cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased muricide and decreased avoidance and discrimination learning in thiamine deficient rats.

Abstract This study assessed the effects of diet-induced thiamine deficiency in rats on two aspects of behavior, aggression and learning. Evidence of enhanced aggression (increased mouse killing) was noted with severe thiamine deficiency, but before the onset of overt neurological signs of thiamine deprivation. This behavioral change was rapidly reversible with thiamine. A similar degree of thiamine deficiency failed to alter learning of two-way shuttle-box avoidance acquisition. Animals with a gross neurological deficit did exhibit a major impairment in shuttle-box performance, but this was probably due to ataxia. However, when such rats were administered thiamine with total reversal of the neurological signs, testing in a three chambered Y-maze avoidance-discrimination apparatus also revealed impaired learning of both responses. These data demonstrate the presence of enhanced aggression during thiamine deprivation and of a persistent learning impairment in rats following reversal of this vitamin deficiency.
Structural and Functional Characterization of the Transforming Growth Factor-β-induced Smad3/c-Jun Transcriptional Cooperativity

Smads are intracellular proteins that act as central effectors for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and related proteins from the activated receptor into the nucleus, where they regulate ligand-induced gene expression. AP-1 binding sites have been functionally linked to the transcriptional activation of various genes in response to TGF-beta. Accordingly, we have previously shown that the heteromeric complex of Smad3 and Smad4 synergizes with c-Jun/c-Fos at the AP-1 binding site of the collagenase I promoter to induce transcriptional activation in response to TGF-beta. Using the collagenase I promoter as model system, we have now investigated the role of the c-Jun and Smad3 interactions with the promoter DNA and have further characterized the physical basis of the c-Jun/Smad3 interaction in the transcriptional response. Mutational analyses of the c-Jun protein and the AP-1 binding site in the promoter revealed that the interaction of c-Jun with DNA is necessary for transcriptional activation by TGF-beta and Smad3. Similar analyses of Smad3 and the Smad binding sites revealed that binding of Smad3 to DNA is also required, but that its DNA sequence-specific recognition is not essential. We also found that the basic leucine zipper domain of c-Jun and a short sequence close to the N terminus of Smad3 mediate their physical interaction, and that these regions are critical for their DNA-binding function. Our studies provide a basis for understanding the functional cooperativity of Smads with the diversity of transcription factors, which underlies the Smad-induced transcriptional activation in response to TGF-beta and related factors.
Interactive tools for extraction of cartographic calibration data from aerial photography

Cartographic compilation requires precision mensuration. The calibration of mensuration processes is based on specific fiducials. External fiducials, around the exterior frame of the image, must be precisely measured to establish the overall physical geometry. Internal fiducials are provided within the image by placement of cloth panels on the ground at locations whose position is precisely known. Both types of fiducials must be known within the pixel space of a digitized image in order for the feature extraction process to be accurate with respect to delineated features. Precise mensuration of these fiducials requires that a cartographer view the image on a display and use pointing devices, such as a mouse, to pick the exact point. For accurate fiducial location, the required manual operations can be an added time- consuming task in the feature extraction process. The authors developed interactive tools which eliminate the precise pointing action for the operator. The operator is required only to 'box-in' the fiducial, using a simple drawing tool, and select either the internal or external fiducial functions; the software of the tool returns the precise location of the fiducial. The theory of the analysis used by the tool is discussed.
Cerebellar Dynamics: The Mossy Fiber Input

A model for the cerebellar cortex is developed which qualitatively describes its temporal behavior. This neural network is treated as a lumped linear system with pure time delays between elements. The model predicts that the cerebellar cortex may act in part as a higher order lead-lag compensator. Physiological experiments performed in the vestibulo-cerebellum of the turtle appear to validate some of the conclusions of the model.
Stabilization of a nozzle boundary layer by local surface heating

On the basis of earlier experiments demonstrating that boundary-layer transition in a supersonic nozzle can be moved upstream by local surface cooling, transition delay was sought by locally heating the nozzle surface. This experiment was done in a two-dimensional Mach 3 DeLaval nozzle that had provisions for heating the nozzle surface at the nozzle throat by two different methods. During the tests the surface temperature was increased up to a maximum of about 12% of the stagnation temperature above adiabatic, and the nozzle boundary layer was probed with steady-state and dynamic pitot probes. Without heating, the test conditions were chosen so that the boundary layer downstream of the throat became turbulent by the growth and bursting of a low-frequency instability. With increasing surface temperatures the instability downstream of the throat decreased greatly in amplitude, as did the magnitude of the bursts and their frequency of occurrence. This suggests that the surface heating can play an important role in attenuating nozzle boundary-layer instabilities and delaying boundary-layer transition.
CT manifestations of ileal dysgenesis

Ileal dysgenesis is an uncommon condition of unknown etiology occurring in the distal ileum in the region of the vitelline duct. The CT appearance of this lesion, although not previously described to our knowledge, is characteristic. We report a patient with ileal dysgenesis who had an abdominal CT scan to evaluate chronic iron deficiency anemia and protein-losing enteropathy. Recognition of this lesion by pediatric radiologists is important; so that surgical treatment, which is simple and effective, can be initiated quickly.
OD Case Report: Consulting with a National Organization

This case study on consultation with an organization will deal with a continuing consultation process with a large semi‐governmental social welfare organization covering a period of six years. This organization has a national headquarters staff of 655 employees. It is organized on the basis of four regional operations and an overseas activity. There are more than one thousand paid employees in these regional offices under direct supervision of a field staff of several hundred persons, who give direct field consultation and program guidance to some 3,700 local units of the organization. It is estimated that the local units of this organization, including the regional and national office, involves more than 2 million volunteers.
Influence of path length on remote optical sensing of properties of biological tissue

A photon migration model is applied to the analysis of remote-sensing techniques that use light to probe the properties of biological tissues. Specific consideration is given to the effect of photon path length on the signals obtained from laser Doppler detection of blood flow in tissue microvasculature. We show how changes in blood volume or variation in spacing between delivery and detecting fibers might affect the measurements. We also examine how changes in path length can affect parameters determined by time resolved optical spectroscopy of blood oxygenation. Anisotropies in the angular distribution of scattered photons are taken into account.
Highly efficient rapid ethanol sensing based on Co-doped In2O3 nanowires

Pristine and Co-doped In2O3 nanowires were synthesized via electrospinning with subsequent calcination. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to characterize nanowire morphology and structure. Ethanol sensing performance analyzed in the range of temperatures and concentrations showed that Co-doped In2O3 nanowires exhibited significantly enhanced sensitivity and rate of performance with the response and recovery times of 2 s and 3 s, respectively. Combined with excellent selectivity and linearity, these properties make the fabricated nanowires a good candidate for practical ethanol sensing. Further performance improvements are possible with utilization of nanofiber continuity intrinsic of the used top-down nanowire nanomanufacturing process.
Dose reduction in CT with correlated-polarity noise reduction: context-dependent spatial resolution and noise properties demonstrating two-fold dose reduction with minimal artifacts

ABSTRACT Correlated -polarity noise reduction (CPNR) is a novel noise reduction tec hnique that uses a statistical approach to reducing noise while maintaining exce llent spatial resolution and a traditional noise appearance. It was demonstrated in application to CT imaging for the first time at SPIE 2013 and showed qualitatively excellen t image quality at half of normal CT dose. In this current work, we measure quantitatively the spatial resolution and noise properties of CPNR in CT imaging. To measure the spatial resolution, we developed a metrology approach that is suitable for nonlin ear algorithms such as CPNR. We introduce the formalism of Signal Modification Factor, SMF(u,v), which is the ratio in frequency space of the CPNR -processed image divided by the noise -free image, averaged over an ensemble of ROIs in a given anatomical con text. SMF is a nonlinear analog to the MTF. We used XCAT computer -generated anthropomorphic phantom images followed by projection space processing with CPNR. The SMF revealed virtually no effect from CPNR on spatial resolution of the images (<7% degrada tion at all frequencies). Corresponding context -dependent NPS measurements generated with CPNR at half -dose were about equal to the NPS of full -dose images without CPNR. This result demonstrates for the first time the quantitative determination of a two -fold reduction in dose with CPNR with less than 7% reduction in spatial resolution. We conclude that CPNR shows strong promise as a method for reduction of noise (and hence, dose) in CT. CPNR may also be used in combination with iterative reconstruction techniques for yet further dose reduction , pending further investigation . Keywords: noise reduction, dose reduction, statistica l image processing, computed tomography, image quality
Railway testing using a portable ride quality and vibration measurement system with GPS

To conduct the testing and evaluation of railway and railway vehicles, the Federal Railroad Administration developed a protable system that consists of accelerometers oriented in the vertical and horizontal directions, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, data collection and power systems, and a portable computer. Commercial software was used to collect and display the data, while software, developed by ENSCO, was used to analyze and display results. The GPS provided dynamic location to an accuracy of 30 meters or better, and vehicle speed to within one mile per hour. The system was used in the demonstration tests of several advanced high-speed trains on Amtrak's Northeast Corrider and on other tracks in the US. The portable measurement system proved to be a simple and effective device to characterize the vibration environment of any transportation system. It is ideal for use in the assessment of the safe performance of high-speed trains operating at high cant deficiency. The system has also been used for other field tests, including braking performance and bridge monitoring. This report discusses the portable measurement system, the test applications that the system has been used for, the results of thoses tests, and the potential for improvements.
A simple method for the determination of urinary adrenocortical steroids (α-ketols)

Abstract All conditions and concentrations of reagents were carefully assayed and checked to obtain a simple method for practical clinical application for the determination of α-ketols (cortical steroids) in urine by application of acid hydrolysis and reduction of blue tetrazolium by the released ketols.
Chlamydiosis in a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

A red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) with signs of respiratory distress and diarrhea was captured in the Manchac Wildlife Management Area, Louisiana (USA) and died the following day. At necropsy, the carcass was emaciated and there were splenomegaly, and fibrinous pericarditis, airsacculitis, and perihepatitis. Microscopically, there were fibrinous pericarditis and airsacculitis, myocardial necrosis, necrotizing hepatitis, splenic necrosis with reticuloendothelial cell hyperplasia, interstitial pneumonia and focal pancreatic necrosis. Intracytoplasmic chlamydial inclusion bodies were noticed in macrophages in the fibrinous exudate covering air sac and pericardium, and in spleen, liver, heart, lung, and pancreas. Schizonts compatible with a Sarcocystis sp.-like protozoon were present in the walls of air capillaries in the lung. A Chlamydia sp.-like organism was isolated in embryonating chicken eggs and cell culture and identified as C. psittaci with immunofluorescent staining.
Rapid screening for benzimidazole residues in bovine liver.

Rapid enzyme immunoassays for benzimidazole anthelmintic and/or fungicide residues were developed using monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind methyl benzimidazolecarbamates (MBCs, including albendazole, fenbendazole, and oxfendazole) and thiazole-containing compounds (thiabendazole, its 5-hydroxy metabolite, and cambendazole). Bovine liver samples were extracted by homogenization in water. Extracts were clarified by centrifugation, and dilutions of the supernatants were analyzed using both a commercialized immunoassay (EnviroGard thiabendazole kit, Strategic Diagnostics, Inc., Newark, DE) and an MBC-specific assay described previously. Two sets of 40 blank, fortified, or incurred samples were analyzed for the thiazole benzimidazoles, and an additional set of 31 samples was analyzed for methyl benzimidazolecarbamates only. Using the thiabendazole kit, all samples were analyzed correctly by ELISA, including all 34 samples containing fortified or incurred residues (60-120 ppb) of thiabendazole or related compounds. Using the method for MBCs, all unknowns were correctly scored. The simple water extraction and rapid ELISAs appear to function well for regulatory screening of bovine liver for residues of fenbendazole, oxfendazole, and thiazole-containing benzimidazoles. Although the marker residue for albendazole is not detected by these procedures, residues can be estimated from the analysis of albendazole sulfoxide and sulfone.
Characterization of multiple epoxide hydrolase activities in mouse liver nuclear envelope.

Abstract A nuclear envelope-associated epoxide hydrolase in mouse liver that hydrates trans-stilbene oxide has been identified and characterized. This epoxide hydrolase is distinct from the enzyme in nuclear envelopes that hydrates benzo[ a ]pyrene 4,5-oxide and other arene oxides. This distinction was demonstrated by the criteria of pH optima, response to specific inhibitors in vitro , and precipitation by specific antibodies. The new epoxide hydrolase had a pH optimum of 6.8, was poorly inhibited by trichloropropene oxide, was potently inhibited by 4-phenylchalcone oxide, and did not bind to antiserum against benzo[ a ]pyrene 4,5-oxide hydrolase. This nuclear enzyme is similar in many of its properties to cytosolic and microsomal trans -stilbene oxide hydrolases and may be a nuclear envelope-bound form of these other epoxide hydrolases. It differed from these other trans -stilbene oxide hydrolases in that its affinities for both trans -stilbene oxide (measured as apparent k m and 4-phenylchalcone oxide (measured as I 50 ) were 4- to 20-fold lower than those of either the cytosolic or microsomal forms.
Greater sage‐grouse and fences: Does marking reduce collisions?

Collision with infrastructure such as fences is widespread and common for many species of grouse. Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) fence-collision has been documented and fence-marking methods have been recommended for mitigating prairie-grouse collision in rangeland habitats. We tested a marking method in greater sage-grouse breeding habitat and modeled collision as a function of fence marking and control covariates, in Idaho (USA) in 2010. Our results suggested collision risk decreased with fence marking, increased with lek-count indices of local abundance, and decreased with increasing distance from lek. We found an approximate 83% reduction in collision rates at marked fences relative to unmarked fences. Our results also suggested marking may not be necessary on all fences, and mitigation should focus on areas with locally abundant grouse populations and fence segments <2 km from known leks. Nonetheless, collision still occurred at marked fences <500 m from large leks and moving or removing fences may be necessary in some areas if management is to eliminate collision. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Critical heat flux in a long, rectangular channel subjected to one-sided heating—II. Analysis of critical heat flux data

Abstract A theoretical model to predict critical heat flux in long, rectangular channels is presented. The theoretical development is complemented by an extensive flow visualization analysis presented in Part I of this study. The observation of a periodic distribution of increasingly larger vapor patches along the surface just prior to CHF is idealized as a sinusoidal interface with amplitude and wavelength increasing in the flow direction. A separated flow model provides phase velocities and an average vapor thickness which are utilized by an instability analysis to predict the critical interfacial wavelength. An energy balance assumes the transfer of heat from the surface to the fluid occurs only at the troughs of the interface, called wetting fronts, and that the surface is insulated below the vapor patches. The lift-off of the most upstream wetting front, which occurs when the pressure difference serving to maintain interfacial contact with the surface is overcome by the vapor momentum emanating from the wetting front, is the trigger mechanism which precipitates CHF. The ratio of wetting front length to vapor wavelength obtained from the flow visualization represents a key contribution to the model. CHF predictions are accurate to within a mean absolute error of 10.0% for data obtained at near-saturated conditions for velocities of 0.25–10.0 m s−1.
Is gender relevant only for problem alcohol behaviors? An examination of correlates of alcohol use among college students

This study examined correlates of alcohol use: substance-use coping, drinking to "feel high," and depressive symptoms as related to drinking behaviors in males and females. A sample of 266 female and 140 male college students from a private and public college were surveyed. Males reported more frequent alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, binge drinking, substance-use coping, and drinking to "feel high." There were no gender differences in self-reported depressive symptoms. Alcohol-use frequency and binge drinking were both accounted for by substance-use coping and drinking to "feel high" among males and females. However, alcohol-related problems were accounted for by males' frequency of alcohol use and drinking to "feel high," whereas females' problems were accounted for by frequency of alcohol use and depressive symptoms. Findings indicate that motivation for drinking is a more robust correlate of alcohol-related problems among males, while depressive symptomatology is a more relevant correlate of alcohol-related problems among females.
Nonlinear steady convection in rotating mushy layers

We consider the problem of nonlinear steady convection in a horizontal mushy layer rotating about a vertical axis. We analyse the stationary modes of convection in the form of two-dimensional oblique rolls and three-dimensional distorted patterns. Under a near-eutectic approximation and the limit of large far-field temperature, we determine the two- and three-dimensional solutions to the weakly nonlinear problem by using a perturbation technique, and the stability of these solutions is investigated with respect to arbitrary three-dimensional disturbances. The results of the analyses in a particular range of values of the amplitude of convection indicate in particular that, over most of the range of values of the parameters, subcritical convection in the form of down-hexagons with down-flow at the cell centres and up-flow at the cell boundaries can be preferred over up-hexagonal convection, where the convective flow is upward at the cell centres and downward at the cell boundaries
The influence of sills and reveals on sound transmission loss

Abstract A review is made of existing works concerning the effects of sills and reveals on the transmission of sounds through windows and panels. New data is presented which supplements our knowledge base and a sill and reveal design guide is proposed for the purpose of increasing the sound transmission loss of windows or light panels.
Restle's choice model: A reconceptualization for a special case

Abstract A reconceptualization of the choice model developed by Restle is proposed which involves a reformulation of the choice situation, consideration of absolute constraints, and a distinction between positively and negatively valued aspects of alternatives. Incorporation of these features results in four different models which are found to combine some characteristics of other choice models as well. It is felt that these models might be particularly appropriate for both general and specialized vocational choices.
The genetic structure of a tribal population, the Yanomama Indians. XII. Biodemographic studies.

The Yanomama Indians of Southern Vanezuela and Northern Brazil are one of the largest, relatively unacculturated tribes of the tropical rain forest. Over a period of eight years data have been collected from a considerable portion of their territory on estimated age, sex ratio, fertility rates (as determined by physical examination and urine tests), and infant death rates. Although it has been impossible to collect direct data on infanticide, this subject can be approached indirectly through distortions of the sex ratio and anecdotal information. Some historical data are also available as a basis for estimating tribal expansion in the past 100 years. With this material it has been possible to construct Life Tables for the Yanomama, and to explore the results of various perturbations of the input parameters. Data are also presented on patterns of mating and reproduction: number of spouses, mean and variance in number of surviving children, frequency of “extra-marital conceptions” based on the results of extensive blood group typings, and consanguinity rates as determined by observation and computer simulation. Although we do not present the Yanomama as typical, these data are seen as providing a basis for more realistic population models than have existed in the past. In addition, the data provide a basis for relatively precise estimates of such demographic measures as Fisher's Reproductive Value, Crow's Index of Total Selection, and Weiss' Index of Growth Regulation.
Intended Carefulness Ratings for Voiced Warning Statements

The parameters that affect the efficacy of voiced warnings have only recently begun to be investigated. The current study examines the effects on intended carefulness ratings for voiced warning statements considering the following factors: sex of speaker, sex of participant, voice style (monotone, emotional, whisper), and sound level (low, high). Warning statements voiced in the emotional voice style and in a higher sound level produced the higher intended carefulness ratings. Implications for the design of voiced warnings are discussed.
Predicting which species will benefit from corridors in fragmented landscapes from population growth models.

Abstract: Connecting isolated patches of habitat in fragmented landscapes with corridors is a popular conservation strategy. This strategy is also controversial in large part because of uncertainty about what characteristics of a species and its environment promote corridor use. In this article we address the question, For what types of species will populations benefit from corridors? We asked this question using a model of two logistically growing populations connected by migration in which both emigration and migration success were determined by the presence or absence of a corridor. We found that in the short run (e.g., during recovery from disaster), corridors are most effective for species with fast‐growing populations that have low survivorship when dispersing through unsuitable (matrix) habitat. We also found that emigration rates and habitat‐specific mortality rates are key determinants of the effects of corridors on population size. In the long term, corridors are most likely to benefit species w...
Glass from the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary in Haiti

Tektite-like glasses preserved at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary at Beloc in Haiti provide clear evidence of an impact event. The glass composition suggests that the impact occurred on a continental shelf region, generating a silica-rich glass with chemical composition that reflects the melting of continental crustal rocks, and a calcium-rich glass produced by the fusion of marl sediments. These findings indicate that catastrophic release to the atmosphere of 1015 moles of C02 from vaporized marl occurred during the impact.
A quantitative evaluation of stress associated with indwelling superior vena cava cannulae in rats.

Abstract “Nonrestraining” superior vena cava (SVC) cannulae are commonly used in rat metabolic studies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of stress and metabolic alterations associated with surgical placement and subsequent maintenance and use of an indwelling intravenous cannula as measured by resting energy expenditure (REE), respiratory quotient (RQ), urinary nitrogen excretion, and substrate utilization pattern. Nine rats underwent SVC cannulation and six rats underwent sham operation. Postoperatively, animals were starved for 48 hr and then refed either parenterally or orally for 48 hr. Sham-operated animals adapted appropriately to starvation within 24 hr by decreasing REE 14% and increasing utilization of fat (RQ:0.89 → 0.78). Hypometabolic adaptation to starvation was delayed in cannulated animals until the second postoperative day, but appropriate alterations in energy substrate utilization were not affected by the presence of cannulae. Cannulae did not affect the metabolic response to oral refeeding with similar increases in REE and similar patterns of substrate utilization in sham-operated and cannulated animals. Animals refed parenterally demonstrated higher REE and apparent fat deposition (RQ > 1) consistent with continuous hypercaloric glucose administration. Urinary nitrogen excretion was not affected by the presence of cannulae. Cannula-associated metabolic alterations are minimal and transient and do not preclude detection and quantification of alterations associated with composition or utilization of exogenous substrates.
Using directly acquired digital ECG data to optimize the diagnostic criteria for anterior myocardial infarction

The use of a newly developed method of directly transferring digital data from Marquette electrocardiogram (ECG) systems (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) to personal computers for subsequent storage and analysis is illustrated. This method can eliminate the slowness and inaccuracy associated with measuring relevant ECG parameters from analog tracings and manually entering the data into a computer. In this study, the new method was used to derive ECG criteria for anterior myocardial infarction and to compare their performances to those of the current Marquette 12SL diagnostic program and of a group of cardiologists who had also interpreted the ECGs. Using angiographic data, 82 normal subjects and 55 patients with anterior myocardial infarction were identified. The digital ECG data from the patients in each group were transferred to a personal computer and frequency distributions of these data were generated. From these frequency distributions, the ECG criteria that most reliably separated the two groups were identified. The diagnostic performance of the best of these empirically derived criteria appears clinically superior to the performances of both the 12SL program and the cardiologists who had also interpreted the ECGs.
Computed Tomography's Ability to Predict Sacrifice of Hypoglossal Nerve at Resection

Objective: To assess whether preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan can determine if the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII) will be sacrificed in floor-of-mouth, oral tongue, and tongue base tumor resections. Study Design: Retrospective review. Methods: Patients who underwent resection of floor-of-mouth, oral tongue, and tongue base tumors from 1990 to 1999 were identified. Preoperative CT scans were reviewed by a neuroradiologist. The postoperative status of cranial nerve XII was predicted to be saved or sacrificed. Hypoglossal nerve sacrifice was predicted if the fat planes surrounding the takeoff of the proximal lingual artery were obliterated by tumor. The nerve was determined to be sacrificed or spared during resection by review of the operative report. Results: Of the 45 patients, 14 tumors were predicted radiographically to involve the hypoglossal nerve. Twenty-seven of 31 nerves that were predicted to be saved were saved at the time of surgery. Seven of 14 nerves that were predicted to be sacrificed were sacrificed at the time of surgery. The sensitivity was 0.64 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-0.86) with a specificity of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.70-0.87). The positive predictive value was 0.50 (95% CI, 0.27-0.68) with a negative predictive value of 0.87 (95% CI, 0.77-0.95). Conclusions: The ability to predict preoperatively whether a tumor can be resected without sacrificing the hypoglossal nerve would be an important factor in determining management of these tumors. The results indicate that CT scan accurately predicts the ability of the surgeon to spare the hypoglossal nerve (negative predictive value, 87%) with a specificity of 0.79.
Positive and Negative Valence within the Five-Factor Model

Abstract Tellegen and Walker (in press) have argued that highly evaluative adjectives provide significant information about personality and should not be excluded from trait taxonomic studies. Their analyses have identified two evaluative dimensions labeled Positive Valence (PV) and Negative Valence (NV). This study examines the meaning of these evaluative dimensions from the perspective of the five-factor model. Participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging ( N = 412) completed Tellegen, Grove, and Waller′s (1991) Inventory of Personal Characteristics 7; self-reports and spouse and peer ratings on the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) were also available. PV and NV were not related to measures of response bias and did not moderate self/observer agreement. Joint factor analysis showed that in a five-factor solution, PV and NV had substantial communality and defined several factors. Correlations with NEO-PI-R facet scales suggested that PV and NV are associated with substantive aspects of personality, with PV related especially to Assertiveness and low Modesty, and NV related to Depression and low Competence. Although PV and NV are not fundamental factors in the description of personality, they are potentially important in understanding self-appraisals and social evaluations.
Construction of Markov Processes from Hitting Distributions

As demonstrated in the fundamental memoir of Hunt [8], in the study of a general strong Markov process with nice path behavior hitting distributions play a very important role. For standard processes on a locally compact second countable Hausdorff space with the same family of hitting distributions, it is proved by Blumenthal, Getoor and McKean [2] (see also [1]) that they can be obtained, up to equivalence, from a single process by means of random time change. This suggests that a large part of the theory of Markov processes is intrinsically associated with hitting distributions rather than with transition probabilities. Thus the problem of constructing a process with given hitting distributions is a most natural one. This paper has resulted from an effort to extend the theorems of Knight and Orey [9] and Dawson [5], which deal with this problem. (The latter treats diffusion processes only.) In [11] we announced a theorem that is more general than the above theorems. All three assume given two ingredients for the construction. One is a family of measures on the state space, assumed to be locally compact second countable Hausdorff, that behave like the hitting distributions of a Markov process for a large class sets and are smooth. Smoothness means in our case that the measures transform continuous functions vanishing at infinity into such functions, which is weaker than that assumed by Knight and Orey and by Dawson in different ways. The other is a function g on the state space, continuous and vanishing at infinity, with g(x) meant to be the expected lifetime of the process starting at each state x. Knight and Orey's condition on g is rather unnatural, while Dawson's and ours involve the fine topology defined from the given hitting distributions. The present result is obtained by first relaxing the condition that g is required to satisfy in our earlier result, and then constructing such a function from the given hitting distributions, which now satisfy a natural transience condition in addition to the original smoothness condition. (The form of the function g is suggested in [9].) This furnishes a significant extension of our previous theorem. The processes under consideration here are transient; but further extension to the construction of recurrent processes (recurrent in the sense of oneand two-dimensional Brownian motions) with smooth hitting distributions does not seem too difficult, using the theorem of [2] mentioned above.
Standardization in technology-based markets

Abstract The complexity of modern technology, especially its system character, has led to an increase in the number and variety of standards that affect a single industry or market. Standards affect the R&D, production, and market penetration stages of economic activity and therefore have a significant collective effect on innovation, productivity, and market structure. Standards are classified into product-element and nonproduct categories because the two types arise from different technologies and require different formulation and implementation strategies. Because standards are a form of technical infrastructure, they have considerable public good content. Research policy must therefore include standardization in analyses of technology-based growth issues.
Indestructibility, instances of strong compactness, and level by level inequivalence

Suppose � > � is measurable. We show that if � is either indestructibly supercompact or indestructibly strong, then A = {� � is measurable, �'s supercompactness is indestructible under �-directed closed, (� +, �)-distributive forcing, and every measurable cardinal � � is measurable, �'s strongness is indestructible under � is measurable, � is indestructibly supercompact, and every measurable cardinal � < � which is not a limit of measurable cardinals is � + strongly compact.
Prevalence of depression and its correlates in a general medical practice

Abstract A screening scale for depression, based on HSCL depression scale items, was used during a one-year period in a rural general medical practice. The estimated prevalence of depression was 8.8% for severe (probable depressive disorder) depression. 18.3% for moderate (depressive syndrome) depression, and 28.3% for mild depression. For all three levels of depression, there were significant relationships to sex and to marital status. For the higher level of depression, probable depressive disorder, there were significant relationships to age and to retirement status; these relationships were not evident at the moderate or the mild levels of depression.
High-temperature Auger electron spectroscopy of Zircaloy-4

The near-surface region of Zircaloy-4 (Zry-4) has been probed using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). In particular, the behavior of impurity (sulfur) and alloying (tin) elements has been monitored as a function of annealing temperature and time. High-temperature AES experiments above 900 K are reported, with a primary focus on changes in the S(LMM) Auger feature that overlaps with the primary Zr(MNV) transition. We find that the sulfur content of the near-surface region increases linearly with annealing time at higher temperatures. Tin is the only alloying element whose Auger signal intensity significantly exceeds the noise level at these temperatures.
The Four Ws of Current Testing Practices: Who; What; Why; and to Whom — An Exploratory Survey

A total of 579 professionals throughout Illinois completed a survey designed to shed light on which professionals use tests; which categories of children are most frequently tested; which tests are...
The SAFE Program: A family psychoeducational curriculum developed in a Veterans Affairs medical center

One of the unintended positive consequences of deinstitutionalization and managed care restrictions has been an increased awareness of the impact of serious mental illness on the family. The Support and Family Education (SAFE) Program: Mental Health Facts for Families is a 14-session curriculum of monthly workshops for caregivers. In contrast to similar programs, the SAFE Program is facilitated by mental health professionals, is not diagnostic specific, and includes attention to posttraumatic stress disorder. Three years of outcome data reveal that program attendance is related to increased understanding of mental illness and enhanced awareness of Veterans Affairs resources. Workshop attendance is positively correlated with improvements in participants' self-care. The entire SAFE Program manual is available free of charge on the Internet (http://w3.ouhsc.edu/safeprogram).
Comparison of optical and radar measurements of surf and swash zone velocity fields

[1] Surf zone bore celerities and swash zone surface currents were measured on a shallow sloping, low-energy beach using two remote sensing methods that differ fundamentally in their imaging mechanisms. Microwave Doppler radar measures electromagnetic backscatter from small-scale ocean surface roughness while video-based particle image velocimetry (PIV) relies on image texture resulting from variations in light reflectivity from the ocean surface. Imagery from the two methods showed high correlation, in which regions of high radar backscatter corresponded to visibly identifiable waves and bores propagating across the surf zone. Correlation coefficients between radial velocity time series sampled using the two methods at multiple locations across the surf zone were typically greater than 0.5 for frequencies less than a noise cutoff of 0.25 Hz. Similarly, spectra were found to be coherent at the 95% level with a nearly zero phase shift between the two signals near the broad spectral peak between 0.02 and 0.25 Hz. However, some significant differences were evident. PIV was capable of estimating both cross-shore and alongshore surface velocities while the use of one microwave Doppler radar system restricted surface velocity estimates from that technique to line of sight (radial) only. PIV was found to be more capable of estimating swash zone (uprush and backwash) surface velocities as a smoother water surface in the swash zone adversely affected radar reflectivity. In contrast, microwave Doppler radar was found to be more capable of estimating the surface velocity between bores when insufficient image texture was recorded in the video imagery. Both techniques were capable of measuring surf zone bore celerities through comparison to a shallow water model and to independent celerity estimates extracted from the slope of individual bore trajectories. Typical normalized errors were roughly 25% for radar and 15% for PIV.
Inference of Noisy Nonlinear Differential Equation Models for Gene Regulatory Networks Using Genetic Programming and Kalman Filtering

A key issue in genomic signal processing is the inference of gene regulatory networks. These are used both to understand the role of biological regulation in phenotypic determination and to derive therapeutic strategies for genetic-based diseases. In this paper, gene regulatory networks are inferred via evolutionary modeling based on time-series microarray measurements. A nonlinear differential equation model is adopted. It includes random noise parameters for intrinsic noise arising from stochasticity in transcription and translation and for external noise arising from factors such as the amount of RNA polymerase, levels of regulatory proteins, and the effects of mRNA and protein degradation. An iterative algorithm is proposed for model identification. Genetic programming is applied to identify the structure of the model and Kalman filtering is used to estimate the parameters in each iteration. Both standard and robust Kalman filtering are considered. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is demonstrated by using synthetic data and by using microarray measurements pertaining to yeast protein synthesis.
Microburst modelling and scaling

A microburst can be modeled by releasing a volume of fluid that is slightly heavier than the ambient fluid, allowing it to fall onto a horizontal surface. Vorticity develops on the sides of this parcel as it descends and causes it to roll up into a turbulent vortex ring which impinges on the ground. Such a model exhibits many of the features of naturally occurring microbursts which are a hazard to aviation. In this paper this model is achieved experimentally by releasing a volume of salt water into fresh water from a cylindrical dispenser. When care is taken with the release the spreading rate of the surface outflow is measurable and quite repeatable despite the fact that the flow is turbulent. An elementary numerical approximation to this model, based on inviscid vortex dynamics, has also been developed. A scaling law is proposed which allows experiments with different fluid densities to be compared with each other and with the numerical results. More importantly the scaling law makes it possible to compare the model results with real microbursts.
Shape recognition method using morphological hit-or-miss transform

We present a new shape recognition algorithm for binary images based on the morphological approach. The standard algorithms based on the morphological hit-or-miss transform use block structure patterns, but in many practical situations, this may cause problems because the size of the object is unknown. In the proposed method, we match the corners of the object instead of the block structure pattern. Because most objects have different structure elements for the corners, our method gives a more reasonable approach and the size of the object plays a less significant role in our recognition algorithm than in the standard algorithms. Our method can be easily adapted to recognize the features of different types of objects.
An enantiomerically pure formulation of esmolol attenuates hypotension and preserves heart rate control in dogs.

BACKGROUND Esmolol is marketed as a racemate (RS-esmolol) with hypotension being the most frequently reported adverse event. Previously, it has been shown that the S-enantiomer (S-esmolol) possesses all of the heart rate (HR) control. The authors studied whether S-esmolol alone mitigates hypotension at similar degrees of HR control compared with RS-esmolol. METHODS The effects of RS- and S-esmolol on blood pressure (BP) were compared at multiple infusion rates producing similar HR control in dogs (N=21). Differences in BP were further interrogated by monitoring global cardiovascular function and included the R-enantiomer (R-esmolol) (N=3). RESULTS S-esmolol at half the rate (μg kg min) of RS-esmolol provided the same degree of HR control over all infusion rates. RS-esmolol lowered BP by 3, 6, 11, 20, and 38 mmHg at 90, 300, 600, 1,000, and 2,000 μg kg min, compared with 2, 4, 5, 10, and 16 mmHg at 45, 150, 300, 500, and 1,000 μg kg min for S-esmolol. Decreased BP with RS-esmolol was attributed to decreases in left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) (-34 mmHg), LVdP/dt+max (-702 mmHg/s), and cardiac output (-1 l/min). R-esmolol also decreased BP (-10 mmHg), LVDP (-10 mmHg), LVdP/dt+max (-241 mmHg/s), and cardiac output (to -0.2 l/min). S-esmolol reversed these trends toward pre-esmolol values by increasing BP (+13 mmHg), LVDP (+12 mmHg), LVdP/dt+max (+76 mmHg/s), and cardiac output (+0.4 l/min). CONCLUSIONS R-enantiomer provided no HR control, but contributed to the hypotension with RS-esmolol, which appears to be due to negative inotropy. Thus, an S-enantiomer formulation of esmolol may provide similar HR control with less hypotension.
Influence of the environment on the specificity of the Mg(II) binding to uracil.

Interactions of uracil with the Mg2+ ion were studied theoretically in the gas phase and in solution. The bare Mg2+ prefers bidentate N–C═O binding sites stabilizing rare keto–enol forms of the base. Hydration and/or phosphate binding of the Mg2+ ion shield its positive charge, which leads to preference of monodentate binding to the oxygen keto atoms, shifting fully the equilibrium between the tautomers back toward the canonical diketo tautomer. In solution, a direct inner-sphere metal binding to uracil is not clearly advantageous compared to the outer-sphere metal binding. Similar trends were also obtained for the Ca2+ ion. Results are supported by the natural bond orbital (NBO) and atoms in molecule (AIM) analyses and the combined extended transition-state energy decomposition analysis and natural orbitals for chemical valence (ETS-NOCV).
Robot operating systems: Bridging the gap between human and robot

A robot operating system (ROS) is a collection of programs which allow a user to easily control the mobile operations of a robot. This paper describes research conducted on sixteen different ROSs to determine which one will most accommodate future Trinity undergraduates for use in further robotics research. The goal of this research is to reduce this list of 16 ROSs to a single ROS that can be used by Trinity undergraduates with limited programming experience to perform simple robotic motion tasks. First, a detailed list of criteria describing the ideal ROS was created. The list of ROSs was narrowed down to a single ROS that best fit these criteria. This ROS is called Player/Stage. Next, Player/Stage was tested to ensure the validity of the research performed. In these tests, a robot's mobility and sensors were controlled by a user via Player/Stage. This ROS excelled in both the mobility tests and the sensor tests, and also proved simple to navigate and manage.
Effects of a Mutator Mutation of Salmonella typhimurium on P22 and R Factor Genes

A mutator mutation of Salmonella typhimurium, observed in a strain resistant to P22 and rifampin, affects mutation rates of bacterial, R factor, and prophage P22 genes.