cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
2.13. It׳s all in the Details: The effect of CT slice thickness on 3D modeling for forensic analysis

Objective Forensic practitioners are becoming more reliant on virtual models for identification, analysis, and evidence preservation. Image slice thickness can affect the quality of 3D reconstructions derived from medical images. Thinner slices result in higher quality models preserving critical anatomical details but can cause unnecessary wear on the scanner׳s tube. With limited standard imaging protocols and variation between technicians, it becomes essential to understand what level detail is lost with lower resolution scans. Materials and methods A series of cranial CT scans were acquired with a 0.625 mm slice thickness. The DICOM volumes were re-sliced into 1 mm, 1.25 mm, 3 mm, and 5 mm increments. The five different slice-thicknesses were imported into Mimics 17.0 for 3D reconstruction of the boney structures. Landmarks were placed to acquire standard cranial forensic measurements. These measurements were then compared among the five thicknesses. The 3D models were visually and numerically analyzed for overall differences in detail with 3-Matic 9.0. Results The greatest visual and numerical discrepancies were observed between 0.625 mm and 3–5 mm. Measurements along the axial plane were the most stable across slice-thicknesses. Vertical measurements showed the greatest range for inconsistency. Thinner, or air-filled sections of bone were obliterated with thicker slices. Conclusion Study shows that heads can be scanned safely at 1–1.25 mm so that critical detail for 3D modeling is preserved. With lower resolution models, there is a risk of losing data that can alter forensic findings.
Using Contextual Design Techniques to Identify Work Task Problems in Dynamic Work Environments – A Field Study of Isolating Safety Challenges for Small Builders

Contextual Design (CD) is a structured method for collecting, interpreting and aggregating qualitative data about work processes and is typically used for creating software that addresses user's needs of a particular task in static indoor environments. In this paper, we discuss the use of CD techniques - Contextual Inquiry and Work Modeling, to identify work task problems commonly existing across tasks in dynamic work environments. We also describe a field study that makes use of the CD techniques to isolate safety challenges - the most cited universal problem in the construction industry - for small builders. Six contractors participated in the study. Critical safety incidents of the observed construction tasks were utilized to identify safety challenges. The contextual interview data were integrated to form consolidated work models, each of which captured, from differing perspectives, the safety challenges of small builders. The insights could not only help construction stakeholders identify possible safety interventions in preventing accidents and/or injuries, but also aid in guiding the selection of appropriate interventions for implementation. The results of the field study provide evidence of CD as a descriptive research technique to identify engineering or administrative solutions to work task problems not only in static but also in dynamic work environments. Language: en
Dynamical Pauli effects and the saturation of nuclear collectivity

Abstract Global fits to B (E2; 0 1 + →2 1 + ) data using the fermion dynamical symmetry model (FSDM), the interacting boson model (IBM), and the Moller-Nix geometrical model (GM) are compared. The results indicate large dynamical Pauli effects leading to shell-dependent saturation of E2 strength consistent with the FDSM and GM, but not the IBM. The FDSM calculation is analytical with only a single adjustable parameter in each major shell, yet its accuracy rivals that of the best large-scale numerical calculations.
Systematics of nuclear charge distribution in fission the ZP model

An extension of the conventional ZP model has been used with data for ten fission reactions and the method of least-squares for derivation of parameters that describe the nuclear charge-distributions. Data for light and heavy fission products for each reaction were treated together by consideration of the complementarity of average mass numbers of precursors (A′L+A′H=AF). This treatment gave calculated yields that are essentially equal for complementary elements (ZL+ZH=ZF). The parameters determined,\(\bar \sigma Z\), the Gaussian dispersion width parameter, a linear function of ΔZ=|ZP-A′(ZF/AF)|, ZP being the Z at maximum of the curve, and\(\overline {EOZ} \) and\(\overline {EON} \), the even-odd proton and neutron yield enhancement factors, represented most data (AH⋟130–150 and the complementary light A's) moderately well, better than did oscillating functions of\(\bar \sigma Z\) and ΔZ. The\(\bar \sigma Z\) values were found to be approximately constant (0.48 to 0.62) and, generally, to increase with the average number of neutrons emitted,\(\bar v, (\partial \bar \sigma Z/\partial \bar v \cong 0.04)\). The ΔZ values at A′=140 were in the range of 0.42 to 0.50, and the slopes, ∂ΔZ/∂A′H, ranged from 0.0 to 0.03. The\(\overline {EOZ} \) factor was found to be several times larger than the\(\overline {EON} \) factor and to decrease with increasing excitation energy and with A and/or Z of the fissioning nucleus, as has been reported previously. The adequacy of the ZP model for representation of data and for prediction of yields in the high-yield mass-number regions mentioned above are discussed, and the large uncertainties that are involved in extrapolating the model to near symmetric or to very asymmetric mass and charge divisions are pointed out.
Reactive Arthritis: A Review

This review article summarizes the available literature on adolescent reactive arthritis. A review of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment guidelines will be helpful to better diagnose and treat reactive arthritis.
Important Issues and Serious Problems in Flat‐rate Income Taxation

. Dozens of important issues are connected with the proposal of flat-rate income taxation How much, if any, activity would leave the underground economy for the reported one? Would effort and saving change? Would efficiency in the allocation of business and personal resources he effected? High rates of taxation and differences in tax rates influence behavior for better or worse. Serious proposals to change them deserve serious consideration, but difficult though not insuperable problems are involved and must be studied.
Authors' reply to Laragh and Sealey.

We agree with Laragh and Sealey that sodium and volume depletion increase the risk of adverse events of renin-angiotensin system blockade. Indeed, protection against hypotension due to volume depletion is one of the main physiological functions of the renin-angiotensin system in people with normal and high blood pressure.1 2 As the …
Evolution of maize inferred from sequence diversity of an Adh2 gene segment from archaeological specimens.

Abstract A segment of the nuclear gene encoding alcohol dehydrogenase 2 (Adh2) was amplified and sequenced from extracts of archaeological maize specimens up to 4700 years old and from contemporary samples. Sequence diversity in ancient maize equals that of contemporary maize. Some ancient Adh2 alleles are identical or closely related to contemporary alleles. The data suggest that the gene pool of maize is millions of years old and that domestic races of maize stem from several wild ancestral populations.
Towards clinical application of 7T TOF angiography.

Background As shown at 7T Time-of-Flight (TOF) angiography significantly benefits from ultra high field (UHF) [1,2], because of shorter T1 relaxation constant and increased SNR. However, significant challenges have to be overcome before using 7T TOF in clinical applications: I) RF induced specific absorption rate (SAR) substantially increases at UHF, preventing the use of standard RF pulses (venous Saturation (SAT), Magnetization Transfer (MT)) to improve TOF contrast. II) Severe transmit B1 (B1+) heterogeneity at 7T impairs contrast homogeneity.
Stark broadening of visible neutral helium lines in a plasma.

Abstract Side-on observations of the visible spectrum emitted by a helium plasma generated in a wall-stabilized arc are reported. Electron densities range from 0.2 to 1.3 × 10 22 m -3 and electron temperatures vary from 10,000 to 20,000 K. Most of the seventeen measured lines are “isolated” at the conditions of the experiment. Here, “isolated” refers to quantum levels which are non-degenerate even in the presence of perturbing fields. Electron densities derived from the Stark-widths of the isolated lines agree to within 15% of the values determined from Hβ and from the quasi-degenerate He(I) lines at 4471 and 4921 A. Similar agreement is observed for the static-ion Stark broadening parameters. However, at the conditions of this experiment, the static-ion approximation is not valid near the center of some of the isolated lines. The observation of ion-dynamic effects in neutral isolated lines is reported here for the first time. In the isolated lines, the measured ion-dynamic effects are reasonably consistent with calculations based on an adiabatic “unified” theory for the ion perturbers. A simple parametric expression closely approximates the ion-dynamic contribution to the half-width of isolated lines. Hydrogenic (non-isolated) neutral helium lines exhibit a large discrepancy with theoretical profiles near the line center, where ion-dynamic effects are important.
Erythrocyte Phospholipids in the Newborn Infant.

Conclusions and summaryThe total phospholipids from both the entire erythrocyte and the erythrocyte stroma of the newborn infant have been shown to be equal to the adult. The individual phospholipids from the entire red cell have been shown to be identical to the adult, both in identity and in quantitative determination.
Structures in a blue-green alga resembling prolamellar bodies

Cells ofAnabaena (IUCC 380) from soil-water cultures 106 and 168 days after inoculation were fixed in 2% KMnO4 and studied by electron microscopy. Thylakoid lattices morphologically similar to prolamellar bodies characteristic of etiolated higher plant chloroplasts were discovered. Prefixation sonication and centrifugation were eliminated as factors producing these lattices in the photosynthetic thylakoid system of these prokaryotic cells. Similar lattices are not seen in young cultures in the log phase of growth cultured under the same temperature and light conditions in the same medium. Factors, other than age, producing these lattices are yet to be determined.
Measurements of the mechanical Q of single-crystal silicon at low temperatures

Measurements of the mechanical quality factor Q in a single crystal of silicon vs. temperature have been made. A value of 2 × 109 has been measured at T = 3.5K.
Contemporary management of deep infections of the neck

Summary Odontogenic infections rarely lead to involvement of the lateral and retropharyngeal spaces. When this does occur, the microbiology of the infection is similar to the typical odontogenic infection, ie, Streptococcus and oral anaerobes including Peptostreptococcus, Bacteroides , and Fusobacterium . There is an increased incidence of Fusobacterium seen in the more severe infections, as well as a higher incidence of Streptococcus milleri . Many patients who have deep cervical infections also have some compromise in their host defense mechanism, such as diabetes. The signs and symptoms of deep cervical space infections are similar to those of the severe submandibular space infection, but also includes sialorrhea, respiratory distress, odynophagia, and dysphagia. Lateral soft-tissue radiographs of the neck are useful in assisting with the diagnosis of retropharyngeal infections, and CT scans can provide definitive information regarding lateral pharyngeal space involvement. Treatment includes the use of high-dose intravenous bacteriocidal antibiotics. The recommended antibiotics are penicillin-metronidazole, ampicillin-sulbactum, or clindamycin. Certain cephalosporins may also be useful in selected patients. Early surgical intervention is also indicated. Aggressive incision and drainage of all of the involved spaces is necessary to assure early resolution of the infection. Continual airway monitoring and the establishment of surgical airways is the final portion of the treatment triad.
The effect of pressurized air in establishing discriminative response suppression in stump-tailed macaques

Pressurized air was repeatedly associated with one of two frequencies of flashing light during performance of a VI 30-sec positive reinforcement schedule by stump-tailed monkeys. As revealed by the relative suppression of bar presses to each of the two visual stimuli, the Ss learned to discriminate between the different flicker frequencies. However, they also showed signs of adapting to the airblast during the course of training, and its location had to be changed in order to maintain discriminative suppression.
Shia movements in Lebanon: Their formation, ideology, social basis, and links with Iran and Syria

(1988). Shia movements in Lebanon: Their formation, ideology, social basis, and links with Iran and Syria. Third World Quarterly: Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 683-698.
Power‐control and social bonds: exploring the effect of patriarchy∗Presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Boston, MA, November, 1995. Funding for this research was provided by the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Oklahoma, as part of the Department of Sociology's annual Oklahoma City Survey.

Social bonding theory proposes that individuals are constrained from delinquency by their attachment to significant others, commitment, involvement in conventional activities and belief in the law's legitimacy. Power‐control theory incorporates the attachment variable into the revised control model, which purports to explain gender differences in crime; however, the other elements of the bond are not integrated. This study explores the usefulness of patriarchy for determining the extent to which males and females differ in levels of these elements of the social bond. It determines that males and females differ in levels of attachment and the degree of parental controls; however, little support for the integration of the remaining bonding elements into the power‐control model is found.
Maternal mortality associated with HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets) syndrome.

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to determine factors contributing to deaths among women with HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets) syndrome. Study Design: Information from multiple sources was scrutinized to distinguish and profile maternal deaths associated with HELLP syndrome. Results: Information was available regarding 54 maternal deaths. According to HELLP syndrome classification 60.0% had class 1 disease, 35.6% had class 2 disease, and 4.4% had class 3 disease. Events associated with maternal deaths included cerebral hemorrhage (45%), cardiopulmonary arrest (40%), disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (39%), adult respiratory distress syndrome (28%), renal failure (28%), sepsis (23%), hepatic hemorrhage (20%), and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (16%). Delay in diagnosis of HELLP syndrome was implicated in 22 of 43 patients' deaths (51.1%). Conclusions: It appears that (1) most maternal deaths occurred among women with class 1 HELLP syndrome, (2) delay in diagnosis was associated with mortal consequences, and (3) hemorrhage in the hepatic or central nervous system or vascular insult to the cardiopulmonary or renal system were associated with increased mortality risk. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;181:924-8.)
Safety culture in the gynecology robotics operating room.

Abstract Study Objective To measure the safety culture in the robotics surgery operating room before and after implementation of the Robotic Operating Room Computerized Checklist (RORCC). Design Prospective study. Subjects Gynecology surgical staff (n = 32). Setting An urban community hospital. Interventions The Safety Attitudes Questionnaire domains examined were teamwork, safety, job satisfaction, stress recognition, perceptions of management, and working conditions. Questions and domains were described using percent agreement and the Cronbach alpha. Paired t -tests were used to describe differences before and after implementation of the checklist. Measurements and Main Results Mean (SD) staff age was 46.7 (9.5) years, and most were women (78%) and worked full-time (97%). Twenty respondents (83% of nurses, 80% of surgeons, 66% of surgical technicians, and 33% of certified registered nurse anesthetists) completed the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire; 6 were excluded because of non-matching identifiers. Before RORCC implementation, the highest quality of communication and collaboration was reported by surgeons and surgical technicians (100%). Certified registered nurse anesthetists reported only adequate levels of communication and collaboration with other positions. Most staff reported positive responses for teamwork (48%; α = 0.81), safety (47%; α = 0.75), working conditions (37%; α = 0.55), stress recognition (26%; α = 0.71), and perceptions of management (32%; α = 0.52). No differences were observed after RORCC implementation. Conclusion Quality of communication and collaboration in the gynecology robotics operating room is high between most positions; however, safety attitude responses are low overall. No differences after RORCC implementation and low response rates may highlight lack of staff support.
CONSTRAINTS ON THE MINERALOGY OF AN IRON-RICH MARTIAN MANTLE FROM HIGH-PRESSURE EXPERIMENTS

The high-pressure mineralogy of a model Martian mantle composition has been determined experimentally up to 24 GPa. Experiments have been performed in the anhydrous multi-component CaOMgOFeOAl2O3SiO2Na2O system with a mantle composition derived from the SNC meteorites. The phase transitions which occur along a model liquid core marstherm have been determined. The importance of magnesiowustite and stishovite in the Martian mantle, two phases generally overlooked in models of Martian mantle mineralogy are also discussed, Magnesiowustite is found to be present in the transition zone of the model mantle. The presence of magnesiowustite is attributed to the shift in olivine, β-phase, γ-spinel and clinopyroxene or majorite towards more Mg-rich compositions as pressure increases. At lower mantle pressures an assemblage of stishovite and magnesiowustite with perovskite and majorite is shown to be consistent with the high iron content of the Martian mantle. These results may have important implications mantle. These results may have important implications for seismic discontinuities in the Martian interior.
Relative Importance of Histamine and Estrogen on Implantation in Rats

Exposure of lumina of rat uteri to temperatures of –15 C for 5 min does not obviously alter the histological appearance of the endometrium or the other anatomical components of the uterine wall. In such rats, estrus and mating continue to occur at normal intervals but they do not conceive. In this study the upper or lower half of one horn or one whole horn was frozen, the contralateral horn was left as a control, and the rats were allowed to recover for 15 days. When either the upper or lower half of one horn was frozen and the rats were mated, implantation occurred in the unfrozen portion and in the control horn. The previously frozen portion did not respond to trauma applied to it exclusively, by deciduomata formation, but when the trauma was initiated in the unfrozen portion both the frozen and unfrozen parts showed the decidual reaction. In appropriately prepared, progesterone-treated castrated rats, or postparturient mated rats, implantation could no be induced by local estrogen injection into the pr...
Effect of molecular spacers on surface-enhanced attenuated total reflection infrared spectra of bulk liquids

The absorbance of bands in the infrared spectrum of species located within 5 nm of the surface of metal nanoparticles deposited on dielectric substrates is known to be increased by between one and three orders of magnitude through the phenomenon known as surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA). The mechanism of SEIRA is still not fully understood. For example, under certain circumstances, the band shapes in SEIRA spectra become asymmetric. One cause of this asymmetry that has been postulated is a chemical interaction between the molecule and the metal surface. In a previous paper, we showed that adsorbate bands first become asymmetric when the metal nanoparticles start to percolate (coalesce) and that a chemical interaction is not needed to induce this effect. In this paper, we report the results of experiments in which a horizontal internal reflection element is coated with silver nanoparticles to a nominal thickness of between 5 and 10 nm. At the onset of percolation, the absorption bands of molecules in contact with the surface of the silver nanoparticles become asymmetric, whether these molecules are chemisorbed thiols or bulk solvents such as n-heptane that have little interaction with the silver surface. A self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of p-fluorothiophenol (PFTP) acts as a molecular spacer between the metal and any solvent with which it is in contact. The asymmetry of the PFTP bands is the same in the absence and presence of the solvent, whereas the asymmetry of the solvent bands was reduced when the silver surface is coated with a SAM of PFTP. From these results, we deduce that the band asymmetry is caused by an electrical interaction that occurs very close to the surface of the metal nanoparticles.
Implementing a Pilot Program of Advanced Directives in Nursing Homes

Summary This project focused on employing a comprehensive advance directive, called Five Wishes, that is suited to a process-oriented approach emphasizing a discussion of personal, social, and emotional needs in end-of-life care. With findings of a limited number of advance directives completed, the traditional explanation of the ‘onset of progressive deterioration’ among the residents is offered. Residents with low sense of self-efficacy is suggested as another explanation and one worthy of further research.
Cave writing: toward a platform for literary immersive VR

"Cave Writing" is a nationally recognized interdisciplinary workshop course offered annually at Brown University. In this sketch we describe significant educational improvements enabled by improved technology in our VR platform. These include: (a) faster development and more support for iterative design; (b) greater involvement by students from different disciplinary backgrounds in full breadth of project development, increasing cross-disciplinary learning; and (c) diverse media rendered at high performance (e.g., high quality animated text, embedded video, and more devices) that facilitate creation of literary experiences specific to the bodily presence and physical space of the Cave.
Formation of primary amide complexes of Fe+, Co+ and Rh+ in the gas phase

Abstract Primary amide complexes, M + -NH 2 , of Fe + , Co + and Rh + are formed in thermal ion-molecule reactions using a Fourier transform mass spectrometer. Contrary to previous belief, these complexes have relatively high MN bond strengths. These complexes were generated in reactions of various metal-ligand cations with NH 3 . Collision-induced dissociation was used to probe the structures of these complexes. Mechanisms for the formation reactions are all proposed to proceed via oxidative addition of NH bonds in NH 3 to the various metal centres, followed by reductive elimination of either H 2 O or H 2 .
Adaptation of Salmonella spp. in juice stored under refrigerated and room temperature enhances acid resistance to simulated gastric fluid

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the acid resistance of Salmonella spp. adapted in juices stored under refrigeration and room temperatures to simulated gastric fluid (SGF, pH 1.5). Five Salmonella serovars, Agona, Gaminara, Michigan, Montevideo, and Poona were used in this study. Apple, orange, and tomato juices inoculated with five serovars were stored at refrigeration (7 °C) and room temperature (20 °C) for 24 h for adaptation. Acid resistances of serovars adapted in juice were determined in SGF at 37 °C. All acid-adapted Salmonella serovars in juices displayed enhanced survival time compared to non-adapted controls. Among serovars, S. Poona adapted in apple at 20 °C and orange juices at 7 and 20 °C showed >2.0 log cfu/ml survivors, while the other serovars decreased to non-detectable level or 2.0 log cfu/ml for 100 s. For D -values, all Salmonella serovars adapted in apple and tomato juice enhanced their acid resistances compared to orange juices. S . Agona adapted in tomato juice at 7 °C and S . Poona in apple juice at 20 °C had the highest D -values with 82.9 and 82.5 s, respectively. Results showed that the adaptation in juice increased acid resistance in SGF and varied by serovar, juice type, and adaptation temperature. Therefore, this study indicates that the introduction of Salmonella spp. to an acidic juice environment during processing can enhance their ability to survive in a human stomach, possibly increasing the risk of a Salmonella outbreak by juice.
On Limitations of Rational Choice Theory for Sociology

I have criticized rational choice theory, not for confining its analysis to rational behavior in which individuals adapt means to the attainment of their ends, for which it is often criticized, but from a different perspective. The reason is that much individual behavior, though not all, entails rational pursuit of self-interests and that it is legitimate for a theory to confine itself to explaining some aspect of empirical reality and exclude others. The focus of my criticism has rather been that the central task of sociology is not explaining individual behavior but explaining how the structural context of the social environment influences people's life chances.
Effect of broccoli sprouts on nasal response to live attenuated influenza virus in smokers: a randomized, double-blind study.

Background Smokers have increased susceptibility and altered innate host defense responses to influenza virus infection. Broccoli sprouts are a source of the Nrf2 activating agentsulforaphane, and short term ingestion of broccoli sprout homogenates (BSH) has been shown to reduce nasal inflammatory responses to oxidant pollutants. Objectives Assess the effects of BSH on nasal cytokines, virus replication, and Nrf2-dependent enzyme expression in smokers and nonsmokers. Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial comparing the effects of BSH on serially sampled nasal lavage fluid (NLF) cytokines, viral sequence quantity, and Nrf2-dependent enzyme expression in NLF cells and biopsied epithelium. Healthy young adult smokers and nonsmokers ingested BSH or placebo (alfalfa sprout homogenate) for 4 days, designated Days -1, 0, 1, 2. On Day 0 they received standard vaccine dose of live attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) intranasally. Nasal lavage fluids and nasal biopsies were collected serially to assess response to LAIV. Results In area under curve analyses, post-LAIV IL-6 responses (P = 0.03) and influenza sequences (P = 0.01) were significantly reduced in NLF from BSH-treated smokers, whileNAD(P)H: quinoneoxidoreductasein NLF cells was significantly increased. In nonsmokers, a similar trend for reduction in virus quantity with BSH did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions In smokers, short term ingestion of broccoli sprout homogenates appears to significantly reduce some virus-induced markers of inflammation, as well as reducing virus quantity. Nutritional antioxidant interventions have promise as a safe, low-cost strategy for reducing influenza risk among smokers and other at risk populations. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01269723
A Study of SSM/I-Derived Columnar Water Vapor over the Global Oceans

Abstract Four years of columnar water vapor (CWV) data from July 1987 through June 1991 derived from a satellite-based physical retrieval method are analysed using microwave observations from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager. This retrieval along with three statistically based retrievals were compared to radiosonde data compiled for the GEWEX Water Vapor Project. It is shown that the root-mean-square (rms) difference (R) between the radiosonde data and these satellite retrievals ranges from 4.66 kg m−2 to 5.08 kg m−2. The rms difference was found to have a seasonal variability of up to 1.0 kg m−2 with the highest R in JJA. It was also found to significantly depend on the specified time and spatial coincidence of the satellite pixels with the radiosonde observation. The rms difference decreased by about 0.65 kg m−2 when the time constraint was reduced from 2 h to 0.5 h, but R increased by about 0.3 kg m−2 when the spatial coincidence was reduced from 50 to 20 km. The relationship between 4 yr of CWV and...
Neuroligins/LRRTMs prevent activity- and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent synapse elimination in cultured neurons

Neuroligins (NLs) and leucine-rich repeat transmembrane proteins (LRRTMs) are postsynaptic cell adhesion molecules that bind to presynaptic neurexins. In this paper, we show that short hairpin ribonucleic acid-mediated knockdowns (KDs) of LRRTM1, LRRTM2, and/or NL-3, alone or together as double or triple KDs (TKDs) in cultured hippocampal neurons, did not decrease synapse numbers. In neurons cultured from NL-1 knockout mice, however, TKD of LRRTMs and NL-3 induced an ∼40% loss of excitatory but not inhibitory synapses. Strikingly, synapse loss triggered by the LRRTM/NL deficiency was abrogated by chronic blockade of synaptic activity as well as by chronic inhibition of Ca(2+) influx or Ca(2+)/calmodulin (CaM) kinases. Furthermore, postsynaptic KD of CaM prevented synapse loss in a cell-autonomous manner, an effect that was reversed by CaM rescue. Our results suggest that two neurexin ligands, LRRTMs and NLs, act redundantly to maintain excitatory synapses and that synapse elimination caused by the absence of NLs and LRRTMs is promoted by synaptic activity and mediated by a postsynaptic Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent signaling pathway.
Kallistatin - the score beats the marker

We appreciate the eff orts of Lin and colleagues’ study using kallistatin to detect the severity of communityacquired pneumonia (CAP); however, we do have some concerns [1]. Of the gold standards to which kallistatin was compared, only the CURB-65 score was statistically signifi cant to predict mortality. We should anticipate that the previously validated Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores would also be statistically signifi cant; however, in the study they are not. Th e expensive and time-consuming blood test is questioned when bedside, inexpensive and quick scoring systems have non-inferior results in predicting outcomes. Th ere were many patients in the high mortality group with sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and in whom kallistatin has been shown to be consumed [2,3]. Th ese factors are confounders, invalidating the observation that kallistatin levels were altered by severe CAP alone. Th e authors note that kallistatin is produced mostly by the liver. Th e paper notes patients with cirrhosis, but does not provide details of other liver diseases, liver function test values, or patients with ischemic hepatopathy. In these diseases alone kallistatin would be decreased. Finally, the study was based upon prior in vitro data that showed that kallistatin inhibits kallikrein activity [4]. In the study, however, kallikrein was not altered in either group. Th is questions the overall impact of kallistatin inhibition of kallikrein in vivo. We thank the authors for attempting to validate kallistatin as a marker of severe CAP. Th is study shows that simple, inexpensive and time-saving scoring methods are equally eff ective, limiting the widespread use of kallistatin.
Seismic response of pile groups under oblique‐shear and Rayleigh waves

A simple analytical solution is presented to calculate the pile-soil-pile interaction and eventually the dynamic response or pile groups when excited by the passage or Rayleigh waves and obliquely incident SH-waves. A dynamic Winkler model, with realistic frequency-dependent «springs» and «dashpots» in conjunction with physically motivated approximations is utilized to compute the wave field radiating from an oscillating pile and the effect or this field on an adjacent pile. The coupled rocking motion or the pile group resulting from Rayleigh waves and the torsional motion or the pile group resulting from SH-waves is accurately predicted by a simple mathematical expression. The results or the presented method can be obtained with'hand calculations'and are in excellent agreement with results from «rigorous» solutions based on integral equation formulations. It is round that the group response is primarily affected from the phase difference or the input seismic motion at the location or each pile (wave-passage effect). Pile-soil-pile interaction has insignificant effect and can be neglected
Resistive loading of photovoltaic modules and arrays for long-term exposure testing

This paper investigates the feasibility of using fixed resistors instead of active maximum power tracking as electrical loads for long-term exposure testing of photovoltaic modules and arrays. The method of investigation was to compare resistive versus active loading on two modules for which historic current-voltage data over time were available. Also, a small amorphous silicon array was installed with a resistive load and the performance has been monitored versus time. The major conclusion of this work is that fixed resistive loading is an inexpensive and viable means of loading photovoltaic devices for exposure testing if the resistance value used is close to the ratio of the voltage to the current at the maximum power point under Standard Test Conditions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dual- and Triple-Band Wilkinson Power Dividers Based on Composite Right- and Left-Handed Transmission Lines

This paper presents dual- and triple-band equal-split Wilkinson power dividers (WPDs) based on composite right- and left-handed transmission lines. Good isolation between output ports and impedance matching at input ports are achieved simultaneously at all pass-band frequencies for both dual- and triple-band WPDs. The theoretical closed-form design equations are derived, and the design allows a wide range of flexibility for the allocations of the passbands. To verify the proposed design, two prototypes are fabricated and measurements show good agreement with simulated data. The first design is a triple-band WPD with passbands centered at 0.8, 1.3, and 1.85 GHz, and the second one is a dual-band WPD with passbands centered at 0.7 and 1.5 GHz. The triple-band divider has a length of 0.66 wavelengths in the substrate and is more compact comparing to traditional WPDs. The dual-band power divider is designed to have a wide fractional bandwidth with more than 20% at the lower passband and 41% at the upper passband. Measurements also show a good insertion loss at each input port, which is less than 3.6 dB at the center of each passband.
Congress Examines NASA Budget, Space Station, and Relations With Russia

Concerns about recent Russian activities related to Ukraine loomed over an 8 April congressional hearing focusing on NASA's fiscal year (FY) 2015 budget request. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), chair of the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, and several other committee members questioned NASA administrator Charles Bolden about the agency's contingency plans if tensions between Russia and the United States cause key joint scientific endeavors between the two countries to break off. That concern is particularly critical given the countries' longtime partnership on the International Space Station (ISS) and with the United States currently relying on Russian transport to and from the station until U.S. commercial vehicles are ready to transport astronauts back and forth.
Statistical Evaluation of Input-Side Metrics for Life Cycle Impact Assessment of Emerging Technologies

Life cycle assessment is a popular approach for evaluating environmental impact of technologies. However, it is often difficult to apply, especially to emerging technologies due to the difficulty of finding accurate output-side emissions and impact data. Usually, input-side data are more readily available, even for emerging technologies, and may provide a reasonable proxy for predicting the environmental impact associated with emissions. In this paper, this relationship is explored by case studies and regression of life cycle impact with input-side quantities of cumulative mass, energy, and exergy. As a single quantity, this study indicates that ecological cumulative exergy consumption may be best at predicting environmental impact. This work also confirms that if the input variables are separated, then nonrenewable energy use dominates overall impact. However, nonrenewable minerals and some renewable resources are also highly correlated with impact, and nonrenewable energy is only good at prediction of impact due to emission of CO2, SO2, and NO2. These preliminary results suggest the promise of using input-side metrics to predict life cycle environmental impact, and identifies areas of future work.
The Significance and Insignificance of Demand Analysis in Evaluating Promotion Programs

The estimated effects of promotion on demand are often small and insignificant. Yet, the estimated effects of promotion on industry profit are often positive and large. This puzzle is explained by demonstrating that (in)significance of promotion in a demand equation does not imply, and is not implied by, (in)significance of promotion in an industry profit equation. A Monte Carlo example is provided. The econometric modeling implications are discussed. The short-run marginal effect of a dollar of generic beef promotion on slaughter cattle industry profit is estimated to be about $9.84 with a standard error of 3.77 for 1997. The 1996 Farm Bill requires that check-off based commodity promotion programs be evaluated at least once every five years. This legislation has increased the interest in the effects of commodity promotion programs. A
Direct femtosecond laser waveguide writing inside zinc phosphate glass

We report the relationship between the initial glass composition and the resulting microstructural changes after direct femtosecond laser waveguide writing with a 1 kHz repetition rate Ti:sapphire laser system. A zinc polyphosphate glass composition with an oxygen to phosphorus ratio of 3.25 has demonstrated positive refractive index changes induced inside the focal volume of a focusing microscope objective for laser pulse energies that can achieve intensities above the modification threshold. The permanent photo-induced changes can be used for direct fabrication of optical waveguides using single scan writing techniques. Changes to the localized glass network structure that produce positive changes in the refractive index of zinc phosphate glasses upon femtosecond laser irradiation have been studied using scanning confocal micro-Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy.
Brg1 Determines Urothelial Cell Fate during Ureter Development

Developing and adult ureters express the epigenetic regulator Brg1, but the role of Brg1 in ureter development is not well understood. We conditionally ablated Brg1 in the developing ureter using Hoxb7-Cre and found that Brg1 expression is upstream of p63, Pparγ, and sonic hedgehog (Shh) expression in the ureteral epithelium. In addition, epithelial stratification in the basal cells required Brg1-dependent p63 expression, whereas terminal differentiation of the umbrella cells required Brg1-dependent Pparγ expression. Furthermore, the loss of ureteric Brg1 resulted in failure of Shh expression, which correlated with reduced smooth muscle cell development and hydroureter. Taken together, we conclude that Brg1 expression unifies three aspects of ureter development: maintenance of the basal cell population, guidance for terminal differentiation of urothelial cells, and proper investment of ureteral smooth muscle cells.
The Process of Systemic Change in Filial Therapy: A Phenomenological Study of Parent Experience

This phenomenological study represents the first qualitative exploration of parents’ experiences of the process of filial therapy from a systemic lens. Filial therapy is a treatment approach that teaches parents how to conduct weekly thirty minute play times with their target child at home in an effort to improve the parent–child relationship. Previous research has focused almost exclusively on the impact of this model on this relationship; however, the results from this focus group study (n = 8) indicate several relational shifts that occur within the greater family and societal contexts and suggest potential reasons for treatment gain maintenance over time.
The Aesthetic Quality of a Quantitatively Average Music Performance: Two Preliminary Experiments

A statistically average or prototypical member of a category (e.g., human faces) is often perceived as more attractive than less typical category members. Two experiments explored to what extent this may hold for music performance, an artistic domain in which individuality (i.e., deviation from prototypicality) is highly valued. In Experiment 1, graduate student pianists judged 11 student performances of Schumann's "Traumerei," one of which was created by forming the mathematical average of the other 10. The average performance was rated second highest in quality, even though it was judged second lowest in individuality. In Experiment 2, pianists judged 30 performances of the beginning of Chopin's Etude in E major, synthesized so as to vary only in expressive timing and tempo. The timing patterns were derived from expert pianists' recordings and from casual student performances, and they included separate and combined averages. All three averages received high quality ratings, and the expert average was rated highest of all 30 performances. There was a negative linear correlation between rated quality and individuality. Paradoxically, therefore, the students' expressive timing patterns were preferred over the experts'. Possible explanations of this finding are discussed, such as interactions between timing and other performance parameters and conditions under which conventionality tends to be favored over individuality.
Understanding Internet traffic streams: dragonflies and tortoises

We present the concept of network traffic streams and the ways they aggregate into flows through Internet links. We describe a method of measuring the size and lifetime of Internet streams, and use this method to characterize traffic distributions at two different sites. We find that although most streams (about 45 percent of them) are dragonflies, lasting less than 2 seconds, a significant number of streams have lifetimes of hours to days, and can carry a high proportion (50-60 percent) of the total bytes on a given link. We define tortoises as streams that last longer than 15 minutes. We point out that streams can be classified not only by lifetime (dragonflies and tortoises) but also by size (mice and elephants), and note that stream size and lifetime are independent dimensions. We submit that ISPs need to be aware of the distribution of Internet stream sizes, and the impact of the difference in behavior between short and long streams. In particular, any forwarding cache mechanisms in Internet routers must be able to cope with a high volume of short streams. In addition ISPs should realize that long-running streams can contribute a significant fraction of their packet and byte volumes-something they may not have allowed for when using traditional "flat rate user bandwidth consumption" approaches to provisioning and engineering.
Privacy-preserving payload-based correlation for accurate malicious traffic detection

With the increased use of botnets and other techniques to obfuscate attackers' command-and-control centers, Distributed Intrusion Detection Systems (DIDS) that focus on attack source IP addresses or other header information can only portray a limited view of distributed scans and attacks. Packet payload sharing techniques hold far more promise, as they can convey exploit vectors and/or malcode used upon successful exploit of a target system, irrespective of obfuscated source addresses. However, payload sharing has had minimal success due to regulatory or business-based privacy concerns of transmitting raw or even sanitized payloads. The currently accepted form of content exchange has been limited to the exchange of known-suspicious content, e.g., packets captured by honeypots; however, signature generation assumes that each site receives enough traffic in order to correlate a meaningful set of payloads from which common content can be derived, and places fundamental and computationally stressful requirements on signature generators that may miss particularly stealthy or carefully-crafted polymorphic malcode.Instead, we propose a new approach to enable the sharing of suspicious payloads via privacy-preserving technologies. We detail the work we have done with two example payload anomaly detectors, PAYL and Anagram, to support generalized payload correlation and signature generation without releasing identifiable payload data and without relying on single-site signature generation. We present preliminary results of our approaches and suggest how such deployments may practically be used for not only cross-site, but also cross-domain alert sharing and its implications for profiling threats.
McCulloch, Scrope, and Hodgskin: Nineteenth-Century Versions of Julian Simon

In The Ultimate Resource (1981, 1996), and in many other publications over the last several decades, Julian Simon put forth controversial views regarding the connection between natural resource scarcity, population growth, and economic progress. Simon argued, in contrast to those espousing the limits to growth, that natural resources were not getting scarcer, but more abundant, and that a large and growing population was an asset rather than a liability in the pursuit of economic growth.