cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Size, relative abundance, and catch‐per‐unit‐effort of round goby, Neogobius melanostomus, in anthropogenically modified and natural habitats in the western basin of Lake Erie

Summary To determine if anthropogenically modified habitats possess greater numbers of round goby and serve as dispersal vectors, we used angling to compare catch-per-unit of effort for 64 natural and modified habitat areas. In addition, a gravel natural habitat was seined to compare length frequency distribution with anthropogenically modified habitats. Natural habitats included gravel beaches and natural rubble and cliff wall, while modified habitats included artificial riprap, concrete sea wall, and metal sheet piling. No significant difference in relative abundance was observed in round goby preference among modified habitats (P = 0.52), but natural gravel habitats were significantly different from modified habitats that included artificial riprap (P = 0.002), concrete sea wall (P < 0.001), and metal sheet piling (P = 0.003). When habitat subcategories were compared using anova, the natural gravel beach habitat was significantly different from the three artificial substrates and from natural rubble and cliff wall substrates (P < 0.004). No round goby were caught from gravel beach habitats; thus, this habitat was removed from further analysis. A Student t-test indicated no significant difference between habitats was found between the natural rubble and cliff wall habitat and the three other artificial habitats (concrete sea wall, P = 0.33; riprap, P = 0.53; metal sheet piling, P = 0.11). We further evaluated gravel beach habitats to determine the reason for the lack of goby capture. We seined gravel beach habitat and collected 328 individuals, with which we evaluated the length-frequency distribution and calculated length–weight relationships by sex. Our results indicated that only 5.2% of the goby population was available for capture by angling on the gravel beach habitat. A t-test comparing the demographic attributes between seining and angling indicated a significant difference between goby length (P < 0.001) and weight (P < 0.001). The regression slope indicated an ontogenetic habitat shift occurred near 62 mm standard length. Smaller round goby individuals were found in less structurally complex gravel beach habitat, while larger individuals were associated with complex habitat.
A history of prior preeclampsia as a risk factor for preterm birth.

OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study are to evaluate the frequency and type of preterm birth (PTB) in women with prior preeclampsia and to compare neonatal outcomes between spontaneous PTB (SPTB) and medically indicated PTB (IPTB) groups. STUDY DESIGN A secondary analysis of data in women with prior preeclampsia enrolled in a multicenter randomized trial for preeclampsia prevention. Delivery indications were categorized as SPTB and IPTB. Primary outcomes were rates of SPTB and IPTB by gestational age (GA). The rates of composite respiratory morbidity and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission were compared between the PTB groups. RESULTS Of the 606 pregnancies studied, 142 (23%) pregnancies were delivered at < 37 weeks: 67 (47%) pregnancies were caused by SPTB and 75 (53%) pregnancies were caused by IPTB. Of those who delivered preterm, 89 (63%) were in the late preterm period. The overall rate of the composite neonatal morbidity was 23%. The rates of composite neonatal morbidity, NICU admission, and perinatal death were not different between the groups. The frequency of small for gestational age (SGA) infants was higher in the IPTB group as compared with the SPTB group (21.3 vs. 1.4%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION Women with prior preeclampsia are at high risk for PTB (SPTB and IPTB), particularly late PTB, as well as increased risk for SGA.
Synthesis and in vivo evaluation of bicyclic gababutins.

Abstract Synthesis of a number of bicyclic five-membered ring derivatives of gabapentin led to the identification of two compounds, (−)-(11A) and (20A) which both had an excellent level of potency against α2δ and were profiled in an in vivo model of neuropathic pain.
Forced vibrations of laterally loaded piles

Abstract An analytical approach for the determination of the response of a single circularcylindrical pile subjected to a lateral dynamic load is presented. The kinetic and the potentialenergies of the pile-foundation system are minimized by variational principle to obtain thegoverning field equations of the pile-foundation system along with the appropriate boundaryconditions. A non-dimensional parameter γ, associated with the characteristics of the pile, thefoundation and the loading is used to represent the elastic medium. This parameter γ can bedetermined by using an iterative procedure. The classical finite difference method is used tosolve the governing field equations of the pile-foundation system. The validation of the proposedmodel is demonstrated by applying to several published field pile load tests. Parametric studieswith regard to the frequency response of the pile head and the resonant frequency of the pile-foundation system are presented.
Wrestling Whiteness: Three Stages of Shifting Multicultural Perspectives among White Pre-service Teachers

Pedagogical progress in the field of multicultural education moves at a snail's pace due to pre-service teachers' level of acceptance of multiculturalism and its tenets. Teacher candidates and seasoned teachers are simply unconscious and apathetic about matters of diversity. Pre-service teachers, primarily White and middle class, are mandated to take multicultural courses and grapple with recognizing their own cultural beings and the cultural realities of others. While student populations grow more diverse, the pre-service teacher population is becoming more homogenous. A major obstacle in teacher preparation programs arising from this mismatch of teacher and student cultures is the ability to facilitate a critical consciousness. This includes the ability to analyze the world and employ equity pedagogy in pre-service teachers who are resistant to diversity issues. Pre- and post-course surveys, in open-ended and anonymous narrative form, were administered to White pre-service teachers (= 94), and this arti...
Spain's airport infrastructure: adaptations to liberalization and privatization

Abstract This paper gives an overview of Spanish airports and their traffic and identifies Spain's infrastructure needs. The advantages and disadvantages of public and private management of airports in Spain are discussed. Moreover, key legislative reforms are suggested in anticipation of the structural and administrative changes needed to permit private investment in the development of Spain's airports. Investment proposals for the busiest Spanish airports are examined, including handling services. To conclude, global trends in the development of airport infrastructures are compared with those shaping the present and future growth of Spanish airports.
Tribute to ronald W.F. Campbell, MBChB, MRCP, FRCP

For the past 20 years, any list of distinguished international cardiologists could have included Ronald W.F. Campbell, who until his death on June 13, 1998, was the British Heart Foundation Professor of Cardiology at the University of Newcastle on Tyne and president of the British Cardiac Society. Ronnie (his preferred first name) and I had been friends and colleagues since the early 1970s when we were both fellows in the Coronary Care Unit at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. At that time, we had significant arguments. I was trying to convince Ronnie that platelets played a major role in patients to be admitted to the Coronary Care Unit. He argued that the challenge was to prevent ventricular fibrillation. As a reminder of our wonderful years in Edinburgh about 25 years earlier, we had a similar argument over a cup of tea at an NASPE meeting in New Orleans, La, about a year ago, the last time I saw Ronnie. With his talent and genius, Ronnie’s immersion in the then relatively new field of electrophysiology earned him …
THE MARKETABLE SECURITY PORTFOLIOS OF NON‐FINANCIAL CORPORATIONS, INVESTMENT PRACTICES AND TRENDS

DURING THE LAST TWO decades, non-financial corporations have become increasingly important suppliers of funds to the money markets. Their holdings of United States government securities increased from $2.2 billion to $16.5 billion between 1939 and 1958. Holdings of other short-term securities are included under "Other Current Assets" in the estimates made by the Securities and Exchange Commission.' Although the exact portion of "Other Current Assets" consisting of short-term securities cannot be ascertained, the total of this account increased from $1.4 to $5.9 billion in the 1939-58 period. Because these large amounts of corporate funds are invested in money-market securities, changes in the investment practices of non-financial corporations influence relative rates of growth in various sectors of the money market. This study has two purposes: to describe the current short-term investment practices of non-financial corporations (Sec. II) and to indicate significant changes in these practices since 1939 (Sec. III). Marketable security portfolios of the largest non-financial corporations contain a high proportion of Treasury securities. The yield and other characteristics of alternative investments suggest that this practice sacrifices substantial income. In the past few years an increasing fraction of portfolios has been invested in non-Treasury securities. Data used in this study indicate that this trend may be expected to continue.
Postharvest handling procedures of Matthiola incana 'Vivas Blue'.

Abstract Cut stems of stock [Matthiola incana (L.) R. Br.] ‘Vivas Blue’, a new cultivar, were harvested when at least one floret was open for postharvest testing. Stems were unaffected by exogenous ethylene or by the application of the anti-ethylene agents silver thiosulfate and 1-methylcyclopropene. Stems had a longer vase life when stored dry, as compared to being stored in water, for no more than 2 weeks. Stems held at 2 °C had a significantly longer vase life, 13.3 d, than stems that were not stored in the cold, 9.9 d. No significant differences in vase life, number of open buds, or termination criteria occurred when stems were pulsed with 0, 10, or 20% sucrose. Stems had a longer vase life, 20.3 d, when placed in foam and a 2% sucrose solution with a bactericide as compared to 0 or 4% sucrose in water with a bactericide. Additionally, stems held in foam and 2% sucrose or in 4% sucrose without foam, but with a bactericide, developed a deep purple color over time. Bud opening increased as sucrose concentration increased regardless of floral foam use. Various commercial preservatives did not result in significant differences in vase life, number of open buds, or termination criteria. Vase life was longer, 12.1–13.0 d, when solutions were made from deionized water than when the solutions were made from tap water, 11.3 d.
Spore deposition of the ear rot pathogen, Gibberella zeae, inside corn canopies

Understanding the biological and meteorological interactions that direct the movement of airborne propagules of Gibberella zeae inside corn canopies is crucial to the epidemiology of gibberella ear rot. We observed the temporal patterns of viable spore deposition of G. zeae over two years (2002 and 2003) inside corn fields in Aurora, New York, United States. Viable, airborne propagules of G. zeae were collected inside corn canopies on Petri plates containing selective media placed at the level of receptive corn silks. Spores were deposited inside corn canopies during every day or night sampling period spanning the duration of silking in both years. In 2003, more than 91% of the colonies were collected during night-time sampling periods. On average, spore deposition was greater than 50 spores per plate for five sampling periods that occurred only at night. The cumulative exposure of corn silks to airborne spores of G. zeae should be considered in the development of risk models and management strategies for...
Effects of noise letters upon the identification of a target letter in a nonsearch task

During a 1-sec tachistoscopic exposure, Ss responded with a right or left leverpress to a single target letter from the sets H and K or S and C. The target always appeared directly above the fixation cross. Experimentally varied were the types of noise letters (response compatible or incompatible) flanking the target and the spacing between the letters in the display. In all noise conditions, reaction time (RT) decreased as between-letter spacing increased. However, noise letters of the opposite response set were found to impair RT significantly more than same response set noise, while mixed noise letters belonging to neither set but having set-related features produced intermediate impairment. Differences between two target-alone control conditions, one presented intermixed with noise-condition trials and one presented separately in blocks, gave evidence of a preparatory set on the part of Ss to inhibit responses to the noise letters. It was concluded that S cannot prevent processing of noise letters occurring within about 1 deg of the target due to the nature of processing channel capacity and must inhibit his response until he is able to discriminate exactly which letter is in the target position. This discrimination is more difficult and time consuming at closer spacings, and inhibition is more difficult when noise letters indicate the opposite response from the targe
Negative Outgroup Leader Actions Increase Liking for Ingroup Leaders: An Experimental Test of Intergroup Leader-Enhancement Effects

We conducted two studies to examine how information about outgroup leaders' negative actions affect ingroup leader favorability ratings. Study 1 found that people hold more favorable attitudes toward ingroup leaders (i.e. their own nation's leaders) when learning of negative actions of outgroup leaders (i.e. another nation's leaders). Study 2 replicated the finding, examining social identity strength as a moderator of this effect, and found that participants with strong national identification exhibit this intergroup leader-enhancement effect but participants with weak national identification do not. These data extend previous research on liking for leaders and are consistent with predictions derived from social identity theory. The implications of these findings for intergroup relations research and the psychological study of leadership are discussed.
Designing open water disposal for dredged muddy sediments

Abstract Open water disposal of muddy sediments in the estuarine environment is practiced to minimize dredging costs and to preserve contained disposal site capacity. Open water sites are usually either dispersive or retentive. Dispersive sites are used in the expectation that disposed sediments will not remain there, but will be transported out of the site, leaving room for additional disposal. Retentive sites are designed to ensure that disposed sediments mostly remain within the site. Choice of one of these approaches depends on the site character, sediment character, and disposal quantities. Design of disposal management plans for both site types is accomplished by use of field observations, laboratory tests, and numerical modeling. Three disposal site studies illustrate the methods used. At the Alcatraz site in San Francisco Bay, a dispersive condition is maintained by use of constraints on dredged mud characteristics that were developed from laboratory tests on erosion rates and from numerical modeling of the dump process. Field experiments were designed to evaluate the management procedure. In Corpus Christi Bay a numerical model was used to determine how much disposed sediment returns to the navigation channel, and to devise a location for disposal that will minimize that return. In Puget Sound a model has been used to ensure that most of the disposed material remains in the site. New techniques, including a piped disposal through 60 m of water, were investigated.
What If We Administered the "Wrong" Inventory? The Prediction of Scores on Personality Research Form Scales from Those on the California Psychological Inventory, and Vice Versa:

Equations are presented for estimating the scores on each of 20 PRF scales and each of 19 CPI scales from the other inventory. Estimates of the cross-validity of these inter-inventory predic tion e...
Radiographic manifestations of eosinophilic gastroenteritis

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EG) is a rare inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, characterized by focal or diffuse eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract. Although little over 250 cases of EG have been reported in the literature, EG is probably more common than reports in the literature would indicate. A retrospective review of 25 patients with EG along with a review of the literature was done to identify clinical, laboratory, radiographic, and therapeutic features. An allergic disorder was present in 14 (56%) and a peripheral eosinophilia was present in 24 (96%) of our patients. The most common radiographic manifestations of the stomach and small bowel included stenosis and fold thickening, respectively. Thirteen patients had esophageal involvement, with the esophageal stricture being the most common abnormality found in these patients. Steroids produced a good therapeutic result in most patients; the remaining patients responded to cromolyn and/or surgery.
On the Effects of Maximum Transmission Unit in Power Line Communication Networks

Currently, in many power line communication networks, the maximum packet size for the PLC protocol used to send data, in the interest of obtaining the maximum possible throughput. However, electrical noise on the power lines can cause poor performance for large packet sizes. In this paper we investigate this problem by building a network measurement tool, called GatorBytes to measure throughput and packet error rate over power line communication (PLC) networks. We found the packet error rate as to be as high as 78% on a low throughput link and around 44.8% on high throughput links. We suspected that the high packet error rate was due to large packets on the wire because large packets tend to have high probability of error resulting in packet drops due to noise interference. Large maximum transmission unit (MTU) may result in high throughput on a clean channel; however, it may cause low throughput on a noisy channel. To remedy this problem in PLC networks, we advocate the idea of lowering the MTU size dynamically to optimize throughput. To support this proposition, we conducted several throughput and packet drop rate measurements over PLC networks by using commercially available PLC devices and variable message sizes. We examined issues such as the MTU size of PLC devices, the relationship between packet error rates and packet intervals, and the relationship of packet size and throughputs that have not been previously analyzed. Our experiments showed that we were able to obtain 39% performance gain on aggregate throughputs and up 78% improvement in packet drop rate, by using lower MTUs.
On the query computation and verification of functions

In the query model of multi-variate function computation, the values of the variables are queried sequentially, in an order that may depend on previously revealed values, until the function's value can be determined. The function's computation query complexity is the lowest expected number of queries required by any query order. Instead of computation, it is often easier to consider verification, where the value of the function is given and the queries aim to verify it. The lowest expected number of queries necessary is the function's verification query complexity. We show that for all symmetric functions of independent binary random variables, the computation and verification complexities coincide. This provides a simple method for finding the query complexity and the optimal query order for computing many functions. We also show that if the symmetry condition is removed, there are functions whose verification complexity is strictly lower than their computation complexity, and mention that the same holds when the independence or binary conditions are removed.
The Elder Project, a film by Eva Colmers

The Elder Project, produced by The National Film Board of Canada, is a documentary about seven older adults who were followed throughout a 2-year period in order to document changes in their lives....
On the mechanism of isoproterenol-induced desensitization of adenylate cyclase in cultured differentiated hepatocytes.

Abstract The adenylate cyclase of cultured differentiated RL-PR-C hepatocytes is desensitized to 1-isoproterenol by exposure to this β-agonist. Virtually complete desensitization occurred by 60 min (intact cells) or 30 min (isolated plasma membranes). Isoproterenol was maximally effective at 10 μM, although substantial desensitization occurred at isoproterenol concentrations as low as 10 nM. Protein synthesis was not required for desensitization. Recovery from desensitization under tissue culture conditions was only 25% complete by 24 h. Maximum desensitization was accompanied by only a modest 35% decrease in binding sites (as determined by binding assays with [ 3 H]dihydroalprenolol), with no change in binding affinity. Adenylate cyclase desensitized to 1-isoproterenol responded normally to guanine nucleotides and to fluoride, suggesting that the regulatory and catalytic proteins were not the sites of the desensitization ‘defect’. Using N -ethylmaleiimide to inactive the regulatory and catalytic proteins, and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide to inactivate the β-adrenergic receptor, of intact hepatocytes, various heterologous cell fusion hybrids were produced, and their adenylate cyclases tested for responsiveness to 1-isoproterenol; only hybrids containing ‘desensitized’ receptor failed to respond to isoproterenol. These results suggest that the mechanism of desensitization to isoproterenol involves only the receptor component of the receptor-regulatory protein(s)-adenylate cyclase complex, and that the receptors are reduced in number and/or ability to interact with the regulatory protein as a result of the densitization process.
Aspekte eines didaktisch sensiblen Mathematikverständnisses

„Wer die Mathematik verstanden hat, kann sie auch unterrichten.” Dieser oft ausgesprochene Satz postuliert einen Automatismus zwischen Fachkenntnis und Lehrqualitat. Eine ebenso haufig anzutreffende Gegenthese dazu lautet: „Wer selbst Schwierigkeiten mit der Mathematik hatte, kann sich besser in die Probleme der Schuler/innen einfuhlen.” Beide Positionen erfassen den Zusammenhang zwischen Fachwissen und Vermittlungsfahigkeit zu grob. Die vorliegenden Ausfuhrungen mochten sie deshalb umwandeln in eine Frage: „Wie muss man die Mathematik verstanden haben, damit man sie wirksam unterrichten kann?” Dazu sollen im folgenden einige Aspekte entfaltet werden.
A Comparison of Cursor-Control Performance of the Rollermouse Station™ and the Standard Mouse

This study compared first-time usage and performance of the RollerMouse Station™ to the standard mouse. Participants completed serial-clicking and serial-dragging tasks using a variety of angles, distances, and sizes on both input devices. Movement time, homing time, and error rate per condition were examined as dependent variables. Results revealed faster point-and-click and click-and-drag performance for the standard mouse but no difference in error rate across the two devices. In addition, the RollerMouse was significantly faster for homing time. Although the standard mouse was faster in target acquisition, the increase in performance from the homing time for the RollerMouse resulted in only a slight advantage for the mouse in total movement time. These results are promising for the RollerMouse as an alternative input device to the mouse. Further studies investigating the effects of practice and hand configuration are discussed.
An efficient iterative method for numerical evaluation of integrals over a semi‐infinite range

A procedure for numerical quadrature over a semi-infinite range is described which does not require storing weights or nodes. It is applicable to a wide variety of integrands including oscillatory functions and forms with integrable singularites. A computer program and numerical examples are presented.
Spectral transformation of the unusual variable star MWC560 to resemble a nova

A dramatic change has occurred in the ultraviolet spectrum of the emission-line star MWC560, so that it now closely resembles the spectrum of a nova shortly after outburst. This event may signal a major mass-ejection episode such as presumably occurred in past centuries in the symbiotic star R Aquarii to produce the well-known bipolar nebula, and it may herald the emergence of a standard symbiotic-star emission-line spectrum in MWC560, corresponding to a change in evolutionary state.
Abstract C14: Loss of haptotaxis facilitates invasion in LKB1-deficient melanoma

Germline mutations in the serine/threonine kinase STK11/LKB1 are associated with Peutz-Jehgers Syndrome, which is characterized by hyperpigmentation of the oral mucosa. Inactivating somatic mutations occur in approximately 10-20% of melanomas; however, how the loss of LKB1 facilitates melanoma invasion remains poorly understood. Using cell lines derived from simultaneous activation of KRas and inactivation of LKB1 in melanocytes, we have investigated melanoma migration upon reconstitution with LKB1. Reexpression of LKB1 diminishes migration during wound healing, spheroid outgrowth into 3D collagen, and overall single cell speed in random motility assays. Furthermore, the formation of invadopodia is independent of LKB1 status in both human and mouse melanomas. Interestingly, using microfluidic devices we have found that loss of LKB1 abrogates the ability of cells to respond to gradients of extracellular matrix (haptotaxis) but does not impair their ability to chemotax to EGF. We have also recently developed a model of orthotopic implantation of multicellular tumor spheroids into the dermis of the mouse ear skin and have validated this approach by recapitulating the finding that LKB1 limits tumorigenesis. We are using this model to image local invasion in vivo by multiphoton microscopy and are currently examining the intriguing hypothesis that loss of extracellular matrix sensing is one aspect that contributes to metastatic migration. Citation Format: Keefe T. Chan, Sreeja B. Asokan, Tao Bo, Matthew E. Berginski, Wenjin Liu, Shelly D. Cochran, Norman E. Sharpless, James E. Bear. Loss of haptotaxis facilitates invasion in LKB1-deficient melanoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Invasion and Metastasis; Jan 20-23, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(3 Suppl):Abstract nr C14.
Ferrelo fan, California: Depositional system influenced by Eustatic sea level changes

Remnants of an Eocene fan system are preserved onshore at San Diego and in the central part of the southern California borderland. Even though faults and erosion have truncated its margins, geophysical data and exploratory wells indicate that remaining parts of the fan extend beneath an offshore area nearly 400-km long and 40- to 100-km wide. Environments representing fluvial, fan-delta, shelf-channel, overlapping inner- to outer-fan, and basin-plain facies are recognized or inferred. Three progradational cycles onshore and two distinct pulses of sand accumulation offshore are attributable to eustatic low sea-level stands rather than to tectonic uplift or shifts in depositional patterns.
Interferogram phase evaluation through a differential equation technique

A technique for the evaluation of the unknown phase of a spatial carrier interferogram is proposed in this paper. This technique is based on the formulation of a differential equation for the unknown phase. The coefficients of this equation are known functions. They are formulated with the aid of a modified Fourier transform method and Hilbert transform where they are functions of the measured interferogram. This equation is made discrete and solved through the application of a pseudospectral method. An illustrative example is given in which this technique is applied. Results generated from the application of this technique are compared with exact phase values, and exemplary agreement between the exact and approximate phase values is demonstrated.
Inadequacy of the gorlin formula for predicting prosthetic valve area

Abstract A total of 135 patients with normally functioning prosthetic aortic valves who were catheterized 6 months after placement of Hancock, modified Hancock or Bjork-Shiley prostheses were studied to determine the magnitude of error in Gorlin formula estimates of prosthetic aortic valve area. All patients were male, selected from 13 participating hospitals and routinely followed after valve replacement for 5 years. Hemodynamically determined Gorlin valve areas were compared with independently verified actual valve areas. Actual Hancock areas were measured from videotapes of valves exercised in a pulse duplicator flow model. Actual Bjork-Shiley areas were calculated directly from the valves' inner ring radius. Gorlin valve areas correlated poorly with actual valve areas (r = 0.39). The mean Gorlin formula error was 0.36 cm 2 (standard deviation = 0.32). Gorlin areas overestimated actual areas by >0.25 cm2 in 43 patients (32%) and underestimated actual areas by >0.25 cm 2 in 29 (21%). It was concluded that the Gorlin formula inaccurately predicts prosthetic valve area in the aortic position. Overreliance on this formula in assessing aortic stenosis could lead to errant clinical decisions.
Osteoplastic flap for obliteration of the frontal sinus: five years' experience.

Abstract The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the osteoplastic flap (OPF) for the obliteration of the frontal sinus in this current era of endoscopic management of frontal sinus disease. A review of consecutive OPF procedures (n = 43) performed by the senior author (J.A.D.) from 1992 to 1997 was carried out. Data were gathered regarding chief symptom, medical history, previous sinus surgery, endoscopic findings in the office and at surgery, CT scan findings, and follow-up results (mean 19.4 months). Previous endoscopic management of frontal sinus disease had failed in 24% of patients; 97% had eventual resolution of frontal sinusitis with OPF. After OPF, 63% also had improvement or resolution of disease in other paranasal sinuses. Statistically significant, positive correlations (P
Family Caregiving: The Positive Impact on Adolescent Relationships

Adult children are a significant contingent of elder care providers; a number of these individuals simultaneously care for children of their own while coping with caregiving commitments. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of information regarding the caregiving impact on these children and young adults. Moreover, the possible positive consequences of caring for an impaired elder are rarely mentioned. The current study was undertaken to examine the potential positive caregiving experiences of adolescents and their perceptions of relational enhancement as a result of caregiving. Twenty adolescents aged 14-18 were interviewed and asked a series of semistructured questions concerning satisfaction related to caregiving. To be included, respondents had to be a child, grandchild, or niece/nephew of an Alzheimer's (or Alzheimer's Type Dementia) patient cared for by the adolescent's immediate family. Employing features of content analysis methodology, all interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. The results merged into four primary categories: 1) increased sibling activity/sharing; 2) greater empathy for older adults; 3) significant mother-adolescent bonding and 4) peer relationship selection and maintenance. The implications for future research and practice are discussed.
Settling behavior of the glassy‐winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca vitripennis, vector of Xylella fastidiosa, on southern highbush blueberry cultivars

The xylem-limited bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells, Raju, Hung, Wiseberg, Mandelico-Paul & Brenner causes bacterial leaf scorch, a new disease of southern highbush blueberry [Vaccinium corymbosum L. (Ericaceae) interspecific hybrids] in the southeastern USA. The bacterium is transmitted by sharpshooter leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), with the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar), being the most common potential vector in blueberry plantings. Considerable differences are observed in disease intensity among blueberry cultivars in the field, but it remains unknown whether these differences are due to variations in cultivar susceptibility to the bacterium, differences in attractiveness to its vector(s), or both. The settling and feeding behavior of GWSS was evaluated on three southern highbush blueberry cultivars (FL 86-19, Star, and Emerald) in the greenhouse; in previous field studies, these cultivars were found to be affected by bacterial leaf scorch at high, moderate, and low levels, respectively. Potted plants were caged together with field-collected GWSS adults for a period of 5 days, with either all three cultivars caged simultaneously (choice test) or individually (no-choice test). In the choice tests, no differences in cultivar attractiveness were observed during the first 2 days of study. However, from the 3rd day, significantly more adults settled on Emerald (52.7%) than on Star (25.5%) and FL 86-19 (17.7%). In contrast, in no-choice tests, the overall host plant acceptance for the three cultivars was similar, and 89.3–92.1% of adults settled on these plants. A significantly greater number of adults settled on the stems (79.3%) vs. the leaves (11.2%). Moreover, they preferred the middle portion of the shoot (56.9%) compared with the upper (7.8%) and the lower (14.7%) portions. In a separate study on FL 86-19, greater numbers of GWSS nymphs settled on the upper (actively growing) portion of the shoot (82.3%), whereas only 15.8 and 1.5% settled on the middle and lower portions, respectively.
The History of Power Transmission by Radio Waves

The history of power transmission by radiowaves is reviewed from Heinrich Hertz to the present time with emphasis upon the free-space microwave power transmission era beginning in 1958. The history of the technology is developed in terms of its relationship to the intended applications. These include microwave powered aircraft and the Solar Power Satellite concept.
Juan José Arévalo and the Caribbean Legion

On 15 March 1945 Juan Jose Arevalo became president of Guatemala. His inauguration marked the beginning of an unprecedented democratic parenthesis – ‘spring in the land of eternal tyranny ’1 – a spring that ended abruptly with the overthrow of Jacobo Arbenz in 1954.Arevalo was an anti-communist, a nationalist, and a reformer. He was an anti-communist who believed that individual communists should not be persecuted unless they violated the law. He was a nationalist who accepted that Guatemala was in the US sphere of influence. He was a reformer who eschewed radical change.
Interpretation of coronal off-limb spectral line width measurements

Spectral line widths measured above the solar limb have been used to infer wave velocity amplitude height dependencies, supporting Alfven wave coronal heating and wave driven solar wind models. Comparison of the inferred amplitude/density dependence with a constant magnetic field strength, undamped wave propagation model have shown good agreement, providing the first strong support of Alfven wave heating models. We derive the density dependence for wave propagation in an expanding flux tube with decreasing field strength, and show that the resulting density dependence is identical to that of the constant field strength case. We use the expanding flux tube propagation model to infer the wave amplitude in the low photosphere, which is a factor of 9 lower than granulation velocities.
On the interaction of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma with tissues

Non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma is now being widely developed for various clinical applications such as skin sterilization, blood coagulation, cancer treatment, angiogenesis and wound healing among others. However, understanding of mechanism of interaction between non-thermal plasma and mammalian cells is lacking. Here we investigated the possibility that the dose of non-thermal plasma can be tuned to achieve various results depending on the clinical applications ranging from enhanced cell proliferation to inducing apoptosis in malignant tissue. We also present some of the underlying mechanisms of interaction of non-thermal plasma with mammalian cells.
Paternal obesity is associated with IGF2 hypomethylation in newborns: results from a Newborn Epigenetics Study (NEST) cohort

Data from epidemiological and animal model studies suggest that nutrition during pregnancy may affect the health status of subsequent generations. These transgenerational effects are now being explained by disruptions at the level of the epigenetic machinery. Besides in vitro environmental exposures, the possible impact on the reprogramming of methylation profiles at imprinted genes at a much earlier time point, such as during spermatogenesis or oogenesis, has not previously been considered. In this study, our aim was to determine associations between preconceptional obesity and DNA methylation profiles in the offspring, particularly at the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of the imprinted Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 (IGF2) gene. We examined DNA from umbilical cord blood leukocytes from 79 newborns, born between July 2005 and November 2006 at Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC. Their mothers participated in the Newborn Epigenetics Study (NEST) during pregnancy. Parental characteristics were obtained via standardized questionnaires and medical records. DNA methylation patterns at two DMRs were analyzed by bisulfite pyrosequencing; one DMR upstream of IGF2 (IGF2 DMR), and one DMR upstream of the neighboring H19 gene (H19 DMR). Multiple regression models were used to determine potential associations between the offspring's DNA methylation patterns and parental obesity before conception. Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2. Hypomethylation at the IGF2 DMR was associated with paternal obesity. Even after adjusting for several maternal and newborn characteristics, we observed a persistent inverse association between DNA methylation in the offspring and paternal obesity (β-coefficient was -5.28, P = 0.003). At the H19 DMR, no significant associations were detected between methylation patterns and paternal obesity. Our data suggest an increase in DNA methylation at the IGF2 and H19 DMRs among newborns from obese mothers, but a larger study is warranted to further explore the potential effects of maternal obesity or lifestyle on the offspring's epigenome. While our small sample size is limited, our data indicate a preconceptional impact of paternal obesity on the reprogramming of imprint marks during spermatogenesis. Given the biological importance of imprinting fidelity, our study provides evidence for transgenerational effects of paternal obesity that may influence the offspring's future health status.
Investigation of psychophysical similarity measures for selection of similar images in the diagnosis of clustered microcalcifications on mammograms

The presentation of images with lesions of known pathology that are similar to an unknown lesion may be helpful to radiologists in the diagnosis of challenging cases for improving the diagnostic accuracy and also for reducing variation among different radiologists. The authors have been developing a computerized scheme for automatically selecting similar images with clustered microcalcifications on mammograms from a large database. For similar images to be useful, they must be similar from the point of view of the diagnosing radiologists. In order to select such images, subjective similarity ratings were obtained for a number of pairs of clustered microcalcifications by breast radiologists for establishment of a "gold standard" of image similarity, and the gold standard was employed for determination and evaluation of the selection of similar images. The images used in this study were obtained from the Digital Database for Screening Mammography developed by the University of South Florida. The subjective similarity ratings for 300 pairs of images with clustered microcalcifications were determined by ten breast radiologists. The authors determined a number of image features which represent the characteristics of clustered microcalcifications that radiologists would use in their diagnosis. For determination of objective similarity measures, an artificial neural network (ANN) was employed. The ANN was trained with the average subjective similarity ratings as teacher and selected image features as input data. The ANN was trained to learn the relationship between the image features and the radiologists' similarity ratings; therefore, once the training was completed, the ANN was able to determine the similarity, called a psychophysical similarity measure, which was expected to be close to radiologists' impressions, for an unknown pair of clustered microcalcifications. By use of a leave-one-out test method, the best combination of features was selected. The correlation coefficient between the gold standard and the psychophysical similarity measure through the use of seven features was relatively high (r=0.71) and was comparable to the correlation coefficients between the ratings by one radiologist and the average ratings by nine radiologists (r=0.69 +/- 0.07). The correlation coefficient was improved compared to that of a distance-based method (r=0.58). The result indicated that similar images selected by the psychophysical similarity measure may be useful to radiologists in the diagnosis of clustered microcalcifications on mammograms.
The empiric use of naloxone in patients with altered mental status: A reappraisal

Study objective: To determine whether clinical criteria (respirations of 12 or less, miotic pupils, and circumstantial evidence of opiate abuse) could predict response to naloxone in patients with acute alteration of mental status (AMS) and to evaluate whether such criteria predict a final diagnosis of presence or absence of opiate overdose as accurately as response to naloxone. Cases and setting: Seven hundred thirty patients with AMS who received naloxone for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes at the discretion of two large, urban, paramedic base teaching hospitals. Methods: We reviewed paramedic run sheets and audiotapes on all 730 patients as well as available hospital records of all patients who demonstrated any response to naloxone to determine whether overdose was responsible for their clinical presentations. We also reviewed hospital records for a selected sample of naloxone nonresponders. Main results and conclusion: Only 25 patients (3.4%) demonstrated a complete response to naloxone, whereas 32 (4.4%) manifested a partial or equivocal response. Nineteen of 25 complete responders (76%), two of 26 partial responders (8%) (with known final diagnosis), and four of 195 non-responders (2%) (with known final diagnosis) were ultimately diagnosed as having overdosed. Respirations of 12 or less or the presence of any one of the three clinical findings as a group were each highly sensitive in predicting response to naloxone, and at least as sensitive as response to naloxone in predicting a diagnosis of opiate overdose. Selective administration of naloxone for AMS would have decreased the use of this drug by 75% to 90% while still administering it to virtually all naloxone responders who had a final diagnosis of opiate overdose.
On improving the performance of cache invalidation in mobile environments

Many cache management schemes designed for mobile environments are based on invalidation reports (IRs). However, IR-based approach suffers from long query latency and it cannot efficiently utilize the broadcast bandwidth. In this paper, we propose techniques to address these problems. First, by replicating a small fraction of the essential information related to cache invalidation, the query latency can be reduced. Then, we propose techniques to efficiently utilize the broadcast bandwidth based on counters associated with each data item. Novel techniques are designed to maintain the accuracy of the counter in case of server failures, client failures, and disconnections. Extensive simulations are provided and used to evaluate the proposed methodology. Compared to previous IR-based algorithms, the proposed solution can significantly reduce the query latency, improve the bandwidth utilization, and effectively deal with disconnections and failures.
Synthesis of the stationary-phase sigma factor sigma s is positively regulated by ppGpp.

Strains of Escherichia coli which lack detectable guanosine 39,59-bispyrophosphate (ppGpp) display a pleiotropic phenotype that in some respects resembles that of rpoS (katF) mutants. This led us to examine whether ppGpp is a positive regulator of sigma s synthesis. sigma s is a stationary-phase-specific sigma factor that is encoded by the rpoS gene. We found that a ppGpp-deficient strain is defective in sigma s synthesis as cells enter stationary phase in a rich medium, as judged by immunoblots. Under more-defined conditions we found that the stimulation of sigma s synthesis following glucose, phosphate, or amino acid starvation of wild-type strains is greatly reduced in a strain lacking ppGpp. The failure of ppGpp-deficient strains to synthesize sigma s in response to these starvation regimens could indicate a general defect in gene expression rather than a specific dependence of rpoS expression on ppGpp. We therefore tested the effect of artificially elevated ppGpp levels on sigma s synthesis either with mutations that impair ppGpp decay or by gratuitously inducing ppGpp synthesis with a Ptac::relA fusion. In both instances, we observed enhanced sigma s synthesis. Apparently, ppGpp can activate sigma s synthesis under conditions of nutrient sufficiency as well as during entry into stationary phase. This finding suggests that changes in ppGpp levels function both as a signal of imminent stationary phase and as a signal of perturbations in steady-state growth. Images
A Computer Program for Four Probe Resistivity Measurements in a Horizontally Layered Earth

A computer code to plot the response of a dipole-dipole resistivity array over a many-layered earth is described.
Inactivation of the (+) gamete agglutinin during the mating-type reaction in chlamydomonas

Sex cell contact in Chlamydomonas is due to complementary sex-specific glycoproteins (mating-type substances, MTSs). Their interaction causes an instantaneous but labile flagella agglutination between sexually different gametes. The dynamic nature of this contact permits partner exchange between agglutinated gametes and accounts for the transitoriness of the contact, flagella adhesion being terminated upon ensuing pairing. This paper describes molecular events that underlie the adhesion potential of differentiated (+) gametes. In the contact-establishing interaction with its receptors on the (−) flagella, the agglutinin of differentiated (+) gametes is inactivated. Compensating for this inactivation, the adhesion potential of gametes in agglutination is sustained by continuous replenishment of the inactivated MTS by newly synthesized units. If this glycoprotein neosynthesis is blocked by tunicamycin (TUM), the adhesiveness of differentiated (+) gametes ceases. It is postulated that this complex interaction with incapacitation and neosynthesis forms the basis of the dynamic nature of the flagella contact and eventually accounts for its termination at pairing.