cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examining Explanations of a Market Anomaly: Preferences or Perceptions?

Abstract This paper compiles and summarizes the theoretical literature on the favorite-longshot bias, an anomaly that has been found in sports betting markets for over half a century. Explanations of this anomaly can be broken down into two broad categories, those involving preferences and those involving perceptions. We propose a novel test of these two classes of models that allows us to discriminate between them without parametric assumptions. We execute these tests on a new dataset, which is an order of magnitude larger than any used in previous studies, and conclude that the perceptions model, in which bettors overestimate the chances of small probability events, provides a better fit to the data.
Treatment of Hyperkalemia: From “Hyper K+” Strikeout to Home Run?

group (absolute mean reduction, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.60-1.14] mEq/L for the 16.8 g/d group; 0.97 [95% CI, 0.70-1.23] mEq/L for the 25.2 g/d group; and 0.92 [95% CI, 0.67-1.17] mEq/L for the 33.6 g/d group) than for those in the mild hyperkalemia group (absolute mean reduction, 0.35 [95% CI, 0.22-0.48] mEq/L for the 8.4 g/d group; 0.51 [95% CI, 0.38-0.64] mEq/L for the 16.8 g/d group; and 0.55 [95% CI, 0.42-0.68] mEq/L for the 25.2 g/d group).
Type I Supernova Subclasses

On this final day of the very successful NATO Advanced Study Institute on Thermonuclear Supernovae, it is appropriate to express our sincere gratitude to the organizers — Ramon Canal, Pilar Ruiz-Lapuente, and Jordi Isern. Together with their numerous students, administrative assistants, and other helpers, they made certain that our time would be filled with excellent science and sensual pleasures (beautiful scenery, fine food and wine, flamenco dancing, etc.). When they first informed me of their plan to hold a two-week meeting primarily on Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), my reaction was “No way!” But now, at its conclusion, I was clearly wrong; what we have seen and heard during the past fortnight helped initiate many new research projects, and provided significant insights into a wide range of existing programs. Perhaps of equal importance is that those of us who did not bring laptop computers or were unwilling to pay for long-distance telephone calls finally realized that there is life without e-mail. On the other hand, what if a SN Ia had been detected in M31 while all of us were out here…?
Induction of muscle-relaxing factor by staphylococcal alpha-toxin.

Abstract Brain tissue and serum from mice intracerebrally injected with 1 microgram of staphylococcal alpha-toxin contained elevated amounts of a naturally occurring brain tissue component(s) called muscle-relaxing factor (MRF). MRF induced reversible, generalized, flaccid paralysis of mice after intracerebral but not intraperitoneal or intravenous administration. MRF (i) was soluble in Hanks balanced salt solution and in acidified (pH 2) Hanks balanced salt solution, in which it partitions into ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol; (ii) was separated from some pigments by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel plates; (iii) did not comigrate with prostaglandin and leukotriene standards during high-pressure liquid chromatography with a mu Bondapak fatty acid column; and (iv) did not contain amino acids, exhibit absorption maxima at a wavelength range of 210 to 600 nm, or fluoresce when exposed to UV light. MRF has been detected in rabbit brain that has been stored frozen at -70 degrees C and has been enhanced in vitro in slices of both mouse and rabbit brain following incubation of the brain slices with staphylococcal alpha-toxin. Studies to identify the chemical nature of MRF and the mechanism by which, in mice, it induces reversible, flaccid paralysis of voluntary muscle are continuing.
Effect of genetically modified, low-phytic acid maize on absorption of iron from tortillas.

BACKGROUND Genetically modified, low-phytic acid strains of maize were developed to enhance mineral absorption, but have not been tested previously in humans. OBJECTIVES We evaluated the mineral and phytic acid contents of a low-phytic acid "flint" maize (LPM, the lpa-1-1 mutant) and its parent, wild-type strain (WTM) and measured iron absorption from tortillas prepared with each type of maize and from a reference dose of ferrous ascorbate. DESIGN Proximate composition and mineral and phytic acid contents were measured by standard techniques. Iron absorption from tortillas was evaluated by using the extrinsic tag method and was measured as the incorporation of radiolabeled iron into the red blood cells of 14 nonanemic men 2 wk after intake. RESULTS The phytic acid content of LPM was 3.48 mg/g, approximately 35% of the phytic acid content of WTM; concentrations of macronutrients and most minerals were not significantly different between strains. Iron absorption results were adjusted to 40% absorption of ferrous ascorbate. Iron absorption was 49% greater from LPM (8.2% of intake) than from WTM (5.5% of intake) tortillas (P < 0.001, repeated-measures analysis of variance). CONCLUSION Consumption of genetically modified, low-phytic acid strains of maize may improve iron absorption in human populations that consume maize-based diets.
Motor overflow and attentional processes in normal school-age children.

SUMMARY Two groups of 28 school-age children (divided equally by sex) who were equivalent in terms of chronological age and IQ but differed in the prevalence of motor overflow were given a concept identification task designed to measure relative attentiveness to central, task-related cues and incidental, social environmental ones. Children with a high level of overflow were relatively more responsive to social cues than to task-related ones, while children with a low level were more equally responsive to the two types of cues. The results are interpreted in terms of a relationship between motor overflow and attentional processes. RESUME Hyperactivite motrice el processus d'attention chez les enfants normaux d'âge scolaire Deux groupes de 28 enfants d'âge scolaire (divises egalement en ce qui concerne le sexe) equivalents en terme d'âge chronologique et de QI mais differents sur la prevalence d'une hyperactivite motrice ont recu des tâches d'identification de concepts pour mesurer l'attention, relative a des indices centraux relies a une tâche et incidemment des indices d'environnement social. Les enfants presentant un niveau eleve d'hyperactivite repondaient davantage aux indices sociaux qu'aux indices relies a une tâche tandis que les enfants presentant un niveau faible d'hyperactivite repondaient egalement aux deux types d'indices. Les resultats sont interpretes en terme d'une relation entre l'hyperactivite motrice et les processus d'attention. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Motorische Unruhe und Aufmerksamkeit bei normalen Schulkindern Zwei Gruppen von 28 Schulkindern (dieselbe Anzahl Jungen wie Madchen), die in Alter und IQ ubereinstimmten, sich aber durch die motorische Unruhe unterschieden, wurden einem Test unterzogen, mit dem die relative Aufmerksamkeit fur zentrale, testgebundene Stimuli und fur zufallige, umweltgebundene Stimuli gemessen wurde. Kinder, die sehr unruhig waren, sprachen starker auf Umweltstimuli als auf testgebundene Stimuli an, wahrend ruhige Kinder sich auf beide gut konzentrieren konnten. Die Ergebnisse werden im Hinblick auf die Relation zwischen motorischer Unruhe und Aufmerksamkeitsprozessen interpretiert. RESUMEN Inundation motora y procesos de atencion en escolares normales A dos grupos de 28 escolares (divididos por igual segun el sexo) que eran equivalentes en edad cronologica y en CI pero diferentes en la prevalencia de exageracion motora, se les dio una tarea de identification orientada para medir la atencion relativa a factores de la tarea central, asi como a factores incidentales y ambientales. Los ninos que mostraban un nivel alto de exageracion motora respondian relativamente mas a los factore sociales que a los de la tarea encomendada, mientras que los ninos con un bajo nivel de inundation motora respondian por igual. Los resultados se interpretan en terminos de una relacion entre la inundacion motora y los procesos de atencion.
Three-Dimensional Analytic Model of Vibrational Energy Transfer in Molecule-Molecule Collisions

Athree-dimensionalsemiclassicalanalyticmodelofvibrationalenergytransferincollisionsbetweentworotating diatomic molecules has been extended for molecule ‐molecule collision. The model is based on analysis of classical trajectories of free-rotating (FR) molecules acted upon by a superposition of repulsive exponential atom-to-atom potentials. The energy transfer probabilities have been evaluated using the nonperturbative Forced Harmonic Oscillator (FHO) model. The model predicts the probabilities for vibrational energy transfer as functions of the total collision energy, orientation of molecules during a collision, their rotational energies, and impact parameter. The model predictions have been compared with the results of three-dimensional close-coupled semiclassical trajectorycalculationsusingthesamepotentialenergysurface.Thecomparisondemonstratesnotonlyremarkably good agreement between the analytic and numerical probabilities across a wide range of collision energies, but also shows that the analytic FHO-FR model correctly reproduces the probability dependence on other collision parameters such as rotation angles, angular momentum angles, rotational energies, and impact parameter. The model equally well predicts the cross sections of single-quantum and multiquantum transitions and is applicable up to very high collision energies and quantum numbers. Most importantly, the resultant analytic expressions for the probabilities do not contain any arbitrary adjustable parameters commonly referred to as steric factors . The present work essentially completes development of the analytic rate database for vibrational energy transfer among air species, increasing the range of applicability of the FHO-FR model.
Soil microbial communities alter allelopathic competition between Alliaria petiolata and a native species

Allelopathy has been increasingly invoked as a mechanism facilitating exotic plant invasions. However, studies even on the same target species often yield varying results concerning the strength and importance of allelopathic inhibition, suggesting that the process may depend on the specific environmental context. Here I studied how the allelopathic inhibition of sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) seedlings by garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) depended on the presence of a soil microbial community. Using three analytical approaches to quantifying allelopathy, I consistently found allelopathic inhibition only in sterilized soils, suggesting that certain microbial taxa inhibit the process, possibly by degrading the allelochemicals. Determining the environmental contexts that reduce or eliminate allelopathic inhibition could lead to a greater understanding of the spatial variation in invasion success and potentially lead to new avenues for management.
Ac Impedance Measurements on Insulated CdS Crystals

In order to study the induced conductivity in CdS crystals without charge injection at the electrodes, the crystals were insulated with Mylar and ac impedance measurements were made. The capacitance and resistance of the crystals were studied as functions of intensity and wavelength of excitation, and frequency and voltage of the ac field. The crystal-Mylar combination was found to behave in a manner similar to that of powdered samples in like experiments. With a model that treats the crystal as a capacitor shunted by a light-sensitive resistance, the capacitance was found to increase with intensity of excitation, and to decrease with voltage and frequency. The resistance of the crystal increased by factors of 4 or 5 as the intensity of excitation decreased by factors of 10. The limitations of the model are discussed, and conclusions drawn regarding whether trapped electrons or only conduction electrons contribute to the impedance.
PROPERTIES OF GUINEA PIG 7S ANTIBODIES V. INHIBITION BY GUINEA PIG γ1 ANTIBODIES OF PASSIVE IMMUNE LYSIS PROVOKED BY γ2 ANTIBODIES

Passive immune lysis of antigen-coated erythrocytes provoked in vitro by guinea pig γ2 antihapten antibodies in the presence of complement, is inhibited by guinea pig γ1 antibodies directed against the same specificity. This inhibition of the lytic effect of complement-fixing γ2 antibodies is presumably due to the competition for antigen by non-lytic γ1 antibodies.
Structure of an extended-spectrum class A beta-lactamase from Proteus vulgaris K1.

Abstract The structure of a chromosomal extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) having the ability to hydrolyze cephalosporins including cefuroxime and ceftazidime has been determined by X-ray crystallography to 1.75 A resolution. The species-specific class A β-lactamase from Proteus vulgaris K1 was crystallized at pH 6.25 and its structure solved by molecular replacement. Refinement of the model resulted in crystallographic R and Rfree of 16.9% and 19.3%, respectively. The folding of the K1 enzyme is broadly similar to that of non-ESBL TEM-type β-lactamases (2 A rmsd for Cα) and differs by only 0.35 A for all atoms of six conserved residues in the catalytic site. Other residues promoting extended-spectrum activity in K1 include the side-chains of atypical residues Ser237 and Lys276. These side-chains are linked by two water molecules, one of which lies in the position normally filled by the guanidinium group of Arg244, present in most non-ESBL enzymes but absent from K1. The ammonium group of Lys276, ca 3.5 A from the virtual Arg244 guanidinium position, may interact with polar R2 substitutents on the dihydrothiazene ring of cephalosporins.
String propagation through a big crunch to big bang transition

We consider the propagation of classical and quantum strings on cosmological spacetimes which interpolate from a collapsing phase to an expanding phase. We begin by considering the classical propagation of strings on spacetimes with isotropic and anisotropic cosmological singularities. We find that cosmological singularities fall into two classes, in the first class the string evolution is well behaved all the way up to the singularity, while in the second class it becomes ill-defined. Then assuming the singularities are regulated by string scale corrections, we consider the implications of the propagation through a ``bounce.'' It is known that as we evolve through a bounce, quantum strings will become excited giving rise to ``particle transmutation.'' We reconsider this effect, giving qualitative arguments for the amount of excitation for each class. We find that strings whose physical wavelength at the bounce is less than $\sqrt{{\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{'}}}$ inevitably emerge in highly excited states, and that in this regime there is an interesting correspondence between strings on anisotropic cosmological spacetimes and plane waves. We argue that long wavelength modes, such as those describing cosmological perturbations, will also emerge in mildly excited string scale mass states. Finally we discuss the relevance of this to the propagation of cosmological perturbations in models such as the ekpyrotic/cyclic universe.
Flow of gasoline-in-water microemulsion through water-saturated soil columns

Much consideration has been given to the use of surfactants to clean up nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) from contaminated soil and ground water. Although this emulsification technique has shown significant potential for application in environmental remediation practices, a major obstacle leading to low washing efficiency is the potential formation of macroemulsion with unfavorable flow characteristics in porous media. This study investigated influences of the flow of leaded-gasoline-in-water (LG/W) microemulsion upon the transport of gasoline and lead (Pb) species in water-saturated soil columns. Two experiments were performed: (1) the immiscible displacement of leaded gasoline and (2) the miscible displacement of LG/W microemulsion through soil columns, followed by sequentially flushing with NaCl solution and a water/surfactant/cosurfactant (W/S/CoS) mixture. Comparison of breakthrough curves (BTC) for gasoline between the two experiments shows that about 90% of gasoline and total Pb were removed from the soil columns by NaCl solution in the LG/W microemulsion experiment as compared to 40% removal of gasoline and 10% removal of total Pb at the same process in the leaded gasoline experiment. Results indicate that gasoline and Pb species moved much more effectively through soil during miscible flow of LG/W microemulsion than during immiscible flow of leaded gasoline. In contrastmore » to the adverse effects of macroemulsion on the transport of NAPLs, microemulsion was found to enhance the transport of gasoline through water-saturated soil. Mass balance analysis shows that the W/S/CoS mixture had a high capacity for removing residual gasoline and Pb species from contaminated soil. Comparison of water-pressure differences across the soil columns for the two experiments indicates that pore clogging by gasoline droplets was greatly minimized in the LG/W microemulsion experiment.« less
Thermotropic homopolyesters—VI. A study of polymers based on 4′-hydroxyphenyl-4-hydroxybenzoate

Abstract Polyesters were synthesized from 4′-acetoxyphenyl-4-acetoxybenzoate and dibasic acids having 6–12 methylene units using the transesterification procedure described by van Luyen and Strzelecki. These polymers are designated Sn, where n is the number of methylene units in the diacid. The transition temperatures of our polymers stand in reasonable agreement with those reported by Strzelecki and Liebert. The nematic phase extends over a broad temperature range (70–100°), and the biphasic region spans an additional 50°. The texture of the nematic phase is normal for S7-1 having ηinh = 0.30 dl/g, but the other polymers show bright nematic droplets on a darker background. The density of droplets decreases with increasing ηinh in the S7 series, and as η is increased for the other polymer homologues. Only S7-1 exhibits Williams domains on application of an electric field. Quite different properties are found for the polyester having ηinh = 0.80 dl/g prepared from 4′-hydroxyphenyl-4-hydroxybenzoate and the diacid chloride. It melted sharply 24° higher, and its nematic phase showed a normal texture. Moreover, its nematic-isotropic transition appears in the DSC as a sharp peak, and the biphasic region spans only 9°. We believe the transesterification reaction occasionally involves the internal ester linkage in the monomer unit, producing a polymer with no definite repeating unit structure and a distribution of hard segment lengths.
Signal processing and impairments in Next-Generation MMF links

Multimode fiber links are required to support 100G Ethernet systems while retaining the traditional lower termination cost advantages. Electronic signal processing is examined as a method to increase performance and robustness to multimode fiber link impairments.
Immunodominant “Asymptomatic” Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 Protein Antigens Identified by Probing Whole-ORFome Microarrays with Serum Antibodies from Seropositive Asymptomatic versus Symptomatic Individuals

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 are medically significant pathogens. The development of an effective HSV vaccine remains a global public health priority. HSV-1 and HSV-2 immunodominant “asymptomatic” antigens (ID-A-Ags), which are strongly recognized by B and T cells from seropositive healthy asymptomatic individuals, may be critical to be included in an effective immunotherapeutic HSV vaccine. In contrast, immunodominant “symptomatic” antigens (ID-S-Ags) may exacerbate herpetic disease and therefore must be excluded from any HSV vaccine. In the present study, proteome microarrays of 88 HSV-1 and 84 HSV-2 open reading frames(ORFs) (ORFomes) were constructed and probed with sera from 32 HSV-1-, 6 HSV-2-, and 5 HSV-1/HSV-2-seropositive individuals and 47 seronegative healthy individuals (negative controls). The proteins detected in both HSV-1 and HSV-2 proteome microarrays were further classified according to their recognition by sera from HSV-seropositive clinically defined symptomatic (n = 10) and asymptomatic (n = 10) individuals. We found that (i) serum antibodies recognized an average of 6 ORFs per seropositive individual; (ii) the antibody responses to HSV antigens were diverse among HSV-1- and HSV-2-seropositive individuals; (iii) panels of 21 and 30 immunodominant antigens (ID-Ags) were identified from the HSV-1 and HSV-2 ORFomes, respectively, as being highly and frequently recognized by serum antibodies from seropositive individuals; and (iv) interestingly, four HSV-1 and HSV-2 cross-reactive asymptomatic ID-A-Ags, US4, US11, UL30, and UL42, were strongly and frequently recognized by sera from 10 of 10 asymptomatic patients but not by sera from 10 of 10 symptomatic patients (P < 0.001). In contrast, sera from symptomatic patients preferentially recognized the US10 ID-S-Ag (P < 0.001). We have identified previously unreported immunodominant HSV antigens, among which were 4 ID-A-Ags and 1 ID-S-Ag. These newly identified ID-A-Ags could lead to the development of an efficient “asymptomatic” vaccine against ocular, orofacial, and genital herpes.
The Manual and Automated Solid-Phase Synthesis of α-Substituted Prolines and Homologues

Activation of N-terminal resin-bound amino acids as aldimines, followed by alkylation with α,ω-dihaloalkanes, provides key intermediates for the solid-phase preparation of racemic α-substituted proline ring homologues bearing amino acid side chains. Two intramolecular displacement strategies, one involving an amine nucleophile, the other an amide nucleophile, were used to convert the intermediate ω-chloro or ω-bromo derivatives to the desired cyclic products. Using one of these routes and a fully automated synthesizer, a 48-membered library of α-substituted prolines was prepared in a combinatorial fashion.
The effect of mean stress on damage predictions for spectral loading of fibreglass composite coupons

In many analyses of wind turbine blades the effects of mean stress on the determination of damage in composite blades are either ignored completely or characterized inadequately. Mandell et al. have recently presented an updated Goodman diagram for a fibreglass material that is typical of the materials used in wind turbine blades. Their formulation uses the MSU/DOE fatigue database to develop a Goodman diagram with detailed information at 13 R-values. Using these data, linear, bilinear and full Goodman diagrams are constructed using mean and ‘95/95’ fits to the data. The various Goodman diagrams are used to predict the failure stress for coupons tested using the WISPERX spectrum. Three models are used in the analyses. The first is the linear Miner's rule commonly used by the wind industry to predict failure (service lifetimes). The second is a non-linear variation of Miner's rule which computes a non-linear Miner's residual strength based upon an exponential degradation parameter. The third is a generalized non-linear residual strength model that also relies on an exponential degradation parameter. The results illustrate that Miner's rule does not predict failure very well. When the mean full Goodman diagram is used, the non-linear models predict failures near the mean of the experimental data, and when the 95/95 Goodman diagram is used, they predict the lower bound of the measured data very well. Published in 2004 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A colloidal interpretation of chemical aging of the C-S-H gel and its effects on the properties of cement paste

The properties, structure, and behavior of cement paste, including surface area, drying shrinkage, creep, and permeability are discussed with the assumption that the C-S-H gel is an aggregation of precipitated, colloidal-sized particles that undergoes chemical aging. A basic thesis of this paper is that C-S-H particles bond together over time, increasing the average degree of polymerization of the silicate chains and causing the C-S-H to become stiffer, stronger, and denser. This process occurs slowly at ambient temperatures, but can be greatly accelerated by elevated temperature curing and is also encouraged by drying, which introduces large local strains that may provide a microstructural basis for creep sites. This chemical aging process of C-S-H can thus affect many of the physical properties of cement paste, and there is particular relevance for the complex shrinkage and creep behavior of this material. The effects of a short heat treatment, which causes rapid aging, depend strongly on the moisture of the paste when it is heated. Many of the observations and insights presented here are not new. The primary objective of this paper is to demonstrate, by reporting a variety of published findings in one place, the significant amount of evidence that has been generated over the past 50 years favoring this interpretation. Another objective is to show that the properties and behavior of the C-S-H gel, and of cement paste, do not require a layered microstructure. Separating chemical aging effects from other changes, such as continued hydration, may well lead to a better understanding of the microstructural causes of creep and shrinkage.
The use of algal bioassays to predict the short- and long-term changes in algal standing crop which result from altered phosphorus and nitrogen loadings

Abstract Bioassays were performed on filtered water from Jackson Lake, Wyoming, using the Algal Assay Procedure-Bottle Test with Selenastrum capricornutum as the assay organism. It is hypothesized that (i) short- and long-term additions of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) to waters should be evaluated separately, and (ii) only bioassay treatments of lake water plus phosphorus plus nitrogen (LW + P + N) should be used to predict the effect of long-term phosphorus additions on algal standing crop. Equations are developed directly from the corresponding bioassay responses to predict short-term increases in the lake's algal standing crop. Accepting the hypothesis, an equation describing the response of S. capricornutum to LW + P + N treatments is derived to predict the long-term effects of phosphorus additions on algal standing crop. This equation is then combined with another derived to describe the steady state concentration of phosphorus in lake water. The resultant equation predicts the percent change in algal standing crop as a function of any change in the lake's phosphorus loading. In most cases, use of LW + P rather than LW + P + N treatments to predict changes in algal standing crop will lead to quite different interpretation of bioassay data, and probably to different management decisions.
Light charged particle and intermediate mass fragment emission in the reaction 640 MeV 86Kr+63Cu.

Light charged particles from the reaction 640 MeV {sup 86}Kr+{sup 63}Cu have been measured in singles and in coincidence with intermediate mass fragments, fissionlike fragments, and other light charged particles. Multiplicities for {sup 1}H and {sup 4}He in association with the evaporation residues, fragments, and intermediate mass fragments have been determined. Composite nuclei, most of which decay to evaporation residues, are the major sources of evaporative light-charged particle emission. Average multiplicities for prescission {sup 1}H and {sup 4}He can be associated with the composite nucleus {ital en} {ital route} to scission; they are relatively large and thus suggest a time scale for fission longer than that for evaporation. The multiplicities for {sup 1}H and {sup 4}He in association with the intermediate mass fragments indicate that these fragments are usually born with a significant quantity of excitation energy. These multiplicities are used to estimate the primary masses and kinetic energies of the intermediate mass fragments.
The Effects of Profound Hypocapnia and Dilutional Anemia on Canine Cerebral Metabolism and Blood Flow

The effects of hypocapnia and dilutional anemia on cerebral metabolism and circulation were examined in 20 anesthetized dogs. In ten dogs, a reduction in Paco2 to 11 mm Hg did not alter the cerebral oxygen consumption rate (CMRo2), but with subsequent dilution of hemoglobin to 5 gm/100 ml of blood,
Use of ultrasound imaging and fluoroscopic imaging to study gastric retention of enzyme-digestible hydrogels

Abstract Ultrasound and fluoroscopic imaging techniques were used to monitor the gastric retention of enzyme-digestible hydrogels in the canine stomach. When water was present in the stomach, ultrasound imaging was very effective in monitoring the position of the hydrogel in the stomach, solvent penetration into the gel, and the gastric tissue-gel interactions during peristalsis. Rubbery or fully swollen hydrogels appeared as sonolucent objects with ultrasound imaging. Partially swollen hydrogels displayed a sonolucent outer layer due to solvent penetration and a centrally located bright echo resulting from the acoustic impedance mismatch at the glassy/ rubbery interface. The degree of gastric tissue-gel interactions during peristalsis was inversely related to the extent of lumenal distention with water. The effectiveness of peristaltic contractions in driving the hydrogel toward the pyloric sphincter increased as the water was emptied from the stomach. In the absence of water, imaging of the gel with ultrasound became difficult. For this reason, gels were loaded with diatrizoate meglumine/sodium diatrizoate to visualize in real-time using fluoroscopic imaging. Fluoroscopic imaging allowed only indirect assessment of the hydrogel movement during peristalsis and the degree of hydrogel swelling. The gastric retention of the hydrogel under fasted conditions was influenced by the degree of gel deformation in response to peristaltic contractions. Hydrogels with a low degree of deformation during peristalsis showed long gastric retention times. The utilization of ultrasound imaging and fluoroscopic imaging for monitoring dynamic events in the stomach provided information on hydrogel properties which are important to gastric retention. The use of these imaging techniques in the development of long-term oral drug delivery systems is described.
TOWARDS A UNIFORM STRUCTURED REPRESENTATION FOR APPLICATION GENERATION

This paper presents an overview of a representation scheme being developed to define static data structures, the restrictions that establish the data model's integrity constraints, and the computational models that operate on the data. The context for this discussion is the role of a uniform structured representation for application generation in which semantically-rich expressions of the application's behavior are transformed into operational models with efficient performance.
On the retention function for autobiographical memory

College undergraduates were asked to record events from their lives, and then to date those events. Data were collected from groups of subjects using a set of cue words to prompt the events, from individual subjects, for individual cue words, from groups of subjects using no cue words, and from subjects who kept diaries. If it is assumed that the subjects encoded an equal number of events from each day of their lives, the distribution of events recorded as a function of time can be viewed as a retention function. The data from all experiments provided an excellent fit to the single-trace fragility function proposed by Wickelgren to account for more traditional laboratory learning experiments. Taken together these experiments indicate that the retention function is not an artifact of summing different functions produced by individual subjects or cue words and that the episodes recorded are, for the most part, accurately dated memories of actual events. Thus, episodic memory of a naturalistic, autobiographical nature and episodic memory for lists appear to have the same retention properties.
Effect of controlled atmosphere storage on pomegranate quality investigated by two dimensional NMR correlation spectroscopy

Abstract Pomegranate fruit was studied by two dimensional NMR correlation spectroscopy during 25 weeks of controlled atmosphere (CA) storage. The proton T1–T2 correlation spectrum provided rich information on the characteristics of the environment of water in subcellular compartments. Three relaxation components were identified in the pomegranate arils, which could be assigned to the vacuole, cytoplasm, and cell wall. The results showed that water transferred out of the vacuole to other compartments during storage. Shrinkage of the vacuole was expected as a result of the significant loss of water. The soluble solids content and titratable acidity of the pomegranate decreased during the controlled atmosphere storage, but they were not the major contributor to the change in the relaxation rate of water in the subcellular compartments of the aril tissue. The change in the aril was gradual and not uniform across the tissue in response to CA storage. The variation in the response of the arils to CA diminished at longer storage time.
Noninvasive estimation of pharyngeal airway resistance and compliance in children based on volume-gated dynamic MRI and Computational Fluid Dynamics

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was used to model the effect of collapsing airway geometry on internal pressure and velocity in the pharyngeal airway of three sedated children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and three control subjects. Model geometry was reconstructed from volume-gated magnetic resonance images during normal tidal breathing at 10 increments of tidal volume through the respiratory cycle. Each geometry was meshed with an unstructured grid and solved using a low-Reynolds number k-ω turbulence model driven by flow data averaged over 12 consecutive breathing cycles. Combining gated imaging with CFD modeling created a dynamic three-dimensional view of airway anatomy and mechanics, including the evolution of airway collapse and flow resistance and estimates of the local effective compliance. The upper airways of subjects with OSAS were generally much more compliant during tidal breathing. Compliance curves (pressure vs. cross-section area), derived for different locations along the airway, quantified local differences along the pharynx and between OSAS subjects. In one subject, the distal oropharynx was more compliant than the nasopharynx (1.028 vs. 0.450 mm2/Pa) and had a lower theoretical limiting flow rate, confirming the distal oropharynx as the flow-limiting segment of the airway in this subject. Another subject had a more compliant nasopharynx (0.053 mm2/Pa) during inspiration and apparent stiffening of the distal oropharynx (C = 0.0058 mm2/Pa), and the theoretical limiting flow rate indicated the nasopharynx as the flow-limiting segment. This new method may help to differentiate anatomical and functional factors in airway collapse.
Stationary state criterion for free radical initiated polymerization

The conditions necessary for the valid assumption of the stationary state during polymerization by free radical initiators have been considered mathematically. A differential equation characterizing the sum of the concentrations of all free radicals appearing in such a system has been solved. A function F derived from this solution approaches unity if a stationary state treatment is justified. A mathematical analysis shows that the stationary state can be achieved only if the arguments of F are large in comparison to unity. Under such conditions, F=1 -1/N, where N is a large number indicating the error limits caused by the deviation of F from unity. Within the limits defined by N, the assumption of stationary state is validif 8(kt/I0/kd)1/2 ⩾ N+ ln 2N, where k d and k t are the kinetic rate constants for initiator decomposition and termination respectively, I 0 is the initial concentration of initiator and f the efficiency factor. Denoting the minimum value of I0 which fulfills the conditions of stationary state as I0, min, and setting I, the actual initiator concentration, to I 0 =n2I0, min, where n > 1 is a stability factor, the assumption of stationary state is justified within the time interval τ ⩽ t ⩽ θ, where τ ≈ 2 ln (2 N)/kdn(N + ln 2 N) and θ=(2/kd− ln [n (N + ln 2 n)/N]. With the aid of the proposed criterion one can determine: (1) if the assumptions of the stationary state are justified under the actual experimental conditions; (2) what the time limit is for which the assumption is valid; and (3) how to achieve the proper conditions to assume validity of stationary state within any given desired limits of time and maximum error.
Calsenilin Is a Substrate for Caspase-3 That Preferentially Interacts with the Familial Alzheimer's Disease-associated C-terminal Fragment of Presenilin 2

Calsenilin is a member of the recoverin family of neuronal calcium-binding proteins that we have previously shown to interact with presenilin 1 (PS1) and presenilin 2 (PS2) holoproteins. The expression of calsenilin can regulate the levels of a proteolytic product of PS2 (Buxbaum, J. D., Choi, E. K., Luo, Y., Lilliehook, C., Crowley, A. C., Merriam, D. E., and Wasco, W. (1998) Nat. Med. 4, 1177–1181) and reverse the presenilin-mediated enhancement of calcium signaling (Leissring, M. A., Yamasaki, T. R., Wasco, W., Buxbaum, J. D., Parker, I., and LaFerla, F. M. (2000)Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 97, 8590–8593). Here, we have used cultured mammalian cells that transiently or stably express calsenilin to extend the characterization of calsenilin and of the calsenilin-PS2 interaction. We have found that calsenilin has the ability to interact with endogenous 25-kDa C-terminal fragment (CTF) that is a product of regulated endoproteolytic cleavage of PS2 and that the presence of the N141I PS2 mutation does not significantly alter the interaction of calsenilin with PS2. Interestingly, when the 25-kDa PS2 CTF and the 20-kDa PS2 CTF are both present, calsenilin preferentially interacts with the 20-kDa CTF. Increases in the 20-kDa fragment are associated with the presence of familial Alzheimer's disease-associated mutations (Kim, T., Pettingell, W. H., Jung, Y., Kovacs, D. M., and Tanzi, R. E. (1997)Science 277, 373–376). However, the finding that the production of the 20-kDa fragment is regulated by the phosphorylation of PS2 (Walter, J., Schindzielorz, A., Grunberg, J., and Haass, C. (1999) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 96, 1391–1396) suggests that it is a regulated physiological event that also occurs in the absence of the familial Alzheimer's disease-associated mutations in PS2. Finally, we have demonstrated that calsenilin is a substrate for caspase-3, and we have used site-directed mutagenesis to map the caspase-3 cleavage site to a region that is proximal to the calcium binding domain of calsenilin.
Tongue movements in the common boa (Constrictor constrictor).

Abstract Tongue movements were studied in Contsrictor constrictor by direct observation and by analysis of motion pictures. Vertical tongue movements consisted of an invariant sequence of protrusion, oscillation up and down, and retraction. Lateral deviation of the tongue occurred only in the company of vertical movements and was correlated with the direction of movement of the snake's head. Flick cluster duration varied from about 80 ms to about 1 s; variation in oscillation phase duration accounted for 69 per cent of the total variation. Oscillation phase duration varied linearly with the number of flicks in the flick cluster, suggesting that flick cluster duration is determined primarily by the number of oscilations which are carried out at a constant rate.
NMR Conformational Analysis of DNA Duplexes Containing Diol Epoxide Adducts of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Abstract The principal adducts formed between DNA and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon diol epoxides result from N-alkylation of the exocyclic amino groups of the purine bases by the benzylic carbon atom of the epoxide. To date, the solution conformations of more than a dozen alkylated DNA duplexes have been examined by 2D NMR spectroscopy. For trans opened diol epoxides, oligomer duplexes containing N2-adducts at deoxyguanosine have the hydrocarbon residue lying in the minor groove whereas those containing N6-adducts at deoxyadenosine have the hydrocarbon intercalated within the DNA helix. Absolute configuration at the site of attachment appears to be a major determinant in establishing whether the hydrocarbon lies to the 3′- or the 5′-side of the adducted base. For trans opened deoxyadenosine adducts with R-absolute configuration, the hydrocarbon residue is positioned toward the 5′-end of the adducted strand whereas trans opened deoxyguanosine adducts with R-absolute configuration have the hydrocarbon lo...
Temperature dependence of dipolar spin-echo envelope modulation in solid α-nitrogen☆

Abstract The temperature dependence of the intramolecular dipolar splitting of the nuclear quadrupole resonance of 14N has been studied in solid αnitrogen from 4.2 to 35.6°K by observing the modulation of the envelope of the spin echoes. Over this temperature range the modulation period increases by 20% and this is ascribed to progressive motional averaging of the dipolar interaction by the molecular librations. The averaging factor is identical within 2 % with that for the quadrupole resonance frequency and is satisfactorily explained theoretically using published Raman data on the libration frequencies.
Does Smoking Influence Fusion Rates in Posterior Cervical Arthrodesis With Lateral Mass Instrumentation

Background Smoking is associated with reduced fusion rates after anterior cervical decompression and arthrodesis procedures. Posterior cervical arthrodesis procedures are believed to have a higher fusion rate than anterior procedures.
Mesoscale model performance with assimilation of wind profiler data: Sensitivity to assimilation parameters and network configuration

[1] The performance of the nudging scheme in the MM5 numerical model is evaluated for a 4-day simulation of an ozone episode during the TexAQS-2000 field study. Quality-controlled horizontal wind data from five boundary layer profilers spaced 30–50 km apart are used as input data for the nudging as well as for quantification of model errors. Observations from selected profilers are withheld to provide independent data to evaluate the performance of the model. A series of experiments are conducted to estimate the overall model performance as well as the dependence of the model performance on nudging parameters and on profiler network configuration. Within the profiler network, nudging generally reduces 4-day average biases in the wind components to less than 0.3 m s−1 and yields rms errors averaging 1.75 m s−1 to 2.08 m s−1, with the best model performance at about 500–1500 m above ground level. Rms errors without data assimilation are about twice as large. Model errors, with and without assimilation, are generally largest at night. Wind fields that are more accurate in a statistical sense can be obtained by simpler analysis schemes, but the consistent dynamical evolution of all meteorological variables, such as the pattern of temperatures associated with corrected sea breeze location and intensity, are lost. Tests with a reduced profiler network showed that a single profiler in an appropriate upstream location can produce model performance equivalent to that from a four-profiler network surrounding the validation station.
Agricultural Pollution Control: Implications from the Rural Clean Water Program

ABSTRACT: The Rural Clean Water Program has provided a unique opportunity to study the economics of agricultural nonpoint source pollution control. Several implications for improving the economic efficiency of future agricultural nonpoint source pollution control programs can be drawn from the results. First, individual projects should be targeted towards water bodies that have water quality problems causing economic damages. Considerable variation can exist among areas in the magnitude of economic damages, which may not be proportional to physical impacts. Second, the relative costs and effectiveness of the practices selected to reduce the delivery of pollutants can vary dramatically from one location to another. Early identification and emphasis on cost-effective BMPs can substantially reduce project costs and may make a project economically justifiable that would not otherwise be so. Finally, some projects that do not hive potential economic benefits from water quality improvements exceeding government cost may have on-farm benefits from reduced costs and increased long-term yields that are sufficient to make total benefits (water quality and on-farm) exceed costs.
Spectral linewidth limitations set by ion-foil interactions

Abstract We show experimentally and theoretically that beam-foil spectral linewidths due to scattering of the ion beam in carbon exciter foils are of the order of 1–2 A for typical ion energies in the visible spectrum. The empirical relationship θ 2 = 2(m 2 /m 1 ) (ΔE v /E) , θ = rms total scattering angle, m 2 = foil atom mass, m 1 = incident ion mass, ΔE ν = ion energy loss due to nuclear collisi ns in the foil, E = incident ion laboratory energy, fits linewidth data for H, O, Ar, Xe, in the range 0.08–1.5 MeV.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with tracheostomy: report of case involving endodontic treatment.

Summary Modern medicine has made many advances in the capability to sustain life. The dental profession needs to keep up to date with these changes and be creative in caring for these individuals who are medically compromised and who require special care.11 This sometimes requires the purchase of new equipment; other times it means modifying that which exists. In all instances, the level of care for these individuals requires a team approach and mandates education of all team members. In the case presented, the medical problems necessitated such a team effort to achieve optimal care.
Theoretical Evaluation of Tissue Damage Using Er,Cr:YSGG Laser for Root Canal Preparation

Lasers have been used in dentistry for removing hard tooth tissue for more than twenty years. In particular, the arbium, chromium: yttrium, scandium, gallium, garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser, which has a wavelength of 2.78 μm, has been shown to offer the advantages of straight, clean and precise hard tissue cuts [1]. Due to its long wavelength, the absorbed laser energy is limited within a very thin layer of the irradiated tissue and therefore, high temperature elevations (>100°C) at the surface results in hard tissue ablation. Recently, lasers have also been used to prepare a clean root canal surface as well as in disinfection and elimination of bacteria from the root canal system [2].Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Parental effects and phenotypic characterization of mutations that affect early development in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract Genetic tests for parental effects were performed on 24 temperature-sensitive embryonic-lethal mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. For 21 of these mutants, maternal expression of the wild-type allele is sufficient for embryonic survival, regardless of the embryo's genotype. For 11 of these 21 mutants, maternal expression of the wild-type allele is necessary for embryonic survival (strict maternals). For the remaining 10, either maternal or embryonic expression is sufficient for survival (partial maternals). One mutant shows a paternal effect; that is, a wild-type extragenic sperm function appears to rescue homozygous mutant embryos. Similar parental-effect tests were performed on 11 larval-lethal mutants. In 4 mutants, 1 of which blocks as late as the second larval stage after hatching, maternal contributions still can rescue mutant larvae. The remaining 3 embryonic lethals and 8 larval lethals show no parental effects; that is, zygotic expression of the wild-type allele is necessary and sufficient for embryonic survival. Temperatureshift experiments on embryonic-lethal embryos showed that all but 1 of the strict maternal mutants are temperature sensitive only before gastrulation. One of the partial maternal mutants is temperature sensitive prior to gastrulation, suggesting that some zygotic genes can function early in embryogenesis. At the nonpermissive temperature, 7 of the strict maternal mutants either show cleavage abnormalities in early divisions or stop cleavage at less than 100 cells, or both.