cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Individual VH promoters vary in strength, but the frequency of rearrangement of those VH genes does not correlate with promoter strength nor enhancer-independence

The process of V(D)J recombination is highly regulated. Germline transcription of unrearranged gene segments precedes V(D)J rearrangement, and the correlation between germline transcription and accessibility for recombination is strong; thus it has been suggested that germline transcription may be required for rearrangement. If germline transcription is essential for rearrangement, then the level of transcription of individual gene segments might affect the relative frequency of recombination of those genes. Also, since the intronic enhancer, E(mu), is very distant from V(H) genes before they rearrange, then any promoters which were enhancer dependent might have a transcriptional advantage. Here we study in luciferase vectors the promoters of three functional genes of the V(H)S107 family, and compare them to that of the most frequently rearranging gene in the mouse I(g)H locus, V(H)81X, and to a V(H)J558 gene. Within the V(H)S107 family, the three V(H) genes rearrange with very different relative frequencies, with V1 rearranging the most, and V13 seldom rearranging. We show that only the strong V(H)J558 promoter has significant luciferase reporter gene activity in the absence of E(mu). V1 has only 20% as much activity as J558 in the absence of E(mu), and the other promoters have less than 8% of the activity of J558. Notably, the 81X promoter has essentially no enhancer-independent activity. In the presence of E(mu), V1 has equivalent activity to J558, while the other promoters show much less activity. Again, 81X is the weakest promoter of all, despite being the most frequently rearranging gene. Finally, we show that the steady state level of V(H)S107 and V(H)7183 germline transcripts in vivo is very low. Thus, these data show little correlation between the strength or enhancer-independence of these V(H) promoters and the relative frequency of recombination of the corresponding V(H) genes. In addition, the data show that individual V(H) promoters have different strengths even in the presence of E(mu), demonstrating that even promoters within a single V(H) family can be quite heterogeneous.
Cermets: II, Wettability and Microstructure Studies in Liquid‐Phase Sintering

The microstructures of polyphase, heterogeneous systems, sintered in the presence of a liquid phase, are analyzed on the basis of wettability and surface-energy relations. General principles relating to the primary factors affecting the microstructure are discussed. The application of these principles to such diverse systems as metal-carbide, metal-glass, and metal-metal show that the microstructure and distribution of the solid in the liquid is primarily determined by various surface-energy relationships. A general “coalescence hypothesis” based on this work is proposed.
Local Buckling of 2A12 Angle Aluminum Alloy under Axial Compression

The limiting width-thickness ratio of 2A12 angle Aluminum Alloy under axial compression is discussed using guide for design of transmission tower by American society of civil engineers, Chinese Technical regulation of design for tower and pole structure of overhead transmission line (DL/T5154-2002) and Chinese code for design of steel structures (GB50017-2003). The results show that the formula of Chinese code for design of steel structures about limiting width-thickness ratio is reasonable. And there is unreasonable in Chinese technical regulation of design for tower and pole structure of overhead transmission line and guide for design of transmission tower by American society of civil engineers about the formula of limiting width-thickness ratio. Some useful suggestions are given.
Hemoglobin Polymorphism in the Deer Mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus

Horizontal starch gel electrophoresis reveals three hemoglobin phenotypes in natural populations of the deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus,from northern Arizona. Phenotypic variation is controlled by a single locus. A sample of deer mice from Michigan was monomorphic for a multiple-banded phenotype. Hemoglobin polymorphism was also observed in Arizona samples of the species Peromyscus boylii.
Highway Project Level Life-Cycle Benefit/Cost Analysis under Certainty, Risk, and Uncertainty: Methodology with Case Study

One of the key steps in the highway investment decision-making process is to conduct project evaluation. The existing project level life-cycle cost analysis approaches for estimating project benefi...
Chemical properties and physiological actions of a starfish radial nerve factor and ovarian factor.

Abstract Incubation of starfish ovarian tissues with radial nerve factor (RNF) results in the appearance of a second biologically active substance (s) (ovarian factor) in the incubation media. Studies were conducted to eluciate the chemical and physiological properties of these two substances. The two substances could be physically separated by gel filtration following elution from columns of Sephadex G-25. The RNF and ovarian factor were both relatively heat stable. RNF but not ovarian factor was inactivated following enzymatic digestion with pronase. The ovarian factor appears to be a small molecular weight, heat stable, non proteinaceous material. The physiological effects of a starfish radial nerve factor (RNF) and the ovarian factor were compared. The actions of these substances were evaluated on the basis of changes in various components and responses in starfish ovarian fragments maintained in vitro . Both RNF and ovarian factor induced shedding of oocytes and a concomitant decrease in ovarian fragment weight. The magnitude of weight decrease was related to the dose of ovarian factor. The extent of oocyte shedding was similar in fragments treated with RNF and the highest doses of ovarian factor. RNF and ovarian factors produce oocyte germinal vesicle breakdown and dispersion of follicular cells from around oocytes within ligated and unligated ovarian fragments. Increased levels of calcium in seawater did not produce any of these effects; however, washing ovarian fragments in calcium-free seawater partially inhibited the action of RNF and ovarian factor. Oocytes matured within ligated ovarian fragments, following exposure to RNF or ovarian factor, and subsequently released, formed polar bodies. Upon addition of sperm, these eggs formed fertilization membranes and developed in a normal manner to gastrula. These experiments demonstrate that the ovarian factor has several biological effects or initiates a series of interrelated events. All biological activities previously attributed only to the RNF are apparently shared by this ovarian factor.
fd Coat Protein Structure in Membrane Environments

The membrane bound form of bacteriophage fd coat protein has a long hydrophobic membrane spanning helix and a shorter amphipathic helix in the plane of the bilayer. Residues near the N and C termini and in the turn connecting the two helices are mobile. The locations and orientations of the helical secondary structure elements and the protein backbone dynamics were characterized by combining results from multidimensional solution NMR experiments on protein samples in micelles and high resolution solid-state NMR experiments on protein samples in oriented and unoriented lipid bilayers. The coat protein is a monomer in micelles. The secondary structure of the membrane bound form of fd coat protein is very similar to that of the structural form found in the virus particles, since it is nearly all alpha helix. However, the membrane bound form of the protein differs from the structural form of the protein in virus particles in the arrangement of the secondary structure, since the membrane bound form of the protein has two distinct helical domains oriented perpendicular to each other and the structural form of the protein in the virus particles has a nearly continuous helix aligned approximately along the filament axis. In addition, there are substantial differences in the dynamics of residues in the bend between the two helices and near the C terminus, since they are mobile in the membrane bound form of the protein and not in the virus particles. Residues 1 to 5 at the N terminus are highly mobile and unstructured in both the membrane bound and structural forms of the coat protein.
Corn Response to Fertilizer Placement Treatments in an Irrigated No-Till System

Corn (Zea mays L.) plants express unexpected K-deficiency symptoms when grown under certain conservation tillage production systems on high-K-testing soils. This field study was conducted to determine if K fertilizer treatments interact with P and N planting-time fertilizer placement treatments to affect crop growth, nutrient composition, and yield in an irrigated no-till corn production system on high-K-testing soil. The 3-yr study was conducted on Lowry silt loam soils (coarse-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Haplustolls) near Pierre, SD. Fertilizer placement (main plot) treatments consisted of P and N fertilizers that were applied with the corn planter to (i) the soil surface, (ii) the seed furrow, or (iii) a band 5 cm to the side of the seed furrow and 5 cm deep. Fertilizer products containing K, also applied at planting time, provided a with-K subplot comparison with subplots that received no added K fertilizer. Corn plants were sampled for root pull resistance, shoot dry weight, and shoot mineral nutrient composition at the tassel stage of development and grain yield. Data combined over the 3 yr of the study revealed that added K fertilizer had no effect on grain yield and did not interact with P and N fertilizer placement treatments to affect grain yield. When P fertilizer was placed with the seed and N fertilizer was placed in a 5- by 5-cm band, corn plants had 185 kg root -1 pull resistance, 0.26 g shoot -1 P accumulation, and 10.5 Mg ha -1 grain yield. However, when P and N fertilizers were applied to the soil surface, corn plants had significantly less root pull resistance (151 kg root -1 ), P accumulation (0.22 g P shoot -1 ) and grain yield (10.1Mg ha -1 ). Added K fertilizer decreased shoot dry weight (added K = 97 g shoot -1 , no K = 103 g), decreased P accumulation (added K = 0.22 g P plant - 1 , no K = 0.25 g), increased shoot N concentration (added K = 19.3 mg N g -1 , no K = 19.0 mg), and had no significant effect on K concentration or accumulation. We conclude that, although planting-time fertilizer placement was important for optimum corn growth and yield production in irrigated no-till systems, added K fertilizer did not interact with fertilizer placement to improve yield on the high-K-testing soils used in this study.
Effect of fast reactor irradiation on the tensile properties of 304 stainless steel

Abstract The tensile properties of 304 stainless steel were investigated after irradiation in the EBR-II to 1.1 × 1022 n/cm2 (E > 0.1 MeV) at 540 ± 50 °C. Radiation hardening by dislocation loops and voids caused increases in yield strength to test temperatures as high as 820 °C. A corresponding ductility loss was also observed. Below one-half the absolute melting temperature, 0.5 Tm, the ductility loss was found to be caused by plastic instability induced by the increased flow stress and reduced work hardening rates. Above 0.5 Tm, helium embrittlement was thought to control ductility. Dislocation loops and voids do not appreciably alter the high temperature ductility.
Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of (R)-4-[(1-methyl-3-oxo-1-butenyl) amino]-3-isoxazolidinone, a prodrug of cycloserine

Abstract Hydrolysis of (R)-4-[(1-methyl-3-oxo-butenyl)amino]-3-isoxazolidinone(I), a prodrug of d -cycloserine, to (R)-4-amino-3-isoxazolidinone ( d -cycloserine) and 2,4-pentandione is general acid-catalyzed by carboxylic acids. Rectangular hyperbolic plots of pseudo first-order rate constants vs total carboxylic acid buffer concentrations suggest a change in the rate-determining step, from protonation of I at low acid concentrations to hydrolysis of protonated I at high carboxylic acid concentrations.
Modified arteriolar responses to ATP after impairment of endothelium by light-dye techniques in vivo.

Abstract In this study we investigated whether endothelial cells are involved in the dilation of third-order arterioles (14 to 22 μm) in response to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in cremaster muscle of pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Two light/dye ( L D ) techniques were employed to achieve selective, local endothelial impairment. One of these techniques utilizes a mercury lamp and sodium fluorescein, the other a Helium-Neon laser and Evans blue dye. L D treatment (illumination with the appropriate wavelengths of light in the presence of an intravascular dye) of a 20-to 100-μm segment of an arteriole resulted in a complete loss of arteriolar dilation in response to topical administration of acetylcholine (10 −6 M ) and arachidonic acid (AA, 10 −5 M ). These agents were applied in 100-μl aliquots without interrupting the continuous suffusion with Ringer-gelatin solution and caused a ∼70% increase in vascular diameter before the L D intervention. Selectivity of the impairment was assessed by arteriolar responses to the nonendothelium-dependent dilator agents adenosine (10 −5 M ) and sodium nitroprusside (2 × 10 −7 M ), which elicited the same degree of dilation before and after L D treatment. Under control conditions ATP (10 −6 , 10 −5 , and 10 −4 M ) elicited dose-dependent increases in arteriolar diameter (from 38 to 74%). After impairment of arteriolar endothelium, dilation in response to all doses of ATP was significantly reduced. Theophylline (30 μ M ) significantly inhibited arteriolar dilation in response to adenosine (10 −6 , 10 −5 , and 10 −4 M ) but did not affect the responses to various doses of ATP. Moreover, impairment of endothelium enhanced constrictor responses of arterioles to norepinephrine (0.6 × 10 −8 M ). These results indicate that arteriolar endothelium of skeletal muscle can mediate or modulate arteriolar responses to various vasoactive agents, suggesting that it has an important role in the regulation of blood flow.
Reactive ion scattering from surfaces bearing isomeric chlorinated adsorbates

The value of low-energy ionic collisions for selective surface analysis is shown by the fact that reactive scattering allows differentiation of isomeric chemisorbates. Reactions of Cr•+ and Cr-containing cations at chlorobenzyl mercaptan (CBM) monolayers on Au surfaces show different reaction products, depending on the position of chlorine substitution in the phenyl ring. The chlorine atom abstraction product, CrCl+, is observed at 45-eV collision in 4-CBM and is completely absent in 2-CBM at the same energy. The sensitivity of reactive ion scattering to the isomeric adsorbate is further demonstrated by the fact that the peak corresponding to Cr•+ addition and Cl loss via Cl−C bond cleavage, C7H6SCr+, is large in the monolayer formed from 4-CBM, but weak in the 2-CBM monolayer, suggesting that the chlorine is below the first layer of atoms in the latter case. The inverse intensity relationship applies for the dehydrohalogenation product C7H5Cr+ where the Cl atom at the ortho position in 2-CBM facilitates ...
The reaction of n‐butyllithium with benzoic acid: is nucleophilic addition competitive with deprotonation?

An evaluation of a branching vs sequential mechanism for the reaction of benzoic acid with n-butyllithium favors the latter. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Free energy relationships in aqueous amino acid and peptide solutions containing sodium chloride

Three systems of the type amino acid or peptide-sodium chloride-water have been investigated over wide solute molality ranges using the isopiestic vapor pressure method. The amino acid employed was L-α-alanine, while the peptides were diglycine and triglycine. Equations were obtained for the activity coefficients of these compounds in the salt solutions in terms of the molalities of the solutes. The trace activity coefficients of the peptides were negative at low salt molality and became positive as the salt molality was increased. The limiting interaction parameters were calculated for the systems using the Kirkwood ion-dipole expression and empirical quantities derived from previous work to obtain the salt effect on the nonpolar and amide portion of the molecule. Good agreement was obtained between the calculated values and the experimental results in the case of diglycine, but they diverged in the case of triglycine. The calculated value for L-α-alanine is in poorer agreement with the experimental value than for the other amino acids studied previously.
Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica Recessive Fibroblasts Altered Behavior Within a Collagen Matrix

Normal human fibroblasts incorporated into a collagen lattice reduce the size of that lattice over a period of time. Lattice size reduction or lattice contraction is directly related to initial cell number. When equal numbers of fibroblasts derived from patients with epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica recessive, (EBdr), are used, there is delayed lattice contraction. The EBdr fibroblasts have an altered cellular shape, when compared to normal cells, in that the EBdr cells fail to flatten out and elongate, but do attach to collagen fibers like normal fibroblasts. EBdr fibroblasts maintain a rounded shape with numerous filopodia radiating from the cell periphery and such filopodia are attached to the collagen fibers of the lattice. In monolayer tissue culture on glass surfaces, EBdr fibroblasts are three times more likely to grow over neighboring fibroblasts. EBdr cell filopodia structures are attached to the cell surfaces lying beneath them, which demonstrates another condition of altered anchorage attachment of EBdr fibroblasts.
Observer-Based H∞ Control of T-S Fuzzy Model

An observer-based H∞ control condition is proposed for T-S fuzzy model. The observer and controller are capable of disturbance-rejection. The fuzzy version of bounded real lemma (BRL) is adopted. Output H∞ controller and observer are designed by solving a set of bilinear matrix inequalities. The condition is shown to be less conservative than some existed results.
Symbiotic routing in future data centers

Building distributed applications that run in data centers is hard. The CamCube project explores the design of a shipping container sized data center with the goal of building an easier platform on which to build these applications. CamCube replaces the traditional switch-based network with a 3D torus topology, with each server directly connected to six other servers. As in other proposals, e.g. DCell and BCube, multi-hop routing in CamCube requires servers to participate in packet forwarding. To date, as in existing data centers, these approaches have all provided a single routing protocol for the applications.In this paper we explore if allowing applications to implement their own routing services is advantageous, and if we can support it efficiently. This is based on the observation that, due to the flexibility offered by the CamCube API, many applications implemented their own routing protocol in order to achieve specific application-level characteristics, such as trading off higher-latency for better path convergence. Using large-scale simulations we demonstrate the benefits and network-level impact of running multiple routing protocols. We demonstrate that applications are more efficient and do not generate additional control traffic overhead. This motivates us to design an extended routing service allowing easy implementation of application-specific routing protocols on CamCube. Finally, we demonstrate that the additional performance overhead incurred when using the extended routing service on a prototype CamCube is very low.
Comparison of field and laboratory exposures of Lumbriculus variegatus to polychlorinated biphenyl-impacted river sediments.

A method is described for conducting 14-d in situ sediment bioaccumulation tests with the freshwater oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus, at the bottom of a slow-flowing river. The in situ test exposure chambers were constructed from cylindrical plastic tubes with flow-through mesh screens and were attached to a wire basket that was weighted to the river bottom at seven sites in the lower Grasse River in New York State, USA. This design was successful in exposing L. variegatus to native sediment and overlying water under field conditions, with adequate organism mass recovery (87 ± 19%). Results compared well with ex situ laboratory bioaccumulation conducted in parallel, expressed in terms of tissue concentration, biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs), and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs). Bioaccumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in L. variegatus (µg PCB/g wet wt) in laboratory and field tests was found to be within a factor of 2. The small variation between in situ and ex situ may have been caused by differences in water exchange rate under the two exposure scenarios, or other factors affecting organism behavior. Values of BSAF showed a hyperbolic trend with KOW, peaking at BSAF of 7 for congeners with log KOW of 6. Bioaccumulation factors also peaked at a value of 106.5 for congeners with log KOW value of 6 but remained steady around that value for the higher KOW congeners. These observations may reflect under-equilibration or reduced bioavailability of more hydrophobic PCBs in worm tissues or other analytical artifacts. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:2851–2858. © 2010 SETAC
Deaths and near deaths of healthy newborn infants while bed sharing on maternity wards.

Our aim was to evaluate programs promoting bed sharing on maternity wards and determining ways to reduce these risks. Members of the National Association of Medical Examiners were contacted requesting information on deaths of healthy infants while bed sharing on maternity wards. Fifteen deaths and three near deaths are reported. One or more factors that increase the risk of bed sharing were present in all cases. Accidental suffocation was deemed the most likely cause of these incidents. Cases of infant deaths and near deaths while bed sharing on maternity wards are under reported. The ‘Baby Friendly’ (BF) initiative in maternity hospitals to promote breastfeeding is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The BF initiative encourages prolonged skin-to-skin contact and bed sharing. Education of mothers and more efficient monitoring should significantly reduce the risk of maternity ward bed sharing.
Creating a new discipline of memory studies

The multidisciplinary field of memory studies combines intellectual strands from many domains, including (but not limited to) anthropology, education, literature, history, philosophy, psychology and sociology. Our article has four parts. We first consider definitions of memory and note that the single term itself is not particularly useful. Rather, scholars must specify the type or variety of memory under investigation. Second, we consider the breadth of memory studies and briefly survey disciplines in addition to those listed above that may prove interested parties to the new field. Third, we argue that the field of memory studies is just emerging, and that its proper development will require creation of a systematic set of methodological tools (qualitative and quantitative) that may be borrowed from various social sciences and adapted to new purposes. Finally, we describe two undergraduate programs in memory studies that have been developed at Washington University in St. Louis, USA and that might be us...
Characterization of an urban-rural CO2/temperature gradient and associated changes in initial plant productivity during secondary succession.

To examine the impact of climate change on vegetative productivity, we exposed fallow agricultural soil to an in situ temperature and CO2 gradient between urban, suburban and rural areas in 2002. Along the gradient, average daytime CO2 concentration increased by 21% and maximum (daytime) and minimum (nighttime) daily temperatures increased by 1.6 and 3.3°C, respectively in an urban relative to a rural location. Consistent location differences in soil temperature were also ascertained. No other consistent differences in meteorological variables (e.g. wind speed, humidity, PAR, tropospheric ozone) as a function of urbanization were documented. The urban-induced environmental changes that were observed were consistent with most short-term (~50 year) global change scenarios regarding CO2 concentration and air temperature. Productivity, determined as final above-ground biomass, and maximum plant height were positively affected by daytime and soil temperatures as well as enhanced [CO2], increasing 60 and 115% for the suburban and urban sites, respectively, relative to the rural site. While long-term data are needed, these initial results suggest that urban environments may act as a reasonable surrogate for investigating future climatic change in vegetative communities.
The Influence of 5-Hydroxytryptamine (Serotonin) on Blood Flow in the Dog Pulp

The effect of intra-arterial injection of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on pulpal blood flow of the dog was determined using the 15-micron radioisotope-labeled microsphere injection method. Pulpal blood flow was significantly reduced following the 5-HT injection. This decrease in blood flow appeared to be due to vasoconstriction as determined by an increase in pulpal vascular hindrance. However, our findings do not preclude the possibility that blood flow was reduced as a result of passive compression of venules produced by vasodilation in a low-compliance environment.
Selection institutions and war aims

We explore how the sizes of the winning coalition and selectorate influence the war aims of states. Leaders who answer to a small winning coalition are more likely to seek territorial gain as a way to increase state resources. Nonterritorial war aims produce a commitment problem in that after the war the defeated state may not comply with the victor's demands. States with large winning coalitions are more willing to continue the war to remove the enemy leader as a solution to this commitment problem. We test our hypotheses against the Militarized Interstate Dispute data set, and we find some support for our argument.
Characterization Of State Estimation Biases

The control and operation of an electric power system is based on the ability to determine the state of the system in real time. State estimation (SE) has been introduced in the 1960s to achieve this objective. The initial implementation was based on single-phase measurements and a power system model that was assumed to operate under single-frequency, balanced conditions, and a symmetric system model. These assumptions are still prevalent today. The single-frequency, balanced, and symmetric system assumptions have simplified the implementation but have generated practical problems. The experience is that the SE problem does not have 100% performance; that is, there are cases and time periods for which the SE algorithm will not converge. There are practical and theoretical reasons for this and they are explained in the paper. Recent mergers and mandated regional transmission organizations (RTOs) as well as recent announcements for the formation of mega-RTOs will result in the application of the SE in systems of unprecedented size. We believe that these practical and theoretical issues will become of greater importance. There are scientists who believe that the SE problem is scalable, meaning that it will work for the mega-RTOs the same way that it performs now for medium–large systems. There are scientists who believe that this is not true. The fact is that no one has investigated the problem, let alone performed numerical experiments to prove or disprove any claims. This paper identifies a number of issues relative to the SE of mega-RTOs and provides some preliminary results from numerical experiments for the relation between the SE algorithm performance and the power system size.
Power Aware Wireless Sensor Networks Using Tripwire Detection and Cueing

Wireless microsensor networks have gained great momentum due to collaborative research efforts on various disciplines. It has made many useful applications possible. In a typical sensor network application, in order to operate for a long period of time, sensor nodes need to conserve energy. In this paper, a multi-hop tripwire detection and cueing scheme is proposed for energy conservation in wireless sensor networks. It uses a cueing protocol and a detection algorithm to enable a two-tier sensor network for energy conservation. The proposed scheme overcomes the false alarm problem and the exposed alarm problem in sensor network applications. For a typical application scenario of sensor networks, our simulation results show that a two-tier sensor network employing the proposed scheme can reduce energy consumption by about 55% when compared to a homogeneous sensor network.
The chemical nature of water treeing: theories and evidence

As a result of experimental and theoretical progress over the last decade, our understanding of water treeing is approaching the molecular level at which the fundamental chemical nature of the phenomenon will be revealed. Further effort is required to complete the picture. The analytical techniques employed to date indicate that the water tree region contains a wide range of chemical species, with various forms of carbonyl and metal ions and water being dominant. Among carbonyl species, carboxylate ions are dominant, followed by trace amounts of esters and ketones. Present oxidation theories of water treeing are based on these observations and provide the best and most detailed description of the process. >
Anxiety sensitivity and health-related quality of life in children with chronic pain

Abstract Anxiety sensitivity (AS), or the fear of anxiety sensations, has been shown to independently predict poorer health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adults with chronic pain. Specifically, AS was found to contribute to decrements in psychological well-being and social functioning but not to decrements in physical functioning. Existing studies have not examined the relationship between AS and HRQOL in children with chronic pain. The present study used multivariate regression analysis to test the association between AS and self-reported HRQOL in 87 children (62 girls; mean age = 14.4 years ±2.3) presenting for treatment at a tertiary, multidisciplinary clinic specializing in pediatric chronic pain. After controlling for key sociodemographic and pain-related characteristics, higher AS was associated with poorer perceived general and mental health, greater impairment in family activities, lower self-esteem, increased behavior problems, and more social/academic limitations due to emotional problems. AS accounted for 4% to 28% of incremental variance in these HRQOL domains above and beyond the demographic and pain-related variables. However, AS was not significantly associated with physical functioning or with academic/social limitations due to physical health. Additional research is required to delineate possible mechanisms by which AS may influence certain aspects of children’s HRQOL but not others. Perspective The present findings support the evaluation of AS in pediatric chronic pain patients as part of a comprehensive assessment battery. The links between AS and multiple HRQOL domains suggest that treatment components aimed at reducing AS may lead to enhanced psychosocial well-being in children with chronic pain.
Electrostimulation as a Prosthesis for Repair of Information Flow in a Computer Model of Neocortex

Damage to a cortical area reduces not only information transmitted to other cortical areas, but also activation of these areas. This phenomenon, whereby the dynamics of a follower area are dramatically altered, is typically manifested as a marked reduction in activity. Ideally, neuroprosthetic stimulation would replace both information and activation. However, replacement of activation alone may be valuable as a means of restoring dynamics and information processing of other signals in this multiplexing system. We used neuroprosthetic stimulation in a computer model of the cortex to repair activation dynamics, using a simple repetitive stimulation to replace the more complex, naturalistic stimulation that had been removed. We found that we were able to restore activity in terms of neuronal firing rates. Additionally, we were able to restore information processing, measured as a restoration of causality between an experimentally recorded signal fed into the in silico brain and a cortical output. These results indicate that even simple neuroprosthetics that do not restore lost information may nonetheless be effective in improving the functionality of surrounding areas of cortex.
Measurement of cosmic ray air shower development at energies above 1017eV

Abstract We present measurements of the depth of maximum for extensive air showers (EAS) produced by cosmic ray nuclei with energies above 10 17 eV. The air showers were observed using the University of Utah's Fly's Eye detectors operating in stereo mode. Measurements of the atmospheric nitrogen fluorescence light generated by EAS have been used to obtain longitudinal development curves of individual showers and, in particular, the depth of maximum of each shower. The data imply an elongation rate of 89 ± 6 g cm −2 per decade above 10 17 eV. The distribution of depths of shower maximum has a mean value of 690 ± 3 g cm −2 (with an estimated systematic uncertainty of ± 20 g cm −2 ) and a width (standard deviation) of 85 ± 2 g cm −2 for showers with energies above 3 × 10 17 eV. The tail of the distribution has a logarithmic decrement of λ = 70 ± 14 g cm −2 . Comparisons with predictions for a pure proton and a pure iron flux indicate that the data are not consistent with either.
Alternating strategies for sequential circuit ATPG

This research was supported in part by the Semiconductor Research Corporation under contract SRC 95-DP-109, in part by ARPA under contract DABT63-95-C-0069, and by Hewlett-Packard under an equipment grant. A new sequential circuit test generator, ALT-TEST, is described which alternates repeatedly between two phases of test generation. The first phase uses a simulation-based genetic algorithm, while the second phase uses a deterministic algorithm. The fast execution of the first phase combines with the more powerful test sequence generation and redundancy-identification capabilities of the second phase to produce test sets having high fault coverages in low execution times. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated on the ISCAS89 sequential benchmark circuits and several synthesized circuits.
Mixture Theory of Mass Transfer Based upon Microstructure

A mixture theory has been developed to model equitemperature metamorphism of snow. This formulation is a volume fraction theory which models the inter change of mass between the constitueats making up the mixture. The formulation has been developed so that the microstructure of the materialis included to correctly describe the mechanical and thermal processes. The second law of thermo dynamics is used to impose restrictions upon the various constitutive relations. These constitutive relationsare then described in terms of microstructure of the material. The micsostructure of each constituentis represented by constituent size (mean grain size, intergranular bond size), intergranular neckgeometry, specific free surface area and dispersed density. The resulting formulation is then used to model equitemperature metamorphism of snow by determining the time-dependent changes in thedistribution of grain size, neck size and dispersed densities of each of the constituents. The resultsobtained show that the formulation can describe how the material changes under equitemperatureconditions. However, it is noted that since microstructure significantly affects the rate of metamorphism,an accurate determination of the microstructure (including grain and neck size distribution) is necessary for this approach to accurately predict changes in the material due to metamorphism.
Phenotypic integration: studying the ecology and evolution of complex phenotypes

Phenotypic integration refers to the study of complex patterns of covariation among functionally related traits in a given organism. It has been investigated throughout the 20th century, but has only recently risen to the forefront of evolutionary ecological research. In this essay, I identify the reasons for this late flourishing of studies on integration, and discuss some of the major areas of current endeavour: the interplay of adaptation and constraints, the genetic and molecular bases of integration, the role of phenotypic plasticity, macroevolutionary studies of integration, and statistical and conceptual issues in the study of the evolution of complex phenotypes. I then conclude with a brief discussion of what I see as the major future directions of research on phenotypic integration and how they relate to our more general quest for the understanding of phenotypic evolution within the neo-Darwinian framework. I suggest that studying integration provides a particularly stimulating and truly interdisciplinary convergence of researchers from fields as disparate as molecular genetics, developmental biology, evolutionary ecology, palaeontology and even philosophy of science.
Parallel volume visualization on workstations

Abstract This paper discusses the use of general-purpose graphics workstations for interactive high-resolution volume visualization. We survey previous research results in parallel volume rendering as well as commercial products that take advantage of parallel processing to make volume rendering a practical visualization method. Our focus is on developing distributed computation methods that can distribute the memory and computational demands of volume visualization across a network of general purpose workstations. We describe three distributed computation strategies based on ray-casting volume rendering that can be implemented on either shared-memory multiprocessor workstations or on a network of ordinary workstations. Multiple views of real-time feature extraction give tremendous insight to the volume data. Multiple variable visualization helps scientists to capture the interaction between important variables in a simulation. Divide-and-conquer rendering allows interactive high-resolution volume visualization of large data sets on a network of midrange workstations, even when the data set is too large for available memory on any single workstation. Several examples in medical imaging and computational fluid dynamics are shown illustrating the practicality of these methods.
Field Performance of Stress-Laminated Timber Bridges

Stress-laminated timber bridges were introduced into the United States in the late 1980s. Since then this concept has been used for more than 500 bridges constructed on roadways throughout the United States. To evaluate the performance of these bridges, the Forest Products Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and FHWA initiated a nationwide bridge-monitoring program. A field evaluation and the results obtained through that monitoring program for stress-laminated bridges that have been continuously monitored for 2 or more years after installation are presented. Included are discussions related to bridge design and construction, moisture content, stressing bar force, vertical creep, load test behavior, and condition evaluation. On the basis of the monitoring program results, the performance of stress-laminated timber bridges is generally satisfactory, although there are areas in which performance can be improved.
Establishing Cognitive Legitimacy in Emerging Organizations: The Role of Prestige

Entrepreneurs with venture ideas must establish cognitive legitimacy so they can acquire essential resources needed for survival. We extend the concept of cognitive legitimacy by developing a model through which entrepreneurs in emerging high growth organizations attempt to establish and build cognitive legitimacy. This is based on the composition of their new venture team and advisory board. Novice entrepreneurs can draw on the prestige of their new venture team and advisory board to enhance perceptions of their emerging organization's cognitive legitimacy. Novelty of the venture idea moderates relationships between both new venture team prestige and advisory board prestige and cognitive legitimacy; thus entrepreneurs whose emerging organizations rely on highly novel products or services will likely need to establish higher levels of prestige to create cognitive legitimacy.
Automated Finite-Element Analysis for Deformable Registration of Prostate Images

Two major factors preventing the routine clinical use of finite-element analysis for image registration are: 1) the substantial labor required to construct a finite-element model for an individual patient's anatomy and 2) the difficulty of determining an appropriate set of finite-element boundary conditions. This paper addresses these issues by presenting algorithms that automatically generate a high quality hexahedral finite-element mesh and automatically calculate boundary conditions for an imaged patient. Medial shape models called m-reps are used to facilitate these tasks and reduce the effort required to apply finite-element analysis to image registration. Encouraging results are presented for the registration of CT image pairs which exhibit deformation caused by pressure from an endorectal imaging probe and deformation due to swelling.
Antiviral Therapy during Primary Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Fails To Prevent Acute Loss of CD4+ T Cells in Gut Mucosa but Enhances Their Rapid Restoration through Central Memory T Cells

Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) is an early target of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and a site for severe CD4+ T-cell depletion. Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) is effective in suppressing HIV replication and restoring CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood, restoration in GALT is delayed. The role of restored CD4+ T-cell help in GALT during ART and its impact on antiviral CD8+ T-cell responses have not been investigated. Using the SIV model, we investigated gut CD4+ T-cell restoration in infected macaques, initiating ART during either the primary stage (1 week postinfection), prior to acute CD4+ cell loss (PSI), or during the chronic stage at 10 weeks postinfection (CSI). ART led to viral suppression in GALT and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of PSI and CSI animals at comparable levels. CSI animals had incomplete CD4+ T-cell restoration in GALT. In PSI animals, ART did not prevent acute CD4+ T-cell loss by 2 weeks postinfection in GALT but supported rapid and complete CD4+ T-cell restoration thereafter. This correlated with an accumulation of central memory CD4+ T cells and better suppression of inflammation. Restoration of CD4+ T cells in GALT correlated with qualitative changes in SIV gag-specific CD8+ T-cell responses, with a dominance of interleukin-2-producing responses in PSI animals, while both CSI macaques and untreated SIV-infected controls were dominated by gamma interferon responses. Thus, central memory CD4+ T-cell levels and qualitative antiviral CD8+ T-cell responses, independent of viral suppression, were the immune correlates of gut mucosal immune restoration during ART.
The noninvasive assessment of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery

We present a patient with anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. We correlate the findings of echocardiography and myocardial imaging with angiography, and discuss the value of the noninvasive techniques in the diagnosis and in the followup of such patients.
Effects of shoulder position on axillary nerve positions during the split lateral deltoid approach

Background The axillary nerve may be injured during percutaneous fixation of proximal humerus fractures. This study investigated the kinematic behavior of the superior and inferior borders of the axillary nerve under varying shoulder positions. This information may reduce iatrogenic neurologic injury during fracture reduction and hardware placement. Methods The lateral deltoid approach was performed on 7 fresh frozen shoulders. The inferior and superior borders of the axillary nerve were tagged. Screws were placed in the anterior, middle, and posterior acromion as landmarks. Three-dimensional distances of the inferior and superior border of the nerve were measured to the mid-acromion while the shoulder was placed in combinations of forward flexion, vertical abduction, and humeral rotation. The distances were compared by repeated measures ANOVA statistical analysis. Results The distance from the mid-acromion to the superior border of the axillary nerve was 66.6 mm (±5.7), and to the inferior axillary nerve was 75.7 mm (±5.8) with the shoulder in neutral position. Vertical abduction to 60° significantly moved the superior and inferior borders of the axillary nerve to a distance of 53.9 (±7.7) and 61.6 mm (±8.1), respectively (P 0.5). The longest distance from the mid-acromion to the inferior border of the axillary nerve was 86 mm with the arm forward flexed. Conclusions The main determinant of axillary nerve position with respect to the acromion is vertical abduction. Axillary nerve position is essentially unaffected by varying degrees of humeral rotation and forward flexion. Vertical glenohumeral abduction to 60° is required to move the nerve significantly closer to the acromion. Level of Evidence Basic science anatomic study.
Best permutation search strategy for ultra-wideband signal acquisition

Recently, it was shown that equal gain combining (EGC) is a practical way of exploiting dense multipath in the ultra-wide band channel (UWB) to get better acquisition performance. By taking system performance subsequent to acquisition into account, it was shown that there are multiple phases (called the hit set) where a receiver lock can be considered as successful acquisition. In this case, the serial search may no longer be the optimal choice for the sequential search strategy in the acquisition system. We consider the set of all search strategies which are permutations of the search space and show that, in the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime, there exists an optimal permutation search strategy which minimizes the mean detection time. Furthermore, we show that this optimal strategy has a simple jump-by-H structure.
Re: Clinical Decisions Made in Primary Care Clinics Before and After Choosing Wisely™

To the Editor: Kost and Genoa demonstrated that physician adherence to guidelines for 5 low-value clinical decisions improved through educational interventions.[1][1] They concluded that “primary care physicians respond to training and publicity in low-value care.” This intervention strategy
Mergers, Acquisitions and Market Power in the Electric Power Industry

This paper was sponsored by the California Energy Commission (Energy Commission). The work on mergers/market power was completed under Energy Commission Transmission Contract #700-93-003, Amendment #2. The paper represents the views of its authors and not necessarily those of the Commission, its Commissioners nor the State of California. We appreciate the cooperation of the University of Rhode Island's Institute for the Study of International Aspects of Competition (ISIAC).
The costs and benefits of kin : Kin networks and children's health among the Pimbwe of Tanzania.

In this paper data from a Tanzanian horticultural population are used to assess whether mother’s kin network size predicts several measures of children’s health and well-being, and whether any kin effects are modified by household socioeconomic status. This hypothesis is further tested with a questionnaire on maternal attitudes towards kin. Results show small associations between measures of maternal kin network size and child mortality and children’s growth performance. Together these results suggest that kin positively influence child health, but the effects are small and it is unlikely that the high prevalence of undernutrition observed in this setting is influenced by the availability of kin.