cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Attitudes of heterosexuals toward homosexuality: A Likert‐type scale and construct validity

Abstract This article reports on three phases of the development of a Likert‐type scale measuring heterosexual attitudes toward homosexuality. Phase 1 describes the development of the scale. Item analysis yielded 20 statements with item‐total correlations ranging from .57 to .74. In Phase 2 the 20‐item Heterosexual Attitudes Toward Homosexuality (HATH) Scale was administered to 82 subjects. Analysis yielded a corrected split‐half correlation of .92, and the scale was found to discriminate between individuals based on sex, academic major, and church attendance. In Phase 3 (a validation study) the HATH was administered with several additional attitude scales and indexes of an exploratory nature. Analysis yielded a corrected split‐half correlation of .92. As in Phase 2, a significant effect of sex was found; females appear more tolerant than males. In addition, the HATH correlated significantly with peer attitudes, religiosity, and authoritarianism. The scale has satisfactory reliability and shows promising ...
Persistent effects of chronic administration of LSD on intracellular serotonin content in rat midbrain.

Abstract The effects of acute and chronic administration of LSD on the intracellular serotonin content of raphe neurons in rat midbrain were compared using a cytofluorimetric measure of serotonin based on fluorescence fading. Consistent with previous reports, acute treatment with LSD preferentially increased intracellular serotonin levels in both the dorsal and median raphe nuclei. Similar increases in serotonin were observed following 14 daily injections of LSD and 24 hr after the last of 13 daily injections. No significant differences were found between the effects of acute and chronic LSD treatments on any of the cytofluorimetric measures of serotonin. Together with the results from previous electro-physiological and behavioral studies, these findings indicate that little or no tolerance occurs to the effects of LSD on serotonergic neurons.
Accelerated Concrete-Cylinder Test for Alkali–Silica Reaction

The concrete-prism test (CPT, e.g., ASTM C1293-08b [ASTM C1293-08b: Standard Test Method for Determination of Length Change of Concrete Due to Alkali-Silica Reaction, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2013]) has been considered as the best index for alkali–silica reaction (ASR) field performance, but alkali leaching and test duration are still of concern. Reduction of test duration by increasing testing temperature (e.g., 60°C) was proposed by several researchers to develop an accelerated version of the concrete-prism test (ACPT). However, it has been found that there is a significant reduction in expansion associated with more alkali leaching in the ACPT compared to the concrete-prism test (CPT). An accelerated concrete-cylinder test (ACCT) has been proposed in this study with no involvement of errors because of operation and temperature change along with arresting alkali leaching. The linear expansion of the ACCT measured at a temperature of 60°C over a period of 1 month have been correlated with the 1-yr ASTM C1293 test to evaluate the ASR reactivity of aggregates. Cylinders made with highly reactive borosilicate glass balls were tested first to validate the proposed approach before any concrete-cylinder testing. The results indicate that (1) an expansion limit of 0.04 % using 0.82 % Na2O equivalent (Na2Oe) cement without alkali boosting after a testing period of 28 days is proposed for the ACCT to diagnose ASR aggregate reactivity, and (2) the proposed method can serve as an alternative to validate the ASR-resistant mix design (e.g., fly-ash contents).
Penetrating hepatic trauma in children: Operating room or not?

Abstract Nonoperative management has become widely accepted as the standard of care for patients with blunt hepatic trauma. Recent studies among adults have supported the use of nonoperative management of selective penetrating wounds to the hepatic bed in stable patients. The therapeutic management of children with penetrating injuries to the hepatic bed were evaluated to ascertain whether nonoperative management was a reasonable consideration in their care. The database of the National Pediatric Trauma Registry (NPTR) was reviewed for the period 1985–1994. ICD-9 codes 864.00 to 864.10 were used to select injury site, diagnosis, and, combined with Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code data, to ascertain therapeutic interventions. The NPTR is a compilation of data from 61 pediatric trauma centers, currently held at Tufts University. The charts of 29,000 children were reviewed; of these, 1,147 sustained hepatic injuries, 132 (12%) of whom had a penetrating injury. The mechanism of injury was gunshot wound in 100 patients (76%) and stab wound in 32 (24%). The mean age of the children who had a penetrating injury was 12.7 years (range, in utero to 19 years). Six children were managed nonoperatively (5%), and 20 (15%) had negative laparotomy findings. Overall, 106 children sustained additional injuries that required surgical repair. There were 50 hollow viscous injury repair, 19 diaphragmatic repairs, 5 nephrectomies, 4 splenectomies, 4 pancreatic resections, and 43 significant hepatic repairs. The overall mortality rate was 9.8% (13 deaths). Nine of these patients died within 24 hours of injury. These data indicate that penetrating injury to the hepatic bed in children is associated with a high percentage of other organ injuries that require surgical intervention. This seems to be in direct contrast with the findings for adults, for whom the hepatic mass appears protective because of its larger size. The close anatomic proximity of the organs in a child's abdomen appears to make surgical intervention necessary for the majority of children with penetrating injury to the hepatic bed, and indicates that this approach should remain the standard of care for pediatric patients.
Adhesion of spray primers to plasma polymer coatings

The adhesion failure of a primer on a plasma-polymer-deposited substrate surface could occur at the interface of the substrate/plasma polymer or at the interface of the plasma polymer/primer. We examined the adhesion of spray (solventborne or waterborne) primers on plasma polymer coated substrate with the substrate/plasma polymer systems in which the adhesion of the plasma polymer of trimethylsilane (TMS) to the substrate was good. Waterborne primers adhered well to quite hydrophobic plasma polymer surfaces, except the untreated surface of TMS. The plasma polymer of TMS appeared to contain a significant amount of oligomers, which were not in the three-dimensional network of the plasma polymer coating and caused poor adhesion of primers. The plasma treatment of the deposited plasma polymer of TMS increased the adhesion characteristics of the primers dramatically. The oxygen-plasma treatment, however, made the interface water sensitive and made the wet adhesion poor. The argon-plasma treatment of the plasma polymer of TMS was found to be a viable process that yielded excellent adhesion of spray primers. The plasma polymer of TMS deposited by a closed system, without further plasma treatment, yielded an excellent foundation for the application of spray primers. Waterborne, nonchromated primers adhered exceedingly well and survived 8 h of boiling in water (with a scribed surface) and became virtually nonstrippable by conventional stripping agents. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 1443–1457, 2002
Laboratory studies of substrate and microhabitat selection in the southern cavefish (Typhlichthys subterraneus Girard)

– The southern cavefish (Typhlichthys subterraneus Girard) is a small troglobitic fish found in a few disjunct populations in the central United States. Protecting and managing these populations requires a knowledge of southern cavefish microhabitat requirements, including their preference for substrate. We conducted tests of their preferences for cobble, gravel, pea gravel, and sand substrates in two-way and multiple choice experiments for extended periods using time-lapse video photography. Cobble proved to be the substrate these fish preferred to occur within. In nature, this preference may provide cavefish increased foraging opportunities and/or refuge from high flows associated with flooding. Our results indicate the need to (1) maintain coarse substrate as an integral part of cavefish habitats, and (2) direct cavefish censusing attempts towards such key areas.
Maternal Dietary Lipids Modify Composition of Bone Lipids and Ex Vivo Prostaglandin E2 Production in Early Postnatal Japanese Quail

Abstract This study examined the effects of maternal dietary lipids on fatty acid composition and ex vivo prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) biosynthesis in bone tissues of progeny of Japanese quail. Laying hens were fed a basal diet containing soybean oil (SBO), hydrogenated soybean oil (HSBO), poultry fat (PF), or menhaden fish oil (FO) at 50 g/kg of diet. Fertilized eggs were incubated, and newly hatched quail were used for tibial fatty acid analysis and PGE2 measurement or were fed an identical diet until 2 wk of age. Yolks and tibiae of newly hatched quail from hens fed the SBO diet contained higher levels of total n-6 fatty acids and arachidonic acid [AA; 20:4(n-6)], whereas those from hens consuming the FO diet had increased concentrations of total n-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA; 20:5(n-3)], docosapentaenoic acid [22:5(n-3)], docosahexaenoic acid [DHA; 22:6(n-3)], and total saturated fatty acids (SAT) but greatly reduced amounts of AA in egg yolks and tibiae. The maternal diet containing HSBO resulted in the accumulation of trans 18:1 egg yolks and tibiae of newly hatched quails. At 1 wk of age, the concentrations of EPA, DHA, and trans 18:1 in tibiae still reflected the maternal dietary fatty acid profile. At 2 wk of age, however, differences in fatty acid composition between treatments had disappeared. Addition of FO or HSBO to the maternal diet significantly lowered the ex vivo PGE2 production of tibiae in newly hatched quail compared to those from hens fed SBO or PF diet. These results suggest that maternal dietary lipids may have the potential to influence bone metabolism of embryos by modifying the fatty acid composition of this tissue.
Phocion Howard Examines the Northern Pacific Railroad, 1873

Editor's note: In its October 2004 issue, this journal published a vivid account by Lewis Saum, the well-known historian of the nineteenth-century press, of the dispatches and misadventures of Chicago reporter James “Phocion” Howard during the Black Hills gold rush of 1875. A complete product of an age when news correspondents made no pretence of detachment and no effort to avoid becoming part of their stories, Howard, through what he wrote and what he did, was the sort of reporter who contributed mightily to the image of the post-Civil War era as a Gilded Age. This brief account follows Howard back a little in time, to 1873, when he was noisily bursting illusions along the line of the Northern Pacific Railroad just at the moment when that line's bankruptcy hurled the country into its worst economic collapse in decades.
Visualization of Off-Screen Data on Tablets Using Context-Providing Bar Graphs and Scatter Plots

Visualizing data on tablets is challenging due to the relatively small screen size and limited user interaction capabilities. Standard data visualization apps provide support for pinch-and-zoom and scrolling operations, but do not provide context for data that is off-screen. When exploring data on tablets, the user must be able to focus on a region of interest and quickly find interesting patterns in the data. We present visualization techniques that facilitate seamless interaction with the region of interest on a tablet using context-providing bar graphs and scatter plots. Through aggregation, fisheye-style, and overview+detail representations, we provide context to the users as they explore a region of interest. We evaluated the efficacy of our techniques with the standard, interactive bar graph and scatter plot applications on a tablet, and found that one of our bargraph visualizations - Fisheye-style Focus+Context visualization (BG2) resulted in the fewest errors, least frustration and took the least amount of time. Similarly, one of our scatter plot visualizations - User Driven Overview+Detail (SP3) - resulted in the fewest errors, least frustration and took the least amount of time. Overall, users preferred the context-providing techniques over traditional bar graphs and scatter plots, that include pinch-and-zoom and fling-based scrolling capabilities.
A defect relation for meromorphic maps on generalized p -parabolic manifolds intersecting hypersurfaces in complex projective algebraic varieties

We establish a defect relation for algebraically non-degenerate meromorphic maps over gener- alized p-parabolic manifolds that intersect hypersurfaces in smooth projective algebraic varieties, extend- ing certain results of H. Cartan, L. Ahlfors, W. Stoll, M. Ru, P. M. Wong and Philip P. W. Wong and others.
I. Apologia (Part One of a Three Part Presentation)

The authors have now had ten years of clinical experience with the partial ileal bypass operation for management of the hyperlipidemias. The human trial was preceded by and has been continuously complemented by research in the animal laboratory in an effort to provide a metabolic data base which will facilitate understanding of the rationale and effects of this means of lipid lowering therapy. In addition, the determination of cholesterol dynamics as influenced by partial ileal bypass has been studied in the clinical setting. Other independent investigators have published in this field confirming and extending our findings and, at times, differing in their results and conclusions. We have attempted both to review the extensive past literature in this area and to add previously unpublished original material in a three-part presentation: Part I, Apologia; Part II, Laboratory Experience; and Part III, The Clinical Status of the Partial Ileal Bypass Operation. At a time when the medical community must come to grips with the question of whether lipid lowering will influence the atherosclerotic risk rate, this task was undertaken in order to offer a comprehensive overview of what are the effective and safe means available to achieve lipid reduction.
Delayed Retraction of the Pipeline Embolization Device and Corking Failure: Pitfalls of Pipeline Embolization Device Placement in the Setting of a Ruptured Aneurysm

Background and importance The safety of flow-diverting stents for the treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms is unknown. Clinical presentation A 35-year-old woman with a ruptured dissecting aneurysm of the intradural right vertebral artery and incorporating the right posterior inferior cerebellar artery was treated with a Pipeline Embolization Device (PED). Five days after reconstruction of the diseased right vertebral segment, she was treated for vasospasm, and retraction of the PED was observed, leaving her dissecting aneurysm unprotected. A second PED was placed with coverage of the aneurysm, but vasospasm complicated optimal positioning of the device. Conclusion In addition to the potential risks of dual antiplatelet therapy in these patients, this case illustrates 2 pitfalls of flow-diverting devices in vessels in vasospasm: delayed retraction of the device and difficulty positioning the device for deployment in the setting of vasospasm.
Treatment with an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to the GABAA receptor γ2 subunit increases convulsive threshold for β-CCM, a benzodiazepine ‘inverse agonist’, in rats

Abstract The γ 2 subunit of the γ-aminobutyric acid type-A (GABA A ) receptor is associated with the actions of benzodiazepines and related drugs. A phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligodeoxynucleotide directed against the γ 2 subunit was given by i.c.v. injection (18 μg in 2 μl saline) to male Sprague-Dawley rats every 12 h for 3 days. Controls received the corresponding sense oligodeoxynucleotide. 4–6 h after the last i.c.v. treatment, rats were given methyl-β-carboline-3-carboxylate (β-CCM), a benzodiazepine ‘inverse agonist’, by slow i.v. infusion. Compared to naive rats, the β-CCM threshold dose was not affected by the sense oligodeoxynucleotide, but was increased 87% in antisense oligodeoxynucleotide-treated rats. The treatment had no effect on the seizure threshold for picrotoxin. Both antisense and sense oligodeoxynucleotide treatments slightly increased the threshold for strychnine seizures. The results suggest that antisense oligodeoxynucleotide treatment altered GABA A receptor composition and interfered with the actions of a benzodiazepine receptor ligand in vivo, and may provide a tool for studying regulation of receptor structure and function.
A SHORT FORM OF THE COMMON BELIEFS SURVEY III

Previous studies have shown that the Common Beliefs Survey III (CBS III) is an irrational beliefs inventory with satisfactory psychometric properties. We extended research on the CBS by examining this 54-item inventory for redundant material, and substantially abbreviated it without compormising its reliability or validity. This article describes the development of the new, 19-item short form (CBS19), convenient for clinical use, that preserves the psychometric properties of the original.
Modulation of cochlear afferent response by the lateral olivocochlear system: activation via electrical stimulation of the inferior colliculus.

The olivocochlear (OC) efferent innervation of the mammalian inner ear consists of two subdivisions, medial (MOC) and lateral (LOC), with different peripheral terminations on outer hair cells and c...
Determination of lattice structure and calculation of molecular tilt in lipid monolayers on water using x-ray diffraction

We report the first determination of lattice structure for classical (fatty acid and alcohol) monolayer systems on the surface of water, based on our observation of first- and second-order x-ray diffraction peaks. Monolayers of both heneicosanoic acid and heneicosanol in the highest-pressure phase pack into a distorted hexagonal lattice with orthorhombic cell dimensions of {ital a}{congruent}7.5 {ital A}, {ital b}{congruent}5.0 {ital A}. From the observed peak intensities, we have calculated the molecular tilt directions and magnitudes, using the assumption (reasonable given the dense packing) that the chains are parallel to each other and in the all-{ital trans} configuration. the temperature range 0--5 {degree}C, the molecules tilt towards the {ital b} axis, but at higher temperatures the tilt direction changes to the {ital a} axis.
Variations in the tropical greenhouse effect during El Nino

Abstract Observations of the clear-sky outgoing longwave radiation and sea surface temperature are combined to examine the evolution of the tropical greenhouse effect from colder La Nina conditions in early 1985 to warmer El Nino conditions in late 1987. Although comparison of individual months can suggest a decrease in greenhouse trapping from cold to warm conditions, when the entire 4-yr record is considered a distinct increase in tropical-mean greenhouse trapping of ∼2 W m−2 is observed in conjunction with a ∼0.4 K increase in tropical-mean sea surface temperature. This observed increase compares favorably with GCM simulations of the change in the clear-sky greenhouse effect during El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Superimposed on top of the SST-driven change in greenhouse trapping are dynamically induced changes in tropical moisture apparently associated with a redistribution of SST during ENSO. The GCM simulations also successfully reproduce this feature, providing reassurance in the ability of GC...
1:1 Atrial flutter with the Wenckebach phenomenon

Abstract A case is presented demonstrating the presence of 1:1 flutter developing primarily the Wenckebach type of atrioventricular conduction defect.
Comparison of TRANSIMS and CORSIM Traffic Signal Simulation Modules

The microsimulation-based Transportation Analysis and Simulation System (TRANSIMS), which represents the next generation of travel forecasting techniques, was designed to model the transportation system of a metropolitan area at an individual traveler's level. Although the default model parameters in the TRANSIMS traffic signal logic were calibrated to the macroscopic flow relationships contained within the Highway Capacity Manual, to date there has been no research on the traffic signal characteristics of TRANSIMS using empirical data. The TRANSIMS traffic signal logic is examined with an emphasis on how well it could replicate diamond interchange operations. A diamond interchange network was coded into TRANSIMS, and the simulation results were compared with both empirical observations and CORSIM results. It was found that TRANSIMS logic could model the operation of a diamond interchange with respect to offset, cycle length, traffic demand, and signal spacing.
A constitutive model for stress‐induced permeability and porosity evolution of Berea sandstone

[1] Many applications in geophysics require good estimates of permeability evolution in response to deformation, pore collapse, dilatancy, and microfracturing. Simulations of the upper crust, oil well completion, and nuclear waste repositories depend upon reliable predictions of changes in rock permeability. For some applications, permeability can affect the strength of rock by influencing the pore pressure and effective stress. For example, the pore pressure during production from an oil bearing formation is controlled by the evolving permeability field. The rock strength, however, depends upon the effective stress which is influenced by the pore pressure. Accurate prediction of possible failure in such formations requires reliable estimates of permeability change. Ideally, such estimates could be obtained by directly simulating the changes in pore space connectivity at the microscale. In practice the system being studied is sufficiently large that constitutive models must be developed which address permeability evolution macroscopically. We develop a model for predicting porosity and permeability changes in Berea sandstone. The model has been kept as simple as possible in order to facilitate incorporation of the model into existing mechanics codes. For this reason we assume the existence of a separate material model capable of predicting the stress-strain response of the rock. In addition, the model assumes that the original pores and pores created by microfracturing can be treated separately with respect to permeability and porosity evolution. Despite these simplifying assumptions, the model is able to reproduce most of the key features observed in previously reported triaxial experiments performed on Berea sandstone.
CORRELATES OF CAREER-ORIENTED MENTORING FOR EARLY CAREER MANAGERS AND PROFESSIONALS.

This study examines several different kinds of correlates of career-oriented mentoring experiences among early career managers and professionals. Survey data were collected from 416 respondents employed in a wide variety of jobs, organizations, and industries. The respondents averaged 30 years of age, and 28 per cent were women. Results indicated that younger, more work-involved respondents from higher socioeconomic origins received more career-oriented mentoring. In addition, managers received more mentoring than professionals, as did those who were higher in the organization hierarchy. While gender of the protege was unrelated to the amount of career mentoring received, reasons are offered for this result. Various boundary conditions likely to affect mentoring processes are discussed and several directions are recommended for future research on mentoring.
Longitudinal imaging: change and causality.

Purpose of review Longitudinal studies that use MRI scans performed over multiple time-points have been increasingly employed in the study of different neurological disorders, including degenerative dementia, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy. Recent findings Although it is well established that increased rates of brain atrophy occur in degenerative dementia and multiple sclerosis, recent data have further described these changes and demonstrated that they correlate with both cognitive and functional decline. Advanced voxel-level techniques have also provided detailed descriptions of regional patterns of change, and a few studies have started to investigate changes over multiple MRI enabling the trajectories of brain loss over time to be determined. Researchers have also started to more thoroughly investigate the underlying causes of brain atrophy. Correlations have been observed between rate of brain atrophy and the presence of abnormal protein deposits in the brain in dementia, and the lesion burden in multiple sclerosis. However, longitudinal studies on epilepsy have been inconsistent, with very little recent data. Summary Recent data further support the suggestion that longitudinal MRI provides a good biomarker of disease progression in dementia and multiple sclerosis, though more work needs to be performed to define the role of longitudinal imaging in epilepsy.
Large-scale, pH-dependent, quaternary structure changes in an RNA virus capsid are reversible in the absence of subunit autoproteolysis

The assembly and maturation of the coat protein of a T=4, nonenveloped, single-stranded RNA virus, Nudaurelia capensis ω virus (NωV), was examined by using a recombinant baculovirus expression system. At pH 7.6, the coat protein assembles into a stable particle called the procapsid, which is 450 A in diameter and porous. Lowering the pH to 5.0 leads to a concerted reorganization of the subunits into a 410-A-diameter particle called the capsid, which has no obvious pores. This conformational change is rapid but reversible until slow, autoproteolytic cleavage occurs in at least 15% of the subunits at the lower pH. In this report, we show that expression of subunits with replacement of Asn-570, which is at the cleavage site, with Thr results in assembly of particles with expected morphology but that are cleavage defective. The conformational change from procapsid to capsid is reversible in N570T mutant virus-like particles, in contrast to wild-type particles, which are locked into the capsid conformation after cleavage of the coat protein. The reexpanded procapsids display slightly different properties than the original procapsid, suggesting hysteretic effects. Because of the stability of the procapsid under near-neutral conditions and the reversible properties of the cleavage-defective mutant, NωV provides an excellent model for the study of pH-induced conformational changes in macromolecular assemblies. Here, we identify the relationship between cleavage and the conformational change and propose a pH-dependent helix-coil transition that may be responsible for the structural rearrangement in NωV.
Evolution of Pores and Tortuosity During Sintering

Pores play an important role in sintering densification. In this study, 3D microstructure reconstruction has been used to quantitatively evaluate pore evolution during sintering. Pore shape, distribution, and connectivity are displayed in 3D based on actual microstructure data and show drastic differences from the conventional description of pores. Pore volume fraction and pore number density are extracted from the 3D microstructure reconstruction and compared. Pore size distribution frequency with sintering time is obtained. New tortuosity concept is provided to properly represent pore shape changes during sintering.
14C. Case Studies on the Outcome of Integrative Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Trigger Fingers

Focus Areas: Integrative Approaches to Care, Alleviating Pain Carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger fingers, and deQuervaines' tenosynovitis are often regarded as surgical lesions. Using an interprofessional team approach, all these conditions can be treated with nonsurgical techniques. A 44-year-old accountant presented with hand pain requiring workplace accommodation. He had electrodiagnositc evidence of carpal tunnel syndrome bilaterally with the right side worse than the left. He was scheduled for surgery when he was offered the opportunity to see an integrative practitioner. He was treated integratively and with intramuscular stimulation, massage, and physical therapies. He achieved nonsurgical resolution of his complaints. He returned to full-time work. The course of treatment was 3 months, and the electrodiagnostics returned to normal after 6 months. A journalist presented with a very painful trigger finger on the index finger of his dominant hand. He was treated with intramuscular stimulation and low-intensity (cold) laser for 5 weekly sessions with resolution of the trigger finger. He resented 6 months later with shoulder pain also on the dominant side. He had a 50% reduction in shoulder abduction and painful internal rotation. He was woken at night by shoulder pain. He was treated with intramuscular stimulation and low-intensity (cold) laser and massage for 3 sessions. He had an improvement in range of motion and pain reduction. He returned to his exercise program and continued to improve. Long-term resolution of carpal tunnel and trigger fingers can be achieved without surgery at reduced risk and great savings to the system.
Nucleus of comet Halley as a torque-free rigid rotator

A model for the rotation of the nucleus of comet Halley is proposed on the assumption that the nucleus is homogeneous and a torque-free rigid rotator. It spins about its long axis with a period of 7.4 days, while this axis precesses about a fixed direction with a period of 2.2 days. To satisfy the moments of inertia, the precession angle must be 77 deg. This model settles the major problems associated with the recent controversy about two rotation periods.
Genetically modified crops: the fastest adopted crop technology in the history of modern agriculture

The major scientific advances of the last century featured the identification of the structure of DNA, the development of molecular biology and the technology to exploit these advances. These breakthroughs gave us new tools for crop improvement, including molecular marker-aided selection (MAS) and genetic modification (GM). MAS improves the efficiency of breeding programs, and GM allows us to accomplish breeding objectives not possible through conventional breeding approaches. MAS is not controversial and is now routinely used in crop improvement programs. However, the international debate about the application of genetic manipulation to crop improvement has slowed the adoption of GM crops in developing as well as in European countries. Since GM crops were first introduced to global agriculture in 1996, Clive James has published annual reports on the global status of commercialized GM crops as well as special reports on individual GM crops for The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). His 34th report, Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/ GM crops: 2011 [1] is essential reading for those who are concerned about world food security.
Juvenile hormone carrier protein of Manduca sexta haemolymph. Improved purification procedure; protein modification studies and sequence of the amino terminus of the protein

Abstract A procedure is described for purification of the juvenile hormone carrier protein from the last larval instar of Manduca sexta. Homogeneous carrier protein is obtained after three chromatographic steps in up to 36% yield, based upon the recovery from the first gel permeation chromatography step. The sequence of the N- terminus of the polypeptide chain was determined for 19 of the first 20 residues: l 10 Asp-Gln-Gly-Ala-Leu-Phe-Glu-Pro-Cys-Ser- 11 20 Thr-GIn-Asp-lle-Ala-Cys-Leu-Ser- ?-Ala- Three reagents which modify side chain residues in proteins: methyl acetimidate (amino groups), N- succinimidyl -3-(4- hydroxyphenyl ) propionate (amino groups) and tetranitromethane (phenol groups), were reacted with pure carrier protein. In each case, there was relatively little change in the juvenile hormone binding properties of the modified carrier protein.
CATEGORIZING A MOVING TARGET IN TERMS OF ITS SPEED, DIRECTION, OR BOTH

Pigeons categorized a moving target in terms of its speed and direction in an adaptation of the randomization procedure used to study human categorization behavior (Ashby & Maddox, 1998). The target moved according to vectors that were sampled with equal probabilities from two slightly overlapping bivariate normal distributions with the dimensions of speed and direction. On the average, pigeons categorized optimally in that they attended to either speed or direction alone, or divided attention between them, as was required by different reinforcement contingencies. Decision bounds were estimated for individual pigeons for each attentional task. Average slopes and y intercepts of these individually estimated decision bounds closely approximated the corresponding values for optimal decision bounds. There is therefore at least one task in which pigeons, on the average, display flexibility and quantitative precision in allocating attention to speed and direction when they categorize moving targets.
Auditory processing of vowels by normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners.

"Masking" patterns were obtained in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners using the pulsation-threshold procedure. Synthesized vowel maskers/a/and/ae/were presented at various sound pressure...
self and self‐conduct among the Javanese priyayi elite

Most students of Javanese culture and society have used a few crucial native terms and concepts to analyze aspects of traditional etiquette, statecraft, and mysticism. A unitary approach to priyayi ethics, aesthetics, and power is developed here by synthesizing themes common to earlier treatments. Several points of disagreement with Geertz's (1960, 1973) descriptions are discussed in conclusion as a way of drawing out lexicographic aspects of the methodology of interpretive anthropology. [Java, statecraft, etiquette, language in culture, native philosophy]
A proof-of-concept lithium/sulfur liquid battery with exceptionally high capacity density

Abstract In this communication, we disclose a proof-of-concept lithium/sulfur liquid battery that has exceptionally high capacity density. In such a battery, the cathode consists of a highly porous carbon cloth (CC) as the cathode current collector and a porous sulfur paper as the source of active material. In the first discharge, sulfur is reduced on the CC surface into high order lithium polysulfide (PS), which dissolves into liquid electrolyte and serves as the catholyte of the so-called “Li/S liquid battery”. By adopting a LiNO3-contained electrolyte to protect Li anode, the Li/S liquid cell is shown to cycle reversibly between 1.7 V and 2.8 V with an initial capacity of 778 mAh g−1 S, corresponding to a capacity density of 10.1 mAh cm−2 CC, which could be the highest capacity density among the rechargeable Li/S batteries reported ever. This work reveals that the high capacity density Li/S batteries can be made through a “Li/S liquid cell” by employing a highly porous carbon electrode to accommodate the insoluble sulfur reduction products (Li2S2/Li2S) with appropriate protection of the Li anode.
Selective jamming/dropping insider attacks in wireless mesh networks

Wireless mesh networks promise to extend high-speed wireless connectivity beyond what is possible with the current WiFi-based infrastructure. However, their unique architectural features leave them particularly vulnerable to security threats. In this article we describe various forms of sophisticated attacks launched from adversaries with internal access to the WMN. We further identify possible detection and mitigation mechanisms.
Model diagnostic tests for selecting informative correlation structure in correlated data

In the generalized method of moments approach to longitudinal data analysis, unbiased estimating functions can be constructed to incorporate both the marginal mean and the correlation structure of the data. Increasing the number of parameters in the correlation structure corresponds to increasing the number of estimating functions. Thus, building a correlation model is equivalent to selecting estimating functions. This paper proposes a chi-squared test to choose informative unbiased estimating functions. We show that this methodology is useful for identifying which source of correlation it is important to incorporate when there are multiple possible sources of correlation. This method can also be applied to determine the optimal working correlation for the generalized estimating equation approach.
Recent insights into the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is more than pregnancy induced hypertension. The emerging view described in this presentation is that pre-eclampsia is secondary to the interactions of reduced placental perfusion with diverse maternal factors that alter endothelial function. The maternal contribution is from factors that antedate pregnancy and are influenced by the usual metabolic adaptations of pregnancy. The endothelium and other targets for the effects of these interactions are more sensitive to insults during pregnancy because of activation of the inflammatory cascade as a normal part of pregnancy. At least part of the response to reduced placental perfusion may be a fetal adaptive response to attempt to overcome the reduced delivery of nutrients. A reasonable convergence point for the interaction is at the level of oxidative stress. This hypothesis has both encouraging and discouraging corollaries. The diversity of maternal factors argues that there will be no single gene to explain the disorder and no single 'magic bullet' to treat the disorder. However, it is encouraging that the recognition of maternal predisposition to the disorder directs therapy to prevent pre-eclampsia at a specific target in subsets of women. Finally, the suggestion that some of the maternal alterations are due to fetal adaptive responses encourages careful choices of agents and meticulous infant follow up in well planned clinical trials.
Second-order homogenization estimates for nonlinear composites incorporating field fluctuations: I—theory

Abstract This paper is concerned with the development of an improved second-order homogenization method incorporating field fluctuations for nonlinear composite materials. The idea is to combine the desirable features of two different, earlier methods making use of “linear comparison composites”, the properties of which are chosen optimally from suitably designed variational principles. The first method (Ponte Castaneda, J. Mech. Phys. Solids 39 (1991) 45) makes use of the “secant” moduli of the phases, evaluated at the second moments of the strain field over the phases, and delivers bounds, but these bounds are only exact to first-order in the heterogeneity contrast. The second method (Ponte Castaneda, J. Mech. Phys. Solids 44 (1996) 827) makes use of the “tangent” moduli, evaluated at the phase averages (or first moments) of the strain field, and yields estimates that are exact to second-order in the contrast, but that can violate the bounds in some special cases. These special cases turn out to correspond to situations, such as percolation phenomena, where field fluctuations, which are captured less accurately by the second-order method than by the bounds, become important. The new method delivers estimates that are exact to second-order in the contrast, making use of generalized secant moduli incorporating both first- and second-moment information, in such a way that the bounds are never violated. Some simple applications of the new theory are given in Part II of this work.
Exponential suppression of string interactions on orbifolds

Abstract Nonperturbative world-sheet instanton effects can be seen in the classical bosonic contribution to scattering amplitudes on orbifolds. These instanton contributions have the form exp(−cR2/α′) and are exponentially suppressed when the orbifold radius is large. Amplitudes whose leading contribution comes from instantons are identified with processes in which the corresponding string states are pinned to the orbifold fixed points, and unpinned amplitudes are shown to lack this suppression at large radius. Blowing up the fixed points of an orbifold eliminates any pinning and with it the corresponding exponential suppression.
Fixed scalar greybody factors in five and four dimensions

We perform the classical gravity calculations of the fixed scalar absorption cross sections by D=5 black holes with three charges and by D=4 black holes with four charges. We obtain analytic results for the cases where the energy and the left- and right-moving temperatures are sufficiently low but have arbitrary ratios. In D=5 the greybody factor is in perfect agreement with the recent calculation performed in the context of the effective string model for black holes. In D=4 the formula for the greybody factor in terms of the energy and the temperatures differs from that in D=5 only by the overall normalization. This suggests that the fixed scalar coupling to the effective string in D=4 is identical to that in D=5. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Dangerousness and mental illness. Some observations on the decision to release persons acquitted by reason of insanity.

ON July 10, 1958, following the trial of Edith L. Hough for murder in the District of Columbia she was found not guilty by reason of insanity.' Consequently she was committed to Saint Elizabeth's Hospital for treatment and custody. On October 20, 1958, approximately three months later, Dr. Winfred Overholser, the hospital's superintendent, notified the trial court that "Miss Hough has now recovered sufficiently to be granted her conditional release ....".2 In response to an objection by the United States Attorney, a hearing was held before a trial judge who, after listening to the testimony of several psychiatrists, denied the release and directed the superintendent to discontinue his practice of allowing Miss Hough to leave the hospital for short periods during the day, except when in the custody of a hospital attendant. The judge found that she had not "recovered her sanity" and that it had not been established that she "will not in the reasonable future be dangerous to herself or others."3 In reaching his decision, he found that the psychiatric testimony demonstrated that Miss Hough was still suffering from a schizophrenic reaction of the paranoid type and that she lacked any insight concerning the seriousness of the killing. He also took into account the shortness of the lapse of time since trial because he felt early release would be in conflict with the function of detention as a means of imposing punishment.4 These proceedings, which followed the verdict of acquittal by reason of insanity, were held pursuant to the District of Columbia statute which provides:
Interconnect wire length estimation for stochastic wiring distributions

This paper presents an improved stochastic wiring distribution model. The model is an improvement and modification of the models presented in some prior works available in literature. The proposed model shows 28% - 50% reduction in error when estimating the average interconnect wire length compared to existing models. This paper also investigates the effect of Rent's exponent on the average wire length estimation. This investigation leads to the identification of some limitations of the approximations found in recent models.
Kinesthetic control of a multijoint movement sequence

1. The individual joint rotations of a movement sequence might be controlled either by a central motor plan or by motion-dependent (i.e., kinesthetic) sensory input. Most previous research has focused on how the nervous system uses central motor plans to control movement sequences. This study examined how the nervous system uses kinesthetic input to control a multijoint movement sequence. 2. Human subjects were trained to extend the elbow horizontally at 22 degrees/s and to open the hand as the elbow passed through a 2 degrees-wide target zone. Different distances to the target zone were used to examine a wide range of movement times of the elbow to target zone (i.e., 150-1,500 ms). 3. A hydraulic apparatus simulated a spring resistance to the elbow extension. In some trials, the spring constant was unexpectedly increased or decreased just before the subject initiated the elbow extension, causing the elbow to slow down or speed up. Because these changes in spring constant were randomly imposed and because no visual feedback was available, subjects had to use kinesthetic input to control this motor task. 4. The experimental subjects employed two different strategies for the use of kinesthetic input to control this motor task. In the first strategy, the subjects used kinesthetic input related to the elbow rotation to detect and correct velocity errors caused by the changes in spring constant. The onset of error correction varied between 92 and 196 ms after the appearance of velocity errors. The proportion of the error corrected by the time the elbow reached the target zone varied between 31 and 78%, depending on the movement time to the target zone. However, because this correction for velocity errors was neither instantaneous nor complete, the changes in spring constant caused leads and lags in the time that the elbow reached the target zone. 5. In the second strategy, subjects used kinesthetic input related to the elbow rotation to advance or delay the onset of the hand movement, thereby compensating for leads and lags in the arrival of the elbow at the target zone. These adjustments in the triggering time of the hand movement allowed subjects to open the hand while the elbow was in the target zone. This kinesthetic triggering mechanism was effective for elbow rotations reaching the target zone within 150-1,500 ms. 6. These results suggest that, to fully understand how multijoint movement sequences are controlled by the nervous system, sensory mechanisms must be considered in addition to central mechanisms.
GMCheck: Bayesian error checking for pedigreegenotypes and phenotypes

Summary: GMCheck uses graphical modeling to find the posterior probabilities of data errors given genotypes or phenotypes in a specified pedigree structure. Availability: The Java classes and Javadocs pages for GMCheck can be obtained from bioinformatics.med.utah.edu/~alun, which also has information on use, parameter settings and file formats. Contact: alun@genepi.med.utah.edu
Performance Through Consistency: MS-TDNN's for Large Vocabulary Continuous Speech Recognition

Connectionist speech recognition systems are often handicapped by an inconsistency between training and testing criteria. This problem is addressed by the Multi-State Time Delay Neural Network (MS-TDNN), a hierarchical phoneme and word classifier which uses DTW to modulate its connectivity pattern, and which is directly trained on word-level targets. The consistent use of word accuracy as a criterion during both training and testing leads to very high system performance, even with limited training data. Until now, the MS-TDNN has been applied primarily to small vocabulary recognition and word spotting tasks. In this paper we apply the architecture to large vocabulary continuous speech recognition, and demonstrate that our MS-TDNN outperforms all other systems that have been tested on the CMU Conference Registration database.