cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Electoral Terrorist: Terror Groups and Democratic Participation

Why do some terrorist groups participate in the electoral process but not others? If elections provide some strategic or tactical benefit then we would expect other groups to emulate that strategy. However, we see variation in the adoption of an electoral strategy by terrorist groups. I argue that involvement in territorial disputes and group competition determine whether terrorist groups embrace an electoral strategy. Conflicts involving territorial disputes are more likely to see terrorist groups contest elections because electoral participation may aid in the creation of the independent or autonomous territory they desire. Increased group competition changes the number of actors, which impacts the level and distribution of resources (supporters, finance, and arms) involved in the conflict. When multiple terrorist groups compete, groups are motivated to participate in elections in response to new competitive pressures. This argument is tested using a large-n dataset of 89 terrorist groups in existence d...
Automatic 3D surface meshing to address today's industrial needs

Abstract An overall automatic surface meshing strategy is presented that details a combination of meshing technologies that together provide for meeting the demands placed on automatic, unstructured meshing in industrial settings. These demands include such issues as robustness, mesh quality, speed, and controllability. The scheme ties together several meshing technologies including advancing front tri meshing, background meshes, tri to quad conversion, constrained Laplacian smoothing, and topological and quality-based element improvement.
Tree squirrel habitat selection and predispersal seed predation in a declining subalpine conifer.

Differential responses by species to modern perturbations in forest ecosystems may have undesirable impacts on plant-animal interactions. If such disruptions cause declines in a plant species without corresponding declines in a primary seed predator, the effects on the plant could be exacerbated. We examined one such interaction between Pinus albicaulis (whitebark pine), a bird-dispersed, subalpine forest species experiencing severe population declines in the northern part of its range, and Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (red squirrel), an efficient conifer seed predator, at 20 sites in two distinct ecosystems. Hypotheses about squirrel habitat preferences were tested to determine how changes in forest conditions influence habitat use and subsequent levels of predispersal cone predation. We performed habitat selection modeling and variable ranking based on Akaike’s information criterion; compared the level and variance of habitat use between two forest types (P. albicaulis dominant and mixed conifer); and modeled the relationship between P. albicaulis relative abundance and predispersal cone predation. T. hudsonicus did not demonstrate strong habitat preference for P. albicaulis, and thus, declines in the pine were not met with proportional declines in squirrel habitat use. P. albicaulis habitat variables were the least important in squirrel habitat selection. Squirrel habitat use was lower and varied more in P. albicaulis-dominant forests, and predispersal cone predation decreased linearly with increasing P. albicaulis relative abundance. In Northern Rocky Mountain sites, where P. albicaulis mortality was higher and abundance lower, squirrel predation was greater than in Central Rocky Mountain sites. In ecosystems with reduced P. albicaulis abundance, altered interactions between the squirrel and pine may lead to a lower proportion of P. albicaulis contributing to population recruitment because of reduced seed availability. Reducing the abundance of competing conifers will create suboptimal squirrel habitat, thus lowering cone predation in P. albicaulis and ensuring more seeds are available for avian dispersal.
The stability of maxillary osteotomies fixated with biodegradable mesh in orthognathic surgery.

Purpose This study measures the stability of maxillary osteotomies fixated with 1-mm biodegradable mesh and screws. Materials and Methods This prospective study involved 27 patients who underwent maxillary osteotomies. All cases had fixation with biodegradable mesh and screws (70% l -lactide and 30% D, l -lactide polymers). Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken preoperatively within 2 months (T1), immediately postsurgically within 1 week (T2), postsurgically between 6 and 12 weeks (T3), and long-term postoperatively between 6 months and 1 year (T4). All cephalometric radiographs were digitized with Dolphin Imaging (Dolphin software version 9.0.0018, Chatsworth, CA). Vertical and horizontal measurements were made to several skeletal landmarks including Sella (S), A point (APT), posterior nasal spine (PNS), and upper incisor (UPI). Results Twenty patients were completed. Seven patients were not included because lateral cephalometric radiographs were not obtained in the specific time period. It appears that the postsurgical vertical change was not statistically significant, but the horizontal change was significant (P Conclusion There was more relapse in the anteroposterior (horizontal) direction than the superoinferior (vertical) direction in biodegradable mesh and screws. Biodegradable fixation was more stable in vertical surgical change than horizontal surgical change.
Sum Rules for Coupling Constants in Broken SU (3) Symmetry

The coupling constant sum rules for the decay of an octet, icosuplet and 27-plet to the two octets are derived in the broken SU (3) symmetry scheme.
Neonatal and Adult 6‐Hydroxydopamine‐Induced Lesions Differentially Alter Tachykinin and Enkephalin Gene Expression

: The present investigation examined the effects of neonatal and adult 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced lesions of dopaminergic neurons on opioid and tachykinin peptides and their gene expression in the rat basal ganglia. This work was undertaken to determine if changes in these neuropeptide systems were contributing to the differing behavioral responses observed between neonatally and adult-lesioned rats after dopamine agonist administration. [Met5]Enkephalin (ME) content was increased in striatal tissue from both 6-OHDA-lesioned groups when compared with unlesioned controls. Dynorphin-A (1–8) content was not altered by the 6-OHDA lesions. The tachykinin peptides substance P and neurokinin A were significantly decreased in level in the striatum and substantia nigra of neonatally lesioned rats, but not in the adult-lesioned rats, when compared with unlesioned controls. Proenkephalin mRNA abundance (quantified by an RNA-cDNA hybridization technique) and precursor level (as reflected by cryptic ME content) were increased in the striatum of both neonatally and adult-lesioned rats. The abundance of preprotachykinin mRNA coding for the tachykinin peptides was markedly decreased in the neonatally lesioned rats, whereas only a small reduction was observed in the adult-lesioned rats. These results suggest that destruction of dopamine-containing terminals with 6-OHDA elevates the level of ME by accelerating transcriptional and/or translational processes; conversely, the reduced content of tachykinins in neonatally lesioned rats may be due to a reduction in such processes. Thus, preproenkephalin-A and preprotachykinin gene expression are differentially regulated after lesioning of catecholamine-containing neurons, an observation suggesting a close functional relationship among these neurotransmitter systems. Furthermore, of the peptides studied, only levels of the tachykinin peptides were differentially altered in the striatum and substantia nigra of the neonatally lesioned rats compared with adult-lesioned rats; therefore, these peptides may be associated with the distinctive behavioral differences between neonatally and adult 6-OHDA-lesioned rats given dopamine agonists.
Activation of the c-myc p1 promoter in Burkitt's lymphoma by the hs3 immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene enhancer

The expression of c-myc is deregulated in Burkitt's lymphoma by the translocation t(8;14). Most of the increased c-myc expression is from the P1 promoter, which is normally a minor promoter. How the P1 promoter is activated by the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene enhancers is not understood. We identified a YY1 site in the immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene HS3 enhancer, which increased c-myc P1 promoter activity, and a MARE site, which decreased c-myc P1 activity. Small Maf proteins bound to the MARE site both in vitro and in vivo, recruited histone deacetylase 2, and resulted in deacetylation of histones H3 and H4 at the c-myc promoter region. In contrast, YY1 recruited CBP and increased histone acetylation at the c-myc promoter. Rb interacts with YY1 to prevent DNA binding in normal B cells, but no significant interaction with YY1 was detected in Burkitt's cells, and binding of YY1 to the HS3 enhancer was observed by chromatin immunoprecipitaton. Increased expression of MafK and/or decreased expression of YY1 by silencing RNA downregulated endogenous c-myc mRNA levels and increased the sensitivity of the cells to doxorubicin. Mutation of the major active sites (nuclear factor-kappa B and YY1) in the enhancers prevented c-myc activation.
Tunneling through rare earth trihydroxide barriers

Abstract Symmetric tunneling junctions with 4000 A thick Pb electrodes and polycrystalline insulating barriers of Lu(OH)3, Er(OH)3, and Ho(OH)3 have been fabricated. In bulk, these three rare earth trihydroxides RE(OH)3 are nonmagnetic, antiferromagnetic (TN
Chemical studies on memory fixation in goldfish.

Summary Puromycin and acetoxycycloheximide, antibiotics known to block selectively protein synthesis, also block the formation of memory of shock avoidance in the goldfish.
Outcome following endoscopic stenting of pancreatic duct strictures in chronic pancreatitis.

Goals: To assess outcomes following 6 months of endoscopic stenting for dominant pancreatic duct strictures in painful chronic pancreatitis. Background: Pancreatic stent placement may improve pain in chronic pancreatitis. Long-term outcomes after a 6-month period of stenting are unknown. Study: We identified all patients with chronic pancreatitis who underwent stenting of a dominant pancreatic duct stricture at one hospital. Stents were left in place for 6 months. Changes in weight, hospital visits, and narcotic use were analyzed. Results: Mean follow-up for the 15 subjects was 36 months; 87% improved following stent placement, and 11 (73%) completed 6 months of stent therapy. Hospital visits per subject decreased from 3.6 in the year prior to stent placement to 0.1 in the year after stent removal (P < 0.01). Oral narcotic use decreased from 33 mg MSO 4 /day in the month prior to stenting to 2 mg MSO 4 /day in the 12 months after stent removal (P = 0.01 ). Mean weight change was - 5 kg in the year prior to stenting and +3.2 kg in the year after stent insertion (P < 0.01); 36% required endoscopic reintervention during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Six months of stenting resulted in sustained clinical improvement in most patients with chronic pancreatitis and a dominant pancreatic duct stricture. Stenting was associated with subsequent weight gain, fewer hospital visits, and less narcotic use.
Efficient detection of asparagus monoploids for the production of colchiploid inbreds

An experiment was conducted to develop a method for monoploid seedling detection which is more efficient than making cytological examinations of twin seedlings. A recessive seedling marker gene (basal stem color) was used to detect parthenogenesis in female plants. Out of 10 seedlings showing the marker character, 9 were monoploid as expected. The frequency of parthenogenesis among single seedlings was approximately 1 seedling in 2,400. The marker gene technique increases the efficiency of cytological examination from approximately 1 or 2% to 90%.
The genetics of alcohol dependence: Advancing towards systems-based approaches

Abstract Background Personalized treatment for psychopathologies, in particular alcoholism, is highly dependent upon our ability to identify patterns of genetic and environmental effects that influence a person's risk. Unfortunately, array-based whole genome investigations into heritable factors that explain why one person becomes dependent upon alcohol and another does not, have indicated that alcohol's genetic architecture is highly complex. That said, uncovering and interpreting the missing heritability in alcohol genetics research has become all the more important, especially since the problem may extend to our inability to model the cumulative and combinatorial relationships between common and rare genetic variants. As numerous studies begin to illustrate the dependency of alcohol pharmacotherapies on an individual's genotype, the field is further challenged to identify new ways to transcend agnostic genomewide association approaches. We discuss insights from genetic studies of alcohol related diseases, as well as issues surrounding alcohol's genetic complexity and etiological heterogeneity. Finally, we describe the need for innovative systems-based approaches (Systems Genetics) that can provide additional statistical power that can enhance future gene-finding strategies and help to identify heretofore-unrealized mechanisms that may provide new targets for prevention/treatments efforts. Emerging evidence from early studies suggest that Systems Genetics has the potential to organize our neurological, pharmacological, and genetic understanding of alcohol dependence into a biologically plausible framework that represents how perturbations across evolutionarily robust biological systems determine susceptibility to alcohol dependence.
Upgrades to the Alcator C-Mod gas system

The C-Mod gas system includes eight piezoelectric valves for putting gas into the torus and instruments for monitoring gas pressure. During plasma operation, the gas system is responsible for initial fueling and real-time control of plasma density. It also handles injection of impurity gases for various diagnostics. Between shots and run days, the gas system is used for Electron Cyclotron Discharge Cleaning (ECDC) and boronization under the control of a programmable logic controller (PLC). Piezoelectric valves exhibit hysteresis and other non-linear behavior. On C-Mod the valve drivers incorporate pulse-start and pulse-width modulation to linearize valve operation. The drivers can be configured for seconds-long operation with realtime control or continuous operation over multiple days as in the case of ECDC. Interlocks for the system are implemented using the PLC while remote control is shared between the PLC and Digital Plasma Control System (DPCS). A Ratiomatic Ionization Gauge Controller has been designed to monitor torus pressure on a millisecond time scale. The nominal measurement range of the controller is 10-8 to 10-3 Torr, which covers base torus pressure, initial fueling, and plasma evolution. The design is based on the discontinued Varian 843 Controller and works with a Bayard-Alpert gauge placed inside the vacuum vessel. This design allows remote switching between two filaments and uses a microprocessor to control filament current and a PLC interface for remote control. Data from the gas system is digitized and stored in the C-Mod data system. This paper will discuss the main features and implementation of the gas system along with performance data.
Neighborhoods and Infectious Disease Risk: Acquisition of Chlamydia during the Transition to Young Adulthood

Adolescents and young adults have the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the USA despite national priority goals targeting their reduction. Research on the role of neighborhoods in shaping STI risk among youth has increased in recent years, but few studies have explored the longitudinal effects of neighborhoods on STI acquisition during the adolescent to young adult transition. The aims of this study were to examine: (1) the longitudinal relationships between the neighborhood context (poverty, residential instability, and racial/ethnic concentration) of exposure during adolescence and young adults’ acquisition of chlamydia, and (2) the extent to which sexual risk behaviors and depression over the transition from adolescence to young adulthood mediate the relationship between the neighborhood context of exposure during adolescence and young adults’ acquisition of chlamydia. A longitudinal observational design was employed using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), waves 1–3 (1994–2002). The sample was composed of 11,460 young adults aged 18 to 27 years. Neighborhood measures during adolescence were derived from the 1990 US Census appended to adolescents’ interview data. Chlamydia infection was measured via urine assay at wave 3 and 4.6 % of the young adults in the sample tested positive for chlamydia. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were conducted adjusting for numerous neighborhood and individual risk factors. Multivariate findings indicated exposure to neighborhood poverty during adolescence increased the likelihood of a positive urine test for chlamydia during young adulthood (AOR = 1.23, 95 % CI = 1.06, 1.42), and the association was not mediated by sexual risk behaviors or depression. Further research is needed to better understand the pathways through which exposure to neighborhood poverty contributes to chlamydia over the life course as are comprehensive STI prevention strategies addressing neighborhood poverty.
Business Ethics Resources on the Internet

There are an abundance of business ethics resources on the Internet. This paper details Internet resources with the following categories: Ethics Associations and Institutes, Ethics Journals, University Ethics Centers, Business Professions’ Code of Conduct, Business Codes of Conduct, and Ethics Cases.
Phenomenological theories of liquid 3He

Abstract Properties of superfluid 3 He near the normal phase boundary and recent neutron scattering measurements have yielded new information about the quasiparticle interactions in 3 He. For this reason these measurements have instigated the construction as well as reexamination of several phenomenological theories of the normal liquid. Among these are the paramagnon model and its generalizations and the polarization potential approximation. A review is given of these and other phenomenological models for liquid 3 He and their relationship to Landau Fermi liquid theory. Quantitative comparison with experiment at different pressures for the neutron cross section, the superfluid transition temperature, the specific heat discontinuities at the superfluid phase boundary and transport properties are discussed at length. Recent advances based on kinetic theory and the dichotomy of the “localization” versus “spin fluctuation” viewpoints are summarized.
Mechanical properties of nanocrystalline and epitaxial TiN films on (100) silicon

We investigated mechanical properties of TiN as a function of microstructure varying from nanocrystalline to single crystal TiN films deposited on (100) silicon substrates. By varying the substrate temperature from 25 to 700 °C during pulsed laser deposition, the microstructure of TiN films changed from nanocrystalline (having a uniform grain size of 8 nm) to a single crystal epitaxial film on the silicon (100) substrate. The microstructure and epitaxial nature of these films were investigated using x-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Hardness measurements were made using nanoindentation techniques. The nanocrystalline TiN contained numerous triple junctions without any presence of amorphous regions. The width of the grain boundary remained constant at less than 1 nm as a function of boundary angle. Similarly the grain boundary structure did not change with grain size. The hardness of TiN films decreased with decreasing grain size. This behavior was modeled recently involving grain boundary sliding, which is particularly relevant in the case of hard materials such as TiN.
The cricket compass for context-aware mobile applications

The ability to determine the orientation of a device is of fundamental importance in context aware and location-dependent mobile computing. By analogy to a traditional compass, knowledge of orientation through the Cricket compass attached to a mobile device enhances various applications, including efficient way-finding and navigation, directional service discovery, and “augmented-reality” displays. Our compass infrastructure enhances the spatial inference capability of the Cric ketindoor location system [20], and enables new pervasive computing applications.Using fixed active beacons and carefully placed passive ultrasonic sensors, we show how to estimate the orientation of a mobile device to within a few degrees, using precise, sub-centimeter differences in distance estimates from a beacon to each sensor on the compass. Then, given a set of fixed, active position beacons whose locations are known, we describe an algorithm that combines several carrier arrival times to produce a robust estimate of the rigid orientation of the mobile compass.The hardware of the Cricket compass is small enough to be integrated with a handheld mobile device. It includes five passive ultrasonic receivers, each 0.8cm in diameter, arrayed in a “V” shape a few centimeters across. Cricket beacons deployed throughout a building broadcast coupled 418MHz RF packet data and a 40KHz ultrasound carrier, which are processed by the compass software to obtain differential distance and position estimates. Our experimental results show that our prototype implementation can determine compass orientation to within 3 degrees when the true angle lies between ±30 degrees, and to within 5 degrees when the true angle lies between ±40 degrees, with respect to a fixed beacon.
Ratio of Thorium-230 to Thorium-232 in Deep-Sea Sediments

The ionium-thorium method for age determination in deep-sea sediments is critically reviewed, and its shortcomings are discussed. A method that allows an estimate of the rate of sedimentation in the superficial layer of the sediment is presented. A formula for calculating the error in age determination by the method is given for the case when the rate of sedimentation is changing and, with it, the rate of thorium-232 sedimentation.
A Case of Two Mesoscale Eddies: An oceanic versus a Continental Comma Cloud

Etude de cas de 2 tourbillons de mesoechelle, appeles aussi cyclones polaires, tourbillons polaires, ou nuages virgules: l'un s'est forme au-dessus du continent, l'autre au-dessus de l'ocean. Le tourbillon continental a presente une similitude avec la «dry slot convection» (Carr et Millard 1985), c'est-a-dire une convection dans la partie nord de l'intrusion seche au sein du nuage virgule, derriere la ligne principale de precipitation convective associee aux fronts chaud et froid
Histopathological findings in cutaneous small-vessel vasculitis associated with solid-organ malignancy.

Summary Background Histopathological findings in biopsy specimens from patients with cutaneous small-vessel vasculitis (CSVV) secondary to solid-organ malignancy have not been previously reported. Objectives We aimed to understand better the differences in histopathological findings between biopsy specimens from patients with CSVV associated with solid-organ malignancies and patients with CSVV secondary to other causes. Methods From a previously published group of patients with CSVV and solid-organ malignancy, we identified patients with available histopathology slides of biopsy specimens. We compared histopathological findings from these patients with those from 68 previously published patients with Henoch–Schonlein purpura not associated with solid-organ malignancy (60% male). Results We identified 15 patients (eight male, 53%) with available slides from biopsy specimens. The mean age of these patients with solid-organ malignancy-associated CSVV was 66·6 years, compared with 45·8 years in the Henoch–Schonlein purpura cases not associated with solid-organ malignancy (P < 0·001). Solid-organ malignancy-associated CSVV was less likely to demonstrate papillary dermal oedema (P = 0·04), papillary dermal inflammation (P < 0·001) and lymphocytes (P < 0·001), and more likely to have plasma cells (P = 0·02). Additionally, we detected nonsignificant differences in the presence of histiocytes (P = 0·05), intravascular thrombosis (P = 0·052) and microabscess formation (P = 0·06). Conclusions CSVV associated with solid-organ malignancies tended to have deeper dermal involvement and a different cellular milieu from cases not associated with solid-organ malignancies. In addition, the patients with CSVV with solid-organ malignancies were significantly older than those without. Prospective studies with age-matched controls are needed to determine the clinical significance of the histopathological differences in solid-organ malignancy-associated CSVV.
Ultrasonic non-destructive measurements of cortical bone thickness in human cadaver femur

The knowledge of the cortical bone thickness profile in human bone has a two-fold clinical significance: to study the stress occurring in a loaded bone structure to optimize the design of prostheses; and to predict the onset of advanced bone disease such as osteoporosis. In this study, the cortical bone thickness in three embalmed human cadaver femora were measured non-destructively using an ultrasonic technique. These thickness measurements were also made using a computed tomographic (CT) scanning method. Subsequently bones were sectioned and the actual bone thicknesses in the same regions were measured using a micrometer. The correlation coefficient between the actual thickness and the ultrasonically measured thickness was 0.95 and with the CT was 0.62. Thus, these results show that, under present experimental conditions, ultrasonic thickness measurements compare well with the micrometer actual thickness results. This technique, when fully developed, can be used as a non-destructive tool for quantitative cortical bone thickness measurements. Moreover, the ultrasonic technique does not use ionizing radiation.
p39, the Primary Activator for Cyclin-dependent Kinase 5 (Cdk5) in Oligodendroglia, Is Essential for Oligodendroglia Differentiation and Myelin Repair

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) plays key roles in normal brain development and function. Dysregulation of Cdk5 may cause neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment. Besides the well demonstrated role of Cdk5 in neurons, emerging evidence suggests the functional requirement of Cdk5 in oligodendroglia (OL) and CNS myelin development. However, whether neurons and OLs employ similar or distinct mechanisms to regulate Cdk5 activity remains elusive. We report here that in contrast to neurons that harbor high levels of two Cdk5 activators, p35 and p39, OLs express abundant p39 but negligible p35. In addition, p39 is selectively up-regulated in OLs during differentiation along with elevated Cdk5 activity, whereas p35 expression remains unaltered. Specific knockdown of p39 by siRNA significantly attenuates Cdk5 activity and OL differentiation without affecting p35. Finally, expression of p39, but not p35, is increased during myelin repair, and remyelination is impaired in p39−/− mice. Together, these results reveal that neurons and OLs harbor distinct preference of Cdk5 activators and demonstrate important functions of p39-dependent Cdk5 activation in OL differentiation during de novo myelin development and myelin repair.
Photoisomerization and adiabatic tautomerization of the α-pyridylpyrrolinones

The spectroscopy and photochemical behavior of E- and Z-2,3-diethyl-5-(2-pyridylmethylidene)-3-pyrrolin-2-one have been reinvestigated. In accord with earlier reports, E,Z photoisomerization of the E isomer is more efficient than that of the Z isomer, resulting in photostationary states enriched in the Z isomer. The low reactivity of the Z isomer was previously attributed to the presence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond, which is responsible for the greater thermodynamic stability of the Z vs. the E isomer. The Z isomer displays red-shifted fluorescence, attributed to the adiabatic formation of a tautomer which reverts to the Z isomer in the ground state. Both the forward (excited state) and reverse (ground state) hydrogen transfer processes have very low activation energies, thus providing a route for the decay of the excited Z isomer which competes effectively with isomerization. Short-lived fluorescence attributed to the π, π∗ singlet states of both the E and Z isomers can be observed at 77 K. The short lifetimes may result from rapid internal conversion to lower energy n,π∗ states, whose presence is indicated by INDO/S-SCF-CI calculations.
Characterization of the human argininosuccinate lyase gene and analysis of exon skipping

Abstract A cosmid clone containing the entire human argininosuccinate lyase gene was isolated and characterized. The gene is approximately 35 kb in length and is divided into 16 exons. The sequence surrounding all splice sites was determined, and one unusual 5′ splice site sequence in which a GC dinucleotide occurred instead of the consensus GT dinucleotide was observed. The exon structure of the gene is identical to that of the rat and similar to that of the δ-crystallin genes in the chicken. The transcription initiation site was identified, and 252 bases 5′ of that site were sequenced. Within that region, the GC content is 75%, no TATA element was observed, and multiple potential Spl and CACCC binding sites were noted. Also, a putative consensus sequence that may play a role in the regulation of urea cycle genes was identified within this region. Analysis of the structure of the mature mRNA derived from this gene revealed that the sequences encoded by exon seven were deleted in approximately 5–10% of the mature mRNA in all tissue sources examined.
Aggression in domesticated rats reared in a burrow‐digging environment

Male and female rats were raised individually in either large boxes filled with soil (burrow environment) or laboratory cages of comparable size (cage environment). In a test of intruder-elicited aggression, intruders exposed to burrow-environment residents lost more body weight, were more likely to have empty stomachs, and received more wounds during a 24 hour aggression test. The results indicate that the physical environment during the period from weaning to maturity is an important determinant of aggression intensity in adult rats.
Current State of Nerve Stimulation Technique for Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Children

Purpose: A variety of electrical nerve stimulation methods has been used through the years to treat lower urinary tract dysfunction. Relevant literature was reviewed to analyze techniques and available biomedical devices, technique applicability, indications and usefulness in pediatrics.Materials and Methods: An extensive search was performed on PubMed® and MEDLINE® for scientific publications on intravesical, transcutaneous, sacral spine and root, and tibial nerve stimulation in children with lower urinary tract dysfunction of nonneurogenic and neurogenic origin. Relevant articles and controlled studies in adult patients were also considered. The search covered the period 1990 to 2009 and we found approximately 400 articles, of which 29 related to pediatrics.Results: Due to feasibility problems with placebo studies the majority of the studies were noncontrolled, some of them clinical trials on acute urodynamic changes during electrical stimulation or experimental research in animals. Overall only a few r...
Molting and growth of eyestalk-ablated juvenile red king crabs, paralithodes camtschatica (crustacea: lithodidae)

Abstract 1. 1. Double eyestalk ablation (DA) significantly decreased the length of the intermolt period but single ablation (SA) did not. 2. 2. Ablation did not significantly change the growth in wet weight or carapace length. 3. 3. Feeding rate was increased 20% in SA but reduced 36% in DA. The decreased feeding rate of DA crabs may be attributed to reduced energy demands since they were less active. 4. 4. Ablation did not alter the percentage of body water of crabs following ecdysis. 5. 5. Mortality rate of SA increased two-fold relative to non-ablated crabs; DA increased four-fold. Mortality rate increased near ecdysis for all groups.
The transition from a TEM-like mode to a plasmon-like mode in a parallel plate waveguide

We experimentally characterize the spatial mode inside a finite-width parallel-plate waveguide using a subwavelength probe. We observe a transition from a TEM-like spatial mode at low frequencies to a plasmon-like mode at high frequencies.
Experiments on the Variation of the Atomic Structure Factor of Potassium with X-Ray Wave-Length

X-ray measurements have been made with a vacuum ionization spectrometer on powdered nickel to determine the variation of the atomic structure factor in the region of the $K$ absorption edge, $\ensuremath{\lambda}=1.4839\mathrm{A}$, and as far out as possible on the long wave-length side. Powdered NaCl and LiF have been used as comparison substances. Extensive measurements over a range of wavelengths from 0.560 to 2.74A have been made. Conclusions: The experimentally determined dispersion curve for the atomic structure factor of nickel, based upon the difference between measured structure factor values on the long and short wave-length side of the $K$ absorption edge, does not agree in shape with the theoretical curve of H\"onl. The experimental curve rises more rapidly from the absorption edge and is then flatter than the theoretical curve. The two curves come into closer agreement at longer wave-lengths. The maximum discrepancy between theory and experiment is about 0.9 electron at $\frac{\ensuremath{\lambda}}{{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{K}}=1.11$. The predicted invariance of the structure factor decrement due to $K$ electrons with $\frac{(sin\ensuremath{\theta})}{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$ is again confirmed.
The application of visible/near-infrared reflectance (VNIR) spectroscopy to chert: A case study from the Dover Quarry sites, Tennessee

Prehistoric cultural material is commonly composed of chert, due in large part to its physical properties that are conducive to tool manufacture. Despite its ubiquity, archaeologists are faced with an arduous task when attempting to source chert artifacts to known quarries/deposits. The application of visible/near-infrared reflectance (VNIR) spectroscopy to chert sourcing attains a cost-efficient, fast, non-destructive, and accurate means of identifying material type and geologic/geographic origin. This study examines the merits of VNIR spectroscopy within chert sourcing studies by highlighting a material-based case study from the Dover Quarry sites, Tennessee. Results demonstrate the ability of VNIR spectroscopy to differentiate chert types from different geologic formations with 98% accuracy. However, accuracy significantly decreased when attempting to distinguish particular outcrops within the same formation. Although the application of VNIR spectroscopy to chert sourcing is in its experimental phase, the preliminary results compare favorably with other provenance techniques whose aim is to quantify inter-outcrop variation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Beyond electoralism in El Salvador: Conflict resolution through negotiated compromise

(1993). Beyond electoralism in El Salvador: Conflict resolution through negotiated compromise. Third World Quarterly: Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 75-93.
Robotic learning of haptic adjectives through physical interaction

To perform useful tasks in everyday human environments, robots must be able to both understand and communicate the sensations they experience during haptic interactions with objects. Toward this goal, we augmented the Willow Garage PR2 robot with a pair of SynTouch BioTac sensors to capture rich tactile signals during the execution of four exploratory procedures on 60 household objects. In a parallel experiment, human subjects blindly touched the same objects and selected binary haptic adjectives from a predetermined set of 25 labels. We developed several machine-learning algorithms to discover the meaning of each adjective from the robot's sensory data. The most successful algorithms were those that intelligently combine static and dynamic components of the data recorded during all four exploratory procedures. The best of our approaches produced an average adjective classification F 1 score of 0.77, a score higher than that of an average human subject. We equipped a PR2 robot with a pair of BioTac tactile sensors.Both the robot and human subjects blindly touched sixty diverse objects.We calculated static and dynamic features from the haptic data felt by the robot.A multi-kernel SVM was used to learn the meaning of twenty-five haptic adjectives.The robot performed as well as the average human subject at labeling objects.
Evaluating results of clinical trials in treatment of complicated urinary tract infection

Clinical trials of new drugs should produce results that are not due to chance, inherent differences in groups, or handling of the groups by the investigator. These sources of error may be prevented by having groups of a size that provides sufficient statistical power and thus rules out sample variation. Differences in groups can be prevented by randomization, and double blinding the subjects prevents investigator bias.
Active structural control for damping augmentation and compensation of thermal distortion

A large space-based Focus Mission Interferometer is used as a testbed for the NASA Controls and Structures Interaction Program. Impedance-based adaptive structural control and control of thermal disturbances are demonstrated using an end-to-end simulation of the system's optical performance. Attention is also given to integrated optical/structural modeling and a hierarchical, layered control strategy.
Low-binding alleles of Fcγ receptor types IIA and IIIA are inherited independently and are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus in Hispanic patients

Objective To examine the relationship between allelic polymorphisms of IgG receptors (FcγR) and the development of lupus nephritis in a prospective study, and to determine the distribution of FcγR haplotypes (FcγRIIA and FcγRIIIA genotypes) in lupus patients and disease-free control subjects. Methods We studied 67 Hispanic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients from a prospective study of outcome and 53 disease-free control subjects. Patients were followed up longitudinally for 3 years. FcγRIIA and FcγRIIIA genotypes were determined using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. Results Nephritis was present in 28% of patients at entry into the study and in 69% at the end of 3 years. In the nephritis group (n = 46), as well as the entire SLE cohort, there was a predominance of genotypes with low-binding alleles (FcγRIIa-R131 and FcγRIIIa-F176) at both loci (SLE nephritis patients 89% versus controls 62%; P < 0.002; odds ratio 0.20 [95% confidence interval 0.05–0.6] for risk of nephritis in individuals homozygous for either FcγRIIa-H131 or FcγRIIIa-V176). The frequency of individuals homozygous for high-binding alleles at either locus decreased as the burden of disease increased (P < 0.002, by Mann-Whitney test). There was no linkage disequilibrium between FcγRIIA and FcγRIIIA in Hispanics, yet in the SLE patients, there was a clear overrepresentation of the FcγRIIa-R131;FcγRIIIa-F176 haplotype (SLE patients 48% versus controls 30%) and a decrease in the frequency of the high-binding haplotype (4% versus 23%) (P < 0.002). Conclusion We observed an increase in the frequency of low-binding FcγR alleles in an SLE population with a high prevalence of renal disease. The apparent selection for the FcγRIIa-R131;FcγRIIIa-F176 haplotype in Hispanic patients suggests that low-binding alleles of both FcγRIIa and FcγRIIIa confer risk for SLE and may act additively in the pathogenesis of disease, whereas the high-binding haplotype FcγRIIa-H131;FcγRIIIa-V176 is protective, particularly in the homozygous state.
Evaluation of Crop Rotation for Control of Colorado Potato Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Commercial Potato Fields on Long Island

Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) densities, potato defoliation levels, and grower insecticide use were monitored in commercial potato fields with differing rotational histories on Long Island, New York. Rotation for 1 year to a nonhost grain crop (rye or wheat) significantly reduced the pest status of L. decemlineata in the following year’s potato crop. Early season (late May) adult densities were reduced 95.8% in three of four comparisons in 1982 and 69.5% in two of three comparisons in 1983. In one comparison each year, early season L. decemitneata densities were low in both the rotated and nonrotated fields due to past grower practices. Season-long (June-August) paired comparisons of rotated and non-rotated fields were conducted on four farms in 1982 and five farms in 1983. In these comparisons, growers used an average of one (range, 0–2) additional insecticide application for L. decemlineata control during the first generation on the nonrotated fields. Despite this, defoliation levels and L. decemlineata densities were higher in several cases in the nonrotated fields. The effect of crop rotation was greatest early in the season and was not detectable after the end of the first L. decemlineata larval generation on Long Island.
Elderly suicide, mental health professionals, and the clergy: a need for clinical collaboration, training, and research.

Abstract This article addresses the need for improved clergy-mental health professional collaboration in the assessment and treatment of elderly suicide. Millions of older adults with personal problems seek the counsel of clergy. A recent Gallup survey found that elders are more willing to turn to their clergy than their medical doctor or a mental health specialist for help when a friend is contemplating suicide (Gallup Organization, 1992). Elder suicide prevention presents the mental health and religious communities with unique opportunities to work together in the best interests of those they serve.
Novice use of a predictive human performance modeling tool to produce UI recommendations

This note describes two studies of the use of a performance modeling tool, CogTool, for making recommendations to improve a user interface. The first study replicates findings by Bonnie John [7]: the rates at which novice modelers made correct recommendations (88.1%) and supported them (68.2%) are close to the values in John's study (91.7% and 75.1%, respectively). A follow-on study of novice modelers on the same task without CogTool produced sig-nificantly lower values. CogTool improves the UI design recommendations made by novices.
Transport-Limited Recombination of Photocarriers in Dye-Sensitized Nanocrystalline TiO2 Solar Cells

The effect of lithium intercalation on the transport dynamics and recombination kinetics in dye-sensitized nanoparticle TiO2 solar cells at lithium levels below 5 atom % was investigated by photocurrent and photovoltage transient and spectroelectrochemical techniques. Titanium dioxide films were doped electrochemically in the dark and under illumination. It was discovered that when Li+ is present in the electrolyte, lithium intercalates irreversibly into dye-sensitized TiO2 films at open circuit (ca. −0.7 V) under normal solar light intensities. Photocurrent transients of doped nonsensitized TiO2 films indicate that lithium doping decreases the diffusion coefficient of electrons through the nanoparticle network. Photocurrent and photovoltage transients of sensitized TiO2 films provide the first evidence that electron transport limits recombination with the redox electrolyte in working cells. As the Li density in the films increases, the diffusion and recombination times of photoelectrons increase proporti...
The dynamical state of groups of galaxies

On presente une serie de simulations a N corps modelisant l'evolution de groupes de 5 a 10 galaxies a halos sombres massifs, avec un large eventail de conditions initiales. Les galaxies a halos massifs se «collent» lors de rencontres puis fusionnent. Les interactions galaxie-galaxie et galaxie-fond extraient de l'energie orbitale des galaxies, qui se rassemble au centre du systeme
Absorption, Translocation and Metabolism of 3‐Amino‐1,2,4‐triazole in Pinus ponderosa and Abies concolor

The behaviour of amitrole (3-amino-l,2,4-triazole) in 3-year old seedlings of Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine) and Abies concolor (white fir) is described. Visual symptoms of amitrole action appeared as a chlorosis of young needles, the extent of which varied with time and species. Maximum chlorosis was obtained when the application was made during the stage when no visible growth occurred. The greater susceptibility of ponderosa pine seedlings could be accounted for by the lower resistance to uptake of the herbicide into the needles and not by any difference between the conifer species in the metabolism of amitrole. The translocation and metabolism of amitrole in the two conifer species are discussed. In both of the conifer species amitrole was converted into three metabolic products two of which were found to be identical with the previously described Unknown I and II. Two types of treatment, on exposed phloem and on the needles, provided the possibility for a direct study of the site of amitrole metabolism. This site appeared to be in the stem. Amitrole was the mobile, toxic compound in both species and was translocated in both symplast and apoplast. A circulation of the herbicide in the plant was observed. From the phloem amitrole diffused relatively slowly into the xylem, and during this lateral translocation part of the amitrole was metabolized. The rate of this detoxification process seemed to be dependent upon how fast amitrole moved from phloem to xylem and vice versa. This rate seemed to show a positive correlation with the intensity of the cambial activity. The translocation of amitrole to the roots was greatest when no visible growth could be detected.
Dynamic shortest paths in acyclic networks with Markovian arc costs

We examine shortest path problems in acyclic networks in which arc costs are known functions of certain environment variables at network nodes. Each of these variables evolves according to an independent Markov process. The vehicle can wait at a node (at a cost) in anticipation of more favorable arc costs. We first develop two recursive procedures for the individual arc case, one based on successive approximations, and the other on policy iteration. We also solve the same problem via parametric linear programming. We show that the optimal policy essentially classifies the state of the environment variable at a node into two categories: green states for which the optimal action is to immediately traverse the arc, and red states for which the optimal action is to wait. We then extend these concepts for the entire network by developing a dynamic programming procedure that solves the corresponding problem. The complexity of this method is shown to be O(n2K + nK3), where n is the number of network nodes and K ...