cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Field and Laboratory Evaluation of the Microsporidian Parasite Heterosporis sutherlandae: Prevalence, Severity, and Transmission

Heterosporis sutherlandae is an invasive microsporidian parasite in the Great Lakes region of North America that infects the skeletal muscle of numerous fish species, rendering the fillet unfit for human consumption. Although H. sutherlandae has been identified as a pathogen of concern by state management agencies, there is little information to inform regulation and intervention. We sampled fishes over 1 year from three lakes in northern Minnesota with known infected populations to determine the importance of host demographic and environmental variables for influencing H. sutherlandae infection prevalence. Heterosporis sutherlandae was present during all sampling periods, ranging in prevalence from 1% to 11%. The prevalence of H. sutherlandae among Yellow Perch Perca flavescens varied significantly according to season, with winter having the lowest prevalence (1%) and summer having the highest prevalence (11%). For other fish species, the prevalence of H. sutherlandae also varied significantly with season: the lowest prevalence occurred during spring (1%) and the highest prevalence occurred in fall (9%). Rates of pathogen transmission were estimated by exposing Fathead Minnows Pimephales promelas in the laboratory. Transmission rates were 23% when naive fish were fed infected tissues and only 2% when naive fish were held in cohabitation with tissue-fed fish. Exposure method and exposure duration (d) increased the probability that a fish was infected with H. sutherlandae. These findings suggest that H. sutherlandae transmission is greater when a susceptible host consumes infected tissue than when the fish is exposed to spores present in the water column. The current rates of infection in wild fishes are in stark contrast to the prevalence documented in 2004 (28%), suggesting a reduction in H. sutherlandae prevalence within at least one Yellow Perch population in the Laurentian Great Lakes region since the early 2000s.
PAC1 Receptor Internalization and Endosomal MEK/ERK Activation Is Essential for PACAP-Mediated Neuronal Excitability

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP, Adcyap1) activation of PAC1 receptors (Adcyap1r1) can significantly increase the excitability of diverse neurons through differential mechanisms. For guinea pig cardiac neurons, the modulation of excitability can be mediated in part by PAC1 receptor plasma membrane G protein-dependent activation of adenylyl cyclase and downstream signaling cascades. By contrast, PAC1 receptor-mediated excitability of hippocampal dentate gyrus granule cells appears independent of membrane-delimited AC/cAMP/PKA and PLC/PKC signaling. For both neuronal types, there is mechanistic convergence demonstrating that endosomal PAC1 receptor signaling has prominent roles. In these models, neuronal exposure to Pitstop2 to inhibit β-arrestin/clathrin-mediated PAC1 receptor internalization eliminates PACAP modulation of excitability. β-arrestin is a scaffold for a number of effectors especially MEK/ERK and notably, paradigms that inhibit PAC1 receptor endosome formation and ERK signaling also blunt the PACAP-induced increase in excitability. Detailed PAC1 receptor internalization and endosomal ERK signaling mechanisms have been confirmed in HEK PAC1R-EGFP cells and shown to be long lasting which appear to recapitulate the sustained electrophysiological responses. Thus, PAC1 receptor internalization/endosomal recruitment efficiently and efficaciously activates MEK/ERK signaling and appears to represent a singular and critical common denominator in regulating neuronal excitability by PACAP.
The Treatment of LGBTQ+ Individuals in Behavior-Analytic Publications: A Historical Review

The purpose of this article is to review behavior-analytic publications to understand the field’s history of including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ+) individuals in research publications. Twelve articles met the inclusionary criteria for review. The results of the review suggested that the representation of LGBTQ+ individuals is lacking in behavior-analytic literature. Of the 12 articles identified, two were categorized as experimental, three as commentaries, three as survey research, two as conceptual, and two as calls to action. The most prominent period for related publications was between 1973 and 1977, with long periods between other articles that were published in 1990, 1996, 2018, and 2019. Experiments published in the 1970s were associated with conversion therapy, to attempt to change an individual’s sexual or gender identity. However, other behavior analysts in the 1970s opposed these experiments. Since these early experiments, there have been no other interventions targeted at affecting the lives of gender and sexual minorities. Behavior analysts must address issues of significance faced by LGBTQ+ individuals through increasing affirming practices, reducing health disparities, increasing safety in schools, and more.
Designing a Clinical Decision Support Tool That Leverages Machine Learning for Suicide Risk Prediction: Development Study in Partnership With Native American Care Providers.

Background: Machine learning algorithms for suicide risk prediction have been developed with notable improvements in accuracy. Implementing these algorithms to enhance clinical care and reduce suicide has not been well studied. Objective: This study aims to design a clinical decision support tool and appropriate care pathways for community-based suicide surveillance and case management systems operating on Native American reservations. Methods: Participants included Native American case managers and supervisors (N=9) who worked on suicide surveillance and case management programs on 2 Native American reservations. We used in-depth interviews to understand how case managers think about and respond to suicide risk. The results from interviews informed a draft clinical decision support tool, which was then reviewed with supervisors and combined with appropriate care pathways. Results: Case managers reported acceptance of risk flags based on a predictive algorithm in their surveillance system tools, particularly if the information was available in a timely manner and used in conjunction with their clinical judgment. Implementation of risk flags needed to be programmed on a dichotomous basis, so the algorithm could produce output indicating high versus low risk. To dichotomize the continuous predicted probabilities, we developed a cutoff point that favored specificity, with the understanding that case managers’ clinical judgment would help increase sensitivity. Conclusions: Suicide risk prediction algorithms show promise, but implementation to guide clinical care remains relatively elusive. Our study demonstrates the utility of working with partners to develop and guide the operationalization of risk prediction algorithms to enhance clinical care in a community setting.
Contralateral Axillary Lymph Node Enlargement in a Woman with Silent Silicone Breast Implant Rupture 30 Years After Breast Cancer Diagnosis: A Lesson to Be Learnt

BackgroundSilicone lymphadenopathy is a recognized complication of silicone implant rupture. It occurs when silicone droplets migrate from breast implants to lymph nodes, resulting in the formation of granulomas (known as siliconoma) and lymph node enlargement. The ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes are most commonly involved but it can also affect contralateral axillary, supraclavicular, internal mammary and mediastinal lymph nodes.Case presentationA 60-year-old woman with a history of left breast cancer who had undergone modified radical mastectomy (MRM) followed by left breast reconstruction with implant (30 years ago) presented with right axillary lymph nodes enlargement. An excisional biopsy of the two larger lymph nodes was performed to rule out malignancy. Pathologic examination showed features of silicone lymphadenopathy. Further examination with Ultrasound and MRI confirmed breast implant rupture.ConclusionSilicone lymphadenopathy following breast augmentation and reconstruction primarily affects the ipsilateral axillary nodes. Contralateral lymph node involvement is rare and may occur several years after breast cancer diagnosis and can be the first sign of breast implant rupture. Although, the need to exclude malignancy in such cases is of outmost importance, silicone lymphadenopathy should also be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Perioperative outcomes for patients on chronic buprenorphine undergoing spine surgery: A case series.

Objective: Pain management following spine surgery can be challenging as patients routinely suffer from chronic pain and opioid tolerance. The increasing popularity of buprenorphine use for pain management in this population may further complicate perioperative pain management due to the limited efficacy of other opioids in the presence of buprenorphine. This study describes perioperative management and outcomes in patients on chronic buprenorphine who underwent elective inpatient spine surgery. Design: The authors performed a retrospective chart review of all patients >18 years of age taking chronic buprenorphine for any indication who had elective inpatient spine surgery at a single institution. Perioperative pain management data were analyzed for all patients who underwent spine surgery and were maintained on buprenorphine during their hospital stay. Setting: The study was performed at a single tertiary academic medical center. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome measures were post-operative pain scores and analgesic medication requirements. Results: Twelve patients on buprenorphine underwent inpatient spine surgery. Acceptable pain control was achieved in all cases. Management included preoperative dose limitation of buprenorphine when indicated and the extensive use of multimodal analgesia. Conclusion: The question whether patients presenting for painful, elective surgery should continue using buprenorphine perioperatively is an area of controversy, and the present manuscript provides more evidence for the concept of therapy continuation with buprenorphine.
Anticoagulants and the Hemostatic System: A Primer for Occupational Stress Researchers.

Anticoagulation, the body’s mechanism to prevent blood clotting, is an internal biomarker of an individual’s response to stress. Research has indicated that understanding the causes, processes, and consequences of anticoagulation can provide important insight into the experience of individuals facing emotional and occupational strain. Unfortunately, despite their importance, the mechanisms and implications of anticoagulation are unfamiliar to many researchers and practitioners working with trauma-exposed professionals. This paper provides an accessible primer on the topic of anticoagulation, including an overview of the biological process, the research connecting these processes with emotional and occupational functioning, as well as some potential methods for assessment.
Role of Mineralogy in Controlling Fracture Formation

The presence of fractures in caprocks can pose increased risks in subsurface energy systems and processes like CO2 sequestration by introducing high-permeability leakage paths. Fracture apertures a...
Anechoic Chamber Absorbing Boundary Condition for UWB Applications

A novel absorbing boundary condition (ABC), to be used with finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) solution of electromagnetics radiation and scattering problems, is described and analyzed. This novel lattice termination algorithm is based on anechoic chamber absorber foam geometry, with specially simulated electric and magnetic conductivity, chosen to prevent reflections and simulate infinite, open free-space. The advantage of this novel absorbing boundary over currently used ones is that it prevents reflections from much wider incident angles. The absorbing boundary can hence be placed much closer than previously possible since incident waves need not to be normal to the novel absorbing boundary for absorption, yielding great amount of savings in the memory usage and computation time, especially on massive parallel supercomputers. Thus this novel absorbing boundary may greatly improve the general applicability of computational electromagnetics.
Pleistocene Maximum and Late Wisconsinan glacier extents across Alaska, U.S.A.

Publisher Summary This chapter summarises the results of a collaborative effort among glacial geologists working in Alaska to produce an updated compilation of state wide glacier extents. It summarises evidence used to draw glacial limits in 15 regions across the state and highlights the most significant changes from previous mapping. The chapter provides an overview of the glacial-geological record in Alaska, identifies prior efforts to synthesise data on Alaskan glacial geology and briefly discusses the broader implications of the newly mapped glacial extents. The chapter focuses on the two glacial limits that can most confidently be determined across the state: (1) the maximum extent of glaciers and (2) the Late Wisconsinan. The placement of the maximum glacial limit in many places is essentially an educated guess, based on extrapolation of limited data and guided by regional geographical patterns and general geomorphology. The extent of Late Wisconsinan glaciers is delimited more accurately. The distribution of Pleistocene glaciers largely follows that of present-day glaciers, with the most massive accumulations of ice proximal to the southern moisture sources. The maximum glacier extent was greater relative to the Late Wisconsinan for the western Brooks Range and for the Seward Peninsula than for other regions. The most extensive glaciers in the western part of the state probably grew when the adjacent continental shelves were submerged and the glaciers were preferentially nourished by a proximal moisture source that was cut off during the Late Wisconsinan.
Signature-Based Indexing for Retrieval by Spatial Content in Large 2D-String Image Databases

Image matching and content-based spatial similarity assessment based on the 2D-String image representation has been extensively studied. However, for large image databases, matching a query against every 2D-String has prohibitive cost. Indexing techniques are used to filter irrelevant images so that image matching algorithms can only focus on relevant ones. Current 2D-String indexing techniques are not efficient for handling large image databases. In this paper, the Two Signature Multi-Level Signature File (2SMLSF) is used as an efficient tree structure that encodes image information into two types of binary signatures. The 2SMLSF significantly reduces the storage requirements, responds to more types of queries, and its performance significantly improves over current techniques. For a simulated image databases of 131,072 images, a storage reduction of up to 35% and a querying performance improvement of up to 93% were achieved.
M-Learning Accessibility Design: A Case Study

In the last few years the number of colleges and universities which provide courses and degree programs via distance education has been growing dramatically. People with special needs will benefit from these online opportunities as long as the information and activities posted to internet sites are appropriately accessible with adaptive technology. This paper presents some research regarding the accessibility design for a mobile learning experience carried out at the Italian National Research Council --- Institute for Educational Technologies. In particular, we introduce some considerations about the methodology and the design steps used to build some educational tools on mobile devices which are fully accessible for students with special needs using a compact screen reader (on a Smartphone). Briefly, we outline the common problems of accessing an online learning management system through a Smartphone (services and information), then we introduce the test phase of the designed tools for visually impaired users.
The Application of Pentoxifylline in the Stimulation of Sperm Motion in Men Undergoing Electroejaculation

The ability of pentoxifylline to stimulate the motion characteristics of antegrade and retrograde sperm collected at the time of electroejaculation with a rectal probe was assessed in six neurologically impaired men. Before electroejaculation, the bladder was rinsed and instilled with 20 to 30 ml Ham's F-10 medium. Washed sperm were incubated with various doses (0, 0.1, 1, and 3 mmol/L) of pentoxifylline. Video sequences were recorded at intervals from 0 to 4.5 hours and analyzed for sperm motion parameters using manual and computer-assisted semen analysis. The results were compared with equimolar concentrations of caffeine. Both pentoxifylline and caffeine demonstrated a dose-dependent stimulation of percent motility and other motion parameters. A maximal stimulation of two-fold to three-fold for both percent motility and curvilinear velocity, and 30% to 60% for straight line velocity was observed after incubation under these conditions. A significant increase in mean linearity was observed in samples incubated with 0.1 mmol/L pentoxifylline at 1.5 hours. Significant lateral head displacement was not observed at any time point. Two couples underwent gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) in conjunction with this electroejaculation sperm stimulation procedure, and one has since delivered a normal child. These studies show that pentoxifylline stimulation can improve the movement characteristics of asthenospermic sperm from neurologically impaired men. Such sperm stimulation techniques do not affect the fertilization process and may improve the chances for conception in some cases of male-factor infertility.
Edge Detection in Grayscale, Color, and Range Images

Edges are commonly defined as significant local changes in an image. Edge provides an indication of the physical extent of objects in the image. Edge detection is viewed as an information reduction process that provides boundary information of regions by filtering out unnecessary information for the next steps of processes in a computer vision system. Thus, edge detection is one of the most essential steps for extracting structural features for human and machine perception. The success of high-level computer vision processes heavily relies on the good output from the lower level processes such as edge detection. Many edge detection algorithms have been proposed in the last 50 years. This article presents the fundamental theories and the important edge detection techniques for grayscale, color, and range images. Keywords: edge; gradient; Sobel edge; Laplacian; Laplacian of gaussian; Canny edge; Cumani operator; roof edge; normal changes
Autism in the US: Social Movement and Legal Change

The social movement surrounding autism in the US has been rightly defined a ray of light in the history of social progress. The movement is inspired by a true understanding of neuro-diversity and is capable of bringing about desirable change in political discourse. At several points along the way, however, the legal reforms prompted by the autism movement have been grafted onto preexisting patterns of inequality in the allocation of welfare, education, and medical services. In a context most recently complicated by economic recession, autism-driven change bears the mark of political contingency and legal fragmentation. Distributively, it yields ambivalent results that have not yet received systemic attention. This article aims to fill this analytical vacuum by offering, first, a synoptic view of the several legal transformations brought about or advocated for by the autism movement and, second, a framework for investigating their distributive consequences.
Concurrent removal of intravitreal lens fragments after phacoemulsification with pars plana vitrectomy prevents development of retinal detachment.

Aim To evaluate the outcomes of "concurrent vitrectomy" to retrieve dislocated lens fragment during phacoemulsification. Methods In a retrospective, observational case series, data of patients who underwent "concurrent" pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for dislocated lens fragments between the period 2000 and 2008 were reviewed. Data collected included patient demographics, pre-operative visual acuity, intra-operative occurrence of retinal breaks, duration of follow up, post-operative intraocular pressure, final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), presence of cystoid macular edema (CME) and occurrence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Results A total of 58 eyes of 58 patients were included in the study. At 12mo the mean postoperative BCVA was logMAR 0.17 (20/30) with a range of logMAR 0 to 0.69 (20/20 to 20/100), with 96.6% (56/58) of patients showing post-operative improvement in visual acuity (P=0.005). None of the patients developed postoperative retinal detachment, endophthalmitis or non-resolving uveitis at 12mo. Conclusion Our study results suggest concurrent PPV for retained lens fragments after cataract surgery is beneficial and may decrease the risk of glaucoma and prevent development of RRD.
Needle endomicroscope with a plastic, achromatic objective to perform optical biopsies of breast tissue

In order to diagnose cancer in breast tissue, a sample must be removed, prepared, and examined under a microscope. To provide an alternative to conventional biopsies, an endomicroscope intended to perform optical biopsies is demonstrated. The system provides high resolution, high contrast images in real-time which could allow a diagnosis to be made during surgery without the need for tissue removal. Optical sectioning is achieved via structured illumination to reject out of focus light. An image is relayed between the sample plane and the imaging system by a coherent fiber bundle with an achromatized objective lens at the distal tip of the fiber bundle which is the diameter of a biopsy needle. The custom, plastic objective provides correction for both the excitation and emission wavelengths of proflavine (452 nm and 515 nm, respectively). It also magnifies the object onto the distal tip of the fiber bundle to increase lateral resolution. The lenses are composed of the optical plastics Zeonex E48R, PMMA, and polystyrene. The lenses are fabricated via single point diamond turning and assembled using a zero alignment technique. The lateral resolution and chromatic focal shift were measured and in vitro images of breast carcinoma cells stained with proflavine were captured. The optical biopsy system is able to achieve optical sectioning and to resolve smaller features than the current high resolution microendoscope.
A mechanistic study of organocopper substitution reactions with some ethylenic p-toluenesulfonate esters

5-Cyclooctenylbromid (I) reagiert mit Dimethyllithiumcuprat (II) zu den Bicyclo= (3,3,0)octanen (IIIa) und (IIIb) und nur zu 23% zum Methyl-cycloocten (IV).
Acarospora orcuttii (Acarosporaceae), a rare terricolous lichen from southern California

The terricolous Acarospora orcuttii is described from three historical collections from San Diego in 1883 and 1884 by C.R. Orcutt in the Farlow Herbarium. The species looks similar to A. fuscescens, but differs in the absence of gyrophoric acid, thinner paraphyses as well as several other characters. The species may be extinct. Terricolous lichen habitats are rare and threatened throughout coastal southern California. It is hoped some remaining populations may be discovered.
Flavor of Milk One Week After Addition of Iron Complex

Abstract Reduced iron, complexed with citric and phosphoric acids and containing potassium hydroxide, was added 100 mg/liter to milk before and after pasteurization at combinations of comparatively low and high times and temperatures. Milk was stored 1 wk at 3°C, then abalyzed for sensory attributes by an experienced panel and for degree of oxidation by the thiobarbituric acid test. The additive containing iron reduced the intensity of cooked flavor in milk heated at 80°C for 25 s and produced a slight but significant increase in oxidized flavor when it was added after pasteurization to milk heated at 72°C for 17 s. The additive showed promise for fortification of milk with minimal risk of oxidized flavor.
Direct Actions of 17β-Estradiol on Progesterone Production by Highly Differentiated Porcine Gram∧losa Cells in Vitro. II. Regulatory Interactions of Estradiol with Luteinizing Hormone and Cyclic Nucleotides*

We investigated direct actions of 17β-estradiol and LH in the coordinate control of progesterone production by highly differentiated porcine granulosa cells maintained in monolayer culture. The administration of estradiol acutely suppressed both basal and LH-stimulated progesterone synthesis in vitro, i.e. within the first 24–36 h of estrogen treatment. In contrast, continuation of estradiol administration alone beyond 48 h significantly augmented progesterone production per 105 granulosa cells. Among 12 independent experiments, the absolute stimulatory effects of estradiol were highly correlated (r = 0.991) with basal progesterone production by granulosa cells at the outset of culture, i.e. when steroid synthesis presumably reflected the degree of prior cytodifferentiation attained in vivo. Notably, estrogens also facilitated the dose-dependent actions of LH in a synergistic fashion. Synergism occurred during periods of both maximal and spontaneously declining steroidogenesis in vitro, and could be imped...
The Anthropocentric Advantage? Environmental Ethics and Climate Change Policy

Environmental ethicists often criticize liberalism. For many liberals embrace anthropocentric theories on which only humans have non‐instrumental value. Environmental ethicists argue that such liberals fail to account for many things that matter or provide an ethic sufficient for addressing climate change. These critics suggest that many parts of nature – e.g. non‐human individuals, other species, ecosystems and the biosphere ‐ often these critics also hold that concern for some parts of nature does not always trump concern for others. This article suggests, however, that such inclusive environmental ethicists have a different problem. For when there are many things of value, figuring out what to do can be extremely difficult. Even though climate change is likely to cause problems for many parts of nature, it will probably be good for some other parts. Inclusive environmental ethicists need a theory taking all of the things they care about into account. Otherwise they cannot provide definitive reason even...
The diel carbon cycle of the Biosphere 2 ocean

Abstract The purpose of this study was to find the dominant processes affecting the diel carbon cycle of the Biosphere 2 ocean from July 27, 1995 to August 14, 1995. Despite excessively low nitrate ( −1 ) and phosphate (0.00–0.04 μmol l −1 ) values, the Biosphere 2 ocean not only showed large daily TCO 2 changes of 30.5±7.0 μmol kg −1 but also a net production of organic carbon and CaCO 3 during the period of this study. A model used to predict pCO 2 values based on measured O 2 concentrations suggested CaCO 3 precipitation and organic carbon production were dominating the average diel ocean pCO 2 signal while the gas exchange with the atmosphere was relatively insignificant to the pCO 2 in the Biosphere 2 ocean. In the first 4 days of the experiment, the alkalinity decreased at a calculated rate of about 10 μeq kg −1 d −1 while in the following 10 days the model indicated that the alkalinity was nearly constant. The model also confirmed that the positive net production of organic carbon effectively held the pCO 2 in the Biosphere 2 ocean below equilibrium with the atmosphere. Although changes in the gas exchange had a small effect on the diel amplitude of pCO 2 (255±84 μatm), changes in the photosynthetic quotient (PQ) were more significant. A PQ of 1.0 was used in the model to match calculated pCO 2 with measured pCO 2 of the Biosphere 2 ocean.
Molecular markers of radiation effectiveness in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

The response of cancer to ionizing radiation treatment varies in a manner not fully explained by standard clinical, demographic, or histologic factors. Response may be related to intrinsic biologic capability of the tumor cells and/or the host immune or stromal support tissues. The availability of molecular biological methods to detect specific tumor-related genetic alterations and altered protein expression has prompted a search for molecular markers that accurately predict tumor response to therapy. Tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes such as p53 and Cyclin D1, key components of pathways that control tumor behavior, such as epidermal growth factor receptor and apoptotic factors including bcl-2, markers of proliferation (Ki-67), and markers of angiogenesis such as vascular endothelial growth factor have been examined. To date, results for each of these are mixed. This is not surprising given the complexity of the biologic system of tumor response to damage and the multitude of factors that contribute to the diversity of clinical presentation of disease. This manuscript reviews the literature to date in an effort to summarize results and suggest the direction for further study.
Acquisition of Fyn-selective SH3 domain ligands via a combinatorial library strategy.

Summary A stepwise library-based strategy has been employed to acquire a potent ligand for the SH3 domain of Fyn, a Src kinase family member that plays a key role in T cell activation. The easily automated methodology is designed to identify potential interaction sites that circumscribe the protein/peptide binding region on the SH3 domain. The library protocol creates peptide/nonpeptide chimeras that are able to bind to these interaction sites that are otherwise inaccessible to natural amino acid residues. The peptide-derived lead and the Fyn-SH3 domain form a complex that exhibits a K D of 25 ± 5 nM, approximately 1000-fold more potent than that displayed by the corresponding conventional peptide ligand. Furthermore, the lead ligand exhibits selectivity against SH3 domains derived from other Src kinases, in spite of a sequence identity of approximately 80%.
The electric field due to stripline conductors

The problem of determining the electromagnetic fields about conductors surrounded by various dielectric materials, such as in the analyses of transmission line configurations, computer circuit boards, or, more recently, electro‐optic effects in crystals, is studied. A slab of dielectric material of finite thickness is bounded above and below by a second (different) dielectric material of infinite extent. A finite number of infinitely thin stripline conductors are arranged along two parallel planes within (or on the surface of) the middle dielectric in such a way that the geometry of the conductors is symmetric about the center plane of the dielectric. Low‐frequency charging of the conductors is assumed so that the electric potential can be computed as for static fields. A singular integral equation is derived for determining the surface charge density on each conductor. This equation is reduced to a Fredholm integral equation which is solved by successive approximations. Expressions for the coefficients of capacitance and induction are derived and an example is given. The general technique of solution seems to be applicable to boundary value problems that have a finite number of parallel material interfaces on which boundary conditions must be met.
Cellular consequences of HERG mutations in the long QT syndrome: precursors to sudden cardiac death.

Background: A variety of mutations in HERG, the major subunit of the rapidly activating component of the cardiac delayed rectifier I Kr, have been found to underlie the congenital Long-QT syndrome, LQT2. LQT2 may give rise to severe arrhythmogenic phenotypes leading to sudden cardiac death. Objective: We attempt to elucidate the mechanisms by which heterogeneous LQT2 genotypes can lead to prolongation of the action potential duration (APD) and consequently the QT interval on the ECG. Methods: We develop Markovian models of wild-type (WT) and mutant I Kr channels and incorporate these models into a comprehensive model of the cardiac ventricular cell. Results: Using this virtual transgenic cell model, we describe the effects of HERG mutations on the cardiac ventricular action potential (AP) and provide insight into the mechanism by which each defect results in a net loss of repolarizing current and prolongation of APD. Conclusions: This study demonstrates which mutations can prolong APD sufficiently to generate early afterdepolarizations (EADs), which may trigger life-threatening arrhythmias. The severity of the phenotype is shown to depend on the specific kinetic changes and how they affect I Kr during the time course of the action potential. Clarifying how defects in HERG can lead to impaired cellular electrophysiology can improve our understanding of the link between channel structure and cellular function.
Statistical Error Due to Finite Time Averaging in Computer Experiments: Application to Liquid Sodium

Previously developed results on the statistical error due to finite time averaging in computer experiments are applied to the number density and kinetic-energy density autocorrelation functions for liquid sodium. It is concluded that the theoretical estimate given by Zwanzig and Ailawadi forms a good basis for analysis of the error involved in computation of time correlation functions in molecular dynamics.
The Metaevaluation Imperative

Abstract The evaluation field has advanced sufficiently in its methodology and public service that evaluators can and should subject their evaluations to systematic metaevaluation. Metaevaluation is the process of delineating, obtaining, and applying descriptive information and judgmental information about an evaluation’s utility, feasibility, propriety, and accuracy and its systematic nature, competence, integrity/honesty, respectfulness, and social responsibility to guide the evaluation and publicly report its strengths and weaknesses. Formative metaevaluations—employed in undertaking and conducting evaluations—assist evaluators to plan, conduct, improve, interpret, and report their evaluation studies. Summative metaevaluations—conducted following an evaluation—help audiences see an evaluation’s strengths and weaknesses, and judge its merit and worth. Metaevaluations are in public, professional, and institutional interests to assure that evaluations provide sound findings and conclusions; that evaluation practices continue to improve; and that institutions administer efficient, effective evaluation systems. Professional evaluators are increasingly taking their metaevaluation responsibilities seriously but need additional tools and procedures to apply their standards and principles of good evaluation practice.
Assessment of computational models for multilayered composite cylinders

Abstract A study is made of the effects of variation in the lamination and geometric parameters of multilayered composite cylinders on the accuracy of the static and vibrational responses predicted by eight modeling approaches, based on two-dimensional shear-deformation shell theories. The standard of comparison is taken to be the exact three-dimensional elasticity solutions, and the quantities compared include both the gross response characteristics (e.g. vibration frequencies, strain energy components, average through-the-thickness displacements and rotations): and detailed, through-the-thickness. distributions of displacements, stresses and strain energy densities. Based on the numerical studies conducted, a predictor -corrector approach, used in conjunction with the first-order shear-deformation theory (with five displacement parameters in the predictor phase), appears to be the most effective among the eight modeling approaches considered. For multilayered orthotropic cylinders the response quantities obtained by the predictor corrector approach are shown to be in close agreement with the exact three-dimensional elasticity solutions for a wide range of lamination and geometric parameters. The potential of this approach for predicting the response of multilayered shells with complicated geometry is also discussed.
Dose titration of sericea lespedeza leaf meal on Haemonchus contortus infection in lambs and kids

Abstract The objective of three experiments was to determine the impact of supplementing sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata; SL) in three concentrations in a loose or pelleted diet on gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in small ruminants. Experiments on lambs were conducted at the USDA, Agricultural Research Service in Booneville, AR (Exp. 1) and at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA (Exp. 2); an experiment on goat kids occurred at University of Maryland-Eastern Shore (Exp. 3). Exp. 1 used crossbred hair sheep lambs naturally infected with GIN that were randomly allocated to diets containing 0, 25, 50, and 75% SL diets (n = 11 or 12/diet). Exp. 2 consisted of Haemonchus contortus-inoculated crossbred wool breed lambs that were blocked by gender and FEC and randomly assigned to 0, 25, 50, or 75% SL diet (n = 8/diet). Fecal egg counts (FEC) and blood packed cell volume (PCV) were not influenced by SL supplementation in Exp. 1 and 2. Exp. 3 consisted of naturally GIN infected Boer crossbred goat kids in individual pens. Kids were blocked by FEC and randomly allotted to treatments of 0, 20, 40, or 60% SL with 9–13 goats/diet. The more SL fed, the greater the reduction in FEC (P
Risk and Distributional Inequality.

Abstract : A distributional model of risk is described in which it is hypothesized that people's judgments of risk are similar to the kinds of judgments made in welfare economics concerning inequality of income distributions. The role played by the Lorenz curve in analyzing inequality is described and it is shown how Lorenz curves can be used to describe risks. Two hypotheses are presented concerning risk: first, that representing risks with Lorenz curves will be useful in capturing the salient psychological features of risk, and second, that people's judgments of positive risks will be similar functionally to judgments of distributional inequality. Six experiments are presented that support the distributional model of risk for both preference judgments and judgments of riskiness. The implications of these experiments are described and the distributional model is compared with alternative models of risk.
Police use of force and neighbourhood characteristics: an examination of structural disadvantage, crime, and resistance

This study examines relationships between the force levels applied by police officers and the characteristics of the neighbourhoods where these events occurred. The data upon which this study is based was drawn from a municipal police department in the southern USA for the year 2000. Information from the official Use of Force reports was linked to census block data and crime tract data, thus providing an opportunity to investigate whether severity of force varies with neighbourhood demographic characteristics. These characteristics include race/ethnicity, family composition, residential turnover, crime levels, and neighbourhood levels of active physical resistance. When controlling for the number of incidents of active physical resistance that occurred in a neighbourhood, only this variable and the racial composition of the neighbourhood remained consistent significant predictors of police use of force.
WING TIP ANATOMY AND AERODYNAMICS IN FLYING SQUIRRELS

Flying squirrels are the only gliding mammals that extend the wing tip by means of a cartilage at the wrist. However, the means by which this styliform cartilage is extended has been misunderstood, and the significance of the upturned wing tip in flying squirrels has not been appreciated. To understand this mechanism, we examined the wrist anatomy of flying squirrels and compared it with wrists of tree squirrels to determine homologies. We found that the wing tip was extended by the abductor of the thumb on the opposite side of the wrist from the styliform cartilage. This muscle acts by means of a ligament between the falciform bone and the styliform cartilage. In tree squirrels, the homologue of the styliform cartilage is the previously undescribed hypothenar cartilage which supports the hypothenar pad of the hand. The styliform-falciform ligament is derived from superficial fibers of the transcarpal ligament. Wing tips of flying squirrels are held at an upward angle to the rest of the wing and form airfoils. We propose that they serve the function of reducing induced drag, similar to the winglets of modern aircraft.
Shape transformation using variational implicit functions

Traditionally, shape transformation using implicit functions is performed in two distinct steps: 1) creating two implicit functions, and 2) interpolating between these two functions. We present a new shape transformation method that combines these two tasks into a single step. We create a transformation between two N-dimensional objects by casting this as a scattered data interpolation problem in N + 1 dimensions. For the case of 2D shapes, we place all of our data constraints within two planes, one for each shape. These planes are placed parallel to one another in 3D. Zero-valued constraints specify the locations of shape boundaries and positive-valued constraints are placed along the normal direction in towards the center of the shape. We then invoke a variational interpolation technique (the 3D generalization of thin-plate interpolation), and this yields a single implicit function in 3D. Intermediate shapes are simply the zero-valued contours of 2D slices through this 3D function. Shape transformation between 3D shapes can be performed similarly by solving a 4D interpolation problem. To our knowledge, ours is the first shape transformation method to unify the tasks of implicit function creation and interpolation. The transformations produced by this method appear smooth and natural, even between objects of differing topologies. If desired, one or more additional shapes may be introduced that influence the intermediate shapes in a sequence. Our method can also reconstruct surfaces from multiple slices that are not restricted to being parallel to one another.
Mixed-chain phosphatidylcholine analogues modified in the choline moiety: preparation of isomerically pure phospholipids with bulky head groups and one acyl chain twice as long as the other.

Abstract Diacylphosphatidylcholines were synthesized with widely different acyl chain lengths and bulky head groups. Lysophosphatidylcholine was acylated at room temperature within 6 h with a 10-fold molar excess of fatty acid anhydride in dry, alcohol-free chloroform in the presence of 1.2 equivalents of 4-pyrrolidinopyridine as a catalyst, affording the mixed-acid phosphatidylcholines with widely different chain lengths in more than 90% yield and with less than 1% acyl migration. The syntheses of isomerically pure 1-stearoyl-2-decanoyl- and 1-stearoyl-2-undecenoyl(Δ 10 )-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholines C(18 : 0)/C(10 : 0)-PC and C(18 : 0)/C(11 : 1Δ 10 )-PC, respectively), followed by conversion to various head-group analogues, are illustrated here. The transition peak widths at half-height of the endotherms obtained by differential scanning calorimetry are consistent with very high isomeric purity. Phospholipase D from Streptomyces chromofuscus was used as a catalyst in the hydrolysis of C(18 : 0)/C(10 : 0)-PC to give the corresponding phosphatidic acid in quantitative yield. The latter compound was condensed with 10 molar equivalents of various N , N , N -trialkylammonium alkanols (as their p -toluenesulfonate or tetraphenylborate salt) in the presence of trichloroacetonitrile in dry pyridine under nitrogen atmosphere to yield the C(18 : 0)/C(10 : 0) phospholipids bearing modified head groups, which were purified by flash chromatography.
Synergisms at surfaces involving radiation and solvents: nanometer scale implications

We present studies of the consequences of simultaneous exposure of inorganic single crystals to radiation and water. The first case consists of a biomineral namely CaHPO 4 2H2O (brushite) which is a wide band gap, hydrated inorganic single crystal. We examine the laser induced ion and neutral emissions accompanying 248-nm excimer laser radiation. Both types of emission are several orders of magnitude higher following exposure to 2 keV electrons at current densities of 200 μA/cm 2 and doses of 102-103 mC/cm2. We show the that the enhancements in emission are strongly correlated with e-beam induced morphology changes (including recrystallization) on this unusual surface. We then examine similar effects on dry crystals such as NaCl and NaNO3 which are exposed to 10-5 Pa partial pressures of H2O. Again dramatic enhancements in radiation induced emissions are exhibited along with the generation of unique morphological structures with nanometer scale dimensions.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Hot Stock Tip from Debbie: Implications for Market Efficiency

In July and August 2004 thousands of messages were left on answering machines across the United States touting Maui General Stores (MAUG). Interestingly, these messages contained no material information, but the price of MAUG experienced a significant increase in value. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), MAUG's market capitalization increased by more than $100 million. However, the price of MAUG returned to its “pre-message” level after the firm's CEO enters the market on the sell side, well before the SEC announced the messages as a scam. We discuss how this event expands our understanding of market efficiently.
Normal left ventricular systolic function in adults with atrial septal defect and left heart failure

Systolic left ventricular contractile function has not been extensively evaluated in patients with atrial septal defect who have symptoms of left-sided congestive heart failure. This study examined left ventricular systolic function hemodynamically and angiographically in 6 such adult patients (Group A), 12 adult patients with atrial septal defect without heart failure (Group B) and 20 normal subjects. The mean ( +/- standard error of the mean) left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was higher in patients in Group A (17 +/- 0.8 mm Hg) than in patients in group B (6.9 +/- 0.6 mm Hg) (p less than 0.001). Both right atrial pressure ( 11 +/- 1.3 versus 4.9 +/- 0.5 mm Hg) (p less than 0.001) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (30 +/- 1.8 versus 15 +/- 1 mm Hg) were also higher in Group A than in Group B. Left ventricular cardiac index and stroke work index did not differ in the two groups. Variables of left ventricular systolic function were similar in both groups of patients and in normal subjects: Ejection fraction was 0.71 +/- 0.05 in Group A, 0.74 +/- 0.02 in Group B and 0.74 +/- 0.01 in normal subjects. Velocity of circumferential shortening was 1.38 +/- 0.14 circumferences/s in Group A, 1.38 +/- 0.07 circumferences/s in Group B and 1.27 +/-0.04 circumferences/s in normal subjects. There was no difference in left ventricular contractile function as indicated by the ratio of end-systolic wall stress to end-systolic volume index among the three groups: normal subjects, average 5.6 +/- 0.19 versus 6.1 +/- 0.5 in Group B and 6.0 +/- 0.6 dynes X 10(3)/cm(2)/(ml/m(2) in Group A. This study of patients with atrial septal defect and left heart failure indicates that abnormal left ventricular systolic contractile function is probably not the cause of the symptoms and elevated left heart filling pressures observed in this group. An abnormality in left ventricular diastolic filling, perhaps related to the volume loaded right ventricle, may explain these changes.
Effective communication in cheap-talk games

This paper studies cheap talk games by imposing a monotonicity condition on Sender strategies and then applies iterative deletion of weakly dominated strategies. This procedure selects among Crawford and Sobel (1982) equilibria, typically selecting the outcome with the maximal number of induced actions. Other refinements, such as NITS, select the same outcome. It also predicts that Senders will inflate their communication using only relatively high messages in equilibrium.