cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Erfassung der adaptiven genetischen Variation der Eiche im Hinblick auf den Klimawandel | Assessment of adaptive genetic variation in oaks with relation to climate change

Climate change is projected to lead to a major reorganization of our forests. For example, higher annual mean temperatures, longer growth seasons and drier summers are predicted for many parts of central and southern Europe, and in North America. In order to understand the genetic adaptation to climate change we need a better understanding of the genetic regulation of key traits involved in tolerance of water and temperature stress. Oaks (Quercus spp.) are excellent model species to study the adaptation of forest trees to changing environments. They show a wide geographic distribution in Europe and in North America as dominant tree species in many forests growing under a wide range of climatic and edaphic conditions.With the availability of a growing amount of functional and expressional candidate genes we are now able to test the functional importance of genes by associating nucleotide variation in these genes with phenotypic variation in adaptive traits in segregating or natural populations. Studies try...
Investing in People: Launching Supported Employment on a Crowded Public Agenda (Part 2)

Supported employment was one of the most successful human service program initiatives during the Reagan administration. This paper describes the emergence of the initiative within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and outlines the initial strategy for implementing the initiative through existing discretionary authorities.
Abstract 76: Rate of moist desquamation in patients receiving radiation for breast cancer after mastectomy versus breast conserving surgery.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC OBJECTIVE: Although skin toxicity is expected to be more severe in the setting of post-mastectomy radiation (PMRT) compared to breast conserving surgery + intact breast radiation (BCT), the actual incidence of moist desquamation (MD) in patients treated with PMRT has not been well quantified. We prospectively determined rates of MD in patients treated with PMRT compared to BCT and identified risk factors for the development of MD. MATERIALS/ METHODS: 284 breast cancer patients enrolled on two parallel prospectively managed observational studies to assess skin reaction to RT (one in the setting of BCT and the other PMRT) were included in this analysis. All received tangential photons to the intact breast or chest wall (CW) following definitive surgery, with a dose of 45-50 Gy to the breast/CW +/- supraclavicular nodes (SCV). BCT patients had a 10 Gy lumpectomy cavity boost. PMRT patients received daily 0.5 cm bolus with a 10 Gy scar boost. Skin toxicities and rates of MD were rated by the treating physician on a weekly basis during RT, using the CTCAE v3.0 scale. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess risk factors associated with MD. RESULTS: Overall, 19% were black, 64% Hispanic white, and 17 % non-Hispanic white/other. Patients receiving PMRT were younger (median age 51.5 vs 57, p 30, p=0.011), and increasing breast cancer stage (21.7% stage 0, 24.5% stage I, 29.5% stage II, 49% stage III, p=0.018). On multivariate analysis, the use of PMRT (OR 3.84, 95% CI 1.76-8.87, p=0.001) and increasing BMI (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.10-5.30 (p=0.028) for BMI 25-29.9 vs <25; OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.46-6.59 (p=0.003) for BMI ≥30 vs <25) retained statistical significance as risk factors for MD, but stage was no longer significant. There was no difference in rate of MD by race or ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of MD is more than double in patients receiving PMRT vs BCT, 55.2% vs 23%, even when accounting for increasing stage and BMI. This information is important in counseling our patients regarding the potential toxicities of adjuvant radiation treatment for breast cancer. Citation Format: Jean L. Wright, Cristiane Takita, Isildinha Reis, Wei Zhao, Jennifer J. Hu. Rate of moist desquamation in patients receiving radiation for breast cancer after mastectomy versus breast conserving surgery. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 76. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-76
Phospholipase D Toxins of Brown Spider Venom Convert Lysophosphatidylcholine and Sphingomyelin to Cyclic Phosphates

Venoms of brown spiders in the genus Loxosceles contain phospholipase D enzyme toxins that can cause severe dermonecrosis and even death in humans. These toxins cleave the substrates sphingomyelin and lysophosphatidylcholine in mammalian tissues, releasing the choline head group. The other products of substrate cleavage have previously been reported to be monoester phospholipids, which would result from substrate hydrolysis. Using 31P NMR and mass spectrometry we demonstrate that recombinant toxins, as well as whole venoms from diverse Loxosceles species, exclusively catalyze transphosphatidylation rather than hydrolysis, forming cyclic phosphate products from both major substrates. Cyclic phosphates have vastly different biological properties from their monoester counterparts, and they may be relevant to the pathology of brown spider envenomation.
The proteins encoded by the rbs operon of escherichia coli: I. Overproduction, purification, characterization, and functional analysis of RbsA

The nucleotide-binding component of the high-affinity ribose transport system of Escherichia coli, RbsA, was overproduced from a T7-7 expression vector, and the protein was purified. Biochemical analyses of the purified protein indicated that the ATP analogues, 5'-FSBA and 8-azido ATP, covalently labeled the protein, a reaction that was inhibited by ATP, but not by GTP or CTP. The pure protein exhibited low-level ATPase activity with a K(m) of about 140 microM. Analyses of bacterial strains carrying chromosomal deletions of rbsA and other rbs genes suggested that RbsA is important for the chemotaxis function, a surprising result that was not anticipated from previous studies. However, an inconsistency between the several results from deletion strains raises questions regarding the interpretations of the in vivo data.
The finite ground plane effect on the microstrip antenna radiation patterns

The uniform geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD) is employed for calculating the edge diffracted fields from the finite ground plane of a microstrip antenna. The source field from the radiating patch is calculated by two different methods: the slot theory and the modal expansion theory. Many numerical and measured results are presented to demonstrate the accuracy of the calculations and the finite ground plane edge effect.
Before Removal: An Archaeological Perspective on the Southern Lake Michigan Basin

More than 12,000 years of cultural adaptation and change in the southwestern Great Lakes preceded the period of Removal that is the focus of this volume. Strategies for economic risk management, patterns of group interaction, and dynamics of group identity in play during the Removal period were developed over the long expanse of prehistory and early history. In this paper we provide an overview of these cultural developments, and offer a deep-time perspective of traditional cultural patterns leading to the specific Removal period case studies presented.
Changes in postural mechanics associated with different types of minimally invasive surgical training exercises.

Background: Doctors who perform minimally invasive surgery commonly report upper extremity fatigue or joint and muscle pain. The goal of this study was to investigate the changes in postural parameters associated with different laparoscopic training tasks and graspers. Methods: Three different training tasks (targeted object release, rope passing, and cable tying) were performed with three types of laparoscopic graspers. Joint angles were determined using video analysis, and centers of pressure (COP) were measured with force platforms. Results: Cable tying proved to be the most challenging training task and involved greater joint angle excursions and COP excursions and velocities. Grasper 2 reduced shoulder and wrist flexion–extension over the selected tasks. Conclusion: Training tasks should be designed to simulate surgical procedures because different tasks require distinct combinations of joint rotations. Joint rotations and postural balance should be considered when an optimal grasper is selected for a particular training task.
Everyman: A dramatization of death

Everyman—an unusual drama in that it presents a protagonist dying throughout the course of the play—departs from its analogues and from much medieval death literature both in tone and purpose. Whereas the ars moriendi material tends to be strident in tone, Everyman is serious; whereas medieval death literature saw man's sinful nature as a grave impediment to dignified death, Everyman presents such a death as a reality. Informing the presentation of death in Everyman is the author's penetrating psychological insight which views dying as a process and death as a learning experience.
Hidden structure in protein energy landscapes.

Inherent structure theory is used to discover strong connections between simple characteristics of protein structure and the energy landscape of a Go model. The potential energies and vibrational free energies of inherent structures are highly correlated, and both reflect simple measures of networks of native contacts. These connections have important consequences for models of protein dynamics and thermodynamics.
Synthesis and bulk assembly behavior of linear–dendritic rod diblock copolymers

Dendritic rod structures can be formed via the branching of dendritic elements from a primary polymer backbone; such systems present an opportunity to create nanoscale material structures with highly functional exterior regions. In this work, we report for the first time the synthesis of a hybrid diblock copolymer possessing a linear–dendritic rod architecture. These block copolymers consist of a linear poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(ethylene imine) diblock copolymer around which poly(amido amine) branches have been divergently synthesized from the poly(ethylene imine) block. The dendritic branches are terminated with amine or ester groups for the full generations and half-generations, respectively; however, the methyl ester terminal groups can also be readily converted into alkyl groups of various lengths, and this allows us to tune the hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature of the dendritic block and, therefore, the amphiphilic properties of the diblock copolymer and its tendencies toward microphase separation. The block copolymers exhibit semicrystallinity due to the presence of the poly(ethylene oxide) block; however, as the polymer fraction consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) decreases, the overall crystallinity also decreases, and it approaches zero at generation 2.0 and higher. The unfunctionalized block copolymers show weak phase segregation in transmission electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry at all generations. The addition of n-alkyl chains increases phase segregation, particularly at high alkyl lengths. The generation 3.5 polymer with n-dodecyl alkyl substitution has a rodlike or wormlike morphology consisting of domains of 4.1 nm, equivalent to the estimated cross section of the individual polymer chains. In this case, the nanometer scale of the polymer chains can be directly observed with transmission electron microscopy. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2784–2814, 2004
SU‐E‐T‐261: Dosimetric Characterization and Comparison of the Elekta Agility and MLCi2 Multi‐Leaf Collimator Heads

Purpose: The new Elekta Agility™ radiation head with integrated 160 × 5mm inter‐digitating tungsten‐alloy leaves has been designed with leaf sides tilted to reduce overall transmission and leaf leakage. In this study, a comparison of the major dosimetric parameters of the Elekta Agility™ 160 leaf (5mm leaf width) multi‐leaf collimator (MLC) head design and the older Elekta MLCi2™ 80 leaf MLC head (10mm leaf width) is presented. Methods: Electron and photon beam data (including PDDs and profiles for various field sizes) were collected and analyzed using IBA hardware and software products for linac commissioning (i.e., IBA water tank, diodes, and OmniPro Accept™ 7). MLC transmission and leakage was measured using gafchromic film and SunNuclear MAPcheck2™. Results: Photon beams: Percent depth doses for 6MV and 10MV photon beams with various field sizes indicated little difference between the MLCi2™ and Agility™ heads (i.e., less than 1% difference at depths beyond dmax). Penumbra and umbra of dose profiles matched well for both energies; marginally differences were noticed on the toe‐side of large wedged‐fields. The average Agility™ MLC transmission was measured to be 0.4%, nearly an order of magnitude lower than the MLCi2™. Collimator scatter factors were nearly identical for small fields and reduced by as much as 1% for larger fields.Electron beams: PDDs of electron beam energies of 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 MeV were collected, indicating little differences between the Elekta Infinity™ with the MLCi2™ and Agility™ heads. Conclusion: Analysis of the MLCi2™ and Agility™ beam data indicate little to no undesirable dosimetric differences; the largest deviation being a significant decrease in MLC transmission and leakage. These characteristics, combined with a significant increase in leaf speed, make the Elekta Agility™ a considerable improvement over the MLCi2™.
Thermal modeling of the human body - Further solutions of the steady-state heat equation

Human body thermal behavior modeling, obtaining steady state analytical solution for various boundary conditions and parameters
Nonlinear stability of flows of Jeffreys fluids at low Weissenberg numbers

We consider the stability of steady flows of viscoelastic fluids of Jeffreys type. For sufficiently small Weissenberg numbers, but arbitrary Reynolds numbers, it is proved that the flow is stable to small disturbances if the spectrum of the linearized operator is in the left half plane.
HEMATOLOGIC, SEROLOGIC VALUES, HISTOPATHOLOGIC AND FECAL EVALUATIONS OF BISON FROM YELLOWSTONE PARK

Hematologic and blood chemistry parameters were measured in 149 free-ranging American bison (Bison bison) from Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (USA). Additionally, histopathologic evaluations of lung, liver, spleen, kidney, and mesenteric and bronchial lymph nodes were made from ten animals. Forty-five fecal samples were screened for the presence of helminth ova. Leukopenia and markedly low blood urea nitrogen concentrations were the most notable differences observed from other bison populations. All tissues examined were essentially normal; there was evidence of moderate intestinal parasite burdens.
Structural Model of the Amino Propeptide of Collagen XI α1 Chain with Similarity to the LNS Domains

Fibrillar collagens are the principal structural molecules of connective tissues. The assembly of collagen fibrils is regulated by quantitatively minor fibrillar collagens, types V and XI. A unique amino-terminal propeptide domain of these collagens has been attributed this regulatory role. The structure of the amino terminal propeptide has yet to be determined. Low sequence similarity necessitated a secondary structure-based method to carry out homology modeling based upon the determined structure of LNS family members, named for a common structure in the laminin LG5 domain, the neurexin 1B domain and the sex hormone binding globulin. Distribution of amino acids within the model suggested glycosaminoglycan interaction and calcium binding. These activities were tested experimentally. Sequence analyses of existing genes for collagens indicate that 16 known collagen α chains may contain an LNS domain. A similar approach may prove useful for structure/function studies of similar domains in other collagens with similar domains. This will provide mechanistic details of the organization and assembly of the extracellular matrix and the underlying basis of structural integrity in connective tissues. The absolute requirement for collagen XI in skeletal growth is indicated by collagen XI deficiencies such as chondrodystrophies found in the cho/cho mouse and in humans with Stickler syndrome.
General learned irrelevance: Proactive effects on Pavlovian conditioning in dogs

Abstract Preexposure to random presentations of a discrete conditioned sitmulus (CS) and shocks (US) retards subsequent Pavlovian conditioning to that CS in the preexposure context. Whether this interference extends to the conditioning of other CSs in novel contexts and the role of CS-US noncontingency during preexposure are unclear. The present experiment demonstrated proactive interference with aversive Pavlovian conditioning to a novel CS following preexposure to random CSs and shocks in a different context. Dogs were exposed to reliable CS-shock pairings, to random CS and shock presentations, or to unsignaled shocks in one context. The dogs subsequently were given Pavlovian conditioning trials with a novel CS and shocks in a novel context. Conditioning to the novel CS was assessed by superimposing the CS on a pretrained avoidance baseline in a third context. Prior exposure to random CSs and shocks—but not to signaled shocks or shocks alone—retarded conditioning to the novel CS. This pattern of results is accommodated best by a cognitive interpretation, which emphasizes the role of learning based on CS-US irrelevance rather than simply US unpredictability. Such general “learned irrelevance” is reminiscent of the proactive behavioral effects of response-outcome independence termed “learned helplessness.” Both phenomena attest to the impact of learning history on learning new tasks in new contexts.
Ethanol withdrawal provokes opening of the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore in an estrogen-preventable manner.

We have reported that the major endogenous estrogen, 17β-estradiol (E2), protects against oxidative injury during ethanol withdrawal (EW) in a cultured hippocampal cell line (HT22). Here, we investigated whether the pro-oxidant nature of EW mediates opening of the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore (PTP) in a manner protected by E2. Excess PTP opening provokes mitochondrial membrane swelling (MMS) and the collapse of membrane potential (ΔΨm). HT22 cells were collected at the end of ethanol exposure (100 mM) for 24 h or at 4 h of EW to assess MMS by monitoring absorbance decline at 540 nm and to assess ΔΨm using flow cytometry. Protective effects of E2 on PTP were compared with an antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and an E2 analog, ZYC26 [(3-hydroxy-2-adamantyl(1)-4-methyl-estra-1,3,5(10)-17-one], with higher antioxidant potency than E2. To assess cellular consequences of PTP opening, effects of a PTP inhibitor (cyclosporin A) on EW-induced cell death were assessed using the calcein assay. Major findings were that: 1) EW resulted in rapid MMS and ΔΨm collapse; 2) cyclosporin A attenuated EW-induced cell death; and 3) E2 treatment restricted to the EW phase protected against the PTP opening more prominently than BHT and to a similar degree to ZYC26. These findings suggest that EW provokes PTP opening partly but not entirely through the pro-oxidant nature and that E2 counteracts EW-associated factors to protect against the PTP opening.
Antioxidative activities of volatile extracts from green tea, oolong tea, and black tea

Antioxidative activities of volatile extracts from six teas (one green tea, one oolong tea, one roasted green tea, and three black teas) were investigated using an aldehyde/carboxylic acid assay and a conjugated diene assay. The samples were tested at levels of 20, 50, 100, and 200 micrograms/mL of dichloromethane. The results obtained from the two assays were consistent. All extracts except roasted green tea exhibited dose-dependent inhibitory activity in the aldehyde/carboxylic acid assay. A volatile extract from green tea exhibited the most potent activity in both assays among the six extracts. It inhibited hexanal oxidation by almost 100% over 40 days at the level of 200 micrograms/mL. The extract from oolong tea inhibited hexanal oxidation by 50% in 15 days. In the case of the extract from roasted green tea, the lowest antioxidative activity was obtained at the level of 200 micrograms/mL, suggesting that the extract from roasted green tea contained some pro-oxidants. The extracts from the three black teas showed slight anti- or proactivities in both assays. The major volatile constituents of green tea and roasted green tea extracts, which exhibited significant antioxidative activities, were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major volatile chemicals with possible antioxidative activity identified were alkyl compounds with double bond(s), such as 3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol (8.04 mg/kg), in the extract from green tea and heterocyclic compounds, such as furfural (7.67 mg/kg), in the extract from roasted green tea. Benzyl alcohol, which was proved to be an antioxidant, was identified both in a green tea extract (4.67 mg/kg) and in a roasted tea extract (1.35 mg/kg).
HABITAT DISTRIBUTION AND LIFE HISTORY OF SPECIES IN THE SPIDER GENERA THERIDION, RUGATHODES, AND WAMBA IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK (ARANEAE, THERIDIIDAE)

Based largely on 668 one-hour samples collected during a survey of spiders in 16 major habitats of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, habitat distributions, life history patterns, and other natural history traits are described for 14 species in the related theridiid genera Theridion, Rugathodes, and Wamba. Two to eight of these species were found in each of the 16 habitats. Among-habitat differences in the kinds and relative abundance of these species suggest that they may be good predictors of habitat. Richness, diversity, and evenness of this species assemblage are highest in middle to low elevation habitats. Rugathodes aurantiusand R. sexpunctatus, two boreal sister species, are abundant in the highest elevation habitats, but differ sharply in microhabitat and habitat preference. Theridion frondeum is much more common in high elevation habitats than is its sister species, T. albidum, which is virtually limited to middle and low elevation habitats. Theridion lyricum is most common in dry, pine-dominated forests. The three most common species (R. aurantius, R. sexpunctatus, and T. frondeum) have a simple annual life cycle of five or six instars and similar phenologies: they mate during late spring (R. aurantius and R. sexpunctatus) and early summer (T. frondeum) and over-winter in antepenultimate and/or penultimate instars. Female-biased sex ratios were observed in juvenile cohorts of these species. Rugathodes aurantius, its natural history previously unknown, places its webs on the undersides of broad-leafed herbs close to the ground and captures small flying insects. Adult females engineer partly folded leaf retreats, carry the egg sac when disturbed, help their instar II spiderlings exit the egg sac, and then share the retreat with these spiderlings for at least a few days. Rapid early development (about two weeks from oviposition to emergence from the egg sac), the presence of females with egg sacs throughout the summer, and smaller clutch sizes in late summer suggest that a typical R. aurantius female produces more than one clutch.
The (p, p′ γ) reaction in even isotopes of Zn, Ge and Se

Abstract It has been found possible to study the systematic properties of the second 2+ level in medium-weight even nuclei by investigation of gamma-radiation from the (p, p′ γ) reaction. For the mass region A = 60−80, the present method of observing (p, p′ γ) spectra has been successful for nuclei whose (p, n) threshold exceeds about 4 MeV. Measurements of the branching ratio of the second 2+ level have been made for Zn64, Zn66, Zn68, Ge72, Se76, and Se78, which are in reasonable agreement with available results from radioactivity. New levels have been found in Ge70 at 1.71±0.01 and 2.16±0.01 MeV. The 1.71 MeV level is considered to be the second 2+ level with a branching (cross-over/cascade) of 0.9±0.1. Information concerning the excitation curves for various (p, p′ γ) radiations of Zn66 and Ge70 have been obtained for proton energies in the range of 3.0 to 5.2 MeV.
Plant-level nonconvex output adjustment and aggregate fluctuations

In most manufacturing industries plant-level output is adjusted along three margins of capacity utilization: shiftwork, weekend work, and closing temporarily down. Due to the discrete and lumpy nature of these margins, only a fraction of plants adjust output in response to shocks. In a business cycle model calibrated to establishment-level observations, these nonconvexities make aggregate output less volatile than when plants can adjust smoothly. Further, the mass of adjusting plants is larger in downturns than in upturns, leading to counter-cyclical volatility of aggregate output and government policy being slightly more effective in recessions than in expansions.
Crime and Coercion: A Test of Core Theoretical Propositions

In his recent Crime and Coercion, Colvin contends that individuals exposed to coercive environments develop social-psychological deficits that enhance their probability of engaging in criminal behavior. Using a sample of 2,472 students from six middle schools, the authors test core propositions of Colvin’s differential coercion theory. Thus, they assess whether delinquent involvement is related to four coercive environments: parental coercion, peer coercion, a coercive school environment, and a coercive neighborhood environment. The authors also assess whether the influence of these coercive environments on delinquency is mediated by four social-psychological deficits: coercive ideation, anger, school social bonds, and parental social bonds. The analysis revealed fairly consistent support for the core propositions of differential coercion theory. Thus, they found that students exposed to coercive environments develop social-psychological deficits and therefore engage in relatively serious delinquent behavior.
Cluster architectures and S/390 Parallel Sysplex scalability

Supporting high transaction rates and high availability for on-line transaction processing and emerging applications requires systems consisting of multiple computing nodes. We outline various cluster architectures and describe the factors that motivate the S/390® Parallel Sysplex™ architecture and its resulting advantages. We quantify the scalability of the S/390 Parallel Sysplex and show that the transaction rate supported is close to linear as nodes are added to the system. The key facet of the S/390 Parallel Sysplex architecture is the coupling facility. The coupling facility provides for very efficient intertransaction concurrency control, buffer cache coherency control, and shared buffer management, among other functions, that lead to the excellent scalability achieved. It also provides for effective dynamic load balancing, high data buffer hit ratios, and load balancing after a failure.
The calculation of new and improved WISC‐III subtest reliability, uniqueness, and general factor characteristic information through the use of data smoothing procedures

Assessment practitioners are often encouraged to adopt an “intelligent” approach to the interpretation of intelligence tests. A fundamental assumption of the “intelligent testing” philosophy is that psychometric test information (e.g., subtest g loadings) should be considered during the interpretive process. The relevant psychometric information is provided in the form of sample-based estimates. Unfortunately, the accuracy of these estimates, and the subsequent qualitative classification of intelligence subtests (e.g., good, fair, poor), are influenced to an unknown degree by sampling error. The current study demonstrated how data smoothing procedures, procedures commonly used in the development of continuous test norms, can be used to provide better estimates of the reliability, uniqueness, and general factor characteristics for the WISC-III subtests. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
GovStat Statistical Interactive Glossary: Two studies of effectiveness and control.

The GovStat Statistical Interactive Glossary (SIG) is designed to allow users of government statistical websites to consult definitions of statistical terms while continuing their current task of browsing statistical websites. In this paper,we present results from two studies of the SIG that evaluated the effectiveness of the SIG presentations. We specifically focus on two areas: the effects of three presentation formats (text only, graphics + text, animation + text) on user performance and preferences, and the effects of three levels of controls for animations on user performance and preferences. Our findings have implications for designers of just-in-time help, as well as raising questions for future research.
Pivotal decomposition for reliability analysis of fault tolerant control systems on unmanned aerial vehicles

Abstract In this paper, we describe a framework to efficiently assess the reliability of fault tolerant control systems on low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles. The analysis is developed for a system consisting of a fixed number of actuators. In addition, the system includes a scheme to detect failures in individual actuators and, as a consequence, switch between different control algorithms for automatic operation of the actuators. Existing dynamic reliability analysis methods are insufficient for this class of systems because the coverage parameters for different actuator failures can be time-varying, correlated, and difficult to obtain in practice. We address these issues by combining new fault detection performance metrics with pivotal decomposition. These new metrics capture the interactions in different fault detection channels, and can be computed from stochastic models of fault detection algorithms. Our approach also decouples the high dimensional analysis problem into low dimensional sub-problems, yielding a computationally efficient analysis. Finally, we demonstrate the proposed method on a numerical example. The analysis results are also verified by Monte Carlo simulations.
Concurrent Cognitive Task Modulates Coordination Dynamics

Does a concurrent cognitive task affect the dynamics of bimanual rhythmic coordination? In-phase coordination was performed under manipulations of phase detuning and movement frequency and either singly or in combination with an arithmetic task. Predicted direction-specific shifts in stable relative phase from 0° due to detuning and movement frequency were amplified by the cognitive task. Nonlinear cross-recurrence analysis suggested that this cognitive influence on the locations of the stable points or attractors of coordination entailed a magnification of attractor noise without a reduction in attractor strength. An approximation to these findings was achieved through parameter changes in a motion equation in relative phase. Results are discussed in terms of dual-task performance as limited resources, dynamics rather than chronometrics, and reparameterization rather than degradation.
Information technology and corporate strategy: a research perspective

The use of information technology (IT) as a competitive weapon has become a popular cliche; but there is still a marked lack of understanding of the issues that determine the influence of information technology on a particular organization and the processes that will allow a smooth coordination of technology and corporate strategy. This article surveys the major efforts to arrive at a relevant framework and attempts to integrate them in a more comprehensive viewpoint. The focus then turns to the major research issues in understanding the impact of information technology on competitive strategy.
'Introduction' to Information Ethics: Privacy, Property, and Power

Information ethics is a relatively new area of study comprised of several distinct yet interrelated disciplines including applied ethics, intellectual property, privacy, free speech, and societal control of information.
Estimating the Effects of Smolt Transportation from Different Vantage Points and Management Perspectives

Abstract Smolt transportation is a major mitigation strategy in the Columbia River hydrosystem, yet measures of its effects on adult return rates are often unclear. Managers use a variety of transportation effect measures that need to be clearly defined and easy to understand. We develop eight alternative transportation effect measures based on a release–recapture model of juvenile and adult passive integrated transponder tag data and relate the measures to different management perspectives. The performance measures include site-specific transport−in-river ratios (T/Is) that view the effect of transportation operations at a site either separate from (“isolated”) or in the context of (“contextual”) the rest of the transportation system. Both relative and absolute systemwide measures of transportation effects are developed, as well as measures for fish in the release group had they been untagged. All performance measures are calculated by the program ROSTER. Transportation effect measures for summer Chinook...
Distortion-rate bounds for fixed- and variable-rate multiresolution source codes

The source coding theorem for stationary sources describes the optimal performance theoretically achievable by fixed- and variable-rate block quantizers. The source coding theorem may be generalized by considering the problem of multiresolution or successive refinement source coding, which is the topic of this work. Given a distortion vector (D/sub 1/,...,D/sub L/), this work describes the family of achievable rate vectors (R/sub 1/,...,R/sub L/) for describing a stationary source at L resolutions, where the description at the first resolution is given at rate R/sub 1/ and achieves an expected distortion no greater than D/sub 1/, the description at the second resolution includes both the first description and a refining description of rate R/sub 2/ and achieves expected distortion no greater than D/sub 2/, and so on. The work includes performance bounds for both fixed- and variable-rate source codes on discrete-time stationary ergodic sources and discrete-time stationary nonergodic sources for any integer number of resolutions L/spl ges/1. For L=1, the source coding theorems for stationary sources result. For L>1, the results extend previous theorems for discrete-alphabet memoryless sources.
Imaging and quantitative analysis of phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling in living fibroblasts

During wound healing, fibroblasts in connective tissue are directed to migrate to sites of clotting by gradients of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Mammalian cells detect chemical gradients by spatial sensing, in which the cell can differentiate signaling through receptors at its front and rear. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase enzyme generates specific phospholipid second messenger products, 3' phosphoinositides (3' PIs), in the cell membrane, a signal transduction event required for directed migration. Significantly, this activity is polarized by gradients of PDGF and other chemoattractants, indicating a role in spatial sensing. The pattern of 3' PIs in the plasma membrane is governed by generation, lateral diffusion, and turnover. Using a realtime fluorescence imaging technique in conjunction with a generalized reaction-diffusion model, we have devised a methodology for the accurate determination of 3' PI generation rate, diffusion coefficient, and effective turnover rate constant in individual cells under uniform stimulation conditions. We report the dependence of these parameters on PDGF concentration, relationships that allow us to evaluate current models of the spatial sensing process. In concert with future experiments analyzing cells exposed to PDGF gradients, these relationships are expected to yield an integrated, quantitative model of directed migration at the level of intracellular processes.
Persistent Racial Disparities in Survival After Heart Transplantation

Background—Racial and ethnic disparities are well documented in many areas of health care, but have not been comprehensively evaluated among recipients of heart transplants. Methods and Results—We performed a retrospective cohort study of 39075 adult primary heart transplant recipients from 1987 to 2009 using national data from the United Network of Organ Sharing and compared mortality for nonwhite and white patients using the Cox proportional hazards model. During the study period, 8082 nonwhite and 30 993 white patients underwent heart transplantation. Nonwhite heart transplant recipients increased over time, comprising nearly 30% of transplantations since 2005. Nonwhite recipients had a higher clinical risk profile than white recipients at the time of transplantation, but had significantly higher posttransplantation mortality even after adjustment for baseline risk. Among the nonwhite group, only black recipients had an increased risk of death compared with white recipients after multivariable adjustme...
In The Shadows of the Andes

Jose Maria Arguedas. Yawar Fiesta. trans. Frances Harning Barraclough. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1985, xxi. 200 pp.
A modular, analytical throughput model for modern disk arrays

Enterprise storage systems depend on disk arrays for their capacity and availability needs. To design and maintain storage systems that efficiently satisfy evolving requirements, it is critical to be able to evaluate configuration alternatives without having to physically implement them. In this paper, we describe an analytical model to predict disk array throughput, based on a hierarchical decomposition of the internal array architecture. We validate the model against a state-of-the-art disk array for a variety of synthetic workloads and array configurations. To our knowledge, no previously published analytical model has either incorporated the combined effects of the complex optimizations present in modern disk arrays, or been validated against a real, commercial array. Our results are quite encouraging for an analytical model: predictions are accurate in most cases within 32% of the observed array performance (15% on the average) for our set of experiments.
Elevated urinary leukocyte esterase as a potential surrogate marker for HIV sexual transmission risks in men receiving antiretroviral therapy.

Local genital tract inflammation stimulates leukocyte activity and causes HIV shedding, potentially increasing HIV sexual infectiousness. Although there are available clinical markers for genital tract inflammation, such as urinary leukocyte esterase, none have yet been examined in relation to HIV sexual risk behaviours. We sought to examine the association between urinary leukocyte esterase and sexual practices. Sexually active men living with HIV and receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART, N = 290) provided urine specimens and completed behavioural health assessments. HIV RNA tests and CD4 cell counts were abstracted from medical records. Urine specimens were analysed for leukocyte esterase using a standard point-of-care dipstick test. Thirty-one (10.6%) participants tested positive for leukocyte esterase. Logistic regression models did not indicate differences between men with elevated and un-elevated leukocyte activity on demographic, health, recent sexually transmitted infection symptoms and diagnoses...
Personality bias in total enterprise simulations

Information-processing and decision-making preferences, as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) instrument, correlate highly with performance results in two of the three total enterprise (TE) simulations used in this study. For MICROMA17C, the performance correlation is r = .707, and for the Multinational Management Game it is r = .787. For CORPORA TION, the comparable result is r = -.002. Nevertheless, overall performance patterns are identical for all three. High-performing teams lead in the beginning periods, and their lead grows as the competition continues. These phenomena indicate not only the need to check for other kinds of simulation biases, but also they open an entirely new design area of intentionally biased simulations. Such simulations have extensive research possibilities as well as numerous practical training applications.
Subfrontal trans-lamina terminalis approach to a third ventricular craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngiomas are benign, partly cystic epithelial tumors that can rarely occur in a retrochiasmatic location with involvement of the third ventricle. The lamina terminalis is an important neurosurgical corridor to these craniopharyngiomas in the anterior portion of the third ventricle. We present a video case of a large midline suprasellar and third ventricular craniopharyngioma in a 32-year-old male with visual disturbances. The tumor was approached with a subfrontal translamina terminalis exposure, and a gross-total resection of the tumor was achieved. This surgery involved working through a lamina terminalis fenestration around the optic nerve, optic chiasm, optic tracts, and the anterior communicating artery complex. This video illustrates the techniques employed in performing a transbasal anterior skull base approach to the third ventricle and demonstrates vivid surgical anatomy of neurovascular structures around the lamina terminalis. The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/fCYMgx8SnKs .
What can rna hybrids tell us about translation

Molecular biologists have been observing interactions between messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules and other non-coding RNA molecules for quite some time. Here I revisit some of the classical hybridizations between the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and mRNA during initiation, as well as investigate the interactions between small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules and mRNA. In reviewing rRNA-mRNA interactions, I observed that the majority of both bacterial and eukaryote genes can bind at the start codon. This novel result lead to a method for improving genome annotation as well as a new theory of translation initiation. The examination of siRNA-mRNA interactions lead to new criteria for predicting an siRNA's efficacy.
Decentralized object-oriented computer integrated manufacturing control system

This dissertation presents and analyzes an object oriented design of a fully decentralized computer-integrated manufacturing system. The intelligence of the system is dispersed among the cells of the system allowing greater ability to adapt to changes in system configuration. A necessary component of the design is a scheduling strategy for the movement of physical and logical objects through the system. This research proposes and compares two potential scheduling strategies for such a system. The system consists of a set of nodes which serve as temporary hosts for mobile "objects." Each mobile object is responsible for finding its own way through the system based on a process program contained in the object. Each mobile object contains its own copy of a process program and a full description of the path for the object through the system is contained in the process program. A resident attendant object, which serves mobile objects, commands the node to perform a required set of actions based on the mobile object's process program. The attendant object then locates and transfers the mobile object to an available node at the next level to perform the next set of functions of the process program. The potential robustness of this system stems from the redistribution of coordinating intelligence from a central controller to the mobile objects. Addition/removal of nodes to/from the system is completely dynamic as all scheduling and negotiations take place only as needed and without the services of a central controller. Therefore, no signal failure can completely and immediately halt such a system except for failures of unique nodes and global network media failures.
The effect of a convection vortex on sock formation in the floating catalyst method for carbon nanotube synthesis

The formation of an aerogel-like sock is important to the floating catalyst method of synthesizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The sock, a term coined by Alan Windle, is an assembly of the individual electrostatically assembled nanotubes synthesized in the reactor. The coherency of this sock helps form the yarn or sheet. In this study, sock formation is investigated by controlling the feedstock type, injection rate, and carrier gas flow rate. A convection vortex has been identified, possibly for the first time, in the floating catalyst method. A convection vortex model is proposed to explain the sock formation. The sock morphology is found to be strongly affected by the carrier gas flowrate, where too high gas flowrate reduces the concentration of CNTs in the reactor resulting a failure in the sock formation. The dynamic behavior of the sock is explained by a web-shell structure.
Release of d-limonene from non-injured and injured lemons treated with hot water and low temperature

SummaryVolatile emanation from whole lemon fruits was determined following hot-water or cold treatments to examine the relationship between liberation of essential oils from the oil glands and the deleterious effects of these treatments. Headspace analysis indicated that β-pinene, d-limonene and -γ-terpinene were the most abundant volatiles, comprising 8, 42 and 21%, respectively, of the total amount. Due to its abundance, d-limonene was selected as the essential oil component to be quantified following treatment. Hot-water treatments for 10 min at 48°C and below were non-injurious to both yellow and green fruit, with injury in the form of lesions on the rind beginning to occur at 50°C (yellow) and 52°C (green), and increasing in severity up to 58°C, the highest temperature tested. D-limonene emanation increased correspondingly with increasing injury. Green lemons were injured more severely than yellow and tended to release more d-limonene, especially at higher temperatures. Curing at 15 and 20°C for 6 d ...
Origins of the Corporate Executive

One of the recurring problems in the study of management theory concerns the authority relationships between stockholders, officers, and directors of corporations. The power centers in the corporate form of enterprise are quite different from those that obtain in an individual proprietorship and in a partnership. In addition, many differences between these types of legal organizations may be noted as one considers them from the point of view of the source of executive authority or from the viewpoint of statute law and its interpretations.
Carbon Nanotubule Membranes for An Electrochemically-Driven Artificial Muscle

A new type of electrichemically-driven actuator is described.This actuator uses graphitic carbon as the electroactive materical(as opposed to the polymeric films used in previous devices of this type),and it is the first example of an actuator based on a nanostructured material.The actuator consists of branched carbon nanotubules embedded within the pores of a microporous alumina template membrane.Electrochemical Li + intercalation causes this nanotubule-containing membrane to flex,and electrochemical de-intercalation causes the membrane to relax to its original position.The characteristics of this new actuator are described here.