cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Observed WMgII-L (OII) Correlation in SDSS QSO Spectra

This paper investigates the effect of differential aperture loss with SDSS fibers and examines whether such selection bias would result in the observed correlation between rest-frame absorption equivalent width of MgII absorbers, Wr(2796), and mean associated [OII] luminosity, L[OII], in SDSS QSO spectra. We demonstrate based on a Monte Carlo simulation that the observed Wr(2796) vs. L[OII] correlation of MgII absorbers can be well-reproduced, if all galaxies found in deep surveys possess extended MgII halos and if the extent of MgII halos scales proportionally with galaxy mass as shown in previous studies. The observed correlation can be explained by a combination of (1) the known Wr(2796) vs. ρ anti-correlation in galaxy and MgII absorber pairs and (2) an increasing aperture loss in the 3 ′′ diameter SDSS fiber for galaxies at larger ρ. Galaxies at larger projected distances produce on average weaker MgII absorbers and weaker (or zero) L[OII] in SDSS QSO spectra. We show that such correlation diminishes when larger fibers are adopted and is therefore not physical. While under a simple halo model the majority of MgII absorbers do not directly probe star-forming disks, they trace photo-ionized halo gas associated with galaxies. We show that because of the scaling relation between extended gas cross-section and galaxy mass, the number density evolution of the MgII absorber population as a whole provides a good measure of the cosmic star formation history.
Biochemistry of the Intervertebral Disc

In comparison to other tissues, understanding the disc biochemistry is only in the very early stage. The few facts that are known would point to strategies for interventions to alter disc biology and maintain disc biomechanics.
The Network Application MtgClt / MtgSvr

The accompanying CD contains t he network ap plicat ion MgtClt/MtgSvr, demonstrating the algorithms presented in this book. MtgClt is a Java program that is loaded from the command line shell or as an applet from an HTML page. MtgSvr is a server program based on the C++ library MtgLib to which MtgClt connects.
Applications of two majorization inequalities to ranking and selection problems

Multivariate probability inequalities via majorization ordering have been found useful in a variety of statistical applications. This paper deals with applications of two such inequalities in ranking and selection problems. They provide upper and lower bounds for the true probability function of a correct selection, and the results apply to selection procedures under Bechhofens indifference-zone formulation and Gupta’s maximum-type subset formula.
Intracardiac echocardiography: computerized detection of left ventricular borders

A semi-automated method for two- and three-dimensional analysis of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) images and image sequences is reported based on detection of epicardial and endocardial borders using graph searching. The border detection method was applied to 50 ICE images acquired in vivo in five dogs and to 108 images in 16 volumetric ICE image sequences from eight cadaveric pig hearts. The ICE images from the in vivo study showed good correlation between computer-detected and observer-defined left ventricular (LV) cavity areas and epicardial areas (r=0.99, y=0.98x+0.43[cm2]; r=0.99, y=0.98x+1.11[cm2]; respectively). In the cadaveric hearts, the LV volumes were determined with the volume measurement error of 7.6±7.7% and 11.3±11.2% for the aortic valve and mitral valve image sequences, respectively. Our method facilitates an accurate and computationally efficient approach for the quantitative assessment of ICE image data in 2D and 3D.
Medical Science Applications of IR

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy has emerged as a powerful technique for the analysis and classification of human tissues and fluids. A major advantage of IR spectroscopy is that a single instrument can in principle be used to characterize tissues affected by a wide range of disorders without the need for major reconfigurations of the instrument or the addition of probes (such as stains) to the sample. In addition, valuable information concerning the molecular nature of the disease process is obtained. A general overview of available sampling methodologies and data analysis techniques are presented, followed by illustrative examples.
SMALL HEART VOLUME PREDICTS ADVERSE CARDIAC EVENTS IN PATIENTS WITH NONOBSTRUCTIVE CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE: INSIGHTS FROM THE PROSPECTIVE MULTICENTER IMAGING STUDY FOR EVALUATION OF CHEST PAIN (PROMISE) TRIAL

In the era of advanced cross-sectional imaging, the focus has been on the association of individual heart chamber sizes and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). We explore the potential prognostic value of 3D whole heart volume (WHV) with traditional morphometric measures of cardiovascular
Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapies for late-life depressive symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AbstractBackground: This study aimed to review and synthesize evidence related to the effectiveness of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) for reducing depressive symptoms in older a...
Social Authorship and the Mediation of Memory in Anne Grant’s Poetry

ABSTRACTIn the early 1820s, Anne MacVicar Grant (1755–1838) compiled a manuscript miscellany that exemplifies Grant’s poetic activities throughout her writing life and encapsulates the conditions u...
Empirically derived back pain subgroups differentiated walking performance, pain, and disability.

ABSTRACT Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability. However, the processes contributing to disability are not well understood. Therefore, this study (1) empirically derived LBP subgroups and (2) validated these subgroups using walking performance, pain, and disability measures. Seventy adults with LBP underwent testing for a priori determined sensory (temporal summation; conditioned pain modulation), psychological (positive affect/coping; negative coping), and motor (trunk extensor muscle activation during forward bending and walking) measures. A hierarchical cluster analysis determined subgroups that were then validated using walking (walking speed; Timed Up and Go [TUG]; TUG-Cognitive [TUG-Cog]; obstacle negotiation) and clinical (Brief Pain Inventory; Oswestry Disability Index; low back pressure pain threshold) measures. Two subgroups were derived: (1) a "Maladaptive" subgroup (n = 21) characterized by low positive affect/coping, high negative coping, low pain modulation, and atypical trunk extensor activation and (2) an "Adaptive" subgroup (n = 49) characterized by high positive affect/coping, low negative coping, high pain modulation, and typical trunk extensor activation. There were subgroup differences on 7 of 12 validation measures. The Maladaptive subgroup had reduced walking performance (slower self-selected walking speed, TUG completion, and obstacle approach and crossing speed) and worse clinical presentation (higher pain intensity, pain interference, and disability) (moderate to large effect sizes; P's < 0.05). Findings support the construct validity of this multidimensional subgrouping approach. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether the Maladaptive subgroup is predictive of poor outcomes, such as pain chronicity or persistent disability.
ALC1 links chromatin accessibility to PARP inhibitor response in homologous recombination-deficient cells

The response to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) is dictated by homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair and the abundance of lesions that trap PARP enzymes. It remains unclear, however, if the established role of PARP in promoting chromatin accessibility impacts viability in these settings. Using a CRISPR-based screen, we identified the PAR-binding chromatin remodeller ALC1/CHD1L as a key determinant of PARPi toxicity in HR-deficient cells. ALC1 loss reduced viability of breast cancer gene (BRCA)-mutant cells and enhanced sensitivity to PARPi by up to 250-fold, while overcoming several resistance mechanisms. ALC1 deficiency reduced chromatin accessibility concomitant with a decrease in the association of base damage repair factors. This resulted in an accumulation of replication-associated DNA damage, increased PARP trapping and a reliance on HR. These findings establish PAR-dependent chromatin remodelling as a mechanistically distinct aspect of PARPi responses and therapeutic target in HR-deficient cancers.
Shadowing unstable orbits of the Sitnikov elliptic three-body problem

Errors in numerical simulations of gravitating systems can be magnified exponentially over short periods of time. Numerical shadowing provides a way of demonstrating that the dynamics represented by numerical simulations are representative of true dynamics. Using the Sitnikov problem as an example, it is demonstrated that unstable orbits of the three-body problem can be shadowed for long periods of time. In addition, it is shown that the stretching of phase space near escape and capture regions is a cause for the failure of the shadowing refinement procedure.
Three-dimensional tracking of tethered particles for probing nanometer-scale single-molecule dynamics using plasmonic microscope

Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) tracking of surface-tethered single-particle reveals the dynamics of the molecular tether. However, most 3D tracking techniques lack precision, especially in axial direction, for measuring the dynamics of biomolecules with spatial scale of several nanometers. Here we present a plasmonic imaging technique that can track the motion of ∼100 tethered particles in 3D simultaneously with sub-nanometer axial precision at millisecond time resolution. By tracking the 3D coordinates of tethered particle with high spatial resolution, we are able to determine the dynamics of single short DNA and study its interaction with enzyme. We further show that the particle motion pattern can be used to identify specific and non-specific interactions in immunoassays. We anticipate that our 3D tracking technique can contribute to the understanding of molecular dynamics and interactions at the single-molecule level.
Mid-Term Outcomes of Combined Hip Arthroscopy and Limited Open Capsular Plication in the Non-Dysplastic Hip.

Background Hip microinstability remains poorly-defined but increasingly diagnosed in the setting of borderline dysplasia (LCEA 20-25°), soft tissue laxity, or following unrepaired arthroscopic capsulotomy. While hip microinstability is com-monly treated with arthroscopic capsular plication with short-term outcomes reported, this procedure has been performed open for some time. The purpose of current study was to assess the durability of outcomes of combined arthroscopy and open capsular plication in treating symptomatic hip microinstability at mid-term follow-up. Methods We retrospectively identified hips that underwent combined hip arthroscopy and open capsular plication for symptomatic microinstability between 2008 and 2013. Hips with excessive femoral anteversion (femoral version >35°) or classic acetabular dysplasia (LCEA <20°) were treated with bony reorientation and were not included in the current study. Patient reported outcomes scores were collected preoperatively and at a minimum five year follow-up. Hips that required reoperation or did not meet criteria for minimally clinically important difference (MCID, ≥8 increase in mHHS) or patient acceptable symptom scores (PASS, mHHS) were considered failures. Results A total of 27 hips met criteria for inclusion and follow-up was obtained for 22 hips (81.5%) at a mean of 7.1 years. All patients were female with a mean age of 25.9 years and 7 (32%) hips had previous surgery. Patients undergoing the combined procedure improved from a mean baseline mHHS of 55.3±13 to a mean follow-up mHHS of 74.5±20.9 (p<0.001). At midterm follow-up, 54.5% of hips met criteria for PASS and 68.2% of hips met criteria for MCID, with 72.7% of hips meeting criteria for either MCID or PASS. Overall, 10 hips (45%) were considered failures with 6 hips (27%) requiring reoperation and an additional 4 hips (18%) with clinical failure. Hips without previous surgery had a failure rate of 33.3% (5/15) while 71.4% (5/7) of those with previous surgery failed (P=.09). Conclusion Our study demonstrates a high (45%) rate of reoperations and persistent symptoms in hips with microinstability treated with combined arthroscopy and open capsular plication. Further mid- and long-term studies evaluating soft tissue plication are needed, as well as comparisons with bony procedures in the setting of microinstability are needed.Level of Evidence: III.
Modulation of c-fos and c-myc Expression by Effectors of Ion Movements

The role of ion movements in signal transduction and macromolecular biosynthesis has been well substantiated. For example, Ca2+ mobilization is an essential component of growth factor signaling where there is an involvement of protein kinase C. K+ movements, mediated by the Na+ , K+ -ATPase membrane pump, are necessary not only for maintaining the membrane potential gradient but also for macromolecular synthesis, i.e., protein synthesis and subsequent DNA replication.
Clozapine and Several Other Antipsychotic/Antidepressant Drugs Preferentially Block the Same ‘Core’ Fraction of GABAA Receptors

Clozapine and several other antipsychotic/antidepressant drugs that fully or partially block GABAA receptors were tested at concentrations that reversed the inhibitory effect of 1 μM GABA on 35S-t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([35S]TBPS) binding to rat forebrain membranes only about 20–30%, here designated “core” fractions. Clozapine at 10 μM reverses 1 μM GABA 25 ± 4.0% (n = 23) (its “core” fraction). Fourty three compounds were tested alone, and pairwise together with 10 μM Clozapine. The “core” fractions of some of the compounds yielded significant additive reversals together with 10 μM Clozapine, while others did not. A group of 14 compounds of which 7 are clinically effective antipsychotic drugs, including Chlorprothixene, Clomacran, Clopipazan, Fluotracen, Sulforidazine, Thioproperazine, and cis-Thiothixene, were statistically non-additive with 10 μM Clozapine, suggesting that all of these drugs selectively block the same core population of GABAA receptors as Clozapine. These non-additivities also suggest that Clozapine at 10 μM fully saturates a subset of GABAA receptors blocked by 1 μM GABA. Therefore, Clozapine probably blocks 2 or more types of GABAA receptors, but only half of the receptors that are sensitive to 1 μM GABA. A second group of 12 compounds of which 6 are clinically active antidepressant/antipsychotic drugs including Amoxapine, Clothiapine, Dibenzepine, Inkasan (Metralindole), Metiapine and Zimelidine were slightly, but significantly, additive with Clozapine suggesting that these compounds block most of Clozapine's core fraction, plus a small additional fraction. A third group consisted of ten compounds that yielded larger (R > 80) and statistically highly significant additivities with Clozapine. Complete additivity was obtained with Bathophenanthroline disulfonate, and Isocarboxazid, suggesting that they block GABAA receptors other than those blocked by 10 μM Clozapine. Seven “classical” GABAA receptor blockers, also tested at concentrations yielding 21 to 33% reversal alone, were all significantly additive with 10 μM Clozapine, but in no case was the additivity complete. The largest additivity was obtained with Pitrazepine (21%) and the smallest with Tubocurarine (9%). These results provide further support for the notion that selective blockade of the same subset of GABAA receptors may contribute to the clinical antipsychotic/antidepressant effects of Clozapine. The ΔBopt values for Clozapine are 50 ± 1.7% and 26 ± 2.6% ( n = 3) in whole rat forebrain and cerebellum, respectively, confirming that clozapine-sensitive GABAA receptors are unevenly distributed in the brain. The sedative and anxiolytic properties of Clozapine and other antipsychotic drugs may be due to selective blockade of GABergic disinhibition at certain interneurons.
A Real-Time Vision Module for Interactive Perceptual Agents

Interactive robotics demands real-time visual information about the environment. Real time vision processing, however, places a heavy load on the robot's limited resources, and must accommodate other processes such as speech recognition, animated face displays, communication with other robots, navigation and control. For our entries in the 2000 American Association for Artificial Intelligence robot contest, we developed a vision module capable of providing real-time information about ten or more operators while maintaining at least a 20Hz frame rate and leaving sufficient processor time for the robot's other capabilities. The vision module uses a probabilistic scheduling algorithm to ensure both timely information flow and a fast frame capture. The vision module makes its information available to other modules in the robot architecture through a shared memory structure. The information provided by the vision module includes the operator information along with a confidence measure and a time stamp. Because of this design, our robots are able to react in a timely manner to a wide variety of visual events.
Tier 2 Language Intervention for Diverse Preschoolers: An Early-Stage Randomized Control Group Study Following an Analysis of Response to Intervention

Purpose The first purpose of this study was to explore the use of a whole class, test–teach–test, dynamic assessment of narratives for identifying participants. The second purpose was to examine th...
Molecular Gas in Galaxy Disks

From the frigid outer extremes of galaxies to their seething, energetic cores, molecular gas plays a prominent role in the structure and evolution of galaxies, molecular gas comprises the coldest and thinnest disk component in galaxies. It is the star forming part of the interstellar medium, and in some cases is a significant mass component within the galaxy. The evolution of galaxies is partly driven by the radial redistribution of matter, and the matter which flows into the central kpc of galaxies is predominantly molecular gas. molecular gas disks on 0.1-few 100 pc scales are believed to fuel starbursts as well as obscure active galactic nuclei (AGN). There is recent discussion over whether the amount of molecular gas in the outer disks of galaxies has been greatly underestimated, perhaps even to the extent that it might be the dark matter in galaxies.
Assessing analgesic use in patients with advanced cancer: development of a new scale--the Analgesic Quantification Algorithm.

Objective Many patients with advanced cancer frequently use analgesic medications for their pain. Systematically assessing and quantifying changes in analgesic use remains challenging in the clinical trials setting. Currently, there is no sensitive scale for categorizing the intensity of analgesic medications to understand the reasons for changes in patient-reported pain. We assessed whether the Analgesic Quantification Algorithm (AQA) is more sensitive than the World Health Organization Analgesic Treatment Ladder (WHO-AL) for quantifying analgesic medication use among patients with advanced cancer. Methods An expanded equianalgesic potency conversion table was developed to establish oral morphine equivalents for use in the AQA. Categories of opioid use were selected to increase sensitivity within the higher dose range of opioids and to better capture increases in analgesic dose intensity. The resulting 8-point AQA scale corresponds to no analgesic use, non-opioid analgesics, weak opioids only, ≤75 mg, >75–150 mg, >150–300 mg, >300–600 mg, and >600 mg oral morphine equivalents per day. Baseline and 6-month analgesic data from a clinical trial of cancer patients were compared for each instrument. Results At both time points, the 4-point WHO-AL demonstrated a ceiling effect with a clustering of patients in the strong opioid category, whereas the AQA resulted in a distribution of scores throughout the eight categories, including the five strong opioid categories. Conclusions The AQA represents a more sensitive measure of analgesic use than the WHO-AL, and may better determine whether changes in pain assessments in clinical trials are due to the intervention or changes in analgesic use.
Energy-efficient smartphone-based data collection from wireless sensor networks

We develop the Periodic Listening Medium Access Control protocol (PLMAC) to improve energy-efficiency for smartphone-based data collection applications. PLMAC decreases the idle listening period of network nodes with a duty cycling schedule based on neighbor node visits. In a smartphone-based data collection application, network nodes run mostly in the idle listening operation for detecting a smartphone visit. The duty cycling mechanism of PLMAC allows nodes to sleep most of the time with a sleep/listen schedule. When a node is visited by a smartphone user, its neighbor nodes adjust their listening period to be long enough to communicate with an approaching smartphone. By analyzing a mobility dataset, we validate the need for a duty cycling schedule based on neighbor node visits. PLMAC runs in collaboration with the B-MAC protocol. We found that PLMAC's duty cycling mechanism results in better energy-efficiency than B-MAC.
The Coronal Spectrum

Recent developments in the study of the spectrum of the solar corona are reviewed. These include the X-ray spectrum — both line emission and continuum — the radio spectrum and infrared observations. Recent attempts to interpret the profiles of emission lines in the visible spectrum are discussed in some detail. All spectral studies give evidence of a considerable range of temperatures in the corona.
MICRURGICAL STUDIES IN CELL PHYSIOLOGY V. THE ANTAGONISM OF CATIONS IN THEIR ACTIONS ON THE PROTOPLASM OF AMŒBA DUBIA.

I. The Plasmalemma. 1. On the plasmalemma of amebae CaCl2 antagonizes the toxic action of LiCl better than it does NaCl, and still better than it does KCl. MgCl2 antagonizes the toxic action of NaCl better than it does LiCl and still better than it does KCl. 2. CaCl2 antagonizes the toxic action of LiCl and of KCl better than does MgCl2: MgCl2 antagonizes NaCl better than does CaCl2. II. The Internal Protoplasm. 3. The antagonizing efficiency of CaCl2 and of MgCl2 are highest against the toxic action of KCl on the internal protoplasm, less against that of NaCl, and least against that of LiCl. 4. CaCl2 antagonizes the toxic action of LiCl better than does MgCl2: MgCl2 antagonizes the toxic action of NaCl and of KCl better than does CaCl2. 5. LiCl antagonizes the toxic action of MgCl2 on the internal protoplasm more effectively than do NaCl or KCl, which have an equal antagonizing effect on the MgCl2 action. III. The Nature of Antagonism. 6. When the concentration of an antagonizing salt is increased to a toxic value, it acts synergistically with a toxic salt. 7. No case was found in which a potentially antagonistic salt abolishes the toxic action of a salt unless it is present at the site (surface or interior) of toxic action. 8. Antagonistic actions of the salts used in these experiments are of differing effectiveness on the internal protoplasm and on the surface membrane.
Landing Error Scoring System Differences Between Single-Sport and Multi-Sport Female High School–Aged Athletes

Context: Single-sport specialization (SSS) is becoming more prevalent in youth athletes. Deficits in functional movement have been shown to predispose athletes to injury. It is unclear whether a link exists between SSS and the development of functional movement deficits that predispose SSS athletes to an increased risk of knee injury. Objective: To determine whether functional movement deficits exist in SSS athletes compared with multi-sport (M-S) athletes. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Soccer practice fields. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 40 (21 SSS [age = 15.05 ± 1.2 years], 19 M-S [age = 15.32 ± 1.2 years]) female high school athlete volunteers were recruited through local soccer clubs. All SSS athletes played soccer. Intervention(s): Participants were grouped into 2 categories: SSS and M-S. All participants completed 3 trials of the standard Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) jump-landing task. They performed a double-legged jump from a 30-cm platform, landing on a rubber...
Estimation of gene/haplotype frequencies in genetic marker systems based on phenotype data

Two equivalent methods (gene counting and maximum likelihood) for estimating gene frequencies in a general genetic marker system based on observed phenotype data are derived. Under the maximum likelihood approach, an expression is given for the estimated covariance matrix from which estimated standard errors of the estimators can be found. In addition, consideration is given to the problem of estimating gene frequencies when there are available several independent population data sets.
DNA microextraction from dried blood spots on filter paper blotters: potential applications to newborn screening.

Microextraction of DNA from dried blood specimens would ease specimen transport to centralized laboratory facilities for recombinant DNA diagnosis in the same manner as use of dried blood spots allowed the broad application of screening tests to newborn populations. A method is described which reproducibly yields 0.5μg DNA from the dried equivalent of 50μl whole blood. Though DNA yields decreased with storage of dried specimens at room temperature, good-quality DNA was still obtained. Sufficient DNA was routinely obtained for Southern blot analysis using repetitive and unique sequences. This microextraction procedure will allow immediate application of molecular genetic technology to direct newborn screening follow-up of disorders amenable to DNA diagnosis, such as sickle cell anemia, and may eventually permit primary DNA screening for specific mutations.
Sensory function assessment. A pilot comparison study of touch pressure threshold with texture and tactile discrimination.

The purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation exists between touch-pressure threshold testing and sensory discrimination function, specifically tactile gnosis for texture and object recognition. Twenty-nine patients diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), as confirmed by electromyography or nerve conduction velocity tests, were administered three sensibility tests: the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test, a texture discrimination test, and an object identification test. Norms were established for texture and object recognition tests using 100 subjects (50 females and 50 males) with normal touch-pressure thresholds as assessed by the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test. The CTS patients were grouped into three categories of sensibility as determined by their performance on the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test: normal, diminished light touch, and diminished protective sensation. Through an independent t test statistical procedure, each of the three categories mean response times for identification of textures of objects were compared with the normed response times. Accurate responses were given for identification of all textures and objects. No significant difference (p < .05) was noted in mean response times of the CTS patients with normal touch-pressure thresholds. A significant difference (p < .05) in response times by those CTS patients with diminished light touch was detected in identification in four out of six objects. Subjects with diminished protective sensation had significantly longer response times (p < .05) for identification of the textures of cork, coarse and fine sandpaper, and rubber. Significantly longer response times were recorded by the same subjects for identification of such objects as a screw and a button, and for the shapes of a square, triangle, and oval.
Development of a field-practical assay for water-solvated chlorophenols

Abstract A field-practical assay for chlorophenols (CPs) was developed and the accuracy, specificity and sensitivity were defined. The assay was capable of detecting these ubiquitous toxic compounds in water and has the potential for being used as a rapid, inexpensive screening test for potable water. The solvated target molecules were labeled with the fluorescent tag, 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl chloride, dansyl chloride (DsCl). Extraction of the fluorescent complex allowed for the removal of co-contaminants. Detection of the dansylated CPs was based on the visualization of induced bluish-yellow fluorescence. The accuracy, specificity and sensitivity of the assay were determined by: (i) testing diverse organic and inorganic contaminants (listed in the 1992 US Primary Drinking Water Standards), (ii) testing aqueous CP solutions of known concentration, and iii) testing potable water samples collected from six Texas cities.
Adjustment technique without explicit formation of normal equations /conjugate gradient method/

For a simultaneous adjustment of a large geodetic triangulation system, a semiiterative technique is modified and used successfully. In this semiiterative technique, known as the conjugate gradient (CG) method, original observation equations are used, and thus the explicit formation of normal equations is avoided, 'huge' computer storage space being saved in the case of triangulation systems. This method is suitable even for very poorly conditioned systems where solution is obtained only after more iterations. A detailed study of the CG method for its application to large geodetic triangulation systems was done that also considered constraint equations with observation equations. It was programmed and tested on systems as small as two unknowns and three equations up to those as large as 804 unknowns and 1397 equations. When real data (573 unknowns, 965 equations) from a 1858-km-long triangulation system were used, a solution vector accurate to four decimal places was obtained in 2.96 min after 1171 iterations (i.e., 2.0 times the number of unknowns).
Mars Microprobe Entry-to-Impact Analysis

The Mars Microprobe mission will provide the e rst opportunity for subsurface measurements, including water detection, near the Mars south pole. Performance of the Microprobe aeroshell design is evaluated through development and application of a six-degree-of-freedom e ight dynamics simulation. Numerous mission uncertainties are quantie ed, and a Monte Carlo analysis is performed to statistically assess mission performance. Results from this Monte Carlo e ight dynamics simulation demonstrate that the 3- ae Microprobe impact footprint extends 180 £ 20 km, and the aerothermodynamic and deceleration environments are well within design specie cations. The probability of a successful impact event is assessed based on penetration data obtained through a ground-test program. The surface elevation, ground slope, and soil hardness of the Microprobe impact site are shown to be primary drivers on mission success.
Excitation chains at the glass transition

The excitation-chain theory of the glass transition, proposed in an earlier publication, predicts diverging, super-Arrhenius relaxation times and, via a similarly diverging length scale, suggests a way of understanding the relations between dynamic and thermodynamic properties of glass-forming liquids. I argue here that critically large excitation chains play a role roughly analogous to that played by critical clusters in the droplet model of vapor condensation. Unlike a first-order condensation point in a vapor, the glass transition is not a conventional phase transformation, and may not be a thermodynamic transition at all.
Importance of hypothalamic function to stressor-induced responsiveness of the GABAA receptor in the cerebral cortex: a non-corticosterone influence.

Abstract Catecholamine terminals in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus of 60-day-old rats were destroyed by the stereotaxic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into the PVN (6-OHDA; 9 μg/1.5 μ1 bilaterally), and the rats were tested 2 weeks later. Lesions led to a 70% reduction of norepinephrine in the hypothalamus and a loss of dopamine-β-hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the PVN. Furthermore, 6-OHDA lesions in the hypothalamus disrupted stressor-induced (15 min of restraint) changes in GABAA receptor function in the cerebral cortex (assessed by measuring chloride-facilitated benzodiazepine binding) but did not alter stressor-induced increases in plasma corticosterone levels. Additionally, the lesion did not change the responsiveness of the GABAA receptor to the corticosterone metabolite, allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone. These results indicate that stressor-induced changes in cortical GABAA receptor function are not driven by the stressor-induced release of corticosterone. A separate group of animals were tested for behavioral responses to challenge, and while 6-OHDA-induced lesions did not alter total scores in the test of environment-specific social interaction, the lesions did induce a change in composition of the behavior. Lesioned animals demonstrated increased physical (vigorous contact) interactions, similar to behavior previously observed in younger rats. The results of the behavioral study support a role for the GABAA receptor in the cerebral cortex in mediating appropriate behavioral responses to challenge in the adult rat. Thus, a hypothalamic lesion that prevented challenge-induced changes in GABAA receptor function in the cortex (with no change in the corticosterone response to the stressor) also led to altered behavioral responses to challenge.
Argand loops in the Lee model

Abstract We study with the help of Argand diagrams the elastic amplitudes in the scalar Lee model in order to determine the relative importance of inelastic thresholds and the Peierls (P) singularity. An input Nθ resonance, constructed separately by either the choice of the cut-off function or by a CDD pole, leads to non-resonant loops in the Argand diagram of the elastic Vθ amplitude which are associated with the N ∗ θ threshold. The P-mechanism works neither in the non-CDD case because the Nθ resonance is necessarily too large, nor in the CDD case because of an explicit cancellation. The low-energy part of the Vθ spectrum, in the absence of input resonances, is characterized by simultaneous Vθ boundstates and anti-resonances . The absence of low-energy Vθ resonances, in the non-CDD case, is connected to the cusp in the elastic Nθ denominator at the Nθ threshold.
Distribution of eye position information in the monkey inferior colliculus

The inferior colliculus (IC) is thought to have two main subdivisions, a central region that forms an important stop on the ascending auditory pathway and a surrounding shell region that may play a more modulatory role. In this study, we investigated whether eye position affects activity in both the central and shell regions. Accordingly, we mapped the location of eye position-sensitive neurons in six monkeys making spontaneous eye movements by sampling multiunit activity at regularly spaced intervals throughout the IC. We used a functional map based on auditory response patterns to estimate the anatomical location of recordings, in conjunction with structural MRI and histology. We found eye position-sensitive sites throughout the IC, including at 27% of sites in tonotopically organized recording penetrations (putatively the central nucleus). Recordings from surrounding tissue showed a larger proportion of sites indicating an influence of eye position (33–43%). When present, the magnitude of the change in activity due to eye position was often comparable to that seen for sound frequency. Our results indicate that the primary ascending auditory pathway is influenced by the position of the eyes. Because eye position is essential for visual-auditory integration, our findings suggest that computations underlying visual-auditory integration begin early in the ascending auditory pathway.
Determination of a parameter p(t) in some quasi-linear parabolic differential equations

The authors consider the following inverse problem of finding the evolution parameter p(t) and the solution u(x, t) such that ut= Sigma i,j=1n (aij(x, t)uxi+bj(x, t, u))xj+F(x, t, u, p) in QT u(x, 0)=u0(x) x in Omega Sigma i,j=1n (aij(x, t)uxi+bj(x, t, u))*vj(x)=g(x, t, u) on ST and integral Omega phi (x, t)u(x, t)dx=E(t) 0 0 and Omega is an open bounded region in Rn with boundary delta Omega as smooth as needed throughout this paper; v(x)=(v1(x), v2(x),. . ., vn(x)) is the outwardly pointing normal direction on delta Omega ; u0, g, F, aij, bj, phi and E are given functions. The notion of a weak solution for the pair (u, p) is formulated. The existence, uniqueness and continuous dependence upon the data of the solution (u, p) are demonstrated for F(x, t, u)=G(x, t, u)+H(x, t)p(t) and F(x, t, u)=G(x, t, u)+u(x, t)p(t).
Blinking Statistics Correlated With Nanoparticle Number

We report fluorescence of single semiconductor nanorods (NRs) and few-NR clusters, correlated with transmission electron microscopy for direct determination of the number of NRs present in a single fluorescent source. For samples drop-cast from dilute solutions, we show that the majority of the blinking sources (∼75%) are individual NRs while the remaining sources are small clusters consisting of up to 15 NRs. Clusters containing two or three NRs exhibit intermittent fluorescence intensity trajectories, I(t), similar to those of individual NRs. The associated statistical parameters of on- and off-time probability densities for two- and three-NR clusters are indistinguishable from those of individual NRs. In contrast, statistically distinguishable blinking parameters are observed for clusters of five or more particles. In particular, the “truncation time” of the on-time probability density, i.e., the time characterizing the transition from a power law to an exponential decay, was found to increase superlin...
The Development of an Instrument for Measuring Memories of Family of Origin Characteristics.

Family of origin characteristics are widely perceived as having a substantial influence on development but no self-report instrument has been available for comprehensively assessing memories of these characteristics. This report describes the development of the Family Background Questionnaire (FBQ), a 179-item instrument with 22 subscales designed to provide such an instrument. Reliability analyses found high internal consistency and temporal stability in FBQ scores, and validity analyses found substantial consistency between the theoretically derived subscales and the factor structure of the instrument. Moreover, the scores of siblings from the same families were correlated as expected.
Determination of Pulegone in H. pulegioides and Peppermint Oil by Thin Layer Chromatography with Densitometry

Abstract A method was developed for determination of the phytotoxic terpene pulegone using silica gel thin layer chromatography with detection by acetic acid-sulfuric acid-anisaldehyde reagent and densitometric scanning. The method was used to monitor levels of pulegone in the plant Hedeoma pulegioides and to assay the compound in a commercial peppermint oil. The storage of pulegone was found to be localized in the foliage and stem of the plant and to be highest in the spring.
Displacement of cyclohexane by water on a ruthenium surface

Abstract Water can displace cyclohexane from chemisorption sites on a Ru(001) surface. In so doing, thermal desorption spectroscopy indicates that the water forms three-dimensional, hydrogenbonded clusters which are two layers deep, much as it would on the clean surface. Water forces the cyclohexane into weakly bound states. This is apparently driven by a combination of effects: first, a single water molecule is more strongly bound to the ruthenium surface than a cyclohexane molecule and second, the packing density of water in the hydrogen-bonded bilayer is much greater than the packing density of the chemisorbed cyclohexane. Taking both effects into consideration, replacement of a chemisorbed cyclohexane layer with a water bilayer is energetically favored by 5 to 8 kcal per mole of surface metal atoms. The data also show that the preferential chemisorption of water on ruthenium is not limited by the kinetics of diffusion or displacement in these experiments, but rather reflects a true equilibrium state.
Algorithms for constructing (0,1)-matrices with prescribed row and column sum vectors

There is a bijection between the class A(R,S) of (0,1)-matrices with row sum vector R and column sum vector S and pairs of Young tableaux of conjugate shapes @l and @l^* with [email protected][email protected]@?R^*. In this bijection, the tableau of shape @l, the insertion tableau, has content S and the tableau of shape @l^*, the recording tableau, has content R. Using a Ryser-like algorithm, we give canonical constructions for matrices in A(R,S) whose insertion tableaux have shape @l=S and R^*, respectively.
Does dust from Patagonia reach the sub-Antarctic Atlantic Ocean?

[1] Although emission of dust from the Patagonia desert is shown by global aerosol models, there is conflicting observational evidence of dust activity in the region. Because dust from Patagonia into the Southern Ocean (SO) may play a role in regulating phytoplankton activity, it is necessary to confirm whether there is dust activity and if so, how far the dust travels into the SO. We used a combination of surface visibility, satellite measurements (MODIS and OMI) and transport model (HYSPLIT) to track and report for the first time a dust event originating in Patagonia. We show that the dust reached the free troposphere in the SubAntarctic Atlantic Ocean. Although the dust emission was significant, cloudiness and dilution of the plume resulted in difficult conditions to track dust in the SW Atlantic. We show that the use of any single tool (i.e., MODIS or OMI) is not enough to track the dust and only an integrated approach of satellite and modeling tools can achieve a consistent description. As a result, current platforms used for dust detection are probably underestimating aerosol loading in the area. Citation: Gasso ´, S., and A. F. Stein (2007), Does dust from Patagonia reach the sub-Antarctic Atlantic Ocean?, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L01801, doi:10.1029/2006GL027693.
Mean-square error of step-wise interpolation for various sampling schemes

Abstract Expressions are given for the mean-square error of a step-wise reconstruction procedure. This is accomplished for various sampling schemes: periodic sampling, periodic sampling with skips, nearly-periodic sampling (with jitter) and Poisson sampling. For illustration, the sampled signal is assumed to be either a wide-sense Markov process or band-limited white noise. The results obtained are plotted and permit simple interpretations.
A push-pull treatment for strengthening the ‘lazy eye’ in amblyopia

Almost all individuals exhibit sensory eye dominance, one neural basis of which is unequal interocular inhibition. Sensory eye dominance can impair binocular functions that depend on both excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms. We developed a 'push-pull' perceptual learning protocol that simultaneously affects the excitatory and inhibitory networks to reduce sensory eye dominance and improve stereopsis in adults with otherwise normal vision. The push-pull protocol provides a promising clinical paradigm for treating the extreme sensory eye dominance in amblyopia ('lazy eye'). The prevailing standard of care does not directly treat sensory eye dominance; instead, selected excitatory functions in the amblyopic eye are stimulated while the strong eye is patched, on the assumption that recovery of the weak eye's excitatory functions rebalances the eyes. Patching the strong eye does not directly address interocular inhibition; in contrast, the push-pull protocol by design excites the weak eye, while completely inhibiting the strong eye's perception to recalibrate the interocular balance of excitatory and inhibitory interactions. Here, we show that three adult amblyopes who trained on the push-pull protocol gained longstanding improvements in interocular balance and stereopsis. Our findings provide a proof-of-concept and evidence that push-pull learning leads to long-term plasticity.
Memory and Decision Making: Determining Action when the Sirens Sound

AbstractMemories, both semantic, or learned knowledge, and episodic, or personal experiences, play an important role in an individual’s decision making under risk. In addition, varying levels of knowledge and experience exist in each individual. These memories enable individuals to make informed decisions based on previous knowledge or experience, and ultimately influence one’s behavior under risk. In this study, 49 undergraduate students participated in a 1-h, classroom-based experiment focusing on decision making. The sample contained n = 23 “episodic” participants, referred to as “high episodic,” who reported having personally experienced a tornado and n = 24 participants, referred to as “low episodic,” who had no reported tornado experience. Incomplete data reported by the remaining participants were not included in this study. All participants completed a decision-making task both before and after viewing a 5-min slideshow stimulus related to tornadoes and associated damage. This decision-making task...
Strategy for the IRAS all-sky survey

IRAS (the Infrared Astronomical Satellite) was launched on January 25, 1983 (January 26 GMT) with the primary purpose of performing an infrared survey of the entire celestial sphere. To ensure completeness and reliability, every point of sky was to be covered by a minimum of four separate scans of the telescope field-of-view, and as much as possible with six, with certain added timing constraints on the elapsed interval between scans. These strong requirements for sky coverage, combined with a restricted, rotating viewing-window, made extensive planning for the survey strategy, both pre-launch and during operations, a necessity. The result was that on November 21 (November 22 GMT), when the liquid helium required for cooling was depleted, 96 percent of the sky was covered to the minimum depth of four and 71 percent was coverd to depth six or more.