computing: implementation and management strategies

1. Introduction, Raman Khanna, Stanford University. I. TECHNOLOGY AND STANDARDS. 2. OSF Distributed Computing Environment, Ram Kumar, OSF. 3. OSF Distributed Management Environment, OSF. 4. Distributed File Systems, Peter Honeyman, University of Michigan. 5. Distributed Data Management, Harvinder Singh, Oracle. 6. Security, Jeff Schiller, MIT. 7. Network Management and Instrumentation Protocols, Steve Waldbusser, Carnegie Mellon University. II. CASE STUDIES. 8. Andrew Project, John Leong, Carnegie Mellon University. 9. Project Athena, Dan Geer, Geer/Zolot Associates. 10. Institutional File System, Ted Hanns, University of Michigan. 11. Distributed Computing Project at Hewlett Packard, Wallace A. Ross, Hewlett Packard. III. IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES. 12. Vendor Strategies, Raman Khanna, Stanford University. 13. Key Services, Bob Morgan, Stanford University. 14. Systems Management and Administration, Wallace Colyer and Walter Wong, Carnegie Mellon University. 15. Migration to OSF/DCE and OSF/DME, Bob Moran, Roland Schemers, Stanford University. 16. Organizational Issues, Raman Khanna and John Sack, Stanford University. Glossary. Index.
Foreign exchange rate prediction by fuzzy inferencing on deterministic chaos

Predicting foreign exchange rates and stock market have been a well researched topic in the field of financial engineering. However, most methods suffer from serious drawback due to inherent uncertainty and the data acquisition problems. In this research, we have analyzed the very nature of the time series data from a pure dynamical system point of view and explored the deterministic chaotic characteristic in it. A fuzzy reconstruction method based on fuzzy multiple regression analysis have been used to predict the foreign exchange rates with accuracy.
Alleles at the b incompatibility locus in Polish and North American populations of Ustilago maydis (DC) Corda

Abstract Alleles at the b locus, whose polymorphism is known to control both pathogenicity and mating type, present in 37 teliospore samples of Ustilago maydis (DC) Corda from six locations in Poland, were identified and compared with the b alleles in a sample of similar size from North America. Twelve b alleles were found in the Polish sample, six of which were also present in the North American sample. The probable total number of alleles present in the two populations combined was estimated at 25.
Amplification of Signaling Activity of the Arc Two-component System of Escherichia coli by Anaerobic Metabolites AN IN VITRO STUDY WITH DIFFERENT PROTEIN MODULES

Abstract In Escherichia coli, changes in redox condition of growth are sensed and signaled by the Arc two-component system. This system consists of ArcB as the membrane-associated sensor kinase and ArcA as the cytoplasmic response regulator. ArcB is a tripartite kinase, possessing a primary transmitter, a receiver, and a secondary transmitter domain that catalyzes the phosphorylation of ArcA via a His → Asp → His → Asp phosphorelay, as well as the dephosphorylation of ArcA-P by a reverse phosphorelay. When ArcA and ArcB were incubated with ATP, the peak levels of phosphorylated proteins increased in the presence of the fermentation metabolitesd-lactate, acetate, or pyruvate. In this study, we report that these effectors accelerate the autophosphorylation activity of ArcB and enhance the transphosphorylation of ArcA, but have no effect on the dephosphorylation of ArcA-P. Moreover, the presence of the receiver domain of ArcB is essential for the effectors to influence the autophosphorylation rate of the primary transmitter domain of ArcB.
Anxiety levels in EMS providers : Effects of violence and shift schedules

We tried to measure anxiety levels in emergency medical service (EMS) providers to determine the effects of (1) having had a violent encounter during a shift and (2) different shift schedules, conducting a prospective observational study over 3 months in an urban EMS system setting. A convenience sample of 23 EMTs and 40 EMT-Ps was observed. Anxiety levels were measured using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A total of 99 inventories were completed by 63 EMS providers. The mean state (32.6+/-8) and trait (31.7+/-7.1) scores were less than normative scores (35.7+/-10.4 and 34.9+/-9.2 respectively) for working adult males (P = .004 and .007, respectively). Paramedics had lower anxiety scores than basic EMTs (P = .015 and .039) and years of experience also decreased anxiety scores (P < .0001). There was no significant difference in state scores between those EMS providers who had encountered violence during the preceding 12 hours and those providers who had not. Comparisons of state scores of providers assessed at hour 12 of a 12 hour shift, hour 12 of a 24 hour shift, and hour 24 of a 24 hour shift failed to show any significant differences. Although the working environment of the EMS provider contains numerous stressors and uncertainties, this population of providers were no more anxious than the general working public. Advanced training and years of experience decreased anxiety. Violent encounters during a shift did not appear to affect anxiety levels. There was no difference in anxiety levels in providers who worked 12 and 24 hour shifts.
A reinterpretation of criminal law reform in nineteenth century England

Abstract This study challenges the traditional idealistic interpretation that the movement for reforming the criminal law in early nineteenth century England was generated by the enlightened doctrines of Jeremy Bentham. Historical evidence is presented that suggests that even without Bentham a new penal policy would have emerged. Parliament mitigated the severity of the criminal law largely in response to the business community, which demanded more swiftness and certainty in the conviction of property offenders.
Precise Timing of the Last Interglacial Period from Mass Spectrometric Determination of Thorium-230 in Corals

The development of mass spectrometric techniques for determination of ^(230)Th abundance has made it possible to reduce analytical errors in ^(238)U-^(234)U-^(230)Th dating of corals even with very small samples. Samples of 6 x 10^8 atoms of ^(230)Th can be measured to an accuracy of ±3 percent (2σ) and 3 x 10^(10) atoms of ^(230)Th can be measured to an accuracy of ±0.2 percent. The time range over which useful age data on corals can be obtained now ranges from about 50 to about 500,000 years. For young corals, this approach may be preferable to ^(14)C dating. The precision with which the age of a coral can now be determined should make it possible to critically test the Milankovitch hypothesis concerning Pleistocene climate fluctuations. Analyses of a number of corals that grew during the last interglacial period yield ages of 122,000 to 130,000 years. The ages coincide with, or slightly postdate, the summer solar insolation high at 65°N latitude which occurred 128,000 years ago. This supports the idea that changes in Pleistocene climate can be the result of variations in the distribution of solar insolation caused by changes in the geometry of the earth's orbit and rotation axis.
Discrete mathematics for computer science majors—where are we? How do we proceed?

It has been nine years since Anthony Ralston and Mary Shaw called for a rethinking of the importance of sound mathematical training for undergraduate computer science majors [14]. In their paper they stressed the need to develop a two-year sequence in discrete mathematics for beginning computer science majors. Since that time numerous articles about such a sequence have appeared in both mathematics and computer science journals [4], [9], [12] and [13] and a number of panel sessions at professional meetings of SIGSCE and of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) have been held. After all this time questions about the place of discrete mathematics in the undergraduate curriculum are still being debated. One question that is no longer being asked is: should discrete mathematics be part of a computer science major's undergraduate program? The questions that are being asked now and for which there are no easy answers are: at what level should discrete mathematics be taught? should there be one course, two courses or even three courses? what should the prerequisites be for these courses? and what topics should be presented in these courses? Computer scientists and mathematicians who have read the literature, listened to the debates, examined the textbooks or taught a course in discrete mathematics or discrete structures know that there appears to be little agreement as to how and what works and when it works best. This paper attempts to analyze the current situation in more detail and to offer a few suggestions to keep the dialogue alive.
Orthobaric liquid densities and excess volumes for multicomponent mixtures of low molar-mass alkanes and nitrogen between 105 and 125 K

Abstract A magnetic suspension densimeter has been used to determine orthobaric liquid densities of gravimetrically prepared multicomponent mixtures containing the major components of liquefied natural gas, i.e. nitrogen, methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, and normal butane, between 105 and 125 K. These results were obtained to provide a test of the capability of mathermatical models to predict the densities of liquefied natural-gas mixtures. Combinations of the subject components were chosen to provide the most severe test of the models and the possibility of using the measured densities to optimize parameters of the models. Deviations are given between the experimental densities for each mixture and values predicted with an extended corresponding-states model optimized to binary-mixture and pure-component orthobaric liquid densities obtained with the same apparatus. Uncertainties of the present results are discussed in relation to the experimental technique, the knowledge of the compositions of the liquid mixtures, and the comparisons between the experimental and predicted results. Approximate total vapor pressures are also given for each mixture at the temperatures studied.
IgE-dependent expression of interleukin-5 mRNA and protein in human lung: modulation by dexamethasone.

Abstract mRNA and protein expression of the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 from human lung were examined during the first 4 hr following IgE-mediated triggering, a time representative of the evolving late-phase reaction (LPR). Lung explants were incubated for 16 hr at 37°C in culture media alone or with added dexamethasone (10-6M), washed, and then challenged with buffer or anti-IgE (3 μg/ml). Using RNase protection assays, in 16/16 individual lungs IL-5 mRNA expression was observed at 4 hr following anti-IgE and at no points following buffer challenge. Fragments released 1129 ± 499 ng of IL-5/g wet wt over a 24-hr period (mean ± SEM, n = 5). Neither IL-4 transcripts nor protein were detected in any anti-IgE challenges. Both the IgE-mediated IL-5 mRNA and protein responses were below the limits of detection following dexamethasone preincubation, suggesting a mechanism for the potent inhibitory effects of these agents observed in the LPR.
Expected Returns on Investment in the Giddings, Austin Chalk (Gas) Field

An economic evaluation has been performed to determine the expected returns on investment for a drilling program in the Giddings, Austin Chalk Gas Field. Using projected production schedules of selected well types from the encountered reserve distribution, computer based cashflow analyses were performed under six hypothesized future scenarios of varying hydrocarbon pricing, demand, taxation, and inflation. For the six future scenarios studied, the Giddings Gas Field drilling program was found to produce a positive, after tax net present value, using 15% as a discount factor. Furthermore, the returns on investment were higher for an independent than for a major producer. Results suggest a drilling program initiated in the near future will prove to be an attractive economic venture.
Declines in plant species richness and endemic plant species in longleaf pine savannas invaded by Imperata cylindrica

Despite the widespread perception that non-native species threaten biodiversity, there are few documented cases of non-native species displacing rare or specialized native species. Here, I examined changes in plant species composition over 5 years during patch expansion of a non-native grass, Imperata cylindrica, in longleaf pine flatwoods in Mississippi, USA. I used a multivariate approach to quantify the degree of habitat specialization and geographic range of all species encountered. I examined losses of species collectively as a function of plant height (controlling for initial frequency) and then the relationship between height and the degree of association with longleaf pine flatwoods, disturbed habitats, and the outer Gulf Coastal Plain of the southeastern USA. Patch expansion resulted in dramatic declines in species richness and increases in ground-level shade at both sites in just 3 years. Most tall saplings, shrubs, and vines were not endemic to longleaf pine communities and were less likely to be displaced than short herbs, most of which were indicative of longleaf pine communities. These results suggest that invasion of longleaf pine communities by I. cylindrica will likely cause significant losses of short, habitat-specialists and reduce the distinctiveness of the native flora of these threatened ecosystems.
Memory for Parking Location in Large Lots

The recall of automobile parking location was assessed over five consecutive workdays. Completed data from 36 women and 19 men provided measures of accuracy and a survey of specific strategies. Analysis showed a significant recency effect with memory for the most recent parking locations being superior. Less variation in parking location and shorter distance from parking location to building entrance were associated with better recall. Contrary to prevalent belief, older subjects had more accurate recall. Older subjects parked closer to the entrance and used fewer spaces which were also located closer together. The most frequently reported strategy was "favorite location" which was used more often by older subjects. Whereas laboratory tasks show memory deficits with increasing age, some studies in the natural environment have exhibited less such decline; the current data showed an actual improvement. It may be that older people adopt and practice compensatory strategies in the natural environment while laboratory tasks give little opportunity for establishing or practicing such devices.
Feeding and growth of the siphonophore Muggiaea atlantica (Cunningham 1893)

Abstract The siphonophore Muggiaea atlantica (Cunningham 1893) was the most abundant planktonic non-crustacean predator during October, 1980 in the surface waters at Friday Harbor, Washington. During the day, only 2% of the gastrozooids (“stomachs”) of hand-collected siphonophores contained prey, while 7% contained prey at night. Daily in situ prey consumption, calculated from gut contents and digestion rates, was estimated to be 5.5 to 10.5 prey · siphonophore−1 · day−1. The ingested carbon and nitrogen was adequate to meet the estimated daily metabolic demands of a siphonophore, but little surplus remained for growth. Prey density significantly affected feeding and growth of siphonophores in laboratory experiments. Feeding increased linearly with prey densities up to 30 prey · 1−1, increasing slightly at greater densities, and was greater when higher proportions of large prey were available. Growth, measured as the production of eudoxids (sexually reproducing stage), increased with increasing prey availability. Carbon content of eudoxids increased most rapidly at the highest prey densities, and decreased in starved eudoxids. The minimum maturation time of eudoxids at high laboratory prey densities was 6 days, and was estimated to be > 11 days in situ.
Metallurgical Characterization of Thermomechanically Processed U-0.75 wt.% Ti

Abstract The objective of this study was to develop higher strength U-0.75 wt.% Ti by thermomechanical procedures. The approach was to replace the conventional solution treated, quenched, and aged (STA) process for U-0.75 wt.% Ti with warm rolling and warm or cold swaging. The effect of working on structure, hardness, tensile properties, compressive strength, and fracture toughness was determined. Deformation strengthening of previously hot-extruded and slow-cooled U-0.75 wt.% Ti was found to significantly increase the hardness, the tensile and compressive yield strengths, the ultimate tensile strength, and the reduction in area. There was no appreciable change in fracture toughness. The combinations of strength, ductility, and toughness obtained by deformation strengthening of this as-extruded material were generally inferior to those characteristic of STA processing. U-0.75 wt.% Ti, which was solution treated, water quenched, and warm rolled to a large reduction and then cold swaged, achieved the highest values in hardness, tensile and compressive yield strength, and ultimate tensile strength. Fracture toughness values were comparable to the conventionally processed alloy and reduction in area values were significantly greater. Deformation strengthening of solution treated and quenched material resulted in substantially better combinations of strength, ductility, and toughness than those characteristic of STA processing.
The Diagnostic Quality of the Emotional and Behavioral Screener

Students who exhibit substantial behavior and emotional problems in school often have shown less severe problems earlier. Screening for such problems can suggest which students need extra support and help educators to direct support to students who are more likely to benefit. The present study explored predictive validity of a very brief behavior problem screening procedure as applied to 2,253 students ages 5 to 17 years. About half were special education students identified with emotional disturbance; the rest were students with no identified disabilities. Teachers rated them on the 10 items of the Emotional and Behavioral Screener. Any student whose sum of ratings exceeded a norm-based cutoff score was designated as at-risk; otherwise the student was not at-risk. Binary classification analyses of four age-level by gender subgroups of students showed that the instrument validly identifies at-risk students. Study method limitations and directions for research to clarify some remaining questions about this...
Multiple Sequence Comparison and Consistency on Multipartite Graphs

Calculation of dot-matrices is a widespread tool in biological sequence comparison. As a visual aid they are used in pairwise sequence comparison but so far have been of little help in the simultaneous comparison of several sequences. Viewing dot-matrices as projections of unknown n-dimensional points we consider the multiple alignment problem (for n sequences) as an n-dimensional image reconstruction problem with noise. We model this situation using a multipartite graph and introduce a notion of ''consistency'' on such a graph. From this perspective we introduce and develop the filtering method due to Vingron and Argos (J. Mol. Biol. 218 (1991), 33-43). We discuss a conjecture of theirs regarding the number of iterations their algorithm requires and demonstrate that this number may be large. An improved version of the original algorithm is introduced that avoids costly dot-matrix multiplications and runs in O(n^3 . L^3) time (L is the length of the longest sequence and n is the number of sequences). This is equivalent to only one iteration of the original algorithm. We further consider the relationship between consistency and transitivity and introduce a hierarchy of notions linking consistency and transitivity. Finally applications to biological sequence comparison will be presented.
Molecular diagnosis of response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Background Pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) is an important prognostic factor in locally advanced rectal cancer. However, it is uncertain if histopathological techniques accurately detect pCR. We tested a novel molecular approach for detecting pCR and compared it with current histopathological approaches. Study Design Pretreatment tumor biopsies and surgical specimens were collected from 96 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant CRT and surgery. Tumor response was categorized by tumor regression grade. Tumor DNA from pre-CRT tumor biopsies was screened for K- ras and p53 mutations. DNA from paired surgical specimens was then screened for the same mutations using highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction–based techniques. Results Sixty-eight of 96 (71%) pretreatment biopsies harbored K- ras and/or p53 mutation; 36 (38%) had K- ras mutations, 52 (54%) had p53 mutations, and 20 (21%) carried both mutations. Of 70 patients with tumor regression grades 1 to 3, sixty-six (94%) had a concordant K- ras and p53 mutation profile in pre- and post-treatment tissues. Of 26 patients with tumor regression grade 0 (pCR), 12 had K- ras or p53 mutations in pretreatment biopsies. Of these, 2 (17%) patients had the same K- ras (n = 1) or p53 (n = 1) mutation detected in post-treatment tissue. Conclusions Sensitive molecular techniques detect K- ras and p53 mutations in post-CRT surgical specimens in some patients with a pCR. This suggests histopathological techniques might not be completely accurate, and some patients diagnosed with a pCR to CRT might have occult cancers cells in their surgical specimens.
Inference Based on Imputed Failure Times for the Proportional Hazards Model with Interval-Censored Data

Abstract We propose an approach to the proportional hazards model for interval-censored data in which parameter estimates are obtained by solving estimating equations that are the partial likelihood score equations for the full-data proportional hazards model, averaged over all rankings of imputed failure times consistent with the observed censoring intervals. Imputed failure times are generated using a parametric estimate of the baseline distribution; the parameters of the baseline distribution are estimated simultaneously with the proportional hazards regression parameters. Although a parametric form for the baseline distribution must be specified, simulation studies show that the method performs well even when the baseline distribution is misspecified. The estimating equations are solved using Monte Carlo techniques. We present a recursive stochastic approximation scheme that converges to the zero of the estimating equations; the solution has a random error that is asymptotically normally distributed w...
Electrodeposition of Copper on Silicon from Sulfate Solution

In this paper, we report on the energetics and kinetics of copper deposition on n-type Si(100), Si(111), and miscut Si( 111) surfaces from I mM CuSO 4 + 0.1 1 M H 2 SO 4 solution Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that the position of the bandedges at the surface is very similar for n-Si(100), n-Si(111), and miscut n-Si(111) surfaces. At more positive potentials, the presence of electrically active surface states was observed. Cyclic voltammetry and current transients showed that copper deposition occurs by progressive nucleation and diffusion-limited growth for the three surfaces, which was confirmed by ex situ atomic force microscopy experiments. The rates for copper nucleation on Si(100) and Si(111) are essentially the same, while miscut Si(111) shows a slightly higher nucleation rate. These results indicate that the energetics and kinetics of copper deposition from acidic sulfate solution on silicon are essentially independent of the silicon surface orientation.
The relationship between conflict, anticipatory procedural justice, and design with intentions to use ombudsman processes

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore the role of anticipatory procedural justice, seriousness/type of conflict, and design of ombudsman processes with intentions to use ombudsman processes to resolve disputes.Design/methodology/approach – The study was a 3 (type of conflict with three scenarios nested in each type)×3 (design of ombuds system). Subjects read scenarios and filled out Likert type survey items related to seriousness of conflict, anticipatory procedural justice, and intentions to use ombuds processes.Findings – Perceived seriousness and anticipatory procedural justice were significantly related to intention to use ombuds process, but design of ombuds process was not.Research limitations/implications – This study was limited to scenarios of academic conflict. Research should be extended to experienced conflicts and conflicts in other contexts.Practical implications – Potential users of ombuds processes are more concerned with principles of fairness and justice than the specific ele...
Anisotropic tetrahedral meshing via bubble packing and advancing front

This paper presents a new computational method for anisotropic tetrahedral meshing. The method can control element anisotropy based on a specified 3 x 3 tensor field defined over a volumetric domain. Our method creates a tetrahedral mesh in two steps: (1) placing nodes at the centres of tightly packed ellipsoidal cells, called bubbles, in the domain, and (2) connecting the nodes by a modified advancing front followed by local transformation. The method creates a high-quality anisotropic mesh that conforms well to a specified tensor field.
Processes in word recognition

Abstract Five hypotheses were proposed and tested to account for Reicher's (1968) finding that recognition of letters is more accurate in the context of a meaningful word than alone, even with redundancy controlled by a forced-choice design. All five hypotheses were rejected on the basis of the experimental results. Performance on the forced-choice letter detection task averaged 10% better when the stimuli were four-letter English words than when the stimuli were single letters appearing alone in the visual field. Three classes of models were proposed to account for the experimental results. All three are based on analysis of the task in terms of the extraction of features from the stimuli.
Lack of in Vivo Insulin Resistance in Controlled Insulin-Dependent, Type I, Diabetic Patients*

Although type I diabetic patients are clearly insulin deficient, it is unclear whether they have normal in vivo sensitivity to insulin. Recent studies which suggested that insulin resistance is a common feature of insulin-dependent diabetics have not taken into account their degree of metabolic control or the presence of circulating antibodies. In the present study, we performed multiple euglycemic glucose clamp studies to construct insulin dose-response curves in 5 well controlled and 5 poorly controlled type I diabetic patients and 21 age-matched normal subjects. Each study was performed on a separate day at insulin infusion rates of 15, 40, 120, 240, or 1200 mU/M2 X min. During the 40 and 120 mU/M2 X min infusions, steady state insulin levels of 96 +/- 8 (+/- SE) and 285 +/- 27 microU/ml respectively, were achieved within 25 min in normal subjects. In contrast, diabetic subjects did not achieve steady state insulin levels (62 +/- 8 and 212 +/- 16 microU/ml) until 90 min of infusion, and insulin antibodies were detectable in the serum of all these patients. The dose-response curve for insulin stimulation of glucose disposal in well controlled diabetic subjects was comparable to that in normal subjects, with half-maximally effective insulin levels of 84 microU/ml in the diabetic patients compared to 70 microU/ml in normal subjects and virtually identical maximal rates of glucose disposal (433 +/- 11 vs. 411 +/- 17 mg/M2 X min in controls). In contrast, the dose-response curve for poorly controlled diabetic subjects was significantly right-shifted (half-maximally effective insulin level, 112 microU/ml), with marked reduction in the maximal glucose disposal rate (324 +/- 25 vs. 411 +/- 17 mg/M2 X min in normal subjects). Basal hepatic glucose output was increased in both poorly controlled and well controlled type I diabetic patients (132 +/- 7 and 101 +/- 16 mg/M2 X min, respectively) compared to normal subjects (76 +/- 7 mg/M2 X min). However, during each insulin infusion, hepatic glucose output was virtually 100% suppressed in all 3 groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Pacemaker synaptic interactions: Modelled locking and paradoxical features

This communication describes a model for two "pacemaker" (i.e., regularly firing) nerve cells, such that one elicits IPSP's in the other. The assumptions involve essentially a linear dependence ("delay function") of the postsynaptic interval lengthening (or "delay") produced by the IPSP's on the position (or "phase") with respect to the preceding spike of the latter's arrival. When the number of IPSP's in an interval increases, both the slope and intercept of the delay function increase, the former remaining under 2 and the latter unboundedly. Assumptions are more or less close to the actual biological reality, or are made for convenience. A recurrence equation for the phase can be calculated, as well as an expression for the "locking phase" (see below). Plots of postsynaptic vs presynaptic firing intensity averaged over steady conditions, e.g. of mean rates or intervals, are formed by a sequence of relatively broad"paradoxical" segments exhibiting positive slopes 1, 2, 1/2, 3, 1/3, ..., indicating that "inhibited" discharges are made more intense by those increases in "inhibitory" arrivals. These segments are separated by narrower "intercalated" segments where behavior is unclear except for a large overall negative slope, indicating that "inhibited" discharges are weakened markedly by other increases in inhibitory arrivals. Across the successive paradoxical segments that correspond to more and more intense presynaptic discharges (i.e., to higher rates or shorter intervals), postsynaptic intensities, though overlapping in part, become weaker and weaker. At the extremes, when the presynaptic discharge is very weak, or very intense, the postsynaptic cell tends to its natural undisturbed firing, or to not firing at all, respectively. The pre- and postsynaptic discharges inevitably achieve eventually an invariant relation, i.e., will "lock" at a constant phase, regardless of the phase of the first IPSP arrival. The characteristics of this behavior (e.g., the rate bounds of the paradoxical segments, or the magnitude of the locked phase) depend on such givens as presynaptic and postsynaptic pacemaker rates or intervals, and as the slope or intercept of the delay function.
Effect of quasiparticle tunneling on quantum-phase fluctuations and the onset of superconductivity in granular films

Recent experiments on the onset of superconductivity in granular films have raised a number of interesting issues regarding the role of quantum fluctuations of the phase variable. We model the granular film as an ordered array of Josephson-coupled grains, and we take into account quasiparticle tunneling via the method of Ambegaokar, Eckern, and Schoen. The onset of superconductivity, at T = 0, occurs when the value of the normal-state sheet resistance has a critical value of order h/4e/sup 2/, which is not very sensitive to the capacitance of the grains.