cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanistic insights from the structures of HincII bound to cognate DNA cleaved from addition of Mg2+ and Mn2+.

The three-dimensional X-ray crystal structures of HincII bound to cognate DNA containing GTCGAC and Mn 2+ or Mg 2+ , at 2.50 A and 2.95 A resolution, respectively, are presented. In both structures, the DNA is found cleaved, and the positions of the active-site groups, cleaved phosphate group, and 3′ oxygen atom of the leaving group are in very similar positions. Two highly occupied Mn 2+ positions are found in each active site of the four crystallographically independent subunit copies in the HincII/DNA/Mn 2+ structure. The manganese ion closest to the previously identified single Ca 2+ position of HincII is shifted 1.7 A and has lost direct ligation to the active-site aspartate residue, Asp127. A Mn 2+ -ligated water molecule in a position analogous to that seen in the HincII/DNA/Ca 2+ structure, and proposed to be the attacking nucleophile, is beyond hydrogen bonding distance from the active-site lysine residue, Lys129, but remains within hydrogen bonding distance from the pro Rp oxygen atom of the phosphate group 3′ to the scissile phosphate group. In addition, the position of the cleaved phosphate group is on the opposite side of the axis connecting the two metal ions relative to that found in the BamHI/product DNA/Mn 2+ structure. Mechanistic implications are discussed, and a model for the two-metal-ion mechanism of DNA cleavage by HincII is proposed.
Comparison of Electrokinetic Properties of Colloidal Fullerenes (n-C60) Formed Using Two Procedures†

In this study we report on the electrokinetic behavior of colloidal aggregates of C60fullerenes (n-C60) produced through two different techniques: solvent exchange and extended mixing with water. In the first technique, used to produce colloidal materials in several recent toxicity and transport studies, an organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) is used to dissolve the C60 before mixing with water. The second technique is more indicative of conditions that might occur in natural aquatic systems. Both types of n-C60 were observed to be negatively charged under a variety of solution chemistries; however, the n-C60 formed using THF was more strongly charged. We conclude that n-C60 likely acquires charge through charge transfer from the organic solvent (when present) and surface hydrolysis reactions. Nevertheless, C60 is capable of acquiring charge and becoming dispersed as n-C60 in water without the aid of organic solvents, a pathway that may be important in determining the mobility of fullerenes in ...
Three new species of Passiflora subgenus Decaloba (Passifloraceae) from Ecuador

Three new species of Passiflora have been collected in the province of ZamoraChinchipe within the last 12 years. They are here described and illustrated as Passiflora carnasisepala, P condarita, and P.parvipetala. The total number of species of Passiflora in Ecuador is now 94, of which 40 belong to the subgenus Decaloba and 32 are endemic to the country.
Production of ethanol from wood hydrolyzate by yeasts.

Abstract A total of 43 Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) strains of Pichia stipitis and Candida shehatae were tested for their ability to ferment a 1:1 mixture of glucose and xylose to ethanol prior to fermentation of partially deacidified wood hydrolyzates. The starting sugar composition, pH, and concentrations of inhibitors such as acetic acid, furfural, and hydroxy methyl furfural varied from one batch to another. The delay observed in growth and fermentation depended on the amounts of inhibitors present and on the capacity of the strain to resist them. The ethanol production rates and yields obtained with C. shehatae were higher than those with P. stipitis . C. shehatae strain FPL-Y-049 produced up to 34 g/l ethanol from batch VII of wood hydrolyzates. All the glucose, mannose, galactose and xylose in the wood hydrolyzate were consumed during fermentation. Only arabinose was unused. Addition of 10 mg/l zinc to acid hydrolyzate did not affect peak ethanol production, but it did increase rates of sugar utilization and ethanol production. The fermentation of hydrolyzate with recycled cells of C. shehatae Y-049 reduced the fermentation lag and increased the final ethanol concentration. The ethanol production rate was optimum in the pH range of 5.5–6.0, and an ethanol yield of 0.41–0.46 g/g was obtained in these fermentations. Because of heterogeneity between wood hydrolyzate batches, ethanol production was found to be influenced by hydrolyzate composition, pH, acetate concentration, amount of cells, and recycling of cells.
Thermal vibration amplitudes and structure of Sb on Si(0 0 1) by X-ray standing waves

Abstract X-ray standing waves generated by dynamical Bragg diffraction were used as an element-specific structural probe for investigating Sb adsorption on Si(0 0 1). These high-resolution measurements of the Si(0 0 1)/Sb-(1 × 2) surface reveal important quantitative structural information regarding the dimerized surface structures, such as Sb ad-dimer height, Sb dimer bond length, Sb thermal vibration amplitude, and inward contraction of the Si surface.
Eisenstein Series Twisted by Modular Symbols for the Group SLn

We dene Eisenstein series twisted by modular symbols for the group SLn, generalizing a construction of the rst author (12, 13). We show that, in the case of series attached to the minimal parabolic subgroup, our series converges for all points in a suitable cone. We conclude with examples for SL2 and SL3.
Computation of the Transmission Line Inductance and Capacitance Matrices from the Generalized Capacitance Matrix

In a recent paper [1], a method for computing the per-unitlength generalized capacitance matrix of a system of dielectric-insulated wires was given. In this-paper, a method for computing the per-unitlength inductance and capacitance matrices used in multiconductor transmission-line models in terms of the elements of the generalized capacitance matrix is given. Certain approximate formulas for large wire separations are also given. Rome Air Development Center.
Distribution of α-bungarotoxin binding sites in the central nervous system and peripheral organs of the rat

Abstract Concentrations of α-bungarotoxin binding sites were determined biochemically in various regions of the central nervous system and several peripheral tissues of the rat. Marked regional differences were found within the brain. No activity was detected in the caudate nucleus and little in the cerebellum; highest levels were observed in the colliculus inferior and superior and the hippocampus and intermediate densities were found in other areas. Outside of the central nervous system, binding activity was significant only in skeletal muscle, autonomic ganglia and adrenal gland; in addition, α-bungarotoxin receptors were found in sensory ganglia (Gasserian; dorsal root). The findings of this survey suggest that α-bungarotoxin is specific for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors regardless of their location within the organism, and that these receptors are not necessarily synaptic constituents.
Global Bricolage: emerging market powers and polycentric governance

Abstract Contemporary globalisation is characterised by an explosion of organisational pluralism. Acronyms such as brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), ibsa (India, Brazil and South Africa), and basic (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) abound. This proliferation of groupings signals a repositioning within global governance and their names serve as metaphors for adjustments among formal and informal modes of global governance. They may be understood in terms of global bricolage: a framework for analysing incipient assemblages in global governance. Rooted in cultural political economy, this notion offers a language for grasping a loose meshwork of groupings based on certain large countries in the global South. The concept of global bricolage deepens analysis of polycentric governance and enables observers to identify three major tensions that mark contemporary global order. The antinomies are between old and new narratives that represent actual or potential shifts in prevailing forms ...
Coarctation of the aorta

Coarctation of the aorta is an important, treatable cause of secondary hypertension. Its prevalence varies from 5% to 8% of all congenital heart defects. This condition is most often detected because of a murmur or hypertension found on routine examination. Delayed or absent femoral pulses and an arm/leg systolic blood pressure difference of 20 mm Hg or more in favor of the arms may be considered as evidence for aortic coarctation. The coarctation may be demonstrated on a suprasternal notch two-dimensional echocardiographic view along with increased Doppler flow velocities across the coarctation site. Cardiac catheterization reveals significant systolic pressure gradient (> 20 mm Hg) across the coarctation and angiography demonstrates the degree and type of aortic narrowing. Aortic obstruction may be relieved by surgery or by transcatheter techniques; the latter include balloon angioplasty and stent implantation. In the past, surgery has been used exclusively, but because of morbidity and complications associated with surgery, catheter techniques are increasingly used in the management of aortic coarctation. Balloon angioplasty in children and stents in adolescents and adults are becoming initial therapeutic options for management of coarctation. Studies evaluating long-term follow-up results of the interventional techniques are needed.
Protozoan numbers and biomass in the sediments of the Blake Outer Ridge

Numbers and biomass of protozoans from the top centimetres of sediment were estimated from four box cores, one taken at 135 m on the shelf and the other three along the crest (2411–3833 m water depth) of the Blake Outer Ridge (BOR). The mean numbers of protozoans ranged from 165 to 964 cm−3, and biomass estimates ranged from 2.2 to 33 × 10−4 mg cm−3. The lowest numbers and smallest biomass were found at the shelf station. Protozoan biomass along the BOR was an order of magnitude greater, ranging from 2.0 to 3.3 × 10−3 mg cm−3, while total numbers ranged from 347 to 964 cm−3. Ciliates dominated at almost all depths but showed no trend with depth. Amoebas increased and flagellates decreased with depth. Based on variance to mean ratios for these samples, the benthic protozoan population has a clumped distribution. We found no relation of protozoan numbers with sediment bacterial numbers, porosity of the surface se sediments, and per cent total organic carbon of the sediments.
Parametric Studies of a Spectrally Selective, Two-Layered, Porous, Volumetric Solar Collector

This paper reports that a porous, packed bed, volumetric solar collector consisting of two dissimilar layers of spherical beads is numerically modeled. The bed is irradiated on the top surface by concentrated solar flux isotropic within a known cone angle. A gas stream perfusing the bed is heated by convection with the solid particles. The equation of radiative transfer, which accounts for absorption, emission, and linearly anisotropic scattering in the bed, is simplified by employing the P[sub 1] differential approximation. The bed materials are spectrally selective in the solar and infrared wavelengths. Sensitivity studies are used to identify the critical input parameters of the system, and a baseline configuration, which incorporates the key requirements of an efficient solar collector is adopted. Parametric studies are conducted on the mass flow rate, incident solar flux, top layer porosity, solar absorptivity, particle diameter, and degree of back scatter. Tailoring of the particle and fluid temperature profiles and enhancing the efficiency of the collector by an appropriate selection of these critical parameters is demonstrated. Various high-temperature ceramics with suitable radiative properties are identified and their relative performance in the collector is assessed.
Day/night patterns of focal seizures

Purpose. In many patients with epilepsy seizures occur with a day/night pattern. Our aims were to compare day/night patterns in seizure frequency among patients with different epileptogenic regions. Methods. We analyzed video-EEG recordings in 15 patients with temporal lobe (TLE) and 11 with extratemporal lobe epilepsy (XTLE). Each seizure was classified according to subject group (TLE vs XTLE), sleep/wake state, and time of day of seizure occurrence (grouped into 6 × 4-hour “bins”). Results. Of 90 seizures, 41 occurred in TLE and 49 in XTLE patients. There were day/night patterns of seizure occurrence in each group, with differences in the patterns between groups. In TLE, 50% of seizures occurred between the hours of 15:00 and 19:00 (17% would be expected by chance in each 4-hour “bin”: F=3.59, P<0.006). In XTLE, there was a peak between 19:00 and 23:00 (47%: F=4.72, P<0.0018). The effect of time on seizures was least pronounced in the XTLE patients who had more than one epileptogenic region. The proportion of seizures occurring from sleep was significantly less in TLE (19%) than in XTLE patients (41%) [P<0.04, Fisher's exact test]. Conclusions. There are clear day/night patterns of seizure occurrence in epilepsy, with differences in the patterns between TLE and XTLE. There is an additional interaction with sleep/wake state, with relatively few seizures occurring from sleep in TLE compared with XTLE. Thus, it appears that both sleep/wake state and day/night or circadian rhythms may affect seizure proclivity, with different effects depending on the location of the epileptogenic region.
Redundant cyclin overexpression and gene amplification in breast cancer cells

Cyclins are prime cell cycle regulators and are central to the control of major check points in eukaryotic cells. The aberrant expressions of two cyclins (i.e., cyclins A and D1) have been observed in some cancers, suggesting they may be involved in loss of growth control. However, in spite of these occasional changes involving only two cyclins, there are no clear connections between general derangements of other cyclins or their dependent kinases in a single tumor type. We detected general cyclin overexpression in 3 of 3 breast tumor tissue samples. In addition, using proliferating normal vs. human tumor breast cells as a model system, we observed a number of alterations in cyclin expression: (i) an 8-fold amplification of cyclin E gene in one tumor line, a 64-fold overexpression of its mRNA, and altered expression of its protein; (ii) deranged expression of cyclin E protein in all (10 of 10) tumor cell lines studied; (iii) increased cyclin mRNA stability, resulting in (iv) general overexpression of RNAs and proteins for cyclins A and B and CDC2 in 9 of 10 tumor lines and (v) deranged order of appearance of cyclins in synchronized tumor vs. normal cells, with mitotic cyclins appearing prior to G1 cyclins. These multiple general derangements in cyclin expression in human breast cancer cells provide evidence linking aberrant cyclin expression to tumorigenesis.
Essential elements lacking in security proofs for quantum key distribution

All the currently available unconditional security proofs on quantum key distribution, in particular for the BB84 protocol and its variants including continuous-variable ones, are invalid or incomplete at many points. In this paper we discuss some of the main known problems, particularly those on operational security guarantee and error correction. Most basic are the points that there is no security parameter in such protocols and it is not the case the generated key is perfect with probability ≥ 1 - ϵ under the trace distance criterion d ≤ ϵ, which is widely claimed in the technical and popular literature. The many serious security consequences of this error about the QKD generated key would be explained, including practical ramification on achievable security levels. It will be shown how the error correction problem alone may already defy rigorous quantitative analysis. Various other problems would be touched upon. It is pointed out that rigorous security guarantee of much more efficient quantum cryptosystems may be obtained by abandoning the disturbance-information tradeoff principle and utilizing instead the known KCQ (keyed communication in quantum noise) principle in conjunction with a new DBM (decoy bits method) principle that will be detailed elsewhere.
Feeding preferences and grazing rates of Pfiesteria piscicida and a cryptoperidiniopsoid preying on fish blood cells and algal prey

Abstract The grazing rates and feeding preferences of the dinoflagellates Pfiesteria piscicida and a cryptoperidiniopsoid on the alga Rhodomonas sp. and fish blood cells were calculated at different ratios of the two food types and at different total food densities. Data from 6 h grazing periods within microcosms were used to calculate grazing rates. Grazing rates of both dinoflagellates increased linearly with an increased ratio of blood cells to Rhodomonas , and P. piscicida had a higher maximum grazing rate than the cryptoperidiniopsoid. The grazing rate of P. piscicida on Rhodomonas also increased with increased Rhodomonas densities relative to the blood cells, but increased densities of Rhodomonas did not increase the grazing rate of the cryptoperidiniopsoid, suggesting a lower feeding threshold for this species. Both dinoflagellates demonstrated a preference for fish blood cells over Rhodomonas cells, with no significant difference in the index of preference between the two species. Total food abundance affected the degree of preference differently for each dinoflagellate species. A higher index of feeding preference was attained by P. piscicida when resource levels were high, while the cryptoperidiniopsoid did not show this response. A preference for fish blood cells occurred at all food ratios for both dinoflagellates, including when blood cells were scarce relative to the alternate food type (15% of total available food). These results suggest that these strains of P. piscicida and the cryptoperidiniopsoid share similar feeding preferences for the prey types tested, although cryptoperidiniopsoids have not been associated with fish kills.
Pion and nucleon structure as probed in the reaction π±N→μ+μ−X at 253 GeV

Abstract New results are presented from Fermilab experiment E615, in which hadroproduction of muon pairs allows a determination of the quark structure of the initial-state hadrons in the context of a Drell-Yan model. 1. ⊎|Comparison of muon-pair production by π+ and π− beams shows the cross-section ratio follows Drell-Yan model expectations, except for a dip in σ(π+)/σ(π−) near x π near 1. 2. ⊎|The same data are also used to extract the ratio of the sea to valence quark distributions in the nucleon, with improved accuracy for l N compared to deep-inelastic neutrino scattering. 3. ⊎|The Drell-Yan analysis of continuum muon-pair production has been extended down to a mass of 3.2 GeV/c2 for the π− data sample. This provides stronger evidence of a rise in the nucleon structure function for L N compared to that extracted in deep-inelastic lepton scattering. 4. ⊎|The issue is raised of the nonuniqueness of the definition of L π and L N used in the Drell-Yan analysis. A definition proposed by Soper has superior invariance properties to that commonly used. An analysis based on this definition yields generally similar results for the pion and nucleon structure function, compared to use of the common definition, However, the pion structure function shows a larger intercept at L π =1 when the definition of Soper is used.
The management of arteriovenous malformations in children.

Between January 1941 and June 1989, 46 children below the age of 18 with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) were managed. There were 7 patients with AVM diagnosed before the age of 2; 10 patients were diagnosed between the ages of 3 and 10; and 29 patients were diagnosed between 11 and 18. There were equal numbers of male and female patients. Twenty-five of the AVMs were large (>5 cm longest diameter). All 7 AVMs diagnosed before the age of 2 were large. The usual clinical presentation was congestive heart failure, bruit and an enlarging head. Three patients underwent excision with 2 deaths and 1 excellent result. In 11 patients (aged 3–18) with AVM without history of hemorrhage, 3 had excision with 2 excellent and 1 fair result. Four remained stable. Four developed progressive deficits or hemorrhage. In 10 patients (aged 3–18) with AVM and hemorrhage who were treated medically, 7 (70%) had an episode of re-hemorrhage. Three patients had excision of AVM after re-hemorrhage, but before the age of 18 with an excellent result. Eighteen patients (aged 3–18) with AVM and a single episode of hemorrhage underwent excision with 17 excellent or good results and 1 fair result. The overall mortality was 7%. Eighty-five percent of the children with excision of AVM had an excellent or good result. The best treatment for AVM in children is surgical excision.
Acoustic Emission and Ultrasound Phased Array Technique for Composite Material Evaluation

The successful application of various acoustic evaluation techniques to composite materials and structures depends on the understanding of the acoustic wave propagation mechanisms. However, due to the anisotropic nature of composite materials, where the acoustic signal velocity and attenuation depend on its traveling direction, the correlation of the different material failure modes to the recorded acoustic signals, such as during of an acoustic emission (AE) inspection, is difficult to be defined. This issue becomes even more challenging for ultrasound phased array technique, where unlike a conventional ultrasound single element transducer, an ultrasound phased array of sensors will generate and receive acoustic energy at various desired directions and locations. Such heightened flexibility and sensitivity is essential for the complex shape of modern composite structures. In this paper, the influence of fiber orientation on AE signal was first studied. AE parameters such as counts, duration, energy, rise time and amplitude for aluminum and composite plate were analyzed in MS-Excel and results were compared to AE software. Acoustic velocities along various fiber directions were also theoretically studied and experimentally measured. Then ultrasound phased array technique and related parameters such as ultrasound beam angle and focusing, frequency and material attenuation factors were quantitatively analyzed, and the optimization and limitation of ultrasound phased array inspection procedure were summarized.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
UX Aspects of Threat Information Sharing Platforms: An Examination & Lessons Learned Using Personas

This paper initiates the systematic study of the human elements of participating in an information exchange using a Threat Information Sharing Platform (TISP). Much of the most valuable information to be shared within a TISP is created or validated by human security analysts. Thus getting UX design and the human motivations for a TISP right is crucial for its success. We approach this problem from one of the primary HCI and UX methods | personas. Our results allow TISP engineers and designers to understand and articulate the value propositions as well as the obstacles of a TISP for the CSIRT (Computer Security Incident and Response Team) of an organization. Second, we crafted a set of design requirements explicitly drawn from our personas. These design requirements explicitly highlight how TISPs can be improved, or needs that should be addressed to increase their value-add and usability. Our five personas were created from eight hour long interviews as well as over 20 hours of ethnographic observation of CSIRTs and Security Operations Centers (SOCs.)
Phenotype, genotype and clonality of Reed-Sternberg cells in nodular sclerosis Hodgkin’s disease: results of a single-cell study

The genotype and clonality of Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells in Hodgkin's disease (HD) has remained a controversial issue, largely due to the scarcity of RS cells in tissues and the limitations of the techniques used to resolve this issue. Southern hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays using DNA extracted from tissues can only document clonal gene rearrangements, but do not indicate which cellular population is responsible for such rearrangements. To overcome the limitations of these previous techniques for studying the genotype and clonality of RS cells, we analysed single RS cells with a single-cell PCR assay to detect immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IgH) rearrangements and X-chromosome inactivation. Six cases of nodular sclerosis (NS) HD were studied. The RS cells displayed a B-cell phenotype in three cases and a null-cell phenotype in the other three cases. IgH rearrangements were detected in the RS cells of the three cases with a B-cell phenotype, but not in the other cases. In these three cases the IgH rearrangements in the RS cells were polyclonal, although a subpopulation of clonal RS cells was documented in one case. The finding that the RS cells with IgH rearrangements were not monoclonal was supported in one case by studying the pattern of X-chromosome inactivation in single RS cells by a single-cell human androgen receptor gene (HUMARA) PCR assay. Our results indicate that NSHD begins as a polyclonal process in which a clonal RS cell population may arise ; and that the RS cells in a subset of NSHD show evidence of B-lineage differentiation.
Successful pregnancy outcomes after amniotic fluid embolism

Two patients who survived cardiorespiratory arrest occurring in association with amniotic fluid embolism syndrome were seen during the subsequent pregnancy. Both had uneventful pregnancies and delivered at term without complications. These are the only case reports of pregnancy after amniotic fluid embolism, and they support a model of amniotic fluid embolism involving chemically abnormal amniotic fluid rather than an unusual sensitivity to normal amniotic fluid.
FFT calculation of two-step semiconductor impurity diffusion

The fast Fourier transform (FFT) is used to efficiently calculate an approximation to the second step of the two-step semiconductor impurity atom diffusion. The linearized one-dimensional diffusion equation is assumed with zero oxide growth. The calculation is shown to be a convolution, and the criteria for minimizing aliasing and overlap are outlined. Calculations for erfc (error function) and ion-implanted profiles are shown. Computation time is about 800 ms for a 256-point profile, using APL on an IBM System/370 Model 168 computer. Less than 2-percent error occurs in curve area and surface concentration for typical profiles.
Dysfunctional cognitions in personality pathology: the structure and validity of the Personality Belief Questionnaire.

BackgroundThis study examines the structure of the Personality Belief Questionnaire (PBQ), a self-report instrument designed to assess dysfunctional beliefs associated with personality pathology, as proposed by the cognitive theory of personality dysfunction.MethodThe PBQ was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with responses from 438 depressed out-patients, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with responses from 683 treatment-seeking psychiatric out-patients. All participants were assessed for personality disorder (PD) using a standard clinical interview. The validity of the resulting factor structure was assessed in the combined sample (n=1121) by examining PBQ scores for patients with and without PD diagnoses.ResultsExploratory and confirmatory analyses converged to indicate that the PBQ is best described by seven empirically identified factors: six assess dysfunctional beliefs associated with forms of personality pathology recognized in DSM-IV. Validity analyses revealed that those diagnosed with a PD evidenced a higher average score on all factors, relative to those without these disorders. Subsets of patients diagnosed with specific DSM-IV PDs scored higher, on average, on the factor associated with their respective diagnosis, relative to all other factors.ConclusionsThe pattern of results has implications for the conceptualization of personality pathology. To our knowledge, no formal diagnostic or assessment system has yet systematically incorporated the role of dysfunctional beliefs into its description of personality pathology. The identification of dysfunctional beliefs may not only aid in case conceptualization but also may provide unique targets for psychological treatment. Recommendations for future personality pathology assessment systems are provided.
Assessment and treatment of nocturnal panic attacks

Nocturnal panic (NP), waking from sleep in a state of panic, is a common occurrence among patients with panic disorder, with 44-71% reporting at least one such attack. NP is a non-REM event that is distinct from sleep terrors, sleep apnea, nightmares or dream-induced arousals. This review outlines recent advances in the characterization of NP, as well as current approaches to the assessment and treatment of NP. In contrast to earlier work, more recent studies suggest that patients with NP do not differ from patients without NP on sleep architecture, sleep physiology, self-reported sleep quality and severity of panic disorder. However, more precise measurement of physiological precipitants and features is warranted. Assessment of NP focuses on ruling out other explanations for NP, with differential diagnosis based on interviews, sleep polysomnography and ambulatory recording of sleep. Psychological treatment (cognitive-behavioral therapy) targets misappraisals of anxiety sensations, hyperventilatory response, and conditioned reactions to internal, physical cues. Recent evidence supports the efficacy of this approach, however, controlled studies on pharmacological agents in the treatment of NP are lacking. Research is needed to examine the effects of combined cognitive-behavioral therapy and medications, compared to medication alone in the treatment of NP.
Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: Reviewing the Specificity and Sensitivity of DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria

With the ultimate goal of better understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), the present work is a review and critique of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria at the end of their 18 years of use. Problems of specificity (polythetic criteria and failure to employ a hallmark feature) make OCPD an indistinct diagnostic category that consequently contains a plurality of types. Problems of sensitivity (missing elements and concrete expression of signs) make it more difficult to cull OCPD persons from the population at large. Collectively, these problems of specificity and sensitivity have undermined the efficiency of the DSM-IV criteria set; but more importantly, these problems continue to distort the clinical understanding of OCPD generally.
Reducing labeling effort for structured prediction tasks

A common obstacle preventing the rapid deployment of supervised machine learning algorithms is the lack of labeled training data. This is particularly expensive to obtain for structured prediction tasks, where each training instance may have multiple, interacting labels, all of which must be correctly annotated for the instance to be of use to the learner. Traditional active learning addresses this problem by optimizing the order in which the examples are labeled to increase learning efficiency. However, this approach does not consider the difficulty of labeling each example, which can vary widely in structured prediction tasks. For example, the labeling predicted by a partially trained system may be easier to correct for some instances than for others. We propose a new active learning paradigm which reduces not only how many instances the annotator must label, but also how difficult each instance is to annotate. The system also leverages information from partially correct predictions to efficiently solicit annotations from the user. We validate this active learning framework in an interactive information extraction system, reducing the total number of annotation actions by 22%.
Combined turbo detection and decoding for unknown ISI channels

We present two decoding structures which combine turbo detection and decoding, allowing communication in the presence of intersymbol interference (ISI). The first one treats the ISI as another constituent decoder which participates in the exchange of extrinsic information, and performs slightly worse than the second structure, which combines the trellis representing each one of the constituent encoders with the ISI trellis. We show that for both methods, it is possible to obtain good performance, even when no a priori information about the ISI channel is available to the decoder.
The Effects of Culture on WASI Test Performance in Ethnically Diverse Individuals

The objective of this study was to examine differences between fluent English-speaking ethnically diverse (ED) individuals (from Hispanic, Asian, and Middle-Eastern descent) and monolingual English-speaking Anglo-Americans (MEAA) on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI). A sample of 86 (50 ED and 36 MEAA) healthy individuals participated. The results revealed that the MEAA group outperformed the ED group on the verbal (i.e., Vocabulary and Similarities), but not the nonverbal (i.e., Block Design and Matrix Reasoning) subtests. Various cultural factors such as the level of acculturation and the degree to which the English language was used correlated with verbal skills. Number of years the education was obtained outide of the US was an important predictor of verbal and some nonverbal performance in the ED group. The findings from this study underscore the importance of taking cultural factors, particularly level of acculturation, into account when interpreting test scores of ED individuals.
Kinetic Control of Self-Catalyzed Indium Phosphide Nanowires, Nanocones, and Nanopillars

The morphological phase diagram is reported for InP nanostructures grown on InP (111)B as a function of temperature and V/III ratio. Indium droplets were used as the catalyst and were generated in situ in the metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy reactor. Three distinct nanostructures were observed: wires, cones, and pillars. It is proposed that the shape depends on the relative rates of indium phosphide deposition via the vapor−liquid−solid (VLS) and vapor-phase epitaxy (VPE) processes. The rate of VLS is relatively insensitive to temperature and results in vertical wire growth starting at 350 °C. By contrast, the rate of VPE accelerates with temperature and drives the lateral growth of cones at 385 °C and then pillars at 400 °C.
Influence Of Nonuniformity On Infrared Focal Plane Array Performance

It is well known that detector response nonuniformity results in pattern noise with staring sensors that is a severe problem in the infrared due to the low intrinsic contrast of IR imagery. The pattern noise can be corrected by electronic processing; however, the ability to correct for pattern noise is limited by the interaction of interscene and intrascene variability with the dynamic range of the processor (number of bits) and, depending upon the algorithm used, by nonlinearities in the detector response. This paper quantifies these limitations and describes the interaction of detector gain nonuniformity and detector nonlinearities. Probabilistic models are developed to determine the maximum sensitivity that can be obtained using a two-point algorithm to correct a nonlinear response curve over a wide temperature range. Curves that permit a prediction of the noise equivalent differential temperature (NEAT) under varying circumstances are presented. A piecewise linear approach to dealing with severe detector response nonlinearities is presented and analyzed for its effectiveness.
Common genetic variants on chromosome 9p21 predict perioperative myocardial injury after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Objective Approximately 10% of patients undergoing cardiac surgery have perioperative myocardial injury. A recent genome-wide association study identified an association between myocardial infarction in nonsurgical populations and common genetic variants on chromosome 9p21. We hypothesized that these variants are also associated with perioperative myocardial injury after isolated primary coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Methods In a prospective observational study of 846 Caucasian patients undergoing primary coronary bypass surgery at 2 US centers, we genotyped 61 linkage-disequilibrium tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms, encompassing 436 kbp of the 9p21 region. A multivariable logistic model was used to adjust for previously identified clinical covariates of perioperative myocardial injury. Perioperative myocardial injury was defined as a postoperative day 1 cardiac troponin I in the top 10th percentile (>9.13 μg/L) of the cohort. Multiple testing of single nucleotide polymorphisms was corrected for with family-wise errors. Results Prior myocardial infarction and longer cardiopulmonary bypass time were significant independent predictors of perioperative myocardial injury. Levels of postoperative cardiac troponin I were incrementally increased for each additional copy of the risk alleles of 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms: rs10116277, rs6475606, and rs2383207. Adjusted additive odds ratios ranged between 1.64 and 1.79 (asymptotic P value between 3.7 × 10 −3 and 6 × 10 −4 ) and remained significantly associated with perioperative myocardial injury even after accounting for clinical covariates including severity of coronary disease, and multiple comparisons. Conclusions We have now demonstrated that common genetic variants in the same 9p21 locus, previously known to be associated with myocardial infarction in nonsurgical populations, are also associated with perioperative myocardial injury after coronary artery bypass grafting. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate functional mechanisms.
Cuspal Flexure and Extent of Cure of a Bulk-fill Flowable Base Composite.

Clinical Relevance Bulk-fill composites are an attractive alternative to reduce restoration placement time if sufficient cure can be ensured without an increase in shrinkage stress. This study provides evidence that supports bulk filling techniques and may help clinicians use this composite type without jeopardizing cure.
Imbalance of Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor and Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla: Potential Mechanism for Sympathetic Overactivity in Heart Failure

Upregulation of angiotensin II type 1 receptors (AT 1 R) in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) contributes to the sympathoexcitation in the chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the role of angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT 2 R) is not clear. In this study, we measured AT 1 R and AT 2 R protein expression in the RVLM and determined their effects on renal sympathetic nerve activity, blood pressure, and heart rate in anesthetized sham and CHF rats. We found that (1) although AT 1 R expression in the RVLM was upregulated, the AT 2 R was significantly downregulated (CHF: 0.06±0.02 versus sham: 0.15±0.02, P 1 R and AT 2 R by angiotensin II evoked sympathoexcitation, hypertension, and tachycardia in both sham and CHF rats with greater responses in CHF; (3) stimulating RVLM AT1R with angiotensin II plus the specific AT 2 R antagonist PD123319 induced a larger sympathoexcitatory response than simultaneously stimulating AT 1 R and AT 2 R in sham rats, but not in CHF; (4) activating RVLM AT 2 R with CGP42112 induced a sympathoinhibition, hypotension, and bradycardia only in sham rats (renal sympathetic nerve activity: 36.4±5.1% of baseline versus 102±3.9% of baseline in artificial cerebrospinal fluid, P 2 R in the RVLM exhibits an inhibitory effect on sympathetic outflow, which is, at least partially, mediated by an arachidonic acid metabolic pathway. These data implicate a downregulation in the AT 2 R as a contributory factor in the sympathoexcitation in CHF.
THE USE OF FINELY MILLED ENAMEL SLIPS

In general, cover-coat slips for sheet iron are milled to give a residue of from 4 to 9% on a 200-mesh sieve. The opinion was formed that finer milling results in tearing because of results secured on the box-type rather than the continuous furnace. However, cover-coat slips milled from 12 to 0.2% on a 325-mesh sieve are now in use in production on continuous furnaces with no increase in tearing over coarse grinding and with the following advantages: (1) higher opacity, (2) less wear on spray guns, (3) smoother finishes, (4) preferred by sprayers, (5) better suspension, and (6) lower firing temperatures.
Pre-Hispanic Quarrying in the Ucareo-Zinapecuaro Obsidian Source Area

Obsidian artifact sourcing studies performed over the last 25 years have identified obsidian from outcrops around the communities of Zinapecuaro and Ucareo, Michoacan, at sites widely distributed in time and space. Recent data indicate that Zinapecuaro and Ucareo constitute distinct obsidian sources, although their proximity to each other and their similar chemical compositions merit their consideration as collectively comprising part of an obsidian source area. Sourcing studies that used Ucareo as well as Zinapecuaro source reference samples provide strong evidence of considerably greater pre-Hispanic utilization of the Ucareo source, and raise the possibility that at least some artifacts attributed to Zinapecuaro in studies that did not use Ucareo reference samples may be from the Ucareo source. These findings are supported by recent archaeological evidence of considerably greater exploitation of the Ucareo source, including what is probably one of the largest known pre-Hispanic quarries. Preliminary data provide a tentative chronology for settlement and exploitation of the source area.
Linkage Maps of Human Genes

Methodologies and tools for the construction of complete, primary genetic linkage maps of human chromosomes are emerging. Special families, optimal because of family structure for revealing linkage relationships, have been sampled and a number of genotypic determinations gathered. The associated genotypic database and the cell lines are available to the research community through the Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain in Paris, and form the basis for an international collaboration in the effort to map the entire human genome. Genetic diseases that are known only by their phenotype can be mapped to chromosomes when they co-segregate with known map markers; localization of a disease gene represents an important step toward its characterization. New markers for hypervariable loci, highly efficient for mapping purposes, are being developed. Primary maps spanning several chromosomes are already in hand.
Public financial support for disability at the dawn of the 21st century.

This is an empirical study of contemporary public financial support for disability in the United States. Public support for disability programs in the United States totaled dollars 294 billion in 1997 (41.5 million recipients) and was estimated to be dollars 426 billion in 2002. Nationally, 52% of public long-term care financial resources supported persons with disabilities in institutions, although great variation existed among states and across disability groups (i.e., mental retardation, mental illness, physical disability). State financial commitments for community long-term care services for each of the three disability groups was strongly associated with state participation in the Medicaid HCBS Waiver and Personal Assistance programs and for persons with MR/DD, with states' early adoption of civil rights statutes promoting racial equality.
Some Aspects of the Fracture of Metallic Composites

In this chapter the fracture initiation and modes of failure of composites consisting of a brittle phase embedded in a ductile matrix are discussed. Factors contributing to crack initiation at reinforcing particles are residual stresses of thermal origin, elastic stress concentration, and plastic deformation. The fracture ductility of a particle-strengthened ductile metal is related to the particle concentration. Finally, the relative strengths of a brittle phase in bulk, as a bundle of fibers, and as embedded particles and fibers, are compared on the basis of statistical models of the state of aggregation and fracture mode.
Statistics of Number Fields and Function Fields

We discuss some problems of arithmetic distribution, including conjectures of Cohen-Lenstra, Malle, and Bhargava; we explain how such conjectures can be heuristically understood for function fields over finite fields, and discuss a general approach to their proof in the function field context based on the topology of Hurwitz spaces. This approach also suggests that the Schur multiplier plays a role in such questions over number fields.
Taphonomic rates of molluscan shells placed in autochthonous assemblages on the Louisiana continental slope

A mixed assemblage of lucinid and mussel shells were placed in mesh bags and left at a site of autochthonous death assemblage formation in a petroleum seep community on the Louisiana upper continental slope for a period of 3 yr. Upon recovery, the shells were assessed for taphonomic alteration and compared to a control assemblage of unaltered shells. The data verify a basic assumption of taphofacies analysis; that evidence of taphonomic processes preserved with the assemblage does in fact document the primary taphonomic processes that biased the assemblage from the original assemblage of living preservable organisms. Significant variability in taphonomic rates existed between shells from locations 10 m apart, as is typical of autochthonous assemblages, so that small-scale variability in the taphonomic process was important
Effects of Coincident Infection on Treatment Response and Coronary Artery Lesion Outcome in Children with Kawasaki Disease

Objective To explore the effects of coincident infection on treatment response and coronary artery lesion (CAL) outcome in children with Kawasaki disease(KD).Methods A retrospective study of 141 children diagnosed on KD between Jul.2005 and Dec.2006 were performed.Standardized clinical assessments,laboratory examinations microbiology test results plus treatment regimens were reviewed.CAL were visualized by using echocardiography.Infectious agents positive (INF+) and negative (INF-) groups were identified,and clinical assessments,laboratory and treatment data were analyzed.Results 1.Concurrent infections:41%(58/141) of children had one of above confirmed infection at KD diagnosis.2.Treatment response:the presence of infection did not alter the response to treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG),with resolution of fever within 72 h in 85% (120/141) children after 1 dose of IVIG (2 g/kg) together with aspirin administration regardless of present or absent infection.3.CAL outcome:in total,56.0% (79/141) of children developed CAL at the time of diagnosis,involving dilatation (91.1%,72/79 cases) and aneurysm (8.9%,7/79 cases),and no giant aneurysm was found.Most CAL were recovered within 1 year after treatment.Incidence of aneurysm in INF+ group was significantly higher than that in INF-group (P=0.019).Conclusions Coincident infection would not affect on the clinical assessment,laboratory test results and treatment response to IVIG in children with KD,but would result in higher risk of serious CAL.Therefore,children with infection at diagnosis on KD will not only accept active treatment in acute phase,but also insist on convalescent care and follow-up visit.
Outflow Tract Premature Ventricular Contractions and Ventricular Tachycardia: The Typical and the Challenging

The ventricular outflow tracts are the most common sites of origin for ventricular arrhythmias that occur in the absence of structural heart disease. Drug therapy with β-blockers and calcium blockers has limited efficacy for control. In the presence of marked symptoms or frequent arrhythmia causing left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, catheter ablation is a consideration. The right ventricular outflow tract, aortic root, LV outflow endocardium, and epicardium are potential sites for ablation for these arrhythmias. In intractable cases of highly symptomatic ventricular arrhythmias originating from the LV summit, surgical ablation is an option.