cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protecting User’s Privacy from Browser-Based Attacks

Recently there has been a new kind of attacks, browser-based attacks, against anonymous communication systems, such as Tor. This kind of attacks exploits JavaScript in the browser or the HTML meta refresh to generate some predefined signals to correlate users and their visited websites. A novel and efficient defense against such attacks is proposed in this paper. Our main observation is that the attacker must generate enough signals from the client site (the browser) to correlate the user and the website while we can detect the attack at the client site. More specifically, when a user is browsing a specific website and a browser-based attack is in progress, the number of outgoing flows and the total byte counts generated by the browser should be much larger compared with the normal browsing behavior. So we can set up fingerprints (number of outgoing flows and total byte counts) for normal browsing of web pages for a period of time and utilize these fingerprints to detect browser-based attacks. We have also found that some JavaScript codes must be executed many times if the attacker uses JavaScript to communicate. We have modified the Mozilla Firefox JavaScript engine to audit execution times of JavaScript code to defend these attacks, including browser-based attacks.
Nitrous acid under high temperature and pressure – From atomistic simulations to equation of state for thermochemical modeling

Abstract Complex thermochemistry modeling in the wake of a detonation or shock propagation requires accurate equations of state (EOS) for the resulting chemical species under high temperature and pressure. Nitrous acid (HONO or HNO2) has been shown to be an important post-detonation product for many energetic compounds. Given that its EOS has not been determined so far, either experimentally or theoretically, we develop a class II force field to model both conformers (i.e. cis and trans) of HONO, and compute the EOS using classical molecular dynamics simulations. We then show that this EOS can be well represented within a thermodynamics theory framework previously applied to other polar fluids.
Has abciximab's ship come in? Results from the ADMIRAL investigators and diabetic substudy

The ADMIRAL (Abciximab before Direct angioplasty and stenting in Myocardial Infarction Regarding Acute and Long-term follow-up) study is a multicentre, double-blind trial in 300 patients presenting with myocardial infarction. They were randomised to treatment with abciximab or placebo, followed by stenting. Abciximab treatment in diabetic and non-diabetic patients improved outcomes at 30 days and 6 months, with these improvements being related to a higher frequency of normal coronary blood flow at 24 hours and 6 months after intervention.
Asymptotic Waveform Evaluation via a Lanczos Method

In this paper we show that the two-sided Lanczos procedure combined with implicit restarts, offers significant advantages over Pade approximations used typically for model reduction in circuit simulation.
Clinical pharmacology of intracarotid etoposide.

Pharmacokinetics studies were performed in ten patients who received VP-16 by intracarotid infusion at 100–300 mg/m2. VP-16 was analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. ESTRIP and NONLIN were used to characterize VP-16 pharmacokinetics. VP-16 disappeared biphasically, with a t1/2 β of 6.1±1.4 h; the total clearance was 26.8±2.8 ml/min/m2, and the Vss was 8.8±1.6 l/m2. The pharmacokinetics was not significantly different after administration by the IV route. However, at a lower dosage, <140 mg/m2, the half-life appears to be shorter. This may or may not be significant, since VP-16 pharmacokinetics is quite variable and the number of patients studied is relatively small. Overall, the brain and brain tumor do not appear to have any first-pass effect on VP-16 pharmacokinetics.
Pedogenesis and Soil-Geomorphic Relationships in an Arid Mountain Range, Mojave Desert, California

Mountains are impressive features of many desert landscapes because of their elevation, complex topography, and sheer extent. Soil genesis and landscape processes were studied in the southern Fry Mountains, Mojave Desert, California. Our aim was to better understand the processes responsible for the distribution of soil properties in this landscape. Measured properties in 65 soil pits across the study site show that dust, soluble salt, NO 3 - -N, and carbonate distributions are correlated with the prevailing wind direction. This finding suggests that the mountain range effectively traps eolian sediment. Soils mantling these mountains have accumulated, on average, 41 kg m -2 silicate dust, 172 g m -2 soluble salts, 3.3 g m -2 NO 3 - -N, and 79 kg m -2 carbonate and reached maximum concentrations of 156 kgm -2 ,1800 gm -2 , 43 gm -2 , and 398 kg m -2 , respectively, on windward sides of the range. The basin floor encompassing Soggy Lake, an upwind playa, is the probable primary source of these materials. Soil morphology and land surface characteristics from four major mountain landforms were used to interpret the pedogenic and soil-geomorphic processes that have led to the distribution patterns of these accumulations. Our study demonstrates that arid mountains accumulate and store appreciable quantities of dust, soluble salts, NO 3 - , and carbonate and are therefore important to the overall geomorphic evolution and biogeochemical cycling of the region. The previously unaccounted storage of pedogenic carbonate in similar mountain ranges could increase the global soil inorganic C pool estimate by as much as 15 to 174 Pg C.
Cross-Cultural Implications of Graduate Study Abroad: The Case of Korean Academics.

The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of Korean faculty regarding the cross-cultural implications of their graduate education abroad for their careers in the academy. Personal interviews were conducted with twenty-seven Western-trained faculty members at three private research universities in the Republic of Korea. Individuals were purposively selected to provide representation across disciplinary fields, academic rank and gender. The study focuses on faculty members' 1) experiences as foreign graduate students and their socialization to the professoriate, and 2) perceptions of the impact of their cross-cultural graduate preparation on their academic careers. Analyses of the data with respect to the research questions revealed two themes: 1) the westernized expectations they developed regarding teaching and research, and 2) the emphasis they place on service to their university and nation. The implications of these findings are discussed not only for faculty careers but also for Western graduate education and training.
Determinants of Pain Treatment Response and Nonresponse: Identification of TMD Patient Subgroups

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to determine if we could identify a specific subtype of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain patients that does not respond to treatment. Patients were 101 men and women with chronic TMD pain recruited from the community and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment conditions: a standard conservative care (STD) condition or a standard care plus cognitive-behavioral therapy condition (STD + CBT) in which patients received all elements of STD but also received cognitive-behavioral coping skills training. Growth mixture modeling, incorporating a series of treatment-related predictors, was used to distinguish several distinct classes of responders or nonresponders to treatment based on reported pain over a 1-year follow-up period. Results indicated that treatment nonresponders accounted for 16% of the sample and did not differ from treatment responders on demographics or temporomandibular joint pathology, but that they reported more psychiatric symptoms, poorer coping, and higher levels of catastrophizing. Treatment-related predictors of membership in treatment responder groups versus the nonresponder group included the addition of CBT to STD, treatment attendance, and decreasing catastrophization. It was concluded that CBT may be made more efficacious for TMD patients by placing further emphasis on decreasing catastrophization and on individualizing care. Perspective This article provides evidence that the TMD chronic pain population is heterogeneous and that a subsample of patients will be unresponsive to standard or psychosocial approaches. The addition of CBT to treatment may be helpful for this group, but new individualized approaches will be needed to treat all patients effectively.
Prospective trial of a short hospital stay protocol after endoscopic endonasal pituitary adenoma surgery.

Objective Patients typically remain hospitalized for several days after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenoma resection for reasons including pain control, serial neurological assessments, surveillance for cerebrospinal fluid leak, and management of endocrine issues. We sought to determine whether an evidence-based perioperative care protocol combined with an endoscopic approach could lead to routine and safe discharge on postoperative day 1. Methods Our multidisciplinary pituitary group prospectively implemented a perioperative care protocol that emphasizes patient education, early mobilization, and scheduled inpatient and outpatient endocrine assessments on 50 consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection of a pituitary adenoma (82% macroadenomas, 2.1 ± 0.8 cm, maximum 4.5 cm, 18% microadenomas). Endoscopic endonasal surgery characterized by aggressive tumor resection and avoidance of nasal packing and lumbar drains was used in all cases. Lengths of stay, readmissions, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Results Using the short-stay protocol, 92% (46 of 50) of patients were successfully discharged on postoperative day 1. The average length of stay for all patients was 1.16 ± 0.55 days (range 1 to 4). Postoperative diabetes insipidus occurred in 16% of patients (8 of 50), was effectively managed on an outpatient basis, and did not delay discharge. Readmission was required in 2 patients, in both cases for delayed presentation of a cerebrospinal fluid leak. Conclusions A short-stay protocol allows for an overnight hospital stay for patients after pituitary surgery, with a low rate of complications or readmission. This study offers evidence-based guidelines that may be used to avoid complications and facilitate early discharge after transsphenoidal surgery.
Eutectic salt promoted lithium zirconate: Novel high temperature sorbent for CO2 capture

High performance, cost efficient CO2 capture technologies are desired to significantly reduce CO2 emissions from large stationary sources, i.e., fossil fuel-fired power stations. Advanced processes based on solid regenerable sorbents that efficiently absorb CO2 and release it in concentrated form can be less toxic, less corrosive and economically attractive relative to commercially existing solvent-based technologies. In this study, a number of binary and ternary eutectic salt-modified lithium zirconate (Li2ZrO3) sorbents were identified and evaluated for high temperature CO2 capture. Experiments were carried out in a thermal gravimetric analyzer under isothermal conditions at temperatures between 450 and 700 °C. Initial efforts at characterizing CO2 uptake with pure Li2ZrO3 powder at 500 °C show the reaction rate is continuous, however, very slow with time on stream. The combination of binary alkali carbonate, binary alkali/alkaline earth carbonate, ternary alkali carbonate and ternary alkali carbonate/halide eutectics to Li2ZrO3 noticeably improves the CO2 uptake rate and CO2 sorption capacity. Binary K2CO3/MgCO3- and KF/Li2CO3-containing Li2ZrO3 powders reveal the fastest CO2 uptake rate at 500 °C with respect to the unmodified Li2ZrO3 sample. Formation of a eutectic molten carbonate layer on the outer surface of reactant Li2ZrO3 particles aids in facilitating the transfer of gaseous CO2 during the sorption process. Multicycle thermogravimetric studies coupled with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses of the pure, binary and ternary eutectic salt promoted Li2ZrO3 powders illustrate the reaction between Li2ZrO3 and CO2 is reversible. The ternary K2CO3/NaF/Na2CO3 eutectic and Li2ZrO3 combination at 600 and 700 °C produces the fastest CO2 uptake rate and highest CO2 capacity. Reaction temperature also plays a major effect on the direct carbonation rate of the modified Li2ZrO3 samples.
Polynomial neural network for robot forward and inverse kinematics learning computations

Knowing the end-effector location (position and orientation) and the joint angles of the robot manipulator in real-time will assist the manipulator in negotiating around the obstacles when the manipulator is moving in a crowded environment. Thus, Forward and Inverse Kinematics Computations (FKC and IKC) play very important roles in robotic manipulators. The main objective of this paper is to demonstrate the capability of learning different trajectories of the robot reachable space by using the proposed PNN model. A software package has been developed for solving both FKC and IKC. The software can discover both the structure and the coefficients of a model to describe the dependent output variables in terms of the independent input variables identified by the users. The simulation is performed in a two degree-of-freedom manipulator. The solutions of the built FKC and IKC networks are compared with the analytic equations. The PNN learns successfully the indicated path. The simulation result shows that the PNN can interpolate the indicated path better than 99.87% of accuracy by only training the built PNN network 361 data pairs (out of 2D space point). The approach presented here can be expanded to six degree-of-freedom type of manipulators. Detailed algorithms of the GMDH to construct the PNN kinematics models will be discussed.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hybrid AlGaInAs-silicon evanescent racetrack laser

We describe an on chip racetrack laser integrated with two photodetectors on the AlGaInAs hybrid silicon evanescent device platform.
Prenatal diagnosis of cloacal malformation

Cloacal malformation is a rare abnormality, occurring only in females and characterized by a direct communication between the gastrointestinal, urinary, and genital structures resulting in a single perineal opening. We report 2 cases of prenatal diagnosis of this condition with a varied ultrasonic appearance including fetal ascites, cystic retrovesical mass, ambiguous genitalia, nonvisualization of the bladder, and oligohydramnios.
Gauss-Jordan inversion with pivoting on the Caltech Mark II hypercube

The performance of a parallel Gauss-Jordan matrix inversion1,2 algorithm on the Mark II hypercube3 at Caltech is discussed. We will show that parallel Gauss-Jordan inversion is superior to parallel Gaussian elimination for inversion, and discuss the reasons for this. Empirical and theoretical efficiencies for parallel Gauss-Jordan inversion as a function of matrix dimension for different numbers and configurations of processors are presented. The theoretical efficiencies are in quantitative agreement with the empirical efficiencies.
Object recognition is mediated by extraretinal information

Many previous studies of object recognition have found view-dependent recognition performance when view changes are produced by rotating objects relative to a stationary viewing position. However, the assumption that an object rotation is equivalent to an observer viewpoint change ignores the potential contribution of extraretinal information that accompanies observer movement. In four experiments, we investigated the role of extraretinal information on real-world object recognition. As in previous studies focusing on the recognition of spatial layouts across view changes, observers performed better in an old/new object recognition task when view changes were caused by viewer movement than when they were caused by object rotation. This difference between viewpoint and orientation changes was due not to the visual background, but to the extraretinal information available during real observer movements. Models of object recognition need to consider other information available to an observer in addition to the retinal projection in order to fully understand object recognition in the real world.
Immune pathogenesis of AIDS and related syndromes

Summary HIV infection induces both immune deficiency and immune stimulation. Central to the pathology of HIV infection is reduction in the numbers and function of CD4 T cells. Impaired functions include decreased proliferation, IL-2 receptor expression and production of lymphokines (IL-2 and gamma interferon (IFN)). HIV infection stimulates B cells and CD8 T cells. This is seen relatively soon after HIV infection. Increased activation and immaturity are seen in both these cell groups. In vitro studies confirm HIV stimulation of these cells. Studies have been conducted on patients with AIDS and opportunistic infection (OI) or Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), with AIDS-related complex (ARC) or with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL), as well as on asymptomatic HIV-seropositive and -seronegative homosexually active men. The latter group has been followed at 6-month intervals for the past 2–3 years. Those who seroconverted (became HIV-infected) were studied to investigate early changes following HIV infection. To delineate the immunopathology of infection with HIV, serial testing of seropositive individuals was carried out to determine the rate of CD4-T-cell reduction. Lowered CD4-T-cell number and percentage and CD4/CD8 ratio correlate with the occurrence of AIDS and with survival after AIDS-KS diagnosis. Seropositive individuals, however, differed markedly in the rate of CD4-T-cell reduction; in some, no reduction in CD4 cells occurred over a two-year period of observation. We propose that, in individuals in which CD4 levels have reached a plateau, effective host resistance to further CD4 cytoreduction has occurred.
Risk of hepatitis B among phlebotomists.

Because of their frequent exposure to blood from patients with possible undetected chronic hepatitis, phlebotomists are at risk of acquiring hepatitis B. The relative risk of phlebotomists was assessed by comparing the incidence of development of circulating hepatitis B surface antigen or antibody to the antigen in a 6-month period with the incidence in a group of hospital secretaries. Phlebotomists from 13 hospitals were surveyed for a total of 270 personnel months and secretaries for 94 personnel months. Phlebotomists had twice the incidence of seropositivity as secretaries at the outset, but during the study they developed antibody or antigenemia with the same relative frequency as secretaries. Both had a decreasing frequency during the 6-month period of time, demonstrating the effect of the study on personnel practices. Although the development of hepatitis among phlebotomists seems somewhat higher than that among personnel who were not blood handlers, this study fails to confirm this fact, since under the stimulus of a research study the rate of development of disease over 270 personnel months was no different than that of a group of secretaries from the same institutions.
The BTBR T+ tf/J mouse model for autism spectrum disorders-in search of biomarkers.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) form a common group of neurodevelopmental disorders appearing to be under polygenic control, but also strongly influenced by multiple environmental factors. The brain mechanisms responsible for ASD are not understood and animal models paralleling related emotional and cognitive impairments may prove helpful in unraveling them. BTBR T+tf/J (BTBR) mice display behaviors consistent with the three diagnostic categories for ASD. They show impaired social interaction and communication as well as increased repetitive behaviors. This review covers much of the data available to date on BTBR behavior, neuroanatomy and physiology in search for candidate biomarkers, which could both serve as diagnostic tools and help to design effective treatments for the behavioral symptoms of ASD.
Focal adhesion kinase and paxillin: novel regulators of brain sexual differentiation?

Steroid-mediated sexual differentiation of the brain is a developmental process that permanently organizes the brain into a male or female phenotype. Previous studies in the rodent have examined the steroid-mediated mechanisms of male brain development. In an effort to identify molecules involved in female brain development, a high-throughput proteomics approach called PowerBlot was used to identify signaling proteins differentially regulated in the neonatal male and female rat hypothalamus during the critical period for brain sexual differentiation. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin, both members of the focal adhesion complex family of proteins, were significantly elevated in the newborn female compared with the male hypothalamus. Sex differences in these proteins were not detected in brain regions that are not subject to substantial organizational effects of steroids. Estrogens, the aromatized products of testosterone in the male, can both masculinize and defeminize the male brain. Daily estradio...
Characterization of shock in a hamster model of hantavirus infection

Human hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) due to Andes, sin nombre and other hantaviruses is characterized by severe pulmonary capillary leak and cardiogenic shock. Hamsters, the only animal manifesting HCPS-like disease, were instrumented with radiotelemeters that enabled ambulatory intracarotid blood pressure recording within an animal biosafety level-4 facility. Following infection with Andes virus, blood pressure and heart rate decreased slowly in a biphasic manner during the first 7 days of infection, followed by a rapid fall in pressure and rapid increase in heart rate during the 10-20 h preceding death on day 9 or 10. The preterminal narrowing of pulse pressure was consistent with a cardiogenic impairment. Heart rate variability analysis implicated increased sympathetic nervous system activity as seen in human HCPS. The hamster model of HCPS mimics not only the pulmonary capillary leak but also the hypotension characteristic of human HCPS.
Model for the analysis of enzymatic proton-transfer reactions with an application to soybean lipoxygenase-1 and six mutants

A general analytical model is introduced for the analysis of temperature-dependent rate constants in enzymatic hydrogen and deuterium transfer reactions. It exploits the relationship between kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) and their temperature dependence in tunneling reaction to derive criteria that indicate whether a data set can be assigned to one rate-determining tunneling step in the enzymatic reaction sequence. If so, the model evaluates the relative contributions of the tunneling mode and supporting skeletal modes to transfer and provides information on these modes. Recently reported kinetic data on proton transfer in linoleic acid catalyzed by soybean lipoxygenase-1 (SLO1) and six mutants are analyzed by the model, which includes two oscillators, one representing proton motion relative to the skeletal framework and the other the supporting framework motions. It is concluded that most but not all components of this data set can be assigned to a single tunneling step, possible exceptions being associated with the highest observed rates, in agreement with evolutionary expectations. This still allows a complete analysis, namely in terms of the deuteron rate constants. The analysis evaluates how the contributions to proton transfer of the two modes and the electronic term depend on transfer distances in the enzyme and its mutants. It also provides rationalizations for several apparent anomalies, such as the vanishing of the activation energy for some mutants and the observed invariance of the KIE among mutants with very different activity. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of tannins on screening of plant extracts for enzyme inhibitory activity and techniques for their removal

Ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts of tannin-containing topoisomerase inhibitory plant samples were subjected to one or more of seven tannin removal procedures, and the resulting products were subsequently evaluated for topoisomerase inhibitory activity. In most of the samples investigated, the initial activity was lost after tannin removal. It was concluded that the activity initially observed was primarily due to tannins. Procedures are presented for routinely obtaining tannin-free organic and aqueous fractions.
Lacerations in urban children. A prospective 12-January study.

• We prospectively investigated the epidemiologic characteristics of all lacerations (N = 2834) repaired at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Pa) during 1987 and identified common hazards and possible avenues of intervention. Two-year-old children incurred most injuries; males outnumbered females 2:1. Almost two thirds (61.8%) of all lacerations occurred from May through September, and 62.2% between 3 and 9 pm. Most injuries occurred indoors (47.0%), on the sidewalk or street (22.5%), or in the residential yard (13.0%). Injuries usually occurred during play (42.3%) or daily activity (32.1%); 1247 (44.0%) involved some sort of fall. Vectors most frequently causing injury were broken glass bottles (15.0%), wooden furniture (12.0%), and asphalt or concrete (11.0%). Broken glass bottles also most frequently inflicted injuries resulting in functional impairment (0.2%), hospitalization (0.9%), or both. Complications were seen in 8% of all lacerations. Our data confirm the importance of injuryprevention strategies aimed at reduction of discarded glass objects (ie, recycling legislation), improved furniture design, and improved municipal services (ie, street repair). ( AJDC . 1990;144:87-92)
The postantibiotic effect of selected antibiotics on Staphylococcus aureus Newbould 305 from bovine intramammary infection.

Summary The postantibiotic effect (PAE) was determined for selected antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus Newbould 305 originating in vivo from mastitic milk and compared with the PAE for the same S. aureus strain cultured in vitro. The PAE was measured at 2 and 4 times the MIC for 1 and 2 h of exposure. The PAE of penicillin, pirlimycin, and tilmicosin were reduced against S. aureus 305 originating in vivo compared with S. aureus 305 grown in vitro. The PAE of cephapirin was increased against S. aureus originating in vivo. Minimal effect on PAE was noted for novobiocin. The PAE for rifampicin extended beyond the limits of the test parameters (> 180 min) for all antibiotic concentrations, media, and exposure times tested, except at 2 times the MIC and at 1 h exposure when the PAE was reduced to 60 min for S. aureus 305 originating in vivo. The PAE of an antibiotic may be an important consideration in determining therapy intervals and antibiotic concentrations for treatment of bovine mastitis.
The Effect of Grouping on the Variance and Bias of the Maximum Likelihood Estimator of the Poisson Parameter—Some Monte Carlo Results

Abstract In this article the effect of incomplete samples, grouped samples in particular, on the variance and bias of the estimator for the parameters from an underlying Poisson distribution is studied.
Typology of Gay Consumers’ Interaction Styles on Complaining Propensity

The purpose of this study is to develop a typology of gay male consumers based on self-concept variables related to social interactions. Openness about sexual orientation, collective self-esteem, stigma-consciousness, and negative evaluation were used to identify clusters of gay male consumers. An initial test sample (n = 125) suggested a three-cluster solution, and a validation sample (n = 247) established reproducibility of the proposed typology. Three clusters with distinct interaction styles emerged: “confident gay,” “diffident gay,” and “guarded gay.” Additionally, the usefulness of the typology is demonstrated by comparing the clusters on the basis of complaining propensity. Typologies of each cluster and implications for research and practice are discussed.
Counterfactuals, Correlatives, and Disjunction.

The natural interpretation of counterfactuals with disjunctive antecedents involves selecting from each of the disjuncts the worlds that come closest to the world of evaluation. It has been long noticed that capturing this interpretation poses a problem for a minimal change semantics for counterfactuals, because selecting the closest worlds from each disjunct requires accessing the denotation of the disjuncts from the denotation of the disjunctive antecedent, which the standard boolean analysis of or does not allow (Creary and Hill, Philosophy of Science 43:341–344, 1975; Nute, Journal of Philosophy 72:773–778, 1975; Fine, Mind 84(335):451–458, 1975; Ellis et al. Journal of Philosophical Logic 6:335–357, 1977). This paper argues that the failure to capture the natural interpretation of disjunctive counterfactuals provides no reason to abandon a minimal change semantics. It shows that the natural interpretation of disjunctive counterfactuals is expected once we refine our assumptions about the semantics of or and the logical form of conditionals, and (i) we assume that disjunctions introduce propositional alternatives in the semantic derivation, in line with independently motivated proposals about the semantics of or (Aloni, 2003a; Simons, Natural Language Semantics 13:271–316, 2005; Alonso-Ovalle, Disjunction in Alternative Semantics. PhD thesis, 2006); and (ii) we treat conditionals as correlative constructions, as advocated in von Fintel (1994), Izvorski (Proceedings of NELS 26, 1996), Bhatt and Pancheva (2006), and Schlenker (2004).
New Viral Diseases: A Real and Potential Problem Without Boundaries

Viruses are the most mutable and rapidly evolving human parasites. Therefore, it is not surprising that new virus diseases, such as the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, are emerging. However, these new viruses are relatively few in number, which reflects the constraints placed on viral evolution by the requirement for maintenance of virus structure and function and virus adaptation to restricted ecologic sites. Most "new" viral diseases, such as the hemorrhagic fevers, result from environmental disruptions that increase human contact with animals or insect vectors of old viruses. However, truly novel viruses with lethal potential or capacity for global spread have emerged in animals as a consequence of single-point mutations or genetic recombination between viruses. Given the mutability of viruses and the inevitability of environmental change, we must be prepared for the evolution of new virus diseases. ( JAMA . 1990;264:68-70)
SU-E-J-146: Gold Nanoparticles as a Contrast Agent for In-Treatment Tumor Tracking

Purpose: There has been recent interest in goldnanoparticles as vascular disruptive agents when combined with megavoltage x‐ray irradiation. In addition to the therapeutic benefits, the goldnanoparticles may also have a role as an alternative to implanted fiducials for improving localization for IGRT and real‐time tumor tracking. We demonstrate the feasibility of tracking a goldnanoparticlesolution of moderate concentration with kV x‐ray fluoroscopy. Methods: A 2.0 mg/ml solution of polymer coated goldnanoparticles was injected into 0.5 cm clinical bolus material. Additional build up with solid water was used to create a more realistic radiological scenario. A cylindrical gold fiducial (3 mm × 1 mm) was placed nearby to act as a reference surrogate. The phantom was set in sinusoidal motion with 2 cm amplitude and 4.0 s period. Images were acquired at 30 frames/sec with the kV on‐board imaging system of a Varian IX Clinac. The ratio of the image intensity in each target versus background was measured. Target tracking was performed using a single template matching approach and non‐clinical research software. Tracking error was quantified as the difference in location of each track point from the input sine function. Results: The intensity ratio in a single image of a sequence was 1.3 for the gold fiducial and 1.2 for the 2.0 mg/ml goldnanoparticlesolution. Tracking was maintained throughout the 25 seconds of target motion. RMS tracking error was 0.4 mm for the gold fiducial and 0.6 mm for the goldnanoparticles. The tracking score was smaller for the nanoparticles (mean: 0.63 +/− 0.02) than for the fiducial (mean: 0.89 +/− 0.6). Conclusions: Target tracking in kV fluoroscopy can be enabled by goldnanoparticles. A solution of 2.0 mg/ml can be tracked in a phantom with an accuracy similar to tracking a gold fiducial.
A genetic evaluation of seed dispersal in the neotropical tree Jacaranda copaia (Bignoniaceae).

Abstract: Seed dispersal is a critical but poorly understood life‐history stage of plants. Here we use a genetic approach to describe seed dispersal patterns accurately in a natural population of the Neotropical tree species Jacaranda copaia (Bignoniaceae). We used microsatellite genotypes from maternally derived tissue on the diaspore to identify which individual of all possible adult trees in the population was the true source of a given seed collected after it dispersed. Wind‐dispersed seeds were captured in two different years in a large array of seed traps in an 84‐ha mapped area of tropical forest on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. We were particularly interested in the proportion of seeds that traveled long distances and whether there was evidence for direct dispersal into gaps, which are required for successful recruitment of this pioneer tree species. Maximum likelihood procedures were used to fit single‐ and multiple‐component dispersal kernels to the distance data. Mixture models, with separate ...
Analysis of a continuous immobilization reactor

The second-order reaction by which a species is transferred from solution to a fixed site in a porous solid is considered. A web of the porous solid moves under a reservoir of the solution, which saturates as liquid percolates downward. The saturated web then passes through a zone in which there is no downward flow and on to a pair of rollers where an arbitrary fraction of the solution is physically expressed and the reaction continues in time. The salient behavior of this class of reactors is described in the hodograph plane. Accommodating optimized designs are detailed under constraints which arise naturally. Comparison is made with experiment for the application to chelation of sodium pyrithione to zinc sites in cellulose sponge.
Consequences of metapopulation collapse: comparison of genetic attributes between two Allegheny woodrat metapopulations

Disruptions in metapopulation connectivity due to demographic pressure can leave genetically isolated subpopulations susceptible to genetic drift, accumulation of deleterious alleles, and inbreeding depression. Such a scenario may be playing out within Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) metapopulations as a series of synergistic extrinsic pressures have contributed to the rangewide decline of the species over the last 40 years. Our goal was to elucidate the effects of demographic collapse on metapopulation function by using 11 microsatellites markers to quantify differences in patterns of connectivity and genetic diversity between a demographically stable metapopulation and one in severe demographic decline. The demographically diminished metapopulation had lower levels of genetic diversity than the stable metapopulation at all levels evaluated (metapopulation-, subpopulation-, and individual-scales). In contrast to patterns of connectivity observed within the stable metapopulation, peripheral subpopulations in the diminished metapopulation had become completely isolated and were drifting toward genetic fixation, likely as a result of the extirpation of stepping-stone subpopulations. The declining genetic parameters observed within these isolated peripheral subpopulations suggest that inbreeding depression may be contributing significantly to their demographic decline. Allegheny woodrats readily express the genetic consequences of metapopulation decline due to the low effective population sizes of subpopulations and the species’ limited dispersal capacity. Differences in genetic parameters observed between demographically stable and diminished Allegheny woodrat metapopulations emphasize the risks posed to metapopulation function and associated genetic processes introduced with demographic decline.
Discussion of “Recent Advances in Process Monitoring: Nonparametric and Variable-Selection Methods for Phase I and Phase II”

This article is a commentary on an article by Giovanna Capizzi, “Recent Advances in Process Monitoring: Nonparametric and Variable-Selection Methods for Phase I and Phase II,” Quality Engineering, Volume 27, Number 1 (January 2015), pages 44-67.
Factor analysis of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire for African American women

The purpose of this study was to determine the factorial structure of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire for African American women. A sample of 656 African American women living in the southeastern United States, ranging in age from 22 to 64 years (M = 39.6 years), completed the questionnaire. All were employed, with a mean annual income of $24,300. Factor analysis produced three factors, Active Coping, Avoidance, and Minimize the Situation, that accounted for 67% of the total variance. These factors were compared with the eight factors of the Ways of Coping questionnaire reported by Folkman and Lazarus (1980), which was derived from a sample of middle-aged White subjects. The factors that emerged suggest the need for possible revision of the instrument or the development of a new one.
Recombinant hepatitis delta antigen from E. coli promotes hepatitis delta virus RNA replication only from the genomic strand but not the antigenomic strand.

Hepatitis delta antigen (HDAg) of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) typically consists of two related protein species. The small HDAg (S-HDAg) is a 24-kDa protein of 195 amino acids and the large HDAg (L-HDAg) is a 27-kDa protein with an additional 19 amino acids at its C-terminus. These two proteins have distinct functions in the HDV life cycle. We have developed conditions for expressing S-HDAg and L-HDAg in E. coli as soluble proteins to facilitate large-scale purification. These proteins were purified to homogeneity and shown to be biologically active. Transfection of the purified recombinant S-HDAg together with HDV genomic RNA resulted in viral RNA replication. Surprisingly, the purified S-HDAg could not initiate replication from the antigenomic-sense HDV RNA, even though the latter led to RNA replication when transfected with an mRNA encoding the S-HDAg. These results suggest that initiation of HDV RNA synthesis from the antigenomic RNA may require a form of HDAg that is modified in mammalian cells; in contrast, RNA synthesis from the genomic RNA could be initiated by the recombinant S-HDAg from E. coli. Interestingly, the purified L-HDAg appeared as multiple protein species, including one corresponding to S-HDAg, probably as a result of degradation. The partially proteolyzed L-HDAg also initiated HDV RNA replication under the same conditions. These results add to the mounting evidence that genomic- and antigenomic-strand HDV RNA syntheses are carried out by different mechanisms.
Reduced foreign body response at nitric oxide-releasing subcutaneous implants

The tissue response to nitric oxide (NO)-releasing subcutaneous implants is presented. Model implants were created by coating silicone elastomer with diazeniumdiolate-modified xerogel polymers capable of releasing NO. The host tissue response to such implants was evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 weeks and compared to that of uncoated silicone elastomer blanks and xerogel-coated controls incapable of releasing NO. Delivery of NO (approximately 1.35 micromol/cm2 of implant surface area) reduced foreign body collagen capsule ("scar tissue") thickness by >50% compared to uncoated silicone elastomer after 3 weeks. The chronic inflammatory response at the tissue/implant interface was also reduced by >30% at NO-releasing implants after 3 and 6 weeks. Additionally, CD-31 immunohistochemical staining revealed approximately 77% more blood vessels in proximity to NO-releasing implants after 1 week compared to controls. These findings suggest that conferring NO release to subcutaneous implants may promote effective device integration into healthy vascularized tissue, diminish foreign body capsule formation, and improve the performance of indwelling medical devices that require constant mass transport of analytes (e.g., implantable sensors).
John Pym, Ideographs, and the Rhetoric of Opposition to the English Crown

Historians give John Pym due credit as a successful Parliamentarian; rhetorical critics examine Pym's prowess as an orator. Both perspectives focus on Pym's management of issues of the day and do not account for his masterful appropriation of political language. We conduct an ideographic analysis of twelve of his addresses to Parliament between 1640 and 1643. His discourse reveals a crucial reformulation of in relation to subsidiary ideographs, including , , and . These ideological innovations were instrumental in building Parliamentary opposition to Charles I and allowed for advances in democratic ideas made manifest in Anglo-American liberalism.
Residual mean transport in the stratosphere: Contributions from wave driving and seasonal transience

[1] A three-dimensional model of dynamics and photochemistry is used to evaluate the contributions to residual mean motion and ozone transport from planetary wave drag, gravity wave drag and from the seasonal transience of diabatic cooling. The integrations reveal that over much of the winter hemisphere, seasonal transience plays a major role in driving residual mean motion. During autumn, when the seasonal drift of radiative equilibrium temperature is fast, that contribution dominates. Following solstice, the dominant contribution to residual mean motion swings to wave driving. Similar dependence is reflected in the wintertime increase of total ozone and in the transfer of stratospheric ozone to the troposphere. Owing to the substantial contribution from seasonal transience, only about half of the net wintertime increase of Northern Hemisphere ozone (spring-autumn) is actually available to change through changes of wave driving. Observed changes then represent nearly all of the wintertime increase that is available to change.
Application of a new model for fatigue threshold in a structural steel weldment

Abstract A new model for fatigue threshold has been proposed. The model takes into consideration the influence of material strength, grain size, and load ratio on fatigue threshold. Fatigue crack growth behavior of a structural steel weldment (ASTM Grade A 514) was investigated to examine the applicability of this model. The investigation also examined the influence of welding procedure [submerged arc welding (SMAW) versus metal inert gas welding (MIG)] on the resultant microstructure and the near threshold fatigue crack growth behavior of the material in room temperature ambient atmosphere. Compact tension specimens were prepared from ASTM Grade A 514 structural steel weldment in such a way that cracks propagated through the heat affected zone (HAZ), base metal and weldments. This arrangement permitted the influence of HAZ on fatigue crack growth rate to be determined in both linear and threshold regions of the Paris curve in room temperature ambient atmosphere. Welding was accomplished by two different techniques, i.e. SMAW and MIG processes. The results of the present investigation demonstrated that the near threshold fatigue crack growth rate was lowest and fatigue threshold was highest when the crack propagated through the weldment. The fatigue threshold values predicted by the model were in good agreement with the experimentally determined values. The MIG welding process was found to be beneficial compared to the SMAW process as far as the fatigue threshold is concerned for weldment.
Claiming Insufficient Knowledge

When speakers produce “I don't knows” in ordinary conversation, they claim insufficient knowledge about the matters at hand. Analysis of diverse conversational environments reveal, however, that speakers’claims nevertheless accomplish a variety of subtle actions. “I don't knows” may be strategically and ambiguously deployed across the following achievements: (a) marking uncertainty and concerns about next-positioned opinions, assessments, or troubles; (b) constructing neutral positions, designed to mitigate agreement and disagreement, by disattending and seeking closure on other-initiated topics (e.g., moving toward completing stories or working to avoid troubling issues); and (c) postponing or withholding acceptance of others’invited and requested actions. By examining moments where insufficient knowledge claims are contingently used as a resource, understandings of proactive yet delicately managed interactional conduct are forwarded. Such conduct is shown to be anchored in ordinary conversations but adapted in similar yet distinct ways within institutional interactions such as courtroom cross-examination.
Molecular orientation and its influence on autocorrelation amplitudes in single-molecule imaging experiments.

The concentration dependence of autocorrelation amplitudes obtained from orientationally fixed single molecules is explored using theory, simulation, and experimental results. Autocorrelation amplitudes obtained under such circumstances are shown to be ∼2-fold larger than predicted in previous studies (Koppel, D. E. Phys. Rev. A 1974, 10, 1938−1945 and citing references), which frequently assume polarization-independent excitation and detection. A detailed derivation of the autocorrelation amplitude expected under conditions frequently employed in single-molecule experiments is given. Simulated and experimental single-molecule image data obtained from samples incorporating fixed single molecules are used to verify the correctness of the model. These results are compared to both simulated and experimental time transient data in which the molecules exhibit predominantly fast rotational reorientation and to which previously reported models apply. The experimental results employed are obtained from dye-doped ...
An Analysis of Communication Patterns: A Method for Discriminating Leader and Subordinate Roles

In this laboratory study of interaction patterns within leader-subordinate goal setting dyads, the hypothesis of role differences was supported. Leaders showed resistance to and subordinates showed...