cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alcohol and Coronary Heart Disease The Answer Awaits a Randomized Controlled Trial

In this issue of Circulation , Mukamal and colleagues report that frequent moderate consumption of alcohol is inversely associated with incident myocardial infarctions for both men and women.1 This finding is consistent with numerous studies conducted in the course of 3 decades that have documented this inverse relationship. It has been described as a “J-” or “U-” shaped phenomenon, with moderate drinkers having a lower risk of myocardial infarctions as compared with abstainers and heavy drinkers.2 A substantial contribution of this study is the results suggesting that the observed “benefits” of alcohol on myocardial infarction outcomes, particularly in men, are mediated in large part by only 3 factors: HDL-cholesterol, glucose intolerance (HbA1C), and fibrinogen. See p 1406 Previous studies have examined the potential causes for the observed benefits of moderate alcohol consumption and are consistent with these findings. Serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations, for example, increase in a dose-dependent response to alcohol consumption.3 Prospective studies have reported a reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus4 and 1 randomized controlled trial showed increased insulin sensitivity levels with moderate alcohol consumption.5 Heavy drinking and binge drinking have been associated with an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes.6 Similarly, moderate alcohol consumption is associated with lower levels of inflammatory and hemostatic markers as compared with never or occasional consumption.7,8 Heavy alcohol drinkers, in contrast, have higher levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein, as compared with moderate drinkers.8 Even when risk factors are examined in aggregate, as in the case of the metabolic syndrome, current moderate consumers of alcohol have a lower prevalence of the syndrome than current nondrinkers.9 This abundance of evidence supporting the hypothesis that alcohol itself leads to lower incident coronary heart disease (CHD) events is not, however, definitive. Because the majority …
MINIMAL-REVENUE CONGESTION PRICING PART II: AN EFFICIENT ALGORITHM FOR THE GENERAL CASE

Abstract The second of a two-part series, this paper derives an efficient solution to the minimal-revenue tolls problem. As introduced in Part I, this problem can be defined as follows: Assuming each trip uses only a path whose generalized cost is smallest, find a set of arc tolls that simultaneously minimizes both average travel time and out-of-pocket cost. As a point of departure, this paper first re-solves the single-origin problem of Part I, modeling it as a linear program. Then with a change of variable, it transforms the LP's dual into a simple longest-path problem on an acyclic network. The multiple-origin problem – where one toll for each arc applies to all origins – solves analogously. In this case, however, the dual becomes an elementary linear multi-commodity max-cost flow problem with an easy bundling constraint and infinite arc capacities. After a minor reformulation that simplifies the model's input to better accommodate output from common traffic assignment software, a solution algorithm is exemplified with a numerical example.
Effect of imbalance and intracluster correlation coefficient in cluster randomization trials with binary outcomes when the available number of clusters is fixed in advance.

Abstract In some cluster randomization trials, the number of clusters cannot exceed a specified maximum value due to cost constraints or other practical reasons. Donner and Klar [Donner A, and Klar N. Design and analysis of cluster randomization trials in health research. Oxford University Press 2000] provided the sample size formula for the number of subjects required per cluster when the number of clusters cannot exceed a specified maximum value. The sample size formula of Donner and Klar assumes that the number of subjects is the same in each cluster. In practical situations, the number of subjects may be different among clusters. We conducted simulation studies to investigate the effect of the cluster size variability ( κ ) and the intracluster correlation coefficient ( ρ ) on the power of the study in which the number of available clusters is fixed in advance. For the balanced case ( κ = 1.0), i.e. , equal cluster size among clusters, the sample size formula yielded empirical powers close to the nominal level even when the number of available clusters per group ( k ⁎ ) is as small as 10. The sample size formula yielded empirical powers close to the nominal level when the number of available clusters per group ( k ⁎ ) is at least 20 and the imbalance parameter ( κ ) is at least 0.8. Empirical powers were close to the nominal level when ( ρ ≤ 0.02, κ ≥ 0.8, and k ⁎ = 10) or ( ρ ≤ 0.02, κ = 0.8, and k ⁎ = 20).
On the weldability, composition, and hardness of pulsed and continuous Nd:YAG laser welds in aluminum alloys 6061,5456, and 5086

The effect of Nd:YAG laser welding aluminum alloys 6061, 5456, and 5086 was studied from a perspective of alloying element vaporization, hot cracking susceptibility, and resultant mechanical properties. Both continuous wave and pulsed Nd.YAG laser welds were investigated. It was found that Mg was vaporized during welding, the extent of which was a function of the weld travel speed. Calculations based upon evaporation theory, and assuming a regular solution model, resulted in an estimation of weld pool surface temperatures from 1080 to 1970 K for the continuous wave welds. Pulsed Nd:YAG laser welds were observed to be extremely susceptible to weld metal hot cracking whereas continuous wave Nd:YAG laser welds were crack-free. The hardness of 6061 welds was affected by the Mg vaporization such that base metal strengths could not be achieved by subsequent re-heat treatment to the T6 condition. This loss in hardness was attributed to a reduced ability of the alloy to precipitation harden due to a lower Mg concentration. In the cases of 5456 and 5086, when samples containing welds were processed to the O condition, the weld metal had reduced hardness relative to the base metal. This loss of hardness was also attributed to the loss of Mg in these welds, resulting in reduced solid solution strengthening.
CONTROL RATE OF RESPONSE OR REINFORCEMENT AND AMPHETAMINE'S EFFECT ON BEHAVIOR

The roles of control response rate and reinforcement frequency in producing amphetamine's effect on operant behavior were evaluated independently in rats. Two multiple schedules were arranged in which one variable, either response rate or reinforcement frequency, was held constant and the other variable manipulated. A multiple differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate seven-second yoked variable-interval schedule was used to equate reinforcement frequencies at different control response rates between multiple-schedule components. Amphetamine increased responding under the variable-interval component. In contrast, amphetamine decreased responding equivalently between components of a multiple random-ratio schedule that produced similar control response rates at different reinforcement frequencies. The results provide experimental support to the rate-dependency principle that control rate of responding is an important determinant of amphetamine's effect on operant behavior.
Regulation of 17 beta-estradiol synthesis in the proestrous hamster: role of progesterone and luteinizing hormone.

In hamsters, after the LH surge on proestrus, there is a shift in the pattern of ovarian steroidogenesis involving an abrupt decline in serum estrogen and testosterone (T) and a concomitant increase in serum progesterone (P). The present study examined the roles of LH and P in controlling ovarian 17β- estradiol (E2) production using in vivo and in vitro methods. The administration of 10-200 jug P at 1000 h on proestrus consistently depressed serum E2 within 1 h. The decline in serum E2 continued for the subsequent 3 h. Thereafter, serum E2 increased in response to the endogenous LH surge, since the rise in E2 could be prevented by the administration of phenobarbitol. The decline in serum E2 after exogenous P at 1000 h was not always associated with a decline in serum LH or FSH. For instance, serum LH was the same in hamsters treated with 10 jug P and in controls between 1100-1800 h. Serum FSH, however, declined slightly but only during the first hour. The injection of 50 ng P at 1000 h had no significant ...
Existence of two distinct Hipip-type iron-sulfur centers in mitochondria.

Abstract Two distinct Hipip type iron-sulfur centers are present in pigeon heart mitochondria. These two can be distinguished by their EPR spectra which differ in the detailed line shape, field position and temperature dependence. These two seem to correspond to Center S-3, and an iron-sulfur protein purified by Ruzicka and Beinert. They exhibit different thermodynamic behavior and topographical location in the mitochondrial membrane.
Neutron imaging with coded sources: Design pitfalls and the implementation of a simultaneous iterative reconstruction technique

The limitations in neutron flux and resolution (1/D) of current neutron imaging systems can be addressed with a Coded Source Imaging system with magnification (xCSI). More precisely, the multiple sources in an xCSI system can exceed the flux of a single pinhole system for several orders of magnitude, while maintaining a higher 1 / D with the small sources. Moreover, designing for an xCSI system reduces noise from neutron scattering, because the object is placed away from the detector to achieve magnification. However, xCSI systems are adversely affected by correlated noise such as non-uniform illumination of the neutron source, incorrect sampling of the coded radiograph, misalignment of the coded masks, mask transparency, and the imperfection of the system Point Spread Function (PSF). We argue that a model-based reconstruction algorithm can overcome these problems and describe the implementation of a Simultaneous Iterative Reconstruction Technique algorithm for coded sources. Design pitfalls that preclude a satisfactory reconstruction are documented.
Graduate education: the future is now.

As chair and vice chair of the Commission on the Future of Graduate Education, we appreciated J. Mervis's detailed News of the Week story on the Commission's report, The Path Forward: The Future of Graduate Education in the United States (“Report seeks expansion in a time of belt-tightening,” 7 May, p. [678][1]). We would like to address the issue it raised about the timing of the report's recommendations. It is clear that the United States faces serious fiscal challenges. The Obama Administration has begun to address reducing the federal deficit, which will help ensure our long-term prosperity. Every effort must be made to spend public dollars wisely, focusing on those investments that will yield enhanced productivity in the future. The Commission's recommendations are designed to be an integral part of a national innovation strategy to ensure that the United States will have the intellectual leadership, along with the innovative technology, necessary to be successful in the 21st century global economy. A central theme of the Commission's report is how graduate education plays an essential role in strengthening our national competitiveness and innovation capacity, especially given the projected 17 to 18% increases over the next decade in the number of jobs requiring a doctoral or master's degree ([ 1 ][2]). Our proposed investment of $10 billion over the next 5 years for a graduate education training initiative will yield substantial benefits to our country in the future. We must be—and we are—ready with a plan that charts a path forward. 1. [↵][3] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment projections: 2008–2018 summary” (2009); [www.bls.gov/news.release/ecopro.nr0.htm][4]. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.328.5979.678 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [4]: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecopro.nr0.htm
Primary prevention of fishing vessel disasters: Evaluation of a United States Coast Guard policy intervention

Primary injury prevention strategies are needed to improve worker safety in the fishing industry by reducing the occurrence of vessel disasters. In 2006, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) implemented a novel safety policy intervention for two fleets of freezer-trawlers and freezer-longliners in Alaska. The Alternate Compliance and Safety Agreement (ACSA) set standards for vessel stability, watertight integrity, hull condition, and other critical vessel components. To determine if ACSA has been an effective primary prevention intervention for improving safety in the fishing industry, a longitudinal study was conducted using retrospective data on vessel casualties during 2003–2012. On both types of vessels, reported rates of serious vessel casualties decreased after the vessels reached compliance with ACSA requirements, suggesting that ACSA has had a positive effect on vessel safety in the freezer-trawl and freezer-longline fleets. These results support the premise that primary prevention policies can contribute to worker safety by reducing the occurrence of vessel disasters. Future USCG safety policies should be patterned after ACSA and improved by following the recommendations outlined in this study. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
The Stream of Consciousness: XXVII. Defending Conscious Experience

Weiskrantz's recent account of awareness is considered from a perspective that James bequeathed us. In opposition to the Intellectualists, James asks why a pure ego wielding purely conceptualizing acts is needed to give us awareness of relations and universals, inter alia. In opposition to Weiskrantz's Intellectualism, I ask how a commentary system, which has at its disposal only conceptual materials, can swoop down from on high to do the job of creating the experiences we undergo. Weiskrantz prefers the stronger of two positions concerning the relation of awareness to commentary that are consistent with his general view. On the minimal position, he would grant that experiences do takes place without commentary. However, no less so, he would conceive of consciousness as a matter of engaging in higher-order thought. He insists that one's firsthand apprehension of one's stream of experience or its components is carried out by, as it were, a higher agency: namely, a commentary system. Thus, none of our exper...
Role of trabecular microarchitecture in whole-vertebral body biomechanical behavior.

The role of trabecular microarchitecture in whole-vertebral biomechanical behavior remains unclear, and its influence may be obscured by such factors as overall bone mass, bone geometry, and the presence of the cortical shell. To address this issue, 22 human T9 vertebral bodies (11 female; 11 male; age range: 53–97 yr, 81.5 ± 9.6 yr) were scanned with μCT and analyzed for measures of trabecular microarchitecture, BMC, cross-sectional area, and cortical thickness. Sixteen of the vertebrae were biomechanically tested to measure compressive strength. To estimate vertebral compressive stiffness with and without the cortical shell for all 22 vertebrae, two high-resolution finite element models per specimen—one intact model and one with the shell removed—were created from the μCT scans and virtually compressed. Results indicated that BMC and the structural model index (SMI) were the individual parameters most highly associated with strength (R 2 = 0.57 each). Adding microarchitecture variables to BMC in a stepwise multiple regression model improved this association (R 2 = 0.85). However, the microarchitecture variables in that regression model (degree of anisotropy, bone volume fraction) differed from those when BMC was not included in the model (SMI, mean trabecular thickness), and the association was slightly weaker for the latter (R 2 = 0.76). The finite element results indicated that the physical presence of the cortical shell did not alter the relationships between microarchitecture and vertebral stiffness. We conclude that trabecular microarchitecture is associated with whole-vertebral biomechanical behavior and that the role of microarchitecture is mediated by BMC but not by the cortical shell.
Multiphasic Nanostructured Composites for Photonics

The realization of photonics technology rests on the development of multifunctional materials, which simultaneously satisfy many functional requirements. Towards this goal, we present here, the preparation of novel multifunctional nanostructured composites using the sol-gel process. Two specific applications: optical limiting, and two-photon pumped lasing in these composite materials will be discussed. We have been able to dope two optical limiting materials in a single bulk and retain the optical limiting effects at each of their characteristic wavelengths. The materials selected for this purpose were C 60 which shows optical limiting behavior at a wavelength of 532 nm and bisbenzothiazole 3,4-didecyloxy thiophene (BBTDOT) which exhibits a strong two-photon absorption induced optical limiting at 800 nm. The resulting glass acts as a multi-wavelength optical limiter. In addition, we present results of two-photon pumped upconverted lasing at 600 nm in a nanostructured composite glass doped with a new dye, trans-4-[P-(N-ethyl-Nhydroxylethylamino) styryl]-N-methylpyridinium tetraphenylborate (ASPT). The pump source was a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser producing 1064 nm pulses of ˜ 10 ns duration.
Purification and chemical characterization of peptide G1, an invertebrate neuropeptide that stimulates cyclic GMP metabolism

Bioassay analysis of extracts of the major neurosecretory structures of the American lobster have revealed several different agents with stimulatory effects on the cyclic GMP metabolism of various lobster tissues. The most potent of these is a peptide extracted from the sinus gland, a neurohemal organ found in the animal's eyestalk. This molecule, called peptide G1 (for its effects on cyclic GMP metabolism), can increase the cyclic GMP content of every lobster tissue tested, sometimes by as much as 200-fold. In this article, we describe the purification and some of the chemical properties of peptide G1. Purification was accomplished by sequential anion exchange and reverse-phase HPLC. The purified peptide is a large, extremely hydrophobic molecule. Its apparent molecular mass on a reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing gel is 6.4 kDa, and its calculated molecular mass (based on an amino acid analysis of the purified material) is 8.2 kDa. Amino acid analysis reveals a high proportion of leucine and valine residues. The amino terminus of the molecule is not susceptible to Edman degradation, but sequencing studies were successfully carried out on tryptic fragments. Based on the estimated size of the molecule, these studies provide approximately 60% of the total sequence. No homologies with any previously sequenced peptide were observed, but biochemical similarities to as yet unsequenced peptides found in extracts of sinus glands from other crustaceans (hyperglycemic hormone and moult-inhibiting hormone) are described.
Density of Gabor Schauder bases

A Gabor system is a fixed set of time-frequency shifts G(g, (Lambda) ) equals [e2(pi ib x)g(x-a)] (a,b) (epsilon) (Lambda) of a function g (epsilon) L2(Rd). We prove that if G(g, (Lambda) ) forms a Schauder basis for L2(Rd) then the upper Beurling density of (Lambda) satisfies D+((Lambda) ) <EQ 1. We also prove that if G(g, (Lambda) ) forms a Schauder basis for L2(Rd) and if g lies in a the modulation space M1,1(Rd), which is a dense subset of L2(Rd), or if G(g, (Lambda) ) possesses at least a lower frame bound, then (Lambda) has uniform Beurling density D((Lambda) ) equals 1. We use related techniques to show that if g (epsilon) L1(Rd) then no collection [ g(x-a)]a (epsilon (Gamma) ) of pure translates of g can form a Schauder basis for L2(Rd). We also extend these results to the case of finitely many generating functions gl,...,gr.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Managing the LEED Analysis for the New Civil and Environmental Engineering Complex at Mississippi State University

AbstractMississippi State University (MSU) represented by its Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) department is currently in the design–development stage for the construction of a new CEE Complex (CEEC). The CEE is garnering a new focus on sustainability with special emphasis on environmentally responsible design, construction, and operation of constructed facilities. To promote the aforementioned goals of sustainability, the authors have mentored a group of 23 undergraduate junior students under the High-Performance Sustainable Construction class to provide a comprehensive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) analysis for the new CEEC. Based on the 2009 Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction, this paper presents a detailed overview showing (1) which credits are attainable in light of the current available design documents; (2) which credits are not incorporated in the current design documents but are achievable with some modifications and amendments; and (3) whic...
Abstract 997: Oncogenic tyrosine kinases are localized to mitochondria and regulate cancer metabolism by phosphorylating key components of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase complex

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL The Warburg effect describes the observation that cancer cells take up more glucose than normal tissue and favor aerobic glycolysis. Many tumor cells rely on aerobic glycolysis instead of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation for their continued proliferation and survival. This may be, in part, due to attenuated mitochondrial function, which is suggested to be achieved through inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) in cancer cells. Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) is the first and most important enzyme component of PDC, which catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA that subsequently enters into the Krebs cycle to produce ATP and electron donors including NADH. PDH activity is negatively regulated by phosphorylation at several serine sites. Phosphorylation of PDH by PDH kinase (PDHK) results in the inactivation of PDC, while dephosphorylation by pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase (PDP) restores PDC activity. Thus, PDHK and PDP coordinate to regulate the phosphorylation and consequently activation status of PDH. In cancer cells, c-Myc and HIF-1alpha are believed to promote inhibition of PDC by, in part, upregulating gene expression of PDHK. However, how oncogenic signals regulate PDH, and/or coordinate PDHK and PDP activity to inhibit PDH and ultimately attenuate PDC activity in cancer metabolism still remains unclear. We recently reported that, surprisingly, functional PDC can form in mitochondria outside of matrix in some cancer cells. Moreover, several oncogenic tyrosine kinases including FGFR1, FGFR1 fusion tyrosine kinase, and FLT3-ITD mutant, as well as BCR-ABL and JAK2 V617F mutants, are localized to different mitochondrial compartments including outer membrane and matrix, respectively, in cancer cells, where they phosphorylate PDHK1, PDP1 and PDHA. Our studies demonstrate that tyrosine phosphorylation enhances PDHK1 kinase activity by promoting ATP and PDC binding, which promotes cancer cell metabolism, proliferation and tumor growth. In consonance with these findings, we found that tyrosine phosphorylation attenuates PDP1 phosphatase activity but inhibits PDHA enzyme activity. These data suggest that mitochondrial oncogenic tyrosine kinases regulate PDC activity by inhibiting PDHA1 enzyme activity directly through tyrosine phosphorylation and indirectly by enhancing and attenuating PDHK1 and PDP1 activity, respectively. These findings represent an acute mechanism underlying the Warburg effect, in addition to the long-term regulation that is believed to be regulated by c-Myc and HIF-1alpha. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 997. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-997
Taiwan’s power reconfiguration and its impact on cross-strait relations

This paper explores Taiwan’s power reconfiguration resulted from the 2000 presidential election and its implication for the perplexed cross-Strait Strait relations. It looks back at Taiwan’s party transformations on the part of the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) over the past decade, discusses several important factors directly related to the victory of the DPP, and analyzes Taipei’s post-election political arrangements and conciliatory gestures toward Beijing. The paper concludes that given the political disparity between mainland China and Taiwan as well as the transitory nature of Taipei’s new government, Beijing will continue its “wait and see” policy toward Taipei, hence the chance for political dialogue between the two sides is slim in the foreseeable future.
Electrons in Crystals in a Finite-Range Electric Field

The problem of an electron in a finite-range constant electric field is treated; energy levels and eigenfunctions are calculated for the "empty crystal" and for a Mathieu-type model crystal. It is shown that the addition of boundary conditions may change the solution drastically. The influence of different boundary conditions on the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions is discussed and it is found that the former are relatively insensitive while the latter are sensitive to a change in boundary conditions. The result for the eigenvalues is shown to be consistent with an extension of the Born-Ledderman theorem to electronic states in finite crystals. The effective-mass approximation is shown to hold for this model even for moderate fields and use is made of it to explain the complex behavior of the wave functions near the bands' edges. All in all, a clear detailed picture, although limited in scope, is presented of properties of electrons in crystals under the influence of external electric fields.
Vaccine safety: genuine concern or a legacy of unfounded skepticism?

The impact of vaccination on the world’s health is difficult to exaggerate. The availability of vaccines to prevent many of the Earth’s worst killer diseases in the past century, has led to billion...
Antisense targeting of Engrailed-1 causes abnormal axis formation in mouse embryos

Antisense oligonucleotide targeting of engrailed-1 (En-1) in early somite mouse embryos resulted in reduced En protein levels and produced abnormalities of the brain, face, and heart and shortening of the embryonic axis (caudal dysgenesis). Defects of the brain and limbs were consistent with abnormalities observed in null mutant mice described by other investigators. Abnormalities of the face and heart may be related to alterations in neural crest cells. Caudal dysgenesis suggested a role for En-1 in axis formation and this hypothesis was supported by results showing that En-1 protein and mRNA are present in the primitive streak. Thus, in addition to participating in the signaling pathway for brain and limb development, En-1 appears to play a role in patterning the embryonic axis. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Charge movement in gating-locked HCN channels reveals weak coupling of voltage sensors and gate

HCN (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated) pacemaker channels have an architecture similar to that of voltage-gated K+ channels, but they open with the opposite voltage dependence. HCN channels use essentially the same positively charged voltage sensors and intracellular activation gates as K+ channels, but apparently these two components are coupled differently. In this study, we examine the energetics of coupling between the voltage sensor and the pore by using cysteine mutant channels for which low concentrations of Cd2+ ions freeze the open–closed gating machinery but still allow the sensors to move. We were able to lock mutant channels either into open or into closed states by the application of Cd2+ and measure the effect on voltage sensor movement. Cd2+ did not immobilize the gating charge, as expected for strict coupling, but rather it produced shifts in the voltage dependence of voltage sensor charge movement, consistent with its effect of confining transitions to either closed or open states. From the magnitude of the Cd2+-induced shifts, we estimate that each voltage sensor produces a roughly three- to sevenfold effect on the open–closed equilibrium, corresponding to a coupling energy of ∼1.3–2 kT per sensor. Such coupling is not only opposite in sign to the coupling in K+ channels, but also much weaker.
Observations of the unambiguous 2-dimensional horizontal wave number spectrum of OH intensity perturbations

The unambiguous 2-D horizontal wave number spectrum of gravity wave perturbations in OH emission intensities is computed from imager observations acquired on 2 Feb 1995 at the Starfire Optical Range, NM. The technique involves computing the (ω, k, l) = (ω, h, ϕ) spectrum of OH image collected over a several hour period, where k is the zonal wave number, l is the meridional wave number, h = (k² + l²)1/2, ϕ = tan−1 (k/l), and ω is the temporal frequency. The data are used to study the azimuthal distribution of wave energy propagation and the separability of the (h, ϕ) spectrum. The h spectral indices, computed from power-law fits of the 2-D spectrum over the wave number range 2π/(200 km) < h < 2π/(20 km), vary between −1.6 and −3.6 as a function of ϕ with a mean of −2.58. Consequently, the image spectrum is not separable in h and ϕ. We show that nonseparability is most likely associated with distortion of the wave perturbations caused by the viewing geometry at large zenith angles.
Multiple sclerosis and aging: complexities, concerns and considerations for care

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, degenerative and immune-mediated disease of the CNS that is often described as a disease of young adulthood. However, a large proportion of individuals with MS will age with the disease, and may live as long as their age peers. Bibliographic searches were conducted to identify current applied research literature concerning aging with MS. Articles were reviewed to identify major themes, gaps in the current knowledge and directions for future research. Three major content themes were uncovered: the influence of aging on the progression of MS and related activity limitations (17 articles), family and professional care needs of people aging with MS (13 articles) and the experience of aging with MS (seven articles). Findings suggest that MS progression and related activity limitations are age-related and age-accelerated. While age-related factors play a role in care needs, other factors may be more salient. People with MS report several similarities between their aging exp...
Gendered Ethnicity Creating a Hindu Indian Identity in the United States

Based on a study of three Hindu Indian religio-cultural organizations whose members live in and around a metropolitan area in California, this article examines the central role played by gender in the creation of ethnic communities and cultures among Hindu Indian immigrants. Gender relations and constructs are reworked during the course of immigration and settlement and are crucial to the Hindu American ethnicity developed in the United States. The author argues that migration and settlement result in an interrelated but distinct sequence of gendered processes at three analytical levels—the household, the local ethnic community, and the pan-Indian umbrella organizations. The processes occurring at the three levels intermesh in a complicated and contradictory dynamic. The contradictions are manifested in the construction of gendered ethnicity and in gender practice, particularly at the organizational level.
Methods to evaluate wheat cultivar testing environments and improve cultivar selection protocols

Analysis of cultivar by environment (CE) interaction can improve efficiency of crop breeding efforts. Variety selection and recommendation based on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield testing trials could possibly benefit from this type of analysis as well. The objectives of the present work were to evaluate methods to identify relevant testing environments and improve the predictivevalue of data from wheat cultivar yield trials in the eastern US. The data come from 32 site years of winter wheat yield trials conducted in Virginia. Biplot analysis revealed that all current testing sites were relevant and that most performed similarly within a year. The degree of relationship or dissimilarity among environments was also evaluated using straight-line distance between observations in variable space measured as the squared Euclidean distance (ED). Analysis using the ED method revealed that all environments contained the centroid and were thus representative testing environments, similar to results from the biplot analysis. Biplots were effective at identifying cultivars and testing locations that were major sources of CE interaction. Biplots and best linear unbiased predictions (BLUPs) were used to compare cultivar performance across environments. In a separate evaluation, the ED from the centroid to a cultivar mean was used toweight past relativeyields for that cultivar and increased the predictability offuture yield of a cultivar in three offour seasons. Weighting by ED decreased the number of site years needed to develop confidence in the yield stability of a particular cultivar from six to three. Utilizing the BLUPs for future grain yields, predictive ability of future performance after 1 year was 40% better and overall was 25% better than that achieved by weighting with ED. Overall the BLUPS method of estimating future performance was more accurate and more reliable than weighting with ED. # 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The role of hormonal contraception in adolescents

Most pregnancies in women under age 20 years, as well as more than half of the pregnancies in the United States, are unintended. Contraceptive use is especially poor in adolescents, for whom the socioeconomic and educational consequences are great. A 1988 study indicated that more than 8% of sexually active adolescents had two or more sexual partners within the previous 3 months, higher than any other age group. The reasons why adolescents do not use contraception effectively fall into two categories: lack of access to contraceptive information and noncompliance with contraceptive recommendations. Studies have demonstrated that educational programs incorporating decision-making and communication skills, self-esteem enhancement, and peer influence can result in a decrease in the rate of adolescent sexual activity and pregnancy. Knowledge-based programs alone do not correlate with postponement of sexual activity or the use of contraceptives. In a survey of more than 4000 sex education teachers, 80% replied that they are in need of "factual information, materials, and strategies." In a true/false examination given to educators on contraception, few correct answers were recorded regarding potential side effects of oral contraceptives. Effective counseling and communication with adolescents require an understanding of adolescent development. (AM J OBSTET GYNECOL 1994;170:1581–5.)
Wilshire fault: Earthquakes in Hollywood?

The Wilshire fault is a potentially seismogenic, blind thrust fault inferred to underlie and cause the Wilshire arch, a Quaternary fold in the Hollywood area, just west of downtown Los Angeles, California. Two inverse models, based on the Wilshire arch, allow us to estimate the location and slip rate of the Wilshire fault, which may be illuminated by a zone of microearthquakes. A fault-bend fold model indicates a reverse-slip rate of 1.5-1.9 mm/yr, whereas a three-dimensional elastic-dislocation model indicates a right-reverse slip rate of 2.6-3.2 mm/yr. The Wilshire fault is a previously unrecognized seismic hazard directly beneath Hollywood and Beverly Hills, distinct from the faults under the nearby Santa Monica Mountains.
The Dawning of a New Age

The commonly used expression “Dawning of a New Age” reflects a major change in human existence or a major paradigm shift. Such a shift has occurred with the development and release of the Meeting and Business Events Competency Standards (MBECS). Through MBECS, for the first time the MICE Industry has an agreed upon set of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for success in this industry. This is a monumental change that has global implications.
Neuropsychiatric alterations and neurocognitive performance in HIV/AIDS: A response to C. Bungener and R. Jouvent

The findings reported in the Letter to the Editor authored by Bungener and Jouvent are consistent with results we have presented here (Castellon et al., 2000) and again underscore the importance of considering the potentially multifactorial nature of depression in many neurologic diseases/disorders. We have suggested, although the idea is hardly a new one, that depression in HIV/AIDS can be secondary to any of multiple potential etiologies. For example, it may be a direct central nervous system (CNS) consequence of infection (i.e., neurochemical and/or neuropathological changes), a result of increased exposure to social, medical, and financial stressors secondary to living with HIV, a reaction to multiple losses (e.g., bereavement, loss of instrumental capacity), or be an admixture of multiple etiological factors. The phenomenology of this disruption of mood, motivation, and affect may differ as a function of etiology/pathophysiology. We believe that a prominent amotivation/apathy syndrome may be a more pure manifestation of the CNS effects of HIV-1 infection than is the more heterogeneous construct of depression and therefore more closely associated with other putative measures of CNS integrity (e.g., neurocognitive performance).
Quantitative evaluation methodology for dynamic, Web-based collaboration tools

One of the primary hurdles to effectively evaluating adaptive software is that its very use alters the system from one moment to the next. Here, we developed and implemented an empirical-evaluation methodology that was successfully tested on an adaptive, Web-based collaboration tool. Subjects participated in an "open-book" exam, spending limited amounts of time on the Web researching a generic, non-technical topic, such as jazz or baseball, and were later tested on the information they had found. We employed objective, user-centered metrics to quantify subjects' ability to make enhanced Web searches when using the tool. Test results from 8 subjects showed that our approach could reliably measure differences in a user's performance for different collaboration algorithms. Our protocol demonstrated that history-dependent tools can be evaluated without large subject pools and without extensive database preparation if careful evaluation design is utilized.
Best Paper Award for 2013

The Editor would like to announce the Best Paper Award winner from the Journal’s four 2013 issues. The Best Paper Award goes to Kathleen M. Leonard and Gillian M. Nicholls for their paper “History and Status of Female Faculty in Civil Engineering” found in volume 139, number 3, published in July 2013. Other nominations were “Innovative Technologies Used to Investigate Segments of the Inca Road” by Edward J. Jaselskis et al. from the same issue, “Work-Life Balance and Organizational Commitment of Women in the U.S. Construction Industry” by E. Kent Malone and Raja R. A. Issa in the April issue, and “Risk-Sharing in Highway Concessions: Contractual Diversity in Portugal” by Carlos Oliveira Cruz and Rui Cunha, also in the April issue. The Editor encourages researchers to dig out issues of the Journal and reread these fine papers. The quality of the Journal depends on the quality of author submissions, and manuscripts of this caliber provide a valuable service to the profession.
Simulating users to support the design of activity management systems

We describe a simulation system that models the user of a calendar-management tool. The tool is intended to learn the user's scheduling preferences, and we employ the simulator to evaluate learning strategies. The simulated user is instantiated with a set of preferences over local and global features of a schedule such as the level of importance of a particular meeting and the amount of preparation time available before it is to begin. The system then processes a set of simulated meeting requests, and over time and through user feedback, it learns the user's preferences, affording it the ability to thereafter manage the user's schedule more autonomously.
Surgical management and outcomes of dislocated intraocular lenses

Abstract Objective To evaluate the surgical management and visual acuity outcomes in a large series of patients with dislocated intraocular lenses (IOLs). Design Retrospective consecutive noncomparative case series. Participants All patients who underwent surgical management of dislocated IOLs by two vitreoretinal surgeons at one institution between January 1, 1991, and March 31, 1998. Methods Demographic and clinical data were abstracted from patients’ medical records. Main outcome measures Visual acuity at final follow-up and surgical complications. Results The study population consisted of 110 patients, with a median follow-up interval of 50 weeks after dislocated IOL management. Surgical techniques included IOL repositioning in 93 (84.5%) eyes, IOL exchange in 16 (14.5%) eyes, and IOL removal in 1 (1%) eye. Final visual acuity was ≥20/40 in 63 patients (57%) patients, 20/50–20/200 in 34 (31%) patients, and Conclusions Surgical management of dislocated IOLs usually results in satisfactory visual outcomes. Pre-existing ocular pathology and postoperative complications may limit final vision.
A Practical Approach to Landmark Deployment for Indoor Localization

We investigate the impact of landmark placement on localization performance using a combination of analytic and experimental analysis. For our analysis, we have derived an upper bound for the localization error of the linear least squares algorithm. This bound reflects the placement of landmarks as well as measurement errors at the landmarks. We next develop a novel algorithm, maxL minE, that using our analysis, finds a pattern for landmark placement that minimizes the maximum localization error. To show our results are applicable to a variety of localization algorithms, we then conducted a series of localization experiments using both an 802.11 (WiFi) network as well as an 802.15.4 (ZigBee) network in a real building environment. We use both received signal strength (RSS) and time-of-arrival (ToA) as ranging modalities. Our experimental results show that our landmark placement algorithm is generic because the resulting placements improve localization performance across a diverse set of algorithms, networks, and ranging modalities
The common stomach as a center of information sharing for nest construction

Construction of wasp nests is a self organized process that requires building materials, pulp and water foragers, and builders to cooperate. In this paper we study how the society of agents use a social crop, or common stomach, to store water that also provides a mechanism for worker connectivity, which in turn regulates building. Our model predicts that via the common stomach usage, medium sized colonies enjoy the benefit of having highly effective foragers and this in turn means that the colonies need only endanger a few foragers to ensure steady construction. When pulp foraging becomes more costly than water foraging, the colonies adjust via recruiting more pulp foragers and less water foragers, but keep high numbers of common stomach wasps on the nest. The common stomach provides an adaptable platform for indirect worker connectivity and a buffer for water storage.
Differential Response Speed: Is It Really a Nuisance?.

It is commonly acknowledged that ability and speed are not separate constructs but interact with each other. Traditionally, the ability-speed interplay has been seen as a problem to be conquered and a number of psychometric methods have been developed to deal with the interplay between ability and speed and to obtain more pure ability measures. The focus article by Frank Goldhammer proposed an experimental control to eliminate response speed interference in the measurement of response accuracy. In this commentary, I argue that varying response speed within and across people can be regarded an integral element of intelligence measurement rather than a nuisance, in order to further investigate and discover new, dynamic cognitive functions within the context of execution time.
Status of the Aurora laser system: angular-multiplexed multikilojoule krypton fluoride prototype for inertial fusion

Krypton fluoride (KrF) lasers are promising candidates for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) drivers. The 248-nm KrF wavelength couples efficiently to fusion targets; the KrF medium is scalable to high pulse energy, has high intrinsic efficiency, and the potential for high repetition rate operation.
Thomomys bottae aureiventris Hall from Nevada

When Hall prepared his work on the mammals of Nevada (Univ. Calif. Press, Berkeley, 1946) he had no pocket gophers of the species Thomomys bottae from northeastern Nevada. Durrant (Pocket Gophers of Utah, Publ. Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist., 6:182, 1952) reported specimens of Thomomys bottae aureiventris from the Utah-Nevada Boundary, on the east side of the …
Two New Species of Chirothrips Haliday with Notes on Chirothrips Frontalis Williams (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

The two new species of Chirothrips Haliday described in this paper and the one figured and discussed ( Chirothrips frontalis Williams) are unusual in that the lateral length of the praeocular process is at least four-fifths that of the cheek. One of the new species was intercepted by Plant Quarantine inspectors at Washington, D. C, from grass seed imported into the United States from Russia. Owing to their habit of clinging to seed, species of the genus Chirothrips are often transported long distances in such material. It is of some economic significance that, even though several weeks may elapse from the time seed is collected in other countries to the time it is inspected in this country, living specimens are occasionally found upon arrival of the shipments.
Autonomy, Race, and State Reproduction of Status: Durkheim and Weber on Education and Immigration

Durkheim and Weber contributed a neglected, but substantial and controversial body of literature to the topics of education and immigration. A sanitized version of Durkheim and Weber exists in the ...