cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Potential Biodegradable Rubber—Viscoelastic Properties of a Soybean Oil-Based Composite

Scientists are more and more interested in biodegradable materials owing to their environmental advantage. We investigated viscoelastic properties of a newly developed biomaterial made from epoxidized soybean oil (ESO). ESO cross-linked by triethylene glycol diamine exhibited viscoelastic solid properties. The storage modulus (G′) was 2×104 Pa over four frequency decades. The phase angles were 14–18°. Stress relaxation measurements showed that there was no relaxation up to 500 s. From the plateau modulus we estimated that the M.W. of this cross-linked soybean oil was on the order of 105. The composites of cross-linked ESO with three different fibers had 50 times higher elasticity (G′) than those without fiber. Phase shifts were the same as those of cross-linked oil without fibers, but the linear range of rheological properties was much narrower than that of the material without fibers. All these results indicated that this new biopolymer made from soybean oil exhibited strong viscoelastic solid properties similar to synthetic rubbers. These rheological properties implied that this biomaterial has high potential to replace some of the synthetic rubber and/or plastics.
Fine structure of the synaptonemal complex. Regular and stereo electron microscopy of deoxyribonuclease-treated whole mount preparations.

Summary Whole mount preparations of quail meiotic chromosomes were treated with deoxyribonuclease. This removed the chromatin fibers and left the proteinaceous synaptonemal complex intact. Regular and stereo-electron microscopy of these preparations allowed the following conclusions. o 1. The lateral element is composed of two individual filaments, presumably one for each chromatid. 2. Protein fibers (L-C fibers) emerge as a series of loops from both filaments of the lateral elements and fuse to form the central element. 3. The deoxyribonucleoprotein fibers attach to the lateral elements and loop out laterally in a lampbrush-like configuration. The attachment sites for the chromatin may be clustered to form the chromomeres seen by light microscopy. The apparent absence of DNA in the central element suggests that the synaptonemal complex serves only to pull homologous chromsomes into tight apposition (chromosomal pairing) and that molecular pairing and recombination take place in the region around the synaptonemal complex.
Mother as Mother and Mother as Citizen: Mothers of Combat Soldiers on National Network News

This study examines national television news images of mothers of US combat soldiers during the first seven years of the Iraq War. News stories presented mothers as archetypal good mothers engaged ...
Selenium antagonism of cadmium-induced inhibition of hepatic drug metabolism in the male rat.

Abstract Experiments were undertaken to examine the effect of selenium, an essential trace element, on cadmium-induced inhibition of drug metabolism in male, Sprague-Dawley derived rats. Prior administration of sodium selenite (1.6 mg Se/kg, ip) blocked the cadmium-induced (0.84 mg Cd/kg, ip) prolongation of hexobarbital-induced hypnosis and inhibition of hepatic microsomal biotransformation of ethylmorphine or aniline. Selenium also blocked cadmium-induced reduction in microsomal cytochrome P-450 content and the microsomal binding of both ethylmorphine and aniline. However, pretreatment of rats with selenium did not prevent the inhibitory effect of cadmium (10−6 to 10−3 m ) added in vitro on either ethylmorphine or aniline biotransformation. In addition, the reduction in biotransformation of both substrates following in vivo cadmium administration was not reversed following the in vitro administration of selenium but, in fact, selenium produced further concentration-dependent decreases in drug metabolism. In additional in vitro experiments it was found that the inhibition in drug metabolism induced by in vitro additions of cadmium is not affected by similar additions of selenium when added to the incubation vessel either before or after the cadmium. Thus, for selenium to prevent the cadmium-induced inhibition of hepatic drug metabolism requires in vivo administration of selenium.
Comparison of the effects of acute influenza infection and Influenza vaccination on HIV viral load and CD4 cell counts.

Abstract Purpose: Influenza vaccination is recommended for HIV-infected patients, although the efficacy is not clear. Prior studies have yielded differing results with regard to the effects of influenza vaccination on HIV viral load and CD4 cell counts. The effects of acute influenza on HIV viral replication and CD4 cell counts have not been well described. We sought to assess the effect of influenza infection and vaccination on HIV viral load and CD4 cell counts. Subjects and methods: All cases of influenza occurring in HIV-infected individuals over 3 years at a large county hospital were reviewed. For the year 1997–1998, data on all HIV clinic patients who were vaccinated for influenza were recorded prospectively. In order to assess the effects of influenza infection (Group I) and vaccination (Group II) on HIV viral load and CD4 cell counts, values from before and after influenza infection or vaccination were compared to each other and to a matched control group not vaccinated and without influenza infection (Group III). Results: Forty-three cases of influenza were diagnosed. Pre- and post-influenza viral load in Group I was not significantly different: 3.34 versus 3.49 log copies/ml ( P =0.36). Viral load was unchanged in 22 of 37 patients, increased in ten patients and decreased in five patients. Similarly, pre- and post-vaccination viral load in Group II was not significantly different: 3.52 versus 3.66 log copies/ml ( P =0.12). Thirty-four of 47 patients who received influenza vaccine had no significant change in viral load—viral load increased in ten patients and decreased in three patients. No significant CD4 cell count changes were noted following influenza infection or vaccination. In contrast, Group III patients experienced a small decline in viral load from 4.23 to 3.39 log copies/ml, P P =0.06). Conclusions: Following influenza infection or vaccination, most patients did not have a significant increase in HIV viral load or decrease in CD4 cell count.
Eicosanoids modulate hyperpnea-induced late phase airway obstruction and hyperreactivity in dogs

A canine model of exercise-induced asthma was used to test the hypothesis that the development of a late phase response to hyperventilation depends on the acute production of pro-inflammatory mediators. Peripheral airway resistance, reactivity to hypocapnia and aerosol histamine, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell and eicosanoid content were measured in dogs approximately 5 h after dry air challenge (DAC). DAC resulted in late phase obstruction, hyperreactivity to histamine, and neutrophilic inflammation. Both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors administered in separate experiments attenuated the late phase airway obstruction and hyperreactivity to histamine. Neither drug affected the late phase inflammation nor the concentrations of eicosanoids in the BALF obtained 5 h after DAC. This study confirms that hyperventilation of peripheral airways with unconditioned air causes late phase neutrophilia, airway obstruction, and hyperreactivity. The late phase changes in airway mechanics are related to the hyperventilation-induced release of both prostaglandins and leukotrienes, and appear to be independent of the late phase infiltration of inflammatory cells.
Tests of Hypotheses for Unbalanced Factorial Designs Under Various Regression/Coding Method Combinations:

The controversy surrounding regression methods for unbalanced factorial designs is well known and well documented in articles by Overall and Spiegel (1969), Rawlings ( 1972), Gocka (1973), Overall and Spiegel (1973a), Overall and Spiegel (1973b), Appelbaum and Cramer (1974), Overall, Spiegel and Cohen (1975), and Rock, Werts and Linn (1976) to name just a few. Since it is possible to use any one of several popular systems for coding independent classification variables (Kerlinger and Pedhazur, 1973) with any one of the proposed regression methods, it is not surprising that some controversy has arisen concerning these coding schemes as well (Wolf and Cartwright, 1974; Bogartz, 1975; Overall, Spiegel, and Cohen, 1975). To add to the confusion of the applied researcher, "canned" computer programs employ different regression methods (Golhar and Skillings, 1976) in conjunction with different coding schemes with little (or even worse, incorrect) documentation (Francis, 1973). This is important because, as will ...
The role of risk stratification in the early management of a myocardial infarction.

Abstract ▪Objective:To review the literature on early management of myocardial infarction. ▪Data Sources:Papers published or referenced in major English-language cardiology journals for the last 15...
POLICE‐FIRE MERGER: A Preimplementation Analysis of Performance and Cost

: The total merger of police and fire services into a public safety department represents a radical restructuring of service delivery and often involves political risks. This article illustrates how a collection of mathematical models can be used by a city official to project the impact of a merger on emergency service performance and cost in his or her locale prior to actual implementation. The technical description of the models is documented elsewhere. Rather, the presentation focuses on the information that these models can provide a city official confronting this politically risky decision. As an illustration a specific city in Michigan is analyzed and several performance trade-offs associated with a merger are highlighted. The cost analysis discussion is structured to indicate how certain key management decisions affect whether or not a merger will save money. The article concludes with a discussion of some of the political barriers to a merger.
Recombinant interferon alfa-2b therapy in children with immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

(1993). Recombinant Interferon Alfa-2b Therapy in Children with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Pediatric Hematology and Oncology: Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 293-296.
Design of Wearable Binoculars with On-Demand Zoom.

Sandia has developed an optical design for wearable binoculars utilizing freeform surfaces and switchable mirrors. The goals of the effort included a design lightweight enough to be worn by the user while providing a useful field of view and magnification as well as non-mechanical switching between normal and zoomed vision. Sandia’s approach is a four mirror, off-axis system taking advantage of the weight savings and chromatic performance of a reflective system. The system incorporates an electrochromic mirror on the final surface before the eye allowing the user to switch between viewing modes. Results from a prototype of a monocular version with 6.6x magnification will be presented. The individual mirrors, including three off-axis aspheres and one true freeform, were fabricated using a diamond-turning based process. A slow-slide servo process was used for the freeform element. Surface roughness and form measurement of the freeform mirror will be presented as well as the expected impact on performance. The alignment and assembly procedure will be reviewed as well as the measured optical performance of the prototype. In parallel to the optical design work, development of an electrochromic mirror has provided a working device with faster switching than current state of the art. Switchable absorbers have been demonstrated with switching times less than 0.5 seconds. The deposition process and characterization of these devices will be presented. Finally, details of an updated optical design with additional freeform surfaces will be presented as well as plans for integrating the electrochromic mirror into the system.
Solid-phase binding assays of peptides using EGFP-Src SH2 domain fusion protein and biotinylated Src SH2 domain

Two solid-phase binding assays were designed and evaluated for their potential use in comparing the affinity of peptides to the Src SH2 domain. Resin beads attached to peptides were incubated with the enhanced green fluorescence protein(EGFP)-Src SH2 domain fusion protein or the biotinylated Src SH2 domain and extensively washed. The beads-attached tetrapeptides with high affinities to the EGFP-Src SH2 domain showed more fluorescence intensity than those beads containing tetrapeptides with weak binding affinities, as shown by fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence imaging system. Only the beads attached to pYEEI produced a dark purple color on incubation of the beads, respectively, with the biotinylated Src kinases SH2 domain, alkaline phosphatase-coupled streptavidin, and BCIP/NBT. These solid-phase binding assays may have potential applications for the screening of peptides for the Src kinases SH2 domains.
Scrambling for Africa: AIDS, expertise, and the rise of American global health science

In Scrambling for Africa, Johanna Tayloe Crane travels within the newest vessel of postcolonial power that has moored on the continent of Africa: Western university programmes in Global Heath. Amer...
Morphology-guided radiotherapy treatment planning and optimization

Abstract In gamma unit radiosurgery treatment planning, dose delivery is based on the unit "shot", a distribution of doseapproximately spherical in shape. Multiple shots are used to cover different parts of a given target region. Effective 3Doptimization for gamma unit treatment has not been previously reported. In this article, a novel optimization method isintroduced based on medial axis transformation techniques. Given a defmed target volume, the target's medial axis,which uniquely characterizes the target, is used to determine the optimal shot positions and sizes. In using the medialaxis, the 3D optimization problem is reduced to a 1D optimization, with corresponding savings in computational timeand mathematical complexity. In addition, optimization based on target shape replicates and automates manualtreatment planning, which makes the process easily understandable. Results of optimal pians and the correspondingdose distributions are presented. The relationship between skeleton disks and the dose distributions they predict arealso discussed.
Oral toxicity of linuron (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea) in rats and dogs

Abstract The Approximate Lethal Dose of linuron administered orally to rats ranged from 1·0 to 2·25 g/kg and that of a wettable powder formulation containing 50% linuron was 7·5 g/kg. Ten daily oral doses of 0·2 g linuron/kg depressed weight gain but did not affect histology. Short-term rat studies established a no-effect level of 60–80 ppm in the diet, with growth depression at higher levels and (at 1200–3000 ppm) an abnormal blood pigment. A dietary level of 125 ppm fed to rats for 2 yr had no adverse effect, but 625 ppm caused growth depression, possible anaemia and increased erythrogenesis. In two reproduction studies in rats, feeding of 125 ppm linuron had no effect on reproductive performance or post-weaning growth. Feeding of 120 ppm to dogs for 1 month had no effect, but 1200 ppm caused slight anaemia and weight depression. Traces of abnormal blood pigment were found in female dogs given 25 ppm linuron in the diet for 2 yr, and at the 625 ppm level there was anaemia, increased erythrogenesis and abnormal blood pigment in both sexes. No evidence of carcinogenicity was provided by these studies. Feeding of 25 or 125 ppm linuron to rabbits during days 8–16 of pregnancy provided no evidence of any embryotoxic or teratogenic effects.
Modification of α-adrenergic responses of small arteries by altered PCO2 and pH

Closed-circuit television microscopy was used to measure in vivo small artery (75–140 μ) and vein (105–230 μm) diameters to determine if changes in tissue PCO2 and/or pH would alter the microvascular responses to norepinephrine. Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with a combination of urethane (800 mg/kg) and α-chloralose (60 mg/kg). The cremaster muscle with intact circulation and inervation was suspended by sutures in a 60-ml bath which contained and mofified Krebs solution (31°C) that was buffered by Tris of bicarbonate. There were four groups of animals with different combintions of bath PCO2 and pH: (1) PCO2 < 10 mm Hg and pH = 7.2, PCO2 < 10 mm Hg and pH = 6.9, (3) PCO2 = 60–70 mm Hg and pH = 6.9. The maximal responses of the small artery and vein to norepinephrine were similar for the four groups. The artery sensitivity to norepinephrine was signficantly lower for group 4 when compared to groups 1, 2 and 3, but there was no effect on small vein sensitivity. This, the combination of decreased pH and increased PCO2 reduces small artery sensitivity to norepinephrine in the cremaster muscle of the rat.
Reasoning with Intensional Negative Adjectivals: Semantics, Pragmatics, and Context

Intensional negative adjectives alleged, artificial, fake, false, former, and toyare unusual adjectives that depending on context may or may not be restricting functions. A formal theory of their semantics, pragmatics, and context that uniformly accounts for their complex mathematical and computational characteristics and captures some peculiarities of individual adjectives is presented. Such adjectives are formalized as new concept builders, negation-like functions that operate on the values of intensional properties of the concepts denoted by their arguments and yield new concepts whose intensional properties have values consistent with the negation of the old values. Understanding these new concepts involves semantics, pragmatics and context-dependency of natural language. It is argued that intensional negative adjectives can be viewed as a special-purpose, weaker, conntext-dependent negationin natural language. The theory explains and predicts many inferences licensed by expressions involving such adjectives. Implementation of sample examples demonstrates its computational feasibility. Computation of context-dependent interpretation is discussed. The theory allows one to enhance a knowledge representation system with similar concept building, negation-like, context-dependent functions, the availability of which appears to be a distinct characteristic of natural languages.
Some functional relations for two point boundary value problems—II. the inhomogeneous case

A set of functional relations analogous to the addition formulas for the trigonometric functions is developed for a class of inhomogeneous linear two point boundary value problems. The relations are implicit ones connecting values of the solutions at three points. For boundary conditions which contain those that appear in scattering and optimal filtering problems, the relations are explicitly solved. The results are expressed in terms of Redheffer's * product, and thus a connection is established with his work on transmission lines and Reid's on the matrix Riccati equation. A numerical algorithm useful for the solution of problems with critical lengths is a principal consequence of these results.
Angiographic changes thirty minutes following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

In order to ascertain whether coronary angiography performed immediately after the completion of successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angio plasty (PTCA) can be used as an index of the final outcome of the procedure, angiography was repeated thirty minutes post PTCA in twenty consecutive pa tients undergoing elective PTCA. Comparison of the pre PTCA, immediate post PTCA and thirty minutes post PTCA angiograms showed that the initial angio graphic success of 77.8% improvement in lumen diameter from pre PTCA to immediate post PTCA was reduced by 16.2% to 61.6% thirty minutes later. We conclude that angiographic changes continue to occur in the immediate post PTCA period and that the immediate post PTCA angiogram may not represent the true outcome of the procedure.
An analysis of consumer training for feature rich products

Many products now are loaded with an enormous number of features. It creates a great challenge for consumers to fully explore functionalities of those products. A recent trend is that manufacturers that market feature rich products start to provide consumer training programs. In this paper, we study the motivation of a manufacturer to offer training to consumers and how the training related costs affect his profits. We use a two dimensional consumer heterogeneity model to capture the consumer's learning cost and valuation of features. We show how training shifts consumer's purchasing decisions and the conditions under which the manufacturer is motivated to offer training. Two specific situations are investigated: when training is required and when training is optional. We show that if the manufacturer can effectively and cost efficiently deliver the training program, then optional training can make the product more attractive and improve the manufacturer's net gains the most. Our results also indicate that the availability of online educational tools is one of the reasons for recent trend in consumer training.
Comparison of jet production in pp collisions at s =546 and 1800 GeV

Inclusive jet cross sections have been measured in [ital [bar p]p] collisions at [radical][ital s] =546 and 1800 GeV, using the Collider Detector at Fermilab. The ratio of jet cross sections is compared to predictions from simple scaling and [ital O]([ital a][sub [ital s]][sup 3]) QCD. Our data exclude scaling and lie (1.5--2.4)[sigma] below a range of QCD predictions.
Point contact tunnelling apparatus with temperature and magnetic field control

The design and testing of a new device for point contact tunnelling measurements in superconductors are described. The insert is designed for use with a continuous flow cryostat which allows for a large range of sample temperatures from 1.5 K to room temperature. The use of nonmagnetic parts allows tunnelling measurements to be performed in high magnetic fields. Testing was carried out on a conventional superconductor, Nb, in fields up to 6 T using Nb and Au tips to obtain superconductor‐ insulator‐superconductor and superconductor‐insulator‐normal metal junctions. In addition, a moderate-Tc oxide superconductor, Ba1 - xKxBiO3, was used to obtain temperature and magnetic field dependencies of the energy gap. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
A comparative molecular dynamics analysis of the amyloid β-peptide in a lipid bilayer

Abstract Because the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) functions as approximately half of the transmembrane domain of the amyloid precursor protein and interaction of Aβ with membranes is proposed to result in neurotoxicity, the association of Aβ with membranes likely is important in the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease. Atomic details of the interaction of Aβ with membranes are not accessible with most experimental techniques, but computational methods can provide this information. Here, we present the results of ten 100-ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the 40-residue amyloid β-peptide (Aβ 40 ) embedded in a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayer. The present study examines the effects of insertion depth, protonation state of key residues, and ionic strength on Aβ 40 in a DPPC bilayer. In all cases, a portion of the peptide remained embedded in the bilayer. In the case of deeper insertion depth, Aβ 40 adopted a near-transmembrane orientation, drawing water molecules into the bilayer to associate with its charged amino acids. In the case of shallower insertion, the most widely-accepted construct, the peptide associated strongly with the membrane–water interface and the phosphatidylcholine headgroups of the bilayer. In most cases, significant disordering of the extracellular segment of the peptide was observed, and the brief appearance of a β-strand was noted in one case. Our results compare well with a variety of experimental and computational findings. From this study, we conclude that Aβ associated with membranes is dynamic and capable of adopting a number of conformations, each of which may have significance in understanding the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
The Impact of Sex-Offender Community Notification on Probation/Parole in Wisconsin

Sex-offender community notification legislation has had far-reaching consequences for those who must work within its mandates of community protection and safety. Increased responsibilities and greater expectations placed on probation and parole agents with sex-offender caseloads are among such consequences, This study examines the impact of Wisconsin’s notification law on these agents and their adaptation to the changes in the way sex offenders are managed in the community. Results of the study indicate that although community notification may achieve important objectives in the realm of public awareness and community protection, these gains come at a high cost for corrections in terms of personnel, time, and budgetary resources. Several issues are considered for state and local policy makers, as well as for probation/parole administrators, supervisors, and agents.
Active Server Availability Feedback.

The current software development process in common use within industry is inefficient, in that the time required to incorporate results from competitive, beta, and previous releases into new versions available to customers is typically measured in years. Further, the accuracy of customer feedback returned to the development team is frequently weak or incomplete, with samples often drawn from only a small, selfselected set of customers. This paper argues that we can automate this feedback process and, in so doing, drive an order of magnitude improvement in the rate at which software evolves and improves.
Motion field histograms for robust modeling of facial expressions

This paper presents motion field histograms as a new way of extracting facial features and modeling expressions. Features are based on local receptive field histograms, which are robust against errors in rotation, translation and scale changes during image alignment. Motion information is incorporated into the histograms by using difference images instead of raw images. We take the principal components of these histograms of selected facial regions and use the top 20 eigenvectors for compact representation. The eigen-coefficients are then used to model the temporal structure of different facial expressions from real-life data in the presence of translational and rotational errors that arise from head-tracking. The results demonstrate a 44% average performance increase over traditional optic flow methods for expressions extracted from unconstrained interactions.
Symmetry, selectivity, and the 2003 Nobel Prize.

I thank Rod MacKinnon, Chris Miller, Peter Agre, and Bob Stroud for valuable discussion, Robin Miller for Figure 1Figure 1, Bertil Hille for Figure 2Figure 2, and Andreas Engel for Figure 4BFigure 4B.
Behavioral Biases Meet the Market: The Case of Magazine Subscription Prices

Using data from American magazines, we explore the relationship between newsstand and subscription prices and magazine characteristics. In particular, we distinguish between magazines that provide benefits in the future (investment magazines) versus those that are simply fun to read now (leisure magazines). A consumer with a present bias at the newsstand discounts the future payoff of the investment good but fully values the leisure good. This difference does not exist for subscriptions. Thus, the ratio of the subscription to newsstand willingness to pay for a magazine should differ between investment and leisure goods. We find that for magazines whose payoff is in the future, subscriptions are relatively more costly, ceteris paribus. This finding suggests that publishers reflect the present bias preferences of consumers in their price setting behavior.
IMPRESSION TECHNIQUE FOR NONOSSEOUS FREE-TISSUE TRANSFER RECONSTRUCTION AFTER CRANIOORBITOMAXILLARY RESECTION : A CLINICAL REPORT

Abstract The use of vascularized free-tissue transfers has given the head and neck surgeon the ability to offer enhanced oncologic therapy with less risk of exposing vital structures to the aerodigestive tract. Resulting free-flap tissue consistencies and contours inhibit the successful use of routine impression techniques. The technique described in this clinical report uses a previously reported procedure to obtain an accurate impression of residual palatal and free-flap structures. The significance of this technique is that it improves the tissue reproduction of surgically closed palatal defects.
Dispersal, Flight, and Diurnal Activity Patterns of Adult Southern Corn Billbugs (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Dispersal into cornfields, flight, and diurnal activity patterns of the adult southern corn billbug (SCB), Sphenophorus callosus (Olivier), were studied in eastern North Carolina during 1979 and 1980. Corn plant damage (an index of SCB density) in fields with different cropping histories was initially concentrated either on the field edge next to last year's corn in rotated fields, or the edge next to the overwintering site in nonrotated fields. Although damage patterns and trapping studies suggested that SCB dispersal into fields was primarily by walking, SCB are capable of strong flight. Weevils of both the overwintered and summer generations were caught in flight traps. Diurnal activity patterns of adult SCB were often bimodal; peak numbers of adults were found on plants and caught in pitfall traps in late morning and mid- to late afternoon. Changes in adult activity appeared to be better explained by changes in temperature than by changes in light intensity. Least activity occurred when temperatures were above 30°C or below 20°C.
Applying the strain energy density criterion to fatigue and fracture problems in the transportation industry

Today fracture mechanics is an independent discipline that deals with structures containing detectable or visible sharp cracks. The basic concepts of fracture mechanics are well established due to the contributions of researchers such as G. C. Sih. This paper focuses on one of his many contributions; specifically, the strain energy density criterion for fatigue and fracture problems involving mixed mode loading. Moreover, this paper reviews examples of original research in the transportation industry in which the strain energy density criterion was applied. In particular, these examples come from the aircraft and railroad industries. Both industries now use fatigue and fracture control programs, developed from damage tolerance or fracture mechanics principles, to minimize the risks associated with structural failures.
Using sensor technology to augment traditional healthcare

Sensor networks have been installed in the apartments of volunteer residents at TigerPlace, a specially designed retirement community helping residents aging in place. Researchers are investigating methods to interpret the sensor data to detect early signs of illness or functional decline in older adults and alert health care providers to these changes. Two case studies are included to illustrate the potential of the sensor networks to augment traditional health care assessment.
Political Skill as Moderator of the Trait Sincerity–Task Performance Relationship: A Socioanalytic, Narrow Trait Perspective

Hogan's (e.g., R. Hogan & Shelton, 1998) socioanalytic perspective on performance prediction from personality examines whether personality factors produce greater effects on task performance when interactively combined with measures of social effectiveness. Specifically, this study hypothesized that the relationship between the HEXACO personality facet of sincerity and task performance would be positive for individuals high in political skill (or networking ability) and negative for individuals low in political skill (or networking ability). The results supported the hypotheses for those high in political skill and for those high in networking ability, thus implying that social effectiveness, as a more proximal indicator, energizes personality into action in its effects on performance. Contributions of the results, strengths, and limitations of the study, and directions for future research, are discussed.
Using IEEE 1453 Limits to Determine Flicker Compliance - How Does it Compare to Using the GE Curve

Utility engineers have long used the "GE Curve" for determining allowable flicker levels on their electrical systems. They have grown accustomed to the procedure as well as developed tools to simplify the calculation process. With the recent approval of IEEE 1453-2004, another option exists for the determination of flicker compliance. This paper will compare the use of both methods to allow the reader to see the differences as well as the similarities. The accompanying presentation will also provide illustrated results for the use of each method. This will hopefully encourage others to adopt this newer method.
A Transition State Analogue for the Oxidation of Binuclear Palladium(II) to Binuclear Palladium(III) Complexes

Cooperative metal–metal (M–M) redox chemistry has the potential to lower activation barriers for redox transformations relevant to catalysis. Pd2(III,III) complexes, generated by oxidation of Pd2(II,II) complexes, have recently been implicated as intermediates in a variety of Pd-catalyzed C–H oxidation reactions. M–M redox synergy, mediated by Pd–Pd bond formation and cleavage, has been proposed to facilitate both oxidation and reductive elimination steps during various Pd-catalyzed directed C–H oxidation reactions. Herein, we report a transition state mimic for the oxidation of Pd2(II,II) complexes which suggests that M–M redox synergy is involved in the oxidation of Pd2(II,II) complexes to Pd2(III,III) complexes.
Reactive ion etch modeling using neural networks and simulated annealing

Silicon dioxide films are useful as interlayer dielectrics for integrated circuits and multichip modules (MCM's), and reactive ion etching (RIE) in RF glow discharges is a popular method for forming via holes in SiO/sub 2/ between metal layers of an MCM. However, precise modeling of RIE is difficult due to the extremely complex nature of particle dynamics within a plasma. Recently, empirical RIE models derived from neural networks have been shown to offer advantages in both accuracy and robustness over more traditional statistical approaches. In this paper, a new learning rule for training back-propagation neural networks is introduced and compared to the standard generalized delta rule. This new rule quantifies network memory during training and reduces network disorder gradually over time using an approach similar to simulated annealing. The modified neural networks are used to build models of etch rate, anisotropy, uniformity, and selectivity for SiO/sub 2/ films etched in a chloroform and oxygen plasma. Network training data was obtained from a 2/sup 4/ factorial experiment designed to characterize etch variation with RF power, pressure, and gas composition. Etching took place in a Plasma Therm 700 series RIE system. Excellent agreement between model predictions and measured data was obtained.
Exploring the Value of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory–3 for Predicting Attrition and Recidivism Among Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence

This study explored the potential value of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory–3 (SASSI-3; F. G. Miller & Lazowski, 1999) as a means of predicting program attrition and recidivism among perpetrators of intimate partner violence, concluding that the SASSI-3 is not an adequate predictor.
Validity of Clinical Body Weight Measures as Substitutes for Missing Data in a Randomized Trial.

Summary Background Long-term follow-up of weight loss interventions is essential, but collecting weights can be difficult, and self-reports inaccurate. We examined the relationship between weight measures obtained in the context of a weight loss trial and in routine clinical care. Methods Body weight data from a trial of behavioral obesity treatment among 88 obese women and 203 women age 40–65 years with comorbid obesity and depression were compared against weight data entered into an electronic medical record (EMR) during routine clinical care. Study and EMR weights and weight changes were then compared at 6 and 12 months using scatterplots, Pearson's correlations, and t -tests. Results The 12-month follow-up rate for this trial was 77%. Among the 224 12-month completers, 142 women (63%) had an EMR weight within 90 days of their 12-month study weight. Study and EMR weights were highly correlated (0.99), with a mean difference of 0.1kg. The correlation between two measures of 12-month weight change using study and EMR weights was 0.96. These results were robust to sensitivity analyses that explored the impact of different-sized windows for matching clinical weights with study weights. Among the 67 women who were missing study weights at 12 months, 33 (49%) had an EMR weight available within 90 days of their missed follow-up appointment. Conclusions Weight measures routinely obtained in clinical care are highly correlated with those obtained by trained research staff and may be used, without statistical correction, to achieve higher rates of long-term follow-up in weight loss studies.
Improved ethanol yield and reduced minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) by modifying low severity dilute acid pretreatment with deacetylation and mechanical refining: 2) Techno-economic analysis

Background Our companion paper discussed the yield benefits achieved by integrating deacetylation, mechanical refining, and washing with low acid and low temperature pretreatment. To evaluate the impact of the modified process on the economic feasibility, a techno-economic analysis (TEA) was performed based on the experimental data presented in the companion paper.
Mitochondrial protein BmPAPI modulates the length of mature piRNAs

PIWI proteins and their associated PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) protect genome integrity by silencing transposons in animal germlines. The molecular mechanisms and components responsible for piRNA biogenesis remain elusive. PIWI proteins contain conserved symmetrical dimethylarginines (sDMAs) that are specifically targeted by TUDOR domain-containing proteins. Here we report that the sDMAs of PIWI proteins play crucial roles in PIWI localization and piRNA biogenesis in Bombyx mori-derived BmN4 cells, which harbor fully functional piRNA biogenesis machinery. Moreover, RNAi screenings for Bombyx genes encoding TUDOR domain-containing proteins identified BmPAPI, a Bombyx homolog of Drosophila PAPI, as a factor modulating the length of mature piRNAs. BmPAPI specifically recognized sDMAs and interacted with PIWI proteins at the surface of the mitochondrial outer membrane. BmPAPI depletion resulted in 3′-terminal extensions of mature piRNAs without affecting the piRNA quantity. These results reveal the BmPAPI-involved piRNA precursor processing mechanism on mitochondrial outer membrane scaffolds.
A Salmonella Typhi homologue of bacteriophage muramidases controls typhoid toxin secretion

Unlike other Salmonella, which can infect a broad range of hosts causing self-limiting infection, Salmonella Typhi is an exclusively human pathogen that causes typhoid fever, a life-threatening systemic disease. Typhoid toxin is a unique virulence factor of Salmonella Typhi, which is expressed when the bacteria are within mammalian cells. Here, we report that an N-acetyl-β-D-muramidase similar to phage endolysins encoded within the same pathogenicity islet as the toxin is required for typhoid toxin secretion. Genetic and functional analysis of TtsA revealed unique amino acids at its predicted peptidoglycan-binding domain that are essential for protein secretion and that distinguishes this protein from other homologues. We propose that TtsA defines a new protein secretion mechanism recently evolved from the machine that mediates phage release.
Ligand-Mediated cis-Inhibition of Receptor Signaling in the Self-Incompatibility Response of the Brassicaceae

The inhibition of self-pollination in self-incompatible Brassicaceae is based on allele-specific trans-activation of the highly polymorphic S-locus receptor kinase (SRK), which is displayed at the surface of stigma epidermal cells, by its even more polymorphic pollen coat-localized ligand, the S-locus cysteine-rich (SCR) protein. In an attempt to achieve constitutive activation of SRK and thus facilitate analysis of self-incompatibility (SI) signaling, we coexpressed an Arabidopsis lyrata SCR variant with its cognate SRK receptor in the stigma epidermal cells of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants belonging to the C24 accession, in which expression of SRK and SCR had been shown to exhibit a robust SI response. Contrary to expectation, however, coexpression of SRK and SCR was found to inhibit SRK-mediated signaling and to disrupt the SI response. This phenomenon, called cis-inhibition, is well documented in metazoans but has not as yet been reported for plant receptor kinases. We demonstrate that cis-inhibition of SRK, like its trans-activation, is based on allele-specific interaction between receptor and ligand. We also show that stigma-expressed SCR causes entrapment of its SRK receptor in the endoplasmic reticulum, thus disrupting the proper targeting of SRK to the plasma membrane, where the receptor would be available for productive interaction with its pollen coat-derived SCR ligand. Although based on an artificial cis-inhibition system, the results suggest novel strategies of pollination control for the generation of hybrid cultivars and large-scale seed production from hybrid plants in Brassicaceae seed crops and, more generally, for inhibiting cell surface receptor function and manipulating signaling pathways in plants.
Thermodynamic properties of dilute magnetic alloys

Abstract The free energy of a dilute magnetic alloy is obtained on the basis of Suhl's theory from which the temperature dependent entropy and specific heat of the system are calculated at all temperature ranges. The zero temperature entropy we obtain is in agreement with Zittartz's calculation, which is based upon Nagaoka's formulation, and our specific heat results are in qualitative agreement with the experimental data given by Daybell and Steyert.
An empirical model for reliable spiking activity

Understanding a neuron's transfer function, which relates a neuron's inputs to its outputs, is essential for understanding the computational role of single neurons. Recently, statistical models, based on point processes and using generalized linear model GLM technology, have been widely applied to predict dynamic neuronal transfer functions. However, the standard version of these models fails to capture important features of neural activity, such as responses to stimuli that elicit highly reliable trial-to-trial spiking. Here, we consider a generalization of the usual GLM that incorporates nonlinearity by modeling reliable and nonreliable spikes as being generated by distinct stimulus features. We develop and apply these models to spike trains from olfactory bulb mitral cells recorded in vitro. We find that spike generation in these neurons is better modeled when reliable and unreliable spikes are considered separately and that this effect is most pronounced for neurons with a large number of both reliable and unreliable spikes.
Americans Without Papers, State Immigrant 'Attrition' Laws, and the Fourteenth Amendment

State immigration laws aim at the removal of a class of persons, undocumented aliens, through “attrition by enforcement.” Sponsors of the attrition laws claim federal authorization for their efforts, which otherwise may violate the Fourteenth Amendment and federal civil rights laws. The ultimate basis of the claim does not rest on the Constitution, but on a doctrine constructed in the nineteenth century, in the Chinese Exclusion Cases, contemporary with Plessy v. Ferguson. The Supreme Court then accepted a claim that Congress and the President had extra-constitutional power to expel a class of unwanted “aliens,” defined by their race. Congress in 1996 renewed the claim of power to deport even documented immigrants and naturalized citizens, and attempted to authorize state governments to share in the deportation power. State immigrant “attrition by enforcement” laws are the result. In Arizona v. United States, the S.B. 1070 case, the Supreme Court held that portions of the statute, a model for other state immigrant attrition laws, were not authorized but instead were preempted. The remaining state “attrition” schemes are still to be tested against the civil rights laws, however. The Court in modern times has greatly circumscribed the supposed, unlimited power to deport aliens claimed in the Chinese Exclusion Cases, and one hopes Congress and the courts will abandon the dubious doctrines announced in those opinions and do away with “Juan Crow.”
Welfare Reform and Labor Force Exit by Young, Low-Skilled Single Males

While the labor market woes of low-skilled male workers in the United States over the past several decades have been well documented, the academic literature identifying causal factors leading to declines in labor force participation (LFP) by young, low-skilled males remains scant. To address this gap, I use the timing and characteristics of welfare-reform policies implemented during the 1990s and fixed-effects, instrumental variable regression modeling to show that policies seeking to increase LFP rates for low-skilled single mothers inadvertently led to labor force exit by young, low-skilled single males. Using data from the Current Population Survey and a bundle of work inducements enacted by states throughout the 1990s as exogenous variation in a quasi-experimental design, I find that the roughly 10 percentage point increase in LFP for low-skilled single mothers facilitated by welfare reform resulted in a statistically significant 2.8 percentage point decline in LFP for young, low-skilled single males. After conducting a series of robustness checks, I conclude that this result is driven entirely by white males, who responded to welfare-reform policies with a 3.7 percentage point decline in labor supply. Young black males, as well as other groups of potentially affected workers, appear to be uninfluenced by the labor supply response of less-educated single mothers to welfare reform. Impacts on young, single white males are large and economically significant, suggesting that nearly 150,000 males departed the formal labor market in response to directed welfare-reform policies.