cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
To Plan for a Hoax Is a Disservice to the People

GW n G~ HE danger of nuclear war is a public health problem of ; unprecedented proportions; from a public health perV f F ~ gspective, prevention is the only meaningful policy to counter the threat of nuclear war. The health system of this nation, which itself would be decimated by a nuteo clear attack, cannot treat or cure the massive medical, social, and economic trauma that would result from nuclear war. The inescapable conclusion is that the social, environmental, and human health consequences of nuclear war would not be substantially mitigated by crisis relocation or post-attack health measures. To the contrary, planning for relocation of the population in anticipation of nuclear attack promotes the moral obscenity (Father Hesburgh's term) that world leaders can engage in a nuclear shootout without unacceptable numbers of civilian victims. In recent weeks, I have consulted with numerous public health professionals throughout California. Based on their advice and my own reflection, I believe it would be unethical for the public health community to participate in the federal government's nuclear war relocation planning. Therefore neither I nor the staff of my department will participate or provide input toward any nuclear war preparation plan which creates the false illusion that the public health community can offer any assurance of health protection to the citizens of California in the event of a malevolent detonation of nuclear warheads. To plan for a hoax is a disservice to the people of California. Rather, the Department of Health Services will continue to: "Promote an environment that will contribute to human health and well being" and
Apodization by the Stiles–Crawford effect moderates the visual impact of retinal image defocus

Previous optical modeling of the human eye with large pupils has predicted a larger impact of defocus on the human contrast sensitivity function and modulation transfer function than is observed experimentally. Theory predicts that aberrations and the Stiles–Crawford effect (SCE) should both lead to increased depth of focus, resulting in higher contrast sensitivities and veridical (not phase-reversed) perception over a larger range of spatial frequencies in defocused retinal images. Using a wave optics model, we examine these predictions quantitatively and compare them with psychophysical experiments that measure the effect of defocus on contrast sensitivity and perceived phase reversals. We find that SCE apodization has its biggest effect on defocused image quality when defocus and spherical aberration have the same sign. A model including typical amounts of spherical aberration and pupil apodization provides a dramatically improved prediction of the effects of defocus on contrast sensitivity with large pupils. The SCE can significantly improve defocused image quality and defocused vision, particularly for tasks that require veridical phase perception.
Dentistry and AIDS: an ethical opinion.

D entistry, like other professions, is partly defined by its code of ethics, which is found in the American Dental Association Principles o f Ethics and Code o f Professional Conduct, with advisory opinions. These principles declare the dentist’s primary profes­ sional obligation to be “service to the public,” and allow only “reasonable discretion in selecting patients.” A recent ADA advisory opinion adds that whether “an individual has AIDS or is HIV seropositive” is irrelevant to his or her selection as a patient. Refusing to treat an HIV-infected patient is therefore clearly inconsis­ tent with a dentist’s professional obligations. Dental hygienists have their own Principles o f Ethics, one of which requires the hygienist to “serve all patients without discrim ination.” Refusing to treat an HIV-infected patient is also clearly inconsistent with a hygienist’s professional obligations. However, the same argument can not be made for other dental person­ nel. The Code o f Professional Con­ duct of dental assistants provides little guidance on such particulars as discrimination. Dental laboratory technicians do not seem to have a code of ethics, although denturists do. Because office personnel do not have a professional organization, they have no code of ethics. Dentists are not in quite the same moral position as their employees. Dentists guard the door to dental care. Thus, although a dental hygienist’s special skills are part of general dentistry, if all hygienists refused to treat a patient, he or she could still receive dental care from a dentist. The same is true if all dental assistants refused to serve an HIV-infected patient. But, if all dentists refused treatment, a patient could not obtain treatment—unless he or she were willing to seek such care illegally. With this control comes a moral burden others do not bear.
Occurrence of Zebra Mussels in Near-shore Areas of Western Lake Erie

Abstract We measured biomass, percent coverage, and length-frequency of zebra mussels in near-shore areas of western Lake Erie between 16 September and 10 November 1993 as part of a larger study on the ecological relationship between diving ducks and zebra mussels. Wet weight biomass of zebra mussels, determined by SCUBA diving, ranged from 0 to 3,611 g/m 2 and averaged ( ± 1 SE) 1,270 ± 380 g/m 2 (n = 11). Percent coverage of lake bottom by zebra mussels ranged from 0 to 70% and averaged 17 ± 4.0% (n = 27). Percent coverage of zebra mussels was relatively high in the northern portion (28–70% coverage) and in the southwestern portion (18–40%), but relatively low ( 2 = 0.96) with zebra mussel biomass. Analysis of length-frequency data indicated that there was prominent recruitment of juvenile zebra mussels at only three of eight sites. Average shell length ranged from 11 mm to 15 mm at the other five sites. The non-uniform distribution of zebra mussels, as determined from biomass and videography, may have important ramifications when assessing zebra mussel impacts on waterfowl. These data may also be used when assessing impact of zebra mussels on other aquatic organisms in the near-shore areas of western Lake Erie.
A hypothermic miniaturized stereotaxic instrument for surgery in newborn rats

We describe a simple, scaled-down instrument which enables accurate, reproducible stereotaxic placements into specific sites in the brain of the newborn rat. The instrument is specially designed for the administration of long-term hypothermia, yet permits the use of alternative methods of anesthesia. The design of the head-stabilizing mechanism allows head positioning to be finely adjusted to achieve precise horizontal and vertical zero planes. This adaptability also allows the device to accommodate a large range of animal sizes and levels of maturity. Furthermore, the apparatus can be fitted onto a conventional adult stereotaxic frame or used by itself in combination with a free-standing manipulator. As a model preparation, we describe a procedure for stereotaxic surgery in the post-natal day (P1) rat. The versatility of the instrument has permitted successful stereotaxic surgery in adolescent as well as neonatal rats, newborn and adult mice, and newborn hamsters.
Image Quality Evaluation Of Digital Fluorographic Imaging Device

A low contrast phantom designed specifically for the evaluation of the image quality obtained from a digital fluorographic imaging device (DFID) is described. The design rational and the image quality evaluation procedure utilizing the phantom are discussed along with the test results.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Internal jugular vein narrowing and body mass index in healthy individuals and multiple sclerosis patients

Internal jugular vein (IJV) narrowing has been implicated in central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Body mass index (BMI) is a cardiovascular risk factor that has been also linked to CNS diseases, however it is unknown whether a relationship exists between IJV narrowing and BMI. The objectives were to assess the relationship between IJV cross-sectional areas (CSA) and BMI in healthy individuals (HI) and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. A total of 388 subjects (194 age- and sexmatched HI and MS patients) received magnetic resonance venography and structural brain magnetic resonance imaging at 3T. Region of interest analysis was performed using a semiautomated contouring-thresholding technique to determine the minimum CSA of the IJVs at C2/C3, C5/C6, and C7/T1 cervical levels. Partial correlation analyses were used to determine the associations. Increased BMI was related to increased IJV CSA at lower cervical levels (r=0.240, P<0.0001 at C5/C6 and r=0.293, P<0.0001 at C7/T1) in both MS patients and HI. Both MS and HI, showed associations between increased BMI and IJV CSA measures, particularly at lower cervical locations, in individual group analyses. No differences in association between BMI and IJV CSA were observed between HI and MS patients. Relationship between IJV CSA and BMI were not significant at upper cervical locations in the studied groups. Increased BMI is associated with IJV CSA widening, rather than narrowing, at lower cervical levels in both MS patients and HI. This finding warrants further investigation, but indicates that BMI can obscure interpretation of IJV CSA narrowing.
Accelerated Testing of the Mechanical and Thermal Integrity of Polymeric Materials

Long time mechanical and thermal stability of polymeric materials predicted from accelerated testing at increased temperature-time relations
Reversible Strain-Induced Electron–Hole Recombination in Silicon Nanowires Observed with Femtosecond Pump–Probe Microscopy

Strain-induced changes to the electronic structure of nanoscale materials provide a promising avenue for expanding the optoelectronic functionality of semiconductor nanostructures in device applications. Here we use pump–probe microscopy with femtosecond temporal resolution and submicron spatial resolution to characterize charge–carrier recombination and transport dynamics in silicon nanowires (NWs) locally strained by bending deformation. The electron–hole recombination rate increases with strain for values above a threshold of ∼1% and, in highly strained (∼5%) regions of the NW, increases 6-fold. The changes in recombination rate are independent of NW diameter and reversible upon reduction of the applied strain, indicating the effect originates from alterations to the NW bulk electronic structure rather than introduction of defects. The results highlight the strong relationship between strain, electronic structure, and charge–carrier dynamics in low-dimensional semiconductor systems, and we anticipate t...
On retrieving the microphysical properties of cirrus clouds using the moments of the millimeter-wavelength Doppler spectrum

[1] Techniques that use only measurements provided by millimeter-wavelength Doppler radar for retrieving the properties of clouds provide certain practical advantages over techniques that require measurements from multiple instruments. We concentrate on the capacity of the moments of the Doppler spectrum to provide information suitable for retrieving the microphysical properties of cirrus clouds. Specifically, we present an algorithm that uses the zeroth and first moments of the Doppler spectrum (radar reflectivity and mean Doppler velocity) to retrieve the cloud particle size distribution. We also discuss a methodology for evaluating the second moment of the Doppler spectrum for information related to the width of the particle size distribution. The properties of observed cirrus particle spectra are first examined to ascertain what degree of complexity is required of assumed functional representations of particle spectra in cirrus volumes. We find that although particle spectra with bimodal tendencies are common, single-mode functions are able to capture the essential characteristics of these spectra to within observational uncertainty for most cirrus. Furthermore, two-parameter functions such as the exponential function are shown to be adequate representations of cirrus particle spectra in situations where the radar reflectivity factor is less than about −5 dBZe and the temperatures are colder than about 253 K. A technique for separating air motion contributions from the Doppler velocity is examined, and an approach for similarly processing the Doppler spectral width is introduced. In comparison to aircraft data, we find uncertainty in the derived quiet air velocity and spectrum width to be on the order of 20% and 40%, respectively. Using recent parameterizations of ice crystal terminal velocity, mass, and backscatter cross section, we present a straightforward algorithm for retrieving cirrus cloud microphysical properties from observations of radar reflectivity and Doppler velocity. A simulation experiment with variable particle habits and realistic observational error shows that the retrieval uncertainties are on the order of 60% and 40% for ice water content and mass median particle size, respectively. These uncertainty magnitudes are supported by comparison to aircraft data.
Temporal tuning and attentional gating: two distinct attentional mechanisms on the perception of rapid serial visual events

We examined the relationship between two different attention limitations on the perception of rapid events: the attentional awakening (AA, an inability to successfully process a target when it appears early on in a rapid stream of events) and the attentional blink (AB, an inability to successfully process a second target when it appears shortly after a first target [T1]). In four experiments, we failed to find a relationship between the magnitudes of these phenomena. Furthermore, we found two manipulations that selectively modulated the magnitude of each effect without altering the magnitude of the second effect: Expected range of possible rapid serial visual presentation lengths modulated the AA (but not the AB), suggesting that the AA reflects an attentional setup cost for perceiving a protracted series of rapid events, whereas the number of possible T1 positions in the stream modulated the magnitude of the AB (but not the magnitude of the AA). Our results suggest that, despite the surface similarities between the two phenomena, different mechanisms are responsible for these two attentional limitations: Whereas the AA reflects a starting cost associated with the time required to temporally tune attention to the stimulus stream, the AB reflects a blocking of undesired stimuli, aimed at protecting consolidation of T1 processing.
Full-cost accounting of coastal disasters in the United States: Implications for planning and preparedness

Abstract As coastal disasters become more frequent and costly, a full assessment of costs becomes more important. This paper aims to identify costs of coastal disasters to human, social, built and natural capital and their associated services at the local site of a disaster and in the regions and nations that respond for relief and recovery. The spatial and temporal magnitude and scale of costs is captured differently in typical cost accounting and a more comprehensive approach, full-cost accounting. The difference between these approaches will be demonstrated using Hurricane Katrina (2005) as a case study, though we do not attempt to perform a full-cost accounting of this actual event. We examine how disaster planning and preparedness becomes more cost effective when the full cost of disasters is calculated. A full-cost accounting of coastal disasters sets the stage for rigorous comparisons of strategies for post-disaster development. The rudimentary analysis of this paper indicates that continued population development as well as the maintenance of current settlements in particular regions along the coasts may not be in the national interest. In this way, full-cost accounting could help reduce vulnerability to future disasters.
Persistence of abnormal spermiogenesis in the backcross generations of interspecific hybrids between Heliothis virescens X H. subflexa.

Simplified cytological procedures were developed for high resolution light microscopical study of sperm bundle structure in Heliothis virescens (F.). It was possible to separate parental, F1 hybrids ( H. subflexa (Guenee) females X H. virescens males), and backcross individuals (F1 female backcrossed to H. virescens male) on the basis of characteristic spermiogenic abnormalities. The abnormalities include alterations in individual sperm cells, abnormality in sperm cell organization within a bundle, and gross degenerative changes in bundle structure. In H. virescens, 0–2.2% of the eupyrene sperm bundles were defective; in the F1, 75.9–100% were defective; and in BC individuals, 25.4–100% were defective. Thus, there was severe impairment of the normal process of spermiogenesis. Males from the 2 parental strains and the F1 hybrids always had eupyrene sperm bundles in the duplex; BC1,11,50 males often had none or significantly fewer sperm bundles. The method can differentiate H. virescens males from either F1 or BC males found in field collections during a suppression program involving hybrid sterility.
Adherence to Treatment Guidelines and Therapeutic Regimens: A US Claims-Based Benchmark of a Commercial Population

The objective of this cross-sectional, retrospective study assessing commercially insured patients was to provide a useful benchmark to US health care payers and decision makers to assess quality of care, medication use and adherence, and health care resource utilization/costs associated with common chronic diseases. Measures of quality of care were suboptimal and substantial numbers of patients were not using any pharmacotherapy considered acceptable according to treatment guidelines. The widespread nature of undertreatment, poor medication adherence, and substantial health care costs highlights deficits and points to the need for comprehensive, multifaceted strategies to improve clinical and economic outcomes for chronic diseases. (Population Health Management 2011;14:33–41)
Dynamic scaling and the field-dependent critical line in a fractal cluster model of spin glasses.

We extend an earlier fractal cluster model of spin glasses to study (1) the magnetization relaxation M(t) induced by a magnetic field, (2) magnetic noise, and (3) dynamics near a critical line ${T}_{g}$(H). Above the zero-field transition temperature ${T}_{g}$, M(t) follows a stretched exponential form exp(-${t}^{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}n}$) with n=\ensuremath{\nu}z/(\ensuremath{\varphi}+\ensuremath{\nu}z), where \ensuremath{\varphi},\ensuremath{\nu}, and z are standard static and dynamical critical exponents. A dynamic scaling relation is derived for the entire region ${T}_{g}$(H)${T}_{g}$ in agreement with experiments. The equations associated with lines of constant relaxation time are obtained and it is shown how nonuniversality of exponents along the critical line can be tested.
Entropy formulation of optimal and adaptive control

The use of entropy as the common measure to evaluate the different levels of intelligent machines is reported. At the execution level, the design of the desirable control can be expressed by the uncertainty of selecting the optimal control that minimizes a given performance index. By choosing a density function over the set of admissible controls to minimize the differential control entropy, it can be shown that the optimal control problem is equivalent to the problem of minimization of the assigned entropy function with respect to the association control. The adaptive control problem can be analyzed by considering the same entropy over extended space that includes the uncertain parameters. It is shown that the optimal entropy is decomposed into three terms: the optimal control term with given parameters, the parameter identification term, and the equivocation term which accounts for the active transition of dual control. The equivocation when calculated can serve as a measure of optimality of the adaptive control algorithms that involve only distinct identification and optimal control algorithms. An upper bound can be used instead, when the equivocation is hard to calculate. An example illustrates the method. >
Control of composition and microstructure in the Co-W-C system using chemical synthetic techniques

Abstract This paper describes the synthesis of WC-Co at 750–850°C by chemical synthetic techniques. A nanophase W-Co composite material is produced from tris (ethylenediamine)cobalt(II) tungstate by hydrogen reduction. This reactive intermediate is carburized at controlled carbon activity in CO 2 /CO gas to form the final nanophase WC-Co product. The conversion is discussed in terms of reaction thermodynamics and kinetics.
Immunomodulation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rats by Lovastatin

Previous studies have demonstrated the immunomodulatory potential of Lovastatin, a hydroxy methyl glutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitor, in lessening the clinical and histological manifestations in the neuroinflammatory animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) (Neurosci. Lett., 269 (1999) 71, and J. Neurosci. Res., 66 (2001) 155). To determine the mechanism behind the observed amelioration of EAE by Lovastatin, we examined the cytokine profile of stimulated splenocytes from control, EAE and Lovastatin treated EAE rats. Splenocytes from Lovastatin-treated EAE rats showed decreased levels of interferon-γ, a Th1 type cytokine, while interleukin (IL)-10, a Th2 type cytokine, was markedly increased as compared to untreated EAE animals. In addition, we also observed reduced levels of IL-6 and nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated splenocytes isolated from Lovastatin-treated animals. This study documents for the first time that Lovastatin induces a bias towards Th2 cytokines ex vivo, and as a result may be of therapeutic value for cell-mediated diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
Nitrogen uptake and preference in a forest understory following invasion by an exotic grass

Plant–soil interactions have been proposed as a causative mechanism explaining how invasive plant species impact ecosystem processes. We evaluate whether an invasive plant influences plant and soil-microbe acquisition of nitrogen to elucidate the mechanistic pathways by which invaders might alter N availability. Using a 15N tracer, we quantify differences in nitrogen uptake and allocation in communities with and without Microstegium vimineum, a shade-tolerant, C4 grass that is rapidly invading the understories of eastern US deciduous forests. We further investigate if plants or the microbial biomass exhibit preferences for certain nitrogen forms (glycine, nitrate, and ammonium) to gain insight into nitrogen partitioning in invaded communities. Understory native plants and M. vimineum took up similar amounts of added nitrogen but allocated it differently, with native plants allocating primarily to roots and M. vimineum allocating most nitrogen to shoots. Plant nitrogen uptake was higher in invaded communities due primarily to the increase in understory biomass when M. vimineum was present, but for the microbial biomass, nitrogen uptake did not vary with invasion status. This translated to a significant reduction (P < 0.001) in the ratio of microbial biomass to plant biomass nitrogen uptake, which suggests that, although the demand for nitrogen has intensified, microbes continue to be effective nitrogen competitors. The microbial biomass exhibited a strong preference for ammonium over glycine and nitrate, regardless of invasion status. By comparison, native plants showed no nitrogen preferences and M. vimineum preferred inorganic nitrogen species. We interpret our findings as evidence that invasion by M. vimineum leads to changes in the partitioning of nitrogen above and belowground in forest understories, and to decreases in the microbial biomass, but it does not affect the outcome of plant–microbe–nitrogen interactions, possibly due to functional shifts in the microbial community as a result of invasion.
The initiation of secondary cracks in compression

Abstract In rocks and rock-model materials, two types of cracks are observed: wing cracks, and secondary cracks. Wing cracks are tensile cracks that initiate at the tips of pre-existing cracks (flaws) and propagate in a stable manner towards the direction of the maximum compressive stress. Secondary cracks initiate also from the tips of the flaws, propagate in a stable manner, and have been recognized by many researchers as shear cracks. Two initiation directions are possible: one coplanar or quasi-coplanar to the flaw, and the other one parallel to the wing cracks but in the opposite direction. Shear cracks quasi-coplanar to the flaw are observed in most of the experiments; shear cracks parallel to the wing cracks only in few cases. This indicates that the second direction may be material dependent. Secondary cracks play a major role in the cracking process of rocks in compression. Crack coalescence is caused in many instances by secondary cracks. In biaxial compression and for high confinement, cracking is only produced through secondary cracks. Conventional initiation criteria are suitable for predictions concerning tensile cracks, but are inadequate to predict initiation of secondary cracks. An extension of the maximum tangential stress criterion is proposed in which shear crack initiation is analogous to tensile crack initiation, except that the direction and stress level of initiation are determined by the direction and magnitude of the maximum shear stress. This criterion allows for the initiation of more than one kink from pre-existing cracks. This is in agreement with experiments, and with the fact that the stress singularity at the tip of a flaw does not disappear with the initiation of a kink. A limited number of comparisons between experiments and this model show promising results. Stress initiation and angle of initiation for both wing and secondary cracks can be determined within reasonable errors.
Variations in Height of the Palatum Osseum as a Function of Other Vertical Dimensions and Angles of the Skull

Study of 500 Yugoslav skulls revealed average values of the height of the palatum osseum. In comparisons, no differences in average values were found in age and sex groups studied.
The dynamics of a rapidly escaping atmosphere: Applications to the evolution of Earth and Venus

A simple, idealized model for the rapid escape of a hydrogen thermosphere provides some quantitative estimates for the energy-limited flux of escaping particles. The model assumes that the atmosphere is "tightly bound" by the gravitational field at lower altitudes, that diffusion through the lower atmosphere does not limit the flux, and that the main source of heating is solar euv. Rather low thermospheric temperatures are typical of such escape and a characteristic minimum develops in the temperature profile as the escape flux approaches its maximum possible value. The flux is limited by the amount of euv energy absorbed, which is in turn controlled by the radial extent of the thermosphere. Regardless of the amount of hydrogen in the thermosphere, the low temperatures accompanying rapid escape limit its extent, and thus constrain the flux. Applied to the Earth and Venus, the results suggest that the escape of hydrogen from these planets would have been energy-limited if their primordial atmospheres contained total hydrogen mixing ratios exceeding a few percent. Hydrogen and deuterium may have been lost in bulk, but heavier elements would have remained in the atmosphere. These results place constraints on hypotheses for the origin of the planets and their subsequent evolution.
Elektronentransferreaktionen in der Chemie - Theorie und Experiment (Nobel-Vortrag)†

Die Untersuchung von Elektronentransferprozessen hat sowohl in der Chemie als auch in der Biologie seit dem Ende der vierziger Jahre stark zugenommen. Die theoretischen und experimentellen Entwicklungen auf diesem Gebiet sowie seine Beziehungen zu anderen Arten chemischer Reaktionen bieten uns eine fesselnde Geschichte, fur die viele Faden zu einem Ganzen gebundelt werden musten. Ich werde hier sowohl Geschichtliches als auch aktuelle Entwicklungen sowie meine eigenen Forschungsbeitrage schildern.
How do you solve a problem like Will Truman? The feminization of gay masculinities on Will & Grace.

Although many gay men do not engage in effeminate behavior, they still may be feminized in social interaction. This article illustrates the importance of this distinction through a two-method study...
Political Competition and the Politicization of the State in East Central Europe

The expansion and politicization of the postcommunist state, even among the reform leaders of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, has confounded early expectations that the state would s...
Amide inequivalence in the fibrillar assembly of islet amyloid polypeptide.

Amyloid fibers are aggregated, yet highly ordered, b-sheet-rich assemblies of misfolded proteins. Order is established in such systems following profiles indicative of nucleation-dependent assembly. Nucleation dependence suggests that specific interactions, such as long-range contacts and/or strand registration, are critical to establishing initial fiber structure. Here, we show that amino acids at selected positions participate in key interactions that modulate the pathway of amyloid fiber formation by the hormone, islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). Specifically, we investigated the role of amide side-chain interactions in the process of IAPP assembly. We mutated five of the asparagine side chains in IAPP and assessed their effects on the kinetics of assembly. We find that the asparagine amide side chains strongly dictate the ability of IAPP to form fibers. In particular, the elimination of two specific asparagines results in near and total loss of amyloid, respectively. Interestingly, the two asparagines are located in a recently identified domain with a-helical bias. These sensitivities are unusual for IAPP, as IAPP is generally tolerant to mutation. Here, we demonstrate this mutational tolerance by assessing 10 alterations at five distinct sites. In all cases, the constructs form fibers on timescales perturbed by less than a factor of two compared with wild-type protein. These findings indicate the presence of key specific interactions that are the
Epigenetics of autism spectrum disorders

The autism spectrum disorders (ASD) comprise a complex group of behaviorally related disorders that are primarily genetic in origin. Involvement of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis of ASD has been suggested by the occurrence of ASD in patients with disorders arising from epigenetic mutations (fragile X syndrome) or that involve key epigenetic regulatory factors (Rett syndrome). Moreover, the most common recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities in ASD involve maternally derived duplications of the imprinted domain on chromosome 15q11-13. Thus, parent of origin effects on sharing and linkage to imprinted regions on chromosomes 15q and 7q suggest that these regions warrant specific examination from an epigenetic perspective, particularly because epigenetic modifications do not change the primary genomic sequence, allowing risk epialleles to evade detection using standard screening strategies. This review examines the potential role of epigenetic factors in the etiology of ASD.
Some design issues in ultra high frequency ICs in InP-DHBT technology

Design issues and experiences in some of HRL's recent demonstrated state-of-the-art circuits are presented and discussed. The performance of static dividers and voltage controlled oscillators, has been significantly improved by utilizing the high break-down voltage of the DHBT. The technology utilized here offers an f/sub T/ of about 135 GHz, and a current gain of about 30. The dividers and VCOs designed in this technology exhibit toggling frequencies beyond 100 GHz and phase noise less than -80 dBc/Hz @ 100 KHz from carrier (44 GHz in this case), respectively.
Numerical Software: Science or Alchemy?

Publisher Summary Numerical software is a term that is used rather liberally today to describe a range of activities. It has two principle characteristics: it deals with approximations to real numbers and it is usable on a range of computers that have different approximation capabilities. The nature of numerical software is examined and the chapter then discusses what is particularly difficult about it. Numerical software production is viewed by many people either as a routine programming task or as a by-product of that dull subject, numerical analysis that itself falls somewhere between mathematics and computer science, too applied for the one and too irrelevant to the other. The chapter explains that some of the attributes needed in numerical software are reliability, efficiency, and broad applicability. Numerical software is very much a part of computer science. It is concerned with automatic problem solving—that is, with analyzing methods and synthesizing techniques. It has some solid scientific foundations, but still involves a great deal of judgment because the idealized goals are not achievable. The chapter concludes that the numerician is partially reduced to alchemy; for brewing new concoctions and testing the results, sometimes heuristics are used.
On optimization of sales, production and inventory using a stochastic model

A production-inventory problem with advertising control of the sales is cast in a form amenable to solution by discrete-time optimal control theory. Uncertainty in the process dynamics and the measurements is included. The versatility of the approach is demonstrated by two examples. The results are interpreted so as to establish guidelines for decisions by management.
Effects of loading rate on the deformation and cracking of dental multilayers: Experiments and models

The paper presents the results of combined experimental, analytical, and computational studies of contact-induced deformation and cracking in dental multilayers. These include studies of individual layers and composite structures that consist of tri-layers of glass bonded to ceramic-filled polymer foundation with an acrylate-based join material. Loading-rate-dependent Young’s moduli of the join and foundation materials were obtained from monotonic compression tests. Critical loads were also determined for the tri-layers from Hertzian contact tests at different loading rates. The fracture onset (sub-surface radial cracking) was detected using an in situ telescope. The measured rate-dependent Young’s moduli were then incorporated into a finite element model that was used to predict the rate-dependent critical loads in the tri-layer system. Finally, the paper shows that the observed loading rate-dependence of the critical load (for radial cracking) is due to the combined effects of slow crack growth in glass and rate-dependent Young’s moduli in the join and foundation layers.
An active tissue-specific enhancer and bound transcription factors existing in a precisely positioned nucleosomal array

Nucleosomes positioned over promoters are usually inhibitory to protein binding and activity. We analyzed at the nucleotide level of resolution the nucleosomal organization of a distal, liver-specific enhancer in various mouse tissues and found that the enhancer exists in an array of three precisely positioned nucleosomes only in liver chromatin, where the enhancer is active. In vivo footprinting reveals that essential transcription factor-binding sites are occupied on apparent nucleosome surfaces, in one case leading to a perturbed nucleosomal structure. A similar nucleosomal array is generated with an in vitro chromatin assembly system in which nucleosome positioning is dependent upon binding to the enhancer of proteins related to hepatocyte nuclear factor 3. We suggest that certain transcription factors can organize nucleosomal structures that define an active enhancer element.
Significance of Becke Line Refractive Indices in Synthetic Fibers

Microscopy literature states that the Becke line gives the refractive index of the fiber surface In this work, interferometric measurement of the refractive index across the fiber showed that Becke...
Genetic sources of individual variation in parental care behavior

Consistent individual differences in behavior exist for many behavioral traits. Several evolutionary hypotheses regarding the maintenance of this variation have been proposed, but they all rest on the relatively untested question of whether this variation has a genetic basis and if so, exactly what genetic mechanisms may be involved. We tested for heritability and the effects of heterozygosity on two measures of parental care behavior (nestling provisioning rate and the likelihood of provisioning with large food items) in a population of wild house sparrows (Passer domesticus), where both behaviors display consistent individual differences across a wide range of contexts. We found no evidence of significant heritability in either measure of parental care behavior. However, in a subset of 46 female sparrows, the likelihood of bringing large food items to the nest, but not provisioning rate, was positively correlated with genetic heterozygosity estimated from 18 polymorphic microsatellite markers. Despite these findings, individual identity continued to explain a significant proportion of the variation in parental care behavior. Our results imply that while the effects of directional selection on traits associated with parental care may be limited in this population, genetic heterozygosity appears to play a role in the maintenance of phenotypic diversity in at least one aspect of parental care behavior.
Kelp evolution: a comment

The very enlightening article by Estes and Steinberg (1988) presents a model of kelp evolution which leads them to suggest (p. 20) "(1) that the kelps had a North Pacific origin; (2) that they radiated extensively within the North Pacific during the late Cenozoic; and (3) that they evolved in an environment in which the intensity of herbivory was low" because of the limiting predatory influences of marine mammals that consumed kelp-eating sea urchins. Although this model has many attractive features, I believe that parts of it are open to question. Specifically, I wish to suggest that (a) kelps radiated before (perhaps long before) the Middle Miocene and (b) they were subject to intense marine-mammal herbivory from the Late Oligocene on, at least in shallow, protected waters. However, it is not clear that any marine mammals were really important to the evolutionary history of kelps. The entire area of kelp-marine mammal interactions needs further study. The Antiquity of Kelp. -Estes and Steinberg seem to have in mind a Middle or Late Miocene date for the actual origin of kelps (Laminariales) and a Pliocene date for their diversification. This would appear to account for the single, late Middle Miocene fossil record of a kelp (Julescraneia) as well as the considerably later appearances of the Late Miocene kelp-associated sirenians Dusisiren dewana at 9.0-10.4 Ma and Hydrodamalis at 8 Ma or less (Takahashi et al. 1986) and of Pleistocene kelpassociated limpets. However, I strongly suspect that kelps not only arose but diversified well before the Middle Miocene, for the following reasons. A. Julescraneia is not a generalized ancestral kelp but a derived form well within the Lessoniaceae, ancestral at most to Pelagophycus and Nereocystis, if we accept Parker and Dawson's (1965) interpretation of the admittedly few and unsatisfactory fossils. This implies
Medial Patellofemoral Reconstruction in Children and Adolescents.

This article was updated on November 17, 2015. The title, which had previously read “Medial Patellofemoral Reconstruction in Children and Adolescents” now reads “Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction in Children and Adolescents.” An erratum has been published: JBJS Reviews. 2015 Dec 15;3(12):e4. Patellar dislocations are a common disabling knee injury in children and adolescents. Approximately 90% of primary patellar dislocations result in injury to the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL)1,2. MPFL injuries in children and adolescents, and the management of those injuries, differ from those in adults in numerous ways. In the past decade, studies have demonstrated better results with MPFL reconstruction than with medial repair and/or lateral release3-5. The purpose of this article is to review recent literature on the natural history of pediatric patellar dislocations, review advances in imaging following acute patellar dislocation in pediatric patients, discuss the biomechanical properties of the MPFL, and evaluate the surgical options as well as the outcomes of MPFL reconstruction. This article will cover:
A Rare Technical Complication Causing ACL Graft Failure: Aberrant Femoral Tunnel Trajectory and Posterolateral Corner Compromise: A Case Report.

In order to o reproduce normal joint kinematics of the knee following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, anatomic reconstruction has been advocated1-6. This can be achieved best by recreating the native ACL footprints. Matching the location of the intra-articular apertures of the femoral and tibial tunnels to the anatomic footprints of the native ACL has been reported to be accomplished most accurately with techniques other than traditional transtibial drilling7-11. In the pediatric population, the trajectory of the femoral tunnel is more heavily scrutinized because of its relationship to the distal femoral physis. However, in adults, clinical evidence is sparse regarding the appropriate tunnel trajectory. Cadaveric studies detailing the anatomic relationships of the femoral tunnel to the structures of the lateral aspect of the knee also have been reported12-16. The proximity of the lateral exit point of the femoral tunnel to critical lateral structures placed with an independent tunnel drilling technique has been shown to be a potential source of iatrogenic injury15. To our knowledge, there are no reports in the literature of injury to the posterolateral corner (PLC) as a result of femoral tunnel placement in ACL reconstruction. We present a case of PLC compromise and ACL graft failure following aberrant femoral tunnel placement in a revision ACL reconstruction. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and he provided consent. A twenty-one-year-old male intercollegiate football player presented after sustaining a knee injury while performing a lateral shuffling drill during an off-season workout. He had been treated by two different orthopaedists and had undergone two surgeries on the affected knee for treatment of ACL insufficiency prior to this most recent injury. Three years prior to presentation, he had ruptured his …
Reply to “Comment on `Attenuative Dispersion of P Waves in and near the New Madrid Seismic Zone' by L. Cong, J. Mejia, and B. J. Mitchell” by Robert B. Herrmann

Manuscript received 24 July 2001. Herrmann (2002) has raised concerns about what he describes as two major problems in the method of Q determination developed by Cong et al. (2000) (hereafter, the years for the two preceding citations will be omitted). First, he notes that there is a sign reversal in the equation that they used and, second, based on his computations of waveforms in a uniform medium, he asserts that the first cycle of the waveform for ground velocity (the time duration that they used) is too short to produce correct results. He is correct on the first point, but because the two terms are so small and because they partially cancel one another, the sign reversal does not affect the conclusions of Cong et al. , and mean values of Q m (the largely flat portion of the Q -1 spectrum) obtained using the correct equation are nearly the same as those originally plotted in Figure 5 of those authors. His second concern arises from what amounts to an attempt to quantify the effects of systematic errors due to using a truncated waveform. This type of error was discussed by Cong et al. (2000) in a nonquantitative way. Herrmann showed that inversions of group delays for short, theoretically predicted pulses yield unrealistic dispersion curves. Such unrealistic dispersion, however, does not occur for the observed pulses that we tested, suggesting that the Q results obtained from measurements of dispersion for short pulses are correct within reasonable uncertainty. We will address those issues in the following sections entitled “Group-Delay Equation” and “Examination of Herrmann's Computational Results.” We will also address two other issues raised in Herrmann's comment. He criticizes Cong et al. (2000) because (1) they did not tabulate all values obtained for the high-frequency relaxation time (τ2) and …
The Role of ERCP in Diagnosing Pancreatic Masses

With the advent of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), there has been a steady decrease in diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for pancreatic malignancies. Though ERCP provides extremely accurate delineation of the pancreatobiliary system, EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) has a diagnostic accuracy that can reach 90 % and has been shown to reduce overall costs given ERCP-related complications such as pancreatitis and cholangitis (Mesenas, Ann Acad Med Singapore 35:89–95, 2013). In contrast to EUS, which visualizes the pancreatic parenchyma, ERCP serves an important role in the detection of hepatobiliary and pancreatic ductal dilation. Given that pancreaticobiliary malignancies often present as biliary strictures, biliary brush cytology via ERCP is an established diagnostic technique in further investigating these strictures (Parsi, Deepinder, Lopez, et al. Pancreas 40(1):52–4, 2011). Pancreatic masses can cause obstructive jaundice; ERCP has both diagnostic and therapeutic roles in patients with obstructive jaundice (Khurram, Durrani, Hasan, et al. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 13(6):325–8, 2003). Additionally, ERCP is indicated in obtaining tissue material for diagnosis in patients with atypical pancreatic head masses and to differentiate pancreatic cancer from chronic pancreatitis (Licender, Vrcic, Sadagic, et al. Med Arh 56(1 Suppl 1):25–8, 2002).
TU-FG-206-01: Standards Support for Color in Medical Imaging

The field of imaging informatics is a subfield of biomedical informatics that combines medical physics with computer, clinical, and cognitive sciences. In this session jointly sponsored with the Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine, we will provide an overview of the field starting with the highly applied role of information technology working with imaging modalities to research areas in computer vision, annotation markup, and semantic ontologies that can leverage machine encoded reasoning systems. We will highlight new technologies that are beneficial to medical physicists conducting research as well as translating research into clinical practice. Define the field of imaging informatics as it relates to medical physics Discuss DICOM interoperability standards and the certification for imaging informatics professional. Highlight research areas in imaging informatics
Behind the stripes: female football officials' experiences

This study focused on the work-related experiences of eight female American football officials. The purpose was to gain a holistic perspective of women’s experiences working in the male-dominated career of sport officiating. Previous literature has examined sports officials in regards to retention, recruitment, and safety, but relatively little research has focused specifically on female football officials. Using a phenomenological approach, a series of in-depth interviews were conducted with each participant. After thoroughly analysing the data using open, axial, and selective coding methods, the following four themes emerged: 1) gendered experiences; 2) sense of community; 3) mentoring; 4) passion for officiating and football. The findings lend practical insight that can be used to assist officiating associations with their recruitment and retention, as well as add to the literature on gender equity in sport and on females working in male-dominated careers.