cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The structure and phylogenetic significance of the conifer Pseudohirmerella delawarensis nov. comb. from the Upper Triassic of North America

Abstract The conifer genus Pseudohirmerella Arndt is based on ovulate cone scales of the type species, Pseudohirmerella platysperma (Magdefrau) Arndt, from the Upper Triassic of Germany, which bear five distal lobes and two paired structures represented by bulges on the adaxial surface. The paired structures were first described as seeds, but have recently been re-interpreted as arils by Arndt. Similar scales from the Passaic Formation at Milford, NJ, USA were described as Glyptolepis delawarensis Bock, and the new combination Pseudohirmerella delawarensis is proposed. A relatively complete concept of Pseudohirmerella is presented, which includes ovulate cones, possible associated pollen cones, associated shoots with Pagiophyllum – Brachyphyllum morphotype leaves and associated, anatomically preserved wood. Based on the ovulate cone morphology and the presence of organic matter lining the concavities on the scale rather than the corresponding bulges on the counterparts, it is likely that the supposed seeds or arils of Pseudohirmerella are actually casts of empty, seed-bearing depressions. Cheirolepidiaceous affinities are likely based on ovulate cone scale morphology, persistent pollen cones, foliage type and details of wood anatomy. The derived ovulate cone scale morphology of Pseudohirmerella indicates a substantial, but mostly undocumented, Triassic diversification of the Cheirolepidiaceae.
Effect of Thermal Processing on Lima Bean Vitamin B‐6 Availability

Unit operations in lima bean processing were evaluated by their effects on the availability of vitamin B-6. Blanching of rehydrated lima beans resulted in the loss of about 20% of the pyridoxine. In the enzymic digests of the heat processed samples, pyridoxal and pyridoxal-5′-phosphate were not found in appreciable quantities. This was interpreted as a loss in availability, because the acid hydrolysates of both the processed and blanched samples showed a difference of only 15% in the pyridoxal content. This showed that although vitamin B-6 was destroyed only to a small extent during thermal processing, its availability was reduced by almost 50%.
Longterm ambulatory recording: Jeff Holter's enduring contribution to medical diagnosis

In the 1950's, Jeff Holter developed the idea that a meaningful assessment of an individual's cardiovascular status could only be made by long-term continuous observation of that individual, ideally with the subject free to move around in their normal environment. With this in mind he set about developing a range of miniature portable recording instruments which would record physiological signals while allowing subjects significantly more freedom than had previously been possible. Initial work explored the use of radiotelemetry to transmit ECGs from exercising subjects to a remotely located display monitor. In spite of the fact that the transmitter weighed some 38 kg the technique served to establish the principle of monitoring physiological variables from freely moving active subjects. While Holter's interest was the study of disturbances of heart rhythm, others quickly became interested in the use of the technique to study long-term ischaemic changes in the EGG, particularly when many of these were found to be asymptomatic. The technique has now been extended to include the analysis of a number of other electrocardiographic parameters which are known to contribute to risk assessment. With the development of various transducers the concept of long term recording of physiological variables has now been extended to most branches of medicine.
Harnessing the power of big data: infusing the scientific method with machine learning to transform ecology

Most efforts to harness the power of big data for ecology and environmental sciences focus on data and metadata sharing, standardization, and accuracy. However, many scientists have not accepted the data deluge as an integral part of their research because the current scientific method is not scalable to large, complex datasets. Here, we explain how integrating a dataintensive, machine learning approach with a hypothesis-driven, mechanistic approach can lead to a novel knowledge, learning, analysis system (KLAS) for discovery and problem solving. Machine learning leads to more efficient, user-friendly analytics as the streams of data increase while hypothesis-driven decisions lead to the strategic design of experiments to fill knowledge gaps and to elucidate mechanisms. KLAS will transform ecology and environmental sciences by shortening the time lag between individual discoveries and leaps in knowledge by the scientific community, and will lead to paradigm shifts predicated on open access data and analytics in a machine learning environment.
Numerical simulation of the thermal history multiple laser deposited layers

Multilayer direct laser metal deposition is a fabrication process in which the parts are fabricated by creating a molten pool into which metal powder particles are injected, and a layer is laid down by moving the pool. Height is added by creating additional layers on top of the first layer. During fabrication, a complex thermal history is experienced in different regions of the build. The thermal history includes the reheating process for previously deposited layers caused by subsequently deposited layers. The objective of this study is to provide insight into the thermal history during the direct laser deposition process. Using the commercial ABAQUS/CAE software, a thermomechanical 3D finite element model was developed. This work presents a 3D heat transfer model that considers the continuous addition of powder particles in the front of a moving laser beam using ABAQUS/CAE software. The model assumes the deposit geometry appropriate to each experimental condition and calculates temperature distribution, cooling rates, and remelted layer depth which can affect the final microstructure. Model simulations were qualitatively compared with experiments results acquired in situ using a K-type thermocouple.
Logistics in the health care industry

The purpose of this study was to undertake a diagnostic investigation of the international health care logistical environment to determine if regulatory policies or industry procedures have hindered the implementation of just‐in‐time systems. The analysis was conducted in a systematic manner and compared the anticipated benefits with those validated in other industries from the implementation of just‐in‐time. The study also compared the health care industry environments of the USA, UK, and Germany with the manufacturing industry. The author focussed on answering: first, why has the health care industry not implemented just‐in‐time; second, is it feasible for a healthcare provider to implement a just‐in‐time logistical system; and third, what benefits will a health care provider achieve by implementing just‐in‐time. Concludes that controlling health care pricing requires reducing product cost or continues to place limits on product prices, quantities of services, or both. An alternative approach to controlling prices is to restructure the market for health services to encourage greater price competition among providers.
Absence of mutagenic activity of sodium borate (borax) and boric acid in the Salmonella preincubation test

The mutagenicity of borax and boric acid was examined in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 by the preincubation method. No mutagenic activity of borax or boric acid was observed with or without S-9 rat liver enzymes. Experiments also were conducted to investigate the enhancement or inhibition of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) mutagenicity by the two compounds. Neither Borax nor boric acid had any effect on the response of S. typhimurium test strains to B[a]P. Studies conducted to determine the influence of exposure to sunlight for 8 h on the mutagenicity of these materials showed that the nonmutagenic activity of borax or boric acid was not altered, but that the mutagenicity of B[a]P was reduced by approximately one-half. Photodecomposition may be an important factor in rendering this polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon nonmutagenic under environmental conditions.
INTERGENERATIONAL REDISTRIBUTION UNDER SOCIAL SECURITY

Most public finance analysts recognized the significant redistributive aspects of our current social security system — intragenerational and intergenerational transfers. The intragenerational redistribution is fairly straightforward and well documented. Even though the intergenerational transfers are easily understood and generally agreed upon, the magnitudes of these transfers are not so well reported. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the size of the intergenerational redistribution that has occurred and will continue to occur as a result of our pay‐as‐you‐go system of social security. Based upon average earnings, tax rates, and benefits received under social security, it is possible to estimate the relationship between taxes paid and benefits received for representative individuals who have worked and retired under social security. The preliminary analysis suggests that the usual conclusion about intergenerational redistribution is fundamentally correct, but needs modifying. This research shows that although the earliest retirees received the highest internal rates of return, in terms of real benefits in excess of taxes paid, those individuals who retired between 1970 and 1980 received the largest inflation adjusted transfers. Further, according to the analysis, social security has paid retirees in the aggregate more than $4.5 trillion dollars in benefits above what the recipients have paid in taxes. By the year 2020, when retirees are expected to receive in benefits the amount paid in taxes, this cumulative excess is projected to be about $9.2 trillion.
Confidence intervals of the ratio of means of two independent inverse Gaussian distributions

The inverse Gaussian (IG) distribution is an ideal candidate for modeling positive, right-skewed data. However, there have always been reservations about the use of the IG distribution in data analysis, partially due to the fact the exact confidence interval involving two IG means is not available when the shape parameters are not equal. In this paper, we present an approach based on the modified directed likelihood ratio statistic to obtain the approximate confidence interval of the ratio of two inverse Gaussian means. As assessed by simulation, the coverage probability of the proposed approach is found to be very accurate even for very small sample sizes.
The IMF and Regulatory Challenges

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) plays a substantial regulatory role in the international monetary and financial system. It has been assigned a formal regulatory role in a limited number of areas, such as obligations covering exchange rate policies. Yet the Fund has a broader informal regulatory role derived from the voluntary consent of its members, such as in surveillance over members’ financial sector policies and international payments imbalances. This regulatory role is unlike that of its member governments within their own jurisdictions. In order to guide the global economy in the wake of the 2007–09 crisis, the Fund's formal and informal regulation will have to be constantly nurtured and renewed via peer-review processes.
Implementation of a service platform for online games

Large-scale multiplayer online games require considerable investment in hosting infrastructures. However, the difficulty of predicting the success of a new title makes investing in dedicated server and network resources very risky. A shared infrastructure based on utility computing models to support multiple games offers an attractive option for game providers whose core competency is not in managing large server deployments.In this paper we describe a prototype implementation of a shared, on demand service platform for online games. The platform builds on open standards and off-the-shelf software developed to support utility computing offerings for Web-based business applications. We describe our early experience with identifying appropriate performance metrics for provisioning game servers and with implementing the platform components that we consider essential for its acceptance.
Interrelated Roles for Mcl-1 and BIM in Regulation of TRAIL-mediated Mitochondrial Apoptosis

The current study demonstrates a novel cross-talk mechanism between the TRAIL receptor death signaling pathway and the mitochondria. This newly identified pathway is regulated at the mitochondrial outer membrane by a complex between the prosurvival Bcl-2 member, Mcl-1 and the BH3-only protein, Bim. Under non-apoptotic conditions, Bim is sequestered by Mcl-1. Direct degradation of Mcl-1 by TRAIL-activated caspase-8 or caspase-3 produces Mcl-1-free Bim that mediates a Bax-dependent apoptotic cascade. Using Mcl-1 or Bim RNAi, we demonstrate that a loss in Mcl-1 expression significantly enhances the mitochondrial apoptotic response to TRAIL that is now mediated by freed Bim. Whereas overexpression of Mcl-1 contributes to the preservation of the mitochondrial membrane potential, Mcl-1 knockdown facilitates the Bim-mediated dissipation of this potential. Loss of Mcl-1 contributes to an increased level of caspase activity downstream of the mitochondrial response to TRAIL. Furthermore, the Mcl-1 expression level at the mitochondrial outer membrane determines the release efficiency for the apoptogenic proteins cytochrome c, Smac, and HtrA2 in response to Bim. These are the first findings to demonstrate the involvement of Bim in the TRAIL-mediated mitochondrial cascade. They also suggest that Mcl-1 may serve as a direct substrate for TRAIL-activated caspases implying the existence of a novel TRAIL/caspase-8/Mcl-1/Bim communication mechanism between the extrinsic and the intrinsic apoptotic pathways.
Bidirectional helical motility of cytoplasmic dynein around microtubules

Cytoplasmic dynein is a molecular motor responsible for minus-end-directed cargo transport along microtubules (MTs). Dynein motility has previously been studied on surface-immobilized MTs in vitro, which constrains the motors to move in two dimensions. In this study, we explored dynein motility in three dimensions using an MT bridge assay. We found that dynein moves in a helical trajectory around the MT, demonstrating that it generates torque during cargo transport. Unlike other cytoskeletal motors that produce torque in a specific direction, dynein generates torque in either direction, resulting in bidirectional helical motility. Dynein has a net preference to move along a right-handed helical path, suggesting that the heads tend to bind to the closest tubulin binding site in the forward direction when taking sideways steps. This bidirectional helical motility may allow dynein to avoid roadblocks in dense cytoplasmic environments during cargo transport.
Srb5/Med18-mediated Termination of Transcription Is Dependent on Gene Looping

We have earlier demonstrated the involvement of Mediator subunit Srb5/Med18 in the termination of transcription for a subset of genes in yeast. Srb5/Med18 could affect termination either indirectly by modulating CTD-Ser2 phosphorylation near the 3′ end of a gene or directly by physically interacting with the cleavage and polyadenylation factor or cleavage factor 1 (CF1) complex and facilitating their recruitment to the terminator region. Here, we show that the CTD-Ser2 phosphorylation pattern on Srb5/Med18-dependent genes remains unchanged in the absence of Srb5 in cells. Coimmunoprecipitation analysis revealed the physical interaction of Srb5/Med18 with the CF1 complex. No such interaction of Srb5/Med18 with the cleavage and polyadenylation factor complex, however, could be detected. The Srb5/Med18-CF1 interaction was not observed in the looping defective sua7-1 strain. Srb5/Med18 cross-linking to the 3′ end of genes was also abolished in the sua7-1 strain. Chromosome conformation capture analysis revealed that the looped architecture of Srb5/Med18-dependent genes was abrogated in srb5− cells. Furthermore, Srb5-dependent termination of transcription was compromised in the looping defective sua7-1 cells. The overall conclusion of these results is that gene looping plays a crucial role in Srb5/Med18 facilitated termination of transcription, and the looped gene architecture may have a general role in termination of transcription in budding yeast.
Erythropoietic factor in kidney tissue of anemic dogs.

Homogenates of kidney, liver, and spleen tissue from normal and anemic dogs were assayed for crythropoictic activity by their effect on Fe/sup 59/ red cell incorporation in starved rats. A slightly higher incorporation resulted from adminstration of an extract of anemic kidney than from extract of normal kidney or anemic liver or anemic spleen. This difference was sufficient to suggest the importance of developing methods for concentrating and purifying the erythropoietic activity of tissue homogenates to help clarify the role of kidney in production of erythropoietin. Methods for fractionation and concentration are being investigated. (auth)
Flip-flop Selection to Maximize TDF Coverage with Partial Enhanced Scan

Enhanced scan designs support high coverage TDF testing but with significant overhead. We present a flip-flop selection strategy for partial enhanced scan designs that offers a favorable trade-off between coverage and overhead. Experimental results using commercial ATPG tools show that 60-90% of the TDF coverage benefits of enhanced scan can be achieved at 10-30% of the cost.
A Code Generation Framework for Actor-Oriented Models with Partial Evaluation

Embedded software requires concurrency formalisms other than threads and mutexes used in traditional programming languages like C. Actor-oriented design presents a high level abstraction for composing concurrent components. However, high level abstraction often introduces overhead and results in slower system. We address the problem of generating efficient implementation for the systems with such a high level description. We use partial evaluation as an optimized compilation technique for actor-oriented models. We use a helper-based mechanism, which results in flexible and extensible code generation framework. The end result is that the benefit offered by high level abstraction comes with (almost) no performance penalty. The code generation framework has been released in open source form as part of Ptolemy II 6.0.1.
Genotype and Phenotype Correlations in Congenital Glaucoma: CYP1B1 Mutations, Goniodysgenesis, and Clinical Characteristics

Purpose To determine whether there is a correlation among mutations in the cytochrome P4501B1 gene ( CYP1B1 ), the degree of angle dysgenesis observed histologically, and disease severity in congenital glaucoma. Design Interventional case series. Methods Direct DNA sequencing was used to screen six unrelated children with congenital glaucoma, each set of parents, and all siblings for CYP1B1 mutations. Specimens of the anterior chamber angle obtained at trabeculectomy were examined histologically to identify abnormalities of the aqueous outflow pathway. CYP1B1 mutations were correlated with both the degree of angle dysgenesis and the patients' disease severity (age at diagnosis, difficulty in achieving intraocular pressure [IOP]) control. Results Four (66.7%) of the six patients were compound heterozygotes for mutations in the CYP1B1 gene. Seven of the eight CYP1B1 mutations were identified, including two novel mutations (R117P, C209R) and five others previously described (G61E, R368H, R390H, E229K, 4340delG). The cases were divided on the basis of histological phenotype into categories of (1) severe goniodysgenesis highlighted by the agenesis of the canal of Schlemm (two patients), (2) moderate goniodysgenesis characterized by the presence of a band of collagenous tissue (CT) in the trabecular meshwork (TM) and/or the juxtacanalicular tissues (JXT) (three patients), and (3) mild goniodysgenesis with deposition of a mucopolysaccharide material in the JXT (one patient). CYP1B1 mutations were identified in both cases of severe angle dysgenesis and two of three cases of moderate dysgenesis. Disease severity closely correlated with the degree of angle dysgenesis. Conclusions Most patients in our cohort had compound heterozygous CYP1B1 mutations. Specific CYP1B1 mutations may be associated with severe or moderate angle abnormalities.
Molecular dynamics modelling of hydrated mineral interlayers and surfaces : structure and dynamics

This paper reviews the results of recent molecular dynamics (MD) modelling studies of the interaction of water and solute species with mineral surfaces and their behaviour in mineral interlayers. Emphasis is on results for single and double hydroxide phases. Computational results are presented for water and anions in the interlayers of the Ca2Al, Mg2Al, and LiAl2 layered double hydroxides and on the surfaces of the Ca2Al phase. Detailed results for water on the (001) surface of brucite (Mg(OH)2) are presented and compared to published results for other phases. In all these cases, hydrogen bonding and the development of a hydrogen-bond network involving the H2O molecules and the solid substrate play very significant roles. The MD methods are especially effective for investigating the structure and dynamics of mineral-fluid interfaces and mineral interlayers, because they can be applied to systems containing hundreds to thousands of atoms and for extended durations of the order of nanoseconds.
Intravascular laser speckle imaging catheter for the mechanical evaluation of the arterial wall

Laser speckle imaging (LSI) is a novel technique for measuring the mechanical properties of atherosclerotic plaques. In LSI, the decorrelation time constant of speckle intensity fluctuations provides an index of viscoelasticity that is closely related to plaque microstructure and composition. Here, we demonstrate for the first time, the feasibility of conducting LSI in vivo using a prototype 1.5 mm (4.5 Fr) diameter intravascular catheter. Investigation of the catheter performance using human arterial samples ex vivo shows that plaque time constants measured by the LSI catheter correlate well with those measured using a free-space bulk optics system. To demonstrate LSI in vivo, the catheter is interfaced with a portable console for intravascular evaluation in the aorta of a living rabbit. Distinct differences in arterial time constants are identified at normal aortic and stented sites in vivo with intravascular LSI.
North Korean Telecommunications: On Hold

The reclusive country’s opening of a large free economic trade zone in i99i, where foreign enterprises may exist, and the establishment of an industrial park in 2004 with tenants from South Korea, indicate a relatively new initiative to attract foreign direct investment. The desire to attract investment must come with an acknowledgement of the need for modern infrastructure, including an up-to-date telecommunications network. While North Korea has shown that it has infrastructure in place to allow national Internet availability and wireless phone communication, all such operations are on hold while North Korea wrestles with its hermit ideology.
Impaired health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with chronic conditions: a comparative analysis of 10 disease clusters and 33 disease categories/severities utilizing the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales.

Advances in biomedical science and technology have resulted in dramatic improvements in the healthcare of pediatric chronic conditions. With enhanced survival, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) issues have become more salient. The objectives of this study were to compare generic HRQOL across ten chronic disease clusters and 33 disease categories/severities from the perspectives of patients and parents. Comparisons were also benchmarked with healthy children data. The analyses were based on over 2,500 pediatric patients from 10 physician-diagnosed disease clusters and 33 disease categories/severities and over 9,500 healthy children utilizing the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales. Patients were recruited from general pediatric clinics, subspecialty clinics, and hospitals. Pediatric patients with diabetes, gastrointestinal conditions, cardiac conditions, asthma, obesity, end stage renal disease, psychiatric disorders, cancer, rheumatologic conditions, and cerebral palsy self-reported progressively more impaired overall HRQOL than healthy children, respectively, with medium to large effect sizes. Patients with cerebral palsy self-reported the most impaired HRQOL, while patients with diabetes self-reported the best HRQOL. Parent proxy-reports generally paralleled patient self-report, with several notable differences. The results demonstrate differential effects of pediatric chronic conditions on patient HRQOL across diseases clusters, categories, and severities utilizing the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales from the perspectives of pediatric patients and parents. The data contained within this study represents a larger and more diverse population of pediatric patients with chronic conditions than previously reported in the extant literature. The findings contribute important information on the differential effects of pediatric chronic conditions on generic HRQOL from the perspectives of children and parents utilizing the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales. These findings with the PedsQL™ have clinical implications for the healthcare services provided for children with chronic health conditions. Given the degree of reported impairment based on PedsQL™ scores across different pediatric chronic conditions, the need for more efficacious targeted treatments for those pediatric patients with more severely impaired HRQOL is clearly and urgently indicated.
Sensor deployment and target localization based on virtual forces

The effectiveness of cluster-based distributed sensor networks depends to a large extent on the coverage provided by the sensor deployment. We propose a virtual force algorithm (VFA) as a sensor deployment strategy to enhance the coverage after an initial random placement of sensors. For a given number of sensors, the VFA algorithm attempts to maximize the sensor field coverage. A judicious combination of attractive and repulsive forces is used to determine virtual motion paths and the rate of movement for the randomly-placed sensors. Once the effective sensor positions are identified, a one-time movement with energy consideration incorporated is carried out, i.e., the sensors are redeployed to these positions. We also propose a novel probabilistic target localization algorithm that is executed by the cluster head. The localization results are used by the cluster head to query only a few sensors (out of those that report the presence of a target) for more detailed information. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Characterization of Long Term Hormonal Cell Cultures from the MtT/W15 Prolactin– and Growth Hormone– Secreting Rat Pituitary Tumor*

PRL-secreting epithelial cell lines (PECL) derived from Furth's MtT/W15 transplantable rat pituitary tumor have been studied as monolayer cultures for up to 18 months. Tumor epithelial cells were mechanically dispersed, plated at high density, and selectively enriched by picking and pooling colonies, thereby avoiding single cell-cloning conditions, in order to study the long term natural evolution of tumor cell populations in vitro. Fibroblast-like cells, prevalent in primary and early passages, underwent a series of morphological changes, which have been interpreted by others as in vitro aging or differentiation, and were eliminated from the cultures within 9 months. PECL phenotypes were heterogeneous and differed from sc MtT/W15 tumors with respect to morphological differentiation and modal chromosome number (48 for solid tumors: 48-92 for PECL; 42 for diploid). PECL were devoid of secretory granules by electron microscopy, but accumulated neutral lipid, complex lysosomes, and endocytotic vesicles. PECL differed from one another in plating efficiency (0.6-7.3%) and basal secretion rates for PRL and GH. Population doubling times decreased during the culture interval from 100 to 24-37 h in different PECL. RIA of medium from early cultures (less than 7 months) disclosed that PRL always exceeded GH levels, mimicking the serum hormone ratio of MtT/W15 tumor-bearing Wistar-Furth rats. Basal hormone release declined with time from a maximal initial rate of 93 micrograms/mg cell protein.24 h for PRL and 2.3 micrograms/mg cell protein.24 h for GH. GH production ceased by 7 months in all PECL, but PRL secretion persisted for 18 months. PRL production increased during exponential growth as a direct function of cell number and protein, and reached a maximum during confluency. Immunoperoxidase-conjugated antibody staining localized PRL in the Golgi region but not in secretory granules, consistent with a rapid release rate for the hormone. In preliminary experiments, rat hypothalamic extract (one hypothalamic extract RP-1 equivalent per dish) and 17 beta-estradiol (1 X 10(-8) M), but not TRH (5 X 10(-8) M), stimulated PRL secretion from PECL/F3, whereas only hypothalamic extract stimulated total cell protein after exposure to the agents for 3-6 days. Long term cultures of PECL exhibited reduced oncogenicity when transplanted in W/Fu rats. During serial passages, in vivo, PRL secretion decreased from 154 microgram/ml serum to the normal range within the same time framework that PRL secretion from cultured PECL/F3 was observed to decrease and stop in vitro. We believe that this phenomenon represents an expressed program within the cells rather than being merely a reflection of the in vitro environment.
The associative striatum: Organization of cortical projections to the dorsocentral striatum in rats

The dorsocentral striatum (DCS) is the major site of input from medial agranular cortex (AGm) and has been implicated as an associative striatal area that is part of a cortical-subcortical circuit involved in multimodal spatial functions involving directed attention. Anterograde axonal tracing was used to investigate the spatial organization of corticostriatal projections to DCS. Injections of biotinylated dextran amine were made into several cortical areas known to project to DCS based on retrograde tracing data. These included areas AGm, lateral agranular cortex (AGl), orbital cortex, posterior parietal cortex (PPC), and visual association cortex. We discovered a previously undescribed geometry whereby the projection from AGm is prominent within DCS and the main corticostriatal projections from areas other than AGm are situated around the periphery of DCS: visual association cortex dorsomedially, PPC dorsally, AGl laterally, and orbital cortex ventrally. Each of these cortical projections is also represented by less dense aggregates of terminal labeling within DCS, organized as focal patches and more diffuse labeling. Because these cortical areas are linked by corticocortical connections, the present findings indicate that interconnected cortical areas have convergent terminal fields in the region of DCS. These findings suggest that DCS is a central associative region of the dorsal striatum characterized by a high degree of corticostriatal convergence. J. Comp. Neurol. 467:271–292, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Radiopharmaceuticals in Nuclear Pharmacy and Nuclear Medicine

R.J. Kowalsky and S.W. Falen, eds. Washington, DC: American Pharmacists Association, 741 pages, $191.95 Nuclear pharmacy and nuclear medicine continue to experience extensive growth and change with the development of new radiopharmaceuticals and technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of
Influence of contact architecture on the high-field characteristics of planar silicon structures

The profile of the contact metallization is observed to play a significant role in the high-field behaviour of high-resistivity Si wafers used for photoconductive power switch applications. In this paper, we present the influence of five different contact geometries on the electric field distribution and leakage current variation in high-resistivity silicon wafers. Experimental results indicate that at high fields, current filamentation occurs due to local avalanche phenomena at high-stress locations when the field enhancement is concentrated in a narrow region forcing a high current density. The threshold for current filamentation is not solely determined by the magnitude of the field enhancement alone, but also the localization of the field enhancement in a narrow region and the consequent increase of current density in that localized region. The experimental results are supported by numerical field computations as well as by optical micrographs that confirm the occurrence of surface filamentation at concentrated high-stress locations. Based on the experimental and computational results, contact geometries suitable for high-field applications of planar Si structures is suggested and the maximum field up to which each geometry can be used without surface filamentation is compared.
Fractality and the Kinetics of Chaos

A kinetic equation describes the evolution of the distribution function F(x) in the space of a set of variables (x) which can be a subset of the phase space coordinates. Typically, the kinetic description of a system emerges from two basic characteristics of the dynamical process: its random features and its reduced subset (\(\left( {\bar x} \right)\)) of variables. The first characteristic, randomness, consists of a reasonable physical assumption like the Boltzmann’s Stossansatz or the random phase approximation (see for example G.M. Zaslaysy, Chaos in dynamical systems, Harwood Academic publishers, New York, 1989). The second characteristic, typically, is based on a separation of slow and fast variables and averaging procedure over the latter ones.
Disasters, victimization, and children's mental health.

In a representative sample of 2,030 U.S. children aged 2–17, 13.9% report lifetime exposure to disaster, and 4.1% report experiencing a disaster in the past year. Disaster exposure was associated with some forms of victimization and adversity. Victimization was associated with depression among 2- to 9-year-old disaster survivors, and with depression and aggression among 10- to 17-year-old disaster survivors. Children exposed to either victimization only or both disaster and victimization had worse mental health compared to those who experienced neither. More research into the prevalence and effects of disasters and other stressful events among children is needed to better understand the interactive risks for and effects of multiple forms of trauma.
Attitude Control Methodology for Large Solar Sails

In this paper, an attitude control methodology for large-size (on the order of kilometer squared) solar sails is proposed. The methodology is demonstrated for the case of a square sail divided into four equal triangular wings held together by two rigid perpendicular booms. By adjusting the position of a wing tip along the boom, the shape of the wing is altered. Under the effect of solar radiation pressure, the wing will naturally curve. This curvature in the wing will cause a change in the position of the center of pressure as well as the total solar radiation force vector acting on the wing, resulting in a torque that can be used for attitude control. This methodology exploits the sail film geometry itself to generate the necessary control forces and torques, rather than introducing extra control elements into the system. The mathematical relationship between the displacement of the wing tip and the control torque generated is fully developed under quasi-static conditions and assuming the wing takes on t...
“Killer” Amendments in Congress

For more than three decades, social choice theorists and legislative scholars have studied how legislative outcomes in Congress can be manipulated through strategic amendments and voting. I address the central limitation of this research, a virtual absence of systematic empirical work, by examining 76 “killer” amendments considered during the 103d and 104th congresses. I trace the effects of these amendments on their related bills using archival sources, test for strategic voting using NOMINATE as the baseline measure of legislator preferences across a range of issues, and explore with OLS regression why some killer amendments are more strategically important than others. The findings indicate that successful killer amendments and identifiable strategic voting are extremely rare. In none of the cases examined could the defeat of a bill be attributed to adoption of an alleged killer amendment.
Evaluating the Utility of Multispectral Information in Delineating the Areal Extent of Precipitation

Data from geosynchronous Earth-orbiting (GEO) satellites equipped with visible (VIS) and infrared (IR) scanners are commonly used in rain retrieval algorithms. These algorithms benefit from the high spatial and temporal resolution of GEO observations, either in stand-alone mode or in combination with higher-quality but less frequent microwave observations from low Earth-orbiting (LEO) satellites. In this paper, a neural network‐based framework is presented to evaluate the utility of multispectral information in improving rain/no-rain (R/NR) detection. The algorithm uses the powerful classification features of the self-organizing feature map (SOFM), along with probability matching techniques to map single- or multispectral input space into R/NR maps. The framework was tested and validated using the 31 possible combinations of the five Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 12 (GOES-12) channels. An algorithm training and validation study was conducted over the conterminous United States during June‐August 2006. The results indicate that during daytime, the visible channel (0.65 mm) can yield significant improvements in R/NR detection capabilities, especially when combined with any of the other four GOES-12 channels. Similarly, for nighttime detection the combination of two IR channels—particularly channels 3 (6.5 mm) and 4 (10.7 mm)—resulted in significant performance gain over any single IR channel. In both cases, however, using more than two channels resulted only in marginal improvements over two-channel combinations. Detailed examination of event-based images indicate that the proposed algorithm is capable of extracting information useful to screen no-rain pixels associated with cold, thin clouds and identifying rain areas under warm but rainy clouds. Both cases have been problematic areas for IR-only algorithms.
Efficient Urbanisation: Economic Performance and the Shape of the Metropolis:

The influences of urban form and transport infrastructure on economic performance show up in several contemporary policy debates, notably 'sprawl versus compact city' and in the developing world, the future of mega-cities. This paper probes these relationships using two scales of analysis. At the macro scale, an econometric analysis using data across 47 US metropolitan areas reveals that employment densities and urban primacy are positively associated with worker productivity, suggesting the presence of agglomeration economies. Congested freeways are shown to be a consequence of strong economic performance. An intrametropolitan analysis using data on sub-districts of the San Francisco Bay Area generally reinforces the findings of the macro-scale analysis. In the Bay Area, labour productivity appears to increase with size of labour-marketshed and high accessibility between residences and firms. Higher employment density and well-functioning infrastructure also contribute positively to economic performance.
Psychosexual development in genetic males assigned female: the cloacal exstrophy experience

Genetic males who have cloacal exstrophy, a rare, severe pelvic field defect that leads to aphallia, traditionally have been socially, legally, and surgically sex-assigned female at birth and reared female, despite a male karyotype and a typical male prenatal hormonal milieu. Psychosexual development in such children previously has been unknown. Studies of 29 children revealed that despite the absence of the typical postnatal and pubertal androgen surges and the presence of female genitalia, all female-assigned subjects displayed a marked male-typical shift in psychosocial and psychosexual development. Nearly half of them have declared themselves male. Psychosexual development, including gender identity, in genetic and hormonal male neonates seems to be influenced heavily by prenatal androgen exposure. The clinical practice of surgical sex assignment at birth requires re-evaluation.
Impacts of long-term application of poultry manure on subsurface drain water quality

With a steady growth of egg industry in Iowa as the leading state in the US, there is a huge amount of poultry manure released into the environment and need to be treated properly. Land application of poultry manure on crop production and pasture has been considered as proper management practice to utilize the valuable nutrient content of poultry manure (N, P, K and other minerals) for crop development instead of chemical fertilizer. However, there is an environmental risk of over-applying poultry manure on soil and water quality especially for field plots having tile-drained systems. A few long-term studies have been done to evaluate the impacts of poultry manure application rates on soil and subsurface water quality, and crop production to expose the experiment over a wide range of weather conditions for better understanding and being able to provide informed recommendations. A long-term study (1998-2009) was conducted to evaluate the environmental impacts of surface applied poultry manure on crop production, nitrate and phosphorus leaching in tile drain water as well as nitrate and phosphorus built-up in top soil. Application rates include two poultry manure application rates (168kg-N/ha PM and 336 kg-N/ha – PM2) with three replications for each rate, urea ammonium nitrate – UAN (168kg-N/ha) with four replications and a control None (0kg-N/ha). These treatments are assigned on eleven field plots equipped by a state-of-the-art single subsurface tile drain. Tile drain is intercepted by a sump to collect the tile flow and sample water. Corn is planted on one half and soybean on the other half of the plot. Only corn areas receive the treatments. Corn and soybean are rotated yearly. Soil NO3-N and PO4-P concentration are collected in Spring (before applying
Bed-material entrainment and hydraulic geometry of gravel-bed rivers in Colorado

Twenty-four gravel-bed rivers in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado were selected for a detailed investigation of bed-material mobility and hydraulic geometry. The criteria for choosing the study reaches were: a nonbraided channel with self-formed bed and banks, evidence of quasi-equilibrium, minimal flow regulation, and a streamflow-gaging station record of at least ten years. In each river reach, several cross sections and longitudinal profiles of the riverbed, water surface, and bankfull elevation were surveyed. Samples of bed surface and subsurface material were collected for size analysis. The median diameter of the bed-material surface ranged from 23 mm to 120 mm. Bankfull discharges ranged from 0.70 m 3 /sec to 255 m 3 /sec. Computed values of the dimensionless shear stress (τ*) showed that the threshold of particle motion was exceeded at flows slightly less than bankfull. The average value of τ* at bankfull was 0.046. Bankfull discharges were equaled or exceeded on an average of 8.1 days per year. The averaged computed value of τ* for the 100-yr flood discharges was only 0.068. Consequently, transport of bed-material particles is a relatively frequent occurrence. Large bed-material transport rates, however, are extremely rare. Empirical evidence obtained at these and other streams indicates that a stable, self-formed gravel-bed channel cannot be maintained at a dimensionless shear stress greater than about 0.080. The 24 river reaches were divided into 2 groups, depending upon bank stability as indicated by bank vegetation. Separately determined bankfull hydraulic-geometry equations for each group were found to have the same exponents, but slightly different coefficients. An analysis of variance determined that 67% of the observations were within ± 15% to 20% of the predicted values for most hydraulic variables. The bankfull hydraulic-geometry equations for the Colorado rivers studied were compared with those of British gravel-bed rivers that had been similarly divided according to the extent of bank vegetation. No significant difference between the hydraulic geometries of Colorado and British gravel-bed rivers with thick bank vegetation was found. The comparison of hydraulic-geometry equations for those rivers with thin bank vegetation determined that there was no difference in the width-versus-discharge relations. No significant difference was found for the exponents of the depth, velocity, and slope equations; however, the coefficient values were slightly different.
Physical and Virtual Intelligent Sensors for Integrated Health Management Systems

This paper describes the development of intelligent sensors as part of an integrated systems approach. The integrated systems approach treats...
Lessons for LEED® for Neighborhood Development, Social Equity, and Affordable Housing

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® for Neighborhood Development (LEED®ND) is a rating system designed to encourage sustainable development. I explore why and how most LEED®ND projects ultimately fail to meet the equity goals inherent in sustainability. I survey 114 LEED®ND accredited professionals (APs) and conduct 20 interviews with LEED®ND APs to illuminate the role of the rating system in developer decisions to include affordable housing in their projects. I also explore why nonprofit developers see value in seeking LEED®ND certification for their projects. Although a limited sample, it provides insights into how the certification process affects developer decisions. I find that the LEED®ND rating system does a poor job of encouraging developers to provide affordable housing: Only 40% of LEED®ND-certified projects include affordable housing. LEED®ND APs do not feel that the system offers sufficient incentives to overcome the risks and costs of provi...