cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contrast sensitivity under natural states of adaptation

The contrast sensitivity function (csf) is central to describing spatial vision and to models of visual coding, yet little is known about the form of the function under natural viewing conditions. We examined how contrast sensitivity is affected by adaption states that should arise in the course of normal viewing. Webster and Miyahara showed that adaptation to the low-frequency biases in natural scenes selectively reduces sensitivity at low frequencies. Here we examine how these sensitivity changes depend on the properties of observers, by varying subjects' refractive state or by measuring adaptation to chromatic contrast rather than luminance contrast. Defocus and physical blurring have similar effects, altering the adaptation only for strongly blurred images. Switching to chromatic contrast induces larger sensitivity changes at low frequencies, consistent with the different csf's for color and luminance. Thus natural viewing may lead to characteristic adaptation states that differ for luminance and color. To examine the basis for these sensitivity changes, we adapted to 1/f patterns filtered over different frequency bands. Adding lower frequencies to images reduces the adaption induced by higher frequencies. Thus in natural-image adaptation, the low-frequency bias may result - not from the bias in the input spectra - but because the adaptation at different spatial scales is not independent.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Carcinogenicity tests of methyl-n-amylnitrosamine (MNAN) administered to newborn and adult rats and hamsters and adult mice and of 2-oxo-MNAN administered to adult rats

We examined the toxicity and carcinogenicity in rodents of methyl-n-amylnitrosamine (MNAN), multiple doses of which are known to induce esophageal and nasal tumors in rats. A single i.p. injection of 50-70 mg MNAN/kg into adult rats produced a 74% incidence of esophageal squamous carcinomas (mean latency, 63 weeks). Single doses of 3.0-12.5 mg/kg of MNAN injected into newborn and 3-day-old rats and hamsters were not carcinogenic in rats and only weakly carcinogenic in hamsters. The low doses (used because larger doses produced lethal interstitial pneumonia) probably explain the low carcinogenicity, despite previous findings of extensive formation of stable hydroxy-MNANs from MNAN by the esophagus of both species at these ages, which may indicate MNAN activation. One i.p. injection of 70-100 mg MNAN/kg into adult Syrian hamsters was weakly carcinogenic for the esophagus and forestomach. Six injections of 75 mg MNAN/kg into adult hamsters induced lung and nasal cavity tumors (65 and 43% incidences, respectively), but only a few esophageal tumors. Three injections of 15 mg MNAN/kg into adult Swiss mice induced lung adenomas and esophageal papillomas in 71 and 32% incidences, respectively. These results partially agreed with previous studies on hydroxy-MNAN formation by the esophagus of these species. Six s.c. injections of 75 mg 2-oxo-MNAN/kg into adult rats induced tumors of the nasal cavity, esophagus and soft tissue at the injection site in 68, 63, and 32% incidences, respectively. This does not support the view that 2-oxo-MNAN is an active metabolite of MNAN.
'Imperial Corridor': Association, Transportation and Power in French Colonial Indochina 1

Historians have begun to examine French colonial Indochina with a newly critical eye. Improved access to archives in France, and easier access to archival materials and schol arly thought in Cambodia, Laos and especially Vietnam have resulted in a new attention to France's 'model' or 'golden' colony'.2Scholars have started to apply to Indochina's history the critical thinking found in the growing literature that concerns the impact of technology and science on culture and society in colonial settings.3 This article is situated at the inter section of these trends.
Redo Ureteroneocystostomy Using an Extravesical Approach in Pediatric Renal Transplant Patients With Reflux: A Retrospective Analysis and Description of Technique

Purpose: Vesicoureteral reflux and pyelonephritis following transplantation may significantly contribute to renal damage and premature graft loss. We report our retrospective experience with redo ureteral reimplantation of refluxing pediatric renal transplants and describe our surgical technique.Materials and Methods: We identified 20 children with a diagnosis of symptomatic post-transplant vesicoureteral reflux, of whom 16 underwent redo ureteral reimplantation. Patient characteristics including etiology of end stage renal disease, presenting symptoms, serum creatinine and postoperative followup were documented. The presence or absence of lower urinary tract dysfunction was documented and values between the 2 groups were analyzed for significance.Results: All 20 patients presented after assessment for a febrile urinary tract infection, and 35% had concurrent lower urinary tract dysfunction. Median interval between transplantation and vesicoureteral reflux diagnosis was 1.3 years, and mean vesicoureteral ...
The adsorption of aqueous octylhydroxamate on ferric oxide

Abstract The interaction of octylhydroxamate on synthetic hematite has been investigated through adsorption studies, electrophoretic mobility measurements and infrared spectroscopy. The adsorption measurements at 20°C show that the adsorption density varies with pH with the maximum adsorption occurring around pH 8.5 which is close to the pzc of the synthetic hematite used. The electrophoretic mobility measurements reveal that hydroxamate adsorbs specifically at the hematite—water interface. Infrared spectroscopy results indicate the presence of a ferric hydroxamate complex at the surface. Adsorption isotherms at 41 and 60°C show that the adsorption density increases markedly with temperature. On the basis of experimental results it has been concluded that the adsorption process in this system must be considered as a combination adsorption/surface reaction process.
Robust Finite-Time Output Feedback H ∞ Control for Stochastic Jump Systems with Incomplete Transition Rates

This article aims to investigate the problem of robust finite-time output feedback $$ H_\infty $$H? control for stochastic jump systems with incomplete transition rates. Firstly, for the nominal stochastic jump systems, the sufficient conditions for the finite-time boundedness and finite-time output feedback stabilization are developed, respectively. Then, a robust finite-time $$ H_\infty $$H? output feedback controller is designed by means of linear matrix inequalities. A key point of this work is to relax the special requirement of completely known transition rates to more general form that mixes two cases of completely known and completely unknown transition rates. Finally, a numerical example is given to demonstrate the applicability of the main results.
Metabolism of octanoyl- and palmitoylcarnitine by intact rat hepatocytes.

Ketogenesis from extracellular substrates was quantified using intact rat hepatocytes. Rates of ketogenesis from octanoylcarnitine and palmitoylcarnitine were 20 and 30%, respectively, of the rates of observed from the corresponding free acids. In contrast, the free acids and the acylcarnitines were converted to ketone bodies at similar rates in a liver homogenate system. These results suggest that medium- and long-chain acylacarnitines by relatively poor substrates for metabolism by intact liver cells.
Religion, Opportunism, and International Market Entry Via Non-Equity Alliances or Joint Ventures

One challenge that globalization has brought to business is that firms, as they expand their market globally through cross-border alliances, need to deal with partner firms from countries of different religious background. The impact of a country’s dominant religion on its firms’ international market entry mode choices has not been examined in traditional approaches. Focusing on hypothesizing the influence of Christian beliefs and atheism (i.e., the absence of belief in any deities), this research aims to fill the gap by exploring religion’s role in providing moral restraint on managers’ propensity for opportunism, which in turn affects these managers’ choices of their firms’ international market entry via non-equity alliances or joint ventures. A study of 22,156 cross-border alliances formed in 48 industries world-wide over 9 years provides new insight toward understanding religion’s influence on firms’ international market entry mode decisions through the ethical dimension of strategic leadership.
Effect of Age on the Pharmacodynamics of Phenobarbital and Ethanol in Rats

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of age on the sensitivity of the central nervous system (CNS) to the depressant action of phenobarbital and ethanol. For this purpose, one or the other of these drugs was administered by slow iv infusion to male rats of various ages until the animals lost their righting reflex. The drug concentrations at that time in serum, brain, and cerebrospinal fluid were determined. The results obtained in studies on 1, 9, and 18-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats and on 7, 16, and 24-month-old Fischer-344 rats showed that phenobarbital concentrations at the pharmacologic end-point decreased with increasing age, indicative of an increased sensitivity of older animals to the CNS depressant effect of the barbiturate. Similar studies with ethanol on Sprague-Dawley rats (only) showed substantially higher drug concentrations at all sampling sites in 5-weekold animals than in 9- and 12-month-old animals at the onset of loss of righting reflex, but no significant differences between the 9- and 12-month-old groups. This investigation, which was designed to exclude or account for pharmacokinetic variables and to avoid confounding secondary effects, such as hypothermia and development of acute functional tolerance, showed a substantial increase in CNS sensitivity to phenobarbital and ethanol with increasing age in rats between the age of 1 and 9 months, and a less pronounced increase (phenobarbital) or no significant change (ethanol) in rats between 9 and 18 months of age.
Comparison of walkley‐black and dry combustion organic carbon determinations in calcareous water‐logged north Dakota soils

Abstract There is a need for a quick, reliable method for determining organic carbon in water‐logged, northern, calcareous soils for extensive comparison and characterization. The Walkley‐Black method was compared to the laborious dry combustion method and found reliable. However, the suggested conversion factor of 1.33 is not as good as using a best fit linear regression equation. The best fit line found was: Y = 1.13X + 0.42, where Y = % total carbon by dry combustion ‐ inorganic carbon, and X is Walkley‐Black percent organic carbon, giving an r = 0.997 (p = 0.001) value.
A sedimentary record of human disturbance from Lake Miragoane, Haiti

Lake Miragoane, Haiti is one of the largest, natural freshwater lakes in the Caribbean (A=7.06 km2, zmax=41.0 m, conductivity = 350 μS cm−1). Lake waters are dominated by calcium and bicarbonate ions. The lake was thermally stratified, and oxygen profiles were clinograde during summer visits in 1983 and 1985. A 72-cm mud-water interface core was taken near the center of the lake and dated with 210Pb. The local 210Pb fallout rate is low (0.09 pCi cm−2 yr−1), about 20% of the global average. Bulk sedimentation rates ranged from 0.008 to 0.030 g cm−2 yr−1 during the past 130 years (0–8 cm depth). Sediment geochemistry and pollen have been analyzed in the topmost 58 cm of the section. Tentative ages were assigned to the core by extrapolation of 210Pb dates. According to this preliminary chronology, the bottom part of the core (58–30 cm) records pre-Columbian sedimentation (1000–500 B.P.) and contains pollen evidence of intact, dry and mesic forest. Pre-Columbian deposits are rich in organic matter (x = 30%) and relatively poor in carbonates (x = 15% as CO2). The top 30 cm of the core preserve the record since European contact (500 B.P. to present). Pollen data reveal two episodes of deforestation following European arrival. Consequent soil erosion is documented by a decrease in organic matter content (x = 15%) and an increase in carbonates (x = 27% as CO2). Surficial sediments reflect the widespread deforestation and soil loss that characterize the watershed today.
Psychosocial predictors of body mass index at late childhood: A longitudinal investigation

Little is known about the psychosocial circumstances under which children develop excessive body mass. A community sample was followed up from age 2-10 years to determine which early problems were predictive of increased body mass index. Hypothesized mediators (i.e. eating habits, physical activity, and "screen time") were also examined. After controlling for parental psychopathology, family income, child's gender, and child's body mass index, externalizing behaviors, aggressive behaviors, and anger predicted a relatively high body mass index. Exploratory analyses did not support hypothesized mediators, although low power was an issue.
Distribution and activity of discrete emission areas on the nucleus of periodic comet Swift-Tuttle.

A general model is proposed which accounts for the dynamical evolution of the observed jets, envelopes and tail bands of periodic Comet Swift-Tuttle, the parent comet of the Perseid meteor stream, in terms of dust ejection from discrete active regions on the rotating nucleus. High-resolution drawings and measurements of cometary jets made upon the comet's first appearance in 1862 are used to infer a nuclear rotation period of 2.77 days, obliquity of 80 deg, and spin axis orientation with respect to the solar direction of 60 deg. The observed jets are attributed to eight discrete active regions covering not more than 1% of the cometary surface and producing bursts of duration of about 0.1 day. Calculations show that waning dust jets develop into envelopes and that old envelopes in turn become the observed tail bands. No evidence of truly violent explosions is found, and effects of active region outgassing on cometary orbital motion are negligible. Potential applications of the model to periodic Comet Halley and other comets are noted.
The influence of personality on Facebook usage, wall postings, and regret

The Five Factor Model of personality has been used extensively in the management and psychology fields to predict attitudes and behaviors. Only recently have researchers begun to examine the role of psychological factors in influencing an individual's use of technology platforms, such as Facebook. This study uses both a survey of Facebook users and actual Facebook data to uncover why some individuals are more involved in Facebook than others. 219 undergraduate students participated in a survey that assessed their personality and their reported usage of Facebook. Of these, 143 voluntarily befriended the investigator, which gave her access to their actual Facebook sites and objective data on their number of friends, photos, and wall postings. Results showed personality to explain significant amounts of variance over and above gender and Facebook experience in terms of actual number of Facebook friends, the nature of their wall postings and on their level of regret for inappropriate Facebook content.
Practical aspects in the use of cyclosporin in paediatric nephrology.

Many factors must be considered for the effective and safe use of cyclosporin A (CsA) in paediatric nephrology. Detailed knowledge of the variable bioavailability, tissue distribution, and metabolism, as well as causes which lead to their alteration are necessary. Factors which affect the activity of the mixed function oxidase system cytochrome P-450 must be considered, i. e. liver dysfunction and many drugs. Precise knowledge of the CsA determination method and the spectrum of metabolites is essential. In children with renal transplants, a body surface area-related dose will better meet the dose requirements than a body weight related-dose. For drug level monitoring whole blood rather than plasma should be used, and the parent drug level should be the main determinant; elevated metabolite levels may be important in suspected nephrotoxicity or liver dysfunction. Pharmacokinetic profiles are necessary to discover absorption problems or increased CsA clearance rates which necessitate shorter dosing intervals. In children with steroid-dependent minimal change nephrotic syndrome, remission without steroids is maintained as long as CsA is given. The appropriate starting dosage is 150 mg/m2 per day; trough level monitoring is mandatory to prevent nephrotoxicity and to confirm adequate immunosuppressive drug levels which should be 80–160 ng/ml (parent drug level). Although the benefit of CsA has been reported in some cases of lupus erythematosus, its use should be restricted to severe cases only until its efficacy and safety has been confirmed in controlled trials.
Phenomenal epistemology: What is consciousness that we may know it so well?

It has often been thought that our knowledge of ourselves is different from, perhaps in some sense better than, our knowledge of things other than ourselves. Indeed, there is a thriving research area in epistemology dedicated to seeking an account of self-knowledge that would articulate and explain its difference from, and superiority over, other knowledge. Such an account would thus illuminate the descriptive and normative difference between selfknowledge and other knowledge. 1 At the same time, self-knowledge has also encountered its share of skeptics—philosophers who refuse to accord it any descriptive, let alone normative, distinction. In this paper, we argue that there is at least one species of self-knowledge that is different from, and better than, other knowledge. It is a specific kind of knowledge of one’s concurrent phenomenal experiences. Call knowledge of one’s own phenomenal experiences phenomenal knowledge. Our claim is that some (though not all) phenomenal knowledge is different from, and better than, non-phenomenal knowledge. In other words, phenomenal knowledge is both descriptively and normatively different from non-phenomenal knowledge.
Pathology of fixation fibrosis on intraocular lenses.

Abstract Ocular tissues frequently form a special kind of reactive fibrosis with distinct cellular strands that anchors prominent surface irregularities of lens implants—haptics, manipulation holes, or borders—to adjacent ocular structures and helps fixate the implant in the evy. The strands originate in reactive proliferation of chemotactically attracted sessile macrophages on the surface of lens implants. They are cellular in their early stages and may undergo secondary fibrosis or hyalinization. The formation of these strands is called “fixation fibrosis.” An initial description of the pathology of this complicated process is presented.
Manufacturing 1: a simulation study of high power detonator production transition

Due to changes in production requirements the current facility was no longer adequate. A simulation study was conducted to help quantify the impacts of additional capacity, when that capacity should be brought online, and how to manage production in the interim before the new facility is available.
Effects of Daily Afternoon Melatonin Administration on Body Weight and Thyroid Hormones in Female Hamsters

Female hamsters were treated each afternoon for 8 weeks with subcutaneous injections of 25 micrograms of either melatonin or vehicle solution. Animals were sacrificed in either the morning or afternoon of diestrus and proestrus, along with their respective melatonin-induced acyclic pairs. Melatonin-treated hamsters had significantly greater mean body weights than did the vehicle-treated hamsters (P less than 0.05). Terminal mean serum T4 levels and free thyroxine index (FT41) were significantly reduced (P less than 0.05) in melatonin-treated hamsters compared with values obtained from animals subjected to the vehicle alone. In addition, T4 levels, FT41, T3 levels, and FT31 were significantly influenced by day and time of sacrifice independently of the melatonin treatment. T3 uptake was significantly lower on the morning of proestrus in melatonin-treated animals. These results demonstrate that chronic afternoon melatonin administration in female hamsters results in the loss of estrous cyclicity, a significant gain in body weight, and the reduction of T4 levels and T3 uptake. Changes in serum T3 levels are a function of the time of sample collection and are not influenced by melatonin treatment. In addition, these data indicate that thyroid function in general changes during the estrous cycle in these animals.
MicroRNA expression during chick embryo development

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, abundant, noncoding RNAs that modulate protein abundance by interfering with target mRNA translation or stability. miRNAs are detected in organisms from all domains and may regulate 30% of transcripts in vertebrates. Understanding miRNA function requires a detailed determination of expression, yet this has not been reported in an amniote species. High-throughput whole mount in situ hybridization was performed on chicken embryos to map expression of 135 miRNA genes including five miRNAs that had not been previously reported in chicken. Eighty-four miRNAs were detected before day 5 of embryogenesis, and 75 miRNAs showed differential expression. Whereas few miRNAs were expressed during formation of the primary germ layers, the number of miRNAs detected increased rapidly during organogenesis. Patterns highlighted cell-type, organ or structure-specific expression, localization within germ layers and their derivatives, and expression in multiple cell and tissue types and within sub-regions of structures and tissues. A novel group of miRNAs was highly expressed in most tissues but much reduced in one or a few organs, including the heart. This study presents the first comprehensive overview of miRNA expression in an amniote organism and provides an important foundation for investigations of miRNA gene regulation and function.
A localized and distributed channel assignment framework for cognitive radio networks

The availability of multiple interfaces and channels in wireless devices is expected to alleviate the capacity limitations that exist in traditional single channel wireless mesh networks. Although having multiple radio interfaces and available channels can generally increase the effective throughput, a problem arises as to what is the best strategy to dynamically assign available channels to multiple radio interfaces for maximizing effective network throughput by minimizing the interference. This paper presents a distributed and localized interference-aware channel assignment framework for multi-radio wireless mesh networks in a cognitive network environment. The proposed framework uses a novel interference estimation method by utilizing distributed conflict graphs at each network interface to model the interference. Extensive simulation studies in 802.11 based multi-radio mesh networks have been performed. The results indicate that for both local and multi-hop traffic, the proposed protocol can facilitate a large increase in network throughput in comparison with a Common Channel Assignment mechanism that is used as a benchmark in the literature.
Susceptibility of β2-microglobulin-deficient mice to Trypanosoma cruzi infection

THE β2microglobulin (β2m) protein associates with the products of the class I major histocompatibility (MHC) loci; this combination functions in the thymic development of and antigen presentation to CD8+ T cells. Mice in which the β2m gene has been disrupted by homologous recombination fail to express class I MHC gene products, and therefore lack CD8+ T cells and measurable cytotoxic T-cell responses1,2. However, β2m− mice appear to have normal development of both CD4+ α/βT-cell receptor (TCR+) and γ/δ TCR+ T cells and are not overtly more susceptible than β2m+ mice to potential environmental agents of infection1,2 or to experimental viral infection3. Here we show that β2m− mice suffer high parasitaemias and early death when infected with the obligate cytoplasmic protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Despite this increased susceptibility, the β2m− mice are more responsive than their β2m+ littermates in terms of lymphokine production, making higher levels of both interleukin-2 and interferon-γ in response to mitogen stimulation. In addition, theβ2m− mice show essentially no inflammatory response in parasite-infected tissues. These results confirm previous experiments on mice depleted of CD8+cells using antibody treatment4 in demonstrating the importance of CD8+ T cells in immune protection in T. cruzi infection. They also implicate CD8+ T cells and/or class I MHC molecules in regulation of lymphokine production and recruitment of inflammatory cells.
Evidence for the malate aspartate shuttle in pancreatic islets.

Abstract Rat pancreatic islets contain aspartate aminotransferase and malate dehydrogenase, enzymes necessary for the malate aspartate hydrogen shuttle, in both the cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions. When supplied with glutamate and malate, intact mitochondria from islets synthesized aspartate, indicating the mitochondrial segment of the malate aspartate shuttle was reconstituted. Aspartate synthesis was inhibited by aminooxyacetate, an inhibitor of aspartate aminotransferase, and also by butylmalonate, an inhibitor of malate transport across the mitochondrial inner membrane. Each inhibitor decreased insulin release and CO2 production from glucose by pancreatic islets in a concentration-dependent manner. It is concluded that the malate aspartate shuttle may be involved in stimulus secretion coupling for glucose-induced insulin release.
A mission resilience assessment methodology for infrastructure disruptions

Resilience has recently emerged as a security priority, but the development of mission resilience analysis techniques for military systems has lagged behind those for other systems. This paper identifies gaps for mission resilience assessment in current vulnerability assessment approaches used at military facilities. Additionally, the paper describes ongoing research to develop a set of mission resilience models that addresses those gaps and could be used to evaluate mission resilience to electric power outages.
The use of sessile ciliates collected in plastic petri dishes for rapid assessment of water pollution.

SYNOPSIS. Species of sessile Stentor, Vorticella and colonial peritrichs were collected in boxtype plastic petri dishes. Thru a hole in the wall of the dish, various concentrations of mercuric chloride, a standard bactericidal agent, were introduced. Following a 3-hour exposure to the toxicant, the death of the sessile ciliates followed a set pattern with a clearcut toxicity threshold of 0.1–0.5 parts per million with an LD 50 of about 0.25 ppm. Furthermore, the sessile ciliates were not dislodged when the natural pond water in the dish was poured out and replaced with water from other sources. Various responses were elicited by 4-hour exposure to 4 changes of environment. By this procedure, the protozoan community was subjected to new sets of conditions. Such a technic could serve as a method of detecting and assessing water pollution.
Thermal Conductivity of Ultra Thin Single Crystal Silicon Layers: Part II — Experimental Data and Modeling at High Temperatures

Simulations of the temperature field in Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) and strained-Si transistors can benefit from experimental data and modeling of the thin silicon layer thermal conductivity at high temperatures. This work presents the first experimental data for 20 and 100 nm thick single crystal silicon layers at high temperatures and develops algebraic expressions to account for the reduction in thermal conductivity due to the phonon-boundary scattering for pure and doped silicon layers. The model applies to temperatures range 300–1000 K for silicon layer thicknesses from 10 nm to 1 μm (and even bulk) and agrees well with the experimental data. In addition, the model has an excellent agreement with the predictions of thin film thermal conductivity based on thermal conductivity integral and Boltzmann transport equation, although it is significantly more robust and convenient for integration into device simulators. The experimental data and predictions are required for accurate thermal simulation of the semiconductor devices, nanostructures and in particular the SOI and strained-Si transistors.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Female Ejaculation: Perceived Origins, the Grafenberg Spot/Area, and Sexual Responsiveness

Despite earlier contrary claims, some researchers have recently reported a possible homologous female prostate gland that is potentially involved in a sudden spurt of fluid being released at the moment of orgasm. A number of medical authorities have speculated that this fluid is urine. To alleviate concerns about the possible release of urine during orgasmic response as well as to contribute to a further understanding of physiological and psychological sexual satisfaction, we examined a series of variables thought to be associated with female ejaculation [(expulsion of fluid during orgasm and its relationship, if any, to a sensitive anatomic area (Grafenberg spot)]. An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 2350 professional women in the United States and Canada with a subsequent 55% return rate. Of these respondents, 40% reported having a fluid release (ejaculation) at the moment of orgasm. Further, 82% of the women who reported the sensitive area (Grafenberg spot) also reported ejaculation with their orgasms. A number of variables were associated with this perceived existence of female ejaculation.
Is edge information for stereoacuity spatially channeled

Models of stereopsis generally assume that binocular correspondence is achieved through alignment of luminance edges in the two eyes. Yet the stimulus properties which constitute edge information for stereopsis have not been defined. Three experiments explored the nature of these stimulus properties. The first two experiments tested whether local luminance gradient and the relative phase of spatial components supply information about the position of edges which influences stereosensitivity. In Expt 1, stereothresholds were reduced with increased spatial frequency or contrast of sinusoidal luminance gratings, but no simple relationship between target luminance gradient and stereosensitivity was found. In Expt 2, stereothresholds were equivalent for targets having identical spatial frequency components, but differing in maximum luminance gradient and the relative spatial phase of their components. In addition, stereothresholds were lower for the target having the higher contrast in pairs of unequal-contrast targets having equal maximum luminance gradients. These results suggest that the properties of luminance gradient and relative spatial phase do not influence stereosensitivity independently of spatial frequency and contrast. Experiment 3 directly tested whether stereosensitivity depends on edge information whose disparity is detected independently at different spatial scales. Stereothresholds for IF + 5F compound targets were found to be equivalent to thresholds obtained separately with the more sensitive of the two components. Taken together with a compressive nonlinearity in the relationship between contrast and stereothreshold obtained by others (Halpern and Blake, 1989; Legge and Gu, 1989) and replicated in Expt 1, the results of Expt 3 indicate that, whatever the exact nature of the luminance discontinuity information utilized in disparity detection, it is processed independently at different spatial scales.
Flexor Pulley System: Anatomy, Injury, and Management

Flexor pulley injuries are most commonly seen in avid rock climbers; however, reports of pulley ruptures in nonclimbers are increasing. In addition to traumatic disruption, corticosteroid-induced pulley rupture has been reported as a complication of treating stenosing tenosynovitis. Over the last decade, there have been 2 new developments in the way hand surgeons think about the flexor pulley system. First, the thumb pulley system has been shown to have 4 component constituents, in contrast to the classic teaching of 3 pulleys. Second, in cases of zone II flexor tendon injury, the intentional partial A2 and/or A4 pulley excision or venting is emerging as a component for successful treatment. This is challenging the once-held dogma that preserving the integrity of the entire A2 and A4 pulleys is indispensable for normal digit function.
SU‐FF‐T‐426: Treatment Planning Comparison of Dynamic Multileaf Collimation and Helical Tomotherapy for Spinal Cord Sparing in Head and Neck Re‐Irradiation

Purpose: To compare dynamic multileaf collimator (DMLC) and helical tomotherapy (TOMO) IMRT delivery techniques for head and neck re‐irradiation. Method and Materials: Five cases were selected. For each case, a planning target volume (PTV) and the spinal cord were contoured. A 5 mm margin was added to the spinal cord to create a planning organ‐at‐risk volume (PRV). Plans were developed to deliver 60 Gy to 95% of the PTV while minimizing PRV dose. For DMLC delivery, 7 fields in the transverse plane were used. Plans were developed for two secondary collimator configurations, one in which the collimators were set by the optimization engine (DMLC STD) and one in which the PRV was always blocked by a collimator jaw (DMLC BLOCK). For both DMLC STD and TOMO, the optimization parameters were adjusted to minimize the PRV dose without exceeding 69 Gy to a volume of tissue >1 cc. DMLC BLOCK plans were optimized using the same parameters as the DMLC STD plans. The PTV D1cc, spinal cord D0.5cc, and non‐specified normal tissue D1cc were calculated. Results: The TOMO plans were able to both minimize the spinal cord dose and limit the hotspot. The DMLC plans were not able to limit the hotspot to the extent of the TOMO plans. The DMLC BLOCK plans achieved equivalent cord sparing, but with increased dose heterogeneity. The mean spinal cord D0.5cc, was 8.8, 16, and 8.4 Gy for the TOMO, DMLC STD, and DMLC BLOCK plans respectively. The mean PTV D1cc was 67.7, 68.6, and 71.4 Gy and the normal tissue D1cc was 65.2, 68.2, and 71.5 Gy. Conclusion: Dynamic MLCIMRT is capable of producing spinal cord sparing equivalent to helical tomotherapy. However, with current technology, the sparing is at the expense of PTV heterogeneity and larger doses to small volumes of normal tissue.
Lubricant-crack interaction, origin of pitting, and fatigue of drivers and followers©

A mechanical model for lubricated elastic solids weakened by cracks is studied. The model is used to explain mechanisms of surface and subsurface originated contact fatigue. Subsurface and surface cracks are considered including the interaction of lubricant with elastic solids within cavities of surface cracks. The adequate boundary conditions for the crack displacement jumps and normal stress applied to crack faces within the surface crack cavities fully or partially filled with lubricant as well as for subsurface cracks arc used. These boundary conditions include conditions that: prevent crack faces from overlapping, describe multiple surface crack cavities fully or partially filled with lubricant etc. Numerical results for surface and subsurface cracks are discussed, and numerical and asymptotic results for small subsurface cracks are compared. It is shown that stress intensity factors for surface cracks may be two orders of magnitude higher than those for subsurface cracks. Based on the crack analysis...
The mechanism of cortical ingression during early cytokinesis: thinking beyond the contractile ring hypothesis.

Owing to the rapid advances in genomic, proteomic and imaging technologies, the field of cytokinesis has seen rapid advances during the past decade. However, the basic model for the early stage of ingression, known as the contractile ring hypothesis, remains largely unchanged. From recent observations, it is becoming clear that early cytokinesis of animal cells involves a more extensive set of events, both temporally and spatially, than what is encompassed by the original contractile ring hypothesis. Activities relevant to cytokinesis, such as cortical contraction, can initiate well before onset of anaphase. Furthermore, equatorial ingression can involve multiple events in different regions of the cortex, including the establishment of anterior–posterior polarity, the modulation of cortical deformability, the expansion and compression of the cell cortex, and forces directed towards the interior of the cell or away from the equator. In this article (which is part of the Cytokinesis series), I evaluate critically key observations on when, where and how early ingression of animal cells takes place.
A concise review of serum markers for hepatocellular cancer

Abstract Background : The rising incidence of hepatocellular cancer in the US and worldwide has sparked a renewed interest in HCC serum markers. HCC typically develops in patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. It is in these target populations that serum markers are most urgently needed. Unfortunately, the currently available markers lack sensitivity and specificity. A number of novel candidate markers have recently been introduced. Methods : We performed a review of the literature (2001–2006) of traditional and novel serum markers for hepatocellular cancer. Results : Several promising new HCC markers have been identified over the past 5 years. They include single proteins, complex proteomics features, and tumor-specific autoantibodies. The excitement about the new markers is tempered by the realization that none of them have yet met the most stringent criteria defined by the Early Detection Research Network (EDRN). Conclusion : A new generation of HCC serum markers awaits validation in properly controlled clinical studies.
Paradoxical effects of cadmium exposure on antibacterial antibody responses in two fish species: Inhibition in cunners (Tautogolabrus adspersus) and enhancement in striped bass (Morone saxatilis)

Previous work in a marine fish, the cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus), showed that endocytosis of bacteria by cells in the liver and spleen was affected by 96-h exposure of the fish to cadmium at a concentration of 12 micrograms/ml; however, antibody response to sheep erythrocytes was not affected. Since the latter finding was questionable because of short immunization times, and data from more than a single fish species were desirable, both the cunner and an anadromous fish, the striped bass (Morone saxatilis), were examined for antibody responses against the bacterium Bacillus cereus in Freund's complete adjuvant during a 6- to 8-wk time period. Exposure to 12 micrograms/ml cadmium caused significant inhibition of serum antibody titers (P less than 0.007) in cunners. Paradoxically, antibody response in striped bass exposed to 10 micrograms/ml cadmium was enhanced sixfold. This enhancement was weaker but still evident when the antigen was injected 48 d after cadmium exposure. Peritoneal exudate cells from cadmium-exposed striped bass also showed more active migration through microporous filters than cells from non-exposed fish. Since the 96-h cadmium LC50 was 26 micrograms/ml for cunners and 20 micrograms/ml for striped bass, the differences in antibody response could not be explained on the basis of differences in cadmium toxicity. Although geometric mean liver cadmium levels after exposure at 15 degrees C were higher in cunners (163.8 +/- 1.2 micrograms/gm) than in striped bass (64.4 +/- 1.2 micrograms/g), cunners exposed to cadmium at 2 degrees C had lower cadmium levels (46.4 +/- 1.2 micrograms/g) which were still effective in inhibiting antibody production at 8 degrees C. On the other hand, striped bass not exposed to cadmium showed a strong, exponential rise in serum antibody when the temperature at immunization, 14 degrees C, was reduced to 9 degrees C; whereas cunners held in the same tanks exhibited a weaker, biphasic serum antibody response. Regardless of the cause (innate differences in cellular response, or better stress adaptability in an anadromous fish), the data show that chemical-stress effects on the immune system of one fish species cannot be extrapolated to another species.
Domain Denigration and Process Preference in Academic Psychology

Unlike most other disciplines, psychology parses its field primarily in terms of processes or mental entities (e.g., learning, sensation, perception, memory), rather than domains of life (e.g., eating, work, leisure). Although there are merits in this organization, a perhaps unintended result is that psychology has paid minimal attention to the major domains of life and how people function in them. Examination of contemporary major introductory, social, and developmental psychology textbooks reveals that their indexes include almost no terms representing five critical domains: food, politics, religion, leisure-entertainment, and work. The process division of psychology dates back at least to Wundt and James, and probably derives from psychology's origins and early dedication to discovering general laws of the mind. The avoidance of study of life domains in psychology is related to several forces, including a downgrading of both applied research and descriptive research in favor of theory and laboratory experimentation. Psychology would profit from paying greater attention to describing and explaining what people actually do, an endeavor that would perhaps be facilitated by a focus on the domains of daily life.
Isolation and study of the function of human γ2-globulin glycopeptide☆

Abstract A simple, effecient method for the preparation of glycopeptides from human γ 2 -globulin has been described, and the sugar and amino acid content of the preparation characterized. Attempts to assign a biologic function to this carbohydrate portion of γ 2 -globulin have been made. Complement fixation, PCA and rheumatoid factor agglutination reactions were unaffected when carried out in the presence of an excess of γ 2 -globulin glycopeptides.
Criminal, Victim, or Ally? Examining the Role of Sex Workers in Addressing Minor Sex Trafficking

The absence of representation from the sex industry in efforts to address the commercial sexual exploitation of children is striking. "Voices" that get heard are generally limited to survivor testimony, while those who are currently in "the life" are excluded, despite the fact that many enter into prostitution underage and would have been defined as child sex trafficking victims under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. This article explores the silencing effect of conflating prostitution with sex trafficking, the ways in which sex workers might contribute to addressing the commercial sexual exploitation of children as "allies," and the ethical responsibility of social workers in anti-trafficking work. Language: en
Prognosis of Heart Failure in the Elderly: Not an Affair of the Heart?

During the past several years, prognostic instruments have been developed for patients with heart failure (HF), predicting a number of clinical outcomes, including mortality and rehospitalization.1–3 Few similar instruments for short-term prognosis have appeared designed specifically for use in the elderly with HF. Pilotto et al4 have addressed this gap by creating a prognostic instrument that places new emphasis on a whole array of geriatric tools. The Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) is derived from a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). This new tool demonstrates powerful predictive capabilities for 30-day mortality in elderly patients, especially for men, hospitalized for HF, in comparison with more traditional prognostic tools such as the New York Heart Association class, or indices derived from ADHERE2 or the EFFECT measure.3 Article see p 14 What is the real message here? Is there actually something new under the sun? Several major points deserve attention. How did the authors construct this new instrument? Are their observations in keeping with our general understanding of HF in the elderly population and its management? Was the instrument tested in a realistic setting? What is the potential utility of the new instrument? The construct of the new instrument departs from previous similar prognostic tools in one major way. It places particular attention on the patient’s comorbid conditions. Moreover, and with novel fashion, the MPI places high value on the CGA of the patient. This CGA comprises a group of eight scales, questionnaires, and indices selected to span the spectrum of independent function, cognitive capabilities, nutritional status, medications, social support, cumulative comorbid illnesses by system, and likelihood of developing pressure …
Random Plastic Analysis Using a Constitutive Model to Predict the Evolutionary Stress-Related Responses and Time Passages to Failure

The random vibration analyses of gradually yielding shear-frame buildings are considered using a recently proposed constitutive model that is used to calculate the detailed degradation of the stiffness of structures which permits the prediction of their global responses, as well as the states of stress in their members. It is shown that the detailed stress degradation model can also be used in connection with a global force-displacement model, such as the Bouc and Wen model, to predict the time evolution of the various stress-related variables and time passages to failure. The two models are applied in separate analyses and are exemplified using both a single-story building and a four-story building subjected to artificial ground motions. The corresponding probability density functions of the various stress-related responses, including the strains and plastic hinge lengths, and the first time passages to failure are presented and discussed.
Editor’s Perspective: Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Tachycardia: Chameleon in Disguise

Hayashi et al teach us a sequential approach to question the possibilities that explain observed unusual phenomena and demonstrate the importance of finding a reasonable ablation target that is safe although the explanation of all phenomenon is incomplete. Perhaps future developments of mapping systems and novel signal processing presently meant for identifying atrial fibrillation and ventricular fibrillation substrate may allow us to record nodal and perinodal electrograms to better understand these complex arrhythmias in individual patients.
Magnetic Tunnel Junction-Based Spin Register for Nonvolatile Integrated Circuits

A magnetic tunnel junction-based register with separate read and write paths is proposed in this paper. Analysis of the operation of the circuit is performed, and methods for determining the key parameters of the device are presented. The simulation of the circuit is performed in Verilog-A, and the simulation results demonstrate the operational characteristics of the circuit. This new spin-based flip flop offers a 23% reduction in the number of devices and a 23.6% reduction in its dissipated power when compared with a pure CMOS implementation with the added benefit of nonvolatility. A 4-b shifter based on the proposed spin register is presented, too.
Widespread loss of sexually selected traits: how the peacock lost its spots

Current and traditional research on sexual selection focuses largely on explaining the evolution (gain) of elaborate male traits and of female preferences for these traits. However, recent phylogenetic studies have revealed a surprising trend: that losses of these elaborate male traits are widespread and can be much more common than are gains. Furthermore, recent studies also show that female preferences for these male traits can be reduced, lost, or even reversed. These losses of traits and preferences could have important implications for competing models of sexual selection. Integrated phylogenetic, experimental and theoretical studies are needed to explain these unexpected patterns.