cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How smartphone applications may be implemented in the treatment of eating disorders: case reports and case series data

Objective: Daily food monitoring is central to most treatment approaches for eating disorders (ED) but adherence to self-monitoring is often challenging for patients. A potentially helpful strategy to improve the adherence to self-monitoring is the use of smartphone applications (apps); however, there are no clinical data describing their use. This study explores the potential of a smartphone app to support ED treatment. Methods: Naturalistic clinical observation, usability and acceptability data were collected from five patients representing the full diagnostic spectrum for ED. Participants included 2 males and 3 females, ages 16–64 years, and their clinicians. Results: As hypothesised, the app resulted in increased frequency of food recording over conventional paper and was generally well-received though usage varied widely. We describe patient and clinician utilisation, including specific adaptations by clinical presentation. Discussion: This proof-of-concept study provides clinical illustration of the...
A novel point mutation in helix 10 of the human glucocorticoid receptor causes generalized glucocorticoid resistance by disrupting the structure of the ligand-binding domain.

Context: Generalized glucocorticoid resistance syndrome is a rare familial or sporadic condition characterized by partial insensitivity to glucocorticoids, caused by mutations in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene. Most of the reported cases are adults, demonstrating symptoms associated with mineralocorticoid and/or adrenal androgen excess caused by compensatively increased secretion of the adrenocorticotropic hormone. Patient: We identified a new 2-yr-old female case of generalized glucocorticoid resistance syndrome. The patient (TJ) presented with a generalized seizure associated with hypoglycemia and hypokalemia. She also had hypertension and premature pubarche, whereas dexamethasone effectively suppressed these clinical manifestations. Results: The patient’s GR gene had a heterozygotic mutation (G→A) at nucleotide position 2141 (exon 8), which resulted in substitution of arginine by glutamine at amino acid position 714 in the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the GRα. Molecular analysis revealed that the mutant receptor had significantly impaired transactivation activity with a 2-fold reduction in affinity to ligand. It showed attenuated transactivation of the activation function (AF)-2 and reduced binding to a p160 nuclear receptor coactivator. Computer-based structural analysis revealed that replacement of arginine by glutamine at position 714 transmitted a conformational change to the LBD and the AF-2 transactivation surface, resulting in a decreased binding affinity to ligand and to the LXXLL coactivator motif. Conclusions: Dexamethasone treatment is effective in controlling the premature pubarche, hypoglycemia, hypertension, and hypokalemia in this child case, wherein arginine 714 plays a key role in the proper formation of the ligand-binding pocket and the AF-2 surface of the GRα LBD.
Talking about sex revisited.

Friends and others are told of first intercourse under different conditions. The conditions under which first intercourse is reported are related to the scripts which govern the transition from virgin to nonvirgin. This study compares the reporting of first intercourse by a group of college students studied in 1976 with that for a group studied in 1967 by Carns (1973). Carns's earlier analysis found dramatic gender differences in reporting that interacted with the timing of first intercourse and relationship with the first partner, suggesting different scripts for men and women. Analysis of the current data suggests a simpler model in which males and females behave in similar ways, and in which only relationship with the partner influences the speed of reporting. The present study suggests that males and females now share a single script and a single standard of behavior for first intercourse.
Non-Abelian gauge structure in nuclear quadrupole resonance.

We elucidate the non-Abelian gauge structure associated with nuclear quadrupole resonance. The Abelian part of this structure has been experimentally observed. The phases to be observed in various non-Abelian experiments are computed.
Activation of rapid signaling pathways does not contribute to 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3‐induced growth inhibition of mouse prostate epithelial progenitor cells

The active form of vitamin D, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D) inhibits the growth of prostate epithelial cells, however the underlying mechanisms have not been clearly delineated. In the current study, the impact of 1,25(OH)2D on the rapid activation of extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and protein kinase C α (PKCα), and the role of these pathways in growth inhibition was examined in immortalized mouse prostate epithelial cells, MPEC3, that exhibit stem/progenitor cell characteristics. 1,25(OH)2D treatment suppressed the growth of MPEC3 in a dose and time dependent manner (e.g., 21% reduction at three days with 100 nM 1,25(OH)2D treatment). However, ERK1/2 activity was not altered by 100 nM 1,25(OH)2D treatment for time points from 1 min to 1 h in either serum-containing or serum-free medium. Similarly, PKCα activation (translocation onto the plasma membrane) was not regulated by short-term treatment of 100 nM 1,25(OH)2D. In conclusion, 1,25(OH)2D did not mediate rapid activation of ERK1/2 or PKCα in MPEC3 and therefore the growth inhibitory effect of 1,25(OH)2D is independent of rapid activation of these signaling pathways in this cell type. J. Cell. Biochem. 107: 1031–1036, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. This article was published online 2 June 2009. An error was subsequently identified. This notice is included in the online and print versions to indicate that both have been corrected 15 June 2009.
High energy electron impact spectroscopy measurement on the Compton defect

Abstract Recent Compton scattering experiments with a 35 keV electron beam on helium, molecular hydrogen, and molecular deuterium, have shown that the energy loss spectra do not reduce to Compton profiles by means of the Binary Encounter theory. The observed Compton peak is shifted to smaller energy losses than those associated with a stationary unbound electron. This shift has been studied for momentum transfer from 1·5 to 12 a.u. for both He, and H2, and it is suggested that even at large momentum transfers electron correlations could be important.
Spectrophotometric determination of ruthenium with 1,4-diphenylthiosemicarbazide with special reference to meteorites

Summary Ruthenium is determined in iron and silicate meteorites as the red-violet chloroform-extractable complex of 1,4-diphenylthiosemicarbazide, following volatilization as the tetroxide by oxidation with potassium permanganate and sodium bismuthate. Osmium need not be separated. From 0.5 to 15 p.p.m (or more) or Ru can be determined in 1–2 g samples.
On Baroclinic Instability as a Function of the Vertical Profile of the Zonal WIND1

Abstract The quasi-geostrophic, baroclinic stability problem is solved for an arbitrary zonal wind profile U = U(p) and for an adiabatic lapse rate. It is shown that the phase speed of the waves in this case depends on the vertical integrals of U and U2. Due to the assumption of an adiabatic stratification there is no short wave cutoff, but the effect of the variation of the Coriolis parameter will in all cases give stability for sufficiently long waves. A number of numerical examples show that the region of instability, in a coordinate system with wavelength as abscissa and wind shear as ordinate, is the largest when the wind maximum is situated in the upper part of the atmosphere, and when the curvature of the zonal wind profile at the wind maximum has an intermediate value.
Customizing directions in an automated wayfinding system for individuals with cognitive impairment

Individuals with cognitive impairments would prefer to live independently, however issues in wayfinding prevent many from fully living, working, and participating in their community. Our research has focused on designing, prototyping, and evaluating a mobile wayfinding system to aid such individuals. Building on the feedback gathered from potential users, we have implemented the system's automated direction selection functionality. Using a decision-theoretic approach, we believe we can create better wayfinding experience that assists users to reach their destination more intuitively than traditional navigation systems. This paper describes the system and results from a study using system-generated directions that inform us of key customization factors that would provide improved wayfinding assistance for individual users.
A Frame Synchronization Algorithm for High Noise Environments

This paper discusses a frame synchronization scheme which can be applied in very high noise (e.g., above 40% bit error rate) environments. The technique is based on exploiting the redundant information in a linear sequence. Such a technique could be used to selectively synchronize on one of many simultaneous transmissions.
Higher Čech Theory

We introduce a notion of ‘cover of level n’ for a topological space, or more generally any Grothendieck site, with the key property that simplicial homotopy classes computed along the filtered diagram of n-covers biject with global homotopy classes when the target is an n-type. When the target is an Eilenberg–MacLane sheaf, this specializes to computing derived functor cohomology, up to degree n, via simplicial homotopy classes taken along n-covers. Our approach is purely simplicial and combinatorial. Mathematics Subject Classifications (2000): 18G55, 55N30
Effects of externally-through-internally-mixed soot inclusions within clouds and precipitation on global climate

This paper examines the incremental global climate response of black carbon (BC), the main component of soot, due to absorption and scattering by BC inclusions within cloud and precipitation particles. Modeled soot is emitted as an externally mixed aerosol particle. It evolves to an internal mixture through condensation, hydration, dissolution, dissociation, crystallization, aqueous chemistry, coagulation, and cloud processing. Size-resolved cloud liquid and ice particles grow by condensation onto size-resolved soot and other particles. Cloud particles grow to precipitation by coagulation and the Bergeron process. Cloud and precipitation particles also undergo freezing, melting, evaporation, sublimation, and coagulation with interstitial aerosol particles. Soot, which is tracked in cloud and precipitation particles of all sizes, is removed by rainout, washout, sedimentation, and dry deposition. Two methods of treating the optics of BC in size-resolved cloud liquid, ice and graupel are compared: the core-shell approximation (CSA) and the iterative dynamic effective medium approximation (DEMA). The 10-year global near-surface incremental temperature response due to fossil fuel (ff), biofuel (bf), and biomass burning (bb) BC within clouds with the DEMA was slightly stronger than that with the CSA, but both enhancements were <+0.05 K. The ff+bf portion may be approximately 60% of the total, suggesting that BC inclusions within clouds may enhance the near-surface temperature response of ff+bf soot due to all processes (estimated as approximately 0.27 K), by <10%, strengthening the possible climate impact of BC. BC cloud absorption was also found to increase water vapor, decrease precipitation, and decrease cloud fraction. The increase in water vapor at the expense of precipitation contributed to warming in addition to that of the cloud BC absorption itself. Aerosol-hydrometeor coagulation followed by hydrometeor evaporation may have caused almost twice the BC internal mixing as aerosol-aerosol coagulation.
Variable second-order PMD module without first-order PMD

We propose a module that generates variable second-order polarization mode dispersion (PMD) without producing any first-order PMD. It is based on four identical fixed differential group delay segments arranged in a symmetrical manner. Only one control parameter varies the magnitude of second-order PMD.
Precise accounting of bit errors in floating-point computations

Floating-point computation generates errors at the bit level through four processes, namely, overflow, underflow, truncation, and rounding. Overflow and underflow can be detected electronically, and represent systematic errors that are not of interest in this study. Truncation occurs during shifting toward the least-significant bit (herein called right-shifting), and rounding error occurs at the least significant bit. Such errors are not easy to track precisely using published means. Statistical error propagation theory typically yields conservative estimates that are grossly inadequate for deep computational cascades. Forward error analysis theory developed for image and signal processing or matrix operations can yield a more realistic typical case, but the error of the estimate tends to be high in relationship to the estimated error. In this paper, we discuss emerging technology for forward error analysis, which allows an algorithm designer to precisely estimate the output error of a given operation within a computational cascade, under a prespecified set of constraints on input error and computational precision. This technique, called bit accounting, precisely tracks the number of rounding and truncation errors in each bit position of interest to the algorithm designer. Because all errors associated with specific bit positions are tracked, and because integer addition only is involved in error estimation, the error of the estimate is zero. The technique of bit accounting is evaluated for its utility in image and signal processing. Complexity analysis emphasizes the relationship between the work and space estimates of the algorithm being analyzed, and its error estimation algorithm. Because of the significant overhead involved in error representation, it is shown that bit accounting is less useful for real-time error estimation, but is well suited to analysis in support of algorithm design.
A comment on fluctuations around nonequilibrium steady states

We study fluctuations around nonequilibrium steady states of some model nonlinear chemical systems. A previous result of Nicolis and Prigogine states that the mean square fluctuation computed from a master equation in the space of internal states of the reacting species is identical to that calculated from Einstein's fluctuation formula. Our analysis of fluctuations based on that master equation leads with the assumption of local equilibrium to a result identical to that obtained from a master equation for the total concentration of the reacting species, which is different from the equilibrium (Einstein relation) result. Nicolis and Prigogine approximated one term in their master equation, and a discussion of this approximation is presented. The master equation without this approximation yields at equilibrium the result expected on the basis of Einstein's formula.
Heralded single-photon partial coherence

We study transverse spatial coherence of approximately localized single-photon states. We demonstrate nonlocal control over single-photon spatial coherence via projective measurements of an entangled twin and provide a theoretical interpretation from quantum coherence theory. Our results show that the spatial coherence of a single-photon state behaves similarly to that of a classical optical field, although the coincidence measurement adds a degree of freedom.
Assessing the performance of direct marketing scoring models

Direct marketers commonly assess their scoring models with a single-split, gains chart method: They split the available data into “training” and “test” sets, estimate their models on the training set, apply them to the test set, and generate gains charts. They use the results to compare models (which model should be used), assess overfitting, and estimate how well the mailing will do. It is well known that the results from this approach are highly dependent on the particular split of the data used, due to sampling variation across splits. This paper examines the single-split method. Does the sampling variation across splits affect one's ability to distinguish between superior and inferior models? How can one estimate the overall performance of a mailing accurately? I consider two ways of reducing the variation across splits: Winsorization and stratified sampling. The paper gives an empirical study of these questions and variance-reduction methods using the DMEF data sets.
2-aryl-1,3-dithianes and -dithiolanes: A nearly ideal series for relating the energies for bond breaking to electron transfer

By virtue of the stabilizing effect of the 1,3-sulfur atoms on the carbocations, radicals, and carbanions generated from the title compounds, it has been possible to measure a variety of bond-making and bond-breaking processes in the two very similar solvents, DMSO and sulfolane, and relate them to electron-transfer energies obtained by electrochemical techniques. Important properties reported from this and previously published work are as follows: heats of hydride transfer to the cations from cyanoborohydride ion, pK in aqueous acid, heats of deprotonation by K+ DMSYL/DMSO, pKHA, redox potentials for the cations, and carbanions, which relate their energies to their conjugate radicals and to each other. The results support our previous assertion that the electron-transfer energy between the three trivalent oxidation states of carbon and the Parr-Pearson absolute hardness, ϵ, derived from it are the fundamental properties that determine energies for making and breaking two-electron bonds and thus determine most of organic chemistry. Excellent correlations are found for the substituent effects on energy changes associated with the various processes for making and breaking bonds to the cations, radicals, and carbanions and the electron-transfer energies for interconverting them. Many comparisons can be made with the corresponding 2-aryl-1,3-dioxo systems. Careful “bookkeeping” of these energies through appropriate thermochemical cycles shows excellent consistency despite a small solvent effect for transferring the ions from sulfolane to DMSO. Direct reaction of the carbocation with the carbanion of 2-phenyl-1,3-dithiane produced a clean formation of the dimer from which the heat of heterolysis (40.6 kcal/mol) and homolysis (19.1 kcal/mol) could be calculated. AM1 structures and heats of formation of two neutral species and two cations, a radical and an anion, have been computed and are generally consistent with stabilizing interactions of the gem sulfurs with the reactive center. The present study is the first, to our knowledge, to provide a coordinated view of the energies for generating the carbocations, radicals, and carbanions from a series of heterocycles. These energies are related to each other and to the electron-transfer energies for interconverting these reactive trivalent forms of carbon. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Frontiers in User‐Computer Interaction

In this age of (near-)adequate computing power, the power and usability of the user interface is as key to an application’s success as its functionality. Most of the code in modern desktop productivity applications resides in the user interface. But despite its centrality, the user interface field is currently in a rut: the WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menus, Point-and-Click GUI based on keyboard and mouse) has evolved little since it was pioneered by Xerox PARC in the early ’70s. Computer and display form factors will change dramatically in the near future and new kinds of interaction devices will soon become available. Desktop environments will be enriched not only with PDAs such as the Newton and Palm Pilot, but also with wearable computers and large-screen displays produced by new projection technology, including office-based immersive virtual reality environments. On the input side, we will finally have speech-recognition and force-feedback devices. Thus we can look forward to user interfaces that are dramatically more powerful and better matched to human sensory capabilities than those dependent solely on keyboard and mouse. 3D interaction widgets controlled by mice or other interaction devices with three or more degrees of freedom are a natural evolution from their two-dimensional WIMP counterparts and can decrease the cognitive distance between widget and task for many tasks that are intrinsically 3D, such as scientific visualization and MCAD. More radical post-WIMP UIs are needed for immersive virtual reality where keyboard and mouse are absent. Immersive VR provides good driving applications for developing post-WIMP UIs based on multimodal interaction that involve more of our senses by combining the use of gesture, speech, and haptics.
A Meta‐Analysis of Swimming and Water Precautions

Objective: To reconcile conflicting reports concerning the incidence of otorrhea in children with tympanostomy tubes who swim without ear protection. Study Selection: Articles were identified by MEDLINE search, Current Contents, and references from review articles, textbook chapters, and retrieved reports. Controlled trials of water precautions following tympanostomy tube placement were selected by independent observers and scored on 10 measures of study validity. Five English-language articles met all inclusion criteria Data Extraction: Data were abstracted for an endpoint of otorrhea following swimming without ear protection with a minimum follow-up of 6 weeks. Data Synthesis: Pooled analysis of 619 children revealed a rate difference of -5.04 (95% confidence interval [CI], -11.62 to 1.54). No significant difference in the incidence of otorrhea was noted between patients who swam without ear protection and nonswimmers. Conclusion: There is no increase in incidence of otorrhea in children who swim without ear protection compared with children who do not swim following tympanostomy tube placement.
Impact of organizational learning contexts on choice of governance mode for international strategic combinations

An organizational learning-based model of mode choice for international strategic combinations is developed by viewing joint ventures and acquisitions as alternative mechanisms for acquiring tacit knowledge from an external firm. Building on the literature on joint venture, organizational learning, and governance mode choice, it is argued that the choice between the two modes should be affected by two organizational learning contexts, that is, a firm's “ability to learn” and “need to learn.” Specifically, it is proposed that U.S. firm's ability to learn, defined in the contexts of acquiring technological knowledge, marketing knowledge, product-market knowledge, and cultural knowledge, will have a positive impact on the likelihood of choosing joint venture over acquisition. Further, it is proposed that the above positive relationship will be stronger in international strategic combination contexts where U.S. firm's need to learn is higher. The model is tested on a sample of U.S. firms' international strategic combination activities during 1986–1990 period. The findings generally support the adequacy of the organizational learning perspective in explaining firm's mode choice behavior.
Determination of the predictive validity of the assessment center approach to selecting police managers

Abstract In recent years, assessment centers have become an increasingly popular approach to selecting and promoting police managers. Yet few empirical studies have been conducted on the validity of these assessment centers. The intent of this investigation was to conduct one of the first criterion-related validity studies of an assessment center in law enforcement. Findings indicate that this center was capable of differentiating between effective and ineffective managerial performance, as measured by a follow-up evaluation of performance two years later. The study also revealed that the dimensions of communication skills and interpersonal skills were the major determinants of assessment ratings. In addition, a closer analysis of the conduct of the assessment center suggests that its effectiveness cannot be attributed to the commonly cited assessment factors contributing to the success of assessment centers in the private sector.
Functional Identification of the Mouse Circadian Clock Gene by Transgenic BAC Rescue

As a complementary approach to positional cloning, we used in vivo complementation with bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones expressed in transgenic mice to identify the circadian Clock gene. A 140 kb BAC transgene completely rescued both the long period and the loss-of-rhythm phenotypes in Clock mutant mice. Analysis with overlapping BAC transgenes demonstrates that a large transcription unit spanning approximately 100,000 base pairs is the Clock gene and encodes a novel basic-helix-loop-helix-PAS domain protein. Overexpression of the Clock transgene can shorten period length beyond the wild-type range, which provides additional evidence that Clock is an integral component of the circadian pacemaking system. Taken together, these results provide a proof of principle that "cloning by rescue" is an efficient and definitive method in mice.
Visual Inspection or Product Dissection? The Impact of Designer-Product Interactions on Engineering Design Creativity

Designers commonly interact with products in the early phases of design in order to understand the solution space and gain inspiration for new designs. Although designer-product interaction methods such as visual inspection and product dissection are recognized as a pivotal component of the engineering design process, little data is available on how these practices affect idea generation or when these activities are most useful for inspiring creative thought. Therefore, the current study was developed to understand the impact of these activities on creative idea generation. During our controlled study, fifty-nine undergraduate engineering students were instructed to either visually inspect or physically dissect an example milk frother and then generate ideas for a new, innovative design. These concepts were then evaluated for their novelty, variety, quality and quantity. Our analysis (ANOVA) revealed that participants who physically dissected the example frother produced ideas that were more novel but of lower quality than those that simply inspected the frother. Our results provide insights on the impact of designer-product interactions on creativity and we use these findings to develop recommendations for the use and alterations of these practices for improving creativity in engineering design.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Comparative evaluation of a new immunoradiometric assay for corticotropin

We have characterized the performance of a commercial two-site immunoradiometric assay for manual in vitro diagnostic measurement of plasma corticotropin from Scantibodies Laboratory. We compared the results with those of a similar commonly used assay from Nichols Institute Diagnostics that has recently been withdrawn from production. The lower detection limit, range of the standard curve, cross-reactivity, and intra-assay and inter-assay imprecision of the two assays are very similar. Measurement of clinical samples and a series of samples from an experimental subject demonstrate high correlations between the two assays. These factors, together with recent clearance by the United States Food and Drug Administration for manual in vitro diagnostic measurement, make the Scantibodies corticotropin immunoradiometric assay an appropriate replacement for the Nichols assay.
Model-based iterative image reconstruction for photon migration tomography

Currently available tomographic image reconstruction schemes for photon migration tomography are mostly based on the limiting assumptions of small perturbations and a priori knowledge of the optical properties of a reference medium. In this work a model-based iterative image reconstruction (MOBIIR) method is presented, which does not require the knowledge of a reference medium or that the encountered heterogeneities are small perturbations. The code consists of three major parts: (1) a finite-difference, time- resolved, diffusion forward model is used to predict detector readings based on the spatial distribution of optical properties; (2) an objective function that describes the difference between predicted and measured data; (3) an updating scheme that uses the gradient of the objective function to provide subsequent guesses of the spatial distribution of the optical properties for the forward model. The reconstruction of these properties is completed, once a minimum of this objective function is found. After a review of the previously published mathematical background, the clinically relevant examples of breast cancer detection and brain imaging are discussed. It is shown that cysts and tumors can be distinguished using the MOBIIR technique, even in a heterogeneous background.
Modeling Paleobathymetry in the Southern Ocean

About 200 million years ago, the landmass that would eventually become Antarctica was temperate and was a part of the Gondwana supercontinent. Shifting plates gradually brought the proto-Antarctic continent to a near-polar latitude roughly 100 million years ago. However, the present-day ice sheet that blankets the continent did not begin to form until about 35 million years ago. Although a polar position was presumed necessary to support continental glaciation, it clearly was not a sufficient one.
AVOIDING THE DEMISE OF GEOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES

This is the second of two articles about challenges that confront geography departments in a changing academic environment. College enrollment trends and tightening budgets are placing geography programs in jeopardy because the discipline is not considered by society to be indispensable. Departmental survival in a period of retrenchment may depend upon successfully demonstrating utility and quality, identifying unfilled niches in individual institutions, developing new interdisciplinary organizational arrangements, or finding ways to strengthen geography's position in governmental definitions of useful academic training.
A local equilibrium model for internal oxidation

Alloys that are internally oxidized under conditions of local equilibrium have concentration profiles that must satisfy certain conditions. These conditions are outlined in general and then illustrated with an error function model that assumes a constant effective diffusivity in the oxidized region and a linear variation of oxide solubility with concentration. The error function model is different from previous error function models in that it satisfies all of the local equilibrium conditions. A numerical example is given to illustrate predictions of the model. The model predictions include that the average concentration of the solute (oxidized solute) in the internal oxidation region will always be less than the initial concentration of solute in the alloy, that the average concentration of solute decreases with increasing solute diffusivity, and that the concentration of solute at the moving boundary between the internal oxidation region and unoxidized region approaches the initial alloy concentration as the solubility product and solute diffusivity approach zero.
What Causes Variability in Pink Salmon Family Size

Abstract To study family-specific variation in the survival of pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, we partitioned family size into four life history divisions: (1) maternal fecundity, (2) deposition of fertilized eggs and egg loss from the redd, (3) freshwater survival (and male potency), and (4) marine survival. We directly measured the variability in fecundity and then measured the family-specific variability of freshwater survival in several Alaskan hatchery populations. Next, we measured freshwater survival in spatially clustered groups of wild pink salmon (not identified to a specific dam or sire) in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Drawing on estimates of the family-specific variation of marine survival in pink salmon from previous studies, we concluded that family-specific egg deposition processes and family-specific variability in the marine environment were the primary sources of the overall variability in pink salmon family size, at least in the populations studied. We hypothesize that the freshwat...
Rapid model building of β-sheets in electron-density maps

A method for rapidly building β-sheets into electron-density maps is presented. β-Strands are identified as tubes of high density adjacent to and nearly parallel to other tubes of density. The alignment and direction of each strand are identified from the pattern of high density corresponding to carbonyl and Cβ atoms along the strand averaged over all repeats present in the strand. The β-strands obtained are then assembled into a single atomic model of the β-sheet regions. The method was tested on a set of 42 experimental electron-density maps at resolutions ranging from 1.5 to 3.8 A. The β-­sheet regions were nearly completely built in all but two cases, the exceptions being one structure at 2.5 A resolution in which a third of the residues in β-sheets were built and a structure at 3.8 A in which under 10% were built. The overall average r.m.s.d. of main-chain atoms in the residues built using this method compared with refined models of the structures was 1.5 A.
VAN HOVE SINGULARITIES AND HIGH-Tc SUPERCONDUCTIVITY: A REVIEW

This review describes a Fermi liquid picture of high-Tc superconductivity. A density-of-states (dos) peak associated with the CuO2-plane van Hove singularity causes a peak in Tc as a function of hole doping. Strong correlation effects drive a Mott transition at half filling. For intermediate doping, the electronic system is unstable against phase separation, with one phase near the insulating state, the other near the Tc peak. The large dos leads to competition between superconductivity and structural instability, in analogy with the A15 compounds. The superconductivity appears to be driven by strong electron-phonon coupling, enhanced by fluctuation effects.
Potential for host shifting in Papilio palamedes following invasion of laurel wilt disease

In the southeastern US, laurel wilt disease (LWD) is causing widespread mortality of species in the Lauraceae. The principal target, Persea borbonia, is the primary larval host of Papilio palamedes, which is known to feed on other Lauraceae species. Among these potential hosts, the exotic Cinnamomum camphora is the only species that has shown resistance to LWD. We hypothesized that oviposition preference for C. camphora and P. borbonia would correspond to larval performances on these species and that the relative host suitability of C. camphora would indicate an opportunity for host-switching. We used laboratory experiments and field observations to compare performance and preference of P. palamedes between C. camphora and P. borbonia foliage. Our results indicate moderate survivorship on C. camphora compared to P. borbonia and no differences in first and fourth instar growth rates between treatments. Fourth instars consumed relatively less of C. camphora foliage compared to that of P. borbonia, but metabolic efficiency did not differ between treatments. Rearing on the foliage of P. borbonia stump sprouts from LWD-infected trees resulted in significantly higher growth rates and metabolic efficiency as first and fourth instars, respectively. In the field and laboratory, we found no oviposition preference for C. camphora. While females laid eggs on C. camphora during laboratory trials, the same number of eggs was also laid on inanimate objects. We conclude that C. camphora is suitable for larval development but host-switching to this species by P. palamedes will be primarily constrained by the ecological factors that govern oviposition behaviors.
Antipredator Responses by Texas Horned Lizards to Two Snake Taxa with Different Foraging and Subjugation Strategies

Abstract The discrimination ability of Texas Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum) during antipredator responses was tested with snakes of two genera having distinctly different prey foraging and subjugation strategies; Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) are “sit-and-wait” predators with a venomous strike from ambush, whereas whipsnakes (Masticophis spp.) are nonvenomous, rapid pursuit-and-grasp predators. Neither snake constricts prey; both ingest prey whole. Lizards were watched for reactions during close approaches by moving snakes. All unapproached and some approached lizards remained alert and motionless. Approached lizards that reacted either (1) ran rapidly to a distant point in the large enclosure, or (2) maintained their position but dorsoventrally flattened their body and tilted their stance, orienting a “dorsal shield” posture toward the snake. The distinctly contrasting responses of the lizards to the two snakes were significantly different, relocation running from rattlesnakes a...
Treatment for hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection in HIV-infected individuals on methadone maintenance therapy

Abstract Background A minority of HIV/HCV coinfected patients with opiate addiction undergo HCV treatment. HCV therapy for HCV-monoinfected methadone maintenance (MM) recipients is safe and effective. We evaluated treatment efficacy and adherence to pegylated interferon (pegIFN) among HIV/HCV coinfected MM recipients. Methods HCV treatment-naive, HIV-infected persons 18–65 years with chronic HCV genotype 1 on MM were prospectively enrolled in an HCV treatment study at two HIV clinics. At weekly visits pegIFN alfa-2a injections were directly administered. Daily MM recipients had morning ribavirin delivered with methadone at off-site methadone clinics. Weekly take-home MM recipients took ribavirin unsupervised. Target enrollment was 30 participants. Results During 18 recruitment months, 11 participants were enrolled, 6 of whom received daily methadone. Mean age was 46, 64% were female, 5 were Caucasian, 4 Black and 2 Hispanic. At baseline, 82% had high HCV RNA and 55% had stage 2 fibrosis or greater. The majority (91%) were on HAART, and 82% had undetectable HIV RNA with a median CD4+ of 508 cells/μL. All had polysubstance use history, non-substance-based psychiatric diagnoses and were on psychotropic medications pre-enrollment. Two (18%) participants achieved a Sustained Virologic Response (SVR). Two completed 48 treatment weeks, 5 were withdrawn due to adverse events, 2 dropped out prematurely and 2 had treatment discontinued for virologic non-response. Of on-treatment weeks, adherence to pegIFN was >99%. Conclusions SVR rate was comparable to historic controls for coinfected genotype 1 patients, with optimal pegIFN adherence. Adverse effects often prevented therapy completion in this population.
Revisiting the Landscape of Literatures: Replication and Change in the Use of Subject Collections

Circulation data from the Virginia Tech Libraries were analyzed to determine the extent of continuity or change between the author’s study of the use of subject collections in 1982 and the present. Book circulation has declined, largely due to much less use by undergraduates. The overall profile of subject use has changed in ways traceable to changes in the population of active library users. Disciplinary groups who still rely on library monographs do so in ways strikingly similar to their behavior in 1982, and the findings strongly replicate the earlier findings that were most suggestive for library practice and the sociology of knowledge.
Modeling and Control of Active End Effector for the AFM Based Nano Robotic Manipulators

Nanomanipulation using Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) has been extensively investigated for many years. However, control of tip position during nanomanipulation is still a major issue because of the deformation of the cantilever caused by manipulation force. The softness of the conventional cantilevers also cause the failure of the manipulation of relatively large and sticky nano-object because the tip can easily slip over the nano-object. In this paper, an active atomic force microscopy probe is used to solve these problems by changing the cantilever’s flexibility or rigidity through different control strategies in imaging and manipulation modes respectively. During imaging mode, the active probe is controlled to bend up with respect to the interaction force between the tip and samples, thus making the tip response faster and increase the imaging speed. During manipulation mode, the active probe is controlled to bend down with respect to the interaction force between tip and the samples; thus increasing its nominal rigidity to avoid tip slipping over object. A detailed model of the active probe is presented in this paper and the controller designed based on the proposed active probe model is also implemented on the augmented reality system, which is an AFM based nanomanipulation system with both real-time visual and haptic feedback. The simulation results for the control strategies and the preliminary experimental results for the AFM based nanmomanipulation verified the validity of the model and effectiveness of the controller.
Intercomparison of rain gauge, radar, and satellite-based precipitation estimates with emphasis on hydrologic forecasting

Abstract This study compares mean areal precipitation (MAP) estimates derived from three sources: an operational rain gauge network (MAPG), a radar/gauge multisensor product (MAPX), and the Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN) satellite-based system (MAPS) for the time period from March 2000 to November 2003. The study area includes seven operational basins of varying size and location in the southeastern United States. The analysis indicates that agreements between the datasets vary considerably from basin to basin and also temporally within the basins. The analysis also includes evaluation of MAPS in comparison with MAPG for use in flow forecasting with a lumped hydrologic model [Sacramento Soil Moisture Accounting Model (SAC-SMA)]. The latter evaluation investigates two different parameter sets, the first obtained using manual calibration on historical MAPG, and the second obtained using automatic calibration on both MAPS and MAPG, but ov...
Low-temperature gas sensing in individual metal–oxide–metal heterojunction nanowires

CO-gas-sensing response of individual metal–oxide–metal (MOM) heterojunction nanowires (∼250 nm diameter) in the Au–NiO–Au system, where a nanoscale segment of NiO oxide (∼250 nm long) is sandwiched axially between Au nanowires, and between individual all-oxide NiO nanowires (∼250 nm diameter, ∼5 μm long), has been measured at 150 °C. While the all-oxide nanowires are highly resistive and show no measurable response, the MOM nanowires show ∼25% decrease in current with the introduction of 800 ppm CO. The response is reversible, but it is slow due to the low temperature used. MOM nanowires, by virtue of the nanoscale-dimension, low-resistance oxide segment and the high-quality “end-on” metal–oxide contact, are an attractive class of nanowire gas-sensing elements for potential use in multifunctional “bottom up” nanoelectronics.
Getting Political Science in on the Joke: Using The Daily Show and Other Comedy to Teach Politics

The challenges of teaching introductory-level U.S. politics to reluctant audiences are well known and widely lamented. This article investigates the pedagogical potential of political satire, specifically The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, in engaging students in this tough-to-teach course. Based on a review of available literature and student survey data from the fall 2008 term, I argue that using this popular program in the classroom can enhance an introductory U.S. politics course. A review of both these survey data and student papers based on the program suggests promising possibilities for encouraging students' political engagement and critical-thinking skills. This preliminary examination demonstrates that further study on the program's potential both for student engagement and student learning outcomes is warranted.
Molecular Pathways: Hepatitis C Virus, CXCL10, and the Inflammatory Road to Liver Cancer

An estimated 170 million people worldwide are chronically infected with the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), which is characterized histologically by a persistent immune and inflammatory response that fails to clear HCV from hepatocytes. This response is recruited to the liver in part by the chemokine CXCL10, the serum and intrahepatic levels of which have been inversely linked to the outcome of interferon (IFN)-based therapies for hepatitis C. Bystander tissue damage from this ineffective response is thought to lead to increased hepatocyte turnover and the development of fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, CXCL10 is traditionally viewed as an orchestrator of the angiostatic and anti-tumor immune response. In this review, we will explore this duality and the pathways by which CXCL10 is produced by hepatocytes during HCV infection, its effects on resident and infiltrating immune cells, and how deregulation of these cell populations within the liver may lead to chronic liver inflammation. We will also discuss potential host-directed therapies to slow or reverse HCV-induced inflammation that leads to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC.
Fluid and electrolyte supplementation for exercise heat stress

During exercise in the heat, sweat output often exceeds water intake, resulting in a body water deficit (hypohydration) and electrolyte losses. Because daily water losses can be substantial, persons need to emphasize drinking during exercise as well as at meals. For persons consuming a normal diet, electrolyte supplementation is not warranted except perhaps during the first few days of heat exposure. Aerobic exercise is likely to be adversely affected by heat stress and hypohydration; the warmer the climate the greater the potential for performance decrements. Hypohydration increases heat storage and reduces a person's ability to tolerate heat strain. The increased heat storage is mediated by a lower sweating rate (evaporative heat loss) and reduced skin blood flow (dry heat loss) for a given core temperature. Heat-acclimated persons need to pay particular attention to fluid replacement because heat acclimation increases sweat losses, and hypohydration negates the thermoregulatory advantages conferred by acclimation. It has been suggested that hyperhydration (increased total body water) may reduce physiologic strain during exercise heat stress, but data supporting that notion are not robust. Research is recommended for 3 populations with fluid and electrolyte balance problems: older adults, cystic fibrosis patients, and persons with spinal cord injuries.
A fast thresholded linear convolution representation of morphological operations

In this correspondence, we present a fast thresholded linear convolution representation of morphological operations. The thresholded linear convolution representation of dilation and erosion is first proposed. A comparison of the efficiency of the direct implementation of morphological operations and the thresholded linear convolution representation of morphological operations is subsequently conducted. Mathematical morphology has emerged as a powerful new tool for image processing. >