cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patterns of Insecticide Resistance to Azinphosmethyl, Carbofuran, and Permethrin in the Colorado Potato Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Twenty-four field-collected and five laboratory strains of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemltneata (Say), populations were tested for resistance to azinphosmethyl (organophosphorus), carbofuran (carbamate), and permethrin (pyrethroid). Our objectives were to determine the distribution and severity of insecticide resistance in Michigan; to detect any relationships between location and resistance; to assess possible cross-resistance relationships; and to identify populations for future studies of resistance mechanisms and inheritance. Most populations were heterogeneous for resistance to at least one insecticide; they had shallow regression lines and high variability. Populations with high permethrin resistance tended to have low levels of resistance to azinphosmethyl and carbofuran and vice versa. Three main patterns of resistance were apparent in the field. In pattern 1, the resistance ratio was high for permethrin but low for the other two insecticides, probably because of microsomal oxidase activity specific for pyrethroids. In pattern 2, populations had high levels of resistance to azinphosmethyl and carbofuran and low resistance to permethrin as a result of several mechanisms, including a carbofuran insensitive cholinesterase. In pattern 3, beetles were resistant to all three insecticides and with cross-resistance to DDT, again as the result of several resistance mechanisms. The observed patterns and underlying resistance mechanisms indicate highly diverse resistance mechanisms even within a relatively narrow geographic area. This complicates resistance management for this insect.
Dynamic regulation of IL-7 receptor expression is required for normal thymopoiesis

Interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) levels are tightly controlled during ontogeny: high on double-negative (DN) cells, absent on double-positive (DP) cells, and high once again on thymocytes undergoing positive selection. To determine if loss of IL-7-mediated survival signals in DP cells is necessary for normal antigen-specific selection, we created T-lineage-specific IL-7R alpha chain (IL-7Ralpha) transgenic (Tg) mice in which IL-7R is expressed throughout ontogeny. There was no effect of the IL-7Ralpha Tg on negative selection. Surprisingly, however, although the thymi of IL-7Ralpha Tg mice were comparable at birth, there was a decrease in thymocyte number as the mice aged. This was found to be due to competition between DN and IL-7R-expressing DP cells for endogenous IL-7, which resulted in decreased levels of Bcl-2 in DN cells, increased DN apoptosis, and decreased DN cell number. Therefore, the down-regulation of IL-7R on DP cells is an "altruistic" act required for maintaining an adequate supply of local IL-7 for DN cells.
Three quantitative approaches to the diagnosis of abdominal pain in children: practical applications of decision theory.

Abstract Background/Purpose: The authors compared 3 quantitative methods for assisting clinicians in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain in children, where the most common important endpoint is whether the patient has appendicitis. Pretest probability in different age and sex groups were determined to perform Bayesian analysis, binary logistic regression was used to determine which variables were statistically significantly likely to contribute to a diagnosis, and recursive partitioning was used to build decision trees with quantitative endpoints. Methods: The records of all children (1,208) seen at a large urban emergency department (ED) with a chief complaint of abdominal pain were immediately reviewed retrospectively (24 to 72 hours after the encounter). Attempts were made to contact all the patients' families to determine an accurate final diagnosis. A total of 1,008 (83%) families were contacted. Data were analyzed by calculation of the posttest probability, recursive partitioning, and binary logistic regression. Results: In all groups the most common diagnosis was abdominal pain (ICD-9 Code 789). After this, however, the order of the most common final diagnoses for abdominal pain varied significantly. The entire group had a pretest probability of appendicitis of 0.06. This varied with age and sex from 0.02 in boys 2 to 5 years old to 0.16 in boys older than 12 years. In boys age 5 to 12, recursive partitioning and binary logistic regression agreed on guarding and anorexia as important variables. Guarding and tenderness were important in girls age 5 to 12. In boys age greater than 12, both agreed on guarding and anorexia. Using sensitivities and specificities from the literature, computed tomography improved the posttest probability for the group from.06 to.33; ultrasound improved it from.06 to.48; and barium enema improved it from.06 to.58. Conclusions: Knowing the pretest probabilities in a specific population allows the physician to evaluate the likely diagnoses first. Other quantitative methods can help judge how much importance a certain criterion should have in the decision making and how much a particular test is likely to influence the probability of a correct diagnosis. It now should be possible to make these sophisticated quantitative methods readily available to clinicians via the computer. J Pediatr Surg 36:1375-1380. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.
On the energy crisis in anti-de sitter supersymmetry

The energy operator in AdS supersymmetry is formally positive, i.e., H ∼ Σα{Qα, Qα+}, but in supersymmetric field theories the standard energy density is not necessarily positive. Further, calculations of 〈H〉 by ζ-function regularization of the sum of boson and fermion mode energies in a supermultiplet gives non-zero results. In two-dimensional interacting field theories with AdS supersymmetry, we calculate the energy operator and the other O(2,1) generators from the supercharge anticommutator {Qα, Qβ} by canonical methods, and we find generators which differ from the standard ones by surface terms. The improved energy density is non-negative and vanishes only in supersymmetric configurations. We prove that radiative corrections to the improved 〈H〉 vanish to all orders in perturbation theory in supersymmetric vacua.
Interval-based flow watermarking for tracing interactive traffic

Tracing interactive attack traffic that traverses stepping stones (i.e., intermediate hosts) is challenging, as the packet headers, lengths, and contents can all be changed by the stepping stones. The traffic timing (delays between packets) has therefore been studied as a means of tracing traffic. One such technique uses traffic timing as a side channel into which a watermark, or identifying tag, can be embedded to aid with tracing. The effectiveness of such techniques is greatly reduced when the packet count of the traffic is changed at the stepping stone. Such transformations may occur as a result of either active countermeasures (e.g. chaff packets, flow splitting) by an adversary attempting to defeat tracing, or by incidental repacketization of the traffic by network interfaces. This paper presents a new method of embedding a watermark in traffic timing, for purposes of tracing the traffic in the presence of flow splitting, chaff packets, timing perturbation, and repacketization. This method uses an invariant characteristic of two connection flows which are part of the same stepping stone chain, namely, the elapsed time of the flows. The duration of each flow is sliced into short fixed-length intervals. Packet timing is adjusted to manipulate the packet count in specific intervals (without adding or deleting any packets), for purposes of embedding the watermark. The method is self-synchronizing and does not require clock synchronization between the watermark encoder and decoder. A statistical analysis of the method, with no assumptions or limitations concerning the distribution of packet times, proves the effectiveness of the method given a sufficient number of packets, despite natural and/or deliberate repacketization and countermeasures by an adversary. The method has been implemented and tested on a large number of SSH traffic flows. The results demonstrate that 100% detection rates and very low false positive rates are achieved under conditions of multiple countermeasures, and using only a few hundred packets.
Chromosome 21 abnormalities a review and report of a case of erondu-cymet syndrome

The co-existence of rare clinical findings in a patient with a genetic abnormality has often led to the characterization of new syndromes. Although these genetic syndromes are generally rare, the pathophysiology of these disorders has broadened our understanding of common medical conditions. The variety of disorders that map to chromosome 21 provide insight into the effects of lifelong low pO2 and poor perfusion on various organs. In discovering the different disorders that map specifically to chromosome 21, we can characterized, treat and even prevent some medical conditions. We present the case of a man whose incidental finding of hypoxemia lead to the discovery of many unusual disorders that appear to be related to abnormalities in chromosome 21.
Effect of sodium chloride on female mouse peritoneal fluid cell content.

Une heure apres injection i.p. d'une solution de 1% de chlorure de sodium, nous avons observe un grand changement dans le pourcentage des diverses cellules du liquide peritoneal de souris femelles adultes. Nous envisageons ainsi la possibilite d'irriguer la cavite abdominale avec une solution saline tant en vue d'etudes cliniques qu'experimentales pour obtenir le liquide en question.
Photoinduced magnetism in rubidium cobalt hexacyanoferrate Prussian blue analogue nanoparticles

Abstract Nanoparticles of rubidium cobalt hexacyanoferrate were synthesized using the organic ligand poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The particles, with composition Rb1.8Co4[Fe(CN)6]3.2 · nH2O determined from CHN combustion analysis and ICP-MS, have an average size of 10 nm ± 2 nm. Similar to bulk samples, the nanoparticles show evidence of ferrimagnetic ordering in DC magnetization below TC ∼ 15 K, although the transition is broadened due to the small particle size and its dispersion. Upon illumination with white light at 5 K, the field-cooled DC magnetization of these particles increased 40%.
Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis in performance assessment for the proposed high-level radioactive waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada

Abstract Extensive work has been carried out by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in the development of a proposed geologic repository at Yucca Mountain (YM), Nevada, for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. As part of this development, a detailed performance assessment (PA) for the YM repository was completed in 2008 and supported a license application by the DOE to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the construction of the YM repository. The following aspects of the 2008 YM PA are described in this presentation: (i) conceptual structure and computational organization, (ii) uncertainty and sensitivity analysis techniques in use, (iii) uncertainty and sensitivity analysis for physical processes, and (iv) uncertainty and sensitivity analysis for expected dose to the reasonably maximally exposed individual (RMEI) specified the NRC’s regulations for the YM repository.
Malignant germ cell tumors of the head and neck in childhood

From 1962 through 1987, four children were diagnosed at our institution with primary germ cell malignancies of the extracranial head and neck regions. Ages of the children ranged from 2 to 44 months. Histologic findings included 2 yolk sac carcinoma (endodermal sinus tumor), 1 malignant teratoma with nephroblastoma (Wilm's tumor), and 1 malignant teratoma with neuroblastoma (primitive neuroectodermal) components. Complete clinical and surgical staging was performed to rule out additional sites of disease. All patients initially underwent either biopsy or, when technically feasible, resection. Three patients received combination chemotherapy and two received irradiation. Three patients died of progressive disease. One patient who had yolk sac carcinoma of the temporomandibular region is alive and free of disease 40 months after therapy. Complete surgical resection is indicated for teratomatous tumors, if technically feasible. The malignant components of these tumors are sensitive to both chemotherapy and irradiation and combined therapy may be beneficial.
p53 unfolding detected by CD but not by tryptophan fluorescence.

Full-length human p53 protein was examined using tryptophan fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) to monitor unfolding. No significant alteration in tryptophan fluorescence for the tetrameric protein was detectable over a wide range of either urea or guanidine hydrochloride concentrations, in contrast to results with the isolated DNA binding domain [Bullock et al. (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94, 14338]. Under similar denaturant conditions, CD demonstrated significant protein unfolding for the full-length wild-type protein, with increased apparent structure loss compared to that detected during thermal denaturation [Nichols and Matthews (2001) Biochemistry 40, 3847]. Examination of X-ray structures containing two of the four tryptophan residues of a p53 monomer suggested local environments consistent with quenched fluorophores. Exploration of p53 fluorescence using potassium iodide as a quencher confirmed that these fluorophores are already substantially quenched in the native structure, and this quenching is not relieved during protein unfolding.
Evaluative mediation: In search of practice competencies

Although there is no shortage of literature on why mediators should be allowed to give evaluations and why parties in dispute allegedly want and need evaluations, there is a relative lack of empirical literature on the subject of what exactly qualifies as competent evaluative mediation practice. The author reviews existing literature to formulate a description of the behaviors that would be considered competent in evaluative mediation practice, and to open a discussion of the implications of these findings for such contemporary fieldwide conversations as defining quality mediation, establishing performance-based competency standards, distinguishing among approaches to practice, and exploring the relationship between underlying values and practice approaches.
Platform-aware dynamic configuration support for efficient text processing on heterogeneous system

Significant efforts have been made in accelerating computer vision and machine learning algorithms by utilizing parallel processors such as multi-core CPUs and GPUs. Although the suitability of GPU is well-known for computer graphics and image processing applications which require massively parallel floating-point computations, recent research movement towards general purpose computing on-GPU (GPGPU) makes it possible to take advantage of parallel processors to accelerate text processing applications as well. However, how to fully leverage different types of parallel processor architectures to obtain optimal performance (especially with text) without making specific efforts to each platform still remains a great challenge. We applied performance and accuracy enhancements to Naive Bayes algorithm to develop a practically sound implementation of text classification. A platform-aware dynamic configuration support automation flow is also proposed to support the seamless execution of our work across platforms. Experiments on various (integrated graphics, dedicated multiple GPUs) platforms demonstrate that our proposed approach improves both accuracy and performance of text classification.
Experimental techniques for actuation, sensing, and measurement of rotating stall dynamics in high-speed compressors

This report describes the experiemental design and validation of sensing and actuation hardware to be incorporated into a NASA Lewis Research Center high-speed compressor test rig. The purpose of the control-augmented rig will be to investigate the dynamics of rotating stall in high-speed compressors, and to demonstrate stabilization of the perturbations which lead to rotating stall and surge. The overall experimental design is first described. Then the design of jet injection actuation is presented, including mechanical/fluid mechanical design rules, bandwidth limitations imposed by the electromagnetic valve, and by the fluid mechanics, and experimental validation of the actuation system. Specialized probes for 3D high-response flow measurements are then discussed, along with experimental validation of their performance. Finally, procedures for modeling and measurement of aerodynamic oscillation modes will be described.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Worldwide phylogeography of the blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) inferred from mitochondrial DNA reveals isolation of western Atlantic populations coupled with recent Pacific dispersal

Although many coastal shark species have widespread distributions, the genetic relatedness of worldwide populations has been examined for few species. The blacktip shark, (Carcharhinus limbatus), inhabits tropical and subtropical coastal waters throughout the world. In this study, we examined the genetic relationships of blacktip shark populations (n = 364 sharks) throughout the majority of the species' range using the entire mitochondrial control region (1067-1070 nucleotides). Two geographically distinct maternal lineages (western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea clades, and eastern Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Ocean clades) were identified and shallow population structure was detected throughout their geographic ranges. These findings indicate that a major population subdivision exists across the Atlantic Ocean, but not the Pacific Ocean. The historical dispersal of this widespread, coastal species may have been interrupted by the rise of the Isthmus of Panama. This scenario implies historical dispersal across the Pacific Ocean (supported by the recovery of the same common haplotype from the Philippines, Hawaii, and the Gulf of California reflecting recent/contemporary dispersal abilities) and an oceanic barrier to recent migration across the Atlantic. Genetic structure within the eastern Atlantic/Indo-Pacific (Phi(ST) = 0.612, P < 0.001) supports maternal philopatry throughout this area, expanding previous western Atlantic findings. Eastern Atlantic/Indo-Pacific C. limbatus control region haplotypes were paraphyletic to Carcharhinus tilstoni haplotypes in our maximum-parsimony analysis. The greater divergence of western Atlantic C. limbatus than C. tilstoni from eastern Atlantic/Indo-Pacific C. limbatus reflects the taxonomic uncertainty of western Atlantic C. limbatus.
Weak KAM Theory on the Wasserstein Torus with Multidimensional Underlying Space

The study of asymptotic behavior of minimizing trajectories on the Wasserstein space P.T d / has so far been limited to the case d D 1 as all prior studies heavily relied on the isometric identification of P.T/ with a subset of the Hilbert space L 2 .0;1/. There is no known analogue isometric identification whend > 1. In this article we propose a new approach, intrinsic to the Wasserstein space, which allows us to prove a weak KAM theorem on P.T d /, the space of probability measures on the torus, for anyd 1. This space is analyzed in detail, facilitating the study of the asymptotic behavior/invariant measures associated with minimizing trajectories of a class of Lagrangians of practical importance. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transient Solutions of Sliding Frame R-ALOHA for Real-time Ad Hoc Wireless Networks in a Fading Environment

In this letter, performance of sliding frame (SF) R-ALOHA protocol for real-time mobile ad hoc wireless networks is investigated analytically and by simulation. A discrete Markov chain and Monte Carlo modeling are constructed to evaluate dynamic behavior of the protocol in transient state including distribution and mean of the system stabilization time (SST), and the average number of successful terminals. Capture effects on the SF R-ALOHA in the presence of multipath and shadowing are also addressed by the Markov chain analysis. The results reveal dynamic characteristics of the SF R-ALOHA system, and also show effectiveness and correctness of the developed models
Growth, Attitudes towards Women, and Women's Welfare

The authors find that attitudes towards women are more progressive as per capita income rises and that the quality and quantity of women’s human capital increases with per capita income. Prior to presenting these empirical results,the authors first demonstrate the importance of these relationships with a simple model that shows how a feedback loop between attitudes towards women, investment in women’s human capital, and income affects the dynamic path of the economy. Depending on the nature of the relationship between per capita income and attitudes towards women, they identify the possibility of a gender-equity poverty trap. Finally,they extend the model to show the dynamic interplay between attitudes towards women,income,and fertility. This paper has two purposes.First,we theoretically explore the implications of the joint determination of attitudes towards women and income for the development of the economy. Second, we empirically examine how life changes for women as per capita income grows. Specifically, we are interested in examining whether attitudes towards women and economic outcomes change with higher per capita income.Overall,we find evidence that attitudes towards women are more progressive as income rises: societies value women more when per capita income is higher. Furthermore, using several different measures of the quantity and quality of women’s human capital, we find evidence that women’s standard of living improves relative to men’s as per capita income increases. Because we interpret the human capital measures as indicators of women’s quality of life, we conclude that women’s welfare increases with per capita income.Prior to presenting these empirical results,we first demonstrate the importance of these relationships with a simple model that shows how a feedback loop between attitudes towards women, investment in women’s human capital, and income affects the dynamic path of the economy.Depending on the nature of the relationship between income and attitudes, we identify the possibility of a gender-equity poverty trap. We also extend the model to show the dynamic interplay between fertility, income, and attitudes towards women. Many theories have been developed to explain a causal relationship between gender equity and growth,especially as it relates to investment in women’s education.Perhaps most obvious is the idea that gender inequity with respect to human capital accumulation underutilizes an important resource in the economy, the female labor force
Verification of secure distributed systems in higher order logic: A modular approach using generic components

A generalization of D. McCullough's (1987; 1988) restrictiveness model is given as the basis for providing security properties for distributed system designs. This generalization is mechanized for an event-based model of computer systems in the HOL (higher order logic) system to prove the composability of the model and several other properties about the model. A set of generalized classes of system components is developed and it is shown for which families of user views they satisfy the model. Using these classes, a collection of general system components that are specializations of one of these classes is delineated and it is shown that the specializations also satisfy the security property. A sample distributed secure system is presented along with an example of how the proposed mechanized verification system can be used to verify such designs. >
LYAPUNOV EXPONENTS IN CHAOTIC SYSTEMS: THEIR IMPORTANCE AND THEIR EVALUATION USING OBSERVED DATA

We review the idea of Lyapunov exponents for chaotic systems and discuss their evaluation from observed data alone. These exponents govern the growth or decrease of small perturbations to orbits of a dynamical system. They are critical to the predictability of models made from observations as well as known analytic models. The Lyapunov exponents are invariants of the dynamical system and are connected with the dimension of the system attractor and to the idea of information generation by the system dynamics. Lyapunov exponents are among the many ways we can classify observed nonlinear systems, and their appeal to physicists remains their clear interpretation in terms of system stability and predictability. We discuss the familiar global Lyapunov exponents which govern the evolution of perturbations for long times and local Lyapunov exponents which determine the predictability over a finite number of time steps.
KH domain: one motif, two folds

The K homology (KH) module is a widespread RNA-binding motif that has been detected by sequence similarity searches in such proteins as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K) and ribosomal protein S3. Analysis of spatial structures of KH domains in hnRNP K and S3 reveals that they are topologically dissimilar and thus belong to different protein folds. Thus KH motif proteins provide a rare example of protein domains that share significant sequence similarity in the motif regions but possess globally distinct structures. The two distinct topologies might have arisen from an ancestral KH motif protein by N- and C-terminal extensions, or one of the existing topologies may have evolved from the other by extension, displacement and deletion. C-terminal extension (deletion) requires β-sheet rearrangement through the insertion (removal) of a β-strand in a manner similar to that observed in serine protease inhibitors serpins. Current analysis offers a new look on how proteins can change fold in the course of evolution.
Termination of DNA synthesis by N6-alkylated, not 3′-O-alkylated, photocleavable 2′-deoxyadenosine triphosphates

The Human Genome Project has facilitated the sequencing of many species, yet the current Sanger method is too expensive, labor intensive and time consuming to accomplish medical resequencing of human genomes en masse. Of the ‘next-generation’ technologies, cyclic reversible termination (CRT) is a promising method with the goal of producing accurate sequence information at a fraction of the cost and effort. The foundation of this approach is the reversible terminator (RT), its chemical and biological properties of which directly impact the performance of the sequencing technology. Here, we have discovered a novel paradigm in RT chemistry, the attachment of a photocleavable, 2-nitrobenzyl group to the N 6 -position of 2’-deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP), which, upon incorporation, terminates DNA synthesis. The 3’-OH group of the N 6 -(2-nitrobenzyl)-dATP remains unblocked, providing favorable incorporation and termination properties for several commercially available DNA polymerases while maintaining good discrimination against mismatch incorporations. Upon removal of the 2-nitrobenzyl group with UV light, the natural nucleotide is restored without molecular scarring. A five-base experiment, illustrating the exquisite, stepwise addition through a homopolymer repeat, demonstrates the applicability of the N 6 -(2-nitrobenzyl)-dATP as an ideal RT for CRT sequencing.
Plumage coloration and ornamentation as predictors of nest survival and number of young fledged in Yellow Warblers

Previous studies of Yellow Warblers (Setophaga petechia) indicate that males with heavy melanin- based brown breast streaking are more territorial and obtain more extra-pair copulations than lightly streaked males that provide more parental care and are cuckolded more often. Because carotenoid-based plumage characters can also signal quality in male songbirds, we examined relationships between yellow carotenoid-based breast coloration and brown breast streaking and measures of the reproductive performance of male and female Yellow Warblers in northwestern Ohio from April to June 2007-2008. We used an information theoretic approach to examine relationships between reproductive measures (daily nest survival rate and number of young fledged) and brown breast streaking, yellow breast coloration, extent of prealternate wing molt, age, year, and first-egg date. Males with paler yellow breast plumage (Beta hat = -0.213) and those with more brown breast streaking (Beta hat = -0.000036) fledged fewer young, but we found no associations between number of young fledged per male and age, year,orextentofprealternatewingmolt.Inaddition,noneofthemeasuredvariableswasassociatedwiththenumber of young fledged per female. Age was positively associated with daily nest survival rates for male Yellow Warblers (Beta hat = 1.127), but we found no association between daily nest survival rate and brown breast streaking, yellow breast coloration, extent of prealternate wing molt, age, year, and first-egg date. None of the measured variables was associated with daily nest survival for females (null model was top-ranked). Because brown breast streaking and the intensity of yellow breast coloration of male Yellow Warblers were negatively related to number of young fledged, we suggest that these plumage characteristics function differently in male-female and male-male interactions; yellow breast coloration signals age and reproductive experience, whereas brown breast streaking signals degree of territoriality or parental care.
Evolution of the human life cycle

Social mammals have three basic stages of postnatal development: infant, juvenile, and adult. Some species also have a brief female post-reproductive stage. The human life cycle, however, is best described by five stages: infant, child, juvenile, adolescent, and adult. Women in both traditional and industrial societies may also have a long post-reproductive stage. Analyses of bones and teeth of early hominids who died as subadults suggest that the evolution of the new life stages of childhood and adolescence are not of ancient origin. The current human pattern evolved after the appearance of Homo erectus. It is possible that evidence for the existence of the post-reproductive stage for women will also be recoverable from the fossil record because the hormonal changes associated with menopause have profound effects on bone density and histology of tubular bones. It is hypothesized that the new life stages of the human life cycle represent feeding and reproductive specializations of the genus Homo. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Design Recovery with Data Mining Techniques

In this paper, we discuss preliminary research and potential benefits of applying data mining techniques to the design recovery problem. This approach to design recovery derives from the observation that data mining can discover unsuspected non-trivial relationships among elements in large databases.
Theoretical Investigation of Twist Boundaries in Germanium

Results of the first completely ab-initio investigation of the microscopic structure of a grain boundary in a semiconductor are presented. Using the molecular dynamics simulated annealing method for performing total energy calculations within the LDA and pseudopotential approximations, the σ=5(001) twist boundary in germanium is studied. A low energy structure is identified which exhibits a rigid body translation and a small contraction at the boundary.
Foreign direct investment outflows in the forest products industry: the case of the United States and Japan

SUMMARY This paper investigates the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) outflows from two major forest product importing countries: the U.S. and Japan. Exchange rate, per capita income, cost of capital, and cost of labour in host countries have significant impacts on the FDI outflows from these two countries. A complementary relationship is found between forest products exports and FDI outflows for the forest product importing countries. Market-seeking as well as resource-seeking motives for the FDI outflows from these countries are evident.
Optimized unequal error protection for voice over IP

In voice over IP, typical forward error correction (FEC) schemes to combat packet loss allocate an equal amount of error-control resources to each voice packet, regardless of the perceptual importance of a packet. Recognizing the unequal perceptual importance of voice packets, we propose signal-adaptive unequal error protection methods in which certain packets are allocated more error-control resources than others. In particular, the amount of error protection provided to a packet is determined through an analysis by the expected decoder synthesis paradigm ensconced within a rate-distortion Lagrangian optimization framework. Therefore, the sender evaluates various protection policies by anticipating the behavior of the decoder's packet loss concealment (PLC) algorithm for various loss event probabilities. In this manner, perceptually critical voice packets that cannot be easily replaced by a PLC are provided with greater error protection. For a given average bit-rate, a simple unequal error protection scheme provides a 0.2 to 0.3 advantage in PESQ-MOS (perceptual evaluation of speech quality mean opinion score) over the conventional equal error control schemes.
Simulated coevolution in a mutating ecology

The bit-string Penna model is used to simulate the competition between an asexual parthenogenetic and a sexual population sharing the same environment. A newborn of either population can mutate and become a part of the other with some probability. In a stable environment the sexual population soon dies out. When an infestation by rapidly mutation genetically coupled parasites is introduced, however, sexual reproduction prevails, as predicted by the so-called Red Queen hypothesis for the evolution of sex.
A RF CMOS amplifier with optimized gain, noise, linearity and return losses for UWB applications

Trade-off between noise figure (NF) and input return loss (RL or |S11|) imposes a fundamental limitation on the design of low noise amplifiers (LNA) for ultra-wideband (UWB) applications. A graph-based approach using Smith Chart to achieve optimum values for both NF and input RL over the desired LNA bandwidth is presented. The proposed method and device optimization technique are systematically incorporated to enhance the overall LNA performance in terms of gain, noise, linearity, and power consumption. An UWB LNA prototype is implemented in a 0.13 mum CMOS process to demonstrate the use of this methodology. It shows a gain of 11.3 dB, a NF of 3.9-4.6 dB, and an IIP3 of 3.2-5 dBm over a -3 dB bandwidth of 2.2-9 GHz while consuming 30 mW from a 1.2 V DC supply.
Mandibular lengthening by distraction osteogenesis in children--a one-year follow-up study.

Abstract Objective: The present study was undertaken to document whether mandibular length could be increased by distraction osteogenesis in children and what happens to the mandibular position 1 year after the distraction. Methods: Five patients with hemifacial microsomia (four unilateral, one bilateral) had distraction osteogenesis performed to lengthen the mandible. All patients had cephalometric and panoramic radiographs obtained before and 3, 6, and 12 months after the distraction osteogenesis. Results: The total mandibular length (Co-Gn) on the affected side was increased by 11.2 mm after the distraction and remained stable during a 1-year observation period. However, the increased mandibular length tended to move the chin downward (8 mm) more than forward (2 mm) during the same period. Conclusions: Distraction osteogensis can be used to lengthen the hypoplastic mandible. However, most of the increased mandibular length moved the chin downward more than forward.
Evaluation of an Alternative Intravenous N-Acetylcysteine Regimen in Pediatric Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Conventionally, intravenous N-acetylcysteine (IV-NAC) administration is a 3-bag regimen administered over the course of 21 hours, which increases the risk of reconstitution and administration errors. To minimize errors, an alternative IV-NAC regimen consists of a loading dose (150 mg/kg) followed by a maintenance infusion (15 mg/kg/hr) until termination criteria are met. The aim was to determine the clinical outcomes of an alternative IV-NAC regimen in pediatric patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of pharmacy dispensing records and diagnostic codes at a pediatric hospital identified patients who received alternative IV-NAC dosing from March 1, 2008, to September 10, 2012, for acetaminophen overdoses. Exclusion criteria included chronic liver disease, initiation of oral or other IV-NAC regimens, and initiation of standard IV-NAC infusion prior to facility transfer. Clinical and laboratory data were abstracted from the electronic medical record. Descriptive statistics were utilized. Clinica...
The Summertime Stratus over the Offshore Waters of California

Abstract Satellite pictures have been used to investigate the distribution of stratus clouds over the Pacific Ocean near California during one summer. A north-south oriented line of minimum cloudiness, which was particularly well-defined in July, was found off the northern and central California coast. The characteristic is believed to be caused by strong divergence of the surface winds. The clouds east of this minimum cloudiness line are generally “smooth-topped” stratus that form in air which is cooled by the upwelled water adjacent to the coast; in contrast, those to the west of the line are mainly stratocumulus, formed in air streaming southward over warmer water. A strong diurnal variation in low cloudiness was noted: over 18% of the clouds present at 0745 PST dissipated (in the mean) by 1345 PST. The maximum cloud cover occurred near sunrise and the minimum in the late afternoon, suggesting that the net radiative flux by clouds is primarily responsible for the diurnal variation. Divergence and advec...
BUDGETING PRACTICES AND EXPERIENCES INLOUISIANA: FROM THE TRADITIONAL 1990s TO THE DRAMATIC 2000s

The story of budgeting practices in Louisiana strongly resembles its political history. The last decade was no exception. The relatively peaceful beginning of the decade was followed by two major natural disasters in 2005 − Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which suddenly changed the economic outlook of the state. The disaster was followed by a global boom in oil prices which benefited Louisiana greatly. Then, of course, the Great Recession hit. The immediate consequence was a projected budget shortfall of $1.6 billion over upcoming fiscal years 2011 and 2012. Such dramatic events create a perfect opportunity for understanding and analyzing Louisianaʼs “innovations” in the area of budgeting and financial management. Furthermore, the analysis of these developments is enhanced by the multiple perspectives of various participants with intimate knowledge of the political processes and mechanisms employed by the state in its dealings with consequences of the Great Recession.
Vessels With Cingulin Are Leakproof

The endothelium, once thought of as a cellophane-like inner lining for blood vessels, is now known as a selective barrier between blood and the surrounding tissue.1,2 Endothelial cells (ECs) specialize their barrier function, as in brain ECs, where the blood–brain barrier protects neurons against toxins, or in liver ECs, where they are highly fenestrated for efficient filtering of the blood.3 Angiogenesis also relies on regulation of EC junctions.4 Finally, barrier function plays a role in diseases such as atherosclerosis, where poor barrier maintenance allows increased monocyte extravasation.5 The increase in monocyte extravasation leads to macrophage colonization and the eventual buildup of plaques. See accompanying article on page 647 ECs make use of both adherens junctions and tight junctions (TJ) to regulate their barrier function. The better characterized adherens junctions form the first cell–cell contacts and may even be required for TJ formation.2 Vascular endothelial cadherin makes up the transmembrane component of endothelial adherens junctions, whereas β-, γ-, and p120-catenin, among other proteins, form the cytoplasmic component of adherens junctions. TJs, however, …
Abstract P2-13-03: Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: Dental Outcomes in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Bisphosphonates with/without Bevacizumab at Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Background: The etiology, optimal management, and long term outcome of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is not well understood. Large trials have suggested that the combination of bevacizumab and bisphosphonates (BPs) does not significantly increase the incidence of ONJ. Because healing after mucosal trauma or dental surgery requires revascularization, it is possible that bevacizumab use could influence dental outcomes. Theoretically, the combination of bevacizumab and BPs may affect the time to development of ONJ and/or the response to dental therapy. Dental management of ONJ has not changed over time in our center, but increased recognition and screening may impact the dental outcome. Methods: We reviewed all cases of ONJ in metastatic breast cancer patients treated with BPs and with or without bevacizumab at Roswell Park Cancer Institute between October 2002 and April 2010. All patients diagnosed with ONJ discontinued BP therapy, while 3/7 (42%) continued bevacizumab until breast cancer progression. Type of BP, duration of treatment, total dose of BPs and bevacizumab dosing were recorded. All patients were treated in the department of dentistry with a combination of antibiotics, debridement, and chlorhexidine scrub. We evaluated the time to diagnosis of ONJ after the initiation of BP therapy, total dose of BP and dental treatment outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test and log-rank analysis. Results: See tables. 27 ONJ patients with a median age of 57 years (range 40-68) were analyzed. Patients were treated with zoledronic acid (95%), pamidronate (20%), or both (15%). 2 patients were excluded from dental response analysis due to lost follow up. Overall median time to ONJ treatment response was 5.0 months (range 1.3-67.5). Conclusions: The addition of bevacizumab to BP treatment did not significantly alter the time to the development of ONJ, the number of BP doses administered prior to diagnosis, or the response to dental treatment. However, ONJ response rates (complete and partial) to dental therapy have improved from 38% prior to 2007 to 58% after 2007, likely reflecting improved recognition and earlier treatment. Table.1 Time to ONJ and number of BP doses Table 2 ONJ response to dental treatments Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-13-03.
On the chlorenium source in the asymmetric chlorolactonization reaction.

N-Acylated N-chlorohydantoins are shown to be competent chlorenium sources in the (DHQD)2PHAL-mediated asymmetric chlorolactonization. The derivatives demonstrate the exact role of the N1 and N3 chlorine atoms in the parent dichlorohydantoins with the N1 chlorine serving as an inductive activator and the N3 chlorine being delivered to the substrate. The putative associated catalyst/chlorine source complex was experimentally demonstrated through a series of matched/mismatched experiments employing chiral N-chlorinated hydantoins.
Gallium Arsenide Surface Inversion using a Novel Silicon–Silicon Dioxide Insulator Structure

A novel GaAs metal insulator semiconductor (MIS) structure in which the surface of the GaAs is unpinned and inverted is reported. The structure utilizes a thinsingle crystalline Si interlayer between the GaAs surface and a SiO2 insulator. The Si and SiO2 are deposited using low temperature remote plasma chemical vapor deposition techniques. Characteristics of the Si layer have been examined using reflecting high energy electron diffraction, Xray photoelectron spectroscopy, and He ion scattering spectroscopy. The complete MIS structure has been characterized using capacitance-voltage data taken at frequencies ranging from near D.C. (quasistatic) to 100 MHz. The structure exhibits deep depletion and inversion behavior. Calculation of the surface potential variation using quasistatic data indicates that the surface potential is varied by 0.83 V with an applied electric field from −1.6 to 3.2 MV- cm−1.
Hawthorne's Literary Theory

Like every original artist, Hawthorne may be approached in a variety of ways, and each of these ways will add something to the ultimate picture of his mind and art. Most of the work that scholars have done on Hawthorne, however, has been historical and biographical, and the result has been that Hawthorne the artist and thinker has been relegated to the background. This is particularly regrettable when one remembers that he was the most complete artist of the New England renaissance, and in The Scarlet Letter the author of a book which as art transcends all other American novels. It is to fill out the contemporary conception of Hawthorne that his theory of art is here considered as it may be pieced together from allegory, preface, and chance remark. Focusing attention on his ideals in art makes certain the meaning of the prefaces, and an investigation of his doctrine of the artist gives an insight into his method of achieving his ideal. In brief, to study Hawthorne's literary theory is to discover the intellectual basis of his art, and to see his work from the inside is to arrive at a fresh sense of his intention. It was Goethe's conviction that the critic should first of all ask what the author had intended. If the following investigation makes for clarity, it should furnish an opportunity for a new appraisal of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Formation of niobium carbides in high-dose carbon-ion-implanted and annealed niobium

Polycrystalline niobium was implanted with 200-keV C + ions to a total fluence of 7 × 10 17 carbon ions per cm 2 (C/cm 2 ). Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) analysis showed that the carbon concentration varied from 5 to 50 at.% within a depth of about 4000 A. Glancing-angle x-ray diffraction analysis (XRDA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis indicated that no Nb2C phase was formed and that a buried fee NbC layer was formed in the region where carbon content exceeds about 40 at.%. The absence of Nb 2 C was attributed to its narrow range of solubility for carbon and the low diffusivity of carbon atoms. The possibility of the NbC precipitation by nucleation and growth or by a diffusionless martensitic transformation is discussed. When the implanted samples were annealed at 1273 K for 1 h, an orthorhombic Nb 2 C phase formed as spherical precipitates and the implanted carbon redistributed.
The Natural History of Simple Renal Cysts: A Preliminary Study

AbstractWe examined the natural history of simple renal cysts in 59 patients followed periodically with renal ultrasonography. Using the parameters of cyst diameter and number we grouped the patients according to the differing natural history of the cystic lesions. The results indicate that simple cysts tend to progress in number rather than size. Furthermore, 3 patients had independent solid or complex lesions. The only patient explored had an adenocarcinoma of the kidney. Periodic re-evaluation of patients with an ultrasonic diagnosis of simple renal cyst warrants serious consideration.