cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On equivalence of conditions for a quadrilateral to be cyclic

In the paper we will prove a theorem that puts together three conditions -- Ptolemy, Cubic and Quartic -- for a convex quadrilateral to be cyclic. Further Ptolemy inequality is proved. Some related formulas from geometry of polygons are derived as well. These computations were done by the theory of automated geometry theorem proving using Grobner bases approach. Dynamic geometry system GeoGebra was applied to verify Ptolemy conditions. These conditions were subsequently proved by Wu-Ritt method using characteristic sets. The novelty of the paper is the method of proving geometric inequalities. Also some relations among Ptolemy, Cubic and Quartic conditions seem to be new.
Fears, Uncertainties, and Hopes: Patient-Initiated Actions and Doctors’ Responses During Oncology Interviews

New cancer patients frequently raise concerns about fears, uncertainties, and hopes during oncology interviews. This study sought to understand when and how patients raise their concerns, how doctors responded to these patient-initiated actions, and implications for communication satisfaction. A subsampling of video recorded and transcribed encounters was investigated involving 44 new patients and 14 oncologists. Patients completed pre/post self-report measures about fears, uncertainties, and hopes as well as postevaluations of interview satisfaction. Conversation analysis was used to initially identify pairs of patient-initiated and doctor-responsive actions. A coding scheme was subsequently developed, and two independent coding teams, comprised of two coders each, reliably identified patient-initiated and doctor-responsive social actions. Interactional findings reveal that new cancer patients initiate actions much more frequently than previous research had identified, concerns are usually raised indirectly, and with minimal emotion. Doctors tend to respond to these concerns immediately, but with even less affect, and rarely partner with patients. From pre/post results, it was determined that the higher patients' reported fears, the higher their postvisit fears and lower their satisfaction. Patients with high uncertainty were highly proactive (e.g., asked more questions), yet reported even greater uncertainties after encounters. Hopeful patients also exited interviews with high hopes. Overall, new patients were very satisfied: oncology interviews significantly decreased patients' fears and uncertainties, while increasing hopes. Discussion raises key issues for improving communication and managing quality cancer care.
Inheritance and rules in object-oriented semantic web languages

Rule-based and object-oriented techniques are rapidly making their way into the infrastructure for representing and reasoning about semantic information on the Web. Combining these two paradigms has been an important objective and F-logic is a widely adopted formalism that achieves this goal. However, the original F-logic was lacking the notion of instance methods - one of the most common object-oriented modeling tools. Extending F-logic with instance methods poses new, nontrivial problems. It requires a different kind of nonmonotonic inheritance and impacts much of the semantics of the logic. In this paper we incorporate instance methods into F-logic and develop a complete model theory as well as a computation framework for the extended language.
Understanding adsorption hysteresis in porous glasses and other mesoporous materials

The origin of adsorption hysteresis in porous glasses is investigated using a mean field theory and Monte Carlo simulations, utilizing a coarse-grained lattice model. Results in the hysteresis region closely agree with the behavior seen in the experiments of xenon adsorption in porous glass by Everett and co-workers ( Everett, 1982 ). Hysteresis and scanning behavior occurs due to the presence of a very large number of metastable states. Adsorption hysteresis is dynamic in origin, but the long time dynamics is so slow that on accessible time scales, the system appears equilibrated.
Modularity of RiPP Enzymes Enables Designed Synthesis of Decorated Peptides

Macrocyclases and other posttranslational enzymes afford derived peptides with improved properties for pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications. Here, we asked whether multiple posttranslational modifications could be simultaneously controlled and matched to rationally generate new peptide derivatives. We reconstituted the cyanobactin peptide natural products in vitro with up to five different posttranslational enzymes in a single tube. By manipulating the order of addition and identity of enzymes and exploiting their broad-substrate tolerance, we engineered the production of highly unnatural derivatives, including an N-C peptide macrocycle of 22 amino acids in length. In addition to engineering, this work better defines the macrocyclization mechanism, provides the first biochemical demonstration of Ser/Thr posttranslational prenylation, and is the first example of reconstitution of a native, multistep RiPP pathway with multiple enzymes in one pot. Overall, this work demonstrates how the modularity of posttranslational modification enzymes can be used to design and synthesize desirable peptide motifs.
The role of a children's mathematical thinking experience in the preparation of prospective elementary school teachers

Abstract Historically, content preparation and pedagogical preparation of teachers in California have been separated. Recently, in integrating these areas, many mathematics methodology instructors have incorporated children's thinking into their courses, which are generally offered late in students’ undergraduate studies. We have implemented and studied a model for integrating mathematical content and children's mathematical thinking earlier, so that prospective elementary school teachers (PSTs) engage with children's mathematical thinking while enrolled in their first mathematics course. PSTs’ work with children in the Children's Mathematical Thinking Experience (CMTE) may enhance their mathematical learning. Preliminary study results indicate that the sophistication of CMTE students’ beliefs about mathematics, teaching, and learning increased more than the sophistication of beliefs held by students enrolled in a reform-oriented early field experience and that experiences considering children's mathematical thinking provided PSTs with increased motivation for learning mathematics.
Impact of Erbium-Doped Silicon Nanocrystals on the Properties of Polyphenylene Vinylene Films

This report describes the fabrication and properties of composite films composed of poly(phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and Er-doped Si nanocrystals. For these hybrid nanocrystal/polymer materials, preliminary results have focused on their characterization via atomic force microscopy (AFM), profilometry, absorption/fluorescence spectroscopy, and current−voltage measurements. In general, it is found that the presence of Er-doped Si nanoparticles in the film strongly impacts the steady-state photoluminescence of the PPV, whereas the presence or absence of solvent chosen for the nanocrystals influences the carrier transport and resultant visible electroluminescence of light-emitting diodes fabricated from these materials.
Improving Seafood Safety Management after an Oil Spill

ABSTRACT Recent experience indicates that promptly providing state and local seafood safety managers with key information and assistance during an oil spill response can help prevent unnecessary restrictions on seafood harvest. Efforts by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Response and Restoration (ORR) to help facilitate and expedite the decision-making process of seafood safety managers after an oil spill include two recently published guidebooks on seafood testing and risk assessment. Of particular interest is a comparison of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) criteria established for seafood at past United States oil spills. Depending on assumptions made in the health risk calculations, criteria for shellfish ranged from 5 to 120 parts per billion (ppb) benzo[a]pyrene equivalents. Nearly all seafood samples analyzed at these spills passed established criteria, indicating oil spills in the United States have not posed significant risk to human health through consu...
Hitting Ras where it counts : Ras antagonism in the basolateral amygdala inhibits long-term fear memory

Several studies have implicated the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in Pavlovian fear conditioning. RasGRF1 knockout mice show significant deficits in acquisition of long-term fear memories and long-term potentaition (LTP) in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). MAPK kinase inhibition also impairs fear conditioning and amygdaloid LTP. However, there is no direct evidence to date for the involvement of Ras itself in fear conditioning. To address this issue, we examined the effects of intra-amygdala infusions of the selective Ras antagonist farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS) on the acquisition and expression of conditional freezing in rats. Micro-infusions of FTS into the BLA prior to contextual fear conditioning significantly impaired acquisition of long-term contextual fear memory in a dose-dependent manner. Post-training FTS infusions had no effect on acquisition of long-term fear memory. The effects of FTS on fear conditioning were specific for the BLA. Finally, intra-amygdala infusions of FTS inhibited MAPK activation in BLA. Collectively, these results provide further evidence for the involvement of amygdaloid Ras in the acquisition of long-term conditional fear memory.
Précis of What Am I

What Am I? is so-called because of its focus (i) on Descartes' primal question in the mind-body realm and (ii) his primal answer, viz. "a man". The question and answer are primal in both senses of the adjective: they come first, early in meditation II, when the topic is broached for the first time; and, in my view of Descartes, they are also the most fundamental question and answer. There are other questions many many other questions Descartes raises about the mind-body problem. Some came to substitute for the primal question, e.g., What is Mind? What is Body? How are (a, this) mind and body connected? What is the union of mind and body like ("not like a pilot and a ship"; "more like an arm and the body"; etc.)? I have elected the primal question and answer partly because I understand them better and partly because I see this as Descartes' ur-concern. Ultimately, he was after an account of what each of us is.
Gonadotropins moderate rejection of trophic-specific congenic testes grafts

Factors that favor graft survival of fetal and neonatal testis relative to adult testis were explored by studying the effects of rapid growth on immunogenicity. Tissue-specific growth was initiated by elevated gonadotropins created by oophorectomy and allografted target testes were examined. Three-day postnatal testes were implanted under the subrenal capsule of oophorectomized (as confirmed by elevated gonadotropins) and nonoophorectomized females. Immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporine A was administered to selected animals of both groups. Preliminary studies in outbred rats and more extensive studies in allogenic/congenic mice (C57BL/6J to B10.A) showed that testicular allografts exposed to the elevated gonadotropins caused by previous host oophorectomy grow larger, have less lymphocytic infiltrate, and show better preservation of architecture than do allografts in nonoophorectomized female recipients. The graft survival resulting in vivo from elevated gonadotropins approximated that permitted by either maximal immunosuppression or syngeneic transplantation.
High school study habits and early college achievement

The influence of high school study habits on achievement in high school and during the first semester of college was examined, using data from 159 female and 93 male freshmen. The same study habits that contributed to success in high school are unrelated to academic achievement during the first semester in college. The findings suggest that college freshmen need to acquire new study habits to be academically successful
Optical reflection filters based on intracavity quantum well polarisation convertors

The design and analysis of a guided-wave optical reflection filter, based on the use of a multiple quantum well polarisation convertor in an intracavity geometry, are reported. It is shown that quantum well dispersion and excitonic absorption in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well structures can be used to produce filter linewidths and peak reflectances of <1 nm and approximately 95%, respectively, in the centre wavelength band of 865-885 nm. The use of dispersion engineering to tailor the filter response, via the quantum well parameters, is also described. Such optical filters should find widespread application as wavelength-selective components in fibreoptic network and communication systems.
Mating behavior induces selective expression of Fos protein within the chemosensory pathways of the male Syrian hamster brain

The effect of mating behavior on the expression of Fos protein was analyzed within the chemosensory pathways of the male Syrian hamster brain. Following a single mating test, the number of Fos-immunoreactive (Fos-ir) neurons increased within the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial preoptic area. The mating-induced pattern of Fos expression within these brain regions shows a strong correlation with the sites of lesions that eliminate or alter mating behavior. In addition, Fos expression was increased within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. These results provide the first demonstration of a dynamic and selective pattern of neuronal activity within specific nuclei known to be essential for mating behavior in the male Syrian hamster.
Full Theoretical Analysis of Pulsed SOI Raman Amplifiers

The first full theoretical study of pulsed stimulated Raman scattering in ultrasmall silicon waveguides is presented. The effect of free carrier and two-photon absorption effects on Raman amplification and pulse interaction are discussed.
Shape and Volume Changes During "Isovolumetric Relaxation" in Normal and Asynergic Ventricles

Clinically suspected coronary artery disease was assessed in 52 patients by 16-mm biplane left ventriculography. Outward movement of the left ventricular wall was observed prior to mitral valve opening in normal patients and those with coronary artery disease. In the normal ventriculogram, outward movement was usually visible in the anterior wall and the apex. In the asynergic ventricle, the outward movement almost invariably occurred at the region of optimal contraction. Outward movement of the ventricular wall during protodiastole and isovolumetric relaxation was accompanied by a significant volume increase over the end-systolic volume. The volume increase was greater in the abnormal than in the normally contracting ventricle. The altered ventricular volume was probably associated with the return to the ventricle of blood contained between the patent aortic leaflets at the end of ventricular ejection. This event occurs during aortic valve closure when ventricular pressure is falling more rapidly than ao...
Optimality of Least Squares in Linear Models with Unknown Error Covariance Matrix

Abstract Optimal properties of the least-squares coefficient estimator in the linear model with scalar error covariance matrix are shown to carry over to the case where the error covariance matrix has a distribution in a class which includes distributions proposed as representing vague prior information.
Sulfide in surface waters of the western Atlantic Ocean

Using newly developed techniques, some preliminary data on hydrogen sulfide in surface waters of the western Atlantic have been obtained. Concentrations of total sulfide range from <0.1 to 1.1 nmol/L, and vary on a diel basis. At these concentrations, sulfide may affect the cycling of several trace metals via the formation of stable complexes. Production of sulfide in oxygenated seawater may occur through the hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide or by sulfate reduction within macroscopic particles in the water column. Removal mechanisms can include oxidation, complexation with particulate trace metals, and metal sulfide precipitation. However, the temporal and spatial distributions suggest a complex set of processes governing the behavior of sulfide in the surface ocean.
Spherical Tanks for Use in Thermal Energy Storage Systems

Thermal energy storage (TES) is a vital component of concentrated solar power (CSP). TES makes up for intermittent solar radiation, bad weather, and peak power demand. Currently, a sensible heat storage system using two tanks containing molten salt is considered the most practical and economical TES. Yet further system development is needed in order to improve its performance and economics.In this study of molten salt storage tanks, spherical tanks were investigated as an alternative to cylindrical tanks. Structural and thermal aspects of cylindrical tanks with varying H/D ratios (0.25–5) and spherical tanks of the same volume were compared.Comparison showed that utilization of spherical instead of cylindrical tanks resulted in significant savings in shell building material (28–47%). Heat transfer from the spherical tank’s shell is at least 35% less than cylindrical tanks. Reduction in building material, foundation, and insulation cost can lead to significant cost savings.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Embryology of Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from germ band formation to hatching.

A series of embryonic stages for the post-germ band development of Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber are described. The post-germ band embryonic development of D. u. howardi is, in general, similar to that of another chrysomelids. Comparisons are drawn between galerucine species that diapause as eggs and those that do not.
Lateral contacts and interactions of horizontal cell dendrites in the retina of the larval tiger salamander.

1. The contacts of horizontal cell dendrites with processes of other second order neurones were studied at the level of the electron microscope in serial sections of the salamander retina. Intracellular recordings of the responses to light of horizontal and bipolar cells were used to investigate the possible significance of some of the morphological findings. 2. Horizontal cell dendrites make close membrane appositions (gap junctions) with one another and are post-synaptic to bipolar cell dendrites at presumed chemical synapses. On the other hand, there is no clear evidence that horizontal cell dendrites are presynaptic to any other neuronal processes at the outer plexiform layer, so that the output connexions of horizontal cell bodies remain a matter of speculation. 3. It is suggested that the bipolar cell input and the gap junctions between dendrites contribute, respectively, depolarizing and hyperpolarizing components to the responses of horizontal cell bodies to surround illumination. In addition, the facilitatory effect of central illumination on the surround response of horizontal cell bodies may result, although perhaps only partly, from observed properties of the surround response of bipolar cells. 4. In the course of these observations, bipolar cells were found to be presynaptic at the outer plexiform layer not only to horizontal cell dendrites, but also to other bipolar cells, horizontal cell axon terminals and certain processes belonging to an as yet unidentified neurone.
Stickstoffmonoxid: ein einzigartiges endogenes Signalmolekül in der Gefäßbiologie (Nobel‐Vortrag)

„Der relaxierende Faktor aus Endothelzellen (EDRF) mus Stickstoffmonoxid sein.” Das offentliche Verfechten dieser Hypothese war ein gewagter Schritt, obwohl es schon viele experimentelle Hinweise darauf gab, das die chemischen Eigenschaften und physiologischen Wirkungen von EDRF und Stickstoffmonoxid identisch waren. Aber nachdem diese Hypothese erst einmal aufgestellt war, folgte eine rege Forschungstatigkeit, die die physiologische Bedeutung von Stickstoffmonoxid fur die Gefasbiologie bestatigte.
Symbols in Conflict: Taiwan (Taiwan) and Zhongguo (China) in Taiwan’s Identity Politics

This study analyzes how symbols taiwan (Taiwan) and zhongguo (China) have helped construct changing Taiwanese identity since the Nationalists assumed control of Taiwan in 1949. While in the past zhongguo subsumed taiwan, rising Taiwanese consciousness has compelled a reversal of their center–border positioning. Taiwan has moved from being a taboo term to cause for celebration, whereas the once dominant zhongguo has been rendered less visible through acts of de-Sinicization. The ROC government has also adopted creative rhetoric to reinvent the One China Policy implied by its Constitution. Taiwanese national identities are thus reconstituted in the ongoing negotiation of boundaries between Taiwanese-ness and Chinese-ness.
Force-free coil principles applied to high-temperature superconducting materials

A brief outline is given of force-free magnetic-field configurations, in which the current flows parallel to the magnetic field vector, that have the potential to raise the critical magnetic field and current-density limits. The advantages of force-free cables and coils are enumerated. The resulting improved levels of critical current density are noted. The authors describe the parameters governing cable and coil designs giving large values of central magnetic-field strengths, relative to a supporting coil, to produce maximum magnetic-field strengths in small experimental volumes. >
The Search for a Critical Concentration Revisited

This paper examines the issue of whether there is a four-firm critical concentration ratio above which industries earn supranormal profits. A statistical test is employed to investigate the functional stability of the estimated relationship. Although the initial results indicate a range in the concentration ratio of between 0.48 and 0.55 over which the functional relationship destabilizes, additional analysis fails to identify a clear break in the concentration-profitability relationship. It can only be concluded that a critical concentration does not appear to exist.
Optimal control approach to suppression of radiationless transitions.

We propose a general approach for eliminating radiationless transitions in polyatomic molecules and illustrate it through the example of the ${S}_{2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{S}_{1}$ internal conversion of pyrazine. Essential to our approach is the phenomenon of electronically localized eigenstates of strongly vibronically coupled Hamiltonians. The occurrence of such states, observed here for the first time, and its generality are traced to the origin of scars of periodic orbits.
Constrained Tryptophan Has A Monoexponential Decay

The fluorescence decay of tryptophan is complex. Various models have been proposed to account for the multiexponential decay, including ground-state rotamers, excited-state proton transfer, and lifetime distributions. 1-4 In order to test the rotamer model, we are studying a series of tryptophan derivatives in which rotation about the Ca-CB and CB-Cy, bonds is constrained. The ground-state conformations are determined by X-ray diffraction, molecular and 1H NMR. Or preliminary results for a tryptophan derivative with the a-amino group incorporated in a six-member ring are described below.
Evaluation of the reliability and accuracy of using cone-beam computed tomography for diagnosing periapical cysts from granulomas.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) imaging against the histopathologic diagnosis for the differential diagnosis of periapical cysts (cavitated lesions) from (solid) granulomas. Methods Thirty-six periapical lesions were imaged using CBCT scans. Apicoectomy surgeries were conducted for histopathological examination. Evaluator 1 examined each CBCT scan for the presence of 6 radiologic characteristics of a cyst (ie, location, periphery, shape, internal structure, effects on surrounding structure, and perforation of the cortical plate). Not every cyst showed all radiologic features (eg, not all cysts perforate the cortical plate). For the purpose of finding the minimum number of diagnostic criteria present in a scan to diagnose a lesion as a cyst, we conducted 6 receiver operating characteristic curve analyses comparing CBCT diagnoses with the histopathologic diagnosis. Two other independent evaluators examined the CBCT lesions. Statistical tests were conducted to examine the accuracy, inter-rater reliability, and intrarater reliability of CBCT images. Results Findings showed that a score of ≥4 positive findings was the optimal scoring system. The accuracies of differential diagnoses of 3 evaluators were moderate (area under the curve = 0.76, 0.70, and 0.69 for evaluators 1, 2, and 3, respectively). The inter-rater agreement of the 3 evaluators was excellent (α = 0.87). The intrarater agreement was good to excellent (κ = 0.71, 0.76, and 0.77). Conclusions CBCT images can provide a moderately accurate diagnosis between cysts and granulomas.
Histopathology of cryo-injury in rabbit testis

Abstract The histopathologic features of the cryolesion in the rabbit testis have been studied in a group of 15 adult animals, killed 1.2, and 4 weeks after focal freezing on their right testis had been performed. The freezing injury produces a coagulation necrosis in the target parenchyma, and transitory histopathologic inflammatory and degenerative changes of variable intensity in the rest of the gland. A subsequent fibrotic replacement of the necrosed structures occurs, which is achieved about 1 month after the lesion was inflicted. In addition to these microscopic features, which correspond to a general inflammatory and fibrotic process, panarteritis of small-sized vessels and infiltrates of lymphocytes and of eosinophil polynuclear cells were noticed in the nonfrozen testis parenchyma, in the earlier stages of the lesion. The presence of these elements would suggest the existence of an autoantigenic component in the phenomenon triggered by the cryo-injury in the frozen testis of the rabbit. Nevertheless, the high incidence of parasitosis in the rabbits should also be kept in mind as a factor eventually responsible for some of the histologic changes observed around the cryolesion.
Postgastrular zen expression is required to develop distinct amniotic and serosal epithelia in the scuttle fly Megaselia

The amnioserosa is an extraembryonic epithelium that evolved in higher cyclorrhaphan flies from distinct serosal and amniotic epithelia. The underlying genetic mechanism of this evolutionary transition is unknown. Amnioserosa development of Drosophila correlates with novel expression characteristics of the homeobox gene zerknullt (zen), including a broad zen expression domain in the syncytial blastoderm and the complete absence of postgastrular zen expression. Here we examine the functional significance of these features by altering the activity profile of zen in Megaselia (a lower cyclorrhaphan fly with distinct serosal and amniotic epithelia) and Drosophila, and by examining in Megaselia the function of u-shaped group (ush-group) genes, which in Drosophila maintain the amnioserosa after gastrulation when zen is no longer expressed. In Megaselia, loss of postgastrular zen expression abrogates serosa development but allows amnion development. Ectopic expression of zen in early Megaselia embryos allows serosa formation but perturbs amnion development. Megaselia homologues of u-shaped group genes are not essential for serosa formation but mediate germband retraction and dorsal closure. Finally, ectopic postgastrular zen expression in Drosophila causes an enlargement of amnioserosa cells and interferes with the morphogenetic functions of the amnioserosa. Our results suggest that the origin of the amnioserosa involved the loss of postgastrular zen expression from extraembryonic tissue, that the early broad expression domain of Drosophila zen evolved afterwards, and that the ush-group genes ancestrally played a role in morphogenetic functions of the amnion.
Protein kinase C as a signal for exocytosis.

We have studied signaling mechanisms that stimulate exocytosis and luteinizing hormone secretion in isolated male rat pituitary gonadotropes. As judged by reverse hemolytic plaque assays, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) stimulates as many gonadotropes to secrete as does gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). However, PMA and GnRH use different signaling pathways. The secretagogue action of GnRH is not very sensitive to bisindolylmaleimide I, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, but is blocked by loading cells with a calcium chelator, 1,2-bis-(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid. The secretagogue action of PMA is blocked by bisindolylmaleimide I and is not very sensitive to the intracellular calcium chelator. GnRH induces intracellular calcium elevations, whereas PMA does not. As judged by amperometric measurements of quantal catecholamine secretion from dopamine- or serotonin-loaded gonadotropes, the secretagogue action of PMA develops more slowly (in several minutes) than that of GnRH. We conclude that exocytosis of secretory vesicles can be stimulated independently either by calcium elevations or by activation of protein kinase C.
Costing Medical Care: Using Medicare Administrative Data

This paper describes how the PORTS are using data from the Medicare administrative records systems to study the medical care costs of specific conditions. The general strengths and weaknesses of the Medicare databases for studying cost related issues are discussed, and the relevant data elements are examined in detail. Changes in the nature of the data collected over time are noted. Information is provided on how the PORTS are using these data to estimate the cost to Medicare of treating Medicare beneficiaries with specific conditions and the social (opportunity) cost of treating these patients. Furthermore, information is provided on how data from the Medicare administrative records system can be used to determine the cost of services for patients who have been identified through other large databases (i.e., state hospital discharge tapes) or who have been enrolled in prospective cohort studies.
Modelocking and Synchronization of Chip-Based Frequency Combs

We describe our recent work on microresonator-based frequency combs and show that mode locking of such combs is analogous synchronization phenomena associated with Kuramoto-based systems.
Improving Treatment Outcome in Pregnant, Methadone-Maintained Women: Results From a Randomized Clinical Trial

The authors used a randomized clinical trial to compare enhanced vs. standard methadone maintenance for pregnant opiate-addicted women. Although there were no differences by treatment group in maternal drug use, women in the enhanced program had three times as many prenatal care visits, had longer gestations, and had infants of higher birth weight.
Human male mating strategies: II. Moral codes of “quality” and “quantity” strategists

Abstract Men following quality and quantity strategies (pair bond with paternal investment/short-term sexual bonds) should have different, self-serving moral codes. If so, the different strategists should rate dating behaviors differently on ethical (honest and exploitative) and usage (by quality and quantity courters) scales. Quality strategists, who use honest advertisement, should promote their honest behavior by sharp distinctions between what is honest and exploitative and between what men like themselves and others (quantity strategists) do. Quantity strategists, who may exploit (e.g., verbal or physical coercion), should blur these distinctions. Their interests are served by the belief that all men are alike and not morally distinguishable. The companion study obtained men's ratings of quality-strategy behaviors (honest) and quantity-strategy behaviors (exploitative) on ethical and usage scales. Correlations were obtained between those ratings and the same men's scores on bipolar dimensions distinguishing quality from quantity strategists: sexual history, adult characteristics associated with female mate preference, and certain childhood experiences. The correlations supported the hypotheses with two exceptions. First, socioeconomic status and endorsement of a foraging tactic (leave if sexual relations do not start quickly) predicted ratings for quality-strategy behaviors, but did not predict ratings for quantity-strategy behaviors. Sexual history items and childhood experiences related to perceptions of relationships predicted only the ratings for quantity-strategy behaviors. Second, ratings of the lack of honesty in exploitative behavior and its lack of usage by quality courters did not distinguish the strategists. Three conclusions followed. One, there are two kinds of quantity strategists: commodifiers who trade resources for sex and predators who exploit. Two, quantity strategists are mixed strategists while some men follow only a quality strategy. Three, quantity strategists deceive themselves about the exploitative character of their behavior. The data fit evolutionary analyses of human morality and, with a few exceptions, current views of contextual factors governing adoption of different reproductive strategies.
Shaving and hair growth.

The effect of repeated shaving on human hair growth was studied. Five healthy young white men each shaved one leg weekly for several months and left the other leg as a control. No significant differences in total weight of hair produced in a measured area, or in width or rate of growth of individual hairs, could be ascribed to shaving.
Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α (HIF-1α) and Some HIF-1 Target Genes are Elevated in Experimental Glaucoma

Low levels of hypoxia have been suggested to be a mechanism of retinal damage in glaucoma. To test the hypothesis that the activation of the hypoxia-responsive transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is involved in the pathophysiology of glaucoma, we used a rat model of glaucoma to study (1) HIF-1α retinal protein levels by immunoblot analysis, (2) cellular localization of HIF-1α in the retina by immunohistochemistry, and (3) expression of retinal HIF-1 gene targets by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Glaucoma was unilaterally induced in rats by injecting hypertonic saline in episcleral veins. We find that HIF-1α protein was increased in the retina following elevation of intraocular pressure, specifically in Muller glia and astrocytes but not in activated microglia. Eight established HIF-1 target genes were measured in experimental glaucoma. Retinal Epo, Flt-1, Hsp-27, Pai-1, and Vegfa mRNA levels were increased and Et-1, Igf2, and Tgfβ3 levels were decreased in the glaucomatous retinas. Thus, the increase in HIF-1α levels in Muller glia and astrocytes is accompanied by a marked up regulation of some, but not all, HIF-1 transcriptional targets. These data support the hypothesis that HIF-1α becomes transcriptionally active in astrocytes and Muller cells but not microglia or neurons in glaucoma, arguing against a global hypoxia stimulus to the retina.
Abnormal Movement And The Trend Of Flagellar Force Production During Regeneration In Chlamydomonas Reinhardtti

Several respiratory, digestive, and reproductive disorders result from dysfunctional cilia and flagella. Because the form, strength or frequency of flagella motion is abnormal in these disorders, biological functions performed by the cells utilizing flagella and cilia are debilitated. The causes of debilitation are not known as the internal mechanism for creating the flagella's breast stroke-like motion is still not fully understood. This study uses Chlamydomonas reinhardtii flagella as a model system and reports standardization of PSD calibration, laser trapping and cell movement recording methods. When motion in a laser trap is viewed as a trace, natural cell rotation while swimming (caused by flagellar dominance) results in a spirograph-like ‘donut’ shape. Circle fit analysis programs were written to measure trends in force generation during flagellar regeneration. The percentage of ‘donuts’ per flagella length increases linearly, similar to the increase in length over regeneration time. However the flagellar force trend shows a significant, unexpected dip during flagella lengthening. Neither the flagella infrastructure necessary to establish dominance nor the causes of the decrease in force are known, thus these data open many new research directions.
Overmoded traveling wave tubes for MM and THz applications

High power sources of coherent radiation, producing Watts to tens of Watts of average power, are needed for applications in the millimeter wave and THz regimes. Overmoded traveling wave tubes offer the possibility of meeting these requirements in rugged and simple to fabricate devices. Results on a 94 GHz overmoded TWT confirm the viability of this approach. Designs for a PBG amplifier operating at 250 GHz, based on the successful 94 GHz TWT, are described.
The organizational shaping of collective identity: The case of lesbian and gay film festivals in New York

Using information gathered during fieldwork on New York lesbian and gay film festival organizations, this paper argues that scholarship on identity has not paid sufficient attention to the organizational mediation of collective identity. The shape of collective identity—how internal instabilities and diversities are accommodated, in this case—depends not only on the emergent characteristics of the “collective,” but also on the resolution of challenges particular to organizational fields. Two very differently conceived lesbian and gay festival organizations, sites at which decision making about collective identity is ongoing and self-conscious, are examined. The analysis traces how each responds to two related tasks: maintaining community legitimacy, which requires racial diversification, and surviving within an altered institutional environment. Rather than imposition from “above” or construction from “below,” the adaptive responses by organizations (to changes in both community expectations and the resource environment) transform the collective identity formulations reaching public visibility.
Quantitative Ultrasonic Tissue Characterization of Myocardium in Cyanotic Adults with an Unrepaired Congenital Heart Defect

Abstract Adults with nonrestrictive ventricular septal defects have chronic hypoxemia that may lead to alterations in myocardial structure and function. Ultrasonic integrated backscatter provides quantitative assessment of myocardial acoustic properties that are altered by myocardial ischemia, fibrosis, and edema. Sixteen patients (age 31 ± 10 years) with a nonrestrictive ventricular septal defect were studied using 2-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography with integrated backscatter imaging to determine the cyclic variation of integrated backscatter in the right ventricular free wall, ventricular septum, and left ventricular posterior wall. Cyclic variation of integrated backscatter in the right ventricular free wall and interventricular septum in patients was significantly less than that in control subjects (4.1 ± 0.8 vs 4.9 ± 1.0 decibels [dB], p = 0.02, and 3.8 ± 1.2 vs 4.8 ± 1.1 dB, p = 0.004, respectively). There was no difference between mean cyclic variation of integrated backscatter in the left ventricular posterior wall in patients and that in control subjects (4.7 ± 1.3 vs 4.8 ± 1.1 dB, p = NS, respectively). However, values
The Role of the Big Five Personality Dimensions in the Direction and Affective Consequences of Everyday Social Comparisons

The authors investigated the role of personality in everyday social comparisons. Participants were 133 students who completed the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised. For the following 2 weeks, they recorded their comparisons and positive and negative affect using the Rochester Social Comparison Record. Analysis using Hierarchical Linear Modeling showed that people high in Neuroticism reported a greater increase in positive affect after comparing downward than people low on the dimension. Furthermore, people high in Extraversion and low in Agreeableness compared downward more. People high in Openness compared upward more and reported less of a decrease in positive affect after making these comparisons. These findings are discussed in relation to downward comparison theory, the selective-priming model, and the attributes of the five personality dimensions.
Atmospheric correction of hyperspectral imagery by statistical spectral smoothing

We present a method for calculating the relative density of atmospheric gases at each spatial location of a hyperspectral image (HSI) based on a simple model of gas attenuation. These gas-density maps are used to search for gas plumes and to improve atmospheric correction of the HSI. Our premise is that the attenuation spectra of gases typically vary much more rapidly with color than the reflectance of surface materials. For a set of gas attenuation spectra, we seek the corresponding densities that provide the smoothest restored spectrum at each pixel. The attenuation spectra of common gasses can be estimated based on tabulated values for color-calibrated sensors. Our method infers the attenuation spectra of gases directly from the HSI, requiring minimal accuracy in color calibration. These inferred spectra can be compared to tabulated values to refine the color calibration of the sensor. We seek attenuation spectra that are consistent with physical models and improve the smoothness of the average spectrum. This method can also be used to search for novel gases to be recognized based on the inferred attenuation spectrum. Results are presented for AVIRIS and simulated HIRIS imagery. Removing this strongly nonlinear effect leads to significant improvements in subsequent processing.
Speech-based cursor control: a study of grid-based solutions

Speech recognition can be a powerful tool for use in human-computer interaction. Many researchers are investigating the use of speech recognition systems for dictation-based activities, resulting in dramatic improvements in recent years. However, this same experimentation has confirmed that recognition errors and the delays inherent with speech recognition result in unacceptably long task completion times and error rates for cursor control tasks. This study explores the potential of a speech-controlled grid-based cursor control mechanism. An experiment evaluated two alternative grid-based solutions, both using 3-3 grids. One provided a single cursor in the middle of the grid. The second allows users to select a target using any of nine cursors. The results confirm that the nine-cursor solution allowed users to select targets of varying size, distance and direction significantly faster than the one-cursor solution. Overall results are encouraging when compared to earlier evaluations of other speech-based cursor control solutions.
Respirator Use and Practices in Agricultural Crop Production Establishments

ABSTRACT The risk of developing respiratory diseases can be reduced by either wearing respiratory protection under the guidance of an effective respiratory protection program or using controls. In 2001, the Survey of Respirator Use and Practices gathered information on the types of respirators used, respirator use practices, and the respirator program characteristics from 40,002 randomly selected US establishments. This report presents findings of the Survey of Respirator Use and Practices for the Agricultural Production—Crops industry and compares them with National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommendations. Approximately one third of all Agricultural Production—Crops establishments required respirator use. Of the Agricultural Production—Crops establishments that required respirator use, (1) a written program to determine what type of respirator to use was not adopted by management in 73% of the establishments; (2) 21% did not know whether air sampling was conducted for substan...
Urology Resident Training With an Unexpected Patient Death Scenario: Experiential Learning With High Fidelity Simulation

Purpose: Communicating unexpected news of a patient death is rarely encountered in urology. We evaluated resident performance during an unexpected patient death scenario involving high fidelity simulation. We also studied simulation as a tool to teach and assess nontechnical skills in urology.Materials and Methods: An unexpected patient death scenario was developed at a simulation center using high fidelity mannequins, urology residents, critical care fellows, nurses, hospital chaplains and actors. Scenario objectives addressed Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies. The 19 urology residents in training years 2 to 6 participated in the scenario. Performance was evaluated using 5-point Likert scale questionnaires and checklists completed by residents, faculty and actors.Results: Overall resident performance was satisfactory in the simulation scenario. Verification of code status was identified as an area requiring improvement. Euphemisms for death were more commonly used in ...
Model for universal digital data format (UDDF) for medical applications

Department of Oral Surgery, Medicine, PathologyIndiana University School of DentistryIndianapolis, IN 462021. ABSTRACTMedicine employs a wide variety of digital data in various formats for clinical and research activities. Tomake medical data available for all users and equipment, it must be stored in a general format that isunderstandable by all end users. Also data must be structured so that it can be retrieved, manipulated, andstored efficiently. In this article, we propose a paradigm for representation of digital data such that it
Corrosion Pillowing Stresses in Fuselage Lap Joints

Finite element techniques were used to determine the effect that pillowing, caused by the presence of corrosion products, has on the stress in fuselage lap joints. The stress caused by the internal pressure and the riveting process were taken into account, and the fuselage curvature was ignored. The results show that the joint stress increases as the pillowing increases (i.e., material loss increases). It is shown that pillowing can significantly increase the stress in a lap joint for material loss below the detection limit of current nondestructive inspection techniques, thus increasing the risk of premature cracking.
Cationic Metallocene Polymerization Catalysts Based on Tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate and Its Derivatives. Probing the Limits of Anion “Noncoordination” via a Synthetic, Solution Dynamic, Structural, and Catalytic Olefin Polymerization Study

The synthesis and properties of two soluble, weakly coordinating derivatives of the tetrakis(perfluoroaryl)borate anion B(4-C6F4TBS)4- and B(4-C6F4TIPS)4- (TBS = tert-butyldimethylsilyl and TIPS = triisopropylsilyl) are reported. Reaction of the trityl salts of the above anions with a variety of zirconium and thorium L2MMe2 complexes in benzene or toluene affords the cationic ion-paired methyl complexes L2MMe+X- or the corresponding hydrido complexes L2MH+X- (L2 = bis(cyclopentadienyl)- or cyclopentadienylamido-type ligand) when the reaction is carried out under dihydrogen. The solid state structure of the complex (Me5Cp)2ThMe+B(C6F5)4- has been characterized by X-ray diffraction. The B(C6F5)4--based zirconocenium methyl complexes L2MMe+ are unstable at room temperature with respect to, among other factors, intramolecular C−H activation of the ligand framework. In general, the thermal stabilities of the B(C6F4TBS)4-- and B(C6F4TIPS)4--derived complexes are greater than those of the corresponding B(C6F5)4-...