cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complicit Publication: When Should the Dissemination of Ideas and Data Be Criminalized

This article is about using criminal prohibitions to control the dissemination of ideas and information. It begins by considering the history of the criminalization of the content of speech in Anglo-American society. The article points out that English law criminalized the dissemination of certain types of speech in reaction to the proliferation of the printing press. Printing, which gave rise to the widespread dissemination of speech and the anonymization of speech, was perceived as a threat to the social fabric of English society. That society reacted by creating new offenses: blasphemy, seditious libel, obscenity and criminal libel. The article traces the evolution of these offenses in English and American law and finds that most of them (obscenity being the exception) fell into disuse over the next several centuries. The criminal remedies fell into disuse because printing (and, later, radio and television) became subject to certain pragmatic constraints, empirical filters, which reduced the likelihood that these types of media would be used for disruptive purposes. The article argues that while speech was theoretically free, it was technically constrained so that, for example, hate speech and potentially dangerous information were not disseminated via the mass media. The article also traces the history of a parallel set of criminal remedies known as the "speech act" doctrine. Under this doctrine, speech is punished when it serves as the actus reus of a criminal offense; conspiracy, for example, is an offense the actus reus of which almost always involves some type of speech, since communication is necessary to consummate the criminal contract. Finally, the article considers how, if at all, these principles, i.e., the criminalization of the content of certain types of speech and the speech act doctrine, should apply to speech disseminated via cyberspace. It divides speech into three general categories (notional ideas, applied ideas and data) and parses the applicability of both principles to subcategories of each. It argues that, except for certain limited instances in which the speech act doctrine properly applies, criminalization is not an appropriate tactic for dealing with speech which many in society find discomfiting, dangerous or otherwise unacceptable. The article concludes by concluding that cyberspace, unlike prior forms of media, creates the opportunity for speech to be truly free; it argues that we, unlike the English lawmakers who criminalized sedition, blasphemy, libel and obscenity, should not regard the possibility of uncontrolled speech as a phenomenon to be stifled, to be the subject of a reaction predicated on the use of criminal sanctions.
The Role of the Real City in Cyberspace: Understanding Regional Variations in Internet Accessibility

Since 1993, when the first graphical web browser, Mosaic, was released into the public domain, the Internet has evolved from an obscure academic and military research network into an international agglomeration of public and private, local and global telecommunications systems. Much of the academic and popular literature has emphasized the distance-shrinking implications and placelessness inherent in these rapidly developing networks. However, the relationship between the physical and political geography of cities and regions and the virtual (or logical) geography of the Internet lacks a strong body of empirical evidence upon which to base such speculation.
Effect of Smoking Scenes in Films on Immediate Smoking A Randomized Controlled Study

Background The National Cancer Institute has concluded that exposure to smoking in movies causes adolescent smoking and there are similar results for young adults. Purpose This study investigated whether exposure of young adult smokers to images of smoking in films stimulated smoking behavior. Methods 100 cigarette smokers aged 18–25 years were randomly assigned to watch a movie montage composed with or without smoking scenes and paraphernalia followed by a 10-minute recess. The outcome was whether or not participants smoked during the recess. Data were collected and analyzed in 2008 and 2009. Results Smokers who watched the smoking scenes were more likely to smoke during the break (OR=3.06, 95% CI=1.01, 9.29). In addition to this acute effect of exposure, smokers who had seen more smoking in movies before the day of the experiment were more likely to smoke during the break (OR=6.73, 95% CI=1.00, 45.25, comparing the top to bottom 5th percentiles of exposure). Level of nicotine dependence (OR=1.71, 95% CI=1.27, 2.32 per point on the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence scale); contemplation (OR=9.07, 95% CI=1.71, 47.99) and precontemplation (OR=7.30, 95% CI=1.39, 38.36) stages of change; and impulsivity (OR=1.21, 95% CI=1.03, 1.43) were also associated with smoking during the break. Participants who watched the montage with smoking scenes and those with a higher level of nicotine dependence were also more likely to have smoked within 30 minutes after the study. Conclusions There is a direct link between viewing smoking scenes and immediate subsequent smoking behavior. This finding suggests that individuals attempting to limit or quit smoking should be advised to refrain from or reduce their exposure to movies that contain smoking.
Isolation and Characterization of PS I, PS II and Cytochrome B6/F Complexes from Synechocystis PCC 6803 and a CP43-Less Mutant

The cyanobacterium, Synechocystis PCC 6803, is transformable and has the ability to grow photoheterotrophically (1), thus allowing strains defective in PS II function to be constructed and studied. In order to monitor the effects of specific mutations in the psbA, psbD and psbC genes, which code for the polypeptides D1, D2 and CP43, respectively, we have developed a procedure for the isolation of PS II core complexes.
Peromyscus responses to alternative forest management systems in the Missouri Ozarks, USA

Abstract Operational-scale forest management experiments are long-term investments because harvest treatment effects may be dynamic throughout one or more rotation lengths. We examined deermouse (Peromyscus spp.) abundance over the first 20 years of the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project (MOFEP), which assesses ecological responses to even-aged, uneven-aged, and no-harvest forest management systems applied at landscape scales in the Missouri Ozarks. In the spring of each of 11 sampling years, we sampled Peromyscus populations on two permanent trap grids on each of nine study sites (n = 3 sites per management system). Management entries occurred in 1996 and 2011, with small mammal sampling conducted during two pre-treatment years (1994–1995), and Years 2–5 (1998–2001), Years 13–14 (2009–2010), and Years 16–18 (2012–2014) after the first entry. We estimated abundance for each grid in each sampling year with Bayesian closed-population mark-recapture models, and modeled variation in abundance with negative binomial log-linear mixed effects models. Uneven- and even-aged management systems caused similar increases in Peromyscus abundance that were detectable shortly after the first management entry [proportional effect of even-aged management on Peromyscus abundance vs. no-harvest management: posterior median = 1.8, 95% credible interval 1.0–3.2; proportional effect of uneven-aged vs. no harvest management = 1.7 (1.0, 2.8)]. These effects were not surprising given positive effects of harvest treatments on understory cover and food resources. However, the consistency of this increase was less expected, as we observed no conclusive dissipation of harvest effects even in Years 13–14 after the first entry or amplification of harvest effects after the second entry. Observing extremely high system-wide yearly variation in Peromyscus abundance, we did not detect evidence of increasing divergence in effects of these three management systems or of any area-wide trends in abundance during 1994–2014. However, over subsequent decades, we expect higher potential for divergence in Peromyscus abundance as the three management systems differentially shape forest structure and tree species composition. Thus, the MOFEP study offers a unique framework for building and testing hypotheses about patterns and mechanisms of long-term changes in Ozark forests and effects on vertebrate communities.
Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Human Communities: Catch and Economic Impacts

Economic activity associated with commercial and recreational fisheries in the northern Gulf of Mexico can be dampened when there are significant impacts to the biophysical environment and human communities due to natural or man-made disaster events. Due to its size and scope, the Deepwater Horizon incident caused extensive damage to marine and shoreline habitats, affecting activity in both the commercial and recreational fishing industries. The impacts on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem during and after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are well documented but it is also critical to evaluate impacts on economic activity in sectors that are reliant on this ecosystem. This chapter details estimates of the changes in economic activity supported by commercial and recreational fisheries in the U.S. regions of the northern Gulf of Mexico due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Estimates are based upon biophysical model projections from the Atlantis model for scenarios that represent conditions with the oil spill and the counterfactual without the oil spill modeled over a 10-year time horizon, and regional economic impact analysis methods. Results indicate that the total economic impacts for the period 2010–2020 of foregone commercial fishing revenues and recreational fishing expenditures as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are a loss of over 25,000 jobs, $2.3 billion in industry output, $1.2 billion in total value added or gross regional product, $700 million in labor income, $160 million in state and local tax revenues, and $160 million in federal tax revenues.
A processing-oriented investigation of inflectional complexity

Due to the typological diversity of their inflectional processes, \textcolor{red}{some languages are intuitively more difficult than other languages. Yet, finding a single measure to quantitatively assess the comparative complexity of an inflectional system proves an exceedingly difficult endeavour. In this paper we propose to investigate the issue from a processing-oriented standpoint, using data processed by a type of recurrent neural network to quantitatively model the dynamic of word processing and learning in different input conditions. We evaluate the relative complexity of a set of typologically different inflectional systems (Greek, Italian, Spanish, German, English and Standard Modern Arabic) by training a Temporal Self-Organizing Map (TSOM), a recurrent variant of Kohonen's Self-Organizing Maps, on a fixed set of verb forms from top-frequency verb paradigms, with no information about the morphosemantic and morphosyntactic content conveyed by the forms. After training, the behavior of each language-specific TSOM is assessed on different tasks, looking at self-organizing patterns of temporal connectivity and functional responses. Our simulations show that word processing is facilitated by maximally contrastive inflectional systems, where verb forms exhibit the earliest possible point of lexical discrimination. Conversely, word learning is favored by a maximally generalizable system, where forms are inferred from the smallest possible number of their paradigm companions. Based on evidence from the literature and our own data, we conjecture that the resulting balance is the outcome of the interaction between form frequency and morphological regularity. Big families of stem-sharing, regularly inflected forms are the productive core of an inflectional system. Such a core is easier to learn but slower to discriminate. In contrast, less predictable verb forms, based on alternating and possibly suppletive stems, are easier to process but are learned by rote. Inflection systems thus strike a balance between these conflicting processing and communicative requirements, while staying within tight learnability bounds, in line with Ackermann and Malouf's Low Conditional Entropy Conjecture. Our quantitative investigation supports a discriminative view of morphological inflection as a collective, emergent system, whose global self-organization rests on a surprisingly small handful of language-independent principles of word coactivation and competition.
Toward Incorporating Efficiency Data in Brief Experimental Analysis Decision Making

Brief experimental analysis (BEA) is frequently used to drive intervention selection decisions for students in need of intensive reading fluency intervention. Researchers have demonstrated that mos...
Association of subclinical hypocalcemia dynamics on dry-matter intake, milk yield, and plasma mineral status during the periparturient period

Subclinical hypocalcemia (SCH) affects many high-producing dairy cows in the postpartum period. Recent work has shown that cows experiencing prolonged or delayed SCH are at increased risk for disease and produce less milk than cows experiencing a transient reduction or normal concentrations of plasma Ca. Our objective was to determine the association between the dynamics of SCH with pre- and postpartum dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, and plasma mineral concentrations.
The Ethics of Ethics Committees

In 1983, The President’s Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research urged greater use of medical ethics committees. The Commission suggested that these committees could not only review treatment decisions made on behalf of incompetent, terminally ill patients and conduct reviews of those medical decision having ethical implications, but could also provide spiritual, psychological or social counseling for distressed family members. They could, furthermore, serve as prognosis committees endeavoring as such to confirm those prognoses which finds no reasonable possibility of a patient’s return to cognitive state. Today, more and more, ethics committees throughout the country reflect the vision that the President’s Commission articulated in 1983.This Article presents five constructs - with varying ethical levels of constraint and responsibility - for operating institutional ethics committees. Specific analysis is made of the approaches advanced by an early pioneer in the field - the late Dr. John C. Fletcher, Director of the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Humanities at the University of Virginia School of Medicine - for strengthening, structurally, the focus and the practical work of clinical ethics. By incorporating specific ethics consultative services into the over all foundational structure of ethics committees, the contemporary purpose and mission of these committees become complimentary to the very goal of palliative care at the end of life - namely, assuring humane, efficacious medical assistance.
Immunocytochemical colocalization of P16(INK4a) and Ki-67 predicts CIN2/3 and AIS/adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have shown that p16INK4a and Ki-67 are sensitive and specific markers for high-grade lesions (≥CIN2) on cervical biopsies, limited information is available regarding the performance of a dual-staining approach as a diagnostic adjunct in cervical cytology. We evaluated a dual p16INK4a/Ki-67 immunocytochemistry (ICC) assay to determine its sensitivity and specificity versus that of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) in a US-based pilot cytology study. METHODS: ThinPrep specimens from 122 cervical cytology specimens encompassing 23 negative (NILM), 20 ASC-US, 22 LSIL, 17 ASCH, 22 HSIL, and 18 AGC cases were processed for multiplexed ICC staining using a CINtec Plus Kit. Dual-positive assay results were defined based on the detection of 1 or more epithelial cells that were stained for both p16INK4a and Ki-67 without regard to cellular morphology. HR-HPV testing was performed by multiplex PCR with capillary electrophoresis genotyping. RESULTS: Dual staining for p16INK4a and Ki-67 was frequently detected in HSIL and AGC but was rarely detected in NILM cases. The HR-HPV assay showed a sensitivity of 76.2% and a specificity of 55.8% for the detection of clinically significant cervical squamous or endometrial lesions. In contrast, the colocalization of p16INK4a plus Ki-67 maintained a high sensitivity of 81.8% and improved specificity to 81.8% for biopsy-confirmed CIN2/3, endocervical adenocarcinoma, or endometrial adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Dual staining for p16INK4a/Ki-67 immunocytochemistry dramatically increased specificity and maintained high-level sensitivity for the diagnosis of CIN2/3 or glandular lesions compared with PCR-based testing for HR-HPV. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2012. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Molecular determinants of thermozyme activity and stability: Analysis of xylose isomerase and amylo-pullulanase

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the analysis of xylose isomerase and amylopullulanase, which involves determination of thermozyme activity and stability. Thermozymes appear to have evolved inherently thermostable and thermophilic traits by subtle site-specific changes in amino acid residues and not by evolving totally different global protein structures. Site-specific proline placements in loop regions are hypothesized to aid in protein thermal stabilization; whereas, glutamine and asparagines placements, which can deaminate at high temperatures effect protein thermolability. Thermozyme saccharidases appear to offer unique advantages for starch processing. Finally, thermozymes should become model enzymes for protein chemists and biotechnologists. Once cloned, they are easy to purify and crystallize, and they store readily at room temperature. Since high-enzyme stability is a desired trait, one could start with a thermozyme, and then alter it by site directed mutagenesis to function on a specified substrate at a specific pH and temperature range.
Interaction between complementary polymerization sites in the structural D and E domains of human fibrin.

Plasmic degradation products of human fibrin, fragments DD, D, and E, bind to fibrin. It has been inferred from this observation that the binding occurs by attraction of complementary sites located in the NH2- and COOH-terminal domains of the fibrin molecule. The interaction between fragments D1 and E1 has been investigated in this work since it represents the first step in the process of fibrin clot formation. Fragment D1, that was initially as active as fragment DD, lost most of its anticoagulant activity after purification by cation-exchange chromatography. The lability of fragment D1 function explained the previous unsuccessful attempts to form a complex between fragments D1 and E1. The loss of fragment D1 anticoagulant activity was not associated with the cleavage of the gamma 63-85 chain segment, since fragments D1A and D1 identically inhibited the fibrin monomer polymerization rate. In order to demonstrate the formation of a complex between fragments D1 and E1, three lines of experiments were advanced. First, the anticoagulant activity of fragment D1 was neutralized by fragment E1 in a dose-dependent manner, demonstrating that the association between these fragments involved polymerization sites. Second, two products, D1.E1 and D1.E1.D1, were stabilized in a reaction with bifunctional cross-linking reagents, proving the formation of D.E complexes in aqueous solution. Third, immobilized fragment D1 bound fragments E1 and E2, but not fragment E3, showing that fragments E1 and E2 attached via a polymerization site to the complementary one in fragment D1, since this association was disrupted by fibrin polymerization inhibitory peptide GPRP. These results provided direct evidence for specific binding between the structural D and E domains of fibrin mediated through complementary polymerization sites. Thus, the initial formation of fibrin clot fibers appears to be driven by specific association of these sites.
Modification of the High Spectral Resolution Lidar for the measurement of multiply scattered lidar returns

The High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) provides robust profiles of the scattering cross section in clouds. In addition, a receiver channel with a computer controlled angular field of view provides measurements of multiple scattering. Using the measured scattering cross section profile and a computer model describing the dependence of the multiply scattered lidar return on the width of the diffraction peak, the multiply scattered signal can provide particle size information. Unfortunately, the multiply scattered lidar return is also a function of the weighted average of the scattering phase function near 180/spl deg/. The weighting function is the probability distribution of scattering angles for the near backscatter event that sends the, multiply scattered photon back towards the receiver. Since the particle size distribution is unknown, it is not easy to estimate this value. This is especially true when the cloud is comprised of ice crystals and both particle size and shape are unknown. To avoid this problem, the authors have implemented an additional data channel. Photons which fall outside of the field stop are directed through an I/sub 2/ absorption filter and then to PMT 4. Only photons which have been deflected out of the field of view by multiple scattering are detected, The I/sub 2/ filter transmits only the spectral wings of the Doppler broadened molecular backscattering. Photons backscattered from cloud particles are removed. Thus, this channel detects photons which have encountered one or more forward scatterings by cloud particles coupled with a single backscatter described by the Rayleigh phase function. >
Integration of object-oriented and functional modeling and design methods

Object-oriented methodologies provide robust designs that focus on the essence of the problem to be solved. These methodologies are bottom up design processes. The process begins with the object models (what), then build the dynamic model (when), and then the function model (how). While development of the object model is very straightforward and direct, development of the dynamic and functional models is more circuitous. Also with this process, the structure or architecture of the system does not become apparent until the development of the functional model. In addition, many methods such as the object modeling technique are difficult to use for large systems where there are more than 20 developers. Systems engineering on the other hand, is a powerful, functionally- based process that can be used to address very complicated, large, and technically difficult problems. It is a top down approach that connects an analysis and design loop through the use of functional decomposition. Although some authors criticize functional approaches for incomplete specifications and designs, properly applied they can generate designs that are robust, modular, scaleable and extensible. At first glance it would seem that these orthogonal approaches could be combined using each to address different elements of the problem. However, some problems arise when one tries to combine the power of systems engineering to partition the problem into manageable systems with the capability of object- oriented modeling and design. This paper addresses that problem and provides a solution.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Modular optical alignment

Complex optical systems are aligned using modular optical alignment by aligning the individual optical components with datum surfaces on precision machined structural modules. This alignment technique exploits the inherent precision of modern manufacturing methods in order to simply the optical alignment problem. By distributing the mass of the system in three dimensions the structural efficiency of a modular optical support structure is improved in comparison with a conventional optical bench. Disadvantages of modular optical alignment include the cost of producing the individual components within the modules, and the nature of the joints between the modules are important in determining the overall success of a modular optical system.
CELL FRACTIONATION STUDIES ON NUCLEAR VS. CYTOPLASMIC LOCALIZATION OF ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE IN THE VERY EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHICK BRAIN.

Abstract 1. 1. Candling methods were refined that resulted in 97 per cent of eggs opened containing chick embryos at the desired stage 19. 2. 2. Specific activity of alkaline phosphatase (activity per mg N) was determined biochemically for whole chick brains from stage 16 to stage 20. Activity declined during this period, corroborating earlier histochemical observations. 3. 3. The “cytoplasmic” fraction of stage 19 brains (contaminated with some nuclei) contains 100 per cent of the expected specific activity of alkaline phosphatase for whole, unfractionated brain tissue. 4. 4. The “nuclear” fraction of stage 19 brains (estimated 90 per cent nuclei and 10 per cent cytoplasm) contains 65 per cent of the expected specific activity of alkaline phosphatase of whole, unfractionated brain tissue. 5. 5. Phosphatase activities of the various centrifugation supernatants indicate that leaching of phosphatase from nuclei is probably not the explanation for the observed lower activity of the nuclei. 6. 6. A “nuclear” fraction in which nuclei are broken and dispersed as small particles by the buffer used in the biochemical determinations has a lower specific activity than one which is completely rehomogenized before assay, indicating that soluble phosphatase is not preferentially adsorbed on nuclear surfaces. 7. 7. Gomori method histochemical staining of fractionated tissue stains isolated cytoplasm black, nuclei blacker than cytoplasm only when surrounded by cytoplasm, and stains nuclei little if at all when they lie free of cytoplasm in small numbers. 8. 8. Results are interpreted as showing that nuclei in this tissue contain decidedly less alkaline phosphatase than cytoplasm, contrary to histochemical results on whole tissue. Results relative to the question as to whether nuclei in this tissue at this development time have any phosphatase of their own at all, remain equivocal. 9. 9. The most obvious correlation with the alkaline phosphatase activity curve for these early stages of brain development is the curve for mitotic index of the same tissue.
The cost per unit of family planning services.

A cross-sectional analysis of family planning program costs per unit for a group of 28 countries was conducted. The study is based on the beliefs that the cost experience of family planning programs already in existence should provide some clue to the resource needs of future programs that there are common patterns and coefficients relating resource inputs to program accomplishments which can be measured and that average cost per unit is a meaningful summary statistic for such comparisons. The costs per unit are analyzed using regression techniques with variables of program (age scale and type of program) and setting (demographic structure socioeconomic level of development health accessibility and other). The Couple-Years of Protection Index is used for standardization and the variation in personnel costs among the countries is allowed for. Considerable variation among programs in cost per unit was found. Some of this variation is explained by differences in socioeconomic structure. The cost per unit measured in U.S. dollars is considerably higher than is generally thought. The original hypothesis that the socioeconomic differences in countries would help to explain the differences in cost per unit of family planning services is partially supported. Medical wage costs per unit do seem to rise with development. Program scale does not appear to be important and smaller programs appear to be able to produce quite a low cost per unit.
The SH2 Domains of Src Family Kinases Associate with Syk

Src family kinases (Lyn, Fyn, Lck, and Blk) and Syk, a tandem SH2 domain containing tyrosine kinase, have been demonstrated to be associated with the antigen receptor in B cells. Both of these categories of tyrosine kinases are presumed to be critical players in the process of antigen-mediated signal transduction. Cross-linking of membrane immunoglobulin on the surface of B cells leads to the activation of Lyn, Fyn, and Blk, which presumably associate with the cytoplasmic tails of the membrane immunoglobulin-associated Igα/β heterodimer. Receptor ligation also leads to the tyrosine phosphorylation and catalytic activation of Syk, but the mechanism of association of this kinase with the antigen receptor remains to be established. A number of phosphoproteins that can associate with the SH2 domains of Blk, Lyn, and Fyn have been described in activated B cells. We demonstrate here that Syk is one of the proteins in the lysates of activated B cells which bind to the SH2 domains of Src family kinases. Syk binds directly to the SH2 domain of Blk and complexes in vivo with Lyn and Blk in activated B cells.
The effects of correlation on the performance of ATR systems

The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve is typically used to quantify the performance of Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) systems. When multiple systems are to be fused, assumptions are made in order to mathematically combine the individual ROC curves for each of these ATR systems in order to form the ROC curve of the fused system. Often, one of these assumptions is independence between the systems. However, correlation may exist between the classifiers, processors, sensors and the outcomes used to generate each ROC curve. This paper will demonstrate a method for creating a ROC curve of the fused systems which incorporates the correlation that exists between the individual systems. Specifically, we will use the derived covariance matrix between multiple systems to compute the existing correlation and level of dependence between pairs of systems. The ROC curve for the fused system is then produced, adjusting for this level of dependency, using a given fusion rule. We generate the formula for the Boolean OR and AND rules, giving the exact ROC curve for the fused system, that is, not a bound.
Managing space system anomalies using first principles reasoning

This paper discusses the development of a theory of anomaly management that uses fundamental models of a system's structure, behavior, and intended use to support the detection of symptoms, the computation of possible diagnoses, and the generation of resolution actions. A software-based reasoning system based on this theory was implemented and applied to the configuration control of a space system consisting of an on-orbit satellite and a geographically distributed network of ground communication and control stations. This system was found to promote a formal and systematic analysis of possibilities when managing configuration anomalies in the Sapphire space system. This approach can be extended to more complex systems through future optimization of the processing implementation and through incorporation of other innovations such as dynamic and hierarchical modelling
Improved methods for image registration.

Abstract We report a system for PET–MRI registration that is improved or optimized in several areas: (1) Automatic scalp/brain segmentation replaces manual drawing operations, (2) a new fast and accurate method of image registration, (3) visual assessment of registration quality is enhanced by composite imaging methods (i.e., fusion) and (4) the entire procedure is embedded in a commercially available scientific visualization package, thereby providing a consistent graphical user interface. The segmentation algorithm was tested on 17 MRI data sets and was successful in all cases. Accuracy of image registration was equal to that of the Woods algorithm, but 10 times faster for PET–PET and 4 times faster for PET–MRI. The image fusion method allows detection of misalignments on the order of 2–3 mm. These results demonstrate an integrated system for intermodality image registration, which is important because the procedure can be performed by technicians with no anatomic knowledge and reduces the required time from hours to about 15 min on a modern computer workstation.
A structural basis for the transphosphorylation of nucleotides with hydroxyapatite.

The basis for transphosphorylation between nucleotides and hydroxyapatite (HA) has been explored. Using a recently-proposed model for the surface of HA and the structure of 2- and 3-membered polyphosphates, a reasonable atomic explanation can be shown for this reaction. Transphosphorylation has been found to result in a pyrophosphate on HA which is distinctive from pyrophosphate absorbed onto HA from solution. The models suggest that this distinction is due to a different orientation of the pyrophosphate on the surface of the HA depending on the origin of the pyrophosphate.
A Kinect-based rehabilitation exercise monitoring and guidance system

In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of a Kinect-based system for rehabilitation exercises monitoring and guidance. We choose to use the Unity framework to implement our system because it enables us to use virtual reality techniques to demonstrate detailed movements to the patient, and to facilitate examination of the quality and quantity of the patient sessions by the clinician. The avatar-based rendering of motion also preserves the privacy of the patients, which is essential for healthcare systems. The key contribution of our research is a rule-based approach to realtime exercise quality assessment and feedback. We developed a set of basic rule elements that can be used to express the correctness rules for common rehabilitation exercises.
Organic Matrices and Mineral Crystallites in Vertebrate Scales, Teeth and Skeletons

Synopsis. The earliest fossil vertebrates, the ostracoderms, more than 500,000,000 years ago had skeletons which included the hard tissues calcified cartilage, bone, dentine and enamel. It seems plausible that the modes of mineralization pioneered in these primitive tissues have persisted throughout vertebrate radiation without major changes. All four types utilize the calcium phosphate mineral apatite to form inorganic crystallites which develop in close association with matrix proteins. In the collagen-associated tissues? calcified cartilage, bone and dentine?the short, needle- or lath-like crystallites develop along collagen fibrils. Non-collagenous components of the matrix in these tissues include proteoglycans, glycoproteins and matrix vesicles. Special calcium-binding or phosphatebinding constituents may promote crystal nucleation and growth. In enamel (enameloid) large hexagonal crystallites develop in association with the glycoproteins amelogenin and enamelin secreted by cells ofthe inner dental epithelium (ameloblasts). Enamel (enameloid) of the shark tooth resembles mammalian enamel in size and shape of crystallites. Bio? chemical and immunohistochemical techniques are being used in several laboratories to determine how these proteins control the mineralization of enamel, and whether they are homologous in all vertebrate classes.
A method for analyzing transcription using permeabilized cells.

Abstract Brief exposure of Friend cells to a buffered hypotonic solution containing 1% Tween 80 caused permeabilization and allowed incorporation of [ 3 H]UTP into RNA. The incorporation was inhibited 85–97% by 20 μg/ml actinomycin D and the reaction product was completely hydrolyzed by 0.1 m KOH. UMP incorporation was nearly linear for 60 min at 23°C; however, at 37°C it ceased after 15–20 min of rapid incorporation. The inhibition of UMP incorporation by 2 μg/ml α-amanitin was much greater at 23°C than at 37°C. The molecular weight of the RNA synthesized in permeabilized cells is broadly distributed with about 83% larger than 18 S. In vitro transcription of the mouse β-major globin gene was studied by hybridizing 32 P-labeled nascent RNA to filter-bound DNA sequences representing this gene and its flanking regions. After induction by hexamethylene-bisacetamide, Friend cells exhibited more than fivefold increases in the rate of transcription for the β-major globin gene as compared to the uninduced control cells. Induction also caused an increase in the transcription rate of the 3′-flanking region located downstream from the poly(A) addition site. Thus, the primary transcription unit of β-major globin gene is essentially the same in permeabilized cells as that previously reported for nuclei isolated from the same cell line. In addition, permeabilized cells actively initiate RNA synthesis as determined by the incorporation of a thiol group at the 5′ initiating nucleotide, when synthesis was in the presence of [γ- S ]-labeled nucleoside triphosphates. Permeabilized cells are about 7–11 times more active than isolated nuclei in the synthesis of both in vitro -initiated and total RNA.
Vibrational analysis of methylcarbamate and N,N-dichloromethylcarbamate

Abstract The observed fundamental vibrations of methylcarbamate and N,N -dichloromethy carbamate have been assigned on the basis of C 8 symmetry. A normal coordinate analysis using the Urey-Bradley potential function gives satisfactory agreement between observed and calculated frequencies and force constants obtained agree satisfactorily with those reported for other related molecules.
A Validation of the Goldsmith and Hofacker Innovativeness Scale

This paper reports a study validating a new self-report scale used to measure innovativeness or the tendency to adopt an innovation soon after it appears in a specific domain. Data obtained from 24...
Ecological Validity of the Conners' Continuous Performance Test II in a School-Based Sample:

The ecological validity of the Conners' Continuous Performance Test II (CPT-II) was examined using a sample of 206 first- and second-grade children. Children's CPT-II scores were correlated with observations of inattentive/hyperactive behavior during CPT-II administration, observations of children's behavior during analogue academic task, classroom observations, and parent/teacher reports. CPT-II scores showed moderate correlations with test session behavior but low correlations with external measures of inattention/hyperactivity. On the other hand, test session observations, analogue task observations, classroom observations, and teacher reports showed moderate and significant intercorrelations. Furthermore, test session observations predicted a significant amount of variance in children's classroom behavior above and beyond CPT-II scores alone. Results suggest that psychologists should supplement CPT-II scores with observational data to estimate children's functioning outside the test setting.
High-spin metal-cyanide clusters: species incorporating [Mn(salen)]^+ complexes as a source of anisotropy

Abstract The use of N , N ′-ethylenebis(salycylideneiminato) (salen) complexes of Mn III in assembling high-spin metal–cyanide coordination clusters with significant magnetic anisotropy is demonstrated. The reaction of [Mn(salen)(H 2 O) 2 ] + with [Cr(CN) 6 ] 3− in aqueous solution generates {Cr[CNMn(salen)(H 2 O)] 6 }[Cr(CN) 6 ]·6H 2 O ( 1 ), a previously reported compound featuring a heptanuclear cluster with a distorted octahedral geometry. A fit to the variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data for 1 revealed the presence of weak antiferromagnetic coupling of J=−2.5 cm −1 within the cluster, giving rise to an S =21/2 ground state. In addition, variable-field magnetization data collected at low temperatures revealed the presence of magnetic anisotropy in the ground state, with the best fit yielding zero-field splitting parameters of D =+0.19 cm −1 and |E|=0.036 cm −1 . A reaction intended to produce a direct analogue of 1 by employing [Fe(CN) 6 ] 3− in place of [Cr(CN) 6 ] 3− instead gave an unusually complex compound of formula {Fe(CN) 4 [CNMn(salen)(MeOH)] 2 }{[Mn(salen)(H 2 O)] 2 }[Mn(salen)(H 2 O)(MeOH)] 2 [Fe(CN) 6 ]·4H 2 O ( 2 ). The crystal structure and magnetic properties of this compound are reported.
Loss of p19Arf Facilitates the Angiogenic Switch and Tumor Initiation in a Multi-Stage Cancer Model via p53-Dependent and Independent Mechanisms

The Arf tumor suppressor acts as a sensor of oncogenic signals, countering aberrant proliferation in large part via activation of the p53 transcriptional program, though a number of p53-independent functions have been described. Mounting evidence suggests that, in addition to promoting tumorigenesis via disruptions in the homeostatic balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis of overt cancer cells, genetic alterations leading to tumor suppressor loss of function or oncogene gain of function can also incite tumor development via effects on the tumor microenvironment. In a transgenic mouse model of multi-stage pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinogenesis (PNET) driven by inhibition of the canonical p53 and Rb tumor suppressors with SV40 large T-antigen (Tag), stochastic progression to tumors is limited in part by a requirement for initiation of an angiogenic switch. Despite inhibition of p53 by Tag in this mouse PNET model, concomitant disruption of Arf via genetic knockout resulted in a significantly accelerated pathway to tumor formation that was surprisingly not driven by alterations in tumor cell proliferation or apoptosis, but rather via earlier activation of the angiogenic switch. In the setting of a constitutional p53 gene knockout, loss of Arf also accelerated tumor development, albeit to a lesser degree. These findings demonstrate that Arf loss of function can promote tumorigenesis via facilitating angiogenesis, at least in part, through p53-independent mechanisms.
A NOTE ON THE CHOICE OF AN ANCHOR TEST IN EQUATING

Anchor tests play a key role in test score equating. We attempt to find, through theoretical derivations, an anchor test with optimal item characteristics. The correlation between the scores on a total test and on an anchor test is maximized with respect to the item parameters for data satisfying several item response theory models. Results suggest that under these models, the minitest, the traditionally used anchor test, is not optimal with respect to anchor-test-to-total-test correlation; instead, an anchor test with items of medium difficulty, the miditest, seems to be the optimum anchor test. This finding agrees with the empirical findings of Sinharay and colleagues that the miditest mostly has higher anchor-test-to-total-test correlation compared to the minitest and mostly performs as well as the minitest in equating.
Correspondence Between Daily and Weekly Fatigue Reports in Breast Cancer Survivors

Fatigue is a contributor to decreased quality of life and one of the most common symptoms reported by cancer survivors. Most assessment of fatigue has been retrospective and/or unidimensional. Single-item visual analogue scale ratings are commonly used, despite arguments that fatigue is better conceptualized as multidimensional. The relationships of daily to weekly ratings of fatigue, or of unidimensional to multidimensional assessments, have not been explored. Twenty-five breast cancer survivors provided daily ratings of fatigue and completed the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form weekly for one month. Using hierarchical linear modeling, stronger relationships of weekly ratings to average and peak rather than most recent daily ratings were found. Visual analogue scale ratings shared more variance with the General Fatigue subscale than with the other four fatigue dimensions measured. Findings suggest that different information is captured by daily versus weekly reports, and that although visual analogue scale ratings can provide a quick assessment of general fatigue, they do not capture other important dimensions.
Modular multilevel converter with integrated storage for solar photovoltaic applications

Modular multilevel converter features high power quality and has high availability due to its inherent modularity. Those characteristics make this converter well suited for high voltage DC transmission applications. In this paper, a new application of modular multilevel converter in solar photovoltaic plants is proposed. The proposed structure can use higher voltages than standard photovoltaic plants, hence reducing internal losses. Additionally, an storage element can be integrated with the converter in order to perform peak shaving. The proposed topology and control strategy are shown and simulation results confirm their performance.
Testing a Subset of the Parameters of a Nonlinear Regression Model

Abstract The problem of testing for the location of a subset of the parameters entering the response function of a nonlinear regression model is considered. Two test statistics—the likelihood ratio test statistic and a test statistic derived from the asymptotic normality of the least squares estimator—for this problem are discussed and compared. The large-sample distributions of these statistics are derived and Monte Carlo power estimates are compared with power computed using the large-sample distributions.
EPR demonstration of iron-nitrosyl complex formation by cytotoxic activated macrophages.

Activated macrophage cytotoxicity is characterized by loss of intracellular iron and inhibition of certain enzymes that have catalytically active nonheme-iron coordinated to sulfur. This phenomenon involves the oxidation of one of the terminal guanidino nitrogen atoms of L-arginine, which results in the production of citrulline and inorganic nitrogen oxides (NO2-, NO3-, and NO). We report here the results of an electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic study performed on cytotoxic activated macrophage (CAM) effector cells, which develop the same pattern of metabolic inhibition as their targets. Examination of activated macrophages from mice infected with Mycobacterium bovis (strain bacillus Calmette-Guerin) that were cultured in medium with lipopolysaccharide and L-arginine showed the presence of an axial signal at g = 2.039, which is similar to previously described iron-nitrosyl complexes formed from the destruction of iron-sulfur centers by nitric oxide (NO). Inhibition of the L-arginine-dependent pathway by addition of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (methyl group on a terminal guanidino nitrogen) inhibits the production of nitrite, nitrate, citrulline, and the g = 2.039 signal. Comparison of the hyperfine structure of the signal from cells treated with L-arginine with terminal guanidino nitrogen atoms of natural abundance N14 atoms or labeled with N15 atoms showed that the nitrosyl group in this paramagnetic species arises from one of these two atoms. These results show that loss of iron-containing enzyme function in CAM is a result of the formation of iron-nitrosyl complexes induced by the synthesis of nitric oxide from the oxidation of a terminal guanidino nitrogen atom of L-arginine.
Biased Information Search in the Interpersonal Domain

An experiment was conducted to investigate the conditions under which people selectively seek information about other persons to provide an informational basis for desired positive or negative evaluations of those persons. It was hypothesized that active involvement in an interaction with another person is prerequisite to the occurrence of such biased search. Subjects either received or observed another subject receive a positive or negative evaluation from a confederate. After being led to expect that available information about the confederate was either mostly positive or mostly negative, their interest in acquiring such information was assessed. Subjects who were the recipients of the confederate's praise sought more information when they expected it to be positive than when they expected it to be negative; recipients of the confederate's criticism sought more information when they expected it to be negative than when they expected it to be positive. No hint of such biased search tendencies were found...