cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of Quasigeostrophic Flows and Instability Theory

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the instability aspect of the quasi-geostrophic flows. As such flows are characteristic of all large-scale, low-frequency motions in a stably stratified and rotating fluid; they can also occur as forced motions, for example, motions resulting from the influences of large-scale topography and nonuniform heating. It has been shown that for such large-scale flows, the vertical acceleration can be neglected in the equation of motion, and the influence of the local density variation can be disregarded in the continuity equation. A very important property of the low-frequency (large-scale) disturbances in a rotating fluid is the tendency toward geostrophic balance. The quasi-geostrophic potential vorticity equation has also been used as the tool for numerical forecasting, especially during the early stage of the development of this branch of theoretical meteorology.
Lane estimation for autonomous vehicles using vision and lidar

Autonomous ground vehicles, or self-driving cars, require a high level of situational awareness in order to operate safely and efficiently in real-world conditions. A system able to quickly and reliably estimate the location of the roadway and its lanes based upon local sensor data would be a valuable asset both to fully autonomous vehicles as well as driver assistance technologies. To be most useful, the system must accommodate a variety of roadways, a range of weather and lighting conditions, and highly dynamic scenes with other vehicles and moving objects. Lane estimation can be modeled as a curve estimation problem, where sensor data provides partial and noisy observations of curves. The number of curves to estimate may be initially unknown and many of the observations may be outliers and false detections (e.g., due to tree shadows or lens flare). The challenge is to detect lanes when and where they exist, and to update the lane estimates as new observations are received. This thesis describes algorithms for feature detection and curve estimation, as well as a novel curve representation that permits fast and efficient estimation while rejecting outliers. Locally observed road paint and curb features are fused together in a lane estimation framework that detects and estimates all nearby travel lanes. The system handles roads with complex geometries and makes no assumptions about the position and orientation of the vehicle with respect to the roadway. Early versions of these algorithms successfully guided a fully autonomous Land Rover LR3 through the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge, a 90 km urban race course, at speeds up to 40 km/h amidst moving traffic. We evaluate these and subsequent versions with a ground truth dataset containing manually labeled lane geometries for every moment of vehicle travel in two large and diverse datasets that include more than 300,000 images and 44 km of roadway. The results illustrate the capabilities of our algorithms for robust lane estimation in the face of challenging conditions and unknown roadways. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Evolutionary fronts for topology-independent shape modeling and recovery

This paper presents a novel framework for shape modeling and shape recovery based on ideas developed by Osher & Sethian for interface motion. In this framework, shapes are represented by propagating fronts, whose motion is governed by a “Hamilton-Jacobi” type equation. This equation is written for a function in which the interface is a particular level set. Unknown shapes are modeled by making the front adhere to the object boundary of interest under the influence of a synthesized halting criterion. The resulting equation of motion is solved using a narrow-band algorithm designed for rapid front advancement. Our techniques can be applied to model arbitrarily complex shapes, which include shapes with significant protrusions, and to situations where no a priori assumption about the object's topology can be made. We demonstrate the scheme via examples of shape recovery in 2D and 3D from synthetic and low contrast medical image data.
Phase I study of oral clofarabine consolidation in adults aged 60 and older with acute myeloid leukemia.

Clofarabine has shown activity and tolerability in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We investigated the safety and tolerability of an oral formulation of clofarabine for consolidation therapy of patients aged 60 and older with AML. In this phase I study, twenty-two patients older than 60 years with AML in first complete remission were treated once daily with oral clofarabine for 14 or 21 days of a 28-day cycle, for up to five cycles. Dose escalation from 1 mg to 6 mg daily using a 3 + 3 design was used to determine dose-limiting toxicities (DLT), the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and tolerability of oral clofarabine. No DLTs or Grade 3–4 nonhematologic toxicities were observed. The primary toxicities were hematologic, including uncomplicated grade 3–4 neutropenia (50%) and thrombocytopenia (50%). Given that myelosuppression necessitating dose delays/reductions was observed more commonly at higher doses, the recommended phase II dose is 2 mg daily for 21 of 28 days. At doses equal to or greater than 2 mg, the median relapse-free survival was 28.35 months. Oral clofarabine was well-tolerated with encouraging activity in patients older than 60 years. Further investigation of oral clofarabine as a consolidation and/or maintenance therapy in AML for older individuals is warranted. (ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT00727766). Am. J. Hematol. 89:487–492, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Advancing Health Law & Social Justice in the Clinic, the Classroom and the Community

Law school clinics are paramount to developing law school graduates who embrace their “special responsibility for the quality of justice,” as well as their role in ensuring equal access to justice for marginalized, impoverished and underserved members of society. This responsibility permeates every aspect of lawyering, especially the practice of health law. This article explores, first, how clinics and social justice fit into the practice of health law and into the training of future health law attorneys and policymakers. Second, it defines social justice in the context of health and, finally, it provides examples that demonstrate how we can, and why we should, integrate social justice teaching into every law school, every classroom and the practice of health law.
Dietary regulation of glycolytic enzymes: VI. Effect of dietery sugars and oral folic acid on human jejunal pyruvate kinase, phosphofructokinase and fructosediphosphatase activities

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of dietary sugars and oral folic acid on the activities of human jejunal pyruvate kinase (ATP: pyruvate phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.40), phosphofructokinase ATP: D -Fru -6-P- phosphotransferase , EC 2.7.1.11) and frutosediphosphatase ( D -Fru -1,6-P 2 1- phosphohydrolase , EC 3.1.3.11) were studied in two normal volunteers and three obese patients. 2. 2. The activities of pyruvate kinase and phosphofructokinase are highest on dietary fructose and decrease in order on glucose, carbohydrate-free and fasting regimens. Fructosediphosphatase activities are highest with fasting and decrease in order with carbohydrate-free, fructose and glucose diets. The fructosediphosphatase to phosphofructokinase ratio, an estimate of the net direction of the glycolytic and gluconeogenetic pathways on the different diets, is highest with fasting and decrease in order on the carbohydrate-free, glucose and fructose diets. 3. 3. In contrast with the dietary sugars, oral folic acid produced a marked increase in the activities of all three enzymes. 4. 4. Therefore, oral folic acid and dietary sugars can regulate the activities of human jejunal gluconeogenetic, as well as glycolytic, enzymes.
Symposium: public policy and organization termination

This symposium has three objectives: first, to define the terminology of policy and organization termination and provide a review of literature that will identify current theories and frameworks of termination; second, to publish new studies that test and evaluate the usefulness of these theories and frameworks; and third, to encourage further testing and study of theories and frameworks that have proven so far to be useful in explaining termination.
Production of Bacterial Cells from Methane

A mixed methane-oxidizing bacterial culture capable of stable and predictable growth in continuous culture was isolated. The culture consisted of two types of gram-negative nonsporulating rods resembling pseudomonads. The culture grew well at 45 C on an inorganic medium without asepsis. Specific metal requirements for Ca2+, Cu2+, MoO42−, Zn2+, Mn2+, Mg2+, and Fe3+ (or Fe2+) were shown. The cells grown in continuous culture contained 11.7 to 12.1% total nitrogen. From an animal nutrition standpoint, the distribution of amino acids was satisfactory. The continuous fermentation was operated over a range of steady-state dilution rates from 0.085 to 0.301 hr−1. The maximum specific growth rate for the culture, μmax, was 0.303 hr−1 (doubling time 2.29 hr). The average yield for all fermentations analyzed was 0.616 g (dry weight of cells per g of methane used and 0.215 g (dry weight) of cells per g of oxygen used. The yields on both methane and oxygen were higher for the oxygen-limited than for the methane-limited fermentations. The maximum productivity attained in the fermentor was 2.39 g (dry weight) of cells per hr per liter at a dilution rate of 0.187 hr−1 and a cell concentration of 12.8 g (dry weight) of cells per liter. The limit on maximum cell productivity was determined only by the mass transfer rate of oxygen in the fermentor. The simultaneous volumetric mass-transfer coefficients (kLa in hr−1) for oxygen and methane were determined. The results appear to indicate an oxygen to methane mass-transfer coefficient ratio of approximately 1.4.
Judaism, Pluralism, and Constitutional Glare

This short essay is part of a symposium issue titled "People of the Book: Judaism's Influence on American Legal Scholarship." The essay is in part a bit of a spiritual memoir. More important, it tries to tie together various aspects of pluralism and existential encounter that have animated much of my scholarly work. The topics touched on include the question of religion-based exemptions in American constitutional law, the complicated relationship of natural law and positive, law, the debate on same-sex marriage, the problem I call "constitutional glare," and the jurisprudence of Jewish law.
MARRIAGE DEFINITION VOTES IN 13 STATES AND VOTING OUTCOMES

In 2004, voters in thirteen states approved amendments to their state constitutions defining marriage as involving one man and one woman. Oklahoma was one of these states. This paper examines the political context of the voting outcomes in these states. It analyzes the influence of religion on the county level votes for the marriage definition amendments, controlling for various political, demographic, and socioeconomic variables. The analysis reveals that while religious affiliation was an important fact in the political environment, the relationship between support for marriage definition and the 2004 Republican presidential vote was more important. The analysis also exhibits evidence that counties with large African-American populations strongly supported marriage definition amendments.
Understanding and Working With Substance Misusers, by Aaron Pycroft

Researchers seeking to advance their knowledge on harm reduction would do well to seek out writings from a British author with personal expertise on the subject and who at the same time presents th...
Comparative distribution of protein components of the A20 ubiquitin-editing complex in normal human brain

Activation of innate and adaptive immune responses is tightly regulated, as insufficient activation could result in defective clearance of pathogens, while excessive activation might lead to lethal systemic inflammation or autoimmunity. A20 functions as a negative regulator of innate and adaptive immunity by inhibiting NF-κB activation. A20 mediates its inhibitory function in a complex with other proteins including RNF11 and Itch, both E3 ubiquitin ligases and TAX1BP1, an adaptor protein. Since NF-κB has been strongly implicated in various neuronal functions, we predict that its inhibitor, the A20 complex, is also present in the nervous system. In efforts to better understand the role of A20 complex and NF-κB signaling pathway, we determined regional distribution of A20 mRNA as well as protein expression levels and distribution of RNF11, TAX1BP1 and Itch, in different brain regions. The distribution of TRAF6 was also investigated since TRAF6, also an E3 ligase, has an important role in NF-κB signaling pathway. Our investigations, for the first time, describe and demonstrate that the essential components of the A20 ubiquitin-editing complex are present and mainly expressed in neurons. The A20 complex components are also differentially expressed throughout the human brain. This study provides useful information about region specific expression of the A20 complex components that will be invaluable while determining the role of NF-κB signaling pathway in neuronal development and degeneration.
Differential Effects of Likelihood Alarm Technology and False-Alarm vs. Miss-Prone Automation on Decision-Making Accuracy and Bias

Alarms are implemented into automated systems to focus human operators' attention on potentially problematic conditions. Some automated alarm systems are false-alarm prone (FP) and others are missprone (MP) due to the nature of their setting and designer-imposed parameters. Binary alarm technology (BAT) and likelihood alarm technology (LAT) represent two methods of alarm implementation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differential effects of LAT combined with FP vs. MP automation on human decision-making accuracy and bias. This study utilized a 2 times 2 between-groups experimental design. Alarm technology (BAT vs. LAT) and type of automation (FP vs. MP) were systematically manipulated as independent variables. Decision-making accuracy and bias served as dependent measures. This experiment provides evidence for the advantages of LAT used in FP automation over alternative alarm configurations. Results supported hypotheses regarding a predicted interaction of alarm technology and type of autom...
The effects of attentional focus and partner responsiveness on sexual responding: replication and extension.

The effects of manipulating attentional focus (self- versus partner-focus) and level of partner responsiveness (high, low, and ambiguous) on sexual responding were examined with sexually functional (N =8) men. These manipulations were embedded in six standardized 3-minute erotic audiotapes. When the partner was displaying high sexual responsiveness, partner-focus resulted in significantly higher levels of penile responding than did self-focus. Poststimuli questionnaires indicated that, although not statistically significant, self-reported attentiveness was consistently higher under partner-focus conditions. These findings are discussed in regard to their relevance to the concept of spectatoring as discussed by Masters and Johnson (1970). A comparison to previous research that examined the same variables using videotapes is included.
Salt stress induced variation in DNA methylation pattern and its influence on gene expression in contrasting rice genotypes.

Background Salinity is a major environmental factor limiting productivity of crop plants including rice in which wide range of natural variability exists. Although recent evidences implicate epigenetic mechanisms for modulating the gene expression in plants under environmental stresses, epigenetic changes and their functional consequences under salinity stress in rice are underexplored. DNA methylation is one of the epigenetic mechanisms regulating gene expression in plant’s responses to environmental stresses. Better understanding of epigenetic regulation of plant growth and response to environmental stresses may create novel heritable variation for crop improvement. Methodology/Principal Findings Methylation sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) technique was used to assess the effect of salt stress on extent and patterns of DNA methylation in four genotypes of rice differing in the degree of salinity tolerance. Overall, the amount of DNA methylation was more in shoot compared to root and the contribution of fully methylated loci was always more than hemi-methylated loci. Sequencing of ten randomly selected MSAP fragments indicated gene-body specific DNA methylation of retrotransposons, stress responsive genes, and chromatin modification genes, distributed on different rice chromosomes. Bisulphite sequencing and quantitative RT-PCR analysis of selected MSAP loci showed that cytosine methylation changes under salinity as well as gene expression varied with genotypes and tissue types irrespective of the level of salinity tolerance of rice genotypes. Conclusions/Significance The gene body methylation may have an important role in regulating gene expression in organ and genotype specific manner under salinity stress. Association between salt tolerance and methylation changes observed in some cases suggested that many methylation changes are not “directed”. The natural genetic variation for salt tolerance observed in rice germplasm may be independent of the extent and pattern of DNA methylation which may have been induced by abiotic stress followed by accumulation through the natural selection process.
Host specificity of trail marking to foliage by eastern tent caterpillars, Malacosoma americanum

The recruitment trail marking behavior of eastern tent caterpillars (Malacosoma americanum Fabr.) was modified by rearing them on plants which they do not usually attack in nature. Caterpillars reared on one of two nonhosts (Prunus avium (L.) L. or Quercus coccinea Muenchh.) marked pheromone trails to foliage of their rearing plant, whereas caterpillars reared on a natural host plant (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) did not mark trails to nonhost foliage. Caterpillars preferred host to nonhost foliage, regardless of their rearing history. The degree of trail marking was correlated with suitability of foliage for larval growth. The results indicate that trail marking behavior is a response to relative rather than absolute food quality, but that preference behavior is more rigidly programmed to favor the optimal food. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Spurmarkierung zu Nichtwirtspflanzen bei Malacosoma americanum Fabr. Das Rekrutierungs-Spurmarkierungsverhalten von Malacosoma americanum Fabr. wurde durch die Zucht der Raupen auf Nichtwirtspflanzen modifiziert. Die Bevorzugung der Wirtspflanze jedoch wurde nicht verandert. Das Spurmarkierungsverhalten wurde im Laboratorium quantifiziert, indem die Zahl der markierten Abschnitte eines Kartonstreifens gezahlt wurde, auf dem die Raupe von einem Ende zum andern kroch. Das Praferenzverhalten wurde gepruft, indem Blattscheiben von Wirts-und Nichtwirtspflanzen an einem Ende des Kartonstreifens befestigt wurden. Die Raupen markierten Spuren zu Nichtwirtspflanzen (Prunus avium oder Quercus coccinea) nur, wenn sie darauf gezuchtet worden waren. Andererseits war die Spurmarkierung auf Wirtspflanzen (Prunus serotina) hin intensiv unabhangig von der Art der Zucht. Ebenfalls unabhangig von der Aufzucht war die Bevorzugung von P. serotina vor Nichtwirtspflanzen in Wahlversuchen. Praferenz und Spurmarkierung waren korreliert mit der Eignung der Blatter fur Raupenwachstum. Die Resultate zeigen, dass das Spurmarkierungsverhalten mehr eine Reaktion auf relative als auf absolute Futterqualitat ist, dass jedoch Praferenz strenger auf optimales Futter programmiert ist.
Material and genetic benefits of female multiple mating and polyandry

Abstract The maintenance of female polyandry has traditionally been attributed to the material (direct) benefits derived from male mating resources (e.g. nuptial gifts) accrued by multiple mating. However, genetic (indirect) benefits offer a more robust explanation since only polyandrous, not monandrous, females may gain both material benefits from multiple mating and genetic benefits from multiple sires. Discriminating between material and genetic benefits is essential when addressing the mechanism by which polyandry is adaptively maintained, but are difficult to disentangle because they affect fitness in similar ways. To test the hypothesis that genetic benefits maintain polyandry, we compared four components of fitness (longevity, fecundity, hatching success and survivorship) between monandrous and polyandrous females in the ground cricket, Allonemobius socius. We discovered that females derived nongenetic benefits from mating multiply, in that the magnitude of the nuptial gift was positively associated with the number of eggs produced. However, polyandrous females had over a two-fold greater hatching success and a 43% greater offspring survivorship, leading to a significantly higher relative fitness than the monandrous strategy. These results were independent of the confounding effects of material benefits, implying that genetic contributions play a large role in the maintenance of polyandry and potentially in the antagonistic coevolutionary relationship between polyandry and male nuptial gifts. Copyright 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Recognition and understanding of goals and roles: The key internal features of mental health court teams

The increasing involvement of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system has led to the formation of specialty programs such as mental health courts (hereafter MHCs). We discuss MHCs and the teams serving these courts. Specifically, we examine team members' perceptions of MHC goals and their own and others' roles on the MHC team. Using a semi-structured interview instrument, we conducted 59 face-to-face interviews with criminal justice and mental health treatment personnel representing 11 Ohio MHCs. Findings from our qualitative data analyses reveal that MHC personnel understand individuals' roles within the teams, recognize and appreciate the importance of different roles, and share common goals. MHCs could foster this level of understanding and agreement by working to recruit and retain individuals with experience in or willingness to learn about both the criminal justice and mental health systems. Future research should explore the impact of MHC team functioning on client outcomes.
XLR: Tackling the Inefficiency of Landmark-Based Routing in Large Wireless Sensor Networks

Landmark-based routing (LR) provides a promising approach for scalable point-to-point routing in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Though various approaches have been proposed for landmark-based routing, they either introduce significant computational complexity or are inefficient in realistic, dynamic environments. In this paper, we identify three design principles that could form the basis of efficiency: algorithmic simplicity, update efficiency, and application awareness. Motivated by these principles, we present XLR, a new, flexible and comprehensive framework that tackles the inefficiency of landmark-based routing. XLR consists of four components: Relay Selection (RS), Parametric P-Norm distance function (PPN), Efficient Update with Coordinate Difference (EUCD) and General Forwarding (GF). The key advantage of XLR is that any subset of XLR's components can be independently incorporated into most landmark-based routing protocols.We perform extensive simulations to demonstrate that: (i) RS, a simple method, yields good performance comparable with previous methods, (ii) PPN increases LR performance considerably, (iii) EUCD reduces coordinate update overhead by up to 39%, and (iv) our GF outperforms previous approaches that consider factors such as link quality, delay and power consumption independently.
Helical pores self-assembled from homochiral dendritic dipeptides based on L-Tyr and nonpolar alpha-amino acids.

The synthesis of dendritic dipeptides (4-3,4-3,5)12G2-CH2-Boc-l-Tyr-X-OMe where X = Gly, l-Val, l-Leu, l-Ile, l-Phe, and l-Pro is reported. Their self-assembly in bulk and in solution and the structural and retrostructural analysis of their periodic assemblies were compared to those of the previously reported and currently reinvestigated dendritic dipeptides with X = l-Ala. All dendritic dipeptides containing as X nonpolar α-amino acids self-assemble into helical porous columns. The substituent of X programs the structure of the helical pore and the resulting periodic array, in spite of the fact that its molar mass represents only between 0.05 and 4.77% from the molar mass of the dendritic dipeptide. In addition to the various 2-D columnar lattices, the dendritic dipeptides based on l-Ala, l-Leu, and l-Phe self-organize into 3-D hexagonal columnar crystals while those based on l-Val and l-Ile into an unknown columnar crystal. The principles via which the aliphatic and aromatic substituents of X program th...
Mechanical factors associated with posterior rib fractures: laboratory and case studies

Objective. The objective of this study was to explore the mechanical factors associated with posterior rib fractures. Materials and methods. Radiographs were reviewed in ten cadavers where rib fractures were produced by opening a median sternotomy with a sternal retractor. A second study used CT to evaluate for rib fractures following digital sternal depression and anteroposterior bimanual thoracic compression in three rabbits. Lastly, two cases of accidental posterior rib fractures in children were reviewed. Results. In the cadaver studies, ten rib fractures were noted, all at or medial to the costotransverse process articulations. In the rabbit study, 13 posterior rib fractures were noted, all occurring with excessive posterior levering of the ribs during bimanual compression. The accidental posterior rib fractures occurred with severe anteroposterior thoracic compression as children were decelerated into a car dashboard or struck by a car. Conclusion. Posterior rib fractures require excessive levering of the posterior ribs at the costotransverse process articulation. When these fractures occur in accidental situations, they require massive forces that entail similar mechanics to those occurring in abusive settings.
A cortical cystic epileptogenic lesion: tanycytic ependymoma.

Ependymomas are neuroepithelial tumors usually found in the fourth ventricle, spinal cord and filum terminale, with higher incidence in children and young adults and two main histological types (classic cellular and myxopapillary). Tanycytic ependymoma is a rare variant with cystic appearance, occasionally found outside the ventricular system and usually presenting with seizures. Histopathological analysis is essential to make differential diagnosis with DNETs, astrocytomas and brain abscess, since treatment of choice is surgery followed by radiation for anaplastic variants, with favourable prognosis, low recurrence rate and seizures control.
Rank regression with estimated scores

Abstract Rank-based estimates are asymptotically efficient when optimal scores are used. This paper describes a method for estimating the optimal score function based on residuals from an initial fit. The resulting adaptive estimate is shown to be asymptotically efficient.
Violence is the Language of the Unheard

This article describes a Power Laboratory in the Barry Oshry tradition that has a chilling relevance for the post–September 11 world. In this Lab, the “have-nots” behaved in a way that was totally ...
Axon collaterals of pontine taste area neurons project to the posterior ventromedial thalamic nucleus and to the gustatory neocortex

Retrograde axonal transport of fluorescent dyes was used to demonstrate collateral projections from neurons of the pontine taste area (PTA) to gustatory-responsive areas of the posterior ventromedial thalamic nucleus (VPM), and to the gustatory neocortex (GN) of the rat. Dual-labeled PTA neurons were reliably observed following application of two different fluorescent dyes to the GN and to VPM thalamus. Dye injections into the GN and into thalamic regions surrounding the VPM nucleus, the bed nucleus of stria terminalis or the infralimbic neocortex, did not result in dual-labeled cells within the PTA. This finding suggests that gustatory information may be relayed simultaneously and specifically to VPM thalamus and to the GN via collateral axons of PTA neurons.
Echocardiography in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC) is a cardiomyopathy characterized by fibrofatty replacement of the myocardium of the right ventricle (RV). The disease is often familial and is an important cause of ventricular arrhythmia in the young as well as of RV dilatation and dysfunction. Echocardiography is an important tool in the initial evaluation of a patient suspected of having AC. It is an ideal modality to assess RV size and function because of its widespread availability, portability, and ease of performance and interpretation. The ability to perform imaging even in patients with AC who have been treated with implantable cardioverter/defibrillators is an important advantage over magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for following up the affected individuals over time. Abnormalities of RV structure and function were important components of the diagnostic criteria put forth by the Task Force of the Working Group on Cardiomyopathies in 1994; however, the criteria for major and minor RV structure and function abnormalities developed by this group of experts lacked quantitative cut-points to help clinicians analyze the echocardiographic images of an individual suspected of having AC. At present, there is no single gold standard for the diagnosis, which makes it challenging to correctly categorize individuals at risk for AC. This challenge is most apparent when assessing the family members of the affected individuals or those individuals who may have a subclinical form of the disease. Moreover, the echocardiographic natural history
Kosterlitz- Thouless transition for a two-dimensional superconductor: Magnetic-field dependence from a Coulomb-gas analogy

A Coulomb-gas analogy of a two-dimensional superconductor is explored in order to estimate the effect of vortex fluctuations. Approximate expressions are derived for the way in which the resistance and the density of superconducting electrons depend on temperature and magnetic field.
Estimates of modern arc-parallel strain rates in fore arcs

Deflections of slip vectors of interplate thrust earthquakes from expected directions are used to estimate arc-parallel strain rates within the overriding plates at the world9s major convergent plate margins. Arc-parallel extension strain rates, between 10 −8 /yr and 10 −7 /yr and significant at 2 standard deviations, are observed in the fore arcs of the Aegean, Aleutian, Mariana, Sumatran, southern Kuriles, New Hebrides, Scotia, and southern Central American (lat 8° to 12°N) subduction zones and the Himalayas. Northern Chile (lat 17° to 31°S) and Central America (lat 11° to 18°N) show arc-parallel compression. Available geologic and geodetic estimates of fore-arc slip and strain rates agree within a factor of two with slip-vector estimates. Arc-parallel strain in fore arcs is rapid enough to produce geologically significant effects, such as unroofing of high-grade metamorphic rocks and disruption of transported fore-arc terranes. Fore arcs deform even where convergence is perpendicular to curved margins, demonstrating that head-on subduction can produce a three-dimensional strain field.
The β-reliable minimax and maximin location problems on a network with probabilistic weights

We study the β-reliable minimax and maximin location problems on a network when the weights associated with the nodal points are random variables. In the β-reliable minimax (maximin) problem, we locate a single facility so as to minimize (maximize) the upper (lower) bound on the maximum (minimum) weighted distance from the nodes to the facility with a probability greater than or equal to a pre-specified level β. It is shown that under some conditions the two probabilistic models are equivalent to their deterministic counterparts. Solution procedures are developed to solve the problems with weights of continuous and discrete probability distributions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2010
Urinary incontinence in elderly women

Abstract Urinary incontinence is a common, morbid, and costly condition affecting 10–50% of community-dwelling women over age 65. 1 Among elderly women urge incontinence is more prevalent than stress incontinence and, thus, is rarely amenable to cure by a single therapeutic intervention. 2 As both the number and population percentage of elderly women increase, gynecologists will be increasingly called upon to manage this chronic condition that impairs quality of life and socialization opportunities for millions of elders. Types, contributing factors, compensatory mechanisms, and response to therapy all differ somewhat in older compared to younger women. This article focuses on differences and nuances in the elderly that determine the likelihood of successful management. Besides bladder and urethral function, other urinary tract factors, such as sensation, and factors external to the lower urinary tract, such as mobility, influence whether an older person can remain continent. The practitioner must review the patient's medications and understand her medical history as it relates to current function. Postvoid residual measurement and a voiding record are virtually essential to understand both bladder and patient behavior. A positive urine culture must be interpreted with caution, because of the high incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in the elderly. Therapeutic success will increase in proportion to recognition and treatment of multiple factors. Treatment is partially or completely successful in most individuals, and almost all can obtain “social continence.” 3
Solid H2: Has the quadrupolar glass phase a well-defined transition?

Abstract We report measurements of the NMR lineshape, the second and fourth moments ( M 2 and M 4 ), and of the longitudinal relaxation tine in H 2 single crystals. Although a sharp phase transition cannot be excluded, our results for ortho concentrations between 0.15 and 0.4 suggest rather a continuous freezing of rotational motion to a “glass state” as T decreases. In this regime; the NMR spectrum is found to be very nearly isotropic.
Millennial Students' Perspectives on the Medical School Learning Environment: A Pilot Study from Two Institutions

As medical educators strive to teach members of the Millennial generation, it is important to understand their characteristics. Population theorists contend that Millennial generation students have a defining set of characteristics influencing their learning. The study’s purpose was to explore medical students’ perceptions of characteristic Millennial attitudes and behaviors. The following three overarching questions were used to guide this qualitative inquiry: 1) What are the Millennial students’ expressed needs in the learning environment?; 2) How do Millennial students perceive issues related to cultural sensitivity, service learning, and work-life balance?; 3) What expectations do Millennial students have that could influence the provision of institutional support services? Fourteen first-year students and nine third-year students from two medical schools in the United States participated in focus groups to explore the areas of: Learning Preferences, Technology, Feedback, Diversity, Community Service, Maintaining Balance, and Institutional Accountability. Results of our study suggest that Millennial medical students prefer hands-on learning experiences in a non-competitive environment, individualized feedback, and use of technology to manage information. Students want exposure to different cultures in the clinical setting. Some, but not all, students value community service experience and exposure. They recognize difficulties in maintaining a healthy balance in their lives. Students desire help with transitions, improved advising and mentoring, and assurance of a medical education on the cutting edge. We believe our work is a good initial step in exploring Millennial behaviors in medical students and devising appropriate responses. Having an awareness of the unique qualities of Millennial students can increase the probability of implementing effective medical school curricular and academic support initiatives that are attuned to their learning preferences.
Identification of QTLs controlling seed dormancy in peach ( Prunus persica )

Dormancy is a condition that delays or inhibits growth in seed, vegetative buds, and floral buds. In peach, seed germination occurs when seed accumulate sufficient stratification and growing degree hours to break dormancy and begin growing. Correlations have been reported between mean seed stratification requirements and mean bud chilling requirements among Prunus families, but an individual seed’s germination date and subsequent vegetative and floral bud break date are not correlated. Prior to this study, the genetic factors involved in regulating seed dormancy and their location on the peach genomic map were unknown. Segregating F2 seed were collected from a high × low chill F1 peach hybrid in 2005, 2006, and 2008. Germination date and growth habit was measured after the stratification requirement of the 2005 seed was fully met. The seed collected in 2006 and 2008 received varying amounts of stratification, which enabled data on stratification requirement, heat requirement, and growth habit to be collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from seedling leaf tissue and screened with SSR markers selected from the Prunus reference map at an average resolution of 20 cM. Seed dormancy quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected on G1, G4, G6/8, and G7. The QTLs detected on G6/8 and G7 were discovered in the same region as QTLs associated with floral bud chilling requirement and bloom time in peach.
Quantitation of amylases in Drosophila separated by acrylamide gel electrophoresis

A technique was developed for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of amylases separated by disc electrophoresis. Gels in which separation occurred were incubated against a starch-acrylamide film attached to a glass plate. This was subsequently stained with iodine, covered with another plate, and scanned with a densitometer. Enzyme activity as well as an impression of the gels were transferred to the film, thus providing a permanent record of both banding patterns and activity in each band without destroying the gels. A direct relationship was demonstrated between enzyme concentration and change in optical density of the substrate in the bands on the stained film. It was also shown that the amylases remaining in the gels were fully active following electrophoresis and incubation. They could then be cut out, eluted and used for further analysis. The method was applied to extracts from individual adults of eight Amy strains of D. melanogaster, each characterized by a different amylase banding pattern. Patterns formed by separation in acrylamide gel were compared with those previously described for agar gel electrophoresis. Relative activity in each band of a given pattern was determined in addition to the actual activity, which was calculated in mg starch hydrolyzed/minute. Total activity, or the sum of the activities in all bands of a given genotypic pattern, was calculated for each fly. The results fell within the range of expected variability expressed by single flies of each genotype when subjected to standard methods of starch-iodine assay.
Water in peralkaline aluminosilicate melts to 2 GPa and 1400°C

The solubility of H2O in melts along the join CaSi4O4-Ca(Ca0.5Al)4O9 (0, 3, and 6 mol% Al2O3) has been determined at 0.8 to 2.0 GPa and 1200 to 1400°C and compared with the solubility of H2O in melts along the joins Na2Si4O9-Na2(NaAl)4O9 and K2Si4O9-K2(KAl)4O9. The H2O solubility is a positive function of pressure and a negative function of temperature and Al2O3 content so that solubility, XH2Omelt (mol%), is XH2Omelt(CAS)=19±2−0.7±0.1•XAl2O3+0.06±0.02•(XAl2O3)2+13.3±0.2•P(GPa)−0.011±0.001•T(K). In alkali aluminosilicate melts, the solubility is considerably more sensitive to pressure, Al2O3, and temperature. The H2O solubility data in the 0.8- to 2.0-GPa and 1200 to 1400°C pressure and temperature range are consistent with constant activity coefficient of H2O in the melt. The partial molar volume of H2O, VH2Omelt, derived from the solubility data, ranges between 12.4 cm3/mol for Al-free CaSi4O9 melt and 10.4 cm3/mol for CaSi4O9 + 6 mol% Al2O3. This decrease in VH2Omelt with increasing Al2O3 is similar to that reported for H2O in melts along the two alkali aluminosilicate joins (Na2Si4O9-Na2(NaAl)4O9 and K2Si4O9-K2(KAl)4O9). The VH2Omelt is invariant with temperature in contrast to VH2Omelt along the joins, Na2Si4O9-Na2(NaAl)4O9 and K2Si4O9-K2(KAl)4O9, where in both cases VH2Omelt decreases with increasing temperature.
EFFECT OF OXYGEN PRESSURE ON INTERNAL OXIDATION OF NICKEL-ALUMINUM ALLOYS

Abstract The oxidation behavior of solid-solution nickel-aluminum alloys was studied at four levels of oxygen pressure ranging from a partial pressure of 10−4 atmosphere to a total pressure of 10 a...
The role of politics and proximity in sea level rise policy salience: a study of Virginia legislators’ perceptions

The acceleration of sea level rise (SLR) has become a threat to the stability of nation-states worldwide and associated with risks to environmental sustainability, economic infrastructure, and public health. However, from both an international and U.S. perspective, there is a lack of research examining legislative decision makers’ perceptions about policies regarding SLR. This study addresses that gap by examining how politics and proximity affects Virginia state legislators’ perceptions of the saliency of SLR. A survey of these legislators reveals their perceptions of credible sources of information, SLR-related risk, and who should take the lead to address SLR. While this study confirms other research about the effects of political party, it finds that proximity to coastal areas also greatly influences the perceived saliency of SLR. The findings from this research project enhance our understanding of the challenges inherent in addressing SLR at the state level. Finally, this study points to implications for agenda setting and suggests areas of further study regarding SLR policy at the state and local government levels.
High performance, low cost, colorless ONU for WDM-PON

We give an overview of key technologies for realizing WDM-PON. In particular, we highlight promising developments and directions in widely tunable laser technologies for achieving a high performance, colorless ONU at the cost points required for access networks.
High critical currents obtained by heat treating rapidly quenched Hf-Zr-V metallic glasses

We have found that metallic glasses can be formed in the Hf-V, Zr-V, and Hf-Zr-V systems by rapid quenching. The importance of this finding is threefold: 1) Like many metallic glasses these glasses exhibit excellent mechanical properties. 2) Using well established rapid quenching techniques the material can be economically produced as ribbon, filament, or powder. 3) Because the amorphous material is homogeneous on an atomic scale a variety of microstructures not obtainable by standard metallurgical procedures are possible. These glasses represent a potentially useful starting material for the fabrication of high field, high current superconducting devices. Completely amorphous samples were not found to be superconducting above 2 K. Controlled growth of the C-15 Laves phase compound by heat treating the glasses results in materials having J c (4.2 K) 105A/cm2at H applied = 150 kOe.
In vitro elution of ofloxacin from a bioabsorbable polymer.

A drawback with antibiotic-loaded polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) beads is the second surgical procedure that may be required to remove the beads. We explored alternatives for the local delivery of antimicrobials and studied the release characteristics of ofloxacin (10 mg) when incorporated into either 30 or 50 mg beads of two different molar ratios of a bioabsorbable lactide: glycolide polymer. An elution method was employed over a 60-day period at 37°C. After 60 days, about half of the ofloxacin had been released from the composites containing 50 mg and 30 mg of the 85:15 polymer, whereas nearly all of the ofloxacin had been released from both sizes of the 50:50 polymer composites.
Volume Averaged Modeling of the Oxidation of Porous Carbon Fiber Material

Charring ablators remain the premium choice for space exploration missions that involve atmospheric re-entry. This type of ablative material is composed of a carbon matrix, usually made of fibers, which is then impregnated with a resin. During re-entry, the high heat flux produced by convective heating causes the material to chemically react. First, the resin pyrolyzes, and is vaporized into a gas that travels through the material, and is eventually ejected at the surface. Then, as the temperature rises, the surface of the porous matrix recess through ablative processes. For re-entry conditions typical of space exploration missions, this is mainly di↵usion limited oxidation. However, recent studies have shown that oxygen from the atmosphere actually penetrates a thin layer of the porous material, oxidizing the carbon fibers from within. This research activity presents a volume-averaged fiber-scale oxidation model, based on the one previously developed by Lachaud et al. The present model, however, solves the momentum equation as well as the energy equation. Results based on a an experimental test case are presented. The importance of solving both equations is clearly demonstrated, and a new value for carbon fiber oxidation reactivity is suggested.
FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED MEASUREMENTS OF CHF3/O2 DISCHARGES IN AN ELECTRON CYCLOTRON RESONANCE REACTOR

Knowledge of the neutral gas composition in a discharge is important for understanding the chemical processes involved in both etching and deposition environments. We have performed Fourier-transform infrared absorption spectrometry measurements of CHF3/O2 plasmas in an electron cyclotron etching tool. Spectral bands were observed from both gas-phase and surface-phase species (deposited on the vacuum windows). The primary gas-phase species were CF4, H2O2, and HF. Strong absorption bands due to CFx, where x=1, 2, or 3, deposition on the vacuum windows were also observed. The densities of the gas-phase species were calculated from the strength of the measured absorption. It was found for typical discharge powers that the HF density was approximately 80% of the total gas density and depended on the plasma density and neutral pressure. In addition, because HF, H2O2, and CF4 are not the feed gas, these data clearly show that recycling of the daughter species (C, CFx, Fx, etc.) on the chamber walls play an impo...