cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A magnetic resonance image study of age-related changes in human putamen nuclei.

PUTAMEN nuclei were assessed in 36 normal volunteers using magnetic resonance imaging and a systematic sampling method. There was a significant decrease in the volume of the putamen nuclei with advancing age (r = −0.74, p < 0.0001), and an associated decline in the volume of the caudate nuclei (r =
Chemistry and superconducting behavior of Sb-substituted Bi/Pb-based oxides

Abstract The effect of Sb-substitution for Bi has been studied in the high T c Bi-based oxide superconducting compounds Pb 0.3 Bi 1.8−x Sb x Sr 1.9 Ca 2 Cu 3 O y (0 x ≤ 0.3). The solubility of Sb is quite low and its substitution for Bi leads to a complex chemistry with the formation of a new phase whose fractional concentration increases with increasing Sb content. The superconducting T c is depressed by the addition of Sb for materials prepared in an oxidizing atmosphere, but is not affected if preparation is in a mildly oxidizing atmosphere. No T c above 110K is found for any Sb-doped Pb/Bi 2223 compounds. A 121 Sb Mossbauer effect study of the microchemistry shows that Sb is in a valence state near 5+ for all compositions.
Selective electrochemical reduction of cinnamyl ethers in the presence of other allylic CO bonds

Abstract Several conduritol derivatives protected as allyl and cinnamyl ethers were subjected to electrochemical reduction at a mercury cathode, resulting in selective removal of the cinnamyl group.
Processing keyword search on XML: a survey

Keyword search is a user-friendly approach for users to retrieve information from XML data. Since an XML document can have a large size and contain a lot of information, an XML keyword search result should be a fragment of an XML document dynamically constructed at query time, which is achievable due to the structuredness of XML. Processing keyword searches on XML has several challenges, e.g., what are the elements in the XML document that are relevant to the query? How to generate the results efficiently and rank the results meaningfully? How to present the results to the user in a way such that the user can quickly find the desired information? In this survey, we review the papers in the literature that attempted to address these problems. We divide the existing approaches into several classes based on the problem they tackled, and perform a comprehensive analysis of these works.
Ikaros Stability and Pericentromeric Localization Are Regulated by Protein Phosphatase 1

Ikaros encodes a zinc finger protein that is involved in gene regulation and chromatin remodeling. The majority of Ikaros localizes at pericentromeric heterochromatin (PC-HC) where it regulates expression of target genes. Ikaros function is controlled by posttranslational modification. Phosphorylation of Ikaros by CK2 kinase determines its ability to bind DNA and exert cell cycle control as well as its subcellular localization. We report that Ikaros interacts with protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) via a conserved PP1 binding motif, RVXF, in the C-terminal end of the Ikaros protein. Point mutations of the RVXF motif abolish Ikaros-PP1 interaction and result in decreased DNA binding, an inability to localize to PC-HC, and rapid degradation of the Ikaros protein. The introduction of alanine mutations at CK2-phosphorylated residues increases the half-life of the PP1-nonbinding Ikaros mutant. This suggests that dephosphorylation of these sites by PP1 stabilizes the Ikaros protein and prevents its degradation. In the nucleus, Ikaros forms complexes with ubiquitin, providing evidence that Ikaros degradation involves the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway. In vivo, Ikaros can target PP1 to the nucleus, and a fraction of PP1 colocalizes with Ikaros at PC-HC. These data suggest a novel function for the Ikaros protein; that is, the targeting of PP1 to PC-HC and other chromatin structures. We propose a model whereby the function of Ikaros is controlled by the CK2 and PP1 pathways and that a balance between these two signal transduction pathways is essential for normal cellular function and for the prevention of malignant transformation.
A charged rotating black ring

We construct a supergravity solution describing a charged rotating black ring with an ${S}^{2}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{S}^{1}$ horizon in a five-dimensional asymptotically flat spacetime. In the neutral limit the solution is the rotating black ring recently found by Emparan and Reall. We determine the exact value of the lower bound on ${J}^{2}{/M}^{3},$ where J is the angular momentum and M the mass; the black ring saturating this bound has a maximum entropy for the given mass. The charged black ring is characterized by a mass M, angular momentum J, and electric charge Q, and it also carries local fundamental string charge. The electric charge distributed uniformly along the ring helps support the ring against its gravitational self-attraction, so that ${J}^{2}{/M}^{3}$ can be made arbitrarily small while $Q/M$ remains finite. The charged black ring has an extremal limit in which the horizon coincides with the singularity.
Distance-Based Dynamic Pricing Strategy for Managed Toll Lanes

Congestion in highway networks inflicts economic and emotional stress on drivers and a considerable cost to society. To mitigate some of these effects, managed toll lanes are being designed and built in the United States. These managed toll lanes guarantee to drivers that they will be able to travel at free-flow speed during peak hours when the general lanes are congested. The strategy used to price tolls on managed toll lanes has become an important issue; however, few studies have focused on dynamic optimal pricing strategies. This paper formulates the pricing problem on the basis of a stochastic macroscopic traffic flow model and investigates the methodology used to find a pricing strategy to maximize the total expected revenue. A simulation-based numerical algorithm that obtains the optimal prices efficiently in real time is proposed. The methodology is also applicable and readily adjusted for other objective purposes of administrators, such as maximization of total throughput. The general pricing mod...
Transient responses of liquid crystals for optical switching with microseconds: nanoseconds response speed

A critical analysis of various nonlinear mechanisms such as laser induced thermal/order parameter changes and flow orientation effects in nematic liquid crystal is presented, along with feasibility demonstrations of all-optical switching and optical image processing and tunable photonics using these mechanisms. The merits and limitation of nematics are discussed together with some preliminary results with Blue Phase liquid crystals that could circumvent some of the limitations.
A fuzzy algorithm for path selection in autonomous vehicle navigation

This article describes the application of fuzzy logic to the path selection algorithm of an autonomous roving vehicle. A simulated laser-detector configuration provides the imprecise terrain information which constitutes the input to the path selection algorithm. The algorithm determines the most suitable path to a given target point. The vehicle's motion is then simulated, more terrain information is obtained and a new decision is made. At every decision point, the algorithm determines the safety of alternative paths and their direction with respect to the target point, and finally selects a path by performing some trade-offs between path safety and heading toward the target. A graphic display of the terrain and the vehicle's path summarizes the result of the algorithm.
Fatal Pneumonitis and Septicemia after Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy

This report describes the development of fatal pneumococcal pneumonia and septicemia following fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination and endobronchial biopsy of a patient with severe chronic congestive heart failure. Although a causal relationship has not been proven, the temporal sequence seems to favor this over a coincidental nosocomial infection. This case emphasizes that significant and occasionally fatal infectious complications may occur following fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination.
Pore structure in lunar samples

Abstract Lunar samples may be classified as crystalline rocks, breccia (fused mixtures) and soils, the latter containing crystalline fragments, microbreccia, and glassy particles including spheres. Surface areas are smaller and pore structure is less extensive in crystalline samples. Pore and/or defect structure is considered in terms of three types of lunar events: solar wind irradiation, meteorite bombardment, and lunar volcanic action or cinder formation. The evidence presented was obtained through optical and electron microscopy as well as by adsorption studies. Pore structure is thought to be created both through particle fusion and fracture accompanying meteorite impact and (apparently more rarely) by gas evolution through solidifying molten rock.
Transient Behavior of Aperture Antennas

The transient behavior of aperture antennas is analyzed. For an antenna which is illuminated by a field of uniform phase and either uniform or cosine tapered amplitude, it is shown that the steady-state main lobe is established within (?/2+R/c) seconds after the aperture is energized. ? is the period of the carrier frequency, R is the distance from the center of the aperture to the point where the field is evaluated, and c is the velocity of light. The time required for the establishment of the steady-state pattern at all angles between 0° and 90° is (?/2?0+ R/c) where 2?0 radians is the beamwidth between first nulls of the steady-state pattern (?0<<l). An antenna may be useful, however, before (?/2?0+ R/c) seconds, because the maxima of the transient sidelobes are not higher than the maxima of the steady-state sidelobes. The requirement that the steady-state pattern be established at all angles between ?° and 90° leads to a limitation on range discrimination ?R and angular discrimination ?? for a pulse radar ?R??=?, where ? is the wavelength of the carrier frequency. For a scanning antenna employing linear phase variation over the aperture, it is shown that the main lobe, located at an angle ?max, is established within a time (?/2+ R/c + a sin ?max/2c) measured from the instant at which one edge of the aperture is first energized. The quantity a is the dimension of the aperture in the plane in which the field is evaluated.
Assessing the feasibility of online SSVEP decoding in human walking using a consumer EEG headset

Bridging the gap between laboratory brain-computer interface (BCI) demonstrations and real-life applications has gained increasing attention nowadays in translational neuroscience. An urgent need is to explore the feasibility of using a low-cost, ease-of-use electroencephalogram (EEG) headset for monitoring individuals’ EEG signals in their natural head/body positions and movements. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using a consumer-level EEG headset to realize an online steady-state visual-evoked potential (SSVEP)-based BCI during human walking. This study adopted a 14-channel Emotiv EEG headset to implement a four-target online SSVEP decoding system, and included treadmill walking at the speeds of 0.45, 0.89, and 1.34 meters per second (m/s) to initiate the walking locomotion. Seventeen participants were instructed to perform the online BCI tasks while standing or walking on the treadmill. To maintain a constant viewing distance to the visual targets, participants held the hand-grip of the treadmill during the experiment. Along with online BCI performance, the concurrent SSVEP signals were recorded for offline assessment. Despite walking-related attenuation of SSVEPs, the online BCI obtained an information transfer rate (ITR) over 12 bits/min during slow walking (below 0.89 m/s). SSVEP-based BCI systems are deployable to users in treadmill walking that mimics natural walking rather than in highly-controlled laboratory settings. This study considerably promotes the use of a consumer-level EEG headset towards the real-life BCI applications.
Perceiving individuals and groups as coherent: How do perceivers make sense of variable behavior?

Abstract An actor may display inconsistent behavior across different situations (e.g., conscientious in one situation, nonconscientious in another) and yet still be perceived as a coherent person. How do perceivers accomplish this? To investigate this question, in two experiments, participants read about a target person whose behavior across eight situations varied randomly or covaried systematically with goal-relevant situations. In Experiment 1, although the two targets displayed equivalent amounts of variability, participants (a) found the systematic target more coherent and (b) were more likely to associate the systematic target with an underlying goal. In Experiment 2, this finding was extended to group targets but, as expected, not to low entitativity groups, suggesting that participants make such inferences only when there is an a priori expectation of coherence. These findings indicate that the target's goal is an important component of perceived coherence.
Virtual Teaming: Placing Preservice Middle Level Teachers on Interdisciplinary Teams.

AbstractIn this action research study, 24 preservice middle level educators participated in simulated interdisciplinary teams for a semester. The impact this authentic pedagogy had on preservice teachers’ developing knowledge of middle school teaming is documented through student artifacts (e.g., journals, assignments), tape-recorded interviews, and field notes. The data were analyzed using techniques from grounded theory and constant comparative methods. Findings indicated that preservice teachers (a) built cohesiveness and community, (b) developed skills necessary for working on effective teams, and (c) recognized and valued the authenticity of the experience. The study offers a number of implications for middle level educators. First, virtual teaming created an authentic non-clinical setting for preservice teachers to take risks, learn about themselves, and explore middle level organizational principles. Second, time taken to build community in the class was invaluable, allowing teams to overcome confl...
Standard Setters: Stand Up and Take a Stand!

This 2006 NCME Career Award Address presents observations made over a career in the field of standard setting, summarizes the status of current research, and makes recommendations for future research.
A multiscale information theory approach to assess spatial-temporal variability of daily precipitation

Summary Information theory metrics are applied to ascertain the spatial and temporal variability of daily precipitation over the continental United States. Entropy is computed of the daily precipitation records and of the precipitation event size distribution. In addition, relative entropy is also computed between the two records and the Hurst exponent is calculated for comparison purposes. These values show little correlation with mean annual precipitation, number of rain days or station elevation. However, there is a clear spatial pattern in the precipitation and relative entropy fields corresponding to a breakpoint at approximately −95° longitude, which the Hurst exponent is not capable of resolving. Using wavelet multiresolution analysis and relative entropy, this breakpoint is shown to correspond to higher temporal variability (sub-monthly) in the western United States. In addition, scalewise mutual information content illustrates the general feature of three distinct scaling regions for precipitation: (1) synoptic (2–10 days), (2) monthly to annual times and (3) interannual variability. This analysis demonstrates the usefulness of an information theory approach to assessing the dynamics of precipitation.
Promoter-specific transcription inhibition in Staphylococcus aureus by a phage protein.

Summary Phage G1 gp67 is a 23 kDa protein that binds to the Staphylococcus aureus ( Sau ) RNA polymerase (RNAP) σ A subunit and blocks cell growth by inhibiting transcription. We show that gp67 has little to no effect on transcription from most promoters but is a potent inhibitor of ribosomal RNA transcription. A 2.0-A-resolution crystal structure of the complex between gp67 and Sau σ A domain 4 (σ A 4 ) explains how gp67 joins the RNAP promoter complex through σ A 4 without significantly affecting σ A 4 function. Our results indicate that gp67 forms a complex with RNAP at most, if not all, σ A -dependent promoters, but selectively inhibits promoters that depend on an interaction between upstream DNA and the RNAP α-subunit C-terminal domain (αCTD). Thus, we reveal a promoter-specific transcription inhibition mechanism by which gp67 interacts with the RNAP promoter complex through one subunit (σ A ), and selectively affects the function of another subunit (αCTD) depending on promoter usage.
Peptide Secondary Structure Determination by Three-Pulse Coherent Vibrational Spectroscopies: A Simulation Study

Amide I mode vibrational spectra of four ideal secondary structural motiffs of peptides, α helix, 3 1 0 helix, parallel β sheet, and antiparallel β sheet, in response to three infrared pulses with wavevectors k 1 , k 2 , and k 3 are simulated using a vibrational exciton model. Correlation plots of the signals generated at -k 1 + k 2 + k 3 and +k 1 + k 2 - k 3 show a characteristic peak pattern for each motiff. Resolution is enhanced by applying specific polarization configurations of the optical fields to oriented peptides.
IMMIGRATION AND POLITICS

▪ Abstract With nearly one in ten residents of advanced industrialized states now an immigrant, international migration has become a fundamental driver of social, economic, and political change. We review alternative models of migratory behavior (which emphasize structural factors largely beyond states' control) as well as models of immigration policy making that seek to explain the gaps between stated policy and actual outcomes. Some scholars attempt to explain the limited efficacy of control policies by focusing on domestic interest groups, political institutions, and the interaction among them; others approach the issue from an international or “intermestic” perspective. Despite the modest effects of control measures on unauthorized flows of economic migrants and asylum seekers, governments continue to determine the proportion of migrants who enjoy legal status, the specific membership rights associated with different legal (and undocumented) migrant classes, and how policies are implemented. These cho...
Knowledge and skills necessary in the practice of prosthodontics.

Abstract The prosthodontist in practice deals with people of various ages, expectations, difficulties, and degrees of health. He must be skilled in establishing a good doctor-patient relationship. He must be sincere and understanding, and he must be able to channel his patient's thinking into constructive processes. He must be skilled in diagnosis, not only of the oral parts which he proposes to replace, but of the relationship of the whole person to the ultimate function which he is trying to improve. Of course, he must have the knowledge of the basic sciences and of the clinical sciences, and he must also be able to put these to use. He must possess a high degree of mechanical ingenuity, because many problems are not stereotyped but require an ingenious approach. He must be technically and artistically competent. Because the prosthodontist is frequently called upon to be the final diagnostician and to decide upon a series of treatment procedures for a patient, he must have knowledge in depth of general practice and of the other specialties, primarily periodontics, endodontics, and oral surgery. In my opinion, these are primary skills required of the dentist. To what degree a man is a specialist, to what extent these skills must be developed, or how broad or narrow the field of specialization should be are questions I leave to your consideration and judgment in the workshop to be held tomorrow morning.
The distribution of S35-labeled bovine serum albumin in newborn and immunologically tolerant adult rabbits.

The fate of injected S35-labeled sulfanilic acid-azoalbumin in the serum, various organs, and liver fractions was compared in the newborn and adult rabbit and in specifically unresponsive and normal adult rabbits. Exponential decay of the injected antigen without the usual immune phase of elimination was observed in newborn and unresponsive adult animals. Comparison of organ distribution of radioactivity in adults and animals injected at birth and 21 days of age showed persistence in the liver at least as long as 3 weeks in all groups (which was the time chosen for observation). The slight differences in spleen and thymus concentrations with age are of undetermined significance. Comparison of the organ distribution of antigen in unresponsive adult rabbits and in normal ones showed slight differences which were similar to those predicted from previous immunization of adults which gave low grade antibody response. There was a slight selective accumulation of antigen in the nuclear fraction of liver homogenates of unresponsive animals, but no other differences were observed.
RELATCH: relative optimality in metabolic networks explains robust metabolic and regulatory responses to perturbations

Predicting cellular responses to perturbations is an important task in systems biology. We report a new approach, RELATCH, which uses flux and gene expression data from a reference state to predict metabolic responses in a genetically or environmentally perturbed state. Using the concept of relative optimality, which considers relative flux changes from a reference state, we hypothesize a relative metabolic flux pattern is maintained from one state to another, and that cells adapt to perturbations using metabolic and regulatory reprogramming to preserve this relative flux pattern. This constraint-based approach will have broad utility where predictions of metabolic responses are needed.
The quantitative evaluation of aromatic waters.

Abstract A satisfactory method for the quantitative evaluation of aromatic waters was devised. The method was based upon the production of cloudiness in an aromatic water when a quantity of salt solution was added. By determining the quantities of a standard salt solution required to produce cloudiness in aqueous solution of a given oil, using various percentage saturations, reference curves are constructed by plotting percentage saturation against cubic centimeters of standard salt solution. These curves can be used for estimating the percentage saturation of aromatic waters of unknown saturation directly from measurements of the quantities of standard salt solution required to produce cloudiness. Sodium citrate was found to be the best salting‐out agent.
The enzymic and non-enzymic degradation of colneleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid ether intermediate in the lipoxygenase pathway of linoleic acid oxidation in potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers.

Colneleic acid is an unsaturated ether fatty acid derived from linoleic acid via a lipoxygenase-mediated enzyme pathway. It is degraded (a) by an enzyme in potato tubers which is heat-labile and non-dialysable and (b) by a model system containing catalytic amounts of Fe(2+) ions. Both enzyme- and Fe(2+)-catalysed systems have similar properties with respect to pH optima (pH5.0-5.5), oxygen requirement (0.6-0.7 mol of O(2) consumed/mol of ether degraded), inhibitors and reaction products. An unstable product breaks down to C(8) and C(9) carbonyl fragments. Both systems are inhibited by low concentrations of antioxidants (e.g. 5mum-butylated hydroxytoluene) and some chelating agents (e.g. 5mum-diethyldithio-carbamate). The model system is strongly inhibited by metal ions, particularly Cu(2+) and Fe(3+), at 20mum. Hydrogen peroxide and haemoproteins do not substitute for the enzyme or Fe(2+) ions but the non-haem iron protein, ferredoxin, does catalyse the degradation.
Pilot scale study and design of a granular activated carbon regeneration process using supercritical fluids

A technology which has great potential for environmental control and waste remediation is contaminant removal and separation with supercritical fluids (SCF's) or supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Pressure tuning of solvent power allows SCF processes to adapt to a wide variety of small batch oriented separations typified by environmental cleanup operations. The ability of supercritical CO[sub 2] to extract model contaminant compounds from GAC and subsequently drop out most of the contaminant in a liquid phase has been investigated in a pilot scale apparatus. Typical desorption profiles indicate an 85% removal of the compound from the carbon which allows for reuse. The desorption results have been interpreted with a generalized desorption-mass transfer model. The results of the pilot plant studies have been applied to the design of a fixed-site GAC regeneration unit consisting of a three-element desorber with two-stage flash separation. Optimization of the process centers around minimizing the cost of recycling the SCF through an efficient recompression scheme and cycle configuration in the desorber unit. An economic evaluation shows a processing cost of 10.6 cents/lb (23 cents/kg) GAC which compares favorably with thermal regeneration and incineration. This non-destructive process allows re-use of the GAC while maintaining a high adsorbate capacity,more » which reduces carbon replacement costs and significantly decreases the need for carbon disposal by landfill or incineration. 25 refs., 13 figs., 3 tabs.« less
Intensive Production of Smallmouth Bass Fry

Abstract We describe the procedures used for the intensive spawning, egg incubation, and production of smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu fry. These techniques have evolved over a 5-year period and culminated in a mean annual production rate of 1,812 fry/kg female, a rate that compares favorably with the 1,093 fry/kg female rate obtained using previous methods. This intensive method allows high broodfish stocking rates (e.g., 247 pairs/ha) and requires small pond space. The drawbacks of the method are identified and ways to improve them are discussed.
Mouse Models of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

In the past several years, numerous genetically engineered mice have been used to model pancreatic cancer. These models differed based on the approach used (some use transgenes while others used homologous recombination), as well as on the oncogene or combination of oncogenes. The expression of an oncogenic form of Kras in the mouse pancreas at physiological levels has led to models that not only develop pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), but that mimic the progression of the human disease, including pre-carcinogenic stages, such as Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PanIN), and activation of specific signaling pathways. Thanks to genetically engineered mouse models we have started to discern the contribution of different signaling pathways to initiation and progression, and in some cases maintenance, of pancreatic cancers. We have also started dissecting the importance of the interactions between the tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment. Notwithstanding the sophistication of the current models, further modification of the approaches used could be implemented, for example to develop mice with clonal tumors, such as seen in human patients. Moreover, applying genomic approaches to the study of the mouse models might shed light on their ability to recapitulate specific subsets of human tumors.
Patterns of Gender Development

A comprehensive theory of gender development must describe and explain long-term developmental patterning and changes and how gender is experienced in the short term. This review considers multiple views on gender patterning, illustrated with contemporary research. First, because developmental research involves understanding normative patterns of change with age, several theoretically important topics illustrate gender development: how children come to recognize gender distinctions and understand stereotypes, and the emergence of prejudice and sexism. Second, developmental researchers study the stability of individual differences over time, which elucidates developmental processes. We review stability in two domains—sex segregation and activities/interests. Finally, a new approach advances understanding of developmental patterns, based on dynamic systems theory. Dynamic systems theory is a metatheoretical framework for studying stability and change, which developed from the study of complex and nonlinear systems in physics and mathematics. Some major features and examples show how dynamic approaches have been and could be applied in studying gender development.
Chip-to-chip optoelectronics SOP on organic boards or packages

In this paper, we demonstrate compatibility of hybrid, large-scale integration of both active and passive devices and components onto standard printed wiring boards in order to address mixed signal system-on-package (SOP)-based systems and applications. Fabrication, integration and characterization of high density passive components are presented, which includes the first time fabrication on FR-4 boards of a polymer buffer layer with nano scale local smoothness, blazed polymer surface relief gratings recorded by incoherent illumination, arrays of polymer micro lenses, and embedded bare die commercial p-i-n photodetectors. These embedded optical components are the essential building blocks toward a highly integrated SOP technology. The effort in this research demonstrates the potential for merging high-performance optical functions with traditional digital and radio frequency (RF) electronics onto large area and low-cost manufacturing methodologies for multifunction applications.
Evaluation of capture-recapture models for estimating the abundance of naturally-occurring defects

Project managers can use capture-recapture models to manage the inspection process by estimating the number of defects present in an artifact and determining whether a reinspection is necessary. Researchers have previously evaluated capture-recapture models on artifacts with a known number of defects. Before applying capture-recapture models in real development, an evaluation of those models on naturally-occurring defects is imperative. The data in this study is drawn from two inspections of real requirements documents (that later guided implementation) created as part of a capstone course (i.e. with naturally occurring defects). The major results show that: a) estimators improve from being negatively biased after one inspection to being positively biased after two inspections, b) the results contradict the earlier result that a model that includes two sources of variation is a significant improvement over models with one source of variation, and c) estimates are useful in determining the need for artifact reinspection.
Human Infancy...and the Rest of the Lifespan

Human infancy has been studied as a platform for hypothesis and theory testing, as a major physiological and psychological adjustment, as an object of adults' effects as well as a source of effects on adults, for its comparative value, as a stage of life, and as a setting point for the life course. Following an orientation to infancy studies, including previous reviews and a discussion of the special challenges infants pose to research, this article focuses on infancy as a foundation and catalyst of human development in the balance of the life course. Studies of stability and prediction from infancy illustrate the depth and complexity of modern research on infants and provide a long-awaited reply to key philosophical and practical questions about the meaningfulness and significance of infancy.
Computability-Theoretic Complexity of Countable Structures

Computable model theory, also called effective or recursive model theory, studies algorithmic properties of mathematical structures, their relations, and isomorphisms. These properties can be described syntactically or semantically. One of the major tasks of computable model theory is to obtain, whenever possible, computability-theoretic versions of various classical model-theoretic notions and results. For example, in the 1950's, Frohlich and Shepherdson realized that the concept of a computable function can make van der Waerden's intuitive notion of an explicit field precise. This led to the notion of a computable structure. In 1960, Rabin proved that every computable field has a computable algebraic closure. However, not every classical result “effectivizes”. Unlike Vaught's theorem that no complete theory has exactly two nonisomorphic countable models, Millar's and Kudaibergenov's result establishes that there is a complete decidable theory that has exactly two nonisomorphic countable models with computable elementary diagrams. In the 1970's, Metakides and Nerode [58], [59] and Remmel [71], [72], [73] used more advanced methods of computability theory to investigate algorithmic properties of fields, vector spaces, and other mathematical structures.
The Consistency of Judicial Choice

Despite the fact that scholars of judicial politics have developed reasonably well-specified models of the voting behavior of U.S. Supreme Court justices, little attention has been paid to influences on the consistency of the choices justices make. Aside from the methodological problems associated with failure to account for heteroskedasticity with regard to the justices’ voting behavior, I argue that variance in judicial choice is also of theoretical import. Simply put, by uncovering influences on the stability of judicial choice, a more complete understanding of judicial decision making is provided. I explore this possibility by developing a theoretical framework that identifies influences on the consistency of judicial choice, which are then subjected to empirical testing. I show that the stability of judicial decision making is affected by attitudinal and strategic factors, as well as the Court's informational environment. The result is a more fully integrated model of Supreme Court decision making.
Predicting post-trauma stress symptoms from pre-trauma psychophysiologic reactivity, personality traits and measures of psychopathology

Background: Most individuals exposed to a traumatic event do not develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), although many individuals may experience sub-clinical levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). There are notable individual differences in the presence and severity of PTSS among individuals who report seemingly comparable traumatic events. Individual differences in PTSS following exposure to traumatic events could be influenced by pre-trauma vulnerabilities for developing PTSS/PTSD. Methods: Pre-trauma psychological, psychophysiological and personality variables were prospectively assessed for their predictive relationships with post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Police and firefighter trainees were tested at the start of their professional training (i.e., pre-trauma; n=211) and again several months after exposure to a potentially traumatic event (i.e., post-trauma, n=99). Pre-trauma assessments included diagnostic interviews, psychological and personality measures and two psychophysiological assessment procedures. The psychophysiological assessments measured psychophysiologic reactivity to loud tones and the acquisition and extinction of a conditioned fear response. Post-trauma assessment included a measure of psychophysiologic reactivity during recollection of the traumatic event using a script-driven imagery task. Results: Logistic stepwise regression identified the combination of lower IQ, higher depression score and poorer extinction of forehead (corrugator) electromyogram responses as pre-trauma predictors of higher PTSS. The combination of lower IQ and increased skin conductance (SC) reactivity to loud tones were identified as pre-trauma predictors of higher post-trauma psychophysiologic reactivity during recollection of the traumatic event. A univariate relationship was also observed between pre-trauma heart rate (HR) reactivity to fear cues during conditioning and post-trauma psychophysiologic reactivity. Conclusion: The current study contributes to a very limited literature reporting results from truly prospective examinations of pre-trauma physiologic, psychologic, and demographic predictors of PTSS. Findings that combinations of lower estimated IQ, greater depression symptoms, a larger differential corrugator EMG response during extinction and larger SC responses to loud tones significantly predicted higher PTSS suggests that the process(es) underlying these traits contribute to the pathogenesis of subjective and physiological PTSS. Due to the low levels of PTSS severity and relatively restricted ranges of outcome scores due to the healthy nature of the participants, results may underestimate actual predictive relationships.
Incarceration and Current Tobacco Smoking Among Black and Caribbean Black Americans in the National Survey of American Life

Objectives. We examined the relationship between having a history of incarceration and being a current smoker using a national sample of noninstitutionalized Black adults living in the United States.Methods. With data from the National Survey of American Life collected between February 2001 and March 2003, we calculated individual propensity scores for having a history of incarceration. To examine the relationship between prior incarceration and current smoking status, we ran gender-specific propensity-matched fitted logistic regression models.Results. A history of incarceration was consistently and independently associated with a higher risk of current tobacco smoking in men and women. Formerly incarcerated Black men had 1.77 times the risk of being a current tobacco smoker than did their counterparts without a history of incarceration (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20, 2.61) in the propensity score-matched sample. The results were similar among Black women (prevalence ratio = 1.61; 95% CI = 1.00, 2.5...
Identification of sparse impulse response systems using an adaptive delay filter

This paper discusses a new adaptive technique for system identification of a model with a sparse impulse response. The standard technique for adaptive identification uses a filter with adaptive coefficients that range from a coefficient for the zero delay tap through a coefficient for the largest delay tap that is assumed to be in the system. When the system to be modelled has a sparse impulse response, many of these coefficients will converge to zero, or very small values. Since each coefficient is updated in each iteration, a good deal of the adaptation is spent updating these unnecessary weights. The technique presented in this paper represents a new technique that serially adapts each delay tap value as well as the coefficient value. Thus, using this new technique the number of delay taps can be greatly reduced if the system has a sparse impulse response.
Practical management of Alzheimer's dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. There currently is no effective treatment that delays the onset or slows the progression of AD. Significant advances in neuroscience, genetics and molecular biology over the past 25 years have changed the way we think about AD. This article reviews the literature on diagnosis and treatment of AD so that primary care physicians can manage this complex disease.
Teaching Conflict Resolution in an Era of Interstate/Civil Conflicts

Making political science students aware of the multitude of techniques and tools available for conflict resolution has become imperative in a 21st century environment witnessing an ever-increasing number of internal/civil conflicts. This paper will begin by providing suggestions as to how to introduce political science students to the complex and arduous task of conflict resolution and the ensuing peacemaking, peace-enforcing processes. One of the first hurdles educators encounter with students in the classroom is to get them to understand the complexity of conflict resolution. There are no simple or easy solutions for internal/civil conflicts, and there is no one single formula for achieving peace. Best practices and lessons learned from previous attempts at conflict resolution and conflict management are a start, but alongside the traditional means of conflict resolution -- negotiation, mediation, diplomacy, and the use of force, increasingly new methods and means are being utilized (international courts and tribunals, the use of education and the media, training the trainers programs, etc.). This paper will thus provide suggestions for assisting students in making sense of the tools and techniques of conflict resolution that are being tested currently in ongoing conflicts. Connecting theories of conflict resolution via case studies is likewise essential for students to grasp the relationship between the two, and often reveals where they contradict one another. A conclusion to the paper will provide some insight into how to integrate such a course into the existing political science curriculum.
Switchgrass Germplasm Resources

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is an impor- tant native grass and dominant member of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. It is used for con- servation, restoration, livestock feed produc- tion, and bioenergy feedstock production. The purpose of this review is to describe the bio- logical and geographical basis for switchgrass germplasm diversity and to provide a resource for scientists and outreach personnel to find switchgrass germplasm to meet their needs. Upland and lowland ecotypes represent the most important polymorphism in switchgrass, with distinct but overlapping geographic dis- tributions. Variation in ploidy exists within both ecotypes, with 2n = 4x = 36 the dominant ploidy in the lowland ecotype and 2n = 8x = 72 the dominant ploidy in the upland ecotype. Ploidy is a strong barrier to gene flow, but ecotype is a weak barrier, with up to 10% of random individuals demonstrating some evidence for upland-lowland hybridization in their ancestry. Latitudinal and, to a lesser extent, longitudinal differentiation exists within each ecotype, such that most wild populations and cultivars are not well adapted more than one hardiness zone from their place of origin. Plant breeding can alter this relationship by creating populations with improved cold tolerance, for example, increasing the adaptation range of an individual cultivar. The USDA National Plant Germplasm System maintains the national switchgrass collection, which is available for research and breeding purposes.
One- and Multi-Step Processes in the Reaction Nd 144 ( C 12 , C 14 )

Two very different types of angular distributions, one having a normal bell shape and the other being much more constant with angle were observed in the reaction $^{144}\mathrm{Nd}$($^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{14}\mathrm{C}$) for two well-known ${2}^{+}$ states of $^{142}\mathrm{Nd}$. The fits to these angular distributions using the distorted-wave Born approximation and/or coupled-channel Born approximation confirms the conclusion that the data give definite evidence for the importance of multistep processes. A comparison with the reaction $^{144}\mathrm{Nd}(p, t)$ is also discussed.
Abstract A91: Obesity and the TMPRSS2:ERG translocation in prostate cancer

A91 Background The recently identified TMPRSS2:ERG translocation is an early and common somatic event in prostate cancer pathogenesis involving the TMPRSS2 promotor, which is androgen regulated, and ERG, a member of the ETS family of transcriptional factors. Regulation of TMPRSS2 by androgens is intriguing and suggests both a potential mechanism whereby a man’s hormonal milieu could drive the progression of prostate tumor cells and also a mechanism by which androgen deprivation therapy may work. We explored the relationship of obesity, with its known relation with lower circulating testosterone and higher estradiol, on prostate cancer risk according to TMPRSS2:ERG fusion status. Methods The study was nested among 29,067 men in the prospective Physicians’ Health Study (PHS) during 1982 to 2008. Information on obesity was collected through structured questionnaires at baseline and follow-up, and included total obesity (weight and body mass index, BMI) and central obesity (waist circumference) measures. We characterized the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion by fluorescence in situ hybridization on archival tumor tissue from 305 men diagnosed with incident prostate cancer during 25 years of follow-up. We applied logistic regression models to compare the association of obesity on relative risk of fusion positive and fusion negative prostate cancer. Results Almost half the men in PHS were overweight (BMI 25-26.9 kg/m2) or very overweight/obese (BMI 27 kg/m2 or greater) at the start of follow-up. Prevalence of the TMPRSS2:ERG translocation among the men with prostate cancer was 40.0%, in line with other studies. The association of obesity on prostate cancer risk differed in relation to the translocation. Men with a higher BMI at baseline had a reduced risk of developing fusion positive prostate cancer (7% lower risk per increase in BMI, p for trend ~ 0.0021). Compared to healthy weight men, those who were very overweight/obese had a 60% lower risk of fusion positive prostate cancer (RR=0.43, 95% CI 0.22-0.83). Moreover, men with a larger waist circumference were at lower risk of developing fusion positive cancer (p for trend ~0.0017). In contrast, there was no association between total or central adiposity measures at baseline and risk of fusion-negative prostate cancer. Discussion Obesity appears to reduce the risk of prostate tumors that carry the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion, but is unrelated to risk of prostate cancers that occur via fusion-independent mechanisms. These preliminary data provide insight into the link between the hormonal milieu and the heterogeneity of prostate cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):A91.
Urethane–acrylate polymers in high-resolution contact printing

This study describes polyurethane–acrylates (PUAs) as polymeric stamp materials that can be used in a number of contact printing applications. We demonstrate that the surface energy of PUA polymers can be controlled chemically, producing stamps with tunable polarity and eliminating the need to apply release coatings or to adjust stamping kinetics to facilitate material transfer. To demonstrate the general nature of the proposed materials, PUA polymers were used in the contact printing of organic molecules and organic thin films. The results suggest that PUA-based contact printing can be used as a simple alternative to a kinetically modulated PDMS stamping of thin films, and that thin film features with sub-micrometer lateral dimensions and sub-100 nm thicknesses can be accurately reproduced using a universal set of printing conditions.
Brain auditory evoked potention in children with severe obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Objective To explore the characteristics of brain auditory evoked potention(BAEP) in children with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome with different stimulation frequencies.Method BAEP was determined in 87 OSAHS patients(the OSAHS group) and 20 controls(the control group) with different stimulation frequencies.Results(1) In children with mild and moderate OSAHS,the response threshold of wave Ⅴ and the latency values of waves Ⅰ,Ⅲand Ⅴ were normal at a stimulation of 33.1 Hz;the threshold of wave Ⅴ was normal,but the latency values of waves Ⅴ and the transmission time among wavesⅠ,Ⅲ and Ⅴwas found to be prolonged in the moderate OSAHS group with a stimulation of 11.1 Hz.(2) A statistically significant elevation was found when compared with the control group,the latency values of waves Ⅴ and the transmission time between waves were found to be prolonged in the severe OSAHS group with stimulations of 33.1 Hz and 11.1 Hz.Conclusion Low stimulation frequency can reflect changes of brain stem functions.Pathological sleepiness in OSAHS patients may induce BAEP abnormalities,suggesting that OSAHS effect the latency values of waves and the hearing threshold.