cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parent‐child interaction training: Effects on family functioning

Parent‐child interaction training was designed for the treatment of disturbed preschool children and their families. This paper describes the treatment and its effects on seven referred children, their untreated siblings, and the psychological functioning of their parents using multiple process and outcome measures. High rates of attendance, home practice, cooperation, and satisfaction with treatment; significant pre‐ to post‐treatment changes in child and sibling behavior; and improvement in parental adjustment were found. Results suggest that one can alter parent‐child interaction patterns during a brief intervention so that family members are better able to interrelate and to deal effectively with problems.
Uncoupling and turnover in a Cl-/H+ exchange transporter

The CLC-family protein CLC-ec1, a bacterial homologue of known structure, stoichiometrically exchanges two Cl− for one H+ via an unknown membrane transport mechanism. This study examines mutations at a conserved tyrosine residue, Y445, that directly coordinates a Cl− ion located near the center of the membrane. Mutations at this position lead to “uncoupling,” such that the H+/Cl− transport ratio decreases roughly with the volume of the substituted side chain. The uncoupled proteins are still able to pump protons uphill when driven by a Cl− gradient, but the extent and rate of this H+ pumping is weaker in the more uncoupled variants. Uncoupling is accompanied by conductive Cl− transport that is not linked to counter-movement of H+, i.e., a “leak.” The unitary Cl− transport rate, measured in reconstituted liposomes by both a conventional initial-velocity method and a novel Poisson dilution approach, is ∼4,000 s−1 for wild-type protein, and the uncoupled mutants transport Cl− at similar rates.
Nonlinear freight costs in the EOQ problem

Abstract This note gives a solution to a qualification of the standard EOQ problem in which freight costs are at least partially determined by the integer number of carloads required to fill the order. The model also applies to a broad class of problems in which there are multiple set-up costs.
Effectively localized states for a 1-d periodic array of arbitrary finite length

Abstract The notion of effectively localized states for a finite one-dimensional array of identical square quantum-wells is introduced. A technique is described to determine the criterion for the existence of such localized states. The resulting criterion for arbitrary, but finite N , is given by f √ V - E ⩾ 3.6 √ E a , where f represents barrier-to-well-width ratio, b/a ( b is barrier width and a is well width), V denotes potential-well depth, E denotes particle eigenenergy, and E a is written for the ground-state energy of a particle in an infinitely deep well of width a . At constant well width, f is a measure of the separation between wells and in this respect the preceding criterion resembles that relevant to the Mott transition in which the metal-insulator transition occurs at sufficiently large atomic separation. However, the transition from extended to effectively localized states in the present work is non-percolative and for this, as well as other reasons, is not representative of the Mott transition. A discussion is included of the relevance of the present analysis to the Huckel method in the LCAO approximation. It is further shown that Bloch's theorem does not apply to the present configuration.
Cost analysis of the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux: a computer model.

Purpose: Surgical intervention for vesicoureteral reflux is generally limited to children who have recurrent infection despite adequate antimicrobial prophylaxis or in whom compliance with followup cannot be ensured. In addition, surgical therapy is considered in children with persistent reflux after a reasonable period of surveillance. We used a model based on the management of a theoretical population of girls with various grades of reflux and followed the costs incurred during a 5-year management period.Materials and Methods: The literature on vesicoureteral reflux was used to create a set of assumptions regarding epidemiology, likelihood of resolution, need for operative intervention, risk of infection and appropriate regimen for nonoperative surveillance. These parameters were evaluated in infants and children as noted in the literature. A 5-year management period was considered. Patients in whom reflux did not resolve with medical management at the end of 5 years were assumed to have undergone surgi...
Route allocation for multiple snowplows using genetic algorithms

The road network of a small town is represented as a directed graph where each road junction is a vertex and each road segment (which has a length and a priority value) is a directed edge. We assume that there are several plows available to service the roads. We seek to compute an optimal allocation of routes to plows. Each route begins and ends at the same (depot) vertex. The union of all plow routes must cover every edge in the graph at least once. In addition, we wish to minimize the following parameters: total distance covered by all plows (thereby minimizing the deadhead miles), amount of variation in the mileage covered by individual plows (thereby dividing the workload equitably), number of u-turns and extent of priority misplacements. In this paper, we propose a Genetic Algorithms (GA)-based solution to compute a near-optimal route allocation and the minimization of other parameters simultaneously. This algorithm is based on our GA solution to the 1-plow problem reported earlier. We have developed a Java application that implements our algorithm. Our experiments with reasonably large graphs have yielded good solutions. These solutions are especially useful in snowplow routing for small towns, as plowing costs consume significant portions of the total municipal budgets of these communities. Most of the route planning in small towns is currently done manually and routes have evolved over time by experience. In these times of severe budget stress, route allocation using our approach can help in performing this essential service in a more efficient manner.
Impact of Nosema (Microsporidia) infection and fumagillin treatment on Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae).

Abstract A consistent supply of healthy tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Miridae), is necessary for the development of novel management strategies targeting this pest. After being in culture for several years, a substantial portion of a tarnished plant bug colony was found to be infected with a Nosema (Microsporidia) species. Studies were subsequently undertaken to evaluate the impact of Nosema infection on tarnished plant bug productivity and to test the efficacy of fumagillin to treat this infection. Using buffalo black stain, infections could not be reliably detected in adult tarnished plant bugs until adults were 6–8 days post eclosion. Nosema infections reduced adult longevity and fecundity. Maximum fecundity was restored using a concentration of 16.8 ppm fumagillin while maximum longevity for females was at a concentration of 33.6 ppm fumagillin incorporated into the tarnished plant bug diet. Minimum infection scores were obtained at 67.2 ppm, the highest concentration tested. A field survey of tarnished plant bugs in Mississippi found Nosema infections in 3% of wild tarnished plant bugs.
A Framework for Secure End-to-End Delivery of Messages in Publish/Subscribe Systems

In this paper we present a framework for the secure end-to- end delivery of messages in distributed messaging infrastructures based on the publish/subscribe paradigm. The framework enables authorized publishing and consumption of messages. Brokers, which constitute individual nodes within the messaging infrastructure, also ensure that the dissemination of content is enabled only for authorized entities. The framework includes strategies to cope with attack scenarios such as denial of service attacks and replay attacks. Finally, we include experimental results from our implementation.
Recent advances in the molecular diagnosis of paediatric soft tissue sarcomas

Abstract Sarcomas comprise a significant portion of solid tumours diagnosed in children. As they commonly are composed of primitive round or spindled cells, morphologic diagnosis can be difficult, and ancillary studies are often necessary. In recent years, progress has been made in understanding the cytogenetic and molecular changes underlying many of these tumours, and molecular techniques have emerged from strictly being research tools to becoming standard diagnostic tests. Paediatric sarcomas fall into two categories: those with characteristic underlying translocations, and those without. Translocation associated paediatric sarcomas include, but are not limited to alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's family of tumours, desmoplastic small round cell sarcoma, synovial sarcoma, infantile fibrosarcoma, clear cell sarcoma of soft tissue, and low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma. Sarcomas without translocations tend to be more pleomorphic in appearance, and include embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, malignant rhabdoid tumour and epithelioid sarcoma. This review will describe the molecular and immunohistochemical methods most applicable in diagnosing these soft tissue malignancies.
Foster-Family Care for the Elderly: Surrogate Family or Mini-Institution?.

The rationale behind adult foster care (AFC) has been that “participation in the life of the family” is superior to institutionalization. The extent to which AFC is familial has been widely debated, ranging from claims that this environment provides a surrogate family, to claims that it is no more than a mini-institution. This paper discusses the extent to which elderly clients are integrated into the family and the method by which such integration was measured in a sample of one hundred adult foster homes in New York State. The four dimensions used to measure familism were Affection, Social Interaction, the performance of Ritual, and the minimization of Social Distance.
Sexual behavior and its relationship to ovarian hormones in the menopause.

Viewing menopause from the vantage point of the psychosexual endocrinologist, a number of salient questions need to be answered. Are there changes in a woman’s sexuality during the menopausal period? If so, how frequent and extensive are these changes? What is the nature of any such changes in sexuality (libido, sexual activity or sexual response)? Can we distinguish menopausal from general aging effects? And last but not least: are hormones responsible for the changes in sexuality?
Cytoplasmic incompatibility following somatic cell fusion in Griffithsia pacifica Kylin, a red alga

Somatic cell fusion between two isolates ofG. pacifica is followed by a cytoplasmic incompatibility reaction (CIR) in the cytoplasm donated by only one of the isolates. This CIR is characterized by the aggregation, fusion and lysis of chloroplasts of the sensitive strain; the chloroplasts of the other strain are unaffected. In addition, the nuclei of both strains retain a normal distribution during the fusion and lysis events. Cell elongation and nuclear division stop in CIR-affected cells. The CIR begins in the hybrid cell and then appears sequentially in adjacent cells of the sensitive strain; this transfer occurs only between living cells which share a crosswall. There is a lag between hybrid cell formation and the initiation of the CIR. This lag is more than 3 times as long at 17 ‡C than at 24 ‡C; over this range, the rate of movement of the CIR along a filament is temperature-insensitive. Thus it appears that a temperature dependent process, perhaps the synthesis of CIR-inducing agents, is required for the initiation of the CIR; subsequent movement of such agents appears to occur by diffusion.
Why obstetrics/gynecology, and what if it were not an option? A survey of resident applicants

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the secondary residency choice of obstetrics/gynecology and family medicine residency applicants and to determine the most and least appealing aspects of each specialty. Study Design This prospective cohort study surveyed residency applicants in obstetrics/gynecology and family medicine from 2004-2007 at the University of New Mexico (obstetrics/gynecology and family medicine) and the University of California–San Francisco (obstetrics/gynecology). Applicants completed an anonymous 5-question survey about their secondary choice of specialty, least likely residency choice, and the most and least appealing aspects of their chosen specialty. Results Forty-six percent obstetrics/gynecology applicants would have chosen a primary care specialty, and 37% would have chosen a surgical specialty. The most appealing aspects of obstetrics/gynecology were surgery and obstetrics. The least appealing aspects were work hours and liability concerns. Conclusion Obstetrics/gynecology applicants are divided between primary care and surgical specialties as their secondary choice. Core aspects of surgery and obstetrics are most appealing. Emphasis on these components of the specialty in medical school may improve student recruitment into obstetrics/gynecology.
Control of beams and plates with small damping: location of actuators †

In this paper we consider the control of dynamic beam and plate models with little or no damping by means of controls at points or on sets of small measure. We study the regularity and approximation properties of such optimal controls. For the case of control at a point, we then consider the problem of determining the optimal placement of the control Finally, we present the results of several numerical studies
Temperature Effects in Journal Bearing Lubrication

Treating viscosity as a function of temperature and pressure the problem of the journal-bearing without side-leakage is solved for the temperature and pressure distributions for the case of adiabatic flow of the lubricant subject to the Reynolds boundary conditions. A numerical example is solved to illustrate the method. Presented as an American Society of Lubrication Engineers paper at the Lubrication Conference held in Atlantic City, N.J., October 1956.
Empirical identifiability in finite mixture models

Although the parameters in a finite mixture model are unidentifiable, there is a form of local identifiability guaranteeing the existence of the identifiable parameter regions. To verify its existence, practitioners use the Fisher information on the estimated parameters. However, there exist model/data situations where local identifiability based on Fisher information does not correspond to that based on the likelihood. In this paper, we propose a method to empirically measure degree of local identifiability on the estimated parameters, empirical identifiability, based on one’s ability to construct an identifiable likelihood set. From a detailed topological study of the likelihood region, we show that for any given data set and mixture model, there typically exists limited range of confidence levels where the likelihood region has a natural partition into identifiable subsets. At confidence levels that are too high, there is no natural way to use the likelihood to resolve the identifiability problem.
Effects of altered precipitation and wolf spiders on the density and activity of forest-floor Collembola

Summary A 2×2 factorial field experiment was conducted in a deciduous forest to determine how changes in moisture and numbers of a common wolf spider, Schizocosa, affect Collembola abundance and activity. Each of four 4-m2 fenced, roofed plots was divided into eight 0.5-m2 fenced subplots, and each subplot was assigned a rainfall treatment (drought or high-rainfall) and a Schizocosa treatment (Schizocosa-removal or Schizocosa-addition). Water was sprayed on the high-rainfall subplots weekly from 7 August to 1 October 2003 at a rate of roughly 2× the long-term mean, while the drought subplots received no water. In order to increase the probability of uncovering possible effects of Schizocosa, predatory arthropods (Schizocosa, other spiders, and centipedes) were first removed from all subplots; Schizocosa-addition subplots were then stocked with five juvenile Schizocosa on 19 August, with additional Schizocosa added throughout the experiment. An index of relative Collembola activity was calculated by comparing the number captured in pitfall traps (activity-density) with absolute density (no./m2) measured by extracting Collembola from litter samples. Decreased moisture reduced overall Collembola density, but led to increased Collembola activity. This response to rainfall was exhibited by the families Entomobryidae, Tomoceridae, and Hypogastruridae. The presence of Schizocosa had no impact on overall Collembola density, nor did spider presence affect Collembola activity, with the possible exception of the Hypogastruridae, for which there was an interaction between rainfall and Schizocosa presence. Hypogastrurid Collembola were more active in the drought subplots and exhibited the same level of activity in the presence or absence of Schizocosa under drought conditions. However, in the high-rainfall treatment, the presence of Schizocosa increased hypogastrurid activity.
Theoretical Study of Electron Transfer Rate from Phylloquinones to Iron-Sulfur Cluster (Fx) in Photosystem I

Photosystem I (PSI) is one of the two multi-subunit, pigment-protein complexes that drive the initial processes of light utilization in oxygenic photosynthesis. The PSI complex has approximately 100 packed chlorophyll (Chl) molecules that form the antenna and functional redox cofactors comprising the reaction center (RC). The latter cofactors are arranged in two pseudo-symmetric branches, starting from P700, and then split into two branches with the ec2 and ec3 chlorophylls and phylloquinone (A1) on each branch, and then rejoin at the iron-sulfur cluster FX. All of these are bound by the heterodimer of the PsaA and PsaB subunits, while the terminal FA and FB clusters are bound by PsaC. Electron transfer (ET) along the two branches has been studied by various investigators, and it was established that both branches are active in electron transfer, but that electron transfer to FX was ∼10-fold faster from PhQB than from PhQA.New results from electron paramagnetic resonance showed that the orientations of the PhQ radicals are different which affect the strength of hydrogen bonding between PhQ and the protein backbone. We are investigating these different rates of electron transfer and orientation of PhQ radicals through molecular dynamics simulation and time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) methods.
THE IMPACT OF THE OVERTIME PREMIUM ON EMPLOYMENT AND HOURS IN U.S. INDUSTRY

Excerpt] This paper presents empirical estimates of the intra-industry cross-section relationship between annual overtime hours per man and the ratio of these quasi-fixed costs to the overtime wage rate. Estimates are also made of the impact of a change in the overtime premium on employment and hours; these estimates have implications for policymakers concerned with the wisdom of increasing the overtime premium as a method of job creation.
Incorporating Ethics and Lifelong Learning Into a Mechanical Engineering Technology Program

The Mechanical Engineering Technology program at Purdue University at Columbus/SE Indiana hosted ABET evaluators for the first time in the fall of 2005. Both the program objectives and outcomes of the MET program contain elements of ethical behavior and lifelong learning. These elements are simply reflective of the importance put on ethics and lifelong learning by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology programs in the TC2K criteria. This work will describe the use of test cases and specific exercises that are incorporated in classes during the first semester and final semester of the two-year Associate of Science program. In-class surveys of students are also used to examine the ethical and professional behavior of students. The test cases are presented in multiple parts with students required to finish their answers to the questions from the first part before they get to see the second part. The same procedure is followed for the remaining parts of the test case. Each part of the test case also includes comments from a panel of experienced engineers who lend their expertise to the situation. These comments are shared with the students. For lifelong learning, the students are presented with a short lecture on the value of lifelong learning that includes relevant data and facts related to lifelong learning. After this, an assignment is given that asks the students to learn about how to design a container for nuclear waste storage and ship it to the proper waste disposal location. Other assignments are mentioned and can be used in a similar manner.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
TIME PERSPECTIVE AND MEDICATION ADHERENCE AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH HYPERTENSION OR DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract Objective The study determined if time perspective was associated with medication adherence among people with hypertension and diabetes. Methods Using the Health Beliefs Model, we used path analysis to test direct and indirect effects of time perspective and health beliefs on adherence among 178 people who participated in a community-based survey near Washington, D.C. We measured three time perspectives (future, present fatalistic, and present hedonistic) with the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory and medication adherence by self-report. Results The total model demonstrated a good fit (RMSEA=0.17, 90% CI [0.10, 0.28], p =0.003; comparative fit index=0.91). Future time perspective and age showed direct effects on increased medication adherence; an increase by a single unit in future time perspective was associated with a 0.32 standard deviation increase in reported adherence. There were no significant indirect effects of time perspective with reported medication adherence through health beliefs. Conclusion The findings provide the first evidence that time perspective plays an under-recognized role as a psychological motivator in medication adherence. Practice implications Patient counseling for medication adherence may be enhanced if clinicians incorporate consideration of the patient's time perspective.
Movement as an emergent form: Its structural limits

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to view the structure of goal-directed movement as an emergent property of a system interacting with its surround. Principles of the genesis of form are presented and arguments offered to extend these concepts to the analysis of human movement. Movement is viewed as a dynamic form having structural limits which define its functionality or its potential in solving a particular motor problem. The morphology of the system, and its experience with external objects and the field of external forces are considered to be the primary factors determining the emerging form of a movement. These interacting factors and their influence on the structural limits of a movement are discussed in detail. While the degree of effectiveness may vary, it is suggested that the structure of the movement tends towards efficiency and represents the current problem-solving capacity of the individual at any one point in time. Coordination of a system is thus viewed as a reflection of the individual's ability to integrate its internal states and processes with external demands. Lastly, goal-directedness, as a characteristic of living systems, is believed to provide the basis for defining the morphological, biomechanical and environmental constraints which are relevant to the task. The role of the task and the intentionality of the system in its goal-directedness and organization of movement is explored. The framework for viewing movement offered in this paper is enhanced by philosophical arguments and supported by evidence from the arts and the physical, biological and behavioral sciences. It is intended to encourage the reader to re-examine ideas, reflect on movement in a unique way and to generate questions regarding the underlying mechanisms and synergies supporting the emergence of movement in compliance with the factors that constrain it.
Preparation of Grignard Reagents: FTIR and Calorimetric Investigation for Safe Scale-Up

Preparation of Grignard reagents from organic halides and magnesium pose potential safety hazards on scale-up due to their high exothermic potential which can lead to overpressurization, discharge of contents, or explosion. One of the main challenges arises in ensuring the reaction has initiated before excessive accumulation of organic halide occurs or that the reaction does not stall and then reinitiate. Specifically, in production-scale equipment, it is sometimes difficult to ascertain whether initiation has occurred at all and whether it is safe to proceed. By using in situ infrared technology (FTIR), we have developed a method for safer scale-up of Grignard chemistry that can definitively identify that initiation has occurred. The process would involve adding approximately 5% of the organic halide charge and waiting for the initiation to occur using an in situ FTIR probe. FTIR spectroscopy can be used to monitor the accumulation of the halide and reveal when initiation occurs by the resulting decrease...
A PCR-based toolbox for the culture-independent quantification of total bacterial abundances in plant environments

A major obstacle in the culture-independent estimation of the abundance of bacteria associated with plants is contamination with plant organelles, which precludes the use of universal rRNA bacterial primers in quantitative PCR applications. We present here a PCR-based method that allows a priori determination of the degree of chloroplast and mitochondrial contamination in DNA samples from plant environments. It is based on differential digestibility of chloroplast, mitochondrial and bacterial small subunit rRNA gene amplicons with the restriction enzymes AfeI and BbvCI. Using this method, we demonstrated for field-grown lettuce plants that even a gentle washing protocol, designed to recover the microbial community and its metagenome from the leaf surface, resulted in substantial contamination with chloroplast DNA. This finding cautions against the use of universal primer pairs that do not exclude chloroplast DNA from amplification, because they risk overestimation of bacterial population sizes. In contrast, contamination with mitochondrial 18S rRNA was minor in the lettuce phyllosphere. These findings were confirmed by real-time PCR using primer sets specific for small subunit rRNA genes from bacteria, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. Based on these results, we propose two primer pairs (534f/783r and mito1345f/mito1430r) which between them offer an indirect means of faithfully estimating bacterial abundances on plants, by deduction of the mito1345f/mito1430r-based mitochondrial count from that obtained with 534f/783r, which amplifies both bacterial and mitochondrial DNA but excludes chloroplast. In this manner, we estimated the number of total bacteria on most leaves of field-grown lettuce to be between 10(5) and 10(6) g(-1) of leaf, which was 1-3 orders of magnitudes higher than the number of colony-forming units that were retrieved from the same leaf surfaces on agar plates.
Vacuum domain walls in D dimensions: Local and global space-time structure

We study local and global gravitational effects of $(D\ensuremath{-}2)$-brane configurations (domain walls) in the vacuum of D-dimensional space-time. We focus on infinitely thin vacuum domain walls with arbitrary cosmological constants on either side of the wall. In the comoving frame of the wall we derive a general metric ansatz, consistent with the homogeneity and isotropy of the space-time intrinsic to the wall, and employ Israel's matching conditions at the wall. The space-time, intrinsic to the wall, is that of a $(D\ensuremath{-}1)$-dimensional Freedman-Lema\^{\i}tre-Robertson-Walker universe (with $k=\ensuremath{-}1,0,1)$ which has a (local) description as either anti--de Sitter, Minkowski or de Sitter space-time. For each of these geometries, we provide a systematic classification of the local and global space-time structure transverse to the walls, for those with both positive and negative tension; they fall into different classes according to the values of their energy density relative to that of the extreme (supersymmetric) configurations. We find that in any dimension D, both local and global space-time structure for each class of domain walls is universal. We also comment on the phenomenological implications of these walls in the special case of $D=5.$
Global flow equations for membrane transport from local equations of motion: I. the general case for (n − 1) nonelectrolyte solutes plus water

The global force-flow equations of nonequilibrium thermodynamics are obtained by solving the local equations of motion for a system ofn-components (n−1 solutes plus water) passing through a membrane. When viscous forces and position dependent membranepermeating species frictional interactions are considered, it becomes more difficult to obtain the result because even the stationary state problem becomes one of solving a second order linear ordinary differential equation for the barycentric velocity in a space divided inton+1 regions. Using the continuity of the boundary velocities and their gradients as well as the usual boundary conditions for the hydrodynamic problem, a set of 2n+1 linear equations in the intergration constants can be obtained and a closed form solution is possible. The resultant global description of the system does not obey Onsager reciprocity. What is more, the interpretation of global phenomenological coefficients in terms of local interactions in any simple way is next to impossible. This makes the hope of a molecular level interpretation of phenomenological membrane transport coefficients very slim. The relevance of this finding to the validity of reductionist approaches to biological transport is discussed.
Reader error, object recognition, and visual search

Small abnormalities such as hairline fractures, lung nodules and breast tumors are missed by competent radiologists with sufficient frequency to make them a matter of concern to the medical community; not only because they lead to litigation but also because they delay patient care. It is very easy to attribute misses to incompetence or inattention. To do so may be placing an unjustified stigma on the radiologists involved and may allow other radiologists to continue a false optimism that it can never happen to them. This review presents some of the fundamentals of visual system function that are relevant to understanding the search for and the recognition of small targets embedded in complicated but meaningful backgrounds like chests and mammograms. It presents a model for visual search that postulates a pre-attentive global analysis of the retinal image followed by foveal checking fixations and eventually discovery scanning. The model will be used to differentiate errors of search, recognition and decision making. The implications for computer aided diagnosis and for functional workstation design are discussed.
The Changing Distributions of New Ph.D. Economists and Their Employment: Implications for the Future

This essay addressed the changing demographic composition of new Ph.D.s in economics and the changing distribution of the jobs that they are obtaining. It discusses how future trends may interact to influence the types of training that economists may provide their graduate students and the types of faculty positions that academic institutions may provide for new Ph.D. economists in the future.
Fundamental frequency as a cue to postvocalic consonantal voicing: Some data from perception and production

Several recent studies by Lehiste have reported that changes in fundamental frequency (F0) can serve as a cue to perceived vowel length and, furthermore, that the perceived lengthening of the vowel can influence perception of the voicing feature of stop consonants in syllable-final position. In Experiment 1, we replicated Lehiste’s basic results for stop consonants in final position. Experiment 2 extended these results to postvocalic fricatives. The final consonant in syllables of intermediate vowel duration was more often perceived as voiced when F0 was falling than when F0 was monotone. In Experiment 3, we examined the F0 contours produced by eight talkers before postvocalic stop consonants and fricatives in natural speech for minimal pairs of words differing in voicing. The amount of change of F0 over the vowel was no greater before voiced than voiceless consonants, suggesting that the earlier perceptual effects cannot be explained by appealing to regularities observed in the production of F0 contours in vowels preceding postvocalic consonants.
Telomerase and cancer: revisiting the telomere hypothesis

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein DNA polymerase that elongates telomeres in eukaryotes. The telomere hypothesis implicates short telomere length and telomerase activation as critical players in cellular immortalization and cancer. In this review, we refine the original telomere hypothesis to address the results of recent studies on telomerase and telomere length regulation.
Proceedings of the second symposium on Usable privacy and security

Welcome to the Symposium On Usable Privacy and Security! This is the second installment of what we hope will be an annual event for many years to come. SOUPS 2005 was the first refereed technical conference to bring together an interdisciplinary group of researchers and practitioners in human computer interaction, security, and privacy. Attendees reported that they valued both the formal sessions and the informal interactions they had with other participants. Thus we have tried to develop a program for SOUPS 2006 that builds on the success of SOUPS 2005, including a similar mix of sessions.This year's program features 14 technical papers, a workshop, 23 posters, a panel, three discussion sessions, and an invited talk. We received 39 paper submissions. Each paper was refereed by at least three members of the refereed papers committee, and through an online discussion process the committee selected 14 papers for presentation and publication.A panel and follow-up discussion session on security user studies at SOUPS 2005 provoked so much interest and discussion that SOUPS 2006 features a full day workshop on security user studies. The workshop focuses on the design, implementation and challenges of conducting security user studies. The workshop will be an opportunity for researchers to share experiences, materials, and ideas, and for newcomers to learn about problems and best practices.This year's panel addresses the phishing problem, which has been the focus of much discussion in the media and in technical forums. At SOUPS we will discuss the various approaches that have been proposed to stop or blunt phishing attacks and debate which approach or approaches are most worthy of an investment of time, skill, and money. The program also features an invited talk by Austin Hill that will provide insights on usable security from a corporate perspective.Finally, the SOUPS 2006 program includes three parallel "discussion" sessions, featuring moderated discussion on a topic of interest to attendees. Discussion sessions have been organized around the following topics: "Johnny Can Obfuscate: Beyond Mother's Maiden Name," "Teaching Usable Privacy and Security," and "Policy Management: A Central Theme for Usable Privacy and Security Systems." Other discussion sessions may be added depending on interest. We hope the informal, small group format will lead to lively and productive interactions.
Analysis of impact of age and race on biochemical control after radiotherapy in different prostate cancer settings.

Abstract Objectives To provide a single-institution analysis of the impact of age and race on biochemical control after radiotherapy (RT) administered in different prostate cancer scenarios. Age and race are among the most controversial prognostic factors in determining outcome after RT. Proper understanding of these prognostic factors can assist in both treatment decision-making and the general understanding of the natural history of prostate cancer. Methods The records of 527 consecutive nonmetastatic patients undergoing RT at a single institution and for whom demographic, disease, treatment, and follow-up information were available were reviewed. The cohort was divided into two categories: locally advanced/localized (458 patients) and postprostatectomy (69 patients). Biochemical failure-free survival (BFFS) curves were compared within each group to determine the influence of age and race on biochemical control. Results BFFS curves for the entire study population did not reveal any statistically significant difference when separated by age (younger than 60 years versus 60 to 69 years versus 70 years or older; 4-year BFFS 75% versus 70% versus 72%, respectively; P = 0.773) or by race (African American versus white; 4-year BFFS 74% versus 70%, respectively; P = 0.469). Additionally, no statistically significant differences were observed as a function of stage or age within either category (intact prostate or postprostatectomy). Conclusions Age and race did not, in our study, independently influence biochemical control after RT for nonmetastatic prostate cancer. On the basis of the results of this study, age and race should not be used as independent factors in treatment decision-making and in patient counseling concerning prostate cancer.
Fine-tuning the weak-link approach: effect of ligand electron density on the formation of rhodium(I) and iridium(I) metallomacrocycles.

A novel bis(phosphinoalkyl−thioether)arene ligand with a fluorinated aryl group (1,4-(Ph2PCH2CH2S)2C6F4) has been synthesized. This ligand has been used to prepare symmetric bimetallic structures w...
Evidence of oxidative stress in mdx mouse muscle: Studies of the pre-necrotic state

Abstract Considerable evidence indicates that free radical injury may underlie the pathologic changes in muscular dystrophies from mammalian and avian species. We have investigated the role of oxidative injury in muscle necrosis in mice with a muscular dystrophy due to a defect in the dystrophin gene (the mdx strain). In order to avoid secondary consequences of muscle necrosis, all experiments were done on muscle prior to the onset of the degenerative process (i.e. during the `pre-necrotic' phase) which lasted up to 20 days of age in the muscles examined. In pre-necrotic mdx muscle, there was an induction of expression of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes, indicative of a cellular response to oxidative stress. In addition, the levels of lipid peroxidation were greater in mdx muscle than in the control. Since the free radical nitric oxide (NO ⋅ ) has been shown to mediate oxidative injury in various disease states, and because dystrophin has been shown to form a complex with the enzyme nitric oxide synthase, we examined pre-necrotic mdx muscle for evidence of NO ⋅ -mediated injury by measuring cellular nitrotyrosine formation. By both immunohistochemical and electrochemical analyses, no evidence of increased nitrotyrosine levels in mdx muscle was detected. Therefore, although no relationship with NO ⋅ -mediated toxicity was found, we found evidence of increased oxidative stress preceding the onset of muscle cell death in dystrophin-deficient mice. These results lend support to the hypothesis that free radical-mediated injury may contribute to the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophies.
Two strategies for optimizing the food encounter rate of termite tunnels simulated by a lattice model

Abstract The tunneling structure of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, was simulated using a lattice model in order to explore a foraging strategy that optimizes food encounter rate. A tunnel was mimicked by algorithms derived from experimental data that determined the movement of a discrete unit of excavation performed by a cadre of termite workers, the tunnel vector cell (TVC). To be consistent with real tunneling behavior, tunnel propagation was terminated when TVCs did not encounter food particles within a given threshold length L1 (primary tunnel) and L2 (secondary tunnel). The simulations revealed that the length ratio between primary and secondary tunnels, γ (=L2/L1), produced a bimodal distribution of food encounter rates. The encounter rate was optimized at two values of γ because of either a searching distance effect (SDE), characterized by long primary tunnels with short branches, or a searching area effect (SAE), that balances tunnel length with branch length to cover a broad area. These two strategies reflect tunnel geometries that subterranean termites may employ in excavating tunnel patterns that optimize the rate of encountering food sources.
Exercise and Male Factor Infertility

Recent advances in the study of andrology are unfolding some of the idiopathic components of male factor infertility. The inclusion of exercise training as a component of male factor infertility has been proposed secondary to changes observed in the reproductive hormone and semen profile of some endurance trained male athletes. Evidence exists that a subset of endurance trained men, particularly runners, present with subclinical changes in their reproductive hormone profile. These changes include a reduction in total and free testosterone, alterations in luteinising hormone release and alterations in pituitary responses to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone and other pharmacological perturbations. Less attention has been directed towards identifying changes in spermatogenesis and fertility capacity as a result of endurance training. The semen ejaculate of some endurance trained athletes presents with nonspecific modifications including a low normal sperm count, decreased motility and several morphological changes that may compromise fertility. Thus, although a subset of high mileage endurance trained runners present with subclinical modifications in their reproductive hormone and semen profile, to date there is no evidence that endurance training causes male infertility. Future investigations should focus on the clinical impact these hormone and semen alterations may have on fertility capacity in endurance trained athletes.
A comparison of human toxics exposure and environmental contamination by census division.

National Human Adipose Tissue Survey (NHATS) data and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) STORET data were used to test for relationships between human exposure and environmental contamination according to census division. Regions were ranked according to the mean concentration of 43 toxic substances (pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, semi-volatiles, and volatiles) in human adipose tissue and environmental media (sediment, fish tissue, and groundwater). Correlation analyses between regional human and environmental ranks indicated that fish tissue data were good predictors of regional pesticide exposure, sediment data were good predictors of PCB exposure, and groundwater data were good predictors of exposure to semi-volatile compounds. None of the environmental data used were good predictors of exposure to volatile chemical compounds. Groundwater appeared to be a better predictor of overall regional toxics exposure than other types of environmental data.
Understanding price‐tier competition: methodological issues and their managerial significance

During the last decade, we have witnessed a steady stream of research focusing on the nature of competition between different brand tiers (e.g. high‐priced brands vs low‐priced brands, national brands vs store label brands). Several interesting research findings have been reported in the literature. This article highlights the methodological issues associated with the research on price‐tier competition and delineates the connection between methodological issues and managerial implications of the substantive research findings.
Preparing Course Materials with an Outline Processor

Students should benefit from a clear, explicit organization of material to be learned. Such organization is often represented in an outline. This article describes the outline processor, a micro-computer program for creating and modifying outline. Some specific uses of the outline processor for course materials are presented.
Renal artery stenosis in children: therapeutic percutaneous balloon and stent angioplasty.

Background Renal artery stenosis (RAS) accounts for 10 % of cases of systemic hypertension in children. Initial management involves anti-hypertensive therapy. Percutaneous interventions are documented for the treatment of RAS in the adult population. In children, case reports suggest benefit.
Microtubule assembly in developing mammalian brain.

Abstract Microtubule protein was measured in mouse brain homogenates by quantitative colchicine binding. Neonatal animals contained more than twice the amount of brain tubulin as adult mice. The percentage of colchicine-binding protein which was polymerized was determined by extracting brain at room temperature into a medium designed to stabilize intact microtubules. Under identical conditions and tubulin concentrations, neonatal brain tubulin (colchicine-binding activity) had a greater proportion of the total extracted in an apparently polymerized state (pelletable by centrifugation) than did adult brain. A slight variation in the ratio of assembled to unassembled tubulin was observed with varying protein concentration (volume of extract), indicating that the values obtained may not reflect exactly the in vivo situation, because a rapid equilibration takes place upon homogenization. At all protein concentrations, the neonatal brain extracts contained a significantly greater proportion of assembled tubulin than did adult brain. This proportion began to fall at 5 days postnatal and reached the adult level at 30 days. The tubulin assembled/not assembled ratios were not altered by addition of nucleoside triphosphates, additional EGTA, or sulfhydryl protecting agents, and did not vary with preparation times of 30–90 min. The colchicine-binding reaction and decay of colchicine-binding activity with time were similar in extracts of different aged mouse brains, with neonatal slightly more stable than adult. Pools of tubulin from any age which were soluble at room temperature (unpolymerized) could not repolymerize well in vitro when incubated with GTP at 37 °C, whereas pools of tubulin which were sedimentable at room temperature (polymerized) could be redissolved at 0 °C and readily reassembled at 37 °C. The neonatal extract tubulin was thus more polymerization competent than the adult extracts; this correlates with a greater proportion of assembled tubulin in extracts at room temperature and possibly in vivo .
Effect of protein kinase modulators on the regulation of cathepsin B activity in THP-1 human monocytic leukemia cells

Cathepsin B (CB), a lysosomal cysteine proteinase, is implicated in cancer metastasis and inflammatory tissue injury. We examined the effects of the protein kinase agonists and inhibitors on the regulation of CB activity in THP-1 human monocytic cells by two macrophage activators, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon- (IFN- ). CB elevation induced by LPS alone or LPS followed by IFN- was blocked by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors staurosporine, H-7, phloretin and bisindolylmaleimide, and by cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase inhibitors HA 1004, H-8, H-89 and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitor. The CB activity by LPS and IFN- were augmented by diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor. PKC activator, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and PKA activator, dibutyryl cAMP could replace LPS in priming the cells for IFN- stimulation but 8-bromo-cGMP did not. These findings suggest that the activation of PKC and PKA appears to be involved at least in part in the induction of CB activity in THP-1 cells.