cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rule-based Adaptations to Control Cybersickness in Social Virtual Reality Learning Environments

Social virtual reality learning environments (VR-LEs) provide immersive experience to users with increased accessibility to remote learning. Lack of maintaining high-performance and secured data delivery in critical VRLE application domains (e.g., military training, manufacturing) can disrupt application functionality and induce cybersickness. In this paper, we present a novel rule-based 3QS-adaptation framework that performs risk and cost aware trade-off analysis to control cybersickness due to performance/security anomaly events during a VRLE session. Our framework implementation in a social VRLE viz., vSocial monitors performance/security anomaly events in network/session data. In the event of an anomaly, the framework features rule-based adaptations that are triggered by using various decision metrics. Based on our experimental results, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our rule-based 3QS-adaptation framework in reducing cybersickness levels, while maintaining application functionality. Using our key findings, we enlist suitable practices for addressing performance and security issues towards a more high-performing and robust social VRLE.
Identity-Based Patterns in Deep Convolutional Networks: Generative Adversarial Phonology and Reduplication

Identity-based patterns for which a computational model needs to output some feature together with a copy of that feature are computationally challenging, but pose no problems to human learners and are common in world's languages. In this paper, we test whether a neural network can learn an identity-based pattern in speech called reduplication. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to test identity-based patterns in deep convolutional networks trained on raw continuous data. Unlike existing proposals, we test learning in an unsupervised manner and we train the network on raw acoustic data. We use the ciwGAN architecture (Begus 2020; arXiv:2006.02951) in which learning of meaningful representations in speech emerges from a requirement that the deep convolutional network generates informative data. Based on four generative tests, we argue that a deep convolutional network learns to represent an identity-based pattern in its latent space; by manipulating only two categorical variables in the latent space, we can actively turn an unreduplicated form into a reduplicated form with no other changes to the output in the majority of cases. We also argue that the network extends the identity-based pattern to unobserved data: when reduplication is forced in the output with the proposed technique for latent space manipulation, the network generates reduplicated data (e.g., it copies an [s] e.g. in [si-siju] for [siju] although it never sees any reduplicated forms containing an [s] in the input). Comparison with human outputs of reduplication show a high degree of similarity. Exploration of how meaningful representations of identity-based patterns emerge and how the latent space variables outside of the training range correlate with identity-based patterns in the output has general implications for neural network interpretability.
How narrow is the M87* ring? I. The choice of closure likelihood function

Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations of the core of the galaxy M87 suggest an observational appearance dominated by a ring of approximately 40$\mu$as in diameter. The thickness of the ring is less certain: imaging efforts constrained it to be less than half the diameter (consistent with an imaging resolution of 20$\mu$as), while visibility-domain modeling suggested fractional widths of $10$-$20\%$. The fractional width is very interesting as it has the potential to discriminate between different astrophysical scenarios for the source; in fact, the $10$-$20\%$ range is so narrow as to be in tension with theoretical expectations. In the first of a series of papers on the width of the observed ring, we reproduce a subset of EHT visibility-domain modeling results and we explore whether alternative data analysis methods might favor thicker rings. We point out that the closure phase (and closure amplitude) likelihood function is not independent of residual station gain amplitudes, even at high signal-to-noise, and explore two approximations of practical interest: one standard in the field (and employed by the EHT collaboration), and a new one that we propose. Analyzing the public data, we find that the new likelihood approximation prefers somewhat thicker rings, more in line with theoretical expectations. Further analysis is needed, however, to determine which approximation is better for the EHT data.
Self-fusion for OCT noise reduction

Reducing speckle noise is an important task for improving visual and automated assessment of retinal OCT images. Traditional image/signal processing methods only offer moderate speckle reduction; deep learning methods can be more effective but require substantial training data, which may not be readily available. We present a novel self-fusion method that offers effective speckle reduction comparable to deep learning methods, but without any external training data. We present qualitative and quantitative results in a variety of datasets from fovea and optic nerve head regions, with varying SNR values for input images.
Age-Related Intrinsic Functional Connectivity Changes of Locus Coeruleus from Childhood to Older Adults.

The locus coeruleus is critical for selective information processing by modulating the brain’s connectivity configuration. Increasingly, studies have suggested that LC controls sensory inputs at the sensory gating stage. Furthermore, accumulating evidence has shown that young children and older adults are more prone to distraction and filter out irrelevant information less efficiently, possibly due to the unoptimized LC connectivity. However, the LC connectivity pattern across the life span is not fully examined yet, hampering our ability to understand the relationship between LC development and the distractibility. In this study, we examined the intrinsic network connectivity of the LC using a public fMRI dataset with wide-range age samples. Based on LC-seed functional connectivity maps, we examined the age-related variation in the LC connectivity with a quadratic model. The analyses revealed two connectivity patterns explicitly. The sensory-related brain regions showed a positive quadratic age effect (u-shape), and the frontal regions for the cognitive control showed a negative quadratic age effect (inverted u-shape). Our results imply that such age-related distractibility is possibly due to the impaired sensory gating by the LC and the insufficient top-down controls by the frontal regions. We discuss the underlying neural mechanisms and limitations of our study.
A Linearly Convergent Algorithm for Distributed Principal Component Analysis.

Abstract Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is the workhorse tool for dimensionality reduction in this era of big data. While often overlooked, the purpose of PCA is not only to reduce data dimensionality, but also to yield features that are uncorrelated. Furthermore, the ever-increasing volume of data in the modern world often requires storage of data samples across multiple machines, which precludes the use of centralized PCA algorithms. This paper focuses on the dual objective of PCA, namely, dimensionality reduction and decorrelation of features, but in a distributed setting. This requires estimating the eigenvectors of the data covariance matrix, as opposed to only estimating the subspace spanned by the eigenvectors, when data is distributed across a network of machines. Although a few distributed solutions to the PCA problem have been proposed recently, convergence guarantees and/or communications overhead of these solutions remain a concern. With an eye towards communications efficiency, this paper introduces a feedforward neural network-based one time-scale distributed PCA algorithm termed Distributed Sanger’s Algorithm (DSA) that estimates the eigenvectors of the data covariance matrix when data is distributed across an undirected and arbitrarily connected network of machines. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm is shown to converge linearly to a neighborhood of the true solution. Numerical results are also provided to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed solution.
Deep learning-based GTV contouring modeling inter- and intra-observer variability in sarcomas.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The delineation of the gross tumor volume (GTV) is a critical step for radiation therapy treatment planning. The delineation procedure is typically performed manually which exposes two major issues: cost and reproducibility. Delineation is a time-consuming process that is subject to inter- and intra-observer variability. While methods have been proposed to predict GTV contours, typical approaches ignore variability and therefore fail to utilize the valuable confidence information offered by multiple contours. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this work we propose an automatic GTV contouring method for softtissue sarcomas from X-ray computed tomography (CT) images, using deep learning by integrating inter- and intra-observer variability in the learned model. Sixty-eight patients with soft tissue and bone sarcomas were considered in this evaluation, all underwent pre-operative CT imaging used to perform GTV delineation. Four radiation oncologists and radiologists performed three contouring trials each for all patients. We quantify variability by defining confidence levels based on the frequency of inclusion of a given voxel into the GTV and use a deep convolutional neural network to learn GTV confidence maps. RESULTS Results were compared to confidence maps from the four readers as well as groundtruth consensus contours established jointly by all readers. The resulting continuous Dice score between predicted and true confidence maps was 87% and the Hausdorff distance was 14 mm. CONCLUSION Results demonstrate the ability of the proposed method to predict accurate contours while utilizing variability and as such it can be used to improve clinical workflow.
Receptor-effector coupling by G-proteins: implications for neuronal plasticity.

Publisher Summary G-proteins share features that distinguish them from other GTP-binding proteins. These features include (1) association with the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane (ras p21 and some other low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins are also associated with the cytoplasmic membrane surface); (2) function as receptor–effector couplers; and (3) heterotrimeric structure. Receptors coupled to G-proteins share a common overall topographic structure. Hydrophobicity plots of the amino acid sequences predicted by cDNAs encoding G-protein-coupled receptors suggest that a “generic” receptor consists of a single polypeptide chain that spans the plasma membrane seven times. Effectors regulated by G-proteins include enzymes of second messenger metabolism and ion channels. Some of these are clearly transmembrane proteins (e.g., adenylyl cyclase), but others (e.g., cGMP phosphodiesterase) are peripheral membrane proteins, and for others the structure has yet to be elucidated.
Ameloblastic adenomatoid tumor (adenoameloblastoma). Case reports and review of the literature.

Abstract Two additional cases of ameloblastic adenomatoid tumor (adenoameloblastoma) are reported, bringing the total number of recorded cases of this rare lesion to 50. The tumor occurs most frequently in patients between 12 and 20 years of age, it is located most often in the maxilla, and it has a 2:1 male: female ratio. Regardless of therapy, no recurrences have been reported after complete removal, a fact which emphasizes the need for clear differentiation from ameloblastoma. To avoid confusion, the term ameloblastic adenomatoid tumor should be utilized more widely.
Access Protocols to Support Different Service Classes in an Optical Burst Switching Ring

Several access protocols are proposed to support different service classes in an optical burst switched ring. Their performance is evaluated through simulation. Various performance metrics such as throughput, utilization, burst loss rate, end-to-end delay and fairness are used to analyze the behaviour of each protocol.
Global energy futures and the carbon dioxide problem

The continued rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide, most of which originates as a result of fossil fuel combustion, poses potentially serious long-term risks to the global climate and biological systems. The potential risks associated with moderate increases in the burning of fossil fuels are discussed. The CO2 issue must be incorporated into the development of U.S. and global energy policies.
Self-Assessment in the REAP Tutor: Knowledge, Interest, Motivation, & Learning

Self-assessment questionnaires have long been used in tutoring systems to help researchers measure and evaluate various aspects of a student's performance during learning activities. In this paper, we chronicle the efforts made in the REAP project, a language tutor developed to teach vocabulary to ESL students through reading activities, to understand the usefulness of self-assessment questionnaires for gauging knowledge, motivation, and interest. Additionally, we discuss the appropriate use of self-assessment questions and correlations we have found with learning and user behavior.
Structural investigation of tumor differentiation factor

Tumor differentiation factor (TDF) is a 17 kDa protein produced by the pituitary and secreted into the bloodstream, with no definitive function and incomplete characterization. TDF has the following four cysteine (Cys) residues: Cys17, Cys70, Cys97, and Cys98. To understand the function of TDF, we (1) overexpressed and characterized recombinant TDF (rTDF); (2) investigated native, secreted TDF; and (3) assessed potential disulfide connectivities using molecular modeling. Our results from Western blotting (WB) experiments suggest that rTDF is mostly expressed as insoluble, monomeric, and dimeric forms. Mass spectrometry analysis of the overexpressed rTDF identified a peptide that is a part of TDF protein. WB of the native, secreted TDF detected it as a 50 kDa band. In addition, investigation of TDF by molecular modeling suggests that the Cys residues may form disulfide bridges between Cys17–Cys98 and Cys70–Cys17.
Evaluación y desarrollo de la metacognición en la enseñanza de la química

Metacognition may be defined as the knowledge and regulation of one’s own cognitive system, the capacity to reflect about one’s actions and thoughts. Current views on metacognition pose it as a fundamental factor in achieving autonomy in learning, and promoting deep understanding and problem-­solving skills. This relevance has in turn led to interest in creating learning experiences conducive to developing the use of metacognition, especially in science education. Despite this increasing interest, progress has been hindered by the inherent difficulties associated with developing assessment methods for metacognition. Consequently, evidence for the efficacy and effectiveness of learning environments in promoting metacognition has been scarce. In this article we present some of the work that our research group has done to contribute in addressing this problem. We report the development and validation of an automated and rapid multi-­methods strategy to assess regulatory metacognition in chemistry problem solving from large numbers of participants. This strategy combines two separate instruments: one prospective, the Metacognitive Activities Inventory (MCAi) and one concurrent, the Interactive MultiMedia Exercises (IMMEX). Additionally, we describe two interventions that by using the multi-­ methods assessment strategy have been demonstrated to enhance metacognition use and problem solving ability. The first intervention is a cooperative problem-­based general chemistry laboratory; this study presents evidence that links participation in the laboratory with development of higher order skills. The second instantiation is a two-­week collaborative problem solving activity. Findings from a phenomenological approach nested within a mixed-­methods design suggest that meaningful, purposeful social interaction and reflective prompting act as promoters of metacognition development in both learning environments. These factors are not exclusive to the interventions and we maintain that they are transferable and may be embedded by practitioners in their instruction. This report presents the development and validation of metacognition assessment methods and studies of the efficacy of learning experiences in developing metacognition.
Co-operativity in a nanocrystalline solid-state transition

Co-operativity is an effect where initial reaction events influence later events. Here, White et al. find evidence for co-operativity in the cation exchange process of nanocrystals, as cadmium selenide transforms into the copper selenide phase.
Recent advances in renal phosphate handling

Phosphate is critical for the maintenance of skeletal integrity, is a necessary component of important biomolecules, and is central to signal transduction and cell metabolism. It is becoming clear that endocrine communication between the skeleton, kidney, and the intestine is involved in maintaining appropriate serum phosphate concentrations, and that the kidney is the primary site for minute-to-minute regulation of phosphate levels. The identification of genetic alterations in Mendelian disorders of hypophosphatemia and hyperphosphatemia has led to the isolation of novel genes and the identification of new roles for existing proteins--such as fibroblast growth factor 23 and its processing systems, the co-receptor alpha-klotho, and phosphate transporters--in the control of renal phosphate handling. Recent findings also indicate that fibroblast growth factor 23 has feedback mechanisms involving parathyroid hormone and vitamin D that control phosphate homeostasis. This Review will highlight genetic, in vitro and in vivo findings, and will discuss how these clinical and experimental discoveries have uncovered novel aspects of renal phosphate handling and opened new research and therapeutic avenues.
The reliability of the time-sharing paradigm ☆

Abstract The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of the time-sharing paradigm as a function of the age of the child and the concurrent speaking task employed. Subjects were 40 normal right-handed children, 10 at each of four age levels: 3, 5, 7, and 9. Each subject was presented with three concurrent speaking tasks, syllable repetition, sentence repetition, and story telling. There were control tapping and verbal conditions as well. The entire experimental procedure was administered two times within a 2-week interval. The principal finding of the study was that children were more likely to show the predicted asymmetry on the first administration of the paradigm than on the second one. The sentence repetition task was the one most likely to show the predicted asymmetry between hands, though children showed the most consistent performance on the syllable repetition task. Based on these findings, it was suggested that the time-sharing paradigm might not be particularly reliable in showing the predicted asymmetry in repeated administration of the same tasks with the same linguistic stimuli.
Auditory and visual refractory period effects in children and adults: an ERP study.

Abstract Objective This developmental study was designed to investigate event-related potential (ERP) refractory period effects in the auditory and visual modalities in children and adults and to correlate these electrophysiological measures with standard behavioral measures. Methods ERPs, accuracy, and reaction time were recorded as school-age children and adults monitored a stream of repetitive standard stimuli and detected occasional targets. Standards were presented at various interstimulus intervals (ISIs) in order to measure refractory period effects on early sensory components. Results As has been reported previously in adults, larger components for standards with longer ISIs were observed for an auditory N1 and the visual occipital P1 and P2 in adults. Remarkably similar effects were observed in children. However, only children showed refractory effects on the amplitude of the visual N1 and P2 measured at anterior sites. Across groups, behavioral accuracy and reaction time were correlated with latencies of auditory N1 and visual P2 across ISI conditions. Conclusions The results establish a normal course of development for auditory and visual ERP refractory period effects across the 6- to 8-year-old age range and indicate similar refractoriness in the neural systems indexed by ERPs in these paradigms in typically developing children and adults. Further, the results suggest that electrophysiological measures and standard behavioral measures may at least in part index similar processing in the present paradigms. Significance These findings provide a foundation for further investigation into atypical development, particularly in those populations for which processing time deficits have been implicated such as children with specific language impairment or dyslexia.
Ankle Impingement Caused by an Intra-articular Plica A Report of 2 Cases

Entrapment of soft tissues in the anterolateral gutter of the ankle can cause impingement. When symptomatic, patients complain of chronic ankle pain exacerbated with dorsiflexion. Symptoms of instability and a history of recurring ankle sprains are common findings. Plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging may assist clinicians in identifying associated pathology. We present 2 cases of ankle impingement occurring in the setting of equivocal examination and imaging findings. In both cases, arthroscopy revealed a likely congenital, intra-articular plica.
Lorentz-force independence of resistance tails in magnetic fields near T c for the low-temperature superconductor granular NbN: A Josephson-junction model

The broadened resistive transitions in a granular NbN film have been measured for field orientations both perpendicular and parallel to the current. These are essentially the same over a span of six orders of magnitude below the normal-state resistance (just above ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$) demonstrating the absence of the macroscopic Lorentz force. We show that a model of Josephson coupling between grains, rather than flux motion, can quantitatively explain the results with no adjustable parameters. Broadening of the resistive transitions of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) has also been shown to be independent of the macroscopic Lorentz force. This research demonstrates unambiguously that resistive losses near ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ and the absence of the macroscopic Lorentz force on them are not restricted to exotic HTS.
Solution chemistry of lanthanide complexes—I. Spectroscopic studies of the complexes formed between lanthanide ions and hydroxy amino acids

Abstract Intermolecular energy transfer from Tb3+ to Eu3+, luminescence intensity measurements, potentiometric titrations, differential absorption spectroscopy, and spectroscopic titrations were all used to study the binding of lanthanide ions of serine and threonine. At low pH (3.0–6.0) the complexes are mononuclear and ligand is only weakly bound. In the pH interval of 6.0–8.5 stronger interaction takes place between the ligand and the metal (with possible coordination of the undissociated hydroxyl group), and self-association of complexes becomes important. Above pH 8.5, base hydrolysis of the complexes leads to highly associated species in solution and shortly above this pH an insoluble precipitate is formed. It was found that energy could be transferred from Tb3+ to Eu3+ more efficiently among complexes prepared from racemic ligands than in complexes made from resolved ligand, but this stereoselectivity was only observed at pH values greater than 6.5 and in solutions having a 1:10 ratio of metal-to-ligand. No stereoselectivity was found in solutions having 1:5 rations, and this observation was explained by the existence of 1:2 metal-ligand complexes existing in solutions having the higher ratio of metal-to-ligand (only 1:1 complexes are then found at lower ratios of metal-to-ligand).
An Experimental Study of Subcritical Bifurcations in Milling

The focus of the current paper is an experimental investigation of subcritical bifurcations in milling. Several researchers have reported results indicating that the secondary Hopf bifurcations of turning processes are subcritical. However, fewer results are available for milling — especially results that provide any substantial experimental evidence. Here, the experimental cutting tests were performed on a relatively long aluminum workpiece. The atypical length of the work piece will be used so that the depth of cut may be slowly increased or decreased during the cutting process. This provides visual evidence of hysteresis in the bifurcation diagram and the existence of multiple stable periodic solutions. The importance of this exploratory experimental effort is that multiple attractors may co-exist (stable periodic solutions) for the same cutting speed and depth of cut, but only one of these solutions would be the chatter free case. An important outcome from these results is that a small perturbation in the desirable stable solution near the borders of the stability diagram could result in a jump to the unstable cutting condition.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The Sharpe Ratio and Long-Run Investment Decisions

We investigate the empirical relationship between the Sharpe ratio and the investment horizon for portfolios of small stocks, large stocks, and corporate bonds. Sharpe ratios are calculated for holding periods of one through 25 years using returns generated by a simulation procedure that preserves serial correlation present in actual returns. We show that relative portfolio rankings vary with the investment horizon and portfolio rankings for autocorrelated returns are different from those for independent returns. Our results indicate that Sharpe ratios computed by investment advisory services such as Morningstar Mutual Funds that are based on short-term return intervals must be interpreted with care by long-term investors.
Occurrence of Bull Trout in Naturally Fragmented Habitat Patches of Varied Size

Abstract Bull trout Salvelinus confluentus and other salmonids in the Pacific Northwest are believed at risk of local and regional extinctions because of ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation. Biologists have focused on defining and protecting critical stream channel characteristics, but there is little information regarding the scale or spatial geometry of habitat that may be necessary for the species' long-term persistence. We investigated the influence of habitat patch size on the occurrence of bull trout by determining the presence or absence of fish in naturally fragmented watersheds of the Boise River basin in Idaho. We defined patches of potential habitat for bull trout as watersheds above 1,600 m elevation, a criterion based on the presumed restriction of local populations by stream temperature. We used logistic regression to investigate the possible influence of patch size as well as stream width and gradient on the occurrence of bull trout at reach, stream, and patch scales of analysis. Both st...
Unsolved Issues in the Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism

The three most controversial and unsolved issues in the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) are: (1) the role of thrombolysis, (2) the role of low molecular weight heparin and length of hospital stay, and (3) the optimal duration of anticoagulation. The trend is to use thrombolysis more frequently, to administer low molecular weight heparin and shorten the hospitalization duration in low-risk patients, and to give prolonged courses of anticoagulation with warfarin. PE thrombolysis appears most beneficial in patients at high risk of adverse clinical outcomes in whom the potential hazards of bleeding can be justified by the danger of conservative management with anticoagulation alone. With respect to utilizing low molecular weight heparin as a way of shortening the duration of hospitalization, there are no data to warrant this approach. The current FDA mandate for symptomatic PE patients is to administer intravenous unfractionated heparin administered as a bridge to therapeutic warfarin. Finally, the optimal duration of anticoagulation following acute PE remains mired in controversy. Despite the high rate of recurrent venous thrombosis after discontinuation of anticoagulation, there are currently insufficient data to recommend indefinite warfarin therapy.
A note on some algorithms for the Gibbs posterior

Jiang and Tanner (2008) consider a method of classification using the Gibbs posterior which is directly constructed from the empirical classification errors. They propose an algorithm to sample from the Gibbs posterior which utilizes a smoothed approximation of the empirical classification error, via a Gibbs sampler with augmented latent variables. In this paper, we note some drawbacks of this algorithm and propose an alternative method for sampling from the Gibbs posterior, based on the Metropolis algorithm. The numerical performance of the algorithms is examined and compared via simulated data. We find that the Metropolis algorithm produces good classification results at an improved speed of computation.
Eosinophilic response in glioblastoma tissue culture after addition of autologous lymphocytes.

In experiments designed for the study of interactions in vitro between the cells of glioblastoma multiforme and lymphocytes from the same donor, a marked eosinophilic response was noted in three out of six cases. This was an entirely unexpected finding since few, if any, eosinophils survive in tissue cultures. These cells incorporated 3H-cytidine and 3H-leucine 72 hours after the cultures had been established, an indication that they were metabolically active.
Image-Guided Sinus Surgery: Lessons Learned from the First 1000 Cases

Abstract Objective: To study physician utilization and experience with image-guidance technology for sinus surgery. Study Design and Setting: Retrospective review of the first 1000 image-guided sinus operations performed by 42 surgeons at an academic medical center. Results: Utilization of image-guidance systems showed a dramatic increase in both number of cases performed and surgeons who used this equipment (70.6% and 92.8%, respectively) during the first 2 years of its availability. Surgical volume subsequently decreased by a mean of 9.3% per year, whereas the number of surgeons using this technology plateaued. The majority of surgeons continued to perform image-guided surgery throughout the study period for selected cases. The knowledge base gained from this experience can best be summarized as a series of lessons learned. Conclusion: It is likely that the availability and utilization of image-guidance systems for sinus surgery will continue to increase in the future. Physicians who learn to use this new technology must do so with an appreciation for both its potential benefits and pitfalls. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003;128:8-13.)
The Role of Transforming Growth Factor Beta in Dupuytren's Disease

This study was undertaken to mark immunologically intracellular and extracellular sites of two common transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) isoforms, TGF-β 1 and TGF-β 2 , in the proliferative, involutional, and residual stages of Dupuytren's disease. The effect of TGF-β on myofibroblast proliferation was also studied using explant cultures from Dupuytren's nodules in the proliferative or involutional stage. TGF-β 1 , TGF-β 2 and the combination of both isoforms were studied at low high myofibroblast plating densities to simulate respectively proliferative or involutional disease stage conditions. Our results indicate that TGF-β 1 showed an intense intracellular marking pattern associated with fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, and capillary endothelial cells in all Dupuytren's samples, regardless of disease stage. TGF-β 2 showed an intense intracellular localization within myofibroblasts in the proliferative and involutional stages. Fibroblasts in the residual stage did not contain TGF-β 2 . Neither isoform was present in the extracellular matrix. Results of cell culture indicate that compared with control myofibroblasts, the addition of TGF-β 1 , TGF-β 2 and TGF-β 1 +β 2 had significant effects on myofibroblast proliferation, especially at higher plating densities. However, TGF-β 2 had the most significant proliferative effect.
Group treatment for those involved with incest

Abstract In this article the author reviews group approaches and research as they are related to incest. Participants in treatment include child victims, perpetrators, adult partners or spouses, adult survivors, and families
The diagnosis and management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in preschool children: the state of our knowledge and practice.

Jamie is a 3-year-old who is described by his parents as “always in motion.” He does not sit still for more than a few minutes and seems to move from one activity to another all day long. His parents complain that he does not want to look at books when they try to read aloud to him and just wants to turn the pages without paying attention to the pictures or the story. Jamie constantly talks and interrupts others, and according to his parents, he “drives everyone crazy.” Maria is 2½. Her mother dreads going to the supermarket with her because Maria grabs at all the items in the store, frequently causing a “scene,” and not infrequently hurting herself. In fact, Maria has already been to the hospital emergency room on three occasions for injuring herself due to her uncontrollable behavior. Tyrell is 4 years old and has been expelled from his preschool for disruptive behavior, not listening to the teacher, and hitting other children. None of the other children in the neighborhood want to play with him. Jamie’s, Maria’s, and Tyrell’s parents worry that their children have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and have sought advice from their pediatrician. The pediatrician is concerned about making the diagnosis of ADHD in children of such a young age. How can she distinguish between the inattention, exuberance, and impulsivity that is part of the normal development of preschool-aged children and behaviors that represent pathologic symptomatology? Perhaps these behaviors are due to poor parenting or to poor parental coping with a temperamentally active child. Even if ADHD is diagnosed, what interventions are available or effective? When, if ever, would it be appropriate to prescribe stimulant medication? These are questions that pediatricians are frequently faced with. This article will review what is known about ADHD in preschool children, including issues related to etiology, diagnosis, prevalence, comorbidities, psychosocial and academic impairment, continuity with school-aged ADHD, and therapy.
The excited state absorption kinetics of anthrone at 533 nm

A rapid buildup (<20 ps) of excited state absorption of anthrone at 533 nm is observed following excitation at 355 nm in benzene solution at room temperature. Under the same conditions, weak excited state absorption of anthrone is observed in the solvent cis-1,3-pentadiene, a triplet quencher. These data suggest the possibility of rapid intersystem crossing in anthrone followed by slow internal conversion and/or slow vibrational relaxation in the triplet manifold. The use of a triplet quencher as solvent should be a reasonable test to distinguish between Sn ← S1 and TT absorption in favorable situations.
REM sleep behavior disorder: a dopaminergic deficiency disorder?

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a complex sleep disorder first characterized by Schenck and Mahowald in the 1980s.1 The typical complaints are violent thrashing or yelling accompanied by nightmares during sleep. Polysomnographic study shows that the behavioral outbursts are associated with dream mentation and intermittent loss of the muscle atonia that normally characterizes the REM sleep state. It has been known since its early descriptions that most patients with RBD demonstrate periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) and that RBD can be associated with, or even precede, other neurologic disorders, especially parkinsonian states. One study showed that 38% of patients with RBD and no other neurologic problems at initial diagnosis developed a parkinsonian disorder at a mean of 3.7 years after the diagnosis of RBD.2 Conversely, approximately one-third of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) show RBD on polysomnography (although only approximately one-half of these would be identified by history alone).3 Strong associations also exist with multisystem atrophy (MSA) and diffuse Lewy body disease, with the same tendency for RBD to precede the onset of the other neurologic symptoms by years. Dementia or parkinsonism with RBD is highly predictive of synucleinopathy at postmortem.4 SPECT and PET studies in …
The impact of situational factors, officer characteristics, and neighborhood context on police behavior: A multilevel analysis

Abstract While a considerable number of studies had been conducted to examine the effects of various variables on police behavior, very few studies had simultaneously analyzed factors that accounted both for police coercive and noncoercive behaviors. Equally limited is the research on the influences of officer characteristics and neighborhood context on police behavior controlling for all individual situational factors. Using observational and survey data collected by a large-scale project and hierarchical linear modeling techniques, this study assessed the effects of situational, officer, and neighborhood variables on police coercive and noncoercive actions, as well as the cross-level effects between these variables. Findings showed that situational characteristics played a strong role in determining officer coercive behavior, but not noncoercive activities. Similarly, officer-level predictors explained better officers' variation in coercive behavior than noncoercive behavior. Meanwhile, socially disadvantaged neighborhoods were more prone to receive coercive activities than were other neighborhoods. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.
Distribution of oxygen-18 and deuterium in river waters across the United States†

Reconstruction of continental palaeoclimate and palaeohydrology is currently hampered by limited information about isotopic patterns in the modern hydrologic cycle. To remedy this situation and to provide baseline data for other isotope hydrology studies, more than 4800, depth- and width-integrated, stream samples from 391 selected sites within the USGS National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) and Hydrologic Benchmark Network (HBN) were analysed for δ18O and δ2H (http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/ofr/ofr00-160/pdf/ofr00-160.pdf). Each site was sampled bimonthly or quarterly for 2·5 to 3 years between 1984 and 1987. The ability of this dataset to serve as a proxy for the isotopic composition of modern precipitation in the USA is supported by the excellent agreement between the river dataset and the isotopic compositions of adjacent precipitation monitoring sites, the strong spatial coherence of the distributions of δ18O and δ2H, the good correlations of the isotopic compositions with climatic parameters, and the good agreement between the ‘national’ meteoric water line (MWL) generated from unweighted analyses of samples from the 48 contiguous states of δ2H=8·11δ18O+8·99 (r2=0·98) and the unweighted global MWL of sites from the Global Network for Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP) of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) of δ2H=8·17δ18O+10·35. The national MWL is composed of water samples that arise in diverse local conditions where the local meteoric water lines (LMWLs) usually have much lower slopes. Adjacent sites often have similar LMWLs, allowing the datasets to be combined into regional MWLs. The slopes of regional MWLs probably reflect the humidity of the local air mass, which imparts a distinctive evaporative isotopic signature to rainfall and hence to stream samples. Deuterium excess values range from 6 to 15‰ in the eastern half of the USA, along the northwest coast and on the Colorado Plateau. In the rest of the USA, these values range from −2 to 6‰, with strong spatial correlations with regional aridity. The river samples have successfully integrated the spatial variability in the meteorological cycle and provide the best available dataset on the spatial distributions of δ18O and δ2H values of meteoric waters in the USA. Published in 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Delicate relations among the basic process capability indices cp, Cpk AND Cpm, AND THEIR MODIFICATIONS

Relations among the ‘original’ process capability index, Cp:, and the ‘second generation’ indices, Cpk: and Cpm:, are studied in some detail, with special attention to conditions under which Cpm: is greater, or less, than Cpk:.Similar, though less extensive, analysis is applied in comparing a new index, Cpq:, with Cpm: and Cpk:. There is also a short section describing some features of the structure of Vannman's recently formulated ‘unified family’ of indices, Cp:(u, v), that includes Cp:, Cpm: and Cpk:.
Obtaining calibrated marine aerosol extinction measurements using horizontal lidar measurements, differential lidar-target measurements, and a polar nephelometer

Lidars are ideal for mapping the spatial distribution ofaerosol concentrations, however efforts to convertthe lidar measurements into estimates of the aerosol extinction or scattering coefficient are usually complicated. The difficulties arise from the uncertainty in the aerosol backscatter-to-extinction ratio and the lidar calibration. In marine conditions with little absorption, the aerosol backscatter-to-extinction ratio is identical to the aerosol phase function/4? at 1 80 degrees (backscatter) . Uncertainty in the lidar calibration is another source ofuncertainty, which can change with time depending on the state ofthe optics (clean or dirty). Here we investigate several techniques to obtain calibrated aerosol extinction coefficient values. The first approach uses horizontal lidar measurements over the open ocean where the atmosphere is horizontally homogeneous. The lidar calibration or aerosol phase function is adjusted until the derived aerosol extinction coefficients are flat with distance. Modeling shows that this provides correct aerosol extinction values. A second approach uses a target to reflect the lidar beam at different distances. The aerosol extinction is derived from the differential transmission measurements. As an independent measurement, the aerosol phase function and scattering coefficients can be measured with a polar nephelometer.
Are Measures of Cognitive Effort and Motivation Useful in Differentiating Feigned from Genuine Psychiatric Symptoms

This study examined the accuracy of two measures of cognitive effort and motivation, the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM; Tombaugh, 1996) and the Validity Indicator Profile Verbal subtest (VIP-V; Frederick, 2003) using a simulation study design with psychiatric patients (n = 88) and community participants instructed to feign mental illness (n = 29). Little research has evaluated either the TOMM or the VIP in psychiatric patients, a group that may be at an increased risk of misclassification, despite the common use of these measures by forensic evaluators to assess for malingering. Specificity for the TOMM (94.2%) and the VIP-V (71.6%) were somewhat lower than the original validation samples, but Sensitivity rates were mixed: lower for the TOMM (62.1%) but higher for the VIP-V (73.1%). Additionally, VIP-V indicators were examined using Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) and stepwise discriminant analyses. The implications of these results for forensic assessment are discussed.
Perceptual indicators of family well-being

A resource exchange theory for the development of perceptual indicators of quality of family life is presented with empirical evidence to test the theory. The theory specifies six classes of resources: love, status, services, information, goods and money, as necessary to maintain some level of life quality. The first three are the most dependent on the particular people involved in the exchange relationship and the interpersonal exchanges of these resources offer opportunities for highest levels of satisfaction. It was hypothesized (1) that feelings about the particularistic resources received from family would significantly contribute to family life satisfaction for men and women; (2) that the order of resource classes on the particularism dimension would correspond to the order of their effectiveness in contributing to family life satisfaction. Results of the study support the theoretical model and hypotheses and suggest that further research with respondents of differing life circumstances is needed. The need for indicators of quality of family life in quality of life research is emphasized.
Demonstration of edge interoperability, re-shaping and re-timing using hybrid mode-locking within a 40Gb/s optical packet router

We demonstrate a regenerative optical router node showing 2R and 3R regeneration on 40Gb/s labeled optical packets. Successfully achieved >5dB increase in received power sensitivity and obtained >99% edge-to-edge Ethernet frame recovery.
NHS–MAS3: a bifunctional chelator alternative to NHS–MAG3

This laboratory uses an N-hydroxysuccinimide derivative of S-acetylmercaptoacetyltriglycine (NHS-MAG3) to conjugate amines for subsequent labeling with 99mTc. However, the synthesis from triglycerine is general and not restricted to this tripeptide. We had earlier selected a small number of alternative tripeptides and synthesized the corresponding NHS derivatives. Each was then evaluated in a search for bifunctional chelators with properties superior to NHS-MAG3, such as lower serum protein binding or improved stability to cysteine challenge. Based on these preliminary results, NHS-S-acetylmercaptoacetyltriserine (NHS-MAS3) was selected for further investigation. We have now conjugated this bifunctional chelator to an biocytin and to an amine-derivatized peptide nucleic acid (PNA). Both carriers were also conjugated with NHS-MAG3 under identical conditions and all were labeled with 99mTc at neutral pH and at boiling temperature while the conjugated PNAs were radiolabelled at neutral pH and at room temperature. Regardless of the chelator, reverse phase HPLC radiochromatograms of the labeled biotins and PNAs after purification showed a single peak. However, by size exclusion HPLC, the radiochromatograms always showed several peaks even after purification, but the MAS3 radiochromatograms were less complicated. For biotin and PNA both, radiolabeling via MAS3 showed improved 99mTc stability in 37 degrees C serum and in cysteine solution. The four preparations were administered to mice implanted in one thigh with avidin beads (biotins) or complementary PNA beads (PNAs). At 5 h post-administration, no significant differences were observed in the targeting of PNA beads between the two chelators, however the target thigh/normal thigh ratio was significantly higher for MAS3-biotin compared to MAG3-biotin. We conclude that labeling biocytin and amine-derivatized PNA with NHS-MAS3 compared to NHS-MAG3 provides simpler radiochromatographic profiles, improved stability of the label in serum and cysteine solution and can improve in vivo targeting.