cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Representation Of 3-D Objects Using Non-Rigid Connection Of Components

Few three-dimensional object representation systems allow non-rigid connections between components of the object. We define a representation scheme that permits parameterized non-rigid connections, allowing one definition to specify a range of permissible configurations of an aggregate object. This representation can be used to generate 3-D instantiations of particular configurations, and 2-D projected images of particular 3-D instantiations. General issues involved in constructing such an object representation are outlined. The syntax of component description and connection types for our specific system is reviewed, along with the semantics of the allowable ranges of movement associated with each connection type. The actual representation system modules are also described.
One- and Two-Metal Ion Catalysis of the Hydrolysis of Adenosine 3‘-Alkyl Phosphate Esters. Models for One- and Two-Metal Ion Catalysis of RNA Hydrolysis

Adenosine 3‘-O(PO2-)OCH2R phosphate esters have been synthesized with R = 8-hydroxyquinol-2-yl (1a) and 8-(hydroxyquinolyl)-2-methylene (1b). The adenosine 3‘-O(PO2-)OCH2R structure has the essential features of an RNA dinucleotide. Equilibrium binding studies with metal ions Mg2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, and La3+ have been carried out with 1a, 1b, HOCH2R (7a and 7b), and 8-hydroxyquinoline (8), and equilibrium constants (Kas) have been determined for the formation of 1:1 (L)Mn+ complexes. The hydrolysis of 1a and 1b as well as (1a)Mn+ and (1b)Mn+ species are first order in HO-. The rate enhancement for hydrolysis of 1a by complexation with metal ions is as follows: ∼105 with Zn2+, ∼103 with Mg2+, ∼105 with Cu2+, and ∼109 with La3+. Molecular modeling indicates that metal ions ligated to the 8-hydroxyquinoline moiety in the complexes (1a)Mn+ and (1b)Mn+ catalyze 1a and 1b hydrolysis by interacting as Lewis acid catalysts with the negatively charged oxygen atom of the phosphate group. In the instance of La3+ complexe...
The Economic Evolution of the Imperial (U.S.A.) and Mexicali (Mexico) Valleys

This investigation focuses on the historical development of two contiguous agricultural regions: the Imperial Valley in California (U.S.A.) and the Mexicali Valley in Baja California-Norte (Mexico) . Economic development in this area in the twentieth century indicates that interdependence between the economies of the United States and Mexico is not a recent phenomenon. Contemporary growth of the region has been largely integrated and simultaneous, although the U.S.-Mexico border zone as a whole has experienced uneven economic development over both space and time. The Imperial-Mexicali area in particular manifested rapid agricultural growth in the pre-World War II years. This change predated by decades the growth of industry in urban centers along the border which captured the attention of scholars in the 1970s and 1980s. Although the area interests border scholars, geographers and others, no one has sufficiently studied it. In what follows I use an interdisciplinary approach - borrowing from regional geography, cultural anthropology, agricultural economics and political science - to point out the specificity of the area as a subregion of the border zone. As the integration of the economies of North America proceeds apace, it is important to evaluate the long-term "silent" integration of the Imperial-Mexicali area from the turn of the century onward.
Reevaluation of Electrophoresis in the Drosophila Egg Chamber

To evaluate the hypothesis of electrophoretic transport of cytoplasmic components, the transfollicle potentials of Drosophila oocytes and nurse cells were measured using improved techniques. We found input resistances 20 to 1000 times higher than those in previous reports. Measurements were made in a large variety of conditions: in external potassium concentrations from 1 to 100 mM, over the concomitant membrane potential range -84 to -23 mV, from developmental stages 5 to 10, and with or without using hemolymph, anesthetics, or collagenase. In all of these circumstances, no voltage gradient was detectable with intracellular microelectrodes from nurse cells to oocyte or between nurse cells. No voltage gradient was detected with external suction electrodes. Our results do not support the electrophoretic theory.
Philosophy and the perils of commitment: A comparison of Lukacs and Heidegger

(1988). Philosophy and the perils of commitment: A comparison of Lukacs and Heidegger. History of European Ideas: Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 305-320.
Elastic constants of amorphous and single-crystal Pd40Cu40P20

Abstract We have measured the adiabatic second-order elastic constants of amorphous Pd40Cu40P20 (isotropic, two independent elastic constants) and single-crystal Pd40Cu40P20 (tetragonal, six independent elastic constants) over the range 3.9
Telomere dysfunction and tumour suppression: the senescence connection

Long-lived organisms such as humans have evolved several intrinsic tumour suppressor mechanisms to combat the slew of oncogenic somatic mutations that constantly arise in proliferating stem-cell compartments. One of these anticancer barriers is the telomere, a specialized nucleoprotein complex that caps the ends of eukaryotic chromosome. Impaired telomere function activates the canonical DNA damage response pathway that engages p53 to initiate apoptosis or replicative senescence. Here, we discuss how p53-dependent senescence induced by dysfunctional telomeres may be as potent as apoptosis in suppressing tumorigenesis in vivo.
Effect of chronic administration of propranolol on the blood pressure and heart weight in experimental renal hypertension

Abstract Chronic administration of propranolol did not alter the course of severe renal hypertension in the rat. Twenty and forty days after the induction of hypertension, blood pressure, ventricular weight and plasma renin concentration were determined. On day forty, at equivalent levels of blood pressure, the ventricular and the ventricular/body weight ratio was significantly lower in the propranolol treated group (18.6%; 22.9%). It is suggested that propranolol may mitigate the cardiac hypertrophy associated with hypertension. This effect is independent of the blood pressure.
The "Lake Wobegon effect": Implications for the assessment of exceptional children

In 1988, the summer issue of Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice was devoted to discussions of the “Lake Wobegon effect.” This effect refers to Cannell's (1987) conclusion that all 50 states were above the national average in performance on standardized achievement tests. Subsequent research has tended to support several of Cannell's claims. However, commentary and research to date have focused exclusively on regular education. This article describes the Lake Wobegon effect and its implications for the assessment of exceptional children.
Realtime loop subdivision on the GPU

Recently, [1] showed that, in principle, all major features of subdivision algorithms can be realized in the framework of highly parallel stream processing. The authors tested the approach by implementing Catmull-Clark subdivision, with semi-smooth creases and global boundaries, in programmable graphics hardware, at near-realtime speed. Here, we report on adapting the approach to Loop subdivision, discussing challenges we encountered.
Effects of anions on chemical instabilities in the oxidation of formic acid

Abstract Results are presented from experiments conducted on the electrochemical oxidation of formic acid at polycrystalline Pt under constant current conditions. Sulfuric acid and perchloric acid with and without small amounts of HCl were used as supporting electrolytes. The onset of distinctive instabilities, not observed in the HCl-free perchloric acid solution, occurred when the concentration of HCl reached 5 × 106 M. For [HCl] = 1 × 106 M, the observed instabilities were essentially the same as those seen in the HCl-free solution. The result indicates that instabilities might be used for the detection of fairly small anion concentrations. Instabilities observed using the sulfuric acid solution and those observed using the perchloric acid solution were drastically different. A greater extent of adsorption of a given anion cannot be the only reason for the different behaviors. It is argued that anions are directly involved in the oxidation process.
Geometric registration method for sensor fusion

ABSTRACT Using single sensor for reasoning is not adequate for operations in a complicate and dynamic en­ vironment and is not suitable for detecting features inferred from multiple modality sensor information. In order to reduce uncertainty about the target and achieve fault tolerant ability, using multiple sensors to provide more information is desired. Since each sensor offers unique scene attribute and contextual information, data gathered from different sensor sources may have different spatial resolutions and various relative orientations between the target and the sensor. In addition, the dimension of the sensor data may vary from one dimension to N dimensions. In order to correlate data from multiple sensor sources, registration between the sensor data and the world coordinate system is required for both voxel-based sensor fusion and feature-based information fusion. It is obviously that the success of the voxel based sensor fusion is heavily relied on the registration accuracy. On the other hand, geometric information is required to be associated with the extracted features either from a single sensor source or from multiple sensor sources for accurate global description in feature-based information fusion.
Effect of a Novel Financial Incentive Program on Operating Room Efficiency

Importance Operating room (OR) turnaround times (TATs) and on-time first-case starts (FCSs) are commonly used measures of OR efficiency. Prolonged TATs and late FCSs occur frequently at academic medical centers. Objective To test the hypothesis that establishing a financial incentive program (FIP) for OR teams would improve efficiency, leading to decreased TATs and improved on-time FCSs. Design, Setting, and Participants Prospective study to evaluate the effect of an FIP on OR efficiency between March 1, 2013, and December 31, 2013, at a freestanding academic trauma hospital. Participants were all OR team members and included anesthesiologists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurses, and technicians. Interventions Operating room efficiency awareness education was conducted before FIP implementation beginning in February 2013. Each eligible OR team member achieving a TAT of 60 minutes or less or an on-time FCS was awarded 1 point. Reports listing individual performances were posted. Pay bonuses were awarded for achieving 1 of 3 progressive point totals in any month. Main Outcomes and Measures Outcomes were TAT, which was defined as “wheels out” to “wheels in,” and on-time FCS, which was defined as “wheels in” within 6 minutes of the scheduled start time. Results Before FIP implementation, the mean TAT varied between 77 and 83 minutes, with only 18% to 26% of TATs being 60 minutes or less; on-time FCSs averaged 29% to 34%. After FIP implementation, on-time FCSs improved from 31% to 64% ( P P Conclusions and Relevance A novel FIP improved OR efficiency. Given the small amount of money involved, it seems unlikely that financial incentives were solely responsible. Effectively communicating the importance of TATs and on-time FCSs and publishing individual results more likely increased staff awareness. Teamwork created by linking assignment of points to a team result likely contributed to success.
Surgical treatment of acutepatellar dislocation

Abstract Acute, primary patellar dislocation is a common injury for which no standard treatment has yet been established.The lack of success with conservative management has led many surgeons to recommend early operative intervention. Although surgical procedures have effectively reduced the rate of redislocation, many patients still fail to achieve satisfactory outcomes because of persistent anterior knee pain and continued subluxation. Recent studies have provided a better understanding of the pathoanatomy associated with acute patellar dislocation, enabling surgeons to select techniques that will more appropriately address the essential anatomic lesions of this injury. Restoration of extensor mechanism anatomy should lead to more successful results with fewer adverse outcomes. In this article, the authors briefly review the natural history of acute patellar dislocations and describe their approach for evaluation and management, with emphasis on acute surgical repair techniques.
Stochastic simulation of spatially correlated geo-processes

In this study, developments in the theory of stochastic simulation are discussed. The unifying element is the notion of Radon projection in Euclidean spaces. This notion provides a natural way of reconstructing the real process from a corresponding process observable on a reduced dimensionality space, where analysis is theoretically easier and computationally tractable. Within this framework, the concept of space transformation is defined and several of its properties, which are of significant importance within the context of spatially correlated processes, are explored. The turning bands operator is shown to follow from this. This strengthens considerably the theoretical background of the geostatistical method of simulation, and some new results are obtained in both the space and frequency domains. The inverse problem is solved generally and the applicability of the method is extended to anisotropic as well as integrated processes. Some ill-posed problems of the inverse operator are discussed. Effects of the measurement error and impulses at origin are examined. Important features of the simulated process as described by geomechanical laws, the morphology of the deposit, etc., may be incorporated in the analysis. The simulation may become a model-dependent procedure and this, in turn, may provide numerical solutions to spatial-temporal geologic models. Because the spatial simūlation may be technically reduced to unidimensional simulations, various techniques of generating one-dimensional realizations are reviewed. To link theory and practice, an example is computed in detail.
An artificial intelligence approach to loading workstation resources in a distributed job shop controller

Abstract Job shop control involves directing the flow of work through a manufacturing job shop. After reviewing the shop control problem and various approaches towards its solution which have been described in the literature, this paper presents a brief overview of a shop activity manager (SAM), a shop controller which has a distributed architecture and which is based on artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. Attention is then focused on one aspect of the system: the approach used to avoid, as far as possible, overloading any manufacturing resource in the shop with more work than it can handle.
Voter Ideology and Candidate Positioning in the 2008 Presidential Election

Although classic Downsian theory predicts that candidates should converge to the ideological position of the median voter in the electorate, American elections generally feature major party candida...
The Sorbitol Phosphotransferase System Is Responsible for Transport of 2-C-Methyl-d-Erythritol into Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate is the first committed intermediate in the biosynthesis of the isoprenoid precursors isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl diphosphate. Supplementation of the growth medium with 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol has been shown to complement disruptions in the Escherichia coli gene for 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase, the enzyme that synthesizes the immediate precursor of 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate. In order to be utilized in isoprenoid biosynthesis, 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol must be phosphorylated. We describe the construction of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain RMC26, in which the essential gene encoding 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase has been disrupted by insertion of a synthetic mevalonate operon consisting of the yeast ERG8, ERG12, and ERG19 genes, responsible for converting mevalonate to isopentenyl diphosphate under the control of an arabinose-inducible promoter. Random mutagenesis of RMC26 produced defects in the sorbitol phosphotransferase system that prevented the transport of 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol into the cell. RMC26 and mutant strains of RMC26 unable to grow on 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol were incubated in buffer containing mevalonate and deuterium-labeled 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol. Ubiquinone-8 was isolated from these cells and analyzed for deuterium content. Efficient incorporation of deuterium was observed for RMC26. However, there was no evidence of deuterium incorporation into the isoprenoid side chain of ubiquinone Q8 in the RMC26 mutants.
Efficient Computational Techniques for Simulating Communication Antennas&#8212;Large and Small

Despite the development of a wide variety of antenna modeling codes, including a large number of commercial ones that are of excellent quality, the design of communication and radar antennas - both large and small - continue to challenge us because of their multiscale and complex nature. In this paper we will discuss a number of antenna modeling and design problems that we have encountered in recent years, and present real-world some approaches that have been successfully used to address them. We consider reflector antennas systems and feeds, conformal arrays on curved surfaces, antennas mounted on complex platforms, e.g., an aircraft or the topside of a ship. We also provide illustration examples of small antennas integrated with metamaterials that can be computed-intensive to analyze and microstrip arrays for which efficient simulation methods are needed
A COMPARISON OF CRITERIA FOR TEST VALIDATION: A META‐ANALYTIC INVESTIGATION

Meta-analyses of validity coefficients from tests of clerical abilities for five criteria—supervisor ratings, supervisor rankings, work samples, production quantity, and production quality—were conducted, and the resulting expected true validities were compared. Ratings, rankings, work samples, and production quantity all resulted in high test validities. Validities resulting from ratings and quantity-of-production criteria were highly similar across tests. Validities resulting from rankings and work samples were on the average higher than those from ratings and quantity of production. The fifth criterion, quality of production, had low predictability and did not generalize across situations.
The "Jewish Question" on Both Sides of the Atlantic: Harrington and the Correspondence between Maria Edgeworth and Rachel Mordecai Lazarus

Maria Edgeworth, in her novel Harrington (1817), was one of the first proponents of religious and cultural tolerance of the small but growing Jewish population in Great Britain. Edgeworth suggested that the best method of counteracting the irrational biases reinforced by drama and fiction was by gaining positive, firsthand experience of the lives of individuals within London’s Jewish community. Ironically, however, in depicting Jewish characters, she relied almost entirely on the representations of Jews offered by books. The inspiration for Harrington had been the introductory letter from an American Jew, Rachel Mordecai Lazarus; their twenty-three year correspondence, although postdating the novel’s publication, nevertheless helps to explain the limitations of Harrington and points toward some of the reasons why Edgeworth never moved beyond a text-based understanding of Judaism and, after one foray, never wrote on Jewish subjects again. In their mutual inability to probe Judaism, Edgeworth and Lazarus revealed key facets of the “Jewish Question” at the turn of the nineteenth century. Hampered by her own cultural barriers, like Richard Cumberland before her, and Walter Scott after, Edgeworth adopted a technique that rendered her novel an inaccurate account of Anglo-Jewish life and that disappointed her readers; Harrington finally managed only to depict Jewish assimilation instead of achieving Edgeworth’s initial aim of fostering tolerance for Jewish difference.
Pitch strength of iterated rippled noise when the pitch is ambiguous

Two versions of a cascade of delay, gain following delay, and add circuits were used to generate iterated rippled noise (IRN) stimuli. IRN stimuli produce a repetition pitch whose pitch strength relative to the noise percept can be varied by changing the type of circuit, the attenuation, or the number of iterations in the circuit. The repetition pitch of IRN is different when the delayed noise is subtracted (gain 0) to the undelayed noise. In the case of subtraction, IRN pitch is often ambiguous having two or more pitches. Listeners were asked to use pitch strength to discriminate between various pairs of IRN stimuli generated with different gains, different network circuits, and different number of iterations. For most conditions the gain was less than one. The data were described by a description based on an exponential function of the largest peak of the autocorrelation function of IRN stimuli [W. A. Yost, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 100, 511–518 (1996)] processed such that the spectral dominance region is emphasized. These results suggest that the strength of the pitch of IRN stimuli can be described by temporal processing mechanisms as might be revealed by autocorrelation.
Seasonal and pulsatile dynamics of thyrotropin and leptin in mares maintained under a constant energy balance.

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine if seasonal and/or pulsatile variations occur in plasma concentrations of thyrotropin (TSH) and leptin in mares while maintaining a constant energy balance. Blood samples were collected every 20 min during a 24 h period in winter and again in summer from six Quarter Horse type mares. Plasma concentrations of TSH, leptin, and T 4 were determined by radioimmunoassay. No differences were observed in body weight between winter (388.1 ± 12.5 kg) and summer (406.2 ± 12.5 kg; P = 0.11). Plasma concentrations of TSH were greater in the summer (2.80 ± 0.07 ng/ml) when compared to winter (0.97 ± 0.07 ng/ml; P P = 0.49). Mean TSH pulse amplitude, pulse area, and area under the curve were all greater in summer compared to winter (3.11 ± 0.10 ng/ml versus 1.20 ± 0.10 ng/ml, 24.86 ± 0.10 ng/ml min versus 13.46 ± 1.90 ng/ml min, 3936 ± 72.93 ng/ml versus 1284 ± 72.93 ng/ml, respectively; P P 4 were greater in winter (20.3 ± 0.4 ng/ml) compared to summer (18.2 ± 0.4 ng/ml; P
Clinical implications of cocaine-induced cortical depression.

SirWe concur with Dackis and O’Brien’s view that prefrontalcortex dysfunction represents a cardinal feature of cocaineabuse. Although in vivo recordings from our and otherslaboratories (Chang et al, 1997, 1998, 2000) implicate acommon set of changes in electrophysiological indices inprefrontal cortex neurons after acute and chronic stimulantexposure, the precise synaptic mechanisms mediating thesealterations remain unknown. We therefore emphasize theprobable dependence of complex psychopathologic featuresof addiction on the canonical cortico-striatal-pallido-thalamo-cortical loops that are clearly implicated in manyaspects of cognitive, motor, and affective function (Haber,2003), and that are direct mediators of recidivism-likephenomena (Kalivas and Volkow, 2005).Elegant work by Steriade and colleagues (Steriade andDeschenes, 1984; Steriade and Timofeev, 2003) indicatesthat thalamic inputs to the neocortex as well as cortico-cortical connections (Timofeev et al, 2000) are importantregulators of spike activity, as well as of the bistablemembrane potentials recorded from prefrontal neurons invivo. When taken together with the growing evidence fordirect actions of stimulant drugs on pallidal and thalamicneurons (Lavin and Grace, 1998), it becomes apparent thatsubcortical actions of addictive agents could disrupt corticalneuron function either directly or through complex multi-synaptic actions. Indeed, Jentsch and Taylor (1999) haveemphasized how drug effects on multiple cortical andsubcortical brain regions may be required to sustain thecompulsive aspects of drug addiction. We thereforeadditionally stress these larger circuit actions of stimulantdrugs in the key psychological features of addiction notedby Dackis and O’Brien.Much remains unknown about the subcellular causes ofdysfunction of these neuronal loops. New work hasemphasized mechanism implicating LTP (Borgland et al,2004; Saal et al, 2003; Ungless et al, 2001), intracellularsignaling proteins (Szumlinski et al, 2004; Bowers et al,2004; Nestler, 2004), and monoamine neurotransmitters(Volkow et al, 2004). In vivo recordings will be but part ofthe experimental repertoire required to reveal thesechanges.The authors thank Dr David J Jentsch for his valuablecomments.REFERENCES
STANDARD ERROR CALCULATIONS FOR NON-SEASALT CONSTITUENTS IN MARINE PRECIPITATION

Pollutant transport studies and investigations of geochemical cycling often involve calculation of excess (non-seasalt) concentrations for various ions found in precipitation. Excess concentrations are calculated from measurements of the concentrations of a reference species and the species of interest. Formulas for determining the accuracy of calculated excess concentrations are necessary because this accuracy can vary significantly from sample to sample within the same data set, as well as from one study to another. The formulas derived in this paper demonstrate that the standard error of calculated excess concentrations is dependent on the nature and magnitude of the analytical errors made in measuring total concentrations. Application to a real data set indicates that this standard error is often greater than the calculated excess concentration, and that the standard error may vary by orders of magnitude for various samples in the same data set. The magnitude of the potential errors has important implications for the reliability of conclusions based on calculated excess concentrations, while the sample-to-sample variation of these errors complicates the process of determining the accuracy of summary statistics such as the volume-weighted mean concentration. In addition, these variations in accuracy can obscure the relationships between excess concentrations and other variables, both chemical and meteorological. This complicates investigations of source-receptor relationships and geochemical cycling, and may lead to faulty conclusions.
Bilayer phases in aqueous mixtures of dodecylpentaoxyethylene glycol monoether (C12E5) and sodium decyl sulfonate (C10SO3Na)

When small amounts of the anionic surfactant sodium decyl sulfonate (C10SO3Na) are mixed with the non-ionic surfactant dodecylpentaoxyethylene glycol monoether (C12E5) in water, the ionic surfactant has a profound influence on the equilibrium between lamellar (Lα) and L3 phases. C12E5 in water forms a highly swollen lamellar phase at elevated temperatures that is in equilibrium with an L3 phase at lower surfactant concentrations. The swollen lamellar phase is stabilized by steric interactions caused by bilayer undulations. The addition of anionic surfactant ends the swelling of the Lα phase at higher surfactant concentrations, and the L3 phase is replaced by a new bilayer phase. In the mixed surfactant Lα phase, bilayer undulations are inhibited by long-range electrostatic repulsions, and the L3 phase appears to be destabilized by changes in the preferred curvature of the bilayer as charge is added. To determine microstructure and aggregate interactions, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and static light scattering (SLS) experiments were performed as a function of temperature and added anionic surfactant. The influence of a steady increase in electrostatic interactions can be seen clearly in the SANS spectra from mixed micellar solutions. The swelling behaviour and estimates of the bilayer width can be extracted from combined SANS and SLS spectra for the lamellar phase and the new bilayer phase.
Strontium-90 Content of Deciduous Human Incisors

The concentrations of strontium-90 in deciduous incisor teeth of children born in St. Louis between 1949 to 1957 are in accord with estimated bone levels, suggesting that human deciduous teeth are useful as an index of strontium-90 accumulation during the time the teeth are formed.
BaF2 processes for YBa2Cu3O7 conductors: promises and challenges

Abstract The aspects of fabricating YBa2Cu3O7 conductors utilizing the so-called BaF2 processes are reviewed focusing on the advantages and the disadvantages of different methods of the processes. Then, the current understanding of the nucleation and growth mechanisms for YBa2Cu3O7 layers are summarized for those derived from precursor films deposited by an electron-beam-evaporation method. This will also point out the areas for which further development is required before the fabrication of technologically viable conductors becomes possible.
SPACE--TIME AND DEGREES OF FREEDOM OF THE ELEMENTARY PARTICLE.

First, a general property of Lie groups is used in the case of the Poincare group in order to define the one particle phase space. It is eight-dimensional in the general case and six-dimensional for a spinless or massless particle.
Convection in the interiors of planets

Abstract Ashworth's analysis of the above problem is expanded to include variable viscosity, thermal expansion, thermal diffusivity, distribution of heat sources, as well as compressibility due to self-gravitation. By permitting the free upper surface of the planet to be perturbed by the hydrodynamic stresses, the system becomes nonhomogeneous, no longer requires distinct values of the geometric parameters, and may give actual values of the velocity field, rather than just ratios of magnitudes of various components.
Nonsanction seat belt law enforcement: A modern day tale of two cities

This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of a nonsanction seat belt law enforcement program in two experimental communities of contrasting size in a state with a mandatory belt law. The main ingredients of the program were seat belt "salutes," public information and education, and limited use of inexpensive economic incentives. Driver shoulder belt use data collected before, during, and after the experimental programs, compared to similar data collected in a comparison community, showed the approach to be effective. While standard seat belt enforcement activities without incentives have been shown to be effective, many police departments, especially in smaller communities, are reluctant to make wholesale increases in seat belt citations. Although requiring some additional level of manpower and resources, a nonsanction approach to seat belt law enforcement can provide an alternate way of increasing belt use in these communities.
EXPLAINING THE GENDER DIFFERENCE IN ADOLESCENT DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR: A LONGITUDINAL TEST OF MEDIATING MECHANISMS*

The extent to which mediating mechanisms account for the gender difference in delinquency was tested on a sample of 2, 753 adolescents studied across three points in time. Results using structural equations modeling showed that males are more likely to be involved in delinquent activities, partly because they are less bound to conventional values, more likely to be associated with delinquent peers, and report more adverse experiences with the authorities. These effects remain after partialling out the stability effect of prior delinquency and other sociodemographidstructral variables. However, although males are more likely than females to report frustration in achievement, frustration in achievement does not directly affect subsequent delinquent behavior in a multivariate context. In addition, adolescent males and females tend to report similar patterns of delinquent activities, and the influences of mediating variables on delinquent outcome are generally similar for males and females.
Parent calcium-rich-food practices/perceptions are associated with calcium intake among parents and their early adolescent children.

ObjectiveThe study aimed to (i) segment parents of early adolescents into subgroups according to their Ca-rich-food (CRF) practices and perceptions regarding early adolescent CRF intake and (ii) determine whether Ca intake of parents and early adolescents differed by subgroup.DesignA cross-sectional convenience sample of 509 parents and their early adolescent children completed a questionnaire in 2006–2007 to assess parent CRF practices and perceptions and to estimate parent and child Ca intakes.SettingSelf-administered questionnaires were completed in community settings or homes across nine US states.SubjectsParents self-reporting as Asian, Hispanic or non-Hispanic White with a child aged 10–13 years were recruited through youth or parent events.ResultsThree parent CRF practice/perception segments were identified, including ‘Dedicated-Milk Providers/Drinkers’ (49 %), ‘Water Regulars’ (30 %) and ‘Sweet-Drink-Permissive Parents’ (23 %). Dedicated-Milk Providers/Drinkers were somewhat older and more likely to be non-Hispanic White than other groups. Ca intakes from all food sources, milk/dairy foods and milk only, and milk intakes, were higher among early adolescent children of Dedicated-Milk Providers/Drinkers compared with early adolescents of parents in other segments. Soda pop intakes were highest for early adolescents with parents in the Water Regulars group than other groups. Dedicated-Milk Providers/Drinkers scored higher on culture/tradition, health benefits and ease of use/convenience subscales and lower on a dairy/milk intolerance subscale and were more likely to report eating family dinners daily than parents in the other groups.ConclusionsParent education programmes should address CRF practices/perceptions tailored to parent group to improve Ca intake of early adolescent children.
Warm cavity modes of free-electron laser resonators with on-axis holes

The optical mode structure and gain of a free-electron laser (FEL) resonator with holes on axis in the small optical signal regime is examined using a matrix formulation. A gain matrix, describing optical mode mixing and amplitude gain in the wiggler, is derived from the FEL evolution equations. A loss matrix, describing the effect on the transverse optical mode structure of the resonator end mirrors, is derived using the method of A.G. Fox and T. Li (1960). The laser matrix is the product of the gain and loss matrices. The eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the laser matrix give the transverse optical mode profile and gain of the resonator. The resonator of the Mark III infrared FEL at Duke University and a confocal resonator, for two holes sizes are examined. The results demonstrate the possibility of output coupling through the holes of the Mark III resonator, and the possibility of using the holes of the confocal resonator for gain control. >
Achromobacter xylosoxidans Bacteremia

Achromobacter xylosoxidans is a rare cause of bacteremia. A case of community-acquired pneumonia and bacteremia due to Achromobacter in a patient with concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis is reported herein. The majority of patients who have developed achromobacter bacteremia have had a predisposition to infection (although the predisposing conditions have been diverse). Immunosuppression has been reported in only one of the seven patients with achromobacter bacteremia for whom detailed information is available. Achromobacter is usually resistant to ampicillin, cephalosporins, and aminoglycosides. Antipseudomonal penicillins and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole inhibit most isolates. Multiple-drug resistance is common, and optimal therapy is not known.
Simulation of Actuation in Micro-Thermal Switches

The opening and closing of a RF MEMS switch is simulated using the governing thermal and structural equations. The system is a bridge with a length of 250 microns, a width of 50 microns, and a thickness of 1 micron, in air with a pressure of 5 kPa. Simulations are performed for two different materials: silicon and silicon nitride. Three heating models are used: Distributed heat, concentrated heat at the center, and concentrated heat at the sides of the top plate. The steady state results show that the maximum deflection variation at the center of the bridge versus the total heat changes at the top corresponds to a linear system. For distributed heat, for a specific deflection at the center, closed bridge needs less heat at the top than the free bridge. Variation in the length of the contact results in negligible changes in the maximum deflection. Transient results show that silicon nitride has faster response in comparison with silicon. Silicon nitride has a smaller closing time and opening time in comparison with silicon for the same value of heat, due to the larger expansion coefficient of silicon nitride. Adding concentrated heat at the center yields a larger displacement than adding heat to the sides and show better dynamic behavior. When the heating is changed to a concentrated heat load at the center the required heat is an order of magnitude less than heat added to the sides.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Extended Pleurectomy and Decortication for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Is an Effective and Safe Cytoreductive Surgery in the Elderly

Background A survival advantage has been observed among patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma undergoing maximal cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant therapy. Elderly patients are considered higher risk for these radical operations and are commonly not offered surgical treatment. We reviewed our experience with extended pleurectomy and decortication among patients 70 years or older and compared them with a cohort of younger patients undergoing extended pleurectomy and decortication for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Methods We performed a retrospective review of 117 consecutive patients undergoing extended pleurectomy and decortication at a university hospital from January 2008 to December 2013. Patients 70 years and older were compared with younger patients for postoperative outcome and survival. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Fifty-four patients were 70 years or older; 63 were younger than 70 years. Older patients had more hypertension (71.2% versus 45.2%; p = 0.004) and coronary artery disease (22.6% versus 6.5%; p = 0.006). Major complications occurred in 3 patients (5.5%) in the older group and in 7 patients (11.1%) of the younger group (not significant). There were 2 deaths in each group after surgery (3.7% older versus 3.2% younger; not significant). Median survival was 15.6 months in the older patients and 14.0 months in the younger patients (not significant). Kaplan-Meier survival curves based on age groups were not significantly different with 1- and 2-year survivals of 64% versus 55% and 29% versus 32%, respectively. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that whereas age may be associated with more comorbid conditions in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma undergoing extended pleurectomy and decortication, this does not necessarily translate into increased operative morbidity or mortality or shorter long-term survival.
Suppression of pRB expression in normal human mammary epithelial cells is associated with resistance to all-trans-retinoic acid but not N-(4-hydroxylphenyl)-retinamide.

Despite the widespread clinical use of synthetic and naturally occurring retinoids, the down stream targets of retinoids have not been fully characterized. We observe that G1/0-phase arrest induced by all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) in normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs) is temporally associated with a significant decrease in the levels of hyperphosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (pRB). Suppression of pRB protein expression in HMECs by retroviral-mediated expression of the E7 protein of the human papillomavirus strain 16 (HPV-16) was associated with resistance to ATRA- mediated growth arrest but not to the synthetic retinoid N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4-HPR or fenretinide). 4-HPR but not ATRA induced apoptosis in HMECs independent of the level of pRB protein expression. These observations suggest that ATRA- but not 4-HPR-mediated growth arrest may be dependent on the coordinated expression of pRB and emphasize the chemotherapeutic potential of 4-HPR, particularly for suppressing growth of tumors lacking pRB function.
Realizing Commonality in Exploration Architectures: the Role of Effective Contract Structures

Commonality has long been recognized as a powerful strategy for reducing the costs of space exploration, but often its implementation has failed to live up to initial expectations, as long term benefits are sacrificed to meet short term cost and schedule pressures. Exploration architectures are comprised of a number of separate projects developed by separate contractors, with significant opportunities for commonality between the separate projects. Implementing these commonality opportunities is not straightforward, in part due to the difficulty in developing common designs across organizational boundaries. This paper proposes four contracting scenarios in which contracts are developed between organizations and categorizes them according to their impact on three key indicators of commonality implementation: visibility, incentive, and transferability. The paper concludes that the type of contracting structure selected will have an impact on the ease with which commonality can be achieved.
Real-Time 3-D Sensing, Visualization and Recognition of Dynamic Biological Microorganisms

We introduce optical imaging techniques for three-dimensional (3-D)visualization and identification of microorganisms. Three-dimensional sensing and reconstruction is performed by single-exposure on-line (SEOL)digital holography. A coherent microscope-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer records Fresnel digital holograms of microorganisms. Complex amplitude holographic images are computationally reconstructed at different depths by an inverse Fresnel transformation. For pattern recognition/identification, two approaches are addressed. One is 3-D morphology-based recognition and the other is shape-tolerant 3-D recognition. In the first approach, a series of image recognition techniques is used to analyze 3-D geometrical shapes of microorganisms, which is composed of magnitude and phase distributions. Segmentation, feature extraction, graph matching, feature selection, training, and decision rules are presented. For the second approach, a number of sampling segments are arbitrarily extracted from the reconstructed 3-D biological microorganism. These samples are processed using a number of cost functions and statistical inference theory for the equality of means and equality of variances between the sampling segments. Experimental results with sphacelaria alga, tribonema aequale alga, and polysiphonia alga are presented.
The Phosphatidylinositol 3-Phosphate Binding Protein Vac1p Interacts with a Rab GTPase and a Sec1p Homologue to Facilitate Vesicle-mediated Vacuolar Protein Sorting

Activated GTP-bound Rab proteins are thought to interact with effectors to elicit vesicle targeting and fusion events. Vesicle-associated v-SNARE and target membrane t-SNARE proteins are also involved in vesicular transport. Little is known about the functional relationship between Rabs and SNARE protein complexes. We have constructed an activated allele of VPS21, a yeast Rab protein involved in vacuolar protein sorting, and demonstrated an allele-specific interaction between Vps21p and Vac1p. Vac1p was found to bind the Sec1p homologue Vps45p. Although no association between Vps21p and Vps45p was seen, a genetic interaction between VPS21 and VPS45 was observed. Vac1p contains a zinc-binding FYVE finger that may bind phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PtdIns(3)P]. In other FYVE domain proteins, this motif and PtdIns(3)P are necessary for membrane association. Vac1 proteins with mutant FYVE fingers still associated with membranes but showed vacuolar protein sorting defects and reduced interactions with Vps45p and activated Vps21p. Vac1p membrane association was not dependent on PtdIns(3)P, Pep12p, Vps21p, Vps45p, or the PtdIns 3-kinase, Vps34p. Vac1p FYVE finger mutant missorting phenotypes were suppressed by a defective allele of VPS34. These data indicate that PtdIns(3)P may perform a regulatory role, possibly involved in mediating Vac1p protein-protein interactions. We propose that activated-Vps21p interacts with its effector, Vac1p, which interacts with Vps45p to regulate the Golgi to endosome SNARE complex.
Outlier resistant adaptive matched filtering

Robust adaptive matched filtering (AMF) whereby outlier data vectors are censored from the covariance matrix estimate is considered in a maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) setting. It is known that outlier data vectors whose steering vector is highly correlated with the desired steering vector, can significantly degrade the performance of AMF algorithms such as sample matrix inversion (SMI) or fast maximum likelihood (FML). Four new algorithms that censor outliers are presented which are derived via approximation to the MLE solution. Two algorithms each are related to using the SMI or the FML to estimate the unknown underlying covariance matrix. Results are presented using computer simulations which demonstrate the relative effectiveness of the four algorithms versus each other and also versus the SMI and FML algorithms in the presence of outliers and no outliers. It is shown that one of the censoring algorithms, called the reiterative censored fast maximum likelihood (CFML) technique is significantly superior to the other three censoring methods in stressful outlier scenarios.
An SNP map of the human genome generated by reduced representation shotgun sequencing

Most genomic variation is attributable to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which therefore offer the highest resolution for tracking disease genes and population history. It has been proposed that a dense map of 30,000-500,000 SNPs can be used to scan the human genome for haplotypes associated with common diseases. Here we describe a simple but powerful method, called reduced representation shotgun (RRS) sequencing, for creating SNP maps. RRS re-samples specific subsets of the genome from several individuals, and compares the resulting sequences using a highly accurate SNP detection algorithm. The method can be extended by alignment to available genome sequence, increasing the yield of SNPs and providing map positions. These methods are being used by The SNP Consortium, an international collaboration of academic centres, pharmaceutical companies and a private foundation, to discover and release at least 300,000 human SNPs. We have discovered 47,172 human SNPs by RRS, and in total the Consortium has identified 148,459 SNPs. More broadly, RRS facilitates the rapid, inexpensive construction of SNP maps in biomedically and agriculturally important species. SNPs discovered by RRS also offer unique advantages for large-scale genotyping.
Memoryless discrete-time detection of a constant signal in m-dependent noise

The problem of designing memoryless detectors for known signals in stationary m-dependent noise processes is considered. Applying the criterion of asymptotic relative efficiency, the optimal such detector is shown to be characterized by the solution to a Fredholm integral equation whose kernel depends only on the second-order probability distributions of the noise. General expressions are derived for this solution and for the asymptotic efficiency of the optimal detector relative to other memoryless detectors. To illustrate the analysis, specific results are given for the particular case where the noise process is derived by memoryless nonlinear transformation of a Gaussian process. In addition, an extension of the analytical results to the more general case of \phi -mixing noise processes is discussed.