cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low-Volume Road Performance Related to Traffic Loadings at Minnesota Road Research Project:

The Minnesota Department of Transportation built the Minnesota Road Research Project (MnROAD) between 1990 and 1993. The low-volume road consists of a two-lane roadway that originally contained hot-mix asphalt (HMA) and portland cement concrete (PCC) test sections. Each of these test sections is trafficked by a controlled five-axle tractor-semitrailer. The trucks have two different load configurations, resulting in the same equivalent single-axle loads (ESALs) over time. The first configuration consists of a legally loaded 80,000-lb (80-kip) truck that runs on the inside lane 4 days per week, and the second configuration consists of an overloaded 102,000-lb (102-kip) truck that runs on the outside lane 1 day per week. The field performances of the different MnROAD test sections over time resulting from the different loading applications are compared. As expected, the thermal cracking performance of HMA was not affected by the traffic loadings, because it is a distress caused by the environment. Similarly,...
Quantum states and potentialities of quantum systems

In a previous article it was shown that in general quantum states represent perspectives on the potentialities of quantum systems, rather than the potentialities themselves. In the present paper the following questions are investigated in the context of this result: (1) How do quantum states which undergo collapse transform under pure translations? (2) Under what conditions do quantum states represent the potentialities themselves? Two alternatives are presented in response to the first question: (1) Quantum states are scalars under translations. (2) The collapse of a quantum state propagates between frames of reference at the speed of light. The advantages and disadvantages of the two alternatives are discussed. The response to the second question is shown to depend on the chosen alternative. In addition, the second alternative is shown to lead to a consistent view of quantum states as “potential perspectives on potentialities.”
Awarding Health: Contracts at the National Institutes of a Sensitivity Analysis of the Critical Parameters

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) developed an initiative that will support tobacco prevention and control research in 17 states. The model that NCI used for choosing those states that would be funded is described in Hall et al. (Operations Research, Vol. 40, pp. 1040–1052, 1992). In this paper, we present sensitivity analyses of the critical parameters of that model, and we discuss the policy implications for nationwide tobacco control efforts.
Hyperbolic Mapping Classes and Their Lifts on the Bers Fiber Space

Let S be a Riemann surface with genus p and n punctures. Assume that 3p−3+n > 0 and n ≥ 1. Let a be a puncture of S and let $$ \ifmmode\expandafter\tilde\else\expandafter\~\fi{S} = S \cup {\left\{ a \right\}} $$ . Then all mapping classes in the mapping class group Mod S that fixes the puncture a can be projected to mapping classes of $$ {\text{Mod}}_{{ \ifmmode\expandafter\tilde\else\expandafter\~\fi{S}}} $$ under the forgetful map. In this paper the author studies the mapping classes in Mod S that can be projected to a given hyperbolic mapping class in $$ {\text{Mod}}_{{ \ifmmode\expandafter\tilde\else\expandafter\~\fi{S}}} $$ .
CDKN1C/p57kip2 is a candidate tumor suppressor gene in human breast cancer

CDKN1C (also known as p57KIP2) is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor previously implicated in several types of human cancer. Its family members (CDKN1A/p21CIP1 and B/p27KIP1) have been implicated in breast cancer, but information about CDKN1C's role is limited. We hypothesized that decreased CDKN1C may be involved in human breast carcinogenesis in vivo. We determined rates of allele imbalance or loss of heterozygosity (AI/LOH) in CDKN1C, using an intronic polymorphism, and in the surrounding 11p15.5 region in 82 breast cancers. We examined the CDKN1C mRNA level in 10 cancers using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), and the CDKN1C protein level in 20 cancers using immunohistochemistry (IHC). All samples were obtained using laser microdissection. Data were analyzed using standard statistical tests. AI/LOH at 11p15.5 occurred in 28/73 (38%) informative cancers, but CDKN1C itself underwent AI/LOH in only 3/16 (19%) cancers (p = ns). In contrast, CDKN1C mRNA levels were reduced in 9/10 (90%) cancers (p < 0.0001), ranging from 2–60% of paired normal epithelium. Similarly, CDKN1C protein staining was seen in 19/20 (95%) cases' normal epithelium but in only 7/14 (50%) cases' CIS (p < 0.004) and 5/18 (28%) cases' IC (p < 0.00003). The reduction appears primarily due to loss of CDKN1C expression from myoepithelial layer cells, which stained intensely in 17/20 (85%) normal lobules, but in 0/14 (0%) CIS (p < 0.00001). In contrast, luminal cells displayed less intense, focal staining fairly consistently across histologies. Decreased CDKN1C was not clearly associated with tumor grade, histology, ER, PR or HER2 status. CDKN1C is expressed in normal epithelium of most breast cancer cases, mainly in the myothepithelial layer. This expression decreases, at both the mRNA and protein level, in the large majority of breast cancers, and does not appear to be mediated by AI/LOH at the gene. Thus, CDKN1C may be a breast cancer tumor suppressor.
Unity and Identity of Opposites in Calculus and Physics

A significant fraction of dialectical philosophy can be modeled mathematically through the use of “cylinders” (diagrams of shape Δ) in a category, wherein the two identical subobjects (united by the third map in the diagram) are “opposite”. In a bicategory, oppositeness can be very effectively characterized in terms of adjointness, but even in an ordinary category it may sometimes be given a useful definition. For example, an effective basis for teaching calculus is a ringed category satisfying the Hadamard-Marx property. The description in engineering mechanics of continuous bodies that can undergo cracking is clarified by an example involving lattices, raising a new questions about the foundations of topology.
The spatial string in sion in the deconfined phase of the SU(2) gauge theory

Abstract We present results of a detailed investigation of the temperature dependence of the spatial string tension in (3+1)-dimensional SU(2) gauge theory. We show that the spatial string tension is non-vanishing in the continuum limit. It is temperature independent below T c and rises rapidly above. For temperatures larger than 2 T c we find a scaling behaviour σ s ( T ) ∼ g 4 ( T ) T 2 , where g ( T ) is the l-loop running coupling.
CAPITAL MOBILITY AND THE FELDSTEIN–HORIOKA PUZZLE: RE-EXAMINATION OF LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES*

This empirical study extends the work of Coakley et al. (Manchester School, Vol. 72 (2004), pp. 569–590) with respect to the Feldstein–Horioka puzzle for a sample of 47 developing countries. The study examines the savings–investment relationship through a comparison of the Feldstein–Horioka cross-section estimator results with the results obtained from a mean group estimator allowing for the cross-section dependence and permanent shocks to the current account. The mean group estimator results indicate higher capital mobility with a savings coefficient of 0.36, 25 per cent lower than the estimates based on the cross-section estimator, for the whole sample with little variation across subregions.
Structural basis of protein phosphatase 1 regulation

The coordinated and reciprocal action of serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) protein kinases and phosphatases produces transient phosphorylation, a fundamental regulatory mechanism for many biological processes. The human genome encodes a far greater number of Ser/Thr protein kinases than of phosphatases. Protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), in particular, is ubiquitously distributed and regulates a broad range of cellular functions, including glycogen metabolism, cell-cycle progression and muscle relaxation. PP1 has evolved effective catalytic machinery but lacks substrate specificity. Substrate specificity is conferred upon PP1 through interactions with a large number of regulatory subunits. The regulatory subunits are generally unrelated, but most possess the RVxF motif, a canonical PP1-binding sequence. Here we reveal the crystal structure at 2.7 A resolution of the complex between PP1 and a 34-kDa N-terminal domain of the myosin phosphatase targeting subunit MYPT1. MYPT1 is the protein that regulates PP1 function in smooth muscle relaxation. Structural elements amino- and carboxy-terminal to the RVxF motif of MYPT1 are positioned in a way that leads to a pronounced reshaping of the catalytic cleft of PP1, contributing to the increased myosin specificity of this complex. The structure has general implications for the control of PP1 activity by other regulatory subunits.
A relaxation scheme for increasing the parallelism in Jacobi-SVD

The Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) is a vital problem that finds a place in numerous application domains in science and engineering. As an example, SVDs are used in processing voluminous datasets. Many sequential and parallel algorithms have been proposed to compute SVDs. The best known sequential algorithms take cubic time. This amount of time may not be acceptable especially when the data size is large. Thus parallel algorithms are desirable. In this paper, we present a novel technique for the parallel computation of SVDs. This technique yields impressive speedups. We discuss implementation of our technique on parallel models of computing such as the mesh and the PRAM. We also present an experimental evaluation of our technique.
The Nation's Health Insurance aud Health Services Policies : In Evolution Toward What?

The people need a substantially larger volume of scientific medical service than they now receive... There is need for a geographical distribution of practitioners and agencies which more closely approximates the medical requirements of the people.... There needs to be better control over the quality of medical service.... The prevailing methods of purchasing medical care have unsatisfactory consequences. They lead to unwise and undirected expenditures, to unequal and unpredictable financial burdens for the indi vidual and the family, to neglect of health and of illness, to inadequate expenditures for medical care and often to unequal remuneration of practi tioners. There needs to be some plan whereby the unequal and sometimes crushing burden of medical expenses can be distributed... Physical facilities are duplicated between the hospitals and the offices of practitioners and are insufficiently utilized in both.... Misdirected expenditures, competition and excessive specialization among practitioners and the absence o f commun ity planning and of integration of services and facilities contribute to exten sive waste [Committee on the Costs of Medical Care, 1932: 32-34].
Amino groups at the surfaces of phospholipid vesicles

Abstract Reactivity of the amino groups of three nitrogen-containing phospholipids dispersed in aqueous salt solution in the form of liquid crystalline vesicles was studied by microelectrophoresis. The reactivity against 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) and formaldehyde after incubation was assessed on the basis of changes in their electrophoretic mobility. It was found that pure phosphatidylethanolamine did not react with TNBS but rather with formaldehyde. If phosphatidylethanolamine was mixed with phosphatidylcholine, which was not reactive alone, with either reagent, the reactivity of phosphatidylethanolamine with both TNBS and formaldehyde was greatly enhanced. It was also found that phosphatidylserine had limited reactivity with either reagent, whether in pure form or in mixtures with phospatidylcholine. It was concluded that the limited reactivity of the primary amino groups at the surface of phospholipid liquid crystalline vesicles dispersed in saline is due to inter- and intramolecular salt linkages with adjacent phosphate groups. The effect of ΔpH at the surface is also discussed as a possible explanation for the lack of reactivity. Finally the implications of these findings are discussed in terms of some of the proposed models for biological cell membrane structure.
Feasibility of Family Member Presence in the OR During Breast Biopsy Procedures

ABSTRACT FAMILY-CENTERED CARE IS AN ACCEPTED and promoted philosophy within the health care community. Perioperative nurses are empowered to support change in the health care arena and to examine and institute policies that affect patient care. THIS STUDY EXAMINED THE FEASIBILITY OF family presence in the OR during breast biopsy procedures performed with local anesthesia, by ascertaining perioperative nurses' attitudes toward the concept. FAMILY PRESENCE IN THE OR during breast biopsy procedures is considered a novel initiative. The results of this study indicate that the feasibility of instituting this intervention would be challenged by system barriers. AORN J 88 (October 2008) 568–586. © AORN, Inc, 2008.
How Group Differences in Matching Criterion Distribution and IRT Item Difficulty Can Influence the Magnitude of the Mantel–Haenszel Chi-Square DIF Index

Abstract The authors demonstrated the empirical relationship between Cohen's chi-square effect size, w, and differential item functioning (DIF), defined as group differences in item response theory (IRT) item difficulty. In Experiment 1, in which the lower asymptote was 0, the authors argued that Cohen's designation of small, medium, and large effects connotes reasonably well for that definition of DIF. In Experiment 2, the lower asymptote of the item response function was raised from 0 to 0.2 and the item discrimination parameter was held to 1.0. Doing so admitted non-crossing nonuniform DIF to the model, violating an underlying assumption of the Mantel–Haenszel procedure that the odds ratio is constant across studied levels of the matching criterion. Smaller difficulty parameter difference resulted, which produced larger effects with an inflation in effect size of about 15%. In Experiment 3, the authors used the 1-parameter logistic model to examine the effect that group differences in the matching crit...
Odorant receptor gene choice is reset by nuclear transfer from mouse olfactory sensory neurons

Of the ∼1,000 odorant receptor (OR) genes in the mouse genome, an olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) is thought to express one gene, from one allele. This is reminiscent of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes, which undergo DNA rearrangements in lymphocytes. Here, we test the hypothesis that OR gene choice is controlled by DNA rearrangements in OSNs. Using permanent genetic marking, we show that the choice by an OSN to express an allele of the OR gene M71 is irreversible. Using M71-expressing OSNs as donors for nuclear transfer, we generate blastocysts, embryonic stem (ntES) cell lines and clonal mice. DNA analysis of these cell lines, whose genome is clonally derived from an M71-expressing OSN, does not reveal DNA rearrangements or sequence alterations at the M71 locus. OSNs that differentiate from ntES cells after injection into blastocysts are not restricted to expression of M71 but can express other OR genes. Thus, M71 gene choice is irreversible but is reset upon nuclear transfer, and is not accompanied by genomic alterations.
Photolysis of 4-Oxo-2-pentenal in the 190−460 nm Region

We have studied the gas-phase photolysis of 4-oxo-2-pentenal by laser photolysis combined with cavity ring-down spectroscopy. Absorption cross sections of cis- and trans-4-oxo-2-pentenal have been measured in the 190-460 nm region. The product channel following 193, 248, 308, and 351 nm photolysis of 4-oxo-2-pentenal was investigated. The HCO radical is a photodissociation product of 4-oxo-2-pentenal only at 193 and 248 nm. The HCO quantum yields from the photolysis of a mainly trans-4-oxo-2-pentenal sample are 0.13 +/- 0.02 and 0.014 +/- 0.003 at 193 and 248 nm, where errors quoted (1sigma) represent experimental scatter. The HCO quantum yields from the photolysis of a mainly cis-4-oxo-2-pentenal sample are 0.078 +/- 0.012 and 0.018 +/- 0.007 at 193 and 248 nm, where errors quoted (1sigma) represent experimental scatter. The end-products from 193, 248, 308, and 351 nm photolysis of 4-oxo-2-pentenal (the 4-oxo-2-pentenal sample had a tran/cis ratio of 1.062:1) have been determined by FTIR. Ethane, methyl vinyl ketone, and 5-methyl-3H-furan-2-one have been observed, suggesting the occurrence of 4-oxo-2-pentenal photolysis pathways such as CH(3)COCH=CHCHO + hnu --> CH(3) + COCH=CHCHO, CH(3)COCH=CHCHO + hnu --> CH(3)COCH=CH(2) + CO, and CH(3)COCH=CHCHO + hnu --> 5-methyl-3H-furan-2-one. The estimated yields for the CH(3) + COCH=CHCHO channel are about 25%, 33%, 31%, and 23% at 193, 248, 308, and 351 nm, respectively. The absolute uncertainties in the determination of CH(3) + COCH=CHCHO yields are within 55% at 193 nm, and 65% at 248, 308, and 351 nm. The estimated yields for the CH(3)COCH=CH(2) + CO channel are about 25%, 23%, 40%, and 33% at 193, 248, 308, and 351 nm, respectively. The absolute uncertainties in the determination of CH(3)COCH=CH(2) yields are within 80% at 193 and 248 nm and 65% at 308 and 351 nm. The estimated yields for the 5-methyl-3H-furan-2-one channel are about 1.2%, 2.1%, 5.3%, and 5.5% at 193, 248, 308, and 351 nm, respectively. The absolute uncertainties in the determination of 5-methyl-3H-furan-2-one yields are about 23%, 86%, 40%, and 46% at 193, 248, 308, and 351 nm. Results from our investigation indicate that photolysis is a dominant removal pathway for 4-oxo-2-pentenal degradation in the atmosphere.
Soviet Neotraditionalism: The political corruption of a Leninist regime

(1983). Soviet Neotraditionalism: The political corruption of a Leninist regime. Soviet Studies: Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 275-297.
Response of acutely starved and chronically undernourished rats to saline therapy following tourniquet shock.

SummaryExperiments were performed to ascertain possible differences in survival following tourniquet trauma and saline infusion therapy between rats chronically undernourished to 77.4-80.3%, and those acutely starved to 77-80% of initial body weight. It has been demonstrated that there is a significantly higher percentage of survival when chronically undernourished rats are infused with 7 ml normal saline solution/100 g body weight following an otherwise lethal tourniquet trauma. Acutely starved rats are not protected by this level of replacement, but do show 75% survival when infused at level of 15 ml saline solution/100 g body weight.
Synchronization of a class of second order distributed parameter systems

Abstract In this work, we examine the synchronization control for a class of second order distributed parameter systems. The objective is to design controllers that guarantee agreement between the position and velocity states of N identical second order systems. The controller structure involves coupling terms consisting of the pairwise difference of both position and velocity states of the second order systems in order to enforce consensus. Possible improvements of the agreement amongst the states of each of the systems are considered and compared to the case of noninteracting controllers. Extensions to synchronizing controllers for the case of partial connectivity are discussed. Extensive numerical studies are included to provide a further insight on the effects of synchronization control of second order distributed parameter systems.
Attraction of male guinea pigs to conspecific urine.

Abstract The attraction of sexually experienced male guinea pigs to urine from a variety of sources was tested. Using a two-choice procedure, males were shown to be more attracted to urine from intact, nonreceptive females, urine from adult males castrated within 2 days of birth and urine from ovariectomized females, than to urine from intact adult male guinea pigs. Urine from intact males was preferred to urine from nonreceptive female Galea musteloides . Urine from males castrated as adults was not discriminated from urine from sham operated controls when collected 4 days postoperatively. However, castrate urine collected 14 days or greater postoperatively was preferred to the control urine. Urine from males and females aged 8–10 days was equally attractive but by age 18–20 days female urine was preferred to male urine. Further tests indicated female urine is preferred over male urine when only olfactory cues are available and that mixtures of male urine and female urine are preferred to male urine alone or diluted with water.
Multi-scale surface characterization and control based high density measurements

It is widely observed that today’s engineering products demand increasingly strict tolerances. The shape of a machined surface plays a critical role to the desired functionality of a product. Even a small error can be the difference between a successful product launch and a major delay. Thus, it is important to develop measurement tools to ensure the quality and accuracy of products’ machined surfaces. The key to assessing the quality is robust measurement and inspection techniques combined with advanced analysis. However, conventional Geometrical Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) such as flatness falls short of characterizing the surface shape. With the advancements in metrology methodology utilizing digital holographic interferometry, large amount of surface data can be captured at high resolution and accuracy without changing platform or technique. This captured High Definition Data (HDD) enables the mining of more valuable information from machined surfaces that most current industry practice cannot achieve in a timely manner. Such new metrology system opens the torrent of observable events at plant floor and increases the transparency of machining processes. This presents great opportunities to characterize machined surface into a new level of details, which can be applied in production quality evaluation and process condition monitoring and control. This research work proposes a framework of a multi-scale surface characterization for surface quality evaluation and process monitoring. Case studies are presented to show how proposed metrics could be applied in surface quality evaluation and process monitoring.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Is ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase present in guard cell chloroplasts

Evidence for and against the presence of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (EC 4.1.1.39) in guard cell chloroplasts is presented. Methods to investigate this question, including immunocytochemistry, are compared.
A comparison of alveolar macrophages and pulmonary surfactant(?) obtained from the lungs of human smokers and nonsmokers by endobronchial lavage.

Endobronchial lavage was performed on eight smokers and eight nonsmokers. Centrifugation of lavage fluid produces a sediment consisting of two layers, a lower compact brown layer containing cells and an upper flocculent white layer. The brown layers from the smokers were greater in volume than those from the nonsmokers. Macrophages constituted about 93% of the cells from the smokers and about 63% of the cells from the nonsmokers. These data suggest that more free macrophages occur in the lungs of smokers than nonsmokers. In addition, many of the macrophages obtained from the smokers were filled with cytoplasmic inclusions. The volumes of white layers from the smokers were smaller than those from the non-smokers. One white layer obtained from a nonsmoker was examined in a Wilhelmy balance and proved to be surface-active. This may suggest that surface-active material, pulmonary surfactant, is reduced in lavage fluids from smokers.
Effects of Wheat Gluten, Soy Isolate and Flavorings on Properties of Restructured Beef Steaks

Restructured beef steaks were made in triplicate to contain the following ingredients; meat only, meat + vital wheat gluten (VWG) and meat + isolated soy protein (ISP). In addition, each treatment was made with and without flavorings (0.44% sodium chloride, 0.25% sodium tripolyphosphate and 0.31% hydrolyzed vegetable protein). Off-flavor scores were not different (P > 0.05) between meat and meat + VWG steaks made without flavorings; however, steaks made with meat + ISP alone had the highest (P < 0.05) off-flavor score. AU products made with flavorings were more cohesive, juicier, and required more effort to fragment than those made without flavorings. Instron rheological values increased (not significant among all comparisons) when flavorings were used. Steaks made with VWG or ISP were not different from each other in overall desirability scores but neither of these treatments (with or without flavorings) were as desirable as controls.
A reporter system for translational readthrough of stop codons in human cells

Agents to induce readthrough of premature termination codons (PTCs) are useful research tools and potential therapeutics. Reporters used to detect PTC readthrough are gene-specific and thus are not suited to for general assessment of readthrough activity or in cases where PTC-inactivated genes are unknown. Here we describe a GFP-based reporter construct pMHG-W57∗ which is capable of detecting dose-dependent drug-induced PTC readthrough both by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. pMHG-W57∗ may be used as a general indicator of PTC readthrough in living cells and obviates the need for gene-specific recoding sequences in reporter constructs.
Neuronal and vascular interactions.

The brain, which represents 2% of body mass but consumes 20% of body energy at rest, has a limited capacity to store energy and is therefore highly dependent on oxygen and glucose supply from the blood stream. Normal functioning of neural circuits thus relies on adequate matching between metabolic needs and blood supply. Moreover, not only does the brain need to be densely vascularized, it also requires a tightly controlled environment free of toxins and pathogens to provide the proper chemical composition for synaptic transmission and neuronal function. In this review, we focus on three major factors that ensure optimal brain perfusion and function: the patterning of vascular networks to efficiently deliver blood and nutrients, the function of the blood–brain barrier to maintain brain homeostasis, and the regulation of cerebral blood flow to adequately couple energy supply to neural function.
The prevalence of temporomandibular joint disturbances in complete denture patients

Summary ‘Complete denture patients do not suffer from TMJ disturbances’ is a statement commonly accepted by many dentists and clinicians. This statement is not valid since few dentists include a TMJ examination among routine clinical procedures for complete denture patients. Identification of an edentulous patient with TMJ disturbances is not possible with just a visual examination or the use of a TMJ questionnaire. The purpose of this investigation was to examine a group of 160 complete denture patients and determine the prevalence of TMJ disturbances among this sample of former and current patients at the University of Washington. The study included a TMJ questionnaire of eighteen questions to test its usefulness in identifying TMJ patients among the sample. All data from the clinical examination were programmed, punched, and processed on a CDC 6400 computer and correlated to selected dependent variables of the questionnaire. The conclusions from this investigation revealed: (1) Approximately 15% of the complete denture patients in this sample had TMJ disturbances. (2) The use of this questionnaire was not very reliable as a primary method of identifying TMJ patients, but it could be useful in screening potential TMJ patients. (3) Routine examination of complete denture patients should include palpation of the head and neck, and TMJ. (4) Complete denture patients have TMJ disturbances characterized by muscle tenderness, joint sounds, or restricted movements. They may not necessarily be associated with pain. (5) The lateral pterygoid muscle is the most common muscle involved with TMJ disturbances in complete denture patients.
Advances in cost-reference particle filtering

Recently, we have proposed a particle filtering-type methodology, which we refer to as cost-reference particle filtering (CRPF). Its main feature is that it is not based on any particular probabilistic assumptions regarding the studied dynamic model. The concepts of particles and particle streams, however, are the same in CRPF as in standard particle filtering (SPF), but the probability masses of the particles are replaced with user defined costs. In this paper we propose some modifications of the original CRPF methodology. The changes allow for development of simpler algorithms, which may also be less computationally intensive and possibly more robust. We investigate several variants of CRPF and compare them with SPF. The advantages and disadvantages of the considered algorithms are illustrated and discussed through computer simulations of tracking of multiple targets which move along a two-dimensional space.
Evaluation of alternative nonlinear mixed effects models of duck growth

Two nonlinear growth functions were evaluated on 6 groups of 32 ducks. Ducks were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments and weighed weekly from 1 to 43 d of age. The Weibull function had the form: BW(it) = A - (A - B) exp - [(C - 1)/C] (t/IP)**C, where BW(it) is the BW of the ith duck at age t in days and A, B, C, and IP are fixed parameters. The variable A represents mature BW and the variable IP is the age (inflection point) at which maximum average daily gain is achieved. The addition of a single random effect to the Weibull growth function (ip), in which the age to reach the BW at the overall population inflection point of each duck varies, provided a substantially better fit than any other alternative fixed or mixed models. Overall, the Weibull function under-predicted the d-1 BW (46.7 vs. 55.1 g, P < 0.05) and over-predicted the d-8 BW (233.6 vs. 211.7 g, P < 0.05). The predicted BW from d 15 to 43 was very close to the actual mean BW at each age. This model predicts that the between-duck variance in BW increases with age and that the CV increases from 1 to 8 d of age, reaches a plateau from 15 to 22 d of age, and then slowly declines. This mixed effects model predicts the mean age and approximate variation in age that ducks require to reach a specific BW, and is easily adaptable to stochastic modeling.
Extended normobaric hyperoxia therapy yields greater neuroprotection for focal transient ischemia-reperfusion in rats

Background Normobaric hyperoxia (NBO) therapy is neuroprotective in acute ischemic stroke. However, how long the NBO should last to obtain optimal outcome is still unclear. Reports show that ischemic penumbra blood supply may remain compromised for a long period after ischemia-reperfusion, which would impair tissue oxygenation in ischemic penumbra. Therefore, we hypothesized that longer-lasting NBO may yield greater neuroprotection.
Eukaryotic Mismatch Repair in Relation to DNA Replication

Three processes act in series to accurately replicate the eukaryotic nuclear genome. The major replicative DNA polymerases strongly prevent mismatch formation, occasional mismatches that do form are proofread during replication, and rare mismatches that escape proofreading are corrected by mismatch repair (MMR). This review focuses on MMR in light of increasing knowledge about nuclear DNA replication enzymology and the rate and specificity with which mismatches are generated during leading- and lagging-strand replication. We consider differences in MMR efficiency in relation to mismatch recognition, signaling to direct MMR to the nascent strand, mismatch removal, and the timing of MMR. These studies are refining our understanding of relationships between generating and repairing replication errors to achieve accurate replication of both DNA strands of the nuclear genome.
An age–period–cohort analysis of cancer incidence among the oldest old, Utah 1973–2002

We used age-period-cohort (APC) analyses to describe the simultaneous effects of age, period, and cohort on cancer incidence rates in an attempt to understand the population dynamics underlying their patterns among those aged 85+. Data from the Utah Cancer Registry (UCR), the US Census, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) programme were used to generate age-specific estimates of cancer incidence at ages 65-99 from 1973 to 2002 for Utah. Our results showed increasing cancer incidence rates up to the 85-89 age group followed by declines at ages 90-99 when not confounded by the separate influences of period and cohort effects. We found significant period and cohort effects, suggesting the role of environmental mechanisms in cancer incidence trends between the ages of 85 and 100.
Coherent EEG Indicators of Cognitive Binding during Ambiguous Figure Tasks

We tested the hypothesis that perception of an alternative image in ambiguous figures would be manifest as high-frequency (gamma) components that become synchronized over multiple scalp sites as a "cognitive binding" process occurs. For 171 combinations of data from 19 electrodes, obtained from 17 subjects and 10 replicate stimuli, we calculated the difference in correlation between the response to first seeing an ambiguous figure and when the alternative percept for that figure became consciously realized (cognitively bound). Numerous statistically significant correlation differences occurred in all frequency bands tested with ambiguous-figure stimulation, but not in two kinds of control data (a reaction-time test to sound stimuli and a no-task, mind-wandering test). Statistically significant correlation changes were widespread, involving frontal, parietal, central, and occipital regions of both hemispheres. Correlation changes were evident at each of five frequency bands, ranging up to 62.5 Hz. Most of the statistically significant correlation changes were not between adjacent sites but between sites relatively distant, both ipsilateral and contralateral. Typically, these correlation changes occurred in more than one frequency band. These results suggest that cognitive binding is a distinct mental state that is reliably induced by ambiguous-figure perception tasks. Coherent oscillations at multiple frequencies may reflect the mechanism by which such binding occurs. Moreover, different coherent frequencies may mediate different components of the total cognitive-binding process.
Photon echo pulse sequences with femtosecond shaped laser pulses as a vehicle for molecule-based quantum computation

We propose three-pulse four-wave mixing (FWM) in cooled molecules for computation. Femtosecond amplitude and phase shaped pulses encode information into a coherent superposition of vibrational states. The coherent coupling between the quantum states and the consecutive interactions with shaped pulses is used as quantum logic gates to create the final superposition of states. The resulting coherent virtual or stimulated photon echo signal corresponds to a vector or a matrix output, respectively. Photon echo is the optical analog to spin echo where inhomogeneous decoherence is cancelled. The experimental setup required is discussed and preliminary results are presented.
Reflections on suicide among soldiers.

This commentary considers the Nock et al. review article (this issue) and provides additional perspectives pertaining to current concerns about Soldier suicides. The review article is relevant to the current Army STARRS research project, which is one of the most significant scientific undertakings in the history of suicide research. The review is an outstanding and thorough consideration of psychosocial risk and protective factors that may be related to Soldier suicide. While Army STARRS is a landmark effort, the author does note the need for innovation and alternative approaches to addressing alarming increases in Soldier suicides. Indeed, the dramatic increase seen in Soldier suicides over the past several years poses one of the more vexing challenges that the field of suicidology has faced to date. To this end, the author explores some alternative considerations that were not particularly featured in the review article. Some of these considerations include perspectives on military culture in relation t...
Fetal Positions: Unraveling the Influence of Religion on Premarital Pregnancy Resolution

Objective. This study illustrates the ways religiosity and denominational affiliation influence the probability that a young woman will have an abortion. Methods. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), measures of sexual behavior, out-of-wedlock pregnancy, and out-of-wedlock pregnancy resolution are regressed on religiosity and denominational affiliation. Results. Religiosity indirectly reduces the likelihood that a woman will have an abortion by reducing the probability that she will have an out-of-wedlock pregnancy. Among women who conceive out of wedlock, religiosity increases the likelihood of marriage before birth, and thereby reduces the probability of abortion. However, among women who conceive out of wedlock and do not marry before birth, religiosity is unrelated to the probability of having an abortion. Conclusions. Religiosity affects the probability that a woman will obtain an abortion more through its influence on choices about sex and marriage, and less through its influence on attitudes about abortion.
ACV: an arithmetic circuit verifier

Based on a hierarchical verification methodology, we present an arithmetic circuit verifier ACV, in which circuits expressed in a hardware description language, also called ACV, are symbolically verified using Binary Decision Diagrams for Boolean functions and multiplicative Binary Moment Diagrams (*BMDs) for word-level functions. A circuit is described in ACV as a hierarchy of modules. Each module has a structural definition as an interconnection of logic gates and other modules. Modules may also have functional descriptions, declaring the numeric encodings of the inputs and outputs, as well as specifying their functionality in terms of arithmetic expressions. Verification then proceeds recursively, proving that each module in the hierarchy having a functional description, including the top-level one, realizes its specification. The language and the verifier contain additional enhancements for overcoming some of the difficulties in applying *BMD-based verification to circuits computing functions such as division and square root. ACV has successfully verified a number of circuits, implementing such functions as multiplication, division, and square root, with word sizes up to 256 bits.
Effects of growth hormone and/or sex steroid administration on whole-body protein turnover in healthy aged women and men

Aging is associated with reduced activities of the growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and sex steroid axes, and with decreased lean body mass and protein synthesis. Using a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled design, we studied the effects of 6 months of administration of GH alone, sex hormone alone (hormone replacement therapy in women, testosterone enanthate [T] in men), or GH plus sex hormone on protein turnover in healthy men (n=60) and women (n=43), aged 65 to 88 years (mean, 71+/-4.4 years). Growth hormone administration significantly increased IGF-I levels in both sexes, more markedly in men. Sex steroid administration increased the levels of estrogen and testosterone in women and men, respectively (P=.05). Protein turnover was measured before and after the 26-week treatment period by means of a primed, constant l-[1-(13)C]leucine infusion. In men, GH plus T administration increased leucine flux from 80.2+/-2.8 to 93.6+/-4.2 micromol.h-1.kg-1 (P=.02). Leucine oxidation did not change significantly after hormone treatment in either sex. Growth hormone treatment led to nonsignificant upward trends in nonoxidative leucine disposal in men (9.1+/-5.2 mol.h-1.kg-1) and women (7.6+/-7.1 mol.h-1.kg-1). Among all groups combined, changes in nonoxidative leucine disposal were directly related to those of serum IGF-I level (r=0.248, P<.02). Whole-body protein turnover increased in GH plus T-treated men (0.6+/-0.2 g protein.kg-1.d-1; P<.01). These data suggest that low-dose GH administration increases protein synthesis in healthy aged women and men, and that the coadministration of testosterone plus GH enhances this effect in elderly men.
Phytophagous Preferences of the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) for Autumn-Ripening Fruit

The objective of this study was to assess the potential pest status of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) on autumn-ripening fruit. In autumn, H. axyridis has been observed feeding on pumpkins, apples, grapes, and raspberries in Minnesota. To determine whether H. axyridis can inflict primary feeding damage to fruit (i.e., breaking the skin of the fruit), we conducted laboratory feeding experiments with undamaged pumpkins, apples, grapes, and raspberries. The only fruit that H. axyridis was able to damage directly was raspberry. Laboratory choice tests were conducted to determine whether H. axyridis exhibits a preference between damaged and undamaged fruit, between cultivars of fruit, and between sugar water and water alone. For all fruits tested, H. axyridis showed a preference for damaged fruits over undamaged fruits. H. axyridis also exhibited a strong preference for sugar water over water alone. However, few differences were exhibited in preference between cultivars of fruit. In autumn, it seems that H. axyridis is an opportunist, taking advantage of previously damaged fruit, caused by other agents.
A Model of Policy Formation Through Simulated Annealing: The Impact of Preference Alignment on Productivity and Satisfaction

We are interested in how preference correlations can impact policy-maker productivity and their satisfaction with resultant policy. We applied a simulated annealing process as a model of revising draft legislation in peer and committee reviews before submission to a floor vote. Results indicate that having exogenous, common issue priorities is required for productivity but that some structures inhibit productivity, particularly where preference schedules are uncorrelated. Our model also demonstrates lower system efficiency, and lower overall satisfaction, as policy is negotiated through compromise to achieve higher production.
Educating the Experts: Online Financial Education for Credit Union Employees

Financial education is often held up as a solution to negative financial behaviors, in large part due to the correlations among lower levels of financial knowledge, fewer savings behaviors, and higher rates of credit problems. Studies evaluating financial education are often plagued by methodological problems, especially selection bias, such that unobserved positive behaviors are correlated with attending financial education. This analysis tracks the self-reported financial knowledge and behavior of 1,052 credit union employees who had the opportunity to participate in an online financial education program. Twenty-one credit unions were randomly assigned to the treatment group, which offered the course to employees in late 2009. Twenty-four credit unions constituted the control group, which offered the course in early 2010. The intention-to-treat estimates show that controlling for employee and credit union characteristics, the offer of online financial education is related to statistically significant - but small - improvements in self-reported financial knowledge and behavior. These results suggest online financial education may be a useful delivery channel for financial content, but they also suggest caution regarding the potential of education as a behavioral remedy.
Pre-Announced Pricing Strategies with Reservations

At the beginning of the selling season, the retailer announces both the price ph at which the product will be sold during the selling season and the post-season clearance price p'
Disease Burden Among Individuals with Severe Mental Illness in a Community Setting

This study examines the prevalence of comorbid physical health conditions within a community sample of individuals with severe mental illness (SMI), compares them to a matched national sample without SMI, and identifies which comorbidities create the greatest disease burden for those with SMI. Self-reported health status, co-morbid medical conditions and perceived disease burden were collected from 203 adults with SMI. Prevalence of chronic health conditions was compared to a propensity-matched sample without SMI from the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication (NCS-R). Compared to NCS-R sample without SMI, our sample with SMI had a higher prevalence of seven out of nine categories of chronic health conditions. Chronic pain and headaches, as well as the number of chronic conditions, were associated with increased disease burden for individuals with SMI. Further investigation of possible interventions, including effective pain management, is needed to improve the health status of this population.
Skeletal muscle amino acid and myofibrillar protein mRNA response to thermal injury and infection

Skeletal muscle changes associated with severe injury were investigated in male Wistar rats subjected to 30% full thickness scald injury (burn) and thermal injury followed by immediate colonization with 10(8) colony-forming units of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (BI). Freely fed animals (FF) and animals pair fed to the BI animals (PF) served as controls. Thermal injury in conjunction with infection produced a rapid and sustained muscle cellular membrane depolarization (transmembrane potential difference at 12 h after injury: FF 92.1 +/- 0.3 and BI 85.2 +/- 2.3 mV; P less than 0.05). This was followed by body weight loss and skeletal muscle protein wasting (gastrocnemius protein at 7 days: FF 0.35 +/- 0.01 and BI 0.16 +/- 0.03 g; P less than 0.05) and intracellular high-energy phosphate depletion (ATP at 10 days: FF 6.6 +/- 0.4 and BI 4.5 +/- 0.4 mumol/g tissue; P less than 0.05). These body and cellular changes were not accounted for by the anorexia alone. Marked alterations in intracellular free amino acids were also noted in the BI group characterized by increases in levels of all amino acids (total intracellular free amino acids at 7 days: FF 51 +/- 7 and BI 91 +/- 12 mM; P less than 0.05) except intracellular glutamine (at 7 days: FF 6.0 +/- 0.2 and BI 2.4 +/- 0.6 mM; P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Book Review: Dangerous Neighbors: Volcanoes and Cities

Dangerous Neighbors: Volcanoes and Cities. By Grant Heiken (2013) Cambridge University Press, $30, 196 pages, ISBN: 9781107039230. Grant Heiken, a world-renowned volcanologist, has written a book based on his long history investigating volcanic hazards that is absolutely riveting. Eight of the ten chapters focus on the interplay between major metropolises and destructive volcanoes. The introductory chapter sets the stage for the remainder of the book. This chapter touches on various types of volcanic events; from Nyiragongo lava flows that disrupted the city of Goma, DRC, to debris flows from Nevado del Ruiz that killed 23,000 residents in Armero, Columbia, to the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland which spewed an ash column into the jet stream and disrupted air travel to 32 European countries for 6 days. Other issues weaved into …