cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Why some rails have white tails: the evolution of white undertail plumage and anti-predator signaling

Conspicuous plumage patches have evolved in birds as conspecific signals for mate attraction and assessment, intersexual competition or to signal alarm. Signals may alternatively be directed at potential predators to discourage pursuit. Rails (Family Rallidae) are ground-dwelling birds, many of which inhabit wetlands, while others occur in forests and grasslands. They are renown for their secretive nature and the tendency to flick their tails when observed. This behavior is more conspicuous in species with white undertail coverts that contrast sharply with darker body plumage. Using species comparisons and controlling for phylogeny, we investigated four hypotheses for the evolution of white undertail coverts in rails. We found little support for the hypothesis that white tails are sexually selected: white tails were not more common in species with polygamous as opposed to monogamous mating systems, species with sexual dimorphism, nor species that display their tails in courtship. Nor did our results support the hypothesis that white tail plumage evolved for intersexual competition during territorial interactions. Instead, we found that species that flock for at least part of the year and species found in open as opposed to concealing habitats were significantly more likely to have white undertail coverts. Rail species inhabiting concealing habitats are less commonly gregarious and more likely selected for crypsis. Using phylogenetically-controlled statistical inference we found that adaptation to open wetland habitats significantly precedes the evolution of white undertails, whereas gregariousness likely evolved later in some lineages. The inferred order of trait evolution suggests that this plumage characteristic could have been selected primarily for enhancement of an anti-predator signal rather than a social signal for conspecifics.
An examination of municipal audit delay

Abstract Our study examines the effects of municipal audit and audit-firm characteristics on municipal audit delay. Although the effects of audit characteristics are largely determined by municipal structure and reporting requirements, the effects of audit-firm characteristics are likely to be controllable through the external audit procurement process. If issuing a timely financial report is important to municipalities, municipal officers must understand what factors they should consider regarding the municipalities organizational form, the external auditor procurement process, and what auditor characteristics to consider when selecting an independent external auditor. Our results suggest that several municipal audit and audit-firm characteristics influence municipal audit delay. Specifically, management incentives for timely reporting, including a city manager form of government, the presence of a high quality financial reporting system, and bonded indebtedness all tend to decrease audit delay. State regulations regarding the audit procurement process increase audit delay. Audit delay is significantly increased by municipal characteristics, such as municipal size, audits performed during the external auditor's busy season, the receipt of a qualified audit opinion, and for municipalities that were required to comply with the Single Audit Act. Investigation of external auditor characteristics indicates that auditors that perform several municipal audit engagements provide audits on a more timely basis. Additionally, larger audit-firm offices appear to be able to allocate resources in such a manner to expedite the audit. We also investigate municipal audit and audit-firm characteristics for small (population 20,000), separately. Our results indicate that the characteristics that influence audit delay are quite different between the two size classifications. Overall, our results provide useful information to both large and small cities regarding the determinants of municipal audit delay.
Capacity analysis of peer-to-peer adaptive streaming

Adaptive streaming, such as Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH), has been widely deployed to provide uninterrupted video streaming service to users with dynamic network conditions. In this paper, we analytically study the potential of using P2P in conjunction with adaptive streaming. We first study the capacity of P2P adaptive streaming by developing utility maximization models that take into account peer heterogeneity, taxation-based incentives, multi-version videos at discrete rates. We further develop stochastic models to study the performance of P2P adaptive streaming in face of bandwidth variations and peer churn. Through analysis and simulations, we demonstrate that incentive-compatible video sharing between peers can be easily achieved with simple video coding and distribution designs. P2P adaptive streaming not only significantly reduces the load on the servers, but also improves the stability of user-perceived video quality in the face of dynamic bandwidth changes.
Advising time inventory: Consequences of the general college individualized baccalaureate degree program on faculty advising, activities, and academic load

Faculty of the General College are assigned advising responsibilities in addition to their teaching load. Full-time members, for example, advise 35–40 students per year. When the College initiated an individualized baccalaureate degree program in 1971, little provision was made for consequent changes on the advising function and the academic load. As a result, advisers, faced with the complex and time-consuming matters that adhere to individualized learning programs, felt mounting pressure. Large numbers of evening school students were attracted to the program and sought advice and, upon admission, expected to be assigned a faculty adviser. The College made no formal acknowledgment of the addition of the non-day school advisees to advisers' loads. Strained by the overburden, faculty participated in this study to identify how much “real time” they spend in advising, with whom, and on what kinds of activities. Evidence from this study was used to support their request for recognition by the College of the changed nature and full scope of their advising work.
Optimistic make (software design)

The notion of encapsulations is introduced as the basic construct used to support optimistic make (a software tool). The authors describe the implementation of optimistic make in the V-System on a collection of SUN workstations. Statistics measured from this implementation are used to synthesize a workload for a discrete-event simulation, and to validate the simulation's results. The simulation shows a speedup distribution over pessimistic make with a median of 1.72 and a mean of 8.28. The speedup distribution is strongly dependent on the ratio between the target out-of-date times and the command execution times. With faster machines the median of the speedup distribution grows to 5.1, and then decreases again. >
The Relative Value as Contact Insecticides of Some Constituents of Derris

Aqueous suspensions of the four principal constituents of Derris root, i.e., rotenone, deguelin, tephrosin and toxicarol, were sprayed upon aphids, thrips, white fly larvae and red spider mites living on potted plants in a greenhouse. Their relative contact insecticidal value was in the order given, with rotenone the most potent; with reference to Aphis rumicis, they stood in the approximate ratio of 400:40:10:1. Rotenone and deguelin are both more toxic than nicotine to A. rumicis.
Transmission and reassortment of avian influenza viruses at the Asian–North American interface

Twenty avian influenza viruses were isolated from seven wild migratory bird species sampled at St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. We tested predictions based on previous phylogenetic analyses of avian influenza viruses that support spatially dependent trans-hemispheric gene flow and frequent interspecies transmission at a location situated at the Asian-North American interface. Through the application of phylogenetic and genotypic approaches, our data support functional dilution by distance of trans-hemispheric reassortants and interspecific virus transmission. Our study confirms infection of divergent avian taxa with nearly identical avian influenza strains in the wild. Findings also suggest that H16N3 viruses may contain gene segments with unique phylogenetic positions and that further investigation of how host specificity may impact transmission of H13 and H16 viruses is warranted.
Effect of allyl isothiocyanate on antioxidants and fruit decay of blueberries

Abstract The effect of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) on radical scavenging capacity, and fruit decay of blueberries var. Duke (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) was evaluated. Results from this study showed that AITC was effective in retarding blueberry decay during storage at 10 °C. However, AITC-treated fruit decreased the contents of total phenolics and anthocyanins. Compared to control, AITC-treated berries had lower scavenging capacities against radicals of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (pyroxyl radical; ORAC), hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity ( OH) and 2,2-di(4-tert-octylphenyl)-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH ), but promoted the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) radicals. The free radical scavenging properties of blueberry fruit with or without AITC treatment were also evaluated by electron spin resonance (ESR). Results of the ESR measurements confirmed that free radical scavenging capacities against OH, DPPH and O 2 − were lower in treated fruit than in control un-treated fruit. The results from this study indicate that AITC does not promote antioxidant property or scavenging of constitutive reactive oxygen species (ROS), but paradoxically generates additional amounts of ROS to inhibit the growth and proliferation of microbial cells, thereby reducing decay in fruit tissue.
Enhanced Confinement with Plasma Biasing in the MST Reversed Field Pinch

We report an increase in particle confinement with plasma biasing in a reversed field pinch. Miniature plasma sources are used as electrodes to negatively bias the plasma at the edge $(r/a\ensuremath{\sim}0.9)$. Particle content increases and ${\mathrm{H}}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ radiation decreases upon application of bias and global particle confinement roughly doubles as a result. Energy confinement is not significantly affected by biasing the edge. Measurements of plasma potential, impurity flow, and floating potential fluctuations indicate that strong flows are produced and that electrostatic fluctuations are reduced.
Democracies and Intervention: Is there a Danger Zone in the Democratic Peace?

By overlooking the full range of studies of democracy and intervention that we have undertaken, Tures misrepresents our intentions and our evidence. To clarify the definable patterns within democracies' use of interventions, we broaden his picture of our results to demonstrate where his critique of our general findings is misleading. By focusing exclusively on the methodological implications of only one part of our program of research, Tures fails to recognize that how democracy and intervention are conceptualized and operationalized can make a difference. Moreover, his critique misses entirely our evidence showing that democracies use interventions for a variety of purposes and with varying consequences, including strengthening their own security and promoting the spread of liberal democratic institutions consistent with the underlying logic of the democratic peace.
Absolute number densities of helium metastable atoms determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy in helium plasma-based discharges used as ambient desorption/ionization sources for mass spectrometry

Abstract The absolute number densities of helium atoms in the 2s 3S1 metastable state were determined in four plasma-based ambient desorption/ionization sources by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The plasmas included a high-frequency dielectric barrier discharge (HF-DBD), a low temperature plasma (LTP), and two atmospheric-pressure glow discharges, one with AC excitation and the other with DC excitation. Peak densities in the luminous plumes downstream from the discharge capillaries of the HF-DBD and the LTP were 1.39 × 1012 cm− 3 and 0.011 × 1012 cm− 3, respectively. Neither glow discharge produced a visible afterglow, and no metastable atoms were detected downstream from the capillary exits. However, densities of 0.58 × 1012 cm− 3 and 0.97 × 1012 cm− 3 were measured in the interelectrode regions of the AC and DC glow discharges, respectively. Time-resolved measurements of metastable atom densities revealed significant random variations in the timing of pulsed absorption signals with respect to the voltage waveforms applied to the discharges.
Thiamine deficiency in vivo produces fiber cell degeneration in mouse lenses.

Abstract Thiamine (Vitamin B1) is a co-factor for enzymes key in bridging aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. One such enzyme, transketolase, catalyzes two of three reactions for entry into the pentose-phosphate pathway, a major source of chemical reducing power. Thus, thiamine deprivation (TD) is considered a classic model of systemic oxidative stress and is linked with degenerative diseases. TD in mice and rats produces neurodegeneration with Alzheimer's disease characteristics. Age-related disease of the lens, commonly cataract, is also linked with thiamine and oxidative stress. To test the effects of TD on mice, we used a previously defined protocol involving a thiamine free diet and a thiamine antagonist. After 12 days, lens fiber cell degeneration was observed primarily along the lens posterior beneath the intact capsule. These regions exhibited a localized increased expression of Alzheimer precursor protein, Aβ peptides, and presenilin 1. These data indicate that TD in mice produces fiber cell degeneration and suggest common mechanisms for TD-induced lens fiber and neuronal cell degeneration.
Adsorption-Induced Conformational Changes of α-Helical Peptides

Peptides that have α-helical structures in solution have been adsorbed to anionic and cationic colloidal silica substrates in aqueous solution, and the orientation and conformation of the adsorbed ...
High-Performance multivariable control strategies for systems having time delays

A new high-performance multivariable time delay compensator is presented that contains the Ogunnaike-Ray compensator as a special case, reduces to the Smith predictor for a single delay, and approaches the realizable part of the process inverse as a limit. The straightforward design procedure is illustrated with several distillation control examples.
Evolving a spatio-spectral network on reconfigurable computers for multispectral feature identification

Feature identification attempts to find algorithms that can consistently separate a feature of interest from the background in the presence of noise and uncertain conditions. This paper describes the development of a high-throughput, reconfigurable computer based, feature identification system known as POOKA. POOKA is based on a novel spatio-spectral network, which can be optimized with an evolutionary algorithm on a problem-by-problem basis. The reconfigurable computer provides speed up in two places: 1) in the training environment to accelerate the computationally intensive search for new feature identification algorithms, and 2) in the application of trained networks to accelerate content based search in large multi-spectral image databases. The network is applied to several broad area features relevant to scene classification. The results are compared to those found with traditional remote sensing techniques as well as an advanced software system known as GENIE. The hardware efficiency and performance gains compared to software are also reported.
Factors affecting financial performance of new and beginning farmers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors (farm, operator and household characteristics, along with farm type and regional location of the farm) affecting financial performance of new and beginning farmers and ranchers.Design/methodology/approach – Returns on assets (ROA), a measure of financial performance widely used in the farm management literature, is the ratio of net farm income plus interest payment to total assets. This measure has been used by Gloy and LaDue and Gloy et al. to measure financial performance of farmers in New York. ROA is hypothesized to be a function of operator/farm characteristics and management strategies used to manage the farm. The independent variables hypothesized to affect the farm's financial performance encompass the following three areas: farm operator characteristics, farm characteristics such as production and marketing efficiency measures, and management strategies. All standard errors were adjusted for heteroscedasticity using the Huber–White...
ANOMALOUS TRANSPORT IN MIRROR SYSTEMS

ABSTRACT As now being explored for fusion applications confinement systems based on the mirror principle embody two kinds of plasma regimes. These two regimes are: a) High-beta plasmas, stabilized against MHD and other low frequency plasma instabilities by magnetic-well fields, but characterized by non-maxwellian ion distributions. b) near-maxwellian plasmas, confined electrostatically (as in the tandem mirror) or in a field-reversed region within the mirror cell. Common to both situations are the questions of anomalous transport owing to high frequency instabilities in the non-maxwellian portions of the plasmas. This report will summarize the status of theory and of experimental data bearing on these questions, with particular reference to the high temperature regimes of interest for fusion power.
An analysis of Harper-Dorn creep based on specimen size effects

On montre qu'il y a une bonne correlation entre la contrainte normalisee (σ/G) trans a laquelle se produit la transition du fluage de Harper-Dorn vers le fluage en loi de puissance et (t/d) le rapport entre l'epaisseur de l'echantillon et la grosseur du grain
Ovarian dysplasia: a review

The late diagnosis in the vast majority of ovarian carcinomas and the high lethality due to this neoplasm are related to the paucity of early symptoms and virtual absence of any screening system. Premalignant, non-invasive histologic lesions have been described in most epithelial neoplasms (larynx, colon, stomach, etc). In the realm of gynecologic pathology, precursor lesions of cervical and endometrial malignancies have been extensively studied and their etiologic factors (viral for the cervix, hormonal for the endometrium) have been widely documented. This has contributed to a dramatic decrease in morbidity and mortality due to uterine cancer. For ovarian cancer, unfortunately, histogenesis, etiology and natural history are still poorly understood and early detection is still elusive. The use of tumor markers has been, by and large, rather disappointing as far as early diagnosis of ovarian cancer is concerned. The description of morphologic changes that identify preinvasive neoplasms has contributed to the dramatic changes due to early detection of cancers in accessible locations such as breast, uterine cervix, vulva, etc. The secluded location of the ovaries has been an obstacle in the study of such precancerous lesions because of the amplitude of the surgical procedures necessary to approach this tissue. With the use of vaginal sonography and laparoscopic surgery, the ovaries became more accessible; molecular genetic studies are aimed to identify a population at risk for ovarian carcinoma and amenable to prophylactic oophorectomy. These developments, along with the continuous search for specific and sensitive tumor markers for early ovarian cancer are important complementary factors to the identification of morphologic changes of ovarian dysplastic and potentially precancerous changes.
Fluctuation, thermal impurity depinning and commensurate-incommensurate transition of change density waves on the (100) face of W

Abstract Recent experiments on the (100) face of W with and without H is interpreted. The significance of large thermal fluctuation in low dimensionality situation and their observation in the present system is pointed out. A thermal impurity depinning transition is discussed. The existence of a commensurate-incommensurate transition as hydrogen coverage is changed is speculated.
Rectilinear optical resonators for curved metallic waveguides

A rectilinear image dihedral optical resonator produces resonant field distributions matched to curved metallic beam waveguide.
COMPLETE EXPRESSION AND NORMAL FERTILITY IN A WOMAN WITH X-LINKED HYPOHIDROTIC ECTODERMAL DYSPLASIA ASSOCIATED WITH t(X;19). |[bull]|473

We report on a woman with normal fertility and characteristic features of X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) associated with an X;19 translocation. She was reported on previously (Gorlin, et al., Z Kinderheilk, 1970) as an example of autosomal recessive inheritance of HED. The purpose of this report is to provide follow up to the paper of Gorlin, et al. and to document vertical transmission from an affected female, which to our knowledge is the first such report. The proband presented at age 30 years for preconception counseling of inheritance of HED. On physical examination, she was edentulous, with very sparse scalp hair, eyebrows and eyelashes, hyperkeratosis of the face, fingers and soles, and absence of sweat glands by visual inspection. Karyotype was 46,XX,t(X;19)(q11;q13.4). She subsequently became pregnant, and chorionic villus sampling showed the fetus to have a 46,XY,t(X;19)(q11;q13.4) karyotype. Based on these findings, autosomal recessive inheritance of HED is unlikely. Although some cases of autosomal recessive inheritance of HED are believed to occur, it is likely that many fully-manifesting females reported previously actually have an X-autosome translocation, similar to our patient and 3 others reported recently. X-autosome translocations are usually associated with gonadal dysgenesis and infertility, especially when it involves breakpoints between Xq13 and Xq26. The findings in this patient support the assignment of the ovarian dysgenesis locus telomeric to Xq11. However, in regard to the HED locus, the q11 breakpoint is centromeric to the HED region identified in previous reports. The findings in this patient suggest that (1) many cases of autosomal recessive HED may be the result of X-autosome translocations; (2) fertility in some fully-manifesting females may be normal; and (3) study of cases such as the one herein presented may provide important clues to the location of both the HED and ovarian dysgenesis loci.
The impact of the internet of Things on implanted medical devices including pacemakers, and ICDs

The Internet of Things describes multiple distributed systems where all (or most) everyday items include embedded systems in order to connect to the internet. This paradigm has the potential to revolutionize global industry and daily life. Healthcare is once such industry where the Internet of Things may provide great advantages to patients, care givers, and medical institutions. As the number of radio frequency emitters increases under this new paradigm public health and safety must also be taken into account. This paper explores the electromagnetic interference on implantable cardiac rhythm management devices caused by RFID interrogators. A standard electromagnetic compatibility test framework is proposed in order to diagnose the possibility of interference. Also, a mitigation method is proposed and tested. It is shown that the proposed method can reduce the incidence of clinically significant interference by nearly 60%.
Ultrasonic Characterization of Sandwich Core Materials

Sandwich composites are widely used in structural applications because of their high specific strength and bending stiffness. Core materials of these sandwich structures are commonly constructed out of low density particulate composites. The use of these core materials requires an extensive study of their mechanical properties along with better characterization techniques. The pulse echo ultrasound is one of the methods used for nondestructive evaluation of these materials. The present study focuses on the effect of volume fraction of solid glass particles on the ultrasonic properties of solid particulate core materials. Coefficient of attenuation, ultrasonic wave velocities and dynamic Young's modulus are observed to depend on the volume fraction of solid glass particles.
Thermodynamic properties of aqueous potassium sulfate under superambient conditions

Using the ion-interaction or virial coefficient approach developed by Pitzer, the pressure dependences of the osmotic and activity coefficients for KF (aq.) up to 473.15 K and 2.5.0 mol-kg−1 have been calculated from literature data for the apparent molar volumes of KF (aq.). These pressure dependencies were combined with the osmotic and activity coefficient at 0.1 MPa or psat, obtained from the model of Saluja et al. to yield a comprehensive set of thermodynamic properties for KF (aq.) at temperatures from 298.15 through 473.15 K, pressures 10, 20, and 30 MPa, and molalities to 2.5 mol-kg−1.
Preventive War and the Problem of Post-Conflict Political Order

A common thread running through much of the postwar literature on the rise of German power during the 1930s is an earnest sense of regret that Britain and France did not take forceful action to “st...
Static autoregulation is intact in majority of patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: The management of severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) patients with and without intact cerebral pressure autoregulation (CPA) varies markedly. Recent studies, analyzing beat-to-beat interactions between intracranial pressure (ICP) and systolic blood pressure, or transcranial Doppler velocity changes during a rapid drop in cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), suggest that CPA is disrupted after sTBI. We use computed tomography perfusion (CTP) to guide blood pressure manipulation in sTBI and have found CPA results that differ with this literature. We present these results here and suggest modifying our basic concepts of CPA disruption. METHODS: We tested CPA in 24 consecutive sTBI patients using CTP. ICP was monitored intraparenchymally and blood pressure with an arterial line. After a CTP study at baseline, a phenylephrine infusion was used to raise the CPP by 20 mm Hg, and a second CTP was performed immediately thereafter. Quantitative analysis of cerebral blood flow (CBF) was done offline. CPA was considered intact if CBF was unchanged despite the increase in CPP and disrupted if CBF rose after CPP manipulation. RESULTS: CPA was intact in 25 of 33 patients (75.7%) and disrupted in 8 of 33 patients (24.3%). The mean age was significantly different for the 2 groups; 52 years for the disrupted group, 29 years for the intact group (p Language: en
Building on New Foundations: Core Principles and New Directions for Qualitative Research

The authors review and comment on 24 qualitative research articles published in the JER from 1992 to 2001, which represent a wide range of qualitative approaches. The key finding was that patterns shifted from an average of 1 article per year for the 1st 7 years to an average of 1 article per issue for the final 3 years. The authors discussed the following criteria and then used it to evaluate these qualitative articles: investigative depth, interpretive adequacy, illuminative fertility, and participatory accountability. In addition, 4 unnecessary assumptions are illustrated by examples taken from the set of articles that concern false needs for consistency, rigor, coding completeness, and thematic reduction. Three practical suggestions for qualitative researchers in education are offered as a consequence of this review and commentary.
Individual specificity of the late components of averaged electroencephalic responses (AERS) evoked by repeated clicks.

Averaged electroencephalic responses (AERs) were evoked from each of 8 normal hearing subjects on 8 different days by 150 clicks presented at 60 dB sensation level during Design I. For Design II, A...
Grain size variations in the Earth's mantle and the evolution of primordial chemical heterogeneities

[1] Chemical heterogeneities with relatively high viscosity are known to be poorly mixed by mantle convection. One of the factors which can cause viscosity variations is the grain size. Analysis of various physical processes in the Earth's mantle suggests that variation in the grain size can be extremely large even outside of subducting slabs. The largest grains are formed in the early molten Earth where Ostwald ripening is controlled by liquid-state diffusion. The smallest grains are formed due to recrystallization by the spinel-perovskite phase transformation in downwelling flow and subsequent Ostwald ripening. The viscosity contrast between primordial, large grain size material and recrystallized material is likely to be many orders of magnitude. Preliminary numerical simulations show that strongly time-dependent mantle convection can process primordial large-grain size heterogeneities through the spinel-perovskite phase boundary only after a few overturns. This reduces the viscosity contrasts and leads to rapid mixing by mantle convection. A more steady flow in the lower mantle may lead to the formation of stagnant, poorly mixed regions which may never have had a chance to cross the 660-km discontinuity and be recrystallized by the spinel-perovskite phase transformation. Heterogeneities can also avoid grain size reduction and mixing if their density is slightly larger than the surrounding mantle. In this case, they accumulate at the core-mantle boundary.
General Alloy Analysis with a Gas Sheathed Tubular Electrode Arc

The gas sheathed tubular electrode arc has been investigated and applied to general alloy analysis. One set of six solution standards containing 18 different elements was used. Matrix effects have been mostly controlled by using a 1 mg/ml sample or standard in a solution containing 6 mg/ml of sodium as the chloride. Fourteen different standard alloys (NBS and Alcoa) were tested, representing seven different base metals. The over-all accuracy was only about ±8% deviation from the certified value. This would permit identification of alloy type, but for greater accuracy standards more closely approximating the sample should be used. Precision for the technique is normally ±3%–4% relative standard deviation with photographic detection.
Job Satisfaction among School Psychologists: A Replication Study:

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the results of Anderson, et al.'s 1984 national study of the job satisfaction of NASP affiliated school psychologists could be replicated in one s...
Projector-guided painting

This paper presents a novel interactive system for guiding artists to paint using traditional media and tools. The enabling technology is a multi-projector display capable of controlling the appearance of an artist's canvas. This display-on-canvas guides the artist to construct the painting as a series of layers. Our process model for painting is based on classical techniques and was designed to address three main issues which are challenging to novices: (1) positioning and sizing elements on the canvas, (2) executing the brushstrokes to achieve a desired texture and (3) mixing pigments to make a target color. These challenges are addressed through a set of interaction modes. Preview and color selection modes enable the artist to focus on the current target layer by highlighting the areas of the canvas to be painted. Orientation mode displays brushstroke guidelines for the creation of desired brush texture. Color mixing mode guides the artist through the color mixing process with a user interface similar to a color wheel. These interaction modes allow a novice artist to focus on a series of manageable subtasks in executing a complex painting. Our system covers the gamut of the painting process from overall composition down to detailed brushwork. We present the results from a user study which quantify the benefit that our system can provide to a novice painter.
Propagation of a plane wave in an isotropic elastic material subjected to pure homogeneous deformation

In the present paper, we apply the theory [1] of the superposition of infinitesimal deformations on finite deformations in an isotropic elastic material to the study of the propagation of a plane wave of small amplitude in an infinite body of the material which is subjected to a static, pure homogeneous deformation. It is seen that the secular equation for the determination of the square of the velocity of propagation in a given direction has three real eigen-values and correspondingly three real mutually perpendicular eigen-directions. Provided these three eigen-values are all positive, travelling waves may be propagated in the body in the direction considered with linear polarisations along each of these eigen-directions. If one or more of the eigen-values is negative for any direction of propagation, the body is inherently unstable in the state of pure homogeneous deformation considered.
Electrophoretic characterization of mouse liver polyribosomes

Abstract Mouse liver polyribosomes possess characteristic electrophoretic mobilities to agarose acrylamide composite gels. The mobilities of these particles were inversely proportional to their size. Polyribosomes containing five ribosomes were the largest that could be resolved. Brief mild treatment with RNase converted the polyribosomes to faster migrating particles (80 S ribosomes). RNA separated as two bands: 28 S rRNA migrated approximately between monomers and dimers and 18 S rRNA between monomers and subunits.
Diagnosis and surgical correction of congenital coronary artery-coronary sinus fistula.

Congenital coronary arteriovenous fistula is easily confused with patent ductus arteriosus. An illustrative case is presented which emphasizes the special tests that are necessary to establish the diagnosis. Finally, the successful surgical correction of this abnormality is described.
Radar waveform design in active communications channel

In this paper, we investigate spectrally adaptive radar transmit waveform design and its effects on an active communication system. We specifically look at waveform design for point targets. The transmit waveform is optimized by accounting for the modulation spectrum of the communication system while trying to efficiently use the remaining spectrum. With the use of spectrally-matched radar waveform, we show that the SER detection performance of the communication system is minimally affected compared to the SER performance with a classical non-adaptive pulsed radar waveform. Moreover, we show the detection performance of the adaptive waveform is less impacted by the active communication compared to that of the pulsed radar waveform design. In other words the radar is able to coexist with a friendly communication system and thus share the spectrum with a friendly communication system.
A fluid power lab for undergraduate education

This paper presents the development and usage of a unique educational facility housed in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. The laboratory described is focused on the general subject area of dynamic systems and controls. The particular technology utilized in the laboratory is fluid power: the transmission and control of energy via pressurized liquids or gas. This paper describes the mechanisms that went into gathering support for the lab as well as a physical description of many of the laboratory components. Sample experiments are given to emphasize the pedagogical value of this type of laboratory activity over other common exercises in the dynamic systems and control educational field. In addition, this work describes the integration of the fluid power lab into the college-wide controls laboratory network at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Monoclonal antibodies reactive with the BAF155 (SMARCC1) and BAF170 (SMARCC2) components of human SWI/SNF-related complexes

Mammalian SWI/SNF-related chromatin remodeling complexes are required for transcription controls that underlie differentiation, development, and tumor suppression. The complexes each consist of an ATPase of the SWI2/SNF2 family and approximately seven stably associated non-catalytic subunits. In spite of the importance of these complexes to biological processes, monoclonal antibodies to the various subunits have not been readily available. Mammalian complexes can vary in subunit composition, but the BAF155 (SMARCC1) subunit and a closely related protein, BAF170 (SMARCC2), appear to be ubiquitous components. Here we report the development of antibodies raised against a BAF155-derived peptide. The antibodies were raised against a single peptide of 18 amino acids. However, hybridomas expressing antibodies of two different specificities were isolated. One, designated DXD7, is specific for BAF155. The other, designated DXD12, is reactive with both BAF155 and BAF170. The antibodies are reactive against both native and denatured proteins, and are suitable for immunoprecipitation and Western blots. The DXD7 antibody is suitable additionally for immunofluorescence assays.
Biomarkers in peripheral arterial disease patients and near- and longer-term mortality

Background Whether novel biomarkers improve risk prediction of mortality beyond standard cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk markers in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients, and whether any such prediction differs with length of follow-up, remains controversial. Our objective was to determine in patients with PAD whether novel biomarkers improve prediction of CVD mortality and total mortality. Methods A cohort of 397 patients who were referred to a vascular lab had PAD diagnosed by noninvasive testing. Fifty-eight percent also had coronary or cerebrovascular disease at baseline. Predictors of total, CVD, and non-CVD mortality were assessed with Cox proportional hazards models, and the incremental value of predictors was evaluated with both the C-statistic and the integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) index. Results Total mortality was 11% at 2-year follow-up and 65% at an average of 6.6-year of follow-up (maximum, 11.4 years). At 2 years, hs-CRP was a strong and significant predictor of mortality, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.56 per standard deviation ( P = .006). However, at full follow up, standard CVD risk markers were significant (age, gender, ankle-brachial index, other CVD, and hypertension), but hs-CRP no longer showed a significant relationship (HR 1.12; P = .11). None of the other biomarkers studied showed a significant independent association with mortality. Hs-CRP improved the C-statistic and the IDI beyond standard risk markers at 2 years, but not at full follow-up. Conclusions hs-CRP was a strong predictor of short-term mortality in this cohort of PAD patients, while standard risk markers were better at predicting longer-term mortality.
Abstract 5592: Lovastatin and low dose celecoxib decrease proliferation and inflammation in a cellular model of lung pre-malignancy

Statin drugs, such as lovastatin and pravastatin, block the cellular synthesis of cholesterol by inhibiting the function of HMG-CoA reductase. In a prospective study, patients undergoing statin treatment for prevention of atherosclerosis were at a lower risk of developing certain cancers, including lung and breast, suggesting a possible use for lovastatin in the chemoprevention of lung cancer. Here, we show that lovastatin dose-dependently decreases proliferation in both histologically normal and Kras-mutated human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) through the inhibition of cholesterol production. However, increased expression of PGE2, which we and others have shown to contribute to lung cancer progression, was noted with lovastatin treatment alone. Lovastatin up-regulates the production of PGE2 by up-regulating COX-2 expression and simultaneously down-regulating metabolism of PGE2 via down-regulation of 15-PGDH expression. Treatment with the cholesterol precursor, mevalonic acid, inhibited up-regulation of PGE2 and blocked dose-dependent anti-proliferative activity of lovastatin, indicating sterol-dependence. Treatment with both lovastatin and low dose (0.1uM) celecoxib, a COX-2 inhibitor, decreased PGE2 protein production in vector control and Kras-mutated HBECs. These findings suggest that the combination of lovastatin and low dose celecoxib overcomes up-regulation of PGE2 by lovastatin alone and that the combination represents a potentially effective lung cancer chemopreventative regimen worthy of further investigation. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5592.
Alternative Service Delivery Does Nonprofit Financing Influence State Tax Burden

We analyze panel data of U.S. states to determine whether nonprofit contribution and program service revenues are correlated with state tax burden. State tax burden is modeled as a function of (a) ...
Flavonoid content in seeds of guar germplasm using HPLC

Legume flavonoids have received considerable attention due to their beneficial effects on human health. Flavonoid content in the seeds of 36 germplasm accessions of guar [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). On a per 100 g basis, the seed contained, on average, 1.114 mg (0–2.355) daidzein, 0.700 mg (0–1.685) genistein, 0.553 mg (0–1.250) quercetin and 14.460 mg (10.70–19.82) kaempferol. A significant positive correlation was observed between the content of daidzein and genistein; however, significant negative correlations existed between the content of kaempferol and daidzein and of kaempferol and genistein. Compared to soybean seeds, guar seeds contained very low amounts of daidzein and genistein, but a high amount of kaempferol. The information about the levels of flavonoids in guar seeds will be useful to breeding programmes for improving guar seed quality. Furthermore, the high kaempferol content of guar seeds may expand its nutraceutical and pharmaceutical utilization.
Nature of Enhanced Performance of the Dilated Left Ventricle in the Dog during Chronic Volume Overloading

The size and the performance of the left ventricle were examined in six conscious dogs early (within 1 week) and late (average 7 weeks) after the production of a large infrarenal arteriovenous fistula. Radiopaque beads were implanted near the endocardium of the left ventricle, and in each study the end-diastolic pressure was adjusted to 22 mm Hg by transfusion or bleeding. The shortening of the minor equator of the left ventricle and its mean velocity of shortening were compared in each dog before and after chronic left ventricular dilatation (ventricular end-diastolic volumes of 71 ml early and 101 ml late, P < 0.05). In five dogs the stroke volume increased by an average of 42% (P < 0.05) between early and late studies, but the percent change in circumference and the mean velocity of shortening remained unchanged (24.2 ± 2% (SE) and 23.6 ± 2%, 1.43 ± 0.12 circumferences/sec and 1.44 ± 0.09 circumferences/sec, respectively) at comparable heart rates. In one animal with congestive heart failure, the perce...
Multimodal evidence of regional midcingulate gray matter volume underlying conflict monitoring.

Functional neuroimaging studies have long implicated the mid-cingulate cortex (MCC) in conflict monitoring, but it is not clear whether its structural integrity (i.e., the gray matter volume) influences its conflict monitoring function. In this multimodal study, we used T1-weighted MRI scans as well as event-related potentials (ERPs) to test whether the MCC gray matter volume is associated with the electrocortical marker (i.e., No-go N200 ERP component) of conflict monitoring in healthy individuals. The specificity of such a relationship in health was determined in two ways: by (A) acquiring the same data from individuals with cocaine use disorder (CUD), known to have deficits in executive function including behavioral monitoring; and (B) acquiring the P300 ERP component that is linked with attention allocation and not specifically with conflict monitoring. Twenty-five (39.1 ± 8.4 years; 8 females) healthy individuals and 25 (42.7 ± 5.9 years; 6 females) individuals with CUD underwent a rewarded Go/No-go task during which the ERP data was collected, and they also underwent a structural MRI scan. The whole brain regression analysis showed a significant correlation between MCC structural integrity and the well-known ERP measure of conflict monitoring (N200, but not the P300) in healthy individuals, which was absent in CUD who were characterized by reduced MCC gray matter volume, N200 abnormalities as well as reduced task accuracy. In individuals with CUD instead, the N200 amplitude was associated with drug addiction symptomatology. These results show that the integrity of MCC volume is directly associated with the electrocortical correlates of conflict monitoring in healthy individuals, and such an association breaks down in psychopathologies that impact these brain processes. Taken together, this MCC–N200 association may serve as a biomarker of improved behavioral monitoring processes in diseased populations.
Aggressiveness of Familial Prostate Cancer

Purpose To report on the aggressiveness of sporadic versus familial prostate cancer. Patients and Methods The study sample consisted of 4,112 stage T1-3 prostate cancer patients. The outcome of interest was biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS). The analysis was performed for two distinct time periods, 1986 to 1992 (year ≤ 1992) and 1993 to 2002 (year ≥ 1993), to encompass both the early and late prostate-specific antigen (PSA) eras. Results A positive family history (FH positive) was reported in 16%. The 10-year bRFS rates for patients with negative family history (FH negative) versus FH positive were 59% and 63%, respectively (P = .90). However, in the year ≤ 1992 period, the 10-year bRFS rates for FH negative versus FH positive were 45% and 34%, respectively (P = .015). In the year ≥ 1993 period, the 10-year bRFS rates for FH negative versus FH positive were 61% and 67%, respectively (P = .54). Multivariate analysis failed to reveal family history as an independent predictor of relapse (P = .42). Ho...
On Transient Phenomena in Thermalization

Abstract : A challenge is offered to the proof given in a recent paper of the theorem that all the spatial decay constants vanish for a sufficiently large concentration of absorber in thermal neutron experiments. It is shown here that for a large class of scattering models (viz., those in which the total cross section, S(v), tends to a constant as v approaches infinity) the proof given is not valid; and, in fact, if the approach of S(v) to a constant is fast enough, the theorem is shown to be false.
Solid-Projectile Helical Electromagnetic Launcher

Helical electromagnetic launchers (HEMLs) can operate at significantly lower currents and higher efficiency in comparison to conventional railgun and induction coilgun launchers. The HEML's versatility is due, in part, to its large inductance gradient which is typically two to three orders of magnitude greater than a conventional railgun and can be tailored to almost any value in that range. Historically, however, HEMLs were not considered practical since they consisted of a hollow projectile (i.e., armature that is accelerated on the outside of a stator coil). This investigation demonstrates, for the first time, a 40-mm bore times 750-mm length solid-projectile HEML, where the armature is accelerated on the inside of a stator coil. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate the practicality of solid-projectile HEML concept and to measure its performance. Numerous successful tests were conducted. The highest velocity measured for a 170-g projectile was 64 m/s.