cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An essential role for endocytosis of rhodopsin through interaction of visual arrestin with the AP-2 adaptor.

Previously, we have identified a class of retinal degeneration mutants in Drosophila in which the normally transient interaction between arrestin2 (Arr2) and rhodopsin is stabilized and the complexes are rapidly internalized into the cell body by receptor-mediated endocytosis. The accumulation of protein complexes in the cytoplasm eventually results in photoreceptor cell death. We now show that the endocytic adapter protein AP-2 is essential for rhodopsin endocytosis through an Arr2-AP-2β interaction, and mutations in Arr2 that disrupt its interaction with the β subunit of AP-2 prevent endocytosis-induced retinal degeneration. We further demonstrate that if the interaction between Arr2 and AP-2 is blocked, this also results in retinal degeneration in an otherwise wild-type background. This indicates that the Arr2-AP-2 interaction is necessary for the pathology observed in a number of Drosophila visual system mutants, and suggests that regular rhodopsin turnover in wild-type photoreceptor cells by Arr2-mediated endocytosis is essential for photoreceptor cell maintenance.
Viral Mutagenesis as a Means for Generating Novel Proteins

We demonstrate that a mutation-prone virus engineered to express a foreign gene is an expedient means for generating novel mutant nonviral proteins in mammalian cells. Using vesicular stomatitis virus to express a gene coding for a fluorescent DsRed protein, a number of green mutant variants including a new variant not previously described were rapidly isolated from infected cells, sequenced, and cloned. Similar methods may be useful in the development of physiologically sensitive fluorescent reporter proteins and directed evolution or mutagenesis of proteins in general.
Pregnancy and post-delivery maternal weight changes and overweight in preschool children.

Objectives High maternal weight before and during pregnancy contributes to child obesity. To assess the additional role of weight change after delivery, we examined associations between pre- and post-pregnancy weight changes and preschooler overweight.
Effects of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) standard on rates of machinery-related fatal occupational injury.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the United States’ federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) standard on rates of machinery-related fatal occupational injury. The standard, which took effect in 1990, requires employers in certain industries to establish an energy control program and sets minimum criteria for energy control procedures, training, inspections, and hardware. Design: An interrupted time-series design was used to determine the standard’s effect on fatality rates. Machinery-related fatalities, obtained from the National Traumatic Occupational Fatalities surveillance system for 1980 through 2001, were used as a proxy for lockout/tagout-related fatalities. Linear regression was used to control for changes in demographic and economic factors. Results: The average annual crude rate of machinery-related fatalities in manufacturing changed little from 1980 to 1989, but declined by 4.59% per year from 1990 to 2001. However, when controlling for demographic and economic factors, the regression model estimate of the standard’s effect is a small, non-significant increase of 0.05 deaths per 100 000 production worker full-time equivalents (95% CI −0.14 to 0.25). When fatality rates in comparison groups that should not have been affected by the standard are incorporated into the analysis, there is still no significant change in the rate of machinery-related fatalities in manufacturing. Conclusions: There is no evidence that the lockout/tagout standard decreased fatality rates relative to other trends in occupational safety over the study period. A possible explanation is voluntary use of lockout/tagout by some employers before introduction of the standard and low compliance by other employers after.
Intensity modulated radiation therapy and the internet: Evaluation of the content and quality of patient-oriented information

Department of Radiation Oncology, University ofIllinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.Address for reprints: Arno J. Mundt, M.D., Depart-mentofRadiationandCellularOncology,Universityof Chicago, 5758 S. Maryland Avenue MC 9006,Chicago, IL 60637; Fax: (773) 702-0610; E-mail:mundt@rover.uchicago.eduReceived March 11, 2004; accepted March 29,2004.
Crosslinking and scission in radical‐promoted functionalization of polyethylene

We reported earlier on grafting hexafluoroisopropanol groups onto polyethylene through the reaction of polyethylene with hexafluoroacetone and di-t-butyl peroxide. The modified polyethylene was partially crosslinked. In this work, we adapted the Charlesby–Pinner Equation to estimate the ratio of chain scission to crosslinking in the reaction.
Design of a small-scale biodiesel production system

The city of Fredericksburg is located in central Virginia and is home to 592 farms covering 16% of the total land area. Farms in this region have experienced declining profits from an average of $555 per farm in 1997 to -$14,931 per farm in 2007. One of the ways to reduce operating costs and return to profitability is to significantly reduce diesel costs. An alternative to purchasing diesel is to produce biodiesel from vegetable oil extracted from crops grown on the farm and sell the excess biodiesel that is not used. The goal of this paper is to design the process and evaluate the financial feasibility of converting farm crops into biodiesel using a small-scale biodiesel production facility on a farm. Five crops were selected as design alternatives based on regional availability, productivity, and cost criteria: Canola, Corn, Peanut, Soybean, and Sunflower. These alternatives were evaluated using two Monte Carlo models: (1) a Biodiesel Production Model to simulate the amount of biodiesel and other byproducts produced and (2) a Business Model to simulate the net present value of each alternative after 15 years. The biodiesel production model inputs are: (i) expected crop yield, (ii) oil content percentage, and (iii) oil press efficiency percentage. The outputs of this model are: (i) biodiesel yield, (ii) meal yield, (iii) glycerin yield, and (iv) net energy ratio; each of the yield outputs is an input for the financial model. Other inputs for the financial model include meal revenue, equipment costs, chemical expenses, planting and harvesting costs, lost profit cost, and biodiesel sales. The output is the net present value of each crop alternative at the end of 15 years. Utility of each crop alternative from first to last is as follows: Peanut (1.0), Sunflower (0.68), Canola (0.55), Soybean (0.52), and Corn (0.45). Plotting utility against net present value shows that Canola is the most cost-effective alternative and the recommended crop type.
Actinide distribution in a stainless steel–15 wt% zirconium high-level nuclear waste form

Abstract Actinide-bearing waste forms are being produced from metallic remnants resulting from the electrometallurgical extraction of uranium from EBR-II spent fuel. The baseline metal waste form (MWF) is a stainless steel–15 wt% zirconium (SS–15Zr) alloy that may contain up to 10 wt% actinides, mostly in the form of uranium. This article presents the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and neutron diffraction on SS–15Zr alloys containing uranium, plutonium, and neptunium. Neutron diffraction results showed that the addition of uranium to SS–15Zr does not result in the formation of discrete uranium-rich phases. The lattice parameters of the ZrFe 2 -type intermetallics are larger in uranium-containing SS–15Zr alloys and are consistent with the substitution of uranium at zirconium sites of the ZrFe 2 lattice. SEM studies showed that actinides are present only in the ZrFe 2 -type intermetallics; moreover, both actinide-rich and actinide-deficient areas are found within the Laves compound. TEM showed that the simultaneous presence of multiple Laves polytypes, each with a different preference for the uranium atom, results in the uranium concentration gradients observed within the Laves intermetallics.
Influence of soil texture, soil moisture, organic cover, and weeds on oviposition preference of southern corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Oviposition preferences of the southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber, were investigated in greenhouse experiments where abiotic and biotic parameters were manipulated. Southern corn rootworm oviposition distance from corn seedlings was quantified. Four soil moistures, four soil textures, and the presence of weeds were examined in caged greenhouse experiments for their effect on southern corn rootworm oviposition preference. Additional experiments were conducted to elucidate southern corn rootworm oviposition preference for corn seedlings in the presence of broadleaf weeds, grass weeds, a wheat straw cover, or bare soil in large-cage experiments in the greenhouse. Southern corn rootworm adults oviposited >90% of their eggs within 3 cm of a corn stem with <1% oviposited 10–15 cm from the plant. Soil moisture and texture significantly affected oviposition preference. Moist or wet soil and dark soils (moderately high in organic matter and clay) were preferred for oviposition. Significant interactions occurred between these two variables. The presence of weeds significantly increased the number of eggs oviposited and influenced the oviposition preference for particular soil moistures and textures. Southern corn rootworm adults preferred to feed on and oviposit in areas that contained broadleaf weeds compared with grass weeds, wheatstraw, or bare soil. The presence of a wheatstraw cover was significantly ( P < 0.05) preferred to bare soil. We discuss how this study elucidates a number of seemingly contradictory field observations of southern corn rootworm infestations.
Temporal Dynamics in Soil Oxygen and Greenhouse Gases in Two Humid Tropical Forests

Soil redox plays a key role in regulating biogeochemical transformations in terrestrial ecosystems, but the temporal and spatial patterns in redox and associated controls within and across ecosystems are poorly understood. Upland humid tropical forest soils may be particularly prone to fluctuating redox as abundant rainfall limits oxygen (O2) diffusion through finely textured soils and high biological activity enhances O2 consumption. We used soil equilibration chambers equipped with automated sensors to determine the temporal variability in soil oxygen concentrations in two humid tropical forests with different climate regimes. We also measured soil trace gases (CO2, N2O, and CH4) as indices of redox-sensitive biogeochemistry. On average, the upper elevation cloud forest had significantly lower O2 concentrations (3.0 ± 0.8%) compared to the lower elevation wet tropical forest (7.9 ± 1.1%). Soil O2 was dynamic, especially in the wet tropical forest, where concentrations changed as much as 10% in a single day. The periodicity in the O2 time series at this site was strongest at 16 day intervals and was associated with the hourly precipitation. Greenhouse gas concentrations differed significantly between sites, but the relationships with soil O2 were consistent: O2 was negatively related to both CO2 and CH4 and positively related to N2O. These results are among the first to quantify the temporal and spatial scale of variability in soil redox in humid tropical forests, and show that the timing of precipitation plays a strong role in biogeochemical cycling on the scale of hours to weeks.
SU-FF-J-38: Can a Wireless, Implantable MOSFET Dosimeter Be Used as Fiducial in Image Guided SRS?

Purpose: Implantable MOSFET dosimeters with wireless readout (DVS, Sicel Technologies, Morrisville, NC) are FDA approved for the prostate and could be used to provide in‐vivo dosimetry in Cyberknife treatments. Method and Materials: A DVS marker was placed on a programmable respiratory motion phantom and a treatment planningCT was acquired. The DVS marker was identified as two fiducials, the readout being one fiducial and radio‐opaque area around the MOSFET itself as second fiducial. All five gold seeds embedded in the phantom were identified as fiducials as well. Two motion paths were run with the simulator, a sinusoidal motion with 15 mm amplitude in sup/inf and a patient motion. Both motion paths were treated with the DVS fiducial switched on, and then with the fiducial switched off as baseline. An image was taken at every non‐blocked beam. Results: The software could track both radio‐opaque areas within the MOSFET as fiducials. Only one in 35 images of both motion paths had a misidentified DVS fiducial, where the software identified a location between the radio‐opaque areas as fiducial. In both incidences, the treatment delivery software created an ESTOP. The Synchrony correlation error for both motion paths and both fiducial tracking configurations was below 0.3 mm at all time, which is within the uncertainty of Synchrony tracking. Conclusion: The Cyberknife software can utilize the DVS marker as an additional fiducial marker. No differences between the Synchrony treatments with and without the DVS marker tracking switched on could be identified. Further studies to test the tracking capabilities of the marker if oriented at different angles in the axial patient plane have to be done. Use of the DVS marker alone, without additional gold markers should be tested first in a solid phantom, and then in an anthropomorphic phantom to simulate soft tissue rotation and deformation.
Objective Image Evaluation Of Scintillation Camera Fields

Objective formulations of scintillation camera specifications are necessary for purchasing, acceptance testing, quality assurance, and intercomparison of imaging results. Objective formulations have been successfully implemented with respect to spatial resolution but not with respect to field uniformity. This lag has resulted from a failure to recognize the importance of higher order statistical contributions in addition to first order terms incorporated in customary quantitative indices of integral and differential uniformity. In addition to re-analyzing first order variations, we have introducted SGLDM parameters to specify global texture and analyzed six local texture parameters of which the local gradient was the most predicative of nonuniformity. Moreover, we have examined the effects of matrix renormalization on both first order terms and texture (global and local). Lastly, simulations of camera fields incorporating configurations of phototubes reveal that systematic and statistical errors can be combined to yield the observed response of existing scintillation cameras.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) induces a reversible, time- and dose-dependent adhesion of progenitor T cells to endothelial cells

Abstract Recent in vivo studies suggest that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is involved in the development of the thymus. We postulated that this inflammatory mediator could regulate the influx of progenitor T cells into the thymus. Using an in vitro static adhesion system, we found that TNF-α increases the adhesion of a murine progenitor T cell line (FTF1) to a bovine aortic endothelial cell line (1F8), human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells, and a murine arterial endothelial (MAE) cell line. TNF-α treatment of the 1F8 cells resulted in a time- and dose-dependent increase in the adherence of FTF1 cells. Adherence increased during the first 6 hr of treatment with TNF-α concentrations ranging from 10−11 to 10−9 M. Maximal adherence (6 hr treatment with 10−10 M of TNF-α) was approximately 4.5-fold larger than that of untreated monolayers. A slow decrease in adherence, down to approximately 2-fold at 48 hr, was observed beyond 12 hr of TNF-α treatment; in contrast, removal of TNF-α after 6 hr of continued stimulation caused the adherence to return to pre-stimulation levels within 24–30 hr. Adhesion of FTF1 cells to TNF-α-treated 1F8 cells was almost completely blocked by a monoclonal antibody against murine CD49d (very late antigen-4) expressed on FTF1 cells. TNF-α-induced adhesion of FTF1 cells to MAE cells was also blocked by monoclonal antibodies against murine CD49d and CD106 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1). These results support the notion that local secretion of TNF-α could modulate the dynamics of adhesion of progenitor T cells to the thymic endothelium.
SULFIDE ISOTOPIC COMPOSITIONS IN SHERGOTTITES AND ALH84001, AND POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR LIFE ON MARS

Abstract The shergottite and ALH84001 meteorites hold keys for understanding geologic and possibly biologic processes on Mars. Recently, it has been proposed that carbonates in ALH84001, and the Fe-sulfides they contain, are products of extraterrestrial biogenic activity (McKay et al., 1996). Here we report ion microprobe analyses of sulfides in shergottites and ALH84001. The sulfur isotope ratios of igneous pyrrhotites in shergottites (mean δ34SCDT: Shergotty = −0.4%, Zagami = +2.7%, EETA79001A = −1.9%, EETA79001B = −1.7%, LEW88516 = −1.9%, QUE94201 = +0.8%) are similar to those of terrestrial ocean-floor basalts, suggesting that the sulfur isotopic composition of the Martian mantle may be similar to that of the mantle of the Earth. The sulfur isotopic systematics of ALH84001 sulfides are distinct from the shergottites. Measured sulfur isotope ratios of eight pyrite grains (δ34SCDT = +2.0 to +7.3%) in crushed zones confirm previously reported analyses of isotopically heavy sulfides (Shearer et al., 1996) and are indistinguishable from an Fe-sulfide zone within a carbonate globule (δ34SCDT = +6.0%). Analyses of synthesized, fine-grained mixtures of sulfide, carbonate, and magnetite indicate that the measured sulfur isotope ratio is independent of the presence of carbonate and magnetite in the sputtered volume, confirming the accuracy of the analysis of the fine-grained sulfide in the carbonate globule. Terrestrial biogenic sulfate reduction typically results in light isotopic enrichments. The similarity of δ34S values of the sulfides in ALH84001 imply that the Fe-sulfide zones within ALH84001 carbonates are probably not the result of bacterial reduction of sulfate.
Adrenal hemangioma: A case report

Adrenal hemangioma is a very rare tumor. Presented is the 18th case proved by autopsy or surgery reported in world literature. The tumor was incidentally discovered at autopsy. Unless this tumor has characteristic calcifications, phlebolith or phlebolithlike, its computed tomography appearance is nonspecific. Therefore, by computed tomography this tumor cannot be differentiated from other primary or secondary adrenal tumors.
Molecular basis for the association between HLA DR4 and rheumatoid arthritis. From the shared epitope hypothesis to a peptidic model of rheumatoid arthritis.

Susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) maps to residues QKRAA/QRRAA in the third hypervariable region of the HLA DRβ1 chain. Peptides from the same area of MHC class II molecules are able to modulate the T-cell repertoire by deleting self-reactive T-cells. The Epstein Barr virus glycoprotein gp110 and the dna J heat-shock protein from E. coli mimic the third hypervariable region of HLA-Dw4DRβ1. Thus, the same area of HLA DRβ1 carries susceptibility to RA, modulates the T-cell repertoire and is mimicked by human pathogens. RA may originate from a particular shape imposed on the T-cell repertoire by the QKRAA/QRRAA sequence in the third hypervariable region of HLA DRβ1.
THE POSITIVE CONTROL OF CELL PROLIFERATION BY THE INTERPLAY OF CALCIUM IONS AND CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDES. A REVIEW

Calcium, cyclic AMP, and cyclic GMP do not seem to be involved in proliferative activation of postmitotic differentiated cells. Instead, they are intracycle regulators, and we propose the following working model of their control of the initiation of DNA synthesis. While a role for cyclic GMP cannot yet be defined, a brief postmitotic burst of its synthesis might serve to prevent certain activated cells (e.g. 3T3 mouse cells) from being diverted into a nonproliferating (but still activated) G0 state (Figs. 1 and 17). In a latter part of the G1 phase, something happens to stimulate briefly the synthesis of cyclic AMP which, in turn, drives calcium ions from the mitochondria into the cytosol to activate newly synthesized thymidylate synthetase (or other primed enzymic assemblies) (Fig. 1). Having “turned on” their target enzymes, the accumulated cyclic AMP is destroyed and the excess calcium ions are reaccumulated by the mitochondria to avoid interfering with succeeding reactions. This model predicts that persistent changes in cyclic AMP metabolism and the respiration-linked, calcium-accumulating (ion-buffering) activity of mitochondria may be responsible for the sustained growth of tumors.
A new species of Torulinium (Cyperaceae) from the Bahama Islands

Torulinium correllii is described as new, and its phylogenetic significance with respect to the taxonomic relationship betweenTorulinium andMariscus discussed.
The Perceptions of Elderly Parents about the Possibility of Discontinuing their Coresidence with Adult Children

In the United States, it is not uncommon for older adults (age 65 years or over) to live in the same households with adult children. Yet we know very little about the quality and dynamics of the interpersonal relationships within such households. In this investigation, older adults (N= 192) coresiding with adult children respond to a series of hypothetical questions about how their lives might change if they no longer lived with those children. Results indicate that the majority of parents anticipate no change in most aspects of their lives. Among those who anticipate a change, most indicate that their lives would be worse. Bivariate comparisons identify parent, child, and household characteristics that are associated with more negative expectations; however, in multivariate analyses, the marital status of the parents had the most significant and pervasive influence on the attitudes that were expressed, with unmarried elders more likely to anticipate a negative impact.
Glucosamine binding to serum proteins: Its possible relevance to cell surface and conditioned medium studies

Abstract Radioactive species in commercial preparations of [14C]glucosamine bind to macromolecular components in horse, fetal calf and human sera, as well as to bovine serum albumin. The binding appears to be non-enzymatic and is stable through extensive dialysis and acid precipitation. On the basis of competition and chromatographic experiments glucosamine appears to be the major reactive species. When chick muscle fibroblasts are grown in serum-containing medium with [14C]glucosamine, at least some of their radioactive cell surface components as well as radioactive components in the overlying conditioned medium, display chromatographic properties which are similar to those detected in complete medium which has been exposed to [14C]glucosamine in the absence of cells. Preliminary results with [3H]fucose indicate that it also binds to acid-precipitable medium proteins in the absence of cells. The possible relevance of such “anomalously labeled” serum components to the study of cell surface and conditioned medium glycoproteins is discussed.
Stokes flow through periodic arrays of spheres

We treat the problem of slow flow through a periodic array of spheres. Our interest is in the drag force exerted on the array, and hence the permeability of such arrays. It is shown to be convenient to formulate the problem as a set of two-dimensional integral equations for the unknown surface stress vector, thus lowering the dimension of the problem. This set is solved numerically to obtain the drag as a function of particle concentration and packing characteristics. Results are given over the full concentration range for simple cubic, body-centred cubic and face-centred cubic arrays and these agree well with previous limited experimental, asymptotic and numerical results.
Vacancy and substitutional solute distribution around an edge dislocation in equilibrium and in steady-state glide motion

The equilibrium vacancy and solute distribution around an edge dislocation in a non-ideal, substitutional, multicomponent solid solution of arbitrary composition is determined. The equilibrium cond...
Photogeneration of free radicals from eumelanogenic intermediates and metabolites

We have recently demonstrated that cysteinyldopas, pheomelanogenic precursors and excreted eumelanogenic metabolites, are photolabile and initiate DNA damage in vitro. In this study we have extended our photochemical investigations to eumelanogenic indole intermediates and metabolites. Continuous-wave photolysis of 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI), 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA), or its 5-methoxylated metabolite (HMICA) with biologically relevant ultraviolet radiation (i.e., wavelengths greater than 300 nm) resulted in rapid destruction of starting material. Using ESR spin-trapping techniques we observed the initial production of free radical species; prolonged photolysis resulted in the formation of polymeric photoproducts. Radicals were trapped by the nitrone spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) and characterized by their ESR spectra as hydrated electrons and hydrogen atoms. Experiments further demonstrated that while DHI photoionizes, the two indole-2-carboxylic acid derivatives do not ionize appreciably upon irradiation, rather homolysis of X-H bonds appears to be a significant photochemical pathway. The potential photobiological significance of melanogenic indole intermediates is discussed.
Selection of doublet cellular patterns in directional solidification through spatially periodic perturbations

Pattern formation at the solid-liquid interface of a growing crystal was studied in directional solidification using a perturbation technique. We analyzed both experimentally and numerically the stability range and dynamical selection of cellular arrays of {open_quotes}doublets{close_quotes} with asymmetric tip shapes, separated by alternate deep and shallow grooves. Applying an initial periodic perturbation of arbitrary wavelength to the unstable planar interface allowed us to force the interface to evolve into doublet states that would not otherwise be dynamically accessible from a planar interface. We determined systematically the ranges of wavelength corresponding to stable singlets, stable doublets, and transient unstable patterns. Experimentally, this was accomplished by applying a brief UV light pulse of a desired spatial periodicity to the planar interface during the planar-cellular transient using the model alloy Succinonitrile-Coumarin 152. Numerical simulations of the nonlinear evolution of the interface were performed starting from a small sinusoidal perturbation of the steady-state planar interface. These simulations were carried out using a computationally efficient phase-field symmetric model of directional solidification with recently reformulated asymptotics and vanishing kinetics [A. Karma and W.-J. Rappel, Phys. Rev. E {bold 53} R3017 (1996); Phys. Rev. Lett. {bold 77}, 4050 (1996); Phys. Rev. E {bold 57}, 4323 (1998)], whichmore » allowed us to simulate spatially extended arrays that can be meaningfully compared to experiments. Simulations and experiments show remarkable qualitative agreement in the dynamic evolution, steady-state structure, and instability mechanisms of doublet cellular arrays. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}« less
Software contributions to aircraft adverse events: Case studies and analyses of recurrent accident patterns and failure mechanisms☆

Abstract Software is central to aircraft flight operation, and by the same token it is playing an increasing role in aircraft incidents and accidents. Software related errors have distinctive failure mechanisms, and their contributions to aircraft accident sequences are not properly understood or captured by traditional risk analysis techniques. To better understand these mechanisms, we analyze in this work five recent aircraft accidents and incidents involving software. For each case, we identify the role of software and analyze its contributions to the sequence of events leading to the accident. We adopt a visualization tool based on the Sequential Timed Event Plotting (STEP) methodology to highlight the software's interaction with sensors and other aircraft subsystems, and its contributions to the incident/accident. The case studies enable an in-depth analysis of recurrent failure mechanisms and provide insight into the causal chain and patterns through which software contributes to adverse events. For example, the case studies illustrate how software related failures can be context- or situation-dependent, situations that may have been overlooked during software verification and validation or testing. The case studies also identify the critical role of flawed sensor inputs as a key determinant or trigger of “dormant” software defects. In some cases, we find that software features put in place to address certain risks under nominal operating conditions are the ones that lead or contribute to accidents under off-nominal or unconsidered conditions. The case studies also demonstrate that the software may be complying with its requirements but still place the aircraft in a hazardous state or contribute to an adverse event. This result challenges the traditional notion, articulated in most standards, of software failure as non-compliance with requirements, and it invites a careful re-thinking of this and related concepts. We provide a careful review of these terms (software error, fault, failure), propose a synthesis of recurrent patterns of software contributions to adverse events and their triggering mechanisms, and conclude with some preliminary recommendations for tackling them.
Algorithm for classification of multispectral data and its implementation on a massively parallel computer

A new method for classification of multi-spectral data is proposed. This method is based on fitting mixtures of multivariate Gaussian components to training and unlabeled samples by using the EM algorithm. Through a backtracking search strategy with appropriate depth bounds, a series of mixture models are compared. The validity of the candidate models are evaluated by considering their description lengths and allocation rates. The most suitable model is selected and the multi-spectral data are classified accordingly. The EM algorithm is mapped onto a massively parallel computer system to reduce the computational cost. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is more robust against variations in training samples than the conventional supervised Gaussian maximum likelihood classifier.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Internal-External Control and Motivations for Alcohol Use among High School Students

Internal-External locus of control and alcohol use were investigated among high school students, and it was found that external control was positively related to problem-oriented motivations and so...
On the measurement of haze

Possible pitfalls and errors in the measurement of haze by ASTM Method D 1003 are pointed out and discussed. This property is an important measure of the optical clarity of plastic films and sheets. Although special hazemeters are usually used for the measurement, it is demonstrated that accurate haze measurements can be performed by using widely available integrating-sphere spectrophotometers. Additional advantages of obtaining both spectrophotometric and goniophotometric data for the characterization and interpretation of haze are pointed out.
Oyster shucking technologies: past and present

A review of oyster shucking technologies from the nineteenth century to the present day is presented, comparing advantages and disadvantages of various mechanical, thermal, pressure and other technologies.
500-volt resolution with a Si(Li) detector using a cooled FET preamplifier

Abstract A low-energy gamma-ray spectrometer, consisting of a Si(Li) detector and a cooled FET preamplifier, is described. At low energies (6.4 keV), the system resolution was 0.46 keV)
Optic Disk Neovascularization Associated with Chronic Uveitis

Disk neovascularization associated with chronic uvetitis occurred in five patients. The uveitis was most frequently diagnosed as chronic cyclitis, with a marked inflammatory cell response in the vitreous body. Using direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, slit-lamp biomicroscopy with the Goldmann contact lens, perimetry, and fluorescein angiography and angioscopy, we found no areas of vascular occlusion or nonperfusion. Inflammation probably produced chemical mediators capable of traveling to the optic disk and inducing neovascular proliferation, in the absence of retinal vascular occlusion.
Second-Generation Policy Priorities for Colonias and Informal Settlements in Texas

Along the Texas border with Mexico, more than 400,000 people live in over 2,000 informal self-help settlements known as colonias. These exceedingly low-income, largely Latino settlements have historically suffered from severe health risks, poor infrastructure and housing conditions, and physical and social isolation. Researchers and policymakers have focused extensively on what I call “first-generation policy priorities.” This has primarily entailed efforts to regularize title and infrastructure, support self-help home improvement for colonia homeowners, and prevent the growth of new informal settlements along the border region. I provide a comprehensive review of existing research on colonias to document the myriad ways in which housing and infrastructure conditions and titling practices have changed since these settlements first proliferated throughout the border region in the second half of the 20th century. These changes necessitate a rethinking of the policy priorities for colonias and informal settl...
On the Application of Pattern Recognition and AI Technique to the Cytoscreening of Vaginal Smears by Computer

In this paper the concepts of pattern recognition, image processing and artificial intelligence are applied to the development of an intelligent cytoscreening system to differentiate the abnormal cytological objects from the normal ones in vaginal smears. To achieve this goal,work listed below are involved: 1. Enhancement of the microscopic images of the smears; 2. Elevation of the qualitative differentiation under the microscope by cytologists to a quantitative differentiation plateau on the epithelial cells, ciliated cells, vacuolated cells, foreign-body-giant cells, plasma cells, lymph cells, white blood cells, red blood cells, etc. These knowledges are to be inputted into our intelligent cyto-screening system to ameliorate machine differentiation; 3. Selection of a set of effective features to characterize the cytological objects onto various regions of the multiclustered by computer algorithms; and 4. Systematical summarization of the knowledge that a gynecologist has and the way he/she follows when dealing with a case.
Deployment of wireless mobile detection and surveillance for data-intensive applications

Real-time information about traffic conditions is vital in construction, advanced traffic management systems, advanced traffic information systems, and other operational or design activities. Traditionally, at most permanent installations, such information is captured by in-pavement sensors and transmitted through land-based communications. However, temporary detection and surveillance are often needed as alternatives to the permanent sensor and camera systems at construction sites, during special events, or during communication or sensor failures. In such cases, temporary detection and surveillance must be reliable and low cost. Recent advances in wireless technologies have enabled development of portable detection and surveillance systems that can detect traffic, collect measurements, capture live video, and transmit this information wirelessly back to the supervising station to facilitate rapid, inexpensive, and efficient deployment. However, to make widespread use practical, further improvements are needed in robustness, ease of use, functionality, and cost reduction. A low-cost, easily deployable detection and surveillance system is presented. The system integrates machine vision sensors for data collection, compressed digital video for surveillance, and wireless communications for information retrieval and remote control. It can be placed on existing or mobile structures and assembled with off-the-shelf components to serve department of transportation needs for both temporary traffic monitoring and planning and research data collection. Four of these advanced detection systems were deployed at a 1.7-mi site for wireless, continuous coverage, allowing detailed real-time data collection and surveillance. This data- and video-intensive deployment serves as a live laboratory for applications ranging from evaluation of new technologies (such as sensors, video, wireless communications) to testing of advanced traffic-simulation models or refinement of accident-prevention studies.
Toward Cultural Analysis in Policy Analysis: Picking Up Where Aaron Wildavsky Left Off

To generate policy alternatives and offer policy advice, the policy analysis and planning literature counsels analysts to assess the values and beliefs of policy actors, as well as the organizational and political contexts in which an analyst's proposed solution will have to be enacted and implemented, but does not further specify what these values, beliefs, and contexts might be. Analysts can anticipate the kinds of political values and the kinds of beliefs about human nature, the environment, and the economy that are likely to be associated with different forms of social organization by relying on Mary Douglas and Aaron Wildavsky's theory of culture. Additionally, this form of cultural analysis will allow analysts to deduce which policy problems are most likely to arise, which policy solutions are most likely to be feasible, and which policy advocacy coalitions are most probable in different cultural contexts.
A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technique to detect feline cytokine genes

The ability to detect feline cytokine expression would allow further characterization of the feline immune system. Bioassays are currently available for the measurement of feline IL2, IL6 and TNF alpha but not for other biologically important cytokines. To detect the expression of other cytokines, a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) procedure was developed. Since feline cytokine gene sequences other than TNF alpha were not available, mammalian DNA and mRNA sequences for IL2, IFN gamma, IL4, IL6, IL10, IL12 and beta-actin, obtained from the Genbank database were compared and oligonucleotide primers chosen from consensus sequences. To validate the cytokine and beta-actin primers, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from specific pathogen free (SPF) cats were cultured in the presence of Con A for various periods of time (0-72 h). RNA was collected, reverse transcribed into cDNA, and the cDNA was amplified by PCR with each set of cytokine primer pairs. RT-PCR products were hybridized with specific 32P end-labeled internal oligonucleotide probes and then analyzed with the AMBIS imaging system to determine the kinetics of cytokine mRNA production. The beta-actin signal was used to control for sample to sample variation in the quantity of mRNA and variation in the RT and PCR reactions. Peak mRNA expression for most cytokines was found to occur between 2 to 4 h of Con A stimulation. mRNA expression was correlated with cytokine bioactivity for IL2 and IL6. Peak IL2 bioactivity occurred after 8 h of Con A stimulation, 4 h after the mRNA expression had peaked. Although IL6 mRNA expression peaked between 2 and 4 h of stimulation, bioactivity was not detected until 8 h of stimulation and continued to increase over the next 24-48 h.
Implementation of the american college of surgeons oncology group z1071 trial data in clinical practice: is there a way forward for sentinel lymph node dissection in clinically node-positive breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy?

For clinically node-positive breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, approximately 40 % will be found to be pathologically node negative. The American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z1071 trial was therefore conducted to evaluate sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) in these patients. The trial’s primary end point was to determine the false-negative rate (FNR) among patients with clinical N1 disease in whom at least 2 sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) were identified. The FNR was 12.6 %, which exceeded the prespecified end point of 10.0 %. After data publication, our multidisciplinary team discussed the trial results and how we may incorporate the findings into clinical practice. Patient selection and surgical technique are critical. As an example, when dual tracer technique was used, the FNR was 10.8 %. Data from the trial presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium suggested that the FNR could be improved if a clip was placed in the biopsy-proven positive lymph node and removal of that node during SLND was confirmed. Taking this into consideration, we have proposed an approach to surgical management of the axilla in clinically node-positive patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy termed targeted axillary dissection (TAD). TAD involves placing a clip at the time a lymph node is determined to be positive. After completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the clipped node is localized by using a wire or radioactive seed, and during the SLND procedure, all SLNs and the clipped node are removed. We are currently evaluating the efficacy of TAD in axillary staging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
BEYOND HOME/HOST NETWORKS: FORMS OF SOLIDARITY AMONG LEBANESE IMMIGRANTS IN A GLOBAL ERA

This article draws on postcolonial understandings in order to offer a sociological analysis of Lebanese immigrants in Montreal, New York City and Paris. I argue that the concept of diaspora provides a framework for understanding the contradictory aspects of Lebanese immigrant experiences, as some immigrants may undergo a process of assimilation while others continue to hold on to their ethnic identities. Investigating Lebanese immigrant communities as a diaspora leads to the understanding of the ways immigrants construct solidarities that include their homeland, host societies, and the larger diaspora community in various parts of the world. As an analytical framework, “diaspora” incorporates multiple loyalties and attachments that are integral to processes of international migration. Thus, the framework of diaspora promises significant contributions to the understanding of the complex dynamics involved in migration and globalization.
Recurrent eruption following a solitary envenomation by the cnidarian Stomolophous meleagris

J.W. Burnett and G.J. Calton. Recurrent eruption following a solitary envenomation by the cnidarian Stomolophous meleagris. Toxicon23, 1010–1014, 1985. — The case history of a patient who developed a linear erythematous eruption on the ankle after envenomation by Stomolophous meleagris is described. This eruption subsided within 20 hr and recurred without subsequent envenomation 7 days later. The recurrent eruption was similar in morphology to the original lesion, but was accompanied by stiffness and edema. Examination of biopsied skin from the recurrent eruption showed a perivascular mononuclear cell dermal infiltrate. No abnormal deposits of immune globulins or complement were found in this specimen. The patient's serum contained antibodies to Stomolophous antigen and two other jellyfish. Two screening tests of lymphocyte function were negative upon exposure to Stomolophous antigen. This was the first reported case of recurrent local eruption to a single human envenomation by this coelenterate, which usually is regarded as relatively harmless to man.
Self-assembled Ge quantum dots on Si and their applications

Abstract Ge quantum dots have been grown on Si by self-assembling in the Stranski–Krastanov growth mode using molecular beam epitaxy. The topics to be addressed are size uniformity control and exact placement of dots. Possible device application discussions show that Ge quantum dots may be used for mid-infrared photodetectors, lasers, resonant tunneling diodes, thermoelectric cooler, cellular automata, and quantum computer, etc.
Scanning tunneling microscope investigation of local density of states in Al-doped ZnO thin films

The electrical properties of grain boundaries in technologically relevant oxide thin films are the subject of both applied and fundamental research. Here we present an investigation of the local density of states (LDOS) in sputtered Al-doped ZnO using a scanning tunneling microscope. We observe a pronounced difference in the tunneling conductivity recorded on- and off-grain, with the grain boundary LDOS peaked $~$600 meV below the Fermi level. This provides a direct measurement of the distribution of charge traps that is of relevance in advancing understanding of carrier conduction in this transparent conducting oxide.
Spanish Translation and Validation of the Preschool Activity Card Sort

Few standardized assessments exist for children living in the United States who are Hispanic/Latino. This study reports the Spanish translation process for the Preschool Activity Card Sort (PACS), ...
Defects in tungsten responsible for molecular hydrogen isotope retention after exposure to low energy plasmas

Recent work on hydrogen isotope retention in tungsten has shown a substantial fraction of the retained hydrogen to be in the form of molecules. It can be expected that hydrogen permeating through a material such as tungsten, that has a very low solubility for hydrogen, would come out of solution and combine into molecules at voids located throughout the bulk. The purpose of this report is to determine the type of voids responsible for the molecular retention. High purity tungsten provided by Plansee Aktiengesellschaft was first polished, annealed at 1273 K in vacuum for one hour, and then exposed to high fluxes and high fluences of deuterium in the PISCES facility. High resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy was then used to examine the samples for voids. The results of these experiments were used to interpret the expected behavior of tungsten to be used as the divertor of the ITER fusion device.
Discussion of "Financial Ratios and Corporate Endurance: A Case of the Oil and Gas Industry"*

The paper by Chen and Lee is interesting in that it presents an applic:ation of survival analysis in predicting corporate financial distress. The oil and gas indusljy is used as an example. It will be noted later that an earlier paper by Lane, Looney, and Wansley (1986) used the Cox propcMtional hazard model to predict bankruptcy in the banking industry. Although Chen and Lee mention the existence of that article, they do not give it adequate credit. My discussionconsistsof (1) a briefoverview of the experimental design typically used in survival analysis and its applicability to finandal distress, (2) concern about the hazard-proportionality assumption, (3) the infonnation gained beyond an application of ordinary least squares, and (4) the contribution to the literature.