cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EDTA Degradation Induced by Oxygen Activation in a Zerovalent Iron/Air/Water System

A method for the removal of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) at room temperature and 1 atm is demonstrated. EDTA (1 mM, 50 mL) containing 2.5 g of granular zerovalent iron (ZVI) (20-40 mesh) was degraded in 2.5 h. Using a recently developed form of O2 activation, reactive oxygen species are generated in situ, resulting in the degradation of EDTA when complexed with FeII. ESI-MS measurements indicate that degradation of EDTA yields low-molecular carboxylic acids. The presence of oxygen is crucial: the observed pseudo-first-order rate constants for EDTA removal are kobs = 1.02 h(-1) (kSA = 1.85 +/- 0.046 L h(-1) m(-2)) and kobs = 0.04 h(-1) (kSA = 0.00724 +/- 0.002 L h(-1) m(-2)) under air and under N2 purge, respectively. kSA represents surface area normalized rate constants. Large excesses of EDTA in the reaction mixture slowthe rate of degradation. Increasing the concentration of EDTA from 1.0 to 10.0 mM while holding all other parameters constant gave observed rates of kobs = 1.02 +/- 0.26 h(-1) (kSA = 1.85 +/- 0.046 L h(-1) m(-2)) and kobs = 0.044 +/- 0.01 h(-1) (kSA = 0.00796 +/- 0.002 L h(-1) m(-2)), respectively. The rate-limiting step is determined to be homogeneous oxygen activation.
Outcome following femur fracture and subsequent cecal ligation and puncture in endotoxin-sensitive (C3H/HeN) and endotoxin-resistant (C3H/HeJ) mice.

Abstract This study examined the effect of sepsis following trauma in a reproducible model of sepsis—cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)—in endotoxin-sensitive (C3H/HeN) and endotoxin-resistant (CeH/HeJ) mice. Studies used CLP with a 25-gauge needle at different time intervals following injury, as induced by femur fracture (FF), to determine the effects of sublethal sepsis on survival after trauma. There was a 3% mortality for FF alone in both groups. Mortality in C3H/HeJ mice was not significantly increased over FF alone except when CLP followed FF by 3 days (45%, P
Response of cerebral blood flow to phenylephrine infusion during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass: influence of PaCO2 management.

Twenty-eight adult patients anesthetized with fentanyl, then subjected to hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), were studied to determine the effect of phenylephrine-induced changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) on cerebral blood flow (CBF). During CPB patients managed at 28 degrees C with either alpha-stat (temperature-uncorrected PaCO2 = 41 +/- 4 mmHg) or pH-stat (temperature-uncorrected PaCO2 = 54 +/- 8 mmHg) PaCO2 for blood gas maintenance received phenylephrine to increase MAP greater than or equal to 25% (group A, n = 10; group B, n = 6). To correct for a spontaneous, time-related decline in CBF observed during CPB, two additional groups of patients undergoing CPB were either managed with the alpha-stat or pH-stat approach, but neither group received phenylephrine and MAP remained unchanged in both groups (group C, n = 6; group D, n = 6). For all patients controlled variables (nasopharyngeal temperature, PaCO2, pump flow, and hematocrit) remained unchanged between measurements. Phenylephrine data were corrected based on the data from groups C and D for the effect of diminishing CBF over time during CPB. In patients in group A CBF was unchanged as MAP rose from 56 +/- 7 to 84 +/- 8 mmHg. In patients in group B CBF increased 41% as MAP rose from 53 +/- 8 to 77 +/- 9 mmHg (P less than 0.001). During hypothermic CPB normocarbia maintained via the alpha-stat approach at a temperature-uncorrected PaCO2 of approximately equal to 40 mmHg preserves cerebral autoregulation; pH-stat management (PaCO2 approximately equal to 57 mmHg uncorrected for temperature, or 40 mmHg when corrected to 28 degrees C) causes cerebrovascular changes (i.e., impaired autoregulation) similar to those changes produced by hypercarbia in awake, normothermic patients.
Slicing a pie is no piece of cake.

The ability to categorize objects depending on task demands is critical. A primate study finds that the prefrontal cortex signals to the parietal cortex during categorization, indicating an asymmetric, top-down interaction.
Explaining the Gender Wealth Gap

To assess and explain the United States’ gender wealth gap, we use the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study to examine wealth accumulated by a single cohort over 50 years by gender, by marital status, and limited to the respondents who are their family’s best financial reporters. We find large gender wealth gaps between currently married men and women, and between never-married men and women. The never-married accumulate less wealth than the currently married, and there is a marital disruption cost to wealth accumulation. The status-attainment model shows the most power in explaining gender wealth gaps between these groups explaining about one-third to one-half of the gap, followed by the human-capital explanation. In other words, a lifetime of lower earnings for women translates into greatly reduced wealth accumulation. After controlling for the full model, we find that a gender wealth gap remains between married men and women that we speculate may be related to gender differences in investment strategies and selection effects.
Incorrect Surgical Procedures Within and Outside of the Operating Room

Objective To describe incorrect surgical procedures reported from Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Medical Centers from 2001 to mid-2006 and provide proposed solutions for preventing such events. Design Descriptive study. Setting Veterans Health Administration Medical Centers. Participants Veterans of the US Armed Forces. Interventions The VHA instituted an initial directive, “Ensuring Correct Surgery and Invasive Procedures,” in January 2003. The directive was updated in 2004 to include non–operating room (OR) invasive procedures and incorporated requirements of The Joint Commission Universal Protocol for preventing wrong-site operations. Main Outcome Measures The categories included 5 incorrect event types (wrong patient, side, site, procedure, or implant), major or minor surgical procedures, location in or out of the OR, therapeutic or diagnostic events, adverse event or close call, inpatient or ambulatory events, specialty department, body segment, and severity and probability of harm. Results We reviewed 342 reported events (212 adverse events and 130 close calls). Of these, 108 adverse events (50.9%) occurred in an OR, and 104 (49.1%) occurred elsewhere. When examining adverse events only, ophthalmology and invasive radiology were the specialties associated with the most reports (45 [21.2%] each), whereas orthopedics was second to ophthalmology for number of reported adverse events occurring in the OR. Pulmonary medicine cases (such as wrong-side thoracentesis) and wrong-site cases (such as wrong spinal level) were associated with the most harm. The most common root cause of events was communication (21.0%). Conclusions Incorrect ophthalmic and orthopedic surgical procedures appear to be overrepresented among adverse events occurring in ORs. Outside the OR, adverse events by invasive radiology were most frequently reported. Incorrect surgical procedures are not only an OR challenge but also a challenge for events occurring outside of the OR. We support earlier communication based on crew resource management to prevent surgical adverse events.
Essential contact residues within SV40 large T antigen binding sites I and II identified by alkylation-interference

Essential nucleotide contacts between the SV40 large T (tumor) antigen and binding sites I and II on the SV40 genome have been inferred from in vitro methylation- and ethylation-interference experiments. Each site contains two clusters of guanine residues that reduce the specific binding of T antigen when modified. Methylation at any one of nine guanines within site I or any one of five guanines within site II severely interferes with the interaction of T antigen with each respective site. Methylation at any one of a second group of five guanines within site II results in an appreciably weaker effect on the binding of T antigen. A similar inhibitory effect on binding is observed upon ethylation of adjacent phosphate residues. Although there are significant differences in the nucleotide sequence of the two binding sites, the pattern of protein contacts is strikingly similar between sites I and II. Three-dimensional projection reveals that the guanine contacts within each binding site are localized so that the specific binding interactions are accessible from only one face of the DNA helix.
Underappreciated Consequences of Phenotypic Plasticity for Ecological Speciation

Phenotypic plasticity was once seen primarily as a constraint on adaptive evolution or merely a nuisance by geneticists. However, some biologists promote plasticity as a source of novelty and a factor in evolution on par with mutation, drift, gene flow, and selection. These claims are controversial and largely untested, but progress has been made on more modest questions about effects of plasticity on local adaptation (the first component of ecological speciation). Adaptive phenotypic plasticity can be a buffer against divergent selection. It can also facilitate colonization of new niches and rapid divergent evolution. The influence of non-adaptive plasticity has been underappreciated. Non-adaptive plasticity, too can interact with selection to promote or inhibit genetic differentiation. Finally, phenotypic plasticity of reproductive characters might directly influence evolution of reproductive isolation (the second component of ecological speciation). Plasticity can cause assortative mating, but its influence on gene flow ultimately depends on maintenance of environmental similarity between parents and offspring. Examples of plasticity influencing mating and habitat choice suggest that this, too, might be an underappreciated factor in speciation. Plasticity is an important consideration for studies of speciation in nature, and this topic promises fertile ground for integrating developmental biology with ecology and evolution.
Nutrition and signaling in slave markets: a new look at a puzzle within the antebellum puzzle

Between 1800 and 1860, mean adult stature of (U.S.) white males declined by nearly an inch, while real output grew substantially, creating the “Antebellum Puzzle.” In contrast, male slaves did not experience a comparable decrease in heights. To explain this puzzle within a puzzle, we show that the benefit of the marginal nutrient exceeded the cost throughout the antebellum era. As a result, it paid for slave owners to engage in the supplemental feeding of slaves, which increased their stature. While this is consistent with a productivity explanation of increased stature, we also argue that informational asymmetries played an important role in the market for slaves. Slave owners had an incentive to signal that their slaves were high-productivity laborers by supplying them with additional food, which positively impacted slave heights. We provide evidence that, distinct from a productivity explanation, signaling mattered in the trend of slave heights.
Hybrid modeling of magnetic reconnection in space plasmas

Abstract Reconnection of magnetic fields is one of the most fundamental and important transport processes in plasma physics, being a very efficient mechanism for converting magnetic field energy into particle energy. In this paper we investigate reconnection using two-dimensional hybrid simulations, in which the ions are treated kinetically and the electrons as a massless fluid. We discuss the details of the model, the need to include the complete electron pressure tensor, and issues associated with numerical implementation. We describe the results of simulations showing the linear growth of the collisionless ion tearing mode in a neutral sheet configuration and its subsequent nonlinear development. The consequences of reconnection for magnetospheric physics are also briefly discussed.
Thermoregulatory Effects of Electro-anesthesia in Sheep∗:

SummaryThirteen, male and female sheep were electrically anesthesized (using a variable voltage-frequency, bitemporal electrode technique) during whole body exposure to 1 of 3 ambient temperature ranges, —10 to 5°C (“cold stressing”), 18 to 23°C (“thermoneutral”) and 27 to 29°C (“heat stressing”). Thermoregulatory mechanisms were examined at each temperature range, without drug treatment, during mild tranquilization (1.1 mg Propiopromazine HCl, i.v.), during 2 hours of electro-anesthesia and for a subsequent 3-hour recovery period. Except during “cold stressing” exposures, rectal temperature rose as hyperthermic polypneic reflexes were inhibited (15 breaths/°C change in rectal temperature) during electro-anesthesia but near-normal respiratory responses were reinstated after transcranial current flow ceased (120 breaths/°C change in rectal temperature) with rectal temperature returning to a normal range. Internal temperatures did not increase with electro-anesthesia during “cold stress.” A concept is propo...
The geochemical record in rock glaciers

A 9.5 m ice core was extracted from beneath the surficial debris cover of a rock glacier at Galena Creek, northwestern Wyoming. The core contains clean, bubble‐rich ice with silty debris layers spa...
New Hybrid Algorithm for Maintaining Multivariate Quantitative Calibrations of a Near-Infrared Spectrometer:

Our newly developed prediction-augmented classical least-squares/partial least-squares (PACLS/PLS) hybrid algorithm can correct for the presence of unmodeled sources of spectral variation such as instrument drift by explicitly incorporating known or empirically derived information about the unmodeled spectral variation. We have tested the ability of the new hybrid algorithm to maintain a multivariate calibration in the presence of instrument drift using a near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer (7500-11 000 cm-1) to quantitate dilute aqueous solutions containing glucose, ethanol, and urea. The spectral variations required to update the multivariate models for both short- and long-term drift were obtained using a single representative midpoint sample whose spectrum was repeatedly measured during collection of calibration data and during collection of separate validation sample spectra on three subsequent days. The performance of the PACLS/PLS model for maintaining a calibration was compared to PLS with subset recalibration, a method that has previously been applied to maintenance and transfer of calibration. Without drift corrections, both PACLS/PLS and PLS had poor predictive ability on sample spectra collected on subsequent days. Unlike previous maintenance of calibration studies that corrected for long-term drift only, the PACLS/PLS and PLS models demonstrated the best predictive abilities when short-term drift was also corrected. The PACLS/PLS hybrid model outperformed PLS with subset recalibration for near real-time predictions when instrument drift was determined from the repeat samples closest in time to the measurement of the unknown. Near real-time standard errors of prediction (SEPs) for the hybrid model were comparable to the cross-validated SEPs obtained with the original calibration model.
Systematic Study of Mitochondrial Toxicity of Environmental Chemicals Using Quantitative High Throughput Screening

A goal of the Tox21 program is to transit toxicity testing from traditional in vivo models to in vitro assays that assess how chemicals affect cellular responses and toxicity pathways. A critical contribution of the NIH Chemical Genomics center (NCGC) to the Tox21 program is the implementation of a quantitative high throughput screening (qHTS) approach, using cell- and biochemical-based assays to generate toxicological profiles for thousands of environmental compounds. Here, we evaluated the effect of chemical compounds on mitochondrial membrane potential in HepG2 cells by screening a library of 1,408 compounds provided by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) in a qHTS platform. Compounds were screened over 14 concentrations, and results showed that 91 and 88 compounds disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential after treatment for 1 or 5 h, respectively. Seventy-six compounds active at both time points were clustered by structural similarity, producing 11 clusters and 23 singletons. Thirty-eight compounds covering most of the active chemical space were more extensively evaluated. Thirty-six of the 38 compounds were confirmed to disrupt mitochondrial membrane potential using a fluorescence plate reader, and 35 were confirmed using a high content imaging approach. Among the 38 compounds, 4 and 6 induced LDH release, a measure of cytotoxicity, at 1 or 5 h, respectively. Compounds were further assessed for mechanism of action (MOA) by measuring changes in oxygen consumption rate, which enabled the identification of 20 compounds as uncouplers. This comprehensive approach allows for the evaluation of thousands of environmental chemicals for mitochondrial toxicity and identification of possible MOAs.
Microdialysis studies of basal levels and stimulus-evoked overflow of dopamine and metabolites in the striatum of young and aged Fischer 344 rats

The technique of intracranial microdialysis was used to investigate the effects of aging on the striatal dopaminergic system of the anesthetized Fischer 344 rat. Microdialysis probes were implanted into the striatum of young (2-8 months) and aged (24-28 months) urethane anesthetized rats. Striatal dialysate levels were analyzed for dopamine (DA), dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and serotonin (5-HT) by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. As compared to the young animals, basal extracellular levels of DA and DOPAC were significantly decreased in two groups of aged animals. Stimulation with excess potassium added through the microdialysis probe produced a robust overflow of DA in the young and aged rat striatum, but the evoked overflow of DA was not diminished in the aged rat striatum as compared to young animals. In contrast, d-amphetamine-evoked overflow of DA was again robust in young and aged animals, but was greatly decreased in the aged rat striatum as compared to the signals recorded in the young rats. Taken together with previous reports, these data support the hypothesis that a major change in the regulation of DA release that occurs in aging involves changes in the function of the neuronal uptake of DA, which may be a compensatory property of DA neurons in senescence.
Utilizing fuzzy compatibility of skill sets for team selection in multi-phase projects

Abstract In this paper, a model is developed for the selection of personnel for a multiple phase project which takes into account the match between the skills possessed by each individual, the skills needed for each phase, and rather flexible budget considerations. The algorithm uses the fuzzy construct of compatibility to measure the fit of a person’s skill set to the goal set for each project phase. Based on the individual fuzzy compatibility measures, the team is formed from combined levels of compatibility and acceptable levels of quality defined for the goal set. 1 Introduction , 2 Background present the background information necessary to an understanding of project management phases and compatibility of skills. The development of the model and subsequent algorithm in 3 Model development , 4 Application , respectively rely on fuzzy measures of compatibility. Finally, an application is presented in Section 4 with conclusions stated in Section 5 .
Serum cholinesterase activity of dogs in shock or after hepatectomy.

Conclusions(1) Serum cholinesterase activity of normal dogs is approximately one-tenth that of normal human serum as measured by a colorimetric method employing beta-carbonaphthoxy-choline iodide as substrate. (2) No change occurs in the serum cholinesterase activity of dogs during hemorrhagic shock, or during 20 hours of survival after hepatectomy.
Mouse interferons: amino terminal amino acid sequences of various species

Mouse interferons of three size classes (A, 35,000 to 40,000 daltons; B, 26,000 to 33,000 daltons; and C, 20,000 daltons) were purified from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells infected with Newcastle disease virus. The sequences of the first 24 amino acids (No. 17 has not been identified) of interferons A and B are identical. The sequence of the first 20 amino acids of interferon C differs from that of A and B in 18 positions. There is partial homology in amino terminal sequence between mouse interferons A (or B) and a human fibroblast interferon and between mouse interferon C and a human lymphoblastoid interferon.
Silicon photonic devices for mid-infrared applications

The mid-infrared (IR) wavelength region (2-20 µm) is of great interest for a number of applications, including trace gas sensing, thermal imaging, and free- space communications. Recently, there has been signifi- cant progress in developing a mid-IR photonics platform in Si, which is highly transparent in the mid-IR, due to the ease of fabrication and CMOS compatibility provided by the Si platform. Here, we discuss our group's recent contributions to the field of silicon-based mid-IR photon- ics, including photonic crystal cavities in a Si membrane platform and grating-coupled high-quality factor ring resonators in a silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) platform. Since experimental characterization of microphotonic devices is especially challenging at the mid-IR, we also review our mid-IR characterization techniques in some detail. Addi- tionally, pre- and post-processing techniques for improv- ing device performance, such as resist reflow, Piranha clean/HF dip cycling, and annealing are discussed.
Racial Difference in the Relationship of an Angiotensin I–Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism to Serum Angiotensin I– Converting Enzyme Activity

Abstract An insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism of the angiotensin I–converting enzyme (ACE) gene that has been associated with certain cardiovascular disorders accounts for nearly half the variation in serum ACE level in white subjects. Whether a similar association of serum ACE with the I/D polymorphism occurs in other racial groups is not known. We studied the I/D polymorphism of ACE in relation to serum ACE activity in 141 white and 62 black healthy, unrelated children and adolescents (mean age, 14.7 years). The mean level of ACE activity in whites homozygous for the D allele was higher than in heterozygotes ( P =.002) and in homozygotes for the I allele ( P =.0001), consistent with an earlier study. In blacks, on the other hand, no significant difference in serum ACE activity between genotypes was observed. An additional finding was a significantly positive relationship between serum ACE activity and diastolic pressure ( P =.009). In children and adolescents, serum ACE activity is related to the ACE gene I/D polymorphism in whites but not in blacks. The results indicate a potentially important ethnic variation in genetic regulation of serum ACE activity and the relationship of the I/D polymorphism to cardiovascular disease.
Improved Results for the 2H(d, n)3He Transverse Vector Polarization-Transfer Coefficient {K^{y'}_{y}(0^{\circ})} at Low Energies

Measurements of the 2H(d, n)3He transverse vector polarization-transfer coefficient $${K^{y'}_{y}}$$ at 0° are reported for 29 outgoing neutron energies between 3.94 and 8.47 MeV. Our new results determine $${K^{y'}_{y}(0^{\circ})}$$ more accurately than previous data, especially for neutron energies below 5 MeV. Low-energy data for this reaction are important both as a high-intensity source of highly polarized neutrons for nuclear physics studies with polarized neutron beams, and as a test of the emerging theoretical descriptions of the four-body system, where recently substantial progress has been made.
Lower Extremity Arteriovenous Hemodialysis Access: An Important Adjunct in Select Patients

Given the current survival rates of patients receiving hemodialysis, it has become increasingly common for patients to exhaust their upper extremity access options. Likewise, overzealous catheter use can lead to central venous occlusion or stenosis, further limiting the upper extremity access options. In these patients, use of the lower extremities for access is often required. Fortunately, there are a number of options available that have acceptable durability and utility. The purpose of this article is to review the various techniques available for placement of hemodialysis access in the lower extremity and discuss their results.
Efficient Gradient-Based Algorithms for the Construction of Pareto Fronts

The objective of this study is to develop and assess a gradient-based algorithm that efficiently traverses the Pareto front for multi-objective problems. We use high-fidelity, computationally intensive simulation tools (for eg: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element (FE) structural analysis) for function and gradient evaluations. The use of evolutionary algorithms with these high-fidelity simulation tools results in prohibitive computational costs. Hence, in this study we use an alternate gradient-based approach. We first outline an algorithm that can be proven to recover Pareto fronts. The performance of this algorithm is then tested on three academic problems: a convex front with uniform spacing of Pareto points, a convex front with non-uniform spacing and a concave front. The algorithm is shown to be able to retrieve the Pareto front in all three cases hence overcoming a common deficiency in gradient-based methods that use the idea of scalarization. Then the algorithm is applied to a practical problem in concurrent design for aerodynamic and structural performance of an axial turbine blade. For this problem, with 5 design variables, and for 10 points to approximate the front, the computational cost of the gradient-based method was roughly the same as that of a method that builds the front from a sampling approach. However, as the sampling approach involves building a surrogate model to identify the Pareto front, there is the possibility that validation of this predicted front with CFD and FE analysis results in a different location of the “Pareto” points. This can be avoided with the gradient-based method. Additionally, as the number of design variables increases and/or the number of required points on the Pareto front is reduced, the computational cost favors the gradient-based approach.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Leader political skill and employee reactions

Abstract It has been argued that political skill is one of the most important competencies leaders can possess, contributing to effectiveness in organizations. However, little empirical research has been conducted to date to test notions concerning the effects of leader political skill on employee reactions. In this study, a causal model was proposed and tested which demonstrated support for the effects of leader political skill on perceived support, trust, and other reactions of employees. Implications of these results and directions for future research are discussed.
Organization of the ribosomal RNA genes of Schizophyllum commune.

The 18, 5.8, 25 and 5S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) cistrons have been mapped on the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) unit repeat of Schizophyllum commune strain 4–40. These genes are spatially ordered in the sequence given. The presence of a large primary precursor rRNA which is processed to form the mature 18, 5.8 and 25S rRNAs has been demonstrated. We have mapped the site of transcriptional initiation for this rRNA primary precursor. The sequence surrounding this site has been determined and shown to be highly conserved, with considerable identity to those in Neurospora crassa and Dictyostelium discoideum. The direction of transcription of the rRNA genes has been determined. The 5S rRNA cistron is transcribed in the same direction as the other rRNAs, however it is not transcribed as a part of the large primary precursor. The previously identified rDNA strain-specific length polymorphisms (Specht et al. 1984) are shown to be located within the transcribed region of the rDNA unit repeat.
Modeling the Federal User Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) decision space to facilitate secure information sharing

Providing the right information to the right person at the right time is critical, especially for emergency response and law enforcement operations. Accomplishing this across sovereign organizations while keeping resources secure is a formidable task. What is needed is an access control solution that can break down information silos by securely enabling information sharing with non-provisioned users in a dynamic environment. Multiple government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) are currently developing Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) solutions to do just that. ABAC supports cross-organizational information sharing by facilitating policy-based resource access control. The critical components of an ABAC solution are the governing organizational policies, attribute syntax and semantics, and authoritative sources. The policies define the business objectives and the authoritative sources provide critical attribute attestation, but syntactic and semantic agreement between the information exchange endpoints is the linchpin of attribute sharing. The Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) standard provides federation partners with a viable attribute sharing syntax, but establishing semantic agreement is an impediment to ABAC efforts. This critical issue can be successfully addressed with conceptual modeling. S&T is sponsoring the following research and development effort to provide a concept model of the User Identity, Credential, and Access Management decision space for secure information sharing.
Decreasing annual nest counts in a globally important loggerhead sea turtle population.

The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nests on sand beaches, has both oceanic and neritic life stages, and migrates internationally. We analyzed an 18-year time series of Index Nesting Beach Survey (Index) nest-count data to describe spatial and temporal trends in loggerhead nesting on Florida (USA) beaches. The Index data were highly resolved: 368 fixed zones (mean length 0.88 km) were surveyed daily during annual 109-day survey seasons. Spatial and seasonal coverage averaged 69% of estimated total nesting by loggerheads in the state. We carried out trend analyses on both annual survey-region nest-count totals (N ¼ 18) and annual zone-level nest densities (N ¼ 18 3 368 ¼ 6624). In both analyses, negative binomial regression models were used to fit restricted cubic spline curves to aggregated nest counts. Between 1989 and 2006, loggerhead nest counts on Florida Index beaches increased and then declined, with a net decrease over the 18-year period. This pattern was evident in both a trend model of annual survey-region nest-count totals and a mixed-effect, ''single-region'' trend model of annual zone-level nest densities that took into account both spatial and temporal correlation between counts. We also saw this pattern in a zone-level model that allowed trend line shapes to vary between six coastal subregions. Annual mean zone-level nest density declined significantly (� 28% ;9 5 % CI: � 34% to � 21%) between 1989 and 2006 and declined steeply (� 43% ;9 5 % CI: � 48% to � 39%) during 1998-2006. Rates of change in annual mean nest density varied more between coastal subregions during the ''mostly increasing'' period prior to 1998 than during the ''steeply declining'' period after 1998. The excellent fits (observed vs. expected count R 2 . 0.91) of the mixed-effect zone-level models confirmed the presence of strong, positive, within-zone autocorrelation (R. 0.93) between annual counts, indicating a remarkable year-to-year consistency in the longshore spatial distribution of nests over the survey region. We argue that the decline in annual loggerhead nest counts in peninsular Florida can best be explained by a decline in the number of adult female loggerheads in the population. Causes of this decline are explored.
Sensitivity of Smoothness Measures to Movement Duration, Amplitude and Arrests

Studies of sensory-motor performance, including those concerned with changes because of age, disease, or therapeutic intervention, often use measures based on jerk, the time derivative of acceleration, to quantify smoothness and coordination. However, results have been mixed: some researchers report sensitive discrimination of subtle differences, whereas others fail to find significant differences even when they are obviously present. One reason for this is that different measures have been used with different scaling factors. These measures are sensitive to movement amplitude or duration to different degrees. The authors show that jerk-based measures with dimensions vary counterintuitively with movement smoothness, whereas a dimensionless jerk-based measure properly quantifies common deviations from smooth, coordinated movement.
The Rule of Law Overrules the Rule of Thumb

Abstract A popular rule of thumb often used by experts to establish a baseline royalty rate for a patent has been discredited by the courts in a recent patent infringement case. Those who previously relied on that rule of thumb should consider alternative approaches to arrive at a reasonable royalty rate. This discussion describes the rule of thumb and alternative approaches to measure economic damages in a patent infringement case.
On the calculation of the vibrational frequencies of C6H4

Abstract DFT and CCSD(T) frequencies are compared with experiment for ortho-benzyne (C 6 H 4 ). Four bands are found to be in disagreement with experiment at the DFT level. Surprisingly the CCSD(T) method only brings the triple bond stretch into agreement with experiment, but leaves a sizable difference with experiment for the other three bands. The results for three isotopologues suggests that all of the differences cannot be attributed to resonances. Additional experimental work on ortho-benzyne appears warranted.
The effect of synaptic partner change on crossover frequency in adjacent regions of a trivalent.

INTEREST has recently been renewed in the effect of heterozygous aberration breakpoints on crossover frequency in their immediate vicinity. It has been realized (~GUIRE 19601a, 1965; ROBERTS 1965) that with the simplest model, expectations in this respect may depend on whether homologous chromosomes regularly pair, at least roughly, throughout their length before crossing over occurs or instead crossing over precedes all but the meeting of short “effectively paired” segments to wh tch these crossovers (later apparent as chiasmata) are limited (PRITCHARD 1960). In the former case, crossover frequency may be depressed around aberration breakpoints because of mechanical difficulties imposed on pairing by change of partner. In the latter case, without further complicating factors, it is expected that crossover frequency will be unaffected by the presence of heterozygous aberrations.
Fast byte-granularity software fault isolation

Bugs in kernel extensions remain one of the main causes of poor operating system reliability despite proposed techniques that isolate extensions in separate protection domains to contain faults. We believe that previous fault isolation techniques are not widely used because they cannot isolate existing kernel extensions with low overhead on standard hardware. This is a hard problem because these extensions communicate with the kernel using a complex interface and they communicate frequently. We present BGI (Byte-Granularity Isolation), a new software fault isolation technique that addresses this problem. BGI uses efficient byte-granularity memory protection to isolate kernel extensions in separate protection domains that share the same address space. BGI ensures type safety for kernel objects and it can detect common types of errors inside domains. Our results show that BGI is practical: it can isolate Windows drivers without requiring changes to the source code and it introduces a CPU overhead between 0 and 16%. BGI can also find bugs during driver testing. We found 28 new bugs in widely used Windows drivers.
Service discovery for delay tolerant networks

Service discovery is an essential step in deploying many wireless network applications. The design of service discovery protocols is particularly challenging for mobile wireless networks because of their dynamic and unstructured nature. Most of the previously proposed protocols are based on the assumption that there exists an end-to-end connection from the query source node to the destination node, the assumption that rarely holds for mobile wireless networks. In this paper, we propose a novel service discovery protocol for delay tolerant networks in which all node connections are intermittent. We use Bloom filter to describe services through a fixed size string and provide efficient service announcement and search. The service queries are spread in the network via random walk and forwarded using node meeting history as a hint. Our simulation results show that the proposed protocol achieves good performance as measured by the service discovery success rate, delay and overhead.
Structural basis of evasion of cellular adaptive immunity by HIV-1 Nef

The HIV-1 protein Nef inhibits antigen presentation by class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC-I). We determined the mechanism of this activity by solving the crystal structure of a protein complex comprising Nef, the MHC-I cytoplasmic domain (MHC-I CD) and the μ1 subunit of the clathrin adaptor protein complex 1. A ternary, cooperative interaction clamps the MHC-I CD into a narrow binding groove at the Nef-μ1 interface, which encompasses the cargo-recognition site of μ1 and the proline-rich strand of Nef. The Nef C terminus induces a previously unobserved conformational change in μ1, whereas the N terminus binds the Nef core to position it optimally for complex formation. Positively charged patches on μ1 recognize acidic clusters in Nef and MHC-I. The structure shows how Nef functions as a clathrin-associated sorting protein to alter the specificity of host membrane trafficking and enable viral evasion of adaptive immunity.
Local anesthetic requirements are greater in dystocia than in normal labor.

Background Dystocia is characterized by abnormal progress of labor and is a common contemporary indication for cesarean delivery in the United States. There has been considerable controversy as to whether epidural analgesia causes dysfunctional labor leading to cesarean delivery for dystocia. The minimum local analgesic concentration (MLAC) is a clinical model used to determine the relative potencies of local anesthetics in the first stage of labor. In this article, the authors report a prospective study determining the MLAC of bupivacaine in early labor of parturients who eventually delivered either vaginally or via cesarean section. Methods An up-down sequential allocation technique was used to determine the MLAC of bupivacaine in 57 nulliparous parturients assigned to either vaginal delivery or cesarean section arms. In addition, patients were assigned to groups receiving or not receiving intravenous oxytocin at the time of epidural placement. Only patients who delivered by the assigned delivery mode were included in the MLAC analyses. Results Parturients who later delivered vaginally had 25% and 31% lower MLAC values (0.078% and 0.085% wt/vol bupivacaine, receiving or not receiving intravenous oxytocin, respectively) than those who later delivered by cesarean section (0.102% and 0.106% wt/vol bupivacaine, receiving or not receiving intravenous oxytocin, respectively). Conclusions These data suggest that an increased local anesthetic requirement for epidural labor analgesia is associated with more intense pain related to dystocia. Women in early, clinically normal labor but who later develop dystocia require more local anesthetic and, by inference, are experiencing more severe pain than women who deliver vaginally. This association should be considered when studying the relation between the method of labor analgesia and the course of labor.
Evaluation of a satisfied bilateral scleral expansion band patient

Abstract Purpose: To measure accommodation subjectively and objectively in a satisfied bilateral scleral expansion band patient. Setting: University of Houston, College of Optometry, Houston, Texas, USA. Methods: One bilateral scleral expansion patient (age 50 years), 9 age-matched normal presbyopic control subjects (age range 48 to 52 years), and 1 normal control subject (age 27 years) participated. The scleral expansion patient had a complete eye examination, corneal topography, and wavefront measurements 19 months postoperatively. Accommodation was measured subjectively with the push-up technique, minus to blur, and dioptric range of clear vision. Accommodation was determined objectively by measuring the accommodative responses to negative lenses and pilocarpine 6% with a Hartinger coincidence refractometer and to real targets with a dynamic infrared optometer. Results: Distance and near acuity of 20/20 was achieved with +1.00 diopter (D) in the left eye, +0.50 D in the right eye, and a near add of +2.25 D. Corneal topography and ocular aberration measurements revealed no suggestion of optical multifocality. Subjective measurements resulted in accommodative amplitudes of 1.50 to 4.00 D, and objective measurements resulted in amplitudes of 0.25 to 1.33 D. The PowerRefractor showed an accommodative response of 0.50 D to stimuli of 1.00 to 4.00 D and strong pupillary constriction with accommodative effort compared with the control. Conclusions: No increase in accommodative amplitude above normal age-matched controls was found. Patient satisfaction may have come from the high expectations this patient had for a positive surgery outcome.
On-line, kinodynamic trajectory generation through rectangular channels using path and motion primitives

We present a motion planning scheme for ground vehicles operating in a partially known environment. Kinematic constraints stemming from vehicle dynamics and from the requirement that the path must remain inside a free channel of a rectangular cell decomposition of the environment at all times, are dealt with by constructing a time-parameterized path using an appropriate combination of a finite number of path and motion primitives. This simplifies considerably the motion planning problem and, furthermore, reduces the computational cost of replanning at each time instant. Our analysis also provides closed-form expressions on the size of each cell so that the ensuing cell decomposition is compatible to the vehicle dynamics.
Analysis of the NPOESS VIIRS land surface temperature algorithm using MODIS data

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) will replace the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) as the nation's wide-swath multispectral sensor following the launch of the National Polar Orbiting Environmental Sensor Suite (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP) in about 2008. Through the follow-on NPOESS program, VIIRS data will be the primary source of systematic land remote sensing products until about 2022. Together, the AVHRR/MODIS/VIIRS satellite series will provide a critical long-term data record for Earth studies. In the NPP/NPOESS program, the product algorithms and production environments are developed and managed by private industry. This is a significant change from the current NOAA and NASA programs, and NPOESS algorithm deviations from successful heritage approaches (e.g., Earth Observation System) warrant comprehensive independent testing. The current baseline VIIRS land surface temperature (LST) algorithm represents one such deviation. In the present study, we evaluated the VIIRS LST by adapting it for use with 60 scenes of MODIS Level 1b radiance data. Algorithm coefficients were derived from MODTRAN4 radiative transfer model simulations. Using the validated MODIS LST (MYD11/spl I.bar/L2) product as a reference, we found that precision errors in the VIIRS dual split window (DSW) algorithm (the current "main" approach) significantly exceed those of the VIIRS split window (SW) algorithm (the current "backup" approach) in both daytime and nighttime conditions. Performance of both is better for nighttime cases than for daytime cases with all surface types. We attribute the larger errors in the DSW approach to its use of short middle infrared wavelengths which, compared to thermal infrared wavelengths, exhibit greater variability in surface emissivity and susceptibility to solar contamination. We conclude that a traditional SW algorithm, such as the current VIIRS backup algorithm, would provide superior performance to the DSW approach. An SW approach would also provide more seamless continuity with heritage products. Although this is not an NPOESS requirement, it is a key objective for multimission climate data records and Earth system data records.
A Research Model for Investigating the Effects of Artificial Food Colorings on Children With ADHD

The United Kingdom and European Union recently restricted the use of artificial food colorings (AFCs) to improve the health of children. These decisions provide an interesting case study of the role of scientific evidence in the assessment of food additives and risk to children's health and formulation of food policy. Although there continues to be uncertainty concerning the link between AFCs and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), policy decisions have been made that have far-reaching implications. In addition, publicity surrounding the policy changes may shape public perceptions concerning effective management of ADHD. We believe that the balance of existing evidence neither refutes nor supports the link between AFCs and ADHD, which highlights the need for carefully designed studies to further investigate the link between AFCs and ADHD. In this article we describe a model for such studies. In developing our model, we drew from current investigative standards in ADHD research, such as those used in the landmark Multimodal Treatment Study of Children With ADHD. These standards encompass methodologic considerations including sample selection, outcome assessment, and data analyses. It is our hope that this model research methodology may prove valuable in addressing design considerations in future studies of AFCs and ADHD with the goal of producing reliable data that will enable policy-makers to better formulate effective, evidence-based food-policy decisions.
Uses and misuses of habituation and related preference paradigms

Houston-Price and Nakai raise an important problem researchers face when attempting to interpret infant visual preference data. This problem stems from paradigms in which infants are only partially familiarized to a stimulus, and it is unclear whether they should show a novelty or familiarity preference to that stimulus in a subsequent test. As Hunter and Ames' (1988) noted in their important chapter, infants will sometimes show a familiarity preference rather than a novelty preference, particularly when the infants are relatively young and the stimuli are relatively complex. In this commentary, I shall make three points regarding this issue: first, that the familiarity preference problem is real; second, that in most cases there is a simple solution to the problem; and third that certain popular infant paradigms can exacerbate the problem. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.