bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Allometric equations for young northern hardwoods: the importance of age-specific equations for estimating aboveground biomass
Authors: Fatemi Farrah R. , Yanai Ruth D. , Hamburg Steven P. , Vadeboncoeur Matthew A. , Arthur Mary A. , Briggs Russell D. , Levine Carrie R.
Published: April 2011

Estimates of aboveground biomass and nutrient stocks are commonly derived using equations that describe tree dimensional relationships. Despite the widespread use of this approach, there is little information about whether equations specific to stand age are necessary for accurate biomass predictions. We developed equations for small trees (2–12 cm diameter) of six species in four young northern hardwood stands. We then compared our equations with equations used frequently in the literature that were developed in mature stands (Whittaker et al. 1974. Ecol. Monogr. 44: 233–252). Our equations for yellow birch ( Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) predicted 11%–120% greater stem wood for individual trees compared with the equations from Whittaker et al. and, on average, 50% greater aboveground yellow birch biomass in the four stands that we studied. Differences were less pronounced for sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh.) and American beech ( Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.); our equations predicted, on average, 9% greater aboveground stand biomass for sugar maple and 3% lower biomass for American beech compared with Whittaker et al. Our results suggest that stand age may be an important factor influencing the aboveground allometry and biomass of small yellow birch trees in these developing northern hardwood stands.
A multifunctional comparison of even-aged and uneven-aged forest management in a boreal region
Authors: Pukkala Timo , Lähde Erkki , Laiho Olavi , Salo Kauko , Hotanen Juha-Pekka
Published: April 2011

The choice between even- and uneven-aged forest management is a topical issue as the negative impacts of clear-felling are being increasingly criticized and the profitability of even-aged management has been questioned. This study compared these management systems in spruce and pine stands in terms of timber, carbon, and bilberry benefits, all of which can be predicted with reasonable accuracy and quantified in terms of money. Management was optimized by maximizing the total net present value (NPV) of the three benefits in a steady-state situation. The currently recommended type of even-aged management was also included in the comparisons. Uneven-aged management was the best in terms of the total NPV and with respect to bilberry benefits (NPV of bilberry harvesting). It was also better than even-aged management in terms of timber benefits when the discount rate was more than 1%. The ranking was less clear in terms of carbon sequestration and discounted carbon benefits.
Estimating burn severity at the regional level using optically based indices
Authors: Tanase Mihai , de la Riva Juan , Pérez-Cabello Fernando
Published: April 2011

During the last decades, the average number of fires per year increased significantly. A twofold increase was observed in the Mediterranean Basin, whereas in the western United States, the increase was fourfold. Regional models for burn severity estimation are necessary to avoid time consuming and costly fieldwork at each individual site. Furthermore, the estimation errors should be assessed by burn severity classes to avoid overestimating models accuracy. To develop such models, this study assessed the relationship between the composite burn index (CBI) and several spectral indices across five burned sites in northeastern Spain. The nonlinear models coupled with spectral indices containing information from the short wavelength infrared provided the best statistical fit of the data at most individual sites and for the pooled data set. The estimation errors for highly burned sites were well below 10%, but for burned sites of low and moderate severity, the errors increased significantly. A strong linear relation was found between burn severity at the plot level and understory and overstory composites. This study demonstrates (i) the model consistency at the regional level and (ii) the need for new estimation methods in areas affected by low to moderate burn severities, even for relatively homogeneous forests.
Litter layers (Oie) as a calcium source of sugar maple seedlings in a northern hardwood forest
Authors: Fahey Timothy J. , Blum Joel D.
Published: April 2011

The role of the Oie horizon in calcium supply of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) seedlings was evaluated. Forest floor Oie horizon was reciprocally transplanted on 1 m2 quadrats between a Ca-treated (W1) and a reference (W3) watershed, and sugar maple seeds were planted on the quadrats. The Oie horizon in W1 exhibited a greatly increased Ca:Sr molar ratio compared with the reference W3 (550 vs. 220), allowing distinction of this Ca source in seedling tissues. Foliage and fine roots of maple seedlings growing on quadrats in W3 with Oie transplanted from W1 exhibited Ca:Sr ratios intermediate between the Oie and underlying native soil horizons, demonstrating the role of Oie in seedling Ca nutrition. However, apparently strong and temporally changing discrimination of Ca and Sr in seedling uptake and internal transport confounded quantitative evaluation.
H2O2preconditioning modulates phase II enzymes through p38 MAPK and PI3K/Akt activation
Authors: Angeloni Cristina , Motori Elisa , Fabbri Daniele , Malaguti Marco , Leoncini Emanuela , Lorenzini Antonello , Hrelia Silvana
Published: April 2011

Ischemic preconditioning is a complex cardioprotective phenomenon that involves adaptive changes in cells and molecules and occurs in a biphasic pattern: an early phase after 1–2 h and a late phase after 12–24 h. While it is widely accepted that reactive oxygen species are strongly involved in triggering ischemic preconditiong, it is not clear if they play a major role in the early or late phase of preconditioning and which are the mechanisms involved. The present study was designed to investigate the mechanisms behind H2O2-induced cardioprotection in rat neonatal cardiomyocytes. We focused on antioxidant and phase II enzymes and their modulation by protein kinase signaling pathways and nuclear-factor-E2-related factor-1 (Nrf1) and Nrf2. H2O2preconditioning was able to counteract oxidative stress more effectively in the late than in the early phase of adaptation. In particular, H2O2preconditioning counteracted oxidative stress-induced apoptosis by decreasing caspase-3 activity, increasing Bcl2 expression and selectively increasing the expression and activity of antioxidant and phase II enzymes through Nrf1 and Nrf2 translocation to the nucleus. The downregulation of Nrf1 and Nrf2 by small interfering RNA reduced the expression level of phase II enzymes. Specific inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and p38 MAPK activation partially reduced the cardioprotection elicited by H2O2preconditioning and the induction and activity of phase II enzymes. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, a key role for Nrf1, and not only for Nrf2, in the induction of phase II enzymes triggered by H2O2preconditioning.
Double-stranded RNA induces similar pulmonary dysfunction to respiratory syncytial virus in BALB/c mice
Authors: Aeffner Famke , Traylor Zachary P. , Yu Erin N. Z. , Davis Ian C.
Published: April 2011

Both respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A virus induce nucleotide/P2Y purinergic receptor-mediated impairment of alveolar fluid clearance (AFC), which contributes to formation of lung edema. Although genetically dissimilar, both viruses generate double-stranded RNA replication intermediates, which act as Toll-like receptor (TLR)-3 ligands. We hypothesized that double-stranded RNA/TLR-3 signaling underlies nucleotide-mediated inhibition of amiloride-sensitive AFC in both infections. We found that addition of the synthetic double-stranded RNA analog poly-inosinic-cytidylic acid [poly(I:C)] (500 ng/ml) to the AFC instillate resulted in nucleotide/P2Y purinergic receptor-mediated inhibition of amiloride-sensitive AFC in BALB/c mice but had no effect on cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR)-mediated Cl− transport. Poly(I:C) also induced acute keratinocyte cytokine-mediated AFC insensitivity to stimulation by the β-adrenergic agonist terbutaline. Inhibitory effects of poly(I:C) on AFC were absent in TLR-3−/− mice and were not replicated by addition to the AFC instillate of ligands for other TLRs except TLR-2. Intranasal poly(I:C) administration (250 μg/mouse) similarly induced nucleotide-dependent AFC inhibition 2–3 days later, together with increased lung water content and neutrophilic inflammation. Intranasal treatment of BALB/c mice with poly(I:C) did not induce airway hyperresponsiveness at day 2 but did result in insensitivity to airway bronchodilation by β-adrenergic agonists. These findings suggest that viral double-stranded RNA replication intermediates induce nucleotide-mediated impairment of amiloride-sensitive AFC in both infections, together with β-adrenergic agonist insensitivity. Both of these effects also occur in RSV infection. However, double-stranded RNA replication intermediates do not appear to be sufficient to induce either adenosine-mediated, CFTR-dependent Cl− secretion in the lung or severe, lethal hypoxemia, both of which are features of influenza infection.
Filamin A is a phosphorylation target of membrane but not cytosolic adenylyl cyclase activity
Authors: Sayner Sarah L. , Balczon Ron , Frank Dara W. , Cooper Dermot M. F. , Stevens Troy
Published: April 2011

Transmembrane adenylyl cyclase (AC) generates a cAMP pool within the subplasma membrane compartment that strengthens the endothelial cell barrier. This cAMP signal is steered toward effectors that promote junctional integrity and is inactivated before it accesses microtubules, where the cAMP signal causes phosphorylation of tau, leading to microtubule disassembly and barrier disruption. During infection, Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses a type III secretion system to inject a soluble AC, ExoY, into the cytosol of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. ExoY generates a cAMP signal that disrupts the endothelial cell barrier. We tested the hypothesis that this ExoY-dependent cAMP signal causes phosphorylation of tau, without inducing phosphorylation of membrane effectors that strengthen endothelial barrier function. To approach this hypothesis, we first discerned the membrane compartment in which endogenous transmembrane AC6 resides. AC6 was resolved in caveolin-rich lipid raft fractions with calcium channel proteins and the cell adhesion molecules N-cadherin, E-cadherin, and activated leukocyte adhesion molecule. VE-cadherin was excluded from the caveolin-rich fractions and was detected in the bulk plasma membrane fractions. The actin binding protein, filamin A, was detected in all membrane fractions. Isoproterenol activation of ACs promoted filamin phosphorylation, whereas thrombin inhibition of AC6 reduced filamin phosphorylation within the membrane fraction. In contrast, ExoY produced a cAMP signal that did not cause filamin phosphorylation yet induced tau phosphorylation. Hence, our data indicate that cAMP signals are strictly compartmentalized; whereas cAMP emanating from transmembrane ACs activates barrier-enhancing targets, such as filamin, cAMP emanating from soluble ACs activates barrier-disrupting targets, such as tau.
Exosomes Released by Melanoma Cells Prepare Sentinel Lymph Nodes for Tumor Metastasis
Authors: Hood Joshua L. , San Roman Susana , Wickline Samuel A.
Published: April 2011

Exosomes are naturally occurring biological nanovesicles utilized by tumors to communicate signals to local and remote cells and tissues. Melanoma exosomes can incite a proangiogenic signaling program capable of remodeling tissue matrices. In this study, we show exosome-mediated conditioning of lymph nodes and define microanatomic responses that license metastasis of melanoma cells. Homing of melanoma exosomes to sentinel lymph nodes imposes synchronized molecular signals that effect melanoma cell recruitment, extracellular matrix deposition, and vascular proliferation in the lymph nodes. Our findings highlight the pathophysiologic role and mechanisms of an exosome-mediated process of microanatomic niche preparation that facilitates lymphatic metastasis by cancer cells. Cancer Res; 71(11); 3792–801. ©2011 AACR.
PIK3R1 (p85α) Is Somatically Mutated at High Frequency in Primary Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Urick Mary E. , Rudd Meghan L. , Godwin Andrew K. , Sgroi Dennis , Merino Maria , Bell Daphne W.
Published: April 2011

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is an important therapeutic target. Mutations in PIK3CA, which encodes p110α, the catalytic subunit of PI3K, occur in endometrioid endometrial cancers (EEC) and nonendometrioid endometrial cancers (NEEC). The goal of this study was to determine whether PIK3R1, which encodes p85α, the inhibitory subunit of PI3K, is mutated in endometrial carcinoma. We carried out exonic sequencing of PIK3R1 from 42 EECs and 66 NEECs. The pattern of PIK3R1 mutations was compared with the patterns of PIK3CA, PTEN, and KRAS mutations. The biochemical effect of seven PIK3R1 mutations was examined by stable expression in U2OS cells, followed by coimmunoprecipitation analysis of p110α, and Western blotting of phospho-AKTSer473 (p-AKTSer473). We found that PIK3R1 was somatically mutated in 43% of EECs and 12% of NEECs. The majority of mutations (93.3%) were localized to the p85α-nSH2 and -iSH2 domains. Several mutations were recurrent. PIK3R1 mutations were significantly (P = 0.0015) more frequent in PIK3CA-wild type EECs (70%) than in PIK3CA mutant EECs (18%). Introduction of wild-type p85α into U2OS cells reduced the level of p-AKTSer473 compared with the vector control. Five p85α mutants, p85αdelH450-E451, p85αdelK459, p85αdelY463-L466, p85αdelR574-T576, and the p85αN564D positive control, were shown to bind p110α and led to increased levels of p-AKTSer473. The p85αR348X and p85αK511VfsX2 mutants did not bind p110α and showed no appreciable change in p-AKTSer473 levels. In conclusion, our study has revealed a new mode of PI3K alteration in primary endometrial tumors and warrants future studies to determine whether PIK3R1 mutations correlate with clinical outcome to targeted therapies directed against the PI3K pathway in EEC and NEEC. Cancer Res; 71(12); 4061–7. ©2011 AACR.
Effector T-Cell Infiltration Positively Impacts Survival of Glioblastoma Patients and Is Impaired by Tumor-Derived TGF-β
Authors: Lohr Jennifer , Ratliff Thomas , Huppertz Andrea , Ge Yingzi , Dictus Christine , Ahmadi Rezvan , Grau Stefan , Hiraoka Nobuyoshi , Eckstein Volker , Ecker Rupert C. , Korff Thomas , von Deimling Andreas , Unterberg Andreas , Beckhove Philipp , Herold-Mende Christel
Published: April 2011

Purpose: In glioma—in contrast to various other cancers—the impact of T-lymphocytes on clinical outcome is not clear. We investigated the clinical relevance and regulation of T-cell infiltration in glioma.

Experimental Design: T-cell subpopulations from entire sections of 93 WHO°II–IV gliomas were computationally identified using markers CD3, CD8, and Foxp3; survival analysis was then done on primary glioblastomas (pGBM). Endothelial cells expressing cellular adhesion molecules (CAM) were similarly computationally quantified from the same glioma tissues. Influence of prominent cytokines (as measured by ELISA from 53 WHO°II–IV glioma lysates) on CAM-expression in GBM-isolated endothelial cells was determined using flow cytometry. The functional relevance of the cytokine-mediated CAM regulation was tested in a transmigration assay using GBM-derived endothelial cells and autologous T-cells.

Results: Infiltration of all T-cell subsets increased in high-grade tumors. Most strikingly, within pGBM, elevated numbers of intratumoral effector T cells (Teff, cytotoxic and helper) significantly correlated with a better survival; regulatory T cells were infrequently present and not associated with GBM patient outcome. Interestingly, increased infiltration of Teff cells was related to the expression of ICAM-1 on the vessel surface. Transmigration of autologous T cells in vitro was markedly reduced in the presence of CAM-blocking antibodies. We found that TGF-β molecules impeded transmigration and downregulated CAM-expression on GBM-isolated endothelial cells; blocking TGF-β receptor signaling increased transmigration.

Conclusions: This study provides comprehensive and novel insights into occurrence and regulation of T-cell infiltration in glioma. Specifically, targeting TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 might improve intratumoral T-cell infiltration and thus enhance effectiveness of immunotherapeutic approaches. Clin Cancer Res; 17(13); 4296–308. ©2011 AACR.
The Viral Load of Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) DNA in Peripheral Blood Predicts for Biological and Clinical Characteristics in Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Hohaus Stefan , Santangelo Rosaria , Giachelia Manuela , Vannata Barbara , Massini Giuseppina , Cuccaro Annarosa , Martini Maurizio , Cesarini Valeriana , Cenci Tonia , D'Alo Francesco , Voso Maria Teresa , Fadda Giovanni , Leone Giuseppe , Larocca Luigi M
Published: April 2011

Purpose: The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is present in the malignant Hodgkin/Reed–Sternberg (HRS) cells of 20% to 40% cases of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in Western countries. We were interested in the detection and quantification of cell-free plasma EBV-DNA as an indicator of biological and clinical characteristics in EBV-associated HL.

Experimental Design: EBV was detected in peripheral blood compartments (whole blood, plasma, and mononuclear cells) at diagnosis by real-time PCR for the EBNA (EB nuclear antigen) region (n = 93) and in HRS cells by in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBER; n = 63). These data were correlated to histological and clinical characteristics, EBV serology, circulating cell-free DNA, and interleukin (IL)-6 levels.

Results: Detection of EBV-DNA in plasma had a high specificity (90%), but a relatively low sensitivity (65%) to predict for EBV association. The viral load was higher in patients with advanced stage disease, older age in the presence of B-symptoms, and international prognostic score more than 2. The presence of EBV in HRS cells and higher plasma EBV-DNA copy numbers correlated to an increased frequency of tumor-infiltrating CD68+ macrophages in lymph node biopsies. Plasma EBV-DNA load correlated to circulating cell-free DNA and IL-6 levels, and inversely correlated to lymphocyte counts and EBNA1 antibody titers.

Conclusion: Although the presence of EBV-DNA in peripheral blood cannot be regarded as a surrogate marker for EBER, the plasma EBV-DNA load at HL diagnosis is an indicator of disease activity and biological characteristics associated with negative prognosis. Moreover, the inverse correlation to EBNA1 antibody titers and lymphocyte counts may indicate a reduction in immunosurveillance, favoring the expansion of EBV-HRS cells in HL. Clin Cancer Res; 17(9); 2885–92. ©2011 AACR.
CYLD Inhibits Tumorigenesis and Metastasis by Blocking JNK/AP1 Signaling at Multiple Levels
Authors: de Marval Paula Miliani , Lutfeali Shazia , Jin Jane Y. , Leshin Benjamin , Selim M. Angelica , Zhang Jennifer Y.
Published: April 2011

CYLD has been recognized as a tumor suppressor due to its dominant genetic linkage to multiple types of epidermal tumors and a range of other cancers. The molecular mechanisms governing CYLD control of skin cancer are still unclear. Here, we showed that K14-driven epidermal expression of a patient-relevant and catalytically deficient CYLD truncated mutant (CYLDm) sensitized mice to skin tumor development in response to 7,12-dimethylbenz[α]anthracene (DMBA)/(12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) TPA challenge. Tumors developed on transgenic mice were prone to malignant progression and lymph node metastasis and displayed increased activation of c-Jun-NH2-kinase (JNK) and the downstream c-Jun and c-Fos proteins. Most importantly, topical application of a pharmacologic JNK inhibitor significantly reduced tumor development and abolished metastasis in the transgenic mice. Further in line with these animal data, exogenous expression of CYLDm in A431, a human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell line, markedly enhanced cell growth, migration, and subcutaneous tumor growth in an AP1-depdendent manner. In contrast, expression of the wild-type CYLD inhibited SCC tumorigenesis and AP1 function. Most importantly, CYLDm not only increased JNK activation but also induced an upregulation of K63 ubiquitination on both c-Jun and c-Fos, leading to sustained AP1 activation. Our findings uncovered c-Jun and c-Fos as novel CYLD targets and underscore that CYLD controls epidermal tumorigenesis through blocking the JNK/AP1 signaling pathway at multiple levels. Cancer Prev Res; 4(6); 851–9. ©2011 AACR.
MERRA: NASA’s Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications
Authors: Rienecker Michele M. , Suarez Max J. , Gelaro Ronald , Todling Ricardo , Bacmeister Julio , Liu Emily , Bosilovich Michael G. , Schubert Siegfried D. , Takacs Lawrence , Kim Gi-Kong , Bloom Stephen , Chen Junye , Collins Douglas , Conaty Austin , da Silva Arlindo , Gu Wei , Joiner Joanna , Koster Randal D. , Lucchesi Robert , Molod Andrea , Owens Tommy , Pawson Steven , Pegion Philip , Redder Christopher R. , Reichle Rolf , Robertson Franklin R. , Ruddick Albert G. , Sienkiewicz Meta , Woollen Jack
Published: April 2011

The Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) was undertaken by NASA’s Global Modeling and Assimilation Office with two primary objectives: to place observations from NASA’s Earth Observing System satellites into a climate context and to improve upon the hydrologic cycle represented in earlier generations of reanalyses. Focusing on the satellite era, from 1979 to the present, MERRA has achieved its goals with significant improvements in precipitation and water vapor climatology. Here, a brief overview of the system and some aspects of its performance, including quality assessment diagnostics from innovation and residual statistics, is given.

By comparing MERRA with other updated reanalyses [the interim version of the next ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim) and the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR)], advances made in this new generation of reanalyses, as well as remaining deficiencies, are identified. Although there is little difference between the new reanalyses in many aspects of climate variability, substantial differences remain in poorly constrained quantities such as precipitation and surface fluxes. These differences, due to variations both in the models and in the analysis techniques, are an important measure of the uncertainty in reanalysis products. It is also found that all reanalyses are still quite sensitive to observing system changes. Dealing with this sensitivity remains the most pressing challenge for the next generation of reanalyses.

Production has now caught up to the current period and MERRA is being continued as a near-real-time climate analysis. The output is available online through the NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC).
Notes on the Path to Competence
Authors: Hatcher Robert L.
Published: April 2011

Focusing on the challenges of training counseling psychologists, Ridley and colleagues offer in this issue a review and critique of microskills training, the dominant training model in counseling psychology graduate programs. Recognizing the role of higher order cognitive and affective functions in expert practice, they propose a hierarchical model of considerable complexity. In these comments, the author offers some thoughts about their model in light of the range of roles and interests that competency models serve, the definition of competence, and the idea of metacompetency.
Civil conflict and world fisheries, 1952–2004
Authors: Hendrix Cullen S , Glaser Sarah M
Published: April 2011

While the negative economic consequences of civil conflict are well known, does civil conflict have sector-specific effects that threaten food and economic security? This article surveys the effects of civil conflict on reported marine and inland fish catch, focusing on the effects of conflict through redeployment of labor, population displacement, counter-insurgency strategy and tactics, and third-party encroachment into territorial waters. Analysis of 123 countries from 1952 to 2004 demonstrates a strong, statistically robust and negative relationship between civil conflict and fisheries, with civil wars (1000+ battle deaths) depressing catch by over 16% relative to prewar levels. The magnitude of this effect is large: the cumulative contraction in total fish catch associated with civil war onset is roughly 13 times larger than the estimated effect of an extraordinarily strong El Niño, the ocean-atmosphere phenomenon associated with global declines in fisheries. Robust evidence of a Phoenix effect is lacking: post-conflict fisheries do not quickly bounce back to prewar catch levels due to more rapid growth. Analysis of conflict episodes indicates that conflict intensity, measured by battle deaths, negatively affects fish catch, while population displacement and conflict proximity to the coast do not. While these findings contribute to the growing literature on the economic effects of civil conflict, they also are important for regional fisheries management organizations, which must increasingly pay attention to sociopolitical factors that dramatically affect the utilization of aquatic resources.
Are Similar Sex Offenders Treated Similarly? A Conjunctive Analysis of Disparities in Community Notification Decisions
Authors: Koetzle Shaffer Deborah , Miethe Terance D.
Published: April 2011

Using a sample of sex offenders in the state of Washington, the current study examines the nature and magnitude of disparities in notification decisions among distinct groups of sex offenders. The method of conjunctive analysis is used to describe the extent to which similar types of sex offenders (i.e., groups of sex offenders that share similar sets of risk factors for re-offending) are treated similarly in notification decisions. The observed patterns of widespread disparities in these decisions among distinct composite profiles of sex offenders are then discussed in terms of their implications for future research on evaluating disparity in criminal processing, the collateral consequences of notification decisions, and ongoing public policy on the control and management of sex offenders.
Sentencing Children to Death by Incarceration: A Deadly Denial of Social Responsibility
Authors: Johnson Robert , Tabriz Sonia
Published: April 2011

Juveniles, even the worst offenders among them, have an affirmative claim to social conditions and public policies that foster their mature development. The U.S. Supreme Court has recognized the inherent immaturity of juveniles, which renders them less culpable than adults and more amenable to reform. For these reasons, juvenile offenders should not be subjected to final and irrevocable sanctions like life without parole, a punishment more appropriately referred to as “our other death penalty,” death by incarceration. In failing to provide the resources necessary for American youth to mature into well-adjusted adults, while simultaneously implementing an overly harsh approach to criminal justice, we are in effect punishing our youth for society’s shortcomings.
Evaluating the Use of Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) Technology to Prevent and Investigate Sexual Assaults in a Correctional Setting
Authors: Halberstadt Robin L. , La Vigne Nancy G.
Published: April 2011

The application of radio frequency identification device (RFID) technology to prevent inmate misconduct in a women’s prison in Cleveland, Ohio was evaluated. An interrupted time series design was employed to analyze administrative data. Interviews were conducted with 89 inmates and 21 correctional and investigative staff. A process evaluation found that the advanced applications of the RFID system theorized to prevent inmate misconduct were not initiated. The resulting study thus evaluates RFID when employed at its most basic level as a perimeter control device and aid in investigations. Results indicate that RFID did not deter inmate misconduct.
Revocation Trends: A Threat to the Legitimacy of Community-Based Corrections
Authors: Wodahl Eric J. , Ogle Robbin , Heck Cary
Published: April 2011

Community-based correctional agencies exist in an institutional environment where maintaining legitimacy is essential for organizational success. Maintaining legitimacy has emerged as an even more salient issue in recent times given the current economic state. This article argues that the growing number of offenders who are incarcerated after their unsuccessful termination from community supervision represents a prominent threat to the legitimacy of community-based correctional organizations. This article draws attention to the relationship between revocation trends and the legitimacy of community corrections. In addition, strategies to enhance legitimacy by mitigating the effects of community corrections failures are addressed.
Effort Optimism in the Classroom
Authors: Matthew Ervin (Maliq)
Published: April 2011

Do black and white students hold similar beliefs about the causes of life opportunities? Disparities in academic performance between blacks and whites have been attributed, in part, to differing attitudes about the relationship between education and life opportunities. Advocates of oppositional culture theory argue that black students consider structural barriers to have more influence on prosperity than do their own efforts in the classroom; detractors contend that black and white students equally consider individual academic performance to be key to future life opportunities. Using the National Education Longitudinal Study, 1988 through 1992, the author demonstrates that students simultaneously accept both structural and individualistic explanations for prosperity. Black students report greater support for structural explanations than do white students, but they report equal or greater support for the relevance of education to their futures. The author finds that, while black and white students do differ in their optimism about future opportunities, dissimilar attitudes about social structure, rather than education, are accountable for this.
Partnership Instability, School Readiness, and Gender Disparities
Authors: Cooper Carey E. , Osborne Cynthia A. , Beck Audrey N. , McLanahan Sara S.
Published: April 2011

Trends in family formation during the past several decades have increased children’s exposure to mothers’ partnership instability, defined as an entrance into or exit from a coresidential union or a dating partnership. Instability, in turn, is associated with negative outcomes for children and adolescents. This study uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to examine associations between mothers’ partnership instability and children’s school readiness, differences between coresidential and dating transitions, and the moderating role of child gender. Mothers’ partnership transitions are negatively associated with children’s verbal ability and positively associated with boys’ behavioral problems at age five. In general, coresidential and dating transitions have similar effects on school readiness. The findings have important implications for our understanding of the growing gender gap in educational attainment.
A Geometric Approach to Fibrous Structures for Biological Soft Tissue Replacement
Authors: Penn L. S. , Gillis Peter P. , Lacy Renee N.
Published: April 2011

The use of artificial (man-made) materials to replace lost or damaged biological soft tissue has drawbacks, because the mechanical behavior of artificial materials fails to adequately mimic that of soft tissue such as ligaments, tendons, and skin. These natural materials exhibit large initial extension at small load, followed by a change to relatively little additional extension at rapidly increasing load, giving a J-shaped load versus extension curve. We have found that fibrous assemblies based on circular rings as a repeat unit can give both the J-shaped load versus extension curve and the high overall extension of many biological soft tissues. In addition, we have developed a criterion for design of and materials selection for the fibrous assembly. This criterion, which relates inherent properties of the material to the dimensions and extension ratio of the repeat unit, predicts the mechanical stability and recoverability of the repeat unit, and therefore of the fibrous structure composed of the repeat unit. The results of the study are promising for the development of soft tissue repairs or replacements of man-made fibers.
Fuzzy Neural Network Approach to Classifying Dyeing Defects
Authors: Huang Chang-Chiun , Yu Wen-Hong
Published: April 2011

Classification of seven kinds of dyeing defects is proposed using image processing and fuzzy neural network approaches. The defects include filling band in shade, dye and carrier spots, mist, oil stain, tailing, listing, and uneven dyeing on selvage. The fuzzy neural classification system is constructed by a fuzzy expert system with the neural network as a fuzzy inference engine. The neural network is trained to become the inference engine using sample data. This fuzzy neural network system possesses merits of both fuzzy logic and neural networks, and thus is more intelligent in handling pattern recognition and classification problems. Region growing is adopted to directly detect different defect regions in an image. In all, seventy samples, ten samples for each defect, are obtained for training and testing. The results demonstrate that the fuzzy neural network approach can precisely classify these samples by the features selected.
Variance Tolerancing and Decomposition in Short-Staple Spinning Processes. Part II: Simulations and Applications to Ring and OE Spun Yarns
Authors: Suh Moon W. , Koo Hyun-Jin , Woo Jae L.
Published: April 2011

The variance tolerancing and decomposition method developed in Part I of this paper is applied to a large amount of fiber and yarn test data obtained from a spinning mill during a three-year period. The variabilities of single-end strengths found in six different ring spun and open-end yarns are successfully decomposed into random and processinduced variance components by tolerancing the variances of the matching fiber length and tensile properties. A total of 43,080 single-end yarn strength tests, 4,200,000 AFIS® fiber lengths, and over 70,000 Mantis® single-fiber tensile tests are performed for the required parameter estimation, simulation, and model validation. The results confirm that variance tolerancing through “effective gauge length” and other intrinsic components is effective for variance estimation and decomposition. Most significant is that the processinduced variances account for 69-82% of the total yarn strength variations, signifying the importance of and challenges in controlling and reducing process variances in spun yarn manufacturing.
Filament Crimp in Three Dimensions Measured by Image Analysis and Fractal Geometry
Authors: Kang Tae Jin , Lee Jae Yeol
Published: April 2011

Image analysis and fractal geometry are used to define the three dimensional structure of filament crimping. The images are formed using a single charge coupled device (CCD) camera and a single mirror. Placed near the filament and at 45 degrees to the viewing direction, the mirror allows the camera to collect two orthogonal views of the sample, which are combined to give the xyz coordinates of every point on the filament. The crimp ratio and fractal dimension can then easily be calculated from these data. Recasting the data in cylindrical polar coordinates immediately shows details of the crimp property, such as the size and planarity of the crimped structure.
Chemical Modification of Poly(ethylene Terephthalate) Induced by Laser Treatment
Authors: Wong Wilson , Chan Kwong , Yeung Kwok Wing , Lau Kai Shui
Published: April 2011

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is modified by a 248 nm KrF excimer laser with high (above ablation threshold) and low (below ablation threshold) energy irradiation. The PET surface develops a well-oriented periodic structure of hills and grooves or a “ripple structure” with high energy treatment. However, the ripple size can be reduced to submicron level by irradiation of the sample below the ablation threshold. Chemical surface changes of the material are characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angles, PET modified by high energy will normally exhibit the deposition of some yellow to black ionized, carbon-rich debris on the treated surface, resulting in a reduction of the O/C ratio. In contrast, a PET surface modified by low energy leads to oxidation and almost no ablation. The increased oxygen concentration on low energy modified surfaces is probably due to a subsequent reaction with atmospheric O2 during irradiation. Polar oxidized groups like carboxyls are also induced. Contact angle measurements are in good agreement with these findings.
Deformation Processes in Regenerated Cellulose Fibers
Authors: Eichhorn S. J. , Young R. J. , Yeh W.-Y.
Published: April 2011

Molecular deformation processes of regenerated cellulose fibers are investigated using Raman spectroscopy. These fibers have well-defined Raman spectra, and the main Raman bands in the region of 895 to 1170 cm-1 shift to lower wavenumbers upon application of tensile strain and stress. The peak positions of the Raman bands at 895 and 1095 cm-1 show an approximately linear relationship with strain and stress. For fibers with lower moduli and more nonlinearity in their stress-strain curves, there is poorer correlation with strain and stress, consistent with mechanical data and structural characteristics. Also, the strain sensitivity of the Raman band strain shift (in cm-1/%) increases with the Young's modulus of regenerated cellulose fibers, and there is a universal stress band shift of about -4 cm-1/GPa for both bands, consistent with a modified series model of deformation. Deviations from this model for lower fiber moduli are discussed with evidence to suggest that chain slippage and re-orientation behavior dominate.
Stability of a Stilbene-Type Fluorescent Whitening Agent Against Hypochlorite
Authors: Blanco M. , Jiménez L. , Valverde I.
Published: April 2011

E,E[4,4'- bis(2-sulfostyryl)biphenyl] (DSBP) is a stilbene-type fluorescent whitening agent (FWA) widely used by the textile and detergent industries. UV and fluorescence spectrophotometry are used to examine its stability against hypochlorite, which may restrict its use and may have an adverse environmental impact because a considerable fraction of the FWA used during the washing process remains in the washing liquor and is discharged into sewers. The degradation of this whitening agent is catalyzed by several transition metal ions usually present in tap water. The catalytic effect decreases in the following sequence for the metal ions tested: Fe2+ > Mn2+ > Cu2+ = Fe3+. The addition of an appropriate chelating agent such as Dequest® 2006 [diethyleneaminepenta(methylenephosphonic) acid] in a 20:1 mole ratio completely inhibits the process; by contrast, other complex-forming agents such as EDTA accelerate it.
Measuring Nylon Carpet Yarn Heat History by Remote NIR Spectroscopy. Part II: Applying Remote Fiber Optic NIR Techniques to the Manufacturing Environment
Authors: Rodgers James E. , Ghosh Subhas , Cardwell Walter D.
Published: April 2011

Part I of this series demonstrated the Near-IR (NIR) method of determining the heat-set temperature (HST) of carpet yarn on bobbins in the laboratory, using a remote fiber optic probe. Part II describes an at-line NIR technique to determine the HST of carpet yarn bobbins at three manufacturing sites. At-line NIR measurement of HST is expanded to evaluate the influence of machinery and yarn processing factors, environmental factors, and quality differences. Optimized Suessen and Superba HST at-line NIR calibrations are developed in the laboratory and successfully transferred and verified on the manufacturing floor. Very good agreement is obtained between the stated HSTS and NIR-determined HSTS for samples with a wide range of HSTS and routine production samples, which exhibit quality differences in manufacturing. The major influence on NIR-determined HST results is the temperature and %RH in the manufacturing area; the NIR calibration can be readily adjusted with a control bobbin to offset these environmental effects without loss of method accuracy. An analytical methodology is presented for developing and transfering (verifying and validating) NIR measurements from a laboratory to an at-line analysis in the manufacturing area. Operational concerns and other procedural details include sample matrix effects, data treatment, temperature and environmental impacts, instrument parameters, and details of the experimental process.
Structure and Properties of Bicomponent Core-Sheath Fibers from Poly(ethylene Terephthalate) and Biodegradable Aliphatic Polyesters
Authors: El-Salmawy Ahmed , Kimura Yoshiharu
Published: April 2011

Bicomponent core-sheath fibers are prepared by coextrusion of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) as the core and poly(butylene succinate/L-lactate) (PBSL) or poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) as the sheath. Their morphological and crystallographic variations in the process of melt- and cold-drawings are examined in detail. During drawing and annealing of the conjugate fibers, the PET core filament gains a higher crystallinity compared with that of a single PET fiber, while the sheath polymers remain in an amorphous state. With the increased crystallinity of the PET core, the tenacity of the conjugate fibers became higher. The enhanced mechanical properties of the conjugate fibers compared with a single PET fiber are reasonably attributed not only to crystal orientation, but also to the strong interfacial adhesion between the core and sheath polymers induced by the interfacial reaction during melt-spinning. Alkali treatment of the conjugate fibers yields a denier-decreased fiber with a rough surface because the sheath polymer is not completely eliminated from the surface of the PET core. This fact also supports the interfacial reaction of the polymers. The alkali treatment can be an environmentally friendly process for decreasing the denier of polyester fibers. Conjugate fibers may also potentially be used as biomedical and marine fibers.
Microencapsulation of Acid Dyes in Mixed Lecithin/Surfactant Liposomic Structures
Authors: Gomes J.I.N.R. , Baptista A.L.F.
Published: April 2011

Non-uniformity occurring in polyamide dyeing, caused by the rapid uptake of dye by the fibers, can be reduced by retarding and leveling agents. The objective of this work is to study microencapsulation of the dye in liposomes with lecithin from soy, as an alternative to retarding and leveling agents. Liposomes are prepared with soy lecithin at different concentrations, containing the commercial acid dye C.I. Acid Blue 113. The effect on the dyeing rate of the microencapsulated dyes is compared with that from common retarding and leveling agents. The influence of surfactants on the stability of the liposomes and hence on the exhaustion curves of the dyeing is evaluated; exhaustion curves from anionic and a non-ionic surfactants are comparable to those from commercial retarding and leveling agents.
Effect of Fiber Swelling on the Structure of Lyocell Fabrics
Authors: Ibbett Roger N. , Hsieh You-Lo
Published: April 2011

The effect of liquid swelling on the structural rearrangement of lyocell twill fabrics is studied using a variety of techniques, including optical microscopy, dimensional measurements, and water and hexadecane retention. Lyocell fibers swell predominately laterally in water by about 30% over the dry diameter. Fiber lateral swelling in NaOH solutions is greater than in water, with diameters increasing by over 200% at optimum concentrations. The lateral expansion in the fibers leads to fabric shrinkage (reduced planar dimensions and increased fabric thickness), which explains most of the irreversible constructional changes that occur during tensioned preparation from the loomstate. Fabric structural changes during subsequent wetting and drying are also explained using swelling-shrinkage and hygral expansion-contraction models. Irreversible swelling-shrinkage in NaOH is exaggerated, and subsequent rewetting leads to reversible fabric growth rather than the reversible shrinkage experienced by fabrics prepared in water. NaOH treated fabrics also have lower wet state rigidity than fabrics prepared in water. Tensioned NaOH treatment allow fabrics to be stabilized at larger dimensions and a permanent, flatter fabric construction with lower amplitude reversible behavior.
Dispersion Behavior of C.I. Disperse Yellow 54 in High Temperature Dyeing
Authors: Chung Yong-Sik , Son Eun-Jong , Lee Keun-Wan
Published: April 2011

The dispersion behavior of C.I. Disperse Yellow 54 under dyeing conditions is assessed by the turbidity ratio, which increases with decreasing dye particle size. Two different dye dispersions are prepared by milling presscakes for 1 and 25 hours. The sizes of small dye particles are more likely to increase than larger ones during dyeing at elevated temperatures; this enlargement is attributed to crystalline growth. Dyes excluded from adsorption on polyester fibers are enlarged during the dyeing process. At first, dyes of small particle size show lower exhaustion values than larger ones, but eventually they show higher values at temperatures above 130°C.
Blood Flow in a Polyester Textile Vascular Prosthesis: Experimental and Numerical Study
Authors: Abdessalem Saber Ben , Durand Bernard , Akesbi Samir , Chakfe Nabil
Published: April 2011

Textile cardiovascular prostheses are woven or knitted structures made of synthetic filaments. They present particular mechanical properties linked to the nature of yarn interlacing and the wavy form of their walls. Steady and pulsatile blood flows are studied in such a prosthesis. The results show that a prosthesis cannot be considered as a fiat-walled graft. These results also demonstrate that the flow velocity near a prosthetic surface is strongly influenced by the morphology of the crimping. A local flow analysis is imperative to understanding pathologies implying hemodynamic factors and to optimizing prosthesis design.
Stochastic Control of Card Output Density
Authors: Kuo Chung-Feng Jeffrey , Wang Chang-Chung
Published: April 2011

In this paper, a complete control strategy including system characteristic analysis and stochastic control design and simulation is illustrated by application to the feedback control of the carding group. Both the state feedback and the estimator are designed precisely to control the card output density so that the absolute stability of the closed-loop carding group system is guaranteed. This feedback control design is particularly well suited to perform calculations by computer, and eventually we hope to design a carding group that can be controlled directly by an on-line computer in nonlaboratory conditions.