cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Associations between heat exposure, vigilance, and balance performance in summer tree fruit harvesters

Abstract Background We sought to evaluate potential mediators of the relationship between heat exposure and traumatic injuries in outdoor agricultural workers. Methods Linear mixed models were used to estimate associations between maximum work-shift Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT max ) and post-shift vigilance (reaction time) and postural sway (total path length) in a cross-sectional sample of 46 Washington State tree fruit harvesters in August–September 2015. Results The mean (SD) WBGT max was 27.4 (3.2)°C in August and 21.2 (2.0)°C in September. The mean pre-work-shift participant urine specific gravity indicated minimal dehydration. Twenty-four percent of participants exhibited possible excessive sleepiness. There was no association between WBGT max and post-shift reaction time or total path length. Conclusions Heat exposure was not associated with impaired vigilance or balance in this study, in which the overall mean (SD) WBGT max was 25.9 (4.2)°C. However, the study identified opportunities to ensure adequate pre-work-shift hydration and to optimize sleep and work-shift timing in order to reduce occupational injury and heat-related illness risk.
Carotid artery stenosis as an independent risk factor for perioperative strokes following mitral valve surgical intervention

Abstract Objective To examine the role of carotid stenosis (CS) and other independent risk factors of perioperative stroke following either mitral valve repair or replacement. Methods Using data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for analysis, all patients who underwent either mitral valve repair or replacement were identified using ICD-9 codes. Results A total of 79,583 patients who underwent either mitral valve replacement or repair were studied. 3.39% of the total cohort developed perioperative stroke. With a mean age of 62.78 ± 0.23, there was a statistically significant amount of stroke cases in age ranges 65–74 and 75–84 (p Conclusion CS is a significant risk factor for perioperative strokes following mitral valve surgery. Further prospective clinical studies are needed that look into risk stratification of patients for better patient selection and the question of whether carotid revascularization procedures will be beneficial in reducing stroke rates.
Neocortical Lamination: Insights from Neuron Types and Evolutionary Precursors.

The neocortex is characterized by lamination of its neuron cell bodies in six layers, but there are few clues as to how this comes about and what is its function. Recent studies provide evidence that evolution from simple three-layer cortex may give insight into this problem. Three-layer cortex arose in the olfactory, hippocampal and dorsal cortrex of the early amniote forebrain based on a cortical module of excitatory and inhibitory inputs to an intratelencephalic type of pyramidal neuron with feedback excitation and inhibition and related interneurons. We summarize recent evidence suggesting the hypothesis that the developmental program of three-layer olfactory cortex was co-opted to form six-layer mammalian neocortex, elaborating intratelencephalic cortical units in layers 2-6 while adding layer 4 stellate cells, layer 5B pyramidal tract cells, and layer 6 corticothalamic cells.
Adaptive Automation in Cyber Security

Cyber analysts must work long hours and under intense pressure all while performing complex mental tasks. Research is needed to improve the execution of their tasks. We describe a research plan that can be used to provide cyber analysts with the assistance they need using adaptive aids. The Multi-Level Cognitive Cybernetics (MLCC) [1] approach provides a methodological approach to studying adaptive automation and advancing its development across multiple levels of analysis. We follow up on a previous paper [1] by focusing on how MLCC can be used to improve cyber analyst tasks. We use the breakdown of cyber situation awareness by D’Amico and Whitley [2] to analyze the different cyber tasks and provide general examples of aids that may assist with each of the three stages. A more in-depth example of a specific type of cyber adaptive aid is then provided. We conclude with a call for action to expand adaptive automaton into the cyber realm.
Greatness of Soul and the Souls of Women: Plato’s Laws as an Introduction to Rousseau’s Letter to D’Alembert

This article takes a new look at the education of women in Plato’s Laws. It will be followed by a second article in American Dialectic showing how Rousseau made use of the dialogue in addressing a specific issue of political reform during his own time. As I hope to show, the obvious parallels involving the political effects of imitative poetry and drama are not the only signs of Plato’s influence on Rousseau, and perhaps not the most important. I will also argue that the apparent inconsistency between some of Rousseau’s most important recommendations and those found in the Laws actually reflects a deeper agreement about the principles on which such reforms should be based.
Special Values of L-functions

In the last chapter, we studied the analytic properties of L-functions, in particular their zero distributions. If we simply regard an L-function as a complex analytic function, then its values at different points seem to be equally important or unimportant. However, since our L-functions all come from arithmetic geometric or automorphic origins, it turns out that the function values at certain points are more transparent in revealing the associated arithmetic or automorphic information, and thus deserve special attention. It is for this reason that such L-function values are called special values.
Continuities and Discontinuities in Language Development over the First Two Years

There are two distinct theoretical positions concerning the development of language over the first two years of life. The first, primarily held by linguists, claims that development over this age span could be discretely divided into a prelinguistic and a linguistic period. During the first of these periods the infant randomly babbles all the possible speech sounds of language and is not aware that speech sound sequences have meaning. Following this period, there is an interval of silence. It is during this interval that the infant, presumably, becomes aware of the meaningfulness of the speech signal and then systematically begins to acquire the speech sound distinctions, both perceptually and productively, of his or her own language. Thus, early verbal behavior was conceived of as being composed of two distinct or discontinuous periods (Jakobson, 1968). In like fashion the earliest linguistic behavior, word comprehension and word production, was differentiated from word combination, comprehension, and production. The earlier behavior was categorized as asyntactic or arelational and the latter as syntactic or relational (Bloom, 1973).
Some Research Directions

In this final chapter, three different directions for future research are sketched. The first problem is that of harmonizing prior knowledge about gene interaction networks that is scattered throughout the literature with the output of the phixer algorithm. This is formulated as a problem in graph theory, and possible approaches are indicated. The second problem is to identify ‘genomic machines’, that is, sets of genes that are connected by edges that are all over-expressed, or all under-expressed, in a common context. This problem is formulated as one of computing (or at least approximating) the stationary distribution of a large Markov chain, where the states correspond to individual genes. The last problem is to separate causal mutations (drivers of cancer) from coincidental mutations (passengers in cancer). It is surmised that a seven-dimensional vector known as the developmental gene expression profile plays a role in discriminating between drivers and passengers. Preliminary evidence from colorectal cancer is examined, and it is suggested that further studies should be carried out using recently published comprehensive analysis of colorectal cancer.
Forecasting autism gene discovery with machine learning and genome-scale data

Genes are one of the most powerful windows into the biology of autism, and it has been estimated that perhaps a thousand or more genes may confer risk. However, less than 100 genes are currently viewed as having robust enough evidence to be considered true "autism genes". Massive genetic studies are underway to produce data to implicate additional genes, but this approach, although necessary, is costly and slow-moving. Here, we approach autism gene discovery as a machine learning problem, rather than a genetic association problem, and use genome-scale data as predictors for identifying further genes that have similar properties in the feature space compared to established autism risk genes. This approach, which we call forecASD, integrates spatiotemporal gene expression, heterogeneous network data, and previous gene-level predictors of autism association to yield a single score that represents each gene9s likelihood of being involved in the etiology of autism. We demonstrate that forecASD has substantially increased sensitivity and specificity compared to previous gene-level predictors of autism association, including genetic-based measures such as TADA. On an independent test set, consisting of newly-released pilot data from the SPARK Genomics Consortium, we show that forecASD best predicts which genes will have an excess of likely gene disrupting (LGD) mutations. Using forecASD results, we show which molecular pathways are currently under-represented in the autism literature and likely represent under-appreciated biological mechanisms of autism. Finally, the larger importance of this work is that by enumerating the genes that are most likely involved in the pathogenesis of autism, we have an opportunity to consider what molecular research in autism might look like in a post-gene discovery era.
Residential demand response program: Predictive analytics, virtual storage model and its optimization

Abstract Demand response programs are becoming an integral part of the power system, helping create a closer alignment between the electrical service providers and customers. The research described in this paper uses the residential demand response (DR) program during a peak demand event to determine the demand reduction capacity as a virtual storage (VS). As in the marketing business, identifying target customers is vital in the DR program, thus making it more efficient and productive. Additionally, peak load events are very critical in the power system; therefore, it is essential to model an effective demand response program. This paper uses predictive analytics to estimate the level of residential participation in a DR program, and thus the load reduction capacity available, during peak load events. Also derives the mathematical modeling of the demand reduction capacity of a demand response program as a virtual storage system and optimizes it using genetic algorithm technique.
Intracranial Immature teratoma diagnosed in a fetus- case report

This 39 year-old female received prenatal care at local clinics. Her prenatal exam was in normal limit. Unfortunately, an enlarged brain tumor of the fetus was noted at 29 weeks of gestational age. She was transferred to our hospital for further evaluation. Then magnetic resonance imaging study(MRI) of the fetus was performed, the result showed huge multicystic lesions in brain with obliteration of cerebral, cerebellar parenchyma and ventricles, poor differentiation of intracranial structure, poor development of upper spinal cord, and craniomegaly. We also discussed this case with the pediatrician and neurology surgeon. Poor prognosis of the baby was impressed. Then we informed the survey result and the prognosis to the patient and her husband. The decided to terminate the pregnancy. We arranged schedued cesarean section for her because of larged biparietal diameter. The baby was delivered at the gestation age of 32 2/7 weeks, with body weight 4280 gram, the Apgar scores were 3 and 2 at 1 and 5 minutes after delivery, respectively. The baby was expired later. We arranged the autopsy, the result revealed the brain is asymmetrical and almost totally replaced by the large solid and multicystic tumor measuring 17.5 × 13.5 × 4.5 cm and weighing 800.0 gm as a whole. The tumor is yellowish white and soft to firm with areas of calcification and jelly-like content. The pathologic result was immature teratoma.
Direct and indirect effects of sexual signal loss on female reproduction in the Pacific field cricket (Teleogryllus oceanicus)

Sexual signal evolution may present fitness consequences for the non-signaling sex due to shared genes and altered social conditions, but this is rarely studied in natural populations. On the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, most male Teleogryllus oceanicus (Pacific field crickets) lack the ability to sing because of a novel wing mutation (flatwing) that arose and spread in <20 generations. Obligately silent flatwing males have been highly successful because they avoid detection by a deadly, acoustically-orienting parasitoid fly. Little is known about how the flatwing mutation and resulting song-less acoustic environment affects female fitness. We found that Kauai females carrying the flatwing allele invested less in reproductive tissues and experienced more instances of mating failure than normal-wing-carrying females, though total offspring production did not differ between female genotypes. Females from Oahu (HI, where the parasitoid and flatwing also occur) and Mangaia (an island in the Cook Islands which harbors neither the parasitoid nor flatwing) invested less in reproductive tissues when reared in a song-less acoustic environment. Kauai females did not exhibit this plasticity, perhaps because they have experienced nearly song-less conditions for the past ~15 years following the establishment of flatwing. We show that female T. oceanicus experience a mix of costly and beneficial effects of sexual signal loss, which should help maintain the wing polymorphism in the wild. Our results demonstrate that the non-signaling sex can experience a nuanced set of phenotypic consequences resulting from signal evolution, which can further shape dynamics of sexual signal evolution.
Immune landscapes associated with different glioblastoma molecular subtypes

Recent work has highlighted the tumor microenvironment as a central player in cancer. In particular, interactions between tumor and immune cells may help drive the development of brain tumors such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Despite significant research into the molecular classification of glioblastoma, few studies have characterized in a comprehensive manner the immune infiltrate in situ and within different GBM subtypes. In this study, we use an unbiased, automated immunohistochemistry-based approach to determine the immune phenotype of the four GBM subtypes (classical, mesenchymal, neural and proneural) in a cohort of 98 patients. Tissue Micro Arrays (TMA) were stained for CD20 (B lymphocytes), CD5, CD3, CD4, CD8 (T lymphocytes), CD68 (microglia), and CD163 (bone marrow derived macrophages) antibodies. Using automated image analysis, the percentage of each immune population was calculated with respect to the total tumor cells. Mesenchymal GBMs displayed the highest percentage of microglia, macrophage, and lymphocyte infiltration. CD68+ and CD163+ cells were the most abundant cell populations in all four GBM subtypes, and a higher percentage of CD163+ cells was associated with a worse prognosis. We also compared our results to the relative composition of immune cell type infiltration (using RNA-seq data) across TCGA GBM tumors and validated our results obtained with immunohistochemistry with an external cohort and a different method. The results of this study offer a comprehensive analysis of the distribution and the infiltration of the immune components across the four commonly described GBM subgroups, setting the basis for a more detailed patient classification and new insights that may be used to better apply or design immunotherapies for GBM.
Methodology for Regularization of Force-Based Elements to Model Reinforced Concrete Columns with Short Lap Splices

AbstractIn reinforced concrete structures built before the 1970s, it was common for columns to be constructed with short lap splices and widely spaced transverse bars at the column base, leading to...
Inhibition of acid ceramidase regulates MHC class II antigen presentation and suppression of autoimmune arthritis

The bioactive sphingolipid ceramide affects immune responses although its effect on antigen (Ag) processing and delivery by HLA class II to CD4+T-cells remains unclear. Therefore, we examined the actions of a novel cell-permeable acid ceramidase (AC) inhibitor [(1R,2R) N myristoylamino-(4'-nitrophenyl)-propandiol-1,3] on antigen presentation and inflammatory cytokine production by Ag-presenting cells (APCs) such as B-cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. We found that AC inhibition in APCs perturbed Ag-processing and presentation via HLA-DR4 (MHC class II) proteins as measured by coculture assay and T-cell production of IL-2. Mass spectral analyses showed that B13 treatment significantly raised levels of four types of ceramides in human B-cells. B13 treatment did not alter Ag internalization and class II protein expression, but significantly inhibited lysosomal cysteinyl cathepsins (B, S and L) and thiol-reductase (GILT), HLA class II Ag-processing, and generation of functional class II-peptide complexes. Ex vivo Ag presentation assays showed that inhibition of AC impaired primary and recall CD4+T-cell responses and cytokine production in response against type II collagen. Further, B13 delayed onset and reduced severity of inflamed joints and cytokine production in the collagen-induced arthritis mouse model in vivo. These findings suggest that inhibition of AC in APCs may dysregulate endolysosomal proteases and HLA class II-associated self-antigen presentation to CD4+T-cells, attenuating inflammatory cytokine production and suppressing host autoimmune responses.
The Way Forward in the Post-COVID World

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacted an extraordinarily high human toll throughout the country, imposing an almost unfathomable strain on its healthcare infrastruc
Lower Extremity Kinematic and Kinetic Asymmetries during Running.

Between-limb asymmetries during running are often evaluated to assess injury risk or recovery. Asymmetries less than 10% are generally considered normal, but it is unknown if asymmetries vary depending on the metric of interest, the athlete's sex, or running speed. Purpose The primary aim of this investigation was to describe the magnitude of asymmetries of common variables during running among healthy athletes and to determine if sex and speed influence magnitudes of asymmetry. Methods This study analyzed routinely collected running gait data on healthy Division I collegiate athletes. All athletes had no history of lower-extremity (LE) surgery, no LE injuries for 3 months before testing, and had running data available at 2.68, 2.95, 3.35, 3.80, and 4.47m·s. Asymmetries were calculated for ground reaction forces, spatiotemporal metrics, joint kinematics, and joint kinetics. Separate linear mixed effects models assessed the influence of sex, speed, and the interaction on asymmetries of interest. Z-scores were calculated for significant effects to further assess magnitude of differences. Results Results from 204 athletes were included. The magnitude of asymmetry varied depending on the variable of interest, with asymmetries ≤ 3 observed for joint kinematics and greater asymmetries observed among joint work asymmetries ranged from 10-40%. No significant interactions between sex and speed were observed. Differences in sex and speed were noted; however, the effect sizes were very small based on z-score comparison (-0.17 ≤ z ≤ 0.36) and were unlikely to be meaningful. Conclusions The magnitude of asymmetry varies considerably depending on the running gait variable. Interpretation of between-limb asymmetry in running mechanics needs to be specific to the variable of interest, while sex or running speed appear to be minor factors.
DNA ligase I fidelity mediates the mutagenic ligation of pol β oxidized nucleotide insertion products and base excision repair intermediates with mismatches

DNA ligase I (LIG1) completes base excision repair (BER) pathway at the last nick sealing step following DNA polymerase (pol) β gap filling DNA synthesis. We previously reported that pol β 8-oxo-29-deoxyribonucleoside 59-triphosphate (8-oxodGTP) insertion confounds LIG1 leading to the formation of ligation failure products with 59-adenylate (AMP) block. Here, we report the mutagenic ligation of pol β 8-oxodGTP insertion products and an inefficient substrate-product channeling from pol β Watson-Crick like dG:T mismatch insertion to DNA ligation by LIG1 mutant with perturbed fidelity (E346A/E592A) in vitro. Moreover, our results revealed that the substrate discrimination of LIG1 for the nicked repair intermediates with preinserted 39-8-oxodG or mismatches is governed by the mutations at both E346 and E592 residues. Finally, we found that Aprataxin (APTX) and Flap Endonuclease 1 (FEN1), as compensatory DNA-end processing enzymes, can remove 59-AMP block from the abortive ligation products with 39-8-oxodG or all possible 12 non-canonical base pairs. These findings contribute to understand the role of LIG1 as an important determinant of faithful BER, and how a multi-protein complex (LIG1, pol β, APTX and FEN1) can coordinate to hinder the formation of mutagenic repair intermediates with damaged or mismatched ends at the downstream steps of the BER pathway.
Multi-scale approach to analyse the evolution of soft rock coastal cliffs and role of controlling factors: a case study in South-Eastern Italy

The evolution of soft rock coastlines is strictly related to natural and anthropogenic conditions, which in some cases can determine also an acceleration of coastal retreat. The recent evolution of...
Social Ties and Collective Efficacy as Predictors of Volunteering

Volunteering has been defined as any activity to which (1) an individual devotes their free time; and (2) a second person or group receives a benefit (Wilson, 2000). This definition includes a larg...
Bridging the science-practice gap in treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: Testing strategies to enhance beliefs toward exposure therapy.

OBJECTIVE Exposure therapies (e.g., prolonged exposure [PE]), are first-line interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder but remain underutilized, partially due to providers' negative beliefs about these interventions. We examined two experimental strategies aimed at enhancing beliefs towards PE and subsequent utilization. METHOD Clinicians (N = 155) were randomized to one of three conditions presenting a PE rationale: basic, empirically-based, or emotionally-based description. Participants were rerandomized to write or not write arguments for utilizing PE. Before and after PE rationales and 1-month later, participants completed questions about PE beliefs and utilization. RESULTS Participants reported small yet durable belief change across all rationale conditions, with greatest change following the empirically-based description. Across conditions, belief change was not impacted by writing condition or associated with utilization. CONCLUSION Addressing negative beliefs with empirical information may be a brief, cost-effective strategy to improve clinicians' beliefs toward PE. Complementary strategies that leverage belief modification to increase utilization are needed.
Screening for Adolescent Social Anxiety: Psychometric Properties of the Severity Measure for Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a debilitating disorder that emerges during adolescence and confers a significant burden on interpersonal functioning. Currently available diagnostic interviews are lengthy and generally require clinically-trained experts to administer. Consequently, the identification of clinically valid self-report measures of social anxiety is necessary for streamlining assessment processes and routine outcome monitoring of adolescent social anxiety symptoms. Accordingly, the present study establishes the psychometric properties and predictive utility of the Severity Measure for Social Anxiety Disorder (SMSAD). Participants included 58 adolescents between 12 and 16 years of age who met diagnostic criteria for SAD. In addition to the SMSAD and other self-report measures, clinician and parent reports were obtained. Findings support the reliability and validity of the SMSAD, and highlight the clinical utility of this measure in comparison to previously validated measures of social anxiety. Overall, results indicate that the SMSAD is a valid and reliable measure for assessing and routinely tracking social anxiety symptoms in adolescents.
STATIC STRESSES BY LINEAR AND NONLINEAR METHODS

A nonlinear incremental loading finite element analysis is the best currently available method for calculating the static stresses in earth embankments, and is virtually the only available method for calculating static deformations. However, if deformations are not required, the static stresses may be calculated by a simpler gravity-turn-on linear elastic finite element analysis. Examples are presented of four dams each with several different loading conditions, in which stresses were calculated by linear and by nonlinear finite element procedures. The results from both methods were in close agreement. The calculated stresses were virtually independent of the Young's modulus parameters, except within the narrow cores of zone dams. The horizontal shear and normal stresses were strongly influenced by the selected values of poisson's ratio. However, if consistent values were used, the linear and the nonlinear analyses gave almost identical results. Recognition of the reliability of linear methods can lead to substantial savings. /ASCE/
A Robust Control Experiment using an Optical Structure Prototype

This paper describes a robust control experiment, currently in progress at Harris Corporation. A detailed physical description of the experiment's physical apparatus is presented. In addition, the paper gives a brief description of the approaches to be used for robust control system design and analysis.
Effect of heat treatment on crystal structure and wear performance of carbon-carbon composites

The processing temperature of a carbon-carbon (C/C) composite controls the extent of graphitization and crystal size. Often times the processing temperatures in industrial furnaces with graphite hot zones are not known with great accuracy because of the changes in emissivity with increasing temperature. Temperatures are controlled by pyrometers and the pyrometers are calibrated to be accurate only for a very narrow temperature range. The wear of graphite is also known to be dependent on many factors, of which crystallize size and extend of graphitization are two of those factors. In order to study the effect of heat treatment on the crystal structure and wear performance of commercial C/C composites, composite samples were heat treated at lemperatures ranging from 1800°C to 2400°C in Ar. Following heat treating, a sample was ground from the surface of each sample and mixed with 99.99% pure Ni powder as an internal standard. X-ray diffraction was performed using the major peaks for graphite (the (002) for 2H) and Ni (111). The full-width half maximum for each diffraction peak was used to determine the crystal size, and the peak shift for the graphite (002) was determined based on the Ni internal standard. The corrected d spacing for the (002) plane were then determined. The sub-scale d) namometer at the Center for Advanced Friction (CAFS) studies was used to perform wear testing of each of the carbon-carbon composites, following heat treatment. The results were then compared with the crystallographic information obtained from X-ray diffraction and TEM.
Thermo-optic switching devices in thin silicon-on-insulator

The thin SOI materials system can be used to make compact, high speed, and low power photonic integrated devices. We describe and characterize the Mach-Zehnder thermo-optic switches in thin SOI material.
Efficient and practical algorithms for deducing the history of recombination in populations

A phylogenetic network (or Ancestral Recombination Graph) is a generalization of a tree, allowing structural properties that are not tree-like. With the growth of genomic and population data, much of which does not fit ideal tree models, and the increasing appreciation of the genomic role of such phenomena as recombination (crossing-over and gene-conversion), recurrent and back mutation, horizontal gene transfer, and mobile genetic elements, there is greater need to understand the algorithmics and combinatorics of phylogenetic networks.
Statement of Results

(Unless otherwise noted, homology with integer coefficients will be used throughout.) Let Al, A2, Am⊂ℝ n be a finite set of affine subspaces (of possibly various dimensions) of Euclidean space and let $$ M = {{\mathbb{R}}^{n}} - \bigcup\limits_{{i = 1}}^{m} {{{A}_{i}}} $$ be the complement of the union of these subspaces. Associated to this collection of subspaces A there is a partially ordered set P whose elements v correspond to the “flats”, $$ |\upsilon | = {{A}_{{{{i}_{1}}}}} \cap {{A}_{{{{i}_{2}}}}} \cap ... \cap {{A}_{{{{i}_{r}}}}} $$ partially ordered by inclusion, with one maximal element T corresponding to the ambient space ℝ n . We shall use the notation v<w if v and w are distinct elements of P such that the flat |v| is contained in the flat |w|.
Spectral energy transfer in Pr F 3 , Pr Cl 3

Time-resolved fluorescence line narrowing is used to study spectral energy transfer in Pr${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$ and Pr${\mathrm{Cl}}_{3}$. The excitation spectrum of Pr${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$ in the region of the ${(^{3}H_{4})}_{1}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{3}P_{0}$ absorption indicates that several strong satellite lines accompany the main transition, their origin being ascribed to different ${\mathrm{Pr}}^{3+}$ ions lying in strongly perturbed lattice sites. The spectral transfer within the inhomogeneously broadened main transiton is measured, where the energy mismatch is about 2 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. This process is characterized by a strong ($\ensuremath{\sim}{T}^{4.3}$) dependence of the transfer probability on sample temperature. The growth of the full inhomogeneous emission profile accompanies a uniform decay of the donor line shape. A transfer process between the lowest-energy satellite ions is also measured. Here the energy mismatch is 32 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ resulting in a weak temperature dependence for the transfer rate. Both the intraline and intersatellite transfer are characterized by simple exponential rate equations. Recent calculations of phonon-assisted transfer probabilities are compared to our measurements, with the intersatellite transfer ascribed to a "one-phonon direct" process whereas the transfer within the main transition occurs by a "one-phonon second-order" mechanism. In Pr${\mathrm{Cl}}_{3}$ the transfer times are faster than the 15-nsec response time of our detection system indicating a much stronger ion-ion coupling.
A 2½ ‐Dimensional Magnetic Field Model of Plasmoids

The traditional 2D picture of plasmoid formation predicts the creation of closed loops, field lines closed on themselves, which are called magnetic islands. Examination of plasmoid formation in three dimensions led Hughes and Sibeck (1987) to the conclusion that a flux rope is formed instead of a magnetic island. A 2 1/2-dimensional flux rope model is here used to study the magnetic topology of plasmoids and examine the ability to distinguish between the two models using magnetometer data from a single satellite pass. Spacecraft data is simulated by sampling the magnetic field along a path through the model. The principal axis directions are strongly dependent on the path of a satellite through the structure. ISEE 3 magnetic field observations of plasmoids can be reproduced using a model of a flux rope with a significant axial component. It appears that principal axis analysis of magnetometer data of a single satellite pass is insufficient to differentiate between magnetic island and flux rope models, and can give misleading indications of the real axes of symmetry of the structure.
The perils of polynucleotides revisited

DNA computing relies on the successful implementation of physical chemistry techniques involving oligonucleotides of prescribed sequence. Our laboratory has been involved in the assembly and manipulation of designed oligonucleotides in order to pursue studies in genetic recombination and nanofabrication. We have constructed a large number of unusual branched DNA motifs used to build a variety of DNA objects, lattices, and nanomechanical devices. Our experience with these systems has uncovered a large number of experimental pitfalls that may confront individuals working with DNA-based computation. A decade ago, we presented our experience in this area in the hope that we could help investigators to anticipate experimental problems that affect DNA computing schemes. Here, we review these points from the vantage point of further experience, indicating both modifications to the original criteria and new points as well.
Measurement of underwater sound intensity vector

Localization of underwater sound sources and characterization of ambient noise fields can be achieved through measurement of the sound intensity vector. To evaluate this concept, a passive hydrophone array called SIRA (Sound Intensity Receiver Array) has been developed for measurement of underwater sound intensity in the frequency range 100 to 6000 Hz. The array is composed of three pairs of omni-directional hydrophones with the pairs aligned along orthogonal axes. The intensity is the time average of the product of instantaneous acoustic pressure and particle velocity. The instantaneous pressure is the average of the pressures measured by a hydrophone pair and the velocity is derived from the pressure gradient. Each hydrophone pair provides one of the components of the three dimensional intensity vector.
Hyperthyroidism in Children

On the basis of strong research evidence, hyperthyroidism is a rare but potentially serious disorder in childhood that, if uncontrolled, can lead to a wide range of complications, including effects on growth and development. • On the basis of strong research evidence, Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in children, accounting for greater than 95% of cases. It is caused by stimulating antibodies to the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor. • On the basis of some research evidence and consensus, history, physical examination, and thyroid function tests help diagnose hyperthyroidism. The condition is characterized by suppressed serum thyrotropin and elevated serum triiodothyronine and thyroxine. Radioactive iodine (or technetium-99) uptake and serum thyroid antibody measurements help determine the cause of hyperthyroidism. • On the basis of some research evidence and consensus, treatment options for Graves' disease in children include antithyroid medications, radioactive iodine, and surgery. Antithyroid medications are commonly used as the first-line therapy in children. However, because of the low rates of spontaneous remission, most children eventually require permanent treatment with radioactive iodine or surgery. Of the available antithyroid medications, current guidelines recommend use of methimazole and not propylthiouracil because of the unacceptable risk of hepatotoxicity associated with propylthiouracil. • On the basis of strong research evidence, thyroid storm is a rare life-threatening endocrine emergency that should be suspected in children with hyperthyroidism who demonstrate evidence of systemic decompensation. • On the basis of strong research evidence, neonatal hyperthyroidism can occur in infants born to mothers with a history of Graves' disease due to transplacental passage of TSH receptor stimulating antibodies.
Reinitiation of Cell Wall Growth After Threonine Starvation of Streptococcus faecalis

Abstract Cultures of Streptococcus faecalis ATCC 9790 were starved of threonine for 10 hr and then allowed to reinitiate growth in a fresh complete medium. On regrowth, culture turbidity began to increase within 10 min, but the ability of cells to autolyze did not begin to increase until after 30 min. Ultrastructural studies of regrowth of the initially thick-walled cells showed, at about 30 min, centripetal linear extension of new thin cross wall. This was followed, at about 40 min, by a notching, splitting, and peeling apart of the base of the cross wall. After this, extension of new thin peripheral wall from the nascent cross wall appeared to push old thick wall toward the poles. After the first cell division, asymmetric cells with one initial generation thick-walled pole and one second generation thin-walled pole were seen. After two divisions, thick-walled hemispheres were still seen, suggesting conservation of old wall during this time. A small fraction of the initial cell population exhibited aberrations and difficulties in reinitiating linear wall extension and were useful in the establishment of a model for the reinitiation of linear wall extension.
Fixed patterns of rapid postural responses among leg muscles during stance

The aim of this study has been to present firmer evidence that during stance functionally related postural muscles in the legs are activated according to fixed patterns. The importance of fixed patterns of activation for stabilization, balance, and movement control has received considerable theoretical and experimental attention. With regard to postural adjustment in humans, however, evidence for fixed activation patterns has been circumstantial only. Previous studies could not rule out the possibility that fixed patterns were caused by the mechanical coupling of rotatory movements among the joints of the body. This study has shown that in subjects employing FSR adjustments during stance activation patterns among leg muscles at FSR latency (functional stretch response, 100–120 msec) are preprogrammed prior to a response and are, on the average, fixed, independent of the associated motions among the ankle, knee, and hip joints. The identical fixed patterns were produced by sway rotation about the ankle joints and by direct rotation of the ankles. A pattern was characterized as fixed when, during a 1 hr session, the ratios of estimated force between pairs of functionally related leg muscles remained constant. In addition, the sequence of activation among muscles was fixed and followed a course beginning at the ankle muscle and proceeding proximally. The discussion of these results considered the functional implications of fixed contractile patterns during stance posture control.
Sterile 20 Kinase Phosphorylates Histone H2B at Serine 10 during Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Apoptosis in S. cerevisiae

Abstract Apoptosis is a highly coordinated cell suicide mechanism in vertebrates. Phosphorylation of serine 14 of histone H2B, catalyzed by Mst1 kinase, has been linked to chromatin compaction during apoptosis. We extend these results to unicellular eukaryotes by demonstrating that H2B is specifically phosphorylated at serine 10 (S10) in a hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death pathway in S. cerevisiae . H2B S10A mutants are resistant to cell death elicited by H 2 O 2 while H2B S10E phospho-site mimics promote cell death and induce the "constitutive" formation of condensed chromatin. Ste20 kinase, a yeast homolog of mammalian Mst1 kinase, translocates into the nucleus in a caspase-independent fashion and directly phosphorylates H2B at S10. Conservation of targeted H2B phosphorylation and the enzyme system responsible for the process point to an ancient mechanism of chromatin remodeling that likely plays an important role in governing cellular homeostasis in a wide range of organisms.
Importance of (n,p) reactions for stellar beta decay rates.

Recent (n,p) experiments on $^{54}\mathrm{Fe}$, $^{56}\mathrm{Fe}$, $^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$, and $^{59}\mathrm{Co}$ have measured Gamow-Teller resonances which are crucial for determining stellar beta decay rates in $^{54}\mathrm{Mn}$, $^{56}\mathrm{Mn}$, $^{58}\mathrm{Co}$, and $^{59}\mathrm{Fe}$, respectively. These nuclei are important players in the iron-core URCA process, which is a dynamic balancing of electron capture and beta decay rates during the final stage of nuclear burning in massive stars. We find that three of the nuclei, after calibration from (n,p) measurements, have significantly stronger decay rates than currently expected. These stronger rates will cause a more vigorous URCA process, resulting in presupernova cores which are cooler and less neutron rich than is presently used in core collapse calculations. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Role of large-scale slip in mode II fracture of bimaterial interface produced by diffusion bonding

Bimaterial interfaces present in diffusion-bonded (and in-situ) composites are often not flat interfaces. The unevenness of the interface can result not only from interface reaction products but also from long-range waviness associated with the surfaces of the component phases bonded together. Experimental studies aimed at determining interface mechanical properties generally ignore the departure in the local stress due to waviness and assume a theoretically flat interface. Furthermore, the commonly used testing methods involving superimposed tension often renders the interface so extremely brittle that if microplastic effects were present it becomes impossible to perceive them. This article examines the role of waviness of the interface and microplastic effects on crack initiation. To do this, a test was selected that provides significant stability against crack growth by superimposing compressive stresses. Mode II interface fracture was studied for NiAl/Mo model laminates using a recently developed asymmetrically loaded shear (ALS) interface shear test. The ALS test may be viewed as opposite of the laminate bend test. In the bend test, shear at the interface is created via tension on one surface of the bend, while in the ALS test, shear is created by compression on one side of the interface relative to the other. Normal to the interface, near the crack tip, an initially compressive state is replaced by slight tension due to Poisson’s expansion of the unbonded part of the compressed beam.
Software verification and validation research laboratory (SVVRL) of the University of Kentucky: traceability challenge 2011: language translation

We present the process and methods applied in undertaking the Traceability Challenge in addressing Grand Challenge C-GC1 - Trace recovery. The Information Retrieval methods implemented in REquirementsTRacing On target .NET (RETRO.NET) were applied to the tracing of the eTour and EasyClinic datasets. Our work focused on the nuances of native language (Italian, English). Datasets were augmented with additional terms derived from splitting function and variable names with Camel-Back notation and using the Google Translate API to translate Italian terms into English. Results based on the provided answer set show that the augmented datasets significantly improved recall and precision for one of the datasets.
Factors affecting the use of cottonseed meal in animal feed rations: Implications for marketing and promotion

This article assesses the potential problems and opportunities for expanding the use of cottonseed meal (CSM) as a protein supplement in animal feed rations. The primary tool of analysis was a national survey of feed formulators to analyze the key factors influencing their selection or nonselection of CSM as an ingredient in their feed formulations. The survey results suggest possible opportunities for expanding CSM use. Improvements in CSM market efficiency through providing enhanced and more accurate information in specific areas identified in the study may be the most effective means of promoting expanded use of CSM.
Experimental nerve ischemia and injury produced by cocaine and procaine

Abstract The effects of ethanol, glycerol, procaine, and cocaine were tested on rat sciatic nerve blood flow. Blood flow measurements were made using a laser Doppler blood perfusion monitor with a 1 mm diameter probe. The local anesthetics procaine and cocaine produced a dose-dependent and time-dependent decrease in nerve blood flow, but 80% ethanol, 80% glycerol, and 0.9% saline did not significantly alter nerve blood flow either acutely (10 min) or for up to 4 h. For histopathologic studies, the same nerves were removed at 2 days after blood flow tests. Evidence of nerve injury (edema and nerve fiber pathology) was observed for the neurolytic agents ethanol and glycerol and for both local anesthetics. No relationship between nerve blood flow and injury was seen for either ethanol or glycerol; however, both local anesthetics exhibited a highly significant negative correlation (P
SCAVENGING BY SNAKES: AN EXAMINATION OF THE LITERATURE

Although it is widely known that most species of snakes readily accept carrion in captivity, the notion of scavenging by wild snakes historically has been rejected or ignored. Herein, we review the literature describing instances of scavenging by snakes and consider the implications of carrion use on their ecology. Thirty-nine published accounts yielded 50 observations of scavenging by snakes (43 from field observations and seven from laboratory studies). Thirty-five species from five families were represented, but pitvipers and piscivorous snakes were represented more frequently than other groups. Scavenged material varied widely and included rodents, birds, fish, frogs, and snakes. Olfaction appears to be the overriding sensory modality used for carrion detection. Some species may use scavenging as a deliberate feeding strategy that supplements their regular modes of prey acquisition. Additional knowledge of the scavenging behavior of snakes should provide new insights into the fundamentals of the ecolo...
Wet spinning of pre-doped polyaniline into an aqueous solution of a polyelectrolyte

We report the preparation of highly conductive polyaniline (PANi) fibers produced via a wet-spinning process into different coagulation solvents or solutions. To the best of our knowledge, this paper shows the first successful spinning of PANi fibers into an aqueous environment where no post-doping of the fiber is needed. Aqueous solutions of different salts, small anionic molecules, small cationic molecules, polycations, and polyanions are studied. Best results are obtained using an aqueous solution of a polyanion as a coagulation bath. The resulting fibers exhibit good length, stability, and morphology. An in depth study of the relationship between the fiber properties and the concentration of a polyanion in the aqueous bath (poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate), PSS) is performed. It is shown that PSS solutions stabilize the PANi fibers without dramatically changing the conductivity of the fibers. It is believed that this stabilization is a result of numerous ionic interactions between cationic centers on the PANi and anionic groups on the polyanion. This new preparation method should be industrially viable.
Water stress in bristlecone pine and associated plants

Abstract Measurements of leaf water potential taken in the Snake Range of Nevada indicate that bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva Bailey) may be adapted to maintain lower internal water stress than some of its competitors. This characteristic may account in part for the tree's dominance on harsh timberline sites.
Social problem-solving skills of young physically abused children.

The ability of physically abused children to resolve hypothetical social problems was compared to the social problem-solving skills of a comparison group of nonabused children. Analyses indicated that the abused children generated a more narrow range of solutions and were more likely to perseverate on negative solutions Implications for intervention and future research are made.