cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synergistic effects in the melting of DNA hydration shell: melting of the minor groove hydration spine in poly(dA).poly(dT) and its effect on base pair stability.

We propose that water of hydration in contact with the double helix can exist in several states. One state, found in the narrow groove of poly(dA).poly(dT), should be considered as frozen to the helix, i.e., an integral part of the double helix. We find that this enhanced helix greatly effects the stability of that helix against base separation melting. Most water surrounding the helix is, however, melted or disassociated with respect to being an integral part of helix and plays a much less significant role in stabilizing the helix dynamically, although these water molecules play an important role in stabilizing the helix conformation statically. We study the temperature dependence of the melting of the hydration spine and find that narrow groove nonbonded interactions are necessary to stabilize the spine above room temperature and to show the broad transition observed experimentally. This calculation requires that synergistic effects of nonbonded interactions between DNA and its hydration shell affect the state of water-base atom hydrogen bonds. The attraction of waters into narrow groove tends to retain waters in the groove and compress or strain these hydrogen bonds.
Echoic flow for autonomous navigation

In this paper we introduce the concept of echoic flow for cognitive radar sensors. Echoic flow is the counterpart to its better-known cousin, optical flow. Echoic flow can be computed in a number of forms, the simplest being the ratio of range, to range rate. This provides a direct measure of the time for a radar system and a detected object to collide with each other. Its derivative is a measure of the intensity of the collision. Thus these two quantities provide a powerful foundation for autonomous navigation, tracking and guidance. In this paper we explain echoic flow and show through simulation how it can be used as a basis for radar based autonomous navigation. (6 pages)
Methods and issues in collection evaluation today

Trois grands principes prevalent lors de l'evaluation des fonds d'une bibliotheque. En effet, celle-ci peut etre basee sur la coherence interne, des fonds ou sur les exigences de l'utilisateur ou encore utilisee les methodes de l'analyse de citations de facon a evaluer le fonds par rapport a l'ensemble de la litterature existante. Chacune de ces methodes est presentee dans son deroulement et ses resultats
Returns of Merger and Acquisition Activities in the Restaurant Industry

The restaurant industry experienced numerous merger and acquisition activities in the 1990s. This study examined cumulative abnormal returns for both target and bidding firms of restaurant mergers and acquisitions for the last 20 years. It is found that restaurant targets enjoy significantly positive returns, consistent with most of the literature on merger and acquisition targets. Restaurant industry bidders as an overall group earn slightly positive but not statistically significant returns in this study. The significant positive returns for targets indicate that there may be synergistic gains from mergers and acquisitions.
Prevention versus treatment: An ongoing dilemma

The purpose of this column is to inform readers about HIV-prevention issues, including topics related to new and developing technologies, educational strategies, historical perspectives, applications of theoretical models, legal and ethical considerations, and reviews of the current status of prevention efforts as well as other emerging HIV-prevention concerns. The column editor welcomes comments, suggestions, and guest columns.
Dynamics of the Gas-Phase Reactions of Fluoride Ions with Chloromethane

Guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry techniques are used to examine the competing chemical dynamics of reactions of fluoride ions with chloromethane in the center-of-mass collision energy range 0.05−30 eV. The exothermic bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2) reaction F- + CH3Cl → CH3F + Cl- predominates at the lowest collision energies (0.05−0.1 eV) but decreases by a factor of ∼100 over the range 0.1−2 eV. Two endothermic product channels are detected at collision energies ∼1−20 eV, corresponding to proton transfer to form HF + CH2Cl- and chlorine abstraction to form CH3 + FCl-. The threshold energy for the proton-transfer reaction is E0 = 97 ± 9 kJ/mol, which yields ΔacidH298(CH3Cl) ≤ 1653 ± 9 kJ/mol and EA0(CH2Cl) ≥ 0.77 ± 0.14 eV. The threshold energy for the chlorine abstraction reaction to form FCl- is E0 = 170 ± 40 kJ/mol, which yields EA0(FCl) ≥ 2.6 ± 0.4 eV. Potential energy surfaces for the three reaction paths are calculated using the coupled cluster and density functional theory meth...
WNTs tune up the neuromuscular junction.

WNTs are largely thought of as regulators of cell fate but recent studies highlight their involvement in synaptic development. Korkut and Budnik discuss emerging data on the effects of WNT signalling in neuromuscular junction formation in nematodes, insects, fish and mammals.
Return on investment and organizational adoption

This paper considers the complexity of measuring the return on investment for technology adoption. A brief case study of technology adoption in a large design and construction firm provides a clear view of factors that came into play. The technology considered is simple; the apparent costs and benefits are relatively clear. Four parties are involved: diverse employees interested in using dual monitors, the information technology support group in the organization, an executive who had worked his way up from drafting, and employees of a software company that is considering expanding their support for dual monitor use. In the construction company, a seemingly logical and inexpensive hardware upgrade was subject to a wide range of technical and social pressures, some obstructing and others promoting adoption. Decisions are made in a manner that did not fit the model held by the product planners and designers in the software company.
Dynamic object viewers for data structures

The jGRASP lightweight IDE has been extended to provide object viewers that automatically generate dynamic, state-based visualizations of data structures in Java. These viewers provide multiple synchronized visualizations of data structures as the user steps through the source code in either debug or workbench mode. This tight integration in a lightweight IDE provides a unique and promising environment for learning data structures. Initial classroom use has demonstrated the object viewers' potential as an aid to students who are learning to write and modify classes representing data structures. Recently completed controlled experiments with CS2 students indicate that these viewers can have a significant positive impact on student performance.
Impact of ISO 18000 Series RF Signals on CRMDS: A Unified Approach

AbstractRadio Frequency Identification technology in recent times is finding several application in the health care industry. With the increase in integration of RFID in daily hospital routines, there is a growing concern about its impact on infirmary equipment and implantable devices. Several organizations have published results on this issue developing individual test procedures but few have tried to generalize the testing procedures. This article is a sincere attempt to understand the science that is unexplored and unreasoned behind the raw results provided; to unify the data sources and present a direction for future research in this branch of engineering. RF sources conforming to ISO 18000 series and impact on Cardiac Rhythmic Medical Devices are presented as an embodiment to summarize the results of testing completed at the RFID Center of Excellence, University of Pittsburgh. The discussion and results presented in this article can be interpolated and extrapolated to the RF communication and Active ...
Preliminary results on the seasonality and life cycle of the parasitic dinoflagellate causing bitter crab disease in Alaskan Tanner crabs (Chionoecetes bairdi)

Tanner crabs (Chionoecetes bairdi) from the Sullivan Island area of southeast Alaska were sampled for 1 year to determine the prevalence and intensity of the parasitic dinoflagellate which causes bitter crab disease (BCD). The prevalence and intensity of infection were the greatest in the summer, declined in the fall and winter, and increased again in the spring. A possible relationship between softer, newer shells and higher levels of parasitism was also observed. In vivo transmission studies in the laboratory suggested there are several morphologically different forms of the vegetative cell of the BCD dinoflagellate which occur prior to sporulation of the parasite. In addition, it appears that both the two spore types produced by the parasite are infectious by injection and that there is no ploidy difference between the two spore types and the vegetative cell, suggesting that the two spore types may not represent separate sexes.
Surface-modified liposomes in gamma- and MR-imaging

Abstract The application of plain and surface-modified liposomes as carriers for imaging agents in gamma-scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered. The methods for preparing liposomes loaded with different contrast agents, and some data on their biodistribution are briefly described. The application of contrast-loaded liposomes for the gamma- and MR-imaging of liver and spleen, cardio-vascular system, tumors, lymph nodes, infection and inflammation sites, and some other regions of clinical interest is briefly reviewed. New trends in the use of contrast-loaded liposomes are also considered, such as the application of surface-modified liposomes for imaging purposes. Polymers used for liposome surface modification include polychelators which increase the liposome load with a reporter metal, and polyethylene glycol which provides long circulating time to liposomes and improves some contrast characteristics of metal-loaded liposomes.
An Index of Fit for Factor Scales

An index is defined for each column of a factor matrix to measure the goodness of fit for scale defining items, where the latter are determined in advance by the investigator. Let MS(S), MS(NS), and MS(T) be the mean-square loadings for scale items, nonscale items, and total items, respectively, for a given factor. A measure denoted IFFS (index of fit for factor scales) is defined as the signal-to-signal plus noise ratio: IFFS = 1 - MS(NS)IMS(T). The highest possible value of IFFS is 1.00, with .50 indicating that scale items are no better than nonscale items in defining the construct. An overall measure is also defined. The index is complemented by Kaiser's index of factor simplicity (IFS) as computed for each scale item. Evaluative criteria and examples are presented.
Abstract IA8-1: Pancreatic cancer stem cells and metastasis

Emerging evidence suggest that cells within an in individual tumor are phenotypically and functionally heterogeneous despite their clonal origins. Moreover, in several human cancers, the capacity to form tumors ectopically in immunodeficient mice is restricted to specific cell populations. The sustained proliferative capacity of these tumor initiating cells or cancer stem cells (CSC) has suggested that they play a major role in disease initiation and relapse, but their role in disease progression is less clear. We have studied the expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), an intracellular enzyme highly expressed in normal stem cells, in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We found that ALDH+ pancreatic cancer cells are highly clonogenic both in vitro and in vivo and their presence in resected pancreatic primary tumors is significantly associated with shortened overall survival. ALDH + cells were also commonly found in metastatic pancreatic cancer lesions even in patients whose primary tumors lacked ALDH expression. Progression to metastatic disease requires cell migration to ectopic sites in addition to clonogenic growth potential, and we found that ALDH+ cells expressed lower levels of E-CADHEDRIN and higher levels of SLUG consistent with the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, compared to ALDH neg cells, ALDH+ pancreatic cancer cells were more invasive and migratory in vitro and metastatic in vivo. Therefore, in pancreatic carcinoma, CSC express key functional properties that suggest a major role in the formation of metastases and disease progression. Citation Information: Clin Cancer Res 2010;16(14 Suppl):IA8-1.
A new very simple explicit method for the integration of mildly stiff ordinary differential equations

Abstract A new explicit, first-order method with improved stability properties for the integration of stiff ODE systems is developed. The new method is very simple and requires only two derivative evaluations per step (like the second-order explicit Runge—Kutta method) but has a stability region that is almost four times larger than that of RK2. Furthermore, error control/variable-step integration for the new method is easy. The new method is more efficient than RK2 for typical stiff problems (including method-of-lines problems). It is most efficient on mildly and moderately stiff problems when low or intermediate accuracy is desired. Furthermore, when limited computer memory is available, the new method offers a valuable alternative to the implicit methods (especially for very large stiff systems). In addition, the use of global extrapolation is shown to improve the accuracy of the new method and to offer global error estimates.
Complete mitochondrial genome of the blacknose shark Carcharhinus acronotus (Elasmobranchii: Carcharhinidae).

AbstractThe complete mitochondrial genome of the blacknose shark Carcharhinus acronotus has been determined in this work. It has a length of 16,719 bp and consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 control region. The gene composition and genome organization was similar to other vertebrates. This study represents part of an ongoing effort to obtain mitochondrial genome sequences for chondrichthyan species in order to better estimate their phylogenetic relationships.
Artificial neural network-based estimation of mercury speciation in combustion flue gases

Abstract Artificial neural networks (ANN) are powerful tools that can be used to model and investigate various highly complex and nonlinear phenomena. In this study, neural networks (NN) were used to investigate the complex relationships between mercury speciation emissions associated with coal-fired utility boilers and their air pollution control systems. The relationships between mercury speciation (elemental, oxidized and particulate) in the flue gas leaving the boiler and coal characteristics and boiler type have been examined using several different neural network architectures. A multilayer perceptron (MLP) form of the neural networks was identified to be the structure that can accurately capture and model the nonlinear relationship that exists between mercury speciation and coal characteristics and boiler type. Data from 76 power plants across the country have been used to train and develop the neural network models. After a number of iterative trainings of the model, the prediction and estimation results from the neural network turned out to be quite good. A comparison of the estimation of the mercury emissions from selected utility boilers with the observed values shows a high accuracy (i.e., a correlation coefficient of 0.9750). Neural network-based, three-dimensional graphical representations of the relationships between predictive and explanatory variables turn out to be quite nonlinear and complex. These three-dimensional graphs reveal valuable information that is difficult (if not impossible) to obtain from standard regression analyses.
A transatlantic strategy on iran's nuclear program

Europe and the U.S. need to devise a common strategy and switch roles—for Europe to play bad cop and the U.S. to play good cop—to radically alter Iran's calculations of benefit and risk and get Tehran to choose international cooperation over nuclear weapons.
Prion proteins with pathogenic and protective mutations show similar structure and dynamics.

Conformational change in the prion protein (PrP) is thought to be responsible for a group of rare but fatal neurodegenerative diseases of humans and other animals, including Creutzfeldt−Jakob disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy. However, little is known about the mechanism by which normal cellular PrPs initiate and propagate the conformational change. Here, we studied backbone dynamics of the inherited pathogenic mutants (P101L and H186R), protective mutants (Q167R and Q218K), and wild-type mouse PrP(89−230) at pH 5.5 and 3.5. Mutations result in minor chemical shift changes around the mutation sites except that H186R induces large chemical shift changes at distal regions. At lower pH values, the C-terminal half of the second helix is significantly disordered for the wild-type and all mutant proteins, while other parts of the protein are essentially unaffected. This destabilization is accompanied by protonation of the partially exposed histidine H186 in the second helix of the wild-type protein. ...
Scattering of light from particles with semisoft boundaries

A three-dimensional multi-Gaussian function, being a finite sum of Gaussian functions, is adopted for modeling of a spherically symmetric scatterer with a semisoft boundary, i.e. such that has continuous and adjustable drop in the index of refraction. A Gaussian sphere and a hard sphere are the two limiting cases when the number of terms in multi-Gaussian distribution is one and infinity, respectively. The effect of the boundary’s softness on the intensity distribution of the scattered wave is revealed. The generalization of the model to random scatterers with semisoft boundaries is also outlined.
Seasonal variations of sea ice motion in the transpolar drift stream

Drifting buoy data for 1979–85 and meteorological fields for 1960–85 are used to assess sea ice motion in the Transpolar Drift Stream. Although the long-term mean ice drift in this stream is toward the Fram Strait, three years (1979–81) with adequate drifting buoy data coverage show reversed ice motion over 30-day periods in summer. This phenomenon is a response to seasonally changing wind forcing.
PS-213 Epidemiology And Outcome Of Neonatal Septic Shock In A Picu Of Tunisia

Background Neonatal septic shock is a devastating condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. Methods A retrospective study was conducted in children’s hospital Tunisian PICU between 2005 to 2013. All neonates ( Results A total of 40 neonates were included. Mean age on admission was 34 h±3.7. Mean SNAPP score was 25 ± 17. Materno-fetal infection was observed in 37 cases, staphylococcal pneumonia in 2 cases and bacterial coinfection with bronchiolitis in the last case. The bacteriological study showed a notable predominance of streptococcus B (40%) and E.coli (35%). All patients required mechanical ventilation (mean duration: 85 ± 556 h) and haemodynamic support (mean duration 49 ± 335 h). Mortality rate was 19% in full term infants, 12.5% in near term infants and 27% in extremely preterm infants. Conclusions Our results would indicate a high mortality rate in neonatal septic shock. A goal –directed therapy for septic shock, implanted in our PICU, could improve outcomes for this vulnerable population.
BCR/ABL modifies the kinetics and fidelity of DNA double-strand breaks repair in hematopoietic cells.

The oncogenic BCR/ABL tyrosine kinase facilitates the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). We find that after γ-irradiation BCR/ABL-positive leukemia cells accumulate more DSBs in comparison to normal cells. These lesions are efficiently repaired in a time-dependent fashion by BCR/ABL-stimulated non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) followed by homologous recombination repair (HRR) mechanisms. However, mutations and large deletions were detected in HRR and NHEJ products, respectively, in BCR/ABL-positive leukemia cells. We propose that unfaithful repair of DSBs may contribute to genomic instability in the Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemias.
Using Educational Outcomes and Student Portfolios to Steer Management Education

In response to numerous external pressures, business schools today are struggling to enact and evaluate educational outcomes to help establish both validity and accountability. This article describes the process used by a management department to create an outcomes document that serves as a student guide for skills development. Student portfolios are now a required part of the curriculum to measure the attainment of knowledge, skills, and abilities. The article concludes by discussing the ramifications of these processes (for curriculum, students, and faculty) as well as articulating the lessons learned from this process, which may serve to guide other institutions.
Spin-glass behavior from Migdal's recursion relations

The Edwards-Anderson model of a spin glass is studied by position-space renormalization-group techniques, using an inhomogeneous generalization of Migdal's approximate recursion relation. We treat the spin-1/2 Ising model with independently random nearest-neighbor interactions in dimensionalities $d=2, 3, \mathrm{and} 4$. The phase diagram, which is in qualitative agreement with mean-field results, exhibits paramagnetic, ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, and spin-glass phases. The spin-glass and paramagnetic phases meet along an extended second-order phase boundary, which terminates in two tricritical points. Critical and tricritical exponents are calculated. The spin-glass specific-heat exponent turns out to be large and negative, compatibly with recent experiments which show a rounded specific-heat anomaly.
Autocatalytic continuous reactions in a stirred tank: I. Multiplicity of steady states

The multiplicity of steady states in a stirred tank was considered, in which a continuum of autocatalytic reactions of the type A+2B→3B, B→C is taking place by letting A(x) be the species or a continuous mixture. The distribution of A(x) in the feed can be quite general (though it was found to be convenient to do calculations with gamma distributions) and a method is given for determining the region of parameter space corresponding to qualitatively different behaviors in the case where the overall conversion curve has a single inflection point. As with the single component, there is a region in which there are three steady states, outside of which the steady state is unique. It was found that the size of the region of multiplicity diminishes only slightly as the variance of the feed distribution increases
Fast Rectangular Matrix Multiplication and Applications

First we study asymptotically fast algorithms for rectangular matrix multiplication. We begin with new algorithms for multiplication of ann×nmatrix by ann×n2matrix in arithmetic timeO(n?),?=3.333953?, which is less by 0.041 than the previous record 3.375477?. Then we present fast multiplication algorithms for matrix pairs of arbitrary dimensions, estimate the asymptotic running time as a function of the dimensions, and optimize the exponents of the complexity estimates. For a large class of input matrix pairs, we improve the known exponents. Finally we show three applications of our results: (a)we decrease from 2.851 to 2.837 the known exponent of the work bounds for fast deterministic (NC) parallel evaluation of the determinant, the characteristic polynomial, and the inverse of ann×nmatrix, as well as for the solution to a nonsingular linear system ofnequations, (b)we asymptotically accelerate the known sequential algorithms for the univariate polynomial composition modxn, yielding the complexity boundO(n1.667) versus the old record ofO(n1.688), and for the univariate polynomial factorization over a finite field, and (c)we improve slightly the known complexity estimates for computing basic solutions to the linear programming problem withmconstraints andnvariables.
Inflammatory bowel disease: past, present, and future.

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), are largely diseases of the twentieth century, and are associated with the rise of modern, Westernized industrial society. Although the causes of these diseases remain incompletely understood, the prevailing model is that the intestinal flora drives an unmitigated intestinal immune response and inflammation in the genetically susceptible host. A review of the past and present of these diseases shows that detailed description preceded more fundamental elucidation of the disease processes. Working out the details of disease pathogenesis, in turn, has yielded dividends in more focused and effective therapy for IBD. This article highlights the key descriptions of the past, and the pivotal findings of current studies in disease pathogenesis and its connection to medical therapy. Future directions in the IBD will likely explicate the inhomogeneous causes of these diseases, with implications for individualized therapy.
Analysis of Sry Duplications On the Rattus Norvegicus Y-Chromosome

Gene copy number variation plays a large role in the evolution of genomes. In Rattus norvegicus and other rodent species, the Y-chromosome has accumulated multiple copies of Sry loci. These copy number variations have been previously linked with changes in phenotype of animal models such as the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). This study characterizes the Y-chromosome in the Sry region of Rattus norvegicus, while addressing functional variations seen in the Sry protein products. Eleven Sry loci have been identified in the SHR with one (nonHMG Sry) containing a frame shift mutation. The nonHMGSry is found and conserved in the related WKY and SD rat strains. Three new, previously unidentified, Sry loci were identified in this study (Sry3BII, Sry4 and Sry4A) in both SHR and WKY. Repetitive element analysis revealed numerous LINE-L1 elements at regions where conservation is lost among the Sry copies. In addition we have identified a retrotransposed copy of Med14 originating from spliced mRNA, two autosomal genes (Ccdc110 and HMGB1) and a normal mammalian Y-chromosome gene (Zfy) in the Sry region of the rat Y-chromosome. Translation of the sequences of each Sry gene reveals eight proteins with amino acid differences leading to changes in nuclear localization and promoter activation of a Sry-responsive gene. Sry-β (coded by the Sry2 locus) has an increased cytoplasmic fraction due to alterations at amino acid 21. Sry-γ has altered gene regulation of the Sry1 promoter due to changes at amino acid 76. The duplication of Sry on the Rattus norvegicus Y-chromosome has led to proteins with altered functional ability that may have been selected for functions in addition to testis determination. Additionally, several other genes not normally found on the Y-chromosome have duplicated new copies into the region around the Sry genes. These suggest a role of active transposable elements in the evolution of the mammalian Y-chromosome in species such as Rattus norvegicus.
Cross-sectional nanophotoluminescence studies of Stark effects in self-assembled quantum dots

By using a cross-sectional geometry, we show the capability to perform single-dot spectroscopy in self-assembled quantum dots using far-field optics. By using this method, we study the quantum-confined Stark effect in self-assembled quantum dots. For single-stack quantum dots (QDs), we find that the spectra are redshifted with an increase in electric field. For vertically coupled double-stack quantum dots, while most of the QDs are redshifted, some QDs show blueshifted spectra, which can be interpreted as an evidence of coupled QD molecules.
Surface melting of Ni(110).

Disordering and melting of the surface of Ni(110) are investigated using molecular-dynamics simulations, in which the embedded-atom theory is used to describe the energetics and interatomic interactions. The surface region disorders at temperatures as low as 1450 K via the generation of vacancies accompanied by the formation of an adlayer. The development of a quasiliquid region exhibiting liquidlike energetic, structural, and transport properties, and whose thickness increases as the temperature approaches the melting point, is observed. It is concluded that the premelting of the surface occurs at {ital T}{approx gt}1700 K.
Nuclear receptor-estrogen complex: relationship between concentration and early uterotrophic responses.

The quantitative relationship between the amount of receptor—estrogen complex in the nuclear fraction of rat uterine cells and the extent of early uterotropic responses was studied in the immature rat. The quantity of nuclear receptor—estrogen complex, R—E, is maximal 1 hr after estradiol treatment. A decrease in nuclear R—E between 1 and 6 hr following estradiol treatment was observed which was dependent on hormonal dosage. During this 5–hr period, 70–80% of the sites were lost from the nuclear fraction following pharmacologic doses (1.0–2.5 μg) while a 7–9% decrease was observed with physiological doses (0.05–0.1 μg). Maximal increases in uterine weight were obtained when levels of nuclear R—E represented only a fraction of the total quantity of receptor in the uterus. However, a high correlation was observed between water imbibition and the quantity of nuclear R—E present at 3 and 6 hr after estradiol injection. In addition, positive correlations were found between the quantity of nuclear R—E and the e...
The neural and chemical basis of reward: New discoveries and theories in brain control of feeding, mating, aggression, self-stimulation and self-injection

Discovery of endogenous opiates raises the possibility that they serve as a reward for behavior, including law-abiding behavior. This paper begins with a discussion of homeostatic behavior, drinking, feeding, and then social behavior, mating and aggression. It is possible that peptide fragments of longer protein chains serve as ‘drive peptides’ in the sense that each is evolutionarily adapted to serve a battery of body and brain functions. Dual function, gut-brain peptides have recently been discovered for digestion and satiety, blood volume and thirst, and ovulation and sexuality. Aggression-control peptides are a logical possibility. Studies are described in which feeding, mating and killing responses are induced or blocked by electrical or chemical stimulation of the hypothalamus in the rat. Animals will also work to stimulate their own brain electrically or with the catecholaminergic drug, amphetamine, or with the opiates morphine and enkephalin. These reward systems could conceivably reward not only homeostatic behavior and self-centered social behavior, but also altruistic behavior. A hypothetical model of brain function is proposed in which endogenous catecholamine and/or opiate rewards are released by behavior that matches a memory or ‘rule’ of prior behavior. Thus complying with internalized laws or expectations is in itself rewarding. Altruism as such is not necessarily innately rewarding, but matching performance to expectation probably is. Behavioristic, physiological psychology can explore the role of opiates in legal expectations; behavioristic cultural anthropology can explore the legal expectations that people depend on for their reward. In summary, a theory is presented in which innately coded peptides prime physiological and behavioral patterns for feeding, mating and aggression; catecholamines modulate arousal and activation; and opiates reward successful compliance with rules, most of which are learned, some of which are laws.
Lap computer or on-line coding and data analysis for laboratory and field observations

Abstract The lap computer enables long-term storage of sequential, time-series data and can be easily interfaced with a microcomputer. As such, it is an ideal instrument for the coding and storage of laboratory or field observation data. Coding examples of dyadic interactions and sleep/wake behavior observations are provided and descriptions are given of the hardware required and the software that has been developed for those and other applications.
Differential rehearsal and primacy effects

Rehearsal of initial list items at the expense of middle list items was hypothesized to account for primacy effects in a free-recall (FR) task. Three predictions from the hypothesis were: (a) Primacy effects should be reduced under instructions not to rehearse prior list items; (b) the size of the primacy effect should increase with increasing presentation duration of list items; (c) the increase in the magnitude of the primacy effect with increasing presentation duration should be greater under conventional than under nonrehearsal FR instructions. Only prediction (b) was supported. Nonconfirmation of remaining predictions may have been due to S 's inability to avoid rehearsal of prior list items under nonrehearsal instructions.
Polyethylene Pyrolysis: Theory and Experiments for Molecular-Weight-Distribution Kinetics

A novel reactor for pyrolysis of a polyethylene melt stirred by bubbles of flowing nitrogen gas at atmospheric pressure permits uniform-temperature depolymerization. Sweep-gas experiments at temperatures 370−410 °C allowed pyrolysis products to be collected separately as reactor residue (solidified polyethylene melt), condensed vapor, and uncondensed gas products. Molecular-weight distributions (MWDs) determined by gel permeation chromatography indicated that random scission and repolymerization (cross-linking) broadened the polymer-melt MWD. Observing the repolymerization reaction is difficult if the condensate and melt are not recovered separately as in the described experiments. The C1−C5 uncondensed gas products were formed by chain-end scission, according to the continuous-distribution theory proposed to interpret the experimental data. The mathematical model accounts for the mass transfer of vaporized products from the polymer melt to gas bubbles. The driving force for mass transfer is the interphas...
Electron operator at the edge of the 1/3 fractional quantum Hall liquid

This study builds upon the work of Palacios and MacDonald [Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 118 (1996)], wherein they identify the bosonic excitations of Wen's approach for the edge of the $1∕3$ fractional quantum Hall state with certain operators introduced by Stone. Using a quantum Monte Carlo method, we extend this approach to larger systems containing up to 40 electrons and obtain more accurate thermodynamic limits for various matrix elements for a short-range interaction. The results are in agreement with those of Palacios and MacDonald for small systems, but offer further insight into a detailed approach to the thermodynamic limit. For the short range interaction, the results are consistent with chiral Luttinger liquid predictions. We also study excitations using the Coulomb ground state for up to nine electrons to ascertain the effect of interactions on the results; in this case, our tests of the chiral Luttinger liquid approach are inconclusive.
Vegetation and slope effects on accuracy of a LiDAR-derived DEM in the sagebrush steppe

This study analysed the errors associated with vegetation cover type and slope in a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) derived digital elevation model (DEM) in a semiarid environment in southwest Idaho, USA. Reference data were collected over a range of vegetation cover types and slopes. Reference data were compared to bare-ground raster values and root mean square error (RMSE) and mean signed error (MSE) were used to quantify errors. Results indicate that vegetation cover type and slope have statistically significant effects on the accuracy of a LiDAR-derived bare-earth DEM. RMSE and MSE ranged from 0.072 to 0.220 m and from −0.154 to 0.017 m, respectively, with the largest errors associated with herbaceous cover and steep slopes. The lowest errors were associated with low sagebrush and low-slope environments. Although the RMSEs in this study were lower than those reported by others, further refinement of the accuracy of LiDAR systems may be needed for fine-scale vegetation and terrain applications in r...
Paradigm shifts in the management of poor-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia

With the growing complexity of treatment options for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and variables that influence the underlying biology of this disease, providing allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT) to appropriate candidates poses a challenge for transplant physicians. Novel small molecule inhibitors hold unprecedented promise for poor-risk subgroups, which will likely alter decision-making and referral patterns for transplant. In this review, we analyze what is known and may still remain true about indications for transplant based on outcomes reported in the literature recently and over the last decade.
Development and validation of a model for the chemical kinetics of graphite oxidation

Abstract A model of the chemical kinetics and primary reactions of graphite oxidation is developed and successfully validated for pyrolytic carbon thin films. The model uses Gaussian distributions of the activation energies for adsorption and desorption and the measured active surface area (ASA) as a function of burn-off. The activation energies distributions and the pre-exponential rate coefficients for the four elementary oxidation kinetics reactions in the model are obtained from the reported measurements of the gases yields and adsorbed oxygen using a multi-parameter optimization algorithm. The model calculates the production rates of CO and CO 2 and the gasification rate as functions of temperature and oxygen partial pressure, and its predictions are in excellent agreement with reported experimental measurements. Results for pyrolytic carbon thin films show that when the oxygen pressure is kept constant, the gasification rate depends on both temperature and ASA until a full burn-off is reached. By contrast, in a depleting oxygen environment, only partial burn-off is possible; gasification ceases following the consumption of the free oxygen in the enclosure. This model represents the first phase in an ongoing effort to develop a model for predicting the oxidation kinetics of nuclear graphite following a massive air ingress in high temperature reactors.
Phosphorylation coupled to electron transport mediated by high potential electron carriers

Abstract 1. 1. It is shown that with fresh preparations of rat liver mitochondria, phosphorylation coupled to electron transport to oxygen initiated by exogenous cytochrome c, silicomolybdate or ferricyanide, maintained reduced with ascorbate, requires the presence of factors which apparently act to stabilize the mitochondrial structure. These factors are not necessary for obtaining maximal P/O ratios in succinate oxidation. The requirements are a mildly alkaline reaction medium (pH 7.8–8.0), fluoride (7.5 · 10−3M), EDTA (3 · 10−4M) or phosphotungstate (7.5 · 10−6M) with cytochrome c; Ba++, Sr++ or Mn++ (2 · 10−4M) with silicomolybdate; and Ba++ or Sr++ (2 · 10−4M) or Mg++ (7.5 · 10−3M) with ferricyanide. The P/O ratios obtained with silicomolybate and ferricyanide lie between 1.0 and 2.0, depending on the concentration of the complex anion. 2. 2. It is shown that silicomolybdate can also mediate the oxidation of external DPNH by intact rat-liver mitochondria and that phosphorylation is very efficiently coupled to this oxidation in the absence of the special divalent metal ions which are required when ascorbate is used to maintain the silicomolybdate in its reduced state. Ferrocyanide is also capable of mediating DPNH oxidation but only in the presence of high (7.5 · 10−3M) concentrations of Mg++. Phosphorylatation is efficiently coupled to this oxidation. The high potential electron donors initiate electron transport reactions more efficiently when DPNH rather than ascorbate is used to maintain the donors reduced. It is suggested that DPNH modifies the permeability of the mitochondrial surface. 3. 3. It is suggested that the data generally support the concept that electron transport initiated by high potential electron carriers disrupts some structural feature of the mitochondria which maintains the coupling between respiration and phosphorylation and that special ionic factors can stabilize the system against such disruption.
Estimation of regional myocardial mass at risk based on distal arterial lumen volume and length using 3D micro-CT images.

Abstract The determination of regional myocardial mass at risk distal to a coronary occlusion provides valuable prognostic information for a patient with coronary artery disease. The coronary arterial system follows a design rule which allows for the use of arterial branch length and lumen volume to estimate regional myocardial mass at risk. Image processing techniques, such as segmentation, skeletonization and arterial network tracking, are presented for extracting anatomical details of the coronary arterial system using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Moreover, a method of assigning tissue voxels to their corresponding arterial branches is presented to determine the dependent myocardial region. The proposed micro-CT technique was utilized to investigate the relationship between the sum of the distal coronary arterial branch lengths and volumes to the dependent regional myocardial mass using a polymer cast of a porcine heart. The correlations of the logarithm of the total distal arterial lengths ( L ) to the logarithm of the regional myocardial mass ( M ) for the left anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex (LCX) and right coronary (RCA) arteries were log( L )=0.73log( M )+0.09 ( R =0.78), log( L )=0.82log( M )+0.05 ( R =0.77) and log( L )=0.85log( M )+0.05 ( R =0.87), respectively. The correlation of the logarithm of the total distal arterial lumen volumes ( V ) to the logarithm of the regional myocardial mass for the LAD, LCX and RCA were log( V )=0.93log( M )−1.65 ( R =0.81), log( V )=1.02log( M )−1.79 ( R =0.78) and log( V )=1.17log( M )−2.10 ( R =0.82), respectively. These morphological relations did not change appreciably for diameter truncations of 600–1400μm. The results indicate that the image processing procedures successfully extracted information from a large 3D dataset of the coronary arterial tree to provide prognostic indications in the form of arterial tree parameters and anatomical area at risk.
Family Support for Weight Management: Links between Perceived Quantity and Quality

Despite evidence of the positive effects of social support on weight management, researchers have not examined weight management support within the family. To address this gap, we explored factors associated with the perceived quality of four types of familial social support: instrumental, informational, companionship, and emotional. We found that study participants received instrumental support more than other types of support. Familial factors including mother's weight and family communication were significantly associated with the provision of perceived informational or emotional support. Personal factors including sex, race, income, and weight were significantly associated with perceived instrumental, informational, or companionship support. The results also suggest that the perceived quantity of support is an indicator of the support quality.
An examination of the relationships among interpersonal stress, morale and academic performance in male and female medical students

Conflicts between medical students and persons involved in their clinical training are a common, yet little studied, source of stress for students. The study reported in this paper examined the relationships between interpersonal stress, specific to training, and measures of students' morale and academic performance during the clinical phase of medical education. The results show that although interpersonal stress was inversely related to morale in both male and female students, the relationship was stronger for females. Morale and interpersonal stress variables strongly predicted the academic performance of female students, as measured by the grades they received in clinical clerkships and their scores on the Part II examination of the National Board of Medical Examiners. The results for males were less clear-cut, as the predictor variables were significantly related to only one of the two performance measures. These findings are consistent with the view that non-cognitive factors have particular relevance for the performance of female medical students.
Synthesis and magnetic properties of SrFe12-x -yAlxCoyO19 nanocomposites prepared via autocombustion technique

Abstract SrFe12−x−yAlxCoyO19 (x = 1.0–4.0, and y = 0.0–2.0) polycrystalline samples were prepared via autocombustion method and analyzed with respect to their structural and magnetic characteristics. The possibility of simultaneous substitution of Fe3+ by Al3+ and Co2+ was verified for low substitution degrees and it was established that single-phase Al3+–Co2+ substituted hexaferrites can only be obtained up to a maximum substitution of y
Observations on the fruits and seeds of neotropical Lecythidaceae

Fruit characteristics, embryo types, and funicle-aril features are described for the genera of neotropical Lecythidaceae. Their bearing on the taxonomy of the family is discussed and a generic key based on fruit and seed features is provided. The anomalous seed structure ofAsteranthos brasiliensis is pointed out. Known fruit and seed adaptations for dispersal are described.
High performance liquid chromatographic assay of phenylbutazone in pharmaceutical dosage forms

Abstract A simple, rapid and reliable high performance liquid chromatographic procedure for the quantitation of phenylbutazone in pharmaceutical dosage forms was developed, and compared with the U. S. P. XXI method and a spectrophotometric assay developed in this laboratory. A comparison of the three methods indicated that the HPLC method is the most rapid, simple and reproducible. The recoveries based on six placebo samples were 100.2, 99.2, and 99.4% by HPLC, UV and the U. S. P. method, respectively, and their respective CVs were 0.39, 0.73, and 1.5%. Replicate regression analyses of three standard plots in the concentration range of 0.02-0.12 mg/ml obtained using the HPLC assay on three different days yielded a correlation coefficient <0.999 and the coefficient of variation for the three slopes was 1.05%. It is suggested that the proposed HPLC method should be used for routine quality control and dosage form assay of phenylbutazone.
Impact of Negation Salience and Cognitive Resources on Negation During Attitude Formation

Because of the increased cognitive resources required to process negations, past research has shown that explicit attitude measures are more sensitive to negations than implicit attitude measures. The current work demonstrated that the differential impact of negations on implicit and explicit attitude measures was moderated by (a) the extent to which the negation was made salient and (b) the amount of cognitive resources available during attitude formation. When negations were less visually salient, explicit but not implicit attitude measures reflected the intended valence of the negations. When negations were more visually salient, both explicit and implicit attitude measures reflected the intended valence of the negations, but only when perceivers had ample cognitive resources during encoding. Competing models of negation processing, schema-plus-tag and fusion, were examined to determine how negation salience impacts the processing of negations.
Relationship between Intraoral Air Pressure and Vocal Intensity in Children and Adults

Intraoral air pressure (P0) varies as a function of age. Specifically, children produce significantly higher P0 values than adults. The higher P0 produced by children has been discussed in relation...