cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolution of intraspecific variation in the advertisement call of a cricket frog (Acris crepitans, Hylidae)

Advertisement calls of the cricket frog, Acris crepitans, show statistically significant variation among populations in all call variables measured. Call variables show strong clinal variation resulting in calls of lower frequency, longer duration and slower call rates produced by A. c. blanchardi in open habitat in the west of the range, and calls of higher frequency, shorter calls and faster call rates produced by A. c. crepitans in the pine forests in the eastern part of the range. This clinal variation does not result from pleiotropic effects of body size or any other morphological characters we measured. The two subspecies usually reside in different habitats, but some A. c. blanchardi reside in an isolated pine forest in central Texas. By comparing the calls of this subspecies in open and forest habitat, and by statistically removing the effects of clinal variation for all populations, we determined that habitat explains some of the variation in call structure; this is not true of subspecies. Our data reject several hypotheses that purport to explain the evolution of mate recognition signals. (1) We reject the notion of Paterson and others that there is strong stabilizing selection on species-specific mate recognition signals. (2) There is no support for the hypothesis that call variation is primarily due to pleiotropic effects of body size or other morphological characters over the geographic range we examined. (3) There is no evidence for reproductive character displacement. (4) Our data, as well as experimental studies of habitat acoustics, support the hypothesis that some differences in calls among habitats result from environmental selection on call structure to enhance call transmission. We suggest that the latter hypothesis does not explain the strong clinal component of call variation. This might result from the passive effects of gene flow between populations at the extremes of the range under selection generated by habitat acoustics.
The propagation law of cleavage fracture

The equations of motion of cleavage fracture are solved and discussed for constant force, constant moment, and constant deflection. Also crack propagation in a plate is discussed. The differential equations are derived from the law of angular momentum conservation of the split parts. An energy balance, which includes the kinetic energy of the moving crack is incorporated into the law of angular momentum conservation. The static case of crack stability is a particular solution of the general propagation equation.
Tensile cracking during thermal cycling of alumina films formed by high-temperature oxidation

Plastic relaxation of the stresses, produced by high-temperature oxidation and thermal contraction mismatch on cooling, decreases residual compression in the oxide. For this reason, slow cooling from the oxidation temperature is expected to have a beneficial effect on spalling resistance of protective alumina films. However, there exists a possibility of creating tensile stress in the oxide upon subsequent heating. With increasing stress relaxation on cooling, the magnitude of the tensile stress also increases which may lead to cracking of the oxide at high temperature. Experimental evidence shows an adverse effect of stress relaxation on the mechanical integrity of alumina films formed on Fe-Cr-Al heat-resistant alloys. High cooling and heating rates between oxidation cycles are required to prevent tensile failure of the oxide.
Electrochemical oxidation of lignite in basic media

Abstract Electrolysis of lignite slurries in 1N NaOH at Pt electrodes produced humic acids, CO 2 , H 2 , relatively small amounts of O 2 and traces of CH 4 and C 2 H 2 . The amount of humic acids that could be precipitated from the electrolyte increased with the applied potential, reached a maximum at E = 2.7 V, SCE and then declined with further increase in electrode potential. The rates of reaction increased with increasing temperature and activation energies computed from limiting currents and overall rates of reaction indicate that the reaction pathway is complex and involves more than one reaction. The current efficiencies for H 2 production were in the range 80–90% and > 50% of the lignite could be reacted at E = 2.0 V (SCE) in 48 h with 4 cm 2 Pt gauze electrodes. Although a graphite anode is itself electrochemically oxidized when used in this process, it increases reaction rates, ≈ 2–3 times higher with graphite than with Pt. Many aromatic organic compounds can be extracted from the residual reacted coal into suitable solvents. A significant amount of oxygenated organic compounds can also be recovered from the electrolyte as a precipitate after neutralization and by solvent extraction of the filtrate. Various products were characterized by elemental analysis, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Data are also presented to show the influence of electrode potential on the rate of gas production and on the composition of the organic products. Various reaction pathways are hypothesized for the processes which lead to the products observed.
Properties of a Na-K ATPase inhibitor in cultured lens epithelial cells

Abstract A Na-K ATPase inhibitor has been isolated from cultured lens epithelial cells from the Nakano mouse. This inhibitory activity elutes from a CM-Sephadex column in the same fraction as the inhibitor from intact Nakano lens. The inhibitor is a polypeptide sensitive to leucine aminopeptidase as well as car☐ypeptidase A. In addition, the inhibitor isolated from the cultured lens cells has the same molecular weight as the one present in the Nakano lens. Thus, the inhibitory activity from the cultured cells appears to be similar to that obtained from whole lens.
Microvasculature and loose connective tissue in freeze-fracture preparations

Tissues of the young chick and chick embryo were prepared in a relatively unaltered condition by the freeze-fracture technique. The ultrastructure of the microvasculature and surrounding interstitial region is compared with that seen in conventional thin-sectioned material. In the undifferentiated vessels of the 3-day chick embryo, no distinct basement lamina can be distinguished in either type of preparation. In the 3-week chick, a continuous basement lamina is present beneath the endothelium only in chemically fixed and sectioned tissue; it cannot be distinguished from the remaining interstitial substance in freeze-fracture preparations. Blood-tissue exchange may depend on permeability characteristics of the entire interstitial region rather than on the basement lamina alone.
Molecular mechanisms contributing to necrotizing enterocolitis.

Objective To examine the cellular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy: clinical and pathological features from a prospective database.

Abstract Introduction In keeping with recently documented national trends, a significant and increasing number of patients will have chosen contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) based on personal preference, without traditional clinical or pathological indication. Methods Women who underwent CPM at the University of Louisville from 2003 to 2009 were selected for this study. Descriptive factors were evaluated such as age, race, family history of breast cancer, laterality, hormone receptor status, stage, grade and histology of the index breast lesion. Statistical analysis was used to compute predictive factors for occult contralateral pathology. Results A total of 107 patients underwent CPM and had adequate medical information to be included in this study. The median age was 48 years, with 88% being white and 12% being African American. Seventy-six percent of the index breast cancers were infiltrating ductal carcinoma and 12% were infiltrating lobular carcinoma. Five “significant” occult pathologies were found in the prophylactically removed breast. Two of the lesions were ductal carcinoma in situ , 2 were lobular carcinoma in situ and 1 was an invasive mucinous carcinoma. On bivariate analysis, there were no factors identified predictive for occult contralateral pathology. Conclusions In line with previously reported data, we noted that fewer than 5% of patients who underwent CPM had pathology in the contralateral breast. We were unable to correlate any clinical or pathological characteristics in women who presented with contralateral breast cancer. This study raises serious questions regarding the clinical utility of CPM in detecting synchronous clinically and radiographically occult contralateral primaries.
Modification of thin film properties by ion bombardment during deposition

Abstract The modification of thin film properties by ion bombardment during deposition is reviewed, with the emphasis on broad-beam ion source techniques. Examples of property modification are given, including intrinsic stress modification, step coverage improvement, changes in preferred orientation, improved surface coverage, magnetic anisotropy control, improved epitaxy, crystal structure changes, modification of refractive index and optical transmission, and porosity reduction. The examples are displayed on a universal plot of the ion/atom arrival rate ratio vs the ion energy needed for property modification. The zone of ion bombardment parameters which causes these property changes spans a range of energy input from about 1 eV per depositing atom to several hundred eV per atom.
Vegetational Zonation in Two Successional Brackish Marshes of the Chesapeake Bay

Vascular plant zonation and successional stages were studied in two brackish marshes of Calvert County, Maryland. One marsh is mature and stable, while the other is undergoing rapid succession from a former lake bottom. Soil depth, water salinity, and tidal heights were measured. Transect surveys show a general zonation ofSpartina alterniflora→ Scripus olneyi→upland vegetation in the stable marsh, and aSpartina alterniflora→Scirpus robustus→ Typha angustifolia→upland vegetation succession in the developing marsh. Elevation of the marsh relative to mean high water is the most obvious factor influencing the plant distribution.
Effects of Gender and Employment Status on Support Provided to Caregivers

This study was designed to examine the impact of caregiver gender and employment status on laypeople's willingness to support the caregiver. A total of 216 undergraduates were randomly assigned to read 1 of 4 vignettes that described an individual caring for his or her physically ill spouse. Caregiver gender (man or woman) and employment status (full-time employment or retirement) were manipulated. Overall, female participants reported that they would provide higher levels of support than did male participants, particularly with regard to emotional support. Male participants were more likely than female participants to attend to caregiver employment status when rating their level of instrumental support provision. Gender of the caregiver did not exert an effect. Findings are interpreted in light of gender norms that allocate care of sick family members to women.
Spermidine synthesizing enzymes in baker's yeast.

Summary Baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is a rich source of two enzymes responsible for the synthesis of spermidine: (i) S-adenosyl methionine decarboxylase, and (ii) spermidine synthase, which catalyzes the synthesis of spermidine from decarboxylated S-adenosyl methionine and putrescine. The yeast S-adenosyl methionine decarboxylase has been purified about 400-fold, and largely separated from the bulk of spermidine synthase activity present in the crude yeast extracts. In marked contrast to the enzyme from E.coli , the yeast S-adenosyl methionine decarboxylase resembles a similar enzyme previously described in rat ventral prostate insofar as it is specifically enhanced by putrescine, and does not require Mg++ or any other dissociable metal cofactor. Some differences in the enzymic decarboxylation of S-adenosyl methionine by prostate, yeast, and E.coli are briefly discussed.
Scatter integration with right triangular fields.

The concept of the equivalent field is used extensively in radiotherapydose calculation algorithms. The rationale for using equivalent fields is to allow dose calculations for a wide variety of field shapes, while maintaining dose calculational data for only a few, very regularly shaped fields. A common example is the table of equivalent squares of rectangular fields presented by Day in the B r i t i s h J o u r n a l o f R a d i o l o g y. Recently, in searching for fast dose calculation algorithms for irregular fields, we introduced the concept of the equivalent square of a right triangular field. It is shown that an arbitrary irregular field of N vertices may be decomposed into 2N right triangular fields, each with a precalculated equivalent square. The scatter at the point of calculation due to the irregular field is then obtained as a sum of the scatter contributions from the equivalent squares. The scatter integration with right triangles is compared with scatter integration using program irreg.
Diagnosing Initial Condition Sensitivity of Typhoon Sinlaku (2008) and Hurricane Ike (2008)

AbstractThe response of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model predictions of two tropical cyclones to perturbations in the initial conditions is investigated. Local perturbations to the vorticity field in the synoptic environment are created in features considered subjectively to be of importance to the track forecast. The rebalanced analysis is then integrated forward and compared with an unperturbed “control” simulation possessing similar errors to those in the corresponding operational model forecasts. In the first case, Typhoon Sinlaku (2008), the premature recurvature in the control simulation is found to be corrected by a variety of initial perturbations; in particular, the weakening of an upper-level low directly to its north, and the weakening of a remote short-wave trough in the midlatitude storm track. It is suggested that one or both of the short waves may have been initialized too strongly. In the second case, the forecasts for Hurricane Ike (2008) initialized 4 days prior to its landfa...
Doctoral Degrees Granted in Foreign Languages in the United States: 2000.

Presents several dissertations on foreign languages from several doctoral degree professionals in the United States. 'Yoruba Clause Structure,' by Oduntan Bode; 'The Syntax, Semantics, and Pragmatics of du and yδ in Mandarin Chinese,' by Fu-Wen Lin; 'The Syntax and Morphology of Japanese Verbal Nouns,' by Mari Takahashi; 'Final Particles in Standard Cantonese: Semantic Transfer and Pragmatic Inference,' by Suk Yee Fung.
Enhancing the accuracy of HMM-based conserved pathway prediction using global correspondence scores

Background Comparative network analysis aims to identify common subnetworks in biological networks. It can facilitate the prediction of conserved functional modules across different species and provide deep insights into their underlying regulatory mechanisms. Recently, it has been shown that hidden Markov models (HMMs) can provide a flexible and computationally efficient framework for modeling and comparing biological networks.
The effect of temperature and water availability on the output of ammonia and urea by the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris L.

Abstract 1. 1. The effect of environmental temperature and water volume in which worms are immersed on the output of ammonia and urea during fasting has been studied. 2. 2. The temperature has been shown to markedly affect both the magnitude of output of these nitrogenous wastes and the time required for fasting worms to become ureotelic. 3. 3. At 23°C increased water volume resulted in an elevated ammonia output and a depressed urea output. 4. 4. The above results help to resolve some comflicts which appear in the literature and confirm the results of Cohen & Lewis (1949) and Needham (1975).
Redefinition of dystrophin isoform distribution in mouse tissue by RT-PCR implies role in nonmuscle manifestations of duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by a defect in a 427-kDa membrane-associated protein: dystrophin. The DMD gene also encodes several shorter isoforms which are believed to participate in nonmuscle manifestations of DMD, including abnormal retinal electrophysiology, dilated cardiomyopathy, mental retardation, and hearing defects. The purpose of this work was to determine the normal tissue expression of full-length dystrophin (Dp427) and the dystrophin isoforms Dp260, Dp140, Dp116, and Dp71, to aid in understanding what roles these isoforms might play in DMD nonmuscle manifestations. RT-PCR was performed on mRNA isolated from wild-type C57BL/6J mouse tissues, including brain, cardiac muscle, eye, intestine, kidney, liver, lung, skeletal muscle, spleen, stomach, testis, thymus, and uterus. RT-PCR amplification demonstrated that the isoforms were in a number of tissues which had not been revealed by previous Western and Northern blot analyses. Dp427 was expressed at equal levels in all tissues. Dp260 and Dp140 were present in all tissues tested, but the levels of expression varied. Dp116 was expressed in a subset of tissues and levels of expression varied. Dp71 was constitutively expressed in all tissues, suggesting that this isoform plays a basic role in normal tissue function. The expanded tissue distribution supports the hypothesis that dystrophin isoforms serve essential and unique functions, necessitating further investigation into their potential roles in DMD nonmuscle manifestations.
A queueing model for an ATM rate control scheme

Many applications in telecommunications engineering lead to highly degenerate partitioned Markov chains of QBD type. In this paper, we study a traffic shaping scheme which is based on a generalization of the bucket method. The arrival process is modeled by a discrete Markovian arrival process. For this model, a detailed mathematical analysis leads to special algorithms involving matrices of lower order. The characteristics of the model are discussed from this viewpoint. Some performance measurements are derived and numerical examples are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of the rate control scheme.
Believing is seeing: cultivating radical media innovations

A major challenge to making creative leaps in media innovations is demonstrating the magnitude of human impact that each new media technology will bring. The emerging media of mixed reality - the blending of real and synthetic environments and objects - has melted the boundaries between physical and virtual realities, letting us interweave simulated characters and scenes into real-world experiences. So why do we treat mixed reality as we do more limiting media technology such as virtual reality, television, cinema, radio, or print media? A new vision might borrow from tradition, but by making creative leaps, we can find the magical power that lies within.
Computer interface evaluation using eye movements: methods and constructs

Abstract Eye movement-based analysis can enhance traditional performance, protocol, and walk-through evaluations of computer interfaces. Despite a substantial history of eye movement data collection in tasks, there is still a great need for an organized definition and evaluation of appropriate measures. Several measures based upon eye movement locations and scanpaths were evaluated here, to assess their validity for assessment of interface quality. Good and poor interfaces for a drawing tool selection program were developed by manipulating the grouping of tool icons. These were subsequently evaluated by a collection of 50 interface designers and typical users. Twelve subjects used the interfaces while their eye movements were collected. Compared with a randomly organized set of component buttons, well-organized functional grouping resulted in shorter scanpaths, covering smaller areas. The poorer interface resulted in more, but similar duration, fixations than the better interface. Whereas the poor interface produced less efficient search behavior, the layout of component representations did not influence their interpretability. Overall, data obtained from eye movements can significantly enhance the observation of users' strategies while using computer interfaces, which can subsequently improve the precision of computer interface evaluations. Relevance to industry The software development industry requires improved methods for the objective analysis and design of software interfaces. This study provides a foundation for using eye movement analysis as part of an objective evaluation tool for many phases of interface analysis. The present approach is instructional in its definition of eye movement-based measures, and is evaluative with respect to the utility of these measures.
Headache: a quality of life analysis in a cohort of 1,657 patients undergoing acoustic neuroma surgery, results from the acoustic neuroma association.

Objectives: On the basis of survey results of the Acoustic Neuroma Association (ANA), we report patient ratings of postoperative headache (POH) symptoms, determine its effect on quality of life (QOL), and review the literature regarding POH after acoustic neuroma (AN) treatment. Study Design: In this cohort study, 1,657 patients who underwent surgical treatment of AN reported their experiences of POH. Methods: A detailed questionnaire was mailed to members of the ANA to identify preoperative and postoperative headache symptoms, complications, and long-term effects on physical and psychosocial function. Questions were answered by 1657 (85.4%) respondents that were intended to qualify and quantify the effects of POH, including QOL issues. Responses were analyzed by tumor size, surgical approach, and patient age and sex. Statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS software. Results: Preoperative headache was reported in approximately one third of respondents. Typical POHs occurred more than once daily (46%), lasted 1 to 4 hours in duration (43.1%), and were of moderate intensity (62.6%). The worst headaches were rated as “severe” by 77% of respondents. Treatment most often reported for typical headaches were nonprescription medications including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in 61.3% (P < .01) and regular use of narcotics in 15%. Patients who underwent the retrosigmoid approach were significantly more likely to report their worst POH as “severe” (82.3%) compared with the translabyrinthine (75.2%) and middle fossa approaches (63.3%). Women and younger patients tended to have poorer outcomes with regard to POHs. Conclusions: In this large cohort study of AN patients, POH was a significant morbidity among AN patients with persistent headaches. Treating physicians should be aware of the risk factors identified and the effect POH has on the QOL when counseling patients regarding optimal treatment management.
TH-E-19A-01: Quality and Safety in Radiation Therapy

Clinical radiotherapy data clearly demonstrate the link between the quality and safety of radiation treatments and the outcome for patients. The medical physicist plays an essential role in this process. To ensure the highest quality treatments, the medical physicist must understand and employ modern quality improvement techniques. This extends well beyond the duties traditionally associated with prescriptive QA measures. This session will review the current best practices for improving quality and safety in radiation therapy. General elements of quality management will be reviewed including: what makes a good quality management structure, the use of prospective risk analysis such as FMEA, and the use of incident learning. All of these practices are recommended in society-level documents and are incorporated into the new Practice Accreditation program developed by ASTRO. To be effective, however, these techniques must be practical in a resource-limited environment. This session will therefore focus on practical tools such as the newly-released radiation oncology incident learning system, RO-ILS, supported by AAPM and ASTRO. With these general constructs in mind, a case study will be presented of quality management in an SBRT service. An example FMEA risk assessment will be presented along with incident learning examples including root cause analysis. As the physicist's role as “quality officer” continues to evolve it will be essential to understand and employ the most effective techniques for quality improvement. This session will provide a concrete overview of the fundamentals in quality and safety. Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize the essential elements of a good quality management system in radiotherapy. 2. Understand the value of incident learning and the AAPM/ASTRO ROILS incident learning system. 3. Appreciate failure mode and effects analysis as a risk assessment tool and its use in resource-limited environments. 4. Understand the fundamental principles of good error proofing that extends beyond traditional prescriptive QA measures.
Instruction in Problem-Solving Skills Increases the Hedonic Balance of Highly Neurotic Individuals

Neuroticism is associated with ineffective coping strategies and experiencing substantial negative affect, but prior research has not examined whether teaching problem-solving skills can help neurotic individuals improve their emotional experience. 214 college students were screened for neuroticism and 30 participants who scored in the top two deciles of neuroticism were randomly assigned to a no-treatment control group or to an intervention group that received three lessons based on a problem-solving curriculum (Nezu et al. in Solving life’s problems: a 5-step guide to enhanced well-being. Springer, New York, 2007). Hedonic balance (i.e., positive minus negative affect) was measured before the intervention and again approximately 4 days and approximately 11 weeks after the intervention ended. Analyses revealed that the intervention group showed an increase in hedonic balance over time, whereas the control group showed no changes; improvements in hedonic balance were correlated with improvements in problem-solving strategies. Thus, it appears that teaching problem-solving can improve the emotional experience of neurotic individuals.
Bio-refractory index for organics in water

Abstract This paper presents a method of classifying specific aquatic borne organic materials according to degradability. Laboratory procedures and rationale are given for the development of a parameter referred to as the Refractory Index (R.I.). Examples of refractory index values and significance are offered. Representative data are below for which there is roughly a 13% relative error for each R.I. value. Materials characterized as refractory (having a low R.I. value) are persistent for the conditions stipulated in the ultimate BOD test and therefore low R.I. indicates persistence in the water environment. Materials having low R.I. values should not be discharged in receiving waters unless extensive examinations show that the material can be effectively removed by treatment or does not cause harmful effects in the aquatic environment.
Model calculation of steady upward flame spread over a thin solid in reduced gravity

Steady upward flame spread in two-dimensional laminar flow over a thin solid is solved numerically in reduced gravity based on a combustion model recently formulated for concurrent flows. This flame spread model is more sophisticated than most previous ones because it avoids the boundary layer approximation and uses full elliptic Navier-Stokes equations. In addition, two-dimensional flame radiation treatment is accomplished by using the S-N discrete ordinates method. The emitting gas media are carbon dioxide and water vapor, the combustion products. Computed flow and flame structure are presented. The details of the flame stabilization zone near the solid burnout is resolved. Downstream flame is found to deviate from the self-similar boundary layerscaling relation. The effect of gravity level is studied. Flame length and spread rate increase approximately linearly with gravity level. A low-gravity flame quenching limit is predicted. Gaseous flame radiation is found to be important for flame structure, flame dimension, and extinction limit. Flame radiative feedback is an essential part of the solid surface energy balance. However, predicted flame spread rates have similar magnitudes as those computed by the model neglecting flame radiation.
Linking principles of soil formation and flow regimes

Summary Preferential flow (PF) is a fundamentally important soil hydrologic process that controls a variety of soil physical, chemical, and biological functions. However, the lack of theory in this field and the existence of conceptual and technological bottlenecks continue to hinder the advancement of PF modeling and prediction. This paper explores three theoretical perspectives on the relationships between pedogenesis and flow regimes in field soils. First, we examine non-equilibrium thermodynamics as applied to open dissipative field soils with continuous energy inputs and mass exchanges with the surrounding environment. The dual-partitioning of pedogenesis (dissipating and organizing processes) is consistent with the theory of dissipative structure, which explains the genesis and evolution of soil architecture (structure + matrix) and organized heterogeneity found in various soils. Such organized heterogeneity leads to widespread potential for PF occurrence. Second, we investigate constructal theory to explain the tendency for dual-flow regimes in soils – one with high resistivity (Darcy flow) and the other with low resistivity (PF) – together, they form PF configuration that provides the least global flow resistance. This theory is applied to explain some general characteristics of weathering processes and related flow regime changes, which are supported by limited chronologic data from the literature on subsoil’s saturated hydraulic conductivity decrease after a soil reaches a certain age. Third, the theory of evolving networks sheds light on a variety of PF networks observed in field soils, which increase the effectiveness of energy and mass transfer in the subsurface. This is because networks are a part of the organization resulting from the minimum energy dissipation principle and far-from-equilibrium thermodynamics. All the three theories discussed support the notion that the potential for PF occurrence in field soils is likely universal. However, controversies and challenges associated with these theories require further efforts to rigorously test their applicability in natural soils and to formulate explicit quantitative relationships between PF occurrence and its controls. The principle of soil formation and evolution provides a useful guide to this endeavor.
Defending Immanent Critique

This article develops, illustrates, and defends a conception of immanent critique. Immanent critique is construed as a form of hermeneutical practice and second-order political and normative criticism. The common charge that immanent critique is a form of philosophical conventionalism necessarily committed to value relativism and to the rejection of transcultural and cosmopolitan norms is denied. But immanent critique insists that meaningful and potentially efficacious criticism must be connected to relevant criteria and understandings internal to the culture or social order at which the criticism is directed. The complaint that this demand will likely limit political and moral criticism is also denied, and the ability of immanent critique to develop from convention unconventional thinking is defended and demonstrated.
Use of the Safety Monitor in operational decision-making at a nuclear generating facility

The utilization of Safety Monitor at a nuclear generating facility in 1994 revolutionized the way US nuclear power plants manage configuration risks. At Southern California Edison (SCE) Company's San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, it transformed probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) from a retrospective tool for understanding past risk into a prospective tool for controlling future risk. Since that time, many other nuclear utilities have taken aggressive steps in using PRA better to understand and manage risks associated with plant operation and maintenance. These utilities have employed a variety of methods ranging from systems similar to San Onofre's Safety Monitor to systems dramatically different in both technology and philosophy. In the development and use of its Safety Monitor, SCE has been guided by two philosophical goals: (1) maximize the objectivity of PRA-informed decision-making relative to managing configuration risks, and (2) ensure that risks are managed conservatively.
Constant (optimum) power electrophoresis

Abstract The electrical field used in electrophoresis can be produced by various types of electrical power supplies. The optimum power supply, with respect to the ratio of migration velocity to heating, produces the maximum voltage gradient consistent with the maximum allowable rate of heating. The voltage and current change only to compensate for changes in the resistance of the electrophoretic system. A circuit is given which produces such constant power and its operation is compared with other types of regulation.
EFFICACY OF DISINFECTANTS AGAINST FUNGI ISOLATED FROM SKIN AND NAIL INFECTIONS

Commercial disinfectants classified as fungicides may not be effective against commonly encountered fungi within reasonable periods. Cell suspensions of clinical fungal isolates were exposed to use-dilutions of various disinfectants. Quaternary ammonium compounds, iodophors, and phenolics were not fungicidal against all test fungi within 60 min of exposure. Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Aspergillus fumigatus were among the more resistant fungi. Disinfectants that possess low-level activity should not be used for disinfection of medical instruments that come in contact with the patient. The only reliable and safe measure is to use high-level disinfectants such as the glutaraldehydes, which are fungicidal in 15 to 30 min.
Mechanism and Influence of Acid in Hydrogenation of Ketones by η6-Arene/N-Tosylethylenediamine Ruthenium(II)

Density functional theory calculations have been performed to study the hydrogenation of ketones catalyzed by a η6-arene ruthenium(II) complex in an acidic conditions. Six possible dihydrogen activation (DA) pathways were investigated in this work. The direct DA (path 1) and alcohol-assisted DA (path 2), which will occur in basic/neutral conditions, have higher energy barriers, 19.9 and 18.7 kcal/mol, respectively. If an acid participates in DA in the other three paths (paths 4, 5, and 6), the barrier will substantially decrease to about 3.7, 7.1, and 7.8 kcal/mol, respectively. Compared with paths 1 and 2, the acid-assisted pathways are more favorable. In path 1 and path 2, molecular hydrogen is unable to coordinate with Ru to form a stable η2-H2 ruthenium(II) complex, leading to the increase of the free energy barrier of DA. On the contrary, dihydrogen forms a stable η2-H2 ruthenium(II) complex with Ru in paths 4, 5, and 6. These results indicate that the coordination of dihydrogen with Ru plays an impo...
Comparing Genuine and Simulated Suicide Notes: A New Perspective.

E. S. Shneidman and N. L. Farberow (1957) preselected writers of stimulated suicide notes to eliminate vulnerable subjects. Subsequent comparisons of genuine and stimulated notes have perpetuated the methodological misstep of the original study. In this study, a new set of genuine notes were selected from completed suicides by men and women who left at least one note, who were White, and who were older than 18 years of age. The simulated note writers (SNWs) were unpreselected, unpaid community volunteers. Genuine note writers in the current and 1957 samples were not found to differ; SNWs from the samples did differ. Problems with the interpretation of differences between genuine and simulated notes are discussed, with a focus on the role-playing nature of the simulated notes.
Contactless Conductivity Detector for Microchip Capillary Electrophoresis

A microfabricated electrophoresis chip with an integrated contactless conductivity detection system is described. The new contactless conductivity microchip detector is based on placing two planar sensing aluminum film electrodes on the outer side of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microchip (without contacting the solution) and measuring the impedance of the solution in the separation channel. The contactless route obviates problems (e.g., fouling, unwanted reactions) associated with the electrode-solution contact, offers isolation of the detection system from high separation fields, does not compromise the separation efficiency, and greatly simplifies the detector fabrication. Relevant experimental variables, such as the frequency and amplitude of the applied ac voltage or the separation voltage, were examined and optimized. The detector performance was illustrated by the separation of potassium, sodium, barium, and lithium cations and the chloride, sulfate, fluoride, acetate, and phosphate anions. The response was linear (over the 20 microM-7 mM range) and reproducible (RSD = 3.4-4.9%; n = 10), with detection limits of 2.8 and 6.4 microM (for potassium and chloride, respectively). The advantages associated with the contactless conductivity detection, along with the low cost of the integrated PMMA chip/detection system, should enhance the power and scope of microfluidic analytical devices.
Reverse Engineering a Signaling Network Using Alternative Inputs

One of the goals of systems biology is to reverse engineer in a comprehensive fashion the arrow diagrams of signal transduction systems. An important tool for ordering pathway components is genetic epistasis analysis, and here we present a strategy termed Alternative Inputs (AIs) to perform systematic epistasis analysis. An alternative input is defined as any genetic manipulation that can activate the signaling pathway instead of the natural input. We introduced the concept of an “AIs-Deletions matrix” that summarizes the outputs of all combinations of alternative inputs and deletions. We developed the theory and algorithms to construct a pairwise relationship graph from the AIs-Deletions matrix capturing both functional ordering (upstream, downstream) and logical relationships (AND, OR), and then interpreting these relationships into a standard arrow diagram. As a proof-of-principle, we applied this methodology to a subset of genes involved in yeast mating signaling. This experimental pilot study highlights the robustness of the approach and important technical challenges. In summary, this research formalizes and extends classical epistasis analysis from linear pathways to more complex networks, facilitating computational analysis and reconstruction of signaling arrow diagrams.
Bacterial community responses to a gradient of alkaline mountaintop mine drainage in Central Appalachian streams

Microbial community composition and diversity change along chemical gradients, leading to the expectation that microbial community information might provide new gradient characterizations. Here we examine stream bacteria composition and diversity along a strong chemical gradient in Central Appalachian streams. Coal mining in the region generates alkaline mine drainage (AlkMD), causing dramatic increases in conductivity, alkalinity, sulfate and metals sufficient to degrade stream macrobiota communities throughout the ecoregion. In this study, we examined the relationship between water and biofilm chemistry and biofilm bacteria taxonomic composition in streams where active and reclaimed surface coal mines occupied 0–96% of watershed surface area. We incubated wood veneers in each stream site for 4 months to develop biofilms on similar substrates. We sampled water chemistry at the time of deployment and collection, and after 1 month. Following incubation, we collected biofilms for microbial and chemical characterization. Microbial composition was determined by pyrosequencing 16S rRNA amplicons. Biofilm subsamples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to determine metal concentrations. Our results show that microbial community composition differed significantly between AlkMD-exposed and AlkMD-unexposed sites, and that compositional dissimilarity increased with AlkMD loading. Diversity was not correlated with pH or extent of upstream mining, but instead correlated with biofilm concentrations of Cd, Mn, Zn and Ni. Within mined sites, the extent of upstream mining was negatively correlated with taxonomic richness. Despite major compositional shifts, functional capacity predicted with PICRUSt (Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States) correlated with mining in only 3 of 43 level-2 KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) Orthology groups.
A critique of the female sexual perpetrator research

This paper critically reviewed the research literature on female sex-offenders based on all the identified studies with a sample exceeding 10 from 1989 to 2004. Thirteen studies were identified. Five exploratory studies were individually summarized and critiqued as a group. The eight comparative studies were individually discussed and critiqued. Strengths and weaknesses of the current research were discussed. Conclusions about the research and suggestions for future research were provided. Notable conclusions were: that female sex-offenders are more likely to have been sexually victimized than other populations, offended by themselves, and commit serious forms of sexual abuse. There are also some promising typologies for this heterogeneous population, but they need further replication.
Differences in personality between american and english children

Abstract One thousand and ninety-one children between the ages of 9 and 15 yr from three Tennessee schools completed the Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and an Impulsiveness Inventory. The American children scored significantly higher on the N, P, E and Imp scales and lower on the L scale. Common trends were noted on age and sex between the American personality norms and the English norms. The results were discussed in terms of the differences in crime rate and lifestyle between the two countries. Both questionnaires were seen as useful measures of personality for children in the U.S.
The triplet state of picene in p-terphenyl crystals by EPR

Abstract Spin-hamiltonian parameters of the triplet state of picene in p -terphenyl crystals are determined. Optical spin polarization and transient nutations are also observed using pulsed light sources.
Articulating Rhetorical Field Methods: Challenges and Tensions

Critical rhetoricians are increasingly adopting in situ rhetorical methods such as participant observation at protests, consumer sites, and memorials. Despite their value, the ad hoc development of central methodological and analytic commitments of such approaches is cause for concern. In this essay, we synthesize these efforts to name a methodological approach—rhetorical field methods—for analyzing everyday rhetorical experience and articulate the commitments and concerns that motivate this approach, thus creating a focus for debate about in situ rhetorical study. We elaborate on three commitments, articulate some critical problematics, and identify heuristic questions and possibilities of this approach. We conclude by discussing rhetorical field methods' contributions to intradisciplinary communication research.
Chromatographic Quantification of Argpyrimidine, a Methylglyoxal-Derived Product in Tissue Proteins: Comparison with Pentosidine

Methylglyoxal (MG), an alpha-dicarbonyl compound, can be produced in vivo by several metabolic pathways and the Maillard reaction. It reacts rapidly with proteins to form advanced glycation end products or AGEs. We previously isolated and characterized a blue fluorescent product of the reaction between MG and arginine, which we named argpyrimidine. We found that argpyrimidine was stable to acid hydrolysis, which allowed us to hydrolyze tissue proteins with 6 N HCl and quantify argpyrimidine by high-performance liquid chromatography. Here we report argpyrimidine concentrations in human lens and serum proteins as determined by HPLC. We have also measured pentosidine, a fluorescent AGE derived from pentose sugars, and compared the concentrations of pentosidine and argpyrimidine. We found two- to threefold higher argpyrimidine concentrations in diabetic serum proteins than in nondiabetic controls (9.3 +/- 6.7 vs 4.4 +/- 3.4 pmol/mg). We found a significant correlation (P = 0.0001) between serum protein argpyrimidine and glycosylated hemoglobin. Argpyrimidine concentrations were approximately seven times greater in brunescent cataractous lenses than in aged noncataractous lenses. Pentosidine concentrations in serum and lens proteins were much lower than argpyrimidine concentrations; in general, argpyrimidine levels were 10--25 times higher than pentosidine. Results from our study confirm that MG-mediated arginine modifications occur in vivo and provide a method for assessing protein-arginine modification by MG in aging and diabetes.
Effective splaying with restricted rotations

The splay tree is a well-known binary search tree with many remarkable properties. It is a self-adjusting data structure whose amortized performance matches any of the many forms of balanced search trees. Furthermore, splay trees are adaptive, and have superior performance in many specialized cases. It is a long-standing open problem whether splay trees are dynamically optimal. Most search tree algorithms are based on the fundamental rotation operation. In 2002 Cleary introduced the concept of restricted rotations, which severely limits where the rotation can be performed. We show that splaying can still be effected using only restricted rotations, while maintaining the same properties as regular splay trees.
A stratification analysis of taste variations in work-trip mode choice

Abstract This study develops and applies a heuristic stratification procedure to the exploration of variation in tastes in tripmakers' choice of travel mode. The stratification procedure systematically identifies a set of socioeconomic subgroups that effectively accounts for the variation. Empirical results indicate that a limited number of socioeconomic variables are associated with the taste variation, that the entire sample can be stratified into a few socioeconomic subgroups with distinctive tastes, and that choice models can be relevantly specified for respective subgroups using exclusively level-of-service variables of travel modes as the nodel's independent variables.
A Parametric Model for Multispectral Scanners

Efficient acquisition and utilization of remotely sensed data require an extensive a priori evaluation of the performance of the basic data collection unit, the multispectral scanner. The objective of the research described in this paper is the development of a parametric model to analytically evaluate the response of a multispectral scanner in any operational environment and to provide the necessary information in selecting a set of optimum parameters. In this paper the multispectral scanner spatial characteristics are represented by a linear shift-invariant multiple-port system where the N spectral bands comprise the input processes. The scanner characteristic function, the relationship governing the transformation of the input spatial and hence spectral correlation matrices through the systems, is developed. Specific cases for Gaussian point spread functions are examined. The integration of the scanner spatial model and a parameter classification error estimator provides the necessary technique to evaluate the performance of a multispectral scanner. A set of test statistics is specified and the corresponding output quantities computed by the characteristic function. Two sets of classification accuracies, one at the input and one at the output, are estimated. The scanner's instantaneous field of view is changed and the variation of output classification performance computed.