cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of AlGaN/GaN structures on various substrates grown by radio frequency-plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy

The structural properties and surface morphology of AlGaN/GaN structures grown on LiGaO2 (LGO), sapphire, and hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE)-grown GaN templates are compared. AlGaN grown on LGO substrates shows the narrowest x-ray full width at half maximum (FWHM) for both symmetric 〈00.4〉 and asymmetric 〈10.5〉 reflections. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis on AlGaN surfaces on LGO substrates also show the smoothest morphology as determined by grain size and rms roughness. The small lattice mismatch of LGO to nitrides and easily achievable Ga-polarity of the grown films are the primary reasons for the smoother surface of AlGaN/GaN structure on this alternative substrate. Optimizations of growth conditions and substrate preparation results in step flow growth for an AlGaN/GaN structure with 300 A thick Al0.25Ga0.75N on 2.4 μm thick GaN. A high III/V flux ratio during growth and recently improved polishing of LGO substrates aids in promoting two dimensional step flow growth. The GaN nucleation layer directly on the LGO substrate showed no evidence of mixed phase cubic and hexagonal structure that is typically observed in the nucleation buffer on sapphire substrates. Cross-sectional high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) was performed on an AlGaN/GaN heterostructure grown on LGO. The atomic arrangement at the AlGaN/GaN interface was sharp and regular, with locally observed monolayer and bilayer steps.
Using invoice price information to frame advertised offers

Abstract The present studies consider the presence and absence of invoice price (IP) information (i.e., the cost to the seller) and the inclusion of offer fairness (OF). In addition, the relative effectiveness of invoice vs. manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) frames is considered. Briefly, the results of our studies provide supportive evidence of the positive framing effects of invoice or cost information in retail price advertising. Specifically, higher promoted invoice prices increased transaction value (TV), acquisition value (AV), and perceived OF. Counter to our predictions, perceptions of quality were not directly affected by either sale price or invoice amount. Further evidence of the positive effects of invoice information was provided by the negative relationship between sale price and OF being moderated by the provision of the higher invoice amount and by the larger effect sizes associated with invoice differential prices than comparable MSRP claim differences.
Deformation and interfacial sliding in back-end interconnect structures in microelectronic devices

Deformation of interconnect structures at the back-end of microelectronic devices during processing or service can have a pronounced effect on component reliability. Here, we use atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study plastic deformation and interfacial sliding of Cu interconnects on Si. The behavior of both standalone Cu lines and lines embedded in a low-K dielectric (LKD) was studied. Following thermal cycling, changes were observed in the in-plane (IP) Cu line dimensions, as well as the out-of-plane (OOP) step height between Cu and the dielectric in single-layer structures. These were attributed to differential deformation of the Cu/Si and Cu/dielectric material pairs caused by thermal expansion mismatch, accommodated by interfacial creep. These results are discussed in light of previous work on the mechanism of interfacial creep. A simple shear-lag-based model, which may be used to estimate the extent of interfacial sliding, is proposed. Some experimental results on the distortion of Cu lines caused by package-level stresses following thermal cycling are also presented.
Studies of two Frankia strains isolated from Trevoa trinervis Miers

The Frankia strains TtI 11 and TtI 12 isolated from T. trinervis Miers were characterized regarding their carbon source utilization, intrinsic antibiotic resistance, infectivity, and effectivity on the original host. Both strains grew on BAP medium supplemented with glucose, maltose, and sucrose, but differed in their ability to use other carbon sources such as propionate, pyruvate, acetate, succinate, citrate, and mannitol.
The male monkey as a model for the study of the neurobiology of puberty onset in man

This chapter is based on the material that was presented in the Symposium titled "Puberty in mechanistic perspective: animal models" at Sixth International Conference on the Control of the Onset of Puberty held in Evian, May 2005.
Intramural Coronary Vasculature Prevents Transmural Radiofrequency Lesion Formation Implications for Linear Ablation

Background— Blood flow near a radiofrequency (RF) lesion can reduce lesion size by convective cooling. It is unknown whether blood flow through small vasculature within an RF lesion can prevent transmural lesion formation. Methods and Results— In 40 rabbit right ventricle preparations, 2 epicardial RF lesions were created straddling a selectively perfused (0 to 12 mL/min) marginal artery (diameter, 0.34±0.1 mm). RF lesions were created at either 60°C or 80°C and delivered either sequentially or simultaneously. Conduction through the lesion area was measured. The lesions were analyzed histologically. At a perfusion rate of 0 mL/min, all RF lesions were transmural and without conduction. As little as 1 mL of flow through the artery during RF delivery could prevent transmural lesion formation by preserving a cuff of tissue along the length of the vessel. High-energy delivery (45 W) and very high tissue temperatures (93°C) were needed to overcome the protective effect of vascular perfusion at 12 mL/min. The v...
Barry Reay, New York Hustlers: Masculinity and Sex in Modern America

Barry Reay, New York Hustlers: Masculinity and Sex in Modern America (2010), xiv + 279 (Manchester University Press, Manchester, £65.00/$90.00, paperback £17.99/$35.00). When people think of mid-tw...
Ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry for fast separations

Recently, ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) has been shown to overcome the pressure limitations that small particles impose on conventional pumping systems. High speed separations in UHPLC produce peak widths that range between 100 to 1000 ms, of which many are too narrow to be monitored by scanning mass spectrometers. The only mass spectrometer that is fast enough for such separations is the time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS). State-of-the-art TOFMS instruments for liquid chromatography can record and store complete mass spectra at rates as high as 100 spectra s−1. In this study, high speed separations with high resolution were demonstrated using 13–15 cm×29–100 μm i.d. capillaries packed with 1.5 μm nonporous octadecylsilane- and isohexylsilane-modified silica particles utilizing a home-built UHPLC system. The UHPLC system was successfully coupled to TOFMS via a liquid-sheath electrospray interface. Separations of selected combinatorial chemistry samples, pharmaceutical compounds, and herbicides were completed in less than 100 s using UHPLC/TOFMS. Total column efficiencies ranged from 20,000–30,000 plates. The fundamental and practical aspects of UHPLC/TOFMS are discussed. Results are compared with those obtained from typical capillary LC. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Micro Sep 12: 462–469, 2000
Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in pediatric primary sclerosing cholangitis

Sclerosing cholangitis, an uncommon disorder in children, is progressive and is, therefore, an important indication for pediatric liver transplantation. This review summarizes current challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of this rare form of pediatric liver disease. Liver Transpl 18:277–281, 2012. © 2011 AASLD.
Mechanics of Locomotion

Energetic and mechanical principles of walking and running are reviewed, using information available from force-plate studies. A mathematical model of walking is described that conserves the sum of the kinetic and gravitational potential energies of the body. In running, energy is stored transiently in the elastic deformations of stretched muscles and tendons. Theory and experiments are described using these principles and others to find the range of stiffness values for a running track that both lowers the potential for injuries and increases running speed.
A Neural Network for Tornado Prediction Based on Doppler Radar-Derived Attributes

Abstract The National Severe Storms Laboratory's (NSSL) mesocyclone detection algorithm (MDA) is designed to scotch for patterns in Doppler velocity radar data that are associated with rotating updrafts in severe thunderstorms. These storm-scale circulations are typically precursors to tornados and severe weather in thunderstorms, yet not all circulations produce such phenomena. A neural network has been designed to diagnose which circulations detected by the NSSL MDA yield tornados. The data used both for the training and the testing of the network are obtained from the NSSL MDA. In particular, 23 variables characterizing the circulations are selected to be used as the input nodes of a feed-forward neural network. The output of the network is chosen to be the existence/nonexistence of tornados, based on ground observations. It is shown that the network outperforms the rule-based algorithm existing in the MDA, as well as statistical techniques such as discriminant analysis and logistic regression. Additio...
Transcriptional and Posttranscriptional Regulation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-3 by Cyclic Adenosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate: Messenger RNA Stabilization Is Accompanied by Decreased Binding of a 42-kDa Protein to a Uridine-Rich Domain in the 3′-Untranslated Region

The Madin Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cell line was used to investigate the mechanisms underlying the cAMP regulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) gene expression. Treatment of confluent monolayers either with forskolin or cAMP produced a 60- to 75-fold induction of IGFBP-3 mRNA and protein levels. This effect did not require new protein synthesis as inhibition of translation by cycloheximide actually caused a 2-fold increase in the cAMP induction. The rates of IGFBP-3 gene transcription, assessed by nuclear run-on assays, increased approximately 15-fold in cells exposed to cAMP. In addition, the half-life of the IGFBP-3 mRNA transcript was increased approximately 3-fold in the presence of cAMP. Gel mobility shift and competition experiments revealed the specific binding of an approximately 42-kDa cytoplasmic protein factor to the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the IGFBP-3 mRNA. A 21-nucleotide uridine-rich segment that contained no AUUUA motif was sufficient for the specific binding. The binding activity of this protein was reduced after cAMP treatment but was increased by phosphatase treatment. In conclusion, the cAMP induction of IGFBP-3 mRNA in MDBK cells occurred at both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. The IGFBP-3 mRNA stabilization in MDBK cells probably involved the phosphorylation of a member of the family of U-rich region mRNA-binding proteins and is the first reported member whose RNA-binding activity is reduced by cAMP.
Quality of life, health status, and depression: comparison between adolescents and adults after the Fontan procedure with healthy counterparts.

Advances in treatment of congenital heart disease (CHD) have enabled nearly 1.3 million children in the United States with significant heart defects to survive into adulthood.1 At present, adult survivors of CHD are equal in number to children with this disease.2,3 Single ventricle congenital heart disease (SVCHD) is considered 1 of the most severe forms of CHD and requires multiple surgical procedures in most cases.4 Although the Fontan procedure provides satisfactory surgical palliation,5 it leaves the patient with a single right or left ventricle and increased risk of late cardiac failure, exercise intolerance, and arrhythmias.5,6 Along with the medical residua of CHD, there is the potential for psychosocial difficulties.7–13 Depressive symptoms, anxiety, and behavioral and social adjustment issues have been identified in the general CHD population.7–14 However, conflicting reports exist regarding the level of psychological distress in CHD when compared with healthy peers. To our knowledge, there are no reports evaluating depression in adolescents or adults who have undergone the Fontan procedure. Few studies have addressed health status14–16 and QOL17–19 in adolescents or adults who have undergone the Fontan procedure. Unfortunately, many of these studies had small sample sizes, included young children, and used a variety of health status instruments to evaluate QOL.17–19 The meaning ascribed to QOL is subjective and differs among individuals, thus making it difficult to compare or contrast the literature on QOL when different conceptualizations and measurements are used. As SVCHD mortality declines related to surgical palliation, the focus of clinical care and surgical modifications has turned to morbidity and QOL outcomes.14 However, studies have shown inconsistencies in parent proxy reports with both overestimations and underestimations of QOL, health status, and functional abilities.20–24 The current adolescent and adult Fontan survivors are from a previous surgical era. They have now reached an appropriate age to contribute meaningful self-report data on this phenomenon. This information is imperative for future comparisons of QOL, health status, and psychosocial issues in the current surgical era of single ventricle palliation. The purpose of this study was to compare QOL, health status, and prevalence of depression in adolescents and adults with SVCHD who have undergone the Fontan procedure with those of age-matched, healthy control group and identify predictors of QOL in the Fontan group.
Effects of treadmill running on plasma beta-endorphin, corticotropin, and cortisol levels in male and female 10K runners.

Reports of plasma beta-endorphin (BEN) levels in response to submaximal exercise have been highly disparate. Variations in experimental design have complicated interpretation of previous research. The present study was designed to determine whether a sequential change in plasma beta-endorphin (B-EN), corticotropin (ACTH), and cortisol levels occurs in response to a 30-min submaximal run. Twenty-three subjects were divided into four groups: male runners, female runners, sedentary males and sedentary females. Subjects ran on a treadmill at 80% of previously determined maximum heart rate. Five plasma samples were obtained through an indwelling catheter before exercise (−30 and 0 min), at 15 and 30 min of exercise, and after 30 minutes of recovery. The run resulted in no rise in B-EN, ACTH, and cortisol despite an elevated rectal temperature. B-EN values were significantly higher in males than in females (p<0.01). No sex or training differences were seen with respect to change of hormone concentrations over the course of the run. Three male runners developed symptoms of vasovagal syncope after the catheter placement and had high initial B-EN, ACTH, and cortisol concentrations which decreased throughout the run. These data indicate that gender and training do not affect ACTH and cortisol concentrations before, during, and after 30 min of treadmill running at 80% of maximum heart rate, whereas B-EN concentrations are higher in males under these conditions.
Endodontic perforations: their prognosis and treatment

Various causes of perforations, the prognosis for the tooth, and treatment techniques are discussed. Perforation of a tooth resulting in the communication of the root canal with the periodontal structures occasionally occurs during endodontic treatment. They may be induced iatrogenically or by resorption or caries. Prognosis of the tooth depends on the location of the perforation, the duration that the perforation is open to contamination, feasibility of sealing the perforation, and accessibility of the main canal. The manner in which the problem may be resolved both surgically and nonsurgically is considered.
Incentives for scholarly activity at university and independent general surgery residencies: current practices

Abstract Background Teaching physicians and academic medical centers may find it more difficult to meet clinical productivity expectations and still contribute to scholarly activity in the present economic climate of health care. Methods A multiquestion survey was developed and distributed via the Association of Program Directors in Surgery list-serve. Results There were 80 respondents (31% response rate), 29 university program (UP), 43 independent program (IP), and 8 "other." Although most programs had designated teaching faculty (72% UP, 93% IP), the trend was not to compensate for scholarly activity whether voluntary (100% UP, 91% IP), employed (82% UP, 74% IP), or contracted (57% UP, 85% IP; P = not specified). Most (69% UP, 75% IP) programs had no incentives for scholarly activities, despite dissatisfaction with involvement of volunteer faculty (19% UP, 55% IP; P = .04). Most compensation plans (79% UP, 66% IP) were discretionary or atypical. Conclusions Most programs, UP and IP, did not compensate for scholarly activity for teaching faculty. There was a significant proportion that believed compensation would improve teaching efforts.
In vitro germination and pollen tube growth of maize (Zea mays L.) pollen. V. gamma irradiation effects

Fresh, mature pollen grains (mean diameter = 88·3 ± 0·4 μ) of the single cross Wf9 × H55 were exposed to 0–120 kR of gamma irradiation in 10 kR increments and then were cultured on an artificial medium containing 15% sucrose, 0·6% bacto-agar, 0·03% calcium nitrate and 0·01% boric acid. For all characteristics measured, a linear response to irradiation was obtained. With increasing exposures, germination per cent decreased from 42·1 per cent at 0 kR to 0·0 per cent at 120 kR; ruptured grain per cent increased from 23·6 per cent at 0 kR to 59·7 per cent at 120 kR; and pollen tube length decreased from 505 μ at 0 kR to 120 μ at 110 kR. The rate of pollen tube growth between 1 and 4 hr after inoculation was progressively reduced with increasing exposures so that at 110 kR, no significant increase in length was found. The results indicated that the primary effect of gamma irradiation on these trinucleate pollen grains was associated with the structure and/or the synthesis of the cell membrane.
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Court Referred Pathways to Mental Health Services for Children in Foster Care

Abstract Racial/Ethnic disparity in placement patterns and service utilization among children in foster care has been documented in a variety of studies. This study examined the role of the court process in referring children in foster care to mental health services and tested for racial/ethnic differences in the patterns of referral and service use. Court records for 142 children ages 2–16, representing Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic racial/ethnic groups were reviewed. Results indicate that the court process does play a significant role in referring children to services. Significant differences by race and ethnicity in mental health service utilization prior to the child's protective placement, as well as service orders, and post-placement service use were identified. Caucasian youth were more likely to receive orders for psychotherapy and to have documented use of psychotherapy than were African American and Hispanic youth, even when the possible confounding effects of age and type of maltreatment were controlled. Implications for the effective delivery of supportive services to those children most in need are discussed.
Acoustic and Perceptual Effects of Left–Right Laryngeal Asymmetries Based on Computational Modeling

Purpose Computational modeling was used to examine the consequences of 5 different laryngeal asymmetries on acoustic and perceptual measures of vocal function. Method A kinematic vocal fold model was used to impose 5 laryngeal asymmetries: adduction, edge bulging, nodal point ratio, amplitude of vibration, and starting phase. Thirty /a/ and /ɪ/ vowels were generated for each asymmetry and analyzed acoustically using cepstral peak prominence (CPP), harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR), and 3 measures of spectral slope (H1*-H2*, B0-B1, and B0-B2). Twenty listeners rated voice quality for a subset of the productions. Results Increasingly asymmetric adduction, bulging, and nodal point ratio explained significant variance in perceptual rating (R2 = .05, p < .001). The same factors resulted in generally decreasing CPP, HNR, and B0-B2 and in increasing B0-B1. Of the acoustic measures, only CPP explained significant variance in perceived quality (R2 = .14, p < .001). Increasingly asymmetric amplitude of vibration or st...
School Counselors and Children's Mental Health: Introduction to the Special Issue

We are very pleased to bring you this two-part, special issue of Professional School Counseling focusing on school counselors' involvement with students with mental health needs. School counselors have a number of reasons to be concerned about students with mental health problems and a number of ways in which they can provide the kind of support these students need. Together, parts one and two of this special issue include 11 articles that provide important information about mental health disorders and illustrations of ways in which school counselors can enhance the school success of students with mental health needs.
Arachidonic acid peroxidation, prostaglandin synthesis and platelet function.

Abstract— The initial oxygenation or peroxidation of arachidonic acid seems to be an essential step for the synthesis of cyclic endoperoxides and prostaglandins. There has been some evidence and considerable interest in the role of superoxide anion, hydroxyl radicals or singlet oxygen as a source of oxygen in the formation of the active species (free radicals). A test capable of detecting active intermediates of lipid peroxidation and useful for studying the role of free radicals has been developed. The test resulted from the discovery that vitamin E markedly enhanced the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) during arachidonic acid peroxidation. Intact platelets, microsomes, sheep vesicular gland enzymes or peroxidases could provide essential enzyme activity. NBT and vitamin E when added to platelet microsomes inhibited the conversion of 14C arachidonic acid to HETE, HHT and thromboxanes. The combination also inhibited aggregation of platelets stimulated by collagen, thrombin, ADP and epinephrine. Prolonged incubation with these agents at the highest concentrations used in the study caused no change in morphology and had no deleterious effect on platelet levels of adenine nucleotides and serotonin. Results of our preliminary studies suggest that NBT and vitamin E can detect intermediates of lipid peroxidation, inhibit the conversion of arachidonic acid, prevent platelet aggregation and the release reaction without damaging the platelets morphologically or biochemically. As both the agents are scavengers of free radicals and in combination exert synergistic effects, the test system may serve as a probe in various free radical mediated events and may offer some degree of protection against free radical mediated pathological processes.
Bedside Diagnosis of Vertigo: Value of the History and Neurological Examination

Vertigo is caused by disturbance of the input or central processing of sensory signals from the vestibular apparatus that provide information regarding the position of the body in space. It is caused either by asymmetric disruption of sensory input from the vestibular organs or asymmetric integration of vestibular input into the central nervous system. Vertigo is readily differentiated from other causes of dizziness by a sensation of motion. A crucial aspect of the management of the emergency department patient with vertigo is the differentiation of vertigo associated with acute stroke syndromes from vertigo due to peripheral causes. Routine computerized axial tomography imaging is insensitive for posterior circulation strokes, so for emergency physicians, the history and neurological examination remain the most useful diagnostic tools. This article emphasizes the history and physical examination in the localization of the lesion in patients with vertigo and offers a rational basis for decisions regarding the need for special neurological imaging and consultation. It also emphasizes subtle findings that may prevent the erroneous diagnosis of peripheral vertigo in the presence of an acute stroke syndrome.
Process selection for the design of aluminum components

Abstract This paper describes a method for process selection of aluminum components in the early stages of design. Aluminum has many advantages in a variety of applications in its manufacturability and recyclability. Yet, engineers who are trained to design steel components do not take full advantage of this material. The main reason is that engineers tend to be unaware of the many economical processing methods for aluminum. We have developed a program that combines preliminary screening of processes with normalized cost analysis. Design compatibility analysis (DCA) ranks each process based on its feasibility with the basic geometry, material, and production requirements. For top candidates, the program employs external cost routines for detailed comparisons. The primary processes considered are extrusion, sheet forming, forging, die casting, and sand casting. The program extends its compatibility and cost analysis to secondary operations such as bending and machining. The program should be useful for engineer training and as a preliminary design tool. The program uses HyperCard as a front-end, Prolog for logic-based analysis, and Excel for cost calculations.
Two-factor models, neural nets and biochemical automata☆

Abstract It is shown that recent models for the regulation of macromolecular synthesis in cells can be described in terms of a two-factor theory. Models for differentiation can then be described as networks of two-factor elements. Thus these models are analogous to models which have for many years been used to describe properties of peripheral nerve and the central nervous system, in the sense that they are both realizations of the same mathematical formalism. The relationship of two-factor elements to McCulloch-Pitts neurons is reviewed, and in view of the resulting equivalence between two-factor nets and McCulloch-Pitts networks, the concept of “molecular automaton” in regulation and differentiation is precisely defined.
Some constructions with solutions of variable coefficient elliptic equations

We give a characterization of pairs of functionsf, g on the boundary of a compact manifold, which are the Dirichlet and Neumann boundary values for a solution of some second-order linear divergence-form elliptic equation, and we apply this to some other related questions in potential theory.
Spectral Analysis of Highway Pavement Roughness

This paper reports new findings in the spectral analysis of pavement roughness. Elevation profiles of federal and interstate highways were measured with a profilometer, and spectral analysis was used to compute power spectral densities for the longitudinal elevation of pavements. The longitudinal profiles obtained were also used to compute the International Roughness Index (IRI) using a quarter‐car simulation method. An extensive review of the existing techniques for pavement spectral analysis was done from which it was found that previously developed models do not explain pavement spectral properties very well, especially for long wavelengths in the spectral decomposition. A new equation that fits the power spectral density curves for several pavement types was developed. A set of models was also developed to predict the power spectral density as a function of pavement type and age, and the IRI.
Competitive Uses of Information and Knowledge Management Tools: Case Study of Supplier-Side Management

This paper examined and defined knowledge management and outline how large privately held supermarket chain has used this strategy in the current global recession to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage through effective use of its supply chain dynamics. Examples of IT tools and practices on managing the knowledge worker, applying technological tools to assist with supply chain management (SCM) strategy will be discussed. Some of the current applications include: KnowAsisâ„¢, SoftGrocerâ„¢, Global Command and Control Center (GC3), and RFID technologies. It was found that via proper management of KM-based initiatives and associated SCM and IT applications, the company has been able to increase its operational effectiveness and operate in more a lean manner, resulting in increased productivity and improved quality. The strategic leveraging of knowledge-based systems provides an appropriate comparison and benchmark on the richness of sharing knowledge within a high-volume, low-profit margin retail environment.
Stabilization of the intraoral vertical osteotomy using small bone plates.

Advantages to the use of the intraoral vertical osteotomy (IVO) for treatment of mandibular prognathism compared to the sagittal split osteotomy include a lower incidence of permanent or temporary inferior alveolar nerve anesthesia or hypesthesia, decreased incidence of proximal fragment necrosis, less intraoperative hemorrhage, and decrease in amount of soft tissue edema.‘” The IV0 has been facilitated by the development of specially designed retractors and oscillating saws.1’7*8 Recent successful rigid fixation of the sagittal split osteotomy,5L11 with decreased postoperative interdental fixation time, prompted the development of a method of stabilization of intraoral vertical osteotomies using small bone plates.
Nonuniform ACC Circuit Lower Bounds

The class ACC consists of circuit families with constant depth over unbounded fan-in AND, OR, NOT, and MODm gates, where m > 1 is an arbitrary constant. We prove the following.---NEXP, the class of languages accepted in nondeterministic exponential time, does not have nonuniform ACC circuits of polynomial size. The size lower bound can be slightly strengthened to quasipolynomials and other less natural functions.---ENP, the class of languages recognized in 2O(n) time with an NP oracle, doesn’t have nonuniform ACC circuits of 2no(1) size. The lower bound gives an exponential size-depth tradeoff: for every d, m there is a δ > 0 such that ENP doesn’t have depth-d ACC circuits of size 2nδ with MODm gates.Previously, it was not known whether EXPNP had depth-3 polynomial-size circuits made out of only MOD6 gates. The high-level strategy is to design faster algorithms for the circuit satisfiability problem over ACC circuits, then prove that such algorithms entail these lower bounds. The algorithms combine known properties of ACC with fast rectangular matrix multiplication and dynamic programming, while the second step requires a strengthening of the author’s prior work.
The role of the IGF-I receptor in the growth and transformation of mammalian cells.

. Recent developments in the molecular biology of the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptor have clarified its role in cellular growth and transformation. Although cells homozygous for a targeted disruption of the IGF-I receptor genes can grow in serum-supplemented medium, the IGF-I receptor is required for optimal growth, and is required equally in all phases of the cell cycle. The receptor plays an even more stringent role in cellular transformation and tumorigenicity, which seem to be dependent on its normal expression in several cell types. The expression of both the IGF-I receptor and its ligands is regulated by other growth factors (especially PDGF and EGF), by oncogenes (like SV40 T antigen and c-myb) and by tumour suppressor genes (like WT1 and RB). The picture emerging from these studies is that several transforming agents may exert their growth promoting effects through the direct or indirect activation of the IGF autocrine loop.
Acupuncture therapy for the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

Interest in alternative medical treatments, including acupuncture, is increasing. Alternative treatments must be subjected to the same objective standards as all medical treatments. A non-blinded pilot study of the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of acupuncture (ACUPX) for the symptoms of (PD) was performed. Twenty PD patients (mean age, 68 years; disease duration, 8.5 years; Hoehn and Yahr [HY Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale score [UPDRS], 38.7) each received acupuncture treatments by a licensed acupuncturist. All patients were treated with two acupuncture treatment sessions per week. The first seven patients received 10 treatments and the last 13 patients 16 treatments. Patients were evaluated before and after ACUPX with the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP); UPDRS; H & Y; Schwab and England (S & E); Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI); Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); quantitative motor tests, including timed evaluations of arm pronation supination movements, finger dexterity, finger movements between two fixed measured points, and the stand-walk-sit test; and a patient questionnaire designed for the study. Following ACUPX, there were no significant changes in the UPDRS, H&Y, S&E, BAI, BDI, quantitative motor tests, total SIP or the two SIP Dimension scores. Analysis of the 12 SIP categories not corrected for multiple comparisons revealed a post-ACUPX improvement in the sleep and rest category only (P = 0.03). On the patient questionnaire, 85% of patients reported subjective improvement of individual symptoms including tremor, walking, handwriting, slowness, pain, sleep, depression, and anxiety. There were no adverse effects. ACUPX therapy is safe and well tolerated in PD patients. A range of PD and behavioral scales failed to show improvement following ACUPX other than sleep benefit, although patients reported other discrete symptomatic improvements. A broad battery of tests in PD patients suggested that ACUPX resulted in improvement of sleep and rest only. This finding needs to be verified using more in-depth and controlled evaluation of ACUPX for PD-related sleep disturbance.
Susceptibility of the Zebra Caterpillar to Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus1

A nuclear polyhedrosis virus originally isolated from the alfalfa looper, Autographa californica (Speyer), was evaluated against 1st and 3rd instars of the zebra caterpillar, Ceramica picta (Harris). Mortality of each instar was directly related to virus concentration and number of days until death was inversely related to virus concentration. The LD50 of 1st instars was estimated to be 63 polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIBs)/mm2 of artificial diet, while the LD50 of 3rd instars was 3300 PIBs/mm2. The LD50 of zebra caterpillar is much higher than that of most other susceptible hosts.
Vibronic spectroscopy and dynamics in the jet-cooled silver trimer

Abstract Silver atom clusters are produced in a supersonic molecular beam with pulsed-nozzle laser vaporization. Mass-resolved two-photon photoionization produces an electronic spectrum for the trimer (Ag 3 ) with an origin at 27010±10 cm −1 (3.35 eV). Vibronic structure extending over 1500 cm −1 involves cleanly resolved bands at low energy merging to a quasi-continuum at higher energy. Vibronic analyses are considered for a triangular structure with or without Jahn-Teller distortion in the excited state. No simple analytic expression successfully fits the level structure. However, the spectrum is qualitatively consistent with dynamic Jahn-Teller interaction for a hindered pseudorotor with an excited state barrier of about 200 cm − . Vibrational frequencies are 161.1 cm −1 (stretch) and 96.3 cm −1 (bend).
Conspecific Attraction and the Conservation of Territorial Songbirds

Abstract: Conspecific attraction, the tendency for individuals of a species to settle near one another, is well described in colonial species, especially birds. Although this behavior may occur in territorial birds, evidence has been lacking. If territorial birds do exhibit this behavior, it would have major conservation implications. Birds could potentially be attracted to specific sites with artificial stimuli, making conservation of those species more efficient. In 2001 and 2002, we tested whether conspecific attraction occurs in an endangered, territorial songbird, the Black-capped Vireo (Vireo atricapilla) by playing vireo vocalizations in unoccupied habitats at Fort Hood, Texas. We were successful in attracting 73 birds to five experimental sites in 2001 and 75 birds to seven experimental sites in 2002. No birds settled on comparable control sites. Many birds attracted to the vocalizations paired and bred. At most research sites the primary threat to the species, the brood-parasitic Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater), was controlled, allowing vireos to achieve high nesting success relative to a nearby, unmanipulated population. Second-year birds were more responsive to conspecific vocalizations than older birds, as they were more common on experimental sites than in the established population. In 2002 birds recolonized experimental sites from 2001 where vocalizations were not played in 2002, indicating that 1 year of playbacks may be sufficient to establish a population. Our results provide the first experimental evidence that territorial songbirds use the presence of conspecifics when deciding where to settle and suggest that conspecific attraction may provide a valuable conservation tool.
The Role of the Humanistic Movement in the History of Psychology

A review of history of psychology textbooks shows that humanistic psychology is in crisis. Although well understood and respected by some, it is inadequately understood and dismissed by many. The value of the movement is shown to hinge on whether it faithfully embodies the historical tradition of humanism, provides an appropriate philosophical foundation for psychology, asserts relevant critiques of contemporary psychology, affords the discipline theoretical unity, offers rigorous research methodologies, bridges the gap between psychology and the humanities, and assumes leadership in socially reforming the depersonalizing tendencies of modern culture. It is argued that the best work in humanistic psychology has achieved these virtues, and that the major criticisms of the movement do not apply to this work. The contemporary crisis is attributed to sociological factors-inadequate institutional establishments necessary to gain historical impact.
Molecular Configurations and Solvation Forces in Confined Alkane Films

We review the results of two studies [1,2] aimed at clarifying the surface forces of con fined fluids. In the first study [1], molecular-dynamics simulations are used to study the influence of chain branching on the molecular configurations of alkane films physically adsorbed on a solid surface. The symmetric n-decane molecules exhibit strong layering, while t-butyl-hexane films have a novel pillared-layered structure, in which a few randomly distributed molecules orient themselves with the t-butyl end near the surface and the alkyl tail perpendicular to the surface. These molecules are surrounded by parallel, layered molecules. In the second study [2], we outline the development of a new NP‖AT ensemble method, with advantages for simulating confined fluids. For confined Lennard-Jones particles simulated with the new method, clear oscillatory solvation-force profiles and step-like dependencies of the number of confined molecules on surface separation were observed. As the parallel pressure increases, the oscillations in solvation forces are enhanced and tend to become repulsive.
15 YEARS OF PARAGANGLIOMA: Imaging and imaging-based treatment of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma

Although anatomic imaging to assess the precise localization of pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas (PHEOs/PGLs) is unavoidable before any surgical intervention on these tumors, functional imaging is becoming an inseparable portion of the imaging algorithm for these tumors. This review article presents applications of the most up-to-date functional imaging modalities and image-based treatment to PHEOs/PGLs patients. Functional imaging techniques provide whole-body localization (number of tumors present along with metastatic deposits) together with genetic-specific imaging approaches to PHEOs/PGLs, thus enabling highly specific and sensitive PHEO/PGL detection and delineation that now greatly impact the management of patients. Radionuclide imaging techniques also play a crucial role in the prediction of possible radioactive treatment options for PHEO/PGL. In contrast to previous imaging algorithms used for either assessement of these patients or their follow-up, endocrinologists, surgeons, oncologists, pediatricians, and other specialists require functional imaging before any therapeutic plan is outlined to the patient, and follow-up, especially in patients with metastatic disease, is based on the periodic use of functional imaging, often reducing or substituting for anatomical imaging. In similar specific indications, this will be further powered by using PET/MR in the assessment of these tumors. In the near future, it is expected that PHEO/PGL patients will benefit even more from an assessement of the functional characteristics of these tumors and new imaging-based treatment options. Finally, due to the use of new targeting moieties, gene-targeted radiotherapeutics and nanobodies-based theranostic approaches are expected to become a reality in the near future.
Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering Correlation Spectroscopy: Probing Dynamical Processes with Chemical Selectivity

We report coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering correlation spectroscopy (CARS-CS) that measures the fluctuation of the CARS signal from scatterers in a subfemtoliter excitation volume. This method probes dynamical processes with chemical selectivity based on vibration spectroscopy. High-sensitivity CARS-CS measurements are carried out with epi-detection or polarization-sensitive detection. Theoretical expressions of CARS intensity autocorrelation functions are derived and supported by experimental data. The properties of CARS-CS are characterized with measurements of diffusion dynamics of small polystyrene spheres.
Childhood behavioral profiles leading to adolescent conduct disorder: risk trajectories for boys and girls.

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the link between childhood behavioral dimensions and adolescent conduct disorder (CD) among a large sample of boys and girls monitored longitudinally. Method Teachers rated the behaviors of 1,569 children every year between kindergarten and grade 6. On the basis of these seven yearly ratings, groups of children who followed distinct trajectories on three behavioral dimensions—hyperactivity, fearfulness, and helpfulness—were identified with a semiparametric statistical analysis. Children were then categorized into one of eight behavioral profiles, representing different combinations of the trajectories. Logistic regressions were used to estimate the relation between the profiles and CD in adolescence (mean = 15.7 years). Results Boys had a significant risk for CD if they were hyperactive (odds ratio [OR] = 4.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8–10.16); hyperactive and unhelpful (OR = 2.83; CI, 1.07–7.46); or hyperactive, fearless, and unhelpful (OR = 3.93; CI, 1.27–12.17). Girls had a significant risk for CD only if they were both hyperactive and unhelpful (OR = 4.61; CI, 1.31–16.24). More boys than girls exhibited profiles of risk and met criteria for CD in adolescence. Conclusions Sex-specific childhood behavioral profiles that represented risk for CD in adolescence were identified. There were sex differences in the prevalence of the childhood profiles representing risk for CD.
And Then There Were Two: What Is “Sudan” Now?

How can scholars of Sudan now write about the landmass still called “Sudan”? What do we mean when we use the word? How can the name, which denotes a whole, encompass the fragments that make up its official boundaries? For the last several years, events in Sudan have been changing more rapidly than we Sudanists can analyze them or than Sudanese themselves can process them. Now, in its truncated form, delineating national identity—always problematic in the past—becomes far more complex. Considering extant cultural flows of art, language, customs, and religion, the dividing lines are, at best, dubious. A number of events are transpiring at the moment of writing this brief essay that have changed and will continue to change the future of not just one country but now two. For example, nothing is resolved in Darfur (in western Sudan), with peace talks stalled, more violence being perpetrated by the northern central government and its proxies, guerilla groups proliferating and battling among themselves, and a probable link among some Darfur groups and South Sudan forces.
The Replicator of the Nopaline-Type Ti Plasmid pTiC58 Is a Member of the repABC Family and Is Influenced by the TraR-Dependent Quorum-Sensing Regulatory System

The replicator (rep) of the nopaline-type Ti plasmid pTiC58 is located adjacent to the trb operon of this conjugal element. Previous genetic studies of this region (D. R. Gallie, M. Hagiya, and C. I. Kado, J. Bacteriol. 161:1034-1041, 1985) identified functions involved in partitioning, origin of replication and incompatibility, and copy number control. In this study, we determined the nucleotide sequence of a 6,146-bp segment that encompasses the rep locus of pTiC58. The region contained four full open reading frames (ORFs) and one partial ORF. The first three ORFs, oriented divergently from the traI-trb operon, are closely related to the repA, repB, and repC genes of the octopine-type Ti plasmid pTiB6S3 as well as to other repA, -B, and -C genes from the Ri plasmid pRiA4b and three large plasmids from Rhizobium spp. The fourth ORF and the partial ORF are similar to y4CG and y4CF, respectively, of the Sym plasmid pNGR234a. The 363-bp intergenic region between traI and repA contained two copies of the tra box which is the cis promoter recognition site for TraR, the quorum-sensing activator of Ti plasmid conjugal transfer. Expression of the traI-trb operon from the tra box II-associated promoter mediated by TraR and its acyl-homoserine lactone ligand, AAI, was negatively influenced by an intact tra box III. On the other hand, the region containing the two tra boxes was required for maximal expression of repA, and this expression was enhanced slightly by TraR and AAI. Copy number of a minimal rep plasmid increased five- to sevenfold in strains expressing traR but only when AAI also was provided. Consistent with this effect, constitutive expression of the quorum-sensing system resulted in an apparent increase in Ti plasmid copy number. We conclude that Ti plasmid copy number is influenced by the quorum-sensing system, suggesting a connection between conjugal transfer and vegetative replication of these virulence elements.