cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does Tumor Size Predict Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in the Modern Era of Biologically Driven Treatment? A Nationwide Study of US Breast Cancer Patients.

Abstract Background Tumor size has historically been used to stage breast cancer and guide treatment recommendations. The importance of tumor biology in long-term outcomes is increasingly being acknowledged. No large studies have examined the relative roles of tumor size and receptor status on response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer. Patients and Methods The National Cancer Database was queried for women who underwent NAC and surgery for unilateral clinical stage I to III (cT1-3) invasive breast cancer from 2010 to 2013. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the relation between receptor status, tumor size, and pathologic complete response (pCR) while controlling for other biologic, sociodemographic, diagnosis, and treatment factors. Results We included 38,864 women in this study, most presented with cT2 disease (55%). Patients predominantly had estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR)-positive (ER/PR+) HER2− (45%) or ER/PR− HER2− (28%) disease. Nineteen percent (7432 patients) had a pCR. cT3 (odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59-0.70) but not cT2 cancers (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.89-1.02) were associated with lower pCR rates compared with cT1 disease. HER2+ (ER/PR+ HER2+: OR, 2.94; 95% CI, 2.72-3.18; ER/PR− HER2+: OR, 6.45; 95% CI, 5.92-7.02) and ER/PR− HER2− cancers (OR, 3.94; 95% CI, 3.68-4.22) were more likely to experience pCR than those with ER/PR+ HER2− cancers. Receptor status was more strongly associated with pCR than tumor size. Conclusion Tumor size is independently associated with pCR after NAC after controlling for receptor status, although the effect of receptor status is stronger. These data reinforce the importance of receptor status as well as tumor size, each of which might act as surrogates for tumor biology, in setting expectations for outcomes in patients who undergo NAC.
Routines - A System for Inference, Analysis and Prediction of Users Daily Location Visits: Industrial Paper

Inferring user behavior patterns in their daily location visits, i.e., where people go and how long they stay there, enables a variety of useful applications such as time management systems, new location recommendations, and the opportunity for analytics. For example, digital assistants can use inferred daily patterns to automate calendar events for users, or notify users about anticipated traffic conditions to their predicted next location. Retailers, on the other hand, can use the patterns to do location-based recommendations of venues similar or in proximity of the ones anticipated to be visited. To power the above applications we built and deployed Routines -a system for inferring periodic visits to known locations about users. Association rule mining has been demonstrated in the literature to be aptly suited for interpreting user routines and for building powerful audience understanding analytics tools. Using a large, real-world dataset of users visits, we perform a wide range of experiments showcasing the performance of our system for routines inference and prediction.
The impact of problem gambling: are there enough services available for families with children?

Abstract Objectives The aim of the study was to contribute to research on the help-seeking behaviours of the concerned significant others of gamblers. Study design This is a qualitative study. Methods The message data were written by 40 partners of gamblers and collected from a Finnish-language online discussion forum designed for problem gamblers and their significant others. The method used was qualitative content analysis. Results The partners of gamblers who contacted the forum sought help and peer support. The discovery of gambling and debts caused shame, fear of stigmatisation and trust issues among the partners. For many partners, managing the financial matters in the household was a means of saving the family from incurring further debts. The partners had to cope with mixed feelings towards the gambler: some wanted to give their family a chance, whereas others were concerned about their children's well-being and decided to divorce the gambler. Conclusions As long as family members cannot find help for themselves owing to a lack of awareness or fear of stigmatisation, they may suffer from health inequality and social marginalisation.
FORK: A FORward-looKing Actor for Model-Free Reinforcement Learning

In this paper, we propose a new type of Actor, named forward-looking Actor or FORK for short, for Actor-Critic algorithms. FORK can be easily integrated into a model-free Actor-Critic algorithm. Our experiments on six Box2D and MuJoCo environments with continuous state and action spaces demonstrate significant performance improvement FORK can bring to the state-of-the-art algorithms. A variation of FORK can further solve BipedalWalkerHardcore in as few as four hours using a single GPU.
Cultural Speech and Political Speech in Historical Perspective

Book Review of FREE SPEECH IN ITS FORGOTTEN YEARS by David M. Rabban, Cambridge University Press, 1997.
Rho-mediated gene transcription promotes BRAF inhibitor resistance in de-differentiated melanoma cells

Abstract Over half of cutaneous melanoma tumors have BRAFV600E/K mutations. Acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) remains a major hurdle in attaining durable therapeutic responses. In this study we demonstrate that approximately 50-60% of melanoma cell lines with vemurafenib resistance acquired in vitro show activation of RhoA family GTPases. In BRAFi-resistant melanoma cell lines and tumors, activation of RhoA is correlated with decreased expression of melanocyte lineage genes. Using a machine learning approach, we built gene expression-based models to predict drug sensitivity for 265 common anti-cancer compounds. We then projected these signatures onto the collection of TCGA cutaneous melanoma and found that poorly differentiated tumors were predicted to have increased sensitivity to multiple Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors. Two transcriptional effectors downstream of Rho, MRTF and YAP1, are activated in the RhoHigh BRAFi-resistant cell lines, and resistant cells are more sensitive to inhibition of these transcriptional mechanisms. Taken together, these results support the concept of targeting Rho-regulated gene transcription pathways as a promising therapy approach to restore sensitivity to BRAFi-resistant tumors or as a combination therapy to prevent the onset of drug resistance.
Measuring νμ Charged-Current Interactions in MiniBooNE

MiniBooNE seeks to confirm or refute the LSND oscillation signal with high statistical significance and different systematics. MiniBooNE has accumulated the world's largest ~1 GeV neutrino data set. MiniBooNE employs a cosmic muon calibration system to study the reconstruction of the energies and directions of muons in the detector. Progress of measurements of the νμ charged-current quasi-elastic and single pion production cross sections are presented.
Divide and Conquer: A Simple, Modern Technique for Collaborative Small Group Learning with Reciprocal Peer Teaching.

Collaborative group learning and peer teaching are robust active learning techniques. Students and instructors interact with technology extensively in their lives and in the classroom. Technology facilitates collaborative group learning by enabling synchronous interaction with digital documents and immediate access to information. Though it is widely accepted that group learning is an improvement to traditional lectures, challenges in the design, execution, and evaluation of group learning can be a barrier to implementing this pedagogy in the higher education classroom. Divide and Conquer is a simple, easy-to-use, and modern technique that faculty and instructors can use to rapidly transform traditional lecture content into collaborative small group learning and peer-teaching experiences. Students are divided into groups that complete instructor-prescribed activities on a shared Google Slide deck, and then teach the class what they learned. This technique can be used to explore a range of topics including science and non-science content and is particularly amenable to self-contained, related mini-research topics (i.e. the lowest level of organization on the outline of a lecture). This innovative technique was inspired primarily by the Jigsaw technique. However, it is distinct in that it deliberately builds technology skills and includes a class-level presentation. It is recommended for any higher education classroom across disciplines.
Epigenetic Patterns in a Complete Human Genome

ABSTRACT The completion of the first telomere-to-telomere human genome, T2T-CHM13, enables exploration of the full epigenome, removing limitations previously imposed by the missing reference sequence. Existing epigenetic studies omit unassembled and unmappable genomic regions (e.g. centromeres, pericentromeres, acrocentric chromosome arms, subtelomeres, segmental duplications, tandem repeats). Leveraging the new assembly, we were able to measure enrichment of epigenetic marks with short reads using k-mer assisted mapping methods. This granted array-level enrichment information to characterize the epigenetic regulation of these satellite repeats. Using nanopore sequencing data, we generated base level maps of the most complete human methylome ever produced. We examined methylation patterns in satellite DNA and revealed organized patterns of methylation along individual molecules. When exploring the centromeric epigenome, we discovered a distinctive dip in centromere methylation consistent with active sites of kinetochore assembly. Through long-read chromatin accessibility measurements (nanoNOMe) paired to CUT&RUN data, we found the hypomethylated region was extremely inaccessible and paired to CENP-A/B binding. With long-reads we interrogated allele-specific, longrange epigenetic patterns in complex macro-satellite arrays such as those involved in X chromosome inactivation. Using the single molecule measurements we can clustered reads based on methylation status alone distinguishing epigenetically heterogeneous and homogeneous areas. The analysis provides a framework to investigate the most elusive regions of the human genome, applying both long and short-read technology to grant new insights into epigenetic regulation.
The certainty–offending relationship as a function of a nation's free market cultural ethos:

The current study sought to integrate aspects of classic strain and institutional anomie theories with concepts from deterrence and rational choice theories for application in a large sample of Eur...
Winning the West for Women: The Life of Suffragist Emma Smith DeVoe

Review of: "Winning the West for Women: The Life of Suffragist Emma Smith DeVoe," by Jennifer M. Ross-Nazzal.
A Survey of Research on Data Corruption in Cyber–Physical Critical Infrastructure Systems

Abstract Computer systems are present in every aspect of modern life. In many of these systems, corruption of data is unavoidable as a result of both intentional and unintentional means. In many systems, this erroneous data can result in severe consequences including financial loss, injury, or death. Critical infrastructure cyber–physical systems utilize intelligent control to improve performance; however, they are heavily data dependent. These systems have the potential to propagate corrupted data, leading to failure. This chapter presents a survey of work related to the propagation of corrupted data within critical infrastructure cyber–physical systems, including the sources of corrupted data and the structure of critical infrastructure cyber–physical systems. In addition, it presents a comparative analysis of various data corruption detection and mitigation techniques. Additionally, we discuss a number of studies on the negative effects of system execution on corrupted data. These key topics are essential to understanding how undetected corrupted data propagates through a critical infrastructure cyber–physical system.
The Challenge of Solid Wastes Research

Solid wastes pose a significant environmental problem. Engineers have neglected solid wastes in the past but can no longer do so. The needs for research cover every aspect of solid wastes. There must be better information on solid waste characteristics. Efforts will be directed to on-site disposal. Transportation and remote disposal will receive greater attention. The most significant factor is that some solid waste residue must be returned to the soil. Communities must plan for burial of solid wastes. To solve solid waste problems there must be additional engineers with research orientation. Funds for research must be made available. The challenge in solid wastes is to reduce the volume to a minimum and to retain the value of land use for burial.
Optical diversity by nanoscale actuation

Miniaturization in free-space optical systems presents a significant challenge because limiting the physical aperture typically degrades resolution. That is, images and spectra become "blurry," and features of interest in them are lost. We have devised a method to resolve this dilemma by exploiting the benefits of micro-actuators with nanometer positioning accuracy. Inspired from the diversity method in radar and satellite communications, "integrated computational imaging with optical diversity" or ICIOD (pronounced "Hesiod") is premised on the fact that resolution improves if a measurement is repeated by several systems with different transfer functions. In ICIOD, diversity is realized by MEMS actuators that mechanically modify the optical response of a diffraction grating. The individual low-resolution measurements are combined using flavors of the regularized pseudo-inverse method (e.g. Wiener filtering or expectation maximization.) In this paper, we, describe in detail a case study of ICIOD for a potential compact (shirt-button sized) spectrometer and its core component, the analog tunable grating.
Design and Performance of Space Station Photovoltaic Radiators

The design and performance of the Space Station Freedom Photovoltaic (PV) Power Module Thermal Control System radiators is presented. The PV Radiator is of a single phase pumped loop design using liquid ammonia as the coolant. Key design features are described, including the base structure, deployment mechanism, radiator panels, and two independent coolant loops. The basis for a specific mass of 7.8 kg/sqm is discussed, and methods of lowering this number for future systems are briefly described. Key performance paramters are also addressed. A summary of test results and analysis is presented to illustrate the survivability of the radiator in the micrometeoroid and orbital debris environment. A design criterion of 95% probability of no penetration of both fluid loops over a 10 year period is shown to be met. Methods of increasing the radiator survivability even further are presented. Thermal performance is also discussed, including a comparison of modeling predictions with existing test results. Degradation in thermal performance due to exposure to atomic oxygen and ultraviolet radiation in the low Earth orbit environment is presented. The structural criteria to which the radiator is designed are also briefly addressed. Finally, potential design improvements are discussed.
Efficiency of Nitrous Acid as An Inactivating and Mutagenic Agent of Intact Tobacco Mosaic Virus and Its Isolated Nucleic Acid

When tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and its isolated nucleic acid (TMV-RNA) were treated with nitrous acid, the nucleic acid was inactivated six times faster than the intact virus. Inactivation of both the infectious entities was exponential with treatment time to 0.1% level of survival. Eight different mutant phenotypes were scored after inactivation of TMV and TMV-RNA to 50, 10, 1.0, and 0.1% survival levels. Significantly more mutants in relation to unaltered isolates were induced at all levels of survival upon nitrous acid treatment of TMV than of TMV-RNA. Furthermore, the proportion of two specific mutant phenotypes was significantly greater in treated TMV than in treated TMV-RNA. No qualitative differences, however, were observed between the mutational spectra of nitrous acid-treated TMV and TMV-RNA. These results indicate that, in the intact virus, the viral capsid protects some of the sites involved in lethality; thus, proportionately more mutants are induced on nitrous acid treatment of TMV versus TMV-RNA.
Parallel computing in biomedical research and the search for peta-scale biomedical applications

Publisher Summary The recent revolution in biomedical research opens new possibilities for applications of parallel computing. This chapter discusses three parallel applications useful in medicine and bioinformatics, PENELOPE, GeneIndex, and fastDNAml, in terms of their scaling characteristics and the way they are used by biomedical researchers. PENELOPE is a code that may be used to enhance radiation therapy for brain cancers. GeneIndex is a tool for interacting with genome sequence data when studying its underlying structure. fastDNAml is a tool for inferring evolutionary relationships from DNA sequence data. The parallel computing community will have its greatest impact on biomedical research only if significant effort is expended in reaching out to the biomedical research community. As the search for peta-scale applications in biomedical research continues, standard techniques in parallel computing may result in useful, and even potentially lifesaving, applications at more modest scales of parallelism. The ability of parallel computing techniques enables more interactive analyses of biomedical data.
Budgeting and Variance Analysis

Budgeting and variance analysis are concepts that may seem to be intimidating, labor-intensive, and confusing for many people. In reality, they are very useful tools in business that are simply our predictions, estimates, and projections of the future of your business. They are not as complicated as some people may think. Budgeting is a process of planning how one expects their business to perform productively and financially in the next period of time. The process budgeting is a prediction of how your business will perform overtime in regard to both income and expenses of your business. The final budget can be very useful to monitor your business over the time period and enable you to make adjustments to stay on course of projections by analyzing variances. Variance analysis is a process to see how well your predictions in the budget came to fruition. Variances in your actual business can be used to make adjustments in your financial and business operations and guide your business to a more successful future.
Decentralized and distributed control approaches and algorithms

A survey and brief analysis are presented of existing approaches to decentralized and distributed control design. An attempt is made to underline the issues the designer faces in considering a decentralized, possibly large system. The question of how to approach the design problem for a decentralized system is addressed, and different philosophies are reviewed. >
Molecular Dynamic simulation study of stress memorization in Si dislocations

Stress-Memorization-Technique by Si dislocations is effective in enhancing NFET device performance [1,2]. For the first time, MD (Molecular Dynamic) simulations are applied to explain the formation mechanism of dislocations during the Solid-Phase-Epitaxy-Regrowth (SPER) process. A semi- empirical TCAD method based on lattice-KMC (L-KMC) is then developed to predict dislocation formation. The simulated dislocation positions agree well with silicon experiments characterized by TEM. TCAD simulations show that the resulting dislocations are along the [111] direction and provide ∼650MPa average longitudinal stress in channel regions, consistent with Nano-Beam-Diffraction (NBD) strain measurement. The channel stress is predicted by simulation to further increase by 1.5X after the poly-silicon gate removal step in a replacement-gate process. The dislocation SMT enhances NFET electron mobility by 25% and Ion-Ioff performance by 15%.
A cold fusion chronology

To assess the historical and sociological significance of the cold fusion saga, researchers need accurate information about the dates of various events associated with the saga. Based on materials in the Cornell Cold Fusion Archive, this article provides both a chronology and citations to documentary evidence for cold fusion events from 1926 to the end of 1990.
Host range of a newly introduced parasitoid, Binodoxys communis among common aphid species in Hawaii

Binodoxys communis (Gahan) (Hymenoptera:Braconidae), a parasitoid of aphids originally from China, was introduced into Hawaii and evaluated in the laboratory for its ability to detect, accept, oviposit and develop in Aphis gossypii reared on two host plants, plus five other common aphid species. The parasitoid was able to detect all six aphid species and to successfully sting five species, with highest preference for those in the genus Aphis. Aphis species were highly suitable for parasitoid development. Other species were only marginally suitable. Parasitoids spent less time searching on plants of less acceptable aphids. Aphid defensive behaviors did not affect oviposition success, but did lengthen the parasitoid’s handling time of several aphid species. Host acceptance was positively correlated with host suitability, yet one unsuitable host was readily accepted for oviposition.
Differential Effect of Isoflurane on the Anisotropy of Diphenylhexatriene and its Cationic Trimethylamine Analog

The mechanism of action of volatile general anesthetics has not yet been resolved. Recent developments in the understanding of lipid physics, including the discovery of microdomains and computing the lateral pressure profile in simulations, suggest a need to revisit possible indirect effects of lipids on ion channels during anesthesia. We present strong experimental evidence that volatile general anesthetics localize at the headgroup region of a lipid bilayer and therefore increase lateral membrane pressure near the bilayer surface. Theoretically, this increase in pressure in the head group region, in conjunction with a decrease in pressure in the tail group region, may induce conformational changes in ion channels to produce the characteristic effects of volatile general anesthetics. To examine this idea, the anisotropy of fluorophores localized in either the head (trimethylamino-diphenylhexatriene, TMA-DPH) or tail group regions (DPH) of small unilamellar vesicles of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine was assessed. These measurements were repeated at multiple temperatures between 20 and 55 °C in the presence or absence of various concentrations of the anesthetic isoflurane. In treated samples, the main phase transition (41.5 °C) was shifted down by 2 to 10 °C depending on the concentration of isoflurane (3.8-13.0 mM). Melting reduced anisotropy by 0.1 (TMA-DPH) or 0.2 (DPH) units. Interestingly, isoflurane caused opposite changes in anisotropy of the two probes in the liquid crystalline phase: DPH anisotropy decreased by ∼0.02 units whereas TMA-DPH anisotropy increased by the same magnitude. This observation suggests that isoflurane partitions into the headgroup region of the bilayer where it increases lateral pressure, while reducing it in the tail region.
Morphology of solution-cast films of polypropylene homopolymer/ethylene-propylene random copolymer blends and polypropylene/ethylene-propylene sequential copolymer

Abstract The addition of ethylene-propylene random copolymer (EPR) to polypropylene (PP) homopolymer and the synthesis of polypropylene/ethylene-propylene block-sequential copolymer (PP/E-P) have been developed in order to improve upon the mechanical properties of PP resin. The block-sequential polypropylene/ ethylene-propylene copolymer or the appropriate blend of EPR with PP gives improved impact properties without loss of elastic modulus [1–3].
Identity of trypanosome growth factors in serum. I. Alteration of factors in rat serum by host starvation.

Four experiments employing old rats and two experiments using young rats as serum donors showed that starvation of these animals altered the ability of their sera to support growth of Trypanosoma lewisi in mice. The reduction of trypanosome growth was greatest (167-fold) with sera from old animals starved for 12–14 days. Reduction was sixford with sera from old animals starved for 7–9 days and with sera from young animals starved for 5 days.
Heparin rapidly and selectively regulates protein tyrosine phosphorylation in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Aberrant vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hyperplasia is the hallmark of atherosclerosis and restenosis seen after vascular surgery. Heparin inhibits VSMC proliferation in animal models and in cell culture. To test our hypothesis that heparin mediates its antiproliferative effect by altering phosphorylation of key mitogenic signaling proteins in VSMC, we examined tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins in quiescent VSMC stimulated with serum in the presence or absence of heparin. Western blot analysis with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies shows that heparin specifically alters the tyrosine phosphorylation of only two proteins (42 kDa and 200 kDa). The 200 kDa protein (p200) is dephosphorylated within 2.5 min after heparin treatment with an IC50 that closely parallels the IC50 for growth inhibition. Studies using the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, sodium orthovanadate, indicate that heparin blocks p200 phosphorylation by inhibiting a kinase. Phosphorylation of p200 is not altered in heparin-resistant cells, supporting a role for p200 in mediating the antiproliferative effect of heparin. Purification and sequence analysis indicate that p200 exhibits very high homology to the heavy chain of nonmuscle myosin IIA. The 42 kDa protein, identified as mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), undergoes dephosphorylation within 15 min after heparin treatment, and this effect is also not seen in heparin-resistant cells. The identification of only two heparin-regulated tyrosine phosphoproteins suggests that they may be key mediators of the antiproliferative effect of heparin. J Cell Physiol 178:205–215, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mass spectrometry for high throughput quantitative proteomics in plant research: lessons from thylakoid membranes

Proteomics seeks to monitor the flux of protein through cells under variable developmental and environmental influences as programmed by the genome. Consequently, it is necessary to measure changes in protein abundance and turnover rate as faithfully as possible. In the absence of non-invasive technologies, the majority of proteomics approaches involve destructive sampling at various time points to obtain 'snapshots' that periodically report the genomes's product. The work has fallen to separations technologies coupled to mass spectrometry, for high throughput protein identification. Quantitation has become the major challenge facing proteomics as the field matures. Because of the variability of day-to-day measurements of protein quantities by mass spectrometry, a common feature of quantitative proteomics is the use of stable isotope coding to distinguish control and experimental samples in a mixture that can be profiled in a single experiment. To address limitations with separation technologies such as 2D-gel electrophoresis, alternative systems are being introduced including multi-dimensional chromatography. Strategies that accelerate throughput for mass spectrometry are also emerging and the benefits of these 'shotgun' protocols will be considered in the context of the thylakoid membrane and photosynthesis. High resolution Fourier-transform mass spectrometry is bringing increasingly accurate mass measurements to peptides and a variety of gas-phase dissociation mechanisms are permitting 'top-down' sequencing of intact proteins. Finally, a versatile workflow for sub-cellular compartments including membranes is presented that allows for intact protein mass measurements, localization of post-translational modifications and relative quantitation or turnover measurement.
On conditions under which the sum of self-adjoint operators with given integer spectra is a scalar operator

We describe the set \( \Sigma _{M_1 } , \ldots ,_{M_n } \) of parameters γ for which there exists a decomposition of the operator γIH in a sum of n self-adjoint operators with spectra from the sets M1, …, Mn, Mi = 0, 1, …, ki, for n ≥ 4 and, in some cases, for n = 3.
Topographic control of non-axisymmetric stratified spin-up

An experimental study was conducted to elucidate the influence of a sloping bottom boundary on global stratified spin-up. The system consisted of a rotating continuously stratified fluid confined in a domain which has a shape of an inverted round cone with the upper surface being free. It is shown that under similar flow conditions (the same absolute values of the Rossby and Burger numbers) the spin-up flow remains stable and axisymmetric, while the spin-down flow undergoes a transition from axial symmetry to the formation of a regular system of large-scale anticyclonic eddies. Asymmetry between stratified spin-up and spin-down is also manifested in a qualitatively different behavior of the bottom boundary layer. The density structure of the boundary upslope flow (spin-up) remains smooth at all times, while it reveals high-frequency fluctuations for the downslope flow (spin-down), suggesting the turbulent nature of the bottom boundary layer in the latter case.
THE EFFECT OF RADICAL SIZE AND MASS ON THE CAGE RECOMBINATION EFFICIENCY OF PHOTOCHEMICALLY GENERATED RADICAL CAGE PAIRS

This study explored the effect of radical size, chain length, and mass on the radical cage effect. Radical cage pairs of the type [(RCp)(CO)3M•, •M(CO)3(CpR)] (M = Mo or W; CpR = various substituted cyclopentadienyl ligands) were generated by photolysis (λ = 540 nm) of the metal−metal bonds in (RCp)2M2(CO)6. The cage recombination efficiencies (denoted as FcP) for the radical cage pairs were obtained by extracting them from quantum yield measurements for the photoreactions with CCl4 (a metal-radical trap) as a function of solvent system viscosity. For the series of molecules (R3SiOCH2CH2Cp)2Mo2(CO)6 (R = Me, i-Pr, n-Pr, n-Hx), the FcP values were linearly proportional to mass1/2/radius2, in agreement with the predictions of Noyes' cage effect theory. It is also demonstrated that the difference in the cage recombination efficiencies between the [(MeCp)(CO)3Mo•, •Mo(CO)3(CpMe)] and [(MeCp)(CO)3W•, •W(CO)3(CpMe)] cage pairs cannot be ascribed to the different masses of the radicals. Rather, the difference is...
Controlling Vehicle Instability Through Stable Handling Envelopes

Loss of control accidents result in thousands of fatalities in the United States each year. Production stability control systems are highly effective in preventing these accidents, despite their reliance on a hand-tuned response to data from a small set of sensors. However, improvements in sensing offer opportunities to determine stabilizing actions in a more systematic manner. This paper presents an approach that utilizes the yaw-sideslip phase plane to choose boundaries that eliminate unstable and undesirable driving regimes. These boundaries may be varied to obtain desirable performance and driver acceptance and form the basis for a driver assistance system that augments the driver input to maintain the vehicle within the bounds of a safe handling envelope. Experimental results from a model predictive controller used to enforce the envelope boundaries on a steer-by-wire vehicle are presented to demonstrate the viability of this framework for implementing stability boundaries.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE PLANNING AND EVALUATION OF HYDATID DISEASE CONTROL

SUMMARY: Reasons are given for more adequate epidemiological studies than are customary preparatory to and following the institution of disease control programs. Using as examples the experiences of different countries with hydatid disease, attention is given to the value of the analysis of these types of data for identifying determinants of initially high or low prevalences of disease, for rationally planning pilot control trials and for identifying reasons for differences in rates of control progress and needed changes in control strategies.
Field sampling of trace levels of hydrogen sulfide with the use of solid adsorbent preconcentration

The trapping efficiency of 14 solid adsorbent tubes for sampling trace level of hydrogen sulfide was quantified. A thermal desorption-gas chromatographic analytical method was developed for the separation and accurate quantitative analysis of hydrogen sulfide collected simultaneously with other reduced volatile sulfur gases. Results demonstrate that silica gel is the best solid adsorbent material for trapping hydrogen sulfide if the sweep gas is dry (or if similar sampling conditions exist). Moderate recovery values were obtained with the use of molecular sieve-type solid adsorbent tubes. The best solid adsorbent material for trapping hydrogen sulfide during normal field sampling conditions when the sampled atmosphere contains moisture is silica gel in conjunction with a calcium chloride drying tube. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Field Analyt Chem Technol 1:145–149, 1997
Discrete Approximations of Controlled Stochastic Systems with Memory: A Survey

This survey article considers discrete approximations of an optimal control problem in which the controlled state equation is described by a general class of stochastic functional differential equations with a bounded memory. Specifically, three different approximation methods, namely (i) semidiscretization scheme; (ii) Markov chain approximation; and (iii) finite difference approximation, are investigated. The convergence results as well as error estimates are established for each of the approximation methods.
Metabolism of maculosin, a host-specific phytotoxin produced by Alternaria alternata on spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)

Abstract Maculosin [the diketopiperazine, cyclo ( l -Pro- l -Tyr)] is a host-specific phytotoxin produced by Alternaria alternata on spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) [(Proc. Natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 85, 8008-8011 (1988)]. The metabolism of maculosin was analysed after the application of [U-14C]maculosin on the detached leaves of spotted knapweed. The extracts of treated leaves as early as one day after [14C]maculosin treatment indicated that it was converted to at least three polar compounds. The neutral metabolite was purified and identified as a novel compound, maculosin β-O-glucoside. The glucoside is not phytotoxic towards spotted knapweed or any of several other plants tested.
Sublaminate Analysis of Interlaminar Fracture in Composites: Part I—Analytical Model

A simple analysis method based on a transverse shear-deformation theory and a sublaminate approach is utilized to analyze a mixed-mode edge delamination specimen. The analysis provides closed-form expressions for the interlaminar shear stresses ahead of the crack, the total strain-energy release rate, and the strain-energy release-rate components. The parameters controlling the behavior are identified. The effect of specimen stacking sequence and delamination interface on the strain energy release rate components is investigated. Results are compared with a finite-element simulation for reference. The simple nature of the method makes it suitable for preliminary design analyses which require a large number of configurations to be evaluated quickly and economically.
Macrophage Binding to Receptor VCAM-1 Transmits Survival Signals in Breast Cancer Cells that Invade the Lungs

Aberrant expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in breast cancer cells is associated with lung relapse, but the role of VCAM-1 as a mediator of metastasis has remained unknown. We report that VCAM-1 provides a survival advantage to breast cancer cells that infiltrate leukocyte-rich microenvironments such as the lungs. VCAM-1 tethers metastasis-associated macrophages to cancer cells via counter-receptor α4-integrins. Clustering of cell surface VCAM-1, acting through Ezrin, triggers Akt activation and protects cancer cells from proapoptotic cytokines such as TRAIL. This prosurvival function of VCAM-1 can be blocked by antibodies against α4-integrins. Thus, newly disseminated cancer cells expressing VCAM-1 can thrive in leukocyte-rich microenvironments through juxtacrine activation of a VCAM-1-Ezrin-PI3K/Akt survival pathway.
How language works

How language works, by David Crystal, London, Penguin, 2007, xii + 500 pp., £9.99 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-141-01552-1 David Crystal is well known for his many efforts to make linguistics and langua...
Kinetic mechanisms in ion-induced ripple formation on Cu(0 0 1) surfaces

Abstract The formation of ion-induced ripples on Cu(0 0 1) surfaces is the result of competing kinetic mechanisms for roughening and smoothing. A rate equation based on the Bradley–Harper instability and the effect of barriers to interlayer transport enables us to identify different regimes of pattern formation corresponding to different processing conditions. We use this approach to interpret measurements of ripple formation on Cu(0 0 1) surfaces. The temperature and flux dependence of the wavelength is used to determine the kinetic regime for production and transport of mobile surface defects.
Presenting questions, processing responses, and providing feedback in CAI

There are two general categories of guidelines for presenting questions, processing responses and processing feedback in CAI: those related to proper and effective use of the computer medium (formatting guidelines), and those related to principles derived from learning theories and research (psychological guidelines). Presently, most CAI authoring guides deal primarily with formatting guidelines which embrace one overriding principle: make the computer as unobtrusive and easy to use as possible so as to avoid student confusion and frustration.
Radius fractures in the horse: a retrospective study of 47 cases.

Summary The case records, radiographs and treatment results of 47 consecutive equine radius fractures presented to The Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital from 1975 to 1985 were examined retrospectively. Chip fractures and incomplete fractures were not considered. Both diaphyseal fractures and fractures involving the physes were included. Diaphyseal fractures were placed into three major categories: comminuted, oblique and transverse; and subclassified as proximal, middiaphyseal, or distal. Fractures involving a physis were classified using the Salter-Harris classification system. The horses ranged in age from one day to 19 years old. Nineteen of the patients were destroyed humanely on presentation, and 28 were treated. Twenty-four of the 28 fractures treated were repaired by open reduction and internal fixation. Success rate was related to the age of the horse and the type of fracture. Adult radius fractures have a poor prognosis. Most fractures in foals are either physeal fractures or transverse or oblique diaphyseal fractures and have an excellent to good prognosis when repaired adequately.
Ball indentation tests for a Zr-based bulk metallic glass

Abstract Zr 52.5 Ti 5 Cu 17.9 Ni 14.6 Al 10 bulk metallic glass was characterized using ball indentation tests. Comparison of the data with the expanding cavity model revealed that the deformation is pressure insensitive for compressive loading. The plastic flow curves obtained from indentation tests showed perfectly plastic response and no strain rate sensitivity up to 15% strain.
A query language for NC

We show that a form of divide and conquer recursion on sets together with the relational algebra expresses exactly the queries over ordered relational databases which are NC-computable. At a finer level, we relate k nested uses of recursion exactly to ACk, k≥1. We also give corresponding results for complex objects.
Predicting Aeolian Sand Transport: Revisiting the White Model

The derivation and history of the frequently cited aeolian transport model of White are considered in light of the continued replication of an error in the original expression. The error may have escaped notice because the expression is still dimensionally correct and it yields predictions that appear reasonable in comparison with both the predictions of other models with field data. The incorrect expression has come to be identified as a distinct model. However, the correct formulation of the ‘White model’ is, in fact, a rearrangement of the Kawamura model with a slightly smaller (c.6%) empirical coefficient. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural studies examining the substrate specificity profiles of PC-PLCBc protein variants

The phosphatidylcholine preferring phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus (PC-PLC(Bc)) catalyzes the hydrolysis of phospholipids in the following order of preference: phosphatidylcholine (PC)>phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)>phosphatidylserine (PS). In previous work, mutagenic, kinetic, and crystallographic experiments suggested that varying the amino acids at the 4th, 56th, and 66th positions had a significant influence upon the substrate specificity profile of PC-PLC(Bc). Here, we report the crystal structures of the native form of several PC-PLC(Bc) variants that exhibited altered substrate specificities for PC, PE, and PS at maximum resolutions of 1.90-2.05 Angstrom. Comparing the structures of these variants to the structure of the wild-type enzyme reveals only minor differences with respect to the number and location of active site water molecules and the side chain conformations of residues at the 4th and 56th positions. These results suggest that subtle changes in steric and electronic properties in the substrate binding site of PC-PLC(Bc) are responsible for the significant changes in substrate selectivity.
The effect of screening sonography on the positive rate of enemas for intussusception

Background: The referring physicians at our institution used the enema as a diagnostic test in chil- dren with suspected intussuscep- tion. Objective: To determine the change in rate of positive enema findings performed for suspected intussusception with the intervention of screening ultrasound (US). Materials and methods: Since October 1995, 224 children (mean age years) with suspected intussus- ception were referred for enema
Strange-particle production in high-energy ν ¯ and ν charged-current interactions on protons

We have studied the semi-inclusive reactions anti ..nu..p ..-->.. ..mu../sup +/V/sup 0/X and ..nu..p ..-->.. ..mu../sup -/V/sup 0/X, and measured the fractional rate for producing one or more neutral strange particles in these reactions to be 0.16 +- 0.03 and 0.15 +- 0.04, respectively. We have observed K/sup -/(892) and ..sigma../sup -/(1385) production in anti ..nu..p scattering at a few percent of the inclusive rate. No evidence for D/sup 0/ production was seen in the K/sub s//sup 0/..pi../sup +/..pi../sup -/ final state. The distributions in the standard deep-inelastic kinematic variables are presented for events with strange particles and compared to those for the other charged current data. The fragmentation properties of events containing a K/sub s//sup 0/ are in agreement with results from electroproduction experiments, and we have measured ..integral../sub 0/ /sub 3//sup 1/ /sup 0/ 1/N/sub T/ dn/dz dz/sub dz//sup dN/ dz = 0.029 +- 0.005, which is smaller than the prediction of the Field and Feynman fragmentation model.
Revised Mycoplasma synoviae vlhA PCRs

Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) is an important pathogen of chickens and turkeys. In recent years sequence analysis of the partial MS variable lipoprotein and hemagglutinin A (vlhA) gene PCR product has been utilized routinely for MS strain genotyping. Several PCR assays have been proposed for the amplification of the conserved upstream region of the MS vlhA gene; however, in several clinical instances the published assays failed to generate vlhA PCR products from confirmed MS-positive cases. These occurrences hindered our capability to genotype those cases. In silico analysis of the published MS vlhA PCRs raised concerns, which were addressed by the design of revised MS vlhA PCRs. The published and revised assays were tested for their relative sensitivity and specificity with laboratory and clinical MS-positive samples. One of the revised MS vlhA PCRs (revised Hong) was demonstrated to be more sensitive and specific, and amplified all clinical samples analyzed in this study.
River-evolution and tectonic implications of a major Pliocene aggradation on the lower Colorado River: The Bullhead Alluvium

The ∼200-m-thick riverlaid Bullhead Alluvium along the lower Colorado River downstream of Grand Canyon records massive early Pliocene sediment aggradation following the integration of the upper and lower Colorado River basins. The distribution and extent of the aggraded sediments record (1) evolving longitudinal profiles of the river valley with implications for changing positions of the river’s mouth and delta; (2) a pulse of rapid early drainage-basin erosion and sediment supply; and (3) constraints on regional and local deformation. The Bullhead Alluvium is inset into the Hualapai and Bouse Formations along a basal erosional unconformity. Its base defines a longitudinal profile interpreted as the incised end result after the Colorado River integrated through lake basins. Subsequent Bullhead aggradation, at ca. 4.5–3.5 Ma, built up braid plains as wide as 50 km as it raised the Colorado River’s grade. We interpret the aggradation to record a spike in sediment supply when river integration and base-level fall destabilized and eroded relict landscapes and Tertiary bedrock in the Colorado River’s huge catchment. Longitudinal profiles of the Bullhead Alluvium suggest ≥200 m post-Bullhead relative fault uplifts in the upper Lake Mead area, >100 m local subsidence in the Blythe Basin, and deeper subsidence of correlative deltaic sequences in the Salton Trough along the Pacific–North American plate boundary. However, regionally, for >500 km along the river corridor from Yuma, Arizona, to Lake Mead, Arizona and Nevada, the top of the Bullhead Alluvium appears to be neither uplifted nor tilted, sloping 0.5–0.6 m/km downstream like the gradient of a smaller late Pleistocene aggradation sequence. Perched outcrops tentatively assigned to the Bullhead Alluvium near the San Andreas fault system project toward a Pliocene seashore or bayline twice as distant (300–450 km) as either the modern river’s mouth or a tectonically restored 4.25 Ma paleoshore. We conclude that Bullhead aggradation peaked after 4.25 Ma, having lengthened the delta plain seaward by outpacing both 2 mm/yr delta subsidence and 43–45 mm/yr transform-fault offset of the delta. Post-Bullhead degradation started before 3.3 Ma and implies that the river profile lowered and shortened because sediment supply declined, and progradation was unable to keep up with subsidence and plate motion in the delta.
Effect of Pressure on the Diffusion of Gold in Lead to 50 kbar

We have measured the diffusion of gold in lead to pressures of 46 kbar and temperatures of 420 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C using a radioactive-tracer technique. The data were analyzed assuming a single effective mechanism of diffusion with a temperature- and pressure-dependent activation volume. The earlier data on the diffusion of silver in lead by Curtin, Decker, and Vanfleet were also analyzed in a similar manner. The activation energy and activation volume at the melting point and atmospheric pressure are, respectively, $\ensuremath{\Delta}H=9.48\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.30$ kcal per mole, $\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}V}{{V}_{0}}=0.28\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03$ for Au in Pb: $\ensuremath{\Delta}H=14.63\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.24$ kcal per mole, $\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}V}{{V}_{0}}=0.34\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04$ for Ag in Pb. Although no definite conclusion as to the specific nature of the diffusion mechanism can be drawn, the results are not inconsistent with an interstitial-substitutional double mechanism.