cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Information processing in microtubules.

Abstract Biological information processing, storage, and transduction are theorized to occur by “computer-like” transfer and resonance among subunits of polymerized cytoskeletal proteins: microtubules. Biological information functions (ciliary and flagellar control, axoplasmic transport, conscious awareness) could be explained by comparing microtubule structure and activities to Boolean switching matrices, parallel computers, and such technologies as transistor circuits, magnetic bubble memory, charge transfer devices, surface acoustic wave resonators, and/or holography.
Ionic Liquid Pretreatment of Poplar Wood at Room Temperature: Swelling and Incorporation of Nanoparticles

Lignocellulosic biomass offers economic and environmental advantages over corn starch for biofuels production. However, its fractionation currently requires energy-intensive pretreatments, due to the lignin chemical resistance and complex cell wall structure. Recently, ionic liquids have been used to dissolve biomass at high temperatures. In this study, thin sections of poplar wood were swollen by ionic liquid (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate) pretreatment at room temperature. The samples contract when rinsed with deionized water. The controlled expansion and contraction of the wood structure can be used to incorporate enzymes and catalysts deep into the wood structure for improved pretreatments and accelerated cellulose hydrolysis. As a proof of concept, silver and gold nanoparticles of diameters ranging from 20 to 100 nm were incorporated at depths up to 4 μm. Confocal surface-enhanced Raman images at different depths show that a significant number of nanoparticles were incorporated into the pretrea...
Responses by canids to scent gland secretions of the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

Many snakes discharge malodorous fluids from paired scent glands in the base of the tail when they are disturbed. A number of authors suggest that these secretions repel predators. Scent gland secretions of the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), or dichloromethane extracts of them, were presented to coyotes (Canis latrans) in three field tests, and to domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) in two kennel tests, to determine whether responses of possible benefit to snakes are elicited. Free-ranging coyotes visited and rubbed and rolled at stations containing scent gland secretions in perforated plastic capsules more frequently than at those containing untreated or dichloromethane-treated capsules. Responses to dichloromethane extracts of scent gland secretions subjected to rotary evaporation were not significantly different from those to dichloromethane. Pure and mixed breeds of dogs presented with filter papers treated with dichloromethane or a dichloromethane extract of scent gland secretions mouthed (licked, bit, or ate) secretion-treated papers more frequently. Staffordshire terriers presented with filter papers treated with dichloromethane or dichloromethane extracts of snake scent gland and alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) paracloacal gland secretions exhibited urination postures to snake secretion-treated papers more frequently than to dichloromethane-treated papers, but responses to snake- and alligator-treated papers did not differ significantly. There was no indication that canids are repelled by scent gland secretions.
Real-time collaborative analysis with (almost) pure SQL: a case study in biogeochemical oceanography

We consider a case study using SQL-as-a-Service to support "instant analysis" of weakly structured relational data at a multi-investigator science retreat. Here, "weakly structured" means tabular, rows-and-columns datasets that share some common context, but that have limited a priori agreement on file formats, relationships, types, schemas, metadata, or semantics. In this case study, the data were acquired from hundreds of distinct locations during a multi-day oceanographic cruise using a variety of physical, biological, and chemical sensors and assays. Months after the cruise when preliminary data processing was complete, 40+ researchers from a variety of disciplines participated in a two-day "data synthesis workshop." At this workshop, two computer scientists used a web-based query-as-a-service platform called SQLShare to perform "SQL stenography": capturing the scientific discussion in real time to integrate data, test hypotheses, and populate visualizations to then inform and enhance further discussion. In this "field test" of our technology and approach, we found that it was not only feasible to support interactive science Q&A with essentially pure SQL, but that we significantly increased the value of the "face time" at the meeting: researchers from different fields were able to validate assumptions and resolve ambiguity about each others' fields. As a result, new science emerged from a meeting that was originally just a planning meeting. In this paper, we describe the details of this experiment, discuss our major findings, and lay out a new research agenda for collaborative science database services.
IMMUNOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN CHRONIC MUCOCUTANEOUS CANDIDIASIS

Abstract Immunological studies in an 11-year-old patient with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis are presented. Defective cellular immunity, both in vivo and in vitro, were identified. There was complete anergy, with negative intradermal tests for delayed hypersensitivity with eight antigens and a lack of response to dinitrochlorobenzene after contact sensitisation. A skin graft has not been rejected after more than a year. The patient's lymphocytes responded by proliferation in vitro to stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin, but not with mumps or monilia antigens. His cells neither responded nor stimulated in a one-way mixed lymphocyte culture. His serum inhibited the proliferative response of normal control lymphocytes stimulated with candida and mumps antigens, and allogeneic cells. These abnormal responses seem to be the result of the serum factor inhibiting the proliferative response of the small lymphocytes. The defect appears to be genetic, as there are other affected members in the family.
Using neuroimaging to evaluate models of working memory and their implications for language processing

Abstract The precise relationships that exist between verbal working memory and language processing remain underdetermined. We argue that while neuroimaging methods have the potential to provide important insights into the links between these two cognitive domains, an over-reliance on a single theoretical perspective has stunted progress toward this end. Specifically, neuroimaging studies in the domain of working memory have relied heavily on the theoretical framework provided by Baddeley's Multiple-Component Model. We reexamine the sufficiency of this model in accounting for a range of neuroimaging evidence, and draw attention to a set of findings that are not readily explained by a conventional mapping of this model onto specific neuroanatomical substrates. An alternative framework provided by Cowan's Embedded-Processes Model is then evaluated, and we conclude that this alternative view supports a reconceptualization of the contributions of Broca's area and the left inferior parietal cortex to working memory that can account for a wide range of findings. Importantly, this alternative account suggests links between working memory and language that are not afforded by currently prevailing interpretations.
The Stochastic Cash Balance Problem with Fixed Costs for Increases and Decreases

The stochastic cash balance problem is an inventory problem in which the stochastic cash or inventory change can either be positive or nonpositive, and in which decisions to increase or decrease the inventory are permitted at the beginning of each time period. The paper studies problems in which both fixed and proportional costs can be incurred whenever the inventory is changed in either direction. An example is used to demonstrate that when these costs are positive and the loss function is convex, a simple policy analogous to a two-sided s, S policy is not generally optimal. The example is also used to display the relations between the cash balance problem and inventory problems previously studied by Scarf and Veinott. When proportional costs of changing the inventory are zero, the two fixed costs are equal, the loss function is symmetric quasi-convex, and the problem's probability densities are quasi-concave a simple policy is shown to be optimal. For the cases in which simple policies are not optimal, the paper develops a technique which employs convex upper and lower bounds on the nonconvex cost functions partially to describe the optimal policy. It is suggested that this convex bounding technique may provide an approach to studying the cost implications of following simple, nonoptimal policies in inventory problems for which the optimal policy is complex.
Ultrafine spatial acuity of blind expert human echolocators.

Echolocating organisms represent their external environment using reflected auditory information from emitted vocalizations. This ability, long known in various non-human species, has also been documented in some blind humans as an aid to navigation, as well as object detection and coarse localization. Surprisingly, our understanding of the basic acuity attainable by practitioners—the most fundamental underpinning of echoic spatial perception—remains crude. We found that experts were able to discriminate horizontal offsets of stimuli as small as ~1.2° auditory angle in the frontomedial plane, a resolution approaching the maximum measured precision of human spatial hearing and comparable to that found in bats performing similar tasks. Furthermore, we found a strong correlation between echolocation acuity and age of blindness onset. This first measure of functional spatial resolution in a population of expert echolocators demonstrates precision comparable to that found in the visual periphery of sighted individuals.
Ozone Predictions in Atlanta, Georgia: Analysis of the 1999 Ozone Season

ABSTRACT Ozone prediction has become an important activity in many U.S. ozone nonattainment areas. In this study, we describe the ozone prediction program in the Atlanta metropolitan area and analyze the performance of this program during the 1999 ozone-forecasting season. From May to September, a team of 10 air quality regulators, meteorologists, and atmospheric scientists made a daily prediction of the next-day maximum 8-hr average ozone concentration. The daily forecast was made aided by two linear regression models, a 3-dimensional air quality model, and the no-skill ozone persistence model. The team's performance is compared with the numerical models using several numerical indicators. Our analysis indicated that (1) the team correctly predicted next-day peak ozone concentrations 84% of the time, (2) the two linear regression models had a better performance than a 3-dimensional air quality model, (3) persistence was a strong predictor of ozone concentrations with a performance of 78%, and (4) about h...
A Method to Assess Cariogenic Potential of Foodstuffs

By feeding rats essential nutrition through gastric intubation, a new method was developed in which only the test foods contacted the teeth. In this way, the cariogenic potential of certain foods was determined in a simple, unequivocal, and reproducible manner.
Some thoughts on systems integration: A conceptual framework

This article presents a conceptual framework for systems integration in the area of computing systems. The framework identifies a hierarchical structure of concepts and methods that allows us to discuss the different elements of systems integration. The kernel of this approach is the concept of an integration architecture, specifying the general layout of the integration framework. Such an integration architecture is based on enabling technologies, like networking, and forms the basis for global integration activities. These global integration activities are targeted to preserve a common universe of discourse for the user of the integrated architecture and to agree upon a conceptual model of the application domain. Based on these prerequisites, two models for managing the process of systems integration, the post factor approach and the phased top-down approach, are discussed.
Client Predictors of Treatment Retention and Completion in a Program for Homeless Veterans

This study assessed the value of a specific set of client variables in predicting treatment retention and completion of a rehabilitation program for homeless veterans. Participants were 596 (22 female) military veterans admitted to the Palo Alto, California Veterans Administration domicilary program between 1992 and 1995. Information was collected on a number of demographic and background characteristics previously used to predict treatment retention and outcomes. Results indicated that clients who were younger, female, and currently diagnosed with a depressive disorder, showed the highest rates of treatment retention and completion, whereas a current personality disorder diagnosis or history of psychiatric treatment was related to poorer rates of retention and completion. These results may be informative for identifying ways to modify this and other similar treatments to apply to a larger client population. The study's limitations were noted.
Intratracheal (IT) Delivery Strategy of Gentamicin (G) with Partial Liquid Ventilation (PLV) 1943

Intratracheal (IT) Delivery Strategy of Gentamicin (G) with Partial Liquid Ventilation (PLV) 1943
ITCH K63-ubiquitinates the NOD2 binding protein, RIP2, to influence inflammatory signaling pathways.

Summary Background The inability to coordinate the signaling pathways that lead to proper cytokine responses characterizes the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease. The Crohn's disease susceptibility protein, NOD2, helps coordinate cytokine responses upon intracellular exposure to bacteria, and this signal coordination by NOD2 is accomplished, in part, through K63-linked polyubiquitin chains that create binding surfaces for the scaffolding of signaling complexes. Results In this work, we show that the NOD2 signaling partner, RIP2, is directly K63-polyubiquitinated by ITCH, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that when lost genetically causes widespread inflammatory disease at mucosal surfaces. We show that ITCH is responsible for RIP2 polyubiquitination in response to infection with listeria monocytogenes . We also show that NOD2 can bind polyubiquitinated RIP2 and that whereas ITCH E3 ligase activity is required for optimal NOD2:RIP2-induced p38 and JNK activation, ITCH inhibits NOD2:RIP2-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) activation. This effect can be seen independently at the whole-genome level by microarray analysis of muramyl dipeptide (MDP)-treated Itch −/− primary macrophages. Conclusions These findings suggest that ITCH helps regulate NOD2-dependent signal transduction pathways and, as such, may be involved in the pathogenesis of NOD2-mediated inflammatory disease.
In situ fluorescence microscopy of bacteriophage aggregates.

Summary Virus aggregation is analyzed because of its potential use for both classifying viruses and understanding virus ecology and evolution. Virus aggregation is, however, problematic because aggregation causes loss of virions during processing for microscopy of any type. Thus, here we detect virus aggregation by fluorescence microscopy of wet-mounted dissections of dilute gel-supported plaques (in situ fluorescence microscopy) of a test virus, the long-tail aggregating Bacillus thuringiensis bacteriophage, 0305φ8–36. Background fluorescence is reduced to nonproblematic levels by using the dye, DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole), to stain viral nucleic acid. In situ fluorescence microscopy reveals two in situ phases, one weakly fluorescent. Most bacteriophages partition to the weakly fluorescent phase. Aggregates of bacteriophage 0305φ8–36 are detected during fluorescence microscopy via the following. (1) Coordinated motion is found for visibly separate particles in solution; the motion is either thermally generated, fluid drift-induced or mechanical pressure-induced. (2) Aggregate dissociation is observed. Some of the larger aggregates are elastic and entangled with material of the weakly fluorescent phase. The larger aggregates sometimes sink at 1-g within specimens. In situ fluorescence microscopy rapidly distinguishes 0305φ8–36 from nonaggregating bacteriophages.
Increased steroid production by the ovarian stromal tissue of postmenopausal women with endometrial cancer

An increase in ovarian steroid secretion could play a role in the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women. The present study was undertaken to investigate steroid production by isolated ovarian stromal tissues of postmenopausal women with endometrial cancer and to study the effect of LH and insulin on ovarian steroidogenesis in postmenopausal women. Ovarian stromal tissue was obtained from 10 postmenopausal women with endometrial cancer and 8 women without cancer. The stroma was incubated in either the medium alone or the medium to which was added LH (50 ng/mL) or insulin (500 ng/mL). The ovarian stroma of postmenopausal women with cancer released significantly more androstenedione (A), testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone than that of women without cancer. Addition of LH resulted in a significant increase in A, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and progesterone release compared to that with vehicle alone. Addition of insulin stimulated the release of A from the ovarian stroma of women with cancer, but had no effect on the normal postmenopausal ovarian stroma. These results indicate that the ovarian stroma of postmenopausal women with endometrial cancer secrete significantly greater amounts of androgens than those of women without cancer and that both LH and insulin may be important factors contributing to this increase in ovarian steroidogenesis.
Plastic molded single and ribbon type optical fiber connectors

Two types of precisely molded fiber optic connectors have been developed. They are a cylindrical ferrule connector for a single fiber and a five-fiber array connector for a tape fiber. The connectors are made by using a transfer molding technique with a silica-filled thermosetting epoxy resin. The resin has low pressure and high melt-flow characteristics, high dimensional accuracy, and high stability. The single fiber connector consists of a pair of plastic molded ferrules, a slitted alignment sleeve, and a plate spring. A fiber is inserted into a ferrule capillary and is fixed with adhesive. Then the fiber end face positioned in the center of the ferrule is polished to have a mirror surface. The five-fiber connector consists of a couple of precisely molded ferrules, two alignment pins, and a plate spring. The five-fiber ribbon is inserted into fiber receiving capillaries, of the ferrule, and fixed with adhesive. The fiber end faces on the ferrule mating face are polished to have a mirror face. In order to realize a low-loss connection, the alignment pin holes and five-fiber positioning capillaries on the ferrule mating face must be molded precisely. Various kinds of reliability tests on the connectors were conducted. All the results obtained proved that the connectors have entirely satisfactory properties for practical use. The connectors are now widely used in an optical fiber subscriber network.
Web100: extended TCP instrumentation for research, education and diagnosis

TCP has become the dominant protocol for all network data transport because it presents a simple uniform data delivery service which is sufficient for most applications over all types of lower network layers. By its very nature, TCP's adaption and retransmission strategies hide all of the details of the lower layers from the application. For example the only symptom of spurious packet loss (or nearly any other network problem) is longer elapsed time and lower performance.This information hiding is fundamentally important to the growth of the Internet because it decouples the evolution of applications from the evolution of link layers. However it also hides valuable information from researchers, educators, network administrators, and other people who would benefit from insight into the inner workings of TCP and the lower layers.In this paper, we present an architecture and infrastructure that provides for per-connection TCP instrumentation to expose otherwise hidden protocol events. We show examples how the infrastructure can be used in support of research, education and advanced network diagnostic tools.Our work was motivated by the observation that since about 1985 network data rates for typical novice network users have fallen by about three orders of magnitude behind expert users (who have kept up with Moore's Law). We use the term "Wizard Gap" to describe this phenomenon. The Web100 and Net100 projects were formed as one step in closing the Wizard Gap.
Comparison of screw trajectory on stability of oblique scaphoid fractures: a mechanical study.

Purpose To determine whether a screw placed perpendicular to the fracture line in an oblique scaphoid fracture will provide fixation strength that is comparable with that of a centrally placed screw. Methods Oblique osteotomies were made along the dorsal sulcus of 8 matched pairs of cadaveric scaphoids. One scaphoid from each pair was randomized to receive a screw placed centrally down the long axis. In the other scaphoid, a screw was placed perpendicular to the osteotomy. Each scaphoid underwent cyclic loading from 80 N to 120 N at 1 Hz. Cyclic loading was carried out until 2 mm of fracture displacement occurred or 4,000 cycles was reached. The specimens that reached the 4,000-cycle limit were then loaded to failure. Screw length, number of cycles, and load to failure were compared between the groups. Results We found no difference in number of cycles or load to failure between the 2 groups. Screws placed perpendicular to the fracture line were significantly shorter than screws placed down the central axis. Conclusions A perpendicularly placed screw provides equivalent strength to one placed along the central axis. Clinical relevance Compared with a screw placed centrally in an oblique scaphoid fracture, a screw placed perpendicular to the fracture line allows the use of a shorter screw without sacrificing strength of fixation.
Stochastic measures of performance robustness in aircraft control systems

Stochastic robustness, a simple technique used to estimate the robustness of linear, time-invariant systems, is applied to a twin-jet transport aircraft control system. Concepts behind stochastic stability robustness are extended to stochastic performance robustness. Stochastic performance robustness measures based on classical design specifications and measures specific to aircraft handling qualities are introduced. Confidence intervals for comparing two control system designs are presented. The application of stochastic performance robustness, the use of confidence intervals, and tradeoffs between performance objectives are demonstrated by means of the twin-jet aircraft example.
Human myeloperoxidase and thyroid peroxidase, two enzymes with separate and distinct physiological functions, are evolutionarily related members of the same gene family

Human myeloperoxidase and human thyroid peroxidase nucleotide and amino acid sequences were compared. The global similarities of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences are 46% and 44%, respectively. These similarities are most evident within the coding sequence, especially that encoding the myeloperoxidase functional subunits. These results clearly indicate that myeloperoxidase and thyroid peroxidase are members of the same gene family and diverged from a common ancestral gene. The residues at 416 in myeloperoxidase and 407 in thyroid peroxidase were estimated as possible candidates for the proximal histidine residues that link to the iron centers of the enzymes. The primary structures around these histidine residues were compared with those of other known peroxidases. The similarity in this region between the two animal peroxidases (amino acid 396-418 in thyroid peroxidase and 405-427 in myeloperoxidase) is 74%; however, those between the animal peroxidases and other yeast and plant peroxidases are not significantly high, although several conserved features have been observed. The possible location of the distal histidine residues in myeloperoxidase and thyroid peroxidase amino acid sequences are also discussed.
Effects of essential fatty acid deficiency and supplementation on atheroma formation and regression

Summary Histological methods were utilized to study the lipids in the vascular and hepatic tissues of groups of rats pre-fed EFA-deficient and stock diets and subsequently fed diets containing varying amounts of cholesterol and/or hydrogenated coconut oil. Coronary atheromas were produced in EFA-deficient rats solely by the addition of 20 % hydrogenated coconut oil to the diet for 10 weeks. EFA deficiency also seemed to predispose to an increased accumulation of both lipid and cholesterol in the coronary arteries and livers of rats which were subsequently fed cholesterol and/or hydrogenated coconut oil. These results support the hypothesis that the mechanisms for cholesterol transport are defective in the EFA-deficient rat. In experiments undertaken to determine whether the lipid deposition in the coronary arteries could be reversed, an atherogenic diet containing 3 % cholesterol plus 20 % hydrogenated coconut oil was fed to rats for 8 weeks, followed by cholesterol-free diets containing either no fat, 20 % hydrogenated coconut oil, or 20 % cottonseed oil for 8 weeks. Regression of lipid deposits was achieved only in the coronary arteries of the animals fed the cottonseed-oil containing diet.
Automatically Partitioning Threads for Multithreaded Architectures

There is an enormous amount of parallelism exposed to fine-grain multithreaded architectures to cover latencies. It is a demanding task for a multithreading programmer to manage such a degree of parallelism by hand. To use multithreaded architectures efficiently it is essential to have compiler support for automatically partitioning programs into threads. This paper solves a fundamental problem in compiling for multithreaded architectures, automatically partitioning a program into threads. The focus of such partitioning is to overlap the remote communication latency and minimize the total execution time. We first formulate the partitioning problem based on a multithreaded execution cost model. Then, we prove such a formulation is NP-hard. Therefore, we propose two heuristic thread-partitioning methods to solve this problem in practice. The advanced partitioning algorithm is a novel extension of list scheduling, and it takes advantage of the cost model to generate near-optimum partitioning results. The remote-path-based partitioning algorithm is a simplified version of the advanced one but it is easy for compiler implementation. The two partitioning algorithms were implemented respectively in a thread partitioning testbed and a research EARTH-C compiler. The experimental results show that both partitioning algorithms are effective to generate efficient threaded code, and code generated by the compiler is comparable to hand-written code.
Quantification of cartilage loss in local regions of knee joints using semi-automated segmentation software: Analysis of longitudinal data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI)

Summary Introduction Quantitative cartilage morphometry is a valuable tool to assess osteoarthritis (OA) progression. Current methodologies generally evaluate cartilage morphometry in a full or partial sub-region of the cartilage plates. This report describes the evaluation of a semi-automated cartilage segmentation software tool capable of quantifying cartilage loss in a local indexed region. Methods We examined the baseline and 24-month follow-up MRI image sets of twenty-four subjects from the progression cohort of Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI), using the Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) score of 3 at baseline as the inclusion criteria. A radiologist independently marked a single region of local thinning for each subject, and three additional readers, blinded to time point, segmented the cartilage using a semi-automated software method. Each baseline-24-month segmentation pair was then registered in 3D and the change in cartilage volume was measured. Results After 3D registration, the change in cartilage volume was calculated in specified regions centered at the marked point, and for the entire medial compartment of femur. The responsiveness was quantified using the standardized response mean (SRM) values and the percentage of subjects that showed a loss in cartilage volume. The most responsive measure of change was SRM=−1.21, and was found for a region of 10mm from the indexed point. Discussion The results suggest that measurement of cartilage loss in a local region is superior to larger areas and to the total plate. There also may be an optimal region size (10mm from an indexed point) in which to measure change. In principle, the method is substantially faster than segmenting entire plates or sub-regions.
Active-phase labor arrest: oxytocin augmentation for at least 4 hours.

Abstract Objective: To assess a labor-management protocol that mandated at least 4 hours of oxytocin augmentation before cesarean delivery for active-phase labor arrest. Methods: We prospectively evaluated term gravidas in spontaneous labor with active-phase labor arrest (cervix at least 4 cm dilated and 1 cm or less of cervical progress in 2 hours). Exclusion criteria included nonvertex presentation, previous cesarean, multiple gestation, and a nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing or chorioamnionitis at the time of labor arrest. After the diagnosis of active-phase arrest, oxytocin was initiated with an intent to achieve a sustained uterine contraction pattern of greater than 200 Montevideo units. Cesarean delivery was not performed for labor arrest until at least 4 hours of a sustained uterine contraction pattern of greater than 200 Montevideo units, or a minimum of 6 hours of oxytocin augmentation if this contraction pattern could not be achieved. Results: Five hundred forty-two women were managed by the protocol, and 92% delivered vaginally. The subsequent vaginal delivery rate for parous women who had not progressed (1 cm of cervical dilation or less) despite 2 hours of oxytocin augmentation was 91%, and it was 74% for nulliparas. With no labor progress after 4 hours of oxytocin augmentation, the subsequent vaginal delivery rates were 88% for parous women and 56% for nulliparas. There were no severe maternal complications. One neonate had persistent fetal circulation and one had a positive blood culture, but both did well. Conclusion: Extending the minimum period of oxytocin augmentation for active-phase labor arrest from 2 to at least 4 hours was effective and safe.
Development of simplified truck chassis model for crash analysis in different impact scenarios

A current simplified truck chassis model is developed in this project so that it can be used for oblique impact analysis. In the developed simplified model, 2D rotational spring elements are applied to simulate the multi-axis bending behaviour of the chassis model that appears in the oblique impact. This paper illustrates the modelling method and the developed model is validated through oblique crashworthiness analysis. The analysis results obtained from the simplified and detailed chassis models are compared to each other. Through the comparison, it is verified that the developed simplified model can correctly predict and simulate the chassis's crash response during the oblique impact, while the computing time is significantly reduced. Drawbacks of the plastic hinges modelled with the 2D rotational spring elements and future directions are also discussed. All the computer analyses and simulations in this research were performed using an explicit finite element solver, LS-DYNA.
Tribal-State Relations Involving Land and Resources in the Self-Determination Era

This research focused on the nature of modern relationships between tribal and state governments in the land and natural resources arena. Surveys were completed by 49 states, the District of Columbia, and 77 tribal governments. The results indicated that neither tribes nor states had a high level of administrative capacity to deal with environmental issues on reservations, and that when states did develop such capacity it was often used against Native American interests. Perceptions of pollution on reservations varied between state and tribal governments. States with neighboring reservations—and especially elected officials—were more hostile to native interests than states without native neighbors. Bureaucratic relations appeared more cooperative. Tribal-state interactions, while not conforming to national-subnational or territorial models of federalism, conformed to the concept of relational federalism.
Family involvement in treating children with phobic and anxiety disorders: A look ahead

Abstract Most interventions currently being tested for children with phobic and anxiety disorders are individual child-focused treatments in which family members generally play little or no direct role in the therapeutic process. Although this approach to treatment is generally efficacious, involving family members more centrally in the therapeutic process is one important way to enhance treatment effectiveness and maintenance. A framework to help guide researchers and clinicians in the task of devising and implementing interventions that more centrally involve family members is presented. In addition, research on family factors associated with childhood anxiety is summarized and how such factors may influence treatment outcome and maintenance is discussed. Based on a “transfer of control” model of change, an innovative intervention designed to target both individual and family factors is described.
Construction of recombinant plasmids containing rat thyroglobulin mRNA sequences

Two plasmids containing rat thyroglobulin cDNA sequences have been constructed and characterized. A plasmid with a 500-bp insert (pRT6) was isolated and identified as thyroglobulin-specific on the basis of the tissue specificity of the inserted sequence and of its ability to retain thyroglobulin mRNA on a nitrocellulose filter. The cDNA insert in pRT6 was subsequently used to screen a rat thyroid cDNA library constructed with large cDNA. A plasmid was found containing a 1700-bp insert. The polarity and the fidelity of the insert is demonstrated by S1 mapping.
Clutch Size Variation in Egg-Brooding Stefania

ABSTRACT. Among the numerous and varied reproductive modes observed in anurans, some of the most uncommon are found in hemiphractids. For example, the hemiphractid genus Stefania is one of the rare anuran taxa in which females brood their eggs openly upon their backs with the embryos undergoing direct development. Much remains to be learned about reproductive patterns in Stefania and other hemiphractids. Here, using museum specimens, literature records, and specimens recently collected by us, we present data on clutch size variation and the relationship between clutch size and female snout-vent length throughout Stefania. We found a statistically significant correlation between clutch size and female snout-vent length for Stefania (46 individuals, 8 of 19 species) and for three of the four species examined individually (S. evansi, S. ginesi, and S. satelles). Only one species, S. ayangannae, showed no correlation between these traits although this result may be due to low sampling rather than the correlat...
Effect of composition dependent Flory interaction parameter χ on polymer adsorption theory

Theories of polymer adsorption which neglect the functional dependence of Flory interaction parameter on polymer concentration may result in inconsistent predictions for the adsorption quantities. In this paper, the effect of variation of Flory interaction parameter χ with concentration on polymer adsorption at solid/solution interface is discussed. Comparison with the results for constant χ shows that this effect is significant and cannot be ignored.
Inelastic finite strain analysis of structures subjected to nonproportional loading

The inelastic behaviour of elasto-plastic materials is nonlinear, path-dependent, and is a function of the total plastic strain. For finite strain problems, the total inelastic strain in Lagrangian co-ordinates cannot be decomposed additively. A generalized logarithmic strain which is formulated in ‘updated’ Lagrangian coordinates and obtained by numerical integration of the Lagrangian strain rate is therefore introduced in this paper. By the use of this strain measure, which is additively decomposable, the plasticity model proposed by the authors can be extended to the finite strain range. It is shown that by correlating the generalized plastic modulus in the constitutive relations with the experimental uniaxial true stress-logarithmic strain diagrams, the inelastic behaviour of steel structures subjected to nonproportional loading can be analyzed numerically by using the finite element method.
Balanced, Strategic Reading Instruction for Upper-Elementary and Middle School Students with Reading Disabilities: A Comparative Study of Two Approaches.

In this study we compared the use of two supple- mental balanced and strategic reading interventions that targeted the decoding, fluency, and reading comprehension of upper- elementary and middle school students with reading disabilities (RD). All students had significant delays in decoding, fluency, comprehension, and language processing. Two comparable, inten- sive tutorial treatments differed only in the degree of explicitness of the comprehension strategy instruction. Overall, there was meaningful progress in students' reading decoding, fluency, and comprehension. Gains in formal measures of word attack and reading fluency after five weeks of intervention translated into grade-equivalent gains of approximately half a school year. Analysis of the trends in the daily informal fluency probes trans- lated into a weekly gain of 1.28 correct words per minute. The more explicit comprehension strategy instruction was more effec- tive than the less explicit treatment. Findings are discussed in light of the question of how to maximize the effects of reading interventions for older children with RD.
Beyond SOA: Context-Aware Composite Services

Context Aware Services are the next generation of the Service Computing Paradigm. In this Industry report we explore a case study of creating contextaware services for the telecommunications industry. The SOA paradigm is a logical means of building and exposing context aware services in the form of composite applications. Context-Aware Services can be exemplified by the ability of a pre-programed cellphone to detect your current location, collate this with a time of day, city and events such as lunch or dinner along with the preferences of cuisine. It can then inform you as you are walking down a street that your favorite Chinese cuisine can be found using the following directions. A Service-oriented Architecture (SOA) is usually context-free. The addition of relevant context-based information about user profiles, rules pertaining to an industry (such as telco) domain allows the integration of domain-specific languages into the SOA paradigm by defining a set of production rules that the context will use to determine the course of action(s) to take as events are coming in (e.g., through the Business Mobility Platform described in this paper).
Search for high-energy ions from fracture of LiD crystals

RECENT experiments1–5 have shown that the rate of 'solid-state' fusion of deuterons during either electrolysis or high-pressure deuteration of palladium or titanium must be at least many orders of magnitude lower than has been claimed6–8. It has been conjectured (refs 9–11; F. J. Mayer, J. S. King and J. R. Reitz, unpublished data; and R. Ryan et al., unpublished data) that fusion, which would occur at vanishingly low rates under static conditions, might occur at detectable rates under dynamic conditions. In particular, if a metal lattice, embrittled by deuteration, were to undergo microfracturing, deuterons might be accelerated in the transient high electric fields across the cracks, reaching energies sufficient to cause fusion. Emission of low-energy ions has been observed during mechanical fracture of TiD0.8 (H. O. Menlove et al., unpublished data), and Klyuev et al.12 claim, during fracture of LiD single crystals, to have detected an excess of neutrons above the cosmic-ray background. These results, and earlier claims to have observed electrification13,14 and emission of low-energy electrons15,16 and ions16during fracture of dielectric crystals, prompted me to see whether energetic protons are emitted during fracture of LiD crystals. I used a CR-39 track-recording plastic detector to detect any such emitted particles. However, no particles were observed, casting doubt both on the claim of Klyuev et al. to have seen fusion neutrons and on the conjecture that deuterated palladium or titanium could produce a detectable number of energetic particles as a result of fusion at cracks.
Stability and change of DSM-III-R personality disorder dimensions in adolescents followed up 2 years after psychiatric hospitalization

We examined the stability of DSM-III-R personality disorder dimensions in a clinical sample of adolescents. Sixty adolescent inpatients were reliably assessed with the Personality Disorder Examination (PDE) soon after admission to the Yale Psychiatric Institute, and were independently reassessed with the same instrument 2 years following discharge. PDE symptom ratings were summed to create dimensional scores for each personality disorder. To assess the dimensional stability of personality disorders, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were computed. To assess the magnitude of the difference between baseline and follow-up scores, paired t tests were used. Significant ICCs were observed for histrionic, narcissistic, dependent, obsessive-compulsive, and passive-aggressive personality disorders. Compared to baseline, dimensional scores for most personality disorders were significantly lower at follow-up-and none was significantly higher. Diagnostic stability is a key defining feature of personality disorders. We observed low-to-moderate stability for dimensional measures of personality dysfunction in adolescents-suggesting that previous reports of modest personality disorder stability in this age group cannot be attributed solely to limitations of the categorical approach to such pathology. Alternatively, our findings may be viewed as consistent with reports in the adult literature that personality disorders may improve over time, and can potentially benefit from treatment.
Neural Tube Defects: Epidemiology, Detection, and Prevention

Neural tube defects are common congenital malformations of the central nervous system and include anencephaly, spina bifida, and encephalocele. Prenatal detection by amniotic fluid analysis of alpha-fetoprotein is possible in those women known to be at high risk for neural tube defects. Maternal serum screening for increased alpha-fetoprotein levels is now available nationally and has the potential to identify women who otherwise would not be known to be at risk. The epidemiology, detection, screening, and prevention of neural tube defects are discussed, and an explanation of alpha-fetoprotein and its use in screening is offered.
Behavioral synthesis of data-dominated circuits for minimal energy implementation

This paper presents a power estimation and optimization approach in the early stage of behavioral synthesis for unscheduled data-dominated circuits. A methodology for estimating the power consumption of every module in the system is developed using an automatic construction of a novel switching table and the power table. An integer linear programming model is presented to reduce the energy consumption of the circuit through concurrent module selection, binding, and scheduling for a non-scheduled data path. Experimental results of six data-dominated benchmarks show that our technique achieves an average of 29.8% energy savings compared to a traditional area optimal synthesis algorithm where energy is not considered. Additionally, this approach consumes on the average 24.0% and 20.3% less energy compared to two other power-oriented optimization strategies respectively.
Uterine sensing of the embryo.

The uterus uses the Wnt pathway to sense the embryo during initial implantation. In the Hans Christian Andersen tale, a young princess is identified by her ability to sense a pea buried deep within a thick layer of mattresses. In this issue of PNAS, Mohamed et al. (1) provide new insight into the molecular mechanism of embryo implantation by identifying the Wnt pathway as part of the system the uterus uses to sense and respond to the relatively tiny embryo during the initial stage of implantation in mice. Ovarian steroids coordinate embryonic development to an attachment-competent state with maturation of the uterus to a receptive state. The latter is a transient process that is followed by a refractory period requiring reinitiation of the uterine cycle before again becoming receptive. A small rise in estrogen levels, i.e., nidatory estrogen, is required to trigger the implantation process, including expression of the molecules mentioned above in rodents. It has long been recognized that local events occur in the uterus in response to the implanting embryo, and a number of early molecular markers of these events have been described (2). Mohamed et al. (1) used a mouse model in which a lacZ reporter gene is activated by T cell factor/lymphoidenhancer factor, indicating that nuclear β-catenin signaling, a downstream event in canonical Wnt pathway activation, has occurred. Their studies demonstrate not only that this pathway is activated locally in response to the implanting embryo but also that embryo-derived Wnts mediate the process. Wnt7a, but not Wnt5a, appears to be particularly effective in triggering implantation-related responses. Consistent with this observation, previous studies by Mohamed et al. (3) demonstrated that mouse embryos increase expression of Wnt7a mRNA during development from the morula to the blastocyst stage. Furthermore, they show that the Wnt antagonist, secreted frizzled related …
Augmenting aquatic species sensitivity distributions with interspecies toxicity estimation models

Species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) are cumulative distribution functions of species toxicity values. The SSD approach is being used increasingly in ecological risk assessment but is often limited by available toxicity data needed for diverse species representation. In the present study, the authors evaluate augmenting aquatic species databases limited to standard test species using toxicity values extrapolated from interspecies correlation estimation (ICE) models for SSD development. The authors compared hazard concentrations at the 5th centile (HC5) of SSDs developed using limited measured data augmented with ICE toxicity values (augmented SSDs) with those estimated using larger measured toxicity datasets of diverse species (reference SSDs). When SSDs had similar species composition to the reference SSDs, 0.76 of the HC5 estimates were closer to the reference HC5; however, the proportion of augmented HC5s that were within 5-fold of the reference HC5s was 0.94, compared with 0.96 when predicted SSDs had random species assemblages. The range of toxicity values among represented species in all SSDs also depended on a chemical's mode of action. Predicted HC5 estimations for acetylcholinesterase inhibitors showed the greatest discrepancies from the reference HC5 when SSDs were limited to commonly tested species. The results of the present study indicate that ICE models used to augment datasets for SSDs do not greatly affect HC5 uncertainty. Uncertainty analysis of risk assessments using SSD hazard concentrations should address species composition, especially for chemicals with known taxa-specific differences in toxicological effects. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:688–695. © 2013 SETAC. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.