cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real contact area measurements on magnetic rigid disks

Abstract The real area of contact between a thin film rigid disk and an optically smooth surface has been measured using multiple-beam interferometry. The statistical distribution of contact sizes, the number of contacts and the total contact area have been determined using automated image analysis as a function of normal force. Contact sizes were found to be in the range of 1–2 μm in diameter and exhibited a weak dependence on the normal force, while the number of contacts increased with an increase in the normal pressure. These relationships agree well with predictions from microcontact analysis. We also find that contact size and number of contacts increase with loading time.
Photon and Z production, and γ/Z-jet correlations in lead–lead collisions at the LHC with ATLAS

Abstract ATLAS results on the production of photons and Z bosons in lead-lead collisions at the LHC are presented. Their production rates are found to scale with the number of binary collisions, as expected from QCD factorization at large transverse momentum. This makes them an ideal tool for probing the modification of jets which balance their transverse momentum. Despite the large differences in available statistics, both channels show a strong modification of the energy of the recoil jets, which increases with centrality.
Methyl parathion transfer from contaminated fabrics to subsequent laundry and to laundry equipment

Based on these data, the percentages of MeP transferred in laundry were miniscule; however care should be exercised in laundering of pesticide contaminated clothing in the home. WP formulations may be most easily removed from the original fabric and most readily transferred to the clean fabric due to the particulate nature of their composition. Rinsing the laundry apparatus is recommended even though subsequent work may reveal more satisfactory ways to effect equipment clean up. Although the percentage of pesticide transferred by contaminated laundry apparatus may be slight in relation to a.i. made available in laundry of contaminated clothing, this amount may affect particularly susceptible individuals. These conclusions were based on Laundry-Ometer studies and before other recommendations can be made, further field work should be undertaken using home laundry appliances.
Hydrogen bonding in (2R,3R)-(+)-2,3-dimethoxybutanedioic acid [(+)-tartaric acid dimethyl ether].

The title acid, C 6 H 10 O 6 , crystallized in the non-centrosymmetric space group I2, with half a molecule in the asymmetric unit (the molecular symmetry is 2). In the single type of hydrogen bond, the carboxylic H atom is ordered, and the O D …O A distance is 2.665(2) A. Each molecule is linked to four others by hydrogen bonds and to two others by C-H...O interactions. The dihedral angle between intramolecular carboxyl-group planes is 85.2 (1)°.
Studies on the synthesis of the inostamycin natural products: a reductive aldol/reductive Claisen approach to the C10-C24 ketone fragment.

An approach to the C10−C24 ketone fragment of the inostamycin family of polyether antibiotics is described. The synthetic strategy utilizes an asymmetric Rh-catalyzed reductive aldol reaction and a stereoselective Rh-catalyzed reductive Claisen rearrangement as the key steps in formation of alkene and vinyl iodide synthons, respectively.
High-order ENO methods for the unsteady compressible Navier-Stokes equations

The adaptive stencil concepts of ENO (Essentially Non-Oscillatory) methods are applied to the laminar Navier-Stokes equations to yield a high-order, time-accurate algorithm with a shock-capturing capability. The method targets problems in the areas of nonlinear acoustics, compressible transition, and turbulence which, due to the presence of shocks or complex geometries, are not easily solved by spectral methods. The present approach has been implemented and tested for the full three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations in a transformed curvilinear coordinate system. Validation results are presented for a variety of problems which verify the method's accuracy properties and shock capturing capabilities, as well as demonstrate its use as a direct simulation tool.
Operational definitions of schizophrenia: what do they identify?

Several studies have shown that different systems for diagnosing schizophrenia produce diagnoses with relatively low agreement. This, however, does not necessarily imply that the different systems are identifying conceptually different diagnostic groups. They may, in fact, identify a single entity,
Prevalence and Intensity of Intestinal Parasites in Mantled Howling Monkeys (Alouatta palliata) in Northeastern Costa Rica: Implications for Conservation Biology

I examined the prevalence and intensity of intestinal parasitic infections in a population of mantled howling monkeys (Alouatta palliata) at La Selva Biological Reserve, a rainforest in northeastern Costa Rica. I collected fresh fecal samples from individual bowler monkeys from two focal troops from October 1991 through October 1992. The presence of parasite ova and larvae in samples was determined by using a formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation technique. Three types of endoparasites were found: (1) a roundworm, Parabronema sp., (2) a physalopterid roundworm, species undetermined, and (3) a fluke, species undetermined. No differences were found in the prevalence of parasitic infections between sexes or troops. No statistical differences were found between the sexes for the intensity of infection. The troop that lived along the river showed a statistically significant higher intensity of nematode infection than the troop that lived mostly in primary forest. Parabronema sp. was found only from individuals in the river group. The prevalence of parasitic infection observed in howlers at La Selva (100%) is higher than has been reported for bowlers in a dry deciduous forest at La Pacifica, Costa Rica (47%). Microclimatic factors, ranging patterns, and home-range size are identified as important variables that may affect parasitic infections of howler populations. Data from this study suggest that narrow corridor designs may be inappropriate for conservation of primates and possibly other species of arboreal animals.
Coastal movements of migrating sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in response to a partial pheromone added to river water: implications for management of invasive populations

How sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) search for and select reproductive habitat is poorly understood. Manual tracking of acoustically tagged migrants confirms the hypothesis that sea lampreys tran...
D-D neutron-scatter measurements for a novel explosives-detection technique

Abstract A series of measurements has been completed that provides a benchmark for Monte Carlo simulations related to an algorithm for explosives detection using active neutron interrogation. The original simulations used in algorithm development, based on land-sea cargo container screening, have been adapted to model active neutron interrogation of smaller targets. These smaller-scale measurements are easily accomplished in a laboratory environment. Benchmarking measurements were completed using a D-D neutron generator, two neutron detectors, as well as a variety of scatter media including the explosives surrogate melamine (C 3 H 6 N 6 ). Measurements included 90°, 120°, or 150° neutron scatter geometries and variations in source-detector shielding, target presence, and target identity. Comparisons of measured and simulated neutron fluxes were similar, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.7. The simulated detector responses also matched very closely with the measured photon and neutron pulse height distributions, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.9. The experiments and simulations also provided insight into potential application of the new method to the problem of explosives detection in small objects such as luggage and small packages.
Dynamical Reconstruction of Upper-Ocean Conditions in the Last Glacial Maximum Atlantic

AbstractProxies indicate that the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) Atlantic Ocean was marked by increased meridional and zonal near sea surface temperature gradients relative to today. Using a least squares fit of a full general circulation and sea ice model to upper-ocean proxy data with specified error estimates, a seasonally varying reconstruction is sought of the Atlantic Ocean state that is consistent with both the known dynamics and the data. With reasonable uncertainty assumptions for the observations and the adjustable (control) variables, a consistent LGM ocean state is found, one not radically different from the modern one. Inferred changes include a strengthening of the easterly and westerly winds, leading to strengthened subtropical and subpolar gyres, and increased upwelling favorable winds off the coast of Africa, leading to particularly cold SSTs in those regions.
General theory of global smoothness and approximation by smooth singular operators

In this article we continue with the study of smooth general singular integral operators over the real line regarding their simultaneous global smoothness preservation property with respect to the L"p norm, [email protected][email protected]?~, by involving higher order moduli of smoothness. Also we study their simultaneous approximation to the unit operator with rates involving the modulus of smoothness. The produced Jackson type inequalities are almost sharp containing elegant constants, and they reflect the high order of differentiability of the engaged function. We finish with applications to trigonometric singular integral operators.
Using Winnie the Pooh Characters to Illustrate the Transactional Analysis Ego States

Utilizing creative techniques within the counseling session makes the content come alive for both counselor and client. When combined with a solid theoretical foundation, creative metaphors provide a powerful tool for empowering clients and helping them sustain change. This article describes a creative way to use the Winnie the Pooh characters to illustrate the Transactional Analysis ego states. Case examples are included.
A FRAMEWORK FOR CONCEPTUALIZING CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Vigorous political advocacy for children's rights is increasing as states begin to assume those responsibilities for children's services once provided at the federal level. This activity on behalf of children reflects a growing consensus that children's rights are best promoted as inseparable from the provision of supportive services to families. Analysis of the major issues provides a conceptual framework for the delivery of services for children.
Microbial community structure and biodegradation activity of particle-associated bacteria in a coal tar contaminated creek.

The Chattanooga Creek Superfund site (Chattanooga, TN) is one of the most polluted waterways in the southeastern U.S. with high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in the sediments. PAHs associate with suspended solids in the water column, and may be redeposited onto the floodplain. These suspended particles represent an interesting but understudied environment for PAH-degrading microbial communities. This study tested the hypotheses that particle-associated bacterial (PAB) communities have genotypic potential (PAH-dioxygenase genes) and activity (naphthalene and pyrene mineralization), and can contribute to natural attenuation of PAHs in Chattanooga Creek. Upstream of the Superfund site, mineralization ranged from 0.2 to 2.0% of added 14C-naphthalene and 0 to 0.1% 14C-pyrene (after 40 h), with first order biodegradation rate constants (k1) ranging from 1.09 to 9.18 × 10−5 h−1 and 0 to 1.13 × 10−6 h−1, respectively. Mineralization was significantly greater in PAB communities within the co...
Nonconstrained elbow replacement in dogs.

Objective— To review development of a nonconstrained total elbow replacement system for use in dogs and report the surgical technique used for implantation. Study Design— Descriptive report. Animals— Dogs with chronic elbow osteoarthritis (OA) unresponsive to medical management for at least 1 year. Methods— A nonconstrained elbow replacement system (radioulnar and humeral components) was developed and used in dogs with medically nonresponsive elbow OA. The components were refined based on evaluation of clinical outcome. Changes in humeral stem design for composite fixation, the contours of the articulating surfaces, and in the humeral component to increase range of motion were incorporated. Drilling and cutting guides were developed to facilitate accuracy of implantation. Results— With component refinement, more favorable long-term functional outcome was achieved. Conclusions— Design improvements incorporated into the elbow replacement system should increase treatment success. Clinical Relevance— Total elbow replacement in dogs is possible and good long-term outcome can be achieved.
Neoadjuvant Treatment of Duodenal Adenocarcinoma: A Rescue Strategy

Aim To evaluate the role of neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy and rescue surgery in the management of unresectable or recurrent duodenal adenocarcinoma.
Fibromatosis of the Spermatic Cord in a Child: Case Report

A 13-month-old boy with a history of bilateral inguinal hernia repair at age 2 months was seen because the left testicle had migrated from the scrotum into the groin. On physical examination the left testicle was palpable at the scrota1 inlet and a hard mass was palpated proximal to the testicle. The testicle could not be brought into the scrotum. Ultrasound revealed 2 normal testicles and a 1.9 x 1.1 x 0.7 cm. soft tissue density in the groin. At exploration the mass could not be dissected free of the cord and inguinal orchiectomy was performed. Pathological evaluation was consistent with fibromatosis (see figure). DISCUSSION Tumors of the spermatic cord are rare and the majority are benign. The terms low grade fibrosarcoma, desmoid fibromatosis and nonmetastasizing fibrosarcoma have been used interchangeably in the literature. In 1978 Sogani et a1 reviewed 30 cases of fibrosarcoma of the spermatic cord.' Only 1 patient was a child (6 years old). Infantile desmoid fibromatosis is similar histologically and pathologically to the adult type,
Compositionality in Synchronous Data Flow: modular code generation from hierarchical SDF graphs

A widespread model of computation, particularly suited for signal processing applications, which are often a key element in cyber-physical systems, is Synchronous (or Static) Data Flow (SDF). But hierarchical SDF models are not compositional: a composite SDF actor (e.g., actor P of Figure 1) cannot be represented as an atomic SDF actor without loss of information that can lead to deadlocks (Figure 2).To solve this problem, we propose in [1] DSSF profiles (Figure 3). DSSF (Deterministic SDF with Shared FIFOs) forms a compositional abstraction of composite actors that can be used for modular compilation. We provide algorithms for automatic synthesis of non-monolithic DSSF profiles of composite actors given DSSF profiles of their sub-actors. We show how different tradeoffs can be explored when synthesizing such profiles, in terms of size of the generated profile versus reusability (preserving information necessary to avoid deadlocks) as well as algorithmic complexity. We show that our method guarantees maximal reusability and report on a prototype implementation in Ptolemy II.
Deep seismic reflection study of a passive margin, southeastern Gulf of Guinea

A large grid of deep-imaging, marine seismic reflection data has been acquired in the Gulf of Guinea. The data show that the architecture of old Atlantic igneous oceanic crust and upper mantle is highly variable, particularly if reflection Moho is taken to be the base of the crust. Most abrupt changes in oceanic basement thickness and depth to Moho can be correlated with fracture- zone crossings, but significant variations can occur between fracture zones and along flow lines, especially near the ocean-continent transition. Reflection Moho is usually continuous from ocean to continent and does not display any systematic changes in character, continuity, or reflection time even beneath the innermost shelf areas. There are several varieties of intra-crustal reflectors, including those that mark different levels within the oceanic gabbroic complex and events that diagonally link the top of oceanic seismic layer 2 and Moho. Different types of sub-Moho dipping reflections also are observed. Some are associated with fracture zones, some originate within continental crust and dip toward the ocean, dissecting Moho without offsetting it, and still others originate at the oceanic Moho and dip toward the continent. The transition from oceanic to continental crust is generally quite sharp north of lat 1°S, but the exact nature of the transition ranges from rift-block geology to abrupt juxtapositions of oceanic and continental crustal rocks. South of about lat 1°S, the transition to continental crust is more gradual, involving a progressive thickening of oceanic crust toward land. This difference may relate to the occurrence of much more oblique initial rifting north of 1°S.
Cortical modulation of cholinergic neurons in the striatum.

Abstract Previous reports suggest the existence of a cortico-striatal pathway which might use glutamate as the transmitter. In the present study, the possible influence of this pathway on striatal cholinergic neurons was investigated. Two weeks following surgical destruction of the cerebral cortex, the high affinity uptake of glutamate and choline into striatal synaptosomes was significantly reduced whereas GABA uptake was unaffected. In acute experiments (1 hour following decortication), only choline uptake was significantly reduced while the uptake of glutamate and GABA were not altered. Acute injection (2 minutes) of kainic acid into the striatum, 1 hour after decortication, reversed the effect of the decortication on choline uptake, perhaps by simulating an excitatory input to the striatum which was presumably removed by the cortical ablation. These observations are consistent with the existence of a cortical input (perhaps glutamatergic) to the striatum and suggest that striatal cholinergic neurons can be influenced by this cortico-striatal pathway.
Cushing's syndrome in infancy due to pituitary adenoma

An 11-month-old male with Cushings syndrome due to a pituitary adenoma is presented. Additional findings of bilateral lung and kidney cystic disease-chance association or new syndrome?
Physical design for testability for bridges in CMOS circuits

Present research in design for testability has largely been confined to the logic level. This paper presents directions for research in design for testability at the layout or physical design level. These are illustrated for bridge faults in circuits consisting of CMOS standard cells. >
New directions in deinstitutionalization planning

The need for systems-oriented planning strategies is being increasingly recognized and a sophisticated body of literature on the essentials of comprehensive deinstitutionalization planning is beginning to emerge.
Maintainability in SpaceߞA Survey

The paper reviews the state-of-the-art in space maintenance methods and hardware. Included are sections on the space environment, automatic maintenance, remote handling, space suits, zero-reaction tools, fastening and sealing techniques, and methods of constructing habitable structures in space or on lunar or planetary surfaces. Studies of economic factors in space maintenance, support, and logistics are discussed, and an extensive bibliography of source material is appended.
Adaptive Compensation of Multimode Fiber Dispersion by Control of Launched Amplitude, Phase, and Polarization

In previous work, we studied the compensation of modal dispersion in multimode fiber (MMF) using several different configurations of optical systems that can control the amplitude, phase and polarization of the launched field. In that work, we assumed knowledge of a fiber's principal modes (PMs) and their group delays (GDs), enabling us to compute the optimal settings of the optical system. In practice, however, we do not have prior knowledge of the PMs and their GDs. In this paper, for three of the configurations, we propose algorithms for setting the optical system adaptively, based upon measurements of the eye opening. We present simulations showing that in the absence of noise, the performance of the adaptive solution approaches that of the optimal solution, and characterizing the algorithms' convergence speed and tolerance to noise. We present experiments using a particular configuration and adaptive algorithm, demonstrating their effectiveness in 10-Gb/s transmission through up to 2000 m of 50-μ m-core graded-index MMF.
Measurements on Subscale Y-Ba-Cu-O Racetrack Coils at 77 K and Self-Field

YBa2Cu3O7-? (YBCO) tapes carry significant amount of current at fields beyond the limit of Nb-based conductors. This makes the YBCO tapes a possible conductor candidate for insert magnets to increase the bore field of Nb3Sn high-field dipoles. As an initial step of the YBCO insert technology development, two subscale racetrack coils were wound using Kapton-insulated commercial YBCO tapes. Both coils had two layers; one had 3 turns in each layer and the other 10 turns. The coils were supported by G10 side rails and waxed strips and not impregnated. The critical current of the coils was measured at 77 K and self-field. A 2D model considering the magnetic-field dependence of the critical current was used to estimate the expected critical current. The measured results show that both coils reached 80%-95% of the expected values, indicating the feasibility of the design concept and fabrication process.
Hearts or minds? Identifying persuasive messages on climate change

This article sheds light on what kinds of appeals persuade the US public on climate change. Using an experimental design, we assign a diverse sample of 330 participants to one of four conditions: an economic self-interest appeal, a moral appeal, a mixed appeal combining self-interest and morality and a control condition with no persuasive appeal. 1 Participants were then asked a series of questions about their willingness to support advocacy efforts, including such actions as writing a letter to Congress, signing a petition and joining an organization. We hypothesized that for issues like climate change where it is expensive to address the problem, arguments based on self-interest are more likely to be persuasive than moral appeals. Our experiment yielded some surprising results. Knowledge was an important moderator of people's attitudes on climate change in response to the persuasive messages. We found that among respondents who were more knowledgeable about climate change that the economic frame was most the persuasive in terms of a subject's willingness to take actions to support the cause. However, among low knowledge respondents, the control condition without messaging yielded the most concern.
Genetic relationships among three squirrel monkey types: Implications for taxonomy, biomedical research, and captive breeding.

Fourteen electrophoretically variable and 12 monomorphic erythrocytic and serum proteins were used to determine the genetic relationships among Bolivian squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis), Peruvian squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis peruviensis), and Guyanese squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus sciureus). The results supported the classification scheme of Hershkovitz (AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY 7:155-210, 1984), which is used above. A profile of marker phenotypes can unambiguously discriminate between the two species examined, and can discriminate most S. b. boliviensis from most S. b. peruviensis. All three groups can be distinguished unambiguously by the location of the centromeres (acrocentric or submetacentric) on chromosomes 15 and 16; however, the biochemical genetic markers provide a powerful means of detecting admixture that might not be detected cytogenetically in instances where hybridization occurred earlier than the preceding generation. The use of this panel of biochemical genetic markers, combined with karyotypic analysis, can ensure a high degree of certainty that animals selected for experimental protocols are uniform with respect to unique physiological characteristics of each species and subspecies. They also can ensure that animals selected to be members of breeding colonies are of a single species/subspecies type and reproductively compatible.
Landscapes and Mortuary Practices

Archaeologists have understood the value and necessity of a regional approach for a number of years, with the application of regional studies focused primarily on settlements. However, a regional approach is equally valuable in the study of mortuary practices. I have previously argued (Goldstein 1980, 1981) that intra-and intersite spatial dimensions are critical components of mortuary analysis because of the multidimensional nature of mortuary ritual. In particular, for hierarchically organized societies such as the Middle Mississippian cultures of the eastern United States (ca. a.d. 1000–1300), it is impossible to determine the full range of statuses, burial types, or other partitions from the study of only one cemetery. However, even for cultures with less social differentiation, a regional perspective can provide important information on social organization. When the spatial dimension is extrapolated to an even broader scale—that of mortuary sites against the landscape—the interaction of settlement, mortuary practices, and land use in general can be examined.
Inhibition of the Spontaneous Rate of Contraction of Neonatal Cardiac Myocytes by Protein Kinase C Isozymes A Putative Role for the ε Isozyme

Protein kinase C (PKC) enzymes regulate numerous cardiac functions. In the present study, we determined the effects of the PKC-activating drug 4-beta phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (4-beta PMA) on the rate of contraction and correlated these changes with the distribution and levels of alpha-, beta-, delta-, epsilon-, and zeta-PKC isozymes by using neonatal rat cardiac myocytes in culture. Treatment with 0.3 to 100 nmol/L 4-beta PMA caused negative chronotropic effects on contraction. This effect was maximal at a concentration of 3 nmol/L 4-beta PMA and correlated with redistribution of the alpha- and epsilon-PKC isozymes from the cytosolic to the particulate cell fraction. After a 1-hour treatment with 100 nmol/L PMA, the alpha- and beta-PKC isozymes and an 80-kD zeta-like PKC isozyme were greatly diminished (downregulated), yet the negative chronotropic effect was sustained. Therefore, our results are most consistent with a role for the epsilon-PKC isozyme in suppressing the contraction rate of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Understanding the role(s) of individual PKC isozymes in the modulation of cardiac functions may ultimately yield more selective targets for therapies of cardiac disorders.
An Epidemiologic Update on Hepatitis C Infection in Persons Living With or at Risk of HIV Infection

Due to shared routes of transmission, coinfection with both human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is relatively common and results in accelerated liver disease, driving morbidity and mortality. Deaths related to HCV now exceed deaths related to HIV in the United States, and co-infected patients bear a significant proportion of that mortality. This burden may be addressed by novel antiviral therapies that promise increased rates of cure or by enhanced access to liver transplantation, but these are costly interventions. Ultimately, the future burden of coinfection is addressed by greater understanding of who is at risk for development of each infection, thus guiding preventive efforts. Key recent reports regarding the US burden of morbidity and mortality due to HCV and groups at risk for coinfection are reviewed, with a focus on recently described HCV occurring among young injection drug users and men who have sex with men. Given the lack of available vaccine against HCV, enhanced detection and surveillance is a vital component of our public health strategy to combat HCV.
Prevalence of Regulatory T Cells Is Increased in Peripheral Blood and Tumor Microenvironment of Patients with Pancreas or Breast Adenocarcinoma

Regulatory T cells (T(reg)) that prevent autoimmune diseases by suppression of self-reactive T cells may also suppress the immune response against cancer. In mice, depletion of T(reg) by Ab therapy leads to more efficient tumor rejection. T(reg)-mediated suppression of antitumor immune responses may partly explain the poor clinical response to vaccine-based immunotherapy for human cancer. In this study, we measured the prevalence of T(reg) that coexpress CD4 and CD25 in the PBLs, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and regional lymph node lymphocytes from 65 patients with either pancreas or breast cancer. In breast cancer patients (n = 35), pancreas cancer patients (n = 30), and normal donors (n = 35), the prevalence of T(reg) were 16.6% (SE 1.22), 13.2% (SE 1.13), and 8.6% (SE 0.71) of the total CD4(+) cells, respectively. The prevalence of T(reg) were significantly higher in breast cancer patients (p < 0.01) and pancreas cancer patients (p < 0.01) when compared with normal donors. In tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and lymph node lymphocytes, the T(reg) prevalence were 20.2% (SE 3.93) and 20.1% (SE 4.3), respectively. T(reg) constitutively coexpressed CTLA-4 and CD45RO markers, and secreted TGF-beta and IL-10 but did not secrete IFN-gamma. When cocultured with activated CD8(+) cells or CD4(+)25(-) cells, T(reg) potently suppressed their proliferation and secretion of IFN-gamma. We conclude that the prevalence of T(reg) is increased in the peripheral blood as well as in the tumor microenvironment of patients with invasive breast or pancreas cancers. These T(reg) may mitigate the immune response against cancer, and may partly explain the poor immune response against tumor Ags.
Stability of linear Markovian jump systems

The authors study the stability properties of linear Markovian jump systems and the relationship among second moment and sample path stability properties. It is shown that asymptotic mean square stability, exponential mean square stability, and stochastic stability are equivalent, and that they imply almost sure stability of the system. The relation between almost sure stability and delta -moment stability for ID jump linear systems is also examined. The Lyapunov exponent method for the study of almost sure stability is discussed, and a theorem which characterizes the qualitative properties of Lyapunov exponents of the jump linear systems is stated. >
Which Methods Are Most Effective for Surveying Rain Forest Herpetofauna

Abstract Although several investigators have discussed different herpetofaunal sampling methodologies and their effectiveness, few have quantitatively examined which methods are superior for inventorying reptiles and amphibians in rain forest habitats. I examined two years of data from Tambopata, southeastern Peru, to compare and contrast visual encounter survey (VES) and quadrat methodologies and to determine which method yields the highest number of individuals and species per sampling effort. Four separate questions were posed concerning the number of captures for short-term surveys, long-term surveys, arboreal versus terrestrial amphibian surveys, and particular taxonomic group surveys. Over most of the analyses, more individuals and species of amphibians and reptiles were captured using VES than quadrats. In addition, more unique species were recorded with VES. However, particular microhabitats and taxonomic groups were better sampled with quadrats. In long-term surveys, the methods were equivalent w...
Networks' characteristics are important for systems biology

A fundamental goal of systems biology is to create models that describe relationships between biological components. Networks are an increasingly popular approach to this problem. However, a scientist interested in modeling biological (e.g., gene expression) data as a network is quickly confounded by the fundamental problem: how to construct the network? It is fairly easy to construct a network, but is it the network for the problem being considered? This is an important problem with three fundamental issues: How to weight edges in the network in order to capture actual biological interactions? What is the effect of the type of biological experiment used to collect the data from which the network is constructed? How to prune the weighted edges (or what cut-off to apply)? Differences in the construction of networks could lead to different biological interpretations. Indeed, we find that there are statistically significant dissimilarities in the functional content and topology between gene co-expression networks constructed using different edge weighting methods, data types, and edge cut-offs. We show that different types of known interactions, such as those found through Affinity Capture-Luminescence or Synthetic Lethality experiments, appear in significantly varying amounts in networks constructed in different ways. Hence, we demonstrate that different biological questions may be answered by the different networks. Consequently, we posit that the approach taken to build a network can be matched to biological questions to get targeted answers. More study is required to understand the implications of different network inference approaches and to draw reliable conclusions from networks used in the field of systems biology.
Morphospaces and Databases: Diatom Diversification through Time

The diversity of diatom form inspired Art Nouveau designers, an interest renewed by recent advances in biomimetic design. The fossil record provides two windows on the diversification history of diatoms: taxonomic diversity and morphological disparity. Marine planktonic diatom diversity is conventionally interpreted to describe a steep, almost monotonic rise through Cenozoic time. Subsampling methods used to address the associated rise in sampling reveal a more stationary pattern, with peak diversity in the mid-Cenozoic, whether by established methods or a new method (shareholder quorum subsampling, SQS). However, these methods may underestimate diversification if evenness decreases. In order to measure morphological disparity, we constructed an empirical morphospace based on discrete characters. Mean pairwise distance, a disparity metric describing the density of taxa in morphospace, shows little secular change , while convex hull volume, a measure of the extent of occupied morphospace, increases through time. Since we populated the morphospace with occurrence-based data, we can apply subsampling algorithms to these disparity metrics. Mean pairwise distance is largely unaffected, while the increase in occupied volume largely disappears under subsampling. Depending on the metric used, characterizing diatom diversification thus depends upon whether a literal reading of the fossil record or the use of subsampling algorithms is preferred. While this may prompt a reexamination of evolutionary narratives prominently featuring diatom diversification, changes in abundance and silicification may also affect the diatom’s biogeochemical importance. For biologically inspired design, an early exploration of diatom morphospace suggests that fossil forms should be considered alongside extant diatoms.
4,5-Dichloro-2H-1,3-oxazine-2,6(3H)-dione

In the title compound, C4HCl2NO3, the essentially planar (maximum deviation = 0.023 A for the ring O atom) mol­ecules form N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between mol­ecules lying about inversion centers, forming eight-membered rings with an R22(8) motif in graph-set notation.
Media Review: Cheuk Cheung's My Way (Qiandan lu): A Documentary Film on Male Performers of Female Roles in Cantonese Opera

Cantonese opera has been immensely popular for centuries in the Pearl River Delta and in other parts of China and the globe where there were Cantonese-speaking communities. But like other traditional operas, in the last century it has been losing audience members as the older ones die and are not replaced by younger ones. It is therefore all the more astounding when two young men in Hong Kong, Wong Hau Wai 王侯偉 (1981–), and Tam Wing Lun 譚詠倫 (1993–), were so captivated by the art form at a young age that they dedicated themselves completely and earnestly to studying the singing and acting with the intention of carving out careers as professional Cantonese opera performers. What is even more surprising and remarkable is that both of them, independently and unknown to one another, wanted to sing and act as qiandan 乾旦 (males playing female roles; the Chinese name of the film is Qiandan lu 乾旦路 [The way of the qiandan]), which, unlike Peking opera, was rarely practiced in Cantonese Opera. The two youths spent years learning the singing and acting on their own from audio and visual recordings, despite, understandably and predictably, initial skepticism and objections from their middle-class, non-operatic families. This extraordinary documentary film directed by Cheuk Cheung 卓翔 shows footage from home movies of Wong beginning from age nineteen (2002), when he won an amateur singing contest, and of Tam from age eleven (2004), when he first met Wong, and they compared their art as qiandan (see Fig. 1). At that time, Tam, still in school, took every chance he could get to perform in minor opera troupes, and eventually gained some recognition. He recounts a particularly painful experience that happened later: on stage in the middle of an opera, his voice suddenly broke, and as desperately as he tried, he simply could no longer produce the high pitches of a qiandan, and was booed off the stage. Devastated, he had no choice but to switch to singing male roles. Since then, he and Wong partnered to perform the male and female lead roles together (see Fig. 2). Meanwhile, Wong also performed in minor opera troupes, but branched out to teach children in community programs, and organized events featuring amateur operatic singing. One episode shows him teaching a young teenage girl who entered a competition; another shows him teaching a class of about a dozen
Palaemnema Lorena and P. Melanocauda, New Species of Dragonflies from Northwestern Ecuador (Platystictidae: Odonata)

A violaceous brown species with white across face, prothorax wholly brown, a thread of pale color along first lateral suture; lower side and ventral areas of thorax pale; end of abdomen black. Described from one male and two females collected by David B. Laddey at La Lorena, Sta. Domingo, Prov. Pichincha, Ecuador, February 21—28, 1941. Types in my collection. La Lorena is in wet northwest Ecuador, elevation 550 meters. See these Annals 34 (2): 490, 1941. The name refers to the type locality. The three specimens while not shrunken and the wings not glassy do appear of light weight and to be semiteneral. The general dark color of pattern might be black at full maturity.
Impact Damage Monitoring in Composite Plates

This paper is concerned with the real-time detection of internal damage in composite structural components during impact using the far-field surface motion generated by these events. Impact tests are carried out on graphite epoxy composite plates using an instrumented impact testing system. Contact force and surface motion are measured at several locations on the plate surface. The far-field surface motions, both flexural and extensional waves in the composite plate, are modeled using both approximate and exact solution methods. Postimpact test were performed to determine the extent of internal damage caused by the impact load. Further research on the detection method can lead to the development of a viable impact monitoring system for composite aerospace structures using distributed sensors.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
IMAGES IN CLINICAL MEDICINE. Cocaine-Induced Coronary-Artery Vasospasm.

A 58-year-old woman presented with intermittent, nonexertional chest pain. She had been admitted for similar symptoms 2 months earlier; a coronary angiogram had revealed normal anatomy. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a pericardial effusion. A video is available at NEJM.org.
The impact of genetic variants on BMI increase during childhood versus adulthood.

Genetic variants that predispose individuals to obesity may have differing influences during childhood versus adulthood, and additive effects of such variants are likely to occur. Our ongoing studies to identify genetic determinants of obesity in American Indians have identified 67 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that reproducibly associate with maximum lifetime non-diabetic body mass index (BMI). This study aimed to identify when, during the lifetime, these variants have their greatest impact on BMI increase. A total of 5906 Native Americans of predominantly Pima Indian heritage with repeated measures of BMI between the ages of 5 and 45 years were included in this study. The association between each SNP with the rates of BMI increase during childhood (5–19 years) and adulthood (20–45 years) were assessed separately. The significant SNPs were used to calculate a cumulative allelic risk score (ARS) for childhood and adulthood, respectively, to assess the additive effect of these variants within each period of life. The majority of these SNPs (36 of 67) were associated with rate of BMI increase during childhood (P-value range: 0.00004–0.05), whereas only nine SNPs were associated with rate of BMI change during adulthood (P-value range: 0.002–0.02). These 36 SNPs associated with childhood BMI gain likely had a cumulative effect as a higher childhood-ARS associated with rate of BMI change (β=0.032 kg m−2 per year per risk allele, 95% confidence interval: 0.027–0.036, P<0.0001), such that at age 19 years, individuals with the highest number of risk alleles had a BMI of 10.2 kg m−2 greater than subjects with the lowest number of risk alleles. Overall, our data indicates that genetic polymorphisms associated with lifetime BMI may influence the rate of BMI increase during different periods in the life course. The majority of these polymorphisms have a larger impact on BMI during childhood, providing further evidence that prevention of obesity will need to begin early in life.
An Investigation of Marketing Educators’ Activities and Perceptions Regarding Teaching and Research

Recent studies have focused on the research productivity of marketing academics; however, few studies have contrasted the results with effort allocated to teaching, research, and service. The purpose of this paper is to examine the allocation of time and effort by marketing academics to research, teaching, and service and to evaluate the attitudes of the respondents towards this allocation in light of the increasing emphasis on research output. After addressing these objectives for the entire sample, differences between marketing faculty at AACSB schools and non-AACSB schools on the issues of time allocation, research productivity, and role expectations are also investigated.
Stability and robustness of model predictive control with discrete actuators

Because of its ability to handle multivariable systems, model predictive control (MPC) is well-suited to large and complicated industrial processes. Such systems are affected by unmodeled disturbances, and many systems have actuators that can take on only a discrete set of values. Both of these characteristics can be addressed directly within nominal MPC theory. In this paper we show, under standard assumptions, that suboptimal MPC with mixed continuous/discrete actuators is inherently robust. For sufficiently small disturbances, both robust feasibility and stability are guaranteed. We illustrate these new results with several examples.
Early specialized care after a first unprovoked epileptic seizure.

A first seizure is a life-changing event with physical and psychological consequences. We aimed to assess the role of early comprehensive patient care after a first unprovoked seizure to improve diagnostic accuracy and follow-up adherence. From April 2011 to March 2012, patients presenting a first unprovoked epileptic seizure received standard patient care (SPC), i.e., a consultation in the ED, an EEG and a CT scan. The patients were notified of the follow-ups. We compared this protocol to subsequently acquired "early comprehensive patient care" (ECPC), which included a consultation by an epileptologist in the emergency department (ED), a routine or long-term monitoring electroencephalogram (LTM-EEG), magnetic resonance imaging and three follow-up consultations (3 weeks, 3 months, 12 months). 183 patients were included (113 ECPC, 70 SPC). LTM-EEG and MRI were performed in 51 and 85 %, respectively, of the patients in the ECPC group vs in 7 and 52 % of the patients in the SPC group (p < 0.001). A final diagnosis was obtained in 64 vs 43 % of the patients in the ECPC vs SPC group (p < 0.01). Patient attendance at 3-month was 84 % in the ECPC group vs 44 % in the SPC group (p < 0.001). At 12-month follow-up, the delay until the first recurrence was longer in the ECPC group (p = 0.008). An early epileptologist-driven protocol is associated with clinical benefit in terms of diagnostic accuracy, follow-up adherence and recurrence. This study highlights the need for epilepsy experts in the early assessment of a first epileptic seizure, starting already in the ED.
Identification of Novel Adult Mesenchymal Progenitors That Can Contribute to HSC Niche

Abstract 3467 The microenvironment (niche) cues hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) receives play an important role in the regulation of their decisions between self-renewal and differentiation. However, the cellular constitution of niches remains poorly understood. We identified three adult progenitor populations near the endosteum based on differential expression of cell surface markers, including CD166, CD146 and Sca1. Upon co-transplantation with fetal skeletal progenitors, Sca1+ progenitors can give rise to CD146+ and CD166+ stroma and phenotypically CXCL12 abundant reticular (CAR) cells in marrow. CD146+ and CD166+ progenitors, on the other hand, form bone without marrow cavity. Multiplex single cell qRT-PCR reveals all three progenitors expressed high levels of genes involved in HSC maintenance. In vitro co-culture assay demonstrated that all three progenitors could preserve HSC long-term multi-lineages reconstitution capability. Furthermore, disruption of stem cell factor (SCF) production in Sca1+ progenitor severely limits its ability to support HSC both in culture condition and after transplantation. Our results suggested that Sca1+, CD146+, and CD166+ mesenchymal progenitors and their progeny collaborate to provide supportive environment for hematopoiesis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.